Nigerian Kenneth Ize made a storming Paris fashion week debut Monday with his "fairy godmother", supermodel Naomi Campbell, closing the showing. The 29-year-old, who has had a meteoric rise to the Paris catwalk, lavished praise on the ageless British model who he said had supported him "from day one". Both were cheered by the fashionistas as the end of the show. "I am living my dream," Ize told reporters backstage after the show on the opening night of Paris fashion week. "Naomi made this happen. She has been part of the journey since day one. She is very supportive. She is my fairy godmother," he declared. Ize has made an name for himself reinterpreting traditional West African fabrics such as the aso oke cloth woven by the Yoruba people, and his autumn winter collection was full of it. He told AFP that the show was inspired by his memories of going to Catholic church in Lagos with his mother, with everyone in their Sunday best outfits. - Black hearts - "It is about my religion, love, who I am, the people I believe in and sharing," he added. It is a big week for black African designers on the Paris catwalk with the South African Thebe Magugu, who won the LVMH Young Fashion Designer of the year prize, getting a special official presentation slot Tuesday. Last month Cameroonian creator Imane Ayissi made history by becoming the first black African designer to be admitted to the elite ranks of Paris haute couture. Like Ayissi, Ize is a champion of traditional African fabrics and techniques with the LVMH prize jury -- where he lost out to Magugu -- praising his "authenticity and the fight to source and produce locally in Nigeria". Ize also reflected African silhouettes with tunics worn over trousers. "I believe in the way I dress, this is who I am," said the designer, who partially grew up in Austria, where he studied in Vienna under the Turkish Cypriot British designer Hussein Chalayan. Earlier, South Korean designer Kiminte Kimhekim sent out a playful black and white collection centred on black heart motifs, with one model even sporting a heart-shaped hairstyle. It is a big week for black African designers on the Paris catwalk after Cameroonian designer Imane Yaissi made history last month by by becoming the first black African designer to be admitted to the elite ranks of Paris haute couture
The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Dr Prince Hamid Armah, has explained that he was a needy student at the time that he applied for a GETFund scholarship to study for a doctorate degree in 2012.



According to him, not only did he deserve the scholarship, but that it was also validated.



Dr Armah and other government officials have been listed in an audited account of the scholarship secretariat as beneficiaries of GETFund scholarships for various studies abroad.



Dr Armah is said to have received 38,400 for living expense in addition to 33,000 for tuition fees.



Reacting to the report, Dr Armah in a Facebook post said the scholarship predates his current position as the Executive Secretary of the NaCCA.



He therefore urged the public to disregard this palpably false story.



Below is his full statement



1. That I am indeed a proud and grateful recipient of a Ghana Education Trust Fund scholarship.



2. That I applied for and won the scholarship in 2012 to study for a doctorate in Mathematics Education at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom in 2012



3. That not only was this scholarship deserved, it was validated, if that were needed, by several awards and grants awarded by various institutions in the United Kingdom during my period of study



4. That in fulfilment of the promise I made, I immediately returned to Ghana after my studies, despite the opportunity and ability to remain in the UK to take up more lucrative appointments.



5. That I believe that the scholarship scheme we have is best used to support needy students, as I was then, in order to give them a chance to contribute to the task of nation building, as I have done every day since my studies.



6. In conclusion, I urge the public to disregard this palpably false story that is driven purely by the worst political instincts that we must work to banish from my nation, while we actively work to expand opportunity and bridge the social and economic inequalities in our nation, a task I am fully committed to in my duties at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

Sgd





Prince Hamid Armah, PhD

Executive Secretary

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

Source: Daily Graphic









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Pete Buttigieg desperately wants to claim second place in the Nevada caucuses in order to be the non-communist alternative to Bolshie Bernie, as the party gets the vapors over the possibility of disaster with Sanders dragging down the entire ticket in November.

Pete Buttigieg's campaign is claiming there are inconsistencies in the reported results in Nevada, as the former South Bend, Ind., mayor tries to claw his way to second place in Saturday's caucuses. In a letter sent to Nevada Democratic Party Chairman William McCurdy II and obtained by POLITICO, Buttigieg's campaign is calling for the state party to publicly release a tranche of data and recalculate some precincts, a call the state party largely rebuffed.

I love the term being employed: "material irregularities."

Pete Buttigieg's campaign sent a letter to the Nevada State Democratic Party on Sunday, alleging that there are "material irregularities pertaining to the process of integrating early votes into the in-person precinct caucus results" and asking the party to take three concrete steps to address the purported issues.

The party has its back arched like a cat facing an angry cur:

Molly Forgey, communications director for the Nevada State Democratic Party, responded to the letter in a statement to CNN on Sunday. "We laid out our early vote and Caucus Day processes step by step and we communicated these processes to all campaigns. We are continuing to verify and to report results," Forgey said. "We never indicated we would release a separate breakdown of early vote and in-person attendees by precinct and will not change our reporting process now. As laid out in our recount guidance, there is a formal method for requesting a challenge of results."

Let's hope this dispute gets bitter and heads to the courts. If we get really lucky, the disputed count could lead to convention chaos in Milwaukee, if the votes turn out to hold the margin of victory. But I'll settle for distrust, recriminations, and an image of incompetence.

Democrats are destroying their brand. Who would want to trust them with the administration of significant government programs when they can't even count up results from caucuses in the 32nd and 33rd most populous states? A party prone to Rube Goldbergstyle schemes (remember the botched, ridiculously expensive Obamacare "exchange" websites?) now is cozying up to ranked-choice voting and showing itself utterly incompetent to manage such complexities, an essential feature of the Nevada and Iowa caucuses.

Why would anyone trust Democrats with serious responsibilities? Even their own candidates don't.

Caricature by Donkey Hotey (cropped).
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avi Brosh's Palisociety, the independent hotel brand behind award-winning properties throughout the country, has announced the opening of its newest west coast hotel, Palihotel San Francisco. The property joins the brand's heralded collection of bespoke, dynamic neighborhood-centric hotels as one of six new 2018/2019 openings, alongside Palihotel Culver City (Conde Nast Traveler Hot List 2019), Palihotel Seattle (Travel + Leisure It List 2019), Palihouse Miami Beach (Travel + Leisure It List 2020), Silver Lake Pool & Inn and Palihotel Westwood Village.

A guest room at the newly opened Palihotel San Francisco Fisher Loft, the all-day restaurant and bar at the newly opened Palihotel San Francisco

Palihotel San Francisco, located just steps from Union Square and within walking distance to the best of the Financial District and South of Market neighborhood, is a reincarnation of a century-old, Mission and Spanish Revival-style edifice on Stockton Street that has been home to several historic properties since its development, including the Colonial Hotel in the 1920s, the Hotel Navarre in the 1930s, the Navarre Guest House in the 1950s and most recently, the Mystic Hotel.

"Being a California-based company, San Francisco is a natural expansion for our brand and when the opportunity to be a part of this property's rich history presented itself, we jumped on it," said Brosh, founder of Palisociety. "In the tradition of all prior Palihotels, we are excited to bring San Francisco a true independent neighborhood hotel that is extremely well located, has bona fide design chops, and offers a great value."

The property is debuting with a selection of newly designed guest rooms, exterior facade and common reception space; Palihotel San Francisco also features Fisher Loft, an expansive, loft-style restaurant, lounge and liquor bar in 2,900 square feet on the property's second floor. Open to hotel guests and locals alike, Fisher Loft features an all- day menu of classic comfort food alongside an expansive cocktail program and beer and wine list, all developed by Palisociety's in-house food and beverage team and group executive chef.

The property has been reimagined by Brosh and his team into an urban neighborhood inn that juxtaposes the old and the new seamlessly. While the hotel's historic patina and details are still in abundance, it has been layered with a contemporary, California-centric sensibility highlighted by a soft, neutral color palette with natural wood accents and earth-toned tiles; a bright, minimal collection of art; and a mixed and matched assortment of patterns, textures and accessories that is a signature of Palisociety's irreverent, approachable take on modern-day hotel design. The hotel features 82 rooms, ranging in size from 150 to 400 square feet, including a two-bedroom suite, king and queen accommodations. Each room is equipped with Palisociety signature bath amenities, black Smeg refrigerators, Nespresso machine and an in-room tablet with curated neighborhood guide.

At Fisher Loft, the menu features classic, American-inspired dishes with a nod to the nostalgia of a mid-century era where a stiff cocktail at lunch and a bite of caviar before dinner were the norm. Breakfast begins with an optional breakfast bar or a la carte menu, featuring fluffy blueberry pancakes, a staple American-style eggs and bacon and more. The all-day menu precedes breakfast with a mix of burgers, sandwiches and salads, all turned up a notch with the addition of housemade and carefully sourced ingredients and flavors. Afternoon tea service features a traditional high-tea setting with a California casual influence where an assortment of teas is served with a three-tier selection of finger sandwiches, small pastries and petits fours. Finally, Fisher Loft's nightly dinner menu features a small, carefully crafted menu of American favorites including filet mignon Oscar-style and a whole chicken de-boned, alongside a signature caviar service, featuring all the classic accoutrements and an optional bottle of chilled vodka. The cocktail program at the Fisher Loft is a meeting of the old and the new, paying equal attention to time honored classic cocktails and innovative new ideas such as the Big Trouble (peanut butter washed rum, snap pea, galangal, salted coconut cream) and the Little Bustard (green tea vodka, blanc vermouth, Szechuan peppercorn, pomegranate molasses, yuzu tonic). All alongside a large wine list, local beers, and a back bar featuring an exceptional world spanning whiskey collection.

Palihotel San Francisco is located at 417 Stockton Street in San Francisco and is now open. For more information, visit www.palisociety.com or follow @palisociety.

ABOUT PALISOCIETY

Palisociety is a fully integrated branded real estate development and hospitality operating company that acquires, programs, develops, owns and operates unique hotels and residences. The company's proprietary brands, development and operational expertise also includes specialized retail spaces, highly curated restaurants, bars and event venues. Avi Brosh founded Palisociety in 1998 in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.palisociety.com.

PR CONTACT: Raluca State Public Relations for Palisociety at 323-379-4669 or [email protected].

SOURCE Palisociety
It's been just seven months since Philip Dalidakis stunned his Labor colleagues with the sudden announcement he was quitting politics for a senior gig inside Australia Post. And now, he's astonished his new Postie colleagues, announcing this afternoon that he was quitting his latest job.

He held the role of executive general manager of corporate services since July 1. Chief executive Christine Holgate told staff about his departure this afternoon at a town hall meeting, which also coincided with the release of its half yearly results.

(Spoiler alert: snail mail is a loss-making business, but parcels are looking better.)

Mr Dalidakis could not be reached for comment. Australia Post did not respond immediately when asked for comment on the abrupt departure. There's no word yet on Dalidakis' reasons for leaving, nor where he'll head to next.
The Opposition on Monday created ruckus in the Punjab assembly, targeting the government over police chief Dinkar Gupta's purported remarks on the Kartarpur corridor's propensity to be misused for terror training and seeking his removal.

The Opposition, comprising the AAP, SAD and BJP members, triggered pandemonium in the House by repeatedly storming its Well and jostling with marshals, who prevented them from going to the chair.

The Opposition MLAS also allegedly tampered with the sound system of assembly's official reporters, leading to four adjournments of the House.

The Opposition gave vent to their anger, seeking the government's explanation over DGP Gupta's purported remarks to a newspaper that Kartarpur corridor was prone to be misused by Pakistan for imparting terror training to common men during their short stay across the border on their visits to the Sikh shrine.

The Opposition members also raked up the allegation of a suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police Balwinder Singh Sekhon that Punjab minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu had confessed to have harboured two militants in early 1990s.

While DGP Gupta had regretted making the remark, Minister Ashu had trashed the DySP's allegations.

When the Question Hour began on the second day of the budget session here, Leader of Opposition and AAP MLA Harpal Singh Cheema stood up, raking the DGP's purported statement, while Akali leader Sharanjit Singh Dhillon tried to speak about the DySP's allegations against the Punjab minister.

There is a deep rooted controversy behind DGP's statement, said Cheema.

When the speaker asked the protesting members to let the House function, the Opposition legislators refused to listen and rushed to the Well of the House, raising slogans against the government and waiving placards and pictures of DGP Gupta and minister Ashu.

The AAP and SAD members even tore some papers and jostled with the watch and ward staff in a bid to break the cordon thrown in front of the speaker's chair.

As Opposition members refused to relent, Speaker K P Singh Rana adjourned the House for half an hour.

Even as the Opposition created ruckus, two Congress MLAs Kulbir Singh Zira and Rana Gurjit Singh at one point were seen making heated exchanges among themselves for not countering the Akali Dal members, exposing the lack of coordination among party MLAs.

To make up for the lack of coordination among them, the treasury benches swiftly resorted to waiving photographs of Akali MLA Bikram Singh Majithia with Anwar Masih, an accused in Amritsar heroin seizure case, but their spectacles were lost in the pandemonium.

As the House assembled after the first adjournment, Speaker Rana sought to reason with the Opposition that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, holding the Home ministry's portfolio, was not in the House and he would make statements on both issues on Tuesday.

But with the Opposition refusing to see reason, the speaker adjourned the House for a second time.

The Opposition's fury refused to abate even after the House reassembled for the third time, leading the speaker to adjourn it again.

Before adjourning the House for the third time, Speaker Rana named all the SAD and AAP members, except the two of the BJP, as those who tampered with the assembly's reporters sound system and said "it is unacceptable".

Before the fourth and final adjournment of the House for the day, the assembly underwent three adjournments for half and hour twice and for 15 minutes on the third occasion.

The speaker finally adjourned the House for the day after state ministers Charanjit Singh Channi and Brahm Mohindra asked him to let off the opposition with a warning.

DGP Gupta had purportedly told a newspaper 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".

Amid the pandemonium in the House, fissures were visible in the AAP ranks as its four MLAs -- Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Kanwar Sandhu, Pirmal Singh Khalsa and Jagdev Singh Kamalu -- avoided joining the demonstration.

Rebel AAP MLA Khaira, who was abstaining from the assembly sittings since his expulsion from the party last year, however, attended the House on Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Deputy Healthcare Minister of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko Open source

Ukraine is ready to hold one more evacuation of the Ukrainians from the zone of the spread of coronavirus as Deputy Healthcare Minister of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko reported.

We are ready for one more evacuation of the citizens but the Foreign Ministry of holds a dialogue with the Ukrainians in the Chinese province, contact them whether they wish to, ready to come to the territory of Ukraine. If they express such a desire, I think, the government of Ukraine will do everything possible to quickly and qualitative transfer them and the events, which took place a week ago, will not be repeated in the territory of our state, Lyashko reported.

Earlier it was reported that in Italy the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection has risen sharply and now exceeds 100. In this regard, the Italian government imposed restrictions on freedom of movement in areas in the north of the country where cases of infection were especially prevalent. People are not allowed to leave their municipalities, and entry is also closed.

Besides, four people died from coronavirus in Italy.

As we reported, about 15,632 citizens of Ukraine registered in Italy as of January 1, 2020. 9,158 of them are registered in Milan consulate.
US President Donald Trumps two-day visit to India may be a matter of pageantry over policy, but it served the domestic agendas of both leaders and, more importantly, the interests of Trumps family business and Modis backers among the Indian diaspora in America.

Two years ago, when the US presidents eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., arrived in India, newspapers featured full front-page ads of the Trump princeling with all-cap headers screaming, TRUMP HAS ARRIVED. HAVE YOU? and TRUMP IS HERE. ARE YOU INVITED?



The all-important invitation was for a champagne dinner with the US presidents son, which could be snagged by anyone putting down a $39,000 deposit for a luxury apartment in the latest Trump Tower project located in a suburb of the capital, New Delhi.



India has the most Trump-branded projects outside the United States and the relationship between the American billionaire-president and affluent, aspirational Indians  and Americans of Indian origin  has been a special one.

Weeks before his victory in the November 2016 election, Trump addressed a Bollywood-style campaign rally hosted by the Republican Hindu Coalition in Edison, New Jersey. Following opening acts featuring dancing stars, the Republican candidate proclaimed his love for the wealthiest immigrant group in the United States. I am a big fan of Hindu, said Trump. Big, big fan.



Trumps mix-up of religion and country could not have bothered the 5,000-odd guests at the event. Hindu hardliners have reciprocated Trumps fandom; their vision of a Hindu rashtra  or Hindu nation  which marginalises Indias Muslims and migrants, dovetails neatly with Trumps tough stance on Muslim immigration.



Then there are the usual areas of US-India policy overlap, which will be repeated during Trumps two-day visit.

Relations between the worlds two largest democracies have been historically shaped by a shared alarm over a rising, increasingly assertive China.



A tough position on Islamist terrorism also resonates well in New Delhi and Trumps Washington DC.

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At a massive stadium rally in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Monday, Trump received huge applause for touting a theme that most Western leaders note on India visits.

The United States and India are also firmly united in our ironclad resolve to defend our citizens from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, said Trump as more than 100,000 people  most sporting white caps emblazoned with Namaste Trump, or Welcome Trump  roared their approval.

Today the ISIS territorial caliphate has been one hundred percent destroyed and the monster known as al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of ISIS, is dead, said Trump referring to the Islamic State (IS) groups Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Style over substance



Despite the pomp, grandeur and media coverage, Trumps first official visit to India has so far seen the absence of substantive deliverables. A much-awaited US-India trade deal was expected to be the centrepiece of the visit, but negotiations have been stuck over tariffs and price controls with Trumps American First drive clashing with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis protectionist Make in India mantra.



Defence deals are on the agenda, as expected between weapons producing nations and a major arms buyer such as India. But Russia remains a major supplier, with New Delhi agreeing to buy Moscow's $5.4 billion S-400 missile defence system despite the threat of US sanctions.



In the absence of significant bilateral initiatives, the US presidents latest visit to India has been dismissed as more style than substance with the optics of a Trump-Modi bromance against a backdrop of glitz and kitsch.

Domestic political goals



The biggest takeaways of the trip are personal, for both Trump and Modi, with wealth and electability topping the agenda. The point of this visit is for domestic political reasons for the leaders of both countries, explained Mira Kamdar, author of India in the 21st Century and former member of the New York Times editorial board. Trump gets to court the Indian-American vote and show hes loved abroad. Modi shows himself as the best pal of the leader of the US and gets to have the president of the United States endorse him.



Trump has been focusing on the November 2020 presidential election and the public relations boost in populous, colourful India  unlike visits to the UK, which bring out more protesters than fans  is a welcome change for the Republican incumbent.



The four million-strong Indian community in the United States is not a substantive voting base for Trump. A little over half of them are Hindu and tend to vote left in the US, according to the Pew Research Center. But it is a well-educated and affluent community that also includes disproportionately powerful and loyal supporters of the current US president.

Modi, too, has a lot to gain from an uncritical endorsement from the leader of the free world.

Despite his landslide victory in the 2019 Indian general elections, Modi has faced widespread protests against his administrations controversial citizenship amendment and registration policies, which critics say target Muslims and contravene the secular democratic principles of the Indian constitution.

On Monday, as Trump and his family were visiting the Taj Mahal (described by UNESCO as the jewel of Muslim art in India) clashes broke out in New Delhi, when Modi supporters chanting Hindu religious slogans faced off with protesters opposing the government's citizenship and registration policies.



Meanwhile Modis image as the Indian economy's best hope has suffered a battering with the country experiencing its slowest growth in a decade amid a shadow banking crisis, weak investment and a slump in spending.



Trump the statesman and Trump the salesman



That downturn has hit the Trump Organizations five projects in India, with completed Trump Towers standing mostly vacant in some cities while developers scramble for buyers on other properties still under construction.



Conflicts of interest with his business dealings have dogged the US president since he took office and nowhere, according to the US news site Politico, are the lines more blurred between Trump the statesman and Trump the salesman than in India.



Ignoring calls to fully separate from his company when he was elected president, Trump has instead placed his holdings in a trust designed to maintain assets for his benefit. But ethics experts have called the move meaningless since Trump can access the trust funds and can withdraw money at any point without the publics knowledge.



While Trump the president has been wooing the leader of the worlds largest democracy, his company has been relentlessly promoting its projects in the Indian market. His family has supported his Indian business interests since he got into the White House, with champagne dinners and meetings with the US presidents children offered as incentives to potential clients.



They in turn have been helped by political associates and major funders of Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).



In a detailed report in The New Republic magazine, investigative journalist Anjali Kamat examined the Trump Organizations partner in Mumbai -- Indias commercial capital -- for his business and political connections. The Lodha Group, one of Indias largest real-estate developers, was founded by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, president of the BJPs Mumbai division and member of the legislative assembly of Maharashtra, the countrys second largest state of which Mumbai is the capital.



Like Trump, Lodha is a businessman-politician, but unlike the US president, the Indian politician does not face the same level of scrutiny in the opaque, corruption-ridden Indian real estate sector.



The cliques of businessmen backing Modi and Trump are often a tangle of mutually enriching circuits that investigators are still unraveling.

The latest issue of the Indian magazine, The Caravan, for instance, featured an investigative report of how a major Modi backer, Mukesh Ambani, a leading Indian businessman and chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, managed to import oil from Venezuela despite US sanctions by hiring an influential lobbyist, Brian Ballard, known to be a close aide and old friend of the US president.



Diaspora diplomacy on display



Apart from the economic benefits of individuals related or close to the two leaders, Trumps lavish reception in India is a display of the power of what the BJP calls diaspora diplomacy.

For decades, the emigration of educated Indians to the United States was viewed as a brain drain by India and a loss for its development ambitions. That view has changed under Modi, particularly after the deadly 2002 Gujarat riots, when Modi was banned from travelling to the US and UK for his role in overseeing the violence.



With the help of the Indian diaspora, working through organisations linked to a network of Hindu extremist groups, the visa was overturned when Modi became prime minister in 2014.

The community has since acted as what Vijay Chauthaiwale, head of the BJPs foreign affairs cell, called our biggest soft power, in an interview with The Intercept.

The diaspora diplomacy agenda includes lobbying US Congress, contributing to political campaigns, defending the Modi administrations increasingly divisive authoritarian agenda and whitewashing its human rights abuses, according to The Intercept.



For the partys overseas supporters, Trumps gala visit to India also serves as a form of payment for their loyalty and hard work, according to some experts. This could be also seen as a sort of payoff for the financial and diplomatic support Modi and the BJP has got from the diaspora, said Kamdar. It reinforces for their supporters the view that people can be patriotic Americans and support Modi.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2020) - Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) ("Antler") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of a gold exploration license in Namibia (the "Purchase Agreement").

The license is known as EPL 7261 which measures 159.12 square kilometers and is located within the Erongo region of central Namibia near the towns of Usakos, Karibib and Omaruru. This highly prospective area hosts the nearby Historical Onguati mine, the QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine as well as the Karibib Regional projects of Osino Resources.

EPL 7271 is located adjacent to EPL 6162 (see Press Release dated September 10, 2019) and together provides Antler with approximately 11 kilometers of prospective strike length along the north-east trending Navachab and Onguati Members of the Karibib Formation.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Antler may acquire a 100% interest in EPL 7261 by paying the vendor, who is an arm's length party, a cash payment of C$7,000, issuing 20,000 common shares of Antler and C$5,000 of common shares of Antler based on the 10-day volume weighted average price per common share immediately prior to the date of the Purchase Agreement. Antler must also spend C$75,000 worth of exploration expenses on or before February 23, 2021.

The Purchase Agreement is subject to a 14-day due diligence period and is conditional upon TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Antler is also pleased to announce that Antler Gold Namibia (Pty), Antler's wholly owned subsidiary, has been accepted as a member of the Namibian Chamber of Mines. This highly regarded organization has a mission to represent the mining industry's interests to the Namibian Government. Dan Whittaker, Antler's CEO stated, "We're very happy to be a member of the Chamber and look forward to adding our efforts to their mission. Antler will also be attending the Honourable Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy, Republic of Namibia's address at the 21st Annual African Mining Breakfast on March 3, 2020 at the PDAC Conference in Toronto."

Story continues

Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information, such as statements regarding the completion of the transaction, including acquisition of EPL 7261 or any other EPLs in Namibia by Antler and future plans and objectives of Antler. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions in connection with the continuance of the applicable company as a going concern and general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including risks relating to the ability to satisfy the conditions to completion of the transaction. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. Antler assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings made by Antler with Canadian securities regulators, copies of which are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact Daniel Whittaker, President and CEO of Antler Gold Inc., at (902) 488-4700.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52707
Gandhinagar, Feb 24 : Setting a precedence, US President Donald Trump instead of writing something on Mahatma Gandhi, praised Prime Minister Narenrda Modi in the visitor's book at the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati, here on Monday.

Whenever a foreign or national dignitary or a celebrity visit the Gandhi Ashram, they express their feelings in the visitor's book.

Trump visited the Ashram with the First Lady Melania Trump on Monday. They visited 'Hriday Kunj', the house in which Mahatma Gandhi lived for 13 years. They also tried their hands on Charkha, the spinning wheel.

The American couple spent around 12 minutes at the Ashram. They were informed about Gandhi and his philosophy. Modi too shared few words about the great man with the US couple.

When the visitor's book was presented, the US President wrote, "To my great friend Prime Minister Modi, thank you for this wonderful visit." The first lady also put her signature beneath it.

The President also didn't pay tribute to the Gandhi's bust with 'cotton yank', a tradition followed by every visiting dignitary to the Ashram.
The file photo shows a KB Kookmin Bank branch in Seoul. The lender shut down several branches in the southeastern city of Daegu after it was confirmed they were affected by the spreading novel coronavirus. Korea Times file



By Kim Bo-eun



Banks are on alert over the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, taking precautionary measures such as shutting down affected branches and carrying out disinfection work.



According to major banks, Monday, multiple banks have shut down branches nationwide, following cases of infections there.



KB Kookmin Bank's private banking center and bank outlet in the KB Insurance building in the southeastern city of Daegu was shut down, as the insurer closed the entire building after it confirmed an employee of another company in the same building was infected with the virus.



NH NongHyup, Suhyup, KB Kookmin and DGB Daegu banks closed branches and outlets in Daegu where bank employees were confirmed to have been infected with the virus. The outlets that have been shut down may reopen as early as Wednesday.



KB Kookmin Bank said it would cancel fees for transactions made online as well as through ATMs for customers based in Daegu in North Gyeongsang Province.



Daegu is currently the city with the largest number of confirmed cases, due to infections that occurred at assemblies of a cult known as Shincheonji Church in the region.



Woori Bank closed branches in Daejeon and Incheon, after it confirmed customers with the virus visited the branches. Shinan Bank closed its branch in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, after a bank employee was confirmed to have contracted the virus.



Hana Bank shut down its outlet at Kyung Hee University's campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, where the dormitory for international students is located. The lender also closed a branch in the city of Pohang.



The banks are conducting disinfection measures at the branches, and on ATMs.



"The number of visitors to bank branches has decreased," a bank official said. "The effects are reduced as customers can access mobile banking services. However, in the long-term, banks can be affected in the case the epidemic lasts and has an impact on the economy," he said.



Over 700 people have been infected with the virus and seven have died here, as of Monday noon. The sudden spike in the number of confirmed cases here have alarmed authorities. The government pledged to unveil measures to stimulate the economy Tuesday, as businesses are hit by falling consumption and faltering exports.



The government earlier forecast that the economy would grow by 2.3 percent this year, but the rapid spread of the coronavirus has had global agencies warning that Korea's GDP growth may fall below 2 percent.


Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor blasted the Trump administration as well as her conservative colleagues on the bench after they okayed banning green cards for those who make use of food stamps, Medicaid, or housing vouchers.

In a 5-to-4 ruling on Friday, the Court's conservative majority allowed the administration's 'wealth test' for would-be immigrants to go into effect while appeals wind their way through the legal system.

The ruling was similar to the one handed down by the high court last month, which was appealed by the administration after a federal judge in New York issued a nationwide injunction.

Friday's ruling by the Supreme Court lifted a limited injunction that applied only to Illinois.

Sotomayor, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, criticized the Trump administration for asking the Supreme Court to rule on its policies by claiming they were emergencies.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday wrote a harsh dissent accusing the conservative justices on the bench of being too eager to help the Trump administration circumvent the appellate process. Sotomayor is seen above in New York in May 2019

The Trump administration on Friday was given the go-ahead by the Court to deny green cards to those who are thought likely to make use of public benefits like Medicaid, food stamps, and vouchers. President Trump is seen above on Sunday at the White House

The emergency applications by the administration are meant to circumvent 'the normal appellate process' while 'putting a thumb on the scale in favor of the party that won,' Sotomayor wrote in her dissent.

Sotomayor accused the conservative justices of granting preferential treatment to the administration, saying that 'most troublingly, the Court's recent behavior' has benefited 'one litigant over all others.'

The other three liberals on the bench - Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Elena Kagan - also dissented, but did not join Sotomayor's opinion.

'Claiming one emergency after another, the Government has recently sought stays in an unprecedented number of cases,' Sotomayor said.

'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.'

The administration, for its part, has argued that it has sought emergency rulings because the lower appellate courts are issuing broad preliminary injunctions that apply to states that weren't a party to the original lawsuit.

HOW NEW RULES WORK The 'public charge' rules applies to roughly three-quarters of the 544,000 who apply annually for green cards, most of them for 'family reunification' or because of marriage. Immigrants who would be 'public charges' has long been a reason for refusing their application. For the last 20 years, only actual cash benefits - TANF and SSI - or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense disqualified applicants. Now they can be disqualified for using: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food stamps

Public Housing

Section 8 housing assistance

Most forms of Medicaid

Any state or local income assistance

12 uses in 36 months of any of the benefits above is enough to disqualify someone. Additionally immigration officers have to decide if someone might become a public charge, even if they haven't been in the past. To do that they can consider positive factors including: do they have household income, assets, resources and support from a sponsor that amounts to 250% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size. So a single person needs $31,3225 in income or savings; if they are part of a couple, their incomes or savings have to reach $42,275

do they have private insurance not subsidized by Medicare?

do they speak English?

do they have a high school education or more? Advertisement

The ruling on the so-called 'public charge' rule will take effect on Monday while the case winds its way through the court system.

The new policy significantly expands what factors would be considered to make that determination, and if it is decided that immigrants could potentially become public charges later, that legal residency could be denied.

Under the old rules, people who used non-cash benefits, including food stamps and Medicaid, were not considered public charges.

'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(e) of United States taxpayers,' the White House said in a statement Saturday.

Sotomayor said that the conservative justices have helped the Trump administration, causing a 'breakdown in the appellate process.

She wrote that it was part of a 'now-familiar pattern.'

'The government seeks emergency relief from this Court' [after the lower courts decline to approve its rulings] and the high court 'has been all too quick to grant the government's reflexive requests.'

Sotomayor accused the conservative justices of being more eager to intervene on behalf of the Trump administration than inmates on death row.

'The Court often permits executions - where the risk of irreparable harm is the loss of life - to proceed, justifying many of those decisions on purported failures to 'raise any potentially meritorious claims in a timely manner',' she wrote.

'I fear that this disparity in treatment erodes the fair and balanced decision-making process that this Court must strive to protect.'

The public charge case is the 24th instance in which the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to lift an injunction issued by a lower court.

In contrast, the Obama and George W. Bush administrations did so a combined eight times, according to CNN.

Last month, Justice Neil Gorsuch, the conservative judge appointed by Trump, issued a concurrence explaining the court's ruling.

In voting to lift the nationwide injunction, Gorsuch issued an opinion criticizing lower courts' 'increasingly common' use of nationwide injunctions to halt government policies. Gorsuch urged the court to confront the issue.

'What in this gamesmanship and chaos can we be proud of?' Gorsuch asked.

Sotomayor and the other three liberals dissented - Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Elena Kagan. The justices are seen counterclockwise from top left: Neil Gorsuch, Sotomayor, Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Ginsburg, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, and Breyer

'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 court's 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.'

Two other federal appeals courts previously lifted nationwide injunctions ordered by lower courts blocking the rule.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday congratulated Aam Aadmi Party MLA Ram Niwas Goel for getting re-elected as Delhi Assembly Speaker.

In a tweet, Kejriwal said, "Congratulation and best wishes to Ram Niwas Goel for being elected as Delhi Assembly Speaker unanimously." During his first term, Goel served as the Assembly Speaker between 2015-2020.

The AAP had stormed to back to power in the Delhi earlier this month by securing 62 out of 70 seats in the Assembly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A second Upstate New York county is competing to become the site of the first New York State Veterans Cemetery, a project that would be funded through grants from the state and federal government.

Seneca County officials are touting what they view as an advantage over a bid from Oneida County: The Seneca County veterans cemetery has already been developed on 162 acres in Romulus.

Oneida County is offering about 150 acres of undeveloped land near the Westmoreland exit of the state Thruway in its bid.

Seneca County wants to turn over the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery to state government, along with responsibility for its maintenance and operations.

About 700 veterans and their dependents have been buried in the cemetery since it opened in 2011, said Bob Hayssen, chairman of the Seneca County Board of Supervisors.

It should be a slam dunk, Hayssen said of the countys proposal. All we need is operating costs.

The state has already invested about $7 million, including an initial grant of $3.3 million, to develop the cemetery on the site of the former Sampson Naval Training Station and Sampson Air Force Base in Romulus, Hayssen said.

The cemetery will be run by the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency through July 2021, after which the county government will have to pay for its operating costs.

The cemeterys burial plots are open to any veteran, regardless of where they live. The plots are free, and the federal government pays for the headstones, Hayssen said.

New York is one of only four states in the nation without is own state veterans cemetery.

The VAs National Cemetery Administration operates national cemeteries for veterans in three Upstate New York locations  Saratoga, Bath and Elmira  with a fourth under development near Buffalo.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed exploring the idea for a separate state cemetery for veterans in November. Cuomo appointed a committee to develop a plan and recommend a site.

U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi is backing Oneida Countys bid to host the cemetery. Brindisi organized a summit Thursday in Utica with elected leaders and a representative from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which would provide grants for New York to develop the cemetery.

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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The U.N. Security Council on Monday reiterated its support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This was the first Security Council press statement on the issue since President Donald Trump unveiled a plan three weeks ago to resolve the decades-old conflict. His plan sided with Israel on most of the conflict's main sticking points, and the Palestinians rejected it outright.

The UN statement, which was approved by all 15 council members including the U.S., made no mention of Trump's plan. It also didn't directly address Palestinian demands for an independent state including all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war and the removal of many of the more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas.

But the UN statement did voice the council's support for a two-state solution recalling previous relevant U.N. resolutions, and in accordance with international law.

The statement was drafted by Belgium, which holds the council presidency this month.

Security Council resolutions have in the past called for a two-state solution based on 1967 lines, and the U.N. has repeatedly called Israeli settlements illegal.

The statement came amid two days of intense fighting between Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip. There were no reports of civilian casualties on either side.

Trump's plan, announced at the White House in late January with much fanfare, grants Israel sovereignty over large parts of the occupied West Bank, and falls far short of the Palestinian dream of an independent state.

Instead, it calls for giving them limited autonomy over a disjointed archipelago of land, and only if they meet a stringent set of demands.

Under its terms, the proposed Palestinian state would be demilitarised and Israel would retain overall security control.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the US proposal an Israeli-American pre-emptive plan in order to put an end to the question of Palestine" in a speech to the Security Council on February 11 and said the disjointed Palestinian state it envisioned is "like a Swiss cheese".

The council press statement adopted Monday reaffirms that all parties should refrain from undermining the viability of the two-state solution in order to maintain the prospects for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.

Council members stressed the need to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process, it added.

The council also expressed grave concern about acts of violence against civilians.

Belgium's UN Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve read the statement after UN special coordinator for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov briefed the council at an open meeting. Members then held closed consultations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WESTERVILLE, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Student Provisioning Services (SPS) is now veteran owned and operated by its original founder, Keith Larson. Student Provisioning Services (SPS), is based on over 20 years of consulting in the education sphere. "Our solution was born out of a substantial need that I saw as an opportunity to help fill a gap of inefficiency for learning communities across the country" -Keith Larson.

"Day-to-day, it's business as usual, but now we have new resources and capabilities to continue driving value for the learning communities we partner with. We have the ability to make product enhancements more quickly while upholding an outstanding level of service to our valued customers," said Larson. "In fact, we are thrilled to be able to announce new integrations and functionality."

New Partnerships and Enhanced Functionality

SPS has several new partnerships to enable school districts to manage their student provisioning with even more seamless data transfer options. SPS has been a Clever partner since 2017 and has integrations with PowerSchool, ProgressBook, Wengage, Mi Datahub, Infinite Campus, Skyward, and Edfi, with more announcements coming soon. "In fact, we have recently enhanced our integration with both PowerSchool and ProgressBook which our mutual customers are really excited about," said Larson. SPS is now able to synchronize email addresses in student accounts, fully automating updates in ProgressBook's Student Information System. "This enhanced integration allows us to fill a gap that we have been seeing between online systems." Said Larson. With the majority of student content being delivered online, the logical connection between these systems is the student email address. Even though the student email address is the key to bridging these systems, many districts are still manually entering this into their Student Information System after the account has been created. Our latest integration will empower districts using ProgressBook to fully automate this process and free administrators of these lingering manual tasks along the way." Said Larson. "Ultimately, this will result in saving time and resources with the added benefit of having clean, accurate data at all times."

New Ownership and Expansion

SPS continues to expand to provide service throughout the United States with customers in 15 states. The new ownership and expansion have also allowed us to deploy our consulting arm, K12 Services LLC . Consulting services available include the auditing of student accounts (i.e. check active accounts against currently enrolled students and identify accounts that are associated with students that are no longer enrolled), installing and configuring PassCore for student and staff password self-service, implementing an automated patching solution through our partnership with a top cybersecurity organization, maintaining or upgrading VMware infrastructure, maintaining or upgrading MicroFocus products including Zen Configuration Management, Open Enterprise Server and Groupwise. These services allow Educational Technology Departments to save time and money through process improvement and automation.

As part of our expansion, SPS also has a partnership with the Illinois Learning Technology Purchase Plan (ILTPP) to give schools in Illinois a valuable discount.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank each of our customers for putting their trust in us over the last five years and helping to bring us to where we are today. We come to work every day for you," said Larson.

About Student Provisioning Services (SPS)

Student Provisioning Services (SPS) is a cloud-based data integration system designed for learning communities to manage student data. The service is fully automated, cost-effective, customizable, and scalable to meet the needs of future growth. With the SPS account management solution, Active Directory, or eDirectory, is synchronized with cloud-based tools to allow all student accounts district-wide to be set up with user-names and passwords, so all student accounts are ready to go on day one. The SPS solution can be partnered with other applications to expand account management to other applications like Google. SPS will work with your existing student information system or SIS to create a fully customized solution to fit your district's needs. Because the process is fully automated, this results in far fewer errors in the system and provides a clean, accurate data foundation for ongoing data management.

Media Contact:

Anne Blaha

614.656.6001

[email protected]

SOURCE Student Provisioning Services

Related Links

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A mother was raped and her four-year-old son was beaten to death as they strolled on a beach in Argentina.

Maria Subelza, 44, was pelted with stones by the attackers before being raped by one of the men while the other held a knife to her little boy, Santino.

They were then both battered with rocks and left for dead on Cueva de los Leones beach in the city of Puerto Deseado at around 4pm on Friday.

Mrs Subelza survived the brutal attack by pretending to be dead but her child died from head injuries.

Maria Subelza, 44, was raped and her little boy Santino was beaten to death in Argentina

Maria Subelza, 44, (right) was raped while her little boy Santino (left) was beaten to death

Police have arrested a 24-year-old man and a 16-year-old teenager on suspicion of murder.

Mrs Subelza is recovering in hospital from head injuries.

She lives in Rosario de la Frontera, in Salta, with her husband Celso, a carpenter, more than 1,800 miles away from where she was attacked and had been visiting her eldest son who lives there.

Mr Celso said: 'I don't know what to do. I'm very hurt. She went for a walk, she liked to go to the coast to walk with the boy.

'I can't believe it.'

The horrific rape and murder has sparked protests in Argentina with women's rights campaigners calling for justice.

Local media reported that Mrs Subelza identified the arrested 24-year-old, who has not been named, saying she recognised his face and his voice.

The 16-year-old was arrested after witnesses said they saw him at the beach near the time of the attack.

Maria Subelza (right) is recovering in hospital after the attack in which her little boy Santino (left) was beaten to death as they went for a walk on a beach on Friday
A scaffolding collapse at a Sydney school has resulted in 12 children being rushed to hospital and more than 27 treated for injuries.

The students at Campbelltown Performing Arts School at Campbelltown, in Sydney's south-west, were preparing for school photos when the structure came down about 10am on Monday.

It is understood the students - aged between 16 and 18 - were treated for a variety of leg, torso and head injuries at the scene.

Paramedics have so far transported nine children to hospital, all with minor injuries.

Eight students have been rushed to Campbelltown Hospital, while the remaining four are being treated at Liverpool Hospital.

'It was a very chaotic scene when we arrived today, we had multiple paramedics working together to help a number of patients as quickly as we could,' said Ambulance acting inspector Tatalia Noor.

'With incidents as large as this, it was vital to account for any person that had been injured, so they could be assessed and treated appropriately,' she said.

'Paramedics did an amazing job assessing and treating such a large group, to ensure that those that needed to be transported, could be.'

SafeWork NSW is currently investigating the incident.

Parents of students were frantically contacting the school for information after first hearing about it on social media.

The school has students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Nine children have been injured in a scaffolding collapse at Campbelltown Performing Arts School in Campbelltown, in Sydney's south-west

A man whose daughter attends the school told The Daily Telegraph she was on the scaffolding when the collapse happened.

'She had cuts and bruises my wife rang to say she's OK,' the man said.

'They said they felt it wobbling and were told it's alright and then it fell.

'Some of the students were saying it didn't feel right.'

Police were seen at the school taking photos of the metal structure, which had been set up on the grass oval.
Iran's government on Monday pledged to be transparent with its figures on a deadly outbreak of the new coronavirus in the country, amid allegations of a coverup.

"We will announce any figures (we have) on the number of deaths throughout the country. We pledge to be transparent about the reporting of figures," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said in a conference aired live on state television.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Trump administration is considering whether to expel Chinese journalists in response to Chinas own expulsion of three Wall Street Journal reporters, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

A meeting will be held at the White House on Monday to discuss the administrations options. The meeting will be led by deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, who himself was a Journal reporter based in Beijing.

According to Bloomberg, administration officials are debating whether to expel up to hundreds of Chinese journalists in its response, or whether such a move would even be legal, seeming to contradict American values regarding freedom of the press.

This expulsion is yet another attempt to control the press, and prevent the worlds readers as well as investors from reading important stories about China, said John Ullyot, a spokesman for the National Security Council, in comments on the situation on Friday. Ullyot called Chinas expulsion of the Journal reporters an egregious act.

China expelled the three reporters after the Journal refused to apologize for a headline China deemed racist. The headline, China is the Real Sick Man of Asia, was chosen for a column by Bard College professor Walter Russell Mead on Chinas difficulty in coping with the Wuhan coronavirus and the shaky financial foundations of its economy.

The phrase sick man of Asia was used in the late 1800s to describe a China that had lost a string of wars and feared conquering by the western colonial powers. Dozens of reporters from the papers China bureau have called on the Journals publisher to change the headline.

More from National Review
Prior to his arrival in Motera stadium, Trump and Melania along with Modi also paid a short stopover at Sabarmati Ashram and spun a Charkha, which is closely associated with India's freedom struggle and Mahatma Gandhi.

Addressing the crowd at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad for the "Namaste Trump" event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed US President Donald Trump for deepening the India-US ties significantly and said that the visit was reflective of new chapter in bilateral ties of the two countries.

"India-US relations are no longer just another partnership. It is a far greater and closer relationship. One is 'land of the free' the other believes the world is one family. One feels proud of 'statue of liberty' the other feels proud of 'statue of unity'," he further said.

Recalling his "Howdy Modi" event in Houston in September, 2019, Modi said history was being repeated in Motera Stadium.

PM Narendra Modi: There is so much that we share, like shared values & ideals, a shared spirit of enterprise & innovation. Shared opportunities & challenges, shared hopes & aspirations pic.twitter.com/Ezz6EqHpcI  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

"I was at the Howdy Modi event in Houston and today President Trump is beginning his historic trip to India with a visit to Ahmedabad. I welcome President Trump to the world's largest democracy. Though Motera is in Gujarat, the sentiments you see here are of India," Modi said.

"Five months ago, I started my US trip with 'Howdy Modi' and today my friend President Donald Trump is starting his Indian trip with 'Namaste Trump' here in Ahmedabad," the prime minister further said.

The bonhomie between the two world leaders was displayed once again when Modi hugged Trump at the stadium.

Follow LIVE updates on Donald Trump's India Visit

The 'Namaste Trump' event is based on the lines of 'Howdy Modi' programme that was addressed by Modi and Trump during the prime minister's trip to Houston in September, 2019.

At least, one lakh people have gathered at the Motera stadium for the event. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Governor Acharya Devvrat and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly were also present at the stadium.

The US President arrived a short while ago in Ahmedabad with his wife Melania and a ministerial delegation that also included his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who serve as senior advisors to Trump.

Prior to this, Trump and Melania also paid a short stopover at Sabarmati Ashram and spun a Charkha, which is closely associated with India's freedom struggle and Mahatma Gandhi.

The dignitaries also had a look at the three monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi depicting moral gestures  see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil  at the ashram.

According to the itinerary, the US President in the evening will depart for Agra to catch a glimpse of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, before sunset with his family.

With inputs from agencies
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was called a threat to the people "who put their lives at risk to assist the U.S." on the first day of his extradition trial in London.

James Lewis, a lawyer for the U.S., told a London court that Assange's case has little to do with freedom of the press. Instead, he tried to narrow the focus of the U.S. charges down to the harm to secret agents caused by the WikiLeaks disclosures.
Chinese Army to procure 1.4 million body armor units in 2 years

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/23 18:33:41

As the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is striving to enhance its combat readiness and preparing for military conflicts, potentially against Taiwan secessionists and US provocations, the PLA Army announced its plan to procure a whopping 1.4 million units of high-quality body armor with plates for a top limit price of about 13 billion yuan ($1.85 billion) in the coming two years, which is expected to keep PLA casualty numbers as low as possible.

According to the 2019 edition of China's defense white paper, the PLA has about two million personnel, and the PLA Army is only a part of it, meaning every frontline army soldier could get one of these armor suits, with extra in reserve, analysts said.

The PLA Army is holding open tenders to procure 930,000 units of plates for universal bulletproof vests and 467,000 units of plates for enhanced bulletproof vests, according to two statements released on weain.mil.cn, the Chinese military's weapon and equipment procurement website, on Friday.

A regular plate unit should cost under 7,950 yuan, or 7.4 billion yuan in total, and an enhanced unit less than 12,900 yuan, or 6 billion yuan in total.

Each plate unit consists of two bulletproof plates, and the plate manufacturer will assemble the plates into the vests, which are not included in these procurements, before delivery.

The products will be delivered in batches in the 24 months after contracts are signed. Both open tenders will end on March 6, according to the statements.

Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday that the procurement had the lives of Chinese soldiers in mind, as the armor can keep casualties to a minimum.

The PLA is conducting more and more real-combat oriented training and drills, and the soldiers should always wear body armor as if they were in a real war to make the exercises more real, Song said.

Chinese body armor is of high quality and relatively low cost, Song said, noting that about 70 percent of the international body armor market is made up of Chinese products.

Some mainland military enthusiasts on the internet speculated that the procurement might aim at threat from Taiwan secessionists and their US supporters. They said armor plates' effectiveness expires in several years, so buying so many in such a short time period could mean preparations for potential military conflicts against Taiwan secessionist forces and other imminent threats in coming years.

The statements did not mention the purpose of the procurements.

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SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Louis Teo is a Market Strategist with Fullerton Markets International Limited - Asia's fastest-growing brokerage firm and World Finance Forex Awards's Best FX Broker (Asia) in 2019. He specializes in evaluating economic trends and geopolitical moves to forecast price changes and directions in the foreign exchange market and provides research, education and trading tools to thousands of traders and partners worldwide.Additionally, Louis engages with a live audience to decode market trends and provide live trade calls to a global clientele on Fullerton Markets' weekly webinar "Let's Trade LIVE!". Inspired by his passion for education, he also produces a weekly market commentary on the economic and political events that affect currency values using both technical and fundamental analysis, and has built up a dedicated following for his weekly one-minute trade calls on Facebook Live since 2018 that have garnered astounding average returns of 86.5%.His strong grasp and expertise of the foreign exchange market has since earned him and his team multiple accolades, including Best Research and Education Asia Pacific 2018', awarded by the International Business Magazine to Fullerton Markets' Research and Education Department, as they continue to set new benchmarks in providing incisive analysis and trading ideas to clients and partners worldwide.Speaking and Training Portfolio in the Finance IndustryAdditionally, he has spoken in various finance and forex events across Southeast Asia and the Middle East including Turkey, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, sharing about various trading methodologies and fundamental forex concepts.In May 2019, Louis was invited as an esteemed panel speaker for the Art of Investments alongside with co-founder of Seedly, Kenneth Lou, partner at TRIVE Ventures, Leck Ting Yan and director at CoAssets, Eugene Ong in Singapore, where he delved into the topic of forex as a viable investment instrument to reap dividends.He also spoke at the Cryptex Summit 2019 held in Istanbul, Turkey which was one of the largest cryptocurrency and foreign exchange events in the Middle East and at Singapore Trader Fair 2019, as part of a series of financial education and trading fairs held in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt, Brazil and Singapore.A widely sought-after trainer in the forex industry, Louis was also invited to conduct the Advanced Forex Training Program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for NFX1, one of the biggest forex education institutions in Vietnam where he touched on the topics of trading mindset, effective money management and multi-timeframe convergence strategies.As a Gen Y trader himself, he is particularly passionate about empowering savvy millennials towards a financially free lifestyle through currency trading and has condensed his teachings into a free e-book titled "The Millennial Playbook to Forex Trading", exclusively for his social media followers.To download his guide, email Louis at louis@ fullertonmarkets.com to find out more!Follow Louis on his trading journey and travels around the world on Facebook and Instagram @TheForexplorer as he dispenses tips and tricks to functional forex trading on the go.Media ContactSaltine Communicationshello@ saltinecomms.com SOURCE: Louis Teo
A former Northern Ireland Secretary has called on the Government to introduce a Statute of Limitations to protect veterans from historical prosecutions.

Owen Paterson, who served as Secretary of State from 2010 to 2012, said that while a previous Labour government's decision to grant 'Letters of Comfort' to around 300 alleged IRA 'on-the-run' terrorists meant they were free from prosecution, no such luxuries were afforded to soldiers who served during the Troubles.

"We should never forget that it is only because members of the armed forces and security services had the courage to fight terrorists that the rule of law was maintained and the conditions established for the peace process to take hold," he wrote in the Sunday Express.

"Negotiating peace entailed some incredibly difficult decisions, including releasing prisoners only two years after conviction, after due process, of the most appalling crimes.

"Tony Blair's decision to grant 'Letters of Comfort' to around 300 alleged IRA terrorists - meaning, in effect, that they could never be prosecuted - has tilted the focus of the proposed Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) unfairly towards veterans and retired police officers.

"Even when they do possess 'no prosecution' letters from the Government, they find that they carry no legal force."

The Conservative MP said that "new legislation must address this imbalance, in which elderly veterans who upheld the law are being pursued by interest groups while former terrorists rest easy".

"This does not mean that we are asking for a blanket amnesty for former soldiers and police officers," he wrote.

"They defended the rule of law, and they fully accept that it should apply as well to them as everyone else.

"Instead, new legislation must ensure that no new prosecutions can be brought unless there is an absolute guarantee of a fair trial.

"Such a prosecution must only happen on the basis of significant fresh evidence and with a real prospect of conviction.

"There is merit in the idea of enacting a Statute of Limitation so that no new cases can be brought without compelling new evidence.

"This could be set at 20 years from when the State knew of the event constituting the crime and who the alleged perpetrators were.

"A Statute of Limitation would be a long-term solution, but an immediate remedy would be to ensure that where the DPP or Government has previously issued 'no prosecution' letters or taken a decision not to prosecute, that decision should be absolutely upheld except in cases of substantial new evidence.

"This is not currently the case, and legislation must address that."

Mr Paterson said the legislation "must also ensure that the 10,000 former RUC GC officers are afforded the same treatment".

"Fair and just treatment is the fundamental principle which new legislation must enshrine.

"There is an urgent need to ensure that veterans are fairly treated by the rule of law which they did so much to defend," he added.
Haitian police demanding better working conditions shot up the army headquarters on Sunday, killing two servicemen and wounding a dozen more, the Defense Ministry said, prompting the government to cancel an upcoming carnival.

In a statement issued Sunday evening, the government said it had observed "with concern and dismay that terror has reigned in certain arteries of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area." In order to avoid a "bloodbath... it has been decided to cancel the carnival," which was scheduled to take place Tuesday, the statement said.

Media reports had said six people were wounded in the attack in Port-au-Prince by what the ministry said were gunmen wearing masks.

"We are under siege. We are coming under fire with all kinds of weapons -- assault rifles, Molotov cocktails, tear gas," General Jodel Lessage told AFP earlier. He said soldiers had returned fire but did not give an injury toll, nor could he say how many people were at the army headquarters, near the presidential palace, at the time of the attack.

The situation remained tense as night fell in the city.

For months, Haitian police have been demanding better working conditions, in particular the right to form a union so as to ensure transparency in talks with the police hierarchy.

Last week, some officers took to the street, blocking them and setting fire to cars.

On Saturday, President Jovenel Moise announced measures designed to ease the crisis, including the creation of a compensation fund for families of police who die in the line of duty and a fund to provide officers with insurance.

Haiti has witnessed a spike in kidnappings for ransom since the beginning of the year and fighting between rival crime gangs, which regularly set up roadblocks on Haitian highways.

The destitute Caribbean country has also been gripped by a political crisis for more than a year as people demand the resignation of Moise.

Since coming to power in February 2017, Moise has faced the anger of an opposition movement that refuses to recognize his victory in an election widely seen as dubious. Moise is also accused of corruption.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LONGMEADOW  The monument sign outside St. Marys Roman Catholic Church on Route 5 here proclaims Be Kind, Ash Wednesday Is Feb. 26.

A little further away at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, a temporary sign near street parking says, Ashes to Go, 7 to 9 a.m.

The exterior reminders testify how in todays world Christians can observe Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40 days of Lent that leads up to Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter.

They can go the traditional way to get the mark on their forehead in the Sign of the Cross that symbols both their faith and mortality  lining up to receive the ashes inside a church, often after a service, or at an exterior stop as they motor about their day.

St. Andrews is also holding an Ash Wednesday and Healing Service at 12:15 p.m. on Feb. 26, another Ashes to Go from 3 to 5 p.m. outside Blake Student Commons at Bay Path University as well as a 6 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service with parallel programming for children in Church School.

St. Marys down the street has a 7 a.m. and a 6 p.m. Mass with distribution of ashes as well as a 3:30 p.m. service with ashes.

It is among parishes that also offers Lenten Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. on Fridays during Lent, except for Good Friday, followed by a Communion Service.

In Springfield, Bishop Mitchell Rozanski will celebrate the 12:10 Mass at St. Michaels Cathedral Wednesday and will distribute ashes during that time.

In his Lenten letter to Roman Catholic clergy in the Springfield Diocese, Rozanski reminded that during Lent Catholics who are between the ages of 18 and 59 undertake at a minimum two days of fasting: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

To fast means to take just one full meal with two smaller meals and no eating between meals, he said.

Additionally, every Catholic 14 years and older is to make Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent meatless days  days on which no meat of any kind is eaten, days of abstinence.

He added, Ash Wednesday is a time for acts of penance and alms-giving, helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

A visible sign of our Lenten practices comes on Ash Wednesday when the ashes mark a sign of the cross on our forehead to remind us that our frail human nature needs the saving power of Christ, he said.

The imposition of ashes, fasting and abstinence from meat are outward signs of the work we seek to do during Lent: to make our interior dispositions more of what Christ would have us be. Each of us is asked, as well, to undertake particular prayers, actions, alms giving, mortifications, and self-sacrifice to help us grow in our understanding of all God has done for us.

The ashes used for Ash Wednesday are made from the burning of palms blessed during the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration that marks the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem and is observed the Sunday before Easter at the beginning of Holy Week.

Easter this year is April 12.
Joe Fayyad, Peter Cook and Neil Broekhuizen. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit:

Fresh out of Wall Street bonus season, some of the countrys top bankers have wasted little time making the annual pilgrimage to the ski slopes of British Columbias Monashees.

Joe Fayyad, the ex-Goldman Sachs banker who now runs Bank of American Merrill Lynchs local operations, has been one frequent traveller.

He and a number of other dealmakers boarded Canada-bound flights over the weekend.

BAML had a slow year in 2019 and has some of the lowest paid bankers among the major institutions. But, as the Financial Review reported last month, theres hope the honeymoon period following Fayyads appointment to the top job in April will bring more largesse.
Karachi, Feb 24 : Members of minority groups in Pakistan can practice their religion openly and move about with complete freedom in the Muslim-majority country, a Minister has clamed.

While visiting the Swami Narayan Temple in Karachi on Sunday, provincial minister Nasir Hussain Shah vowed to protect the rights of minorities, reports The Express Tribune.

He commended the role and contribution that minorities have played in the development and progress of Pakistan, adding that he had come to the temple with a message of peace.

On behalf of the government, he also announced that 10,000 copies of the Bhagavad Gita would soon be distributed.

According to the London-based Minority Rights Group International, ethnic minorities in Pakistan include Sindhis (14.1 per cent), Pashtuns (15.42 per cent), Mohajirs (7.57 per cent), Baluchis (3.57 per cent).

Religious minorities include Christians (1.59 per cent), Ahmadis (0.22 per cent), Hindus (1.6 per cent), Shias, Isma'ilis, Bohras, Parsis and Sikhs.
The Kolkata Police on Monday evening gave permission to union home minister Amit Shahs rally scheduled to be held on March 1.

We have asked them (Bharatiya Janata Party) to organize the rally, said Subhankar Sinha Sarkar, joint commissioner (headquarters) of Kolkata police.

Shah will be in Kolkata on March 1 to decide the line of campaign to be followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming civic polls. Civic polls are likely to be held in April this year. The partys state unit is also planning to felicitate Shah for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

We have got permission. The event will happen as planned, said Tushar Kanti Ghosh, BJPs state unit secretary.

In 2014 and again in 2018, the Bengal BJP had to move court to get permission for holding Shahs rally, who was then the partys national president.

This time too uncertainty had developed over the permission for the rally as secondary and higher secondary examinations are going on. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has banned the use of loud speakers in residential areas and around schools.

There are no exams on that day. Neither are there any residential areas near the place where the rally would be held. So we think if the police give permission to use loud speakers then there wont be any problem. Despite all these, if the Trinamool Congress party or the police think that they wont give permission then it is a different issue. But it is not against the law, Ghosh had said on February 21.

Ghosh had also said that the state BJP unit wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to Kolkata.

The Prime Minister is not coming as of now. But as Amit Shah, the main person behind the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, is coming we will felicitate him, Ghosh had said.

Ghosh had said earlier that if the police decline to give permission the party would look for alternatives.
Two suspected narcotic smugglers were arrested and 35 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from them in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Monday night, officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajiv Pandey said a police party intercepted a Delhi-bound vehicle on a highway during checking at Jakhani area.

During a search, 35 kg of cannabis was recovered and two persons -- Zahoor Ahmed and Mudasar Ahmed -- were arrested, the officer said.

A case has been registered and an investigation is on, the SSP added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Value Colleges ( www.valuecolleges.com ), an independent online guide to the best values in undergraduate and graduate education, is pleased to share two new rankings:

Top 25 Best Value Engineering Programs for 2020

https://www.valuecolleges.com/rankings/best-value-engineering-programs/

Top 25 Top 25 Best Value Online Engineering Bachelor's for 2020

https://www.valuecolleges.com/ranking/best-online-engineering-degree/

Value Colleges' rankings of the Best Value Engineering Programs, and the Best Value Online Engineering Bachelor's, are dedicated to pointing students to the best overall return on investment. For both rankings, Value Colleges focused specifically on regionally accredited colleges and universities with an established reputation for quality.

The top 3 online residential engineering bachelor's programs are: 1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2) Stanford University, and 3) Georgia Tech. The top 3 online engineering bachelor's programs are: 1) John's Hopkins University, 2) Stony Brook University, and 3) Arizona State University.

Value Colleges congratulates the top 3 in each category, as well as all of the top undergraduate engineering schools!

The full lists, in alphabetical order, can be found below.

"There are a handful of fields that all but guarantee graduates a high return on investment: finance, medicine, law," but an undergraduate degree in engineering is usually considered the highest-paying bachelor's degree. As VC editors explain, "for people who like hands-on experimentation, complex projects, and dreaming big, engineering is the way to go. Engineering degrees have spectacularly high ROIs, even from state colleges and universities, and there's a job market hungry for qualified engineers." For most engineering students, "There are a lot of very solid financial reasons to go residential," including "well-equipped laboratories for experimentation" and connections to local industry. But it's becoming much more common for working adults to consider bachelor's completion programs while still working, and to meet the demand, online engineering bachelor's degrees have become much more common. Between bachelor's in engineering technology and more theoretical, graduate school-oriented engineering bachelor's programs, there are options for every prospective engineer. The purpose of the Value Colleges ranking of the best engineering bachelor's programs is to help students find their way to the program that meets their specific needs.

Value Colleges has a mission to help future students - whether they are working professionals, new graduates, minority and first-generation students, or others - to find residential and online degree programs that will help them make their goals a reality. Value Colleges is independent and unbiased, ranking degree programs, providing guides for the complex financial and professional questions of college students, and offering honest facts about the potential and pitfalls of a college education.

Top 25 Best Value Engineering Bachelor's Programs for 2020

Brigham Young University

California Institute of Technology

Carnegie Mellon University

Colorado School of Mines

Duke University

Georgia Tech

Lehigh University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

North Carolina State University

Ohio State University

Princeton University

Purdue University

Stanford University

Texas A&M University

UCLA

University of California, Berkeley

University of Florida

University of Illinois

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

University of Pennsylvania

University of Texas at Austin

University of Virginia

University of Washington

Virginia Tech

Top 25 Best Value Online Engineering Bachelor's for 2020

American Public University

Arizona State University

Bemidji State University

Colorado Technical University

Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern New Mexico University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Florida International University

Grantham University

Indiana State University

Johns Hopkins University

Kennesaw State University

Lamar University

National University

Old Dominion University

Regent University

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Stony Brook University

Tarleton State University

UNC Charlotte

University of Alabama

University of Maine

University of North Dakota

University of Southern Mississippi

Western Carolina University

Rhonda Corey

Media Manager, Value Colleges

[email protected]

(919) 864-2220

SOURCE Value Colleges
Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse for his rape trial in New York City, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape and Sexual Assault, Acquitted of More Serious Crimes

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty on Feb. 24 of rape in the third degree and criminal sexual act in the first degree. He was found not guilty of two counts of predatory sexual assault that would have carried a possible life sentence.

Weinstein was found guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree for an incident involving former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Mimi Haley and rape in the third degree for the assault of hairstylist Jessica Mann.

The 67-year-old movie mogul has denied the allegations, saying the encounters were consensual.

During the trial, six women testified he had sexually assaulted them, although Weinstein only faced criminal charges in connection with two of them. The four others testified to establish that he showed a pattern of criminal behavior.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to deliberate.

Weinsteins lawyers said they will appeal.

Harvey is unbelievably strong. He took it like a man, defense attorney Donna Rotunno said. He knows that we will continue to fight for him, and we know that this is not over.

Another of his lawyers, Arthur Aidala, quoted Weinstein as telling his legal team: Im innocent. Im innocent. Im innocent. How could this happen in America?

Harvey Weinstein leaves the State Supreme Court in New York on Jan. 6, 2020. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

Judge James Burke ordered that Weinstein be taken to jail immediately. Court officers surrounded Weinstein, handcuffed him, and led him out of the courtroom via a side door without the use of the walker hed relied on for much of the trial.

The judge said he will ask that Weinstein, who had been free on bail since his arrest nearly two years ago, be held in the infirmary after his lawyers said he needs medical attention following an unsuccessful back surgery.

The sexual assault charge carries up to 25 years in prison, while the third-degree rape count is punishable by up to four years. The sentencing is set for March 11.

Here the rapist was at the pinnacle, at the very profession his victims strived to make a career in, Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said in her opening statement. Thus, the power and balance he deviously exploited was not just physical, it was also professional and profoundly psychological.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers said that any sexual contact was consensual and accused the women of trying to advance their careers. The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein via emails and other means.

Rotunno said that prosecutors created an alternate universe where women are not responsible for the parties they attend, the men they flirt with, the choices they made to further their own careers, the hotel room invitations, the plane tickets they accept, the jobs they ask for help to obtain, according to BuzzFeed.

Harvey Weinstein (C) arrives for a court hearing in New York on Dec. 11, 2019. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

To the defendant, it has been said he was the master of his universe and the witnesses here were merely ants that he could step on without consequences, Manhattan Assistant DA Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said in her closing statements, the New York Post reported.

Weinstein, who has been recently photographed walking to a court in New York using a walker, faces up to 29 years in prison for the charges.

Dozens of women have accused Weinstein, including actresses Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, and Gwyneth Paltrow, of various forms of misconduct. Last year, Weinstein reached a $44 million settlement with several of his accusers, according to reports at the time.

Weinsteins legal woes arent yet over, as he was indicted for sexual misconduct in Los Angeles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Store closures and fewer customers triggered further deterioration in the Steak n Shake restaurant chains operating results and dragged down San Antonio parent company Biglari Holdings Inc.s financial performance last year.

Revenue at the chain known for its burgers and shakes plunged by $165.5 million, or almost 22 percent, to $595 million last year. The chains operating loss tumbled to almost $18.6 million last year from about $10.7 million in 2018.

Steak n Shake churned out $300 million in cash for its parent in roughly the first decade under Biglari Holdings ownership, but Biglari Holdings Chairman and CEO Sardar Biglari said in a Saturday letter to shareholders that the chains performance has gone from bad to worse over the last few years.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Sardar Biglari looks to reverse Steak n Shakes slide

Last year, Steak n Shake started transitioning company-owned restaurants to single-unit franchise partnerships. As part of that plan, it temporarily closed 107 locations. So far, 29 stores have been converted.

Some 17,000 applicants applied to become franchisees. The acceptance rate was 0.17 percent, lower than Harvard Universitys acceptance rate of 4.5 percent last year, Biglari highlighted in his letter. He has estimated that it will take three years to transition to a network of franchise partnerships.

Biglari told shareholders that Steak n Shakes labor costs run 6 to 8 percentage points higher than those of competitors. He previously blamed Steak n Shakes kitchen design for high-cost, labor-intensive slow service. As a result, most of the closed units will reopen with counter service instead of table service.

Meanwhile, customer traffic at Steak n Shake fell 11.2 percent last year.

Overall, Biglari Holdings  which also owns the Western Sizzlin restaurant chain, Maxim magazine, a commercial trucking insurance company and an oil production company  earned $45.4 million, or $131.64 per Class A share, on $668.8 million in revenue last year, the company reported in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.

By comparison, Biglari Holdings earned $19.4 million, or $55.71 per Class A share, on $809.9 million in revenue in 2018.

On ExpressNews.com: Steak n Shakes troubles trigger warning

Biglari did not respond to a request for comment. He generally does not speak to the media, reserving his comments for the letter and the annual shareholder meeting each April.

He has told shareholders his interest is in generating wealth as opposed to generating reported earnings.

Gains from Biglari Holdings investment in two partnerships called The Lion Fund fueled the increase in the companys bottom line last year. Biglari Holdings had a $666.1 million investment in the partnerships at the end of last year.

The Lion Funds biggest holding has been in the shares of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. The fund at one time held almost 20 percent of Cracker Barrels stock, but thats been trimmed to 8.3 percent over the last two years.

The funds $241.1 million investment in Cracker Barrel has turned into $998.7 million in value, Biglari said. That includes proceeds from stock sales, dividends and its remaining stake in Cracker Barrel.

The Lion Fund has added 375,000 shares in jewelry manufacturer and retailer Tiffany & Co., which were valued at about $50 million based on Fridays closing price.

Biglari told shareholders that as long as the investments produce long-term profits, hell blissfully accept the volatility caused by the lack of investment diversification.

Our investing style, we acknowledge, is unorthodox, he said.

Biglari Holdings is back in the acquisition business. After acquiring Southern Oil Co. of Louisiana for $51.5 million in September  its first acquisition since Maxim about 5 years earlier, Biglari Holdings expects to close on the purchase of Arkansas-based Southern Pioneer Property & Casualty Insurance Co. this quarter.

(Biglari called it a coincidence that both companies have the word Southern in their name.)

Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

Southern Pioneer underwrites garage liability, commercial property and dealer license bonds for used auto dealers. Net written premiums totaled $23.4 million last year.

Biglari has wanted to add more insurance companies to his companys holdings, given the returns generated by the 2014 acquisition of First Guard Insurance Co. The underwriter of commercial truck insurance has been the brightest jewel in Biglari Holdings collection of business gems, he said.

First Guard generated about $5.6 million in net earnings on $28.7 million in written premiums last year.

Revenue continued to shrink at Maxim magazine, which Biglari has transformed from a lads mag to a luxury lifestyle publication. It earned $572,000 on $4.1 million in revenue last year. It turned a $796,000 profit on $6.6 million in revenue in 2018.

The repositioning will provide a launching pad for high-profit lines of business, Biglari said. Those include licensing the Maxim brand for customer products, services and events. Still, he conceded results will be uneven because licensing opportunities occur with irregularity.

Southern Oil, which primarily operates oil and natural gas properties offshore in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico, generated $5.9 million in earnings on $24.4 million in revenue in the nearly four months Biglari Holdings owned it last year.

Biglari Holdings Class A shares slipped $14.01 to $649.99, while its Class B shares rose $3.09 to close at $120 Monday. Biglari holds a controlling stake in both classes.

Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
NASHVILLE  In Mississippi, power was out for days. In Alabama, schools opened late because of torrential rains. In Tennessee, houses slid from their foundations and tumbled into the Tennessee River. In Kentucky, heavy rains triggered a rock slide that derailed a train carrying ethanol, and the spilled fuel set the Big Sandy River on fire. All across the South this year, flooding has been nothing less than Shakespearean, even biblical, the kind of weather that comes from a human challenge to the divine order.

I dont actually believe the Almighty dispenses weather to punish bad behavior, but if I did, Id have a good idea whose behavior might have triggered it.

It rained here the day the Senate voted to acquit the president of the United States of wrongdoing even as many of them publicly admitted he had done wrong. It rained here the night the president pretended to be an environmentalist during the State of the Union address. It rained the morning he turned the lovely, bipartisan National Prayer Breakfast into a partisan rant and when, later that day, he continued ranting in a profanity-laced news conference televised live from the East Room of the White House.

It didnt rain the following day  the day the president fired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a decorated Iraq war veteran on the National Security Council staff, for testifying in the House impeachment hearings  but it snowed very briefly, and then the snow melted into the swamp that has become the entire South this abysmally rainy winter. By now its clear that there can be no more talk of draining the swamp. The literal waters are rising, and the president of the United States is a figurative one-man swamp of corruption.
The former Governor of Zamfara State and originator of Sharia Law in northern states, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima, has expressed doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari signed agreement with the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to handover the president to him in 2023 after the second tenure. Yarima, in a media interaction, said that even if such agreement exists; it cannot be implemented in the APC. He maintained that President Buhari has declared his neutrality in the horse trading for APC 2023 presidential ticket, and therefore, cannot endorse Tinubu as his successor. He said that such insinuation is mere speculation.

President Buhari is alleged to have signed an agreement with Tinubu, to hand over to him in 2023. Yarima, though doubting such agreement, emphasized that modern politics in Nigeria has gone beyond clique decision process. He stated Nigeria does not belong to any political principal, saying: and I dont think anyone in any position can determine what Nigeria should have. Politics is about election  for people to decide what they want. So, it is the majority of the people that will determine who they want. He insisted that if such agreement was signed, it cannot guarantee the beneficiary the APC ticket.

If he signed an agreement with Asiwaju, that agreement cannot be implemented even in getting the ticket. It cannot guarantee Asiwaju a ticket, Yarima declared.

The former governor emphasized that President Buhari has declared; and the party has decided that APC primary election is going to be direct. Will he direct everybody to go and vote for Asiwaju, Yarima asked.

He expressed his belief that the APC primary election will be a free and fair. Agreement or no agreement is a political statement, but I dont think that is possible because I dont think that the Buhari that I know will sign any agreement. He knows that he doesnt have the powers and the authority to hand over power to whomever he so wishes. He said it is going to be free and fair; in fact, he even said it in the open that he doesnt have any candidate. So, these are just speculations, Yarima declared.

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A car deliberately drove into a crowd at a carnival procession in Germany, injuring dozens of people including children.

A large number of officers are at the scene in Volkmarsen, a small town about 175 miles south-west of Berlin, according to Northern Hesse police.

The driver of the car, a 29-year-old German citizen from Volkmarsen was arrested at the scene by police who said he cannot be interviewed at this time because of his injuries.

Police and rescue workers stand next to the scene of the accident with a car that is said to have crashed into a carnival parade in Volkmarsen, central Germany. (Uwe Zucchi/dpa via AP)

Earlier on Monday afternoon, 10 people were said to have been injured, but this number appears to have risen sharply since then.

Germanys Bild newspaper said that more than 30 people were injured, about a third of whom are in a serious condition, according to their source.

The paper cited a police spokesman, Henning Hinn, as saying they were working on the assumption that it was a deliberate act.

Hinn said that there were several dozen injured, among them children, and some are seriously hurt.

Several people have been injured, according to the police. The driver had been arrested by the police. (Uwe Zucchi/dpa via AP)

Armed police are seen at the site of a car crash during a carnival procession in Volkmarsen. (Swen Pfortner/dpa via AP)

The DPA news agency said no deaths had been reported in the crash.

Witnesses have said that the driver broke through the safety barriers and headed for the crowd at full throttle, German website HNA said.

According to the website Hessischer Rundfunk, one witness reported that the silver-coloured Mercedes raced into the crowd at around 2.30 pm.

The car came about 98 feet (30 meters) before it came to a stop. The drivers foot was still on the gas peddle.

Images from the scene show emergency workers and police standing among debris from the crash and a silver Mercedes, said to have been the car involved.

Witnesses told the newspaper that angry locals surrounded the vehicle as the driver was pulled out, and that police had to protect him as he was arrested.

Police cordoned off the area as investigators scoured the scene for evidence. (Uwe Zucchi/dpa via AP)

Police said they could not immediately provide further details and urged people not to spread unconfirmed reports about the incident, which happened early on Monday afternoon.

Police said they have not received any reports of any deaths, and do not have a specific number of injuries yet.

Story continues

Emergency cars stand next to the scene of the accident with a car that is said to have crashed into a carnival parade in Volkmarsen, central Germany. (Uwe Zucchi/dpa via AP)

Dozens of ambulances were called to the scene, as well as a helicopter, according to Deutsche Welle.

It is not yet clear what caused the car to crash into the crowd or whether it was deliberate.

North Hesse Police asked anyone with images or video of the incident not to post them online as an information portal is being set up.

The General Prosecutor's Office in Frankfurt are understood to have taken over the investigation, being that of attempted homicide.

Wir wissen, dass der Wunsch nach umfassenden Informationen gro ist.



Wir appellieren jedoch eindringlich an alle, die Bilder oder Videos aus #Volkmarsen haben:



Halten Sie sich zuruck mit Spekulationen; verbreiten Sie keine dieser Aufnahmen.



Ein Hinweisportal wird eingerichtet.  Polizei Nordhessen (@Polizei_NH) February 24, 2020

They tweeted: "We know that there is a great desire for comprehensive information.

"However, we urge everyone who has pictures or videos from #Volkmarsen: Hold back on speculation; do not distribute any of these recordings.

"An information portal will be set up."

The incident took place during celebrations for Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday - a carnival day celebrated in some parts of Germany, as well as parts of Austria, Belgium and Switzerland.

Celebrations, which attract thousands each year, usually include dressing up in fancy costumes, dancing, parades and general public displays with floats.
An artists impression of the proposed Old Oak Common HS2 station in west London (Handout/HS2/PA)

The leader of the SDLP has called for a significant infrastructure fund for Northern Ireland following confirmation the HS2 project is to go ahead.

Colum Eastwood has written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to ask if the multi-billion-pound investment in the English rail project will result in equivalent investment in Northern Ireland.

The letter from the Foyle MP follows confirmation that the HS2 project will proceed, at an estimated cost of up to 106 billion.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Eastwood said such a spend should result in significant allocations under the Barnett funding formula to level up local infrastructure.

His party colleague Nichola Mallon is the regions infrastructure minister.

The SDLP leader outlined a number of proposed infrastructure projects that required funding, including rail expansion into the west of the region, the cross-border Narrow Water bridge and a rapid rail service between Londonderry, Belfast and Dublin.

While Boris Johnson talks about fantasy bridges, were concerned about building roads, upgrading rail and connecting our communities in a way that delivers opportunity for everyoneColum Eastwood, SDLP leader

Developing regionally balanced infrastructure is critical to driving economic growth, creating new jobs and transforming the lives of people across the North, Mr Eastwood said.

It is an urgent priority for the SDLP, thats why we chose to take on the challenge of the Department for Infrastructure in the new Executive.

While Boris Johnson talks about fantasy bridges, were concerned about building roads, upgrading rail and connecting our communities in a way that delivers opportunity for everyone.

Thats why Ive written to the British Chancellor today requesting detailed projections of the Barnett allocations the Executive should receive from projects like HS2, where costs are spiralling beyond 100 billion, to level up infrastructure on this island.
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A street carnival in Germany today featured a series of satirical floats lampooning political leaders from around the world including Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.

The annual Rose Monday parade attracted thousands of spectators who came to see the hotly-anticipated floats designed each year by Jacques Tilly, Germany's leading carnival float designer.

Tilly, 56, admits that his countrymen are not known for their grasp of humour and says his main influences are classic British comedies including Spitting Image, Monty Python and Little Britain.

He keeps his designs a closely guarded secret each year until they are unveiled at the famous carnival in Dusseldorf, an annual event that coincides with parades held in towns and cities across Germany to mark the end of 'carnival season' which runs from November 11 until Ash Wednesday.

This year's events were overshadowed today when at least 15 people were injured after a car ploughed into crowds at a parade in the town of Volkmarsen.

Witnesses said the Mercedes swerved around safety barriers before driving 'full speed' into the crowd. The driver was arrested at the scene.

Thousands of spectators gathered to watch the Dusseldorf parade with its satirical floats which included a figure of Prime Minister Boris Johnson with kilt-clad legs and EU socks marching away from him.

Another depicted US President Donald Trump snuggling up with Iran's Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei with the slogan: 'Make love, not war.'

Facebook, German far right politicians and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg were also the butt of jokes.

Tilly said: 'Germany and humour, it's complicated. We have always been very obedient to authority. Humour is always also criticism, and criticism has always been regarded here as corrosive to the state.

'You were always labelled as a social pest when you criticised anyone like the Kaiser or the Fuhrer.'

He told The Times: 'The Germans have only just learnt that criticism is a crucial part of forging public opinion. That's new and it's only happened in the past few decades.

'The Brits have always been ahead of us there. I try to go in the direction of British humour to bring in a hardness, an uncompromising quality, a courage that you hardly ever get here. Things are always a bit tamer in Germany.'

A dig at Brexit: PM Boris Johnson is left looking glum as his Scottish legs march off in a kilt and EU socks - a jibe pointing out that Scotland voted Remain in the Brexit referendum and could potentially rejoin the EU if it broke away from the UK

A burning kangaroo emblazoned with a map of the world and the slogan 'Australia is everywhere' warning that the recent bush fires exacerbated by global warming could strike elsewhere

A figure at the Rose Monday carnival depicting Facebook as a monster that spreads 'hate' and 'radicalisation'

Make love, not war! US President Donald Trump snuggles up with Iran's Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei

One float had this figure of Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg dangling an older couple, labelled 'parents generation', by their ears and the slogan: 'Finally do something about the climate catastrophe'

Carnival revellers cheer during the Rose Monday carnival parade in Dusseldorf that attracted thousands of spectators

Figures depicting an angry coronavirus bug being mocked by a jeering 'carnival virus' bug on the back of a Rose Monday float

This float has the word 'racism' on the barrel of a gun coming from the mouth of an angry man and the slogan 'from words come deeds'. Underneath is a list of terror attacks by far right extremists including the recent attack on shisha bars in Hanau

Carnival revellers cheer during the Rose Monday carnival street parade in Dusseldorf

A figures depicting the far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leader Bjoern Hoecke giving a Nazi salute being held up by CDU and FDP party leaders

A figure depicting an Alternative for Germany (AfD) supporter apparently talking out of his backside with the slogan 'everything goes wrong in Germany'

Carnival revellers cheer during the Rose Monday carnival street parade in Dusseldorf

A figure depicting Brazil's President Jair 'Bolsonaro' as 'climate killer' is pictured during the Rose Monday carnival

A carnival float depicting German composer Ludwig van Beethoven holding a sheet of music 'Ode to Joy' dressed in the flags of the EU

Carnival revellers cheer during the Rose Monday carnival street parade in Dusseldorf
A judge has condemned the "extraordinary cruelty" of a woman who blackmailed the Melbourne parents of a dying baby girl.

Siti Kamal saw an opportunity in distraught dad Jay Windross' social media plea for the return of his wife Deanne's phone, filled with pictures of their terminally ill 11-month-old, Amiyah.

Siti Nurhidayah Kamal, 25, has pleaded guilty to blackmailing the parents of a dying child. Credit:Facebook

As the baby drew her last breaths in April last year, Kamal sent Mr Windross more than 90 messages demanding $1000 in return for the phone.

Despite never having the device, the 24-year-old threatened to sell it or delete the pictures of Amiyah.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 11:52:39|Editor: Xiang Bo

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HOUSTON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were injured Sunday night in a shooting at a flea market about 18 km north of downtown Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas, local police said.

Some injuries may have been a result of bullet ricochet and "no one is critically wounded," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted.

Police said that a male was detained at the scene and an investigation is underway.

No motive for the shooting has been released.
Vijay's upcoming film Master, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is undoubtedly one of the biggest releases of this year and has therefore been in the news for the longest time. With each passing day, we have been getting updates about the much-awaited action-thriller and the latest piece of information is regarding its grand audio launch event.

Unlike what's been reported in the media earlier, the audio launch of Master won't be taking place in Chennai. Instead, the event will happen in Coimbatore reportedly on March 10. Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, who plays a crucial role in the film, announced this news while attending a college function in Coimbatore recently.

The crowd went into a frenzy as soon as Shanthanu revealed that the Master team will be arriving in Coimbatore for the audio launch. Reportedly, the makers of Vijay starrer had decided to organize the event at Hindustan college in Chennai. But they weren't granted permission by the college authorities as per a timesofindia.com report. Hence, the audio launch is now happening in Coimbatore which is Vijay's hometown.

Fans across India are looking forward to the launch event as the Thalapathy of Tamil cinema will be delivering a speech wherein he is expected to address the income tax raid controversy as well. For those unaware, the actor was recently summoned by income tax officials over alleged tax evasion charges and his Chennai residence was also raided.

Coming back to Master, currently, the filming is going on at a brisk pace in and around Chennai city. Apart from Vijay, the action-thriller features Vijay Sethupathi in the lead but he's playing the role of an antagonist. Malavika Mohanan, Nassar, Sriman, Andrea Jeremiah, Sanjeev, Srinath, VJ Ramya, and Azhagan Perumal are also a part of the much-awaited film which is scheduled to release on April 9, 2020.

Master Audio Launch Cancelled? Might Leave Vijay's Fans Disappointed

Soorarai Pottru vs Master: Suriya Avoids Box Office Clash With Vijay


British government will pursue a new migration policy aimed at attracting exclusively highly qualified foreigners to the country with advanced knowledge of English, education, and work experience for specific vacancies

British media are discussing toughening of the migration regime after the end of Brexit transition period by the beginning of 2021. Starting January next year, the British government will pursue a new migration policy aimed at attracting exclusively highly qualified foreigners to the country with advanced knowledge of English, education, and work experience for specific vacancies.

In order to migrate to the UK, you will need to score a sufficient number of points (70), which will be awarded depending on the level of English proficiency, the availability of a job offer with a salary of at least  25.600 per year, and a Ph.D., preference will be given to people with higher technical education, with advanced degrees, mathematicians, and IT specialists.

On February 20, the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced the Global Talent program, which will allow foreign scientists and mathematicians to obtain visas and confirm their diplomas in an accelerated mode for employment in the UK.

The British authorities borrowed the experience of Australia, where a similar migration policy is being pursued. Migration reform is expected to reduce the influx of low-skilled labor into the UK. The new rules apply to all, without exception, including more than 3 million citizens from EU member states who live and work in the UK.

Concerns about the new migration policy were expressed by the Royal College of Nursing, the National Union of Farmers, the Federation of Beverage and Food Producers, since foreign workers, including from Ukraine, are actively used in the field of medicine, agriculture and the food industry. However, the British government believes that local employers should train 8.5 million unemployed Britons to their requirements and employ, rather than looking for cheap labor abroad.

Implications for Ukrainians in the UK

According to the Association of Ukrainians of the UK, up to 100,000 ethnic Ukrainians live and work in the United Kingdom, both born in the country and those who are there for permanent residence or just go to work. In 2018, about 8,000 citizens of Ukraine got a job in the UK.

Much less than migrants from India (829,000), Poland (695,000), Pakistan (522,000), Ireland (390,000), Italy (297,000) or Romania (411,000). Not all Ukrainian labor migrants, like their colleagues from other countries, would be able to fit into the realities of the new migration policy of the UK.

Men mostly go to work on construction sites, and women get jobs as house cleaners and nurses. Mostly builders earn 25,200 pounds a year. The average salary of a nurse is 23,000 pounds per year. Foreign workers of the most popular professions among Ukrainian migrants fall into the category of low-skilled labor, which will be denied visas.

The situation in the agricultural sector of the UK, where Ukrainian citizens also involved, is different. The British government made an exception for seasonal agricultural workers and allowed British farmers to attract up to 10,000 migrants a year.

Apparently, Johnson made a compromise with the National Union of Farmers, which implements a pilot program to attract foreign citizens to work. Their employment is carried out by the agencies Pro-Force and Concordia. In 2019, British farmers asked for permission to attract 30,000 labor migrants, claiming that there was no one to work on farms. In 2019, 2,500 citizens of Ukraine, Moldova, and Russia worked on the farms of Scotland and England.

Chance for IT specialists

Johnsons new migration policy gives Ukrainian scientists, IT specialists, engineers, and mathematicians a chance to find work in the UK. Migration reform in the UK is focused on solving the shortage of 40,000 IT people.

Due to the shortage of skilled workers, the country's economy receives less than  60 billion a year. Most of all in the UK there are not enough specialists in the field of cybersecurity, data management, and business analysts with a bias in IT, software developers. More than half of British employers fill up the shortage of these personnel thanks to cooperation with freelancers.

In the UK, the salary for work in the high-tech sector is on average 5,000 dollars per month (47,500 pounds per year), and in Ukraine it amounts to 1,500-2,500 dollars per month. In 2019, the number of employees of IT companies in Ukraine increased from 58,000 to 63,000 people. Ukraine has 40,000 technical specialists.

There are 10 universities in our country, including the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, Kharkiv National Economic University, which train specialists for high-tech industries, and their graduates look for work.

Polish factor

The risks for Ukrainian labor migrants are not so much the tightening of the migration regime in the UK, but the consequences of this measure for citizens of EU member states, primarily Poles, who are mainly engaged in construction, the healthcare system, hotel and restaurant business, trade, and food industry enterprises.

Since 2006, the UK has been the most popular destination for Polish labor migrants. Therefore, the shortage of jobs in Poland itself was compensated by from 900,000 to 2 million Ukrainian workers. However, it is likely that many Polish workers will have to leave Misty Albion and return home after 2021. After the start of the whole story with Brexit, 68,000 Poles left Britain.

In this case, competition in the Polish labor market will intensify. In order to protect the interests of their citizens, the Polish authorities will accept fewer labor migrants from Ukraine, preferring the employment of their people. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian migrants who earn from 500 to 1,500 dollars a month in Poland risk being left without work and livelihoods.

The reduction in remittances of Ukrainian migrants will negatively affect the Ukrainian economy. In 2019, labor migrants transferred over 10 billion dollars to Ukraine and became one of the key sources of replenishment of the state treasury along with the export of metallurgy and agricultural products. In this situation, Polish employers themselves are not interested, who are interested in working with Ukrainians, since they pay them 20% less than their compatriots.

Another softer scenario is possible. Citizens of European countries who are accustomed to good salaries in the UK are unlikely to be eager to return home and try to look for a better life in the most developed EU countries.

Besides the UK, Germany are very popular among the Poles. 706,000 Polish citizens work there. Given that the demand for foreign labor in Germany is over 200,000 people per year, the labor market of this country will be able to digest Polish migrants from the UK.

Although in this case, Ukrainians will have less chances of finding a job in Germany, where they pay two to three times more than in Poland for the same work. 43,000 Ukrainians officially work in Germany. The German government planned to simplify the procedure for employment and migration for people with secondary specialized education from the countries of the former Soviet Union. However, it is much easier to invite citizens from EU member states to work in conditions of freedom of movement.

Internal risks

Brexit and its expected consequences for European and Ukrainian migrants make it clear that labor migration is a road to nowhere, this process is fraught with a lot of risks, and it can in no way be one of the pillars on which the Ukrainian economy rests.

The government of Oleksiy Honcharuk sets goals to create 200,000 jobs this year, and a million over the next five years, by attracting 50 billion dollars of foreign investment in the economy and improving the conditions for doing business. Zelenskys team promised to achieve economic growth of 40% in five years. How to achieve this remains a mystery. Investors love stability, which Ukraine does not have in the context of the ongoing hostilities in Donbas through the efforts of Russia and flourishing corruption.

Therefore, in the case of return to Ukraine, the workers from Poland will intensify competition in the local labor market. Specialists who, due to various circumstances, do not consider the prospects of migration and work abroad, will find it even more difficult to look for work.

Without any work, university graduates may be. Some of yesterdays students, having failed to get a job in Ukraine, go to Poland to do dirty work in order not to sit idle.

An increase in the number of unemployed will provoke an increase in social tension and anti-government sentiment in the absence of a significant improvement in the economic situation, the growth of business activity and the creation of new jobs. After all, the critical mass migrates first of all, due to the dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in the country. Otherwise, a social explosion is inevitable.
Whether it be movies or theme parks, Disney is not just for kids. Disneyland has labeled itself as the "Happiest Place on Earth" for years. The idea of going to Disneyland is one of the biggest dreams a child could have, but as we grow older, we can start to look behind the curtain.

Some people claim that Disneyland is not the happiest place on Earth and it may not even be close. Although they have a fabulous operation and put a lot of care into the details, there are peeks into a Disneyland experience that was not quite as magical as anticipated.

Is Disneyland truly the happiest place on earth or not? We offer you two sides of the coin.

All the early 1900's buildings and the horse-drawn carriages Walt Disney used to see in his hometown of Marceline, Missouri will make you or your child lightheaded from the moment you take your first steps onto Main Street.

The rides in the theme park cater to all ages, including flying in a boat over London on the Peter Pan ride or going underwater in a submarine saying hello to all of Nemo's friends and family.

Disney's decision to demolish "A Bug's Land" in California Adventure to make room for a Marvel-themed area was a decent idea because there is no reason to visit it unless you like rides inspired by a 1950s state fair. Only one good thing that came out from the Bugs area, aka Toddler Distraction Land, was the 4D movie "It's Tough to be a Bug."

Also Read: 'Disneyland' Cures Depression In Genetically Sad Rats

A character breakfast will let you interact with several different characters. Character lines become as long as waiting for rides.

If you stand in the middle of the Magic Kingdom, or any of the Disney theme parks around the world, several families are arguing, crying, and just not smiling.

Many guests assume that they will have the perfect weather on their vacation but in Florida, it will be incredibly hot and humid.

Disneyland offers Fastpass where you can skip ride queues at an allotted time. An easier system is you can do everything on your phone in the Disneyland Resort App.

Disneyland Tokyo had the highest number of posts on Instagram containing smiley emojis in the caption -- beating every other destination in the world. It is part of Tokyo Disney Resort, which includes Disneyland, DisneySea, hotels, shops, restaurants, and theatres.

Sliding down the "Matterhorn" track should not feel like you are on a mechanical bull. The 1960s tubular rails should be replaced with a smoother track with 21st-century technology.

When the park would be a "ghost town" according to the Disneyland crowd forecaster sites, average wait times for rides are 30-50 minutes instead of the predicted wait time of 10-20 minutes.

Related Article: Disneyland Paris: Foreigners Claim Overcharging From The Amusement Park

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump who is on a two-day visit to India arrived in Delhi on Monday (February 24) evening with First Lady Melania Trump. On his second day stay in India, more than 100 guests will take part in the dinner programme organised at Rashtrapati Bhawan at 8 pm on February 25.

The guest list includes 30 American guests and cabinet ministers of the Government of India including some prominent name from sports, film and media industry. However, Former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary boycotted the Presidential dinner for Donald Trump.

The cuisine list prepared for President Trump's dinner program will include Indian dish having American flavours. The menu includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies.

Know the menu here:

Amuse Bouch will be served as an appetizer at the beginning followed by starter which will have fish tikka made with American salmon fish in the non-veg platter whereas Aloo tikka and Spinach Papadum for the vegetarian platter.

The Non-vegetarian main course will have Raan Alishaan with Rogni gravey, Dum Gosht Biryani whereas the vegetarian main course will include Dum Gucci Peas, Hyderabadi Dum Biryani and Deki Biryani and mint flavoured raita.

The desserts will have Malpua with Rabri made with pancakes, Hazel Nut Apple Pie with salty caramel sauce.

For the drinks the guests will be served Lemon Corianda shorba made with lemon grass.

Trump is on a 36 hours visit to India and he will also receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on February 25.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said gardai have been alerted to threats made against her.

Speaking ahead of a Sinn Fein public meeting in Cork, Ms McDonald was asked if she had received threat similar to those made against her party colleagues.

The Sinn Fein leader said she had received similar threats but would not provide any further detail.

Asked if gardai were aware of the threats, she said they were but again would not provide any additional information.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill and policing spokesperson Jerry Kelly were both recently warned of a dissident republican plot to target them.

Separately, Ms McDonald described as "nonsense" Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's claims that the Sinn Fein rally was aimed at intimidating and bullying other parties.

More than 800 people attended the event in the Rochestown Hotel.

More to follow...
New Delhi: Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar briefs the media on Cabinet decisions in New Delhi on Feb 19, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 24 : Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said on Monday that he would again request the West Bengal government not to keep farmers of the state deprived from the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, an ambitious scheme of the Modi government in which beneficiary farmers gets Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments.

Addressing media on the first anniversary of the scheme, Tomar lamented that farmers of all states and Union Territories are getting the benefits of this scheme but farmers of West Bengal are still deprived of it as the state government has not shown willingness to implement it in the state.

He said that as of now more than eight crore farmers have received benefits of this scheme while the central government targets to bring 14 crore farmers under this scheme.

Tomar said he had written letters to the West Bengal government several times requesting it to allow the farmers to get the benefit of the scheme.

Several thousands of farmers have already registered themselves on PM Kisan portal and if the state government allows the scheme the total beneficiaries would be around 70 lakh, he said.
Siddharth Roy Kapurs passionate project the Rakesh Sharma biopic titled Saare Jahan Se Achcha' has been facing problems for quite a while now.

First, Shah Rukh Khan walked out of the film. The filmmakers then approached Vicky Kaushal and even he didn't sign it as he chose Udham Singh over this. Later, there were reports that the film will be shelved. But looks like, things are looking up and the film might actually be made.

Image credit: Vicky Kaushal / Instagram.

The word going around is that Salman Khan has been approached to play the leading man now. Reports suggest that Salman has heard the script but he hasnt given his final nod yet. Producer Siddharth recently met Salman and discussed the project.

Image credit: Salman Khan / Instagram.

Infact, the producer, Siddharth Roy Kapur has dismissed all rumours of the film getting shelved.

In an interview with PTI, Roy Kapur said, "We are waiting for it to happen like bated breath. There is nothing to say on it right now (in terms of casting) as and when we will have an announcement to make, we will. It is not shelved. We definitely want to make it.

Image credit: Reuters.

Here's hoping all goes well because Saare Jahan Se Achcha deserves to get made as it celebrates the life of a great astronaut, Rakesh Sharma.
On November 2 last year, Orla McGregor and her husband James stood beaming for family photos at the baptism of their baby daughter Dearbhla.

It was a double celebration for the family of six, marking not only their youngest's Christening but also the seventh birthday of the couple's eldest daughter, Erin.

Their photos of the day are beautiful. Baby Dearbhla is gorgeous in her gown, all gummy smiles and chubby cheeks while Erin, her younger sister Aoibhinn (4) and brother Fionnbar (2) smile for the camera, decked out in their best coats and shoes. Proud mammy Orla stands behind them looking happy and healthy.

But of course photos only tell the story of one snap-shot in time and for this family the moment represents the best possible outcome after a year of trauma.

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Exactly one year earlier on the same date, Orla (35) went to a hospital appointment that revealed she had a tumour in her left breast and that it was cancerous.

"I've had cysts ever since I was 18 years old," she explains. "So I've always been used to lumps and bumps and get checked regularly, especially after pregnancy, when I'd tend to feel changes in the breast."

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It had been nearly two years since her son was born and Orla hadn't detected any changes in her breast, but incredibly it was her pet dog that alerted her to the possibility that something might be wrong.

"She started acting really strange and funny around me," recalls Orla. "She wouldn't let anyone come near me and if I went anywhere, she wanted to come too, she wouldn't leave me alone.

"I would be on the sofa, feeding the wee man, and she could come over beside me sniffing and nudging me on the left breast. I had a grope in the shower and couldn't feel anything but I thought 'there's maybe something not right there'."

A later breast-examination revealed that Orla's German shepherd, Saoirse, had pin-pointed exactly where the tumour was.

"It was entwined up in the middle of the cyst, that's why I didn't feel it," says Orla. "If it hadn't been for the dog, I would have been none the wiser."

It's something that might sound fanciful, but there's growing evidence to suggest that canines can detect cancer through smell. This year results presented at the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting in Florida revealed that laboratory dogs, that had been trained to smell for cancer, were able to correctly identify the blood samples of cancer patients with 97pc accuracy.

The first weeks of November disappeared in trips to Antrim Area Hospital, near Orla's home in Moneyglass, Co Antrim. First mammograms, then biopsies. Despite living in limbo, normal life had to continue, including celebrating Erin's sixth birthday.

"I thought I was holding it together pretty well but on her birthday I broke down," admits Orla. "I remember thinking 'am I even going to be here next year to see her seventh birthday?'"

Orla needed an MRI - which uses radioactive dye - and so had to abruptly stop breastfeeding her little boy, something that both mum and child found incredibly difficult. Having breastfed all her children, the nursing relationship with Fionnbar was particularly emotional. "He took pneumonia at five-and-a-half weeks and was very close to death," reveals Orla. "I sat for five days in a chair in hospital and nursed him, letting him feed whenever he wanted to feed. It was a comfort for him and when he came out of it, I knew I would let him feed for as long as he wanted to.

"But when they told me I'd have to stop for the MRI, I knew I had to do it because, at the end of the day, I had to find out what was there. Weaning cold turkey was an awful experience, I think both of us cried until 5am the first night, but there was no other option."

On November 12, the biopsy results confirmed that the tumour was cancer and that a partial or a full mastectomy would be needed.

Orla's reaction to potentially losing her breast was pragmatic. "To be brutally honest, I thought 'right, take the both of them off if it means I'm still here'," she says. "If it means losing them to see the wee ones growing up - then take them off."

The surgery for breast removal and reconstruction was scheduled - but then Orla got another bit of shock news: she was pregnant.

"The doctors told me I was at a high risk of miscarriage by the time I went in for the mastectomy, so I didn't allow myself to get my hopes up," she says. "The cancer was spreading and I couldn't let it go to the end of pregnancy before doing something. I had children at home who needed me and I had to think about them as well. So I took my chance."

On December 18, Orla had the mastectomy. The tumour was nearly 13cm long. Christmas Day and News Year's went by in a no man's land. "On the 7th of January I went up to talk to the consultant and I knew as soon as I walked in that he was happy, I could see it in his eyes. He said 'we've got it'. The lymph nodes were clear and there had been a millimetre of tissue around the tumour that was clear when it came out. That was it.

"My husband and I went to the cafe and sat in pure silence for about five minutes. I couldn't speak. All that time I'd been going along thinking 'I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this' but I didn't know what would come next. If radiotherapy had been the next step then I didn't know what to do, because you can't go through that pregnant.

"I was at the stage of thinking the wee one had got a chance and I don't want to be interfering in that. She was about eight or 10 weeks at that point and she was developing and the heart rate was strong. Abortion was mentioned but my reaction was no way, that's my baby and I want to do as much as I can to keep her safe."

The next months were far from easy. In March, Orla contracted pneumonia and needed a CT scan because doctors were concerned she might have a clot on her lungs - posing another difficult choice between potentially harming the developing foetus or jeopardising her own health.

On top of morning sickness, she had to contend with managing drains for the reconstructive surgery. "Two days after the operation, I had tubes coming out of me filled with blood and had to hold on to this handbag they give you with the drains going into them. I'd be holding on to that handbag throwing up in the toilet," she says. "You don't realise how many chest muscles you use to vomit - it was agony."

But on August 12, Orla and James's 'little miracle' Dearbhla McGregor was born, 8lbs 12oz and perfectly healthy.

Orla had breastfed her other children and was hopeful from the outset that she could do the same for her youngest. "I'm on a breastfeeding support group on Facebook and I'd read about a mum breastfeeding twins," she reveals. "My thinking was 'well if she can feed two with two, then why can't I feed one with one?'"

Midwives were supportive but "I wasn't putting myself under pressure," adds Orla. "I said I'd give myself two weeks... then we got to two weeks and I thought 'well, we'll do another two weeks and now we're 16 weeks on and still going."

Orla decided to share her story after reading a post on the same breastfeeding support Facebook group, from a mum who had been diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. "I thought, that lady is sitting there, maybe by herself, not knowing what the hell is going on and I thought, if I can maybe reach out to her and say 'look, positive outcome here! Hopefully you'll get the better news, the same as I did. You can do it'," says Orla.

"Because there's nothing as scary and, even with family around you, you can feel very alone. But it can turn out OK. I just want to give that wee bit of hope to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation.
All the success that President Xi Jinping had is now stressed by China's secrecy with all its policies. The onset of the China coronavirus is stressing the government's actions that are now in a negative light. Its spread into other countries, with unlisted infection rates, are under scrutiny.

How China handled the problem and the way the international community kept quiet, shows deficiencies in dealing with pandemics according to health care experts interviewed by Vox.

President Trump even mentioned how hard the Chinese government was working to contain the outbreak was quoted by ABC news on the subject. The World Health organization that did not issue further comments on the Chinese leadership. WHO said that the worsening coronavirus crisis, not getting critical attention is leading to a false sense of security.

The global outbreak response system needs everyone working with each other, especially governments, which should be on the level, said Steven Hoffman, a director of Global Strategy Lab at New York University. He comments that all parts of the system are important, only bothered by the weakest link in the chain with factors like international health regulations (IHR) matter and disease diplomacy.

A report said that during the initial outbreak in China, some patients were not infected by the goods from the Wuhan food market. The first case of coronavirus was verified to be from Wuhan according to local officials, and the city got locked down later.

China announced on December 31 that mysterious pneumonia was discovered, but was specific about certain facts. One, all the patients acquired pneumonia at the Wuhan food market, where the virus got out. The reports says that there is no evidence of human to human infection and that it has animal origin. The earliest recoded patient was backtracked to December 12.

Also read: China Coronavirus Outbreak: Critics Blame Government for Secrecy of Info, Control of Media

Coronavirus infection soared despite the official statement, and it infected more without knowing how it is transmitted. Deaths in China increased as lack of supplies and facilities were stretching everything to the limit. Offers by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Americans to help in the effort to manage the COVID-19 was ignored.

Choosing state secrecy is now a nightmare scenario for the infected Chinese people and the world at larger. Several cruise ships were coined coronavirus ridden, and had to be quarantined for public safety, causing infection, fear, and misery to the people on board.

The Chinese political system failed at dealing with such a crisis, like the COVID-19 that should have been reported during the start. Dr Li and Chen Qiushi went missing or deceased under unusual circumstances, with several conflicting statements by the state organ Xinhua.

One of the first coronavirus infections is now reported in the United States, all those in contact are now under quarantine. Nothing is positive, and everything is under watch.With the Chinese secrecy and coronavirus rampage, secrecy has proven a failure, and the Chinese government is now under doubt.

Related article: Red Cross Blamed for Deficient China Coronavirus Supplies

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Vicky Pattison has admitted she struggles with body image in an exclusive interview with MailOnline.

The former Geordie Shore star, 32, confessed she puts 'a lot of pressure' on herself to maintain her figure, but insisted being in a healthy relationship with supportive boyfriend Ercan Ramadan has helped her embrace her curves.

In the candid discussion, the media personality also touched on her mental health journey, finding The One and her decision to freeze her eggs as she promoted her new brand ambassador role with lift and shape tape brand Perky Pear.

'No one looks in the mirror and thinks ''I'm a goddess!''': Vicky Pattison has admitted she struggles with body image in an exclusive interview with MailOnline

The former Queen of the Jungle has been open about her experience with body confidence in past, having embarked on a series of wellness retreats, launching a fitness DVD and slimming down from a size 16 to a size 6 back in 2013.

Following nearly a decade in the spotlight, Vicky's relationship with her figure still fluctuates, but the TV star says she's more accepting of her frame now than ever before after having an 'epiphany' when she entered her 30s.

'I don't know if any woman looks in the mirror and is like, 'I'm a goddess!' We all struggle with [body image], and it's a shame we put a lot of pressure on ourselves', the I'm A Celeb 2015 contestant explained.

The TV star believes her turning point came two years ago when she noticed physical changes.

Support system: The former Geordie Shore star, 32, confessed she puts 'a lot of pressure' on herself, but insisted dating Ercan Ramadan helps her embrace her curves (pictured this month)

Added boost: The media personality is currently promoting her new brand ambassador role with lift and shape tape brand Perky Pear

She shared: 'Turning 30 was such a big thing for me, I was so scared. I knew there was going to be a lot of changes. The bags under your eyes, the hangovers are a punch in the d***!

'You go through a really hard time where you constantly compare yourself to others, and constantly in the pursuit of something else.'

The brunette beauty claims her fear of ageing almost encouraged an 'amazing epiphany' about self-acceptance.

Vicky told us: 'I'm always going to be a size 10, someone who watches what they eat, but I'm happy with that! I like what I see in the mirror, I like my curves and I am who I am.

'It's a shame we put pressure on ourselves': The former Queen of the Jungle has been open about her experience with body confidence in past (pictured in January)

'The hangovers are a punch in the d***!' The TV star noticed physical changes when she turned 30 (pictured in October)

'Being 30, in a healthy relationship with someone who likes the way I am and how I look, that's really helped me accept the way I look right now.

'I'll always try and be healthy and exercise, but that's more so for my mindset and wellbeing, as opposed to my aesthetic. Your 30s aren't that bad!'

Late last year, the Newcastle native was left housebound, paralysed with fear and unable to breathe when her 'social anxiety and crippling self-doubt reached an all-time high'.

On exploring new coping mechanisms to combat her mental health issues, Vicky credits exercise as 'the most under-utilised antidepressant out there.'

'Being in a healthy relationship has helped': The brunette beauty claims her fear of ageing almost encouraged an 'amazing epiphany' about self-acceptance (pictured earlier this month)

Positive: 'I'll always try and be healthy and exercise, but that's more so for my mindset, as opposed to my aesthetic. Your 30s aren't that bad!', she enthused (pictured last year)

The Celebrity Hunted star said: 'I'm always looking for new ways to deal with the pressure we're all in as women. Society is very hard sometimes. I'm a firm believer in training.

'I'm less stressed and feel like I can deal with whatever life throws at me. Anything from going on a walk to a zumba class with your mate  I urge people to do something active as it's really helped me deal with my anxiety.'

Vicky also discussed her 'horrific' experience with verbal abuse from online trolls and the importance of championing the #BeKind campaign, in light of Caroline Flack's tragic death.

She confessed: 'Trolling is a really horrific part of my job that I have to deal with. I can't believe in the current climate in the insensitivity of [trolls], it's incredibly unbelievable.

Difficult: Late last year, the Newcastle native was left housebound, paralysed with fear and unable to breathe when her 'social anxiety and crippling self-doubt reached an all-time high'

Fitness enthusiast: On exploring new coping mechanisms to combat her mental health issues, Vicky credits exercise as 'the most under-utilised antidepressant out there'

'I'm happy that I have my friends, my sister, my boyfriend, my agent to help me, but I was speaking to my personal trainer the other day and he said that I can't keep replying to the comments.

'He said he was so frustrated for me as people still criticise you when you try and do positive things.'

The Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway segment presenter is currently enjoying a 'digital detox' with her boyfriend Ercan, 36, to fight off her 'unhealthy relationship with social media'.

Vicky added ahead of her trip: 'So for the next couple of days, I'll have a reset. Stepping away from the platform won't be such a bad idea as I can spend time on my boyfriend, our relationship and just for my own sanity.

'It's unbelievable': Vicky also discussed her 'horrific' experience with verbal abuse from online trolls in light of Caroline Flack's tragic death (pictured in January last year)

'You can sucked into social media  there's highs and lows, and we've recently seen the dark side of it. I just have to look after myself.'

In the romance department, the former MTV star insists her relationship with her partner of 14 months Ercan is 'still going strong'.

Vicky was left heartbroken when her ex-fiance John Noble was caught getting up close with a host of clubgoers in late 2018.

Despite their painful split - which saw the couple call off their imminent wedding - the host says she doesn't hold a 'jaded view on marriage'.

Out of office: The Saturday Night Takeaway presenter is currently enjoying a 'digital detox' with Ercan, 36, to fight off her 'unhealthy relationship with social media' (pictured on Monday)

She said: 'I haven't had the best luck with fellas, but if I was to be bitter or have a jaded view of marriage, commitment or men in general, that would be letting those negative relationships win.'

Branding ex-builder Ercan 'The One', the former Virtually Famous captain enthused: 'I have an old romantic heart and I do believe in love, and I believe I've found love.

'This one feels different  I'm safe, secure and content. I'm happier than I ever have been before. I feel like we're working in the right direction but I don't want to put pressure on it as I've seen the errors in my ways.'

Insisting the couple are taking things slow, Vicky added: 'I moved very fast in past relationships and was so desperate to be loved, but with Ercan, it feels like there's no rush.

Break-up: Vicky was left heartbroken when her ex-fiance John Noble was caught getting up close with a host of clubgoers in late 2018 (pictured in September 2017)

'We recently started a personal training course together, we're trying to be the best versions of ourselves. We don't want to rush to that next stage, whether it be marriage or babies. It's important to enjoy every stage, we're chilling out.'

The social media sensation also revealed the pair are set to move into their new Essex abode in the coming weeks, after setting up home together in their London rental in August.

Vicky - who is currently in between houses - said: 'I'm feeling a little displaced at the moment as I've moved out of my flat in London so I'm with my sister at the moment as Ercan and I wait for our new place to be ready. We're sofa-surfing as we speak!

'As much as I'd love to drag us back to Newcastle, there's no work for me there, so we've moved out of London and are back to Essex within the next few weeks. I lived there after I won the jungle and have a lot of friends from there.

'I'm very fortunate': Despite their painful split - which saw the couple call off their imminent wedding - the host says she doesn't hold a 'jaded view on marriage'(pictured last year)

'The last place we had in London was a rental, so we never thought that we could properly relax. We're dead excited.'

In October last year, the Drama graduate revealed she's considering freezing her eggs 'to take the pressure off' expanding her family.

Four months on, she has kicked off the process, but admits after seeing her sister Laura - who became a mother last month - and her husband struggle with parenthood, she and one-time TOWIE star Ercan aren't ready to have children.

The former Loose Women panellist said: 'I've been very open about my desire to have children. I was worried that I missed the boat, but I've started the process to freeze my eggs in case we do want children in a couple of years and it proves difficult.

'I don't think I'm in a place to have children right now. It's a painful decision to make as I'm 32, but after seeing how difficult pregnancy was for my sister, I know I'm not there.

'My sister and her husband have been together for years, but it's still incredibly difficult. It's such hard work, the constant crying and pressure. Ercan and I are still in the early stages of love, and I don't want to rush, even though I know my biological clock is ticking.

'I'm just trying to be sensible and think with my heart and not my head. It's f*****g hard work!

'There's things I still want to do, places I'd still like to go, and maybe I still want to get drunk on a Tuesday? I want to be spontaneous and still be selfish. We're putting things on ice!'

Baby plans: In October last year, the Drama graduate revealed she's considering freezing her eggs 'to take the pressure off' expanding her family (pictured in December 2018)

'It's f*****g hard!' She has kicked off the process, but admits after seeing her sister Laura - who became a mother last month - and her husband (pictured last year) struggle with parenthood, she and one-time TOWIE star Ercan aren't ready to have children

Last week, Vicky announced her new ambassadorship with celebrity favourite brand Perky Pear, worn by the likes of Celebs Go Dating's Charlotte Dawson, Love Island star Harley Brash and Big Brother 2010 winner Josie Gibson.

Explaining why she decided to take up the role, the bubbly star said: 'I'm a big fan of the brand, I made myself a promise to only work with brands that I personally use and would like to work with.

'I've used it for red carpets and nights out. Being a lady, I've tried everything to keep my boobs under control. With DD breasts, it's always been an impossibility to wear clothes without a bra, so it's nice to have more fashion choice.

'They've made it inclusive. It's amazing to work with a brand that is designed by women and for women.'

New job: Last week, Vicky announced her new ambassadorship with celebrity favourite brand Perky Pear (pictured at the launch party)

The Ex on the Beach: Body SOS presenter hails the product as the perfect non-surgical solution to a breast lift.

Vicky praised: 'I wish I knew what I knew now. I took my time to get my boobs done. I did it off the back of a really big weight loss, I was very confident in my choice to [go under the knife].

'It's amazing that there are products like this that can be used as an alternative to surgery.'

Vickys ambassadorship for the brand comes ahead of its first TV advertising campaign, #nostyleofflimits, which premieres on ITVEBe in April 2020.
Reliance Communications' (RCom) creditors will meet on Monday and is likely to vote on asset bids received from UV Asset Reconstruction Company (UVARC) and Reliance Jio.

"The 18th meeting of committee of creditors (CoC) of Reliance Communications Ltd is scheduled to be convened on Monday, February 24, 2020," RCom said in a regulatory filing.

However, the telco did not disclose other details.

According to sources, the CoC will vote on asset bids (received from UVARC and Reliance Jio) from which the lenders are likely to recover nearly Rs 23,000 crore.

Also Read: Why RCom creditors rejected Anil Ambani's resignation

UVARC is learnt to have placed a bid of around Rs 14,700 crore, while Reliance Jio has made an offer of Rs 4,700 crore for tower and fibre assets of Reliance Infratel Ltd. There will also be a clawback of Rs 4,300 crore of priority payments made to Chinese and Indian creditors.

Jio placed bid for tower and fibre assets of Reliance Infratel Ltd (RITL) and UVARC for assets of RCom and Reliance Telecom Ltd.

RCom's secured debt is estimated to be around Rs 33,000 crore. Lenders submitted claims of around Rs 49,000 crore in August.

Reliance Communications has put all of its assets on sale that includes spectrum holding of 122 megahertz (MHz), tower business, optical fibre network and data centres.

Also Read: RCom assets bidder UVARC planning to launch new telco in India?

According to an order by the National Company Law Tribunal, the CoC had to complete the entire process by January 10 but it sought extension in the deadline. The resolution professional, Deloitte, is expected to file a resolution plan with the NCLT Mumbai on March 5.

RCom in the past had tried to sell assets to various companies, including Reliance Jio, to clear the debt but the deals did not crystallise. Reliance Jio cancelled an agreement to buy RCom assets, including spectrum, as it did not want to bear the past liabilities of the debt-ridden firm.

Later, the insolvency proceedings against RCom started on a plea filed by Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson after the company failed to clear its dues.

Also Read: RCom receives bids worth Rs 25,000 crore from Reliance Jio, UVARCL

(With inputs from PTI.)
As a member state of the Ramsar Convention, Vietnam has carried out many activities to encourage and enhance the conservation of wetlands to cope with climate change.

Van Long strives for IUCN Green List standard



Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve (Ninh Binh) was recognized as the 9th Ramsar site of Vietnam in May 2019. The reserve has met two natural records, namely the largest douc langur reserve in Vietnam and the area with the largest natural painting with Meo Cao mountain.





Pham Quang Ngoc, vice chair of Ninh Binh People's Committee, said in the last years, Ninh Binh has strengthened the management, protection of forests and biodiversity conservation, built up the conventions on forest protection and biodiversity conservation in the core zone of the Nature Reserve on the basis of respecting the rights and obligations of the community.



Quang Nam revives wetland forests

Being the convergence area of three large rivers Thu Bon, Truong Giang and De Vong, the Bay Mau nipa forest (Hoi An, Quang Nam province) is full of typical wetland conditions with a rich ecosystem of various types of brackish animals and plants, especially shrimp, crabs and mollusks.

Being the convergence area of three large rivers Thu Bon, Truong Giang and De Vong, the Bay Mau nipa forest (Hoi An, Quang Nam province) is full of typical wetland conditions with a rich ecosystem of various types of brackish animals and plants, especially shrimp, crabs and mollusks.



The strong development of tourism in recent years has caused the decline in the area and quality of the Cam Thanh nipa forest.



Realizing the risk of losing the forest, which will seriously affect the biosphere and habitat, the local authorities and people in Cam Thanh commune have been making every effort to protect and revive the nipa forest.



After 3-4 years of afforestation, tens of hectares of nipa plants, above 1 meter high, have turned green at the end of Thu Bon River.



In addition to the forest, along the river, the provincial authorities also spent VND25 billion planting and recovering the coastal nipa forest and putting it under strict control.



Greening the wetlands on Mekong lower course



In 2020, Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve in Hau Giang province drew up a plan to restore more than 100 hectares of wetlands in the ecological restoration section to attract birds and storks, contributing to maintaining and development of plant and animal species in this reserve.



In Dong Thap, the Tram Chim National Park has proposed to restore 450 hectares of

wild rice to create genetic sources and serve tourism development. It is also considering rehabilitating 90 hectares of wetlands to create a field for the development of co nan kim (Eleocharis atropurpurea) to feed red-headed cranes.



In Soc Trang province, according to the provincial forest rangers unit, nearly 1,000 hectares of mam (Avicennia), duoc (Rhizophoraceae) and ban (Sonneratia) have been planted in coastal areas, raising the total area of protective forest area to 7,200 hectares.

Linh Ha
Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Morgan Sindall Group plc (LON:MGNS).

Over the last twelve months Morgan Sindall Group has recorded a ROE of 18%. That means that for every 1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated 0.18 in profit.

Check out our latest analysis for Morgan Sindall Group

How Do You Calculate ROE?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Morgan Sindall Group:

18% = UK71m  UK397m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.)

It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets.

What Does Return On Equity Signify?

Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the yearly profit. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies.

Does Morgan Sindall Group Have A Good Return On Equity?

By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Morgan Sindall Group has a superior ROE than the average (14%) company in the Construction industry.

LSE:MGNS Past Revenue and Net Income, February 24th 2020

That's what I like to see. We think a high ROE, alone, is usually enough to justify further research into a company. One data point to check is if insiders have bought shares recently.

Story continues

The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking.

Morgan Sindall Group's Debt And Its 18% ROE

Morgan Sindall Group is free of net debt, which is a positive for shareholders. Its ROE already suggests it is a good business, but the fact it has achieved this -- and doesn't borrowings -- makes it worthy of further consideration, in my view. At the end of the day, when a company has zero debt, it is in a better position to take future growth opportunities.

But It's Just One Metric

Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE.

But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
TOLEDO, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As America's Most-Loved Pizza, Marco's Pizza commemorates its one millionth mobile app download by rewarding pizza enthusiasts with 30 percent off all pizzas ordered through the app Monday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, March 1, 2020.

Marco's reached this milestone less than a year after formally launching its mobile app to consumers. Last year, app sales grew to be roughly 10 percent of total sales across the brand with digital sales increasing more than 40 percent.

"We have the best customers out there and we are so thankful for their loyalty and dedication to Marco's," said Marco's Pizza SVP, Chief Experience Officer Steve Seyferth. "To celebrate this milestone, we want them to enjoy our quality pizza at a great value all this week."

At participating locations, pizza lovers can grab 30 percent off all menu priced pizzas ordered through the Marco's app, for either delivery or carryout, using the code 30OFFAPP beginning Monday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, March 1, 2020. The Marco's Pizza app can be downloaded on the App Store or Google Play.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA

Marco's Pizza is America's Most Loved and Most Trusted Pizza Brand, according to the 2019 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza companies in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives by making authentic Italian quality pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate 950 plus stores in over 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco's Pizza was ranked No. 4 in Forbes "Best Franchises to Buy" 2019 Study/Medium Investment, and No. 39 on Entrepreneur's 2019 Franchise 500 ranking. Other recent accolades include ranking No. 2 on Entrepreneur's 2018 Top 200 Food and Restaurant Franchises in the pizza segment, and No. 8 on the Military Times Best: Franchises 2018 list.

SOURCE Marcos Pizza

Related Links

https://www.marcos.com


The attorney general of the United States, William Barr, recently delivered a speech at Notre Dame University in which he praised traditional moral values and blamed what he described as the moral pathology of the United States on secularism and progressives. It was one of those remembering the magical days of yore speeches. Attorney General Barr is by all accounts a deeply committed Catholic although less liberal than Pope Francis, and one does have to wonder if he gave this anti-LGBTQ speech to chastise Notre Dame for having employed former South Bend Mayor Petes Buttigiegs parents as professors. He put his speech in the context of Judeo-Christian moral standards  the ultimate rules for human conduct, the best operation of human society. He says that (public) schools are ground zero for attacks on religion.

So, lets talk, Mr. Barr.

Fifty years ago you were 10 and you are not a product of the public schools you think are being degraded by LGBTQ values. You applaud Judeo-Christian values. That is a strange term. There are no Judeo-Christians. There are many kinds of Jews and many kinds of Christians, but there are no Judeo-Christians. The people who say Judeo-Christian mean Christian. Be honest. The majority of Jews by all polls would definitely choose the values of secular society over the values of your boss and the antipathies of your speech. You are Irish-Catholic on your mothers side, but your fathers family were Jewish immigrants from Holland and Berdichev. Jews might be excused for wondering if you are not a little overzealous in lauding those Christian values from 50 years ago. When your father left Judaism, he may have also left behind the knowledge that Islam has often been hospitable to Jews and that Islam can compete well with the history of Christianity for being humane. The best operation of human society is not the history of the Inquisitions nor the horrors of Catholic-Protestant warfare.

Yes, there are Jews who adore or approve of your boss, 30 percent of Jews. Some because they love his support for the right-wing in Israel, many because they are Orthodox and fear the secular world as you do; some because, like Charles Kushner and Alan Dershowitz and Robert Kraft, they, truly, bizarrely, identify strongly with your appeal and that of Donald Trumps for traditional moral values. Consider Stephen Miller, a fiery Jewish advocate for Donald Trump, whose own family has reminded him of how he has betrayed his familys history.

It is not the secular age that has brought immense suffering and misery to Central America and our southern border. It is not progressives who have us on the verge of human extinction or argue whatever happens to the earth is Gods will. It is not progressives who want to ignore the suffering of refugees from Africa or the Middle East. There is no correlation between LGBTQ issues and right-wing or segregationist attacks on public education. Anyone who thinks things were better when laws and society could discriminate in regard to LGBTQ issues is a traditional bigot.

Since you gave the speech at Notre Dame University in Mayor Petes South Bend, and I grew up in South Bend more than 50 years ago, let me say what Mayor Pete cant: Jews were not allowed to open their businesses on the Christian sabbath. There were places where Jews couldnt live and people of dark complexion couldnt eat and modern schools they could rarely attend and a public swimming facility that treated them as dirty people.

Faith matters, but it matters in a way that will protect America from your religious bigotry.

Rabbi Steven J. Steinberg retired after more than two decades as rabbi for Yale-New Haven Hospital and The Hospital of St. Raphael.
President Donald Trump.

Reuters

Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, on Monday said the Trump administration was looking to boot employees who are not furthering the president's agenda.

"It's not a secret that we want people in positions that work with this president and not against him," Gidley told Fox News. "If we find them, we'll take appropriate action."

This came after reports that the White House was compiling a list of people perceived as disloyal to President Donald Trump.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley on Monday confirmed that the Trump administration was purging federal government employees "actively working against" President Donald Trump.

"It's not a secret that we want people in positions that work with this president and not against him ... The federal government is massive with millions of people, and there are a lot of folks out there working against this president. If we find them, we'll take appropriate action," Gidley told Fox News.

This came as Gidley was questioned on reports that the Trump administration is compiling lists of officials perceived as disloyal to the president. Gidley said he hadn't seen any lists personally but did not deny that the White House was looking to push out people not furthering Trump's agenda.

"The president's been pretty clear about the fact he wants people in this administration who want to forward his agenda," Gidley said. "Donald Trump was the only one elected. He was the only one that the American people voted for. They didn't vote for someone at any of these other agencies, any of these other departments."

Gidley said "time and time again" he has seen reports in the media of people in the "bowels of the federal government working against this president."

Trump has a right to have people in the government who are forwarding and executing his agenda, Gidley added, saying that some federal employees are pushing "their own selfish political agenda."

Story continues

"We know there are people actively working against this president," Gidley said. "We're going to continue to move forward to make sure that people are in positions that support this president's agenda, and that's just logical."

It's unclear what kind of behavior or actions would be defined by the Trump administration as "working against" the president and his agenda. Gidley did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Axios on Friday reported that Johnny McEntee, who in 2018 was fired by then-White House chief of staff John Kelly but was recently rehired, had been tapped by Trump to purge the "bad people" and "deep state."

McEntee is compiling a list of political appointees across the government who are believed to be anti-Trump, according to Axios.

Trump has alluded to the purge in public remarks.

"We want bad people out of our government!" Trump tweeted on February 13, days after he ousted key impeachment witnesses from the White House.

The president last week replaced Joseph Maguire as his acting top spy chief with a fierce loyalist, Richard Grenell, in a move that shook Washington and the intelligence community. Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany, has little to no background in intelligence.

Maguire's ouster was linked to the president's dismay over a briefing in which congressional lawmakers were told that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election to boost Trump's chances of winning, according to The Washington Post.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Feb 24 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

** Teck Resources Ltd is pulling its application for Frontier oil sands mine in Alberta, citing the need for Canada to finalize its climate-change policies and determine how resource development fits within them. https://tgam.ca/2TcpcF4

** A second Wet'suwet'en hereditary subchief is denouncing the hereditary leaders at the heart of the dispute over the future of the Coastal GasLink LNG project to be operated by TC Energy Corp in Northern British Columbia. https://tgam.ca/3c5xh71

NATIONAL POST

** The Alberta government has struck deals with two northern Alberta First Nations- Mikisew Cree and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations- over a proposed C$20.6 billion ($15.58 billion)open-pit oilsands mine that's awaiting Ottawa's approval. http://bit.ly/2wFGTFr

($1 = 1.3220 Canadian dollars) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
Warren Buffett told CNBC on Monday that Berkshire Hathaway's "third-largest business," after its insurance and railroad interests, is its stake in Apple.

"I don't think of Apple as a stock. I think of it as our third business," Buffett said on "Squawk Box."

The Oracle of Omaha's annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, released on Saturday, showed a 5.7% year-end ownership in Apple stock.

As of late last year, Berkshire owned more than 245 million shares of Apple, worth nearly $72 billion, according to a Dec. 31 filing with the government.

Apple shares are up about 80% over the last 12 months.

"It's probably the best business I know in the world. And that is a bigger commitment that we have in any business except insurance and the railroad," Buffett said.
OMAHA, Neb.  Billionaire Warren Buffett says the viral outbreak in China has slowed economic growth, but he remains confident in the long-term future of American business.

Buffett appeared on CNBC Monday after releasing his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders over the weekend.

Buffett said the reports he gets from Berkshires assortment of more than 90 businesses and stock investments show that business is a little softer now than it was six months ago, but he remains optimistic.

Twenty or 30 years from now, American business  and probably all over the world  will be far better than it is today, Buffett said.

Many of Berkshires roughly 1,000 Dairy Queen stores in China are closed and many of Berkshires other companies are suffering supply chain problems.

The company remains a net buyer of stocks over time, and Buffett doesnt expect that to change because of the coronavirus outbreak.

This is scary stuff. I dont think it should affect what you do in stocks, Buffett said. In terms of the human race, its scary stuff when you have a pandemic.

The new virus took aim at a broadening swath of the globe Monday. Europe and the Middle East scrambled to limit the spread of an outbreak that showed signs of stabilizing at its Chinese epicenter.

Worldwide, the number of people sickened by the coronavirus topped 79,000.

Buffett touched on politics during the interview. The long-time Democrat said he would support Mike Bloomberg over the current front runner in the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders, but he didnt discuss all the top candidates.

I would have no trouble voting for Mike Bloomberg, Buffett said.

In terms of his own company, Buffett said he remains confident in the future of Berkshire Hathaway after he is gone. Investors speculate about Buffetts successor because he is 89 although he has no plans to retire. Buffett said Berkshires board talks about succession at every meeting and knows which company manager it would pick as Berkshires next CEO.

Were well prepared on succession, Buffett said.

Buffett defended the companys conglomerate structure because it allows him to move money around between Berkshires different companies without tax consequences. He said it doesnt make sense to consider splitting Berkshire up.

You cannot dispose of the entire business  business by business  without having very substantial tax liability. It would not produce a gain, Buffett said. On the other hand, having them together produces some very valuable synergies.

Berkshire owns roughly 10% of the four largest airlines, but Buffett said its very unlikely that Berkshire would ever buy any airline outright because airlines are a regulated business, so owning one would likely bring complications with Berkshires other investments.

Berkshire continues to hold roughly $128 billion in cash and short-term investments because Buffett said it is difficult to find acquisitions at reasonable prices. He said businesses are selling at a premium partly because it is so easy to borrow money for acquisitions.

We want to be prepared for anything, he said.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns more than 90 companies, including BNSF railroad, Geico insurance and utilities. The company also has major investments in such companies as Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola and Bank of America.
CAIRO, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Sunday that Egypt is free from any COVID-19 case as his government is fully transparent about the infection, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement.

Madbouly's remarks came during his cabinet meeting to follow up the protective measures against the novel coronavirus. The meeting was attended by the ministers of health, information, social solidarity, trade and industry, civil aviation and others.

During the meeting, Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed reaffirmed that the foreign national announced on Feb. 14 as Egypt's first coronavirus case was later tested negative for it.

She noted that the foreign national is still in hospital until the end of the 14-day quarantine period.

"Utmost alert has been raised in all quarantine departments for air, sea and land entries," said the Egyptian health minister during the meeting.

In late January, Egypt sent 10 tons of medical supplies to China as a sign of solidarity with the Asian country in its battle against the novel coronavirus.
They have an army and theyve put a structure into place that allows people to vote early and when those ballots come in, about 70% of those ballots are for Democrats. So, if its a close race, right now Democrats are winning, said Rezin, 56, a 10-year legislator who lives outside the district but is stressing her history of electability.
Workers could be required to undergo training on how to respond to terror attacks in their workplace under new government plans.

In an unprecedented move, the Home Office has announced it will introduce primary legislation requiring owners and operators of public spaces to put in place measures to prepare for terror incidents.

These could include increased physical security, as well as training for staff on incident response plans and exercises on what to do during an attack, the department said.

The announcement follows pressure from victims groups such as the Martyns Law campaign  established by Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was killed in the Manchester Arena attack  which have called for better protection from terror attacks across public venues.

There is currently no law compelling venues to implement counterterrorism measures beyond standard health and safety legislation, although guidance and training is provided by a national network of specialist police security advisers.

Security minister James Brokenshire said the legislation, set to be named the Protect Duty, would help protect the public without putting undue pressure on businesses  stressing that it would be proportionate.

He said a public consultation on the new law will be launched in the spring to seek views from business and the public sector on the proportionality, scope of the duty, and how it should be enforced.

Our first priority is keeping the public safe and preventing more families from suffering the heartbreak of losing a loved one, Mr Brokenshire said.

It follows the bomb attack at the Manchester Arena in 2017, as well as incidents at Fishmongers' Hall and Streatham in a six-month period.

The head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, welcomed the plans, saying it was absolutely crucial that the public sector and wider society contributed to protecting the public from terrorism.

He said: Terror attacks can happen anywhere, and at any time. To deliver a protective security system which best defends against the wide range of threats we face, we need the whole of society  including business and the private sector  to contribute to that effort."

Mike Cherry, national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said that while businesses were keen to see any measures to prevent or deter terrorism, ministers must carefully consider cost implications for smaller venues where owners already struggle with high costs.

He added: This must be delivered alongside the government accelerating its promise to recruit more police officers, and to have them out on the streets; this is the best way to make businesses and communities safer.

Despite prevention and deterrent activities, terrorism incidents within and against the UK are still happening. Small businesses in local areas around this incidents are at the front line, and in addition to preparing for, and sometimes dealing with the incident itself, they have to face the aftermath.

Local councils said they "stood ready" to work with the government to make public spaces safer, but that faced with ongoing funding and demand pressures, they would need "adequate resources to meet any new responsibilities".

Cllr Simon Blackburn, chair of the Local Government Associations safer and stronger communities board, said: A proportionate and reasonable public duty could assist councils in working with owners and operators of public spaces and venues to reduce the threat from terrorism.

However, consideration needs to be given to what licensing and planning powers councils might need to be able to drive improvements in the way public space is designed and operated to make it safer."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine welcomed the fact that the work of campaigners such as Ms Murray had been recognised, but said the new law must be backed up with the money and resources to prevent terrorism.

Boris Johnson must also therefore use the upcoming budget to address the unnecessary Conservative cuts to the police, prisons, probation and rehabilitation," she added.
One-billion-year-old seaweed fossils discovered in China are thought to be related to an ancestor of Earth's earliest land plants and trees that lived 450 million years ago.

The 2mm-long specimens are also believed to be the oldest green algae ever discovered.

The micro-fossil seaweeds, a form of algae known as Proterocladus antiquus, add support to the theory stating terrestrial life evolved from marine lifeforms.

The micro-fossil seaweeds, a form of algae known as Proterocladus antiquus, are hardly visible to the naked eye, at just 2mm in length

HOW DID LIFE MOVE FROM WATER TO LAND? The current hypothesis is that land plants, including trees, grasses and crops, evolved from green seaweeds, which were aquatic plants. Through geological time - millions upon millions of years - they moved out of the water. The slowly became adapted to dry land and prospered in their new environment. Small adaptations like improved strength to combat gravity and the ability to convert atmospheric oxygen into food helped the plants survive. They eventually mastered the environment and diverged into the stunning diversity of foliage we see today. But some scientists think that green plants started in rivers and lakes, and then conquered the ocean and land later. Advertisement

The specimens were imprinted in rock taken from an area of dry land near the city of Dalian in the Liaoning Province of northern China, which was underwater millions of years ago.

Before the discovery, published in the Nature Ecology and Evolution journal, the earliest convincing fossil records of green seaweeds were found in rock dated at about 800 million years old.

Examples of red seaweed - more primitive than green algae - have been found dating back 1.047 billion years.

Professor Shuhai Xiao of Virginia Tech, said: 'These new fossils suggest that green seaweeds were important players in the ocean long before their land-plant descendants moved and took control of dry land.

'The entire biosphere is largely dependent on plants and algae for food and oxygen, yet land plants did not evolve until about 450 million years ago.'

But according to the scientists, the seaweeds' multiple branches, upright growth and specialised cells suggest the fossil is a green seaweed that is about one billion years old.

'Our study shows that green seaweeds evolved no later than one billion years ago, pushing back the record of green seaweeds by about 200 million years,' Professor Xiao adds.

One-billion-year-old seaweed fossils discovered in China are believed to be the oldest green algae discovered. (pictured, an artist's impression of what they may have looked like). They are also thought to be the ancestor of the earliest land plants and trees

The specimens were imprinted in rock taken from an area of dry land near the city of Dalian in the Liaoning Province of northern China, which used to be ocean

According to the researchers, who found the fossil using an electron microscope, say the tiny seaweeds once lived in a shallow ocean.

When the primitive plant died, it became entombed beneath a thick pile of sediment, preserving the organic shapes of the seaweeds as fossils.

Many millions of years later, the sediment was then lifted up out of the ocean and became the dry land where the fossils were retrieved.

The current hypothesis for how life travelled onto solid land states that land plants like trees, grasses and food crops, evolved directly from green seaweeds - aquatic plants.

However, not all geobiologists agree on the origins of green plants, with some suggesting they started in rivers and lakes, before conquering the ocean.

'These seaweeds display multiple branches, upright growths, and specialised cells known as akinetes that are very common in this type of fossil,' Professor Xiao says.

'Taken together, these features strongly suggest that the fossil is a green seaweed with complex multicellularity that is circa 1 billion years old.

'These likely represent the earliest fossil of green seaweeds. In short, our study tells us that the ubiquitous green plants we see today can be traced back to at least one billion years.'
Police are scrambling for leads after unidentified men demanded 30 lakh as extortion money from a farmer and opened fire outside his house in Jagraons Dholan village on February 18.

Calling through different international numbers, the accused have threatened to kill the farmer and his family members, police said.

The Sadar police of Jagraon registered a case on Monday and launched an investigation to trace the extortionists.

Earlier, investigators had recovered five shells from outside the house of the farmer, who owns 32 acres.

Amanbir Singh, 26, of Dholan village, said while he was in Jagraon city on February 18, he received a WhatsApp call from an international number. The caller claimed to be calling from Canada, and demanded 30 lakh as extortion money.

The accused also threatened him of not taking his threats lightly, adding that he would know how dangerous they were on reaching home.

Amanbir said when he rushed back home, his mother Jagpal Kaur told him that someone fired gunshots outside their house.

Another threat call followed on February 20, this time from another number, following which Amanbir approached the police for protection.

Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gurdeep Singh, in-charge, Chowkimaan police post, said the accused seemed to be known to the family. They appeared to be using a software to reflect international phone numbers on the mobile screen.

A case under Section 384 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code, and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against the unidentified accused on Monday.

NOT A FIRST

December 20, 2019: A head constable, Balvir Singh, was arrested for extorting 6 lakh from a pharmacist, Swaran Singh Bedi, of Rajguru Nagar over six months. The victims pharmacy is located in BRS Nagar

October 20, 2019: A man named Chhota Lalla was stabbed to death when he, along with his accomplice, had gone to extort money from firecracker traders

October 14, 2019: A head constable was booked for allegedly extorting 1.8 lakh from an Atal Nagar resident for helping him get his son acquitted in a murder case

August 29, 2019: Police had arrested a former sarpanch and his accomplice for extorting money from a dairy owner by threatening to implicate him in false case of rape and molestation.
Lots of Democrats are in full panic that Bernie Sanders will win the nomination and get clobbered in the general election  and bring the party down, too. But the evidence, particularly the polling, doesn't back those doomsday warnings.

Why it matters: Virtually every national and swing state poll shows Sanders tied with or beating President Trump. And, unlike every rival, he has a huge base of fervent, unshakable supporters he can only grow.

Just the facts, please: A Quinnipiac Poll last week showed Sanders beating Trump in Michigan and Pennsylvania. A CBS News/YouGov poll showed Sanders beating Trump nationally.

A Texas Lyceum poll shows Sanders doing better against Trump in Texas than any Democrat, losing by just three points.

Hes socially savvier: Sanders has much larger followings on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other platforms than his rivals  and has consistently shown new media sophistication others lack.

Loyalty matters: The guys base writes checks regularly, for years now, making him the best-funded non-billionaire in the Democratic game. His supporters also show up  on social, at rallies, in elections. Ask Trump if this matters.

Socialism hasnt killed him: Its not like Sanders hides his big government socialism  he has screamed it to the nation for a half-decade. Maybe voters dont care, just like 45% dont care about Trumps outlandishness.

Peter Hamby, who works for Snapchat and writes for Vanity Fair, argues "bed-wetting" Democrats might have it all wrong:

"Instead of asking if Sanders is unelectable, ask another question: What if Sanders is actually the MOST electable Democrat? In the age of Trump, hyper-partisanship, institutional distrust, and social media, Sanders could be examined as a candidate almost custom-built to go head-to-head with Trump this year."

if Sanders is unelectable, ask another question: What if Sanders is actually the MOST electable Democrat? In the age of Trump, hyper-partisanship, institutional distrust, and social media, Sanders could be examined as a candidate almost custom-built to go head-to-head with Trump this year." Hes a Trump-like celebrity: "Running for president has always been about winning the attention war, and the competition for attention has never been more difficult than it is in 2020, Hamby writes. Sanders has way more old-school and new-age celebrity than the rest of his rivals combined.

The bottom line: The truth is we are all clueless about what voters want or will accept. That includes everyone on Twitter, inside the Democratic establishment  and me!
Incumbent leader wins 72 percent of the vote share in first round of presidential election, says electoral commission.

Togos President Faure Gnassingbe has been re-elected for a fourth term, the national electoral commission has declared, extending his 15-year rule and a family dynasty that began when his father took power in a 1967 coup.

The incumbent leader took 72 percent of the vote share in the first round of the presidential election, according to preliminary results from the commission on Monday, ahead of his closest rival and former prime minister Agbeyome Kodjo with 18 percent.

The final results are expected to be announced by the Supreme Court in coming days.

If confirmed, the result gives Gnassingbe five more years in power, a blow for opposition protesters who have taken to the streets in recent years, calling for him to step down.

Gnassingbe has led the country of eight million people since taking over in 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled the country for 38 years.





In May, he oversaw an overhaul of the constitution that allowed him to run this year  and potentially remain in office until 2030.

Gilbert Barawa, minister of public functions and a strong supporter of the president, described the result as an unprecedented score for the president, who was elected with 58 percent of the vote five years ago.

Hours before the official results were announced, Kodjo, who was prime minister under Gnassingbes father, had declared his own victory as democratically elected president with between 57 and 61 percent of the vote.

He promised to form his own inclusive government in the coming days, accusing authorities of using ballot stuffing and fake polling stations to skew the results in the incumbents favour.

Challenges ahead

The authorities banned hundreds of local observers from monitoring Saturdays election and cancelled the system of electronic security at the last moment.

Some 300 international observers were deployed, mainly from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, with many African states supporting the incumbent.

Six opposition challengers had suggested they would unite against Gnassingbe if he failed to win an outright majority and the election had proceeded to a second round.

In 2017 and 2018, Togolese authorities faced major protests demanding an end to the familys five-decade rule.

Some political observers have expressed concern that a Gnassingbe win could spark fresh protests, though the streets of the oceanside capital Lome were calm in the early hours of Monday morning immediately after the vote.

Togo is the tenth-poorest country in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Gnassingbe has long promised to boost economic development and the country has seen annual economic growth of around 5 percent in recent years, driven by investment in energy and transport.

But grinding poverty and labour strikes are constant reminders of the challenges ahead.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- As the Covid-19 virus hit demand for oil, OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia wanted an urgent meeting among the cartels members and their international partners in order to bring in deeper and longer output cuts. Russia didnt, and now the emergency gathering of the 23-nation coalition known as OPEC+ wont happen. This is only the latest in a series of slights that the biggest member of OPECs allies has delivered to the wider group, ratcheting up questions about its potency to truly impact oil production levels and therefore prices.

So why does Saudi Arabia continue to tolerate the unwieldy situation in return for very little in the way of real output cuts? Heres my take, with a bit of artistic license:

The Emperor Salman and the Tailors of Rus(1)  with apologies to Hans Christian Andersen

Salman, Prince of the Desert and Emperor of the lands of OPEC, was worried. The empire over which his country had held sway for nearly 60 years was beset on all sides by threats. His uncle, Sam, who had hitherto depended on the oil from the desert kingdom and its allies, had recently harnessed a wild beast called Shale that was threatening the riches of the realm. Salman needed to burnish his image, so he decided to take in his old suit of clothes for a makeover to restore its luster and his countrys reputation as the most important oil broker in the world.

Far to the north, in the frozen lands of Rus, there lived a pair tailors  Vladimir and Alexander  who, it was reported, could do wonderful things with the fabric called neft.

Over many months Salman courted Vladimir, persuading him and Alexander to give the suit an elegant new look fit for an emperor. Eventually, after much deliberation, Vladimir and Alexander agreed. Along with a coterie of assistant tailors from around the globe, they would carefully proceed with the alterations. The cuts used would be so fine as to be invisible to anyone unworthy of their position in life, or hopelessly stupid.

Story continues

The tailors toiled away. At the end of each month they exhibited the progress of their work  cuts so subtle that the emperor marveled at their skill, even though he couldnt quite make out where theyd been made. But it would never do for him to admit that he couldnt see where Vladimir and Alexander had trimmed the fabric. After all, the leaders of the other countries in the OPEC empire were all so enthusiastic in their praise of the tailors from Rus.

Meanwhile, Salmans kingdom was making sacrifices of its own, giving up vast amounts of treasure as Uncle Sam and the beast Shale began to woo away his friends in the east.

No matter. The suit alterations were coming along. The cuts by the tailors of Rus were things of exquisite beauty, so fine as to be almost invisible.

There was only one problem. Clearly quite remarkably stupid, traders in the markets of New York, London, Singapore and other far-flung bazaars were not impressed with the tailors work. No matter how long Vladimir and Alexander kept on with their clever snipping, OPECs reputation continued to wither.

Some began to point their fingers. Those cuts being made by the tailors of Rus are nothing of the sort, people said. Pretty soon, it became apparent that the Emperor of OPEC had been hoodwinked by the tailors.

But the poor emperor was trapped. Salman had invested so much effort in persuading Vladimir to lead the tailors of OPEC+ that it had become impossible to admit that their oh-so-fine cuts were illusory. And then disaster struck! A great pestilence swept the nations of the east, throwing them into disarray and slashing their trade with the Empire of OPEC.

Salman called for yet more and more cuts. But the tailors were not convinced. They were quite happy with the way things were. After all, the countries of the east were much closer to Rus than they were to the Empire of OPEC, and their own trade was holding up pretty well, thank you. Lets wait and see, they said. No need to rush into doing something unnecessary.

It was then that it dawned on the poor Emperor of OPEC that the tailors of Rus were not the miracle workers he had thought. But even so, he wasnt quite able to bring himself to admit that the alterations they had made were an illusion. Possibly, just possibly, those tailors would one day deliver those exquisite cuts they promised, maybe after their next get together in March.

But, the tailors' reluctance to make more cuts left Salman fuming with his closest allies. Perhaps the delicate tie between the emperor and his tailors was beginning to come unstitched.

(1) Any similarity to real life events, people and organizations, including Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Energy Minister Alexander Novak or the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, are not coincidental.

To contact the author of this story: Julian Lee at jlee1627@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Melissa Pozsgay at mpozsgay@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Julian Lee is an oil strategist for Bloomberg. Previously he worked as a senior analyst at the Centre for Global Energy Studies.

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

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AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Legislation to Better Regulate Corporate Bankruptcy Filings

AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Legislation to Better Regulate Corporate Bankruptcy Filings

Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-335-7666 Attorney General

February 24, 2020

LANSING  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a letter to support the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2019. This bipartisan legislation would prevent a corporation from filing for bankruptcy in a district it believes would offer more favorable rulings  a practice known as forum shopping  when the corporations main place of business or assets are located in a different district. Forum shopping imposes a burden on states and other creditors who may have to travel and incur significant expenses to pursue their claims.

Under current U.S. law, individuals must file for bankruptcy in the district where they have resided for a majority of the 180 days prior to filing. However, corporations are allowed to pursue bankruptcy in any district where the corporation has a minor affiliated interest, no matter how small or recently created.

Filing in any district where the corporation has minor interest provides a major advantage to the corporation and leads to these cases being placed in some of the most expensive legal markets in the country. Generally, businesses and consumers who interact with the corporation are located in areas where the business primarily operates and having to travel for lawsuits makes it harder to protect consumer and business interests. The same applies to states that may be owed taxes or other payments and may incur expenses to collect that money. Those expenses could wipe out any amounts collected through the bankruptcy.

Additionally, because each individual court currently sets its own requirements for allowing non-local attorneys to appear  including deciding whether to charge an admission fee in each case, and/or require local counsel to be associated with the case  financial burdens and unnecessary delays in bankruptcy cases are virtually unavoidable. The coalitions letter encourages Congress to ensure when attorneys appear on behalf of the government, they can participate in the case without having to pay excessive fees or hire local counsel.

My office will continue to stand up to protect Michiganders from companies who conduct business in bad faith, said Nessel. Trying to manipulate the financial and judicial system to benefit a company to the detriment of consumers is unacceptable and makes it all the more important for me to take a strong position on this matter.

In the letter, the attorneys general affirm passage of the legislation will:

Ensure businesses file in a jurisdiction where their principal assets or their principal place of business are located;

Require new rules allowing all government attorneys (not just U.S. attorneys) to appear without charge or to associate with local counsel;

Strengthen the integrity of, and build public confidence and ensure fairness in, the bankruptcy system;

Help consumers and other parties to be represented in court without unnecessary burden; and

Level the playing field for state attorneys general to guard their states financial interests and enforce consumer protection laws.

Nessel joins the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin in filing the letter.

A copy of the letter is available here.

###
" " An Ethiopian Orthodox priest shows an ancient Bible in a church in Lalibela, Ethiopia. Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images

In his best-selling novel, "The Da Vinci Code," Dan Brown wrote that the Bible was assembled during the famous Council of Nicea in 325 C.E., when Emperor Constantine and church authorities purportedly banned problematic books that didn't conform to their secret agenda.

Except that's not how it really went. "The Da Vinci Code" was fiction, but Brown wasn't the first to credit the Council of Nicea with deciding which books to include in the Bible. Voltaire, writing in the 18th century, repeated a centuries-old myth that the Bible was canonized in Nicea by placing all of the known books on a table, saying a prayer and seeing which illegitimate texts fell to the floor.

In truth, there was no single church authority or council that convened to rubber stamp the biblical canon (official list of books in the Bible), not at Nicea or anywhere else in antiquity, explains Jason Combs, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University specializing in ancient Christianity.

"Dan Brown did us all a disservice," says Combs. "We don't have evidence that any group of Christians got together and said, 'Let's hash this out once and for all.'" (The Council of Nicea was convened to resolve a religious matter unrelated to the books of the Bible.)

What evidence scholars do have  in the form of theological treatises, letters and church histories that have survived for millennia  points to a much longer process of canonization. From the first through the fourth centuries and beyond, different church leaders and theologians made arguments about which books belonged in the canon, often casting their opponents as heretics.

The books that make up the Bible were written by various people over a period of more than 1,000 years, between 1200 B.C.E. and the first century C.E. The Bible contains a variety of literary genres, including poetry, history, songs, stories, letters and prophetic writings. These were originally written on scrolls of parchment, as opposed to being encapsulated in "books" as we think of them today. (Remember, the printing press wasn't invented until 1440.)

" " Rare and ancient biblical manuscripts are displayed at the "Book of Books" exhibition in the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, Israel. Note they are all on scrolls. Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

Over time, the books that were deemed authentic and authoritative by the communities who used them were included in the canon and the rest were discarded. Although the bulk of that editing work ended in the late 300s, the debate over which books were theologically legit continued until at least the 16th century when church reformer Martin Luther published his German translation of the Bible.

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Disputed, Spurious and Downright Heretical

Luther had issues with the book of James, which emphasized the role of "works" alongside faith, so he stuck James and Hebrews in the back of the Bible alongside Jude and Revelation, which he also thought were questionable. Combs says that in Luther's original Bible, those four books don't even appear in the table of contents.

Eusebius was a Christian historian writing in the early 300s who provided one of the early lists of which books were considered legit and which were borderline bogus.

Eusebius broke his list down into different categories: recognized, disputed, spurious and heretical. Among the "recognized" were the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), Acts and Paul's epistles. Under "disputed," Eusebius included James and Jude  the same books Luther didn't like  plus a few others that are now considered canon, like 2 Peter, 2 John and 3 John.

When Eusebius turns to the "spurious" and "heretical" categories, we get a glimpse into just how many other texts were in circulation in the second and third century C.E. Have you ever heard of the Apocalypse of Peter, the Epistle of Barnabas or the Gospel of Thomas? Combs says that there were hundreds of texts similar to those found in the New Testament and Old Testament that didn't make it into the canon.

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Making the Cut

Why did some books make the cut and not others? Combs cites three criteria used by early church leaders. The first was authorship, whether it was believed to have been written by an apostle, by Paul or by someone close to them. Mark, for example, wasn't an apostle, but was an interpreter for Peter. The second criterium was antiquity, with older texts taking priority over newer ones. And the third was orthodoxy, or how well the text conformed with current Christian teaching.

"That last reason is so interesting, of course, because 'current Christian teaching' changed over hundreds of years," says Combs.

While it's not true to say that a single church council ruled on which books to include in the canon, it's fair to say that over those first few centuries of theological debate, the winners got to decide which books would stay and which had to go.

It's important to mention that not all Christian denominations consider the same books to be canon. Most Protestant Bibles have 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The Roman Catholic Bible has 73 books including the seven known as the Apocrypha. And the Ethiopian Orthodox Church includes 81 total books in its Bible, including pseudepigrapha like 1 Enoch and Jubilees.

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What are the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha?

The word "apocrypha" comes from the Greek for "hidden" or "secret." It's a little confusing, because the word apocrypha is used in a couple of different ways when talking about books outside of the standard biblical canon.

First, there's the category of "New Testament Apocrypha" which includes a long list of non-canonical texts written mostly in the second century C.E. and beyond that pertain to Jesus and his apostles. As Combs says, there are hundreds of these texts and we don't have written specimens for all of them.

Then there's a subset of Old Testament books that are included in the Roman Catholic Bible. These seven books, including Tobit, Judith and 1 & 2 Maccabees, are published between the Old and New Testaments in the Catholic Bible and called "the Apocrypha" or sometimes the "Deuterocanon" which means "second canon."

And then there's a third category called "pseudepigrapha" from the Greek for "false author." This list includes more than 50 texts written between 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. by both Jewish and Christian writers expanding on stories and characters from the Old Testament. Notable Old Testament pseudepigrapha include 1 Enoch, Jubilees and the Treatise of Shem.

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Stories You Didn't Learn in Sunday School

Many of the New Testament texts familiar to Christians today were being used authoritatively already in the second century, but different congregations preferred some texts over others and included some texts that don't appear in the New Testament. Here are a few:

The Gospel of Peter: Only a fragment of this text was recovered in 1886 in Egypt, but it includes the only narrative account of the resurrected Jesus leaving his tomb. According to Peter's version, two giant angels descended to the tomb and escorted the resurrected Jesus out, who was also suddenly gigantic. But the oddest note was that the three figures were followed by a floating cross that could talk.

"And they heard a voice from the heavens, saying, 'Thou hast preached to them that sleep.' And a response was heard from the cross, 'Yea.'"

The Gospel of Mary: Combs says that some apocryphal texts reflected theological and doctrinal debates going on within the early church, such as the role of women. In the Gospel of Mary (discovered in the late 19th century), Mary Magdalene is not only referred to as one of Jesus's disciples, but perhaps his favorite one. In this text, after Jesus is resurrected, he relays esoteric teachings to Mary, who then tells the other disciples. Peter asks why they should listen to a woman, to which another disciple Levi [Matthew] responds:

"If the Savior made her worthy, who are you then, for your part, to cast her aside? Surely the Savior knows her full well. That is why he has loved her more than us."

1 Enoch: Purportedly written by the ancient prophet Enoch before the time of Noah, this text was well-known to early Christians like third-century theologian Tertullian and quoted as authoritative scripture. The text is famous for its description of the "Watchers," fallen angels mentioned briefly in the Old Testament book of Genesis. These angels lusted after human women and came down to Earth to be with them, creating giant offspring. In 1 Enoch, these angels also introduce evil into the world in the form of weapons, magic and sexy makeup.

Now That's Cool If you're curious, you can read English translations of dozens of New Testament apocrypha and Old Testament apocrypha online.
The NDA has said it will fight the polls under Mr Kumars leadership.

New Delhi: There is a certain unease in the NDA camp in Bihar after Prashant Kishors exit. The political strategist, who was expelled from the JD(U) by chief minister Nitish Kumar last month, was asked to assess strategic planning data for the states ruling alliance for the coming Assembly polls. The data, it was learnt, also included constituency-wise assessments of positive and negative feedback of the sitting MLAs  of both the JD(U) and the BJP  and local issues that could hurt the ruling alliances prospects in the Assembly polls that are expected by the end of the year. A section within the JD(U), sources said, feels that with Mr Kishors ouster from the party, the data could be misused in the Assembly polls. However, a majority within the JD(U) is confident that the Nitish Kumar-led NDA in the state will retain power because of the development plank of the chief minister, who has a clean image and a decisive leadership. Also, the Opposition camp in the state seems divided over the leadership issue as not everyone in the grand alliance of Opposition parties are in favour of the RJDs Tejashwi Yadav as the face of the alliance. The NDA has said it will fight the polls under Mr Kumars leadership.

Mr Kishor, along with former Rajya Sabha member Pavan K. Varma, were expelled from the JD(U) over their stand against the amended citizenship law. Both were once seen as close associates of Mr

Kumar. In fact, Mr Kishor had played a key role in the 2015 Assembly polls in the state, which the JD(U) had fought along with the RJD and Congress, as the JD(U) had quit the NDA fold in 2013 over Narendra Modis elevations as the NDAs PM candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, the JD(U) rejoined the NDA in 2017.

In Bihar, people still compare the JD(U)s rule with that of the RJD. No matter which caste one belongs to or lives in a city or a rural area, no one wants a repeat of the RJDs misrule. Nitish Kumar has a clean image, his work is appreciated, no matter which caste or class one belongs to. He is a decisive leader, said a JD(U) leader.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has obligated airlines operating in the kingdom to pay compensation to its passengers worth more than SR65 million ($17.3 million) for not abiding by the terms and conditions of air transport contracts with its customers.



This action comes as an implementation of the provisions of the regulations on protecting the rights of customers and in line with GACAs approach of upgrading the level of services provided to travellers, and improve their experience in accordance with the highest international standards.



Reasons for paying compensation include cases of baggage loss, damage or delay of luggage, flight delays and flight cancellations.



All air carriers operating in Saudi Arabia are subject to paying the indemnities, the authority said.



GACA calls upon the general public to view the Executive Regulations protecting the rights of customers on its website (www.gaca.gov.sa). Passengers who wish to file complaints against any air carrier can also contact the 24-hour call centre. - TradeArabia News Service
Jennifer Lynchs official title at Southwest Airlines is social care team specialist. But that belies the other duties she might take on during her average shift responding to dozens of stressed-out passengers on Twitter: therapist, event planner, meteorologist.

Then there are all the people who want to propose marriage on a plane but dont know how.

He said Im gonna leave it up to you Jen, Lynch said of one recent flier who popped the question to his girlfriend after Lynch helped him notify all his fellow passengers of what was coming.

Not that every romantic plane request gets granted. Or every lost bag gets found. Or every flier gets where theyre going on time. But airline social media representatives have to at least try, and at high speed with the entire internet watching.

With fliers increasingly choosing to send their urgent questions and complaints through social media rather than wait on the phone, airlines are responding by boosting their online staffs. One survey of 52 airlines found over 60% had social media teams of less than five people three years ago. By 2019, that had shrunk to 31%, and more than a third employed at least 10 people.

Southwest didnt give an exact social team employee total, though a peek at their Twitter replies suggests about 10 people at any given time may respond. And they keep their accounts staffed 24 hours every day. Rob Hahn, a business consultant and social care liaison at Southwest, says the airline gets around 3,000 social media mentions per day.

ALSO: Best and worst airlines for Bay Area travelers

Thats a lot of opportunity for airlines to get criticized, dunked on, cursed at or memed by the public, and it seemingly makes them reluctant to discuss it. Of the four airlines we contacted for this story, only Southwest responded.

It was nerve-racking sending that first tweet back where anyone can see my response, Lynch said of her first day on the job. You get used to it pretty quickly.

Airlines are highly responsive to their customers on Twitter  with high visibility and industry reports on whos fastest, they have to be. Hahn said its social care team responds to virtually every tweet, with a sweet spot response time of 15 minutes. The airline says influencers and YouTubers dont get higher priority, though We have the awareness that we might be noticed by millions of people.

Most days, Lynch responds to customers on Twitter and Facebook from Southwests listening center at its headquarters next to Dallas Love Field Airport. The large, glass-enclosed office is decked with large monitors displaying real-time social media metrics and flight information. She also spends time inside Southwests operations department, which can be crucial for relaying customer complaints or booking someone on a new flight.

Social care workers can award travel vouchers to frustrated passengers, or book them on a new flight if there was a cancellation. Lynch said she did the latter over Twitter recently when San Francisco airports notorious fog interrupted one passengers trip to Los Angeles for a concert that evening. She explained to the passenger how the fog might delay flights for hours and offered to fly her out of Oakland or San Jose if there was no other option.

You could tell in her tweets she was very stressed, Lynch said. I checked up on her later because her flight was later in the day. She hopefully made it to the concert.

Lynch said she had customer service experience before her current job, but never one responding on Twitter. Shes been on the social media team for five years, enough time to be responsible for training new hires and be the subject of several GIFs, which the company uses often with customers in keeping with its more lighthearted voice.

Maintaining that voice is most challenging when customers get cranky or downright mean, but airlines rarely let them go unanswered. One recent tweet succinctly said, @SouthwestAir you suck, with no mention of the problem.

Well, that's not what we want to hear, the Southwest representative responded. Lauren, is there anything we can do to assist you?

The employee also encouraged the Twitter user to get in touch via direct message, which Southwest and other airlines encourage people to do from the start. Lynch said a DM including the persons flight info and Rapid Rewards number the most helpful thing people can do.

Instead of just tweeting I have a problem, If youd start off with your question we could help them a lot easier, she said.

Lynch said the most customers shes answered in an eight-hour shift was around 100, on a day when Southwests site went down for maintenance and questions poured in about bookings.

As for the most common requests she gets, Lynch includes birthdays, honeymoons and on-plane marriage proposals. The first two are often addressed with such gifts as Champagne, pretzel crowns and toilet paper birthday cakes.

Of the proposals, she said We cant accommodate all of them, but sometimes one will tug on our heartstrings and the stars will align. Weve done an in-flight wedding before.

A more unusual request she handled was from a woman who wanted to give a surprise bridesmaids proposal to her friends, who were flying with her that day.

I asked our gate agent to call them up like theyre in trouble and then pop the question if you will, Lynch said.

There are times when complaints or requests veer into trolling and they go viral. Another Southwest employee went viral three years ago when a 19-year-old college student alleged on Twitter he was being subjected to rude treatment by a Southwest flight attendant, and he shared her photo.

Twitter

It was actually Britney Spears in her Toxic video outfit.

When the Southwest rep caught on, she responded, "Oops, she did it again," and a news story was born.

Lynch says imitators try to do the same with her, but she hasnt gone viral yet. Of the mean tweets she and her co-workers get, she says they share them with each other maybe sometimes, not always.

Conversely, offering a traveler some empathy while theyre in a jam can earn them some gratitude.

Hey, can we be best friends now, can we be pen pals, Lynch says of the nicest tweets shes gotten. Weve gotten baked goods sent to us before, which is really fun.

Greg Keraghosian is an SFGATE homepage editor. Email: greg.keraghosian@sfgate.com
Imagine how difficult it would be for a company to survive after a huge chunk of its staff decides to leave. Well, in the case of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited  the state-run telecom behemoths  the percentage is around 55 and 75 after the introduction of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).



So, if your landline connection is going dead, or you are unable to browse the internet at a high speed, despite paying for 4G, you are not the only one!



Here's how things went wrong with and after the introduction of voluntary retirement scheme.



The voluntary retirement scheme was introduced to help get rid of the surplus staff. This came into action to help facing debt crisis or slowdown since the labour laws do not permit direct retrenchment of unionized employees.

But, VRS applies to only those employees who have been working for 10 years or more and are above the age of 40 years, which may vary from company to company.



So, if VRS was introduced to lay down the burden of surplus employees from the companies, how is it affecting their service now?



Officials say the recent voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) has reduced the workforce and that is hampering the service quality, points out Vinod Desai, an Ahmedabad-based retired bank official, whos planning to shift to a private service provider from for a landline connection.



Geo Verghese, a businessman from the same city, has found the internet speed of the broadband connection unsatisfactory.



Well, if BSNL is a pan-Indian story of increasingly indifferent service, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL), the other state-owned telco that operates only in Delhi and Mumbai, is no better.



As mentioned before, around 75 per cent of the staff took the VRS offer and left recently. And, it doesnt help when a customer lands up at the almost-deserted offices, whether in Mumbai or Delhi.



The situation is quite contrasting in BSNL headquarters at downtown Janpath in New Delhi.



PK Purwar, chairman & managing director, BSNL, said on Saturday that the existing employees have responded well to the challenges. The numbers are big: BSNL and MTNL have shed 92,869 at one go through the VRS. While BSNL let go of 78,569, MTNLs offer was taken by 14,300.



Of the total number of BSNL employees who took VRS, a majority  55,000  made up for non-executive staff. In the case of MTNL too, the non-executive category formed the chunk in taking VRS.



In case you dont know, together they have around 123 million subscribers (mobile and landline) in the country out of a total telecom user base of over 1.2 billion. In landline, these two hold over 60 per cent of the market share.



Admitting that BSNL was overstaffed, a senior BSNL executive said the overall impact of the VRS on the companys operations was minimal. In fact, both MTNL and BSNL executives claimed it was business as usual.



However, the state-level executives sounded more realistic.



In BSNLs Gujarat circle, for instance, tenders are being floated across the circle units for roping in outsource partners following guidelines from the corporate office recently. Of the roughly 10,000 workforce in the state, around 6,468 opted for VRS, leaving the circle with staff strength of just 3,532.



Similarly, at BSNL offices in Hyderabad, officers managing the post-VRS situation have redeployed staff from back-end administrative work at customer service centres.



In Chennai, where almost 33 exchanges out of the total of over 200 in the city and its suburbs barely had...



To know more, listen to this podcast.
The coronavirus outbreak is slowly creating a scarcity of white goods in India. Being highly dependent on markets like China and South Korea for supply of key electronic goods and product components, India is seeing the quantity of goods shrinking even as prices rise.

Indian customers rushing to purchase air conditioners or refrigerators ahead of the onset of summer may be in for a disappointment. Either their favourite product may be out of stock or priced 10-15 percent higher.

We are in constant communication with manufacturing units in China and South Korea. The situation is not under control and is a cause for worry because the inventory may last only till the first week of May, the head of a large consumer electronics retailer said.

Coronovirus Disease 2019, or Covid-19, originated in Wuhan, China. South Korea, which is home to leading electronic majors like Samsung and LG, is now the second largest country after China to be affected by the deadly outbreak.

China, which is the epicentre of the outbreak, is a major exporter, accounting for almost 23 percent of global electronic goods. Among products, mobile phone supplies could see a hit the hardest as manufacturers are left with only one month of stock.

Apple recently announced it will likely fall short of this quarter's sales target due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Arjun Bajaj, Founder of Shinco India (a brand by Videotex International), said manufacturers who import components and panels from China were prepared for the Chinese Lunar New Year vacation gap. "But with the Chinese government extending the vacation, there is a lot of chaos in the Indian market with regard to the delay in factory openings."

Apart from mobile phones, home appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners (ACs) and televisions may be impacted.

When it comes to TVs, the open cell panel, a key component, is imported from markets like China. With production in China almost shut, export of this component has been halted, which has impacted production of TVs in India.

For ACs and refrigerators, air compressor is the key component, which aids in cooling. This part is also imported from China. Since a major part of AC and refrigerator sales occur between February and April, shortage of products or its key components will directly impact revenue.

Chinese workers are unwilling to work and manufacturers are not ready to take risk. While we are adequately stocked, our inventory will only suffice for a limited time period. This, in turn, will cause a humongous delay in shipments and disrupt the production plans of consumer goods and mobile industry, Bajaj added.

On February 22, Samsung Electronics said a coronavirus case had been confirmed at its mobile device factory complex, located in South Koreas Gumi, causing a shutdown of its entire facility till February 24.

Meanwhile, LG Electronics has asked workers in Daegu (South Korea), which has seen a spike in cases, to work from home.

Prices of electronic appliances in India have risen by 10-15 percent due to disruption in the supply of crucial spare parts from China.

Appliance makers in India expect a 5-10 percent increase in product prices as demand rises ahead of the onset of summer.

Customers may feel the pinch immediately as companies grapple with the delay in securing spares from China. Due to the epidemic, component exports from China has been halted indefinitely.

Disruption in the supply chain comes just ahead of the onset of summer when Indian consumers start to buy appliances such as refrigerators and ACs.

The earlier an appliance is bought, the cheaper it is. With the absence of key components to produce goods, there would be delays in production and a mismatch in demand and supply.

With customers rushing to buy cooling products to beat the heat, appliance makers are struggling to meet demand. To offset this, a price hike is expected over the next few weeks.

Importing a finished product is expensive since the government has imposed a 20 percent import duty on completely built units. With imports to mitigate the dearth of products being ruled out temporarily, a price rise is the only option.
The White House is not denying Donald Trump accused UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson of "betrayal" after slamming the phone down during a confrontational call last month.

The American president used that word to describe Mr Johnson's decision to partner with Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications firm the Trump administration has accused of pushing invasive technology, to build the UK's 5G network, during a conversation with a senior White House official, according to the Daily Mail.

Citing a source, the newspaper reported Mr Trump's anger during the 24 January transatlantic call as "appopletic."

Asked if the description of the Trump-Johnson call was accurate, a White House official on Monday did not dispute that the US president grew angry on the call and slammed down the phone.

Nor did the official deny that Mr Trump later used the word "betrayal" to describe Mr Johnson's Huawei decision.

UK officials have said they decided to use the Chinese firm because there was no alternative.

The official directed a reporter to a 24 January summary of the call released by the White House, saying Mr Trump's team have nothing to add to its vague two lines.

"Today, President Donald J Trump spoke with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom. The two leaders discussed important regional and bilateral issues, including working together to ensure the security of our telecommunications networks," that summary stated.

Mr Trump was asked about the UK's decision on Sunday as he left the White House for his state visit to India, sounding somewhat measured as he did not escalate the tensions

"We have to be very careful. National security. Huawei," he said over the loud hum of Marine One's engines on the South Law. "National security. We have to be very careful."
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.
F ormer "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett has pleaded not guilty to restored charges that accuse him of staging a hate crime attack against himself in Chicago.

His lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf to six counts of felony disorderly conduct.

She also told Judge James B. Linn that she has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to halt the case.

A somber looking Mr Smollett, 37, entered the Cook County courthouse wearing sunglasses and sporting a beard, flanked by his legal team and surrounded by reporters.

Actor Jussie Smollett appears in a courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago / AP

"He's obviously frustrated to be dragged through this process again," Ms Glandian told reporters after the hearing.

She called the revived prosecution "an ordeal" for Smollett and said he has the support of relatives, some of whom flew out from California to be with him.

"He's strong, he's resilient, he'll get through this, but he's frustrated," she added.

Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of the charge in the same courthouse last year, just weeks before the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office abruptly announced it was dismissing the case, angering police and City Hall.

The actor's attorneys have also filed a motion in Cook County Court arguing that the refiling of charges violated protections against being charged twice for the same crime, known as double jeopardy.

Prosecutors have said double jeopardy does not apply because Smollett was not prosecuted last year.

Judge Linn on Monday set a $20,000 personal recognisance bond, which means Smollett does not have to pay any of it.

He was not taken into custody. His next court date is March 18.

Special Prosecutor Dan Webb, a former US attorney who was appointed to examine the state's attorney's office's handling of the case, represented the state.

Ms Foxx's office is not involved in the new case against Smollett.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the defence motion filed with Illinois' High Court argues that the appointment of the special prosecutor was legally flawed.

Mr Smollett's lawyers applied to dismiss all charges against him / Reuters

Smollett has repeatedly denied police allegations that he staged the attack to get attention and further his career.

The actor, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home in the early hours of January 29 last year.

He said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in "MAGA country," a reference to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."

Weeks later, police alleged that Smollett had paid two black friends to help stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on "Empire," a Fox series filmed in Chicago that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry.

The friends, brothers Abimbola "Abel" Osundairo and Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo, were among those who attended Monday's proceedings.

If Smollett's case makes it to trial, they would be the state's star witnesses. The brothers are bodybuilders and aspiring actors whom Smollett knew from the "Empire" set and the gym.

Their attorney, Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, told reporters after the hearing that the brothers were there to "support the process."

"They are here because they want the truth to be told... The brothers are sorry for their involvement and they will do everything they can this right," she said.

Brothers Olabinjo Osundairo, left, and Abimbola Osundairo arrive at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago / AP

Ms Glandian, Smollett's lawyer, said she was "surprised" the brothers showed up.

"There was no reason for them to appear in court," she said.

Ms Glandian has questioned the integrity of special prosecutor's investigation, pointing out that Webb's probe relied on the same detectives who were part of the original investigation despite pending civil claims that Smollett is pursuing against the city and police for malicious prosecution.
PISCATAWAY, NJ - The marketing of alcoholic beverages is one cause of underage drinking, public health experts conclude. Because of this, countries should abandon what are often piecemeal and voluntary codes to restrict alcohol marketing and construct government-enforced laws designed to limit alcohol-marketing exposure and message appeal to youth.

These conclusions stem form a series of eight review articles published as a supplement to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, which synthesized the results of 163 studies on alcohol advertising and youth alcohol consumption.

"[T]here is persuasive evidence that exposure to alcohol marketing is one cause of drinking onset during adolescence and also one cause of binge drinking," write James D. Sargent, M.D., of the C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth, and Thomas F. Babor, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Connecticut, in a conclusion to the supplement.

Each of the eight review articles in the supplement evaluated a different aspect of alcohol marketing and drinking among young people. The reviews covered hundreds of studies that used different research designs and measurement techniques, and the data came from a variety of countries and scientific disciplines.

The authors of the reviews used the Bradford Hill criteria--a well-known framework for determining causal links between environmental exposures and disease--to determine whether marketing is a cause of youth alcohol use. The same criteria have been used to establish that smoking is a cause of cancer and that tobacco marketing is one cause of youth smoking. Hill's causality criteria involve determining the strength of association, consistency of the link, specificity of the association, temporal precedence of the advertising exposure, biological and psychological plausibility, experimental evidence and analogy to similar health risk exposures (e.g., tobacco advertising).

Sargent and Babor note that each of the Bradford Hill criteria were met within the eight reviews, supporting a modest but meaningful association between alcohol advertising and youth drinking.

Although such a relationship had been previously known, this is the first time any public health expert has explicitly concluded that advertising causes drinking among adolescents. As a result, the authors recommend the following:

Government agencies--independent from the alcohol industry--should restrict alcohol marketing exposures in the adolescent population. Often, advertising restrictions apply to only certain hours of television broadcasting, to certain types of drinks, or to certain formats. Further, new promotional methods on social media are even less regulated. "Although statutory bans can be circumvented," the authors write, "research suggests they are far more effective than voluntary codes."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Office of the Surgeon General should sponsor a series of reports on alcohol and health, similar to the ones that have been published on tobacco. Reports from these government agencies can serve as a guide to public health policy, but there have been few reports on underage drinking and no reports alcohol marketing and its effects.

The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism should resurrect its program to fund research on alcohol marketing and vulnerable populations. There is need for continued study on this topic, and funding has recently been directed to other priorities. "[I]t is disappointing that alcohol marketing research is no longer a programmatic priority at NIAAA," the authors write.

A larger international panel of public health experts should be convened in order to reach a broader consensus, particularly in relation to digital marketing. There is also a need for an international agreement to restrict alcohol marketing along the lines of the United Nations' Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

To the extent that modest causal evidence has been found in a range of countries, and plausible mechanisms have been identified as possible mediating factors, Sargent and Babor expressed the hope that the findings will promote "thoughtful discourse among researchers, effective prevention measures among policymakers, and an effort to reach consensus on this issue among a larger and more representative body of scientists."

###

The publication--"Alcohol Marketing and Youth Drinking: Is There a Causal Relationship?" (Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Supplement 19--was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. All articles in the supplement are open access on the journal's website (http://www.jsad.com) as of Feb. 24, 2020.

Sargent, J. D., & Babor, T. F. (2020). The relationship between exposure to alcohol marketing and underage drinking is causal. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Supplement 19, 113-124. doi:10.15288/jsads.2020.s19.113

To arrange an interview with James D. Sargent, M.D., please contact Tim Dean at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine Communications & Marketing (603-455-3478 or timothy.s.dean@dartmouth.edu).

The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (http://www.jsad.com) is published by the Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. It is the oldest substance-related journal published in the United States.

To learn about education and training opportunities for addiction counselors and others at the Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, please visit https://education.alcoholstudies.rutgers.edu/education-training.

The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs considers this press release to be in the public domain. Editors may publish this press release in whole or in part, in print or electronic form, without legal restriction. Please include proper attribution and byline.
Beaumont ISDs Sallie Curtis Elementary School is in the running for $25,000 after a video cataloging students vision for the future was selected as a finalist in the Lenovo Traveling Storybook Competition.

In the future, our school will be in a water volcano covered in golden apple trees, a student narrator says. You will get there in a water elevator.

The video explores how the changing climate could result in a classroom in the middle of the ocean.

The reason the school will be in the middle of the ocean is because the glaciers are melting, the student said.

Every classroom will have a baby polar bear as a class pet, because they are saving them from drowning as their habitat melts.

Another vision of the students at Sallie Curtis is having classrooms with one teacher for each student so that they can do their own thing that they are interested in.

As of Monday afternoon, the video was leading the top 10 in votes with more than 7,000 votes  but due to an unforeseen technical issue with the  website, all the votes have been reset to zero and the voting period will now take place when the site reopens on Feb. 27.

Voting will start overat 11 a.m. Thursday.

At a glance What: Lenovo Traveling Storybook Competition Who: Sallie Curtis Elementary School When to vote: 11 a.m. Thursday Details: Sallie Curtis Elementary School is in the running to win $25,000 Where to vote:lenovotravelingstorybook.com/gallery See More Collapse

Glenetta Henley, the principal at Sally Curtis Elementary said the young students were unique in joining the competition.

The Lenovo Traveling Storybook competition was originally intended for older students, Henley said. But third grade teacher, Randee Hodgkins decided that her  students would benefit from the challenge and they certainly proved her right.

The first round of the competition involved a Lenovo 300e Laptop that was sent across the country from school to school, with students contributing a 1,000-word written submission and at least one visual art piece.

The top 10 were selected to have their stories professionally animated.

When we received the email that our 3rd graders were in the top ten against older students, we were beyond excited, Henley said. This proud principal and the staff of Sallie Curtis began spreading the word to vote for our submission.

Henley said the $25,000 would go towards a complete technology center upgrade.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
A hand-colored version of an 1880 engraving in Harper's Weekly called "Women At the Polls in New Jersey in the Good Old Times," drawn by Howard Pyle. Read more

We dont know much about Sarah Vandike. Who she was and exactly where she lived, whom she loved and whom she lost and whom she prayed for  all has vanished in the distant past.

But one thing is certain, and it may be the most enduring fact about Sarah Vandike, a white New Jersey woman who lived in Montgomery Township in the late 1700s and early 1800s:

She voted.

In this year in which many institutions are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, the Museum of the American Revolution plans to highlight a long ago time in New Jersey when males and females, including people of color, could vote. And did.

When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776  1807 will open Aug. 22 and run through March 28, 2021.

Vandike was listed in the obscure 1801 Montgomery Township poll lists that museum curators discovered in researching the exhibition. To date, theyve found names of 163 women at local institutions and state archives. Prior to this, little proof of women voting during this period was known to exist, museum officials said.

From 1776 in New Jersey, the year of American Independence and the boiling stew of egalitarian ideas it unleashed, until 1807, all inhabitants of this colony," including women and people of color who fulfilled residency and age requirements and were worth fifty pounds could go to the New Jersey polls and "vote for Representatives in Council & Assembly; and also for all other publick Officers that shall be elected by the People of the County at Large, according to the law.

It was right there in the state constitution of 1776. Then, in 1790, to clarify, the legislature reworded the law to say he or she" could vote. No mistaking that voting was not limited by gender, and there was no limitation placed on free people of color, either.

Marcela Micucci, curatorial fellow in womens history for the museum, went through archives across the state and discovered the hard evidence of womens names written down in the poll lists.

In this exhibition, we are reconstructing the long-forgotten stories of Americas first women voters and will explore how the next generation of suffragists stood on the shoulders of the women who first pioneered the vote, she said.

Philip Mead, the museums chief historian and director of curatorial affairs, said that prior to Micuccis discovery of women named on the poll lists, there had been little hard evidence of women at the New Jersey polls.

There arent many poll lists that even survive, he said.

Mead said that urban and rural areas embraced and accepted voting by blacks and women during the period of open voting.

But with the rise of partisan hostilities, particularly those that flared up around the nasty election of 1800 pitting John Adams against Thomas Jefferson, women and people of color were increasingly scapegoated amid charges of voting irregularities and fraud.

In 1807, the law was changed. Thereafter, only white propertied males were allowed to vote.

It was not a just a simple matter of propertied white men asserting control and shutting down women and blacks, Micucci said. Women voted according to different interests.

Women were not voting as a bloc, she said.

Following 1807, no woman cast a vote in New Jersey until passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution opened the doors of the polling places in 1920. Black men were re-enfranchised in the U.S. by the 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870; their sisters waited another 50 years.
Controller, LO Jobs; Compliance and Servicing Events; Coronavirus Dominating Markets

With the coronavirus driving worldwide markets and politics dominating the headlines, who doesnt like easy? Easy: Krispy Kreme is launching donut delivery. Thank you to Ken S. who passed along this report, brought to us by our friends at the NAR (or is it just NAR?), on the easiest places to buy a house this year. Surprisingly, many of the easy places are along the coast, with the harder places inland. What isnt easy is paying out a $3 billion fine, like Wells Fargo did last week for its fake account scandal, or shifting/closing/pausing an entire division like Quicken Loans did with its One Reverse Mortgage. Another thing that isnt easy is keeping track of trends with 139 million housing units, and servicing the loans on many of them, in the U.S.: more below in the capital markets section. Proper loan servicing is certainly of interest to the CFPB.



Lender Events: Compliance and Servicing

ComplianceEase is excited to be bringing its annual Risk & Compliance Summit to Chicago this year. This years event will feature leading regulatory and technology experts from CSBS, HUD, MBA and more. Dont miss this opportunity to learn from and network with regulatory and mortgage industry experts who will speak to compliance at both the strategic and tactical levels to prepare you for upcoming regulatory changes & enhance your day-to-day compliance operations. To register, click here. For more information, contact Blair Matuszak.

According to STRATMOR Group data, six percent of loans in a given portfolio have errors on their billing statements, which causes the Net Promoter Score (NPS) to fall by 91 points. Thats 3,000 loans in a portfolio of 50,000. And, of all the problems borrowers identify on their billing statements, 70 percent of the problems are either an incorrect payment amount or incorrect escrow amount, resulting in -66 and -61 NPS, respectively. Understanding what your servicing customer is telling you about your operation is now more critical than ever. Join STRATMOR MortgageSAT Director Mike Seminari at the MBA's Servicing Solutions Conference as he moderates the panel discussion "Innovative Approaches to Borrower Satisfaction" at 2PM ET. today, February 24. Not at the conference? Contact Mike to talk with him about optimizing your servicing customers experience.



Capital Markets

The markets remained focused on the coronavirus over the last week and its potential impacts on the global economic outlook. It may still be a while before any effects show up in the data. In January, the Leading Economic Index for the US rose 0.8 percent as the stock market hit new highs and residential building permits surged. Housing starts dipped in January by 3.6 percent to a 1,567,000-unit annual rate following a strong December. Mortgage purchase applications declined for the third straight week last week and refis declined 8.0 percent following three weekly increases. Through mid-February the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 3.77 percent. Existing home sales increased 1.3 percent in January and supply was at 3.1 months' worth. On a yearly basis, existing home sales increased 9.6 percent and the average purchase price increased 6.8 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. Finally, producer prices increased a more than expected 0.5 percent in January due to a strong increase in the final demand for services which was driven by a 10.3 percent gain in margins for apparel, jewelry, and footwear and accessories.

Housing starts may have fallen 3.6 percent in January, but the 1.57 million-unit pace easily beat consensus expectations and is the second strongest of this expansion. Homebuilding continues to gain momentum, as unseasonably mild weather helped keep things in high gear during January. If housing construction maintains its current pace, we will see some incredibly strong year-over-year numbers in 2020. However, warm weather means the data once again got an extra boost from seasonal adjustment, and that will likely hurt numbers this spring.

Single-family starts may have fallen after rising six of the past seven months, but single-family permits, which are less prone to weather distortions and are a more reliable barometer of activity, have risen for eight consecutive months. Low mortgage rates have improved buying conditions, and consumers increasingly report now is a good time to buy. That has been evidenced in the NAHB index, a measure of single-family homebuilder sentiment, which registered near a 20-year high in February. Multifamily starts posted their fourth straight gain, multifamily permits have risen three of the past four months, and apartment permits are running above starts on a six-month average basis, suggesting there are plenty of projects in the pipeline.

(It isnt all peaches and cream. The housing industry is not immune to the coronavirus factory closures and supply chain disruptions, as many building materials are sourced from China. According to the NAHB, nearly one-third of imported residential construction to the U.S. originates from China, namely vinyl floor coverings, kitchen cabinets and wall lighting fixtures. The likely effect is some upward pressure on construction costs, which are already showing signs of picking up.)

The MBAs Joel Kans, AVP of Economic and Industry Forecasting, weighed in on the January new residential construction report: The housing market is still experiencing supply shortages in many areas, but Januarys residential construction data show yet another step in the right direction. Similar to the findings in MBAs January Builder Applications Survey released this week, homebuilders are continuing to ramp up production to meet the demand from potential buyers, and mild winter weather is helping some of the increased activity in the Midwest. The success of the spring buying season greatly depends on how much new and existing inventory is on the market.

Looking at bonds, and thus rates, U.S. Treasuries rallied again to end last week due to continued coronavirus fears and contracting PMIs from around the globe, including here in the U.S. The rally pressured yields to fresh lows for the year, and the 10-year yield hit its lowest level since last September before closing Fridays session -5 bps to 1.47 percent.

As mentioned above we learned that existing home sales fell 1.3 percent in January to a 5.46 million-unit pace, slightly above expectations. With mortgage rates falling and an unseasonably mild December and January weather-wise, it has some momentum. Closings typically take place 45 to 60 days after a contract is signed, which bodes well for sales in February and March.

Unfortunately, the lack of inventory is clearly limiting the sales upside and is evident in the January data, which show the number of homes available for sale falling by 10.7 over the past year. The 1.42 million units of inventory for sale is the lowest since 1999, means that homes are selling quickly and often above the asking price. Homes sold in January remained on the market for an average of 43 days, which is down from 49 days a year ago. Many homes are selling much more quickly than that, with the NAR reporting that 42 percent of homes sold in January were on the market for less than a month. The median price of a single-family home has risen 6.9 percent over the past year after bottoming at just under 4 percent in April 2019, underscoring the importance of mortgage rates staying low for affordability purposes.

Turning to this week, the month-end economic calendar is underway with the January Chicago Fed National Activity Index (-.25%; 49 out of 85 indicators down). Later today brings February Dallas Fed Texas manufacturing figures and remarks from Cleveland Fed President Mester. Tomorrow is a little busier, with the December S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index, February FHFA Housing Price Index and February Consumer Confidence on the docket. Wednesday sees January New Home Sales and a GNII FedTrade operation before January Durable Orders, the Q4 GDP (second estimate), and January Pending Home Sales on Thursday. The week closes with a heavy calendar consisting of January Personal Income and Personal Spending, PCE Prices and Core PCE Prices, the January advance goods trade balance, January Advance Retail Inventories and Advance Wholesale Inventories, and the Final February University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey. We begin today with Agency MBS prices better by .250 and the 10-year down to 1.40 percent on continued worries about the coronavirus hurting world economies.

Jobs and Transitions

Strategic Growth Partners 360 is proud to announce the addition of Delaware based Phil Petruccelli to its team of expert recruiters. Phil is another multi decade mortgage professional recruiting nationally for SGP360 Clients. SGP360 has entered its 8th year of helping well established mortgage professionals move their entire team to platforms that dynamically impact their book of business, profitability and overall happiness! We successfully align multibranch Division, Region, Area or individual branches with our many top tier clients. Our clients have been vetted for their great leadership, capital, products, pricing, service levels, and most importantly, technology to ensure long term results. NDAs are in place with all our clients; not only will we confidentially align your production team successfully; we will also become the insulation for transitioning your team. Representing both Bank and Independent platforms, offering both P&L and Corporate Retail models. Billions in production successfully transitioned since 2013!

A veteran TPO production team, both Sales and Ops support, is seeking a new opportunity with a national bank or nationwide mortgage banker. Well versed in all channels of TPO production, broker, correspondent (NDC, Delegated and Bulk), this small but effective team brings a history of managing billions of dollars of loan volume, leveraging technology, underwriting expertise, and excellent customer service. Interested parties should reply to Chrisman LLCs Anjelica Nixt for forwarding.

National MI is pleased to announce that Lauren McKinney Miller has been promoted to Account Manager for Tennessee. Lauren joined National MI in July of 2015. Since then, she has been heavily involved with the Knoxville MBA: Named Affiliate of the Year in 2018, graduated from the Future Leaders Program in 2019, and sat on the Board of Directors in 2019. She also currently sits on the TNMBA Board of Directors. Lauren graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration. She also recently got married and is currently expecting her first child! Please feel free to reach out to Suzette Jordan, Director, Sales Technology and Operations, or Lauren if you have any questions.

A well-branded and nationally recognized independent mortgage bank is searching for a Comptroller to join its growing team. With consistent, strong annualized YOY growth, the hiring company is looking for a strong leader to provide additional bandwidth for its future expansion plans into new markets and strategic partnerships. Critical thinking skills and the ability to work closely with teams are essential to the role. Extensive experience with AMB and Encompass are also preferred to hit the ground running from day one. The position would report to the CFO. Interested candidates can reach out to Chrisman LLCs Anjelica Nixt to submit a resume and begin the interview process.

Castle and Cooke Mortgage is a branch-driven retail lender successfully built on high execution standards and no red tape. We are expanding an already robust footprint into many markets that offer high opportunity and no internal competition. We are seeking MLOs and branches to join us who are passionate about providing total consumer and partner satisfaction. We distinguish ourselves with a service-first mentality, sales-centric and accessible leadership, first-class marketing support, and a full menu of products to meet all borrower needs. After a record year in 2019, Castle and Cooke will cultivate methodical and strategic growth in 2020. Opportunities are available in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago, Omaha, Florida, and Texas. Reach out to Christi Fullerton, National Recruiting Manager, if you would like to be a part of our exciting future.

AmeriFirst Financial, Inc. has earned the number four spot on Mortgage Executive Magazines Best Mortgage Companies to Work For list. This serves as just one of many milestones the company reached in 2019 and early 2020, and the #4 ranking marks three consecutive years making the prestigious list, a true reflection of AmeriFirsts people first philosophy. The nation-wide mortgage company also celebrated its 30th year in business and spent time with its people reflecting on the growth and the amazing culture created throughout those years. AmeriFirst attributes its success to its dedication to hiring premier talent and letting them shine, and cultivating a culture of excellence that inspires from the inside out. To continue to build on its legacy, AmeriFirst is looking to build teams and branches nationwide to offer more coverage to real estate partners and home buyers. Contact us to learn more.

A National Title Insurance Agency looking to start a relationship with a real estate attorney; Will explain in detail when we discuss. Its a great opportunity for a real estate attorney to expand its business. Contact Anjelica Nixt to forward a note of interest.

The President intends to nominate Dana Wade as the Federal Housing Commissioner to lead the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and oversee the agencys $1.3 trillion portfolio. Previously she was Acting Federal Housing Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for Housing.

NewDay USA announced it named Michael Mo Oursler Chief Operating Officer. Mos been there eight years, and is moving over from being Chief Credit Officer where he built NewDays Accelerated Underwriting Program.
"Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as...
A cityscape view captured from the highest point of Lisbon shows a single shot of the first full moon and penumbral lunar eclipse of the year, rising against the anti-twilight arch above the capital of Portugal, on Jan. 10, 2020. The Tagus River is visible in the background. (Image credit: Miguel Claro

Miguel Claro is a professional photographer, author and science communicator based in Lisbon, Portugal, who creates spectacular images of the night sky. As a European Southern Observatory photo ambassador, a member of The World At Night (TWAN) and the official astrophotographer of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, he specializes in astronomical "skyscapes" that connect Earth and night sky. Join Claro here as he takes us through his photograph "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse and Anti-Twilight Arch as Seen From Lisbon City."

A cityscape view captured from the highest point of Lisbon shows the first full moon of the year, rising above the capital of Portugal on Jan. 10, with the Tagus River visible in the background.

This photo was taken during a penumbral lunar eclipse, which happens when the moon passes through Earth's faint outer shadow. During nautical twilight, it is difficult to notice this faint shadow on the moon's disk. However, a related phenomenon is visible almost every day, known as the Earth's shadow. According to Atmospheric Optics, a skywatching website run by physicist Les Cowley, this shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and it appears right above the horizon as a dark blue band.

"Immediately above it, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, or 'Belt of Venus,'" Cowley wrote. This phenomenon is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere.

Related: The Wolf Moon lunar eclipse of January 2020 in pictures

After looking carefully at this image, my TWAN colleague David Malin, a photographic scientist and one of the most distinguished night-sky photographers in the world, noticed a phenomenon that is much more difficult to see. The blue-gray color below the reddish Belt of Venus is due to a phenomenon known as the Chappuis absorption effect, which happens when certain wavelengths of sunlight are absorbed by ozone in the atmosphere. Bob Fosbury, Malin's friend and a renowned astronomer, described the physics of this subtle coloration in an easy-to-read article published in the European Southern Observatory's astronomy magazine, The Messenger.

While the first lunar eclipse of the year was rising above Lisbon, by coincidence, a flying seagull was caught in the scene. The image also reveals a strong atmospheric turbulence, causing a clear distortion on the moon's round disk. Two small notches are visible in the lower half, as well as two more-subtle refraction notches at a similar distance from the upper limb.

To capture this single shot, I used a Nikon D810A camera with the ISO set to 1250 and a 150-600mm Sigma Sport lens set to 440mm at f/6.3. The exposure time was 1/400 seconds.

To get a print of Claro's amazing astrophotography, visit his fine-art prints store at www.miguelclaro.com/prints. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/24/2020 -- Global Civil Helicopter MRO Market research report offers essential information to help the buyers plan ideal strategies and experience huge success over the forecast period 2020 - 2025. The literature holds crucial information like drivers, opportunities, existing trends in the industry, and challenges that helps the buyers and business owners to understand the market scenario and make future plans accordingly. Industry players can hence, create benchmark in the market and improve their market presence significantly in the coming years. Experts have delivered accurate statistics on market share, size, and growth rate for better information to the buyers.



Get PDF Sample Copy for Civil Helicopter MRO Market @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/sample/78307



Geographic Details:

Researchers have studied the market scenario in the major regions and delivered crucial statistics and demographic information. Demographic information will help the producing companies to understand the existing demand pattern of consumers and highlights on the spending power of consumers. This will assist the producers to predict the future demands and plan production capacities eventually. Players in the Civil Helicopter MRO market can also track potential opportunities for considerable growth and earning prominent position among competitors.



Additional Insights:

The study also shares crucial information on the existing government regulations in the major economies and current environmental policies. This will help the businesses and manufacturing companies to plan policies for introducing new products or make advancements in the existing technologies. Producers can not only support environment policies and improve their goodwill, but also contribute to the growth of Civil Helicopter MRO industry, significantly. Operating players in the Civil Helicopter MRO market can further, gain large number of clients and increase their customers over the forecast period.



Access Full Report @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/78307/global-civil-helicopter-mro-industry-market



Major Players in Civil Helicopter MRO market are:

TAI Thailand

GMF AeroAsia

AMAC Aerospace

Vietnam Helicopter Corporation

GENEL HAVACILIK AS

Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt. Limited

Asia Aviation Industrial Co., Ltd.

TURKISH TECHNIC

NIPPI

PT Jet Indo Aviation MRO

Triumph

Kaigai Corporation

Airbus Helicopters



Major Regions that plays a vital role in Civil Helicopter MRO market are:

North America

Europe

China

Japan

Middle East & Africa

India

South America

Others



Most important types of Civil Helicopter MRO products covered in this report are:

Airframe Heavy Maintenance

Engine Maintenance

Component Maintenance

Line Maintenance

Most widely used downstream fields of Civil Helicopter MRO market covered in this report are:

Civil



Table of Content:

There are 13 Chapters to thoroughly display the Civil Helicopter MRO market. This report included the analysis of market overview, market characteristics, industry chain, competition landscape, historical and future data by types, applications and regions.



Chapter 1: Civil Helicopter MRO Market Overview, Product Overview, Market Segmentation, Market Overview of Regions, Market Dynamics, Limitations, Opportunities and Industry News and Policies.

Chapter 2: Civil Helicopter MRO Industry Chain Analysis, Upstream Raw Material Suppliers, Major Players, Production Process Analysis, Cost Analysis, Market Channels and Major Downstream Buyers.

Chapter 3: Value Analysis, Production, Growth Rate and Price Analysis by Type of Civil Helicopter MRO.

Chapter 4: Downstream Characteristics, Consumption and Market Share by Application of Civil Helicopter MRO.

Chapter 5: Production Volume, Price, Gross Margin, and Revenue ($) of Civil Helicopter MRO by Regions (2015-2020).

Chapter 6: Civil Helicopter MRO Production, Consumption, Export and Import by Regions (2015-2020).

Chapter 7: Civil Helicopter MRO Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions.

Chapter 8: Competitive Landscape, Product Introduction, Company Profiles, Market Distribution Status by Players of Civil Helicopter MRO.

Chapter 9: Civil Helicopter MRO Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application (2020-2025).

Chapter 10: Market Analysis and Forecast by Regions (2020-2025).

Chapter 11: Industry Characteristics, Key Factors, New Entrants SWOT Analysis, Investment Feasibility Analysis.

Chapter 12: Market Conclusion of the Whole Report.

Chapter 13: Appendix Such as Methodology and Data Resources of This Research.



Order a Purchase Copy @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/checkout/78307



About Market Growth Insight

Market Growth Insight is a one stop solution for market research reports in various business categories. We are serving 100+ clients with 10000+ diverse industry reports and our reports are developed to simplify strategic decision making, on the basis of comprehensive and in-depth significant information, established through wide ranging analysis and latest industry trends.



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NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Pet Food Market 2020-2024

The analyst has been monitoring the global pet food market and it is poised to grow by USD 36.11 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. Our reports on global pet food market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04339163/?utm_source=PRN



The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by growing demand for organic pet food.In addition, increasing demand for pet food with savory ingredients and smaller portions is anticipated to boost the growth of the global pet food market as well.



Market Segmentation

The global pet food market is segmented as below:



Product:

Dry Food

Snacks And Treats

Wet Food



Distribution Channel:

Supermarkets

Pet-specialty Stores And Vet Clinics

Others



Type:

Dog Food

Cat Food

Other Small Pet Food



Geographic Segmentation:

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America



Key Trends for global pet food market growth

This study identifies increasing demand for pet food with savory ingredients and smaller portions as the prime reasons driving the global pet food market growth during the next few years.



Prominent vendors in global pet food market

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global pet food market , including some of the vendors such as Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Co., Mars Inc.

NestlA SA, Schell & Kampeter Inc., Spectrum Brands Holding Inc., Thai Union Group Plc, The J.M. Smucker Co., Unicharm Corp. and WellPet LLC .

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04339163/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

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Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a residential compound in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, in Hubei Province in China on Feb. 22, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

Only One Drug Might Help Treat Coronavirus Symptoms: Health Expert

Only one drug, developed by U.S.-based Gilead Sciences, has shown potential in treating symptoms of the new coronavirus, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert said on Monday.

There is only one drug right now that we think may have real efficacy and thats remdesivir, Dr. Bruce Aylward, an expert from Canada who is leading a team in China trying to find questions to lingering mysteries surrounding the new virus, told reporters in Beijing.

Chinese authorities said the biggest challenge in completing clinical trials was a decline in infected patients, Aylward said, relying on official figures from the Chinese Communist Party that are widely questioned.

Another challenge is the diversion of resources into studying potential treatments that are less promising, Aylward said. We have got to start prioritizing enrollment into those things that may save lives and save them faster.

Two clinical trials on coronavirus patients are taking place in China under the watch of WHO. One is testing remdesivir.

Bruce Aylward, head of the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19 speaks at a press conference about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in Beijing, China, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Matthew Knight/AFP via Getty Images)

Preliminary results from both trials are expected within weeks, WHO officials said on Feb. 20.

A Gilead spokesman told The Epoch Times in an email that the company is expecting results from the two trials in April.

In a statement on Jan. 31, Gilead Sciences Chief Medical Officer Merdad Parsey said that remdesivir isnt licensed or approved for use anywhere in the world and has not been demonstrated to be safe or effective for any use. But requests from authorities prompted the company to provide remdesivir for use in a small number of patients.

Apart from working with health authorities in China, Gilead is also expediting appropriate laboratory testing of remdesivir against samples of the new virus.

Remdesivir has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity in animal models against the viral pathogens MERS and SARS, two coronaviruses that preceded the COVID-19 virus, Parsey said. The U.S. National Institutes of Health said earlier this month that remdesivir prevented MERS in monkeys.

Researchers from the agencys National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the studys promising results supported additional clinical trials of the drug for both MERS and COVID-19.

The other clinical trial underway in China that was being carried out through fast-tracking by WHO is testing the efficacy of lopinavir and ritonavir, two drugs typically used to treat HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Chinese commuters, all wearing protective masks, ride bikes and scooters as they cross an intersection in rush hour in Beijing, China, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

The WHO team in China, which includes Aylward, was in Wuhan over the weekend for the first time. The virus emerged there in December 2019 before infecting tens of thousands across the country and spreading to dozens of other nations.

Aylward spoke at a joint press conference with Chinese officials that aired on state television. He wore a blue breathing mask that covered his mouth and nose.

Aylward said Chinese interventions helped prevent the spread of the virus but said his aim wasnt to praise the countrys authorities but to warn other countries as his team released a report making 22 recommendations to China and other nations. There are benefits from extreme measures taken to try to contain the virus, he said, highlighting actions taken by Italy this week as the virus infected hundreds in the Lombardy region, killing at least six in northern Italy.

The virus may be around in China for months, Aylward later told reporters, adding that authorities are still working to get Wuhan under control and clean out other areas.

Later Monday, WHO officials declined to call the situation with the virus a pandemic, arguing that there hasnt been the uncontained global spread of this coronavirus or large-scale severe disease or death.

There are multiple epidemics raging, officials acknowledged, as case counts in Italy, South Korea, and Iran continued rising sharply at the beginning of the workweek.
[February 24, 2020] Fond Partners With Top Employee Benefits Provider to Add Corporate Discounts in Japan

Fond announced they will be expanding their already robust international catalog to include an expansive selection of Japanese perks through a partnership with employee benefits provider, Relo Club. Through this partnership, Fond users will gain access to an exclusive subset of Relo Club perks spanning a wide variety of categories, ranging from dining to wellness to clothing and accessories. Fond supports employee rewards and recognition, along with exclusive corporate discounts for businesses across the world. The company is currently the only provider to offer corporate discounts in more than 20 countries and across five continents. Relo Club is Japan's top employee benefits provider and, in their over 25 years of existence, has significantly influenced the nature of the employee experience at Japanese companies. Fond's decision to partner with Relo Club speaks to the two companies' shared mission of supporting a unified employee experience at lobal enterprises.



Fond CEO and co-founder Taro Fukuyama commented, "We are thrilled to offer exclusive corporate discounts to our customers in Japan and delighted to be working with a historic industry leader. We look forward to the continued growth of our international catalog." Relo Club CEO Shingo Sugiyama echoed the same sentiment, stating, "We are excited to develop global infrastructure that supports members' lifestyles of both companies through our partnership with Fond."

The partnership between Fond and Relo Club will help support a unified employee experience at companies including Salesforce, Adobe (News - Alert), and Visa with offices in Japan, both for employees located at those offices and those traveling between them. Fond's global reach, functional agility, and transparent pricing situates them at a unique intersection in the global employee rewards and recognition market. Fond is a SaaS (News - Alert) platform used by enterprises including Salesforce, Visa, and WW International, that seamlessly consolidates employee rewards and recognition processes in one easy-to-use solution. Fond is headquartered in San Francisco, California and Portland, Oregon. Learn more at www.fond.co. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005023/en/

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The mad rush to electric vehicles

By Duggan Flanakin



Teslas stock market value is already bigger than Ford and General Motors combined, says a report in Forbes magazine. Elon Musks company had already received nearly $5 billion in federal subsidies by 2015, helping him amass a net worth of $31 billion. Who says government cannot make anyone rich?

But hold on. An ascendant Bernie Sanders has called for a massive expansion of government-run electricity production. He claims to be no friend of billionaires and is running against multiple billionaires, including two Democrat candidates and 23 contributors to Mayor Petes campaign.

But he sure is helping the rich. Sanders and many other politicos have championed a multi-state effort to end the sale of vehicles with internal combustion (IC) engines. So have several European nations. Related goals include phasing out coal, oil and natural gas for heating, electric power generation and other uses.

As Politico reports, a major part of Sanders $16 trillion Greener New Deal allocates massive new funding for the four existing power marketing administrations that are overseen by the Department of Energy, Tennessee Valley Authority and a new federal agency. The money would go to vastly expand their solar, wind and even geothermal power production.

Matt Palumbo, writing in the Bongino Report, says the Sanders plan will need $2 trillion just for infrastructure, dwarfing the cost of the interstate highway system, to add 800 gigawatts of intermittent, weather-dependent wind and solar energy. Right now Sanders insists that he is not nationalizing energy production, but merely providing wholesale energy to public and private local suppliers. However, these subsidized government-run facilities will surely control the energy market. That looks like nationalization in all but official nomenclature.

Private companies that now rely on coal or natural gas will be further squeezed by mandated deep cuts in CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, energy demand for a mandated and growing fleet of electric vehicles will soar, requiring still more wind turbines, solar panels, backup batteries, transmission lines, and (as I note in a recent article about electric buses) metals, minerals and mining demands on unprecedented scales  coupled with rampant environmental destruction, child labor, and horrific increases in cancer and other diseases from the absence of workplace safety and pollution control standards.

Americans have expressed great displeasure over subsidizing EVs for the wealthy, a recent American Energy Alliance poll found. Only one in five voters would trust the federal government to make decisions about what kinds of cars should be subsidized  or mandated. Many do not even like, or cannot afford, the innovations already introduced for internal combustion vehicles, as evidenced by data showing that the average age of the U.S. vehicle fleet has increased in recent years.

Who can blame them for being angry? Wealthy EV buyers can get $7500 federal and up to $2500 state tax credits (not just deductions), free or low-cost charging at stations installed at taxpayer and electricity consumer cost, and access to HOV lanes even with no passengers. EV drivers pay no gasoline tax, and thus pay nothing for road construction, repair and maintenance. And as states go green and eliminate fossil fuel and nuclear power, average Americans will have to endure the eyesores, noise, habitat destruction and wildlife losses that will come with millions more wind turbines and solar panels.

Nevertheless, despite public qualms, most automakers have joined the EV movement. Like gossip in a small town, proposals and promises to ban or end production of IC engines have spread like wildfire. The Chinese-owned Swedish automaker Volvo announced in 2017 it would stop designing new IC engines. German giant Daimler (Mercedes Benz) followed suit last year. And in the United States, General Motors in 2018 announced plans to offer only battery-powered or hydrogen-powered vehicles in the near future.

These automakers are perhaps just responding to the political climate in Europe. The United Kingdom just moved up its cutoff date for banning sales of new IC vehicles to 2035. The UK ban would even include hybrids! France and other countries are holding to a 2040 date for mandating all-electric fleets, while Norway has set a goal (not a mandate) to eliminate most IC engines (but not hybrids) by 2025. But amazingly California lawmakers actually killed a 2018 effort to ban IC engines by 2040.

Meanwhile, European automakers have moved to profit from EV charging stations. IONITY (created in 2017 as a joint venture between the BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz AG, the Ford Motor Company, and the Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porcshe) has already built over 200 facilities with over 860 charging points. It plans to expand to 400 facilities in 24 countries by yearend 2020. And IONITY is not alone.

Europe today still has over 100,000 petrol and diesel fueling stations, certain to shrink as IC engines are now pariahs. But how do Europeans plan to charge all the electric cars, trucks and buses, if they must rely entirely on intermittent, unreliable, weather-dependent, super expensive wind and solar electricity?

Before February 2020, IONITY was charging a flat, fixed rate of eight Euros (about $8.87) for a fast charging session. That was less than 15 cents per kilowatt-hour for a 60-kW charge that might be good for 210 miles  on a continent where electricity prices are already 25 to 45 cents per kWh. With EU gasoline prices ranging from 1.77 euros/liter ($7.35 per gallon) in the Netherlands to $4.41/gallon in Romania, drivers would need about $31 in Romania or $51 in the Netherlands to drive the same distance (assuming 30 mpg), even at these incredible (and unsustainable) bargain basement electricity prices.

But as of February 1, IONITY switched to unit pricing at a rate of 0.79 euro/kWh (88 cents/kWh), or about $52.80 for a 60-kW charge. Thats a 500% increase in the cost of charging your car, just to travel a couple hundred miles. Suddenly, an EV charge is a whole lot more expensive than a fill-up.

So IONITY is offering discounts that customers can purchase from IONITY partner companies. At home chargers in the EU cost about $18 per 60-kW charge, plus about $1,000 for installation. Thats at the average EU residential rate of 30 cents/kWh (twice the current U.S. average). And thats before the mad rush to electric cars, trucks and buses  and the mad rush to expensive renewable energy.

How will poor and working classes afford this, especially people who must drive to work or must use trucks in their small businesses? Who will subsidize their soaring costs  the EUs increasingly stretched and impoverished middle class? Its millionaires and billionaires?

Heres the rub for Americans. If Sanders gets his way, the federal government will control the price and availability of electricity in the USA. California, which wants to mandate EVs only, has already faced multi-day electricity blackouts due to fire concerns, and if theres no power theres no charging. Many other countries also lack reliable electric power  and increasing electricity scarcity (almost certain in a fossil fuel-free environment) drives up prices even in government-controlled marketplaces.

After the 1970s oil embargo, the United States opted for a broad-based energy sector, so that shortages in one fuel would not cripple the national economy. But today, many cities have already moved to ban oil, coal and natural gas, nuclear is still taboo, and wind and solar are intermittent. The push toward an all-electric society  plus heavy and rising burdens on the power grid from intermittent power generations and charging all-electric vehicles  looks like a recipe for disaster, at least for the average consumer.

The well-connected always do well enough in controlled economies  at least until government policies send energy prices soaring, and send angry poor and working class protesters into the streets, to rage and rampage, as has happened in Iran, France and Chile.

But what can a We the Governed do but submit to the will of the all-powerful state envisioned by Sanders and his fellow Democrat presidential wannabes? Theyre all insulated by their wealth and positions from the impacts of their policies. But what about the rest of us? State and federal ruling classes might be surprised at how liberty and opportunity-loving Americans respond.

Duggan Flanakin is director of policy research for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT).
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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will use one or more private companies to operate ferries during an ongoing breakdown in state service, the governor said.

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the state needs private companies to operate ferries to coastal communities, The Anchorage Daily News reported Wednesday.





. . .
Wells Fargo & Co. has agreed to pay $3 billion to resolve criminal and civil probes into fraudulent sales practices and has admitted to pressuring employees in a fake-accounts scandal, U.S. officials said on Friday, wrapping up one of the last major investigations looming over the bank.

Wells Fargo will pay the penalties to the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission and enter into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement during which the San Francisco-based bank will continue to cooperate with any ongoing government investigations, Justice Department officials said.

As part of the deal, Wells Fargo admitted that between 2002 and 2016 it pressured employees to meet unrealistic sales goals that led thousands of employees to provide millions of accounts or products to customers under false pretenses or without consent, often by creating false records or misusing customers identities, the department said in a statement.

In a statement, Charles Scharf, Wells Fargos new chief executive, described the past conduct as reprehensible. Wells Fargo is the fourth-largest U.S. lender.

This case illustrates a complete failure of leadership at multiple levels within the bank. Simply put, Wells Fargo traded its hard-earned reputation for short-term profits, and harmed untold numbers of customers along the way, Nick Hanna, U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement.

Wells Fargo Settles Auto Insurance Scam for $385 Million In June of last year, Wells Fargo agreed to pay at least $385 million to customers who say they were signed up for auto insurance without their knowledge or consent when they took out a car loan. National General, an auto insurance underwriter, agreed to pay an additional $7.5 million.

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 A MACHINE

Watchdog group Public Citizen criticized the deal, saying it does not go far enough.

Any resolution for Wells Fargos massive, management-directed misconduct must hold individuals to account. We know many of the crimes, and we know that real executives, not some ghost in a machine, committed them, said Bartlett Naylor, a financial policy advocate with the Washington-based group.

The deal does not preclude civil or criminal charges against individuals, Justice Department officials told reporters.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election, wrote on Twitter, This is a small step in the right direction, but its not a substitute for holding senior executives individually accountable  and bringing criminal charges against them if the evidence justifies it.

The probe examined activities in Wells Fargos community bank unit, with Justice Department citing pressure coming from the divisions leadership.

In a rare move last month, a U.S. bank regulator charged several former Wells Fargo executives for their roles in the scandal. That included a settlement with former CEO John Stumpf and civil charges against Carrie Tolstedt, former head of the community bank unit.

Ms. Tolstedt acted appropriately and in good faith at all times, and the effort to scapegoat her is both unfair and unfounded, her lawyer Enu Mainigi said on Friday.

The Justice Department inquiry was seen by analysts and investors as a key hurdle the bank had to clear before it could focus on its growth strategy, which includes convincing the Federal Reserve to remove an unprecedented growth restriction placed on Wells Fargos balance sheet until it proves it has fixed its risk management and controls.

Wells Fargo had already paid out more than $4 billion in fines and penalties related to the scandal since 2016. Internal and external probes have uncovered issues in each of Wells Fargos major business lines, including wealth management and the commercial bank.

The U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee is scheduled to hold three hearings on Wells Fargos conduct next month.

Over the past three years, Wells Fargo has taken various steps to fix its issues and rebuild trust with customers, investors and regulators. They include changes to its board, centralizing risk teams and hiring an external chief executive. However, ongoing reputation issues and unresolved legal matters have weighed on the banks stock price and profitability, which have lagged peers since 2016.

(Reporting by Chris Prentice and Pete Schroeder in Washington and Imani Moise and Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)

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The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by BJP leader Nand Kishore Garg seeking direction to the Delhi government to sanction the prosecution of former Jawaharlal Nehru University students union president and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar in the 2016 JNU sedition case.

We wont entertain such a plea. It has to be decided on case-to-case basis, Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde said.

Garg had moved the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court declined his plea last December. He had alleged that the Delhi government was deliberately delaying granting sanction to the police to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar.

The High Court while dismissing Gargs plea had observed that he is personally interested in the case.

The Delhi Police had filed the charge sheet against Kanhaiya and others on January 14 last year under offences of sedition, rioting, criminal conspiracy.

Last week, a news agency reported that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he would ask for an early decision by his government in the sedition case involving Kanhaiya Kumar.

Kejriwals reaction came day after a Delhi Court asked for a status report on the issue of the pending sanction to prosecute Kanhaiya and others.

The court also directed the Delhi Police to send a reminder to the government and posted the matter for hearing on April 3.

During the last hearing before the Delhi assembly elections were held, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had said that it had not taken any decision on the grant of sanction till then.

The JNU sedition case has led to a political blame game between the BJP and the AAP, with the former accusing the latter of shielding alleged anti-nationals by not granting permission to prosecute them.
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Linkedin Agus Dermawan T. (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020

For the 2020 National Press Day, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) organized a cultural competition for regents and mayors all over Indonesia.

To draw the competitive interest of the almost 500 regional heads, the PWI cooperated with the Indonesian Regency Administrations Association (Apkasi) and the Indonesian City Administrations Association (Apeksi).

At first, regents and mayors were asked to send proposals of their visions, aspirations and cultural programs for their respective regions.
There are now "frantic mini-moments of panic, as one thing after another happens," said Roy Bahat, an investor at Bloomberg's venture arm in San Francisco. "At some point, one rock after another will fall away from the cliff and we'll realise we're not standing on anything in many, many companies." Loading Many startups are sagging after a difficult 2019, when prominent "unicorns" companies valued at $1 billion or more by private investors  fell flat on Wall Street. Uber and Lyft, which are losing billions of dollars a year, staged disappointing initial public offerings last spring. And WeWork, the office rental firm, pulled its public offering, ousted its chief executive and cut its valuation by 80 per cent late last year. The retreats are being led by companies that were backed by SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate with a $US100 billion Vision Fund for investing in startups. SoftBank bet big on companies like Uber and WeWork, as well as Colombian delivery startup Rappi and Indian hospitality startup Oyo. All have undergone layoffs in recent months.

"You can't build on top of something that's not strong," said Seth Besmertnik, chief executive of Conductor, a marketing business that WeWork acquired in 2018, which he and others recently bought back. This month, SoftBank reported that its Vision Fund and other investments led to a $US2 billion operating loss in the last quarter of 2019. In a statement, it said some of its startups had acted "quickly and responsibly to make some difficult decisions to better position themselves for long-term success." Office rental firm WeWork last year pulled its public offering, ousted its chief executive and cut its valuation by 80 per cent. Credit:Bloomberg The pullback will probably not be as severe as the dot-com bust in the early 2000s, when dozens of unprofitable internet firms failed. Today, venture capitalists and other investors still have large pools of money to invest. And certain types of startups  like those that make tech for businesses and that typically have steady sales  continue raising large sums of money. But in an industry known for irrational optimism, scepticism now abounds. In San Francisco, entrepreneurs are quietly sharing tales of skittish investors and a struggle to adapt to a new reality. Spreadsheets of freshly unemployed workers are circulating on social media.

Loading Startups that once touted fast growth are changing their tune. Brad Bao, chief executive of Lime, wrote in a blog post last month that his scooter company was withdrawing from 12 cities and had shifted its "primary focus" to making a profit. "Firms that were spending money in an uneconomic way can't do it any longer," said Steven N. Kaplan, a professor of finance and entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago. More workers are questioning the promises from startups, Kate Bratskeir said. She knows  she lost her job at a startup twice in 12 months. A year ago, Ms Bratskeir, 30, was laid off from her job as a writer at Mic, a digital media startup in New York that failed to turn a profit. In November, she was again let go, this time from a marketing job at WeWork. "People are becoming more critical and sceptical before just joining the party," said Ms Bratskeir, who received severance from both companies and is now working on a book about sustainable food shopping.

Some startups are even laying off the robots. Last month, Cafe X, which operates robot coffee shops and raised $US14.5 million in venture funding, closed three stores in San Francisco. Henry Hu, its chief executive, said in an email that the company had "learned everything we could" from the shops and now planned to "laser focus" on airports, where it has two stores. A bounce back does not appear likely soon. When Casper  which raised more than $300 million in venture capital  went public this month, its stock promptly plummeted. That served as a warning to other high-profile startups that are expected to go public this year, including Airbnb and DoorDash, the food delivery company. Both companies are losing money. Airbnb and DoorDash declined to comment. Perhaps the most drastic turn has happened among cannabis startups, which rode a wave of exuberance in recent years as countries like Canada and Uruguay and several US states loosened laws that criminalised the drug. Last year, more than 300 cannabis companies raised $US2.6 billion in venture capital, according to PitchBook.

Loading Then in mid-2019, investors started doubting whether the industry could deliver on its lofty promises when some publicly traded cannabis companies were tarred by illegal growing scandals and regulatory crackdowns. Startups like Caliva, a cannabis producer; Eaze, a delivery service; and NorCal Cannabis Co., another producer, have together cut hundreds of members of their staffs in recent months. "A lot of companies are not going to make it through this year," said Brendan Kenney, chief executive of Tilray, a cannabis producer that went public in 2018. Mr Kenney said he was stopping spending on new projects to survive the shakeout. Even a startup named Unicorn hasn't been spared. The company, which sold personal electric scooters, raised just over $US150,000 last year from investors. But it quickly spent the cash on online ads and got just 350 orders, said Nick Evans, its founder. In December, Unicorn said it could not afford to deliver any scooters and shut down. Evans ended up giving some customers refunds with his own money, he said.
From Men's Health

Spoiler warning: considering this is discussing the very end events of the first season of Amazon's Hunters, this post contains extremely sensitive spoilers. Do not read further if you do not want to have the ending ruined. You've been warned!

The season one finale of Amazon Prime's Hunters leans into its pulpy roots, with a pair of twists that will leave viewers with their jaws dropped.

Both twists were foreshadowed to a certain extent, but still were total game-changers in multiple ways.

We break down what that ending means below.

So you've made it through all 10 bloody, violence-filled, action-packed episodes of Amazon's new historical revenge fantasy series, Hunters. You've gotten your fill of both Logan Lerman, Al Pacino, and the rest of the gang, and well, no need to beat around the bush: you've just seen that ending.

There's, of course, a lot to talk about in the episode. A few major threads are setting up, putting characters in positions that will certainly continue into a second season: that includes the psychopathic young American neo-nazi Travis Leich seeming to start an Aryan army from prison, and FBI Agent Millie Morris getting the resources to start her own in-system Nazi-hunting task force. But that's not what you want to hear about right now; no, we're here to talk exclusively about those two enormous, outrageous twists that came at the back end of the episode.

FUCK!



What a TWIST!!!!!!!



FUCK!



That is the best TWIST in story-telling I have EVER SEEN!



Masterful!!!!!!



FUCK!



Watching S1 finale #Hunters #HuntersTV  D'Enise Arabella Qi'ra Daenerys Targaryen Trikru (@NVGhost005) February 22, 2020

season finale of Hunters aND WHAT THE FUCKKKKKK  gabs (@desigabs) February 22, 2020

Damn. I was really enjoying the back half of #Hunters and appreciating how it had improved and then that 11th hour twist in the finale makes ZERO SENSE. WTF, man.  Nicole Campos (@camposova) February 23, 2020

And talk we will:

Story continues

The Truth About Meyer Offerman and The Wolf

Throughout the season, we heard about a search for Meyer Offerman's white whale, a Nazi doctor called "The Wolf." Meyer (Al Pacino) is the leader of the Hunters, a rich man bankrolling and organizing the entire operation; along the way, he's also revealed to be Jonah's grandfather (the two met at his Safta's funeral; Jonah was brought in on "The Hunt" not long after).

In nearly every episode, we see flashbacks to The Wolf endlessly torturing Meyer at Auschwitz. As the story goes, Wilhelm "The Wolf" Zuchs was enamored with Ruth (Jonah's grandmother), but she rejected him; he noticed that she instead was drawn to Meyer, and thus Meyer became the object of his jealousy and sadism. At one point, a scene depicts The Wolf pulling Meyer out of bed and forcing him to choose between Ruth being shot to death, and Meyer shooting a random innocent Auschwitz prisoner. Meyer chose to save Ruth, and wound up killing 11 innocent people that nighthe chose the love of Jonah's grandmother.

By the end of the season, Meyer has changed Jonahhe's convinced him that he was not only meant to be a part of the hunt, but eventually to lead it. Jonah looks through his grandmother's notes, and eventually realizes that she had found The Wolf. Jonah goes to find him, confirms his identity, and kidnaps him, bringing him to Meyer. Jonah is troubled, though, when Meyer eventually kills this man he believes was The Wolfhis grandmother's note says that Meyer has been waiting his whole life to say the Mourner's Kaddish for The Wolf. Meyer stabs "The Wolf" in the back of the head, killing him, but recites no prayer, something Jonah immediately notes. He puts things together, and comes to teh terrible realization: "Meyer" is really The Wolf, and has been ever since the end of the war.

We can talk another time about whether this twist works narratively speaking or not, but logistically it sort of had to happen. Al Pacino is Al Pacino; he probably wasn't going to be a part of a TV series for multiple seasons, and any character he ended up playing probably would have something up.

So, yes, Meyer Offerman really was Jonah's grandfatherbut this person he's been spending so much time with...isn't Meyer Offerman. Meyer tells Jonah that he's right, and the whole truth trickles out from there. The Wolf killed the real Meyer, stealing his identity Dick Whitman/Don Draper style, and for the last 30 years has been living as a vengeful jewish man, despite his true identity as a sadistic Nazi. While he's still The Wolf in actuality, he claims to have learned his lessonhe doesn't ask for forgiveness, but truly does seem to believe in all of his acts. He really does believe in The Hunt, and says that it's his purpose. But despite this, he's not a Jew. He still did all the things he did, and as much as he's been a literal Wolf in sheep's clothing, he is who he is. A central theme of Hunters is whether you need to fight evil with evil, and much of Meyer's philosophy is explained with this twist.

Upon learning this, there's basically no turning back for Jonah. He cannot possibly forgive this man for what he did to both of his grandparents, and, thus, finally completes his first Nazi kill. He shoots Meyer/Wolf before finishing him off with his Grandmother's blade that he found in the very first episode. He did what he had to do, and while it made for a tough explanation to those remaining on the Hunters team, it needed to be done and helped him continue to grow into the person he was meant to be. While "Meyer"'s words ring a bit hollow with the realization of his true identity, the coming-of-age factor remains; Jonah has grown into the person ready to lead this vigilante group.

In retrospect, it was clear for a while that something was up with Meyer; that was more apparent than ever in Season 1, Episode 5, when Meyer shot the woman they believed to be the Nazi propoganda filmmaker Tilda Sauer point blank without properly verifying her. Roxy and Lonny left that moment horrified, but slowly moved past it in the next few episodes. It seemed like the show was just giving Meyer of a mean streak, but, clearly, it turned out to be something much more significant.

So, while Season 2 of Hunters almost certainly seems like it's coming, it's a fair assumption that we won't be seeing any more of Al Pacino (outside of, maybe, some flashback scenes). Still, Pacino was consistently the best part of the show and played the character perfectly. Take a bow Mr. Pacino! Now onto the (somehow) more insane twist.

Meanwhile, in Argentina...

In the aftermath of the Meyer/Wolf reveal (and his death), the team undergoes some major changes. Mindy moves away/retires to be with her family, and Joe quits the team. While walking the street, though, we see Joe get struck by a car and hauled away. Eventually, it's revealed that Joe was brought down to Argentina, where he's brought to dinner with The Colonelrevealed to have survived the Episode 9 car crash she was in with Meyer.

But that's not all, because as Joe sits, powerless, at the outdoor dinner table, things begin to come into perspective. Throughout the episode, we've seen shots of some blonde-haired children playing in a field with a kickballthese are revealed to be The Colonel's children. And when the children are called for dinner, so, too, is The Colonels' significant otherand when she calls her significant other, their identities are revealed. "Time to eat, Adolf," she tells him. "I'm hungry, Eva, darling."

Photo credit: Amazon Prime

Yup, they went there. "The Colonel," or, "Eva," is revealed to be Eva Braun. Meaning her Adolf, obviously, is Adolf Hitler. In the Hunters world, these two have survived and escaped to Argentinaobviously setting up a future storyline for season 2.

It's worth noting that this isn't exactly uncharted ground; Hitler was depicted with an entirely fictional death in Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds as well, being shot to death a hundred times with a machine gun in that one. Hunters would appear to be building toward a similar crescendo. But stillthis twist is f*cking bananas.



Granted that she was only ever referred to as "The Colonel," Eva Braun's identity and reveal makes total sense. It's something we should've thought of more while watching, but there was simply too much else going on to give it any thought.

It's also not clear as of now why Joe was brought to their rendezvous in Argentina (where many real Nazi officers escaped to following WWII), but it could mean that the Colonel was particularly impressed with his fighting at the corn syrup plant that led to their foiled plot. It also goes to show that while the Nazis may have been stopped momentarily, they're nowhere near finished.

With the remaining Hunters teamled by Jonah but also including Lonny, Sister Harret, and Roxytalking about a move to Central/South America, and this ending revelation, it would seem like a collision course is surely on the way in Season 2. Where this bonkers story goes from there, well, is anyone's guess.

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The German government and all the established parties responded to the far-right terrorist attack in Hanau, which claimed the lives of nine immigrants last Wednesday, by demanding a strengthening of the repressive state apparatus and the intelligence agencies, which have close ties to right-wing extremist terrorist networks. The demands range from an expansion of internet censorship, to more police officers, and the strengthening of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz), Germanys domestic spy agency.

At a press conference on Friday, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (Christian Social Union, CSU) remarked, We will strengthen the surveillance of sensitive institutions, particularly mosques. The federal police will support local state police forces with personnel and expertise, and we will ensure an increased presence of federal police officers at train stations, airports, and near the borders. The Federal Police Office and the Verfassungsschutz will use all available options to the full to secure intelligence in a timely manner.

Coming from the lips of Seehofer, these words are a threat. The right-wing extremist terrorist networks have close ties to the army, police, and intelligence services. They maintain kill lists with tens of thousands of targets, and have left a bloody trail of destruction, including dozens of deaths in the terrorist attacks by the National Socialist Underground (NSU), and the most recent attacks in Munich, Halle, and Hanau. If the Interior Ministry strengthens these forces further, it will not be to combat the terrorists, but to encourage them.

Seehofer has repeatedly declared his solidarity with far-right and fascistic forces, and all but encouraged them to carry out attacks. For example, he stated following the far-right rampage in Chemnitz in 2018, in which immigrants were hunted down and a Jewish restaurant attacked, that he would have marched with them if he were not a government minister. He subsequently described the immigration question as the mother of all problems in this country, and stated, Islam does not belong to Germany.

The Verfassungsschutz, which operates under his authority as Interior Minister, is a key component of the far-right conspiracy. Several dozen informants from the secret service and police operated around the right-wing terrorist group NSU, which was responsible for the murders of nine immigrants and a police officer between 2000 and 2007. An employee of the state Verfassungsschutz in Hesse, Andreas Temme, was even at the crime scene during one of the murders. Temme was also professionally involved with Stephan Ernst, the suspected murderer of Kassel district President Walter Lubcke, according to official documents.

Under the leadership of Hans-Georg Maassen (Christian Democrats, CDU), the federal Verfassungsschutz was led for years by an open supporter of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), who defended fascistic terrorist forces and practically waged war against left-wing forces. The morning after the Hanau massacre, by which time it was clear that the gunman, Tobias R., was an outspoken racist and militarist, Maassen tweeted provocatively, Socialist logic. Criminals are always right-wing, victims always left-wing.

Under Maassens successor Thomas Haldenwang (CDU), the governments course has not changed. On the contrary, while the far-right networks can operate virtually unhindered and carry out murders, the real enemy of the state remains the left. The governments latest edition of the Verfassungsschutz Report mentions the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP)Socialist Equality Partyas an object of surveillance because it irreconcilably combats the AfD and German militarism, and advocates an anticapitalist, socialist programme.

It is clear that the strengthening of the state apparatus, which is dominated by far-right networks, will be aimed above all at intimidating and suppressing widespread hostility to militarism and fascism. The token statements made by Seehofer and other representatives of the Grand Coalition cannot conceal this fact. The ruling elite is justifying the strengthening of the repressive state apparatus with references to a struggle against the far-right only due to the mass anger and opposition triggered by the latest terrorist attack.

Its absolutely clear that the AfD is a party that needs to be surveilled by the Verfassungsschutz, commented SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil on the ARDs Morgenmagazin show on Friday. There was one person who fired the shots in Hanau ... but many people provided him with munition, and that definitely includes the AfD, he added. Klingbeil went as far as to declare that the AfD was the political arm of the far-right.

Representatives of the Greens and Left Party spoke along similar lines and combined their loud calls for more state surveillance with hypocritical criticism of the AfD. The AfDs hate speech fed the right-wing terrorists, commented the Left Party groups head of parliamentary affairs, Jan Korte, who added that all security agencies must wake up.

Workers and young people who want to oppose the return of fascism in Germany and internationally will reject the ruling elites hypocrisy with the contempt it deserves. The reality is that the responsibility for the terrorist attacks is not borne by the AfD alone, but also by the Grand Coalition and its supporters in the Left Party and Greens. If the AfD is the political arm of the right-wing extremists, then the far-right-infiltrated security agencies are its state arm, and the federal and state governments are its enablers.

In particular, the SPD has played a key role in providing the munition for the AfD and right-wing terrorism. With its decision to continue the Grand Coalition inspite of a massive loss of votes in 2017, the SPD made the AfD the official opposition and then systematically integrated the party into the work of parliament. Notorious right-wing extremist agitators like the former chair of the parliamentary justice committee Stefan Brandner, who posted anti-Semitic tweets following the attack on a synagogue in Halle, were elevated to their positions with SPD support.

The massacre in Hanau occurred just two weeks after the Free Democrat politician Thomas Kemmerich was elected as minister president in Thuringia with the support of the AfD. At the same time, the Social Democrat Humboldt University President Sabine Kunst and federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek defended the right-wing extremist historian and Nazi apologist Jorg Baberowski (Hitler was not vicious) after the professor physically attacked a left-wing student on the campus of Humboldt University.

Leading representatives of the Left Party and Greens have also previously backed Baberowski and have, like Sahra Wagenknecht and the mayor of Tubingen Boris Palmer, agitated against refugees in the style of the AfD. They even sought an alliance with Maassen. According to Interior Ministry protocols, Maassen held 200 discussions with politicians from all parties in parliament. The Left Party even invited Maassen to a public discussion in March 2013 in order to stand side by side with the chief of the domestic intelligence agency.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP) is the only party that has irreconcilably opposed the right-wing conspiracy from the outset on the basis of a clear political perspective. Now, its time to stop it! We call for the protests against the far-right to be expanded and linked up with the strikes and protests being waged by the international working class. The decisive question is the conscious struggle for a socialist perspective and the building of the SGP and the International Committee of the Fourth International as the revolutionary leadership of the international working class.

We demand the following:

 Stop the conspiracy by the Grand Coalition, the state apparatus, and right-wing extremists!

 Dissolve the secret service, and an immediate halt to the surveillance of the SGP and other left organizations!

 No more war! Stop Germanys return to a militarist great power policy!

 Defend the right to asylum! No to the militarisation of the state and surveillance!

 End poverty and exploitation! For social equality! The super-wealthy, banks, and corporations must be expropriated and placed under democratic control!

 For a socialist programme against fascism, militarism, and war!
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Linkedin Hemananthani Sivanandam (The Star/ANN) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Mon, February 24, 2020 14:12 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20663c131 2 SE Asia Malaysia,politics,PKR,coalition-forces,infighting Free

The People's Justice Party (PKR) central leadership has sacked two of its top leaders, Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin, for their "betrayal" against party principles and the effects of their actions causing instability in the Pakatan Harapan-led government.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nassution Ismail said the decision was reached following the actions of Azmin and Zuraida, who are the party's deputy president and vice-president respectively, and the role played in the open betrayal against the party.

"A few of these characters were the main mastermind in the event at Sheraton Hotel [on Sunday], and that is clearly against the party's stand on the matters concerning the position of the prime minister.

"And that has also affected the economy and politics as we can see today, the ringgit and stock market.

"As such, the central leadership unanimously have decided that Azmin and Zuraida will be sacked immediately," said Saifuddin in a press conference after the central leadership meeting.

Read also: Malaysian PM Mahathir sends resignation letter to king

Read also: Malaysian politics in turmoil amid new coalition talk

Read also: On-again, off-again feud between Malaysia's Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim

Also present during the meeting were PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

However, Anwar and Wan Azizah were not present during the press conference.

Anwar left the party headquarters around 2.10 p.m. and headed to Istana Negara (the state palace) for his meeting with the Malaysian king, known as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Asked if Saifuddin and Zuraida will be allowed to appeal the party's decision, Saifuddin said it will follow the usual process.

He also said the party has identified other masterminds involved in the meeting between government and opposition MPs in Sheraton Hotel, Petaling Jaya on Sunday night.

"We will be sending them show-cause letters," he added.
A survey by Corporate Investment and Mergers & Acquisitions Center also showed that one of the obstacles to M&A deals in Vietnam is the time consuming approval process.

Although the Vietnamese M&A market has been signaling a positive outlook, the country is still in need of revising its legal framework to eliminate obstacles and attract more quality investors, experts said.

Real estate is expected to see more M&A deals this year.

According to Pham Duy Khuong, managing director of ASL Law firm, the M&A market is governed by laws on enterprises, foreign investment, land, and competition, among others. However, the current legal framework for the market has not kept up fully with changes in M&A structures and concepts, causing confusions and uncertainties among many investors.

Under the current regulations, Khuong said, most M&A transactions in Vietnam need to be approved by authorized agencies, which can take up to several months. Especially when the deal involves conditional business, the time of waiting will even be longer as it is carried out by many different agencies.

A survey by Corporate Investment and Mergers & Acquisitions Center also showed that one of the obstacles to M&A deals in Vietnam is the time consuming approval process.

In addition, the provisions of the Law on Competition stipulate M&A transactions that lead to a market share acquisition of 30-50% in a relevant market must be notified to the Vietnam Competition Authority. Transactions leading to a combined market share of over 50% are prohibited, except in certain cases.

In fact, the implementation of these regulations is challenging for both businesses and authorities because it is difficult to determine what constitutes a relevant market according to the law. Due to this ambiguity, investors must make their own decisions and determine if they have to go through a merger control process before proceeding.

This creates a potential risk that the parties involved might get penalties for legal violation, or that the transaction might be canceled, Khuong said.

Positive market

The M&A market in Vietnam this year will reach some US$7-7.5 billion, equivalents to the value in the past two years, Vietnam Mergers & Acquisitions Forum (MAF)s research group and Corporate Investment and Mergers & Acquisitions Center forecast.

Experts said that real estate will continue to be a big magnet for investors this year. In addition, industrial production, services, construction and construction materials are also major appealing sectors for M&A activities thanks to the relocation of production from abroad into Vietnam to take advantage of free trade agreements signed by Vietnam and to mitigate impacts of the US-China trade war.

Besides, the increasing domestic demand due to the rapid population growth and rapid urbanization will also have significant impacts on the attraction of M&A activities in services and consumer goods.

It is also forecast that the market will continue to be mostly represented by foreign investors this year, with big players from Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Thailand. However, domestic investors should become more and more prominent and more active in the battle fought for market share.

Vietnam reported huge M&A transactions involving overseas investors last year, buoyed by favorable policies on improving the countrys business environment, along with the potential coming from bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements.

Leading the largest M&A deals in the country last year were investors from South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, who poured aggressively in sectors such as consumer goods, retail, real estate, telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and education.

The top deals in the year included SK Group which, through its investment arm SK Southeast Asia Investment. decided to invest US$1 billion to acquire a 6.1% stake of conglomerate Vingroup, while becoming the largest foreign shareholder of Masan Group following an agreement worth US$470 million. Hanoitimes

Anh Hong

Merger may bring retail renaissance Vietnams largest conglomerate Vingroup has announced the sale of its retail and agricultural arms to Masan Group.
MIAMI  A strong Latino outreach effort helped propel Bernie Sanders to victory in the Nevada caucuses, and the endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is likely to help him with Puerto Ricans, but the self-described democratic socialist faces an uphill battle among another Hispanic demographic, the mostly conservative Cuban-American population in South Florida  especially after he committed the political heresy of praising Fidel Castro on 60 Minutes Sunday.

Bernie Sanders here is dead in the water, Emiliano Antunez, a Cuban-American political strategist, told Yahoo News, speaking outside the Versailles Cuban restaurant in Miamis Little Havana, a famous local spot for talking politics. And hed be literally dead if he showed up  theyd probably run him over.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Cubas Fidel Castro. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP, Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)

Cuban-Americans register Republican over Democratic by a substantial margin, although the figures are heavily skewed by age: 76 percent to 7 percent among those older than 75, 35 percent to 23 percent in the under-40 cohort. Antunez, who was born in the U.S. to parents who fled Cuba, said he believes most would support President Trump in the general election, and among Democrats probably favor Michael Bloomberg over Sanders. Antunez himself would never vote for the Vermont senator, the most liberal candidate in the race.

Emiliano Antunez, local political strategist with Dark Horse Strategies, in Miami on Monday. (Caitlin Dickson/Yahoo News)

It may not matter much to Sanderss chances in Floridas March 17 primary, which is closed, meaning only registered Democrats can vote to choose their partys nominee. But Cuban-Americans are an important constituency in the general election, which will decide who gets Floridas 29 electoral votes. About 700,000 residents of Miami-Dade County, roughly a quarter of the total population, were born in Cuba.

The outrage over Sanderss remarks obscured what he actually said, which coupled praise for Castros social programs with condemnation of the Communist regimes oppressive police-state policies.

Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but you know, its unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know? Sanders said. When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?

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When interviewer Anderson Cooper noted the number of political dissidents imprisoned by the Castro regime, Sanders responded, Thats right. And we condemn that.

Unlike Donald Trump, lets be clear, you want to  I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend, the senator added, referencing the presidents affinity for foreign strongman leaders. I dont trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine.

Sanderss comments echo those President Barack Obama made to Castro, which he recounted in a 2016 town hall in Argentina.

And I said this to President Castro in Cuba. I said, Look, youve made great progress in educating young people, said Obama. Every child in Cuba gets a basic education  thats a huge improvement from where it was. Medical care  the life expectancy of Cubans is equivalent to the United States, despite it being a very poor country, because they have access to health care. Thats a huge achievement. They should be congratulated.

Ricardo Pedreguera, who told Yahoo News he immigrated to the United States in 1966 after Castro took over his familys shoe factory, said he believed Sanders would make Americans poor.

Who the hell is going to pay for the things hes promising? said Pedreguera at Domino Park in Little Havana. Do you know what the American dream is now? Disability. Everybody wants everything for free.

Domino Park in the Little Havana section of Miami. (Caitlin Dickson/Yahoo News)

Pedreguera said he was a Republican who supported Trump and believed he would win in November. His views were shared by Jorge Luis Iparraguirre, a Cuban-American who spoke to Yahoo News in Spanish outside the Cafe Versailles. Iparraguirre, a lifelong Republican, calls Trump the best president in U.S. history. Of Democrats, he said, Theyre all Communists, but Bernie Sanders is the worst.

Democratic officeholders with large Cuban-American constituencies took pains to distance themselves from Sanders. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a freshman Democrat who flipped a GOP district in South Florida in 2018, said Sanderss comments were unacceptable.

As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban-Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanderss comments on Castros Cuba absolutely unacceptable, said Mucarsel-Powell via Twitter. The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press and stifles a free society.

Im hoping that in the future, Sen. Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro, said Rep. Donna Shalala, another freshman Democrat who flipped a Miami-area seat.

Cafe Versailles in the Little Havana section of Miami. (Caitlin Dickson/Yahoo News)

Bloomberg, whos made a strong push in the Sunshine State, also hit Sanders on his comments via his campaigns Twitter account, saying, Fidel Castro left a dark legacy of forced labor camps, religious repression, widespread poverty, firing squads, and the murder of thousands of his own people. But sure, Bernie, lets talk about his literacy program.

The Sanders campaign is aware that its chances of making inroads with older Cubans are slim. Chuck Rocha, a senior adviser who has spearheaded its Latino outreach, said it would focus on younger Cubans in Florida, as well as other Spanish-speaking constituencies.

Were going to go talk to Cubans, said Rocha in an interview with Yahoo News last week. We may not talk to old-school, older Cubans  but theres their kids and really their grandkids, they get Bernie Sanders. They like Bernie Sanders, and Bernie Sanders is popular. We dont need all the Cubans. I just want part of the Cubans. And all of the Puerto Ricans, all the Mexicans in Tampa Bay, I know where they are. Like Ive done this work, but other presidential campaigns woke white consultants wont know how to do that piece, and theyll go down and put Mexican Spanish on TV in Miami and check the box and say theyve done Latino outreach.

Hunter Walker contributed reporting to this story

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Read more from Yahoo News:
In his 60 Minutes interview, Bernie Sanders praised Cuba, giving its detested communist regime props for its vaunted literacy program and free health care, two propaganda points the Castro oligarchy has dined out on for decades among the lefty shills. Sure, they beat and imprison dissidents, but big deal. Look at all that "literacy" they enacted  a pathetic lie, given that the nation was already literate in 1959, and irrelevant in any case, given that Cubans aren't allowed to read anything worth reading. "Free" health care is another pathetic lie, given that locals are taxed so intensely for it that they make about $18 a month. Plus, they bring their own Band-Aids and bedsheets for the "free" health care, done in rooms full of cockroaches.

That's not stopping Sanders from playing propaganda shill for the dictatorship with some supposedly qualified praise. Here is what he claimed on 60 Minutes:

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner for the Democrats' presidential nomination, doubled down on his support for some of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's policies, saying in an interview that aired Sunday, "it's unfair to simply say everything is bad."

Unfair! Unfair! Castro's gotten a bum rap? A lot of freedom-loving Cubans and American aviation heroes will tell you that what is actually unfair about Cuba is its communist oppression.

It is not well known outside the Conch Republic of Key West, Florida, but Cuba's regime is not just oppressive; it's also aggressive.

A mini"hot war" between Castro's Air Force and the Navy raged on and off between Key West and Cuba for decades.

Ever since Castro came to power, America has kept a watchful eye on his workers' paradise. But the shining moment of President Kennedy's administration was the successful resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which, while it repaired the debacle of his green-lighting the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion by free Cuban forces, effectively entrenched the regime and enabled it to attack the U.S. under the radar.

As America and Cuban forces maneuvered diplomatically and militarily during the Cold War, the U.S. Navy established a hot pad at its Boca Chica military airfield near Key West (and 90 miles from Havana).

Navy and Marine fighter squadrons rotated assignments with the requirement that two fighters always stood fully ready for combat, capable of being scrambled and airborne and heading for trouble inside five minutes.

For years, the "Hot Pad" at Boca Chica Field, Key West launched fighters and recce aircraft to take on Cuban MiGs and Patrol Boats. The base has an illustrious history:

NAS Key West was to become a focal point during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which posed the first doorstep threat to America in more than a century. Reconnaissance and operational flights were begun 22 October 1962, in support of the blockade around Cuba. During the Missile Crisis, Key West cemented its claim to the title "Gibraltar of the Gulf", coined a hundred years earlier by Commodore David Porter.

Sadly, the Key West Hot pad was no more when a tragic moment in aerial combat killed innocent pilots only trying to help courageous Cubans fleeing the so-called "workers' paradise."

In the 1990s, the sea between Key West and Cuba was filling with freedom-loving Cubans putting themselves and their families' lives at risk by fleeing to the U.S. on leaky rafts. A beautiful ocean as seen from Mach 1 or from the deck of a cruise ship can also mean death from exposure, sharks, and storm-tossed rafts that break apart with everyone drowning.

Something had to be done to save lives. Enter Brothers to the Rescue, a group of unarmed and unafraid pilots who put their lives on the line to help those in peril on the sea.

It is easy to be fearless when strapped in a USMC fighter jet loaded for bear, but it takes undaunted courage to go up against the Cuban Air Force in a Cessna 337 Skymaster, a twin-engine, unarmed civilian plane.

Sanders's remarks, in fact, came on the eve of the anniversary of that 1996 atrocity  today  so I will recommend some reading about the reality of what happened.

Betrayal by Matt Lawrence and Thomas Van Hare tells with absolutely clarity how Cuban MiGs, in an act of cold-blooded murder, shot down two Brothers to the Rescue humanitarian planes in international airspace, killing four. Here is what Florida retired congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart had to say about it:

"Matt Lawrence and Thomas Van Hare have written an important book detailing an infamous chapter in the history of the Castro dictatorship and a weak United States Administration. By documenting the Cuban regime's espionage activities and the calculated, cold-blooded murder of four humanitarian pilots, BETRAYAL: Clinton, Castro & The Cuban Five is a timely reminder that the United States must be vigilant against repeating the mistakes of the past. To anyone interested in gaining insight into the utter malevolence of the Cuban dictatorship and the hazards befalling U.S. Administrations who coddle it, I recommend this book[.]

There is no glory for a Cuban MiG pilot in murder. "Betrayal" tells the tale from the authors' first-hand account; Thomas Van Hare could have easily been the pilot and Matt Lawrence flying with him that day. Fighter support was too far away to stop the shoot-down because the hot pad had been moved from Key West to mainland Florida.

A Cuban spy network that influenced America policy over Cuba had made significant inroads during both Republican and Democrat administrations. Van Hare and Lawrence put the story in a bigger context by fingering as a spy the most senior Cuba authority within the U.S. government, the DIA's top Cuba analyst Ana Belen Montes. She was an agent of Castro's and she influenced U.S. Cuba policy for years. The FBI arrested her and the authors call her and the Cuban spy network an "extraordinary risk to U.S. national security."

As Castro's funeral procession taking his remains to his final resting place broke down, there still may be an opportunity for a free Cuba to be born.

But not if "Feel the Bern" Sanders is elected president.

Correction: An earlier version of this piece misstated the name of the author.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force photo, Bonnie White, public domain.
Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said that the issue related to coronavirus is on the international agenda, the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza reported.

"Azerbaijan is seriously studying WHO recommendations and taking the necessary measures. The discussions were held in the Cabinet of Ministers in connection with the coronavirus and an Action Plan was prepared. The government is taking the necessary measures in this direction, he said.

He also noted that the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has already warned citizens about the issue of trips to countries with confirmed coronavirus cases.
Tripoli, Feb 25 : The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has reaffirmed its support for the reform of the security sector in Libya.

"UNSMIL notes with concern attempts to undermine the integrity of Libyan institutions, including the Ministry of Interior," UNSMIL tweeted.

"We reiterate our full support for reform of the security sector & call for application of the law," it added.

A day earlier, the UN-backed Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga said armed groups obstruct and extort security services in the capital Tripoli, Xinhua news agency reported.

"It is unfortunate that a security service is extorted by some militias. A militia captured Naji al-Zubi, a competent officer of the Tripoli Security Directorate," Bashaga told a press conference in Tripoli.

Local media accused the captured Zubi of committing treason and working for the rival east-based army which is carrying out an armed conflict against the UN-backed government over control of Tripoli.

Libya has been suffering political division and insecurity ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Leading Ideal said the in-car version of the popular messaging app WeChat will be introduced to its vehicles, one of highlights to the continuous OTA (over-the-air) software updates the startup is going to complete before May.

This will allow the car owners of the Leading Ideal One SUVs to activate the WeChat app by pressing the button at the multifunctional steering wheel, and send or receive messages through voice commands.

(Photo source: Leading Ideal)



The Tencent's in-car WeChat platform is designed to improve road safety by minimizing the frequency for drivers to stare at or touch their phone screens while they are on journey.

Since the in-car app was launched last year, the developer Tencent has been approached by many domestic and overseas automakers who intend to have the in-vehicle WeChat facilitate their users.

Prior to the Leading Ideal One, there are four models that have been equipped with the messaging platform.







Photo source: GAC Motor)

GAC Trumpchi's second-generation GS4 is the first mass-produced WeChat-enabled model. Users can activate the function by pressing the specific button at the steering wheel or touching the icon at the center console display.



Photo source: Haval)



Great Wall Motor (GWM)'s 2020 Haval F5 also features a button at its steering wheel for drivers to control their in-car WeChat app. Besides, the function can be operated through voice control as well.

The SUV is powered by the Fun-Life, an ICV system jointly developed by GWM and Tencent Auto Intelligence, which is available for voiceprint recognition and simultaneous login of many IDs.



Photo source: Changan Automobile)



At the 2019 Smart China Expo, Changan Automobile for the first time demonstrated the in-car WeChat feature of its CS75 PLUS. The application will be used in the premium version of the well-received SUV model this year.



The other one is the E-Rock from Changan New Energy. Based on the CS55 Plus, the all-electric SUV is said to hit the market in April 2020.
Italy has decided to call off the famous Venice carnival following a major eruption of coronavirus cases in the country, making it the largest number outside Asia. According to Venetos regional Governor Luca Zaia, the ordinance to public gatherings was immediately operative and came into effect from midnight.

The Venice Carnival, which started on February 8, was scheduled to end on February 25 with several events including world-famous parades and concerts. The carnival is known for its grandeur where people from across the world visit the city and wear vibrant costumes to colourful events.

The number of confirmed cases in Italy soared to 152 which forced the authorities to step up measures against the spread of coronavirus. In Venice, three people, all in their late 80s, tested positive for COVID-19 and were hospitalised in critical condition. Authorities have not been able to identify the patient zero, the source of coronavirus in northern Italy after an Italian man in Codogno was tested positive and became critically ill.

Read: China Calls Coronavirus Outbreak largest Public Health Crisis Since Its Founding

According to the latest report, 150 new deaths due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to nearly 2,600. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including Italy, Japan and the Philippines, have also now reported deaths related to COVID-19.

Read: South Korea Becomes Biggest Coronavirus Centre Outside China: Report

Major outbreak in South Korea

South Korea has also reported major coronavirus outbreak with 763 confirmed cases, making it the largest number of cases in the world after China. Most numbers of cases in South Korea are related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu.

Japan has also confirmed third death from coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship, docked off the Japanese coast of Yokohama. There has been a total of four deaths in Japan but one of the deaths was unrelated to the quarantined cruise.

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Japan Confirms Third Death From Quarantined Cruise Ship

Read: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey Close Borders With Iran Over Coronavirus Fear

(With AP inputs)
The Techiman Municipal Assembly risk paying millions of judgment debt as the rationale behind the sudden apparent inertia of a legally signed digital revenue mobilization contract between Techiman Municipal Assembly and Quest Systems Ltd is not only incongruous with logical reasoning but also too awkward to grasp mentally.

The long-standing perception that has been registered in the minds of the people that, half of the Techiman Municipal assembly's revenue dubiously find its way into some alleged unseen hands will compel any reasonable leader to legally engage the services of experts to digitise revenue collection for the Assembly to redeem its image.

In an statement issued and signed by Mr Kojo Owusu, the Secretary of an NPP group calling itself 'Action Patriots for Justice' (APJ) noted that in spite of angry remonstrance and the attempt to throw mud at this uncommon system by people who felt and still feels threatened that, changing from the assembly's old way of mobilising revenue to digitization will block their dubious Chanel of siphoning monies the assembly needs to garner for developmental projects people are hoping for.

According to Mr Kojo Owusu, Quest Systems started operations gradually from the main market with the anticipation to cover the entirety of the revenue collection in the Techiman municipality when the resistance arose again, forcing the Municipal Chief executive to illegally act against the terms of the contract by suspending the work till only God knows when it will resume again.

It is Axiomatic and legally suicidal to stymie and unnecessary meddle with legally signed contracts which has serious consequences with mandatory offers so bitter to swallow.

I am yet to be Confronted with one discernible reason as to why this contract should be on the hold and why Techiman Municipal Assembly should be spared in the court from paying gargantuan judgment debt which will eat into many decades in the life span of the assembly for failing to comply with their side of the terms and conditions of the said contract, he observed.

Mr Kojo Owusu stressed that,  In this day and age where technology has become the order of the day and more so when his excellency the president and vice president are doing everything possible to digitize the country, some few greedy individuals are holding us back for their selfish parochial interest. Let people with good sense of judgment subject this issue to critical analysis and see if there is no reasonable reason to weep for Techiman."

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K



Palaniswami on Monday asserted that minorities need not fear the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR).

Talking to reporters at the airport here, Palaniswami said the government has made its stand clear on the fear being expressed by a section of the minorities.

Some were unnecessarily trying to create fear among the Muslims on the National Population Register, and wanted to blame the government by spreading false information, he said adding that minorities would not be affected by the CAA or the NPR in Tamil Nadu.

He said the National Citizens Register (NCR) and NPR were taken once in 10 years and it was DMK which started the NPR in the state in 2011.

On increasing debts, the chief minister attributed it to the spending on various developmental works and joined issue with DMK president M K Stalin who had said there were lesser debts during the DMK regime.

Palaniswami said prices of essential commodities during the AIADMK regime were much more higher than they were during the DMK period and accordingly the debt on the exchequer had also increased.

Has the DMK released a white paper on Rs one lakh crore debt, he asked and said that the present government was paying interest to the debts created by DMK.

The chief minister came down heavily on DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi on his recent comments on media, Dalits and also on temples and priests.

Stating that former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's birth anniversary has been announced as Girl Child Protection Day, he said that according to the National Crime Record Bureau, Chennai and Coimbatore were considered as the most safest cities where women can walk freely without fear during night as CCTVs were installed across the cities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has broken his silence over the ballooning medical bill of Felix Orinda, alias DJ Evolve.

DJ Evolve, whom the legislator shot in the neck at B-Club in Nairobis Kilimani area on January 17th, is recuperating at the Nairobi Hospital, with the bill said to be almost hitting the Sh7 million mark.

Following reports that the bill remains unpaid, Babu Owino, through his lawyer Mr Duncan Okatch of Okatch and Partners Advocates, said he had deposited half of the Sh10 million he was ordered by the court to pay during his release on January 27th.

Our client has up to date paid a total of Sh5 million which principally is channeled towards the treatment of the victim, a letter written by the law firm reads in part.

The letter adds that Babu Owino has been paying the money directly to the courts as per court orders.

The court order indicated these monies were to be paid directly to the Honourable Courts which would then facilitate release the funds, on a monthly basis, to Nairobi Hospital where the victim is hospitalized. This essentially means our client has no control of the funds once he has deposited the same in court, Okatch said in the letter.

It is instructive to note that our client voluntarily, and without coercion or court orders, paid an initial sum of Ksh.600,000 and has openly undertaken to cater fully for the medical expenses of the victim until the victim fully recover.

This position stands whether or not a court order exists, and regardless of whether the amount payable to Nairobi Hospital surpasses Ksh.10 million.

DJ Evolve is still admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  ABS-CBN did not violate any corporate laws and has regularly paid its taxes for the past years, regulators told a Senate body on Monday.

Representatives from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said the network has been compliant with regulations, contrary to allegations lodged against the media company.

"They are regularly filing and paying their taxes for the past number of years," Simplicio Cabantac, Jr., head of a unit of the BIR Large Taxpayers Service, told the Senate Committee on Public Services.

BIR initially did not release the network's tax payments due to privacy laws, but later on disclosed that ABS-CBN has paid 14.398 billion from 2016 to 2019. The amount excludes income taxes which are due April 15, Cabantac added.

He clarified that the amount also excludes income tax payments paid by ABS-CBN artists, employees, and talents.

ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak said separately that the company paid 8.859 billion in taxes withheld from its employees from 2009 to 2018.

The Lopez-owned network earlier denied accusations lodged on social media that it has not been paying its dues. ABS-CBN has secured a tax clearance certificate from the BIR for 2019.

Last year, the TV network went through a settlement deal to pay 152.44 million in taxes to the BIR for assessed deficiencies in its income tax, value-added tax, and documentary stamp tax payments.

SEC Commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong also said separately that he is not aware of any violation or ongoing complaint against ABS-CBN before the corporate regulator.

Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court to void the media conglomerate's existing franchise for supposedly violating the law when it issued Philippine Depositary Receipts to foreigners, which he equated to ceding control and voting rights to foreigners. The 1987 Constitution prohibits foreign ownership of media entities in the country.

The network has submitted its response to Calida's allegations before the high court on Monday, but did not share its contents to media. ABS-CBN also responded to Calida's request for a gag order that will stop the network, as well as its representatives, from discussing the merits of the quo warranto case in public, saying this would influence court magistrates in deciding on the case.

ABS-CBN has also denied practicing "endo," or hiring workers under short-term contractual arrangements to save on benefit payments. Mario Carlo Nepomuceno, head of the network's Corporate Services Group, said program employees are covered by PhilHealth, PAGIBIG, and Social Security System through the company.

Jon Villanueva, president of the ABS-CBN Rank and File Employees' Union, described the long wait for the network's franchise renewal as "torture," with employees and their families facing an uncertain future. He said they would likely have a hard time finding similar jobs, as slots in other TV networks are likely filled.

Apart from 11,017 artists, office workers, and talents, some 6,000 informal jobs from security agencies, janitorial services, and even production equipment suppliers are at risk, Katigbak said.

The Philippine Competition Commission also warned that the possible shutdown of ABS-CBN could limit competition among TV networks, saying that this would lead to fewer choices for the public in terms of news and entertainment content. Commissioner Johannes Bernabe said ABS-CBN, together with GMA, TV5, and CNN Philippines, control 89 percent of the industry, with at least a third controlled by the Lopez-owned channel. He warned that authorities have to be "cautious" against such a scenario, noting that more players in the market would do good for the economy.
Police investigating the death of 39 Vietnamese citizens in the UK truck tragedy have arrested a man for creating illegal immigration profiles.

Ha Tinh Police said Monday that Nguyen Xuan Trieu, 24, is suspected to have worked with seven others to create immigration profiles for Vietnamese people from many localities to work illegally in the U.K. and Europe.

In the same case, police from the central province had arrested six people last Thursday, saying one suspect was still at large and internationally wanted.

Last November, the investigation had led the police to accuse Trieu of making fake profiles for 10 people from Ha Tinh who ended up dead in a refrigerated container truck in the U.K.

They and 28 other Vietnamese succumbed to hypoxia and hyperthermia inside the truck used to smuggle them from France to the U.K. Their bodies were found in Essex County, northeast of London, on October 24 last year. The two youngest victims were 15 and the oldest 44.

Besides 10 victims from Ha Tinh, 21 of the deceased were from neighboring Nghe An, and the rest from Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, Hai Duong and Hai Phong.

Their remains were returned to Vietnam last November.
An urgent warning has been issued for Perth as police chase an armed fugitive on the run in the city's eastern suburbs.

Officers are hunting for a silver Holden Cruze sedan following reports one the occupants has a gun.

It is understood at least one shot was fired just after 9am on Monday.

An urgent warning has been issued for Perth as police chase an armed fugitive on the run in the city's eastern suburbs

A warning has been sent by authorities out that anyone who see the car, registration number 1DJL 456, should not approach but call 000 and report the location

The car was last seen in Dorothy Street, Gosnells, in the city's south-east, with officers setting up blockades in the area.

A warning has been sent by authorities out that anyone who sees the car, registration number 1DJL 456, should not approach but call 000 and report the location.

The silver Holden Cruze is easily identifiable as it has a black bonnet and boot.

More to come.
(Photo : FEMA/Elizer Hernandez)

A federal judge decided against moving an upcoming corruption trial against former Puerto Rico education secretary to the US mainland.

Former Puerto Rico Education Secretary Julia Keleher was denied her request to move her trial to the US Mainland, a decision celebrated by many in the US territory who believe she should be tried where the crimes occurred.

Julia Keleher's defense attorney and a former White House counsel Lanny Davis remain unsure whether they planned to appeal on the judge's decision. Keleher's defense attorneys argued Keleher would not receive a fair trial in Puerto Rico.

Keleher grew up in the suburbs in Philadelphia and graduated from a catholic school called Cardinal O'Hara High School. She went on to earn her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Pennsylvania.

She worked at the Red Clay Consolidated School District in Wilmington, Delaware for seven years, starting from a guidance counselor and working her way up to special assistant to the superintendent.

Julia Keleher was indicted January 15 of this year on federal allegedly offering up public school land in exchange for help buying a luxury apartment.

The charges came after accusations of public corruption in July of 2019 where she and five others were said to be part of a conspiracy that illegally directed more than $15 in federal funds to an organization with personal and political connections. Keleher and her co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the said charges.

Keleher was accused of giving over 1,034 square feet of space to a real estate company that owns the Ciudadela apartment complex located in San Juan. The company allowed Keleher to rent the apartment in Ciudadela from June to December 2018 for just $1.

Keleher bought a two-bedroom at Ciudadela for $295,000 and received an incentive bonus of $12,000. A consultant named Ariel Gutierrez-Rodriguez was said to have helped facilitate the lease agreement with Keleher.

The January charges against Keleher included bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud has Keleher facing up to 30 years in prison.

Keleher, who resigned from her post in April 2019, had an unusually high salary of $250,000 a year. Her resignation faced heavy criticism over the closure of more than 400 schools. She was also preparing to create charter schools and vouchers as ordered by Puerto Rico's former governor.

Prior to the indictments, she described herself as a crusader against widespread corruption within the country's education department.

Keleher dismissed a reporter's question about rumors of federal investigations during the Yale event. "Investigations have been happening at the Department of Education since forever," she said.

Keleher worked on a US Department of Education team whose objectives were to fix compliance problems involving waste, fraud, and mismanagement of federal funds in Puerto Rico's school system. The very issues were what led to a conviction of another former education secretary nearly two decades earlier.

Friends and former colleagues of the accused described her as a fierce advocate who had little sympathy for those lacking her single-minded work ethic. They also say she's too tough to get involved in someone else's schemes.

Speaking of Keleher's monitoring duties, CEO and chief scientist at edCount Ellen Forte said, "She just wants to cut through all of the crap, essentially, to get something done. It's surreal in a way that someone who was doing this is suddenly charged with being a criminal."
By providing a holistic security operations platform that is tightly integrated with Chronicle, security operations teams can ... better protect their networks across on-premises and cloud environments.

Siemplify, the leading independent provider of security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR), today announced it has joined the Chronicle Index Partner program as part of a broader industry effort to help customers improve visibility of and response to cyber threats.

Chronicles global security analytics platform is designed to help enterprise customers analyze their security telemetry to detect, investigate and hunt for advanced threats, at the speed of search. By joining the Index Partner program, Siemplify will work to integrate its products with the Chronicle platform so that joint customers can better defend themselves against a variety of cyberattacks.

Siemplify is a holistic workbench that allows organizations to navigate the full scope of security operations and incident handling. Siemplify helps SOC teams to reduce alert overload and slash response times by orchestrating security tools and automating workflows that handle everything from case enrichment to investigation to remediation.

By integrating with Chronicle, Siemplify is able to ingest Chronicle alerts as part of its case management that automatically groups related alerts from any detection tool into threat-centric cases. Additionally, Siemplify playbooks can automatically query Chronicle and leverage Chronicle analytics as part of an investigation or threat hunt, eliminating repetitive tasks and freeing up analyst time for higher-level work.

We are excited to partner with Chronicle and enable security orchestration, automation and response for Chronicle customers, said Meny Har, VP of product at Siemplify. By providing a holistic security operations platform that is tightly integrated with Chronicle, security operations teams can track and measure SOC performance, work more effectively and efficiently, and better protect their networks across on-premises and cloud environments.

Our platform is designed to analyze massive amounts of enterprise security telemetry and provides more customer benefit when that telemetry includes critical data from leading security solutions, said Magali Bohn, head of partnerships for Chronicle. Our integration with Siemplify gives mutual customers more powerful detection and response capabilities against threats in their networks.

About Siemplify

Siemplify, the leading independent security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) provider, is redefining security operations for enterprises and MSSPs worldwide. The Siemplify platform is an intuitive workbench that enables security teams to manage their operations from end to end, respond to cyberthreats with speed and precision and get smarter with every analyst interaction. Founded in 2015 by Israeli Intelligence experts, with extensive experience running and training security operations centers worldwide, Siemplify has raised $58 million in funding to date and is headquartered in New York, with offices in Tel Aviv. Visit us at siemplify.co or follow us on Twitter at @Siemplify.
London: Scotland Yard is coming under increasing pressure to release royal protection logs after a retired officer came forward to cast doubt on Prince Andrew's alibi for the night he is accused of having sex with a trafficked teenager.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who now lives in Queensland, claims she was brought to London, aged 17, by Jeffrey Epstein, the late US paedophile financier, and coerced into having sex with the duke at the Kensington home of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's friend.

Prince Andrew pictured with Virginia Roberts in 2001 at the Belgravia townhouse of Ghislaine Maxwell (at right).

Andrew has vehemently denied the claims, insisting he was at home in Sunninghill Park, Berkshire, on the night of March 11, 2001, having earlier taken Princess Beatrice, his daughter, to a Pizza Express in Woking.

But now a former royal protection officer, who was working at Buckingham Palace at the time, has said he believes the duke could have been in London on the night in question.
The Supreme Court has referred convicted murderer Graham Dwyers challenge to the gardais access to his phone data to the European Court of Justice.

This means a persons past phone history will still be available for future investigations.

There was a fear that the Supreme Court would uphold convicted murderer Graham Dwyers challenge to the gardais access to his phone data.

Had the Supreme Court upheld the 2018 High Court decision, it would have had serious and far-reaching implications for future murder investigations

The decision by the seven Supreme Court judges sitting for the first time in Waterford is also now unlikely to be of as much help in the former architects appeal against his 2015 conviction for murdering Elaine OHara as his defense team might have wished.

The Supreme Court is delivering its ruling on the State's appeal against convicted murderer Graham Dwyer's successful challenge to the retention and accessing of mobile phone data. | https://t.co/AdIAwyo92L https://t.co/UaPUxky7F9  RTE News (@rtenews) February 24, 2020

In 2018, the High Court upheld Dwyers challenge to the use of phone data being used in his trial for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara.

Because the High Court finding of invalidity was made in 2018, that suggests, if the preliminary view stands, the data relevant to Dwyer would have been legally retained and accessed.

Dwyer challenged the validity of evidence from phones linked to him during the trial but the trial judge rejected his bid to have it declared inadmissible.

The 36-year-old was found on Killakee mountain, Rathfarnham, Dublin, on September 13, 2013.

Phone data played a major part in identifying Dwyer as a suspect for the murder and helped secure his conviction.

The State attributed two mobile phones to Dwyer following a detailed analysis of call records in order to build up a clear picture of his movements between October 2011 and August 2012.

Ms OHara was last seen alive in a public park in Shanganagh, Dublin, on August 22, 2012. Her remains were found in Killakee mountain south of Dublin in September 2013.

Mr Justice Tony OConnor held in 2018 that aspects of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 governing retention and disclosure of mobile phone data contravene EU law as they permitted indiscriminate retention of data and a data access regime without prior review by a court or other independent body.

Access to retained data must be requested by a Garda Chief Superintendent and the Garda Commissioner must report annually to the Minister for Justice on all disclosure requests.

The 2011 Act was introduced to have Irish law conform with an EU Directive which was later struck down by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU).

The interpretation of various CJEU decisions concerning the retention of, and access to, data is in dispute between the sides in the States appeal.

Both sides had agreed that, if the Supreme Court considered a lack of clarity arises from the CJEU decisions, it should refer issues to the CJEU.
Cenk Uygur, one of the founders of the progressive news network The Young Turks, reportedly pleaded with his staff not to unionize during a meeting earlier this month, at times speaking passionately about his opposition to the move.

The all-staff meeting in Culver City, California on February 12 was originally planned to handle personnel matters but drifted into a discussion about the recently announced intention of staff members to form a union, The Huffington Post reported Monday.

Earlier in the day, a Twitter account purportedly representing the employees of The Young Turks announced their decision to go union, saying they are proud to put into practice in our workplace the values that our work helps bring to the screen every day.

We stand in solidarity with the renaissance of labor activism we see now in workplaces of all kinds throughout the country, the statement said.

At the meeting however, Uygur reportedly gave a spirited argument against the decision to unionize, according to staffers who attended, at one point throwing his papers on the ground and reprimanding an employee.

The reality is were in a precarious position, Uygur said. Were in a digital media landscape where almost no one makes money or is sustainable.

For a smaller digital media company, those are absolutely real considerations, he continued. It doesnt mean you shouldnt have a union. Everyone should know the full context.

The popular progressive activist and political commentator has previously expressed strong support for unions, and has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who has suggested punishing companies that refuse to recognize unions. Uygur is currently running for Congress in California in the 2020 special election to succeed former Representative Katie Hill, who resigned after reports that she carried on a sexual relationship with a congressional staffer.

On Friday, workers in the newly-formed TYT union tweeted that they are dismayed to report that leadership at the company refused their request to unionize.

Story continues

The companys acting chief operating officer, Jack Gerard, reassured employees that the company is not discouraging their campaign to form a union, but some staffers remained disappointed.

We generally feel disappointed, but unshaken, one staffer told The Huffington Post. We feel its the right thing to do because of what TYT values.

This is a disappointing decision from an organization that presents itself as progressive, said the parent organization of TYT Union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

More from National Review
Photo credit: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association The Tennessee River Valley is often referred to as the catfish factory by anglers and with TVAs commitment to keeping its reservoirs healthy, the region is attracting anglers from all across the country and some of the nations top catfish tournaments.

Whether it is fishing for sport or just for fun, fishing enthusiasts can find world-class lake fishing within the Tennessee River Valley. The area offers more than 11,000 miles of shoreline and more than 700,000 acres of water, and is quickly earning the reputation as one of the best fishing destinations for catfish in the United States, thanks in part to the mammoth-sized creatures that everyday anglers are reeling in.

The Tennessee River flows for more than 650 miles and anglers travel long distances to sample the great catfishing of the Tennessee River Valley. As a general rule, the Tennessee River and its impoundments are excellent for targeting catfish, especially blue and channel catfish and the region provides year-round opportunity. Along with chasing a trophy fish, the region offers endless possibilities for the outdoor enthusiasts, world class attractions and exciting festivals to experience.

The Tennessee River reigns supreme among state waters in terms of consistently producing trophy catfish. In July 1993, an 85 pound 15 ounce flathead was reeled in from the Hiwassee River. A Tennessee woman caught her personal best in January 2019 when she snagged a Blue catfish weighing at least 88 pounds from the Tennessee River. In July 2019, a Colorado man caught a 75-pound catfish on the Tennessee River. It measured 53 inches long and 33.5 inches around.

Wheeler Lake in North Alabama at one time held the world record for the largest blue catfish. The mammoth-sized fish weighed in at 111 pounds.

During a tournament on Wheeler Lake in March 2019, a blue catfish weighing in at 115 pounds was brought to the scales. It was the largest catfish ever caught in a Cabela's King Kat tournament anywhere in the United States. Despite the weight, the team still ended up in second place.

Catfishing is also very family-friendly and something children of all ages can experience. In fact, anglers do not need a boat or extravagant equipment to be successful. Some of the regions best catfishing is accessible from the bank. For suggestions on starting a family fishing tradition in the Tennessee River Valley, visit https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Recreation/TVA-Fun/Creating-Family-Fishing-Traditions-on-TVA-Lakes.

It is every catfish anglers dream to catch a triple-digit fish, said July Graham, spokesperson for the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council. The Tennessee River Valley is often referred to as the catfish factory by anglers and with TVAs commitment to keeping its reservoirs healthy, the region is attracting anglers from all across the country and some of the nations top catfish tournaments.

The dream to catch a triple-digit fish has caught the attention of the largest catfish tournament organization in the United States. The Cabela's King Kat Tournament Trail was created to give the growing number of catfish anglers, clubs and organizations an opportunity to shine in the spotlight with the first-ever "Classic" of competitive catfish angling. This format has revolutionized the catfish angling market, allowing local anglers in each region the opportunity to compete in the Super Bowl of Cat Fishing, The Cabelas King Kat Classic held in September or October each year. Four Tennessee River Valley lakes- Wheeler, Pickwick/Wilson, Watts Bar Lake and Kentucky Lake -are on the tour this year.

Tips for recreational anglers to check out to help them land a triple digit fish:



To assist anglers fishing in the Tennessee River Valley, the TVA Lake Info app is an essential for tool for every tackle box. The app gives users the ability to monitor real-time generation and water levels on all TVA reservoirs. The app is available for iPhone and Android users6.0 and newer. For anglers that are less tech savvy, the same information can be found online by visiting https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Lake-Levels.

For the ultimate fisherman cheat sheet, visit https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Recreation/Where-the-Sport-Fish-Are for an inside guide for successful warm-water fishing in the Tennessee River Valley.

Anglers looking for a good spot to put in or a place to rest at night, visit https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Recreation/TVA-Recreation-Map for an interactive recreation map that shows every boat launch and recreation area on the TVA public lands surrounding the Tennessee River watershed.

The lakes of the Tennessee River Valley are managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). TVA goes to great lengths to ensure a healthy fish habitat for todays anglers and for future generations to enjoy. Tournament organizers and industry leaders have taken note of TVAs commitment to its reservoirs, from keeping grass under control to managing water levels.

For more information on TVA, fishing on its lakes or other outdoor recreation, check them out at https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Recreation/Fishing-the-Valley, https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Recreation/Where-the-Sport-Fish-Are, https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Recreation, https://www.facebook.com/TVA, https://twitter.com/tvanews, https://www.instagram.com/tva/ and https://www.youtube.com/user/TVANewsVideo.

Learn about fishing hot spots in the region as told through the stories of people and places by visiting the Tennessee River Valley Mapguide. All listings have been nominated by local people who know the region best and offer visitors the most unique, fun and interesting experiences. For more information, visit http://www.exploreTRV.com.
Two Indian workers in the UAE have been jailed to two years each for beating up a compatriot and stealing his belongings, including passport, after he objected to being underpaid for his work, according to a media report.

The Dubai Court of First Instance also ordered their deportation after completion of the jail term. They were not named in the report.

The duo, aged 27 and 21 years, has also been charged with theft and sexual assault.

According to a report in the Khaleej Times on Sunday, the convicts on November 19, along with other runaway men, also stole the victim's mobile phone along with his passport, stripped and filmed him in order to prevent him from reporting to the police.

"I arrived at the Dubai International Airport on a visit visa in May last year. An Indian worker got me a job at a construction site for Dh1,500 per month. But I was paid only Dh100 or Dh50," the 24-year-old complainant told the court.

The victim said that he threatened the men to report to the police if he did not get full payment for his work.

"The two accused, and other men, pulled me inside a building in Al Rafaa. They all punched and kicked me," he said on the attack on November 19.

The group then stripped and filmed him and threatened to circulate the clip on social media if he tried to seek police help, the report said.

The accused were arrested on the victim's complaint at Al Rafaa police station.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The prospect of a no-deal Brexit was looming larger today as both the UK and EU hardened up their positions on future trade relations ahead of the start of formal negotiations next week.

In a victory for Frances Emmanuel Macron, diplomats in Brussels agreed a negotiating mandate which would require the UK to mirror EU rules and regulations on competition, workplace rights and environmental protections, with swift sanctions for breaches.

But Downing Street insisted that the UKs red line in talks is now to break free from Brussels regulations and the oversight of European courts, rather than to maintain smooth trading relations following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December.

Boris Johnsons official spokesman said there was absolutely no question of the prime minister extending talks on the future relationship with the EU beyond that date - after which the UK will crash out on World Trade Organisation terms if no deal has been agreed, with the potential for massive disruption to trade and travel.

Meanwhile, Irish premier Leo Varadkar warned London that there must be no backsliding on Mr Johnsons commitment to establish a customs border down the Irish Sea.

Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Show all 20 1 /20 Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Britain votes to leave the European Union - 23 June 2016 A referendum is held on Britain's membership of the European Union. Fifty-two per cent of the country votes in favour of leaving AFP via Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? David Cameron resigns - 24 June 2016 David Cameron resigns on the morning of the result after leading the campaign for Britain to remain in the EU Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Theresa May takes the reins - 13 July 2016 Theresa May becomes leader of the Conservative party and prime minister, winning the leadership contest unopposed after Andrea Leadsom drops out Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? High Court rules parliament must vote on Brexit - November 2016 - 3 November 2016 The High Court rules that parliament must vote on triggering Article 50, which would begin the Brexit process Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Article 50 triggered - 28 March 2017 The prime minister triggers Article 50 after parliament endorses the result of the referendum Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? May calls snap election - 18 April 2018 Seeking a mandate for her Brexit plan, May goes to the country Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? May loses majority as Labour makes surprise gain - 8 June 2017 After a disastrous campaign, Theresa May loses her majority in the commons and turns to the DUP for support. Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party makes gains after being predicted to lose heavily AFP/Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Negotiations begin - 19 June 2017 David Davis and Michel Barnier, chief negotiators for the UK and EU respectively, hold a press conference on the first day of Brexit negotiations. Soon after the beginning of negotiations, it becomes clear that the issue of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic will prove a major sticking point AFP/Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? MPs vote that withdrawal deal must be ratified by parliament - 13 December 2017 The government suffers a defeat in parliament over the EU withdrawal agreement, guaranteeing that MPs are given a 'meaningful vote' on the deal Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Boris Johnson resigns as foreign secretary - 11 July 2018 Following a summit at Chequers where the prime minister claimed to have gained cabinet support for her deal, Boris Johnson resigns as foreign secretary along with David Davis, the Brexit secretary Reuters Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Draft withdrawal agreement - 15 November 2018 The draft withdrawal agreement settles Britain's divorce bill, secures the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa and includes a political declaration commiting both parties to frictionless trade in goods and cooperation on security matters. The deal also includes the backstop, which is anathema to many brexiteers and Dominic Raab and Esther McVey resign from the cabinet in protest Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? May resigns - 24 May 2019 After several failed attempts to pass her withdrawal agreement through the commons, Theresa May resigns Reuters Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Johnson takes over - 24 July 2019 Boris Johnson is elected leader of the Conservative party in a landslide victory. He later heads to Buckingham Palace where the Queen invites him to form a government Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Parliament prorogued - 28 August 2019 Boris Johnson prorogues parliament for five weeks in the lead up to the UK's agreed departure date of 31 October. Stephen Morgan MP Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Prorogation ruled unlawful - 24 September 2019 The High Court rules that Johnson's prorogation of parliament is 'unlawful' after a legal challenge brought by businesswoman Gina Miller Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Johnson agrees deal with Varadkar - October Following a summit in Merseyside, Johnson agrees a compromise to the backstop with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar - making the withdrawal agreement more palatable to Brexiteers Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Final Say march demands second referendum - 19 October 2019 As parliament passes the Letwin amendment requiring the prime minister to request a further delay to Brexit, protesters take to the streets in the final show of force for a Final Say referendum Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Johnson wins 80 seat majority - 12 December 2019 The Conservatives win the December election in a landslide, granting Boris Johnson a large majority to pass through his brexit deal and pursue his domestic agenda Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Withdrawal deal passes parliament - 20 December 2019 The withdrawal agreement passes through the commons with a majority of 124 Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? EU parliament backs UK withdrawal deal - 29 January 2020 Members of the European parliament overwhelmingly back the ratification of Britain's departure, clearing the way for Brexit two days later on 31 January. Following the vote, members join hands and sing Auld Lang Syne AFP/Getty

And Paris warned that the EU would not allow Mr Johnsons self-imposed deadline to be used to blackmail the bloc into a bad deal.

The mandate agreed in Brussels on Monday - and due to be rubber-stamped by foreign ministers of the 27 member states on Tuesday - states that any trade agreement must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field. This is Brussels code for matching regulations and standards, designed to avoid one side gaining a competitive advantage by cutting corners on food safety, state aid, workers rights or the environment.

And last-minute changes demanded by France stated that common high standards must be upheld over time, with Union standards as a reference point, making clear that the UK will be expected to keep pace with changing Brussels regulations in order to maintain access to the single market.

Under its plans, Brussels would have the possibility to apply autonomous, including interim, measures to react quickly to disruptions of the equal conditions of competition, effectively giving the EU powers to impose sanctions for breaches by the UK.

The wording puts the EU on collision course with Downing Street, which for the first time today made independence its overriding goal in talks.

The UKs primary objective in negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on 1 January 2021, Mr Johnsons official spokesman said.

Asked later whether this meant that avoiding alignment with Brussels regulations and preventing any role for the European Court of Justice in ruling on future trade disputes were greater priorities than ensuring smooth trade after the end of this year, a senior No 10 source said: Yes.

The source added: Our overriding objective in the negotiations is by 1 January to have taken back control and we wont agree to anything that doesnt deliver that. Which means no rule-taking from the EU and no role for the European Court of Justice.

Our red line is we have to have taken back full control by 1 January.

Leo Varadkar (Brian Lawless/PA)

UK ministers are to meet in the so-called XS (exit strategy) committee in Downing Street on Tuesday to agree the UKs detailed mandate for talks on the future relationship with the EU, ahead of its publication on Thursday.

After reports that Mr Johnson had ordered his Brexit team to find ways to get around provisions of the UKs withdrawal agreement requiring checks on goods travelling from the British mainland to Northern Ireland, Mr Varadkar warned that he expects the UK to honour its obligations in full.

He said there can be no backsliding and urged Mr Johnsons government to focus on the next phase of negotiating a free trade agreement.

We totally understand why they may want to minimise any checks at the ports and airports in Northern Ireland, said the Taoiseach. We want to do that too.

But the agreement clearly says if there have to be checks anywhere, they would happen at the ports and airports in Northern Ireland rather than on the land border between north and south.

So I am saying to the British government, there can be no backsliding on the withdrawal agreement. Lets not even go there and lets focus instead on what should be the next phase, which is negotiating a free trade agreement between the European Union and Ireland and the UK so we can protect jobs and our economy.

The PMs spokesman told reporters: We have not asked any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between GB and Northern Ireland.

But he appeared to concede that some sort of controls or checks will be required from January 2021 on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The spokesman said that the new system would ensure unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

But asked repeatedly whether the same unfettered access would be available for goods travelling in the other direction, he would say only that the PM was clear that beyond the limited changes introduced by the protocol there would be no changes to GB-Northern Ireland trade

And he added: "We will comply with our obligations."

Brussels insists on checks on goods travelling from the mainland because of the possibility that they will enter the EU market by crossing the Irish border.

Amelie de Montchalin insists French firms will not pay the price for a quick trade deal (Brian Lawless/PA)

French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin insisted that her countrys farmers, fishermen and businesses would not pay the price for a trade deal to be in place by the end of the year.

She told TV station France 2: In this negotiation it must be understood by British businesses that we do not want a bad agreement  almost certainly, that we will sign up to no blackmail.

Refusing to allow the UK to dictate the timetable, Ms de Montchalin said: It is not because that Boris Johnson wants a deal at all costs for 31 December that we will sign, under pressure, a bad deal.

In a further indication that access to UK fishing grounds will be one of the main flashpoints in the talks, the French minister said: The fishermen have the right to be protected, they know very well that if we sign a bad deal they will lose enormously.
Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode , has reacted to a statement credited to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State by revealing that the south wants restructuring more than the presidency.

This was after El-Rufai advised that the presidency should go to the south in 2023, when the tenure of President Buhari expires.

El-Rufai was quoted by Vanguard saying: The general political consensus in Nigeria is that the Presidency should rotate between the North and the South. It is not written but everyone understands it.

Reacting to the statement, the former minister expressed that the South is more concerned about restructuring of the country than the Presidency in 2023.

See his post below:


Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Twenty-four members of the Bahai community in Yemen are due in a Houthi courtroom on 25 February, in Sanaa, for the latest session of what the Bahai International Community is calling, a religiously-motivated sham trial, which is at least partly a result of directives from Iranian authorities.

A Yemeni Bahai among those due to be triedwho was also previously arrested, and has asked for his name to be withheldtold the Bahai International Community that the Houthi authorities have tried to systematically eradicate the Bahai community from the country. Its not just targeting a few people, he added. The Houthis also wanted other Bahais to feel afraid. The Yemeni also said that such persecution harms not only those arrested or jailed but also their families and dozens of other lives.

The Yemeni Bahai added that his Houthi interrogators had confirmed his arrest was due to his religious beliefsand because the Bahais were promoting peace during a time of war. He and other jailed Bahais were also harassed by extremist individuals in prison who called them infidels and threatened them with death.

The trial of the 24 members of the Bahai community on Tuesday follows years of arbitrary and violent detention of six Bahais by the Houthi authorities.

Mr. Waleed Ayyashone of five Bahais arrested in 2017was physically tortured while in seven-month solitary confinement in the National Security Bureau. He was also physically forced to affix a fingerprint stamp to a written statement under his name. Mr. Ayyash has insisted that this statement is false.

Four others of the jailed BahaisMr. Kayvan Ghaderi, Mr. Wael al-Arieghie, Mr. Badiullah Sanai and Mr. Akram Ayyashhave been barred from seeing their lawyers and have been physically mistreated and denied access to medical care.

The Bahais that are held in Sanaa are innocent and the physical and mental torture they are experiencing is designed to force them to admit to crimes they have not committed, says Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahai International Community. Moreover, the Houthis must cease the financial extortion they are inflicting on the Yemeni Bahais by confiscating and attempting to seize properties belonging to all of the accused as a result of the trial.

The first Yemeni Bahai to be arrested after the 2011 revolution was Mr. Hamed bin Haydara. He was detained in 2013, beaten and electrocuted, forced to sign documents while blindfolded, accused of being a destroyer of Islam and religion and of being a spy for Israel. Mr. Haydaras case continued for several years and on 2 January 2018 he was sentenced to public execution for his religious beliefs. Appeals were filed and are currently under review. Since his arrest, 18 appeals court hearings have been held. Mr. Haydaras next hearing is set to take place on 31 March.

If the Houthis are to fully commit to the process underway that will bring the peace that is so desperately needed by the people of Yemen, they must respect freedom of religion and belief, said Diane Alai, Representative of the Bahai International Community in Geneva.

The Bahai International Community calls on the Houthi authorities to respect the rights of the six detained Bahais, to grant them access to their lawyers, to release the Bahais immediately and to cease to persecute the members of this faith in Yemen.
Full production of the Lucid Air is expected to start in late 2020 in Lucid's new state-of-the-art factory in Casa Grande, AZ, with LG Chem battery cells exclusively powering standard versions of this luxury EV through 2023. The advanced battery cells provided by LG Chem effectively allow Lucid to lock in core volume production forecasts for the Lucid Air for the next several years, with additional agreements to be announced in the future for special versions of the EV.

"The agreement with LG Chem puts Lucid on the best possible path to production for the Lucid Air, ensuring the necessary energy density and cell availability to fulfill our promise of class-leading range to consumers," said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Motors. "In the tireless pursuit of unrivaled levels of efficiency, we will continue development with LG and other partners for the Lucid Air and future new Lucid models."

Lucid selects the best battery cell for each version of the Lucid Air based on data collected during comprehensive and proprietary performance tests, with the cells from LG Chem selected because they provide the ideal level of efficiency for standard versions of the Lucid Air. In conjunction with its proprietary battery architecture and flexible manufacturing technique, Lucid will optimize the LG Chem cells to meet or exceed all target goals for range, energy density, recharge/discharge rates, and more. In this way, Lucid will leverage the specific cell chemistry of LG Chem's batteries to develop the most compact, yet energy dense, battery pack form possible.

"LG Chem is pleased to join as a core partner in Lucid Motors's journey to produce industry-changing luxury EVs. With the world's leading battery cell technology, safety, reliability, and production expertise, LG Chem will supply high-quality battery cells to Lucid Motors," said Jong Hyun Kim, President of Energy Solution Company, LG Chem.

Lucid will unveil the production version of the Air in New York in April of 2020. In addition to the vehicle's final interior and exterior designs, new details on production specifications, available configurations, and pricing information will also be shared. Currently, in-house development on what is intended to be the world's most advanced electric car continues at a rapid pace, including battery packs with unmatched energy density and electric motors that are incredibly powerful yet efficient. Lucid is manufacturing 80 beta prototypes at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters, which will be used for comprehensive testing and validation for key vehicle dynamics, as well as crash testing to confirm exhaustive simulations.

About Lucid Motors

Lucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable transportation by creating the most captivating electric vehicles, centered around the human experience. The company's first car, the Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan, featuring a California-inspired design underpinned by race-proven technology. Featuring luxurious interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint, the Air will be capable of over 400 miles range and 0-60 mph in under 2.5 seconds. Production of the Lucid Air will begin in late 2020 in Lucid's new factory in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Media Contact

Andrew Hussey

[email protected]

SOURCE Lucid Motors
Back in October 1965, members of Navy Attack Squadron VA-25, based on USS Midway, found an ingenious means of marking the 6 millionth pound of ordnance dropped on North Vietnamese targets. At the time, carriers were reportedly so short of ordnance that some missions were launched with half a load, just to keep the sortie rate at prescribed levelsa strategy that was understandably unpopular with aircrews. VA-25s response was to develop and drop its own extremely unconventional weapon: a toilet bomb.



(HistoryNet Archives)

It all started when one of the plane captains rescued a damaged toilet that was just about to be heaved overboard. After the ordnance crew improvised a rack, tailfins and nose fuze for the john, it was armed up along with more conventional bombs on A-1H Skyraider NE/572, Paper Tiger II, flown by the squadrons executive officer, Commander Clarence J. Stoddard. As Stoddard taxied onto the catapult, the flight deck checkers maneuvered to block the view of his specialized ordnance by the captain and air boss. But just as the Skyraider left the deck an irate transmission came from the bridge: What the hell was on 572s right wing? By that time Paper Tiger II was on its way to a target somewhere on the Mekong Delta.

Stoddards wingman, Lt. Cmdr. Robin Bacon, was flying 577, which was equipped with a wing-mounted movie camera. When they arrived on target and Stoddard read the ordnance list to the forward air controller, he ended by saying, and one code-name Sani-Flush. The FAC couldnt resist getting close enough for a good look. Stoddard dropped the toilet during a dive, with Bacon flying in a tight wing position to film the drop. As it turned out, the toilet nearly struck Bacons Skyraider as it tumbled in the airthen whistled all the way down.

All hands agreed it made for a great ready room movie.
The US Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear Apple Inc's bid to avoid paying about $440 million in damages for using patent licensing firm VirnetX Inc's internet security technology without permission in features such as FaceTime video calling.

The justices rejected Apple's appeal in the long-running case in which a federal jury in 2016 found that Apple had infringed VirnetX's patents and awarded $302 million. A judge later increased that amount to $439.7 million including interest and other costs.

The case dates back to 2010 when Nevada-based VirnetX filed suit in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas accusing Cupertino, California-based Apple of infringing four patents for secure networks, known as virtual private networks, and secure communications links. VirnetX said Apple infringed with its FaceTime and VPN on Demand features in products such as the iPhone and iPad.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, which specializes in patent disputes, upheld the judgment against Apple last year.

During the litigation, Apple and other companies requested that a tribunal of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office review the validity of the VirnetX patents. The tribunal canceled key parts of the patents at issue in the case.

But in separate decisions also issued last year, the Federal Circuit set aside certain of the tribunal's rulings, bringing VirnetX closer to collecting damages from Apple. Apple appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the damages should be recalculated because the specific patents VirnetX accused it of infringing with FaceTime were nearly wiped out.

Apple in a court filing called the Federal Circuit's refusal to entertain its demands "legally wrong and grossly unfair." The company also said the lower courts impermissibly allowed VirnetX to request damages far beyond the value of the patented invention.

VirnetX told the justices: "The entire damages award ... remains supported by claims that a jury - and the Federal Circuit - found valid years ago and that have not been canceled since."
Brampton council has committed to planting 50,000 trees in 2020 as the city continues to work toward its goal of planting one million trees by 2040.

The One Million Trees Program is part of the city's 2040 Vision approved in May 2018, but the city and its community partners have been planting an average of 43,000 trees annually over the past five years

However, in order to meet the million-tree target, council upped that number at its Feb. 19 committee of council meeting to 50,000 trees per year.

Over the last five years, the City and its partners  including conservation authorities, the Region of Peel, school boards and the development industry  have planted, on average, 43,000 trees each year in Brampton. With an increase of at least 7,000 trees planted annually, the City is one step closer to fulfilling the Brampton 2040 Vision and reaching a target of one million trees by 2040, wrote the city in a release.

The One Million Trees Program will plant more trees, particularly along roads, public parks, and other City-owned lands in existing residential neighbourhoods and commercial/industrial lands, to enhance the green canopy and foster the delivery of ecosystem services, it added.

According to the City, trees lost in public spaces during the 2013 ice storm and Emerald Ash Borer infestation will also be replaced.

A 2014 staff report to council estimated the city need to replace approximately 25,000 trees on streets, 20,000 in parks and an additional 7,500 trees to compensate for the canopy loss stemming from those two events.

City staff are currently developing an Urban Forest Management Plan to aid with inventorying, operations, management and monitoring of the urban forest.

A website dedicated to tracking the program's progress, which residents can contribute to if they plant trees on their own properties, is also in the works.

This is yet another exciting step toward making Brampton a Green City and the City doing its part to address the challenge of climate change, said Mayor Patrick Brown in the citys release.

Clarification - Feb. 26, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to make clear that while the One Million Trees Program was devised by the previous council and included in the city's 2040 Vision plan in 2018, it officially launched with the announcement of an average of 7,000 additional trees being added to the city's tree-planting program on Feb. 19.

Graeme Frisque is a reporter for Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. Reach him via email: gfrisque@metroland.com

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WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, February 24th at 6pm, civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton and Reverend Christopher Bullock will be hosting a free dinner for Delaware residents in honor of Black History Month, emceed by local Pastor Dale Dennis II of Hoyt Memorial CME. The event is sponsored by CPBD.

The pastors will be leading a discussion on the lack of diversity on Delaware's courts and its adverse effects on all of the state's residents. The discussion, at the Kingswood Community Center in Wilmington, will also focus on what can be done to "repair the institutional neglect of people of color in the Delaware," as Reverend Sharpton stated in his first advocacy visit to the state in October.

The dinner comes following the Delaware State Senate's denial of Reverend Al Sharpton the opportunity to testify on the issue of diversity in the state's judicial system at a Chancery Court Chancellor's nomination hearing. In the past several months, Reverend Sharpton has visited Delaware calling for progress on the issue and even penned a letter to leading law firm Skadden Arps calling for elite firms to do their part in advancing people of color in the legal industry. While people of color make up over 60% of Delaware's prison population, only four justices who serve on the three highest courts in Delaware are people of color.

Said Reverend Sharpton, "to say I was disappointed the Delaware State Senate would not even agree to hear testimony from myself on the matter of judicial diversity would be an understatement. But our voices cannot be silenced and I am excited to be joining my colleagues and fellow civil rights champions in the First State to celebrate Black History Month and rally around our cause: Delaware needs more black and brown judges and we need them now."

On Monday, February 24th at 6pm, civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton and Reverend Christopher Bullock will be hosting a free dinner for Delaware residents in honor of Black History Month, emceed by local Pastor Dale Dennis II of Hoyt Memorial CME.

WHAT: Black History Month Celebration and Dinner in support of diversifying Delaware's judiciary

Black History Month Celebration and Dinner in support of diversifying judiciary WHO: Reverend Al Sharpton ; Reverend Christopher Bullock ; Rev. Dale Dennis II ; Rev. Blaine Hackett ; Rev. Alfred Parker ; Bishop Albert Jarman, II ; Archbishop Albert Jarman, Sr.; Bishop Steven; Bishop J.L. Carter ; and over 200 Delawareans from across the state.

Reverend ; Reverend ; Rev. ; Rev. ; Rev. ; Bishop ; Archbishop Albert Jarman, Sr.; Bishop Steven; Bishop ; and over 200 Delawareans from across the state. WHEN: Monday, February 24 th at 6pm

at WHERE: Kingswood Community Center, 2300 Bower Street, Wilmington, DE 19802

Contact: Mary Urban, [email protected]

SOURCE Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
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The Centre has given in-principle nod to the construction of an elevated expressway between Dehradun and New Delhi which will reduce the distance between the two cities to 180 kms.

The Centre's go-ahead to the project was conveyed to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat by the National Highway Authority of India Chairman S S Sandhu who made a courtesy call to the former at his residence here on Monday, an official release said.

Congratulating the people of the state after his meeting with Sandhu, the chief minister said the construction of the highway will boost tourism and prove to be a milestone in its economic development.

It will reduce the distance betweenDehradun and the national capitalto 180 kms and the state government will extend all support to the NHAI for the construction of the elevated highway, Rawat said.

At present, the distance between Dehradun and Delhiis around 250 kms.

Work on thehighway, which will reduce travel time between the two cities to two and a half hours, will begin soon, Sandhu said at the meeting with Rawat.

Construction of an elevated road on the route besides a new tunnel near Mohand on the outskirts of Dehradunis proposed as part of the project, the NHAI chairman said.

Noting that parts of the proposed highway falls under the jurisdiction of forest and wildlife department of neighbouring Uttar Pardesh, Sandhu asked the chief minister to request the UP government for speedy forest and clearances so that work on the project could be expedited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Quiet town, peaceful, low maintenance. It can stay that way, says a federal agent to the sheriff of the small town at the center of the new ABC drama The Crossing, airing on April 2 at 10 p.m./9 p.m. CT. Yeah, good luck with that. In TV and movies, crazy, creepy, sci-fi, monster movie junk always goes down in quaint, tiny, Middle American suburbs far more often than it does in a big city. Who has time for aliens in New York? Give me a full on invasion or nothing. Leave the odd-goings on and the mysterious, unsolved disappearances to the town folk. This list charts the history of Americas fictional creepy small towns from kind of weird to David Lynchian-grade bananas.

Collinsport, Maine  Dark Shadows (1966)

The classic soap Dark Shadows started out as just the story of a woman trying to trace down her wealthy familys mysterious roots in the fishing town of Maine. Things only really got weird when, 10 months into the shows run, cousin Barnabas Collins shows up and reveals he has a vampire curse.

Cabot Cove, Maine  Murder, She Wrote (1984)

It might not have been Cabot Cove that was so weird but that murder and mystery seemed to follow Jessica Fletcher wherever she went.

Derry, Maine  It (1990)

Clowns are already creepy. Evil demon clowns that eat children in sewers? Ill visit Derry in between Pennywises 30-year intervals thank you very much.

Twin Peaks, Washington  Twin Peaks (1990)

It doesnt get weirder than this. David Lynchs surreal twists on melodramatic soap operas and crime procedurals have left audiences scratching their heads to this day.

Cicely, Alaska  Northern Exposure (1990)

Not all creepy TV towns have to be filled with murder and aliens. The perfectly eccentric weirdos of Cicely, Alaska stayed strange for six seasons and 110 episodes.

Eerie, Indiana  Eerie, Indiana (1991)

Eerie, Indiana proceeded the small-town oddities of X-Files and Buffy and was a ratings bomb. But the show was a mysterious, underrated gem about a teen who collected evidence of strange goings-on in an Indiana town where no one seemed to notice or mind.

Story continues

Bellefleur, Oregon  The X-Files (1993)

The truth is out there  way out there in Oregon to be exact. The X-Files pilot established the mythology of the show in the small town of Bellefleur. As soon as Mulder and Scully show up, they encounter bizarre turbulence, an unexplained ash on the ground and a trip to a psychiatric hospital where the patients are all alien abductees.

Sunnydale, California  Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996)

Isnt that just how it always goes? You call your town Sunnydale and then it winds up on the site of a demonic gateway called Hellmouth before it eventually sinks into the Earth?

Bon Temps, Louisiana  True Blood (2008)

Just because everyones a vampire doesnt mean they cant still all be southern gentleman and belles who like good Louisiana cooking with a bottle of Tru Blood to wash it down.

Rosewood, Pennsylvania  Pretty Little Liars (2010)

These teen girls just want to have a normal high school life and go to prom, and before long theyre being harassed by the sinister A, investigating their friends disappearance and even digging up graves. This show is insane, so much so that it even spun off into another small town for Ravenswood.

Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania  Hemlock Grove (2013)

Face it, if youve got Bill Skarsgard and his demonic smile in your town, youre already well over your creepy quota.

Vermilion Parish, Louisiana  True Detective (2014)

Whatever southern charm or bayou spirit you would usually find in Louisiana is gone in the first season of True Detective, which grimly examined themes of philosophy, religion and more toxic forms of masculinity amid a web of occult murders.

Bemidji, Minnesota  Fargo (2014)

The movie Fargo is famously not really set in Fargo, North Dakota, and the show follows up on that tradition, with all roads leading back to the title town. The first season of the FX series takes place in Bemidji, Minnesota, known for its statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

Jupiter, Florida  American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014)

Jupiter, Florida was already creepy even before the freak show arrived. This season of AHS is set in 1952 and is complete with conjoined twins, bearded ladies and a clown going around murdering people.

Wayward Pines, Idaho  Wayward Pines (2015)

Word to the wise: if youre a federal agent going to any small town, dont be as naive to think youll only be there a short time, or that youll even make it out of there alive. Wayward Pines is a perfect example of this age old trope.

Hawkins, Indiana  Stranger Things (2016)

Hawkins is small, but clearly not small enough that anyone cares what happened to Barb!

Riverdale  Riverdale (2017)

Its not explicitly stated where Riverdale is located. Though its filmed in Vancouver, the same as the fictional Rosewood in Pretty Little Liars, but its revealed that Riverdale is in Rockland County, which is a real place in upstate New York. Regardless of where its set, the new CW series has salaciously subverted the original Archie comics for some engrossing, sexy weirdness.

Read original story A History of Creepy Small Towns on TV, From Twin Peaks to Riverdale (Photos) At TheWrap
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:07:04|Editor: ZD

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Chinese ship Da Yu Xia loaded with steel box girders is seen at the port of Ploce, Croatia, on Feb. 24, 2020. A Chinese cargo ship carrying steel parts for construction of Croatia's Peljesac Bridge arrived at the southern port Ploce on Monday. (Ivo Cagalj/Pixsell via Xinhua)

ZAGREB, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese cargo ship carrying steel parts for construction of Croatia's Peljesac Bridge arrived at the southern port Ploce on Monday.

The ship, Da Yu Xia owned by Chinese shipping company COSCO Shipping, departed China on Jan. 23 loaded with 29 pieces of steel box girders weighing about 6,300 tons, and will continue its voyage to the construction site at Mali Ston Bay after customs formalities this week.

Ploce port authority visited the ship in the early morning hours on Monday and gave permission for unloading at the construction site. Local health inspectors have cleared all 22 crew members onboard of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

"When it comes to coronavirus at the Peljesac Bridge site, everything is under control," Miljenko Ljubic, epidemiologist from the County Institute of Public Health of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, told Xinhua.

The Chinese ship underwent health inspections in Singapore and in the Suez Canal before arriving in the Adriatic, according to Croatian news agency HINA.

Crossing the Mali Ston Bay over the Adriatic Sea, the 2.4-kilometer-long Peljesac Bridge connects Croatia's southernmost Dubrovnik-Neretva County to the rest of the mainland.

A Chinese consortium led by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) won the bid for the first phase of the bridge and its access roads in January 2018, with a promise to finish the job in 36 months. Construction officially kicked off in late July 2018 and has been progressing well since then.
Letter of the Georgian People to the Free World - GeorgianJournal
Yet is highly unlikely that the Taliban (or its fighters) will be willing to become one political party among many. They are demanding a restoration of their former Islamic Emirate, where religious law would replace the current Afghan constitution with its guarantees of basic human rights, including for women. And they want all U.S. troops out soon, which would mean the Afghan army would collapse.
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives for a welcome dinner at Saudi Arabia Murabba Palace, during the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Riyadh

By Davide Barbuscia and Marwa Rashad

RIYADH (Reuters) - Finance leaders of the world's top 20 economies expect economic growth to pick up modestly this year and next thanks to loose monetary policy and an easing of trade tensions, and vowed to monitor the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and central bank heads faced a sober presentation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which predicted the epidemic would shave 0.1 percentage points off global growth.

"Global growth is expected to pick up modestly in 2020 and 2021. The recovery is supported by the continuation of accommodative financial conditions and some signs of easing trade tensions," the communique from the financial leaders said.

"We will enhance global risk monitoring, including of the recent outbreak of COVID-19. We stand ready to take further action to address these risks," the statement said, using the medical acronym for the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

As the delegates wrapped up their meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping was quoted as saying that Beijing would step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow on the economy from the outbreak.

"The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia will inevitably have a relatively big impact on the economy and society," Xi said, adding the impact would be short-term and controllable.

China was represented at the G20 meeting by its ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as senior officials stayed away due to the growing crisis over the virus.

"We have discussed the outbreak of coronavirus in China and other countries and all the G20 countries agreed collectively on being ready to intervene with necessary policies," Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told a news conference.

The epidemic, which originated in China, has since spread to nearly 30 countries and territories.

South Korea raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level on Sunday, while a third passenger from a virus-infected cruise ship in Japan died.

Story continues

"In our current baseline scenario, announced policies are implemented and China's economy would return to normal in the second quarter. As a result, the impact on the world economy would be relatively minor and short-lived," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Saturday.

"But we are also looking at more dire scenarios where the spread of the virus continues for longer and more globally, and the growth consequences are more protracted," she added.

The ministers and central bankers also encouraged further work by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on global rules to tax digital giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook.

The OECD, the G20's think-tank, is to prepare technical assumptions by July that would allow governments to tax digital companies where they do business, rather than where they are registered for tax purposes.

A final agreement on the global rules is to be ready by the end of this year to avoid a proliferation of different digital tax regimes all over the world.

Key to the deal is the cooperation of the United States, which has been stalling progress unsure of the deal's political impact in a presidential election year.

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Alex Richardson)
For the third time in less than one calendar year, the Crestwood School District is attempting to pass a non-homestead millage. The vote will be held March 10.

If passed, the district would be able to recoup an expected $40,000 drop in funding for the 2019-20 school year due to state-imposed revenue collection limits. The new money would come from non-homestead properties, including industrial, commercial and rental properties, as well as second homes.

The district is asking for the millage in case a state rollback drops it below the maximum 18-mills allowed to be levied.

Basically, if we lose funding from the state of Michigan on our millage rates, this would kick in to protect us up to $40,000, school Supt. Youssef Mosallam said. So it is a security blanket that our businesses in the community would put around our students if we lose funding due to cuts from the state government.

The same millage failed twice in 2019 by less than 300 votes each time.

The ballot language reads in part, Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all (non-homestead) property  be increased by 3 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 16 years, 2019 to 2034, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes.

District officials contend the millage proposal isnt a tax increase, but instead will keep the tax rate the same despite current and future rollbacks, ensuring the district has enough funds to operate. The district has been levying the maximum of 18 mills since 1994.

Funds from the millage go to support about 3,900 students across five schools. The district has an annual operating budget of $45 million.

The district is currently utilizing the (money) to grow our robotics team and program, without the additional millage this program may suffer, Mosallam said.

After the millage failed twice last year, school board members chose to put the same language on the ballot again.

Operating millages are a critical source of funding for Michigan public schools, and the state assumes local districts will levy that revenue as part of the annual per-pupil foundation allowance distributed to schools each year.

In 2014, voters approved a millage to bring the total to 18.9038 mills to provide a cushion for Headlee rollbacks, but the district has seen rollbacks in four of the last six years, eliminating the cushion and bringing the total tax rate below the 18 mill maximum. The district is hoping the 3 mills will provide enough of a cushion to protect against future rollbacks going forward.
Paris has the gargoyles of Notre Dame.

New York City has eight art-deco eagles protruding from the Chrysler Buildings 61st floor.

These mighty stainless steel guardians seem impressively solid until you watch construction workers muscling them into place on April 3, 1930 in the Fox Movietone newsreel footage above.





Forget being sturdy enough to serve as a time travel diving board for a very freaked out Will Smith in Men in Black III

It now seems a miracle that no unsuspecting pedestrians have been crushed by an art-deco eagle head crashing unceremoniously down to Lexington Avenue in the middle of rush hour.

Also that no workers died on the job, given how quickly the building went up and the relative lack of safety equipment on display no word on amputated fingers, but its not hard to imagine given that only one of the guys helping out with the eagle appears to be wearing gloves.

In fact, as author Vincent Curcio describes in Chrysler: The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius, the job site boasted a number of innovative safety measures, such as scaffolds with guardrails, tarpaulin-covered plank roofs, wire netting between the toe boards, a hospital on-location, and a bulletin board for safety-related updates. Founder Walter Chrysler was as proud of this workplace conscientiousness as he was of the 4-floors per week speed with which his building was erected:

In an article called Is Safety on Your Payroll? He spoke of staring up at workers on the scaffolding with a friend on the street below. My, thats a risky job, my companion remarked. A man just about takes his life in his hands working on a building like this. I suppose it does seem that way, I replied, But its no so dangerous as you think. If you knew the precautions we have taken to protect those workers, you might change your mind not a single life has been lost in constructing the steel framework of that building. To give an idea of how much of an achievement this was, it should be noted that the rule of thumb at that time was one death for every floor above fifteen in the construction of a building; by this measure the Chrysler Building should have been responsible for sixty-two deaths.

By contrast, the guys Fox Movietone filmed seem happy to play up the vertiginous nature of their work for the camera, edging out onto girders and conversing casually atop pipes, as if seated astride a 1000-foot tall jungle gym:

Gosh, thats a long way to the street, boys. Howd ya like to fall down there? Whaddaya think, Im an angel? Well, youre liable to be an angel any minute. Youll break the altitude record going down- Ha ha, yeah, maybe!

While our appetite for this vintage bluster is bottomless, its worth noting that Movietone usually issued those appearing in primary positions a couple of lines of scripted dialogue.

What would those workers think of OSHAs current safety standards for the construction industry?

Fall protection is still the most commonly cited standard during construction site inspections.

Falls claimed the lives of 338 American construction workers in 2018, the same year a construction worker in Kuala Lumpur used his cell phone to film a coworker in shorts and sneakers erecting scaffolding sans safety equipment, whilst balancing on unsecured pipes some 700 feet in the air.

Watch it below, if you dare.

via Boing Boing

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Ayun Halliday is an author, illustrator, theater maker and Chief Primatologist of the East Village Inky zine. Join her in NYC on Monday, February 3 when her monthly book-based variety show, Necromancers of the Public Domain celebrates New York, The Nations Metropolis (1921). Follow her @AyunHalliday.
LAS VEGAS  By the time results began rolling in from Saturday's Nevada caucuses, Sen. Amy Klobuchar was back in Minneapolis for a fund-raiser. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was on her way to Seattle. Sen. Bernie Sanders was addressing supporters in El Paso, Texas. A charter jet was ready on the McCarran airport tarmac to carry Pete Buttigieg to Denver for a late-night rally.

After weeks of trailing each other from Iowa to New Hampshire and on to Nevada, the Democratic presidential candidates are facing a race that transforms from a state-by-state march after South Carolinas primary Saturday into a broad national sprint for the 14 states that vote on Super Tuesday on March 3, three days later.

The shift exponentially escalates the costs for advertising and campaign travel and already is forcing campaigns struggling for resources to craft divergent strategies to accumulate enough delegates to survive.

Adding to the urgency for many candidates is the rise of Sanders, I-Vt., who has both the resources to blanket key states with events and advertising and unalloyed control of the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party. His early state success  wins in New Hampshire and Nevada and a narrow delegate loss in Iowa  has left former vice president Joe Biden, Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Warren, D-Mass., and Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, fighting for a pool of more moderate voters just as former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg wades into the race with his gigantic budget.

For Sanders, Super Tuesday represents an opportunity to bury the rest of the field with a nearly insurmountable pile of delegates. His strong start and sprawling campaign organization in states voting soon has forced all the other candidates to try to prove to voters they can still compete  even if their best shot may be second. For Warren and Klobuchar, there is an added imperative: to avoid losing their home states on March 3.

Sanders' money and organization have allowed him to spend weeks punctuating visits to early-voting states with trips to Super Tuesday states  most notably delegate-heavy California, where rival campaigns believe he will be difficult to beat.

Sanders on Saturday held rallies in El Paso and San Antonio, and he campaigned in Texas again Sunday. Campaign officials are now hoping for a strong finish in South Carolina in addition to a trio of delegate-rich states in Super Tuesday: Texas, North Carolina and California.

"This state, maybe more than any other state, has the possibility of transforming this country," he said in Houston on Sunday.

The goal for Buttigieg's campaign on Super Tuesday is to accumulate enough delegates to stay within striking distance of Sanders. Campaign advisers say that if he is close Super Tuesday, states voting March 10 and 17  including Michigan, Ohio, Arizona and Illinois  are favorable enough to Buttigieg to allow him to make up ground. His campaign has already spent money on digital ads in some of those states, and it sent a paid organizer to Ohio last week.

His hunt for delegates already has led him to different places than Sanders.

Last week, Buttigieg squeezed in a trip to Salt Lake City, where his campaign has made a major organizing push and earned endorsements from several local officials. His campaign also is counting on delegate-rich areas in some of the lower-profile Super Tuesday states  Little Rock, Arkansas, for one. He campaigned in Virginia on Sunday and has stops scheduled for Raleigh, North Carolina, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, before Super Tuesday. VoteVets, a super PAC supporting Buttigieg, announced Sunday that it will make a seven-figure ad buy in various Super Tuesday states.

One difficulty with that strategy, even if it does yield as many delegates as his campaign hopes, is that it defers winning  and without victories, money and momentum will be harder to come by.

Buttigieg acknowledged Saturday that he has something to prove in South Carolina, too, given his struggles to accumulate support from nonwhite voters and the more diverse electorates heading to the polls on Super Tuesday.

"Obviously South Carolina is an opportunity to demonstrate that our coalition is broader than people thought," Buttigieg told reporters on his charter flight Saturday. "  And then we've got to have a good showing in Super Tuesday  it's why we're pushing so hard to make sure we have the resources to win."

Warren, meanwhile, went straight to Seattle on Saturday for the kind of rally that can double as a fund-raising opportunity by fostering enthusiasm. She hasn't won a delegate since the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses, and polling in South Carolina suggests she won't collect any there either. But Warren is banking her candidacy on the idea that she can begin accumulating delegates on March 3 by doing well in liberal pockets such as Denver, San Antonio and the Los Angeles area.

"We have a lot of states to go," Warren told supporters in Seattle.

Over the next few days, Warren will campaign in South Carolina, but she also plans a Thursday evening rally in San Antonio with Julian Castro, the former mayor of that city who dropped out of the presidential race in early January, and a stop in the Los Angeles area. Warren's campaign has bought TV ad time in Colorado and Maine.

The campaign also will air ads starting Tuesday in Austin, Texas, San Antonio and Oklahoma City  all population-rich areas in Super Tuesday states. The campaign also paid for some ads in Seattle, where early voting has begun.

Warren's campaign manager, Roger Lau, said in a memo distributed this month that she would be able to pick up delegates in 108 of the roughly 150 congressional or other districts that award delegates on Super Tuesday, meaning the campaign believes she'd garner support from more than the minimum threshold of 15% in those areas. "If you broaden that to districts where we're within reach of the threshold  we're playing in 149 districts, or 88% of the map," Lau wrote.

Klobuchar had to ramp up her national operation more hurriedly than her competitors; it was not until her third-place finish in New Hampshire on Feb. 11 that she had the momentum and money to start hiring staffers in Super Tuesday states. She stopped by Colorado last week and headed back home, to Massachusetts, to raise money Saturday  followed by a Sunday three-state tour via charter plane: Fargo, North Dakota, to Oklahoma City to Little Rock. (North Dakota votes a week after Oklahoma and Arkansas, Super Tuesday states.)

While Buttigieg, Warren and Klobuchar have begun paying attention to Super Tuesday states, Biden remains focused on South Carolina, where he will spend the next week in hopes of resurrecting his campaign with a win there that propels him into similar Super Tuesday states.

"The African American community in South Carolina can make a judgment about who the next president of the United States is going to be. Literally," Biden told the congregation at the Royal Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston Sunday.

"When the African American community decides, we're going to move on to Super Tuesday, as they call it, where there's a significant African American vote."

Several Super Tuesday states, including Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Alabama, have substantial numbers of black voters. But Biden has not been advertising in those states, and, while he is already well known, the lack of visibility could be problematic at a time when Bloomberg is flooding the airwaves.

His campaign has been trying to pinpoint individual congressional districts across the Super Tuesday states, a strategy that is complicated this year by the size of the remaining field, which conjures a number of possibilities.

Several weeks ago, Biden's campaign hired Dave Huynh, a delegate specialist who had worked for the presidential campaign of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.

"March is really going to matter in the nomination process," Huynh said. "It's going to be an important month, and it will play a very important role in determining who the nominee is. As they say, March matters."

As the campaign broadens to a much more nationalized race, Biden's campaign also has a legal team monitoring the rules in each state, which could come into play in an extremely tight race where every delegate matters.

"The rules have changed dramatically," said Dana Remus, the general counsel for the Biden campaign. "One of the tasks at hand is to understand what the new rules look like now."

The Washington Posts Jenna Johnson and Sean Sullivan contributed to this article.
AB&K recently took home the lions share of design awards at the annual National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) Local Achievement Awards ceremony

Home remodeling design and construction experts AB&K recently took home the lions share of design awards at the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) Local Achievement Awards ceremony held January 17, 2020 at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. AB&K has enjoyed twenty years of steady growth since its inception in 2000, and with two designer showroom locations in Greenfield and Mequon, the company has solidified its reputation for quality home design and construction throughout the southeast Wisconsin region.

In addition to receiving 16 design awardsmore than double the amount of its nearest competitorAB&Ks Design Manager Tracy Grosspietsch, who since 2015 has led AB&Ks winning design team, was honored with the Bill Bobrowitz Image Award for her ongoing efforts to advance thoughtful design and remodeling practices in the home remodeling industry. As a thought leader who regularly participates and lectures at Milwaukee-area home shows, Grosspietsch is a popular recurring guest on local Milwaukee TV and radio, offering practical home remodeling solutions while informing consumers about latest design trends.

At the annual ceremony, Milwaukee NARI Foundation also honored Tracy Grosspietsch with its Spirit of Volunteerism Award for her extensive volunteer work on behalf of Advocates of Ozaukee County, Susan G. Komen Wisconsin, Milwaukee Youth Sailing Club, and NARI Milwaukee Foundation, Inc., the educational and charitable arm of NARI Milwaukee, Inc. Grosspietsch acknowledged, This award means a lot to me personally. There are philanthropic opportunities everywhere but serving the needs of local organizationsour friends and neighborsallows us to actually take part in and experience real positive change where we live and work.

Grosspietsch recently spearheaded a collaborative volunteer remodeling project involving AB&K design staff, product and building trade vendors, contractors, and other generous contributors on behalf of the Advocates of Ozaukee County Womens Shelter. She stressed that the goal of this efforts was to provide more comfortable, safe, and nurturing surroundings to help women and families in need get back on their feet with dignity.

About AB&K

Since 2000, AB&K is one of the leading remodeling companies in SE Wisconsin. With two locations in the Milwaukee area we have a showroom conveniently located close to where you call home. Our designers at AB&K have over 150 years of combined experience in remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, finishing basements, adding architectural details to your home, and finding unique solutions for our clients. Our team of master carpenters, electricians, plumbers and tile setters ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship in your home. And to prove it, we are at the top of the list of companies whove won local design awards for our outstanding work. We also team with premier manufactures in our industry. We are proud to partner with Cambria, Dura Supreme, Kohler and other great companies in our showrooms. For more information, visit http://www.abandk.com.
US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said he would not attend AIPACs annual policy conference in March.

Democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said on Sunday he would skip The American Israel Public Affairs Committees (AIPAC) annual policy conference, citing his concern that the pro-Israel lobby group provides a platform for leaders expressing bigotry and opposition to basic Palestinian rights.

Making the announcement via Twitter, Sanders pledged that as president he would support the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis, while doing everything possible to bring peace and security to the region.

The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference. 1/2  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 23, 2020

The AIPAC conference, which will take place from March 1 to March 4, is an annual gathering of pro-Israel leaders and personalities in Washington, DC, to highlight ways to strengthen US-Israeli ties and show support for the state of Israel. Sanders comments led AIPAC to publish a strong rebuke to the senators refusal.

Its pretty major when the Democratic frontrunner announces hes skipping AIPAC, Peter Feld, a progressive campaign strategist and pollster at the digital media company, The Insurrection, told Al Jazeera.

AIPAC made it impossible for Sanders to go, by running ads against him, but its significant that he cited anti-Palestinian bigotry as the reason to skip AIPAC, he added.

Feld said that most importantly, for Sanders to make such comments at such a critical moment for his campaign, it shows that Sanders doesnt believe a fight with AIPAC will hurt him politically, or maybe even helps.

Sanders comments come only days after his win in the Nevada Caucus on Saturday, solidifying his frontrunner status in the Democratic primary.

In the past, speakers have included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former US President Barack Obama. All three have attended the conference multiple times.

Earlier this month, US Senator Elizabeth Warren, another Democrat presidential hopeful, indicated that she too was unlikely to attend the annual conference.

Truly shameful

Shortly after his two-part tweet, AIPAC put up a statement calling Sanderss comments truly shameful.

Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment, the statement said.

Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment. Full statement: https://t.co/XDcNKhYXSq pic.twitter.com/aJGJiv2wv8  AIPAC (@AIPAC) February 24, 2020

AIPAC said a diverse group of people  Democrats, Republicans, Jews, Christians, African Americans  participate in the conference to proclaim their support for the US-Israel relationship.

The statement said by his comments, Sanders was insulting his own colleagues and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel.

Speakers included in this years conference include Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jefferies, and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy.

Established in 1951, AIPAC is the most influential pro-Israel group in the US, raising annually over $100m a year from donors.

Hate group

Sanders rejection and rebuke of AIPAC came on the heels of the organisations spat with Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum. The group sponsored Facebook ads implying that she, along, with US representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, the first two Muslim women in the US Congress, were anti-Semites.

McCollum responded by calling AIPAC a hate group and said it was weaponizing anti-Semitism and hate to silence dissent while simultaneously taunting Democrats and mocking our core values.

The lobby swiftly retracted the ads and issued an apology to Democrats, but not to McCollum herself.

We offer our unequivocal apology to the overwhelming majority of Democrats in Congress who are rightfully offended by the inaccurate assertion that the poorly worded, inflammatory advertisement implied, the statement read.

Omar Baddar of the Arab American Institute, based in Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera that Sanders tweets reflected the shift in public opinion among young and progressive voters who are beginning to see through AIPACs hypocrisy.





For far too long, AIPAC has gotten away with a fundamental contradiction: they preached bipartisanship while consistently supporting the most aggressive, anti-Palestinian right-wing policies, Baddar added.

Now that the Democratic Party base has become much more aware of Israels violations of Palestinian rights, and much more hesitant to afford a carte blanche for Israel to behave as it wants and evade accountability, the inevitable clash between AIPAC and real progressives who value justice and human rights is finally under way, and is likely to escalate moving forward, Baddar noted.

Some of AIPACs policy positions include supporting $3.8bn a year in US military aid to Israel, opposing the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement, and supporting moving the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem  a step widely opposed by the international community.

AIPAC has also come out in full support of Trumps Middle East plan  unveiled last month  calling it a solid basis for negotiations.

The plan, an attempt to bring lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, has been unequivocally rejected by the latter, with Fatah and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas calling it the the slap of the century.
Lori Vallows adult niece knows the whereabouts of Vallows two missing children, and is involved in a cult where numerous members, adults and children alike, have been being killed off like flies, according to allegations raised in a divorce filing by the nieces husband.

The allegations made by Brandon Boudreaux, who married Vallows niece Melani Boudreaux, offer yet another twist in the five-month search for 7-year-old Joshua J.J. Vallow and his sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, who were last seen in September and whose mother is now sitting in a Hawaii jail on charges related to their disappearance.

Police have accused Lori Vallow of refusing to help find the children in defiance of a court order to produce them. In a statement, police in Rexburg, Idaho, said they strongly believe that Joshua and Tylees lives are in danger after Lori and her husband, Chad Daybell, an author who writes about doomsday prophecies, fled the couples Idaho home last November as police began to search for the kids.

That investigation has since yielded a second look at the October death of Daybells former wife, Tammy, which officials now term suspicious, and focused renewed attention on the July shooting death in Loris home of her former husband, Charles, by Loris brother, Alex Cox, during an alleged altercation. Cox, who claimed self-defense and was not charged in the shooting, also has since died under circumstances that authorities are reviewing.

RELATED: Mom of Missing Idaho Children Arrested in Hawaii on $5M Warrant and Charged with Child Abandonment

J.J., an adopted boy who has autism, was last seen September 23 at his school in Rexburg, where the family moved in August from Arizona after the death of Charles Vallow. Lori subsequently withdrew J.J. from the school, telling the principal she wanted to homeschool him.

A newly released image shows the boy on September 17 playing in the front yard of his Idaho home as captured by a doorbell camera surveillance video obtained by the East Idaho News. The video was taken nine days after he, Tylee and their mother were seen together at Yellowstone National Park.

Story continues

That day trip to Yellowstone, on September 8, represents the last image that authorities have located so far of Tylee, according to the court filing in Madison County, Idaho, that led to Vallows arrest. Prosecutors allege she abandoned her two minor children, delayed law enforcements attempts to locate her children, and encouraged another individual to delay law enforcements attempts to locate her children.

After apparently fleeing Idaho in late November, Vallow and Daybell were located January 25 in Kauai, Hawaii. Authorities said there was no indication the children were ever in Hawaii with the couple.

Joshua 'J.J. Vallow, mom Lori Vallow, and sister Tylee Ryan | Rexburg Police Department

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Melani Boudreaux was introduced to Daybells doomsday writings by Vallow, according to Rich Robertson, a private investigator who is working for the families of Brandon Boudreaux and Charles Vallow. And in the Boudreaux divorce filing, which is focused on child custody matters, Brandon alleges that Melani is under investigation along with Vallow in the disappearance of Vallows two children.

RELATED: Mom of Missing Idaho Children Appears Before Court, Investigators Find Last Photo Taken of Her Daughter

According to Robertson, Brandon believes he was the apparent intended target of a drive-by shooting last October at his home in Gilbert, Arizona, in the midst of his divorce from Melani.

Tied to that allegation, Brandons divorce paperwork alleges that Melani was part of an attempted murder plot to have him killed, citing an insurance policy that made Melani the financial beneficiary of his death. His filing alleges that Melani was hoping to cash in on that policy to help support the cult that she is believed to be a part of.

Lori Vallow | AP/Shutterstock

No charges have been filed in the shooting.

Brandons filing states: [Melanis] knowledge of the whereabouts of her aunts two missing children and her unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement in finding those children, is daunting to [Brandon]. [Melanis] current husband has told law enforcement something to the effect that [Melani] says sometimes children are full of light and then just like that they go dark.

The divorce filing does not identify an attorney for Melani, who has not been charged in connection with the disappearance of Vallows children, and one could not be immediately located to speak on her behalf.

Lori Vallow is due in court March 2 in Hawaii to face extradition to Idaho. Among other charges, she faces two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of a child, each of which carries up to 14 years in prison if she is convicted.

She has not yet entered a plea and PEOPLE was unable to reach her attorney.
Photo: Contributed B.C. Human Rights tribunal will hear discrimination complaint from blind passenger.

A discrimination complaint leveled against Victoria's Bluebird Cabs by a blind passenger will be heard by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, after the companys application to have it dismissed was denied.

The case involves Graeme McCreath, who uses a guide dog. A cab was called for him on July 25, 2018, after he had finished an appointment at his doctors office.

The first cab to arrive did not pick Mr. McCreath up, said the tribunal decision by Pamela Murray. Mr. McCreath alleges the driver left after seeing his guide dog.

A second cab was ordered, but McCreath said that the driver immediately proceeded to scold me for not letting them know I needed the pet-friendly cab he was driving, Murray said in her decision.

For almost the whole way home this driver chastised me, explaining  the driver of [the first cab] had an allergy and could not take me.

McCreath claimed he was discriminated against based on his physical disability, and found the way he was treated by the second driver upsetting and offensive, Murray wrote.

Bluebird denied any discrimination, but Murray wrote that the allegation met the standard of an arguable contravention of the Human Rights Code.

McCreath said in an interview said he expects it could take up to a year for a hearing to go ahead.

Its rather unfortunate that we even have to go to the tribunal.

He said he knows of several blind people in other cities who have had difficulty with taxis while using guide dogs.

Dont get me wrong, theres some really good taxi drivers and really nice people.

Bluebird could not be reached for comment.

Murray wrote that there is a dispute as to whether the driver of the first cab saw McCreath. The driver said he didnt see anyone who appeared to waiting for a cab or who had a guide dog, and left after three minutes.

Documented evidence showed he had picked up people with dogs before and after the incident.

McCreath said he was outside and clearly visible as he waited for the first cab, Murray wrote.

She wrote that Bluebird alleges McCreath assumed or speculated that his disability was the reason the first cab didnt pick him up.

The overriding question for me is to whether this complaint deserves the time and resources to have a hearing or whether Bluebird has persuaded me the complaint has no reasonable prospect of success, Murray wrote. In my view, a hearing is necessary to decide what happened and to make credibility findings, in particular about whether the first cabs driver saw Mr. McCreath.

McCreath made a previous complaint to the tribunal against Victoria Taxi in 2014 after a driver said he had an allergy and refused to pick up McCreath and his dog. Another Victoria Taxi in the area picked him up in short order.

The tribunal dismissed the complaint, saying there was a reasonable justification for what happened.

The matter went to the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2017 and was dismissed there, as well.

McCreath is also involved in a complaint with the City of Victoria that says bike lanes make access to some Pandora Avenue bus stops unsafe for people who are blind or have visual impairments.

In 2013, the tribunal upheld a complaint that allowed him to have an early start in the Times Colonist 10K, which he has run with a sighted friend.
The Xperia 1 II flagship and Xperia Pro professional tool were the stars of today's Sony event, but the Xperia 10 II (pronounced Xperia Ten Mark Two) might well become the best seller.

The phone brings an efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset (4GB RAM, 128GB storage), three cameras (ultrawide, regular and telephoto) and the biggest battery of any Sony mid-ranger to date.

The Sony Xperia 10 II packs a 6 OLED panel with a 21:9 CinemaWide ratio and Full HD+ resolution.

It has an 8MP ultrawide angle shooter with 16mm focal length equivalent, a 12MP main snapper with PDAF and an 8MP 2x telephoto shooter, all lined vertically in the upper left corner.

The front-facing camera has an 8MP sensor and is placed in the top bezel, next to the earpiece in the center of the screen.

Sony Xperia 10 II is about 10% lighter than its predecessor Xperia 10 despite being slightly wider and taller. The battery is 3,600 mAh which is over 25% more than last year's model. There is also Xperia Adaptive Charging that adjusts levels of power going to the cell so it prolongs the life of your battery.

Despite the increase in battery capacity, Sony managed to keep the Xperia 10 II slightly thinner than its predecessor. It is also water and dust-tight with IP65/68 rating and has the latest Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and back.



Sony Xperia 10 II in Black and White

The Xperia 10 II comes in Black and White in Spring 2020. Pricing is yet to be detailed.
Cafe Bustelo is encouraging Hispanic students to submit an essay in English or Spanish (800 words or less) describing how their heritage, family, and community have impacted their desire and motivation to obtain a college degree; how they plan to give back to their community; and what they intend to accomplish with their degree. Eligible U.S. students can apply for the opportunity to receive one of twenty $5,000 scholarships by submitting their essay. All eligible applications must be received by July 6, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Scholarship recipients will be announced on or about Sept. 7, 2020.

"At Cafe Bustelo, we believe whole-heartedly in supporting and reinvesting in the Latino community," said Eduardo Merino, Senior Brand Manager at Cafe Bustelo. "Whether our community is living in the moment and awakening their senses through a cafecito or planning for the future with a college education, we want to have a hand in helping them make the most of it. Vivimos en el momento y planeamos para manana!"

For complete information and scholarship guidelines, please visit here.

Cafe Bustelo coffee is available at leading grocery retailers nationwide and online at CafeBustelo.com. Visit CafeBustelo.com for more information or follow @CafeBustelo on Instagram, Twitter and @CafeBusteloOfficial on Facebook.

About Cafe Bustelo

Our delicious coffee and rich espresso heritage was born in 1928. Since then, we've not only been proud of our rich, full-bodied flavor, but also of our unique and inviting culture. Cafe Bustelo coffee can be prepared using your preferred method. Available in the forms you want, including K-Cup pods.

About HACU

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities represents more than 500 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. The association's headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). For more information, visit hacu.net or follow @HACUnews on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

K-Cup is a trademark of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., used with permission.

SOURCE Cafe Bustelo

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A dead witness, inconclusive DNA evidence and a lack of any video or cell phone evidence became the trifecta of roadblocks the Worcester District Attorneys office faced in the case against Joshua Rezsnyak and Mary McForbes, who were accused of raping a 2-year-old girl inside a car outside the Worcester Walmart store two years ago.

With those factors in place, the Worcester District Attorneys office filed a nolle prosequi in the cases against Rezsnyak and McForbes on Friday as they both faced charges of aggravated rape, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and reckless endangerment of a child.

In laymans terms, the cases were dropped.

The sole eyewitness to the alleged act is dead. We have no direct evidence that a sexual assault occurred. There is no video evidence showing the alleged act. Extensive DNA testing was done in this case, but it proved inconclusive, the Worcester District Attorneys office said in a statement to MassLive.

A legal expert told MassLive the nolle prosequi filed in Worcester Superior Court about the two doesnt necessarily absolve the pair but instead shows the prosecutors were painted into a corner in terms of going forward with the case.

This does not necessarily exonerate them, it just means that there was insufficient evidence against them," said Boston-based attorney Peter Elikann, the former chairman of the Massachusetts Bar Associations Criminal Justice Section.

In the nolle prosequi, prosecutors wrote that further prosecution of this matter is not in the interest of justice due to the death of a witness.

The prosecutions sole eyewitness to the crimes charged is now deceased, the Worcester District Attorneys office said in a statement. The extensive testing regarding DNA evidence in the case has proven inconclusive. As a result, there is no longer sufficient evidence to proceed to trial in this case.

Elikann said with inconclusive DNA evidence and no witness, the prosecutor really has no case.

Those accused of crimes have the right to confront a witness, Elikann said.

Accused people have the right to confront their witnesses and without a witness and without any DNA evidence, the prosecution would never have enough evidence to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, Elikann said.

Worcester police also filed search warrants in the case to download information used by Rezsnyak, 27, and McForbes, 29, but sources told MassLive no evidence of the alleged sexual assault was discovered.

In the search warrant, police said Rezsnyak and McForbes were known to conduct live shows on an app, but it isnt clear if this type of live show was being conducted at the time of the alleged sexual assault on the 2-year-old child.

At the time of the alleged incident, the state Department of Children and Families took emergency custody of the 2-year-old girl and custody of another child. DCF says it can not disclose where the children are now.

Due to state and federal privacy requirements, the Department cannot provide the requested information, DCF responded to a MassLive inquiry.

McForbes and Rezsnyak apparently met on the MeetMe app. Rezsnyak came from New York to visit McForbes, according to court filings.

Elikann said the lack of evidence and witness makes it a regrettable situation in any criminal case because it makes it hard for a person to defend themselves whether they are guilty or not guilty.

People are going to feel either way that justice may not have had a chance to be reached, he said. The commonwealth did the right thing here by dropping the charges. Without any evidence and without a witness, they really had nothing.

McForbes was accused of taking photos and videos while Rezsnyak allegedly assaulted the child inside a maroon Ford Explorer that was parked outside Walmart at 25 Tobias Boland Way in Worcester on Jan. 18, 2018.

Police had surveillance video, but it only showed Rezsnyak and McForbes entering Walmart after the alleged assault.

There were few filings by defense lawyers in the cases, according to a review of the records. At one point, Rezsnyaks lawyer filed a motion for funds for a drug pattern and effects expert. The expert was being sought to help build a defense in the case.

McForbes and Rezsnyak were both scheduled for trial in Worcester Superior Court on Monday.

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All eyes were on Mira Sorvino, as she stunned in a form-fitting black gown while attending a screening for Netflix's new miniseries Hollywood in Los Angeles.

The 52-year-old Oscar-winning actress exuded elegance in an all-black ensemble with a plunging neckline.

The leggy bombshell, who wore her blonde tresses in looses waves, radiated youth with her perfect complexion and hot pink pout.

Stunner: All eyes were on actress Mira Sorvino, as she stunned in a form-fitting black gown while attending a screening for Netflix's new miniseries Hollywood in Los Angeles

Adding to the dramatic look, she wore a stylish black overcoat with peaked lapels and rows of rhinestones running down her sleeves.

She topped off the timeless look with a pair of massive chandelier-inspired dangle earrings and no other jewelry to leave focus on her ample cleavage.

Sorvino is one of many stars in the Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennancreated miniseries, which also includes Maude Apatow, Darren Criss and Patti LuPone.

Timeless: she covered up the low-cut number with a stylish black overcoat with peaked lapels and rows of rhinestones running down her sleeves

Hitting the sliver screen: Hollywood was only recently announced, and it's not set to premiere on Netflix until May 1

In addition to smiling in group shots with the entire cast, Sorvino happily posed next to 29-year-old BlacKkKlansman star Laura Harrier.

The pair both shot soft smiles, while Harrier flaunted her vibrant look, which included a floral blazer and mismatched blue and white patterned pants.

Harrier stunned in the striking look, as she nestled close to Sorvino, who shifted her body to the side.

Star-studded ensemble: Sorvino is one of many stars in the Ryan Murphy-directed project, which also includes Maude Apatow, Darren Criss and Patti LuPone

Hollywood was only recently announced, and it's not set to premiere on Netflix until May 1.

According to Netflix, the upcoming series will follow 'a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood as they try to make it in Tinseltown.'

The characters will explore the way people of different races, genders and sexual orientations made their way in the WWII-era movie industry, while also focusing on the kinds of discrimination they faced.

Next binge watch: Hollywood was only recently announced, and it's not set to premiere on Netflix until May 1

In addition to promoting the upcoming project, the Time's Up advocate stays busy with her activism, which included speaking at a press conference to advocate for stronger sexual harassment and rape reporting laws in June.

At the time, Sorvino, who was among those to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, revealed is a survivor of date rape.

'This whole #MeToo thing has been wonderful, but it's been highly traumatizing for me on a personal level,' she told reporters. 'I have had to revisit my past and my demons in a way that I had really not fully explored.'
Op/Ed by Chris Devonshire-Ellis

With US President Donald Trump set to arrive in New Delhi today for a two-day visit, and a much-vaunted US-India trade deal under discussion, India represents a distant, relatively unknown yet accessible market for American businesses to tap into  especially as US-China relations have entered a volatile period. Trump will be looking for more market access to Indias massive middle-income consumer base, which at about 400 million from a total population of about 1.3 billion (similar to, and shortly to exceed that of China) is good news for American exporters.

Our firm, Dezan Shira & Associates provides foreign investment intelligence, legal, and tax support to global MNCs in India, and has a sizable portfolio of US businesses as clients. We have been operational as a foreign-owned consulting practice in India since 2007  12 years ago  and have offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.

While the situation concerning products and services traded will most likely loosen up in coming weeks and months, in this article we take a look at what India is buying from US exporters at this present time.

In 2018, India imported US$58.7 billion worth of goods and services from the US, making it Americas ninth largest export market. Of that amount, US$33.5 billion were goods and US$25.2 billion in services. That trend is on a rapid upwards tick  it has grown by 30.6 percent year-on-year since 2017.

Top US exports to India

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2018 were: precious metal and stone (diamonds) (US$7.9 billion), mineral fuels (US$6.7 billion), aircraft (US$2.9 billion), machinery (US$2.2 billion), and organic chemicals (US$1.6 billion).

US agricultural exports to India

US total exports of agricultural products to India totaled US$1.5 billion in 2018. Leading domestic export categories include: tree nuts (US$663 million), cotton (US$333 million), fresh fruit (US$163 million), dairy products (US$48 million), and prepared food (US$33 million). It is in this category that we can expect to see significant growth  given much of Trumps voter base is in this sector. He will have pressured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for increased Indian market access.

US services exports to India

US exports of services to India were an estimated US$25.2 billion in 2018, 6.6 percent (US$1.6 billion) more than 2017, and 151 percent greater than 2008 levels. Leading services exports from the US to India were in the travel, intellectual property (computer software, audio and visual related products), and transport sectors. This sector, and especially in IT can also be expected to have been prioritized by Trump.

US investments into India

US foreign direct investment (FDI) in India was US$46.0 billion in 2018, a 3.4 percent increase from 2017. US direct investment in India is led by professional, scientific, and technical services, manufacturing, and finance and insurance. With a market size similar to that of China, we can expect to see growth in this figure.

US service sales in India

Sales of services in India by majority US-owned affiliates were US$27.0 billion in 2016 (latest data). This, too, can be expected to grow as more American auto and related products come into the Indian market.

The Indian consumer market

Again, this is on an upward trend. Indias consumer market grew by 12 percent in 2017 and it is expected to become the worlds third largest consumer market by 2025. US companies looking at expanding their export business should be looking at the Indian consumer market and its dynamics now. Good reports on this can be obtained from Santander Trade here, Deloitte here, and ourselves here.

Evaluating India

As mentioned, our firm assists American and other foreign investors into India and have built up a wealth of knowledge on the subject. We also have a Business Intelligence Research division that can assist answer bespoke questions. They can be contacted at india@dezshira.com.

Other, complimentary publications we have recently published include the following:

Related Reading

Manufacturing and Trading in India In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we discuss the advantages India offers as an alternative destination for businesses in China planning to relocate or diversify their existing operations due to rising production costs. Further, we highlight the advantages of operating in Indias special economic zones and discuss the factors a company must consider before choosing an ideal SEZ location. Finally, we look at the relevant steps and procedures for establishing an import-export company in India.

In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we discuss the advantages India offers as an alternative destination for businesses in China planning to relocate or diversify their existing operations due to rising production costs. Further, we highlight the advantages of operating in Indias special economic zones and discuss the factors a company must consider before choosing an ideal SEZ location. Finally, we look at the relevant steps and procedures for establishing an import-export company in India.



Labor Laws, Costs, and Hiring Practices in India In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we discuss the structure of Indias labor laws, with special reference to the countrys manufacturing and IT sectors. We also briefly examine the composition of Indias labor market and compute average hiring costs in IT and manufacturing. Finally, we put a spotlight on Indias female labor force participation rate, which is among the lowest in Asia, and explain how firms benefit by pursuing diversity hiring strategies.

In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we discuss the structure of Indias labor laws, with special reference to the countrys manufacturing and IT sectors. We also briefly examine the composition of Indias labor market and compute average hiring costs in IT and manufacturing. Finally, we put a spotlight on Indias female labor force participation rate, which is among the lowest in Asia, and explain how firms benefit by pursuing diversity hiring strategies.



Working as an Expat in India In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we look at Indias living and working environment, HR and payroll laws, and the taxation norms as applicable to foreign nationals. India is the second most favored destination for expatriates that want to work in the emerging markets. Expatriates should take note of the basic social and welfare concerns  such as accommodation, business culture, healthcare, and education facilities  as well as the regulatory and tax issues that apply to foreigners that work in the country.

In upcoming articles, we will look at the different investment options American investors can choose from and examine the tax perspective, including applicable tax incentives, free trade, and export processing zones. To obtain a complimentary subscription to India Briefing, please click here.
One of the Indian Navy's MiG-29K fighter plane crashed while on a sortie mission in Goa on Sunday. Officials report that no one died in the said aerial mishap.

Events related to when the fighter's crash, indicated that the craft suffered a malfunction during the sortie off the coast of Goa. The exact time of the crash happened at 10.30 am Sunday.

No fatalities were reported as the pilot ejected from the fighter craft, without acquiring any injuries from the accident. Said pilot has been rescued following the mishap.

Commenting on the MiG-29K crash, officers of the Indian Navy will investigate the crash incident, as ordered. The goal of the investigation is to find possible factor leading to the malfunction that caused the accident.

According to the series of events that lead to the crash, which was caused by developing a technical problem with its systems, that caused avionics to fail. This dual engine and single seat air superiority fighter was originally flying from the INS Hansa base at Vasco in South Goa.

Before this incident, another MiG-29K crashed about three months earlier, in a village that is found in Goa on November 16, 2019.

Also read: China Makes Unmanned Robot Warships While U.S. Navy Plans Two Drone Ships

The site of the crash of the Navy MiG-29 was on rocky plateau, in the edges of Verna which is 15 kilometers away the Panaji state capital. Due to the pilot's skill, he was able to prevent the fighter plane from hitting areas with people in it. Eventually the pilot ejected safely without any accidental deaths.

One of the most likely reasons for the November 2019 crash, is caused by a flame out on the left thruster, with right engine bursting because a bird flew into the right jet engine, causing the fighter jet to lose power, and the engine stalled and went downwards to a fiery crash.

More troubles with planes falling for the sky has been recorded way back January 2018. It was the same type of plane, which another Mig-29K that had a mishap. The fighter was on the runway and it turned sharply that led to its crash in the INS Hamsa base. This time a trainee pilot, not yet a fully trained pilot had gotten out in time before the jet caught in flames. All flights were shut down because of the accident.

It seems that the Goa airport has its share of accidents that involves several Mig-29Ks. One incident is another naval Mig-29K that accidentally released it auxiliary fuel, that began a fire in the runway. This was commented, by a tweet from the Indian Navy that the released tank has been dealt with.

A Navy source also added that the plane is on its way to Dabolim airfield. The cause of the runway fire is spilt fuel from the container. The spokesman added that the MiG-29K is safe with no problem with it.

The MiG-29K is one of the most capable fighter-interceptor that find an equivalent in the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This variant, the Indian Navy's MiG-29K fighter plane has been involved in more than one crash and comes in several variants. Although it is still flying, the Indian Navy is still intent of finding the cause to stop the crashes.

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Experts say the big one is coming to the Pacific Northwest: a massive earthquake that will cause buildings and bridges to collapse and unleash a tsunami that will devastate the coast.

But, doubling down on its decision last year to allow the construction of critical facilities in tsunami inundation zones, the Oregon Legislature appears headed to approve building standards for those facilities, like police and fire stations. The House Committee on Natural Resources last week approved the measure by a 6-1 vote, sending it to the House floor for a vote.

A leading earthquake expert, and the lone dissenting voter, says lawmakers are making a big mistake.

I dont think that we should have ever opened up tsunami inundation zones to important infrastructure like police, fire stations and so forth. So thats why Ill be voting no for the bill, Rep. Chris Gorsek, a Democrat from the Portland suburb of Troutdale, told the committee.

Most other countries in the world prone to tsunamis have a land-use philosophy in which construction of certain structures are banned depending on their proximity to tsunami inundation zones, said Chris Goldfinger, an Oregon State University professor and an earthquake geologist.

Its just probably best not to put things into the tsunami zone at all, no matter how strongly they build them, Goldfinger said in a telephone interview.

Oregon, however, abandoned that approach last year when the Legislature, with hardly any discussion, repealed a ban enacted in 1995 on construction of certain public facilities in inundation zones.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has decided to recommend allowing buildings in tsunami zones if theyre built to certain standards, Goldfinger noted. The new bill adopts the ASCE standards.

Rep. David Brock Smith, a Republican from the coastal town of Port Orford, tried to convince Gorsek to reconsider his vote by pointing out that there currently are no building standards for critical facilities in the tsunami zone, and that this bill provides them.

The bills sponsor, Rep. David Gomberg, a Democrat representing a coastal district, said in an email to voters that new science, engineering, and architecture are showing us how to construct better and safer.

Goldfinger, who submitted written testimony opposing the bill, said the ASCE standard is useful in building a vertical evacuation structure, and is aimed only at keeping a building from being knocked down

If you were to build a tsunami-proof, ASCE-coded hospital in a tsunami zone, everybody could well die inside the hospital and the function would be lost, but the steel skeleton would still be there, he said. This makes no sense.

An earthquake in the Cascadia subduction zone, which extends in the ocean off Northern California to Canadas Vancouver Island, has a 37% probability of happening off Oregon in the next 50 years, with a slightly lower chance of one striking near Washington state, Goldfinger said. Cascadia earthquakes have an average magnitude of around 9, making them among the worlds biggest.

The last time the ocean reared up from a Cascadia earthquake was in 1700.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Oregon Earthquake
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday ordered a probe into the poor execution of the contract of an auto-mechanically operated gated barrage (AMOGB) at river Tawi, also known as the artificial Tawi lake project.

The government had cancelled GR Infra Projects Limited's contract for developing the artificial Tawi lake here in June last year.

"Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a committee for determining the lapses and fix responsibility in the poor execution of contract of auto-mechanically operated Gated Barrage at River Tawi," G L Sharma, Deputy Secretary, General Administrative Department, said in an order here.

A three-member panel of officers, headed by Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Rohit Kansal, will probe the matter and submit a report to the government in a month, he said.

A revised detailed project report was framed, according to which Rs 51.57 crore will be required to complete the project and Rs 4.97 crore to undo the damages caused due to floods till date, officials said.

The project was launched in 2009 by the Congress-NC government.

It was marred by delays, missing as many as six deadlines, before work came to a standstill in 2018.

The project has seen the passage of two coalition governments -- Congress-NC and PDP-BJP -- and has drawn flak from the locals.

The state government has spent more than Rs 57 crore on the project in the past decade, after its foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on December 5, 2009.

After missing the first target date in 2012, the contractor missed five other deadlines in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the officials said.

As per the project plan, an auto-mechanical barrage would be constructed on river Tawi, one kilometre downstream of main Tawi bridge. This will help create an artificial lake in Jammu city.

The 1,500-metre-long and 600-metre-wide artificial lake, a first-of-its-kind here, will give a new dimension to tourism in Jammu city, the officials said.

In phase-II of the project, beautification and embankment works are to be taken up under the Tawi River Front Development Project, for which an MoU has already been signed by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) with the Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation (SRFDC). A detailed project report has been prepared in this regard.

As part of the beautification project, a park was inaugurated by former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the area in 2015.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi court on Monday directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to submit a fresh report on the complaint about Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's tweet alleging "police personnel of setting Delhi Transport Corporation buses on fire".

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja, after hearing arguments in the matter, rejected the clean chit given to Sisodia in the matter and directed the commissioner to file a fresh report by March 17.

Complainant advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava strongly objected to the Delhi Police report, which stated that no cognizable offence is made out against him.

During the hearing, the court recorded serious objections by the complaint on the actions taken report (ATR) filed by Tilak Marg Police Station, in which they had said they have not even received the complaint.

The court had earlier called for an ATR on the complaint seeking registration of FIR against Sisodia for allegedly spreading fake news during Jamia violence.

The complaint said that despite lapse of more than one and a half months, the police have not yet registered an FIR against the accused and sought directions for the same against Sisodia under several relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act.

Sisodia had on December 15 shared pictures and videos purportedly from Jamia Nagar in which police officers were seen carrying barrels and pouring liquid onto the DTC buses.

He had alleged that the BJP had used the police to set buses on fire during the incident. At least three DTC buses were set on fire in the Bharat Nagar area of the capital on December 15 after a demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) turned violent in the area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Ministers of the six Western Balkans nations discussed with EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti today at a regional Investment Summit in London what recent achievements they are proud of and where they should be looking next.

With the EU delaying giving the green light to start negotiations on future membership with North Macedonia and Albania, those two countries and Serbia have set up their own mini-Schengen free trade zone to minimise bureaucracy and guarantee the four EU freedoms  free movement of people, products, goods and services through their territory.

This, they say, is their best hope to show private investors and the world that they can provide a bigger investment space and the unified administration and stability that investors want to see.

At the summit held at EBRD headquarters the three prime ministers of those countries talked of the importance of this initiative, as well as of all the regions connectivity programmes in transport and infrastructure and digital transformation, and urged their colleagues in Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to join them in the mini-Schengen effort.

The summit was the fourth such event since the EBRD pioneered the format in 2014.

The Prime Minister of neighbouring Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, talked of Croatias efforts for the six months of its presidency to facilitate and accelerate the path of all Western Balkans neighbours towards EU membership.

Albanias Prime Minister, Edi Rama, said: I want to thank Andrej for making time to come here. Its very important for us. Everyone here is grateful for that because Croatia is somehow our agent in Brussels and at the same time is Brussels translator for our region. He added, with a smile, of course easier to translate Brussels to us than us to Brussels!

All six Prime Ministers talked of major connectivity programmes already underway as well as of hopes of attracting more investment to the region, whether through new public-private partnerships to extend the huge infrastructure projects across the region, which aim to increase connectivity and open borders, or through existing relationships with the EU, international institutions such as the EBRD and private investors.

After listening to the discussion, the EBRDs Chakrabarti commented: Whats changed in region since I first had to do with it more than 20 years ago? The biggest change is leadership. Its a leadership now of a different generation that emphasises unity of purpose rather than disunity, that actually looks for peace and economic development and really is enthusiastic about the wider world in a way that wasnt the case a generation ago. Second theres clarity  clarity at project level. Its very interesting how every single intervention from the PMs is quite granular. This is excellent news for investors. Theres clarity too about the direction on Europe. The third thing I heard was about the willingness to reform, to make these crossborder proejcts work well. For the EBRD, if I look at our numbers - 13 billion of investment so far  in the last few years ago theres been a huge growth in those numbers, he added. Why? Its been a more-for-more case with these regions  the more reform has happened the more weve been able to do. Its not a surprise that in 3-4 of these countries weve had record numbers and I expect that to continue.

Our work in the Western Balkans has also shown the EBRD model work well in terms of bringing work on policy and projects together.

The Prime Ministers session was followed by an investors panel on the green economy and how to improve the way the Western Balkans countries generate and consume energy. The EBRD is a leading investor in renewables in the region, co-financing, for example, pioneering wind farm projects in Serbia and Kosovo. Investments are increasingly complemented by policy reform which has created an environment in which renewables today are competitive with traditional form of energy generation. as the region remains behind more advanced economies in terms of energy efficiency, improvements in this field are crucial for future sustainable growth.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:30:10|Editor: zyl

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LONDON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Members of Britain's main opposition Labour Party started voting Monday for a new leader at Westminster to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the wake of the party's general election defeat last December.

Three candidates -- Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy -- are all members of parliament (MPs) who qualified for the ballot after securing the most support from trade unions and other groups.

The ballot will run until April 2, with results announced on April 4 at a special Labour conference.

Starmer, 57, who represents the London constituency of Holborn and St. Pancras, is the favorite to win according to odds by various betting companies. Once a barrister specializing in human rights issues, he became an MP in 2015 and has been Labour's Brexit spokesman since October 2016.

Starmer said that he would offer jobs to his two rivals in his front bench team if he wins.

Long-Bailey, 40, who represents a Greater Manchester constituency, is Starmer's main rival. She won the backing for her leadership bid from a number of trade unions, including transport and general union Unite which represents millions of workers. She became an MP in 2015 and now serves as outgoing leader Corbyn's business spokeswoman and ally.

Nandy, 40, who also represents a Greater Manchester constituency, resigned from her post as Labour policy chief for energy in 2016 in protest against Corbyn. Before becoming an MP in 2010, she was a local councillor in London.

The party will have the first female leader in history if Long-Bailey or Nandy wins the contest.

Party members will also vote for a new deputy leader to replace outgoing Tom Watson. In the race are five MPs -- Angela Rayner, seen as the frontrunner, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray, Rosena Allin-Khan and Richard Burgon.

Labour suffered its worst result since the 1930s as Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a landslide victory in last December's general election with an 80-seat majority.

After the election defeat, Corbyn, a veteran leftist who was elected Labour leader in 2015, was forced to step down.
Laurence Fox rolled his eyes and looked to the ceiling as he denied treatment of Meghan Markle was racist, declaring 'Oh my God' when called a 'white privileged male'

I'm going to take an extended break from social media. I'd like to say a couple of things. First of all, a huge thank you to all of you who have followed me throughout my career and travelled vast distances to come and see me on stage, be in acting or singing...

'Since my appearance on question time and the ensuing hubbub, I have had nothing but support on the street, from people of all backgrounds and political view points. In the weird and lonely days that followed that appearance, your kind words have lifted my spirits. Thank you...

But privately I have been becoming more and more depressed. I have been so shocked by some of the things said to me on these platforms and I have found some of it very hard to process. I think it's important to stand up to bullies and that is why I have continued to do so...

But I find that I wake up in dread of what's to come. I'm a fairly private if opinionated person and it's been very painful and difficult to cope with. However I also believe in passionately in free speech. I stand wholeheartedly by people's right to express themselves...

But I am fearing for my future and my ability to provide financially for my children. A thought that keeps has kept me awake most nights. People tell me it will blow over, but when you are in it, it doesn't feel like it will...

I expressed an opinion, which I stand by and I don't believe is controversial. As a result Equity UK called (amongst other things) for actors to denounce me. This has been very hard to deal with, given that members weren't polled before these tweets were sent out...

I love my job. I am so blessed to have been fortunate enough to make a career out of it and I have met some of the best people and made such great friends whilst working as an actor. The thought of that being taken away saddens me more than I can say...

I think we need to learn to listen to each other better. I am learning this all the time. I believe that pushing people to the edge of their ability to remain emotionally ok through cancel culture can and does have deadly consequences...

I know that in order for me to be ok I have to turn this noise off for a while. We all have feelings. We all have hopes and dreams. We don't have to agree. We just have to respect that we are all different and we all deserve a chance to speak freely.

We all have privilege too. All of us. Whatever colour or creed. The richest and the poorest. Some see it. Some don't. Some have more than others. Billionaires have bad days and beggars have good ones. I've spent time with both and I know it to be true...

I wish you ALL all the best. I hope the loudest voices are the ones that come from love and truth. I hope that those who feel hate can be encouraged to find the love around them...

For me, I'm going to go back to reading more books. There is so much I will miss about Twatter, but on balance, I don't think I need it half as much as I enjoy it...

I'll probably be back on in ten minutes taking the p*** out of Lily Allen!

Thanks for reading. Loz x
US President Donald Trump arrived in the national capital on Monday evening for the main leg of his maiden India trip during which he will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump is accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration.

US President Donald Trumps India visit Day 1: Follow live updates here

The US president arrived in Ahmedabad around noon for a little less than 36-hour-long trip to India. After attending the Namaste Trump event at Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, he and his delegation travelled to Agra where they visited the Taj Mahal. Trump was received at the airport here by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and a number of senior officials. He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday morning. Trump will also pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Full Coverage: Trumps visit to India

Modi and Trump will later hold restricted and delegation level talks at the Hyderabad House here.The US President will be staying at ITC Maurya hotel.
British holidaymakers are set to begin flying home from the Canary Islands after a sandstorm triggered absolute chaos by forcing a number of airport closures due to high winds and poor visibility.

Spains airport operator Aena grounded flights from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, North and South Tenerife over the weekend, although customer service staff said the airports remained open for passengers.

The islands, a popular destination for British tourists during the winter months, have been engulfed by a dense cloud of sand carried from the Saharan desert across the Atlantic Ocean, with the storm so large it is visible from space.

A state of alert was issued by the regional government on Saturday, with residents advised to stay indoors, close their windows and avoid travel.

Although conditions are expected to persist  Spains national weather service said 75mph winds could buffet the Canaries in the coming 24 hours  flights from all airports except South Tenerife will be able to take off on Monday, Aena said in a statement.

Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Show all 7 1 /7 Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Canary Islands sandstorms A family watches the waves during a sandstorm locally known as "calima" REUTERS Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures A woman applies tear drops to a man affected by the smoke caused by several fires due to the hot waves of wind and dust EPA Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Canary Islands sandstorms People look at a board displaying cancelled and delayed flights at Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport AFP via Getty Images Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Canary Islands sandstorms Passengers walk outside Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport AFP via Getty Images Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Canary Islands sandstorms A man walks around with a mask on during a sandstorm in Gran Canaria REUTERS Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Canary Islands sandstorms Stranded passengers wait at Las Palmas Airport in Gran Canaria REUTERS Canary Islands sandstorms - in pictures Canary Islands sandstorms Cars drive on the TF-1 highway during a sandstorm in Santa Cruz de Tenerife AFP via Getty Images

Between 12,000 and 14,000 Britons are believed to have been stranded since Sunday.

It was absolute chaos, said James Lear  who, with his son Jack, has spent 24 hours waiting for a Tui flight to Cardiff. The flight times kept being put back. There was nobody from Tui anywhere in the departure lounge.

Eventually at 10.30pm they started corralling us out, shutting departures. There were four or five Tui guys who had no information  they didnt even know the plane was in Tenerife.

They told us they were finding hotels and buses to take us there. Every time we asked for an update, we were told the hotel rooms are booked.

At 1am I was told there were only 20 rooms left on the island and was advised to bed down. At 2am I finally got Jack to sleep.

Greg Horsman, 29, was on holiday with his girlfriend and was due to fly home to Manchester on Saturday evening.

Recommended Canary Islands engulfed by huge Saharan sandstorm

However, they were forced to stay in Gran Canaria for another two nights due to the storm.

Its frustrating, Mr Horsman told PA news agency. Were just ready to be home.

A spokeswoman for Tui said: We would like to sincerely apologise to customers for the disruption caused by the adverse and changeable weather conditions in the Canary Islands on Saturday February 22 and Sunday February 23.

Another tourist from Belfast, who managed to return to the UK on Saturday night, told Sky News that the apocalyptic conditions had made it quite hard to breathe.

The high winds generated by the sandstorm, locally known as calima, have also hampered efforts to tackle wildfires in Tasarte, Gran Canaria after temperatures soared to 30C and above in recent days.

Around 300 hectares of lands have been left scorched by the fires while 500 people have been forced to leave their homes.

On the neighbouring island of Tenerife, around 1,000 locals and tourists were evacuated due to the risk of wildfires.

Pedro Marin, head of Tenerifes local government, described the scale of the blazes as a completely unusual situation.

Spains transport minister, Jose Luis Abalos, has meanwhile thanked neighbouring countries for their solidarity.
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Shares of Dhanlaxmi Bank rallied 19.4 percent intraday on February 24 after the Reserve Bank of India approved the appointment of Sunil Gurbaxani as CEO and Managing Director.

"The RBI through its letter on February 20 has approved the appointment of Sunil Gurbaxani as Managing Director & CEO of the bank for a period of three years from the date of taking charge," the bank said in its BSE filing.

Currently, Gurbaxani is the Executive Vice President at Axis Bank.

Dhanlaxmi Bank was removed from the RBI PCA framework, subject to certain conditions and continuous monitoring, as the bank is found to be not breaching any of the risk thresholds of the framework.

During the third quarter ended December, the bank reported a 26 percent rise in net profit to Rs 21.28 crore for the third quarter ended December, against Rs 16.90 crore during the corresponding period in previous fiscal.

At 13:14 hours, the stock was quoting at Rs 15.45, up Rs 2.22, or 16.78 percent on the BSE.
The Gurwitz and the Symphony sounds like a classic childrens book. Its a classic all right  a classic marriage of the most beautiful music on Earth.

Musical Bridges Around the World, or MBAW, is to be commended, indeed admired, for its entrepreneurial transformation of an annual piano competition into a world-class, worldwide named event  the Gurwitz International Piano Competition  executed in San Antonio this year and from this time forward. It puts our city on a map on which we barely featured until now.

As a board member of the symphony, I want to jump into the middle of the praise for MBAW and say, like a little kid madly waving her hand to be recognized, that the symphony had no small part in the glorious week of piano concerti San Antonio enjoyed as the brilliant young pianists played their way through the competition.

In fact, on the final night, when the winners played with the symphony onstage at the Tobin Center, the cheers for our symphony and symphony musicians were as loud as those for the finalists. Our maestro, Sebastian Lang-Lessing, and former pianist-in-residence Olga Kern were an integral part of the Gurwitz, serving as judges and performers. We symphony insiders felt huge pride in our orchestra; an event on the scale of this years Gurwitz competition spoke to the spirit of rich artistic collaboration that is part of the cultural footprint of our community.

Our city is a deeply special place, but its demographics dont lend themselves to massive support for the performing arts, even with all their virtues. Those of us who think about the arts day and night and put ourselves on the line for them wish we could change facts, but we are realists  realists who are determined to do everything possible to keep the arts healthy. They should be baked into the cake, not just considered icing. To give up would be immoral in the extreme. Fighting for whats right and just and good is the charge of all civilized people, no matter the odds. Martin Luther King Jr. urged us to rise above individualistic concerns and reach for the broader good.

This preachiness is a lapse into the reverie I periodically have about how our society is ordered. Of the largest cities in the country, San Antonio is the poorest. This means that human services take up a huge amount of charitable resources, and the arts must fend hard for the rest. Its ironic that the symphony and other arts organizations struggle for support, yet when people attend performances, they are blown away that something that gorgeous is happening in our city. As a patron, an advocate, and a board member of the symphony, I am grateful for this reaction, but long for the audiences, the parents of the children who attend the symphonys Young Peoples Concerts, the parents of all the students who are tutored by our musicians, and everyone who has a stake in any of these activities to donate to ensure this art form and these artists continue to add value and cultural vitality back to our city.

I thank MBAW for its incredible work in the planning, logistics and execution of the Gurwitz. I thank Lang-Lessing, Kern and the other judges for their inspiring talent and music making. I thank our city and county, and our subscribers and donors for keeping the music playing. And I welcome everyone in San Antonio to visit our website  sasymphony.org  and put their money on us.

Taddy McAllister sits on the board of the San Antonio Symphony.
Harry Gordon Beaks Jr., Giidabi Awaxaadi Naagish (Shining Buffalo), was born on Dec. 26, 1949, at home near Shell Creek, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, to Harry and Olive (Stevenson) Beaks. He was a member of the Water Buster Clan and a child of the Knife Clan.

He attended schools in New Town and received his GED while employed through a tribal program in 1971. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps, on April 9, 1970 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, Calif., until his honorable discharge.

He loved ranch life and worked for local ranchers from the early 1970s to mid 1980s in the New Town area. He worked and lived with Matt Screech and Claudia Mason and family for many years as a ranch hand.

Gordon was a very quiet person, humble but strong in character. He practiced and respected his customs and cultural ways. He spoke Hidatsa fluently and participated in pow wows in North Dakota and Montana as a grass dancer. He enjoyed listening to country western music, especially Johnny Cash and Native American songs. His pastime was watching comedy and western movies.

He enjoyed watching his grandchildren in their activities. He cherished spending time with all his nieces and nephews. In 2003, he moved to Arizona, to live with his nephew, Glenn Jr. They traveled extensively, enjoying casinos and other activities. He visited his niece, Sandra Sissy and family, in Missouri several times.

In 2018, he returned to North Dakota and lived at Touchmark Senior Living in Bismarck and the Garrison Memorial Hospital nursing facility in Garrison. Gordon died Feb. 20, 2020, surrounded by his loving family in Garrison. May God Bless his memory among us.

Gordon will be greatly missed by his loving family. He is survived by his sister, Adeline Brunsell; the families of Jim and May Brugh, Wilbur and Etheline Stevenson, Jim and Verna Driver, and Owen Beaks; nieces, Sherylyn Walking Eagle, Carla Clark (Brandon), Corrine Heart (Royce) and Sandra Ambron (Steve); nephews, Glenn Brunsell Jr. and Francis Brunsell; grandchildren, Brande, Kaite and Audi Clark; Maelee and Eskie Heart; and Nevada Ethridge; adopted brothers, Kermit Heart and Hubert Heart. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Coleen Beaks, Gloria Beaks Walking Eagle and Claudia Mason; brothers, Milton Moon Beaks, Byron Cease Jackson and Darrell Duke Jackson.

Funeral: Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. in the New Town Civic Center.

Wake: Monday, Feb. 24 beginning at 5 p.m. in the civic center.

Family and friends gathering Monday from 2 - 4 p.m. in Langhans Funeral Home, Parshall.

Burial: Holy Family US Scout Catholic Cemetery, rural New Town.
Persistent rains have been pounding the Southeast, and a week ago, the Pearl River in Jackson, Mississippi, spilled over its banks, submerging a dozen city blocks in several feet of water.

The river had crested at 36.7 feetits third-highest level on record. Yet the damage to homes could have been much worse,according to Hinds County Emergency Management Director Ricky Moore. In a survey conducted a few days ago, the county found that hundreds fewer homes had been impacted compared to the last big flood, he said.

The unlikely hero of this story is the Ross R. Barnett Reservoir just north of town. Before the flooding, the waters in the reservoir were far below their peak capacity. Thats because the city had opened up the dam weeks earlier to let water flow out in an effort to clear an invasive plant.

The result was that when storms stalled over the county and dropped unexpectedly large amounts of rain, the engineers had space in the lake basin to store tens of thousands of cubic meters of water. Eventually the basin filled and more water had to be released, but the delay was long enough for some residents to evacuate with all their possessions and for others to avoid flood damage altogether.

Due to warming temperatures, communities across the world are increasingly finding that previously unimaginable flooding and fire are the new normal. England and Wales are currently also experiencing record precipitation. In fact, some areas of the U.K. received a months worth of rain in just one day.

The result is that in many places infrastructure like the Barnett reservoir, which was built in the 1960s and not intended for flood mitigation, now has a critical role to play in holding back cresting waters. Local authorities are finding themselves playing a more active role in water management.

We are seeing this across the country, says Harriet Festing, co-founder and executive director of the Anthropocene Alliance, a nonprofit group that organizes grassroots communities most impacted by flooding. In cities like Chicago and Detroit, it is peoples basements that are serving this purpose of taking up overflow waters. In other places, it is the local reservoir.

However, the aging infrastructure is often fragile and imprecise. Moreover, Festing says that unlike in Jackson, many decisions on whether or not to use local infrastructure in flood mitigation comes with winners and losers. Controlling flood waters through local dams and reservoirs has been controversial.

People who live lakeside often dont like to see the water lowered by their vacation properties. And then there is the risk that if local authorities hold flood water too long, the water will either back up and flood properties upstream or surge forward and overcome the damcausing a worse flood.

Outside of Houston, there have been big battles around Lake Conroe. Those downstream want seasonal lowering of the lake for flood protection. But people who live on the lakeshore want to keep water levels high to protect their property values. They are not as susceptible to flooding because their homes are on higher ground.

Senator Jim Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, added an amendment to a recently passed law that limits the ability of the Grand River Dam Authoritys ability to consider the impact of raising lake levels on upstream residents. Those residents have argued that high levels in Grand Lake cause water to backup and flood their homes sometimes catastrophically. However, Inhofe has a summer home on the lake and a yacht that requires deep water.

We are pitting resident against resident, Festing says. Instead of we should be standing back and saying we have much bigger problem and come up with a plan for how to mobilize the infrastructure we have in an organized and fair way.

About the photo: Standing floodwater from the Pearl River still surrounds a number of mobile homes in the back portion of the Harbor Pines community in Ridgeland, Miss., Tuesday. Some residents are allowed temporary permission to enter their homes in the non-flooded portion of the mobile home community to retrieve clothing and prescriptions. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Claro Argentina, a leading mobile network operator in the Argentine market, has signed an agreement with Spanish satellite telecommunications operator Hispasat.

Hispasat is to provide internet access to rural communities throughout Argentina through a cellular backhaul service by satellite. The provision of extra capacity will extend connectivity in Argentina, especially in the areas of the country where there deploying terrestrial telecommunications networks is difficult.

The roll-out of this 3G and 4G satellite backhaul network has already started; 100 communities will be able to enjoy the service soon. In the next stages the network is expected to reach approximately 250 rural communities in Argentina. The service will cover the regions of Patagonia, Cuyo, Centro and Noroeste, connecting the sites with 2G+3G+4G mobile radio bases through the Ku band capacity of the Hispasat 30W-5 and Hispasat 30W-6 (H30W-5 and H30W-6) satellites.

Hispasat, Red Electrica Groups communications satellite operator, is a leader in content distribution in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries and its satellite fleet is used by direct-to-home television (DTH) and high-definition television (HDTV) digital platforms. Hispasat also provides satellite broadband and connectivity services.

Claro Argentina is a subsidiary of America Movil, a leading provider of telecommunications services in Latin America with operations in 18 countries in the Americas.
Researchers at Flinders University in Australia have developed a handheld eye scanner that could help to identify children with autism spectrum disorder. The device allows clinicians to obtain light-adapted electroretinograms, which involves detecting electrical signals in the retina. The device could help in diagnosing children with autism much earlier, meaning that they can get appropriate support as soon as possible. Parents who have had one autistic child have a higher chance of having a second, and early diagnosis would be very valuable for such families.

One of the researchers behind the device, Dr. Paul Constable, has been searching for an autism biomarker since 2006 to help with diagnosing very young children, after one of his own children was diagnosed with the condition. Very early diagnosis means not only can children receive important interventions, but families are empowered to get the necessary supports in place, come to terms with the diagnosis, and make informed decisions, said Constable in a Flinders press release.

The project involved collaborators at Yale University, University College London, and Great Ormond Street Hospital in the UK. The scanner allows the researchers to detect subtle electrical activity in the retina, which is reflective of neural development. The retina is an extension of the brain, made of neural tissue and connected to the brain by the optic nerve, so it was an ideal place to look, explains Constable. The test is a quick, non-intrusive eye-scan using a hand-held device and we anticipate it will be equally effective on younger children.

So far, the researchers have tested the device in approximately 180 kids aged from 5 to 21, and compared the scan results of those with autism and those without. The scan successfully highlighted differences between the two groups, suggesting that it may be useful as a diagnostic tool.

Now we have found a likely candidate biomarker for autism, the next stage is to look at young children, even infants, as the earlier we can get to intervention stages the better, said Constable. Detection inevitably changes family dynamics and goals, and creates consideration about the time required to help the child.

The scanner also has potential in detecting other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the researchers are investigating if the scanner can detect those with such conditions.

Heres a video that Flinders University released about the new technology:

Study in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders: Light-Adapted Electroretinogram Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Via: Flinders University
Samsung's launch of the Galaxy S20 models and Galaxy Z Flip indicated that the South Korean major was back on form. Now Samsung has launched Galaxy S20 Plus, it seems almost perfect.

It seems like a sleeping giant has been woken from slumber. Earlier in the month Samsungs launch of the Galaxy S20 models and Galaxy Z Flip indicated that the South Korean major was back on form. Last I got a taste of this newfound form with the Z Flip but that notion has been doubly confirmed after testing the Galaxy S20 Plus which goes up on sale in India next week. It is a wonderfully balanced phone which is likely going to be the phone to beat this year  all year long.

Right from its design, features, performance and cameras everything just seems almost perfect. And in an age where Android phones have made it a habit of bungling one aspect of a device or the other, Samsung for once gets almost everything right.

Balance is key to the Galaxy S20 Plus and it starts with the design of the phone. Despite being a large phone with a 6.7-inch screen, it feels slim, compact, well built and yet light. You almost never have all these 4 facets punched together. Samsung has also extended the all-screen aspect of the display further with a central punch hole notch which is smaller than the one on the S10 with smaller bezels on the top and bottom while the sides dont have the unusable slant that has made previous Samsung phones give an ungainly feel.

And that screen is just wow. Its the most amazing screen Ive ever seen on a smartphone. On expected lines, its shockingly vibrant and now with the added benefit of the 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch response, this screen feels sterling for any kind of work any time.

The performance is obviously very very impressive especially with the screen and 2020 grade Exynos 990 chip, 8GB DDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 memory. It also helps that Samsung has refined One UI which now feels super smooth especially when propelled by this new breed of processing firepower.

The cameras are there for everyone to see. The square module on the back of the S20 Plus makes for a formidable imaging package with 4 cameras stacked together, you get a 64-megapixel telephoto camera supported by twin 12-megapixel sensors for the primary and wide-angle lens and a depth sensor for portraits  Samsung is talking a mean camera game. It also becomes the first smartphone to shoot video in 8K. And this isnt even the flagship phone in the S20 series this year. Samsung has upped the ante on the cameras for sure. Selfies are also at 40-megapixels which could be very impressive

But there are small things too that Samsung has gotten right. The haptics on this phone is supple while the 4,500mAh battery isnt only decently large but also charges rapidly thanks to the 45-watt USB PD charging. Then you also get great things like Samsung Pay, some free goodies from Netflix thanks to a new partnership as well as YouTube Premium and Spotify. Microsofts apps and services are deeply embedded in this phone including Office and My Phone.

Overall, this is looking like the strongest Samsung Galaxy in years  for sure the most impressive one since the Galaxy S6. And that phone felt almost perfect, just like this one does. The cherry on the top is that it is aggressively priced in India, starting at Rs 73,999.

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Two Metro stations in Delhi closed after pro, anti CAA protesters pelt stones at each others

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Feb 24: Two Metro stations in Delhi has been closed in Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations after massive clash between pro and anti-CAA groups took place on Sunday.

Earlier, Police fired tear gas shells as members of the two groups began to pelt stones at each other in Maujpur. This incident took place soon after BJP leader Kapil Mishra demanded that the police officials to remove anti-CAA protesters within three days.

Clashes near anti-CAA protest in Northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad, police lob tear gas

Tension prevailed in Jaffrabad area after a large number of security personnel deployed as hundreds of people, mostly women, who had been protesting against the CAA, blocked a road near the metro station since the Saturday evening.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 8:49 [IST]
On Thursday, February 20, 2020 Wallace Dean Weaver, beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away. He was born on March 27, 1948 to Lester Smith and Selma Luvenia (Bogle) Weaver in Washington, DC. He graduated from DuVal High School in Lanham, MD in 1966. Wally was married to his high school sweetheart, Charlene Ann (Wright) Weaver, in September 1967 in Sparta, North Carolina.



Wally joined the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department when he was 16 years old. He served in many capacities while a member of the Fire Department. When he moved to Owings, MD, he continued to be active up at WLH, but also became a member of North Beach Volunteer Fire Department where he stayed active until 2016. He joined the U.S. Army in October 1967 and served 13 months in Vietnam. He left the Army to start his career in the DC Metropolitan Police Force in August 1970.



He went to work for Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1974 and finally went out on disability in 1995, and was put on the heart transplant list in 1998. He received his new heart on July 21, 2000. We were awakened by a phone call at 7 a.m. stating that we had 2 hours to get to the hospital to wait for a new heart. The patient that donated his heart was a woman 5 years younger than Wally, and had been in an automobile accident. She was at University of Maryland Medical Center. Her heart was transported to Johns Hopkins at 7 p.m. and the long surgery began shortly after that.



Wally's love was the fire department. As a single guy, he would be up there on weekends and on days that he was off from school. Then when he started dating Charlene they would sometimes spend the time up there too. They would attend the dances at the hall over Company 28 and had a lot of good times with so many of their friends that they have been in touch with over the years. But sadly, so many of these good friends have passed away. But Wally was greeted by his family members, fire department friends and other classmates that passed away before he did.



Wally and his family would spend many nights up there and on weekend would share dinners with the other volunteers up there. While he was on some calls, his wife and daughters would schlep sodas and/or soup to the fire fighters (depending on the weather). And once the genealogy bug hit his wife, he would accompany her on their "cemetery hopping" vacations taking pictures of different cemeteries, recording his family history, and visiting relatives along the way.



Wally is predeceased by his parents, Smith and Selma Weaver as well as a grandson, Brennan Mims. He leaves behind his wife, Charlene, his two daughters, Stacey (Billy) Mims and Sharon Canter. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren: Brooke, Brent, Braedyn, Brandt, Brianna, Bryleigh, Skyler and Brielle; and 3 great grandchildren: Zachary, Solomon and Natalia. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Weaver and his niece, Anna. He also leaves behind many relatives and friends.



The family will receive friends at the Lee Funeral Home Calvert, 8200 Jennifer Lane, Owings, MD 20736 on Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 10:00 AM to the start of the Funeral Service at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, MD 20623.



The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in Wally's name to the Comprehensive Transplant Center at Johns Hopkins. The link is Comprehensive Transplant Center. On that page you can go down the page to "Charitable Giving" there is a giving form that can be printed out and mailed in with your donation. Under the Gift Designation in the other box you can enter in memory of Wallace Dean Weaver, who had his heart transplant on July 21, 2000. Then mail the form in.
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More pilots train on Cessna planes than any other in the world and weve built over 44,000 of them since 1955, Smith said. We look for schools like this one in Aurora where there is more training volume and feel the benefits are twofold: the flight schools get nice planes and the new 2020 technology, and we also get to target our student market and some will buy our planes.
The Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology (MAIT) on Monday said the government has decided to facilitate airlifting of consignments from China, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the grouping welcomed the civil aviation ministry's decision to facilitate air lifting of consignments from China.

"The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reached out to MAIT for specific requirements from the IT and electronics manufacturing sector.

"MAIT has been working closely with the industry and ministries to minimise the pressure created due to the (coronavirus) outbreak in China," the release said.

Further, MAIT said it is working closely with its member companies to collate the information requested by the ministry.

"Almost two weeks after the official reopening date, many factories across China remain shuttered as of date which will cascade down to manufacturing in India as its supply of raw material and equipment is disrupted," it added.

India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said the government has taken a positive initiative and that the association is collating the critical requirements of the industry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Aam Aadmi Party, following its landslide victory in the Assembly polls earlier this month, on Monday launched its ' of Work' outreach programme from

As per a party release, the campaign will go on till March 23 and aims to bring the "Kejriwal model of development" to every household in the state.

"This will ensure that, like in Delhi, and governance across the nation will revolve around real issues concerning the people. Under this campaign, comparisons will be drawn between the Kejriwal model of development in and the model," it said.

This will allow people to understand better the change that has come into the lives of people in due to AAP's " of work", the release claimed.

The party statement said its massive victory in the Delhi polls, where it won 62 out of 70 seats, was due to transformative development across all sectors, including schools, hospitals, water, electricity and women's safety.

It claimed the Kejriwal model of development in Delhi was being adopted in many states, with several governments starting 'mohalla (locality) clinics" and making changes in the education sector on the lines of the ones introduced by the Arvind Kedriwal government.

It said the work done in Delhi by the government had awakened people across the country who are now disgusted with the traditional politics of caste and religion.
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Nairobi, February 24, 2020  The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release of Tanzanian freelance journalist Erick Kabendera but expressed concern about the hefty fines levied against him.

Today, the Kisutu Resident Magistrates Court in Dar es Salaam accepted a plea bargain and freed Kabendera, who had been held on tax evasion, money laundering, and organized crime charges since July 29, 2019, according to a report by BBC Swahili and local news reports. Under the plea bargain, Kabendera was convicted on the tax evasion and money laundering charges, the organized crime charge was dropped, and he was fined 273 million Tanzanian shillings ($118,000), according to those reports.

We welcome the end of Erick Kabenderas nearly seven-month imprisonment on charges that were transparent retaliation for his critical journalism, said CPJ sub-Saharan Africa representative Muthoki Mumo. However, we are deeply concerned that even after months in detention without the prospect of bail, during which he suffered illness and lost his mother, Kabenderas ordeal is not yet over as these cripplingly heavy fines continue to hang over his head.

The court ordered Kabendera to pay a fine of 100 million Tanzanian shillings ($43,000) for the money laundering charge, a fine of 250,000 shillings ($108) for the tax evasion charge, and 173 million shillings ($75,000) in compensation for the tax evasion, according to the BBC and Jebra Kambole, the journalists lawyer, who spoke to CPJ via messaging application.

The privately owned Mwananchi newspaper reported that Kabendera already paid the money laundering fine, and Kambole told CPJ that the journalist paid the 250,000 shilling tax evasion fine today. The remaining tax evasion compensation is required to be paid over a six-month period, according the BBC and a statement from the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, a local human rights group.

This article is also available in Kiswahili
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020

Despite a recently issued regulation banning single-use plastic bags, vendors in several markets in Jakarta are still left with lingering questions about their business and services to customers as they claim alternatives have yet to be provided by the city administration.

Predi, 40, a plastic vendor at Cipete Market in South Jakarta, tends a kiosk selling various plastic products such as plastic cups, kresek (single-use plastic bags) and containers. He said that he was aware of the regulation and was worried about how it would impact his small business.

I know about the rule since the head of the market has informed all vendors here. But what should I do with all of the plastics in my kiosk?, Predi said on a recent Tuesday.

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She was crying loudly and smelled of alcohol, according to the criminal complaint, and told the flight staff that she was flying home to see her family but that they had just been killed by a drunk driver. She punched the television monitor in front of her seat and threw a coin at the bulkhead, according to prosecutors.
In a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus, Turkey on Sunday closed its borders with neighbouring Iran joining Pakistan and Jordan. Meanwhile, Afghanistan announced that it would suspend all its flight operations with Iran after the number of cases in the Shiite country surged recently.

Turkeys Health Minister Fahrettin Koca while speaking to international media said that the country has decided to shut the land border temporarily after an increase in the number of cases in Iran. He added that the country was alarmed by growing numbers of cases and was forced to take the measures after speaking with Iranian authorities.

Read: China Calls Coronavirus Outbreak largest Public Health Crisis Since Its Founding

Flights and railways affected

According to reports, the land and railways borders will be closed from 5 pm local time on Sunday. Air traffic from Iran into Turkey was halted from 8 pm local time on Sunday though departures could continue. Meanwhile, Turkeys Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan reportedly said exports from Turkey to Iran would continue in a controlled way.

Read: South Korea Becomes Biggest Coronavirus Centre Outside China: Report

Read: Hope India Will Review Coronavirus Epidemic In An Objective Manner: China

Jordan has reportedly barred travellers to Tehran in a preemptive measure. The countrys Minister of State Affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of preemptive measures, following the risk in cases of Coronavirus in South Korea, Iran and China. He further told international media that the temporary ban would be imposed on all Non-Jordanian citizens coming from the three nations. The minister said that even citizens who come from those countries would be quarantined for two weeks to ensure that they havent contracted the virus on their trip abroad.

Read: Italy Coronavirus Cases Surpass 100 As Towns Put On Lockdown

Afghanistan, meanwhile has also halted travel to and from Iran over fears of the virus. The office of National Security Council of Afghanistan said in a statement that to prevent the spread of novel Coronavirus and protect its public, Afghanistan has suspended all movement, both air and ground, to and from Iran.

Pakistan has reportedly temporarily closed its border with the neighbouring country and decided not to allow anyone to cross into the country without strict screening at the entry points in Balochistan province. Pakistan's provincial Home Minister Ziaullah Langove told Pakistani media that the country has closed all the five entry points, Taftan, Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur and Washuk, at the border with Iran on Sunday.
When LGBT+ students at Brigham Young University caught wind of the change, they ran to the statue of the university's namesake to celebrate.

Women kissed women and men kissed men on Wednesday, extolling the school's removal of a longtime ban on homosexual behavior in the honour code that had left some students afraid even to hug or hold hands with friends of the same gender.

Then the university took to Twitter to issue a clarification that turned many overjoyed students suddenly sceptical of whether the revision meant anything at all.

Even though we have removed the more prescriptive language, the principles of the honour Code remain the same, the university wrote. The honour Code Office will handle questions that arise on a case-by-case basis.

The policy that outlawed all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feeling used to prompt students to hide their same-sex relationships for fear of being called into the honour code office to face a variety of punishments. For the university, the ban served as a reminder that students were expected to abide by the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the school.

"No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Show all 10 1 /10 "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Parents and protesters outside of the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham where the 'No Outsiders' programme teaches children about LGBT rights Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Parents, children and protesters outside of the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham where the 'No Outsiders' programme teaches children about LGBT rights Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Child protesters hold signs against the 'No Outsiders' programme Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Parents and protesters outside of the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham where the 'No Outsiders' programme teaches children about LGBT rights Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching A sign outside the Parkfield Community School reads "we are a UNICEF gold rights respecting school" Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Parents and protesters outside of the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham where the 'No Outsiders' programme teaches children about LGBT rights Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching A child protester holds a sign against the 'No Outsiders' programme Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Parents, children and protesters outside of the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham where the 'No Outsiders' programme teaches children about LGBT rights Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Child protesters hold a sign against the 'No Outsiders' programme Getty "No to No Outsiders" - protests against LGBT rights teaching Parkfield Community School in Birmingham where protests are being held against the 'No Outsiders' programme which teaches children about LGBT rights PA

In announcing the updated honour code on Wednesday, representatives of the school said the changes brought the code into fuller alignment with their religious leaders. The church in April revised its teaching on people in same-sex marriages to say that although such a union was a serious transgression, same-sex spouses were no longer considered apostates. Children of same-sex couples also became eligible for baptism.

As the church's teaching on same-sex relationships evolves, Brigham Young University may have removed specific rules about same-sex intimacy from its honour code to leave enough room to maneuver to what the church is doing, rather than having to go back and change all the rules because you guessed wrong, said Peter Lake, director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University.

The policy change exemplifies how religious schools are trying to balance aligning their conduct codes with their faiths and implementing clear rules and boundaries for an increasingly law-focused society, he said.

When you're approaching, at a religious school, an honour system, you're thinking about salvation and a person's faith, Mr Lake said. If there's discipline, I think the intention is to promote the evolution of faith and spirituality.

The law's impact on religious universities has come into clearer focus recently as the Supreme Court considers whether a part of federal law prohibiting workplace discrimination because of sex extends to sexual orientation. A ruling that sexual orientation discrimination is banned in workplace law would probably also apply to Title IX's (a federal law in the Education Amendments Act of 1972) ban on discrimination in education, Mr Lake said.

A spokesman for Brigham Young University, whose main campus is in Provo, Utah, on Friday said administrators would guide each student according to the principles outlined in the honour Code. The spokesman, Todd Hollingshead, added that members of the honour code office welcomed the chance to keep meeting with students about their questions.

We believe that removing the more prescriptive language from the honour Code is helpful for our LGBTQ students, he said. We want our LGBTQ students to feel welcome and included on our campus.

The change to the honour code was first reported by the Salt Lake Tribune and the Daily Herald.

Controversy heightened around the school's honour code in April, when an Instagram account highlighting students' frustrations attracted widespread attention. Students claimed that the honour code office asked inappropriate and invasive questions, doled out overly harsh discipline and encouraged people to snitch on each other, among other alleged offenses.

LGBTQ students this week expressed relief at the decreased likelihood that they would be disciplined for cuddling during a movie. But they said they also worried about the ambiguity of the university's statement that the honour code's principles have not changed.

In Jaclyn Foster's time at the school, she said the sexual activity part of the honour code was heavily enforced. Some LGBTQ students were called into the honour code office for having an account on a dating app, Ms Foster said, and punishments ranged from completing service hours to enduring a probationary period when they could not register for new classes.

Ms Foster, who graduated in 2018 and identifies as bisexual, agreed that the university should clarify its new policy to avoid having invisible lines in the sand.

The honour code is essentially a contract, she said. And in any kind of contract, you need to have the parameters spelled out a little more clearly.

The elimination of the homosexual behavior ban aroused opposition among more theologically traditional students and alumni who created a Twitter account to lobby against the change. People in favour of the update launched their own Twitter account under the same name to fight back.

Protests at Brigham Young over the honour code on 12 April 2019 (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune/AP) (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune/AP))

By the end of Thursday, students who said they had met with the honour code office were telling their peers that the only off-limits romantic behaviors for LGBTQ students were dating with intent to marry and violating the church's Law of Chastity, which teaches that members should have sexual interactions only with their spouse.

If a straight person wouldn't get in trouble for it neither will you, one student wrote to summarise his understanding of the university's new policy.

In response to a question about whether the students' statements online accurately reflected the university's approach, Mr Hollingshead said only that administrators were glad students were meeting with the honour code office to address their concerns.

Gary Pavela, co-founder of Integrity Seminars, which offers an seminar on academic integrity for students, said honour codes need to be specific and based on students' consensus. He said Brigham Young University should clarify what it means by deleting its policy on homosexual behavior so that students know what administrators expect of them.

Calvin Burke, a junior at the school who identifies as gay, said the removal of the code's homosexual behavior section was a compassionate move that would give students more faith in an office that is central to students' experience on campus.

With this update, it takes a lot of that tension away, and there's less of that fear going around, Mr Burke said. But you can definitely tell for sure that I think we're all, as a campus and a community, pretty confused.

The Washington Post
ATLANTA (dpa-AFX) - Delta increased its stake in Hanjin Kal, parent company of Korean Air, to 11% from 9.21%, according to the reports. Local activist fund Korea Corporate Governance Improvement is the biggest shareholder of Hanjin KAL with a stake of 17.29 percent, followed by midsized construction company Bando that holds 13.3 percent shares. Delta is followed by the National Pension Service (4.11 percent) and Kakao (2 percent). Delta's latest stake purchase comes as the anti-chairman coalition -- led by KCGI, Bando and the chairman's older sister Cho Hyun-ah -- has expanded its stake in Hanjin KAL. 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.
Eight years after throwing a bottle containing a message into the Rhine, a German family has been contacted by New Zealanders who say they found the message 18,000km away.

The Gogos family from the German city of Bonn said that they had received a letter, signed by Scott, Julia, Lea and Alice Joy of Auckland, but the finder didn't give their address.

"Dear Sila, Frida, Maja and Jon, we found this message in a bottle and are sending it back from Auckland, New Zealand," the reply read. "It has traveled a long way!"

Now the family is trying to find the New Zealanders who discovered the bottle. They said the action was a joint venture with the children of another family. "Our children Maja and Silas are 12 and 14 today, our friends children Jon and Frida are 11 and 14 years old."

"We are still totally surprised to have received feedback after all this time. And then of all the places, from New Zealand, our dream destination, to which we have unfortunately not yet been," Julia Gogos, mother of the family told DW.
Raids net seven drug suspects in Kamala, Rassada

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police have arrested seven suspects with 47.45 grams of crystal meth (ya ice) and 623 pills of methamphetamine (ya bah) in Kamala and Rassada in series of raids carried out over the past week.

drugscrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 24 February 2020, 02:48PM

In total police arrested seven drug suspects in the raids. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police

In total police arrested seven drug suspects in the raids. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police

In total police arrested seven drug suspects in the raids. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police

In total police arrested seven drug suspects in the raids. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police

In total police arrested seven drug suspects in the raids. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police

According to a report made available on Friday (Feb 21), the raids were led by Lt Col Jaran Bangprasert.

Three suspects were arrested at two different houses in Moo 1, Kamala, the report noted.

Anucha X Damyang, 31, originally from Satun, was arrested with 28.58g of ya ice, 415 pills of ya bah, and 18.75g of wet ya bah (ya bah pills diluted into a solution), and 10 other items of evidence that were not specified in the report.

In making the arrest, police also seized a blue Yamaha YZF-R3 motorbike, valued at about B190,000 and two bankbooks.

At the second house, officers arrested Thiamthep Dang Matthayan, 41, originally from Bangkok, and Natthaphon Kaewnui, 18, after they were found in possession of 2.06g of ya ice, 138 pills of ya bah and four other unspecified items of evidence.

Anucha, Thiamthep, and Nutthaphon were taken to Kamala Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell.

Police also arrested three suspects at three different houses in the same street, Soi Thachin, in Moo 3, Rassada, the report added.

Jenifer Fer Barnia, 27, a Thai national, was arrested with 11.85g of ya ice and 70 pills of ya bah at one house, where police also seized a blue-grey Yamaha M-SLAZ valued at about B70,000.

At the second house, police arrested Phurada Pond Promchan, 26, originally from Bueng Kan, after she was found with 3.82g of ya ice. Police also seized a mobile phone as evidence.

At the third house, Sucharat Prae Chokthianwit, 40, was arrested with 0.97g of ya ice and a set of drug-taking equipment.

Jennifer, Phurada, and Sucharat were all taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell, the report added.

At another house, located in Soi Sakhonkhet in Moo 3, Rassada, police arrested Kriangsak Eak Thongnuan, 25, after he was found with 0.17g of ya ice and four other unspecified items of evidence.

Kriangsak was taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug, the report concluded.
She has given critically-acclaimed performances in several of Hollywood's biggest films of the last decade.

And Saoirse Ronan is already being tipped for a fifth Oscar nomination for her role in the upcoming historical drama Ammonite.

The actress, 25, will star opposite Kate Winslet as the wife of a wealthy tourist who has a lesbian love affair with a fossil hunter.

Another nod: Saoirse Ronan is already being tipped for a fifth Oscar nomination for her role in the upcoming historical drama Ammonite

On Tuesday, Variety magazine predicted that The Lovely Bones actress could be a front-runner at the Academy Awards in 2021.

'Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in a period piece are what Oscar dreams are made of,' read the opinion piece.

The movie tells the story of Mary Anning (Winslet), an infamous fossil hunter with the days of her most famed discoveries behind her.

Plot: The actress, 25, will star opposite Kate Winslet as the wife of a wealthy tourist who has a lesbian love affair with a fossil hunter

Big expectations: 'Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in a period piece are what Oscar dreams are made of,' read the opinion piece

Following the arrival of a wealthy visitor, she develops an intense relationship with a young woman, played by Saoirse Ronan, who she is tasked with looking after.

However, the Hollywood publication added the film has been hit by controversy after some members of Annings family have publicly protested because they insist her sexuality was never confirmed.

The piece continued: 'Some members of Annings family have publicly protested because they insist her sexuality was never confirmed.

In contention: On Tuesday, Variety magazine predicted that The Lovely Bones actress could be a front-runner at the Academy Awards in 2021

'Director Francis Lee shot back, saying its not hard to imagine she was gay because theres no evidence whatsoever that she was ever in a heterosexual relationship.'

Saoirse was one of the youngest ever Oscar nominees, when aged 13, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Atonement at the 2008 awards.



Eight years later she was nominated in the Best Actress category for Brooklyn and was back in the same category two years later in 2017 for her leading role as Christine McPherson in Lady Bird.

Regular attendee: Saoirse was one of the youngest ever Oscar nominees, when aged 13, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Atonement at the 2008 awards

She received her fourth nod at this year's awards for her celebrated performance in Greta Gerwig's Little Women, but lost out to Renee Zellweger's portrayal of Judy Garland.

Her impressive haul of nominations for the most coveted prize in film makes her the second youngest actor or actress to receive four nominations, with the record being held by Jennifer Lawrence.

Jennifer was 25 when she picked her fourth nomination for Joy in 2016, just a few months younger than Saoirse.

She has also won a Best Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, and received nods for 2011's Winter's Bone and 2014's American Hustle.

Saoirse Ronan recently took a hiatus from acting last year after more than a decade of movie roles.

Performer: Eight years later she was nominated in the Best Actress category for Brooklyn

But before her acting break, she had wrapped production on the French Dispatch which will see her starring opposite actor Timothee Chalamet for the third time in as many years.

The film was helmed by Wes Anderson who directed Ronan in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

The film, which is set in the 1950s, centres around a group of journalists at an American newspaper bureau in Paris.

Benicio del Toro, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand are among the star-studded cast for the movie which was shot in Angouleme in south west France.
In the wake of my Sunday story, which detailed the heroics of Marine Lt. General Chuck Pitman and the time he borrowed a Chinook helicopter to stop a serial killer in New Orleans, there came a little-known story that seems to have gotten overlooked during the 9/11 attacks on our country in 2001. When the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the west side of the Pentagon and the fuel from inside the 757 created an inferno, there came orders to evacuate the huge building immediately.

At a day care facility inside the Pentagon, the supervisor was panicking. Are you kidding me? There were children in cribs, and many toddlers, and no time to get them into strollers or carriers. Suddenly a Marine appeared, asked if he could help, and, when he surveyed the situation, he promised he would be right back. Sure enough, he returned with about 40 to 50 other Marines. The biggest guys each grabbed a crib, baby and all, as the others herded up the little children, carrying in their arms those that couldnt yet walk.

The director and her staff also joined the impromptu caravan that made it out of the building and walked to a grassy park about a half mile away.

Thats when Marine Corps magic happened. The Marines circled the heavy cribs just like the wagon trains in the Old West once did, forming a tight circle to use as a pen for all the toddlers so they wouldnt  and couldnt  wander. Making sure the day care employees were also inside the circle, the Marines formed a perimeter outside of it, the men carefully placed to stand post until the last of the children was turned over to a grateful parent.

A Marine recognizes what needs to be done, then does it.

It has also been said, It's the military, not the politicians that ensures our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's the military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

* * *

My only answer as to why the Marines get the toughest jobs is because the average Leatherneck is a much better fighter. He has far more guts, courage, and better officers... These boys out here have a pride in the Marine Corps and will fight to the end no matter what the cost. -- 2nd Lt. Richard C. Kennard, Peleliu, World War II

* * *

You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is that they are. -- Father Kevin Keaney, 1st Marine Division Chaplain, Korean War

* * *

The bended knee is not a tradition of our Corps. -- General Alexander A. Vandergrift, USMC, to the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, 5 May 1946

* * *

By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their country which only history will be able to value fully. Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue. -- Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy

* * *

I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery. But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes: If you f*** with me, I'll kill you all. -- Marine General James Mattis, to Iraqi tribal leaders.

* * *

I am convinced that there is no smarter, handier, or more adaptable body of troops in the world. -- Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Winston Churchill

* * *

Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share. -- Ned Dolan

* * *

The Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, had decided the previous night that he wanted to go ashore and witness the final stage of the fight for the mountain. Now, under a stern commitment to take orders from Howlin' Mad Smith, the secretary was churning ashore in the company of the blunt, earthy general. Their boat touched the beach just after the flag went up, and the mood among the high command turned jubilant. Gazing upward, at the red, white, and blue speck, Forrestal remarked to Smith: "Holland, the raising of that flag on Suribachi [Feb. 23, 1945] means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years." [NOTE: The flag-raising on Iwo Jima has been immortalized in a photograph by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal)

* * *

We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on? Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the assault on Grenada, 1983

* * *

Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don't have that problem. -- Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985

* * *

Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat. -- RAdm. "Jay" R. Stark, USN; 10 November 1995

* * *

They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow," which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake". Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991

* * *

I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold. -- 1st Lt. Clifton B. Cates, USMC, in Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918

* * *

Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army. -- Orders given to Communist troops in the Korean War (Almost immediately, the Marines were ordered to not wear their khaki leggings.)

* * *

Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal and took Iwo Jima. Bagdad ain't s**t. -- Marine Major General John F. Kelly

* * *

They (Women Marines) don't have a nickname, and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere, at a Marine Post. They inherit the traditions of the Marines. They are Marines. LtGen Thomas Holcomb, USMC Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1943

* * *

The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand. -- Attributed to Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916)

royexum@aol.com
The epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak was delivered a brutal blow after residents thought their lockdown would be eased.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged businesses to get back to work though he said the epidemic was still "severe and complex, and prevention and control work is in the most difficult and critical stage".

Yunnan, Guangdong, Shanxi and Guizhou provinces lowered their coronavirus emergency response measures from the most serious level, joining the provinces of Gansu and Liaoning to relax restrictions on movements.

Excluding central Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, mainland China reported 11 new cases, the lowest since the national health authority started publishing nationwide figures on January 20.

Volunteers in protective suits are being disinfected in a line in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Source: China Daily/Reuters

In the Hubei capital of Wuhan, where its 11 million people have been under virtual lockdown for weeks, officials even said healthy people would be allowed to leave the city for crucial operations, but authorities later revoked that decision.

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea but China relaxed restrictions on movements in several places including Beijing as its rates of new infections eased.

The surge of infections outside mainland China triggered steep falls in Asian shares and Wall Street stock futures as investors fled to safe havens such as gold. Oil prices tumbled and the Korean won fell to its lowest since August.

"There is lots of bad news on the coronavirus front," Shane Oliver, chief economist at Sydney-based wealth manager AMP, wrote in a note.

South Korea's fourth-largest city Daegu became more isolated due to a rapid increase in cases of infection, as Asiana Airlines and Korean Air suspended flights there until next month.

"If we cannot block the spread in the Daegu region in an effective way, there are high possibilities it would lead to a nationwide transmission," Vice Health Minister Kim Kang-lip told reporters.

Story continues

Iran, which announced its first two cases on Wednesday, said it had confirmed 43 cases and eight deaths.

Most of the infections were in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom.

A businessman wears a face mask in the Central Business District in Beijing. Source: Reuters/Thomas Peter

More cases appeared in the Middle East with Bahrain reporting its first case, the state news agency said, and Kuwait reporting three cases in people who had been in Iran. Afghanistan also reported its first case.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan imposed travel and immigration restrictions on Iran.

In Europe, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said he would talk to his European counterparts soon to discuss how best to cope with a possible epidemic in Europe, after Italy reported a third death from the flu-like virus and 150 infections, from just three before Friday.

"Tonight, there is no epidemic in France. But there is a problematic situation at the door, in Italy, that we are watching with great attention," Veran told a news conference.

Epidemic is still severe and complex

In mainland China, where the virus originated late last year, more than 20 province-level jurisdictions, including Beijing and Shanghai, reported zero infections, the best showing since the outbreak began.

The coronavirus has infected nearly 77,000 people and killed more than 2,500 in China, most in Hubei.

China reported 409 new cases on the mainland, down from 648 a day earlier, taking the total number of infections to 77,150 cases as of February 23. The death toll rose by 150 to 2592.

Xi said on Sunday the outbreak would have a relatively big, but short-term impact on the economy and the government would step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow.

It was also allocated 99.5 billion yuan ($21.4 billion) to control the outbreak, a top official said.

People cross an empty street in the Central Business District in Beijing. Source: Reuters/Thomas Peter

Italian towns sealed off amid outbreak

Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to about 29 countries and territories, with a death toll of about two dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

Italy sealed off the worst-affected towns and banned public gatherings in much of the north, including halting the carnival in Venice, where there were two cases, to try to contain the biggest outbreak in Europe.

Austria suspended train services over the Alps from Italy for about four hours after two travellers showed symptoms of fever. The train carrying about 300 passengers from Venice to Munich, in Germany, was allowed to continue after the two tested negative for the new coronavirus.

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said a coronavirus task force would meet on Monday to discuss whether to introduce border controls with Italy.

A medical worker rests outside a hospital in Daegu, South Korea. Source: Yonhap/Reuters

In South Korea, authorities reported a seventh death and another 161 new cases on Monday, taking its total to 763. Of the new cases, 115 were linked to a church in the city of Daegu.

The government was conducting tests on about 9500 people who took part in services at a Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, also known as the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

In Daegu and elsewhere, citizens flocked to supermarkets and pharmacies to buy surgical masks and supplies.

Japan had 773 cases as of late Sunday, mostly on a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo. A third passenger, a Japanese man in his 80s, died on Sunday.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
Almost two months after losing the election to Conservatives, the United Kingdom's Labour Party is all set to elect its new leader. According to reports, around 6,00,000 members of the Labour Party began voting on Monday to replace Jeremy Corbyn. The final result of the election will reportedly be announced on April 4. As per reports, three candidates, Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, all members of parliament, are on the ballot paper. Media reports suggest that Brexit spokesperson Keir Starmer is the frontrunner in the race for next Labor leader as he is viewed as more moderate than other two candidates.

Read: 'Rulebook & Due Process Followed': MHA Sources On UK MP Debbie Abrahams Being Deported

The poll to elect new Labour Party leader will reportedly be conducted online and through postal ballot. As per reports, there were around 5,80,000 registered Labour members after the December election, however, more people are believed to have joined the centre-left party since then.

Read: Anupam Kher States Trademark Line As Narayana Murthy's Son-in-law Is Appointed UK Minister

December 2019 election

Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership suffered its worst election defeat since the 1930s after it was reduced to just 202 seats in the House of Commons, the lower house of the UK parliament. Among the many reasons that had been cited for Labour's humiliating defeat, Jeremy Corbyn's leadership acquired the top spot as many felt the leftist leader had put off mainstream voters.

Read: UK Woman Arrested For Donning Bikini In Maldives, Police Apologizes For 'manhandling' Her

Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson won 365 seats in the House of Commons to sweep the 2019 general election by a landslide victory. For Boris Johnson and his party, the election was a referendum on Brexit as they sought a majority in the house to effectively decide on leaving the European Union. Boris Johnson called for an early election and comfortably led his party to a win, which provided the Conservatives with its largest majority since 1987, under Margret Thatcher.

Read: UK Cabinet Minister Gove Dodges Questions On Mass Press Walkout From Government Briefing
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: India embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights and the rule of law, and is admired around the globe as people of different religions worship side by side in harmony, US President Donald Trump said on Monday, lauding the country's accomplishments during his maiden state visit here.

He noted that India has an incredible potential and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is laying the foundations of its future.

Hailing India's diversity, the US President said its unity is an inspiration to the world as it is known for its democracy, tolerance and peace.

ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi, Donald Trump to hold extensive talks on Tuesday to expand Indo-US global partnership

"India is a country that proudly embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights, the rule of law, and the dignity of every human being.

"Your nation has always been admired around the earth as the place where millions upon millions of Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs and Jains, Buddhists, Christians, and Jews worship side by side in harmony," he said while addressing a packed Motera stadium at the 'Namaste Trump' event here.

"The story of the Indian nation is a tale of astounding progress, a miracle of democracy, extraordinary diversity, and above all, strong and noble people.

"India gives hope to all of humanity. In just 70 years, India become an economic giant, the largest democracy ever to exist and one of the most amazing asians anywhere in the world," Trump said.

ALSO READ: Pakistan media avoids Trump's remarks on US efforts to curb terrorism in the country

The potential for India is absolutely incredible, he said while noting that India's rise as a prosperous and independent nation is an example for every nation all over the world and one of the outstanding achievements of the century.

It is inspiring because India has achieved all this as a democratic, peaceful and tolerant country, he said.

"There is all the difference in the world between a nation that seeks power through coercion, intimidation, and aggression, and a nation that rises by setting its people free and unleashing them to chase their dreams, and that is India," Trump said.

"This is why India's accomplishment over the last 70 years is completely unrivalled, no matter where you go. It is your faith in the strength of a free society, your confidence in your people, your trust in your own citizens, and your respect for the dignity of every person that makes the United States and India such a natural, beautiful, enduring friendship," he said.

ALSO READ: US President Donald Trump lands in Delhi for main leg of India visit

He also congratulated India for its six times growth of the economy since the turn of the century and said in a single decade, India has lifted over 270 million people out of poverty.

He lauded the achievement of every village in India having access to electricity under Prime Minister Modi.

Trump also talked about 320 million people being connected to the internet and the double pace of highway construction and over 70 million households having access to cooking fuel, 600 million more people having access to basic sanitation.

"Incredibly 12 Indian citizens are lifted out of extreme poverty every single minute of every single day," he said, adding that India will soon be the home of the biggest middle class anywhere in the world and would completely eradicate poverty within less than 10 years.

ALSO READ: Twitterati surprised over Trump not mentioning Gandhi in Sabarmati Ashram's visitors' book

The US President quoted Swami Vivekananda who had said, "The moment I stand in reverence before every human being, and see God in him, that moment I am free."

"Where you speak more than 100 languages, and come from more than two dozen states, yet you have always stood strong as one strong Indian nation.

"Your unity is an inspiration to the world and in America," he said adding the Americans have seen the splendour of Indian culture personally through the over 4 million Indian-Americans living in the United States.

"Our two national constitutions both begin with the same three beautiful words: 'We the people'. That means that in America and India alike, we honour, respect, trust, empower, and fight for the citizens we proudly serve," Trump later tweeted.

ALSO READ: Former PM Manmohan Singh to skip President's banquet in Trump's honour

Trump thanked India for the contributions its culture and traditions have made to the United States and said Americans are eager to strengthen ties between their people.

"You have come so far but it is nothing compared to how far India will go into the future and the Prime Minister is laying the foundation for a future like few other countries can even think of.

This nation is blessed with many treasures - from the sacred banks of the Ganges to the Golden Temple and the Jama Masjid, it is the home to some of the most cherished heritage anywhere on earth, he said.

He said India has always been a wellspring of deep wisdom and great ideas from the Vedas and the ancient epics all the way to the modern Indian nation.

"But standing before all of you today, I know that the true strength of India is not found in its text books, its landmarks, or its landscapes," he said, while noting that the courage of Indians won and secured its independence.

"Your devotion built this great and enduring democracy. And it is your dreams that will power this country to a future with even greater progress, prosperity, equality and opportunity for every citizen across your land.

"So, today I say to every Indian, north and south, Hindu or Muslim Jewish and Christian, rich and poor, young and old, take pride in the glories of your past, unite for an even brighter future, and let our two nations always stand together as powerful defenders of peace and liberty. And the hope of a better world for all of humanity," Trump said.
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Kimberley McRae (pictured) was found dead in her apartment in Coogee on January 14

A sex worker found dead inside her beachside unit had been bound, gagged and had her head covered with a towel, it can be revealed.

Kimberley McRae's body was discovered inside her apartment on Mount Street, Coogee, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on January 14.

Daily Mail Australia has been told that in her final moments, Ms McRae's arms were restrained behind her back with cable ties, and a towel had been wrapped around her head.

The 69-year-old is believed to have been strangled to death.

More than a month on from the horror murder, NSW homicide detectives are still hunting for Ms McRae's killer - dubbed the 'Coogee strangler'.

A transgender woman who was also known by the name 'Sabrina', Ms McRae was a well-known identity around Coogee.

Ms McRae, a sex worker who also used the name 'Sabrina', had her hands tied with cable ties and a towel over her head when she was killed, Daily Mail Australia can reveal

She lived alone and did not own a vehicle, but was known to walk and exercise in the local area and had 'distinct personal style with recognisable features'.

New South Wales Homicide Squad boss Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said at the time of her murder that the last known sighting of Ms McRae was on January 7, at her Coogee unit.

He said the seven days until her body was found on Tuesday remain a mystery.

'Investigators are aware Kim worked in the sex industry and may be known to some of her associates as Isabella, Samantha and Sabrina,'Det Supt Doherty said.

'Of course, we'd be keen to speak to anyone who has information or knowledge of Kim's social activities.'

It is understood Ms McRae's body had been inside her apartment for several days by the time the alarm was raised.

Having been unable to get in touch with her for several days, Ms McRae's Melbourne-based sister called her real estate agent.

It was while performing the welfare check that they made the grim discovery.

Ms McRae was found dead inside her Coogee unit (above). Pots and pans sat on the kitchen bench, medication atop the fridge and a portable aircon unit had been set up

Ms McRae's concerned Melbourne-based sister contacted her real estate agent when she was unable to contact her. The agent and police then made the horrific discovery of her murdered body inside the Coogee unit

Pictures of the Mount St unit showed fingerprint dust plastered across the kitchen cupboards and walls, pots and pans stacked on the stove and medication atop a small fridge.

A portable air conditioning unit sat in the middle of the lounge room.

The unit has since been cleared out by police.

Ms McRae wrote a book last year titled 'Hey Boys, She's Got a Gash and other Tales of Gods - A Memoir' - which detailed the struggles of being transgender.

Her good friend Presley Hunter paid tribute to Ms McRae and described her as one of the kindest people she knew.

'She was certainly an icon of Coogee for over a decade. She was "out there" but she's the kindest person I've known,' she said.

A friend Presley Hunter (right) described Ms McRae (left) as 'an icon of Coogee for over a decade'

Ms McRae wrote a book last year under the name Isabella Lawson, which detailed the struggles of a transgender person living in Sydney's east

Police said a post mortem examination had been conducted, but further tests are required to determine exactly how Ms McRae died.

An autopsy is currently being performed by the state coroner which detectives hope will provide a clearer idea of how she died.

Anyone with information about Ms McRae's death is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  Police have recovered two stolen vehicles and apprehended half of suspects who allegedly took them on Saturday night, officials say.

Scott Appleby, Bridgeport's Director of Emergency Management & Homeland Security, said an officer discovered the vehicles when he noticed one of them driving recklessly and at a high speed on a school campus on the 700 block of Palisade Avenue.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided school supplies to more than 40,000 students in different parts of Libya, the agency said Monday on its Facebook
Since its identification in December, the novel coronavirus has quickly evolved into a global threat, taking a toll on human health, overwhelming vulnerable health care systems and destabilizing economies worldwide.

To address these challenges, Harvard University scientists will join forces with colleagues from China on a quest to develop therapies that would prevent new infections and design treatments that would alleviate existing ones.

The U.S. efforts will be spearheaded by scientists at Harvard Medical School, led by Dean George Q. Daley, working alongside colleagues from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Harvard Medical School will serve as the hub that brings together the expertise of basic scientists, translational investigators and clinical researchers working throughout the medical school and its affiliated hospitals and institutes, along with other regional institutions and biotech companies.

The Chinese efforts will be led by Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health and Zhong Nanshan, a renowned pulmonologist and epidemiologist. Zhong is also head of the Chinese 2019n-CoV Expert Taskforce and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Through a five-year collaborative research initiative, Harvard University and Guangzhou Institute for Respiratory Health will share $115 million in research funding provided by China Evergrande Group, a Fortune Global 500 company in China.

"We are confident that the collaboration of Harvard and Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health will contribute valuable discoveries to this worldwide effort," said Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow. "We are grateful for Evergrande's leadership and generosity in facilitating this collaboration and for all the scientists and clinicians rising to the call of action in combating this emerging threat to global well-being."

"Evergrande is honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the fight against this global public health threat," said Hui Ka Yan, chair of the China Evergrande Group. "We thank all the scientists who responded so swiftly and enthusiastically from the Harvard community and are deeply moved by Harvard and Dr. Zhong's team's dedication and commitment to this humanitarian cause. We have the utmost confidence in this global collaborative team to reach impactful discoveries against the outbreak soon."

While formal details of the collaboration are being finalized, the overarching goal of the effort is to elucidate the basic biology of the virus and its behavior and to inform disease detection and therapeutic design. The main areas of investigation will include:

Rapid, more accurate diagnostic tests, including point-of-care testing

Understanding the body's immune response and host-pathogen interaction, including identification of biomarkers that can help monitor the infection course and disease progression and forecast the onset of critical illness and life-threatening complications among infected patients

Vaccines to prevent infection

Antiviral therapies that shorten the duration of the illness and mitigate symptoms among those infected

Treatments for those with severe disease

"With the extraordinary scale and depth of relevant clinical and scientific capabilities in our community, Harvard Medical School is uniquely positioned to convene experts in virology, infectious disease, structural biology, pathology, vaccine development, epidemiology and public health to confront this rapidly evolving crisis," Daley said. "Harnessing our science to tackle global health challenges is at the very heart of our mission as an institution dedicated to improving human health and well-being worldwide."

"We are extremely encouraged by the generous gesture from Evergrande to coordinate and support the collaboration and by the overwhelmingly positive response from our Harvard colleagues," said Zhong, who in 2003 identified another novel pathogen, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus and described the clinical course of the infection.

"We look forward to leveraging each of our respective strengths to address the immediate and longer-term challenges and a fruitful collaboration to advance the global well-being of all people," Zhong added.

Harvard University Provost Alan M. Garber said outbreaks of novel infections can move quickly, with a deadly effect.

"This means the response needs to be global, rapid and driven by the best science. We believe that the partnership--which includes Harvard and its affiliated institutions, other regional and U.S.-based organizations and Chinese researchers and clinicians at the front lines--offers the hope that we will soon be able to contain the threat of this novel virus," Garber said. "The lessons we learn from this outbreak should enable us to respond to infectious disease emergencies more quickly and effectively in the future."

###

About Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School has more than 11,000 faculty working in the 11 basic and social science departments comprising the Blavatnik Institute and at the 15 Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife, Joslin Diabetes Center, Judge Baker Children's Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and VA Boston Healthcare System.
A firefighter who responded to the terror attacks in New York City nearly two decades ago has died.

The firefighters' union expressed its condolences for friends and family of Daniel Foley, who firefighters called "another hero." The department said he died of pancreatic cancer due to his time at Ground Zero.
If a road trip is what you're longing for, the much-awaited bus service which will connect Imphal (Manipur, India) to Mandalay in Myanmar, is all set to begin its journey in April. Manipur's Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, made a statement in the legislative assembly that the bus service will be operational thrice a week and if demand increases, it can also be turned into a daily affair.

Twitter

This development has been made to cater to India's Look East Policy which has 'Improved road connectivity with Southeast Asian countries', as its primary focus.



GetYourGuide

Back in December 2015, a trial run of the Imphal-Mandalay bus service was carried out and a 27-member team of officials from both the State and Central Governments participated in the journey to check the condition of the 579-km long route.

The route from Imphal to Mandalay went via Tamu, Kalay and Monywa in Myanmar.

MandalayTravels

Mandalay is known to have a large population of people belonging to Indian origin. A joint survey was carried out in January 2015 by the Myanmar Government officials along with the Indian team, to decide the route-alignment of the bus service.

Twitter

The Chief Minister also mentioned that flight services between Imphal and Mandalay will also be functional soon.
rajesh thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: The Rashtriya Janata Dal blew the bugle for polls by embarking on Berozgaari Hatao Yatra.

Steering the yatra, former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav challenged Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to provide employment to the youths or support the RJDs 2-month-long Berozgaari Hatao Yatra.

Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of imprisoned Lalu Yadav along with other RJD leaders shared the dais with Tejashawi Yadav to mark the commencement of the yatra. Bihar has become the centre of unemployment in the country. Incumbent government has utterly neglected this issue but RJD is commited to fight for it, Tejashawi Yadav said.

Predicting formation of RJD-led government in next 8 months, Yadav announced to bring a domicile policy in which the natives of Bihar will get 85% reservation in jobs. The RJD has will power to conquer over the unemployment and if our party is voted to power, we will prove it by a domicile policy, he said. He also called Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as contract killer for killing employments in the state.
The deadline to enter to win the Best and Brightest award from The PA Media Group  The Patriot-News and PennLive  is less than two weeks away.

PA Media Group will honor 20 high school seniors as the Best and Brightest to represent the potential of the class of 2020.

This is our 28th year of honoring these exceptional students.

Recipients are featured in The Sunday Patriot-News in May and in a photo gallery, videos and profiles on PennLive. Students, families and school officials also are invited to an awards reception.

Applications are due by Friday, March 6, 2020, at our office, 1900 Patriot Drive, Hampden Twp. A postmark of that day is acceptable.

To be eligible, a senior must have at least a B or 3.0 grade point average although a grade point average below 3.0 because of extenuating circumstances does not preclude participation.

Seniors must attend a public or independent high school or be home-schooled or attend cyber school in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry or York county. Local residents attending schools in other counties or states are not eligible.

Selection is based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities and service to school, peers and community as well as an autobiographical essay and two letters of recommendation.

In the essay, students are asked to address any challenges they have faced.

Educators assist in semifinalist selection and leaders from business, the arts, education, faith, government and the community choose the 20 finalists.

Applications have been emailed and mailed to high schools in the nine county area.

For more information, send an email to Deb Kiner at dkiner@pennlive.com or call 717-257-4749.
The coronavirus has spread to Iran. The Iranian health ministry says that at least eight people have died in that country. Along with Italy, Iran appears to be the non-East Asian country most severely hit by the virus so far.

How did the coronvirus reach Iran? In the usual way, it seems  via a merchant who regularly shuttled between Iran and China. The merchant lives in Qom, the city where the eight deaths have occurred.

But some Iranian hardliners have a different explanation. Qoms Friday Prayer Imam claims that the U.S. infected his city with the virus. Why did President Trump do such a thing? To make Qom look like an unsafe city and to take revenge for all of [Americas] defeats.

Why target Qom, in particular? Because it is a shelter for the Shiites of the world, the center of religious seminaries and the city where Shiite sources of emulation live.

Of course.

I doubt that the Qom cleric speaks directly for the Iranian government. At the same time, I question whether he would speak on this issue without at least the tacit approval of higher-ups.

Meanwhile, the Iranian government is using the coronavirus for a different propaganda purpose. It blames the very low turnout in its recent election on panic induced by lies about the scope of the virus.

The 42 percent turnout this weekend was the lowest since the 1979 revolution. The results strongly favored Iranian hardliners, but the low turnout detracts from the regimes victory. Thus, the regime needs an explanation and a villain.

Its explanation is fear of the coronavirus. Its villains are the enemies of Iran who spread propaganda exaggerating the scope and danger of the virus.

Ayatollah Khamenei stated:

This negative propaganda about the virus began a couple of months ago and grew larger ahead of the election. Their media did not miss the tiniest opportunity for dissuading Iranian voters and resorting to the excuse of disease and the virus.

Of course.

Like the Obama administration, Irans mullahs, whether in Qom or Tehran, seem intent on never letting a crisis go to waste.
India is likely to send a military transport aircraft to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan on February 26 to deliver relief material and bring back more Indians following a clearance from China, Union Health ministry officials said on Monday.

"As informed by the Ministry of External Affairs, departure of the Air Force flight to Wuhan is being planned for February 26 and the evacuees will arrive on February 27," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, official sources had said that the neighbouring country was delaying clearance to the C-17 military transport aircraft which was to fly on February 20 to Wuhan, though Beijing had allowed fights from other countries to evacuate their nationals.

According to a health ministry official, China has now given clearance to the Indian military transport aircraft.

Official sources said Japan, Ukraine and France have been allowed to operate flights between February 16 and 20 but India's request had not been approved.

When contacted, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson had said there was no deliberate delay in grant of permission for the Indian flight to reach Wuhan.

The aircraft will carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan.

Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan, who undertook a review of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID19) management across the country with the senior officials of the Ministry, informed that at present the screening of passengers is being done in all 21 airports, 12 major and 65 non-major seaports and border crossings.

In all 4,48,449 passengers from 4,214 flights have been screened so far.

Also, as of now, 2,707 samples have been tested of which only three samples earlier had tested positive (Kerala) and all the three patients have been discharged from the hospitals. They are now in home isolation.

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.

Also flight passengers coming to India from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore , Japan, Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia are being screened at 21 designated airports in the country for a possible exposure to the novel coronavirus.

All Indian evacuees from Wuhan had tested negative for COVID19 and have gone back to their homes from the quarantine facilities. Also, 23,259 persons were brought under community surveillance in 34 states and UTs through the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network.

Regarding movement across Kartarpur border in Punjab, Vardhan was informed that in discussion with the Home Ministry, Health Ministry and Health Secretary, Punjab, special screening has been strengthened across the border and further necessary facilitation for masks to be worn by pilgrims is being initiated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jakarta: Malaysia's King has accepted Mahathir Mohamads resignation as prime minister, but has made him the interim PM.

Mahathir submitted his resignation amid political chaos in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, but would continue to serve as PM until a new person was appointed under the Federal Constitution, chief secretary Mohd Zuki Ali said.

Mahathir Mohamad waves after being granted an audience with the Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. Credit:AP

Mahathir's shock resignation came after 24 hours of high political drama and after months of speculation about the stability of the governing Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition.

It also means that Anwar Ibrahim, Mahathir's agreed upon successor, may once again miss out on the chance to follow Mahathir into the prime ministership - as happened 22 years ago when the pair spectacularly fell out.
A sandstorm forced the closure of airports throughout the Canary Islands (Sophie Barley/PA)

Holidaymakers will be able to return home after all but one of the Canary Islands airports reopened following closures caused by a Saharan sandstorm.

Flights from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma and North Tenerife Airports will be able to take off, according a statement from airport operator Aena.

But those departing South Tenerife continue to be grounded, the statement added.

Earlier, customer service staff at the airports told the PA news agency that the airports had remained open for passengers, despite there being no flights to board.

Passengers queuing at Tenerife South airport (Linda Cantelo/PA)

Passengers posted photographs of people sitting on the floor waiting for more information.

Greg Horsman, 29, was on holiday with his girlfriend and his friends on a Tui cruise and was due to fly home to Manchester on Saturday evening.

However, they were forced to stay in Gran Canaria for another two nights due to the storm.

Clouds of red dust formed across the Canary Islands on Sunday (Sophie Barley/PA)

He told PA: Its frustrating. Were just ready to be home.

A number of Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights were cancelled due to the event.

"Gusts of [sand] up to 40 knots (46 mph) are likely to disrupt flight operations in the Canaries until Monday 24th February resulting in further disruptions and cancellations," Ryanair said on its website.

"Passengers are advised to verify the status of their flights before going to the airport."

John Spollen, President of the Irish Travel Agents Association, said:

These flight cancellations are causing major disruption to Irish holiday makers on what is a busy travel period with the school mid term break coming to a close.

"Irish holidaymakers will be faced with the possibility of incurred additional accommodation costs. We have been assured that these costs will be covered by the airlines, within reason, and are advising all customers to claim under EU261.

He continued: The ITAA advise all passengers to check with their travel agent, online, or with airlines for the status of their flight before travelling to the airport. We have been advised that this weather disruption should not continue for more than a day or so. However, there will be a backlog to flying holiday makers back home.

A spokeswoman for Tui said: We would like to sincerely apologise to customers for the disruption caused by the adverse and changeable weather conditions in the Canary Islands on Saturday February 22 and Sunday February 23.

The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority and we are working tirelessly to find the best solutions for all our customers.

For further information on EU 261 entitlements see flightrights.ie.
A few miscreants wrote 'Pakistan Zindabad' on a government school wall in Budarsingi village near Hubli in Dharwad district of Karnataka, according to villagers on Monday morning.

Villagers, who witnessed this unlawful act in the morning, gathered and started to protest against the perpetrators and demanded the arrest of them. A case has been registered at Hubli Rural police station and police are investigating the case.

Deputy SP Hubli Ramana Gowda said, "This morning when government school headmaster reached the school he saw that a few miscreants had written 'Pakistan Zindabad' in chalk piece on the school walls and windows. They had informed us. We reached here and are investigating further. They had written in 4-5 sides of the walls."

"Subsequently, they filed a case and we will continue the investigation. So far they have not revealed anything, we will start enquiring about the people whom we know and try to ascertain the case. We will also ask other schools to take precautionary measures," added Deputy SP Gowda.
By Azernews





By Abdul Kerimkhanov

On the occasion of the 28th anniversary of Khojaly genocide, EU-wide Karabakh rally was held in Paris Square near Brandenburg Gate, Berlin on February 22.

The rally participants voiced the slogans "Karabakh is Azerbaijan!", "Don't be indifferent to Khojaly!", "Armenia stop lying!", "We say no to terror!", "Azerbaijan demands justice!", "Shame to the murders of the civils and innocent people!", "Stop invasion!"

They demanded the international community to give proper legal and political evaluation of the Khojaly Massacre perpetrated by the Armenian forces 28 years ago, put pressure on Armenia to return the occupied lands, restore the rights of the Azerbaijani IDPS, and force Armenia follow the decisions of the relevant international documents adopted with regards to the conflict.

Brochures about Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Khojaly Genocide, financial and moral losses of the Azerbaijani side as a result of the aggressive policy of Armenia, were distributed to the locals and tourists in Berlin.

At the end of the rally, the diaspora representatives adopted a document and addressed it to several international organizations.

The rally was held at the initiative of the diaspora organizations from more than 30 countries and with the administrative support of Alliance of Azerbaijanis in Germany.

Azerbaijanis living in Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Turkey, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Great Britain, the U.S. and Canada, as well as diaspora members of the fraternal peoples took part in the rally.

The rally was broadcasted on the State Committees official Facebook page.

The State Committee asked compatriots to share posts on social networks with the hashtags #Azerbaijan #Karabakh #justiceforkhojaly #EuropeanKarabakhRally.

Note that 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, eight 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.












In a rare step, the UK government on Monday issued a formal statement denying a flurry of media allegations involving Priti Patel, one of the senior-most ministers in the UK Cabinet, as "baseless" and against public interest.

The 47-year-old Indian-origin UK Home Secretary has been at the centre of a controversy over an alleged bullying atmosphere and strained relationship with the senior-most civil servant in her department.

The allegations were compounded by another media report over the weekend claiming that the country's MI5 intelligence service, which falls under Patel's brief as Home Secretary, had lost "trust" in the minister and were giving her less information than that of her predecessors.

"The Home Secretary and MI5 have a strong and close working relationship, and baseless claims to the contrary are both wrong and against the public interest," a UK government spokesperson said.

"The Home Secretary receives the same daily intelligence briefings as her predecessors, and no information is being withheld," the spokesperson said.

The statement follows a Sunday Times' report which had quoted sources to claim that Patel had not attended weekly meetings with security officials from different government departments for several months, and that she was informed of some issues later on in the decision-making process.

The report reiterated previous allegations by the newspaper around a kind of "civil war" within the Home Office as a result of the minister's disagreements with Permanent Secretary Philip Rutnam.

"The Home Secretary and Permanent Secretary are deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media," a UK Home Office spokesperson said on Monday.

"They are focused on delivering on the Home Office's hugely important agenda, which includes creating an immigration system that works for the UK, putting more police on the streets and keeping the public safe from terrorism," the spokesperson said.

Patel was also openly backed by her junior minister in the Home Office, James Brokenshire, who branded the media reports as "false".

"I simply do not recognise the commentary and the false accusations and assertions that in so many ways have been swirling around," said Brokenshire, security minister in the Home Office.

Allies of Patel believe that she has become a victim of malicious leaks in an attempt to destabilise her position in the Cabinet, while colleagues have spoken out about her being a professional politician.

Former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers, who was sacked in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's reshuffle earlier this month, felt it was part of a trend of "spiteful briefings" against women in positions of authority as she described Patel as a "highly effective Home Secretary".

"I am absolutely certain that she is probably tough and demanding on her civil servants but I don't believe for a moment that anything inappropriate or anything resembling bullying would have taken place," Villiers said.

Downing Street has also confirmed that Johnson has "full confidence" in the Home Secretary, while some reports suggest the possibility of an inquiry into the damaging leaks to the media from the Home Office over the past few weeks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Impressed by the beauty of Taj Mahal, White House Advisor Ivanka Trump on Monday said that the grandeur of the 17th century was "awe-inspiring".

"The grandeur and beauty of the Taj Mahal is awe-inspiring!" Ivanka wrote as she shared on Instagram pictures of herself with husband Jared Kushner in front of the Taj Mahal.

Ivanka, daughter of President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner are part of the US delegation accompanying the US President.

The US first family went to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal after attending the grand 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th Century as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The structure with white marble domes and minarets became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1983.

More than 40 foreign dignitaries have visited the Taj Mahal so far, including Princess Diana, Prince William and wife Kate Middleton, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife among others.

The first family was received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath upon their arrival in Agra. Several folk artists performed at the airport to welcome the dignitaries.

Ivanka termed the 'Namaste Trump' event as "spectacular".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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North Brunswick, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / TGI SOLAR POWER GROUP INC. (OTC Markets:TSPG) ("TGI"), a diversified technology company, announced some new developments at the pre-incorporation meeting from the management of the new European subsidiary. The following issues were discussed: management and its functions, the Board of Directors, office space, securing funding as well as the direct participation of US shareholders in the European subsidiary by distributing shares of the subsidiary in the form of stock dividend on a pro-rata basis. Details are as follows: 1000 shares of TGI SOLAR POWER INC. shareholders receive one ordinary share of TGI Group PLC. May 9th is proposed ex-dividend day.Upon joining the newly founded company, Mr. Hedenberg said: "This is an opportunity not to be missed to satisfy a gap in the energy markets and need for innovations here in Europe." As we stated previously, TGI's initial plan of an Electric Vehicles assembly plant will require financing Euro15-20mm, through a combination of debt and equity. Financing will be completed through the wholly owned European subsidiary. Big Ben Capital proposal calls for pre-IPO placement of 2.5MM ($2.9MM) and follow up financing in-order to prepare for becoming a publicly traded entity on the Nordic Growth Market NGM AB, MIC Code XNGM (NGM), a regulated Swedish Stock Exchange in Stockholm and subsidiary to Boerse Stuttgart (SWB) in Germany.For more information, please see www.otcMarkets.com under ticker symbol "TSPG", and visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TGISolarPower/ About TGI Solar: TGI SOLAR POWER GROUP INC. is a diversified holding company. TGI's strategy is to acquire innovative and patented technologies, components, processes, designs and methods with commercial value that will give competitive market advantage and generate shareholder value.Safe Harbor Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1965: Those statements contained herein which are not historical are forward-looking statements, and as such, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operating results to materially differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, certain delays that are beyond the company's control, with respect to market acceptance of new technologies, or product delays in the testing and evaluation of products, and other risks, as detailed in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange CommissionCONTACT:HenryV@ TGIPOWER.COM 917-353-5099SOURCE: TGi Solar Power Group, Inc.
Coronavirus patients at Travis Air Force Base must go.

Diamond Princess cruise ship evacuees who tested positive for the pneumonia-like virus need to leave the base in Fairfield, Calif., even if they don't have symptoms, according to federal authorities.

The California Health and Human Services Agency said in a statement Saturday they must be sent either to the hospital or, if they're not sick enough, isolated until the infection has cleared. Of the 3,700 passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess, over 500 have been diagnosed with coronavirus. The genesis of the outbreak is an 80-year-old guest from Hong Kong who joined the cruise on Jan. 20, 2020.

The ship was quarantined in Yokohama, Japan for over a week before passengers were allowed to board planes back to their home countries.

Due to a lack of beds in specialized hospitals in Northern California, one place under consideration for the Travis patients is the state-owned Fairview Development Center in Costa Mesa. The center for people with mental disabilities is currently unoccupied, according to the Sacramento Bee.

If Fairview were chosen, the federal government would be responsible for providing health care  easing the burden on our hospitals during flu season  and for providing robust security to ensure the public safety and public health of the surrounding community, the state's statement said.

MORE: Trump was furious that cruise ship passengers with coronavirus were brought back to U.S.

But the move has been stalled as Costa Mesa officials argue that the plan lacks details about how the community would be protected from the outbreak.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order late Friday to halt the transportation of anyone who has tested positive for the new coronavirus to Costa Mesa, a city of 110,000 in the heart of Orange County. U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Stanton scheduled a hearing on the issue Monday.

City officials quickly sought court intervention after learning from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services that U.S. officials planned to start moving patients to a state-owned facility in Costa Mesa as early as Sunday.

They said in court documents that local officials were not included in the planning effort and wanted to know why the Fairview Developmental Center was considered a suitable quarantine site and what kind of safeguards were in place to prevent the possible transmission of the virus that has spread worldwide.

The city has not been part of any of the process that led to the consideration of the site, and it would be unfair to not include us in this kind of significant decision that has great impact on our community," Mayor Katrina Foley told the Orange County Register.

In a court filing, federal and state officials said city's arguments against the quarantine threaten public health.

Plaintiffs ill-informed and legally baseless application endangers the safety and well-being of the American people," the filing says. Plaintiffs ask this Court to substitute unfounded speculation for the expertise of federal and state public-health authorities. Instead of providing public-health expertise (or any expertise), Plaintiffs ask this Court to rely on internet statements and speculation."

ALSO: Coronavirus patient from cruise ship brought to San Francisco hospital

Fairview is a 109-acre campus that was once home to about 2,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its now nearly empty as the state has moved residents into community homes and other living situations.

A state lawmaker whose district includes Costa Mesa said he feared the virus could travel through the facility's air vents.

The coronavirus patients should be treated humanely and with the best medical care available. But the first priority must be to contain the virus and make sure it doesn't jump into the local population, Republican state Sen. John Moorlach said.

Globally, the virus has infected nearly 78,000 people in 29 countries, and more than 2,300 have died.

SFGATE digital reporter Amy Graff contributed to this report.
A lot of eyeballs were raised



on Twitter and many people expressed surprise as US President Donal Trump left a message in the visitors' book at Sabarmati Ashram without any mention of Mahatma Gandhi.

In the book, Trump wrote, "To my great friend Prime Minister Modi. Thank you for this wonderful visit."



Trump, who reached Ahmedabad on Monday for the first leg of his India tour, visited the Ashram along with wife Melania minutes after he landed here.

After noticing no mention of Mahatma Gandhi in the message by Trump, netizens took to Twitter, comparing his note with that of former US President Barack Obama.

When Obama visited the Mani Bhavan - where Gandhi used to stay while in Mumbai - in south Mumbai in 2010, his note in the visitors' book read: "I am filled with hope and inspiration as I have the privilege to view this testament to Gandhi's life. He is a hero not just to India but to the world."



Five years later, in January 2015, after visiting the Raj Ghat in Delhi, Obama wrote, "What Dr Martin Luther King Jr said then remains true today. The spirit of Gandhi is very much alive in India today. And it remains a great gift to the world. May we always live in the spirit of love and peace- among all people and nations."



Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted: And this is what @barackobama had to say about the Great Mahatma possibly at Rajghat or Sabarmati. The distinction can not be more stark."



Tapas Dey (@TapasDeyINC), former Tripura MLA, tweeted: "No mention of Bapu Mahatma Gandhi Ji in the visitor's book of Sabarmati Ashram, instead Mr. President @realDonaldTrump express his love to @narendramodi."



Another Twitter user Martin Joseph (@martinjmsw1) tweeted about Trump's hand writing.

"President Trumps comments in the visitor book of Sabarmati Ashram. The letters must be either in uppercase or lowercase but he used randomly mixed capitalization in writing. Its known StudlyCaps. He must repeat his High school Grammar classes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 24 : Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday submitted his resignation letter to the King, said his office.

"Mahathir Mohamad had sent a letter of resignation as Prime Minister of Malaysia today," Xinhua news agency quoted the Prime Minister's Office as saying in a statement.

The 94-year-old Prime Minister's decision comes after it was reported on Sunday that his party was planning to form a new government which would exclude his successor and People's Justice Party (PKR) President Anwar Ibrahim.

Earlier on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Anwar Ibrahim met Mahathir at his personal residence.

Mahathir returned as Prime Minister after the Pakatan Harapan, or the Alliance of Hope coalition, won the general election in May 2018.

He is also the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), one of the four component parties of the coalition.

Shortly before the resignation statement, PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin announced that he was quitting the Pakatan Harapan coalition with the party's supreme council making the decision after a meeting on February 23.

"All members of the House of Representatives of the party are also out of Pakatan Harapan. All of them have signed the oath to continue to support and trust Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister of Malaysia," the PPBM president said.

"This decision is made taking into account the current and future political developments of the country," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Debate Performances Have Hurt Biden, Rep. Clyburn Says

House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Sunday that former Vice President Joe Biden may have suffered due to his performance in previous debates, which may have cost him in earlier voting states.

Ive heard from a lot of the people that they thought that Joe Biden could have done more to engage  during the debates and thought he could have done more to say why he would be deserving. And so, I think he suffered from that because he didnt do enough, Clyburn told NBCs Meet the Press.

The former vice president finished fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire, but he claimed second-place in Nevada on Saturday.

Biden has often said that his campaign must do well in South Carolina, telling CBS Newss Face the Nation that he believes he will win the state.

I feel good about where we are. I feel good about going into South Carolina, he said on Sunday. And I feel good about the kind of support Ive had with African Americans around the country.

But Clyburn on Sunday said Bidens debate in South Carolina on Tuesday will be critical.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas in Nevada on Feb. 19, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

I think that at that time you had, what, 17 or 18 people on the stage. Kamala Harris, I think, unnerved him a little bit with her question, Clyburn said, referring to the California senator. So all of this changes when you only have six people. The dynamics on Tuesday night will be totally different from what they were.

Clyburn added in the interview that hell endorse a candidate on Wednesday.

I just believe it would be, it would not be good for me to hold myself out as a person who has been in South Carolina politics for as long as Ive been, he said.

Following Sen. Bernie Sanderss (I-Vt.) win in Nevada, where he took the delegate lead, Clyburn expressed fears that his policies would drive away independent and moderate voters.

I think it would be a real burden for us in these states or congressional districts that we have to do well in, Clyburn also told This Week on ABC. He noted that congressional districts that helped Democrats take the House are conservative and moderate.

In those districts, its going to be tough to hold on to these jobs if you have to make the case for accepting a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, Clyburn said.

South Carolinas primary is Feb. 29, followed by the March 3 Super Tuesday vote in which the greatest number of states cast ballots.
(Alliance News) - Gemstones miner Gemfields Group Ltd on Monday said a February emerald auction in Zambia secured USD11.5 million in revenue, but added that the result was "dampened" by falling consumer demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The USD11.5 million represents a 6.5% increase from the USD10.8 million in auction revenue secured in February 2019.

Gemfields' Managing Director of Product & Sales Adiran Banks said: "The results of our first auction of 2020 are in line with prior auctions of commercial quality emeralds and demonstrate a stable underlying market. It was however evident that the fallout of COVID-19 - the coronavirus - dampened what might otherwise have been a buoyant result.

"Firstly, the uncertainty surrounding Chinese consumer demand in the wake of COVID-19 has understandably created negative sentiment in the mid-stream market. Secondly, a handful of our key auction customers did not travel to Lusaka as a result of the increased risk associated with COVD-19 and thirdly, the Hong Kong market - important for both gemstones and jewellery - has had to endure multiple successive misfortunes."

Gemfiels sold 2.9 million carats, having offered 4.5 million. In an auction last February, it sold 2.5 million carats, and offered 4.2 million.

Carats were sold at an average of USD4.01 each.

Gemfields shares were 2.6% lower at 10.42 pence each in London on Monday morning. They were 2.4% lower at ZAR2.00 each in Johannesburg.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
One classic problem in education is the difficulty that learners face when it comes to showcasing their achievements in order to transfer to different educational programs or to capitalize on job opportunities.More and more groups are looking to blockchain as part of the solution. Earlier this month, the American Council on Education (ACE) revealed that it received funding from the U.S. Department of Education to support research on blockchains potential to solve the learner record quagmire. The money will also be used to help fund pilot projects throughout the country later this year.Louis Soares, the lead for the ACE initiative, said the heightened mobility of learners and the variability of learning itself  whether it takes place in a school, the workplace or another setting  have created a need to consider how the qualities of blockchain may improve the flow of learning record information.Blockchain is essentially a distributed database where once you load a block of information into that database, its very difficult to change, and its auditable  if you had a student whose family worked in agriculture, they might move a couple of times during a school year so that their parents are following the work. If their education record existed in a technology like a blockchain, its more easily downloadable to the next school district, Soares said.But even if blockchain can help address particular hang-ups such as the efficiency of transfers, the technology presents multiple questions. Who should be able to add and view information in a blockchain? How will blockchain interact with legacy data systems? How will blockchain align with existing regulations, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)? What current practices may need to change?One of the reasons were going to do the challenges is to begin to experiment with what a blockchain might look like that serves learners first and considers other stakeholders, Soares said.For guidance, the team at ACE will examine work thats already been done with blockchain in the learning record realm. A recent example is the partnership between Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) and the Dallas-based platform GreenLight Credentials that has resulted in students having unprecedented access to their educational transcripts.DCCCD Chancellor Joe May said the decision to address the issue of learning records happened after he learned that all IIT Technical Institutes closed their doors and stopped answering their phones.We went to work trying to assist students and suddenly realized we cant get their records, May said. Of course, you can imagine how unhappy students were. They were one or two courses from graduating. They were in debt at significant levels. And frankly, it was very frustrating to me.For May, the situation shed light on an absurdity: Learners cant access something that should be rightfully theirs. A friend suggested to May that blockchain could give students more control over their learning histories.I realized he was right, May said. Because of the distributed nature of that particular technology, it allowed the institution to write to a file that would be on a distributed ledger and therefore wouldnt be held hostage if something happened to the institution. The record would still exist.Today, the students in Mays district are sharing tens of thousands of learning records with transfer institutions, colleges and employers  and the process is not dependent on any office workers.[S]tudents can do it from an app on their phone, and they can literally  scroll through the list of institutions or whomever to send it to, and its instantaneous, May said. Theyre sending now 10 and 11 at a time to different institutions. Theyre exploring their options. Its given them the freedom to really look at and carefully consider how institutions will accept their credit in transfer.Although multiple institutions, from high schools to colleges, are writing to DCCCD students learning records, the blockchain in this case is not a public ledger but a private one. Additionally, the records themselves are not added to the chain. May said a fingerprint of the document containing much less data is written, which helps the speed of transfers.Whats more, despite the fact that FERPA states that institutions technically have ownership of records, the DCCCD model also allows learners to have consent.I cant see the high school record unless the student consents to share it, May said. Its actually been designed in such a way that the identity is completely protected. Only the student can reveal their identity.The current success of DCCCDs system doesnt mean everyone should jump on the blockchain bandwagon as quickly as they can. Wayne Skipper, CEO of Concentric Sky, wrote an article last year titledIn the piece, Skipper warns against a check the box approach, suggesting that everyone should think about the long-term consequences of using blockchain.Anyone thats looking solely at a product solution really needs to think about Is that vendor going to be around in five years? Are they going to be around in 10 years? What happens to your records that youve written to these other types of solutions? Skipper toldTo Skippers argument, Gartner has forecast that nine out of 10 blockchain vendor solutions will require replacement within 18 months to remain competitive, secure and avoid obsolescence.Skipper does understand the need to fix learning records. His company created Badgr, a digital badging product that boasts about 20 million users across the world. Badgr allows users to stack a wide variety of badges, or credentials, and show them off to interested consumers, such as employers.Skipper believes learning records should go beyond the traditional forms of diplomas, certificates and so on. The dexterity to play video games, for example, should be recorded.A lot of people think that they know what skills will matter in the future of workforce development, he said. I dont believe that they do. Whos to say that dexterity doesnt turn out to be the most important skill of the 21st century as we move into more of a VR- and XR-driven world? Then all of those video game badges that people have been earning  that, on the surface, might seem to be without merit  suddenly turn out to be data points in a representation of that learners ability to demonstrate the most important skill.Despite his urge for caution when it comes to blockchain, Skipper said his company does have a blockchain strategy. In fact, Concentric Sky, along with Salesforce, has assisted Arizona State University with the development of a federated system of multiple blockchains called the Trusted Learner Network Donna Kidwell, chief technology officer of EdPlus at ASU, said the network aims to address very different use cases involving learning records. One example is the reverse transfer student, which is someone who has transferred to a university with some community college experiences but who has not received an associates degree. The ASU team is working with community colleges to build up the logic for how someone could receive an associates degree while attending a university.Weve got lots of students that are in that category, Kidwell said. We want to help them to get that accomplishment and achieve it, and plus we want to be good partners to the community colleges that are important parts of our ecosystem.ASU Special Adviser and Faculty Affiliate Phillip Long said the blockchain network will enable students to control what others can see on their transcripts. The idea is for the person to be the focal point, where they can craft the exact story that they want to tell.The idea is that the data model that is being persisted across time can receive assertions of achievements of various sorts in lots of different contexts and is intended to be with them for the duration of their life, Long said.




Bola Tinubu and Muhammadu Buhari

Former Zamfara State governor, Sani Ahmed Yarima, has sounded a note of warning to the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari will not support his 2023 presidential ambition.

Giving reason, Yarima said President Buhari lacks the power to handover to any candidate of his choice.

The former governor announced that even an agreement between the President and Tinubu would not guarantee the latter a ticket.

I dont think Nigeria belongs to any of them and I dont think anyone in any position can determine what Nigeria should have, Yarima told DailyTrust.

Politics is about election  for people to decide what they want. So it is the majority of the people that will determine who they want. If he signed an agreement with Asiwaju, that agreement cannot be implemented even in getting the ticket. It cannot guarantee Asiwaju a ticket.

For example, the president has announced and the party has decided that our primary is going to be direct  just like we elected Mr. President during the primaries of the last general elections. Will he direct everybody to go and vote for Asiwaju?

Because, I believe it is going to be a free and fair election, agreement or no agreement is a political statement, but I dont think that is possible because I dont think that the Buhari that I know will sign any (such) agreement. He knows that he doesnt have the powers and the authority to hand over power to whomever he so wishes.

He said it is going to be free and fair; in fact, he even said it in the open that he doesnt have any candidate. So, these are just speculations, he added.

Meanwhile, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, says he would leave Nigeria for Togo if Tinubu becomes president in 2023.
WEST HAVEN  A motorcylist is dead after an accident on I-95 North, officials say.

The accident occured near exit 43, said an official from the West Haven Fire Department. He said the driver was dead on arrival.

The accident was first reported around 6:15 Sunday evening. State police said all three northbound lanes were closed as of 7:10 p.m.

Information will be added as more details are released.
Revelations contained in an independent report alleging Jean Vanier, founder of LArche International, engaged in manipulative sexual relationships with at least six women have devastated the LArche community in Winnipeg.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Revelations contained in an independent report alleging Jean Vanier, founder of LArche International, engaged in "manipulative sexual relationships" with at least six women have devastated the LArche community in Winnipeg.

"People are shocked, devastated and upset," said Jim Lapp, executive director and community leader of LArche Winnipeg.

"He was an inspiration to people, he founded the LArche communities and we value them," Lapp said. "He did a lot of good but the behaviour was wrong, and it flies in the face of everything that we as an international federation believe in. Our values are compassion and support for people, not exploitation or abuse."

Vanier, who died last May at age 90, founded the charity in 1964 to provide alternative living environments for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

The summary report from LArche International stated the Canadian Catholic religious figure had relationships with at least six adult women, none of whom had a disability, between 1970 and 1995. The report alleges he "used his power over them to take advantage of them through different kinds of sexual behaviours."

The women who provided testimony to GCPS Consulting, a U.K.-based group, all described feeling vulnerable to Vanier and at times came from difficult family backgrounds or were seeking a father figure or spiritual guidance, the report stated. The women also described significant barriers to bringing their concerns about the relationships forward due to Vaniers "charismatic personality" and dominant position within LArche.

The inquiry began in April 2019 and the final the report was released on Feb. 22.

Before his passing, Vanier received high praise for his work with LArche and was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, received Frances Legion of Honour, Britains Templeton Prize  previously awarded to Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama  and authored over 30 books.

According to the report, the relationships Vanier had with the six women were emotionally abusive, characterized by significant imbalances of power, and took place under coercive conditions.

'He did a lot of good but the behaviour was wrong, and it flies in the face of everything that we as an international federation believe in'  Jim Lapp, executive director of L'Arche Winnipeg

Lapp said LArche Canada has provided community leaders in Winnipeg with training to facilitate healing circles for staff, families and residents. LArche Winnipeg, which was founded in 1973, has six homes, two apartments and a cafe. The organization serves 27 members with disabilities. Worldwide, there are 154 LArche communities in 38 countries.

LArche Winnipeg is independent of LArche International, Lapp pointed out, and Vanier last visited the community 22 years ago for its 75th anniversary.

"They (LArche Canada) knew that we would have some healing to do afterward," Lapp said, noting Vaniers influence and significance to the LArche community locally, and Catholic community more generally. "Ive told some people about it and they are very interested. They say I need a healing circle, and to process and deal with it."

Lapp said hes also been in contact with the Archdiocese of St. Boniface and the Archdiocese of Winnipeg.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface said Archbishop Albert LeGatt was not available for an interview Sunday. Calls to the Archdiocese of Winnipeg were not returned by publication time.

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LArche Winnipeg has begun a review of its policies and procedures and will be submitting its governing documents to LArche Canada, along with all other Canadian branches, Lapp said.

"They will be making recommendations for us to change if we need to, and were certainly open to that," Lapp said.

The policy review will ensure all people within the LArche Winnipeg community are made to feel safe and supported, he said, and to identify any gaps that may exist when reporting harassment and abuse.

"I think the people who are part of LArche might have been inspired to come by Jean Vanier, but theyre here because of the relationship with the people," Lapp said. "Its really about our community of LArche Winnipeg together have made something of value, of relationships, so Im pretty sure well continue on and maybe even be strengthened as we go through this really difficult process."

 with files from The Canadian Press

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
Kristie Heard, a dancer and instructor who has owned her own studio for eighteen years in Georgia, where she lives with her husband and two children, has published her latest book Phoenix Lou and Her Many Shoes: The Ballet Shoes: a sweet story for young readers.

Join Phoenix Lou as she begins an adventure in her closet filled with many shoes. Phoenix discovers her ballet shoes, which takes her on a fun-filled adventure practicing and learning ballet dance moves and words. Who knows what pair she will wear next!

Published by Page Publishing, Kristie Heards engrossing book is a delightful addition to any childrens library.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchasePhoenix Lou and Her Many Shoes: The Ballet Shoes at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.


The late actor Kirk Douglas has reportedly left the bulk of his $61 million fortune to charity.

According to The Mirror, the Douglas Foundation will receive $50 million of his estate. It is not clear where the remaining $11 million will go, but Kirk has reportedly left no money to his actor son Michael Douglas, who is estimated to be worth $278 million himself.

The Douglas Foundation was set up by Kirk and his wife Anne in 1964.

According to the foundation website, Kirk was inspired to set it up after experiencing poverty in his childhood as "the son of immigrants who migrated from Russia in the early 20th Century."

The website states the purpose is "to help those who cannot help themselves" with a primary focus on "improving education and health" and "developing new opportunities for children."

Previous beneficiaries of the Douglas Foundation include the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, the Douglas Family Early Childhood Center and St Lawrence University.

The late actor, who starred in a number of films including Spartacus, died on 5th February 2020 at the age of 103.

"It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103," Michael Douglas confirmed in a statement.
Rocket explosions pounded the sky in Israel on Sunday followed by sirens.

This is what 24 hours of hostility sounds like from the ground near Gaza.

It's part of an escalation of violence after militant group Islamic Jihad fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel sending residents running for shelters.

Israel struck back launching air strikes in Syria and around Gaza.

Earlier that day Israel said its troops killed an Islamic Jihad member who was trying to plant explosives near the border fence with Gaza.

Video footage circulated online of what appeared to be a lifeless body dangling from an Israeli military bulldozer.

The images caused uproar in Gaza and calls for retaliation.

Israeli military said its forces struck "Islamic Jihad terror targets south of Damascus" as well as a dozen Jihad targets through the Gaza strip.

Syrian media had reported that Israeli planes entered Syrian airspace and its air defenses had intercepted "hostile targets" over the capital, Damascus.
Le negociateur de la AMLEU & GWF se dit inquiet de la situation a Airport of Mauritius Ltd avec la nouvelle seance du Disciplinary Committee contre Sharvin Sunassee, le president elu de la Airport of Mauritius Employees Union, qui uara lieu le 26 fevrier 2020 a Port Louis.

At the Airport of Mauritius Ltd (AML)

. Sordid anti-union persecution ever perpetrated by a State body since independence.

. Call on Prime Minister and members of the National Assembly to act diligently.

This Wednesday 26th February 2020 at 14:30, at AML Conference Room, 5th Floor, Newton Tower, Port Louis, a new session of a Disciplinary Committee is being called by AML against Mr. Sharvin Sunassee, the duly elected President of the Airport of Mauritius Employees Union (AMLEU). The only reason for this persecution is that Mr Sunassee has always defended the interest of its members and denounced any malpractices done by the AML Company.

This would be the third session of Disciplinary Committee hearing being called and the fourth wave of Disciplinary processes initiated by AML against the President of AMLEU, since January 2019. From then on, a series of trumped-up charges and ill-usage of disciplinary actions are being concocted, by AML against Mr. Sharvin Sunassee, who is also suspended from duty since March 2019.

The first wave, of this persecution started in January 2019, was disapproved by the Ministry of Labour after the GWF brought the case there.

The second wave was initiated on the 2nd April 2019, when new fabricated charges were brought against the AMLEU President for bringing disrepute to AML Management. He was accused of an alleged post in a private Facebook page, on the night of 30-31 March 2019. In parallel, Mr Sharvin Sunassee was suspended from duty with immediate effect and the office of the union was seized by AML. The Disciplinary process, ensuing from the second wave was stopped by an Order, no less than the Supreme Court of Mauritius on the 10th of May 2019, on the ground that the AML flouted the disciplinary procedures found in the Procedure Agreement. AML undertook to reinstate Mr. Sunassee in his post in the Supreme Court.

However, after the Supreme Court Order, in the space of 24 hours, on the 11th of May 2019, a third wave of disciplinary process started anew, on the same false charge of posting on Facebook on the night of 30-31 March 2019. A new suspension from duty took effect, even before the previous one was lifted! The first session of the Disciplinary Committee called by AML on the 13th June 2019, was postponed by AML.

And for more than 6 months, AML opted not to call any Disciplinary Committee. Instead, the Management openly backed up a group of AML employees who fraudulently, illegally and undemocratically attempted to oust the elected executive President and office bearers, of AMLEU in an attempt to take control of the AMLEU.

On the 17th of January 2020, a second session of the Disciplinary Committee (DC) was held. The Management called its main witness, Mr. Prashant Purmessur, who is non other than the so called Secretary of the group that perpetrated the coup against the elected executive members of the Union. He was supposed to testify and produce evidence that Mr. Sunassee posted on AML Staff Corner on the night of 30-31 March 2019. On crossexamination, the main witness could not prove that the said post was made on the night of 30-31 March 2019,

which is the very root of the accusations against Mr. Sunassee. A motion was made by Me. Yashley Reesaul, lawyer of Mr Sunassee, for either the employer to remove all the screenshots presented in the DC as evidence or to present a new witness from the employer side to call and testify that such post was effected 30-31 March 2019. Me. Reesaul called for a ruling on the issue. The President of the DC, Me. Marylou Subramanien, requested a short postponement for Monday 20 January 2020. However in the morning of Monday 20 January, the said Disciplinary Committee was postponed.

In the meantime and in parallel, the Registrar of Association, called the bluff of the pro-management lackeys, called Ad-hoc Committee, who perpetrated the coup detat within AMLEU.

The truth of the last 11 months of AML manoeuvrers started to be unveiled: the attempt to behead a Union of its President, to annihilate AML employees trade unions rights and to place a trade union of employees under its control, was falling apart.

What was the reaction of AML potentate? They initiated a fourth wave of Disciplinary Process!

They called a new (third) session of the Disciplinary Committee, this Wednesday 26th February 2020, BUT decided to alter completely the very root of the charge against Mr Sharvin Sunassee. He is now being accused of posting on Facebook, not on night of the 30th -31st March 2019, but on the night of 29th -30th March 2019!

This is completely absurd, abusive and is an ill-usage of disciplinary actions, violates all the principle of natural justice, is a totally illegal manoeuvre, and even constitutes a clear violation of the Supreme Order of the 10th of May 2019. It confirms that AML since day 1, is using disciplinary process as weapon of persecution and persistent harassment against a union President.

How can employer substantially modify a charge against an employee, in this case a Unions President, after 10 months?

How can an employer suspend an employee on the basis of a specific charge for 10 months, to then after presenting his case in in a Disciplinary Committee, alter the very root of the said charge?

How can an employer, after having made solemn affirmation in an affidavit before the Supreme Court that a clear act of gross misconduct which is already ascertained, [i.e. have been verified to have been committed on the 30-31 March 2019], now alter the said charge?

It is now ascertained that AML, a State Owned Company, has been caught in its act, en flagrant delit of committing one the most sordid anti-union persecution ever perpetrated by a State body since the independence.

The question which arises then is:

 Is the Prime Minister, Hon Pravind Jugnauth aware of what is happening or not?

If yes, can he explain to the nation why his government is perpetrating this crime?

If not, can he act diligently as from this Monday, to stop this sordid persecution, and bring the potentate of AML to order?

 Are members of the newly elected National Assembly aware of situation at AML?

If yes, why are they silent?

If no, will they raise their voices to stop the sacking of a unions President?

As negotiator of AMLEU and the GWF, I call on all unions and democratic forces of the country to stand by the AMLEU President, Mr Sharvin Sunassee on Wednesday 26th Feb 2020 at 14:00, at the AML Conference Room, 5th Floor, Newton Tower, Port Louis, and in any future actions to stop the sordid anti-union persecution being committed by some potentate in the Public Owned Company, AML. It is a democratic duty to defend the right of trade unionism in Mauritius!

Ashok Subron

Negotiator of AMLEU & GWF
Technavio has been monitoring the commercial foodservice market, and it is poised to grow by USD 761.6 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005690/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Commercial Foodservice Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

An increasing number of restaurants worldwide has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request a free sample report

Commercial Foodservice Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Commercial Foodservice Market is segmented as below:

Type

Restaurants

Caterers

Drinking Establishments

Geographic segmentation

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31292

Commercial Foodservice Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our commercial foodservice market report covers the following areas:

Commercial Foodservice Market size

Commercial Foodservice Market trends

Commercial Foodservice Market industry analysis

This study identifies the implementation of new technologies as one of the prime reasons driving the commercial foodservice market growth during the next few years.

Commercial Foodservice Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the commercial foodservice market, including some of the vendors such as Brinker International Inc., Compass Group PLC, McDonald's, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Yum! Brands Inc. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the commercial foodservice market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Commercial Foodservice Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist commercial foodservice market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the commercial foodservice market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the commercial foodservice market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of commercial foodservice market vendors

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005690/en/

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A wild brawl broke out in a popular late night eatery after revellers stormed in demanding free food, its owner claims.

CCTV footage captured the fight between the owner of the Falafel House restaurant and customers at 3am on Sunday on Hindley Street in central Adelaide.

Business owner George Alkoury said the wild scenes erupted when three women stormed into his shop demanding a meal on the house.

Footage showed one of the women throw a bottle and another hurl a drink at Mr Alkoury as he stood behind the counter, before he approached the group to remove them from his store.

'Out!' Mr Alkoury yelled as another customer stepped in to break up the scuffle, before one of the women threw a chair.

One of the girls threw a chair (pictured) at Mr Alkoury, causing him to hide beneath a stool and call the police for assistance

'I'm very scared,' Mr Alkoury told 9News after the incident.

Mr Alkoury hid behind a stool to protect himself and called police as the women continue to thrash around the store before leaving.

He claimed police took too long to respond to his call for help.

'What is going on? Very busy police? Sorry, it's not an excuse this one,' he said.

'Who gives you power to attack me?' Mr Alkoury said. 'This is my business, my job.'

Mr Alkoury said the popular Hindley Street entertainment precinct needs a greater police presence to stop incidents like this from occurring.

His calls were backed by The West End Traders Association.

South Australian Police say their staff levels on the strip are adequate, with more units able to be deployed on the street at any time.

George Alkoury (pictured middle left) was forced to defend his Falafel House business after three girls came in demanding free food on Sunday morning
The British got a lot wrong as the empire spread, and one facet of colonial mistakes was how to look at Tibetan religious and art objects made of skulls or thighbones. To British colonial officials and missionaries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, such items were morbid examples of devil worship. To Tibetans they were objects used to celebrate life.  The Guardian (UK)
The Delhi High Court asked the Centre and civic body CPWD on Monday to respond to a plea seeking that no clearance (EC) be granted to cut of trees for the expansion and renovation of the Parliament building here, which is part of the Central Vista Redevelopment project.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued notice to the Ministry of Housing and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) seeking their stand on the application moved by a Delhi resident opposing cutting of trees for the expansion work.

The judge said the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the ministry which is scheduled to hear CPWD's application for EC on Tuesday can take a decision, but it will have to be immediately placed before the court.

The application was moved by the petitioner -- Lt Col (retd) Anuj Srivastava -- in his main petition opposing the Central Vista project on the ground that it involves a change in land use of the green area adjoining Rajpath and Vijay Chowk for building a new Parliament and government offices.

Srivastava, in his petition filed through advocate Ankit Yadav, has contended that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) does not have the power to bring about the proposed change in land use and master plan and only the central government can do so.

During the hearing of the application, Justice Shakdher said that even if EC was granted for cutting trees, CPWD cannot go ahead and do it as the overall issue of change in land use was yet to be decided by the court.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Acharya, appearing for CPWD, told the court that trees cut for the project would be transplanted at a suitable location and if any of them do not survive, then trees of 7-8 years of age would be planted as replacement.

Gujarat-based architecture firm HCP Designs has won the consultancy bid for the Centre's ambitious project to redevelop the Central Vista -- the 3-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi.

The revamp, which was announced in September last year, envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, that is targeted to be constructed by August, 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PHILADELPHIA (February 24, 2020) - As opioid overdoses continue to grab headlines, more states are providing their communities with easier access to naloxone, which can prevent death by reversing opioid overdoses. But while naloxone may be available at township buildings, libraries, or other community locations, little is known about how schools maintain a supply and use naloxone to prepare for treating overdose.

At the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing), researchers conducted an online survey of 362 Pennsylvania school nurses (elementary, middle, and high school) to better understand how they have a supply, administer, and perceive storing naloxone in their schools. The results illustrate that though many nurses have a supply of naloxone in their school, important barriers to access and use of this life-saving medication still exist.

In the study, close to half of those who responded to the survey reported that they did not have a supply of naloxone in their school building. Reasons for not having a supply included lack of school board and/or administration support, belief that the medication was not needed in their school, and lack of funds, among other reasons. Of those who had naloxone in their school, 5% reported that the overdose reversal drug had been used at their school.

"Our survey results show that barriers, particularly those related to lack of support or beliefs that naloxone is not needed in a community, need to be addressed," says Penn Nursing's Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor and lead investigator of the study. "School nurses are in a position as both health educators and emergency responders regarding opioid overdose and may be an untapped resource to spread the adoption of community access to naloxone through normative behavior."

The study's findings have just been published in Public Health Nursing in an article titled "School Nurse Reported Supply and Administration of Naloxone in Schools." Co-authors of the study include Jennifer Pinto-Martin, PhD, MPH; Peggy Compton, PhD, RN, FAAN; and Madeleine Parikh, BSN, all of Penn Nursing; and Zachary Meisel, MD, MPH, MSHP, of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. This study was supported by a pilot award from the Penn Injury Science Center which is an Injury Control Research Center funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (R49 CE002474).

###

About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world's leading schools of nursing. For the fourth year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University and is consistently ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools. Penn Nursing is currently ranked # 1 in funding from the National Institutes of Health, among other schools of nursing, for the third consecutive year. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Instagram.
Even though the roads are under the jurisdiction of IDOT and the resurfacing projects are paid by the state, Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim said they will have a positive financial impact for the city, which does incur some maintenance costs for the roads.
Burma Myanmar Police Probe Boss over Child Employee Burns

The 13-year-old victim at Labutta Township Hospital. / Facebook

Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region  A childrens rights activist has filed a lawsuit against a restaurant owner who allegedly set a child employee on fire at her business in Labutta Township, Ayeyarwady Region.

Daw Cho Cho San, the 36-year-old owner, allegedly poured fuel on the 13-year-old boy and set him on fire on Feb. 19 over 80,000 kyats (US$52) that was missing from the till.

The boy was treated at Labutta Public Hospital. The victims mother reported that the burns were caused by a soup pot that fell on him.

A childrens rights committee member U Myint Htay saw the victims photos online and investigated.

I went to the hospital and found all his hair was burned away. He had burns over his torso. His mother said the burns were caused when a soup pot fell on him. And his hair was burned when he fell on a fire. It was not plausible. Neighbors said they saw [the attack] so I opened the case, said U Myint Htay.

Residents said they saw the victim run out on fire and roll in the dirt on the street.

The victim suffered from burns on his shoulder and both arms.

We have opened a case against Daw Cho Cho San under Section 326 of the Penal Code. But bail is allowed for this charge. We are still speaking to witnesses, Lieutenant-Colonel Tun Shwe of Ayeyarwady police told The Irrawaddy.

Section 326 is for voluntarily causing grievous harm and carries a prison term of up to 10 years.

Witnesses had promised to testify in court, said No. 1 ward administrator U Htwe Myint.

When I asked eyewitnesses in my ward, they said the employer first asked him at knifepoint [about the money]. Then she poured fuel on him and used a lighter to ignite it. He ran outside and rolled around in the sand.

He reached a neighboring house and pieces of burned flesh were left on the wall. We have taken them as evidence, he said.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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The UK remains prepared for all eventualities, Downing Street has insisted, as fears over a global coronavirus pandemic continue to grow.

Experts have raised concern that coronavirus will reach pandemic status following a rapid spread of infection in countries including Italy, South Korea and Iran.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is worried about the lack of an obvious link between China and newer cases in these countries, and some scientists argue the virus can be passed on easily and by those with no symptoms.

In Italy, around 50,000 people are affected by a lockdown in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, as the country reports more than 160 cases  the largest number in Europe.

In the UK, 13 people have so far been diagnosed with Covid-19 illness caused by the virus, including four over the weekend who had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was held in quarantine in Japan.

On Monday, Downing Street insisted the UK was well prepared and said the risk to individuals in the UK remains low.

Asked whether the UK could put in place restrictive measures such as those seen in Italy to combat the spread of the disease, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: We will be led by the advice from public health and medical experts and will take steps which they feel are required to best protect the British public.

We are well prepared for UK cases, we are using tried and tested procedures to prevent further spread and the NHS is extremely well prepared and used to managing infections.

We continue to work closely with the World Health Organisation and international partners as the situation develops and we remain prepared for all eventualities.

(PA Graphics)

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told the PA news agency the organisation will not officially declare a pandemic, but will start to use the term in communications if it reaches that stage.

She added: We could start describing it as a pandemic but at the moment we are saying it is clusters and outbreaks in some countries.

Story continues

Ms Harris said in most cases there was a clear epidemiological link between those affected and cases reported in Asia.

If it became clear that it is all around the globe and we are seeing systematic community transmission, then we would say this meets the definition of a pandemic, she added.

The Foreign Office has not advised Britons against travel to Italy, but has updated its website with factual information about the situation there.

There are no figures as yet as to whether any Britons are affected by the lockdown and are stuck in Italy.

People in the affected areas are being told to follow public health advice from local Italian authorities.

Meanwhile, British experts have been debating whether the world is heading for a pandemic.

David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the term was distracting.

He said: It is still a series of outbreaks, and countries where they are occurring should make every effort to stop transmission and all countries should prepare for more widespread occurrence if it happens.

Transmissibility in the community is not yet fully understood  terms such as pandemic are distracting.

Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said: We already have a Covid-19 epidemic in China and, more recently, large outbreaks in South Korea, Iran and Italy.

If those outbreaks cannot be brought under control, then Covid-19 would fit the criteria of a pandemic.

A woman wearing a sanitary mask walks past La Scala Opera house in Milan, Italy (Luca Bruno/AP)

Dr Bharat Pankhania, from the University of Exeter Medical School, said:

We now consider this to be a pandemic in all but name, and its only a matter of time before the World Health Organisation starts to use the term in its communications.

This gives us focus and tells us that the virus is now appearing in other countries and transmitting far afield from China.

However, it doesnt change our approach in monitoring the outbreak. In the UK, theres no need to move towards mitigation strategies, as so far, our containment policies are working.

We only have 13 cases, and they are contained and controlled. I expect we will continue with this containment strategy while its successful.

He said infections could begin to drop as the warmer months come in, or could possibly continue for another six to 18 months.

(PA Graphics)

About 77,000 people in China, where the virus emerged in Wuhan city, have been infected and nearly 2,600 have died.

More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed in 26 other countries and there have been more than 20 deaths.

Bruce Aylward, an assistant director-general at WHO, said at a briefing in Beijing on Monday that Chinas unprecedented lockdown and restrictions may have blunted the viruss spread and averted hundreds of thousands of cases, the Guardian reported.

I know people look at the numbers and say whats really happening, Mr Aylward said.

Very rapidly, multiple sources of data pointed to the same thing. This is falling and its falling because of the actions that are being taken.

Meanwhile, four Britons rescued from the coronavirus-hit Dimaond Princess cruise ship are being treated at specialist centres in the North of England after testing positive for the illness.

They were among a group of 30 Britons and two Irish citizens who arrived at a quarantine block at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside on Saturday.

Two of the patients are in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, one is in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and a fourth was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

British couple David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, who were on the cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary, are still in a Japanese hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus and pneumonia.

Also over the weekend, 118 people repatriated from Wuhan were released from a coronavirus quarantine centre in Milton Keynes.
New research suggests that regular exercise may improve the well-being of African American cancer survivors, but most survivors do not meet current recommendations for physical activity. The findings are published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Because regular physical activity can influence a variety of factors that affect survival after a cancer diagnosis, the ACS recommends that cancer survivors engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. For most cancers, African American patients have a higher likelihood of dying from their disease than other racial or ethnic groups, and preliminary research suggests that they engage in lower levels of physical activity.

To assess levels of physical activity in African American cancer survivors and to examine the relationship between such physical activity and their health-related quality of life (their physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being), Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, MPH, PhD, of the Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University in Detroit, and her colleagues analyzed information from the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (Detroit ROCS) study. In this population-based study that includes African Americans diagnosed with the four most common cancers (lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers), participants complete baseline and yearly follow-up surveys to update their health and health behaviors.

Among the first 1,500 participants, 60 percent reported engaging in regular physical activity, with 24 percent reporting at least 150 minutes per week. There were no differences by gender. Prostate cancer survivors were the most likely to report participating in physical activity (28 percent), while lung cancer survivors were the least likely (18 percent).

Survivors reported engaging in more physical activity at the first follow-up survey, increasing from an average of 76 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity at the start of the study to 110 minutes at the one-year follow-up. At the start, just one-quarter of survivors met ACS recommendations, compared with 34 percent at the one-year follow-up.

Survivors who participated in regular physical activity reported higher health-related quality of life and lower depression. Also, increases in the amount of physical activity between the start of the study and the one-year follow-up correlated with improvements in health-related quality of life.

"Identifying barriers to participation in regular exercise and developing interventions to reduce these barriers in African American cancer survivors will be critical for improving outcomes in this population and minimizing cancer health disparities," said Dr. Beebe-Dimmer.

###

Additional Information

NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. A free abstract of this article will be available via the Cancer News Room upon online publication. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact:

Penny Smith +44 (0) 1243 770448 (UK)

newsroom@wiley.com

Follow us on Twitter @WileyNews

Full Citation:

"Physical activity and quality of life in African American cancer survivors: The Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) Study." Jennifer L. Beebe-Dimmer, Julie J. Ruterbusch, Felicity Harper, Tara M. Baird, David G. Finlay, Andrew Rundle, Stephanie Pandolfi, Theresa Hastert, Kendra L. Schwartz, Gerold Bepler, Michael S. Simon, Julia Mantey, Judy Abrams, Teri Albrecht, and Ann G. Schwartz. CANCER; Published Online: February 24, 2020 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32725).

URL Upon Publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/cncr.32725

Author Contact: Kristine Kilbourne, Sr. Marketing & Communications Specialist at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, at kilbourk@karmanos.org or +1 313-576-8629.

About the Journal

CANCER is a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society integrating scientific information from worldwide sources for all oncologic specialties. The objective of CANCER is to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of information among oncologic disciplines concerned with the etiology, course, and treatment of human cancer. CANCER is published on behalf of the American Cancer Society by Wiley and can be accessed online.

Follow us on Twitter @JournalCancer

About Wiley

Wiley drives the world forward with research and education. Through publishing, platforms and services, we help students, researchers, universities, and corporations to achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to all of our stakeholders. The Company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.
[February 24, 2020] Michael Schall Joins FocalPoint Partners to Co-Lead Food Industry Practice

FocalPoint (News - Alert) Partners, a leading middle-market investment bank, has appointed food industry executive Michael Schall as Managing Director to co-lead its growing food and beverage industry investment banking practice. Mike has been one of the food industry's most influential figures over the past 30 years, contributing to the dynamic growth of better-for-you consumer brands and the sea change in retailing that now addresses consumers' desire for healthy, functional and sustainable products. As one of Whole Foods Market's senior team members for the past eight years, and having previously led as a CEO and board member for numerous brands, Schall has a unique and extensive playbook for understanding where the natural and organic market has been - and is going - from both manufacturer and retailer perspectives. "Mike Schall is a rarity - his experience as a retailer, operator and deal guy further elevates FocalPoint's food and beverage advisory team," noted Duane Stullich, Founder and Managing Partner. "He has negotiated joint ventures with Fortune 500 companies, enacted capital raises, buy side and sell side M&A transactions and has successfully navigated significant growth periods for great brands leading sales, marketing, culinary, product development and quality assurance teams. This experience, combined with his incredible connectivity to top food industry leaders, represents an extraordinary resource for our food and beverage clients." To Schall, joining FocalPoint Partners ideally leverages the breadth of his experience. "The culture and thought leadership at FocalPoint perfectly complement my 30-plus years of operating and transactional experience in CPG food and my obsession to deliver for the client. The firm's professionals share my core values and passion for delivering best-in-class client advocacy and maximizing stakeholder value." "Mike understands how to position our clients' businesses to buyers and/or investors in a way that will truly maximize value," adds Bob Woolway, Managing Director. "His diverse operating experience fits in perfectly with our food and beverage practice and contributes further to FocalPoint's significant momentum." Mike is widely known in the industry for his recent work at Whole oods Market. There he launched the successful Engine 2 Plant Strong Exclusive Brand in 2012, a first for the industry and Whole Foods Market staking their prescient claim to the plant-based food trend. He continued to provide leadership on investments, new ventures and strategic partnerships. Notably, Schall was instrumental in making operational improvements, developing strategy and leading changes in in-store prepared foods, and provided counsel and insights on projects for the company's E-Team and CEO, John Mackey, both before and after the Amazon acquisition.



As Whole Foods Market's Senior Principal, Global Growth and Business Development, he collaborated with the company's executive leadership level on a wide array of business initiatives with Perishable, Grocery and Prepared Foods operating teams. Schall's reputation for consistently delivering innovative value creation solutions was the product of contributions made at Whole Foods Market and decades of experience as a founder, board member, and operating executive in packaged goods food marketers and manufacturers.

For Delaware-based Townsends Inc., one of the first and largest U.S. industrial chicken processors, Schall served as a Director and President of Sales and Marketing of the $500M vertically integrated poultry processor during a turbulent and adverse commodity market that resulted in a structured bankruptcy sale to two strategic buyers. During his eight years as a board member and then Senior Vice President of Monterey Gourmet Foods, he led strategy development, sales and marketing, business integration and corporate development, which culminated in its acquisition by Pulmuone USA in February of 2010. Additional professional accomplishments include orchestrating company-transforming strategic joint ventures such as with ConAgra and P&G while serving as SVP for legendary snack food and chip maker Wise Foods; serving private equity ownership as President and CEO of Guiltless Gourmet, the Austin, TX innovator of the baked tortilla chip category; serving as President and CEO of The B. Manischewitz Company - the world's largest marketer of ethnic and kosher foods; and leading turned-arounds for innovative food companies like the California dip and salsa maker Simply Fresh. Mike holds a master's in business administration in Marketing from The University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and graduated from California State University at Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree in Marketing. He successfully completed advanced management development programs at Unilever and from Xerox and is a trained expert flavor profile panelist. About FocalPoint Partners FocalPoint is an independent investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, private placements, financial restructurings, and special situation transactions. With offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Shanghai, the firm has provided advisory services to middle market clients across industry sectors since 2002: consumer, business services, energy, financial services, healthcare, media/technology and industrials. For more information, visit us on the web FocalPoint Partners and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005326/en/

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Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai on Monday night said that there is an atmosphere of terror in his constituency in the wake of clashes over the new citizenship law and alleged that there is no police force on the ground to control the situation.

In a tweet at around 10 pm, Rai said he is constantly callingPolice Commissioner Amulya Patnaik but he is not receiving his call.

He urged Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately deploy police force in the area.

"There is an atmosphere of terror in Babarpur, rioters are roaming and setting fire but there is no police force. I am calling the police commissioner Amulya Patnaik but he is not receiving his call. I urge Delhi LG and Home Minister to immediately deploy police force," Rai said in a tweet.

Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party leader urged the residents to maintain peace, saying some people were purposely trying to disturb the atmosphere.

"With folded hands, I request people in Babarpur Assembly to maintain peace. Some people are purposely trying to spoil the atmosphere. I have spoken to Delhi LG and he has assured me that more policemen will be deployed to bring the situation under control," Rai said in a tweet.

Clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in northeast Delhion Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

A Delhi Police head constable was among four people killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured in the riots.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- A drone-based multi-functional monitoring system has been used to help control the novel coronavirus and offer early warnings, according to its developer.

Developed by a team from the Beijing Institute of Technology and a drone company in Tianjin, the system is mainly composed of drones, broadcasting tools, ground control and an image processing platform.

It has been used in the city of Fuxin, northeast China's Liaoning Province to find potentially infected persons.

With infrared thermal imaging technology, the drone can automatically monitor the flow of people and spot those with fever without direct contact. The broadcasting tools also help inform people of preventive measures and urge people to stop inappropriate behaviors.

Once the system detects a suspected person, it will record the information in its big data system. It can also be used in those companies which resume operation to prevent and contain the novel coronavirus, according to its developer.
The United States should step in and help lift the blockade of Libyan oil ports that has decimated the countrys oil production, the chairman of the National Oil Corporation, Mustafa Sanalla said during a meeting with the U.S. ambassador.

US Ambassador Norland and I agreed that the oil and gas sector must be allowed to operate for the benefit of all Libyans, as it represents the only income for state. That means ending the blockade, which is doing severe damage to the economy of country, Sanalla was quoted as saying by Libyan media.

I am hopeful that the US will continue their efforts to broker peace so that Libyas economy can slowly rebuild and work towards prosperity for all Libyan people. We urgently need US leadership to help end the oil embargo, not just to avoid a financial crisis, but to prevent major damage to national infrastructure, Sanalla also said.

A group of tribal paramilitary organizations blockaded Libyas oil ports in January as part of the ongoing offensive of the eastern government-affiliated Libyan national Army against the Government of National Accord based in Tripoli.

The blockade has led to a slump in oil production from over 1.2 million bpd to less than 200,000 bpd and a warning, earlier this month, from the Prime Minister of the GNA that if it continues, the country will face financial disaster.



Related: Is Tesla Really The Emerging Energy King?

The continuation of the shutdowns will result in a catastrophic financial crisis, said Fayez Serraj. Losses from the oil shutdowns have exceeded $1.4bn. The figure is increasing every day.

Indeed, in late January, NOCs Sanalla told Bloomberg that Libya could lose all of its oil production if the blockade was not lifted soon, and the latest production figures suggest that output may indeed be heading for zero, with no free storage space left to stock oil from still-producing fields.

The latest production update from NOC says that Libya is producing just 124,000 bpd because of the continued blockade. Whats more, an LNA attack on the port of Tripoli has prompted four vessels to leave the port to avoid getting hit by a missile after one narrowly missed an LNG carrier that was unloading its cargo at the time, Lloyds reported.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) caused a new crisis by notifying the Constitutional Court (CCR) in the case of the appointment of Ludovic Orban as prime minister.

"I will not comment on the decision of the CCR and I will wait for the reasoning, but what PSD is doing is an unprecedented defiance of the people," Iohannis said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.He insisted that PSD caused a new crisis by notifying the Court.
Prince Andrew is being humiliated with a very public stunt outside Buckingham palace. Photo: Getty Images

Irate prosecutors in the Jeffery Epstein case are making their feelings towards Prince Andrew known via a bold message emblazoned on a yellow school bus outside Buckingham Palace.

Commissioned by US lawyer Gloria Allred who is representing some of Epsteins accusers in court, the bus was spotted on Friday UK time driving by the Palace with an unmissable sign on its side.

If you see this man please ask him to call the FBI to answer their questions, the sign reads, with two prominent photos of the royal on either side.

A yellow school bus with a message for the Britain's Prince Andrew, from US lawyer Gloria Allred, was spotted on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. Photo: AAP

The message slams Andrew over allegations he will not communicating with the FBI about former friend Epstein. Photo: AAP

The bus was intended to stir the royal family to action after Andrew came under fire for his reported lack of co-operation in the ongoing Jeffery Epstein criminal trial, with another lawyer on the case Geoffrey Berman saying that to date the prince has shown zero co-operation with the FBI.

Gloria Allred directly appealed to the Prince outside the New York Supreme Court ahead of the bus stunt earlier the same day.

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, she told gathered press.

Gloria Allred appealed directly to Andrew to come forward. Photo: AAP

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.

Calls for greater royal consequences

Many are calling for greater consequences for Prince Andrew. Photo: Getty Images

Though Andrew has been stood down from royal duties in the wake of the scandal, members of the public were dismayed when the Queen shared a lengthy tribute to her son via the official royal social media accounts during the week for his birthday.

Andrews relationship with Epstein has come under renewed scrutiny since he gave an interview to the BBC discussing their friendship.

He was accused of lacking empathy for Epsteins victims and of failing to show regret over his friendship with the convicted sex offender.

Story continues

The prince was also accused of sexual assault by one of the Epsteins alleged victims.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre says she was trafficked by Epstein, and that she had several sexual encounters with Prince Andrew starting when she was 17. He denies the claims.

Meanwhile, royal watchers may have missed the bus memo as Harry and Meghans shocking Megxit deal was made public around the same time today, sparking huge public interest.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com


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Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a war between Israel and Hamas after his country was hit by rockets fired from Gaza for the second straight day.

The Israeli military said that 20 'projectiles' were fired at its territory by the Islamic Jihad group on Monday, 18 of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome defences.

The clashes began on Sunday after a Palestinian militant was shot while trying to plant an explosive device along the Gaza border fence.

Israeli soldiers then used a bulldozer to move his body, prompting outrage from militants who fired missiles back. Israel also bombed militant targets in Gaza and Syria overnight.

Israel was hit by around 20 rockets fired from Gaza (pictured) on Monday, the second straight day of attacks - prompting Benjamin Netanyahu to threaten war on Hamas

The Israeli military struck targets in Gaza in retaliation for the latest rocket barrage, including in the city of Khan Yunis (pictured)

Smokes and flames rise after Israeli airstrikes hit Khan Yunis, Gaza, on Monday morning

Pictures from Monday's rocket attacks showed one had landed in an Israeli children's playground, though no injuries were reported.

Videos meanwhile showed Israelis running into bomb shelters as sirens sounded.

Speaking to Israel's Army Radio, Netanyahu revealed he told Hamas that if it did not stop the militants behind the attacks, Israel would target Hamas directly.

'If you don't shoot them, we will shoot you. I'm talking about a war,' he said. 'I'm not looking for a war. But we have prepared something you can't even imagine.'

Netanyahu's interview was interrupted with news of fresh air raid sirens warning of incoming rockets, as Palestinian militant fire resumed midday after a morning lull.

Monday's attacks came after the Islamic Jihad group fired at least 20 rockets on Sunday in retaliation for Israeli forces killed a Palestinian militant.

The attacker had been trying to place a bomb along the Israel-Gaza barrier fence, before his body was removed with a bulldozer.

The clashes began on Sunday after a Palestinian militant was killed while trying to plant a bomb along the Gaza border fence and was shot dead

Israeli soldiers used a bulldozer to move the would-be bomber's body, prompting outrage and a volley of rocket fire in response

Palestinians set fire to mounds of tyres as they protest along the Gaza border fence, shortly before the bomber was shot dead

The image outraged Palestinians who fired rockets. Israel responded by striking militants targets in Gaza and Syria.

In a rare acknowledgement of operations in Syria, Israel said on Sunday that its warplanes attacked targets south of Damascus in addition to sites in the Gaza Strip.

Syria reported an Israeli attack near Damascus International Airport and said its air defences confronted Israeli rockets coming from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

It said the defenders intercepted or shot down most of them.

Residents said multiple explosions shook Damascus for about 15 minutes as air defences fired back.

Israel said its strikes 'were carried out in response to the attempted attack this morning on the security fence (in Gaza) and the launching of rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel.'

It said the sites attacked were used for 'research and development of armaments' that are manufactured in Syria and the Gaza Strip. It said the sites also produce dozens of kilograms of rocket fuel each month.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict, said the explosions resulted from Israeli bombing of suspected Iranian-backed militias in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport.

Israel said 18 out of 20 rockets fired on Monday were intercepted by its Iron Dome defences, while one landed in an empty children's playing area (pictured)

People inspect damage at a kindergarten in the southern Israeli city of Sderot after it was hit by rockets fired from Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured on the West Bank today) threatened war with Hamas if the group, which controls Gaza, cannot stop the rocket attacks

Israel frequently strikes at targets inside Syria, but has largely refrained from public admissions of its covert military operations there.

Iran is an ally of Damascus and has offered military advisers and sent militiamen and material support to help President Bashar Assad's government forces in the nine-year civil war.

Israel considers Iran a national security threat and says it won't tolerate Iran's presence on its borders.

In November, Israel targeted two senior Islamic Jihad commanders in a simultaneous attack, killing one in the Gaza Strip and missing the second in Syria.

At the time, Israeli warplanes fired three missiles at the home of Akram al-Ajouri, a member of Islamic Jihad's leadership living in exile.

He was not harmed, but his son and granddaughter were killed.

Sunday's rocket attacks on Israel prompted the state to strike targets in Gaza and Syria overnight which they said are linked to Palestinian militants
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. WHERE DEATH TOLL FROM VIRUS DRAMATICALLY SURGED An Iranian lawmaker says the death toll from the new coronavirus in the city of Qom is 50, even as the Health Ministry insisted only 12 deaths have been recorded to date in the country.

2. WHERE NEW CASES OF NEW VIRUS CONTINUE TO SPIKE The Centers for Disease Control in South Korea reported more than 230 more cases; China reported more than 400 new cases and 150 more deaths.

3. TRUMP RECEIVES A COLORFUL WELCOME India poured on the pageantry with a joyful reception for the president that kicked off a whirlwind 36-hour visit meant to reaffirm U.S.-India ties., but there have been protests against Trump in Indian cities as well.

4. BERNIE SANDERS 2016 MOVEMENT GETS NEW LIFE IN 2020 The Democratic presidential candidates team believe his strong stances on climate change, canceling student debt and providing universal health care would reignite strong support among young voters.

5. SHOCKING POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN MALAYSIA Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned while his political party quit the ruling alliance less than two years after his election victory.

6. WHAT ISRAELS PRIME MINISTER IS BANKING ON TO WIN ELECTION Benjamin Netanyahu hopes President Trumps Mideast plan is key to ramping up support from influential West Bank settlers, but he has stumbled over his promises to quickly carry out annexation, sparking an outcry from settler leaders.

7. THIS AGENCY SKIRTS EVIL OF SLAVERY ON ANTEBELLUM PLANTATIONS The National Register of Historic Places says almost nothing about the enslaved people whose labor paid for ornate homes that today serve as wedding venues, bed-and-breakfast inns and private homes.

8. WHERE 1 IN 3 PEOPLE IS FACING HUNGER A study by the U.N. World Food Program says some Venezuelans are struggling to put enough food on the table to meet minimum nutrition requirements.

9. JUSSIE SMOLLETT DUE IN COURT The former Empire actor is facing a new set of charges alleging he lied to police about being targeted in a racist and homophobic attack in downtown Chicago last year.

10. LOS ANGELES TO HONOR KOBE, GIANNA BRYANT Thousands will gather in Staples Center Monday to say farewell to the basketball superstar and his 13-year-old daughter who died with seven others in a helicopter crash.
Chris Pratt says the scale of the third "Jurassic World" movie is equivalent to the 2019's superhero blockbuster "Avengers: Endgame".

The third chapter of the rebooted "Jurassic Park" franchise is set to feature original stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, besides Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jake Johnson and Omar Sy among others.

Appearing on Ellen DeGeneres' show, Pratt said the film's script, penned by director Colin Trevorrow and Emily Carmichael, is "unbelievable" and he just can't wait to work on it.

"It's got everybody. It's got pretty much everybody in it. Maybe I just blew it, but I don't care. All of the cast from the original 'Jurassic Park' is coming back, so it's going to feel very much like how 'Endgame' brought everything together at Marvel," the actor said.

"It's a massive movie, it's a big movie. We'll be all over the world. The story is really, really engaging, really cool. It's gonna be big," he added.

"Jurassic World 3" has a release date of June 11, 2021.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HealthJoy, a Chicago based company, today announced a $30 million Series C round of funding led by Health Velocity Capital. Other round participants include existing investors: U.S. Venture Partners, Chicago Ventures, Epic Ventures, Brandon Cruz, and Clint Jones, co-founders of GoHealth. Saurabh Bhansali, Partner at Health Velocity Capital, will be joining HealthJoys Board of Directors. HealthJoy plans to use the proceeds to accelerate the development of its core platform and services.

Annual healthcare spending in the U.S. is approaching $3.5 trillion, and ninety-six percent of Americans struggle to define the four most common health insurance terms. Companies seeking a competitive edge have to ensure employees can make the most of their benefits. HealthJoys mission is to ensure that members have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare outcomes regardless of their plan benefits. Benefits consultants are constantly working to build innovative health plans to help reduce employer costs. When they deploy HealthJoy as the front door for their programs, they drive unmatched utilization, outcomes, and satisfaction.

"We believe the key to lowering costs lies in giving employees a simple, integrated benefits experience that helps them make smart, speedy decisions. As provider systems, networks, and care quality data become more transparent over the next ten years and new technology-powered services become available, our platform will seamlessly incorporate these tools. We'll be able to decrease costs, improve care, and make everything easy," said Justin Holland, CEO and Co-Founder of HealthJoy. "We'll continue to broaden our partnerships that align with that mission. Everyone at HealthJoy is excited that Health Velocity Capital is leading this round of funding, as they've worked with many leading health tech companies at our precise period of growth."

HealthJoy plans to use its Series C funding to integrate with more partners, aggregate more data to improve healthcare journeys, and further delight members through exceptional experiences. HealthJoy will also be accelerating its hiring in Chicago with a planned expansion of over 200 employees through 2021.

"HealthJoy offers proven technology solutions to help navigate employees through our nation's complex and costly healthcare system, one that costs US employers over $1.2 trillion each year. HealthJoy has shown that it can deliver substantial cost savings to employers while simplifying the employee healthcare experience," said Saurabh Bhansali, Partner at Health Velocity Capital. "We are extremely excited by the huge growth that HealthJoy has experienced and their acceptance in the marketplace. Their growing team created a platform that's second to none, and having seen their roadmap, even greater things are sure to happen in the future."

About Health Velocity Capital

Health Velocity Capital has offices in San Francisco, CA, and Nashville, TN, and invests exclusively in innovative healthcare software and services companies. The firms Principals have more than 50 collective years as investors, entrepreneurs and senior executives helping to build innovative companies that created important new healthcare markets and/or that became market leaders, including companies such as Teladoc, MDLIVE, Livongo, Ginger, and many others. In addition to investing on behalf of institutional investors, Health Velocity invests on behalf of a number of the nations largest and most influential healthcare organizations and a number of current and former healthcare senior executives and leaders. Collectively, these investors represent organizations that provide health insurance to more than 100 million Americans, operate more than 200 hospitals, provide pharmacy and PBM services to more than 75% of all Americans, and provide software and services to every major hospital in the United States. For more information, please visit http://healthvelocitycap.com/.

About HealthJoy

HealthJoy is a first-of-its-kind benefits experience platform helping companies save money while improving employee satisfaction. Through personalized guidance and AI technology, HealthJoy empowers employees to better use and understand their benefits. The result is happier employees, increased cost containment, and fewer questions for HR. Learn more at http://www.HealthJoy.com.
MUSKEGON, MI  More than a month after canceling its grand opening, a Muskegon marijuana dispensary plans to celebrate its opening to recreational adult users.

Bella Sol Wellness Centers, 1839 Peck St., which has sold medicinal marijuana since September 2019, originally planned to open for recreational business on Jan. 18, shortly after receiving final approval of state permits. But a shortage of available product postponed its opening festivities.

Although the company has been selling recreational product for several weeks, it will host two days of celebratory events to officially mark its entrance into the adult use, or recreational, market. The events are scheduled from from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.

The opening hoopla will feature a raffle, spin-the-wheel prize giveaway, free food and swag, along with some unnamed surprises, according to event organizers. A registered nurse will be on hand for free patient consultations and to answer questions.

Bella Sol is located off Laketon Avenue, across from Marsh Field, in the area recently zoned as Muskegons cannabis district.

It joins Park Place Provisionary, 1922 Park St. in Muskegon, which opened last summer and launched recreational sales in January.

Recreational marijuana was legalized in the state of Michigan in November 2018, 10 years after medical marijuana was approved. The city of Muskegon and Muskegon Township approved recreational marijuana in October 2019.

Read more on MLive:

Recreational marijuana sales begin this weekend at Muskegon dispensary

Muskegon marijuana dispensary cancels Saturdays grand opening

Recreational marijuana sales arrive for enthusiastic customers in Muskegon
SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Armanino LLP, one of the 25 largest accounting and business consulting firms in the U.S., today announced that veteran tax expert Matt Fricke has joined the firm as a partner. Recently named in Forbes Americas Best Tax Firms 2020, the firm continually strengthens its tax practice with talented staff and partners with deep expertise in a wide variety of industries. Fricke joins the firms corporate tax practice with more than two decades of experience navigating the complex tax issues that impact technology companies, from intellectual property and offshore planning structures to domestic credits and incentives.



Matts understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by clients in the technology industry allows him to make an immediate impact at Armanino, said Matt Armanino, CEO of Armanino LLP. We are always focused on working with clients to look beyond an immediate engagement and having experts like Matt means we can provide clients with the insights needed to prepare for a constantly shifting market landscape.

Armaninos award-winning technology accounting and consulting practice is comprised of industry experts providing guidance in strategic tax planning, equity, intellectual property, R&D tax credits, valuation, SOC and SOX compliance, and many more common and technology industry issues. As the firms largest industry group, the technology team works with companies at every stage of development, from startup to global expansion, planned acquisition and post-merger integration. With technology companies facing new challenges, from subscription-based accounting issues in the software sector to supply chain disruptions, it is critical to have a partner versed in providing the best solutions for each unique engagement.

Fricke specializes in tax accounting of public companies, venture-funded corporations and startup entities. He is versed in a plethora of accounting issues including corporate deferred tax accounting and tax reserve analyses, mergers and acquisition accounting, tax attribute analyses, tax internal controls and domestic compliance.

He joins Armanino from Alvarez & Marsal, where he was a managing director. Prior to that, he was the co-lead partner at Clifton Douglas for more than a decade, working with venture capital-funded clients and ushering them through the IPO process and continuing tax services to them as SEC registrants. Fricke also held roles at PwC and Deloitte, serving high-tech, SaaS, semiconductor and life science companies, as well as serving as the office lead for expat/inpat tax services overseas, completing tours in Saudi Arabia and Japan. He received his bachelors degree in accounting with minors in business and mathematics from Western Colorado University.

To learn more about Armaninos technology services, visit: https://www.armaninollp.com/industries/technology/

About Armanino LLP

Armanino LLP ( www.armaninollp.com ) is one of the 25 largest independent accounting and business consulting firms in the nation. Armanino provides an integrated set of audit, tax, business management, consulting and technology solutions to companies in the U.S. and globally. The firm helps clients adapt and change in every stage of business, from startup through rapid growth to the sale of a company. Armanino emphasizes smart technology, leading a cloud revolution of financial, operational, sales and compliance tools that are transforming the way companies do business. The firm extends its global services to more than 100 countries through its membership in Moore Global, one of the world's major accounting and consulting membership organizations. In addition to its core consulting and accounting practices, Armanino operates its division, AMF Media Group ( www.amfmediagroup.com ), a media and communications services agency. Its affiliate, Intersect Capital ( www.intersectcapitalllc.com ) is an independent financial planning, wealth and lifestyle management firm.
Anastas Shkurti, attorney for Brickton Montessori, told the City Council that if the property was down-zoned from business to multi-family residential, it would require the school to obtain approval of some variances to the citys zoning ordinance. He also said that when a new city planner was named, a consensus was reached to try and change the zoning ordinance instead, opening up future schools to more locations as well.
Kolkata Police on Monday cleared path for senior Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader and union Home Minister Amit Shahs public meeting on March 1, 2020 in Kolkata.

BJP had written to Kolkata Police on February 20, 2020 seeking permission to hold a public meeting at Shahid Minar Grounds congratulating him for Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Earlier, they had written Armys Eastern Command seeking permission as the land belongs to Defence Ministry. While the Army had granted permission, Kolkata Police communicated to the organisers of the BJP on Monday that they can hold the rally.

However, the organisers need to comply with Calcutta High Courts order prohibiting use of microphones and holding rallies or meetings in residential areas which might disturb examinees appearing for board examinations during this period.

Kolkata Police has granted us permission to hold the rally. There will be no problem for students who are appearing for board examinations as Shahid Minar grounds is far from any residential areas. We will hold the public meeting in a peaceful manner and ensure that that the court orders are complied with, said BJP leader Joy Prakash Majumdar.

BJP will be felicitating Shah for making way for Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Parliament.

This is second such visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah after CAA was passed. On October 1, Shah held a meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata in favour of the CAA.
Former Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel has blasted Nine's producers for allegedly using 'manipulative' tricks to prevent her from quitting the 2018 season.

Tracey was trolled online after continuing her relationship with TV husband Dean Wells in the experiment, despite his 'affair' with co-star Davina Rankin.

Appearing on News.com.au's Not Here To Make Friends podcast on Sunday, Tracey claimed she was 'coerced' to 'stay' longer than she wanted.

'I was pressured like Poppy and other contestants to stay': Former MAFS star Tracey Jewel (right) reveals the 'manipulative' tricks producers use on contestants. Pictured with 2018 TV husband Dean Wells

'Behind the scenes, truth be told, I was pressured like Poppy [2020 contestant Poppy Jennings] and other contestants to stay as well. I was manipulated,' she claimed.

Single mother Poppy left the series abruptly, refusing to say goodbye to TV husband Luke Eglin or attend the couple's second commitment ceremony.

'I really feel for Poppy because they (producers) manipulate us,' Tracey alleged.

'I really feel for Poppy because they (producers) manipulate us': Single mother Poppy Jennings (left) abruptly exited the show, refusing to say goodbye to TV husband Luke Eglin (right) or attend the couple's second commitment ceremony

Of her own experience on the show, Tracey said producers used multiple tactics to persuade her to stay longer than she wanted.

'You just kind of get coerced down this little road based on them telling you, "Oh, if you leave now its just going to look bad on you, youre going to look like the bad one"  and no one wants to be the bad one,' she explained to the podcast panel.

She went on to say that to build emotion among the cast, dinner parties can often run until the early hours of the morning, and newlyweds are separated before dramatic commitment ceremonies.

'You just kind of get coerced': Tracey said producers used multiple tactics to persuade her to stay longer than she wanted, including suggesting that leaving earlier would make her look like 'the bad one' in the TV marriage

'Youre all separated before [a commitment ceremony], so you cant talk to each other, and they isolate you so youre stuck with your thoughts wondering if the other persons gonna say leave or stay for hours before you get into that room,' she said.

She went on to say that when major things happen or get addressed in the commitment ceremony, producers don't allow stars to change what they've written.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Nine
Bengaluru, Feb 24 : Underworld don Ravi Pujari was flown to Bengaluru from South Africa, where he was arrested a day before, police said on Monday.

"A 4-member Karnataka police team brought Pujari to Bengaluru in the wee hours of the day on an Air France flight via Paris after he was extradited from Senegal in Africa," City Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Jain told IANS here.

The police team was led by state Additional Director General of Police A.K Pandey and Bengaluru joint commissioner of police Sandeep Patil, a police inspector and a constable.

"Pujari will be produced in the first Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court in the city for judicial custody," Jain said.

Pujari was taken to an undisclosed place in the city from the international airport under tight security.
Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday at his sexual assault trial in New York, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and thats-Hollywood excuses from Weinstein about how the casting couch works.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on another woman, production assistant Mimi Haleyi, at his apartment in 2006, and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.

Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails  and had sex with him  well after he supposedly attacked them.

___

For more coverage of the Harvey Weinstein case, visit: https://apnews.com/HarveyWeinstein.
Art history professor emerita Sidney Littlefiled Kasfir. Emory Photo/Video

A memorial service will be held for Emory art history professor emerita Sidney Littlefield Kasfir at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, in Cannon Chapel on the Emory campus.

Her funeral was held in Maralal, Kenya, in January. Kasfir passed away at age 80 on Dec. 29, 2019, after a brief illness in Kenya, where she was living part-time with her husband.

Kasfir joined the Emory faculty in 1989, where she was a major contributor to both the Art History Department and the Institute for African Studies. An internationally renowned scholar of contemporary African art, she wrote on topics as varied as artisanal practices, masks and the effects of tourism on aesthetics.

"Sidney Kasfir was an extraordinary figure, one of a kind," says Sarah McPhee, chair and Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Art History. "She was a renowned scholar, beloved colleague, teacher and mentor  a star in the firmament of Emorys art history program."

For nearly two decades, Kasfir also played the critical role of faculty curator of the African art collections in the Michael C. Carlos Museum. At the time of her retirement in 2011, she was honored for both her mentorship of generations of Emory students as well as the profound effect she had on shaping the field of contemporary African art history.

Her scholarship helped move the emphasis on African art from generalizations to focusing attention on the complex interplay between artists, cultures and visual languages.

"Her passion for her subject and the fearless imagination and rigor with which she pursued it inspired generations," McPhee says. "Her work has done much to shape the current field of African art and her example is carried forward by the remarkable young scholars she mentored, now stars themselves. She is missed and mourned."

Kasfir received the Heilbrun Distinguished Emeritus Fellowship to support her ongoing research on the effects of globalization on the marketplace for African art. In 2017, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arts Council of the African Studies Association.

She started out a scientist, obtaining a degree in astronomy and physics from Simmons College, but changed careers to pursue a masters degree in classical Greek and Roman art, which she completed at Harvard University in 1966.

While living in Uganda, she discovered a passion for African art. After directing the Nommo Gallery (the only art gallery in the country at the time), she pursued graduate studies focused on the Idoma in Nigeria and obtained a PhD in African Art history from the London School of Oriental and African Studies in 1979.

She taught at Dartmouth College and other New England colleges in the 1980s, followed by her 23-year tenure at Emory.

Kasfir is survived by her daughters Melania Turgelsky and Elisabetta Kasfir; granddaughters Zoe and Madeleine Turgelsky; husband Kirati Lenaronkoito and his 10 children; and her sisters Natalie Archer and Nina Bisognani.
The document enters into force on the day of its adoption and may be appealed by filing a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court within 30 days.

Kyiv's Sixth Administrative Court of Appeals has reinstated former Chairman of the State Fiscal Service (SFS) of Ukraine Roman Nasirov.

Read alsoSupreme Court moves corruption-related case of ex-tax agency chief from impasse

"A ruling by Kyiv's district administrative court dated December 11, 2018, regarding recognition as unlawful and cancellation of Cabinet decree No. 35-r of January 31, 2018 'On Dismissal of Person_1 [Nasirov] from the Post of Chairman of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine' shall be left unchanged," the new court ruling says.

The document enters into force on the day of its adoption and may be appealed by filing a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court within 30 days after the full court ruling is available.

As UNIAN reported, prosecutors from the Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office on November 10, 2017, filed an indictment against Nasirov and his subordinate, the head of the SFS debt repayment department, Volodymyr Novikov.

Nasirov is accused of abuse of power or official position and official forgery under Articles 364 and 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. His subordinate is charged with committing crimes under Part 5 of Article 27 (complicity) and Part 2 of Article 364 (abuse of power or official position). Investigators insist Nasirov, acting in the interests of Member of Parliament Oleksandr Onyshchenko, initiated unsubstantiated installment of the tax debt to three companies in 2015-2016, which caused almost UAH 2 billion in budget losses.

The Cabinet of Ministers on March 3, 2017, suspended Nasirov during the investigation, and on January 31, 2018, he was dismissed from his post.
We are proud to be a progressive and innovative firm and the new office helps us continue to focus on our clients in the non-profit, construction, governmental, financial institutions, healthcare, and business services sectors," said Alan Long, managing member, Baldwin CPAs.

Baldwin CPAs, a leading accounting and consulting firm with five offices in Kentucky, is pleased to announce that it has moved its Louisville office to a new location at 10180 Linn Station Road, Suite A200. The new office building is in the middle of the booming Quantum Business Center area, and next door to ATA College.

As a firm, Baldwin CPAs has always been focused on utilizing the latest technology to enhance our teams ability to serve our clients. Our new Louisville location gave us an incredible opportunity to be part of the fastest growing business area in town and that will fuel our continued growth in the state of Kentucky, said Alan Long, managing member, Baldwin CPAs. We are proud to be a progressive and innovative firm and the new office helps us continue to focus on our clients in the non-profit, construction, governmental, financial institutions, healthcare, and business services sectors.

Baldwin CPAs new office features sit/stand desks, artificial intelligence software, multiple conference rooms, a high-tech break room, cutting edge training facilities, video conferencing capabilities, and cloud-based technology that provides the backbone for the firms infrastructure technology needs. The office environment is adjustable and fluid, allowing employees to move desks and office equipment wherever they need to, enlarging or reducing workspace to bring teams closer together, promote good communications, and teamwork.

About Baldwin CPAs

Baldwin is experienced and qualified to provide accounting services to a wide variety of businesses and industries. Named a Top 400 accounting firm by INSIDE Public Accounting in 2019, the firm has concentrations in the industries of construction contractors, financial institutions, governmental, not for profit and nursing homes. Baldwin is a member of the Private Companies Practices Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the AICPA's Governmental Audit Quality Center and Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center. For more information, visit https://www.baldwincpas.com.
Three of the Garda's most experienced assistant commissioners are to quit their jobs in the coming months.

Pat Leahy, who has been in charge of policing in Dublin for the past three years, is taking a severance package along with eight chief superintendents and 26 superintendents, as well as a senior civilian in the force.

Mr Leahy (57) will leave his position in April.

Another assistant commissioner, Michael O'Sullivan, is retiring early next month although this is not related to the severance deal. Mr O'Sullivan is head of the security and intelligence section at Garda headquarters.

The third assistant commissioner, John O'Driscoll, who has led the fight against gangland crime as head of the Garda's special crimes operation section, is retiring in June.

The loss of senior officers from the three most important portfolios at the rank in just a few months is a major blow to the force.

Its impact will be exacerbated by the loss of eight chief superintendents, who Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will not replace.

He intends to slash numbers in the top ranks under his wide-ranging plans to reform the structure of the force.

Some of the departing superintendents would have been involved in a reshuffle resulting from the loss of the assistant commissioners.

Mr Harris sent letters to 35 senior officers and the civilian executive director at the weekend, informing them that they had all been approved for the severance deal.

All of their jobs will be suppressed under the reorganisation plans.

The deal, which is estimated to cost 6.5m this year, will entitle the officers to six months' salary, along with their normal pension entitlements and lump sum payments, amounting to 150pc of their final salary on reaching 30 years' service.

Some of the group will leave the force in April and the rest will follow between then and September.

Mr Leahy, a native of Cork, never worked in his home county and spent most of his 38 years of Garda service in Dublin. He was in charge of the north inner city district for eight years. He was at the forefront of the investigation into the Kinahan-Hutch feud, which resulted in the jailing of a number of senior figures in organised crime and forced others to stay in hiding overseas.

In his earlier years, he was a member of the Tango squad that tackled then crime boss Martin Cahill - his first encounter with organised crime.

Mr Leahy also served with the United Nations in several missions overseas, including being part of the Garda team sent to Lebanon by the UN to investigate the murder of prime minister Rafic Hariri.

The aim of the severance package is to reduce the number of gardai at senior management level and replace others with civilians, resulting in a serious loss of corporate knowledge in the force.

Some senior officers fear this loss of knowledge, experience and expertise, will take several years to replace. Those availing of the package will not be allowed to subsequently rejoin the Garda, either as sworn members or as civilian staff.

However, the sole civilian taking the deal will be replaced in his position.

Approval for the deal was granted to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan by the Cabinet in December and all who applied were accepted by the commissioner.
Marijuana leaves, cannabis on a dark background, beautiful background, indoor cultivation

The cannabis industry never ceases to amaze investors and analysts alike with its remarkable highs and devastating lows. Calling things less than pretty for weed stocks in 2019 is an understatement. Publically traded legal weed companies across the board declined drastically in 2019. Are you curious about what is happening right now?

Canopy woes might be over

I repeatedly talked about moving away from the cannabis sector to more secure investments. Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED)(NYSE:CGC) might be making moves to make me want to forget that.

The stock recently soared by over 15% last Friday, after the weed producer reported good results from its Q3 2019 earnings. The company reported a 62% sequential net revenue growth, seeing the companys net earnings increase to almost $124 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 that ended in December 2019.

The $123.8 million net earnings in the quarter beat analyst expectations at around $105.4 million. Analysts also expected that Canopy would report an adjusted EBITDA loss of $110 million as opposed to the $91.7 million. The overall operating costs also fell in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 for Canopy by 14% compared to the previous quarter.

Prior changes showing results

Canopy has made several changes in its recent past to adjust to the situation in the market for cannabis stocks. The company hired CEO David Klein after a six-month-long search to replace founder and co-CEO Bruce Linton.

David Klein says that despite the positive results, the company still has plenty to do so that it can pave a proper path toward profitability.

The company has been taking steps to reduce costs and prioritize the re-scaling of the business to a level where it can improve cash flow and profit margins. The company enacted reduced stock-based compensation in the current fiscal year as well as cost controls to this end.

Analysts expect that the recent quarterly earnings growth shows signs of life for the marijuana industry. The result demonstrates that Canopy can potentially produce gross margins in the region of 40% by the end of Q4 2019. New leadership and improved financial discipline have a great deal to do with the cleaner earnings report.

Story continues

Improved cash flow in domestic and international markets

The weed producer reported better financial results across its local and international markets. The company has a leading 22% share of recreational weed sales in Canada. Its recreational pot business rose 9% from the previous quarter in the domestic market.

Canopys revenue in international cannabis markets increased by 3% in Q3 2019 to reach $18.7 million. The company sold more than 13,000 kilograms of cannabis in the quarter, rising above the 10,913 kilograms recorded in the prior quarter.

Canopy also reduced the amount of marijuana it harvested from 40,750kg in the previous quarter to 29,920 kilograms  an indication that Canopy is tackling the oversupply issue.

Foolish takeaway

At writing, the Canopy stock is trading for $29.08 per share. While a far cry from its all-time highs, it was up 43.18 from its 52-week low in November 2019.

While there is some promise in the weed sector thanks to Canopy Growths recent quarterly earnings report, but I would still be wary of how many eggs I would put in this basket.

If you want to consider investing in the weed sector, perhaps a speculative investment at best should be the way to go.

More reading

Fool contributor Adam Othman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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
Washington

Over the past few years, teachers have spoken out about low pay, crumbling classrooms, and an increasing amount of responsibility. Even so, the four finalists for the 2020 National Teacher of the Year award are optimistic about the future of the profession.

Teachers are sharing their stories and their students stories more than ever, and its time for policymakers to listen, the finalists told Education Week today in a roundtable discussion at the office of the Council of Chief State School Officers. (CCSSO administers the National Teacher of the Year program and selection process.)

I have not only the privilege, but the responsibility of being that voice for my students, said Tabatha Rosproy, a preschool teacher in Winfield, Kan., and one of the finalists. We need to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves yet, and to empower them to speak.

The other finalists for the year are Chris Dier, a high school history teacher in Chalmette, La.; Leila Kubesch, a middle school Spanish and English-as-a-second-language teacher in Norwood, Ohio; and Linda Rost, a high school science teacher in Baker, Mont.

See also: Meet the Top Four Teachers in the Country

The National Teacher of the Year will be named in the spring. Typically, the winner, finalists, and other state teachers of the year are recognized in a ceremony at the White House , but a CCSSO spokeswoman said plans for this year have not yet been finalized.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What do you see as the state of the teaching profession? And are you optimistic about the direction its heading?

Rost: I think that the state of the teaching profession is changing, its evolving in a good way. Were seeing teachers evolve in their own self-perception and evolve into leaders.

Dier: I think that 10 years ago, there was a lot of pushback against teachers[that] we werent doing enough or we werent qualified. But I think that mentality is shifting, and I think thats in large part due to teachers and the work that we do and us putting ourselves out there to show that we do care, and we are qualified, and we are professionals.

Rosproy: More than ever, I feel ... invigorated to share those wonderful teaching moments and those incredible stories from our classrooms with my colleagues. Were in this age of social media where things can be shared in a positive way, and I think teachers are using that to say, Hey, this is whats incredible about schools.

Kubesch: I think we came a long way, but the journey is still long, and we cant continue alone. By collaborating and partnering with great minds, great organizations, and telling the story to policymakers, we can achieve even more.

As National Teacher of the Year, you would have a national stage. What would you like to promote as your platform?

Dier: I would like to push for more intentional funding at every single level and more equitable funding for schools that are underresourced. Specifically, my platform is culturally responsive education where every student can see themselves in the curriculum and in the content and the school building. Thats proven to help students succeed by every metric.

Rost: Im passionate about ... providing opportunities for teachers to step into leadership positions. I think we have a lot of teachers who have a lot of skills, but they dont have an opportunity to exercise those and showcase them. That would promote retention, also.

Rosproy: I would be remiss if I didnt use this opportunity to speak about early-childhood education and its importance in our country because its been a long time since theres been this voice at this table. [Editors note: Early-childhood educators were finalists in 2013, 1991, and 1988; there has never been an early-childhood educator named as National Teacher of the Year.] But along with that comes the piece of implementing programs in all of our schools that have to do with self-regulation and mental health, which I think is an issue thats more globally being faced at all age levels in a school. Its something that often is only taught in the early grades, but there needs to be a continuum and consistency with how were teaching kids to manage these big feelings and their emotions so they can be successful adults and be critical thinkers and work with others.

Kubesch: Im passionate about self-care for educators and youth, especially in communities that are highly impacted by a lot of tragedies, like the heroin epidemic. This is my 24th year teaching. It used to be, when a child had a parent who was about to divorce, [the student] was in crisis and we had to attend to that. Now, we dont even get to know what are the issues. Families are impacted by homelessness, and it is so much. There are so many things on the plate, and we have to address these before the children can move on. ... Im very concerned about the debt for [school lunches] a lot of children have in my communitythey have $1,600 unpaid, and how did that come about? Or literacyif children have experienced homelessness and they didnt return a book, they are not allowed to check out a book until that book is paid for. ... If were going to promote literacy, we have to have books in the hands of children.

You had mentioned self-care for educators. With the increasing amount of trauma that children are facing, Im sure it comes back to teachers.

Kubesch: We experience secondary trauma just like secondhand smoke. When I started out, I would go home every single day in tears. How do I handle this? ... Theres no way for universities to prepare us for these challenges. ... I became certified as a yoga-for-trauma [instructor], and all of a sudden, I felt like theres clarity in my world.

Rosproy: I think that a lot of times in the education field, it does feel like crisis management. What were doing is moving from fire to fire to fire, and were really unable to teach the content that originally, I think we all thought we were hired to teach. Weve really had to reframe what our expectation of our day is going to look like, but the more that we can put into ... removing barriers for families, making our classrooms more equitableall of our themes are a little bit different here, but they are all the same thing. We care about students in their whole lives, not just when theyre in our classroom. We want to make them as successful emotionally, academically as we can, but we need some help from the policymakers and our colleagues to make that happen.

Last year, a couple state teachers of the year refused to attend the White House ceremony in protest of President Donald Trumps policies. If theres a ceremony this year, would you all attend?

Rost: I think we need to think about this program, and how we represent it, and how we represent the people coming after us. That should be a priority. We need to make sure that we keep the lines of communication and the relationships open between anybody whos representing us at any level. I think that the most important focus is on relationships with those people, and how can we work together to reach a common goal.

Dier: If any of these [other] three people got selected, then I would want to show up and support the platforms of self-care, early-childhood education, or teacher retention. Thats something that impacts me and teachers around the country regardless, so I feel like if I didnt show up, it would detract from the people that need to be elevated and uplifted the most.

If you do have a few minutes with President Trump or Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and you could speak to them one-on-one, is there any message that you would like to say to them?

Rost: I would talk to them about whats going on in my classroom, and how Ive provided an excellent education for students in this tiny little town in the middle of nowhere, and how all teachers can do that, and how we can equip and elevate other teachers into a professional leadership space so they can provide equitable education, no matter who their students are or where theyre from.

Rosproy: I would ask them to go out to classrooms and visit and see what incredible things are happening. I think in the way that we dont know the day-to-day of whats going on in Capitol Hill, they probably dont realize all the amazing things that are going on in rural Montana, in Louisiana, in Ohio, in Kansas. ... And I would ask for their continued support on the programs that we have in existence and the bountiful ideas that our teachers have to make it even better.

Kubesch: I would invite them to do a remote TV talk show that my students created. They want to talk to them because they need to have a voice. They believe that policymakers need to hear from the children, because they feel like they have valid views as young community members, that they have opinions, that they are intelligent, that they are impacted by all the policies, and they should be a part of it.

Dier: I would also bring stories to them of my students. I live in one of the fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the country, and I would definitely like to talk to them about my immigrant students or my students who live along the coast who are being impacted by climate change. I would want to bring those stories to them and try to reach that human level, because I feel like there are a lot of commonalities that we have when it comes to educationwe all want students to succeed and do well. I would try to extend my hand and reach across that aisle.

Leila, you mentioned student voice. Especially now that were in an election year, civics education has become such an important conversation . You all teach different grade levels, different subject areas, but how do you instill the importance of student voice?

Dier: I teach social studies in our hyper-polarized climate. One thing that I do before I even talk about politics or anything of that nature is I ensure that I have a classroom where students feel connected and humanized to one another. That way, we can establish the relationships to have those discussions. But I think its super important to have those discussions because students are going to enter into this partisan climate and they need to learn how to navigate it. Sometimes we say, When students get into the real world..., but theyre already in the real world. My students already face gun violence, theyre already losing their land, theyre already experiencing trauma. We need to create spaces where students can learn how to deal and manage. That way, when they have the obligation to vote, theyre making informed decisions, because they had a class that really prepped them. Because if you leave politics out of the classroom, thats actually a political move in and of itself. Neutrality is not real.

Rosproy: For my students, what that looks like in preschool, were probably not having a lot of discussions that are about politics, but we are having discussions about student voice, and how their voice in conflict matters, and how to use that voice when its appropriate, and how to listen to your peers. ... We are in a world that is full of conflict that they need to know how to navigate. We definitely want them to be empowered in that, but to also know, Hey, sometimes I have to be comfortable listening, too.

Rost: I teach controversial issues in science, and we do it in a way where we look at things from different lenses. ... But I also make sure to advocate for my student voice in our school and in our communities. I asked for students to provide their voice with a lot of school issues, and then they go to the administrators. Their voices are more powerful than mine. Ive also taken my students to the county commissioners, and they speak to them. Ive told them in front of my students, These kids are going to be in your seat someday, so you need to listen to them and what they have to say. And they do. Those are ways that we can show them that their voice is more powerful than mine, and they can actually make a difference.

Kubesch: I teach in a community that is isolated, and we dont have school buses or funding for field trips. We have two [remote] talk shows, one in English and one called Youth Voices Without Borders for kids whose English is not primary. Its important for them to be able to have larger dialogue with the community, so in a way, they can bring people to their school and ask about things that are very important.

What advice would you give to a high school or college student who is considering becoming a teacher?

Dier: Never forget the why. If they have that inside of them, never forget why they did it. And also know that its going to be challenging. Your first year, youre going to feel like youre failing. Thats how we all feel. In many ways, it means that you care. So never stop caring and always feel connected. The more connected you are with your students, the better they can reciprocate that connection, and the better you become at being an educator, and the better you can be an ally to students.

Rosproy: When theres a really tough situation, [my principal and I] always say to each other, If not me, who? If youre not going to stand up, who will? Im using my privilege and my voice to do what needs to be done. But also, take the help. I think my first year teaching, I thought I needed to do everything by myself, I needed to prove myself in some way to my colleagues. ... Take that help, as we really do grow and learn from collaboration with each other. Getting help is not weakness, its strength.

Rost: Hopefully, every person has had at least one person in their lives who has made a tremendous difference, and even if they havent, then that should be the motivation. You have the opportunity to be that one person to literally thousands of kids. I think that is so powerful. When I was in college, I was going to go into research. I was interested in science, and I decided to shift to teaching because I realized that I could spend a decade working on one problem in research, or I could impact thousands of kids. There is no more powerful profession than that.

Image of Rost, Dier, Kubesch, and Rosproy, courtesy of CCSSO
Kasautii Zindagii Kay: Aamna Sharif and Pooja Banerjee's off-screen bond is grabbing all the right attention. Recently, Aamna Sharif surprised Pooja Banerjee by gifting her a beautiful dress.

Kasautii Zindagii Kay: It is a popular misconception that women do not get along well in the film and television industry. Shattering such myths, Kasautii Zindagii Kays Komolika aka Aamna Sharif and Nivedika aka Pooja Banerjee are setting new friendship goals in town. Especially with Aamnas adorable gesture for Pooja, which left the latter overwhelmed and is now melting hearts on social media.

It so happened that Pooja was shooting for an upcoming project in Nepal. When she returned to Kasautii Zindagii Kay sets days later, she was welcomed with a special surprise planned by Aamna. Considering her love for fashion and style, Aamna had surprised Pooja with a beautiful dress. Expressing her excitement over the same, Pooja praised her effort and said that she is thrilled to receive such a sweet surprise.

All the actors in Kasautii Zindagii Kay might be at warring ends in the show but share a great bond on sets, where they all take care of each other. On the occasion of Valentines Day, Pooja Banerjee had shared a photo of her on-screen family on Instagram. Prior to that, the actor had also shared a photo with Aamna, in which the duo could be seen looking absolutely stunning in ethnic attires.

Also Read: Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2 preview February 24, 2020: Viraj to shoot dead Prerna

Also Read: Naagin 4 Preview 24th February 2020: Brinda to save Dev from Vishaka, whos masterful plan will expose her true nature to everyone

On the professional front, Pooja Banerjee was recently seen in Nach Baliye and Alt Balajis web-series Kehne Ko Humsafar Hai. Meanwhile, Aamna Sharif is stealing all the limelight with her portrayal of Komolika in Kasautii Zindagii Kay. She will also be seen in the upcoming film RoohiAfza.

Also Read: Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke spoiler alert: Kuhu to challenge herself to defeat Mishti in their first Rasoi Rasam

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio officials are brainstorming ways to help Lake Erie property owners as high water erodes their property.

Meanwhile, the state has a list of programs residents can use now to try to battle wind and waves.

Lake Erie on Sunday was 573.83 feet above sea level -- beating the February record set in 1987 by nearly 5 inches.

Many property owners installed sea walls, rivetments, groins, concrete modules and other kinds of shoreline protection the last time the lake was high, 30-40 years ago. Those projects are coming to the end of their useful life.

In Geneva-on-the-Lake, Geneva Township Park has lost about 3 feet of shoreline a day because of erosion, potentially affecting sewer lines, natural gas and more.

Many of the individuals owning property along Lake Eries shoreline have suffered significant erosion damage due to heavy weather and high lake levels," state Rep. John Rogers of Mentor-on-the-Lake said in a news release. The issue is even more exacerbated when the lake fails to freeze over during our winter months.

In 2018, the state began offering Temporary Shore Structure Permits for owners to protect shorelines while they figure out long-term solutions.

Since then, officials have been collaborating with other coastal states, including Michigan and New York, on ways to keep water at bay, said Scudder Mackey, chief of Ohios Department of Coastal Management.

Programs available to those affected include:

 Temporary Shore Structure Permits: Property owners can install emergency shore protection to protect their property from erosion-related damage.

 Free on-site Technical Assistance: ODNR coastal engineers to provide recommendations for erosion mitigation. Call the ODNR Office of Coastal Management at (419) 626-7980 to speak with a coastal engineer.

 Coastal Management Assistance Grants: Local governments, county and regional planning agencies, universities, school districts, conservancy districts, port authorities and certain non-profit groups can apply for coastal planning, habitat restoration, public access, research and water quality improvement projects.

 Coastal Erosion Area Loan Program: Participating counties provide low-interest loans for the design and construction of erosion control measures for properties within a designated coastal erosion area.

 Special Improvement Districts: Local financing can facilitate erosion improvements along Lake Erie. ODNR will work with SIDs to ensure that projects are well-designed and that they minimize adverse impacts to Lake Erie and that appropriate authorizations are obtained when necessary.

For more Lake Erie news, follow RocktheLake on Facebook.
The time is right for a fresh approach to an established business, Shah says. Weve assembled a close-knit, resourceful, engaged team of partners and associates dedicated to providing superior client services to privately-owned companies and their owners."

Intyllus Advisors, LLC, a full-service accounting and business advisory firm  where people, passion and principles add up  announced its launch today. Founded by industry leader Suhas R. Shah, CPA, CCIFP, CGMA, Intyllus is built on more than three decades of experience guiding business owners to achieve growth and prosperity.

The company exists to create and maximize opportunities for clients through a comprehensive platform of accounting, audit, tax, and advisory services. At every stage  from start-up to exit  Intyllus leads clients to unlock their full potential.

The time is right for a fresh approach to an established business, Shah says. Weve assembled a close-knit, resourceful, engaged team of partners and associates dedicated to providing superior client services to privately-owned companies and their owners. Our focus is to provide an environment that encourages our professionals to be both professionally and personally invested in our clients success."

"Whether you are launching a start-up, an established business that is branching out in new directions, or seeking an exit strategy and plan, Intyllus will provide you with the people, passion and principles to ensure your success. We currently serve more than 200 clients and are actively seeking to establish new relationships with owners and their families who are looking for more than just an accountant; we are businesspeople who just happen to provide accounting and advisory services.

With more than 100 years of collective, proven experience, the team at Intyllus is made up of some of the industrys best financial services talent  including Certified Public Accountants, Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals, Chartered Global Management Accountants, Certified Valuation Analysts, and Certified M&A Advisors. These professionals have partnered with business owners to build and grow their companies in a variety of industries, including construction, information technology, government contracting, manufacturing, health care, cybersecurity and distribution services.

Shah previously was a partner at Source One Business Services, a company he also co-founded. He has extensive experience in accounting, tax and business consulting, strategic management and succession planning, financial/tax planning and analysis, operational oversight and improvement, transaction advisory services, estate planning, cybersecurity audits, and accounting systems design and implementation. In addition, he is the author of several books taught in undergraduate studies relating to accounting, finance, cash flows, and ratio analysis.

Joining Shah as a partner in this venture is Jeffrey B. Wiley, MBA, CVA, CM&AA. After a 20-year career as a commercial banker serving in the greater Baltimore-Washington area, Wiley left banking in 2005 to head-up Source One Business Services consulting practice. During his time there, Wiley helped to successfully build a robust business advisory practice serving privately owned, middle-market companies. He and his team developed capabilities in buy-side and sell-side transaction advisory services, business valuations, succession and exit planning, and strategic management/CFO advisory services.

Our vision for Intyllus is to attract the best clients and employees, help promote their growth, contribute to their success, and retain them for the long-term, Wiley says. We believe that doing business with good people leads to good results.

Rounding out the Intyllus team are partners: Charles J. Petr, CPA; Liza Balzer, CPA, CGMA, CITP; Logan Marinus, CVA; and Megan K. Merson. Additionally, Chris Herod, Shannon Ayres, Yuti Shah, Amanda Varisco, Arianna Ogle, and Hayley Hoagland have joined this new venture.

Intyllus is seeking talent to join the team. People who excel academically, have a desire for excellence in their work and for advancement in their career, and enjoy a fast-paced, client-focused environment are encouraged to apply. Please visit http://www.intyllus.com for details on open positions.

If you want to join a company that is bound to reach incredible heights, then we invite you to explore our open positions, Shah says. We are an organization that cares about the success of our people and will provide everyone with the mentoring they need to succeed."

"We value the expertise, perspective, and initiative of all our team members. Thats how we realize the vision of our clients and drive their success.

About Intyllus

Intyllus and its sister company, BPS & Associates, LLC., are highly strategic and objective certified public accounting and consulting firms based in Ellicott City, Maryland. As trusted advisors, Intyllus is dedicated to providing the highest quality financial and consulting advice from startup to exit  guiding individuals and assisting businesses by discovering creative ways to maximize their profitability and competitive edge. Intyllus offers comprehensive accounting, audit, tax, and consulting services, focusing on major industry sectors with the ability to serve clients in all 50 states. Visit http://www.intyllus.com for additional information.

Our owners include people of all races, gender, and backgrounds. Intyllus is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration and professional development opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.
Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was a major target of his Democratic rivals in his first debate Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bloomberg has already had a major impact on the race by spending hundreds of millions of dollars on TV ads and has shot into second place in some national public opinion polls behind Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Bloomberg now finds himself in a crowd of moderates all trying to be the main alternative to Sanders, a self-described Democratic Socialist who has strong support from the progressive wing of the party. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington. VOA Khmer's Pichchinda Sou narrates.
Mr Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh called upon Indian companies to harness the untapped potential in key sectors to further strengthen the bilateral trade relations between UP and Japan. Speaking at '4th Dialogue with States - Japan's Connect with Uttar Pradesh' organized by FICCI, jointly with the Embassy of Japan, Mr Maurya said, "India and Japan share strong cultural and civilizational ties and have engaged in various institutional dialogue mechanisms to strengthen bilateral as well strategic partnership. The bilateral relations between the two countries has set an example for the international community. The bilateral relations have further deepened under the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

Mr Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India highlighted his vision for collaboration between Japan and State of Uttar Pradesh in economic, cultural and educational spheres. He also emphasized on the need of strengthening in the sectors like tourism, art and culture, people to people exchange, skill development and capacity building between Japan and Uttar Pradesh. "The promotion of Japanese language education is one of the indispensable areas to energize people-to-people exchange," he added. The highlight of the discussion was to ideate on strengthening of economic connect, tourism, art & culture, people-to-people exchanges, skill development and capacity building between Japan and the state of Uttar Pradesh.

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Assyrian Town Destroyed By ISIS Rises Again

Batnaya is a town in the north of Iraq, some 24 km from Mosul. Before ISIS arrived there were 950 families living here, all of them Chaldean Catholics. It was used by the terrorist group as its frontline while it shelled Kurdish troops. So without doubt it was one of the worst hit areas, first by the invasion of the Islamist terrorists and then by a coalition airstrike.

According to a study released by the foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), after the liberation of the zone only 10 out of the 977 houses were left undamaged, while two-thirds were completely destroyed or burned out. For this reason, although the displaced residents of Batnaya gathered there at Easter time in 2017 to celebrate their first Mass after more than two years of terrorist occupation, any thought of return seemed impossible. For more than two years Batnaya had been a ghost town.

A family of pioneers supported by their parish priest

At least that was the situation until last summer. The first family arrived there on June 22, 2019. Their house was in a bad state but Faris Hanna Naamo still wanted to return.

"It was my house after all" he tells Aid to the Church in Need. He was stubborn enough to persuade his wife Hana, and together with their three children they returned to the town.

"There was no electricity or running water... and no neighbors. Even something as simple as going out to do the shopping was risky, as we had to travel 5km and go through the army checkpoints in order to get to the next town, Teleskof," Faris explains.

"Stubborn or determined?" wonders Father Aram Rameel Hanna of the parish of Batnaya, who was of the greatest help to the Faris family right from the start. The couple are very indebted to him because, as they assure ACN, there wasn't a single day during that terrible time when Father Aram didn't visit the family.

"I don't know what we would have done without him. We went through many difficult moments in which it was very hard to believe that everything was going to get better. I remember that my youngest daughter, Nour, didn't have any friends to play with, she only had her big sister. She would take her bicycle and cycle through the empty streets for the whole day. It grieved me. When Father Aram came, it was a great blessing for us, he gave us hope. He was a like a breath of fresh air and he strengthened our faith. Thanks to him, we were able to stay strong."

Father Aram insists that he only came for a cup of tea, taking no credit for himself. However, it is no secret that this priest, who studied at Harvard and who had been running a help center for people suffering from trauma and stress disorder in the neighboring town Algosh, was about to leave with a grant to finish his studies when his bishop asked him to look after Batnaya, and so he stayed.

The "Market for Returnees" gains new customers

After the Faris family there were other families who had the courage to return, among them Ghaliv Nouh Oraha, his wife Sandra and their five children. They returned to Batnaya on September 25, 2019. There were already two families there by then. Shopkeeper Diver Salem decided it was time to open a shop, and that was how the "Market for Returnees" was born. Diver's courage impressed Father Andrzej Halemba, who heads ACN's Middle East projects section, on his latest visit to Iraq.

"Diver told me he had had a feeling that the time had come, but I don't know how he could even imagine that other families would see it that way, too. He would have never been able to survive with only two families as customers. Of course, there are families who feel safer having a shop nearby, but now 75 families have returned already! I believe it has clearly been a work of Providence; if not, it would not have worked so well."

"I even met a man who had returned from Germany and who was waiting for his wife to come and join him", Father Andrzej Halemba continues. He is referring to Basher Kiryakos Hanna, who returned as soon as he was able, since his wife did not feel at home in Europe.

"But it is not easy", Father Halemba warns. "We cannot forget the atrocities that were committed in Iraq; the danger was real, and the people were absolutely terrified. But now Batnaya is timidly rising from the ashes. There are over 300 Christians in the town now, and I'm sure that more will come if we help them from our Foundation."

A new nursery school

It is help that is absolutely vital, since there are some projects that are of fundamental importance for the life of the community. The Christians of Batnaya need a church, a community centre and a nursery school for their children. There is a school bus which every morning picks up around 20 children, eager to meet with their friends and learn new things. But for the younger children there is still no kindergarten or nursery school. The Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, present in Batnaya for over a hundred years, had to flee with their people and accompanied them during the exile in Ankawa and Duhok. Now they want to return to continue serving them. And so they have embarked on a double project, involving the rebuilding both of the kindergarten and at the same time their own convent, both bombed and fully destroyed. With the support of ACN they are hoping to be able to obtain the necessary cash to begin work on both projects. "In sha Allah -- God willing", say the sisters, who, despite having suffered greatly during the past few years, have lost none of their courage or their hope in God.

Also the church of Mar Kriakhos and the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate (Al-Tahira Chapel), desecrated, burned and sacked by the terrorists of the Islamic State, await aid to be rebuilt. The images were beheaded, the windows were broken, the terrorists used the spaces as a shooting area and painted graffiti both in Arabic and in German: "Slaves of the cross -- we will kill you all. This is Islamic territory ... you do not belong here."

Fari and Hana, Ghaily and Sandra, Basher Kiryakos or Diver Salem have had the courage and audacity to return and prove that their faith and love for the ancestors' land is stronger than the fear of those threats. ACN is committed to helping them with their purpose.
(Newser)  Health officials worldwide say the continued spread of COVID-19 outside China is very worryingbut Iran has denied one of the most alarming figures. Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Amiriabadi Farahani, who represents Qom, said Monday that there had been at least 50 coronavirus deaths in the city and accused the country's health minister of lying about the scale of the outbreak, the Guardian reports. Authorities rejected the report, saying there has been a total of 66 coronavirus infections and 12 deaths in Iran. More:

New cases in four countries. Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Bahrain reported their first cases of coronavirus Monday, the BBC reports. The cases are believed to be linked to the outbreak in Iran.

story continues below

Fear spreads in Europe . The outbreak in Italy has now infected at least 200 people and is spreading in northern regions, prompting the closure of schools and the cancellation of public events, the Wall Street Journal reports. Police have sealed off around a dozen towns and the Venice carnival has been called off. Sources tell the Journal that neighboring countries are considering tighter border controls, including Austria, which temporarily halted train traffic from Italy on Sunday. France has urged anybody who recently visited Lombardy and Veneto, the two worst-hit regions, to wear a face mask if they go outside.

. The outbreak in Italy has now infected at least 200 people and is spreading in northern regions, prompting the closure of schools and the cancellation of public events, the Wall Street Journal reports. Police have sealed off around a dozen towns and the Venice carnival has been called off. Sources tell the Journal that neighboring countries are considering tighter border controls, including Austria, which temporarily halted train traffic from Italy on Sunday. France has urged anybody who recently visited Lombardy and Veneto, the two worst-hit regions, to wear a face mask if they go outside. "An incredible time." A joint team from the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control plans to visit Italy, the AP reports. "It is an incredible time. Less than two months ago, the coronavirus was completely unknown to us," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "The past few weeks has demonstrated just how quickly a new virus can spread around the world and cause widespread fear and disruption."

A joint team from the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control plans to visit Italy, the AP reports. "It is an incredible time. Less than two months ago, the coronavirus was completely unknown to us," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "The past few weeks has demonstrated just how quickly a new virus can spread around the world and cause widespread fear and disruption." Cases skyrocket in South Korea . In South Korea, the number of confirmed cases soared to more than 800 Monday after 231 new cases were reported, most of them linked to a fringe religious group, the New York Times reports. President Moon Jae-in has put the country on its highest alert level.

. In South Korea, the number of confirmed cases soared to more than 800 Monday after 231 new cases were reported, most of them linked to a fringe religious group, the New York Times reports. President Moon Jae-in has put the country on its highest alert level. Wuhan does U-turn on lockdown. In Wuhan, China, the center of the outbreak, there was confusion and anger Monday after authorities said the month-long lockdown was being eased and then reversed the decision, Quartz said. A notice from authorities said some people, including non-residents, would be allowed to leave the city if they had no coronavirus symptoms. Three hours later, city authorities said the notice should not have been released, and those responsible for it would be "seriously" punished. China announced another 150 deaths from COVID-19 Monday, almost all of them in Wuhan and elsewhere in Hubei province.

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
The intent of the dinners is not to change minds but to change the tone of public dialogue. Something that weve noticed with our students, especially over the past five years that Ive been there, is this reluctance to get into tough conversations. ... They would rather walk away from hard topics than to actually engage, Vicky Wilkins, dean of American Universitys School of Public Affairs, told a group of moderators earlier that evening. Its been a real puzzle for us because we know that what comes from discourse is something so valuable to a society. The worst thing for democracy and as a country is silence. Thats why were here tonight.
By Daniel McConnell and Cianan Brennan

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has hit out at Sinn Fein's plans to hold rallies, describing them as a campaign of "intimation and bullying".

Mr Varadkar said Sinn Fein are more interested in rallies than seeking to actually form a government.

They want to be shut out, hence no serious effort to form a government of the left, he said.

He was speaking after Sinn Fein organised a number of public meetings on both sides of the Irish border to drum up support in its bid to be part of the next government.

The first public rally is being held in Cork tonight.

Earlier, Mr Varadkar said the plans are an "unwelcome development".

"Generally what happens in a democracy is people vote, the votes are counted and then parties try to form a government," he said.

What's happening here ... it seems that Sinn Fein, having won less than a quarter of the vote, are behaving as if they have won a majority. My party regularly won more than a quarter of the vote and didn't get into government.

"I think these rallies are designed to be the next phase in Sinn Fein's campaign of intimation and bullying. We saw that online and now we are seeing it in their rallies, and I wouldn't be surprised if the next step is that they take it to the streets. It just shows you, again, that they are not a normal party; this is a party that has a casual relationship with democracy."

Mr Varadkar is meeting Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin on Tuesday.

The Fine Gael leader previously said his party was preparing to go into opposition.

Mr Varadkar denied that the meeting between the two leaders is a change in Fine Gael's approach to government: "As I said last week, we would be willing to engage in exploratory talks with any party that wants to speak to us."

"That's happening with Fianna Fail and the Greens this week. Labour has its own issues and doesn't want to talk, and Social Democrats cancelled their meeting we offered them, so really it's just exploratory discussions at this point with Fianna Fail and the Greens this week. What I would say is that the onus really still falls with Sinn Fein to form a government."

Sinn Fein dismissed as hysterics the criticisms it has received from the leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael regarding the public rallies it will hold over the course of the week about Government formation.

Speaking at Leinster House this afternoon, Pearse Doherty, Sinn Feins lead negotiator, said that suggestions earlier from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that his party has a casual relationship with democracy and is acting like it got the largest vote amount to pure hysterics.

We did get the largest mandate, but other parties got a mandate also which is why were intensifying negotiations with them, Mr Doherty said.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan, said his party will hold several meetings with its membership around the country in the weeks ahead. This is similar to the rallies that Sinn Fein has organised, he said.

Mr Ryan said that rather than criticising one another, political parties need to look to what they have in common.
Mumbai, Feb 24 : A brand new India is welcoming US President Donald Trump in 2020 -- showcasing a thriving digital economy with robust transformation that is underway across industries -- which previous US presidents never witnessed, Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said here on Monday.

The US President and his family received a rousing welcome from an estimated 1.10 lakh people at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, the first day of their two-day state visit to India.

"India that he (Trump) will see in 2020 is very different from India that either President (Jimmy) Carter saw or (Bill) Clinton saw or even (Barack) Obama" witnessed when they visited the country, Ambani told the visiting Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during an interaction at the company's 'Future Decoded Summit' here.

Nadella is also in India for a three-day official visit this week.

Ambani said that Motera stadium is a shining example of how India is progressing ahead.

"The digital infrastructure in that stadium is better than any other place in the world. This is new India as we begin 2020," Ambani told Nadella.

Ambani is likely to be at the CEO roundtable and lunch along with other top industry honchos in New Delhi with Trump on Tuesday.

"I have no doubt in my mind that we will be among the top three economies in the world," Ambani told Nadella.

"The next generation will see a very different India than what you (Nadella) and I have grown up in," he said.

"Every entrepreneur in India has the potential to become a Dhirubhai Ambani or Bill Gates," Ambani added during a fireside chat session with Nadella.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Last year saw one of the best years on record for UK red meat exports - rocketing to more than 1.5 billion, new figures show.

According to HMRC, the total value of red meat exports rose 13% year-on-year, with more than 661,000 tonnes of pork, lamb and beef shipped around the world.

While the lions share is still exported to Europe, strong growth was recorded for all three meats to non-EU countries.

The strong figures come in a year with some good access wins for red meat, including Japan for both beef and lamb and China moving closer to the first shipments of UK beef for the first time in over 20 years.

These wins will convert into commercial trade in 2020 offering further growth opportunities.

And with inward inspection visits from countries including Mexico in February of this year and the USA in the summer of 2019, industry leaders are optimistic of further market access wins in the year ahead.

AHDB's International Market Development Director, Dr Phil Hadley said 2019 was 'phenomenal': As well as a record year in terms of both volume and value, we have also seen some market access wins, which has helped make 2019 one of the best years for red meat exports.

This success is underpinned by our commitment to target key markets not only through the efforts of our export team, but also through a network of 13 agents and representatives across Europe as well as staff in the US, China and Hong Kong, he said.

Latest figures show that 183,000 tonnes of beef and offal were exported in 2019, worth 532 million  up 7.5 per cent.

Sheep meat and offal shipments rose 12.5 per cent to 99,000 tonnes, with a value of 402 million.

But it was pig meat that led the charge with total exports reaching 378,000 tonnes, worth 609 million  a rise of 24 per cent compared to 2018.

And it was demand from China that helped boost the figures with shipments of pig meat, including offal, up 61 per cent to 131,000 tonnes  worth a staggering 191 million compared to 77 million in 2018.

AHDB's Head of Asia Pacific Jonathan Eckley said the Asian market was key to the success of 2019, with demand for imported pork continuing across China in light of the ongoing ASF outbreak.

We have also seen great success for our pork exports to Taiwan, with 6.8 million worth of pig meat shipped in our first full year of trading, following the granting of market access in 2018, he said.

Beef and offal exports to the Philippines saw a fourfold increase with volumes increasing to 3,736 tonnes.

In recent years, AHDB have led two missions to Manilla alongside beef exporters in a bid to help grow the market.
Democratic presidential candidates tore into Bernie Sanders after the presidential candidate defended the rule of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro by touting his 'massive literacy program.'

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg was among those jumping on the comments by the democratic socialist, who condemned Castro's authoritarian rule even as he praised his social programs during an appearance on '60 Minutes.'

'Fidel Castro left a dark legacy of forced labor camps, religious repression, widespread poverty, firing squads, and the murder of thousands of his own people. But sure, Bernie, lets talk about his literacy program,' tweeted the former New York mayor.

Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg also blasted the comments, tweeting a clip of Sanders and writing: 'After four years of looking on in horror as Trump cozied up to dictators, we need a president who will be extremely clear in standing against regimes that violate human rights abroad. We can't risk nominating someone who doesn't recognize this.'

Bernie Sanders has praised Fidel Castro's 'massive literacy program', standing by comments he made praising the dictator's rule of Cuba in the 1980s

Former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign responded with a statement by senior advisor Cristobal Alex.

'Make no mistake: Bernie Sanders comments on Fidel Castro are a part of a larger pattern throughout his life to embrace autocratic leaders and governments across the globe. He seems to have found more inspiration in the Soviets, Sandinistas, Chavistas, and Castro than in America,' he wrote.

'His admiration for elements of Castros dictatorship or at least willingness to look past Cubas human rights violations is not just dangerous, it is deeply offensive to the many people in Florida, New Jersey, and across the country that have fled political persecution and sought refuge in the United States ... We already have one president who praises dictators and their mob-like tendencies; we dont need another one. As president, Joe Biden will stand up on the global stage against tyrants and fight for freedom and democracy.'

The simultaneous attacks all hit at what Democratic political pros are warning could be a vulnerability for Sanders were he to get the nomination and run against President Trump. Trump has made attacks on socialism a staple of his attacks since Democrats took the House, picking up on the rise of Sanders and a group of left-wing elected Democrats.

The Democratic frontrunner and socialist, 78, defended the Communist regime as 'not all bad' during a wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview which aired Sunday.

Sanders praised Fidel Castro's 'massive literacy program', standing by comments he made praising the dictator's rule of Cuba in the 1980s.

That program included a push by Castro and revolutionary leader Che Guevara to boost literacy, in part by sending teachers into the countryside. The effort largely worked, and Cuban literacy is now near 100 per cent, according to the CIA World Factbook.

During the interview, Sanders told Anderson Cooper: 'We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know?

'When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?'

Sanders had said of dictator Castro in 1985: 'He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know?'

Castro ruled Cuba for nearly half a century. A Cold War foe of the U.S., Castro's government imprisoned dissidents and imposed one-party rule on the island nation. He died at the age of 90 in 2016.

When pushed further on the dissidents imprisoned in the country, Sanders replied: 'That's right. And we condemn that. Unlike Donald Trump, let's be clear...I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend.

'I don't trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine.'

Fidel Castro and his brother Raul attend a parade December 2, 1996 in Havana, Cuba

Sanders had said of dictator Castro in the 1980s, pictured: 'He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know?'

Bernie Sanders defends his 1980s comments about Fidel Castro in an interview on 60 Minutes. https://t.co/ySqvQKoiBU pic.twitter.com/lTwuXWp9sA  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) February 24, 2020

'SHOCKED' TO BE A FRONTRUNNER

The self proclaimed Democratic socialist won a decisive victory Saturday in the Nevada caucuses, solidifying his frontrunner status in the race to choose the Democratic nominee who faces President Donald Trump in November's election.

The 78-year-old senator from Vermont was leading with about 46 percent, followed by former vice president Joe Biden at 19 percent.

But even for Sanders the results are 'shocking', adding: 'The ideas that seemed radical four years ago are now kind of mainstream.

'When Donald Trump was a private businessman in New York, he got $800 million in tax breaks and subsidies to build luxury housing. That's called corporate socialism.

'What democratic socialism is about is saying, 'Let's use the federal government to protect the interests of working families.'

Moderate Democrats are growing increasingly nervous that Sanders' call for a political 'revolution' would drive voters away from the party, both in the matchup against President Donald Trump and in House and Senate races.

'I think it would be a real burden for us in these states or congressional districts that we have to do well in,' South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip and the top-ranking black Democrat in Congress, said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week.'

'The country can't afford to let Bernie Sanders skate by another debate without a focus on his extreme record,' said Mike Bloomberg spokesperson Galia Slayen.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., smiles while the crowd chants his name during a campaign event on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Austin, Texas

Sanders, right, labeled rival Mike Bloomberg's, left, stop and frisk policy as 'racist'

BLOOMBERG'S STOP AND FRISK POLICY WAS 'RACIST'

Labeling rival Mike Bloomberg's stop and frisk policy as 'racist' in the interview, Sanders added: 'I think the more people understand Bloomberg's record as mayor of New York, where he engaged in horrifically racist policies of stop and frisk, people in America don't want that.'

He said: 'I think this is the problem of a Bloomberg candidacy. It's not just my supporters, he is not going to be a strong candidate. But, what I have said, and you quoted me correctly, is I said on day one I will support the Democratic nominee, no matter who that nominee may be.'

Admitting he 'does not talk about personal stuff that much', Sanders said his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, shaped his political beliefs.

But, he added: 'I'm a kind of a private person in a sense. And you know, I'm not particularly anxious to tell the world about everything personal in my life.'

Other topics touched on during the interview included how he plans to fund Medicare for All.

Sanders admitted: 'You know, I can't rattle off to you ever nickel and every dime. But we have accounted for..Medicare for All. We have options out there that will pay for it.'

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders arrive for a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas

FUNDING MEDICARE FOR ALL

But despite offering no firm financial plans with universal healthcare Sanders now says he wants to also introduce universal childcare for children up to the age of four, adding: 'We have a tax on wealth to pay for that.

'You know, I get a little bit tired of hearing my opponents saying 'Gee, how you going to pay for a program that impacts and helps children or working-class families or middle-class families? How you going to pay for that?'

'And yet, where are people saying, 'How are you going to pay for over $750 billion on military spending?' How you going to pay for a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the 1% in large corporations which was what Trump did? When you help the billionaires and you help Wall Street, 'Hey! Of course we can pay for it. That's what America's supposed to be about.' Well, I disagree.'

TAKING ON TRUMP

Sanders, who says he is looking forward to taking on President Donald Trump, said: 'Anyone who tells you that Donald Trump is not gonna be a tough opponent is kidding themselves. The way you beat Trump is bring nontraditional voters into the political process.

'What we will bring up is that the president of the United States is a pathological liar. And it is increasingly clear that many people just don't believe anything that he says.

'He is a fraud. I look forward to taking him on.'
Oil traders are gathering in London for whats normally a week of lavish parties, dealmaking and market chatter. Chinas coronavirus means this years events will be more subdued -- and fewer in number -- than usual. The talk will be about absent friends and uncertain demand.

Majors including BP have told their traders to stay away from IP Week receptions, while at least 13 other banks, brokers and refiners have canceled events. Many firms have decided not to send staff to Europe from other regions. The safety-first measures and empty seats will serve as a stark reminder of whats going almost 6,000 miles away in China, where industrial activity and oil demand have plunged because of the coronavirus. The question traders will be grappling with is: how strong will the demand rebound be?

A lot of people will be concerned about the virus and the impact on demand, but also the impact on the week, Russell Hardy, chief executive officer of Vitol Group, the worlds biggest independent oil trader, told Bloomberg TV. The expectation of the market today is that its not going to get significantly worse than what weve seen.

At HoustonChronicle.com: CERAWeek enacts precautions amid concerns about coronavirus

Vitols own estimate is that the virus is currently reducing Chinas oil demand by about 4 million barrels a day. Thats about 4% of global consumption. Over the course of the first quarter, it could have a total impact of about 200 million barrels, the firm estimates. Like many others, Vitol is anticipating a better second half of 2020 than during the first six months.

Despite expectations that few Chinese traders will be making the trip to London this year, the people who are attending will be trying to evaluate the Asian countrys response to the virus and its impact for the remainder of this year.

The Peoples Bank of China said it will promote consumption and investment to boost domestic demand, while calling for a rational view on the economic impact of the virus.

The promise of stimulus has led to commodities acting like equity markets, in our view, ignoring the physical realities of the disruption today and trading higher on expectations of stimulus improving future fundamentals, Goldman Sachs analysts including Jeff Currie wrote.

The hope that China will act in part kept Brent crude near $60 a barrel until late last week. Futures slumped 4.3% in the past two sessions and were trading at about $55.08 Monday morning on concern that the virus is becoming a more global issue.

IP Week event cancelations continued this week. Saudi Aramco decided not to proceed with a party that was supposed to take place on Tuesday, according to people who had been invited. Credit Agricole did the same, a notification from the firm shows.

This IP Week will also be the first since the introduction of new marine fuel rules, known as IMO 2020, designed to curb the amount of sulfur in ship fuel. The regulations have seen oil traders make billions of dollars, but shipowners are still debating about what the best fuel to use will be going forward. The impact on demand from IMO 2020 has so far been non-existent said Torbjorn Tornqvist, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gunvor Group Ltd. one of the worlds biggest independent oil traders.

And theres been another demand hit too -- a record-breaking warm winter. January was the hottest ever in Europe, with temperatures 3.1 degrees Celsius above average. That has dried up consumption of heating fuels, at a time the oil market is already suffering a demand hit. Vitol estimates a reduction of 700,000 barrels a day this year.

Loss of demand -- due to the coronavirus, as well as a lack of winter weather -- will average more than 2 million barrels a day globally so far in the first quarter, Tornqvist said. Weve seen a significant dent in Chinas demand, but the situation is not structural, so it will be a temporary effect.
Families have learnt that their children who signed settlements with the regime, and were sent to fight on the frontlines, were killed in action reports Sowt al-Asima.

On Saturday, residents of the city of al-Tell in the western Damascus countryside mourned the death of Ali Khalid al-Ali, a member of the citys settlements and who was a volunteer in the Fourth Division ranks. His body has not yet been delivered to his family, according to Sowt al-Asimas correspondent.

The correspondent added that two days ago, the citys residents mourned Adi Abdel Nasser Salih from the city, who was a volunteer in the Fifth Corps, killed on the western Aleppo countryside fronts.

Sowt al-Asimas correspondent reported that Salihs family lost contact with his brother, Amer Salih, who is a volunteer in the Fifth Corps, while his groups command confirmed he disappeared during the ongoing fighting.

Residents of the towns south of Damascus over the last week mourned five of their children who had been subject to settlements and had joined militia ranks. They included a resident of the town of Yalda, two from Babbila, and two from Beit Sahem, all of them killed in the western Aleppo countryside.

A local source told Sowt al-Asima that more than 100 families from the towns south of Damascus had lost contact with their children who had been sent to the fronts in northern Syria after they had been in touch with them daily. The source said that the commands of their groups refused to clarify why they could no longer make contact.

Fourth Division command at the end of January issued orders to transfer a new group of settlement fighters in southern Damascus to the fronts in western Aleppo and Idleb, including a group composed of more than 150 settlement fighters in the towns of Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahem, including former opposition fighters.

The Fourth Division at the start of the year sent groups of 50 settlement fighters from south of Damascus, including units from the Fourth Division and others from the Tiger Forces, to the fronts in the Aleppo and Idleb countrysides.

The Sowt al-Asima team has documented the deaths of more than 200 settlement fighters volunteering in Syrian regime militia ranks from the eastern and western Damascus countryside on the fronts in northern Syria since the start of 2019.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
United Kingdom's newly appointed Home Secretary Priti Patel is embroiled in controversy just days after assuming office. Earlier, reports had emerged that Britain's top intelligence agency MI5 is withholding information from Priti Patel due to lack of confidence. According to the latest reports, Patel has dismissed claims that MI5 doesn't trust her and has said that there is no reluctance on the part of the intelligence agency to share intel with her.

Read: UK: Rishi Sunak Appointed As Treasury Chief By PM Boris Johnson In Cabinet Reshuffle

All is not well in Home office?

There was another report that alleged Priti Patel tried to remove senior civil servant and permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam from his role after a series of arguments, which the pair have denied citing false allegations. A spokesperson for Patel and Rutman told the press that both the minister and the secretary are focused on delivering their department's agenda of overhauling the immigration system and deploying more policemen on the streets of the United Kingdom.

Read: UK Cabinet Minister Gove Dodges Questions On Mass Press Walkout From Government Briefing

As per reports, Downing Street has backed Priti Patel saying the Prime Minister has 'full confidence' in the Home Secretary and intelligence is not being withheld from her. Priti Patel reportedly demanded a leak inquiry following the allegations that appeared in various media reports. Patel ordered that a formal leak inquiry be carried out by Helen MacNamara, who is the director-general of propriety and ethics at the Cabinet Office. However, further reports suggest that MacNamara has blocked the request made by the Home Secretary.

Read: Uttar Pradesh: Inside Scoop Of Yogi Adityanath's Much-awaited Cabinet Reshuffle Accessed, Details Here

Priti Patel was appointed the Home Secretary by Prime Minister Boris Johnson following a cabinet reshuffle that took place on February 13. Along with Patel, other members of parliament who were brought to the front benches by the Prime Minister are Rishi Sunak, who replaced Sajid Javed as the new Finance Minister, Oliver Dowden, Brandon Lewis, and Alok Sharma.

Read: Modi Cabinet Reshuffle: Piyush Goyal To Take Over Finance Ministry, Rajyavardhan Rathore Gets I&B Ministry
A man, who was charged with the murder of his friend 36 years ago, was acquitted by the Supreme Court on February 20, overturning the conviction handed down by the trial court and affirmed by the Calcutta high court.

A bench of justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta ruled that the evidence relied upon by the prosecution to prove the guilt of Md. Younus Ali Tarafdar was not sufficient and cannot lead to the conclusion that he committed the murder.

A close scrutiny of the material on record would disclose that the circumstances relied upon by the prosecution to prove the guilt of the Appellant were not complete and do not lead to the conclusion that in all human probability the murder must have been committed by the Appellant, the court held.

Tarafdar was accused of murdering his friend Becharam Dhara in March 1984. Dharas body was recovered from a well in a partially decomposed state. The body was identified by Dharas relatives.

Tarafdar, along with three others was charged with murder. The case against Tarafdar was based on the recovery of an Anglo-Swiss watch from a watch shop. The recovery itself was made after a confession by Tarafdar in this regard.

The wrist watch, the prosecution argued, belonged to Kenaram Dhara, the brother of deceased Becharam Dhara. Kenaram testified that he gave his wrist watch to Becharam when he left the house on March 15, 1984 before he was murdered. The proprietor of the watch shop testified that Tarafdar had given the watch for repair on March 19, 1984. Becharams sister also deposed before the court that the deceased left the house after telling her that he was going to visit Tarafdar.

The trial court convicted Tarafdar for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal code. The other accused were acquitted as the trial court was of the opinion that the prosecution could not establish their guilt.

The conviction of Tarafdar was based heavily on the recovery of the watch belonging to Becharams brother, which was given to Becharam when he left the house. The trial court had concluded that it was a strong circumstance which proved the involvement of Tarafdar in the crime. The signature of Tarafdar on the counterfoil taken from the watch shop owner was not denied by Tarafdar. He merely stated that the signature was taken forcibly by the police during the course of the investigation.

The trial court sentenced Tarafdar to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life. The Calcutta high court affirmed the conviction and sentence in July 2008.

The Supreme Court, however, held that the manner in which the confessional statement of Tarafdar was recorded and the seizure of the receipt of the watch from the watch shop was not free from doubt.

The top court, therefore, set aside the high court judgment and acquitted Tarafdar.

an overall consideration of the evidence on record, would not lead us to believe that the Appellant and the deceased were last seen together. There is no evidence on record to show that the Appellant was last seen with the deceased.It cannot be said that the Appellant failed to explain as to what happened after they were last seen together especially when there is no evidence to show that they were last seen together, the apex court held.
TARIN KOT/ LASHKAR GAH/FARAH/JALALABAD/KABUL, Afghanistan  Sarah, a 60-year-old widow, says she hates war because it snatched away everything dear to her.

My brother was also killed in the war. There is nothing good about war. It took away our peace of mind, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. Now I cannot sleep at night or during the daytime.

On February 24, Sarah joined hundreds of residents of Tarin Kot in celebrating the weeklong partial truce that has seen a notable reduction in violence across Afghanistan. The dusty town serves as the provincial capital of the southern province of Uruzgan, which is practically besieged by the Taliban, who control large swathes of the province and frequently clash with Afghan security forces.

Afghans in frontline provinces such as Uruzgan now demand a lasting cease-fire. They are hoping their lives, defined by the misery and anguish caused by fighting, will change for the better if all warring sides agree on turning the partial truce into a lasting cease-fire.

Like Sarah, 50-year-old Bibi, another widow in Uruzgan, goes by one name only. She too participated in the pro-peace demonstration in Tarin Kot, hoping that a return to peace will somehow ease raising her eight children.

I want peace because my son and nephew were recently killed during fighting, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. I do not want to see more young people -- be they government soldiers or the Taliban  killed in this war.

Gul Agha, a 50-year-old resident of Tarin Kot, hopes the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other factions supporting the current political system in the country will be able turn the weeklong reduction in violence into a lasting cease-fire once they begin talking soon after the Taliban and the United States sign an initial agreement on February 29.

We hope that they can cease fighting and are able to resolve all their differences through talks, he said of his hopes for the intra-Afghan talks.

In Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand Province, hundreds celebrated the partial truce on February 24 after sensing the armistice has largely held since it came into effect early on February 22. There is nothing uglier than war in this world. And nothing is better than peace, one speaker told the gathering.

In the nearby district of Nawa, where the Taliban and government forces clash frequently, thousands called on the Taliban to extend the armistice and declare a permanent cease-fire after joining talks with the government.

Every Afghan involved in this war is our brother and relative irrespective of what side they are fighting for, said Fazal Bari Fayyaz, the district governor of Nawa. Peace is in everyones interest. Even the wildlife in our homeland will benefit from it.

Helmand is Afghanistans largest province where insurgents control most of the countryside. The region has historically provided many Taliban recruits, and its status as the worlds largest producer of illicit opium and heroin has filled their war chest. Helmands long porous border with Pakistan and proximity to Iran make it strategically significant.

In the neighboring province of Farah too, the partial truce was celebrated with music and dancing.

People are sick of war; they want lasting peace, Sharafuddin, a resident of the provincial capital, also called Farah, told Radio Free Afghanistan. If the war had any benefit, Afghanistan would have turned into a developed country during the past 40 years, said Nazir Ahmad, another Farah resident.

Like Helmand, Farah is a frequent scene of Taliban ambushes and government and U.S. airstrikes. The provincial capital in particular was battered when it was briefly overrun by Taliban fighters in May 2018.

Residents of the eastern province of Nangarhar have endured some of the most horrific violence in Afghanistan in recent years. After its emergence in early 2015, the ultra-radical Islamic State militants captured many Nangahar districts bordering Pakistan. They committed unprecedented atrocities against civilians and engaged in large-scale fighting against the government, NATO, and Taliban forces until late last year.

Noorullah Noorani, a Nangarhar resident, considers the truce a good opportunity for Afghans to showcase their thirst for peace to the world. We need to tell the world that Afghanistan is the home of negotiations and peace is in our best interest, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.

In the capital, Kabul, Hameedullah Ashna is elated by the truce. His government job has prevented him from meeting family in the nearby province of Maidan Wardak. His village in Wardaks Chak district is under Taliban control. Ashna avoided visiting because he feared being targeted by the insurgents, who frequently attacked government workers and supporters.

My sister called me from our village to urge me to visit them during the truce, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.

The Taliban used to conduct up to 80 attacks every day, but their attacks have reduced to less than 10 per day during the first three days of the truce, according to Afghan journalists tracking violence in their country.

Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on reporting by Sharifullah Sharafat, Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent in Uruzgan. Mohammad Ilyas Dayee, Hafeez Noorzad, Shar Gul Amirzai and Najia Safi contributed reporting from Helmand, Farah, Nangarhar and Kabul, respectively.
The Competition Commission on Monday ordered a detailed probe against MakeMyTrip (MMT) and OYO for allegedly indulging in unfair business practices, on a complaint filed by the operator of Treebo Hotels.

This is the second time in less than six months that the fair trade watchdog has called for an investigation against the two entities after finding prima-facie evidence of violation of competition norms.

MMT, an online travel agency, has a pact with OYO, which provides franchising services to budget hotels.

The complainant -- Rubtub Solutions -- operates Treebo Hotels, a competitor to OYO.

Exclusion of Treebo and its partner hotels from listing on MMT platform pursuant to the commercial arrangement between the latter and OYO, price parity restrictions on the platform and exclusivity condition on Treebo are the three main issues raised by the complainant, as per the watchdog.

In a 13-page order, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that a case against MMT and OYO for entering into a vertical arrangement having an appreciable adverse effect on competition in the market is also "prima facie" made out.

"The Commission is of the view that prima facie a case of contravention against MMT for abuse of dominant position... is made out on account of all the three allegations analysed supra," it noted.

The watchdog's probe arm -- Director General (DG) -- has been directed to investigate the current matter along with those that were referred in October last year, and submit a consolidated investigation report.

In October 2019, CCI ordered a probe against MMT-GoIbibo and OYO.

As per the complainant, Treebo and its partner hotels are being excluded from listing on MMT's platform through abrupt termination pursuant to the commercial arrangement between MMT and OYO.

It was alleged that MMT imposed "price parity restriction" on Treebo partner hotels through the chain agreement that restricted on them from providing properties on Booking.com and Paytm at a better price.

Taking cognisance of the "chain agreement", CCI noted that it entails price parity as well as room parity condition. It provides that neither Treebo can provide a better rate compared to competing online travel agencies nor can they provide rooms to online travel agency unless those rooms are first made available on the platform of MMT.

Additionally, MMT allegedly imposed an "exclusivity condition" on Treebo through exclusivity agreement which restricted it from listing its properties on Booking.com and Paytm for 72 hours and 30 days, respectively, prior to check-in for hotels situated in certain cities.

The watchdog said that such restriction "prima facie appears unfair, and hence exploitative" for the Treebo partner hotels as it denies them an opportunity to list on other platforms and to gain access to those platforms, especially Booking.com which appears to be the closest competitor of MMT, during the busiest booking periods.

According to the complainant, OYO has abused its dominant position in the market of franchising services for budget hotels in India by entering into an anti-competitive vertical arrangement with MMT.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic was China's most serious public health crisis and called for efforts to help overcome the "largest public emergency" and learn from "obvious shortcomings exposed" in its response, so it could improve its ability to handle future crises.

"For us, this is a crisis and also a big test. After hard work, the current situation of epidemic prevention and control is turning out good," said Xi during a meeting with government officials in Beijing, as quoted by state news agency Xinhua.

"The novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic was a major public health emergency with the fastest spread, the widest range of infections, and the most difficult to prevent and control in China since the founding of the New China," he added.

Xi also said the COVID-19 epidemic will inevitably deal a big blow to China's economic and social development.

"However, at such a time it is even more important to view China's development in a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective, and to strengthen and firm up confidence," he added.

He further said that containing the outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan and the wider province of Hubei was among the country's top strategic goals, reported South China Morning Post.

The number of people who have died from the novel coronavirus in the Chinese province of Hubei has gone up to 2,346, regional health authorities report, saying that the total number of people infected with the virus in Hubei has surpassed 64,000.

According to the latest update, the total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 76,936, with 2,442 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
About 900 kilograms of ice bound for Victoria from Mexico has been intercepted by authorities in the past six months, with the latest seizure  thought to be worth almost $17 million  found inside a consignment of silver concentrate.

Police charged a Canadian-French man on Monday with importing 154 kilograms of methamphetamine by sea from Mexico into Melbourne.

Some of the methamaphetamine that the joint police operation found. Credit:Police Media

The 26-year-old dual national was arrested in Chadstone, in Melbournes south-east, on Saturday night in relation to the seizure of the drugs, which police estimate have a street value of $16.9 million.

Police will allege in court the man imported the drugs concealed inside a shipment of 19 tonnes of silver concentrate.
Thai authorities were considering legal action against a banned opposition party official who accused the government of helping to hide a fugitive financier linked to Malaysias 1MDB scandal, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said Monday.

Pannika Wanich, former spokeswoman for the Future Forward Party (FFP), on Sunday accused the Thai government of allowing Low Taek Jho (better known as Jho Low) to visit Thailand although he was subject to an Interpol red notice  a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and arrest the person named.

Thailands Constitutional Court on Friday ordered the party, which captured the third largest number of seats in last years general election, disbanded.

[In response to] such assumptions based on unrelated things, involved agencies have information. They dont reveal it now but will use [it] in prosecution, Prayuth told reporters when questioned about Pannikas claim.

Be cautious, this involves a foreign relationship, he added.

Government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat echoed the prime minister.

[I] affirm that the [allegation] is false, Narumon said in a Facebook post. Agencies involved are considering filing a legal action and the main agency would clarify the matter.

Pannika stood her ground on Monday.

It is disappointing that the government does not try to disclose the information but chose to threaten prosecution, she told reporters.

Pannika and other officials of the disbanded FFP, including leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, have been kicked out of parliament and banned by court order from political office for 10 years.

In its judgement, the court ruled that Thanathorn, whose auto-parts business made him a billionaire, had illegally loaned money to his party ahead of last years general election.

More than 60 FFP members elected to parliament can retain their seats if they join another party within two months, the Associated Press reported.

Jho Low, who fled Malaysia and is the target of an international manhunt, faces criminal charges in Malaysia and the United States for his alleged role in embezzling from 1MDB through his relationship with former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib set up 1Malaysia Development Berhad in 2009 ostensibly to spur Malaysias economic development, but the fund amassed billions in debts.

In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Malaysian Official 1  later identified as Najib  and associates of embezzling and laundering more than U.S. $4.5 billion (18.8 billion ringgit) in 1MDB-linked money between 2009 and 2014. Since Najib fell from power in the 2018 general election, he has been indicted on 42 corruption-related charges stemming from the scandal, and is currently standing trial on some of those charges.

Justo case

Pannika had compared Thailands treatment of Jho Low, of allegedly allowing him to enter and leave the country, to a man she said was innocent but spent months behind bars.

On Oct. 7, 2016, Singapore requested that Interpol issue a red notice to arrest Jho Low for money laundering. But from Oct. 7, 2016, to May 13, 2018, Jho Low registered on immigration records five times, flying in on a private jet, she said.

Thailand could have denied his arrival but it did not, she said. There is no evidence that Thailand tried to deny his arrival or inform Singapore about the wanted money launderer.

She compared Jho Low to Xavier Andre Justo, a former employee of PetroSaudi International Ltd., who exposed a deal between PetroSaudi and the 1MDB fund. He alleged that Najib siphoned millions of dollars from 1MBD.

Justo was sentenced in 2015 to three years in Thai prison on charges of extorting money from PetroSaudi, his Thai lawyer told BenarNews on Monday. He later received a royal pardon and returned to Malaysia in 2018 to assist in the 1MDB investigation.

Last year, the chairman of The Edge Media group reported rewarding 8.2 million ringgit ($2 million) to Justo for helping to expose the scandal.

Not guilty plea

In another 1MDB-related development on Monday, Goldman Sachs pleaded not guilty in Malaysias high court to charges related to the sale of bonds totaling 27.2 billion ringgit ($6.43 billion) in 2012 and 2013, Malaysian state news agency Bernama reported.

At the time the charges were filed in December 2018, Malaysian Attorney General Tommy Thomas alleged that the Wall Street investment bank needed to be held accountable for benefiting from 2.5 billion ringgit ($600 million) for underwriting the bonds.

Their fraud goes to the heart of our capital markets, and if no criminal proceedings are instituted against the accused, their undermining of our financial system and market integrity will go unpunished, he said at the time.

In October 2018, the U.S. government unsealed indictments against Goldman Sachs bankers Ng Chong Hwa (also known as Roger Ng) and Tim Leissner, alleging they hid their partnership with Jho Low from their employer.

More than $2.7 billion (11.28 billion ringgit) was misappropriated from 1MDB and Jho Low, Ng, Leissner and others conspired to launder this money through the U.S. financial system to pay bribes to foreign officials and for the personal benefit of themselves and their relatives, the U.S. government at the time.

Leissner pleaded guilty to two charges related to money laundering while Ng was arrested in Malaysia and faces criminal charges there and in the U.S.
Stars don't see gender, and now, NASA is working to not see it either when allocating telescope time to scientists, inspired by a successful experiment with the Hubble Space Telescope .

That experiment tested the hypothesis that if proposals are evaluated without knowledge of who wrote them and strictly on the merit of the science they proposed to do, the astronomers who received highly coveted observing time would end up being a more diverse group . That's the principle behind dual-anonymous review, in which reviewers don't know who submitted which proposals and proposers don't know who reviewed their submissions. Dual-anonymous review is an attempt to reduce the warping power of implicit bias in the traditional review system, in which reviewers are anonymous but proposals include scientists' names.

"We have noticed that in many of our proposal selections, there appears to be a bias in favor of one gender of proposer over another," NASA Astrophysics Division Director Paul Hertz said during a town hall conversation held last month at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society , in Honolulu.

Related: Women in space: A gallery of firsts

By that, he didn't just mean that male scientists receive more than half the opportunities on offer; such a result could simply reflect a greater number of men in the pool of submitters. What Hertz meant is that male scientists generally have a higher success rate in their proposals than female scientists .

The Space Telescope Science Institute, which manages science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope and will do so for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope , saw that trend as well when it studied 20 years' worth of proposals and awards. "That was observable data. You could see it," Heidi Hammel, a planetary astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, told Space.com.

But because the institute had data only about who submitted for telescope time and who received it, there was no way to tell whether the problem came from a difference in proposal quality or from bias, whether conscious or implicit. Hence, the experiment.

The committee reviewing proposals tried a few different ways of shifting the evaluation focus from individual scientists to the science they proposed. For example, one method required that proposals list only scientists' first initials, not their first names. Another required that all the team members be listed in alphabetical order, so it was unclear who was leading the proposal.

Then, for proposals submitted in 2018, the committee went all in , requiring materials that entirely hid the identity of the writers. (A separate document available late in the review process could include nonanonymous information that would speak to the team's ability to conduct the science they proposed to do.)

Related: 'Hidden Figures' explores NASA and civil rights history

According to a report from the committee , scientists submitted nearly 500 proposals that cycle, more than 10 times the number that Hubble had time to gather observations for. Of those proposals, 28% were led by female scientists; of the 40 successful proposals, 12 were led by female scientists. That put female scientists at an 8.7% rate of success and male scientists at 8%, about the same; the year before, without fully anonymous proposals, those numbers were 13% and 24%. "It would be premature to draw broad conclusions, but the results are encouraging" that the anonymous method worked, the statement concluded.

Throughout the experimental process, the committee was assisted and observed by Stefanie Johnson, who specializes in organizational leadership and information analytics at the University of Colorado Boulder's business school. She and a colleague have now published their analysis of the 2018 experiment in the journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

In that paper, the authors compared dual-anonymous review with other potential tactics for reducing unconscious gender bias, which they described as losing efficacy over time or leading to "backlash against women because women are perceived as receiving extra advantages." (Neither the Hubble committee statement nor Johnson's paper addressed the fact that gender is more complex than a male-female binary; it's unclear whether gender identities were assigned by outsiders or provided by the scientists in question in the Hubble experiment analysis.)

According to the analysis, the switch to dual-anonymous reviewing didn't affect male scientists' success rates to a statistically significant degree but did do so for female scientists. "It's not proof that women will always do better, but hopefully the gender balance will be closer than in years past," Johnson said in a statement. "What this shows is that taking gender out of the equation does allow women to perform better."

Related: Meet the unknown female mathematician whose calculations helped discover Pluto

Although the trial analysis focuses on gender disparities, the idea is that dual-anonymous review should have a similar relationship with a range of different types of potential bias, conscious or implicit. "By going to the dual-anonymous reviews, it isn't only addressing gender issues, it's also addressing underrepresented populations in many different classes," Hammel said, mentioning specifically the draw of a prestigious university or well-respected advisor. "There are many kinds of biases that come into play when you know the names."

NASA looked at the results of the experiment and decided it wanted to give the process a try more broadly. "The proposals were reviewed based on science merit only and not on how familiar the proposer's name was to the reviewers," Hertz said. "It worked great, so we have made the decision to move all of our [General Observer] programs to dual anonymous." The announcement was met with applause from the gathered astronomers in Honolulu.

Hertz's presentation included a slide outlining six observing proposal cycles with deadlines this year that would take the new format, including the first cycle of proposals for time on the James Webb Space Telescope, currently scheduled to launch in March 2021 . Hertz said that NASA's Science Mission Directorate, of which his division is a part, is implementing and exploring pilot programs for dual-anonymous review in contexts beyond the General Observer programs as well.

The new policy does mean that scientists will need to learn a new way to write the explanations they submit of why their work deserves an instrument's precious observing time. They can no longer reference their own previous research, partnerships they've built, or funding or observing time they have already won. To smooth the transition, Hertz said, NASA is offering webinars and setting up a help line that scientists could call with questions about anonymizing their research.

"I think it's a good thing. I think it's the right thing. And I'm very pleased to see that NASA is moving forward on transforming their systems to allow these kinds of processes to work for NASA proposals," Hammel said. "Maybe we'll get to the point where people understand [that] in all these cases, you don't need to know the person. You evaluate on the science that they say they're going to do and rank it on that merit."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 20:03 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20664dd11 1 Business Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,Saudi-Arabia,Indonesia,sovereign-wealth-fund,investment Free

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati hopes to get Saudi Arabia on board to invest more in Indonesia, particularly through the planned sovereign wealth fund that is to be channeled for projects intended to aid the countrys development.

The ministers efforts to offer investment projects through the sovereign wealth fund to Saudi Arabia came amid what she described as sluggish economic conditions in the United States and China, two countries that had been Indonesias main investment sources.

She explained that according to a survey  which was unnamed  investments from the US and China had decreased. Meanwhile, investment from Japan, another foreign investor in Indonesia, had been relatively stable.

On the other hand, investment from Saudi Arabia has increased significantly. This situation can be optimized to increase the Saudi Arabian investment in Indonesia, Sri Mulyani said in a written statement on Monday as quoted by kontan.co.id.

In 2018, the Middle Eastern kingdom was ranked 40th on the list of Indonesias sources for realized foreign investments, with US$5.3 million invested that year, an increase from $3.5 million invested in 2017, according to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

The government is currently on the track to establish a sovereign wealth fund  aimed at managing and allocating a sum of funding and/or state assets  which will also be used for, among other things, financing the development of Indonesias new capital in East Kalimantan and/or projects in Aceh.

Sri Mulyani claimed that the Saudi Arabian finance minister had agreed on the potential sectors that could be developed, though she declined to elaborate further.

Read also: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/02/24/omnibus-bill-provides-legal-certainty-on-indonesias-sovereign-wealth-fund.html" target="_blank">Omnibus bill provides legal certainty on Indonesias sovereign wealth fund

The formation of the sovereign wealth fund, however, still has to wait for the completion of the omnibus law on job creation, which will be discussed by the House of Representatives soon.

Secretary to the coordinating economic minister Susiwijono Moegiarso explained that as a special agency, the sovereign wealth fund could be on par with the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (LPEI), which is a special body formed to support the implementation of national export financing activities.

Take as an example, the LPEI. We are confused about whether it is a bank or a non-banking finance institution [IKNB], but we know that the institution has special authority. Similarly, the sovereign wealth fund will later have special authority to represent the sovereign status of the government, Susiwijono explained as quoted by a Kontan report on Jan. 19.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo had said during an annual meeting of the financial services industry last month that once the legal aspects of the sovereign wealth fund had been established, there would be an inflow of a minimum of $20 billion into the fund.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in a statement on Jan. 13 that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group and the US International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) would be among the investors in the sovereign wealth fund.

He said the possibility for other potential parties to join the fund was still open.

The UAE government has prepared $6.8 billion to invest in Indonesias development projects through a sovereign wealth fund, while the IDFC has pledged to invest $5.5 billion in Indonesia. SoftBank Group, meanwhile, has offered up to $40 billion to invest in the development of the countrys new capital city. (ydp)
A critical intersection lies just behind a security-protected door on the 18th floor of the MaRS Discovery Centre in downtown Toronto.

Every day approximately 2,000 blood, urine, stool, tissue and other bodily samples are sent here, Public Health Ontarios laboratory, to be tested for an encyclopedias worth of maladies, from food-borne illnesses like E. coli to sexually transmitted diseases.

Every sample is logged into a computer. Most travel onwards to workstations on the 18th floor for routine testing. But samples to be tested for the novel coronavirus are immediately diverted one floor up. The virus has infected nearly 79,000 people in 33 countries  including 10 in Canada  sparking a global health emergency. Almost 2,500 people have died.

A sophisticated suite of machinery awaits, technology with the power to rapidly indicate whether a patient is negative for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, or whether the provinces health system must mobilize to contain the spread of disease.

Scientists at the PHO lab have processed nearly 500 potential cases, with increasing speed  preliminary results are now available in just six hours. Only four of those cases have been confirmed positive for the coronavirus.

To be able to have these results back in near real time is just vital. It helps you care for that individual patient, but it also facilitates care for everyone else in the hospital as well, says Isaac Bogoch, a staff physician and infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital and a professor at the University of Toronto.

Bogoch says the number of negatives the lab has confirmed is just as important as the number of positives. Anyone suspected of having COVID-19 requires a massive deployment of resources, from isolation in special negative-pressure hospital rooms to extensive personal protective equipment for anyone treating them. The sooner a patient can be ruled out, the better.

The lab confirmed a new presumptive COVID-19 case on Sunday in a woman who arrived in Toronto from China on Friday. The woman was mildly ill and is now in self-isolation at home, Ontarios chief medical officer of health confirmed in a statement.

Health officials say the risk to the public here remains low. But the global epidemic showed signs of entering a new and worrying phase, with cases appearing in previously unaffected countries and a dramatic surge in South Korea. British Columbias sixth COVID-19 case was identified in a recent traveller from Iran, a country that until recently was not known to have widespread transmission.

Tests get thought of as sort of widgets. But if its done right, its not just a widget, says Vanessa Allen, chief of medical microbiology at the PHO lab.

How does it help with decision-making before and after? Thats also kind of a critical function that most people arent aware of.

With near-constant news about the coronavirus, it can be easy to forget that the world has only known of its existence for less than two months.

Just before New Years, a bulletin was posted to ProMED, an Internet service that allows news of unusual global health events to circulate rapidly. It described a mysterious cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. The cause of the pneumonia could not be determined, and seven of the 27 patients were critically ill.

On Jan. 8, Chinese researchers said that the rapidly spreading illness was caused by new coronavirus, the same family of pathogens that cause SARS  a respiratory illness epidemic that devastated Ontarios under-prepared health-care system. By mid-January, the PHO lab had its first potential case.

Developing a new disease test usually takes four months, Allen says; this outbreak had arrived on Ontarios doorstep in just two weeks.

The lab pulled on all available resources to develop a test that balanced speed with accuracy, adding staff from other units to accommodate the surge. The World Health Organization, Health Canada, and other health bodies have provided guidance as the outbreak developed.

An overly sensitive test could result in a glut of false positives  patients incorrectly identified as infected  that needlessly jam up the health-care system. A test that leans too far in the other direction would allow false negatives  patients incorrectly identified as not infected  to slip through the cracks, almost certainly spreading the disease to new patients.

As the scientists and technicians worked furiously to refine their protocol, the cases arriving at the lab mounted. Health-care providers are asked to send at least two swabs from potential COVID-19 cases, one from the nose and one from the throat; some send more. So a day in which the lab processes 15 cases means testing upwards of 40 samples.

Those samples are couriered from all over the province to the buildings loading dock, where they are kept in a fridge policed by a security guard. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the lab sends someone down every hour to check for new samples.

The samples are brought up to the 18th floor, where they enter through doors that are protected by multiple layers of security, and are logged into a computer. If the samples have been properly flagged as a potential coronavirus case, they are immediately diverted upstairs to the 19th floor, which is reserved for more specialized testing.

PHOs test relies on a technology called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which allows scientists to make millions or billions of copies of the viruss genetic material from a very small sample.

In one room, nucleic acid  the molecules that store genetic information  is chemically extracted from the samples. In coronaviruses, nucleic acid comes in the form of single-stranded RNA, unlike our own double-stranded DNA. In another room, that nucleic acid is plated and prepared for amplification.

The plates are brought to another room and loaded into machines known as real-time thermal cyclers. The machines convert the single-stranded RNA to double-stranded DNA, and then use heat to break the DNA strands into two. Each half is built back into a whole strand again, exponentially amplifying the amount of DNA on every cycle  millions of copies can be created in just a few hours.

The machine is searching for two specific targets on the novel coronavirus genome, genes that the scientists chose because they are unique to this virus and dont mutate very much.

If the first PCR test identifies a match at one or both targets, the lab carries out a second test that takes longer but explicitly spells out the genetic code of the virus, leaving little room for doubt about the presence of the coronavirus. All positive samples are also sent to Canadas National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, which provides the final confirmation. (Negative samples were also sent to the national lab until recently.)

Torontos first two COVID-19 cases, a husband and wife who had travelled directly from Wuhan, were confirmed as positive at both the PHO lab and the national lab. But Ontarios third case, a student in London, tested negative in Ontario. Further testing in Winnipeg indicated the presence of the coronavirus.

Allen says PHOs lab was using a different testing protocol at the time, but that the patient also had very low viral loads: Winnipeg ran multiple tests on those samples and also got negative results in some of them.

Bogoch, the Toronto General Hospital infectious disease physician, says he considers that reversal a positive sign.

This was viewed in the general public I think very unfairly. People said, Wow, this system didnt work. The answer is actually the opposite: there is a robust system in place to catch these cases.

Ontarios lab, other provincial public health labs, and Canadas national lab have all rapidly scaled up their ability to do testing, Bogoch added.

The number of negative tests throughout the provinces, which numbers now over 1,000, is demonstrative that our system is working to date.

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3 Killed After Rental Agreement Dispute: Officials

Three people in California were killed following a dispute about a rental agreement, local police officials confirmed.

A 20-year-old woman, Jordan Guzman, and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Anthony McCloud, are accused of killing 46-year-old Wendy Lopez-Araiza, her 21-year-old daughter Genesis Lopez-Araiza, and 18-year-old Trinity Clyde, said Hemet Police.

Hemet Police Department Chief Eddie Pust said Wendy Lopez-Araizas husband arrived home from work Wednesday and found his wife unresponsive. The two other victims were found elsewhere in the house, Pust said on Friday, according to ABC News.

Guzman had rented a room inside the home. She was allegedly visiting with her boyfriend when a dispute about her rental agreement emerged, sparking the alleged murders, said Pust.

The chief said the pair allegedly stole Clydes vehicle and fled the scene.

This was a tragic, horrific incident thats going to stay in the minds of the family members and friends forever, Pust told reporters.

Guzman and McCloud were eventually apprehended by officials hundreds of miles away in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they are both being held on $2 million bond, police said, according to the Press-Enterprise publication.

Pust said there was evidence of blunt force trauma and strangulation in the three victims deaths. There was no indication of a gun being used.

Rodney Clyde told a local TV station that his daughter, Trinity, was planning to rent a room in the Lopez-Araiza house, reported The Associated Press.

I just bought her paint yesterday, he said. That was my baby. That was my kid.

Family members established a GoFundMe page for Clyde to raise money for related expenses.

Hi friends and family we are kindly asking for donations for my niece Trinity who was brutally murdered. The way she was taken from us has been completely devastating to our family this news was completely unexpected our hearts will never fully heal without her. We are so great full for any help given no matter how big or small, according to the page.

Another GoFundMe page was established for Wendy and Genesis Lopez-Araiza.

They were brutally and senselessly murdered. We are asking for financial help, because this tragedy is impossible for us to handle at this moment, on our own. Please help us with the expenses surrounding this tragic situation, the page said.

Hemet is a city of about 85,000 residents in Riverside County, located about 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

It wasnt immediately clear if Guzman and McCloud had attorneys who could speak on their behalf.
This story was updated at 11:50 a.m. EST on Feb. 26 with news of the Feb. 27 target date. It was updated again at 1:50 a.m. EST on Feb. 27 with news of the Feb. 28 target date, and again at 1:30 a.m. EST on Feb. 28 with news of the Feb. 29 target date.

A California spaceflight company's quest to win the $12 million DARPA Launch Challenge is now scheduled for Saturday (Feb. 29), after a four-day delay.

Astra , a startup based in the Bay Area, had aimed to loft its first orbital mission Tuesday (Feb. 25) from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska, as part of the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Launch Challenge. But bad weather intervened, forcing a delay.

Astra is now targeting Saturday, during a three-hour window that opens at 3:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT), according to the DARPA Launch Challenge website.

Due to a major winter weather event expected to impact the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska on 2/25, the next available launch window for the @DARPA #LaunchChallenge will be determined when conditions improve, and the launch countdown clock will be adjusted accordingly. pic.twitter.com/FFa8qa7LXOFebruary 24, 2020 See more

The DARPA Launch Challenge aims to spur the development of private American rockets that can loft small military satellites cheaply, efficiently and frequently. The contest calls for two launches on short notice and a quick turnaround. The original timeline called for Astra's new 38-foot-long (11.6 meters) Rocket 3.0 to loft the first mission between Feb. 25 and March 1, and the second one by March 18.

A successful first flight would net the company $2 million, and acing the second would earn an additional $10 million.

Astra was founded in 2016 but only came out of stealth mode this month. While the company has performed a number of ground tests, it has yet to launch an orbital mission.

Eighteen companies expressed interest in the DARPA Launch Challenge when it was announced in 2018, but just three  Astra, Virgin Orbit and Vector Launch  advanced to become full participants. Astra is the only one still vying for the prize.

Mike Wall is the author of " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
Conor Murphy has again refused to state publicly that murdered south Armagh man Paul Quinn was not a criminal.

Northern Irelands finance minister has been under pressure to make the public statement after retracting a claim he made 13 years ago that Mr Quinn had been involved in criminality.

Mr Quinns mother Breege has repeatedly called for the Sinn Fein MLA to say publicly that her son was not a criminal, saying the slur on his name has compounded her familys grief.

Conor Murphy (Rebecca Black/PA)

The 21-year-old from Cullyhanna was beaten to death by a gang of around a dozen men in a farm shed across the border near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in 2007.

His family blame members of the IRA, but Sinn Fein has long denied republican involvement.

The killing became one of the talking points of the Irish election as Mr Quinns mother called for the former Newry and Armagh MP to be removed from his post as a minister over the comments.

Sinn Fein faced criticism from political rivals over its response to the killing.

Mr Murphy was urged by Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler and TUV leader Jim Allister during a Stormont Assembly sitting on February 10 to make a public apology to the Quinn family.

He responded then: I made a statement last week and I have written to that family.

Stephen and Breege Quinn at the graveside of their murdered son (Liam McBurney/PA)

On Monday, as he appeared at his first press conference at Stormont since the row, Mr Murphy refused to publicly state Mr Quinn was not a criminal.

I made a statement in relation to that, I have written to the family and my offer to meet the family remains, I am happy to meet them at any time, he said.

Mrs Quinn has said she will not meet Mr Murphy until he publicly states her son was not a criminal.

When pressed by the PA news agency, Mr Murphy added: I made a statement, I am content to meet the family at any time and discuss these matters with them.
The Supreme Court , by a six to one majority, is to refer key issues in the States appeal over convicted murderer Graham Dwyers mobile phone data retention case to the EU Court of Justice.

The States appeal over a High Court ruling upholding Dwyers challenge to a 2011 data retention law has important implications for the investigation and prosecution of serious crime and may also impact on Dwyers separate appeal over his 2015 conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara.

Although the States appeal will not now be fully decided by the Supreme Court until the CJEU rules, the Chief Justice Frank Clarke, who gave the majority judgment today, expressed important preliminary views with which five of his colleagues agreed.

Those included that a system of universal but limited retention of phone data is not in itself incompatible with EU law but that there must be a particularly robust access system in place which includes having independent prior permission for such access.

The current Irish access system does not meet that standard, the Chief Justice said.

Another important preliminary view, including for the purpose of Dwyers separate appeal over his murder conviction, was that national courts have power to decide any declaration of invalidity of the 2011 Act should only be prospective - apply from the date of the court declaration of invalidity.

Because the High Court finding that the 2011 Act breached EU law was made in 2018, that could mean, if the preliminary view stands, the data relevant to Dwyer may have been legally retained and accessed.

Elaine O'Hara

The Chief Justice stressed today that the Supreme Court appeal did not concern Dwyers separate conviction appeal but rather concerned the High Court finding that provisions of the Telecommunications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 breach EU law because it allowed for indiscriminate data retention without adequate safeguards, including prior independent overview of access requests.

Each of the preliminary matters involved consideration of difficult issues of EU law, the Chief Justice said.

The Supreme Court is obliged, under the EU Treaties and case law of the Court of Justice, to make a referral on any issue of EU law which is necessary to decide proceedings unless there is a clear answer to that issue of EU law.

He was not satisfied the answer to any of the three issues identified in this case was clear and the court would therefore make a reference to the CJEU.

The first issue is whether a system of universal retention of certain types of metadata for a fixed period of time is never permissible irrespective of how robust any regime for allowing access to such data may be.

The second seeks the criteria whereby an assessment can be made concerning whether any access regime to such data can be found to be sufficiently independent and robust.

The third issue is whether a national court, if it finds national data retention and access legislation is inconsistent with EU law, can decide the national law should not be regarded as having been invalid at all times but rather can determine invalidity to be prospective only.

A draft reference document was provided to lawyers for the sides and they have seven days to make observations on that before it is finalised.

Earlier in the main judgment, the Chief Justice said the use of phone data is increasingly crucial to the detection and prosecution of serious crimes, including murder, terrorism and cases involving the grooming of children.

The experience of the Irish courts is that some such cases have only been solved because of the availability of the type of phone metadata at issue in Dwyers case and Dwyers side had not disputed the importance of such evidence, he said.

If, as Dwyer argued, it is not permissible to have such universal retention of data, notwithstanding how robust any regime for access to that data is, then many serious crimes against women, children and other vulnerable persons will not be capable of detection or successful prosecution.

In that context, his view was that alternative forms of data retention, such as geographical targeting, would be ineffective in the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of at least certain types of serious crime and could also lead to potential violation of other individual rights.

Graham Dwyer

He also suggested the objective of the retention of data by any lesser means than a general data retention regime, subject to the necessary safeguards, is unworkable. The objective of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crime would also be significantly compromised in the absence of a general data retention regime.

Mr Justice Donal ODonnell, Mr Justice Liam McKechnie, Mr Justice John MacMenamin, Ms Justice Iseult OMalley and Ms Justice Mary Irvine all agreed with the Chief Justice.

In his dissenting judgment, Mr Justice Peter Charleton said this case was all about excluding vital metadata and Ireland is not part of any legislative obligation for the exclusion of evidence.

Issues of proportionality of a legislative measure impinging on guaranteed rights should be resolved by national courts and there was enough evidence before the Supreme Court for a ruling to be made as to whether the High Court decision should be reversed or upheld, he said.

It was also not appropriate to refer cases under Article 267 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU which relate to criminal law and which should be resolved by application of a test on the protection of rights, he added.

The most serious crimes would remain undetected without phone metadata  Supreme Court judge

An absence of such protection for the population is, instead, a terrifying prospect.

The most serious crimes against life and limb would remain undetected without the secure retention of phone metadata and the potential to access and analyse it for strictly limited purposes related to criminal investigation, Mr Justice Charleton said.

There is no evidence any Irish person has fears about such retention and access, he added. An absence of such protection for the population is, instead, a terrifying prospect.

The retention and use of phone metadata was critical to the investigations of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin and the Omagh bombing, in which 29 people died, he said. In his view, a system of prior authorisation for inert data storage could not have solved either of those crimes.

He considered there was sufficient evidence before the Supreme Court as of now for it to rule on the States appeal over a ruling allowing Graham Dwyers challenge to a 2011 law permitting retention of, and access to phone metadata.

That was one of his reasons for disagreeing with the view of six of his colleagues that legal issues had first to be referred to the Court of Justice of the EU before the Supreme Court could finally decide whether or not the High Court was correct in striking down the 2011 law as invalid.

The High Court had found provisions of the Telecommunications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 breached EU law because it allowed for a general data retention regime and for access without prior review by an independent tribunal or administrative authority.

Mr Justice Charleton said, because of issues related to the competence of the CJEU in criminal litigation, he also considered it was inappropriate to refer cases which relate to criminal law and which ought to be resolved by applying a specific test on the protection of rights.

This case is all about vital metadata and what is ultimately being sought by Dwyer is the exclusion of evidence in a criminal trial context on a charge of murder. Ireland is not part of any legislative obligation under EU Treaties for the exclusion of evidence.

The mobile phones at issue in Dwyers case were abandoned by whoever used them and data analysis at his criminal trial proved one phone belonged to Dwyer and the other was given to him by his employer, he observed.

Guns and other weapons are often abandoned after a crime, Irish law provides for the inert collection of data in that regard with access to that strictly limited on the basis of reasonable suspicion and it is for national courts to resolve any issues of compliance in that regard, he said.

While Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU provides that everyone has the right to protection of their personal data, that right need not clash with rights to life or bodily integrity.

Article 52 of the Charter provides that any limitation on the exercise of a guaranteed right must be provided for by law and respect the essence of those rights and freedoms, he noted.

He said that legitimate concerns about terrorism and really serious organised crime are behind the legislative provisions at issue and the relevant Ministerial directions and there was no other basis for them, such as governmental snooping.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restricted the process of cash withdrawal of electronic transfer deposits made into domiciliary accounts.

The apex bank disclosed in a tweet, stating that deposits made through electronic transfers into domiciliary accounts can only be transferred but cannot be withdrawn as cash over the counter.

The CBN added that cash deposits also made into domiciliary accounts can only be withdrawn as cash over the counter and not transferred out of the domiciliary account.

The CBN tweet said Only transfers into domiciliary accounts can be transferred from such accounts while cash deposits into such accounts can only be withdrawn in cash.

Meanwhile, the tweet was made in response to speculation that the apex regulator in Nigeria had banned the acceptance of foreign currency as cash deposits in Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).

The CBN denied that it had given any such directive to the DMBs operating within the country and any information contrary to this is false.

The CBN tweet said The CBN has not prohibited acceptance of foreign currency as cash deposits by DMBs. Rumors to the contrary are false

If a bank customer made an electronic transfer of $5,000 into his domiciliary account and later goes to the bank to make a cash deposit of $10,000, making a total of $15,000 in the account. Such customer can only make withdrawals from the account in the manner/medium he used to make the deposits into the domiciliary account.

It means if the bank customer needs to make a payment of $12,000 or initiates a transaction of $12,000, he can only pay $5, 000 through electronic transfer and the reaming $7,000 would have to be paid in cash.

The new CBN directive comes as a surprise to Nigerians as shown in their responses to the tweets on Saturday. Now, Nigerians are left with making cash deposits into beneficiarys account or instead of taking cash, the beneficiary request for a transfer to be made into such account given is future or current need for the money.

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By PTI

WASHINGTON: An Indian national has been shot dead by a masked assailant in Los Angeles with the police saying the suspect entered the grocery store with a semi-automatic handgun with the intent to commit a robbery.

Maninder Singh Sahi, who turned 31 last month, was married and father of two.

He was working at a 7-Eleven grocery store in the Whittier City in Los Angeles County of California.

Hailing from Karnal in Haryana, Sahi had arrived in the US less than six months ago and had sought political asylum.

The only earning member of his family, Sahi used to send money to his wife and two children back home, his relatives in the US said.

According to the Whittier Police Department, the incident occurred at 5.43 am on Saturday.

Preliminarily it appears the suspect entered the store with a semi-automatic handgun with the intent to commit a robbery.

"For unknown reasons the suspect fired the handgun killing the clerk," the police said releasing a picture of the suspect.

Authorities are still seeking the robber, who got away on foot with an unknown amount of cash.

"The suspect fled the location and is outstanding at this time. There were two customers inside the store, both were uninjured. The suspect is described as a male black adult approximately 506-507. Suspect had his face partially covered and was wearing a dark hoody with a gray hoody underneath," police said.

The victim's brother here has set up a GoFund Page to raise money so that the body of deceased Maninder could be taken back to India.

"He left behind, his parents, his wife and 2 small children, ages 5 and 9.

"I am seeking assistance to help send his body back to India so his wife and kids can view him one last time," his brother wrote in Go Fund Me page on Sunday.

"In the short time he was in California, he never argued with anyone and never raised his voice. He quietly did all the work his boss told him and he never complained," the fundraising page says.

The GoFundMe page, created Sunday morning, had raised more than USD 21,000 by the evening, one report said.
Seoul, South Korea: The coronavirus took aim at a broadening swath of the globe on Monday, with officials in Europe and the Middle East scrambling to limit the spread of an outbreak that showed signs of stabilising at its Chinese epicentre but posed new threats far beyond.

In Italy, authorities set up roadblocks, called off soccer matches and shuttered sites including the famed La Scala opera house. In Iran, a report of dozens of deaths in a single city emerged as infections were reported to have spread for the first time to Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Afghanistan. Across the world, stock markets and futures dipped, with the Dow down more than 800 points in the opening minutes of trading.

European shares suffered their biggest slump since mid-2016 on Monday and oil plunged almost 5 per cent, as a jump in coronavirus cases sent investors scrambling to the security of gold and government bonds.
A s Labour leadership ballot papers arrive, its no surprise candidates are speaking to members, not voters.

My advice for the winner? Earn the right to be heard. Dont underestimate Boris Johnson and the traps he will set. Decide what party Labour is to be: a middle-class, city-based party, or one that also speaks to the values of working-class voters and non-city folk. Listen, dont pay lip service to millions of people who didnt vote Labour. Show that you recognise Labour let them down, not the reverse. Being the voice of doom isnt a vote-winner. Instead, talk ambitiously about the future of a Britain we love. A greener, post-Brexit Britain that makes more, sells more and closes the skills gap in many of our towns. Let us see less virtue signalling, and more smart solutions to future challenges of crime, immigration and social care.

Remember, win from the centre and you can change lives for the better.

Rt Hon Caroline Flint

Editor's reply

Dear Caroline

Leadership elections tell you whether parties are serious about winning power. The early signs from the Labour contest were positive, with Keir Starmer emerging as a credible front-runner and Lisa Nandy spelling out home truths in her interviews

But in recent weeks, sadly, the contenders have all lurched in the direction of irrelevance. Nandy lent her name to a sectarian transgender campaign that wants to expel committed feminists and gay rights activists from her party  exactly the kind of narrow identity politics that the Tories would love to see their opposition disappear into.

Starmer has signed up to a programme of wholesale nationalisation, launched a war on business and foolishly committed to the impossibility of reintroducing free movement of people.

Youre right to remind Labour that it only wins from the centre. For at present the only people who think the Labour contest is going well are the current occupants of Downing Street.

George Osborne, Editor of the Evening Standard

Urgent need for social care cash

Business chiefs have backed rejecting a 30,000 minimum salary threshold for immigrants post-Brexit / PA Wire/PA Images

Councils are currently agreeing their budgets, which determine where your council tax is spent and how much it will increase by. When you think of what your council does you might think of services such as collecting the bins, but one of the biggest pressures we now face is paying for adult social care.

Councils can apply a two per cent precept to council tax bills to pay for this. However, after a decade of austerity, it isnt bringing in enough money to meet increased demand. The Governments proposed fair funding review also threatens to divert more than 50 million away from London boroughs in social care funding alone.

The Government needs to urgently set out a long-term plan and put in extra cash.

John Biggs Executive Mayor, Tower Hamlets

Veg is no fad: get real, carnibores

I take exception to David Sextons comment describing the veggie burger option at Big Fernand as a silly fad [Not a dirty burger in sight as French forgo filth in favour of chic civility, February 19].

Vegetarianism has been around a very long time, David, which hardly qualifies it as a fad. And get this: veganism is also not going away. So get real, David, and dont be a carnibore all your life.

Liz Riley

Size matters in game of marbles

I wish to correct significant inaccuracies in your leader The EU loses it marbles [February 19].

Sections of the Parthenon Marbles also known as the Elgin Marbles are displayed at The British Museum / Getty Images

Parliament did not grant funds to Lord Elgin to purchase the marbles. He removed them in 1801 and held them at his personal estate. In 1816 he sold them to the government which then passed them to the British Museum. Furthermore, Lord Elgins claim to have obtained an official decree from the Ottoman rulers has never been substantiated by any document in the Ottoman archives. In any case, the Ottomans were an occupying force at the time, so any decree would be of questionable legality.

The fact that the British Museum holds 60 per cent of the surviving frieze, as well as a large proportion of the sculptures, is what is particularly galling to us Greeks.
Several organisations and initiatives are launching a get-out-the-vote campaign in the last week before the vote.

The badges reading "NO in our country". (Source: Courtesy of Nie v nasej krajine)

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Slovakia has seen several calls on people not to be indifferent and attend the upcoming February 29 election. Many of them stress the need to reject extremism and totalitarian ideologies.

Some rectors even granted leave to their students the day before the election, to allow them to travel home and cast their ballots.

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Some initiatives, like the Not in Our Country, Not in My Costume, For a Better Country and the College of the Memory of the Nation warn against the totalitarian ideologies.

The letter from bishops read in the churches across Slovakia has asked people not to be carried away by emotional mottos that invoke the feelings of being threatened.

Badges to spread awareness

A recently-emerged civic initiative Nie v Nasej Krajine (Not in Our Country) rejects totalitarian ideologies and the spreading of fear by parties who adhere to such parties.

The initiative has produced 100,000 badges they plan to distribute in 46 municipalities across Slovakia.

Were an open group with the aim to continue initiating activities under our main message in Slovak municipalities, said Andrea Cocherova, manager and civic activist who has recently set up the initiative.

She was inspired by the badges saying #allforjan, which appeared after the murders of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova, which she also helped to produce, and the Nie v nasom meste (Not in our city) initiative that was established in Banska Bystrica shortly after Marian Kotleba became the regional governor. Its message has spread to other places since then.

Democratic principles, human rights and a life without fear and violence is something uniting us, Cocherova added.

The recently-launched Not in My Costume initiative called on politicians not to abuse folk culture for political aims, and encouraged people to vote against those who spread hate and the ideas of a single-colour culture.

Freedom is not a happy end

Meanwhile, the College of Memory of the Nation initiative has also called on people to vote, and vote for a future without hate, violence and murders.

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Were deciding between decency and violence, thoughtfulness and rudeness, responsibility and hate, justice and contempt, a sense of belonging and hatred, it wrote in the call. Were in a situation when voting is not just a possibility, but our duty.

The association stressed the importance of the elections and also highlighted the activities of the non-governmental organisation Post Bellum, which documents the memories of witnesses of the important historical phenomena of the 20th century and tries to pass these stories on to the broader public. In 2019, they documented 100 stories of people who were affected by non-democratic regimes, namely the Nazi-allied Slovak state and communism.

The call has been signed by several Slovak personalities.

Another initiative called Pre Lepsiu Krajinu (For a Better Country), which describes itself as an apolitical group that does not want to inactively watch the radicalisation of Slovakia, has organised an event scheduled for February 25 in Freedom Square in Bratislava, where they want to show that Slovakia is not a country for some questionable experiments like communism and fascism.

Bishops invite to elections too

Similarly to the 2010 election, Slovak bishops have also invited people to attend the vote, all the while stressing the Church is not intending to enter the campaign.

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It is important to vote, and it is certainly possible to choose, reads the pastoral letter read in churches across the country on Sunday, February 23.

The bishops recommended people learn more about the programmes of the parties running in the elections, and confront them with the values of the Gospel.

They also warned against some mottos that may raise emotions and the feeling of being threatened, and against quick and radical solutions. The bishops expressed their disgust with fraud and corruption, and called on people to not only step back from dishonesty, but also from "new ideologies".

Bishops of the Evangelical Church issued a letter to their believers, calling on people to "vote for candidates who are wise, cultivated, and honest".

A leave for students

The rectors of the two largest universities in Slovakia, Comenius University (UK) in Bratislava and the Slovak University of Technology (STU) in Bratislava, wanted to stress the importance of the upcoming elections.

In the call, Marek Stevcek of UK and Miroslav Fikar of STU, pointed to the problem with fake news and misinformation spread on the internet, and several insecurities linked to the future.

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But its unacceptable for somebody to turn these insecurities into fear, spreading it in the form of xenophobia, racism or hatred, the call reads.

The rectors stressed that Slovakia belongs to the EU, which is a guarantee of our geopolitical and value orientation.

As a result, they gave all their full-time students the afternoon off so that they can travel home and cast a ballot.

Lets vote, the call reads. Everybody has their own voice and can express their opinion. Lets do this right.
Four Chinese nationals and 16 others have been arrested by the Lagos State Government for operating illegal dredging sites in various waterfronts in Ibeju-Lekki and Eti-Osa Local Government Areas of the State.

The Chinese nationals who were accused of causing huge degradation to the environment as well as eroding the shorelines of Lagos, were arrested on-site at Eputu and Bogije for illegal dredging and industrial activities such as tug-boats manufacturing without regards to the State law on dredging activities.

Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi who led the enforcement team to effect the arrest said the state has recorded a huge loss due to the activities of illegal dredgers.



Abdullahi who also led the team to other illegal dredging sites at Langbasa and Ebute Sangotedo where illegal dredging facilities were sealed and operators found on-site were apprehended, advised all dredging operators in the State to visit the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development to obtain the necessary approvals and regularise their papers to enable them operate within the law of the State.

He added that those arrested have already been charged to Court for necessary prosecution.

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My fathers legacy is this Foundation, and I will do whatever I can as a member of the board to move the mission forward so that every child has the safety and stability they need and deserve," said Farber.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national non-profit public charity, today welcomed Pamela Farber as a member of its board of trustees, serving a three-year term. Farber, one of Dave Thomas daughters, is a committed businesswoman and philanthropist, who has helped to advance organizations, including Wendys restaurants, Nationwide Childrens Hospital and Franklin Park Conservatory. She previously served on the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoptions board from 1996 to 2006 and is honored to give back to a cause dear to her heart.

Everyone should have a family, a person, someone who tells them it is going to be OK. For too many children waiting to be adopted from foster care, they dont have that person, Farber said. My fathers legacy is this Foundation, and I will do whatever I can as a member of the board to move the mission forward so that every child has the safety and stability they need and deserve.

Through her fathers experience as an adoptee, Pam witnessed that having a caring, supportive family can make all the difference in a childs life, said Mary Schell, Chief Public Affairs Officer for The Wendys Company and chair of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoptions board of trustees. Im thrilled to have her back on the board.

Through its signature program, Wendys Wonderful Kids, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption provides funding to adoption agencies to hire recruiters who implement an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. A rigorous, five-year evaluation revealed that the model is up to three times more effective at serving children who have been in foster care the longest, including teenagers, children with special needs and siblings.

To date, more than 475 Wendys Wonderful Kids recruiters have found adoptive homes for more than 9,500 children in foster care across North America.

Advancing the Foundations mission has always been a priority for Pam, said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Her leadership and lifelong commitment to the cause of foster care adoption will be instrumental to achieving the vision that every child will have a permanent home and a loving family.

Farber is a graduate of Capital University. She lives in Columbus, Ohio.

###

About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 155,000 children waiting in North Americas foster care systems. Created by Wendys founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org.
The Democratic field is expected to stay crowded, despite the realisation among many campaigns that time is running out to stop Sanders. Photo: Reuters/Callaghan O'Hare

A burn-it-down candidate is topping a splintered field of more moderate contenders and setting the party's establishment wing on edge. It's how Donald Trump began his unlikely march to the Republican nomination in 2016. And four years later, it's how Senator Bernie Sanders has cemented himself as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

The Vermont senator won his second straight contest on Saturday with a convincing victory in Nevada, the first racially diverse state on the primary calendar, after winning in New Hampshire the week before. He also effectively tied for first place in the opening contest in Iowa.

Sanders's surge has energised his legion of liberal supporters, including young people drawn to his calls for a government-run health care system and eliminating student debt. But it's sparked an outcry from rival campaigns and other moderate Democrats that mirrors the worries of Republicans who tried, but failed, to block Trump's path in 2016.

They warn that Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, can't win in the election.

They warn that he would badly damage Democratic congressional candidates facing tough competition in swing states. They warn his nomination is all but inevitable unless other candidates start dropping out and stop splitting up the anti-Sanders vote.

"Moderates need to either consolidate or see Bernie run away with it," said Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist. "It's time for decisions or live with the outcome."

But none of Sanders's rivals appears ready to make those tough decisions. And there are no real party elders who can step in to help cull the field. The only Democrat in the country with that kind of sway is former president Barack Obama, who has vowed to stay stridently neutral in the primary contest.

And so, the Democratic field is expected to stay crowded, despite the realisation among many campaigns that time is running out to stop Sanders. If he amasses a significant delegate lead in the Super Tuesday contests on March 3, when big prizes like California and Texas are up for grabs, it could be impossible for other candidates to stop his march to the nomination.

Advisers to multiple Democratic campaigns privately conceded on Saturday that they expect up to five other candidates to remain in the race through Super Tuesday: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Mike Bloomberg.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 20:22:57|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- With the 93 percent votes counted in Iran, the results show a landmark victory of principlists in Iran's recent parliamentary elections.

Although official results still to be announced by Iran's Interior Ministry at the national level, the provincial results show that all the 30 seats in Tehran province have gone to the principlists, whom western media refer to as conservatives or hardliners.

With the tally available from the elected candidates, over 80 percent of the counted parliament's seats are at the possession of the opponents to President Hassan Rouhani and his reformist supporters.

As it was predicted, the coalition of two major principlist trends with a united list titled Iran-e Sarboland (Proud Iran), grabbed the votes in Tehran with Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf heading the list. Qalibaf was Tehran's mayor for 12 continuous years, police chief and a presidential contender for two rounds in 2005 and 2013.

On Sunday, Iran's Interior Ministry announced that 42.57 percent of eligible Iranians took part in the recent parliamentary elections.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said that "there were more than 57.918 million eligible voters in the country and 24.512 million people cast their votes in the ballot boxes."

The number of the participants in the Friday vote displays a significant drop of voters compared to the previous election. The 2016 parliamentary election in Iran saw 62 percent turnout.

Iran's supreme leader and senior officials had called for mass turnout and urged people to regard it as a religious and national duty.

In the capital Tehran, only 26.2 percent of eligible people attended the ballot boxes.

The reformist opponents of the conservative parties cite the reason in the decrease of voters due to disqualification of nearly 50 percent of registered people, most of whom being the representatives of reformists.

Among those disqualified were 90 moderate and reformist sitting members of Iran's 290-seat parliament who wanted to run for re-election.

With a parliament crowded with the principlists, it is expected that the Islamic republic will move in a course of more conflict with the west, with the United States at the top. In the meantime, the Islamic republic would strengthen its ties with its international allies and stretch its influence in the region, the analysts said.

They believe that a hardline parliament might create more challenges for the country than it confronts today.

Iranians went to the polls on Feb. 21 to elect hopefuls for the 290-seat parliament.

Rahmani Fazli said the turnout was "quite acceptable" given the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country, in addition to the country's political circumstances over the past months.
SPRINGFIELD  Only once in her 32 years as owner of Modern Bridal was Zira Goncalves summoned, sewing kit in hand, to the dressing room of a bride-to-be all dressed in white but with a broken zipper.

And I hadnt even sold her the dress, Goncalves said Friday. They were people I knew. They thanked me afterwards.

Shes gotten lots of thank-you cards and notes from women over the years. Always following special events like weddings and proms, and always from the belle of the ball, the bride, or the mother or grandmother of the bride.

And in at least one case, a woman was three or more of those things, having gotten her own wedding dress as well as wedding dresses for her daughters and granddaughters at Modern Bridal.

But no more. Goncalves plans to close the shop this spring and retire. With more than 80 years in business  and at least three owners  Modern Bridal is one of the oldest businesses in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield.

Its time, said Goncalves, 58, resting her hand on a display case of sparkly headpieces meant to keep a veil in place. I have a vacation home in Rhode Island I never go to. Thats wrong. I came from Portugal in 1978 and Ive been back like three times.

She has one employee besides herself, and good help is hard to find.

No one sews anymore, she said.

That has meant that if the shop was open, Goncalves had to be there to put on the lights. She had to be there to show off the dresses, do the fittings, the alterations, the second fitting. It was all her.

But she said shes done very well over the years and business continues to be good.

I kept going back and forth in my mind. I kept saying I would do it one more year, she said.

Shes had going-out-of-business signs up for a few weeks.

Its been busy, she said. A lot of people have been coming in and saying, Oh no!

She figures she will have sold down her inventory and closed the shop forever in April.

"My place in Rhode Island opens in May," she said.

She owns the Modern Bridal building. But she said decisions on what will become of it will wait until after the shop is closed.

For now, there are still plenty of veils. Special-occasion pumps spill out of shoe boxes. Undergarments fill bins. In front, there are racks on racks of brightly colored prom and special-occasion dresses of all sizes, lengths, necklines and descriptions. And toward the back, its a blizzard of white where the wedding dresses are kept.

Changing trends in the bridal industry  and not just necklines and hem lengths  make it hard for a shop like Modern Bridal.

Bostons booming employment market means more young women live out of town and buy their dresses there, even if the wedding will be in Western Massachusetts.

And shoppers increasingly buy online. Some of those women come to Modern Bridal for the alterations. But dresses like these dont run true to size, Goncalves said. Consumers dont know what they 're getting or even if a seamstress can make it fit.

The internet is changing everything, she said.

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Togo President Faure Gnassingbe has won a fourth term in power, the national electoral commission declared on Monday, as his main rival accused authorities of fraud.

The incumbent leader took 72 percent of the vote share in the first round of the presidential election, the commission said, far ahead of former prime minister Agbeyome Kodjo, with 18 percent.

The widely expected win extends more than a half century of dynastic rule over the former French colony by Gnassingbes family despite broad disillusionment over its failure to drag many out of poverty.



Gnassingbe has led the country of eight million people since taking over in 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled with an iron fist for 38 years.

In May, he oversaw an overhaul of the constitution that allowed him to run this year  and potentially remain in office until 2030.

Gilbert Barawa, minister of public functions and a strong supporter of the president, described the result as an unprecedented score for the president, who was elected with 58 percent of the vote five years ago.

Faure Gnassingbe has made a great breakthrough in formerly difficult areas, he said.

Hours before the official results were announced, Kodjo, who was prime minister under Gnassingbes father, had declared his own victory as democratically elected president with between 57 and 61 percent of the vote.

He promised to form his own inclusive government in the coming days, accusing authorities of using ballot stuffing and fake polling stations to skew the results in the incumbents favour.

Kodjo had emerged as a dark horse challenger in the race after winning the backing of an influential former Catholic archbishop.

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            ,   .                          .       .       14:05 .  10.12.2021 .        .   . , . ...
Safavieh INTL of Port Washington, N.Y., is recalling about 760 Aura and Silas 3-drawer chests.

The chests are unstable if not anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children.

No incidents or injuries are reported.

This recall includes Safavieh, Aura and Silas 3-drawer chests with light gray drawers and light gray linen finish (Model Number CHS6410B), champagne drawers and mirror finish (Model Number CHS6403A), and steel teal drawers with mirror finish (Model Number CHS6403C).

Each chest is about 32 inches wide, 16 inches deep and 29 inches tall.

The chests, manufactured in Vietnam, were sold online at www.wayfair.com, www.overstock.com and www.gilt.com and other online retailers from November 2017, to November 2019, for between $240 and $360.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using any recalled chest that is not properly anchored to the wall and place it in an area that children cannot access. Safavieh will provide packaging and pre-paid shipping labels so that consumers can remove the chests drawer slides and return them to the firm for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Safavieh toll-free at (866) 422-9070 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, by email at cs@Safavieh.com or online at www.Safavieh.com and click on Recall Information at the top of the page.
Carol, Carol are you there?

Memories drift and float somewhere.

Gone is the spark in your eyes

gone forever, away it flies.

Those are the opening lines of Carol, Carol, a gripping poem James McDonough wrote for his wife, Carol, 81, who has Alzheimers disease.

The 84-year-old retiree also has written a childrens book, The Urban Life of Barney Buzzard: An Alzheimers Tale, to help youngsters understand the disease that often affects them just as much as it does adults.

McDonough is not a poet or author by trade. His background is in law enforcement, and his only previous writing experience was doing crime reports and training lessons.

He considers it a blessing that hes found this new talent, even if it is a little late in life.

McDonough retired from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 1985 after 24 years as a special agent, first in Boston and then in San Antonio. He then worked for more than 20 years as a private investigator.

On ExpressNews.com: Photographers portraits display San Antonios diverse population

In 2014, Carol was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He soon was taking care of her full time at their North Side home with the help of home health care. He did that until November 2017, when the disease had progressed to a point where she needed to move to assisted living at Franklin Park Alamo Heights.

Its an insidious disease. He said his wife had always been an outgoing, educated person. They met in 1958 at a museum in Boston while they were both in college. After they married, she worked as a substitute art teacher and in real estate. When they moved to San Antonio, she worked at Joskes department store and for a financial officer.

For more than 50 years, she read a book once a week.

Then Alzheimers took hold. Their young twin grandsons were baffled when she would forget their names and later even more basic information. He started thinking that perhaps a story featuring animals might help explain the situation.

And thus Barney Buzzard took flight.

I want to educate and show how the disease progresses, he said. This being about an animal is different.

The idea started germinating in 2012, when Carol noticed buzzards roosting on a high-rise bank building and electric power lines near Thousand Oaks and U.S. 281. He suggested that she write a story about Barney Buzzard, but the disease had already started affecting her mind, and she couldnt focus enough to get started.

When she moved to Franklin Park, McDonough found himself with time on his hands and an increased need to help people understand what was happening to his beloved wife and others in similar situations.

About the author A 22-year veteran of the Air Force, Vincent T. Davis embarked on a second career as a journalist and found his calling. Observing and listening across San Antonio, he finds intriguing tales to tell about everyday people. He shares his stories with Express-News subscribers every Monday morning. See More Collapse

So he began writing. He remembered an assistant agent in charge during his days with ATF who used a red pen to correct the grammatical and spelling errors in McDonoughs reports. He had resented it at the time but could now appreciate how it had helped him improve.

He wove a tale of a buzzard named Barney who cares for his Uncle Billy after he starts to forget how to fend for himself. Once the best hunter in the flock, Billy begins to forget. He crashes into electric towers, cant stand on his perch and overshoots his landing spot.

McDonoughs daughter Beth Bonham, 53, illustrated the story with watercolor artwork. Friends, relatives and neighbors pitched in to help with editing and encouragement.

Six months after he had started the book, it was complete. He published it himself and sold the first copy to his friends Trish and Jim Heck, who had supported his literary efforts from the start.

When McDonough showed his wife the book, she didnt like it. Hes not sure she really understood it. But the story resonated with his grandsons and the caregivers at Franklin Park.

And that matters to McDonough. He has the utmost respect for the staff at memory care units and caregivers.

Its a tough job. I dont know how they do it, he said. They are amazing people.

The book is available on Amazon.com. Theres more information at www.barneybuzzard.org/.

McDonough was surprised to find that putting Barneys story in writing led him to something hed never even considered: poetry.

In the back of his mind, the words of Carols poem were beginning to crystallize.

Family and friends all understand and wonder why.

The children are the ones who know that memories fly.

You remain in body alone

your mind a jumble like a melted ice cream cone.

In September, he received a great response for the first poem he completed, for a neighbors birthday. He continued working on Carols poem.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio disc jockey sends positive message across airwaves

These days, when he isnt visiting his wife or enjoying his grandchildren, McDonough spends time at the San Antonio International Airport as one of the 200 volunteers in the airports ambassador program, providing directions and other information to visitors and taking snapshots for newly arrived tourists. Hes also a volunteer for the Alzheimers association in San Antonio.

He said he likes to keep busy and enjoys meeting new people.

Hes continuing to express his thoughts and feelings in poetry, and he still has plans for his book. He wants to talk to students about his experience and to publish a Spanish version.

Meanwhile, he finished his poem dedicated to Carol:

You are gone in mind and spirit spent,

away too far away places they went.

Love is still here, not all is lost

Away it goes, just like the melted winter frost.

Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis
Posted on Twitter by @Kira_Yarmysh

MOSCOWFew people are familiar with Novaya Zemlya, a very obscure archipelago above the Arctic Circle that is controlled by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the infamous Soviet spy agency, the KGB.

Even fewer people hope to travel to those thinly populated and thoroughly militarized islands, where the Russian army tests its Arctic missile systems, and where polar bears suffering the effects of climate change dig through garbage pits at impoverished settlements.

Alexei Navalny on Standing Up to Putin and His Murderous Minions

It sounds like hell frozen over, in factand it figures in what looks like a new tactic by President Vladimir Putin (a former KGB operative) to intimidate his most vocal critics. But Kira Yarmysh has a special reason to go there. She is desperate to see her partner, who became the first victim of such an operation last December.

The FSB abducted my boyfriend, Ruslan Shaveddinov, and isolated him in Novaya Zemlya, Yarmysh told The Daily Beast. The most outrageous truth is that several divisions of the state system, including military authorities, aviation, and secret services, are helping to hide Ruslan from us.

This was hardly a random act. Yarmysh is a news presenter and spokesperson for Russias top opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). Shaveddinov is one of the groups star reporters and presenters as well.

Russia still has a military draft, and 12 months of service are mandatory for all male citizens age 18 to 33. Shaveddinov, known as Shav, has been famous for presenting vivid, well-documented corruption investigations on YouTube. But at 23 years old, he was vulnerable, and authorities claimed he was draft-dodging.

The news agency TASS quotes Moscows military commissar, Col. Maksim Loktev, claiming the conscription of Shaveddinov was perfectly ordinary: He departed to the place of his military service on the draft. But the young activists colleagues arent buying it. Its not just the matter of conscription; its the deployment thats suspicious.

Story continues

This is a unique example of how the FSB begins to use military service as a prison for politically active young men, Navalny told The Daily Beast. I think the order was to isolate Shav.

Screenshot of video presentation by Ruslan Shaveddinov, Kira Yarmysh, Georgy Alburov

Viewers all over Russia recognize Yarmysh and Shaveddinov from YouTube, which is the main outlet for Navalnys reports. More than three million viewed their presentation last summer (while Navalny was in jail) about Moscow Deputy Mayor Natalia Sergunina. They reported she was making millions of dollars off property deals in the Russian capital for companies controlled by her relatives, an allegation that she has denied.

There are frequent police raids on FBK offices, along with confiscations of computers, cellphones, and video cameras. On July 27, members of an armed special unit raided Yarmyshs home at dawn, woke the couple up, put Ruslan on the floor, and confiscated all of the digital equipment.

After a tough 2019, Kira and Ruslan looked forward to celebrating the New Years holiday together, without any people around. But on Dec. 23, Kiras boyfriend vanished and his cellphone was not answered. His friends found the door to his apartment broken. Nearly 24 hours later, Yarmysh discovered that her partner was more than 3,000 kilometers (some 2,000 miles) away, in a unit of whats called the 33rd Guards Rocket Army based in Rogachevo village on the Southern Island of Novaya Zemlya.

Yarmysh had never heard much about the rules of the archipelago and the news came as a shock: there was an old nuclear testing ground near Ruslans base; she could not visit his island without a special FSB permit. Then Ruslan called her, and what she heard broke her heart, she says.

There were two army captains with him listening in our conversation, so every time I asked him how he was, he said, Lets talk about you, Yarmysh remembered. He told me he was banned from using his cellphone, which is a violationevery Russian soldier can call home once a week! So I decided to sue his commander.

Yarmysh wanted to be present during the court hearing last week, and, of course, to see Ruslan. She requested an FSB permit earlier this month, but days passed and there was no word back.

The court hearing was scheduled for last Wednesday, but a Moscow judge on the case was not able to get to Novaya Zemlya, Yarmysh saidthe flight got canceled due to harsh weather conditions. (This is not unusual given the brutal Arctic weather.)

They regularly cancel flights during the winter, so I am surprised that the army managed to transport Ruslan there so easily in December, Yarmysh said. It is obvious that the weather is not an issue, if there is an order to bring the guy.

Finally a hearing was held at the end of the week, and a lawyer from the Navalny team was able to make it there, but there was no satisfaction to be had and communications were spotty. At midday on Saturday, Yarmysh tweeted that she still had heard nothing about her boyfriend's fated. (A troll responded with pictures of polar bears eating a bloody corpse: "Found him. But no need to thank me.")

The lawyer finally got in touch late Saturday, but only briefly. He reported that, officially, the court said Shaveddinov had no unusual restrictions. But in practical terms that was no consolation, and Yarmysh said she couldn't be sure what happened until the attorney made it back to Moscow. As of Monday, however, he was till stuck above the Arctic Circle because of the weather.

"Prisoners have more rights than Ruslan," Yarmysh told The Daily Beast. "He doesn't have any right to call, or even to send letters."

Yarmysh grew up in Rostov-on-Don, a provincial southern town on the border with Ukraines Donbas region. Her single mother brought her up dreaming that one day Kira would win The Clever Heads, a televised competition for high-schoolers that awards the winners with a chance to enroll in Russias most prestigious university for future diplomats, the MGIMO, or Moscow State Institute of International Relations. And, yes, Yarmysh won.

While studying at MGIMO, she thought she would one day get a diplomats position in Africa, far from the Russian political scene. But anti-Putin street protests in 2011-2012 changed her life, and she wound up on the front line of the oppositions constant fight with corrupt bureaucrats. Her mother has always been an Aleksey Navalny fan, Yarmysh said, so when she got her job at the FBK six years ago, her family supported her.

Kira Yarmysh is one of the brightest stars in Navalnys team. She is emerging to be even bigger but still stay in Navalnys shadow, Echo of Moscow Deputy Chief Editor Olga Bychkova told The Daily Beast.

Yarmysh says that if she has to she will wait for her boyfriend for 12 months, as do millions of other Russian girls all over the country. I hope this is going to be just one year, she says.

For two months, Yarmysh has been worried, feeling hurt, she says, wondering why out of all Russias vast military bases, her boyfriend was isolated in the Arctic.

The authorities might think that Ruslan and I, if we come out to a street protest, might lead masses of people, Yarmysh said, then added: I personally have no fear. If they raid our homes, if they detain us, I tell myself, we must be doing everything right. But for the moment that is, at best, cold comfort.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs' $243.3 billion budget request for next fiscal year includes a $75 million increase for cancer treatment so the VA can "deliver the most up-to-date care as close to the patient's residence as possible."

The investment would go toward the VA's precision oncology program, which moves away from one-size-fits-all cancer treatments to personalized care that focuses on the patient's and cancer's DNA mutations to figure out the best treatment.

Retired 1st Sgt. Jeremy Kitzhaber, 49, considers it a great improvement.

"I'm all for it because I had to go outside of the VA to get it," he said.

Related: VA Ramps Up Mental Health Funding After Rash of Parking Lot Suicides

Kitzhaber spent 22 years in the Air Force, where he worked in civil engineering. Before retiring in 2012, he deployed several times, including Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, for earthquake relief and Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While he prefers to receive care from the VA, it wasn't possible in 2014 when he was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, or appendix cancer, which "leaks everywhere."

It was caused by exposure during his duties to radiation and chemical and biological hazards, he said.

Since there were no VA oncology physicians who specialized in his cancer, Kitzhaber went to a private provider in Omaha, Nebraska. The surgeon lifted Kitzhaber's organs out of a 13-inch incision in his abdomen and "washed his inner belly with chemo," he said.

When he returned to the VA, his medical team started him on traditional chemotherapy that was so severe he almost died. The cancer returned a few months later.

"Cancer care is changing rapidly and becoming increasingly complex," a VA spokeswoman said via email Thursday. "The overall mission of the Precision Oncology initiative is to improve the lives of Veterans with cancer through Precision Medicine by implementing a learning health care model to quickly transition new knowledge into clinical practice and to maximize learning from clinical practice."

Precision medicine is what ultimately saved Kitzhaber's life. The first genetic test he received from the Omaha physician showed nothing more could be done for his stage 4 cancer. But a second opinion and blood test from an oncologist in San Diego proved a breast cancer drug would drastically slow the cancer's progress.

"I tell people it was 60 miles an hour with no treatment; now it's 1 mile an hour," he said, adding that the drug has had few side effects: a little fatigue, slightly thinner hair and more brittle nails.

That's compared to 20 rounds of chemotherapy, which caused him to black out four times due to his heart going into atrial fibrillation.

Among the initiatives to be funded by the VA's budget request will be the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP), which gives access to a tumor DNA sequencing database and a national molecular oncology tumor board. It will also fund "TeleOncology," a service to let patients access oncology specialists remotely through the internet.

There are about 40,000 cancer cases reported to the VA's Central Cancer Registry annually, according to a 2012 study. Though the database is not available to the public, the VA reports that the five most frequently diagnosed cancers among veterans are prostate; lung and bronchial; urinary and bladder; colon; and skin.

Terrence Hayes from Veterans of Foreign Wars said in an email that his organization has heard from several vets who have struggled to find the right care for their specific need and have had to undergo "rigorous" cancer treatments like Kitzhaber.

"It is encouraging to see VA institute this program and focus more on a personalized approach to cancer treatment for our veterans," he said. "A one-size-fits-all approach to cancer treatment cannot be the way we look at treating our veterans, especially many who developed these cancers due to the environmental hazards they have come in contact with during their service."

Hayes added the VFW hopes this means the VA will have quicker diagnoses and more thorough treatment measures to extend veterans' lives.

William Goeren, CancerCare director of clinical programs, said he's found that, while precision oncology has fragmented care, it gives a lot more hope for patients.

"I will say that precision medicine does provide a patient with a greater sense of hope and individualized attention versus a one size fits all," he said. "[But] there are often so many [medical doctors] involved in a case that patients often don't know who is leading their treatment, especially if a patient has co-morbidities."

CancerCare is a national organization that provides free counseling and emotional support services to cancer patients. It's been studying how to work with veterans with cancer as it tries to create a support group for them.

Goeren said he's found that, while veterans have similar challenges as other cancer patients -- including financial strain and transportation difficulties, they have trust issues when it comes to getting care.

"In some ways, they feel betrayed by their own government. It was through their work that they have now come down with cancer," he said. "There's a sense of 'I've been burned once -- by an organization, the federal government -- so I'm not trusting of anything.'"

Goeren said this is similar to what black or LGBT patients feel when it comes to receiving health care treatment when they have historically been shunned.

Currently, the VA's options for cancer treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy, among others, the VA spokeswoman said. A VA patient is tested for cancer when he or she has symptoms or abnormal test results. If the test shows cancer, the treatment approach will vary based on the patient and cancer.

"Cancer diagnosed at any age is scary," Kitzhaber said. "We have these life plans all that kind of go away."

Before his diagnosis at 43, he said he had his life planned out until the age of 80, looking forward to celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary and taking care of grandchildren. Now, his outlook is much shorter.

"It's not always easy to go outside the system," he said. "Seventy-five million dollars, to me, for people to have a better quality of life, live longer, is money well spent."

-- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg.

Read More: Midshipman Dies After Being Found Unresponsive at Naval Academy
W&M student affairs hailed as a promising place to work

Student Affairs: For the fifth time since 2014, William & Mary was recognized as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs in 2020 by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

The Division of Student Affairs facilitates many facets of student life at William & Mary, including campus living, health and wellness, leadership and engagement, career development, and student success.

This year, that team saw a success of its own. For the fifth time since 2014, William & Mary was recognized as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs in 2020 by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.

It is enormously rewarding to see William & Mary recognized again this year, said Vice President for Student Affairs Virginia Ambler 88 Ph.D. 06. I am grateful to work with colleagues who share a deep commitment to creating vibrant, diverse, and supportive workplaces and to championing work-life balance, professional development and inclusive excellence across the division.

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education has published a list of the best places to work in student affairs for the last seven years.

This year, William & Mary joins the list with 26 other schools across the country, ranking as one of only two schools from Virginia.

Criteria for receiving this recognition cover a wide variety of topics. According to the Diverse: Issues in Higher Education press release, collegiate institutions qualified with a focus on workplace diversity, staffing practices and work environment, family friendliness, salary/benefits and professional development opportunities, and more.

To Ambler, this recognition aligns with how her division works in its day-to-day mission.

William &Marys institutional values include a commitment to flourishing, she said. This recognition from Diverse: Issues in Higher Education celebrates and affirms our ongoing effort to empower those who live, learn, and work here to make choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

William & Mary will receive the award at the American College Personnel Associations annual meeting on March 2-5, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee.
NEW ORLEANS  A man was struck and killed by a Mardi Gras float during a raucous Saturday night street parade in New Orleans, becoming the second person in days killed along a parade route during this years Carnival season, authorities said.

The man was fatally injured just before 7 p.m. as the popular Krewe of Endymion was rolling, New Orleans police said in a statement. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Orleans Parish Coroners Office was to release his cause of death after completing an autopsy.

The remainder of Endymions parade was scrapped Saturday evening. Police said 13 floats had already gone ahead when the accident occurred with the 14th float in the formation. Remaining floats that followed, along with marching groups, were diverted from the accident scene on Canal Street, a wide route popular with parade viewers in the Mississippi River port city.

New Orleans police said first responders swiftly converged on the site, tweeting out calls for crowds to avoid the area.

The float, with its gaudy lights still twinkling, was cordoned off by police on horseback and on foot. All around, streets were strewn with tossed bead necklaces and trinkets thrown from the floats, along with other party debris.

The fatality came as New Orleans was still mourning the death of a 58-year-old woman who was run over by a parade float Wednesday night, according to witnesses.

To be confronted with such tragedy a second time at the height of our Carnival celebrations seems an unimaginable burden to bear. The City and the people of New Orleans will come together, we will grieve together, and we will persevere together, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. Our hearts break for those lost and for their loved ones, and our prayers and deepest sympathies are with them.

Wednesdays fatality had occurred during the parade of the Mystic Krewe of Nyx, an all-female Carnival group. Witnesses said the woman, New Orleans native Geraldine Carmouche, had apparently tried to cross between two parts of a tandem float and tripped over a hitch connecting the sections.

Tandem floats, similar to the one involved in Saturdays incident, are multiple floats connected together and pulled by one tractor. Tandem floats would not be allowed for the few days remaining in the 2020 festival season, city agency NOLA Ready announced. Each float will require its own tractor, the Times-Picayune/the New Orleans Advocate reported.
Hyderabad: At a pre-Budget meeting with the departments of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and women and child welfare, finance minister T. Harish Rao on Sunday asked the heads of the departments to submit utilisation certificates in time to the Centre so that the state government would get additional funds under the SC and ST sub-plans.

He told the officials concerned that the state government will give a matching grant. He said it is the responsibility of the officers and ministers to ensure that the state should not lose out on funds from the Centre.

Women and child welfare minister Satyavathi Rathod requested the finance minister to place the bills for Kalyan Lakshmi and the scheme for clearance of milk and food bills for children in the green channel for quick clearance.

BC welfare minister G. Kamlakar requested Mr Harish Rao to allocate the funds to the department in proportion with the population of the community.
Hitesh Jain grew up in Kolkata and completed his MBA in Finance from the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi. He got placed with Aviva Life as business development manager.

In his second stint, he spent almost a decade with a stock broking firm in Kolkata. In 2015, Hitesh was tasked to set up the mutual fund vertical for the company. In three years, Hitesh cultivated a client base of 10,000 mutual fund investors. Witnessing this spectacular growth, he realised that mutual fund industry has a great potential.

He decided to strike out on his own by floating Finomatic Consultants in January 2018. In a short span of time, his venture has built assets under management of Rs 125 crore in mutual funds across 6,500 MF clients.

Since inception, Hitesh aspired to dream big. If I had started business as an IFA individually, I would have got 100-150 clients so far. Thus, I decided to build a sub-broking model which helps you scale up. I want to make it a one stop solution for all products, says Hitesh.

Besides mutual funds, his platform offers general insurance, health insurance, bonds, equities and home loan products.

Hitesh is open to accepting all types of investors, be it high net worth individuals or retail. Even Rs 500 SIP is crucial for us. We want to build a large retail base, says Hitesh. Currently, the firm has monthly SIP book of Rs 1.7 crore. Hitesh aims to take it to Rs 3 crore by the end of this year.

To achieve this, he is on a mission to clock bulk SIPs. In 2018, Finomatic punched 595 SIPs to celebrate his first year of operations. On January 20, 2020, Hitesh broke his previous record by clocking 2,320 SIPs worth Rs 35 lakh through NSE MF II platform. This feat was achieved across 880 clients and 23 AMCs. The idea of SIP Login day was conceived to celebrate the firms second anniversary. We got incredible support from NSE to make this difficult task successful. 100% of the trades were online and through the NSE platform only. More than 50% of the clients transacted were first-time investors, says Hitesh.

He laid the groundwork for this feat two weeks in advance. Instead of reaching clients one at a time, Hitesh planned to reach them in group. Hitesh organised investor meets at a few locations to apprise prospects about systematic investment plans (SIP) as a tool for wealth creation.

Investors often ignore to increase their SIP commitments as their incomes increase. Hitesh thought this would be a good idea to nudge his existing clients to top up their SIPs to achieve their goals faster.

Hitesh believes in diversifying his product offering so that his revenues are not impacted by regulatory actions or market conditions. Finomatic allows investors to invest in multiple products including, life insurance and loan products under one umbrella. It has 75 sub-broking partners. Interestingly, Hitesh has been an early adopted of NSE MF II platform. So far, more than 90% of his clients prefer to transact online. This helps him cut costs and scale up.

The two-year-old start up now caters to more than 7,500 clients (6,500 MF clients + 1,000 in other products). The company is managed by a team of ten.

Hitesh, 33, aims to reach one lakh client base in ten years. We dont focus on AUM metric. Rather, we focus on increasing the client base. AUM is a by-product of our effort. We aspire to build a company like NJ India.
United States President Donald Trump arrived in the national capital on Monday evening for the main leg of his maiden India trip during which he will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump is accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration.

Trump was received at the airport here by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and a number of senior officials.

The Trumps were accorded a traditional welcome as they checked into the ITC Maurya hotel in the national capital on Monday night.

The US President, who reached Delhi after attending the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad and visited the Taj Mahal, is staying at the Grand Presidential Suite of the five-star property located in the Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri.

Sources said he was given a traditional welcome with flowers and 'teeka' and he entered the hotel along with his family through its back entrance in view of security threat.

He had dinner around 9 pm, they said. The entire hotel has been done up in a way to reflect the 'Namaste Trump' tagline and also the branding of ITC Maurya, the logo of which is 'Namaste'.

All the rooms of the hotel have been booked for the US delegates accompanying Trump for his 36-hour-long maiden visit to India.

The hotel is under a heavy security cover with personnel from Delhi Police and US Secret Service working in close coordination to ensure the security of POTUS and his family.

He has joined the likes of former US presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, who have stayed at the 438-room property during their visit to India.

The US president arrived in Ahmedabad around noon for a little less than 36-hour-long trip to India.

He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday morning.

Trump will also pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Modi and Trump will later hold restricted and delegation level talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The Queen is eager for Megxit discussions to be 'over and done with', a source told Vanity Fair.

The monarch, 93, is publicly supportive of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step down as senior royals but 'generally doesn't want to talk about it', the anonymous insider claimed.

Speaking to royal correspondent Katie Nicholl, the source explained the Queen fears the ongoing discussions are damaging to the monarchy as an institution, and have put a strain on personal relationships within the family.

The Queen, 93, is publicly supportive of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step down as senior royals but 'generally doesn't want to talk about it', an anonymous insider told Vanity Fair. Pictured, the Queen on a visit to a London hospital last week

The source said: 'The Queen has been keen to get this resolved because she sees it is damaging to the monarchy and on a personal level I think this has been rather hurtful for her.

'She has got to the point where she doesn't want to think about it anymore, she just wants it over and done with.'

The comments come days after Buckingham Palace announced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would not be allowed to use the word 'Royal' in any branding after they officially step down from their positions on March 31.

The Duke and Duchess issued a statement on the matter on Friday night, revealing they had dropped plans to trademark 'SussexRoyal' and will stop using the branding, which appears on their website and Instagram, from spring.

The source explained the Queen fears the ongoing discussions are damaging to the monarchy as an institution. Pictured, Harry and Meghan on their royal tour of Tonga in October 2018

A spokeswoman said: 'While the duke and duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK Government rules surrounding (the) 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.

'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'SussexRoyal' in any territory post-Spring 2020.'

The spokeswoman explained that 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 Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed on Friday they will not use the word 'Sussex' in their branding. Pictured: The Queen, 93, arriving for a church service at Windsor yesterday

The couple later expanded on the statement with a lengthy post on their website, in which they appeared to take a swipe at the Queen and other senior royals.

It states: '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'.

The couple posted a statement on their website claiming that the Queen does not own the word 'royal' across. Pictured: The Duke and Duchess arriving in Canada on Valentine's Day

'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.'

The couple will fly from Canada to the UK to carry out a series of engagements over 10 days at the end of February, culminating in joining the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9. It is thought these will be the couple's last outings as senior working members of the Royal Family.
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Absorbable punctum plugs are also referred as tear lacrimal plug or punctal occluders. Absorbable punctum plugs majorly used for the treatment of dry eye. Absorbable punctum plugs is a tiny device which is inserted into the teat duct of an eye.

The insertion of Absorbable punctum plugs in the tear duct, blocks the opening of duct which prevents the drainage of liquid from eye. This ultimately increases eye's tear films which mist the surface of the eye to relieve the dry eyes. Absorbable punctum plugs are widely accepted device for the treatment of dry eyes though it is safe, painless, quick and completely reversible.

Absorbable punctum plugs are temporary plugs which are initially recommended by the doctor to observe, how a patient with dry eye react to this treatment method. Absorbable punctum plugs are made up of collagen material, hence it dissolves naturally in the human body. If a patient body reacts well for absorbable punctum plugs then the doctor may prescribe them for permanent punctum plugs which are made up of silicon or acrylic.

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Rising patent pool suffering from dry is the key factor propelling the revenue growth of absorbable punctum plugs market over the forecast period. Absorbable punctum plugs are preferred as the first line of treatment for dry eyes, hence the demand for absorbable punctum plugs will increase rapidly over the next decade.

Moreover, absorbable punctum plugs are a completely safe and reversible option for the treatment of dry eyes which has also increase the demand for absorbable punctum plugs in the global market. Also, increasing advancement in design and technique; and availability of absorbable punctum plugs in different sizes as per patient has propelled the growth of absorbable punctum plugs market.

There are few drawbacks associated with absorbable punctum plugs market such as irritation of after insertion, and formation of biofilm which may deter the growth of absorbable punctum plugs market.

Also, lack of availability trained ophthalmic specialist to insert the absorbable punctum plugs within the eye may lead to sluggish growth of absorbable punctum plugs market.

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The global absorbable punctum plugs market is classified on the basis of size, sterility, distribution channel and region.

Based on size, absorbable punctum plugs market is segmented into the following:

Extra Small

Small

Medium

Large

Based on sterility, absorbable punctum plugs market is segmented into the following:

Sterile

Non-sterile

Based on distribution channel, absorbable punctum plugs market is segmented into the following:

Institutional Sales Hospitals Ophthalmic Clinics

Retail Sales Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies



Rising prevalence of dry eye is the key factor behind the significant growth of absorbable punctum plugs market throughout the globe. According to Journal of Ophthalmology, 25% of patient visiting ophthalmic clinics are diagnosed with dry eye. Journal of Ophthalmology also stated that around 8% of global population are suffering from dry eye in 2016. Sterile absorbable punctum plugs are more proffered by the patients, hence sterile segment by sterility is dominant segment for absorbable punctum plugs market.

Also, patient prefers to buy the absorbable punctum plugs market directly from hospital or ophthalmic clinic, hence institutional sales segment will gain majority of revenue share by distribution channel for absorbable punctum plugs market.

Among the regional presence, North America is the lucrative region for absorbable punctum plugs market which is then followed by Europe. North America registers to be the leading revenue generating segment due to the rising adoption of absorbable punctum plugs in the US and Canada.

North America and Europe cumulatively account for a substantial revenue share in absorbable punctum plugs market. However, due to high prevalence of dry eye India and China is the key factor behind the robust the growth of absorbable punctum plugs market in South Asia and East Asia region.

However, Middle East and Africa are expected to account for being least lucrative market for Absorbable Punctum Plugs due to lack of availability skilled ophthalmic specialist.

Some of the key players across the value chain of Absorbable Punctum Plugs market are BioTeck, Inc., I-MED Pharma Inc., Surgical Specialties Corporation, Lacrimedics, Inc., Beaver-Visitec International, FCI Ophthalmics, Stephens Instruments, Medennium Inc. and others.

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CARBONDALE (AP)  From 2011 to 2015, a small pocket of rural Indiana became a hotbed for HIV.

Over 200 new infections were reported in Scott County, Indiana, an area of about 4,200 people, the great majority transmitted between intravenous drug users. Hepatitis C spread rapidly, too.

Hindsight would show the outbreak was highly preventable. If state officials had acted quicker to provide harm reduction services like syringe exchange and HIV testing, dozens to hundreds of cases could have been avoided, according to a Yale University study.

And Scott County was not the only outbreak of its kind. Micro-outbreaks of HIV have occurred recently among injected drug users in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Massachusetts, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2018, CDC researchers identified another 220 counties around the country that are at significant risk of an outbreak. Most are rural and low-income, with high rates of other risk factors like drug overdose deaths and unemployment.

Among them is Hardin County, in southeastern Illinois. People in the county of just over 4,000 obtained opiate prescriptions at a rate about three times higher than the state average between 2012 and 2017, according to the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program Database.

The county also has no dedicated harm reduction services.

Many cities have needle exchanges and methadone clinics, but those things are not easily transferable to rural areas, said Wiley Jenkins, a physician and researcher in the Southern Illinois University School of Medicines Department of Population Science and Policy. They require a lot of funding thats simply not available in low-income areas with low population density.

Scott Fletcher knows that disparity well. Since 2015, he has been the executive director of the only full-time, region-wide harm reduction provider in Southern Illinois: The Community Action Place.

He spends his days driving from town to town, providing no-charge clean needles, alcohol swabs, condoms, disease screenings, and used syringe disposal to clients across about 12 Southern Illinois counties, an area of thousands of square miles.

TCAP meets some clients at its offices in Murphysboro and Cairo, and does home deliveries for others, Fletcher said.

Thats what often works best for our rural area, he said. Clients call us, they get on our schedule and we take them out what they need.

Today, the organization has about 300 clients on its rolls, with about 90 to 150 receiving syringes each month. Fletcher distributes them in bundles of 100, which might last a client one to several weeks.

He starts deliveries around 6:30 p.m. and sometimes works into the early morning hours.

Its about accessibility, he said. Thats when people want our service. When its dark. When the neighbors wont know whats going on.

Fletcher has been involved in the push for region-wide harm reduction since the early 2010s. He built the Community Action Place to fill a treatment void in Southern Illinois after the state budget impasse.

From 2015 to 2018, Fletcher was his organizations only employee, providing all disease testing and needle exchange services himself, supported principally by a $13,000 annual grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health, plus small private donations and occasional volunteers.

I went years without a steady paycheck, he said.

Meanwhile, TCAP struggled to earn the trust of people who use drugs in Southern Illinois.

Fletcher, a tall white man with dark glasses and a buzz cut, has been accused of being a cop more times than he can count, he laughs.

Hes had the door slammed in his face at flophouses, and helped clients who refused to give back their used syringes, afraid of incriminating themselves.

It took a long time to get those first 90 clients, he said. We were almost underground.

But steadily, the organizations reputation and its capabilities have grown.

Fletcher built his client base through word of mouth, secured new grants to broaden his services to include sterile drug preparation equipment, and recruited interns and practicum students from SIU Carbondale.

Sometimes the manpower was nothing more than stuffing bags with cotton swabs or condoms and business cards, he said. This journey has really been a community effort.

This year, through a partnership with Southern Illinois University, TCAP is growing in a big way.

In January the SIU School of Medicine and the University of Chicago announced a three-year, $5.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, to study and fight disease transmission among rural drug users.

The goal is to make sure what happened in Scott County, Indiana, never happens in southern Illinois, said Jenkins, who is leading the project, called ETHIC, together with physician and researcher Mai Pho, of the University of Chicago.
Jill Duggar seems to be moving further away from her familys beliefs. Recently, the mom of two and former Counting On star shocked fans when she announced that she had just enrolled her eldest son Israel in kindergarten. Jill was homeschooled by her mom Michelle, along with her other 18 siblings, so the move to a traditional school is a pretty big shift for her. (Her husband Derick Dillard attended public schools.)

Jill didnt offer any details on her decision to send her kids to school rather than teaching them at home. But she did hint that she  like many parents  has a little bit of anxiety about sending her little one off to school.

Jill Duggar asks her followers for advice about sending her first kid to kindergarten

The transition from staying at home to going to kindergarten is a big one for any family. And its possible that Jill will have some extra first-day jitters since she never went to school herself. The 28-year-old asked her followers to share their experience with sending their kids to school for the first time.

How did you feel when your first went off to kindergarten? she asked. Any tips? Drop them in the comments below!

Jills fans share supportive words

On Instagram, many of Jills followers voiced support for her and Dericks decision to send Israel to school. They also shared their advice for managing what can sometimes be a challenging milestone for both parents and kids.

One person suggested that Jill start working on getting her son used to his schooltime schedule weeks before he actually starts classes. Start getting him a routine of waking up and being ready early at least 3 weeks before school starts, they wrote.

Jill Duggar | jillmdillard via Instagram

Another focused on lessons Jill can use at home to make sure hes kindergarten-ready. Read to him every night, they wrote. Give him as many pre-reading and math experiences as possible.

Theres also the emotional aspect of saying goodbye to your firstborn at the schoolhouse door for the first time. Bring tissues, counseled one person. I cried on the first day, admitted another before adding that overall the kindergarten experience was a positive one.

Of course, Jill had to deal with a few critics

While most people had nothing but good things to say about Israel attending school, a few had more critical comments. Some seem confused by Jill and Dericks choice, having assumed the couple would homeschool. Another slammed the couple, saying that attending public school wasnt compatible with Christianity.

Indoctrination in the public schools so much for raising a Christian, the person wrote.

I cant believe how many people on here think public school is amazing! commented another.

Despite a few naysayers, the entire Dillard family seems excited about Israels next big step  including Israel himself. In a video Jill shared to YouTube documenting the registration, the four-year-old (hell turn five in April) clearly demonstrated his excitement as he ran up to the doors of the school ahead of his parents and little brother.
Jose Clemente Orozco, Barricade, 1931. Photo:  2019 Artists Rights Society (ARS); New York / SOMAAP; Mexico City. Image  The Museum of Modern Art / Licensed by SCALA / Art Resource; NY

This is the most relevant show of the 21st century  the Whitney Museums Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art, 19251945, which gathers together the adamantly political public art of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, David Siqueiros, Jose Orozco, and others.

Once upon a time these artists were called the greatest Renaissance in the contemporary world whose art made the aesthetic experiments of Paris  [seem like] trifling matters. I agree  those years were extraordinary. The muralists painterly montage compositions reimagined the social order in high-keyed color with in-your-face wall power. Along with the recent Posing Modernity (focusing on black models in modern art) at Columbias Wallach Gallery and Hilma af Klint at the Guggenheim, art history looks different after this show. Not least for showing the influences that this still too-little-known art exerted on the rest of the world before it was, as the catalogue puts it, written out of American art history.

How were they written out? First, in the early 1930s, when President Herbert Hoover railed about American jobs for real Americans, and some 1.8 million people were deported and repatriated. Even American artists sent letters of protest when Mexican muralists received commissions  forgetting that these were not immigrants but were visiting dignitaries. (The long American night is always a factor in art history.) Next, World War II and its Cold War aftermath made their art forbidden for its communist sympathies. And because these artists often painted huge murals, their art isnt always portable and so not seen as much in museums. But American artists of the time, looking for a way around Picasso, were ultra-aware of what the Mexicans had on offer. Seeing early Philip Guston reconcile new subject matter into his art and all the so-called bad, early pre-drip Jackson Pollock paintings that wrestle the lessons of the Mexicans into dense configurations of mythic subject matter are both mind-boggling shows within a show and remap the trajectory of American painting.

Diego Rivera, Man, Controller of the Universe, 1933. Photo:  2020 Banco de Mexico Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust; Mexico; D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS); New York. Reproduction authorized by El Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura: 2020

Vida Americana gives us artists who were being modern without Cubism or abstraction  who instead reconstituted these and much else into entirely new aesthetic languages that still offer possibilities today. For me  and I hope artists  the aesthetic takeaway of Vida Americana is that the art here is so formally, physically, and visually convincing that it proves that good subject matter does not automatically make good art. Instead, this art insists that good subject matter requires original form.

At the Whitney youll see big figurative paintings with raking diagonal, dramatic foreshortened, and full-frontal compositions, Hellenistic by way of Aztec, with Mesopotamian and Renaissance monumentality. The rigid blockiness of the bodies and flat, shallow space comes from Egypt, Rome, and Giotto  everyone is posed, purposeful, determined, overdetermined, extremely theatrical. This is meant as a readable visual vernacular that arcs through but then bolts in every direction outside the confines of the avant-garde art world. See huge crowds marvel at and decipher the work at the Whitney. In contrast to the abstract grids, squiggles, monochromes, nudes, still lives, landscapes, and more nudes of the European modernists, the Mexicans painted social and political life laced with 10,000 years of art history. At this show youll see paintings of peasants, politicians, factory workers, child labor, race riots, economic injustice, the slave trade (the most barbarian phrase in any language), totalitarianism, guerrilla warfare, Poncho Villa, Henry Ford, Zapata, Lenin, Sojourner Truth, martyrs of the revolution, and images that point to the genocide of 90 percent of the pre-Columbian indigenous population (thought to be as many as 100 million people).

David Alfaro Siqueiro, Echo of a Scream, 1937. Photo: The Museum of Modern Art; New York; gift of Edward M. M. Warburg; 1939

The show revolves around los tres grandes, the three greats: Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco. My hands-down fave is Siqueiros  who joined the Mexican Revolutionary Army at 18, then the Communist Party, was jailed in and exiled from Mexico, and mentored artists Jackson Pollock and Philip Guston  whose mad paintings look like end-time raptures. His are among the most physically original and innovative paintings of the 20th century. (Talk about undervalued: The art market is so idiotic that a small drawing by Siqueiros can be bought for less than $2,000, while the latest MFA artist can sell for ten times that.) He was showing Pollock how to drip, splatter, smear, attack the canvass, and overlay skeins of paint in the 1930s! (All this wasnt invented out of the forehead of Pollock, who called a Siqueiros work the greatest painting done in modern times.)

In 1922, Siqueiros published a manifesto addressed to, among others, Painters and  the indigenous races humiliated through centuries; to the soldiers converted into hangmen by their chiefs; to the workers and peasants who are oppressed by the rich; and to the intellectuals who are not servile to the bourgeoisie. Art was blood sport for Siqueiros. He and his cohorts meant business. He wanted to overthrow [the] old  inhuman system within which you  produce riches  while you starve. Then he went after art, We repudiate the so-called easel art and all such art which springs from ultra-intellectual circles, for it is essentially aristocratic  Art must no longer be the expression of individual satisfaction, but should aim to become a fighting, educative art for all  public property  valuable to the people  for all. This could almost have been written by artists today looking for ways to address the politics of social and economic crisis.

Jose Clemente Orozco, Pancho Villa, 1931. Photo:  2020 Artists Rights Society (ARS); New York / SOMAAP; Mexico City. Digital image  The Museum of Modern Art/Licensed by SCALA/Art Resource; NY

The greatest colorist and most famous of the los tres grandes is the preternaturally talented Rivera, who called himself a guerrilla fighter, and is perhaps better known today as the womanizing Mr. Frida Kahlo. (She called him evil fat toad.) Born in 1886, Riveras succulent undergrowths of green and social subject matter send an SOS to the world, at as large a scale possible. (He studied in Paris, and before he broke ranks, was a great Modernist.) At the Whitney, Riveras simple line drawings, especially, bring us eyeball-to-eyeball with larger-than-life pictures of Mesoamerican deities, lynched bodies, men with beaten backs, Zapata planting his foot on the sword of a dead soldier. American artists flocked to Mexico to see other efforts by these artists. Critics wrote that they had brought painting back to its vital function in society. Soon the Mexican artists were being commissioned to create monumental frescoes all over the U.S.

In 1932, Rivera accepted a commission from Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to create a gigantic, wraparound mural called Detroit Industry  featuring the massive River Rouge Ford car plant. Rivera depicted masses of humanity at work, winding pipes, stamping presses, the making of the V-8 engine, car chaises, iron smelting, the production line, a portrait of Ford, and Coatlicue, the ancient Aztec creating and destroying goddess. Thats when the art world turned on him, and Rivera was denounced as a counterrevolutionary who had abandoned the revolution by accepting commissions from rich capitalists. Siqueiros blasted him as a demagogue, mental tourist, opportunist, saboteur, Morgan of the Mexican art market. It was Twitter cancel culture almost a century before the fact. Indeed it lingers: I met two young women in the show who rebuked Rivera for being an artist of rich people. A chilling coincidence, then, that Vida Americana opened almost 86 years to the February 1934 day that Riveras huge mural in the lobby of the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center at 53rd Street was destroyed by jackhammers after he refused to paint over a portrait of Lenin. Back then, New York Sun critic Henry McBride sniffed, When politics comes to the door, art flies out the window. As with so many critics writing today, he completely neglected that, at its best, art and politics are often inseparable.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:25:39|Editor: yan

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by Sanaa Kamal

GAZA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement is not interested in being involved in any military escalation with Israel, especially in light of indirect talks with Israel to reach a long-term truce, according to Palestinian observers on Monday.

The observers told Xinhua in separate statements that the exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad movement on Sunday evening didn't include any response from Hamas.

They added that Hamas and Israel have been trying to reach truce as soon as possible, despite the opposition in their communities.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army killed Mohammed Naem, 27 years old, a member of the Islamic Jihad movement, in eastern Gaza Strip near the borders with Israel.

In response, Islamic Jihad fired more than 23 rockets into Israeli cities, while Israeli warplanes raided on military sites belonging to the Islamic Jihad movement.

Israel kept Hamas out of confrontation, said the Palestinian analyst Talal Okal, adding it's Israel's attempt to differentiate between the two strongest armed factions in Gaza.

Okal said Hamas appears to have different political goals from Islamic Jihad, as "it is seeking to reach a long-term truce agreement with Israel, so it refuses to escalate the situation with Israel."

Egypt, Qatar and UN have been mediating for more than a year to introduce humanitarian facilities into Gaza and prevent military confrontation between Palestinian factions and Israel.

However, Okal believes that Hamas cannot wholly control the situation in the Gaza Strip, especially as it is not the only dominant player on the ground.

"Islamic Jihad possesses a great military force too, which cannot be underestimated," he said, adding that this contributes significantly to undermining any calm agreements shortly.

The Gaza Strip will not witness stability in the near future even if Hamas seeks to achieve this, Okal said, adding that Israel seeks all the time to implement its political plans serving its interests.

For his part, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem believes that his movement is striving to compel Israel to implement the terms of indirect understandings by lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip.

"We know that Israel does not differentiate in its crimes among the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and all of us are on the same boat," he said.

He pointed out that Hamas will do its best to push Israel to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, even if it will be forced to escalate the situation in Gaza.

Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip right after the Hamas movement violently seized control of the enclave and routed the security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007.

Mohammed Hijazi, a Gaza-based political expert, believes that both Hamas and Israel will reach a long-term truce in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli people are demanding to end the firing rockets from the Gaza Strip into their towns and achieve the stability, Hijazi said, adding that Hamas also needs to finish the Israeli blockade against it.

He added that the internal conditions in Israel and Gaza Strip push the two sides to reach the long-term truce, even though Islamic Jihad refuses this option.

Hijazi added that the option of calm is still dominating the scene due to political and economic considerations of both Hamas and Israel.
How the Commission Started

Seeking Consensus

Broadening the Scope

Perhaps no city cares about the privacy of its residents as much as Oakland.Last year, the California city became one of just a handful around the country that have banned municipal use of facial recognition technology. That came on top of an earlier ordinance that put limits on surveillance technology.Those laws were largely the handiwork of Oaklands Privacy Advisory Commission, a citizen-led board that can review any and all city policies and regulations through a privacy lens. Other cities have privacy policies or staff in place, while a few have ad hoc groups to address particular issues, such as smart city policies. No other city has a standing group with such a broad charter.We know the activities that are going on in the city of Oakland, says Tracy Rosenberg, advocacy director for Oakland Privacy, a nonprofit watchdog group. Oakland is considering buying some drones. Im not happy about it, but I know about it, I can weigh in on it, and theres a body looking at the issues. Its not like were going to find out just by looking up when theyre already flying over our heads.In 2020, data privacy bills are being debated in numerous states  many modeled on a California law that took effect this year. Meanwhile, the tech industry is lobbying Congress to put a national standard in place. The European Union already has stricter data protection policies in place than the U.S.While privacy can seem like an issue thats national or even international in scope, issues such as surveillance often play out at the local level, particularly in law enforcement.There is a really important role for local institutions, says Chris Calabrese, vice president for policy at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a civil liberties group based in Washington. That is, figuring out how their localities are using surveillance technologies. Its actually not unusual for a state or a town to get a grant from DHS [Department of Homeland Security] to get a drone or surveillance without any discussion by the city council.Thats exactly what happened in Oakland. The city had received DHS funding for a Domain Awareness Center (DAC), which collected and analyzed surveillance data from throughout the city. It began as a security project at the port and airport, but crept out to encompass the entire city, collecting information from 700 cameras in public housing and schools, outdoor gun detection microphones, license plate readers and other sensors.News about the DAC broke thanks to someone with a temp job in the citys technology office. If that sounds like Oakland had its own version of Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency contractor who made international news with revelations of mass data collection at the federal level  well, the Oakland story happened to break just after Snowden himself burst on the scene.They have the great fortune of hitting the public safety agenda in the middle of June 2013, which was two weeks after somebody named Edward Snowden hit the front pages of newspapers, says Brian Hofer, who chairs the Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission.Realizing that the issues Snowden had brought to the fore were playing out right in their own hometown had a galvanizing effect in Oakland. City officials were already highly familiar with the large aggregation of activist groups who call Oakland home. Many of those groups were already on high alert. At the time, the Occupy movement was still fresh. The city had also been rocked by the killing of Oscar Grant by a transit officer, which formed the basis of the 2013 movieand anticipated the complaints about police violence that would erupt in 2014 in Ferguson, Mo.There was just all this activist energy in Oakland at that exact time, Hofer recalls, and it was just like the match that lit the gasoline fire.At that time, Hofer had never before set foot in Oakland City Hall, but he became part of the coalition of opposition that grew in response to the Domain Awareness Center, which entailed not just lobbying but street protests. The citys project ended up dying a slow death, becoming limited to the port, which pulled all its funding and staffing for it.Activists then pushed for a standing body to deal with privacy matters so that such a project couldnt sneak up on them again. These kinds of technological projects, smart city projects in some form or another keep coming and you cant always mobilize the entire city to react, Rosenberg says. We were lucky, but in the future it might be harder.After a long struggle, the city council narrowly agreed in 2016 to create the standing commission. Hofer now consults formally and informally with other cities that are looking to put policies in place safeguards as concerns about the potential dark sides of technology use garners more attention. Through monthly conference calls, he trades ideas with municipal privacy professionals in several cities.Im still flying around to conferences where the Domain Awareness Center is still the case study, and that was from 2014, Hofer says. Its still the shot heard round the world  like you can actually say no to the surveillance state, and also come up with a reasonable solution that still addresses public safety concerns.The ban on facial recognition and limits on surveillance have attracted most of the attention, but the commission has also worked on a broad range of policies, clarifying general data usage rules and reviewing agreements with outside agencies such as DHS, ATF and the FBI.Each member of the city council appoints a commissioner. That has sometimes made recruitment a challenge, since members have to come from within relatively small districts. The commission has nevertheless attracted people with a range of backgrounds, including civil rights attorneys, a retired police officer and the occasional technology company employee. In drafting some policies, the commission has relied on outside expertise from entities such as the University of California, Berkeley and the American Civil Liberties Union.The commission constantly encounters pushback, both from technology companies who warn that constraints will hamper innovation and from city staff who worry about increased paperwork or other administrative burdens. Hofer does his best to address such concerns, arguing that an insistence on transparency and an airing of issues does not mean projects will fail to move forward.He feels that his most convincing argument comes from building consensus, both within the commission and among city staff. Since the commission started four years ago, its seen a grand total of one no vote and three abstentions. Every other position has been taken unanimously.Ive always said that Im going to resign as chair if theres ever a 5-4 vote that I have to send to the council, Hofer says. Were an advisory body, were supposed to be subject matter experts, and if I send a 5-4 vote up, that means we didnt do our job.The commmission is now working on an umbrella set of privacy principles that will govern all kinds of non-law-enforcement activities, such as business licensing and tax collection. Hes concerned, given the ever-evolving technological landscape, that information collected innocuously at first could eventually be used in ways that put people in harms way.Thats certainly been a theme with various uses of technology. License plate readers were initially brought in for parking enforcement, but the data they collect is then stored and used for broader surveillance. The same with smart streetlights, which may first be seen as just a way to cut the electricity bill, but can be equipped with surveillance cameras and sensors. Oakland's commission can ask vendors who come in promising labor and cost savings for the city about the potential privacy issues raised by their products and services.Four years after its founding, the Oakland privacy commission remains unique in allowing citizens to help draw the lines when it comes to the full range of privacy concerns. In many cities, privacy remains under the purview of government officials themselves, which may or may not provide a forum for hearing citizens concerns. There can also be turf protection, with police commissions, for example, insisting that they should handle any privacy issues that might arise.The list of technologies that will affect privacy at the local level, from biometrics to doorbell cameras, will only continue to grow. Governments tend to be reactive, but it might be time for cities and counties to try to get out in front.Our argument is its really a lot easier if you do it on the front end and set up a system for what you can see coming, Rosenberg says. If youre not actively doing something to be on top of it, youre going to throw up your hands, let everything come through and be dealing with privacy and usage concerns on the back end.
US President Donald Trump left for his maiden visit to India for talks with the top Indian leadership during which the two countries are expected to significantly ramp up bilateral relations, especially in the defence and strategic ties. Mr Trump, who is accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration, just before his departure said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is his friend and he is looking forward to visit India.In this photo, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump prepare to board Air Force One as they depart Washington for India from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, US. (Image: Reuters)
Evening Standard

Tottenham have reportedly made contact with Jesse Lingard as they seek to beat London rivals West Ham to his signature either this month or in the summer. Spurs are also believed to be in talks with Wolves over a 20million deal for Adama Traore, with Antonio Conte making his transfer plans crystal clear to the club as they contend with Ajax interest in Steven Bergwijn. On the other side of north London, Arsenal are pressing ahead with a 58m move for Fiorentina marksman Dusan Vlahovic, with Crystal Palace hoping to benefit from that deal by signing Eddie Nketiah.
Pakistan has again suspended flights to coronavirus-hit China till March 15 due to surge in the infected cases in that country, days after it resumed the air operations to and from Beijing, according to officials.

Earlier, Pakistan suspended flights from China on January 31 till February 2, a day after the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of the virus as a global health emergency.

National flag-carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was operating two flights weekly to Beijing after the resumption of air services on February 3.

The flights were allowed a day after Pakistan said it has received special medical kits from China to detect the coronavirus cases.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez told media that the airline took the decision to suspend its flights till March 15 due to the increasing number of the novel coronavirus cases in China.

The decision about resuming the flight operation to Beijing will be taken keeping the situation in view, he said.

The coronavirus death toll in China climbed to 2,592 with 150 new fatalities, while the total number of confirmed cases increased to over 77,000, health officials said on Monday.

Pakistan on Sunday also temporarily closed its border with Iran to counter the threat of coronavirus from across the border.

Iran has so far witnessed eight deaths and 43 cases of infection due to COVID-19.

Thousands of Shiite Pakistanis travel to Iran every year to visit various religious sites.

Six districts of Balochistan including Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar are on the border with Iran.

Earlier, Pakistan's Ambassador to China Naghmana Hashmi said that Pakistani students should not be evacuated from China's worst-hit Wuhan city as medical facilities back home do not meet the standards required to treat a patient diagnosed with coronavirus.

There were up to 800 Pakistanis studying in various universities in Wuhan.

Earlier, Foreign Office said that there were 28,000 Pakistani students currently in China apart from hundreds of businessmen.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Azerbaijan sees cement production decline in January

24 February 2020

Azerbaijan has recorded a 24 per cent YoY fall in cement production to 191,900t in January 2020, according to the countrys State Statistical Committee. However, ready-mix concrete output advanced 21.7 per cent YoY to 114,900t.



The volume of building bricks climbed 8.3 per cent to 37,200m3 and the production of prefabricated structures also increased 19.4 per cent to 3,700m3.



Overall, the value of construction material output surged 35.2 per cent YoY to AZN52.4m (US$30.8m) in January 2020.

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Sue Bohn, Partner Director of Program Management, Microsoft Identity Division, Microsoft Corp. said, Passwords alone are no longer an effective security mechanism. Its clear we need to provide our customers with authentication options that are secure and easy to use.

FEITIAN Technologies US Inc, a world security technology leader providing fingerprint biometric FIDO2 passwordless authentication, advanced combined function all-in-one smartcards, and payment related systems, is now able to provide fingerprint biometric Passwordless solutions for Hybrid Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to eliminate passwords. (The FEITIAN Passwordless Security Keys are being offered for a limited time at promotional discounted pricing http://www.ftsafe.com/rsac20)

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As Microsoft continues to improve their advanced applications to allow for Passwordless authentications using FIDO2 security key in Hybrid environments and SSO to on-prem as well as cloud resources for Hybrid Microsoft Azure Active Directory, FEITIAN continues to add to their FIDO U2F products by providing innovative, secure, and value-priced solutions for Microsoft and all FIDO2 Passwordless applications, said FEITIAN Technologies Vice President and General Manager of International Business Tibi Zhang. We are proud to be working in conjunction with Microsoft. We have worked closely with the FIDO Alliance by strictly adhering to their industry-established technology standards for strong, phishing-resistant authentication on the web that promises better security and a better user experience with our broader choice of Authenticators for Enterprise, Finance, Education, and Government users.

Sue Bohn, Partner Director of Program Management, Microsoft Identity Division, Microsoft Corp. said, Passwords alone are no longer an effective security mechanism. Its clear we need to provide our customers with authentication options that are secure and easy to use. This is where companies like FEITIAN come in. By integrating their solutions with Microsoft Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Account (Outlook, Hotmail), and Windows 10, FEITIAN is important member of our passwordless journey.

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Founded in 1998, FEITIAN Technologies has its US headquarters in Santa Clara, CA. The company is dedicated to building a full range of strong authentication, identification, and payment solutions using a variety of Security Key and Smart Card formfactors. FEITIAN is a member of Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), a Board Member of the FIDO Alliance, and is a Technology Partner for Google. FEITIAN is a leading worldwide provider of Fingerprint Biometric Passwordless Authentication. Globally, the company has over 1,000 employees, more than half of whom are focused on research and development. FEITIAN serves clients in over 150 countries with leading enterprise, financial, telecom, government, education organizations. FEITIAN - We Build Security! For more information, please visit: http://www.ftsafe.com or contact Partners@FTSafe.us.
Top scientists say for Australia to honour the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to less than two degrees, the country must reach net zero emissions before 2050.

Debate over the emissions target flared in Federal Parliament on Monday, as the Morrison government attacked Labor for a commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, which it announced last week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government had "a clear plan" to meet its 2030 emissions targets, and Labor had "no detail" on its 2050 net zero commitment. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen.

Australia signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 and an increasing list of major fossil fuel companies and industry groups have backed the Paris targets and net zero goals.

The agreement does not set a deadline for signatories to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, other than stipulating it occurs before the end of the century.
Microsoft chief executive on Monday urged Indian business leaders to build technology capabilities that are inclusive in nature.

Beginning his three-day visit to India, Nadella was addressing Microsoft's Future Decoded CEO Summit here.

"Indian CEOs need to build own tech capability and ensure that the solutions are inclusive," he said.

Stating that the last decade saw emergence of the aggregators, he asserted that aggregators are not enough alone. "We need to ensure that digital interventions lead to broadening of productivity."



Nadella stated that 72 per cent of jobs for software engineers in India are outside of the technology industry.

Speaking at the same event, Rajesh Gopinathan, chief executive and managing director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) said the company prefers to train internal talent for the changing technologies and ensure that good quality talent is retained, rather than searching for it externally.

He said the millennials possess phenomenal knowledge and are quick learners as well, but need to be trained on the same.

The era of multi-year projects in IT is over; and three years ago, TCS took a bet to completely adopt Agile technologies by 2020, he said.

59 per cent of all the developers are now working on Agile, he added.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged people of Delhi to shun violence in the wake of tension in northeast Delhi leading to death of a Delhi head constable.

Expressing his grief over the death of Ratan Lal, the police head consable, the CM tweeted: "The death of the police head constable is very sad. He was also one of us. Please renounce violence. Nobody benefits from this. All problems will be solved by peace." Ratan Lal was killed on Monday as pro and anti-CAA groups battled each other in parts of north-east Delhi.

In an earlier tweet, Kejriwal had urged Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt. Governor Anil Baijal to "restore law and order" as tension continued in the area over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order and ensure that peace and harmony is maintained," Kejriwal said on Twitter.

A youth was injured when a bullet hit him as pro and anti-CAA protesters clashed on Monday, while several vehicles and a house in the vicinity were set ablaze.
Alabama Department of Corrections(ALPINE, Ala.) -- A convicted murderer is on the loose after escaping from a work-release facility in Alabama, officials said.



Daniel Miner, 43, was reported missing from his bed on Saturday night during a count of inmates at the state-run facility in the town of Alpine, about 40 miles southeast of Birmingham, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. It's unclear how the inmate escaped.



Miner is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after being convicted of murder in Marshall County in 1994. He was also sentenced on a promoting prison contraband charge in Limestone County in 2003, according to inmate records.



The Marshall County Sheriff's Office said it is working with state authorities to locate the escaped inmate.



Miner was last seen wearing a white state-issued prison uniform. He is described as a white man who is 5-foot-6-inches tall and weighs 192 pounds. He has "white power" tattoos and others on his neck, arms, torso and back, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.



Miner's custody level is listed as "minimum-out," which the Alabama Department of Corrections describes on its website as "appropriate for inmates that do not pose a significant risk to self or others and suitable to be assigned off-property work details without the direct supervision of correctional officers."



The Childersburg Community Based Facility and Community Work Center in Alpine, from which Miner escaped, is a minimum-security institution where inmates may be assigned to work for various government agencies for paid employment. Inmates in the work-release program work for private employers in the community, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections website.



Anyone who sees Miner or may have information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Alabama Department of Corrections at 1-800-831-8825 or dial 911.



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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 16:14 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206644614 1 National Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Wuhan-coronavirus-Indonesia-zero-case,outbreak,Airport,coronavirus,immigration,foreigners,Wuhan-coronavirus,China,Chinese-tourists Free

Immigration authorities denied entry to 118 foreigners in February in an effort to prevent the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading to the country.

The foreigners had lived in or visited China 14 days before arriving in Indonesia, immigration spokesperson Arvin Gumilang said in a written statement on Sunday, adding that the denial of entry was in keeping with a 2020 Law and Human Rights Ministerial Decree that had been issued in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Immigration General Directory has issued overstay visas for 1,247 Chinese nationals across the country.

Overstay visas were only issued to Chinese citizens in Indonesia whose visas had expired but who could not go back to their country because of the virus outbreak and because there was no means of transportation to take them there, Arvin said. Airlines and airports have suspended all flights to and from mainland China following the governments decision to impose a temporary travel ban to and from the country on Feb. 5.

There have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia to date. (gis)
Britain on Monday began hearing Washington's extradition request for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, in a test case of media freedoms in the digital age and the limits of US justice.

A ruling against the 48-year-old Australian could see him jailed for 175 years if convicted on all 17 US Espionage Act charges and one count of computer hacking he faces.

WikiLeak's data

The charges relate to the release in 2010 by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks of a trove of classified US government files detailing the realities of the military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One video from 2007 showed an Apache helicopter attack in which US soldiers gunned down two Reuters reporters and nine Iraqi civilians in broad daylight in Baghdad.

But the US extradition case is only the latest stage of a long-running legal saga that has seen Assange in some form of detention since the documents' release.

He spent years holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault -- since dropped -- that he and his supporters argue were politically motivated.

Protesters gathered outside Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London for the first day of the US extradition hearing on Monday, holding up banners reading "Free Assange".

His father John Shipton, who attended the hearing with Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton, decried the "ceaseless malice" of the authorities against his son.

"We're all here to vigorously and firmly support Julian in this 10-year long oppression and political action," he told reporters.

Assange, wearing a dark grey blazer and sweater over a white shirt and flanked by two security personnel, appeared calm inside the packed court room.

Free speech and media freedom campaigners have also decried the US charges against Assange.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said in December: "For the sake of press freedom, Julian Assange must be defended."

Story continues

Trump claim

WikiLeaks initially worked with a string of high-profile newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files.

But after falling out with their editors, the site released hundreds of thousands of documents in their original form -- including the secret identities of diplomats and locals who worked with the US authorities.

The US Justice Department said last May that the "human resources" compromised by Assange "included local Afghans and Iraqis, journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates, and political dissidents from repressive regimes".

In a new twist last week, Assange's defence team claimed US President Donald Trump promised to issue a pardon if Assange denied Russia leaked the emails of his 2016 election rival's campaign.

"In August 2017, Donald Trump's administration tried to pressure Julian Assange into saying things that would be favourable to President Trump himself," defence coordinator Baltasar Garzon said.

"When Julian Assange refused, he was charged and an extradition request was issued alongside an international arrest warrant."

The White House called the allegation "another never-ending hoax and total lie" but a judge agreed to add it to the case file.

International fugitive

Assange was in Britain when the allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden emerged in 2010, and was ordered by a London judge to be extradited there.

But he said he feared onward transfer to Washington, which had been outraged by the WikiLeaks files, and so sought and received asylum in Ecuador's embassy.

A political realignment in Quito toward the United States saw Assange fall out of favour, however.

In April 2019, Assange was dragged out of the embassy, where he was promptly arrested for breaching his UK police bail.

He has since served a jail term for that but remains in custody in the high security Belmarsh prison, next to Woolwich Crown Court, awaiting the US extradition case.

The court will consider whether "the conduct described (by the US Justice Department) amounts to an extradition offence".

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service says the court must also weigh whether "extradition would be disproportionate or would be incompatible with the requested person's human rights".

Some US legal experts think Assange has a case.

"Use of the Espionage Act has a very checkered history in the century since Congress passed it," University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told AFP.

Many think "extradition and US prosecution would have a chilling effect on press efforts to expose government information that is important to the public interest."
Vietnamese fashion brands are feeling the heat as more and more foreign brands have arrived.

In early December, crowds of people were seen lining up from early morning to late night in front of the Uniqlo shop on Dong Khoi street, HCM City, on its opening day. This is the first shop in Vietnam opened by the Japanese fashion brand.





Meeting the local press before the opening, Tadashi Yanai, the founder and CEO of Fast Retailing, which owns Uniqlo, said that Uniqlo Dong Khoi is the second largest store in Southeast Asia and a model store of the brand.



He said that Vietnam has high potential, so Fast Retailing made very thorough preparations before opening the store.



Before the big Japanese player entered the Vietnamese market, other foreign fashion brands opened successfully.

Zara, with two stores in Hanoi and HCM City, had revenue of VND1.7 trillion in 2018, which was six times higher than 2017. Meanwhile, H&M, with seven stores, had revenue of VND653 billion in the 2018 fiscal year, or 4.3 times higher than 2017.

Zara, with two stores in Hanoi and HCM City, had revenue of VND1.7 trillion in 2018, which was six times higher than 2017. Meanwhile, H&M, with seven stores, had revenue of VND653 billion in the 2018 fiscal year, or 4.3 times higher than 2017.

Vietnamese brands have to struggle to exist in the home market.



Blue Exchange, Ninomaxx and Sea Collection, once famous brands, have fallen into disfavor despite great efforts to expand retail networks.



Most recently, the owner of Vascara sold his well-known fashion brand for women to a Japanese partner. There is no information about whether he would develop another brand.



Ly Thanh Sinh, director of Minh Long Hung Garment and Embroidery, is pessimistic about the competiveness of Vietnamese fashion companies.



He said Vietnamese companies are facing big problems, including the lack of financial resources to invest in modern technologies.



The US-China market has brought more low-cost garments and materials to Vietnam, while some modern retail chains have fallen into foreign hands, thus making it more difficult to sell products, he said.



Sinh commented that foreign brands understand consumers very well. Vietnamese favor branded goods with reasonable prices. The understanding allows them to gain the upper hand in the market.



Le Quang Hung, former president of Sai Gon Garment, commented that the problems of Vietnam brands not only lie in high premises rent, input costs and production costs, but also in human resources.



However, he believes that Vietnamese brands still have opportunities. Some companies in Hanoi such as Canifa can develop well as they have made heavy investments in design, human resources and materials.

Le Ha

International fast fashion brands see opportunities in Vietnamese market A number of famous international fast fashion brands have arrived in the promising Vietnamese market.
February 24, 2020





Winning at an online casino is usually dicey but it gets worse if you are not acquainted with some basic things. Some of these factors may seem ordinary but they make a lot of difference especially if you are playing for real money. If you are playing for the first time, you should probably visit onlinecasinozed.com, where you can find the best guides for online casino games, as the best casinos that are available to Canadian players.







You will learn a few tips that will change your play.

1. Read the rules

Unfortunately, most casino players often ignore the casino games rules before playing. Are you wondering how this will help you win?

The rule for each casino game or website defy. Getting familiar with their rules will let you know what to do at every time. The chances of making mistakes are very unlikely.

2. The RTP

This is known as Return to Player. Casinos usually have a particular percentage of the players bets that will be returned to him/her after a certain period. If the RTP of a casino game is high, then there are chances that you will get a lot of winnings.

Casinos that have RTP that are as high as 95 per cent and above are the best casinos to play. You are sure of winning some huge prizes.

3. Money management

As a casino player, you ought to imbibe certain management skills. If you dont, you will end up losing all your money at an online casino. The best way to manage your money is by creating a budget. A budget will help you know how much you want to spend at the end of the month or week playing online casinos. Like for example in Sweden al casinos accept deposit using the Bank ID, so if players dont know how to manage their budget the can end up losing all their income. Some of the best casino with Bank ID in Sweden can be found at Casino Sverige BankID guide.

You have to discipline yourself and stick to the budget. If the money you earmarked for playing online casinos is exhausted, just wait for the next budget.

4. Learn how to play

Although there is a popular notion that all online casino games are based on luck, there are one or two strategies that will also help you win more. The best strategy doesn't support chasing loses. Go for strategies that will encourage you to stop playing after you have won a few games.

Don't stake double of your previous bet after a loss. This is called to lose chasing. The possibility of losing all your money is very likely with this strategy.

5. House edge

The common notion is that the casino always has an edge over the player. Since this is true, some online casinos have a very high house edge. If this is the case, there is a possibility that you will not win even a single game. Casino games with a high house edge are not the best to play.

The best way to discover the house edge of the casino is through their RTP. If the RTP is high, then the house edge of the casino will likely below. On the other hand, if the RTP is low, then the house edge will be high.

Going through casino reviews will also be helpful. A reputable casino online review website will be able to disclose games with a high house edge percentage.
Fun fact: Bigg Boss contestants can't live peacefully inside or outside the house.

Case in point? Bigg Boss 13's Mahira Sharma has been accused by the organizers of the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke International Fim Festival of forging an appreciation certificate.

Here's the breakdown of what happened.

On February 20th, 11:36 PM, Mahira Sharma who was attending the event posted an Instagram story to her 1.3 million followers showcasing that she has received a certificate of appreciation at the DPIFF award ceremony for being The Most Fashionable Contestant Of Bigg Boss 13.

Image credit: Mahira Sharma / Instagram story.'

However, DPIFFs official team has issued an open statement saying that this said certificate has not been issued by any team member of DPIFF team or the associates involved and is going to be considered as a forged certificate.

The statement reads, "This is an immoral and distasteful attempt by Mahira Sharma to gain publicity and personal benefits by counterfeiting a very reputed award and showcasing her name on to a falsified category has created irreversible damage to the brands image and reputation."

The statement ended with the DPIFFs team issuing an intimation letter to Mahira Sharma asking her to take down all the misleading PR activities including removal of blog posts, articles by any news or publishing agency that covered how she won the certificate because the reality is that she did not. Failing to do so will result in legal proceedings against her.

We hope this matter gets resolved for the actress soon and she can continue working without getting dragged into such controversies.
[February 24, 2020] CPI AEROSTRUCTURES ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Announces That a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against CPI Aerostructures, Inc. and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of investors that purchased CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (NYSE:CVU) securities between March 15, 2018 and February 14, 2020 (the "Class Period"). Investors have until April 24, 2020 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Click here to participate in the action. On February 14, 2020, CPI announced that its financial statements for fiscal year 2018, the last three quarters of 2018, and the first two quarters of 2019 should no longer be relied upon due to errors in those financial statements relating to the Company's recognition of revenue from contracts with customers under ASC (News - Alert) Topic 606. In addition, the Company announced that investors should no longer rely upon the independent auditor's reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2018, as well as management's reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, press releases, and investor communications describing the Company's financial statements for these periods. The Company also announced the resignation of its Chief Financial Offier.



On this news, CPI's share price dropped sharply, to close at $4.87 per share. The complaint, filed on February 24, 2020, alleges that throughout the Class Period defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) CPI Aerostructures' financial statements included in the Company's Forms 10-Q for the first, second, and third quarters of 2018 and 2019 incorrectly applied generally accepted accounting principles and thus revenue, net income, retained earnings, and contract assets were overstated; (2) as a result, the financial statements included in the Form 10-Qs for 2018 and 2019 and the annual report on Form 10-K for 2018 could no longer be relied upon and required restatement; (3) CPI Aerostructures lacked adequate internal controls over financial reporting and effective disclosure controls and procedures as of the period during each reporting period of 2018; (4) CPI Aerostructures lacked effective disclosure controls and procedures during the third quarter of 2019; and (5) 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.

If you purchased CPI Aerostructures securities during the Class Period, are a long-term stockholder, have information, 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 Melissa Fortunato or Marion Passmore by email at [email protected], telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005785/en/

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In 1990, my wife Rose and I decided to take my three nephews on a vacation to Huntsville, Alabama, and Disney World in Orlando, Florida. They  Read more
Mastercard is to create 1,500 jobs as part of a major expansion in Dublin.

The jobs are to be created over the next three to five years, with the company set to grow its European Technology Hub in Dublin.

The company currently employees more than 650 people.

The expansion plans will include Mastercard taking on additional office space at One and Two South County, a newly built campus site in Leopardstown.

The jobs boost is being supported by the IDA who said it "is excellent news and demonstrates a substantial commitment to Ireland".

They will be investing in the likes of artificial intelligence, cyber security and user experience teams.

The recruitment process will seek "talented technologists with strong development and software skills looking to work on impactful, cutting edge technology projects."

"Our Dublin Tech Hub is an innovation engine for our company across Europe and beyond, and were delighted to be expanding our technology footprint in the city," said Ed McLaughlin, President of Mastercard Operations and Technology.

"Our new campus will help us continue to attract the best and brightest tech talent, so that we stay on the forefront of emerging tech trends and are well positioned to forge the future of digital commerce across the globe."

Commenting on the announcement, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "This is excellent news and further proof of Irelands place as a global hub for technology.

"The 1,500 jobs being created at Mastercard are high quality, skilled positions, which Im sure will be much sought after.

"We can never be complacent when it comes to our economy and employment; as a country we must continue to pursue policies which make Ireland attractive to investment and job creation and open to free trade."

Martin Shanahan, Chief Executive at IDA, hailed Ireland as "home to some of the worlds largest payment businesses, including Mastercard."

He added: "This substantial investment and build out of Mastercards operations in Dublin is a further strong endorsement of Irelands standing in International Technology Services and its offering to companies considering locating here."

The recruitment process is open from today.
In a one-on-one talk with the Washington Free Beacon, the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has outlined the next steps the Trump administration will be taking to confront "Tehran's growing influence in key Arab nations", including Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.

"The Trump administration is waging a multi-pronged effort to thwart Iran's expansion across the Middle East, including efforts at the United Nations to ensure global sanctions come back into effect in what would mark a final death blow for the landmark nuclear deal," the Washington Free Beacon cited Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as saying .

The exclusive interview was conducted on Friday, immediately after Pompeo's high-level meetings with the Saudi Arabia royal family in Riyadh.

In the coming months, Pompeo said he and President Trump will make a major decision about whether to petition the U.N. to invoke what is known as "snapback" on a set of international sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of the Obama administration's nuclear accord.

"Iran hawks in Congress have been pressing Pompeo and the administration to pursue this course of action for months, a message the secretary says he has received and is digging into. Such a move would deal a deathblow to the nuclear deal," Free Beacon reports.

However, President Trump has yet to make an ultimate decision on snapback at the U.N., Pompeo asserted.

Earlier in Riyadh, Pompeo and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman had discussed "threats from Iran," the Saudi-led war in Yemen, the situation in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and the need for a regional unity, an apparent reference to the political impasse between Qatar and its Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf.

While in Riyadh, Pompeo assured Prince Muhammad bin Salman that the United States stands with Saudi Arabia in the face of Iranian threats, the State Department said.

Pompeo also tweeted last Friday that "Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and I discussed the ongoing threat posed by the Iranian regime."

The tension between Tehran and Washington has been rising since May 2018, when President Trump dropped the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran nuclear deal with world powers and reimposed a wide range of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Exactly a year later, the tension intensified when Iran declared that it was starting to end its commitments under the JCPOA gradually. It also set a two-month deadline for the European signatories to the nuclear deal to ensure Tehran's interests protected in the agreement.

The European partners in the JCPOA, France, Germany, and the U.K. have so far failed to meet Tehran's demands.

In the meantime, President Trump has repeatedly voiced his readiness for a new round of negotiations with Iran.

President Hassan Rouhani, for his part, has repeatedly said Tehran would not relent to talks under Washington's sanctions.

The Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has gone even further, and noted, "Talking to Americans is a lethal poison, and talking to the Trump Administration is twice as lethal."

While Secretary Pompeo is talking about the possibility of referring the Islamic Republic's case to the United Nations, six Senators have introduced a new proposal to urge Tehran and Washington to return to their commitments under the 2015 JCPOA.

On February 19, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the proposal under the title "Iran Diplomacy Act."

According to the draft, "the United States should not seek to 'snap back' United Nations Security Council Sanctions [on the Islamic Republic] as that right should be reserved for current parties to the JCPOA."
- Five critically ill Chinese patients arrived at the Makindu Sub-County Hospital accompanied by colleagues in face masks

- Medical officers scampered for their safety on suspicion the five could be suffering from coronavirus

- The incident caused a scare at the facility leaving the Chinese nationals and other patients with no one to attend to them

- Calm was later restored, the patients quarantined, blood samples drawn and taken to the National Influenza Laboratory for testing

- Citizens have continued to urge the government to close its borders for arrivals from China as Russia has done

- Researchers are still looking for a cure to the virus that has so far claimed 2,442 lives and infected over 76,936

Medical services at Makindu Sub-County Hospital, Makueni county, were temporarily halted on Saturday, February 22, after five critically ill Chinese nationals were rushed to the facility.

TUKO.co.ke has learnt that the patients arrived at the hospital in the company of police and other Chinese nationals wearing facemasks.

READ ALSO: Over 40 matches called off in Italy amid Coronavirus fears

Israel has barred tourists from South Korea from setting foot in Jerusalem to prevent spread of the virus. Photo: Getty Images.

Source: Getty Images

READ ALSO: Tupendane, Tulambane: Governor Lonyangapuo says BBI will unite Kenyans

Medical officers at the hospital scampered for their safety on suspicion that the five, who are employees of the Sinohydro Corporation, could be suffering from the dreaded coronavirus, Daily Nation reported on Saturday, February 22.

Sinohydro Corporation is a Chinese company charged with the construction of Kibwezi-Kitui Road.

READ ALSO: Familia nzima yauliwa na wezi waliojaribu kuiba kuku katika boma lao

Patrick Musyoki, the Makueni Cheif Officer of Health dismissed claims that the hospital was dealing with a case of coronavirus.

There are no cases of coronavirus admitted to Makindu hospital as confirmed by the hospital management, Musyoki said.

Kenyans have urged the government to close its borders for arrivals from China as Russia has done. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Francis Atwoli calls for arrest, jailing of William Ruto over KSh 39.5B military arms scandal

The patient's blood was, however, drawn and taken to Nairobi based National Influenza Laboratory for testing.

The incident comes hardly one week after a Sinohydro Corporation employee who arrived in the country from China through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from China was quarantined at the company's Makueni base.

"He arrived in Kenya via JKIA through the right procedure. When he arrived here where he was isolated which is according to laid down procedure.

We, however, ask all staff to wear protective masks and also exercise caution while interacting," said Project Manager Zeng Young.

Researchers are still looking for a cure to the virus. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

This comes even as researchers continue looking for a cure to the virus that has so far claimed 2,442 lives and infected over 76,936.

Citizens have continued to urge the government to close its borders for arrivals from China as Russia has done to prevent spread of the killer virus to Kenya.

Israel has also barred tourists from South Korea from setting foot in Jerusalem.

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
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The Nifty50 which saw marginal losses during the week ended February 23 is likely to remain volatile in the February expiry week as well, suggest experts. The index failed to hold on to 12,100 but held on to crucial support of 12,000-12,030.

Rising concerns over coronavirus capped the upside for markets in the week gone by and are likely to influence the near-term trend in the last week of February as well. But, as long as the index holds 12,000 levels, bulls have nothing to fear, but the trend could remain sideways.

With February derivatives expiry coming up, and with most of the shorts already being covered, there seems to be too little fuel in the engine to drive past 12,300, a significant resistance for now. Traders may wait for the new series for the next leg of upsides aiming 12,850, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol.

The Nifty is currently hovering within 11,900-12,300 zone and a decisive break on either side would trigger the next directional move, suggest experts.

Swing low of 12,037 observed on February 17 is likely to act as crucial support, while 12,246 remains (swing high of February 14) to be the first resistance level.

For the upcoming week, Nifty is likely to take support at 12,000 and 1,2250 would be a stiff resistance level, Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research Limited  Investment Advisor told Moneycontrol.

Therefore, it is recommended to remain cautious on the Indian markets in the near-term and keep a close watch on the movement of currency and crude oil prices, he said.

We have collated a list of 10 potential breakout stocks for the February expiry week. The holding period is 3-4 weeks:

Expert: Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Financial Services

Delta Corp: Buy | LTP: Rs 156.3 | Stop Loss: Rs 144 | Target: Rs 174

The proximity of 2019s low has given the courage for bargain hunters to look for a bounce back from the 35 percent fall that had unfolded in just three months.

This attempt has formed a hammer candlestick pattern on the weekly charts, supporting the buy view for a 10 percent up move.

India Cements: Buy | LTP: Rs 75.55 | Stop Loss: Rs 69 | Target: Rs 87.4

The present upswing follows a successful morning star pattern formation. A narrowing Bollinger band raises the potential for price expansion, and as the price has bounced off after penetration of lower Bollinger band, and up move aiming 87.4, the upper band of the weekly Bollinger band can be played.

Century Plyboards: Buy | LTP: Rs 154.3 | Stop Loss: Rs 148 | Target: Rs 162

The last couple of days buying effort has brought a pause to the fortnight-long fall. With such pause having occurred at 38.2 retracement level, the ensuing bullish engulfing pattern suggests that the up move is worth playing.

A larger breakout (@180) pattern may also be in the formation, but since this could first stymie the ongoing up move, only a modest target of 162 should be attempted initially.

Expert: Ajit Mishra, VP- Research, Religare Broking

Marico Limited: Buy | LTP: Rs 306.20 | Initiation range: 303-306 | Target: Rs 325 | Stop loss: Rs 296

Marico has been witnessing correction for the last five months and is currently hovering around the support zone of the long term moving average of 200-EMA on the weekly chart.

Indications are in the favour of marginal consolidation followed by steady rebound ahead. We advise accumulating fresh longs as per the given levels.

HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd: Buy | LTP: Rs 3,383.80 | Initiation range: 3,360-3,370 | Target: Rs 3,550 | Stop loss: Rs 3,270

HDFC AMC is currently trading closer to the neckline (support) area of the consolidation range as it has retraced marginally after the breakout.

The chart pattern combined with the positioning of confirmation indicators is pointing towards fresh up move ahead. Traders should utilise this opportunity and create fresh longs in the mentioned range.

Expert: Mehul Kothari, Senior Technical Analyst at IndiaNivesh Securities

Bank of Baroda (BoB) | Buy | CMP: Rs 82.30 | Target: Rs 92 | Stop loss: Rs 77 | Upside: 12%

During the year 2009, Bank of Baroda confirmed a breakout at its peak of Rs 80 and then rallied towards Rs 192. Then again, it retested this level of Rs 80 and registered a top of Rs 222.

Now, the stock has been constantly falling from that peak of Rs 222 and again reached the Rs 80 mark.

The zone of Rs 80 has been a demand level since the last 10 years. Considering history, we expect the multiyear support of Rs 80 to attract some buying in the stock.

Traders are advised to buy the stock near Rs 82.

ITC | Buy | CMP: Rs 207.90 | Target: Rs 220 | Stop loss: Rs 198 | Upside: 6%

ITC has been in a corrective mode right since September 2018 and has corrected almost 36 percent from the peak of Rs 317.

Recently, the stock found support near Rs 200 mark, which is the 100 percent extension of the move from the peaks and troughs of Rs 354 to Rs 241.

This can also be called as a bullish harmonic AB=CD pattern, which indicates the possibility of a bounce.

Traders are advised to buy the stock on a dip near Rs 205.

Expert: Sameet Chavan Chief Analyst  Technical & Derivatives, Angel Broking

Kiri Industries Ltd: Buy | LTP: Rs 423 | Target: Rs 464 | Stop Loss: Rs 398.40

This stock is yet to participate in the rally that the broader market has seen over the past couple of months. We have already witnessed a long consolidation of nearly three months and finally, the stock prices managed to confirm a breakout in the upward direction.

If we look at the overall volume activity, it has risen substantially in the recent up move. Also, the RSI-Smoothened on the daily chart has crossed above the 70 marks, which we believe should provide the impetus for the next leg of the rally.

Thus, we recommend buying this stock for a target of Rs.464 over the next days. The stop loss should be fixed at Rs.398.40.

Tata Steel: Buy | LTP: Rs 443.55 | Target: Rs 468 | Stop Loss: Rs 428

This stock is extremely sensitive to any development concerning China. Recently, the stock managed to give a gigantic up move from lower levels but rising concerns over coronavirus dented this rally and hence, the stock had to undergo a strong bout of profit booking.

But now, it looks like it has digested that worry and technically speaking, we can interpret this decline as a healthy retracement of the larger degree uptrend.

Looking at the favourable risk-reward ratio, traders are advised going long for a target of Rs.468 over the next few days. The stop loss should be fixed at Rs.428.

Expert: Amit Gupta, Head of Derivatives at ICICI Direct

State Bank of India: Buy February future in the range of Rs 326-328 | Target: Rs 348 | Stop Loss: Rs 317

State Bank of India (SBI) has shown significant resilience vis-a-vis the rest of the PSU banking space. Also, ahead of its SBI Card IPO, significant long positions have been formed.

The current open interest in the stock is close to the highest ever. The stock has seen continued Call writing at ATM 330 and 340 strikes while in the recent recovery, closure of positions was seen.

The OI in 330 strikes has declined to 3,500 contracts from almost 5,000 contracts seen a couple of days back. We believe downsides would be limited in the stock and it can be bought for upsides towards Rs 350.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
HYDERABAD: Congress MP A. Revanth Reddy announced that he will launch a week-long Patnam Gosa (Pain of City) padayatra on Monday to highlight the failure of TRS government in fulfilling its promise of distributing double bedroom houses in his Malkajgiri Lok Sabha segment.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday at his office in Malkajgiri, he accused the ruling TRS of washing its hands off from fulfilling its promises made under the Pattana Pragathi programme. To highlight the same, he will extensively tour his Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency from Monday to March 2 as part of his Pattana Gosa.

The MP maintained that 10 lakh people of his constituency, who are eligible for double bedroom houses, have been waiting since the last six years to get houses from the government. He pointed out that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had assured in the Assembly that 2BHK houses will be completed within a year and he will not ask for votes if this was not done.

Mr Revanth Reddy asked while the state government has claimed that its budget is of Rs 1.5 lakh crore, how is it unable to clear the pending bills of Rs 900 crore for the 2BHK scheme in Hyderabad. He accused ruling party leaders of taking commissions for allotting double bedroom houses to the poor.

The MP accused Union minister of state for home G. Kishan Reddy of not highlighting the misuse of funds given to the state government under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana. He said this was because of the tacit understanding between the ruling TRS and BJP.

On the erra bus comment of Mr Kishan Reddy  the minister had said villages were used to seeing red (mofussil) buses were now having trains due to the Centre  Mr Revanth Reddy said the Union minister lacked knowledge of Telangana under the Nizam having its own railway and bus services before the minister or his prime minister had been born.
A month on from the introduction of strict controls in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, China is cautiously returning to normal operations after seeing a downward trend in the number of new infections.

But that ray of hope could yet be overshadowed as a surge of cases elsewhere in the world, most notably in South Korea, Japan and Iran, threatens to turn an epidemic into a pandemic, experts say.

The spike in new infections outside China coincided with the arrival in Wuhan on Saturday of a team of public health experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), who after earlier visits to Beijing and the provinces of Sichuan and Guangdong now have the task of setting the course for the next stage in handling the deadly outbreak.

Also on Saturday, Chinas National Health Commission reported 397 new coronavirus infections  a 55 per cent drop from the 889 reported on Friday  taking the total reported in the country since the outbreak began in December to 76,288. A total of 2,345 have been killed by the virus, of which 109 were reported on Friday.

While the numbers continue to rise, the commission said it had seen a declining trend in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei  the province worst hit by the outbreak  and elsewhere, suggesting that medical efforts were making positive progress.

Commission spokesman Mi Feng said that in Wuhan the number of ongoing cases  which excludes fatalities and those who have recovered  fell to 36,680 on Saturday, from 38,020 on Tuesday. For Hubei as a whole the corresponding figure dropped to 10,967 from 13,886, and for all other parts of the country to 5,637 from 9,141.

The changes indicate that with the continuous strengthening of national prevention and control measures  positive progress has been made in medical treatment and the number of existing cases has seen an accelerated decline, he said.

On Friday, 18 provinces reported no new infections, among them Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Liaoning and Gansu, which have not added to their totals for several days.

Story continues

Authorities in Gansu and Liaoning responded by downgrading their emergency response levels by two notches, from extreme severe  the highest possible  to relatively large.

Elsewhere in the country, governments and businesses are working hard to get back on track. In Shanghai, for instance, 97 per cent of Fortune 500 companies and 93 per cent of multinationals with regional headquarters in the city have now resumed regular operations.

Likewise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday it would recommence its regular press conferences at its offices in Beijing after weeks of online-only briefings.

However, despite the positives, many officials and public health experts have said the epidemic has yet to reach its peak and that the challenge of containing it remains grave, echoing a message delivered at a meeting on Friday of the Chinese Communist Partys Politburo chaired by President Xi Jinping.

Similarly, World Health Organisation director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Saturday that the window of opportunity to contain the international spread of the outbreak was narrowing.

The United Nations health agency was concerned about the number of coronavirus cases with no clear epidemiological link to China, he said.

Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for Covid-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems.

Health authorities in Iran reported 10 new confirmed cases on Saturday  taking the total in the country to 28  including a sixth death.

South Koreas Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of people infected with the coronavirus more than doubled on Friday to 433 from 204. Most of the new infections were traced to a hospital in the county of Cheongdo in the southeast of the country and a minor Christian sect in the neighbouring city of Daegu.

In Japan, about 750 people have now tested positive for the virus  though most of those were passengers and crew from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, near Tokyo.

Singapore has reported 89 cases and the United States 35.

Many experts fear the coronavirus epidemic will become a pandemic. Photo: EPA-EFE

Dirk Pfeiffer, a professor with the department of infectious diseases and public health at City University of Hong Kong, said that while a drop in case numbers in China was to be expected given the huge scale of the nations containment efforts, it did not mean the epidemic was under control, and it was still very likely it would become a pandemic.

Unfortunately, I believe we cannot stop this virus from spreading, and it is inevitable that over the next weeks and months cases will appear in many if not most countries around the world. It will become a pandemic, he said.

Covid-19 to slash US$185 billion off Chinas economy in January, February

However, it would not be in other nations interests to adopt Chinas strict approach to managing the outbreak, he said.

It is neither epidemiologically nor economically or socially desirable to replicate Chinas extreme containment measures, because the severe economic and social consequences of such measures would not be proportionate to the impact of the virus on human health, he said.

A better option was to adopt a risk mitigation approach, as seen in Singapore, he said.

Dr Yanzhong Huang, director of the Centre for Global Health Studies at Seton Hall University in the United States, agreed that said Beijing should seek to relax some of its containment measures so as to lessen their impact on the economy.

For the moment, containment is still the way to handle the outbreak, but the turning point the epidemiologists forecast has yet to come, he said, adding that the governments strategy was coming at the expense of disruption to ordinary peoples lives and damage to economic growth.

Killing 1,000 of your enemies at the expense of 800 soldiers is not worth it, he said. At some point, Beijing needs to switch focus to treat only severe cases, instead of tracking everyone who has been infected and all of their close contacts.

Meanwhile, Professor Greg Gray, an epidemiologist at Duke University in the US, said he was concerned about the possibility of the coronavirus spreading through Asian countries that lacked a strong public health infrastructure.

The virus spreading in Asia is very alarming, he said. I think we are closer to a pandemic.

Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 32-year-old man allegedly was the driver of a car that was pursued by police through the streets of Dongan Hills, Grant City and New Dorp before he abandoned the vehicle on Todt Hill.

The incident fueled a massive search of wooded areas on Todt Hill and nearby neighborhoods in a quest for the driver and his male passengers.

Leon Wilson, of the 200 block of Park Hill Avenue, weaved in and out of traffic on major roads and nearly collided with a police cruiser when he drove the wrong direction on a one-way street, according to the criminal complaint.

He exceeded the speed limits, refused to comply with police or traffic signals and didnt use directional signals throughout the chase, police say.

His attorney, Mario F. Gallucci, maintains his clients innocence.

From the moment my client retained my firm we have begun a complete investigation into this matter, including the search for pole cameras, MTA cameras and the canvass of the neighborhood for witnesses, looking for evidence that will clear him of all the charges, Gallucci said.

The incident began when Wilson allegedly blew through a stop sign while he was driving a 2020 black BMW 530i at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Dongan Hills Avenue and Richmond Road.

Wilson allegedly hit the gas when officers in a marked vehicle with lights whirling and sirens blaring tried to curb the car at that location.

The suspect careened along Richmond, detouring onto Hull Avenue, North Railroad Avenue and Barton Avenue before re-emerging on Richmond, the complaint alleges. He zig-zagged through traffic before shifting from Richmond onto Bedford Avenue and then back onto North Railroad Avenue, police say.

The BMW raced along Bancroft Avenue and South Railroad Avenue, before allegedly heading the wrong way on Greeley Avenue. After spinning onto Edison Street, the car returned to Bancroft where a marked police car had to swerve to avoid a head-on collision, the complaint alleges.

Lurching onto Richmond Road, Wilson allegedly shuttled the car in and out of traffic to make the left onto Todt Hill Road. He continually crossed the double-yellow lines and sped into oncoming traffic on Todt Hill before twisting onto Willow Pond Road, Westminster Court and the dead-end street of Highpoint Road where the car came to a stop, police say.

The suspect and his passengers fled; Wilson ran into the woods of Todt Hill where he was arrested in the vicinity by police around 1:30 p.m., according to the complaint.

Wilson has been charged with reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing a police office in a motor vehicle, obstructing governmental administration, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

In an unrelated incident, Wilson drove a stolen black, 1998 Mercedes Benz E430 with a New York plate on Feb. 5 at about 5:11 p.m. on the 200 block of Park Hill Avenue, according to a separate complaint in that case.

I know my license is suspended, Wilson allegedly admitted to police regarding the stolen car.

His license was previously suspended or revoked, according to the complaint.

Wilson has been charged in the stolen-car case with criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving without a license.

Wilson is on supervised release in both cases and is scheduled to appear in Criminal Court on April 30, according to public records.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Monday reached Sabarmati Ashram for a brief stopover on their way to Motera Stadium from the Ahmedabad Airport.

The first couple of US was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.

Sabarmati Ashram, also known as Harijan Ashram, was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 until 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle.

Sabarmati Ashram has been named after the river with the same name. The Ashram was created with a dual mission -- to serve as an institution that would carry on a search for truth and a platform to bring together a group of workers committed to non-violence who would help secure freedom for India.

Three chairs were set up on the Sabarmati riverside for the visiting dignitaries.

The US President, along with his family and a ministerial delegation will be in India for around 36 hours. He, along with Modi, will be addressing a huge gathering at the Motera Stadium in a short while from now.

Later today, Trump will be visiting Taj Mahal in Agra along with his wife before departing for Delhi where he will hold delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Horse-riding police personnel are conducting patrolling outside Motera Stadium while Chetak Commando of Gujarat Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed for security at the road near the stadium.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"I let her know immediately that, that's not the way I look at it. I wanted to go because I wanted the experience, she says.

Troops were constantly changing locations during the war, which hampered mail delivery, and many soldiers shared common names. The 6888th encountered 7,500 undelivered letters addressed to Robert Smith alone. Morale suffered more and more as mail languished in warehouses.



To get the job done, members of the 6888th arrived in England and were put on eight-hour shifts that went around the clock, seven days a week. When a package was insufficiently addressed the battalion would look for clues within the contents to determine the intended recipient.

"There was always something to do, says Griggs. If there was nothing in our quarters, then we would go to the headquarters and do whatever they had there."

The women processed an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift. Given six months by the Army to work through a backlog of nearly 18 million pieces of mail, the 6888th completed the formidable task in just three months. In between shifts, the women were welcomed by locals and even established friendships.

"They all wanted us to come to their house and have dinner with them. But we weren't allowed to do that, says Griggs. So, they would have to come to where we were."

Once they finished the job in Birmingham, England, the battalion sailed to France to sort through another hoard of undelivered mail.

"I ended up being in charge of the barracks where we slept, says Griggs. That was interesting because some of them didn't make their beds right, and they had to strip them and do them all over again."

After the mail in France was cleared, hundreds of women of the 6888th began returning home. By February 1946 the entire battalion was back in the U.S. However, they arrived without fanfare and received no public recognition at the time for their efforts.

"Then the war was over; it was so fast, recalls Griggs. Everyone was kind of surprised how quick the war ended, and I was a little disappointed because it took away my job."

Griggs was honorably discharged in 1946. Today, she is one of only eight known surviving members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

This past week Sgt. Griggs was honored with the Armys Meritorious Unit Commendation Award, presented by a two-star general.

When asked about her secret to longevity, the sergeant in Griggs comes out: Mind your own business, do what you're told and keep on walking."

Editors note: This article, originally published Feb. 24, 2020, has been updated for republication.
New Delhi: An unidentified youth seen with a gun at east Delhi's Maujpur on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: An unidentified youth seen with a gun at east Delhi's Maujpur on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 24 : A Delhi Police head constable was killed on Monday as pro-and anti-CAA groups battled each other even as Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.

A head constable, Ratan Lal, lost his life while a youth was injured in the clashes. The youth was injured by a bullet fired by the unruly protesters, while several vehicles and a house in the vicinity were set ablaze.

Shahdara DCP Amit Sharma also suffered injuries in stone pelting and was rushed to a hospital.

Several areas including Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Gokulpuri remained tense on Monday noon. The police used tear gas in a bid to control the violence.

Condoling Ratan Lal's death, Kejriwal wrote on Twitter: "The death of the Police Head Constable is very sad. He was one of us too. Please give up violence. Nobody benefits from this." Taking to Twitter, the LG wrote: "Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony." Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and several other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders also appealed to the people to maintain peace.

Expressing concern over the violence, Kejriwal had written: "Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations." The LG's assurance came soon after Kejriwal's earlier tweet to which Delhi CM said: "I just had a word with Hon'ble LG. He has assured that more police force is being sent to the spot. Violence will not be tolerated. I request everyone to maintain peace and harmony. Nothing can be solved through violence." Soon after the news about the death of the head constable spread the crowd became more unruly after which Section 144 was imposed in the area.

A police official on condition of anonymity told IANS: "The condition was worst near a petrol pump at Bhajanpura. Many vehicles near the petrol pump were set ablaze by the crowd." According to sources, some shops and houses were also attacked in Gokulpuri and the surrounding areas, and vehicles were set afire.

Local residents claimed that some people involved in the violence were using country-made pistols.

Localities in northeast Delhi have been witnessing violent clashes between the anti-CAA and pro-CAA groups since Sunday afternoon. The pro-CAA groups assembled at Maujpur metro station while the anti-CAA protesters settled down about a km away, at Jaffrabad metro station.

However, by Monday noon, things turned ugly between the two groups leading to several vehicles being set ablaze while a house near Maujpur metro station was set on fire. Heavy stone pelting was reported from both sides.

Efforts to bring normalcy in the area have been in vain, despite the presence of senior Delhi police officers on the spot. Security forces also used tear gas to scatter the protesters, but the situation remained tense.

Meanwhile, sources say that paramilitary forces have been called in to assist the police.

Journalists covering the spot were also targeted by the protesters as they were stopped from recording videos of the clashes and some of the media personnel were even beaten up.

Javed, who was present at the site of the clashes, alleged that some "unknown elements" tried to target their peaceful anti-CAA demonstration.

He said that during the protest, "a large crowd of people used abusive words and hurled stones".

However, many pro-CAA demonstrators blamed the anti-CAA protesters for the violence.

Narendra Singh, one of the participants, said: "These people have been sitting here for the last two days. The children could not come to school. People are unable to go to office. The metro stations are closed. Even after repeated persuasion, those staging sit-ins are not ready to pay attention to anyone's problem."
New rules would be launched on March 14, 2020

Open source

Argentina decided to double the visa-free stay for the Ukrainian citizens up to 90 days within six months. The press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports this.

From March 14, 2020, the visa-free stay of Ukrainian citizens in Argentina will double: from 90 days during the calendar year to 90 days within 180 days, reads the message.

Similar simplification is mutually applied by Ukraine to the citizens of Argentina.

As we reported before, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the visa cancelation agreement with the government of Grenada. Oleksiy Honcharuk, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, said this during the government session.

Thus, citizens of two states will be able to travel to either Ukraine or Grenada without visas for up to 90 days within the consecutive 180 days-long periods.

Ukraine's Ambassador in the UK Natalya Halibarenko is authorized to sign the mentioned agreement.

Earlier this month, Ukraine approved similar agreements with Mongolia and Argentina, as well as the Marshall Islands.

It means that Ukrainians will be able to travel without visas for 90 days during the period of 180 days.
Dreamstime /

MILFORD  A Hamden nurse accused of using a former employers credit card for more than $100,000 in personal expenses has been given a suspended sentence.

Mary Thornton, 28, who pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Peter Brown to a suspended 10-year term with five years of probation.
A Russian correspondent from the Izvestiya newspaper was prevented entry to Latvia, with the Baltic country citing that his Schengen visa has been canceled on the request of Estonia, the newspaper told RIA Novosti on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2020) A Russian correspondent from the Izvestiya newspaper was prevented entry to Latvia, with the Baltic country citing that his Schengen visa has been canceled on the request of Estonia, the newspaper told RIA Novosti on Monday.

"Latvia did not allow entry [to the Izvestiya journalist]. His Schengen visa was canceled at the request of Estonia. We will later clarify the reasons and details," the newspaper stated.

The journalist, Andrey Zakharov, will be denied entry to the European Union for three years, the newspaper reported.

"The editors will send requests to the Estonian authorities and the Russian Foreign Minister to clarify the situation," the newspaper stated.

Zakharov flew from St. Petersburg to Riga on Monday morning, but was detained upon landing by immigration officials from the Baltic country, the newspaper reported, citing the journalist.

"At passport control, my passport was taken away, I was taken to a separate office and was told that I have been denied entry to Schengen countries for three years," Zakharov stated, as quoted by the newspaper.

According to the newspaper, Zakharov remains in an isolated part of Riga International Airport.

Monday's incident is the latest in a series of incidents that have seen Russian journalists face pressure in the Baltic region. On January 31, Yulia Shatilova from Russia's Zvezda broadcaster was detained at Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania, after being informed that her Schengen visa had been canceled on Latvia's request.

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 authorities.
With an aim to increase tourists from West Bengal, the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka had organized a Roadshow on Tuesday 20 February 2020 at Hotel Hindustan International Kolkata to promote tourist places, hotels, resorts, homestays and service providers from Karnataka.



(TRAVPR.COM) KARNATAKA - February 22nd, 2020 - This exclusive B2B Roadshow had over 12 stakeholders from Karnataka and over 120 discerning trade partners from Kolkata. The event was aimed at showcasing Karnataka, which succeeded in being one of the most vibrant editions that the Karnataka Tourism had ever seen.

The main objective of Karnataka Tourism is to promote the state as a Leisure, MICE and Wedding Destination in the Indian market. The Karnataka Tourism Department organized a One-Day Roadshow in the various cities to meet with travel agents and tour operators.

The Roadshow will have B2B interactions and presentations that will showcase the destination and also open up new avenues in bringing the destination in new light to the travel and trade agents. The Roadshow brought together different aspect of the tourism product such as natural beauty, adventure, pilgrimage, cultural heritage and many more to the West Bengal market.

Some of the stakeholders, who exhibited included KSTDC, Jungle Lodges and Resorts, Blueberry Holidays LLP, TGI Hotels, The Trivik  Chikmagalur, Quality Holidays, Intersight Tours, Narayanai Holidays Safeway Explorers Pvt Ltd, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts Pvt Ltd, Infiniti Holidays etc

Mr. TK Anil Kumar, Secretary  Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka said "Karnataka is home to a large and exciting portfolio of globally acclaimed tourism products with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, splendid wildlife and resplendent nature, virgin beaches to adorn. The Roadshow series will provide the impetus to the domestic inbound travel and would enhance the marketing efforts of Karnataka Tourism to promote our destinations to the travel-trade.

The chief goal of the Roadshow is to increase the overall size of the tourism sector in Karnataka. This Roadshow series will gather tour operators and travel agents, who are looking to find new destinations in Karnataka and engage fruitfully with the stakeholders of the state.

Mr. Kumar Pushkar, Managing Director, KSTDC said "Karnataka recently organized the very successful inaugural edition of Karnataka International Travel Expo at Bengaluru and the Roadshow activity will be an excellent occasion for our stakeholders to renew contacts with the travel-trade across India.

He further addedthe department has introduced new package tours to fit the specific needs of tourists which were designed taking into consideration the requirements of the tourists and KSTDC would help plan the entire itinerary providing a seamless tour experience. Services offered in the package include transport, accommodation and sightseeing. We are also offering online booking facilities on our site www.kstdc.co.

The next editions of the Roadshow will travel to Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.

About Karnataka

Karnataka  One State, Many Worlds, which is well known for silk, milk, coffee, honey and many more is being showcased in a magnificent manner through 25 different boutiques, each displaying tourism circuits, handicrafts, cuisines, art, craft, culture, handlooms, etc. from Karnataka. Famed Mysuru silk, Dharwad Kasuthi, rosewood inlay, and sandalwood articles, Ganjifa paintings, mirror embroidery, Spices, Bidriware, terracotta items, honey, wine etc.

The State offers an avid traveler a vast range of tourism landscapes including heritage, archaeology, religion, wildlife/ecotourism and handicrafts. The Roadshow presentedan ideal platform for the suppliers to provide information, and to interact directly with Indias leading tour operators, key decision-makers from the industry, airline representatives and travel agents.

###
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HostDime, a pioneer in global data center infrastructure, broke ground last week on a brand new, built-to-suit data center facility in Bogota, Colombia. HostDime is the owner and developer of the new building, located in a highly restricted access and perimeter enclosed industrial park in Tocancipa, North Bogota.

HostDime has been operating in Colombia since 2008. Customer requirements have driven HostDime's expansion in the area. This facility adds to their unique mix of data centers around the globe, which are specifically designed to meet the demand for better-localized data access.

The new 65,000 square foot building will house HostDime Colombia's data center operations team, network engineers, build team, system administrators, and system engineers. Staff will be on-site 24/7 to serve the needs of current and future customers.

"Our vision to be a leader in the global data center industry continues to drive us to build these mission-critical facilities in unique, global edge locations. The world is noticing that being on the edge of global locations is the next frontier. HostDime has been making these global investments for over a decade to best service our clients." - Manny Vivar, CEO & Founder of HostDime Global.

The new facility follows the iconic HostDime contemporary style of all the facilities it builds and designs. This style is a combination of distinguished HostDime design, mission-critical infrastructure, and client-centric amenities. Certified by the Uptime Institute, it will be one of the only Tier IV data center facilities in Colombia ready to service mission-critical loads. The 5-story facility will have 50,000 square feet of usable IT data center space. This white space will include full private suites, colocation cage space, private locking colocation racks, and an entire floor for cloud-based products. The data center can house 80,000+ physical servers and hardware appliances.

Client amenities include a client reception area, a colocation lounge for staging servers in a quiet atmosphere, and private dedicated warehouse storage space for equipment storage needs. All the rooms will have fiber interconnecting them. Staff amenities include a full-size kitchen and refreshment station, a staff lounge, and a wellness center.

The final expected price tag for the facility is $20M to $23M USD with 70% of that being construction costs. This will be one of the largest data center construction investments in Colombia.

The industrial park where the facility is located includes an entrance staffed 24/7 with armed guards. Surveillance will include 360-degree security cameras with live monitoring of the entire inside and outside of the facility.

The power infrastructure features dual distribution paths to all racks, allowing up to 10 KW per rack on demand. For complete redundancy, five 1.2MW generators will operate in production with one of the generators being on standby. Hot and cold aisle containment will be pre-installed on all data halls with racks to efficiently deliver the necessary cooling.

The new HostDime facility will feature A/B duality "meet me" and network rooms to ensure no points of failure. These rooms will also be the entry way to an array of fiber providers. Current commitments have been made by CenturyLink, Globnet, BT, and Internexa to pull nearby fiber into the facility. This data center will be one of the most interconnected buildings in Colombia in the next few years and will be a main interconnection point for transit and peering.

The facility is expected to be completed in December of 2020 and commissioned for production in early 2021.

HostDime.com, Inc. is a global data center infrastructure provider offering an array of cloud products from bare metal servers to colocation services that cater to a range of clients, from entry to enterprise-level operations. HostDime.com owns and operates data centers in Florida, USA as well as Mexico and Brazil, with network facilities in Colombia, Hong Kong, India, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

HostDime.com, Inc. was founded in 2003 with currently over 350 global employees. Consistently ranked as one of the most reputable data center providers, HostDime's global network powers over 3,000,000 online applications for its 25,000+ active client base.

Contact:

Jared Smith

Email: [email protected]

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Upcoming Tier IV Colombia Data Center

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Colombia Data Center

Upcoming Tier IV Colombia Data Center

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Colombia Data Center

Upcoming Tier IV Colombia Data Center

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EBRD provides financing of 10 million to Viva Fresh, Kosovos largest retailer

Funds will finance roll-out of new stores

Operational and governance improvements to be implemented with ENEF support

Consumers in Kosovo will benefit from the expansion of Viva Fresh, the countrys leading retailer, with the support of 10 million in financing provided by the EBRD.

The funds will finance the roll-out of new stores domestically and in neighbouring North Macedonia, supporting the growth and development of a modern retail market in Kosovo and elsewhere in the Western Balkans region.

As part of the transaction, a comprehensive value-creation plan, supported by the Enterprise Expansion Fund (ENEF), was agreed. The plan will focus on the implementation of operational and governance improvements, with assistance from industry consultants.

The agreement between the EBRD and Viva Fresh was signed today in London during the EBRDs Western Balkans Investment Summit 2020, which was attended by Kosovos Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

ENEF supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high-growth potential in the Western Balkans. It is part of a larger platform for SMEs, the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility (WB EDIF), established jointly by the EBRD, the EU, the European Investment Fund, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank and Italy.

The EBRD has invested over 395 million in Kosovo through 65 projects since it began operations in the country in 2012. Supporting competitive development of the private sector and enhancing energy security and sustainability are key priorities for the EBRD in Kosovo.
This article is published through a partnership with New York Medias Strategist . The partnership is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected by New York Media. If you buy something through our links, Slate and New York Media may earn an affiliate commission.

I was at a friends house recently, when another friend needed to charge her iPhone. Our host was a Samsung user, but she knew she could help. Like all of us, in her years of new phones, tablets, and other electronic devices, she had accumulated nearly every different type of charging cable, in various lengths and colors, which she brought out in a shoebox-sized plastic tub  a tangle of black and gray and white Lightning, micro-USB, and USB-C cables. She even had a 30-pin connector in there, from the first few years of iPhones, I guess in case someone showed up in a time machine.

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Why do we do this to ourselves? We usually replace one piece of technology with another, but the cord it comes with always seems to remain, just in case. I used to bring my own version of this mess with me every time I traveled. My laptop, phone, Kindle, and a small bluetooth speaker all needed their own cables, one of which I would inevitably forget, leading me to buy  yet another cable.

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But then I found Outdoor Technologys Calamari Ultra. The brand is better known for making durable power banks and bluetooth audio for snowboarding and other outdoor activities, but when I got a speaker from them several years back, they tossed in the earlier version of this three-in-one connector cable. The newest iteration is even better: It has your standard male USB plug on one end. At the other are Lightning (for anything Apple), Micro USB (for most Android phones and other accessories like tablets and point-and-shoot cameras) and USB-C (used by the latest MacBooks and quickly becoming the new standard).

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Anker, another excellent power bank manufacturer, makes a similar cable, but I trust Outdoor Tech and its deserved reputation in the adventure space. With most cables tendency to fray and break  especially cables used as often as I use this one  I need to know that the one I carry can stand up to anything. The Ultra has accompanied me to Machu Pichu, paddle boarding along the coast of Maine, and on multiple visits to see family in Detroit. On a road trip across the Everglades, l plugged the Ultra into the car dashs USB connection to charge a power bank via Micro USB and seamlessly switched over to play music through my iPhone using the Lightning connector  without having to fumble in my bag for another cord.

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With the Ultra, instead of traveling with three cords or digging through a box of 30, now I have only one. Well, two. I bought one that stays in my bag for travel and one that floats around the house.
A top French banker in the running for the HSBC chief executives job ruled himself out of the race on Monday, triggering more uncertainty over who will take over.

Jean Pierre Mustier, a former Societe Generale banker and chief executive of Italys Unicredit, has committed his future to Italy after he emerged on Friday as one of HSBCs choices for the role.

Mustier, a key figure at SocGens Canary Wharf investment bank for a decade, was vying with HSBCs caretaker manager Noel Quinn on a long list of candidates drawn up by HSBC chairman Mark Tucker.

Unicredit shares fell 4% on Friday on reports Mustier could join HSBC, prompting todays Unicredit statement after a board meeting on Sunday.

It said: The group would like to state that Jean Pierre Mustier confirms he will remain with the bank. UniCredit would also like to remind everyone that it has just launched a new strategic plan, Team 23, and that the whole management team, including Jean Pierre Mustier, is fully focused on its successful execution.

Team 23 is a three-year plan to hand 16 billion back to shareholders between now and 2023, meaning Mustier is locked in for another three years.

Tucker is being slow and deliberate in choosing the permanent replacement for John Flint, who was ousted last August. But the CEO vacuum has prompted confusion and speculation over the banks direction. Quinn last week unveiled a major strategy overhaul including a planned 35,000 job cuts over three years. But the bank was criticised for not nipping CEO speculation in the bud and naming a successor.

HSBC said it would announce a new chief between February and August.

The CEO battle comes amid reports Barclays chief executive Jes Staley could also be stepping down as soon as next year. Sources close to the bank played down reports it had kicked off the search for a successor as no headhunters have been appointed.

Barclays declined to comment.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.For one unique and personal reason, painter Tom Barnes derives extra inspiration from Shen Yun Performing Arts: he and his son remember their late wife and mother by seeing New York-based Shen Yun together, a performance she had always wanted to see but couldnt.

Its become an anniversary for my son and I to honor his mother by coming to see this dance, said Barnes, who is an award-winning watercolor painter. She always wanted to see [Shen Yun] but we never got a chance to and after her death, we came together. And now were gonna do this every year in honor of her. So its a really special event for us. She was a choreographer, and she told stories when she created her dances. And so we really resonate with the storytelling. Thats whats so beautiful about it.

Barnes and his son attended Shen Yun at the Thrasher-Horne Center in Jacksonville, Florida, on Feb. 23, 2020.

Shen Yun employs classical Chinese dance to create narratives from throughout Chinas 5,000-year history, from its spiritual canon, and even from modern-day events such as the persecution against spiritual believers happening in China today.

Its mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture, which was once almost lost, and to share it with the world.

Barnes grew up in the American South beginning in the early 1950s and derives inspiration for his paintings from the refined, feminine ladies of that period. The painter waxed poetic and brought his full artistic training to bear when speaking about the many aspects of the Shen Yun performance he had just seen.

Well, first of all, [Shen Yun] is just obviously so professionally done with such great precision. And the costumes, what we call spectacle in the theater, is just astounding. If you just came to hear the orchestra, it would be plenty. But they add everything else to it so that you get the visuals. The color, the color combinations, the palette, the hues of everything are just gorgeous. And this whole new patented digital thing is so fun. The audience just really appreciated [it] here. Ive seen it before. But this time the whole effect got applause because it was so obviously well done.

One of the things Barnes noticed about Shen Yuns magnificent costumes, which are often coordinated with the digitally animated, patented backdrop technology, is what we call the triadic split.

Its using secondary colors together. And the costume coloring with, for instance, the burnt orange with the lime-ish green with the purplethats the perfect triadic split in color theory, the painter explained.

Barnes picked up on the fact that Shen Yun draws on tradition as it innovates its art forms for current and future audiences. This is true, too, with the colors in the costumes fabrics and stage lighting.

Well part of that is the beauty of theater lighting, is that we can enhance color. But you know that these costumes are just vibrant. The dyeing process, the whole, the fabric making process, is just really, Im sure theres tradition to it. But the fact is that theyre using so many of the old traditional techniques to create a very vibrant, contemporary theater experience.

And just the precision of the dancers, the idea of unity, in the community and the culture, is just so obvious when the dance comes together and everybodys on the beat. I looked for feet that were out of place. There just werent any, a delighted Barnes said.

The storytelling in Shen Yun that so resonated with Barnes and his son is an extension of ancient Chinese culture, which has always acknowledged the presence of a Creator and has even passed down legends of divine beings having come to earth over the many centuries.

Barnes took note of these themes in the performance. Although he feels there is a difference between the philosophies and beliefs in the West and in China, both are in service of a grand design at work.

Its the larger whole and the greater good and the moreits like the Creator with a big C. It all moves to the same point.

Common values, Barnes said. We all have a spirit, dont we?

With reporting by Sally Sun and Brett Featherstone.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006.
An 11-year-old girl showed up with her loaded AR-15 assault rifle before Idaho lawmakers at a committee hearing on Monday in support of a proposed gun law, and to show she was the type of person who could handle a firearm responsibly.

Bailey Nielsen, accompanied by her grandfather, appeared before state lawmakers in Boise for a hearing on the proposed law.

If approved, the law would allow visitors to the state, who can legally possess firearms, to carry concealed handguns within city limits.

Bailey Nielsen, 11, accompanied by her grandfather Charles appeared before state lawmakers in Boise, Idaho, at a committee hearing in support of a proposed gun law

Bailey also came with the rifle slung over her right shoulder to show she can handle a firearm responsibly, her grandfather said. Pictured is an AR-15 assault rifle

The committee voted to send the legislation, proposed by Republican Rep. Christy Zito and opposed by three Democrats, to the full House for a vote.

Baiely, who was silent in her appearance before the committee, had the rifle slung over her right shoulder.

She let her grandfather speak on her behalf, who explained that she had been trained to properly handle a weapon since she was a young child.

'People live in fear, terrified of that which they do not understand. She's been shooting since she was 5 years old. She got her first deer with this weapon at 9. She carries it responsibly. She knows how not to put her finger on the trigger. We live in fear in a society that is fed fear on a daily basis,' Charles Nielsen told the committee.

He said Bailey was an example of someone who could responsibly handle a gun, and lawmakers should extend that to non-residents.

'When they come to Idaho, they should be able to carry concealed, because they carry responsibly,' he said. 'They're law-abiding citizens. It's the criminal we have to worry about.'

The AR-15, dubbed by the National Rifle Association as 'America's Most Popular Rifle,' also has been the weapon of choice for mass shooters.

The committee voted to send the legislation, proposed by Republican Rep. Christy Zito (pictured) and opposed by three Democrats, to the full House for a vote

Zito said said the legislation is intended to clear up confusion about state gun laws.

Backers also say it will give people the ability to defend themselves if needed.

Idaho residents 18 and older are allowed to carry a concealed handgun within city limits in Idaho without a permit or training following a new law that went into place last summer. The legislation would extend that to any legal resident of the United States or a U.S. armed services member.

'I stand here before you today as a mother and grandmother who has had to use a firearm to defend their child,' Zito said.

Zito recalled when two men once approached her vehicle with her daughter inside.

'Even though I didn't have to pull the trigger, just the fact that they could see it, and they knew that I had it, was the determining factor,' she said.

Opponents say allowing teenagers to carry a concealed weapon without any required training within city limits is a bad idea and could lead to shootings.

If the bill becomes law, Idaho would be among a handful of states that allow that type of concealed carry.

'The vast majority of states require that a person get a permit before carrying a concealed gun in public,' said Diana David of Moms Demand Action, an organization that seeks public safety measures to protect people from gun violence. 'That's a common-sense policy.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Direct sales giant Amway completed $8.4 billion in sales in 2019, down 5 percent from the prior year, the company announced Monday.

The company said the majority of the decline was due to challenges in China, Amways largest market.

The Chinese government in 2019 heightened scrutiny of many businesses in the direct selling and health food industries and launched a 100-day campaign to investigate them. The heightened scrutiny was a result of exaggerated product claims made by Quanjian, a Chinese company, according to a report by China Daily.

Compared to overall direct selling industry trends, Amway China was able to minimize the impact, actually improving market share and moving up a spot to become the countrys number two direct selling company, Amway spokesperson Anna Bryce said in a statement. We do expect to return to growth in 2020 and have already had a solid start."

CEO Milind Plant, who joined the Ada-based company in 2019, said Amway is looking to unleash entrepreneurship for the next generation over the next decade.

Amway is already aligned with some of the biggest global trends, like the gig economy, increasing consumer demand for product experiences that support a healthy lifestyle, and the rise of communities on social media that connect people with similar passions and interests, he said in a statement. Our new multi-year growth strategy and investment plan will help ABOs capitalize on these trends to support their customers.

The companys 5 percent drop in sales follows a 2 percent increase in 2018. At the time, it was the first time in four-years the company posted a sales increase.

Amway is a privately-owned family business that sells Nutrilite health supplements, Artistry skin care and cosmetics, home care products like soaps, and durable products such as individual water and air treatment systems through close to one million distributors.

It employs about 3,000 people in West Michigan. The company has announced the elimination of 210 positions in the region since May 2019 as part of a restructuring effort.

Moving forward, Amway says it will invest more than $500 million this year in its digital platforms, product innovation and compensation for independent Amway Business Owners. Amway Business Owners is the term the company uses for the people who sign up to be independent distributors for the company.

Thailand was highlighted as one of Amways top five markets, with company officials saying the country lead the way in fast, sustainable growth.

Successful efforts in Thailand included the launch of a personalized weight-loss program, the company said. The program blends products with natural ingredients and a mobile app, presenting ABOs with the opportunity to build fitness-focused communities where members can share tips, track goals, exercise together and hold each other accountable.

In addition to Thailand, Amways top markets include China, the U.S., Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, Russia, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Amway is investing in a future both online and offline. Were making it easier than ever for people to build a business of their own in areas they may already be passionate about, like health and beauty. All powered by social and digital tools that help them reach customers more efficiently and make online shopping simple, Pant said.

We will get there by building on our strengths  the entrepreneurial spirit of ABOs, the vibrant communities theyve built, our seed to supplement product development expertise and the values established by Amways founding families.

This article has been corrected to show Amway is investing more than $500 million this year in its digital platforms, product innovation and compensation for independent Amway Business Owners.

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A three-year-old British boy drowned in front of his horrified parents after falling into a pool at a water park in Thailand.

Bobby Watson slipped into the landing area of a flume at the Blue Tree Waterpark in Phuket yesterday afternoon.

Lifeguards dragged the struggling toddler from the water and performed CPR at the poolside but he was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Bobby had been at the water park with his older brother Billy, seven, and his parents William and Sumitra, 35.

Bobby Watson (pictured right more than a year ago) drowned at a water park in Thailand on Sunday afternoon after falling into the landing zone of a water flume

Parents William and Sumitra, both 35, were visiting the park in Phuket with Bobby and his older brother when the tragedy happened

Police said they received a call at around 4.30pm to say that a young boy was unconscious after falling into the pool at the water park.

They said that when paramedics arrived, they brought the boy to the edge of a pool, which was around four feet deep.

Paramedics rushed Bobby to Thalang Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police Captain Yanpatr Malai from the Thalong district station said: 'The boy's mother and father were very upset yesterday, they could not believe their son was gone.

'There were also many tourists gathered around the pool who were shocked by the incident.

'The staff said that the boy had been brought from the bottom of the pool in an unconscious state. He was given treatment at the scene and taken to hospital but died later.'

The Blue Tree Water Park, which opened in mid-2019, said in a statement yesterday that they are 'deeply distressed'.

They said: 'We are deeply distressed to say that there was a tragic accident today, February 23, at Blue Tree, Phuket.

Lifeguards at the Blue Tree Waterpark (file image) pulled Bobby from the water and performed CPR but he was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital

'A three year old boy wandered into the Landing Pool area of the busy slide area this afternoon.

'He stumbled and fell under water after which he was spotted by one of the lifeguards on duty who came to his immediate assistance.

'He was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and rushed to Talang Hospital by an ambulance that arrived promptly after being called.

'Sadly he could not be revived. The Landing Pool area is strictly for those coming down the slides.

'Sunday is a very busy day. There are highly-trained life guards positioned at the bottom of the slides to watch people coming down for the purpose of ensuring their safety.

'His parents are understandably devastated and we continue to offer our support in any way possible. We are all deeply upset by this extremely sad incident.'
Two former African leaders, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, as well as former prime minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, are to deliver keynote addresses and lecture at the 83rd birthday of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The director, Centre for Human Security and Dialogue, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Peter Okebukola, made this known at a press conference on Monday, ahead of Mr Obasanjos birthday scheduled to hold between March 3 and 5 in Abeokuta.

Mr Okebukola, a professor, accompanied by Leke Adebiyi and Adebola Labiran as well as Kehinde Akinyemi, the media aide of Mr Obasanjo said, the topic of the lecture to be delivered by the two former presidents is, The Place of Pan Africanism in an Emerging World of Besieged Liberal Democracy.

He said the event will also include a policy round table with a formal presentation of the book, the Asian Aspiration, authored by Gre Mills, Olusegun Obasanjo and others. They added that this will be followed by a birthday carnival with mosaic presentations of African Cultural Heritage.

Mr Okebukola stated that the activities, scheduled to hold at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library International Conference Centre, is the brainchild of the Centre for Human Security and Dialogue (CHSD) with the support of the Brenthrust Foundation.

He explained that the roundtable on The Asian Aspiration aims to share lessons from Asias development for strengthening Africas integration and cooperation in the area of socio-economic development.

The roundtable will bring together former Heads of State and Government in Africa, especially from ECOWAS sub-region, heads/representatives of United Nations agencies, Ambassadors of foreign missions to Nigeria, leaders from the public and private sector, the media, development experts and stakeholders, Mr Okebukola said.

He added, The roundtable will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 3-4,2020 at the OOPL International Conference Centre. On March 3, the event will kick off by 2pm while on March 4, the program will start by 9am.

Mr Okebukola also added that the Ambassador of China to Nigeria and the Head of Chancery of the High Commission of India to Nigeria will give perspectives of their countries on the Asian aspiration and lessons for Africa.

As you may be aware, the birthday celebration of His Excellency, Olusegun Obasanjo, since leaving office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2007, has been used as a platform to promote the development of Africa and the World in general, he told journalists.
A team of U.S Customs and Border Protection agents and officers from the Laredo Police Department rescued at least 37 migrants from a stash house in Laredo, Texas.

A female migrant called the police last Thursday stating that she and the rest of the group were being held hostage inside a home a street away from Memorial Middle School.

According to CBP, Laredo cops and Border Patrol officers conducted a welfare check of the migrants at the safe house near Springfield Avenue and East Fremont Street.

The Laredo Morning Times reported that CBP had not identified any suspects connected with the kidnapping of the undocumented migrants.

CBP agents and officers from the Laredo Police Department rescued 37 migrants that were held against their will at a safe house last Thursday in Laredo, Texas

All of the individuals, children included, previously unlawfully crossed the Mexico-United States border and were taken into custody by CBP to be processed.

CBP said the migrants were natives of Guatemala and Mexico.

The stash house was the sixth to be discovered in the Laredo area during the last five weeks. More than 100 undocumented immigrants had been removed from the homes by CBP and local police during that stretch.

Local and federal authorities saved 31 undocumented migrants from a safe house in Laredo, Texas, on January 27

CBP and local authorities in Texas have saved more than 100 migrants over the last five weeks from safe houses. On January 24, a unit of CBP and police officers rescued 12 undocumented migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico

At least 73 migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Honduras were rescued from three stash houses from January 13 to January 30.

The homes are mostly used by human traffickers as a means to secure the migrants once they are successfully smuggled across the 1,954-mile Mexico-United States border.

The migrants are subsequently moved to other cities or released from captivity once their family members pay their smuggling fees.

Since October 1, 2019, Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents have discovered and arrested more than 350 illegal aliens in nearly 30 human smuggling stash houses.
Major financial institutions will have to show the industry regulator how prepared they are for climate-related financial risk, including estimating the potential impacts from the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority wrote to all Australian regulated institutions on Monday, outlining plans to develop a prudential practice guide focused on risks from a changing climate, as well as a climate change vulnerability assessment.

APRA executive board member Geoff Summerhayes has told banks and other financial institutions they will be checked to see how they're preparing for climate change risks. Credit:Wayne Taylor

The assessment will involve deposit-taking entities, such as banks, credit unions, insurance and superannuation firms, estimating the potential physical impacts of a changing climate - including increased extreme weather events - on their balance sheets.

The move came as the international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system, the Financial Stability Board, joined with leading finance officials from the world's 20 biggest economies at the weekend to raise concerns over the implications of more frequent extreme weather events on the world economy.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, Chinas medical staff have been fighting on the frontline against the virus. Over the past few days, many regions around the country have issued policies and measures to strengthen logistics support for medical workers.

Hygiene products are delivered to the frontline medical workers in Wuhan. (Photo/qizhiwang.org.cn)

A series of measures have been unveiled for the wellbeing of medical care personnel, such as increasing protection training, rationalizing scheduling, and strengthening psychological counseling.

"There is no room for carelessness in protection!" said He Yaoqin, a chief nurse from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University in eastern Chinas Jiangxi.

He Yaoqin was responsible for training frontline medical staff at Zengdu Hospital in central Chinas Hubei and teaching the knowledge of wearing and taking off protective clothing. Every day, she supervises every member of the team to wear protective clothing correctly.

Jiangxi uses the continuing education network platforms to carry out self-safety protection training for medical personnel, and 194,300 people have been trained so far.

At present, the epidemic prevention and control has entered a critical period, the task of medical staff is onerous and it is difficult for them to find time to take care of their families.

In a view to resolving the dilemma, measures have been taken in various parts of eastern Chinas Zhejiang province to take better care of the children of frontline medical workers.

After preliminary arrangements, the education system in Yiwu city decided to provide additional help for the children of 25 medical workers who have difficulties in learning and life.

Meanwhile, Kecheng District of Quzhou city has customized a "care package" for 50 children of various ages that have parents serving as medical staff. These children can receive help from learning mentors, life mentors and emotional mentors.
TEHRAN, Iran, Feb.24

Trend:

Iran continues the export of non-oil goods to Afghanistan and maintains its role in the market, said Iranian Commercial advisor in Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan, which has no access to the sea, has special relations with Iran in transit sector," said Mohammad Mehdi Javanmard Ghasab, Trend reports citing Iran's Customs Administration website.

"While Iran has preserved its place in the Afghan market, transit goods continue to be transported to Afghanistan from Karachi or Bandar Abbas port. Currently, we seek to replace Bandar Abbas port with Chabahar port," the advisor said.

"Chabahar port is exempted from the sanctions," he said. "We need Afghanistan to have transit access to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan," he added.

"About 40 percent of Afghanistan import is from Iran," the official said.

The number and volume of transit trucks and goods have decreased by 40 percent in past five years from 17.526 tons to 10.000 tons.

Iran's Customs Administration held a meeting on Feb. 24 to discuss conditions of transit route that was attended by officials of transportation industry.
Notorious gangster Ravi Pujari who is wanted in many heinous crimes, including murder and extortion, was brought in the early hours of Monday from the Western African nation of Senegal to Bengaluru, police said.

Pujari who was in an Air France flight that landed around 1 am at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport, was shepherded by a team of officials including senior IPS officers. Authorities waited for all passengers to deboard before escorting Pujari out. A heavy security blanket had been thrown over the airport.

According to sources in the Karnataka police, Pujari was taken from the airport directly to the police interrogation unit at Madiwala where he underwent a medical check-up. That is a standard procedure. He will be produced at a court in the city where we will seek custody, said a police officer who did not want to be named.

Pujari, who was arrested in South Africa last week, has 39 cases registered against him in Mangaluru and 37 cases in Bengaluru alone, apart from several other cases across the country including in Mumbai.

He was arrested in Senegal in West Africa in January 2019 but he jumped bail and fled to South Africa, where he was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and extortion racket.

Indian Intelligence sources said he was hiding under the identity of Anthony Fernandes, a Burkina Faso passport holder, and was located in a remote village of South Africa. On a tip-off from the Indian external intelligence agency, the Senegal police flew to South Africa last week and arrested the 52-year-old gangster. A team of officials, including senior IPS officers from his hometown Karnataka, where he is booked in 79 cases.
Railway and tax measures expected to impact Pakistan's cement sector

24 February 2020

The development of a railway line from a coalfield in Thar, Sindh province, to link to the rest of country, the start of a cargo train to Afghanistan and government measures to trace cement dispatches are expected to impact indirectly on the progress of the cement industry in Pakistan.



A 105km-long railway line will be laid from Chhor to Islamkot to transport coal from Thar coalfield to the port of Qasim and up-country. The railway line will also open the way for new coal, gas, urea and liquid projects, besides the construction of a new 1320MW power project in Thar Coal Block-VI, under CPEC-related projects. This will facilitate delivery of coal to the nearest cement plant drop-off points.



Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways inaugurated the Goods in Transit to Afghanistan (GITA) train on Friday. The train will transit cargo from Karachi towards Chaman and Kandahar. The inauguration of the cross-border freight train is said to be one of the major achievements during the ongoing calendar year, which has been termed as Freight Year aimed primarily at enhancing the revenue generation via transportation of goods through cargo services between both countries.



Besides reducing the traffic flow from major roads and highways, the addition of this cross-border train in Pakistan's existing cargo fleet is not only expected to increase revenue generation, but it is said to also help in curtailing the income-expenditure gap of Pakistan Railways. If it is allowed, can be competitive ways for southern cement manufacturers to export cement to Afghanistan instead of costly land routes.



FBR eyes on cement dispatches

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan received a presentation on Federal Board of Revenues (FBRs) performance and measures to improve revenue collection, tax reforms/restructuring of the Board. To further enhance revenue the number of measures are currently under consideration by the Khan administration include efforts to reduce to massive smuggling into the country, while heavy taxation on the real estate sector has resulted in total cessation of buying and selling of immovable properties. Taxes and market values of immovable properties would be reviewed while a track and trace system for monitoring and clearance of excise-able goods like fertilisers, beverages, sugar and cement would be implemented.





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Kourtney Kardashian decided to make the most of her 'Sunday Funday.'

So the 40-year-old reality star stepped out with her youngest son Reign, 5, and close family pal Fai Khadra for a brunch date at Croft in West Hollywood.

Kardashian covered up her enviable frame in an ensemble that leaned on the comfortable side.

Sunday Funday: Kourtney Kardashian was spotted out in West Hollywood on Sunday morning enjoying brunch with her youngest son Reign, 5, and close pal Fai Khadra

Donning just a fitted white tee, Kourtney decided to layer up her look with a navy blue velour track jacket that featured white detailing around the wrists, shoulders, and beck.

Her toned stems resided comfortably in a pair of flared black yoga pants that nearly concealed her black Rick Owen sneakers.

The mother of three, visibly makeup-free, kept her brown peepers hidden behind a pair of shades.

Her brunette tresses were neatly parted in the middle and tied back into a bun, which allowed the Keeping Up With The Kardashian's star to show off her chiseled cheekbones.

Casual cutie: Kourtney kept it comfortable for her brunch date by slipping her enviable curves into a pair of yoga pants

Fresh faced: The Keeping Up With The Kardashian's star, who looked visibly makeup-free, kept her brown eyes concealed behind a pair of black sunnies

Reign resided in his famous mother's arms as they made their way towards Croft.

The 5-year-old, with his lengthy locks visibly strewn about, appeared to be in deep focus as he held onto Kourtney's iPhone 11.

The Poosh founder shares Reign, as well as son Mason, 10, and daughter Penelope, 7, with her ex beau Scott Disick.

Kardashian's family friend Fai, present at the brunch, towered over the reality starlet's 5foot1inch frame.

As shutterbugs snapped away, the hunk showcased a bashful smirk.

Change of tone: On Friday, Kardashian rocked a glitzy green dress that featured a plunging back

Cooking up goodness: 'Cookin up positivi-tea,' she captioned the suite of images

Though Kardashian kept it casual for her Sunday morning outing, on Friday she rocked a exceptionally sultry get-up that made its way onto her Instagram page.

The dress, which Kourtney revealed in her IG Story was a 2004 Roberto Cavalli frock, skimmed the floor but was completely backless, with halter-style straps around the neck and behind the shoulders that were mostly covered by the reality diva's sleek dark hair.

As Kourtney looked over her shoulder coyly at the camera, her green sequinned gown glinted in the light and showed off her every curve and contour.

On Friday evening, Kourtney nearly broke the internet, when she shared two snapshots of herself posing in her kitchen in an awe-inspiring green dress

Happy Birthday: Kourtney captioned the touching photos simply with the message 'Happy Birthday to my Daddy'

The next morning, however, the Keeping Up With The Kardashian's star posted a very different pair of images to her feed, in honor of her deceased father Robert Kardashian's birthday.

In those throwback images, a toddler-aged Kourtney can be seen with her younger sister Kim Kardashian, kissing and cuddling with a kneeling Robert.

Kourtney captioned the touching photos simply with the message 'Happy Birthday to my Daddy.'

The elder Kardashian, who was an attorney that at one point represented O.J. Simpson, died of esophageal cancer in 2003.
ABCs Stateless has been a passion project for co-creator and co-executive producer Cate Blanchett.

But even for Marta Dusseldorp, who has a supporting role in the miniseries, its been a long time coming.

Cates a really dear friend of mine and wed been talking about it for close on seven years, she tells TV Tonight.

I also went to Villawood when I was younger, and supported, as much as I could with (author) Linda Jaiven, who was doing a lot of work there at the time.

Its something Im really passionate about.

In my role as a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR Ive been to Uganda, Jordan, Lebanon, mainly visiting Syrian refugees, but also Congolese refugees. Its something Im really passionate about.

Stateless is described as a series about four strangers whose lives collide at an immigration detention centre in the middle of the Australian desert. It is inspired -in part- by the true story of Cornelia Rau, a German citizen and Australian permanent resident who was unlawfully detained for a period of ten months in 2004 as part of the Australian Governments mandatory detention program.

In Stateless Yvonne Strahovski (pictured below) plays the fictional Sofie Werner, but she is only one of several key characters.

There are multiple perspectives. Youve got a detention guard, youve got a bureaucrat from Canberra trying to hold down the situation. Youve got an Australian resident whos been mistakenly identified as a refugee and put into a detention centre. And then youve got an Afghani man whos had to flee and loses his family.

The product is really stunning.

Elise McCredie, the creator, has created this patchwork of identities and people with different needs and wants who all pull on this one hot moment that were all very aware of.

It was a long time in the sculpting and massaging and it had a lot of development. Cate, Elise and Tony (Ayres, co-creator) worked really hard and I think that the product is really stunning.

Filming took place in South Australia, in various parts of Adelaide, Parham and Glenelg, with the fictional Barton Detention Centre being built from the ground up in Port Augusta.

Dusseldorp explains how impressive the facility was as a filming location.

I only had one scene there, but it was so authentic.

I only had one scene there, but it was so authentic. It was incredible. Speaking to the cast that were involved with shooting out there, they said it became quite claustrophobic in the sense that they returned to that same space. I guess thats how the Wentworth girls feel. Even on A Place to Call Home we had our one set that we plugged into for six years.

But its good, it gives it a drabness and also they were able to get great angles.

Also featuring are Jai Courtney, Asher Keddie, Fayssal Bazzi and Dominic West.

Dusseldorp plays Sophies sister Margot, who struggles to know what to do once Sofies mental health declines and she goes missing.

(Margots) hunting the whole time through the series, trying to find her. So in a way, she is the audience. Thats what Im hoping anyway so shes really sort of the motor to get some kind of resolution. I was just doing an interview with Fayssal and he was saying that all the characters want the same thing: which is to be reunited with their families and get on with their normal lives, she continues.

Shooting-wise it was very distressing

But shooting-wise it was very distressing. I remember in one scene I get a call from (Sofie) finally and I think shes going to tell me where she is and she doesnt, because I trigger her the wrong way.

The thing I love about Margot is she says the wrong things, as a sister. She doesnt have all the answers. So the scripts are really complicated and so I enjoyed that part of it.

I base it actually on my older sister Teya, she is the most compassionate caring, loving, older sister. I know for a fact that if anything like that ever happened to me, she would behave exactly the same way.

Stateless airs 8:30pm Sunday on ABC.
Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 13, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault by a New York jury on Monday but acquitted on the most serious charges that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life.

Once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers, Weinstein, 67, was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013.

He faces up to 25 years in prison on the sexual assault conviction.

The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence, and first degree rape of Mann.

The case was a milestone for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men.

During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a walker. He sometimes leaned on his lead attorney, Donna Rotunno, for support.

"He's taken some good acting tips," actress Rose McGowan said at the start of the trial on January 6 while staging a protest near the courthouse along with actress Rosanna Arquette and other Weinstein accusers.

Weinstein made his mark with critically acclaimed films such as "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love."

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.

Paul Callan, a former New York prosecutor who is not involved in the case, said Weinstein had strong grounds to argue the verdict should be overturned on appeal because of bias, noting that one of the jurors was the author of a forthcoming book on teenage girls and "predatory" older men.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises to open doors in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

"The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said during opening arguments.

Seated at the defense table, Weinstein often appeared impassive, though at times he looked intently at his attorneys when they cross-examined his accusers.

During the many weeks of trial, the prosecution methodically elicited graphic testimony from several accusers, including Haleyi, who said Weinstein invited her to his SoHo home after she had worked on one of his television productions.

After she arrived, Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally, yanking out her tampon, Haleyi told jurors.

A onetime aspiring actress, Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she entered into an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her in 2013.

She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character: He was charming in public but often showed terrifying anger when they were alone, Mann said.

At one point, she started sobbing uncontrollably on the stand, prompting the judge to end testimony early for the day.

Weinstein was charged with assaulting Haleyi and Mann, but prosecutors bolstered their case by calling several other accusers as witnesses.

One of these women, "Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors Weinstein came into her apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her.

Though the accusation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, prosecutors offered it to show Weinstein was a repeat sexual offender.

Three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young - testified that they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped.

Testimony of "prior bad acts" is generally not allowed in criminal trials, but an exception to the law allowed prosecutors to call these women to show Weinstein had a particular intention or a signature pattern of behavior.

Legal experts said the women provided powerful evidence that was difficult for the defense to overcome.

Dunning testified that the producer groped her in 2004 and offered her movie roles in exchange for three-way sex with him and his assistant, which she refused.

Young, a model and actress, testified that the producer trapped her in a hotel bathroom in 2013, masturbated in front of her while groping her breasts, and told her: "This is what all the actresses do to make it."

Throughout the case, the defense said regret drove the accusers to take consensual incidents and reframe them as crimes.

Weinstein's lawyers zeroed in on friendly messages and ongoing contact between the women and Weinstein.

During cross-examination of Haleyi, for example, the defense showed her a message she sent Weinstein signed "lots of love" after her alleged attack.

Defense lawyers repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career.

Weinstein never testified in his defense, although he told reporters he had wanted to. One of his lawyers said the case was too weak to warrant putting him on the stand.

Weinstein's lawyer Rotunno told jurors during closing arguments that they were "the last line of defense" against an "overzealous" prosecution and that women were "responsible" for the "choices they make to further their own careers."

Prosecutors pushed back against claims that his accusers were not credible and the notion that they were responsible for the alleged attacks.

Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said it was irrelevant whether they had ongoing contact with Weinstein after the alleged attacks.

Illuzzi rejected a defense claim that Mann had a loving relationship with Weinstein, but said it would not matter if she had been "head over heels in love with him."

"He still wouldn't be allowed to rape her on March 18 of 2013," she said.

Weinstein still faces sexual assault charges in California, which were announced just hours after his New York rape trial began, and dozens of women have filed civil lawsuits against him.
The giant investment firm behind a private multibillion-dollar airport rail plan has written to Labor MPs in Melbournes west, in a desperate last bid to convince them their plan has merit.

A last-minute bid for a private rail tunnel to the airport argues anything else is second rate

IFM Investors on Monday wrote to government MPs outlining its argument for why their airport rail plan  which includes a new tunnel from Southern Cross Station to West Footscray  should be adopted by the Andrews government.

The government appears increasingly unlikely to back the private bid, with The Age this month revealing it is leaning towards running airport trains via the yet-to-be-completed Metro Tunnel.

The government would save billions of dollars if a dedicated new tunnel was not built for airport trains.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday appealed to Delhi residents and also Congress workers to maintain peace in the national capital.

The capital witnessed violence for the full day today. Violence causes losses for the common public and country. To stop this is everyones responsibility. Mahatma Gandhis country is a country of peace, Priyanka tweeted from her official handle.

I appeal to all the residents of Delhi to maintain peace and urge the Congress workers to make efforts to maintain calm, she added.

One Delhi Police Head Constable on Monday lost his life and one DCP got injured during clashes between two groups that took place in Delhis Gokalpuri.

Earlier today, a clash broke out between two groups in Maujpur area.

Meanwhile, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-East district of Delhi, police said.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sources, violence in North-East Delhi was orchestrated most likely with an eye on US President Donald Trumps visit to India.
A 17-year-old student is helping the needy in his own unique way. What started as a community project as part of his school project, has become a highlighting feature of his work.



Shubhankar Darbari has started a medicine bank by collecting surplus drugs from relatives and families living around his school for the people in need.

The community project that started four years ago has now turned into a non-profit organisation, Aid2Needy. Shubhankar has created a stock of medicines he sends to charitable hospitals for distribution.





toi

The medicines, the Victorious Kidss Educares (VKE) student collects are usually donated by people who have a surplus of them, according to a report by The Times of India.

The young student has also developed a phone application for people where they can raise requests to donate medicines.

Once theres a donation request alert on the app, the volunteers appointed by Shubhankar can collect the drugs from their doorstep.





bccl/representational image

Its a unique bank for the well-offs to donate their surplus medicines. People from the economically challenged section, who cannot afford to buy medicines, can get them free of cost from the bank through the charitable hospitals, Shubhankar told TOI. He aspires to set up similar units across the country.





bachpanexpress

He says that the idea of setting up a medicine bank struck him in 2015 when he met Omkar Nath Sharma, popularly known as medicine baba conducting a similar activity in New Delhi.

After meeting him, I realized that the cause should be carried out in other cities by using technology as a leveraging tool. Keeping this in mind, I created a prototype portal by online training programmes," he said.
Victorious: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane wave as they exit the stage after winning the Nevada caucuses during a rally in San Antonio, Texas. Photo: Getty

Bernie Sanders scored a commanding victory in Nevada's presidential caucuses, cementing his status as the Democrats' national frontrunner amid escalating tensions over whether he's too liberal to defeat US President Donald Trump.

Joe Biden was a distant second, followed by Pete Buttigieg in third and Elizabeth Warren in fourth, with Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer in a close race for fifth. They are all pledging to stay in the race as the primary moves on to South Carolina this coming Saturday, with the Super Tuesday states voting on March 3.

Nevada's caucuses on Saturday 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.

Mr Sanders, a 78-year Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, won by rallying his fiercely loyal base and tapping into support from Nevada's large Latino community.

In a show of confidence, Mr Sanders left Nevada on Saturday for Texas, which offers one of the biggest delegate troves on Super Tuesday.

"We are bringing our people together," he declared. "In Nevada we have just brought together a multi-generational, multi-racial coalition which is not only going to win in Nevada, it's going to sweep this country."

Saturday's win built on Mr Sanders' victory earlier this month in the New Hampshire primary. He essentially tied for first place in the Iowa caucuses with Mr Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who has sought to position himself as an ideological counter to Mr Sanders's 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 Mr Sanders' victory in Nevada encouraged his supporters, it only deepened concern among establishment-minded Democratic leaders who fear he is too extreme to defeat Mr Trump.

Mr 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 programme.

Mr Trump gloated on social media, continuing his weeks-long push to sow discord between Mr Sanders and his Democratic rivals.

"Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak," Mr Trump tweeted. "Congratulations Bernie, & don't let them take it away from you!"

Mr Buttigieg congratulated Mr Sanders, too, but added: "Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders in our one shot to take on this president, let's take a sober look at what is at stake for our party, for our values and for those with so much to lose. Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans."

For Mr Biden, a second place finish in Nevada could be the lifeline he needed to convince sceptics he still has a path to the nomination as the primary moves to more diverse states.

He took aim at Mr Sanders and billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn't on the Nevada ballot, but has emerged as a threat to Mr Biden in contests that begin next month. "I ain't a socialist. I'm not a plutocrat. I'm a Democrat," he declared.

Ms Warren, who desperately needed a spark to revive her stalled bid, ignored Mr Sanders and instead took a shot at Mr Bloomberg's height as she thanked Nevada "for keeping me in the fight". Rallying supporters in Seattle, she said she wanted to talk about "a big threat - not a tall one, but a big one: Michael Bloomberg".

Mr Bloomberg, the former New York mayor 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.
A decade ago, a Multnomah County jury awarded a former Boy Scout nearly $20 million.

The man alleged he was sexually abused by an adult Boy Scout leader.

That case, coming on the heels of the first wave of sex abuse lawsuits against institutions like the Catholic Church, reverberated nationwide. Other cases popped up in other states. The money started to add up.

Last week, the Boy Scouts of America declared bankruptcy.

But a second lawsuit, one pushed by The Oregonian and other news outlets, also proved consequential. That lawsuit ultimately led to the disclosure of more than 1,200 files of known abusers within the Boy Scouts. It laid out in stark detail what the scouts knew about sexual abusers within the organization and when they knew it.

As The Oregonian/OregonLives Molly Young reported, the bankruptcy case is virtually unprecedented in its scale, and the path toward the financial precipice may lead back to those two Oregon rulings a decade ago.

On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, Young and Charlie Hinkle, a first amendment attorney who has represented the newspaper for four decades, discuss those cases, the bankruptcy and what it might mean for those who are still awaiting justice.

Heres the full episode:

You can subscribe to Beat Check with The Oregonian on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
TWIN FALLS  Spencer Mallett grew up on a dairy farm in the Magic Valley and didnt plan on getting into the hen business.

But he saw the need for really good happy organic hens and eggs last year. And so now hes the chicken tender and egg collector for Harmony Hens.

Mallett has filmed happy little videos of free-roaming chickens chasing after bugs on a 26,000-square-foot plot three miles north of Nat Soo Pah. At night, they roost inside mobile trailers that look like modern covered wagons running off a solar panel.

He was quick to show pictures and video to prospective buyers at a recent farmer-buyer meet and greet in Ketchum organized by the Local Food Alliance in association with the Sun Valley Institute.

The hens started laying in September and we started selling, he said. Every dozen eggs someone buys is a tangible vote towards health.

The networking event was designed to connect chefs, buyers and food service managers with local growers and producers. And the bulk of those producers were from the Magic Valley, all looking forward to the growing season, which is just a month away.

Doug Heuttig told prospective shoppers of his Red Star Ranch, which sits along the Snake River near Hazelton.

It started as a farm, then added livestock in 2012. Today, Heuttig raises Red Devon cattle, Red Wattle pigs and Red Ranger chickens, all of which feed on cover crops during summer and grass and alfalfa during winter. The animals enjoy a stress-free environment, which minimizes the need for things like antibiotics or growth hormones to maintain healthy livestock, Huettig said.

We went red everything, said Huettig, who sells at Atkinsons Market in Ketchum and Countryside Market in Twin Falls. The red Angus are smaller stature so theyre conducive to finishing on grass.

Andrea Baird was a bit of a novelty among the food producers  she is a flower farmer.

I have seven kids and, when they grew, I decided to sell flowers, Baird said.

Baird grows her flowers on her five-acre Painted Bloom Farm near Twin Falls. Her art studio sits in the middle. She researches what grows well and what florists want. Then she grows an array of species, including Earl Grey Larkspur, Magic Cherry Blossom Delphinium, Coral Fountain Amaranthus and Hot Biscuits Amaranthus. She added tulips this year and is cultivating a robust crop of lilies for Mothers Day.

She just installed high tunnels that will allow her to cultivate flowers through cold months.

There are lots of beautiful cut flowers, such as dahlias, that cant be shipped. So, I grow them and cut them. Then I deliver them myself the next day, she said. I have some dahlias that are so vividly colored that people think we put dye in.

Heidi and Kirk Tubbs of Tubbs Berry Farm in Twin Falls were hawking an array of garlic seeds. Among them: Chesnok Red is a rising star in gourmet garlic; German Red, a spicy garlic that does well where winters are cold; Korean Red, which is very hot and not for the timid garlic fan, and Inchelium Red, which is from the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington, is easy to grow and produces large bulbs that store well.

Tubbs said his farm will hold a free Bee Day 2020 on April 24 and 25. The farm will be open to beekeepers, wanna bees and the general public from noon to 6 p.m. April 24 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25. There will be educational workshops, beekeeping equipment for sale, a honeybee observation area and food and fun.

Bill Pereira, meanwhile, told how Castle Rock Ranch, which has property in the Silver Creek area south of Bellevue, is getting ready to field bison, which it plans to sell by next winter.

And Itty Bitty Farms owners London and Emily Knowles are on the verge of opening a greenhouse store that theyve spent the past few months building on Main Street in Carey.

Customers will be able to buy lettuce, spinach, rainbow chard, kale, peppers, sunflower and sugar pea microgreens, tomatoes grown using organic practices, and the tasty rosemary garlic and everything bagel crackers that Emily makes. They hope to have the grand opening in late March.

Landon was a landscaper, but he decided it was more fun to grow food than grass, said Emily Knowles.

Amy Mattias, who co-organized the event, said it was great to see the new friendships being formed. Some people were already buying from various producers and this gave them a chance to put a face to the name.

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Beijing: China on Monday said competent authorities from the two countries were in contact over the planned arrival of the India Air Forces (IAF) relief and evacuation aircraft in novel coronavirus (COVID-19)-hit Wuhan, days after India said Beijing was deliberately delaying it.

The statement from the Chinese foreign ministry comes amid the back and forth between New Delhi and Beijing over the delay in the IAF aircraft getting the required clearance to land in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

After bringing in medical supplies to aid China, on its way back the transport aircraft is scheduled to evacuate around 100 Indians, who continue to be stranded in Wuhan, locked down for over a month now.

Competent authorities of the two countries have been in communication and coordinating on this matter, the Chinese foreign ministry told Hindustan Times in a written statement.

On Friday, spokesperson, Geng Shuang, had said: There is no such a thing as China delaying giving flight permissions.

There apparently is a delay, according to external affairs ministry officials in New Delhi who said over the weekend that Beijing was simply not moving on New Delhis plea.

The Indian embassy in Beijing told the anxious Indians in Wuhan over the weekend that it was waiting for Beijing to give permission for the flight to land, asking them to ready to be transported to the Wuhan airport and fly at a short notice.

India submitted details of the IAFs Boeing-made C17 Gobemaster III aircraft to the Chinese foreign ministry over a week ago.

It is not clear what has caused the delay but in the same statement the Chinese foreign ministry sent to Hindustan Times on Monday, it responded to a query on Indias ban on medical imports to China.

On the prohibition on the export of medical materials, China has taken note of the ban issued by relevant departments of India, the statement said.

I want to point out that the Indian side has on many occasions publicly expressed its support to the Chinese government and people in their all-out efforts to combat the outbreak of the new coronavirus pneumonia. China appreciates this, it further said.

We hope that the Indian side will, in the spirit of humanitarianism, release as soon as possible the medical and protective materials purchased by China before the ban and take concrete actions to support the Chinese people in fighting the epidemic, it added.

A leading Beijing-based south Asian expert , who did not wish to be named, said that the ban on anti-epidemic material could be the reason behind the delay in clearing the aircraft.

The ban on exporting protective clothing could be the primary reason, despite the China-specific waiver that New Delhi implemented a week after the ban on January 31.

What could have irked Beijing is that the initial ban on protective clothing was implemented abruptly and delayed orders, especially for masks, that were placed by Chinese companies last month.

As a result of the ban, a large volume of masks meant for China got stuck at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for days and a crucial week was lost.

Even after the ban was partially lifted on February 8, the perception in China is that it still prohibited the export of high-standard and critical anti-epidemic materials like N95 / N90 masks and European standard FFP1 / FFP2 / FFP3 masks and protective clothing to China.

Beijing is under the impression that India didnt reach out to China at a time of a major crisis while the Chinese authorities pulled out all stops to evacuate 647 Indian nationals in the days after the mask ban was put in place.

Other reasons could have irked China as well such as India closely followed the United States to take the lead in evacuation and imposition of embargoes on Chinese cities, banned e-visas for Chinese nationals, last weeks visit of home minister Amit Shah to Arunachal Pradesh and the seizure of the Chinese ship Da Cuiyun at Gujarats Kandla port on charges of carrying suspected cargo to Port Qasim in Karachi, Pakistan.
[February 24, 2020] SASOL DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Sasol Limited To Contact The Firm

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in Sasol Limited ("Sasol" or the "Company") (NYSE:SSL) of the April 6, 2020 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. If you invested in Sasol stock or options between March 10, 2015 and January 13, 2020 and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here: www.faruqilaw.com/SSL. There is no cost or obligation to you. You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all those who purchased Sasol securities between March 10, 2015 and January 13, 2020 (the "Class Period"). The case, Moshell v. Sasol Limited et al., No. 20-cv-01008 was filed on February 5, 2020, and has been assigned to Judge Jed S. Rakoff. The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Sasol had conducted insufficient due diligence into, and failed to account for multiple issues with, the LCCP, as well as the true cost of the project; (2) construction and operation of the LCCP was consequently plagued by control weaknesses, delays, rising costs, and technical issues; (3) these issues were exacerbated by Sasol's top-level management, who engaged in improper and unethical behavior with respect to financial reporting for the LCCP and the project's oversight; (4) all the foregoing was reasonably likely to render the LCCP significantly more expensive than disclosed and negatively impact the Company's financial results; and (5) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Specifically, on June 6, 2016, Sasol reported "that the expected total capitalexpenditure for the [LCCP] could increase up to US$11 billion, including site infrastructure and utility improvements"; a slower rate of capital "resulted in an extended project schedule and contributed to further project cost increases"; "[t]he expected returns for the project have reduced due to changes in long-term price assumptions and the higher capital estimates"; and "[t]he increase in the estimated LCCP capital cost and extended schedule will reduce the expected project returns by approximately the same amount as the Company's lower long-term price assumptions."



On this news, Sasol's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell from a closing price of $32.13 per share on June 3, 2016 to $28.60 per share on June 6, 2016-a $3.43 or 10.99% drop. On May 22, 2019, during pre-market hours, Sasol disclosed that "the cost estimate for the LCCP has been revised to a range of $12,6 to $12,9 billion which includes a contingency of $300 million." Sasol cited a $530 million change in the project's cost forecast because of a "[c]orrection for duplication of investment allowances of approximately $230 million"; a "[c]orrection for certain contracts and variation orders managed by Sasol, outside the primary engineering, procurement and construction contract, of approximately $180 million"; and forecast improvements that were "not expected to be realized and adjustments for potential insurance claims and procurement back-charges of approximately $120 million."

On this news, Sasol's ADR price fell from a closing price of $30.14 per share on May 21, 2019 to $25.64 per share on May 22, 2019-a $4.50 or 14.93% drop. Later, on August 16, 2019, during pre-market hours, Sasol issued a press release disclosing that it was delaying the announcement of its 2019 financial results because of "possible LCCP control weaknesses." On this news, Sasol's ADR price fell from a closing price of $18.41 per share on August 15, 2019 to $17.67 per share on August 16, 2019-a $0.74 or 4.02% drop. Then, on October 28, 2019, Sasol disclosed that its review of the LCCP control weaknesses had brought to light "errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in the [LCCP] cost estimate," and a number of unethical and improper reporting activities that took place at the highest level of management. Sasol also announced the resignation of, inter alia, its Joint Presidents and Chief Executive Officers ("CEOs"), effective November 1, 2019, and Senior Vice Presidents and others previously in charge of the LCCP. Finally, on January 14, 2020, Sasol issued a press release confirming that on January 13, 2020, the Company "experienced an explosion and fire at its LCCP low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unit." Sasol stated that "[t]he unit was in the final stages of commissioning and startup when the incident occurred" and "has been shut down and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident, the extent of the damage and resulting impact on the LDPE unit's [beneficial operation] schedule." Following these disclosures, Sasol's ADR price fell $1.70 per share, or 7.84%, over the following two trading days, closing at $19.99 per share on January 15, 2020. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Sasol's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200223005017/en/

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The much anticipated film, Sooryavanshi which is set to bring together Akshay Kumar and Rohit Shetty for the first time, is all set to break the norm and begin a new trend. Both, Producer-Director Rohit Shetty and Actor-Producer Akshay Kumar, have decided to preponed the film and it will now release worldwide on 24th March 2020 evening, 6pm onward!

Capturing the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa and Ugadi, which follows the next day, and also mark the beginning of vacation for schools and colleges, Sooryavanshi is poised to enjoy a festive & summer break release period!



Also, following Aditya Thackerays recent initiative, turning Mumbai 24x7, Sooryavanshi will be screened all night in theatres in Mumbai.

Talking about the same Akshay Kumar shares, "It was a unanimous decision to bring forward the release date of Sooryavanshi and enjoy the festivities with the audiences.



Talking about the same Rohit Shetty shares, Akshay Kumar as Sooryavanshi is an excited addition to our cop universe. I am really looking forward for everyone to experience it..





Reliance Entertainment presents Rohit Shetty Picturez in association with Dharma Productions & Cape of Good Films, Sooryavanshi is directed by Rohit Shetty. The film is set to release on 24th March 2020, evening 6pm onward.
Bharti Infratel said the Department of Telecom on Friday approved the merger of the country's largest mobile tower company Indus Towers with Bharti Infratel. Bharti Infratel said its board will meet on 24 February 2020 to chart out the future course of action.

Aurobindo Pharma said that the USFDA inspection at its Unit IV is still open and under review. The drug regulator has also rescinded the Voluntary Action Initiated (VAl) status given to the facility.

GMR Infrastructure (GIL) signed a share purchase agreement pursuant to which Groupe ADP will hold 49% stake in GMR Airports (GAL) for an equity consideration of Rs 10,780 crore. The first tranche of Rs 5,248 crore will be received by GMR Group immediately. This money will help deleverage the Group further and result in improved cash flows and profitability.

Axis Bank, Max Financial Services (MFS) and its subsidiary Max Life Insurance Company (Max Life) signed a confidentiality and exclusivity arrangement to explore the possibility of Axis Bank entering into a long-term strategic partnership with Max Life.

Biocon said the USFDA has completed a pre-approval inspection of Biocon Sdn. Bhd's Insulins manufacturing facility based in Malaysia and issued a Form 483 with 3 observations. The company will respond to the FDA with an appropriate Corrective and Preventive Action Plan (CAPA) .

Dr Reddy's Laboratory said it has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from the USFDA, for its formulations manufacturing plant at Duvvada, Visakhapatnam, indicating closure of the audit. As intimated earlier, the facility has been classified as V AI (Voluntary Action Indicated).

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A leading intensive care consultant has warned that there are not enough ICU beds in the countrys hospitals in the event of an outbreak of the coronavirus in Ireland.

Dr Tom Ryan of St James Hospital in Dublin, told RTE radios Today with Sean ORourke show that it was recognised 10 years ago that the number of ICU beds should have been doubled.

We have only half the ICU beds needed, but no action was taken. The current ICU stock is outdated and there are poor isolation facilities.

Even if there was a small number of cases (of coronavirus) that would present a challenge as there is no capacity in the system, he added.

Dr Ryan pointed out that in other countries the death rate has been 1% to 2% while between 5% and 6% of those infected could require an ICU bed.

He said that ideally the system should run at 80% bed capacity, but in Ireland it is 96%. There is no lee way to deal with additional critical patients.

Dr Cillian De Gascun, head of the National Virus Reference Lab in UCD said that a small number of cases would be manageable, but acknowledged that there is not the spare capacity to deal with an outbreak of this nature.

Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan is advising anyone contemplating travel to Italy to keep up to date on developments as the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) convenes an emergency meeting this afternoon.
The chief executive of plumbing supplies business Reliance Worldwide has described the first half as a "tough" one, as the company downgraded its full-year profit guidance because of softness in the Australian and European markets.

Reliance said it now expected a full-year adjusted net profit of between $140 million and $150 million, down on earlier guidance of between $150 million to $165 million.

Reliance Worldwide CEO Heath Sharp. Credit:Christopher Pearce

Chief executive Heath Sharp said Reliance's UK first-half performance was weakened by Brexit, while Australia was affected by softness in construction activity.

Sales in the Asia-Pacific region dropped 5.5 per cent on a constant currency basis to $122.6 million, while sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa dropped 1.4 per cent to $169.7 million. Sales in the Americas rose 1.4 per cent to $328 million.
Protesting Haitian police officers shot up the army headquarters killing two servicemen and wounding a dozen more during a protest over pay.

The off-duty cops opened fire during a nearly two-hour running gun battle in clashes near the Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince yesterday.

Media reports said six people were wounded in the attack in the capital by who the Defense Ministry said were gunmen wearing masks.

Officers are demanding better working conditions and pay, with the violence prompting the government to cancel an upcoming carnival, the ministry said.

The clashes were the most violent since police, this time heavily armed, started protesting at the end of last year as the impoverished Caribbean island nation struggles with a prolonged economic and political crisis.

It was not immediately clear who fired the shots or the tear gas during the protest, which led to the suspension of Carnival, a multi-day music and dance festival that culminates in a colorful procession.

Armed men, some in police uniform, take cover during clashes near the Presidential Palace, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday

A boy tries to get out of the way as a man in a Haitian National Police uniform aims a gun during a shooting in Champ de Mars, Port-au-Prince

Off-duty police officers and their supporters exchanged fire for nearly two hours with members of the newly reconstituted Haitian army in front of the national palace

A man rolling a flaming tire during clashes in the Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Some protesters wore cream and blue police uniforms and carried guns, but had their faces covered, when they marched from the upscale Delmas neighborhood toward the large Champ de Mars public square.

As the afternoon wore on, uniformed officers joined their colleagues in the street outside the palace, firing at the military base with semi-automatic pistols and rifles. Many wore masks along with their uniforms to hide their identities.

Other armed men spotted a drone that appeared to be taking images of the violence and followed it to the offices of Radio Caraibes, then began shooting at the broadcaster's building. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attack.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the government said it had observed 'with concern and dismay that terror has reigned in certain arteries of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area'.

In order to avoid a 'bloodbath... it has been decided to cancel the carnival,' which was scheduled to take place Tuesday, the statement said.

'We are under siege. We are coming under fire with all kinds of weapons - assault rifles, Molotov cocktails, tear gas,' General Jodel Lessage said earlier.

He said soldiers had returned fire but did not give an injury toll, nor could he say how many people were at the army headquarters, near the presidential palace, at the time of the attack.

The situation remained tense as night fell in the city.

Off-duty police officers run towards an armed clash with army soldiers during a protest over police pay and working conditions

Armed off-duty police officers protest over police pay and working conditions, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Sunday

Armed off-duty police officers take cover during and exchange of gunfire with army soldiers

A uniformed police officer in a black-and-white clown mask told reporters outside the palace that officers were demanding the reinstatement of their fired colleagues as well as a pay raise for all officers.

'Until this is done we will not sit and talk,' said the officer, who declined to provide his name. 'The president has proven that he does not care about our demands.'

For months, Haitian police have been demanding better working conditions, in particular the right to form a union so as to ensure transparency in talks with the police hierarchy.

Last week, some officers took to the street, blocking them and setting fire to cars.

On Saturday, President Jovenel Moise announced measures designed to ease the crisis, including the creation of a compensation fund for families of police who die in the line of duty and a fund to provide officers with insurance.

Haiti has witnessed a spike in kidnappings for ransom since the beginning of the year and fighting between rival crime gangs, which regularly set up roadblocks on Haitian highways.

Police officers gesture for all sides to cease fire during a clash with army soldiers yesterday

An off-duty police officer who was shot in the arm running during the protest over police pay and working conditions in Haiti on Sunday

An armed hooded man running during clashes near the Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince

The destitute Caribbean country has also been gripped by a political crisis for more than a year as people demand the resignation of Moise.

Since coming to power in February 2017, Moise has faced the anger of an opposition movement that refuses to recognize his victory in an election widely seen as dubious. Moise is also accused of corruption.

The president said at a news conference on Saturday that he recognized the legitimacy of many police complaints and would increase some collateral benefits for officers, but police said on Sunday that the concessions were not enough.

The Haitian army had been disbanded in 1995 after the fall of a dictatorship that used soldiers to repress domestic opponents. Moise reformed the army in 2017, promising that the military would patrol Haiti's borders, assist in natural disasters and avoid domestic affairs.

Moise has been ruling by decree since January, after the country failed to hold elections and the mandates of lower house deputies and most senators expired in October.

The political situation has cut Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, off from some international funding.

This has further hindered its ability to respond to the worsening economic crisis, including food shortages.

One in three Haitians, around 3.7 million people, needs urgent food assistance, up from 2.6 million people at the end of 2018.

Haiti ranks 111 out of 117 countries on the Global Hunger Index, near poor sub-Saharan African countries.
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When Ha Do left Germany for the Bay Area 12 years ago, she missed the tradition of kaffee und kuchen, an afternoon break of sipping coffee and eating cake.

Do is excited to share that tradition by opening San Franciscos only konditorei, a German bakery and cafe. Her first location of Hahdough arrives Sunday, March 1, in NoPa, just off Divisadero, while a smaller takeout-window version attached to her baking facility is expected to open in Hayes Valley later in the month.

Hahdoughs cakes are showstoppers: tall, layered and intricately designed, using a mix of fruit, pastry creams, mousses and marzipan to keep things dynamic. Take the Herrentorte, which features six thin layers of soft sponge that alternate with white wine-brandy cream. Its covered with a thin layer of marzipan followed by a thin layer of dark chocolate ganache, then decorated with swirly chocolate Hs.

Theyre less sweet and lighter than American desserts, Do said of German cakes. Theres no artificial coloring, no fondant, more marzipan.

With American baking, the first mouthful is always amazing and intense, but by the end youre full of regret because theres so much sugar, added Dos husband and Hahdough co-owner Christian MacNevin.

Hahdough promises to be a destination for an array of German sweets, including classics like Black Forest Cake, a layered chocolate cake with sour cherries and whipped cream; Berliners, soft German doughnuts filled with vanilla cream or seasonal jam; and apple pie topped with streusel.

Janelle Bitker / The Chronicle

The mornings will see flaky turnovers filled with apples and cherries and German-style croissants given a lye treatment like pretzels. Do also plans to make soft pretzels throughout the day so theyre always fresh. But in true kaffee und kuchen fashion, Hahdough is really all about the cakes  paired with a cup of coffee brewed with Linea Caffe beans.

Do plans to offer as many as nine cakes by the slice at the NoPa location and up to three at the Hayes Valley window. Her current arsenal includes more than 20 cakes, including traditional German ensembles like the Himbeer-Shokotorte, an almond-based chocolate cake topped with layers of milk chocolate mousse and raspberry mousse; and Bienenstich, otherwise known as Bee Sting Cake, a sweet yeasted cake filled with a tall layer of vanilla cream and finished with a crunchy layer of honey-glazed almonds.

It took time for Do to adapt these traditional recipes with American ingredients and then make them her own. She landed on a mix of three different flours to achieve the right springiness for the Berliners. With the Bee Sting, she ramped up the lemon zest, upped the proportion of cream to dough and used more honey instead of sugar in the caramelized crust. She also experimented with her own creations, like the Cassis a lOrange, which layers chocolate and vanilla sponges with black currant mousse, orange-white chocolate mousse and a blood orange gelee.

Do was born in Vietnam. As refugees after the war, Do, then age 5, and her family moved to Koblenz, a small German city between Frankfurt and Cologne. In 2008, she came to the Bay Area as a graphic designer and spent her weekends baking German sweets, searching for a taste of home. Eventually, she set her sights on her own bakery.

Janelle Bitker / The Chronicle

She quit her job and moved to Germany for a two-month internship at a production bakery, learning the ways of German cakes and breads in large quantities. When she returned, she signed up for the City College of San Franciscos baking program and spent two years working as a cake decorator at Austrian baker Gerhard Michlers Creative International Pastries, a wholesale operation in Dogpatch.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

In 2016, Do launched Hahdough as a farmers market stand, building a following at the San Mateo and Inner Sunset farmers markets in particular. She remembers selling just a dozen Berliners at the start. Within a few months, she was selling 300.

The timing feels right for Do and MacNevin, who might have felt pressured to Americanize Dos German sweets several years ago.

I feel lucky to be doing this now, she said. People care so much about authenticity.

Hahdough. Opening March 1, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 1221 Fell St., San Francisco. Second takeout-only location opening later in March. 509 Laguna St., San Francisco. 415-676-0576 or www.hahdough.com

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
LIMERICK people are being advised not to travel to any of the regions in Italy where there have been confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

In a travel advisory published this Monday afternoon, The Department of Foreign Affairs says Irish Citizens should not travel to any of the regions involved  Piemonte, Lombardai, Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Lazio.

There has been an increase in the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Italy. As a result, the Italian government has provided in law for certain administrative areas, where necessary, to take appropriate actions, states the advisory.

The laws include the restriction of movements into and out of the affected areas, the restriction of certain transport services, the suspension of demonstrations and meetings and the closure of schools, universities, and certain businesses.

Italy now has the most confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Europe and there have been five deaths.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

While a number of people have been tested for the coronavirus in Ireland, there have been no confirmed cases.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Monday (February 24) hear the petitions filed against the road blockade at Shaheen Bagh in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In the last hearing, the apex court had appointed senior counsel Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran as negotiators to hold negotiation with the protesters to lift their blockade.

Earlier, the top court had said that though people have a fundamental right to protest "peacefully and lawfully", it was troubled by the blocking of a public road at Shaheen Bagh as it might lead to a "chaotic situation".

Former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, however, has told the Supreme Court the protest at Shaheen Bagh against the CAA was peaceful and inconvenience being caused to commuters was due to barricades "unnecessarily" put by police on roads far away from the site.

Habibullah had visited the protest site pursuant to the direction by a bench of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. The bench is scheduled to hear the matter today for removal of protestors and ensuring smooth traffic flow in the area.

In his affidavit filed in the top court, Habibullah contended that "Shaheen Bagh stands tall as a firm example of peaceful dignified dissent, more so in the face of various instances of state-sponsored violence on similar dissents across India."

The same stand has been taken by social activist Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad in their joint affidavit filed in the apex court in the matter. Habibullah, Azad and Naqvi have jointly filed an intervention application in the apex court which is seized of the matter.

Naqvi and Azad, in their joint affidavit, have alleged that "the present ruling dispensation, at the behest of its political masters, had devised a strategy of extinguishing these protests by falsely attributing violence and acts of vandalism to peaceful protestors".

The affidavit stated that the Delhi Police has closed 5 routes around Shaheen Bagh which is causing problems to the people, if the police open these paths then the traffic will become normal.

Meanwhile, pro and anti-CAA groups clashed on Sunday near Jaffrabad in northeast Delhi after a large number of people who have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act blocked a road, while similar sit-ins started in several others part of the national capital.

The police, however, fired tear gas shells as members of the two groups pelted stones at each other in Maujpur, soon after a gathering called by BJP leader Kapil Mishra who demanded that the police remove anti-CAA protestors within three days.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Jaffrabad area and a large number of security personnel deployed as hundreds of people, mostly women, who had been protesting gainst the CAA, blocked a road near the metro station since the Saturday evening, demanding a rollback of the Citizenship Act.
Cash from British taxpayers could risk aiding the emergence of Isis mark two in refugee camps, ministers have been warned.

Tory MP Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) raised concerns about radicalisation in camps in Syria, including that some appear to be turning into a refuge for former so-called Islamic State (IS) leaders wives.

He sought assurances from the Government about the action being taken to prevent British money inadvertently funding a second version of terror group IS, also known as Isis and Daesh.

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard (PA)

James Cleverly, a joint Foreign Office and international development minister, said the UK will monitor the situation in the camps as best we can.

The exchanges occurred during a Commons urgent question on Syria, in which senior Tory Tobias Ellwood also called for a no-fly zone in Syria to protect civilians  as the Government said its attempts to broker a ceasefire are being blocked by Russia.

Speaking in the chamber, Mr Pritchard said: On the issue of displaced persons, widows, orphans and refugees in camps in northern Syria, does the minister of state share my concern that some of those camps appear to be  some of them by the way funded by British taxpayers  becoming a refuge for former Isis leaders wives who are running those camps under a new Isis regime and making it a one-stop shop for the radicalisation of further people in those camps and children.

What is being done to ensure that the British taxpayer is not funding for Isis mark two?

Mr Cleverly responded: The position of the UK Government and DFID is clear, we take a zero-tolerance approach to our funding being diverted and used to facilitate international terrorism or violence.

We will continue to monitor the situation in these camps as best we can.

But we do not have a full diplomatic or embassy structure in Syria for obvious reasons, but well make sure UK money is well spent.

James Cleverly replies to concerns from his Tory colleague in the Commons (PA)

Earlier, Mr Cleverly said Russia was blocking calls for a ceasefire by the UK, the US and France.

He added: We have repeatedly pressed for an immediate, genuine and lasting ceasefire including at the UN Security Council.

We have called a number of emergency council sessions on Idlib in New York, most recently on February 6 alongside the P3, where the UK ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce reiterated our clear call for a ceasefire and our support for Turkeys efforts in this region.

There is overwhelming support for this in the Security Council and we regret very much that the Russians continue to obstruct the possibility of agreement.

Mr Cleverly also left opposition MPs frustrated by his responses to their pleas for Britain to welcome more Syrian refugees.

Didn't believe a Conservative minister could make me any more furious given the lack of proper UK response to human suffering beyond comprehension in #Syria. @JamesCleverly just managed it.

We are talking about the bombing of children and the hospitals there to save them.  Alison McGovern (@Alison_McGovern) February 24, 2020

Labours Alison McGovern (Wirral South) said: When he describes the United Kingdom in relation to Syria as an active leader in the humanitarian space, does he understand how that sounds to the Syrian diaspora who have suffered as weve discussed this issue so many times in this House?

She added MPs are all complicit in what is going on in Syria, explaining: Every time a minister comes to that despatch box with nothing new to say and only regret, its brutal for those people in Syria right now who are freezing as bombs fall on childrens heads.

Ms McGovern urged the Government to take in more Syrian refugees, to which Mr Cleverly replied: The simple truth is there are millions of displaced people both internally within Syria and in neighbouring countries.

The best thing for the UK to do is to ensure that the violence stops so that where possible people can return to their homes.

Mr Cleverly also said: While I completely understand her passion for the UK to take on board or to take in more refugees, the simple truth is the numbers of displaced people in region would be impossible for the UK to host and that would not be a credible response to this situation.

Shadow Foreign Office spokesman Khalid Mahmood earlier said: What is happening today in Idlib fills us all with horror and dismay, but it all should fill us with frustration because it has been clear that this stage of the conflict was coming.
A runner who broke his leg on a snowy trail in a Washington state park was forced to crawl for more than 10 hours in subfreezing temperatures before he was rescued.

Joseph Oldendorf slipped on ice and broke his leg about 12 miles into his 20 mile run on a remote trail in the Olympic National Forest on Friday at about 5pm.

Oldendorf, whose tibia became detached from his ankle, started crawling on his hands and knees back in the direction he came from after realizing he had no phone signal to call for help.

He crawled for about seven hours until his knees were past raw.

Joseph Oldendorf is recovering in hospital after he slipped on ice and broke his leg about 12 miles into his run on a remote trail in the Olympic National Forest in Washington state on Friday at about 5pm

It was then that he received a text message and realized he had phone signal again. He called 911 at about 12.30am.

Oldendorf, who was only wearing light running clothes and feared he would die if he remained still, continued crawling for several hours until rescuers managed to locate him at about 4.30am.

Temperatures in the park on Friday night reached lows of 26 degrees.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Seattle where he is recovering, Oldendorf told KIRO that the whole ordeal felt like a weird dream.

'I wasn't counting on my phone ever working. I just figured this is my only chance. I'm going to crawl all the way there,' he said.

'My ankle was in such shape that I had to be facing chest down for it not to be flopping out of alignment.

'So, I had to crawl on all fours, and my knees  it's a rocky, snowy, dirty, wet trail  and after a while, my knees were just raw.

Oldendorf, whose tibia became detached from his ankle, started crawling on his hands and knees back in the direction he came from after realizing he had no phone signal to call for help

In total, Oldendorf crawled on his hands and knees for more than 10 hours until his knees were past raw and severely injured

Oldendorf broke his leg about 12 miles into his 20 mile run on a remote trail in the Olympic National Forest on Friday

'So I had the idea put my shoes over them so I would at least have some traction and a little bit of protection but they're still really messed up.'

He said he thought of his family the entire time he was crawling and that it helped push him through the pain.

'I stopped to lay down and stay warm, thinking they might be there relatively soon, but I was way too cold. There was no way I could do it without moving,' he said.

'I don't want my family to hear I died in the wilderness. I think it'd be unbearable.'

Rescuers found him along the trail and immediately started treating him for exposure to cold and a broken ankle.

They managed to located him by his voice about five to six miles from the spot where he was injured.

Oldendorfe was hoisted up into a rescue helicopter and rushed to hospital for further treatment.

Rescuers found him along the trail and immediately started treating him for exposure to cold and a broken ankle before airlifting him to a Seattle hospital
The member of parliament claims there have been 50 deaths from the virus, while the government says there have been 12.

A legislator from Irans Qom has accused the government of covering up the full extent of the coronavirus outbreak in the holy city, according to semi-official news agency ILNA.

In Mondays report, Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani accused Irans health ministry of not being transparent about the outbreak, which authorities say has killed 12 people.

The ILNA, which is close to reformists, said the legislator spoke of 50 deaths in Qom alone.

The rest of the media have not published this figure, but we prefer not to censor what concerns the coronavirus because peoples lives are in danger, ILNA editor Fatemeh Madiani told the AFP news agency.

Farahani also said that more than 250 people are quarantined in the city, which is a popular place for religious study for Shia Muslims from across Iran and other countries, according to the report.

The health ministry, in a news conference on Monday, said only 12 people have died from the virus among 64 infections.

Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, said the legislators comments mirrored scepticism among the citizens of the country.

Theres a lot of doubt among the public about how transparent this government and this health ministry has been, because they have the memories of not too far away of the downing of the Ukrainian airliner that was shot down, said Jabbari, referring to Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, which was accidentally shot down by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in January.

The Iranian officials denied for three days they had anything to do with that incident, she said. So there is that memory still very fresh in peoples minds.

Categorical denial

Iraj Harirchi, the deputy health minister, responded swiftly to Farahanis claim.

I categorically deny this information, he said in the televised news conference. This is not the time for political confrontations. The coronavirus is a national problem, he added.

Iranian officials also pledged to be transparent about the outbreak in the country.

We will announce any figures [we have] on the number of deaths throughout the country. We pledge to be transparent about the reporting of figures, government spokesman Ali Rabiei said.

Iran has been scrambling to contain the COVID-19 outbreak since it announced the first two deaths in Qom last Wednesday. Meanwhile, surrounding countries have closed their borders with Iran in hopes of containing the spread.
A head constable was killed in the clashes that broke out between pro- and anti-CAA groups after tension escalated in northeast Delhi on February 24 afternoon, said the Delhi Police. Section 144 has been imposed at 10 locations in the North-east district.
NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> The Newtown Borough Council welcomes the new year with three new members of council and a new borough mayor. District Court Judge Mick Petrucci was on hand on January 3 to administer the oath of office to the towns new mayor, Republican John Burke, who replaces longtime mayor Charles Corky Swartz who decided not to run for...
Pacific Gas and Electric Co.s main union is pushing back forcefully against efforts to make the company, which is currently owned by investors, controlled by the public instead  something Sen. Bernie Sanders, state Sen. Scott Wiener and the city of San Francisco have proposed in various forms.

Most recently, IBEW Local 1245 shot back at a political advertisement from Sanders that criticized PG&E for its role in causing deadly wildfires. The union, which represents about half of PG&Es 23,000 employees, released its own video in response, criticized Sanders endorsement of a public takeover, saying it would be prohibitively expensive and misguided.

Tom Dalzell, the unions business manager, noted in the video that his labor group represents not only PG&E employees but also workers at numerous publicly owned utilities in Northern California.

We know what were talking about, and Sen. Sanders, youre just plain wrong on this, Dalzell said. Publicly owned utilities are capable of greatness. Theyre also capable of bad management and bad luck, the same as investor-owned utilities.

The unions video, which runs about five minutes and 30 seconds, recounts a string of problems involving public utilities, including a series of problems involving Sacramentos Rancho Seco nuclear power plant, now decommissioned. A narrator later says that public ownership will not stop climate change.

IBEW is sharing the video through the union website and an industry trade group and promoting it on social media, Dalzell said.

The Chronicle reached out to the Vermont senators campaign, which did not offer comment on the union ad.

In Sanders ad, supporters accused PG&E of decades of negligence and indicated they wanted the public, not investors, to own the company. Sanders, who leads the Democratic presidential primarys delegate count, has previously responded to PG&Es woes by saying that Californians cannot remain hostage to a profiteering corporation for a very basic human need. His campaign website includes a survey that encourages people to support bringing PG&E under public ownership.

IBEW is also protesting a bill from Wiener, D-San Francisco, that would put control of PG&E in the hands of a new government entity. And the union has fought San Franciscos attempts to buy the PG&E electric poles and wires that serve the city.

Taken together, the efforts demonstrate the kind of resistance that ideas for complete structural overhauls at PG&E will continue to encounter. Despite PG&Es responsibility for fires that killed dozens of people and burned communities to the ground, utility labor leaders could prove a powerful supporter of keeping the company intact.

In an interview, Dalzell reiterated his unions longstanding belief that switching from one kind of energy provider to another, whether going to publicly owned from investor-owned or vice versa, threatens employees pensions.

Its just hard to have a residual pension in one and start a new pension in the middle of your career somewhere else, Dalzell said. The sum does not equal the value of what they would have had if they had stayed somewhere else.

Dalzell said his members were furious about the Sanders advertisement, and those who supported his presidential campaign felt betrayed.

The IBEW conflict illustrates some of the difficulty Sanders ideas could face between the campaign rhetoric and the policy implementation side, said Sonoma State University political scientist David McCuan.

Campaign rhetoric is passionate, he said. The implementation of public policy is difficult, not sexy and riddled with peril.

The union video is likely to resonate with rank-and-file PG&E workers, but public anger toward the company could easily mount again depending on the companys performance this year, when it will likely continue shutting off power in an attempt to prevent fires, McCuan said.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Wiener is hoping to tap into that public anger with his legislation, SB917, that would put PG&E under public control. When Wiener announced he was introducing the bill in San Francisco this month, members of IBEW came to his news conference to protest. They held signs with messages such as Wiener dont touch my pension, booed and shouted lies at times.

Dalzell recently wrote an opinion piece criticizing the bill that was published on The Chronicles website. The union is telling lawmakers about its opposition to the bill as well.

Catie Stewart, a spokeswoman for Wiener, said the bill was crafted with the interests of PG&E employees in mind.

Weve designed the entire bill to protect workers and their wages and their pensions and their benefits, she said. IBEW is entitled to do whatever they want and oppose this, but it would be really great of them to constructively provide feedback as well.

The bill was referred to the Senates utilities and energy committee but has not yet received a hearing.

Wieners bill is advancing at the same time that San Francisco continues with its own efforts to create a full-fledged city-run electric utility. The city offered PG&E $2.5 billion for its local power lines and substations last year and was rejected by the company, which has consistently resisted efforts to chip away at its service area.

San Francisco leaders pledged to press on even after the citys rejection. This month, the city began an internet campaign called Our City, Our Power to drum up public support. In a statement, Mayor London Breed said the citys offer to PG&E was consistent with residents desire to move our city in a new direction through public power. The campaign can be viewed online at publicpowersf.org.

But Dalzells union already has its own website decrying the idea of a San Francisco local takeover of PG&E. The union website, sfprioritycheck.com, says the city should instead focus its efforts on combating homelessness and property crime and building housing.

J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris
Eight years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories.

It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.

Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters.

To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.

         

Environment Agency  Board Member



The Secretary of State, working closely with the Chair of the Environment Agency, is seeking to appoint four new members to the Board of the Environment Agency to boost resilience and replace outgoing members. The Secretary of State wants to attract high-calibre and forward-thinking applicants from diverse backgrounds. Applicants will need to demonstrate they are able to carry out a full range of non-executive responsibilities and have relevant skills, knowledge and expertise. Board members have the opportunity to shape the strategic vision of the Environment Agency and think in different ways putting net zero, climate adaptation and innovative finance at the heart of its ambitions.

Time: Four days per month.

Remuneration: 350 per diem, reasonable expenses.

Closes: 25 February

         

Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership  Chair



The Tees Valley Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) are looking to recruit a new LEP Chair and new LEP members from the private sector to deliver our ambitious economic plans. The Combined Authority and LEP strive to ensure an equal and diverse membership, and through this latest round of appointments, have committed to achieve 50% female representation on the LEP board in 2020. Due to the current LEP Chair coming to the end of his term, we are looking to appoint a new LEP Chair who has a strong private sector background, experience of building effective organisations and has the motivation to fully commit to and represent the LEP on a local and national scale.

Time: 6-8 days per month.

Remuneration: Travel and subsistence expenses.

Closes: 29 February

         

Solent Local Enterprise Partnership  Chair



The Solent LEP is seeking to recruit a Chair who is an influential local leader and who can bring energy and passion to act as a champion for the areas economic success. The Chair requires sufficient standing to be able to convene the local business community and public sector stakeholders, while having the insight to oversee the development of an economic strategy and the relationship skills to work effectively with government. We want you to have a voice, make a difference and give something back to the region. The Chair must come from the private sector (Individuals can only be classed as private sector if their organisations do not appear on the Public Sector Classifications guide which can be viewed on the Office for National Statistics website).

Time: Minimum one day per week on average.

Remuneration: Reasonable expenses.

Closes: 29 February

         

School Teachers Review Body  Chair



As Chair of the STRB, you will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction to the STRB in fulfilling its functions as a public body; and for delivering high quality recommendations in response to the matters that have been referred to the STRB by the Secretary of State. You will do this by leading the work of the STRB in a way that deals comprehensively with the matters that have been referred to it; where necessary challenging existing assumptions; making effective use of the skills and expertise of the other members of the STRB; and providing effective challenge to the evidence and representations that are submitted to the STRB by the wide range of consultees

Time: Approx. 30 days per annum.

Remuneration: 350 per diem.

Closes: 01 March

         

Childrens Commissioners Office  Advisory Board Member



The Office of the Childrens Commissioner is a dynamic and creative place to work. It is a small organisation, but it has a loud voice and is highly respected. The Childrens Commissioners Advisory Board exists to provide advice and challenge to the Childrens Commissioner in the exercise of her statutory functions. The Commissioner is now inviting applications from exceptional individuals, with a wide breadth of experience, to join this Board, which meets quarterly in London. Candidates need not have previous experience of working with children but should demonstrate an interest in policy issues affecting children, particularly the most vulnerable, and be interested in the role of the Commissioner and able to offer a different perspective on her work.

Time: 3-4 meetings per year.

Remuneration: Reasonable expenses.

Closes: 03 March

         

Home Office  Non-Executive Directors



We are seeking high-calibre Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) with substantial experience of leading complex, delivery focused organisations, to support the Home Secretary in the realisation of her ambitious agenda. Non-Executive Directors provide a key role in diversifying and strengthening the strategic and operational leadership of the Home Office. They complement the skills and experience of Government Ministers and officials by bringing constructive challenge and advice to the Departments work through a fresh, independent, and external perspective. You will work closely with ministers and officials to support the delivery of a portfolio of priorities linked to key departmental commitments.

Time: 3 years.

Remuneration: 15,000.

Closes: 08 March

         

Office for Budget Responsibility  Chair



Robert Chote will be stepping down as Chair of the BRC later this year, after 10 years in post. We are seeking a successor with deep expertise in economic and fiscal analysis who can lead the BRC and provide intellectual leadership to the OBRs staff. This is a high profile and influential role, requiring outstanding communication skills and integrity. Candidates must command broad respect for their objectivity in dealing with issues of political sensitivity. Appointments to the BRC are for a five-year term. There is the possibility of reappointment at the end of the term and members can serve a maximum of two terms. This post can be undertaken on either a part or full-time basis.

Time: Full- or part-time.

Remuneration: 158,762 per annum (FTE).

Closes: 19 March

         

Office for Nuclear Regulation  Security Non-Executive Director



The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is a Public Corporation responsible for the regulation of nuclear safety and security across the UK. Its vision is to be an exemplary regulator that inspires respect, trust and confidence. ONR is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who have principal responsibility for governance, finance and its performance in relation to conventional Health and Safety. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is accountable for the UK civil nuclear regulatory framework and policies and for appointing a Security Non-Executive Director (NED) to the ONR Board.

Time: Approx. 30 days per annum.

Remuneration: 15,000 plus expenses.

Closes: 22 March

         

Financial Conduct Authority  Chief Executive



This is an opportunity to take on an intellectually demanding role at the heart of international financial services, leading a sizeable and complex organisation. There is a requirement for strong leadership in a challenging environment to undertake a critically important role. Under Andrew Bailey, the FCA has formulated a transformation programme, to equip the organisation for the next phase of its development: a data strategy and enhanced analytical skills to rapidly identify harm across an exceptionally broad range of firms of all sizes exploiting fast-moving changes in technology and distribution to target consumers; enhance employee capabilities and processes to act swiftly on the harms identified; [and] and with a regulatory framework which is appropriate following the completion of EU withdrawal, and which takes advantage of the opportunities for better and more efficient regulation brought by technology and behavioural science.

Time: Full-time.

Remuneration: Competitive.

Closes: 27 March
The Australian Catholic University has become the third and final institution to sign a $50 million deal with the Ramsay Centre, and will offer a Western civilisation degree at its North Sydney campus from next year.

The money will fund 150 scholarships over five years, worth about $30,000 each, and academics to teach the great books-style course, in which small groups of students study key texts from the western tradition in depth.

Australian Catholic University Vice-Chancellor Greg Craven, who has signed a deal with the Ramsay Centre to offer a western civilisation degree. Credit:

The agreement comes more than two years after the Ramsay Centre first asked universities to apply for the funding and after controversial negotiations with some of the country's most elite institutions failed.

Australian Catholic University vice chancellor Greg Craven has been a vocal defender of the centre during the fiery public debate, in which some academics accused the Ramsay board of Euro-centrism and of trying to push conservative views on campuses.
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Feb 24 (ANI): Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday hit out at the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said it is a battle between people of India and BJP.



"It is not a battle between Muslims and Central Government. But, it is a battle between the people of India and BJP. We are supposed to speak about the economy. However, we are talking about CAA and NRC. Why? Because protest is going on everywhere," Chidambaram said at a seminar here.

"Many have not read about the CAA. That's why the government lies. They say it will not affect people who live in India. Then who will be affected by it?" he said.

Protests erupted in parts of the country in December last year on the Act, which grants 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 December 31, 2014.

Meanwhile, when Chidambaram was addressing the gathering, a huge flex board came crashing down on the dais in close proximity behind him.

However, the Congress leader continued speaking and the board was fixed later. No one was injured in the incident. (ANI)


M ost Sundays I go for a walk with my best friend Ted. It started as a way of resolving a perennial argument about which cafe is equidistant from our houses, but it soon became ritual. Walking is cheaper than brunch, less guilt-inducing than a pint, and even though we amble around at snails pace, it just about counts as exercise. Plus, we always have better conversations when were trudging around Clissold Park or Woodberry Wetlands Ted reminds me. It helps us set the world to rights. Were not the only ones donning our trainers. A YouGov poll conducted in 2018 found that 49 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds are walking for leisure  much higher than in previous years  with 54 per cent of young adults taking a recreational walk at least once a week. In the past few years, what was once considered the activity of choice for retirees has experienced something of a renaissance among younger generations.

From the National Trust publishing a guide to forest bathing  a Japanese practice involving walking through woodland to promote positive mental wellbeing  to the proliferation of urban rambling groups around the capital, walking has finally found its cool. For an overwhelmingly cash-strapped and health-conscious generation, walking and hiking provides a cheap way for young people to socialise, stay fit and experience some of the positive mental health benefits associated with outdoor pursuits.

Like all good fitness trends, LA is ground zero for the millennial hiking obsession. From Kourtney Kardashian pacing around Runyon Canyon to Amanda Seyfried halfway up a mountain and Miley Cyrus and Kate Hudson posting shots in the great outdoors, social media is plastered with evidence that celebrities love hiking.

The fashion industry, of course, is taking note. This season London-based brand Shrimps sent models down the AW20 catwalk ready to face the elements in regal coats, paired with renegade hiking boots, while Grensons Nanette pair have become highly sought after with the capitals style set. Last year Loewe launched Eye, a diffusion line of outdoor essentials including rucksacks and waterproof jackets, while outdoor brands such as Patagonia and North Face  once perceived as being for mountain climbers and ski instructors  continue to be co-opted by a whole new demographic of young, urban millennials.

Miley Cyrus' hiking post on Instagram

Hiking is no longer about zip-off brown pants, its about versatility says Amanda Calder-McLaren, Europe, the Middle East and Africa brands communication director for The North Face. Yes, there has to be an element of functionality, but its about looking and feeling good. While many of these pieces may never actually make it on a proper walk,its a clear marker of hikings influence in fashion and beyond. For Calder-McLaren, young Londoners are taking up walking for a number of reasons. Theres the intensity of the city, the stressful, always on culture. Were so dependent on tech, that people need a breath of fresh air; theyre looking for escapism.

Kate Hudson's a hiking fan

As more young people swap going out for going out on a walk, rambling groups and hiking crews are proliferating across the capital. The Metropolitan Walkers  specifically aimed at those in their twenties and thirties  is one of many targeting young walkers, organising evening and weekend hikes. In 2016, journalist Bryony Gordon came up with the idea of creating a group where like-minded people with mental health issues could get together and realise they werent alone. A walk, she reasoned, was the perfect opportunity, and as a result of a single tweet, Mental Health Mates was launched. The next month Gordon and 20 others met at the Serpentine. Now it is a global network of peer support groups, governed by the belief that a walk and a talk can have benefits.

Grensons Nanette boots
US President Donald Trump is set to visit India for the first time on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24 and 25, 2020. While this visit will provide an opportunity to improve the bilateral relationship and much more, one of the things that could also happen is that PM Modi might give what Trump has been asking for all this while  lowering of taxes on motorcycles made by American automaker Harley-Davidson.

US President Donald Trump had earlier said in an interview to CBS, We're not the foolish country that does so badly. You look at India, a very good friend of mine, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, you take a look at what they've done, 100 per cent tax on a motorcycle. We charge them nothing."

Trump was referring to the import duty which earlier stood at 100 per cent for vehicles coming into India as Completely Built Units (CBU).

Trump had added, "He (Modi) reduced it by 50 per cent with one phone call. I said it's still unacceptable because it's 50 per cent versus nothing. It's still unacceptable. And they're working on it.

However, while the import tariff on CBUs was dropped down to 50 per cent from 100 per cent, the duties on vehicles that come to India in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) form were raised to 15 per cent, from 10 per cent.

Now, as per a report by Livemint, India has promised to cut import duties to a single-digit for motorcycles having engines bigger than 1600cc by coming up with a new tariff classification for such motorcycles.

This move, should it happen, could also go on to help other automakers who also sell motorcycles with engines larger than 1600cc. This includes the likes of British automaker Triumph Motorcycles, Honda Motorcycles and Indian Motorcycles (also an American bikemaker).

In the last financial year, Harley-Davidson had a little less than 2,700 units sold in India, majority of which had engines ranging from 883cc to 1200cc  most of which are all coming to India in the CKD form. So, even if import duties on CBU motorcycles with engine capacity of more than 1600cc sees a cut, it may not actually make much of a difference to the sales of Harley-Davidson in India. Or even the new classification of motorcycles over 1600cc as a whole.
"As a child she would tell her friends off for behaving poorly but would still love them, I think that she was just that way," he said. "She didn't need people to play up to her, she either loved you or not and was confident enough to decide for herself and behave accordingly. The Lows had been at the theme park with their children Kieran and Isla, aged 10 and 6 at the time. Ms Low boarded the raft of the Thunder River Rapids ride with her son, after she made the tragic decision to separate from her husband and daughter. Kieran survived the tragedy, having been thrown from the raft alongside the 12-year-old daughter of another ride victim, Kate Goodchild.

At the time, police said it was "a miracle" that the children survived. Mr Low said his wife "deserved to share her unconditional love with myself and our children Kieran and Isla as well as the rest of the family and friends for a long, long time". Mathew Low (left) arriving to hear the coroner's findings. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP "Our heart aches daily as we try with varying success to be grateful for the decades we had, there just weren't enough," he told the court. "She deserved the world and for us that meant many more years yet."

Mr Low also read a statement from Isla, now aged 9. "Mum was a wonderful person with a very big heart," she wrote. "She looked out for other people and would do anything for Kieran and I. "I miss her hugs and her cakes that she used to make for us all the time." Ms Low was originally from Kawerau in New Zealand, but settled on Sydney's north shore several years ago.

Her mother, Donna Cooke, and brother Michael, were in New Zealand when they heard the about the tragedy on the news, not realising it was Cindy who had been killed. "I still remember thinking of these people whom I don't know as I tried to fall asleep," Michael Cooke told the court. His nightmare was realised the next day when he received a distraught call from his mother - Cindy had been on the raft. "My mother was hysterical," he said. From there he and his mother flew to Australia to view Cindy's body.

"This woman who looked a whole lot like my sister wasn't her because for a start she wasn't smiling and her makeup she had on was not the way she would wear it," Mr Cooke said. Loading "I got to say goodbye and told her 'I'll see you soon, but not too soon'." The lawyer for Cindy's mother, Donna Cooke, read a statement from her in court on Monday morning. "Since Cindys death, I have become a reclusive old lady. I feel no interest in anything," she wrote.
A truck driver has pleaded guilty to raping and murdering a 21-year-old journalism intern in 1980 after he was snared by DNA.

James Curtis Clanton, 62, abducted Helene Pruszynski as she got off a bus in Englewood, Colorado, and sexually assaulted her before dumping her body in a field.

He was finally caught after police sequenced genetic material on a beer mug he had used and matched it to semen left on Ms Pruszynski's coat.

Her sister Janet, the only surviving member of her family, described her as 'my best friend' and said, 'there has not been a day that goes by that we haven't missed her'.

James Curtis Clanton, 62, (left, when arrested for domestic violence in 1998 and right today) pleaded guilty to murdering Helene Pruszinski after abducting her after she got off a bus

Ms Pruszynski had been staying with her aunt while she did an internship at a radio station in Englewood, Colorado, in January 1980

Clanton admitted the crime following 15 minutes in the court room. He expressed remorse on the flight to Colorado from his home in Florida, police said

Clanton pleaded guilty after just 15 minutes in court on Friday, reports Fox News.

Police had spent nine days tailing him before getting the DNA sample to convict him, after they ruled out other suspects.

Clanton now faces a sentence of life imprisonment, and will only be eligible for parole after 20 years. He would have faced the death penalty if his case had gone to trial.

He was convicted of rape in 1975, and arrested for domestic violence in 1998.

His name was changed a number of years ago and he had no contact with authorities in Florida for ten years, police said.

Ms Pruszynski was staying with her aunt while she did an internship at a radio station, before her body was found on 16 January, 1980.

Clanton pictured boarding a plane before he was moved to Colorado to face trial. Police snared him after finding his DNA matched that of semen left on Ms Pruszynski's coat

Clanton faces a jail sentence for life, with 20 years before he is eligible for parole

Clanton opened up about the murder and expressed remorse as they flew to Colorado from Florida, where he lived, sergeant Atilla Denes told the Highlands Ranch Herald.

'He said that he felt that he had received many more years of freedom than he deserved,' she said.

Douglas County district attorney George Brauchler congratulated officers for their 'unrelenting' and 'outstanding' efforts to close the cold case.

'The resolution of a horrible sexual assault and murder in a desolate part of our county four decades ago ended within 15 minutes in a court room this morning', he said.

Ms Pruszynski's sister Janet described her as 'my best friend' and said there wasn't a day that goes by where she didn't miss her

Union County Sheriff Whitehead, whose force helped with the operation, said: 'We are proud to see justice finally served and this person having to answer for the crime he committed almost 40 years ago.

'We pray that the friends and family of the victim can now have peace knowing this murderer is captured.'

Clanton will be sentenced in April.
According to the latest sales data of OTP Real Estate, between November 2019 and the end of January 2020, buyers could receive an average discount one-third higher than a year earlier as a result of last-minute negotiations, writes penzcentrum.hu.

While at the end of 2018 and at the beginning of last year, when the contract was signed, the final target price was lowered by an average of 3.1%, a year later, buyers were able to reduce property prices by 4.4%.



For the whole of 2019, the average price per square meter of an apartment in Budapest was HUF 618,000, according to OTP mortgage data. So if you buy a 50 sqm flat, you could save up to HUF 1.35 million with a 4.4% bargain, penzcentrum.hu explains.
Ivanka Trump, the daughter and senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, speaks with an Indian officer as they wait for a ceremonial welcome for US President Donald Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi. (Image: AP)
Britain's top civil servant yesterday tried to end the toxic briefing war engulfing Priti Patel at the Home Office.

In a highly unusual intervention, Sir Mark Sedwill wrote to civil servants to warn that unattributable briefings and leaks to the media were besmirching this countrys hard-won reputation for good governance.

The Cabinet Secretarys comments follow days of extraordinary briefings about relations between Miss Patel and Sir Philip Rutnam, who is permanent secretary at the Home Office.

Allies of Home Secretary Priti Patel are urging Sir Mark to move Sir Philip to a new role in Whitehall. No 10 yesterday confirmed that the appointment of permanent secretaries was a matter for the Cabinet Secretary

The Home Secretary is said to be livid over claims that she bullied staff and was cut out of security briefings by MI5  allegations that emerged after she allegedly tried to have Sir Philip removed.

The Home Office issued a joint statement from the pair on Sunday saying they were deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media.

But a Whitehall source said relations between them had completely broken down, adding: Can they continue to work together? I just dont know. No 10 is going to have to sort it out because it is completely dysfunctional.

Boris Johnson yesterday threw his weight behind Miss Patel, with Downing Street saying the Prime Minister had full confidence in the Home Secretary.

The Cabinet Secretarys comments follow days of extraordinary briefings about relations between Miss Patel and Sir Philip Rutnam, pictured above, who is permanent secretary at the Home Office

Asked to give the same endorsement to Sir Philip, the PMs official spokesman ducked the question, replying: The Prime Minister has full confidence in the civil service.

A Home Office source predicted Sir Philip would see off Miss Patel.

Officials will not stop until they have got rid of Priti, they said.

When Amber Rudd was home secretary she did all she could to win over the department, but she was the one who lost her job when it all went wrong. Priti may be safe for now, but when it next goes wrong theyll make sure she is the one who ends up out of the door.

Allies of Miss Patel are urging Sir Mark to move Sir Philip to a new role in Whitehall.

No 10 yesterday confirmed that the appointment of permanent secretaries was a matter for the Cabinet Secretary.

In his message to staff last night, Sir Mark was careful not to take sides. He referred to recent stories of tensions within Whitehall.

He said the ability of ministers and officials to talk candidly and courteously was crucial to the trust and confidence on which good governance depends.

Boris Johnson yesterday threw his weight behind Miss Patel, with Downing Street saying the Prime Minister had full confidence in the Home Secretary

He added: Both should be confident that this advice, and any debate that surrounds it, will remain private and that everyone will at all times adhere to the high standards set out in the civil service, special adviser and ministerial codes.

Senior Tories rallied round Miss Patel. Security minister James Brokenshire said reports of bullying were absolute nonsense.

And former environment secretary Theresa Villiers suggested Miss Patel was the victim of Whitehall sexism.

She acknowledged that the Home Secretary was a tough and demanding minister, but told BBC Radio Fours Today programme: I am sick of these spiteful briefings against women in high office.

No 10 has denied claims that Miss Patel is not fully trusted by MI5. A security source said the report in The Sunday Times was untrue.
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A man who was diagnosed with breast cancer a month before his 30th wedding anniversary was made to feel 'isolated and lonely', when an online support group declined his membership because of his gender.

David McCallion, 55, from Manchester, who is one of just 390 men annually diagnosed with the condition in the UK according to charity Prevent Breast Cancer, didn't know any other male sufferers to share with, so he searched online.

Facing a mastectomy and living with the fear that his condition could be hereditary because his mother also had breast cancer, the community worker felt in desperate need of support beyond his family.

'I tried to join a support group on Facebook. But they sort of politely told me that because I was a man it might prevent members from opening up - so I thought it was best that I didn't join. I was effectively declined membership,' he said.

David McCallion, 55, (pictured) from Manchester, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, revealed he was declined membership to a support group on Facebook

David (pictured) began a gruelling regime of chemotherapy on December 5th, which is set to finish at the end of next month

He continued: 'I was made to feel like I was muscling in. But the last thing I wanted to do was jump up and down saying, "Look at me I've got breast cancer too".

'But if the other 389 men feel anything like I did, something needs to be done for men with breast cancer.

'I will never be the same person I was before my diagnosis because, politely speaking, I didn't realise how lonely this disease is.

'Cancer is lonely full stop. But being a man in what I call the "pink world" of breast cancer - that's even lonelier.'

David, who has two sons, builder, Ryan, 27, and communications professional, Liam, 25, with his carer wife, Julie, 54, is now keen to break taboos surrounding male breast cancer, which has seen other men questioning his masculinity.

He said: 'When I tell other blokes about my diagnosis, half say, "Men don't get breast cancer", and I lift up my shirt and say, "Yes they do".

'Some ask why I've had it, as if to say, "Are you really a man?".

David initially thought his inverted nipple (pictured) was related to gynaecomastia, however a doctor referred him to Greater Manchester's Royal Oldham Hospital for further examination

David (pictured after mastectomy) asked for his surgery to be delayed until after his 30th wedding anniversary, which involved a road trip and weekend in London

'I don't care what people say about that sort of thing, though. I've been married for 30 years, I have two sons and two grandkids.'

David was diagnosed with gynaecomastia in 2015, a common condition causing men's breasts to become larger than normal, according to the NHS.

In April 2019, he noticed his right nipple was inverted and thought it must be related to the condition.

David said: 'I'd been seeing my GP for about a year, as I'd been struggling with anxiety after losing my mum, Joan at 91, in June 2018, after a long battle with dementia and breaking her hip.

'Then, in May 2019, I was just leaving his surgery, when I lifted my jumper and said, "What's this?".

'The doctor looked at my nipple and told me not to panic, but said that we had to rule a few things out.'

Referred to Greater Manchester's Royal Oldham Hospital on July 10, 2019, David was not 'overly concerned.'

'I just assumed it was something to with my man boobs,' he added.

A consultant told the community worker (pictured with his wife, Julie, 54) that he had grade two invasive ductal carcinoma

Given a physical examination, a mammogram and an ultrasound scan, doctors then told David he needed a biopsy, which involves a sample of tissue being taken and examined more closely.

'They were able to rule out a cyst right away and 20 mins after the biopsy the doctor said that, in his opinion, there was a 99 per cent chance it was going to be cancer,' said David.

'The first thing I thought was, "How the hell am I going to tell my family?".

'My second thought was, "How am I going to tell everybody else I have breast cancer - as a man?".

'I didn't know whether I was coming or going - my head was completely gone.'

Returning to hospital with his wife on July 24, a consultant explained that David had grade two invasive ductal carcinoma, which is found in the breast duct and surrounding tissue.

What are the symptoms of male breast cancer? Breast cancer is rare in men. There are about 350 men diagnosed each year in the UK. This compares to around 55,000 cases in women. The most common form of cancer in women and men is called 'invasive breast carcinoma - no special type'. The risk factors for male breast cancer include: Getting older

High oestrogen levels

Men who are very overweight (obese)

chronic liver conditions, such as cirrhosis

Some genetic conditions

Klinefelter's syndrome

Exposure to radiation

Family members with breast cancer or a breast cancer gene The most common symptom for men with breast cancer is a lump in the breast area. This is nearly always painless. Other symptoms can include: oozing from the nipple (a discharge) that may be blood stained

swelling of the breast

a sore (ulcer) in the skin of the breast

a nipple that is pulled into the breast (called nipple retraction)

lumps under the arm

a rash on or around the nipple The same treatments are used for breast cancer in men as for women. Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement

According to Prevent Breast Cancer who claim 80 men die each year of the disease in the UK, this is the most common form of breast cancer in men and women.

David said: 'For the next eight minutes everything the doctor said was addressed to my wife and, in the end, I had to tell him to talk to me and not to her.

'I got quite angry, but later apologised and explained that I've got to own the breast cancer - it's mine.

'He explained that he breaks this news to women day in day out, which is why he didn't address me at first. He's been brilliant ever since, though.'

After being told a full mastectomy on his right breast was the best course of action, David asked for the surgery to be delayed until after his 30th wedding anniversary, on August 19.

'The doctor told me the goal was to cure the cancer, but they wanted to do everything possible to make sure it didn't come back,' he said.

'But it's not your 30th wedding anniversary every day and I wanted to celebrate that before the operation.

'We had a bit of a road trip, heading down to Birmingham to meet family, before spending a weekend in London.

'We walked around until our legs dropped off, going on a boat trip and being proper tourists.'

The 55-year-old (pictured) who also suffers with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, said he didn't want Julie to think that he was worried as he prepared for surgery

Then, on September 25, at North Manchester General Hospital, David, who also suffers with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) - a bulge in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from the heart down through the chest and tummy - had a mastectomy.

He also had a lymph node removed to test for traces of cancer.

The AAA, which was diagnosed in October 2018, when it showed up during a scan of his painful left hip, is being monitored by medics, but has not yet required treatment.

David said: 'The doctors told me that having anaesthetic could raise my blood pressure and cause complications, but vascular surgeons were there as a back-up during the mastectomy.

'Julie was with me until I had to put my gown on and I gave her a quick hug and said, 'See you later.' I didn't want her to think I was worried, but with the added complication of the AAA, of course I was.'

Surrounded by smiling faces when he came to from the two-hour operation, David was told his surgery had been a success.

But, after the lymph node tested positive for cancer, on October 4 David - who was not offered reconstructive surgery and does not want it - had a further 24 removed.

Luckily, none of the other lymph nodes were cancerous, but on December 5, he began a gruelling regime of chemotherapy, having treatment every week, which will finish at the end of next month.

David, will then have 15 days of radiotherapy in April, before taking Tamoxifen, a hormone therapy that helps prevent the disease returning, for five to 10 years.

'The side effects have been crap,' he said.

'I've had infection after infection, upset bowels and a sinus infection that has lasted for nine weeks.

'It's been a bit of a rocky ride to say the least, but people have it a lot worse than me, so I thank my lucky stars.'

David also faces the prospect of his breast cancer being hereditary, as his mother had it in her eighties.

Once his treatment has finished, he will be tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which run in families and increase the chances of developing breast, ovarian, colorectal and prostate cancer, according to the NHS.

'My mum's cancer was similar to mine, so it is a concern that it could be hereditary,' he said.

David (pictured) has now found an awareness campaign about male breast cancer, founded by a woman whose partner suffered with the condition

'The doctors haven't given any suggestion that it is and we don't know for definite what kind of cancer Mum's was  it was so long ago - so all we can do is hope that it's not hereditary.

'I've not been tested for the BRCA1 of BRCA2 genes yet, they're waiting until after treatment.

'If I do have them, my boys will have to be checked, too, but I've told them they don't need to worry until I've been tested.

'I just hope my breast cancer is some fluke or case of bad luck and not hereditary.'

As David's cancer journey has progressed, he has found #bluegetittoo, an awareness campaign about male breast cancer started by a woman whose partner was diagnosed.

He continued: 'Not long after I was effectively declined membership of a support group, I was on the internet looking for places to talk about male breast cancer and found a Facebook page set up by Lorraine Milligan, who wanted to offer support after her partner was diagnosed.

'At the time, there were only about 11 people that had liked it, but it was great to see people talking about male breast cancer with the hashtag #bluegetittoo.'

Now David is keen to make men aware that breast cancer can affect them, too, and is urging them to check themselves for tell-tale symptoms.

David (pictured) urges men to talk about their health more and to regularly examine their body, as he believes men always turn up at the doctors late

'Men need to talk about their health more,' he said. 'By the time they finally do it's often too late.

'There's a culture of checking down below for testicular cancer and that needs to be broadened to include other areas, including the chest area.

'Pick a day of the month - it could be a birthday or pay day - but pick a number and check your body once a month on that day.

'Feel your chest, look at your body and examine it properly.

'Men always turn up at the doctors late. I should have gone as soon as my inverted nipple appeared.

'A lot of people don't believe this happens, but 390 men are diagnosed with this disease every year, so male breast cancer is definitely real.'

To find out more about breast cancer in men and how to spot the symptoms, visit preventbreastcancer.org
Yemeni army unveils four advanced domestically-built missile defense systems

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 1:58 PM

Yemeni armed forces have unveiled four domestically-built long-range, surface-to-air missile defense systems, which could act as game changers and alter the course of battle in the face of the deadly campaign led by Saudi Arabia against Yemen.

The president of Yemen's Supreme Political Council and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Mahdi al-Mashat, who was speaking at a ceremony in the capital Sana'a on Sunday, identified the systems as Fater-1 (Innovator-1), Thaqib-1 (Piercer-1), Thaqib-2 and Thaqib-3.

The systems have entered service following successful tests, the official announced.

Yemeni Minister of Defense Major General Mohamed al-Atefy, Chairman of the General Staff Major General Mohamed al-Ghammari and Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesman for the armed forces, were also in attendance during the event.

Mashat praised the efforts by the Yemeni Ministry of Defense as regards the development and modernization of the military systems in order to deter or, if need be, confront the enemy.

"The new defense systems will change the course of the battle against the coalition of aggression, and pave the ground for the introduction of more sophisticated systems in order to engage enemy targets," Mashat stated.

On Saturday, Saree said the country's air defense units had managed to thwart a Saudi-led airstrike against a strategic district east of the capital Sana'a.

On Tuesday, the spokesman for Yemen's air force, Major General Abdullah al-Jafri, praised the recent interception and targeting of a Tornado multi-role combat aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force in the country's northern province of Jawf.

He told Arabic-language Mirat al-Jazeera news website in an exclusive interview that the downing of the Tornado jet confirms beyond any doubt that 2020 will be the year of modern and advanced air defense systems that can track, damage or shoot down enemy aircraft.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the 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 the 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.

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Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka H D Kumaraswamy has extended an invite to the citizens of Ramnagara district in Karnataka requesting their presence at the marriage of his son Nikhil who heads the youth wing of the party.

In an emotional letter, which is a part of the invite, Kumaraswamy said that while he was born in Hassan district, it was the people of Ramnagara which gave him political birth and was sacred for him. Saying that this was a non-political event, Kumaraswamy requested the people of Ramanagara to join him in the wedding celebrations of his son. Nikhils mother Anitha Kumaraswamy is the present MLA from Ramnagara constituency in the district while the former CM himself represents the neighbouring Channapatna seat.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy has acted in a few movies till now and unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary polls from Mandya district in 2019. He is set to marry Revathi, the niece of former Congress minister M Krishnappa on April 17. Lakhs of people are expected to attend the event happening at a specially built mantap in a large open field on the Bengaluru  Mysuru highway, near Janapada Loka which is a well-known museum dedicated to preserving folk culture.

Kumaraswamy himself in the past has commented on how he deliberately chose the venue as a way to thank the people of the district instead of conducting it in Bangalore or any of the other well-known venues across the state. A party spokesperson refused to comment on the invite extended to the Ramnagara people saying it is a private and not a political event.

However, another party leader who did not want to be identified said After all it is the district which elected both our leaders  Kumaraswamy and Anitha. It is but natural that they would want to celebrate such a joyous occasion among their constituents.
Eve has given some details on the development of its next device, a 2-in-1 successor to the V. The Eve community will have a large amount of say in the direction the next device takes. Eve CEO Konstantinos Karatsevidis also explained the changes in Eve's business model to prevent order fulfillment issues with the company's next device.

Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here

Eve, the company behind the Spectrum gaming monitor and V 2-in-1, unveiled some of its plans for its next device. Similar to the first V, Eve is planning on designing another 2-in-1. In typical Eve fashion, the devices design and specifications will be largely driven by community input.

Currently, Eve is taking suggestions from its community base to finalize the design of the upcoming device. The company has settled on 5 different design options and is now asking people which direction to take.

In addition to surveying its community for design options, Eve is looking to its supporters for the devices name. Some popular options on the Eve forums include the Eve W and the Eve Laplacian (for those mathematicians out there).

Finalizing the name and design will take a bit of time. According to Eve CEO Konstantinos Karatsevidis, there has been an enormous amount of suggestions from the community to sift through. After the design is nailed down, Konstantinos expects prototypes to start appearing at the end of March, barring any other slowdowns due to the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Outside of design, Eve will also look to the community for hardware decisions. Eve plans to use a 15 W 11th generation Intel CPU (Tiger Lake). The Eve community will also have a say in other key specs, such as Thunderbolt support, eGPU connectivity, port selection, and more.

Eve plans to release the successor to the V in Q4 of this year, which would land it sometime between October and December.

While the company gears up for its next device, it will clearance out its remaining stock of the V 2-in-1. The company is now selling the V for US $779/779 on its site. The model sold is the higher-end SKU, boasting an Intel Core i7-7Y75, 16 GB LPDDR3 RAM, and a 512 GB PCIe SSD. The unit will also include the pen and keyboard at no additional cost. Karatsevidis confirmed that these units would be shipped directly from Eves existing stock and would arrive in a few days.

Anytime Eve is mentioned, the shipping issues that plagued the companys first device resurface. Notebookcheck asked Karatsevidis how Eve planned to handle any prior orders of the V that had yet to be fulfilled and how Eve plans to mitigate shipped and order fulfillment issues with their new device. Konstantinos stated that Eve has changed [its] business model completely.]"

Previously, we used to license our design, product, and brand to resellers around the world, and one of the resellers had issues which backfired on us. You can read the full explanation here: https://eve.community/t/we-have-an-announcement-to-make/18324/. We have now also taken measures to take care of these unfortunate customers. You can see the form we posted up here: https://evedevices.com/pages/zendesk-contact.

Karatsevidis also said that Eves new business model is completely different from its earlier days:

Our operations are backed by a well-known supply chain company (PCH International) that essentially boosts the scale and capacity of our small team in Finland to those of major tech players by providing fulfillment, sourcing, inventory management, and other services. We are not using 3rd party sellers and a licensing business model this time around. Now we will take care of shipping the product itself as well.

As to those who never received the V they ordered, Karatsevidis said that Eve has been collecting a list of customers with a problem."

At this point, there are only people left with a refund. Our plan is to either ship out the V gen 2 to them or provide a refund this year. This won't happen again with V2 as now we will be selling directly without third parties involved.




Two Vietnamese women, who arrived in Da Nang City from South Korea's Daegu, are taken to a quarantine zone in Da Nang, February 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.

Saigon and Da Nang quarantined 83 people from South Korea's Daegu City, where a major coronavirus outbreak has been detected, Monday.

Da Nang, a popular tourist destination in the central coast, received a flight from Daegu carrying 22 South Korean passengers and 58 Vietnamese students and workers, besides the crew, on Monday morning, said Pham Truc Lam, deputy director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control.

All 80 passengers will be quarantined for 14 days to prevent possible coronavirus infection, he added.

Vietnamese passengers would be quarantined at Dong Nghe Military Reserve Center in Hoa Vang District, while the South Koreans would be monitored at Da Nang Lung Hospital in Lien Chieu District, said Lam.

The crew has been instructed by Da Nang Disease Control Center to wear protective suits, undergo medical history and body temperatures checks. One Vietnamese passenger suffering fever was taken to Da Nang Lung Hospital to be quarantined and tested, Lam added.

The flight was Da Nangs last from Daegu. The plane and its stairs, hallways and vehicles used to transport the 80 quarantined have been sanitized, it was confirmed.

Saigon meanwhile recorded three passengers, whose nationalities have not been disclosed, arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport from Daegu on Monday morning. One was coughing while the other two exhibited no symptoms of infection. The cougher has been quarantined at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases and is being tested for the coronavirus, while the others are held at Cu Chi Field Hospital.

South Korea recently hit international headlines as one of the worst-hit countries and territories by the coronavirus epidemic, recording 231 new infections on Monday alone among a total 833 cases, many in Daegu. The countrys number of infections is second only to China.

Around 200,000 Vietnamese are living, studying and working in South Korea, of which around 8,285 are in Daegu, stated the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam has sought to control travel flow from South Korea, with health declarations required for anyone coming from the country. Those with symptoms like high fever, coughing and breathing difficulties will be put under quarantine, stated the Ministry of Health on Sunday.

Several major cities have also deployed preventative measures to prevent possible infection from South Korea. Saigon's Tan Son Nhat Airport for instance has already performed temperature checks on large numbers of South Korean arrivals.

Vietnam has so far recorded 16 coronavirus cases, of whom 15 have recovered and been discharged from hospital. The remaining patient, a 50-year-old father in northern Vinh Phuc Province who was infected by his 23-year-old daughter, a worker returning from Chinas Wuhan City where the coronavirus outbreak was first detected last December, tested negative on Sunday. He will need to be tested again before discharge.

The global death toll has reached 2,625, mostly in China, followed by Iran with 12, South Korea with seven and Italy with four.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Feb. 23, 2020 | MARSHALL COUNTY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 23, 2020 | 08:43 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY

The search continues for an Illinois woman who was swept away by strong currents in the Tennessee River last week.



Marshall County Emergency Management says numerous local agencies are aiding the Marshall County Rescue Squad in the search for 37-year-old Brandy Osborne, who walked into the river to meet a friend last Friday night. She hasn't been seen since.



Rescue crews continue to search the river and surrounding backwater areas. Multiple resources and technology have been utilized such as drones, drags, sonar and visual observers.



Marshall County Rescue Squad Chief Kurt Schmidt says ten vessels have been deployed on the water, along with teams on the ground and several K9s.



"The Marshall County Rescue Squad truly appreciates all of the assistance from our mutual aid partners. We would also like to thank the local businesses for their support who have supplied meals and drinks for the agencies out here working. Schmidt said.



Schmidt says search efforts continued Sunday, and will resume next weekend.
In Nairobis Kilimani district the upper floor of a typically quiet medical supply shop is hectic with Chinese customers ordering face masks for export. Employees frantically prove the authenticity of facemasks in a three-part burn, water and layer test for clients as they film, sending video evidence in WeChat groups for eager buyers back in China.

Containing the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus has been a difficult task for Chinese authorities. Over the course of three months, the deadly virus has gone from an unconfirmed rumor, to an all out outbreak, infecting around 74,000 people and claiming the lives of over 2,000 people on mainland China to date.

As the battle against coronavirus rages on, supplies of masks and no-contact thermometer guns have dwindled in China. The Chinese government says the country can only produce 20 million masks a day, half of what is needed in the current crisis. So, in an effort to meet ramped up demand, enterprising middlemen are now turning to African nations where a relatively limited supply of masks are made.

In Kenya, the price of a 50-pack box of masks has skyrocketed from around $2 before the outbreak, to nearly $10 at the end of last week, some have orders have since topped $15.

What will happen if corona comes to Kenya? Theres nothing left for us The local Nairobi business Quartz Africa visited this week has received an influx of orders is struggling to meet demand. On Friday, shop manager promised five days to fill an order promising that its factory had increased factory hours from 24 hour-day, five-day week, to to six days a week. By Saturday, the factory had run out of the cotton needed to produce the masks, but promised they were in the process of flying additional cotton supplies from Turkey. Merchants eager to get masks to China have also started to look to Tanzania meet their demand. Last week, the country had not yet been hit with as many masks demands and was able to sell masks at a fraction of what was being offered in Kenya. One Kenyan trader said the masks from Tanzania have been delivered via informal border backroads in order to avoid tariffs.

Story continues

Kenyas no-contact thermometer guns have also been met with increased demand. According to an exporter, though some of the guns are made in Kenya, a good number were imported from China only to be exported back again. The average price of a thermometer gun has jumped by 40% to as high as $35 from around $25 before the outbreak.

Demand for facemasks and other vital medical supplies have risen their price on the market globally.

Demand is up to 100 times higher than normal and prices are up to 20 times higher, said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a news conference in Geneva this week. He has urged against hoarding medical resources during the crisis. This situation has been exacerbated by widespread and inappropriate use of [personal protective equipment] outside patient care. As a result, there are now depleted stockpiles and backlogs of four to six months. Global stocks of masks and respirators are now insufficient to meet the needs of WHO and our partners.

The price of facemasks has increased tenfold in Indonesia. Last week, the Commerce Ministry of Laos set a ceiling for the price of face masks. In China a box of 50 facemasks (imported from the Netherlands) are reportedly being sold for as much as $71.27.

Egypt, the only African country to have had a confirmed coronavirus case so far has also promised to supply facemasks to China which has ordered 200 million masks, but regulators have promised to prioritize local demand.

Fear of the virus spreading throughout Africa is still high. A number of countries have stopped flights from China and placed quarantines on visitors from affected regions, but Ethiopia has been staunch in its refusal to restrict China bound flights.

The African Union and the WHO have increased emergency preparedness efforts for coronavirus on the continent training eighty participants from eighteen African countries on enhanced surveillance at points of entrypoints of entry surveillance officers, national surveillance officers, airport authority officers, and representatives of airlines.

But, if the outbreak does reach Africa, citizens are unsure if preparedness efforts alone will be enough.

At the Nairobi supplier where thermometer guns are being prepared for export back to China one worker notes: What will happen if corona comes to Kenya? Theres nothing left for us

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Japan has another sample-return mission in the works, this one to a mysterious moon of Mars.

The Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) mission, which aims to haul pieces of the Mars moon Phobos to Earth, has officially become a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) project, mission team members announced on Thursday (Feb. 20).

"The mission was previously in the pre-project phase, where the focus was on research and analysis, such as simulating landings to improve spacecraft design," MMX team members wrote in a blog post . "The focus will now move onto the development of mission hardware and software."

Related: 7 biggest mysteries of Mars

If all goes according to plan, the MMX spacecraft will launch in 2024 and enter orbit around the Red Planet in 2025. The probe will visit both of Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, and will touch down on the former for a few hours to snag samples. MMX will then deliver this pristine Phobos material to Earth in 2029, where scientists can scrutinize it in detail.

Such study could reveal key insights about the Red Planet system and our solar system more broadly, JAXA officials have said. For example, the origin of Phobos and Deimos is a subject of debate; some researchers think they're captured asteroids, whereas others have posited that they're made of material blasted off Mars by a long-ago giant impact (or impacts).

"The Martian moons are expected to have accumulated sediment that was ejected from Mars over billions of years," JAXA officials wrote in a mission description .

"Observing the moons will therefore provide information on the evolution of the Martian surface," they added. "Moreover, if the moons were formed during a collision between Mars and gigantic asteroids, the moon material will reveal the original conditions on Mars during this early time, offering insights into the planet's formation and its young environment. Alternatively, if the moons are captured asteroids, their composition will help clarify the transport process of volatile components (such as water) needed for habitability."

JAXA already has considerable experience in sample-return missions to small bodies. In 2010, for example, the agency's Hayabusa mission delivered to Earth tiny bits of the stony asteroid Itokawa. And the Hayabusa2 probe recently snagged pieces of the carbon-rich asteroid Ryugu, which are scheduled to arrive here in December.

Planetary scientists could get their hands on pristine samples from the Martian surface in a decade or so, by the way, if things go according to plan. NASA's life-hunting 2020 Mars rover, which is scheduled to launch this July, will collect and cache samples as part of its varied work on the Red Planet. NASA and the European Space Agency will work together to get this material home, which could happen as early as 2031 .

Mike Wall is the author of "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life, . Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
Start-up business looking for partner to sell straw pellets. Monthly 10 - 30 tons, production begins in summer. Please dont hesitate to contact me. My location Latvia, Augstkalne.
When William Trefry and Elaine Duncan moved to Winnipeg and wanted to get to know the community, they decided to volunteer.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

When William Trefry and Elaine Duncan moved to Winnipeg and wanted to get to know the community, they decided to volunteer.

The couple, who live in River Heights, moved from Red Deer, Alta., in May 2017. By that fall, they were volunteering with Virtuosi Concerts, the recital and chamber music series presented in Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall at the University of Winnipeg.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Elaine Duncan and William Trefry volunteer for Virtuosi Concerts, the University of Winnipegs international recital and chamber music series.

They found out about the opportunity after visiting VolunteerManitoba.ca. It appealed to them because they both enjoy the performing arts and volunteering.

"We also hoped we would meet and make some new friends, as we did not know anyone when we moved here," says Trefry, 52.

They typically volunteer once a month during the concert season for four to five hours each time. Duncan does front-of-house tasks and looks after the coffee, tea and snacks. Meanwhile, Trefry serves wine before the concert and punch during intermission.

Connecting with the same concertgoers each month is a highlight for Trefry, who describes himself as a social butterfly.

"I really enjoy the particular group of individuals that are attracted to Virtuosi," he says. "Its just a fabulous group of people."

One of the things Duncan most appreciates about Virtuosi is that each concert begins with a performance by a local student.

"I think thats a wonderful opportunity," says Duncan, 60. "They get to see what its like to be a professional musician."

Duncans passion for the arts started when a co-worker introduced her to Central Alberta Theatre in Red Deer. Duncan went on to volunteer with the group for 25 years.

"Once I started, I fell in love with it," she says. Duncan did almost everything you can think of backstage, including working with the lights, props and costumes, but stage management was her main passion.

Trefry traces his own passion for the performing arts to when he started dating Duncan 11 years ago. The two met at the premiere of Baby Blue, a film shot in Red Deer that Duncan was involved with.

"She took me to my first musical, and after that I was hooked," Trefry says, adding the couple appreciates the variety and proximity available to them in a bigger centre. "When we lived in Alberta, we would have to travel a couple of hours to either Calgary or Edmonton from Red Deer to take in great performances. Here in Winnipeg we live in the heart of the city and can be at any number of venues in as little as 15 minutes."

In addition to their work with Virtuosi, Trefry and Duncan are involved as ushers at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

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They volunteer on the executive committee for the Charleswood branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, and Trefry  a self-identified military brat from the Maritimes who served in the Royal Canadian Navy for nine years  is the Manitoba correspondent for Legion Magazine.

"When you serve your country in the military, it gives you a sense of servitude," Trefry says. "I look at volunteering as one of the easiest ways I can continue to contribute to my community."

Duncan attributes her interest in volunteering to the positive experience she had with Central Alberta Theatre.

"I grew up on a farm, so the opportunity to volunteer with the community theatre group gave me a window into a new world," she says. "Had I not done that, I dont think I would have ever realized how fascinating and enjoyable performing arts actually is."

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
Over the past weeks, health officials around the globe traced and advised suspected contacts of people with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to isolate themselves for 14 days, the incubation period of the disease.

From there, they would report if they developed the symptoms of the illness, including fever, dry cough, and difficulty of breathing. If they did not manifest any of the symptoms after the two-week quarantine period, they are free to go.

Now, health officials have warned that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may have a more extended incubation period than previously thought.

The puzzling and surprising new development in the diseases incubation period has sparked fears that the 14-day quarantine period is not enough to contain the spread of the virus. Moreover, many individuals who were out of the quarantine period may still harbor the virus and can lead to more infections.

Coronavirus incubation period could be 27 day. Image Credit: Mongkolchon Akesin / Shutterstock

Longer incubation period

Health officials have imposed the 14-day quarantine periods to most individuals who had close contact with a confirmed case or those who were repatriated from Wuhan City in Hubei province.

A man in China, who had close contact with a family member who tested positive of the coronavirus, developed symptoms after 27 days of exposure. The 70-year-old man in Hubei Province was infected with the coronavirus but did not show any signs until nearly one month later. Identified as Jiang, his family name, the patient drove his car back on Jan. 24 to Shennongjia, in northwestern Hubei, from eastern Ezhou, where he had close contact with his sister, who had contracted the virus.

His symptoms appeared much later than expected, having fever on Feb. 20, and tested positive for coronavirus a day later.

A severe blow to quarantine efforts

Health officials, governments, health agencies, and the World Health Organization is working hard to contain the deadly virus that has killed over 2,600 people in just two months and infecting nearly 80,000 people.

All the quarantine efforts lasted for 14 days, to ensure that the person will not have close contact with other people while he or she is infected. This way, health officials can limit human-to-human transmission and effectively trace connections of those who tested positive for COVID-19. After 14 days, and the patients have shown no symptoms, they are free to go home. This routine went on for weeks now, but the new development in the diseases incubation period is a severe blow to efforts made by health agencies across the globe.

A more extended incubation period would mean it can be much more challenging to fight the disease. It will become tough to prevent the spread of the virus, since many patients are still infectious, and they are out of their quarantine period.

This can explain the sudden spike of coronavirus cases in other countries, such as South Korea, Italy, and Iran. South Korea has reported 763 cases and seven deaths, a sudden spike from just more than the 30 cases in the country four days ago. The outbreak in South Korea has been traced to a religious group in the Daegu area.

Italy has reported 155 cases, and Iran has 43 cases. The outbreak has reached 30 countries, prompting governments to impose travel bans and high alerts on addressing the problem.

At present, 24,963 people have recovered from the disease. They are still being observed to determine the virus can still be active despite the patient recovering from the illness.

Even without symptoms

Previous data has shown that the coronavirus can be spread even if a person has no symptoms. A 20-year-old woman in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak started, traveled to Anyan on Jan. 10, and after three days, she went with five family members to visit a patient who did not have the coronavirus.

One of the womans family members had a fever and sore throat on Jan. 17. In the coming week, four other family members had a fever, and they all tested positive for coronavirus. The woman, who was in close contact with all family members, was initially tested negative for the coronavirus. The CT scan of her lungs was normal, but after one day, her test came out positive. The woman did not manifest any symptoms, and by Feb. 11, she had no fever or sore throat.

The doctors who handled the case said that the womans incubation period was 19 days, longer than the previous 14 days. However, new information shows it could be as long as 27 days.

The symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can lead to breathing difficulties and acute respiratory distress.
Apparat Wins IMPALA EU Indie Album Of The Year

The 10th IMPALA indie Album of the Year award has been won by German experimental ambient artist Apparat, for their LP5, released on UK indie label Mute.

Apparat was chosen from a shortlist of 22 albums from across Europe.Other previous winners include Viagra Boys, Agnes Obel, The xx, Adele, Guadalupe Plata, Gurr and Efterklang.

Sascha Ring, aka Apparat, is an electronic musician, whose website illustrates the original sound and design approach used for this album. Visual identity is also important, in keeping with the artists experimental approach.

Ring commented : Its been a great last year for the band  weve been playing all over Europe and once again realised how awesome it is to be able to travel around like that and play for all these people. We never really felt like a German band and thats why its awesome to receive this truly European award!

Daniel Miller, Founder of Mute Records added : Apparats Sascha Ring is a truly innovative and adventurous artist and this award for LP5 is more than well deserved.

IMPALAs Helen Smith concluded : LP5 is a great winner. It is a timely reminder of just how the European music market functions  a German artist collaborating with a UK label on a recording in Berlin. The winner and indeed the whole shortlist illustrate the importance of on-going cross-border co-operation in Europe.

The album was recorded in Berlin at AP4, JRS, Vox-Ton & Hansa Studios, mixed by Gareth Jones and Sascha Ring.

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Irish people are being advised not to travel to certain parts of Italy due to an outbreak of the coronavirus.

Six people have died there and more than 200 people are infected.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel alert for Irish citizens.

The Department said: "Citizens are advised not to travel to affected areas.

"To find out if the area to which you are travelling is an affected area, please consult with your transport and accommodation providers, the Regional Government website of the region in question or if you are already in Italy, call 1500."

The Department is advising people travelling to Italy to ensure they have a European Health Insurance Card and are up-to-date with the country's regulations.

Around 50,000 people have been placed into quarantine to try to contain the biggest outbreak of the disease in Europe.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health advised anyone contemplating travel to Italy to keep up to date on developments as the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) convenes an emergency meeting this afternoon.

Dr Tony Holohan said: Anybody who is contemplating travel to that part of the world should remain abreast of the situation.

He added: Anybody who has travelled and is concerned, who experiences symptoms of common cold or flu like symptoms should make contact with their GP by telephone, not to attend, and to be guided from there.

We have guidance on a continuing basis which is updated as the international situation changes in demand that would help our GPs and front line health professionals to guide people when they make contact.

We're also saying to people who have queries and concerns that they may make contact the HSE Live which on a continuing basis will provide information - 1850 24 1850.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister says that there are concerns about the upcoming rugby match against Italy at the Aviva stadium

The Six Nations game is due to take place on March 7, but there are concerns about people travelling from Italy.

Simon Harris said they are reviewing advice and that the National Public Health Emergency Team are due to meet tomorrow.
Kansas City has a crime problem. Adding 65 new police officers won't solve it Nathan Garrett, the president of Kansas City's Board of Police Commissioners, thinks the city needs more police officers. "I think we have a serious shortage of officers," he said at a recent board meeting. "If we need 65 officers, then that's what we're going to be asking for."

An unsigned editorial rejecting a longstanding community request isn't anything more than troll from this quickly fading print media operation.FOR YEARS locals have demanded more police on the streets as the local homicide body count spikes and now, during tough budget talks, the newspaper slaps the community in the face based on nothing more than a desperate ploy to garner more interest in their scribblings.Here's the paywall tease to a product unworthy of further inspection . . .
New Delhi: Internet services were suspended in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh after anti-citizenship law protesters clashed with police on Sunday (February 23). The violence broke out in the Uparkot Kotwali area of Aligarh resulting in stone-throwing, a portion of a shop in the area being set on fire, and a police vehicle being vandalised.

The mobile internet was suspended for a six-hour period starting at 6 pm and the same is likely to be extended as authorities try to restore order. According to reports, some police officers were also injured, and a motorcycle belonging to one of the cops was also set ablaze by protesters.

Earlier, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students gathered to block the Aligarh-Moradabad Highway in protest against the police actions.

Aligarh District Magistrate (DM), Chandrabhushan Singh, told ANI, "Protestors pelted stones at Police vehicles so the police had to resort to teargas to disperse them," adding "Some women students from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) are behind this, we are trying to identify them."

The DM also said that the administration is trying to nab the perpetrators and the damages will be recovered from them, adding that the situation is under control now.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Aligarh range) Preetinder Singh, told PTI that police have detained some persons after the violence, adding that the protesters have been evicted from their "dharna" site.

PV Ramasastry, ADG Law and Order told ANI that the stone pelting started after a rumour that the police was arresting protesters, adding "Situation is under control now. The incident happened for spreading a rumour that Police are arresting protesters."

"Strict action will be taken against those who are spreading rumours. The probe will be done," Ramasastry added.

Meanwhile, stone-pelting had also taken place in Delhi`s Maujpur area, which is close to Jaffarbad where anti-CAA protests are being held by women. The clash started after two groups, one protesting against the CAA and the other supporting it came face to face in Maujpur on Sunday evening. They started pelted stones at each other. The police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mobs.
The Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed pandemonium on Monday when opposition RJD-Congress members staged a protest over the use of the word, "laholwilaquat", by a member of the treasury bench during the welcome address of the speaker.

As Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary was about to finish his speech in urdu, one of the members from the treasury bench uttered "laholwilaquat", to which opposition members Shakeel Ahmad Khan (Congress), Lalit Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and others protested and rushed to the well of the House.

Khan later said the arabic "laholwilaquat" term is used in a negative connotation and hence, the member from the treasury bench insulted the chair and spirit of the speaker's speech.

"The member is either ignorant or manifesting a particular mindset...I do not know," he added.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav were present in the House during the episode.

After the speaker's address, the Assembly dispersed to later meet at a joint session of both houses for the governor's speech at the start of the five-week-long budget session.

With the Bihar Assembly polls likely to be held later this year, political parties are not missing out on any opportunity to pin each other down.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Feb 24 (Reuters) - Local health officials in the Iraqi holy Shi'ite city of Najaf have detected the first case of coronavirus in the country, an Iranian theology student, the health ministry said on Monday.

The patient had entered Iraq before the government shut border crossings and banned the entry of any non-Iraqis coming from Iran, the ministry said in a statement.

"It has become clear to the ministry that the results of lab tests conducted on a theology student, an Iranian citizen, who had entered the country before ... the decision to stop travel have revealed he is ill with the coronavirus," it said. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Hearing examiners overseeing Public Service Company of New Mexicos plans to abandon the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Farmington have recommended that the five-member Public Regulation Commission approve the utilitys request.

In a 35-page recommended decision, PRC examiners Anthony Medeiros and Ashley Schannauer said Friday that hearings on the issue have showed abandonment will cost ratepayers less over the next 20 years than PNMs continued operation of the plant.

Most of the savings will come from replacing San Juan electricity with cheaper solar, wind, battery storage and natural gas generation. The exact mix of replacement resources was reviewed in a separate hearing overseen by the same examiners, who will release another recommended decision on that issue in the coming weeks.

In a separate, 165-page decision, the examiners also recommended PNM be allowed to use bonds to finance up to $361 million in expenses related to a San Juan abandonment, which would be paid back by customers through a surcharge, or rate rider, on their bills. Use of such bonds to finance the costs of transitioning out of coal is explicitly authorized by the states new Energy Transition Act, which became law last June.

The bonds provide a guarantee for PNM to recover $283 million in lost, or stranded, investments that come from abandoning the plant nearly 30 years ahead of schedule. It will also provide money for decommissioning and reclamation costs, plus about $40 million to assist workers laid off at the plant and at the nearby coal mine, and for economic development initiatives in the Four Corners region.

In exchange, PNM shareholders must forgo any profits on investments recovered through bond financing.

Commissioners must still make a final decision in the case in the next few weeks, but nearly every party involved in the hearing process praised the recommended decisions.

PNM spokesman Ray Sandoval said the company is encouraged by the examiners conclusions.

The recommended decisions, if approved by the commission, would allow PNM to issue lower-cost bonds for the closure of San Juan Generating Station and to fund economic assistance to both workers and the Four Corners area, Sandoval told the Journal in an email. The financing combined with foregoing of over $100 million (in profits) by PNM shareholders could lead to a $399 million savings for customers if our replacement plan is approved as well.

Of the 26 parties involved in the San Juan abandonment hearing, only the PRCs utility division staff opposed PNMs request to exit the plant in 2022, when the partnership agreement among the facilitys five co-owners expires. Staff argued that PNM did not include an analysis of the costs and benefits for converting San Juan into a carbon-capture facility rather than shut down the plant. Staff advocated the utility instead be forced to conduct that analysis and then refile its proposal for abandonment with carbon capture included as an alternative option.

During the hearings, however, PNM submitted supplemental testimony showing a carbon-capture retrofit at San Juan would cost at least $1.3 billion more for ratepayers than abandoning the plant and replacing it with alternative resources.

The examiners accepted that supplemental testimony, concluding that abandonment would cost substantially less.

No party has presented contrary evidence, the examiners said. Furthermore, PNM and other parties have presented modeling that shows that a variety of generating resources can be acquired to replace the San Juan capacity by the date of the proposed abandonment and that the costs to do so will be less than PNMs continued operation of the plant.

To require PNM to retrofit San Juan with carbon capture would force the utility to seek new co-owners for the plant, since three of the other four utility partners in San Juan would still abandon the facility in 2022, the examiners said. And there is no guarantee that carbon capture will succeed.

Any plant retrofit would rely on federal tax credits for capturing and sequestering CO2, but those credits, approved by Congress in 2018, will expire in 2035, 12 years after the newly retrofitted plant begins operating. As a result, its likely ratepayers would be on the hook after 2035 for additional lost investments in San Juan incurred by converting it to carbon capture, the examiners said.

Only the City of Farmington, which owns a 5% stake in San Juan, has decided to continue operating the plant, which it will inherit from the other exiting co-owners in 2022. Farmington wants to pursue carbon capture, something its working on in partnership with private company Enchant Energy Corp.

Allowing PNM to abandon San Juan paves the way for Farmington and Enchant to pursue carbon capture independently and on their own dime, the examiners added.

The risk of proceeding on this latter path, the examiners said, will be on Enchant and its investors, and not on PNMs ratepayers.

Enchant Chief Operating Officer Peter Mandelstam praised the examiners recommendations, since uncertainty about PNMs abandonment is removed, potentially accelerating negotiations for Farmington and Enchant to acquire San Juan.

Were pleased by this thoughtful decision, Mandelstam told the Journal. Appropriate abandonment by PNM is good public policy.  Were in negotiations with PNM and the other co-owners now, and we believe this will accelerate that dialogue, because now there is regulatory clarity for PNM.

Regarding bond financing, the examiners said the commission is obligated to abide by clauses in the new Energy Transition Act that authorize their use in the San Juan case.

The Supreme Court ordered the PRC in late January to apply the act in San Juan deliberations after a joint request to do so from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, state legislators and the Navajo Nation.

The examiners accepted PNMs estimates on the impact of bond financing, particularly since any later discrepancies in actual costs for abandoning San Juan will be trued up in subsequent management of customer charges for the bonds. Any overpayments by customers will be credited back to them, while underpayments would lead to rate rider adjustments by PNM to recover costs, with direct vetting by the PRC.

PNM says the new rate rider, which will take effect after plant abandonment in 2022, will add $1.90 per month to bills for customers who consume below 900 kilowatt hours of electricity, and $4.97 per month for those who consume above 900 kWh.

Those additional monthly charges, however, will be more than offset by the savings from abandoning San Juan and replacing it with cheaper alternative energy.

For an average residential customer who uses 600 kWh per month, their current monthly bill of about $73.25 will actually drop by $6.87, despite the new rate rider, PNM says. For those consuming an average of 1,000 kWh per month and paying about $129.03, their monthly bills would drop by about $9.65, since they consume more electricity from San Juan and will save more when its replaced with cheaper energy resources.
The victory of Bernie Sanders in the Nevada caucuses has escalated the anti-Sanders hysteria of the Democratic Party establishment and Democratic-aligned media outlets such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and MSNBC. This has taken the form of fabricated allegations of Russian intervention into the 2020 elections to support Sanders candidacy.

This fable is elaborated on the front page of Sundays New York Times in a lengthy article by David Sanger, the newspapers most reliable stenographer for whatever story the military-intelligence apparatus wants floated in the newspaper. Under the headline, Seeking Chaos, Moscow Places Its Bets in US, Sanger smears Sanders as the beneficiary of supposed Russian support in the 2020 elections.

Sanger has a long record of fraudulent analyses. Stories that appear under his byline are generally based on unnamed intelligence sources whose allegations are presented as unimpeachable. The hallmark of a typical Sanger analysis is that it lacks any identifiable factual basis. He is less a reporter than a frustrated writer of third-rate spy stories with poorly constructed plots.

Bernie Sanders speaks Friday at a campaign rally at Springs Preserve in Las Vegas [Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky]

In this latest thriller, Sanger does not produce a single fact in support of the contention that Russian President Vladimir Putin backs Sanders or has done anything to assist his campaign.

Besides numerous unnamed outside experts and intelligence analysts, Sanger quotes three current and former intelligence officials by name, including Angela Stent, national intelligence officer for Russia, now a professor at Georgetown University and author of Putins World: Russia Against the West and With the Rest, who actually says nothing about Sanders.

Victoria Nuland is also cited. Nuland is certainly an expert on foreign subversion of elections, having played, as she boasted, a central role in 2014 in the $5 billion US effort to destabilize and oust the democratically elected government of Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine.

Nuland does not present any evidence to support Sangers storyline, beyond asserting, Any figures that radicalize politics and do harm to center views and unity in the United States are good for Putins Russia. In other words, Sanders is functioning as a Putin stooge because his policies are to the left of the Democratic Party candidates favored by the CIA.

Sanger finds the hand of Putin in Sanders support for a drastic expansion of taxes and government programs like Medicare, claiming that this divides American society in a way favorable to Moscow.

Also named by Sanger is Christopher Krebs, head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the Department of Homeland Security. Sanger cites his role in documenting how Russian operatives are becoming stealthier, learning from the mistakes they made in 2016. These Russki agents are so devilishly clever that they successfully conceal all traces of their insidious manipulation of American elections.

In Sangers make-believe world, the very absence of evidence of Russian interference is proof of their subversion. His story line is a modern-day version of Senator Joseph McCarthys anticommunist invocations of a conspiracy so vast.

No American is safe from Putins tentacles. Sanger claims that Russia is feeding disinformation to unsuspecting Americans on Facebook and other social media." He continues: "By seeding conspiracy theories and baseless claims on the platforms, Russians hope everyday Americans will retransmit those falsehoods from their own accounts.

He concludes, with apparent regret over the existence of freedom of speech, It is much harder to ban the words of real Americans, who may be parroting a Russian story line, even unintentionally.

The anti-Russia narrative has the most ominous implications for the democratic rights of the American people. The New York Times implies that any expression of social discontent in the United States, and, above all, the growing anger over mounting social inequality, can be delegitimized as parroting a Russian story line and outlawed.

The claims by the intelligence agencies that Sanders is the beneficiary of Russian support have been taken up by leading figures in the Democratic Party establishment. Appearing on the ABC News Sunday interview program This Week, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who served as chief of staff in the Obama White House, said that Sanders rise in the Democratic presidential contest was a case of Putin and Trump picking the weakest possible opponent in order to ensure Trumps reelection.

These reactions are not merely the expression of the virulent hatred of socialism on the part of the Democratic leadership, even in the watered-down and entirely passive version that Sanders advances under the label democratic socialism. A Sanders campaign, with its emphasis on economic inequality and appeals to popular hostility to billionaires and corporate America, would cut across the political agenda of the Democratic leadership.

The Democratic Party establishment has long wanted to conduct the 2020 election campaign against Trump as a continuation of the anti-Russia campaign that produced the Mueller Report and then the impeachment of Trump for delaying military aid to Ukraine for its war with Russia, which ended in his acquittal in the Senate. As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi never tires of repeating, All roads lead to Russia.

The Democratic Party wants to center the 2020 presidential campaign on the claim that Trump is an agent or stooge of Russian President Vladimir Putin and to present the Democrats as the defenders of our intelligence agencies and our diplomats and generals against the interference of Moscow in American politics.

In the event that such a campaign succeeded in ousting Trump, the result would be portrayed as a popular mandate for military escalation against Russia, as well as China, threatening the prospect of open warfare between the worlds main nuclear powers. Regardless of the outcome, however, a campaign focused on anti-Russian hysteria would serve to suppress the mounting social tensions in America and block any political expression of the seething anger in the working class.

The reaction of the party establishment to the rise of Sanders only underscores the central political reality that the Democratic Party is controlled by the intelligence agencies and the financial elites, not the millions who vote in primaries and caucuses. The Democratic Party is a capitalist party, the oldest in America, an institution the ruling class will fight to retain control of, using all the methods at its disposal, from media propaganda and dirty tricks to outright violence.

The response of the Democratic Party establishment demonstrates the bankruptcy of Sanders political strategy. The party Sanders identifies as a vehicle for social change is actually a political straitjacket, notorious for smothering and destroying every popular challenge from below.

As is his invariable practice, Sanders has responded to the onslaught of Russia-baiting against him by validating the baseless allegation that Russia has actually engaged in significant interference in US politics. At the same time, he is responding to his new front-runner status by seeking to reassure the Democratic Party establishment.

In his interview Sunday night on the CBS program 60 Minutes, he dismissed with a mocking tone the identification of his campaign with calls for revolution, saying he did not want to focus on that slogan.

He went on to tell his interviewer, Anderson Cooper, that he would absolutely be willing to use military force if he were elected president, and boasted that we have the best military in the world.

Sanders is already making the concessions and adjustments that will frustrate his many supporters, who view him as an apostle of radical political change. This is the inevitable outcome of his efforts to keep popular opposition within the framework of the Democratic Party. While claiming to change the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party is rapidly changing him.

The real answer to the conspiracies of the Democratic Party is the fight to mobilize the working class in opposition to both parties and the entire capitalist system. In its election campaign, the Socialist Equality Party and its candidates, Joseph Kishore and Norissa Santa Cruz, are spearheading the fight to build a socialist leadership in the working class and youth.

Tonight, the SEP will livestream online a meeting at Ann Arbor, Michigan, featuring Joseph Kishore and SEP National Chairman David North. For more information, visit socialism2020.org/townhall.
The Phoenix Hill Sports Park in the capital of Southwest Chinas Sichuan province hosted the 2021 Chinese FA Cup final as its inaugural event Sunday. Covering an area of 128,000 square meters, the park consists of two world-class sports venues, a retail and hotel complex, and a public plaza. It will be one of the venues of the 31st Summer World University Games

Jan 12, 2022 05:45 PM
Mediocrity in both written and spoken English should not be encouraged. Albeit English is not our native language, it dawns on us to take it seriously since it is our official and second language; we can't do away with it.

Unfortunately, the standard of the Queen's language in the Ghanaian society has fallen drastically to the extent that it is common these days to find grammatical errors in textbooks and storybooks authored for schoolchildren.

Regrettably, some well-educated persons often say 'enviness' and 'delayance'. For their information, 'enviness' and 'delayance' are not English words. In other words, they are not found in any good dictionary.

The noun forms of the verbs 'to envy' and 'to delay' are 'envy' and 'delay' respectively. Examples: Cain killed his brother out of envy (Not: enviness). Sorry for the delay (Not: delayance).

Below are some 10 grammatical slip-ups commonly made by many speakers and writers of English on a daily basis; carefully take note of them.

Somewhere last year

The following sentence is incorrect: Somewhere last year, John bought a brand new car.

With reference to time, use the adverb 'sometime'. With reference to a place, use the adverb 'somewhere', e.g. Kwame lives somewhere in the Greater Accra Region.

Hence, the incorrect sentence should be corrected as follows: Sometime last year, John bought a brand new car.

Similarly, the following expressions are incorrect: somewhere last week, somewhere last month, somewhere in January 2020, etc. Instead, replace 'somewhere' with 'sometime' in all the expressions.

Wrestle power

The following sentence is incorrect: The NDC is poised to wrestle power from the NPP in 2020.

The correct phrasal verb is 'wrest something from somebody or something' which means 'to takepower or controlwith great effort'.

Therefore, the incorrect sentence should be corrected as follows: The NDC is poised to wrest power from the NPP in 2020.

Most at times

The following sentence is incorrect: Most at times, I stay indoors. Unfathomably, the expression 'most at times' does not exist in English, yet it has gained wide currency in Ghana. The correct expression is 'most of the time'.

Hence, the incorrect sentence should be corrected as follows: Most of the time, I stay indoors.

Across board

The following sentence is incorrect: The government increased salaries and wages across board in the public sector last year. The correct expression is 'across the board'. It is a fixed expression hence it is wrong to drop the definite article 'the' in the expression.

Therefore, the incorrect sentence should be corrected as follows: The government increased salaries and wages across the board in the public sector.

With regards to

The following sentence is incorrect: Ghana's position with regards to homosexuality is clear. The correct expression is 'with regard to'. Drop's' in 'regards'.

It is noteworthy that 'with regard to' is synonymous with 'as regards'. Always maintain the's' in 'as regards'.

Hence, the incorrect sentence should be corrected as follows: Ghana's position with regard to homosexuality is clear OR Ghana's position as regards homosexuality is clear.

Chalk success

The following sentence is incorrect: Having married for 30 years, Mr. Manu has chalked success in his marriage life. The correct phrasal verb is 'chalk something up' and not 'chalk something'.

Therefore, the sentence should be corrected as follows: Having married for 30 years, Mr. Manu has chalked up success in his marriage life.

Abreast with

The following sentence is incorrect: A good journalist must be abreast with current affairs. The correct expression is 'abreast of'.

Hence, the sentence should be corrected as follows: A good journalist must be abreast of current affairs.

Sensitise on

The following sentence is incorrect: The students were sensitised on the need to take their studies seriously. The correct expression is 'sensitise to' and not 'sensitise on'. This slip-up is common in the print media.

Therefore, the sentence should be corrected as follows: The students were sensitised to the need to take their studies seriously.

Overspeeding

The following sentence is incorrect: Overspeeding is a major factor in road traffic fatalities. It is noteworthy that there is no word as 'overspeeding' in English. The Oxford Dictionary defines speeding as 'to drive faster than the speed that is legally allowed'.

Hence, the sentence should be corrected as follows: Speeding is a major factor in road traffic fatalities OR Excessive speed is a major factor in road traffic fatalities.

At the premises of

The following sentence is incorrect: The meeting was held at the premises of the company. The noun 'premises' takes the preposition 'on' and not 'at'.

Therefore, the sentence should be corrected as follows: The meeting was held on the premises of the company.

Wrong punctuation

Carefully study the following sentences: Kwame said that, he would attend the meeting. The police have warned that, they will severely deal with criminals in 2020. This means that, everybody's salary has been increased.

The sentences above have been wrongly punctuated. I have noticed that this punctuation slip-up is very common among many writers of English in Ghana.

It is wrong to punctuate 'that' with a comma when it is used as a conjunction in a sentence.

Hence, the wrongly punctuated sentences should be corrected as follows: Kwame said that he would attend the meeting. The police have warned that they will severely deal with criminals in 2020. This means that everybody's salary has been increased.

However, when 'that' introduces either an adverb or a phrase in a sentence, it can be punctuated with a comma as in these two sentences: He didn't know that, unfortunately, his beloved wife was his sister. He went to Opoku Ware School and that, once upon a time, he was a Member of Parliament.

Besides, 'that' can be punctuated when it accompanies expressions such as 'apart from', 'as a result of', 'in view of', 'because of', etc. Examples: Apart from that, he is humble. As a result of that, he lost his job. In view of that, government has decided to focus on the private sector. Because of that, he divorced his wife.

To be continued

By Anthony Kwadwo Kyei

The author is a writer and a proofreader

Writer's email: [email protected]
Developing a human-centric policy to security is needed now more than ever.

RSA Conference, Moscone Center--Teramind Inc., a leading global provider of employee monitoring, insider threat, and data loss prevention (DLP) solutions, is leading the industry charge to focus on the human element of security at this years RSA Conference. Teramind takes a privacy-first approach that helps set both corporate cultural standards for transparency in monitoring as well as insider threat prevention and detection to help keep organizations compliant in securing their internal, proprietary, and customer data. To help both large enterprises and mid-sized companies have access to the platform, Teramind also announced a new focus in 2020 to scale its partner program with the channel, MSPs, and VARs.

Developing a human-centric policy to security is needed now more than ever. At Teramind, weve found our privacy-focused policies help make it more approachable to our users and, in turn, propel its success. As our friends at RSA say, its about protecting people, commented Isaac Kohen, VP of R&D at Teramind.

Balancing The Human Element of Insider Threat Prevention & Detection with Concern for Privacy

Kohen further details his companys perspective on the importance of taking a privacy-first approach in the recent article, The Human Elements of Cybersecurity: Privacy, Ethics, Usability, and Responsibility (https://wp.me/p9Ajau-1fT). According to Kohen, information security professionals often interpret the human component of IT as human fallibility, the weakest link in a companys data security apparatus. In many cases, cybersecurity incidents are enabled by human error, malicious intent, or ignorance. In fact, according to a recent industry study, human error is the leading cause of 95% of cybersecurity breaches.

While it makes sense that the industry is increasingly investing in technologies, strategies, and standards that minimize these human risks, its equally crucial that we also look from the other side of the human equation: the users we are supposed to guard. Humans arent just resources that you can force to comply with security best practices. An effective security strategy will need to address these human elements, said Kohen.

Teraminds award-winning employee monitoring and DLP platform can be configured according to each customers data privacy requirements. This includes configuration settings for application and website-specific monitoring, which provides a flexible framework for organizations to ensure data security without compromise. In addition, Teramind is available in several deployment options from on-premise to private cloud implementation on everything from AWS to Microsoft Azure and the Teramind cloud. In this way, organizations retain and control all their data, ensuring their security, privacy, and data residency requirements are met.

Channel Partners, MSPs, and VARs Join Teraminds Growing Partner Program to Differentiate Services

For channel partners, MSPs, and VARs, Teramind is a competitive differentiator that can provide comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that help their client organizations stay ahead of the threat while embracing a privacy-first approach to data security that meets compliance requirements.

Teraminds monitoring and DLP platform is designed with privacy in mind to power a partner companys offerings and serve the needs of enterprises and organizations directly. It comes with features like fully adjustable tracking & recording, dynamic blackout, discovery, and protection of personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), personal financial information (PFI), access control, anonymization and more.

As partner program member Jorge Geddes, Managing Director, CyberSecure (https://cybersecure.uk.com/) shares, Teramind is ahead of the competition with a great understanding of local jurisdictions and regulations as it pertains to data privacy. They have a super-configurable product to ensure the best insider threat prevention with data privacy compliance intact.

To learn more about the Teramind Partner Program for 2020, visit https://www.teramind.co/partners. Teramind will be showcasing its award-winning platform at RSA in South Expo, Booth #3141. An in-depth demo is also available on-demand by visiting https://www.teramind.co/product/demo.

About Teramind

Founded in 2014, Teramind is a leading, global provider of employee monitoring, insider threat detection, and data loss prevention solutions. Over 2,000 organizations in finance, retail, manufacturing, energy, technology, healthcare, and government verticals across the globe trust Teraminds award-winning platform to detect, record, and prevent malicious user behavior in addition to helping teams drive productivity and efficiency. The platform is available in both cloud-based and on-premise deployment options to meet any organizations requirements. Teramind is headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit https://www.teramind.co/. Follow Teramind on Twitter @teramindco. Visit IT Security Central at https://itsecuritycentral.teramind.co/ for the latest security news and insight.
Las Vegas

Sen. Bernie Sanders won big Saturday and is now the clear front-runner. Former Vice President Joe Biden saved enough face to march on to his must-win in South Carolina a week from now. Pete Buttigieg finished in the top tier again and embraced the urgency of knocking down a rising Sanders. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren is awash in cash after her debate dismantling of Michael Bloomberg but the performance did not nudge her up in the standings in Nevada.

Here are five takeaways from Saturday's results:

Takes command: Sanders did not just win Nevada. Entrance polls show that he dominated.

Those polls showed Sanders winning men and women; whites and Latinos; voters in all but the oldest age group (17-29, 30-44 and 45-64); those with college degrees and those without. He was carrying union and nonunion households, self-identified liberal Democrats and moderate and conservative ones.

The Sanders victory was built upon three distinct and overlapping bases of support: young people (56 percent support among those 44 and under), very liberal voters (49 percent) and a majority of Hispanic voters. The latter was a new factor in Nevada after two heavily white opening states, Iowa and New Hampshire, and particularly important as the race expands to big and diverse states on Super Tuesday.

Sanders has now won the most votes in each of the first three states and has more momentum than his rivals and more money than everyone besides the two self-funding billionaires, Tom Steyer and Bloomberg.

His campaign is looking ahead to Super Tuesday, March 3, as the day he breaks away from the rest of the Democratic field.

Little shrinking: Not long after the first results began rolling in, a super PAC supporting Buttigieg announced it was buying TV ads in Super Tuesday states. Biden's campaign manager declared "the Biden comeback" had just begun. Sen. Amy Klobuchar dropped from her New Hampshire showing yet claimed to have "exceeded expectations." And Warren's campaign manager said her performance at last week's debate would prove more important than the actual election.

Translation: No one is about to quit this race.

And the longer all the alternative candidates remain, the longer Sanders can keep carrying states and consolidating his own coalition without a singular rival.

Biden's best finish: The Biden case for the nomination has been he's the guy to beat President Donald Trump. Yet for the third time in three races, Biden did not win. He did improve from his bad fourth-place finish in Iowa and his disastrous fifth place in New Hampshire.

But throughout February, Biden had said his fortunes would be reversed now that more diverse states were voting. Except it was Sanders who soundly defeated Biden among Latino voters, according to entrance polls, while Biden's lead among African Americans continued to shrink to 12 percentage points.

Biden could still win in South Carolina, where he has led in the polls, and that could be a springboard to Super Tuesday. But his schedule has him locked down in the must-win state for much of the week as rivals cross the nation.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

He's the anti-Bernie: Of all the speeches Saturday, Buttigieg's was the most revealing. He used the big platform not just to make the case for himself but to slash at Sanders, whom he accused of pushing an "inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans."

He talked about the urgency of beating Trump and the importance of nominating a Democrat who "actually gives a damn" about down-ballot races. Speaking on MSNBC, one of the campaign's national chairs, Rep. Anthony Brown, called Buttigieg the leader in the "nonrevolutionary lane" of the primary, though if such a lane exists, it is more a tangled mess.

Going forward, the problem is that Buttigieg's early successes in Iowa, New Hampshire and, to a lesser extent, Nevada, have not lifted him nationally.

The Nevada entrance polls had him carrying a meager 2 percent of black voters. Advisers to his rivals and Democratic strategists who want to see Sanders stopped have been frustrated with Buttigieg's campaign, arguing that while he has been relatively successful so far, he is now in a demographic cul-de-sac.

But Buttigieg has a counterpoint: "Ours is the only campaign that has beaten Sen. Sanders anywhere in the country this whole campaign cycle."

No Nevada bump: If Wednesday's debate performance was going to turn Warren's political fortunes, it did not do so fast enough for the Nevada caucuses.

The results delivered another round of frustration for a candidate who fell below expectations in Iowa and New Hampshire and had her campaign manager, Roger Lau, arguing Saturday that the debate would prove more significant than the actual election.

"We believe the Nevada debate will have more impact on the structure of the race," Lau wrote on Twitter. He called the actual results a "lagging indicator" because so many votes  true  were cast before the debate.
Wits Business School welcomes Mervyn King as Honorary Professor

Mervyn King, Chair of the King Committee on Corporate Governance in South Africa has been appointed honorary professor at Wits Business School.

Corporate governance is a hot topic in South African boardrooms today. In light of state capture allegations and the numerous examples of dodgy dealings and corrupt practices in auditing and consultancy firms, now could not be a better time to ensure sound corporate governance in both the private and public sectors in South Africa.

Professor Mervyn King, former Judge of the Supreme Court and Chair of the King Committee on Corporate Governance in South Africa, feels strongly that collaboration is at the heart of teaching and promoting mindful outcomes-based governance. Drawing on expertise from local and international business schools and universities, King established the Good Governance Academy (GGA), which is now housed at Wits Business School (WBS).

Business schools have a crucial role to play in developing the conscious corporate leaders of the future, to ensure we imbed integrated thinking into the way we run our businesses and create value in a sustainable manner, says King, who was appointed Honorary Professor at WBS in January 2020.

The old notions of value in a company (its tangible assets) have now changed, notes King. Value includes intangible assets, such as knowledge, innovation, environmental impact, leadership accountability, intellectual capital, stakeholder relationships and transparency, among others.

We need to develop conscious corporate leaders who will learn that business is at the junction of the three critical dimensions for sustainable development  the economy, society and the environment. This is why we need a new breed of business leader  the Chief Value Officer, he says.

Professor King, who is also Chair Emeritus of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) in London, is excited to be returning to his alma mater, Wits University, and sees his appointment as coming full circle in his illustrious career. No stranger to academia, King will be involved in teaching and supervising students, as well as organising colloquia and other public events on corporate governance.

The first colloquium to be held at Wits Business School under the auspices of the GGA will take place on 20 May, and will be focused on integrating thinking and doing integrated reports. The colloquium will be live-streamed to nearly 20 countries for the benefit of the GGAs many support members, which include The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, the International Institute of Internal Auditors and the Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA), among many others.

Wits Business School is thrilled to welcome Professor King and we look forward to a fruitful partnership between ourselves, King and the GGA. We are particularly excited about the upcoming colloquium on integrated reporting and for WBS to be taking the lead in ensuring corporate governance is embedded in leadership thinking, starting at graduate business level, says Jannie Rossouw, Interim Director of WBS.

An octogenarian who is busier and more energised than ever, King is driven by the work he does and the global partnerships he has made in service of corporate governance. Widely travelled, he has consulted and advised on business, legal, governance and sustainability issues in over 60 countries. His most recent trip, in February, was to Oslo, Norway, to speak at Future Boards Leading for the Future  a Conference on Power, Profit and Purpose.

To say that Mervyn King has a wealth of knowledge on corporate governance to pass on to future cohorts of business school students is an understatement. Kings appointment at WBS signals a new era in conscious corporate leadership in South Africa.
Oman on Monday reported its first two cases of coronavirus, and halted flights to and from Iran with immediate effect, authorities and reports said.

Two Omani women who had returned from Iran -- which is battling the deadliest outbreak outside China -- were diagnosed with the disease and were in a stable condition, state TV reported.

The civil aviation authority said in a tweet that it was "suspending all civilian flights between the sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran starting today and until further notice".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Mon, February 24, 2020 12:19 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206633c04 1 Business Indonesia,North-Sumatra,agriculture,exports,Agriculture-Ministry,palm-oil,rubber,coffee Free

North Sumatra has become a major exporter of agricultural products in Indonesia, thanks to serious efforts made by the local government in promoting farming activities the province.

According to Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo, the North Sumatra administrations efforts to empower local farmers and support plantation companies had contributed to a sharp increase in the exports of agricultural commodities from the province.

It indicates that North Sumatra has the potential to further develop its agricultural sector in the future, he said in a ceremony to launch the shipment of export commodities worth Rp 79.6 billion to 28 countries in the Modern Industrial Zone, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, on Thursday.

According to data provided by the ministrys agricultural quarantine office, the provinces agricultural export volume increased by 23.7 percent year-on-year (yoy) in 2019, while its export value rose by 21 percent to Rp 32.2 trillion (US$2.3 billion) from Rp 26.6 trillion in 2018.

The provinces agricultural exports have shown an increasing trend since 2017, when the export value slumped to $654 million, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). The province exports a wide range of commodities, such as palm oil, rubber, coffee and sawn timber.

Despite the increase, North Sumatra saw a 5.7 percent decline in industrial exports from $8.57 billion in 2017 to $8.08 billion in 2018, which caused an overall 4.77 percent decline in exports from $9.22 billion in 2017 to $8.78 billion in 2018.

North Sumatra administration secretary R. Sabrina said the provinces prospects in agriculture was due to its cast farming areas.

She said the provincial administration would keep supporting farmers to increase their production and agricultural exports from the region.

If our production and exports keep increasing, it would help the welfare of the local farmers, she said. (mpr)
Cecilia Haynes signed a three-year lease in September 2018 for a property she thought shed call home for a long time. The 4,400-square-foot house in the gated Summerglen subdivision on the far North Side had a yard for her cocker spaniels and backed up onto a greenbelt.

Haynes didnt know then that the homes owner, a limited liability company named Arion Group, and the property management company, North Asset Capital Management, were being sued by depositors in a Mexican savings and loan.

The lawsuit, filed in Florida under racketeering charges, alleged that the savings and loan director had used $100 million stolen from depositors to buy real estate in the U.S. and Spain.

Haynes found herself in the fallout of a series of lawsuits claiming that Mexican public officials and business people laundered the depositors stolen funds in San Antonio real estate investments. As these cases are resolved, renters like her can be caught in the middle.

Last year, the savings and loan director, Rafael Olvera Amezcua, agreed to turn over more than 80 pieces of real estate in Texas and Florida, including Haynes house, to settle the lawsuit. In September, Haynes started receiving calls from a new management company demanding access to the house and wanting to rekey the locks.

She learned that her home was on the market when she received an email notification from real estate listing company Zillow, a notification shed set up a year earlier during her last house search and never canceled.

Honestly, Im kind of glad they were able to cut this deal, and theyre going to get some of the money back to the people who were embezzled, Haynes said. But the thing is ... the moment this guy signed the lease with me for three years ... he already knew this property was part of a lawsuit more likely than not he was going to lose.

Someone who answered the phone at North Asset Capital Managements upscale office suite on Paesanos Parkway agreed to take a message for Rafael Olvera Silva, Olvera Amezcuas son. He never responded.

Since the lawsuit was settled in July, Haynes has been pestered by real estate agents wanting to take pictures of the property. One morning in January, she was surprised when a potential buyer walked into the house as she sat at her computer in her bathrobe. She was left wondering if the new owner could force her out of the property. While experts on tenants rights say thats unlikely, Haynes said she still feels like her personal space is being invaded.

Even though we dont own the property, this is my home and this is where I live, she said.

When a wave of drug-related violence in Mexico began in the early 2000s, San Antonio became a haven for wealthy Mexicans. The money pouring in to buy houses in tony North Side subdivisions was a boon for the real estate market, but U.S. officials say it also created an opportunity for crooked business people and corrupt politicians to blend in.

In some cases, federal officials said the money came from drug smuggling, but just as often the funds came from kickbacks for contracts and embezzlement. Over the last 10 years, about a dozen pieces of San Antonio real estate have been sold at Treasury Department auctions after the government alleged in criminal cases and civil lawsuits that they were tied to dirty money from Mexico.

In one of the stranger Texas cases, the IRS seized more than 100 quarter horses after prosecutors in Austin accused Zetas drug cartel leaders of using their U.S. citizen brother as a front for a breeding and racing business funded by drug money. In that case, the feds found themselves in the breeding business after agreeing to sell one winning horses semen while they waited for the case to be resolved.

The case paid off for the government. After a jury convicted the ranch owner, a different seized horse sold for a record-setting $1.7 million in 2013. Five years later, that record was broken when a horse seized in a related case filed in San Antonio sold for $2.1 million.

Real estate seizures create their own challenges. In 2012, while the case against a fugitive cartel front man from Guadalajara, Mexico, languished, federal prosecutors went to a judge and asked for permission to sell real estate they alleged he purchased with drug money. Their reason: The house and empty lot were in the exclusive Dominion master planned community, in the past home to Spurs players and country music superstar George Strait. The Dominion homeowners association required the government to use only approved landscapers, which was breaking the bank, prosecutors complained.

Kathy Vourcos, a Houston-based IRS criminal investigation agent who oversees asset forfeitures in the region, recalled one case in which a homeowners association required a certain kind of tree to be planted in each yard.

They had to go out and plant a tree in the yard in order to keep the HOA from going after them, she said. Usually, its things like making sure everythings mowed, but that was one of the more unusual ones.

The IRS Criminal Investigation Division usually hires property managers to handle those types of issues and to deal with tenants, Vourcos said. Criminal cases and civil asset forfeiture lawsuits often drag on for years, she said, and most tenants usually vacate seized properties before theyre sold.

The 19 pieces of real estate that have hit the market as a result of Olvera Amezcuas settlement eclipse any recent Treasury auctions in San Antonio.

In 2015, a San Antonio Express-News investigation found that when Mexican banking authorities seized his savings and loan after alleging that he embezzled 2.7 billion pesos, about $140 million today, Olvera Amezcua was sitting on a massive real estate empire. About 50 companies tied to him owned more than 100 pieces of real estate in Texas and Florida, the newspaper found.

A year later, a trustee appointed by the Mexican government to liquidate Olvera Amezcuas former savings and loan filed the Florida lawsuit asking a judge to force him to turn over his U.S. real estate to pay back depositors. The lawsuit alleged that Olvera Amezcua was able to enter this country on an investor visa.

Olvera Amezcua continued living in the U.S. while the lawsuit progressed. In May, officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him. Adelina Pruneda, an ICE spokeswoman in San Antonio, wouldnt say where Olvera was arrested. He was found to be illegally present in the United States and taken to an immigration detention center in Pearsall, Pruneda said.

After two months in detention, Olvera Amezcua agreed to turn over classic cars, bank accounts, houses, condos, townhouses, lots and office units, including 18 homes in San Antonio, to settle the lawsuit. The trustee is also selling a 1.69-acre piece of an undeveloped commercial lot on Stone Oak Parkway. The Bexar Appraisal District estimates the total value of the 19 properties at $6.66 million.

The 18-home portfolio is similar to large packages of single-family homes that periodically go on the market in San Antonio when investors, usually out-of-state or foreign, decide to sell, said Jason Glast, a San Antonio real estate agent who specializes in the luxury home market. When those homes are clustered together  seven of the Olvera properties being sold are in the Links at Canyon Springs  they can drive up nearby home values.

It just kind of depends on who gets hired to market these properties and what their intent is, Glast said. If they decide to dump them, its not good for sales in the neighborhood.

It doesnt appear that Richard Todd, the Realtor hired to sell the properties, is looking to dump them. BAD appraises Haynes house at $485,190, but its listed for $621,000. Todd said Tuesday that hed sold three properties so far. Each transaction is being approved by the court in Florida, he said.

As you can see, theyve been on the market for a while, Todd said. Nothings getting unloaded quickly.

For tenants like Haynes, these cases cast them into a world of uncertainty. Along with the sudden disruption to her life, she feared she might have to move if the buyer doesnt want an investment property.

The new owners probably wont be able to force her out. James Meyrat, a San Antonio real estate attorney who specializes in tenant-landlord issues, said theres no provision in her lease allowing that. But there is a provision in her lease that allows the landlord the right to enter the premises after reasonable attempt to contact tenant and at reasonable times.

Haynes said that after the initial surprises, shes worked out a deal with Todd to schedule showings. But that still means opening her home to strangers and ensuring shes there to keep an eye on the house and her dogs.

Not only am I paying rent to have the house available for showings, I have to be here and take time off, she said.
[February 24, 2020] Small Drones Market Size Worth USD 22.55 Billion by 2026; Industry Driven by Recent Technological Advancements in Product Manufacturing, says Fortune Business Insights

Key companies covered are 3D Robotics, DJI, Parrot Drones SAS, AeroVironment, Inc, 3DR, YUNEEC, EHANG, Kespry, INSITU, Delair, AguaDrone, Textron, Autel Robotics USA and more players included in Small Drones Market research report PUNE, India, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Small Drones Market size is projected to reach USD 22.55 billion by the end of 2026. The growing applications of small drones in military and defense will have a huge impact on market growth. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled "Small Drones Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, and Hybrid/Transitional), By Power Source (Lithium-ion cells, Hybrid Fuel cells, and Solar cells), By Size (Micro, and Mini & Nano), By Application (Civil & Commercial, Military, Homeland Security, and Consumer) and Regional Forecast, 2015-2026," the market was worth USD 6.46 billion in 2018 and will exhibit a CAGR of 15.92% during the forecast period, 2019-2026. Small drones are used in applications across diverse industry verticals. The ability of a small drone to examine and monitor activities in a short span of time will fuel the demand for the product across the world. Accounting to the widespread applications of the product, several companies are looking to invest more in the research and development of newer and advanced products. Increasing investments in product R&D will create several opportunities for market growth. The growing number of start-ups will bode well for the growth of the market in the coming years. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global Small Drones Market. Forecast values have been provided for the market for the period of 2019-2026. The factual figures have been obtained through trusted sources. Moreover, these predictions are made on the basis of extensive research analysis methods, coupled with the opinions of experienced market research professionals. It highlights the latest product launches and recent innovations in the market and states their impact on the growth of the market. The competitive landscape has been discussed in detail and predictions are made with respect to leading companies and products in the coming years. Request a Sample Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/small-drones-market-102227 List of the leading companies that are operating in the global Small Drones Market are: 3D Robotics

DJI

Parrot Drones SAS

AeroVironment, Inc.

3DR

YUNEEC

EHANG

Kespry

INSITU

Delair

AguaDrone.com

Textron

Autel Robotics USA Get Detailed Market Insights of Small Drones Market Research Report Enabled With Detailed Tables and Figures: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/small-drones-market-102227 Increasing Number of Military Defence Contract to Aid Growth The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years. Among all factors, the increasing number of military contracts for small drones will have a positive impact on the growth of the market. The increasing investment in R&D of the product will yield better products. In a bid to establishing a stronghold in the market, several companies are looking to acquire long term military contracts to enhance their market share in the small drone market. In August 2019, Aerovironment signed a contract with the United States Army for the supply of new drones. The contract is said to be worth USD 45 million, wherein Aerovironment will supply RQ-11B Raven drones to the US Army. US Army's collaboration with Aerovironment will not only help the company grow but will have a direct impact on the growth of the global market in the coming years. North America Leads the Global Small Drones Market; Increasing Investments in Product R&D to Aid Growth The market is segmented on the basis of regional demographics into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, the market in North America is projected to witness considerable growth in the coming years, driven by the high investments in the R&D of newer products. As of 2018, the market in North America was worth USD 3.16 billion and this value is projected to increase further in the coming years. Besides North America, Asia Pacific is projected to witness considerable growth, accounting to the high demand for small drones in emerging countries such as India and China. Order a Complete Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102227 Further Report Findings: The report includes ongoing Small Drones Market trends across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. North America is projected to emerge leading (2017 value span >USD 2.67 billion: & 2018 value: USD 3.16 billion )

is projected to emerge leading (2017 value span >USD 2.67 billion: & 2018 value: ) Asia Pacific to witness considerable growth



Besides regional demographics, the market is segmented on the basis of: By Type

Fixed-Wing

Rotary-Wing

Hybrid/Transitional By Power Source Lithium-ion cells

Hybrid Fuel cells

Solar cells By Size Micro

Mini & Nano By Application Military

Civil & Commercial

Homeland Security

Consumer (23% market share) Noteworthy Industry Developments: In Nov-18, AeroVironment signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for the distribution of RQ-20B Puma AE II small unmanned aircraft systems. The contract is estimated to be worth USD 3.2 million . Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/small-drones-market-102227 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction

Research Scope



Market Segmentation



Research Methodology



Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers



Market Restraints



Market Opportunities

Key Insights

Key Industry Developments  Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships



Latest technological Advancements



Porters Five Forces Analysis



Value Chain Analysis

Global Small Drone Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026

Key Findings / Summary



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Type



Fixed-Wing





Rotary-Wing





Hybrid/Transitional



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Power Source



Lithium-ion cells





Hybrid Fuel cells





Solar cells



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Size



Micro





Mini & Nano



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application



Military





Civil & Commercial





Homeland Security





Consumer



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region



North America





Europe





Asia Pacific





Latin America





Middle East & Africa TOC Continued! Speak to Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/small-drones-market-102227 Have a Look at Related Market Insights: Commercial Drone Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product (Fixed Wing Drone, Rotary Blade Drone, and Hybrid Drone), By Technology (Remotely Operated, Semi-Autonomous, and Autonomous), By System (UAV Structure, UAV Payloads, UAV Avionics, UAV Propulsion, and UAV Software), By Industry (Infrastructure, Transport & Delivery, Insurance, Media, Telecommunication, Agriculture, Security, and Mining) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Military Drone Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, and Hybrid/Transitional), By Range (VLOS, EVLOS, and BLOS), By Propulsion Type (Battery Powered, Fuel Cell, and Hybrid Cell), By Technology (Remotely Operated Drone, Semi-Autonomous Drone, and Autonomous drone), By Application (ISRT, Delivery and Transportation, Combat Operations, Battle Damage Management and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Share, Size & Industry Analysis, By Application (Military, Commercial & Civil, and Recreational), By System (Airframe, Payload, Avionics, Propulsion), By Technology (Remotely Operated, Semi-Autonomous, Fully-Autonomous), By Class (Small UAVs, Tactical UAVs, Strategic UAVs, Special Purpose UAVs), and Regional Forecast 2015-2026 Small Satellite Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Mini Satellite, Micro Satellite, and Nano Satellite), By Component (Structure, Payload, Electric Power System, Solar Panel and Antenna Systems, Propulsion Systems, and others), By Application (Communication, Earth Observation, Navigation, Technology Development, and Others), By End User (Commercial, Military, Civil, and Government) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Space Launch Services Market Share, Size & Industry Analysis, By Payload (Satellite, Stratollite, Cargo, Human Spacecraft, and Testing Probes) By Orbit (LEO, MEO, GEO, and Beyond GEO), By Launch Platform (Land, Air, and Sea), By Vehicle Type (Small Lift Launch Vehicle, Medium-to-Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles), By End User (Commercial, and Military & Government) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Avionics Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By System (Hardware Systems (Flight Management System (FMS), Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS), Electrical System, Emergency System, Health Monitoring System, Collision Avoidance System, Weather System) and Software Systems), Platform (Commercial, Military, Business Jets, General Aviation), End-Use (OEM and Aftermarket), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Military Antenna Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Frequency (High Frequency, Ultra-High Frequency, Super High Frequency, and Extremely High Frequency), By Type (Dipole Antennas, Aperture Antennas, Travelling Wave Antennas, Loop Antennas, and Array Antennas), By Platform (Airborne, Marine, and Ground), By Application (Communication, Surveillance, SATCOM, Electronic Warfare, and Telemetry), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 5G in Aviation Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Platform (5G Airport and 5G Aircraft), Technology (FWA, URLLC/MMTC, and eMBB), Communication Infrastructure (Small Cell, Radio Access Network (RAN) and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)), 5G Services (Airport Operations, and Aircraft Operations), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026 Helicopter Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Civil & Commercial and Military), By Application (Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Corporate Services, Search and Rescue Operation, Oil and Gas, Defense, Homeland Security), By System (Airframe, Engine, Avionics, Landing Gear System, and Cabin Interiors), By Weight (Light Weight, Medium Weight, and Heavy Weight), By Point of Sale (OEMs and Aftermarket), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026 Business Jet Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Aircraft Type (Light, Mid-sized, Large, and Airliner), Point of Sale (OEMs, and Aftermarket), Systems (Aerostructures, Avionics, Propulsion Systems, Aircraft Systems, Cabin Interiors, Landing Gears and others), By End User (Private and Operator), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026 Aerospace 3D Printing Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Vertical (Printers and Materials), By Industry Type (UAV, Aircraft, and Spacecraft), By Application Type (Engine Components, Space Components, and Structural Components), By Printer Technology Type (DMLS, FDM, CLIP, SLA, SLS and Others), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights, we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us:

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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.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's son Joseph Baena is celebrating his first year together with girlfriend Nicky Dodaj.

'One year with my partner in crime!!! Cant wait for more the many more adventures, laughs and celebrations to come!' Joseph wrote on Instagram.

The 22-year-old son of the action star and his one-time housekeeper Mildred Baena wrapped up the post writing to Dodaj, 'I Love you,' adding multiple shots of them together.

Stronger than ever: Arnold Schwarzenegger's son Joseph Baena, 22, is celebrating his first year together with girlfriend Nicky Dodaj

The included a shot where the brawny Baena held Dodaj on his arm while flexing his bicep; the couple kissing at a Disney resort; and the pair relaxing in white bathrobes with glasses of champagne.

On her Instagram page, Dodaj posted a shot enjoying lunch with Baena at the Rose Cafe in Venice Beach, California, which is down the street from Gold's Gym, where Joseph often works out with his bodybuilding icon father.

The couple, who are both alums of Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, enjoyed a meal of pancakes with a burrito and eggs on the wintry Sunday in Southern California.

They subsequently headed a few blocks to the shore, where they rode bicycles while celebrating their romantic milestone.

Kisses: The couple embraced on a Disney getaway, where Joseph donned a Star Wars shirt

Luxe life: The pair relaxed in white bathrobes with glasses of champagne

The ex-California governor is also father to four children with ex Maria Shriver: Katherine, 30, (whose husband is actor Chris Pratt); Christina, 28; Patrick, 26; and Christopher, 22.

Sources told Page Six last year that Joseph is hoping to build a relationship with his siblings, noting that Katherine and Christina 'have really no relationship with Joseph,' while Patrick and Christopher 'have more of a relationship with' him.

A source close to the family said that all parties involved have been amenable since news broke in 2011 that the Terminator actor had fathered a child out of wedlock during his marriage with Shriver.

'Eight years later, everyone is feeling their way out of a nightmare, and theyve all done a really good job finding their way into a new normal,' the source said.

A toast! Dodaj posted a shot while enjoying lunch with Baena in Venice Beach, California

Double trouble: The young couple looked to ride bikes along he shore on the sunny day
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:54:10|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish forces and Turkey-backed rebels on Monday managed to capture a town in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, after two previous failed attempts, a war monitor reported.

The Turkey-backed rebels and Turkish forces captured the town of Nairab in the eastern Idlib countryside after eight hours of intense fighting and heavy shelling, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A total of nine Syrian soldiers were killed by the Turkish shelling, the Britain-based watchdog said, adding the Syrian forces fired missiles at the town later.

The Syrian town is strategic for the Turkish forces and allied rebels given its proximity to the M4 highway which connects Aleppo Province with Latakia Province in northwestern Syria.

The town is also considered the gate to Saraqeb, a strategic city captured by the Syrian army recently, as the city overlooks the M5 highway that connects the capital Damascus in the south with Aleppo in the north.

The Syrian army has secured the entire M5 highway and opened it for travel.

The ongoing battles in Idlib reflect the tension and lack of understanding between Russia and Turkey.

Earlier in the day, around 10 Turkish soldiers were killed or wounded after Syrian and Russian warplanes targeted a Turkish observation point in the area of Kinsafra in the southern countryside of Idlib.

The Russia-backed Syrian army has been on a crushing offensive to eliminate the ultra-radical rebels in Idlib and nearby Aleppo.

Turkey, which supports the rebels, wants to bring the Syrian offensive to a halt in Idlib, thus clashing with the Syrian army from time to time.
[February 24, 2020] The Global Catalog Management Software Market is expected to grow by USD 423.22 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Catalog Management Software Market 2020-2024

The analyst has been monitoring the global catalog management software market and it is poised to grow by USD 423.22 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period. Our reports on global catalog management software market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05006369/?utm_source=PRN The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by rising affordability of catalog management software.In addition, increasing demand for product catalog management by e-commerce merchants is anticipated to boost the growth of the global catalog management software market as well.



Market Segmentation

The global catalog management software market is segmented as below:



Deployment:

Cloud-based

On-premises



End-user:

Reail







Marketing And Media

Manufacturing

Others



Geographic Segmentation:

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America





Key Trends for global catalog management software market growth

This study identifies increasing demand for product catalog management by e-commerce merchants as the prime reasons driving the global catalog management software market growth during the next few years.



Prominent vendors in global catalog management software market

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global catalog management software market, including some of the vendors such as Claritum Ltd., Coupa Software Inc., DCatalog Inc., eJeeva.com, Fujitsu Ltd., G2.com Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Oracle Corp., OXATIS SA, PLM Group Aps and SAP SE .

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05006369/?utm_source=PRN



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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.



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Conservative Christian group One Million Moms has issued a warning to parents that Disney's new animated series "The Owl House" is "evil" and "demonic".

The group has heavily criticised Disney Television Animation's new cartoon series, saying it portrays witchcraft in a positive light. More than 16,000 people have signed a One Million Moms petition demanding that The Disney Channel cancel "The Owl House", which premiered in the U.S. in January.

The new series follows a teenage girl named Luz, who discovers a portal to a demon realm and battles the forces of evil.

On her journey, Luz befriends a witch named Eda and a tiny warrior named King. Even though Luz does not have magical powers, Luz becomes Eda's apprentice as she pursues a dream of becoming a witch.

The series is produced by Dana Terrace, who has worked on the shows "Gravity Falls" and "Duck Tales."

The new series has already been renewed for a second season.

One Million Moms has accused Disney of introducing children to "to a world of demons" while inundating their minds with "secular worldviews that reflect the current culture."

The One Million Moms campaign webpage reads: "The show makes light of Hell and the dangers of the demonic realm. Even the previews and commercials include such content that makes it difficult for families who watch Disney Channel to avoid the evil content completely."

The series is rated as appropriate for ages 7 and up even though it contains "fantasy violence."

One Million Moms has said: "The first episode is more than enough for most Christian families to realize that 'The Owl House' ... is not a cute, funny show. [R]ather [it is] an extremely dangerous one."

Deborah Bunting, an op-ed contributor for the Christian Broadcasting Network, has written that "The Owl House" is "so beyond Cinderella it's not even funny."

She says, "The show tries to portray witchcraft as a positive tool to fight evil. That's similar to what real-life witches have been promoting over the past few years as they've been putting hexes on President Trump and others in order to fight for their beliefs."

One Million Moms highlights that the Bible states clearly in Isaiah 8:19-22 that "there is a spiritual realm that is not of God."

"It warns us not to participate in witchcraft or consult with mediums but to call on God," the One Million Moms petition states. "Deuteronomy 18:10-11 also warns us to avoid witchcraft in all forms."

In 2017, One Million Moms launched a petition opposing a Disney XD series that showed several gay characters kissing. That petition was supported by 64,000 people.

Last year, One Million Moms called for a boycott of "Toy Story 4," stating that Disney "blindsided" families by subtly including LGBT characters and undertones in the film.

The organisation said the inclusion of lesbian moms in the movie was Disney's attempt to "normalize" the LGBT lifestyle.

The One Million Moms campaign stated: "'Toy Story 4' is the last place parents would expect their children to be confronted with content regarding sexual orientation. Issues of this nature are being introduced too early and too soon. It is extremely common yet unnecessary."

One Million Moms' "Toy Story 4" petition was backed by over 15,000 signatures.

Courtesy of Christian Today
The health status of people evacuated from Wuhan last week and being observed in Novi Sanzhary health centre will be reported about daily, the public will also be informed about the results of coronavirus tests, said Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov.

"Firstly, every day we will report on their condition. Secondly, once in every three days medical samples of people being observed in Novi Sanzhary will be taken. The first sample was taken yesterday, and there will be first analyzes in the near future, and they will, surely, be public. We're not going to hide anything, because we have nothing to hide. The information should be public since the public must know what's going on," he said in an interview with TSN program on 1+1 TV channel on Sunday.

He assured that the authorities did not have a tactic of classified information related to the evacuation of Ukrainians.
NEW YORK  When the factory in China that makes Romy Taorminas anti-nausea wristbands closed for the Lunar New Year in late January, she expected production to resume by early this month. But many factories across China are still closed to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus, leaving business owners in limbo.

Theres no guarantee now when theyre going to be up and running, says Taormina, whos counting on a shipment of her Psi Bands to meet an increase in orders from Target stores.

Many U.S. small-business owners are facing a shortage of products or components because suppliers, who closed for the weekslong New Year holiday, remain shut due to the virus that has killed more than 1,100 people. Even owners who stocked up in advance of the holiday are worried about a prolonged outbreak, looking for alternative ways to fill orders and even considering moving their manufacturing to another country.

It has been hard for U.S. businesses to get information about how long the closings might last. After hearing rumors for a week, Taormina found out only last Monday from her manufacturer that it was closed and didnt know when it would reopen. The factory closed Jan. 18 and had expected to get back to work Feb. 2.

Taormina keeps an extra six weeks of inventory on hand for emergencies. But it can take six weeks for shipments to travel by sea and make it through customs. If factory shutdowns are prolonged, its going to be a tight squeeze, says Taormina, whose company is based in Pacific Grove, California.

Eugene Nadyrshin has been meeting with manufacturers in the Silicon Valley to build prototypes for the computer and electronics hardware he cant get from China. He realized around Jan. 26 that he needed to find an alternative way of getting the prototypes; his clients need them to decide whether to go forward with production.

We have some facilities ourselves but often involve other factories for specialized components, says Nadyrshin, co-founder of San Francisco-based CAD It App. He wants to avoid his customers growing impatient and taking their business elsewhere.

The worry for businesses is that its impossible to know how long the wave of illnesses will last. The SARS virus that first appeared in China in 2002 caused a global epidemic that didnt end until July 2003, according to the World Health Organization.

Scott Thompsons suppliers in China make ribbon and other components for the hoodies and other garments his company, The Saints Sinphony, assembles in San Diego. Hes worried about meeting deadlines to ship goods to his retail customers; he must ship in June so stores will have merchandise ready for the colder weather.

They need them to be delivered by a certain time, or otherwise theyll cancel, Thompson says. If we get stuck with the extra product, I could lose a lot of money.

Thompson is considering moving production to Turkey, where he has also used factories. But the process of switching to a new manufacturer takes time, with samples going back and forth between the factory and his company; at a minimum it takes 30 days. If Chinas factories arent producing again in three to four weeks, Thompson says, he may have no choice but to make a change.

Sam Jackson doesnt have that option. While he had a large shipment of sandals sent before the New Year, giving him a cushion, hes worried about the coming peak season for his sales that begins in March. His Denver-based company, Deco Slides, already invested $50,000 to get sandals made at a Chinese factory and estimates it would cost another $40,000 to have them manufactured elsewhere.

We dont have the resources to move production out of China at this point, Jackson says.

Gregory Stoller, who teaches business strategy and innovation at Boston Universitys Questrom School of Business, notes that U.S. companies began thinking about alternate manufacturing sites like Vietnam and Latin America when the Trump administrations tariffs on Chinese goods drove up prices on imported goods.

But none of them has the infrastructure that China has been pouring money into for the past 20 years, Stoller says. That means its harder to get goods made and shipped in countries that are still building their factories, roads, bridges and transportation systems.

Some U.S. owners have gotten some work done with Chinese designers who are working at home. Jason Rosenfeld of Scenic Labs has been able to get designs and blueprints emailed from China. Hes used them to create prototypes on a 3D printer and send those to customers.

Rosenfeld, whose Kinnelon, New Jersey-based company sells lighting used in filmmaking and broadcasts, increased his inventory before the New Year, expecting a three-week production hiatus. Now, he says, Im asking on some orders for dealers to take partial shipments. And while he has product upgrades coming up, he will hold off on orders for the older equipment when factories are running again.

I dont want to be stuck with hundreds or thousands of units, he says.

Companies that have goods manufactured in China arent the only ones affected. Two clients of Kevin Mercuris public relations firm, both China-based, put projects on hold. Hes had to look elsewhere to make up the revenue shortfall.

These are two very large clients who we were basing our forecast for the second quarter and beyond on, says Mercuri, CEO of New York-based Propheta Communications.

Hes reaching out to previous clients and new prospects to bring in revenue while waiting to see if his clients in China can restart their projects.

Any good businessperson has a Plan B in the back of their mind, he says.
In that election, Mr. Trump seemed at times as if he could threaten the Republican majority if he ended up losing badly. In the end, the G.O.P. lost only six net seats, while Mr. Trump ran ahead of only 26 victorious House Republicans. In some instances, the ticket splitting was substantial. There were 37 Republican-won House districts where either Mr. Trump ran at least five points behind Mitt Romneys 2012 vote share, Hillary Clinton ran at least five points ahead of Barack Obamas 2012 share, or both. On average, House Republicans ran 15 points ahead of Mr. Trumps margin in these districts in 2016. Even though these districts werent crazy about Mr. Trump, House Republican candidates did well in them.

Democrats would go on to win 20 of those 37 seats in the 2018 midterm. Why such a backlash? Perhaps because some of these ticket splitters didnt get the outcome they expected in 2016.

The political scientist Robert Erikson has found that in post-World War II presidential elections, some voters may split their tickets against the party they believe will win the White House as a way to put a check on the likely winner, as opposed to waiting for the midterm two years later, when the presidents party customarily struggles. The public, along with analysts and betting markets, all saw Mrs. Clinton as a favorite in 2016. Plausibly, many who thought Hillary Clinton would win voted Republican for Congress to block, thus accounting for the Democrats surprisingly feeble performance at the congressional level in 2016, Mr. Erikson wrote in the lead-up to the 2018 election.

Analysts generally do not see either party as strongly favored to win the presidency this fall, but the public seems to differ. A recent Monmouth University poll showed that two-thirds of American voters think the president definitely or probably will win. A Sanders nomination might make the public even likelier to view Mr. Trump as a favorite; Democrats, already pessimistic, are starting to hear skepticism from their own leaders about Mr. Sanderss chances. Oddsmakers have also recently made Mr. Trump a more significant favorite.

A consequence of Mr. Trumps chronically low approval ratings is that even if Americans ultimately decide hes the lesser of two evils this fall, there may be some voters who back him only tepidly or anticipate his victory and dont want his party to have total control of the government. Mr. Sanders being a potentially weak opponent doesnt necessarily make the president a beloved incumbent.

That may work to the benefit of House Democrats, even as they now panic  rightly or wrongly  over the possibility of sharing the ballot with Mr. Sanders.
From Anatomy of a Suicide, at the Linda Gross. Photo: Ahron R. Foster

I dont think Ive ever seen a horror film. Okay, I have been present in the room while a horror film was playing, but I believe I was mostly crouched fully inside my sweater while my companion narrated. So I want to be totally clear that the three horror plays that opened this week in New York had to handle a Critic Chickenheart  and it was unfair, really, to send such a weenie to see them.

The first two are the repertory offerings at Classic Stage, Kate Hamills adaptation of Bram Stokers Dracula and Tristan Bernayss adaptation of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. Its a fun concept, a do-si-do around the classics: a woman adapts a mans gothic thriller; a man adapts a womans vision of quasi-scientific body shock. And neither one, I am delighted to report, was particularly scary.

Hamills spirited Dracula has gone full Buffy the Vampire Slayer, womanhandling the plot so that it becomes a self-consciously fierce parable about warrior-femme liberation. Stokers original stoked 120 years of fantasies about anemic virgins and smoky-eyed guys who exerted hypnotic sexual control  even for us ladies, the anti-feminism (cf. Twilight) has been part of its allure. But Hamill pumps blood right back into those women, changing some characters genders and beefing up womens roles. And the result is: Men get checked. Vampires get stomped. Hamill herself sets the shows jolly-dark tone by playing Renfield as the cheeriest bug-eating thrall ever shut up in a Victorian asylum, while the cowgirl/vamp-expert Van Helsing (Jessica Frances Dukes), in long braids and jingling cowboy boots, now confronts Dracula (Matthew Amendt). The heroine Mina Harker (Kelley Curran) roars too, striking a blow for heavily pregnant women everywhere. According to medical guidelines, shes not supposed to lift too much. But what can one wooden stake really weigh?

Something as absurd as this Dracula is only going to work with 100 percent buy-in. The women, including Jamie Ann Romero as Lucy, are all comfortable with the commanding roles Hamill has offered them, and the men, particularly Matthew Saldivar as Lucys doltish fiance, do well with the comic material of their beta positions. (Its especially smart casting to have the classical actor Michael Crane as the doomed Jonathan Harker, since he exudes the dignity of a cat falling butt-first off a mantel.) Amendt plays Dracula as a snake-hipped fop, magnificently bullying but also unwilling to muddy his gorgeous Robert Perdzioladesigned white coat, while the fightin gals are ready to get all bloody, or dusty, or covered in dirt. Sarna Lapines production occasionally slows down to regard itself, when it should be speeding or lightening up  it leans heavily on Saldivars hambone silliness, which is always welcome and occasionally critical. But this is the kind of horror I could watch all day, the sort that reassures us that monsters are a bunch of weenies too.

Bernayss Frankenstein is much shorter but feels longer, even though it lasts only 80 minutes. Stephanie Berry, in a tunic and heavy boots, speaks in the first person both as the monster, waking up and trying to learn language (with a little help from the front row), and as the bewildered scientist Frankenstein, whose conscience revolts at his own creation. The accompanying musician Rob Morrison also occasionally pretends to be Frankenstein; director Timothy Douglas has him angrily strum his lute whenever hes particularly upset. The show seems to be more a lightly choreographed reading of excerpts from the novel than a stage adaptation: The tell-but-dont-show narrative style leaves little of dramatic interest, and Bernays uses big scoops of Shelleys elaborate language, lulling us with her Romantic cadences. The theaters idea of casting Frankenstein as a black woman raises interesting questions, though it would require a different text to really pose them. This production does, at least, point your mind in a productive direction. A horror narrative would certainly be a nifty way to discuss colliding forces of medical cruelty, cyborg feminism, and the black female body. So while Berrys voice is thunderous, it couldnt keep me in the room. I was too busy dreaming of other plays she could be in, other monsters and monster-makers she might play.

So the really scary play that opened this week was actually Alice Birchs Anatomy of a Suicide at the Atlantic Theater. Its much less genre-specific than the pieces at Classic Stage, and it pretends not to be a frightfest  there isnt a drop of blood anywhere. But Anatomy is horror nonetheless. In all three of these plays, the site for crawling fear centers on a womans body, and the terror seems to strike the moment that she comes into the world. In Dracula, its because woman is born prey; in Frankenstein, shes born a crime. But in Anatomy, we see women whose own brains, deeply programmed with depression and suicidal tendencies, try to drag them out of life. Its like that old scary story you heard in grade school  the call is coming from inside the house.

Theres not much of a plot, intentionally. Three generations  mother Carol (Carla Gugino), daughter Anna (Celeste Arias), and granddaughter Bonnie (Gabby Beans)  play their scenes simultaneously in front of us. All are seen in their early adulthood, so side-by-side moments happen in the 60s, the 80s, and the present. Their time-hopping villain is neurochemical and their struggles internal, so mainly we see aftermaths  Carols husband bringing her home from the hospital, her arms bandaged; Annas attempts to outwit her depression with electroconvulsive therapy; Bonnies occasional small gestures to others  a girlfriend, a co-worker, a bunny  that signal her unwillingness to die. Birch has to keep each scene extremely lean and full of pregnant silences so that they can play all at once, and director Lileana Blain-Cruz has to work in a very, very deliberate tempo.

This slowness and sparseness can sometimes feel like its own kind of torture. So much of depression is silence with a noisy brain, and so here Birch gives us compounding silences  the stillness of a character gritting her teeth against an internal temptation and the tension of a performer trying not to draw focus out of turn. Its uncomfortable to watch an actor standing, exposed on stage, both in character but trying not to be in focus. Beans as Bonnie gets the brunt of this, so that while her forebears suffer in scenes off to her right, she stares fixedly into space, sometimes ticking the seconds off on her fingers. Its not pleasant to experience, but it is brutally evocative. Bonnie sees life as something she has to wait out, and the production makes us vicariously feel a morsel of that.

Anatomys horror is even more successful, though, at insinuating itself into any sunny sense you might have of what it means to be a mother. At the start, Carol believes having a child will cure her, and her love for Anna does force her to stay on Earth a little longer. But life is like being trapped in a burning building Carol says, her voice about to shatter, and Anna winds up standing between her and the exit. In Birchs bleak triptych, we see how all three anguished women see motherhood as yet another insult in a world made out of injury, with love itself as something to escape. After an hour and 45 minutes, their vision begins to color yours. What sadist would allow the hell of having a body extend beyond your own flesh? What masochist would dare endure it?

Dracula and Frankenstein are at Classic Stage Company through March 8.

Anatomy of a Suicide is at the Linda Gross Theater through March 15.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dedicated park volunteers from Staten Island will be honored during an awards reception by Partnerships for Parks, a joint program of the city Parks Department and City Parks Foundation, on Thursday.

The Its My Park awards reception will recognize New York City park volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their local parks through service, advocacy, and collaboration. It will be held Thursday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan.

Groups making an impact will receive Bright Future Awards, while groups involved in their parks over the last 25 years will receive Legacy Awards. Friends of Eibs Pond Park and Friends of Olmsted-Beil House will receive awards at the ceremony.

The Legacy Award recognizes the organizations long-standing partners who have embodied Partnerships for Parks mission by working with local residents and decision-makers to transform their parks and green spaces into thriving centers of community life. It is presented to a community group from each borough that has led Its My Park and other programs, and has shown a long-term commitment to their community and local green space.

The Legacy Award for Staten Island goes to Friends of Eibs Pond Park, led by Patricia Lockhart, Debra Klingele, and Carolyn Reid.

The Friends of Eibs Pond Park was officially founded in 2001 by Lockhart, but their community advocacy dates back to the 1980s. When the group was formed, Eibs Pond Park was an illegal dumping ground with cars and tires littering the park and ponds.

Friends of Eibs Pond Park worked to remove the debris and invasive species from the park and restore the wood chip path, slowly working to turn the park into a thriving habitat for plants and animals. The group also worked to engage PS 57, Clifton, by using the park and pond for both science classes and stewardship efforts to ensure youth involvement.

In this 2006 file photo, Abdulahi Osman, at left, leads his fellow volunteers in a cleanup of Eibs Pond Park in Clifton. The group of teens works with Patricia Lockhart, a second-grade science teacher at PS 57, located across the street from the pond, who founded and coordinates the non-profit Eibs Pond Education Program. (Staten Island Advance File Photo) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

The Bright Future award recognizes newly-formed community groups who led their first Its My Park project in October 2018 or later, and have achieved crucial developmental milestones. It is presented to a group from each borough whose swift and successful growth acts as an inspiration to others.

The Bright Future Award for Staten Island goes to Friends of Olmsted-Beil House, led by Eileen Monreale, Carlotta Beil DeFillo, Tina Kaasmann Dunn, Felicity Beil, Carol Obler, and Ray Matarazzo.

Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was incorporated in November 2018 to protect, preserve, and present this historic site in Eltingville. It is now run by a board, including the founding directors. Prior to the groups formation, the property was overgrown with vegetation and invasive plants. The group hosted five Its My Park projects in 2019 to help clear the property.

Currently, city Parks Department and the New York City Landmarks Conservancy have begun protecting Olmsted-Beil House from moisture and water penetration. The Friends of Olmsted-Beil House have hosted a roadshow lecture series throughout Staten Island, including eight events in 2019, to inform and educate the public about the property and its historical importance.

This is a view of the east side of the landmarked Olmsted-Beil House in Eltingville on October 3, 2018. Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park, owned the house and property in from 1848 to 1855. (Staten Island Advance)Staten Island Advance

Its My Park award winners were self- or peer-nominated and vetted by Partnerships for Parks selection committee that focused on nominees achievements in the past year or over Partnerships for Parks quarter-century of work.

Partnerships for Parks is a unique public-private partnership between City Parks Foundation and city Parks Department that supports and champions neighborhood volunteers by giving them the tools they need to advocate and care for their neighborhood parks and green spaces.

It was founded in 1995 to support community groups that have sprung up in the wake of the fiscal crisis to reclaim their parks. It now supports nearly 600 groups working to sustain 400 parks and green spaces across the city, engaging over 25,000 volunteers annually.

Its My Park is Partnerships for Parks signature program to engage volunteers in hands-on service projects through city neighborhood parks.

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Does that mean I wont be able to use my VS credit card at Bath & Body anymore

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if they still own some of them, I think you should be okay? I'd ask the company tbh

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Yes

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Victorias Secret defined femininity for millions of women. But inside the company, 2 powerful men presided over an entrenched culture of misogyny, bullying and harassment, a New York Times investigation found. https://t.co/f5OdzLT6rs  The New York Times (@nytimes) February 1, 2020



I wonder if this had anything to do with it:

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Honestly, probably not. Theyre been on the decline for a while.

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Speaking from firsthand experience, this company is an absolute nightmare.

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Of course.

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I went into VS for the first time in months this weekend because Pink was having a decent underwear sale.



VS is selling these Skims type offerings (same colour palette), and has posters up of a plus-size model. Seems too little, too late.

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Yeah I noticed at least some ads had unretouched photos a couple months ago, it was nice to see but I doubt they can bounce back

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They will but it wont be so girly, they'll probably try to go the agent provocateur route

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yeah the store i used to work at has XL sizes on the shelves now when they were previously only online. like ah, now that the store is declining, might as well appeal to plus sizes. also they never ever had as many sales as they have the past like 15 months

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i can't wait for this trash brand to die

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I remember when VS used to be fantastic! Not only did their underwear last a long time they also sold great clothes and the models were lush and sexy. Then they got rid of the clothes and catalogues, the models got skinnier, and the underwear quality went way down. WTF happened?

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yeah, 90s vs had a bit of prestige. current vs is trashy.

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90s VS was fabulous. I still have underwire bras that I only wear for special occasions that are still in good shape. Clothes too. The quality was definitely there. Now, everything is sooo....pink and cheaply made, even as it's more expensive.

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also lingerie and nightwear got more practical, less frilly and showy.

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I used to love their bathing suits too. They had a lot of cute vintage-style bathing suits.

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I remember loving their thick sweatshirts that went to mid-thigh. I wore those until they fell apart. As someone a) fat and b) short, those were the best options. Covered most my ass (if not all) and made feel more comfortable out in public...cause big boobs.

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i love bath and body works sfm if anything happens to them ill be devestated



victorias secret only has cute seasonal underwear for holidays. i swear half my underwear is from their halloween or valentines lines.

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Middle aged white women would sell their firstborn before letting BBW go under. The holiday collections are probably when they make the most profit tbh

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this brand  is so past its prime. end it!

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I don't have much hope but just by offering a wider range of bra and clothing sizes they could gain back a bunch of customers. They could be a more mature version of Aerie (with better sizes) and do pretty good.

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Damn Fenty ended ha

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They were on the way down way before Fenty launched.

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Have any of the angels/models spoken out about this?

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I knew it was over when all the Angeles started "retiring" aka VS couldn't afford to pay them their huge fees anymore.

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just bring back my perfume bitches!!!!

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They had these parfums in beautiful bottles, like ten years ago, that smelled amazing and were top notch. They're so fuckin stupid for getting rid of them, the cashmere one was my favorite for my mom. That's what they get for trying to pander to a younger client, they should've stayed in the middle.

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Their fragrances now smell so pungent.



It was Body by Victoria (2002 edition) that really had great chemistry with my skin. I got lots of compliments with it. What I loved about VS before was they provide you the 3 notes. So you know what youre getting. One-note perfumes basically mean cheap quality.

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Where do you all get your bras and underwear? I used to shop at VS a lot, tried Aerie but all their underwear fell apart on me (which is weird cause everyone seems to love it?) so Ive mostly just been shopping at target lol

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aerie underwear used to be PRIME underwear like i have two or three pairs that i bought in high school that are just now starting to fall apart, but recently they've been total garbage. ae quality as a whole is declining rapidly

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Girl ae has been shitty quality for like ten years now. Their damn shirts always get holes in them after a while, I stopped wearing them years ago cause I noticed how cheap things were getting. Abercrombie and ae are only good for jackets and outerwear, they last forever.

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I really love Gloria Vanderbilt at Costco. For cotton underwear I just buy Hanes (Im all about the multipacks). Any other underwear I buy from Nordstrom Rack or TJMaxx



I used to buy underwear from VS and Target but not a fan of the quality of either now

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Gisele, Adriana, Alessandra, Heidi, Tyra and co left at the right time.

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Remember the fabulous Laeticia Castro? So pretty....and with a curvy body that could melt the paint off a car! Stephanie Seymour was on the slender side but she was curvy and sexy. The models they've had of late not only aren't sexy, they can barely fill out the underwear!

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Lol you mean Casta :) i loved her so much! By the way, her daughter is a model too! Your comment made me google her and thars how i found out.

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Loreal snatched her up

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The last fashion show I cared for was the 2008 one, with that sia song and Heidi hosting.

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State Rep. Laura Devlin (R-134th) of Fairfield will run for a fourth term representing the 134th State House District, which includes sections of Fairfield and Trumbull.

It is such an honor serving as your state representative, Devlin said in her announcement statement. Fairfield and Trumbull are two of the most desirable communities in our state and I hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the next legislative term.
Stones, pieces of bricks and glass shards lay strewn on road and plumes of smoke billowed from houses, shops and vehicles which were torched by mobs in northeast Delhi's Maujpur.

Security personnel conducted flag marches to disperse the mobs and maintain peace after the area witnessed heavy stone pelting and arson during clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups for the second consecutive day.

At least three vehicles were set on fire and smoke was seen rising from a house above a closed shop. Tear gas shells were hurled to disperse the protestors who were pelting stones at each other.

The policemen would keep dispersing the protestors to avert a face-off between the two groups, but the mobs would return after a while to start a fresh round of stonepelting.

In a widely-circulated video, a protestor brandishing a gun walked up to a Delhi Police personnel and then fired a few rounds in the air.

Hundreds of protestors were heard chanting provocative slogans. While one group raised slogans of 'Inquilab Zindabad', the other group played bhajans in praise of Lord Ram.

A section of pro-CAA protestors also tried marching towards the other other group but they were stopped by the police force.

All the shops in the areas were shut but the stick-carrying protestors vandalised them by pelting stones. Some pro-CAA protestors gheraoed a man and assaulted him till he lost consciousness. They then carried him away and chanted provocative slogans.

The protestors threatened some journalists when they tried to capture the arson and vandalism on their phone cameras.

A resident of Maujpur, who did not wish to be identified, said the locals were scared after the violence.

"Many of the residents are trying to leave the area for safer places. However, the roads are closed and even the metro stations are shut due to which they are unable to move out," he said.

Some policemen were seen collecting empty cartridges from the location where a protestor had fired multiple shots.

Meanwhile, some anti-CAA protestors gave roses to people who were on their way towards Maujpur where heavy stone pelting was reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saudi Arabia is stepping up its support for Libyan National Army chieftain Khalifa Hifter and its role as a potential power broker in a political settlement in Libya. The kingdom and the United Arab Emirates are both concerned about Turkeys growing engagement in Libya, which includes the deployment of Syrian mercenaries to prop up the UN-recognized Government of National Accord.

Saudi Arabias growing involvement in Libya is evident in both the diplomatic and military spheres. On Jan. 13, Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum traveled to Riyadh to discuss Libyas peace process, and Libyas UN Ambassador Taher el-Sonni met with Saudi Arabias permanent representative to the United Nations, Abdullah al-Muallami, Jan. 18 to discuss the conflict resolution process. On Jan. 24, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that Saudi Arabia provided financial assistance to the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization that deploys mercenaries to support Hifters forces.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry has not directly addressed the Le Monde allegations, but its official statements have emphasized that Saudi Arabias involvement in Libya is focused on achieving a political solution. Saudi officials have regularly asserted that Riyadh stands at equal distance from all Libyan parties, which aligns with its broader adherence to restraint, calm and dialogue in regional conflicts. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir also noted that Riyadh is in communication with both Hifter and Government of National Accord Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on the importance of a peace settlement in Libya.

Saudi Arabias growing involvement in Libya deviates markedly from its prior cautious support for Hifter and disengaged attitude toward the diplomatic process. Since the start of Hifters Tripoli campaign, the UAE has supplied military equipment to the Libyan National Army and regularly participated in diplomatic negotiations on ending Libyas protracted conflict. Saudi Arabia assumed a less visible role in Libya than the UAE, but reportedly pledged tens of millions of dollars in financial assistance to the Libyan National Army immediately prior to Hifters offensive.

Saudi Arabias increasingly assertive conduct in Libya can be explained by its desire to counter Turkeys military intervention in support of the Government of National Accord and establish a long-term diplomatic foothold in Libya. Saudi Arabia views Ankaras military assistance to the Government of National Accord, which coincided with Turkeys joint gas exploration operations in the eastern Mediterranean, as a threat to regional stability. In order to demonstrate its solidarity with Egypt, one of Saudi Arabias leading allies in the Arab world, and highlight its opposition to Turkish conduct, Riyadh has deepened its alliance with Hifter.

To explain Saudi Arabias tightened relationship with Hifter, Salman al-Ansari, the founder of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee, told Al-Monitor that Saudi Arabia surely is very concerned about Turkish meddling in the affairs of Arab nations, and that the Libyan National Army controls more than 90% of Libyas territory and is backed by democratically elected parliament members. Hamdan Al-Shehri, a Riyadh-based geopolitical analyst, told Al-Monitor that Saudi Arabia views Hifters decision to request assistance from Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE as a positive contrast with Sarrajs courtship of support from Turkey, a non-Arab country. Shehri said Saudi Arabia wanted to stand by a fellow Arab country and that Riyadhs stance on Libya resembles its prior opposition to Irans interference in Yemen and Syria.

Saudi Arabia has not just alleged provided financial support to the Libyan National Army and the Wagner Group as Saudi diplomats and media outlets have aided Hifters cause by actively delegitimizing Turkeys military intervention in Libya. On Jan. 4, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Turkey's conduct in Libya was violating international principles of sovereignty, and on Jan. 9, the Muslim World League claimed that Ankara was using its support for the Government of National Accord as a pretext to occupy Libyas territory. In a veiled reference to Turkey, Muallami told the UN Security Council on Jan. 23 that foreign interference in the Libyan issue led to the movement of extremist fighters to Libya, and urged the UN to support the preservation of Libyas territorial integrity.

Saudi media coverage of Turkeys military intervention in Libya has reinforced these narratives and emphasized the negative implications of Ankaras conduct. A Feb. 4 story in the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat linked declining revenues in western Libyas commercial ports to Turkeys smuggling of weapons and mercenaries. Saudi media outlets have also drawn parallels between Turkeys conduct in Libya and Irans actions in Syria. Mohammed al-Sulami, the director of Riyadhs International Institute for Iranian Studies, recently said that Turkeys deployment of neo-Ottoman mercenaries to Libya resembled Irans use of Shiite extremist foot soldiers in Syria. Salman al-Dossary, the former editor-in-chief of Asharq al-Awsat, concurred with this view by stating that Turkey was cloning Iranian militias, and warned that much like Iranian proxies, Turkish-backed militias will turn on themselves if they no longer have anything to eat up.

Although the hardening of Saudi Arabias support for Hifter was triggered by Turkeys military intervention in Libya, some Turkish and Libyan analysts have raised concerns about Saudi Arabias efforts to create a sphere of influence in Libya. This trepidation stems from Saudi Arabias alignment with the Madkhali Salafi movement, which has formed pro-Hifter militias that adhere to an ultraconservative interpretation of Islam. Tankut Oztas, a security specialist at the TRT World Research Center, contends that Saudi Arabia is attempting to create a coalition between Madkhalis and Salafi groups in Misrata, which would ensconce Saudi Arabia as a major geopolitical stakeholder in Libya.

Although the UAE remains Hifters primary ally in the Arab world, Saudi Arabias importance as a patron of the Libyan National Army and opponent of Turkish involvement in Libya has grown in recent weeks. If Turkey continues its military intervention in Libya, Saudi Arabia will likely expand its support for Hifters forces and pressure its Western partners to moderate Ankaras conduct. While the effectiveness of Saudi Arabias anti-Turkish containment strategy remains unclear, Riyadh hopes that Turkeys travails in the Syrian province of Idlib will convince Ankara to scale back its intervention in Libya.
When a Twitter poll asked fans for their most and least favorite cast member from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Patricia Altschul from Southern Charm didnt hold back with which cast member had her vote.

The poll question simply asked, Comment below the following! #RHOBH  Your #1 favorite  Your #1 least favorite. Altschuls response was pretty clear. She is a Lisa Vanderpump stan. Favorite..Lisa Vanderpump Least favoritethe rest of them, she wrote.

Patricia Altschul |Brianna Stello/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Altschul received a Twitter standing ovation for the most part. This is why we love you!! one person responded. Another wrote, I need to applaud this for at least 5 minutes.

Altschul and Vanderpump have a lot in common

One bond the women both have is their love of animals. Vanderpump and Altschuls mansions are teaming with various rescue dogs who are pampered and loved. Both women are committed to their love of animals too.

Altschul has her clothing line where pet owners can wear a caftan or clothing covered in their pups face. Vanderpump started a foundation and rescue. She also pioneered the efforts behind abolishing the horrific Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. Every year thousands are dogs are brutally murdered to honor a barbaric ancient tradition. Altschul shared how impressed she was with Vanderpumps rescue. So impressed with @LisaVanderpump and her dog adoption facility. Its lovely and she has made it very easy to interact with all the dogs, she tweeted in 2017.

Vanderpump and Altschul also have an appreciation for the finer aspects of life. Both women have discerning palates and throw memorable dinner parties with no detail overlooked. Altschul visited Vanderpumps restaurant, Pump in 2016 and shared a photo with Vanderpumps husband, Ken Todd. Thank you @LisaVanderpump for loaning me your adorable husband @KenToddBH#love@PumpRestaurant, she wrote.

She may warm up to this newbie

Bravo found a connection between Altschul and new RHOBH cast member Sutton Stracke. Bravos Style & Living shared that Stracke and Altschul were both named to The Salonnieres list of 100 best party hosts in America. Apparently, like Altschul, Stracke knows how to throw a killer shindig too.

Who Is Sutton Stracke? New Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Cast Info | The Feast https://t.co/cHMvymGC2w  Patricia Altschul (@Pataltschul) August 30, 2019

Stracke hit number 39 on the 2017 list for the Los Angeles area. Altschul made the 2019 list for Charleston, South Carolina. Theres no one who knows more about [Southern charm] than Patricia Altschul, who wrote the book on it and stars in the Bravo TV series of the same name, according to The Salonniere, Bravos Style & Living reports. While Patricia has no time for an inferior martini shes more than gracious when it comes to sharing her tips for elevating the cocktail  and every other party detail  to perfect Southern standards.

Altschul tweeted the Style & Living story, but so far fans havent quite warmed up to the new cast member. @Pataltschul should move to Beverly Hills just so she can be the next BEST Housewife of BH, one person suggested. Another wrote, Oh no. I think @Pataltschul is darn hard to top. She IS elegance not TRYING to be. Ms. Pat is IT. Granted I am a life long Charlestonian and I love her style. She islets the bar high honey ! Effortless elegance has her picture by it as the Original. I say that.
Sources revealed by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange "disappeared" after he put them at risk of torture and murder, a court has heard.

Opening his extradition hearing on Monday, James Lewis QC, said the 48-year-old is guilty of "ordinary criminality" by stealing from and hacking into US government computers.

He told District Judge Vanessa Baraitser that Assange, 48, is not charged with publishing "embarrassing" information the US would rather was not disclosed.

The lawyer said the dissemination of specific classified unredacted documents put dissidents in Afghanistan and Iraq at "risk of serious harm, torture or even death".

He told Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates' court, that the US identified hundreds of "at-risk and potentially at-risk people" around the world and made efforts to warn them.

Mr Lewis said: "The US is aware of sources, whose redacted names and other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by WikiLeaks, who subsequently disappeared, although the US can't prove at this point that their disappearance was the result of being outed by WikiLeaks."

Assange is wanted in the United States to face 18 charges in the Eastern District of Virginia over "one of the largest compromises of classified information" in the country's history.

Mr Lewis said most of the charges relate to "straightforward criminal activity", which he described as a "conspiracy to steal from and hack into" the department of defence computer system along with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

"These are ordinary criminal charges and any person, journalist or source who hacks or attempts to gain unauthorised access to a secure system or aids and abets others to do so is guilty of computer misuse," Mr Lewis said.

"Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a licence to break ordinary criminal laws.

"This is true in the UK as it is in the USA and indeed in any civilised country in the world."

The lawyer said three charges relate to the dissemination of specific documents which put sources at risk.

"By disseminating the materials in an unredacted form, he likely put people - human rights activists, journalists, advocates, religious leaders, dissidents and their families - at risk of serious harm, torture or even death," he said.

"What Mr Assange seeks to defend by free speech is not the publication of the classified materials, but he seeks to defend the publication of sources - the names of people who put themselves at risk to assist the US and its allies," Mr Lewis continued.

"He is not charged with the disclosure of embarrassing or awkward information that the government would rather not be disclosed. The disclosure charges are solely were there was a risk of harm."

Mr Lewis also described Assange's lawyer's claims that he would face up to 175 years in jail if found guilty of the charges as "hyperbole", although he did admit that any sentence would be a matter for the US court.

Representing Assange, Edward Fitzgerald QC outlined his defence on Monday.

Mr Fitzgerald said: "Prosecution is not motivated by genuine concern for criminal justice but by politics.

"This extradition should be barred because the prosecution is being pursued for political motives and not in good faith."

Mr Fitzgerald argued the extradition request was part of a wider political war on journalists under President Donald Trump, rather than seeking justice.

He continued: "President Trump came into power with a new approach for freedom of the press... amounting effectively to declaring war on investigative journalists.

"It's against that background the Trump administration decided to make an example of Julian Assange, he was the obvious sign of everything Trump condemned."

He added extradition would be the "height of inhumanity", exposing him to inhumane conditions in an American prison, leading to a high risk of suicide.

The lawyer later said that Assange's actions were misrepresented by the request, particularly assisting Chelsea Manning in accessing confidential information and disclosing unredacted sensitive material.

Mr Fitzgerald told the court: "It's completely misleading to suggest it was Julian Assange and WikiLeaks to blame for the disclosure of unredacted names.

"WikiLeaks only published the unredacted material after they had been published by others who have never faced prosecution."

Mr Fitzgerald told the court Assange did not assist Chelsea Manning in accessing or decoding the leaked documents.

Wearing a grey suit, and grey sweater over a white shirt, Assange spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth in front of supporters in a full public gallery, including his father, John Shipton.

Scores of protesters, some of whom had pitched tents nearby, made so much noise that they could be heard inside the courtroom.

The noise, which included a siren, chanting and singing, was so loud it prompted Assange to address the court before the lunch break.

He said: "I'm having difficulty concentrating. All this noise is not helpful either.

"I understand and am very grateful of the public support and understand they must be disgusted..."

But the judge stopped him from speaking, instead asking his lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC, to address her.

He said: "What Mr Assange is saying is he can't hear and can't concentrate because of the noise outside."

The extradition hearing will be adjourned at the end of this week of legal argument and continue with three weeks of evidence scheduled to begin on May 18.

The decision, which is expected months later, is likely to be appealed against by the losing side, whatever the outcome.

Assange has been held on remand in Belmarsh prison since last September after serving a 50-week jail sentence for breaching his bail conditions while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

He entered the building in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex offence allegations, which he has always denied and were subsequently dropped.
Renowned games developers take Wrexham conference to the next level

This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 24th, 2020

The world record holding co-creators of one of Britains best-loved games characters the guests of honour at a games development conference in Wrexham this weekend.

The Oliver Twins  who developed the Dizzy games, featuring one of the UKs most recognisable 80s game characters  will be the keynote speakers at the Level Up Conference, Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys annual games conference on February 29.

The twins will be talking about their 35-year career in the games industry, which saw them gain a Guinness World Record in 2018 as Most Prolific 8 Bit Videogame Developers after developing an amazing 25 Amstrad games, 17 Spectrum games & 11 NES games.

Of these 53 games, almost half became number one bestsellers  generating around five million sales, and at one point representing over 15% of all UK games sales.

Rich Hebblewhite, senior lecturer and conference organiser said: Im so pleased to have Andrew and Philip visit us!

After starting Blitz Games in 1990, they built it into one of the largest and most successful UK Game development Studios.

They didnt stop there, setting up Radiant Worlds with co-founder Richard Smithies which they sold to Rebellion in January 2019  and then building a consulting agency called Game Dragons to pursue their passion for inspiring and supporting the next generation of UK game developers.

Their games inspired me to learn programming which is how I got here today, so this years event definitely has some extra meaning to it personally!

Other guest speakers will be Team 17s Jasper Barnes and Deborah Farley from UK Games Talent  along with a host of local and regional industry guests. The event also includes a session on how to develop your CV and portfolio and will be followed by a networking and gaming session at Glyndwrs Lazy Lion student union bar and pizzeria.

The conference, now in its 7th year, is one of several major annual industry events organised by the award-winning games programme team at the university.

Rich added: The Level Up Conference is a great chance to meet with and hear from leading games industry figures, along with a range of highly talented local and regional developers.

The event has become a cornerstone on our calendar and run for nearly a decade and is a vital part of the learning experience for our students  as well as a great event for anyone from the wider community who is looking to break into the industry or simply interested in games and gaming.

If you have any interest at all in games and technology, you should definitely head to WGU on the 29th of February!
The fearmongering over Russian election interference might be the most destructive moral panic in American political life since the Red Scare. Then again, to be fair, those who prosecuted the post-war hunt for Communists had the decency to uncover a handful of infiltrators. Weve yet to meet a single American whos been brainwashed or had their vote snatched away by an SVR Twitterbot. Probably because no such person exists.

Nevertheless, millions of Americans believe that a handful of terrible memes  and I mean the most amateurish and puerile efforts imaginable  on social media were enough to overturn a presidential election in the most powerful nation on earth. Or, more likely, most pretend to believe it. As Donald Trumps fortunes have turned somewhat in recent weeks, and socialist Bernie Sanders looks poised to take the Democratic Party nomination, the Russians are once again coming to snatch your vote.

There were lots of wows from journalists on Twitter last week when the New York Times reported that members of the House Intelligence Committee were warned by an aide to Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire that Russia would be meddling in the 2020 campaign in order to get President Trump reelected. When Trump found out, the Times reported, he was furious that briefers had given Adam Schiff ammunition for political attacks.

First off, this isnt an absurd concern. In his effort to undermine the publics confidence in the elections for partisan purposes, Schiff has shown an ugly and cynical propensity to exaggerate and lie about Russian attempted meddling. Hes done more harm in undercutting American trust in democracy than Putin.

Hes not the only one.

Putins Puppet is at it again, taking Russian help for himself, Hillary Clinton, still struggling to come to terms with her devastating loss, said Friday. He knows he cant win without it. And we cant let it happen.

We are now in a full-blown national security crisis, tweeted former CIA Director John Brennan, one of the leading culprits perpetrating the Russia fraud. By trying to prevent the flow of intelligence to Congress, Trump is abetting a Russian covert operation to keep him in office for Moscows interests, not Americas.

Story continues

As if often the case in Trump era, the initial thinly sourced story and subsequent freakout was quickly tempered by additional reporting. CNNs Jake Tapper, for instance, reported that there was no intelligence showing that Russians would interfere for Trump, only that they likely had a preference for Trump because he was a dealmaker.

Here is Bloombergs Eli Lake:

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.

The Washington Post also reported on Friday that Sanders had been briefed by U.S. officials warning that Russia was trying to help his presidential campaign. Democratic Party operatives took to the Sunday shows to blame Russia for supporting Sanders  all in an effort to get Trump reelected. Never mind that Bernie could easily have won the nomination in 2016. Never mind that Sanders has built an impressive national movement over the years. Never mind that the champions of the Democratic Party establishment are astonishingly weak. Never mind the partys base has been dramatically moving Left for years. Its gotta be Putin!

The Washington Post piece is thin on specifics, which should lead us to believe the story is a politically motivated leak meant to slow Sanderss momentum. (Then again, Bernie was implying that the Russians were responsible for the toxic campaign behavior of his Bro-sheviks, so maybe he deserves it.)

There are few people who detest the candidacy and philosophy of Sanders more than I, yet Im positive that the KGB cant give him the Democratic Party nomination any more than they can install Donald Trump in the White House. Only voters can.

Its likely that Russia, as it did in 2016, will engage in amateurish efforts to foment divisions among some American  as if we needed any help. If they actually hack an election  a word incessantly, and erroneously, used by journalists at the height of the Russia scare in 2017  well know.

But the Russian hysteria plays into a long-standing liberal conviction that feeble-minded conservatives vote against their own interests only because theyve been hoodwinked. It might be the doing of a foreign power. It might be the plutocrats. It might be special interests. It might even be domestic tricksters, like the ones in the much-discussed recent McKay Coppins piece in The Atlantic, The Billion-Dollar Disinformation Campaign to Reelect the President  a piece that offers over 8,000 chilling words describing traditional political operations as something dark, undemocratic, and new. Be prepared for a flood of similar pieces. Democrats never lose elections. Elections are only stolen from them. Nothing but Trump stepping down and admitting hes a Putin asset will stop Democrats from questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

Of course, if you cant handle some memes or misleading ads, you probably shouldnt be voting, anyway. Youre clearly not prepared for the civic responsibilities that come with an open debate, which is often messy and ugly, rather than hermetically sealed in a media-approved bubble.

More from National Review
Nobel Hygiene, the undisputed leader in the adult diaper category and the only Indian manufacturer of both, adult (Friends) and baby diapers (Teddyy & Snuggy) has partnered with Nucleus PR and The Womb for creative communications.

Nucleus PR addresses complex brand-building issues with its deep-rooted practical expertise. The firm believes in combining its experience and insight in both digital and traditional media to build a strong reputation and enhance the brand's vision. They have created a definitive niche for themselves across MNCs, SMEs and Startups. The fast-growing company has prestigious clients like, MediaCom, Zolostays and Royal Brothers on its roster. Nobel Hygiene is a proud addition to the same.

The Womb is a young independent innovations and communications company, started by first time entrepreneurs; Navin Talreja and Kawal Shoor. The Womb works with clients like Saregama India, Vini Cosmetics, Asus India, Cipla Health, Godrej Tyson, IGP.com, Sunny cooking oil, Nobel Hygiene, Mahindra, Puro Wellness, Axis Mutual Fund, just to name a few.

Nobel Hygiene, a home-grown Indian brand, aims to create a healthier, safer environment for the stages in life where one is most vulnerable using the best materials and technology for a happier world.

Commenting on the new partnerships, Kartik Johari, Vice President, Nobel Hygiene, said, With our aggressive expansion and clear market leadership, it is important that we ramp up our communication accordingly. We are happy to have Nucleus PR and The Womb on board. The expertise and domain depth that each one of them brings to the table will help us reach our set objective and help us communicate our vision in the market. We look forward to a successful collaboration with both our communication partners.

Commenting on the win, Tarunjeet Rattan, Managing Partner, Nucleus PR said, Keeping in mind Nobel Hygienes vision and business objectives, we aim to leverage PR in a strategic manner. We will help create an overall reputation for the brand while at the same time create awareness about larger issues like incontinence and elder care within the target audience. Smart use of PR with a distinctive and aggressive approach will achieve impactful results that the brand aspires for.

Commenting on the win, Navin Talreja, Managing Partner, The Womb said, we have been a strategic and creative partner to Nobel Hygiene for about a year now. Most part of the year has been spent in getting different aspects of the business and brand ready for long term sustained growth. And now we go to market in many exciting ways. The Nobel team led by Kartik believes in cutting edge work and challenging norms which is always far more exciting than doing boring maintenance work. So exciting times ahead. Watch this space!
Get this newsletter in your inbox Monday-Friday by signing up at subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters.

Top stories for Monday, Feb. 24

LIVING UNDER QUARANTINE: A Forest Grove mans coronavirus quarantine aboard a cruise ship is over, but his wife remains hospitalized in Tokyo. The two saw each other for the first time in two weeks this weekend  him in the parking lot and her at a hospital window.

RENTAL REFORMS CHALLENGED: A rental industry group and two landlords they represent sued the city of Portland on Thursday to block new housing screening and security deposit rules from taking effect, claiming theyre unconstitutional.

CANCER CLOUD: Radioactive gas has been found inside more than 60 apartments at a public housing complex in Alabama, validating findings from an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive exposing how federal and local officials have failed to protect low-income tenants. But the Huntsville Housing Authority to this day has not told tenants that they are breathing high levels of radon.

FACIAL RECOGNITION: Portland is considering the strictest ban on facial recognition technology in the United States, which would prohibit its use not only by government agencies but also private businesses.

COMING SOON? A major Chicago hotel developer has set its sights on a Southeast Portland building.

REMAINS FOUND: Washington County deputies are investigating the discovery of human remains in a wooded area south of Tualatin Valley Highway.

SUMMARILY DISMISSED: Oregons clearinghouse for workplace complaints closed a Portland mans racial discrimination claim against his former employer after doing a cursory inquiry, state files show. The company is now caught up in a wrongful arrest and discrimination case, along with the West Linn Police Department.

BOY SCOUTS BANKRUPTCY: The nationwide organizations recent filing can be traced back to two Oregon lawsuits, including a public disclosure case led by The Oregonian. Learn more in the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, our weekly news podcast.

JEREMY CHRISTIAN TRIAL: The jury unanimously found Christian guilty on all counts in his double-murder trial, but a sentencing date hasnt been set. Heres whats next.

Keep up with the trial at oregonlive.com/crime, by subscribing to our free email newsletter, or via podcast or your digital assistant of choice - well have dispatches from the courtroom most afternoons.

Snap of the day

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VOLCANIC WONDERS: Some 500,000 years ago, the earth cracked open at what is today near the border of Oregon and California, spewing out lava that covered the landscape and scorched all that lay in its path, creating what we know today as Lava Beds National Monument. Its caves and desert trails are full of stories.

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Beaverton teen injured in skull-breaker challenge responds by launching website devoted to kindness

Voles die of thirst, OHSU lab cited for animal welfare violations

Tourism tax to benefit world track meet in Eugene greenlit by Oregon House

Look at the most expensive homes for sale in each of Oregons 36 counties

10 throwback music acts coming to the Portland area this summer

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TOP WORKPLACES 2020: Love your workplace? Nominate your employer by March 13 for Top Workplaces 2020, a survey-driven project to identify and recognize the top employers in Oregon and southwest Washington. Learn more.

Weather and traffic

Mostly cloudy. High 48, low 33.

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The St. Johns Bridge will close for annual maintenance and inspection each night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Saturday morning. Emergency vehicles will be allowed over the bridge during the closure times. The last two scheduled TriMet buses of the night, at 10:04 p.m. and 11:05 p.m., will also be allowed to cross each night.

Stay up to date on traffic conditions at oregonlive.com/commuting

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Ask Amy: Church fellowship group likely to crumble under weight of possible affairDear Abby: New sister-in-law having problems with fiances icy familyDear Annie: I stink because of a medical condition. Help!Find more, including today's horoscope, at oregonlive.com

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Today in history

In 1582: Pope Gregory XIII issued an edict outlining his calendar reforms. (The Gregorian Calendar is the calendar in general use today.)

In 1811: Edward Dickinson Baker, Oregons first senator and the only sitting member of Congress killed in the Civil War, for whom Baker City is named, is born in London, England.

In 1989: A state funeral was held in Japan for Emperor Hirohito, who had died the month before at age 87.
Sanders led among those with college degrees and those without and in every age group except those over 65. In the first state to vote in the string of Democratic nominating contests with an ethnically diverse electorate, Sanders won more than half of Hispanics who voted and even narrowly won among those who identified as moderate or conservative.

Surveys of Nevada caucus-goers bore out Sanders's claim, with the 78-year-old Vermont senator holding substantial leads over his challengers in nearly every demographic group. He easily topped former Vice President Joe Biden, who finished a distant second in the voting, with former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar still further back.

"In Nevada we have just put together a multi-generational, multiracial coalition, which is going to not only win in Nevada, it is going to sweep this country," Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, told cheering supporters at a rally in Texas, where voting takes place March 3, along with 13 other states. "We are bringing our people together -- black and white and Latino, Native American, Asian American, gay and straight," he said.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders won an emphatic victory in Saturday's Nevada caucuses, strengthening his claim to the party nomination, but drawing protests from his challengers about his chances to defeat Republican President Donald Trump in November's national election.

Biden, once the national leader among Democrats to take on Trump, claimed success despite winning less than than half as many votes at Sanders. "Y'all did it for me," he told supporters at a Nevada union hall. "I ain't a socialist. I'm not a plutocrat. I'm a Democrat, and proud of it," he said.

Biden, who now has lost the first three nominating contests, told CBS' "Face the Nation" show, "I feel good about where we are. I feel good about going into South Carolina," which votes next Saturday. "And I feel good about the kind of support I've had with African-Americans around the country."

Buttigieg, hoping to become the moderate Democrat to take on Sanders, claimed the Vermont senator is a divisive figure that would encounter headwinds against Trump when he seeks a second four-year term in the White House.

"Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders in our one shot to take on this president, let us take a sober look at the consequences," Buttigieg said, adding that Sanders "believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans."

Warren, in Seattle, Washington, said, "I've got a word for Nevada, thank you for keeping me in the fight." Warren, as she did at a Democratic debate last week, attacked former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has spent more than $400 million of his own money in a national advertising campaign to gain a foothold in the Democratic race, but stumbled badly on the debate stage with five other challengers seeking the nomination. Warren, making a joke about Bloomberg's short stature, called Bloomberg "a big threat, not a tall one" who is trying to "buy this election."

Bloomberg, by his choice, was not on the Nevada ballot, nor will he be next week at the South Carolina primary, instead focusing on the Super Tuesday voting March 3, when he will be on the ballot as a third of the delegates to the July national nominating convention will be picked in one day in votes across the country.

His advertising campaign has raised his profile nationally, but analysts are waiting to see whether he improves his debate performance when all six candidates debate again in South Carolina on Tuesday night.

The challengers to Sanders are all looking to edge out other candidates to be left standing in a one-on-one face-off with him. Sanders, who also won the popular vote in Iowa and New Hampshire, now has the early lead in pledged delegates to the national convention and the prospect of winning a vast haul of delegates in the March 3 voting and in states that vote in the two weeks after that.

Kevin Sheekey, Bloomberg's campaign manager, said, "The Nevada results reinforce the reality that this fragmented field is putting Bernie Sanders on pace to amass an insurmountable delegate lead." Bloomberg, at last week's debate, contended that Sanders would lose a national election to Trump.

A long-time Democratic strategist, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, told ABC's "This Week" show, that Sanders can yet be stopped from winning the Democratic presidential nomination, but said that, "The moderates have to coalesce around one candidate."

As the votes were slowly counted in Nevada, Trump offered his assessment of the contest to be his opponent. "Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada," Trump said on Twitter. "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, & don't let them take it away from you!"


More than two dozen supporters of Charles Goldblum, a Pittsburgh man incarcerated since 1976 for stabbing to death George Wilhelm, testify before the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons including Attorney General Josh Shapiro (left) and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (center). Read more

Until last year, I was one of the more than 5,400 Pennsylvanians serving mandatory life without parole sentences, condemned to die in prison.

Pennsylvanias mandatory life without parole sentences for both first- and second-degree murder means that everyone with these convictions receives the same sentence  death by incarceration  without considering level of culpability or an individuals circumstances. But it doesnt need to be that way.

Until 1997, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons operated under a simple 3-2 majority vote requirement to advance a person sentenced to life without parole or death to the governors desk for commutation. After a man whose sentence had been commuted was convicted of a high-profile series of violent offenses, the legislature changed this to a unanimous requirement, and Pennsylvanians in prison have borne the consequences since.

Thankfully, our states Board of Pardons granted me that unanimous vote in recognition of my extensive efforts of rehabilitation over my 37 years of time served. Through my efforts, and with the help of the From Cell to Home program, I was the second commutation in nearly three decades for a woman in the state serving a life without parole sentence. Now I work to help others receive the same grace, helping streamline the process of getting peoples cases before the Board of Pardons.

But there are legislative solutions that would help afford more people the grace I was afforded. There are current legislative efforts to change the Board of Pardons vote requirement from unanimous to a 4-1 vote (proposed in SB 884), or a return to a simple 3-2 majority (proposed in HB 2262) in order to advance to the governors desk for approval  both of which would allow the opportunity for more deserving people to return home to their loved ones.

The unanimous requirement for recommending commutation has contributed to the dramatic surge of aging and ill people living in our prisons, which rank among the highest in the nation for those serving life without parole. For most of these individuals and their loved ones, the commutation process is their only hope of relief from these excessive sentences.

As of December 2018, there were more than 10,000 people over the age of 50 serving sentences in Pennsylvanias Department of Corrections and more than 20,000 over the age of 40. The Department of Corrections spends $2.9 million each month on medications for people over age 50 alone.

 READ MORE: Commutations can relieve costs of sick and aging prison population  and reverse decades of bad policy | Editorial

Many of these folks, like me, have already served decades in prison, have long since rehabilitated, and pose little to no risk of recidivism. The Justice Policy Institute studied a group of life-sentenced people who were released after serving decades in prison for violent offenses. They found that when provided comprehensive reentry support, this population had a recidivism rate of less than 3% after five years.

While we work to advance legislative solutions to our mass incarceration crisis, we must ask members of the Board of Pardons to support more peoples applications for second chances and to move them to Gov. Tom Wolfs desk for approval.

We should not let the abhorrent behavior of a few deter mercy and grace for the many deserving people in Pennsylvania. We should be focusing on people like me  people who have been extended grace and are using their second chances to help those still fighting for relief from excessive sentences.

Naomi Blount served 37 years of a mandatory life sentence before having her sentence commuted in 2019. She now works as a commutation specialist under Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. Celeste Trusty, the Pennsylvania state policy director for the criminal justice reform nonprofit FAMM and previously a longtime advocate for justice reform in Pennsylvania, contributed research to this piece.
A Benton County man quietly gave $100,000 to a Tea Party super PAC in January, new federal campaign finance reports show.

David Gore, who lives north of Corvallis, donates regularly to conservative causes. But his Jan. 7 contribution to the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund more than doubled all his previous federal donations since 2007.

Its the largest single donation from an Oregonian since Nike founder Phil Knight cut four $100,000 checks to Republican causes between 2016 and 2018.

A phone message left Monday morning at a number listed for Gore, 74, has not been returned.

Gore helped start the Cascade Policy Institute, a Portland-area Libertarian think tank, in 1991. He remained on the board of directors until 2015, according to the nonprofits annual tax-exempt filings.

As a political donor, he has directed most of his money to Tea Party groups and a handful of Republican candidates.

Tea Party Patriots touts support online for President Donald Trump, as well as several Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas. It is currently urging people to sign petitions to retain Attorney Gen. William Barr and to investigate the business dealings of presidential candidate Joe Biden.

As a super PAC, the Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund cant give directly to individual campaigns. Instead, such groups buy ads and use other methods to advocate for specific outcomes in federal elections.

Gores $100,000 contribution provided a vital infusion of cash. The group started 2020 with $11,200 cash in reserves, federal filings say.

It was the largest one-time donation reported by the group since July 2018. Gore also gave $25,000 to the group in January 2018.

Gores parents started the company that developed Gore-Tex, described by The Oregonian in 1987 as the daddy of the waterproof/breathable fabrics.

The family company, W. L. Gore & Assoc., still exists today and is based in Newark, Delaware. The privately-held company has said it generates $3.5 billion in annual sales and employs 10,500 people.

Gore previously listed himself as one of the companys directors, but more recent federal campaign finance filings describe him as retired.

Gore also operated his own company in Corvallis that focused on new ways of fabricating metal, but he shuttered that in 2001. Along with his wife, he started Ashbrook Independent School, a private K-8 school in Corvallis.

Although Gore has lived in Oregon for decades, he hasnt spent heavily on state or local races. State records show he has donated just $1,375 in Oregon since 2007.

-- Molly Young

myoung@oregonian.com

Read more:
By PTI

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government is yet to launch a probe into the alleged instances of tapping phones of certain political leaders under the previous BJP government, as there is a proposal to reconstitute the probe panel, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said here on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Deshmukh admitted that the probe got delayed.

The Shiv Sena-led state government ordered the probe earlier this month after receiving many complaints from political parties and leaders about the alleged snooping done under the watch of the previous government.

It had set up a two-member committee comprising Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shrikant Singh and joint Commissioner of Police (intelligence) Amitesh Kumar.

"The probe will happen for sure. It got delayed in view of a proposal to change the committee," he said.
Bahrain's Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the kingdom after a Bahraini citizen arriving from Iran was suspected of having contracted the virus, based on emerging symptoms.

The patient was transferred to the Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Medical Centre for immediate testing, treatment and isolation under the supervision of a specialised medical team. The ministry undertook further necessary medical measures to monitor all individuals who had been in contact with the patient and referred them to isolation accordingly, a Bahrain News Agency report said.

The ministry said it is taking further preventive measures to ensure the virus is contained, including monitoring the health of individuals arriving from infected countries for a period of 14 days, in line with international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"The ministry calls upon all citizens and residents who are experiencing symptoms of COVID19, including a fever, coughing and difficulty breathing, or those who have traveled to one of the countries infected with the disease or have interacted with a person traveling from any of those locations, or interacted with an infected patient, to isolate themselves, call 444, and follow the instructions given by the medical team, and avoid close contact with others," the ministry said.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Bernie Sanders, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, is being slammed by both Republicans and Democrats for his comments on "60 Minutes" praising some aspects of Fidel Castro's Cuba.

Asked by interviewer Anderson Cooper on Sunday why the Cuban people didn't rise up and help the U.S. overthrow communist dictator Castro, the Vermont senator said "he educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know?"

Moscow meddling: Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is attempting to help his campaign

Sanders said that while he opposes the "authoritarian nature" of the communist country 90 miles south of Florida, Castro's armed revolution that vaulted him onto power in 1959 should not be viewed as completely negative.

"It's unfair to simply say everything is bad," he told Cooper. "When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?"

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign event in San Antonio, Feb. 22, 2020.

While universal health care and education remained the pillars of Castro's revolution, crumbling infrastructure, a stagnant economy and widespread poverty became prevalent in Cuba. Castro also refused to tolerate political dissent, imprisoning thousands of Cuban opposition members during his repressive rule and harassing and intimidating tens of thousands more.

Cooper pressed Sanders about imprisonment of dissidents under Castro, who died in 2016.

A closer look: Fidel Castro: Among world's most influential leaders for a half-century

Election fallout: Sanders' support of Castro may have doomed his chances in Florida

"That's right. And we condemn that," Sanders responded. "Unlike Donald Trump, let's be clear, you want to  I do not think that (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un is a good friend. I don't trade love letters with a murdering dictator. (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine."

Story continues

Sanders' comments drew a torrent of criticism from the right and the left.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who represents a large Cuban American community in Miami-Dade, tweeted that the senator's comments were "absolutely unacceptable."

As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanders comments on Castros Cuba absolutely unacceptable.  Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@DebbieforFL) February 24, 2020

"The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families," she wrote on Twitter. "To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society."

The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society.  Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@DebbieforFL) February 24, 2020

Republicans pounced as well.

"On '60 Minutes' last night, Bernie Sanders found the silver lining of a murderous dictators reign: Fidel Castro started a literacy program," Steve Guest, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee wrote in a statement.

Shortly after the interview aired, Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., slammed Sanders "and the Democratic Socialists."

This isnt Cuba, Venezuela or the USSR. 2020 may be the year Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists take over the Democratic Party, but it better not be the year they take over the United States of America.  Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) February 24, 2020

Sanders' comments aired the day after he won the Nevada caucuses, vaulting him into the clear lead heading into South Carolina's primary Saturday and the following Super Tuesday primaries on March 3. A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders has been characterized by his more moderate Democratic rivals on the campaign trail as far too left to beat President Donald Trump in November.

On Friday, reports surfaced  confirmed by Sanders  that Russia has been trying to help him win the nomination.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bernie Sanders gets criticized for praising aspects of Castro's Cuba
Lord of the Senses is an unputdownable collection of short stories written by Vikram Kolmannskog and published by the London-based Team Angelica.

The Queer Bookshelf is your fortnightly date with books about queer lives and loves from India and elsewhere

***

What does it mean to be queer and Hindu, or Hindu and queer? I have been thinking about this question ever since I heard about the formation of an entity called the Queer Hindu Alliance, which describes itself as one gentle step toward acceptance of the queer community within Hinduism and as an advocacy and support group that will promote a more inclusive Hinduism through creating safe spaces for LGBTQI+ Hindus and allies to engage, share and support each other without fear or discrimination.

I was happy to hear that a group had been created for queer people who identify as Hindu, and draw sustenance from their faith. It sounded like a wonderful initiative to me because it checked all the boxes that are important: acceptance, support, inclusion, safety, and absence of fear or discrimination. However, my enthusiasm was short-lived as the alliance began to use its Facebook page to endorse the communications blockade in Kashmir under the guise of championing queer liberation, and openly indicated its support of the Howdy Modi tamasha in Texas.

Since I do not identify as Hindu, it is not my place to prescribe how queer Hindus should fashion a progressive politics that is nourished by their faith. But I do want to know if, alongside challenging normative ideas around gender and sexuality, they also oppose caste discrimination, state-sponsored violence, and lynching of Muslims. I am interested in a dialogue, not a confrontation. In my view, shouting matches can help with momentary release but they do not bring any clarity or understanding.

I am aware that, for a large number of people  particularly Dalits and adivasis  the lived experience of Hinduism is deeply connected to historical oppression. They have suffered physical violence, verbal abuse, and sexual exploitation. They have been deprived of access to clean drinking water, land ownership, entry to temples, educational opportunities, and decision making roles in organisations. As a result, there is a tremendous amount of intergenerational trauma that is unaddressed.

Do queer folx who identify as Hindu also uphold the caste system? If they speak out against caste atrocities on social media, does that diminish their career prospects or their standing in the marriage market? Is it possible to be Hindu, and exist outside the caste system? These are open questions, not rhetorical ones. I held them in my mind as I began to read Lord of the Senses, an unputdownable collection of short stories written by Vikram Kolmannskog and published by the London-based Team Angelica.

The author is a gay man raised by an Indian mother and a Norwegian father. He cherishes his Hindu upbringing as well as his Christian heritage. Though he lives in Oslo, he travels to India quite frequently. I picked this book to help me think about the possibility and predicament of being queer and Hindu because fiction expands our capacity to imagine, envision, redefine. Also, I thought that Kolmannskogs insider-outsider position might throw up some fresh insights.

The book has a striking cover image shot by Ahmed Umar, alluding to the first story in the anthology, which is also titled Lord of the Senses. The model here is Kolmannskog himself, dressed up as Krishna in an act of worshipping the beloved by embodying his persona. These words from the story describe not only Krishna but also the image on the cover: His pose was so elegant, one foot firmly on the ground, the other crossed over and only lightly touching it. His head slightly tilted to one side. His eyes wide open. In his hands: a flute...You could barely distinguish where his body ended and the surrounding night began, both were so dark. But his eyes were shining like two moons, almost frighteningly white.

In this story, the unnamed narrator finds kinship with the 16th century Rajasthani poet Meera whose bhajans are sung even today because they are drenched with love and devotion for Krishna. The highlight of this story is a queering of the concept of darshan  the glimpse of a deity, which is a blessing for the devotee. This is how Kolmannskogs narrator describes the act of beholding Krishna: You could spend forever looking at him. You would study each detail of his beautiful body, his large eyes, sweet lips, smooth chest and stomach, his nipples, his navel, the curves of his body, the dhoti in folds over his legs, the naked feet on the ground, one across the other, so gracious, so sensual. Sometimes he caught you looking and he knew what you were thinking and he knew about the tingling you felt. You would blush and cast your eyes down for a moment but soon be looking up at him again.

What is the gender of the narrator? I do not assume that Kolmannskogs narrator is a cis-man just because Kolmannskog is. His dedication to the book reads: To lovers of all kinds! By the way, does gender even matter when the deity and the devotee have become one? Does our political vocabulary have the words to describe states of spiritual ecstasy? I do not think so. In conversation with Meera, the narrator says, It felt like he was the air entering you and moving your body, your very own breath, your blood and muscles: that intimate...You danced to the sound of your fingers snapping, hands clapping, ankle bells tinkling. You danced like a little girl, clumsily, bursting with joy. You danced like a young woman, seductively, teasing him with deliberate movements, loosening your hair, swaying your hips, slowly removing your clothes, catching his gaze.

Another story from this collection, which explores what it means to be queer and Hindu, is titled Growing up Queer. The protagonist is a child of Indian heritage living in Oslo. He likes to take care of the Hindu idols that his aunt has given him. He keeps them in a cave-like space underneath his left bed. Sometimes, he invites his friend Tina to visit this cave that becomes a holy place for him when he rings the bill. Tinas mother asks him to stop telling her stories about Ravan, a demon king, who kidnapped the innocent Sita and held her captive because it is scary. This mythological lore is of great cultural importance to the child but he is shamed for it.

Later, the narrator makes friends with a boy named Jon at school, and they spend a lot of their time fantasising about a trip they would take to India when they are older. Tina is jealous of the time he spends with Jon, so she spreads the rumour that the narrator believed in all sorts of weird things. He is embarrassed, and wants to do some damage control but it does not work. He says, Others in my class started saying that my family probably even ate monkey brains like in that Indiana Jones film set in India. This racist stereotyping is disgusting, and inculcates self-hatred in his young mind. Is this what people call Hinduphobia? Such a coinage might make sense in a country where Hindus are a minority. Does it hold relevance in a country where Hindus are the majority? I am still thinking about it.

In another story titled Golds Gym, Bandra West, we learn that the narrators grandmother used to tell him stories about Pathans. In his gay imagination, these were men with hairy chests who were worth fantasising about. However, for Dadima, they were just people who could not be trusted. She wanted him to believe that they would come and take away children who misbehaved. The narrator says, Even though I later dismissed these stories as unfounded, slightly racist rumours from her own childhood, the little bit of irrational fear that remained made the Pathans more exciting and attractive to me. If Dadima had known that a Pathan would be the first man to f*ck me... Reading this made me wonder whether the Hindu narrator is challenging Islamophobia, or merely exoticising the Muslim male body because of its perceived difference and danger.

It is common knowledge that the term Hindu is used to designate people speaking a variety of languages, eating different kinds of food, celebrating a multiplicity of festivals, and observing rituals that are not similar across regions. However, the idea that Hindu equals vegetarian seems to be a persistent one among many communities in India. To what extent is the practice of vegetarianism attached to notions of purity and pollution rooted in the caste system? Do queer Hindus embrace this hegemonic narrative of Hinduism that erases diversity? Can we accept that there are people who choose to be vegetarian not because they are casteist but for health reasons, or to reduce their carbon footprint, or because they believe in animal rights, or simply since vegetarianism is part of their spiritual discipline?

These thoughts occurred to me while reading two of the stories in Kolmannskogs collection  Shredded Dates and Ravan Leela. The narrator of the story Shredded Dates goes on a Grindr date, and the topic of vegetarianism comes up as they are ordering something to eat. He comes across as a desi visiting India while his date is a local. Trying to make polite conversation, he says, I probably spend more time choosing where and what to drink or eat than it takes the average traditional Indian to choose a spouse out of the alternatives given to them...But you seem to be able to choose quickly. His date replies, I know what I want, and looks directly into his eyes. We are duly informed about an erection that resulted from this quick exchange.

I like France, the narrator says. In restaurants there, they often have only one vegetarian option. I dont have to choose. But its changing there too. More vegetarianism, sadly. This goes on until the date declares, Im pure non-veg. I love my meat. The narrator is not able to say much other than Okay but his date concludes, Opposites attract, I guess. Later in the story, as the narrator is trying to figure out whether his date is really a good match for him apart from the great sex, one of the considerations that comes up in his mind is this: He cant go a day without eating meat. Would you call this casteist, or a statement of personal preference?

The story Ravan Leela features a grandmother who wants separate crockery and cutlery to be used for guests who are from a lower caste background while the grandson  who is also the narrator  tries to gauge whether his prospective date Ahaan is Hindu or Muslim from taking a closer look at naked photographs. He tells us, According to a group in Tamil Nadu, rather than a demon, Ravan was actually a Southern king who opposed the Aryan aggressor Ram. According to some Dalit groups, Ravan was a wise and compassionate Buddhist. When the narrator eventually meets the date, he fantasises about Ahaan as Ravan because he is excited about being penetrated by a demon king. This made me a bit uncomfortable. Heres why:

The narrator writes, Another part (of me) is attracted to the counter-narrative of Ravan being a good king, and that I am contributing to this reversal by casting my lover in the role of Ravan and giving myself to him. I am not sure where the one starts and the other ends. Our eyes meet as he pushes all the way into me. I wonder what he sees. For a second, I feel guilty about reducing us to these roles. But then I forgive myself: projection and playfulness, a little bit of leela, is important in life after all, not least in attraction in sex. My first response was to be judgmental, to not see this as role play but as a disturbing enactment of caste privilege. I still think that Ahaan, who we are told is Dalit, is being fetishised as a symbol rather than being seen as a whole person. Is that me reading too much into it?

The book is not framed as a commentary about being queer and Hindu. That is the lens I chose to read some of the stories in this book through, because of the questions that appear urgent to me at the moment. There is a lot in this collection that I found riveting  the lush descriptions of queer intimacy, the relationship between the mother and the son in many of the stories, the fact that the author does not see the spiritual as an escape from the sensual, and his account of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. I would urge you to read it, and discover how it speaks to you.

Chintan Girish Modi is a writer-researcher working at the intersection of peace education, gender equality and queer rights
A Socialist leader stressed the need to establish a fourth republic in Hungary once the Socialists, as part of the pro-republic opposition, come to power in the 2022 elections.

The new Hungarian republic will have to be democratic and based on social justice, Agnes Kunhalmi, head of the partys national board, told a press conference after a board session.



She said the new republic would be built from a variety of components, such as child-focused education combining lexical knowledge with ability-development and patient-focused health care offering modern European treatments.



Kunhalmi stressed the need of a strong pension correction programme, with the introduction of the European minimum pension. The Socialists propose the Swiss indexation method to be restored for pension calculation. Accordingly, pensions would increase by 6.5% this year as against the actual 2.8%, she said.



Kunhalmi called for curbing the current accommodation crisis, which she said required the introduction of a rent ceiling and the development of a home rental scheme. The minimum wage must be made tax-free, which would result in an immediate increase of 25,000 forints per month, she added.



Kunhalmi said the Socialists did not want the European Union to cut funding for Hungary but fully supported that the transfer of payments should be tied to the country meeting the rule-of-law criteria.



Socialist leader Bertalan Toth said opposition cooperation was the only way to achieve a change in government in 2022. The party believes that a joint prime ministerial candidate and joint candidates in constituencies are required to defeat Fidesz, he added.



MTI Photo: Krizsan Csaba
Jerusalem: A macabre tug-of-war over the body of a Palestinian militant on the Gaza-Israel border, captured on video in broad daylight, prompted a barrage of rocket fire from Gaza and was met by retaliatory Israeli air strikes late on Sunday.

Israel's use of heavy machinery to retrieve a militant's body earlier in the day drew harsh criticism even within the country. But Israel's hawkish defence minister, Naftali Bennett, defended the army's seizure of the body as appropriate, suggesting it could be used as a bargaining chip to recover the remains of two Israeli soldiers who have been held in Gaza since 2014.

An explosion caused by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City early on Monday. Credit:AP

The day of tensions began around 6.30am when, Israel said, its soldiers spotted two militants from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group placing an explosive near the border east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

Israeli forces fired an anti-tank weapon at the two militants. One was killed, the other wounded. Palestinian Islamic Jihad identified the dead man as Muhammad al-Naem, 27, a member of its military wing.
In their ten years of existence, crypto-assets (also known as cryptocurrencies or virtual currencies) have confounded governments around the world. Bitcoin was the first and has been followed by over 5000 other crypto-assets. But, because Bitcoin was started by a pseudonymous creator and is not controlled by any single entity, it is in many senses still the most confounding.

Is it money? A Security? A commodity? A payment system? Courts and government agencies globally have provided different answers.

The key is not to analyse the legal aspects of crypto-assets in a vacuum but to be clear about the context in which a question arises. Are we analysing a tax statute, a securities law, or a constitutional issue? Are we analysing Bitcoin or a more centralised crypto-asset, like many of the tokens that came out of Initial Coin Offerings?

Also Read: Draft anti-crypto law proposes 10-year jail for dealing in Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies

It is only of late that global thinking is beginning to appreciate these nuances. A broad consensus is emerging that regulation should be function-based and not overtly influenced by the underlying technology.

In other words, the mere prefix 'crypto' doesn't have much legal meaning; regulators should pierce the veil and look to the nature of an activity.

Often, the existing law has an answer. The approach of jurisdictions like the U.S., U.K. and Singapore towards judging whether to apply securities law to crypto-asset activity is a good example. These jurisdictions analyse case-by-case whether a given crypto-asset is a 'security', based on long-standing legal principles, such as whether there is an investment in a common enterprise and an expectation of profit solely from the efforts of others.

They have found that while Bitcoin is not a security, many other crypto-assets are, and therefore can only be traded on regulated securities exchanges. Wherever crypto-assets raise genuinely new issues, such as consumer protection and money laundering, new regulations should be crafted.

Several jurisdictions have done this too, a prime example being the E.U.'s expansion of its anti-money-laundering law to specifically cover crypto-asset intermediaries.

Also Read: Crypto markets lose millions as Bitcoin slips below $7,000

However, it is important to recognise that national lawmakers may not have all the answers. Crypto-assets are an inherently cross-border phenomenon. Multiple national governments have expressed the need for international co-operation for effective crypto-asset regulation.

The G20, the Financial Action Task Force, the Financial Stability Board, and the OECD are some of the international organisations having informed discussions along these lines.

The recent Indian inter-ministerial committee report too (which went as far as to recommend an outright ban on crypto-asset activity) recognised that global standard-setting bodies would drive the way forward and that a standing committee in India should accordingly re-visit the issues in its report.

But, as yet, we haven't come across a proposal for a formal international treaty on any aspect of crypto-asset regulation. We believe this is an idea worth considering. While each national government would have different policy interests, it would seem reasonable for most governments to agree on minimum consumer protection, anti-money-laundering, tax compliance, and market integrity standards.

The G20 has in fact identified these as the issues raised by crypto-assets and has committed to monitoring them, which could make the G20 a possible forum for initiating discussions on a potential treaty. The E.U. anti-money-laundering directive is already an example that multi-lateral co-operation on this aspect is feasible.

While some existing treaties may already extend by interpretation to crypto-assets (e.g., co-operation in criminal law and tax matters), new provisions can be introduced for consumer protection, anti-money-laundering, and market integrity with specific application to crypto-assets.

For instance, countries could be required to license and regulate crypto-asset businesses and prohibit market practices like insider trading and "pump and dump" schemes. A treaty is also an opportunity to bring some much-needed uniformity on the taxonomy of crypto-assets and crypto-asset activity.

Also Read: Indian crypto enthusiasts should be glad their money is safe! Virtual currencies are crashing globally

Over the years, countries have always found that it makes sense to reach international agreement on cross-border phenomena. Prominent examples include the multi-lateral treaties on air, space, and the sea; the clarification of intellectual property rights on the Internet; the prevention of transnational organised crime; and co-operation on tax matters, including the recent multi-lateral instrument on anti-avoidance.

A crypto-asset network has participants across the world. A transfer of value occurs across borders with minimal friction. The blockchain allows for decentralised autonomous organisations (or 'DAOs') i.e., something akin to a multi-jurisdictional company.

Even trading exchanges can be purely online, decentralised and 'locationless'. All of these innovations bring both benefits (such as cost-savings and financial inclusion) and risks (such as law enforcement evasion).

The goal of regulation should be to preserve the former and mitigate the latter. But without certainty on other countries' approaches, there seems to be a temptation to take excessive measures like prohibiting the activity itself.

In India, the Supreme Court has reserved judgment on the question of whether the RBI validly prohibited crypto-asset transactions from being carried out through banking channels.

On the larger issue of the legality of the activity itself, the inter-ministerial committee's recommendation of an outright ban is pending consideration of the government.

In our view, a prohibition would be excessive, since less invasive alternatives are available, as shown by many other countries. A binding multi-lateral agreement will bring comfort to authorities to view crypto-assets with less suspicion.

As former IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said, "A judicious look at crypto-assets should lead us to neither crypto-condemnation nor crypto-euphoria. ...[P]olicymakers should keep an open mind and work toward an even-handed regulatory framework that minimises risks while allowing the creative process to bear fruit."

(The authors are lawyers at Nishith Desai Associates. While the firm represented the Internet and Mobile Association of India in the Supreme Court case on the RBI circular, this piece is not intended to comment on the merits of that case.)
Two men were arrested for



allegedly robbing and assaulting people in running vehicles in separate cases here, police said on Monday.

The duo, Suresh Singh (31) and Pravin Helkar, (32) has a number of criminal cases registered against them at various police stations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Palghar.

They were nabbed over a span of a week in different cases, but their modus operandi was the same - assaulting people and decamping with their valuables while they were travelling in vehicles, the police said.

On November 30 last year, a Borivli-based man was assaulted by an unidentified person, who forced him to sit inside an autorickshaw and later robbed him of valuables like gold and cash collectively worth Rs 1.30 lakh, they said.

The Borivli police had registered a case and were investigating when a similar crime was reported in the same area, only this time the victim was a senior citizen.

In the second case, the senior citizen was travelling in an autorickshaw when an unidentified man stopped the three- wheeler and forcibly entered inside.

The accused then assaulted the elderly man and robbed him of Rs 5,009 in cash, the police said.

The formed a special team to nab the accused.

The team suspected that the accused could be active in adjacent cities as well and got in touch with the police in Navi Mumbai and Thane, who shared information on similar cases in their respective areas.

With the help of technical evidence and human intelligence, the police zeroed in on Singh and Helkar.

Police laid a trap and nabbed Singh from Kalamboli (Navi Mumbai) on February 18 and Helkar from Kalyan (Thane district) on February 23, they said.

During probe, it was revealed the arrested duo had previous cases of attempt to murder, firing, arms possession and theft registered against them at police stations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON  On the day President Donald Trump was acquitted of high crimes and misdemeanors in the Senate impeachment trial, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted more than 80 times, taunting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and calling on the party to expel Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the sole Republican who voted to convict his father.

Lara Trump, the presidents daughter-in-law and another ubiquitous campaign surrogate, posted three tweets. She barely mentioned impeachment.

As Trump's children take on an expanded role in his reelection campaign, they embrace different styles  and speak to different constituencies. From Trump Jr.s bombastic rally warmups and social media posts to Laras focus on women's issues and Ivanka Trumps composed policy perch inside the White House, Trumps family tailors its message to different voters.

What would you do if you woke up on Nov. 4 and Bernie Sanders was your president? Trump Jr. asked as he revved up a Phoenix crowd last week before a rally. Guess what, guys: There are no do-overs. You get one chance to get this right.

Trump's stories: Cop to a crying businessman, what Trumps anecdotes reveal

Polling: Poll shows Trump defeating all 2020 Democratic candidates in Wisconsin

Trump Jr.'s bomb-throwing is especially noticeable in his social media feed. The president's eldest son is far more likely than his siblings to use Twitter to attack Democrats, according to a USA TODAY analysis of nearly 4,500 tweets from the Trump family. He has referenced Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, for instance, in 8% of the tweets to his 4.4 million followers since Oct. 1. That's a higher share than all of his siblings combined.

He is more likely to use the word media on Twitter, virtually always in an attack.

Republican observers said Trump Jr.'s red-meat style has made him a rising star among conservative voters within the presidents base.

By contrast, Lara Trump  who married Eric Trump in 2014 and who has taken on an increasingly high-profile role in the presidents election  is more likely than other family members to use the word woman on social media, according to the analysis. That syncs with her appearances at Women for Trump events in Iowa, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. A senior adviser on the campaign, Lara has been more likely to mention the words employment and job than other surrogates.

Story continues

Lara Trump's pitch to suburban women

"The media tells us women dont support Trump! WRONG!" Lara posted Jan. 17 to her 761,000-plus followers.

The approach has allowed her to reach out to women voters, particularly suburban women. Donald Trump narrowly won white women in 2016, exit polls showed, but that support has slipped. A new USA TODAY/Ipsos poll found that 54% of suburban women are more likely to say a Democrat would be better for the country.

Ivanka Trump, who has been a more sporadic presence on the campaign trail in 2020, has focused heavily on her efforts inside the White House on workforce development, rarely wading into politics on social media. While Trump Jr. shares memes of Romney with a Mom Jeans caption, Ivanka Trump is more likely to post images of her official trips overseas on behalf of the administration, or of her children.

Since 2017, rural areas have had similar or better economic performance than urban areas as measured by GDP growth, housing value appreciation and labor market participation, Ivanka Trump tweeted this month in a message that was similar to others she has posted.

Her husband, Jared Kushner, whose vast portfolio includes building the wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and Middle East peace, has never posted a tweet. Both have long been viewed as moderating forces, relatable to centrist Republicans and some swing voters who crossed from backing President Barack Obama to Trump in 2016.

President Donald Trump's family (from left, Melania, Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr.) helps promote the administration's themes in various ways. Trump campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine calls them "valued advisers and an integral part of this campaign."

Trump campaign officials declined to discuss the strategy behind the use of family surrogates, but spokeswoman Erin Perrine described their involvement in the campaign as "key to victory in 2016" and predicted the same would hold true for 2020.

"Who better to speak to voters about President Trump and his record of success than those who know him best?" Perrine said. "Members of the Trump family are valued advisers and an integral part of this campaign."

Lara Trump said her work on behalf of the campaign has brought the Trump family together.

"Nothing can really prepare you for this," Lara Trump told USA TODAY in an interview. "We all became a lot closer because it almost feels like you go through a war with people. And I would say for all of us  including my father-in-law  were all a lot closer because of it."

Dianne Bystrom, a former director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, said some of the presidents adult children fulfill a campaign role more typically handled by a first lady. In the 2020 cycle, Melania Trump has been less active on the campaign trail than many of her predecessors, including Michelle Obama and Laura Bush.

It is not unusual for presidential candidates to employ surrogates, including family members, to strategically target the campaign's message with a variety of groups, Bystrom said. I think we see so much more of the Trump children because Melania Trump has not been an effective spousal surrogate.

The 'star power' of family members

Few presidential candidates have been able to draw so heavily on their progeny as proxies, and few have been able to put their children so front and center. President George H.W. Bush brought in his family, including George W. Bush, in the 1988 election. Romneys children often appeared on stage during his 2012 campaign.

The difference in Trumps case is that many of his children were well known before he ran for president.

If you want star power, add the Trump name, and you automatically have it, said Jason Miller, who was a senior aide on the presidents 2016 campaign.

In addition to the last name, they bring a sense of passion, a sense of insight into the policies, Miller said. It says something when the people who know President Trump the best are willing to get out there and work so hard for him.

The ubiquity of Trumps children on the trail has had another impact: It has raised speculation about their own political ambitions.

Trump Jr., who published a New York Times bestseller last year, is among Republican voters top picks for the nomination in 2024, according to a poll for the news site Axios last month. Ivanka Trump also made the list, along with Vice President Mike Pence.

That interest hasnt been lost on Trumps children or the crowds turning out to hear the president speak.

When the president recognized Trump Jr. during a rally in New Hampshire this month, his supporters chanted, 46  as in the 46th president.

When Trump Jr. addressed an audience in San Antonio last fall, someone in the audience shouted out 2024. As many in the crowd laughed, Trump Jr. held a dramatic pause before his response.

Lets worry about 2020 first! he said.

Contributing: The Associated Press, Courtney Subramanian

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump Jr., Lara Trump: How Trump's family speaks to 2020 voters
In context: The US governments battle with Huawei isnt showing signs of abating. As such, Google has published an article that explains how the situation affects the Chinese manufacturers devices and its services. With Googles apps not available on new Huawei phones and tablets, the company is advising people not to sideload the likes of Gmail, YouTube, and Maps.

Back in May last year, Huawei was added to an entity list that essentially prevents US companies from doing business with the firm. It means Huawei models launched after May 16, 2019, arent certified to run the Play Store or Googles suite of apps.

Google's Android and Play Legal Director, Tristan Ostrowski, writes that the search giant has received several questions about new Huawei devices, particularly when it comes to sideloading its apps. The company advises against this practice, warning that theres a high risk of installing an app that has been altered or tampered with in ways that can compromise user security.

The Mate 30 series: no Google apps and no components that originate from America

Additionally, Google warns that the apps will not reliably work as it does not allow these services to run on uncertified devices where security may be compromised.

Ostrowski confirms that Google continues to support Huawei devices sold before it was added to the entity list. These phones and tablets will continue to receive security updates along with updates to Googles apps and services as long as it is permitted.

To find out if your Android device has been certified under Google Play and Protect, open the Google Play Store, tap Menu and go to Settings. You will see if your device is certified under Play Protect certification in the About section.

Earlier this month, Huawei told the US to look at its own history of spying on phone networks before accusing it of doing the same thing. Additionally, the US Department of Justice charged the company with conspiracy to steal trade secrets.
This contract provides an unprecedented opportunity for hospitals and physicians to embrace patient health data exchange in the most cost-effective way, said Phil Beckett, CEO of HASA.

HASA, the non-profit, community HIE for North, South and West Texas, announced today that it has received a Texas Health Information Exchange Implementation Advanced Planning Document (HIE IAPD) contract aimed at removing cost barriers for HIE participation in Texas.

With the goal of increasing HIE use and adoption by Medicaid providers in Texas, the contract is part of the Health Information Exchange Connectivity Project, which is funded by CMS through the HIE IAPD.

At little or no cost, hospitals and physicians can now be part of HASA getting reimbursed on connection fees through the HIE IAPD contract vehicle. Max reimbursement is $25,000 per hospital and up to $10,000 per provider or $30,000 per practice (up to 3 providers max).

This contract provides an unprecedented opportunity for hospitals and physicians to embrace patient health data exchange in the most cost-effective way, said Phil Beckett, CEO of HASA. Ideal for smaller practices and rural hospitals, this initiative also allows us to expand our services throughout Texas  helping providers to reduce costs and enhance the overall quality of care.

Eligible providers need to have 10 percent of their practices comprised of Medicaid patients or be participating in the Medicare Meaningful Use Program and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability programs under Medicares Quality Payment Program.

The HIE IAPD contract fully aligns with the Texas Medical Associations Health Vision 2025 legislative initiative, which aims to remove costs and hospital barriers that stand in the way of HIE integration, and promote the bi-directional data sharing between HIEs and physicians.

Contract Reinforces Overall Rural Expansion for HASA

This new contract reinforces HASAs vision for helping to enhance health data exchange for rural providers in Texas. For example, the HIE recently re-negotiated its rates with rural hospitals by no longer charging per bed, and having monthly fees be based on the patient census  fully aligning with a hospitals overall business volume.

HASA is also enabling rural hospitals that are three to four counties away from larger hospital systems to be able to seamlessly share patient data. The HIE is working with several anchor health systems, including Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., who are helping to connect rural hospitals and physician practices.

Theres a tremendous white space in Texas when it comes to bringing health information exchange to life for rural hospitals and providers, added Beckett. In addition to the HIE IAPD funding, our recent pricing changes, and partnerships with anchor hospitals, we are making it possible for rural providers to share data at such a minimal cost.

About HASA

HASA is a Texas-based, multi-region collaboration building the safe and secure infrastructure between healthcare providers electronic health records (EHRs) making it possible to exchange information across differing platforms. Seamlessly aggregating and sharing critical patient information allows for more efficient and informed care, by reducing duplication and eliminating unnecessary procedures. HASA offers a one-of-a-kind suite of services aimed at hospitals, providers, health plans and patients that include real-time alerts, historical and predictive analytics, a patient health record and community resource collaboration. http://www.hasatx.org

EDITORS: Please note that the name of the organization is simply HASA, not an acronym or abbreviation.


Greta Thunbergs mother has revealed how her daughter struggled with disordered eating and spending extended periods out of school during her early teenage years.

Malena Ernman explained how now-17-year-old Greta came to be diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome after a period of food restriction that nearly saw her hospitalised.

Asperger syndrome is a condition which falls within the autism spectrum, Autism NI explains.

In an extract from Our House is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis, a book by the whole Thunberg family and seen by The Observer, Ernman said the problems began in 2014 when the environmental activist was just 11 years old.

She cried at night when she should be sleeping. She cried on her way to school. She cried in her classes and during her breaks, and the teachers called home almost every day.

Gretas father, Svante, would instead bring her home from school to spend time with the familys dog Moses. She sat with him for hours, petting him and stroking his fur, explained Ernman.

She was slowly disappearing into some kind of darkness and little by little, bit by bit, she seemed to stop functioning.

This period of depression coincided with Greta beginning to change her eating habits, which meant her parents started writing down everything she ate and how long it took to eat.

The amounts are small. And it takes a long time, said Ernman. But the emergency unit at the Stockholm Centre for Eating Disorders says that this method has a good long-term success rate.

You write down what you eat meal by meal, then you list everything you can eat, things you wish you could eat and things you want to be able to eat further down the line.

Greta, who has a younger sister Beata, was reportedly only eating three foods at that time; rice, avocado and gnocchi pasta.

On one occasion the family even tried to stage an intervention by spending a day baking buns together but it ended in Greta having a panic attack.

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

After two months of not eating Greta lost almost 10kg and was beginning to show signs of starvation explained Ermnam.

We explain to our daughter that we have to start preparing ourselves for a stay at the hospital, where its possible to get nutrition and food without eating, with tubes and drips.

Shortly before the doctors planned to admit Greta to hospital her mother says she experienced a shift in her behaviour and started trying to eat again.

The teenager was later diagnosed with Aspergers, high-functioning autism and OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Greta has previously spoken about her Aspergers syndrome, explaining it as both a gift and a superpower.

I have Aspergers and that means Im sometimes a bit different from the norm. And  given the right circumstances being different is a superpower, she wrote on Instagram last year.

Thunberg continued, outlining that her reason for not being public about her diagnosis is not because she wishes to hide behind it, but because of how ignorant people may respond.

I know many ignorant people still see it as an illness, or something negative. And believe me, my diagnosis has limited me before, the Swedish student stated.

Before I started school striking I had no energy, no friends and I didnt speak to anyone. I just sat alone at home, with an eating disorder.

In April 2019 Greta described her autism as a gift saying: It also makes me see things from outside the box. I dont easily fall for lies, I can see through things.
The cure was simple: the antibiotic doxycycline. Mr. Springer took it and was discharged five days later.

The coronavirus outbreak has ratcheted up interest in rapid genomic tests. Developers of the some of the devices say that once the genetic sequence of a novel pathogen has been made publicly available, the information could be quickly uploaded and used to identify those infected.

With a traditional reference lab, by the time a clinic takes a sample and ships it off, youve lost 12 to 24 hours, said Dr. Jack Regan, the chief executive of LexaGene, a Massachusetts company that hopes to sell its coffee maker-size instrument to airports, schools and clinics. We can get results in under an hour, which makes a huge difference during deadly outbreaks.

A wider rollout of these tests faces a number of hurdles. Most of the tests identify a patients infection 80 to 90 percent of the time  regulators would like that figure to be closer to 100 percent  and many of them are still awaiting a green light from the F.D.A. But health experts say a larger impediment to their widespread use is economics: Most of the tests run $500 to $3,000 (the test used to diagnose Mr. Springer was $2,000) and because few private insurances companies cover them, the costs are largely borne by hospitals or patients.

The technology is incredibly promising but the challenge right now is how to get insurers to pay for it, said Prof. Outterson of Boston University. We need a system in which hospitals can at least break even for doing the right thing.

John A. Prendergass, associate director of digital health at Ben Franklin Technology Partners, who invests in medical device start-ups, said he was concerned by the high costs, false negatives and low sensitivity of the tests he had looked at.




According to Central Reserve Bank of Peru , private consumption achieved the following growth rates in 2000 (2.5%), 2001 (1%), 2002 (4.9%), 2003 (2.5%), 2004 (3.4%), 2005 (3.7%), 2006 (6.2%), 2007 (8.6%), 2008 (8.9%), and 2009 (3.1%).





Private consumption also expanded in 2010 (9.1%), 2011 (7.2%), 2012 (7.4%), 2013 (5.7%), 2014 (3.9%), 2015 (4%), 2016 (3.7%), 2017 (2.6%), 2018 (3.8%), and 2019 (3%).





"Peruvian economy has enjoyed a long period of growth, which has been consistent over the past 20 years, although not at the same pace, thereby translating into more jobs and poverty reduction. Therefore, families spend more," BBVA Research Head Francisco Grippa expressed.





"Added to this is the development of the financial system, because of an increased penetration of financial products and services, and increased access to loans. All this underpins family expenditure, that is, private consumption," he added.





The economist explained that private consumption is the most important component of GDP (when calculated based on expenditure), thus making up between 60% and 65% of the Peruvian economy in a year.





Forecast for 2020





The BBVA Research has recently projected that Peruvian economy will record a growth rate of 3.1% this year and of 3.5% in 2021, underpinned by a recovery in primary sectors, mainly mining production, and higher public spending.





(END) CNA/JJN/RMB

Private consumption has been one of the drivers of economic growth in Peru through the first two decades of the new millennium, marking a consecutive growth in the past 20 years.Published: 2/24/2020
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.




By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Nearly 36,000 metric tonnes of onions imported from Afghanistan at the height of a crisis fuelled by its zooming prices last December, are now rotting in the Centres godowns across the country, with states unwilling to buy them. While onion prices had started skyrocketting in October, settling at between `120-`150 a kg, across India, the Centre ordered imports only in December, which cost it `50-`60 per kg.

With new crop landing in the market in January and prices cooling down, imported onions turned costlier, states have refused to purchase the stock. Unable to find buyers, government agency NAFED started disposing the stocks in the Mandis and managed to offload 40% at less than `15. The loss to the Centre has, however, been huge, admit officials.

The crisis had been sparked by unseasonal rains in onion producing states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana among others, leading to a spike in prices. By December, the price of the politically sensitive bulb shot up to `150 or more. Aiming to contain the crisis, government cleared MMTC imports of 41,950 metric tonnes against which 36,124 MT was received by January.

However, by February, just 2501 MT were lifted by states and UTs as local supplies improved and prices crashed steeply. Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir refused to buy ordered stocks, even as states like Haryana and Assam, refused to lift their allottments. Noticing that onion is perishable beyond two-three months, the Centre directed MMTC and NAFED to dispose of imported onions at the prevailing market/ mandi/ online portal rates, to avoid wastage or rotting. According to Consumer affairs ministry officials, Assam did not accept the consignments and the 296 MT stock had to be sold locally.

Total quantity supplied and accepted by states: 2501 MT

Total disposal by NAFED (including states and open market): Nearly17,000 MT
On the first anniversary of launch of the government's ambitious PM-Kisan scheme, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday launched a mobile app to broaden the reach of the programme that aims to provide annually Rs 6,000 to each eligible farmer.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) was launched on February 24, 2019 in Uttar Pradesh and all states are implementing the scheme, except for West Bengal.

So far, 9.74 crore farmers are registered under the scheme against the target of 14 crore farmers. Of which, the payment has been made to 8.45 crore farmers so far after the data has been verified by the state governments, as per the official data.

Launching the mobile app, the Minister said this has been developed to broaden the reach of the scheme, which is playing an important role in achieving the target of doubling farmers income by 2022.

Using the mobile app, farmers can know the payment status, correct name as per Aadhaar, know registration status and scheme eligibility besides helpline numbers and self registration features, he said.

The mobile app has been developed and designed by the National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Already, a portal on PM-Kisan is in place for registration under the scheme. It provided end-to-end technology solution for transferring the benefits directly into the accounts of registered farmers.

There is a farmers' corner on the portal where they can themselves or with the help of common service centres can file their request online and check the status of their application or make correction in name as per Aadhaar etc.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STORY LINK GBP to USD Exchange Rate Plummets as Safe Haven Demand Leads to USD Surge

GBP Exchange Rates under Pressure on Global Developments despite Strong UK Data

A quiet week in terms of data releases is going to leave space to the other two key drivers of GBP: UK-EU trade negotiations and hints about the content of the upcoming UK budget, ING analysts said in a research note.



We suspect both will hardly come to the support of the pound, as the negotiations may enter an even more confrontational phase and the government is unlikely to endorse markets high fiscal hopes.

USD Exchange Rates Surge on Markets Safe Haven Rush

GBP/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: Safe Haven Demand to Drive Currency Movement in Coming Sessions

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Amid a lack of notable Brexit developments in recent sessions, the British Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate has been more easily driven by a strong US Dollar today. Market concerns over the coronavirus returned in full force today, after weekend news showed that the virus had seen a worse spread through Italy than expected. While last weeks UK data was strong, investors had little reason to buy the Pound today.Volatility in both the Pound and US Dollar has left GBP/USD highly jittery in recent weeks. After opening last week at the level of 1.3048, GBP/USD spent most of the week tumbling as the Pound fell. GBP/USD briefly touched on a low of 1.2859 near the end of the week  the pairs worst level in three months  before recovering and closing the week closer to the level of 1.2957.This week so far, GBP/USD has already been trending lower as the US Dollar is boosted by safe haven demand. At the time of writing, GBP/USD is trending close to the level of 1.2915.Earlier in the month, the Pound saw a surge in demand as investors reacted to slews of better than expected UK data, as well as hopes for a more bullish UK budget.However, even as UK data continues to impress and hopes of a UK economic rebound persist, Brexit uncertainties flared up once again last week.The EU continues to indicate that it will not give Britains financial sector any special treatment in a post-Brexit deal. This left Pound investors anxious about the future of UK-EU relations once again.If the UK and EU are unable to reach an agreement on the future of relations by the end of this year, it could lead to a cliff-edge Brexit scenario that could cause a significant shock for Britains economic outlook.Amid the higher market focus on coronavirus developments and jitters today, the Pound is limp. Analysts predict that investors wont have much reason to move on the British currency in the coming sessions. According to analysts at ING:Over the weekend, it was reported that the coronavirus Covid-19 which had broken out in Wuhan, China, had seen an unexpectedly large spread in Italy.The surge of cases reported outside of China has led to lockdowns in Italy, and fresh market concerns that the worst of the outbreak could still be ahead.Amid rising fears over the virus and its potential impact on global economic growth, markets have shown increasing demand for safe haven currencies.Expectations that the US economy will be mostly resilient in the face of the coronavirus outbreak are leaving the US Dollar as the markets most appealing safe haven currency this week so far.Investors are piling into the US Dollar on safe haven demand, even as recent US data has disappointed investors.Fridays US PMI projections from Markit fell short of expectations, as did todays Chicago Fed national activity index stats from January.Britains economic calendar will be quiet this week, and not much key US data is due for publication until Thursday.As a result, the Pound to US Dollar exchange rate is most likely to be driven by political and global factors over the next couple of days.There havent been any surprising developments in Brexit in recent sessions. However, if there are any fresh shifts in UK-EU relations or comments on negotiations from officials, the Pound is likely to react.If there are no Brexit surprises though, GBP/USD is more likely to be influenced by the US Dollars strength instead.If market concerns over the spreading coronavirus worsen, safe haven demand is only likely to intensify and the US Dollar would strengthen.On the other hand, if there are fresh hopes of the outbreak being kept under control, the Pound to US Dollar exchange rate is more likely to recover.

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The top diplomat has called on the UN Human Rights Council to step up efforts to have Russia cease violations of rights of those living in the occupied territories.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to intensify efforts toward the release of Ukrainian nationals illegally held by the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea and Donbas.

The statement came as Prystaiko was addressing participants in the high-level segment of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Prystaiko "noted the need to incorporate a human rights component into all aspects of the UN's work, without which it is impossible to achieve progress toward peace, security, and sustainable development," the report says.

Read alsoMFA Prystaiko: Hague Arbitration Tribunal reaffirms jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's claim on Azov Sea

"Arriving at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council from New York, where the UN General Assembly examined the situation in the occupied territories of Ukraine, Prystaiko noted the importance of closer cooperation between the two international capitals in the field of protecting human rights and its fundamental freedoms," the Foreign Ministry said.

The Minister also drew the attention of delegations to gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms committed by the Russian occupation authorities in the Ukrainian territories and blocking of access to international monitoring mechanisms. He called on the UN Human Rights Council, UN human rights mechanisms, and the international community as a whole to multiply efforts in order to have Russia to cease these violations and release the Ukrainians illegally imprisoned by the occupation authorities.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Prystaiko will be in Geneva on February 24-25 to participate in the high-level segment of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Former Kremlin political prisoners Volodymyr Balukh and Eden Bekirov will also take part in the event.
The Delhi Metro on Monday shut three stations on its Yellow Line and a station on Violet Line after students gave a protest call against the violence in northeast Delhi.

"Entry & exit gates of Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Janpath have been closed. Interchange facility will be open at Central Secretariat," the DMRC tweeted.

The move comes after the Jamia Coordination Committee, comprising students and alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia, asked students to assemble outside the new police headquarters.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had shut five metro stations on the Pink Line in wake of the clashes between citizenship law supporters and protesters in the northeast region.

"Entry & exit gates of Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar are closed. Trains will terminate at Welcome metro station," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.

Clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured in the violence.

Clashes were also



reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the city.

The DMRC had earlier shut down Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations due to the ongoing protests against the amended law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Trend

The first months of 2020 were marked by intense activity of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the field of foreign policy, Azerbaijans deputy prime minister, Deputy Chairman - Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Ali Ahmadov wrote on his Facebook page, Trend reports Feb. 24.

The Azerbaijani head of state, having taken part in the World Economic Forum in Davos, and then in February at the Munich Security Conference, also paid a visit to Italy, which was remembered by many meetings and events, Ahmadov noted.

All the above mentioned, along with states intense foreign policy activity, proves Azerbaijans steadily growing role and importance on the international arena, the Azerbaijani deputy prime minister added.

Ahmadov noted that the recent visit by President Ilham Aliyev to Italy literally can be called historical.

The high-level meetings and hospitality shown to the head of state and the delegation led by him should be considered as a clear confirmation of the above mentioned facts, the prime minister added. I would like to admit that such receptions are extremely rare in such a big European country with an ancient history and rich traditions of statehood. Signing of 28 agreements can be noted as one of the reasons indicating the historical significance of the visit. This demonstrates the goals and positions of the parties regarding both the current state and future prospects of the interstate relations.

High appreciation of Azerbaijans merits, its development, in particular the countrys contribution to the development of inter-civilizational dialogue, by the leadership of such a country as Italy, which played an outstanding role in shaping global civilization, during the numerous meetings held by President Ilham Aliyev during the visit, rightfully fills the hearts of Azerbaijanis with immeasurable pride, said Ahmadov.

From this point of view, it is significant that the Pope, and the Vatican State as a whole, separately noted the activities of Azerbaijans First Vice President, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva in the development of inter-civilization and intercultural dialogue, wrote the deputy prime minister.

Ahmadov noted that the historic visit by President Ilham Aliyev to one of the leading European countries, along with recognition of Azerbaijans growing role and importance in the international arena, is an indicator of the bright prospects for the countrys development in the future.

Undoubtedly, a state visit to Italy will go down in history as another success of President Ilham Aliyev in the field of foreign policy, and will make indispensable contribution to the future development of the country, said the deputy prime minister. It should be noted separately that each successful foreign visit of the head of state, including a visit to Italy, is accompanied by significant strengthening of international support for the fair settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

---

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:26:48|Editor: huaxia

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A Palestinian militant inspects the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Feb. 24, 2020. Israeli war jets struck military post that belongs to the military wing of Islamic Jihad, Saraya al-Quds, known as "Hittin," south of Gaza Strip, for the second day in a row, sources told Xinhua. Witnesses said several explosions and fire flames were seen. No injuries were reported. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army said on Monday it had carried out night airstrikes on Syria and Gaza, targeting Palestinian Islamic Jihad sites, following rockets fired earlier toward southern Israel.

A spokesperson with the Israeli military said in a statement that the raids were a response to at least 21 rockets fired by the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian armed group, toward southern Israel on Sunday. No casualties were reported.

The Islamic Jihad said the rockets were a retaliation for the killing of an operative with the group near the fence separating between the besieged Palestinian enclave and Israel.

Palestinians were outraged by video footage showing an Israeli bulldozer lifting and dragging the lifeless body of the operative.

According to the Israeli spokesperson, overnight between Sunday and Monday, Israeli war jets struck Islamic Jihad sites south of Damascus and "dozens" of sites belonging to the Islamist group throughout the Gaza Strip.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor, said a missile hit a position where officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Islamic Jihad militants were located.

Syrian air defenses intercepted some of the missiles before they reached their targets, the group said in a statement on its website.

Six people were killed in the strikes, including two Islamic Jihad members and four militants with an Iran-backed militia.

In Gaza, Israeli war jets attacked Islamic Jihad underground infrastructures and compounds used to store raw material for the manufacturing of rockets, both were located in Rafah and belonged to the Islamic Jihad.

Both Islamic Jihad and the Israeli army issued threats warning each other of further aggressions.

On Monday morning, the army blocked areas and routes in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, in apparent preparation for further escalation.

A military notice said the move was made "following the situation assessment," adding that civilians were required to avoid any stops by the side of the road in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip.
PraxisIFM, a financial firm licensed at Abu Dhabi Global Marketplace, is helping to manage the end-of-service benefit system in the UAE.

PraxisIFM now has under management $100 million of funds that UAE entities have ring-fenced for gratuity payments to staff who leave. PraxisIFM is safeguarding and investing these funds on behalf of its clients.

The company is working with UAE-based multinationals and sovereign wealth entities to segregate their end-of-service benefit liability from their main balance sheets, placing the funds in protected trusts.

Daniel Dickinson, Senior Executive Officer at PraxisIFM Trust Ltd, said: We are finding that the majority of companies in the UAE are funding their end-of-service liability from their cash flow.

This becomes a serious issue for the company if a large number of people leave at the same time. The key aspects are protection and diversification. There is no diversification of what is effectively employees pension pots.

While there is no current legal requirement in the UAE for businesses to segregate their end-of-service liability, regulatory changes are in the pipeline. PraxisIFM expects a minimum legal requirement to be introduced in the near future and urges businesses to embrace any future regulation.

It would be naive of business owners to think they can continue to fund end-of-service payments from cashflow over the long-term, he said. We urge them to look at this positively. A safe and secure end-of-service payout is an important tool in rewarding and recruiting the best staff.

Business that establish the trusts have the option of investing the capital into funds and fixed deposit schemes. Dickinson urged caution in this area, insisting that protection of the funds remains the primary incentive.

In September 2016, PraxisIFM was granted trustee license from the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority, giving clients access to a full range of services from its offices on Al Maryah Island. -- Tradearabia News Service
The family of an Albuquerque man who died by suicide has filed a wrongful death complaint against a local ketamine infusion clinic, claiming the clinics negligence in administering the controversial treatment contributed to his psychosis.

The complaint, filed in Bernalillo County Second Judicial Court in January, states Gabriel Saenz was a patient at the Injection and Infusion Clinic of Albuquerque who before his 2017 death was receiving ketamine infusion therapy to deal with chronic migraines. The treatment involves patients receiving small doses of ketamine, an anesthetic drug.

After Saenz received four four-hour ketamine treatments over the course of nine days, the complaint alleges he stabbed himself multiple times, inhaled combustible fuel, and set himself on fire two days after the final treatment took place. Saenz ultimately died from the injuries. Members of his family are seeking unspecified damages from the clinic and its founder, Jason Duprat, claiming the clinic didnt properly screen Saenz for mental health indicators, and failed to check up on him after each treatment.

Defendants breached the applicable standards of care  and used methods and approaches that were outside the realm of medical practice reasonably contemplated and employed by other healthcare practitioners, the complaint says.

Katherine Devine, who assumed ownership of the clinic after the events of the complaint, denied the allegations in an interview with the Journal, arguing she hadnt heard of a case where ketamine, which has a short half-life for patients, has caused psychosis 48 hours later.

Obviously, this case is quite sensational, and there are a lot of other factors involved, Devine said.

She added that the clinic, now incorporated under a different name, is working to remove itself from the lawsuit.

Ketamine has a wide variety of uses, some legal and some not. The drug was created in the 1960s as a general anesthetic that could be administered on battlefields, according to Dr. Robert Meisner, medical director of the Ketamine Service in the Psychiatric Neurotherapeutics Program at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts.

More recently, ketamine has gained popularity as an anti-depressant. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesnt recognize the drug as an anti-depressant, Meisner said laboratory testing from institutions like Yale University and the National Institutes of Health has been promising, and the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA published a consensus statement noting that increasing evidence supports the idea that ketamine has anti-depressant properties.

Meisner added that ketamine operates differently than competitors like Prozac and Zoloft, and has the potential to open up new areas of research.

The discovery that ketamine can be useful as an anti-depressant  is a door toward a new understanding, Meisner said.

However, Meisner declined to comment on ketamines potential use in mitigating migraines, which Saenz was seeking to relieve. The clinics website advertises intravenous ketamine infusions among other migraine treatments, referring to its treatment program as painless, non-invasive and virtually side effect-free.

While Meisner did not comment on the specifics of the case, he said some private clinics have strayed from medical evidence in areas like determining proper dosages. He acknowledged that theres ongoing work on when and how to use ketamine effectively, he cautioned against treating it as a cure-all.

This isnt just some magic bullet, Meisner said.
Ramjeet Ragav pictured in 2011 with his eldest son Vikramjeet

The 'world's oldest dad' who fathered two children in his nineties has died in India aged 104 after his bed caught fire while he was smoking.

Ramjeet Ragav made headlines around the world in 2010 when his first son was born and again when he broke his own record two years later at the age of 96.

But the former wrestler died in hospital after suffering severe burns during the blaze on Tuesday last week at his home in Kharkhoda, near New Dehli.

A neighbour said he ran to help after hearing his cries for help.

He said: I saw smoke coming from his home and then I heard him calling for help. I ran over and saw him lying on the floor on fire.

'I splashed water on him and helped him to my vehicle before I took him straight to the local hospital.

Doctors gave him immediate treatment. His left side was badly burnt. But the doctors there referred him to another hospital in Rohtak so I took him and admitted him before I went home.

The inside of Ramjeet Ragav's home after the fire last week in Kharkhoda, northern India

Happier times: Ramjeet Raghav hit headlines across the world when he fathered Vikramjeet, aged 94 in 2010. he beat his own record when his second son was born two years later

'The following day I was told he had died.

Ramjeet's wife Shakuntala incredibly gave birth to their first son, Vikramjeet, in 2010 when she was 60 and he was 94.

In 2012, their second son Ranjeet was born.

Photographs of the beaming couple were beamed around the world and the couple even claimed to have sex three times a night in their hut.

But the couple faced tragedy in May 2013 when their eldest son was snatched from his mother's arms and abducted.

Shakuntala was on her way to hospital with Vikramjeet who was suffering from a fever but the child was abducted while she slept on a bench in a bus terminal during the journey.

Ramjeet with his wife and two sons in their tiny hut in the village of Kharkhoda, India

The inside of Ramjeet Ragav's home completely ruined by his fire, in Kharkhoda, in Sonipat, Haryana, northern India

Ramjeet pictured with his wife and children in 2012 after the birth of his second son

Despite police saearches he has never been found.

Ramjeet faced more heartache six months later when Shakuntala left him and took their youngest son Ramjet with her.

Ramjeet said at the time: I have no idea where she went. I was out and when I returned she and my younger son were gone.

My life is a waste on my own. I used to eat well but now due to the stress I dont eat. I can survive without food. But what kind of life is this? Its only me who knows the pain I am suffering.

'I miss my children; I feel its better to die as I can never forget them.

Tragically, Ramjeet never saw his wife and sons again.

He was cremated by his community in Sonipat, Haryana, on February 13.

Lonely: Ramjeet Ragav pictured in 2017 aged 101 holding a picture of his wife and two sons. The ledest son was abducted and his wife later left with the younger boy leaving him alone
An Uttar Pradesh police jawan has been taken into custody for allegedly molesting a girl in Mau district, police said on Monday.

According to Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya, a student of Class VI has alleged that the jawan, who stay in the neighbourhood, had gone to buy some items from a nearby shop in Sarailakhansi when she was molested.

Acting on a complaint from the girl's family, a case has been registered against the suspect, the officer said.

The 2018-batch police jawan is posted in Varanasi and had come to his house during leave. He has been taken into custody and interrogation is on, Arya said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Trend

The Khojaly genocide isnt the first genocide committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis, Samil Ayrim, a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Friendship Group, told Trend Feb. 24.

The Azerbaijani people have been subjected to the policy of ethnic cleansing, genocide and aggression carried out by Armenian nationalists over the past 200 years, Ayrim noted.

The Turkish MP added that in particular, genocide against Azerbaijanis was committed by Armenians in 1905, 1918 and 1992.

The leader of the friendship group added that information about the Khojaly genocide should be conveyed even more actively to the international community.

It was an act of unprecedented vandalism, and we must fully convey the message to the international community, Ayrim said.

The MP noted that Turkey has been participating in the Justice for Khojaly campaign conducted by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for several years.

All civil society organizations in Turkey hold events dedicated to the Khojaly tragedy, Ayrim added. Universities also participate in this. We believe that this year, the truth about the Khojaly genocide should be conveyed to even more people, and this is a joint goal of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

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, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

During the Karabakh war, on Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak on Monday said that protests against the Centre's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were unconstitutional.

Terming the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh and other anti-CAA protests as 'unconstitutional,' he said: "If any law has been passed in parliament, it must be respected by all."

He further said the CAA is not applicable to any citizen of India. "Some political parties are fooling the public and are conducting these protests which, is saddening to see," he told ANI.

"I feel the people must discuss the matters of how to take India forward. One must utilise their mind and energy there only," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Worried Democrats on Monday intensified their assault against the party's presidential front-runner, Bernie Sanders, as the Vermont senator marched toward South Carolina's weekend primary eyeing a knockout blow.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg waves after speaking at a campaign event, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Worried Democrats on Monday intensified their assault against the party's presidential front-runner, Bernie Sanders, as the Vermont senator marched toward South Carolina's weekend primary eyeing a knockout blow.

At least three leading candidates, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Mike Bloomberg, reinforced their anti-Sanders rhetoric with paid attack ads for the first time. And a new political group was spending big to undermine Sanders' standing with African American voters.

Socialist Bernie Sanders is promising a lot of free stuff, says a brochure sent to 200,000 black voters in South Carolina by The Big Tent Project, a new organization trying to derail Sanders' candidacy. Nominating Bernie means we reelect Trump. We cant afford Bernie Sanders.

The multi-pronged broadside just five days before South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary represents the Democrats' most aggressive attempt to knock Sanders down. It reflects growing concern within his party that the self-described democratic socialist is tightening his grip on the presidential nomination while they fear he's too extreme to defeat President Donald Trump this fall.

It also underscores the precarious state of Biden's campaign. The former vice-president has long been viewed as the unquestioned front-runner in South Carolina because of his support from black voters. But as the contest nears, Sanders is also making a strong play here. If he can eat into Biden's base of support, that would raise fundamental questions about the future of Biden's candidacy.

Sanders has shifted new staff into the state from Nevada in the last 24 hours, expanded his South Carolina advertising and added events to his schedule.

Sanders senior adviser Jeff Weaver said there was an air of desperation to the fresh attacks on his candidate.

Youve got candidates, youve got super PACs, all piling on to stop Bernie Sanders, Weaver said. "They know he has the momentum in the race."

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks while visiting a campaign office, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Biden still predicted he would win by plenty in Saturday's contest, the first with a sizable black population to weigh in.

Beyond South Carolina, polls suggest Sanders will perform well when more than a dozen states vote in the March 3 Super Tuesday contests. That's when critics fear Sanders could build an insurmountable delegate lead.

Sanders was the focus of Buttigieg's first attack ad of the 2020 campaign. In the ad, which began running Monday as part of the former South Bend mayor's multimillion-dollar South Carolina advertising campaign, Buttigieg highlights Sanders call for a government-financed health care system as an example of the Democratic front-runners polarization.

Biden released an online ad accusing Sanders of trying to undermine President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign with a possible primary challenge. Sanders, of course, ultimately did not challenge Obama from the left.

When it comes to building on President Obama's legacy, Bernie Sanders just can't be trusted," the Biden ad says.

And Bloomberg released a new ad of his own assailing Sanders' record on gun control, citing the senator's endorsement by the National Rifle Association when he first ran for Congress decades ago.

While he once had the NRA's backing, Sanders proudly proclaims his F rating from the pro-gun organization now. And just last week, several gun control advocates who survived the Parkland, Florida, school shooting endorsed him.

Still, Bloomberg tweeted: The NRA paved the road to Washington for Bernie Sanders. We deserve a president who is not beholden to the gun lobby.

One candidate who didn't take Sanders on directly Monday: Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Though she shares many of Sanders liberal policies and could benefit if he were to stumble, shes been reluctant to tangle with him throughout the campaign.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign event on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Some of Warren's supporters say she has to start drawing a sharper contrast with Sanders if she's to break out after middling performances in the first three contests.

She needs to get out tomorrow night and get after him, said Beth Maass, 79, referring to Tuesday's debate. She's in the lane with Bernie and only one is going to make it out of the lane.

Sanders may benefit most from the sheer number of candidates still in the race. There are still seven high-profile Democrats fighting among themselves -- and splitting up the anti-Sanders vote -- to emerge as the strongest alternative to him.

There was no sign Monday that any of those candidates were close to getting out.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who finished in a distant fifth or sixth place in Nevada over the weekend, announced plans to launch a $4.2 million ad buy across several Super Tuesday states.

Billionaire activist Tom Steyer has yet to spend money on an anti-Sanders campaign, but he went after him by name Monday before more than 100 voters at a breakfast in Hilton Head.

Steyer warned, We can't nominate someone who is going to divide us."

There were also new signs Monday that Sanders' emergence as the possible face of the Democratic Party in 2020 could cause problems for vulnerable House and Senate candidates across the country.

Republicans working to win back the House majority jumped on comments Sanders made in a CBS News 60 Minutes segment aired Sunday in which he praised the late Cuban ruler Fidel Castro for establishing what Sanders called a massive literacy program when he took power.

The House GOP campaign arm called on several House Democrats  including three facing reelection this fall in South Florida  to say if they'd support Sanders should he become the nominee. Members including Rep. Donna Shalala weren't happy.

I'm hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro, the first-term Democrat tweeted.

Sanders was also in a dispute with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an establishment group that advocates for strong U.S.-Israel relations. Sanders said he would skip the group's conference because he was concerned about the event giving airtime to leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights."

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, called that characterization offensive" and irresponsible."

Rep. Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat who is Jewish, issued a statement condemning Sanders' remarks, which she said contribute to the divisive rhetoric often used when discussing the issue of Israel's right to exist.

Watching the tumult from afar during a trip to India, Trump predicted a long and messy primary season ahead for his rivals.

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It could go to the convention, it really could, Trump said. They are going to take it away from Crazy Bernie, they are not going to let him win.

He added, I actually think he would be tougher than most of the other candidates because he is like me, but I have a much bigger base."

___

EDITORS: This story has been corrected to say that Sanders' dispute is with American Israel Public Affairs Committee, not Anti-Defamation League. It has also been corrected to reflect that The Big Tent Project is not a PAC.

___

Peoples reported from New York and Barrow reported from Charleston, South Carolina. AP writers Alan Fram in Washington, Elana Schor and Julie Pace in Charleston, Jill Colvin with Trump and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed.
[February 24, 2020] Rasmussen College Teams up With Two Nonprofits on Career-readiness Campaign to Inspire Educational Goals and Support Local Communities

Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college, today launched a new campaign designed to bring awareness to the importance of career-readiness and make an impact on its local communities.1 Now through March 22, students and alumni as well as community members can grow their career development and support the career journey of someone else in their life by nominating them for the College's Change a Life Scholarship. Upon nominating a friend or family member, they will also be generating financial support for two non-profit organizations, Jeremiah Program and Dress for Success Twin Cities. As part of the campaign, called Support a Friend, Support a Cause, Rasmussen College will share career tips and information from experienced business professionals across a variety of industries. Students, alumni and community members are then encouraged to support the education or career goals of others by nominating them for the Rasmussen College Change a Life Scholarship. At the same time, the College will make a $5 donation on the nominator's behalf to either Jeremiah Program or Dress for Success Twin (News - Alert) Cities.2 Both nonprofit organizations support Rasmussens mission to help families pursuing their education and career dreams.



"Rasmussen College is committed to offering learners around the country and in our campus communities real career preparation," said Dr. Trenda Boyum-Breen, president of Rasmussen College. "We take great pride in our mission to support the diverse communities we serve. The College is thrilled to team up with and give back to Jeremiah Program and Dress for Success Twin Cities and positively impact the work they are doing to help others." Jeremiah Program is one of the country's most successful two-generation programs for families headed by single mothers experiencing poverty. Education and housing stability are the priority levers at the heart of their model. Dress for Success Twin Cities also empowers women to build careers and achieve economic independence through high touch, high impact career and workplace skills development programs.

"Dress for Success Twin Cities is thrilled to team up with Rasmussen College on this new campaign. This initiative to support others and their career goals aligns with the values of our organization," said Stephanie Silvers, chief executive director, Dress for Success Twin Cities. "Dress for Success Twin Cities helps the community by empowering women with the skills needed to be successful in their careers and lives. We are excited to be included in this initiative because it moves all of our families, friends and communities forward. "We are extremely proud to collaborate with Rasmussen College on this unique initiative," said La Juana Whitmore, executive director, Jeremiah Program-Minneapolis/St. Paul. "In our mission to help families move out of generational poverty, two generations at a time, education is a key lever. The support we are receiving from Rasmussen College will help our mothers and their children pursue educational and career opportunities and achieve success." Rasmussen College is a leader in career-focused education. Its innovative programs and dynamic curriculum-including teaching the hard skills to qualify for in-demand careers, and nurturing the soft skills needed to succeed in them-prepares its students to fill roles in high-demand career fields. The Rasmussen College Change a Life Scholarship is exclusively for new incoming students who have been referred to Rasmussen College by a pending new student, current student or alum. Rasmussen College will award scholarships of up to $1,000. To learn more and participate in the Rasmussen College Support a Friend, Support a Cause campaign, visit https://rasmussen.co/39wozN7. 1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. hlcommission.org | 800-621-7440 2 Donations are capped at $5,000 total. ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE

Rasmussen College, LLC is a private college regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of our diverse communities through in-demand, flexible, accessible and affordable educational programs. A pioneer in career-focused education since 1900, the College leads advancements in innovations such as employer-led and expert-designed curriculum and comprehensive student support services to help working adults advance their educations. Additionally, Rasmussen College is a nationwide leader in competency-based education. Rasmussen College offers undergraduate and graduate programs online and across its 24 Midwest and Florida campuses. The College encourages its students, faculty and staff to strive for academic excellence, community enrichment and service to the public good. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit rasmussen.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005849/en/

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The main aim of stock picking is to find the market-beating stocks. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (EBR:ABI) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 42% over a half decade. There was little comfort for shareholders in the last week as the price declined a further 2.4%.

Check out our latest analysis for Anheuser-Busch InBev

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Looking back five years, both Anheuser-Busch InBev's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 3.0% per year. Readers should note that the share price has fallen faster than the EPS, at a rate of 10% per year, over the period. This implies that the market is more cautious about the business these days.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

ENXTBR:ABI Past and Future Earnings, February 24th 2020

We know that Anheuser-Busch InBev has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? Take a more thorough look at Anheuser-Busch InBev's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Anheuser-Busch InBev the TSR over the last 5 years was -35%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Anheuser-Busch InBev shareholders gained a total return of 2.3% during the year. But that return falls short of the market. But at least that's still a gain! Over five years the TSR has been a reduction of 8.2% per year, over five years. It could well be that the business is stabilizing. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Anheuser-Busch InBev (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about.

We will like Anheuser-Busch InBev better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on BE exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 02:40:52|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Monday said the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) continues to face major financial challenges.

Without further financial support, critical services in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, will be suspended as of late April, Mladenov told the Security Council at a meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

This would result in serious humanitarian repercussions, particularly for some of the most acutely vulnerable communities, among them female-headed households below the poverty line, said the UN envoy.

He urged member states to continue supporting the UNRWA's core programs in order to ensure that the agency can remain operational beyond April.

The UNRWA launched its funding appeal for 2020 in early February. It includes 270 million U.S. dollars for the regional crisis in Syria in addition to financing the relief plan for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in light of the deteriorating economic conditions in the country.

The agency faced severe financial challenges in 2019 with a deficit of nearly 50 million dollars.
A South Korean health official sprays disinfectant in front of the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus AFP/Jung Yeon-je

The country has seen a rapid surge in the number of coronavirus cases since a cluster of infections emerged from a religious group in the southern city of Daegu. The national toll of 602 cases is now the highest outside China, apart from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

The three deaths take the countrywide toll to six.

One of the victims was a patient being treated for mental health issues at a hospital in Cheongdo, a southern city linked to the religious sect where around 100 new cases were reported.

Following a government meeting on the virus, President Moon Jae-in said the government "will raise the alert level to the highest level of 'grave' according to experts' recommendations and drastically strengthen our response system."

Among the latest infections, 95 involved the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the nearby city of Daegu, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

More than 300 cases have been linked to the church, starting with a 61-year-old woman who developed a fever on February 10 and attended at least four services in Daegu before being diagnosed.

About 9,300 Shincheonji members in Daegu have either been quarantined or have been asked to stay at home, said KCDC director Jung Eun-kyeong, with more than 1,240 saying they had symptoms.

Daegu - South Korea's fourth-biggest city, with a population of 2.5 million - reported more than 90 new cases on Sunday, bringing the city's total to 247, mayor Kwon Young-jin said.

"The crisis level of Daegu and the North Gyeongsang province is grave," said Kwon, who advised locals to stay indoors.

The mayor asked all Shincheonji members with symptoms to come forward and be tested.

"Hiding is not the answer. If you hide, it could hurt your health, your family's health, and will not help in the early cessation of the situation," Kwon told a news conference.

Moon described the situation in Daegu and Cheongdo - the birthplace of Shincheonji's founder Lee Man-hee - as a "national crisis", adding the cities will receive "full support" for any lacking medical supplies and personnel. Kwon added that both areas were desginated as "special management zones" on Friday.

"INCREASED CAUTION"

The US State Department on Saturday raised its travel advisory to South Korea, joining a handful of countries bolstering their vigilance against the country's recent spike in the number of infections.

US citizens were asked to "exercise increased caution" when travelling to South Korea, where "sustained community spread" has been reported.

"Sustained community spread means that people in South Korea have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing," the State Department said on its website.

Separately, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued an 'Alert Level 2' travel health notice, saying "older adults and those with chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel".

Britain has also advised its nationals "against all but essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo", while Israel refused to allow non-Israelis to disembark from a plane that departed from South Korea on Saturday.

Singapore on Sunday also advised its nations to defer all non-essential travel to the two cities.
To put it another way: Can you think of one way that Bernie Sanders is signaling respect to voters outside of his base?

Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond.

write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Matthew Continetti writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party.

writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging.

speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Michelle Cottle examines two primary contests that will shake the parties well beyond the states in play.

He has taken a nearly maximalist liberal position on every major issue. Its especially striking from him, because he has shown over his career that he grasps the importance of building a coalition.

Sanders once won over blue-collar Vermonters with help from a moderate position on guns. We need a sensible debate about gun control which overcomes the cultural divide that exists in this country, he said in 2015, and I think I can play an important role in this. He was also once an heir to organized labors skepticism of large-scale immigration. At a time when the middle class is shrinking, the last thing we need is to bring over in a period of years, millions of people into this country who are prepared to lower wages for American workers, he said in 2007.

Now, though, Sanders has evidently decided that progressives will no longer accept impurities  or even much tactical vagueness. He, along with Elizabeth Warren, has embraced policies that are popular on the left and nowhere else: a ban on fracking; the decriminalization of border crossings; the provision of federal health benefits to undocumented immigrants; the elimination of private health insurance.

For many progressives, each of these issues has become a moral litmus test. Any restriction of immigration is considered a denial of human rights. Any compromise on guns or health care is an acceptance of preventable deaths.

And I understand the progressive arguments on these issues. But turning every compromise into an existential moral failing is not a smart way to practice politics. It comforts the persuaded while alienating the persuadable.

F.D.R. and Reagan understood this, as did Abraham Lincoln and many great social reformers, including Frederick Douglass, Jane Addams, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez. Strong political movements can accept impurity on individual issues in the service of a larger goal: winning.
National Geographic WILD showcases the strangest, freakiest and weirdest animals - from incredible marine mammals and out of this world fish to the bizarre world of creepy crawlers.

Fridays from 8:30pm AEDT.
Hundreds of teachers in San Diego, Californias Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) will receive pink slips in March due to a $30 million budget deficit for the 2020-2021 school year.

Last Friday, District Superintendent Dr. Karen Janney released the proposal to issue approximately 237 layoff notices to teachers and staff in addition to closing all learning centers throughout the district. There are 1,500 teachers, 40,000 students and 22,000 adult learners in the district.

Janney will ask the board of trustees at a board meeting tonight to approve the closures and layoffs. Large number of educators, students and parents are expected to protest the cuts prior to the meeting and during public comments. In an undemocratic move aimed at stifling opposition, the board has pushed any discussion of the layoffs and budget cuts down to the 43rd agenda item in the 45-point meeting, which could run well past 11pm.

Once the layoffs are approved, teachers and staff will receive Reduction in Force (RIF) layoff notices on March 15. These teachers will remain on the job through the end of the current school year but will be told not to return the following year.

Those being axed include all 23 librarians in the district. Another 32 teachers attached to alternative education learning centers would be cut under the superintendents plant which would close all 12 centers by July 2020.

The learning centers provide alternative services for the most vulnerable students, including those with mental or behavioral issues, homeless students, pregnant students and others who need an alternative setting to complete classes and graduate high school. About 1,300 students attend the learning centers and approximately 800 of those students receive a high school diploma each year. The district plans on placing those students on Independent Study, a system that limits communication between students and teachers.

The cumulative effect of these closures and layoffs will prove to be disastrous and drastically undermine the ability to provide high quality public education to students. In addition to eliminating the livelihoods of hundreds of teachers and staff, the slated budget cuts will continue to place a heavy burden on existing teachers and staff. Remaining teachers will face higher class sizes with an increased population of special education students in general education classrooms, class schedules will be uncertain and chaotic for weeks at the beginning of the school year and school sites will rely on substitute teachers to fill in for cut positions.

It is clear that district officials are determined to implement the maximum austerity measures to cover the deficit for the upcoming school year. It has been emboldened by the subservience of the teacher union, Sweetwater Education Association (SEA), which has made it clear it will do nothing to stop the layoffs and cuts. Since budget deficits were initially revealed to the public in October 2018, the SEA has dedicated itself to preventing rank-and-file educators from mobilizing the support of parents, students and area workers to fight the layoffs.

SEA officials have told teachers they can do nothing more than plead with the same board members who conducting the brutal cuts. The school board, however, is responsible for the loss of $68 million in public assets and has blamed this on faulty software and declining enrollment.

At the same time, SEA officials have warned teachers against calling for strike action. This is not because Sweetwater teachers lack support. On the contrary, there is a growing sentiment for a fight against the attack on public education. Hundreds of educators in the neighboring Chula Vista elementary school district walked out earlier this month to demand wage increases and to oppose their districts plan to remove caps on class sizes, which are currently set at an average of 31 students per class.

Last week, after a rally held by hundreds of teachers, parents and students, the Chula Vista Educators (CVE) union reached a tentative agreement with the district. Ignoring the teachers demand for a 3.75 percent pay increase, the union agreed to a 1.5 percent increase and a one-time 2 percent bonus that would take effect in July 2020.

Allied with the Democratic Party, which runs the state of California, the teacher unions are complicit in the austerity and school privatization efforts that have been implemented in Los Angeles, Oakland and cities throughout the state.

Since 2008, over $8 billion in funding has been slashed from Californias public education and community colleges, and another $2 billion from its other higher education institutions. In carrying out this assault Governor Newsom and his Democratic predecessor Jerry Brown (governor from 2011 to 2019, and before that from 1975 to 1983) have relied on the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association to block any unified opposition by teachers, parents and students.

To carry their struggle forward, Sweetwater teachers should move now to form rank-and-file committees, independent of the SEA/CTA, to fight against all layoffs and budget cuts. They should appeal to teachers and workers throughout the state and beyond, including the University of California grad students conducting a wildcat strike in defiance of the United Auto Workers union, to wage a common fight in defense of the right to high quality public education for all.

These committees must be controlled democratically, based on the needs of teachers, staff and students. Demands should not be dictated by what the state, district or union officials deem is available, but on what is necessary for teachers and their students.

A group of Sweetwater teachers have begun calling for the formation of rank-and-file committees to mobilize parents, students and broader sections of workers throughout the county and the state to fight the cuts and layoffs. Despite protests from the SEA, these teachers have been picketing outside of the schools to draw attention to their struggle and appeal beyond their school sites.

The fight facing Sweetwater teachers is not confined to the district, the state of California or even the US. Sweetwater teachers must draw the lessons of Oakland, Los Angeles, and the movement of teachers throughout the world, and break the isolation of their struggles imposed by the unions.
President Trump's 2021 fiscal year budget proposal has created yet another firestorm of controversy.

The proposal calls for a decrease in non-defense discretionary spending of 2 percent annually over the next decade and an increase in defense spending of 1.3 percent per year. This will set off another battle in Congress between Democrats, who support increased non-defense spending, and Republicans, who, generally speaking, want more defense spending.

The likely outcome of this battle in Congress will be a so-called "compromise" similar to this year's budget resolution that boosted non-defense and defense spending above what the president proposed.

What is unique in the 2021 budget proposal is that Trump is the first president to call for a rules-based fiscal policy. This is not just a proposal to restore budget process rules, such as discretionary spending caps and PAYGO  rules that Congress suspended in recent years. Trump proposed new spending rules that are similar to the fiscal rules used in other countries, including Switzerland, Sweden, and Germany. The purpose of these rules is to balance the budget in the near term and reduce debt to sustainable levels in the long run. With the new fiscal rules in place, those countries were able to respond to the financial crisis without a U.S.-like debt blowout.

The president also proposed a wide range of reforms in entitlement programs, as well as discretionary spending programs required to achieve these goals.

Critics argue that Trump's budget proposal is not realistic because it assumes higher rates of economic growth than projected in other long-term forecasts. Even The Wall Street Journal referred to many of the president's proposed fiscal reforms as aspirational goals that will never see the light of day in Congress.

The Trump administration should be given credit for recognizing that the budget process is broken and that current fiscal policies are not sustainable in the long run. Without fiscal reform, the federal government will incur trillion-dollar deficits and increase debt to more than 150 percent of national income in coming decades. The United States has emerged as one of the most heavily indebted countries in the world. Countries in southern Europe with comparable debt burdens have become insolvent and unable to pay their bills.

If the United States continues to accumulate debt at the rate projected under current law, it will begin to look like Japan, the most highly indebted country in the world. In Japan, higher debt burdens have, in fact, resulted in retardation and stagnation in economic growth. These fiscal policies violate the "law of holes": if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

In our research, we project that with effective fiscal rules in place, a downsizing of federal spending as a share of national income, combined with lower tax rates, would significantly boost the rate of economic growth in the long term. With rules-based fiscal policies, the United States could balance the budget and reduce debt to sustainable levels, just as other countries have.

On the other hand, we project that under current law, higher levels of federal spending and increased debt will be accompanied by retardation and stagnation in economic growth in the long term, just as they have in Japan. We question whether the United States now has the fiscal space available to respond to a fiscal shock, such as the financial crisis. (By "fiscal space," we mean the ability to pursue countercyclical fiscal policy without triggering a debt crisis.)

If the United States is to avoid sliding into a Japan-like economic downturn, Congress should take seriously President Trump's proposal for a rules-based fiscal policy. With such a policy in place, the United States would finally have an actual budget, rather than just a spending plan for elected officials.

John Merrifield (think@heartland.org) is professor of economics at the University of Texas-San Antonio. Barry Poulson is emeritus professor of economics at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of White House image.
Madbouly made the remarks during a ministerial meeting to follow up precautionary measures taken to combat the deadly virus.

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed that Egypt is currently free of China originated coronavirus, days after the country's first previously confirmed tested negative for the epidemic.

Madbouly made the remarks during a ministerial meeting to follow up precautionary measures taken to combat the deadly virus.

He added that the government deals transparently with the crisis, stressing the importance of securing medical supplies to fight the disease.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Hala Zayed said that the suspected foreigner who was announced to be carrying the novel coronavirus has tested negative.

She added that the suspected case will remain at the hospital until the end of the 14-day quarantine.

All preventive measures have been taken to combat the virus, she added.

Last week, Egypt ended a 14-day quarantine for 302 Egyptian citizens who had returned home from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus. The health ministry said all tests conducted for them during the 14 days, the incubation period for the disease, showed they do not carry the virus.



Since the disease emerged last December, it has killed more than 2,000 people in mainland China and abroad with over 79,000 infected.



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Drumcoura City's Saloon Bar was bursting with Country Music Stars last week as they gathered to celebrate the launch of Cowboys and Heroes 2020, Ireland's Number One Country Music and Americana Festival.

Festival headliners Derek Ryan, Mike Denver, Robert Mizzell and Cliona Hagan gathered together with sponsors Imagine and a whole host of country music stars, to announce that the countdown has begun to the opening night of the 2020 Cowboys and Heroes festival on Friday 29th May.

Local favourite Nigel Livingstone entertained guests during the evening and invited Cowboys and Heroes favourites including Marty Mone and Sina Theil to join him on stage in the packed Saloon Bar, where Sean Fahy, the winner of the festival's search for a Country Star in 2019 also performed as organisers commence their nationwide search for competitors to perform live at the festival in this years' competition.

Check out this year's full line up here.

Once the line up for this years' festival was officially unveiled, organiser Simon Power also revealed that Leitrim and Drumreilly GAA will be charitable partners for the event. He explained:

"Drumcoura City, has been a long-standing supporter of our local GAA Club at Drumreilly, and the opportunity to further benefit the club and our County teams with such a highly regarded and well attended event is another way this festival can benefit our local community.

"We know the support of Cowboys and Heroes will have a great impact on their fundraising efforts for the year."

Cowboys and Heroes takes place at Drumcoura City, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim from Friday 29th May until Monday 1st June and weekend tickets priced at  75 are available now from www.cowboysandheroes.ie or by calling 071 964 5781.

Also read: Very cold weather on the way tonight for Connacht
Buffett, who said he more often votes for Democrats but has voted for Republicans, said he disagrees with key progressive proposals, including mandatory equity ownership by employees of large, public companies. He also said he'd have no trouble voting for more moderate candidate Mike Bloomberg in the presidential election.

"I'm very much in sympathy with the fact that Senator Sanders believes that a lot of people are getting left behind and through no fault of their own," Buffett said in a CNBC " Squawk Box " interview from Omaha, Nebraska. "And there's all kinds of aspects of capitalism that need, in some ways, to be regulated. But I don't believe in giving up the capitalist system."

Berkshire Hathaway chief Warren Buffett said Monday that while he understands Sen. Bernie Sanders' motivation to ensure that no working American should have to struggle to provide for their children, he doesn't believe socialism is the answer.

Sanders, the front-runner after contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, is a self-described democratic socialist, advocating for reforms including guaranteed employee representation on corporate boards, higher minimum wages and "Medicare for All." On Monday, he unveiled a $1.5 trillion plan to provide child care and pre-K education for all Americans over 10 years.

Asked by CNBC's Becky Quick what he makes of Sanders' success thus far, Buffett said he's still in wait-and-see mode.

"I'm a Democrat, but I'm not a card-carrying Democrat. And I've voted for Republicans and I've contributed to Republicans. In fact, I've only run for two offices in my life: one was head of the Young Republicans at the University of Pennsylvania and the other time I was actually on the ballot running for delegate at the Republican National Convention in 1960."

"But normally I vote for Democrats and we will see what happens," he added. He did, however, note that he is a card-carrying capitalist and in favor of the system as a whole.

"Everything you see is the product of a system that's worked like nothing's ever worked in the history of the world. So, I do not believe in messing up our system of developing output," Buffett continued. But "I do believe that anybody who's willing to work 40 hours a week and has a couple kids should not have to have a second job."

"I believe in having a higher income for people  not necessarily a higher minimum wage," he said. "I do not think it's at all unreasonable that the income tax credit produces at least $15 an hour, maybe higher in certain areas."

Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.
A young Londonderry mother thought she and her four-month-old baby boy were going to die after arsonists blocked the only escape route from their first floor flat with a burning bin.

Bronagh Rogan (27) spoke of her terror after thugs set fire to a wheelie bin outside her Galliagh Park flat door - their only escape route - on Friday night trapping her and her infant son Fionn inside.

Fire officers were able to extinguish the flames, however the young mother-of-two said she has been left traumatised by the incident and is now too fearful to stay in her home.

"On Friday night my oldest son was out with his daddy and I was at home with my youngest son, Fionn, who is four months old," she said.

"I had just settled the baby, was hanging washing up at around 10.30pm and looked at my front door and through the glass I could see flickering.

"I went to the door and opened it and the smoke and heat of the fire hit me up the face. I slammed the door again and ran into the living room where my baby was.

"I grabbed him in my arms and called the fire brigade.

"The front door is my only escape route. I live in a first floor flat and they had blocked that with my wheelie bin which was on fire. There was no way I was getting out.

"I was absolutely terrified. I was on the phone to the fire brigade asking them to come and my mind was racing. I closed the living room door over to protect us and I was thinking how am I going to get this baby out of the window.

"I couldn't leave the room, I was petrified. I was just standing at the window with the baby in my arms waiting for the fire brigade to come.

"I was panicking, thinking, how am I going to get this baby out to safety?

"I thought that if I threw myself out I could end up with a broken body part, but I didn't know what would happen to him, he is so small. It was just terrifying."

Bronagh said she is too fearful to stay in the home she has built for her family over the past six years.

"I am not staying here," she said. "Anti-social behaviour is happening here every night. My anxiety is just through the roof now. I can't do this anymore. I would appeal to the mothers and fathers of these young people to help stop this. I put posts up on social media nearly every night about this type of behaviour and the chat back I get is unbelievable.

"Some of them call me names, they shout at me that they are going to put my windows through. My six-year-old son is too afraid to stay here. And so am I now.

"If I could talk to those who did this I would tell them to catch themselves on. How would they like it if it was their front door and their family?"

Bronagh, who was treated for shock after the incident, said: "I thought when I was standing there with my baby in my arms that there is no way out for us.

"There is just no other way out besides the front door.

"I thought that was it for us, that I can't get this baby out. If my door is on fire, that is it.

"I could see the flames and smoke from the balcony coming across the window we were standing at.

"I could see the fire getting bigger and bigger and I couldn't see a way out.

"I have never been as terrified in all my life," the young mother added.

Police said that they are investigating the incident.

"The NIFRS attended and extinguished a fire in a bin in a communal landing area of flats in Galliagh Park on Friday night," said a PSNI spokesperson.

"No damage was caused to the landing or stairs.

"A woman in her 20s who had been trapped, along with her baby, inside a flat by the burning bin was treated for shock.

"Officers are appealing for witnesses and can be contacted on 101, quoting reference 1990 21/02/20."
Mr. Chairman, many believe that you cannot read and those who think you can read believe that you cannot go beyond three lines. They say you can only comprehend and communicate with insults.



I do not share either view. I will concede that when you consider a literary submission of sufficient importance you have the prescence of mind, discipline, health, intelligence and ability to read through it very slowly and very carefully weighing up every word. And that is precisely as it should be.

The first open letter that I wrote to you was in March 2019 and the following serves as the second.

You will forgive me because this is a long letter and I am fully aware that your ability to read beyond one page is certainly in doubt.

Nevertheless I urge you to do your best to muster the courage, energy and intellectual stamina to stay the course and to find the time out of your busy schedule to read it from beginning to end.

I have written it because our party under your chairmanship is entering into dangerous and precarious waters and I sense that something disastrous will spun out soon in the Bono region if authorities of the party continue to entrust you with responsibilities.

Be rest assured that I speak out of nothing but love and concern for the welfare of the party and to help the party in my small way win all the twelve parliamentary seats in the region. I have never been happy criticising members of my party in the public space due to the tendency of it been used against us by the NDC. But if it will be correction mechanism, I will gladly do it.

Dear Chairman, you and I know very well that your sadden rise to stardom or popularity status hasn't been achieved through any great effort but is simply because the use of vulgar words and insults which is your stock in trade has sadly been accepted in our today body politics. But let me assure you and all those engage in politics of insults that your style of politics will soon be a thing of the past. Ghanaians are now well awake and will not countenance such primitive style of politicking moving forward. I don't know how long it will take for us to get there as country, but when we finally get there, you won't find a place to fixed yourself. This letter isn't intended to insult you or undermine and disrespect your office but rather to shine the light of truth on all your activities with a view to assisting and encouraging you to change your ways.

You will agree with me that, no matter how bitter it may be, that truth must be told. This is a sacred obligation on our part as young members of the great NPP to rewrite every wrong moving into the general elections and beyond.

We all owe the President and the NPP another resounding victory in this year's elections and anything we must do as card bearing members of the party should be towards victory 2020. It is in vein that I have little doubt that no matter how badly you may feel after reading it, history will vindicate me and prove me right and one day you will acknowledge and recognise the profundity, wisdom and foresight in my constant and consistent criticisms, admonitions and counsel.

Mr Chairman,kindly note and consider the following.

You became the party's regional chairman not through the ballot or delegates elections, but through a constitutional sub-provision which is accepted anyway. It is an open secret that you wouldn't have been given the mandate to chair the party if there was to be an election. No wonder you became so desperate of seeing to it to it that no elections was held. But don't be too comfortable because the contest you wish never to see will one day come. Ever since you were made the chair of the party in the region, most people still refuse to recognise you as such, some refer to you as circumstance Chairman or Acting Chairman, but I see you as the regional chairman because I understand what the party's constitution says in that regard. But since April 2019 till now, I haven't really seen what you have done significantly that has inured to the growth of the party in region. You have been more or else aproblem to the party than a solution. You haven't been an alternative to past regional chairmen, the party's fortunes is dwindling under your chairmanship. Despite all this, I still see greatness in you because you are young and there is always a second chance for every young person. You still have an opportunity to make yourself great and restore the lost confidence in you.

Few days ago, a friend of mine from Accra told me how he admires your vociferous style of politics but rhetorically asked if you had an office in Accra. I don't know what culminated such a question but he was quick to add that you seems to be chairing the Party from Accra instead of the Bono region. Whatever that may mean, I wasn't interested in that anyway so I had to change the conversation with something else. But isn't it sad to hear your regional chairman shouting 12/12 in front of the President and party big wigs but return to Sunyani to initiate treacherous plans against the party? I know the reality to this question will soon don at us.

Dear Chairman, barely two weeks ago,I read a story on ghanaweb which was attributed to you. The story indicated that you were openly fighting an NPP sitting MP over the Dormaa West seat. This story was followed by a widely circulated video in which Hon Kennedy Agyepong was heard saying how smart you are when it comes to working against people. Many party folks including myself shared this story on various social media platforms. I was later on informed that you got angry with me and others who shared the story. Chairman Abronye, I never imagine you could ever be hurt by comments or stories against you. You have done it to others in the past. So why are you hurt when you are been served what you sell?.

You had earlier on indicated that I would be suspended for criticising you. I wasn't perturbed because I understand perfectly well what the party's constitution says on disciplinary proceedings against members, suspension and expulsion of members of the. It was therefore ridiculous and absurd for me to receive a letter from the Regional Communication Director through WhatsApp and signed by the Regional Secretary indicating my suspension and two other members. Upon receiving the letter, I screamed in amazement not because of the effect of the content of the letter but because the public embarrassment it would cause the party. The letter was dated 21st February, 2019, No reference number was attached, no signature, my name was wrongly spelt and no constitutional provisions were heeded to. I informed MR ABS (Communication Director) that the date of the letter should be checked properly before been circulated but before that could be done, the one year ago letter was already in circulation. Mr Kwame Baffoe, since you were made the regional chairman through a constitutional provision of Article 9, I thought you will pay much attention to Article 3 and 4 of the same constitution when suspending members of the party.

Have you not read Article 3&4 of the NPP constitution which spells out suspension, expulsion and disciplinary measures against members of the party?. Haven't you read further in Article 4 that no Regional Executive is a member of the disciplinary committee ?. And you couldn't read Article 3 which direct you to refer matters which needs disciplinary actions to the Regional Disciplinary Committee. Or you do not respect the constitution that you so much quoted it's provisions in your quest of becoming regional Chairman? You see how time can expose our selfish individualist interest? Unlike you, I have never sat in constitutional law class and I wouldn't pretend to know the laws of our party more than you do, but if I read the NPP Constitution, I can comprehend and connect the dots. In simple language, this letter signed by the Bono NPP Regional Secretary makes mockery of the whole Secretariat and should quickly be withdrawn.

Mr Chairman, as indicated in my opening statements, this letter promise to be a long one, so please take a cup of coffee because we have just started.

Just few days ago, you were seen on camera with a ram in a cemetery cursing and calling on deities to strike one Yayra Koku whom you claimed had accused you of possessing five of the so called missing excavators, you felt so bad isn't it? Now do you understand how it hurts when you accused noble and Honourable men in society?. I'm a Muslim who serves Allah with my might and for that matter do not believe in deities and gods, but I do know the gods aren't crazy. My Mom used to tell me that those who behead others never wish to lie down with their necks facing up. Those accusing noble men never wish to be accused and that's the irony of life. I don't hold anything against you Chairman, but I'm much interested in seeing NPP succeed in Bono region.

Yes I have a seen a letter indicating that I have been suspended together with two others, but I will treat it with the contempt that it deserves. As I stated earlier, the letter is a mockery of the NPP Bono Regional Secretariat and must be rewritten for the third time.

The party constitution must be adhered to, if indeed you believe that I should be suspended for social media misconduct as stated in the letter, then file a case before the Regional disciplinary committee, allow the committee to investigate the matter, come out with their findings and recommendations then you implement it as Regional Executive Committee. That's what the party constitution requires of you.

Dear Chairman, this is an election year so every Pharaoh shall meet his Moses and every Goliath will meet his David as well.

Every tyrant, no matter how powerful and highly-placed, will not be allowed to dwindle the chances of the NPP in this year's elections.

"On our part as young patriots of the NPP, I believe that this is a defining moment for us. We must be bold enough to speak against power drunk and abuse of power. We have accepted our current crop of leaders to lead us into the future we so much desired to see. We will not allow few self seeking politicians to erode our future. We shall speak in unison against abuse of power and we shall stain pages with our pens when we see any tendencies of disrespecting and breaching the NPP's Constitution and anyone who tries to erode the chances of the NPP in this year's elections will be met with fury.

No matter how hard you try to get us tamed and quiet, know this: the die is cast, Caesar has crossed the Rubicorn, the horse has bolted from the stable, the cat is out of the bag, our eyes have been opened and we shall defend the party with our might.

And to my friends who chooses to be silent in times of injustice, let me remind you that you have chosen the ways of the oppressors. And when there is no one left to be oppressed, the oppressors will come for you too. For some of us, we have no choice but to use all lawful and non-violent means to break the yoke of any tyrannic rule. And I am very optimistic that we will succeed in our quest for total liberation. If we fail to do so future generations of our party shall NEVER forgive us.

(Abdul Hafiz Issahaku )
It is an odd state of affairs when Network 10, home of Neighbours, Dancing With The Stars, Young Talent Time and It's a Knockout, positions itself as more left-wing than The Guardian. But media in 2020 is nothing if not a whole bunch of weird.

Such political positioning makes sense for a membership-funded newspaper founded after the 1819 Peterloo massacre, but little sense for a free-to-air network reliant on attracting a mass audience more concerned whether the new Bachelor will be as cute as astrophysicist Matt.

The Project hosts Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore and Pete Helliar. Credit:Network Ten

Ten has long had a progressive vibe, seemingly a good fit for the youth network. But lately it seems amplified by The Project and a tendency for Ten presenters to wander off the reservation on social media.

At this point, two years after the CBS bought Ten, and two months after the $39 billion Viacom-CBS remerger, it is worth asking: does any of this make good business sense?
Bushfires devastated Australia this year (Getty)

The bushfires which ravaged Australia this year were far worse than any climate simulation had predicted, researchers have warned.

The fires left 33 people dead, and burned more than 20% of Australias forests, research published in Nature Climate Change showed.

Scientists described the devastation as unprecedented.

The devastation was worse than anything our models simulated, climate scientist Dr Benjamin Sanderson said in an interview with BBC News.

Dr Sanderson warned that as global warming takes hold, such surprise events are likely to become more common, saying that the more the planet warms, the more likely we are to be taken by surprise.

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Dr Sanderson called for more detailed simulations, saying: "Rather than running one simulation that looks as close as possible to the real world, we need to start creating thousands of different versions of the future.

Research showed that the extent of the fires was unprecedented, researchers reported this week.

Lead author Matthias Boer told the Guardian: The word unprecedented has been used a lot the last two months.

The data point for this years fires show it stands out completely from all other years for Australia or other countries

There is just nothing like it out there and we felt confident to call it unprecedented.

A bushfire sweeps up a hillside in Bumbalong, New South Wales (Getty)

The bushfires  which lasted from September until torrential rains hit earlier this month  killed 33 people and a billion native animals nationally and also destroyed 2,500 homes and a wilderness area the size of South Korea.

The damage was most devastating in New South Wales state.

Families, firefighters and politicians gathered in a solemn public ceremony in Sydney on Sunday to honour the 25 people killed in recent blazes that tore through the country's most populous state.

Story continues

Among the 25 people killed were 19 civilians, three local volunteer firefighters and three US firefighters.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, who thanked those who fought the blazes and honoured those who died, spoke of "children kissing the coffins of their fathers" and "mothers who should have never had to bury their children".

He told the public, gathered around lit candles, of "a summer where the dark sky turned black and sunsets only signalled another night of terror, where the fire crashed on our beaches from the bush that surrounded them".

Morrison has drawn public anger for his refusal to directly link the bushfires to climate change, insisting removing flammable vegetation is "just as important, if not more".

His management of the fires also came under criticism over the unusually prolonged summer wildfire season, when he was forced into a rare public apology for taking a holiday to Hawaii.

Last week, he said Australia would conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into the causes of the fires.
Yorkshire-based desserts brand Freaks of Nature has appointed chocolatier, patisserie and bakery expert Claire Gallagher as director of product innovation.

Gallagher had been working with the gluten-, dairy- and egg-free manufacturer as a consultant, but has now come on-board full-time.

Her 25-year career in the food industry has seen her work alongside Michelin-starred chefs, including Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux QuatSaisons. In recent years, she has led the food and drink innovation team at Bettys, creating treats including its afternoon tea and continental cakes.

Claire is a highly innovative product developer; it really is quite a coup for us to have her on-board. She had been working with us for a few months as a consultant, helping to expand our product range, but now, she is a fully-fledged member of the team, said Freaks of Nature founder Peter Ahye.

The input she had in developing our latest dessert has been invaluable. Its the first plant-based and gluten-free Belgium chocolate mousse in the UK. Shes as passionate as I am about creating great-tasting plant-based desserts without compromising on quality.

Gallagher added that she was so excited about joining Freaks of Nature. I love that the company is so bold in its approach to making the best-tasting plant-based desserts possible, she added.

The company  which has a factory in Ossett, West Yorkshire  has 15 products on sale in major retailers. Its portfolio includes Sticky Toffee Pudding, Cherry Bakewell Hot Pudding, Lemon Sponge Hot Pudding and Choc Caramel Cheesecake.
The University of Pennsylvania accepted $258 million in foreign gifts and contracts from donors in China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, federal disclosures show. Read more

Chinese banks and real estate firms. Pharmaceutical companies in nearly a dozen countries. Saudi Arabias Ministry of Defense.

These are among the hundreds of foreign organizations that have made financial gifts or contracted with the University of Pennsylvania between 2013 and the middle of last year, federal records show. The amount of foreign money flowing to Penn during that period comes to $257.9 million, with China giving the most of any country.

But that total could be even higher, according to Department of Education officials cracking down on how schools report funds they receive from foreign sources. Since July 1, the department said this month, 10 schools have disclosed $3.6 billion in previously unreported foreign money, including two Pennsylvania colleges: Penn and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

The announcement came as the Education Department issued two investigative requests to Harvard and Yale, asking for more information about their foreign funding. Last year, the department sent similar notices to six other schools, including Rutgers University and MIT.

The requests have focused on gifts coming from countries such as China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

If colleges and universities are accepting foreign money and gifts, their students, donors, and taxpayers deserve to know how much and from whom," Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a Feb. 12 statement. Moreover, its what the law requires. Unfortunately, the more we dig, the more we find that too many are under-reporting or not reporting at all.

Under the Higher Education Act, schools must disclose gifts and contracts of $250,000 or more in a calendar year. Colleges file the reports by Jan. 31 or July 31, whichever date is soonest after the transaction, and data covering the previous 6 years are posted online.

An Education Department spokesperson told The Inquirer that Penn recently submitted a number of previously unreported transactions that dont appear in the data thats currently online. Most of the transactions appear to have been submitted last month, the official said. That new information likely will be released in March or April.

Overall, Penn raised $626 million last year, placing it among the top 10 colleges that received the most donations, according to a survey of 913 schools by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Penn did not respond to several requests for comment on the foreign funding data.

Carnegie Mellon has always taken seriously our obligation to report contracts with and donations from foreign persons and entities, and we believe we have accurately disclosed these contracts and donations in compliance with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, school spokesperson Julie Mattera said in a statement. We have not changed the way we report.

The American Council on Education says the DOE hasnt given colleges enough guidance on how to comply with the reporting requirements. Instead, what theyve done is play a game of gotcha with some high-profile schools, said Steven Bloom, the groups director of government relations.

In January 2019, the council, which lobbies for colleges and universities, asked the department for clarification on reporting thresholds and correcting previous reports.

The following month, a bipartisan U.S. Senate report examined Confucius Institutes, which offer language classes and promote cultural events on U.S. campuses with funding from the Chinese government. The report, from a subcommittee overseen by chairman Rob Portman (R., Ohio) and Delaware Democrat Tom Carper, said this Chinese funding comes with strings that can compromise academic freedom. It also found that colleges were failing to report foreign gifts and that the Department of Education was not conducting regular oversight.

The available data show that organizations in China gave $67.6 million in gifts and contracts to Penn between Jan. 1, 2013, and June 30, 2019. Penn received the third-highest amount of funding from groups in mainland China, behind Harvard and the University of Southern California, a Bloomberg analysis found this month.

Financial institutions, collectively, were among Chinas leading gift-givers to Penn. Six banks in China gave donations or contracts to Penn that were collectively worth $13.6 million. Another big donor  E-House (China) Holdings Limited, a real estate services company  gave $6.3 million in gifts.

Forty percent of the mainland China gifts, worth $27.1 million, came from anonymous donors.

After China, money from sources in England ($60.9 million), Hong Kong ($24.9 million), Singapore ($14.6 million), and India ($11 million) rounded out the top five countries giving gifts and contracts to Penn.

About $35 million worth of contracts and donations to Penn came from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical-device firms abroad  such as GlaxoSmithKline ($10.2 million in contracts) and AstraZeneca ($5.3 million in contracts) in England, BioNTech in Germany (a $4.4 million contract), and CRISPR Therapeutics in Switzerland ($1.95 million in contracts).

Eric Campbell, a professor of medicine and bioethics expert at the University of Colorado, said its not surprising that global drug companies would be involved with a major research university such as Penn.

When it comes to research grants, they are generally viewed as acceptable and there are very elaborate infrastructures for managing them at universities, Campbell said.

About $35 million worth of contracts and donations to Penn came from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical-device firms abroad  such as GlaxoSmithKline ($10.2 million in contracts) and AstraZeneca ($5.3 million in contracts) in E, BioNTech in Germany (a $4.4 million contract), and CRISPR Therapeutics in Switzerland ($1.95 million in contracts).

Out of all Penns foreign gifts and contracts, the $2.7 million originating in Saudi Arabia was tiny, making up about 1%.

The school disclosed two monetary gifts from the Saudi Ministry of Defense: one in March 2017 for $767,000, and one in April 2018 for $557,000.

A third entry for the Saudi Defense Ministry was labeled as a contract for $684,400 in April 2019.

Penn political science professor Robert Vitalis recalled giving a lecture to Saudi military officers attending an executive education seminar at Wharton in March 2017. I was paid a couple thousand dollars for the 45-minute lecture, Vitalis said. But he didnt know whether the seminar was connected to the foreign funds reflected in the Department of Education data.

A Wharton spokesperson referred all questions to Penns media relations, which did not respond to messages.

Colleges financial ties to Saudi Arabia became a subject of controversy after the October 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a vocal critic of the kingdom who wrote for the Washington Post. The CIA concluded that the order to kill Khashoggi would have to have come from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A number of schools  most notably, perhaps, MIT  said they would review their financial relationships with Saudi Arabia in the wake of Khashoggis death.

The money from Saudi Arabia has embarrassed institutions, given that the money is coming from a government that is pretty repressive and just assassinated a U.S. reporter, said Vitalis, a previous director of Penns Middle East Center who writes about the U.S.-Saudi relationship and oil in a forthcoming book called Oilcraft.

Another Philadelphia college, Temple University, has reported $8.7 million in contracts with the Saudi Cultural Mission, a government agency, in 2018 and 2019. The payments represent tuition for students taught, according to a school spokesperson.

We continue to have students from Saudi Arabia attend Temple, and therefore continue to accept funding from that country to support their education, spokesperson Ray Betzner said.

Temples largest source of foreign contracts, according to the Education Department data, is with Kuwaits embassy  which paid a combined $15.1 million for student tuition in 2018 and 2019, Betzner said.

Likewise, he said, $2.7 million from the Beijing National Accounting Institute in 2017 and 2018 covered student tuition. Temple partnered with the institute to offer masters programs through the Fox School of Business.

Carnegie Mellon University disclosed $1.48 billion in gifts and contracts through last June. About half of that  $750 million in 2016  stemmed from a legal settlement for patent enforcement, according to Mattera, the school spokesperson. The case centered on patents by two inventors at CMU, who came up with new technology to help computer users recover data. The settlement was paid by Marvell Technology Group Ltd., a Bermuda entity.

The school received $373.9 million in contracts from the Qatar Foundation for Education, and a $26.95 million contract from the Rwandan government. Those funds are used principally to run our campuses and educate students in those respective countries, Mattera said.
M ove over St Barts. Now, its all about the pristine beaches and laid-back vibes of a tiny, secretive African archipelago  a place where the A-list can be ensconced away from the paparazzis prying eyes, and the main method of transport is a water taxi called Beyonce.

Welcome to Lamu, multiple plane rides from Notting Hill (from Heathrow youll hop to Nairobi and then Mombasa on your way). The hyper-chilled destination is fast becoming the holiday of choice for Londons most stylish set  from Kate Moss and Adwoa Aboah confirming its credentials as the chicest fashion hideaway, to Marina Abramovic and Tracey Emin basking in its artistic influences, to the Obamas jetting in away from prying eyes. The calming local Swahili watchword pole, pole (slow down) couldnt be more now. Many, who made a dash for the island when travel was permitted, have stayed put. Locked down in Lamu: what could be better?

In true Bond fashion, only small planes will get you to Lamus miniscule airport. Perched by the sapphire-blue Indian Ocean, this detail is just one facet of the dreamlike, otherworldly charm of these tiny isles, and a marker of how wonderfully far away youre getting, mentally and physically, from London. A taxi on landing? Itll be a boat  a small wooden dhow, or, if youre feeling splashy, a speedboat from a small wooden gangway. No wonder Lamu has been called the Venice of Africa.

Lamu has always been alluring for the rich and famous: Madonna hung out here in the Eighties, Prince Ernst of Hanover built himself a mansion in the Nineties, and Gillian Anderson married war correspondent and filmmaker Julian Ozanne on its shores in 2005.

Its seductiveness weathered a brief travel ban after a 2011 terror attack by Islamist group al-Shabab which led to the loss of some well-loved hotels and restaurants. Not, though, the legendary Peponi, a seafront hotel that has hosted the likes of Mick Jagger, Jude Law, Katie Grand and Moss. With its whitewashed buildings and riot of bougainvillea, its charm is undeniable and its restaurant, serving French, Italian, Indian and local food, excellent wine and cocktails, and perfectly cold Tusker beers, is famed. If St Tropezs mecca is Club Cinquante-Cinq, this is Lamus hotspot. Except its chilled  no news, no shoes, as Kim Cattrall summarised.

Barefoot or not, there is shopping to be done, be it for soft linen shirts, Kenyan kikoys or long, floaty dresses, all ideal for the heat (32C in February, the perfect time, and peaking at 37C around April)  even if some brands, such as Stardust by Anami and Janine, are international, popping up in boho hotspots like Goa. Lamu is where youll find the Aboah sisters, Adwoa and Kesewa, rummaging through boutiques nestled in the narrow streets of Shela village (the hottest being Aman, African Corner and Zinj Design). Their parents, fashion agent Camilla Lowther and location scout Charles Aboah, have a house there. As has Count Alessandro Mapelli-Mozzi, father of Princess Beatrices fiance Edo  the Duchess of York has also kicked back here. Nicholas Logsdail, founder of the Lisson Gallery, has an 18th-century Gujarati townhouse in the world heritage site of Lamu Old Town, East Africas oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement, where you can lose yourself exploring.

The Obamas in Lamu / Michelle Obama/Instagram

In the Old Town, Logsdail has established The Factory, a sanctuary for artists  though personal invitations from the main man are a must. The vibe hes created is more that of a refuge than somewhere artists take on official residencies. Artists love Lamu, he says. No matter how famous, nobody knows who you are.

Its here that Marina Abramovic filmed Confession, a short in which she stares a donkey in the eyes and shares with it her life story. Not an easy feat; she spent three days tracking down the right donkey (of which there are plenty here). As she says, You have to have the right chemistry. Some donkeys you like, some you dont. Anish Kapoor has also been to stay, multiple times. As have artists Wael Shawky and Jorinde Voigt.

Madonna hung out there in the Eighties and Gillian Anderson married on the islands alluring shores.

Tracey Emin is a big fan of the archipelago too, though she opts to hang out further afield at Mikes Camp, a rustic setup on Kiwayu Island, some 60km from Lamu town by boat. Other creatives, like British artist Hermione Gibbs, while away their time picnicking on remote beaches and taking sunset dhow trips  serenely sailing through the mangrove forests, sundowner in hand. Art is just one of the callings of Lamus visitors. Politicos are keen: the Obamas have visited multiple times. This trumps Boris and Carries trip to middle-aged Mustique.

Then theres the hip new wave of DJs, such as Shawna Hofman and Anant Sharma (techy by day, music maestro by night). The latter mesmerisingly mixes house and techno while playing his violin. They pick the location as a haven on which to unwind after the famed Kilifi New Year  Beneath the Baobabs, a three-day-long African alternative and electronic music festival on Kenyas mainland (during normal non-covid times). That extravaganza is partly organised by Federico Pirzio-Biroli, the face behind Burning Mans Ooligan Alley stage and the owner of a desirable and remote Swahili-style house on Lamu. DJs and festival-goers come to chill. The atmosphere is more North Ibiza than South, more tranquil times than techno tempos. But of course youll want to dance, so the in-folk take a boat to the Floating Bar  which is exactly what its name suggests  where they play Kenyan pop. Or youll find a DJ or two playing a sunset set at Diamond Beach Village, a charming family-owned eco-lodge, run purely on solar power, which serves delicious seafood and pizza. At its weekly movie night youre likely to find the likes of star make-up artist Mary Greenwell (who also has a pad here) or Hunza Gs Georgiana Huddart, watching anything from classic flicks to documentaries.

Sienna Miller / SplashNews

Then theres Kizingoni, an isolated beach 20 minutes from the airport where you can stay in cabanas and sip dawas (made of vodka, lime juice and honey) at the bar the meaning of dawa is medication. Here youll feel perfectly cast away, doing morning yoga and staring out at the calm sea, or walking for what feels like miles along soft, white, undisturbed sand. Or take a boat out to swim with dolphins and snorkel off the nearby reef... the perfect place for high-profile folk to keep a low profile.
Harvey Weinstein, the movie mogul whose alleged sexual misconduct triggered a global movement to hold powerful men accountable, has been convicted on two of the five counts against him in a trial in New York. He was found guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree.

But Weinstein was acquitted on the most serious charges of predatory sexual assault. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, indicated in making the decision that they did not believe that Weinstein had raped the actress Annabella Sciorra, who testified in support of the predatory assault charge. The jury took five days to reach a verdict.

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The jury found that Weinstein had forced a sex act on former production assistant Mimi Haley at his apartment in 2006 and raped the former aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. The testimony from three other women who said they had been assaulted by Weinstein was intended to establish a pattern of predatory behavior.

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Weinsteins attorneys had argued that all sexual activity between the movie producer and his accusers had been consensual and that the women had pursued such encounters with Weinstein in hopes of advancing their careers.

Many dozens of women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault. In Los Angeles, where he still is awaiting trial, he has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting two women in separate incidents on two consecutive days in 2013. He is under investigation in Dublin and London as well.

After the verdict was read, Weinstein was handcuffed on instructions to be taken to jail to await his sentencing. He faces a sentence of five to 25 years in prison.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B)  Berkshire saw operating profit drop by 23% for its latest quarter, but surging stock prices for its holdings like Apple (AAPL) led to record full-year earnings. Berkshire's Warren Buffett is a guest for all three hours of this morning's edition of CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Wells Fargo (WFC)  Wells Fargo will pay $3 billion to settle fraudulent sales practices probes by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department. The bank also said it will continue to cooperate with any ongoing investigations.

Goldman Sachs (GS)  Goldman Sachs units in Malaysia pleaded not guilty to misleading investors in the sale of $6.5 billion in bonds for the state-run 1MDB fund. The Justice Department has estimated that $4.5 billion was misappropriated from the fund between 2009 and 2014.

PepsiCo (PEP)  The beverage and snack giant agreed to buy China snack maker Be & Cheery from its Chinese owner Haoxiangni Health Food for $705 million.

Beyond Meat (BYND)  Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have a new plant-based burger challenger: privately held Cargill, which plans to launch its own plant-based patties in April.

Xperi Corp. (XPER)  Xperi received an unsolicited buyout offer from private-equity firm Metis Ventures for $1.16 billion in cash, or $23.30 per share. The Delaware-based tech licensing firm already has a deal in place to merge with set-top box maker TiVo (TIVO) and said it cannot conclude that the Metis proposal will lead to a superior offer.

Intuit (INTU)  Intuit is near a deal to buy privately held credit-monitoring firm Credit Karma for about $7 billion in cash and stock, according to The Wall Street Journal. Intuit  the company behind TurboTax and QuickBooks  would operate Credit Karma as a standalone unit.

Blackstone (BX)  Blackstone said it would raise its bid for Japan hotel chain Unizo to 6,000 yen per share, 5.2% higher than a bid by U.S. investment firm Lone Star. Blackstone said it would go ahead with the offer only if Unizo agrees with Blackstone's conditions by April 30.

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP)  Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to "equal-weight" from "underweight," following significant underperformance relative to peers like Coca-Cola (KO) and PepsiCo (PEP). The firm said the valuation now better reflects the company's growth and risk profile compared to rivals.

Aurora Cannabis (ACB), Tilray (TLRY)  Cowen downgraded the cannabis stocks to "market perform" from "outperform" due to its increasingly cautious outlook for cannabis sales in Canada. Cowen said headwinds facing the industry are not fading as previously anticipated, and adds that Canopy Growth (CGC) remains its only "outperform"-rated stock among cannabis producers.
Over the past 14 years India has hosted a US president three times, Pakistan has hosted none. President Donald Trumps stand-alone visit further hardens the de-hyphenation of India from Pakistan in US foreign policy. The last US President to make a state visit to Pakistan was George W. Bush in early March 2006, a trip that included India. Barack Obama never went there.

From 1959 to 2006, every US presidential South Asian visit included both India and Pakistan.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqi earlier tried to explain it away, saying Trump wants an exclusive visit to Pakistan which is not linked to any other visit in the region because Pakistan has its own distinct place. Prime Minister Imran Khan issued an invitation to Trump last July.

Also read: On Day 2 of India visit, Modi and Trump to get down to business

There are multiple reasons why India and Pakistan are no longer joined at the hip as far as presidential visits are concerned.

The first is the much deeper strategic relationship that has developed between India and the US, one that encompasses counterterrorism, China, and global issues such as trade and energy. The Pakistan agenda is only about terrorism.

De-hyphenation has been a gradual but consistent evolution over the past decade and is partly a product of the growing importance of India in Americas strategic calculus, said Jeff Smith, South Asia analyst for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank close to the Trump administration.

The most dramatic manifestation of this break was George W. Bushs civilian nuclear deal with India  a deal Pakistan asked for and did not get. Rick Rossow of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said: Recall that just a few years earlier, President Bill Clinton felt he had to roll back post-nuclear test sanctions placed against India and Pakistan simultaneously.

Also read: US President Donald Trump unveils $3billion military copter pact

The second is Pakistans continuing role as a haven for terrorists. Smith says this has led to abroad sense of frustration with Pakistan that cuts across both parties.

Indian diplomats say the US is extremely pro-active in the United Nations when it comes to getting terror group Jaish-e-Mohammeds chief Masood Azhar listed as a terrorist or keeping Pakistan on the terrorism-related financial action task forces grey list.

The third is complicated. Trumps offers to mediate on Kashmir worry India and enthuse Pakistan. Sources in Washington say this is motivated by Trumps dream of winning a Nobel Peace Prize.

He has offered to mediate everywhere, they note, including Northern Ireland. But Trumps rhetoric about wanting to mediate even while talking about improving relations with India does not help the cause of de-hyphenation, admitted Stephen Tankel, who teaches at American University and is a terror expert.

Islamabad believes facilitating a US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will one day mean a visit by Air Force One.

The road to Afghanistans stability goes through Rawalpindi. So the US has an interest in maintaining some level of connection with Pakistan. But it will be a more utilitarian approach over time, said Rossow. Smith was sceptical, arguing, Trumps desire to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is genuine but he views no deal with the Taliban as preferable to a bad deal.

Four, there is almost zero US interest in Pakistan as an economic partner. Bilateral trade was $ 6.6 billion in 2018, versus $ 150 billion with India.

Also read: Vedas to Vivekananda, DDLJ to Sachin: Donald Trump goes full desi

US investment in Pakistan is a minuscule $ 386 million, less than what the US puts into a medium-sized Indian state. The overwhelming Chinese economic footprint is a further negative.

I find it hard to envision any scenario in which a policy of re-hyphenation returns, said Smith. Even if the president were so inclined, which he is not, there would be substantial, potentially insurmountable, resistance from Congress and the Washington strategic community.

In a January press briefing, Farooqi declined to give a time frame for a US presidential visit to Pakistan.

She claimed it could take place later this year and the two sides are working on it. US diplomats said they doubted such talks were taking place with the US presidential elections looming.
There and Back Again

For a Chinese couple, all roads led home.

by Tim Athan

From the February, 2020 issue

Jiaqi traveled halfway around the world to pursue a master's degree in biostatistics at the U-M. Xuzhou travelled just as far to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering. (We're not using their last names to preserve some privacy.) They met in a North Campus library, discovered they were both new arrivals from China, and soon fell in love.



China is big, so they were astonished to discover that they were from the same city, Taiyuan, in northern Shanxi province. Taiyuan has more than four million people, so it was even more astonishing when they discovered they had attended the same high school and graduated in the same class.



They now plan to marry, so over winter break they returned to Taiyuan to meet each other's families. Getting everyone together wasn't hard: It turns out they grew up just five blocks apart. "It's cute!" Xuzhou says. "It's romantic!"



[Originally published in February, 2020.]








Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has concluded plans to reverse the controversial single school uniform introduced in the state in 2013 in the first term of his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Reclassification of the public school system and abolition of single-sex schools across the state are also part of the 26 issues to be reviewed by the Oyetola administration.

Other issues to be reviewed include the introduction of opon imo, otherwise referred to as tablet of knowledge, issuance of primary school leaving certificates, change of schools identities, ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), operations of Osun State University, merger of basic and high schools across many communities, among others.

The new development, according to insiders, is a response to the clamour for the policy reviews by stakeholders, including educationists, school administrators, missionaries and school owners.

Background

On October 5, 2013, Mr. Aregbesola and his erstwhile deputy, Titi Laoye-Tomori, decked in school uniforms, appeared at the inauguration of a remodelled Salvation Army Primary School, Osogbo.

The state had just introduced unified school uniforms across the state, and in what the administration described as leadership by example, the governor and his deputy appeared in public dressed in samples of the uniforms.

However, the action did not convince the critics of the policy who described it as ill-conceived. They argued that the states partnership with a private company, Sam and Sera Garments Limited, to purchase, sew and distribute the uniforms to students and pupils was a deliberate attempt at killing small scale businesses.

But Mr Aregbesola went ahead with the new policy, which was tagged, O-Uniform, otherwise known as, Osun school uniform project. The state established Omoluabi Garment Factory, which he noted would sew 750,000 sets of uniforms to be distributed free to pupils and students across the state.

The project, the administration noted, would cost the state about N900 million at the rate of about N1,200 per set, adding that tailors would be trained at the factory while uniform sellers across the state would subsequently be supplied the uniforms to be resold by them.

But apart from the economic crisis cited by the critics, many stakeholders including teachers, parents and alumni of different schools, said the governments decision would not only create identity problems but may also obliterate the history of schools.

School merger, reclassification

Also, Mr Aregbesolas administration introduced the school reclassification policy, leading to the merger of schools, and abolition of gender and religious-based sentiments.

The policy replaced the 6-3-3-4 and 9-3-4 systems operated by Nigerian government with what was described as a 4-5-3-4 system, leading to the restructuring of primary and secondary schools into elementary, middle and high schools.

The elementary schools comprise pupils between the ages of six and nine, grouped into Grades one to four, as against the old designation of primary one to four while the middle schools comprises pupils and students between the ages of 10 and 14, grouped into grades five to nine, as against the old designation of primary 5 and 6, and JSS 1 to 3.

The high schools, comprising students within the age bracket of 15 to 17 years, were regrouped into grades 10 to 12 as against SSS 1 to 3.

The decision, the former governor had consistently noted, were products of comprehensive appraisal of the states education sector at an education summit chaired by Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, in 2011, shortly after he assumed power.

The new reclassification system also led to merger of schools in various communities as the administration said rather than building classrooms across the many schools in the state, it decided to build gigantic structures in various communities to accommodate a large number of different age groups in various communities.

As a result, almost all the schools changed their identities and in some instances, different faith-based schools were merged, leading to conflicts between the adherents of Islam and Christianity in the state.

Consequences

Following the implementation of these policies and others, including the tablet of knowledge, some stakeholders said they noticed dangerous consequences, including gangsterism, cultism, truancy, and installation of pornographic items on the tablets by the students.

At various times, the states chapter of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and parents complained to the authorities on how they were finding it difficult to identify their students.

In fact, ANCOPSS, in a release shared with the state government noted that the same uniform introduced by the state had led to influx of notorious gangs to popular schools such as Saint Charles School in Osogbo, the state capital, where they claimed teachers and pupils were constantly attacked.

The release, a copy of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES, stated in part; The policy of same uniforms had led to total insecurity in the schools. It has been discovered that hoodlums, school dropouts, and even artisans sometimes do dress as students to join in the riots in schools.

As a result of this, teachers and principals divert attention to the security of lives and properties of the school than the actual teaching and learning that ought to be their priority.

There were also instances where students of Baptist School in Iwo, in Osun west senatorial district went to schools in church garments to protest the use of hijab by Muslim students in schools originally founded by Christian missionaries.

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New governor, renewed agitation

The incumbent governor, Mr. Oyetola, was the chief of staff to Mr. Aregbesola throughout his two-term in office. But stakeholders brushed that fact aside, and renewed the agitation for review of the controversial policies of his predecessor, especially uniform, school merger, among other policies.

On January 24, 2019, the leadership of ANCOPSS in the state, led by the immediate past chairman, Biodun Abiosun, met with the states head of service, Olowogboyega Oyebade, and other government functionaries to reiterate their call for review of the education policies.

Based on the renewed agitation, the governor tasked his education commissioner, Folorunsho Bamisayemi, and his special adviser on education, Jamiu Olawunmi, to collate areas requiring attention in the states education sector.

This led to the development of what the government described as executive council memorandum on education.

According to separate statements issued by both the states commissioner for information and civic engagement, Funke Egbemode, and the governors chief press secretary, Ismail Omipidan, at the inauguration of a two-day roundtable summit on the review of the policies, the governor noted that out of 26 issues raised in the memorandum, 14 issues were unanimously endorsed for review by the cabinet while 12 others were referred to the committee.

It is important to let you know that in the interest of the generality of our people and in the spirit of democracy, I directed that all the 26 issues raised in the Executive Council Memorandum be discussed extensively and dispassionately with a view to arriving at informed decisions on every issue, Mr Oyetola, who was represented by his deputy, Benedict Alabi, stated at the opening of the two-day roundtable summit by the committee in Osogbo on Thursday.

The governor added; While some of the issues were unanimously agreed upon, twelve (12) other issues were referred to this Consultative Forum dedicated to addressing and making recommendations on the issues.

PREMIUM TIMES can confirm that the policies on the school merger and the unified school uniforms are part of the 14 policies already agreed by the cabinet to reverse.

Grumbling over committees composition

According to the statement by the information commissioner, the committee, which is chaired by a former registrar of National Business and Technical Examinations Board, NABTEB, Olu Aina, also has the former vice-chancellors of the University of Lagos and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ibidapo Obe and Oluwayemisi Obilade, respectively.

Other members are former chairman of the board of WAEC, Pai Obanya; retired chief of army staff, Alani Akinrinade; immediate past registrar of WAEC, Uyi Uwadiae; Akinropo Emmanuel, Aluko-Olokun, Wakeel Ayinde, Folorunso Alao and another member identified simply as Adeyemi.

But some Islamic faith adherents in the state have kicked against the composition of the membership of the committee, saying only one Muslim was selected.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, one of the conveners of the states chapter of Islamic Youth Council of Nigeria, Dahood Ajetunmobi, a lawyer, said the composition has depicted Muslims in the state as irrelevant in discussions concerning the education of their children.

Apart from the NUT chairman in the state, Mr. Wakeel Ayinde, there is no other Muslim among the committee members. Does it mean we dont have Muslims as educationists, or as professors? This is unacceptable, Mr Ajetunmobi stated.

Speaking in the same vein, the councils co-convener, Galadima Adeoye, said Muslims are in the majority in the state, and their deliberate neglect should not be taken as an oversight.

They said a statement on the matter will soon be jointly released by their organisation and the Sharia Council of Islamic Affairs in the state.

Government defends action

While both the governors spokesperson and the information commissioner could not be reached as at the time of filing this report, two cabinet members in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PREMIUM TIMES, that since the governor who would take the final decision on the issues is a Muslim, there should be no reason for fear of bias.

This complaint is really unnecessary because I can see that the governor is a Muslim and even the special adviser on education. The selection was simply random and the sincerity behind the decision is what dominated the cabinets thinking. Please, we are reassuring everyone that every issue will take into consideration the rights of everyone.

Meanwhile, the states commissioner for works and transport, Oluremi Omowaiye, has warned those he said were describing the review of the policies as a rejection of Mr Aregbesola by his successor to stop the insinuation.

In a post on his Facebook wall and titled; We are Aregbesolas legacy, Mr Omowaiye wrote, listing many members of the current cabinet who were also part of Aregbesolas decisions while in power.

He wrote: I am shocked that some now termed the initiative as an effort to rubbish the legacy of the former Governor of the state, our own Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Well, I see this allegation as mere mawkishness because no one has the capacity to rubbish Ogbenis legacies; he remains the architect of the new Osun and we are his legacy!

Also speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, the incumbent chairman of ANCOPSS in the state, who identified himself simply as E.A Ijaodola, said there is no decision or policy that is not worth review.

Mr Ijaodola, who is a member of the committee, said; The former governor did his best while in office and his successor has picked it up from where he stopped. Review is important in life, and if not important, why do we review national laws, including our Constitution?
By Olga Yagova and Shu Zhang

MOSCOW/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Rosneft <ROSN.MM> has allocated ESPO Blend crude supplies in April to European trader Trafigura, leaving none for China's CEFC which has a long-term deal to buy oil from the Russian oil giant, four people with knowledge of the matter said.

It was not immediately clear why Rosneft changed its allocation of ESPO crude, a popular grade among Chinese "teapots", or independent refineries that collectively make up a fifth of the country's crude imports.

But the changes may suggest that Rosneft's deal with CEFC, which was supposed to end in 2022, might have been adjusted or even terminated earlier than expected, the sources told Reuters.

Rosneft did not respond to a request for comment. Calls to CEFC in Singapore went unanswered. Trafigura declined to comment.

"There was a discussion going on for a while to cut supplies to CEFC ... it looks like Trafigura could get it," said one of the sources familiar with the talks.

A change to Rosneft's crude supply deal would be another blow to CEFC, which has been under pressure since its founder and chairman Ye Jianming was detained by Chinese authorities in 2018.

Trafigura [TRAFGF.UL] received six cargoes for April loading and the Swiss commodities trading house could become the major lifter of Rosneft's ESPO crude this year, replacing CEFC, two of the sources said.

Trafigura, which was the term lifter of Rosneft's ESPO before CEFC took over in 2018, has since sold one of the April cargoes to oil major Royal Dutch Shell <RDSa.L>, traders said.

Rosneft had pledged to supply CEFC with 61 million tonnes of oil over five years starting from Jan. 1, 2018. In 2019 the Russian firm switched its crude supply deal to CEFC's trading unit in Singapore from the China-based unit.

Rosneft also supplies Urals crude to CEFC under the contract and it is unclear if this supply will be affected from April, traders said, adding that Rosneft has allocated at least one 80,000-tonne Urals cargo to CEFC to load from Novorossiisk in March.

(Reporting by Olga Yagova in Moscow, Shu Zhang and Aizhu Chen in Singapore; Editing by Florence Tan, Edmund Blair and Alexander Smith)
New Delhi, Feb 24 : After the Congress' leaders in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday decided that he will also skip President Ram Nath Kovind's Banquet on Tuesday in honour of visiting US President Donald Trump.

Sources close to the former Prime Minister said that he will not attend the banquet as the party is upset that its chief Sonia Gandhi has not been invited to the function and there has been no engagement with the opposition by the visiting US President.

Earlier in the day, Azad, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, declined the invitation to attend the President's dinner for Trump.

Sources close to the Congress leader said that "since no invitation has been extended to Chairman of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Sonia Gandhi, so it would not be appropriate for him to attend the function".

Earlier, Chowdhury had declined the invitation to attend the Presidential banquet on the same grounds.

The Congress said on Friday that it had not received any invitation for its leaders to meet Trump on his two-day visit to India.
Absolutely, yes, youll vote this year.

Maybe your minds not fully made up, maybe it is; either way, youll cast your ballot if they have to carry you in on a stretcher to do it. Taking part in the process is a right youre proud to have, so you never miss an election, but no matter how many you participate in, says Alexis Coe, "You Never Forget Your First."

Some time after she began writing this book, Coe noticed one thing: all the biographies about George Washington were "authored by men." Everything most of us know about our first president came from a mans perspective, and much of it, she says, was outright fib, half-truth, or not-quite-told.

Take, for example, Washingtons teeth: They werent wooden, because wood degrades when wet. The reality was that some of his chompers came from ivory and others came from the mouths of slaves he inherited from his father when George was just 11 years old.

Young Washington was also willed a sizable farm then, but he wanted to be a soldier instead. History shows that he got his wish, but it wasnt without issues: At 14, he hoped to join the British Royal Navy, but his mother wouldnt allow it. Later, when his elder half brother died of smallpox in Bermuda, Washington seized his chance and "wasted neither time nor opportunity, immediately setting his sights on Lawrences now vacant position in the Virginia militia."

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In war, Coe says, Washington "was well aware of his own limitations," and while he didnt always win the battles he engaged in, he was quite beloved by troops and average citizens. At wars end, in fact, hed become "Americas first real celebrity," but reluctantly so; the war had aged him, he was exhausted and ready to retire. Martha, his wife, was ready to have him home.

But then came the request to attend a meeting in Philadelphia, and a near-unanimous vote for a new American president 

At first look, "You Never Forget Your First" doesnt seem to add a whole lot to the other volumes author Alexis Coe mentions in her early pages. Look again, though, and youll find a newer, updated George here  one thats seen through modern eyes.

For one, Coe examines Washington-as-slave-owner more than most. That that information lacks heroism should come as no surprise; in fact, its pretty outrageous, but theres a good twist to the story of how slavery ended at Mount Vernon, and that matches nicely with the second well-done aspect here: More so than with those other books, Coe tells Washingtons story partially through peripheral tales of the women and slaves in his life.

This gives readers a sense of the man rather than the statesman, making our "first" more flawed human than unapproachable deity.

This book is a no-brainer for a historian, but anyone who fell asleep in high school classes will also like it for its fresh take on the subject. Snag a look at "You Never Forget Your First," and youll give it the nod.

" You Never Forget Your First" by Alexis Coe is available at Barnes & Noble at Apache Mall, through online booksellers and at the Rochester Public Library.

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Vandals have daubed graffiti supporting the man accused of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee on road signs in Kerry.

Kerry Council crews have been deployed to clean road signs along the N71 main Killarney to Kenmare Ring of Kerry road and other areas in and around Killarney to remove large IRA slogans and other graffiti.

The signs are the latest in a number of locations to appear since the general election.

Last week a number of slogans appeared at beaches and buildings around Fenit and Banna in North Kerry supporting the IRA and other associated paramilitary organisations and calling for Brits Out.

Signs also appeared at Blennerville near Tralee as well as at locations in Tralee town.

The IRA graffiti had been painted in a number of locations along the canal walkway, However the large white daubing of political slogans in the Killarney area, which appeared in recent days, was on road signs to major tourist attractions and locations.

Vans and crew were deployed at a number of locations from early morning Monday to remove the daubings.

The white paint is apparently difficult to remove and some of the brown backgrounds on the heritage signs for Torc and other locations still have white staining on them.

A spokesman for Kerry County Council confirmed that a number of signs were interfered with.

Last week graffiti appeared on the Tralee Bay Swimming Club changing rooms in Fenit as well as on a building at the entrance to Banna Beach.

In Fenit, support for the man accused of the murder of the journalist, Lyra McKee, was written.

Black paint was used at most of those locations.

Former Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris, criticised the graffiti last week and said it is an act of vandalism on public buildings. He urged whoever is behind it to stop, saying there is no support for such acts and that it is counter productive.

We now have a peaceful and democratic route to Irish unity and are closer to that goal than at any time since partition, said Mr Ferris.
Business leaders have urged Boris Johnson to avoid heaping misery on firms with post-Brexit red tape as the UK draws battle lines for trade talks with Brussels.

As the government prepares to spell out its demands this week, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) appealed to the government to limit bureaucracy for firms that are already fearful of a no-deal exit at the end of the year.

Senior ministers are expected to sign off on the UK's negotiating blueprint on Tuesday, which will underline the prime minister's desire for a Canada-style trade deal with limited tariffs on goods.

But Downing Street's hardline stance has already set the UK on a collision course with Brussels, with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier explicitly ruling out a deal similar to the agreement the bloc has with Canada.

It comes after French president Emmanuel Macron cast doubt on whether a deal could be reached before the end of the Brexit transition period in December, setting up for a new cliff edge at the end of the year.

Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director general, unveiled a string of demands for British officials going into the talks, including trusted trader schemes, simplified paperwork for customs checks and reciprocal mobility agreements for business trips to European countries.

She said: The message is clear: keep trade easy and minimise red tape. For this reason, British firms back many of the governments objectives set out in the negotiating mandate, such as on zero tariffs and data.

In other areas, how the government strikes the balance between access and control is less clear. All efforts must be made in these talks to save exporters time and money, avoiding new paperwork, costs and delays.

"This will protect the UKs global competitiveness, jobs and growth. The unique challenges facing Northern Ireland businesses should also be front of mind for negotiators."

The UK's negotiating mandate will be published on Thursday  ahead of the start of formal talks next week, led by the prime minister's chief negotiator David Frost.

The blueprint for US trade talks is also expected in early March, which No 10 hopes will ramp up the pressure on Brussels by allowing the UK to negotiate both deals at the same time.

Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Show all 37 1 /37 Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage AFP/Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People celebrate in Parliament Square Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters gather AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square An EU flag lies trampled in the mud Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty

Government insiders said there was complete unity on the UK side while accusing the EU on being delayed by indecision and competing interests of different member states.

A Downing Street source said: We left the EU on 31 January 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.

The row centres on whether the UK will sign up to "level playing field" rules on work and environemental standards, a key ask for Brussels which is seeking to ensure European businesses are not put at a competitive disadvantage.

But Mr Johnson and Mr Frost have both said publicly that they have no intention of sticking to EU rules now that the UK has left the bloc.

In a sign of the trouble ahead, Mr Macron told fishermen at a meeting in Paris: "I am not sure that an agreement will be reached between now and the end of the year.

Recommended Why a Brexit trade deal will be so difficult to strike

"Anyway, it is going to become more tense because [the British] are very hard."

Elsewhere, the government was warned against reneging on Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Concern has been expressed over reports that Mr Johnson has ordered his Brexit team to find ways to "get around" the Northern Ireland protocol to evade Irish Sea checks on goods passing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Former Irish ambassador to the EU, Bobby McDonagh, said: "If UK government were to renege on its legal obligations under the Brexit withdrawal agreement to protect the Good Friday Agreement it would have many consequences.

"One would the end of any prospect of a US-UK trade deal."

A government spokesman said: "The UK signed the withdrawal agreement, including the protocol, last month. The UK will comply with its obligations."

The EU's final negotiating mandate is also expected to be published in the coming days.
Reuters

By Michael Nienaber and Francesco Canepa

RIYADH (Reuters) - Leading world economies must show unity in dealing with aggressive "tax optimisation" by global digital giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook, G20 officials said on Saturday.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is developing global rules by to make digital companies pay tax where they do business, rather than where they register subsidiaries. The OECD says this could boost national tax revenues by a total of $100 billion a year.

The call for unity appeared directed mainly at the United States, home to the biggest tech companies, in an attempt to head off any stalling on the rules until after the U.S. presidential election in November.

"There is no time to wait for elections," German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told a tax seminar on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers.

"This needs leadership in certain countries," Scholz said, looking directly at U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, sitting next to him at the seminar.

The taxing of digital firms and the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on the global economy are among the hot topics being debated by G20 financial leaders, from the world's 20 largest economies, during their talks in Riyadh this weekend.

The OECD wants to set a minimum effective level at which such companies would be taxed and seeks agreement by the start of July, with an endorsement by the G20 by the end of the year.

"A coordinated answer is not the better way forward, but, given the alternatives, the only way forward," OECD head Angel Gurria told the seminar.

A draft G20 communique, seen by Reuters, showed financial leaders will endorse the OECD approach to the issue in their final statement on Sunday, backing the need pay tax where business is conducted and the need for a minimum rate.

They will also "reaffirm committment to reach a consensus based solution by end of 2020".

The OECD efforts were stalled late last year by last-minute changes demanded by Washington, which many G20 officials view as reluctant to deal with a potentially politically tricky matter before the presidential election.

Mnuchin said OECD countries were close to an agreement on the minimum tax level, which he said would also go a long way to resolving the issue of where tax is paid, although he warned that some aspects of the tax proposal could require approval by the U.S. Congress.

"I think we all want to get this done by the end of the year, and that's the objective," Mnuchin told the seminar.

Mnuchin sought to reassure G20 delegates that a U.S. proposal to add a "safe harbour" regime to the tax reform effort - which has drawn criticism from France and other countries - would not let companies simply opt out of paying taxes.

"It's not an optional tax," he said. "You pay the safe harbor as opposed to paying something else. People may pay a little bit more in a safe harbor knowing they have tax certainty."

U.S. officials say their proposal would help address lawmakers concerns and smooth passage of legislation that might be required for U.S. implementation of new global tax rules. In essence, they argue, it would allow a multinational enterprise to elect to pay more foreign tax in exchange for better terms in the event of disputes over taxes, and easier administrative procedures.

But many questions remain.

MORE CLARITY NEEDED

French Finance Minster Bruno Le Maire told reporters it remained unclear exactly what the U.S. proposal would entail.

"We're still in the process of assessing what it really means," he said, adding, "It's not a non-starter for the French government. It's fair and useful to give all the attention to this new proposal."

European Union Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni told Reuters there was still hard work ahead.

"Its good that there is a commitment to find a solution, but ... its not there," he said, adding that he would meet with Mnuchin for bilateral talks later Saturday.

Scholz told reporters Germany remained sceptical. "I think we shouldn't start with letting companies choose which taxes they want to pay. This is leading to nowhere," he said.

Several European countries, including France, Spain, Austria, Italy, Britain and Hungary either already have a plan for a digital tax or are working on one, creating the risk of a highly fragmented global system.

"You cannot have in a global economy different national tax systems that conflict with each other," Mnuchin said.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Feb. 14 he would be ready to pay more tax in Europe and would welcome a global OECD solution that would make the levies uniform.

(Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber, Francesco Canepa, Leika Kihara and Jan Strupczewski; Writing by Jan Strupczewski and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Pravin Char and Frances Kerry)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
THE cyber-bullying problem could become even worse in schools as new technology devices such as iPads become the norm for students, it has been warned.

While the digital revolution is being welcomed in schools, it will "put weapons in the hands of pupils", an Oireachtas committee was told.

Cyber security expert Paul C Dwyer said such technology could be used for the wrong reasons, such as taking pictures and using them inappropriately.

"This is like a viral epidemic; you think you have a problem now," he told the committee on transport and communications.

Mr Dwyer was among representatives from the National Anti-Bullying Coalition addressing the latest in a series of committee hearings on the challenges arising from irresponsible use of social media.

He said there was a need for a holistic approach to dealing with the range of online threats, including cyber predators.

Hotlines

Mr Dwyer supported calls for social media companies to have hotlines to deal with school inquiries, and also said teachers needed to be trained in this area.

Principals have expressed frustration that social networks either do not respond or are slow to react to school requests to take down abusive posts.

Schools have to rely on email to report any problems and are critical that the social media companies do not provide dedicated phone lines through which complaints or concerns can be channelled.

One area where Ireland could strengthen its legislative framework would be by ratifying the EU convention on cyber crime, Mr Dwyer said.

It would create a "level playing field" between countries.

Mr Dwyer said social networks could also do more to police problems that arise online, in ways that would not affect the privacy of individuals.

Meanwhile, parents are increasingly confiscating their children's iPads and smartphones when they misbehave.

Eight out of 10 parents with children aged 14 or younger said in a survey that restricting the use of gadgets was their preferred form of discipline.

Children saw having their tablets and telephones taken away as the worst method of punishment.

The average child spends nearly two hours a day on their gadgets and one-quarter use them for more than four hours, according to research for the online retailer Pixmania.
By Online Desk

NEW DELHI: Tension escalated in northeast Delhi with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, where pro and anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters.

According to officials, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to a fire call in the area.

ALSO WATCH:

A head constable was also killed during clashes, said Delhi police. Ratan Lal was attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gokulpuri, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara, Amit Sharma was injured during clashes, a senior official said. According to the official, Sharma suffered injuries to his head and hand. He was hospitalised and is doing fine.

The Delhi Metro closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations as an uneasy calm prevailed in the area.

"Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a tweet.

Police also appealed to the people to maintain peace and not to believe in rumours in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi during protests for and against the new citizenship law.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC, which bans the assembly of four or more people, have been imposed in those areas of northeast Delhi that witnessed violence.

"Some incidents of violence and arson have been reported in areas of North East District, particularly in the areas of Maujpur, Kardampuri, Chand Bagh and Dayalpur.

"It is appealed to the people of Delhi and particularly to the North East District to maintain peace and harmony and not to believe in any rumours. It is also appealed to the media not to circulate any disturbing pictures which may further aggravate the situation," the police said.

Delhi Police is making every effort to restore normalcy, it said.

"Section 144 has been imposed in the affected areas of North East district and strict action will be taken against miscreants and anti-social elements," they added.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal also instructed the police commissioner to maintain law and order in the national capital.

"Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Entry and exit were closed at the Jaffrabad metro station for over 24 hours.

Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, eastern range, told media persons that the situation remained tense and the police was monitoring the situation.

An adequate number of police was deployed after security forces were also pelted with stones during the violence.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore law and order in the national capital.

"Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in."

"I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic)," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, rumours were rife amid reports that BJP leader Kapil Mishra and his supporters came under attack by stone-pelters, and some reports said trains were also vandalized.

The people have questioned the role of police, alleging it remained a mute spectator to the clashes and did nothing to check the violence.

According to reports, a CRPF team has been deployed in the surrounding areas as the situation seemed to deteriorate.

The tension was brewing in eastern Delhi since Saturday night following the blockade of a road in Jaffrabad by anti-CAA protesters in response to a call for bandh on Sunday by Chandrashekhar Azad of the Bhim Army.

(With PTI and IANS Inputs)
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Occasional snow showers. High 33F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Snow showers. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
ANN ARBOR--A new study from University of Michigan biologists presents the first genetic evidence of resistance in some bats to white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has decimated some North American bat populations.

The study involved northern Michigan populations of the little brown bat, one of the most common bats in eastern North America prior to the arrival of white-nose syndrome in 2006. Since then, some populations of the small, insect-eating bat have experienced declines of more than 90%.

U-M researchers collected tissue samples from wild little brown bats that survived the disease, as well as individuals killed by the fungal pathogen. They compared the genetic makeup of the two groups and found differences in genes associated with regulating arousal from hibernation, the breakdown of fats and echolocation.

"Because we found differences in genes associated with regulating hibernation and breakdown of fats, it could be that bats that are genetically predisposed to be a little bit fatter or to sleep more deeply are less susceptible to the disease," said U-M's Giorgia Auteri, first author of a paper scheduled for publication Feb. 20 in the journal Scientific Reports.

"Changes at these genes are suggestive of evolutionary adaptation, given that white-nose syndrome causes bats to arouse with unusual frequency from winter hibernation, contributing to premature depletion of fat reserves," said Auteri, a doctoral student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology who conducted the study for her dissertation.

The other author of the Scientific Reports paper is U-M biologist Lacey Knowles, Auteri's faculty adviser.

While the study was small--involving tissue samples from 25 little brown bats killed by white-nose syndrome and nine bats that survived the disease--the authors say their sample size is large enough to detect genetic changes driven by natural selection. A larger follow-up study is underway, expanding both the number of bats and the areas affected by the disease, to develop a fuller picture of adaptive change that may be key to the species' survival.

The fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome was inadvertently introduced in the northeastern United States in 2006 and is currently spreading across the continent.

Thirteen species of North American bats are currently affected, with some populations experiencing losses of 90-100%. The disease is named for a distinctive fungal growth around the muzzles and on the wings of hibernating bats.

The U-M team's study area is Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula. White-nose syndrome fungus was first detected there in 2014, and its arrival allowed the researchers to study the pathogen's initial evolutionary impact.

For the study, the U-M researchers collected tissue samples from dead little brown bats found in or near hibernation sites during the winter. The hibernation sites were concentrated in the western Upper Peninsula and primarily consisted of abandoned iron and copper mines.

During the summer, they also collected small tissue samples from survivors that emerged successfully from hibernation despite exposure to the disease. Surviving bats had healing wing lesions or scars from the fungus.

In the laboratory, DNA was extracted from the tissues and sequenced, and the sequences were mapped to a previously generated reference genome for the species. A genome scan was conducted to test for evidence of evolutionary changes in response to white-nose syndrome.

The researchers found significant differences in three genes associated with arousal from hibernation (GABARB1), breakdown of fats (cGMP-PK1) and echolocation (FOXP2), as well as a fourth gene (PLA2G7) that regulates the release of histamines from mast cells.

"The function of one gene we identified hints that summer activities such as hunting via echolocation may be an important determinant of which individuals survive the winter infection period," Auteri said. "This suggests that conservation of summer foraging habitat--not just winter hibernation sites--may promote population recovery in bats affected by white-nose syndrome."

The observed genetic differences are suggestive of very rapid--though not unprecedented--evolutionary adaptation driven by natural selection, according to Auteri and Knowles.

"This apparent adaptation occurred very quickly, involves genes with a variety of functions which likely act across seasons in order to contribute to survivorship, and has taken place despite an observable reduction in genetic diversity associated with population declines," said Knowles, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a curator at the U-M Museum of Zoology.

Auteri and Knowles said it's too soon to say how the evolutionary changes they uncovered are likely to affect the little brown bat's prospects. After all, these bats have suffered dramatic population declines, and low population sizes inherently make a species more vulnerable to further perturbations.

"But we're finding the hint that there could be these genetic changes that are occurring that might provide some type of survival in the future," Knowles said. "So as these variants increase, there's some hope that these bats are not all going to die from the disease itself."

Because little brown bats only have one pup per year, recovery of the species would likely take a long time, according to Auteri and Knowles.

Due to population losses, little brown bats have been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and by the federal government of Canada, with a similar decision by the U.S. government pending.

###

Funding for the study was provided by the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The U-M Museum of Zoology also supported the project through financial contributions to make the research open-access, and by housing bats found dead from white-nose syndrome that were collected for the study. As permanent specimens stored in the collection, these bats may contribute to future studies.

The researchers complied with all relevant ethical regulations and guidelines for this work, including IACUC protocol PRO00008524, approved by the University of Michigan Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Giorgia Auteri

Lacey Knowles

Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1K8_jxLlifdwOR8Yx2ldACroRdz82tFFj

Video: https://youtu.be/wg1Dy4DfB_s
The retired doctor and the parents of the 12-year-old girl who died after Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) surgery will stand for a trial in Egypt. With the child campaigners vouching for jail terms to the ones responsible in order to deter others from performing the illegal practice, Egypt's Prosecutor General Hamada El-Sawy ordered the referral of all three people to the criminal court over the weekend. Parents of Nada Hassan Abdel-Maqsoud along with doctor Abdel Fadeel Rashwan were arrested last month after the girl's death at a private clinic in Manfalout, close to Assiut in southern Egypt.

However, they were released on bail sparking public outrage. The doctor who performed the surgery on Nada causing her to bleed to death was bailed for $3,000. The executive director of the NGOs' Union Against Harmful Practices on Women and Children, Randa Fakhr El-Deen reportedly called the recent step by the court as a serious step towards putting defendants behind bars. The female genital mutilation was banned in Egypt in 2008.

Read - Egypt Upholds Sentence Of Top Customs Official On Corruption

Read - Egypt Court Acquits Mubarak's Sons Over Stock Exchange Case

FGM performed on 27 million girls in Egypt

But according to the survey by the United Nations in 2016 revealed that more than 27 million girls underwent the illegal process. Furthermore, 87 per cent of women and girls who had undergone the ritual which involves partial or total removal of external genitalia were from the age group of 15-49. The Egyptian government had further made the practice a felony in 2016 which would have led to sentencing the doctors who perform the surgery for at least seven years while those who request the operation, would be jailed for up to three years.

However, according to activists, the law has not been implemented strictly and those who have been found guilty were subject to light penalities. According to international reports, the World leaders have pledged to eradicate FGM by 2030. The ancient ritual which is reportedly deeply entrenched in many places can also cause long-lasting mental and physical health problems. An investigation following Nada's death last month revealed that it was the parents who had requested the doctor to perform the surgery. The 70-year-old doctor had conducted the operation at a private clinic in Manfalout, close to Assiut in southern Egypt. The father of the girl had filed a complaint against the doctor after his daughter's death in January.

Read - Egypt Extends Detention Of Activist Who Criticized President

Read - Egypt Court Acquits Former Presidents Sons Of Corruption

(With agency inputs)
A head constable and a civilian were killed and several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, including a DCP, injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law again in northeast Delhi, turning it into a battlefield on Monday with frenzied protesters torching houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, and hurling stones.

This is the second day of clashes in the city where US President Donald Trump arrived on Monday evening on the main leg of his visit.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathicharge as clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA groups at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura. Security personnel conducted flag marches and prohibitory orders were clamped to bring the situation under control.

Ratan Lal (42), a head constable attached to the office of the ACP Gokalpuri, died after he sustained an injury during stone pelting at Gokalpuri.

A civilian injured in the clashes succumbed at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, official sources said.

At least 10 police personnel, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara, Amit Sharma and ACP (Gokalpuri) Anuj Kumar were injured while trying to quell the protests. Two CRPF police personnel were also injured, sources said.

Government sources said the violence in the national capital appears to have been "orchestrated" by some for publicity as it comes at a time when Trump is visiting the country. They said Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was stationed at the police control room closely monitoring the situation.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla told reporters the situation in the national capital was fully under control and sufficient forces were deployed on the ground.

All private and government schools in Northeast Delhi district will remain closed on Tuesday in the wake of the violence, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.

The violence-affected areas witnessed several rounds of stone-pelting from pro and anti-CAA protestors. The roads were strewn with bricks, stones and glass shards.

In Maujpur, pro and anti-CAA protesters indulged in stone pelting and at least three vehicles were torched. Even closed shops were vandalised. At least one house was set on fire and plumes of smoke bellowed from the balcony.

A protestor fired multiple rounds in air as a policeman was seen trying to stop him. The man is yet to be identified.

Pro-CAA protestors were also seen gheraoing and assaulting a man at Maujpur. Blood was seen oozing from his head, while some of the attackers raised provocative slogans.

A petrol pump and two school buses were torched at Bhajanpura-Yamuna Vihar border during the rampage by the protestors.

Police chased and hit at least four young men with batons near a footbridge on one side of the road, where dozens of personnel were deployed in anti-riot gear, a PTI reporter witnessed.

At least half a dozen youths were also picked up in a truck by the police.

Another identified man was chased down and assaulted as he ran to escape the mob on an intersection under the Gokulpuri flyover at around 6.30 pm.

Police have imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in areas affected by violence in northeast Delhi.

Vehicular traffic remained restricted on road number 59, which leads to Bhajanpura on one side and Ghaziabad via Gokulpuri flyover on the other side, causing inconvenience to commuters and locals, including students.

At Gokalpuri, protestors resorted to stone pelting in which Head Constable Ratan Lal was killed.

At Bhajanpura Chowk, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to an emergency call in the area.

There were many who were caught in the crossfire.

"I don't know how are we going to go back home now," a woman hawker, standing along with a fellow hawker at C Block Yamuna Vihar bus stand, wondered as they waited for a DTC bus.

A 20-year-old man carrying a helmet said he had to leave his motorcycle in Gokulpuri as he tried to make his way to Mustafabad but was stuck at barricades put by the police.

"My sister works there and she is calling me repeatedly, asking me to come and take her home in this situation. I am unable to find a way to reach her," the man, visibly worried, told PTI.

A family from Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh which had come to Rohini for a member's treatment was also left stranded.

"Five of us, including two women, had come here in the morning. Rest four are still at the hospital in Rohini and I had come here for some work. Now I am waiting for the violence to end so that I can go pick them up and we all can return home," a man, who identified himself as Abhishek Thakur, said as he sat on a pavement with his hatchback parked near Dayalpur police station.

Violence had occurred on Sunday also over the amended citizenship law near Jaffrabad over blocking of the road by anti-CAA protesters , while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital including Hauz Rani.

The situation had escalated after BJP leader Kapil Mishra called a gathering on Sunday. Mishra demanded that police remove the anti-CAA protestors within three days.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to restore law and order in the national capital. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said he has instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to ensure the situation is brought under control.

"Very distressing regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

In a tweet, Sisodia said all internal exams scheduled for Tuesday in schools in northeast Delhi will not be held and he will speak to Union HRD Minister R P Nishank on the issue of postponing the Board exam in this district.

Taking to Twitter, Baijal said, "Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony."



Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the violence in Delhi and urged people to show restraint, compassion and understanding irrespective of the provocation.

He said peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified.

"The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation," Gandhi tweeted.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said the death of a Delhi Police head constable was a "ploy" to embarrass India during Trump's visit and likened it to the massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura in 2000 during the then US president Bill Clinton's trip to the country.

"Shocked to hear the death of HC Sh Ratanlal in a brutal & barbaric manner. This reminds me of massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura during Clinton's visit. Incidents change but anti India forces remain the same. Ploy to embarrass India, Request all to remain calm & maintain peace," she said in a tweet.

The Delhi Metro has closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Shiv Vihar, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave stations as violence prevailed in the area. The entry and exit of Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Udyog Bhawan were shut for nearly an hour.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By AFP

LYON: A bus that arrived in the French city of Lyon from Milan in Italy was sealed off for several hours Monday after the driver showed symptoms of possible coronavirus infection, security sources said.

Health authorities isolated the bus in Lyon Perrache station early Monday and ordered the passengers to remain onboard for tests.

The LyonMag news site reported that a driver, who is Italian, was taken to hospital for tests because he had a bad cough.

"A bus is undergoing an inspection. Our teams are at the scene and an assessment is underway," a spokeswoman for the regional health agency told AFP.

ALSO READ: Anger and desperation as Italy prepares to isolate 11 virus-hit towns

Low-cost operator FlixBus said the bus, destined for the central city of Clermont-Ferrand, had stopped off in the Italian city of Turin and Grenoble in France on the way to Lyon.

A couple that boarded the bus in Lyon told AFP they were kept inside for over two hours before being allowed disembark after they were checked by doctors.

They said they were told they would be contacted again if the driver, who was taken to hospital for tests, turned out to be carrying the virus.

By around 1:00 pm (1200 GMT), all passengers -- who were issued with face masks -- had been allowed off the bus, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Milan is the capital of the Lombardy region at the centre of Europe's biggest outbreak of the coronavirus that has killed nearly 2,600 people worldwide.

Five people have died from the disease in Italy, where several northern villages are under lockdown.

In a sign of the nervousness triggered by the global spread of the virus, a Paris police station was closed to the public for several hours Monday after a Chinese woman became unwell on the premises.

The station in the 13th district, home to the French capital's Asian quarter, reopened after the woman tested negative for the COVID-19 virus, a police source told AFP.

In France, one person -- an elderly Chinese tourist -- has died from the virus.

Eleven have been hospitalised, of whom 10 have recovered.
SHELTON  A newly formed high school student group is demanding the Board of Education rescind the appointment of Beth Smith as interim superintendent of schools.

SHS Students Fight for Change, a student group created to advocate for education in the city, will be organizing a protest of Smiths position prior to the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting Wednesday at Shelton Intermediate School.

The protest is set to begin at 6:15 p.m., with the board meeting scheduled to start at 7.

Smith is replacing Chris Clouet, who announced his resignation effective at months end.

Shelton High School senior and former Democratic Board of Aldermen candidate Matt McGee announced the demands on Facebook  highlighted by a call for Smiths ousting and the appointment of Assistant Superintendent Ken Saranich, pending receipt of a waiver of necessary credentials, as interim superintendent.

I would like to make it clear that while our No. 1 demand is for the Board of Education to rescind their appointment of Dr. Smith, McGee said. The problems within our BOE and our citys education system run much deeper than just that.

McGee, one of Smiths former students when she was SHS principal, launched a petition Thursday, one day after the Board of Education voted 5-4 to appoint Smith as interim superintendent, to reject what he called a reckless decision.

Board of Education Chair Kathy Yolish said she knows of the protest and respects all people who want their voices heard. She said she would never defame their reputation and hopes our rights are treated with the same respect.

Smith said her focus continues to remain on the transition with a priority of working with the board to agree on a budget.

The school budget is one reason McGee said he was worried about the choice of leadership for the district.

We are chronically underfunded to the tune of $3,000 per student, McGee said on Facebook. We are seeing increasing class sizes, aging textbooks and technology, frustrating fees like pay to participate and the current BOE is much more interested in playing partisan politics and consolidating power amongst a few than truly fighting for the betterment of our education system.

The groups other demands, according to McGee, are that the next official superintendent be a bipartisan appointment; the superintendent search committee also be bipartisan and include at least one SHS student, to be selected by the student body; and the next superintendent bring a track record with them that will make new parents eager to come to Shelton, raise their families, and send their kids to school here.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
Targeting overactive immune cells and dampening their chronic neurotoxic effects may offer new therapeutic strategies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to new preclinical research in mice, which has been published today [Monday 24th February 2020] in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The collaborative research, which involved scientists from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA, also suggests that the impact of TBI on brain degeneration may be modifiable a relatively long time after the injury was sustained - something at odds with current thinking.

Traumatic brain injury and delayed treatment

Triggered by trauma, microglia - the brain's immune cells - morph into an inflammatory state, which helps to protect the brain. However, long-term inflammation after TBI may contribute to neurological degeneration and cognitive declines similar to those observed in TBI-associated neurodegenerative diseases, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Alzheimer's disease.

The scientists involved in the new study found that highly delayed targeting of chronic inflammation pathways may be a very effective therapeutic strategy for TBI.

One month after a TBI, the team inhibited a particular receptor microglia need to survive. The inhibition killed 95% of the mice microglia cells. However, the cells bounced back to normal levels once the inhibition ends.

The researchers then stopped the inhibition after one week and let the mice recover for a few months. They found that the inhibition essentially "reset" the mice's microglia: the new cells were in a more normal, less inflammatory state. The mice recovered better than the mice that didn't receive treatment, showing less brain damage, fewer neuron deaths, and better motor and cognitive performance.

David Loane, Research assistant professor in Trinity's School of Biochemistry and Immunology, said:

"These preclinical studies suggest that the consequences of TBI on brain degeneration and related neurological impairment may be modifiable quite a long time after injury by targeting inflammation pathways, which is a finding at odds with widely accepted views about head injury."

"The exciting thing is the possibility that we may one day be able to minimise brain degeneration and neurological impairment in people who have suffered a TBI. It will of course always be incredibly important to act quickly whenever someone suffers a TBI, but our findings suggest targeting inflammation pathways further down the treatment line may make a major difference to long-term brain health and recovery."

Dr Loane has recently established a state-of-the-art, preclinical research laboratory in Trinity to study the neuroimmunology of TBI and related dementias. His work is supported by an SFI President of Ireland Future Research Leaders Award and the National Institutes of Health (USA).

###
In a subsequent report, Mrs. Johnson took her calculations one step further, working with several colleagues to determine how a spacecraft could move in and out of a planetary bodys orbit. Her formulas were crucial to the success of the Apollo lunar program and are still in use today, Barry said. If we go back to the moon, or to Mars, well be using her math.
Leftist organisations on Monday



held rallies and burnt effigy of US President Donald Trump here against his India visit, but the police stopped the protestors before they reach the United States Information Service (USIS) office here.

Members of Leftist trade unions and student bodies marched towards the office of the USIS from Esplanade at the heart of the city.

Police stopped the rally, led by CPI(M) leaders Surjya Kanta Mishra and Mohammed Salim, in front of the Indian Museum, a few hundred metres from the USIS office.

An effigy of Trump was burnt and anti-US slogans, terming the US president as an imperialist, were raised by those who participated in the rally.

Leftist student unions also held a procession towards the USIS from Lenin statue at Esplanade in the afternoon.

Police stopped the rally in front of the Government Art College before it reached the Park Street crossing.

A Kolkata Police official said there was no untoward incident during the protest rallies.

Members of Leftist party SUCI also burnt a cut out of Trump at Esplanade to protest his visit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UPDATE: Delaware Water Gap fire 95% contained. Rain will help finish the job.

A forest fire that burned about 80 acres of state and national parklands around the scenic Delaware Water Gap was almost completely contained as of midafternoon Monday, about 24 hours after it started.

Though the fire and emergency response closed some of the trails to the summits overlooking the Delaware River in northern Warren County, the blaze mostly affected brush and fallen leaves and appeared to spare the wooded parklands any serious, lasting damage.

It was almost like a rejuvenation process clearing undergrowth from the woods, said Chris Franek, an assistant division fire warden with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, during a 3 p.m. conference call updating media on the operations status.

The cause of the blaze has not yet been identified.

The fire, officially called the Rock Face Fire, started about 2:30 p.m. Sunday somewhere between Worthington State Forests Red Dot Trail, which runs up Mt. Tammany, and I-80, which winds between the mountain and Delaware River below in Knowlton and Hardwick townships.

!! Incident Update The Rock Face Fire!!

Currently no KTFR or St Luke's ETS units are engaged on the incident.



This morning, the National Park Service provided an update to Knowlton Township regarding the forest fire that began yesterday on Mount Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap pic.twitter.com/umuO25Wcov  Knowlton Twp. Fire and Rescue Co. No. 1 (@ktfr41) February 24, 2020

Fire-suppression efforts into the evening resulted in a dramatic view of a mountain seemingly erupting with flames, though many of the fires seen were actually set to try and contain the initial blaze. The process was exacerbated by burning debris rolling down the hillside as well as unusually dry conditions for this time of year, fire officials said.

By Monday morning, it had grown to 70 acres. But by the afternoon, its growth was reduced to just 10 further acres and it was 80% contained, state forest fire officials said. Nearly all of the burned area was in the state forest  2 acres of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area were affected.

Trails up Mt. Tammany in Worthington State Forest were closed as firefighters worked, using one of them as a fire line where they cleared potentially flammable debris. The Appalachian Trail remained open through the area. I-80 westbound was restricted at times, but traffic mostly continued moving through.

No firefighters were injured as they navigated the steep, rocky terrain. Their yellow gear was visible atop the ridgeline to onlookers who stopped at a scenic point on the Pennsylvania side of the river. Some passersby stopped to take pictures with their phones and cameras or observed the activity through binoculars.

I think its pretty sad. You dont want to see a park burning, said Cate Jaconetta, of Butler, New Jersey, as she watched from the Point of Gap overlook in the Pennsylvania borough of Delaware Water Gap.

As she took pictures with her tripod-mounted camera, Karen Bowens, of Upper Mount Bethel Township in Pennsylvania, suspected that careless hikers taking advantage of a nice February Sunday may have unwittingly started the fire.

I just think that its been so dry, she said. People hiking the trail  it was a beautiful day  you get one cigarette butt 

Let's hear it for the folks in the YELLOW shirts! As of 3 pm today, the Rock Face Fire on Mt. Tammany is approximately... Posted by Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on Monday, February 24, 2020

As helicopters flew overhead, observers noted that the mountainside, save a few scorched areas on the cliffs, did not appear to be as damaged as the prior evenings dramatic display may have suggested.

I lived here all my life. Nothing looks different. Nothing looks burned, said Floyd Byles, of Stroudsburg.

James Koval, of Blairstown, runs a Facebook group dedicated to part of the park. He watched some of the Sunday evening efforts and also was pleased that fire damage appeared mostly restricted to the undergrowth.

Now I see its not as bad as it could have been, he said. Its been well-contained. Thats the important thing.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The corporation is in talks with the Ministry of Railways that some part of lower freight charges should be passed on to the customers, he said.

Prayagraj/New Delhi: Dedicated freight corridor is expected to bring down the freight charges by 50 percent when it will become operational in 2021, a top DFCCIL official has said.

The dedicated freight corridor project is part of the Golden Quadrilateral connecting New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

The haulage charges on Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) network will be 50 percent lower compared to the freight tariff in the Indian Railways (IRs), DFCCIL MD Anurag Sachan told media during a two-day construction site visit of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC).

"We will be running all the trains at 100 kilometres per hour (kmph) on a fully automated signal system, so the haulage charges compared to the IRs will be very less. It will be 50 percent. We will be running 120 trains each way a day with total carrying capacity of 13,000 tonne. So, we will not let this capacity to be underutilised," Sachan said.

The corporation is in talks with the Ministry of Railways that some part of lower freight charges should be passed on to the customers, he said.

However, he clarified that it will be on the regulatory body for the sector to fix the charges.

"As so much capacity is being created and so as per the concession agreement with the Indian Railways, we will also allow private players to come and run their own trains. There will be a regulatory body, like in the developed countries, and there will be a non-discriminatory access to these private players to operate. So, there will be a very fair competition between private players and the Indian Railways.

"They will be on par. So, I am sure that with these kinds of transparency, the freight charges will come down," Sachan said.

Notably, the bulk of goods is being carried via roads in India as it is faster as well as cheaper than the railways.

Over the past many decades since 1950s, the Indian Railways has been losing market share to road transport because of inadequate infrastructure and poor services.

As on date, 90 percent of India's passenger traffic and 65 percent of its freight use road transport and these shares are growing, as per DFCCIL.

The corporation, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, is currently engaged in constructing the EDFC and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).

EDFC will cover a length of over 1,800 kilometre between Ludhiana to Kolkata, while WDFC will ply between Dadri and JNPT port in Mumbai (1500 km).

The two corridors are expected to be completed by December 2021 and once fully operational they are expected to take over a bulk of freight traffic from the Indian Railways and thus help in making the passenger traffic more efficient and smooth.

The two corridors with an expected cost of Rs 81,000 crore ($12 billion) are being partly funded by the World Bank (eastern lane) and Japanese government's investment arm JICA (western lane).

Sachan said DFCCIL has spent around Rs 34,000 crore on this project in the last six years.

"The government has taken a priority for this project and the project is being monitored by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Prime Minister himself...World Bank is also monitoring us. So, everybody is trying that this project should be completed as earliest as possible," he said.

The portions which have been completed along these corridors are already being operationalised for the automated running system.

The operation control center (OCC) at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh will be the command centre for the entire route of EDFC.

Equipped with first of its kind Integrated Train Management System (TMS) and Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System in India, it is built on ICONIS (Integrated Control and Information System) platform.

Sachan said the corporation has written to the PMO to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate this control centre when he visits Prayagraj later this month.

This Centre hosts a 90-metre long digital wall with officials monitoring it on a 247 basis to manage the automated goods trains running system.

Sachan also said that DFCCIL will start survey of the remaining corridors of the Golden Quadrilateral, and begin work by the time the western and eastern corridors are completed by December 2021.

"The government, after seeing the progress on these two corridors, has decided that it is the right time that we should plan to take up the future corridors so that by the time we finish these in two years, these corridors are also planned for execution," he said.

Three more corridors are lined up  East Coast corridor from Kharagpur to Vijaywada (about 1,000 kilometres); South-East to West corridor from Bhusawal to Dhankuni (near Kolkata) and North South sub-corridor from Vijaywada to Itarsi (in Madhya Pradesh).

The total length of these three corridors is about 4,000 kilometres.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on Sunday confirmed the death of its leader Qassim al-Rimi and appointed a successor, weeks after the US said it had eliminated the Islamist militant chief, SITE Intelligence group said.

The announcement came in an audio speech delivered by AQAP religious official Hamid bin Hamoud al-Tamimi, said the group which monitors jihadist networks worldwide.

In his speech, Tamimi spoke at length about Rimi and his jihadi journey, and stated that Khalid bin Umar Batarfi is the new leader of AQAP, it said.

SITE said Batarfi has appeared in many AQAP videos over the past several years and appeared to have been Rimis deputy and group spokesman.



President Donald Trump announced Rimis death earlier this month, saying he had been killed in a US counterterrorism operation in Yemen.

That announcement came shortly after AQAP claimed responsibility for the December 6 mass shooting at a US naval base in Florida, in which a Saudi air force officer killed three American sailors.

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A decision which will have significant implications for notorious killer Graham Dwyer's bid to overturn his murder conviction and criminal investigations generally will be delivered today by the Supreme Court.

Seven judges have been considering an appeal by the State against a December 2018 High Court ruling that legislation used by gardai to access Dwyer's communications data contravened EU law and an international human rights convention.

The Cork-born architect is seeking to rely on the High Court ruling in a separate appeal he is taking against his 2015 conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. The much-anticipated Supreme Court decision will be given today at Waterford Courthouse.

What was Dwyer's High Court action about and what did the court decide?

Dwyer challenged provisions in the 2011 Communications Act which allowed gardai to obtain and use certain data, including phone records, as evidence against him.

The 2011 Act obliged telecommunications service providers to keep customer data for two years and gave effect to the EU's 2006 Data Retention Directive.

However, the directive was ruled invalid by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice in 2014.

After considering Dwyer's challenge, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor found provisions in the 2011 Act that allowed gardai of chief superintendent rank and above to request user data from providers contravened EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The judge found the data retention regime was general and indiscriminate, with no prior review by a court or an independent body and no adequate legislative guarantees against abuse of such data.

What were the implications of the ruling for Dwyer's criminal appeal?

Mr Justice O'Connor's decision boosted one of Dwyer's grounds of appeal, that the judge in his murder trial erred by allowing into evidence the call data records of his phone and others attributed to him.

The data was crucial to solving Ms O'Hara's murder. She met Dwyer online and his trial heard he stabbed her to death for his own sexual gratification.

She disappeared on August 22, 2012 and her remains were only found 13 months later at Killakee in the Dublin Mountains.

The phone data helped piece together a picture of their interactions and allowed gardai to trace Dwyer's movements in the months before the murder.

It also helped establish that phones used by him and Ms O'Hara were in the same area, Shankill, Co Dublin, on the night she disappeared. Dwyer's lawyers say that if his trial was to be heard now, the High Court decision would mean that none of the call data would be admissible.

What has the State argued?

It says the Supreme Court should weigh rights of privacy and data protection against national security concerns and the right to life and personal protection.

It argues that having done so, the Supreme Court should find there was no breach of Dwyer's rights and to overturn the High Court decision.

If the Supreme Court upholds the High Court decision, does that mean Dwyer is bound to succeed in his separate appeal against his conviction?

Not necessarily. While it would be a boost to his appeal, previous Supreme Court decisions suggest there is no guarantee he would ultimately succeed in getting his conviction quashed or a retrial.

In a case called A v Governor of Arbour Hill in 2006, the court ruled that just because a statute had been found to be repugnant to the Constitution, this did not void previous convictions under that statute.

In a different case in 2015, known as JC, the court also found that evidence obtained unconstitutionally will be admissible if the prosecution can show the breach was due to inadvertence.

How could the DPP argue that the breach was inadvertent?

The European Court of Justice decision declaring the data retention directive invalid came after gardai began investigating Dwyer and requested his phone data records.

It could easily be argued gardai simply operated under the laws available to them and had no reason to believe there was a problem with the legislation.

When is Dwyer's appeal against his conviction due to be heard?

No date has been set yet by the Court of Appeal. His appeal has been on hold pending the outcome of his challenge to the data legislation.

But it could be delayed even further if the Supreme Court today opts to refer issues raised in the case to the European court for clarification.

Does today's outcome have wider implications beyond Dwyer's criminal appeal?

Yes. Lawyers for the State have said the consequences of not having access to retained data for the investigation and prosecution of serious crime are "stark" and there is "no alternative" for accessing retained data.

As a result of the Dwyer decision many investigations, particularly those relating the distribution of child sexual abuse material online, have been stifled.
[February 23, 2020] eCloudvalley passes AWS SAP Competency

TAIPEI, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- eCloudvalley passed the AWS SAP Competency in January 2020, becoming the first AWS consulting partner to earn this competency in Greater China. The competency demonstrates that eCloudvalley can assist customers in planning SAP architecture on AWS, relocation systems and operational cloud environment. AWS Competency, a partner certification system, is designed to identify partners with superior technical capabilities and rich experience in the field of professional solutions, and, by doing so, helps AWS users select the most qualified consulting partners. In a highly competitive global business environment, companies are required to respond to the market changes in an increasingly shorter time. Developing an operational strategy that can help partners establish a presence in the market is their primary goal. The ERP system, the backbone of companies, along with agile, flexible and efficient cloud solutions, can help companies achieve more, which is also one o the key factors for success. In order to meet the needs of more companies, eCloudvalley elected to become an SAP strategic partner in 2019, in a move to provide professional consultancy services and customized system deployment planning that meets the needs of different companies, helping them explore operational potential.



eCloudvalley's large team of experienced AWS and SAP consultants serve customers in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, retail, property management and pharmaceuticals. The firm has extensive experience most particularly in the textile sector, including assisting Roo Hsing, the world's largest jean manufacturer, in deploying SAP on AWS by adopting its best practices. Following the ongoing inspection, optimization and adjustment of system architecture, in addition to the improvement in efficiency, the program achieved a 30 percent saving in TCO compared to its own data center. Roo Hsing becomes the first company running SAP S/4 HANA on AWS in Taiwan. eCloudvalley CEO MP Tsai said, "In the future, eCloudvalley will continue to provide companies with more high-quality services based on our 'customer obsession' concept, including SAP system deployment, managed operations and maintenance, big data analysis, AI applications and consulting services on business processes, among others. The range of services will help companies run their businesses more efficiently, while improving the performance of their many applications and enhancing their global expansion."

About eCloudvalley eCloudvalley, the first AWS Premier Consulting Partner in the Greater China Region, focuses on helping customers with their deployments on the cloud. The company's professional team has attained over 300 AWS certifications and served over a thousand customers. It is fully dedicated to the cloud solutions. With its rich experience, the company provides customers with professional technologies and cloud solutions, which can meet customers' needs, including the cloud management consulting service, the next-generation cloud managed service, SAP, solutions such as Data & Analytics, and cloud training courses. SOURCE eCloudvalley

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Norwich, N.Y.  An IBM project manager, imprisoned for murdering his wife and leaving her naked body to freeze by the side of a rural road, got a glimmer of hope last week from the very judge who sentenced him to prison for life.

Ganesh Remy Ramsaran, 45, appeared destined to spend 25 years to life in prison after the states highest court rejected his bid for a new trial in his wifes chilling murder in December 2012 near New Berlin, a small Chenango County town about 65 miles southeast of Syracuse.
By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a major religious rights dispute involving the city of Philadelphia's refusal to place children for foster care with a Catholic agency that bars same-sex couples from serving as foster parents.

The justices will take up an appeal by Catholic Social Services, an arm of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that accused the city of violating the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and religion. A lower court ruled in 2018 that the religious views of the organization did not entitle it to an exemption from the city's anti-discrimination policies.

The case provides the court's 5-4 conservative majority another chance to recognize broader religious rights under the Constitution, as it has done in key cases in recent years. The case will be argued in the court's next term, which starts in October.

Catholic Social Services, which has helped provide foster care services for more than a century, has said it would be forced to close its foster care operations if it is unable to participate in Philadelphia's program.

A ruling against Philadelphia could make it easier for people to cite religious beliefs when seeking exemptions from widely applicable laws.

As part of the case, Catholic Social Services asked the court to overturn a 1990 Supreme Court ruling, called Employment Division v. Smith, that limited the ability of people to seek such exemptions. Congress subsequently enacted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allows people to bring religious claims against the federal government but not the states.

The ruling was written by the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who was a champion of religious rights. But religious rights advocates have said the ruling infringes on the constitutionally protected free exercise of religion.

Even if the court does not overturn the 1990 ruling, the challengers at a minimum want the justices to make it easier for religious entities to bring claims when they accuse the government of targeting them because of their religious beliefs.

Story continues

Philadelphia in 2018 suspended foster care referrals to Catholic Social Services after a newspaper report about the agency's policy of turning away same-sex couples seeking to serve as foster parents. The agency had a contract with the city for placement of foster children. It said the city's action means that available foster homes are sitting empty amid a foster care crisis in the city of about 1.5 million people.

Three foster parents, Sharonell Fulton, Toni Simms-Busch and Cecelia Paul, joined the agency in the lawsuit. Paul has since died.

U.S. District Judge Petrese Tucker in Philadelphia in 2018 ruled against the agency. Last year, the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also ruled against Catholic Social Services, saying it had not shown that Philadelphia had treated it differently because of its religious affiliation.

Ten of the 50 states currently allow private agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a group that backs gay rights. Nine states bar discrimination based on sexual orientation in foster care.

In court papers, Philadelphia's lawyers said that Catholic Social Services has an interim contract that provides funds for children already in its foster homes. Catholic Social Services continues to contract with the city for other services.

MIXED MESSAGES

The Supreme Court in recent years has sent mixed messages on the conflict between gay and religious rights. It backed gay rights in a series of landmark rulings culminating in the 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. It also bolstered religious rights, including a 2014 ruling that allowed owners of businesses to raise religious objections against the government.

Central to those cases was conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired in July 2018 and was replaced by President Donald Trump's appointee Brett Kavanaugh. Kennedy wrote the gay marriage ruling, joining with the court's liberals, but joined with his fellow conservatives in the religious rights decision.

Kavanaugh, who may cast the decisive vote in the Philadelphia case, has shown sympathy to religious liberty claims.

There has been a renewed interest among U.S. religious conservatives in seeking to overturn the 1990 ruling as part of the backlash to the legalization of gay marriage. Conservative opposition to gay marriage has figured in several legal disputes in which small business owners have refused to serve same-sex couples.

In a major LGBT rights case, the Supreme Court in October heard arguments over whether a landmark federal law forbidding sex discrimination in the workplace protects gay and transgender employees. A ruling is due by the end of June.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in an interview with CBSsA 60 Minutes aired on Sunday.

Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, its unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know? Sanders said. When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?

When host Anderson Cooper pointed out that Cuba imprisons political dissidents, Sanders responded Thats right. And we condemn that.

Unlike Donald Trump, lets be clear, you want to  I do not think that Kim Jong-un is a good friend, the senator went on. I dont trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine.

Sanderss comments received bipartisan criticism from Florida lawmakers.

Im hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro, commented Representative Donna Shalala (D., Fla.), whose district encompasses a seaside area of Miami.

Sanders is wrong about why people didnt overthrow Castro, said Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.). Its not because he educated their kids, gave them health care its because his opponents were jailed, murdered or exiled.

Sanders has in the past declined to name Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro as an authoritarian leader, and has a long history of favorable statements about Nicaraguan strongman Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas.

More from National Review
Lesotho's high court will rule on whether Prime Minister Thomas Thabane can claim immunity from a charge that he murdered his wife prior to marrying his present spouse.

A lower court agreed to pass the decision to the high court on Monday, delaying the case that has gripped the tiny southern African kingdom.

Thabane, 80, appeared in court in the capital Maseru in a pre-trail hearing on Monday alongside his present wife Maesaiah.

Lesotho's Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane, left, and his wife Maesaiah, right are seated in court, in Maseru on Monday

He is suspected of involvement in the murder of his then wife Lipolelo, who was shot dead in June 2017 two days before he took office for a second stint as premier and two months before he married Maesaiah.

He and Lipolelo were going through divorce proceedings at the time.

Maesaiah Thabane, 42, has been charged with the murder, and police suspect her of ordering assassins to do the job.

Both deny any involvement.

Prime Minister of Lesotho, Thomas Thabane (pictured in 2017) has requested immunity from a charge that he murdered his wife prior to marrying his present spouse

Maesaiah Thabane, wife of Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, is pictured at the State House in Maseru, Lesotho on February 18

Crowds of supporters packed the magistrates' court and gathered outside for Monday's hearing. Thabane, wearing a blue striped suit and a powder blue shirt, looked tense. Maesaiah Thabane sat beside him in a floral dress and bucket hat.

No charges were read out and his lawyer said the case should be referred to the high court to answer a question of possible immunity, which magistrate Phethise Motanyane granted.

Police suspect wife Maesaiah Thabane, 42, of ordering assassins to do the job. PM Thabane pictured with his wife Maesaiah Thabane (File image)

Lipolelo Thabane (pictured in an undated photo), whose death sent shockwaves through the country, was assassinated outside her home in Maseru in June 2017

If Thabane is allowed to plead immunity it would likely raise doubts over how willing he is to step down, further fanning the political crisis in the mountain territory of 2 million people.

Thabane has said he will resign at the end of July. The ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, however, wants him to step aside immediately, with chairman Samuel Rapapa ready to take over, the party spokesman told Reuters on Monday.

ABC spokesman Montoeli Masoetsa said by telephone that the party's National Executive Council had agreed on Rapapa in discussions on Monday and delivered his name to parliament.

The prime minister and Maesaiah married a few months after Lipolelo's murder in 2017

Thabane's private secretary did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In theory, since the ABC's governing coalition in parliament has a majority, and its allies also want Thabane out, it does not need to put the nomination to a vote. But it is unclear what would happen if he refuses to go.

Lesotho, which is encircled by South Africa, has a history of coups and political instability that has often led its bigger neighbour to intervene and restore order.

Police had initially intended to charge Thabane on Friday, but he left the country for a medical appointment.
A festival to celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of the Vietnam  Germany diplomatic ties was held in Leipzig city, the German state of Sachsen, on February 23.

Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany Dang Chung Thuy speaks at the event

The event was jointly hosted by the Vietnamese Association in and the women's association of Leipzig city.

In his speech at the event, Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Leipzig Nguyen Manh Dan highlighted the significance of the festival, saying that it marks the close solidarity, cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

The festival spotlighted Vietnams cultural identities, and friendliness and hospitality of Vietnamese people through art performance programmes and fashion shows.

Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Leipzig Bui Quang Huy took the occasion to thank the German government and the Vietnamese Embassy in the European country for their support for the Vietnamese community in Leipzig to well integrate into the local society.

Meanwhile, Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy Dang Chung Thuy praised efforts made by the Vietnamese community in Leipzig and vicinities in organizing the festival.

He said Leipzig is one of the German localities leading the way in cooperation with Vietnam, especially the effective cooperation between the German city and Ho Chi Minh City.

Thuy also stressed that the European Parliaments recent approval of the Europe Union (EU)  Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) will help promote investment cooperation between Vietnam and Germany in particular, and Europe in general.

Held in parallel with events at the Leipzig international fair 2020, the festival attracted a large number of German friends and international visitors.

It offered a great chance to promote the images of Vietnams land, culture and people to international friends./. VNA
Workers and retirees, as well as youth and students attending the Socialist Equality Partys rally in the western-Sydney suburb of Parramatta on Saturday responded powerfully to speakers calls for them to deepen their involvement in the fight to defend WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and US whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

Some of those attending SEP Parramatta rally

The Parramatta rally, which was attended by up to 120 peopleand has now been watched by over 4,000 via online streamingwas followed the next day by an SEP rally outside the State Library of Victoria and a march through the city of Melbourne. A demonstration was also held on Sunday in Wellington, the New Zealand capital, organised by the Socialist Equality Group.

Reports on the Melbourne and Wellington events will be published on WSWS in the next days.

In Parramatta, the predominantly working-class audiencesome of whom were attending their first rally in defence of Assange and others who travelled hundreds of kilometreslistened intently as speakers explained the global, US-led conspiracy and persecution of the WikiLeaks founder and the US whistleblower. Addressing the crowd from the Town Hall steps, speakers were frequently interrupted by applause during the live-streamed event. The warm and serious response is a reflection of the growing international support for Assange and Manning and a deeper political understanding and determination to fight by important layers of students, workers and youth.

The rally heard greetings from the recently-established Darwin Northern Territory Assange Action Group, which had protested on Friday outside the Northern Territory parliament. The group saluted the WikiLeaks founder and declared: Thank you Mr Assange for speaking for us the people. Now it is our turn to speak on your behalf! With protests being held worldwide we stand together united for the truth, for justice and for freedom.

John Davis

International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) member John Davis told the rally that Assange and Manning were the victims of a vicious, decade-long political witch-hunt. He reviewed the brutal and ongoing imprisonment of Manning and her fearless refusal to capitulate to Washingtons legal blackmail.

The actions of Assange and Manning, Davis said, whilst being deemed criminal by the American state apparatus and its allies, are correctly regarded by millions around the world as heroic acts.

Margaret Mags Richardson, a registered nurse and founding member of the Julian Assange Supporters Alice Springs Action Group, explained the impact on her of Assanges violent arrest and expulsion from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Outraged over his persecution, Richardson found the SEP on the internet, flew from Alice Springs to Sydney to attend its June 2019 rally, then, with SEP members, organised a public meeting in Alice Springs in November. Out of that meeting, she then established an action group for Assange.

Margaret Richardson

She told the rally: We are building an awareness [in Alice Springs], talking to people about Assanges situation and the real reasons behind his persecution. Even if the numbers are small to begin with, it doesnt matter, because you are building an awareness amongst ordinary people, which is the only way forward, and you do this in the knowledge that there is a definite groundswell of support internationally

That we have established an Assange action group in Alice Springs, just a few kilometres from the US Pine Gap spy base, is a powerful message to the US and its corrupt and illegal attempts to extradite Assange, and the Australian government which is allowing this to happen.

Richardson explained that the group had petitioned the Alice Springs City Council to pass a resolution opposing the US extradition of Assange. After the resolution was presented to last months meeting, one councillor walked out and another opposed any debate on the issue claiming that it was in conflict with the community and the very large American contingent in Alice Springs.

In other words, dont do anything to upset the US government. It was a political microcosm of what is going on in the Australian parliament Our initiative was very revealing and points to the attitude of Australian governmentsLiberal and Labor aliketowards Assange and why they have thrown him to the Washington wolves, she said.

Richardson noted the inseparable connection between the defence of Assange and every other basic right: Ive been an environmental campaigner for many years of my life, but Assanges situation underpins everything. We wont have a voice on any environmental issue, or any other issue, if we do not have honest information and freedom of speech

You cannot rely on the parliamentary pollies because they support the US-Australia military alliance and Washingtons great war machine. The release of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning is up to us, the people, to form grassroots organisations and develop a mass movement from below.

Lissa Johnson

Lissa Johnson, a clinical psychologist and a leading member of Doctors4Assange, told the rally that she began writing about the psychology of Assanges persecution after attending an SEP rally in Sydney in June 2018.

In a chilling address, she reviewed the media and psychological war conducted against the WikiLeaks founder and how this campaignincluding his extended isolation in the Ecuadorian embassy and his torturous incarceration in Belmarsh prisonwere destroying his physical and mental health. Assange is the victim, she said of, state-sponsored medical abuse perpetrated for political reasons and to facilitate the political extradition of a journalist.

Johnson explained the work being conducted by Doctors4Assange, which has sent letters to the UK Home Secretary and Secretary of State calling for Assanges transfer to an appropriate hospital, along with a letter to Australias prime minister, foreign affairs minister, and Labor Party opposition leader Anthony Albanese.

Johnson noted that all the letters had been ignored and drew attention to the latest letter authored by Doctors4Assange which was published in the Lancet medical journal.

She told the audience: Psychology has been used and abused to inflict politically motivated smear campaigns and psychological torture. The law has been used and abused to inflict politically-motivated persecution. And journalism has been used and abused to cover for all of it.

It is this last abuse that is the most dangerous, because true investigative journalism, the kind that exposes the crimes of the powerful, like Julian Assanges journalism, is what protects us from all the other abuses of power.

When true investigative journalism is stamped out, which it will be if Julian Assange is extradited, thereby criminalising journalism, we will be at the mercy of unchecked power And if the psychology profession knows anything about power, its that unchecked power and unchecked abuse, will escalate. That is the kind of world were on the brink of entering now.

The powerful dont persecute and silence journalists unless they want to get away with murder If Julian Assange is extradited we will have set tyranny free.

The final speaker was SEP National Committee member James Cogan, who has played a leading role in the Socialist Equality Partys defence of the WikiLeaks publisher and the US whistleblower. Assange and Manning, Cogan said, were class-war prisoners and the victims of the generalised and escalating state assault on the basic democratic and social rights of the working class. He warned that the growing international support from workers and youth had forced some politicians and various previously silent organisations to speak out.

James Cogan

He stressed that there should be no illusions about Australian Prime Minister Morrison, or the opposition Labor Party, the British government or the Trump administration. Moral appeals to these forces will not produce some overnight transformation.

The determination of the Trump administration and its allies in the British and Australian ruling classes to railroad Assange into prison is because US imperialism and its allies are conspiring to commit even greater war crimes than those exposed by Manning and WikiLeaks a decade ago

The evisceration of democratic rights and the preparations for police-state rule are part of the preparations to suppress mass opposition to warwhether it is war against Iran, or war against nuclear-armed powers such as Russia and China, he said.

The speaker pointed to last weeks court endorsement of the Australian Federal Police raids last June on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, when it ruled that national security outweighs public interest in the free flow of information.

This meant, Cogan said, Any media that publishes whistleblower evidence of Australian war crimes or intelligence operations, or just how close US-Australian military collaboration has become, will become the target of police investigations, raids and charges.

He also noted that the Morrison government, with the full bipartisan support of Labor and its leader, Anthony Albanese, has announced that another $1.1 billion will be spent on upgrading the Air Force base at Tindal in the Northern Territory.

These developments, the speaker continued, were in preparation for war. The hostility of successive Labor and Coalition governments toward Assange stems directly from their mutual commitment to the US-Australia military alliance and their alignment with the US preparations for a catastrophic military confrontation with China. The dominant sections of Australian finance and big business are tied to Wall Street by a thousand threads.

Cogan concluded by assuring all those in attendance that the SEP would intensify the fight for the release of Assange and Manning and appealed for workers and youth across Australia to follow the example set by the Alice Springs action group and form similar committees.

The video of the rally can be viewed here:

Many people remained behind after the rally to discuss with the speakers the issues raised, give interviews or leave their contact details, purchase literature and Free Assange t-shirts and donate.

Upcoming SEP rally details:

Brisbane

Saturday February 29, 2:00 p.m.

Reddacliff Place, Brisbane

(corner Queen and George Street)
Road concession will contribute to the development of economy of Ukraine, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii has stated.

He said this during a meeting with Head of the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) Jason Lu on February 24, 2020. The meeting was attended by representatives of the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, Ukravtodor, the Reform Support Team at the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, and the SPILNO public-private partnership management office, the Government portal reported.

Kryklii stressed that the prompt restoration and development of a network of modern and safe roads and the introduction of concession mechanism is a strategic task of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine. "An extensive network of high-quality and safe roads is one of the most important factors for the successful economic development of Ukraine. We need to shortly connect cities with modern roads and provide businesses with a reliable road connection. In this regard, attracting investment in the road sector through the development of public-private partnerships is the most promising direction to accelerate the construction of the road network in accordance with the best standards. The road concession will promote the development of the Ukrainian economy - they will stimulate the production of necessary materials and equipment, the training of highly qualified specialists, the development of the tourism industry in the regions and the improvement of service by trucking companies. Thus, in fulfilling this task, we also look forward to the support of World Bank experts and other international partners," the minister said.

At present, World Bank experts pursuant to the request of the Ministry of Infrastructure are developing a model program for a pilot concession project on road construction. The purpose of this project funded by the GIF is to support the Ministry of Infrastructure and Ukravtodor in exploring options for involving the private sector in road network improvement and road maintenance.

Head of the GIF Jason Lu commended the progress made in reforming Ukraine's road sector and stressed that the involvement of international expertise and world practices will help to improve the quality of the road network and successfully implement the road concession mechanism.

ish
Taiwan is ready to step in to fill any gaps that arise in India's healthcare sector because of the global catastrophe by assisting in the areas where it is concerned about dependence on China

Even as the world is closely monitoring the healthcare situation in China, this is the time that countries need to work in an integrated way to deal with the situation.

For countries like India, there might be a certain degree of disruption in a host of business verticals including healthcare. However, India has a strong partner in Taiwan who is ready to step in to fill any gaps that arise in the healthcare sector because of the global catastrophe. Taiwan has one of the best healthcare systems in the world according to the 2019 edition of the CEOWORLD magazine Health Care Index, which assessed 89 countries according to factors that contribute to overall health. Of the countries surveyed, Taiwans healthcare comes in 1st place on the list scoring a 78.72 out of 100 on the Health Care Index, taking the lead ahead of Korea, Japan, Austria, and Denmark, top five advanced countries. Even CNN from the United States conducted special discussions on Taiwans health care system recently.

There is enough reason for this.

Taiwan boasts of a cutting-edge medical system, expansive health insurance system, and well-trained medical staff. The key drivers of Taiwans health Industry are advanced medical care, best healthcare system, big data, high-quality clinical trials and R&D capabilities, ITC supply chain, manufacturing, AI and 5G R&D in national level. At times when Indian healthcare businesses may need support, Taiwan is offering a perfect platform to Indian companies and professionals in the medical field to gain knowledge from its expertise. Taiwan has now decided to step into a role to assist countries like India to deal with voids due to the healthcare situation.

While Taiwan shares medical system with foreign countries, its export of medical materials has made a momentous contribution to the world. In terms of export value, the medical industry contributed 3.308 billion US dollars in export for 2019, an increase of more than 10% from 2017. The export items include contact lenses, blood glucose meters, assistive devices, instruments and accessories for dental and veterinary use.

The country is also at the forefront to meet the increasing demand for assistive devices and materials for dental and bone implants for elderly people by enhancing its R&D capability. There are currently 9 biotechnology and science parks with over 400 medical and biotech companies in Taiwan, many of whom are Taiwan Excellence awarded enterprises in medical industry. In 2020, there are 37 Taiwan Excellence Award winning medical enterprises and as the number goes up year by year, it shows that Taiwan's medical manufacturers have switched from OEM to creating their own brands.

Speaking about Taiwans role as a powerful supporter and partner for Indias healthcare system, Mark Wu, Executive Director of TAITRAs Strategic Marketing Department, said, Taiwans healthcare sector has been recognized globally with its high-tech precision equipment, professional medical team, and services. In the current scenario, Indias healthcare sector may need some co-operation and assistance in areas where it is concerned about dependence on China. As the healthcare industry is one of Taiwans signatures, we will continue to deliver innovations. We are also very keen to play a key role to maintain Indias healthcare sector during these difficult times.
She's set to reprise her role as Eve Moneypenny in the latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, No Time To Die.

But Naomie Harris, 43, was all about fashion on Sunday, when she stepped out in style to shoot a commercial on the streets of Milan.

The British beauty looked sensational she stepped out in the Italian city wearing an olive green suit, which comprised of a cropped jacket with a tail and short shorts.

Shoot: Naomie Harris was spotted shooting a commercial on the streets of Milan on Sunday

Standing tall in a pair of open-toe brown heels, the screen star showed off her enviably long and lithe limbs as she posed before cameras.

Rounding out her ensemble with a brown sweater, the Cambridge graduate styled her raven tresses in voluminous shoulder-length curls.

Opting to largely forgot accessories for the shoot, Naomie let her natural beauty shine through as she kept her makeup palette light.

Stylish: The British beauty looked sensational she stepped out in the Italian city wearing an olive green suit, which comprised of a cropped jacket with a tail and short shorts

Late last year, the star revealed that the female characters 'drive the plot' in the upcoming James Bond instalment, No Time To Die.

Speaking to The Guardian, the actress revealed that she, and the other three female leads, Lea Seydoux, Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch, have incredibly prominent roles in the movie alongside Daniel Craig.

'In Bond 25 you have four strong, intelligent women who are responsible for driving the plot forward,' the star  who reprises her role of Eve Moneypenny  said. 'They've never had that in Bond before.'

Naomie added of Daniel's character: 'He's not disrespecting women, he's not after women because of how attractive she looks and what quality she is.

Tress-ed to impress: Rounding out her ensemble with a brown sweater, the Cambridge graduate styled her raven tresses in voluminous shoulder-length curls

'He's genuinely in a relationship with a woman he respects, loves and cherishes,' she concluded of his romance with Lea's character.

Speaking of their hugely important roles in the series, Ana, who takes on the role of Paloma, previously gushed about her female co-stars' ability to 'wear the pants' in the flick.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Cuban actress said: 'It's pretty obvious that there is an evolution in the fact that Lashana is one of the main characters in the film and wears the pants  literally.

'I wear the gown. She wears the pants,' she continued.

Coming to a screen near you: She's set to reprise her role as Eve Moneypenny in the latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, No Time To Die. Pictured in October 2019

This comes after reports that Phoebe Waller-Bridge  who this year won multiple Emmys for her TV work  had been hired to make 007 more 'woke' and up-to-date in terms of women's rights.

During an interview with Deadline in May, Waller-Bridge argued against this too.

She said: 'Theres been a lot of talk about whether or not [the Bond franchise] is relevant now because of who he is and the way he treats women. I think thats b*****ks!

'I think hes absolutely relevant now. It has just got to grow. It has just got to evolve, and the important thing is that the film treats the women properly. He doesnt have to. He needs to be true to this character.'

Prominent roles: The British actress revealed that she, and the other three female leads have incredibly prominent roles in the movie alongside Daniel Craig

Change: The Skyfall star's interview comes after she warned fans to expect a radically different James Bond when the franchise returns (pictured with Daniel Craig in 2012)

However, in November Daniel furiously shot down reports that writer Phoebe was recruited to revise the script for No Time To Die merely because she is a woman.

The actor, 51, bit back at a journalist in an expletive-filled rant after he was asked during a recent interview with The Sunday Times whether Waller-Bridge was hired to 'feminise' the 007 franchise.

'Look, were having a conversation about Phoebes gender here, which is f**king ridiculous,' Craig said. 'Shes a great writer. Why shouldnt we get Phoebe onto Bond?'

He went on: 'I know where youre going, but I dont actually want to have that conversation! I know what youre trying to do, but its wrong. Its absolutely wrong.

'Shes a f**king great writer. One of the best English writers around. I said, "Can we get her on the film?" Thats where I came from.'

No Time To Die is released in UK cinemas on April 2 and in the US on April 8.
Nifty Feb trade at discount

The Nifty February 2020 were at 11,832.80, a discount of 5.8 points compared with the Nifty's closing of 11,838.60 in the cash market.

Turnover on the National Stock Exchange's & options (F&O) segment was Rs 12.76 lakh crore compared with Rs 33.14 lakh crore reported in the previous session.

In the cash market, the Nifty 50 index slumped 242.25 points or 2.01% to 11,838.60.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, spurted 25.63% to 17.2125. A rise in volatility indicates instability in benchmark index.

On the options front, the Nifty option chain for 27 February 2020 expiry showed maximum call open interest (OI) of 48.83 lakh at the 12,000 strike price. Maximum put OI of 30.97 lakh contracts was seen at 11,800 strike price. The option chain indicates that the Nifty will trade between 11,800 to 12,000 levels in February.

Yes Bank (up 0.71%) was banned from trading in NSE's F&O segment for today after the security crossed 95% of market wide position limit.

State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC and ICICI Bank were the top traded individual stock futures contracts in F&O segment of NSE.

SBI February 2020 futures were at 322.60, compared with spot closing price of 322.80. HDFC February 2020 futures were at 2,303.25 compared with spot closing price of 2303.85. ICICI Bank February 2020 futures were at 530.55, compared with spot closing price of 530.55.

The F&O contracts for February expire on 27 February 2020.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ever since Prince Charles was born, people have been wondering about the future King Charles. Hes his mothers firstborn child, so hes the natural heir to her throne.

Queen Elizabeth doesnt look like shes going anywhere anytime soon, but someday Charles will be king. It may surprise royal watchers to learn that even though hes the heir, there may never be a King Charles.

Yes, Prince Charles plans to take the throne, but when he does, he may use a different name. It turns out he has quite a few options.

Prince Charles actually has four names

Prince Charles | Ben A. Pruchnie  WPA Pool Getty Images

Most of the public knows the queens oldest son as Prince Charles. For those who know a little more about the royal family, he may be Charles Mountbatten-Windsor. His full name is actually a lot longer than that.

The Prince of Wales was christened Charles Philip Arthur George. When he takes the throne, he can use any one of those names in his title. He could decide to be King Charles, or he could be King Arthur, King Philip, or King George.

According to a report in The Star, Prince Charles is leaning towards George.

Would Prince Charles take Prince Georges name?

Some people think that taking the name George would be confusing. It may seem like Prince Charles is trying to draw attention away from the current Prince George, who is Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridges oldest son.

Previous reports say Prince Charles is considering the name Philip instead. If the prince does choose to be crowned King Philip, it would be a sweet nod to his father.

Prince Charles dad, Prince Philip, was never crowned king. Thanks to royal precedent, Prince Philip cant even take the title of King Consort.

He may not have wanted it to be that way. Prince Philip is royal himself. He was born into the Greek royal family but had to abandon the country due to political turmoil. Greece no longer has a monarchy.

Calling himself King Philip would be a way for Prince Charles to honor his father and his dual royal heritage. If he does opt to go with King George for a title, he might be on the receiving end of criticism from fans. Thats not a great way to start a reign.

Although it seems like hes not considering it, King Arthur may actually be a great choice. Aside from the mythical Arthur of the round table, there has never been a King Arthur of England. Prince Charles would be the first to hold that name.

Is it a big deal if Prince Charles becomes King George?

Since George is technically one of Prince Charles names, it is well within his right to use it when he succeeds Queen Elizabeth.

Whats more, Prince George would hardly be the first King George when he eventually ascends the throne. Even if Prince Charles were to take the name George, he wouldnt be the first.

But, most importantly, Prince Charles would hardly be the first monarch to take a new name. A few other monarchs have changed their names when they ascended to the throne.

In fact, Prince Charles own grandfather was one of them: He was born Albert Frederick Arthur George. He opted to be called King George, making him King George VI when he ascended.

Royal watchers say Prince Charles wants to take the name George when he becomes king in part to honor his grandfather.

Theres another reason he might be reluctant to be crowned King Charles: If he does keep the name, Prince Charles will become King Charles III. The first two kings to have that name did not leave it a great legacy.

King Charles I was actually executed. He was accused of treason and put the entire monarchy at risk. The second King Charles was better, but not by much. He had a reputation for partying and indulgence.

So Prince Charles has a good reason to pick George, and a good reason not to stick with his current name. But fans cant help but wonder, what about the current Prince George?
For many reasons which may appear indecipherable to the neophytes in this enterprise called politics, the NDC is tenanted by people who hate Ursula Owusu-Ekuful with venom.



It would be charitable to use a phraseology with effects more lessened than animosity to describe how these people feel about her.



Suffice it to say that the twisting of her statements to suit bad motives did not begin with the latest plot in town. It had its genealogy from a few years back.



Prior to the 2016 general elections, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, expressing her views on why Free SHS should be embraced by the electorate, used two scenarios to drum home her point.



Using herself as an example, she said that but for education, she would have been selling charcoal as that was what her mother was into.



She could not fathom why the NDC, especially, Mahama and the other NDC bigwigs who hailed from the three Northern Regions would present themselves as obstacles in the education of all Ghanaians. To her, but for similar opportunities most of the NDC top guns would be herding cattle because that was what most of their parents were into.



This harmless analogy was massaged, the portion referring to she herself expunged from the conversation and the cattle herding part propagated to create the impression that she had denigrated the people from that part of the country.



Fast forward, the Communications Minister went to the studios of Asempa FM, got interviewed by Philip Osei Bonsu on Ekosii Sen on a wide range of topics.



Ursula, in the interview, emphasized that the NDC ran down the economy and it has taken the Akufo-Addo administration a great deal of energy and efforts to put the country back on track.



To this, she said what is lost and destroyed is gone, the rest are being guarded, and that the NDC would not come back to send the country into the doldrums the Akufo-Addo administration found and rescued it from.



This statement is being twisted by the NDC, sending the signal out there that Ursula Owusu had said she holds their destiny in her hands when she had not said that.



One may ask what reasons precipitate such violent hatred they feel for Ursula Owusu-Ekuful. I will give you a few;



 They more than hate her guts.



 She gives them headaches if not nightmares



 She doesn't suffer fools gladly.



 She is a hard nut to crack



 She is too intelligent for them to handle and bully.



 The clampdown on two NDC-affiliated radio stations which had flouted the laws governing their operations with impunity.



These are some of the reasons why these people are always lurking in the shadows with the expressed intention of waylaying her every word or expression.



What Ursula Owusu-Ekuful can do is to continue speaking her mind and expressing her views on issues of national interest.



What Ursula Owusu-Ekuful cannot do is to imbibe in the NDC comprehension skills to understand what she says.



She cannot, therefore, be held responsible for their insufficiency with respect to comprehension in any language or dialect.



P.K.Sarpong, Whispers from the Corridors of the Thinking Place.

Source: P.K.Sarpong, Whispers from the Corridors of the Thinking Place.









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Australias prudential regulator said on Monday it was looking to better understand the financial risks of climate change and would begin undertaking deeper assessments of the industrys vulnerabilities to improve resilience.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) will develop industry guidance to help provide better clarity on regulatory expectations on climate-related financial risks, board member Geoff Summerhayes said in a letter to all regulated entities.

It was also seeking to undertake so-called climate change financial risk vulnerability assessment starting with the countrys biggest banks.

Looking ahead, the financial risks of climate change will continue to be a focus of APRAs efforts to increase industry resilience, and more supervisory attention is being given to understanding these risks, Summerhayes said. This includes deeper supervisory assessments

The move comes as rhetoric around climate change gathers momentum, leading finance officials from the worlds 20 biggest economies on Sunday to reference it in their final communique.

Global financial regulators are worried frequent extreme weather events could displace entire communities leading to stranded assets and a plunge in property values which could result in crippling losses for the financial sector.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney is expected to argue for global standards on data disclosure at the COP26 climate meeting in Scotland in November.

Under his tenure, the BoE has led the way on stress-testing insurers on climate risk and is set to expand that to banks.

Climate Data Deficit

APRA had conducted a climate change survey in 2018 which highlighted the need to quantify the likely impact of climate change risks as well as accurately assess and appropriately price these risks.

Global regulators are developing responses to this climate data deficit through scenario analysis, stress testing and disclosure of market-useful information.

Effective action now on these fronts will promote strong understanding and management of the potential financial impacts of a changing climate on current and future business prospects, allowing well-managed entities to minimize costs and optimize benefits, he said.

Australia recently suffered one of its worst bushfire seasons on record which destroyed thousands of homes and killed 33 people followed by flash flooding on the countrys east coast.

Climate scientists are increasingly warning such disasters could become more frequent in a warming world.

On its part, APRA is seeking to undertake the vulnerability assessment which will be designed this year and executed in 2021, with other industries such as insurance and pension funds to follow.

It will involve entities estimating the potential physical impacts of a changing climate, including extreme weather events, on their balance sheet, as well as the risks that may arise from the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

(Editing by Lincoln Feast and Jacqueline Wong)

Related: A New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service volunteer douses a fire during back-burning operations near the town of Kulnura, located 70 kilometers north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. The ferocious and early start to the fires stoked a debate around whether Australias government  a champion of the coal industry  is doing enough to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Photographer: David Gray/Bloomberg.

Topics Climate Change Australia
After two incidents of people falling into the water after thin ice broke, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is urging residents to use caution.

Ice is never 100 percent safe. You can't judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness or the temperature. Other factors including water depth, size of the water body, water chemistry, currents and local weather conditions all impact ice strength, DEEP said.

In Torrington on Sunday, first responders pulled six people out of Burr Mountain Pond Sunday morning, after the thin ice they were on gave way. Five ice anglers went into the water or became stuck, according to Torrington Fire Chief Peter Towey. The sixth person was a bystander who tried to reach those in trouble but also became stuck on the ice.

On Saturday in Washington, first responders pulled a 64-year-old man from the icy waters of the Shepaug River around dusk, after he reportedly fell down a hill into the water.

State police with Washington firefighters and ambulance crews were called to the Steep Rock Preserve off Tunnel Road around 4 p.m. Saturday, where they found the 64-year-old man about a quarter-mile from the trailhead.

The man fell down an embankment off the trail into the river, and was injured, the Washington Ambulance Association said on Facebook.

DEEP said the states mild weather - averaging between 6 and 7 degrees above normal - has prevented many ponds and lakes from safety freezing.

It offered the following tips:

Ice under 4 inches thick is not safe.

Ice over 4 inches is adequate for ice fishing and other activities on foot.

Ice between 5 and 7 inches is safe for a snowmobile of ATV.

Ice thickness can vary over a single body of water; it may be a foot thick in one location and only an inch or two a few feet away.

Use an ice chisel, auger or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice. Bring a tape measure to measure the thickness of the ice at regular intervals.

Don't judge ice thickness by how easily a chisel or drill breaks the surface. It happens so quickly that its easy to overestimate the thickness.

Before heading out

Check the thermometer, not the calendar. Air temperatures and recent weather patterns can impact ice quality. Just because the ice was safe on a certain date last year doesn't mean it will be safe this year.

Tell someone your plans. Let them know where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Carry a cell phone in case of emergency.

Wear a life jacket or float coat. If you fall in, it will help keep your head above water and provide some insulation against the effects of cold water.

Bring an ice safety kit: Rope, ice picks, whistle and spiked shoes/creepers. Know how to use the ice picks to rescue yourself and the rope to rescue others.

What if you fall in?

Don't panic. Call for help if there are people nearby.

Don't remove winter clothing. Trapped air can help provide warmth and flotation. This is especially true with a snowmobile suit.

Turn toward the direction you came. Thats where you'll probably find the strongest ice.

Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface. If you have a pair of nails, sharpened screwdrivers or ice picks, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice.

Kick your legs and work your way back onto the solid ice. Kick your feet and dig in your ice picks to work your way back onto the solid ice. If your clothes have trapped a lot of water, you may have to lift yourself partially out of the water on your elbows to let the water drain before starting forward.

Lie flat and roll away. Once back on the ice, roll away from the hole. This distributes your weight and may help prevent you from breaking through again.

Get to a warm, dry, sheltered area and re-warm yourself immediately. Change out of wet clothing into something dry. In you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice from your physician.

What if someone else falls in?

First, call 911 for help if you or someone nearby has a phone.

Resist the urge to run up to the edge of the hole. This would most likely result in two victims in the water.

Preach - Shout to the victim to reassure them that help is on the way.

Reach - If you can safely reach the victim from shore, extend an object such as a rope, tree branch, jumper cables or ladder to them. If the person starts to pull you in, release your grip on the object and start over.

Throw- From shore, toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim. Have them tie the rope around themselves before they are too weakened by the cold to grasp it.

Go - If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, don't go out onto the ice. Call 911 for help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
Caveat: some forms dont allow a + sign in email addresses. Many spammers know about this and have programs running to strip out everything from and including the + to the @.

When you sign up for something online and they ask for your name and email address, use what you are signing up for as the name, suggests medium.com.

For example, say you are signing up to receive a free sample of dog food. In the name field, not the email address, instead of submitting your real name, John Doe, put Sample in the field for the first name and Dogfood in the field for last name. Or use the name of the company or anything that will help you remember what site this is.

Later if you get an email from another company that you dont recall signing up with but it address you as Dear Sample Dogfood, youll know who sold your info.

It will be even more fun if you get put on a call list. Theyll have to ask for Sample Dogfood, and youll be able to say Theres no one here with that name.
Cork selector Diarmuid OSullivan will learn his fate in the next 48 hours after being sent to the stand by referee Sean Cleere at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.

His countys maor foirne, the three-time All-Ireland-winning defender remonstrated with the match official after Shane Kingston wasnt awarded a free in the first half of the defeat to Limerick and he is likely to be named in the Kilkenny referees report.
As the number of users moving to mobile platforms from regular PCs is still growing in the region, the number of threat actors going into this space follows.

Derived from the observations and findings collated by the global cybersecurity companys Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) last year combined with industry and technology trends, the predictions aim to provide guidance and insights for the cybersecurity industry and relevant stakeholders in APAC.

Kaspersky releases five key cybersecurity trends to watch out in the Asia Pacific region with 2019 threat review.

More mobile threats

As the number of users moving to mobile platforms from regular PCs is still growing in the region, the number of threat actors going into this space follows.

A number of different Android and iOS 0-days were reported in 2019, like the watering hole spyware discovered on iOS which can get hold of confidential data like iMessage photos and GPS location.

The interest in compromising mobile platforms with persistence is ever-growing, which is why Kaspersky expects to see more threats when mobile exploits become a commodity and the price for it goes down.

New techniques and new platforms from known threat actors

In 2019, Kaspersky researchers have seen Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) actors active in this region taking on new techniques and approaches such as using steganography by Ocean Lotus or Developing malware in Nim programming language by Zebrocy or using malicious LNK files by HoneyMyte.

Researchers have also seen Ocean Lotus with their new iOS malware in 2019. This threat actor has been actively adopting new techniques, which are aimed to complicate malware analysis.

More attacks targeting countries involved in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Kaspersky also saw last year at least a few threat actors targeting countries in the region involved in BRI such as Ocean Lotus, Lucky Mouse, and HoneyMyte and with more advancements in different aspects of this initiative, its likely to see more attacks motivated by it.

BRI is a programme which aims to connect China to the world. Announced in 2019, the project aims to link the country to three continents --- Asia, Africa, and Europe --- through interlinked land and maritime networks. The end goal is to ramp up trade and economic growth and to boost regional integration.

Supply chain attacks remain one of the largest threats

Last year, researchers from Kaspersky have also discovered and announced a breach of several software supply chain companies in Asia. Threat actor known as ShadowPad/ShadowHammer is believed to be responsible for this sort of attacks.

It is also worth noting that a survey conducted by Kaspersky showed that successful supply chain attacks can cost as much as $2.57m on average.

Given that this group has been active in the past several years doing similar attacks on a lower scale, we expect this actor to continue, and also other groups to move into this segment. Kaspersky expects to see more reports of software supply chain companies being compromised.

Olympic Games in Japan

It has almost become a tradition to run politically motivated attacks during the Olympic Games. With high political tension in many regions of the world, we shall expect one or even several independent attacks to happen during the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
People wear protective masks at Venice Carnival, which the last two days of, as well as Sunday night's festivities, have been cancelled because of an outbreak of coronavirus, in Venice

By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices slumped by nearly 4% on Monday as the rapid spread of the coronavirus in countries outside China added to investor concerns over the effect on demand for crude.

Global equities also extended losses as worries about the impact of the virus grew, with the number of cases jumping in Iran, Italy and South Korea.

Brent crude <LCOc1> futures fell $2.20, or 3.8%, to settle at $56.30 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude <CLc1> futures fell $1.95, or 3.7%, to settle at $51.43 a barrel.

"The reports of the coronavirus spreading is raising more fears of demand destruction," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. "When we saw the big move down in the stock market, oil traders were selling first and asking questions later."

The coronavirus has infected nearly 77,000 people and killed more than 2,500 in China, most of them in Hubei.

South Korea's fourth-largest city, Daegu, was increasingly isolated as the number of infections there rose rapidly.

Europe's biggest outbreak is in Italy, which reported a seventh death from the flu-like virus and 220 infections.

Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq on Monday recorded their first new coronavirus cases, all involving people who had been in Iran, which raised its toll from the disease to 12 dead and 61 infected.

Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey imposed travel and immigration curbs on Iran.

Still, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that using the word "pandemic" did not fit the facts.

"We must focus on containment while preparing for a potential pandemic," he told reporters in Geneva, adding that the world was not witnessing an uncontained spread or large-scale deaths.

Saudi Aramco expects the coronavirus impact on oil demand to be short-lived and for consumption to rise in the second half of the year, Chief Executive Amin Nasser told Reuters.

Story continues

On Monday, local health officials in China said that four provinces had lowered their virus emergency response measures.

Goldman Sachs said commodity prices could fall sharply before any rebound on the back of Chinese stimulus efforts.

"The promise of stimulus has made commodity markets act like equity markets, building up risks of a sharp correction," the bank said in a note.

Bank of America Global Research kept its 2020 forecast for the price of Brent crude steady at $62 a barrel, citing voluntary and involuntary declines in OPEC supply and the resilience of markets to geopolitical shocks.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to step up a sanctions campaign on Venezuela's oil sector and will be more aggressive in punishing people and companies that violate them, the top U.S. envoy to the Latin American country said.

(Additional reporting by Noah Browning in London and Jessica Jaganathan in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Jason Neely)
SAO PAULO (AP)  When dancer Camila Prins entered Sao Paulo's Carnival parade grounds, a costume of feathers clinging to her sinuous body, she fulfilled a dream of feminine beauty nearly three decades old.

Prins says she first realized she wanted to be a woman at a Carnival party at age 11, when, like the other boys, she was allowed to dress like a girl as part of the burlesque festivities. Now, in the final minutes of Saturday, she became the first transgender woman to lead the drum section of a top samba school in either of the renowned Carnival parades put in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Prins, 40, was hand-picked to be godmother of the Colorado do Bras samba school's drum section, an iconic role fought over by dozens of models and TV celebrities. Her duty was to dance infectiously for 65 minutes in front of the drummers, using her legs to drive their rhythm while judges assessed the school's parade.

Gorgeous women wanted to be here. I'm very excited because this shows we can be anywhere. We can be godmother of the drummers, we can be owners of a samba school, Prins told The Associated Press before the parade. Soon they will see many other transgender girls, who will find it easier than I did.

Colorado do Bras, which rose to Sao Paulo's top samba league only two years ago, made a bold decision in picking Prins for the role, despite Brazil's Carnival being a party at which few things have never been tried.

Transgender people remain something of a taboo among Brazilians, even in Sao Paulo, the countrys most cosmopolitan city and host to the worlds largest gay pride parade. Brazil has more slayings of transvestites and transgender people than any country in the world. In 2019, 124 were killed, 21 of them in Sao Paulo state.

As godmother of the drum section, Prins teamed up with a drum queen who has a similar role, and together they worked to dazzle fans in the Sambadrome bleachers with their beauty and sex appeal. Prins said she was counting on her penetrating brown eyes, long blond hair, strong legs, open smile and imposing breasts to help win points from the judges.

Story continues

Colorado do Bras finished the 2019 parade in 11th place, only two spots above the cutoff for being relegated back to a lower league. Directors of the samba school decided to try for something different this year, since the group has fewer resources than richer samba schools. Its floats and costumes were clearly less luxurious than the main challengers for the title.

Keila Simpson, president of Brazil's National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals, was happy Prins secured her prominent Carnival role, and said their community aims to make cases like hers the new normal.

"We have to be proud of Camila and hope her symbolic message allows us to think of reducing violence against trans people. Why can people celebrate her at the Sambadrome while trans people on the street are subject to violence?" Simpson said. We don't have data, but there are many violent cases against us during Carnival. Because there's more of us outside, there's more attacks.

Sao Paulo is trying to root out persecution of LGBT people during Carnival, and this year set up 20 tents spread among major street parties to handle cases of violence against the community. Psychologists, police officers and social workers are on hand until Wednesday for revelers who are victimized.

English teacher Alessandra Salvador, a transgender woman who encouraged revelers to come to the city hall tent at the LGBT street party Minhoqueens, said she was excited by Prins' selection.

"I don't even watch parades that much, but this year I will when she is on, Salvador said. It is good to see one of us being talked up. We don't get it so often. If we don't get that in Carnival, we won't get it anywhere else."

Its been a long road for Prins to reach the big leagues. She has worked as a professional dancer for 20 years and, though she lives in a small town in Switzerland with her husband, practices her steps at home all year and listens to samba incessantly. As Carnival nears, she splits her dance routine with ab workouts and squats at a gym, then makes her annual return to Brazil.

Prins first time dancing as a samba schools godmother came in 2018, in the second division of Sao Paulo's Carnival league. And it wasn't easy.

Many people turned their backs, because they thought I shouldn't be there. They thought it was a role for a woman, Prins said. Little by little I won them over with a lot of respect and true dancing.

Prins said her friends in Switzerland feared for her because of the increase in violence against transgender people, and because of the rise of far-right political groups in Brazil. She said she was worried about an increase in hateful comments aimed at LGBT people since President Jair Bolsonaro took office Jan. 1, 2019, but she planned to keep her smile and march on.

Just before midnight, when Colorado do Bras finally started its parade, a TV Globo reporter approached a tearful Prins in front of her drummers. She was already the most talked about of all 2,200 members of the samba school, even more than eight young topless women dressed as goddesses of the sea."

I feel so blessed this is happening. I came here to hold my banner and dance samba to the face of prejudice, for all the LGBT community, she said. Trans girls, I am sure your day will come, too. I am just the first, many more of you will follow.
Three civilians and a Delhi Police head constable were killed and a deputy commissioner of police among 37 personnel injured as clashes over the citizenship law broke out for the second straight day in northeast Delhi.

Three civilians and a Delhi Police head constable were killed and a deputy commissioner of police among 37 personnel injured as clashes over the citizenship law broke out for the second straight day in northeast Delhi. Eight CRPF companies have been deployed to quell the violence along with two Rapid Action Force companies and one company of women security personnel, News18 reported.

Prominent lawyers, journalists and some Twitter users took to social media to slam home minister Amit Shah  under whose purview the Delhi Police falls  and demanded accountability for the unfolding situation in parts of the National Capital, which is being visited by US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on their two-day trip to India.

That part of Delhi has been on the boil since Sunday evening, when clashes broke out between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad over blocking of the road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the National Capital, including Hauz Rani. The situation escalated after BJP leader Kapil Mishra called a gathering on Sunday and demanded that the police remove anti-CAA protesters within three days.

The Indian Express reported that the Delhi Police detained a 33-year-old for allegedly firing eight rounds in northeast Delhi's Maujpur. He has reportedly been identified as Shahrukh and the investigation into the incident is on.

Anti and pro-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters on Monday torched houses, shops, vehicles and hurled stones at each other in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur. Violence was also reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura. News18 reported that some demonstrators were shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' at the Maujpur metro station amid the violence.

The Indian Express reported that the civilian killed during the protest was identified as Mohd Furqan. Ratan Lal, a head constable attached to the office of the ACP Gokalpuri, was killed and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shahdara, Amit Sharma injured while trying to quell the protests.

Lal was injured when stones were hurled at police during the protests. Lal, a native of Rajasthan's Sikar, joined the Delhi Police as a constable in 1998 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

Sharma, a 2010-batch IPS officer, suffered injuries to his head and hand and his vehicle was set ablaze. He was admitted to Max Hospital, Patparganj and is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the official said. Sources said Sharma is unconscious and the doctors will conduct a CT scan to ascertain the extent of injuries.

Police fired tear gas and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. The police also imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in areas affected by violence in northeast Delhi. A protester was also seen moving towards a Delhi Police personnel with a gun in his hand. He shot a few rounds in the air.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, condoling the death of the head constable, called for peace in the National Capital and said violence would not benefit anyone.

                                   Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 24, 2020

Kejriwal, who has been widely criticised on social media for inaction throughout the day, earlier in the day urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Baijal to restore law and order in the wake of the violence.

Baijal instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to maintain law and order in the city. "Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Images of assault go viral

Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui shared photos of a Muslim man, cowering on a street in Chandbagh area of northeast Delhi, surrounded by several men armed with sticks and poles. The man who is bleeding from his head was hit by a sharp object, Reuters reported.

The images went viral on social media, especially with netizens slamming the publication for headlining the story "Citizenship law demonstrators clash in Delhi ahead of Trump visit", with several on social media asking "where is the clash", since the image clearly shows the man being surrounded and assaulted by armed mob.

Politicos pass buck

The Congress on Monday questioned the Shah's 'silence' over the clashes in Delhi and demanded his resignation, as party leader Rahul Gandhi urged people to show restraint, compassion and understanding irrespective of the provocation. The party also blamed the Delhi police for failing to maintain law and order in the city and criticised Kejriwal for having "shaken off his responsibility", saying people of Delhi are paying the price of a political blame game.

Rahul said peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. "The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation," he tweeted.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also condemned the violence that erupted in the northeast area of Delhi on Monday and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah "couldn't hide the violence and unrest in Delhi by building a wall". "India will not forgive the disharmony caused in 'Dilwalon ki Dilli'. I appeal to all peace-loving people to come together and defeat those who are divisive," he tweeted.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhisaid the death of a Delhi Police head constable in violence over the amended citizenship law was a "ploy" to embarrass India during US President Donald Trump's visit and likened it to the massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura in 2000 during the then US president Bill Clinton's trip to the country.

"Shocked to hear the death of HC Sh Ratanlal in a brutal & barbaric manner. This reminds me of massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura during Clinton's visit. Incidents change but anti India forces remain the same. Ploy to embarrass India, Request all to remain calm & maintain peace," she said in a tweet. Lekhi is also an MP of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), representing the New Delhi constituency in the Lok Sabha.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday held the Centre responsible for the violence that has erupted in Delhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and appealed to all to maintain peace. "There is utmost need to maintain peace and calm. We appeal to everyone to not fall prey to rumours or incitements - Peace must be kept. The responsibility however, lies with the Union govt which has not made any attempt to address grievances of a large section of Indians," Yechury tweeted.

Centre warns of stern action

The Centre on Monday warned of stern action against those involved in the violence in the violence. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said non-violent protests in a democratic country are acceptable but not violence which, he termed, was an attempt to dent India's image during the visit of US President Donald Trump. "My deepest condolences to the family of the Delhi Police Head Constable who lost his life amidst the protests in Delhi. Our @narendramodi government condemns all forms of violence and we assure a stern action against the culprits," Reddy tweeted.

"This has been done in the wake of President Trump's visit to India. This is an attempt to dent the image of India and Government of India. I, on behalf of Government of India, condemn the killing of the policeman in the stone-pelting incident," he told reporters. Reddy said the government has not taken any action against the protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh despite a national highway being blocked for two months. "We are taking measures in a considerate manner. We have not used any police force (to vacate the area) because it is a democratic country and peaceful protests are allowed. We will take serious step if there is any violence," he said.

The minister also slammed Rahul and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi for their support to the people who have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). "Will Rahul Ganhdi or Owaisi take the responsibility for the killing of the policeman? We are trying to resolve the issue amicably for the last two months. We are using democratic norms," he said.

The Indian Express quoted sources from the Ministry of Home Affairs as saying that the violence in the northeast districts of Delhi "appears to be orchestrated to coincide with visit of US president Donald Trump". "It will be brought under control," the sources further said.

With inputs from PTI
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- The heat shrink tubing market is expected to witness robust growth during 2019-2027 period, thanks to growing construction activity in Asia Pacific, and increase in revenue margins for catheter manufacturers

- Recent product advancements like Junkosha's 2.5.1. PHST solution, also marks a significant technological advancement in the market

ALBANY, New York, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing demand for heat shrink tubing in aerospace, electronics, and construction sector is a major factor driving growth. The heat shrink tubing market stood at a modest US$1.5 bn valuation in 2018. However, recent growth and adoption of new technologies promises major expansion for the market in new regions.

For example, Junkosha's new product has resulted in lowering costs of subsidiaries in US, China, and UK for manufacturers. Moreover, the increased margins in revenues are increasingly making way for much needed capital investments in manufacturing around the world. Hence, according to TMR analysts, "the market will likely witness robust growth during 2019-2027 period to reach US$2.7 bn in 2027".

Key Findings in the Heat Shrink Tubing Market Study

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The shared values between India and the US are "discrimination, bigotry, and hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers", Amnesty International USA said in a joint statement with Amnesty International India ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India on Monday.

Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner as well as senior officials of his administration, landed in Ahmedabad on the first leg of his two-day visit to India.

"Anti-Muslim sentiment permeates the policies of both U.S. and Indian leaders. For decades, the U.S.-India relationship was anchored by claims of shared values of human rights and human dignity. Now, those shared values are discrimination, bigotry, and hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers, Margaret Huang, Amnesty International USA's executive director, was quoted as saying in the statement.

It was a reference to the anti-CAA protests in India, the internet lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir and the Muslim ban expansion by President Trump affecting Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan and Tanzania, the statement said.

It added that Amnesty International USA's researchers travelled to Lebanon and Jordan to conduct nearly 50 interviews with refugees that as a result of the previous version of the ban have been stranded in countries where they face restrictive policies, increasingly hostile environments, and lack the same rights as permanent residents or citizens.

The statement also came down hard on the Indian government, hitting out at the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019 and saying it legitimises discrimination based on religious grounds.

It criticised statements such as identify them (the protestors) by their clothes or shoot the traitors by Prime Minister Modi and his party workers. Such remarks "peddled the narrative of fear and division that has fuelled further violence", it said.

The internet and political lockdown in Kashmir has lasted for months and the enactment of CAA and the crackdown on protests has shown a leadership that is lacking empathy and a willingness to engage. We call on President Trump and Prime Minister Modi to work with the international community and address our concerns in their bilateral conversations, Avinash Kumar, executive director, Amnesty International India said in the statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:25:09|Editor: huaxia

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A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

Following relevant laws, rules and procedures, the moves were made responsibly. They are necessary and timely, conforming to the Constitutional principles and the current situation of epidemic control. The moves also demonstrate the concept of putting the people's interests as the top priority.



BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will postpone the "two sessions," a key event in the country's political calendar, amid concerted efforts to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic and boost economic and social development.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Monday adopted a decision to postpone this year's annual session. The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, has been advised by its Chairperson's Council to postpone its annual session.

Following relevant laws, rules and procedures, the moves were made responsibly. They are necessary and timely, conforming to the Constitutional principles and the current situation of epidemic control. The moves also demonstrate the concept of putting the people's interests as the top priority.

The openings of the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC National Committee had been held on March 5 and March 3, respectively, since 1998. By postponing the sessions, China will have a wider window to fight COVID-19, to identify how to minimize the impact of the epidemic on development and to prepare policies more precisely to boost growth.

The current situation remains grim and complex. Among nearly 3,000 national lawmakers and more than 2,000 political advisors, many are scientists, researchers, professionals, medical staff, workers, farmers and officials of various levels. They are fighting at the frontlines against the COVID-19. No victory should be lightly announced until there is a complete win.

People line up to take body temperature checks at Sanlitun business area in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 12, 2020. Work and production has resumed gradually in enterprises, communities and malls, etc. in Beijing since Feb. 10 with comprehensive measures taken to prevent and control the epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Besides, the epidemic prevention and control work in Beijing, where the sessions are held, should be carried out with all-out efforts. Imported cases and spread within the city should be prevented.

Postponing the two important political meetings that cover every aspect of China's development and the people's wellbeing is a temporary measure that is aimed at achieving better development in the long run.

During the "two sessions," growth targets and reform goals need to be set. National lawmakers and political advisors are expected to discuss a series of policies and measures, including strengthening the regulation role of macro-economic policies, ensuring employment, continuing the task of alleviating poverty, as well as keeping foreign trade and investment stable, to put the economic and social development back on track.

The second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) holds its closing meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2019. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

All the decisions and measures must be made based on an exact review on the impact of the epidemic and a clear vision on long-term development. It takes time to make the judgment, and it is worth doing so.

The dates of the "two sessions" will be set later. It will not be long to wait for the decisions, as the positive trend in the prevention and control work is expanding. For instance, more than 20 provincial-level regions, including Beijing and Shanghai, had reported zero infections in the past 24 hours.

The political, economic and social order will be back to normal. The move to postpone the "two sessions" will become a prelude to China's glory of rising from hardships and advancing more courageously. 
State Police have identified the motorcyclist who was killed in a crash on I-95 in West Haven Sunday.

Jesse Stotz, 31, of Chimney Hill Road in Wallingford, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the accident report.

The crash happened shortly after 6 p.m. near northbound Exit 44, just before the New Haven border.

According to the accident report, Stotz was riding his 2017 Harley-Davidson FLTRX in the right lane while negotiating a right curve.

The report said Stotz was separated from the motorcycle and struck the pavement in the right lane.

The report said Stotz was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene by a West Haven paramedic.

Troopers said no enforcement action was taken and the accident remains under investigation.

The crash closed all three northbound lanes while police investigated.

Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled the last name of the victim. The correct spelling is Stotz. Also, the family said the year of the motorcycle is 2017, not 2015 as the year contained in the accident report.
The European School and the International School of Luxembourg (ISL) are ringing the precautionary alarms bells. Students who recently travelled to a high-risk area are urged to stay at home to prevent the potential spreading of coronavirus.

The European School published the precautionary statement on its website.

The International School of Luxembourg notified parents via text message.

The European school calls for students who visited a high-risk region to stay at home for at least 2 weeks.



The following countries or regions count as high-risk areas:

China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and South Korea. In Italy: Codogno, Casalpusterlengo, Castiglione d'Adda, Maleo, Fombio, Bertonico, Castelgerundo, Somaglia, San Fiorano, Terranova dei Passerini, Vo Euganeo, Crema, Bergamo.

Whereas the ISL only counts China as HR according to World Health Organisation guidelines.

Italy reported Monday its fifth death from the new coronavirus, as the number of people contracting the disease continued to mount. Eleven towns -- 10 in Lombardy and one in neighbouring Veneto -- are under lockdown, with some 50,000 residents prohibited from leaving. Regional authorities have ordered gathering spots, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas and discos to close.

Luxembourg has not yet recorded a case of coronavirus.
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.
SEATTLE, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- E8, an angel investor community committed to investing in cleantech in support of both profit and ecological sustainability, announced today that its members made investments worth $4 million across 26 companies in 2019. The strong results come as E8 makes plans for enhanced capacity in 2020 that will offer new pathways for individuals, foundations, and corporations to invest in cleantech innovations, especially those designed to mitigate climate change.

Since 2006, E8 has offered accredited individuals a way to invest in emerging enterprises which share the group's mission to accelerate the transition to a prosperous and sustainable world. Through investment pitches, collective due diligence and learning opportunities, the E8 community unites interest, passion and expertise from the Northwest and nationally.

In 2020 E8 will be expanding its platform for facilitating both private and philanthropic investments. Investors will be able to access a range of options that suit their availability, expertise, learning goals and even preferred asset class for a given cleantech investment.

"This is a vital moment for cleantech and climate change, with tremendous opportunity and interest in investment and action," said Eric Berman, Co-Chair of the E8 Board of Directors. "We are upgrading our business model and expanding our community to make cleantech investing more accessible, fulfilling and successful."

The highlights of E8's announcement include:

2019 investments of $4M in 26 companies: The E8 community collectively invests through direct investment from E8 members, the pooled and managed E8 Fund and through syndication. The largest investments supported include Energy Storage Systems (ESS), Green Canopy Homes, OnSwitch, Apana, Ecellix, PowerLight and StormSensor. Others include Clean Fiber, OneEnergy Renewables, Indow, Focal Technologies, e-Zn, Beta Hatch, Nori, SparkFund, Membrion, PickMySolar, Autonomous Tractor Corporation, Fledge, PittMoss, Signol, Joule Case, Amply, Vartega, ConnectDER and Group 14.

The E8 community collectively invests through direct investment from E8 members, the pooled and managed E8 Fund and through syndication. The largest investments supported include Energy Storage Systems (ESS), Green Canopy Homes, OnSwitch, Apana, Ecellix, PowerLight and StormSensor. Others include Clean Fiber, OneEnergy Renewables, Indow, Focal Technologies, e-Zn, Beta Hatch, Nori, SparkFund, Membrion, PickMySolar, Autonomous Tractor Corporation, Fledge, PittMoss, Signol, Joule Case, Amply, Vartega, ConnectDER and Group 14. Cumulative E8 community investments reach $39.3M : E8, previously named Element 8 and Northwest Energy Angels, now estimates its total investment since 2006 at $39.3M , in 98 companies from North America and beyond. All investment numbers are self-reported by E8 members. Total private investment in these companies exceeds $775M .

: E8, previously named Element 8 and Northwest Energy Angels, now estimates its total investment since 2006 at , in 98 companies from and beyond. All investment numbers are self-reported by E8 members. Total private investment in these companies exceeds . E8 Fund continues its progress, with a second fund under consideration : The affiliated venture capital E8 Fund is fully invested and holds positions in nine portfolio companies, spanning cleantech sectors that include renewable energy procurement, advanced metering, alternative protein for animal feed, and water treatment. Seven of the nine portfolio companies have raised subsequent funding, with six at substantially higher valuations. A second venture fund is under consideration.

: The affiliated venture capital E8 Fund is fully invested and holds positions in nine portfolio companies, spanning cleantech sectors that include renewable energy procurement, advanced metering, alternative protein for animal feed, and water treatment. Seven of the nine portfolio companies have raised subsequent funding, with six at substantially higher valuations. A second venture fund is under consideration. E8's new philanthropic impact fund will be a compelling option for donor-investors motivated by climate action : Recognizing the urgency and opportunity to improve environmental health and combat climate change, E8 is adding to its menu a new fund which leverages philanthropic capital to invest in early stage companies. This new approach will align with and accelerate ambitious decarbonization goals such as those set forth by the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act. Launching in early 2020, the fund will complement early technology investment opportunities from allied leaders such as VertueLab.

: Recognizing the urgency and opportunity to improve environmental health and combat climate change, E8 is adding to its menu a new fund which leverages philanthropic capital to invest in early stage companies. This new approach will align with and accelerate ambitious decarbonization goals such as those set forth by the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act. Launching in early 2020, the fund will complement early technology investment opportunities from allied leaders such as VertueLab. Membership and the expansion of E8's community and capacity: E8 is honored to support eighty member families and companies, with improved member satisfaction and growth in 2019. The E8 community would not be possible without the support of its sponsors: University of Washington's Clean Energy Institute, Washington State University , VertueLab, Pacific Northwest National Labs, Kitsap Bank, Puget Sound Energy, Craft3, JP Morgan, K&L Gates, the CleanTech Alliance and North Coast Digital. Additional support for innovation at E8 is provided by the Stolte Family Foundation.

About E8

E8 is an international, Seattle-based community whose mission is to accelerate the transition to a prosperous and cleaner world by investing in and fostering emerging cleantech enterprises. Our flexible, investor-centric platform supports different types of investors and asset classes, including direct angel for-profit investing, pooled investing in expertly managed VC funds such as the E8 Fund, donor advised fund impact investments, and a philanthropic fund for accelerating decarbonization and climate mitigation. E8's community and offerings are driven by a belief in the power of innovative enterprises and technologies to scale both positive returns and impact. (www.E8angels.com)

Media Contact

Mike Rea, E8 Angels

[email protected]

(m) 425.409.9531

SOURCE E8

Related Links

http://www.E8angels.com


Photo: DriveBC Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff. 8:25 a.m.

The Coquihalla Highway remains in messy shape as the remnants of a winter storm leave the region.

Environment Canada said early Monday 20 cm of snow has fallen on Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt in the last 24 hours with another two to four centimetres expected this morning.

An unstable air mass continues to produce heavy flurries over parts of the southern highway passes this morning, Environment Canada says. The flurries will ease this morning as a ridge of high pressure develops over the province.

Motorists are being advised to prepare for changing road conditions and winter driving.

The Highway 3 corridor in the Boundary and West Kootenay is also digging out from the same storm. The highway between Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass is reporting 20 centimetres in the last 24 hours.

While the Okanagan Connector got some snow last night, it appears to be in much better condition, according to DriveBC webcams.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-24 14:00:26

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RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Scandium International Mining Corp.(TSX:SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed a three year, three stage program to demonstrate the capability to manufacture aluminum-scandium master alloy (Al-Sc2%), from scandium oxide, using a patent pending melt process involving aluminothermic reactions.This master alloy capability will allow the Company to offer scandium product from the Nyngan Scandium Project in a form that is used directly by aluminium alloy manufacturers globally, either major integrated manufacturers or smaller wrought or casting alloy consumers.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:Program achieved full 2% target product quality requirement,Sc recoveries from oxide exceeded target, demonstrated in final tests,The microstructure and metal quality meet major alloy producer's specification.Rapid kinetics achieved, important for commercial viability,Individual testing batches done at 4kg scale, andSuccessful program testing forms a basis for a larger scale demonstration facility, supporting large scale samples required for industrial aluminum alloy trials.DISCUSSIONThe Company has publicly acknowledged an intent to offer scandium product in form of both oxide (scandia) and master alloy since completing a definitive feasibility study on its Nyngan Scandium Project in 2016. The aluminum industry largely relies on independent master alloy manufacturers to make and supply alloying products, including small amounts of Al-Sc 2% product, today. The Nyngan mine scandium output will change the scale of Al-Sc2% master alloy manufactured, globally, and the Company can utilize that scale advantage to effectively minimize the manufacture cost of scandium feedstock to the aluminum alloy customer. This research program success also demonstrates a Company ability to deliver directly to end use alloy customers a product in exactly the customized form they wish to use, transparently, and in the volumes required by large scale aluminum consumers.This program to establish an upgraded product capability for Nyngan has been completed in three phases, over three years. Phase I in 2017 demonstrated the feasibility of producing master alloy meeting the industrial standard 2% scandium content requirement, at laboratory scale. Phase II in 2018 maintained that industrial quality product standard, at bench scale (4kg/test). Phase III in 2019 showed a capability to maintain the 2% grade product standard, to do so with recoveries that exceeded our target levels, and to combine these achievements with the rapid kinetics essential for low capital and conversion costs.The next stage in this program will be to consider a large-scale demonstration plant for conversion of oxide to master alloy. This will allow the Company to optimize product form, and most importantly, to meet the demand for larger product offers that conform to commercial test programs. The size of the demonstration plant is being investigated, but will be flexible in operation and output, and will allow for much more direct customer/supplier relationships with potential scandium product customers globally.George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:"This testwork result demonstrates the Company can make the proper scandium product, exactly as our primary aluminium alloy customers want. This allows us to retain the all-important direct customer relationship, and to remain responsive to customer requirements. Most importantly, this capability will enable Scandium International to keep the cost of our scandium feedstock product as low as possible, and also fully under our control. We see these capabilities as essential to proper market development." ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.The Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project, located in NSW, Australia, into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The project owned by our 100% held Australian subsidiary, EMC Metals Australia Pty Limited, has received all key approvals, including a mining lease, necessary to proceed with project construction.The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study - Nyngan Scandium Project". That feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project, supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand.Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company.For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact:Edward Dickinson (CFO)Tel: (775) 233-7328George Putnam (CEO)Tel: (925) 208-1775Email: info@ scandiummining.com This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: risks related to uncertainty in the demand for scandium, the possibility that results of test work will not fulfill expectations, or not realize the perceived market utilization and potential of scandium sources that may be developed for sale by the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change.SOURCE: Scandium International Mining Corp
Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai on Monday urged the people in the area to maintain peace in the wake of clashes over the new citizenship law, saying some people were purposely trying to disturb the atmosphere.

Rai said that he had spoken to Delhi LG Anil Baijal and was assured that more police personnel would be deployed to bring the situation under control.

"With folded hands, I request people in Babarpur Assembly to maintain peace. Some people are purposely trying to spoil the atmosphere. I have spoken to Delhi LG and he has assured me that more policemen will be deployed to bring the situation under control," Rai said in a tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
His three Navy medals from World War II were long overdue.

Thomas Simpson, 92, a former River Vale police chief, knew he deserved to receive them. He was in Okinawa, Japan, a 17-year-old ship cook, fresh out of Bergenfield High School.

Simpson was assigned to a landing craft tank, an amphibious ship that carried a tank and its crew. But after his service from 1944 to 1946, Simpson didnt apply for the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, or the World War II Victory Medal.

He was earning a living, first as a mail carrier in Bergenfield for 10 years. He married Dorothy, his wife now of 70 years. His lifes work would be in law enforcement, for 37 years. Simpson became a River Vale police officer in 1955, and went on to hold every rank, retiring as police chief in 1992. Its a record, he said, that hasnt been duplicated.

I was able to do it because I had good officers," Simpson said.

He didnt think about the medals until his grandson, David Hulsizer, jokingly asked about his service. Simpson called on his dear friend, Old Tappan Mayor John Kramer, for assistance.

I always considered him my mentor," said Kramer, former Old Tappan police chief and 60-year friend.

Kramer reached out to Rep. Josh Gottheimer, (D-5th Dist.), who cut through red tape to secure the medals from the federal government. Gottheimer visited Simpson Monday, giving him the medals at Sunrise of Old Tappan, an assisted living facility, where Simpson and his wife reside.

Throughout my work all across the Fifth District, I feel especially lucky to be able to spend time with so many of our brave veterans, Gottheimer said. It is our duty as Americans not only to honor these men and women, but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return, to ensure they have the care they need, the benefits they were promised, and the support we all owe them."

The medals were neatly displayed in a trophy case, along with the Honorable Reserve Discharge Button, and the Ruptured Duck Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

Its humbling," Simpson said. Im still looking at them."

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Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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Mike Hughes, a go-it-alone daredevil, limousine stunt driver and self-taught astronaut who professed to believe that the Earth was flat and who was known to supporters as Mad Mike, died in a rocket launch in the California desert on Saturday. He was 64.

Darren Shuster, Mr. Hughess publicist, confirmed his death. Mr. Shuster, who was not at the launch on Saturday, said his clients last message to him that morning asked, Is the media going to be there?

Around 2 p.m. on Saturday, San Bernardino County sheriffs deputies were called to a rocket launch on private property in Barstow, Calif., about 120 miles northeast of Los Angeles. A man was pronounced deceased after the rocket crashed in the open desert, the sheriffs office said in a statement.

A video of the launch posted by Justin Chapman, a freelance journalist, shows Mr. Hughess steam-powered rocket shooting off into the sky and a parachute falling down to the earth. Moments later, the rocket plummets and crashes near the launch site.
Austin Tice, an award-winning journalist, was working for McClatchy and The Washington Post when he was detained in Syria in 2012. Austin is a Georgetown University graduate, a native Houstonian, and a United States Marine who served three tours of duty. Today, he is currently the only U.S. journalist being held overseas, and after more than seven years, has endured the longest detention of any U.S. journalist to date.

The inaugural Night Out for Austin Tice held on May 2, 2019, drew support from 80 restaurants in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Thousands of people who went out to eat that night learned about Austin's case, and millions more read about him in newspaper ads, articles and op-eds, and listened to the Tices tell their story in dozens of radio and television interviews. In addition to raising awareness, last year's Night Out raised more than $60,000 to supplement the FBI's $1M reward fund for information leading to Austin's safe return and generated new leads to the FBI.

This year, Urban Harvest  a nonprofit leading Houston's local food movement  is leveraging its network of chefs, farmers, and restaurateurs on April 29 to raise awareness for Austin Tice. Urban Harvest will connect local restaurants and chefs to Houstonians citywide who are looking to dine out with a purpose.

Chris Shepherd  the James Beard Award-winning chef behind Underbelly Hospitality in Houston  was one of the principal drivers of Night Out's success in 2019. He first learned about Night Out from some of his regular guests, and after researching Austin's story and meeting Austin's parents Marc and Debra Tice, Shepherd knew he had to be a part of the effort to bring Austin home. "First, it is important that we take care of our own  and Austin is a Houstonian," said Shepherd. "Second, freedom of the press is incredibly important. You can't put a price on credible journalism, especially in today's world. I am proud to support Austin and his family, as well as journalists who risk everything to report the truth."

The co-chairs for this year's Night Out will be three of Austin's siblings: Naomi Tice, Meagan Malone, and Jacob Tice. "We participated last year and really felt great about doing something that was tangible and positive to help our brother," said Malone. "He is in danger and he needs all our help  if you own a restaurant, or have a friend who does, please encourage them to go to NightOutForAustin.com and sign up. Our goal is not only to have as many Houston restaurants as possible participating  but also to have at least one restaurant in all 50 states," she said. "With your help we can do it! And together we can bring him home," said Malone.

Restaurants can register to become an official restaurant partner of this year's Night Out at NightOutForAustin.com. Participating restaurants can choose to either make a one-time donation upfront or pledge a percentage of their revenue from their April 29 dinner service. All proceeds raised will go to the National Press Club's non-profit affiliate, The National Press Club Journalism Institute (a 501-c3), where it will be held for further instruction from the FBI.

Press Contact: Lindsay Underwood for the National Press Club; [email protected], (202) 662-7561

SOURCE National Press Club

Related Links

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Texas Southern University has established a $301,000 endowment to assist students who want to study abroad  and its all in the name of a jetsetting alumna.

The Anna Pearl Barrett Memorial Endowed Scholarship is one of the colleges largest endowments, according to the university and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Its funded by $150,500 from the sorority and a matching amount from the TSU Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) that supports the universitys fundraising

The scholarship is named after the late Anna Pearl Barrett  a TSU alumna who became a member of Delta Sigma Theta while an undergraduate at the historically black college. Barrett was the first student from TSU to study in Spain as an exchange student  an experience she later used in her career as a Spanish teacher in the Houston Independent School District and as a bilingual education consultant. Barrett also graduated from the University of Madrid and Middlebury College. After retiring, she pursued her love of travel. That passion is what inspired the sorority to establish a gift in her name that would give students the opportunity to do the same.

The impact of the Anna Pearl Barrett Endowment Scholarship allows our organization to extend efforts of providing financial aid to enrich the collegiate experience through cultural awareness and international travel, said Jona Sargent, president of the Deltas Houston alumnae chapter.

The chapter has a strong history of providing college scholarships to deserving students, Sargent said.

Weve enjoyed working with the chapter members to ensure the wishes of Ms. Anna Pearl Barrett were honored through international study experiences for our students, Melinda Spaulding, TSUs vice president university advancement, said in a written statement.

TSU hosted a reception in honor of the scholarship endowment this month attended by Barretts family, Mayor Sylvester Turner, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, and more than 200 Delta sorority sisters.

The university  one of the largest historically black colleges in the country  sent its first study abroad group to Tanzania in 2001 in a program led by Gregory Maddox, director of TSUs international programs and dean of the graduate school. The university has since had more than 100 students each year go abroad for international educational experiences.

We have worked tirelessly to integrate international experiences into the curriculums in our courses and to give our students the opportunity to see the world, to gain experiences, skills and competencies that come from living in a truly multi-cultural and cross-cultural world, Maddox said in a statement.

Undergraduate students from historically black colleges and universities in the United States participate in study abroad programs at lower rates than students from other institutions, according to data from the Institute of International Education. But the numbers are increasing. The institutes 2018 fact sheet reported that 6.1 percent of U.S. students who studied abroad in 2016-17 were black or African American, which was up from 3.8 percent in 2006-07.

This year, Texas Southern has approved 10 faculty-led study abroad programs to Spain, France, Tanzania, Ghana, Korea and the Caribbean.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Tension prevailed on Sunday at Maujpur area of north-east Delhi after clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups following which police conducted flag marches to bring the situation under control.

The Delhi Metro, meanwhile, announced closure of entrance and exit gates of Maujpur-Babarpur metro station.



Protests and rallies by anti and pro-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) groups rocked the area, with pro-CAA groups rallying at Maujpur-Babarpur metro station, and Maujpur chowk while the anti-CAA protestors held fort in Kabir Nagar and Jaffarabad areas.



Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, eastern range, told mediapersons that the situation remained tense in the vicinity and the police were monitoring the situation.





Adequate police personnel have been deployed after security forces were pelted with stone during the violence.



Meanwhile, rumours ran thick and fast amid reports that BJP leader Kapil Mishra and his supporters came under attack by stone-pelters, and some reports said trains were also vandalized.



The people have questioned the role of police, alleging the police personnel remained mute spectators when the clashes broke out and did nothing to check the violence.



According to reports, a CRPF team has been deployed in the surrounding areas as the situation seemed to deteriorate.



Even as the situation appeared to be moving towards resolution at Shaheen Bagh where a 71-day roadblack represents anti-CAA sentiment, tension has been brewing in the eastern part of Delhi, since Saturday night, following the blockade of a road in Jaffrabad by anti-CAA protestors in response to a bandh call given for Sunday by Chandrashekhar Azad of the Bhim Army.
Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, Feb 24, 2020 -The turn of the People Of Anambra South Senatorial District comprising Old Aguata, Ihiala and Nnewi zones, to produce the next elected Gov of the State is totally non negotiable. This is clearly hinged on the principle of power shift or rotation powered by equity and fairness. In the Anambra South, too, equity and fairness shall determine which particular zone: Old Aguata or Nnewi or Ihiala zone shall take the turn of producing the next Gov.

Therefore, any governorship aspirant jostling for the seat through one of the major political parties who is from a Senatorial District other than Anambra South, is likely committing a political suicide or embarking on political suicide mission. Rather than embarking on such political suicide mission, the affected governorship aspirants and their supporters and entire political districts or zones are strongly called upon to back out and join in search for quality candidates from Anambra South irrespective of political parties of their belonging.

The above was the position of Intl Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law-INTERSOCIETY contained in a statement issued today and signed by Barr Chinwe Umeche, Head of Democracy & Good Governance Department. To achieve the above, money politics, squander-mania, mediocrity and daftness must give way for skillfulness or intellectual and leadership capacity, leadership charisma and commitment to render selfless service to mankind and society if elected into public office, Intersociety added.

It must be pointed out clearly and boldly that any attempt to deny the People of Anambra South their right to produce the next Governor of Anambra State in Nov 2021 is capable of making the State ungovernable including resurrecting and drawing the wrath of the Old Aguata Political Mafia, Emeka Umeagbalasi said today in a separate statement signed by him. This must be pursued and fought by the People of Anambra South with vehemence, vigor and tenacity, Umeagbalasi further said.

Background

Anambra State created in August 1991 with 21 LGAs, is one of the 36 Component Units or States (plus the Federal Capital Territory) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The State, among others, embraced the return to civil rule in late May 1999 and had been governed legally and constitutionally since then as well as by doctrine of necessity for purpose of avoiding anarchic leadership vacuum.

With a four year tenure, renewable once, if re-elected; the State was governed for four years (29th May 1999-29th May 2003) by Dr. CC Mbadinuju from Ihiala zone of the Anambra South; nearly three years (29th May 2003-17th March 2006) through doctrine of necessity (later declared by courts as an interloper government) by Dr Chris Ngige from Anambra Central; and eight years (17th March 2006-17th March 2014) by Mr. Peter Obi from same Anambra Central; as well as eight years (17thMarch 2014 -17th March 2022) by Mr. Willie Obiano from Omambala part of the Anambra North. It must be further reminded that under the eight years of Mr. Peter Obi, the laws of the land added the brief intervals the duo of Madam Virginia Etiaba and Mr. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (Andy) held sway (in acting capacity) in the counting of Mr. Obis eight years (17th March 2006-17th March 2014).

Equity & Fairness Heavily Favor Anambra South

Strictly speaking and going by the principles of equity and fairness, the Anambra Central had since the return to civil rule on 29th May 1999 governed the State legitimately and by default for eleven years, Anambra North eight years and Anambra South for only four years. Apart from nearly three default years held by the Anambra Central per Dr Chris Ngige, the Anambra Central and the Anambra North, by law, had governed or deemed to have governed the State for eight years each while the Anambra South was left with only four years (29thMay 1999-29th May 2003). Today, the gubernatorial power shift has rotated among the three Senatorial Districts and come back to Anambra South.

The Principle Of Power Shift Must Not Be Broken When It Reaches The Turn Of Anambra South

The above position of ours strongly stems from renewed interests by some politicians from zones other than Anambra South to contest for the seat of Anambra Gov in 2021. The camp of Dr Chris Ngige, a current Federal Minister and former default Governor of the State is said to have recently told the media that pressure is being mounted on him to return as Anambra Governor in 2021. Dr. Chris Nigige is from the same Anambra Central that consecutively governed the State both legitimately and by default for eleven years.

Another former Gov from the same Senatorial District, Mr. Peter Obi, though highly respected and accomplished achiever in public office was also copiously quoted in the media recently as declaring that zoning or governorship rotation in Anambra State is dead or abolished; meaning that henceforth the seat is thrown open. For us at Intersociety and going by sampling opinions from majority of the People of Anambra South, the views of Dr. Chris Ngige and Mr. Peter Obi, if truly expressed, are strictly personal. Such views or interests, if true, are totally rejected because they strongly go against the principles of equity and fairness.

The People Of Anambra South Must Rise To Take What Rightly Is Theirs

The People of Anambra South are hereby called upon to rise in strong defense of their right to takeover democratically and govern the State come 17thMarch 2022. Intersociety is strongly against political domination, exclusion and segregation of any type in any area, space and time. It is not only that the gubernatorial seat of the State shall be shifted to the Anambra South, but it must also be conceded to the Political Zone by consensus.

Time For Catholic Church To Step Aside After 19 Consecutive Years Of Producing Anambra Gov

The shift in the Anambra Governorship seat must also include denominational shift. A situation whereby the Catholic Church has consecutively produced the Governor of the State for the past nineteen (19) years or from 29th May 2003 to 17thMarch 2022 is denominationally dictatorial and unfair. It is time for members of the Pentecostal and Anglican churches or even traditional religions to be given a chance. To ensure this, the Catholic Bishops and the Laity should join hands with others in search of a moderate and charismatic non Catholic as the next Gov of Anambra State.

Concurring, Emeka Umeagbalasi added in his separate statement: I was born a strong Catholic and live till date as a strong Catholic; had my baptism, holy communion, confirmation and holy matrimony all in the Catholic Church; but in terms of governance of Anambra State, my respected Church, the Catholic, shall step aside, having taken enough shots at the seat of Anambra Governor in the past nineteen (19) years. My respected Mother Church must therefore allow others a chance, except whereby they do not have anybody or unwilling or unable to produce or field a good and acceptable candidate.

Signed: Intersociety per Barr Chinwe Umeche & Emeka Umeagbalasi (for himself)

Contacts:

Intersociety:

Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.intersociety-ng.org

Emeka Umeagbalasi:

Phone: +2349083383504

Email: [email protected]
Cattle Futures Higher, Erasing Discount to Cash Market Barchart - 25 minutes ago Feb fats rallied $1.42 on Tuesday. The other front cattle closed 15 to 62 cents higher. Cash cattle trade through Tuesday has been mostly $1 weaker near $137. USDA has confirmed cash trade from $134 to... LEG22 : 137.675s (+1.05%) LEM22 : 136.850s (+0.46%) GFF22 : 162.075s (+0.71%) GFH22 : 166.350s (+0.60%)

UK's Johnson apologizes for attending lockdown party AP - 1 hour ago LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Wednesday for attending a garden party during Britains coronavirus lockdown in 2020, but brushed aside opposition demands that he resign for breaching... $SPX : 4,713.07 (+0.92%) $DOWI : 36,252.02 (+0.51%) $IUXX : 15,844.12 (+1.47%)

USDCAD Elliott Wave analysis - Eyes Down EW-Forecast.com - 1 hour ago USDCAD is coming down after only a three-wave rally to 1.2834 resistance that we see as a contra-trend move so more weakness is coming after breaking through 1.2600 support ^USDCAD : 1.25159 (-0.44%)
Organisations representing



the 1984 gas tragedy survivors on Monday \staged a protest in Bhopal against the visit of US President Donald Trump claiming his dispensation was not extending help in the ongoing trial into what has been widely acknowledged as the world's worst industrial disaster.

Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said protesters at Bhopal's Iqbal Maidan registered their anger at the US government not serving summons issued by a court in MP's capital city to Dow Chemicals, an American multi-national company.

Dow Chemicals is the current owner of Union Carbide, from whose factory in Bhopal poisonous gas leaked on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, killing 3,000 people and affecting 1.02 lakh.

"Since 2016, when Trump came to power, the Bhopal district court has twice summoned Dow Chemical, as the owner of Union Carbide, on charges of corporate manslaughter.

"However, the US Department of Justice has refused to serve these summons on Dow," Dhingra said.

The protesters held placards alleging the Trump administration was sheltering fugitives of the Bhopal tragedy.

In Indore, local organisations protested at regal Chauraha by forming a human chain, which also saw the participation of former state advocate general Anand Mohan Mathur.

Talking to reporters, Mathur claimed Trump had come to India as part of a "conspiracy" to obtain votes of American citizens of Gujarati origin in the US presidential elections due in November.

"Another purpose of Trump's visit to India is to sell the arms of US companies. But history has shown that America's capitalist mindset has been against India's interests," Mathur said.

Protesters in Indore held placards demanding that US investment in India's agriculture, animal husbandry and dairy sectors be banned.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Jerseyans views on the job Gov. Phil Murphy is doing about two years into his tenure havent changed much.

Forty-two percent approve of Murphys job performance, while 36% disapprove, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released Monday. Thats statistically unchanged from about eight months ago, when 43% approved and 36% disapproved in a similar FDU survey.

The Democratic governors approval is a mixed bag when stacked up against his predecessors, Republican Chris Christie and Democrat Jon Corzine.

At around this time in his administration, Christie had a 54% job approval and 34% disapproval, according to FDU. Corzine had an approval rating akin to Murphys: 44 percent. However, his disapproval rating of 45% was nine points higher than Murphys.

When asked if people believe Murphy has any major accomplishments under his belt, the situation is a bit bleaker for the governor.

A minority of residents are unable to identify a single major legislative accomplishment, according to FDU. Murphy has often touted that he signed about 700 bills in his first to years.

Although the governor is keen on pointing out the number of bills he has signed into law, the fact remains that many of his constituents cannot identify his accomplishments," said Krista Jenkins, the polls director and a professor of Politics and Government at FDU.

New Jersey is a tough crowd, Jenkins added. These numbers suggest more is needed in the messaging department."

Thirty-nine percent say the governor has achieved some success, while only 10% credit him with a major accomplishment. Twenty-nine percent, meanwhile, say the governor can claim credit for a minor achievement.

The most frequently cited accomplishment among those who could name one or more is the states gradual increase to a $15 minimum wage. Murphy signed the bill into law last year. New Jersey will be a $15 minimum wage state by 2024.

Other common answers included almost getting recreational marijuana passed in the state and a belief that Murphy is trying to fix the states mass transit system.

A third (33%) say hes achieved no real accomplishments, according to FDU.

Clearly the minimum wage increase has resonated with the public and making good on a campaign promise to get people more money is a big deal," Jenkins said. However, based on these numbers, it looks like the message remains undelivered for many.

FDU surveyed 805 New Jersey adults Feb. 12-16 by landline and cell phone. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

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Linkedin Belseran Christ (The Jakarta Post) Maluku  Mon, February 24, 2020

The Eastern Seram Police have named two people from Sabuai customary village in Maluku's Eastern Seram regency suspects for alleged vandalism. They were reportedly trying to protect a forest that they considered part of their societys heritage from logging.

"The two indigenous individuals were named suspects, but we did not detain them," Eastern Seram Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Adolof Bormasa said, adding that they had allegedly damaged heavy equipment belonging to a logging company operating in the forest.

The two suspects were among 26 people detained last week after a protest of the companys activities allegedly turned into a riot. The protesters reportedly chained down heavy machinery used to extract timber from Mount Ahwale forest in Sabuai.

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Meghan McCain, The Views resident conservative co-host, said on Monday that she had a really hard time deciding whether President Donald Trump or Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is more in the tank for Russia.

Discussing recent revelations that Sanders was briefed last month that Russia was attempting to aid the democratic socialist senator in his 2020 presidential bid, co-host Sunny Hostin grumbled that Sanders wasnt that forthright with the public. She went on to note that Trump would likely use Russias meddling to contest the results of the election if Sanders were to win.

Thats a far jump into the future, McCain responded.

The conservative personality, who has been extremely critical of Sanders and his supporters recently, proceeded to take her own show to task for only devoting airtime last week to reports that Congress was briefed that Russia was looking to interfere on Trumps behalf in 2020.

We didnt mention that Bernie was also briefed at the same time, she said. That was completely omitted from reports.

We also didnt mention that now its come out that maybe people that had briefed those people, briefed the campaigns, may have overstepped it a little bit, McCain continued. And I just always think its interesting that when were talking about Russia, we only talk about Trump when it comes out that Bernie has just as serious a problem as Trump does. Why arent we talking about that? Why is that something we are omitting from our Hot Topics?!

Later in the segment, the table tied Russia seemingly preferring Sanders in the Democratic primary to Trump excitedly hyping up the Vermont senators great win in the Nevada caucuses.

He usually reserves this enthusiasm for dictators and porn stars, liberal co-host Joy Behar exclaimed.

So Bernie is like a dictator or a porn star in the eyes of Trump? McCain, confused, wondered aloud. I mean, hes super excited.

No. The enthusiasm that hes showing is because he thinks he can beat Bernie, Behar replied. He went, he went to the Ukraine to try and hurt [Joe] Biden.

Story continues

McCain, meanwhile, co-opted one of Team Trumps new lines of attack on Sanders to tie him to Russia and Vladimir Putin.

I mean, Bernie spent his honeymoon in Soviet Russia, she declared. I mean, I think if youre going to go back and forth over who is more in the tank for Russia, its a really hard one between Bernie and Trump.

McCains comments resulted in a single audience member applauding her, prompting the former Fox News star to sarcastically react: Thank you very much, sir, in the blue shirt.

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Kim is having a tough time persuading the people around her to steer clear of risk. Theres her client Bobby, a young father with one more on the way, whos looking at several years in jail if he doesnt plea down to as many months. But despite his list of priors and the predictability of trial outcomes, Bobby insists that the twinkle in his eye and the bun in his wifes oven will woo any panel of 12. And then theres Jimmy, whos made the snap decision to go into business as Saul Goodman, black-market cell-phone hawker turned lawyer for the delinquent and downtrodden.

I cant see it, she says over takeout, as much their common ritual as practicing law. You will, he promises. But Kims already half-faded, blending into the background of his big ideas like peel-and-stick kitchen backsplash. She eventually meets him somewhere between Jimmy and Saul to help harangue Bobby into taking the DAs deal, but its pretty clear that while Jimmys more self-possessed than ever, their identity as a couple has a crisis to counsel out.

At least Kim has time to consider who she is independent of Jimmy now that Jimmys inseparable from Saul. Casper, Kai, and the rest of Werners crew are a shell without their foreman, whom Mike had to put down after his disappearing act from the Superlab site. He was worth 50 of you, Casper growls as Mike hands him plane tickets back to Europe with little time to waste. In what can only be described as a mixed blessing for the late Mr. Zieglers laborers, theyve been hastily  and temporarily  recalled from their duties as Gus scrambles to cover his tracks after having to expose his operation to Lalo.

Well, sort of. All Gus did was give Lalo a tour of his supposed chicken chiller. And this was only after Lalo came around Guss chicken farm with Juan Bolsa to mediate, snooping and asking questions about why some of the Salamancass product was stepped on. Gus pinned the whole snafu on poor Werner, insisting the architect got greedy and went on the lam with a couple kilos in tow, forcing Gus to improvise and filter in some subpar local smack. Bolsa implored Lalo to appreciate that, with Gus, its all business and never personal. Essentially, to give him benefit of the doubt. But as Lalo reminds him, recalling the time Hector shot Guss partner in cold blood south of the border, Frings motives are mortally intertwined.

This all underscores how, despite Jimmy and Guss surface as polar opposites, they are both perennial outsiders tunneling their way toward commanding respect. And each has committed to compartmentalizing their vulnerabilities in order to slough off the low expectations of naysayers and nemeses from their past. Gus has evolved into a stoic brute, prone to cautioning combustible allies like Mike about transgressing even slightly, no matter how heavy a toll their work takes on the soul. Jimmy, for his part, has fully and finally flowered as an overqualified huckster eager to exploit his second chance without Chuck or anyone elses choice words. The larval Mr. McGill, Esq. has fluttered off unfettered as the garrulous Saul Goodman.

That Saul pitches an actual carnival tent and convenes a gathering of Juggalo-worthy acolytes to acquire half-price burner phones as a kind of presumed down payment on future legal services is pretty to the point. His pastel suit game restored to Inflatable glory of yore. and hair more evangelist bouffant than its later, iconic hangdog part, Saul spins a tale to junkies and lowlifes from far and wide about his reputation as the magic man of criminal defense. (Huell is all too happy to stand as living testament to his legendary prowess at making prison sentences disappear.) This spectacular exhibition, hastily amassed under the cover of night, is the precise inverse of how the Salamanca clan  now presided over by Lalo, with Nacho and Krazy 8 his wary lieutenants  goes about its business of collecting money from corner men and sawed-off-shotgun-toting ladies like middlewoman Mouse in monotonous, workmanlike fashion while sweating the daytime hours away.

The question is, how much does Jimmy quietly absorb from spending time around the likes of Lalo, whom we know from Breaking Bad crosses paths with him roughly concurrent to his dealings with Gus? And does all of that, taken into account alongside his imminent, ruinous run-in with Walter White, prepare the future Gene Takovic to take out Jeff the cabby (Don Harvey), who outs him as Saul once and for all at a lonely bench in that Omaha mall? We probably have to wait till at least this time next year for the answer to that. Gene may be tired of running from himself, but Sauls only started hitting his stride.

Apart From All That:

 Good to see that Lalo, like his uncle, appreciates fine footwear.

 Is there any sadder sight than Gene jiggling open that time-worn Band-Aid box, but desperately dumping out diamonds rather than Jimmys childhood change?

 Always good to see Sauls crack team of grad-student gophers.

 Maybe Molly and Frederico at Cinnabon can have Genes back.

 Nacho just cannot catch a break.

 When Lalo finally demonstrates raw rage, it is not going to be pretty.

 Poor Mrs. Ziegler.

 As for the irony of Jeff ID-ing Gene as Saul, when Sauls really Jimmy, one might quote AC/DC when asking, Who Made Who?
NEW YORK (AP)  Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of rape and sexual assault against two women and could be sent to prison for decades, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

He was convicted on charges stemming from a 2006 sexual assault and a 2013 rape. The jury found Weinstein not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

The most damaging conviction, for the sexual assault of production assistant Mimi Haleyi, would carry a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Weinstein, 67, had a look of resignation as the verdict came in, and was seen talking to his lawyers shortly after.

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and thats-Hollywood excuses from Weinstein about how the casting couch works.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.

The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on Haleyi and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.

Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails  and had sex with him  well after he supposedly attacked them.

The hard-charging and phenomenally successful movie executive helped bring to the screen such Oscar winners as Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction, The Kings Speech and Shakespeare in Love and nurtured the careers of celebrated filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith.

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles. In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on Jan. 6, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013. One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.

The trial was the first criminal case to arise from a barrage of allegations against Weinstein from more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman. Most of those cases were too old to prosecute.

During the trial, Weinstein regularly trudged into the courthouse stooped and unshaven, using a walker after recently undergoing back surgery  a far cry from the way he was depicted in court as a burly, intimidating figure whose eyes seemed to turn black with menace when his anger flared.

Many of Weinsteins accusers described him as a Jekyll and Hyde character who could be incredibly charming at first, making jokes and showing interest in using his immense power to help their careers.

But that was an act, they said, meant to gain their trust and get them to a place  often a hotel room or an apartment  where he could violate them.

If he heard the word no, it was like a trigger for him, his rape accuser testified.

Several women testified that Weinstein excused his behavior as the price for getting ahead in Hollywood. One said that when she laughed off his advances, he sneered, Youll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works.

The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured, that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises and that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.

The prosecutions task was made more complicated because two of the women at the very center of the case didnt just abandon Weinstein after the alleged encounters: Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks later, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterward.

Like Haleyi, she sent Weinstein friendly and sometimes flirtatious emails, such as Miss you big guy and I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call.

During a cross-examination from Weinsteins lawyers so exhaustive that she broke down in tears on the stand, the woman said she sent him flattering emails and kept seeing him because she was afraid of his unpredictable anger and I wanted him to believe I wasnt a threat.

To blunt that line of questioning, prosecutors called to the witness stand a forensic psychiatrist who said that most sexual assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers and that they hope what happened to them is just an aberration.

During closing arguments, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno charged that Weinstein had become the target of a cause and a movement  #MeToo  and asked the jury to ignore outside forces.

This is not a popularity contest, she said.

She said the case against Weinstein amounted to regret renamed as rape, arguing that the women exercised their free will to try to further their careers.

Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon told the jury that Weinstein considered himself such a big shot in Hollywood that he thought he could get away with treating women as complete disposables.

The universe is run by me and they dont get to complain when they get stepped on, spit on, demoralized and, yes, raped and abused by me  the king, she said, mimicking Weinstein.

Rumors about Weinsteins behavior swirled in Hollywood circles for a long time, but he managed to silence many accusers with payoffs, nondisclosure agreements and the constant fear that he could crush their careers if they spoke out.

Weinstein was finally arrested and led away in handcuffs in May 2018, seven months after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed his alleged misconduct in stories that would win the Pulitzer Prize.

Among other men taken down by the #MeToo movement since the scandal broke: news anchors Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, actor Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.

Weinstein, the product of a working-class family from Queens, achieved success at two movie studios he created with his brother Bob: Miramax  named for their parents, Miriam and Max  and then the Weinstein Co.

The Weinstein Co. went bankrupt after his disgrace. A tentative settlement was reached last year to resolve nearly all lawsuits stemming from the scandal. It would pay Weinsteins alleged victims about $25 million. Under the proposed deal, Weinstein would not have to admit any wrongdoing or personally pay anything; the studios insurance companies would cover the cost.

Weinsteins efforts to silence his accusers and thwart journalists who sought to expose his secrets included hiring Black Cube, an Israeli spy agency staffed by former Mossad agents. Asked one day as he left court why he hired that firm, Weinstein turned to a reporter and said: For days like this.

-
Silicon Valley Environmental group holds visitation event at Mountain View branch.

Photos: Leon Kunstenaar

They assembled in a corner of Mountain Views Pioneer Memorial Park, then quietly, to surprise the Wells Fargo branch, walked over, entered the bank and deployed their banners and signs. Meeting no success in delivering a letter to branch manager, the demonstrators chanted, sang and delivered information about Wells Fargos contribution to the climate crisis.The police, however, had been expecting them having been seen visiting the branch just before the protest. They made no initial efforts to interfere. Eventually, as they walked among the protesters in the customer area in front of the tellers, the demonstrator lay down in a die in.After some negotiations between the police and the protesters, the police was heard informing the bankers that the protesters would now be leaving.Having made their point the demonstrators got up and, exiting the branch, handed leaflets to the police.With a loud megaphone the climate action continued outside. Many cars honked their approval as many leaflets were handed out to friendly passersby.The movement to defund the fossil fuel industry is reverberating in the executive suites. Black Rock, a funder of the fossil fuel industry and major contributor to Amazon forest destruction has given indications of intending the mend its ways. Wells Fargo, the second biggest funder of the fossil fuel industry, and Chase, the worst offender, have put out statements and studies indication a growing acceptance of the facts of climate change.It is up to the environmental movement to keep up and increase the pressure.
LONDON  The United States government began laying out its extradition case against Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, in court on Monday by arguing that he had put lives at risk and was no better than an ordinary criminal.

Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a license to break ordinary criminal laws, James Lewis, a lawyer representing the U.S. government, told the court.

Mr. Assange has been indicted on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act for his role in obtaining and publishing secret military and diplomatic documents and he could face as many as 175 years in prison if found guilty on all charges.

His lawyers will begin presenting their defense later in the week.

Mr. Assanges appearance in Woolwich Crown Court was the latest twist in a saga that stretches back to 2010, when he began publishing secret American military and diplomatic documents that were provided by the former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was convicted at a court-martial in 2013 of leaking the documents.
Birminghams the Sanders Trust will finance, construct and own a new $24 million inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Arkansas.

Workers broke ground recently on the project. Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, part of the Mercy Health System in St. Louis, and Kindred Healthcare, entered into a joint venture to operate the hospital upon completion. Mercy/Kindred selected The Sanders Trust as the developer.

The hospital will serve patients who require rehabilitation following a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or similar medical problems. Patients will be provided with nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and related services with an average stay of about 13 days.

President and CEO Rance Sanders said its the 28th state for a company project.

The Sanders Trust will work with the architectural firm Earl Swensson Associates, based in Nashville, and general contractor McCarthy Construction of St. Louis.
SAPD

A San Antonio police officer was arrested after he was accused of punching his girlfriend's 14-year-old son, SAPD said in a news release Monday.

Robert Gaitan, an 11-year veteran assigned to patrol, was charged with injury to a child.
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Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday launched a three-day special community outreach programme on the Intensified Mission Indradhanush and said no child should be missed under the routine immunisation programme.

In a video message, the minister emphasised the importance of immunisation of children and pregnant women as part of the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 2.0).

High priority is being accorded by the government for achieving targets, Vardhan said after launching the outreach programme at the Shastri Park here.

The IMI is being carried out in 272 districts across 27 states and UTs, and 650 blocks of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh across 109 districts since December 2019, he added.

Through the IMI, the government aims to reach every child below the age of two years and pregnant women still uncovered under the routine immunisation programme with a special focus on improving coverage in areas with "low" immunization.

"While we have targets to achieve 90 per cent immunisation coverage target, we should all aim to ensure that not even one child is deprived of a vaccine and die of vaccine preventable diseases. Especially when we have a basket of vaccines as part of our routine Universal Immunisation Program (UIP)" he said in his video message.

"With the launch of IMI 2.0, India has the opportunity to achieve further reductions in deaths among children under five years of age, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of ending preventable child deaths by 2030," he added,



The outreach programme is being organised by the Song and Drama Division of the Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

He informed that three rounds of IMI 2.0 have already been conducted from December 2019 and February 2020, wherein 29.74 lakh children and 5.90 lakh pregnant women have been vaccinated.

One more round of IMI 2.0 is planned to be conducted in March 2020, Vardhan said.

As a part of the special community outreach, an exhibition displaying the various schemes of the ministry and information on how to avail of these benefits is also being held.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By April, consumers in India will be able to initiate class-action lawsuits and also opt for mediation under the new Consumer Protection Act 2019, which gives legal teeth to claims for damages over defective products or poor services.

These are among the two key new measures included in the amended law cleared by Parliament in August  for which rules are being now framed, to bring consumer protection measures in line with a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Class-action suits, a legal tool widely used in western consumer markets such as the US, enable one individual complaint of a faulty product or service to be treated as an interest group of other people in similar circumstances.

This type of legal suit can be invoked to recall an entire batch of faulty products based on a single complaint. If one lot of a consumer item, such as mobile phones or cars, has a common defect, a single complaint can trigger the recall through class action.

The Ram Vilas Paswan-headed Union consumer affairs ministry is in the process of finalising an apex investigative authority under an agency called the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CPPA), which will take up class action suits exclusively.

The agency will start functioning in first week of April. Most of the set up is almost ready, said a government official who asked not to be named.

The Indian market has seen mass product recalls of faulty products earlier, but such cases have been voluntary rather than a legal necessity under consumer rights. For instance, in April 2017, Toyota Kirloskar Motor announced it was recalling 23,157 units of its sedan Corolla Altis in India, as part of the then ongoing recall of 2.9 million vehicles globally, for defective air bags.

A faulty medicine causing damage to a large section of people is a fit case for class-action suits. Instead of multiple of claims coming to court, a single case can be a more efficient way of dealing with the problem, said Sriram Panchu, a Chennai-based lawyer, who specialises in mediation.

According to Panchu, the much-needed provision of mediation under the new law is fit for cases where damages are payable in monetary terms. It can cut prolonged legal battles, he said.

The new law overrides the older Consumer Protection Act 1986, which provided for national consumer dispute redressal courts and commissions. Previously, consumers had to approach such platforms, but there were no clear rules on product recalls, a legal meaning of product liability, which confers post-purchase obligations for a product-maker, as well as rules for mass recalls. Moreover, lack of any provision for mediation meant long-drawn court battles were the only recourse for dispute settlement.

According to the new law, the consumer protection authority has powers to first initiate class action and then enforce recall, refund and return of products. If such mass defects are proven, the manufacturers liability and onus of product recall  whereby the maker replaces or fixes the fault  have also been defined in the new law.

At the state level, district collectors have been empowered to probe complaints that affect the interests of consumers as a class.

The new law additionally defines unfair contract between a manufacturer or trader or service provider on the one hand and a consumer on the other. Legal recourse will now be available in such cases where an unfair contract causes significant change in the rights of a consumer. These include a manifestly excessive security deposit or a penalty to be paid to a manufacturer or a service provider which is disproportionate to the losses caused.

The new law expands the scope of consumer protection by introducing two new concepts, namely product liability and product recall. Moreover, it defines the consumer and manufacturer for the first time. It also covers online transactions, said Maurice Fernandez of the Bangalore-based Citizens Collective for a Safer Marketplace.

We had a fruitful meeting with the consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan on various aspects of implementing the new Consumer Protection Act 2019 earlier this month, said Rajendra Singh of the All-India PET Products Manufacturers Association.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Zia Haq Zia Haq reports on public policy, economy and agriculture. Particularly interested in development economics and growth theories. ...view detail
Burdette and her husband had always been civically engaged  they opened a free-trade, organic coffee shop called My House in Chicago shortly before the Great Recession hit and participated in protests and rallies in their 20s  but it wasnt until ethylene oxide that she became an activist and ultimately decided to run for the Illinois House.
US President Donald Trump, seeking re-election, on Monday criticised the Opposition Democratic Party, some 13,000 kilometres away from America in India, and suggested that Senator Bernie Sanders could be his likely rival in the presidential poll in November.

Trump, who is on a 36-hour visit to India commented on the ongoing Democratic Party nomination race and said, "It could go to the convention, it really could."



"They are going to take it away from Crazy Bernie, they are not going to let him win...I actually think he would be tougher than most of the other candidates because he is like me but I have a much bigger base," Trump told reporters as he flew on Air Force One from Ahmedabad to Agra, according to CNN.

Trump's comments on the American political scene came a day after Sanders, 78, comfortably won the crucial Nevada Democratic Caucus, giving a big boost to his campaign for the 2020 White House bid.

Earlier in the day, 73-year-old Trump, a Republican, tweeted that he has secured a record 95 per cent approval rating in the Republican Party.

He also took a dig at Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and his Democratic Party rival in the 2016 presidential poll on the victory of Sanders in the Nevada Caucus.

"Are any Democrat operatives, the DNC, or Crooked Hillary Clinton, blaming Russia, Russia, Russia for the Bernie Sanders win in Nevada," Trump tweeted.

"If so I suggest calling Bob Mueller & the 13 Angry Democrats to do a new Mueller Report, Democrat Edition. Bob will get to the bottom of it!"



The president was referring to Mueller, the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who investigated possible Russian ties to the Trump campaign in the 2016 elections.

Trump also attacked Adam Schiff, a Democratic politician serving in the House of Representatives, who took a leading role in impeaching the president by the House.

"Somebody please tell incompetent (thanks for my high poll numbers) & corrupt politician Adam Shifty Schiff to stop leaking Classified information or, even worse, made up information, to the Fake Media," Trump tweeted.

"Someday he will be caught, & that will be a very unpleasant experience!" he added.

Trump also announced that he would be with his friends and supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CAPC) on Saturday in Alexandria city in Virginia. The CAPC is the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world, according to the CAPC website.

During his massive road show in Ahmedabad along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said that he and First Lady Melania have travelled 8,000 miles around the globe to deliver a message to every citizen across India that "America loves India. America respects India. And America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Medical staff members work at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 25, 2020. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Exclusive: Government Staff Dealing With Outbreak in Chinas Coronavirus Epicenter Are Getting Infected

Many junior government staff who are on the frontlines in confronting the COVID-19 outbreak in the city of Wuhan, its epicenter, and Hubei Province have become infected with the virus, according to two recent internal documents that insiders provided to The Epoch Times.

The government documents revealed that the province also currently lacks protective medical materials for staff.

Protocol is sometimes unsafe: some staff who are in contact with infected people are only equipped with a simple surgical mask. Then they also come into contact with potentially healthy people as they screen peoples body temperatures.

In addition, due to the lack of human resources, many junior staff have to continue working despite that their colleagues have been diagnosed with the virus. According to safety rules, those who were in close contact with virus patients must be quarantined for 14 days to make sure they are not infected and wont spread the disease further.

According to reported numbers, tens of thousands have been infected, and over two thousand have died in China, the majority of them in Hubei. However, eyewitness accounts and experts analyses show that the authorities have been underreporting cases.

Junior Staff

One type of document provided to The Epoch Times is the daily inspection report, prepared by an agency within the Hubei government set up to combat the epidemic. These are reported to Ying Yong, the provincial Chinese Communist Party boss; Wang Xiaodong, the governor; and Huang Chuping, the vice governor.

On Feb. 6, Sun Chunlan, a vice premier of China, ordered Hubei authorities to screen every persons body temperature in order to detect infected patientsby visiting each household in person.

The daily report on Feb. 19 noted that the Jianguo neighborhood on Ronghua Road, Wuhan, has 17 government staff members. On Feb. 11, one staff member was diagnosed with the coronavirus and was treated at a hospital, it stated.

Days later, the CT scan results of the staff director and deputy director revealed that they may be infected as well. On Feb. 16, the two leaders began their self-quarantine.

The report stated that now seven of the 17 staff have become infected. The other 10 are close contacts, but have to continue their work screening residents body temperatures.

A similar situation occurred with junior staff in charge of other neighborhoods: The deputy director of the Water Factory neighborhood on Zongguan Road of Qiaokou district, Wuhan, started to have symptoms on Feb. 3 and was diagnosed on Feb. 6. The other staff couldnt be quarantined or take a break due to lack of human resources.

At the Shuiguo Lake Beihuan Road neighborhood in Wuchang district, Wuhan, the director was diagnosed with the virus and being treated at a hospital, while the deputy director was infected and quarantined at home.

Another staff member, a deputy director named Zhang Xinxin, had a family member who passed away at home after becoming infected.

Zhang only wears a mask, without any other protective gear, the report said.

Lack of Supplies

Another type of document was prepared by the headquarters of Wuhans epidemic control agency, which reports to the provincial government.

The document emphasized that the junior staff lacked the protective materials they needed to conduct body temperature screenings properly. This directly contradicts public statements by city officials that the city has enough supplies.

As of Feb. 16, the stock of protective suits was 16,771 suits, but daily need was 77,704; the stock of N95 masks was 20,755, but daily need was 130,010; the stock of face shields was 6,758, but daily need was 15,540.

The documents emphasized that the staff need more protective materials and disinfectant products.

Chaotic Management

The daily inspection report noted that in some quarantine centers, theres no isolation between patients with mild symptoms, the medical staff, and quarantined people who were in close contact with confirmed patients but have not shown symptoms yet. The quarantined people often visit each other to chat.

The report also said that at some quarantine centers, there are no medical staff or medicines available. Patients are not allowed to go back home to pick up medicines they bought before, nor do they receive any testing.

The government has strictly locked down the province and Wuhan since Feb. 10. Residents are not allowed to casually leave home. Supermarkets are only allowed to sell products to government-approved distributor agents who then deliver the goods to each household.

But the daily report noted that in several cities, some people left their homes and were waiting in long queues in front of the supermarkets because they didnt receive enough food through the distributor agents.

Meanwhile, many residents visited their elderly and disabled neighbors to bring food and basic living supplies to them because the local government did not provide for them, according to the report.

Click to download two selections of the documents: Document One; Document Two.
A federal judge will rule on Tuesday in the anti-graft EFCCs multi-million naira corruption case against politician Olisa Metuh.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested Mr Metuh, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on January 5, 2016, accusing him of receiving N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The money was paid in the run-up to the 2015 general elections when the PDP was still in power, and formed a part of about $2.1 billion allegedly plundered after being earmarked for defence procurement.

Federal authorities accused Mr Metuh, then a chief spokesperson for the PDP, of receiving the N400 million through his private firm, Dextra Investments Limited. They said he should have known that the money came from proceeds of loot by Sambo Dasuki, the then national security adviser.

But Mr Metuh denied the allegation, saying his firm was paid for a legitimate commerce it entered with the ONSA, which did not complain that service was not rendered.

The politicians lawyers, led by Onyechi Ikpeazu, said it was preposterous for the prosecution to premise its case heavily on the notion that Mr Metuh should have known that the money paid by the ONSA to his company was part of a defence procurement budget allegedly diverted by the ONSA.

Away from their first argument that Mr Metuh reasonably ought to have known that his company was paid from ill-gotten proceeds, according to court documents reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, the prosecutors also tackled Mr Metuh for receiving N400 million for a contract he knew was worth well below that amount.

Mr Metuh also rejected the argument that he took part in a conspiracy to inflate the value of a contract in contravention of public procurement regulations.

Okon Abang, the presiding judge, who has been a part of the drama that ensued throughout the case, would now determine on February 25 whether or not the prosecution has a case.

A long, dramatic trial

For those who followed it from the beginning, Mr Metuhs case has been a basket of comic treats. Barely a week after he was arrested, as prosecutors prepared their case again him, Mr Metuh was accused of tearing his written statement to anti-graft detectives in an attempt to swallow them  thereby suppressing a major evidence.

Although he denied the allegation, the prosecution nonetheless added the claim to its charges as an obstruction of justice.

When the matter opened for trial, Mr Metuh fell ill repeatedly, sometimes appearing in court in wheelchair or even sickbed. He repeatedly sought the judges approval to travel for medical treatment, but this was denied as many times as he asked.

Even though the ruling All Progressives Congress said Mr Metuh had no genuine ground to travel abroad to see a neurosurgeon, a claim furthered by Mr Abangs refusal to grant him travel permission, a PREMIUM TIMES investigation showed the politician had a note to be treated for spinal cord injuries from a London doctor.

Mr Abangs refusal to grant Mr Metuh permission to travel abroad despite evidence of his doctors readiness to treat him for spinal cord complications reignited allegations that the judge was biased against the defendant.

At the early stages of the trial in 2016, Mr Metuh had said he was classmates with Mr Abang at law school. But the judge denied the assertion, saying he did not recall the politicians identity and rejecting defences motion for him to stand down from the case.

But several independent sources, including an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES and the submission of legal and rights expert Chidi Odinkalu, revealed that both the judge and the politician were classmates.

In defending himself, Mr Metuh tried to call two key witnesses: Goodluck Jonathan and Mr Dasuki. His legal team believed the statement of either or both witnesses would go a long way towards exonerating him.

He said Mr Jonathan was the one who, as president, authorised the NSA to give out the contract, although this was when Mr Jonathan himself was running for reelection.

Mr Dasuki, as the NSA, was supposed to testify in favour of Mr Metuh by confirming that the contract was legally awarded and payment made. He was to also confirm that the contract was executed based on its terms.

But Mr Dasuki was himself enmeshed in a matter with the State Security Service, the domestic intelligence outfit whose agents arrested the former NSA in December 2015 and kept him in custody for several years until December 2019.

Mr Dasuki had been facing charges of illegal possession of arms with the SSS. But despite several court orders, the agency declined to release Mr Dasuki, citing national security implications.

In a case of civil disobedience to force compliance with his fundamental rights, Mr Dasuki withdrew his participation in the trial until SSS had complied with the court order to free him on bail.

The stalemate made it difficult for Mr Dasuki to stand as a witness for Mr Metuh for nearly two years. When he eventually testified in November 2017, while still in custody of the SSS, Mr Dasuki said he would not be able to confirm or deny anything relating to Mr Metuhs case unless he has access to his own records.

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On the same day, Mr Abang scoffed at the defence teams attempt to persuade the court to adjourn hearing in his matter until Mr Dasuki regained freedom from the SSS and laid hands on his records.

Earlier in October 2017, the trial had dominated headlines after Mr Metuh tried to get the court to compel Mr Jonathan to testify in the matter, insisting the former presidents appearance in the witness box was essential for his extrication.

On October 27, Mr Abang ordered Mr Jonathan to appear before the court for his testimony, signing a subpoena to be served on the former president.

For several months, however, efforts to get the former president to appear in court proved impossible. Mr Jonathan did not appear in court throughout the trial.

In December 2019, both prosecution and defence teams concluded their filings before the court, prompting the judge to fix February 25 for ruling.

Far-reaching consequences

If the argument against Mr Metuh is sustained, it could introduce a change so fundamental in how Nigerians participate in commerce that it would be almost impossible to for anyone not to get caught up in a similar case in their lifetime, said anti-corruption and legal analyst Yomi Ogunsanya.

It is not the duty of a retailer or a contractor to know the source of a payment for a service rendered, Mr Ogunsanya said. Even if where there is a duty to do so, it is practically impossible to achieve.

Mr Ogunsanya said even though he is an anti-corruption campaigner, he found the EFCCs case against Mr Metuh too weak to be taken seriously by any liberal mind, much less a federal judge.

It is a matter that could cripple a countrys economy because a retailer would spend so much time trying to find out the source of payment from a customer, he said. When his duty should actually stop at ensuring that adequate service is rendered for free-flow and sustainability of business.

The analyst said the EFCCs argument was analogous to asking a roadside pepper seller in a remote settlement to be asking for the source of fund of a traveller who stops by to patronise.

Even for us as lawyers, we do not ask clients where they would get money to pay for a brief. Our duty is to execute the brief to the best of our ability, he said.

I do not even see the EFCC argument coming through in court, notwithstanding whether the judge sitting on the matter is biased or not, he said.

But Lanre Suraj, another anti-corruption campaigner, sharply disagreed, saying Mr Metuh should have known that the payment was fraudulent on the basis of the contract itself.

Money for election or campaign should only come from the political party and not from the purse of the government, Mr Suraj said, arguing that the contract was only a ruse to obscure political intent of the contract.

It is indefensible for money to be paid from ONSA to a private company for campaign purpose and the beneficiary would claim ignorance of the fact that such fund could have contained inherent misappropriation, Mr Suraj said.

Yet, both experts agreed that the case has been a complex one and a conviction could introduce even more complications into the Nigerian criminal jurisprudence.
John Carl D'Annibale

ROTTERDAM -- State Police are investigating the overdose death of a high school student in the Schalmont school district who attended the Capital Region BOCES Auto and Pathways program.

Schalmont schools posted a short notice about the weekend death online Saturday, and then provided a longer letter to parents, staff and students Sunday.
A Delhi court on Monday sought response from the city police on a plea of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor seeking preservation of his deceased wifes Twitter account and tweets made by her prior to her death in 2014.

Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar directed the investigating officer (IO) in the case to file his reply on Tharoors plea by March 20, when the court will next hear the matter.

The court had last month dismissed Tharoors plea seeking to place before it certain tweets of his wife, saying he will have the liberty to produce them at an appropriate stage.

The former union minister who had got pre-arrest bail, which was later converted to regular bail, was charged by the Delhi Police under Sections 498-A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

In the plea filed on Monday, senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Tharoor, said Twitter may delete her entire account since she expired in 2014 and that poses a threat of loss of evidence in this case.

When an individual dies, Twitter may delete the entire account, until and unless an order is passed in this regard. That poses a threat of loss of the evidence in this case, Pahwa said Since 2014 her (Pushkars) account is inactive. Give a direction to IO to write to Twitter India to preserve her account and tweets, he requested the court.

Police claimed that Tharoor, the sole accused in the case, had abetted his wifes suicide as he had tortured her.

The maximum punishment for the offence listed in the charge sheet is 10 years of imprisonment.

Pushkars death had created a sensation as it came shortly after a bitter spat between the couple on Twitter over his alleged affair with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar.

Pushkar, 51, was found dead in a suite of luxury hotel Leela in Delhis Chanakyapuri on the night of January 17, 2014.

The couple was staying at the hotel as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.
As the POTUS and FLOTUS landed in India on Monday, television cameras ready on standby at Ahmedabad airport whirred to action with photographers getting a thousand and one clicks of Donald and Melania Trump's first steps on desi land.

And the first thing that met the waiting eyes was Trump's bright yellow power tie and the First Lady's white pantsuit secured with a green sash at the waist.

Foreign visits of powerful world leaders never fail to grab headlines. And when it comes to the First Family of America, the whole world tends to watch each and every minute detail from hand-shakes to outfits. Trump's India visit also lived up to the occasion. As images of the Trumps descending the steps of their aircraft to hug Prime Minister Narendra Modi went viral on Indian media, social media was quick to note the pair's clothes.

With her all white pant-suit and a green sash tied to her waist, Melania seemed to remind many on the Internet of a karate player, ready in costume. A Twitter user even joked that Melania was perfectly dressed for the occasion as she appeared ready for "self-defence" in case she chanced upon "handsy Indian men". Others also noted the similarity.

Melania came in her karate clothes pic.twitter.com/kQTA8H7Uxz Veena Venugopal (@veenavenugopal) February 24, 2020
A bill to provide $45 million to open homeless shelters and to allow them to be located regardless of zoning, planning and design rules got unanimous support from the House Rules Committee Friday.

Lawmakers from both parties agreed that the fact that roughly 6,000 Oregonians sleep outside in communities all around the state constitute an emergency that justifies waiving zoning rules.

House Bill 4001, a top priority for House Speaker Tina Kotek, now heads to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Kotek testified that suspending zoning and design rules until July 2021 to allow shelters to be located almost anywhere makes sense given that we have unsheltered homelessness at catastrophic levels in this state.

We have to treat this like the disaster that it is and get things sited as soon as possible, Kotek said.

Bend Republican Cheri Helt, a former member of the Bend school board, testified in support of the bill, noting that when Bend officials tried to open a warming center for homeless people when the temperature reached 12 degrees, they were unable to secure a place to do so. The school district had about 600 students without a permanent home of their own, she said.

The bill calls for Eugene and Salem to each receive $5 million, Bend and Medford $2.5 million and McMinnville $1.5 million to open super-shelters that would offner not only shelter but also connections to health care, public assistance, social services and other community supports.

Cities and counties could also get a share of $27 million in one-time help to create or operate shelters with low barriers for entry.

House Minority Leader Christine Drazen, R-Canby, said she supports it and is glad it has broad bipartisan workmanship and support.

Andy Smith, lobbyist for the Association of Oregon Counties, said his group is very supportive of the bill.

Ways and Means Committee members are weighing numerous requests for funding but some members have signaled they expect the homelessness package to be awarded money.

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OregonianPol

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The Hills: New Beginnings star Brody Jenner and his ex 'wife' Kaitlynn Carter fueled rumors they'd rekindled their romance by flying back to Los Angeles together from Indonesia's Taoyuan International Airport on Monday.

The bisexual 31-year-old Insta-storied a video of herself and the 36-year-old reality star wearing masks and she jokingly wondered if they'd 'survive' the Coronavirus and 'make it to LA alive.'

On Sunday, Kaitlynn shared snaps of the last meals she ate at Suka Expresso and The Elephant during her lavish getaway in her 'happy place' Bali.

Back together? The Hills: New Beginnings star Brody Jenner (R) and his ex 'wife' Kaitlynn Carter (L) fueled rumors they'd rekindled their romance by flying back to Los Angeles together from Indonesia's Taoyuan International Airport on Monday

'Will we make it to LA alive?' The bisexual 31-year-old Insta-storied a video of herself and the 36-year-old reality star wearing masks and wondered if they'd 'survive' the Coronavirus

That same day, Carter thanked the Udaya Resorts & Spa gushing that this trip was 'was the first time I've felt fully like myself in a very long time.'

'I got sad this morning thinking about leaving,' the University of New Hampshire grad wrote on Instagram.

'LA has become a pretty heavy place for me lately (not really where I prefer to be anymore, but where I have to be for work).'

And while Kaitlynn has been vacationing in Bali since February 16, Brody flew in two days later while rocking his trusty N95 respirator mask.

'Farewell breaky!' On Sunday, Kaitlynn shared snaps of the last meals she ate at Suka Expresso and The Elephant during her lavish getaway in her 'happy place' Bali

Pretty as a petal: That same day, Carter thanked the Udaya Resorts & Spa gushing that this trip was 'was the first time I've felt fully like myself in a very long time'

The University of New Hampshire grad wrote: 'I got sad this morning thinking about leaving. LA has become a pretty heavy place for me lately (not really where I prefer to be anymore, but where I have to be for work)'

On or off? And while Kaitlynn has been vacationing in Bali since February 16, Brody flew in two days later while rocking his trusty N95 respirator mask

'Bali Bagus!' Unlike Carter, Jenner only posted one holiday snap on Sunday of the breathtaking view from Uluwatu surf bar, Single Fin Bali

Unlike Carter, Jenner only posted one holiday snap on Sunday of the breathtaking view from Uluwatu surf bar, Single Fin Bali.

The on/off couple since 2013 were two of the 172 guests attending the lavish nuptials of Chloe Chapman and Paul Nicholas Fisher at The Lawn Canggu on Friday.

It's ironic considering Kaitlynn and Brody's own June 2, 2018 'wedding' officiated by two Sumbanese priests at the Nihi Sumba resort in Indonesia was not legally binding in the States, and they never applied for a marriage license.

Legit or not, Carter and Jenner gladly cashed in on the faux ceremony and tagged all of the companies which made their wedding and subsequent honeymoon at Maldives resort Six Senses Laamu possible.

'Wedding of the millennium': The on/off couple since 2013 were two of the 172 guests attending the lavish nuptials of Chloe Chapman (L) and Paul Nicholas Fisher (M) at The Lawn Canggu on Friday (pictured last Tuesday)

Fake: It's ironic considering Kaitlynn and Brody's own June 2, 2018 'wedding' officiated by two Sumbanese priests at the Nihi Sumba resort in Indonesia was not legally binding in the States

'Worth the trek!' Legit or not, Carter and Jenner gladly cashed in on the faux ceremony and tagged all of the companies which made their wedding and subsequent honeymoon at Maldives resort Six Senses Laamu possible

The Selfe skincare founder first teased they were back together when she Insta-storied a b&w video of the nepotistically-privilged son of Caitlyn Jenner sipping coffee on January 10.

It was the same day Kaitlynn posted a snap of herself dining with his mother Linda Thompson at Nobu Malibu, whom she called her 'fam.'

Carter and Brody (born Sam) ended their 14-month 'marriage' on August 2 shortly before she began a highly-publicized, two-month summer fling with newly-separated pop star Miley Cyrus.

Meanwhile, Jenner kept busy dating Next Model Josiphene 'Josie' Canseco, Select Model Allison Mason, and Wilhelmina Model Daniella Grace.

'Single and chic!' The Selfe skincare founder first teased they were back together when she Insta-storied a b&w video of the son of Caitlyn Jenner sipping coffee on January 10

'Feelin super lucky to be part of this modern fam!' It was the same day Kaitlynn posted a snap of herself dining with his mother Linda Thompson at Nobu Malibu

He proceeded to date three models: Carter and Brody ended their 14-month 'marriage' on August 2 shortly before she began a highly-publicized, two-month summer fling with newly-separated pop star Miley Cyrus (pictured June 15)

It's unclear if both the 6ft heartthrob and the blonde beauty will sign on for the second season of The Hills: New Beginnings, which MTV renewed in July.

Back in 2006-2010, the Laguna Beach spin-off was frequently criticized for fabricating storylines.

But first, the DJ/nightclub host and his partner Devin Lucien are next scheduled to spin at Tao Nightclub inside the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas on March 26 and May 21.

'Keep calm and grab your crystals!' It's unclear if both Jenner and the blonde beauty will sign on for the second season of The Hills: New Beginnings, which MTV renewed in July
Will always be with you to fight injustice: Rahul Gandhi to media

Violence in Delhi disturbing, says Rahul Gandhi on clashes over CAA

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 24: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the violence that broke out between pro and anti-CAA groups who pelted stones at each other and security personnel in northeast Delhi's Maujpur area, in which one policeman was killed and others injured.

"The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion & understanding no matter what the provocation," the senior Congress leader said in a tweet.

Gandhi appealed to the people of Delhi to refrain from violent protests and said that violence could never be justified in a democracy.

Barely hours before visiting US President Donald Trump arrived in the national Capital, violence escalated in northeast Delhi areas of Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Bhajanpura between two groups of protesters-one supporting the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the other group protesting against the new law.

A police constable has died after sustaining injuries in the clashes. Another senior police officer is injured, according to news agency PTI.

Joint Police Commissioner (Eastern Range), Alok Kumar said, "The police have been stationed at strategically located areas where there is potential for disturbance like Jaffrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad and Shiv Vihar.

The clashes have taken place between Maujpur and Jaffrabad metro stations, both of which have been shut. Some shops and houses of people were also attacked in the area and torched earlier in the afternoon.

"Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," DMRC tweeted.

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 20:01 [IST]
A senior, city-based lawyer was found murdered inside his house here on Monday, police said, suspecting the involvement of his domestic help, who is missing.

Reyaz Ahmad Buchh, the husband of Power Development Department's retired chief engineer Shenaz Goni, was alone at his Greater Kailash residence when the incident took place, a police official said.

He said a police party rushed to the house after getting information about the murder and sent his body for postmortem.

Preliminary investigations suggest the deceased had a scuffle with his killer before he was apparently strangulated to death. His body also bore visible injury marks, the official said.

He said the CCTV at the house was found damaged and the private car and some other valuables were reportedly taken away, indicating theft as the motive behind the murder.

The family servant, hailing from Bihar, is suspected to be the prime accused, he said adding a murder case was registered and further investigation is on to bring the culprit to book.

Buchh's wife is abroad, while his son had gone to Mumbai, a relative of the slain lawyer said, adding the family had engaged the domestic help only a few months back.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Odisha government on



Monday told the Assembly that 10,054 posts in different categories in the state police were lying vacant.

As many as 78 IPS posts of Odisha cadre were also vacant for a long time, Minister of State for Home, DS Mishra said, adding that the sanctioned strength of the state IPS cadre is 195.

Replying to questions the minister said 10,054 posts in different categories in Odisha Police were lying vacant till December 2019.

He said 29 state cadre IPS officers were on central deputation. "Of the 29 IPS officers in the central deputation, three officers are working outside Odisha for more than 12 years," Mishra said.

The minister claimed that the state government has made several moves seeking more number of officers to fill up vacancies in the IPS cadre but it has not been addressed.

Giving details on the 10,054 vacancies, the minister said while 501 posts remain vacant in Group A, 1,823 in Group B, 6,487 in Group C and 1,243 in Group D posts.

The Odisha Police has a sanctioned strength of 72,119 while the present staff strength of the police force is 62,065, he said.

He said efforts are on to fill up the vacant posts through a recruitment drive and also through promotions and transfers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Chinese man wears a protective mask as he walks by a propaganda banner on February 20, 2020 in Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer

The coverage on this live blog has ended  but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. All times below are in Beijing time.

9:20 pm: Ireland warns citizens against traveling to virus-hit areas of Italy, Tunisia says it may suspend flights

Ireland's foreign ministry has said its citizens should avoid traveling to affected areas of northern Italy, following an increase in the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Italy has reported more than 200 cases of the deadly flu-like virus in some northern regions of the country, with five deaths. It is the largest coronavirus outbreak outside of Asia. (See 7:50 p.m. update). Meanwhile, Tunisia's transport minister suggested the north African country could soon move to suspend flights to Italy in order to reduce its exposure to COVID-19, Reuters reported. Elsewhere, passengers and crew aboard an Alitalia flight that landed in Mauritius on Monday were told they would have to go into quarantine because of local concerns about the coronavirus.  Meredith

7:50 pm: Italy confirms five people have died in the country due to coronavirus

Italian authorities on Monday confirmed a fifth person infected with the coronavirus has died. The Civil Protection agency also said more than 200 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed in the north of the country since Friday, Reuters reported. Italian stocks tumbled during European trading hours, as the euro zone's third-largest economy continues to grapple with the largest coronavirus outbreak outside of Asia. (See 4:55 p.m. update).  Meredith

7:30 pm: Iraq reports its first case of coronavirus

Iran's health ministry reported its first case of the coronavirus on Monday, Reuters reported, saying the flu-like virus had been contracted by an Iranian theology student in the city of Najaf. The patient was thought to have entered Iraq before the government closed border crossings and banned the entry of non-Iraqis coming from Iran. The patient has been quarantined and medical staff is observing international health standards, Iraq's health ministry said in a statement, according to a Reuters report. Iran, which neighbors Iraq to the west, had confirmed 61 cases of the coronavirus earlier on Monday, with 12 deaths. (See 5:50 pm update).  Meredith

7:15 pm: China warns citizens against travel to the US, says tourists have repeatedly been treated 'unfairly'

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has warned citizens against traveling to the U.S., saying Chinese tourists had repeatedly been treated "unfairly" stateside. In an online statement published Monday, the ministry urged citizens to raise their awareness due to the U.S. security situation and "excessive" prevention measures. The White House was not immediately available to comment when contacted by CNBC on Monday. China had urged its citizens against traveling to the U.S. in June 2019, at a time of heightened trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.  Meredith

6:40 pm: Wuhan abruptly cancels looser travel policy after just a few hours

The Wuhan Municipal government took its first step Monday towards loosening a city-wide lockdown that started on Jan. 23. A few hours later, however, city authorities canceled the policy change and said it was issued by a traffic control group and did not receive the approval of unnamed "primary leaders." As a result, travel restrictions remain as Wuhan works to implement Chinese President Xi Jinping's directive for limiting the coronavirus from spreading through the movement of people, the latest announcement said. The earlier online statement, now deleted, said people seeking treatment for special diseases or otherwise stranded in Wuhan could leave in batches during off-peak hours, as long as they followed certain procedures. The initial announcement came shortly after Xi's comments on Sunday that local authorities should take a "precise" approach when controlling the virus and smoothing travel. Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province and accounts for the majority of deaths and confirmed cases of the coronavirus outbreak that began to emerge in December.  Wu

6:20 pm: Global stocks roiled as Italy and South Korea sound coronavirus alarm

Stock markets around the world are selling off on Monday morning as spiking coronavirus cases in Italy, South Korea, and the Middle East sparked fears of further spread beyond China. South Korea's Kospi index closed down 3.9% while Italy's FTSE MIB plunged more than 900 points in early trade. The pan-European Stoxx 600 benchmark tumbled 3.5%, with Britain's FTSE 100, France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX all falling sharply. Stateside, Dow futures were pointing to a loss of more than 700 points at Monday's open, with futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also falling.  Smith

Johannes Eisele | AFP | Getty Images

5:50 pm: Iran confirms 61 coronavirus cases, with 12 deaths nationwide

Iran's deputy health minister has reportedly confirmed that up to 61 people have contracted the coronavirus, with 12 deaths nationwide. Speaking during a news conference on state television on Monday, Iran's Iraj Harirchi said most of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been in the city of Qom. Earlier on Monday, China's National Health Commission reported an additional 409 cases of the coronavirus, with 150 deaths. That brings the total number of confirmed infections to 77,150, with 2,592 deaths nationwide. (See 10:58 a.m. update).  Meredith

5:30 pm: China delays key economic meeting as coronavirus fears persist

Chinese leaders decided Monday to postpone the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, according to state media. No future date was given. The congressional meeting was originally set to begin March 5 and is a key annual event in Beijing at which China releases its economic targets for the year, including GDP. Since a new pneumonia-causing virus began spreading in the last several weeks, Chinese authorities have discouraged locals from traveling and gathering together. The postponement marks the first time since China adopted the current March schedule in 1995 for the meeting of parliament, Reuters reported.  Cheng

Members of a local neighborhood committee wear protective masks as they check the temperature of a resident entering at a barricade placed to control people entering and exiting a local hutong as part of government efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus on February 19, 2020 in Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer | Getty Images

5:20 pm: ING expects drop in tourism to cost Asia up to $115 billion in 2020

China's fast-spreading coronavirus could see Asia lose more than $100 billion in tourism receipts, ING said in a research note published Monday. Robert Carnell, chief economist and head of research for Asia-Pacific at ING, said the Dutch financial group had assumed zero tourism receipts from Asian tourists visiting China and Chinese tourists flying to Asia. This is a "gross simplification," Carnell said, but it fits a scenario where the outbreak lingers long after it peaks. "Official travel restrictions may be slow to be removed, and travelers may remain wary long after it is safe for them to travel again," he said. Tourism revenue contributed around 11% of China's GDP in 2018, according to Trading Economics.  Abigail Ng

4:55 pm: Italian stocks plunge 4% as coronavirus shuts down towns, schools, and soccer matches

Italian stocks plunged in early trade Monday morning, as the euro zone's third-largest economy grappled with the largest coronavirus outbreak outside of Asia. European markets screeched lower in early deals with the FTSE MIB index trading 990 points down at 23,808, or 4% lower. Shares of Italian banks fell sharply while the stock of Juventus soccer club was briefly halted after falling 11%. There are widespread concerns over the spread of the virus in northern Italy; the country now has 152 confirmed cases and four deaths due to the virus as of Monday morning, with a sharp spike in cases over the weekend.  Ellyatt

4:45 pm: South Korea confirms 70 further cases of coronavirus, total exceeds 830

South Korea has confirmed an additional 70 cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 833. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that most of the new cases came from the southeastern city of Daegu. An earlier briefing reported a further 161 people had contracted the deadly flu-like virus. (See 9:24 a.m. update). It means the country has reportedly registered a record daily spike of the coronavirus, with 231 additional cases confirmed on Monday.  Meredith

4:05 pm: North Korea reportedly quarantines 380 foreigners in bid to prevent coronavirus outbreak

North Korea has reportedly quarantined 380 foreigners as part of efforts to prevent the coronavirus outbreak. The majority of those quarantined are thought to be diplomats stationed in the capital city of Pyongyang, Yonhap news agency reported Monday, citing state media in North Korea. It was not immediately clear how long the quarantine period would last, while the nationalities of those in isolation have not yet been revealed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously said it has had no indication of COVID-19 having spread to North Korea.  Meredith

In this photo taken on February 6, 2020, a worker of the Songyo Knitwear Factory in Pyongyang produces masks for protection against the new coronavirus. KIM WON-JIN | AFP via Getty Images

3:27 pm: China's largest industrial businesses resume work gradually

Work is picking up in China's top three exporting provinces, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. For industrial enterprises greater than a certain scale, the resumption of work has topped 90% in Zhejiang province, and more than 70% in Guangdong and Jiangsu, officials said. That refers to enterprises with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan ($2.86 million) from their primary business operations. Nationwide, coal mine production is around 76%, food processing at 70%, and railcar load has recovered to about 95% to pre-Lunar New Year holiday levels, the commission said. Iron and steel production is about 67% and that of nonferrous metals has resumed at a rate of around 86%. Some companies, especially medium and small businesses, have encountered great difficulties in their production and operations due to the impact of the virus, according to NDRC Party Secretary Cong Liang. He maintained that the virus's effect on China's economy is short-term. Due to these pressures on growth, Human Resources and Social Security Assistant Minister You Jun said the impact on employment is "not small," and that agriculture workers and college graduates will face greater difficulties.  Cheng

1:25 pm: Six Chinese provinces lower coronavirus emergency response level

China's largest province by exports, Guangdong, and the coal-producing province of Shanxi have lowered their emergency response level to two, while Gansu, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Liaoning each lowered theirs to level three. The downgrade allows local authorities to respond to region-specific needs and follows a decrease in newly confirmed cases outside Hubei province, the epicenter of the disease. Out of 398 such cases reported for Sunday, 11 came from provinces other than Hubei, according to China's National Health Commission. The lowered response level follows greater emphasis from the central government on maintaining economic growth. Chinese President Xi Jinping said Sunday that the virus is "the most difficult to contain in the country since the founding of the People's Republic of China" and "will inevitably deal a relatively big blow" to the country's economy. He also said each region should adopt measures to resume work and production based on the local level of health risks, according to an English-language report from state news agency Xinhua.  Wu

12:36 pm: South Korean airlines sell off

Shares of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines fell more than 5% each following a spike in the number of confirmed cases in South Korea. As the total number of reported infections in the country jumped to more than 700, both airlines took steps to cancel flights to the city of Daegu, where many of the new cases have been detected. Asiana Airlines suspended flights between Daegu and Jeju until Mar. 9 (see 10:45 am update). Reuters reported that Korean Air also halted all flights to the city until Mar. 28. Low-cost carrier Air Busan sold off 3.89%.  Roy Choudhury

10:58 am: China reports 150 additional deaths

China's National Health Commission reported an additional 150 deaths and 409 new confirmed cases as of Feb. 23. Of the 409 new cases, 398 came from Hubei province, whereas only 11 were reported in the rest of mainland China. That brought the nationwide tally of total infections to 77,150 confirmed cases and 2,592 deaths. The Hubei Provincial Health Committee reported 149 additional deaths in the province, including 131 in Wuhan, where the pneumonia-like virus was first detected. As of Feb. 23, Hubei province has reported a total of 64,287 confirmed cases, 2,495 deaths. The commission said 16,738 people have been discharged from the hospital.  Roy Choudhury

10:45 am: Asiana Airlines suspends flights between Daegu and Jeju

South Korea's second-largest carrier, Asiana Airlines, said it was suspending domestic flights between Daegu and Jeju from Feb. 25 until Mar. 9. Many of the new cases reported in the country came from the city of Daegu. (see 9:24 am and 7 am updates)  Roy Choudhury

9:24 am: South Korea cases surpass 760, fatalities rise to seven

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an additional 161 cases on Monday morning, bringing the total to 763 nationwide. Most of the new confirmed cases were reported in the city of Daegu. An additional two people were said to have died, which brought the death toll to seven.  Roy Choudhury

8:47 am: South Korea stocks fall more than 2%

The benchmark Kospi index was down more than 2% in early trade while the Kosdaq fell 2.25%. The sudden spike in cases (see 7 am update) spooked investors as experts weigh on the economic impact the disease could have on the country. "Economic difficulty is imminent," Citi economists said in a Monday morning note. "Fear of the virus is spreading throughout the country, at a much faster rate than the virus itself." Citi said it did not expect the economic fallout to be limited to certain regions and cities. "Consumption is declining as to minimize human contact, & stores & factories are shutting down for various reasonsexposure to virus; lack of supply inputs; or continuing loss."  Roy Choudhury

8:15 am: President Xi says the epidemic is a crisis and 'big test' for China

The coronavirus outbreak is a major public health emergency that has spread rapidly and has become difficult to contain, President Xi Jinping said at a meeting in Beijing on Sunday, state media Xinhua reported. "This is both a crisis and a big test for us," Xi said, per Xinhua's translations of his remarks, adding that efforts are being made to cure people of the infection, reduce fatality rates, safeguard social stability, and strengthen China's emergency medical supplies and daily necessities. The epidemic's impact on China's economic and social development is temporary and generally manageable, but it will deal a relatively big blow in the short term, Xi said, according to Xinhua. The president also stressed the importance of an orderly resumption of work and production.  Roy Choudhury

7:18 am: IMF chief says virus outbreak could put economic recovery at risk

The coronavirus outbreak that began in China and has since spread to more than 25 countries could put global economic recovery at risk, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement following a G-20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Saudi Arabia. "This is a human tragedy, but it also has negative economic impact," Georgieva said. "I reported to the G20 that even in the case of rapid containment of the virus, growth in China and the rest of the world would be impacted. Of course, we all hope for a V-shaped, rapid recovery  but given the uncertainty, it would be prudent to prepare for more adverse scenarios."  Roy Choudhury

7 am: South Korea on high alert, total cases top 600

South Korea's government raised the COVID-19 alert to its highest level after a recent explosion of confirmed infection cases, which took the country's tally from 31 as of Feb. 18 to 602 on Sunday. Many of the new cases were from the city of Daegu and were related to a homegrown religious group, Yonhap reported. At least five people have died from the virus, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By comparison, the Diamond Princess cruise that had been quarantined off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, since early February had at least 634 confirmed cases, according to the Japanese health ministry and the World Health Organization. Many countries have started evacuating their citizens from the ship and some people have tested positive after leaving the ship.  Roy Choudhury

A nurse working in the isolation ward communicates with a co-worker on the talkie-walkie in Jinyintan Hospital, designated for COVID-19 patients, in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Feature China | Barcroft Media via Getty Images

All times below are in Eastern time.

4:18 pm: Israel may quarantine 200 South Korean visitors

Israel may quarantine some 200 visitors from South Korea at a military base in a Jewish settlement on the occupied West Bank over coronavirus fears, according to Israel's Ynet news site. Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said separately he had ordered South Korea and Japan to be added to a list of Asian countries to which travel to and from Israel was being barred.  Lovelace Jr.

3:48 pm: Austria halts train traffic with Italy

Austria has halted train traffic with its southern neighbor amid concern that two passengers on an in-bound train from Italy were infected with the coronavirus. Italy is grappling with the largest coronavirus outbreak outside of Asia, with more than 130 reported cases and three deaths.  Lovelace Jr.

1:08 pm: Four passengers test positive for coronavirus in England
>>> Ministry ready to protect Vietnamese in RoK amid COVID-19 fears



>>> US lauds Vietnams medical capacity



>>> Vietnamese advised to avoid travel to coronavirus-hit areas in RoK

At a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Disease Prevention and Control on Monday (February 24) morning, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said that, in the face of the complicated situation of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) epidemic in China and the RoK, the ministry hosted a meeting with other related ministries and agencies on Sunday morning to discuss the epidemic situation in the RoK and propose measures to control Covid-19 spread through arrivals from the RoK.

After the meeting, the MoH officially applied the mandatory medical declarations to all passengers traveling from the RoK to Vietnam.

* On February 23, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan said that although the Covid-19 epidemic in Korea is quite complicated, up until now, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) has not decided to suspend flights from Vietnam to the country.

The MoT is closely monitoring the situation in Daegu city  the RoKs coronavirus epicentre. In case of necessity, it will consult the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on flight suspension.

At this time, Korean passengers who register or buy flight tickets to Vietnam have had their tickets cancelled, and flights from Vietnam only bring passengers to the RoK. Because there are no passengers, Vietnamese airlines stopped flights from Vietnam to Daegu, with only budget carrier VietJet completing its contracts on transferring passengers to Daegu.

* On Sunday afternoon, Chairman of Hanoi municipal People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung chaired an urgent meeting of the capital citys Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

Hanoi Municipal People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung (standing) requires the local authorities to be proactive in responding to every situation but not to be bewildered against Covid-19. (Photo: NDO/Giang Nam)



To date, Hanoi has not recorded any infected case yet. However, there is a large number of Korean and Japanese nationalities staying in the city, with some having returned to their home countries and back to Vietnam, in addition to a large number of Vietnamese returning home from Japan and the RoK.

In the face of the complicated Covid-19 epidemic, Chairman Chung asked the local authorities to proactively respond to every situation, focusing on further strengthening the communication work in foreign languages in areas inhabited by a large number of foreigners coming from the countries with the epidemic prevalence, as well as reviewing Vietnamese citizens returning home from the epidemic areas from February 18 to take necessary medical measures.

In terms of preparing all conditions to welcome local students back to school, Chung said it is imperative that classes have an electronic thermometer to measure students body temperature before entering classrooms, while offering them soap and water to wash their hands before going to class and before leaving their schools. Local schools were suggested to not organise flag salute for the whole school but instead to do so in the classroom, while they can arrange skew breaks among classes.

* To proactively prevent and control Covid-19, the MoH has issued recommendations to customers and staff in service areas such as supermarkets, parks and tourist sites, recommending them to apply medical self-protective and health monitor measures. The service areas shall have enough waste bins with lids, hand washing areas and toilets in which always ensure enough clean water and soap for workers and customers to use.

In case of suspected symptoms, it is necessary to immediately isolate the suspected cases and notify the local health authorities at the hotline 1900 3228 or 1900 9095.

* On February 23, the Military Command of Quang Ninh province received 26 citizens who have been undergoing Covid-19 quarantine at Center Way Co., Ltd., in Tra Co ward, Mong Cai city. They have crossed the border and been isolated in Mong Cai from February 17 and 18, and will go under quarantine at the provincial Military School over the coming days.

Local units carry out procedures to hand over 26 citizens to isolation facilities managed by the Military Region 3 in Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province on February 23, 2020. (Photo: NDO/Quang Tho)



The Border Guard Station at Mong Cai International Border Gate has strengthened measures to tighten the management of border areas and border gates to promptly detect, prevent and ensure all returnees from the epidemic areas in China are monitored and quarantined for 14 days under the guidance of the MoH.

* To support local health facilities in border districts to carry out the Covid-19 prevention and control work, the MoH has called on support from the business community to donate 165,000 medical masks to 33 district-level health centres in seven border provinces of Dien Bien, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Quang Ninh.

* The Department of Health of Da Nang city have informed that from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning, Da Nang received two suspected Covid-19 cases and they are under health monitoring at Da Nang Lung and Maternity and Paediatrics Hospitals. In addition, seven cases are being monitored by the Da Nang Centre for Disease Control in the community and all are showing normal health.

Facing the complicated situation of Covid-19 epidemic, Da Nang Department of Tourism has implemented strict control measures and has required Korean passengers to Da Nang to carry out medical declarations. The Da Nang Departments of Tourism and Health have jointly organised a programme to provide guidance on prevention and control of Covid-19 for three-star hotels in Ngu Hanh Son district, while offering free materials to nearly 1,000 local hotels, travel agencies and tourist sites.

* On February 23, in two communes of Quang Ninh and Quang Nhan in Quang Xuong district, Thanh Hoa province, the local Red Cross Society units organised a voluntary blood donation campaign in association with the communications on Covid-19 prevention. Nearly 300 civil servants, officials, youngsters and local residents donated their blood at the programme, which received 165 blood units to supply to local hospitals for emergency treatment. The organisers also distributed over 600 materials, free masks and antibacterial soap for the participants.

Thanh Hoa provincial Red Cross Society presents communication materials on Covid-19 prevention to volunteers. (Photo: NDO/Mai Luan)



* Since the Covid-19 outbreak, in February, a group of tailors led by Ms. Doan Thi Lu in Phu My town, Phu Tan district, An Giang province, has voluntarily made tens of thousands of cloth masks to give out for free to local people, charities and pharmacies to prevent disease transmission.

* According to the MoHs notice, as of 9:30 am on February 24, 79,363 people worldwide have infected Covid-19 in 32 countries, territories and cruise ships Diamond Princess, with 2,619 people died.

In Vietnam, there have been 16 confirmed cases, of which 15 have recovered. The number of negative samples tested was 1,247. There are 32 suspected cases being isolated and closely monitored. In addition, 1,538 cases who have normal health without any signs of fever or cough are still isolated due to close contact with Covid-19 suspected cases.
China could start clinical trials for a potential vaccine for the novel coronavirus around late April, an official said Friday.

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 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.
Tension escalated in northeast with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, where pro and anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters.

According to officials, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to a fire call in the area.

The Metro closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations as an uneasy calm prevailed in the area.

"Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a tweet.

Entry and exit were closed at the Jaffrabad metro station for over 24 hours.

Clashes broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad after a large number of people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) blocked a road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the capital.
Sand artist Laxmi Gaud creates a sculpture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on the eve of latters maiden visit to India, at Juhu Beach in Mumbai on Sunday. (PTI)

New Delhii: Ahead of the visit of United States of America President Donald Trump, the Congress slammed the central government charging it of not putting India First. In a series of tweets Congress Communications Chief Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the central government, beginning his attack with a pointed question on H-1 B visas that allows US employers to temporarily hire citizens of other countries.

He tweeted, Trump governments restrictive immigration policies have hit H-1B visas. Indians get 70 pc of 85,000 H-1B visas. Now, rejection rate for India has increased from 6 pc in 2015 to 24 pc in 2019, especially for IT professionals. Post 10 million people gala event, will PM Modi ask for easing H-1B visas.

The US-Taliban deal, which is expected to be signed at the end of this month and has been termed by Russia as an important event for peace, also figured in one of the tweets by Surjewala as he raised concern about national security.

US prepares to sign deal with Taliban on Feb 29. What about Indias red lines! Have we forgotten IC814 hijacking & release of terrorist Masood Azhar in Kandhar, whos JeM then attacked Parliament & Pulwama? As gala bash unfolds, Will Modiji raise our National Security concerns? he wrote in another post.

Surjewalas other tweet said, Will PM Modi ensure restoration of preferential trade treatment for India that allowed duty-free entry for $5.6 billion worth of the countrys exports to the United States?

The general system of preferences (GSP) was scrapped by the US last year. The Congress has been taking shots at PM Modi over the issue. On Friday, another senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "This visit should not be reduced to a photo opportunity or a PR exercise that would devalue the importance of our partnership... that would also not be in Indias national interest.

Surjewala also said up till 2018, India imported 250 crore ton Crude Oil/month from Iran on Rupee payment, 90 days credit and doorstep delivery.

The Modi government stopped buying cheaper Iran oil as per US sanctions that raised oil prices in India, he alleged. As fest continues in Ahmedabad, Will Modiji secure cheaper oil for India, he asked.
Prakash Chandra

There have been mixed reactions to the Supreme Courts February 17 ruling for the Indian Army to grant permanent commission for women who opt for it. Many people welcome it as a rational judgment, while others are not so sure if it will prove to be the last word in the longstanding debate on gender parity in the armed forces. What is certain, however, is that the landmark judgment is a catalyst for changing this status quo.

Speaking to mediapersons in New Delhi on February 20, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Naravane termed the apex court order as very enabling and said that the army had made a roadmap to implement it. He said the courts decision brings out a sense of clarity and purpose to gainfully employ officers for better efficiency of the organisation. I must assure that everybody in the Indian Army including women officers will be given equal opportunity to contribute to the nation as also progress in their careers.

The main argument for having gender equality at every level in the army is that it is essential for women to have successful careers within the military. The Indian Army  the fourth largest in the world  has a skewed ratio of male and female officers, with women making up less than 4 percent of the 42,900-strong officer ranks. This is surprising not least because women used to be recruited as nurses in the army as far back as in 1927, and into the medical services, as doctors, in 1943.

In 1992, women were allowed into 10 more services, besides the nursing and medical wings. Never mind if these were mostly under Short Service Commissions (SSCs) for 10 years, with an optional four-year extension. This has been a major handicap for female officers with 14-year-long SSCs who could never aspire to a dedicated career in the armed forces. For officers, regardless of gender, can rise to the rank of a colonel  a requisite command for being promoted to higher ranks  only after putting in a minimum of 15 years of service.

It is not as if women do not have Permanent Commissions (PCs) at the moment. Beginning in 2008, when the PCs were extended to women in streams of Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Education Corps, women have been eligible for the PCs in all 10 branches where they are inducted for the SSCs, including Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps and Intelligence. It is another matter that these are staff positions, which mostly involves the management of backroom personnel and not really command jobs that have a larger profile. So, in that sense, the debate is about granting combat and command roles to women officers rather than about granting the PCs.

Significantly, even in its 54-page verdict on February 17, the Supreme Court only provides female officers the opportunity of rising to the colonel level and command non-fighting units. The court also makes it clear that a PC cannot be claimed as a right  a crucial decision which will help keep the top-down pyramidal structure of the armed forces intact, without being overcrowded. The SSC officers currently serve up to a certain age before leaving to join the work force outside, which enables younger officers to enter the force.

An obvious concern about granting the PCs for women officers has to do with their ability to cope in front-line positions. This, however, overlooks the fact that in the modern era of electronic warfare, the focus is on overcoming battle stress rather than on actual physical combat. Exceptions like the CRPFs 88th Mahila Battalion  with their excellent track record in fighting insurgency in places such as Kashmir and Assam  also prove that given the opportunity women officers can do well in the regular armed forces.

That said, it is unlikely that women will be able to break the brass ceiling of combat exclusion policies any time soon. The court acknowledges this. Its verdict does not open combat arms to women, although it cites the examples of foreign armies, such as Israels, where women are allowed in combat roles. These women, though, are not deployed in direct infantry combat and serve mostly in the military police or border security, rather than in actual combat.

The Indian Air Force, too, allows combat roles for women fighter pilots  but, like other air forces, follows the unwritten code of women not operating over enemy territory. So, at the end of the day, armies have their own traditions and philosophies and the Indian Army has to choose what is best suited for it.
TORONTO - It sometimes seems like the trajectory of a life that has taken him from one side of the law to the other since his arrival in Canada as an infant three decades ago belongs to someone else.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rohan George poses for a photograph in Toronto on Thursday, February 20, 2020. George, a one-time gang member who admitted to stabbing a perceived rival in the back and leaving the victim in a park to die, has turned his life around to the point where he has now won permission to practise as a lawyer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO - It sometimes seems like the trajectory of a life that has taken him from one side of the law to the other since his arrival in Canada as an infant three decades ago belongs to someone else.

It's a tale of disaffected youth, senseless violence and finally redemption.

"When I was nine, I was an altar server; when I was 14, I was a straight-A student; when I was 19, I was facing first-degree murder," Rohan George tells The Canadian Press. "When I'm 34, I'm being called to the bar. Life isn't linear."

In a recent decision, the regulator for Ontario's law profession decided that the former Tamil gang member has overwhelmingly demonstrated that he's of "good character"  a prerequisite to his professional licensing.

Evidence before the law society panel was that George, of Markham, Ont., came to Canada with his family as refugees from Sri Lanka in 1986. The youngest of four children, George was a good student despite having moved around Canada a dozen times by the time he was 12 years old.

Things started to unravel in his mid-teens, during his years at Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary in east-end Toronto. Like other Tamil teens of immigrant parents, he struggled to find his place in a system that seemed indifferent at best, exclusionary at worst. Belonging to some kind of gang afforded a sense of identity.

"My case is a microcosm of Tamil youth at that time," George said. "We couldn't integrate. I grew up in a culture of violence. That was what was normal to me. When you're in that bubble, it's just another Tuesday."

There was a 2004 conviction for a stolen bottle of alcohol and failure to attend court, for which he was sentenced to 30 days. But things really went off the rails in January 2005, when George, then 19 years old, took part in what the trial judge described as an "utterly senseless" killing  payback for an earlier gang altercation.

George and three others grabbed their teen victim at his work and forced him into a car. He and a second man then stabbed the resisting teen four times in the back and left him at a nearby park to die.

Some days, he says, he still feels like a killer, other days he knows that's not who he is. He's kept his head down, stayed out of the limelight. He's speaking to the media for the first time now only because the law society decision put him on their radar.

"I've stayed silent for 15 years, I've stayed in the shadow for 15 years, out of respect for the victim's family. There's nothing I could say to them."

Charged with first-degree murder, George pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March 2007, and was sentenced to eight years behind bars. He was granted full parole in June 2009, having spent time in some of the country's toughest penal institutions, and immediately ran into obstacles all-too familiar to those who've been sucked into the criminal justice vortex.

"I couldn't apply to Wal-Mart. They had a criminal check. Every point along the way, it was, 'Sorry, no'," he said. "I really wanted that to change."

He plunged into academics. He finished a liberal arts diploma with distinction at Seneca College in 2011, then obtained an honours bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto in 2013. He completed his law degree through the University of Windsor in June 2017.

In extensive submissions to the law society panel, George described how he had turned his life around. A key moment, he said, came during talks with a psychologist in Joyceville Penitentiary, where he learned the concept of "active remorse."

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The idea, he said, was that simply feeling guilty about past misdeeds does little to improve the world. More important is to try to make a positive difference.

More than two-dozen letters of reference  from faculty members to friends and family to work colleagues  attested to his good character. The panel decided his turnaround was the real deal.

"The concept of rehabilitation is based on the capacity in human nature for someone to recognize their mistakes, to make amends, to correct the course of their lives, and to become productive and positive members of their community," the panel found. "He is an excellent example of rehabilitation."

Still, George says he won't be diving into legal robes or roles just yet. He wants to take time off, he says, to properly process the past years of his life before taking on the responsibility of practising law, of perhaps one day getting to address a jury  this time on behalf of a client.

"For me, it's a super-power. I'm scared. It's a really powerful thing and I don't want to mess it up," George said as he struggled for words. "I'm a little bit shaken."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Feb. 23, 2020.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a police van, after he was arrested by British police, in London, Britain April 11, 2019. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

Assange Appears in British Court to Fight US Extradition Bid

LONDONJulian Assange appeared before a British court Feb. 24 to fight an extradition request from the United States which wants to put the 48-year-old on trial for hacking government computers and violating an espionage law.

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.

Almost a decade since his WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking secret U.S. documents, Assange is wanted by the United States on 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law and could spend decades in prison if convicted.

Now, some 10 months after he was dragged from the Ecuadorean Embassy where he had been holed up for seven years, Judge Vanessa Baraitser will hear arguments as to why he should or shouldnt be sent to the United States.

Wearing a blue-grey suit and cleanly shaven, Assange confirmed his name and age. Baraitser told the court that any disturbances would see people removed from the building.

Jennifer Robinson, Assanges lawyer, says his case could lead to criminalizing activities crucial to investigative journalists and his work has shed an unprecedented light on how the United States conducted its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We are talking about collateral murder, evidence of war crimes, she said. They are a remarkable resource for those of us seeking to hold governments to account for abuses.

Julian Assange gestures to the media from a police vehicle on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, on April 11, 2019. (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

WikiLeaks angered Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders, from Russian President Vladimir Putin to members of the Saudi royal family.

Assange made international headlines in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

Pardon Deal?

The hearing at Londons Woolwich Crown Court wont decide if Assange is guilty of any wrongdoing, but whether the extradition request meets the requirements set out under a 2003 UKU.S. treaty, which critics say is stacked in favor of the United States.

Baraitser has agreed that the case will get underway before being postponed until May 18, when it will resume again for a further three weeks to allow both sides more time to gather evidence.

Assanges lawyers have said in preliminary hearings that they would argue he was being sought for political offenses and that the treaty banned extradition on those grounds.

Other arguments would feature medical evidence, public denunciations by leading U.S. political figures and details from the case of Chelsea Manning, an ex-intelligence analyst who was convicted by a U.S. Army court-martial in 2013 of espionage and other offenses for leaking secret cables to WikiLeaks.

In 2012, Assange took refuge in Ecuadors UK Embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden where he was accused of sex crimes, which he denied and which were later dropped, saying he feared he would ultimately be sent on to the United States.

After seven years, he was dragged from the embassy in 2019 and then jailed for 50 weeks for skipping bail. He has remained in prison ever since, after the United States launched its extradition request.

If the judge decides Assange should be extradited, the decision needs to be approved by Home Secretary (interior minister) Priti Patel. He would also have the right to appeal to Londons High Court and then possibly to the Supreme Court, Britains top judicial body.

By Michael Holden
A battle to lead the powerful House Appropriations Committee has broken out behind the scenes, as a trio of lawmakers vie for the coveted leadership post that oversees all federal spending.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who has spent 27 years on the panel, remains the frontrunner in the three-way race since first announcing her candidacy in October, according to interviews with more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers and aides. DeLauro has long been a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a relationship that hasnt gone unnoticed by rank-and-file Democrats and could sway some members even if the speaker doesnt put her muscle behind a candidate.

But the contest, in which Democrats wont vote for months, may not be decided until the final moments. Some Democrats are already speculating about a potential last-minute shakeup led by dark horse challenger Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, who previously chaired the Democratic National Committee but has significantly less seniority on the spending panel.

Wasserman Schultz  who is 20 years younger than both DeLauro and the third competitor, Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio  is mounting a long-shot bid as she calls for generational diversity in the upper ranks of a Democratic Caucus long ruled by a trio of septuagenarians. Its her first foray into the spotlight after resigning from the DNC amid scandal in 2016.

But Kaptur  who has already been passed over once for the spot  could struggle to build a coalition broad enough to defeat DeLauro and her many allies in the caucus. And younger Democrats, including those in the Congressional Black Caucus, arent nearly as wedded to seniority as their older colleagues, with some saying privately they are open to Wasserman Schultz.

Democrats wont vote on the vacancy until after the 2020 elections, but the rare opening for the prized perch  current Chairwoman Nita Lowey has been the top Democrat on the panel since 2013  has already set off an intense round of jockeying.

Story continues

Chairwoman Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, speaks as Energy Secretary Perry appears before a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on budget on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

In recent weeks, the three competing Democrats have dramatically stepped up their outreach, approaching members on the House floor and following up with calls, in-person pitch meetings, caucuswide letters and coveted campaign donations.

Its certainly early but I think this is one of those times  because everyone knows the opening is going to be there  that folks do tend to start early, said Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan, who sits on the influential Democratic Steering panel.

Kildee, like many other members interviewed, said hes already leaning toward a candidate but sees no reason to announce it publicly given the vote isnt until the end of the year.

Working it early helps, but you really dont get serious until the election, and then everyone goes crazy, he added.

Democrats are also speculating about other potential surprises that could throw the three-way race into a tailspin. Other senior members of the Appropriations panel, including Rep. Barbara Lee of California, have refused to rule out their own bids.

And some Democrats have even floated the idea of House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a close Pelosi ally who led Democrats impeachment efforts, returning to the panel and running for the top spot. Democrats close to Schiff said that idea is unlikely, although they didnt rule it out.

Many Democrats, however, say its likely too late for other members to enter the race, with the three contenders already deep in conversations across the caucus.

So far, DeLauro has largely concentrated on winning over members of the Democratic Steering Committee, the influential group that will handpick a preferred nominee ahead of the caucuswide vote, according to lawmakers and aides familiar with the discussions. She already has a strong advantage, serving as one of the Pelosi-appointed co-chairs of that committee since 2003.

Kaptur  known as a policy wonk  has taken a lighter touch, shoring up support from her closest allies in the Ohio delegation and other Midwestern states. Kaptur also sent a Dear Colleague letter this month, in which she stressed her nearly three decades on the committee, where she's served on 11 out of 12 subcommittees.

Kaptur, who represents a hardscrabble industrial district, has also promised fellow Democrats to help "save our endangered middle-class" and bolster low-income communities, in part, by "bringing equity to the appropriations process."

Wasserman Schultz, meanwhile, is taking a more aggressive approach with her outreach. Shes now given her personal pitch to nearly every member of the caucus and is continuing to set up private meetings, according to Democrats close to her. She has also met with the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and will meet with the New Democrat Coalition, of which she is a member, in the coming weeks.

Ranking member Rep. Rosa DeLauro D-Conn., questions Education Secretary Betsy DeVos at a House Committee on Appropriation subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Wasserman Schultz, in some ways, was an unexpected addition to the race; her 11 years on the committee pales in comparison to the lengthy records of DeLauro and Kaptur. But she is attempting to sway her colleagues with another line on her resume: her powerhouse fundraising abilities.

Wasserman Schultz is the underdog, said one Democrat on the Appropriations panel. The answer isnt No its not possible. Theres a narrow lane.

The Florida Democrat has been a strong fundraiser for her colleagues, particularly for vulnerable members, even after her time atop the DNC ended in scandal in 2016, with leaked emails showing an attempt to undermine the presidential candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders in favor of Hillary Clinton.

Since then, Wasserman Schultz has retreated from high-profile roles in the Democratic Caucus even as she has continued to build a massive fundraising war chest.

So far this cycle, Wasserman Schultz raised $1.01 million for House Democrats, including $409,000 for the most vulnerable members, according to numbers provided by her campaign. A complete set of fundraising numbers wont be available until the end of the next quarter.

Above all, we must protect our majority. If there's no gavel to pick up next year, we return to the back benches. And I won't let that happen, Wasserman Schultz said.

DeLauro has raised $385,000 so far this cycle, including $210,500 for the partys more endangered members, according to her campaign  less than half of Wasserman Schultzs total.

I am proud of those strong numbers because they enable Democrats to enact the legislation necessary to help working people and the middle class, DeLauro said.

Kaptur has raised $351,000 for House Democrats so far this cycle, including $51,000 for frontline members, according to her office.

Kaptur has regularly paid her DCCC dues. Still, her fundraising is generally below her two competitors in terms of additional giving to DCCC and to the party's most vulnerable members, according to a POLITICO review of campaign reports from the 2014 cycle through January 2020.

Privately, the Ohio Democrat is often critical of the outsize role that fundraising has taken on Capitol Hill, according to people close to her. When Kaptur initially sought the gavel against Lowey in 2012, fundraising was often one of the first subjects their colleagues asked about.

The fundraising reports show another disparity in the three candidates numbers: Wasserman Schultz has raised an average of $1.049 million for endangered Democrats over the past three cycles, compared to $95,000 for DeLauro and $100,100 for Kaptur.

DeLauro is widely expected to win the first stage of the contest  the Steering Committee vote  but some Democrats speculate that she could face competition from Wasserman Schultz in the caucuswide vote, usually held the next day.

The caucus vote is usually little more than a rubber stamp, however, as rank-and-file lawmakers rarely reject the Steering Committees nominee.

But its not out of the question. Its the same path that now-House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone took in 2014, when he beat out Pelosis favored candidate and close friend, Rep. Anna Eshoo of California, for the panels ranking member slot during a caucus-wide vote.

Since that race  which was unusual for the public nastiness on display from both sides  both Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who went all-in for Pallone, have tended to stay out of chairmanship contests.

Pelosi didnt endorse in the race between Reps. Jerry Nadler of New York and Zoe Lofgren of California to lead the House Judiciary Committee, despite Lofgren being a close friend of the speaker. And neither Pelosi nor Hoyer is expected to get involved in the Appropriations contest, according to allies close to both leaders. Lowey is also not expected to weigh in.

Rank-and-file Democrats, particularly those who sit on the Steering panel, say theyve already been inundated with candidate pitches, which will only ramp up in the coming months.

The candidates are very proactive. But its a long process and its relatively far away," said Rep. Grace Meng of New York, another Appropriations member. "Theyve got to do what they have to do. But I think its a bit early for all of us to make the decision.
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.
The eyewash did not work. Pakistan continues to be on the gray list of the Paris-based international terrorism watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF). It has barely got an extension of a few months, till June 2020, to comply with the 27-point action plan to turn off the taps of terror funding. Since the FATFs last meeting, in October 2019, Pakistan has only complied with 14 of the 27 check points.

The arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani court for terror financing did not cut much ice, coming as it did with the attendant claim of a missing Masood Azhar, another dreaded terror mastermind. The upshot of the continued gray listing is that Pakistan remains downgraded by the World Bank, IMF, ADB, EU, and also stays in the high-risk category for rating agencies like S&P, Fitch and Moodys. If the state of Pakistan is denied access to much-needed funds, its the people of Pakistan who suffer. Just as its use of its terror factories as a strategy tool comes at a cost of human lives and peace at home and across borders, in India and Afghanistan.

Will this lead to Pakistans blacklisting? Probably not. The new axis it has with Turkey, China and Malaysia may come to its rescue. But the strong words used in the FATF statement after the recently concluded meeting of the plenary, of which India is a member, is indicative that Islamabad will have to pay a heavy price if another deadline expires, and it fails to curb the activities of LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed and others. A crippling economy may force Islamabad to give up its myopic strategy. The fact that US President Donald Trump made common cause with India on the fight against terrorism, while speaking in Ahmedabad, and the fact that Islamabad-mediated talks between the US and the Talibans are going nowhere, should be a pointer to the limited utility of nurturing terror proxies.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, like most other Cuban immigrants, has little love for communist leaders Fidel and Raul Castro, and the authoritarian regime they imposed on the Latin American island since 1959.

So when Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders went on the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes defending comments he made in the 80s supporting Cuba, it ruffled Acevedo's feathers.

STUMPING AGAINST TRUMP: Bernie Sanders rallies for primary votes at University of Houston

The 60 Minutes piece included portions of a 1980s interview showing Sanders explaining why the Cubans did not rise up to overthrow Fidel Castro.

"He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society," Sanders said in that interview.

When questioned about it by reporter Anderson Cooper, Sanders replied, "We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but it's unfair to say simply say everything is bad. When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?"

That response did not sit well with Acevedo, who tweeted, "For the record @BernieSanders, Fidel & Raul Castro, their murdering regime, & co-conspirators have never had a redeeming quality, ZERO. They worked on literacy programs in a State that controls everything available for reading, in essence, literacy was a path to indoctrination."

According to his HPD biography, Acevedo was born in Cuba, and was 4 years old when he migrated to the United States with his family in 1968.

HoustonChronicle.com: Bernie Sanders' ascension in Texas leaves moderate Democrats fighting for scraps

Acevedo also tweeted, "I remember my high school history teacher trying to feed us the literacy achievement line. My response to him was I would rather be unread than to spend a lifetime reading the communist/socialists propaganda the Cuban government provided."

Acevedo's tweets have received have received numerous comments. The chief is known for being politically outspoken, particularly in the areas of gun regulations and immigration policies. So far, no word on if Bernie Sanders has responded.

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
- Actor John Dumelo, the parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, has begun a room to room campaign at the University of Ghana

- He was captured in the rooms of all ladies as well as all men

- Dumelo is said to have promised the students that they are his top priorities and that if they help him win, he would never forget them

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

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Actor and parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, has started his room to room campaign at the University of Ghana.

In some photos seen by YEN.com.gh, the actor turned politician was captured interacting with some students in their room.

He was in the rooms of all female students, as well as all male students.

READ ALSO: Photo drops as pastor orders church members to kiss one another during service

According to some of the students who informed YEN.com.gh, Dumelo was in their rooms to promise them better things.

He had promised that the welfare of the students is his top priority and if they should vote for him to win, he would not abandon them.

John Dumelo begins room to room campaign at University of Ghana. Photo credit: YEN.com.gh

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Fresh throwback photo of Despites son drops; Ghanaians ladies all over him

Dumelo is said to have further promised to ensure that the basic needs of each student would be met if he is voted for.

He also ate with them and took selfies with those who came around.

The actor was in the news a while ago when he gave out some learning materials to school children in that constituency.

READ ALSO: Tracy initially rejected Kennedy - Fada Dickson narrates their love story in new video

Mathew Anim Cudjoe showered with money after Hearts - Kotoko game in Accra | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Beautiful 23-year-old university student who went missing on Vals Day found dead

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Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Help India!

By T I Inamdar, Twocircles.net

Panjim (Goa): Continuing with the momentum of countrywide demonstrations against the draconian Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), a mega rally under the banner of Goa Alliance against CAA, NRC and NPR came out in the heart of Panjim City on Friday.

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Amka Naka Amka Naka, CAA Amka Naka, NRC Amka Naka (We dont want CAA, We dont want NRC), in Konkani, was roared in unison by the massive crowd of more than 20, 000 protestors in the rally. Joined by people from various religious backgrounds and social organizations, the rally saw huge participation from churches, Muslim civil societies and NGOs.

Although Goa is Indias smallest state by area and fourth smallest by population, Muslims share about 8.33 per cent among its total populace of 15 lakh, according to 2011 Census.

The sea of protestors from all communities started their march from the Kala Academy at 3:30 PM and walked till the historic Azad Maidan, covering a distance of 1.5 km. A.S. Tapadar, a practising advocate of High Court of Guwahati and permanent member of Supreme Court Bar Association was one of the main speakers of the evening. Other speakers included Jamia student protestor, Ayesha Renna, writer Dadu Mandrekar and well known activists Albertina Almeida, Arthur DSouza, Prasanjeet Dhage, Nabila Hassan, Ramakrishna Jhalmi and Asif Hussain.

CAA is a black law, we will keep opposing in democratic way, said Asif Hussain, speaking to Twocircles.net. Asif discussed that the protestors had taken an oath not to furnish information for NPR or Census until the CAA and NRC are withdrawn. He added that he was thankful for religious organizations taking the lead in mobilizing protestors for the march and extended his heartiest gratitude to especially women and girl students, whose number was notable in the rally. He also said that as civil society activists, they have full faith in the democracy and their spirit is to simply spread unity and love to make their country prosperous.

CAA and NRC are dhakosla (excuses) by the central government to divert the mind of people from failure situation, felt Fahmida Khan, one of the protestors and a social activist. She stated that as we are born in India, being an Indian is our identity and such laws are just excuses to divert the public from real issues plaguing the nation. She further added, Implementation of these laws is like murder of democracy.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued law No. (3) of 2020 on the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a media report said.



Established pursuant to Decision No. (4) of 2002, DMCC is dedicated to enhancing the flow of commodity trade through Dubai, reported Emirates news agency Wam.



The provisions of the new law are applicable to the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre both as a Free Zone and an Authority since it is a public authority by law with financial and administrative independence. It has the legal capacity to conduct business and transactions to achieve its objectives. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre will be attached to the Investment Corporation of Dubai under the new law.



Pursuant to the law, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority will be responsible for supervising DMCC. The Authority is responsible for setting up, developing and managing the infrastructure of DMCC, developing the rules and regulations required for DMCC to achieve its objectives; supervising activities in the Centre; issuing licenses for companies seeking to operate in the Centre; and monitoring and supervising construction within the Centre.



The new law outlines the organisational structure of DMCC Authority and specifies the authorities and procedures to form the Board and executive body of the DMCC Authority.



Pursuant to the new law, any company registered to operate within DMCC is strictly not allowed to practice any activity other than what is stated in their registration permit, or any activity that goes against public order and norms.



Establishments and individuals operating in DMCC are exempt from all taxes including income tax for a period of 50 years.



The new law also regulates customs duty exemptions and tax exemptions for commodities trade, re-export and storage within DMCC and the establishment of private, commercial and joint venture companies. All companies registered within DMCC must identify themselves as a free zone company in all their correspondence, contracts, advertisements, invoices and stationery. DMCC companies cannot transfer their license to any other third party without obtaining prior written permission from DMCC Authority.



The Board of Directors of DMCC will issue all the bylaws required to implement and execute the articles of this law. The new law will be published in the Official Gazette and is effective from the date of publication.
The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday it has stopped allowing employees to use the China-owned video app TikTok to create social media posts for the agency after the Senate's top Democrat raised concerns about potential national security issues.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer sent a letter letter Saturday to TSA Administrator David Pekoske, months after news reports that the U.S. government launched a national security review of the app, which is popular with millions of U.S. teens and young adults.

The ban follows the US Army and the Marines stopping soldiers from using the application too.

TSA said Sunday it has stopped allowing employees to use the China-owned video app TikTok to create social media posts for the agency. Posts have included clips about Nutella Day (left) and Valentine's Day

The latest ban came after the Senate's top Democrat raised concerns about potential national security issues. It's months after news reports that the U.S. government launched a national security review of the app

In his letter, Schumer said national security experts have raised concerns about TikTok's collection and handling of user data and personal information, locations and other content. He also noted in the letter that Chinese laws compel companies to cooperate with China's government and intelligence collection.

'The TSA is to be recognized for its work to engage a variety of stakeholders with airline rules and safety, but it also must acknowledge the ironic risk it's placing its own agencyand potentially the publicin with its continued use of the China-owned TikTok app,' Schumer said in a statement.

'Given the widely reported threats, the already-in-place agency bans, and the existing concerns posed by TikTok, the feds cannot continue to allow the TSA's use of the platform to fly.'

Schumer also cited a Department of Homeland Security policy prohibiting TikTok on agency devices. The DHS oversees the TSA.

Over the past few months, the agency has posted a number of videos reshared on other social media platforms such as Twitter, which have amassed hundreds of thousands of views.

Some of the videos are musical parodies about what can and cannot be brought on an aircraft, while others advertise services like TSA's expedited screening program known as PreCheck.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer (pictured) sent a letter letter Saturday to TSA Administrator David Pekoske. Schumer said Sunday: 'Given the widely reported threats, the already-in-place agency bans, and the existing concerns posed by TikTok, the feds cannot continue to allow the TSA's use of the platform to fly

TikTok has become a viral phenomenon among American teens, allowing users to create minute-long videos set to catchy music (file photo)

In one of the videos, a TSA spokeswoman with Nutella spread on her face is showing different containers of the chocolate-hazelnut spread to detail which one can be brought in carry-on luggage.

On Thanksgiving, the TSA posted a clip related to the 'nopes' & 'yeps' of carry-on luggage and on Valentine's Day they shared a TikTok clip about 'romantic tips' for travelers.

CHUCK SCHUMER'S TIKTOK LETTER TO THE TSA Dear Administrator Pekoske: I write to express my concern about the use of China-owned social media platforms, such as TikTok, by your agency, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Recently, both the U.S. military and the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, detailed social media policies and guidelines as it relates to use of the China-owned app TikTok due to security and privacy concerns. Despite these restrictions, including at TSAs parent DHS, your agency continues to utilize TikTok to communicate with the American public in an official capacity. While I recognize that the TSA must adapt its outreach techniques in order to communicate with a variety of Americans, I urge you to assess the potential national security risks posed by China-owned technology companies before choosing to utilize certain platforms. On October 23, 2019, I sent a letter to the Acting Director of National Intelligence requesting that the Intelligence Community conduct an assessment of the national security risks posed by TikTok and other China-owned content platforms operating in the United States. National security experts have raised concerns about TikToks collection and handling of user data, including user content and communications, IP addresses, location-related data, metadata, and other sensitive personal information, particularly when viewed in light of laws that compel Chinese companies to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Further, due to a lack of transparency and without an independent judiciary to review requests made by the Chinese government for user data or other actions, there is no legal mechanism for Chinese companies to appeal if they disagree with a request. Consequently, I respectfully ask that you provide answers to the following questions as soon as possible: 1. Has the TSA consulted with the Intelligence Community and the Department of Homeland Security with regard to TikTok and other China-owned social media platforms, and whether they pose security risks as platforms for engaging the flying public? If not, does the TSA have future plans for such consultations? 2. Has the TSA been given an exemption from the Department of Homeland Securitys own ban of TikTok? 3. Are TSA officials using government issued devices as part of their official TikTok usage? Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer Advertisement

'These videos sure do make you chuckle; they're creative,' Schumer said. 'But China might be laughing at these TSA postings for very different reasons, and that should concern us and it's why I am urging the TSA to find a different platform, and cease its use of TikTok now.'

Schumer said at a press conference on Sunday: 'TikTok is not as innocent as it sounds. It is owned by a Chinese government-owned company called Byte Dance. If you go on TikTok the Chinese government has your data. You have no recourse.

'If you want to cause trouble what better thing to have than the information that TSA has? It's placing its own agency and the public in danger.'

The TSA said in a statement Sunday that a 'small number of TSA employees have previously used TikTok on their personal devices to create videos for use in TSA's social media outreach, but that practice has since been discontinued.'

The agency said it never directed viewers to TikTok or published content directly to the platform, despite videos reposted on other TSA social media accounts having the TikTok logo in the bottom of the screen. The agency said it had an 'active and award-winning presence on several social media platforms.'

The Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force have all previously announced that the app was no longer allowed on government phones on because it is considered a cyber threat.

'This decision is consistent with our efforts to proactively address existing and emerging threats as we secure and defend our network,' Captain Hector Alejandro of the Marine Forces Cyberspace Command told TMZ.

Army recruiters began using TikTok last year as a means to reach young people and were still using it a few months ago, despite calls from lawmakers to conduct a national security review.

The policy reversal was prompted by a December 16 Defense Department Cyber Awareness Message which identified TikTok as 'having potential security risks associated with its use'.

The message directed Defense Department employees to uninstall TikTok to avoid exposure of personal information and to 'be wary of applications you download, monitor your phones for unusual and unsolicited texts etc'.

The Navy implemented a similar ban in mid-December, warning sailors that they would be blocked from the Navy intranet if they failed to remove the app from their government-issued phones.

It is unclear whether the Air Force has followed suit.

Over the past two years, TikTok has become a viral phenomenon among American teens, allowing users to create minute-long videos set to catchy music. It has been downloaded more than 750 million times in the last year, far surpassing apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

But last February, TikTok was hit with a $5.7million fine over allegations that it illegally collected personal data from children under 13.

Sens Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) called for the intelligence community to evaluate TikTok's national security risks to determine whether it could be used to spy on US citizens in October.

In a letter to acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, the lawmakers said that because ByteDance is based in China, TikTok could be forced to 'to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party'.

The United States Marine Corps barred its soldiers from using the popular social. Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force are seen above during drills with Japanese and South Korean troops in Pohang, South Korea, in April 2013

TikTok responded by saying that it stores all US user data in the United States and backs it up in Singapore.

'Our data centers are located entirely outside of China, and none of our data is subject to Chinese law,' the company said in a statement.

'Further, we have a dedicated technical team focused on adhering to robust cybersecurity policies, and data privacy and security practices.'

In November, TikTok executives refused to appear before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examining the tech industries relationship to China, furthering lawmakers' concerns.

The company said in a statement at the time: 'Unfortunately, on short notice we were unable to provide a witness who would be able to contribute to a substantive discussion.

'We remain committed to working productively with Congress as it looks at how to secure the data of American users, protect their privacy, promote free expression, ensure competition and choice among internet platforms, and preserve US national security interests.'

Sen Cotton responded with a statement saying that TikTok's refusal 'underscores concerns that the company is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party and will not secure the rights and privacy of its American users'.
ITC Maurya, the hotel where US President Donald Trump will check-in on Monday, has been brought under an unprecedented security cover with anti-sabotage teams involving the Army and paramilitary conducting checks on the routes to be taken by the visiting dignitary.

Security agencies are also working in close coordination with the US Secret Service, officials said. Anti-drone detachment of NSG, snipers, elite SWAT commandos, kite catchers, canine units, sharp shooters on high-rise buildings and Parakram vans have also been deployed along the routes and areas in and around the hotel where Trump will be staying, they said. Police personnel from six districts have been deployed for the security arrangements and nearly 40 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been pressed into action.

Hundreds of high-definition CCTV cameras with night vision have been installed across the Sardar Patel Marg where hotel ITC Maurya is located to monitor the situation round-the-clock, the officials said. Five years ago, when Trumps predecessor Barack Obama visited the national capital, the Delhi Police had rented 605 CCTV cameras and spent more than Rs one crore in hiring, installing and later removing them.

In view of the spiralling tensions between Iran and the US, there is a higher security threat this time and the agencies are more cautious and alert than ever, the sources said.

A senior police officer said, We have also requested the anti-sabotage checking teams from paramilitary and army. They have been regularly conducting anti-sabotage checks along every route to be taken by the US President during his visit here.

Besides the multi-layer security cover, elaborate arrangements have been made by the Delhi Police, including placement of double barricading on all the roads where Trumps convoy is likely to pass, officials said, adding that aerial surveillance of the route will also be conducted as part of the security measures.

Jersey barriers (modular concrete or plastic barriers placed to organise traffic into lanes) will also be put up on the route, a senior police official said.

Delhi Police is also working in close coordination with civic bodies.

The route leading to a Delhi government school where US first lady Melania Trump is scheduled to pay a visit will also be under a high security cover, according to officials.

Trees have been trimmed according to the directions of the security agencies as part of the protocol.

Meetings have also been held with US security agents on the elaborate security arrangements in place.

At the ITC Maurya, a three-layer security will be in place.

The hotel, located in Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri, will have police personnel in plain clothes patrolling every floor.

Delhi Polices security wing personnel will form part of the inner cordon that will work in close coordination with the United States Secret Service.

The security wing of the Delhi Police is a specialised unit tasked with the security of VIPs and visiting foreign dignitaries.

The second layer of security will be deployed around the hotels lobby area, parking, lawn area and the pool area, while the third one will comprise police personnel from the district police.

There is a large stretch of green ridge area opposite the hotel and security personnel will be deployed there as well.

Even at the neighbouring Taj Palace hotel, security personnel are maintaining a tight vigil.

The floor where the Grand Presidential Suite is located at the ITC Maurya is out of bounds for most hotel staff owing to the elaborate security arrangements.

Sources said security arrangements at the hotel have been underway for the last two weeks with NSG commandos and Delhi Police personnel surveying every floor on a daily basis. Officials from the US embassy are also monitoring the preparations with all details being kept under wraps.

The sources added that the hotel will be out of bounds for other guests during the time Trump and his entourage will be there, and all the 438 rooms of the five-star property have been booked. PTI AMP/SLB PR AMP RDM RDM RDM
Brexit is a word that was coined to describe the United Kingdoms June 23, 2016, vote to quit being a member of the European Union, which then had 28 members. It is also a subject that is difficult to write about because its situation can change on an almost daily basis.

Since the U.K.s vote to secede, Brexit and politics in the U.K. have played out like a cliffhanger soap opera. One day after the fateful vote to secede, British Prime Minister David Cameron resigned his position. Many believe that when he put the Brexit vote up for a public referendum in response to members of the Parliament and public supporting the movement, Cameron thought it would not pass. Many people blame him for opening a can of worms.

Cameron was succeeded by Theresa May, who inherited the Brexit hot potato and struggled to forge a clear path of exit with the EU. Second-guessing and controversy surrounding Brexit shadowed her tenure as British prime minister until she herself announced her resignation on May 24, 2018.

May was replaced on July 24, 2019, by Boris Johnson, who promised to successfully shepherd the U.K. through its extraction from the EU. He began negotiating a withdrawal plan with the EU but immediately experienced problems building support for a Brexit path forward. In reaction, Johnson did everything from suspending Parliament, a move that was legally rebuked, to expelling members of his party who were not behind him.

Finally, he was put in the awkward position of asking the EU for more time to withdraw. Because he only had a narrow parliamentary majority that was inadequate for him to pass the Brexit deal he had negotiated with the EU, he had no other choice but to call for a general election, the third of its kind in the U.K. during the past three years. Johnsons hand was strengthened by his partys overwhelming victory in this general election. Thus, the path to Brexit was made possible for Johnson and his party. As part of the negotiations, the U.K. and EU agreed to keep all rules, processes and regulations the same during a transition period that will last until Dec. 31, 2020.

This gives the U.K. a little more than 10 months to negotiate a completely new economic and trading relationship with the EU. By any standard, this appears to be a herculean task. The Johnson government must come to terms with the EU on everything from customs procedures, security, e-commerce rules/protocol, logistics standards, fishing rules and financial regulations, among others. Compared with what the U.K. and EU need to negotiate and put in place, the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement looks like a piece of cake.

Johnson also has publicly stated that his government intends to negotiate separate trade agreements with individual European countries once it has completely broken away from the EU. He intends to rely heavily on the negotiation of a trade agreement with the U.S. in order to decrease strong reliance on the EU. More than 50% of the U.K.s imports come from the EU, while almost 50% of its exports are purchased by the EU.

However, by rejecting its EU membership and turning to the U.S. to balance its economic future, the U.K. might be backing itself into a position of weak leverage with the U.S. in future trade negotiations. U.S. negotiators might choose to play hardball with the U.K. and exact severe concessions in the path of developing a trade agreement between the two countries.

The U.K. might find itself with completely different trade protocol between the U.S. and the EU, thus creating confusion, chaos and potentially loss of business for its companies.

From a geopolitical standpoint, the U.K.s exit from the EU is also incredibly complicated. This move could potentially fan the flames for a renewed Scottish independence movement from the U.K., as many Scots were perfectly content to be part of the EU and are wary of the uncertain future of an independent U.K.

From a security standpoint, Johnsons government negotiated for Northern Ireland, which is controlled by the U.K., to continue the current trade rules it has with the EU. This would prevent the bizarre situation of having Customs checkpoints between this region and the Republic of Ireland, which will continue to be an EU member.

However, a system must be established for products that the U.K. sends to Northern Ireland that will eventually be exported to the EU. How this will function is yet to be determined.

Given what it is facing the remainder of the year, I cant help but wonder if a successful Johnson Brexit will become a Pyrrhic victory for the U.K. Johnson will need to use every political skill to keep his party behind him as the path work is laid out for going solo. I imagine that he and his team are going to be busy for the next 10 months.

Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com.
Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives are standing by the decision to introduce new blue Ontario plates  and admitting the controversial change was a team effort.

The entire caucus was consulted on this and all of us thought it was an important thing to do to highlight the new government, a government of  progress, growth, and prosperity, said government house leader Paul Calandra.

Were all supportive of it. Caucus was very supportive of the changes, he said Monday.

With embattled Government and Consumer Minister Lisa Thompson again ducking reporters, it was left to Calandra to face the media on the illegible licence plate fiasco.

The double-blue plates, a cornerstone of last Aprils budget, give off glare under lights and police have complained they cant be read at night.

Replacements will be mailed to the thousands of motorists who already have them within the next month or so.

It reflects a new spirit in the province of Ontario and it had been a long time since the plate had been replaced, he said, referring to the traditional white plates with blue letters and numbers dating back to 1973 when Bill Davis was PC premier.

Calandra conceded theres going to be hiccups in government.

If the worst thing that happens to us over the next four years is we have to replace 30,000 licence plates then I would think job well done.

In the legislature, Thompson, who had initially defended the plates when the scandal erupted last week, said the Tories are working collaboratively with manufacturer 3M on a fix.

I want everyone in Ontario to know that we have been assured by 3M that they stand by their products and will deliver our enhanced licence plate to Ontarians as quickly as possible, she said.

NDP MPP Jennifer French (Oshawa) said Ontarios licence plate fiasco has been a glaring example of what can go wrong when a government is in a hurry to make a name for itself, but not to make responsible decisions.

The plates reflect too much and are unreadable. Under some conditions, the letters and numbers disappear and cant be read. Toronto photo radar cant read the small letters in the word Ontario, said French.

What is next? We havent had a good rain yet  are the plates going to dissolve?

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said the Tory-blue plates are a symbol of Fords approach to government.

Misplaced priority, bad decision, hastily implemented, bad result. It doesnt give people confidence in the competence of their government, said Fraser.

Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the premier clearly put his vanity project to rebrand the province ahead of public safety.

The Tories did get one piece of good news about the plates.

Despite a media report that they cannot be read by automated licence plate cameras at border crossings, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said thats not the case.

We can confirm that no issues are being experienced with the Ontario licence plates, said CBSAs Judith Gadbois-St-Cyr.

However, in accordance with our standard procedures, when a licence plate number cannot be read by a licence plate reader (LPR), or where LPRs are not available the plate number can be manually keyed in by the officer at the primary inspection line, said Gadbois-St-Cyr.

Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:54:14|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Close to 90 percent of villages or communities have reported no coronavirus infections in Xianning, a city near Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province.

The city has 857 villages or communities that reported and exported no infections to other areas, accounting for 89.18 percent of the city's total, Xianning's city mayor Wang Yuanhe said at a press conference Monday.

Xianning has seen 11 deaths from the infection so far, and 445 patients have been discharged from hospital after recovery, Wang said.

The city took a variety of measures to prevent and control virus transmission, including closed-off management and reducing public gatherings. The city set up 91 isolation sites.

The combination of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine played an important role in treating infected patients, Du Guang, head of the Xianning City Central Hospital, said at the conference.

Xianning reported 836 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection as of midnight Sunday, including 10 in critical conditions.
Australia's bushfires were not only "extraordinary" in scale but also exposed deficiencies in the climate models that are struggling to identify changes in rainfall and fire weather trends.

In a series of papers in Nature Climate Change published on Tuesday, scientists found the size of fires in NSW and Victoria were larger than any recorded since European settlement in Australia.

This season's bushfires were not only unprecedented in their size, they were also not well captured by climate models, scientists said. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

They were also far bigger than similar forest fires elsewhere globally in at least the past two decades.

"In terms of the mid-latitude forests, this was a phenomenal event," said Ross Bradstock, head of the University of Wollongong's Centre of Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, and an author of one of the papers.
President Muhammadu Buhari said the attacks on soft targets by Boko Haram are obvious signs of frustration because his administration has weakened insurgency.

Buhari was reacting to a foiled attack carried out by Boko Haram insurgents in Garkida, a town in Gombi local government area north of Adamawa State on Friday, February 21, 2020.

In a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Piblicitu, Garba Shehu, on Sunday night, Buhari condemned the attack and assured citizens that no part of Nigeria would be abandoned to its fate.

These attacks on soft targets by the terrorists are obvious signs of frustration because my administration has significantly weakened Boko Harams military capability to invade and hold Nigerian territory unchallenged. Our gallant forces deserve our appreciation for repelling the attackers but they must go beyond this point. They have our full support to go after the terrorists and have them pay a huge price. I want to assure the country that terrorists will continue to face the combined power of our military until they give up their mistaken ways. These occasional and episodic attacks on poor civilians by the terrorists are mere propaganda efforts to portray them as strong in order to fool the public into believing that they havent been militarily weekend by our gallant troops.

President Buhari said since the inception of his administration, Boko Harams ability to invade and occupy Nigerian territories, let alone be able to hoist their flags had been frustrated.

President Buhari assured that in the coming weeks Nigerians would witness an aggressive campaign to rout Boko Haram once and for all.

Security will continue to be well funded despite the competing needs of social services. I appeal to Nigerians to continue to support our troops in their gallant efforts to protect the citizens and secure the country, he added.

The Adawama attack 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.
(Natural News) Prior to the current outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), there were only six active coronavirus clinical trials taking place that involved the pharmaceutical industry. And all of them were critically dependent on the use of public funding, according to a new Public Citizen report.

Because of the monopoly model that dominates drug development in our country, drug companies are only willing to perform epidemic response work if taxpayers fund it. And thats precisely whats happening with the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reportedly funnels about $700 million in public funding towards research and development.

All of this cash is being taken from taxpayers without their direct permission, of course, and all under the guise of providing emergency medicine. But in the end, Big Pharma will simply absorb the medicines that We the People pay for as their own, and continue to profit from them while holding exclusive licensing for their sale and use.

Its a highly corrupt system that, as usual, benefits the legal drug cartels at the expense of the American public. And, sad to say, this taxpayer money often doesnt even lead to a result that provides any measurable benefits for society, as was seen during the fairly recent Ebola epidemic.

In 2014, as the Ebola epidemic raged on, a promising vaccine sat on the shelf, Public Citizen reports about the defects of the monopoly model of medicine.

The small company that licensed the vaccine from the Canadian government for approximately $200,000 had failed to complete basic safety trials. It was only after the company further sub-licensed the vaccine to Merck for $50 million that it was finally made available through clinical trials. The process took over a year, producing a substantial profit for the small company.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how during the Ebola crisis there were also symptomless carriers of the disease much like there now are for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19):

We the People should own all medicine in a public collective

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) admits that there are a number of critical gaps when it comes to vaccine funding specifically. And the agency has reportedly pumped millions of dollars from its own coffers into R&D for emerging infectious diseases, including for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), to try to fill those gaps.

The CEPI says its currently funding at least four new vaccine projects, though this has been the subject of much criticism, including from Medecins Sans Frontieres which has accused the coalition of failing to ensure [that] CEPI-funded vaccines will be affordable for people who need them most.

This is the very same problem with the monopoly model of medicine at large, which in essence hands over the licensing rights of life-saving medicines to greedy pharmaceuticals corporations that proceed to jack up the prices for their own benefit.

For this reason, Public Citizen and others are calling for the monopoly model to finally be put to death, especially when taxpayer money is involved. If We the People are going to be expected to fund the research into all of this medicine, then the end product should also be owned by We the People, and not by the pharmaceutical cartels.

We need a system that prioritizes public health, Public Citizen contends. For more than a decade, academics, economists and activists have proposed developing alternative models to incentivize R&D that do not rely on monopolies.

The COVID-19 crisis highlights the urgent need for a new model, it goes on to add. Implementing an approach that looks beyond monopolies could help ensure that taxpayers do not pay twice. U.S. taxpayers are compensated for their significant investment in biomedical research and development by being charged the highest medicine prices in the world.

More coverage of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) is available at the all-new Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

Citizen.org

NaturalNews.com
[February 24, 2020] Elastic Debuts Integrated Security Offering at RSA 2020

Elastic N.V. (NYSE: ESTC) ("Elastic"), the company behind Elasticsearch and the Elastic Stack, today announced it will showcase its integrated threat prevention, collection, detection, and response solution at the 2020 RSA (News - Alert) conference in San Francisco, February 24-28, 2020. Earlier this month, Elastic released its integrated security offering, Elastic Security 7.6.0, which builds on the strengths of Elastic Endpoint Security and Elastic SIEM to deliver unparalleled visibility and threat protection through a unified interface. New features include a SIEM detection engine that automates threat detection and comes with 100+ prebuilt rules aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework to identify known and unknown threats. With Elasticsearch at its core, Elastic Security reduces security investigations from days to minutes with near-real-time security monitoring and incident response capabilities. According to a report1 by the SANS Institute (News - Alert), the inability of existing tools to process massive amounts of security data directly affects an analyst's ability to detect attacks both during a breach and after the fact - when analysts need to conduct forensic investigations and confirm that a threat has been completely remediated. "Elastic has helped our security team focus on what matters by equipping us with the tools we need to efficiently search millions of logs while reducing the number of alerts to a volume that our security team can manage," said Maxim Verreault, Security Manager at Skytech Communications. "With the release of 7.6, out-of-the-box signal detection rules in Elastic SIEM enble us to automate analysis across our observability data and detect and respond to threats the moment they happen. Elastic Security 7.6 also provides a great way for the community to connect, as we, the security folks, will be able to share custom signal detection rules so that everyone can benefit from them and detect new emerging threats."



"Not only do security operations teams need more network access and user data, but they also must collect and correlate that data into usable information to simplify security operations," said Nate Fick, general manager at Elastic Security. "The convergence of Elastic Endpoint Security and Elastic SIEM into a single solution enables organizations to prevent targeted attacks in real time, while providing needed visibility into security risks as they develop to fast-track response actions before damage and loss." Key features that Elastic will demonstrate at RSA include:

Comprehensive, Data-Driven Analytics Correlate (News - Alert) events and log data from any source to proactively detect threats with machine learning and analytics across server, network, cloud, and endpoint data. Respond at scale to isolate a single compromised endpoint or remediate an attack across an entire environment with a single click. Fast Response With Fewer Resources The Elastic Security visualizations can pinpoint the origin, extent, and timeline of an attack with real-time analysis of file, registry, user, process, network, and DNS data. Analysts are empowered to determine root cause in minutes and take immediate action without ever leaving the page. Automated Security Operations at Scale Elastic streamlines advanced capabilities such as security analytics, EDR, incident response, and threat hunting with a user experience and workflow that Elastic security researchers have designed to solve real-world SOC use cases. With a focus on workflow automation driving the most efficient use of an analyst's time, incident responders and threat hunters will find their day-to-day roles free of repetitive tasks, with more time spent solving critical problems and investigations. Elastic security experts will be delivering valuable security insights on some of the top challenges facing cybersecurity professionals today in booths #1427 and #2227. Session presentations include: Advanced Autonomous Protections on the Endpoint

Stop advanced attacks no matter where your endpoints are, connected or disconnected. Global Attack Protection from the SIEM

Find embedded attackers across your environment with deep data analysis and detection across all your security data. Fully Integrated Workflow for Complete Remediation

Reduce your time to respond and remediate the full attack with vertical integration between Elastic Endpoint and SIEM. 1 Endpoint Protection and Response: A SANS Survey, SANS Institute, June 20, 2018 About Elastic Elastic is a search company that powers enterprise search, observability, and security solutions built on one technology stack that can be deployed anywhere. From finding documents to monitoring infrastructure to hunting for threats, Elastic makes data usable in real time and at scale. Founded in 2012, Elastic is a distributed company with Elasticians around the globe. Learn more at elastic.co. Elastic and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Elastic N.V. and its subsidiaries. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005761/en/

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A BUSINESSMAN who was on board a flight where a passenger was taken ill with suspected coronavirus says he is not concerned about becoming sick.

Andy West, 55, of Station Road, Shiplake, was on the United Airlines flight from San Francisco that landed at Heathrow Airport on Friday morning when the incident happened.

Mr West, chief development officer for a technology public relations firm, said: Id been on a regular trip to the west coast on business.

Everything was absolutely fine until the point we were taxiing to the stand and the captain said, we have a sick passenger on board so please everyone keep in their seats when we come to a stop so we can let that person off.

Typically, wed come into a gate at terminal two but I thought it was a bit unusual we were coming on to a parking stand off the terminal.

Just as we came to a halt the captain said, we have a suspected case of coronavirus on the flight. The person has been isolated at the rear of the plane, please can everyone stay put until the health authorities come on board.

I dont want to be overdramatic but there was a sense of worry, definitely. You hear that and think gosh, thats unexpected.

There was no panic, no audible reaction from the passengers. I think everyone just internalised it and went gosh, whats going to happen next? There was a level of uncertainty and concern.

The passengers were told there were seven other flights landing at Heathrow that morning with a similar situation on board and Mr West said these included two in front of his flight that still had to be checked by the authorities.

He couldnt see the passenger affected but said the cabin crew he could see were not wearing any protective clothing or face masks.

I didnt see anybody come off and nobody came forward, he said. We sat on the plane probably for about 25 minutes and then the cabin crew handed out these forms, which I think were from Public Heath England, which we had to sign saying we werent suffering from any symptoms like sweating and running noses and put our contact details on the back.

Once this was filled in we were told to disembark, hand the form in as we left and get a bus to the terminal.

Mr West, who is married with two sons, said: The day was definitely out of the ordinary, even for a PR guy. There was an overriding sense of amusement that there was so much media interest. Its more media than Ive spoken to in the last 30 years.

More seriously, people were saying are you okay? Have you got the virus? and then secondly are we going to see you for two weeks? Are you and the family going to self-quarantine?

Mr West said he didnt have any symptoms and wouldnt isolate himself.

He said: The guidance from Public Heath England is unless youre within two metres of a carrier for at least 15 minutes, which I most definitely was not, then the chances of transmission are nil.

We have not heard any confirmation, or otherwise, from Public Health England and if it is confirmed all the passengers would be contacted and given guidelines. Its very important to state it is a suspected case, it is not a confirmed case.

Mr West worked from home on Monday and was discussing with his company when they wished him to return to work at the head office in Moorgate, London.

He added: Unless I hear from Public Heath England Im not going to worry about it. Im not that worried about the virus itself.

From everything we read the mortality rate is very, very low. If youre fit and healthy its just like having a cold. If the case is confirmed then I guess my anxiety level would rise a little bit.

Life is normal. It was interesting to be caught up in it all and I hope the person involved is not a carrier and hope whatever they have they make a speedy recovery.

The coronavirus death toll in China has now passed 2,000 with 700 confirmed cases in other countries, including nine in the UK.
For the past four years or so, Laredo and Nuevo Laredos shared tradition of meeting in the middle of the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge to abrazar, embrace, has been more than a display of friendship, solidarity and unity. It has been a defense of these shared values in the face of the threat to end them  by closing the border, militarizing the border, building a wall, imposing tariffs.

READ MORE: Large crowds turn out for Washingtons Birthday Parade

This years International Bridge Ceremony was no different, except that floating beneath the dignitaries on the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge was a small protest: four people in two kayaks holding a banner between them that read #NoBorderWall. The silent protesters let the river carry them slowly downstream, where they paused while people on the bridge noticed, poked each other and pointed.

This took place during a keynote address from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as she spoke to the crowds on either side of the bridge.

I tell people all over the country that this is one of the most patriotic areas in our country. No place can match the celebration given to Martha and George Washington, a tribute to the vision of our founders demonstrated by our young people, Pelosi said.

This event celebrates the close bonds between the U.S. and Mexico, and it embodies the diversity that strengthens these communities, she said.

We will continue to work together to strengthen that bond, and it is an unbreakable one in our view, Pelosi said.

And then, as they do every year, two children from Laredo and two children from Nuevo Laredo met in the middle of the bridge to share abrazos, setting off the ritual for the myriad dignitaries that followed: the mayors of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, Pete Saenz and Enrique Rivas Cuellar, and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina; Pelosi and Tamaulipas Governor Francisco Garcia Cabeza de Vaca; U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, Nita Lowey and Vicente Gonzaelz and Diputado Jose Salvador Rosas Quintanilla; U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer and Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Martha Barcena, and on and on.

After the ceremony, Cabeza de Vaca told reporters that those who live on either side of the border understand that they are more than partners and friends; they are family.

READ MORE: Laredo elementary receives visit from former student and Princess Pocahontas Chief Sacred Warrior

The people present here today sent a clear message of unity and brotherhood that exists between both countries, he said. But above all we are working to improve the quality of life for families that inhabit both sides of the border.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
New Delhi: 'Vishwa Shanti Yagya' or World Peace Prayer being performed by Hindu Sena during US President Donald Trump's visit to India, to seek blessings from God for Prime Minister Modi and Trump", at Janatar Mantar in New Delhi on Feb 24, 2020. Image Source: IANS News

Patna: Fringe organisation Hindu Sena perform "Vishwa Shanti Yagya" or World Peace Prayers during US President Donald Trump's visit to India, in New Delhi on Feb 24, 2020. Hindu Sena Chief Vishnu Gupta said he sought "blessings from our Hindu Gods to Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: 'Vishwa Shanti Yagya' or World Peace Prayer being performed by Hindu Sena during US President Donald Trump's visit to India, to seek blessings from God for Prime Minister Modi and Trump", at Janatar Mantar in New Delhi on Feb 24, 2020. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 24 : Fringe organisation Hindu Sena organised a "Vishwa Shanti Yagya" on Monday after US President Donald Trump reached India.

Hindu Sena Chief Vishnu Gupta said he sought "blessings from our Hindu Gods to bless India's PM Modi and US President Trump to join forces and fight alongside each other to free the world from radical Islamic terrorism, which is the biggest threat to mankind and wipe off these enemies of humanity from the face of the earth".

"We pray that all pending deals between India and the US are fulfilled with mutual understanding and respect and benefit both countries," he said.

He said the outfit is very excited to receive "Hindus' faithful friend in the White House".

Trump is known for his strong views against Islamic hardliners and the Hindu Sena too never shied away from exhibiting it's non liking for Islamic radicalism.

The yagya was organised at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

This is not the first time Gupta tried to catch eyeballs by showing his affection for Trump. Earlier, he organised birthday celebrations for the US President where a cake weighing 7-kg was cut and fed to a large poster of Trump.

Just as India announced Trump's arrival plans, the outfit released a video message where it called him the "saviour of humanity".

The Hindu Sena, however, remains just a fringe outfit which has made headlines by objecting to beef allegedly served in Delhi's Kerala House canteen to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Earlier this month, it warned youngsters against public displays of affection on February 14. It in fact wrote to the Delhi police commissioner in this regard as well.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
Unions and employers have joined forces to fight the Morrison government's controversial religious freedom bill, warning it will damage workplace harmony and pit employees from different backgrounds against each other at work.

In a joint letter sent to Attorney-General Christian Porter on Monday, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Industry Group said while they supported protections against religious discrimination, the government's bill was "confusing, inappropriate and unfair".

Christian Porter has rejected concerns raised by unions and employers about his religious freedom bill. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"Most concerningly, [the bill] presents a risk of harm to the staff and customers of Australian businesses," the letter said.

In a rare show of unity between the employer peak body and the ACTU, the letter - seen by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age - called for the so-called Israel Folau clause, protecting the right to make "statements of religious belief", to be removed from the bill.
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/24/2020 -- The latest market intelligence study on the Stem Cell Media Market applies the best of both primary and secondary research techniques to bring to light the growth rate of the Stem Cell Media Market for the forecast period, 2019 - 2025. The comprehensive study covers hard to find facts about the market landscape as well as its growth prospects in the years to come. Most importantly, the research report includes vital statistics about the major vendors occupying a strong foothold in this industry. Besides this, in order to calculate the market share, the study takes a closer look at the selling price of the product across different regions.



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The researcher assessing the Stem Cell Media Market dive deep to unearth intangible facts related to the key restraints, opportunities, and threats expected to shape the progress of the industry during the forecast period, 2019 - 2025. Significant evaluation of other factors such as demand and supply status, import and export, distribution channel, consumption volume, and production capability play a vital role in offering business owners, stakeholders and field marketing personnel a competitive edge over others operating in the same space. All important data are presented in self-explanatory charts, tables and graphic images that can be incorporated into any business presentation.



Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers:

Thermo Fisher, STEMCELL Technologies, Merck Millipore, Lonza, GE Healthcare, Miltenyi Biotec, Corning, CellGenix, Takara, PromoCell



Market Segment by Type, covers:

- Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture

- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Culture

- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture

- Other



Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into:

- Scientific Research

- Industrial Production



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The study explores in details about the recent trend fast gaining momentum in the Stem Cell Media industry due to factors including but not limited to growing customer preference and a sudden rise in their spending capacity. Aspects attributed to the gross margin, profit, supply chain management and product value and their considerable impact on the development of the Stem Cell Media Market during the forecast period, 2019 - 2025 is carefully scrutinized during the research.



Estimating the potential size of the Stem Cell Media industry:

Industry experts conducting the study further estimate the potential of the Stem Cell Media industry. Such information is important for firms looking to launch an innovative service or product on the market. Industry experts have measured the total volume of the given market. Researchers have calculated the industry in terms of sales by the competitors and end-user  customers. Data on the entire size of the Stem Cell Media Market for a particular product or a service for the forecast period, 2019 to 2025 covered in the report makes it valuable. This information reveals the upper limit of the Stem Cell Media industry for a specific product or service.



Exploring growth rate over a period:

Business owners looking to scale up their business can refer this report that contains data regarding the rise in sales within a given consumer base for the forecast period, 2019 to 2025. Product owners can use this information along with the driving factors such as demographics and revenue generated from other products discussed in the report to get a better analysis of their products and services. Besides, the research analysts have compared the market growth rate with the product sales to enable business owners to determine the success or failure of a specific product or service.



The research provides answers to the following key questions:

- What is the estimated size of the Stem Cell Media Market for the forecast period, 2019 - 2025? What will be the growth rate of the industry during the estimated period?

- What are the prominent driving forces likely to impact the progress of the industry across different regions?

- Who are the major market players occupying a strong foothold in the Stem Cell Media market? What are the winning strategies adopted by them to stay ahead in the competition?

- What are the potential opportunities for the Stem Cell Media Market for the forecast period, 2019 - 2025?



Read More @https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/46755/stem-cell-media-market



There are 14 Chapters to deeply display the global Stem Cell Media market.



Chapter 1 covers the Stem Cell Media Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;



Chapter 2 talks about the top manufacturers and analyses their sales, revenue and pricing decisions for the duration 2019 and 2025;



Chapter 3 displays the competitive nature of the market by discussing the competition among the top manufacturers. It dissects the market using sales, revenue and market share data for 2019 and 2025;



Chapter 4, shows the global market by regions and the proportionate size of each market region based on sales, revenue and market share of Personal Emergency Response System/Medical Alert System, for the period 2019- 2025;



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Hyderabad: India is not prepared to handle an outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) if it broke out or spread anywhere in the country. The only narrow focus of the health system has been to preventing a breakout of the disease by putting all efforts in trying to prevent anyone affected by it from coming into the country and hope we are spared of the epidemic.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday that a robust screening system has prevented and kept Covid-19 out of India.

According to senior health officials, if a secondary breakout does occur anywhere in the country as has been the case in South Korea, Italy and Iran, then all bets are off in containing the disease. God forbid, if we have a situation like in Wuhan, a top Telangana official said on Monday, adding, we are only prepared to isolate identified cases in small numbers.

Indias present strategy rests solely on preventing entry of the virus through a rigorous screening process of all international travellers from countries that have been hit by coronavirus, officials aver.

It is for the Centre to take a call on how to deal with an outbreak, if it occurs. All states are strictly focused on following the Central guidelines. The Centre has restricted itself to screening of international passengers, a senior health official said.

Police says its ready for crowd control

In our kind of society, if an outbreak does occur, then it will be out of our hands, the official said.

The Centre appears to have placed its bets on heat, and hope. Opinion gathered after speaking to a series of officials indicate to a belief of the Centr that the virus would not survive in Indias tropical temperatures range of 32 degrees or 33 degrees Celsius, and higher, given that the summer season is looming ahead.

The fact is we are still learning about the virus. China is reporting some 350 cases of disease recurrence in people, after they were treated and declared Covid19-free. So far, it has been observed that the countries where the outbreaks are being reported from have temperatures varying from five degrees to 15 degrees Celsius. How exactly will the new coronavirus behave in heat is a matter up for debate, an official involved in Indias battle against COVID-19 said.

Within the state too, an official said our arrang-ements are not foolproof.

A senior official of the state police department, the physical execution arm of the government when it comes to crowd control, said that they have already made contingency plans.

We have contingencies for issues involving maintenance of law and order. In a possible scenario of containing an area as part of quarantine, the government would have to give orders, the official said.
By May 12, for the first time ever, vaping manufacturers must file applications to the Food and Drug Administration proving their products benefit public health or risk having them yanked from the market.Arnold says he cant afford the hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars he figures it would cost to do the exhaustive applications for his products, which come in 128 flavors and multiple nicotine strengths. But he cant afford trouble with the FDA, either.
US authorities arrested a federal narcotics agents on charges of conspiring with Colombian drug traffickers to steal millions of dollars.

Jose Irizarry and his wife, Nathalia Gomez-Irizarry, were arrested at their home near San Juan in Puerto Rico on Friday. They were charged with 19 counts of fraud, conspiracy, and identity theft.

The agent was known for spending a BMW, three Land Rovers, a $767,000 home in Cartegena, South Florida, and Puerto Rico, and a Tiffany ring worth $30,000.

Prosecutors said the once decorated agent used a sensitive type of undercover DEA investigation and used that to divert money to accounts he and other conspirators controlled.

"It's a black eye for the DEA to have one of its own engaged in such a high level of corruption," DEA's former Chief of International Operations Mike Vigil said.

Federal prosecutors claim Irizarry's conspiracy also benefited two other unnamed conspirators---an employed Colombian public official and the head of a drug trafficking and money laundering organization.

The Associated Press reported the DEA agent's lavish yacht parties with bikini-clad prostitutes last year, much to the shock of his colleagues.

It was also revealed that the head of the drug trafficking and money laundering organization became godfather to the couple's children in 2015.

The former DEA agent had been a model agent, winning awards and praises from his supervisors prior to being exposed.

He joined the DEA in Miami in 2009 where he was entrusted with an undercover money-laundering operation using front companies, shell bank accounts, and couriers.

In 2010, Irizarry was permitted to handle financial transactions at the DEA even after he declared bankruptcy with debts of almost $500,000.

In 2011, Irizzary was said to have used his badge to file false reports and mislead superiors while directing DEA personnel to wire funds to accounts he, his wife, and his co-conspirators controlled.

He was also accused of sharing sensitive information with his co-conspirators.

In late 2013, the former DEA agent was said to have helped collect nearly $1.1 million from suspected drug dealers. The money was deposited into undercover DEA bank accounts. Irizarry had wired more than half of the money to accounts controlled by one of his associates.

The former DEA agent had collected more than 1 million euros in "bulk cash" two years later from traffickers in the Netherlands. He wired $141,000 to a car dealer for himself and the head of the Colombian trafficking group.

Irizarry resigned from his position in January 2018 after his boss in Colombia became suspicious and reassigned him to Washington.

The FBI and the Justice Department began investigating in Colombia when word of the scandal reached Washington the same year.

Law enforcement officials said Irizarry showed signs of deception in a polygraph exam he took upon admission to the DEA but was nevertheless hired. The case raised questions about the DEA's screening practices in hiring its agents.

Irizarry was also said to have fabricated DEA seizure orders or letters from banks in order to pocket some of the money.

Irizarry and his wife, Nathalia, posted a bond of $10,000 each. Nathalia Gomez-Irizarry has since declined to comment.
Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States



WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX-V:KNE) (the Company or Kane Biotech) is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche (the Second Tranche) of its non-brokered private placement offering (the Offering) previously announced on December 4, 2019, and has issued 7,081,862 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.14 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of $991,460.68. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a Common Share) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.18 per Common Share until February 24, 2022. At the first closing of the offering on December 19, 2019, the Company issued 17,918,137 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,508,539.18. Accordingly, the Company has issued a total of 24,999,999 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,499,999.86 pursuant to the Offering.

The net proceeds of the first closing of the Offering were used, in part, to repay a $500,000 short-term loan to Individual Investment Corporation and to repay $600,000 of cash advances to certain insiders of the Company. The remainder of the net proceeds of the Offering will be used for business development, technology and product commercialization, patent and trademark filings, regulatory expenses, research and development expenses and general working capital.

The securities issued in the Second Tranche of the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day, expiring June 25, 2020. In connection with the Second Tranche of the Offering, the Company paid compensation to an eligible finder consisting of a cash commission of $29,936.48 and 133,645 compensation warrants (the Broker Warrants). Each Broker Warrant is exercisable into one Common Share at $0.18 per Common Share until February 24, 2022. The Broker Warrants are also subject to the Call Right (as defined below).

In the event that the Common Shares traded on the TSX-V have a closing price at or exceeding $0.25 per Common Share for five (5) consecutive trading days, the Company reserves the right to call the Warrants at their exercise price of $0.18 per Warrant (the Call Right). If the Company wishes to exercise its Call Right, the Company must provide written notice to the holders of the Warrants that it is calling the Warrants. Investors will have thirty (30) days from the date of such notice to exercise the Warrants and, in the event that any Warrants are not exercised, such Warrants shall be cancelled. Holders of Warrants shall be restricted from exercising any number of Warrants that will cause the holder to own such number of Common Shares that will equal or exceed 20% of the then issued and outstanding shares.

"We are very pleased with the high level of support from both existing and new investors, as well as insiders of the Company that resulted in demand significantly outweighing supply, said Marc Edwards, CEO of Kane Biotech. Now, with a balance sheet strengthened by this completed Offering, including the resulting extinguishment of all interest-bearing debt, combined with the non-dilutive financing we have secured to-date, we have the necessary resources to continue executing our growth strategy. As we approach a number of potential value inflection points, we are looking forward to updating our stakeholders as we progress.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. These securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered or exempt therefrom.

About Kane Biotech Inc.

Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of technologies and products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms. The Company has a portfolio of biotechnologies, intellectual property (56 patents and patents pending, trade secrets and trademarks) and products developed by the Company's own biofilm research expertise and acquired from leading research institutions. StrixNB, DispersinB, bluestem, AloSera, coactive+ and Kane are trademarks of Kane Biotech Inc. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "KNE."

For more information, please visit www.kanebiotech.com , or contact:

Marc Edwards

Chief Executive Officer

Kane Biotech Inc.

+1 (514) 910-6991

medwards@kanebiotech.com

Ray Dupuis

Chief Financial Officer

Kane Biotech Inc.

+1 (204) 298-2200

rdupuis@kanebiotech.com

Stephen Kilmer

Investor Relations

Kane Biotech Inc.

+1 (646) 274-3580

skilmer@kanebiotech.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Kevin Smith has responded to the discovery he was an answer on UK quiz show The Chase.

One contestant on the ITV series and their appointed chaser Anne Hegarty were asked: View Askewniverse is a term for a set of films by which director?

The director, whose films Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy are among those set in the fictional universe, was named alongside George Lucas and Tim Burton.

While the contestant chose Lucas, Hegarty guessed the answer correctly.

After the official Twitter accout of an indie documentary exploring Smiths fandom highighted his appearance on the show, Smith himself wrote: Flattered as f*** to keep company with legends.

He continued: Likely the only time youll see this director mentioned with those actual Directors. But it looks like the contestant didnt know my stuff? Means Ive got more work to do to get famous. (Your flick will help that, @KevHeadsDoc).

Directors who have made cameos in films Show all 21 1 /21 Directors who have made cameos in films Directors who have made cameos in films Steven Spielberg in The Blues Brothers (1980) Hes had some cameos in his own films including the voice of the radio operator in Jaws and as a man watching the news in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. He's turned up in other peoples films too, such as Cameron Crowes Vanilla Sky and Barry Sonnenfelds Men in Black. But in John Landiss The Blues Brothers, he is unforgettable as a bureaucrat who stamps a receipt for the Blue Brothers, played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Universal Pictures Directors who have made cameos in films John Huston in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) John Huston played a background blackjack player in his Marilyn Monroe-starring film The Misfits in 1961 and as a barman in Moby Dick in 1956. But perhaps most memorable is his cameo as a well-dressed American tourist who is pestered for money by drifter Fred C Hobbs (Humphrey Bogart) in his Oscar-winning drama The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Apparently, Humphrey Bogart directed the scene and took pleasure in making Huston perform it over and over again. Warner Bros Directors who have made cameos in films Quentin Tarantino in Little Nicky (2000) The director has had roles in many of his own films: his voice was the answer machine message in Jackie Brown; he plays one of 88 masked ninjas in Kill Bill and Jimmy Dimmick in Pulp Fiction. But his intermittent appearance in Steven Brills film as a blind deacon, who recognises Adam Sandlers character as the son of the devil, is perhaps the weirdest. Rex Features Directors who have made cameos in films Peter Jackson in Hot Fuzz (2007) Like Hitchcock, the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit director is known for making cameos in his own films. Though his most notable cameo was carrot man in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, more surprising was his brief turn in Edgar Wrights police comedy. Dressed up as a Father Christmas, he stabs Simon Peggs Sergeant Angel in the hand at the beginning of the film. Universal Pictures Directors who have made cameos in films Wes Craven in Scream (1996) Principal Himbry (Henry Winkler) is working late at school when he hears a knock at his door. The only person he sees when he goes to open it is the janitor, played by director Wes Craven, who is dressed as Freddie Krueger, his own creation. Dimension Films Directors who have made cameos in films Terrence Malik in Badlands (1973) The famously reclusive director made a brief and unexpected cameo in his film Badlands. The actor he hired to play caller at rich mans house where Kit (Michael Sheen) and Holly (Sissy Spacek) are hiding out, didnt turn up, so Malik played the part himself. Warner Bros Directors who have made cameos in films Stanley Kubrick in Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Hes not credited, but Stanley Kubrick is sitting in a booth at the Sonata Cafe in this thriller starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. When Dr Bill Hartford (Cruise) is invited to an orgy by Nick Nightingale (Todd Field), Kubrick  understandably  glances twice at Bill. Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock Directors who have made cameos in films Alfred Hitchcock in North by Northwest (1959) The director was known for his signature cameos, and found ingenious ways to insert himself into his own films. In North by Northwest, he plays a man missing a bus just after the credit directed by Alfred Hitchcock passes on screen. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Directors who have made cameos in films Rob Reiner in Misery (1990) The When Harry Met Sally director makes a cameo in his psychological-horror film, Misery, about a psychotic fan (Kathy Bates) who holds an author (James Caan) captive and forces him to write her stories. Reiner plays a helicopter pilot helping the local sheriff Buster search for Pauls car. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Directors who have made cameos in films Martin Scorsese in Taxi Driver (1976) The director makes cameo appearances in nearly every film he makes. But playing a twisted passenger in the taxi driven by Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) has to be one of his best. When the cab stops at an apartment, the silhouette of the passengers wife can be seen. He then describes to Bickle how he would like to kill the woman with a 44 Magnum pistol. Columbia Pictures Directors who have made cameos in films Clint Eastwood in Breezy (1973) He has directed himself in many of his films, including Million Dollar Baby and Unforgiven, but Eastwood also gave himself a cameo role in his third film Breezy. In the romantic drama, starring William Holden and Kay Lenz, he can be seen briefly, leaning on a pier in a white jacket. Getty Directors who have made cameos in films Roman Polanski in Chinatown (1974) Roman Polanskis cameo in Chinatown as man with knife is memorable. He slashes the nostril of leading man Jack Nicholson, who plays snooping detective Jake Gittes. Polanski pulls out the knife and says: You're a very nosy fellow, kitty-cat, huh? You know what happens to nosy fellows? Huh, no? Want to guess? Huh, no? OK. They lose their noses. Paramount Pictures Directors who have made cameos in films Oliver Stone in Platoon (1986) The director has a small cameo role in his film Platoon, as an officer at the US bunker which gets destroyed by a suicide bomber. Its not the first time he has made appearances in his films: he was an investor in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and a UCLA film professor in his biographical film The Doors. Directors who have made cameos in films David Cronenberg in The Fly (1986) Most of the directors cameo roles are in other peoples films, including John Landiss Into the Night and Gus van Sants To Die For. But he makes a brief appearance as an obstetrician delivering a giant larva in his film The Fly, after Martin Scorsese observed that he resembled a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. Cronenberg delivers a maggot-baby to Geena Daviss Veronica, the girlfriend of Jeff Goldblums scientist Seth Brundle. Directors who have made cameos in films George Lucas in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith After 28 years behind the camera, the Star Wars creator made his one and only cameo appearance in Revenge of the Sith, as Baron Papanoida, a blue-coloured alien statesman who appears in the opera house scene. He gave three of his children  Jett, Amanda and Katie Lucas  cameo roles in it, too. Getty Images for AFI Directors who have made cameos in films Cameron Crowe in Minority Report (2002) Cameron Crowe had already put Steven Spielberg in his film Vanilla Sky, so perhaps this was a return favour? Crowe can be seen as a passenger on a train, along with another extra, the actor Cameron Diaz. Getty Images Directors who have made cameos in films Hal Ashby in Harold and Maude (1971) The Shampoo director had several cameos in his films, including playing a passenger in a Porsche who is flashing a peace sign in Coming Home, his Oscar-nominated 1978 film. But in the darkly humourous love story Harold and Maude, in which Harold, a lonely teenager intrigued by death, has a romantic relationship with a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor, Maude, Ashby pops up as a bearded man watching model trains. Saboteur Media/Rex Directors who have made cameos in films M Night Shyamalan in The Sixth Sense (1999) M Night Shyamalan's parents are doctors, while the director considered becoming one as well. So it is perhaps no surprise that he cast himself as Dr Hill in his supernatural horror The Sixth Sense. He plays a psychiatrist who talks to young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) after he is locked inside a closet by bullies at a birthday party. Getty Images Directors who have made cameos in films Todd Philips in Old School (2003) The director has some creepy cameos in his films, including as a suspicious man in an elevator in The Hangover, and a man with a foot fetish in Road Trip. But he really comes into his own as gang bang guy, who turns up late to an orgy in Old School. When Luke Wilsons character finds out his wife is into group sex, he opens the door to Philips who says: Im here for the gang bang. DreamWorks Pictures Directors who have made cameos in films David and Jerry Zucker in Airplane! (1980) All three directors of this spoof aeroplane disaster movie make cameos in their film. The Zuckers play two distracted air traffic controllers who accidentally guide a jumbo 747 jet into the LAX airport terminal. Jim Abrahams turns up as one of the religious fanatics in the Chicago airport terminal. Paramount/Rex Directors who have made cameos in films Francis Ford Coppola in Apocalypse Now (1979) The director plays a TV news director, with cinematographer Vittorio Storaro playing the cameraman by his side, in his film Apocalypse Now. As they film mock news footage of the combat, Coppola shouts at Michael Sheens character Captain Benjamin L Willard, who is fighting in the Vietnam War: Don't look at the camera! Just go by like you're fighting. Like you're fighting. Don't look at the camera! This is for television. Just go through, go through. Rex Features

In a recent interview with The Independent, the actor, director and podcaster spoke about the changes in his life post-heart attack, a potential third Clerks film, and why he doesnt believe woke culture is killing comedy.
SALEM, Ore.  Republican lawmakers in the Oregon state Senate have vacated the capitol to deny a vote on Senate Bill 1530, the divisive cap-and-trade legislation that has been making its way toward the Senate floor.

According to Senate Republican Leader Senator Herman Baertschiger, R-Grants Pass, Senate President Peter Courtney joined a hung vote in the Joint Ways and Means Committee on Monday morning  adding his "yes" vote in order to move the bill toward the Senate floor against the objections of Republican lawmakers.

The @ORSenDemocrats are here and ready to do the jobs we were elected to do. We each took an Oath of Office, and we take that seriously. Public service is a great honor, we will continue to act honorably. #orleg pic.twitter.com/eyJz15ooQN  OR Senate Democrats (@ORSenDemocrats) February 24, 2020

Senator Courtneys actions leave no other option for Senate Republicans but to boycott and deny quorum because cap and trade is on the way to the Senate floor," Sen. Baertschiger said in a statement published by Oregon Senate Republicans. "Democrats refused to work with Republicans and denied every amendment that was presented. Pay attention Oregon  this is a true example of partisan politics."

RELATED: Trucks circle Oregon capitol for 'Timber Unity' rally against cap-and-trade

Oregon is one of a few states that require a two-thirds majority "quorum" on the Senate floor in order to hold votes  meaning at least two-thirds of senators must be present. Though Democrats hold a supermajority in the legislature, they do not have enough to establish a quorum without at least a few Republican lawmakers.

When a Senate floor session was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Monday morning, only one Republican senator appeared, the Oregonian reported. The others were already gone.

In 2019, Republican senators fled the capitol on two separate occasions to deny a quorum  once in an attempt to stop the Student Success Act, and another to stop a similar cap-and-trade bill. The first walk-out ended when Democrats agreed to kill two other bills in order to secure a vote, the second only ended when Democrats admitted that they did not have the votes to pass cap-and-trade.

Last week a coalition of Oregon county commissioners representing a number of counties in southern, central, and eastern Oregon published a flurry of proclamations opposing SB 1530.

"Instead of referring this legislation to let the people decide, the Democrats are willfully ignoring 26 counties and one district, representing nearly 2 million Oregonians that have signed proclamations against cap and trade, to push their agenda, Sen. Baertschiger said.

Democrats did not issue a response to Republicans until later in the day on Monday, when House Majority Leader Barabara Smith Warner put out a statement condemning the walkout.

The repeated walkouts of the Oregon Senate Republicans over the last year are a disgraceful assault on our democratic institutions. This is not normal, and this is not a game," said Rep. Warner. Oregonians send us here to have hard conversations, advocate for them and get work done  not shut down our government. Through their actions, Senate Republicans are wasting taxpayer dollars and telling the large majority of Oregonians that they dont matter. Oregonians deserve so much better.

Supporters of SB 1530 also spoke out in approval of the bill moving toward a floor vote as the short legislative session enters its final two weeks.

"Its impossible to turn your back or run away from the climate crisis. This emergency doesnt respect borders. From wildfires to water shortages to food sources dying off, Oregon will face devastation if business as usual is allowed to continue, said Tera Hurst, executive director of Renew Oregon. Oregonians voted for this legislature to do the work, represent all of Oregon, and implement solutions. Its time for legislators to vote. Oregon must take responsibility for reducing its share of climate pollution, and we can do it in a way that invests in communities, jobs, and health, while strengthening our state against the impacts of the climate crisis.
British firms have been handed 1.2billion in contracts to help Dubai host an historic Expo later this year.

Companies from the Eden Project designer Grimshaw Architects to outsourcing giant Serco have been brought in by Expo 2020s organisers to help build the infrastructure needed for the vast exhibition.

British firms have been handed 1.2billion in contracts to help Dubai host Expo 2020

Dubai, which won the right to host the every five-year event, said Expo 2020 will focus on sustainability, mobility and opportunity.

In an effort to appear woke to environmental risks, the Expos sustainability pavilion will feature a model of a deep-sea fish called Gnasher (pictured) whose body is clogged with discarded plastic.

The event  which will run from October until April 2021  will feature 39,000 firms from 150 countries. British architects Foster and Partners, which built the Millennium Bridge, will design the sustainability pavilion.

And Dartford-based construction firm Laing ORourke won a 130million contract to build two more pavilions and other infrastructure. Outsourcer Serco has bagged a 140million contract to operate and maintain the Dubai Metro during the event.
Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota plans to launch luxury multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) Vellfire in India on February 26, 2020. The luxurious 7-seater minivan will compete with the likes of Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo and Kia Carnival. Bookings for the luxurious Vellfire can be made through paying an advance of Rs 10 lakh. Toyota Vellfire is expected to cost around Rs 85 lakh.

The Toyota Vellfire will be offered in a single Executive Lounge variant in the country. The minivan will have features like powered seats with leg support, heating and cooling functions, memory function and fold-out tables. The Vellfire is expected to have four colour options -- Burning White, pearl white, graphite and black.

In terms of exterior features, the Vellfire has a boxy design with a tall stance. The minivan comes with 'samurai armour' chrome front grille. MPV also features a split headlight setup and huge tail lamps

In terms of interior features, Toyota Vellfire comes with a 10-inch touchscreen primary display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a secondary 13-inch display with Wifi and HDMI support.

Toyota Vellfire, as a part of lounge experience, comes with private screens, chauffeur controls, power sliding doors, dual sunroof, 3-Zone AC, ambient roof lighting, and a 17-speaker JBL audio system. The van comes with safety features like parking assist, 7 airbags, hill start assist, TPMS among others.

The Vellfire gets power through a 2.5-litre hybrid petrol engine which produces 115 PS of power and 198Nm of torque. The van also has two motors at the front and rear axles, which produces 142PS and 68PS of power respectively. As per reports, the Vellfire is a self-charging hybrid vehicle and runs on a battery with a 60:40 power split between electric and petrol motor. The van uses internal combustion engine when the battery runs out. The van has a Nickel Metal Hydride battery along with an electronic 4WD system. Toyota claims a fuel efficiency of 16.35kmpl.

Also Read: 'Jio brought down data costs in India from Rs 500 to Rs 12 per GB,' says Mukesh Ambani to Satya Nadella

Also Read: Donald Trump announces mega $3 billion defence deal with India

Also Read: Trump in India: POTUS to meet India Inc CEOs on Tuesday

Also read: Toyota Vellfire to launch in India today; check price, specs and other details
New Delhi: Fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari who is wanted in many heinous crimes, including murder and extortion, was brought in the early hours of Monday from Senegal via France to Bengaluru, police said.

"Yes, we have brought him," a police officer said.

The gangster was nabbed in South Africa in a joint operation by the SA police and Senegal security agencies and was later extradited to Senegal, said police sources.

On learning about his arrest in Senegal, a team of police officers, including Additional Director General of Police Amar Kumar Pandey and Bengaluru Joint Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil went to Senegal to bring him.

The team completed the extradition process and finally brought him to Bengaluru by an Air France flight.

The don was arrested by the Senegal authorities last year and the India police tried it's best to catch hold of him but failed as a local court there granted him bail.

The gangster then jumped the bail and fled Senegal and had holed up in South Africa, said police sources.

The gangster was allegedly involved in many heinous crimes and had set up his network in Karnataka.
Korea's economic growth rate could fall below to zero this year due to the coronavirus epidemic, Morgan Stanley and Nomura Securities forecast.

Eight financial institutions including ING Group and Bank of America Merrill Lynch projected Korea's growth at around one percent this year. At the optimistic end, IHS Markit and Societe Generale forecast 1.9 percent growth, while Oxford Economics and Merril Lynch predict 1.8 percent, ING Group 1.7 percent and Capital Economics 1.5 percent.

Nomura also projected 1.8 percent but warned that could further fall to 0.5 percent if China's lockdown of afflicted cities continues until late June. Morgan Stanley warned Korea's growth could fall to 0.4 percent if the epidemic drags on.

The last time Korea's growth fell below two percent was back in 2009 at 0.8 percent, right after the global financial crisis. The last time before that was in the wake of the Asian financial crisis in 1998.


The following items were taken from Lincolnshire Police Department reports and releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

Drugs

Bradley N. Johnson, 20, of the first block of Victoria Lane, was charged Feb. 20 with illegal control of cannabis and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia at Half Day Road and Milwaukee Avenue. Johnson is scheduled to appear in court April 15.

Speeding

Heidi C. Bess, 56, of the 16200 block of Gulf Boulevard, Redington Beach, Florida, was charged Feb. 17 with speeding more than 26 mph over the limit at Half Day Road and Millbrook Drive. Bess is scheduled to appear in court March 11.

kedquist@chicagotribune.com

Twitter: @kaitlinedquist
By Trend

Turkish Airlines temporarily suspended flights to Iran due to the spread of coronavirus, Trend reports referring to Turkish media on Feb. 24.

According to the Turkish media, flights were suspended until February 27, 2020.

Turkey is considering ways to bring its citizens from Iran due to the spread of coronavirus. Turkish citizens who want to leave Iran shall contact the Embassy of Turkey in Iran.

Iranian Deputy Minister of Health and Medical Education Iraj Harirchi said that the number of those infected with coronavirus in Iran can be about 60 people.

The deputy minister added that 12 people have died as a result of coronavirus in Iran.

Later authorities will clarify the data, Harirchi said.

Iran is one of the recent countries, affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 60 people have been infected, 12 people have already died.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread.

Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

Following the reports of coronavirus spread in the Islamic Republic, several countries have taken measures, including closing borders and banning flights.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) has offered its help to Iran, providing certain medicines to the infected.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:34:11|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mary Sakala, a bachelor of economics at the University of Zambia (UNZA), decided to enroll for a Chinese learning program at the Confucius Institute in hope of furthering her education in China.

"I am learning Chinese because I am preparing myself so that when I go to China I will be able to communicate effectively," she told Xinhua.

Her friend, Lombe Bwalya, who is pursuing a degree in education, says she is learning Chinese because she wants to join one of the many Chinese companies that are operating in Zambia.

The desire to learn the Chinese language has gained popularity in Zambia since the establishment of the Confucius Institute 10 years ago at the UNZA.

"The Chinese language has become an important economic language because of China's global influence. People are eager to learn the Chinese language in order to communicate properly with the Chinese people,"Sande Ngalande, acting director of the Confucius Institute.

A lot of people are realizing the importance of learning the Chinese language because they want to learn not only the language but the Chinese culture as well, he said.

He further said the scale of cooperation between China and Africa has grown and that people-to-people connection needs to be enhanced through the teaching of the Chinese language.

In the last 10 years of its existence in Zambia, the Confucius Institute has made strides in promoting the learning of the Chinese language.

Apart from introducing the teaching of the Chinese language in two public universities, the Confucius Institute has also introduced it in 10 government secondary schools and a number of private schools.

Ngalande said the institute is currently in need of local teachers to teach the Chinese language.

"The response from Zambians is overwhelming but the problem we have is we do not have enough teachers. The demand is very good both in terms of students who want to study the Chinese language as a major while some are coming for several short courses we are offering," he added.
Amway Vietnam presented the shipment to VGP News representatives

With the coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak declared as a nationwide epidemic, the Vietnamese government has since put in place numerous measures to prevent it from spreading, allowing the country to successfully control the situation.

Throwing its full weight behind the governments initiative to protect the health of the populace, Amway Vietnam  in collaboration with the Vietnam Government Portal (VGP) and VGP News  handed over 1,000 Nutrilite Vitamin C Bio Plus pillboxes, 500 bottles of L.O.C washing liquid, and 500 bottles of G&H Protect+ to Lang Son.

Amway is known for its work in providing nutrition to local people

All these products will be sent to northern isolated areas, as well as the customs clearance and immigration areas of the border gates to China in the same province, according to the directions of the National Steering Committee on Coronavirus Prevention and Control.

Nguyen Phuong Son, head of Amway Vietnams Public Affairs said, Over the years, Amway Vietnam has professed its responsibility for the community, as seen in our multitude of community-oriented activities. This responsibility doubles in emergency situations like the COVID-19 epidemic and we are trying to live up to it.

Son added, This practical activity will contribute to the prevention of the current epidemic and will provide direct support to health officials and soldiers, as well as local people.

Improving everyday lives throughout more than 60 years of operation, Amway has been doing its utmost to help people live better through vigorous corporate social responsibility programmes.

Previously, Amway China sent a large batch of nutritional products worth 11 million ($1.57 million) to two hospitals the Chinese government had allocated to treat COVID-19 patients.

At the end of November, Amway Vietnam was named as one of the countrys top 100 sustainable businesses for its contribution to improving the nutrition of local children, as well as other extensive corporate social responsibility activities.
The first day of early voting in Massachusetts starts Monday ahead of Super Tuesday on March 3 when voters across 15 states are expected to cast their ballots in the presidential primaries.

This marks the first time registered Massachusetts voters have been able to cast their ballots early in a presidential primary. In both general elections in 2018 and 2016, residents of the commonwealth were able to cast their ballots before voting day, and more than 20% of those who voted in 2018 did so early, according to Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin.

Registered voters have until Friday to cast their primary ballots early, a service that is available in every town and city in the state. The last day to register to vote or change ones party before the primaries was Feb. 12, but the deadline for registering ahead of the general election is Oct. 14. Residents can check their voter registration status online.

You can vote early at any early voting location in your community, by mail, or at your polling place on Election Day, Galvins website says. When early voting in person at an early voting location for your municipality, the election officials will check you in, similar to the process used on Election Day. After voting, you will enclose your ballot into an envelope to be counted on Election Day.

Roughly 1.46 million Massachusetts residents have registered to vote online since the mechanism started in 2015, and there are currently more than 4.4 million registered voters in Massachusetts, the majority of whom are not enrolled in a political party.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as of Friday, are leading neck-and-neck in Massachusetts among likely Democratic presidential primary voters, according to a poll from the UMass Lowells Center for Public Opinion. President Donald Trump will appear on the ballot for re-election alongside former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who announced his primary challenge to the sitting president last year.

Aside from early voting, absentee ballots are available until noon on March 2, but there are restrictions. This form of voting is only available to people who are prevented from casting ballots on Election Day due to absence from their city or town, a physical disability or a religious belief.

If you are voting by mail, you should be sure to submit your application in a timely manner. Please allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you and for you to return the ballot by Election Day, Galvins website says.

Voters can use www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com to find their polling places and the times those locations are open until. Some municipalities will have extended hours and multiple locations available to cast ballots, while other towns and cities will collect ballots only during regular office hours.

People may be asked to show identification when checking in at polling locations. Acceptable forms of identification must include ones name and the address where they are registered to vote.

Galvin is expected to host an early voting kickoff in Brookline at 9 a.m. on Monday.

Polls across Massachusetts on primary day will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wondering where to go to cast your ballot? Here are the early voting locations and hours for every city and town in Massachusetts.

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No respite for flood-hit communities and snow also forecast

Snow falls are expected to cause problems across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England this morning while warnings for further flooding have been issued.

Even Scotlands lower regions are expected to get a covering of snow on Monday as the new working week begins with more stormy weather.

Further south, a fresh severe flood warning, meaning an imminent danger to life, has been issued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury, with the Environment Agency warned of ongoing flooding dangers across England.

This morning there were 92 flood alerts and 182 flood warnings across England.

Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be more settled, but colder, while a fresh deluge of rain is forecaset for Friday.

Four Brits rescued from quarantined ship have coronavirus

Confirmation of the cases brings the total number of people to be diagnosed with the Covid-19 strain in the UK to 13.

The four, who are the first diagnoses in people brought back to the UK on repatriation flights, caught the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship while it was stationed off the coast of Japan for more than two weeks, Englands chief medical officer said.

Meanwhile, the death toll in China passed 2,500 earlier today, with the countrys authorities also reporting 77,345 people had tested positive.

Assange extradition hearing to start

Julian Assange will today formally begin his fight against being extradited to the US, where he faces accusations he helped leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.

The 48-year-old Wikileaks founder is wanted in America on 18 charges over the publication of US cables a decade ago and if found guilty could face a 175-year prison sentence.

The Australian is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak classified documents.

Labour leadership voting begins

Ballots begin opening on Monday amid a largely cordial campaign between Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, with all three saying yesterday they would offer the losing leadership candidates jobs in their shadow cabinet.

Members and party supporters who have signed up for a fee will begin receiving their ballots on Monday, with batches being sent out by email and post throughout the week.

The winner should be declared on April 4.

Tributes to Flack dominate Love Island final

The last episode of the winter series of the ITV2 dating show was dedicated to the programmes former host just over a week after was found dead.

Finley Tapp and Paige Turley have crowned the winners of the first ever witner series of the show, each taking home 25,000.

On this day

1582: Pope Gregory XIII announced the new Gregorian calendar, replacing the Julian calendar. It was not adopted by Britain until 1752, when a "loss" of 11

days had to be made up.

1848: France became a republic for the second time, following the abdication of King Louis Philippe.

1887: The first two cities to be linked by telephone were Paris and Brussels.

1920: American-born Nancy Astor became the first woman to speak in the House of Commons following her election as an MP two months earlier.

1923: The Flying Scotsman locomotive began hauling scheduled services between London and Scotland.

1932: Malcolm Campbell in Bluebird beat his own land speed record at Daytona Beach by reaching 253.96 mph.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has tendered his resignation to the king, his office reported Monday.

The turn of events comes amid plans by Mahathir supporters to team with opposition parties to form a new government and thwart the transition of power to his named successor Anwar Ibrahim.

Minutes before his resignation was offered, his Bersatu party quit Malaysia's four-member governing alliance that won the historic May 2018 election and announced it would support Mahathir as premier.

The alliance ousted the coalition that ruled the country since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957.
The National Investigation Agency on Monday conducted searches at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in three cases relating to the dreaded terror group ISIS, officials said.

In Tamil Nadu, searches were conducted at 10 locations including one each in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Toothukudi; three in Salem and four in Cuddalore, an NIA spokesperson said.

The first case was registered by the premier investigation agency in January this year under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act against 10 accused, the spokesperson said.

Pachaiyappan of Kanchipuram, Rajesh of Chennai, Anbarasan of Salem Rural, Abdul Rahman and Liaqat Ali of Salem besides Haneef Khan, Imran Khan, Mohammed Zaid, Ejas Pasha and Hussain Sherif of Bangalore were accused of conspiring with ISIS member Khaja Moideen of Cuddalore for carrying out unlawful activities and committing terrorist acts in the country by procuring illegal arms, for furthering the objectives of the proscribed terror group.

During searches at the houses of the accused, 16 SIM cards and two internet dongles besides documents and books have been seized, the NIA spokesperson said.

The second case ISIS Khaja Moideen Module was registered by the NIA in January this year under relevant provisions of the IPC, Arms Act and UA(P) Act.

Abdul Samad, Khaja Moideen, Syed Ali Navas and Jaffer Ali besides their associates were named by the NIA for the conspiracy to carrying out terrorist attacks in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) to further the objectives of ISIS.

During searches at the houses of the arrested accused, four laptops, one tablet, two mobile phones and three SIM cards besides certain documents including books supporting violent jihad have been seized, the NIA said.

In Karnataka, the NIA carried out searches at 15 locations in Bengaluru and Kolar in connection with an investigation of a case ISIS Al Hind Module in the houses of arrested and absconding accused and office of AL-Hind Trust.

During searches, a number of digital devices including 9 mobile phones, 5 SIM cards, 1 laptop, 2 hard discs, 4 CDs/DVDs, 18 books, 1 auto-rickshaw, firecrackers and other incriminating documents were seized, the spokesperson said.

The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy of killing Hindu leaders, creating communal riots and to carry out "anti-national" activities by forming a terrorist gang inspired by ISIS.

The members of the terrorist gang conducted meetings at Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and propagated ISIS ideology, procured arms and ammunition and other incriminating material for executing their plans, the official said.

In this case, five accused Mehaboob Pasha, Mohammed Mansoor Ali Khan, Saleem Khan, Zabiulla, Syed Azmathulla were arrested while others are absconding.

The seized items will be submitted before the jurisdictional NIA Special Courts at Chennai and Bengaluru and the digital devices subjected to cyber forensic examination, the spokesperson said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gujjars from Jammu are genetically linked to Pashtuns from Afghanistan and Pakistan, Indian researchers have reported, adding more scientific evidence in favor of the complex migration pattern that the Indian subcontinent witnessed for centuries.

While there is historical and cultural evidence connecting Gujjars in India with the nomadic tribes of India's north-western neighbours, this is probably the strongest genetic evidence to back such a link.

Broadly Gujjars showed closer affinity to nomadic populations of Pashtuns from Baghlans and Kunduz provinces of Afghanistan, and Pashtuns and Sindhis of Pakistan, geneticists at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad reported earlier this month.

This is scientific evidence of what is known historically, team leader Madhusudan R Nandineni told DH.

The Indian subcontinent, which represents about one-sixth of the world population, is a unique conglomerate of multiple cultures, languages and genetic diversity.

Together with sub-Himalayan countries and the modern-day Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, it is one of the world's oldest geographical regions inhabited by modern humans and witnesses to ancient human migratory histories.

Since the two northernmost Union Territories  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh  sit in the middle of the ancient corridor of human travel, they preserve unique signatures of such cross-cultural movement in their heritage and as the CDFD study now shows  in their genes.

The CDFD team set out to explore the genetic ancestry of Gujjars from Jammu regions as well as people from Ladakh that was open to the world through the historic Silk Route.

The markers on the Y-chromosome establish the Gujjar's links to the nomadic tribes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Ladakhis, on the other hand, are linked to Uighurs and Han Chinese as well the Magar community of Nepal, said Mugdha Singh, first author of the study.

The scientists found three broad genetic groups among the Ladakahis, which settled in India between 18,000 and 10,000 years ago. The team, however, could not establish such a cut off date for the Gujjars, which constitute the third largest population group in J&K.

Though Gujjars also reside in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the CDFD study only deals with a tribe living in Jammu.

The Gujjar community is primarily nomadic and is believed to practice a highly endogamous culture, conservative lifestyle, religious practices and traditional occupation as compared to other populations in the vicinity. In contrast, the enormous diversity in terms of cultural, religious and food practices of Ladakhis is believed to be the result of congruence of different ancestral groups, said the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports.
President Donald Trumps administration plans to deport 4,716 Lao and Hmong immigrants who are not U.S. citizens and have standing deportation orders.

The Hmong in America, one-fifth of whom live in Wisconsin, are here because they fled genocide in Laos, or because they fought, alongside Americans, in Vietnam, and faced persecution in Laos after the end of the Vietnam War. Hmong U.S. residents are refugees and allies America took in, or the descendants of those refugees and allies.

According to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey data, more than 6,000 Hmong reside in Dane County and U.S. Census data shows that Wisconsin is home to over 50,000 Hmong. The first wave of refugees in 1976 was comprised of members of General Vang Paos Secret Army, the Capital Times reported.

Taking the final step of deportation has not been a priority until now. We fled persecution, threats, violence and death to be here, said Minnesota state Rep. Samantha Vang, who chairs that state Legislatures Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucus. Its a betrayal of our duty to refugees.

According to Pang Her, who runs Kajsiab House, a place where many members of Madisons Hmong elder community gather, Dane County is home to about 6,000 Hmong elders who fled from genocide in Laos in the 1970s.

The confusing part for our elders, our parents and seniors is the fact that 45, 50 years ago we had this promise and we had this agreement and we fought for the U.S., Her said. Now, 50 years later, were going to get deported. So theyre trying to grasp, like, why would that happen? Because we were allies. We were partners with the United States. We lost our country. We had to flee. We survived a genocide because of our role in helping Americans. Did they forget all that?

A Feb. 3 letter from U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thrust the issue into the spotlight, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported. McCollums district includes many Hmong Americans, and McCollum criticized the move as one that will tear families apart while putting (deported) individuals at risk in a country that has never been their home. Minnesota is home to more than 80,000 Hmong residents.

Questions from a Star-Tribune journalist to the State Department were shuffled off to Homeland Security, then to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Many questions remain unanswered, such as when these deportations would occur, why this step is necessary right now and how those repatriated to Laos would be protected from harm.

Of the 4,716 with standing deportation orders, 4,086 have criminal convictions, ICE officials said. But the agency declined to say how serious these crimes are. According to Minnesota Rep. Vang and other Hmong officials, offenses can include less serious crimes such as marijuana possession. More serious offenses generally happened when the person was young and lived in impoverished, crime-ridden neighborhoods.

Since then, theyve served their time and matured, Vang said, adding that many are now family breadwinners. Parents and children left behind could have to turn to government programs for support, a potential cost that raises more doubts about the deportation plan. Estimates of Minnesota residents who could be deported range from 476 to 700. Many came to the U.S. when they were very young and would have few family connections in Laos.

When it comes to a matter as serious as deportation, distinctions must be made between violent and nonviolent offenders, between youthful and adult offenders. Especially with regard to those who fought alongside American troops in armed conflict.

We echo the words of the editorial board of the Star-Tribune: Deportation is an extreme measure. Taking it hastily ignores the Hmong peoples noble history and sends a disturbing message to the world about U.S. loyalty to allies.

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By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Cases of crime against women and murder grew in Haryana in 2019 as against 2018, Home Minister Anil Vij informed the state assembly here on Monday.

According to the data provided by Vij, cases of cruelty against women continued to rise in the state for the third successive year.

A total of 4,868 such cases were registered in 2019, up from 4,151 in 2018 -- a rise of 17.27 per cent.

In 2017, 3,326 such cases were registered, the minister said in a written reply.

Haryana saw a rise of 2.5 per cent in cases of murder in 2019.

A total of 1,129 murder cases were registered in 2019 as against 1,101 in 2018.

Robbery cases also saw a rise from 1,299 in 2018 to 1,359 last year.

However, cases of dacoity, attempt to murder, abduction, theft, and public violence witnessed a decline in 2019, the assembly was informed.

Congress MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra had sought to know the data for crimes committed in the state in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The opposition has often targeted the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government over the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

On Monday, senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the BJP-JJP coalition government.

He claimed that criminals are roaming without fear in the state, while citizens are living in fear.

He also alleged that there is no rule of law in Haryana.

"Every 24 hours, there are four rapes, three murders, 10 abductions and five children are sexually exploited in Haryana," Surjewala said in a tweet.
The University of Dayton has hired Karlos L. Marshall  an entrepreneur, University alumnus, and co-founder of The Conscious Connect nonprofit dedicated to neighborhood revitalization  as manager of the Greater West Dayton Incubator, a project envisioned by and being developed in partnership with community leaders of Greater West Dayton.

The incubator, which will be located in West Dayton, will provide networking opportunities, training and education, consulting services, referrals to other entrepreneurial networks, and additional resources to startups and underrepresented firms. It will bring together entrepreneurs and University students, providing students hands-on learning opportunities in developing new businesses and social ventures.

The incubator idea grew out of longstanding conversations between community and University leaders on how to address needs of the Greater West Dayton community and provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students.

The Greater West Dayton Incubator will harness the innovative spirit of local entrepreneurs, University faculty, staff and students and leverage our collective resources to add economic and social value to our community, said UD President Eric F. Spina. Developing this incubator with community leaders not only enriches the educational experience for our students, it helps the University achieve our vision to deepen community partnerships in ways that have an even greater impact in Dayton.

Plans for the incubator are still being developed, including identifying potential locations.

Weve had almost three years of conversations leading to the incubator idea  a lot of work and hours put into exploration and research  so the group that has been involved is enthusiastic about the progress weve made up to this point, said attorney and community organizer Branford Brown. The concept is something to get excited about. Its an opportunity to plant some businesses in West Dayton and empower some that are already here. We hope this is just the first of many partnerships that we think will be beneficial to both the community and the university.

The Greater West Dayton Incubator will create a more inclusive startup ecosystem, and connect to the innovation hub at the Dayton Arcade being developed by the University and The Entrepreneurs Center, according to Vince Lewis, director of the Universitys Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and president of The Hub at the Dayton Arcade. It also will connect to other resources like the citys Minority Business Assistance Center and the Dayton chambers Minority Business Partnership. The incubator is supported by a donor gift and funding from the states Entrepreneurial Services Provider Program through The Entrepreneurs Center. The University will continue to seek external resources and sponsorships to ensure its long-term success.

Marshall will start his new role March 2. He is currently coordinator of community and neighborhood partnerships for the Universitys Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. Along with his work on campus and with his nonprofit, Marshall is founder and CEO of three start-ups in the region, including Purpose Based Learning Academy, which provides mentoring and consultation to disadvantaged small businesses and social ventures. He was named to Forbes 30 under 30 list for education in 2019.

Marshall holds a bachelors degree in philosophy from Wittenberg University; a graduate certificate in nonprofits and community leadership, and a masters degree in higher education administration from the University of Dayton. He is pursuing a doctorate in leadership for organizations from UD.

This is a tremendous opportunity for all stakeholders and Im honored to have been selected to lead the charge, Marshall said. With the zeal of collective impact, we will work to establish an equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem, serve as a hub for civic innovation and scholarship, and establish a new standard for community-university partnerships. The incubator will also serve as an invaluable experiential learning site for current and future UD students  that will prepare them for a diverse, competitive, and multifaceted global workforce and society.
India embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights and the rule of law, and is admired around the globe as people of different religions worship side by side in harmony, US President Donald Trump said on Monday, lauding the country's accomplishments during his maiden state visit here.

He noted that India has an incredible potential and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is laying the foundations of its future.

Hailing India's diversity, the US President said its unity is an inspiration to the world as it is known for its democracy, tolerance and peace.

"India is a country that proudly embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights, the rule of law, and the dignity of every human being.

"Your nation has always been admired around the earth as the place where millions upon millions of Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs and Jains, Buddhists, Christians, and Jews worship side by side in harmony," he said while addressing a packed Motera stadium at the 'Namaste Trump' event here.

"The story of the Indian nation is a tale of astounding progress, a miracle of democracy, extraordinary diversity, and above all, strong and noble people.

"India gives hope to all of humanity. In just 70 years, India become an economic giant, the largest democracy ever to exist and one of the most amazing asians anywhere in the world," Trump said.

The potential for India is absolutely incredible, he said while noting that India's rise as a prosperous and independent nation is an example for every nation all over the world and one of the outstanding achievements of the century.

It is inspiring because India has achieved all this as a democratic, peaceful and tolerant country, he said.

"There is all the difference in the world between a nation that seeks power through coercion, intimidation, and aggression, and a nation that rises by setting its people free and unleashing them to chase their dreams, and that is India," Trump said.

"This is why India's accomplishment over the last 70 years is completely unrivalled, no matter where you go. It is your faith in the strength of a free society, your confidence in your people, your trust in your own citizens, and your respect for the dignity of every person that makes the United States and India such a natural, beautiful, enduring friendship," he said.

He also congratulated India for its six times growth of the economy since the turn of the century and said in a single decade, India has lifted over 270 million people out of poverty.

He lauded the achievement of every village in India having access to electricity under Prime Minister Modi.

Trump also talked about 320 million people being connected to the internet and the double pace of highway construction and over 70 million households having access to cooking fuel, 600 million more people having access to basic sanitation.

"Incredibly 12 Indian citizens are lifted out of extreme poverty every single minute of every single day," he said, adding that India will soon be the home of the biggest middle class anywhere in the world and would completely eradicate poverty within less than 10 years.

The US President quoted Swami Vivekananda who had said, "The moment I stand in reverence before every human being, and see God in him, that moment I am free."



"Where you speak more than 100 languages, and come from more than two dozen states, yet you have always stood strong as one strong Indian nation.

"Your unity is an inspiration to the world and in America," he said adding the Americans have seen the splendour of Indian culture personally through the over 4 million Indian-Americans living in the United States.

"Our two national constitutions both begin with the same three beautiful words: 'We the people'. That means that in America and India alike, we honour, respect, trust, empower, and fight for the citizens we proudly serve," Trump later tweeted.

Trump thanked India for the contributions its culture and traditions have made to the United States and said Americans are eager to strengthen ties between their people.

"You have come so far but it is nothing compared to how far India will go into the future and the Prime Minister is laying the foundation for a future like few other countries can even think of.

This nation is blessed with many treasures - from the sacred banks of the Ganges to the Golden Temple and the Jama Masjid, it is the home to some of the most cherished heritage anywhere on earth, he said.

He said India has always been a wellspring of deep wisdom and great ideas from the Vedas and the ancient epics all the way to the modern Indian nation.

"But standing before all of you today, I know that the true strength of India is not found in its text books, its landmarks, or its landscapes," he said, while noting that the courage of Indians won and secured its independence.

"Your devotion built this great and enduring democracy. And it is your dreams that will power this country to a future with even greater progress, prosperity, equality and opportunity for every citizen across your land.

"So, today I say to every Indian, north and south, Hindu or Muslim Jewish and Christian, rich and poor, young and old, take pride in the glories of your past, unite for an even brighter future, and let our two nations always stand together as powerful defenders of peace and liberty. And the hope of a better world for all of humanity," Trump said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Barclays is preparing to start the hunt for a new boss to replace Jes Staley, who is expected to leave the bank by the end of next year, according to the Financial Times.

Staley's departure after five years at Barclays would follow recent chief executive changes in other top banks, including Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS and Credit Suisse.

It comes as UK regulators are probing links between Staley and Jeffrey Epstein, the US financier who killed himself in jail last year while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Staley has told colleagues he expects to leave Barclays by the end of 2021, the FT reports

As head of JP Morgan's private bank, Staley came to know Epstein well and the pair stayed in touch until 2015  seven years after Epstein was convicted of soliciting a child for prostitution.

Staley has told colleagues he expects to leave Barclays by the end of 2021 and could step down at the annual meeting in May next year, the Financial Times said.

Barclays is set to appoint an external headhunting firm to identify potential successors and the process could take up to a year, according to the report.

It comes as RBS appointed Alison Rose as its new chief executive in September last year, while Tidjane Thiam quit as Credit Suisse chief executive earlier this month after a spying scandal that hit the bank's reputation. He's been replaced by head of the bank's Swiss business, Thomas Gottstein.

Meanwhile, HSBC still doesn't have a permanent boss, despite John Flint having left the bank in August last year. The banking giant appointed Noel Quinn as interim chief executive.
Black Chen, a 30-year-old tattooed bar owner, had never volunteered before the coronavirus outbreak hit his hometown of Wuhan, but he quickly stepped up. When hospital staff appealed for supplies, he and a group of friends started raising funds, sourcing masks and driving them to hospitals. As the city went into lockdown and public transportation ground to a halt, they ferried stranded medical workers to and from work.

Only us young people would risk going out, he told TIME via the messaging app WeChat. Our friends, especially my customers, all supported what we were doing. My parents asked me not to go, but I knew I would regret it if I didnt help.

Two of his close friends lost a parent to the virus as they attempted to get them to the hospital for treatment. After another friends urgent request, he drove his seriously ill mother to the hospital when the family couldnt find an ambulance. With his bar closed indefinitely, he keeps himself busy volunteering in a hospital cafeteria making box lunches for medical workers. Its a far cry from the basketball and working out that used to fill his spare time.

More than 77,150 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in China, the majority of them in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital. Around three-quarters of the roughly 2,500 deaths in the country have occurred in Wuhan. Against the backdrop of the outbreak, ordinary people in the city of 11 million are stepping up and joining forces to create an informal civil society taking care of emergency needs unmet by an overwhelmed government.

Their acts are personal, like a young woman who handed out masks to street cleaners and a mom who hired a helicopter to fly in supplies. They involve networks, like those built across social media to purchase and deliver menstrual products to medical workers working round the clock. And in some cases, the efforts are more widespread, as friend and alumni networks worldwide create logistics supply chains for donations of masks, eyeglasses, protective suits and other needed equipment to hospitals in need.

Story continues

Read more: Could the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Be a Victim of COVID-19?

As the news came out of Hubei in late January, one such group of 13 Chinese and Chinese-American friends spanning the globe utilized their personal connections to set up an ad-hoc online medical supply marketplace connecting potential donors to companies who could source the medical supplies they needed. Working around the clock and across several time zones, they managed to connect almost 50 donor companies with suppliers as far-flung as Khazakstan and Israel and facilitated the purchase of more than $1.56 million worth of supplies for donation, before they closed the marketplace on Feb. 20.

The groups organizers, who asked to remain anonymous, said they made a conscious choice to avoid raising funds themselves.

We were super ambitious at the beginning, one of them, a 31-year old Chinese man living in the U.S. for the past 12 years, told TIME by WhatsApp.

Quickly we realized that because most of us have been living overseas, we should concentrate on just one part of the entire supply chain. They carefully vetted suppliers, to make sure materials were up to standard, and potential donors, to weed out any potential resellers.

A man who works as a volunteer taking medicine for those who need it waits outside a pharmacy in Wuhan on January 26, 2020, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak | HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images

During the outbreak, many in China are choosing to donate through close friend networks rather than go through larger organizations. I would never choose to give to Red Cross, said Chen. Instead I choose to source the materials and donate myself. Id rather do things directly.

William Lu, a lawyer familiar with NGO sector, said that feeling is common, as formal civil society in China is still relatively new. It is also complicated by the fact that in China large official charities like Red Cross have strong government ties and are actually government-organized nongovernmental organizations (GONGOs).

Read more: Fist Bumps vs. Handshakes: How COVID-19 Doesand DoesntSpread

Public trust has been tainted by scandals and mismanagement. The case of Guo Meimei in 2011, who flaunted her wealth while claiming to be a Red Cross employee, was just one among many. Earlier this month, the Red Cross Society of Hubei apologized for mismanaging donations when supplies were found sitting in a Wuhan warehouse instead of being distributed and video circulated of a Red Cross official using the supplies for personal use.

Lu said that strict regulations on public fundraising mean that even private charitable organizations can easily run up against the law. The Han Hong Foundation, a trusted organization run by a celebrity and known for emergency relief, ran into trouble recently when it was reported to the government for non-compliance.

That is why they seek to help through private methods instead of charities, said Lu. They may buy something by themselves to donate to the hospitals directly, instead of giving to the NGOs, including some government-operated organizations.

For some of the volunteers, the move to act is almost instinctive. I didnt think much, said another of the medical supply marketplace organizers, a 32-year-old woman who asked not to use her name. I just think this is something I need to do.

This whole crisis is an opportunity for a lot of people my age, her co-organizer said. Its the first time for us to realize we can actually make an impact and make a change in peoples lives.
(Newser)  "Love will prevail," Marianne Williamson said when she dropped out of the Democratic race on Jan. 10. On Sunday, she said Bernie Sanders will also prevail. Williamson endorsed Sanders for president during a surprise appearance at his rally in Austin on Sunday, CNN reports. Williamsonwho endorsed Sanders during his previous run for president, but campaigned for Andrew Yang ahead of the Iowa caucusespraised Sanders for "taking a stand for a long time." "He has been consistent, he has been convicted, he has been committed," she said. "And now it's time, I'm here and you're here, because it's time for us to take a stand with Bernie."

story continues below

Williamson said Sanders' growing momentum shows that he can defeat President Trump in November. "What happened in Nevada on Saturday was extraordinary, and the energy is unquestionably with Bernie," she tweeted, saying she will do everything she can to help the senator's "political revolution." Over the weekend, Sanders also held rallies in El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio, where he predicted that he would win the state's Democratic primary on Super Tuesday, the Austin American-Statesman reports. He added: "The president gets very upset easily, so don't tell him that were going to beat him here in Texas." (Read more Marianne Williamson stories.)
Philadelphia, February 24, 2020 - In a compelling article in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, published by Elsevier, Mark McCarty of the Catalytic Longevity Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA, and James DiNicolantonio, PharmD, a cardiovascular research scientist at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO, USA, propose that certain nutraceuticals may help provide relief to people infected with encapsulated RNA viruses such as influenza and coronavirus.

In the United States, influenza infects around 30 million people every year causing around 30,000 deaths. While there are medications approved for the treatment of influenza, they typically are costly, have side effects, and are not very effective. Additionally, vaccinations against influenza may only be effective in around 50 percent of those vaccinated. Thus, there is a need for safer and effective alternatives in those infected with influenza.

Over the past few months, a novel RNA coronavirus, now called COVID-19, has broken out in China and has spread to over two dozen countries and infected more than 76,000 people causing more than 2,000 deaths. This novel coronavirus is much more lethal than the typical flu, with a current mortality rate of about 2.92 percent. In other words, around 1 in 33 people who are infected with this novel coronavirus will die. Whereas the annual flu has a mortality rate of just 0.05 to 0.1 percent. This means that around 1 in 1,000 to 2,000 people infected with the annual flu will die. In other words, COVID-19 is around 30 to 60 times more lethal than the typical annual flu.

Both influenza and coronavirus cause an inflammatory storm in the lungs and it is this inflammatory storm that leads to acute respiratory distress, organ failure, and death. Certain nutraceuticals may help to reduce the inflammation in the lungs from RNA viruses and others may also help boost type 1 interferon response to these viruses, which is the body's primary way to help create antiviral antibodies to fight off viral infections.

The authors draw attention to several randomized clinical studies in humans that have found that over the counter supplements such as n-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is used to treat acetaminophen poisoning and is also used as a mucus thinner to help reduce bronchitis exacerbations, and elderberry extracts, have evidence for shortening the duration of influenza by about two to four days and reducing the severity of the infection. The authors also note several nutraceuticals such as spirulina, beta-glucan, glucosamine, and NAC have either been found to reduce the severity of infection or to cut the rate of death in half in animals infected with influenza. Furthermore, one clinical study in humans testing spirulina noted significant reductions in viral load in those infected with HIV.

"Therefore, it is clear that certain nutraceuticals have antiviral effects in both human and animal studies," commented Dr. DiNicolantonio. "Considering that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and treatments for influenza are limited, we welcome further studies to test these nutraceuticals as a strategy to help provide relief in those infected with encapsulated RNA viruses."

Editor-in-Chief of Progress Cardiovascular Diseases Carl "Chip" Lavie, MD, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, added, "Considering the recent interests directed at serious viral infections, especially coronavirus and influenza, this material should be of interest to specialists in cardiovascular diseases but also to a wide range of clinicians outside of our typical readership."

###
The Indian delegation held talks with the representatives from the European Film Market and discussed their future collaborations at the ongoing Berlin International Film Festival (BIFF) here.

The European Film Market (EFM) is an annual film trade fair that is held on the sidelines of the Berlinale. It is a major industry meeting place for the distributors, film buyers, producers, financiers and co-production agents.

During the meeting with their EFM counterparts, the delegation discussed the European body's participation in the 51st edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The delegation met EFM director Matthijis Wouter Knol, who said the organisation will actively consider taking part in the IFFI.

He further said the participation would pave a way forward for a more proactive interaction between the Indian stakeholders and the industry with the organisers of Berlinale in future.

Knol said he hopes that the Indian government and industry members will actively participate in the future editions of Berlinale.

The delegation also met representatives of major film festivals and film commissions as well as renowned international producers.

They also held deliberations on the co-production between India and Germany, focusing on the partnership between Sunil Doshi's Alliance Media and Pluto Films for distribution and production of Veit Helmer's 2018 movie "The Bra".

"We are very excited to have found an exciting partner in Alliance Media led by Sunil Doshi, to distribute and adapt our acclaimed film 'The Bra'. We are looking forward to its adaptations, keeping in mind the socio-cultural fabric of India," said Pluto Films, Germany.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, we are living in the United States of Propaganda.

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D owning Street has defended the Prime Minister for failing to visit flooded parts of the country.

Officials insist it is important for Boris Johnson not to distract from the ongoing effort to deal with the effects of the bad weather.

Mr Johnson received regular updates about the situation while saying at a country Kent mansion last week.

Environment Secretary George Eustice was rightly leading the Governments response to the flooding, Number 10 said.

Boris Johnson is receiving regular updates about the flooding / AP

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited Rhydyfelin, South Wales, last week and challenged the Mr Johnson to visit flood-hit communities.

Mr Johnsons decision to stay away from flooded towns and villages is in marked contrast to his response during the general election campaign, when he carried out visits and called an emergency Cobra meeting.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn meets resident Theresa Davies who has been affected by flooding in south Wales / AFP via Getty Images

The PM's official spokesman said: We are hugely grateful to all of those who have helped in response, from the Environment Agency engineers and the emergency services out on the ground to the military who have stepped in to assist.

The Government has extensive plans in place to deal with these kinds of extreme weather events and we are working tirelessly to help everyone affected.

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

The Environment Secretary and his department is rightly leading the Governments response to this, ensuring teams who are busy working around the clock have the support and resources they need.

Its important not to distract from that ongoing effort.

The spokesman rejected the suggestion that Mr Johnson had visited flooded areas during the election simply to win votes.

Asked whether Number 10 was concerned that it looked as though the Prime Minister simply did not care, the spokesman said: The PM was receiving regular updates and working with ministers across Government to ensure that people received the help that they need.
Turkeys 3rd drill ship expected to operate soon

Turkish minister of energy and natural resources has announced that the purchase of the third drill ship from Britain had come to an end.

Speaking to the reporters on Monday, Fatih Donmez, the minister of energy and natural resources made remarks on Turkeys drilling activities in the Mediterranean.

"THE SHIP EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN A FEW WEEKS"

The purchasing process of the drill ship is expected to complete soon, Donmez said. The third drill ship that purchased from the UK will arrive in Turkey in a few weeks, he added.

Earlier month, Donmez had signaled Turkeys need for a third drill ship due to the ongoing activities in the Mediterranean.

HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES

Turkey, as a guarantor nation for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is currently carrying out hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean with its two drilling vessels, Fatih and Yavuz, along with two other seismic vessels that are also operating in the same region.

Turkey has consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administrations unilateral drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that the TRNC also has rights to the resources in the area.
A hearing into the proposed extradition of Ian Bailey to France, where he is facing a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier, is expected to take place in early May.

It is the third time French authorities have sought Mr Baileys surrender in relation to the death of Ms du Plantier, whose badly beaten body was found outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996.

Mr Bailey, with an address at The Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, west Cork, was convicted of the Frenchwomans murder in his absence in a Paris court earlier this year. The three-judge Cour dAssises in Paris accordingly imposed a 25-year prison sentence on him in his absence.

The 63-year-old Englishman denies any involvement in the mother-of-ones death. He did not attend the French court and had no legal representation in the proceedings, which he has described as a farce.

Lawyers for the Minister for Justice told the High Court today that they had recently received an affidavit from Mr Baileys solicitor, Frank Buttimer, which was voluminous and they required time to consider it.

Counsel for Mr Bailey, Marc Thompson BL, asked the court to reserve May 5 next as a date for the hearing of the case. That would provide ample time for the consideration of any issues that might arise, Mr Thompson said.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy fixed a provisional date of May 5 next for the hearing, which is expected to take three days in the High Court. He remanded Mr Bailey on continuing bail until that date.

The case will be mentioned on March 30 to affirm the hearing date, but Mr Baileys attendance will not be required on that occasion.

Mr Baileys senior counsel, Ronan Munro SC, previously told the judge that they will be opposing surrender on grounds related to fundamental rights and that the authorities previous two extradition attempts were relevant to their points of objection to the present attempt.

The court has also heard that Mr Bailey swore an affidavit setting out certain factual matters, particularly in relation to his health.

The Supreme Court refused to extradite Mr Bailey in 2012 and a second French extradition request in respect of My Bailey was dismissed as an abuse of process by the High Court in 2017. On that occasion, Mr Justice Tony Hunt held that the unique features of the case justified termination of the proceedings.

Mr Justice Hunt said Irelands Director of Public Prosecutions had concluded long ago that there is no basis for either (a) charge or trial on this matter in this jurisdiction, and unusually, a comprehensive statement of reasons for this prosecutorial decision came into the public domain during the previous Supreme Court case.
The US President Donald Trump has arrived with First Lady Melania Trump and a team of 12 member delegation along with his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner in India.

However, the government has taken many vigorous steps to make our country look beautiful to welcome Trump. But, building up a wall in Ahemdabad to keep aside a stretch of people has left people on social media angry.

 Twitter/Narendra Modi

Also, hours before landing, US President Donald Trump took to his Twitter and wrote in Hindi which left everyone in splits.

He wrote,  Hum Bharat aane ke liye tatpar hai. Hum raaste mein hai, kuch hi ghanto mein hum sabse milenge.

Heres the tweet-

           ,       !  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020

To which Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, "Athithi devo bhava (the guest is God).



Check out the tweet here-

The wave of support for Indias PM Narendra Modi and the US President Donald Trump can be seen budding from last year during PM Modis US tour for Howdy Modi. Since then, Trump and PM Modi have been very vocal about their support for each other in public and on social media as well.



Heres what the netizens have to say about it-

Ye dosti hum nahi todenge

Umm...okay!

Donald J Trump is the 7th US President by name who is coming to India



Till date, I hadn't seen anyone of them using HINDI as a medium of inter-connection



This tweet shows rising Indian Soft Power.#NamasteyTrump #TrumpInIndia  Narendra Modi fan (@modinarendra22) February 24, 2020

Relationship goals.

The great friendship of PM Modi & President Trump will surely result into some great amalgamation of Indian American relationship. Welcome Sir!#Trump #IndiaWelcomesModi #NamasteyTrump #_ pic.twitter.com/W2qIfJJsli  Geetika Swami (@SwamiGeetika) February 24, 2020

Hahahaha.

Inteha hogayi intezar ki....ayegi kuch der mein khabar mere yaar ki....Welcome to our Beautiful India @realDonaldTrump .... pic.twitter.com/LFgNxzmIC2  PrettyHappySoul (@Pree_Love29) February 24, 2020

Beautiful!

Whoa!

Nice.

Indeed.

On Trumps visit to India, around Rs 80-85 crore is expected to be spent and almost half the budget is going solely towards security arrangements. Despite the heavy security arrangements, five langurs have also been deployed on the route of Trumps procession to keep him away from the Monkey ruckus in Agra.



According to IANS, Ahmedabad DCP Vijay Patel said, Over 10,000 police personnel including 25 IPS officers, 65 ACPs, 200 police inspectors and 800 sub-inspectors will be deployed during US President Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ahmedabad on February 24.

Earlier, PM Modi also tweeted and wrote to Donald Trump, "India is awaiting your arrival.
Campaigners, celebrities and politicians are praising the bravery of women who came forward with accusations against former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, after he was found guilty on two of five counts in his rape and sexual assault trial.

Weinstein was convicted of on one count of criminal sexual acts and one count of rape in the third degree. Ultimately he was cleared of the most serious charges against him, including two counts of predatory sexual assault and one count of first degree rape.

He will be sentenced on 11 March. Criminal sexual act convictions have a maximum sentencing of 25 years in prison, while rape in the third degree has a maximum of four years.

Politicians, celebrities and others took to Twitter to Mr Weinsteins conviction.

Representative Ilhan Omar called the conviction a victory for the brave survivors who spoke out against Weinstein.

Equality Now, an international organization whose mission is to protect and advanced rights for women and girls across the world, praised those who spoke up against Mr Weinstein.

Taking a moment of deep appreciation for the #SilenceBreakers whose bravery has uplifted an entire movement. You've quite literally changed the world. @SarahAnnMasse @RoArquette @Godbold @MiraSorvino @rosemcgowan @luciaioevans @Dominiquehuett & scores more THANK YOU #MeToo, the organization tweeted.

Ronan Farrow began investigating sexual assault allegations against Mr Weinstein in 2017 and eventually broke the story in an expansive New Yorker piece. He then released the story behind the reporting in his book Catch and Kill. In synch with many other voices, he also praised the victims who talked to him for the story.

Recommended Follow live updates as Harvey Weinstein found guilty

Todays outcome in Harvey Weinsteins New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today, Mr Farrow tweeted.

TinaTchen, the CEO of Times Up Now  an organization that works for "safe, fair and dignified work for women of all kinds", said the ruling marked a "new era" for justice.

"In just two years, thanks to those who spoke out, @TIMESUPNOW has helped pass new laws to help survivors seek justice; aided 1000s of individuals in taking on harassers & abusers in court; & transformed how we understand safety & equity in the workplace," she wrote.

"While we celebrate this historic moment, our fight to fix the broken system that allowed serial abusers like Weinstein to thrive continues. Abusers everywhere & the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: There's no going back."

Rose McGowan, a former actress and one of the most outspoken voices raising awareness about sexual harassment in Hollywood who also accused Mr Weinstein of raping her, called the former movie mogul a "sociopathic predator" who "thinks he's done nothing wrong".

Ms McGowan said Monday was a "huge step forward in our collective healing".

Rosanna Arquette, the actress who was one of the first people to level accusations against Weinstein, tweeted: "Gratitude to the brave women who've testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense.

"We will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that it's easier for people to report their rapes."
In a recent statement celebrating Black History Month, Mark Ojakian, the president of the Connecticut State University System, called on CSUS faculty, students and administrators to consider what he believes to be the rationale for the celebration. He phrased his request in the form of a demand: We must reflect on the legacy of systemic oppression on which the black experience in America was founded, and which, in far too many ways, continues to this day.

He went on to claim that one of the most obvious examples of that oppression is the continued effort to suppress the power of the African-American vote through voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other concerted disenfranchisement efforts.

But an abundance of evidence shows President Ojakians statement to be false. A study published in February 2019 by the National Bureau of Economic Research, using 1.3 billion voting observations, makes clear that strict voter identification laws, which are blamed for the ostensible disenfranchisement the CSUS President decries, have not reduced voter turnout in elections in recent years, not even in the states that require a photograph for identification. The study concludes that such laws have no negative effect on voter registration or voter turnout either overall or for any specific group, whether defined by race, gender, age, or party affiliation.

As for gerrymandering, Democrats in state Legislatures, with the tacit approval of their Republican counterparts, have for years carved out majority-minority Congressional districts to maximize African-American representation.

Of course, statements like President Ojakians are not the only means by which falsehoods are perpetuated to the point where they are simply assumed to be true. In Georgia, for example, the losing candidate in its 2018 gubernatorial election, Stacey Abrams, who is black, continues to claim the election was stolen despite the fact that overall turnout in the state increased from 2.5 million in 2014 to 3.9 million, and that in losing, she received 600,000 more votes than did Nathan Deal, the winner in 2014, who is white. In reality, voter turnout in Georgia in 2018 exceeded the national average, and the percentage of voters who were nonwhite was the highest in the history of the state.

Fortunately, the American people appear to be better informed in this regard than President Ojakian. A poll conducted by The Washington Post in 2012 showed that support for voter ID transcended racial, ethnic, and political distinctions: 66 percent of independents, 60 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of African Americans, and 64 percent of Hispanics.

More lamentable than the falsity of the facts President Ojakian presumes to be true is the implication in his statement  made clear by the inclusion of the word systemic  that the ostensible discrimination he excoriates is a manifestation of racial hatred of African-Americans by a white majority intent on perpetuating its supremacy and privilege. In reality the only racial animus relevant to this assertion is the presidents implicit ascription to an entire category of people  rather than to individuals guilty of specific and demonstrable transgressions  of an effort to deny a different category of people their constitutional right to vote solely because of the color of their skin.

But what is perhaps most alarming about President Ojakians statement is its author abusing his authority as CSUS president to disseminate his personal opinions on political issues like voter suppression and gerrymandering that have nothing to do with higher education and on which he has no discernible scholarly credentials. In this particular instance he could have noted Black History Month  which as the head of an academic institution he is entitled to do  without insinuating that white people today are bigots and racists.

Unfortunately, this imputation of collective guilt is nothing new. President Ojakians statement is consistent with an earlier one, commemorating National Coming Out Day, in which he made clear his opinion that prejudice is the only reason anyone might oppose individuals claiming to be transgendered from serving in the military.

Surely the CSUS system would benefit if its president eschewed using his position as a pulpit and attended to the business for which he is paid a substantial salary by Connecticut taxpayers of educating the thousands of students enrolled in its universities and community colleges.

The sincerity of President Ojakians adherence to his political opinions and the passion with which he expresses them are laudable. All one asks is that in his official capacity he keep them to himself.

Jay Bergman is Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Scholars. Email him at bergmanj@ccsu.edu
The U.S. declassification of Vietnam as a developing nation was anticipated and will affect neither existing countervailing duties levied nor its WTO benefits, experts say.

"Although the U.S.s move means Vietnam will stop receiving some preferential treatment it had enjoyed while it was considered a developing nation, this is something that has been anticipated, as this is part of Vietnams commitment to integrate deeper into the global supply chain," economist Can Van Luc told VnExpress International.

"It is unlikely exports to the U.S. will fall at all, as Vietnams exports to the economy in recent times have complied with U.S. standards. However, Vietnam will need to be more careful to avoid anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations, given exports of products like steel, footwear, agricultural produce to the U.S. have been doing very well in the past few years," Luc said.

On February 10, the U.S. removed Vietnam and 24 other markets including China, Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore from its internal list of developing countries enjoying special trade preferences regarding countervailing duties (CVD).

"For purposes of US CVD law, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) therefore considers countries with a share of 0.5 percent or more of world trade to be developed countries," the USTR said in a federal notice.

According to WTO data, Vietnam's total import and export turnover reached $242.6 billion in 2018 and $235.5 billion in 2019, or 1.3 percent and 1.19 percent of world trade respectively.

This allows the U.S. to reduce the threshold for triggering a U.S. investigation into whether these nations are harming U.S. industries with unfairly subsidized exports.

Under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, governments are required to terminate their CVD investigations if the amount of foreign subsidy is de minimis, or less than 1 percent of the value of goods.

But it provides a different standard for countries considered developing nations, and requires investigators to terminate duty investigations if the amount of subsidy is less than 2 percent ad valorem.

Le Trieu Dung, head of the Trade Remedies Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the U.S.s latest move would have "no tangible effect," as it had already found Vietnam to have applied subsidies of above 2 percent to goods in all of its last seven CVD investigations.

"The decision will only affect Vietnam in the long run if the U.S. conducts further CVD investigations on its exports, and finds that subsidies applied is less than 2 percent ad valorem," Dung said.

In any case, Vietnams developing country status within the framework of the WTO remains unchanged, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said in a statement.

One of the greatest flexibilities that Vietnam still enjoys is the WTOs Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), whereby developed countries offer non-reciprocal preferential treatment (such as zero or low duties on imports) to products originating in developing countries, the ministry said.

Vietnam not a specific target

Paul R. Pillar, Non-Resident Senior Fellow of the U.S.s Georgetown University, said, "This move by the Trump administration should be interpreted in the context of its overall trade policy, which has exhibited two chief characteristics. One is an overall hawkishness and toughness, based on the administration's assertion that other countries have taken unfair advantage of the U.S. in trade."

This is a mercantile approach that reflects Donald Trump's view that there are always winners and losers, more so than mutually beneficial arrangements having to do with trade or anything else, he said.

"The administration evidently sees the advantageous status granted to developing countries as one of the ways in which such countries take advantage of the U.S., and so the administration would like to reduce such preferences in general," Pillar said.

Trumps administration has also shown disdain for multilateral agreements and organizations and a preference for bilateral deals, so it is no surprise that it is acting unilaterally in coming up with its own list of developing and developed countries rather than just accepting the one that is registered with the WTO, he said.

"This latest action by the U.S. is not aimed specifically at Vietnam. It is just one country on a long list of countries that are affected by a move that the Trump administration is making for more general reasons."

"All that Vietnam can do in response is to bargain hard with the U.S. in all future bilateral trade negotiations. It is such negotiations, more so than Vietnam's place or absence on the lists just published, that will shape Vietnam's trade relations with the U.S.," Pillar said.

Concurring with this analysis, economist Can Van Luc said that while some industries could be hurt because of U.S. duties, the Vietnamese government can still make bilateral agreements to protect local manufacturers.

"Vietnam might need to conduct trade negotiations with the U.S. on specific industries to minimize the impacts of higher tariffs," he added.

The U.S. was Vietnams biggest export market last year, accounting for $60.7 billion or 23 percent of total export turnover, according to the General Statistics Office.

Vietnams trade surplus with the U.S. also widened to $46.98 billion last year from $34.87 billion a year earlier.
The Maharashtra government is yet



to launch a probe into the alleged instances of tapping of phones of certain political leaders under the previous BJP government, as there is a proposal to reconstitute the probe panel, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said here on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Deshmukh admitted that the probe got delayed.

The Shiv Sena-led state government ordered the probe earlier this monthafter receiving many complaints from political parties and leadersabout the alleged snooping done under the watch of the previous government.

It had set up a two-member committee comprising Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shrikant Singh andJoint Commissioner of Police (intelligence) Amitesh Kumar.

"The probe will happen for sure. It got delayed in view of a proposal to change the committee," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Note: Most analysts are forecasting that the novel coronavirus will be contained sometime in Q2 (perhaps on the assumption that the virus is seasonal like SARS or the flu). However there are significant downside risks to this view. The CDC has expanded travel advisories to include South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong - and Italy is having a significant outbreak.



From Goldman Sachs tonight:



Despite a negligible hit to aggregate US activity from supply chain production disruptions under our baseline scenario, we have nevertheless increased our estimated growth drag from the coronavirus given the slower than expected pickup in Chinese activity and travel. We now estimate a 0.8pp growth drag in Q1 (from 0.5-0.6pp previously), with positive growth effects of about 0.3pp in Q2, 0.3-0.4pp in Q3, and 0.1pp in Q4 as activity normalizes. While this would imply a modest hit to annual-average GDP growth of 0.1pp, the risks are clearly skewed to the downside until the outbreak is contained. Based on our estimates, we have taken down our Q1 annualized GDP growth forecast by 0.2pp to 1.2%.

Weekend:Monday: At 8:30 AM ET,for January. This is a composite index of other data. At 10:30 AM,for February.From CNBC: Pre-Market Data and Bloomberg futures : S&P 500 are down 38 and DOW futures are down 318 (fair value).Oil prices were down over the last week with WTI futures at $52.11 per barrel and Brent at $56.95 barrel. A year ago, WTI was at $54, and Brent was at $66 - so oil prices are down year-over-year. Here is a graph from Gasbuddy.com for nationwide gasoline prices. Nationally prices are at $2.47 per gallon. A year ago prices were at $2.47 per gallon, so gasoline prices are unchanged year-over-year.
A CRAFT shop in Caversham held a fundraising day for a boy battling cancer for the third time.

Artisans Handmade UK in Church Street raised 250 by selling cakes donated by residents, supporters and its sellers.

There was also a tombola and raffle with prizes including chocolates, mugs, toiletries and wine as well as a guess the name of the bear competition. The event was in aid of 12-year-old Charlie Ilsley, of Buckingham Drive, Emmer Green, who has been undergoing treatment on and off since he was first diagnosed in 2015 and was given the all-clear twice only for the disease to return in November.

Charlie visited the shop with his mother Toni and the fundraising was continuing this week.

The pop-up shop, which opened in September, was launched by Kellie Henderson and Elisa Lionetti with the aim of providing the community with a wide range of unique, handcrafted products made by local people.

Mrs Henderson thanked everyone who attended on Saturday.

She said: We have raised money for different charities and I wanted to do something more local.

Ive got 12-year-old twins so I wanted to do anything I could to help. It was lovely having Charlie here  it really made a difference. For 50p cakes, I think the amount we raised was a great achievement. It would have been a lot better had the weather not been so bad.

Mrs Ilsley said: It was really nice of Kellie to do this. My neighbour Janice Judd made quiches and scones and I went to Waitrose and bought a chocolate cake and a Victoria sponge and when I got there there were loads already.
Burma Myanmar Court Issues Arrest Warrant for US Citizen in Alleged Marijuana Farming Case

John Fredric Todoroki (center) during a court hearing in May 2019. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

MANDALAYThe Myingyan District Court in Mandalay Region has issued an arrest warrant for a US citizen who went missing amid charges over his alleged operation of a marijuana plantation.

John Fredric Todoroki, 63, was arrested in April 2019 for allegedly growing marijuana along with two Myanmar nationals working for III M Global Nutraceutical Company at the Myotha Industrial Park in Myingyan. The sale and use of marijuana is illegal in Myanmar.

Todoroki was granted bail in July as he was suffering from respiratory problems. The bail was set at 300 million kyats (US$203,000).

After Todoroki was granted bail, his lawyers requested in November that the Mandalay Regional Court review the case and drop the charges as III M Global had official approval from the Mandalay regional government to grow industrial hemp and the seeds had been imported legally.

The Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), however, said it seized more than 300,000 marijuana plants, 380 kg of marijuana seeds, formic acid, acetone, acetonitrile solution, methanol and 271 kg of dried cannabis. Hemp and marijuana are two distinct varieties of the cannabis plant.

The regional court returned the case to the Myingyan court in December for hearings to continue but since then, Todoroki has failed to attend court.

On Monday, the Myingyan District Court ordered the Myotha police to arrest Todoroki and issued a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear at the court.

If arrested, Todoroki would face 5-15 years in prison.

As Todoroki has failed to attend court, the bail must be paid by his friend, U Khin Maung Win, who signed the assurance for the bail at the court. U Khin Maung Win submitted an appeal for consideration at the court on Monday and the court will make a decision on the appeal at the next hearing for the case in early March.

One of the defendants lawyers, U Thein Than Oo, told The Irrawaddy that they had lost contact with their client since November and did not know where he was. They said they had contacted the US Embassy in their attempts to locate Todoroki.

Asked about the case, his lawyer said the case could sound strange to observers.

The industrial hemp plantation received green lights, approved and signed by the Mandalay Regional Government, and is operating openly at the industrial zone, he said. However, the police later assumed it was a marijuana plantation and the plantation operators were sued.

It sounds awkward. Authorities concerned should take it seriously, he added.

The US Embassy in Yangon did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

The Irrawaddy reporter D Hlaing Win contributed to this story.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Opium Cultivation in Decline: UN Report

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Stormont is set to consider making sanitary products freely available at Parliament Buildings in a pilot scheme.

Stormont is set to consider making sanitary products freely available at Parliament Buildings in a pilot scheme.

It follows a request from West Tyrone Sinn Fein MLA Catherine Kelly to highlight the issue of period poverty.

Ms Kelly asked the Assembly Commission to address the issue by making sanitary products freely available in visitors' toilets at Parliament Buildings.

In response to Ms Kelly's Assembly Question, she was told that the feasibility of a pilot scheme would be assessed.

"The Assembly Commission has not previously considered the free provision of sanitary products to students and other visitors to Parliament Buildings," the response read. "However, the Assembly Commission will now assess the feasibility of the free provision of sanitary products on a pilot basis."

Ms Kelly welcomed the move.

"I raised the issue of providing free sanitary products in the visitors' toilets at Parliament Buildings given the number of schools and visitors that regularly visit Stormont," she said.

"I welcome news that the Assembly Commission are going to carry out a feasibility assessment with the view of providing them on a pilot basis.

"Many women and girls are struggling with the rising costs of sanitary products and Stormont, as well as other public bodies, can play their part in reducing this pressure." In 2018, the Scottish Parliament announced that all women, whether visiting or working at Holyrood, would have access to free towels or tampons.

In the same year, Derry and Strabane District became the first local authority in Northern Ireland to offer products in some of its public buildings.

Free sanitary products are also made available at schools in England, Scotland and Wales.

Research published by the charity Plan International in 2017 indicated that one in 10 girls between the ages of 14 and 21 in the UK have been unable to afford sanitary products, while 49% have missed an entire day of school because of their period.
The late Hollywood veteran Kirk Douglas has left the bulk of his USD 61 million fortune to charity.

The actor, who passed away on February 5 at the age of 103, didn't leave much of his estate and wealth to his celebrity son, Michael Douglas.

The star gave away of USD 50 million from his estate to Douglas Foundation, the charity he co-founded with his wife Anne Beydens Douglas nearly six decades ago and which aims to "help those who cannot otherwise help themselves", reported Mirror.

The non-profit organisation supports the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, The Kirk and Anne Douglas Childhood Centre and a St. Lawrence University scholarship for underprivileged students.

It also gives funds to Westwood's Sinai Temple and Culver City's Kirk Douglas Theater, a restored venue.

It is unclear who will receive the remaining USD 10 million. Kirk Douglas is survived by wife Anne, and his three sons, Joel, Peter, and Michael.

At the time of Kirk Douglas' death, Michael had remembered his father's contribution to public service.

"Kirk's life was well lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet," the actor had said.

Kirk Douglas was a cinema icon for Hollywood and he is best remembered for starring in movies such as "Spartacus", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", "The Bad and the Beautiful" and "Champion".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Just recently, a 9-year-old Quaden Bayles was in the news for wanting to kill himself over being bullied at school. When Quaden's mom came out with a video talking about what bullying really does to one's self esteem, people on the internet literally felt her pain and came to Quaden's aid immediately.



The boy suffers from Achondroplasia dwarfism  a rare bone-growth disorder that makes Quaden shorter than other kids and hence, he was picked on repeatedly by others at school.

After the video went viral, Quaden received immense support from across the globe, especially from celebrities, while GoFundMe raised more than $440,000 for a trip to Disneyland. Not just that, Quaden also led an indigenous all-star Rugby team onto the pitch in Queensland. The crowd roared with cheers and applauds for the 9-year old.

 Twitter

But that's just because Quaden realised what was happening with him was wrong. He spoke about the distress he was going through with his mother and she put it out for everyone to know what bullying can actually do to a child's psyche, and in Quaden's case, make him suicidal!

Unfortunately many kids who go through bullying don't have way of communicating the absolute hell they're in, for the fear of being bullied more brutally, so they let the kids bully them, until an adverse psychological effect takes over the mental health of the child.

The child, when he/she grows up, could have leftover psychological trauma from being bullied and that can cause irrational behavior patterns, as he or she experiences adulthood. That's why, it's necessary to recognise and talk about bullying and there are ways to do so.

 Aamir Khan Productions

If you have a child or a younger brother or sister in school or anyone at all, and you notice their behaviour and demeanour change over time, then try and figure if they're having a tough time at school with other children.

Here are some prominent signs a child is being bullied at school:



(1) Unwillingness To Go To School

If they're recovering from a school break and they don't want to go back to school, that's highly normal. But if you notice a child suddenly doesn't want to go to school and throws a tantrum or is having frequent 'stomach aches' etc. to avoid going to school, that's a serious cause for concern. It could mean they're facing something tough at school and want to avoid it at all costs.

(2) Intense Emotional Reactions

Experts suggest that a change in demeanour and intensified emotional reactions is a big sign, especially if the reaction is something to do about school. This is literally the first sign of anxiety a child is experiencing as well. Angry emotional outbursts and absolute withdrawal are signs that the child is possibly experiencing something he or she cannot handle on their own. Its best to observe a child's mood right after they come back from school, to notice any changes.

(3) Look Out For Injuries

Physical bullying along with emotional bullying is as common. If the child is being physically bullied every other day at school, he or she would have some form of noticeable injuries around their body. If you see anything ask them directly where its from. Sometimes they will lie out of fear from the bully, but if there's an injury they can't explain or you feel has a false story behind it, do some due diligence and find out more. Physically being bullied can be quite fatal.

(4) Change In Sleep Pattern

If your child is worried about going to school and being picked on the next day, they will have a disturbing sleep. Some won't even get enough in anticipation and fear of going through it the next day in school. Check in with your kids if they're sleeping well, if they're having a soundless sleep or if they're unable to get any. Talk to them about why they're not getting sleep and figure out why they're in so much distress. Losing sleep is one of the first signs of being distressed!

 Twitter

(5) Change In Grades

A change in academic performance in school is a big sign that something isn't right with the child. If the child is an average or above average performer, and if his or her grades dip, it means they're distracted elsewhere and something is not letting them focus or concentrate on school work. Instead of punishing them for their weak grades, maybe try and understand why their performance has suddenly gone down.

Apart from noticing these signs in your child or any child around you, do some wilful investigation as to why there are these changes you see in him or her. Visit their school, talk to their peers and teacher and if there is a case of bullying, address it with the school staff and administration. Bullying can occur at any stage in life.

It's difficult for a bully to grow out of the habit so you may find bullies everywhere, in your workplace, at your house as a family member, in social friend circles or even in relationships etc. So it's important to recognise bullying as an act and make it stop.
A CBI court in Lucknow convicted two police personnel on Monday in the sensational murder case of a girl who was found hanging at a police station premises in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district nine years ago.

Judge Pradeep Singh, however, acquitted two police personnel for want of evidence. It has fixed Wednesday for deciding the quantum of sentence.

In his judgment, the court found constable Atiq Ahmad guilty of under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. The then circle officer, Inayat Ullah Khan, was also found guilty Section 201. Atiq was posted as the gunner of circle officer Khan.

Those who have been acquitted are constables Shiv Kumar and Uma Shanker.

On June 10, 2011, the mother of 14-year-old girl had lodged an FIR with the Nighasan police station saying that her daughter had taken a buffalo for grazing to the field. While grazing, the buffalo went inside the boundary of the police station.

As the girl did not return for long, the complainant went inside and found the dead body of her daughter hanging from a dry tree. The mother had seen injuries on the body of the girl, and it appeared that she was raped and then she was hanged to give it colour of suicide.

The investigation was initially conducted by the CID, which had forwarded charge sheet against Atiq for committing rape and murder of the girl, and against Shiv Kumar and Umashanker for removing evidence.

Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation took up a probe. It filed a charge sheet against Atiq for only murder and removing evidence. Three others, including the circle officer, were charged with removing evidence, according to public prosecutor Deep Narayan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JACKSON, MI  Police have identified the 14-year-old boy who was fatally shot Friday night.

Cameron Kasprzycki was found with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body around 10:50 p.m., Feb. 21, Jackson Police and Fire Services Director Elmer Hitt said.

Camerons father found him near the driveway of their home in the 500 block of Orange Street, police said. A GoFundMe for the family has raised $8,200 as of Monday morning.

There are no significant updates to the investigation, Hitt said.

14-year-old shot and killed in Jackson

Cameron was a freshman at East Jackson High, Superintendent Steve Doerr said. There are five mental health experts at the school as students grieve Monday, he said. Students grief will guide the schools response, in terms of remembrance and counseling.

Cameron was a student in Michigan Center Schools before transferring to East Jackson. He was loved by everyone there, Superintendent Brady Cook said.

Cameron was a very well-liked kid in this building," Cook said. "Both staff and students adored him. Its a huge loss.

Three counselors are at the school for any students and staff who need them, Cook said. The Jackson County ISD has also offered additional services if the district needs them, but at this time they are not in use, he said.

There were no 911 calls received of gunshots heard in the area, or any type of call related to the incident, prior to the victim being located by the father, Hitt said.

The Michigan State Police crime lab was called to assist on the scene. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Det. Thomas Tinklepaugh at 517-768-8637. An anonymous tip can be left by calling Crime Stoppers 855-840-7867.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020

Threats, intimidation and attacks on human rights defenders, especially women, have occurred far too often and should no longer be seen as the norm, a rights group has said, calling for more measures to end the violence.

The recent raid conducted on the office of the Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Womens Association for Justice (LBH APIK) by a group of men, which included police personnel, has raised alarms about the lack of protection for the countrys activists.

On Feb. 3, dozens of people forcefully entered and threatened to damage the LBH APIK office in East Jakarta. Four of them claimed to be members of the Matraman Police, though none were wearing uniforms nor produced a warrant. One man started a video call with someone from the National Police  or so he claimed.

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Taking a cat to the vets can be a stressful experience, both for cat and owner. However, a study published in this month's issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS)1 has shown that playing cat-specific music during the visit can help.

The use of music has become increasingly popular in human medicine, with studies showing a range of benefits, from improving motor and cognitive function in stroke patients to reducing anxiety associated with medical examinations, diagnostic procedures and surgery. The benefits of music are also being investigated in cats and other animals. Research published previously in JFMS has indicated that cats that are under general anaesthesia remain physiologically responsive to music;2 furthermore, they appear to be in a more relaxed state when played classical music, compared with pop and heavy metal.3

In this latest study, researchers at Louisiana State University (LSU), USA, have taken the analysis of the impact of different types of music a step further by exploring the calming effects of music composed specifically for cats. Musical pieces that are considered pleasing to the human ear often have a beat similar to the human resting pulse rate and contain frequencies from the human vocal range. This principle has been extended to cat-specific music, which is composed of lines based on affiliative cat vocalisations, such as purring and suckling sounds, as well as frequencies similar to the feline vocal range, which is two octaves higher than for humans.

In order to assess the effects of cat-specific music, 20 pet cats enrolled in the LSU study were played 20 minutes of cat-specific music ('Scooter Bere's Aria' by David Teie - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGyElqvALbY), classical music ('Elegie' by Faure) or no music (silence) in a random order at each of three physical examinations at the veterinary clinic, 2 weeks apart. Cat stress scores, based on the behaviour and body posture of the cats, and handling scale scores, based on the cats' reactions to the handler, were assigned for each of the cats from video recordings of the examinations; neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios from blood samples were also measured to look for a physiological stress response.

The study found that the cats appeared to be less stressed during the examination - as indicated by lower cat stress scores and handling scale scores - when played the cat-specific music, compared with both classical music and no music. This effect was not reflected in the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, but the researchers suggest that 20 minutes may not have been long enough to allow music to affect this measure.

By decreasing stress levels, the researchers conclude that cat-specific music may not only have benefits in terms of the welfare of the cat, but owners can feel reassured that their cat will have a more comfortable visit, and the veterinary team will be able to assess their feline patients more accurately.

###

References

1. Hampton A, Ford A, Cox RE III, et al. Effects of music on behavior and physiological stress response of domestic cats in a veterinary clinic. J Feline Med Surg 2020; 22: 122-128. The article is currently free to read here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X19828131

2. Mira F, Costa A, Mendes E, et al. A pilot study exploring the effects of musical genres on the depth of general anaesthesia assessed by haemodynamic responses. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 18: 673-678.

3. Mira F, Costa A, Mendes E, et al. Influence of music and its genres on respiratory rate and pupil diameter variations in cats under general anaesthesia: contribution to promoting patient safety. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 18: 150-159.
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Samsung refreshed its Galaxy smartphone line, introduced a new foldable phone, and upgraded its wireless earbuds offering at an event held Tuesday at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

Its three new flagship phones, pictured above, are all 5G ready. The S20 is priced at US$999, while the S20 Plus will sell for $1,199, and the S20 Ultra for $1,399.

The S20 is smallest of the trio, with a 6.2-inch display. The Plus display is 6.7 inches and the Ultras is 6.9 inches.

All the units have three cameras  wide angle, ultrawide and telephoto  and the Plus and Ultra have a fourth camera for augmented reality applications.

The cameras in the S20 and Plus have 64-megapixel sensors, while the Ultra supports a whopping 108 MP. The cameras also support 8K video.

The Ultra has a 10x optical zoom.

Thats unheard of in a phone, said Jack E. Gold, principal analyst atJ. Gold Associates, an IT advisory company in Northborough, Massachusetts.

You dont even get that in some traditional cameras, he told TechNewsWorld.

Samsung continues to amaze me in what theyre doing in video and photography category, said Mark N. Vena, senior analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, a technology analyst and advisory firm based in Austin, Texas.

Samsung clearly sees video and photography as a tremendous opportunity to completely replace traditional cameras, he told TechNewsWorld.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Pushing 5G Lever

The use of multiple lenses in high-end phones and features powered by artificial intelligence will continue to evolve, predicted Gerrit Schneemann, senior analyst at IHS Markit, a research, analysis and advisory firm headquartered in London.

Theres a big networking difference between this crop of flagship phones and the previous generation, he told TechNewsWorld.

The whole lineup supports 5G, whereas before, only select models were 5G. Now Samsung is putting 5G into everything, Schneemann said.

Very few people need 5G now, but it will be on every phone in the next couple of years, so Samsung is pushing the adoption lever as fast as they can, noted Stephen Baker, analyst at NPD Group, a market research firm in Port Washington, New York.

We know the networks are going to be there in the next year or two, and we know from history that consumers arent afraid of future-proofing, especially when they buy a premium phone like the S20, he told TechNewsWorld.

Folding Glass

Samsungs new Galaxy Z Flip has a display made of foldable glass that measures 6.7 inches when flipped open. When closed, the phone is a compact 2.89 x 3.44 inches.

Models will come in three mirror colors  purple, gold and black.

Galaxy Z Flip

Smartphones are part of our everyday lives, but this is no ordinary smartphone, Samsung Electronics Marketing Director Rebecca Hurst told an enthusiastic crowd at Tuesdays event.

It changes everything  our phones shape, size and the very way we use it, she continued.

The Galaxy Z Flip is a statement smartphone, Hurst said. Its a standout smartphone for people who want to stand out.

Innovative Flex Mode

In addition to its main 2636 x 1080 AMOLED display, the Z Flip has 1.1-inch cover display for screening information like time and notifications.

The unit has three cameras: an f/2.4 10-megapixel selfie camera; an f/2.2 12-MP ultra-wide camera; and an f/1.8 12-MP wide-angle camera.

Three video resolutions are supported by the shooters  4K UHD, 1080p FHD and 720p HD. It has four shooting speeds  Super Steady, Super Slow-mo, Slow Motion and Hyperlapse.

The foldable, which is priced at $1,380, comes with 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage.

The phone supports an innovative flex mode that turns the unit into a dual screen phone when its folded at a right angle.

We think foldables will fundamentally change how we think about and interact with smartphones, Google Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer said at the Samsung event.

Razr Killer?

Samsungs introduction of the Z Flip, which will go on sale Feb. 14, comes on the heels of another foldable arriving on the market, the Motorola Razr.

The Flip is a more powerful phone than the Razr, observed Moors Vena.

If foldable phones are going to gain traction in the market, the flip phone orientation is going to be a big deal because of the convenience factor, he pointed out.

The Flip is a nicer device with its glass screen and variable hinge that can bend the phone at different angles, said Gold.

Another potential issue for Motorola and its parent Lenovo are problems meeting demand in the early stages of the Razrs release.

Thats the thing about Samsung, Gold remarked. Once they start making a device, they can turn the crank and produce a lot of stuff.

Battle of Hinges

Samsung has another advantage over Motorola.

Samsung has a lot of brand, product equity and distribution strength, which is going to be a part of success in the market, noted NPDs Baker.

The Flip is a pretty well-put-together product Samsung clearly learned a lot from the issues they had with the original Fold, he added. Its a very polished device.

One of the issues with foldable devices is the strength of their hinges. At the Samsung event, Hurst noted that the Z Flips hinge had been opened and closed 200,000 times without any signs of damage.

The hinge on the Flip seems to be sturdier and less prone to outside attack than the Razr because theres no visible gap when its shut, observed IHS Schneemann.

The Flips two-camera system also raises the foldable a notch above its competition.

Cameras are an area where Samsung has been strong in the past and where Motorola has struggled in the past, Schneemann recalled.

Further, theres a price gap between the phones, with the Razr selling for $1,499 and the Flip for $1,380.

New Buds

In addition to the S20 line and the Z Flip, Samsung announced a refresh of its wireless earpods at its event.

Galaxy Buds+

The Galaxy Buds Plus, priced at $149, have two speakers in each pod  one for high range sound and one for bass  as well as three mics.

They even work with iOS devices via a Samsung app.

At $149, the one thing missing is active noise cancellation, Schneemann said, but at that price thats not feasible.
MANBIJ, Syria  The Manbij Military Council has again called for the return home of Manbij residents fighting with Turkish-backed Syrian opposition factions in the areas of seized in Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch, requesting that they stop furthering Turkey's occupation of Syrian territory.

In a Feb. 3 statement posted online, the councils General Command, asserted, It is necessary to assume our moral responsibility by warning our citizens against the manipulation and exploitation practiced by the Turkish occupation state in the areas of Euphrates Shield and other Syrian-occupied areas by perpetuating a mercenary culture and forcing the countrys citizens into terrorist military organizations that only serve Ottoman expansionist, nationalistic interests.

In a phone call with Al-Monitor, council spokesman Shervan Derwish said, Our call to the people of Manbij in Syrian opposition military groups is the second one. In 2017, we launched the same initiative. We want the people of our areas to return to their homeland and to not be tools in the hands of the Turkish state occupying Syria. We do not want our people to serve Turkeys interests in occupying more Syrian lands. We call on the people of Manbij to return to their hometown to serve their country.

Derwish asserted that the council would coordinate resettlement for those wishing to return. The defectors are free to choose between integrating into civilian life or fighting in the ranks of the Manbij Military Council, he said.

Al-Monitor contacted Sabri al-Manbaji, who fights in the ranks of the Syrian National Army (SNA) of the Free Syrian Army in Operation Euphrates Shield areas. He affirmed that many opposition fighters want to return to their homes, citing poor salaries, restlessness and unfulfilled Turkish promises.

Manbaji further remarked, I thought about defecting from the national army and returning to Manbij and my village, Assaliyah, but I was afraid that the national army might take revenge on my family, residing in the city of al-Bab, to dissuade me from doing so.

He also explained, Some fighters whom I knew personally managed to defect during Operation Peace Spring and joined the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces]. The majority of their families were still in areas under SDF control, but those who lived with their families in the areas of Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch feared the opposition militants would threaten their families to keep them from defecting and returning to their hometowns. Manbaji himself fought in Operation Peace Spring, which Turkey launched in October 2019 to target the SDF.

Al-Monitor also spoke with Abu Omar al-Idlibi, a leader of the Democratic Northern Brigade, a faction whose fighters hail from the city of Idlib, and who also fights for the SDF. He said that military councils in areas under Kurdish self-administration plan to follow the lead of the Manbij Military Council.

The SDF military councils in each city, such as Deir ez-Zor, Ras al-Ain and Tell Abyad, will be making such calls to their citizens who joined the Syrian opposition groups. They will call on them to return to their cities and villages as civilians if they wish to do so. This is their right. If they want to defend their cities, the doors of military institutions in Rojava are open to them.

Idlibi claimed that individual and sometimes collective defections occur daily among the opposition militias. Around 1,000 have defected [to join SDF] since the beginning of Operation Peace Spring to this day, he said.

Hamed al-Omar, from Manbij defected from the Sultan Murad Division and is now fighting for the Manbij Military Council. Two months ago, I managed to escape from the city of Tell Abyad to the city of Manbij, he said. I handed over my weapon to the leadership of the council. The command took care of me and gave me the choice between returning to my city as a civilian or fighting in the ranks of the Manbij Military Council. I preferred to continue my life as a fighter to defend my city, which is under military attack by the opposition Syrian National Army and the Turkish state.

On Feb. 16, local media reported that people in the western countryside of Manbij had been displaced to neighboring areas after strikes by the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition factions.
A civilian lost his life on Monday during clashes between two groups in Delhi's Bhajanpura area.

Earlier today, Delhi Police Head Constable Rattan Lal lost his life in similar clashes in Delhi's Gokulpuri. He was a native of Sikar, Rajasthan and had joined Delhi Police as Constable in 1998. He was posted in the office of ACP/Gokalpuri. He is survived by his wife and three children.

One DCP got injured during the same clashes in the Gokulpuri area.

Meanwhile, security forces have been deployed in Delhi's Khajuri Khas area after incidents of violence occurred in the areas of North East District earlier today.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy has said that additional forces have been deployed in Delhi to maintain law and order situation.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi and asked people to maintain peace.

"Have instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for the maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Earlier today, a clash broke out between two groups in Maujpur area.

Meanwhile, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-East district of Delhi, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, will not attend the official banquet being hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind in honour of US President Donald Trump on February 25, sources said.

Singh had earlier accepted the invite but expressed his inability to attend the same on Monday.

He has conveyed his regret to the President's office for not being able to attend the banquet, sources close to Singh said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, will also not attend the official banquet as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has not been invited.

She is also the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

The opposition Congress is peeved at the Modi government's move to not allow its top leaders a meeting with the visiting US president, as has been the tradition.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has said he will not attend the President's banquet as a mark of protest over the party's top leaders not being extended an invitation.

This will probably be the first time that leaders of the principal opposition will miss the official banquet in honour of a visiting head of state and will not hold separate discussions, Congress leaders said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dubai, Feb 24 : The Dubai court has sentenced two Indian workers to two years in jail for assaulting a compatriot over financial disputes. They were also convicted of theft and sexual assault, a media report said.

Following the sentencing on Sunday, the Dubai Court of First Instance also ordered their deportation after the completion of their imprisonment, reports the Khaleej Times Last November, the accused along with other absconding accomplices assaulted the victim and stole his mobile phone and passport. And to intimidate him and prevent him from reporting to the police, they stripped him naked and filmed him.

"I arrived at the Dubai International Airport on a visit visa in May last year. An Indian worker got me a job at a construction site for 1,500 dirhams a month. But I was paid only 100 or 50 dirhams," the complainant, a 24-year-old Indian national, told the public prosecution investigator.

He recounted how he had a dispute at some point with the other man over his unpaid wages. "I told him I would call the police if I did not get my full payment for working on that site." As he decided to file a police complaint, the victim said he was was assaulted.

The accused were arrested few days later.

During the prosecution investigation, the defendants admitted that they assaulted the victim over money issues.
Is fonio the new quinoa? This African grain, native to the regions just south of the Sahara, has been given that label. It has a lot going for it, as Pierre Thiam, a New York chef from Senegal, explains in his elegant cookbook. Fonio is easy and fast to grow. Its also drought-resistant, nutritious, gluten-free and better for the soil than the commodity crops like corn, wheat, soy and rice that have become Africas agricultural staples. Once fonio is winnowed and dried, the tiny grains (much smaller than quinoa) can be steamed and used in various ways. (Care must be taken so it doesnt clump and get gummy, and reheating can be tricky.) The book concentrates on traditional African dishes, with ingredients like cassava, okra, baobab leaf and red palm oil. But for wider appeal, like that of quinoa, it needs more recipes like his excellent roasted salmon with cheesy fonio grits. For me, fonio is more like polenta or cream of wheat than quinoa. I have served it topped with a ragout of mushrooms and used it in meatloaf. But first you need to buy it: Theres a useful list of sources in the book.

The Fonio Cookbook: An Ancient Grain Rediscovered by Pierre Thiam (Lake Isle Press, $24.95).

Follow NYT Food on Twitter and NYT Cooking on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.
Singapore Airlines has reduced the number of flights to Korea following the outbreak of the new coronavirus. / Korea Times file



By Jun Ji-hye



An increasing number of foreign air carriers are either halting flights or reducing the number of flights to Korea as the country has continued to report a surge in cases of COVID-19 from last week, airline industry officials said Monday.



Philippine Airlines informed passengers, Feb. 21, of the suspension of its Manila-Incheon route and a reduction in the number of flights on the Manila-Busan route from March 1 to 31 "due to operational issues".



The company said passengers can rebook their flights or change the route without incurring fees, or receive a full refund without any additional fee.



Prior to this, the company announced, Feb. 11 that it would cancel flights on its Cebu-Incheon route from Feb. 16 to March 28.




An 83-year-old woman came back to life in Ukraine ten hours after being declared dead, doctors have revealed.

Ksenia Didukh was pronounced dead at home in the town of Stryzhavka last week after paramedics were called by relative and found her without a heartbeat.

But some ten hours later - as her family were arranging a priest for her funeral and digging her grave - she began showing signs of life and was rushed to hospital where she regained consciousness.

Speaking about her near-death experience, Ksenia said she saw the kingdom of heaven and heard her late father calling to her.

Ksenia Didukh, 83, was declared dead by paramedics in Ukraine after they were called to her house but found her without a pulse

Daughter Tetyana Potomchenko (left) made arrangements for Ksenia's funeral when she noticed signs of life and had her rushed to hospital

Speaking about the moment she regained consciousness, Ksenia added: 'My eyes opened, and people in white were standing around me.

'I thought they were angels but these were doctors. Apparently God had mercy on me.'

Daughter Tetyana Potomchenko said paramedics were first called around 6am when her mother, a retired nurse, fell gravely ill.

Medics said there was no point in taking her to hospital because she was dying.

They performed an EKG to check her pulse and found that it showed a flat line, so declared her dead.

The family went about making arrangements for her funeral, including hiring a priest, digging a grave, and having a funeral supper.

Ksenia (right) arrived at hospital in a coma but soon came round and told medics that she had seen the kingdom of heaven and her dead father calling to her

The family had a funeral dinner, arranged a priest to conduct the service, and even begun digging Ksenia's grave when she miraculously came round

But Potomchenko recalled: 'At around 7.30pm we touched her forehead, and it was warm.

'Her armpits were warm, she was alive. The death certificate had to be cancelled - and torn up.'

When Ksenia arrived at the hospital she was declared to be in a coma, before coming round and starting to talk with medics.

Dr Tetyana Katylova, deputy medical officer of Vinnytsia regional hospital, said: 'I have been working as a doctor for 20 years, but I have not seen anything like this.'

Priest Roman Petrik, who had been booked to conduct her funeral, added: 'A miracle of resurrection has occurred.

'God gave life to this old lady. This is the first time I have seen it.'
Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We note that Union Medical Healthcare Limited (HKG:2138) does have debt on its balance sheet. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?

When Is Debt A Problem?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. 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. Of course, debt can be an important tool in businesses, particularly capital heavy businesses. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together.

Check out our latest analysis for Union Medical Healthcare

How Much Debt Does Union Medical Healthcare Carry?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Union Medical Healthcare had debt of HK$130.3m at the end of September 2019, a reduction from HK$545.9m over a year. However, its balance sheet shows it holds HK$540.9m in cash, so it actually has HK$410.6m net cash.

SEHK:2138 Historical Debt, February 24th 2020

How Healthy Is Union Medical Healthcare's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that Union Medical Healthcare had liabilities of HK$944.0m due within a year, and liabilities of HK$362.7m falling due after that. Offsetting this, it had HK$540.9m in cash and HK$202.2m in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by HK$563.5m.

Given Union Medical Healthcare has a market capitalization of HK$4.94b, it's hard to believe these liabilities pose much threat. 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, Union Medical Healthcare also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely.

Story continues

Fortunately, Union Medical Healthcare grew its EBIT by 8.8% 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 Union Medical Healthcare'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 Union Medical Healthcare 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. In the last three years, Union Medical Healthcare's free cash flow amounted to 47% of its EBIT, less than we'd expect. That weak cash conversion makes it more difficult to handle indebtedness.

Summing up

Although Union Medical Healthcare's balance sheet isn't particularly strong, due to the total liabilities, it is clearly positive to see that it has net cash of HK$410.6m. On top of that, it increased its EBIT by 8.8% in the last twelve months. So we are not troubled with Union Medical Healthcare's debt use. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Union Medical Healthcare (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.
Iran's supreme leader and other senior officials had urged people to cast their ballots on Friday as a show of resistance in the face of US sanctions that have plunged the economy into recession. (stock photo)

Iran's interior ministry said yesterday that voter turnout in last week's parliamentary elections stood at 42.57pc, the lowest in decades, in a possible sign of widespread dissatisfaction with Iran's clerical rulers and the state of the economy amid intense pressure from the United States.

In comparison, turnout was nearly 62pc in the 2016 elections. Turnout has consistently been above 50pc since the country's Islamic Revolution some four decades ago.

Voters also had limited options on Friday's 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 Iran's 290-seat parliament who had wanted to run for re-election.

Iran's hard-liners won all 30 parliamentary seats in Tehran, state TV reported yesterday.

Iran's supreme leader and other senior officials had urged people to cast their ballots on Friday as a show of resistance in the face of US sanctions that have plunged the economy into recession.

The elections took place under the threat of the new coronavirus that originated in China. Iran reported its first cases and deaths of the virus two days before the national polls, and many voters wore face masks as they cast their ballots. The virus has killed eight people in Iran and infected 43 people across five cities, including Tehran.

The lower turnout is widely seen as a measure of how Iranians view their government. Some voters who chose not to cast ballots expressed apathy in the process and said the government had been unable to stymie the effects of punishing US sanctions.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said the lowest turnout from the vote was in the capital, Tehran, with just 25.4pc of eligible voters casting ballots. He said the country voted under less-than-ideal circumstances.
Over the past few years, no state has been more aggressive in pushing constitutional limits on its authority than California, most recently with its attempt to make national law on internet privacy. This effort is just a small part of a growing trend of states attempting to tax and regulate outside their borders.

Thus, its a relief when at least one state pushes back on Californias aggression, arguing that the Golden States regulatory power should end where its borders do. Thats the case with Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2013, a bill in the state House of Representatives that would make it the Arizona governments position that internet privacy regulation is the purview of Congress, not individual states.

Arizonas legislature doesnt bring this up idly. Californias landmark consumer privacy legislation, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), went into effect less than two months ago and threatens to impose crippling compliance burdens on businesses all across the country.

The CCPA set data privacy standards for businesses that transact in 50,000 or more Californians data, even if the business lacks any physical presence within the state. Given that this represents just 0.18 percent of the states adult population, this standard was always likely to ensnare a significant number of out-of-state businesses.

After all, most businesses collect consumer data as a matter of course, even if they are not selling this data. Restaurants collect email addresses for reservations, auto insurers collect your age and driving history to calculate your premium, and retailers that offer rewards programs keep track of your purchase history. It would be very easy for businesses that use consumer data for mundane purposes to find themselves caught up in the CCPAs net.

And California was well aware that it would be creating a substantial compliance burden for many businesses that it had little right to regulate. Firms with less than 20 employees were estimated by the state to incur $50,000 in initial compliance costs, with double that amount for businesses with between 20 and 100 employees. All in all, the state estimated $55 billion in total up-front compliance costs alone  and thats only for California-based companies, with billions more in costs likely for those out of state.

Failing to comply can be very costly for businesses, whether based in San Francisco or New York City. Unintentional violations of the CCPA are fined at $2,500 per instance  a number that balloons very quickly when multiplied by the 50,000 consumer threshold.

Given this, its understandable that Arizona is upset that California is effectively attempting to dictate national policy on this issue. California legislators and government bureaucrats were elected by Californians, not Arizonans, after all.

On top of this, other states following Californias lead could create an impossible web of overlapping and conflicting state laws. The CCPA alone is burdensome enough, but were 49 states to follow suit with their own variants, the burden on interstate commerce would be near paralyzing.

Therefore, Arizona is right to assert that regulation of things like internet privacy should be the prerogative of the federal government. States rightly hold power to dictate their own affairs but if they attempt to regulate for the entire country, its Congresss job to step in and protect the national economy from a downward spiral of state aggression.
Records made public on New Jersey eCourts indicate that Hunterdon County Freeholder John E. Lanza was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.34 after being charged with driving while intoxicated by Raritan Township police last August.

Lanza was found not guilty of the DWI charge in municipal court earlier this month.

Sparta Municipal Court Judge Paris P. Eliades entered the not guilty verdict at the request of municipal prosecutor Jonathan McMeen, who in a statement issued to NJ Advance Media said, There were significant defenses both legal and constitutional that affected the states proofs in respect to the DWI charge.

The state felt that certain defenses set forth in this matter could not be disproved relative to the applicable standard, McMeen said. This matter was conferenced with the judge, whereas the judge also had concerns about whether the state had the requisite proofs.

Lanzas attorney John Paul Velez of Forster Arbore Velez said that the blood reading established by his medical records was not admitted into evidence because of issues surrounding the collection of the blood sample and the scientific reliability of the blood reading.

The blood alcohol content level was made public after state Superior Court Judge Yolanda Ciccone in Somerville ruled Feb. 5 against Raritan Township in an OPRA lawsuit filed in September by McGuillicutty & Schwartz, LLC.

McGuillicutty & Schwartz, LLC. is owned by former TAPinto franchisee Curtis Leeds.

In her ruling, Ciccone ordered non-exempt portions of government records regarding the DWI charge be released with all unlawful redactions removed.

Lanza was charged on Aug. 5 by Raritan Township police, who had reported to finding him unconscious in the drivers seat of a parked vehicle. Video footage obtained by NJ Advance Media showed officers breaking the passenger window of his vehicle in order to revive him.

He was transported to the Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington for evaluation by the Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad.

Carl Taylor of Carl Taylor Law in Flemington, who represented Lanza in Somerset County, said he and Lanza are still reviewing their options regarding a potential appeal to Ciccones ruling. Taylor said the test administered by the hospital was inaccurate.

These were medical records, and a lot of times the reading is not meant to prove a case; its meant as a diagnostic tool, and oftentimes theyre not as accurate as an (alcohol) test that a police officer would give, Taylor said. It was disappointing to see the number be released because it may give and likely did give a reading that was not accurate.

Caroline Fassett can be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.

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Women at a sit-in protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), near Jafrabad metro station in East Delhi, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (Photo | PTI)

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro on Monday shut three stations on its Yellow Line and a station on Violet Line after students gave a protest call against the violence in northeast Delhi.

"Entry & exit gates of Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Janpath have been closed. Interchange facility will be open at Central Secretariat," the DMRC tweeted.

The move comes after the Jamia Coordination Committee, comprising students and alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia, asked students to assemble outside the new police headquarters.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had shut five metro stations on the Pink Line in wake of the clashes between citizenship law supporters and protesters in the northeast region.

"Entry & exit gates of Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar are closed. Trains will terminate at Welcome metro station," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.

Clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured in the violence.

Clashes were also reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the city.

The DMRC had earlier shut down Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations due to the ongoing protests against the amended law.
Lebanon is finding itself staring down the prospect of US sanctions after jailing an American citizen for six months.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced sanctions legislation today targeting Lebanese government, judicial and military officials responsible for holding Amer Fakhoury, who served in the Israel-backed South Lebanon Army opposed to Hezbollah during the civil war. Shaheens office noted that Fakhoury is suffering from stage 4 cancer and accused Lebanese security officials of beating him to extract a false confession.

Amer is fighting for his life and time is running out, said Shaheen, Fakhourys home-state senator. Lebanons officials know that their behavior  which is motivated by Hezbollahs desire to sow discord in Lebanon  is illegal even under their own laws. There must be consequences for this flagrant disregard of international norms and human rights.

Lebanon detained Fakhoury in September but didnt charge him with working as a senior warden at the notorious Khiam Prison until earlier this month. Fakhourys family has acknowledged that he worked at the prison but has denied that he served as a senior warden, asserting that he had no direct contact with inmates and was not involved in torturing them. Shaheen sent a letter urging Fakhourys release to Lebanese President Michel Aoun in November, to no avail.

Why it matters: Fakhourys detention comes as Lebanons new government, led by Prime Minister Hassan Diab, seeks international support to help tackle the countrys worst economic crisis since the civil war.

Were just at a point where we want to get back to a state of normal relations with Lebanon and not have this interrupted, said Naz Durakoglu, Shaheens senior foreign policy adviser. Its an important time for Lebanon, and they need the support of the international community right now and they shouldnt be doing things like this.

Durakoglu speculates that the new government is using Fakhoury to distract the public from the protesters demonstrating against the Lebanese political elite, including Diab and his allies.

Whats next: Shaheen and Cruz have raised their sanctions legislation with Senate leadership. Theyre also coordinating with senior Donald Trump administration officials, including national security adviser Robert OBrien and US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard. Alternatively, Trump could potentially implement the sanctions himself under the 2016 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which he used in 2018 to target Turkish officials to secure the release of Andrew Brunson, a US citizen detained by Ankara.

Know more: Sarah Abdallah has a comprehensive overview of the myriad challenges that the fledgling Diab government faces. And Julian Pecquet has the low-down on how the Global Magnitsky Act has inspired a new cottage industry of sanctions lobbying in Washington.
Politicians such as Trump and Sanders, however, want to be seen as outsiders overturning a discredited establishment. Trump, for example, has continued to criticize elements of his own administration on Twitter as though he were an outside observer. In this political approach, the purpose of institutions has shifted. We have moved, roughly speaking, writes Levin, from thinking of institutions as molds that shape peoples characters and habits toward seeing them as platforms that allow people to be themselves and to display themselves before a wider world. Political institutions are no longer seen as formative but as performative.
JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore -- A man who was driving a truck that was associated with kidnapping out of Douglas County, is now in the Josephine County Jail on unrelated charges.

The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety said that they located a gray pickup truck last Friday. Officers were unable stop the driver, 29 year old Freddy Ayala out of Madras, after a pursuit heading eastbound towards SR-238.

Oregon State Police later located Ayala between Grants Pass and Jacksonville. Officers were able to spike the truck near the Applegate Bridge before it came to a stop near milepost 17 on SR-238.

Ayala is currently facing charges including reckless driving, and attempt to elude.

This post will be updated as it is developing.
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US President Donald Trump was happy to visit the Sabarmati Ashram and he appreciated the simple lifestyle of Mahatma Gandhi, the Ashram's trustee Kartikeya Sarabhai said on Monday.

"US President was happy to visit the Ashram. While leaving he said that it was a very peaceful experience and appreciated the simple living style of Mahatma Gandhi ji," Sarabhai told ANI.

"Several gifts, including Mahatama Gandhi ji's biography, a Charkha (spinning wheel) and a marble statue of three monkeys symbolising 'See No Evil, Speak No Evil and Hear No Evil' have been gifted to him," he said.

US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, during their visit to Sabarmati Ashram on Monday, were seen spinning the Charkha, which is closely associated with India's freedom struggle and Mahatma Gandhi.

With Mahatma Gandhi's famous hymn "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" playing in the backdrop, the US first couple were seen sitting beside each other, being assisted to operate the "Charkha".

Upon arrival at the Ashram, the US President and the First Lady Melania Trump were welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump along with Prime Minister Modi also garlanded a photo of Mahatma Gandhi.

Trump, who arrived here a short while ago, was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Ahmedabad Airport with a hug.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The kindergartners in the crowd at She Persisted, The Musical are unlikely to get the reference in the title, but then again they were toddlers at the time.

In 2017, when the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, shut down a speech by Elizabeth Warren on the Senate floor, he explained himself with words that feminists have flung back at him ever since: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

Chelsea Clinton quickly responded with a childrens book, She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World  a cheerful, affirming collection of mini-biographies for little ones. But is it really the stuff of theater?

Indeed it is. She Persisted, The Musical, by Adam Tobin (script and lyrics) and Deborah Wicks La Puma (music), is an exuberant, time-traveling history lesson that instills confidence, too, encouraging girls to listen to their own voices and not be afraid of using them.
George Grants vision of Canada increasingly attenuated (Part One) By Mark Wegierski

2020 marks the 55th anniversary of the publication of one of George Parkin Grants most popular and more accessible books, Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism (1965). George Grant (1918-1988) is probably the leading Canadian traditionalist philosopher. That work has remained almost continuously in print in Canada. Lament for a Nation mourns what George Grant sees as the end of real Canadian independence in the 1960s. As George Grant tells the story, Canadian Tory Prime Minister John Diefenbaker had refused to accept U.S. nuclear weapons on Canadian soil  with the result that all the instrumentalities of the North American managerial capitalist classes were turned against him, in the crucial 1963 Canadian federal election. Diefenbakers lost campaign is characterized in the book as the last strangled cry of his pre-modern Loyalist ancestors. (The Tories were already officially called the Progressive Conservative party, having added the adjective in 1942.) The Liberal Lester B. Pearson won the election. Grant is highly prescient in mourning the passing of a more traditional Canada, although his focus is not exclusively on the impending destruction of what would later come to be called social conservatism. Rather, he is more concerned with the dangers of corporate liberalism, and corporate technocracy, which he sees as emanating from America to undermine a more traditional Canada. Grants outlook lies somewhere between that of a traditionalist conservative, and of a social conservative of the Left. There are a number of illustrious figures who embrace the latter outlook, notably John Ruskin, William Morris, Jack London, George Orwell, Christopher Lasch, and, in Canada, the noted constitutional scholar and union adviser Eugene Forsey. The work seems to express a deep pessimism, and certainly does not offer any pat answers in regard to what is to be done to redeem Canada. Certain sectors of the Canadian Left, including George Grants close friend, Gad Horowitz, were greatly impressed with the book, and understood it as a clarion call for the creation of infrastructures of a more compassionate society in Canada  their idea of fighting for Canadian nationalism. Gad Horowitz had also, in the 1960s, severely criticized the onset of multiculturalism policies in Canada, arguing that they would undermine the sense of nationhood that he saw as a prerequisite for the flowering of real social democracy in Canada. George Grant, who was sometimes called a Red Tory, clearly gave that term one of its most positive and philosophical interpretations. As expressed in his major books, including Technology and Empire: Perspectives on North America (1969), English-Speaking Justice (1974/1985), and Technology and Justice (1986), Grant took his stand against the encroaching technological dystopia, or empire of technology which  as he put it  speaks with an American accent. He put forward a thoroughgoing critique of technology  what he called the spirit of dynamic technique  which, he said, makes all local cultures anachronistic. In such a world, prior notions of the good and the beautiful would become increasingly impossible. George Grant embraces outlooks that, in todays ever-narrowing spectrum of discourse, appear to be contradictory. As a conservative, Grant supported the Canadian Tory party and valorized the British roots of Canada. As a Canadian nationalist, Grant found much to admire about the Canadian Left, and enunciated a nuanced criticism of America and capitalism that is far more subtle than that usually found on the Left. As a Christian, Grant upheld traditional morality and wrote frequently against abortion  which he saw as evil, seeing it as the triumph of a Nietzschean-like exercise of radical will that would have terrible, dystopic consequences for the notion of human dignity. He also considered that the only possible basis for maintaining the notion of human equality in the future  rather than giving ourselves over to maximizing our own pleasure and power  is the notion that all human beings are equal before God. Some of Grants central themes include a profound critique of the social, cultural, and ecological impacts of technology; a confident patriotism (it is only by loving our own that we can come to any further comprehension of a more universal good); a subtle defense of Christianity, seen as one of the last barriers against a technological dystopia; and a genuine compassion for human suffering and the negative effects of war, expressed especially through his reflective pacifism. He also sees the interconnection between the right and left of a technological society  The directors of General Motors and the followers of Professor Marcuse sail down the same river in different boats. Grant anticipated the critique that was later made of the so-called managerial-therapeutic regime. A hyper-technological and hypermodern society would make any notions of human ethicality increasingly impossible. Nevertheless, Grants profound belief in God ultimately gives him a sort of optimism. Because of this belief in an ultimate, unchanging standard of justice, he could say that, whatever horrors technological society has waiting for us, and however hopeless the situation appears, At all times and in all places, it always matters what we do. For him, the imperative to act morally remains very real. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Shortly before the right-wing extremist terrorist attack in Hanau February 19, the Hesse state government sent posters to all schools slandering opponents of fascism and capitalism as left-wing extremists.

The poster series, Enlightened instead of autonomous, aimed at 9th and 10th grade students, could have been designed at the party headquarters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). It is a work of anti-communist propaganda. It shows how the establishment parties are systematically creating a political climate boosting the AfD and encouraging right-wing extremist perpetrators of violence. No matter how many people are murdered by fascists, The enemy is on the left! runs their motto.

Of the 10 posters claiming to educate pupils about extremism, eight are devoted exclusively to left-wing extremism. The topics range from anti-fascism, anti-capitalism and anti-imperialism, to anti-globalisation, anarchy and autonomous currents and socialism.

As an example of alleged left-wing extremism, poster 9 (Anti-capitalism and left-wing extremism) quotes the statement that capitalism is responsible for poverty and hunger, for social inequality and exploitation, for environmental destruction and war.

Left-wing extremism is also represented by the demands to overcome capitalism, nationalize the banks, insurance companies and media, radically redistribute income and wealth from top to bottom, or from rich to poor and to abolish private property, the poster reads. Such a radical upheaval of property relations, it says, would violate the Basic Law, as the German constitution is called.

Poster 8 (Anti-fascism) condemns left-wing extremist anti-fascism, which it identifies with the slogan Behind fascism is capitalthe struggle for liberation is international. Thus, only a democratic anti-fascism, which does not question the existing capitalist social order is permissible.

Left-wing extremists have their own conception of what and who is a fascist, it continues. For them, fascism is an extreme form of capitalism. For them, anti-fascism is not only the action against Nazis, but also the struggle against the democratic constitutional state and capitalism ... Anti-fascism serves the left-wing extremists as justification for actions against other parties and their politicians, against scientists who come to results that do not fit into the extreme left-wing world view, etc.

It continues in this style. In order to emphasize anti-communism, socialism is consistently equated with Stalinism. Any criticism of capitalism, be it of the consequences of globalisation, social inequality, war and right-wing violence, is synonymous with left-wing extremism.

After numerous teachers complained about the poster series to the German Trade Union for Education and Science (GEW), the union commissioned two experts, didactics professor Martina Tschirner from Goethe University and high school teacher Dr. Christoph Bauer, to produce a scientific report. The result is devastating.

The material to be evaluatedEnlightened instead of autonomousclearly shows itself to be scientifically, pedagogically and didactically untenable, says the 22-page expert report. There is no trace of critical reflection, independent judgement and scientific orientation. The two experts conclude, In our view, the material should be removed from schools immediately.

The experts criticism is directed against the concept of extremism presented by the poster series, which was directly adopted from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as the German secret service is called. The texts and design of the posters are so close to the publications of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution that one is inclined to call the poster series a didactic and illustrated report on the secret service, write Tschirner and Bauer. Socialist ideas of an egalitarian (equitable) society are equated with clearly racist ideas that glorify National Socialism [Nazism].

This is correct. Some of the poster texts are taken almost literally from the 2017 Annual Report of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, for which its then head Hans-Georg Maassen was responsible. Maassen had to resign later because he defended a right-wing extremist march in Chemnitz. Since then, he has openly promoted the politics of the AfD as the figurehead of the so-called Christian Democratic Union of Values.

The 2017 secret service report, for the first time, named the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) as a left-wing extremist party and object of surveillance. It did so exclusively because of the SGPs socialist policies. Its agitation, according to the secret service in its justification, is directed against the existing state and social order, which is generally denigrated as capitalism, against the EU [European Union], against supposed nationalism, imperialism and militarism. The Verfassungsschutz (secret service) does not accuse the SGP of any violations of the law.

At another point, the secret service denounced the view as left-wing extremist that capitalism was responsible for all social and political grievances such as social injustice, destruction of housing, wars, right-wing extremism and racism, as well as environmental disasters.

In August 2018, the SGP warned that the decision to attack it had been taken at the highest levels of government. The grand coalition of the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD) has reacted to growing resistance to its right-wing policies by strengthening extreme right-wing forces: The attack by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution ... is aimed at the SGP, but targets anyone who is fighting against social inequality, militarism and oppression and who advocates a socialist perspective, the SGP cautioned.

The Hanau killings, the latest in a long line of fascistic terrorist attacks, has confirmed this warning. Seventy-five years after Hitlers death, fascists in Germany are raising their heads againnot because they have mass support, but because they are encouraged and supported by the state and the establishment parties.

The Hesse state legislature, a coalition of the CDU and Green Party, is responsible for the poster series Enlightened instead of autonomous. The propaganda has been financed by the Ministry of the Interior and distributed by the Hesse Centre of Competence against Extremism (HKE). Four ministriesthe CDU-led ministries of the interior, culture and justice and the Green Party-led Ministry of Social Affairsas well as the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the State Office of Criminal Investigation and the Hesse State Centre for Political Education are represented in the HKE steering group.

The Hesse CDU has a long, right-wing past. Alexander Gauland held leading positions in it for 40 years before founding the AfD in 2013 and becoming its leader. Volker Bouffier, the current Hesse state premier, covered up the involvement of the secret service in the murder series carried out by the neo-Nazi National Socialist Underground (NSU) as Hesses state interior minister, and to this day keeps the relevant files, which could also provide information about the murder of Kassels District President Walter Lubcke, under lock and key.

The Greens, who have been coalition partners of the CDU in Hesse for six years, have no problem supporting a policy that gives the AfD a boost and leads to racist terror, as in Hanau. They too are a right-wing, bourgeois party, which, in the face of growing dissatisfaction and opposition, supports stepping up the repressive powers of the state and militarism.
MONDAY PUZZLE  Crossword constructors are experts at acknowledging holidays, people of note and important events. Grids in general are not the most flexible things, but I am always astounded by how much puzzle makers can wring out of them to get their message across.

Sunday, Feb. 23 marked the 75th anniversary of the 1945 battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, and when a group of marines raised an American flag on Mt. Suribachi, the Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal was there to capture it on film.

Contrary to popular belief, this was not the first flag raised on Mt. Suribachi, nor was it the first victory photograph taken. Hours earlier, the Marine photographer Louis Lowery shot photos of another group of Marines raising a flag farther down the mountain. But Mr. Rosenthals picture became the most recognizable and reproduced photograph in U.S. history, and it won him a Pulitzer Prize.

Sorry, the history geek in me got us a bit off track. This puzzle by Jacob Stulberg might not seem like typical Monday fare, but Im sure we are solving it today so that it runs as close to the 75th anniversary as possible (its obviously not a Sunday puzzle).
LONDON, Feb. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to energy markets and climate risks, the debate around energy transition has shifted from when it will happen to what it will look like. This is the focus of a new S&P Global Platts special report, Sustainability Shift - Oil's Future in the Energy Transition (spglobal.com/sustainability-shift), issued in association with the Platts London Oil and Energy Forum.

Among the report's highlights:

Aviation and shipping have the biggest challenges ahead in the global shift to cleaner fuels

Investor concerns about stranded assets and environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements will lead to survival of the fittest among producers and refiners in the mid to long term

Changes in transportation fuels will shift refining strategy, with some plants closing. Refiners will move focus from a clean gasoline/diesel focus to jet and petrochemicals, with investments needed to secure longer term viability

Biofuels will move from an attention on volume-based blending goals to stronger rules around origin and questions of land use and life-cycle emissions

Zero-carbon hydrogen can provide a channel for achieving emissions reductions in otherwise challenging sectors such as industrial heat, refining, ammonia, residential/commercial heating and heavy duty/long haul trucking

Roman Kramarchuk, Head of Energy Scenarios, Policy & Technology Analytics, S&P Global Platts: "While the ambition of the Paris Accord requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius or below - current trends in energy consumption still lead us to outcomes of 3 degrees C and higher. With the world demanding ever more energy, policymakers are focusing on efficiently utilized, lower-emissions, lower-carbon fuels that are affordable to end-users and aligned with economic growth. Such transformation creates both risks and opportunities for the existing energy capital stock and the incumbent players."

For your convenience, find a number of notations from S&P Global Platts Analytics below and the S&P Global Platts special report link further below. Chris Midgley is among the speakers presenting at the S&P Global Platts London Oil and Energy Forum in London Monday.

REFINING

Peak oil demand: The public's ambitions around climate policy increasingly affect the world's energy markets, and while the drive away from hydrocarbon fuels might lead to a peak in oil demand over the next couple of decades, oil will surely remain a significant share of total energy demand in the future. S&P Global Platts Analytics expects world oil-demand growth to slow in the years ahead due to efficiency improvements, and technological and regulatory change. However, Platts Analytics still forecasts a global oil demand rise to about 114 million barrels per day (b/d) by 2030, about 1% a year, slowing from a recent high growth rate of 1.9% in 2017. The fastest demand-growth is expected to occur in petrochemical feedstocks, which will lead to new types of chemical refineries. Furthermore, investors will likely continue to shy away from stranded-asset risks, stemming from low-complexity/low-margin oil refineries, which could trigger a "survival of the fittest" race in the world's refining system.

AVIATION

Among the most challenging sectors to decarbonize will be aviation, where oil does and will continue to play a key role. While emissions from aviation make up a comparatively small share of total global greenhouse gas emissions, they are also growing faster than any other sector in transportation - doubling aviation's share of total CO2 emissions.

Growth will be strongest in the developing world, where the rising middle class demand more travel. This focusing attention on the policies and technologies needed to reduce the sector's emissions. Unlike most with other sectors, emissions in aviation are not covered by the 2015 Paris Agreement. Instead, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has adopted the CORSIA program - requiring carbon offsets to cover the increases in emissions from 2019-2020 levels. Voluntary compliance will begin in 2021, with mandatory participation not coming until 2027. Despite emissions reductions from Sustainable Aviation Fuels, new technologies, and equipment efficiency, it is not clear that the policy frameworks, financial incentives and commitments are yet in place to move the needle significantly.

CROPS-USE FOR ETHANOL

Platts Analytics expects demand for both ethanol and biodiesel to rise in 2020 as governments seek to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets, with biodiesel demand jumping 6.1% and ethanol 1.4%. Still countries, particularly in Europe, are increasingly rethinking the effects of crop-based biofuels and encouraging investment in feedstocks that can sequester carbon without converting land to agricultural use.

On an energy unit basis, according to the S&P Global Platts special report, the water footprint of biofuel is higher than fossil-based counterparts. Bioethanol has an average water intensity of 3.3 liters per megajoule, which is 40 times higher than conventional gasoline.

In some specific markets like California, corn-based ethanol is much less desirable than ethanol made from sugar cane or molasses. It is good for volumetric mandates, but not as good for greenhouse gas reduction. In the US overall, expect less growth in demand for biodiesel made from soybeans and canola and more growth for renewable diesel made from used cooking oil, corn oil and tallow, according to Patricia Luismanso, head of biofuel analytics, S&P Global Platts.

BIODIESEL

Growth in demand for hydrocarbon-based diesel, unlike for gasoline, will continue over the course of the next decade, albeit at a slower pace, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics. Biomass-based diesel (BBD) has therefore a larger base of growth when compared with ethanol. BBD has been and will continue to be the most actively used in Western Europe. Other key markets will include the US, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

CAR-SULFUR & PETROCHEMICAL AROMATICS

One conundrum facing refiners: Sulfur cuts to gasoline also reduce the octane level, at a time when car manufacturers are making cars with higher-performance engines that require more octane. S&P Global Platts Analytics sees increased focus on hydro-treating catalysts that minimize octane loss. Expect a boost in demand for petrochemical aromatics, used as an octane booster in the blended gasoline pool. This will result in greater competition between gasoline and petrochemicals.

Platts Analytics expects the world to need the equivalent of 63 world-scale ethylene crackers of 1.5 million-metric-tons-per-year capacity between 2020 and 2035. This, in order to satisfy growing demand for petrochemical products, which in turn is going to raise the petrochemical feedstock demand from 13.7 million barrels per day (b/d) 2020 to 20.7 million b/d in 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 2.8% per year. The demand projection includes propane dehydrogenation processes. Without propane dehydrogenation (PDH), petrochemicals demand will rise to 17.8 million b/d in 2035 from 11.7 million b/d in 2020.

SHIPPING

The bunker industry, a 300-million-metric-ton-per-year market, expects to have adjusted to the International Marine Organization's 2020 low-sulfur shipping fuel mandate over the course of the year. The transition is going mostly as expected with low-sulfur fuels (both residual and distillate based) pricing much higher than high-sulfur ones. This is increasing the drive for ships to install scrubbers to allow them to use the cheaper high-sulfur fuel. Scrubbers do not help with CO2 and they can have wastewater management issues of their own. Longer term, the battle then becomes which alternative fuel becomes dominant for the shipping industry as it seeks to wipe out its greenhouse gas emissions over subsequent years/decades. The size of the demand requirement makes the use of bio-based fuels a challenge. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) only accounts for 5% of current bunker fuel use (mostly in LNG tankers) and has potential to increase more widely but its greenhouse gas savings versus oil is relatively small and there are concerns over methane emissions across the supply chain. Ultimately, it will likely involve a variety of fuels - including ones not used today - along with other energy-saving technologies to reduce substantially the shipping industry's greenhouse gas impact.

HYDROGEN

Addressing emissions from the industrial sector, long haul trucking, shipping, residential and commercial uses, along with the need for storage to achieve clean power goals, will prove particularly challenging - but is critical to meet global carbon-reduction targets. Platts Analytics estimates that a shift to zero-carbon hydrogen in existing applications - refining, ammonia, industrial - along with modest penetration in gas pipelines and trucks, can reduce global energy combustion CO2 emissions by more than 7%. Nearly all hydrogen is currently produced from fossil fuels, with over two-thirds produced using the steam methane reforming process (with the possibility of sequestering the emitted CO2). In addition, it can be produced by electrolysis, a carbon-free process that uses electricity to separate hydrogen from water. This process is energy-intensive; however, when paired with electricity from renewables, electrolysis could also help address the problem of intermittency of wind and solar generation: curtailment/energy storage.

CONCLUSION

Energy producers and energy consumers across all sectors are under intense pressure to find lower carbon solutions as the world looks to move closer to net-zero carbon emissions. The world needs more energy and less carbon emissions. However, renewables simply cannot keep up with the growth in energy demand, and switching to lower-carbon fuels such as coal to gas makes limited progress to achieving the net-zero target. As such, S&P Global Platts Analytics maintains that better ways must be found to include fossil fuels in the world's future energy mix while minimising their impact on greenhouse gases.

Chris Midgley, head of analytics, S&P Global Platts: "We need to maximise of the integration of renewables into global energy systems, reduce carbon intensity of the fossil fuels we do consume, improved efficiency of all things which consume energy, and incentivise the investment into capture and sequestration or re-use of much of the carbon the world produces."

To download the full report, Sustainability Shift - Oil's Future in the Energy Transition, please click here: spglobal.com/sustainability-shift

*the prevalent view that global warming must be limited to 2 degrees Celsius to avoid an onslaught of climate risks and repercussions.

Media Contacts:

Americas: Kathleen Tanzy, + 1 917-331-4607, [email protected]

About S&P Global Platts

At S&P Global Platts, we provide the insights; you make better-informed trading and business decisions with confidence. We're the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. Customers in over 150 countries look to our expertise in news, pricing and analytics to deliver greater transparency and efficiency to markets. S&P Global Platts coverage includes oil and gas, power, petrochemicals, metals, agriculture and shipping.

S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for companies, governments and individuals to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit http://spglobal.com/platts

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The landmark Afghan peace deal has received "tremendous support", President Donald Trump said on Monday in India, ahead of a possible agreement between the US and the Taliban in the war-torn country on February 29.

The US is set to sign a peace deal with the Taliban on Saturday provided that a week-long reduction in violence across the strife-torn country holds, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a recent statement. The Taliban also released a statement confirming the plan to sign a peace deal that day.

"It has received tremendous support," Trump told reporters as he flew on Air Force One from Ahmedabad to Agra, according to CNN.

Trump's remarks came a day after he said Taliban in Afghanistan were "tired" of fighting and wanted to make a peace deal with America.

Just before his departure for India, Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday that the time had come for the US troops to "come home".

"The Taliban has been fighting for decades. We've been over there 19 years. We're like a law enforcement force. We think they want to make a deal; we want to make a deal. I think it's going to work out. We'll see," he said.

"We're, right now, in a period that's been holding up. You know, we have a certain period of nonviolence. It's been holding up. It's a day and a half. So we'll see what happens. But people want to make a deal, and I think the Taliban wants to make a deal too. They're tired of fighting," he said.

Trump's remarks came after the US and the Afghan Taliban started a seven-day partial truce ahead of the possible peace deal to end more than 18-year-long war.

The agreement struck during talks between the US and the Taliban, if maintained, may secure a peace deal that would lead to a withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

The President said he would sign a peace deal with the Taliban if it worked out over the next week.

"I want to see how this period of a week works out. We can do that very quickly. Assuming it works out over the next less than a week, I would put my name on it. It's time to come home. And they want to stop. You know, they've been fighting a long time. They're tough people, we're tough people. But after 19 years, that's a long time," Trump said.

In November, Trump announced the resumption of peace talks with the Taliban, but refused to give a timeline for the drawdown of the US troops from Afghanistan, as he made an unannounced visit to American soldiers stationed in the war-torn country.

After nine rounds of negotiations with the Taliban, Trump announced in September that he was calling the peace talks off after a US service member was killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

The US currently has less than 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, but military officials would not confirm the exact number.

Trump is accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration on his maiden visit to India.

During his visit, the two countries will significantly ramp up bilateral defence and strategic ties.

The nearly 36-hour-long visit by Trump is also set to send across a clear message of growing congruence of interests on major geopolitical developments in the region and beyond, particularly when China has been expanding its military might and economic clout.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Korea raised its alert on the coronavirus to the highest level Sunday after reporting three more deaths and 169 new infections. The country has seen a rapid surge in the number of coronavirus cases since a cluster of infections emerged from a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu. The national toll of 602 cases is now the highest outside China, apart from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. "The COVID-19 incident faces a grave turning point. The next few days will be crucial," said President Moon Jae-in following a government meeting on the virus. "The government will raise the alert level to the highest level of 'grave' according to experts' recommendations and drastically strengthen our response system," Moon said. He also urged officials to take "unprecedented powerful measures" to contain the outbreak. The government ordered all schools and kindergartens nationwide to extend the spring break by a week in an effort to prevent further spread of the virus. On Sunday South Korea reported 169 new cases and three deaths, taking the countrywide toll to five. One of the victims was a patient being treated for mental health issues at a hospital in Cheongdo, a southern city linked to the religious sect where around 100 new cases were reported. Among the latest infections, 95 involved the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the nearby city of Daegu, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. More than 300 cases have been linked to the church, starting with a 61-year-old woman who developed a fever on February 10 and attended at least four services in Daegu before being diagnosed. - 'Biggest victims' - Some 9,300 Shincheonji members in Daegu have either been quarantined or have been asked to stay at home, said KCDC director Jung Eun-kyeong, with more than 1,240 saying they had symptoms. Daegu -- South Korea's fourth-biggest city, with a population of 2.5 million -- reported more than 90 new cases on Sunday, bringing the city's total to 247, mayor Kwon Young-jin said. The mayor asked all Shincheonji members with symptoms to come forward and be tested, with hundreds of members yet to be reached by authorities. Moon described the situation in Daegu and Cheongdo -- the birthplace of Shincheonji's founder Lee Man-hee -- as a "national crisis", adding the cities will receive "full support" for any lacking medical supplies and personnel. Shincheonji, often accused of being a cult, claims its founder has donned the mantle of Jesus Christ and will take 144,000 people with him to heaven on judgement day. But with more church members than available places in heaven, they are said to have to compete for slots and pursue converts. In a video statement read out by its spokesman, Shincheonji apologised for "causing concern", but insisted it was cooperating with health authorities for the "early cessation" of the situation. The spokesman refuted public criticism blaming his church over the spike in the number of infections, noting the virus had broken out in China. "Please be aware that the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and its members are the biggest victims of the COVID-19," he said. - 'Increased caution' - Among the new cases were 18 people recently returned from a group pilgrimage to Israel, the KCDC said. It was unclear how they had been infected, but authorities said one of the victims were likely exposed to the virus before their trip, given Israel has reported only one confirmed COVID-19 case so far. Israel has issued an entry ban on South Koreans and refused to allow non-Israelis to disembark from a Korean Air plane on Saturday. The US State Department on Saturday raised its travel advisory for South Korea, joining a handful of countries bolstering their vigilance after its rapid spike in the number of infections. US citizens were asked to "exercise increased caution" when travelling to South Korea, where "sustained community spread" has been reported. "Sustained community spread means that people in South Korea have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing," the State Department said on its website. Separately, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued an "Alert Level 2" travel health notice, saying "older adults and those with chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel". Britain has also advised its nationals "against all but essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo".


By Jung Min-ho





An infectious disease expert who

to deny entry to all people coming from China to fight the spread of the new coronavirus virus early this month (Feb. 4) said Monday that it may now be too late to prevent a pandemic.





"Unfortunately, it may be a little bit too late because the SARS-CoV2 (which causes COVID-19) has adapted well in Korea and now the main concern is how the government will approach this dire situation and contain it," Hakim Djaballah, former CEO of Institute Pasteur Korea, told The Korea Times. "The Daegu cluster is growing and may spread even further south to Busan and north back to Seoul."





More than 760 people have been confirmed as infected in Korea as of Monday morning, a spike from 16 on Feb. 4. Since emerging in the Chinese city of Wuhan about two months ago, the virus has killed more than 2,400 people and infected nearly 80,000 around the world.





"The measures taken by the government thus far have clearly failed," Djaballah said. "But I still believe that it is time for the government to act by closing the border with China and other countries showing clusters such as Hong Kong and Singapore in the hope of minimizing new virus arriving from there."





At a press conference on Monday, Vice Health Minister Kim Kang-lip said the government would not impose an outright entry ban on all visitors coming from China. The government has restricted those coming from or through China's Hubei Province only since Feb. 2 despite the Korean Medical Association's advice that current measures are insufficient.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 12:15:42|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Here are the latest developments:

-- Chinese health authority said Monday it received reports of 409 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 150 deaths on Sunday from 31 provincial-level regions on the mainland.

Among the deaths, 149 were in Hubei Province and one in Hainan Province, according to the National Health Commission.

Another 620 new suspected cases were reported Sunday, and the overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 77,150 by the end of Sunday, and 2,592 people had died of the disease.

-- China's daily number of newly cured and discharged novel coronavirus patients has surpassed that of new confirmed infections for the sixth consecutive day.

Sunday saw 1,846 people walk out of hospital after recovery, much higher than the number of the same day's new confirmed infections, which was 409.

A total of 24,734 patients infected with the novel coronavirus had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Sunday.

-- The China-World Health Organization joint expert team visited Hubei Province over the weekend to conduct field investigations.

-- Chinese lawmakers on Monday started deliberating a draft decision on thoroughly banning illegal wildlife trade and eliminating the bad habits of eating wild animals to safeguard people's lives and health.

-- The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, said Monday it will release more targeted tax and fee cuts to aid micro, small and medium-sized businesses in tiding over difficulties as they were among the hardest hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak.
A road is seen much less busy than usual in Beijing, China, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Coronavirus Epicenter Wuhan Loosens LockdownThen Reverses It 4 Hours Later

Officials in the coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan on Feb. 24 announced an easing of the central Chinese citys lockdown measuresonly to withdraw the statement less than four hours later.

The Wuhan government announced that the notice had been issued by the transport control working group within the citys new agency to combat the coronavirus outbreakwithout permission from their superiors. Those who issued the notice without approval will be reprimanded, the disease control command said.

The notice would have allowed non-Wuhan residents to leave the city, provided they showed no symptoms and had no contact with patients. It also would have allowed those deemed essential for the citys disease control efforts, such as individuals who deliver supplies, to exit the city. In addition, Wuhan residents who previously had left the city would be allowed to return.

The sudden retraction drew criticism from commentators and netizens who questioned whether such an edict could really have been issued without authorization.

Since Jan. 23, the city has been under extreme lockdown, with roads and transportation closed and all residential blocks under quarantine. However, prior to the lockdown, 5 million out of Wuhans total population of 11 million had already exited the city, mostly for Lunar New Year-related travel.

The Epoch Times previously reported that since the lockdown, roughly 25,000 people have left the city each day, despite the quarantine measures, according to internal documents.

Teng Biao, a U.S.-based Chinese rights activist and legal scholar, questioned the official explanation of the retraction, asking on Twitter, Do you believe it?

Chinese netizens also expressed skepticism. One said, How could such a big decision have been so carelessly done?

Others speculated that the incident may have been a result of internal conflict between the city and central authorities.

Regional and central authorities had a disagreement. The regional policy was overruled by the central government, one such post says.

Hu Xijin, chief editor of the regimes hawkish state-run Global Times newspaper, said in a post on Chinas Twitter-like Weibo: One question: Is the transport working group that brave? Theyd dare to issue a notice under the name of the disease control command without permission?

This is the second time in a week that regional authorities have backtracked on a decision relating to virus control.

On Feb. 21, Hubei provincial authorities said they would add back some cases to its total tally of infections, after subtracting 279 cases as part of a revision to its methodology. A day earlier, the number of confirmed new infections reported by Hubei province dropped dramatically, after the central health authority instructed the province to make the change.

The methodology change meant that only cases detected with genetic tests, rather than with CT scans, would be treated as confirmed cases.

Hubei authorities ordered the cases to be added back to the tally and indicated that whoever had removed them would be held responsible, Tu Yuanchao, a senior official at Hubeis health commission said.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the date of notice issued by Wuhan authorities. The notice was issued on Feb. 24. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump, who came to Wildwood last month to endorse Rep. Jeff Van Drew for re-election, tweeted birthday wishes on Sunday to the party-switching congressman.

The newly minted Republican congressman turned 67 on Sunday.

Jeff Van Drew is a Courageous Leader that left the Do Nothing Democrats to better serve the Great people of New Jersey. HAPPY BIRTHDAY @CongressmanJVD!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2020

Van Drew, elected in 2018 as a Democrat, sat next to Trump in the Oval Office last December and announced he was becoming a Republican.

Fulfilling a pledge he made to Van Drew during that meeting, Trump held a campaign rally in Wildwood Jan. 28, where he called the congressman on stage and praised him as a courageous leader.

The South Jersey lawmaker was one of only two House Democrats to vote against both articles of impeachment against Trump, who later was acquitted by the Senate.

During the debate over impeachment, Trump tweeted out his support of Van Drews opposition.

Congressman Van Drew (D-NJ): Weve spent millions of Dollars, in my opinion, tons of money, tons of time, tons of hurt, fracturing the Nation apart. I havent seen this to be a good thing.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2019

As a Democrat, Van Drew supported Trump 13.1% of the time last year, according to Congressional Quarterlys year-end vote studies. That was fourth-highest among the members of his caucus.

Still, Van Drew bucked Trump on each of the eight highest-profile House bills in the 116th Congress, including requiring presidents to disclose their income tax returns, reducing drug prices, and allowing unauthorized immigrants brought as children to remain in the U.S.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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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.




The Maharashtra government has constituted a five-member committee to study the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act, which enables death penalty for rape and reduces the judgement period in such cases to 21 working days.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Sunday said that the committee has been asked to submit the report by March 30.

"We visited Andhra Pradesh to know about Disha Act (for speedy trial and faster execution in cases of sexual offences against women) and constituted a 5-member committee to know about this act. Till March 30, we have asked for a report from the Committee," he said at a press conference here.

Earlier, Deshmukh had said that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government is also planning to enact the Disha Act which was implemented in Andhra Pradesh.

The Disha Act 2019, allowing stringent punishment for crimes committed against women, introduced by the Government of Andhra Pradesh has been evoking interest among the other states in the country.

Delhi and Odisha have also expressed interest in Act earlier and have sought details from the Andhra Pradesh government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Agriculture Minister B C Patil on Sunday batted for a stringent law to deal with anti-nationals raising anti-India or pro-Pakistan slogans in the country.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Madara Channaiah Guru Peeth here, the minister said, "There is a need for a law to allow authorities to shoot down at sight those who speak ill of India or raise pro-Pakistan slogans. It is such a shame that they live in India, enjoy the best of facilities here and sing paeans for Pakistan. Why should they be here? I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with 'traitors'."
The seawater desalination capacity of GCC countries was expected to grow by at least 37 per cent in the next five years with regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia spearheading the growth with investments worth nearly $100 billion by 2020, said a report released ahead of the second edition of Mena Desalination Projects Conference in Abu Dhabi.



A major industry event, Mena Desalination Projects Conference will run from March 10 to 11 in Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE.



The event boasts more than 400 regional and international stakeholders from government, consulting, contracting and supply chain to highlight the regions national sustainability visions driving the 2030 water agenda.



According to the 'Mena Desalination Market' report by Ventures Onsite, the kingdom is responsible for about one-fifth of global production and leads the world in the volume of desalinated water it produces which makes up 50 per cent of its water consumed.



The country is also the largest desalination market in the world producing around four million cu m of desalinated water per day, and $80 billion is expected to be invested in new projects over the next ten years.



The UAE too is also developing key desalination projects, with the Taweelah plant in Abu Dhabi expected to have a capacity of 909,200 cu m of water per day and will be 44 percent larger than the worlds current largest reverse osmosis plant and will open in Q4 2022.



The Jebel Ali plant complex with a capacity of 150,000 cu m of water per day and will open in Q2 2020, and Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority is building a desalination project with a daily 60 million Imperial gallons (MIGD) capacity by 2022, as it looks to meet rising water demand in the emirate.



According to the report, water scarcity in the Mena region is of a rising concern, particularly as governments are moving away from reliance on traditional water resources to meet population demands, report findings have revealed.



According to the 'Mena Desalination Market' report by Ventures Onsite, the region's investment in the water desalination market has increased substantially - around 48 per cent of global water desalination projects are taking place within the region - and is likely to hit $4.3 billion by 2022.



The report pointed out that the Middle East remained one of the most water-stressed regions in the world, with seawater desalination contributing over 90 per cent of all daily water requirements.



GCC countries have the highest global water desalination capacity of 81 per cent, producing around 40 per cent of the total world water desalination, stated the report released ahead of Mena Desalination Projects Conference.



Commenting on the event, Dr Corrado Sommariva, the CEO of Sustainable Water and Power Consultants, said: "The way the conference haas been structured and the key participants at the event are unique."



"It is a perfect blend of key water sector players that brings together the public sector, the regions vision for the future development, and the industry which has to follow through with innovation and sustainable solutions," he added.



To be officially opened by the Saudi Water Conversion Corporation, the event will feature a two-day exhibition, project showcases, governmental panel discussions and case studies involving project owners and top consultants in the region.-TradeArabia News Service
A $20.6-billion oilsands project with widespread support in Alberta was nixed late Sunday when Teck Resources Ltd. publicly announced it would be pulling the application it had on the table, waiting for federal approval due in a matter of days.

The stunning move to kill the Teck Frontier mine came just hours after the Alberta government signed two agreements to partner with the Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation on the project.

The long-anticipated development in the Alberta energy industry had been expected to create an estimated 7,000 jobs during construction, and 2,500 over its 41-year lifespan.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney raised concerns about national unity in a statement sent out Sunday while he pinned the move by the company partly on federal indecision during the approval process and inaction amid the ongoing rail blockades taking place across the country.

We did our part, he said. But the federal governments inability to convey a clear or unified position let us, and Teck, down.

Letter sent from Teck to the Alberta government View document on Scribd

Kenney said hed look for greater control and autonomy for Alberta within Canada using every tool available.

The company told the federal and provincial governments of its decision over the weekend.

A source close to the process told the Star the company explained it wanted to steer clear of the environmental opposition brewing around the project, and did not want to be in the crosshairs of anti-oilsands sentiment.

We are disappointed to have arrived at this point, Don Lindsay, Teck president and CEO, wrote in a letter to federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, outlining the decision.

Teck put forward a socially and environmentally responsible project that was industry leading and had the potential to create significant economic benefits for Canadians.

I want to make clear that we are not merely shying away from controversy, Lindsay continued. The nature of our business dictates that a vocal minority will almost inevitably oppose specific developments. We are prepared to face that sort of opposition. Frontier, however, has surfaced a broader debate over climate change and Canadas role in addressing it. It is our hope that withdrawing from the process will allow Canadians to shift to a larger and more positive discussion about the path forward.

The project was seen as a potential boost to Albertas beleaguered economy, which has faced low oil prices and job losses over the past several years. But the federal cabinet has been deadlocked over whether to approve the project because it would drive up greenhouse gas emissions at a time when the federal Liberals have committed to reducing them.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Kenney spoke about the decision from Teck on Sunday and a statement from the prime ministers office said they agreed on the importance of Canadas natural resource sector.

They also discussed the ongoing Wetsuweten rail blockades that have been popping up across the country in support of hereditary chiefs opposing a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia, the statement said. The blockades have resulted in widespread disruption in CN Rail and Via Rail services.

Trudeau said last week the blockades must come down.

The rail blockades werent raised by Teck in its letter to the environment minister, but thousands of Canadians have turned out in support of the movement in recent weeks, while others have voiced their displeasure with the blockades and their effects on the economy.

Tecks decision is disappointing, but in light of the events of the last few weeks it is not surprising, Kenney said.

Environmental Defence, an advocacy organization, said in a statement that the move by Teck signals its time the federal government introduces a climate test so projects are aligned with Canadas environmental targets.

Julia Levin, a climate and energy program manager with the group, said the project sparked a divisive debate about the prospects for new fossil fuel infrastructure in a world moving rapidly to tackle climate change.

Now is the time to invest in projects that provide jobs and create clean energy and clean growth, she said.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country will go to war with Gaza if Hamas does not stop rocket attacks in the Gaza Strip.

If you don't shoot them, we will shoot you. I'm talking about a war, he said. I only go to war as a last option but we have prepared something you can't even imagine."

According to CBN News, the Israel Defense Forces closed schools, roads and a railway near Gaza on Monday. The IDF also advised the public to not go to work unless near a bomb shelter.

The attacks started Sunday night as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group launched some 40 rockets and mortar shells at Israelis.

Many of the rockets were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome Missile Defense System. The others landed in open areas. There were no injuries from the rockets, but two Israelis were taken to the hospital for anxiety and injuries sustained while fleeing to a bomb shelter.

The rocket fire started after Israeli soldiers shot and killed a PIJ terrorist who was trying to plant an explosive device on a security fence on Sunday.

Israel Defense Forces retrieved the body and Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said he will keep it with the other bodies of killed Palestinian terrorists. He plans to only release the bodies when terrorists return the bodies of Israeli soldiers who were captured and killed in the 2014 Gaza war.

Hamas is holding the bodies of [fallen soldiers] Hadar Goldin and Oron [Shaul]," he said. "I back the IDF that killed the terrorists and collected the body. This is how we should and will act."

Following the rocket attacks, IDF also struck back at PIJ locations in Syria and Gaza. The PIJ said in a statement that two of its soldiers were killed.

"This cowardly aggression in Damascus was a reflection of the enemy's failure to confront our fighters inside occupied Palestine," the group said, adding that we promise to God that the response to this ugly crime will come.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/John Theodor

Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
Todd McFarlane talks about his first Spawn team book and the culmination of the 'Year of Spawn'

The comic book icon looks back at the 'Year of Spawn' and forward to his first-ever team book The Scorched
On March 9, 2018, Berkeley painter Kevin Keaney opened his inbox to find a message that would be welcomed by most unknown artists.

The email was from a respected art dealer out of Santa Cruz who had been trying to reach Keaney for weeks. Hed purchased several of Keaneys paintings, he wrote, and wanted to talk more about them.

But there was a problem: Keaney had never marketed his work or sold any of it in bulk. Until that moment hed assumed his pieces were safely stowed away in a rented storage unit in San Francisco. It held decades of an artists evolution: from the dreamy, jewel-toned abstracts he created in the late 1990s to the gritty, figurative cityscapes he creates today.

After a phone call with the dealer, Keaney began to piece together a devastating realization: My entire life has just been sold.

Keaney, 57, began renting a storage unit in December 2016. The units owners at Army Street Mini Storage in San Franciscos Dogpatch neighborhood received automatic monthly payments from Keaneys debit card. Keaney vaguely recalls getting something in the mail from them around November 2017, but figured it was just a formality, because the funds were drawn directly from his account.

In hindsight, its easy to see what went wrong. Around that time Keaney had replaced his battered debit card with a new one and didnt think to notify the storage facility of its new number.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Micah Marinero, a front-desk employee at Army Street, said unpaid units are liquidated after three months. Before that happens, he said, Army Street will attempt to call and mail and then call alternative numbers to warn renters that their belongings are facing auction if they dont settle up.

We do everything we can to contact them, Marinero said.

Theres about one auction per month, Marinero said, usually of belongings from a space rented by someone whos died or has too many problems to deal with the situation.

Keaney joined this unenviable list on Feb. 23, 2018, when, unknown to him, a lifetime of his artwork  225 paintings, drawings, prints, collages, journals and sculptures  as well as an extensive library, discography, a surfboard and even love letters from his ex-wife were sold to a stranger.

The very next day, Anthony McNaught was running late to the Santa Cruz flea market. An art dealer in the area with more than 7,000 paintings in stock, McNaught made a habit of perusing the wares there. Many of the vendors catered to dealers, collectors and gallery owners.

As McNaught browsed the booths, he came upon a large trove of oil paintings, mostly abstracts with a vibrant palette, all by the same artist.

You can tell that he works fast, almost feverishly sometimes, and I like that translation of action into the image, McNaught said. On a good day hes a great artist.

The booths vendor, who made a living procuring property at storage and container sales, was already ecstatic. He told McNaught most of his lot had been snapped up by other dealers earlier in the day.

You missed it, McNaught recalled the man telling him. It was a feeding frenzy.

McNaught said he purchased the remaining pieces for a very reasonable price. Later in the day he tracked down some of the other dealers who had brought Keaneys art. But no one had heard of the K. Keaney whod signed the paintings, nor did they know how his body of work found its way to a flea market.

Something about the situation didnt sit right with McNaught. It was possible, he thought, that the artist was dead or had moved on from this body of work. But the series of paintings felt somehow incomplete, he said, and really had the feel of an active artist.

I just wanted to make sure that we were squeaky clean on acquisition, he said. That it wasnt somebodys body of work that they were attached to; that theyd been dispossessed of against their will.

Keaney is the first to admit he has no online presence. Soft-spoken and perhaps modest to a fault, Keaney, who works as a landscaper, said hes been shy about marketing his artwork. Over the years, hes sold some pieces to landscaping clients. Hes always wanted to sell his work, but attributes his resistance issues of self-acceptance thats a part of any artists psyche.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

So when McNaughts assistant, Megan Crane, was tasked with tracking down the mystery artist K. Keaney, it required considerable sleuthing. She managed to identify Keaneys full name after finding an old web page for a pop-up gallery hed created with another artist in 2016 at the Stable Cafe in San Francisco.

That other artist, Carla Caletti, put McNaught in touch with Keaney.

It was after midnight when Keaney first read McNaughts email. He waited until the next morning to begin researching McNaught online. A sense of dread washed over him when he realized the emails author was a legitimate art dealer.

As soon as he told me he had bought some of my art, I knew something bad had happened, Keaney said.

Keaney and McNaught talked over the phone, and Keaney made arrangements to go to Santa Cruz and try to salvage what he could.

McNaught hadnt acquired the work that was most important to Keaney and said he offered the artist what he wanted back for the price hed paid for it. Ultimately, Keaney said, he got back only the love letters and journals from McNaught, who pointed him to the other dealers who purchased his art at the flea market that day.

Overall, Keaney said, McNaught was more than fair about the process, and he remains grateful that McNaught tracked him down. He set out to find the rest of the pieces, particularly those in a new series hed begun.

It was a breakthrough, and these were the first pieces in that leap forward, he said. I had to get them back.

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.

Keaney visited another dealer in the North Bay and explained his situation. The dealer asked for $2,000, which Keaney forked over. But hes had little luck recovering much more.

The guy who bought my lot didnt want to meet me, Keaney said. Hes afraid.

Of the more than 225 pieces of artwork he lost in the auction, Keaney has gotten just eight paintings back.

Its brutal thinking about them, he said.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Seven of Keaneys abstracts and two figurative paintings are still for sale on McNaughts website, 1stdibs.com, listing for $425 to $7,500. It look Keaney a few months before he could even bear to look at them.

In recent interviews over coffee and at his new Berkeley studio, Keaney said hes mostly put the devastating chapter behind him.

I just want to emphasize something  I dont feel like a victim at all, he said. I fed up. And Id been lazy, and this was the consequence of that.

But the experience had an unexpected effect on him, he said. For years, hed been plotting a way to give up his landscaping job and pursue his passion full time.

I had all this art in a black space that I wasnt really sharing with anyone, he said. The way that it was subsequently released from that space ... I mean, a painful learning experience, but truly one that felt like a light bulb.

It also provided a jolt of confidence. Veteran art dealers were fighting over his work. In their conversations, McNaught told Keaney he wouldnt have reached out to him if he didnt think he had so much talent.

Inside Keaneys new studio, a cozy space near the railroad tracks in West Berkeley, splashes of blood red, canary yellow and warm turquoise intersperse with photo collages of San Francisco cityscapes  a rough sort of depiction of urban reality as Keaney calls it.

The studio itself was partly a product of his ordeal, Keaney said. It made him realize he needed a space to nurture his craft and serve as a showroom. In December, he held his first open studio. Hes working on developing an online presence, and is also in touch with a few galleries, hoping to get a show in the next six months.

Ultimately, Keaney said, his loss closed a circle.

I had this experience ... and whatever you want to call it, fate or bad luck, forced me to come to grips with the fact that I was neglecting a really important part of my practice, he said. This is cool, being able to show this work.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
Reuters

By Jan Strupczewski

RIYADH (Reuters) - Failure to reach a global deal on where and how much to tax digital giants like Google, Amazon or Facebook would result in many digital tax regimes emerging all over the world, France's Finance Minister said on Sunday.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a meeting of world financial leaders, Bruno Le Maire said the gathering had been very useful in establishing consensus on such global tax rules.

Finance ministers and central bank governors from the world's 20 biggest economies, the G20, met in Riyadh for talks on global economic issues, with digital taxation topping their two-day agenda.

"For the first tine there is wide consensus among the G20 members on the necessity of having a new international taxation system," Le Maire said.

"We have to address the issue of digital companies making profits in many countries without any physical presence, which means without paying the due level of taxes," he said.

"And we also have to address the key question of minimum taxation and the risk of having a race to the bottom on taxation," he said.

France has already adopted its own digital tax, but suspended it until the end of the year to give the G20 time to work out a global deal to which all countries would subscribe.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the G20's think tank, wants to agree on technical details of such a tax by July and a full agreement among the G20 is expected by the end of the year.

"There is a consensus to build a solution by the end of 2020," Le Maire said, noting the alternative -- no agreement -- would create a proliferation of different tax systems making life more difficult for companies.

"Lets be clear -- either we have at the end of 2020 an international solution... clearly in the interest of all countries and digital companies, or there is no solution and ... then it will be up the national taxes to enter into force," Le Maire said.

"Instead of having one single, simple solution, we would have many different digital taxes, all over the world," he said.

The United States, home to most of the digital giants, has been wary of committing to a solution on taxing them before U.S. presidential elections later this year, and has threatened to slap tariffs on French goods if Paris did not suspend the implementation of the tax.

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Editing by William Maclean)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The crash happened around 2:45 a.m. on the I-95 south ramp headed to eastbound Route 212 in the Laurel area. An initial investigation found that a Honda Civic went off the road, struck a tree and overturned.
Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (R) and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg take a break during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas on February 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign plans to unleash its cash-flush media operation against Bernie Sanders in the wake of the Vermont senator's resounding victory in the Nevada caucuses.

Senior aides to Bloomberg's campaign have been discussing how they are going to use some of their resources against Sanders, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter who declined to be named because these decisions were made in private. Already, the campaign has spent over $500 million on media ad buys, according to Advertising Analytics.

The campaign plans a multipronged attack, including the publication of opposition research on Sanders, these people said. It will also push out digital attack ads focused on Sanders' record. On Monday, the Bloomberg campaign attempted to paint Sanders as a past ally of the National Rifle Association, a gun advocacy group that Bloomberg has fought for over a decade.

The attacks on Sanders, who has accused Bloomberg of trying to buy the Democratic nomination, will also attempt to highlight negative aspects of his record on race relations both as a congressman and senator, the sources said. This comes after Sanders, now seen as the Democratic front-runner, has taken aim at Bloomberg for his support of a policing policy known as stop-and-frisk that often targeted black and Latino people.

People within the Bloomberg campaign are also discussing whether to have surrogates and supporters write op-eds and show up on TV to speak out against Sanders, these people added.

Bloomberg's campaign is sounding the alarm on Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, ahead of Super Tuesday, March 3, when 14 states hold their primaries. Sanders has pulled ahead in state and national polls, while Bloomberg's momentum has stalled somewhat following a poorly reviewed performance in the debate last week.

Bloomberg has yet to take part in a primary and has invested most of his campaign's efforts into capturing delegate rich Super Tuesday states, including the biggest prizes, Texas and California. The campaign has previously acknowledged that Sanders is the biggest threat to capturing the Democratic nomination.

Bloomberg has an estimated net worth of just over $60 billion, giving his self-funded campaign voluminous resources to target President Donald Trump and Sanders. It spent over $220 million in January alone, Federal Election Commission records say.

Some of Bloomberg's attacks have already been initiated by the campaign and it gives hints at what he will likely focus on when he debates Sanders and other rivals in South Carolina on Tuesday.

Bloomberg's team on Monday released a digital spot attacking Sanders' track record on gun safety laws. Many more ads targeting the Vermont lawmaker are expected in the weeks to come. Bloomberg's tech company, Hawkfish, has been responsible for crafting the campaigns digital ads.

A Bloomberg campaign spokesperson did not return a request for comment.

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Dan Kanninen, one of Bloomberg's advisors, told reporters on Monday that the campaign does plan to start focusing its messaging on Sanders' track record when it comes to gun safety. Bloomberg and Sanders have said they will support whoever the Democratic nominee is.

"[President] Trump himself and now the Russians are indicating that Senator Sanders is the candidate they want to run against," Kanninen said. Sanders has said that U.S. intelligence officials briefed him on Russia looking to assist his campaign in becoming the Democratic nominee for president.

In a press release highlighting Bloomberg's new digital ad, the campaign said it is launching a California bus tour while separately deploying national surrogates to highlight the differences between Bloomberg and Sanders when it comes to guns.
London, Feb 24 : Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange revealed the names of sources who subsequently "disappeared" after he put them at risk, a court here has heard.

A lawyer for the US government made the claim at Woolwich Crown Court, in London, on the opening day of Assange's extradition hearing, the BBC reported on Monday.

The court was told the Australian, 48, was guilty of "straightforward" criminality for hacking into and publishing US military databases.

He says it is politically motivated.

Assange's lawyers say he could face up to 175 years in prison in the US if found guilty of one of the world's biggest data breaches, but James Lewis QC, for the US, described this as "hyperbole".

Lewis told the court that Assange was not facing 18 charges for publishing "embarrassing" information the US would rather was not disclosed.

He said that the majority of the charges related to "straightforward criminal" activity, which he described as a "conspiracy to steal from and hack into" the department of defence computer system along with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

"These are ordinary criminal charges and any person, journalist or source who hacks or attempts to gain unauthorised access to a secure system or aids and abets others to do so is guilty of computer misuse," Lewis said.

"Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a licence to break ordinary criminal laws." He said the dissemination of specific classified documents unredacted put dissidents in Afghanistan and Iraq at "risk of serious harm, torture or even death".

The US identified hundreds of "at risk and potentially at risk people" around the world, he said, and made efforts to warn them.

"The US is aware of sources, whose redacted names and other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by Wikileaks, who subsequently disappeared, although the US can't prove at this point that their disappearance was the result of being outed by Wikileaks." Julian Assange's brother and father - arriving at court

Some of his supporters gathered outside the gates of the court and their protests - which included a siren, chanting and singing - could be heard inside the courtroom.

That prompted Assange to address the court before the lunch break, saying: "I'm having difficulty concentrating. All this noise is not helpful either." "I understand and am very grateful of the public support and understand they must be disgusted..." But District Judge Vanessa Baraitser then stopped him from speaking and asked his lawyer to address her instead.

Edward Fitzgerald QC, said: "What Assange is saying is he can't hear and can't concentrate because of the noise outside." The extradition hearing will be adjourned at the end of this week of legal argument and continue with three weeks of evidence scheduled to begin on May 18.

Assange has been held in Belmarsh prison since last September after a judge said there were "substantial grounds" for believing he would abscond ahead of the hearing.

He was jailed for 50 weeks in May 2019 for breaching his bail conditions after going into hiding in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for nearly seven years.

He sought asylum at the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden on a rape allegation that he denied - and the investigation was subsequently dropped.
A crossbow killer has been found guilty of the murder of a pensioner, who was shot in the early hours of Good Friday last year as he adjusted the satellite dish outside his home.

Terence Whall, 39, was convicted of killing Gerald Corrigan, 74, outside his remote farmhouse in Anglesey, north Wales at Mold Crown Court today.

Mr Corrigan never recovered from the horrific injuries caused by the crossbow bolt and died in hospital three weeks later, with Detective Chief Inspector Brian Kearney of North Wales Police describing his killing as a 'barbaric, medieval-style execution'.

Speaking after the verdicts, he added: 'What is clear is that whilst the exact motive is unknown, someone wanted Gerald Corrigan killed.

'This is clear in the wider context that the victim was a source or potential source of grief to local criminality.'

Sports therapist and martial arts expert Whall and co-defendant Gavin Jones, 36, were also convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after Whall's Land Rover Discovery was set on fire.

They are due to be sentenced on Friday.

Jurors were told they may never know why Mr Corrigan was murdered but heard that detectives are still investigating a potential 250,000 fraud committed against him before he was fatally shot.

The pensioner and his partner, Marie Bailey, 64, had previously handed over 250,000 to fraudster Richard Wyn Lewis.

On May 31, Whall and Jones were arrested at the Anglesey home of Mr Lewis, who remains under investigation, following 'a dispute over money'.

Terrence Whall, 39 (left), has been found guilty of the murder of Gerald Corrigan, 74 (right). Mr Corrigan, never recovered from his horrific injuries after being shot with a crossbow outside his home and died in hospital three weeks later

The remote Anglesey home of Gerald Corrigan. He was shot by Whall in the early hours of Good Friday last year

Peter Rouch QC, prosecuting, said Whall's association with Mr Lewis 'may be of significance' but David Elias QC, defending Whall, said there was no evidence linking the two before the shooting.

Whall, a twice-married tai chi instructor from east London, denied ever meeting Mr Corrigan, who died in hospital on May 11.

But the court heard that he hid outside the father-of-two's remote home and waited for him to leave after the Sky signal was interfered with.

The crossbow bolt passed through the pensioner's body, causing serious internal injuries and bruising his heart before shattering a bone in his arm as it left his body.

Whall's movements on the night of the shooting were revealed by the GPS system from his state-of-the-art car, which was found burnt out in a disused quarry on June 3.

Information recovered from Jaguar Land Rover showed the car had been in the area of Mr Corrigan's home, near South Stack, at the time of the shooting and on the previous night, when the prosecution allege Whall was 'scoping out' the property.

Whall initially told police he was at home on the night Mr Corrigan was shot but, when the GPS showed he was not, he said he was in the area because he was having a sexual encounter with friend Barry Williams.

Mr Williams denied the claims.

A high powered Excalibur Micro 355 crossbow that used for test firing and shown during the trial into Mr Corrigan's murder

A crossbow bolt identical to the one used by Terence Whall when he shot Gerald Corrigan outside his remote home in Anglesey

Whall and co-defendant Gavin Jones, 36 (pictured), were also convicted today of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice

Partway through the trial, which lasted more than four weeks, Jones's brother, Darren Jones, 41, and his friend, Martin Roberts, 34, pleaded guilty to the arson of the Land Rover Discovery. They will also be sentenced on Friday.

Detectives are still investigating potential 250,000 fraud against crossbow victim Police are still investigating a potential 250,000 fraud committed against Gerald Corrigan, 74, before he was fatally shot with a crossbow by Terence Whall, 39, on Good Friday last year. The jury at Mold Crown Court heard evidence about Richard Wyn Lewis, described as a 'con artist', who allegedly took 250,000 from the pensioner and his partner Ms Bailey. Mr Lewis remains under investigation for alleged fraud offences, along with two other people. Ms Bailey, 64, told the court the alleged conman had been friends with Mr Corrigan for at least five years, and in 2018 the couple transferred 50,000 to him for the purchase of land, which it later emerged he had not bought. They also made payments totalling 200,000 in cash to Mr Lewis, for work he said would be carried out on Mr Corrigan's mother's house, as well as 7,000 for a horse, which was supposed to be brought over from Ireland but never was. When Mr Corrigan was shot, he told his partner to 'call Wyn', and Ms Bailey initially went to stay with Mr Lewis. She said he told her not to tell police about the money they had given him. The prosecution alleged Whall was connected to Mr Lewis, who has previous convictions for obtaining money by deception and producing cannabis. In his evidence, Whall said of Mr Lewis: 'He is a con artist. He preys on the elderly.' In the week starting May 24, about two weeks after Mr Corrigan died in hospital, Whall made repeated trips to Mr Lewis's house, sometimes in the middle of the night, and placed a tracker on a car being driven by Mr Lewis. On May 31, police were called to Mr Lewis's Anglesey home, and Whall and co-defendant Gavin Jones, convicted by the jury of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, were arrested. Whall told police they went there because Jones had loaned Mr Lewis 12,000 which had not been returned, while Jones said he was owed 2,000 for work he had done. Advertisement

Whall admitted owning a crossbow but told police he had sold it months before the killing and a new one he ordered online was not delivered until after the shooting.

The jury was told he had ordered crossbow bolts and broadheads identical to the one used to shoot Mr Corrigan in the months leading up to the shooting.

A punchbag, with holes in which suggested it had been used for target practice, was seized from the home Whall shared with partner Emma Roberts in Bryngwran, Anglesey.

Mr Corrigan was effectively a carer for Ms Bailey, who had MS, and moved to Anglesey more than 20 years ago after retiring from his job as a lecturer in photography and video in Lancashire.

The two men showed no reaction as the verdicts were returned.

In a statement, Mr Corrigan's partner Ms Bailey said: 'Gerry was my partner in life, my best friend, he meant the world to me.

'Every day I am faced with the reality of no Gerry Corrigan in my life any more. Each day my heart is broken, I feel it breaking again and I can do nothing.

'For Gerry's family and friends I am sorry we have lost him, our lives poorer and somehow empty without him.

'To that sad, twisted broken soul who murdered him, I say if you have an ounce of humanity, any sense of decency then you would tell us now why you have done this.'

She urged anyone who might know why Whall had carried out the murder to come forward.

She added: 'To you, I will say this, I am sorry for you and you have been given what you deserve.'

Mr Corrigan's daughter Fiona said in statement: 'Nothing can prepare you for a 7am telephone call on a bank holiday weekend to tell you your dad has been shot.

'The mental torture of having a loved one in critical care is not something I'd wish on anyone.

'Being given a glimmer of hope just because for that hour, they had stabilised his blood pressure only to have it dashed because of the reality of the situation.

'The injuries caused by a crossbow are not designed just to kill, they are designed to mutilate.

'The particular weapon is designed for hunting to bring down game and that is what my dad became. Prey. We may never know why.'

Miss Corrigan added: 'The reason the news of the shooting was such a shock for us was that he was such a good man.

Martin Roberts (left), who pleaded guilty to arson for setting fire to Terence Whall's Land Rover Discovery. Darren Jones (right) also pleaded guilty to the same offence. Both will be sentenced on Friday

'Just an average bloke enjoying his retirement.

'He enjoyed a lie in, a nice cup of tea and reading books.

Heartbroken family pay tribute to murdered pensioner - and blast his 'twisted, broken' crossbow killer Terence Whale, 39, was convicted today of killing Gerald Corrigan, 74, after shooting him with a crossbow on Good Friday last year. In a statement, Mr Corrigan's partner Marie Bailey, 64, paid tribute to him and slammed his 'twisted' killer. She said: 'Gerry was my partner in life, my best friend, he meant the world to me. 'Every day I am faced with the reality of no Gerry Corrigan in my life any more. Each day my heart is broken, I feel it breaking again and I can do nothing. 'For Gerry's family and friends I am sorry we have lost him, our lives poorer and somehow empty without him. 'To that sad, twisted broken soul who murdered him, I say if you have an ounce of humanity, any sense of decency then you would tell us now why you have done this.' She urged anyone who might know why Whall had carried out the murder to come forward. She added: 'To you, I will say this, I am sorry for you and you have been given what you deserve.' Mr Corrigan's daughter Fiona said in statement: 'Nothing can prepare you for a 7am telephone call on a bank holiday weekend to tell you your dad has been shot. The mental torture of having a loved one in critical care is not something I'd wish on anyone. 'Being given a glimmer of hope just because for that hour, they had stabilised his blood pressure only to have it dashed because of the reality of the situation. 'The injuries caused by a crossbow are not designed just to kill, they are designed to mutilate. 'The particular weapon is designed for hunting to bring down... game and that is what my dad became. Prey. We may never know why.' Miss Corrigan added: 'The reason the news of the shooting was such a shock for us was that he was such a good man. 'Just an average bloke enjoying his retirement. He enjoyed a lie in, a nice cup of tea and reading books. 'He loved Laurel and Hardy films and photographing flowers and mountains. Our lives won't be the same without him.' Advertisement

'He loved Laurel and Hardy films and photographing flowers and mountains.

'Our lives won't be the same without him.'

She thanked doctors, nurses, police and the local community for their help.

At a press conference, Detective Chief Inspector Brian Kearney said: 'Early on Good Friday morning, April 19 last year, Gerald Corrigan was the victim of a barbaric, medieval-style execution in one of the safest parts of the UK.

'Gerald, a pensioner, lived in a tranquil and remote location, with his disabled partner Marie. He was entirely innocent.'

He added: 'Terence Whall believed he had planned and committed the perfect murder. There was no forensic evidence, no direct eye witness evidence to the shooting and in fact no-one saw him going to and from the scene.'

He said the case was solved by those who came forward from the community.

He said: 'In such a cold-blooded killing, I am eternally grateful to all who had the courage to come forward thereby protecting our community.

'The complexity of this enquiry cannot be understated.

'What is clear is that whilst the exact motive is unknown, as outlined by Peter Rouch QC, is that someone wanted Gerald Corrigan killed.

'This is clearly in the wider context that the victim was a source or potential source of grief to local criminality.'

The court also heard that detectives are still investigating a potential 250,000 fraud committed against Mr Corrigan before he was fatally shot.

The jury heard evidence about Richard Wyn Lewis, described as a 'con artist', who allegedly took 250,000 from the pensioner and his partner Ms Bailey.

Mr Lewis remains under investigation for alleged fraud offences, along with two other people.

Ms Bailey, 64, told the court the alleged conman had been friends with Mr Corrigan for at least five years, and in 2018 the couple transferred 50,000 to him for the purchase of land, which it later emerged he had not bought.

They also made payments totalling 200,000 in cash to Mr Lewis, for work he said would be carried out on Mr Corrigan's mother's house, as well as 7,000 for a horse, which was supposed to be brought over from Ireland but never was.

Summing up the case, judge Mrs Justice Jefford said: 'By the end, they had run out of money.'

About two years before Mr Corrigan's death, the court heard, the couple allowed Mr Lewis to grow some cannabis plants in an outbuilding on their property, because Ms Bailey believed the drug helped with her MS.

Mr Corrigan was said to be 'very angry' when he discovered a large-scale cannabis farm, with fans and heaters, had been installed, and he told Mr Lewis to remove it.

Whall (pictured leaving Mold Crown Court in January), a twice-married tai chi instructor from east London, denied ever meeting Mr Corrigan, who died in hospital on May 11. But the court heard that he hid outside the father-of-two's remote home and waited for him

The home of Gerald Corrigan, showing the satellite dish he was trying to fix when he was shot

A GPS system from the Whall's Land Rover Discovery, which was discovered burnt out in a disused quarry last June, showed he had been in the area of Mr Corrigan's home (pictured)

When Mr Corrigan was shot, he told his partner to 'call Wyn', and Ms Bailey initially went to stay with Mr Lewis.

She said he told her not to tell police about the money they had given him.

Police evidence against crossbow killer Terence Whall Ordered various crossbow bolts and hunting broadheads from early March onwards

Practised shooting into a punchbag at close range at his home address

Purchased a high powered crossbow on the 11 of April 2019 intending to use this to kill Gerald Corrigan

Did a reconnaissance trip to the victim's address on the night of April 17.

Concealed his Landrover Discovery near Porthdafarch Beach and in the dead of night, walked the remote coastal path to the victim's address

He then interfered with the victim's Sky Satellite Dish at ground level outside Gerald's home

Having interrupted his Satellite dish, he lay in wait

When Gerald Corrigan tried to mend his Satellite dish, Whall shot him with a high powered crossbow.

The 20 inch crossbow bolt used had a razor sharp hunting attachments, such attachments are used to kill large animals in countries where such hunting is allowed Advertisement

The prosecution alleged Whall was connected to Mr Lewis, who has previous convictions for obtaining money by deception and producing cannabis.

In his evidence, Whall said of Mr Lewis: 'He is a con artist. He preys on the elderly.'

In the week starting May 24, about two weeks after Mr Corrigan died in hospital, Whall made repeated trips to Mr Lewis's house, sometimes in the middle of the night, and placed a tracker on a car being driven by Mr Lewis.

On May 31, police were called to Mr Lewis's Anglesey home, and Whall and co-defendant Gavin Jones, convicted by the jury of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, were arrested.

Whall told police they went there because Jones had loaned Mr Lewis 12,000 which had not been returned, while Jones said he was owed 2,000 for work he had done.

In evidence not heard by the jury, the court was told a handmade garotte was discovered in Whall's car after his arrest, and his internet history showed he had bought piano wire online and searched 'central nervous system neck injury' on Google.

In his closing speech, Peter Rouch QC, prosecuting, said: 'What we do know is, this incident between the three of them revolved around money, money that they, Gavin Jones and Terence Whall, wanted from Wyn Lewis.

'Wyn Lewis, the man who had apparently conned Marie Bailey and Gerald Corrigan out of a large sum of money.'
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PEAK) announced today that Tom Herzog, its CEO, is scheduled to present at Citi's 2020 Global Property CEO Conference in Hollywood, Florida.

The presentation is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. You can access the webcast by clicking here, or by visiting our website at https://ir.healthpeak.com/webcasts.

About Healthpeak Properties

Healthpeak Properties, Inc. is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) and S&P 500 company. Healthpeak owns and develops high-quality real estate in the three private-pay healthcare asset classes of Life Science, Senior Housing and Medical Office, designed to provide stability through the inevitable industry cycles. At Healthpeak, we pair our deep understanding of the healthcare real estate market with a strong vision for long-term growth. For more information regarding Healthpeak, visit www.healthpeak.com.

Contact

Barbat Rodgers

Senior Director  Investor Relations

(949) 407-0400

SOURCE Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

Related Links

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TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Matica Enterprises Inc. (CSE:MMJ) (Frankfurt: 39N) (OTCQB:MMJFF) ("Matica" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, RoyalMax Biotechnology Canada Inc. ("RoyalMax"), has received both the Standard Processing and Sale For Medical Purposes Licences from Health Canada. The standard processing licence will allow RoyalMax to deliver products to the recreational market throughout Canada. With the medical sales licence RoyalMax, will be able to provide product directly to appropriately documented patients who use cannabis for medical purposes.

RoyalMax will immediately initiate its marketing and distribution program to bring high quality Quebec grown cannabis to store shelves. Royal Max currently has over 400 kilograms of internally produced product. Further, RoyalMax will be working with partner growers that want to take advantage of RoyalMax's distribution channels to deliver cannabis and related products to consumers.

Matica CEO Boris Ziger states, "We have hit yet another major milestone in the development of our Company. As this is a big moment for us, I want thank all of our supporters and stakeholders who have stuck with us through this long process. We are a Quebec based company, it is important to demonstrate that Quebec can produce high quality product and to bring it to the rest of Canada."

About Matica

Matica is a multi-faceted, innovative company in the Quebec cannabis space. Its subsidiary, RoyalMax Biotechnology Canada Inc. is a Dorval, Quebec based Health Canada Licence Holder. RoyalMax has been granted a standard cultivation licence, standard processing and medical sales licences by Health Canada. In the township of Hemmingford, Matica is building 1,000,000 square feet of greenhouse growing space, in 200,000 square foot increments, on a sprawling 181 acre property.

For more information on Matica Enterprises please visit the website at: www.maticaenterprises.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

MATICA ENTERPRISES INC.

Boris Ziger

Boris Ziger, CEO & Chairman

The Company's public filings are available for review at www.sedar.com and www.thecse.com.

For further information, please contact Boris Ziger, at:

Telephone: 416-304-9935

E-mail: info@maticaenterprises.com

Website: www.maticaenterprises.com , www.maticammj.com

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Corporation. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Corporation's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

This news release contains statements about the Company's information that may be made available on the S&P Capital IQ Corporation Records Listing Program and the business of Matica that are forward-looking in nature and as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We seek Safe Harbor.

SOURCE: Matica Enterprises Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577510/Matica-Subsidiary-Receives-Sales-Licence
When a Michigan high school student was given a class assignment to write about an issue she felt strongly about, her mind immediately turned to her mothers' sex-same marriage, but she says her teacher told her that could offend her classmates.

Destiney McDermitt, a 17-year-old junior at Hill McCloy High School in Montrose, said she felt her teacher's refusal to let her address the subject struck her as inappropriate and left her deeply offended.

The assignment, given to McDermitt's class earlier this month, entailed composing a speech on a topic that was important to students and taking a stand for or against it, M-Live reported.

Christine Jackson, left, and Angela McDermitt-Jackson , right, sit with their daughter Destiney McDermitt, 17, who was banned from writing about gay marriage for a school paper

Destiney's teacher at Hill McCloy High School in Montrose, Michigan, allegedly told her earlier this month that her topic could offend her classmates

The teacher, who has not been named, allegedly told McDermitt she couldnt write about same-sex marriage because the topic could offend someone in the class, according to McDermitt and other students in the classroom at the time.

McDermitt wanted to ask her classmates if the topic offended them, but the teacher allegedly said no.

According to Destiney's mother Angela McDermitt-Jackson, the teacher further told the 17-year-old that she did not want to read or grade a speech discussing gay marriage.

'So she was denied and discriminated to write a speech on gay marriage because of the teacher's biased opinion,' McDermitt-Jackson told M-Live. 'I find it very offensive and unacceptable that a teacher who teaches our children in our absence...would say something like this to a young child.'

Destiney wrote a complaint letter to school administrators and later transferred to a different class. She has received support from other students.

Christine Jackson and Angela McDermitt-Jackson were married in Illinois months before the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage (seen in a framed picture from their wedding day, right)

Destiney (second left) was so offended she could not write a speech taking a position on same-sex marriage that she wrote a letter of complaint and switched classes

Linden Moore, Montrose Community Schools superintendent, said the district investigated the incident and concluded McDermitts topic was not the only one denied and that the teacher needed to be more clear about the parameters of her assignments.

The teacher also reportedly barred another student from writing about animal cruelty.

'The teacher was thinking smaller and the kids were thinking bigger,' Moore said.

In the description of the 'Take a Stand Speech' assignment, there were no restrictions that applied specifically to same-sex marriage. The only topics banned from being picked were issues written about in another class or 'anything that is awkward or inappropriate for a school audience.' Abortion was listed as an example.

A section of the school policy titled 'Controversial Issues' states the Montrose Board of Education believes that the consideration of controversial issues have a legitimate place in the instruction in schools.

Mom McDermitt-Jackson (pictured with Destiny, left), said the teacher allegedly told the 17-year-old she did not want to read or grade a paper about gay marriage

McDermitts parents, McDermitt-Jackson and Chris Jackson, were married in Illinois months before the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

McDermitt-Jackson was upset to hear her daughter was not allowed to write about the topic.

'Were grown adults. These are our children,' McDermitt-Jackson said. 'We went through issues when we decided to be together, but these are our children. They dont need to be subjected to it.'
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received on Monday the heads of Arab intelligence agencies who participated in the Arab Intelligence Forum held on 22-23 February in Cairo.

Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement on Sunday that President El-Sisi discussed with the attendees the most prominent topics tackled at the forum, focusing on combating terrorism, extremism and organised crime.

Discussions probed into the best practices and methods to effectively confront the threats in a comprehensive manner that takes into account the developmental, social and cultural attributes of the different Arab countries to achieve security and stability.

Rady said that President El-Sisi welcomed the Arab delegations participating in the forum, and emphasised Egypts support to the initiatives that aim to boost cooperation between Arab countries.

The Arab Intelligence Forum was held upon the invitation of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service.

Several meetings were held on the sidelines of the forum addressing the risks and threats facing Arab national security.

Among the threats discussed were the plans for dismantling and partitioning Arab states on the basis of ethnicities and sects, as well as the increased threats of foreign interventions in the regional crises, all of which put the unity and territorial integrity of the Arab states at stake.

The meetings also tackled the coordination of efforts between Arab intelligence agencies participating in the Cairo meetings, and the exchange of experiences.

The meetings also aimed at unifying visions and developing mechanisms to combat terrorism and hinder the practices of the states providing legitimate covers for financing and supporting terrorism.

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A math prodigy from West Virginia who said she "counted everything" as a child - "the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed" - Johnson worked as a schoolteacher before becoming a computer at the NACA's flight research division, based at Langley Research Centre in Hampton, Virginia. The agency was established in 1915 and began hiring white women to work as computers 20 years later. Black computers, assigned mainly to segregated facilities, were first hired during the labour shortage of World War II. Johnson was one of about 100 computers, roughly one-third of whom were black, when she joined the NACA. The movie Hidden Figures took occasional liberties with fact to emphasise the indignities of segregation. Johnson, played by Henson, is forced to run nearly 1 kilometre to reach the "coloured" bathroom. In reality, Johnson said, she used the bathroom closest to her desk. "I did not feel much discrimination, but then that's me," she recalled in a 1992 NASA oral history. When she detected hints of racism, such as when a white colleague stood up to leave as soon as she sat down, she said, she tried not to respond. "I don't wear my feelings on my shoulder. So I got along fine." Johnson, who had a bachelor's degree in mathematics, spent her early career studying data from plane crashes to help devise air safety standards, at a time when the agency's central concern was aviation. Then, in October 1957, the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik thrust the space race into full tilt.

Johnson and dozens of colleagues wrote a 600-page technical report titled Notes on Space Technology outlining the mathematical underpinnings of spaceflight, from rocket propulsion to orbital mechanics and heat protection. One of rocket science's most vexing challenges, they soon realised, was calculating flight trajectories to ensure that astronauts returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the ocean reasonably close to a Navy vessel waiting to pluck them from the water. For astronauts such as Alan Shepard jnr, who became the first American in space when Freedom 7 launched on May 5, 1961, the maths was relatively straightforward. Shepard's craft rose and fell, like a champagne cork, without entering orbit. Calculating the trajectory for an orbital flight, such as the one to be undertaken by Marine pilot John Glenn in 1962, was "orders of magnitude more complicated," Shetterly, the Hidden Figures author, said in an interview.

"I said, 'Let me do it'," Johnson recalled in a 2008 NASA interview. "You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I'll do it backwards and tell you when to take off." Johnson's findings, outlined in a 1960 paper she wrote with engineer Ted Skopinski, enabled engineers to determine exactly when to launch a spacecraft and when to begin its re-entry. The paper, Determination of Azimuth Angle at Burnout for Placing a Satellite Over a Selected Earth Position, marked the first time a woman wrote a technical report in NASA's elite flight research division. "You could work your teeth out, but you didn't get your name on the report," she said in the 1992 oral history, crediting her breakthrough to what she described as an assertive personality. When a superior said that she could not accompany male colleagues to a briefing related to her work, Johnson asked, "Is there a law that says I can't go?" Her boss relented. Johnson's handwritten calculations were said to have been more trusted than those performed by microprocessors. A short time before Glenn launched into space, he asked engineers to "get the girl to check the numbers."

"All the women were called 'the girls'," said Barry, "and everyone knew exactly which girl he was talking about". Johnson, who was then 43, spent a day and a half checking the trajectory calculations made by the IBM computer before giving the go-ahead to Glenn, who became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. In a subsequent report, Johnson took her calculations one step further, working with several colleagues to determine how a spacecraft could move in and out of a planetary body's orbit. Her formulas were crucial to the success of the Apollo lunar program and are still in use today, Barry said. "If we go back to the moon, or to Mars, we'll be using her math." Katherine Coleman was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, then a town of about 800, on August 26, 1918. Her mother was a former teacher. She credited her proclivity for mathematics to her father, a farmer who had worked in the lumber industry and could quickly calculate the number of boards a tree could produce. By 10, Katherine had finished all the coursework offered at her town's two-room schoolhouse. Joined by her mother and her three older siblings, she moved to Institute, a suburb of the state capital, to attend the laboratory school of West Virginia State College while her father remained at home to support the family. Johnson went on to study at West Virginia State, a historically black college, with plans to major in French and English and become a teacher. A mathematics professor - WW Schiefflin Claytor, widely reported to be the third African American to receive a doctorate in maths - persuaded her to change fields.

Johnson later recalled his saying: "You'd make a good research mathematician, and I'm going to see that you're prepared." She had never heard of the position before. "I said, 'Where will I get a job?' And he said, 'That will be your problem.'" After graduating in 1937, at 18, she taught at a segregated elementary school in Marion, Virginia, a town near the North Carolina border. Three years later, she was one of three black students selected to integrate West Virginia University's graduate programs. She dropped out of her master's in mathematics program after one semester to start a family with her husband, James Goble, a chemistry teacher. She later returned to teaching, in West Virginia, before a brother-in-law suggested she apply for a computer position at Langley. Goble died of cancer in 1956. Johnson married James Johnson, an Army artillery officer, three years later. Her death was announced by NASA and additional details were not immediately available. Johnson was invited to move to Houston in the mid-1960s to help establish what is now the Lyndon B Johnson Space Centre, but she declined the offer to maintain her family's ties to the Hampton community, Shetterly said.
In light of the MWC 2020 cancellation Sony had an online event to announce its new flagship. Dubbed Sony Xperia 1 II (reads Xperia One Mark Two) it brings the latest chipset, a revamped camera setup, and 5G support. Alongside it the company also confirmed that it's developing the Xperia Pro, which is meant to serve as a professional tool for video makers.

Sony Xperia 1 II

This years Sony flagship is built around a 6.5 4K HDR OLED panel with the now-familiar 21:9 cinematic ratio. Sony skipped on a high refresh rate screen and chose to implement Motion Blur Reduction instead. It claims to match the benefits of a 90Hz display by analyzing what's on the screen and adjusting individual frames to reduces frame lag.

This time the trio of cameras is positioned on the left side, unlike the initial Xperia 1 that had the setup in the center. The resolutions are unchanged - 12MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP telephoto, but the new setup brings bigger sensors and faster lenses, which for the first time carry the ZEISS branding. The front-facing camera is seemingly unchanged - an 8MP unit sitting in the top bezel.

The top module at the back is the ultrawide angle shooter with a 16mm equivalent focal length and f/2.2 aperture and 1/2.6" sensor with Dual-PD AF.

Then there's the telephoto shooter with 70mm equivalent focal length, f/2.4 OIS lens and 1/3.4 with PD AF in the middle.

The main shooter of the Sony Xperia 1 II has a very big 1/1.7 Exmor sensor with Dual PD AF sensor and OIS. It also has the brightest lens - f/1.7. Sandwiched between the main and telephoto cameras is the 3D iTOF sensor, which should further help with the focusing speed.

Speaking of focusing, the Xperia 1 II comes with the Eye AF from the Xperia 1, only this time it also works on animals. Sony says this is the first smartphone that can do 20fps bursts with AF tracking, which means that all shots in the burst will be in focus.

The Japanese company proudly announced the new cameras are calibrated by ZEISS specifically for the Xperia phone, with ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating that was previously available only in professional lenses. This should mean less ghosting effect when you shoot against a source of light.

The Sony Xperia 1 II runs Android 10 on the Snapdragon 865 compete with the 5G modem that works on Sub 6 GHz networks. It has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS storage.

The phone is rated IP65/IP68 for water and dust protection and has a 4,000 mAh with wireless charging support inside.

The Xperia 1 II comes with stereo speakers that are said to be an improvement over the Xperia 1's and it also brings back the 3.5mm audio jack that was entirely absent on last year's model. There's also a fingerprint sensor on the right side of the phone.

The Xperia 1 II uses plenty of know-how from the other Sony divisions - its camera interface is aligned with the one found on Sony Alpha cameras, and just like the previous phone, it has the Cinema Pro app co-developed with Sonys CineAlta and Alpha divisions that lets you make professional-looking videos, and this time it also has touch focus, unlike the fixed version in the Xperia 5 and Xperia 1.

There is also a new app called Camera Pro that does the same job for images - it provides plenty of controls and color management pre-sets for all kinds of setups. Audiophiles get the 360 Reality Audio Audio hardware decoding to optimize sound quality when listening to music on Tidal.

The Sony Xperia 1 Mk II is coming in Black and Purple in Europe, shipping with Android 10 from late Spring 2020. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.

Sony Xperia Pro

Sony says the Xperia Pro is a professional solution rather than phone it expects to sell in an electronics shop close to you.

It still in development, which means that its full specs sheet isn't confirmed yet. What we know is the Pro shares the display and camera setup with the 1 mark II. It will come with an HDMI port and seamless integration with Sony Alpha cameras that can use it as a viewfinder and then leverage its 5G connection to act as a broadcasting device. A customizable shortcut key on its side will let you launch any app in an instant.

The Pro will double the storage to 512GB and feature a sturdier body - its back is inspired by the Alpha cameras and should provide excellent grip.

The Xperia Pro has a unique 4-way 5G mmWave antenna arrangement, meaning, in theory, it could broadcast with speeds that can reach 5 Gbps or faster, provided the phone has a clear sight to a 5G antenna (which is the main downside of the mmWave technology).

Currently, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are implementing mmWave networks in the States, while only Sprint relies on the Sub6 spectrum. That is probably why the Xperia Pro wont be offered in Europe. Further details about its release and pricing will follow.
Rixos Hotels, one of the fastest growing, all-inclusive resort companies, will be participating in the worlds largest tourism trade fair, ITB Berlin, from March 4-8 at the exhibition grounds of Messe Berlin in Germany.



ITB Berlin acts as the best launching pad for Rixos Hotels to unveil their upcoming openings in Hurghada for Premium Magawish and Makadi Bay.



With Rixos Premium Seagate and Rixos Sharm El Sheikh establishing a strong brand name in the country, the group of hotels will be celebrating their successful 20 years of hospitality services in their own stand number 102 at the 4.2.A hall in cheer for the remarkable milestone.



Erkan Yildrim, the managing director of Rixos Hotels Egypt, commented: We have been participating in numerous trade fairs and in the celebration of our 20 flourishing years in the hospitality industry, we aim it to be very momentous. Having our very own stand in this prestigious trade fair can broaden and create new connections and learn the latest trends in this industry to ensure that it is aligned with what we are providing to our valuable guests." - TradeArabia News Service
Cancer June 22-July 22 Whether you like to be a chameleon or stick to your usual look today youll enjoy altering your image, especially if you've felt a little stale. Stylish Venus will inspire you to play with your look. The ensuing confidence boost will be worth the shopping splurge. Meanwhile, this is the perfect time to join an elite club or garner publicity. Give children or partners freedom of expression. Leo July 23-August 22

As a motivated, wilful Leo youre used to calling the shots and making it all happen, but try not to dig your heels in. Today and over the next few weeks developments may be out of your hands, but if you compromise outcomes will be better than expected and relationships will strengthen. Relinquish control and go with the flow. Virgo August 23-September 22 Lady Luck, or rather, Venus, shines on your sector of windfalls. This placement is known for financial boosts from external forces, perhaps via a partners pay rise, an inheritance of sorts, even a lottery win. This is also your area associated with intimacy, so you can expect tender, sensual moments. Accept favours and gifts with good grace. Libra

September 23-October 22 Questions surrounding the way youve structured family life may prompt you to revisit your roots and reflect on the events that created your emotional conditioning. If youve been over-parenting its a good idea to pull back. On a more environmental note, repairs, renovations and lagging household projects will come together. Listening is the key to domestic bliss. Scorpio October 23  November 22 Born with immense resilience, stamina and stubbornness, Scorpios have a mind over matter attitude. However, running on empty will catch up with you, especially if youre going through a stressful period. Pace yourself! Yoga, breath-work and whatever form of exercise you find enjoyable will make you centred, calm and productive. And pay attention to dreams and funny feelings.

Sagittarius November 23-December 20 Flexibility is the key to success. Exploring other options rather than stubbornly clinging to the original plan or idea will bring pleasantly surprising outcomes. This is also a great time to collaborate, network and simply mingle especially beyond your usual circle. Meanwhile, those with children will experience an important breakthrough. Also, be clear with your words and intentions. Capricorn December 21-January 19

Today you may find it difficult to strike a balance between your public and private life. With Venus in your home sector and a multitude of other planets including Mars and Jupiter in your sign you will feel pulled in two different directions. Making your mark neednt be at your familys expense. You can find a way to have it all. Aquarius January 20-February 18 Aquarians are known for their love of novelty. However, immersing yourself in the company of old friends and lifes simple pleasures will be far more appealing. Meanwhile, you may be forced to compromise on a project, but not your principles. Remain open to other possibilities and listen to peoples ideas. Step off the sidelines and get involved. Pisces
PHOENIX, AZ, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- SinglePoint Inc. (OTC: SING) CFO Corey Lambrecht featured on Cleantech and Climate Change Podcast overviewing the overall company direction. Direct Solar America has announced the unaudited numbers for 2019 in which the entity achieved over $2,000,000 in just six months of operations. Lambrecht goes on to discuss his background and the opportunity to scale an asset-lite business to a national market.

The following podcast can be listened to at this link - Link To Audio File

For a full transcript of the podcast please visit - https://www.singlepoint.com/news-events/news/singlepoint-inc-cfo-featured-in-cleantech-and-climate-change-podcast/

About SinglePoint, Inc.

Founded in 2011 SinglePoint, Inc. (SING) invests in and acquires brands and companies that will benefit from injection of growth capital and the sales and marketing expertise of SinglePoint. The company portfolio currently includes solar, hemp and technology applications. SinglePoint is working to grow the company to a multinational brand.

Connect on social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/SinglePointMobile

https://twitter.com/_SinglePoint

https://www.linkedin.com/company/singlepoint

https://www.youtube.com/user/SinglePointMobile

For more information visit: www.SinglePoint.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

KEYWORDS: Solar, Solar Panels, Solar Stocks, Solar Companies

Corporate Communication

SinglePoint Inc.

888-OTC-SING

investors@singlepoint.com

www.singlepoint.com
Medical staff members treat a patient infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on Feb. 16, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Researchers: Woman Who Showed No Symptoms of Coronavirus Proves That Prevention Will Be Challenging

A new study by Chinese researchers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has provided fresh evidence that the coronavirus disease, dubbed COVID-19, can be spread asymptomatically, suggesting that preventing the virus may prove to be a challenge.

The study, published on Feb. 21, confirmed that a 20-year-old woman from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the disease first broke out, traveled 400 miles north to Anyang City in January, where she infected five members of her family.

A scan of her chest by doctors showed no significant abnormalities, and her first coronavirus diagnostic result was negative. However, her second test came back positive, despite her displaying no symptoms whatsoever.

Meanwhile, five of the womans family members developed moderate COVID-19, and two developed severe pneumonia, according to Dr. Meiyun Wang of the Peoples Hospital of Zhengzhou University and colleagues who conducted the study.

Researchers noted that a previous study published in the Lancet medical journal in January reported an asymptomatic 10-year-old boy but said that abnormalities on chest CT [scan] at least hinted that he might have the virus.

The boy and five family members traveled to Wuhan from Shenzhen City in southern China, between Dec 29, 2019 and Jan 4, 2020.

While his parents and grandparents fell ill and were treated after they returned to their hometown, the 10-year-old displayed no symptoms and was only diagnosed with the virus after a CAT scan of his lungs revealed he had radiological ground-glass lung opacities, a term used to describe an area of increased attenuation in the lung.

If the findings in this report of presumed transmission by an asymptomatic carrier are replicated, the prevention of COVID-19 infection would prove challenging, the researchers wrote, adding that the mechanism by which asymptomatic carriers could acquire and transmit the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 requires further study.

Earlier this month, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CNN that the number of asymptomatic transmission cases of the novel coronavirus has been increasing.

What we dont know though is how much of the asymptomatic cases are driving transmission. What Ive learned in the last two weeks is that the spectrum of this illness is much broader than was originally presented. Theres much more asymptomatic illness, Redfield said.

A number of the confirmed cases that we confirmed actually just presented with a little sore throat, he added.

Over two thousand people have died from the virus, mostly in China, with over 60,00 infected. But experts and eyewitness accounts have indicated that the true number of cases and deaths in China is far greater than officially reported.
A Home Office minister today conceded that Priti Patel is a demanding boss but insisted she is innocent of charges of bullying.

James Brokenshire also denied a report that the Security Service, MI5, do not trust Ms Patel and have been limiting the amount of secret intelligence they show to her.

Ms Patel has been the subject of a string of leaks about her clashing with civil servants and creating an atmosphere of fear, including that she tried to remove the permanent secretary at the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam.

Mr Brokenshire, the security minister, described the reports as absolute nonsense and said there was huge frustration about the false assertions that have been made publicly.

Asked by Sky News if she was a bully, he said: She is demanding, but in that role you have to be because you are dealing with some of the most sensitive, some of the most challenging things that you have to deal with across government. I think the Home Secretary is absolutely focused on the public good, the agenda that weve set around policing, on immigration and indeed around counter-terrorism and security.

Ms Patel and Sir Philip fired off a heavyweight denial of the allegation that MI5 did not trust her, an accusation seen as very serious because it suggested she was unable to do her job properly. Ms Patels allies said she was demanding a leak inquiry.

Priti Patel in profile: The Home Secretary at the centre of a Westminster storm

A Home Office spokesman said: The Home Secretary and permanent secretary are deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media.

A Government spokesman responded to the MI5 allegation by saying: The Home Secretary and MI5 have a strong and close working relationship, and baseless claims to the contrary are both wrong and against the public interest.

The Home Secretary receives the same daily intelligence briefings as her predecessors, and no information is being withheld.

It is not clear if Ms Patels request for a leak inquiry will be agreed to by the Cabinet Offices director-general of propriety and ethics, Helen MacNamara. Cabinet Office sources say no request had been made so far to Ms MacNamara.

Former Tory Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers claimed there was an element of misogyny in the briefings against Ms Patel, telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Im sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office. It happens again and again and I dont believe these allegations against Priti Patel.
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When Vietnamese blogger Tran Thi Nga was arrested by authorities on January 21, 2017, she did not know at the time it would likely be the last time she would ever be in her home in northern Ha Nam province.

Nga, who covered issues ranging from human rights abuses to police brutality to environmental conflicts on her blog Thuy Nga and two YouTube channels, was recently given early release after serving nearly three years of a nine-year sentence on anti-state charges related to her journalism.

The cruel catch: ruling Communist Party authorities required her to leave Vietnam immediately for a life in exile in the U.S., where she now lives with her husband and two children.

Her release in January is the latest in a rising and troubling trend of U.S. State Department-negotiated freedom-for-exile releases in Vietnam, where jailed journalists and other political prisoners are forced to leave their homes behind, often after suffering extreme abuse in prison, where some are violently coerced into admitting to anti-state crimes.

As well as being exiled from her home country, Nga lost access to her social media accounts. Authorities shut down her main YouTube account at the time of her arrest and prosecutors used videos posted to the channel as evidence to convict her of anti-state crimes. She also lost access to her Thuy Nga Facebook account, which had over 20,000 followers at the time of her arrest, Nga said. She added that she asked Facebook to restore access to the page, but has not yet received a reply.

In an email interview with CPJ, Nga elaborated on adjusting to life in Atlanta, Georgia, and the abuse she suffered in jail in retaliation for her journalism.

[This blog has been edited for length and clarity]

Your early release from prison was predicated on the condition that you immediately leave Vietnam for exile in the U.S. What are your thoughts on exile-for-freedom?

It was painful for me. The Vietnamese government is cruel. They locked me up in jail, beat me, tortured me. All because I used Facebook, YouTube, and my blog to tell the truth about human rights, to protect the environment and help people in distress.

Because of this, the Vietnamese government charged me with crimes against the state and handed me a nine-year sentence. In Vietnam there are many political prisoners. The government uses political prisoners as a trade item with Western governments by forcing us into exile. That is a crime.

How hard a decision was it for you to leave your homeland?

For the future of my children and to protect my health and my life, I must choose to live in exile. Yes, that was a very difficult decision for me.

Do you think international advocacy group pressure like CPJs influenced the governments decision?

International human rights defenders, civil society organizations and groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists all put advocacy pressure on the Vietnamese government. That is why they released me and forced me into exile.

How are you and your family adjusting to life in the U.S. and what are your plans?

A good future always lies ahead and since my family came to America we have received a lot of help from the Vietnamese community in the U.S. So getting along with our new life is easier.

But I will still spend the first six months to restore my mental health, learn new knowledge and take care of my children. Only when you have health, spirit and knowledge then you can do what you want. Thats my life philosophy.

Can you elaborate on your time in prison?

I endured so much. They tortured me so that I would plead guilty to the crimes of which they accused me, but I wouldnt do it. Police used guns to intimidate me, they used batons to beat me.

They forcibly made me take off my clothes and then used violence, which they recorded on camcorders. They used violence to force me to put my fingerprints on to documents they claimed was evidence that I admitted the accusations against me.

They didnt let me see my children. They isolated me in prison and locked me in solitary confinement. They didnt allow me to buy food. They ordered other inmates to beat me and even threatened to kill me because I would not plead guilty to their accusations.

Do you think that the abuse legally constituted torture?

Yes, it was torture.

[EDITORS NOTE: The Ministry of Public Security, which is responsible for Vietnams police and prison system, did not respond to CPJs emailed request for comment on the torture allegations in this interview]

Did authorities threaten or harass your family while you were in detention?

Yes, it happened continuously. Before I was arrested by the police until my family and I came to America.

Do you think you were singled out for abuse and retaliation in prison because of your reporting as an independent blogger?

I think certainly. Vietnams Communist Party government holds many independent journalists in jail. And all of them are mistreated in prison.

Since November 2013, Vietnam has been a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Do you think the U.N. should sanction Vietnam for breaking this commitment in its prison system?

Vietnam may have signed the United Nations Convention Against Torture, but the reality is that communist authorities continue to use violence and to torture both the body and spirit of prisoners, including dissidents and people who fight for democracy and human rights.

They are frequently beaten by communist authorities and deprived of their fundamental freedoms.

The U.S. is drawing closer to Vietnam as a diplomatic, economic and security ally. What is your message to the administration of President Donald Trump about strengthening engagement without requiring Vietnam to uphold basic rights and liberties, including press freedom?

I think the U.S. government should take strong measures requiring the Vietnamese government to comply with the international conventions it has signed, including the Convention Against Torture, but does not uphold.

The Vietnamese people are being deprived of their most basic human rights, including freedom of expression and press freedom. That should be a factor in how the U.S. deals with Vietnam.

[Reporting from Bangkok]
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Market Definition:

Anhydrite is an evaporite mineral with the chemical formula of CaSO 4 . During extensive layered deposits, it occurs in the sedimentary basins, wherein sea water of huge volume is evaporated. Market Research Future (MRFR) mentions through a report that the global anhydrite market is expected to increase significantly during the ongoing assessment period between 2017 and 2023.

Market Scenario and Growth Factors:

MRFR identifies numerous factors as key drivers of the global market of anhydrite. Anhydrite is considered to be a potential alternative of gypsum, a soft sulfate mineral, because of its wide-ranging properties. Its effective usage as a neutralizer for polluted soil for the prevention of pollution is a highly influencing factor behind its use over gypsum. Anhydrite is extensively used in the construction industry for the production of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, aka AAC. This acts as a major factor driving the growth of the global market in the coming years. Its listing as a fertilizer, wherein it enriches the mineral level of calcium and sulfate when used is another important factor behind the growth of the global market. Anhydrite is even used as a drying agent in paint, varnish, and plaster. This is expected to also fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Market Segmentation:

The global Anhydrite Market Share segmentation is divided in terms of type and application.

By type, the market segments into synthetic and natural types. The synthetic anhydrite type is primarily used in buildings and construction materials. It is a raw material that holds requisite importance for the production of plasters, cement, and flooring.

By application, the market comprises industrial applications, soil treatment, construction, drying agents, and others. The soil treatment segment holds more than 35% of the market share, thereby standing out as the leader in this market category. Furthermore, it is expected to grow further and hold onto its dominant position in the forthcoming years due to the lack of agricultural land and increasing consumption of food.

Regional Analysis:

The geographical segmentation of the anhydrite market covers major regions globally, namely Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, North America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The Asia Pacific region accounts for the largest share in the global market as per the last study in 2016 and is expected to grow massively in the forthcoming years as well. The growth of the region is centered around the rapidly growing urbanization as well as industrialization in major countries like India, China, and others.

North America stands in second position in terms of market share in the global standings as per the 2016 report. The region is expected to grow positively in the near future due to the increasing use of fertilizers for the production of crop in the US. The reestablishing construction sector in this region is further expected to drive the growth of the market in the forthcoming years.

Europe is another key region in the global landscape and is anticipated to witness considerable growth and expansion in the coming years. This is due to the proliferating demand from the building and construction sector for concrete, particularly in Western European countries.

The growth of the Latin American regional market can be owed to Brazil and Argentina, which are two of the major exporters of fertilizers therein. Lastly, the Middle Eastern and African region is expected to garner decent growth during the forecast period due to the presence of an infrastructural hub in the GCC countries.
The Vice President will be in town on Tuesday.

Vice President Mike Pence will visit Troy to host a Keep America Great rally at the Detroit Marriott Troy, 200 W. Big Beaver Rd. Doors open to the general public at 3 p.m., and close at 4:30 p.m., for the 5 p.m. event.

The Oakland County stop is part of a two-stop Michigan bus tour that begins with a visit to Lansing Tuesday morning. While there, Pence will deliver remarks at the annual Michigan Farm Bureau Lansing Legislative Seminar, which is attended by stakeholders, farmers, and legislative leaders to discuss policy and issues affecting agriculture and

Pences visit comes two weeks before the states presidential primary on Tuesday, March 10, and with early-voting in full-swing. Hes visited Michigan multiple times during the current election cycle including stops in Saginaw, Portage, and Holland in December.

Although President Trump won Michigan in 2016 by a 10,704-vote margin, hes currently trailing all of the Democratic presidential candidates in head-to-head general election matchups, according to a battleground state poll conducted by The University of Wisconsin-Madison Feb. 11-20. Sen. Bernie Sanders has the largest lead (seven-percentage points).

On Monday, The Michigan Democratic Party, on behalf of Rural caucus co-chairs Cathy Albro and Mark Ludwig, released a statement that Trump and Pence have been a disaster for Michigan farmers, breaking promise after promise to us as they launched erratic trade wars and threatened our livelihood.

While Donald Trump tells farmers theyre over the hump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue mocks farmers as whiners, we see the reality: farm bankruptcies are at great recession highs, health care costs are soaring, and the economy only works for the rich and well-connected, read the statement in part.

Laura Cox, chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, said the Trump Administration is working overtime for Michigan.

Under the leadership of President Trump and Vice President Pence, Michiganders keep notching countless victories as a result of an America First agenda, she said. I look forward to welcoming Vice President Pence back to Michigan, and laying the groundwork to four more years of winning!

In 2016, Oakland County voters chose Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton over Trump by eight percentage points or a 53,867-vote margin, according to the Oakland County Elections Division. Although Sanders defeated Clinton during Michigans March primary, he lost to Clinton in Oakland County by nearly 8,000 votes.

In January, Trump held a rally in Warren at Dana Manufacturing Inc., an automotive supplier, one day following his signing of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). It was the presidents second visit to Michigan in a six-week span after holding a re-election Christmas rally in Battle Creek in December.

Since 2017, Pence has visited Michigan 12 times, including five stops in Oakland County (Bloomfield Hills, Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Rochester, and Waterford Township). Trump has visited the Great Lakes State five times since taking office (Ypsilanti, Washington Township, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Warren).
The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal will meet in Vienna on Wednesday, the EU's diplomatic service announced, after Britain, France and Germany launched a dispute process.

The meeting comes as the European parties try to find a way to persuade Iran to come back into line with the deal after Tehran made a series of steps away in protest at the US pulling out and reimposing sanctions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Pharma E-commerce Market 2020-2024

The analyst has been monitoring the global pharma e-commerce market and it is poised to grow by USD 10.69 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 14% during the forecast period. Our reports on global pharma e-commerce market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05377525/?utm_source=PRN



The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current europe market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by availability of internet providing convenience to consumers.In addition, availability of multiple payment options is anticipated to boost the growth of the global pharma e-commerce market as well.



Market Segmentation

The global pharma e-commerce market is segmented as below:



Product:

Rx

OTC



Geographic Segmentation:

UK

Germany

Rest Of Europe



Key Trends for global pharma e-commerce market growth

This study identifies availability of multiple payment options as the prime reasons driving the global pharma e-commerce market growth during the next few years.



Prominent vendors in global pharma e-commerce market

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global pharma e-commerce market , including some of the vendors such as apo-rot BV, Euro Apotheke K. Talu eK, Mail.Ru Group, McKesson Corp., myCARE e.K., ROSSMANN, SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE N.V., UK Meds Direct Ltd., Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Zur Rose Group AG .

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05377525/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

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Bengaluru: Wanted gangster Ravi Pujari, who was arrested in South Africa was brought to India on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. Pujari wanted in India for over 200 cases of serious crime including murder and extortion was brought to India by a team of senior officials and arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport here.

He will be produced in court on Monday, Additional Director-General of Police (ADGAP) Amar Kumar Pandey told reporters here.

Pujari was extradited from Senegal on February 22 pursuant to an extradition request made by India in early 2019. "He is physically fit. Questioning will begin from tomorrow. First, we have to take him to the magistrate. He will be produced before the court tomorrow. He is supporting our investigation and answering questions," Pandey said.

Pujari, who parted ways with underworld don Chhota Rajan had jumped bail after he was arrested in Senegal in 2019 and had escaped to South Africa, where he was involved in drug trafficking and extortion.

According to the sources in Indian intelligence, Ravi Pujari was hiding with a false identity of Anthony Fernandes, a Burkina Faso passport holder, in a remote village in South Africa.
Cult mom Lori Vallow's new husband Chad Daybell cashed in $430,000 after his previous wife died in mysterious circumstances, two weeks before he married Vallow in Hawaii.

Vallow has been charged with desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. She is currently in custody in Kauai, fighting extradition to Idaho where police want to know where her children JJ, seven, and Tylee, 17, are.

The kids have not been seen since late September and there are grave concerns for their well-being but Vallow is refusing to answer questions on their whereabouts.

In a probable cause affidavit for Vallow's arrest and why she should be denied bail, Detective Ron Ball said she and her new husband have significant 'resources' as a result of his first wife's death.

'Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell have significant financial resources.

Lori Vallow in court in Hawaii on Friday (left) and her husband Chad Daybell supporting her (right)

Chad and Tammy Daybell were married for 23 years before she died mysteriously in October. Her body has been exhumed but the results of that autopsy have not yet been released

'I am aware that Chad Daybell received at least $430,000 in life insurance proceeds upon the death of his wife Tammy.

'As such Lori and Chad have resources sufficient to help them travel and hide from law enforcement and the court,' he said.

Daybell's wife Tammy died in mysterious circumstances in October - two weeks before he married Vallow in a beach ceremony. At first, it was ruled that she had died of natural causes.

But as suspicion encroached on Daybell and Vallow, authorities in Idaho decided to exhume Tammy's body to perform more tests.

The results of that autopsy have not yet been released.

Lori failed to comply with a court order to produce her children before authorities on January 30 in Madison County. Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 17, were last seen in Idaho in September in Rexburg, Idaho and authorities are still searching for them

Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow (pictured together) was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 11, 2019

Retired FBI agent explains the case against Lori Vallow Retired FBI agent Frank Montoya Jr Frank Montoya Jr, who retired from the FBI in 2016 after serving since 1991, explained to DailyMail.com on Friday morning that the authorities in Idaho had been forced to hold off until there was any evidence of a crime which, in Vallow's case, there has not been, because both children remain completely unaccounted for. 'What's frustrating is the kids are missing. 'When the parent herself is not cooperating.. it isn't enough to arrest them. 'What's the charge? If it's just child endangerment and she refuses to talk, how do you prove the children have been harmed or more tragically if they're dead? You can't. 'A judge and jury have no choice but to say there's no evidence to hold her in cases like this you'll hugely dependent,' he said. Montoya went on to explain what will likely happen now to Vallow. He also speculated over the various strands of investigation the police in Idaho now have to look at. 'It's a combination of things that the kids are still missing and the fact she's in Hawaii and they want to talk to her in Idaho. She can either waive or contest - if she contests it then there'll be a hearing, Idaho authorities will present their case. There's little chance that the judge won't extradite. '[But] there's a number of things they're working through here; the death of her husband, Daybell's former wife, for instance. They're exhuming her body to perform an autopsy. Lori in her mugshot on Thursday 'He has not been arrested, interestingly. Will he accompany her to Idaho or stay in Hawaii or move on?' He added that she likely will not be quizzed over the whereabouts of Lori and JJ until she is back in Idaho and that even then, police may want to hold her in a cell for as long as possible to try to break any resolve she may have. 'They'll attempt to talk to her - of course she can invoke her right to silence. 'They have leverage - even though there's a lot of craziness, suspicious behavior and strange stuff, this is not a hardened criminal. She's never spent a few nights in jail. 'What's the prospect of going to jail for 10-14 years. It remains to be seen whether she will cooperate. 'After spending time in a jail in Kauai, they want to maybe bring her to Idaho and let her sit in an Idaho jail. 'My guess is that they'll wait until they gather back to Idaho,' he said. He added it will likely not emerge what has happened until her arrest warrant is unsealed. 'This is just another step - this is just another step,' he said. Another theory he says police may have been worried about is that Vallow and Daybell were obsessed with the Doomsday culture and resurrection. 'The backup in all this is her peculiar ways... there's a bit of a time crunch. 'People like this - what exactly is their intent? Part of these end of the world scenarios is that everyone gets resurrected. Are her kids the test case of that? Until she starts talking who knows... maybe this is the step to get her to start talking,' he said. Advertisement

It has also emerged that Lori had both Tylee and JJ's birth certificates with her along with Tylee's bank card and JJ's iPad when police searched their car.

Lori also had her teenage daughter's cell phone with her.

Tammy and Chad had been married for more than 20 years before she died suddenly.

Lori's brother Alex Cox died under mysterious circumstances on December 12

According to relatives of Lori's, she had become fascinated with his religious books about his near death experiences.

Some say the pair were fascinated with the end of the world.

Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow, was shot dead by her brother in July.

Charles had a life insurance policy too which would have given Lori $1million if he hadn't changed the beneficiary to his sister before his death.

When Lori learned she would not get the money, she sent an angry text to the sister about it.

In November - after the kids disappeared and both their ex-partners had died - Lori and Chad got married.

The following month, the brother of hers who had killed her estranged husband died in similarly mysterious circumstances to Chad's wife.

Timeline of JJ and Tylee's disappearance July 11: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, is killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona August: Lori moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho September 23: The last time JJ was seen at his school in Idaho October 19: Chad Daybell's wife Tammy dies at their Idaho home October 25: A friend of Tylee receives a text from her phone November 5: Lori and Chad marry November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ. Lori and Chad claim he is in Arizona with relatives. Police also learn Tylee has not been seen since September, either November 27: Police execute a search warrant at Lori and Chad's home, discovering the couple have fled Idaho December 11: Tammy Daybell's body is exhumed from the Utah cemetery December 12: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, believed to have died in Arizona December 21: Police issue a press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing they believe their disappearance is linked to Tammy's death December 24: Lori and Chad issue a statement through an attorney saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor' December 30: Police accuse Lori and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them January 26: Lori and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve two search warrants in Kaua'i January 30 Lori misses court deadline to produce the children to authorities February 21: Lori is arrested in Kauai Advertisement

Since Lori's arrest, it has been claimed that her niece knows where Tylee and JJ are but that she is refusing to tell anyone.

Melani Pawlowski was tied to the kids' disappearance when her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, claimed that she'd followed her aunt into a dangerous doomsday cult and suggested their radical religious beliefs played a role in the case.

Brandon and Melani have been embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their four young kids since the mother suddenly filed for divorce over the summer.

In a new court filing, Brandon states: 'Melani is involved in a cult where numerous members, adults and children alike have been being killed off like flies.

He further alleges that his ex-wife knows where JJ and Tylee are but is refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

'Melani's knowledge of the whereabouts of her aunt's two missing children and her unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement is daunting,' the filing obtained by FOX10 states.

It also claims that Melani's current husband Ian Pawlowski, whom she married on November 30, had told law enforcement that she 'says sometimes children are full of light and then just like that they go dark'.

Brandon has long held that Lori's alleged cult ties were linked to the disappearance of her children and the three deaths, as well as an attempt on his own life last fall.

He was targeted in a drive-by shooting on October 2, just as he arrived home from the gym in Gilbert, Arizona.

Brandon told investigators he saw a rifle with a silencer emerge from the backseat of a 2018 Wrangler Jeep seconds before a bullet shattered the driver's side window of his Tesla, missing his head by inches.

Police later determined that the Jeep was registered to Charles Vallow, Lori's former husband who was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in July.

The new court filing states: 'Brandon believed Melani, his wife at the time, had a million dollars of reasons to have him killed ... hoping to cash in on the policy to help support the cult that she is believed to be a part of.

'Melani left Arizona almost immediately after the attempt on his life, leaving without a trace and leaving her children behind.'

The filing was in response to a recent petition Melani filed to amend their custody agreement.

Brandon alleges that Melani is seeking the amendment now because 'she feels that the suspicious death of her uncle, Alex, ... has somehow freed her from her role in the attempt on Brandon's life.'
Prove normalcy is back in Kashmir by hosting Namaste Trump event: Sidddaramaiah

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, Fen 24: Raising questions about the situation in Kashmir, senior Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Sidddaramaiah on Monday asked the BJP heading the union government to prove 'normalcy' by hosting US President Donald Trump's event in the valley.

If @BJP4India feels Kashmir has returned to Normalcy, & If @BJP4India feels that there is no govt orchestrated violence. Now is the time to prove the same by hosting @realDonaldTrump's event at Kashmir, Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Amid concerns raised by opposition parties, the government has said efforts have been made to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir which faced months of restrictions after its special status under Article 370 was scrapped in August last year.

Siddaramaiah, who is Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, in another tweet hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the long wall built near the airport in Ahmedabad allegedly to block view of a slum, ahead of Trumps visit.

India set to get best and most feared military weapons: Donald Trump

It is time for @realDonaldTrump to get inspired from @narendramodi. Inspiration to build decorative walls to hide not so decorative life!! he tweeted.

The opposition Congress in Gujarat had accused the BJP- ruled civic body in Ahmedabad of building the 500-metre long wall to block view of a slum colony.

Refuting the allegations, AMC officials had said the construction of the wall, around four feet in height, was approved much before Trump's Gujarat visit was finalised. Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and a high-level delegation, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for a little less than 36-hour-long trip.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 16:05 [IST]
Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom, left, speaks during an expanded macroeconomics meeting in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



KOSPI plunges 3.87%; local currency loses 11 won against dollar



By Lee Min-hyung



The financial malaise created by the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus roiled the nation's stock market Monday, sparking a mass exodus of foreign investors from the bourse.



The turbulence was widely expected, as investors lost confidence in the benchmark KOSPI even before the market opened amid escalating concerns over the epidemic following the government's announcement Sunday to raise its alert for the infectious disease to the highest of four levels.



The main bourse opened with a drop of more than 2 percent Monday and continued to tumble throughout the day before closing at 2,079.94, down 3.87 percent from the previous trading day. The secondary tech-heavy Kosdaq closed at 639.29, down 4.3 percent during the same period, the lowest since Dec. 24 when it fell to 638.91.



The market crash was driven by foreign investors who went on a selling spree on mounting worries over the virus. Foreigners' net sold shares worth 786.8 billion won ($644.8 million), the largest since Nov. 26 last year, according to KRX.



In contrast, individual and institutional investors recorded net purchases of 607.7 billion won and 192.9 billion won, respectively.



The growing fear of the virus has also weakened the value of the local currency against the U.S. dollar.



The volatility drove the exchange rate to top the 1,200-won mark per dollar last week. But with the virus fear showing little sign of abating, the figure has since continued an upward cycle to close at 1,220.2 won per dollar on Monday, up 11 won from the previous trading day. For the past decade, the all-time high of the rate was 1,275 won on May 24, 2010.



With worries on the financial volatility escalating, financial authorities expressed their will to possibly intervene in the financial market to prevent market confusion.



Warning against 'herd behavior'



The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Monday it would pay special attention to the foreign exchange market, as the U.S. dollar approaches to a record-high level in years against Korean won amid suspicions of speculative transactions.





Moon stresses need for 'clear turning point' in fight against coronavirus Government seeks to bring extra budget into fight against economic slump Coronavirus deals a blow to S. Korean box office "The government will take necessary measures in case the lopsided pattern in the exchange rate continues unduly for such reasons as speculative transactions amid the spread of the COVID-19," Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom said in an expanded meeting of macroeconomics.



"We will swiftly and sternly deal with the situation in accordance with contingency plans when abnormal market volatility intensifies."



He said local financial markets would continue to be vulnerable to the virus-driven uncertainties.



"On the front of the real economy, the number of overseas tourists will decline," he said. "On top of that, concerns are that the virus fear will limit the economic recovery in line with shrinking domestic consumption and weak exports to China."



The decline in the value of the local currency against dollar was the third-largest among ten emerging countries, such as China, India and Brazil, according to the Bank of Korea.



According to the central bank, the valuation of won against greenback dropped by 4.6 percent as of Feb. 21, compared to the end of 2019.



The U.S. dollar gained stronger ground against won, as the pneumonic epidemic has cast multiple negative economic impacts here, according to analysts.



"The short-term outlook for the won-dollar exchange rate will depend on how serious the virus spread here will be," Samsung Securities analyst James Huh said.



But the number of confirmed cases of the virus will be on the rise in a near future and this will weaken customer confidence, according to the analyst.



"We expect the exchange rate to fluctuate between the range of 1,180 to 1,250 won in the next month," he said.



A short-term impact from the virus is inevitable in the local stock markets as well, according to analysts.



The KOSPI rallied to top the 2,200-mark in mid-February, but the main bourse has since ridden on the downward curve due to the virus setback. The nation's first stock market was on the rise from the beginning of February when the corona-related fear did not soar to an alarming level.



"A near-term volatility in the global financial market will be inevitable," Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyoung-min said.



"But the global economic indices are expected to bounce back with a V-shaped curve after the coronavirus fear disappears. Our view is that a favorable investment environment will be shaped in the global equity market after the second quarter of 2020."




Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT) has welcomed the decision by Ministry of Civil Aviation to facilitate airlifting of consignments from China amidst the Coronavirus outbreak. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reached out to MAIT for specific requirements from the IT and electronics manufacturing sector. MAIT has been working closely with the industry and ministries to minimise the pressure created due to the outbreak in China.

Almost two weeks after the official reopening date, many factories across China remain shuttered as of date which will cascade down to manufacturing in India as its supply of raw material and equipment is disrupted. However, this step by GoI to facilitate the airlifting of consignments to minimize the disruption is welcome and this move will bring together all stakeholders.

Mr. Nitin Kunkolienker, President, MAIT said, As the representative of the electronics and IT manufacturing in India, it is our duty to voice the industrys concerns and facilitate continuous growth. We would like to congratulate the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Finance for planning and taking the proactive step to facilitate airlifting of consignments from China to avoid any disruption in Indian manufacturing.

MAIT is working closely with its member companies to collate the information requested by the ministry.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Wildlife Officers are searching for three missing boaters near Pickwick Dam. A bass boat believed to have three occupants went missing on Pickwick Lake on Saturday, but they were not reported missing until Sunday at approximately 9 p.m.

The missing boat was recovered Monday morning on the Tennessee River below the dam near Savannah. Search efforts are concentrated on the river for the missing boaters.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a 43-year-old man and two 15-year-olds from Obion County were reported missing after the fishermen failed to return from a local club bass tournament.

Boats from the Hardin County Fire Department and TWRA resumed search efforts Monday morning for the missing boaters.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hiding information (on the novel coronavirus outbreak) from the American public to prevent panic, said Paul Cottrell in a YouTube video he recently recorded.

Cottrell, a youtuber with about 27,000 subscribers, claimed that he received a text message he said was exchanged between a CDC employee and a listener to his channel who is close to the source from the CDC.

He then went on to read out the text message in which the alleged person from the CDC said its worse than what is being said on social media and national news. There have already been over 1,000 cases in the US, although on the news, they are just keeping things quiet for now and reporting far less to the public, Cottrell reads in his video quoting the message.

According to the CDC official webpage, the number of total confirmed coronavirus cases in the US was 35 as of February 21.

In the message Cottrell reads, the alleged source from the CDC also advised wearing masks when traveling even short distances as CDC suspects cases in over 32 states at this point.

This is much bigger than I thought, Cottrell then commented in the video: Im revealing this because our safety is at risk here.

Cottrell further adds that he has a data point with a caller from Buffalo, New York, stating that there are six confirmed COVID-19 cases that the CDC has not released to the public.

By them (CDC) not being transparent, they are going to make things worse, Cottrell said.

A comment below the video by a netizen named John Maldonado said: CDC doesnt want mass panic. Its simple. All we can do is prepare and stockpile supplies.

Admitting that he cannot verify the message, Cottrell said: We have to, in the fog of war, sometimes shoot first and then aim later.

Paul Cottrells LinkedIn info shows that hes currently studying biology for a masters degree at Harvard University, and that he obtained a Ph.D in finance at Walden University and finished his Pre-Medical studies at Fordham University. He updates his YouTube videos on a daily basis covering topics on economics, medicine and current events.
Genetic disorders are diseases caused due to change in the normal DNA sequence. These changes are known as mutations, which can occur in one or multiple genes. A person carries genes in pair, one from each parent. The person carrying the mutated gene for the genetic disorder is known as the carrier. If both the parents are carriers of the gene associated with the genetic disorder, then there is 25% chance that the child will be born with the disorder. If only one parent is the carrier of the mutated gene then there is 50% chance that the child will be carrying the mutated gene.

Carrier screening is a type of test which helps in determining the risk of having a child with a genetic disease. Carrier screening determines whether a healthy person carries the recessive gene of genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and others.

Download the Sample copy Of Report with Table of Contents and Figures @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/3500

Global Carrier Screening Market  Dynamics

Rising mergers, agreements, and acquisitions by market players are expected to drive the global carrier screening market over the forecast period. For instance, in July 2017, Counsyl, Inc., entered into an expanded agreement with Angsana Molecular & Diagnostics Laboratory, a multinational laboratory services company, to commercialize expanded carrier screening (ECS) test in Hong Kong. Furthermore, in July 2018, Counsyl, Inc. was acquired by Myriad Genetics, Inc. The acquisition is expected to strengthen the genetic tests portfolio of Myriad Genetics, Inc.

Moreover, various launches and approvals of new carrier screening tests are likely to propel growth of the carrier screening market during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2018, Invitae Corporation announced the launch of Invitae Carrier Screen, which is a test designed for enhanced risk assessment to determine the possibility of the child having a genetic disorder.

Global Carrier Screening Market  Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest market share in 2018, owing to product approvals and launches of new carrier screening tests in the region. For instance, in October 2019, Sema4, announced the launch of Expanded Carrier Screen, a test which determines the risk of an inherited genetic disorder in the child.

Europe is also witnessing lucrative growth in the carrier screening market owing to launches and approvals of new screening tests in the region. For instance, in June 2019, QIAGEN, a German provider of sample and assay technologies for molecular diagnostics, launched QIAseq Expanded Carrier Screening Panel. The QIAseq provides information about the targets and genes that are responsible for 200 disease indications.

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Global Carrier Screening Market  Competitive landscape

Key players operating in the global carrier screening market include Invitae Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Quest Diagnostics, Sema4, Myriad Genetics, Inc., Illumina, Inc., Fulgent Genetics, Gene by Gene, CENTOGENE N.V., QIAGEN, Eurofins Scientific, Luminex Corporation, Medgenome, and others.

Global Carrier Screening Market  Taxonomy

On the basis of test type, the global carrier screening market is segmented into:

Expanded Carrier Screening

Targeted Disease Carrier Screening

On the basis of disease type, the global carrier screening market is segmented into:

Cystic Fibrosis

Sickle Cell Disease

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Fragile X Syndrome

Thalassemia

Others

On the basis of end-user, the global carrier screening market is segmented into:

Hospitals

Reference Laboratories

Others

On the basis of region, the global carrier screening market is segmented into:

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East

Africa

Other Related Report:

Voice Prosthesis Device Market

Blood Pressure Cuffs Market

Laboratory Fume Hood Market

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Samajwadi Party and Congress staged a walkout in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday against alleged police atrocities on peaceful anti-CAA protesters, including women, in Aligarh.

Soon after the House met at 11 am, Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary demanded a discussion on the issue. He alleged that women were lathi-charged and tear gas shells were fired during the protest in Aligarh on Sunday.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Congress leader Aradhana Misra, who raised the issue through separate notices, alleged that the government is out crush the peaceful protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

"Is this the 'Ram rajya' that the government claims (to be aiming for). It had been jungle law ever since the BJP came to power," Misra said, adding that the government is answerable for the police action.

Chaudhary and Misra also demanded a judicial probe into the incident by a sitting Supreme Court or high court judge.

In his reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said the Aligarh incident was a result of rivalry between the protesting women and the Bhim Army.

"When vehicles were damaged and there was anarchy, police stepped in and had to use force," he said.

"The government will unmask those behind these agitations and those patting the backs of protesters. No citizen will have to suffer. It is the attitude of the Opposition which is responsible for it (violence) and nothing will happen if they do not encourage it," he added.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the minister's reply, SP and Congress members staged a walkout.

Earlier, Khanna had said, "I want to ask who is fanning the protests and who is affected by it (CAA) in UP. We have the answer for everything and law and order is the priority of the government."



At least five people were injured as anti-CAA protesters and police clashed in the old city area of Aligarh on Sunday.

The police fired teargas shells to disperse the mob that vandalised property and pelted stones at security personnel in Upper Kot area of Kotwali police station, Aligarh District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said.

The violence broke out after police tried to evict women protesters who had been staging a sit-in at Mohammed Ali Road leading to the police station since Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (Kirkland Lake Gold or the Company) (TSX:KL) (NYSE:KL) (ASX:KLA) today announced the appointment of Ingrid Hibbard and Peter Grosskopf to the Companys Board of Directors. The appointments are effective immediately.



Ms. Hibbard has over 30 years of experience spanning all facets of the mineral resources industry. Ms. Hibbard is currently the President, Chief Executive Office and director of Pelangio Exploration Inc., a Canadian exploration company with properties in Canada and Ghana. Ms. Hibbard played a founding role advancing the Detour Lake mine property. She was President of Pelangio-Larder Mines, Limited, which in 1998 acquired Detour Lake from Placer Dome (CLA) Ltd. under a joint venture with Franco-Nevada Mining Company Limited. Pelangio subsequently sold the Detour Lake assets to Detour Gold Corporation in 2007. Ms. Hibbard remained a director of Detour Gold until 2018. Ms. Hibbard also served on the Board of Lake Shore Gold Inc. from 2016 to 2018. Ms. Hibbard holds a BA and a LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario and is called to the Bar in both Ontario and Manitoba.

Peter Grosskopf has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Grosskopf is currently Chief Executive Officer and a Director at Sprott Inc., a publicly listed alternative asset manager and a global leader in precious metal and real asset investments. At Sprott, he is responsible for strategy and managing the firms private resource investment businesses. His career includes a long tenure in investment banking, where he managed numerous strategic and underwriting transactions for companies in a variety of sectors. Prior to joining Sprott, Mr. Grosskopf was President of Cormark Securities Inc. He has a track record of building and growing successful businesses including Newcrest Capital Inc. (as one of its co-founders), which was acquired by the TD Bank Financial Group in 2000. Mr. Grosskopf is a CFA charterholder and earned an Honours Degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

Jeff Parr, Chairman of the Board of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: On behalf of the Board, Id like to welcome Ingrid and Peter to Kirkland Lake Gold. They bring extensive expertise and knowledge to the Board from their years working in the mining industry that will prove very helpful as we continue to advance the Companys business plans.

Tony Makuch, CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, added: Ingrid and Peter will add significantly to the broad range of experience of our Board of Directors. Kirkland Lake owns three of the highest-quality gold mines in the world. Fosterville in Australia and Macassa in Northern Ontario are high grade underground mines, while Detour is an open-pit mine in Ontario involving one of the largest gold deposits in the world. All three mines combine substantial free cash flow generation, significant in-mine growth potential and considerable regional exploration upside. We look forward to benefiting from Ingrid and Peters expertise as we move these high-quality assets forward towards realizing their full value potential.

About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a growing gold producer operating in Canada and Australia that produced 974,615 ounces in 2019, with target production for 2020 of 1,470,000  1,540,000 ounces. The production profile of the Company is anchored by three high-quality operations, including the Macassa Mine and Detour Lake Mine, both located in Northern Ontario, and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management expertise.

For further information on Kirkland Lake Gold and to receive news releases by email, visit the website www.klgold.com .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Anthony Makuch, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Phone: +1 416-840-7884

E-mail: tmakuch@klgold.com
The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday a petition, filed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, seeking a direction to execute the death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case separately.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice R Banumathi and also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and Navin Sinha, will hear the petition tomorrow.

The Centre moved the top court after the Delhi High Court had rejected its petition.

Delhi High Court had, on February 5, stated that that death warrant of all convicts in the Nirbhaya case should be executed together.

The High Court had observed that Delhi prison rules do not state whether when the mercy petition of one convict is pending, the execution of the other convicts can take place and from the trial court to Supreme Court all convicts have been held by a common order and a common judgment.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Saturday dismissed an application filed by Vinay Sharma, one of the four death row convicts in Nirbhaya case, seeking specialised medical treatment for his claimed "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.

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 of the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Member of the House of Lords will today attempt to delay Boris Johnson's sweeping new law designed to keep terrorists in prison, branding them 'delusional'.

Several counter-terrorism experts in the unelected upper house will try to slow down the fast-track legislation which is due to be passed by peers in a single day today.

The Government is demanding the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill becomes law as soon as possible in the wake of recent attacks in London Bridge and Streatham.

The law would block the automatic release of convicted terrorists halfway through their sentences, changing it to two-thirds but with the Parole Board able to block it.

But peers including former terrorism watchdogs David Anderson and Alex Carlile and former Tory attorney general Edward Garnier argue the law is being rushed through too quickly.

They also want it to allow for more money to be spend on helping deradicalisation of terrorists in prison, arguing that without it the sentence change will have little impact.

But with the Tories and Labour backing the bill it seems almost certain that it will pass today.

Lord Garnier told the Independent: 'No matter how long you put people in prison for, they need to be rehabilitated while they are in prison.

The Government is demanding the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill becomes law as soon as possible in the wake of recent attacks in London Bridge (pictured) and Streatham

Sudesh Amman, who was shot dead by armed police in Streatham High Road at the start of February, and Usman Khan, who murdered two people during a prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall in central London in November.

Lord Garnier told the Independent: 'No matter how long you put people in prison for, they need to be rehabilitated while they are in prison. 'It is delusional to just pass these laws as if that was enough. It isn't enough.'

Mr Johnson (left, today with his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic) wants to block the automatic release of convicted terrorists halfway through their sentences

'It is delusional to just pass these laws as if that was enough. It isn't enough.

'It's a fraud on the public to say that increasing the release period without doing anything more is an answer. Unless you do something effective with these people while they are in prison, you are fooling yourself and misleading the public.

The government's anti-terror crackdown follows the Streatham terror attack earlier this month, when Sudesh Amman stabbed two bystanders with a knife he had grabbed from a shop. He was shot dead by police.

The 20-year-old was jailed in December 2018 for possessing and distributing terrorist documents, but had been freed midway through his sentence less than a fortnight earlier.

It was the second attack in three months to be carried out by a convicted terrorist, after Usman Khan stabbed and killed two people at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge in November.

The government's plans, which will affect around 50 prisoners, aim to make sure terrorist offenders serve at least two-thirds of their sentence before they are considered eligible for release, rather than the current halfway mark.

Before being freed they would need to be reviewed by a panel of specialist judges and psychiatrists at the Parole Board.

New law could force businesses to prepare for terror attacks Businesses and local authorities could be required to put in place measures to keep the public safe from a terrorist attack under new proposals. Plans have been unveiled by the Home Office to introduce legislation which would mean the owners and operators of public spaces must consider the risks of a terror attack and what measures they will take to prepare for such an event. Such measures, which would need to be 'proportionate and reasonable', could include increasing physical security and developing response plans for staff on what to do during an incident. A new 'Protect Duty' will be consulted on by the Government in spring, following discussions with victims' groups such as the Martyn's Law campaign - established by Figen Murray, whose son was killed in the Manchester Arena attack. Advertisement

The new laws are likely to be challenged by human rights lawyers. They are expected to argue that it is unlawful to change the terms of someone's jail term after they have been sentenced.

The Lords have tabled three amendments to today's bill aimed at the early release provision.

Lord Anderson admitted on Twitter that he was not expecting the amendment to pass, saying: 'It's not a bad Bill, but still needs scrutiny. However amendment especially to a fast-track Bill (voting late at night) needs Govt goodwill or strong opposition support.'

In a letter to ministers, he argued that changing the early release date was unnecessary as long as the Parole Board was given the final sign-off for it.

'The (retrospective) introduction of parole board review in all cases is sufficient to provide for a greater period of incapacitation where this is merited,' he wrote.

'A further retrospective change in the consideration point from half to two-thirds is not necessary for this purpose, and will result in the continued incarceration, without regard to their personal circumstances, of prisoners who pose no continuing threat to the public and who were told by the sentencing judge in accordance with the law then in force that they would be released at the halfway point,' he said.
The Delhi High Court has directed the ED to return over Rs 7 lakh to the owner of Anukampa Tour and Travel company with six per cent interest, which the agency had confiscated from their office in 1995 for the alleged violation of Foreign Exchange law.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru said that Manak Kala, the owner of the company, has been deprived of his funds for a considerable period of time and observed that the confiscation of the amount was wholly illegal and unsustainable.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Kala challenging the order of Appellate Tribunal for Foreign Exchange dated February 28 2016.

It was noted that the Rule 8 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Encashment of Draft, Cheque, Instrument and Payment of Interest) Rules, 2000 provides for repayment of interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum from the date of seizure till the date of payment.

"Thus, this Court is of the view that the said amount is required to be returned to the appellant along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum. It is so directed," the court said.

"The order dated Feb 17, 2014, passed by the Adjudicating Authority (Deputy Director, Enforcement Directorate), the order dated Sept 24, 2014, passed by the Appellate Authority (Special Director, Appeals), and the impugned order passed by the Tribunal are unsustainable and are, accordingly, set aside," said Justice Bakhru.

The tribunal had dismissed Manak Kala appeal challenging Director of Enforcement's decision to impose a penalty of Rs 75,00,000 on the appellant and directed confiscation of the amount of Rs 7,95,000 seized from his office, under Section 63 of FERA.

On October 4 1995, the business premises of Anukampa Tours and Travels was searched and Indian currency amounting to Rs 7,95,000 and various documents were found in the said premises.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As night closed in on the migrant camp, masses of people made their way to their makeshift tents, climbing hills of denuded olive trees, carrying dinner in plastic bags. Lila Ayobi showed her family what she had waited three hours in line to collect.

Ten cucumbers.

Everything else was finished, Ms Ayobi told them. Her four children would have nothing else to eat until morning, when Ms Ayobi would rise at 5 am to wait in line again, this time for prepackaged croissants, one per person.

Waiting and disappointment are a central part of existence for the 38,000 people at Greeces critically overcrowded Aegean island camps, where Europes migrant crisis is clearly far from over.

At the Moria refugee camp on Lesbos, the largest of the island facilities, migrants wait in snaking lines for up to eight hours a day to get their meals. They wait for breakfast, come back to their shelters for an hour or two, and soon head off to wait for lunch.

Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece Show all 6 1 /6 Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece A child searches for his marbles among garbage at a makeshift camp surrounding the Moria migrant camp on the island of Lesbos on 18 February 2020 REUTERS Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece Migrants make their way home at the Moria makeshift camp on 18 February 2020 Reuters Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece A Panaroma of the Moria migrant camp on 18 February 2020 REUTERS Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece REUTERS Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece REUTERS Migrants stranded at the Moria camp on Lesbos, Greece REUTERS

All day waiting, Ms Ayobi said. In all the time we spend in line, we could learn a new language.

They wait because this camp has mushroomed in size, growing seven times more crowded than its capacity, a shantytown on a vacation island never intended for such emergencies.

They wait because the Greek government and local authorities are at odds about what to do with them, and because a closed-off Europe has not offered another place to put them, even as rights groups decry the camps as an emblem of the continents failures.

Conditions at the island camps have never been worse. Children shiver through the nights, bundled in wet blankets that never fully dry. There are protests, scabies outbreaks and fatal stabbings in middle-of-the-night fights. The Council of Europes commissioner for human rights, Dunja Mijatovic, has called the situation explosive, noting a desperate lack of medical care and sanitation  and the hours-long lines.

Many people here fled war and other desperate environments, and they risked their lives to cross the Aegean Sea in flimsy rafts. They are grateful to have made it this far. But they describe feeling humiliated and dismayed, sensing that even in the food there is a message about the resources Europe is willing to spend on new arrivals: not much at all.

A nutritionist told The Washington Post that the meals appear to fall below minimum calorie requirements. One migrant said the food was worse than at her former workplace, an Afghan prison.

We are living like animals. Its not a life, said Zekria Farzad who had been a journalist in Afghanistan, which is where most of the migrants at Moria come from. Actually, we are struggling to be alive.

Yet beyond the camp, closer to the water, locals and tourists are eating well. Lesbos tavernas serve octopus, grilled squid, feta, vegetables dressed with lemon and olive oil.

That jarring juxtaposition is part of what makes the camp one of the worst places Ive seen on earth, said Marco Sandrone, the Lesbos field coordinator for Doctors Without Borders.

You can get a beer at the port, and then with 10 minutes drive you see an open-air prison, said Mr Sandrone, whose previous postings included Congo, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Haiti. There is no transition here between paradise and hell.

Recommended Migrants stranded on Lesbos are losing hope

How a small resort island came to host so many asylum seekers  and serve 57,000 daily low-cost meals, provided in large part by a former wedding caterer  is a story that reflects Europes gridlocked immigration politics.

Opened five years ago at the beginning of a massive spike in migration to Europe, the Moria camp was supposed to be a short-term holding center for asylum seekers waiting to be transferred to the Greek mainland and elsewhere on the continent. Instead, it has become a bottleneck, with many people staying in Moria for a year or longer.

The overall number of migrants reaching Europe has plummeted from the highs of 2015 and 2016, but with no agreement on where to send them, even slight upticks in people crossing the Aegean Sea explode into emergencies in Lesbos.

A year ago, the camp held 4,900 people. Even then it was notorious for its conditions. Now, after a year of increased crossings from Turkey, the camp holds 19,400.

It has burst well outside its razor-wire-fenced barriers, with most migrants living in tents on the surrounding hillside. They have no electricity, no plumbing, no way to cook except fire.

They descend into the official camp for meals, coming through the main entrance or through holes in the fencing, and they crowd into spaces that camp administrators describe as dangerously tight. Administrators say fights and scuffles routinely break out during the wait.

A 20-year-old man from Yemen died last month after being stabbed in an altercation, the second stabbing fatality here in 2020.

Almost we cannot control it, Dmitris Vafeas, a Greek bureaucrat who is the camps acting director, said in an interview. Its an everyday struggle. We have problems of overpopulation here.

Most days at Moria, the food lines have grown big by the time the main catering companys food trucks arrive through the camp gates. The company, Elaitis, primarily did weddings until a few years ago. Now the Greek army pays Elaitis a daily rate of 5.01 euros per person, an amount that includes transportation and labor, to provide the food.

During several days at the camp last month, The Washington Post monitored what was served, much of which was marked with nutritional information. Athens-based nutritionist Ioanna Hassapi, who reviewed the food at The Posts request, said the meals most days appeared to fall short of adult and teenage caloric needs  and those needs grow when people are sleeping outdoors and are chronically sick.

If you eat this food, you wont recover as easily, Dr Hassapi said. It affects your immune system, your growth.

Every breakfast consists of a packaged croissant. Every dinner consists of a flatbread, a boiled egg and a small spinach pastry  if you are far enough ahead in line. Only the lunch rotates: sometimes lentils and rice, sometimes beans, sometimes rice with meat. The food isnt supposed to run out; occasionally, it does. The milk served to children resembles whitish water. Some days, there are tomatoes or cucumbers with dinner, other days not.

Children fill bottles with water next to piles of garbage at a makeshift camp surrounding the Moria migrant camp on the Island Lesbos Greece, 18 February 2020 (Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters)

Migrants speak of getting stale bread and barely cooked rice, of losing weight, of new mothers eating so poorly that they stop lactating. While there has not been widespread malnutrition, a baby died of severe dehydration in the fall.

Some local officials have started to question whether Greece is not providing migrants the level of food it has paid for.

Stratis Balaskas, a city councilor who regularly visits Moria, said food quality has gone down as the camp has multiplied in size. Last month, several local officials, including Mr Balaskas, brought a days worth of camp food to the islands top prosecutor and asked her to open an investigation into whether the government and the food vendors are fulfilling their obligations.

The cost of what theyre putting together now is next to nothing, Mr Balaskas said.

Greek prosecutors by rule do not comment to the public or the press on potential cases.

Greeces defense ministry, which is in charge of monitoring the food at the camp, declined to comment for this story, as did the countrys migration ministry, which has recently vowed to lower the number of arrivals by strengthening border protection and increasing deportations to Turkey.

In an interview, Elaitiss head of sales, Kostas Mavroudis, said his company was living up to the contract and spending about 4.50 euros, or $4.90, daily per migrant.

But he added that Elaitis has been stretched to keep up with the camps growth. The company expanded from 21 employees to 44, he said. It went from two delivery trucks to six. It created a five-person overnight shift. With that not being enough, it has also subcontracted to two companies in Athens, which now produce about 40% of the food and send it twice a week, frozen, by boat, he said.

Mr Mavroudis defended the foods quality. But the people who eat it say that it has no flavor, that the colors range from brown to light brown, as if trying to make them nostalgic for what they had in the countries they fled.

When you are desperate, youd eat even grass, said Ahmad Wait Anwary who had been a security guard in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, this is the way it is here.

Greece has talked about closing the camps and building more restrictive detention centers in their place. But local authorities have orchestrated protests. They vehemently oppose the notion of permanent centers, and they are deeply skeptical that the government can build anything large enough to accommodate the asylum seekers already in the camps.

Even if the plan goes forward, it is unclear what will happen to the overflow population.

The hillsides surrounding Moria have been picked bare by migrants foraging for additional food. Some families have built brick ovens inside their tents. The ovens are safety hazards, but they make it possible to bake bread. There is an Aldi supermarket on the island where people can get flour. There are also makeshift stands inside the camp, where people try to resell grocery items they bought in bulk. But those options are mostly for people who have been here several months, after a small monthly stipend from the United Nations has kicked in. And that stipend does not cover all they would need to eat in a month.

So, they still walk through the camp gates before mealtimes to wait.

One day last month, on a day like many others, they walked past a guard who was warning that the lines would be long, and then they made their way past 75 people who had just arrived by boat that morning and were waiting to be registered, past 100 people waiting to lodge applications for a transfer to the mainland, past 20 people in line at the asylum office, past 300 people waiting for UN-distributed blankets and toothbrushes.

Then they arrived at the food line. It was only beginning to form, 2 1/2 hours before the first meals would be served. Women, who have their own line, huddled near a fence, waiting for the gates to open to a covered facility, where they would wait some more. Soon, thousands would be there, people who are less likely to get what would be served that day. But for now, it was just 30 people, holding children, wearing shower sandals or old sneakers, talking to one another.

The Washington Post
New Delhi: Head constable Ratan Lal who was killed as pro-and anti-CAA groups battled each other in east Delhi's Maujpur on Feb 24, 2020. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Head constable Ratan Lal along with his family. Ratan Lal who was killed as pro-and anti-CAA groups battled each other in east Delhi's Maujpur on Feb 24, 2020 (File Photo: Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 24 : The death of Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal on Monday during a violent clash between pro and anti-CAA groups in east Delhi has shattered his family. What was their father's mistake, his children asked the Commissioner of Police.

Ratan Lal's wife Poonam fainted as she heard the news of his death. His children -- Siddhi, 13, Kanak, 10, and Ram, 8 -- were devastated.

According to Ratan Lal's acquaintances, a peace-loving person he would never get involved in any fight or argument.

The head constable was allegedly killed in the Dayalpur police station area by the miscreants when the violence was at its peak around noon.

Ratan Lal, a resident of Fathepur Tihwali village in Rajasthan's Sikar district, had joined the Delhi Police in 1998. He got married to Poonam, a resident of Jaipur, in 2004.

As the news of death reached his house in Amrit Vihar Colony of Burari, the children started crying. Amid the chaos in Burari his relatives were informed.

Lal's younger brother Manoj, who lives in Bangalore, reportedly, left for Delhi in evening.

Lal's another younger brother Dinesh told IANS, "He was the reader of the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Gokulpuri. He had just accompanied the ACP, but the mob surrounded him and killed him." We never saw our brother behaving like a typical policeman, Dinesh said.

"His behaviour and language were never like that of a policeman," said Hiralal, assistant sub-inspector at Dayalpur police station, who worked with Ratan Lal for almost two and a half years.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
The Labor Management Board under the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea and its counterpart in Japan have reported no case of Vietnamese workers in the East Asian countries infected with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as of Monday morning.

Nguyen Gia Liem, deputy general director of the Department of Overseas Labor Management under the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, confirmed the information to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on the same morning after a meeting on updates about Vietnamese workers in South Korea and Japan in light of unusual developments of the viral disease there.

The numbers of COVID-19 patients in these East Asian countries have shot up in recent days.

South Korea reported 161 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 763, health authorities said on Monday, a day after the government raised its infectious disease alert to the highest level.

Meanwhile, authorities in Japan had confirmed 773 cases by early Sunday evening, most of them from a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo.

According to Liem, above 59,000 Vietnamese currently work in South Korea, while the figure in Japan tops 220,000.

The Department of Overseas Labor Management has insisted that the Labor Management Boards in South Korea and Japan closely follow up and give updates on the situation of Vietnamese workers there since the COVID-19 epidemic emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Liem told Tuoi Tre.

The two Labor Management Boards, as well as the Vietnamese Embassies in South Korea and Japan, have set up hotlines to provide help for Vietnamese migrant workers in the countries regarding COVID-19-related issues.

According to the reports from the two Labor Management Boards and [information acquired] through diplomatic channels, we have not received reports of Vietnamese workers in Japan or South Korea being infected with COVID-19, Liem affirmed.

He said that the Department of Overseas Labor Management also discussed different scenarios and the respective solutions to the viral outbreak at Mondays meeting.

The COVID-19 has killed 2,522 people and infected over 79,300 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 from the hospital. The country has recorded no new infection since February 13.

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Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, on Monday called the coronavirus outbreak "scary stuff" but said that it was no time to sell stocks despite the threat of a pandemic.

Speaking on CNBC, Buffett said investors with a 10- to 20-year time horizon and focused on companies' earnings power will fare well in stocks, and that the outbreak has "not changed" his long-term outlook.

"It is scary stuff," Buffett said. "I don't think it should affect what you do in stocks."

Markets worldwide fell on Monday on concern about how the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, which began in China and has spread to countries including Italy, South Korea and Iran, could disrupt supply chains and slow global economic growth.

Buffett, however, said long-term investors should not get caught up in daily headlines, and that Berkshire would "certainly be more inclined" to buy stocks than on Friday.

"If you look at the present situation," he said, "you get more for your money in stocks than bonds."

He said this was true though the U.S. economy, while sill strong, had become "a little softer" than it was six months ago.

The economy grew 2.3% last year but has experienced slower consumer spending and industrial production.

Buffett spoke two days after Berkshire said operating profit fell 3% in 2019 to $23.97 billion, hurt by losses from insurance underwriting, while unrealized gains in Apple Inc and other investments boosted net income to a record $81.42 billion.

Berkshire, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has more than 90 operating businesses including the BNSF railroad, Geico auto insurer and Dairy Queen ice cream, and Buffett said the coronavirus outbreak has affected a significant number.

Many of the roughly 1,000 Dairy Queens in China are closed, while those that are open "aren't doing any business to speak of," Buffett said, while Johns Manville insulation and Shaw carpeting have seen supply chain disruptions.

"There's always trouble coming," he said. "The real question is where are those businesses going to be in five or 10 years."

Berkshire's stock price has trailed the Standard & Poor's 500 over the last decade, and Buffett said it will not trounce the broader market as it once did, in part reflecting its size and roughly $558 billion market value.

Buffett said Berkshire over the long term is unlikely to be in the top 15% or bottom 30% of stocks, but will outperform in down markets.

Any long-term outperformance "will be minor, but it will be done in a very very safe manner," he said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Alex Richardson)
After decades of decline, Buffalo touts a 'Refugee Renaissance.' Can it last?
It seems a very modern problem to worry about various streaming platforms and whether or not they cover enough of your favourite television programmes. Netflix has ruled the roost for years in this regard, with the likes of Amazon Prime now mounting a challenge to their supremacy and 2020 looking to be another year of jostling. Apple TV, Disney and Britbox among others are fighting for a share of TV screen time too. But where does digitised theatre stand amid such changes? Some of the streaming giants will pander to audiences by seeking film adaptations of plays, but dedicated theatre platforms and initiatives are already having an impact on the industry.

Richard Armitage in The Crucible

 Johan Persson

Digital Theatre is probably the closest thing to a "Theatre Netflix", self-anointed as the world's leading digital arts platform. The site allows customers to either rent filmed shows for 7.99 or pay a monthly subscription fee and stream unlimited productions. While the platform itself can be a little cumbersome to navigate, the choices on offer are superb  from Richard Armitage's powerful performance in The Crucible to a sign language production of Three Sisters filmed by Stage Russia, the service offers a range of fascinating international content.

The cast of The Welkin

 Brinkhoff Moegenburg

National Theatre Live is another major player, an initiative that for over a decade has broadcast performances to cinemas and arts centres around the world. Shows currently playing on their own stage and beyond are made available to audiences that were unable to watch the first time around  Lucy Kirkwood's newest play The Welkin for example is set to be broadcast from 21 May, and this week recently saw the live broadcast performance of James McAvoy in Jamie Lloyd's Cyrano de Bergerac in the West End.

NT Live is the preeminent name in terms of filmed drama but none of their content is available online, so in the future it would be naive to expect their dominance to remain unchallenged. Recently refurbished and reopened venues, such as the new Riverside Studios, are proof that others are beginning to latch onto the potential of digitising their archives either to display in a cinema or to make them available to stream online.

Fleabag

 Matt Humphreys

A big question going forward is whether or not these platforms will replace or simply complement the traditional theatre formats, as there are undoubtable benefits to filmed productions. Price is the obvious consideration, as well as availability  audiences discovered last September that purchasing tickets to an NT Live screening of Fleabag is far easier than securing seats for the real thing.

If content can be increasingly streamed at home, comfort and ease will also be factors, and this will be complicated further by the ongoing development of virtual reality technology. The advent of VR platforms, pioneered in the theatre world by LIVR, promise a "front row seat" to a show but without the annoyances of venue drink prices or someone sat behind you loudly eating crisps.

The migration of content from venue to the home is a process that will only increase in the next decade but an important distinction to be made is that a production's quality and success is what leads to filming interest, not the other way around. Digitised productions are a good secondary option but fundamentally not a replacement for the authentic experience. It would appear that, for the moment, our stages are safe.
Russia enjoyed a marketing victory recently when it obtained a rare export order for its Yak-130 jet trainer. Vietnam agreed to buy twelve of them for $29.2 million each. About half of that amount is for setting up maintenance facilities as well as training maintainers and providing logistical and tech support. Although introduced in 2010, only 165 Yak-130s have been sold so far, most of them to the Russian Air Force.

The bad luck began a year after the aircraft entered service. That was 2011 and later that year Syria ordered 36 Yak-130s for $550 million. These were needed because Syrian Cold War era trainers were worn out. Syria was also broke but Iran agreed to secretly finance the purchase. That order soon was canceled because an anti-government uprising turned into a civil war and purchasing priorities changed. Then in 2012, the Russian Air Force decided not to buy 200 Yak-130s for use as combat aircraft as well as trainers. The air force needed these trainers as light attack aircraft (called Yak-131). But further investigation revealed that the pilots were too vulnerable to ground fire. This was particularly critical for an aircraft that would often go low to deliver attacks. This would expose the aircraft to ground fire and the air force determined that it would be better to refurbish the older Su-25 ground attack aircraft instead. These were upgraded to the Su-25SM standard and performed very well because their basic design was similar to that of the American A-10.

The ten ton Yak-130 can carry an external load of three tons (of bombs, missiles, cannon pod, or fuel tanks). That is now sometimes used to train new pilots on the use of these weapons. Max range on internal fuel is 2,000 kilometers.

The Yak-130 was in trouble before it entered service. Back in 2005 Russia decided to adopt the Yak-130 as its new advanced jet trainer and said it would initially order 55 of them. In 2008 Russia finally placed an order but it was only for twelve. The 2009 global recession intervened and a shortage of money delayed the big buy of 60 more aircraft, for over five years.

The new Yak-130s for the Russia Air Force began arriving in 2010 and were delivered in small numbers each year for several years. This was just in time because few of the existing Cold War era L-29 and L-39 trainers were able to get off the ground because of age and heavy use. This large Yak-130 orders that followed meant that Russia was serious about increasing pilot quality. It made sense for Syria to obtain the Yak-130s for the same reasons. Eventually Russian supplied some Yak-130s to Syria along with a lot of other emergency aid to defeat the formidable rebellion that developed after 2011.

Deliveries to the first export customer, Algeria, began in 2010 after 16 were ordered. Algeria is another Arab dictatorship that Russia has long supported. So was Libya, which the Russians did not want Syria to emulate but Syria blew up worse than Libya. But nations went from regular customers (of Russian aircraft) to a chaotic war zone where cash was in short supply.

Production of the Yak-130 began in 2007. The Yak-130 is capable of performing many of the tricky maneuvers of Russia's top fighters like the Su-27, MiG-29, and many modern Western fighters. This was one major advantage over Cold War era trainers. Yak-130 can also perform as a light bomber. The aircraft has a max speed of 1,000 kilometers an hour and a flight lifetime of 10,000 hours in the air. The pilot instructor and trainee sit one behind the other and two engines make it a safer aircraft to fly. Russia was initially selling the aircraft to foreign customers for about $15 million. The Italian version, the M-346 costs about a third more.

A major obstacle to obtaining more export orders was the Italian M-346, which is very similar to the Yak-130 but considered a superior, and more expensive aircraft. That was not a coincidence because in 1993 Italy agreed to work together with Russia to develop and produce the Yak-130. Seven years later disagreements over design and production led to Italy withdrawing from the Yak-130 effort and building is own version of the aircraft. Italy paid Russia $77 million for the use of work done so far and agreed not to sell its aircraft to states that were formerly parts of the Soviet Union as well as traditional Russian customers like India, Slovakia and Algeria. Italy could market the M-346 everywhere else and it did so very successfully because in most respects the M-346 was a superior aircraft.

Italy even managed to sell 30 M-346s to Israel in 2012 and delivery was complete by 2016. The M-346 began production in 2011 and customers include Italy, Israel, Singapore and Poland. So far 85 have been sold. Italy had a hard time getting M-346 sales going at first but now the aircraft has a record of good performance and satisfied customers. Italy needed Israel as a customer and Israel was interested but it took a creative barter deal to make the sale. Israel paid for the M-346s with Israeli weapons and military equipment. Israel is paid $993 million for the M-346s so the Italian armed forces had to buy an equal value of Israeli stuff to complete the transaction. Since Israel is one of the top ten arms exporters on the planet, Italy has no problem finding needed useful items to buy.

The Italian Air Force was not as large a customer as the Russians and only bought 18 M-346s. The Russian Air Force bought most of the Yak-130s produced so far and more M-346s have been exported than Yak-130s.

The M-346 is a 9.5 ton, twin-engine, two-seat aircraft. Top speed is 1,000 kilometers an hour. Max range with two drop tanks is 2,500 kilometers. The aircraft can also carry three tons of weapons including bombs, missiles, a cannon pod or external fuel (drop) tanks. For that purpose the aircraft has nine hard-points, seven of them capable of using drop tanks. The M-346 is an excellent dual-use (as a trainer and fighter-bomber) aircraft.
We stand behind our commitment to offering a program for adolescents that is of the highest evidence-based quality clinical care to serve those in need.

Foothills at Red Oak Recovery has received a three-year accreditation by CARF International, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. CARF International is an independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human services whose mission is to promote quality, value, and optimal outcomes through continuous improvements under their consultative accreditation process. The three-year accreditation represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization.

This qualification demonstrates our accountability and care for our clients, families, employees, and referral sources, explains Jack Kline, MS, LCMHCS, LCAS, CCS, CTT-2, MAC, President and Founder. We stand behind our commitment to offering a program for adolescents that is of the highest evidence-based quality clinical care to serve those in need. We are excited to have all three of our clinical treatment programs holding this esteemed accreditation.

Foothills at Red Oak Recovery is a clinically dynamic residential adolescent treatment program for boys, ages 14-17, that treats trauma, substance abuse, co-occurring mental health issues, grief and loss, adoption, family systems issues, and process addictions.

Reach out to learn more: 866.300.5275; admissions@foothillsatredoak.com
Greece will sign a wide-ranging defence deal with France in coming months, the two countries' defence ministers said Monday, months after a similar agreement between Athens and Washington.

"We have decided to reinforce bilateral defence and security cooperation in a very significant manner," French Defence Minister Florence Parly told reporters after talks with her Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos in Athens.

The agreement to be signed by June will include joint naval and land exercises, defence industry cooperation and an "increased" French naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean, Panagiotopoulos said.

Parly said French Rafale fighters will take part in Greece's annual air force exercise, code-named Iniochos, in May.

Greece is keen to enlist the support of EU and NATO partners amid rising tension with neighbouring Turkey, fuelled by energy exploration rivalry and migration concerns.

Paris has publicly expressed exasperation with Ankara over its energy exploration off Cyprus, and the launch of a military operation in Syria without international consent.

Athens was incensed in November when Turkey signed a maritime and military cooperation memorandum with the UN-recognised Libyan government in Tripoli, carving out energy spheres of influence in the Mediterranean.

In January, Greece's parliament approved an updated defence agreement with the US allowing the use of Greek military facilities by US forces.

And despite its financial shortcomings after a decade-long debt crisis, the new conservative government in Athens has stated its intent to purchase US and French weaponry.

Greece is in talks to acquire a pair of French-made Belh@rra frigates and organise technical support for its Mirage 2000 planes and NH90 helicopters.

A Greek frigate has escorted a French strike group headed by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is on a three-week mission in the eastern Mediterranean.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Liu Xin (L) works with a colleague [people.cn]

"Diagnosis and treatment are essential, and prevention is even more important. In addition to our daily routine work, we have devoted a lot of energy to give free medical consultation and popularize health knowledge at grassroots level," Liu Xin said.

Liu, a deputy chief physician at the Minimally Invasive Center of Gynecology of Beijing Maternity Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University, made the remark after a lecture at the People's Hospital of Hotan Prefecture in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

She has been training local medical personnel at the hospital since early March in 2019 in an effort to help more local women with her expertise.

The gynecology department of the hospital has the best team in the prefecture. With the help of doctors assisting Xinjiang, it has become a training base for resident gynecologists.

The department carries out about 100 surgeries every month and receives more than 30,000 patients annually. It also offers training programs for doctors across the autonomous region throughout the year.

Liu promotes advanced technology and frontier medical ideas in Hotan. Minimally invasive medicine includes minimally invasive surgery and is one of the most cutting-edge medical sciences.

There was once a patient who was diagnosed with 20-centimeter uterine fibroids at the People's Hospital of Hotan Prefecture. She was unable to receive surgery due to her extreme obesity and the size of her myoma, or tumor.

Liu persuaded her colleagues to give up the operation plan and suggested a minimal invasive method  reducing the myoma first and then removing it.

When a 25-year-old woman was at death's door due to bleeding of an iliac vein after a radical operation of cervical cancer, Liu gave a call to an expert in Beijing at once to seek advice, then invited vascular surgery specialists to help rescue the patient.

Thanks to six hours of joint efforts from various departments, the woman was brought back to life.

During her days in Hotan, Liu has found that local women's lack of awareness of their health usually leads to fateful consequences and presents enormous challenges to clinicians.

Therefore, she decided to lead the team to offer the best medical services to local patients in line with the standards in Beijing's top hospitals.

Ayinur Abudukeremu, one of her colleagues, said Liu gets along well with them and is like an elder sister.

She said Liu is conscientious and responsible. Liu not only guides the younger generations to learn the guidelines prevailing in China and abroad but also teaches them in real situations, helping improve their professional skills.

Liu spends a great deal of time reviewing numerous references to prepare for lectures on the prevention and treatment of gynecological tumors.

She often offers free medical services in rural areas, popularizing health knowledge among locals.

Liu has also joined hands with a local radio station to promote the prevention and treatment of some typical women's diseases.

Fan Xia, director of the gynecology department, spoke highly of Liu, saying that Liu brought advanced concepts and technologies to Hotan and helped build a bridge of friendship for minimally invasive medical personnel between Beijing and the Hotan Prefecture.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)
Over four days, 33 arts educators, practitioners and programmers from a dozen nationalities worked alongside underserved communities of children and youth on four arts-based community initiatives as a part of the SIF's A4G fellowship exchange programme to Delhi.

The initiatives were designed and facilitated by this third cohort of Fellows to apply the knowledge and skills they had developed during the course of their fellowship. They also served as a platform for the Fellows to collaborate with their international peers, while showcasing how the power of the arts can be harnessed to bring about positive social change.

The Fellows worked with four communities comprising students attending programmes by arts-based non-profit organisations NalandaWay Foundation and Slam Out Loud. The founder of NalandaWay Foundation, Sriram Ayer, and co-founder of Slam Out Loud, Jigyasa Labroo, are both alumni from the first and second editions of the fellowship respectively.

Each community initiative focused on a different art form such as visual arts, spoken word poetry, theatre or music to encourage the students to express themselves creatively and empower them to respond to the central question, "What do I want to tell the world?"

Singaporean Rebekah Lin, SIF A4G Fellow and co-founder of The Social Co, worked alongside other fellows from Hungary, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Vietnam to create a medley of songs featuring their cultural influences with the Delhi children's choir, which comprised children from low-income backgrounds.

"Working with the children in Delhi has been a great opportunity; the energy in the room, the enthusiasm and sheer talent these children have is incredible. They work hard, have so much drive, learn really fast and have such a passion for music. This experience has been made more special and humbling because I was also able to connect and collaborate with Fellows from so many nationalities," she shared.

"There is so much talent in the room, and I have learned so much from all of them. It has been a total privilege and I can't wait to work on a project with them in 2020," added Lin.

The medley, as well as the initiative on a spoken word performance, were featured as the opening acts at the concluding event of this Fellowship's Delhi programme - the Arts for Good Forum.

Held at the Indian Habitat Centre, the Forum was an international collaboration between the SIF and NalandaWay Foundation, that enabled an exchange of ideas and best practices on how to create positive social change through the arts in diverse communities. Several interactive sessions such as "artpreneurship" were helmed by the Fellows for over 50 members of the public.

Indian V Balakrishnan, SIF A4G Fellow and Artistic Director, Theatre Nisha, led a movement workshop at the Forum aimed at getting participants to practice better listening and receptiveness for a more harmonious community.

"The process of creating art is a poignant tool to build resilience and empower the community. The A4G Fellowship has allowed each Fellow to engage in a communion of sharing and enhancing their teaching tools, and in the process, created a dynamic cohort capable of infusing this energy in their respective communities. I am looking forward to practise this will and purpose to make a difference in the lives of all I connect with," he shared.

The Delhi programme marked the conclusion of the third edition of the A4G Fellowship, which included a stint in Singapore and two online webinars. The fellows join a global alumni network of nearly 100 arts practitioners around the world.

"Into its third edition, our Arts for Good Fellowship brings together a community of international professionals who harness the power of the arts and culture to create positive social change in the communities they work," said Jaryll Chan, Programmes Director, SIF.

"The Fellowship includes exchange programmes in Singapore and overseas, where these Fellows connect, engage, and learn with various stakeholders and peers, gain new skills, and ultimately, join an international Arts for Good community. To date, we are proud to have nurtured an international network of 94 Arts for Good Fellows representing nearly 20 nationalities," added Chan.

The fourth edition of the A4G Fellowship will be open for application in March 2020, interested applicants can look for updates at the official website.

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.)
Back in the fall of 2018, Roku released a set of wireless TV speakers with an unusual restriction: They worked only in conjunction with a Roku smart TV. The speakers sounded great for $200, but they were worthless for anyone who didnt have a Roku television and wasnt interested in switching to one.

Those speakers are now more versatile. Pair them with Rokus Smart Soundbar ($180) and wireless subwoofer (also $180), and you can create a 5.1-channel surround sound system and control it through Rokus built-in streaming TV software. This $560 (list price) setup will work with any modern HDTV.

As with the soundbar on its own, Rokus new surround sound system still isnt the best choice for audiophiles. It doesnt offer enough fine-grained control over audio settings, and it lacks the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based surround sound were starting to see more frequently in this price range. Buying Rokus speakers also means going all-in on Rokus audio ecosystem, which still lacks some modern conveniences such as hands-free voice control, multi-room audio, and Wi-Fi casting from mobile devices.

Yet the saving grace with Rokus audio products hasnt changed: Its about as hassle-free as home theater audio gets.

Simple setup

Because the new surround sound system revolves around Rokus Smart Soundbar, lets rehash how that setup works: The soundbar itself is more than just an array of speakers. Its also a full-blown 4K HDR streaming box, roughly equal in capability to Rokus $50 Streaming Stick+. It includes a TV remote just like any other Roku player, and once connected to your television, it can play video from sources like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube while automatically routing audio through its own superior speakers. That means you dont need a smart TV or a separate streaming box to use with it.

Jared Newman / IDG Once plugged into your televisions HDMI port, the Roku Smart Soundbar essentially serves as a streaming media player.

One advantage of having audio and video intertwined like this is that it makes setup easy. Plug the soundbar into outlet power, then connect it to your TVs HDMI-ARC (audio return channel) input, and Roku will walk you through the setup using its on-screen menus. (If your TV doesnt support the audio return channel, youll need to use a standard HDMI port, plus an optical digital audio connection.) You can then hold down the Roku remotes home button to bring up a pairing menu for the subwoofer and Wireless TV speakers, which will become your surround channels. Rokus software will find and connect each piece automatically.

Although the subwoofer and surrounds all connect wirelessly to the soundbar, I never ran into any of the synchronization issues that can pop up with other wireless systems. I also appreciated being able to place the subwoofer anywhere in the room without having to run cable to the other speakers.

Jared Newman / IDG Rokus on-screen setup automatically pairs your subwoofer and soundbar.

The only downside to this approach is that each component requires a separate power cord, so depending on your room setup, you might need extension cords or a surge protector to get everything connected. (Rokus included power cables are about six feet long.)

Easy audio adjustments

If youre the type of home theater buff that likes to fiddle with equalization and surround sound settings, Rokus system is decidedly not for you. It offers no way to adjust mid-range or treble levels and it provides only four distinct levels of bass response. Roku doesnt let you adjust the fade between front and rear speakers either, so you simply have to trust that the company knows what surround sound levels are best.

Thats not to say Rokus system is completely bereft of options. Theyre just focused more on tangible features than granular tweaks.

Want to make dialog louder or reduce loud sounds? Just press the * button on the Roku remote to pull up those options through an on-screen menu. Here youll find a dialog boost setting with two volume enhancement levels, a night mode that minimizes loud passages (e.g., explosions), and a leveling mode that compresses the total volume range. While these features arent unique to Roku speakers, the ability to access them without taking eyes off the screen or grabbing a separate remote is convenient.

Jared Newman / IDG Rokus sound system offers a bunch of handy audio settings that you can access through a button on the remote.

This same menu also offers a couple of surround sound effects for stereo audio: Movies & TV mode mixes some ambient sound into the rear speakers, while Music mode syncs audio between the soundbar and rear speakers.

Again, audiophiles might find these features blasphemous. (Case in point: After covering the initial launch of Rokus surround sound features, one reader emailed me to insist that stereo recordings should never play through satellite speakers.) Again, those folks not Rokus target audience. Personally, I enjoyed the room-filling effects of Rokus surround sound modes, which are optional; I only wish they could be activated automatically based on the content instead of through manual settings.

Jared Newman / IDG Rokus stereo enhancement modes can play music through the rear speakers or add ambience to stereo movies and shows.

Keep in mind that all of Rokus settings will work with other inputs connected to your television, but youll lose the convenient on-screen controls unless you switch back to the Roku input.

Decent sound for the price

By now, weve established that Rokus surround system is not for folks who are going to obsess over sound quality. For everyone else, Rokus system sounds good enough.

The soundbar itself is still the weak link in the chain, as I noticed a difference in high-end response while playing music on both the Roku system and a Sonos Beam soundbar. (Roku claims that its speakers rival those that are twice the price, which the Beam is, so this should be a reasonable comparison.) Listening to Jacob Mann Big Band through a Plex media server, the horn section and Louis Coles drumwork didnt quite have the same liveliness as they did through the Sonos Beam.

On the whole, though, the system packs a punch for its price range. The subwoofer gives a bass boost to music and movies without introducing the unwanted rumble you get from cheaper hardware, and Rokus rear speakers hold up across a wide frequency range, which may explain why Roku is pretty aggressive about cranking their volume. While watching Bong Joon Hoos Snowpiercer, the sound of the train shrieking across the frozen landscape seemed as present on the satellite speakers as it was on the soundbar. (Again, though, if you prefer turn dial down the volume for a subtler surround sound effect, thats not an option here.)

Still-missing features

Roku has never made a secret of its home audio ambitions. Just as its wireless TV speakers were the first step toward full surround sound, Roku has said that its platform will eventually allow for multi-room audio akin to Sonos or Apples AirPlay 2, with a voice assistant to control it all.

Today, though, Rokus surround sound system remains an island. You cant connect it to other speakers throughout the house, and theres also no way to stream Apple Music, Google Play Music, or YouTube Music without connecting your phone over Bluetooth. Roku doesnt offer any kind of casting protocol, akin to Google Chromecast or Apples AirPlay 2, to control music from your phone over Wi-Fi.

Voice control is a weak point as well. Roku doesnt offer its own hands-free voice assistant, and while its system does work with Google Assistant or Alexa devices for basic playback control, the voice commands can get cumbersome (Hey Google, listen to Thundercat Radio on Pandora on Roku) and Ive had trouble even getting them to work in the first place. Roku does include a puck-sized voice remote with its Wireless TV speakers, which you can activate with a button, but it doesnt have any arrow keys, so you still have to pick up the regular remote for further navigation.

Jared Newman / IDG The Roku Touch tabletop remote is nice to have, but its lack of a directional pad can lead to frustration.

If those features sound desirable, other surround sound systems offer them today by hooking into platforms like Google Chromecast, Amazon Alexa, and Apple AirPlay 2. Sonos even supports all three whole-home audio platforms while offering a separate one for its own speakers.

But if you dont mind waiting for Roku to flesh out the rest of its ecosystem, and expect to be a happy Roku user for years to come, youll get a surround sound system that sounds pretty good and is dead-simple to use above all else.
I'd like to think that if I was a youngster and was preparing to send off my Christmas note to the North Pole, I'd be saying something like this: 'Dear Santa, I know you won't steer me in the wrong direction, I am badly in need of investment advice, given the present climate. So I would like you to fill my stocking with shares in cool companies that do good things for people. I want nothing to do with guns, cigs or outfits that damage people or the environment. On the contrary, the shares I want to put my savings into should be a tidy company that makes things which are essential for safety and reliability. In addition, Santa, the company you pick should not have to worry about too much competition, so I'll also have some high barriers to entry, while you are at it.'

The elves might find that request a bit of a challenge but our company this week could fit the bill. It is a small UK engineering group called Porvair, a filtration specialist in a world where more and more products demand specialist filtration; indeed the regulators are insisting on it. It is a company that has been helped by the maintenance schedules of its customers which require regular replacement of filters. This end of the business alone accounts for a large percentage of Porvair's revenue. An added advantage is that Porvair's contracts are usually for seven to eight years. The length and bespoke nature offer a significant barrier to entry. Once the company has designed a filter for a customer's product, replacing it can be difficult. It can also cause changes in accreditation and safety.
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EastEnders cast celebrated the soap's 35th Anniversary in spectacular fashion, as they let their hair down at a wild party in London's Hackney Town on Saturday.

Leading the glamour were Shona McGarty and Danielle Harold as they displayed their amazing legs in glamorous cocktail dresses, while Gillian Taylforth was assisted by a male pal as she headed to a waiting taxi.

Last week fans praised EastEnders after they marked their momentous anniversary with an incredible week of episodes, which concluded with the tragic death of Sharon Watts' son Dennis.

Party time! EastEnders cast (Shona McGarty left, Gillian Taylforth centre and Danielle Harold right) celebrated the soap's 35th Anniversary in spectacular fashion over the weekend, as they let their hair down at a wild party in London.

Gillian looked effortlessly chic in a classic white jacket and wide-legged black trousers as she headed out of the party with a male pal.

While the star mainly seemed focused on her phone, she was later seen chatting to the friend before heading home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Gillian is one of EastEnders original cast members after playing Kathy Beale in the soap's first ever episode back in 1985, and after leaving the soap in 2000 made an epic return during the soap's 30th Anniversary in 2015.

Glamorous: Gillian - who plays Kathy Beale - looked effortlessly chic in a classic white jacket and wide-legged black trousers as she headed out of the party with a male pal

Helping hand: She was spotted heading out of the raucous party to climb into the car with the assistance of her male companion, after marking the soap's birthday in epic fashion

Jovial: Gillian's character Kathy took centre stage during the soap's anniversary episodes, as she helped Sharon deliver her baby boy, and also saw her family thrown into turmoil as her grandson Bobby was hospitalised after an Islamaphobic attack

Shona ensured that she was dressed to impress in a beautiful black dress with a matching coat and studded platform heels as she headed out of the soap's birthday celebration.

Her character Whitney Dean has also gone through her fair share of agony in recent days, after confessing to murdering her stalker Leo King during Friday's show.

In a momentous scene Whitney shakily handed the policeman the knife before saying: 'I killed someone and he's on my kitchen floor,' setting the stage for yet more drama as fans wait to see whether she will end up behind bars for the crime.

Gorgeous: Shona - who plays Whitney Dean - ensured that she was dressed to impress in a beautiful black dress with a matching coat and studded platform heels

Legs for days: Danielle - who plays Lola Pierce - also put on a leggy display in a tight black mini dress with long sleeves and peeptoe block heels as she left the party with her large handbag in tow

Fancy a smoke? The soap star puffed on a vape outside the party as she chatted to her co-star Zack Morris, as she showcase every inch of her figure in the fitted dress

Taxi! The soap beauty jumped in her taxi after celebrating EastEnders' momentous anniversary, which saw the tragic death of Sharon Mitchell's son Dennis

Cute: Maisie Smith and Zack also appeared to be putting on a cosy display as they shared a taxi home following the party, after it was reported by MailOnline that the pair had grown closer in recent weeks

Dressed up: Maisie looked stylish for the night in a pair of skintight leather-looking trousers teamed with a patterned top and cropped denim jacket

Casual: Maisie teamed her look with clear perspex platform heels, while Zack looked dapper in a pair of black skinny jeans, a dark T-shirt and a khaki green jacket

Cast on the town: Maisie - who previously insisted that she and Zack are just pals - cut a stylish figure as she left the party, following by co-star Tony Clay - who plays Callum Highway (right)

Danielle - who plays Lola Pierce - also put on a leggy display in a tight black mini dress with long sleeves and peep-toe suede block heels as she left the party with her large handbag in tow.

The blonde beauty was spotted puffing on a vape as she chatted to her co-star Zack Morris - who plays Keegan Barker - after the anniversary scenes were finally broadcast.

Maisie Smith and Zack also appeared to be putting on a cosy display as they shared a taxi home following the party.

The Tiffany Butcher star, 18, and Keegan Baker actor, 21, were spotted getting into a parked vehicle together outside the Town Hall, and at one point they appeared to be having a cosy chat as they waited for their vehicle.

Sizzling: Jessica Plummer showed off every inch of her jaw-dropping physique in a tight black dress with ruche detailing and dramatic puffed sleeves along with matching suede sock boots as she dashed to catch her waiting taxi

Jaw-dropping: The stunning actress - who plays Chantelle Taylor - looked sensational in the form-fitting dress as she headed home out of the soap anniversary celebration

Wrapped up: The star also seemed to pinch one of her co-stars' black suit jackets as she made her way out of the party. Her character Chantelle has had own share of drama in recent weeks as she continues to be abused by her husband Gray

Spirited: Meanwhile Ricky Champ - who plays Stuart Highway - was also seen getting cosy with a blonde female pal as they headed out for the night after a wild evening to mark EastEnders' incredible milestone

Maisie looked stylish for the night in a pair of skintight leather-looking trousers teamed with a patterned top and cropped denim jacket, and finished her look with a pair of clear perspex platform heels and a Calvin Klein crossover handbag.

Meanwhile Zack looked dapper in a pair of black skinny jeans, a dark T-shirt and a khaki green jacket.

It comes after MailOnline revealed that the two stars have been growing close behind-the-scenes  and pals are convinced the pair will become a real life couple.

Fierce: Kellie Bright - whose character Linda Carter narrowly survived the 35th Anniversary scenes - was wrapped up in a leopard print dress with a cream faux fur jacket

Girls night out: Kellie was channelling Kat Slater with her animal print look as she headed out of the party followed by Luisa Bradshaw-White - who plays Tina Carter

Funky: Throwing her look back to the 90s, she styled her blonde tresses into dramatic crimped curls for the evening as she made a stylish departure

A TV source revealed to MailOnline: 'Maisie and Zack are very close off-screen, as well as being a married couple in EastEnders. They were the only cast members to share the same cab home together after the party on Saturday night.'

'They couldn't resist showing their affections for each other, with Maisie tickling the back of Zack's neck as they left the party' a second insider added.

'Romance blossomed as their characters grew closer, which only adds to their chemistry on-screen. They're adorable together and the rest of the cast think it's really sweet they've connected in this way.'

Vamping it up: Milly Zero - who plays Dot Cotton's granddaughter Dotty - was every inch the vixen in sexy LBD teamed with strapped block heels, but did seemed to be struggling to get into her leather jacket

Scary: The EastEnders newcomer appeared briefly in the anniversary episodes, as Dotty gave Bex Fowler drugs, which left her close to death and in hospital

Making history: EastEnders celebrated its 35th birthday with a dramatic week of episodes that centred around a Thames boat party that took a disastrous turn

EastEnders celebrated its 35th birthday with a dramatic week of episodes that centred around a Thames boat party that took a disastrous turn.

Viewers were left shocked as Sharon Mitchell's 13-year-old son Dennis died in an explosive twist - only for his mum to find out about his death moments after giving birth.

Dennis had been locked in a room on a boat that was flooding with water and despite Ian Beale's attempts to save him - after being the one to lock him in - Dennis was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Dressed up: Clair Norris - who plays Bernadette Taylor - proudly displayed her amazing curves in a fitted black mini dress with heeled suede boots

Back soon: EastEnders will return to screens on Monday to display the shocking aftermath of the boat party tragedy, and will especially feature Sharon as she comes to terms with Dennis' death

Perfection: Emma Barton - who plays Honey Mitchell - displayed the stellar results of her Strictly Come Dancing training, as she opted for a fun black feathered top with trousers and leather jacket

Dennis had been among some of Albert Square's finest who were trapped on board the boat that got into difficulty. Ian had locked him into a room and attempted to release him by bashing the door in with a fire extinguisher.

Viewers watched on as both Dennis and Ian were pulled from the water unconscious. Paramedics were seen trying to resuscitate Dennis, but to no avail and pronounced him dead, with both Keanu Taylor and Phil Mitchell watching on.

Sharon was in hospital giving birth, as she'd gone into labour early after being held at gunpoint by Phil's son Ben Mitchell who was holding her hostage.

Pensive: Max Bowden - who plays Ben Mitchell - cut a suave figure as he left the party with his girlfriend Danielle, after his character suffered a close call during the anniversary scenes

He's alive! Luckily Bleu Landau - who played Sharon's son Dennis - seemed to be alive and well despite his characters' tragic death, and was seen posing for snaps as he left the party

The camera then cut to Keanu visiting Sharon and his baby in the hospital, with Sharon quizzing him on the whereabouts of Dennis.

Unable to speak, Sharon persistently asked where her son is before eerily being heard screaming: 'Oh my baby.'

She was later seen blaming Dennis' death on herself and soon turned on Keanu as she told the father of her newborn child she never wants to see him again.

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.

However, Ian will be wracked guilt and inner turmoil as he is torn over whether to reveal the truth behind Dennis's death to Sharon.

EastEnders returns on Monday at 8pm on BBC One.
Two Customs Preventive officers allegedly involved in gold smuggling cases in Kerala were removed from service, a top official said here on Monday.

Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Cochin, Sumit Kumar said he took action against Radhakrishnan B, Superintendent of Customs and Rahul, Inspector of Customs, who were allegedly involved in gold smuggling cases in the state.

Radhakrishnan was involved in attempted smuggling of gold weighing 24998.61 grams having a market value of over Rs 8 crore through Thiruvananthapuram international airport on May 13, 2019, Kumar said.

Rahul was involved in attempted smuggling of gold weighing 11,035.54 grams valued at over Rs 4 crore through international airport on August 19, 2019, the Customs Commissioner added.

Radhakrishnan is currently lodged in Central prison, Thiruvananthapuram after the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau under the Union Finance Ministry issued detention order under COFEPOSA.

Rahul, against whom detention order under COFEPOSA was issued, is absconding.

"Two Customs officers of the Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Cochin, who were involved in gold smuggling cases were removed from service by Sumit Kumar, Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Cochin," an official release said.

Kumar said both the cases were booked and investigated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and while show cause notice under Customs Act 1962 has been issued against Radhakrishnan, investigation is under progress in the other case.

"Both the officers were removed from service, after due process of law under Rule 19 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965," the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the author of tens of articles published in prestigious journals, Tran Ngoc Tuan was one of the 10 young scientists who won the 2019 Golden Ball Awards.

Born into a farming family in Kien Giang province, Tuan, born in 1984, graduated from high school when the intensive aquatic farming movement in his homeland began developing strongly.

Tran Ngoc Tuan





He decided to study pathology at the Can Tho University because he thought the major would lead to a job.



Graduating from the university, he continued studying for masters degree in aquaculture. When conducting scientific research with the teachers at the school, he met a famous Chinese professor.



With the support of teachers and the Chinese professor, who later became his mentor when he was PhD fellow, Tuan obtained a full scholarship to study for doctorate at Huazhong University in China.

As the author of tens of articles published in prestigious journals, Tran Ngoc Tuan was one of the 10 young scientists who won the 2019 Golden Ball Awards.

In 2015-2017, he did postdoctoral research at the Aquatic Biology Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Since the beginning of 2018, he has been doing postdoctoral research at the Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University in Guangdong, China.

His current field of work is investigating the diversity of intestinal microflora and the interactions of intestinal microflora with the immune of aquatic creatures.



Tuan is the major author and co-author of 53 scientific articles published in prestigious journals.



Once an idea comes, you need to set to work immediately. If you are late, there may be someone else who is doing the same thing and shows their research results first, he explained.



Tuan attends many seminars, read reports presented at workshops, and exchanges views with researchers in the same fields to find new research tends and predict trends for the future.



When he is deadlocked, he pauses the work and puts it aside for one or two days, during which he would try to refresh himself.



He said people doing research are like mountain climbers, who always try to move forward.



For postdoctoral research, he shifted to study intestinal microflora of fish. Previously, he also studied microorganisms, but pathogenic microorganisms.

Therefore, he admitted that his understanding about the intestinal microflora in many aquatic animals is still limited. So, he has to refer to previous research results on many other animals, including those on terrestrial animals and humans.

Mai Chi

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.
Clark, who was high on the Victoria Police most wanted list, tried once again yesterday to shoot policemen who dared to stand in his way. In January, amid controversy over the way police had handled the hunt for Clark, formerly Pavel Marinov, Detective-Sergeant Kapetanovski was put in charge of the major crime squad team employed on the case because he speaks two Yugoslav languages and has an intimate knowledge of the community. He, Sergeant MacDonald and another officer had spent two days watching a house in Wyndam Street, in the fast developing town of Wallan, where a man described as similar to Max Clark had been staying with a young family. Shortly before 9 am yesterday the man took two young children from the house to the Wallan Primary School and then drove off to the Hume Highway towards Melbourne. The officers watching the house were not entirely sure that they had the right man because he had a beard and more hair than "Mad Max", so they decided to take a chance and confront him while he was still in the bush. It was their own decision and last night senior police rebutted suggestions from the secretary of the police union, Inspector Tom Rippon, that they should have been given back-up. The senior police said assistance had not been requested.

Police hunt for Pavel Marinof aka Max Clark aka 'Mad Max'. Credit:Cathryn Tremain The two officers, in their light brown un-marked Commodore, drew level with the van and showed their police identification. The man acknowledged them, stopped and waited for the two plain clothes officers, both carrying shotguns and revolvers, to approach the vehicle. The officers stood on each side of Clark's van and ordered him to put his hands on the dashboard. But he distracted them momentarily by offering his wallet and then produced a 9 mm automatic pistol and shot them both. The first two bullets slammed into Detective-Sergeant Kapetanovski's shoulder and hand. Clark then whipped around and fired a third shot into the chest of Senior Detective MacDonald. As Clark planted his foot on the accelerator in an attempt to make yet another escape, Senior Detective MacDonald lifted his 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and fired off two shots. The ultra-heavy pellets ripped through the van's side and rear panels and into Clark's stomach and right arm.

The van then veered sideways off the highway, smashing through a roadside post and the fence of a cow paddock belonging to Mr Angelo Garro. It ploughed on up a hill, through six more wire fences and came to rest in a field of parched yellow grass and thistles nearly a kilometre from the scene of the shootings. The van was about 150 metres from the highway. Not knowing what had happened to Clark, the police officers radioed for help and then flagged down a passing motorist and asked him to stop a truck or car with a CB radio to call an ambulance. Police hunt for the gunman in Springvale. Credit:The Age Archives The man, a farmer on his way into town to get his car's wind-screen replaced, stopped a truck and then escorted the wounded policemen as they staggered back into their car and drove down the highway towards Melbourne.

After eight kilometres Detective-Sergeant Kapetanovski gave up, stopped the car at a house at Craigieburn North and asked Mrs Santina Mangiafico to use the phone. He had driven with one arm while his partner bled profusely in the seat beside him. She said that as he came into the house she saw his red T-shirt and thought the bloodstains were sweat. "He said: 'I'm a policeman. I've been shot. I want some help. I want to call the police.' Mrs Mangiafico said that as Detective-Sergeant Kapetanovski completed his call to police head-quarters, "he slumped to the floor. He had only Just made it to the phone". "The other policeman was sitting in the passenger seat," she said. "I gave him a glass of water to drink but he couldn't take it. He couldn't move at all." Near the highway, a police helicopter had located the panel van and was carefully circling towards it, the crew looking for signs of life. The helicopter reported that a man was crouched in the front seat so police brought in officers from the special operations group to surround and rush the car in case Clark was about to open fire again on police officers.

Pavel Marinof was a factory worker by day and a burglar by night. Instead they found him dead, his large body sprawled sideways across the front of the car. But it was not until after they removed a wig that they were sure they had Max Clark. The two injured officers were flown in the police helicopter to Fawkner Park and transferred to Prince Henry's Hospital. Detective-Sergeant Kapetanovski underwent surgery last night to remove a bullet from his shoulder. He has three bones shattered in his left hand and his condition was said to be serious but stable. According to the hospital's di-rector of emergency, Dr Allen Yuen, Detective-Sergeant Kapetanovski probably saved his own life with his instinctive movement to clutch his right shoulder after the first shot was fired at him. His hand deflected the second bullet.

For some time doctors were confused about the wounded left hand because the officer was too shocked to recall he had been shot a second time. Senior Detective MacDonald has a punctured and collapsed right lung after a bullet passed through his chest. Doctors had to drain more than a litre of blood from his chest cavity to re-expand the lung. He was in intensive care last night where his condition was also described as serious but stable. Loading For some hours after the incident the officers' blood-spattered car was left beside the Mangiafico house to bear witness to the drama that had taken place on the highway. There was a shotgun and Senior Detective MacDonald's heavily bloodstained T-shirt and tracksuit top lying on the front seat and a pair of binoculars and a box of shotgun shells on the back seat. Assistant Commissioner Kelvin Glare said the two men had taken a courageous decision to intercept when they did. "The person was heading towards a populated area," he said. "They saw an opportunity to intercept him before he got into a crowded situation where even surveillance would have been difficult and even fraught with danger for others. They acted with great courage."
Passengers who arrived by bus in Lyon in southeast France on Monday from Milan in Italy were kept onboard after the driver was hospitalised with symptoms similar to those caused by the new coronavirus, security sources said.

Passengers who arrived by bus in Lyon in southeast France on Monday from Milan in Italy were kept onboard after the driver was hospitalised with symptoms similar to those caused by the new coronavirus, security sources said.

Police erected a security cordon around the bus at Lyon's Perrache station and ordered the passengers to remain onboard, a spokeswoman for the Lyon area's public security department said.

No information was given as to how many people were on the bus.

Milan is the capital of the Lombardy region, which is at the centre of Europe's biggest outbreak of the coronavirus that has killed nearly 2,600 people worldwide.

Five people have died from the disease in Italy, where villages in Lombardy have been put under lockdown.

The LyonMag news site reported that an Italian bus driver was taken to hospital for tests because he had a bad cough.

The regional health authority was not immediately available for comment.

Low-cost operator FlixBus said the bus had stopped off in the Italian city of Turin and the French city of Grenoble on the way to Lyon.
The Indian Delegation at Berlin International Film Festival met Ms Maud Amson, Head of Sales & Operations, Marche Du Film, Cannes Film Festival and Mr Arnaud Menindes, Sales & Operations - Advertising at Marche du Film, Cannes Film Festival regarding Government of Indias participation at the Cannes Film Market 2020. The discussion involved positioning India much more strategically at Cannes. Cannes expressed their collaboration and participation for the 51st edition of IFFI.

The Delegation also met with Heads of renowned Film Festivals, Film Commissons, International Producers like Ms Marielle Poupelin, Specialist International Business Development, Telefilm Canada; Mr Enrico Vannucci, Deputy Executive Director, Eurimages; Mr Kai Nordberg, Making Movies OY; Ms Adriane Freitag, Executive Manager, Cinema do Brasil; Mr Lefteris S. Eleftheroiu, Senior Officer, Head of Film Unit, Invest Cyprus, Ms Katalin Vajda, Festival Manager, National Film Institute, Hungary Mr Luis Chaby Vaz, President of Board - ICA Instituto do Cinema e Do Audiovisual, Portugal and Mr Sergio Scapegini, Italian Producer. Mr Scapegini expressed that Italy would actively consider participating and collaborating with India for the 51st edition of IFFI. He also underlined that the participation would pave-forward for more proactive ties between the two nations.

The Indian Delegation, through these interactions, promoted the 51st edition of IFFI and ease of shooting films in India through Film Facilitation Office that facilitates Single Window Clearance for film-makers and provides a platform for film tourism in India through the website www.ffo.gov.in. The Delegation also explored opportunities regarding co-production with India and collaborations for films with international production houses.

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry, is participating at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2020 in Germany.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
House majority whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) plans to endorse former vice president Joe Biden before the upcoming South Carolina primary, Politico reported on Monday.

Clyburn is going to wait until after the debate to give the endorsement, a Biden campaign adviser said. He promised the DNC it wouldnt be before the debate.

I will endorse Wednesday morning, Clyburn said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. Im going to tell everybody who Im going to vote for. Im just not going to do it today.

Clyburn is the highest-ranking African American in Congress and is viewed as a kingmaker in South Carolina. Biden has long contended that his support among black voters will help him carry the state, where around sixty percent of Democrats are African American.

According to Politico, the endorsement is seen by some Democrats as a last-ditch effort to stop the momentum of Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) following Sanderss strong showings in all three early state primaries.

I do believe it will be an extra burden for us to have to carry, Clyburn said on ABCs This Week regarding Sanderss candidacy. This is South Carolina, and South Carolinians are pretty leery about that title socialist.

After finishing a close second in the Iowa Caucuses and first in the New Hampshire primary, Sanders has picked up almost 50 percent of the vote in the Nevada Caucuses with 88 percent of precincts reporting. Biden, meanwhile, so far carries 21 percent of the vote in Nevada and came in fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire.

More from National Review
Long before Quaden Bayles touched the hearts of millions when he was targeted by bullies, his older sister had been making headlines as a glamour model and Aboriginal activist.

Guyala Bayles spoke out in support of her nine-year-old brother after a video of him begging for a rope to kill himself went viral last week.

The 20-year-old took to Instagram to share a photo of her alongside her sibling while hitting back at the trolls who targeted him.

'I say F**K the bullies and the haters! You're the coolest, smartest, strongest and the sweetest kid I know! You're not alone and we're all here for you my bruh,' she said.

But aside from sticking up for Quaden, who was bullied for his dwarfism, Guyala, a fashion model, has a long history of campaigning for Aboriginal issues and is a known anti-Australia Day activist.

Guyala Bayles spoke out in support of her nine-year-old brother on social media after a video of him begging for a rope to kill himself went viral last week

Quaden's sudden global fame could be a boon to the activism of his outspoken family (pictured with his mother Yarraka) who have spent generations advocating for Aboriginal issues

Last month, she uploaded a video of herself denouncing the national day, calling on the government to 'abolish the date'.

'[T]here's more important things to talk about then changing the date. I say abolish the whole thing altogether and focus your energy on; why our kids are still being take away, why there are numerous unexplained Aboriginal deaths in custody,' she wrote.

'Why our kids are killing themselves at such an early age, why the incarceration rate is increasing for our mob, why we have so many health problems, why we don't live a full healthy life, why the drug and alcohol rate is increasing within communities, why racism is still very alive in this country, why the government aren't engaging with Aboriginal people at a grass roots level!'

Quaden and mum forced off social media after relentless trolling Quaden and his mum have disappeared from social media after relentless trolling. Cruel trolls have been spreading a conspiracy theory that the youngster is secretly an adult. The false conspiracy theories prompted responses from his mother and rapper Cardi B. '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. Accounts run by his mother Yarraka Bayles have been deactivated, and the videos of Quaden she shared were removed. act-box text Advertisement

At 17 years old, she took part in Brisbane's Invasion Day march in 2016, saying she wanted white Australians to realise they lived in a 'stolen county'.

'The white fellas come here and they just think they own everything, and I want people to know that just because we're black doesn't mean that we drink, or we are thieves,' she told NITV at the time.

'There's actually a lot of black fullas out there that are doing good in life.'

Last month, Guyala uploaded a video of herself denouncing the holiday, calling on the government to 'abolish the date'

Her grandfather and great-grandmother were prominent indigenous rights campaigners Tiga Bayles and 'Aunty Maureen' Watson

Guyala revealed she comes from an outspoken family who have spent generations advocating for Aboriginal issues.

Her grandfather and great-grandmother were prominent indigenous rights campaigners Tiga Bayles and 'Aunty Maureen' Watson.

'They raised me and were telling me to be a little activist, so yeah they are my little motivation,' she said.

Guyala said she had faced racism when trying to break into the modelling industry, and was even advised to not mention her indigenous heritage.

She told the Macarthur Advertiser: 'There are definitely barriers in being a person of colour in this industry.

'We need more beautiful, unique, diverse men and women  not just pale size six models on the catwalk.'

Quaden with his sister Guyala, 20, a model and budding Aboriginal rights activist

Quaden with his family in front of a mural in Margate, Brisbane, depicting his great-grandmother 'Aunty Maureen' Watson and grandfather Tiga Bayles

She is currently signed to Chic Management and recently worked on a campaign for Maybelline cosmetics for Chemist Warehouse, according to social media.

Once she made it, she said Quaden, then four years old, was a little jealous.

'He goes to me ''oh, are you going to be famous now, sis?'' like, a bit put out, 'cos he really likes being the centre of attention, you know,' she told the Saturday Paper.

Guyala and Quaden's mother Yarraka Bayles likewise drew her inspiration from her father with her own activism, which expanded to disability issues after her son's diagnosis.

'People don't understand that if you're indigenous, you're already copping discrimination and racism,' she said last week.

She has previously spoken about the high rate of indigenous suicide and how her people have a life expectancy 15 years lower than white Australians.

Quaden kicked off an outpouring of support when Ms Bayles shared a distressing video after picking her son up from school last Wednesday.
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Police in Germany have tonight searched the home of a driver who deliberately drove a car into crowds at a German Carnival parade on Monday afternoon.

Special police officers dressed in all black with protective gear were seen entering the property of the 29-year-old who has been arrested for attempted murder after he ploughed his Mercedes into the carnival crowd packed with children.

30 people were injured following the incident and forensic officers have now set up a cordon around the car, with pictures showing several officers examining the silver vehicle.

The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen, mounted the pavement in the town of Volkmarsen, 15 miles west of Kassel, around 2.30pm on Monday before ploughing into families that had turned out for the festivities.

Police arrested the driver at the scene. While officers could not disclose a motive for the attack, local media reported that investigators are working on the assumption that it was deliberate and that investigators were looking into all possibilities.

German police say he is being treated by doctors due to injuries he suffered in the incident, and prosecutors he now faces charges of attempted homicide.

Reports suggest he was from the local area and had no history of political extremism.

The Hessian Ministry of the Interior had said that an attack could not be ruled out, but that the motive was unclear because the suspect is not fit for questioning.

Tonight special police officers were seen outside the home of the man who drove his car and crashed into a group of revelers during the Rose Monday carnival parade in Volkmarsen near Kassel

Police tape had been put up in the street and a team of forensic officers was seen examining a car which had been left under a white tent

The officers were seen dressed all in black and entered the property tonight after the suspect injured at least 30 people

Dozens of people, including children, have been injured after a silver Mercedes (left) drove into crowds celebrating the annual carnival parade in the German town of Volkmarsen on Monday

Emergency workers and families rush to help the wounded after a car ploughed into crowds celebrating carnival in Germany

Forensic experts investigate next to a silver-colored Mercedes car that crashed into a group of revelers. The men are seen in their white suits examining the evidence

The rampage injured some 30 people including children, prosecutors said. Attorney General Alexander Badle said the driver was not drunk, according to Bild.

'It can be assumed that it was intentional,' police spokesman Henning Hinn told reporters. He added that eight to 10 of those injured were seriously hurt.

'Among those who are seriously injured are children, unfortunately,' he said at the scene, where debris from the carnival littered the ground and a silver Mercedes-Benz car that appeared to have been involved was taped off by police.

Witnesses told news site HNA that the car had swerved around safety barriers before driving 'full throttle' into the crowd and appeared to be targeting children.

The car drove about 100ft into the crowd and the driver was still accelerating when police pulled him from the vehicle, public broadcaster Hessenschau reported.

Witnesses told Bild that angry locals surrounded the car as the driver was pulled out, and that police had to protect him as he was arrested.

Dirk Richter, police spokesman in the nearby city of Kassel told Welt TV: 'Everything we have available from the Kassel area is there.'

Video showed a silver Mercedes station wagon with local licence plates and its hazard lights blinking on the pavement, while emergency crews walked by.

The crash occurred on the south side of the town, outside a supermarket.

Two officers stand outside the property of the man who has been arrested following the incident on Monday afternoon. A push bike was seen outside the property

Forensic officers had set up lights and a table with all of their equipment in order to start their investigations into the incident

Police said the car mounted the pavement around 2.30pm and drove into crowds before the driver was arrested, but would not say whether they believe the crash was deliberate or an accident

A destroyed handcart is seen outside a supermarket where the car eventually came to a stop as police pulled the driver out

Witnesses said the car swerved around safety barriers before driving 'full throttle' into the crowd, and appeared to be targeting children (pictured, police at the scene)

The car drove approximately 100ft into the crowd and was still accelerating when police pulled the driver out, local media reports, as officers had to protect the driver from furious crowds

The driver is believed to have lived in the local area and was described as being aged between 20 and 30 (pictured, emergency vehicles at the scene)

All carnival events in the Hesse region were cancelled following the crash, German police announced.

Carnival celebrations take place in Germany every year in the week before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.

Carnival is hugely popular in central Europe including parts of western Germany, especially in Rhineland cities such as Cologne and Duesseldorf.

Festivities peak on 'Rose Monday' with tens of thousands attending street parades featuring comical or satirical floats, along with folk music and food.

The incident comes a week after a far-right terrorist shot nine people dead, then killed his mother and himself in the German town of Hanau.

Emergency vehicles at the scene after a car ploughed into a carnival parade injuring several people in Volkmarsen, Germany

Dozens of ambulances, police and fire trucks raced to the scene from the nearby city of Kassel, with officers saying that all available units had been diverted to the town

Ambulances at the scene of Monday's crash. Officials said a number of the wounded were being treated at the scene, but would not give further details

Volkmarsen is a small town of around 6,800 residents located in central Germany, around 15 miles from Kassel. Hundreds of people were said to be at Monday's parade

Manuela Mattner says she is lucky her five-year-old son was unhurt on Monday when a man rammed his car into a carnival procession in the western German town of Volkmarsen simply because his father pulled him away from the speeding vehicle.

'If my ex-husband had not reacted so fast, my son would be in hospital or maybe dead,' said Mattner, dressed in a black and white pirate costume with gold lining as she walked out of a bar near the site where 30 people were injured.

'He called me to tell me a car had driven into the parade and that they are both fine and that my son was crying and wanted to see me,' added the 40-year-old nurse. 'The driver clearly hates carnival but we love it.'

Police cordoned off the scene of the rampage as forensic experts gathered evidence. A few carnival revelers walked in an out of bars in the town's medieval centre. Neighbours leaning over window sills exchanged discussed what had happened.

'I was at work and I got a message on Facebook messenger saying a man drove his car into people in Volkmarsen,' said construction worker Johannes Peter, who was drinking a beer on his window and talking to his neighbour across the road.

'My first thought was 'this is a terrorist attack,'' said Peter. 'Luckily it wasn't but what happened is s***.'

In 2016, a Tunisian man with Islamist militant ties ploughed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.

At an Italian restaurant near the rampage site, owner David Bufo pointed to half a dozen red hats stacked behind the bar.

'We usually give them to guests who come without a costume,' said Bufo, who came to Volkmarsen 32 years ago. 'But today no-one is in the mood for it. We're just sad about what happened.'

It is a feeling shared by carnival revelers who hit the town's bars in the belief they could win the day.

'People drank, we drank, but it wasn't fun,' said Oliver Muetze, Mattner's boyfriend who works at a tyre factory in the neighbouring town of Korbach. 'Usually, we dance, we sing and everyone is happy. Not tonight.'
As UK leader Boris Johnson holds trade talks with the EU and US on post-Brexit terms, UKs budget may need higher taxes.

The United Kingdom must not exclude its huge services industry from a planned trade deal with the European Union as the price for reclaiming control over its economy, a group representing UK employers said on Monday.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to secure a post-Brexit deal that will not leave out service industries, such as finance, something many employers fear if London and Brussels stick to their guns.

Avoiding costly red tape and customs complexities were also vital for goods companies, the CBI said.

The UK and the EU are expected to begin talks for a trade deal next month, leaving little time before a post-Brexit standstill period expires on December 31.

Most economists polled by Reuters this month thought the most likely outcome would be a goods-only deal.

Relations between Johnson and some business groups have been strained by his dismissal of their concerns about the UKs exit from the EU.

Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBIs director-general, said UK companies backed many of the governments objectives for the negotiations, such as securing zero trade tariffs and allowing free flows of data.

In other areas, how the government strikes the balance between access and control is less clear, she said. All efforts must be made in these talks to save exporters time and money, avoiding new paperwork, costs and delays.

The CBI said it accepted that its once-favoured scenario of the UK remaining in the EUs customs union was now dead, posing challenges for the worlds fifth-biggest economy.

London and Brussels are far apart on key issues, chief among them the UKs insistence that it must be free to set its own rules for business while the EU wants a so-called level playing field on issues such as the environment and state aid.

The UK is also turning to a potential trade deal with the United States, with Johnson prepared to begin talks with the US in the coming two weeks, UK news outlet the Telegraph reported on Sunday.

The UK governments red lines for the trade negotiations, due to be published next week, are expected to push back against US demands for its pharmaceutical firms to have greater access to the UK market, the report said.

The CBI said it agreed with the government that the UK had to be able to seize new opportunities by setting regulations for emerging technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital payments and quantum computing.

But for the UK to truly be spear-heading this new frontier, its world-leading industries must not be distracted by significant new burdens on their exports, it said.

Higher taxes inevitable

On top of trade negotiations, the UKs first post-Brexit budget may raise taxes if the government wants to ramp up spending, according to the Resolution Foundation, a British think-tank.

New finance minister Rishi Sunak, whose predecessor Sajid Javid unexpectedly quit less than two weeks ago, is due to announce the tax and spending plans of Johnsons government on March 11.

Javids surprise departure led to speculation that Johnson wanted to raise spending by more than Javids budget rules allow.

Johnson plans to help voters in struggling regions who backed him in Decembers election by spending more on infrastructure, a big shift for the Conservative Party which has focused on fixing the public finances for the past 10 years.

But new roads and rail lines are only part of the story, Jack Leslie, a Resolution Foundation economist, said.

Johnson has also announced the biggest increase in spending on day-to-day public services in 15 years.

Higher spending will require higher taxes, Leslie said.

The UKs fiscal forecasters assess each budget against fiscal rules that the finance ministry sets itself. Javids rules aimed to balance day-to-day spending against tax revenue within three years.

The Sunday Times reported that Sunak was considering pushing back that target to five years.

The big question for (Sunak) is the extent to which he undoes big spending cuts to day-to-day public services, and how that is paid for, the Resolution Foundation said.

Sunak could increase tax revenues by cutting back incentives for private pension contributions, fixing loopholes in inheritance tax and reforming property taxes, it said.
A two-storey building has suddenly collapsed on a major road in Sydney, causing traffic chaos for commuters.

Emergency personnel, including multiple fire and rescue trucks, were called to New Canterbury Road in Hurlstone Park in Sydney's inner west about 11.45am on Monday.

A spokesman for NSW Fire and Rescue said the incident was likely connected to construction going on behind the building.

Photographs show at least two men in hi-vis vests working on scaffolding directly behind the collapsed building.

Bricks and rubble littered the sidewalk and damaged parked cars which were in the vicinity.

An Anata Awnings sign also fell from the second storey of the building, landing on top of another car below which was parked on the street.

Pictures of the aftermath show a silver Toyota Celica which was crushed during the chaos

A building has collapsed on a major road in Sydney, causing traffic chaos for commuters

A spokeswoman for New South Wales Police told Daily Mail Australia nobody was injured in the incident.

'Everyone has been evacuated from the building as well as a neighbouring building as a precaution,' she said.

'All workers at the site have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported.'

At least 15 emergency service employees are currently trying to sort through the rubble by moving one brick at a time.

MP for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis described the incident as a 'massive safety hazard.

'We have a couple hundred kids who walk down here in the afternoon - Canterbury Boys and Canterbury Girls, Trinity. There's a childcare next to the church. This area is very busy at this time,' she said.

Pictures of the aftermath show a silver Toyota Celica which was crushed during the chaos.

Emergency personnel have been at the scene to make sure nobody was injured in the incident

An advertising board displaying a bacon and egg breakfast landed directly on top of the car

An entire concrete and brick building collapsed, spilling rubble onto the sidewalk and parked cars which were below

The car had been parked in the driveway out the front of the building before it collapsed.

An advertising board displaying a bacon and egg breakfast landed directly on top of the car.

Two tradesmen were also pictured standing on scaffolding at a construction site directly behind the building.

Traffic diversions have been put in place in the area and commuters have been warned to find an alternative route.

According to the LiveTraffic app, Transport for NSW, the local council and a utility company have all also arrived on the scene.

The car was crushed under the weight of the rubble, which fell about 11.45am on Monday
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday announced his resignation from the post, paving the way for a possible formation of a new government.

The 94-year-old leader sent a two-line resignation letter to the king, Al Jazeera reported.

Mahathir's party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, has also quit the ruling government coalition, Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), according to party president, Muhyiddin Yassin, in a social media post.

Mahathir's decision follows a weekend of political wrangling, after it was reported on Sunday night that his party was planning to form a new government that would exclude his successor, Anwar Ibrahim.

The tussle between old rivals Mahathir and Anwar, 72, is the latest chapter in the long-running political saga between two of the country's most prominent political figures.

Anwar and Mahathir had united ahead of the 2018 election to drive out the UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional coalition that had ruled the South-East Asian country for six decades. The Pakatan Harapan coalition emerged as the surprise winner in the polls that led to the ouster of then-Prime Minister Najib Razak.

But tensions in the Pakatan Harapan coalition had been growing, as Mahathir resisted setting a specific timetable for keeping his promise to hand power to Anwar.

Anwar was Mahathir's deputy when the latter was the prime minister during his first stint from 1981 to 2003. But Mahathir sacked him in 1998 after they disagreed on policies to handle the financial crisis in the country.

Soon afterwards, Anwar was jailed for sodomy, charges he said were trumped up.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against a Chennai based NGO, Caruna Bal Vikas for allegedly receiving crores of rupees from Colorado based donor, Compassion International, which it alleges was used to convert people. The international donor shut down its India operations in March 2017 after the ban, also causing some tension in Indo-US relations at the time.

The Narendra Modi led government barred Compassion International from funding Indian NGOs without its permission in May 2016 over allegations of conversions.

At the time, some US lawmakers requested India to reconsider its decision. The then US secretary of state John Kerry also, during his visit in 2017, tried to convince then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to reconsider the decision.

The union home ministry said then that money given to Caruna Bal Vikas by Compassion International was being diverted for conversion activities to NGOs owing allegiance to the Methodist Church, Baptist Church, Salvation Army, Christian Missionary Society and Indian Pentecostal Church, in violation of the law.

To be sure, CBI has not named Compassion International as an accused in its FIR registered last Thursday. However, its name is in the FIR in reference to funding Caruna Bal Vikas.

In its FIR, reviewed by HT, CBI has alleged that Chennai based Caruna Bal Vikas (CBV), which was registered under foreign contribution registration act (FCRA), has invariably indulged in religious activities despite stating the nature of association as economic, educational and social in its account of foreign contributions filed from financial years 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Further, special audit conducted by the Income Tax department also reveal that a part of foreign receipts has been used for religious activities by CBV. Further, CBV has, inter alia, declared its long term objective of converting poor children into fulfilled Christian adults, and thus engaged in religious activities including conversions to Christianity. Such activities have potential to disturb communal harmony and therefore,(are) in violation of FCRA, 2010, CBI FIR states.

As per IT departments report, CBV utilized only 10% of foreign contribution for the purpose it was meant for, while the remaining 90% was diverted to 300 NGOs in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other states. Some of the NGOs are not FCRA registered, it adds.

Subsequently, another company, Adhane Management Consultants Pvt Ltd (AMCPL), Chennai, was created in July 2014 after action by IT department on CBV. In both the companies, the CEO, directors and registered address are common.

Soon after AMCPL was registered, the funding of Compassion International-USA, which was earlier channeled through CBV, was shifted wholly to AMCPL. CBV received Rs 6.75 crore in 2014-15 as against Rs 109.50 crore in 2011-12, Rs 130.52 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 111.71 crore in 2013-14. AMPCL received Rs 6.75 crore from Compassion without prior permission, states CBI FIR.

AMCPL is named as accused in CBI along with CBV. Both have been charged under criminal conspiracy and FCRA act.

An email sent to Compassion International remained unanswered. CBVs office bearers could not be located .
MSC Splendida, a Panama-flagged luxurious cruise liner (Photo: VNA)



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./.
Between 800 and 1,000 people attended a meeting in Cork on Monday night to rally public support for Sinn Feins efforts to get into government.

Over the next fortnight, further meetings are planned for Dublin, Galway, Cavan and Newry.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the rally is a continuation of a conversation she has been having around the country with voters.

She added: Tonight is very much a conversation. I dont think it is wise that the election happens, people cast their vote and then the politicians disappear behind high walls and have discussions and leave people out. I think it is healthier to involve people, listen to people, answer their questions and listen to their ideas.

Im not going to claim the trademark on public meetings, this is a thing that good political parties do. Certainly for me as the leader of Sinn Fein it is important that we maintain peoples interest in politics, rebuild faith in politics and at the heart of that is listening to what people say.

Ms McDonald has described Taoiseach Leo Varadkars description of their public meetings as ridiculous.

Speaking ahead of their first public meeting in Co Cork on Monday night, she said: I think his comments were completely over the top. It is obvious the political establishment are struggling with the result of the election.

I think they are having difficulty coming to terms with it but that is what they must do. For a reasonable, sensible person  the suggestion that holding public meetings is somehow an affront to democracy is ridiculous.

Mr Varadkar hit out at Sinn Feins plans to hold rallies, describing them as a campaign of intimation and bullying.

The party has organised a number of public meetings on both sides of the Irish border to drum up support in its bid to be part of the next government.

Mr Varadkar said the plans are an unwelcome development.

It seems that Sinn Fein, having won less than a quarter of the vote, are behaving as if they have won a majorityTaoiseach Leo Varadkar

Generally what happens in a democracy is people vote, the votes are counted and then parties try to form a government, he said.

Whats happening here  it seems that Sinn Fein, having won less than a quarter of the vote, are behaving as if they have won a majority.

My party regularly won more than a quarter of the vote and didnt get into government.

I think these rallies are designed to be the next phase in Sinn Feins campaign of intimation and bullying.

We saw that online and now we are seeing it in their rallies, and I wouldnt be surprised if the next step is that they take it to the streets.

It just shows you, again, that they are not a normal party; this is a party that has a casual relationship with democracy.

We have always said we want ordinary people's voices heard in the corridors of power.



No amount of hysterics from FF/FG will stop us talking to and listening to ordinary members of the public.



Come along to one of our public meetings and see for yourself @PearseDoherty pic.twitter.com/7NuNkZ6uDN  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) February 24, 2020

Mr Varadkar is meeting Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin on Tuesday.

The Fine Gael leader previously said his party was preparing to go into opposition.

Mr Varadkar denied that the meeting between the two leaders was a change in Fine Gaels approach to government.

As I said last week, we would be willing to engage in exploratory talks with any party that wants to speak to us, he said.

Thats happening with Fianna Fail and the Greens this week. Labour have their own issues and dont want to talk, and Social Democrats cancelled their meeting we offered them, so really its just exploratory discussions at this point with Fianna Fail and the Greens this week.

What I would say is that the onus really still falls with Sinn Fein to form a government.

They on the left believe they won the election, they have an opportunity now to prove that now by forming a government, and if they cant form a government they should fess up and say they didnt actually win the election, and even if they had they disagree with each other so much that they wouldnt have been able to form a government anyway.

BREAKING NEWS: Mastercard Dublin Tech Hub announces 1500 new jobs and news campus site in Leopardstown.



Read more here: https://t.co/0M27wGU6Ry  Mastercard Ireland (@MastercardIRE) February 24, 2020

Mr Varadkar was speaking at event where Mastercard confirmed it is creating 1,500 jobs in Ireland over the coming years.

Asked where all the newly recruited staff would live in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said that one of the features of a strong economy was the pressure on housing.

He also hit out at other political parties housing pledges made during the general election.

We have heard a lot of people in the last couple of months making out that they can magic up houses overnight or even within a few weeks; that isnt true. We are going to stick to what is true, and that is continuing to scale up an increase of number of new homes, he added.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis refused to be drawn on whether he agrees with the 2015 independent report which stated that the IRA Provisional Army Council still oversees Sinn Fein.

It comes after Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said his forces assessment of the report does not differ from the PSNIs.

Mr Lewis was asked about his view of the report during a visit to Londonderry on Monday.

We got the assessment from 2015, Ive got nothing to add from that, Mr Lewis said.

I think there has been a lot of coverage of that over the last period. My focus is about looking forward.

Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty hit back at Mr Varadkars claims that Sinn Feins public rallies are part of a campaign of intimidation and bullying.

Speaking in Dublin on Monday afternoon, he said: This is about public meetings. These are hysterical rants from the Taoiseach. These are public rallies and a chance to engage with the public.

Today, we are having detailed discussions with the Green Party about how we could put together a programme for government that deals with the big issues.

We want to go back to the people, report to them on how the Government formation discussions are going, who we are speaking to and who we are reaching out to.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said his party will hold several meetings with its membership around the country in the weeks ahead similar to the rallies being held by Sinn Fein.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan (Brian Lawless/PA)

Speaking following a meeting between the Green Party and Sinn Fein on Monday, he said parties need to look at what they have in common.

I think we were right to give them the hearing. To work with them in a collaborative way to see what is possible, rather than rule things out straight away.

I think that process helps if we can then move to the stage of proper multi-lateral talks, thats it on the basis of substance and is starting on the right path.

Mr Ryan said the Green Party will give any party a fair hearing and will not rule anyone out.

Our preference is for as wider a coalition as possible because the scale of change we seek to address the climate and biodiversity crisis needs that wide co-operation.
F ormer Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has finally been brought to justice after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in a historic trial.

The once powerful movie mogul was found guilty of two charges following a landmark trial which involved harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers .

But the 67-year-old was acquitted on the most serious charge - predatory sexual assault - which carried a potential life sentence. He was also cleared on first degree rape.

Weinstein, who was ordered to go to jail immediately after the verdicts were given, now faces up to 25 years in prison. He will be sentenced on March 11.

Though Judge James Burke cautioned the jury not to see the case as a referendum on #MeToo, the case will be seen as a milestone for that movement, which has inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men.

Weinstein used a zimmer frame as he attended court during the trial / REUTERS

Weinstein, who was at the helm of Oscar-winning films such as Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love, stared straight ahead as the verdicts were read in court in Manhattan.

As the jury was taken back behind closed doors, he continued to sit at the defence table, with several court officers standing close by. He then began talking to his lawyers.

He was later handcuffed and led away from the court. The judge said he will request that Weinstein be held in the infirmary after his lawyers said he needs medical attention following an unsuccessful back surgery.

Weinstein's first conviction was for a criminal sex act in the first degree on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006, which carries up to 25 years in prison.

The court was told how he helped her secure a job on Project Runway, before luring her to his New York apartment under the pretext of a business meeting.

He will be sentenced on March 11 / AFP via Getty Images

He then forcibly performed oral sex on Ms Haleyi. She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character.

The second count on which he was convicted involved the third-degree rape of a woman in 2013, which carries up to four years in prison.

The jury of seven men and five women had been deliberating the rape and sexual assault charges against Weinstein for five days.

While he did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The defence seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein, and also had sex with him, after he was alleged to have attacked them.

Actor Annabella Sciorra testified during the trial / REUTERS

Ms Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks later, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterwards.

During closing arguments, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno charged that Weinstein had become "the target of a cause and a movement" and asked the jury to ignore "outside forces".

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behaviour on his part.

Jurors signalled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations.

Weinstein has been convicted of a criminal act in the first degree on Mimi Haleyi / REUTERS

On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others . After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

Many of Weinstein's accusers described him as a person who would incredibly charming at first, making jokes and showing interest in using his immense power to help their careers.

But that was an act, they said, meant to gain their trust and get them to a place - often a hotel room or an apartment - where he could violate them.

Several women testified that Weinstein excused his behaviour as the price for getting ahead in Hollywood.

One said that when she laughed off his advances, he sneered, "You'll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works."

Harvey Weinstein indicted on new sex crimes charges in Los Angeles

The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured abd that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises. The court also heard that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.

Critics had accused Weinstein of playing up medical problems to win sympathy but Weinstein said he had back injuries.

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles. In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way in January, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another during Oscars week in 2013.

One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades.

Weinstein was arrested in May 2018, seven months after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed his alleged misconduct in stories that would win the Pulitzer Prize.
Both countries would benefit greatly from a recent proposal for a free trade agreement between the United States and Brazil in which such an agreement would provide an impetus for even more economic integration and would strengthen relations.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's presidential race in 2018 has demonstrated that South Americans are turning away from socialism and moving towards free market economics. It is the only time in Central and South American politics, with a large number of nations shifting from China and Russia and to the United States and other free-market nations.

The trade has equated to an estimate of $103.5 billion between the two countries by 2018. The main export of Brazil to the United States is crude oil, automobiles, coal, steel and machinery. Brazil, on the other hand, imports aircrafts, equipment, petroleum products, electronics and optical and clinical equipment from the United States. The United States is the second largest trading partner of Brazil, and Brazil is the ninth largest trading partner of the United States according to a recent State Department survey.

The United States is currently involved in a tariff war against China with discussions on trade, theft of intellectual property and corporate subsidies issues. There are wide gaps between how the United States controls the regulatory system with a lighter touch and China's heavyweight economic participation. It is indeed geopolitical and economical that the two largest economic superpowers are engaged in trade and yet they are nations that try to co-exist with vastly different economic systems.

The United States has free trade agreements with the south american nations of Chile, Columbia and Peru, but not with Brazil, as per the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The United States has the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world according to the World Economic Outlook Database of the International Monetary Fund. The fact that two of America's largest economies are now on the same page as economic policies, but without a free trade agreement, is somehow ironic.

Following President Bolsonaro's recent shift towards free market capitalism and away from socialism, it really is time for President Donald J. Trump to reward Brazil with a freedom accompanied with free trade agreement.

The momentum for growth can only come from the structured introduction of the free trade agreement so that the trade prospers under Trump, Bolsonaro and future administrations.The Strategic Partnership Dialog revealed in September would help to resolve historical indifference of US-Brazil business relations through efforts by means of organizations such as the Brazil-US Economic Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The legacy of these agreements will likely be built in the coming months and years.

The time has indeed come for President Bolsonaro's abandonment of protectionist tariffs by means of a free trade agreement. This will help to secure Bolsonaro's place as pro-American president of South America's largest country, while benefiting the United States by having a broad, powerful South American military and financial ally.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 17:24 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206647c27 1 World travel-advisory,South-Korea,Indonesia,Foreign-Ministry,coronavirus,COVID-19,outbreak Free

Indonesias Foreign Ministry has issued a travel advisory for South Korea on its official website, safetravel.id, amid concerns over the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry has emphasized avoiding travel to Daegu and Gyeongsang Bukdo, the two regions with the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Korea. The South Korean government has declared them Special Care Zones.

Considering the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Korea, we urge those of you who are and/or will be traveling to South Korea to increase caution and not to travel specifically to the Daegu and Gyeongsang Bukdo regions, declared the travel advisory, which was posted on Sunday.

We also urge you to always have increased awareness, maintain physical and psychological stamina, wear masks while doing outdoor activities, wash your hands with soap regularly, eat well-cooked meat, reduce interaction in public and continue to monitor information conveyed by the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul and by local authorities.

The advisory added that those experiencing problems in South Korea could contact the Indonesian Embassys hotline at +821053942546.

According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), there was a drastic increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Korea between Feb. 19 and Feb 23.

As of Feb. 23, 602 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in South Korea. Five people have died, 18 have recovered and 579 are being treated in hospitals.

Other countries, including the United States, have also issued travel advisories for South Korea.

The United States issued a level 2 travel advisory for South Korea on Saturday. Visitors were asked to exercise increased caution, according to the travel.state.gov website, but the US government has yet to issue a do not travel advisory.

Many cases of COVID-19 have been associated with travel to or from mainland China or close contact with a travel-related case, but sustained community spread has been reported in South Korea. Sustained community spread means that people in South Korea have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing, the advisory says.

As of Sunday, 13 countries have banned or restricted entry of South Koreans, based on the world.kbs.co.kr report. (ydp)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- One of the trendiest ideas in finance is something called social impact investing, which is the idea that people should put more money into socially beneficial companies and products, and less into socially harmful ones. That hardly sounds objectionable, but I am skeptical about how much good social impact investing can do.

The first risk is that social impact investing will be used to whitewash various harmful policies. By divesting from a particular set of companies, an investment fund loses at most a very small benefit from an additional degree of broader market diversification. The fund still is likely to earn the market rate of return on its other investments, and in the meantime it can claim virtuousness. At the same time, the funds can pursue socially harmful policies elsewhere: investing in companies that lobby for tariff protection, say, or emit less visible forms of pollution, or how about refined sugar?

A second risk is that social impact investing simply redistributes wealth from investments  maybe to less socially conscientious individuals. Imagine a socially conscious investment firm that declines to participate in the initial public offering of a company that pollutes the ocean. That might create downward pressure on the price of the IPO. But there is a problem: The value of the actual investment has not declined, so at a potentially lower IPO price other investors will step in to fill the demand. In fact, those investors may have the chance to buy at a discount and earn a higher return than otherwise.

The net result is that conscientious investors have missed out on a profitable opportunity, while less socially aware investors have earned more. Over time, the less socially aware investors will become richer, and their greater wealth may translate into greater political and economic influence.

Maybe this effect isnt large, but it is negative, and it will become correspondingly larger to the extent social impact investing becomes more popular (in 2018, the money pouring into sustainable investment funds quadrupled, rising to about $21 billion). That doesnt sound like an appealing trade-off.

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But put that worry aside and assume that social impact investing simply makes it easier to get a solar power company off the ground with an IPO or an expansion. Its still not clear that much has been gained. At that late point in the process, the company will succeed or it wont, no matter what the socially conscious funds do.

If anything, it would be more useful to have socially conscious research and development at the very early stages of projects. To some extent there are such investments, and I am more sanguine about being conscientious then than when companies already exist and funds are making investment decisions.

It is also difficult to monitor the performance and social efficacy of the funds focused on doing good. In actively managed sustainable equity funds, for example, the most commonly held stocks are estimated to be Microsoft, Alphabet, Visa, Apple and Cisco. I have nothing against those companies, but you have to wonder exactly how much social improvement those investment funds are buying.

Norways fossil fuel divestment is well-publicized. Less well known is that it exempted Shell and Exxon. There simply arent clear benchmarks for which investments to avoid, and of course some critics will portray technology companies as the embodiment of evil.

Too many of the empirical arguments for social impact investing stem from a single example: South Africa under apartheid. In that case, a coordinated campaign of divestment and international economic and social pressure did hasten the end of apartheid, all for the better. But most sanctions are not very effective at achieving their stated political goals, or their effectiveness may be unclear. South Africa may have been a special case because it was relatively small and isolated, and because so many South Africans had ceased to believe in apartheid.

Investment in socially beneficial activities can be worthwhile. But it ignores the question of who decides what is beneficial, and it is yet another example of how politics and media are becomingly increasingly performative. Everything is about looking good instead of substance. It is increasingly difficult for businesses and investment funds to perform their proper work under the glare of perpetual debate and periodic condemnation.

The notion of extending that same glare to economic investments makes is hardly reassuring. Ive yet to see a conception of social impact investing that I find convincing.

To contact the author of this story: Tyler Cowen at tcowen2@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.

Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of economics at George Mason University and writes for the blog Marginal Revolution. His books include "Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero."

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(Alliance News) - Associated British Foods PLC on Monday said it expects to progress in its half-year results, helped by a sales rise at its Primark retail arm, which is yet to experience any short-term pain from the coronavirus outbreak.

AB Foods said it built inventories before the Chinese new year, when the virus initially spread through Wuhan. The risk of supply shortages could be prevalent towards the end of the financial year however, AB Foods cautioned, if delays to factory production continue.

AB Foods said its AB Mauri, which is the company's baking arm, AB Agri and Ovaltine factories in China are operating at reduced capacity due to labour and logistics constraints as a result of the coronavirus.

"We are assessing mitigating strategies, including a step up in production from existing suppliers in other regions," AB Foods said.

The company, which ends its first half on February 29, expects growth in sales and adjusted operating profit to rise from GBP639 million in the year prior. However, on a reported basis, the dilutive effect of the adoption of accounting standard IFRS 16 on earnings will result in a "small reduction in adjusted earnings per share in the first half".

AB Foods said it has adopted IFRS 16, an accounting standard governing the financial treatment of leases.

AB Foods added: "We expect strong growth in adjusted operating profit in the second half, driven by profit growth for Primark and a second half weighting of the AB Sugar profit recovery. As a result, our outlook for the full year for the group is unchanged with progress expected."

At Primark, first half sales are tipped to come in 2.5% higher year-on-year, and up 4.2% at constant currency. Like-for-like sales are flat, the company said.

Margins are expected to decline year-on-year and AB Foods warned that on a lease-adjusted basis, Primark's "operating profit is expected to be marginally down" year-on-year.

On a reported basis, Primark's first half operating profit will be ahead of the prior year.

UK Primark sales are expected to be 3.0% higher, with eurozone sales rising 5.3% at constant currency, helped by growth in France, Belgium and Italy. First half like-for-likes in the UK are forecast t decline by 1.3%, however.

"Our business in the US continued to perform strongly, delivering like-for-like sales growth, with particularly strong trading at the store in Brooklyn. Together with the contribution from the planned store openings at American Dream, New Jersey and Sawgrass Mills, Florida, we expect a much-improved operating result for the year," AB Foods added.

The company expects to open 900,000 square feet of selling space in financial 2021, with new stores opening in places like Manchester, New Jersey, Strasbourg, Paris, Rome, Barcelona and Berlin.

Higher European Union sugar prices mean that AB Foods expects Sugar revenue to rise year-on-year. Agriculture and Ingredients revenue are also expected to rise year-on-year.

In the Grocery unit, which contains Kingsmill, the bakery products chain and the Silver Spoon sugar brand, interim revenue is expected to be in line with last year at a constant currency basis.

At the start of February, the was a blaze at the company's Wakefield Speedibake factory in Yorkshire, causing "significant damage".

"The site was safely evacuated, and we have comprehensive insurance for property damage and business interruption," AB Foods said.

Shares in the company were down 1.6% at 2,542.00 pence each in London on Monday morning.

The company will report its interim results on April 21.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Wells Fargo & Company WFC has entered into a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in order to settle a fake account openings scandal that proved to be a major setback for the company since its breakout.

Wells Fargo admitted to have wrongly collected millions of dollars in fees and interests from customers. It also agreed to have the credit ratings of certain customers and unlawfully misused customers sensitive personal information, including their means of identification.

This settlement holds Wells Fargo accountable for tolerating fraudulent conduct that is remarkable both for its duration and scope, and for its blatant disregard of customers private information. The Civil Division will continue to use all available tools to protect the American public from fraud and abuse, including misconduct by or against their financial institutions., said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Granston of the DoJ Civil Division.

Settlements

The settlement comes in the form of a deferred prosecution agreement, whereby Wells Fargo will not be prosecuted over a three-year period, provided it abides by certain conditions including continued cooperation with further government investigations.

The company has signed a civil settlement agreement under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 based on its creation of false bank records.

Further, Wells Fargo settled SECs civil investigation with an administrative order, under which it has agreed to establish a $500-million Fair Fund for the benefit of investors who were harmed by the conduct covered in the agreement.

Per the regulators, Wells Fargos continued cooperation and substantial assistance with the governments investigations, admission to wrongdoing, prudent remedial actions over a period of time, an enhanced compliance program, and significant work to identify and compensate customers who may have been wronged were all contributing factors that led to settlement.

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Brief Background

The major settlement relates to the revelation of a sales scam, wherein the banks employees allegedly opened millions of unauthorized accounts illegally to meet aggressive internal sales goals.

The news broke out in September 2016, post which, the company was subjected to investigations of several departments and businesses. As a result, a cap on Wells Fargos asset growth was imposed by the authorities. This will remain in place until the bank is able to give a reasonable assurance of staying out of trouble. The revelation also led to several layoffs and restructuring of operations.

Further, former CEO John Stumpf was banned from the banking industry last month and was charged along with seven other former executives, was charged a penalty of more than $58 million for involvement in the banks improper practices.

Our Take

Though this settlement will help Wells Fargo to overcome a major hurdle, the banks financials will continue to be affected by other ongoing probes.

The company continues to enhance compliance and operational risk management systems, along with timely remediation practices. Also, Wells Fargo is spending more on technology to ensure better data management and cybersecurity. These activities, along with close supervision of regulatory authorities, might help Wells Fargo move past the scandals and make way for growth.

Shares of the company have lost 3.9% over the past year against 13.6% growth recorded by the industry it belongs to.

Wells Fargo currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to Consider

State Street Corp. STT has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the past 60 days. Moreover, this Zacks #1 Ranked (Strong Buy) stock has rallied more than 50% in the past six months. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Citigroup C has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the past 60 days. Also, the companys shares have gained 21.9% in six months time. At present, it carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).

M&T Bank Corporation MTB has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the past 60 days. Additionally, the stock has jumped 15.8% over the past six months. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1.

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VIOLINIST Christian Garrick will perform the first of a series of monthly music nights at an Indian restaurant in Henley.

He will be accompanied at the Spice Merchant next Thursday (February 27) by pianist and harpsichordist David Gordon from 8pm.

Garrick has toured Israel with Dame Cleo Laine and performed at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charless birthday.

He has also played with the likes of Van Morrison, Dolly Parton and Wynton Marsalis, among others.

On March 26, saxophonist Gilad Atzmon will perform at the Thames Side venue, also at 8pm, and will be joined by pianist and organist Ross Stanley. Atzmon has been described as a jazz giant and has played with the Blockheads, Robert Wyatt and Pink Floyd.

Future concerts will include the return of Holly Shillito to the restaurant, where she has performed as part of the annual Henley Living Advent Calendar.

The events have been organised by Paula Price-Davies and Tom Ryan. The pair had previously worked as co-managers of the Kenton Theatre in Henley and staged a Santas Grotto in the town for three years.

Spice Merchant founder Bashir Islam is delighted to be working with Tom and Paula again after they helped stage the Living Advent Calendar performance there last year.

He said: We got in touch about making music a regular part of the Spice Merchant experience and are excited to get started.

Paula added: Its a lovely space and the food is fantastic, so that combined with these internationally-acclaimed musicians will make for some really special evenings.

There will be a 12 cover charge per person and set menus will be on offer. Tables are limited so booking is recommended at (01491) 636118 or www.spicemerchant.com
How rested are you? Fresher than an Alpine daisy, or dragging yourself through the day, propped up by caffeine and anxiety? Feeling rested isn't about how much sleep we get, despite our obsession with sleep quality, monitoring its length, depth, and hygiene via sleep trackers, sleep-journaling, sleep rituals or sleep clinics. Rest is different from sleep, yet we frequently confuse the two.

Resting can be active. It can be passive. It can be anything you want it to be, as long as you find it restful. Running, gardening, knitting, yoga, walking, swimming, cooking, listening to the radio, reading, doing the crossword, dancing, staring at your foot... it's all good. The only kind of rest which is counter-productive is enforced rest - ask anyone who has ever been confined to bed. That kind of rest drives us crazy. We are also wary of being seen to be doing nothing in a hive culture of manic activity.

In her new book, The Art of Rest, psychology broadcaster and author Claudia Hammond examines the pursuits we find restful, how we rest, and how rest works. It also looks at our attitudes to rest, and the cult of busyness. The book, crammed with accessible science and research, is based on the Rest Test, the biggest survey on rest ever conducted which involved 18,000 people from 134 countries, overseen by researchers at Durham University. Two-thirds of respondents felt they were not getting enough rest.

LEISURE TIME

In the 19th Century, leisure time was how you signified your social status. Today, it's about how busy you are. To call someone idle is pejorative; to call them lazy is an insult. Being busy means you are useful and important, and as our busyness keeps us wound up like clockwork toys, our need for rest becomes more acute. It keeps us awake at night. We are suffering from a rest deficit. "Rest is not a luxury, it's a necessity," writes Hammond. "It's essential."

Socrates warned us to beware the barrenness of a busy life, but it takes a certain singularity to step back. Few of us wish to jack it all in for a life of solitude up a mountain; we are too invested and caught up in the material world, even as it impacts on our quality of life. So we invest in rest to run parallel alongside our busyness, scheduling our down-time, organising restful activities, booking and paying for rest, learning relaxation techniques. Downloading apps, engaging professionals, shelling out for spa breaks, all to help us switch off and recharge.

Simple activities have been rebranded. What used to be called having a walk in the woods is now 'forest bathing' from the Japanese shinrin-yoku; being outdoors in nature is 'eco therapy', while staying indoors with a book is 'bibliotherapy'; yoga nidra is mindfully lying down, while meditation is mindfully sitting up. The more New-Agey among us use floatation tanks, sensory-deprivation devices, noise-cancelling technology.

THE REST TEST

The Rest Test research shows, however, that the most popular top 10 restful pursuits are simple, uncomplicated, and solitary. Our number-one favourite restful activity is reading, followed in order of preference by spending time in nature; being alone; listening to music; doing nothing in particular; having a walk; having a hot bath; daydreaming; watching TV; and mindfulness.

Hammond was surprised that reading came top of the Rest Test "because people weren't voting for the activity they find most enjoyable, but the most restful. And reading is not a passive pastime - it requires quite a bit of effort".

An in-depth 1988 study into reading habits, conducted by Zimbabwean clinical psychologist Victor Nell, found that participants suddenly deprived of their reading material recorded feeling 'desperate', 'desolate' and 'dispossessed' on his 'Frustration Index'. Anyone who has ever forgotten their book will be familiar with this horrible feeling. Nell's study concluded that reading is "a restful activity which has nothing to do with switching off the brain or shutting down the body".

Numerous studies confirm what we know instinctively - being in nature is calming, soothing, nurturing. Restful. And you don't even have to be outside for it to work. A famous 1984 study from a Pennsylvanian hospital kick-started research into the healing powers of nature when an architecture professor, Roger Ulrich, discovered how post-surgery patients needed less painkillers and went home a day earlier if their hospital beds overlooked a view of trees. Trees, fields, rivers, mountains, lakes, beaches, the sea all call to us; they are where we go for respite.

ALONE TIME

Being alone, the opposite of being lonely, is restful when it is not enforced. The Rest Test found that even extroverts rated time spent alone as more restful than time spent with others. A 2017 American study of 18-25-year-olds showed how solitude sparks greater creativity, just as chronic loneliness is bad for our physical and mental health. And beware using social media as an antidote to loneliness, instead of embracing restful solitude, or, says Hammond, "it might stop feeling so restful if we are constantly communicating with others".

Tune into a playlist instead. Listening to music impacts our physiology to such a degree that soothing music has shown to reduce cortisol levels in saliva swabs (yes, someone took the trouble to test this). But it's not just about chilling out; listening to music, whether it's Bach or techno, is restful in that it wholly absorbs us. What we prefer to listen to is entirely subjective.

When it comes to doing nothing in particular, Albert Camus believed that "idleness is only fatal to the mediocre". William Burroughs, in opiate reverie, used to spend 10 hours straight staring at his foot. While the rest of us may not have that kind of time, mooching without purpose, pottering about doing nothing, provides punctuation within all the busyness. Step away from the lifemin - fixing the shower curtain, worrying about your pension plan, nagging your children - and go stare into space with a cup of tea. It will improve your divergent creativity - freeing your mind so it arrives at creative solutions more effortlessly.

A good walk is active rest at it purest, a time were ideas can form as your body follows its own rhythm. Rebecca Solnit, in her book Wanderlust, on the historyof walking, writes how walking encourages deep thinking: "The closest to doing nothing is walking." Nietzsche was a fan, as was Beethoven, Dickens, Goethe, Kierkegaard, Wordsworth, Kant and Aristotle. Running, paradoxically, can also be restful, as exerting the body relaxes the mind, helping to quell inner chatter.

A hot bath - with or without bubbles, candles etc - is another favourite restful activity. Sylvia Plath wrote in The Bell Jar how "there must be quite a few things a bath can't cure, but I don't know many of them". Soothing, warming, cleansing - a whole different experience from a shower. And sociable - while the ancient Romans had public baths which could accommodate 18,000 people, today we have jacuzzis.

DAYDREAMING

While we find daydreaming restful and peaceful, a doctorate student at the Medical College of Wisconsin discovered how the daydreaming brain is not actually resting at all, but working as normal. More than 3,000 scientific papers have been published about the brain's resting state; turns out there is no such thing. The brain is designed to wander, and even when 'idling' is still busy. Or as neuroscientist Mark Lauckner puts it: "The brain only really rests when you are dead." What is not restful is endlessly trying to rein in the wandering brain and its random thoughts; instead, be their observer.

Watching TV - ninth of the Rest Test's 10 most popular restful activities - is, like listening to music, good for winding down. We tend to be a bit snobby about television, but anyone who has ever come home shattered knows the value of a good veg-out in front of whatever you find restful. (For me, animal documentaries, rather than, say, cage fighting, but it's entirely subjective). The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi conducted research where people reported watching TV to be more restful than playing sport or going to clubs. "It made them feel drowsy and passive, but also moderately cheerful," writes Hammond. "Television provides an escape from ourselves."

Out of the 18,000 who completed the Rest Test, 4,000 people chose mindfulness as their preferred restful activity. By mindfulness, Hammond means meditation, yoga etc, and takes a tongue-in-cheek definition from the Ladybird Book Of Mindfulness: "The skill of thinking you're doing something when you're doing nothing." You can do pretty much anything mindfully - all it takes is to consciously notice what you are doing. And if you can't stand the thought of sitting still, there's always yoga. The feeling when you lie down after a dynamic yoga practice is restful to the point of ecstasy. For me, it beats the other nine things hands down.

How to unplug and recharge

1 Make sure you rest enough: the ideal amount is five to six hours a day, but quality is more important than quantity.

2 Pick the right ingredients for rest: taking a break from other people; being distracted from your worries; exerting your body to rest your mind; allowing your mind to wander; giving yourself permission not to achieve anything.

3 Give yourself permission to rest: how often do you push on when tired instead of taking a break?

4 When you feel stressed, give yourself 15 minutes of your favourite restful activity: it will improve your wellbeing and concentration.

5 Notice moments when you are resting: try to be a purposeful and conscious rester. Note it, value it.

6 Reframe wasted time as rest: rebrand enforced delays (traffic, someone being late, etc) not as annoying, but as a chance to inwardly recharge.

7 Stop fetishising busyness: trim your to-do list of non-essentials, and let them go.

8 Just say no: it's really, really okay to just say no.

9 Put breaks in your diary as well as appointments: treat rest with the same importance as work.

10 Add small restful moments to your life: daydream instead of checking your emails. Walk instead of driving. Slow down.

11 Create a box of rest: fill it with your favourite music playlist, book, hobby, running shoes, whatever.

12 Don't let your search for rest become unrestful: living well involves balance, variety, moderation. Don't become a restaholic or a rest bore.

THE ART OF REST by Claudia Hammond Canongate 16.99 (20.12)
Proper structures must be instituted to ...
Citizens in Daegu wait in long lines to buy facial masks in front of E-mart's Manchon branch, Monday, as the number of coronavirus patients has been skyrocketing in the region. Yonhap



Korea reports 231 additional coronavirus cases, 8th death



By Jun Ji-hye



Korea confirmed 231 additional cases of the new coronavirus and the eighth virus-related death Monday, reporting another record spike in the overall tally  833 people infected  according to government and hospital officials.



Most new cases continued to be centered in Daegu, forcing the health authorities to shift the focus of their fight against COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) to containing any further spread across the country.



Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu said a 57-year-old man who was confirmed as the nation's 94th patient, died at 4:11 p.m., becoming the eighth fatality. He had tested positive for the virus while hospitalized at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, near Daegu, and was moved to Kyungpook for treatment.



Earlier in the day, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said a 62-old-man who also tested positive for the virus at Daenam Hospital had died Sunday, the seventh fatality.



Six out of the eight coronavirus deaths have been traced to Daenam Hospital where more than 110 people including medical staff and other employees are confirmed to have been infected.



Patient numbers from the infection cluster at the Shincheonji Church in Daegu have continued to increase sharply. Among the 231 newly confirmed patients, 129 attended services at the minor Christian sect.






The caste certificate of



seer-turned-politician and Solapur BJP MP Jaisiddeshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji was declared invalid on Monday by a district caste validity committee which directed that a case be filed against the parliamentarian.

Solapur seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.

A copy of the order is with PTI.

A lawyer representing one of the persons who had complained to the committee about the seer's caste certificate said he could now be disqualified as Lok Sabha MP.

Swami had defeated senior Congressman and former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde in the 2019 LS polls by over 1.5 lakh votes.

One Pramod Gaikwad had complained to the validity committee that Swami, in his election affidavit, had mentioned that he belonged to the 'Beda Jangam' community, part of the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.

Gaikwad had alleged that Swami was a Hindu Lingayat and sought a detailed probe into his caste certificate.

The three-member caste validity committee, led by Dnyaneshwar Sul, on Monday said Swami did not belong to the Beda Jangam community and declared his certificate invalid and forged.

The committee asked the Akkalkot tehsildar to file a case against Swami in a magistrate court under provisions of the Caste Certificate Act, 2000.

Meanwhile, Swami's lawyer Santosh Navkar alleged the committee was working under "pressure" from the complainant.

"There is proof that wherever the vigilance squad went to verify documents, people from the complainant's side were with them. We had objected to the reports filed by the vigilance squad and had made applications to replace the squad but the committee did not take any cognisance," Navkar said.

He said the entire proceeding was carried out in a "hasty" manner and said they would approach the Bombay High Court against the caste certificate invalidation order.

Lawyer Sanjay Chavan representing the complainant said Swami, after Monday's order, can be disqualified as Lok Sabha MP.

"We will approach the (Solapur) district collector and submit an application for further action," Chavan said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


JERUSALEM  Nearly 200 Israeli pupils were ordered to begin a two-week quarantine from Sunday after having come into contact with South Korean tourists who contracted the coronavirus, the education ministry said.



South Korean members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus toured Israeli sites between February 8-15 and upon their return home 18 of them were discovered to be infected with the virus.



Israel's health ministry urged people who might have encountered them to self-quarantine, including 180 pupils and 19 staff from three separate schools who it said had close contact with the South Korean visitors.



The pupils and staff, including 18 teachers and a guard, were instructed "to remain home" for 14 days, the education ministry said.



The health ministry also published a detailed list of the sites visited by the South Korean tourists, ordering "anyone who has been in touch with the pilgrims" to "home-quarantine until 14 days from the encounter with the group have passed".





"In addition, anyone who has been in Taiwan, Italy or Australia in the past 14 days and is developing the disease's symptoms should be examined," the ministry said in a statement. (AFP)


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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Mon, February 24, 2020 10:20 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20662e45a 2 World #USA,#Elections,Bernie-Sanders,military,North-Korea Free

Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has said that if elected president he would "absolutely" use the military if warranted, both to protect US interests and to support its allies.

He also said he would be willing to meet with the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, as President Donald Trump has done.

Sanders has emerged with an early lead in the Democratic nominating process, and as a self-declared democratic socialist his foreign and security policies are starting to draw closer scrutiny. But he has denied being a pacifist.

In an interview airing Sunday on CBS's "60 Minutes," the Vermont senator was asked in what circumstances he, as commander-in-chief, would deploy US military forces. He listed these criteria:

"Threats against the American people, to be sure. Threats against our allies. I believe in NATO.

"I believe that the United States, everything being equal, should be working with other countries in alliance, not doing it alone."

- 'We will not sit by' -

When the interviewer asked whether he would order military action if Taiwan came under attack from China, Sanders replied:

"Yeah. I mean, I think we have got to make it clear to countries around the world that we will not sit by and allow invasions to take place, absolutely."

The senator, who scored a resounding victory Saturday in the Nevada presidential caucuses, was asked if he would follow Trump's example and meet with the North Korean leader.

"Yeah, I mean I've criticized Trump for everything..." he said. "But meeting with people who are antagonistic is, to me, not a bad thing."

Sanders added that he believed Trump was "unprepared" when he met with Kim -- their meeting last year in Hanoi collapsed in disagreement.

"But I do not have a problem with sitting down with adversaries all over the world."

In a recent New York Times survey of the Democratic candidates, Sanders and fellow Senator Elizabeth Warren said they would continue Trump's personal diplomacy with Kim, but former vice president Joe Biden, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Amy Klobuchar said they would not.

Conscientious objection

Sanders, along with Biden and Bloomberg, also said he would consider using force to pre-empt an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test.

Sanders is known best for his positions on economic justice -- particularly the yawning gap in the US between the wealthiest Americans and those much less well-to-do.

But as his chances of winning the Democratic nomination rise, scrutiny is bound to intensify on other issues.

As a student at the University of Chicago during the turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, Sanders belonged to several leftist and anti-war groups, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

In 2015, when a Politico interviewer questioned him about his decision to register as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, he replied: "I am not a pacifist."

"I supported the war in Afghanistan," in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, he noted.

In 1991, however, he had opposed the first Gulf War.

Sanders told Politico that he had backed the Clinton administration's military actions in Kosovo and President Barack Obama's air strikes in Syria.

But he then added, "I happen to believe from the bottom of my heart that war should be the last resort."
By Robin Emmott

AALST, Belgium (Reuters) - A satirical Belgian carnival parade decried by Israel's foreign minister as "hateful" went ahead on Sunday despite being withdrawn from the United Nation's list of recognised cultural events over accusations of racism and anti-Semitism.

After a float in 2019 featured caricatures of ultra-Orthodox Jews standing with bags of money, organisers in the city of Aalst faced calls to cancel the centuries-old parade, which was included on UNESCO's cultural heritage list in 2010.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Twitter on Thursday: "Belgium as a Western democracy should be ashamed to allow such a vitriolic anti-Semitic display," calling on authorities to ban "this hateful parade".

Organisers and participants said the Aalst carnival, which pokes fun at religious, ethnic and social groups, including the British and Belgian royal families, was not against Jews.

"Nobody is targeted," said 21-year-old student Jielke, one of thousands of revellers who turned out despite a winter storm.

"Last year there was a lot of fuss, but we want to make fun of everyone," she said, standing in front of a float with an effigy of an Arab man as a snake charmer.

UNESCO noted the carnival's "slightly subversive atmosphere" when including it in its list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" in 2010, according to its website. It removed it in December 2019, after a request by Belgium and the city of Aalst, which had expected to be taken off the list.

Of some 60 floats, a handful made fun of religion, including one effigy of an ultra-Orthodox Jew with boxes of diamonds. Another was as a mock-up of the Western Wall, the Jewish place of prayer and pilgrimage, in Jerusalem.

A Reuters witness saw one group of men wearing the so-called rabbi kit of oversized noses, side locks and black hats.

The 75th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp Auschwitz and a resurgence of anti-Semitism worldwide have heightened sensitivities outside Belgium to the event.

Story continues

"You can have fun with everybody, but there's a limit," said Philippe Markiewicz, president of the Israelite Consistory of Belgium, the official representative of Jews in the country.

Organisers said there was no suggestion of making fun of the Holocaust. "My city is neither racist, nor anti-Semitic," Aalst Mayor Christophe D'Haese told a news conference.

Nine months in preparation, the celebration is a procession of effigies of giants and includes a broom dance in the central market to chase away the ghosts of winter, as well as a parade of young men dressed as women with corsets and prams.

Some of the carnival's mockery was turned on itself. In two floats, effigies of local politicians held toilet rolls with the words "UNESCO" and "censorship" written on them.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Giles Elgood)
If youre a fan of Homeland, you got used to not taking things at face value long ago. In each of its eight seasons on Showtime, weve watched characters change sides so often (sometimes, only to rejoin their original side) that you expect alliances to shift quickly in this world.

Three episodes into this final season, weve begun getting used to the odd rapport between Carrie Mathison (Clare Danes) and her Russian captor, Yevgeny (Costa Ronin). Whether you recall Yevgeny smashing Carries face or withholding her meds in prison, you understand her hesitance about him.

Carrie certainly doesnt see Yevgeny as a friend, and shes requested approval to deliver payback against him at least twice. (She cant make a move, per a prisoner-exchange deal with the Russians.) But from the moment Carrie dove back into the fray, Yevgenys acted like her ally.

That continued into episode three, aptly titled False Friends. Carries not the only one wondering about her alliances. Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), his negotiating partner in the Taliban, and President Warner (Beau Bridges) all harbor doubts about those in their inner circle.

Yevgenys words plunged Carrie into deeper confusion

Costa Ronin as Yevgeny and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in HOMELAND, False Friends | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME

Since Carrie failed a polygraph test post-captivity, folks inside the CIA have wondered whether she compromised assets in Afghanistan. (She got the third degree in Episode One.) And Carrie has joined those with doubts about her interactions with Yevgeny in Russia.

In her blurry recollections, Carrie remembers begging Yevgeny to stay with her (for whatever reason) at the jail. She realizes something changed during her stay in Russia. In False Friends, Yevgeny meets up with Carrie claiming he saved her life. (Carrie tried to hang herself, Yevgeny says.)

Carrie doesnt know what to make of that information. (A blurry flashback scene doesnt help viewers much either way.) But shes clearly coming to terms with the fact that she might have made arrangements with Yevgeny. (She tells CIA personnel in Kabul he may want to work with the U.S.)

As Carrie plays with the truth when discussing things with the Kabul CIA station, she knows she has cause for concern. After all, Yevgeny seems sincere in their interactions. Meanwhile, he proves Carrie opened up to him with a revealing detail about her daughters potential drowning.

The false friends of President Warner and Haqqani

Numan Acar as Haissam Haqqani and Elham Ehsas as Jalal False Friends | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME

It doesnt feel like so long ago when Haissam Haqqani (Numan Acar) seemed like the most evil man alive. (An embassy massacre will do that to a persons reputation.) But Homeland writers clearly didnt want to let his story end there.

Many years later, Haqqani has become a weary Taliban leader hoping to bring peace to his land after two decades in battle. However, he faces plenty of resistance within his own ranks. It starts with his son Jalal (Elham Ehsas) and extends to Jalals contacts in Pakistani intelligence (the ISI).

So while Saul and Haqqani wrap their heads around peace terms, the Taliban leader has to mete out punishment to a son who nearly took Haqqanis life. (Jalal would have ascended up the Talibans ranks.) Instead of death, Haqqani banishes Jalal.

Back in D.C., President Warner and his chief of staff (same as the old chief of staff) David Wellington (Linus Roache) discuss whether the vice president (bizarrely, a unity pick from the opposing party) is maneuvering against Warner in order to mount a challenge against him in the next election.

Looking at the big picture, things are progressing in an unsettling way. Saul got his peace pact with Haqqani and Warner seems ready to grab the opportunity. But Jalal and the ISI are going to mobilize against Haqqani and the Americans. Meanwhile, Carrie will have to deal with her own demons. In a word, Homeland is looking good thus far in Season Eight.

Also see: Homeland Season 8 Episode 2 Recap: Carrie Deals as Saul Walks the Tightrope
President Klaus Iohannis has announced his decision to hold a meeting of Romania's Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) on Wednesday on the coronavirus topic.

"We have no registered case of coronavirus so far, but we must be prepared, in case of a negative development. So I have decided to call a CSAT meeting on Wednesday, 2.00 pm, for a briefing on the concrete measures regarding the monitoring and management of the possible cases of infection with the new coronavirus, as well as the strategy to combat possible coronavirus epidemics at national level," Iohannis said, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.He also said the Romanian authorities have taken the necessary measures to prevent contamination with this virus, but they need to insist on the efficient communication and information measures for the population."I call on the citizens to remain calm and get the correct information," said Iohannis.The head of state showed that the situation in Italy makes people concerned, including the Romanian citizens, and he mentioned he is permanently in touch with the relevant institutions of the Romanian state to monitor what happens in the areas now under quarantine and where Romanians live.
DANBURY  Not guilty pleas have been entered in the case against the former priest accused of sexually assaulting one boy and groping another.

Jaime Marin-Cardona, 51, is charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, three counts of risk of injury to child and three counts of illegal sexual contact.
W ikileaks founder Julian Assange is guilty of ordinary criminality with a mass leak of classified cables that put sources and informants at risk of torture or death, the US government argued today at the start of his extradition battle.

The 48-year-old is accused of leaking hundreds of thousands of government documents in 2010, including secret cables from Afghanistan and Iraq, which were published unredacted online.

Opening the case against him, James Lewis QC said Assange endangered US informants with the high-profile leak, and said the hack of the information cannot be excused because he is a journalist.

Mr Assange identified informants and dissidents in Iraq and Afghanistan, who had helped by giving information to the American and coalition forces," he said.

Julian Assange - In pictures 1 /30 Julian Assange - In pictures 2019 Julian Assange on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates court on April 11 Jack Taylor/Getty Images 2019 Julian Assange made a defiant gesture with his fist as he arrived at court AFP/Getty Images 2017 Julian Assange puts his fist in the air as he steps out to speak to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador Getty Images 2012 Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying Getty Images 2012 Masked supporters of Julian Assange outside the Embassy of Ecuador in Knightsbridge Dominic Lipinski/PA 2010 Photographers hold cameras to the windows of a Serco prison van believed to be carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange Reuters 2016 ulian Assange's cat, is adorned with a tie and collar inside the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy PA 2016 Pamela Anderson delivers lunch to Julian Assange at Embassy of Ecuador Getty Images 2010 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is pictured through the heavily tinted windows of a police vehicle as he arrives at Westminster magistrates court in London AFP/Getty Images 2010 Jemima Kahn leaves the City of Westminster Magistrates Court after offering to stand as surety for Julian Assange Getty Images 2010 Julian Assange of the WikiLeaks website speaks to reporters in front of a Don McCullin Vietnam war photograph at The Front Line Club in London Getty Images 2010 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gestures inside a prison van with red windows as he arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice Getty Images 2011 WikiLeaks website founder Julian Assange arrives at The High Court Getty Images 2011 Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, shakes the hand of a supporter as he leaves Trafalgar Square after addressing the crowd during the 'Antiwar Mass Assembly' organised by the Stop the War Coalition Getty Images 2011 Journalist John Pilger and Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, chat before addressing the crowd during the 'Antiwar Mass Assembly' organised by the Stop the War Coalition at Trafalgar Square Getty Images 2012 Placards are left by supporters of Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks whistle-blowing website, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy Getty Images 2015 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with Reverend Jesse Jackson outside the Embassy of Ecuador in London PA 2016 People attend a video conference of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the International Center for Advanced Communication Studies for Latin America (CIESPAL) auditorium in Quito AFP/Getty Images 2016 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up his new kitten at the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London WikiLeaks 2017 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during a press conference from inside the Ecuadorian embassy AP 2018 Supporters of Julian Assange outside Westminster Magistrates Court, London where a court decision is due on whether a UK arrest warrant against the WikiLeaks founder is still valid PA 2018 British hacker Lauri Love and his girlfriend Sylvia Mann are surrounded by media after visiting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on 6th February 2018 AFP/Getty Images 2018 A cat named 'James' wearing a collar and tie yawns by the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been for over five years on 6th February 2018 AFP/Getty Images

People whose names were disclosed were people who had already put their safety and lives at risk from dangerous regimes to assist the US and allies.

Publication made the risks immediate and real.

He told Woolwich crown court: What Mr Assange seeks to defend by free speech is not the publication of classified material, but he seeks to defend the publication of names of sources.

Mr Lewis said the US governments case was bolstered by the condemnation of Wikileaks by several newspapers after the information was published, hitting out at Assanges decision to include the unredacted names of sources. They said the leak had put sources in danger of imprisonment, torture, and even death.

Assange faces 18 charges on a US indictment, alleging he worked with military analyst Chelsea Manning to hack computer systems and leak vast amounts of classified State Department and Pentagon documents.

Mr Lewis said hacking claims that Assange faces would be a crime in both the UK and the USA.

More than 100 people gathered outside the court, many waving placards / Getty Images

This is ordinary criminal charges and any person  a journalist or source who hacks or attempted to gain unauthorised access to secure computer systems, or aids and abets others to do so, is guilty of computer misuse, he said. Reporting or journalism is no excuse for criminality.

Mr Lewis started his submissions this morning with an attack on reporting by Assange supporters, saying they wanted to paint him as the embodiment of free expression.

He told the court it was not accurate to say Assange could face 175 years in prison if convicted in the US or face the rest of his life behind bars.

Assange is fighting the extradition request, in a court battle over 20 days of legal argument between today and May, and is set to put President Trumps administration at the centre of his case.

He claims the prosecution he would face is politically driven, the case against him has been tainted by alleged spying while he was living in the Ecuadorian embassy, and argues he should not face charges as the WikiLeaks disclosures were part of a legitimate journalistic enterprise.

However the US government insists he is responsible for one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.

This morning, Assanges father John Shipton joined hundreds of supporters outside court and has claimed his son faces a "plague of malice".

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser stopped proceedings briefly to say noise from a protest outside is harming Mr Assange as it can be heard in the courtroom and is causing disruption.
American filmmaker Roger Donadlson, best known for his movies "The Bounty", "Species" and "Dante's Peak", is set to direct German-produced and Vietnam-set TV series "Nhiem".

Heinrich Hadding, who wrote the 2009 feature Pope Joan, is penning the screenplay with David Wenham and John Goodman, reported Deadline.

The series will focus on titular character Nhiem, a 19-year-old film student who is forced to leave his studies and join the Vietnam War, eventually becoming the Viet Cong's documentary eye.

Carte Blanche International's Alexander van Dulmen and Stephan Wagner are producing the series.

"'Nhiem' is a truly unique perspective on the Vietnam war that shows us life through the eyes of an artist during a time of intense conflict and struggle.

"It certainly delivers on the Carte Blanche ethos of bringing projects that shed light on the human experience during some of the most pivotal points in history to international audiences," said van Dulmen.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ISTANBUL - Turkey and Greece have agreed on a plan to define measures to ''boost confidence'' in each other to implement this year, the Turkish defense ministry announced at the end of a week of bilateral talks in Athens.



''The two sides have exchanged points of view on improving cooperation in naval and air activities and on strengthening security'', added the defense ministry, noting that ''talks will continue in Ankara''. The agreement comes at a moment of growing tension between the two neighbors, connected in particular to maritime sovereignty in the Aegean Sea and to controversial Turkish drilling to search for hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean off Cyprus.
T he owners of one of the UK's most cherished chocolate brands Cadbury are developing a milk-free Dairy Milk bar.

Mondelez wants to create a plant-based alternative amid a growing demand for vegan options.

The company is said to have been searching for a dairy free recipe for about two years and was due to launch its new product in January to tie in with Veganuary.

However, the group - which also owns Toblerone and Philadelphia cream cheese - has delayed the release in order to find more time to find a milk-less option also suitable for those with nut allergies.

Mondelez are following a worldwide trend towards veganism / AFP/Getty Images

A Mondelez spokesperson said: Were always listening to our consumers so we can develop and provide people with greater choice.

This includes looking at a plant-based Cadbury Dairy Milk bar.

However, we have no immediate plans to launch.

We are only interested in launching a new vegan product that retains the texture and taste that our consumers expect and love.

Dairy Milk bars are 115 years old, with the first bar made in a Birmingham factory in 1905.

Cadbury became famous for its purple wrapper and "glass half full" slogan, which it dropped in 2010 to comply with EU metric regulations.

Cadbury is not alone in creating plant-based products with pasty kings Greggs' and chicken gurus KFC also following suit / Greggs

The chocolate maker is no stranger to following a trend for healthier food, and last year brought out a version of its chocolate that included 30 per cent less sugar.

Vegan products are in such high demand that other food companies have been developing products over the past few years.

Greggs launched its vegan sausage roll to great acclaim and followed it by launching a vegan steak bake.
SHB has announced a plan to find candidates for 120 new positions in its transaction offices nationwide.(Photo SHB)

After recruiting more than 800 staff late last year, Sai Gon Thuon gTin Joint Stock Commercial Bank (Sacombank) announced plans to continue recruiting hundreds of new workers for offices and branches nationwide.

The positions to be filled are for individual and corporate customer relationship employees, consultants and tellers.

Saigon Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) also announced a plan to find candidates for 120 new positions in its offices nationwide in its first recruitment drive this year, also mainly for customer relationship, consultant and teller positions.

Vietnam Prosperity Joint-Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) has followed suit, recruiting for hundreds of positions in Hanoi and HCM City. Applications for two positions of individual clients and tellers would be accepted until the end of this month.

Other banks such as Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank), Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank), Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB), Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) are also carrying out large recruitment campaigns.

Agribank expects to recruit 700 to 900 personnel nationwide at the end of March.

The latest survey of the banking industrys business trends released by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)s Department of Forecasting and Statistics earlier this year showed the recruitment demand of banks in 2020 was high.

Specifically, though 58.3 percent of banks said that they had increased labour in the last quarter of last year, 23.3 percent of banks stated that there was still a shortage.

With that demand, along with the expansion of business activities in 2020, up to 55.3 percent of credit institutions planned to continue recruiting more employees in the first quarter of this year and 73.8 percent of credit institutions expected to increase the number of employees throughout the year.

Last years data also showed the total staff of 20 banks increased by nearly 7,000 people, up more than 3.7 percent from the end of 2018.

The two banks that recruited the most workers last year were Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) with 1,746 people and Vietcombank with 1,696 people.
For climate skeptics, it's hard to compete with the youthful appeal of global phenomenon Greta Thunberg. But one U.S. think tank hopes it's found an answer: the anti-Greta.

Naomi Seibt is a 19-year-old German who, like Greta, is blond, eloquent and European. But Seibt denounces "climate alarmism," calls climate consciousness "a despicably anti-human ideology," and has even deployed Greta's now famous "How dare you?" line to take on the mainstream German media.

"She's a fantastic voice for free markets and for climate realism," said James Taylor, director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center for Climate and Environmental Policy at The Heartland Institute, an influential libertarian think tank in suburban Chicago that has the ear of the Trump administration.

In December, Heartland headlined Seibt at its forum at the U.N. climate conference in Madrid, where Taylor described her as "the star" of the show. Last month, Heartland hired Seibt as the young face of its campaign to question the scientific consensus that human activity is causing dangerous global warming.

"Naomi Seibt vs. Greta Thunberg: whom should we trust?" asked Heartland in a digital video. This week, Seibt is set to make her American debut at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, a high-profile annual gathering just outside Washington of right-leaning activists.

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, Heartland's tactics amount to an acknowledgment that Greta has touched a nerve, especially among teens and young adults. Since launching her protest two years ago outside the Swedish parliament at age 15, Greta has sparked youth protests across the globe and in 2019 was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year," the youngest to ever win the honor.

The teenager has called on the nations of the world to cut their total carbon output by at least half over the next decade, suggesting that if they don't, "then there will be horrible consequences."

3 1 of 3 Photo for The Washington Post by Sebastien Van Malleghem Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo for The Washington Post by Sebastien Van Malleghem Show More Show Less 3 of 3





"I want you to panic," she told attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last year. "I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act."

Seibt argues that these predictions of dire consequences are exaggerated. In a video posted on Heartland's website, she gazes into the camera and says, "I don't want you to panic. I want you to think."

Seibt says her political activism was sparked a few years ago when she began asking questions in school about Germany's liberal immigration policies. She says the backlash from teachers and other students hardened her skepticism about mainstream German thinking. More recently, she said that watching young people joining weekly "Fridays For Future" protests inspired by Greta helped spur her opposition to climate change activism.

"I get chills when I see those young people, especially at Fridays for Future. They are screaming and shouting and they're generally terrified," she said in an interview. "They don't want the world to end."

Seibt said she does not dispute that greenhouse gas emissions are warming the planet, but she argues that many scientists and activists have overstated their impact.

"I don't want to get people to stop believing in man-made climate change, not at all," she said. "Are man-made CO2 emissions having that much impact on the climate? I think that's ridiculous to believe."

Seibt argues that other factors, such as solar energy, play a role - though the amount of solar energy reaching Earth has declined since the 1970s, according to federal measurements. A slew of peer-reviewed reports, from scientific bodies in the U.S. and elsewhere, have concluded that greenhouse gas emissions are the dominant cause of warming since the mid-20th century, producing a range of devastating effects from massive marine die-offs in South America to severe wildfires in Australia and sinking ground in the Arctic.

In addition to climate change, Seibt echoes far-right skepticism about feminism and immigration. The German media have described her as sympathetic to the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD), the biggest opposition party in parliament, whose leaders have spoken of fighting "an invasion of foreigners." Seibt says she is not a member of AfD - she describes herself as libertarian - but acknowledges speaking at a recent AfD event.

Her path to Heartland began in November with a speech at EIKE, a Munich think tank whose vice president is a prominent AfD politician. By then, Seibt was already active on YouTube, producing videos on topics ranging from migration to feminism to climate change. In the audience was Heartland's Taylor. He said he immediately recognized her potential and approached her about working with Heartland.

Founded in 1984 and funded largely by anonymous donors, Heartland has increasingly focused on climate change over the past decade. Its staff and researchers have ready access to the Trump administration, and one of the institute's senior fellows, William Happer, served as a senior director on the White House National Security Council between September 2018 and 2019.

An emeritus professor of physics at Princeton University, Happer has repeatedly argued that carbon emissions should be viewed as beneficial to society - not a pollutant that drives global warming. During his time with the Trump administration, he sought to enlist Heartland's help in promoting his ideas and objected to a U.S. intelligence official's finding that climate impacts could be "possibly catastrophic," according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Why would an American think tank want to get involved in German politics? Because it worries that Berlin's strong stance on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions could be contagious, according to a recent investigation aired on German television.

For two decades, Germany has been a leader in pressing other nations to curb carbon output and shift to renewable energy. Though it is falling short of its ambitious goals, Germany has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions this year by 40% compared with 1990 - and by up to 95% by mid-century.

In December, during the Madrid climate conference, two undercover staffers from the nonprofit investigative newsroom CORRECTIV approached Taylor and claimed to work for a wealthy donor from the auto industry who wanted to give Heartland a half-million euros. Taylor took the bait and followed up with a three-page proposal outlining a campaign to push back against German efforts to regulate emissions.

"These restrictive environmental programs are largely unnecessary," says the document, a copy of which was obtained by The Post. "Worse, other nations - including the United States and European Union nations - are increasingly being influenced by unwise German policy."

The proposal described Seibt as "the star" of a "Climate Reality Forum" organized by Heartland during the Madrid talks. With "over 100,000 people viewing her talk on climate realism," the proposal said, Seibt was well-positioned to fight German climate policies.

"Funding for our Germany Environmental Issues project will enable Heartland to provide Naomi with the equipment and the sources she needs to present a series of effective videos calling attention to the negative impacts of overreaching environmental regulations," the proposal says.

CORRECTIV aired its report on Heartland earlier this month on German TV. Taylor dismissed the report, saying, "Heck, I would have spoken with them if they told us who they were, and the answers would have been pretty much the same."

The report included secretly filmed footage of Seibt, who struck back with her own video response. Invoking Greta, she said, "To the media, I have a few last words: How dare you?"

Despite echoes of Greta's style, Seibt has objected to the comparison.

"The reason I don't like the term anti-Greta is that it suggests I myself am an indoctrinated puppet, I guess, for the other side," she says in one video. Asked whether she meant that as a criticism of Greta, Seibt says: "That sounds kind of mean, actually." She added: "I don't want to shame her in any way."

Taylor said the tendency to associate Seibt with Greta is "kind of natural" - and benefits Heartland's message.

"To the extent that Naomi is pretty much the same, just with a different perspective, yeah, I think that it's good that people will look at the two as similar in many ways," he said.

Still, Seibt has a long climb to reach the level of global attention lavished on Greta. While Greta measures her social media following in the millions, Seibt counts slightly under 50,000 YouTube subscribers.

Through her representatives, Greta declined to comment.
NE China's Heilongjiang reverses severe virus spread through tough controls

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/23 20:48:40

Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province health regulators on Saturday announced that no new confirmed or suspected cases of the COVID-19 infection had been reported in the province by Friday.

The news came after the provincial capital Harbin on Wednesday night rolled out stringent traffic controls, seen as the toughest in the region, in its four downtown districts, and shut down exits and entrances connecting the city with neighboring counties and townships, as well as banned flows of all vehicles and personnel.

Before the move, the confirmed cases of the COVID-19 infection in the four downtown districts had made up a quarter of the provincial total.

Heilongjiang provincial health commission circulated on Sunday that by end of Saturday, there were 480 confirmed cases, with 12 deaths and 72 critically sickened.

The large inflow of travelers, including those coming from epidemic-stricken areas, to Harbin, one of the most popular winter tourism hotspots in China, had led to the infection outbreak.

The city holds the International Ice and Snow Festival, a large-scale winter tourism program annually, which attracts millions of visitors from home and abroad.

Official data cited by the China News Service on Sunday shows that between December 1, 2019 and January 31, the city received some 70,000 visitors from Central China's Hubei Province, and the number of registered accommodations for these travelers amounted to 43,899, of which 10,450 were from Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Among confirmed infection cases in Heilongjiang, six had been working in Wuhan, and nine were from Hubei.

The tradition of family reunions and new year visits over the Spring Festival period also added to the risks of transmitting the epidemic.

Data shows that 79.3 percent of patients with confirmed infection cases in Harbin resulted from a cluster transmission, reports said.

The region's cold climate also created difficulties for regular ventilation, making it more likely for the virus to be transmitted between family members and visitors.

On Sunday afternoon, Yang Baofeng, former president of the Harbin Medical University, expressed his gratitude to Zhong Nanshan, the central government's top medical advisor, by phone, for the latter's assistance in donating 50 hydrogen generators with nebulizers to the province.

The devices are effective in preventing patients' conditions from becoming more severe, Zhong said.

Zhong also noted that if COVID-19 patients have other complications such as cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, the risk of dying would increase drastically.

Moreover, patients with chronic obstructive diseases, which are common in the northern part of the country, especially the extremely cold northernmost part of the nation, could suffer from more serious symptoms and take longer to recover, he noted.

Zhong said he was not surprised by the situation of the epidemic situation Heilongjiang , and spoke highly of the honesty shown in the province's relevant report.

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BENGALURU: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) will start investigating the dreaded 52-year-old gangster Ravi Poojari with the 1st ACMM court handing him over to their custody till March 7 in connection with the double murder which took place on February 15, 2007 in Tilaknagar.

Sources confirmed that the focus would be on Poojaris alleged political connections in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, ADGP Amar Kumar Pandey and Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil held a press conference and disclosed that Poojari was holed up in Burkina Faso, a West African country for 12 years. He was into textiles and the electronic goods industry. He had also opened a hotel named Maharaja in Senegal. He was brought to Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday by a police team.

He possessed a Burkina Faso passport and was arrested in Dakar, the capital of Senegal on January 19, 2019. Poojari had changed his name to Anthony Fernandez and was also known as Rocky Fernandez.

He had gone missing in 1994 after obtaining bail in a murder case in Mumbai. Since, then, he has travelled in 12 countries and ran industries. Tanveer Sait, former minister and present Congress MLA from Mysuru, who received an extortion call from Poojari when he was a minister, said that many legislators had been threatened by him. As many as 42 criminal cases have been lodged against him in Bengaluru. 32 cases in Mangaluru and 11 cases in Udupi.
ABC News/Steve IervolinoTyra Banks is ecstatic about her newly launched experiential model-themed amusement park, ModelLand, which opens this spring.

The former model, entrepreneur and businesswoman tells ABC Audio that she can vividly remember the day when she first envisioned the park.

"I was riding in a car on the East River here in New York City, and I came up with this idea," Banks says. "I was like, 'What about this? If I created a story about a magical modeling world that, you know, was overtaken by people that said that perfection -- and what people are saying is perfection -- is wrong.'"

"'And then I have people take it over, and then maybe I create a place that people can come and live this ultimate fantasy!'"

The attraction, located in Santa Monica, California, was 12 years in the making and, according to Tyra, the inspiration behind it came from her love of adventure parks.

"I've been obsessed with Disney and Universal Studios tour and places that just take you on a journey," she says. "Like, you can just say goodbye to your everyday crazy life and come to this place."

And while many will think that Tyra's latest venture is just another avenue for aspiring models to get discovered, Banks ensures fans that it's way more than that.

"I have combined Disneyland with Willy Wonka, with America's Next Top Model to create ModelLand, which is a place that everybody can come," she says. "Families, date night, kids, teens can come and live the ultimate modeling fantasy."

"It's not about, like being a professional model. It's not about that," she adds. "It's about just coming and taking the most amazing photos and getting tips and tricks and going on a story driven journey."

Tickets for ModelLand are now available.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
TORONTO - A woman who arrived in Toronto from China last week has a presumptive case of the novel coronavirus, health officials said Sunday, days after announcing the last of three people previously diagnosed in Ontario had been cleared of the illness.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). THE CANADIAN PRESS/CDC via AP, File

TORONTO - A woman who arrived in Toronto from China last week has a presumptive case of the novel coronavirus, health officials said Sunday, days after announcing the last of three people previously diagnosed in Ontario had been cleared of the illness.

The woman went to a north Toronto hospital with an intermittent cough after her arrival on Friday, the Health Ministry said in a statement, adding she was tested for the virus, known as COVID-19, before being discharged into self-isolation.

The test came back positive on Sunday, the ministry said, and a further test will be done by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg for official confirmation of the diagnosis.

Dr. David Williams, chief medical health officer of Ontario, said people should not be concerned about contracting the coronavirus.

"Because of all the proper protocols and procedures that are in place to contain this virus and exposure to others was limited, I want to assure the public that the risk to Ontarians remains low," he said.

The ministry said the woman wore a mask throughout her return to Toronto and had limited exposure to others after landing.

Health officials will contact and monitor passengers who were sitting close to the woman on the plane back to Canada, the statement says.

Three people in Ontario had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19, including a married couple in Toronto and a Western University student in London, Ont., after all of them had recently returned from travelling in China.

The province announced Friday that all three had been cleared.

There are six known cases of the illness in British Columbia, most recently a woman in her 30s who returned to the province last week from travel in Iran.

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Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Thursday the woman's presumptive case was relatively mild, and a number of her close contacts were already in isolation.

"This one, clearly, is a bit unusual in that the travel to Iran is something new," Henry told a news conference at the B.C. legislature. "Iran has recently started reporting cases and we'll be working with our national and international colleagues to better understand where she may have been exposed to this virus prior to her return to Canada."

Far more Canadians are affected by the virus outside of this country. An outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship saw 47 Canadians infected.

The cruise ship was docked in Yokohama, Japan, and placed under quarantine. People who were diagnosed with the illness are being treated at hospitals there, while those without symptoms were flown back to Ontario on Friday, where they're going through another 14 days of isolation.

Six Canadian Armed Forces medical staff and one Canadian government staffer who accompanied the passengers on that flight were released from quarantine on Sunday. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said she assessed them and determined they weren't at risk of having the virus and did not need to stay in isolation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2020.
James Dailey is staring death in the face.

Unless something drastic changes, its likely just a matter of when.

Dailey was sentenced to die in August 1987 for the brutal stabbing and drowning of a 14-year-old girl, Shelly Boggio -- a horrific crime that stunned the nation. Both he and his roommate, Jack Pearcy, were found guilty of the murder. Pearcy received life in prison but Dailey got death.

For more than three decades, he has sat on death row in Florida, all while proclaiming his innocence.

Time is now running out and Dailey, a 73-year-old Vietnam War veteran, is making a last-ditch effort to avoid execution.

PHOTO: James Dailey speaks to ABC News during an interview on Jan. 9, 2020. (ABC News)

The entire case, and Dailey's life in fact, hang in large part on the word of Paul Skalnik, a 70-year-old former Texas police officer and a conman, who made a career out of being a jailhouse informant and whom ABC News found living in a Texas nursing home.

Ultimately, the world may never know if Dailey is an innocent man, as he claims, even after Pearcy changed his story and confessed to being Boggio's sole killer in a 2017 affidavit (that affidavit was later deemed inadmissible after Pearcy refused to answer questions about it on the stand and testified that its contents were false).

"I'm not afraid to die," Dailey told ABC News in an exclusive interview from death row. "What I'm afraid of is spending the rest of my life in prison for a crime I didn't commit, not being able to clear my name for my kids and my grandkids and my great-grandkids."

Dailey's case highlights the controversial use of jailhouse informants in criminal cases and the expectation of leniency from law enforcement and prosecutors for their information and testimony, which critics say creates an incentive to lie.

To that point, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, -- a joint project from the University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law -- nearly 200 people had their convictions overturned since 1968 in cases where a jailhouse informant was used at trial, including 27 who were sentenced to death.

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There is also the issue of disclosure: whether and prosecutors and other law enforcement officials are forthcoming in court about promises made to informants.

While the Supreme Court has ruled that prosecutors have a constitutional obligation to disclose information that could potentially benefit the defense, advocates say this does not go far enough in specifying what type of information has to be disclosed.

And while a number of states have made attempts to address the issue of jailhouse informants by creating programs that monitor their use, some experts say these measures dont go far enough.

A chilling murder

Robert Heyman, one of the prosecutors in Dailey's murder trial, told ABC News in an interview that he remembers Boggio's case vividly.

Boggio was a 14-year-old who was hitchhiking with her twin sister and a friend near St. Petersburg in May 1985 when they were picked up by Dailey and Pearcy.

After a night of partying, Boggio and Pearcy left together.

Witnesses said that Boggio was alone with Pearcy for a period of time, but the prosecution argued that Dailey rejoined the couple later that night and was the one who held the young girls head under water, drowning her.

The girls body was found with 31 stab wounds in the Florida's Intracoastal Waterway.

PHOTO: James Dailey is seen here in this undated mug shot. (Florida Department of Corrections)

Pearcy was convicted of Boggio's murder in 1986 and a jury put him behind bars for life.

The following year, Dailey was also tried on first-degree murder charges. Unlike his roommate, he was sentenced to death.

Heyman maintained that Dailey was the most culpable and "decided to wade out there, waist deep, and hold her under the water until she drowned," he said. "I think it was powerful at the guilt phase, and it was powerful when the jury decided whether or not Dailey should get death."

MORE: 4 of the 5 counties with the most death penalty executions are in Texas: Data

But advocates point to a lack of physical evidence that implicates Dailey.

Heyman conceded in the same interview that there "was nothing that was found on her (Boggio) that could link her to either Dailey or Pearcy" and "the weapon, the--the knife was never found."

Specifically, there was no physical evidence to connect Dailey to the more than two dozen stab wounds Boggio sustained. Instead, prosecutors hinged their case on testimony from a friend who saw Dailey the night of the murder returning home wearing wet pants, Pearcy's statement after his arrest that Dailey killed the girl and the word of three jailhouse informants.

Dailey, who was 38 at the time of Boggio's death, has always maintained his innocence.

181 overturned cases

The use of jailhouse informants has been a subject of heated debate for years.

For instance, in Orange County, California, claims by public defender Scott Sanders sparked a years-long investigation by state prosecutors after Sanders argued that jailhouse informants had improperly obtained statements from his clients awaiting trial. He also claimed that Orange County prosecutors had withheld information about these informants that could have helped exonerate his clients.

MORE: Attorney says jury didn't hear key information in death row case

Last year, the California attorney general -- which investigated the alleged misconduct with jailhouse informants -- announced they were dropping the investigation.

However, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer have ongoing investigations into the alleged misuse of jailhouse informants and are focusing on some previous prosecutions within the office, according to the Orange County Register.

Since Spitzer was sworn in, in January 2019, no jailhouse informants have been used for any criminal trials and a policy was implemented where he has to personally approve the usage of any jailhouse informant, Kimberly Edds, spokeswoman for the Orange County DAs office, told ABC News.

Experts say that the potential offer of leniency combined with the prospect of continued confinement creates a potent incentive for informants not to be truthful.

"Anytime there is a jailhouse snitch in a case, anyone with a shred of common sense can see that this is someone who is looking for something -- whatever that may be -- in exchange for cooperating," said Mark Bederow, a defense attorney who is currently appealing a 2003 murder case in New York against his client John Giuca, which was tied to the testimony of a jailhouse informant who later recanted.

"Informants don't do this out of the goodness of their heart and prosecutors have to deal with this [off] the bat," said Bederow.The problem is you have to rely on the prosecutor to disclose the benefits [that the witness received]...If a prosecutor wants to rely on a snitch and is forthright with the information to let the defense expose that to the jury, it will give the jury the opportunity to weigh the case and have a fair evaluation."

In Dailey's case, there was increased pressure to win a death penalty conviction after prosecutors failed to secure the death penalty for Pearcy, according to Dailey's 2018 appeal.

PHOTO: James Dailey is seen here in a 1986 booking photo. (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office)

"My sense is that the prosecutor took that as a political loss," said Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. "The only other person they had as a potential suspect was James Dailey and there was evidence that connected him to Pearcy."

"They were roommates and was with him later on the night of the murder," Dunham added.

'Worst type of informant'

John Halliday, the lead detective on the case, went to the jail Dailey was housed in after Pearcys sentencing and began interviewing numerous inmates looking for a potential informant, according to court documents.

No one at that point said they had information about Daileys case, but his 2018 appeal states that days later, three other inmates came forward claiming that Dailey had spoken to each of them about the murder.

The testimony of these jailhouse informants "became the linchpin of the States case, even though none of their statements possessed any independent indicia of reliability," according to the document.

Skalnik's life as an informant started in Texas shortly after he was forced to quit the Austin Police Department in the 1970s for allegedly cashing bad checks, according to The New York Times Magazine and ProPublica, which partnered for an ongoing investigation on jailhouse informants.

Throughout Skalniks adult life, he has been in and out of jail on numerous charges and became a jailhouse informant for 18 murder cases where four of the defendants were sentenced to death -- including Dailey, according to The New York Times/ProPublica.

Daileys appeal blasted star witness Skalnik as a career conman who was convicted of at least twenty-five crimes of dishonesty, gave false statements about corrections officers to have them removed from the jail wings where he was serving and lied on the stand about his violent criminal history at Daileys trial.

At the time Dailey was booked for Boggios murder, Skalnik was in Pinellas County Jail, the county where Boggio was murdered, on grand theft charges. Skalnik alleges Dailey first asked him for legal advice and then confided in him about the murder. It was a pattern that became a hallmark of how Skalnik claimed he received information, according to The New York Times/ProPublica.

Skalnik testified that Dailey confessed as Skalnik was passing by his cell on the way to recreation. "That Mr. Pearcy had actually held the young girl under," Skalnik testified. "Under, I did not know what 'under' was but he said the young girl kept staring at him, screaming and would not die. And he stabbed her and threw the knife away."

Dailey insists he never confessed to Skalnik.

Everybody in jail knew he was a-- world's biggest snitch, you know? They knew he was an ex-police officer. I mean even the officers in the county jail told us not to talk to him, you know? Dailey told ABC News.

"Skalniks behavior while incarcerated precisely mirrored his behavior when not incarcerated: he was willing to say anything, regardless of the truth of the matter, and regardless of whom it might harm, if he believed that doing so would benefit him," Daileys legal team wrote in his appeal.

Prosecutors argued in their response to Daileys 2018 appeal that Skalnik willingly contacted authorities, did not receive a deal for his testimony and that the court had already rejected Daileys claim that Skalnik provided false information.

"You should never rely solely on the uncorroborated testimony of a jailhouse informant," said Dunham.

Dunham said that jailhouse informants are more attracted to high-profile cases such as Boggio's because they think they can reap a greater benefit from prosecutors and law enforcement for their cooperation.

"Skalnik, he was the worst type of informant, a serial snitch...yet he has somehow managed to come up with 37 confessions in murder and other felony cases. Eight cases where a defendant was charged with first-degree murder and four end up on death row," said Dunham. "The likelihood of that really happening is so remote, its laughable."

Skalnik has never been charged with perjury and told ABC News in a phone interview from his nursing home bed in Texas that he was truthful and has no regrets.

At the time of Dailey's case, Skalnik was facing the possibility of up to 20 years in prison if convicted of grand theft. Heyman said that he did not have a deal with Skalnik if he testified at the Dailey trial. However, five days afterDailey was sentenced to death, Skalnik was released from jail on his own recognizance and without bond despite a stern warning from his parole officer a year earlier that he was a flight risk, according to ProPublica.

He would go on to serve time for additional offenses, including 10 years in prison for the sexual assault of a child.

Policy changes

Connecticut, Illinois and Texas have made efforts to implement policies to monitor the use of jailhouse informants, like keeping a log of every informant's testimony and turning over disciplinary and visitor records among other documentation.

"If a prosecutor has a problem with disclosing any information, the question should be what's the prosecution trying to hide, transparency benefits the prosecution," said Dunham.

Another proposed action by Dunham is to tell the defense and the jury what expectations or plea bargains were made in exchange for the informant's testimony.

PHOTO: James Dailey is seen here in a 1986 booking photo. (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office)

Duffie Stone, the president of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), said some of the suggested policies are "not necessary" since they are supposed to be a part of a prosecutor's "ethical obligation."

The Innocence Project has ongoing petitions in Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts and Oklahoma to reform policies on the use of jailhouse informants.

Texas is one example of a state passing reforms regarding government informants. In June 2017, the state passed legislation where prosecutors must keep a comprehensive record of the inmate -- previous cases in which theyve testified and any benefit they received, along with a complete arrest record -- and to turn over that information to the defense, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Texas has had 366 wrongful convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. Of those, 13 had a jailhouse informant involved with their case and three inmates were sentenced to death.

MORE: Attorney says jury didn't hear key information in death row case

In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a wide-ranging bill in July 2019 that has created the nations first statewide system to track the use of jailhouse informants, including any benefits offered in exchange for their testimony, the Associated Press reported.

In November 2018, Illinois lawmakers amended a law to now require judges to conduct a pre-trial hearing for all cases involving jailhouse informants in order to assess the reliability of their testimony. This policy had been in effect only for death penalty cases, which were then banned in the state in 2011.

"The states that are trying to implement rules to have hearings to seek reliability of an informant are in the right path, but the real issue is having all the information about the witness in front of the jury," said Bederow.

Dailey awaiting justice

Dailey breathed a sigh of relief in October 2019 when a federal judge temporarily tossed his Nov. 7, 2019 execution date in order for his newly assigned attorneys to research and file a motion to vacate his conviction and death sentence.

His appellate attorney, Josh Dubin, filed a motion on Jan. 21 seeking to vacate the conviction alleging a Brady violation -- failing to disclose evidence that's favorable to the defense or can discredit a witness.

MORE: Death-Row Inmates Prefer Death to Life

"Skalnik had everything to gain," Dubin told ABC News. "And absolutely nothing to lose. He had pending charges against him. He got up on that witness stand, um, and he lied..."

According to Dubins motion, Skalnik "perjured" himself about his criminal history on the stand.

The New York Times/ProPublica investigation points out that Skalnik had been charged with lewd and lascivious conduct on a child under 14 in 1982, but four months later, prosecutors agreed to drop the charge in a plea deal in exchange for Skalniks pleading guilty to grand theft.

MORE: Attorney says jury didn't hear key information in death row case

Skalnik, according to Dailey's latest motion, lied when questioned by Daileys defense attorney, saying he had never faced charges of physical violence. In Florida, the lewd and lascivious assault on a child under 14 is considered physical violence.

"The State knew, at the time of Mr. Daileys trial, that Skalnik had perjured himself before the jury. Mr. Heyman was apparently prepared to ask Halliday about Skalniks prior sexual assault charge, but, after Skalniks false testimony regarding his criminal history, Mr. Heyman did not. The State permitted Skalniks false testimony about his criminal history to stand uncorrected," according to this motion.

The 1987 trial transcripts do not indicate that the prosecutors corrected the record or entered a stipulation for the jury to consider that charge on Skalnik's criminal history during deliberations.

"We knew he'd had -- a history of a sexual assault allegation," Heyman said to ABC News. Heyman later acknowledged to ABC News that he never mentioned Skalniks sexual assault charge to the jurors, saying that it would only have been his responsibility to alert the jury had there been a conviction for sexual assault.

At a court hearing on on Feb. 20, Circuit Judge Pat Siracusa granted the defenses request for an evidentiary hearing at which Pearcy will be called to testify. That hearing is scheduled for March 5.

A new execution date has not been set for Dailey.

PHOTO: James Dailey speaks to ABC News during an interview on Jan. 9, 2020. (ABC News)

Editors note: This story was updated to reflect that Paul Skalnik claimed in his testimony during trial that James Dailey told him it was Jack Pearcy who held Shelly Boggios head under water.

Death row inmates fight for his life shines light on use of jailhouse informants originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Police believe they may have found the body of missing Mennonite woman Sasha Marie Krause, 27, in Arizona after she disappeared more than a month ago from New Mexico

Police believe they have found the body of a missing Mennonite woman in Arizona after she disappeared a month ago from her rural community in New Mexico.

Sasha Marie Krause, 27, vanished on January 18 from her Farmington home.

On February 21, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office in Arizona reported finding a body of a woman that matched her description.

The body has not been positively identified yet and an autopsy is slated for Monday to establish identity and determine cause of death.

'They described what she was wearing and, based off that general description, our detectives went to the Flagstaff area to take a look,' San Juan County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jayme Harcrow said to the Farmington Daily Times.

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office believes her disappearance was suspicious but it's not clear what could have taken her from New Mexico to Arizona.

On February 21, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office in Arizona reported finding a body of a woman that matched her description. The body has not been positively identified yet and an autopsy is slated for Monday to establish identity and determine cause of death

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office announced a $50,000 reward on February 12 to locate her. She was last seen leaving her Farmington home around 8pm on January 18 and did not return

She was last seen in Farmington, New Mexico and the body believed to be hers was found 250 miles away in Coconino County, Arizona

Over the weekend Krause's family members posted on social media saying her body has been found.

'My precious, beautiful niece has been found. Our hearts are breaking and I hardly know what to say but we so appreciate everyones prayers for our family during this time,' one woman who said she was Krause's aunt posted on Saturday.

Krause was last seen leaving her home around 8pm and did not return.

Cops found her car parked at a nearby church in the area of her residence, but she left behind items she would usually take with her.

On January 19, deputies were dispatched around 3am to Lamp & Lighters Publishers on County Road 5577 in the Crouch Mesa area on reports connected to her disappearance. Crouch worked at that publishing store.

Since her disappearance Mennonite community members have been sharing her image on social media, saying she possibly interrupted a burglary in process and was abducted.

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office announced a $50,000 reward on February 12 to locate her.

'We're definitely investigating all avenues as possible. As for the burglary in progress, we have no information to indicate it's actually true,' Harcrow said.

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office shared this notice on Saturday, saying Arizona officials flagged the body believed to be Krause to them. The body identification is pending an autopsy

Over the weekend Krause's family members posted on social media saying her body has been found. 'My precious, beautiful niece has been found. Our hearts are breaking and I hardly know what to say but we so appreciate everyones prayers for our family during this time,' one woman who said she was Krause's aunt posted on Saturday

The body believed to be Krause was found in the Wupatki National Monument area but no additional details were released. A woman named Jennifer Krause shared this post on Saturday saying Sasha's body had been found

The body believed to be Krause was found in the Wupatki National Monument area but no additional details were released.

'Detectives from the San Juan County Sheriffs Office responded to the area to assist and to determine if it was her or not,' the sheriff's office said in a statement Saturday.

'Positively identifying the body can only be done after an autopsy is performed. An autopsy is tentatively scheduled for Monday to establish the identity and to determine the official cause of death,' the statement added.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video footage in their search for Krause and conducted helicopter searches.

'We would like to reassure the public that we have thoroughly searched the area where she was last seen with multiple tracking teams, a tracking canine and volunteers from the community. We continue to search the surrounding area of Lamp & Light Publishing and the community where she lives,' the sheriff's office said Thursday.

Krause is described as 5'3'' with brown eyes with long, dark brown hair.

If you have any information please contact San Juan County Sheriff's Office at 505-333-7878
Armenia partly closed its border with Iran and suspended flights between the two neighboring states for two weeks on Monday, citing the need to guard against a new coronavirus that has killed at least 12 people in the Islamic Republic.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced the decision at a meeting of an interagency commission coordinating Armenian governments precautionary measures against the deadly virus. He made clear that it does not apply to cargo traffic through the Armenian-Iranian border.

Cargo shipments will continue to be carried without restrictions, said Pashinian. Its just that there will be special monitoring of [truck] drivers carrying out cargo shipments and a special regime for cargo shipments.

There will be no restrictions on citizens return [to their countries,] he went on. We are talking about citizens of Iran who are currently in Armenia and Armenian citizens who are currently in Iran. They are free to return to their homelands.

Pashinian also said that the government will review the travel restrictions two weeks later. We will be in closer contact with official representatives of the friendly Islamic Republic of Iran so that we have a more complete evaluation of the situation and jointly decide our further actions in that direction.

Iran is a major trading partner of Armenia and one of the landlocked countrys two transport conduits to the outside world.

The Armenian government faced calls to close the Iranian border shortly after the first cases of coronavirus were reported in Iran last week. Health Minister Arsen Torosian publicly objected to such a measure as recently as on Sunday. Pashinian announced later in the day, however, that the Armenian authorities will suspend travel between the two countries.

Irans Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said on Monday that 12 people have died and up to 61 have been infected with coronavirus in the country. Most of the cases in Iran have been in Qom, a Shiite Muslim holy city 120 kilometers south of the capital Tehran.

No coronavirus cases have been reported in Armenia so far.

The travel ban comes less than a month before an annual influx to Armenian of thousands of Iranian tourists celebrating Nowruz, the ancient Persian New Year. Iranians do not need visas to travel to Armenia.

Armenia also had a visa-free regime with China until this month. Yerevan suspended it on January 31 to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus.
By Lee Min-hyung





The Shinhan Life Insurance headquarters in Seoul. Courtesy of Shinhan Life Insurance

A high-stakes integration plan between Shinhan Life Insurance and Orange Life Insurance has hit a snag, as their financial holding firm is reframing the timeline for the move.



Shinhan Financial Group initially expected it would be able to complete the process before the end of 2021, but the nation's top financial firm is revisiting the plan, according to industry officials.



This is because Orange Life, formerly ING Life Insurance Korea, has its own brand identity and generates a stable income.



Shinhan planned to run a single life insurance affiliate by integrating Orange Life into Shinhan Life after signing a deal to acquire the firm from private equity firm MBK Partners in 2018.



Expectations were Shinhan Financial Group would speed up the process after Orange Life's delisting process ended on Feb. 14.





The Orange Life Insurance headquarters in Seoul. Courtesy of Orange Life Insurance
In an age of deepfakes and alternative facts, it can be tricky getting at the truth. But persuading others  or even yourself  what is true is not a challenge unique to the modern era. Even the ancient Greeks had to confront different realities.

Take the story of Oedipus. It is a narrative that most people think they know  Oedipus blinded himself after finding out he killed his father and married his mother, right?

But the ancient Greeks actually left us many different versions of almost every ancient tale. Homer has Oedipus living on, eyes intact after his mother Jocastas death. Euripides, another Greek dramatist, has Oedipus continue living with his mother after the truth is revealed.

A challenge I face when teaching Greek mythology is the assumption that my course will establish which version of the story is correct. Students want to know which version is the right one.

To help them understand why this isnt the best approach, I use a passage from Hesiods Theogony, a story of the origin of the universe and the gods by the poet Hesiod. The narrator claims the Muses, inspirational goddesses of the arts, science and literature, appeared to him and declared we know how to tell many false things (pseudea) similar to the truth (etumoisin) but we know how to speak the truth (alethea) when we want to.

Now, that is quite the disclaimer before going on to describe how Zeus came to rule the universe! But the Greeks had different ways of thinking about narrative and truth than we do today.

The truths are out there

One such approach focuses on the diversity of audiences hearing the story. Under this historical interpretation, the Muses caveat can be seen as a way to prepare audiences for stories that differ from those told in their local communities.

A theological interpretation might see a distinction between human beliefs and divine knowledge, reserving the ability to distinguish the truth for the gods alone. This approach anticipates a key tenet of later philosophical distinctions between appearance and reality.

Story continues

The Muses also set out a metaphysical foundation: The truth exists, but it is hard to comprehend and only the gods can truly know and understand it. This formulation establishes truth as a fundamental feature of the universe.

The meanings of the words used are important here. Pseudea, used for lies, is the root of English compounds denoting something false  think pseudonym or pseudoscience. But notice that Hesiod uses two different words for truth. The first, etumon is where we get the English etymology from, but this Greek word can mean anything from authentic to original. The second, alethea literally means that which is not hidden or forgotten. It is the root of the mythical river of forgetfulness, Lethe, whose waters the souls of the dead sample to wash away their memories.

So to the Muses  who were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory  truth is something authoritative because it is authentic in meaning and revealed or unforgettable.

The Muses implication is that truth is derived from ancient origins and is somehow unchanging and, ultimately, unknowable for human beings.

Indeed, this formulation becomes a bedrock of ancient philosophy when authors like Plato insist that truth and reality must be eternal and immutable. Such assumptions about the truth are also central to absolutist approaches to beliefs, whether we are talking about religion, literature or politics.

But what good is knowing about the nature of truth if it is ultimately inaccessible to mortal minds?

From teaching Greek texts I have become increasingly convinced that the Theogonys narrator quotes the Muses not merely to evade responsibility for telling an unknown story nor to praise the wisdom of the gods. Instead, he is giving us advice for how to interpret myth and storytelling in general: Dont worry about what it is true or not. Just try to make sense of the story as you encounter it, based on the details it provides.

Myth and memory

The treatment of truth in Greek myth can be informative when looking at modern research in cognitive science and memory.

The memory scientist Martin Conway, in studying how people construct stories about the world and themselves, has argued that two basic tendencies, correspondence and coherence, govern our memories.

Correspondence refers to how well our memory fits with verifiable facts, or what actually happened.

Coherence is the human tendency to select details which fit our assumptions about the world and who we are. Conways studies show that we tend to select memories about the past and make observations on the present which confirm our own narrative of what actually happened.

We already know that much of what we understand about the world is interpreted and filled in by our creative and efficient brains, so it should be of little surprise that we selectively pick memories to represent an absolute truth even as we continually revise it.

As individuals and groups, what we accept as true is conditioned by our biases and by what we want the truth to be.

With this in mind, the Muses warning not to obsess about whether the details in a myth are true seems appropriate  especially if a narrative making sense is more important than it being true.

A scene from Homers Odyssey strengthens the case for applying these ideas to early Greece. When Odysseus returns to his home island of Ithaca after 20 years, he dons a disguise to test the members of his household. A great deal of suspense arises from his conversations with his wife, Penelope, when he too is described as someone speaking many lies (pseudea) similar to the truth (etumoisin). Odysseus presents facts to his wife that have no counterpart in an objective reality, but his selection of details reveals much about Odysseus that is true about himself. He offers themes and anecdotes that give an insight into who he is, if we listen closely.

Ancient Greek epics emerged from a culture in which hundreds of different communities with separate traditions and beliefs developed shared languages and beliefs. Not unlike the United States today, this multiplicity created an environment for encountering and comparing differences. What Hesiods story tells his audience is that truth is out there, but it is hard work to figure out.

Figuring it out requires us to listen to the stories people tell and think about how they might seem true to them. That means not overreacting when we hear something unfamiliar that goes against what we think we know.

[ Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.

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Joel Christensen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio kicks off his busy schedule with an 8am workout routine every weekday.

Each day he is driven 11 miles in a convoy of three gas-guzzling police SUVs so he can work out in the YMCA near his Brooklyn properties, instead of using a gym near his Upper East Side residence.

The New York City mayor reportedly arrives to City Hall around 10.30am following his two-hour gym routine.

According to the New York Post, the mayor usually starts with some stretching before hopping on a stationary bike while watching TV.

Mayor Bill de Blasio doesn't start his work day until after his two-hour gym workout. He's pictured leaving the YMCA in Park Slope, Brooklyn

He is driven 11 miles in a convoy of three gas-guzzling police SUVs so he can work out in the YMCA near his Brooklyn properties, instead of using a gym near his Upper East Side residence

He then uses about a half-hour to change from his workout attire into his suit and tie.

The mayor often stops on the way to City Hall for a post-workout meal.

It's unclear if his wife, First Lady Chirlane McCray, accompanies him on all of his workouts, but she has been seen going to a few.

In one instance on May 21, 2018, de Blasio arrived at the YMCA at 8am. He was scheduled to arrive at Manhattan's Hunter High School for Science by 11am for a student voter registration event, according to the Post.

But the mayor actually made a work call from the road at 11.30am and then got to Hunter at noon.

Sometimes when the mayor goes straight to work after the gym, he has to take a nap in the middle of the day on his office couch, according to the Post.

There have also been times when de Blasio switched up his schedule for an afternoon workout.

On two occasions in 2017 and 2018, the mayor changed his workout time to 3pm.

He then uses about a half-hour to change from his workout attire into his suit and tie

The mayor reportedly gets to City Hall around 10.30am, usually stopping along the way for a post-workout meal

In 2017, the mayor first came under fire for traveling 11 miles to his Park Slope gym (pictured) rather than go to one much closer to his home

A City Hall spokeswoman said de Blasio doesn't always get in a two-hour workout because his security team gets there ahead of time to prepare for his arrival.

'Whether calling commissioners, conversing with constituents, or emailing staff, the mayor is working for the people of New York City 24/7,' spokeswoman Olivia Lapeyrolerie said.

De Blasio has been criticized in the past for his daily workout routine.

In 2015, he reportedly spent 80 minutes in the gym instead of rushing to meet a wounded veteran firefighter following a standoff with one of the city's most dangerous gang leaders.

Lt James Hayes, a 30-year veteran who served on 9/11, was shot twice by Bloods gang leader Garland Tyree in Marine's Harbor, Staten Island in August 2015.

In 2017, the mayor was slammed for traveling 11 miles to his Park Slope gym rather than go to one much closer to his home.

In October 2018, the mayor was confronted by a woman who was advocating for the homeless people in New York City.

Nathylin Flowers Adesegun, 72, pressed the mayor about the growing homeless crisis in the city and about implementing more housing for people living on the streets while he was in the middle of his workout.

At the time, the mayor was quoted saying: 'I'm in the middle of doing my workout. I can't do this now'.
(Reuters) - A gunman opened fire at a flea market in Houston on Sunday, wounding seven people in an area known for its Hispanic community, with a suspect being taken into custody at the scene.

"No one is critically wounded," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said, adding that the victims were being taken to hospitals and that some injuries may have been a result of a bullet ricochet.

"We believe at this point those are all minor, superficial type of wounds", Gonzalez said. "A male is detained at the scene."

The shooting occurred as the Sunday market was taking place in the busy area.

"This evening there was a live dance going on here at this location. A lot people including children were inside the location", the Harris County Sheriff said in a briefing.

The investigation was going on and there was no immediate information on the motive of the shooter, according to the sheriff, who said the shooting happened at around 7:00 p.m.

A witness had reported seeing somebody with a gun in the area where weapons are not allowed, the sheriff said.

"It is a miracle nobody else was seriously hurt, especially the children," he said.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Himani Sarkar)
Manila (CNN Philippines Life)  Norman Crisologo is living proof that to be an art curator, one doesnt need a degree in art. Despite the intimidating impression of the art world, he began his career as a self-taught artist guided by his great curiosity about contemporary Philippine art. He slowly made a name for himself as a curator with an eye for art that speaks to other people.

Im not gonna try to pretend that Im educated when it comes to art or that I know the theories. If I like it, Im hoping and I presume that maybe other people will like it, Crisologo said.

Carlo Villanfuertes textile art collages for the Karen H. Montinola selection. Photo by MOHD SARAJAN

Gene Paul Martin's large-scale paintings. Photo by MOHD SARAJAN

Roedil Joe Geraldos sculptures made of termite mounds. Photo by MOHD SARAJAN

Crisologo already has a formidable list of exhibits under his belt before being commissioned to do the Projects section of this years Art Fair. Aside from working with some of the biggest contemporary art galleries in the country for several exhibits, Crisologo has also worked on previous editions of Art Fair Philippines, such as the Julius Baer Art Collection in 2017 and San Mateo-based artist Ian Fabros Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso booth in 2019. Hes also done international art shows such as WASAK! Filipino Art Today, a two-pronged group exhibition in Berlin curated alongside Erwin Romulo in 2015.

Despite being a long-time household name in the local art community, the curator caught the public eye after his marriage to actress Beauty Gonzalez in 2017. A mutual appreciation for the art is one of the many things that bind the two, with Gonzalez being an art enthusiast and budding artist herself. Art also holds great presence in the Crisologo household, with Normans personal collection now displayed in their residence for private viewing.

When asked if he has a usual process whenever curating, his answer was straightforward. When it comes to curating and picking art, I try to think about it in an intellectual way, but actually, its just what I like. When it comes down to things, its just really what I like, from the very start as a collector. Then I noticed that people like it [as well].

***

When Crisologo was invited to curate the special projects for this years Art Fair Philippines, he accepted it under one condition: he gets to put the projects all together in what was a communal, immersive space. He was able to pull this off rather interestingly in a space made in collaboration with set designer Ed Lacson Jr. (the director and set designer responsible for the plays such as the theatrical adaptation of Himala and the local staging of Stop Kiss). Unlike previous editions of the art fair where projects were individually set up in booths, each collection intermingled with the others, following Crisologos vision to make it into one journey rather than having guests see and experience the projects separately.

A rather bold move, to say the least, considering that this years Projects section featured nine artists whose works evoke very different styles and personalities. At first glance, in fact, the projects might seem like a selection of art too diverse to make an immediate sense of connection. However, a closer look reveals just how one artists work converse with another  exactly what Crisologo intended.

I propose a radically different way for the viewer to access the art: not by going from one work to the next, in a zombie-like fashion, but by diving into the space in which even the corners of the peripheral vision are preoccupied, his curatorial notes stated, as told to writer Carlomar Daoana.

The sculptures of Salvador Joel Alonday welcoming viewers at the Projects section of this year's Art Fair Philippines. Photo by MOHD SARAJAN

Perry Argel's abstract assemblages made out of found objects. Photo by MOHD SARAJAN

The Onib Olmedo show at the ArtFairPH/Projects section. Photo by MOHD SARAJAN

There is no wrong or right way to enter or exit the space of the exhibition. Every path taken is its own plot forged through the larger narrative of art. It is an ongoing, open-ended discovery. The works, in their multiplicity of forms, are kindred companions.

Welcoming guests to the Projects section are performance artist Jellyfish Kisses with fantastical walk-in closet brimming with pops of color, and sculptor Salvador Joel Alondays work-in-progress, BROWN STUDY: The wanderings of Juan Pikas, with life-sized figures of characters from the Visayan folklore. Next to these are Roedil Joe Geraldos sculptures made of termite mounds (which Filipinos popularly know as nuno sa punso); Gene Paul Martins paintings, referred to as time collages which capture the aesthetics of different historical eras of art, which intersects with Jaime de Guzmans expressionist paintings that figurate abstract strokes into familiar images. Further up is Perry Argel's abstract assemblages made out of trash; Carlo Villanfuertes textile art collages for the Karen H. Montinola selection; and a wall of Neil Pasilans hallucinatory paintings. The only project separated from the cluster is the late Onib Olmedos evocative artworks, mostly monochromatic and surreal, displayed in a room at the farther end of the section.

Despite the diversity in theme, all of the works convey an element of psychological and political distress. Crisologo is often associated with such kinds of art, which, as he observed, a lot of people also gravitate toward.

Curiously, only one of the nine artists collections carried a title, and no individual artwork bore a name. Only labels indicating the respective artists name were found in the section. Crisologo explained that the initial idea was that everything would be left untitled, but Alonday felt that his collection required a name as it concerned a specific folklore that may not be familiar to some, if not most, of the viewers.

Jaime de Guzmans expressionist paintings that figurate abstract strokes into familiar images. Photo by MOHD SARAJAN

I prefer that the works speak for themselves. When you see a title, napi-preempt yung feelings mo about the work. All of a sudden, it builds an image. So more or less, it tells you how to feel already. Mas gusto ko yung wala, para you can actually experience it on your own terms without having to be spoonfed, the curator says.
Students of color, women and lesbian, gay or bisexual students experienced mistreatment, including public humiliation and offensive remarks, more frequently than their peers at medical schools, according to a new study from Yale researchers.

The results of the new study, published online Monday by the American Medical Associations JAMA Internal Medicine, are based on more than 27,000 surveys of graduates from 140 American medical schools in 2016 and 2017.

Our findings indicate that medical student mistreatment remains common, the authors wrote. Women, racial/ethnic minorities, and sexual minorities appear to experience a disproportionate burden of the mistreatment reported in medical schools. This differential burden of mistreatment may have substantial implications for the medical school learning environment and the diversity of the physician workforce.

Those experiences can lead to burnout, depression and leaving medical school, said Katherine Hill, first author of the study and a second-year student at Yale School of Medicine. An accumulation of disadvantages, such as being denied opportunities because of race or gender, can inhibit students from progressing in the field, she said.

Medical school graduates annually complete a Graduation Questionnaire from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Along with questions about their experiences and career plans, they are asked about negative behaviors experienced from faculty, nurses, residents, interns, institutional employees and other students.

Those behaviors, and their disproportionate impact on certain students, may also teach medical students that those kind of biases are acceptable, which could in turn hurt their future patients, Hill said.

The 27,504 student surveys analyzed in the study came from graduates of 140 U.S. medical schools in 2016 and 2017.

Forty percent of female students reported at least once incidence of mistreatment, compared to just over one-quarter of male students. Thirty-eight percent of students classified as part of an under-represented minority reported mistreatment, compared to about 33 percent of multiracial students, 32 percent of Asian students and 24 percent of white students; those students also reported higher rates of discrimination based on race or ethnicity.

Students of color were much more likely to report public humiliation than their white peers, and to report being denied opportunities, being subjected to offensive remarks or names and receiving lower evaluations because of their race.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual students made up about 5 percent of survey respondents. More than 40 percent reported experiencing at least one instance of mistreatment, compared to less than a quarter of heterosexual students, the study found, and nearly 22 percent said they were subjected to offensive remarks or names related to their sexual orientation.

Nearly 7 percent of female students reported that they had been subjected to unwanted sexual advances; 1.3 percent of male students reported the same. Less than 0.5 percent of both male and female students said they had been asked to exchange sexual favors for grades or rewards.

About 20 percent of both male and female students reported being publicly humiliated at least once, and about 8 percent said it happened more than once.

Male students were slightly more likely to have been threatened with physical harm than female students; just under 2 percent of both male and female students said they had been harmed.

Women were far more likely than men to report experiencing gender-based discrimination: 24 percent said they had been subjected to sexist remarks or names, compared to 3 percent of male students. About 7 percent of female students said theyd received lower grades or evaluations because of their gender, and the same percent reported being denied opportunities for training or rewards due to their gender, compared to just under 5 percent of male students who said the same thing.

There is a lot of data showing that although medical schools are slowly becoming more diverse, they are still not yet inclusive, co-author and assistant professor Dr. Dowin Boatright said in a statement.

Medical schools, and their major accrediting bodies have been increasingly focused on diversity in recruiting students, an effort that Hill said hasnt come with an equal focus on creating an inclusive environment once those students enroll.

They have a responsibility to those students that they went out of their way to recruit, she said, to ensure that theyre not exposed to negative environments.

To address these issues, one of the first things we really need to do is identify schools that are doing good jobs, Hill said.

While the study did not look at which schools students attended, that information is available in the graduation questionnaires and could be assessed to find schools that are doing well and see what theyre doing to foster a climate of inclusion and equity and respect for medical students. That information could be used to replicate those efforts at other schools, she said.

Liz.teitz@hearstmediact.com
Trump Says Would Be 'Great Thing' For Russia, Ukraine To Reconcile

By RFE/RL February 24, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would like to see rivals Russia and Ukraine mend ties in their ongoing geopolitical feud, which includes accusations by Kyiv that Moscow is fomenting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine by leading, supplying, and fighting alongside proxy forces.

"Well, I'd like to see them come together. I think if they came together in the sense that they got along with each other, that would be a great thing," he told reporters on February 23 before departing on Marine Force One for his maiden voyage to India.

A reporter had asked Trump to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent accusations that other countries are trying split neighbors Russia and Ukraine apart, saying the two predominantly Slavic and Orthodox Christian countries would be a world superpower if they came together.

In response, Trump added that "it would be a great thing for the worldIf Ukraine and Russia could work out some agreement where they get along, to me that would be very good."

About 7 percent of Ukraine's territory has remained beyond Kyiv's control since 2014 when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and subsequently backed separatists in the two easternmost Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

More than 13,000 people have been killed in the war and an additional 1.5 million people have been internally displaced.

Russia denies being a party to the Donbas conflict and insists it is a civil war.

Kyiv has accused Russia of trying to further destabilize the country by sowing discord through propaganda and disinformation, frequent cyberattacks, and using energy as a coercive tool.

Both countries are embroiled in several international lawsuits related to debt, trade, and seized assets.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-says -would-be-great-thing-for-russia- ukraine-to-reconcile/30450703.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.

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The Supreme Court will review a decision to stop placing children with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's agency because it would not permit same-sex couples to serve as foster parents. Read more

A dispute between the City of Philadelphia and a Catholic foster care agency that wont place children with same-sex couples is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case that could have national implications for nondiscrimination policies related to religious institutions.

The court said Monday that it would hear arguments in the fall. Its the first case on the subject since the court legalized gay marriage in 2015.

The key question in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia is whether Philadelphia violated Catholic Social Services religious-freedom rights when it canceled a contract with the agency because it refuses to place foster children with same-sex couples. The case is named after Sharonell Fulton, a longtime foster parent with Catholic Social Services, who sued the city over the cancellation of the agencys contract.

The city twice won in lower courts. Philadelphia has a nondiscrimination ordinance covering city contractors.

The City of Philadelphia is proud of our longstanding commitment to supporting freedom of religion and preserving equal access to services for all people," City Solicitor Marcel S. Pratt said in a statement Monday. "Unfortunately, CSS refused to consider qualified same-sex couples to become foster parents  even when these couples would be a safe, loving family for the child  and in doing so, CSS defied the citys nondiscrimination policy.

Pratt said the case is ultimately about serving children in the citys care. And the best way to do that is by upholding our sincere commitment to the dignity of all people, including our LGBTQ community, he said.

Catholic Social Services wont certify same-sex married couples because of religious beliefs, and it also doesnt allow unmarried couples who live together to foster children under its program.

Lori Windham, senior counsel at the Becket law firm representing Catholic Social Services, said the Supreme Courts decision will address questions and tensions nationwide over faith-based adoption and foster care. She also stressed the merit of having a wider range of service providers.

Over the last few years, agencies have been closing their doors across the country, and all the while children are pouring into the system," she said. "We are confident that the court will realize that the best solution is the one that has worked in Philadelphia for a century: all hands on deck for foster kids.

Windham added that same-sex couples are able to adopt and foster in Philadelphia, just not through the archdioceses agency: I want to emphasize, same-sex couples are able to foster and adopt in Philadelphia," she said. "That has been true for years. It continues to be true today. Catholic Social Services is just one of 29 agencies, and asks to be able to continue providing excellent services and following its faith.

This is the first case involving foster care and adoption and LGBTQ rights that will come to the Supreme Court, although several incidents nationwide have prompted similar legal disputes.

In 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled that all states must allow gay marriage, Chief Justice John Roberts predicted that the question of same-sex adoption would follow and likely land before the Supreme Court. Now that prediction has come true, Windham said.

The path to the Supreme Court started in March 2018, when a same-sex couple interested in becoming foster parents said they were turned down by Bethany Christian Services because they were lesbian. An Inquirer story about the incident found that CSS had a similar policy of not working with LGBTQ people. Bethany agreed to change its policy to align with the citys anti-discrimination rules. CSS did not, and the city ended its foster-care contract.

Catholic Social Services sued, contending that the city had violated its religious freedom and endangered children in need of a good home.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker in 2018 upheld the citys decision, ruling the citys Department of Human Services had a legitimate interest in ensuring that the pool of foster parents and resource caregivers is as diverse and broad as the children in need of foster parents."

In April 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed that, ruling that the city did not target the agency because of its religious beliefs, but acted only to enforce its own nondiscrimination policy in the face of what seemed to be a clear violation.

Late Monday, Megan Paszko, who with her wife were the couple who said they were turned away from Bethany in 2018, said, I simply think you shouldnt be able to use taxpayers dollars to discriminate against LGBTQ parents.

When its an agency working on behalf of a government contract thats discriminating, its not someones personal bias Im up against, its the governments, said Paszko, who works in social services and lives in the Brewerytown section of the city. And I just dont think you should be able to do that while working off a government contract using my tax funds.

The couple were frustrated by the experience and did not become foster parents, she said.

While Philadelphia halted new foster and adoption services with Catholic Social Services, it does maintain other contracts with the agency and has not moved children who were already in placements through Catholic Social Services, Department of Human Services spokesperson Heather Keafer said. Currently, 38 children are in foster care through Catholic Social Services.

Mike Moreland, a Villanova University professor of law and religion, said that given the courts conservative composition and its decision to take on the case, the city was likely to lose. I think the question is, will the courts decision be relatively narrow  or will it take the opportunity to dramatically expand the rights of religious free exercise?

Gay rights and religious freedoms have clashed in similar cases related to child welfare around the country.

In January 2019, the Trump administration granted a waiver to South Carolina, allowing the state to provide federal funding to a foster-care agency that works only with Protestant foster parents. The waiver allows the federally funded Miracle Hill Ministries to continue turning away prospective parents of other religions, as well as LGBTQ parents.

In Michigan, the ACLU and two same-sex couples sued the state, saying its policy of allowing child welfare providers to discriminate against same-sex couples violates the establishment clause. A federal judge in September ruled that the case should move forward. Since 2015, Michigan has had a law that says child placement agencies can refuse services in situations that conflict with their religious beliefs.

Leslie Cooper, deputy director of the ACLU LGBT and HIV Project, said Monday that the Philadelphia case could have profound consequences for the more than 400,000 children in foster care across the country.

We already have a severe shortage of foster families willing and able to open their hearts and homes to these children, she said. Allowing foster care agencies to exclude qualified families based on religious requirements that have nothing to do with the ability to care for a child such as their sexual orientation or faith would make it even worse. We cant afford to have loving families turned away or deterred by the risk of discrimination.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.
H e is known for his extravagant shirts on the Great British Bake Off, and now a collection of Noel Fieldings equally eyecatching paintings will take centre stage at a major London art fair.

Visitors to The Other Art Fair will be able to buy work by the comic and TV presenter who will be showing a series of new paintings and selling a limited-edition 100 print after being unveiled as the events guest artist.

Fielding, who started out as part of the alternative comedy duo The Mighty Boosh, went to art college in Croydon where he studied under Turner Prize nominee Dexter Dalwood.

He said: I am flattered to be the guest artist at The Other Art Fair. I cant wait to meet all the other artists and see all the fantastic work.

The fair, which will be held at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane from March 19 to 22, has previously counted names from Tracey Emin to Gavin Turk as guest artist.

UK fair director Jessica Chow said: Were extremely excited to welcome Noel as guest artist and introduce his work to our London audience.

Noels paintings are full of life: simultaneously playful, serious, dark and colourful. Alongside his paintings, hell be showing a selection of one-off drawings, as well as an exclusive limited-edition print, adding to the catalogue of Noel Fielding artworks visitors will be able to purchase at the fair.

This is a unique chance for people to see the incredible large-scale works in the flesh and walk away with their own Noel Fielding piece of art.

Fieldings huge paintings, which can come in at as much as 1.5 metres high, often bear the signs of forceful brushwork and even fingerprints when he applies the paint with his hands.

They include Dont With The Queen which shows the monarch surrounded by guardsmen.

For more information go to theotherartfair.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:37:41|Editor: yan

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Central Bank said Monday that it is closely monitoring conditions in the financial markets, in light of current developments in the country's political arena.

Bank Negara Malaysia said in a statement, while ringgit movements will continue to be market determined, the bank's market operations will ensure sufficient liquidity and orderly financial market conditions.

The Ringgit fell 0.73 percent to 4.2250 against the U.S. dollars on Monday, the lowest point since September 2019.

Year to date, the Ringgit has fallen 3.31 percent against the U.S. dollars.
A former Allentown priest was sentenced Monday to state prison for the indecent assault of a girl he met through his city parish.

Lehigh County Judge Maria Dantos noted it was a maximum sentence of one to two years in state prison for 31-year-old Kevin Lonergan, who has been free on bail in the case since he was charged.

Lonergan pleaded guilty in November to indecent assault of the girl, who was 17 at the time.

In addition to commending the bravery of the teen girl who came forward, Dantos took note of a prior accusation against Lonergan in another county.

In that incident, Lonergan was accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl, Chief Deputy District Attorney Matt Falk said. But the girl and her family did not cooperate with an investigation and the case stalled, Falk said during Mondays hearing.

Lonergan was transferred to Allentown, a practice Dantos railed against as she hit her bench in the courtroom.

The Catholic churchs practice of transferring priests accused of misconduct came to light in the 1980s and continues more than three decades later, the judge said.

Theres plenty of blame to go around, most of it on your shoulders, the judge said to Lonergan.

The diocese in a prepared statement disputed Dantos characterization of what happened with the previous allegation.

Regarding statements made in court, it is not accurate to say that the Diocese improperly transferred a priest who had committed an offense. Father Lonergan received a new assignment in 2016 only after Northampton County Children and Youth determined that the accusation was unfounded, the statement said. "The Diocese took immediate action upon receiving the information on this previous allegation. Father Lonergan was forbidden from ministry, and the Diocese reported the allegation to law enforcement under its zero tolerance policy.

The victim and her parents described a life of service to the Catholic church, and how the community built around their faith made the church a constant in their lives.

The victim described the rage she felt and the sleepless nights after the incidents with Lonergan, and the repercussions she and her family have dealt with since she reported the crime to authorities.

In one instance, a relative of Lonergans contacted the victim through social media, and offered her money to drop the case.

I can feel your strength. Sometimes thats not always an easy burden to bear, to be strong, the judge said.

The victims mother and father described their devout faith, of raising their daughter in a church and community they trusted, and how church became a place of good memories and comfort.

Church is no longer a safe place, the victims mother said, adding that Mass is torturous for her and she cannot walk into a church without crying. Kevin Lonergans actions have taken away my sense of security, my belief system."

Since the charges were filed, the family has been isolated, and did not hear from their fellow parishioners or any priests.

The church that we so believed in abandoned us, the mother said.

Lonergan was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Church on 11th Street in Allentown, when he met the accuser in August 2017.

He got her cellphone number from another member of the church and communicated with her, mostly via Snapchat, through January 2018, the district attorney previously said. The messages included nude photos of Lonergan and one video, Dantos said.

In February 2018, Lonergan hugged the victim at church -- she attempted to pull away, but he pulled her closer and grabbed her rear over her clothes, prosecutors said.

After the victim told another priest of the assault in June 2018, the diocese reported it to the DAs office and Lonergan was immediately suspended from public ministry.

A family friend of Lonergans spoke of Lonergan humbling himself to work at his Pottsville auto dealership. When the man said the accusations against Lonergan didnt seem to fit, the judge stopped him.

Dantos said Lonergan pleaded guilty, and that the presumption of innocence was gone. She then told the man to take a seat, and none of the other supporters in the audience spoke.

Lonergan, in his statement to the court, did say he was guilty, of the crime, of stealing the victims dignity, and of the pain suffered by his family.

Lonergan asked for forgiveness, and said he would never forgive myself for what I have done."

Lonergan was a priest for five years, and was previously assigned to St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Palmer Township from June 2014 to May 2016. Monsignor Stephen Radocha previously said there were no credible allegations made against Lonergan while he was assigned to St. Janes.

A concern was raised about him in 2016 by a third party, but Northampton County Children and Youth investigated and determined that concern to be unfounded, the monsignor said.

The Diocese offers its heartfelt prayers to the victim, to her family, and to everyone who was hurt as the result of Father Lonergans actions," the Diocese of Allentown said in a released statement. From the beginning of this case, the Diocese followed its protocols to the letter, and will continue to do so. Bishop Alfred Schlert removed Father Lonergan from ministry and immediately notified law enforcement on the day the allegations were made.

Lonergan will not return to ministry. Now that the criminal case is finished, the diocese will submit the case to the Vatican.

After the hearing, and asked about a possible appeal, defense attorney Eric Prock said he still needs to discuss possible next steps with his client, but that all options are on the table.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati and representatives of the defence and foreign ministries as well as the General Intelligence

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly discussed with the country's higher committee on Nile water on Monday the latest developments on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a few days before the next round of the US-brokered negotiations slated for Thursday and Friday in Washington.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati and representatives of the defence and foreign ministries as well as the General Intelligence.

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 to be signed by the end of this month, a joint statement by the five parties read.

However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that it could take "months" to resolve the dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over the massive dam on the Nile.

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, but Cairo fears the project will diminish its water supply from the Nile, a lifeline for a country of 100 million people.

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New Delhi, Feb 24 : A Delhi court on Monday issued notice to the city police on an application that sought for preserving the Twitter account of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's wife Sunanda Pushkar who was found dead in a hotel here in 2014.

Pushkar was found dead in a hotel room in mysterious circumstances on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel as their house was under renovation. Shashi Tharoor, the sole accused in the case, is currently out on bail.

The application was moved by Tharoor's advocate Vikas Pahwa, who sought a direction to the Investigating Officer of the case to write to Twitter India to preserve her account.

"When a person dies, Twitter deletes the entire account, until an order is passed in this regard. That poses a threat of loss of evidence in this case," the senior counsel said in his plea.

Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar sought the police's response and posted the matter to March 20.

"Let the police file a reply. Put up the matter for March 20," the court said.

In August last year, the Delhi Police had pressed for framing of charges against Tharoor under Section 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 306 (abetment to suicide) or alternatively under 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
The two men who entered the Gotcha Faded barbershop that chilly January evening walked around the shop crowded with children with their hands concealed in their jacket pockets. After spotting their intended target, the men walked outside, smiled to each other, then raised their guns to the shops front door, firing numerous gunshots inside, prosecutors said Monday during a bail hearing for one of the men.
Malaysian health authorities on Saturday said an American passenger of a cruise liner docked in Cambodia has now tested negative for the novel coronavirus, a week after she had been declared the countrys 22nd confirmed virus case.

The 83-year-old woman was the first passenger from the MS Westerdam, run by Carnival Corp (CCL.N) unit Holland America Inc, to test positive. The result came in the Malaysian capital, where she arrived on Friday from the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville.

The woman has shown very positive developments to her health after receiving anti-viral medication and oxygen to alleviate her symptoms, but continues to be monitored in hospital for a mild cough, according to Malaysias health ministry.

After over 72 hours of treatment, the case has shown positive health developments. Following that, COVID-19 detection tests were carried out twice and spaced out over 24 hours. Both tests returned negative, ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement.

A total of 145 passengers from the cruise ship arrived in Malaysia last Friday. The woman and her 85-year-old husband were the only ones to have shown symptoms after screening.

All but the two Americans have already left for their destinations.

The discovery of one confirmed case from the cruise ship prompted Malaysia to bar Westerdam from entering the country, and to turn away any cruise ships that had departed or transited any port in China.

The Westerdam arrived in Cambodia last Thursday, carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew. It had spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:24:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Monday decided to impose a full ban on illegal wildlife trade and postpone its annual session amid the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

The decision to thoroughly ban illegal wildlife trade and eliminate the bad habits of eating wild animals was adopted at Monday's bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

At the one-day session, lawmakers also passed a decision to postpone the third annual session of the 13th NPC, originally scheduled to open on March 5.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the legislature and the closing meeting of the session.

Speaking after the decisions were adopted, Li said since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has led the national fight against the epidemic. At present, the positive trend of containing the outbreak is expanding.

Li said the decision to impose a full ban on illegal wildlife trade was made to implement instructions of Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee.

Li urged rigorous implementation of the decision to safeguard people's lives and health, adding that the decision has responded to the major concerns of society and provided a legal guarantee for safeguarding the security of the public and ecology. It also helps improve the country's image, he added.

The decision to postpone this year's NPC annual session was made after careful evaluation, Li stressed.

Many of the NPC deputies, including officials, medical workers, researchers, workers, farmers and members of the armed forces, are now fighting the virus at the front line, Li said, noting that postponing the annual legislative session will allow efforts to be concentrated on containing the epidemic.

Li asked the NPC Standing Committee to improve the legal system for epidemic prevention and control, foster rule-of-law awareness in society, and facilitate achieving the goals and tasks of economic and social development of the year.
FMCG major HUL on Monday announced its plans to set up a new subsidiary, which would be primarily engaged in manufacturing activities.

The company's board has given a go-ahead to a proposal to set up a step down unit, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) said in a statement.

According to sources, HUL is incorporating the subsidiary to get the benefit of the new corporate tax rate, which has been reduced to 15 per cent from the previous 25 per cent for new manufacturing companies.

"The company would initially invest around Rs 500 to Rs 600 crore in the new subsidiary," a source said adding the investment would be increased substantially in the coming times.

The new manufacturing unit would be making products mostly for the FMCG segment, they said.

In September last year, the government slashed the corporate tax rate to 22 per cent without any exemptions or incentives and to 15 per cent from 25 per cent for new manufacturing companies.

"This new subsidiary has been formed to leverage the growth opportunities in a fast-changing business environment and will help HUL in becoming more agile and customer-focused," said HUL in the statement.

It further added:"This company will be incorporated with an Authorised Share Capital of Rs 2,000 crore."



For 2018-19, HUL, which sells products under popular brands such as Dove, Surf Excel, and Kissan had posted revenues of Rs38,224 crore.

On December 3, 2018, Anglo-Dutch FMCG giant Unilever had announced the acquisition of health food portfolio, including popular brands Horlicks and Boost, from GlaxoSmithKline in India and over 20 other markets for 3.1 billion pounds (about Rs 27,750 crore).

Under the deal, Unilever's Indian arm, HUL is acquiring GSK CH India via an all-equity merger, valuing the total business of the latter at Rs 31,700 crore.

GSK CH India is the market leader in the health food drinks (HFD) category, with popular brands such as Horlicks and Boost.

Shares of HUL on Monday settled at Rs 2,216 apiece, down 1.42 per cent, on the BSE.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STAMFORD  The teen accused of trying to stab a woman to death outside a Westport beauty salon and who police say plotted to kill people in their homes is expected to be released to a psychiatric facility.

Ellis Tiberes family plans to post his $1 million bond and he will be taken to the Whiting Forensic Institute in Middletown, where he will be placed in voluntary lockdown, which includes around-the-clock supervision and psychiatric care.

Tibere and his attorney, John Gulash, appeared Monday in state Superior Court in Stamford where a judge denied a request to lower the bond to $500,000.

The 18-year-old Guilford High School student, who has been held since his January arrest, spent another night in jail Monday because his attorney said the bond paperwork could not be finalized before court closed.

Tibere, who is expected to post bond and be released to Whiting on Tuesday, has been found competent to stand trial on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault and possession of a deadly weapon.

The prosecutor argued against Tiberes release, saying he remained a threat to the community, based on comments he made to Westport police following his arrest.

Tibere told police he had been thinking of killing another person for nearly 10 years, Senior Assistant States Attorney Joseph Valdes said. Valdes said Tibere told police if he were released, he would try to do it again.

Based on his conduct and his statements, we believe he is a risk to the community, Valdes said.

Valdes said Tibere nearly killed a stranger he encountered in Westport with a 6-inch serrated knife by stabbing her multiple times in the leg.

They thought it was a murder scene because there was so much blood, Valdes said.

Attorney Eugene Riccio, who represents the 33-year-old Greenwich woman who suffered one wound thats 4 inches deep, said his client is slowly recovering.

My clients leg looks like someone performed an autopsy on it, Riccio said.

Stamford Superior Court Judge Gary White denied Gulashs request to lower the bond and even considered raising it. However, Valdes said the $1 million was enough and raising it would only cause Tiberes family more financial hardship.

White said if Tibere leaves Whiting for any reason, he would first have to appear in court.

Tibere is next scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on March 2.

In search warrants that were unsealed last week, Westport police said Tibere admitted after his Jan. 6 arrest that he broke into two homes in town and planned to ambush the residents when they returned.

Gulash declined to comment last week about the search warrants, which did not indicate when Tibere allegedly broke into the homes and if police notified the residents. Police also declined to provide more information.

The search warrants also do not say what thwarted Tiberes alleged plot to kill the homeowners.

Tibere told detectives he entered at least two Westport homes in an effort to lie in wait for victims to kill, according to search warrants. In the warrants, Detective Marc Heinmiller wrote that Tibere pointed out the homes in photographs shown to him by police.

According to the warrants, police were trying to identify any other potential victims by accessing Tiberes school-issued laptop computer and his cellphone.

Tiberes parents reported him missing the day before the stabbing. State police found him that night at the Interstate 95 rest stop in Darien, where police said he had been parked for more than two hours.

But because Tibere was 18, had not committed a crime and was not considered a threat, police said they were unable to detain him. According to a police report, Tibere said he planned to return to his Guilford home.

However, his father reported to police the next day that his son never came home.

Around the same time, police said Tibere was sitting for more than three hours in the parking lot of New Beauty Wellness on Post Road East in Westport before donning a black mask and attacking the Greenwich woman, according to an arrest affidavit.

Police said Tibere walked up to the womans car, opened her door and began stabbing her. Tibere told detectives he only stopped stabbing the woman when a man exited the beauty salon, according to the affidavit.

When police arrived, they found two men trying to stanch the victims bleeding. Officers applied a tourniquet to the womans leg and she was taken to Norwalk Hospital.

Police found Tibere driving south on the Sherwood Island Connector shortly after the incident, where he surrendered without incident.
Assanges case has drawn comparisons to that of Harry Dunn, whose family says it is hypocritical that Washington is demanding Assange when it refused to turn over Anne Sacoolas, an American diplomats wife who is charged with causing the death of the British teenager. Sacoolas admitted she was driving on the wrong side of the road when she collided with Dunn as he was riding a motorcycle in August. She later fled Britain and claimed diplomatic immunity.
She's currently on a quest for a relationship following her bitter split from Curtis Pritchard, which was documented on last year's Love Island.

And Amy Hart appeared in great spirits as she filmed scenes for E4's upcoming edition of Celebs Go Dating alongside Amy Childs in Punta Cuna, Dominican Republic, earlier this month.

The reality star, 27, put on an incredibly busty display as she went braless underneath a blue animal print playsuit, while former TOWIE personality Amy, 29, turned up the heat in a form-fitting denim dress.

Quest for love: Amy Hart (L) filmed scenes for E4's upcoming edition of Celebs Go Dating alongside Amy Childs (R) in Punta Cuna, Dominican Republic, earlier this month

Soaking up the sun on the Caribbean island, the former British Airways employee looked sensational in her barely-there number, which featured a plunging neckline and balloon-style sleeves.

The media personality opted for comfort as she strolled along the sandy shores barefoot, and protected her eyes from the sun in cat-eye shades.

With her tresses styled in loose waves, Amy enjoyed some downtime as she played a series of ball games with her castmembers.

Former beauty technician Amy brought glamour to the beach as she slipped her curves into a low-cut double-breasted dress, teamed with nude, ankle-strap heels.

Working it! The reality star, 27, put on an incredibly busty display as she went braless underneath a blue animal print playsuit

Commanding attention: Soaking up the sun on the Caribbean island, the former British Airways employee looked sensational in her barely-there number

The honey-blonde beauty ensured focus remained on her statement outfit as she opted for minimal accessories, sporting circular-framed sunglasses.

Amy's shoulder-length tresses were worn in a straight fashion, while her radiant complexion was enhanced with minimal make-up.

The two girls join Alison Hammond, TOWIE's James Lock, Dean Gaffney, Malique Thompson-Dwyer and Love Island's Joshua Ritchie on the forthcoming show.

The agencys trusted and skillful dating experts Anna Williamson and Paul C Brunson will also return to give the celebrities a lesson in love.

Working it! Former TOWIE personality Amy, 29, turned up the heat in a form-fitting denim dress, complete with frayed trimming

Looking good: The honey-blonde beauty ensured focus remained on her statement outfit as she sported circular-framed sunglasses

Impromptu shoot: The It's All About Amy star struck a series of smouldering poses as she took selfies on her iPhone

Wow-factor! Hollyoaks star Malique Thompson-Dwyer displayed his toned upper body and six pack as he went shirtless

Out and about: Later in the day, the soap actor, 22, rocked a white T-shirt, and pale grey waistcoat and camo print trousers

With their acclaimed expertise on relationships and dating etiquette, the dating agents will have no qualms in telling the celebrities where they are going wrong in the dating department.

As always junior Client Coordinator and celeb confidante Tom Read Wilson will be ready and waiting for the celebs to divulge all, offering a comforting shoulder to cry on when things go wrong and a warm, lingering embrace to help celebrate a dating triumph when things go right.

On her stint, former flight attendant Amy enthused: 'I cant wait to walk through those famous agency doors and find out who Anna and Paul have lined up for me!

'I havent been on a proper date in ages, so Im excited - and nervous! - to see what happens. Ive been a huge fan of Celebs Go Dating for years - so to join the agency really is a dream come true, and hopefully itll help me find The One!'
Photo: iStock

Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Chicago.

BattleHawks set XFL records in home opener win

The BattleHawks put a beating on the New York Guardians, and the special teams squad was a big part of the win.

Read the full story on KDSK.

Man charged in East Garfield Park barbershop shooting that wounded 5, including 3 children

A 29-year-old man is facing charges in connection with a shooting that wounded five people, including three children, last month at a barbershop in East Garfield Park on the West Side.

Read the full story on ABC Chicago, WLS.

Celebrate Paczki Day with delightful pastries

Paczki Day is celebrated on Fat Tuesday in Chicago, which falls on Feb. 25 this year.

Read the full story on ABC Chicago, WLS.

Man fatally shot outside Chatham convenience store

A 50-year-old man was shot and killed outside a convenience store Saturday in Chatham on the South Side.

Read the full story on ABC Chicago, WLS.

2 teens charged with carjacking man in Sauganash

Chicago police arrested a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old in connection with a carjacking Friday in Sauganash.

Read the full story on Chicago Tribune.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
A senior Democratic Unionist Party MP has blasted the Northern Ireland Office over botched meeting plans.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is set to make his first official visit to Londonderry on Monday.

Among his planned engagements is a meeting with local civic, business and political representatives involved in the Unity of Purpose advocacy group.

Brandon Lewis was appointed Northern Ireland Secretary in the cabinet reshuffle (Brian Lawless/PA)

DUP MP Gregory Campbell said that he, along with MLA Gary Middleton, had been keen to take part in the meeting but were unavailable on Monday due to business at Stormont and Westminster.

He claimed the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) botched the meeting plans by proceeding with the date despite their unavailability.

For around 10 years, local leaders in political and public service have met regularly in the Unity of Purpose group to ensure that Londonderry and the wider North West had a collective voice when it came to putting forward our views on development and also in confronting those intent on bringing violence to our streets again, Mr Campbell and Mr Middleton said in a joint statement.

For the DUP, as the voice of unionism in the region, we felt it imperative that we fully participate. Indeed we have been to the fore in formulating ideas as the project has progressed.

It is all the more regrettable that we have to speak out when new Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis MP, is making his first visit to Londonderry and is scheduled to meet with the UoP group.

When the visit was first mooted last week, a number of us who wanted to be involved made it clear that Monday February 24 was not a suitable date given both Assembly and Westminster commitments for a number of representatives.

Alternative dates were offered but despite this, the NIO decided to proceed in any case. This has meant that there will be no elected Unionist voice at the meeting.

The DUP men warned: Those in charge at the Northern Ireland Office need to radically reassess their outlook and the new Secretary of State must look again at visits like this, as the whole point of a discussion/decision-making forum like UoP is that it is representative.

Story continues

Todays meeting is not.

A UK Government spokesman responded with a brief statement.

The Secretary of State has committed to meeting people from across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland, and from every walk of life. Following his visit to Belfast last week, Brandon Lewis wanted to visit the north-west at the earliest opportunity, and plans to visit other regions soon.
Donald Trump must soon decide what to do about another potentially troublesome book by another national security adviser with whom he often clashed: HR McMaster, who at times offered stances at odds with his former boss.

The US president ousted McMaster in March 2018 after the duo failed to ever develop much of a rapport, with Mr Trump often mocking or refusing to meet with his top national security aide. New York-based Harper Collins will publish Mr McMaster's book in April  though it must first pass through a White House security review, just like all such works by former officials under any president.

Mr Trump's team is currently reviewing another book by another former national security adviser, John Bolton, with the conservative hawk promising its fourteenth chapter will contain some fiery details about the Trump team's Ukraine policy push, which became the basis of House Democrats' impeachment of the president.

Mr McMaster, a retired US Army one-star general, has remained mostly silent about his time working for Mr Trump, as well as the president's national security and foreign policy moves and remarks. But the book will give him a chance to tell his side of his steadily devolving relationship with the commander in chief.

"If you look at his first book, Dereliction of Duty, about the Vietnam War, he didn't throw people under the bus," said retired Army Lt Col Daniel Davis, who served under Mr McMaster in the 1990s Persian Gulf War. "That was really a history book about what happened and what went wrong. I think we'll see something very similar to that."

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

"All indications are he will use this to push his views on foreign policy  which certainly did differ from the president's  and grand strategy," Mr Davis said. "There has been talk that the president still calls him to get his advice. I would expect McMaster to be very, very measured with any criticisms of the president."

As a career Army officer, Mr McMaster could opt to hold some fire. That's because he in the past has stated his belief in the military's ethos of respecting one's commander. Still, he also has said he always offered his candid advice to Mr Trump, even when the two sharply disagreed.

One example was Mr Trump's stunning decision to meet one-on-one with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a high-stakes summit in 2018 to discuss the country's nuclear weapons program.

"I wasn't really opposed to the summit. I had concerns that I raised with colleagues and with the president," Mr McMaster said shortly after the leaving the White House at an interview with the Hudson Institute, a think tank where he now runs the Japan program. "My concern was that the campaign of maximum pressure may not have proceeded long enough to really convince Kim Jong Un that his regime is less safe with nuclear weapons than he is without them."

During his stint as Mr Trump's second national security adviser, Mr McMaster at times was not shy about expressing views in public that ran counter to those of the president.

The book cover for Battlegrounds by HR McMaster, which is due to be published in April 2020 (AP)

For instance, the three-star Army general went to the Munich Security Conference in February 2018 and said plainly he saw "incontrovertible" evidence Russia meddled in the 2016 US presidential election.

In siding with all 16 American intelligence agencies and the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mr McMaster went much further than his boss. Trump has vacillated between refusing to pin the interference on Moscow and saying Russians likely were involved.

Russia was likely the one issue, at least in public, where the duo frequently delivered different messages.

Just before he left the White House, Mr McMaster delivered public remarks that were tough on Russia.

"For too long, some nations have looked the other way in the face of these threats. Russia brazenly and implausibly denies its actions, and we have failed to impose sufficient costs," he said during a speech at an Atlantic Council dinner. "Mr. Putin may believe that he is winning in this new form of warfare. Perhaps he believes that our free nations are weak and will not respond to his provocations. He is wrong."

But Trump, in stark contrast, rarely says a critical word in public about Russia or its president, Vladimir Putin.

"They don't think about the country. They don't think about jobs. They don't think about lowering your drug costs. Infrastructure. These people are crazy," Mr Trump said Friday during a campaign rally in Las Vegas, referring to congressional Democrats. "Trust me. I like ... what we're doing, and I love this country. I love this country. Now, and I campaigned on it, at the same time we want to get along with Russia. We want to get along with China."

"We want to get along with all these countries. Who the hell needs to have conflict?" he added, revealing his dovish side on global affairs that is a departure from his otherwise hardline and tough-talking demeanor.

Just how deep into such policy spats and their personal rows Mr McMaster ultimately decides to go is unclear.

But Harper Collins has signaled the work's main focus will be an academic "reassessment of America's place in the world, drawing from McMaster's long engagement with these issues, including 34 years of service in the US Army with multiple tours of duty in battlegrounds overseas." However, the firm also said the book will cover his time working for the former reality television host and New York real estate developer.

To be sure, he and the president had a rocky relationship.

By late 2017, there were multiple media reports that Mr Trump had lost confidence in Mr McMaster's advice.

In their book about the Trump White House, A Very Stable Genius, Washington Post reporters Carol Leoning and Phil Rucker report Mr Trump griped that the military man dressed "like a beer salesman." He also mocked and imitated Mr McMaster's "barking kind of voice" and military presence.

The two Post reporters also included an anecdote that implies Mr Trump gradually wore down Mr McMaster and nudged him toward the West Wing exit, quoting a McMaster aide as saying: "The president doesn't fire people. He just tortures them until they're willing to quit."
Steve Jobs had a favorite way to hold a meeting with an employee, partner, or potential collaborator: He liked to walk, usually simply strolling around the company's neighborhood in Cupertino, California.

He was onto something. Conducting a meeting while walking has clear health benefits for the participants, but it turns out it benefits the meeting, too. New research from the University of Hong Kong shows that walking side by side helps people connect to each other. This effect is so powerful that it works on people who've never met before, even while they aren't speaking to each other. And it happens in less than five minutes.

Miao Cheng and the research team from Hong Kong University's Department of Psychology were curious to learn what effect walking had on relations between two people. They noted that previous research had conclusively shown that moving together, especially when synchronizing movements, tends to build bonds between people and that walking side-by-side while having a conversation has been shown to have this effect. But, as the researchers note, having a conversation in itself builds connections between people. They wanted to test the effect of walking together by itself.

To do this, they matched up a total 257 pairs of people and invited them to give impressions of each other before taking about a quarter-mile walk together. (Participants took the walk multiple times, but each time with a new partner. They were told the experiment was about their perceptions of how long the walk took.) At the end of the quarter mile, they again reported their impressions of each other and then walked back to the starting point. One group of pairs was forbidden from conversing on the first part of the walk but allowed to chat on the way back. In a second experiment, they were told to stay silent for the entire walk. And a control group of participants simply sat in a room together working on a simple task for about the same amount of time as the walk, to test the social effect of simply being in another person's presence.

Falling into step.

Researchers used sensors to measure how participants walked and found that participants tended to synchronize their walking--"fall into step" with each other--even if they were strangers and even if they weren't allowed to talk. They found that participants' impressions of their partners grew more favorable after the first part of the walk--which took only 3 to 4 1/2 minutes--even though they weren't allowed to speak to each other. Those who were allowed to converse on the return trip got to like each other even more.

Jobs was known for his persuasiveness and his ability to bring people on board with his vision, and that included a profound understanding of how to connect with other people. And so his instincts doubtless told him what the Hong Kong University experiment just proved. Not only is walking a great way to access your own creativity, it's a great way to engage with others as well.
Bernie Sanders has seized a commanding position in the Democratic presidential race, building a diverse coalition that is driving his liberal movement toward the cusp of a takeover of a major political party.

The senator's ascendancy, though years in the making, is forcing a sudden reckoning in the Democratic Party's hierarchy as centrist politicians and their wealthy benefactors grapple with the upheaval brought by an electorate not only hungry to defeat President Donald Trump but also clamoring for radical change.

After Sanders' resounding victory in Saturday's Nevada caucuses, and with polls showing him on the rise, Democrats are entering a season of open warfare over whether Sanders, I-Vt., is equipped to beat Trump in what could be a brutal general election. The senator and his allies insist he could, but his detractors say he is too polarizing to win in November - and could severely cost Democrats in congressional or state races if Republicans use Sanders' self-description as a Democratic socialist to paint all Democrats as extreme.

The Sanders insurgency is the culmination of angry grievances that have simmered for the past decade among liberals who say Washington has all but ignored the problems of income inequality, health-care access and climate change.

"The party has shifted to the left, and I don't think many of the more traditional, legacy leaders of the party got it," said Andrew Stern, a longtime former president of the Service Employees International Union. "The good news for Bernie Sanders is he's like a broken clock. He's been in the same place for 35 or 40 years in terms of his positions, and the times have found him."

A headstrong, 78-year-old senator, Sanders has galvanized his supporters with an unwavering commitment to their shared cause and rageful critiques of the "billionaire class." They in turn see him, despite his unorthodox persona, as a weapon against a governing class that has failed them.

On the campaign trail, there is an unusual intensity to Sanders' performances, reminiscent of the energy that built around Trump on the right during his 2016 rise. Sanders has emerged as a movement candidate, with his rallies coast to coast drawing thousands of people who wait for hours to see him.

Sanders' stump speech is a progressive wish list - passing a Green New Deal to fight climate change; wiping out student debt and paying for it by taxing Wall Street; raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour; changing immigration laws to protect the undocumented; nominating liberals to the Supreme Court and protecting abortion rights; and, of course, his signature health-care idea, Medicare-for-all, which has become a rallying cry on the left.

"People who have been locked out of power are speaking up about corporate influence over the issues that matter in their lives," said Abdul El-Sayed, a Sanders ally and liberal organizer who ran unsuccessfully for Michigan governor in 2018. "What you're seeing is a necessary and natural readjustment in the Democratic Party."

Sanders' emphatic win in Nevada illustrated his potential to expand his coalition far beyond the ceiling of 25% or 30% that many party-establishment figures and commentators assumed he had. In Nevada, Sanders won with 29% of whites, 51% of Hispanics and 27% of blacks, according to entrance polls of Democratic caucus-goers. He won a staggering 65% of caucus-goers under 30 years old, and he carried every other age group except for caucus-goers over 65 years old, which former vice president Joe Biden won.

"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," Sanders said at his rally in San Antonio on Saturday.

"We are bringing our people together - black and white and Latino, Native American, Asian American, gay and straight," Sanders added. "We are bringing our people together around an agenda that works for the working people of this country."

Sanders' dominance among young people, his supporters say, signals his ability to energize this potentially important demographic in November.

"Disregard electability," said Isabel Lozoya, 19, a Texas State University student who drove for an hour on Saturday to see Sanders campaign in San Antonio. "It should be about picking somebody you really believe in as opposed to somebody you think other people will believe in."

The race for the nomination is just getting started and remains fluid, with a half-dozen contenders still running, though Sanders has clear momentum after winning Nevada and the New Hampshire primary, while finishing second in the Iowa caucuses by a razor-thin margin.

The next primary is Saturday in South Carolina, where the latest polls show Biden leading and Sanders running relatively close behind. The Super Tuesday contests on March 3 may be decisive, with voters in California, Texas and 12 other states determining about one-third of the nearly 4,000 pledged delegates to be awarded by primaries and caucuses.

Some other candidates have stepped up their attacks on Sanders in urgent hopes of blunting his rise. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has been one of the most aggressive, warning in a speech Saturday night that Sanders as the party standard-bearer could be disastrous for other Democrats on the November ballot.

"Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders in our one shot to take on this president, let us take a sober look at what is at stake for our party, for our values and for those with the most to lose," said Buttigieg, who ran third in Nevada after a win in Iowa and a second-place finish in New Hampshire.

Sanders is bracing for a harsher assault to come from his Democratic rivals, including at Tuesday night's CBS News debate in South Carolina.

"To finally be seeing it all start to catch on is powerful, but he knows they're going to throw the kitchen sink at him," said Sanders friend Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and a Vermont-based liberal activist. "He's a realist."

Some Democratic leaders are sounding the alarm about the party's viability in the November election with Sanders atop the ticket. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., an ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday that Sanders could jeopardize the party's House majority.

"I think it would be a real burden for us in these states or congressional districts that we have to do well in," Clyburn said on ABC News' "This Week." "If you look at how well we did the last time [in the 2018 midterm elections] and look at the congressional districts, these were not liberal or what you might call progressive districts. These were basically moderate and conservative districts that we did well in."

Still, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 with a message about "economic violence," said it is clear to him that the party's liberal wing is asserting control.

"They represent the direction of the party," said Jackson, who said he has spoken recently with Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. "They're speaking to the pain that people feel. And Democrats are beginning to understand that democratic socialism doesn't mean Eastern European socialism."

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, compared the disruptive mood of Democratic voters this year to the right-wing tea-party movement in 2010.

"They want to shake things up. There is a sense that things are broken and prioritizing working families has to be at the center of the economic system," said Weingarten, whose union has not endorsed a candidate but last week approved its members to support Sanders, Warren or Biden.

Former Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle said Sanders "definitely has tapped into the kind of youthful enthusiasm and idealism that's been at the heart of the Democratic Party for a long, long time."

"Democrats are always best when the race is one in which it's change versus status quo, and the Democrats are change," Doyle added. "You go back historically to Roosevelt, to Kennedy, to Carter, to Clinton, to Obama. That's how Democrats win."

Sanders is trying to counter the assumption of many in the so-called Democratic establishment that he is too liberal to win a general election.

"Some of the folks in the corporate media are getting a little bit nervous," Sanders said at a rally Sunday afternoon in Houston before an enthusiastic crowd of more than 6,200 people at the University of Houston. "And they say Bernie can't beat Trump."

Sanders then listed the results of a few recent polls that he says show him defeating the president head-to-head nationally as well as in such states as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Steve Rosenthal, a veteran Democratic labor strategist who has been focused on mobilizing working-class white voters in a trio of battleground states - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - said it would be foolish to discount Sanders' appeal there.

"The establishment, which I guess I'm a part of after all these years, seems to know as much about electability as a donkey knows about calculus," Rosenthal said. "We always get it wrong. . . . The voters are going to tell us who's electable."

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a national co-chair of the Sanders campaign, said the campaign is expanding its outreach to a broader cross-section of voters.

"He wants to build a coalition like Bobby Kennedy or FDR did - one that is racially diverse and reaches out to everyone," Khanna said. "We're going to make a very concerted effort over the next few months to bring all the wings of the Democratic Party onboard."

Working to Sanders' advantage is the continuation of several more moderate candidates - Biden, Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg - who appear to be competing for many of the same voters and jockeying to survive as the lone alternative to Sanders.

For the proudly liberal and activist wing of the Democratic Party, Sanders' ascent has been welcomed as a potentially historical development.

Robert Reich, a liberal former labor secretary and a professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley, said this moment can be traced directly back to the 2008 financial crisis, which he called a galvanizing event that led to a surge in anti-establishment fervor.

"This isn't like 1972," when liberal Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota won the Democratic nomination and collapsed in the general election against Richard Nixon, Reich said. "In 1972, America's middle class was still growing. What you see here is a middle class responding to not having a raise in 40 years."

Even if he fails to secure the nomination outright at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee this summer, Sanders is unlikely to go away quietly, aides and friends said. They suggested that Sanders' long run and defiant exit from the 2016 race - doggedly carrying on with his calls for a political revolution until the final primary, weeks after Hillary Clinton had effectively sewn up the nomination - was a revealing glimpse into his character and his desire to move the party to the left.

"He doesn't quit," said Sanders confidant and political adviser Jeff Weaver. "He's campaigning to win."

- - -

The Washington Post's Jenna Johnson and Sean Sullivan in Houston contributed to this report.
What's the point of the military alphabet, and how do you use it? This phonetic alphabet solves what can a major problem with real combat impacts.

If you've ever talked on a call with bad reception or with someone in a loud place, you know how difficult it can be to communicate using regular English. Many words sound similar and easily can be misunderstood, and the same is true for a few letters if you attempt to spell something out.

Clear, expedient communication is vital to any military operation, and the everyday method of conveying ideas isn't always suitable. Without a solid understanding of what's being communicated, mistakes are likely to be made and may even be lethal.

Currently, the U.S. military uses the same phonetic alphabet adopted by NATO. More accurately, the alphabet is known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (IRSA). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) developed the IRSA to account for discrepancies in similar alphabets between different countries and organizations. Currently, the only difference in the IRSA among countries that adopt it is the spelling of certain words, such as Alfa for many European countries to avoid mispronunciations.

The military uses the IRSA to communicate for many different purposes, including communicating code, shorthand, slang and certain acronyms. For example, the phrase "Tango Uniform" correlates with the phrase tits up, which refers to either a deceased individual or a broken piece of equipment.

These types of phrases said may arise from other forms of communication, such as the Naval saying "bravo zulu" which means "well done." Rather than relating directly back to the first letters of "well done," bravo zulu references flags of the same designation from a maritime tactical signals publication.

The Military Alphabet

To see the military alphabet in action, check out Military.com's glossary of military acronyms and glossary of military terms and slang.

Letter 1957-Present Morse Code 1913 1927 1938 World War II A Alfa (or Alpha) . _ Able Affirmative Affirm Affirm (Able) B Bravo _ . . . Boy Baker Baker Baker C Charlie _ . _ . Cast Cast Cast Charlie D Delta _ . . Dog Dog Dog Dog E Echo . Easy Easy Easy Easy F Foxtrot . . _ . Fox Fox Fox Fox G Golf _ _ . George George George George H Hotel . . . . Have Hypo Hypo How I India . . Item Interrogatory Int Int (Item) J Juliett . _ _ _ Jig Jig Jig Jig K Kilo _ . _ King King King King L Lima . _ . . Love Love Love Love M Mike _ _ Mike Mike Mike Mike N November _ . Nan Negative Negat Negat (Nan) O Oscar _ _ _ Oboe Option Option Option (Oboe) P Papa . _ _ . Pup Preparatory Prep Prep (Peter) Q Quebec _ _ . _ Quack Quack Queen Queen R Romeo . _ . Rush Roger Roger Roger S Sierra . . . Sail Sail Sail Sugar T Tango _ Tare Tare Tare Tare U Uniform . . _ Unit Unit Unit Uncle V Victor . . . _ Vice Vice Victor Victor W Whiskey . _ _ Watch William William William X X-ray _ . . _ X-ray X-ray X-ray X-ray Y Yankee _ . _ _ Yoke Yoke Yoke Yoke Z Zulu _ _ . . Zed Zed Zed Zebra

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New Delhi, Feb 24 : The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Monday set aside the insolvency proceedings against e-commerce major Flipkart.

CloudWalker, an operating creditor, which imported and retailed LED TVs on Flipkart's platform, dragged the company to the NCLT last year over alleged default of Rs 26.95 crore towards procured imported televisions as per the supply agreement. On October 24, the tribunal admitted the its application for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) against Flipkart, which moved the NCLAT.

The three judge NCLAT bench said that the the operational creditor failed to submit any documents to prove in existence of the operational debt and the amount in default.

"The operational creditor also failed to submit the copy of invoices and copies of all the documents referred in the application to be submitted in Form 5, under Section 9 of the Code (IBC). The operational creditor has failed to submit the relevant documents under which the debt has become due," said the judgement.

Further, the NCLAT noted that CloudWalker Streaming Technologies only filed the copy of the 'Supply Agreement', and the projections email, "which by themselves can by no stretch of the imagination constitute proof of debt".

"We set aside the impugned order dated 24th October 2019 passed by the Adjudicating Authority (NCLT) and the application filed under Section 9 by the Operational Creditor Cloudwalker Streaming Technologies Pvt Ltd., company petition -- CP (IB)260/BB/2019 -- is rejected. The Flipkart India Pvt Ltd is released from the 'Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process'," it said.

Flipkart, in its response dated September 25, has denied the allegations and said that there is no admitted debt or liability as it had already paid an amount of Rs 85.57 crore towards the invoices raised by Cloudwalker.

"The Corporate Debtor (Flipkart) is not liable to make any payment to the Operational Creditor," said the Walmart-backed e-commerce major in its response.
Geneva (Switzerland), Feb 19, 2020 (SPS) - The World March of Women reaffirmed, on the occasion of commemorating the day of solidarity with Saharawi women, which is celebrated on February 18 of each year, its support for Saharawi women on their annual solidarity day.

The World March of Women urged the international community to intervene immediately to free the political prisoner, Mahfouda Bamba Lafkir, illegally detained by the occupation authorities in El Aaiun prison occupied in serious conditions.

The commission renewed its communication, reminding the United Nations that they apply international law and that they work to guarantee the right of peoples to self-determination, especially the right of the Saharawi people, and to end the looting of natural resources in Sahara Western.

The International Commission of Women also commended the perseverance and persistence of Saharawi women in refugee camps, liberated territories and occupied cities for more than four decades, despite difficult circumstances and systematic violence against women in the parties Subject to the Moroccan military occupation.

In conclusion, the World March of Women emphasized the continuation of its efforts to support Saharawi women until independence, and their strong condemnation of unjustified silence towards the suffering of the Saharawis and their just cause. SPS

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A taste of India, but with the American palate in mind  thats the underlying philosophy behind the menu crafted by the Rashtrapati Bhavan in-house chefs for the banquet for US President Donald Trump and his delegation on Tuesday.

So, wild Atlantic salmon will be on the plate but as fish tikkas. And Cajun spice, the US version of garam masala, will be sprinkled on it. Our idea is to showcase Indian food with American spices at the state banquet, said an official involved in the preparations who asked not to be named.

President Trump is known for his love for meatloaf, steak with ketchup, even McDonalds burgers. As beef is out of the question, Rashtrapati Bhavan chefs are offering him an alternative: raan ali-shan.

For it, goat legs will be marinated for at least 12 hours and grilled. A rich rogan josh gravy will be available to those who want some with the grilled meat.

Also read: Vedas to Vivekananda, DDLJ to Sachin: Donald Trump goes full desi

Dal Raisina, a signature dish of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, will also be served. The elaborate menu, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, will not be heavy on Indian spices and some will come with ingredients popular in American homes.

The Indian Navy band will play popular English and Hindi numbers throughout the dinner.

Around 100 guests, including the US Presidents entourage, will sit for the lavish dinner that will be served on silverware. According to Rashtrapati Bhavan officials, of these, only about 85-88 people will be from the Indian side. The exclusive state banquet, to be hosted in the historic Banquet Hall, will be wrapped up in less than 90 minutes. The US President is scheduled to depart for the US at 10pm on Tuesday.

But before the main courses hit the table, the state banquet will start with an amuse-bouche made from orange covered with peels of golden leaf and sprinkles of golden dust. This will be followed by an Indian entree of aloo tikki with paalak papdi. The two items have been picked to showcase Indias vibrant street-food. The soup will be lemon coriander shorba. Morels, a delicacy, will be used to prepare dum guchi matar, which will be followed by dum gosht biryani and deg ki biryani (for vegetarians).

Also read: US President Donald Trump unveils $3billion military copter pact

As the US President is known to have sweet tooth, the dessert menu will have three options: Malpua with rabri, hazelnut apple pie, and vanilla ice cream topped with salty caramel sauce.

An Indian classical pianist is expected to play after the dinner.

President Ram Nath Kovind will receive Trump outside Durbar Hall, where the Ashoka-era Rampurva Bull statue stands overlooking the Rashtrapati Bhavans forecourt. Rarely does the president receive his guest outside Durbar Hall, but for the US President, he is happy to do it, added the official. Trump and Kovind will sit at the North Drawing Room for talks before the US President and his family meet all the guests at the Ashoka Hall.

Kovind is expected to gift Trump a replica of Taj Mahal and a Kashmiri carpet. First Lady Melania Trump and the US presidents advisors, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, are also expected to receive gifts from President Kovind.

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Only 15% of respondents say they back such protests.

A total of 74% of Ukrainians do not support recent protests against the evacuation of citizens from China's Wuhan amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus with subsequent keeping them under observation in Ukraine.

Read alsoUkraine's health minister: Evacuees from China show no signs of coronavirus (Video)

Only 15% of respondents back such protests, while 11% are undecided, according to a survey conducted by the Rating sociological group.

The higher the level of education and income is, the higher the level of disapproval of protests against the evacuation is. In the regional context, most of those who did not support such events (80%) live in the country's south.

The poll was conducted on February 22-23 through personal formalized (face-to-face) interviews. The study involved 1,200 respondents aged 18 and older. The sample is representative of age, gender, region and type of settlement. The margin of error is no more than 2.8%.

As UNIAN reported earlier, local residents in the town of 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. On February 22, he was placed under two months' curfew.

The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed profound grief over the death of Delhi police head constable, who lost his life during clashes between two groups in Delhi's Gokulpuri earlier today.

"The demise of police head constable is extremely sad. He was also among one of us. This will not benefit anyone. All problems would be solved by peace," Kejriwal tweeted.

One Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) also suffered injuries during the clashes.

Earlier today, a clash broke out between two groups in Maujpur area as well. Section 144 CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-east district of Delhi said Police.

Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi and asked people to maintain peace.

Earlier on Sunday, stone-pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur following which which the police fired resorted tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob.

Maujpur area is close to Jaffrabad metro station area, where women are holding a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Visions of Peace Initiative is Dedicated to Motivating Students' Self Expression Through Art and Film

JAKARTA, INDONESIA / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Malang, East Java-The founders of Visions of a Peaceful Tomorrow Initiative, Princess Cheryl Halpern, Prince Damien Dematra, and Princess Natasha Dematra, were awarded The United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week 2020 Special Award by the Nusantara Culture Council.

The award was presented by KPH Prince Wiroyudho, the chairman of MATRA in the Dome of University of Muhammadiyah, Malang on January 27, 2020

The Special Award was presented to the VOPI in recognition of the significant contribution that it has made by promoting peace, tolerance and respect for all faiths through the visions of youth.

The Visions of Peace Initiative is focused on young students from the ages of 5 to 18 and is dedicated to motivating their self expression through the variety of art and film modalities. The Visions of Peace Awards celebrate both the excellence of an individual student but also recognize the total participation of all students as well as the teachers and administrators at each school they are all Ambassadors for Peace.

For more information about the Film Festivals Alliance, a platform that Princess Halpern has used to submit her film work, please visit http://www.filmfestivalsalliance.org/.

During the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2020, VOPI visited the Islamic Boarding School of Sabilurrosyad and held its Awards Ceremony in the Dome University of Muhammadiyah. The VOPI continued to Surabaya and held a similar event in the Junior State High School 12. The VOPI ended its three city visit with a closing event at the distinguished Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School in Jombang.

Princess Cheryl Halpern stated, "It is a privilege for me to view the Visions of Peace and interfaith harmony as expressed by the Indonesian youth with whom I have engaged. They are going to emerge as the leaders of the future and it important for them to be heard. I am looking forward to acknowledging the VOPI goal of respect for the diversity of humanity as envisioned by the younger generations as I continue to visit many more Indonesian schools."

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Prince Damien Dematra added, "We chose to focus this three day visit in Java since the island of Java is known for its diversity of people, faith and culture. The mission of the VOPI is to encourage a commitment to peace by the Indonesian youth wherever they are being taught; in public schools, private schools, orphanages or in the parochial schools of the Muhammadiyah, The NU, as well as the schools supported by Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and other faiths."

The first week of February is observed as the World Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations. The World Interfaith Harmony Week provides an annual opportunity for the diversity of faith based groups to come together and reaffirm the importance of peaceful coexistence with respect and tolerance for all.

The Initiative has visited 33 cities since its inception in August 2018 in Yogyakarta.

About Film Festivals Alliance:

Film Festivals Alliance is an award-winning submissions platform with awards from several Kingdoms and the biggest Film Submission Platform in Asia Pacific with more than 55,000 filmmakers. For more information, please visit http://www.filmfestivalsalliance.org/.

Contact:

Irene

filmfestivalsalliance@gmail.com

622130803815

SOURCE: Film Festivals Alliance





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I have been reading a fascinating new book called All You Have to Do is Ask by Wayne Baker, a professor at the University of Michigan Business School. The basic theme of the book is that most people are far more willing to provide us with information and advice for dealing with situations we are facing than most of us assume.

"When I ask audiences what it takes for them to ask for help, most people tell me they only speak up once they reach their wit's end," Baker writes. "'I ask for help only when I can't figure it out for myself and I'm totally desperate,' they say. [But] people can't help you if they don't know what you need, and they don't know what you need until you tell them."

In one experiment in New York City, people asked a stranger on the street if they could use their cellphone to make a call. On average, the second person they asked agreed; asked before trying how many requests they thought it would take, the average guess was many times the number it actually took." Asking for help, Baker argues, is often "the one simple act standing between us and success."

Adam Grant, the renowned Wharton organizational psychologist, has developed with Baker an exercise called the "Reciprocity Ring," which is a structured way for people to ask for help in a workgroup setting. It works like this: They gather people in the workgroup in a circle. Each participant is asked in turn to announce a request for help to the group.

When Baker conducts these, he says that the request may literally be for anything, as long as it conforms to the SMART criteria similar to those often used to describe a good performance measure: Specific, Meaningful, Action-oriented, Realistic, and within a specific Timeframe. After each request, the audience is asked to think about whether they or someone they know could help, and to present a solution to the requester. Almost always there is someone who can.

Grant and Baker don't see these as one-time events, but recurring ones. The more experience people get at seeing their requests responded to, the more aggressive they will be about the size of their asks. They also say that some scaled-down version can be introduced at regular staff meetings, perhaps asking one or two people to make requests.

As an complement to smaller Reciprocity Rings, they suggest at large conferences asking people to take out their smartphones and message in one idea about how the organization could do something better.

I am always on the lookout for management techniques that can help your organization improve performance without costing you any budget or other money. This is another great example.

"When we conduct the Reciprocity Ring with only twenty-four participants and in just two and a half hours, we've calculated," Baker writes, "that the ideas, solutions, and referrals generated in the activity generate "time savings to the tune of 1,600 hours or more" and "cost savings between $150,000 and $400,000."

Beyond the performance improvements, helping someone out in the Reciprocity Ring makes people in the organization feel better by fostering a feeling of gratitude. And when others help us, they feel good as well.

Over 100,000 people have participated in Reciprocity Rings at various companies and universities. As far as I know, this has never been tried in government. Who wants to be a first adopter?

I don't think there is a lot of downside risk here, especially since it's been used at places such as General Motors, Google, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Anybody who tries this and wants to share your experiences with others, write me at steve_kelman@hks.harvard.edu  I would love to write a blog about what happened.

And if you want some specific instructions for how to conduct a Reciprocity Ring, contact Give and Take, a company Grant and Baker have set up. All you have to do is ask!
Angela Phillips of Mountain America presented the check to Sherry Iverson, St. Luke's Children's Director of Community Education during the final home game on February 23, 2020.

"We are honored that Mountain America Credit Union continues to make a difference in the lives of our patients and families through their contributions to St. Luke's Children's," said Maegan Krahn, Director of Special Events for St. Luke's Health Foundation. "They are helping us build a bright future for tomorrow's leaders."

"As the only children's hospital in Idaho, Mountain America is proud to support St. Luke's Children's," Sterling Nielsen, president and CEO of Mountain America said. "They are doing amazing work in building a healthier future for Idaho's children."

About Mountain America Credit Union

With more than 880,000 members and $9 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union assists members on the right path to help them identify and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile banking technology, over 95 branches across five states, thousands of shared-branching locations nationwide and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain Americaguiding you forward. Learn more at macu.com.

SOURCE Mountain America Credit Union

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More than 20 people received injuries during a violent protest here at Jafrabad on Monday.

They are receiving treatment at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTB). The injured are admitted in the casualty ward with serious injuries, according to hospital officials.

Earlier today, stone-pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur area due to which the police resorted to firing tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob.

Maujpur is close to Jaffrabad metro station area, where women are holding a protest against the CAA amid heavy security.

In view of the developments, entry and exit gates of Maujpur and Babarpur metro station have been closed.

Earlier in the day, the entry and exit gates at Jaffrabad station was closed in the morning due to the anti-CAA protest.

Protest against CAA and NRC, which began late evening on Saturday at Jaffrabad metro station continued today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hundreds of people from the Buddhist community gathered at different temples in the state to celebrate the Losar festival on Monday.

People celebrated Losar Festival, on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar, at Dharamshala. Prayers were offered at Dorje Drak Monastery in Shimla.

Cultural events were held in different parts of the state as the Tibetan community celebrated the festival.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Photo : www.pxhere.com)

Living on another planet has always been more science fiction than real life, until now. Scientists have developed a way to find habitable planets in our life that can support human beings. It's only a matter of time for all of this to come full circle, and it is very exciting.

Read Also: 46,000-year-old Frozen Horned Lark Bird Provides Clues to How Worse the Climate Change Has Become

How do scientists find planets that are safe for humans

For the last decade, finding and discovering distant exoplanets has become a focus of astronomy, with projects like NASA's planet-hunting satellite TESS. Her main function is to locate new planets and potentially habitable ones. Also with the same goal of TESS is its counterpart in the European Space Agency, like the CHEOPS satellite, to find even more of these planets.

What method can scientists do to prove a planet is ready

Once scientists have located and exoplanet, how to learn about it and study something so far away? It is close to impossible to test that out by distant planets since they are so dim, depending on the light given from their stars.

A team of astronomers from Netherlands Insititute for Radio Astronomy has devised a way to examine interactions of planets and their parent stars to discern what is potentially their environments the planets have.

Read Also: Video of Infamous Daredevil 'Mad' Mike Hughes' Homemade Rocket Crash Breaks The Internet

This method uses a highly sensitive radio telescope, which is promptly named Low-Frequency Array or the LOFAR, to see radio emissions given off when a planet's atmosphere is reacting to the magnetic field of the red dwarf star that it is currently orbiting. As Dr. Harish Vedantham, lead author of the study and staff scientist in a Netherlands Insititute fo Radio Astronomy, stated: "The motion of the planet through a red dwarf's strong magnetic field acts as an electric engine much in the same way a bicycle dynamo works." "This generates a huge current that powers aurorae and radio emission on the star."

What happens next

By using these radio emissions, astronomers can locate planets with an atmosphere that is close to ours and close enough to their red giant host to be habitable enough for humans. Our solar system, however, has a weaker magnetic field which in turn scientists can't use or find any radio emissions.

How did they make it work

The scientists and researchers in ASTRON have studied Jupiter's magnetic field and its moon Io. This interaction generates radio emissions, which are significantly louder than those generated by our sun at low frequencies.

Dr. Joe Callingham, ASTRON postdoctoral and co-author of this study, has stated: "We adapted the knowledge from decades of radio observations of Jupiter to the case of this star," as well as "A scaled-up version of Jupiter-Io has long been predicted to exist in the form of a star-planet system, and the emission we observed fits the theory very well."

What happens now

The team over at ASTRON will now use this method moving forward to search and explore for similar emissions from other red dwarf stars. Their predictions state that they can locate up to over 100 such systems within just over 15 light-years of Earth.

"The long-term aim is to determine what impact the star's magnetic activity has on an exoplanet's habitability, and radio emissions are a big piece of that puzzle," said Dr. Vedantham. "Our work has shown that this is viable with the new generation of radio telescopes, and put us on an exciting path."

The time frame of these discoveries is exciting because there are already other parts of Science that prepare humans for living in different planets. It is no doubt only a matter of time before we get to set on foot and live in other planets and start anew from there.

Read Also: SpaceX Busy Preparing for Starship's Next Big Test

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Moving sucks.

Especially when youre moving from one frigid Midwestern state to another, in the middle of winter, just a few weeks before Christmas, by yourself.

But in order to start my new position as the features editor at the Post Bulletin on Dec. 9, I had to make it happen.

While fulfilling my commitment as a page designer for our parent company, I had just a few weeks to pack up my apartment, find a place to live in a city Id never been to five hours away, and get the hell out of Dodge.

Although I tried to keep it as simple and organized as possible, it was no easy feat, and theres no way I could have done it without the help of a few dedicated (and patient) friends and family members.

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My friend Michele was my faithful travel companion who took not one, but two road trips to Rochester with me and helped me pick an apartment. We made it fun, with shopping trips at Trader Joes and Cost Plus World Market (my new favorite store), and meals at Ichi Tokyo, Canadian Honker (that coconut cake!) and Forager.

On Thanksgiving, just a few days before I was supposed to leave Fargo, with an impending storm on my mind, my friend Wendy came over with a home-cooked meal for two and a can-do attitude I so desperately needed. We talked, we packed, we ate. We called it "Packsgiving."

"Helping someone move isnt normally a whole lot of fun," she later told me, "but it was fun, and I was really glad to help. You made sure I knew it was appreciated, and it helped me to feel useful."

My sister, Sarah, was also determined to help, but the snowstorm delayed her (and thus, the move) a full day. Long story short, on her way from Medford, Ore., to Fargo, N.D., she got stuck in Denver. Fortunately, I was able to connect her with my friend Amanda and her boyfriend, Dick, who were more than willing to pick her up and take her in for the night.

"I went to bed that night mentally exhausted," Sarah said, "but with a full belly and among friends."

Meanwhile, storm or no storm, Sarah or no Sarah, I had to keep going  I had to stay on track and try to finish packing and cleaning.

Worn out from the stress of work, as well as the mental, emotional and physical toll of leaving a place Id called home for 16 years after a tumultuous couple of years, I called for backup.

While Sarah texted me flight updates, my friend Sherri drove across town in the snowstorm on Saturday night to give me a helping hand (and a little tough love). She tried to keep my ADHD brain focused so I wouldnt crumble completely.

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"I could tell when something seemed too overwhelming," she said, "so I would just try to get you to make one decision at a time. One pile, one drawer, at a time."

On Sunday, while I dealt with shoveling outside my garage (and getting stuck  twice, and rescued by Wendy  twice  once when she was in heels), Sarah flew in (via Dallas-Fort Worth, of all places), with no delays, and landed in Fargo around midnight.

Then, in her words, "the fun began."

After getting a good nights sleep, we picked up a Uhaul truck and got to work. My cat, Cage, watched nervously as the boxes and furniture slowly started disappearing from the only home hed known for four years. But Sarah had a plan, and she swiftly and capably made it happen.

On the receiving end, we had fewer people to help, since I didnt know anyone but my new boss, Post Bulletin Editor Jeff Pieters, and a couple other co-workers. Even he pitched in, leaving Tuesday night production to help Sarah unload while I moved things into their rooms.

I said "Thank you" with a special delivery of his favorite beer from Fargos Drekker Brewing Co. Not many employers would (literally) push their sleeves up and haul boxes up a flight of stairs for a new employee.

Two months later, while working hard to find my place and make my mark in the newsroom, Im still settling in. Wendy recently came down for a visit and helped me hang some artwork. Sarah, along with my parents, are coming in March. Sherri and I are planning a girls weekend in April.

There are others who helped send me off and showed me gestures of kindness Ill never forget, but I cant possibly mention everyone and everything in 800 words. I did, however, want to recognize a handful of special people in my life who made moving suck so much less.

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A man who was brutally killed and stuffed into a cupboard at a Sydney unit block almost a decade ago lost $160 in a failed drug deal several days before his death, an event believed to be linked to his demise, an inquest has heard.

Rodney Scarman, who was in his early 50s, last spoke to a friend at 9.27am on Christmas Day in 2011 and was seen by a neighbour at about lunchtime.

Police at a unit block on Walker Street, Waterloo, after Mr Scarman's body was found. Credit:Ben Rushton

At about 4.30am on December 26, his body was discovered in a utility cupboard at his housing commission unit block on Walker Street in the inner-city suburb of Waterloo. The neighbour who found him noticed blood seeping from the ground-floor cupboard, which had its lock missing.

Mr Scarman had suffered extensive injuries and died from severe blunt force trauma to the head.
AMES, Iowa - Fingerprints are telling us more and more about the people that left them behind.

Sure, we all know the unique whorls, loops and arches in a print can identify a person. But now researchers are studying how the natural and environmental compounds within them can also offer clues about a person's lifestyle, gender and ethnicity.

But even as researchers discover new information in fingerprints, they still hadn't found a way to determine a basic fact about a print: How old is it?

That's information that could potentially tie a suspect to a crime scene.

And that's information chemists at Iowa State University are beginning to provide.

What happened to the unsaturated oils?

Paige Hinners was using a computer algorithm to objectively analyze the degradation and spread of fingerprint ridges over time - potentially a way to determine the age of a fingerprint - when she noticed something else in her data. The unsaturated fatty oils in a fingerprint were disappearing from her measurements.

"If we're losing them, where are they going?" asked Hinners, who in December completed her doctorate in analytical chemistry at Iowa State and now works as a senior chemist for Ames-based Renewable Energy Group Inc. She worked on the fingerprint project while she was a graduate student in the research group of Young-Jin Lee, a professor of chemistry at Iowa State. Madison Thomas, a former Iowa State undergraduate student, also assisted with the project.

Eventually the research group found answers: As the unsaturated fats - triacylglycerols, to be exact - disappeared from the data, other compounds resulting from reactions with ozone - or ozonolysis - started showing up.

That led to numerous trials and steps to confirm that ozone was causing the degradation of the unsaturated fats in fingerprints. And that led to the conclusion that, with more study, this could turn into a useful tool to determine the age of a fingerprint.

The Iowa State chemists' discovery was recently published online by the research journal Analytical Chemistry and is featured on a supplementary cover of the current print edition.

The paper describes how the chemists used a tool called matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging. It's technology that uses a laser to analyze compounds left on a surface then records the mass and electrical charge of each component within a sample, such as the various oils in a fingerprint. The imaging tool allowed the chemists to track the degradation of unsaturated oils due to reaction with ozone in the air.

How precise is the technique?

"Right now, we can measure the number of days (since a print was left)," Hinners said. "It's easy to tell one-day old from fresh. There's no doubt about that."

The chemists also tested whether the powder used to make fingerprints visible would affect the ability of mass spectrometry to analyze fingerprint degradation and aging. It turned out the powder did not affect the researchers' ability to collect data and determine fingerprint aging.

'This might be the way'

Lee described the study - which was supported by a $362,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice - as a proof-of-concept project. And so the testing was limited to fingerprints from three people.

The data did show individual differences in the amount of unsaturated oils in fingerprints and the rate of reaction with ozone and resulting degradation, he said. So more study is needed to understand the different levels of fatty oils individuals have and how that would affect degradation. The researchers are also looking at how environmental factors such as humidity could affect reactions with ozone.

A new $516,800 grant from the National Institute of Justice will keep the fingerprint-aging study going. The grant will also allow the researchers to study how fatty oils in fingerprints could offer clues about a person's health and other characteristics.

Though the technique for determining fingerprint aging needs more study, Lee said the concept has been proven:

"We can measure decomposition of unsaturated triacylglycerols as a function of time," he said. "We've studied the mechanisms and proved what's happening. By measuring how fast it's decaying, we can come up with an idea of how old it is."

The most exciting part of the project, which began by looking in a different direction?

"When we reproduced this with each person, it was fairly consistent," said Hinners, who still serves as a resource for Lee's research group. "And so we learned this might actually tell us how old a fingerprint actually is. This might be the way - that's exciting."

###
A leading expert in sugar production in Nigeria and professor of plant science, Inuwa Bello of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has complained about the lack of commitment in the implementation of Nigeria Sugar Master Plan 2020 project.

Speaking in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Bello said, Lack of commitment and the will to implement Nigeria Sugar Master Plan project has really created a stop-gap from Nigeria achieving the year 2020 target.

He said, There are over 20 value chain market potentials in sugar production as against 15 value chain markets in oil.

Mr Bello urged the federal government to close the land borders to forestall smuggling of sugar into the country to encourage local production.

The National Sugar Development Council on January 20 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, India, for the proposed Nigerian Sugar Institute located in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Speaking at the event, the executive secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Latif Busari, said a major challenge of the sector is lack of technical manpower.

We saw that if we must succeed in establishing the sugar factories, the factories will be lacking in the areas of managing the factories and the farms, he said.

Then we saw the need to set up an institute that will rapidly develop the technical manpower that is needed in the sugar industry in Nigeria.

He said sugar is the second most smuggled commodity after rice in Nigeria, and said checking it can transform the economy.

Sugar production can be effectively used to produce ethanol; the world is paying attention to climate change crisis, sugar production can effectively come in handy to bridge the gap for crude oil, he said.

The Nigerian sugar industry started in earnest in the 1960s. Today, it only supplies about 2% of the nations sugar needs, according to the National Sugar Development Council.

Nigerias sugar consumption in 2017 was 1.6 million metric tonnes, 1.56 million metric tonnes in 2016, 1.50 million metric tonnes in 2015 and 1.1 million metric tonnes in 2012.

The Nigeria sugar masterplan, a roadmap for the attainment of self-sufficiency in sugar within the shortest time possible, estimates that the countrys demand for sugar will reach 1.7 million metric tonnes by 2020.

To be able to satisfy this demand, it says, Nigeria will need to establish some 28 sugar factories of varying capacities and bring about 250,000 hectares of land into sugarcane cultivation, over the next 10 years.

The masterplan was developed in 2008 by the National Sugar Development Council developed.

Sugar cane

The Federal Agriculture Service predicts that Nigerias domestic cane sugar production in 2019/20 (May-April) will be 75,000 metric tons, down about six percent compared 2018/19 figure of 80,000 metric tons.

According to a report by Global Agriculture Information Network, the governments backward integration program for sugar cane production is significantly challenged due to weak infrastructure, poor policy formulation and implementation, limited funding, and insecurity in some of the sugarcane production areas.

High transport and production costs for hauling harvested sugarcane to the mills, as well as low capacity building are additional constraints.

Sugar production in Nigeria can overtake Brazil if necessary measures are put in place with friendly business working atmosphere and environment, Mr Inuwa noted.
Covid-19: Schools in Pune to remain shut for Classes 1 to 8 till Jan 30

Man from minority community alleges MNS workers harassed him as Bangladeshi

India

oi-PTI

Pune, Feb 24: A day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launched a "drive" against suspected illegal Bangladeshis in Pune, a person from a minority community on Sunday filed a complaint application with police alleging that some workers of the party barged into his house and harassed him.

The alleged incident occurred on Saturday under Sahakar Nagar police station limits.

"Upon suspicion that some people living in the area were illegal Bangladeshi nationals, we asked police to inquire them. The suspicious residents were then brought to the police station. They were released after an inquiry in evening," said an MNS leader.

A senior police officer said when MNS workers were on their way to the area, police marshals also went there.

"Police brought some persons the MNS claimed to be Bangladeshis to the police station and verified their credentials. We found that none of them was an illegal migrant," he said.

Raj Thackeray leads MNS' mega procession to oust Pakistani-Bangladeshi infiltrators

However, one of them alleged that some workers of the MNS had barged into his house and labelled him as a Bangladeshi national though he hailed from West Bengal, he said.

"I tried to convince them that I am not a Bangladeshi.

I am an Indian citizen and showed them all the documents, but they did not listen to me and later took me to the police station," the man said.

"Police verified all my documents and also spoke to my relatives in West Bengal," he said.

The man filed a complaint application with Sahakar Nagar police station seeking action against MNS workers.

Addressing a rally of MNS workers in Mumbai on February 9, MNS chief Raj Thackeray demanded eviction of illegal Pakistani and Bangladeshi "infiltrators" from India.

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 9:51 [IST]
That Karan Johar has taken a shine to Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda is a well-known fact. Now, the association has just intensified. Apparently, after the debacle of Vijays last film World Famous Lover, the actor was told not to sign anything new without Karan Johars consent.

Karan is now Vijays damage-controller. He has taken charge of Vijays career and the latter is not allowed to sign any more films until Fighter, the film Karan is co-producing, releases. Vijay will sign a new film only after Karan says-so.

Tollywood is buzzing about this new Johar-Deverakonda friendship. Sources say Vijays flying visits to Mumbai have lately become more frequent.
Former Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe at the Mansion House. Photo: Caroline Quinn

FIANNA FAIL are confident that the new Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin elected at a Dublin City Council meeting will both be party councillors.

New Lord and Deputy Mayors of Dublin will be elected tonight due to the outgoing Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffes election to the Dail.

The parties within Dublin City Council are in coalition and have an inter-party agreement, also known as the Dublin Agreement.

This will see a Fianna Fail Lord Mayor (as it is the largest party) for Year 1, a Green Party candidate for Year 2 and a Labour candidate for Year 3.

As the current council is still in its first year, the Fianna Fail candidates will most likely be elected tonight if the other parties choose to honour the agreement.

While Independent Cllr Anthony Flynn will also be contesting for the position tonight, Fianna Fail are confident that the outgoing Deputy Lord Mayor Tom Brabazon will be elected as Lord Mayor and Cllr Rachael Batten will be elected as Deputy Lord Mayor.

However, the Mayors elected tonight will only hold their positions until June 24, when new Lord and Deputy Mayors will be re-elected.

If the inter-party agreement is followed, a Green Party Lord Mayor will then be elected in June, with Labour and Social Democrat mayors elected in the terms to follow.

The Green Party will meet before tonights Council Meeting to look at the candidates putting themselves forward, however, it is likely that Tom Brabazon will be elected as Lord Mayor as he currently serves as Deputy Lord Mayor.

He has been the acting Lord Mayor of Dublin since Paul McAuliffe was elected as TD earlier in the month.

Earlier this afternoon, Dublin City Council issued a notice to media outlets stating that Cllr Anthony Flynn had been elected as Lord Mayor.

However, the council shortly after issued a statement claiming that the email had been sent in error.

"This was a test that was sent out in error, while drafts were being compiled on a number of different elected members," the statement reads.

"The election will take place at the Special Meeting of the City Council this evening and an announcement will follow."
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Raising the pitch on the visit of US President Donald Trump, the Congress on Monday alleged that India has been reduced to a lowly buyer from America, rather than being a strategic partner.

"India has been reduced to a lowly buyer state from a strategic Partner. India has no role in Afghan Peace Process," said former Union Minister Manish Tewari. The Congress said that only gainers from the Trump's visit are arms manufacturers. "Only gainers of Trump 36-hour Tamasha commencing at noon today are going to be Boeing's, Lockheed Martin's, General Atomics and other merchants of death," Tewari tweeted.

1/4 Cent-Com qua Paf-Com.Visit is a fluff. A Specticalization of Diplomacy designed to detract from the fact that the NDA/BJP Govt has failed to secure Indias interest and the last big Idea in the relationship was in 2005 - India - US Nuclear Deal that smashed Nuclear apartheid  Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) February 24, 2020

The Congress said that in three years as US President, Donald Trump has gutted the Global Multilateral order, walked out of Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), virtually torpedoed NATO, insulted America's closest allies, unleashed suppressed bigoted and racist tendencies in US. He prefers deals over vision.

Further commenting on Indo-US relations, Tewari said, "Pak Special Relationship is back on track. Quad China except for an airy fairy Blue Dot network there is nothing to counter BRI in substantive terms. US-Iran Tensions hurt Indian Oil Refineries the most. Quad is a complete non-starter. India falls in between the cracks of.."

In another tweet, Tewari said, "1/4 Cent-Com qua Paf-Com. Visit is a fluff. A Specticalization of Diplomacy designed to detract from the fact that the NDA/BJP Govt has failed to secure India's interest and the last big Idea in the relationship was in 2005 - India-US Nuclear Deal that smashed Nuclear apartheid."
CHICAGO  Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Monday to restored charges that accuse him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year in Chicago and then falsely reporting the phony attack was real.

A somber-looking Smollett, 37, entered a Cook County courthouse flanked by his legal team and surrounded by reporters. His lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the not-guilty pleas on his behalf to six counts of felony disorderly conduct. She also told Judge James Linn that she has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to halt the case.

Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts in the same courthouse last year, just weeks before the Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs office abruptly announced it was dismissing the case, angering police and City Hall.

Special Prosecutor Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney who was appointed to examine the states attorneys offices handling of the case, represented the state. Foxxs office is not involved in the new case against Smollett.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the defense motion filed with Illinois high court argues that the appointment of the special prosecutor who restored charges was legally flawed.

Smollett has repeatedly denied police allegations that he staged the attack to get attention and further his career.

Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home in the early hours of Jan. 29, 2019. He said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in MAGA country, a reference to President Trumps campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.

Weeks later, police alleged that Smollett had paid two black friends to help stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on Empire, a Fox series filmed in Chicago.

Don Babwin is an Associated Press writer.
NORWOOD, Mass., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MariMed Inc. (MRMD:OTCQX) (the Company or MariMed), a leading multi-state cannabis and hemp operator focused on health and wellness, announced today that the Company began its first cannabis harvest of 2020 at its cultivation and production facility in New Bedford, MA. This state-of-the-art cultivation and production facilitys initial flower production is estimated to ramp up to approximately 1,000 pounds per month, including a variety of high grade cannabis from top genetic strains. MariMed operates in Massachusetts through its wholly owned, licensed subsidiary, ARL Healthcare, Inc.



In the midst of a state-wide flower shortage, MariMed received approval to start cultivation operations in November 2019. The ARL Healthcare facility contains 17 flower rooms with approximately 32,000 square feet of canopy. The Company plans to package a majority of the product for its premium flower brand, Nature's Heritage, which will be available for both the wholesale market and retail purchase at Panacea Wellness Dispensary in Middleboro, MA. The remaining product will be extracted for both edibles and raw concentrates.

The result of our first harvest in Massachusetts, arguably one of the fastest growing legal cannabis markets in the country, is extremely promising, said Bob Fireman, CEO of MariMed. Massachusetts is a key market for cannabis and with a flower shortage throughout the state, we believe operating a robust cultivation facility is crucial in ensuring that patients and consumers have access to safe, licensed cannabis rather than having to go to the black market for their wellness needs.

Tim Shaw, MariMeds COO, who led the Massachusetts licensing process and manages Massachusetts operations for the Company, said, This harvest speaks to our continued success in efficiently executing on our strategic priorities. Our goal is to continue to expand our Massachusetts cultivation capacity and retail dispensary network as the legal market continues to grow.

Story continues

During this statewide flower shortage, were proud to provide a masterfully crafted cannabis product grown through our ultramodern horticultural processes. Natures Heritage is a storied brand that boasts an integrity that Massachusetts hasnt yet experienced on the legal market. The state is in for a treat, added Jo McCarran, MariMed SVP Branding.

Massachusetts has a robust adult use market as well as a Medical Cannabis Program in which over 60,000 patients are currently enrolled. Market analysts at the Brightfield Group project the recreational cannabis market in Massachusetts will exceed $2 billion annually by 2023, with medical use growing to $125 million in the same period.

To be added to the email distribution list, please email MRMD@kcsa.com with MRMD in the subject.

About MariMed:

MariMed Inc., a multi-state cannabis operator, is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of people through the use of cannabinoids and cannabis products. The Company develops, owns, and manages seed to sale state-licensed cannabis facilities, which are models of excellence in horticultural principles, cannabis cultivation, cannabis-infused products, and dispensary operations. MariMed has an experienced management team that has produced consistent growth and success for the Company and its managed business units.

The Company is at the forefront of science and innovation through research developed by its lab technicians and medical advisors resulting in industry-leading products and brands, including "Kalm Fusion" and "Betty's Eddies." These precision dosed products are focused on specific medical symptoms and are licensed and distributed across the country.

In 2019, with the enactment of the 2018 US Farm Bill, MariMed formed MariMed Hemp, a wholly-owned subsidiary, to leverage its seed to sale cannabis platform and experience into the emerging hemp-based CBD industry. MariMed Hemp has developed and is marketing a portfolio of CBD brands and products to multiple retailers and direct to consumers both domestically and internationally. MariMed Hemp recently launched its Hemp Engine store-within-a-store distribution platform for retailers. For additional information, visit marimedinc.com.

Important Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to MariMed Inc. that is based on the beliefs of MariMed Inc.'s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events, including estimates and projections about its business based on certain assumptions of its management, including those described in this Release. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including, among other factors, changes in demand for the Company's services and products, changes in the law and its enforcement and changes in the economic environment and developments in, and the outcome of, GenCannas Chapter 11 proceeding. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's public filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as "hoped," "anticipated," "believed," "planned, "estimated," "preparing," "potential," "expected," "looks" or words of a similar nature. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. None of the content of any of the websites referred to herein (even if a link is provided for your convenience) is incorporated into this release and the Company assumes no responsibility for any of such content.

All trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Company Contact

Jon Levine, CFO

MariMed Inc.

Tel (781) 559-8713

Media Contact

Jo McCarran, SVP Creative & Branding

MariMed Inc.

jmccarran@marimedinc.com

Annie Graf

KCSA Strategic Communications

agraf@kcsa.com
Spanish Secretary of state in charge of social rights Nacho Alvarez decided to go carelessly against the current of his government making a storm in a very small cup by hosting a Polisario delegation in his office.

Alvarez went further in his anti-Moroccan sentiment and provocation to express in the name of the Spanish government his solidarity with what he called a Sahrawi people.

This provocation goes against the official Spanish position in support of the UN process in the Sahara and seems detached from the context of ever-closer Moroccan-Spanish ties.

Neither Spain nor any other state in the EU recognizes the Polisario self-proclaimed SADR, which is in fact based in camps controlled by Algeria where thousands have been living in abject conditions denied from freedom of movement or return to their homeland Morocco.

The reckless move by the Podemos cabinet member will for sure trigger a response from Morocco, which has so far abstained from any meddling in Spains domestic affairs where separatism is claimed in Catalonia and elsewhere.

Nor has Morocco reacted to the brutal crackdown on pro-separatism in Catalonia where Spanish authorities responded through a security approach mixed with heavy sentences to independence proponents.

It is worth mentioning Podemos double speak by promoting separatism in southern Morocco while abstaining from supporting the Catalan independence movement.

Podemos has made of its anti-Moroccan rhetoric a tool for political mobilization surfing of the wave of populism in the country.
Trump: If Partial Truce Holds, 'I Would Put My Name' on Taliban Peace Deal

By Ayaz Gul February 23, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday a seven-day partial truce with the Afghan Taliban has "been holding up" and it could eventually lead to his signing of a peace deal with the insurgent group scheduled for this week.

Trump's remarks came a day after the "reduction in violence" truce took effect across Afghanistan on Saturday, with U.S., Taliban and Afghan forces agreeing not to launch offensive operations for a week.

"I want to see how this period of a week works out," Trump told reporters before his departure on a trip to India. He said the cooling off period has "been holding up" but Trump stressed that progress over the remaining days was key to taking next steps in the Afghan peace process.

The "reduction in violence" is meant to pave the way for U.S. and Taliban officials to sign a comprehensive agreement in Qatar later this week that would set the stage for a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops to bring an end to America's longest war.

"If it works out over the next less-than-a-week, I would put my name on it, yes. Time to come home," Trump said when asked whether he would sign the U.S.-Taliban agreement Saturday. "And they (Taliban) want to stop. I think the Taliban wants to make a deal, too. They're tired of fighting," the U.S. president said.

The two adversaries have negotiated a draft agreement in contentious off-and-on negotiations spread over a period of 18 months, hosted by Doha, Qatar. The gulf state is where the Taliban also maintains its political office.

Meanwhile, a senior Qatar foreign ministry envoy reportedly visited the Afghan capital, Kabul, Sunday where he met with President Ashraf Ghani and other political figures to discuss the upcoming signing ceremony, among other issues. Mutlaq Bin Majed Al-Qahtani later shared details of his meetings with the Afghan TOLO TV channel.

"Quite important countries and organizations, permanent and non-permanent members in the security council, neighboring countries and all the stakeholders  all those countries who are going to support the peace process of Afghanistan will attend the signing ceremony," the channel quoted Al-Qahtani as saying. "Hopefully, we can conclude this and sign it in Doha on the 29 this month," the envoy added.

The Taliban-Afghan peace talks are expected to begin within two weeks of the signing of the agreement, if they lead to a further reduction of violence, the United States will initiate a significant troop reduction over a period of several months.

The U.S.-Taliban agreement provides a timetable for the withdrawal of American and coalition forces from Afghanistan, Taliban counterterrorism guarantees, and a process for political reconciliation between Afghan parties to the conflict through an intra-Afghan dialogue process.

If Washington is satisfied with the progress in intra-Afghan talks, it will continue to reduce its forces according to a roadmap outlined in the agreement with the Taliban. A complete withdrawal of U.S. troops, however, will be linked to progress in the reconciliation talks and the Taliban's anti-terrorist assurances.

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Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a breakfast campaign stop one day before the New Hampshire presidential primary election in Manchester, New Hampshire, February 10, 2020.

Sen. Bernie Sanders unveiled a plan Monday to provide universal child care and pre-K, the broadest proposal yet from the 2020 Democratic presidential field to address a key issue for the party.

The Vermont senator wants to put $1.5 trillion over a decade into guaranteed child care through age 3 followed by free pre-kindergarten education. The Sanders campaign says the programs would not only help childhood development but also combat income inequality, improve job flexibility for parents and boost wages and training for child-care workers.

"As president, we will guarantee free, universal childcare and pre-kindergarten to every child in America to help level the playing field, create new and good jobs, and enable parents to more easily balance the demands of work and home," Sanders said in a statement.

The senator, the national delegate leader in the Democratic race after a projected win in Saturday's Nevada caucus, appears to go further on the issue than his chief rivals for the nomination. Under the plan, the U.S. government would fund universal free child care. State and tribal governments would administer the program with federal quality standards such as minimum wages for workers.

The U.S. government would also fund free full-day pre-K, which would be run locally.

Sanders would pay for the programs through his "tax on extreme wealth" over $32 million. His campaign has said the tax would raise about $4.35 trillion over 10 years.

Some of Sanders' top rivals for the Democratic nomination have released their own child-care plans, but his proposal seems to have a broader scope.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., put forward a measure to slash child-care costs and make the services free for families that earn up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Her campaign said the proposal would cost an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.

Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has also called to invest $700 billion over a decade to make child care more affordable. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have also outlined programs to reduce costs for child care.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and billionaire activist Tom Steyer have previously indicated support for free universal pre-K. Buttigieg, Warren and Klobuchar have backed making it free for low-income families.

Sanders, who has run a populist political "revolution," has emerged as the primary's front-runner early in the nominating contests. Monday's proposal fits into an array of Sanders plans meant to boost workers and low-income Americans: He wants to implement a single-payer "Medicare for All" system, cancel student debt and make public college free, boost the minimum wage to $15 per hour and strengthen labor rights.

The senator's new plan calls for the construction or renovation of facilities to meet the demands of expanded child care. It also pushes for protections for children with disabilities within the structure of the federally funded services.

As part of the proposal, Sanders also urged passage of a separate piece of legislation, the Universal School Meals Act, which he introduced along with Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. It would provide free breakfast, lunch and dinner to all students, regardless of income level.

Sanders also called for the implementation of his Thurgood Marshall plan, which would reduce preschool class sizes, increase English as a second language instruction, desegregate the public education system and put $50 billion into after-school and summer programs.

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Residents hold placards as they demonstrate against a report that Israel may quarantine visitors from Korea at a military base in the Jewish settlement of Har Gilo in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Februar, Sunday. / Reuters-Yonhap



Entry ban from virus halts flight operation



By Kang Seung-woo



More than 1,600 Koreans who traveled to Israel are finding it difficult to return home as regular flight operations between the two countries have been virtually suspended. The Middle Eastern country imposed an entry ban on Koreans in response to the recent surge in coronavirus cases in Korea.

The move by Tel Aviv came after 18 Koreans from a group who recently visited Israel on a religious pilgrimage from Feb. 8 to 15 tested positive for COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) upon their return home. On Monday, 12 more people from the group were confirmed to be infected with the virus.

According to the Korean Embassy in Israel, the government there imposed a ban on people who have visited Korea and Japan in the last 14 days from entering Israeli territory starting Monday, while issuing travel warnings for the two countries.

"Starting Monday morning, entry will be denied for any person who is not an Israeli resident or citizen and who stayed in South Korea and Japan in the 14 days before arrival in Israel," the health ministry there said on its website.

"Additionally, any individual who visited South Korea or Japan in the last 14 days must remain in a 14-day home quarantine counting from the latest date he or she left these places, in addition to travelers from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Thailand."

The measures resulted in the suspension of flights by Korean Air, which operates routes between Incheon and Tel Aviv four times a week. As most of the infected Korean travelers flew Korean Air, those that entered Israel before the ban was implemented have become stranded.

A Korean traveler, now in Israel, said in a radio interview that he and other people in his group are virtually quarantined in their hotel rooms, and have been forbidden from visiting restaurants.

"I think the Israeli government contacted our tour guide and we were instructed to stay in our rooms. Meals are brought to each room," the traveler said, adding their itinerary has been canceled.

In the wake of the entry ban, some Israeli media outlets reported Korean travelers would be quarantined at a military base, something the foreign ministry denied.

While some of the stranded Koreans have managed to book flights by way of third countries, many others remain. Later on Monday, the Korean Embassy in Israel said the Israeli government has arranged a charter flight to return the Koreans home.

The embassy issued an emergency notice for Korean tourists, telling those who want to return to Korea to go to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport by 11 a.m. Monday (local time), but it added that there would be another charter flight for those who cannot meet this deadline. As coronavirus infections have recently surged in Korea, a growing number of countries have started banning Korean visitors from entering their countries. Along with Israel, five other countries  Bahrain, Jordan, Kiribati, Samoa and American Samoa  have also slapped an entry ban on those traveling from Korea.

Brunei, Britain, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia and Uganda have tightened screening measures for travelers from Korea and other virus-hit countries, and ordered entrants to voluntarily notify the health authorities if they show any symptoms.

On Saturday, the United States raised its alert level for travel to Korea to Level 2 on a four-level scale, urging its citizens to exercise "increased caution" when traveling to the country, while Britain and Singapore have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Korea's Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the regional epicenters for the latest spike in infections.




Classes in schools and universities nationwide will be suspended on Tuesday due to the unstable weather and heavy rains that have been showering the country since the wee hours of Monday morning.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Monday the decision was taken to enable people to weather off the rain that is expected to fall in several areas in Egypt on Tuesday.

The prime minister requested the activation of the cabinet's crisis chamber that will be in touch with concerned bodies to deal with the expected weather conditions in the coming few hours.

Various parts in Egypt saw a spell of unstable weather, including heavy rain since Monday morning affecting road traffic flows.

Earlier this week, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecast that several parts of the country will see a three-day wave of unstable weather starting Sunday.

Rain would be accompanied by a drop in temperatures of 4-5 degrees Celsius, the authority added.

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In his message for Lent, Francis urges us not to lose the offer of dialogue that God continues to propose to us. The meeting in Assisi to "help shape a fairer and more inclusive economy than today".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Lent is a time of prayer and also of charity, a call to share one's property with the most needy, "as a form of personal participation in building a fairer world". A perspective for which "we can and must go even further, considering the structural dimensions of the economy".

This is the reason why Pope Francis summoned Assisi, "March 26-28," young economists, entrepreneurs and changemakers, with the aim of helping to outline a more just and inclusive economy than the current one ". Francis remembers it in his Message for Lent 2020, made public today.

The document, entitled "We implore you in the name of Christ: let yourself be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20) is an invitation to "return continually, with mind and heart" to the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the hinge of the personal and community Christian life, " for it will continue to grow within us in the measure that we are open to its spiritual power and respond with freedom and generosity. ".

"Christian joy flows from listening to, and accepting, the Good News of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This kerygma sums up the mystery of a love so real, so true, so concrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue (Christus Vivit, 117). Whoever believes this message rejects the lie that our life is ours to do with as we will. Rather, life is born of the love of God our Father, from his desire to grant us life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). If we listen instead to the tempting voice of the father of lies (Jn 8:44), we risk sinking into the abyss of absurdity, and experiencing hell here on earth, as all too many tragic events in the personal and collective human experience sadly bear witness. ".

"It is good to contemplate more deeply the paschal mystery through which Gods mercy has been bestowed upon us. Indeed, the experience of mercy is only possible in a face to face relationship with the crucified and risen Lord who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:20), in a heartfelt dialogue between friends. That is why prayer is so important in Lent. Even more than a duty, prayer is an expression of our need to respond to Gods love which always precedes and sustains us. Christians pray in the knowledge that, although unworthy, we are still loved. Prayer can take any number of different forms, but what truly matters in Gods eyes is that it penetrates deep within us and chips away at our hardness of heart, in order to convert us ever more fully to God and to his will. ".

In his will to "dialogue" with us, "the Lord once again offers us a time favorable to our conversion". It is an opportunity not to be taken for granted and that "ought to awaken in us a sense of gratitude and stir us from our sloth. Despite the sometimes tragic presence of evil in our lives, and in the life of the Church and the world, this opportunity to change our course expresses Gods unwavering will not to interrupt his dialogue of salvation with us".

" The dialogue that God wishes to establish with each of us through the paschal mystery of his Son has nothing to do with empty chatter, like that attributed to the ancient inhabitants of Athens, who spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new (Acts 17:21). Such chatter, determined by an empty and superficial curiosity, characterizes worldliness in every age; in our own day, it can also result in improper use of the media. ".

" Putting the paschal mystery at the centre of our lives means feeling compassion towards the wounds of the crucified Christ present in the many innocent victims of wars, in attacks on life, from that of the unborn to that of the elderly, and various forms of violence. They are likewise present in environmental disasters, the unequal distribution of the earths goods, human trafficking in all its forms, and the unbridled thirst for profit, which is a form of idolatry.

Today too, there is a need to appeal to men and women of good will to share, by almsgiving, their goods with those most in need, as a means of personally participating in the building of a better world. Charitable giving makes us more human, whereas hoarding risks making us less human, imprisoned by our own selfishness. We can and must go even further, and consider the structural aspects of our economic life. For this reason, in the midst of Lent this year, from 26 to 28 March, I have convened a meeting in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs and change-makers, with the aim of shaping a more just and inclusive economy. As the Churchs magisterium has often repeated, political life represents an eminent form of charity (cf. Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation of Catholic University Students, 18 December 1927). The same holds true for economic life, which can be approached in the same evangelical spirit, the spirit of the Beatitudes.

I ask Mary Most Holy to pray that our Lenten celebration will open our hearts to hear Gods call to be reconciled to himself, to fix our gaze on the paschal mystery, and to be converted to an open and sincere dialogue with him. In this way, we will become what Christ asks his disciples to be: the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14)".
(Photo : Miriam Espacio on Unsplash ) Coronavirus COVID-19 is Making Aliens Leave Planet Earth Says UFO Hunter

Coronavirus or COVID-19 is now on its very alarming stage that currently reaches over 2,000 death tolls and less than 80,000 confirmed victims around the world, as of Sunday, Feb. 23. This resulted in citizens flying out of their country with confirmed cases to prevent of being part of the increasing victim rate.

However, according to a UFO Hunter, there seemed to be another set of population allegedly living on planet Earth that are also possibly alarmed with this widespread disease-- and they are now leaving the planet.

Shocking! Aliens fear Coronavirus; they are now leaving Earth!

On a Youtube video posted by Scott Waring on his blog site ET Database, he mentioned that when he was watching the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA live cam feed, he noticed a particular spacecraft-looking vehicle that was roaming near the International Space Station or ISS.

Based on his video -- which is not yet verified by NASA, he zoomed in on a moving image of a hive-shaped spacecraft that Waring described as 'not seeing before' and might be a 'top-secret' Russian or American spaceship. Though there are a lot of possibilities of the identity of the said spaceship, Waring is confident that it is an alien spacecraft on the video.

"This object is of shape and size I've never seen before. It's huge. It's like a bus. It's really big and a hive-shaped, and it's really strange," Waring said. "It doesn't look like a satellite. It doesn't have solar panels or any radar conditions on it."

Interestingly, seeing what said to be the "alien spacecraft" on a video is not just what was ultimately shocking but what Waring mentioned in the video.

Good side of Coronavirus: 'They make aliens go away"

As Waring mentioned in the video, the said alien spacecraft looks like leaving the planet Earth when the video was taken. It was slowly moving away from the Earth and looks like going straight up 'after moving below the ISS vehicle.'

"I believed if it were a capsule, it would have gone into low earth orbit then lower to land. But when this object shot upward into deep space, it literally blew my mind", he wrote.

Though it is still not clear on why an alleged alien spacecraft was roaming outside the planet Earth, Waring connected this issue on the increasing rate of Coronavirus or COVID-19 with their sudden appearance outside of the planet.

The 'UFO Hunter' said that the issue was "spreading like wildfire out of control," and this might be the reason why aliens are leaving the planet in order to stay away from the said disease.

"If this is true, expect to see a big rise in UFO sightings as they appear from underground bases and leave Earth's atmosphere," Waring warned.

As of today, NASA and ISS have not yet released any statements surrounding the claims of Waring of confirming that there are alien spacecraft and the connection of Coronavirus to the issue.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Theyve become such close collaborators that when Mantel decided to adapt The Mirror and the Light herself, rather than handing it off to a playwright, she chose Miles to co-write it with her.

Mantel has never written for the theater before, and she is taking an unorthodox approach, using her source material to develop something almost entirely new. If youre an adapter, you feel so bound to the original text, but I dont have to put in a single word from the book if I dont want to, she said. Most of what Ive written now is completely fresh. Its not obliged to the book.

Mantels work on the play has also kept Cromwell and his contemporaries vivid in her imagination. Even when shes not at her desk writing, she can still hear them chattering away.

Once those voices begin, its like having the radio on in the background for 15 years. It never actually fades. It runs continuously with whatever else youre doing, and that means youre never off duty to the book, you never stop working on it. You fall asleep with it, you wake up with it, she said. Theres a point where youre living with these people and only with them. Theyre more real and solid to you than actual people in your life.

  

I am used to seeing things that arent there.

Mantel in many ways is perfectly suited to the task of excavating and reanimating the past. Ever since she was a child, shes been prone to visions of ghosts and spirits. I am used to seeing things that arent there, she writes in her memoir, Giving Up the Ghost.

Growing up in an Irish Catholic family in Hadfield, a village in Derbyshire, Mantel was obsessed with myths, folklore and the supernatural. Before she was old enough to read, she insisted that relatives read to her tales from King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I had a head stuffed full of chivalric epigrams, and the self-confidence that comes from a thorough knowledge of horsemanship and swordplay, she writes.

At 18, she went to the London School of Economics to study law, with the hope of becoming a barrister, but she couldnt afford to continue with professional training. By then, shed met McEwen. They married when they were 20 and moved to Manchester, where he found a teaching position and she worked various jobs and started writing.
Initially, birders rejoiced at the rare New York City sighting of a common merganser, an elegant-looking duck with a regal auburn crest, in Central Park.

But as photos of the duck spread quickly on social media, so did concern: a piece of discarded plastic appeared jammed in the ducks distinctive narrow bill, preventing it from feeding.

It showed behavior indicative of it not being well, of it being starved, said David Barrett, a Manhattan birder who has been monitoring the duck. On Thursday, he posted some of the first photos of it.

New York Citys Parks Department became so concerned for the duck that it began putting together a rescue plan.
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Dozens of people have been injured after a man deliberately drove a car into crowds at a German carnival parade on Monday.

The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen, mounted the pavement in the town of Volkmarsen, 15 miles west of Kassel, around 2.30pm on Monday before ploughing into families which turned out for the festivities.

Police arrested the driver at the scene. While officers could not disclose a motive for the attack, local media reported that investigators are working on the assumption that it was deliberate.

German police say he is being treated by doctors due to injuries he suffered in the incident, and prosecutors he now faces charges of attempted homicide.

Tonight special police officers were pictured outside the home of the man who drove his car and crashed into a group of revelers. Forensic officers had also set up a cordon around the vehicle.

The rampage injured some 30 people including children, prosecutors said.

'It can be assumed that it was intentional,' police spokesman Henning Hinn told reporters. He added that eight to 10 of those injured were seriously hurt.

'Among those who are seriously injured are children, unfortunately,' he said at the scene, where debris from the carnival littered the ground and a silver Mercedes-Benz car that appeared to have been involved was taped off by police.

The Hessian Ministry of the Interior had said that a terror attack could not be ruled out, but that the motive was unclear because the suspect was not fit for questioning.

Tonight special police officers were seen outside the home of the man who drove his car and crashed into a group of revelers during the Rose Monday carnival parade in Volkmarsen near Kassel

Police tape had been put up in the street and a team of forensic officers was seen examining a car which had been left under a white tent

The officers were seen dressed all in black and entered the property tonight after the suspect injured at least 30 people

Forensic experts investigate next to a silver-colored Mercedes car that crashed into a group of revelers. The men are seen in their white suits examining the evidence

Dozens of people, including children, have been injured after a silver Mercedes (left) drove into crowds celebrating the annual carnival parade in the German town of Volkmarsen on Monday

Police said the car mounted the pavement around 2.30pm and drove into crowds before the driver was arrested, but would not say whether they believe the crash was deliberate or an accident

A destroyed handcart is seen outside a supermarket where the car eventually came to a stop as police pulled the driver out

Witnesses told news site HNA that the car had swerved around safety barriers before driving 'full throttle' into the crowd and appeared to be targeting children.

The car drove about 100ft into the crowd and the driver was still accelerating when police pulled him from the vehicle, public broadcaster Hessenschau reported.

Witnesses told Bild that angry locals surrounded the car as the driver was pulled out, and that police had to protect him as he was arrested.

Dirk Richter, police spokesman in the nearby city of Kassel told Welt TV: 'Everything we have available from the Kassel area is there.'

Video showed a silver Mercedes station wagon with local licence plates and its hazard lights blinking on the pavement, while emergency crews walked by.

The crash occurred on the south side of the town, outside a supermarket.

Witnesses said the car swerved around safety barriers before driving 'full throttle' into the crowd, and appeared to be targeting children (pictured, police at the scene)

The car drove approximately 100ft into the crowd and was still accelerating when police pulled the driver out, local media reports, as officers had to protect the driver from furious crowds

The driver is believed to have lived in the local area and was described as being aged between 20 and 30 (pictured, emergency vehicles at the scene)

Emergency workers and families rush to help the wounded after a car ploughed into crowds celebrating carnival in Germany

All carnival events in the Hesse region were cancelled following the crash, German police announced.

Carnival celebrations take place in Germany every year in the week before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.

Carnival is hugely popular in central Europe including parts of western Germany, especially in Rhineland cities such as Cologne and Duesseldorf.

Festivities peak on 'Rose Monday' with tens of thousands attending street parades featuring comical or satirical floats, along with folk music and food.

The incident comes a week after a far-right terrorist shot nine people dead, then killed his mother and himself in the German town of Hanau.

Emergency vehicles at the scene after a car ploughed into a carnival parade injuring several people in Volkmarsen, Germany

Dozens of ambulances, police and fire trucks raced to the scene from the nearby city of Kassel, with officers saying that all available units had been diverted to the town

Ambulances at the scene of Monday's crash. Officials said a number of the wounded were being treated at the scene, but would not give further details
WOOD DALE, Ill., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, announced today that AAR Aircraft Services Trois-Rivieres ULC ("AAR") has entered into a letter of intent with Air Canada regarding a ten-year, renewable agreement for airframe maintenance.

This long term agreement should enable AAR to develop an Airframe Maintenance Center of Excellence at its Trois-Rivieres MRO in Quebec, Canada, and to expand its heavy maintenance services for Air Canada, which will stimulate new investment in aerospace and create more high-quality aircraft mechanic jobs.

The larger combined Airbus A330 fleet of Air Canada and Air Transat would allow Air Canada to move wide-body A330 maintenance work for both airlines from abroad to AAR in Trois-Rivieres, in addition to maintaining and expanding AAR's airframe maintenance work in Quebec on the A320 family, including all new A321-neo aircraft. AAR currently performs airframe maintenance work in Trois-Rivieres on Air Canada's existing A320 fleet and E190 fleet (which is being phased out).

The letter of intent is subject to completion of the Transat A.T. merger by Air Canada, requisite Board of Directors' approvals and completion of final agreements, including terms generally applicable to large-scale airframe maintenance agreements.

AAR intends to make necessary facility infrastructure investments in Trois-Rivieres to develop a Center of Excellence and accommodate the new wide-body A330 work of the combined Air Canada and Air Transat fleet. Through this agreement, it is expected that incremental aerospace jobs will be created in Trois-Rivieres and AAR's new capabilities will attract airframe maintenance work from other A330 operators.

"From our very first project in Trois-Rivieres, we've seen a strong commitment to quality, safety and operational performance," said Rich Steer, Senior Vice-President, Operations, Air Canada. "With our largest hub a short distance away, we're excited to have a trusted partner like AAR with a similar commitment to excellence, and also proud to be supporting heavy maintenance work in Quebec, especially on wide-body aircraft. This contract for additional work in Trois-Rivieres represents a long-term investment in increased airframe maintenance in Quebec."

"We are honored to work closely with a premier carrier like Air Canada for so many years and to be chosen as their maintenance provider for both the A330 and A320 family fleet types," said Chris Jessup, Chief Commercial Officer, AAR. "AAR is proud to support the Canadian economy and to grow our overall footprint in Trois-Rivieres, especially for the A330."

For more information on AAR MRO Services, visit aarcorp.com/mro/.

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 people in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AAR's Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems and Composite Manufacturing operations. Additional information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.

About AAR Aircraft Services

AAR Aircraft Services is a full-service aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider, wholly owned and operated by AAR Corp. with over 290,000 sf of facilities in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec and Windsor, Ontario, along with facilities in the United States. AAR took over Premier Aviation's facilities in Trois-Rivieres and Windsor in 2017. Since inception in 2002, the Trois-Rivieres facility has experienced a steady growth of clients and services in general maintenance overhaul, modifications, refurbishment and paint requirements. In 2012, the Trois-Rivieres facility started to perform MRO services for some of Air Canada's Embraer fleet, including painting and supporting back shops. AAR expanded Trois-Rivieres MRO competencies in 2017 by performing all MRO services on Air Canada's Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. In September 2017, Air Canada awarded a ten-year contract to AAR for the maintenance of its 125 Airbus A320 and Embraer E190 single-aisle aircraft at the AAR facilities in Trois-Rivieres, contributing to the continuance of 350 specialized jobs. This work was transferred to Quebec from AAR's Duluth, Minnesota facility.

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including those factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled "Risk Factors", included in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2019. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. For additional information, see the comments included in AAR's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE AAR

Related Links

http://www.aarcorp.com


At a rally in Denver, Colorado, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg offered advice to a nine-year-old boy who asked him for help coming out.

Mr Buttigieg, who would be the first openly gay president, first read out a note from Zachary Ro, who asked: Would you help me telling the world that Im gay too? I want to be brave like you.

He then invited Zachary onto the stage, where he offered him encouragement and advice. Reflecting on his own experience, Mr Buttigieg told him:

It took me a long time to figure out how to tell even my best friend that I was gay, let alone to go out there and tell the world.

And to see you willing to come to terms with who you are in a room full of 1,000 people, thousands of people youve never met, thats really something.

Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters

The candidate also told Zachary that while he might not realise it, coming out can help make others stronger and happier.

Youll never know whos taking their lead from you, whos watching you and deciding that they can be a little braver because you have been brave.

Mr Buttigieg has lately been the subject of homophobic remarks from conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who questioned whether Americans would accept a gay president over Mr Man Donald Trump.

Asked for his reaction to the comments by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Mr Buttigieg said that Mr Limbaugh has a different idea of what makes a man than I do.

The strongest people I know are not the loudest people, he said. Theyre the ones who have the deepest sense of who they are, and what they value, and what they care about.

Mr Buttigieg claimed victory in the chaotic Iowa caucuses and came a narrow second behind Bernie Sanders in the New Hampshire primary, but placed a disappointing third in the Nevada caucuses.

He is currently well behind frontrunner Mr Sanders in national polls, where he has yet to break away from the other candidates.
Were still a month a half from Easter, but eggs are always on the Taste Teams mind, especially deviled eggs.

Equally at home at taverns, nice restaurants and family picnics, deviled eggs started as nothing more than boiled eggs with the yolks scooped out, kicked up with mayo and spices and piped back in. But these five restaurants and bars didnt stop there, starting with the popular St. Marys Strip ice house Cullums Attagirl, where they even bring caviar to the party.

The pre-Easter deviled egg hunt also uncovered good examples at The Esquire Tavern on the River Walk, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery at the Pearl, Lucy Coopers Ice House and Broadway 5050.

Mike Sutter /Staff

Cullums Attagirl

Chef and owner Chris Cullum carries his St. Marys Strip chicken-and-beer joint to the next level with deviled eggs that incorporate chicken liver mousse, crema, fennel fronds and caviar ($6.50 for three). If its a question of what comes first, the chicken or the egg, get both. 726 E. Mistletoe Ave., 210-437-4263, Facebook: @cullumsattagirl

Mike Sutter /Staff

The Esquire Tavern

This saloons been around so long you might expect a big jar of pickled eggs on the bar. But deviled eggs are so much better, spiked with pickled pink peppercorns that look cute and bring the heat at the same time ($7 for six). 155 E. Commerce St., 210- 222-2521, esquiretavern-sa.com

Mike Sutter /Staff file photo

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

Deviled eggs are good beer food. And since Southerleigh makes some of the citys best beer, it makes sense that its deviled eggs with a crown of sweet bacon jam are some of the best in the city, too ($7 for three). 136 E. Grayson St., Suite 120, at the Pearl, 210-455-5701, southerleigh.com

Mike Sutter /Staff file photo

Lucy Coopers Ice House

How do you make deviled eggs more devilish? Batter them up, fry them like chicken and throw in some jalapeno for a perfect bar-food combination of cream, crunch and bacon ($8 for five). Owner Braunda Moody Smith said theyre one of the hottest sellers on a menu with lots of competition. She also said there would be six on the plate, but the chef always eats one. 16080 San Pedro Ave., 210-462-1894, lucycoopers.com

Chuck Blount / Staff file photo

Broadway 5050

An Alamo Heights neighborhood institution since 1927, Broadway 5050s more than capable of delivering a solid drink. But the bar food is good enough to satisfy most lunch and dinner cravings, including a six-pack of deviled eggs with a good bite of crispy bacon in the middle ($4 for six). 5050 Broadway, 210-832-0050, broadway5050.com

On ExpressNews.com: Review: Lucy Coopers Ice House at the top of San Antonios bar food scene

Note: This story has been updated to correct the name of Cullums Attagirls chef and owner, Chris Cullum.

Staff writer Chuck Blount contributed to this report.

Mike Sutter is a food and drink reporter and restaurant critic in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking
(Alliance News) - Oakley Capital Investments Ltd said Monday Oakley Capital Private Equity III has agreed to sell a majority stake in atHome Group to UK investor Mayfair Equity Partners.

atHome is a Luxembourg-based online classifieds and mortgage broking business, which the fund first invested into in 2017. Following the transaction, Oakley Capital Private Equity III will keep a minority stake in the business.

Oakley Capital Investments will get GBP15 million from the transaction, which presents an uplift of 3.0 pence to its net asset value per share of 345p at the end of 2019.

"We would like to thank Soufiane Saadi and his team for their hard work in developing the atHome group over the past three years. We very much look forward to working with them, and with Mayfair, to drive further growth in the future," said Peter Dubens, managing partner at Oakley Capital.

Shares in Oakley Capital were down 1.4% at 275.00 pence on Monday in London.

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Two candidates were caught red-handed while allegedly trying to click question papers of Mathematics in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district on the fifth day of the Madhyamik examination on Monday.

According to the West Bengal Board of Secondary (WBBSE), four candidates were held with mobiles -- three of them in North Dinajpur and one in Jalpaiguri district -- and their candidature will be cancelled.

The two candidates who were caught trying to film the question paper for circulation on WhatsApp are Mohammed Saheb and Asif Raja Ansari at Tithpukur High School.

Mobile phones were seized from five Madhyamik examinees in Malda and North 24 Parganas districts last Wednesday.

The authorities have suspended Internet in some areas near schools spread over 42 blocks of the state to prevent malpractices.

During the first three days of the examination, purported images of Bengali, English and Geography question papers were shared on WhatsApp shortly after the start of the exams, but the board claimed there was no leak of question paper.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trump Ready To Sign Peace Deal With Taliban If Truce Holds

February 23, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is ready to sign a peace agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan if a temporary truce between the two sides holds.

"We think they want to make a deal, we want to make a deal. I think it's gonna work out, we will see," Trump told reporters before departing for India on February 23.

Earlier this month, the two sides announced a weeklong "reduction in violence" that took effect from the start of February 22.

If the truce holds, it will be followed by the signing of the peace accord that would end the United States' longest war.

"You know we have a certain period of nonviolence. It's been holding up, it's a day and a half so we'll see what happens," Trump said, adding that "after 19 years" of war, it was time for U.S. forces "to come home."

There are more than 12,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Afghan media, however, reported that the Taliban carried out several small-scale attacks on checkpoints manned by Afghan security forces in provinces in the past two days.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on February 21 that 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 that if the truce holds, "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.

He said 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."

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."

On his first trip as president to the world's fifth largest economy, Trump is likely to announce several billion dollars' worth of sales for military helicopters, and possibly a missile defense system.

However, a much-anticipated landmark trade deal with India won't be signed during his 36-hour trip.

"I'm really saving the big deal for later on," Trump said last week. "I don't know if it'll be done before the election, but we'll have a very big deal with India."

With reporting by AP, dpa, AFP, and Voice of America

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ready -to-sign-peace-deal-with-taliban-if -truce-holds-/30450150.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.

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Bioactive Adrenomedullin is a biomarker for endothelial dysfunction and allows the prediction of septic shock as elevated blood levels of bio-ADM predict blood pressure break down and blood vessel leakage resulting in edema

Increased bio-ADM levels were used as inclusion criteria in the AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial to identify patients with endothelial dysfunction

sphingotec to launch IB10 sphingotest bio-ADM a rapid immunoassay for bioactive Adrenomedullin on its Nexus IB10 point-of-care platform mid 2020

Hennigsdorf/Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2020 - Diagnostics company SphingoTec GmbH ("sphingotec", Hennigsdorf, Germany) today announced that data from the AdrenOSS-2 study indicate a modulating role of bioactive Adrenomedullin in septic shock. Topline results of the AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial released on February 21, 2020 by its sponsor Adrenomed AG (Adrenomed) showed an increase in survival for patients with septic shock when treated with Adrecizumab. Adrecizumab targets bioactive Adrenomedullin and modulates endothelial function. Septic shock is the most severe form of sepsis, a medical emergency with high mortality. In the trial, blood levels of bioactive Adrenomedullin were measured with sphingotec's quantitative bio-ADM immunoassay as inclusion criteria.

Bioactive Adrenomedullin has been previously validated in over 22,000 patients as an endothelial function biomarker whose detection in the blood provides dynamic information on the patients' progression in sepsis. High or rising blood levels of bioactive Adrenomedullin indicate a disbalance in the endothelial function leading to edema and shock while decreasing levels have been linked to improved patient outcomes. Based on this evidence, bioactive Adrenomedullin is not only a valid biomarker for endothelial function but was also qualified as a biotarget and led to the subsequent development of Adrecizumab, a therapeutic antibody to treat septic shock.

In the AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial, which was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of Adrecizumab, increased bio-ADM levels were used as an inclusion criterion to select those patients with septic shock, which have an endothelial dysfunction. The trial enrolled a total of 301 patients with septic shock and was carried out in multiple clinical trial centers in Belgium, France, Germany, and The Netherlands.

In this proof-of-concept trial, patients received Adrecizumab or placebo on top of standard of care treatment. The study achieved its primary endpoint: Adrecizumab demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated. In addition, a lower all-cause mortality for Adrecizumab-treated patients was observed when compared to placebo.

AdrenOSS-2' principal investigator Pierre-Francois Laterre commented: "Using bioactive Adrenomedullin blood levels as inclusion criteria allowed us to select the patients who have endothelial dysfunction. Measuring bioactive Adrenomedullin in a routine situation, furthermore allowed us to better understand the utility of this biomarker as a diagnostic tool as we saw that bioactive Adrenomedullin gave information on top of clinical standard parameters to assess patients' severity. We will now go ahead to further investigate use-cases of bioactive Adrenomedullin as a biomarker in the clinical routine."

Dr. Andreas Bergmann, founder and CEO of sphingotec commented: "Following our approach of diving deep into the biology of the disease, we have developed biomarkers that support clinicians in identifying the root causes of progression in sepsis. While the current trial indicates that using bioactive Adrenomedullin as a biomarker can help identifying those patients who could benefit in the future from Adrecizumab, the utility of this biomarker expands far beyond this and supports already today the early clinical decision making and monitoring of treatment success in sepsis."

To support the critical care community in the timely assessment of endothelial function in sepsis and other acute and critical care conditions, sphingotec will launch IB10 sphingotest bio-ADM, a rapid test for bioactive Adrenomedullin that will be deployed on the company's proprietary point-of-care platform, the Nexus IB10 immunoassay analyzer.

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About sphingotec

SphingoTec GmbH ("sphingotec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) develops and markets innovative in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for novel and proprietary biomarkers for the diagnosis, prediction and monitoring of acute medical conditions, such as sepsis, acute heart failure, circulatory shock, and acute kidney injury in order to support patient management and provide guidance for treatment strategies. sphingotec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes Bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis or congestive heart failure, Proenkephalin (penKid), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of kidney function, and Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3 (DPP3), a unique biomarker for cardio-renal pathway disruptions leading to acute organ dysfunction. In addition, sphingotec develops a portfolio of novel biomarkers, which predict the risks of developing obesity, breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. IVD tests for sphingotec's proprietary biomarkers are made available as sphingotest microtiterplate tests as well as point-of-care tests on the Nexus IB10 immunoassay platform by sphingotec's subsidiary Nexus Dx Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA) alongside a broad menu of IB10 tests for established biomarkers for acute and critical care.

About Nexus Dx Inc. and the IB10 Platform

Nexus Dx Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of sphingotec, headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA, is a global provider of a near patient testing system and advanced diagnostic solution. The company is improving patient care by providing the medical community with rapid and reliable information at the point of care (POC), delivering patient information when and where it is needed most. The company has invested over $160m to develop and market the IB10 analyzer system which, without the need for sample preparation, automatically separates plasma from whole blood with subsequent reliable and quantitative detection of biomarkers in the plasma by means of antibodies. With a hands-on-time of less than 3 minutes the easy-to-use system provides in only 20 minutes test results for biomarkers that are crucial in the management of critical care patients. The portfolio of IB10 assays includes tests for established critical care parameters such as Procalcitonin, Troponin I, CK-MB, Myoglobin, NT-proBNP, and D-Dimer as well as tests for sphingotec's proprietary biomarkers such as DPP3, an assay for Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3, a unique and proprietary biomarker for cardio-renal pathway disruptions leading to acute organ dysfunction, and Proenkephalin (penKid), a unique and proprietary biomarker for real-time assessment of kidney function. An IB10 assay for bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM), a unique and proprietary biomarker for endothelial function is expected to be launched later in 2020.

About bio-ADM

sphingotest bio-ADM measures blood levels of bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM), a hormone maintaining endothelial function. The endothelium contributes to blood pressure and separates blood from the surrounding tissue. Elevated blood levels of bio-ADM predict blood pressure break down and leaky vessels resulting in oedema. Imbalanced endothelial function is the major cause of shock ultimately resulting in organ dysfunction and death. Early identification of an imbalance in endothelial function allows guidance of vasopressor and diuretic therapy in critically ill patients to improve outcomes.

About Adrecizumab

Adrenomed's first-in-class drug candidate Adrecizumab targets adrenomedullin (ADM) to rescue 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 Adrenomedullin's protective effects on the endothelial barrier. http://www.adrenomed.com
NYON, Switzerland, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Many of the world's largest mining companies risk the perception that they are 'SDG-washing' through selective reporting of their impacts on these universal goals. Companies often highlight in their Sustainability Reports the positive contributions they make to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, while generally omitting any mention of negative impacts that would impede achievement of the SDGs. This one-sided reporting fails to present stakeholders with a true picture of the challenges the mining sector faces in its support of the SDGs, according to the RMI Report 2020, which was released today by the Responsible Mining Foundation (RMF).

Helene Piaget, CEO of the RMF said: "The SDGs provide a valuable societal framework for reporting and action on economic, social and environmental concerns, but an unbalanced emphasis on the 'good' that companies do may obscure the negative impacts, be they inherent or unintentional, that may impede the achievement of the SDG goals.''

The RMI Report 2020 is an evidence-based assessment of the economic, environmental, social and governance (EESG) policies and practices of 38 large-scale mining companies that operate in more than 780 mine sites and together account for 28 percent of the world's mining activity by value of production. In addition, the Report assesses 180 individual mine sites in 45 countries against 10 basic indicators of responsible mining. The one-year study consists of a deep-dive into each company, with approximately two months spent reviewing and assessing each company.

The RMI Report 2020 shows a modest overall improvement on many issues by most of the companies previously assessed in the RMI Report 2018. However, much of the improvement is due to companies making commitments, with markedly less evidence of progress in following-up these commitments with concrete actions. And the weakest results relate to companies' efforts to track, review and act to improve the effectiveness of their actions on EESG issues. So while commitments are a step in the right direction, the mining sector as a whole would benefit  both in terms of its performance and its trust-building with other stakeholders  from being able to demonstrate more consistent implementation of commitments across operational portfolios and across issues.

According to the International Labor Organization, mining remains one of the top three most hazardous sectors. During the two years since the last RMI assessment, several large-scale mining companies have been at the centre of major controversies as mine tailings failures have claimed scores of lives, devastated whole communities and caused major environmental disasters. Afshin Mehrpouya, Associate Professor at HEC Paris and member of the Board of the RMF said: "Such tragedies reflect very poorly on the sector as a whole and put into stark perspective companies' claims of responsible mining. The industry must redouble its efforts to prove that it prioritises broader ESG responsibilities over short-term considerations."

The RMI Report 2020 highlights a disconnect between company-wide policies and standards versus on-the-ground actions at mine sites, where the impacts of mining are most evident. Companies often show little or no evidence of sharing mine-site-level information on issues of strong public interest for neighbouring communities, workers, governments and investors. Likewise, there is scant evidence of companies engaging with local stakeholders on these issues, which include for example local procurement, grievance mechanisms or air and water quality. Of the 180 individual mine sites assessed, only one site scores more than 50 percent, while 145 sites score less than 20 percent and 45 sites score zero on all 10 indicators. None of the companies shows consistent performance across the mine sites they own or operate.

As with the 2018 assessment, the RMI Report 2020 shows that it can be done: mining can meet society's expectations. If one company were to achieve all the highest scores recorded in each of the 71 indicators, it would reach more than 70 percent of the maximum achievable score. Similarly, if one mine site were to achieve all the highest scores seen for the asset-level indicators, it would score over 80 percent. All companies are encouraged to adopt more systematically the good practices already being demonstrated across the sector.

The RMI Report 2020 shows that requirements set by home or producing countries or by investors drive stronger company action and transparency on EESG issues. For example, investor-led demands for disclosure of the location and safety of mine tailings storage facilities have prompted more complete and more publicly available data of critical interest to share- and bondholders, insurers and governments.

"While the trust-deficit with society is recognised as the number one risk for mining companies, the RMI Report 2020 acts as a prompt to the industry to eliminate the need to respond to multiple information requests. By proactively making EESG data available  starting at individual mine sites and in open data formats companies can help to build trust, limit risk, and show respect. In fact, more proactive data disclosure will reduce the demand for companies' reporting," said Helene Piaget.

As part of its commitment to sharing leading practice and learning, open data principles and transparency, the RMI Report 2020 is available online in seven languages and contains detailed results covering more than 6,000 data points. In addition, 69 leading practices, the scoring framework, 3,800 source documents collected from the public domain or submitted by companies during the review period, together with contextual data for each company (including searchable tables of 3,500+ shareholders, 3,000+ subsidiaries, 1,000+ mine sites, 1,200+ tailings storage facilities, and fatality reporting) are all available online.

LIST OF COMPANIES ASSESSED IN THE RMI 2020

Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Antofagasta, ArcelorMittal, Banpu, Barrick Gold Corp, BHP, Buenaventura, Bumi Resources, China Shenhua, Coal India, CODELCO, ERG, Evraz, Exxaro Resources, First Quantum Minerals, Fortescue, Freeport-McMoRan, Glencore, Gold Fields, Grupo Mexico, Industrias Penoles, MMG, Navoi MMC, Newcrest Mining, Newmont, NMDC, Nordgold, Orano, Peabody Energy, Polymetal, Rio Tinto, RUSAL, Sibanye-Stillwater, Teck, Vale, Vedanta Resources, Zijin.

Editor's Notes

THE RESPONSIBLE MINING FOUNDATION

The Responsible Mining Index (RMI) assessment and summary report are produced by the Responsible Mining Foundation (RMF), an independent research organisation that encourages continuous improvement in responsible mining across the industry by developing tools and frameworks, sharing public-interest data and enabling informed and constructive engagement between mining companies and other stakeholders.

The Foundation supports the principle that minerals and metals mining should benefit the economies, improve the lives of peoples and respect the environments of producing countries, while allowing companies and their investors to make a fair and viable return.

The Foundation's work and research reflect what society at large can reasonably expect from mining companies on economic, environmental, social and governance matters. The RMF does not accept funding from the mining industry and receives the majority of its funding from the governments of Switzerland and The Netherlands and from the Triodos Foundation.

THE RMI REPORT 2020

The Summary provides high-level results and extracts from the RMI Report 2020. The Summary, full results for individual companies, and all 180 mine-site reports, are available in Chinese, English, French, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, as of February 24, 2020, at www.responsibleminingindex.org.

GRAPHICS AND CHARTS FOR DOWNLOAD

LIST OF COMPANIES' HOME COUNTRIES

Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, India, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Peru, Russian Federation, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, USA, Uzbekistan.

LIST OF COMPANIES' PRODUCING COUNTRIES

Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, DRC, Finland, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, New Caledonia, Niger, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK

The analytical framework comprises six thematic areas: economic development, business conduct, lifecycle management, community wellbeing, working conditions and environmental responsibility  and 76 (73 in 2018) individual indicators, distributed among three measurement areas:

Commitment indicators assess the extent to which companies have: (i) formalised their commitments on particular issues; (ii) assigned responsibilities and accountabilities for the implementation of these commitments; and (iii) provided resources and staffing to operationalise the commitments;

indicators assess the extent to which companies have: (i) formalised their commitments on particular issues; (ii) assigned responsibilities and accountabilities for the implementation of these commitments; and (iii) provided resources and staffing to operationalise the commitments; Action indicators assess the extent to which companies have developed systematic approaches to address particular issues and disclose key aspects of their activities;

indicators assess the extent to which companies have developed systematic approaches to address particular issues and disclose key aspects of their activities; Effectiveness indicators assess the extent to which companies track, and report on, their performance in managing particular issues and demonstrate continuous improvement on these issues.



MINE-SITE-LEVEL INDICATORS

In addition, 10 (six in 2018) mine-site-level indicators were used to assess the selected 180 (127 in 2018) mine sites in 45 producing countries, on local employment, local procurement, post-closure plans, community grievances, worker grievances, air quality, water quality, water quantity, tailings management and emergency preparedness.

RMI FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY 2020

The RMI Framework is available in Chinese, English, French, Indonesian, Russian and Spanish and the RMI Methodology is available in English. All available via:

https://www.responsibleminingfoundation.org/rmi-framework-2020/

The RMI Framework has been mapped to approximately 50 international initiatives, standards or guidelines related to responsible mining or corporate accountability:

https://www.responsibleminingfoundation.org/app/uploads/2019/12/RMI_Methodology2020_Mapping_EN_WEB.pdf

DISCLAIMER

The RMI Report is intended to be for information purposes only and is not intended as promotional material in any respect. The report is not intended to provide accounting, legal, tax or investment advice or recommendations, neither is it intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The full disclaimer can be found in the Summary Report.

SOURCE Responsible Mining Foundation

Related Links

responsibleminingindex.org


Islamabad, Feb 24 : Pakistan's Supreme Court will hear on Monday an application filed by former President Pervez Musharraf challenging the apex court registrar's decision of refusing to entertain his plea against a special court's verdict that found him guilty of high treason and sentenced him to death.

The former leader had filed the appeal in the apex court in January, seeking to overturn the special court's verdict, reports The Express Tribune.

The registrar office had returned the plea on the grounds that unless the petitioner surrendered himself, his appeal could not be entertained.

Order 23, Rule 8 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980, empowers it not to accept any petition unless the convict surrenders to the authorities.

The counsel for Musharraf then proceeded to file an appeal against theC registrar's decision.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed will hear the arguments on the appeal in his chamber on Monday.

The former President had filed the appeal in the apex court even though a three-judge bench of the Lahore High Court has already declared unconstitutional the filing of high treason case against him, formation of the Special Court as well as its proceedings, leading to the abolition of the death penalty handed down to him on December 17, 2019.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 07:36:58|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on Sunday said his government is ready to maintain "law and order" during protests planned for March.

"Many are expecting a violent March. The government has prepared to safeguard law and order, and promote a March of agreements," Pinera said via Twitter.

Referring to widespread demands for improvements in government services, he said that "to increase pensions, create a guaranteed minimum wage and improve healthcare, agreements, not violence, is the way."

Various organizations and movements have called for protests in March to continue the momentum of nationwide anti-government demonstrations sparked in October by a hike in subway fares in the capital Santiago.

Often violent demonstrations spread across the country as Chileans expressed their discontent with the high cost of living and growing inequality.

To step up security, the government has bought new armored vehicles and surveillance drones, and trained thousands of police.

Pinera's administration has also taken steps to meet citizens' demands, including submitting a bill to Congress that would benefit 670,000 workers with a gross monthly minimum wage of 452 U.S. dollars.

His government has also planned an April 26 plebiscite on whether or not to change the Constitution to better address the growing wealth gap in one of Latin America's leading economies.
By Ma Fei and Yin Bo

KUNMING, Feb. 24 -- Chinese troops participating in Cobra Gold-2020 joint military exercise left Kunming in southwest China by a transport aircraft of the PLA Air Force and arrived at U-Tapao Airport, Thailand on February 23.

The Cobra Gold-2020 joint military exercise will run from February 25 to March 6 in Thailand involving more than 8,900 officers and soldiers from 29 countries as participants or observers. The exercise consists of joint military exercise and humanitarian civic assistance projects. During the exercise, high-level forums, drills on amphibious landing operation, rescue and disaster-relief, etc., as well as humanitarian engineering & construction aid, will be held.

China has sent 25 service members from the PLA 75th Group Army to the exercise. Before departure, they received professional reinforcement training, took epidemic prevention and control measures and made material preparations with a high standard. They also systematically learned the standard procedures regarding multinational forces operation.

The Cobra Gold, as an annual multilateral military exercise series, is one of the most influential joint military exercises in Southeast Asia. China dispatched troops to the exercise for the first time in 2014.
Israeli air strikes targeting the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip and Syria killed at least six fighters, a war monitor said Monday, after the jihadists fired a barrage of rockets at Israel.

In the latest tit-for-tat violence ahead of a March 2 general election in the Jewish state, the Israeli Air Force targeted "Islamic Jihad terror sites" throughout Gaza and near the Syrian capital Damascus, a military statement said.

It followed more than 20 rockets and mortars fired from the Palestinian enclave, themselves a response to the killing of an Islamic Jihad militant along the Gaza-Israel border.

Islamic Jihad, which along with allied group Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2008, operates in both the Gaza Strip and Syria.

The Israeli army said it had struck Islamic Jihad targets on the outskirts of Damascus, including a base "used as a hub" for the group's activities in the country.

Islamic Jihad, which is allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, confirmed early Monday that two of its fighters were killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, later confirmed that four additional pro-Assad, Iran-backed fighters died in the strike.

At least one of the Iran-backed fighters was Syrian, while the nationalities of the others remained unknown, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

It is rare for them to claim such strikes directly.

Earlier on Sunday, Israel's military said it had killed a militant in Gaza who had tried to plant an explosive device near the border fence.

Israel later confirmed that it extracted the militant's body with a bulldozer.

Israel's hawkish Defence Minister Naftali Bennett has pursued a policy of retaining the bodies of militants from Gaza as bargaining chips to pressure Hamas, which has held the bodies of two Israeli soldiers since 2014.

A video emerged later on social media, which was authenticated by AFP, showing a bulldozer approaching a body while a group of young, apparently unarmed men, were trying to retrieve it.

The sound of gunfire is heard and the men ultimately run away as the bulldozer scoops up the body.

Hours later, more than 20 rockets and mortars were launched from Gaza towards Israel, setting off warning sirens in the southern city of Ashkelon and several other locations.

More than a dozen were intercepted by the Jewish state's Iron Dome missile defence system, the Israeli army said, adding there were no reports of serious injuries in Israel.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rockets, calling them a response to the killing of one its fighters along the Gaza border early Sunday.

Israeli military said it responded to the rocket fire by targeting "dozens" of Islamic Jihad targets throughout Gaza.

Health officials in Gaza said four people were wounded.

Hamas and Israel last fought a full-scale war in 2014, but smaller flareups are relatively common.

In November, Islamic Jihad and Israel fought a three-day conflict that left 35 Palestinians dead and more than 100 wounded, according to official figures.

Under the informal agreements in the past year, Israel has slightly eased a blockade of the impoverished Palestinian enclave in exchange for relative calm.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Earl and Countess of Wessex are hiring a 23,000-a-year cook for their Windsor residence of Bagshot Park.

Prince Edward, and Sophie Wessex, both 55, are looking for an 'enthusiastic chef towards the start of their career', according to the advertisement on the royal family's website.

As well as a 21,500 to 23,000 per year salary, dependent upon experience, the winning applicant will receive 33 days annual leave and 'access to training and development to support your continuing professional development'.

It comes as the royal couple, who share children Lady Louise Windsor, 16, and James Viscount Severn, 12, search for a Assistant Private Secretary, to organise their engagements both in the UK and abroad.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex (pictured together in December) are hiring a 23,000-a-year cook for their Windsor residence of Bagshot Park

The Wessex's cook should have 'excellent organisational skills and be able to plan and prepare menus within an agreed budget.'

An advert for the position read: 'As the primary Cook in the Household of TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex, you will be responsible for the planning, preparation and cooking of daily meals. You will also monitor and replenish food supplies and equipment for the household.

'On a day-to-day basis you will prepare all meals for the Principals. You will also have the opportunity to cook for formal and official events such as lunches and dinner parties.

'As part of this small but busy team, you will also undertake certain house-keeping duties to support the running of the household. This will include maintaining the cleanliness and presentation of the kitchen areas.

Prince Edward, and Sophie Wessex, both 55, are looking for an 'enthusiastic chef towards the start of their career', according to the advertisement on the royal family's website (pictured)

'The position would suit an enthusiastic chef towards the start of their career who is keen to develop their experiences and skills in a unique working environment.'

Applicant must possess a 'City and Guilds catering qualification (or equivalent), have previous experience in a similar role, and feel confident cooking for small and large numbers, and for a wide variety of occasions.'

It added: 'With excellent organisational skills, you're able to plan and prepare menus within an agreed budget.'

The Earl and Countess of Wessex are also hiring an Assistant Private Secretary to based at their Windsor residence.

As well as a 21,500 to 23,000 per year salary, dependent upon experience, the winning applicant will receive 33 days annual leave and 'access to training and development to support your continuing professional development' (the royal couple's home Bagshot Park is seen)

The permanent role will assist Edward and Sophie in organising their engagements which support the royal family both in the UK and abroad.

The position manages a team of program coordinators in creating a weekly schedule for the couple.

The candidate, who will be paid an annual salary of 45,000, is expected to have good knowledge of current affairs and experience of working within the military or central government departments is an advantage.

The advert could signify an increase in royal duties for the couple, who last month were called upon to co-host a Buckingham Palace reception with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the absence of the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Former PR guru Sophie, and the Queen's youngest grandson Edward, have just enjoyed a ski holiday in St Mortiz with their children for the half term.
(Natural News) The Fairview Development Center in Costa Mesa, California, where the US government just tried to quietly house 35-50 infected coronavirus patients, is a state-run facility for the mentally disabled, with a shadow staff of 200 people but only six patients according to official records.

Notably, the center has no biocontainment facilities and no staff trained in level-4 biohazards. Its actually described as a kind of prison by critics who also call it shoddy and run down, with the odor of a jail (see source below).

It begs the question: Why would the United States Air Force attempt to relocate up to 50 infected coronavirus patients to a facility with no biocontainment capabilities, right in the middle of a high-density population area near Los Angeles?

Why wouldnt the Air Force just keep the infected patients at the Travis Air Force Base where they have containment? This idea of exporting infected patients into a high-density city near Los Angeles seems incredibly unwise, if not criminally negligent.

Finally: How can there be up to 50 infected patients trying to be moved by the Air Force when the CDC says there are only 35 infected people in the entire nation?

That question, of course, almost answers itself.

The strange history of the Fairview Development Center

According to the Fairview Developmental Center newsroom:

The Department of Developmental Services provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities through state-operated developmental centers and community facilities.

Although nearly shut down today, the center still has 200 staffer on its payroll (source), and its not clear what those 200 people are doing since there are only six patients remaining. (Your own theories are welcomed)

The center has a history of mysterious deaths and sexual abuse of residents, yet has achieved a 100% vaccination rate among all its residents over the many years it has existed. According to public records, over 43% of patients there are given hypnotic drugs and similar pharmaceuticals.

The Fairview facility has 396 beds and has housed hundreds of mentally disabled individuals with autism, Downs Syndrome, cerebral palsy and other development disorders. In 2016, a plan was unveiled to close the facility, but it remains semi-operational. Gov. Newsom is looking into transforming the entire thing into a kind of homeless camp.

Last week, the U.S. government tried to secretly export 35-50 infected patients out of Travis Air Force Base and deposit them in the Fairview facility. City officials of Costa Mesa got word and filed an emergency lawsuit with federal courts in California, achieving a temporary restraining order prohibiting the transfer of patients there.

The Fairview facility is located just south of Los Angeles, near Huntington Beach / Newport Beach. In their lawsuit, Costa Mesa officials warned the facility was right in the middle of a county of three million people.

Mysterious deaths and abuse of patients

Eight people suffering from schizophrenia, severe intellectual disabilities and other debilitating conditions died at Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa between 2002 and 2011, at least partly because of neglect or lack of supervision, newly released documents show. OCregister.com:

In 2002, a 30-year-old, intellectually disabled woman known to flail about in her sleep was found dead of asphyxiation, dangling from her bed. She had fallen through a gap between the mattress and a side rail, according to a report written by the California Department of Public Health.

The same year, a 34-year-old epileptic man with profound intellectual disabilities, ADHD and a documented history of eating non-food items, died after swallowing a 13-inch shoelace and a brown plastic bag.

In 2007, a 25-year-old man plagued by seizures drowned in a bathtub.

The reports also reveal dozens of cases of abuse, negligence and lack of supervision that led to injuries, falls, escapes and sexual abuse, including a Fairview employee in 2001 twice having sex with a 17-year-old girl with an intellectual disability. For that incident, the Department of Public Health fined Fairview $2,700.

The 16-year-old girl was discovered lying on the floor of her bedroom. Her attacker later told a staffer that she had sneaked into the girls room and smothered her with a pillow, wrapped a radio cord around her neck, then returned to place a plastic bag over her head.

All these mysterious deaths were covered up by California state bureaucrats and were only released after a three-year court battle fought by the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Patients at Fairview died from superbugs and infections and this is where the Air Force wants to place coronavirus patients?

Most disturbingly, the Fairview facility has a history of patient deaths related to superbugs and infections.

As explained on their website, Revealnews.org:

One teenage resident smothered and eventually killed another teenager while the employee in charge skipped her normal rounds. A 48-year-old man with a history of a weak immune system died of septic shock when a facility doctor didnt treat him for MRSA  a highly contagious, dangerous and antibiotic-resistant staph infection  even though his lab work showed he had it.

Another resident suffered for months before succumbing to an infection from a misplaced feeding tube that doctors, nurses and care staff all failed to notice.

It begs the obvious question: How is a facility that cant handle MRSA going to handle the COVID-19 Wuhan coronavirus biological weapon that spreads through the air in stealth mode and is carried by people who show no symptoms whatsoever?

As Revealnews.org also explains, the abuse of patients goes far beyond mere medical negligence:

The incidents in the documents ranged from death to verbal abuse. One nurse who noticed a resident with his hand down another residents pants called him a mother fucking faggot who needed to be shipped out of here. Patients were reported to have been shoved, grabbed by the hair, kicked while on the toilet, marched down the hall naked, doused with ice water and sexually abused.

On an October morning in 2005, a staff member found a 25-year-old resident vomiting blood in his bed at the Sonoma Developmental Center. In his vomit, staff found a plastic-handled cotton swab used for dry mouth. They immediately transferred him to an outside hospital.

It turned out that he had swallowed several swabs. One punctured his esophagus, then his aorta, on its way down, causing massive internal bleeding.

He died 17 hours later.

Both the autopsy and the public health departments investigation suggest that caregivers left the swabs in his mouth.

A future coronavirus quarantine prison camp?

A retired police officer from San Diego describes the facility as a prison camp with prison-like conditions.

Via the OC Register:

Larry Ingraham, whose brother died in Fairview in 2007 from a broken neck, wants the state to shutter the developmental centers.

Its like a prison, said Ingraham, a retired police officer from San Diego.

Ive worked in the jails; its like a jail, a county jail. It had the odor of a county jail. It was shoddy. It was run down, Ingraham said of Fairview.

Perhaps thats why the Air Force chose it for a coronavirus quarantine, but without any isolation facilities, it will be no more effective as a quarantine facility than the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The fact that the U.S. Air Force was trying to house 50 infected coronavirus patients at this facility should send shivers down the spine of anyone living in Southern California.

But remember, the CDC says there are no community outbreaks because they arent testing for community outbreaks. And according to the CDCs published testing guidelines, there will never by any confirmed outbreaks in America, since the CDC prohibits the testing of any American who is infected by another person in America who hasnt been to China.

Stay informed, save your life: Read Pandemic.news

Read all the breaking news, science article links, podcasts, downloadable audio MP3 files and more at Pandemic.news
Sunday evening's episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was a real tearjerker. The revamped show, hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, featured a refugee family from the Congo.

Ashraf, Azida and Habiba Barobi fled the Congo after their parents and youngest sister were killed in a fight between rebels and the government. They spent three years in a refugee camp in Uganda, where they were reunited with an aunt and one of their cousins. The five family members were granted asylum in the U.S. and settled in Ogden, Utah.

The town of Ogden gifted the family a parcel of land and the television series built a six-bedroom, 2,900-square-foot home on the property. The home is "net-zero" and fitted with solar panels to keep operating costs down. A representative from Weber State University also gifted the refugees full scholarships to the school.

It was an emotional episode with the family, contractors, and volunteers all shedding tears. It was also very emotional for viewers, who took to Twitter to share in the tears of joy.

Extreme makeover home edition is the sob fest I need right now  Rachel (@rachsilvestro) February 24, 2020

The new extreme makeover home edition is killing me bruh. Giving both a home and a parcel of land to a refugee family...I am SOBBING  Morgan Leigh (@morganleigh_89) February 24, 2020

I swear I can shed tears for days watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition  pic.twitter.com/oD1UYAqhMY    (@ThaNegroSwan) February 24, 2020

Mannnnn. Extreme makeover home edition has me balling my damn eyes out  I wish I could be one of these people giving back to people who deserve it  Genevieve Lowry (@Glow_flow) February 24, 2020

Ive been crying on and off for the past two hours. Thanks, HGTV. #ExtremeMakeover  Jessica Anks (@janks_meow) February 24, 2020

watching extreme makeover home edition and crying pic.twitter.com/U7jMoqb2AM  zeke (@sk8erfather) February 24, 2020

wow there was this beautiful family who are refugees from Africa and Extreme Makeover Home edition really gave them a beautiful home & they all got 4 yr scholarships to college my heart so full  A. (@ariiielllee) February 24, 2020

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HGTV.

Story continues

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(Newser)  Bernie Sanders is on a roll, and the Democratic nomination might be his to lose at this point, writes Rick Klein at ABC News. But if Sanders hopes to win the White House, he better fix what David Leonhardt of the New York Times sees as a "big mistake." In his opinion piece, Leonhardt argues that Sanders is not reaching out to voters beyond his passionate base. The last four men to enter the White HouseBill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trumpdid not make that same mistake. "Even Trump, radical as he is, flouted Republican orthodoxy by sounding like a populist Democrat on Social Security, Medicare and trade," writes Leonhardt. In fact, candidate Trump was seen by voters as a relatively moderate nominee for a Republican.

story continues below

Not Sanders, though. "To put it another way: Can you think of one way that Bernie Sanders is signaling respect to voters outside of his base?" asks Leonhardt. Sanders is taking a "maximist liberal" position on every big issue, even though as a senator he showed willingness to compromise, as on guns. In this campaign, there seems to be a "moral litmus test" at play among progressives: Embrace our positions fully or you're dead to us. Leonhardt gets it, "but turning every compromise into an existential moral failing is not a smart way to practice politics," he writes. If Sanders doesn't start resolving this, and perhaps budging on positions such as fracking in all-important Pennsylvania, he might be in trouble come November. (Read Leonhardt's full column.)
New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has closed the entry and exit gates of two Delhi Metro stations, Maujpur-Babarpur and Jaffrabad on Monday (February 24) morning. Trains will not halt at these stations.

DMRC announced this on their official twitter handle and said, "Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations."

Security Update Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations.  Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) February 24, 2020

DMRC took this decision in the wake of ongoing protests in Jaffrabad area against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The protests turned violent yesterday in the area where hundreds of anti-CAA protesters, mostly women have blocked a road near the Jaffrabad metro station which connects Seelampur with Yamuna Vihar and Maujpur.

This is the second time in the last 24 hours when DMRC had to close the entry and exit gates of these stations.

There has been a countrywide protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was enacted into law on December 12, 2019.

The Amendment benefits Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who sought refuge in India before December 31, 2014.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday dismissed the BJPs claim of a rift among the coalition partners while warning Maha Vikas Aghadi ministers and legislators from making controversial statements. Thackeray who chaired the coordination meeting of legislators of allied parties  Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress  also issued a comprehensive list of dos and donts.

He said there has been smooth coordination among the allies in the last three months and one should not lend ears to Opposition propaganda of rift in the MVA government. If the going is smooth, why should one fall into the BJP trap by joining issue on their controversial statements, he asked.

He told them not to believe in rumours being circulated by the BJP. This government will not fall down within six month, as they claim. We will keep it running for next five years. We are here to stay, Thackeray said.

He also said that controversial issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPA) and National Registration for Citizen (NRC), will be discussed in the coordination committee meeting, and decisions will be taken over it.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra coalition government will last its full term: Sharad Pawar

Our government is a three-party government. So, every view will be respected and considered while taking the final decision. I had a good meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and we discussed all issues for nearly an hour, Thackeray added. Let the BJP bestow Bharat Ratna on Savarkar. We will congratulate the Centre, a Shiv Sena minister quoted Thackeray as saying.
I am writing in support of the campaign to retain Judge Monique Langhorne. She has been on the judicial bench in Napa County for the past 13 years as a Superior Court Commissioner and is now on the bench as a Judge. She has experience in a broad range of court cases, including civil cases, probate, family law, juvenile delinquency and dependency, criminal law, drug court and peer court. Judge Langhorne is also active in our community through her work as a mentor at a local law academy.

Judge Langhorne has the full support of all the Napa County sitting judges as well as all the Napa County retired judges.

Judge Langhorne has been the American Canyon Peer Court Judge for the last 10 years. As the Peer Court Program Director for the last 22 years, I have seen her perform her duties with grace, compassion and fairness. She has always been enthusiastic about her position on the bench and I have been honored to have her preside over our American Canyon Peer Court Hearings.

She has the ability to speak to citizens of all ages with clarity and see each individual as an important person. To the juveniles who participate in Peer Court, she is always encouraging, inspiring, warm and welcoming. She puts the students at ease at the same time modeling her professionalism.

Local law enforcement, Congressman Mike Thompson, Calistoga Police Chief, St. Helena Police Chief, the Napa County Sheriff, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the County Superintendent of Schools and local attorneys throughout the county are endorsing Judge Langhorne in this upcoming election.

There is absolutely no good reason to not retain her and put someone in her place who has no experience on a judicial bench. Judge Langhorne has proven over and over again that she is an experienced Judge, and I am proudly endorsing her.

I am honored to say that I know her work and I see her as an example of Justice in our community. I urge each of our citizens to put your support behind her and retain Judge Monique Langhorne.

Isadora Asch

Peer Court Program Director
ANSAmed - Tomorrow's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 24 - Weekly diary of the main events scheduled for tomorrow in the Euro-Mediterranean area: ROME - Joint mission of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the situation in connection with the spread of the novel coronavirus in Italy.



ROME - Visit of German Health Minister Jens Spahn who will meet with his Italian counterpart Roberto Speranza to discuss the coronavirus emergency.



TUNIS - Visit of the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.



LA MARSA (TUNISIA) - International Mediterranean Studies conference on the theme 'madness'. BRUSSELS - EU, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans receives Dimitri Papalexopoulos, CEO of Titan Cement and president of European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT) for energy transition and climate change.



(ANSAmed).




Just Mercy got snubbed by the Oscars, but the film was a big winner this weekend at the NAACP Image Awards.

The movie took home four trophies during Saturdays ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California, including the award for Outstanding Motion Picture. Michael B. Jordan, who starred in Just Mercy, was named Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. Jamie Foxx earned the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.

Just Mercy also won for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture. In addition to Jordan and Foxx, the cast includes Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, Rob Morgan, Rafe Spall and OShea Jackson Jr. The awards ceremony aired live on BET.

The NAACP Image Awards celebrate accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, according to a press release from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The awards also honor individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

Just Mercy had been nominated for a total of six NAACP Image Awards, but lost in the categories of Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film) and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture.

Just Mercy, which was partly filmed in Alabama, is based on a memoir by Bryan Stevenson, a legal crusader who founded the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery. The book talks about Stevensons work for the nonprofit organization, explains his ideas about social and civil rights, and details some of the court cases hes undertaken -- including his successful efforts to exonerate Walter McMillian, a black man whod been sentenced to death for the 1986 murder of an 18-year-old white woman in Monroeville.

The movie version of Just Mercy" focuses on the McMillian case, with Jordan portraying Stevenson and Foxx playing McMillian. Stevenson was an executive producer for the film, which was adapted from his book by director Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Lanham.

Stevenson, 60, told AL.com the filmmakers sought his input on the script, and he was heavily involved in the writing process.

When Hollywood gets these stories sometimes things get compromised and integrity is lost, the truth is lost, Stevenson said in an interview with reporter Mike Cason. But the director, Destin Daniel Cretton, was very committed to doing this the right way. And when Michael B. Jordan signed on we spent a lot of time talking. We were all aligned in the idea that we wanted to get this right, that we wanted to be truthful about the essential features of what happened. And Im really pleased with the film.

Parts of Just Mercy were filmed in Montgomery in August 2018. The movie was released to theaters in December 2019, after a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

Just Mercy has received awards from the African American Film Critics Association and the National Board of Review. Former President Barack Obama also gave Just Mercy his seal of approval, listing it among his favorite movies of 2019.

Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative have been in the national spotlight for the past couple of years, as the prime movers for the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum. These two projects -- which opened in Montgomery in April 2018 -- call attention to Americas history of racial injustice, and trace the painful thread that runs from slavery to lynchings to the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and beyond.

Stevenson also was the subject of an HBO documentary, True Justice: Bryan Stevensons Fight for Equality," that premiered in June 2019.
China's fever, the coronavirus, has lead to a sudden demand for the yellow metal among traders and investors. This trend has been spotted not just for the Yellow metal but for several other precious metals such as Silver, Platinum, Palladium etc. The rise has been meteoric since the past 10-15 days.

In India, Gold rates on Monday shot up by at least RS 50 per gram across several major Indian cities according to data tracked by Sify.com. On Monday, jewellers from Delhi quoted Gold rate of Rs 42640 for a tola or 10 grams of 24K Gold. Rates for 22 Karat or 916 gold were quoted at Rs 42100. These are the morning rates and the evening rates should be visible across Sify's rate-pages soon.

The volatility in gold prices was seen last week with prices shooting up by 5-6 percent across several cities of India. On an average rates have shot up by at least Rs 1,000 across several gold-buying markets in the past week. Rates in the past one month have turned volatile with movement recorded at 8-10 percent.

For buyers of Gold, the current movement has pushed it above the pscyhological mark of 'below Rs 40,000' in several retail circles such as Kerala, Bengaluru, and others.

For those curious to know why Gold rates are increasing, they are internationally affixed at a daily auction conducted by the London Bullion Market Association. These are the benchmark rates. Other factors that impact Gold rates in India include USD-INR calculations, import duty and other taxes.

Last week, we reported on how benchmark gold rates on Wednesday tipped to a 7 year high of $1604.20 (for 19th Feb 2020). Rates in the fresh week are yet to cool down. In fact, rates set at an auction conducted by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) during the weekend read $1643.3 per troy ounce.

Soaring numbers and projections indicate that investors and traders were willing to punt any number for the volatility in financial markets. The volatility referred here is the Coronavirus. Chinese health officers' recent claim that a drop in detected cases is in stark contrast to the sudden spike in number of recent deaths. The growth in detected cases such as Singapore and the projections on damage to supply-demand have spooked the markets. Investors and traders are willing to bet on Gold and other precious metals and hence the sudden spurt in Gold rates.

The one major question most buyers ask is the longevity of this trend. Unfortunately, the answer is a long wait until medical professionals discover a cure for Gold. Until then one prays that Gold rates hover well below the Oct'12 highest benchmark rate of $1791.75.

A costly Gold is not only an indication of the demand trend but it also suggests something seriously wrong with the economy. For instance, during the 2011 debt crisis, Gold prices in US soared to an all-time high of $1,895 per troy ounce.

For those keen on numbers, the last reported highest benchmark rate in 2013 was recorded in April at $1597.75 per troy ounce. 2012 was a year full of volatility and saw benchmark Gold rate quoting the highest of $1791.75 per troy ounce during Oct'12. A higher Gold not only signals to a One fears Gold rates.

Live Gold rates across major Indian cities is now available at the click of a button, here.
Coronavirus is rapidly becoming the worlds first true pandemic challenge, fitting the category of disease X, an advisor for the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.

Covid-19 has killed nearly 2,600 people in mainland China, where the virus emerged last year, and infected more than 77,000.

More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed in 30 other countries, with Japan, South Korea and Italy among those experiencing large outbreaks and increasing infection rates.

It has raised concerns among officials and scientists that efforts to tackle the coronavirus by enforcing quarantines are not working.

In the scientific journal Cell, Marion Koopmans, a professor of viroscience at Erasmus University and WHO advisor, said: Whether it will be contained or not, this outbreak is rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that fits the disease X category, listed to the WHOs priority list of diseases for which we need to prepare in our current globalized society.

Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Show all 10 1 /10 Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A man wearing a face mask crosses a road in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Reuters Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A view of the empty entrance to the UniversitA Cattolica (Catholic University) in Milan, northern Italy, on 24 February, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A lone sanitation worker sits near the closed Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on February 24, 2020. Reuters Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A view of a deserted street in Codogno, northern Italy, on February 23, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Italian police officers set a road block in Codogno, Northern Italy, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. AP Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A supermarket closed in Codogno, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown, on February 23, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A lone cyclist wearing sanitary masks pedals in the center of Codogno, Northern Italy. LaPresse via AP Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty An empty road at the entrance of the small Italian town of Codogno on February 23, 2020. AFP via Getty

Disease X is a placeholder name adopted by the WHO for any new pathogen which may cause disease and potentially an epidemic in the future but is not yet known to scientists.

Dr Koopmans also accused public health experts and authorities of wasting precious time for not being better prepared against diseases that hold the potential to become pandemic.

However the head of the WHO attempted to reassure the public that coronavirus could still be contained, while acknowledging it had the potential to become a pandemic.

Recommended Cities around the globe become ghost towns as coronavirus spreads

Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear, said Tedros Ghebreyesus.

We must focus on containment, while doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Dr Ghebreyesus said the sudden increase in cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea were deeply concerning but added: For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death.

On Monday, health officials announced that a seventh person had died in Italy after contracting Covid-19. More than 220 people in the country have been infected with the virus since Friday, according to the latest data, the vast majority of them in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto.

Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq have also recorded their first new coronavirus cases, all people who had been in Iran, which raised its toll from the disease to 12 dead and 61 infected.

Ian Mackay, an associate professor of virology at the University of Queensland, has suggested that the recent outbreaks outside China may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Those countries are canaries in the coalmine that the virus is quite active  a sign that containment is reaching the end of its applicability, Mr Mackay said. There could be these sorts of spot fires burning everywhere with us not knowing.

Another study, published last week by Imperial College London, said that about two-thirds of coronavirus cases exported from China have not been detected yet.

Additional reporting by agencies
Washington, Feb 24 : US President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser (NSA) Robert O'Brien has said that the US would be unlikely to sign an agreement with the Afghan Taliban should the latter fail to comply with a reduction of violence deal.

"If the Taliban does not live up to their agreement on the reduction of violence plan, then we'll take a very careful look at it, and I think it'd be unlikely that we'd sign a peace treaty," O'Brien said during an interview with CBS News on Sunday.

"We're not going to reduce troops to a level below what is necessary to protect American interests and our partners in Afghanistan," he added.

Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters before kicking off his trip to India that the Taliban "are tired of fighting," and both the United States and the Taliban seek to make a deal, Xinhua news agency reported.

The so-called seven-day reduction in violence, which started on Saturday, could be a test for the Taliban leadership to prove its control over its fighters ahead of signing a peace deal with the United States to end the war in Afghanistan.

According to security officials, no major security incidents have been reported from across the country.

Only a convoy of security forces came under attack in Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province at 10:30 a.m. local time Sunday, provincial police spokesman Jamal Barikzai confirmed.

However, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack that left no casualties.

The US and the Afghan Taliban said on Friday that they are set to sign an agreement on February 29 after the implementation of a week-long violence reduction in Afghanistan.

Peace talks between bothe the countries began in 2018 but have been interrupted at least twice after Taliban attacks on US military personnel in September and December last year.

The war in Afghanistan is the longest one in US history. The death toll of US service members has surpassed 2,400 since the country invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Trump has long grumbled about the US military presence in Afghanistan that started in 2001, calling it "ridiculous."
Many junior government staff who are on the frontlines in confronting the COVID-19 outbreak in the city of Wuhan, its epicenter, and Hubei Province have become infected with the virus, according to two recent internal documents that insiders provided to The Epoch Times.

The government documents revealed that the province also currently lacks protective medical materials for staff.

Protocol is sometimes unsafe: some staff who are in contact with infected people are only equipped with a simple surgical mask. Then they also come into contact with potentially healthy people as they screen peoples body temperatures.

In addition, due to the lack of human resources, many junior staff have to continue working despite that their colleagues have been diagnosed with the virus. According to safety rules, those who were in close contact with virus patients must be quarantined for 14 days to make sure they are not infected and wont spread the disease further.

Officially, tens of thousands have been infected, and over two thousand have died in China, the majority of them in Hubei. However, eyewitness accounts and experts analyses show that the authorities have been underreporting cases.

Junior Staff

One type of document provided to The Epoch Times is the daily inspection report, prepared by an agency within the Hubei government set up to combat the epidemic. These are reported to Ying Yong, the provincial Chinese Communist Party boss; Wang Xiaodong, the governor; and Huang Chuping, the vice governor.

On Feb. 6, Sun Chunlan, a vice premier of China, ordered Hubei authorities to screen every persons body temperature in order to detect infected patientsby visiting each household in person.

The daily report on Feb. 19 noted that the Jianguo neighborhood on Ronghua Road, Wuhan, has 17 government staff members. On Feb. 11, one staff member was diagnosed with the coronavirus and was treated at a hospital, it stated.

Days later, the CT scan results of the staff director and deputy director revealed that they may be infected as well. On Feb. 16, the two leaders began their self-quarantine.

The report stated that now seven of the 17 staff have become infected. The other 10 are close contacts, but have to continue their work screening residents body temperatures.

A similar situation occurred with junior staff in charge of other neighborhoods: The deputy director of the Water Factory neighborhood on Zongguan Road of Qiaokou district, Wuhan, started to have symptoms on Feb. 3 and was diagnosed on Feb. 6. The other staff couldnt be quarantined or take a break due to lack of human resources.

At the Shuiguo Lake Beihuan Road neighborhood in Wuchang district, Wuhan, the director was diagnosed with the virus and being treated at a hospital, while the deputy director was infected and quarantined at home.

Another staff member, a deputy director named Zhang Xinxin, had a family member who passed away at home after becoming infected.

Zhang only wears a mask, without any other protective gear, the report said.

Lack of Supplies

Another type of document was prepared by the headquarters of Wuhans epidemic control agency, which reports to the provincial government.

The document emphasized that the junior staff lacked the protective materials they needed to conduct body temperature screenings properly. This directly contradicts public statements by city officials that the city has enough supplies.

As of Feb. 16, the stock of protective suits was 16,771 suits, but daily need was 77,704; the stock of N95 masks was 20,755, but daily need was 130,010; the stock of face shields was 6,758, but daily need was 15,540.

The documents emphasized that the staff need more protective materials and disinfectant products.

Chaotic Management

The daily inspection report noted that in some quarantine centers, theres no isolation between patients with mild symptoms, the medical staff, and quarantined people who were in close contact with confirmed patients but have not shown symptoms yet. The quarantined people often visit each other to chat.

The report also said that at some quarantine centers, there are no medical staff or medicines available. Patients are not allowed to go back home to pick up medicines they bought before, nor do they receive any testing.

The government has strictly locked down the province and Wuhan since Feb. 10. Residents are not allowed to casually leave home. Supermarkets are only allowed to sell products to government-approved distributor agents who then deliver the goods to each household.

But the daily report noted that in several cities, some people left their homes and were waiting in long queues in front of the supermarkets because they didnt receive enough food through the distributor agents.

Meanwhile, many residents visited their elderly and disabled neighbors to bring food and basic living supplies to them because the local government did not provide for them, according to the report.

From The Epoch Times
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

Trend:

Technological renewal of Azerbaijan is our priority, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said.

President Aliyev made the remark at the working dinner with President of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA, the Italian largest financial and banking institution, and heads of more than 10 world-renowned largest, leading industrial and financial groups in Rome, Trend reports.

I would like to express my gratitude to CDP for the initiative to meet for a CDP-chaired luncheon, the president said. An Italian-Azerbaijani business forum with the participation of more than 100 companies will be held tomorrow. But today I am meeting with the biggest Italian companies  the leading companies of the Italian economy. We have been working very closely with some of them for many years. Some of them are planning to work with us, and this is fully consistent with our goals.

My state visit to Italy is very important, President Aliyev said. After the meetings with Mr. President, Prime Minister and Senate leader, I can say that my visit can already be considered successful. This is a continuation of the active dialogue that was stepped up after the visit of President Mattarella to Azerbaijan two years ago. The agreements reached at that time and the issues we discussed are currently being implemented. During my visit, some of the more than 20 documents have already been signed and more will be signed tomorrow.

They cover various issues, including political, economic, trade, transport, cultural and other spheres, the president said. Among them, I want to specifically note the Joint Declaration on the development and strengthening of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy. This is indeed a very important political document that defines our close cooperation for many years to come.

Italy, for us, as Mr. Chairman said, is not only the number one trading partner, but also one of the closest partners in Europe, President Aliyev said. I think that after the signing of this historically important document, our relations should enter a new stage.

In connection with the practical implementation of projects, I can say that Italian companies have signed contracts worth about $10 billion in the energy sector of Azerbaijan and energy projects funded outside of Azerbaijan alone, the president said. In the non-oil sector, this figure is around $700 million. Yes, I do agree that there is a large imbalance in our trade.

However, we should also know that this is mainly due to our exports of oil to Italy, President Aliyev said. Therefore, we are interested in diversifying our exports. Of course, we should take additional measures to increase exports from Italy to Azerbaijan. Given our policy of diversification and industrialization, I can tell you that our non-energy industry grew by 14 percent last year and by a further 16 percent in January this year.

This is caused by projects funded by public and private sectors in industry, the president added. Italian manufacturers are highly professional companies operating at a high level. Therefore, the technological renewal of Azerbaijan is our priority. I am sure that after my visit we will see more projects representing joint interests.

During the visit, a very important Memorandum of Understanding was signed with one of the companies present here, President Aliyev said. This will be a fairly large agreement to be implemented by Leonardo. Today, with my participation and with the participation of the Prime Minister, a document was signed between our defense ministries.

This will open a new page in our cooperation, and this is a very promising project because we are at the stage of modernizing our defense infrastructure, the president said. Azerbaijan's economic indicators are positive. The country's economy is stable. Our external debt is at a very low level  17 percent of the gross domestic product. Reserves of freely convertible currency exceed our external debt six times. We can borrow any amount.

Our main goal is diversification, President Aliyev said. After the completion of TAP, which we hope will happen very soon, we will achieve everything that we planned in the energy sector because, as you noted, we are one of the main exporters of oil to Italy today. I think that we are first. On the transportation of natural gas, we will become one of the leading countries.

Therefore, the focus should be on the non-energy sector, the president said. We are approaching issues of agriculture, heavy industry and the relationship between small and medium enterprises. Of course, we welcome large investments from Italy and are ready to invest in Italian economy. Today, Azerbaijans investments in Italian companies and real estate amount to approximately $1.5 billion, and we have the potential for development.

One of the promising sectors of our economy is also the development of cooperation in the space industry and tourism, the president said. The number of Italian visitors to Azerbaijan is growing. There are many other sectors. In other words, close political relations provide a solid foundation for the business community. These close political relations gained further strength during my visit.

Therefore, I am sure that Italian companies will be the most active companies in Azerbaijan in the coming years, President Aliyev said. With some of them  representatives of these companies are present here  we have been cooperating for a long time. We plan to start cooperation with others. I am sure that today's luncheon will be very fruitful, and we will see excellent results. Thank you for the invitation again. I am sure that during the discussions we will plan on a beneficial future for both sides.
Canada is poised to become the most permissive country in the world for medical assistance in dying (MAID), with the fewest safeguards for avoiding unwanted deaths. The deadline for removing the reasonably foreseeable natural death safeguard is imminent and at least Quebec seems intent on allowing MAID for mental illness.

We know those receiving MAID in North America have higher socioeconomic privilege and tend to be Caucasian. It seems those of us who live well also want autonomy to die well, when our end is near.

MAID in Canada so far has been for just that, when the end is near. It is a more vulnerable group that seeks MAID for nonterminal conditions. In the few countries allowing it, those receiving MAID for mental illness have unresolved psychosocial stressors, reflect a 70 per cent preponderance of women (unlike nonmental illness MAID, which reflects an even male to female mix) and have overlapping characteristics with suicidal patients we normally try to help stay alive. It seems we cant distinguish those seeking MAID for mental illness from those seeking suicide as a symptom of mental illness.

Could safeguards address this? Canadian MAID requires predicting, in advance, irremediable conditions with irreversible decline. Unlike cancer or degenerative conditions like ALS, evidence tells us we cannot predict irremediability in mental illnesses that we dont even understand the pathophysiology of. Yet some health care providers would still make these predictions. Patient EF in Alberta got MAID after somehow being assessed with an irremediable mental illness, and being deemed competent, without the psychiatrist ever speaking with her.

This is not about patient autonomy. Competent people should have autonomy to make choices, but no one can know the unknowable. Assessing irremediability in mental illness is no better than a guess, however many make that guess. We should not be throwing darts at a board to decide who lives, and who dies.

If we cant predict a mental illness is irremediable, what irremediable suffering would we be providing MAID for to those with mental illness? Poverty? Loneliness? Or simple suicidality?

Some consider Canadian MAID the most permissive in the world, as we uniquely lack the no reasonable alternatives safeguard required everywhere else. We can get MAID here despite there being reasonable alternatives to relieve suffering.

We are poised to soon be ending lives of nondying people who cannot be deemed irremediable, who suffer from unresolved psychosocial problems, may be suicidal, and have other reasonable options to relieve suffering.

And remarkably, some argue further that people with mental illness shouldnt even really, consistently want to die before we take their lives  they argue against any safeguard requiring non-ambivalence, despite decades of evidence showing ambivalence is a core feature of suicidality associated with mental illness.

When Canada was thrust into dealing with these issues after the 2015 Carter ruling, I wasnt sure where I thought the balance should fall for MAID. Now I think I know. Id like to live in a compassionate society where I can be helped to die well when science says I wont get better. I dont want to live in dangerous society that takes the lives of people who have never been given a chance to live well.
CHICAGO  Looking ahead to the November general election, leading Illinois Republicans thought they had a marketable message to voters by pointing to myriad federal investigations that have ensnared Democrats at various levels.

But Republican President Donald Trumps decision Tuesday to commute former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevichs prison sentence on federal corruption charges may have short-circuited the GOPs strategy.

Voters in a state with a rich history of corruption can rightfully ask Republicans how dedicated they are toward cleaning up government in Illinois when their president  who vowed to clean the swamp of government  freed a former governor who attempted to shake down a childrens hospital for campaign funds and tried to sell President Barack Obamas U.S. Senate seat.

Its discouraging for people in the state of Illinois to see this happen and that a disgraced former governor who is corrupt to the core is walking out of the federal prison based on a gift from the president, said Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs.

There are, I think, more deserving inmates in the (federal) Bureau of Prisons who are serving lengthy sentences for crimes that were I think not as harmful as what Gov. Blagojevich did who are never going to receive one bit of consideration from this president, said Durkin, a former prosecutor who played a lead role in Blagojevichs impeachment.

Republicans knew they had their work cut out for them after what the partys state chairman, Tim Schneider, acknowledged was a rough year in 2018. The GOP lost the governorship and all other statewide offices, saw Democrats expand their stranglehold in the General Assembly and pick up two traditionally GOP U.S. House seats.

With Illinois a solidly blue state in presidential elections due to Democratic turnout in Chicago and demographic changes that have eroded the longtime GOP leanings of the suburban collar counties, there was little for Trump to gain politically in freeing Blagojevich  something the states underdog Republicans realized.

Blagojevich is the face of public corruption in Illinois, and not once has he shown any remorse for his clear and documented record of egregious crimes that undermined the trust placed in him by voters, said a statement released by the five Republicans in the states congressional delegation who had previously urged Trump not to pardon Blagojevich or commute his sentence.

As our state continues to grapple with political corruption, we shouldnt let those who breached the public trust off the hook. History will not judge Rod Blagojevich well, said the statement signed by U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood of Peoria, John Shimkus of Collinsville, Rodney Davis of Taylorville, Mike Bost of Murphysboro and Adam Kinzinger of Channahon.

After the dismal 2018 election, Republicans had hoped to capitalize on the federal corruption investigations that have ensnared some of the states most powerful Democrats.

Ald. Edward Burke, Chicagos longest serving alderman, last year pleaded not guilty to sweeping corruption charges alleging he abused his office to extort work for his law firm and other favors from companies and individuals doing business with the city.

The charges against Burke came after Ald. Daniel Solis became the center of a spiraling FBI probe at City Hall. Solis resigned after secretly wearing a wire and cooperating with federal investigators amid a probe into his alleged wrongdoing over a two-year period.

In Springfield, state Sen. Martin Sandoval of Chicago, head of the chambers powerful Transportation Committee, resigned and pleaded guilty to a bribery charge, and agreed to cooperate with federal investigators in a burgeoning, widespread probe of public corruption involving construction, transportation and power company officials, lobbyists, gambling interests, a red-light camera company and at least three suburban mayors.

State Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges over an allegedly no-show union job.

Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge over allegedly attempting to bribe a state senator to support gambling-related legislation. Arroyo resigned his House seat after his indictment. State Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills, has been identified by a Tribune source as a cooperating witness against Arroyo, but he denies that.

Federal investigators also have sought documents involving the Republicans chief political target, House Speaker Michael Madigan, as part of an investigation into the lobbying practices of ComEd and its parent company, Exelon. Federal authorities have raided the Downstate home of powerful former lobbyist Mike McClain, a top Springfield insider and one of Madigans closest friends.

It all has made for a potent tableau for Republicans to paint their anti-corruption strategy to attract voters  until Trumps decision to let Blagojevich out of prison.

I think it doesnt help the argument, said Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady of Bloomington.

We here in Illinois had to live through the tragedy of what Rod Blagojevich did, and (we) better understand the hurt and the damage he did to our reputation, he said. That is why uniformly you saw us say that if the judicial system thought that 14 years was the right amount (of prison time), then thats the right amount.

Brady said he believed most voters would consider Trumps commutation of Blagojevichs prison time as a matter of compassion rather than a reflection of the presidents views of the crimes the former governor committed.

But Trump has defended Blagojevichs actions, saying last August that Blagojevich was behind bars over a phone call where nothing happens. He added Blagojevich shouldnt have said what he said, but it was braggadocio.

And on Wednesday, Trump issued a tweet that included a major falsehood: Rod Blagojevich did not sell the Senate seat. He served 8 years in prison, with many remaining. He paid a big price.

There is a lot riding on the GOP message in Illinois. In addition to looking to elect more Republicans in November, the party is looking to use the corruption angle to fight Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzkers signature agenda item  voter approval of a change in the states constitution to impose a graduated-rate income tax to replace the currently mandated flat-rate income tax.

Their argument is that in the midst of federal investigations, Democrats cannot be trusted with a move that would give the state an additional $3.6 billion in annual revenue.

Pritzker is cognizant to the threat the corruption argument by Republicans brings to voter consideration of the proposed amendment and has been using an anti-corruption theme of his own.

On Thursday, he noted that more than a decade after Blagojevichs impeachment, We still have politicians in this state who are on the take. Weve got to get rid of them. Weve got to make sure we find them out. Weve got to make sure they get prosecuted.

Democrats, for the most part, want nothing to do with a Blagojevich return to Illinois. Many, including Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, supported Blagojevichs continued incarceration scheduled through March 2024.

But Pritzker has a Trump connection that wont go away -- secret government wiretaps that were part of the federal investigation of Blagojevich that were obtained by the Tribune in the months leading up to Pritzkers November 2018 victory.

In a Nov. 14, 2008, conversation between the two discussing an Obama Senate replacement, Pritzker called Secretary of State Jesse White the least offensive among candidates for the job. Speaking about other options, Pritzker referred to then-state Senate President Emil Jones as crass and then-U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. as a "nightmare."

Following the release of the conversation by the Tribune in February 2018, Pritzker, then a candidate for governor, issued an apology to the African American community and said, On that call, I was not my best self. I can be better. I have been better and I can do better and I have."

On Thursday, Pritzker was again compelled to address the issue.

There were hundreds of people who were recorded, to be clear. And lets also make sure we all understand that what happened more than 10 years ago has nothing to do with where we are today in this state, he said.

Upon his release, Blagojevich dubbed himself a Trumpocrat  but Brady, the Senate Republican leader, says his party wants nothing to do with him either.

He maintained ongoing news stemming from the federal investigations may overtake any need to address Trumps commutation of Blagojevichs sentence.

I think that the prevailing issues involving illegal activities will persist as these Democrats continue to go through the court system, Brady said.

Durkin said he thinks voters will continue to ask questions about Trump and Blagojevich, especially as the ever-loquacious Blagojevich seeks public forums to voice his criticism of federal prosecutors while still proclaiming his innocence.

When the Republican president of the United States says, You know what? You dont have to pay your debt to society on a case that deals with public corruption, people in Illinois are obviously going to be confused, Durkin said.

I also think theyre going to take the position that, Why didnt you take this more seriously, Mr. President? he said. Public corruption is something that has cast a long shadow upon state government, and to me, considering the environment that were in, it minimizes what should be a strong statement coming out of the administration about where it stands on issues of corrupt officials.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 11:37:35|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China is a source of development opportunities for Latin America, and the concepts of mutual benefit and shared gain that mark bilateral ties will lead to increasing cooperation and progress for both sides, an Argentine international relations expert has said.

"Beijing is a leading trade partner for countries in the region and a major investor in key economic sectors such as infrastructure, energy, transport and mining," Carla Oliva, coordinator of the China and Argentina study group at the National University of Rosario, told Xinhua.

"In addition, within the framework of the strategy to internationalize its currency, the renminbi, Beijing offers (foreign currency) swap loans that are vital to the economies of Latin America. The most well-known case is Argentina, which has systematically resorted to such swaps with China since 2009," she said.

Economic and trade ties between China and Latin America have steadily grown in recent years, based on more balanced trade in both goods and services.

Since the start of this century, trade between the two sides has continuously expanded, with annual trade exchange surpassing 300 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.

Today, China is Latin America's second-largest trade partner, and Latin America has become China's second leading investment destination.

The service sector has become a new engine for growth, with China diversifying its investment in this area.

China's investment in the region "tends to be accompanied by Chinese capital loans, particularly from the China Development Bank and Export-Import Bank of China."

Chinese companies have created 1.8 million jobs, thanks to the opening of some 2,500 subsidiaries in Latin America in a wide range of such sectors as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, automotive and the digital economy.

"Throughout 2019, China and Latin America made progress in institutionalizing ties through the Belt and Road Initiative, a proposal that represents great opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment," she said.

The expert said several countries in the region have expressed their interest in joining the initiative besides the ones that have already signed memorandums to participate. For instance, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has promised to make efforts to join the initiative.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of a community with a shared future for mankind underlines our common goals for growth and sustainable development," said Oliva.

"The community of common destiny is one of the great proposals in China-Latin America bilateral ties. In recent years we have seen a notable increase in cooperation on strategic matters such as renewable energy, sustainable development, transportation networks and the application of new technologies," she said.
Disrespecting the government is not the same as disrespecting the country and those opposed to an elected government, which has come power with a substantial majority, are not obliged to remain silent for the next five years, Supreme Court judge Justice Deepak Gupta said on Monday.

Speaking at an event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Justice Gupta, in a speech titled Democracy and Dissent emphasised that every individual has the right to dissent and disagree not because it is provided in the Constitution but because it is a human right.

..majoritarianism is the antithesis of democracy... assuming they represent more than 50% of the electorate, can it be said that the remaining 49% of the population has no voice in running the country? Can it be urged that the remaining 49% cannot speak for the next five years till next elections are held? Should these 49% be totally ignored if they oppose what is said by the Government? In my view, the answer has to be a big NO, he said.

The lecture is the first of the series, organised by the bar association. The lecture was attended by Attorney General KK Venugopa, SCBA President Dushyant Dave, and senior counsel CU Singh.

Justice Gupta was elevated to the Supreme Court in February 2017 and is set to retire from office on May 6, 2020.

His comments are significant because they come against the backdrop of a prevailing trend where anyone not agreeing with the government, or opposing a law is accused of being an anti-national -- sometimes by ministers, and at other times by members and supporters of the ruling party.

One may be disrespectful to the government and that does not translate to disrespect for the country, Justice Gupta said. He added that this trend was what made him pick the topic from many topics given to me.

Just because you hold a contrarian view does not mean that you are disrespectful to the country. You may be disrespectful to the government or the powers that be, but the government and the country are two different things.

The government, Justice Gupta stressed, has no right to stifle or quell protest as long as they are peaceful.

Protest also means expressing dissent which is part of the legacy left by the father of the country (mahatma Gandhi) in the form of the Civil Disobedience Movement, following the path of Ahimsa, he observed.

The judge also said that he was troubled by the recent instances of bar associations in various parts of the country passing resolutions refusing legal aid to those accused of certain offences. Such resolutions, he said, go against the Advocates Act -- which lays down standards of conduct for lawyers -- and amount to obstruction of justice and are unacceptable.

The judge also underscored the importance of dissent in judiciary.

There can be rule of law only when we have judges who can take decisions independent of political influence, totally uninfluenced by media or any other extraneous considerations, he said.

He referred to various dissenting judgments from across the world and India many of which, subsequently, became the law. He took the examples of dissenting judgment of justice HR Khanna in the ADM Jabalupur case, justice Fazl Ali in the AK Gopalan case, justice Subba Rao in Kharak Singh case, justice DY Chandrachud in the Aadhaar case and justice Indu Malhotra in the Sabarimala case.

Dissent, he said, is a powerful tool in the hands of a judge and it must be used responsibly. However, he also cautioned that judges should be careful while exercising dissenting powers.

Dissenting for the sake of dissent will make the dissent lose its value, he said.

Justice Gupta also highlighted the importance of criticism in democracy and urged all institutions including the judiciary to welcome criticism. Criticism of the executive, the judiciary, the bureaucracy or the Armed Forces cannot be termed anti-national, he stated and attempts to stifle criticism will turn the country into a police state which was never envisaged by the founding fathers of the country.
OnePlus has been away from the news for a while now as the spotlights have turned towards other Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi, Realme, and IQOO. But it looks like OnePlus is ready with its next phone and it has already landed in the hands of some people in China.



Earlier this morning, someone from China posted a couple of the OnePlus 8 Pro pictures on Instagram. The images confirm a couple of things. First, we can see the phone from the back and it has a new quad-camera setup instead of the triple camera setup we saw last year. We don't have details about all the sensors yet, but the new addition seems to be a ToF sensor.

 Slashleaks



It's a vertical camera setup with the three main cameras arranged one below the other. The ToF sensor is right next to the triple camera setup. There's no way to confirm if the images are legit, but the design matches the CAD renders that leaked earlier.



Another set of images from the same leaker shows a screenshot of the settings page showing the phone's specs. Looking at the screenshot, it looks like the OnePlus 8 Pro will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC and will have up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. It also says that the phone will have a 6.65-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED panel.

 Slashleaks



Well, that's everything we know about the phone now. As mentioned earlier, there's no way to confirm the specifications just yet, so we suggest you take them with a pinch of salt. But now that the phone has leaked, we think the launch is imminent. OnePlus hasn't uttered a word about these new phones yet, but we think we'll be hearing from them very soon.

Source: Slashleaks
When Donald Trump is greeted with a crescendo of "Namastes" when he lands in Ahmedabad he will be the seventh US President to visit India while in office.

He visited India in 2014 as a real estate businessman, but this will be a presidential visit.



President Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, who came to India in 1959 at the height of the Cold War was the first to visit India as it was coming into its own as an independent nation and the laboratory of democracy.



The visits reflect in some ways the status of India in the US world view.





Eisenhower's visit was to explore India as young democracy with hopes of closer cooperation, perhaps moving away from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's nonalignment.



While there have been gaps of about a decade between some of the visits, since Bill Clinton in 2000 every president has come to India in a sign of its rising importance in world efforts.



There was a ten-year gap between Eisenhower's visit and the next.



Democrats John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson had skipped India firmly ensconced in the nonaligned movement. (Johnson, however, had visited Pakistan, then a US ally.)



President Richard Nixon, another, Republican, visited India in 1969 and his successor Gerald Ford did not.



Nine years later, Democrat Jimmy Carter made the India trip in 1978 while Moraji Desai of the Janata Party was prime minister.



His mother, Lillian Carter, had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Mumbai.



Ronald Reagan and George Bush (the senior) skipped India.



Democrat Bill Clinton came to India in 2000, ending the 12-year gap in presidential visits.



Since then, every president has come to India.



The highlight of Republican George W Bush's visit in 2006 was the signing of the landmark US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement - which was the only time a substantive agreement between the two countries was signed during a presidential visit.



The agreement, which he signed with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, virtually recognises India as a nuclear weapons power exempting it from some of the US nuclear nonproliferation restrictions in order for both the countries to cooperate in the nuclear field with access to some civilian nuclear technology and materials.



It effectively neutralised some of the stringent sanctions imposed on India after its 1974 nuclear test.



Barack Obama, a Democrat, is the only president to have visited India twice.



He first visited India in 2010 when Singh was the Prime Minister.



Modi was the Prime Minister during his second visit in 2015 when he was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations.
(UPDATE: CMU student charged in triple stabbing at Wayside bar)

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - A Central Michigan University student was arrested in connection with a stabbing incident late Saturday night at Wayside Central bar near campus that injured two other students.

In a statement released Sunday night by Tony Voisin, the universitys interim vice president of Enrollment and Student Services, he confirms two unnamed CMU students were stabbed just before midnight Saturday, Feb. 22 at the bar, 2000 S. Mission St.

One CMU student is in custody, said Voisin. The two student victims were taken to local hospitals and are listed in stable condition. There is no ongoing threat to the campus community stemming from this incident.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was arrested on campus without incident around 2 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 following a coordinated search and investigation conducted by the Mount Pleasant Police Department and assisted by the CMU Police Department, Voisin said.

CMU reports stabbing of 3 at Wayside bar, suspect in custody

Wayside shut down around 1:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving word from police that a suspect had been apprehended.

Prior to this, at the direction and advice of law enforcement, we maintained business operations to allow officers to create a perimeter and we assisted in gather information from witnesses as well as obtaining critical video surveillance, reads a statement released by the bar Sunday. The goal was to not create additional panic, assist in finding an at large suspect, and the safety of those in the area. Please keep the victim in your prayers.

The bar responded to a Facebook comment on their post a second victim suffered a hand laceration, while a third victim was unrelated to the incident or suffered a very minor injury.

A suspect was identified and arrested after interviews with multiple witnesses and a review of video footage, police said.

Central Michigan University Police, Michigan State Police, Isabella County Sheriffs Department, Mobile Medical Response, and the Mount Pleasant Fire Department assisted the Mount Pleasant Police Department at the scene.

Wayside bar issues statement on stabbing incident near CMU campus

Voisin commended the swift action of our dedicated CMU police officers working alongside MPPD to ensure the safety of our students and the entire campus community.

The safety and support of our campus community is our No. 1 concern," he said. CMU staff and administration are supporting the victims and the CMU Counseling Center has several resources available for those who need support.

Those wishing to speak with a counselor may call 989-774-3381.

Anyone with information about the stabbing incident is asked to contact the Mount Pleasant Police Departments Anonymous Tip Line at 989-779-9111.
A prison guard stands in a courtyard inside the No.1 Detention Center in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2012. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Coronavirus Spreads in Chinese Prisons; Guards Required to Stay Silent

More prisons in China are reporting coronavirus (COVID-19) infections among inmates and prison staff, pointing to the severity of the outbreak.

Meanwhile, authorities within a city in Shandong Province have implemented strict measures to compel prison staff into keeping quiet about the outbreak within local prisons, according to internal government documents obtained by The Epoch Times.

Internal Document

The document was prepared on Feb. 16 by the Shizhong district police department, part of the Jining City public security bureau, about the quarantine of prison guards.

Jining is located in eastern Chinas Shandong Province. Two prisons in the city reported a coronavirus outbreak among inmates and prison staff, according to the document. Those guards who are not infected have been placed under quarantine at the Phoenix Xiyuan Hotel in Shizhong district.

The Shizhong police department organized 50 police to block off the quarantine center, install surveillance cameras outside and inside of the hotelincluding in all hotel rooms, and ensure nobody under quarantine leaves the hotel.

Prison guards who are under quarantine are required to dress in ordinary clothes, to avoid the leaking of any photos or videos [of guards] which may damage the image of the peoples police, according to the document. In China, prison guards dress in the same uniform as police.

In addition, all quarantined staff must sign a letter of commitment, in which they promise to keep silent about the outbreak and only tell others what local government has already announced publicly.

Furthermore, the letter asks that the quarantined staff monitor each other, and report to authorities any of their peers who are spreading information that deviates from what the government says.

Its unclear how many have been infected or quarantined. But according to the hotels website, the Phoenix Xiyuan Hotel has 214 guest rooms and has 800 seats in its dining room.

Rencheng Prison

On Feb. 18, an insider contacted the Chinese-language Epoch Times and said that there was an outbreak in Rencheng Prison, located in Jining.

The prison doesnt have proper management. The environment inside is very poor. At least hundreds of prisoners and prison guards were infected.  The provincial officials are here already [to inspect the situation], he said.

Days later on Feb. 21, Xi Yan, director of the Shandong provincial health commission, admitted at a press conference: By Feb. 20, [medical staff] finished conducting tests on 2,077 people in Rencheng Prison, and diagnosed 207 cases of coronavirus. Seven of them are prison guards, and 200 are prisoners.

Xi said that the first infection was a guard, who was diagnosed with the virus on Feb. 13.

On the same day, the central government announced that Xie Weijun, director of the Shandong prison management bureau; Li Baoshan, director of Rencheng Prison; and six other officials from the provincial prison management system were dismissed.

The front gate of Rencheng Prison in Jining city of Shandong Province, China. (Screenshot/Rencheng Prison Website)

Other Prisons in Jining

On Feb. 16, an official document from Yutai county, Jining city was leaked onto Twitter. The document was issued by a leadership team within the Yutai county government set up to combat the outbreak.

The team requested that all prisoners at Huxi Prison be transferred to a secret destination, due to the coronavirus.

The document did not say how many prisoners or prison guards were infected, but said that it arranged 12 buses to transport the prisoners. Each bus has 45 passenger seats.

Meanwhile, there were signs that Luxi Prison, located in Zoucheng, a city within the jurisdiction of Jining, also was at risk of an outbreak.

A residential area in the Taibaihu district of Jining posted a notice on Feb. 19: Any residents who work at Luxi Prison, Rencheng Prison, or the Liyan Power Plant, please contact the residential management office as soon as possible. If any residents have been in contact with staff at Rencheng Prison, please self-quarantine, and report to the residential management office. If you have a fever or other symptoms, you must wear a mask, keep a distance from others, and visit the nearby fever clinic as soon as possible, it read.

This general view shows beds at an Interim Room inside the No.1 Detention Center in Beijing, China on Oct. 25, 2012. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Prisons Elsewhere

On Feb. 21, the Zhejiang provincial government announced that 34 prisoners were diagnosed with the coronavirus at the Shilifeng Prison in Quzhou city.

Meanwhile, Jingmen, a city located in the center of the outbreak in Hubei Province, tallied that as of Feb. 15, there were 40 infections in Shayang Prison, including prison guards and inmates, according to an internal government document provided to the Chinese-language Epoch Times. Shayang is the general name for ten prisons located in different counties across Jingmen.

He Ping, director of prison management at the national-level Justice Ministry, said at a press conference on Feb. 21 that the Wuhan Womens Prison had 230 infections by Feb. 20. The disease first broke out in Wuhan, capital of Hubei.

He also confirmed the outbreak in Shayang Prison and said: 41 cases were diagnosed in Hanjin prison, one of the facilities within Shayang.

After these prisons reported their outbreaks, Sichuan and Heilongjiang provinces announced on Feb. 22 that they would launch wartime management for their prisons.

That same day, a number of senior Chinese Communist Party officials personally visited the infamous Yancheng Prison, including Guo Shengkun, Party secretary of the national-level Political and Legal Affairs Commissionan agency that oversees the countrys security apparatus, including law enforcement, courts, and prisons; Chinas justice minister Fu Zhenghua; and deputy minister of public security Meng Qingfeng.

Yancheng Prison is located in Hebei Province, about 20 miles away from Beijing. The prison reports directly to the justice ministry, and is where several high-profile corrupt officials are incarcerated, including Gu Kailai, wife of disgraced senior official Bo Xilai. Gu was convicted of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood in 2011.

Speaking to officials at Yancheng Prison, Guo requested that all prisons in China be strictly managed as in wartime, according to state-run media reports.

Click here to download the commitment letter.
The world has, of course, spun forward a good deal from then and I confess more interest in what Diamond, long a whopping talent, is doing now, rather than what was on her mind nearly two decades ago, back when she had to conform more to the expectations of the theater at that time. I noticed a few minor adjustments to the script (I think), but the new production at Writers Theatre still treats the play as if it were a contemporary work; Im not convinced these characters would say all of these things now, at least not entirely in the language they use.
New exhibits at Pearl Fincher

Two new exhibitions at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts will continue through May 16. Admission is free.

Featured in the museum's main gallery is Stitched: Contemporary Quilt Art from the International Quilt Festival Collection, which features 25 quilts from the Texas Quilt Museum. The other exhibition is Saved by a Horse by Lesley Humphrey, which features paintings and drawings of horses from an artist once designated as the official artist of the Kentucky Derby. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts is located at 6815 Cypresswood Drive in Spring. Learn more at www.pearlmfa.org.

Hamilton star of library's LIFE event

Lone Star College-University Park history professor Katherine Truax will make the case for Alexander Hamilton's greatness at 10 a.m. on Feb. 26 at the Lone Star College-CyFair library.

Drawing from our nation's history and the award-winning hit musical, Truax will explain the life and times of Hamilton. The event is part of the Learning, Inspiration, Friendship and Enrichment (LIFE) program, held every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Lone Star College-CyFair library is located at 9191 Barker Cypress. Learn more at www.lonestar.edu.

February 27

Musical set for CyFair stage

The Lone Star College-CyFair Fine Arts Department presents the musical Hands on a Hardbody running Feb. 27 through March 1 at the campus' Main Stage Theatre. Adult tickets are $10.

The musical was written by Doug Wright with music and lyrics by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green. It is based on a 1997 documentary film that explores a Longview, Texas endurance test where the winner would win a Toyota hardbody pickup truck if they could hold on to it the longest. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on February 27-29 and at 3 p.m. on March 1.

The Lone Star College-CyFair Center for the Arts Main Stage is located at 9191 Barker Cypress in Cypress. Learn more at www.lonestar.edu.

February 28

Stageworks presents She Loves Me musical

Stageworks Theatre presents the musical She Loves Me, which opens Feb. 28 and continues through March 22. Tickets start at $19 for students, $29.50 for adults. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Sundays.

A romantic musical set in the 1930s find a couple falling in love at a perfume shop. Written by Joe Masteroff with music and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.

Stageworks Theatre is located at 10760 Grant Road in Houston. Learn more at www.stageworkshouston.org.

Country-Western swing hits Dosey Doe stage

Jason Roberts leads the Bob Wills' Texas Playboys during a dinner concert at Dosey Doe The Big Barn at 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 28. Tickets start at $78 and includes dinner served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The band was formed in 1933 and is now lead by Grammy-award-winning swing legend Jason Roberts.

Dosey Doe The Big Barn is located at 25911 I-45 North in The Woodlands. Learn more at www.doseydoe.com or call 281-367-3774.

February 29

Civil War comes to life at park's Heritage Fest

Civil war battle re-enactments, a tour of the Spring Creek Park Cemetery and confederate and union camp recreations will be featured during the Heritage Festival sponsored by Harris County Precinct 4 at Spring Creek Park at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 29.

The history-focused festival is fitting for the park, which is located at the site of a former confederate powder mill, an African-American cemetery and a Native American campground. During the festival, guests can view recently uncovered artifacts, witness Civil War battle re-enactments and tour the historic cemetery.

Spring Creek Park is located at 15012 Brown Road in Tomball. Learn more at www.hcp4.net.

Firefighters compete at various skills

Representatives from local area fire departments will compete in the Firefighter Challenge Finals at 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 29.

The friendly competition will determine who is the best at such skills such as hose drag, forcible entry, equipment carry, hose hoist and the Keiser sled.

Located in the shopping center parking lot at 20121 Interstate 45 in Spring. Learn more at www.facebook.com/springfdtx.

Car clubs welcome at Cars and Coffee

A gathering of car club members and those who know them gather every Saturday at Liquid Bean Cafe in Old Town Spring at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in an event called Cars and Coffee.

The family-friendly event features complimentary house brewed coffee. The event is open to all car clubs and is for show only - no racing, burnouts or other shenanigans.

Liquid Bean Cafe is located at 317 Gentry Street in Spring. Learn more at www.facebook.com/liquidbeancafe/.

March 4

Workforce Solutions presents targeted job search seminar

Workforce Solutions presents "A Targeted Plan," a seminar about navigating the current labor market from 1-3 p.m. on March 4 at the Lone Star College - Tomball Community Library.

The seminar, in Room L-207, will help those in attendance assess their needs and employment skills to create a targeted job search plan.

Lone Star College - Tomball Community Library is located at 30555 Tomball Parkway. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/tomballlibrary.

March 6

Quilt show showcases work of local artists

The Tri-County Quilt Guild presents its show, "A Quilt Odyssey" on March 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on March 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center in Cypress, Texas.

Admission is $10 per person and is good for both days. Children under 12 are free.

The Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center is located at 8877 Barker-Cypress in Cypress. Learn more at http://tcqgtx.blogspot.com.

March 9

Science in the park at CityPlace

CityPlace presents science-themed fun for children from 10-11 a.m. on March 9 through March 13 at the central plaza.

Mad Science of Houston will present hands-on experiments and registration is required because attendance is limited to the first 25 signups per sessions. Also at the park for Spring Break week will be lawn games including cornhole, giant Jenga and Connect Four and food trucks.

CityPlace's central plaza is located at 1250 Lake Plaza Drive in Spring. Register at https://houston.madscience.org/.

March 14

Therapy Pet Pals seeks volunteers with pups

A qualifying and training class for volunteers interested in registering their dogs with Therapy Pet Pals of Texas is set for March 14.

The local chapter of the nonprofit organization is seeking volunteers with calm, friendly and obedient dogs to provide pet therapy to elderly and ill people around the greater area. Reserve your spot in the class before March 9.

Learn more about pre-screening and registration for the event at www.therapypetpals.org or call 512-347-1984.

Entertainment roundup is a weekly feature compiled by freelance writer Brandon Moeller. Send entertainment submissions to Brandon at moellerbrandon@gmail.com
Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union will accelerate the process of appointing a new leader as the party struggles to emerge from political turmoil.

A special party conference will be held to choose a successor to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on April 25 in Berlin in what will be an open fight to lead Germany's strongest party.

Next up in the process will be for people to actually declare their candidacies this week. So far, only one candidate -- Norbert Roettgen, an outsider who was fired by Merkel in 2012 -- has publicly declared his intentions.

Kramp-Karrenbauer -- the CDU chief who shocked Germany's political establishment two weeks ago by abandoning ambitions of succeeding Merkel -- said she spoke with four potential candidates and all pledged to support the full breadth of the party, as it seeks to close ranks after the recent upheaval.

The candidates -- including Friedrich Merz, Armin Laschet, Jens Spahn and Roettgen -- "very clearly declared that they will respect any decision of the party conference, irrespective of what it is," she said, speaking to reporters in Berlin after a leadership meeting on Monday. It's unclear whether more hopefuls will come forward, she said.

Kramp-Karrenbauer originally planned to have the party decide on a chief this summer and sign off on the pick at a regular party convention in December.

Concerns about the risks of an extended power struggle prodded numerous party officials to push for a faster process. A disastrous election result in Hamburg on Sunday, when the CDU posted its worst performance in the city state since World War II, drove home the need for urgency.

The emerging number of contenders and the tighter timetable will stoke competition for the post. The incoming CDU chief would have the inside track to run for chancellor at the next election, which is due in the fall of 2021 at the latest. Kramp-Karrenbauer said the decision on the chancellor candidate will be made later in consultation with the Bavarian sister party.

If the winner ends up being from the more conservative wing of the CDU rather than a centrist in Merkel's mold, the faster decision could intensify pressure on Merkel to step down early. Kramp-Karrenbauer tried to brush aside risks to Germany's stability.

After a renewed round of talks with the candidates, "it has become very clear again that everyone assumes that there will be good cooperation both with the CDU caucus in the Bundestag and with the CDU-led federal government," Kramp-Karrenbauer said. "That is certainly a requirement that applies to all candidates."

With a new CDU head in place as early as the spring, the prospect of an early exit for Merkel was enough to prompt the Social Democrats to say they won't support a new chancellor. The coalition agreement the SPD signed in March 2018 was with Merkel, according to the SPD's general secretary, Lars Klingbeil.

"If the CDU has any ideas of somehow swapping out the chancellor, then the SPD will very clearly not go along with that," Klingbeil told Bild in an interview.

Kramp-Karrenbauer attacked the Social Democrat, accusing him of misleading the public over the CDU's stance on the far right.

The split between party chief and Merkel's role in the chancellery proved unworkable for Kramp-Karrenbauer. Her withdrawal on Feb. 10 escalated a crisis that began when CDU lawmakers in Thuringia cast their lot in with the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany to install a premier in the eastern state, breaking a taboo and defying marching orders to not cooperate with extreme right or left.

At stake in the CDU leadership battle is the direction of Europe's largest economy as the European Union grapples with stagnating growth, fallout from U.K.'s exit and a withering of the global order as the U.S. recedes from view and China strengthens its footprint.

"There is deep insecurity in the party," Spahn told reporters before the meeting on Monday. "We need to make sure that Merkel is not the last CDU chancellor."

The vote in Hamburg reflected a nationwide realignment in Germany's political establishment with the CDU declining and the Greens soaring. Leaders in Merkel's drew a straight line from the fiasco in Thuringia to the Hamburg result.

"What happened there and all the discussions linked to it was anything but a tailwind for the CDU," said Paul Ziemiak, the party's general secretary.

Kramp-Karrenbauer spent last week talking to potential candidates, including Merz, who lost a power struggle with Merkel a decade ago; socially conservative Health Minister Spahn; and Laschet, a moderate who leads Germany's biggest state, North Rhine-Westphalia. CDU lawmaker Roettgen upended the prospects for a choreographed selection process by announcing his candidacy.
24.02.2020 LISTEN

Ghanas High Commission to India, Mike Oquaye Jnr has submitted his nomination forms to contest in the upcoming parliamentary primaries for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency.

The governing NPP goes to the polls on April 25 in all the 169 constituencies where the party has sitting Members of Parliament to elect its parliamentary candidates for the 2020 general elections

Addressing the delegates, the aspiring member of parliament for Dome Kwabenya constituency promised to deliver diligently should he be elected into power.

Described as grassroot man, Mike Oquaye promised to serve the people of Ga East Municipal and help the youth to be gain jobs whereas will make sure the needs of his constituents are met.

Briefing the media, the Ghana High Commission to India who faces stiff competition as he comes up against the incumbent and Minister of State in Charge of Public Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo, says

i am not at war with my contender who

Is the incumbent in the constituency, i think i am capable to do more and for the people of Dome Kwabenya. Whether win or lose, its still NPP and together we will work for victory come December 7th.

Some inhabitants Dome Kwabenya Constituency were also on the view that Mike Oquaye Jnr should be given the chance to exhibit what he has in stock for Ga East Municipality since he is capable and competent.

The aspiring Member of Parliament together with his team and delegates was on float through the principal streets of Ga East Municipal.
Trump in India: First Lady Melania Trump accompanied her husband President Donald Trump on his visit to India. While the high-profile visit has grabbed headlines, all eyes were on Melania Trump who arrived in a white suit.

Melania Trump wore a white jumpsuit from Atelier Caito For Herve Pierre. She paired the white jumpsuit with a satin belt that added a dash of colour to her ensemble. The sash is made of green silk and gold metallic thread. She completed her look with pointed stilettos.

Melania Trump's choice of attire appears suitable for a warm day in Ahmedabad. President Trump chose a navy blue suit with a yellow tie. His choice of tie is a deviaton from his usual choice of red tie.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs US President Donald Trump upon his arrival in Ahmedabad. pic.twitter.com/MVeLHWt9jq - ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

The POTUS and FLOTUS were accompanied by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Ivanka Trump's choice of attire also seemed perfect for a warm day. Ivanka wore a baby blue midi dress with red floral prints. The dress had a bow on the neckline and puffed sleeves. She paired her dress with red stilettos.

Gujarat: US President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump arrives in Ahmedabad. https://t.co/5Y7L48Xftspic.twitter.com/v1QK8HCro3 - ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Also read: Trump India Visit Live Updates: POTUS, Melania spin Charkha at Sabarmati Ashram

The US dignitaries were welcomed at the Ahmedabad airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They were greeted by dancers who performed for the President and his family.

The Trumps then headed to Sabarmati Ashram where they enjoyed high tea and a light meal. They will then head to the Motera Stadium for the Namaste Trump event. A cultural programme has been organised in their honour. Women entrepreneurs will also meet Ivanka Trump at the sidelines of the event.

The President and his family will then go to Agra on a personal visit to the Taj Mahal. They will not be accompanied by PM Modi there but will be welcomed at the airport by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel. After their visit to Taj Mahal the Trumps will head to New Delhi.

The two leaders will also be holding talks and signing pacts in areas of intellectual property rights, defence deals, nuclear power cooperation and homeland security.

Also read: Donald Trump India visit: Gujarati khaman, masala chai; what's on POTUS' plate

Also read: Trump to stay at ITC Maurya's Chanakya Suite; here's how much it costs a night
PLEASANTON, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ServiceMax, the leader in asset-centric field service management, today announced $80 million in growth funding led by new investor Salesforce Ventures and existing investor Silver Lake. On the heels of a record-breaking year, this additional funding is expected to fuel accelerated growth, deepen product development and support digital transformation and customer experience in verticals such as manufacturing, medical devices, energy, heavy equipment and other industrial markets.

Built on the Salesforce platform, ServiceMax offers a suite of field service applications that provide customers a complete view of their assets, enabling them to run more profitable, efficient service operations in complex, asset-intensive industries. ServiceMax has earned notable industry analyst recognition, including being named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Field Service Management for four consecutive years, a Leader in the first IDC MarketScape Report for Field Service Management, and most recently named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape Report for Service Parts Management. The investment from Salesforce Ventures further enhances the commitment between Salesforce and ServiceMax, who are long-time partners, to develop innovative breakthrough technologies designed to help customers transform their businesses in field service.

"ServiceMax has been a force in equipment and asset-centric industries for over a decade," said Bill Patterson, EVP and GM of CRM Applications at Salesforce. "ServiceMax's solution on the Salesforce Platform has delivered great value for joint customers, and we look forward to further collaboration."

"We are excited to be joined by our partners at Salesforce Ventures in our investment in ServiceMax," said Ken Hao, Chairman and Managing Partner of Silver Lake. "The announcement validates the company's market position and follows a record-breaking year for ServiceMax, including the largest new customer deal closed and the biggest year in company history."

"Our mission is to help field service teams keep the world running, and the market to enable them with modern, innovative technology is a $34B opportunity," said Neil Barua, CEO of ServiceMax. "We're proud to continue to deliver the most innovative solutions available with ServiceMax's field service management solution, to ensure uptime on the world's most important assets."

Salesforce, Service Cloud and others are trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

About ServiceMax

ServiceMax is the global leader in asset-centric field service management, offering cloud-based software that improves the productivity of complex, equipment-centric service execution. Enterprise companies across the globe have turned to ServiceMax to help them keep the world running. For more information, visit www.servicemax.com .

About Salesforce Ventures

Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Salesforce Ventures, the global investment arm of Salesforce, invests in the next generation of enterprise technology that extends the power of the Salesforce Platform. Salesforce Ventures is building the world's largest ecosystem of enterprise cloud companies and extending that technology to customers. Portfolio companies receive funding, strategic advisory and operating support, and can easily join Pledge 1% to make giving back part of their business model. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 375 companies, including DocuSign, GoCardless, Guild Education, nCino, Twilio, Zoom and others across 22 countries since 2009. For more information, please visit www.salesforce.com/ventures .

About Silver Lake

Silver Lake is the global leader in technology investing, with over $43 billion in combined assets under management and committed capital and a team of approximately 100 investment and operating professionals located in Silicon Valley, New York, London and Hong Kong. Silver Lake's portfolio of investments collectively generates more than $230 billion of revenue annually and employs 370,000 people globally. For more information about Silver Lake and its portfolio, please visit www.silverlake.com .

SOURCE ServiceMax

Related Links

www.servicemax.com


There has never been a better time to take out a mortgage, with strong competition emerging in the home-loans market after years of poor value.

However, the irony is that there is so little choice and a chronic affordability issue when it comes to securing a property to buy with the newly competitive mortgages.

Last year some 21,000 homes were completed. This was up on the previous year.

But just 8,000 of these were brought to the market, according to the Construction Industry Federation.

Some 5,000 units were one-off houses which are not available for sale, and another 4,400 were acquired or leased by the State for use as social housing.

Cuckoo funds bought 95pc of the 3,644 apartments completed here last year, squeezing out want-to-be buyers.

The builders' body said the average cost of a home in Dublin is now 386,000, which is beyond most would-be first-time buyers.

The builders say a young couple with a combined income of 94,000 would still be unable to get a mortgage that would allow them to buy a home at that price.

No wonder banks have finally started to get serious about cutting mortgage rates.

With so few buyers in the market, lenders now need to offer decent value to get a slice of the market.

What this means is that after years of high mortgage rates in this country, compared to the rest of the eurozone, we are finally seeing European-style low mortgage rates.

Read More

Intense competition among about eight lenders for the tiny number of first-time buyers who can afford to purchase a home has driven mortgage rates down as low as 2.2pc. The scramble for mortgage business has also meant a renewed effort by banks and other lenders to target the switcher mortgage business.

And there are now also lots of incentives to entice new buyers and switchers.

Ulster Bank joined Bank of Ireland last week in offering 2,000 in cash if new buyers save at least 10,000 for a deposit and take out a mortgage with it.

KBC offers 3,000 to switchers, with Bank of Ireland offering up to 3pc in cash back on the mortgage amount drawn down to new buyers, movers and switchers.

Permanent TSB offers 2pc cash back, and it also dangles a 2pc cash back on the monthly mortgage payment amount.

Add to that a string of mortgage rate cuts. AIB is just the latest to reduce its rates. Last week KBC cut its fixed rates, the second decrease in six months, while Ulster Bank and ICS Mortgages have also been reducing rates lately.

All this comes at a time when the latest figures from the Central Bank show that mortgage rates in this country have fallen below 3pc for the first time in years.

We are in the grip of a mortgage rate war, which means we can expect more cuts to come. It is just a pity there are so few affordable homes to buy with these good-value mortgages.
TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY, ONT.Protesters were reportedly given until the end of Sunday night to clear a blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory thats crippled the countrys rail network.

Ontario Provincial Police and Canadian National informed protesters that they will face an investigation and possible charges if they dont clear the tracks in eastern Ontario by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, according to multiple media reports.

The barricade has shut down train traffic along a key corridor for more than two weeks.

CN declined to comment on the reported move, and spokespeople with the OPP did not immediately respond.

The barricades are a response to a move by the RCMP to clear protesters who had been blocking access to a pipeline worksite on Wetsuweten territory in northern 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 Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was time for the barricades to come down and injunctions ordering the tracks cleared to be enforced.

But Heredity Chief Namoks, also known as John Ridsdale, said Sunday that Trudeaus misinformed and antagonistic speech had the opposite effect.

If the prime minister had not made that speech the Mohawks would have taken down everything, he said. They were ready. We were on the phone.

More rail-line protests sprung up over the weekend, even after Trudeaus stern words.

In Vancouver, protesters returned to the site of CN Rail tracks on the citys east side, but police spokesman Sgt. Aaron Roed said the gathering appeared to be a continuation of protests over the past few weeks.

He said about 40 people were off to the side of the tracks, not blocking rail lines, and officers had informed them of an injunction already in place.

Namoks said all five hereditary chiefs are expected to meet in northern B.C. on Monday to plan their next steps and talks with the RCMP could resume on Thursday at the earliest.

He said the chiefs will not budge from their demands for the Mounties to remove every component of a mobile unit from the 29-kilometre mark from Highway 16 before meeting with them.

The local constabulary can look after the patrols, Namoks said of a detachment in nearby Houston. The officers that they fly in and out on a seven-day basis is what we want gone from the territory.

Dawn Roberts, a spokeswoman for the RCMP, said the mobile unit has been temporarily closed as discussions are underway with the deputy commissioner about its future.

This means that the buildings have been locked and secured and that the gates and the fence thats around that property has been locked, she said.

Officers who were stationed at the unit are now conducting patrols of the area from the Houston detachment, about 40 minutes away, Roberts said, adding she is not aware of any plans by Mounties to meet with the chiefs on Thursday.

The chiefs visited supporters this week in Tyendinaga and Kahnawake south of Montreal, and repeated that their conditions for talks to begin have not been met.

Chief Woos, of the Grizzly House, told reporters in Kahnawake on Saturday that attempts to reach out to Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller have not been returned since Trudeaus announcement on Friday.

It seems to me like ever since Mr. Trudeau has made his announcement, the communication has ceased, Woos said.

But senior cabinet ministers said Sunday the federal government remained ready to talk.

Speaking Sunday on Globals news and political affairs series The West Block, the minister for Crown-Indigenous relations styled conversations as productive and that all sides were making good progress.

Carolyn Bennett said that at no time have we stopped negotiations.

She added later in the interview that keeping the conversation open along with the removal of the RCMP from the Wetsuweten territory are really important criteria to getting us through this difficult patch and on to a good path.

She said there are differing opinions within the Wetsuweten Nation, and it is the nation itself that has to sort out the divide.

Within the Wetsuweten community that there are differing opinions and matriarchs, there are people that are speaking up about their issues as well, Bennett told the program.

The solution will be found in the Wetsuweten community as they come together with their vision of self-determination and how they can form a government and write their own laws.

On CTVs Question Period, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the barricades needed to come down and that the federal government is committed to dialogue. He urged the hereditary chiefs to come back to the table.

We all understand the importance of a peaceful resolution, but a speedy resolution, because the impact of these barricades is unacceptable, untenable, Blair said.

It cant be maintained because of the harm that it is causing and so we have confidence in the police to do the job peaceably.

He said that it was the responsibility of the police in each jurisdiction to deal with the blockades and was cool to the idea of the federal government sending in the military to forcibly remove demonstrators.

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The former French prime Minister and his British wife are to go on trial today accused of embezzling a million euros from the public purse.

Francois Fillon is accused of paying his wife Penelope some 840,000 as his parliamentary assistant for doing little or no work in a scandal which wrecked his 2017 run for the presidency.

A consummate political insider who was PM under Nicolas Sarkozy's administration, Fillon, 65, was the comfortable frontrunner in the election race when the allegations surfaced. He denied wrongdoing, resisted party pressure to pull his candidacy, and was eliminated in the first round of the vote.

Fillon said in an interview last month that his Welsh wife, 64, had been his most important employee and that her work for him would be proven at trial.

Then French right wing candidate for the 2017 presidential election Francois Fillon and his Welsh wife Penelope attend a campaign rally in Paris. Fillon is accused of paying his wife Penelope some 840,000 as his parliamentary assistant for doing little or no work in a scandal which wrecked his 2017 run and paved the way for Macron's ascendancy

'She managed my constituency diary and my mail, and edited the speeches I was making,' he told public broadcaster France 2.

French presidential election candidate for the right-wing Les Republicains party Francois Fillon holds Penelope's shoulder on stage during a rally at the place du Trocadero, in Paris in March 2017

Investigators estimate Penelope Fillon received 1 million euros (840,000) from her husband's office over a three decade period from the early 1980s to 2013.

When the scandal broke, Fillon denounced what he called a campaign of dirty tricks and denied having done anything illegal, though he admitted an error of judgement. He told France 2 he may have made mistakes.

'I surely committed errors but there is something that I will not accept, and that is that people think that I am dishonest or that I sought to con the French people,' he said.

Fillon is accused of embezzling public funds, a charge which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a 1 million euro fine. His wife is charged with complicity to embezzlement and concealment of public money.

A lawyer for the couple was not available for comment.

Facing the judges beside the Fillons will be Marc Joulaud, who is accused of continuing to channel funds to Penelope Fillon after he took the conservative politician's parliamentary seat while he was in government. He also denies the changes.

Fillon and his wife Penelope leave after paying their respects at the tomb of French former defence minister and Fillon's mentor in politics, Joel Le Theule at the cemetery in Sable-sur-Sarthe, northwestern France in December last year

French presidential election candidate for the right-wing Les Republicains (LR) party Francois Fillon (C) sits between president of the French Senate Gerard Larcher (L) and Marseille's mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin during a campaign rally in Marseille in April 2017

The French parliament, which is a claimant in the case, this week said it was seeking more than 1 million euros in damages from Francois Fillon and Joulaud.

Fillons' defence team will ask the judges on Monday that the trial be postponed by two days in support of a strike by lawyers against Macron's pension reform, France's AFP news agency reported.

Fillon now works for investment management firm Tikehau Capital.
Chennai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the murder of Tamil Nadu Police Special Sub-Inspector Y.Wilson searched several locations in the state in connection with the case on Monday (February 24).

The search operations are being carried out at Thoothukudi, Cuddalore, Salem, Neyveli and Chennai, said police.

The police had earlier arrested A. Abdul Shameem and Thoufique who had allegedly murdered Wilson at the Tamil Nadu - Kerala border checkpost on Jan 8, 2020.

They were arrested in Udupi in Karnataka.

It is alleged that the duo killed Wilson as an act of revenge after the police had arrested C. Khaja Moideen, an ISIS operative in Delhi early this year.

The NIA is also searching the premises in connection with the supply of SIM cards to the alleged terror suspects based on fake documents.
During World War II, the Sobibor extermination camp was built for Jewish prisoners in Nazi-occupied Poland. It was constructed by the SS during Operation Reinhardt.

While other concentration camps forced Jewish prisoners to do hard labor, Sobibor was strictly an extermination camp. It was here that about 200,000 Jewish prisoners were killed. Sobibor is the 4th deadliest extermination camp that existed during the Nazi regime and the Holocaust, eclipsed only by the camps at Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Belzec.

The Uprising Of The Sobibor Prisoners

On October 14, 1943, a prisoner revolt took place. It was led by Alexander Pechersky and Leon Feldhendler. The two-phase revolt is known as the most successful to occur during the Holocaust.

The first place of the plan involved groups of prisoners discreetly killing the on-duty SS officers at their posts or by luring them away. The second phase called for the 600 prisoners to gather for the camps roll call, then escape by simply walking out the front gate.

The prisoners were able to kill 11 German officers and overtake the camp guards. The prisoners used sharp tools like knives, axes, awls, and chisels. The prisoners then took the guards firearms, along with hand grenades and other weapons.

However, the rest of the plan was foiled when a number of SS officers discovered the plot. Prisoners were forced to scale barbed-wire fences and traverse a minefield in order to escape, all while machine guns fired upon them from the surviving SS officers.

Escape And Survival

The Himmelstrasse ("Road to Heaven"), as the Nazis called the path leading their victims to Sobibor's gas chambers.

There were nearly 600 prisoners in the camp at the time. More than 100 of them did not elect to participate in the revolt. Of those who did, 265 died, either by the camp guards who pursued them or in the minefield as they were trying to escape. Among those who were able to get away, an additional 53 perished in other ways by the end of the war. Of those survivors who lived past the end of the war, there were 48 men and 10 women.

Feldhendler himself escaped and went into hiding. He was shot and killed nearly two years later, just months before the war ended. Pechersky not only escaped but was able to go back home to the Soviet Union, where he later died at age 80.

Ukrainian-born Semion Rosenfeld was the last known survivor of the Sobibor uprising. In June 2019, Rosenfeld died in a retirement home not far from Tel Aviv, Israel. He was 96.

After The Uprising

Some of the Sobibor extermination camp survivors in 1944.

Shortly after the revolt at Sobibor, SS leader Heinrich Himmler called for the camp to be closed and demolished.

To disguise the location of the killings, trees were planted. Asphalt covered the spots where the gas chambers were previously located so that it seemed like a road was there.

The surviving Sobibor prisoners provided the labor for breaking down the camp. Some were then transferred to labor camps in other Nazi-occupied parts of Europe. Those who were left behind at Sobibor were killed in November. By December 1943, the remaining SS guards had left Sobibor.

World War II ended on September 2, 1945. It is estimated that six million Jews perished during the Holocaust.
The Bank of England's chief cashier and director of notes, Sarah John, has said that it is "crucial" for central banks to research digital currencies before private companies dominate the space.

"We need to think as an institution about how to position ourselves to make sure society still has a broad range of payments that it can use with confidence," John told The Telegraph U.K. in an interview published Saturday. "It is absolutely right that central banks think about whether a public sector or private sector would be best to provide a digital currency going forward," she added.

Central banks around the world are increasingly dabbling in digital currencies. Last month, the Bank of England formed a group with five other central banks - the Bank of Canada, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden) and the Swiss National Bank - to explore potential use cases for digital currencies.

In August, outgoing Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said a central bank-supported digital currency could replace the U.S. dollar as the global hedge currency. Carney's term ends on March 15. Andrew Bailey, currently the CEO of the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority, would take over Carney's role from March 16.
The violence in pockets of north-east Delhi over the amended citizenship law on Monday was mostly likely orchestrated to coincide with US President President Donald Trumps 36-hour visit to the country, people familiar with the development said on Monday, articulating the home ministrys assessment of the clashes.

One policeman died and many more people including security personnel were injured in the clashes that started around noon. There have been accusations at many places that the clashes took the police personnel at the spot by surprise.

The immediate trigger is a subject matter of a detailed investigation, a second senior official said.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla refused to speculate.

Bhalla said the situation is under control. Senior officers in the field Sufficient forces have been deployed, he told reporters in a brief comment.

ALSO WATCH | Delhi violence: Cop killed, houses & cars set on fire as protestors clash

People who are aware of the matter said Home Ministry officials had been in touch with Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik throughout the day.

The police are expected to get a grip on the situation soon, the people familiar with the matter said.

Patnaik, who had been receiving frantic calls from top functionaries in the government over the violence, had parked himself in the police control room to track the action taken on the violence.

Lt Governor Anil Baijal was one of those who phoned Patnaik. In a tweet soon after, Baijal tweeted that he had instructed Delhi Police to take steps to control the law and order situation in the national capital.

The violence coincided with Donald Trumps India visit that started with an elaborate roadshow and a joint address to tens of thousands of people in Ahmedabads newly-built Motera stadium, the worlds largest. Trump reached Delhi by late evening after a brief stop at Agra to see the iconic Taj Mahal.

The US President will be in Delhi for another day, holding meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trumps stand-alone visit to India - he will not visit Pakistan - is being seen by the foreign ministry to exemplify a historic relationship that has matured into a 21-century global partnership.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: All government and private schools in violence-affected North East Delhi will be closed on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

Sisodia also spoke to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' and requested him to postpone the board examination for the particular district.

ALSO READ: Constable among four killed, DCP injured in fresh riots over CAA in northeast Delhi

"There will be no internal examinations in violence-affected North East district and all private and government schools will be closed.

Have spoken to HRD minister requesting him to postpone the board exams in the district," Sisodia tweeted.

ALSO READ: 'Delhi violence aimed at discrediting peaceful Shaheen Bagh' says Tushar Gandhi

CBSE spokesperson Rama Sharma said there is no examination centre in North East Delhi for exams on Tuesday.

"It is informed that as per schedule tomorrow there are exams only for class XII in four vocational subjects in 18 centres in Western part of Delhi.

There are no centres in the northeast part of Delhi for exams scheduled tomorrow," she said.
A 28-year old man was sentenced



to death on Monday by a court in Indore in Madhya Pradesh for kidnapping, raping and killing a minor girl in December last year.

Ankit Vijayvargiya was given the death penalty under section 376 (A) (death due to injuries suffered during rape) and Section 302 (murder) of IPC and provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by Special Sessions Judge (POCSO Act) Varsha Sharma.

Vijayvargiya abducted the four-year-old girl in Mhow late on December 1, 2019, while she was sleeping under a tree with her homeless parents, who earn their livelihood by begging on the streets, District Prosecution Officer Akram Sheikh said.

He raped the girl and then strangled her, Sheikh said, adding that DNA samples and CCTV footage, which showed Vijayvargiya with the victim, played an important role in securing the conviction.

A total of 29 witnesses, including parents of the victim, were examined during the course of the trial, Sheikh said.

"During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Vijayvargiya was involved in incidents of indecent behaviour with some old women due to a sex related mental disorder, though no police cases were lodged on these occasions," Sheikh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The iconic Taj Mahal is decked up with flowers ahead of US President Donald Trump's arrival in Agra. The 17th-century monument to love built over a period of nearly 20 years by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife after her death in 1631, was refurbished to welcome the American leader and US First Lady Melania Trump. (Image: Special Arrangement)
Its a real concern.

A quantum computer effectively erasing the value of your entire crypto holdings overnight.

Today Im going to talk about why this fear is only partially justified.

For a bit of context, crypto markets roared back to life over the last two months and everyone suddenly remembered that crypto is a viable or indeed, rational investment.

(By the way, to understand why the crypto resurgence is just getting started I would highly suggest familiarising yourself with Money Morning editor Sam Volkerings book, Crypto Revolution.)

Anyway, this is whats happening with the bitcoin price right now:

From a low of around US$6,800 in December, bitcoin is now up to around US$9,600.

So things are looking up for the much-loved crypto.

However, what if it went to $0 in one fell swoop?

The idea certainly got floated in the mainstream.

Want to learn how to buy crypto? Download this free report for everything you need to know.

25% of the bitcoins in circulation are vulnerable to a quantum attack

A Forbes article asked Could Google Be About To Break Bitcoin?

This was back in October when Google officially announced it had achieved quantum supremacy.

This was largely just a test run  and IBM argued that it wasnt a real breakthrough.

Would you believe a small ASX-listed company could beat Google to the quantum punch?

Back to the quantum threat to bitcoin though.

You see, only about a quarter of bitcoin could be wiped out by a quantum attack.

Deloitte for instance, notes that:

Presently, about 25% of the Bitcoins in circulation are vulnerable to a quantum attack. If you have Bitcoins in a vulnerable address and believe that progress in quantum computing is more advanced than publicly known, then you should probably transfer your coins to a new p2pkh address (dont forget to make a secure backup of your private key).

And:

In case your own Bitcoins are safe in a new p2pkh address, you might still be impacted if many people will not (or cannot) take the same protection measures. In a situation where a large number of Bitcoins is stolen, the price will most likely crash and the confidence in the technology will be lost.

You may be asking, what is a p2pkh address?

And how do you get one?

P2pkh stands for pay to public key hash.

It gets a bit complex, but chances are you already have one.

And heres why I dont think a quantum attack is an immediate threat.

What would you do with it if you had the power?

It all comes down to motivation and priorities.

For starters, why destroy the value of bitcoin?

Sure a malevolent government may want to do this, but if you are a private company there would be far bigger things on your mind.

For instance, the estimated global cost of cancer is upwards of US$1.16 trillion a year.

Putting your quantum computer to work on solving the cancer problem would likely net you far more than stealing 25% of bitcoins total market cap of US$175 billion.

Youd be making off with $43 billion of course.

But that is a paltry sum compared to what else you could do with a quantum computer.

What would you do with it if you had the power?

You could build the most powerful trading bot in the world.

Guaranteed returns in any market.

Perfect weather predictions, super powerful AI.

And if you want to get nasty  hack everyones password.

All of these things would likely come before an attack on bitcoin.

Thats not to say it isnt a risk  its just more like a known unknown.

This is not a stagnant technology  crypto is a constantly evolving world and it will adapt to a quantum attack.

Indeed, there are already projects out there like Praxxis and QRL (Quantum Resistant Ledger) that are working on solving the quantum problem.

And any advances that these projects make will likely be folded into Bitcoin and Ethereums development.

So when quantum does come, I think the crypto world will be ready.

Finally, consider balancing the risk to your crypto with some quantum exposure.

Regards,

Lachlann Tierney,

For Money Weekend

PS: Our publication Money Morning is a fantastic place to start on your investment journey. We talk about the big trends driving the most innovative stocks on the ASX. Learn all about it here.
Georgia has suspended direct flights with Iran amid the recent coronavirus outbreak.

"The Government of Georgia follows the developments and continues to work with its neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan. We do not exclude to impose restriction on the land border in future as well, if necessary, Agenda.ge cited the ministry as saying.

It was also noted that the Georgia government is in constant communication with the Iranian authorities in order to receive the updates about the situation on the ground and the current preventive measures there.
A criminal carrying a reward of Rs 1.5 lakh was shot dead during an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police near Suhela village here in the early hours of Monday, police said.

Firoz Pathan was wanted in several cases in Uttar Pradesh and other states. He was killed during a gunfight, in which Special Task Force (STF) constable Imran was also injured, the force's Gorakhpur unit chief Dharmesh Shahi said.

Acting on a tip-off, a team comprising STF and local police personnel surrounded the Lalgarh area early in the morning and noticed two men coming on a motorcycle, Superintendent of Police, Basti, Hemraj Meena, said.

When the men were signalled to stop, the person riding pillion got down from the motorcycle and started firing at the team. The other person managed to escape, he said.

Pathan and constable Imran were injured in the gunfight. They were taken to a community health centre from where Pathan was referred to the district hospital. Doctors at the hospital declared him dead, Meena said.

Police in Basti had declared a reward of Rs 1 lakh on Pathan and Allahabad police Rs 50,000, Shahi said.

The state government has announced a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for the police team for the successful operation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
El-Sisi stressed the crucial role of judicial institutions to combat terrorism and extremism

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed on Monday the key role of constitutional courts in the development process in Africa as a main pillar of stability.

El-Sisi's remarks came on Monday during his meeting with heads of supreme and constitutional courts in Africa, who partook in the fourth African chief justices conference, organised by the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.

The Egyptian president affirmed the crucial role of the judicial institutions in combating terrorism and extremism and developing the related legal frameworks.

He also reviewed Egypt's vision for fighting this threat by dealing with all its dimensions; security, political, economic, social, and religious and boosting the role of law to effectively confront this challenge.

The president greatly appreciated the constitutional courts' role in Egypt and Africa, pointing out that Egypt pays attention to holding the conference periodically to support the role of the judicial authority in African communities and exchange expertise among African courts.

Head of the Supreme Constitutional Court Said Marei, who attended the meeting, asserted the importance of El-Sisi's support to hold the conference.

The attendees lauded the conference's vital role in enhancing understanding among the African states in the constitutional judiciary, exchanging expertise, and discussing common challenges which African constitutional courts face.

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The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan has strengthened measures at checkpoints on the border with Iran to limit the spread of the new virus.

Earlier on Monday work at the Bilasuvar and Astara customs posts was suspended due to sanitary and disinfection operations.

According to officials, people crossing the border from the Iranian side had to undergo health screening without entering the administrative building.

Also on Monday, Azerbaijan issued a statement urging its citizens to refrain from visiting Iran.

The new virus was taking aim at a broadening swath of the globe, with officials in Europe and the Middle East scrambling to limit the spread of an outbreak that showed signs of stabilizing at its Chinese epicenter but posed new threats far beyond.

In Iran, a report of dozens of deaths in a single city emerged as infections were reported to have spread for the first time to Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Afghanistan.
Gloria Allred tried to speak to the press at the same time as Harvey Weinstein's lawyers: AP

Celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred has clashed with lawyers for Harvey Weinstein on the streets of New York, accusing them of trying to silence her.

After a court returned a guilty verdict on two of the charges against the 67-year-old disgraced mogul, lawyers for both sides sought to speak to address the media outside the courthouse in Manhattan.

Yet as Ms Allred, 78, sought to speak to reporters about the case, and a separate prosecution of Weinstein in Los Angeles, she came face to face with Weinsteins legal team, headed by Donna Rotunno.

One of Ms Rotunnos male colleagues, Arthur Aidala, said to the waiting press: Youll have to choose between Gloria and the defence team.

At that point, Ms Allred said: You wont silence me again.

She said: I just heard [Weinsteins] attorney said that he was shocked, that he was surprised by the verdict. Well, he shouldnt have been surprised.

If you do to women what you did, you shouldnt be surprised. You shouldnt be shocked, you shouldve been prepared for this.

She added: Its no longer business as usual in America. This is the age of empowerment of women and you cannot intimidate them anymore.

The veteran lawyer then said she would be heading to Los Angeles, where additional sexual assault charges were filed against Weinstein, hours after his New York trial began on January 6. Dozens of women have also filed civil lawsuits against him.

Ms Allred represents Mimi Haleyi, one of the two women Weinstein was found guilty of attacking. She also represents Annabella Sciorra and Lauren Marie Young.

I look forward to seeing [him] in Los Angeles after the sentencing as he attempted to defend himself on the criminal charges he faces there, she said. This case will continue.

Weinstein was found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Ms Haleyi in 2006 and raping Ms Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013. He was found not guilty of the most serious charges, which could have resulted in life in prison.

Story continues

Additional reporting by Reuters

Read more

Politicians and celebrities react to Harvey Weinstein guilty verdict

What Hollywood insiders told me about the industry after Weinstein

Weinstein has been found guilty. This is history

Weinstein accusers say disappointing verdict falls short
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Feb. 24.

The Armenian armed forces were using sniper rifles.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
One of the jurors in the Harvey Weinstein case wrote a book about 'predatory older men' and was still allowed to serve despite repeated attempts to have her removed over the novel and over her reviews on books that have subject matters similar to the case.

DailyMail.com can now reveal the identity of Amanda Brainerd because the case is concluded.

Brainerd was the most controversial of the five women and seven men who served on Weinstein's trial for rape and sexual assault, in which he was found guilty of third degree rape and a criminal sexual act on Monday. He now faces up to 25 years in prison.

The 52-year-old wrote Age of Consent, which will be out this summer and is about 'three young women in the 1980s, who negotiate fraught friendships, sexuality, class, and predatory older men on the journey from innocence to independence'.

But the time Brainerd's name came up, Weinstein's lawyers had used all their peremptory jury challenges and the judge declined to give them more challenges.

His team tried again last Tuesday to have her removed after they discovered she wrote an online review of a book called My Dark Vanessa, which has a similar subject matter to the case. Brainerd wrote she admired 'the claustrophobia of Vanessa's isolation, the repulsiveness of her predator, and her entrapment in the relationship'.

One of the jurors in the Harvey Weinstein case wrote a book about 'predatory older men'. Amanda Brainerd (pictured), whose identity can now be revealed because the case has concluded, wrote Age of Consent, which is due to be released this summer

Brainerd was the most controversial of the five women and seven men who served on Weinstein's trial for rape and sexual assault, in which he was found guilty of third degree rape and a criminal sexual act on Monday morning (pictured). He now faces up to 25 years in prison

It was an irony not lost on Weinstein's legal team that another man was kicked out of the potential jury pool for joking about promoting his book on Twitter.

Weinstein's lawyers tried to claim Brainerd had misrepresented herself in her jury questionnaire but the judge allowed her to serve.

Just before the jury was sent out for deliberations, his legal team made another two attempts to have her replaced by an alternate.

Weinstein's lawyer Damon Cheronis complained about the review of My Dark Vanessa, by author Elizabeth Russell, posted on the website Goodreads, in which Brainerd said she read it last August, long before the trial started.

She wrote: 'I understand that the story focuses on the girl and the man, but I did not find Vanessa's complete lack of interaction with anyone else is believable.

'Russell addresses a very difficult subject with sensitivity and insight, but I wish there had been more characters in the story to frame the horror of the central relationship'.

According to her profile on Goodreads, Brainerd is currently reading Le Consentement by French novelist Vanessa Springora, which is about sexual relationships between children under the age of 16.

The other books she has read include The Woman Destroyed by feminist author Simone de Beauvoir and a novel called The Better Liar.

Brainerd attended the exclusive $52,000-a-year Nightingale-Bamford School in Manhattan before going on to graduate from Harvard College and earning a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.

Brainerd attended the exclusive $52,000-a-year Nightingale-Bamford School in Manhattan before going on to graduate from Harvard College and get a Master of Architecture from Columbia University. She has a day job as a real estate agent in New York with agency Brown, Harris, Steven. Her book is due to be published this summer

His team tried again last week to have her removed after they discovered she wrote an online review of a book called My Dark Vanessa, which has a similar subject matter to the case. Brainerd wrote (pictured) she admired 'the claustrophobia of Vanessa's isolation, the repulsiveness of her predator, and her entrapment in the relationship'

According to her profile on Goodreads, Brainerd is currently reading Le Consentement by French novelist Vanessa Springora, which is about sexual relationships between children under the age of 16

Her day job is as a real estate agent in New York with agency Brown, Harris, Stevens.

According to her biography, she has sold property worth nearly $700 million for her clients since 2001.

DailyMail.com obtained an advance copy of her book Age of Consent and can reveal that one of the main relationships in the book is between Eve, a virgin who is a student at the fictional elite Connecticut college Griswold in 1983, and Bob Winkler, her English professor.

However, despite the obvious age gap and power manics, Brainerd does not dwell on the dark side of such relationships.

During her first lesson Eve gets into trouble for passing around a note with a quote from the novel The Catcher in the Rye, which says she is the 'biggest sex maniac you ever saw'.

Winkler summons her to his office where he calls her 'precocious' and Brainerd writes that Eve puts a 'sugar cube to her lips and sucked on it'.

Winkler tells her: 'You have a lovely profile. Almost like Picasso.'

Winkler later sent her a note which read: 'Come to my room this evening, so we can discuss your paper.'

It had the letters L.H.O.O.Q at the bottom, a reference to the French surrealist Marcel Duchamp, which roughly translates to 'she has a hot a**'.

Brainerd writes that Eve thought to herself: 'He was so unlike (her college age friend) David. So at ease with girls.'

Weinstein's lawyers tried to claim Brainerd had misrepresented herself in her jury questionnaire but the judge allowed her to serve

Just before the jury was sent out for deliberations, his legal team made another two attempts to have her replaced by an alternate

On a dinner date, Eve muses: 'Here was a real man... Winkler admired Eve frankly and openly. He could teach her what to do. So what if she hadn't been past second base? She had sex appeal.'

During a later meeting, Winkler invites her over for a drink of bourbon.

The book says: 'And then he was kissing her. She couldn't believe it she started to kiss him back, hoping she was doing it right.

'Eve was aware of her teacher's hand on her back, the smell of wood smoke, his corduroy knee. He was excellent, she thought, smooth and this must be the way a man kissed. How had she waited so long?'

Winkler put his hands down her pants and she tensed so he told her: 'Hush.'

He told her: 'I've been wanting to do this for a long time.'

Eve thought to herself: 'Surely this was okay. Surely she didn't need to be afraid of a man who would kiss her like that.'

Another section of the book deals with how Eve's friend Justine lost her virginity to a man two decades older than her.

He was Gerald Sweeney, the artistic director of the theater her father used to run.

Justine describes him as '33 years old, a charismatic man with a sweep of reddish hair'.

On Tuesday, Weinstein's lawyers made a last ditch attempt to have Brainerd (pictured with her husband in 2010) thrown off the jury and replaced with an alternate because they claimed she had written a review of a French book about child abuse while serving on the jury

In the book, a theater artistic director takes a 14-year-old's virginity before dumping her weeks later, explaining he had only 'wanted her that one last time'. The line bears a striking resemblance to the testimony of Weinstein accuser Jessica Mann (pictured) who said Weinstein raped her after screaming 'you owe me one more time'

The book says: 'Gerald's pursuit of Justine started innocently enough when she was 13... he gave her a first edition (of the book) Wind in the Willows. He would take her to cafes where Justine felt wonderfully grown up as she drank tea with him.

'She felt like a girl in a foreign film. When he kissed her for the first time his tongue in her mouth had been a surprise, like a large hunk of steak. At fourteen he deflowered her on the stage of her father's theater.'

A few weeks later they went to see a movie but after having sex he 'told her it was over'.

Brainerd writes: 'He had wanted her that one last time.'

The line bears a striking resemblance to the testimony of Weinstein accuser Jessica Mann who said Weinstein raped her after screaming 'you owe me one more time'.

After he explained he 'couldn't resist... because you're so attractive', Mann claimed.

On the official website for 'Age of Consent' they cite a review by Aline Brosh McKenna, screenwriter of The Devil Wears Prada and co-creator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

It says: 'A powerful, wildly entertaining story of friendship and identity set against the backdrop of the early 80's, an era which has uncanny parallels to today. Brainerd brilliantly captures the struggles of young women trying to find their way in a time when their parents and role models are in deep crisis. Age of Consent is both a juicy page turner and a haunting, personal portrait of an era'.

On Goodreads however one woman was not so positive.

She wrote: 'I kept waiting for things to happen and they just didn't happen. I did not like any of the characters and I really didn't feel any empathy for them'.
MBABANE - It is a fact that in order to bring criminals to justice, police and prosecutors need evidence.



This is because guilt or innocence can be proven through physical traces discovered and examined by forensic experts like fingerprints, hair samples or DNA.

One of the fundamental components of the criminal justice system is ensuring that the evidence that is presented before a court of law is accurate and can enable police to secure convictions.



Central to the collection and analysis of such evidence is ensuring that a forensic laboratory is put in place and effectively capacitated.

However, for many years, the Kingdom of Eswatini has not been able to set up a fully-fledged national forensic facility.

While the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) does have such a facility of its own, it is not well equipped to ease the burden of having to send certain exhibits or samples outside the country for tests.



As a result, several criminal cases end up delaying or worse, suspects acquitted due to lack of evidence.

It is not surprising that quarterly or annual reports issued by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs have for years mentioned that one of the main challenges has been the lack of a national forensic laboratory.



In the Annual Performance Report for the Financial Year 2019/2020 tabled at the House of Assembly last week, the issue has been overemphasised again.



Challenge



The challenge is the non-availability of a national laboratory in the country, which results in the backlog of cases as the country relies on the laboratory in South Africa for forensic examination, the report tabled last week read.

The question that begs to be answered is why exactly is government not considering setting up such a facility?



The question on why such a facility is critical for the justice system of the country is perfectly answered by the many cries over the years that there were unsatisfactory reports around how courts could not finalise cases on the court roll, including the reasons for postponement of cases in criminal courts. Both judges and magistrates have for years decried that the country needed to set up the facility in order to ensure justice in criminal matters.



The non-availability of the facility also derails the work of the REPS because many crime investigations never result in the arrest of a suspect.

The Eswatini police have limited resources to carry out complex investigations, and limited capabilities in areas such as preservation of crime scene evidence and utilisation of DNA to assist in prosecutions.



During a workshop organised by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Principal Judge Qinisile Mabuza raised a concern about how perpetrators committed sexual offences and got away with them due to lack of evidence caused by delayed or lost lab results.



Judge Mabuza, who is also the ICJ Commissioner, highlighted that while police were doing a tremendous job in allocating and locking up the culprits, the challenge was having to wait for confirmation of evidence from the forensic laboratory in Pretoria, South Africa.



Mabuza highlighted how multiple countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and the Kingdom of Eswatini relied on the same laboratory and that by the time the case went to court, the results were not back in the country, which then jeopardised the case and perpetrators eventually walked free because of lack of evidence.



Raised



With the issue being of national concern for years, the country, government in particular, should be experiencing a positive turn-around strategy that will see funds being raised for the construction of the facility, which will definitely become an additional arsenal in the fight against crime.



In an interview with Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Lorraine Hlophe, she stated that the ministry was responsible for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) chambers but that it received dockets from the police after investigations. The responsibility of sending specimen to forensics falls under the police department. Our report only makes mention of the same because it delays the completion of investigations and subsequent hand over to us for prosecution, said the PS.
A woman faces hate crime charges after authorities say she pummeled a mother in front of her young daughter at a North Portland bus stop.

Nimo Jire Kalinle, 42, had just exited a No. 4 bus at North Fremont Street and Gantenbein Avenue on Jan. 19 when she started slugging Janae Jordan in the face repeatedly, court records allege.

During the attack, Jordan, who was with her husband and child, asked why the woman was targeting her.

Its because youre white and I hate white people, Kalinle, who is black, told Jordan, a probable cause affidavit alleges.

Nimo Jire Kalinle. (Multnomah County Sheriff's Office)

Kalinle was arrested and later indicted on multiple criminal counts, including a first-degree bias crime, fourth-degree assault and interfering with public transportation, court documents show.

She did not show up for a Feb. 5 arraignment, and authorities issued a bench warrant, according to court records.

Police on Sunday arrested Kalinle on suspicion of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct in a separate incident and booked her into the Multnomah County jail.

She is scheduled to be arraigned in both cases Monday afternoon.

Court records show Kalinle has previously faced criminal charges for throwing rocks through TriMet bus shelters and damaging other agency property.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit the Empire Music Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 27, 2019. (Photo by Samir Hussein / POOL / AFP)

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pulls a pint of Harp beer as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge looks on during a visit to Empire Music Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are greeted on arrival at the Irish Football Association in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 27, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leave after a visit to the Empire Music Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 27, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive at a reception to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit at Buckingham Palace on January 20, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge depart the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall on February 11, 2020

Kate Middleton and Prince William are said to be "looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people" during their first official visit to Ireland, Kensington Palace has announced.

During the three-day visit, Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will meet President Michael D Higgins and spend time in Dublin and the counties of Meath, Kildare and Galway.

"The Duke and Duchess will learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide opportunities to help them develop important life skills. Their Royal Highnesses will also hear more about Irelands conservation initiatives and efforts to protect its environment, with a particular focus on sustainable farming and marine conservation," the statement reads.

The visit, from March 3-5, will highlight the strong links between the UK and Ireland, and the couple's programme will take in Ireland's rich culture, community initiatives and spectacular scenery, the palace said in a statement.

It added: "Following Her Majesty the Queen's historic visit in 2011, the visit will also focus on the relationship between the two countries, and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation."
(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, FEBRUARY 24 - The Lebanese government has announced that work will begin on Thursday for offshore oil exploration off the coast of the Mediterranean country by a consortium including Italian energy giant Eni.



Agriculture Minister Abbas Murtada said the Bahamas-flagged boat Tungsten Explorer is expected to dock in Beirut on Tuesday and will start exploration operations on February 26 in the area No. 4 off Lebanon.



The consortium led by France's Total, which includes Eni and Russia's Novatek, obtained its license in February 2018.



Exploration was meant to start mid-January. The delay, according to Lebanese ministry sources, was due to the country's institutional and economic crisis. (ANSAmed)
Lockheed Martin, a leader in global security and aerospace, has been awarded a $12.3 million contract to start the first phase of the Manta Ray program.

The contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will fund the research, development and demonstration of an 'extra-large' unmanned underwater vehicle.

The military machine will be the first in a new class of long duration, long range and payload-capable unmanned undersea vehicles, which carry out missions without the need of human interference.

The ultimate goal is allowing soldiers to continue their mission on land without being interrupted to power, maintain and refuel an underwater machine.

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Lockheed Martin, a leader in global security and aerospace, has been awarded a $12.3 million contract to start the first phase of the Manta Ray program (artist impression). The ultimate goal is allowing soldiers to continue their mission on land without being interrupted to power, maintain and refuel an underwater machine

According to the contract, 52 percent of the work will be conducted in West Palm Beach, Florida, with other work taking place in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and a variety of locations across the US.

This contract has an estimated completion date of January 2021.

Unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) that operate for extended durations without the need for human-present logistic support or maintenance offer the potential for persistent operations in forward environments, DARPA explains in a statement.

Such systems could allow traditional host vessels increased freedom of operational flexibility while providing traditional servicing ports with relief of workload.

The American agency announced plans for its Manta Ray program in 2019 with the goal of shipping large payloads over long distances without the need for maintenance or refueling.

The Manta Ray program will leverage or develop novel propulsion, sensing, and energy management systems to achieve high reliability and extended endurance across a wide variety of maritime environments.

Manta Ray is a multi-phase effort that includes at-sea demonstration of critical technologies, shares DARPA.

The program is using a disciplined systems engineering approach to define demonstration system objectives and identify enabling technologies needed for future systems.

Although DARPA is looking to design a new class of underwater drones, the government agency revealed last year that it is testing technology in its efforts to surveil the world's underwater terrain and enhance its ability to detect enemy ships.

By harnessing marine organisms' ability to sense even the most minute disturbances in their environments, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) -- the U.S. Department of Defense's experimental research arm -- says it could be able to preemptively discover even the smallest autonomous vehicles.

Among the potential enlistees of the program called The Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors (PALS), are goliath grouper, black sea bass, snapping shrimp, and other even smaller organisms like bioluminescent plankton and other microorganisms.
A Camden man who was knocked down and then punched 12 times by a police officer, while other cops pinned him down during a 2018 arrest captured on surveillance video, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the officers of using excessive force and violating his civil rights.

The suit, filed Friday by Edward Minguela in U.S. District Court in Camden, names as defendants Officer Nicholas Romantino, who threw the punches; three other officers; Camden County Police Chief Joseph Wysocki; former Chief Scott Thomson; former Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo; and the City of Camden.

Minguelas attorney, Devon M. Jacob, blasted Camden police and prosecutors for declining to prosecute Romantino, while Minguela was charged with assault because Romantino injured his hand while punching him in the head.

The fox has been guarding the hen house, Jacob said, which explains why the Camden County Prosecutors Office continues to pursue false criminal charges against Edward Minguela but declined to prosecute Nicholas Romantino for throwing Minguela to the ground and punching him in the back of his head 12 times.

Spokespersons for the Prosecutors Office and the Police Department declined to discuss the lawsuit.

Romantino has been suspended without pay since the February 2018 incident. Last June, he was acquitted by a federal jury of filing a false report related to the incident, and in September 2019, another federal jury acquitted him of using excessive force.

Officers were investigating an anonymous (and false) report of a person with a gun. Minguela was standing near a liquor store at Collings Road and New Hampshire Avenue in the Fairview section when Romantino and three other officers approached with their guns drawn.

Surveillance video from the liquor store shows Minguela putting his hands in the air as Romantino puts his gun in his holster. The officer then walks behind Minguela and tries to pull his hands behind him.

Startled, Minguela instinctually pulled away slightly, the lawsuit says. Without warning, Romantino grabbed Minguela around the neck and threw Minguela to the ground in an uncontrolled manner.

After his arrest, Minguela was taken to a hospital, where police told him that if he accepted medical treatment, he would be charged with assaulting a police officer and sent to jail that night, the lawsuit says.

Minguela was told that if he refused medical treatment, he would be released that night with citations for obstruction and resisting arrest. He refused medical treatment that night, received the two citations, and was released from custody  then returned to the hospital for treatment the next day, the lawsuit says.

Minguela was issued the two citations in an attempt to justify the unlawful force used against him and to avoid triggering internal department scrutiny, the suit says.
The US Secretary of State says he is optimistic about resolving the dam dispute over the coming months

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that it could take "months" to resolve a dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over a massive dam on the Nile River.

Tensions have been high in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011.

The US Treasury Department stepped in last year to facilitate talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan -- another downstream country -- after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reached out to US President Donald Trump, a close ally.

The latest round of talks concluded in Washington last week, and officials have said they want to reach a deal by the end of February.

But at a press conference Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Pompeo said the process could take longer.

"A great deal of work remains, but I'm optimistic that over the coming months we can resolve this," he said.

Ethiopia says the dam -- which will be the largest hydropower plant in Africa -- is crucial for its growing economy.

Egypt fears the project will disrupt the river that provides 90 percent of its drinking water.

Addisu Lashitew, an analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said he expected Pompeo "will be trying to make a final push" to reach a deal during his stay in Ethiopia.

"President Trump seeks to get the credit... as the dealmaker for resolving this issue," Addisu said on a call with reporters last week.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew said at the press conference Tuesday there were "outstanding issues that need negotiation".

He did not elaborate, but major sticking points include the filling of the dam's reservoir, which Egypt worries will dramatically curb water flow downstream.

Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have agreed to entrust the US and the World Bank with the preparation of the final agreement on the filling and operation of GERD following the latest round of negotiations which concluded in Washington on Thursday.

*This story has been edited by Ahram Online

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:37:49|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Monday said that the U.S.-Israeli team tasked with mapping the areas in the West Bank that would be annexed by Israel under the U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan has no legitimacy.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Palestinian president's spokesperson, said that the new maps under the U.S. Mideast peace plan would not give legitimacy to any side, said a statement published by official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

"These maps that violate United Nations resolutions cannot be transformed into a fait accompli, and the only map that can be recognized and dealt with is the map of the state of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," said Abu Rudeineh.

He urged the international community to take an action to halt the Israeli-U.S. moves, warning that it could lead to killing any opportunity for a just and comprehensive peace based on UN resolutions.

A U.S. team is expected to arrive in Israel to work with Israeli counterparts to work on the mapping of the areas in the West Bank that are envisaged as part of Israel under Trump's Middle East peace plan, according to media reports.

Since Trump unraveled his peace plan in a White House ceremony on Jan. 28, Palestinians embarked on an international campaign to rally support against it.

A few days after Trump's announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that a joint committee will begin a mapping process that would take a few months.
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Amazon India hosted Smbhav, a mega event for small and medium businesses, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 15 and 16 January. With 3600 MSMEs in attendance, Smbhavs primary focus was on the range of opportunities that technology presents for Indian entrepreneurs in their quest to go global. Smbhav also included an impressive array of guest speakers that included industry experts and policymakers as well as stalwarts like NR Narayana Murthy and Kishore Biyani. The third episode of the three-part series broadcast on CNN-News18 focussed on some engaging panel discussions.

The two-day event saw many insightful panel discussions, with opinions from leading experts being shared freely. The discussion on Physical Retail and Ecommerce: Growing In Harmony, steered by Sameer Khetarpal, Director-Category Management with Amazon India was particularly impressive. It included the heads of retailers like Vijay Sales, Bata, Shoppers Stop etc who agreed that a combination of online and offline retail is far more likely to succeed in the future. Manish Tiwary, VP-Category Management with Amazon India, observed that For brands which are starting out, online retail provides a controlled environment where they can experiment, then take their products offline. Rajiv Suri, MD & CEO of Shoppers Stop, said We believe that the fusion of online and offline is where the customer wants to be. 70% of our eCommerce sales now come from our stores. Sandeep Kataria, President & CEO of Bata India, said younger consumers do not walk into stores like Bata as often as the older ones. He explained, The digital space allows us access to younger customers. To be able to reach out to older customers (via physical retail) and to newer audiences is a great opportunity for us.

A discussion on Blurring Geographical Boundaries For SMBs was one of the highlights on day two of Smbhav. Nicholas Denissen, VP-Small Business with Amazon.com, explained, We recently opened marketplaces in Australia, Singapore, and the UAE. SMBs look to Amazon to be able to reach such customers around the world. And were developing tools to help businesses with complicated challenges like pricing. Pravir Krishna, MD of TRIFED, a cooperative that sells products made by tribals in India, declared, Online export could be a game-changer for SMBs. Marketing outside the country fetches twice or three times the price you get within India. Aditya Gahlaut, MD & Head - Global Sales and Receivables Finance with HSBC, said, Most customers are wary of exporting due to cross-border regulations. In response, banks have developed a cross-border payment engine that enables transaction processing for SMBs.

Amazon Smbhav also recognized the exponential growth trajectory of Indian SMBs with awards for outstanding performers. Pee Safe was named Best SMB Brand of The Year while the Innovator of The Year award went to Try And Buy Fashion. Being Chef was awarded for Transformation of The Year. Shubham Maheshwari, MD & CEO of Being Chef, said, When we started off, people were very skeptical. Six years later, were doing well and scaling up. So the award is a nice boost! Playshifu was named Digital SMB of The Year. Vivek Goyal, Co-founder PlayShifu, said, Getting the award from Jeff Bezos means a lot.

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MBABANE - Government says the mere fact that men having sex with men is mentioned in the NSF does not mean it has been legalised or that the countrys law can now recognise them.



NSF is the National Multi-sectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework. It is a policy and planning document that has been developed to guide focused resource allocation, programming and implementation of HIV response in the Kingdom of Eswatini.



The State made these submissions in the matter where it is robustly opposing the application filed by the LGBTI community where it is seeking an order declaring that the registration of an association that seeks to promote their interests in Eswatini is not unlawful.



acronym



LGBTI is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex.

In his answering affidavit, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade Siboniso Nkambule averred that the applicant (Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities) seems to rely on the Government of Eswatinis Multi- Sectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework .

The PS contended that this was an irrelevant consideration to the effect that the registration of the Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities would be entirely unrelated to the NSF.



The study was only saying, we know that you are there and in the fight against HIV and AIDS we cannot turn a blind eye and act as if we are unaware of the fact that there is a group of men who are having sex with men out there, averred the PS.



He said that was why the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini decided to include men who were having sex with men in the fight against HIV because: We want to be a country that is HIV free in 2023.



PS Nkambule went on to contend that the applicants aimed to use judicial craft to legitimise gay and lesbian liaison and such other indecent offences and create new breed of rights that did not exist in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

He said it was unsustainable to allege unfairness when society frowned upon persons who were deemed to engage in prohibited conduct which was totally against public interest.



The law is an expression of moral inclinations in the society; that in the realm of our law as a country, there is no requirement that there has to be a collective victimisation for a prohibited conduct to be complete, submitted the PS.

He informed the court that, the alleged violation of constitutional rights could not arise since the conduct in question was prohibited in the cultural values as well as in morality law.



Nkambule further stated that there was no evidence that was adduced by the applicants to show that persons who were engaged in same sex relationships were denied medical care.

He averred that the court could not compel the Eswatini Government to legalise LGBTIs by setting aside and reviewing the decision of the registrar of companies and allow Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities to register as an association not-for-gain in terms of Section 7 of the Companies Act.

Nkambule said by setting aside and reviewing the decision of the registrar of companies, the court would be overstretching its mandate.



If granted, the orders will have a drastic impact on cultural, religious, social interest and legislative functions in Eswatini as it will amount to legalising LGBTI through the back door, contended the PS.

He told the court that the orders that were sought by Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities were incompetent, misconceived, misplaced and if they might be granted, it would be an abuse of the court process.




Haiti - Security : Message from the Secretariat of the High Command of FADH





The Secretariat of the High Command of the Armed Forces of Haiti informs the general public that there is no confrontation between the police force and the army, as reported in the situation of confusion that reigned in Champ-de-Mars this afternoon when at first glance protesting police officers would have faced the FADH https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30102-haiti-flash-high-tension-at-champ-de-mars.html , however it specifies that "hooded individuals with firearms attacked the Grand Headquarters and tried to set it on fire."



The soldiers on guard, whose one of whom was hit by a projectile in the back, had to shoot into the air to have them evacuated.



The Armed Forces High Command called on the police, responsible for maintaining order, to guarantee the safety and protection of the entire population.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















A robot dog named 'Spot' designed to sniff out bombs went into 'sit mode' and refused to move during a live trial by Massachusetts police.

Spot was created by Boston Dynamics and was on loan to the bomb squad in 2019 when the failed test happened, according to a report by OneZero.

The bomb squad were called to a Walmart in Westboro, Massachusetts after employees spotted a suspicious 'old brown briefcase' on a bin in the car park.

Officers decided to have Spot examine the briefcase but when they turned him on he went into 'sit mode' and wouldn't move - even after multiple reboots.

Massachusetts Police were eventually able to get Spot to walk over to the briefcase but the video quality he recorded 'wasn't very good' and they had to send a human technician to remove the briefcase - it didn't have a bomb inside.

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While testing Spot the robot dog Massachusetts Police bomb squad found it kept going into 'sit mode' when they tried to send it to investigate a bomb threat

Fortunately this wasn't the only test for the robotic canine during its 90 day trial with the Massachusetts Police - overall they found it was a benefit to the force.

They determined that despite initially refusing to move it achieved its goal of surveying the area for additional threats and confirming observations.

'The initial hiccups aside and with obvious room for improvement, we accomplished the above stated goal and assisted the tech in clearing a suspect item. A GOOD first mission!!,' the police wrote in their report seen by OneZero.

There were other issues during the three month trial including the robot dog 'nosediving' into tall grass for 'no apparent reason'.

They also found it experienced 'front legs panic' while climbing steps that saw him topple over and in just pace in place on an incline at times.

These issues were described as minor by the force, who said they were 'very excited' to work with Spot in the future, according to OneZero.

'Im a huge fan and look at each time I get to use Spot as a spoiled kid would when he makes out his Xmas list,' said Massachusetts state trooper Steve Sicard.

A spokesman for Spot developers Boston Dynamics said they were constantly improving the platform through software releases and incorporating fixes flagged during testing - such as the live trial with Massachusetts police.

'Spot' the Boston Dynamics robot dog has been in use by Massachusetts State Police bomb squad but did encounter a few hurdles during testing

They told OneZero the force bomb squad provided 'early testing at no cost in exchange for early feedback' before it was commercially available.

Spot officially went on sale last year and according to Boston Dynamics, its currently used by the majority of the top 100 general contractors in the US, autonomously roaming construction sites and recording images to track building progress.

In February the Norwegian oil company Aker BP ASA announced it would bring Spot aboard ships in the Skarv region of the Norwegian Sea.

Spot, the quadruped robot has been developed by Boston Dynamics. Cognite and Aker BP have tested Spot's mobility in simulated oil and gas environments to ensure that it can access locations in these facilities too difficult to access through traditional automation

According to Aker, Spot is charged with sniffing out hydrocarbon leaks, inspecting ship equipment, taking mechanical readings, generating reports, and completing inspections in areas that might be too dangerous for human workers.

'We're going to work together with our customers to figure out what robots are good for,' Marc Raibert, Boston Dynamics CEO, told Wired.

'It's not like they can do every possible thing, but that doesn't mean they're not really good at some things.'

Researchers say leasing the robot will cost 'about the same as a car'.

How nice of a car depends on how many robots and how long the lease period is,' added Michael Perry, the company's vice president of business development.

BOSTON DYNAMICS' SPOT Boston Dynamics first showed off Spot, the most advanced robot dog ever created, in a video posted in November 2017. The firm, best known for Atlas, its 5 foot 9 (1.7 metre) humanoid robot, has revealed a new 'lightweight' version of its robot Spot. The robotic canine was shown trotting around a yard, with the promise that more information from the notoriously secretive firm is 'coming soon'. 'Spot is a small four-legged robot that comfortably fits in an office or home' the firm says on its website. It weighs 25 kg (55 lb), or 30 kg (66 lb) when you include the robotic arm. Spot is all-electric and can go for about 90 minutes on a charge, depending on what it is doing, the firm says, boasting 'Spot is the quietest robot we have built.' Spot was first unveiled in 2016, and a previous version of the mini version of spot with a strange extendable neck has been shown off helping around the house. In the firm's previous video, the robot is shown walking out of the firm's HQ and into what appears to be a home. There, it helps load a dishwasher and carries a can to the trash. It also at one point encounters a dropped banana skin and falls dramatically - but uses its extendable neck to push itself back up. 'Spot is one of the quietest robots we have ever built, the firm says, due to its electric motors. 'It has a variety of sensors, including depth cameras, a solid state gyro (IMU) and proprioception sensors in the limbs. 'These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation. 'Spot performs some tasks autonomously, but often uses a human for high-level guidance.' Advertisement




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McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. You can purchase shares before the 28th of February in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 16th of March.

McDonald's's next dividend payment will be US$1.25 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$5.00 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, McDonald's has a trailing yield of 2.3% on the current stock price of $215.87. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether McDonald's's dividend is reliable and sustainable. As a result, readers should always check whether McDonald's has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut.

See our latest analysis for McDonald's

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. McDonald's is paying out an acceptable 60% of its profit, a common payout level among most companies. 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 63% of its free cash flow as dividends, within the usual range for most companies.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

NYSE:MCD Historical Dividend Yield, February 23rd 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 fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. Fortunately for readers, McDonald's's earnings per share have been growing at 10% a year for the past five years. McDonald's is paying out a bit over half its earnings, which suggests the company is striking a balance between reinvesting in growth, and paying dividends. Given the quick rate of earnings per share growth and current level of payout, there may be a chance of further dividend increases in the future.

Story continues

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. In the past ten years, McDonald's has increased its dividend at approximately 9.6% a year on average. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders.

Final Takeaway

Should investors buy McDonald's for the upcoming dividend? It's good to see earnings are growing, since all of the best dividend stocks grow their earnings meaningfully over the long run. That's why we're glad to see McDonald's's earnings per share growing, although as we saw, the company is paying out more than half of its earnings and cashflow - 60% and 63% respectively. In summary, it's hard to get excited about McDonald's from a dividend perspective.

Wondering what the future holds for McDonald's? See what the 29 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.
Former foreign secretary Salman Haider said that US President Donald Trump's two-day state visit to India can be "very meaningful" as strong effort is being made by the Indian government to create goodwill at an "unprecedented level".

"I think this can be a very meaningful visit because a great effort has been made by India to create goodwill. This is the most important aspect of it that I see. There have been ups and downs in our (India-US) relations. But now, a very strong effort is being made by the Indian government to create goodwill at an unprecedented level," Haider told ANI here.

Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, is set to arrive in Ahmedabad today. This is the US President's first visit to India.

The US President, along with his family and a ministerial delegation, will be in India for around 36 hours. They will visit Ahmedabad, Agra, and Delhi during their stay.

Meanwhile, Haider said that Pakistan has been "under pressure from America and under countries to mend its ways and to give up its terrorist practices, to abandon them, and develop a more equable and more reasonable way of dealing with our country".He said that the defence relationship between India and the US has been developing over the last few years and it must be "expected that questions of arms supplies, of cooperation in a number of defence areas will be promoted by Trump's visit".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:33:07|Editor: yan

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ROME, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of coronavirus-related fatalities in Italy rose to seven as regional authorities in the northern Lombardy region announced another death on Monday evening.

Authorities described the deceased as "a man aged 62, who already had significant impairment at the cardiac and kidney level".

Ten towns in Lombardy have been on lockdown in what authorities call a "red zone" where the first coronavirus case was identified on Feb. 21.

Six deaths and over 170 cases of infection have since occurred in the region, while one death occurred in Veneto region whose capital is Venice.

Also on Monday evening, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told TV reporters that "we can reasonably expect a positive impact from the containment measures" taken by the government to isolate the areas where the coronavirus has been detected.

"We can't forecast the way the virus will progress. Clearly there has been a hotbed and it spread from there," he said.

"The economic impact could turn out to be highly significant - at this time we can calculate that there will be a negative impact," the prime minister added.

Conte said that Minister of Economy and Finance Roberto Gualtieri has decreed the suspension of tax and mortgage payments for red zone residents and businesses.
Non-residents of Wuhan may leave the quarantined city at the epicentre of China's virus epidemic if they show no symptoms and have never had contact with patients, authorities said Monday.

Wuhan, a city of 11 million, has been under lockdown since January 23 after authorities shut down transport links into and out of the city in an effort to contain the new coronavirus outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taiwanese evacuees from cruise ship test negative again for coronavirus

ROC Central News Agency

02/23/2020 07:46 PM

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) The second round of tests on the 19 Taiwan nationals evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan has come back negative for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Sunday.

The 19 Taiwanese will remain isolation for 14 days in separate rooms at a quarantine center, according to the CECC.

The 19 evacuees arrived in Taiwan from Tokyo Friday night on a special charter flight that was also carrying four medical personnel and seven flight crew members.

They were immediately taken to three different hospitals in Taipei and Taoyuan cities for testing and none of 19 passengers from the Diamond Princess had a fever or any other symptoms of the COVID-19, Wang Pi-Sheng (), director of the Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission, told reporters at a briefing Saturday in Taipei.

The initial tests for the virus all came back negative, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang () confirmed later Saturday.

A second round of tests for the virus was carried out late Saturday, and all 19 evacuees again tested negative, according to the CECC.

During the 14-day quarantine, the 19 people will be checked twice a day by health professionals for symptoms such as fever and respiratory tract infection, the CECC said.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Taiwan increased Sunday to 28, after a father and son in their 80s and 50s, respectively, were diagnosed with the virus, according to the CECC.

(By Chang Hsiung-feng and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/pc

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NATO member countries have an understanding of how to unblock the work of the Ukraine-NATO Commission, and Ukraine hopes to raise this issue during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Ukraine in May, said Iryna Vereshchuk, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence (Servant of the People faction).

"I've recently visited Brussels and personally spoke with NATO representatives. I want to assure everyone that NATO has an understanding of how to accept us. Of course, the political aspect remains, and those weak points that, for example, are hindering us today, namely Ukraine-NATO Commission, which, unfortunately, is blocked for now. It's blocked, but we are solving the problem. There is already an understanding of NATO member countries how to get out of this state. We hope that in May of this year, when the parliamentary assembly of NATO members in Ukraine ... we will be able to solve issues of particular concern to us," she said at a public debate on the anniversary of the amendments enshrined in the Constitution in Kyiv on Monday.

Vereshchuk noted that a draft law on military ranks was adopted in parliament, a draft law on the Security Service of Ukraine and foreign intelligence was being developed, and a subcommittee on intelligence was created. She also emphasized that granting Ukraine the status of a member of the Enhanced Opportunities program will give a new impetus to Ukraine's membership in NATO.

"If everything goes well, and in October this year we will sign an Enhanced Opportunities program, it will be a new impetus, new opportunities and a new step towards achieving our goal, and the goal is, of course, inviolately, and without any alternative: Ukraine is a member of the EU and a member of NATO" she added.
Parents are withdrawing their children from the Abisim-Yeboah Junior High School in the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern Region due to the dilapidated bridge linking the community to the school, posing great danger to the pupils.



Residents of Abisim-Yeboah Community, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the bridge was the only link to the School and nearby communities including Abisim-Dawa, Nankesse, and Akwadum.



They said on many occasions, some school children crossing the bridge slipped and fell into the Densu River, adding that its bad nature was also affecting the economic and social lives of the people.



Mr Solomon Ofori Yeboah, an elder of the Community, said for many years he had organised communal labour to repair the bridge but its current state needed a total overhaul by the authorities.



Mr Bright Ernest Nyakotey, a resident, said the commercial motorcycles now charged double the fare because of the deplorable nature of the bridge, which was having a toll on the finances of residents.



He, therefore, appealed to the Suhum Municipal Assembly and the Member of Parliament, Mr Frederick Opare Ansah, to go to the aid of the community.

Source: GNA









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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) ABS-CBN on Monday maintained its chairman emeritus Eugenio Gabby Lopez III is a Filipino citizen, amid reports of the media executives supposed foreign ties.

ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak addressed the controversy during the Senate inquiry into the networks franchise issues, noting that Lopez holds a Philippine passport.

Sa pagkakaalam ko po, Gabby Lopez is a Filipino citizen. 'Yung tatay niya po is Filipino, and may hawak din po siyang Philippine passport, Katigbak said during the hearing.

[Translation: From what I know, Gabby Lopez is a Filipino citizen. His father is a Filipino, and he holds a Philippine passport.]

A local column revealing Katigbaks alleged United States citizenship made the rounds online prior to Monday's hearing.

The report said Lopez has been traveling the world with a US passport, scoring ABS-CBN a violation in the Constitutions media ownership rule.

The article likewise alleged that Lopez, who has taken the networks helm since 1987, only acquired Philippine citizenship in 2004 following the implementation of the Republic Act No. 9225 or the Dual Citizenship law.

The media company has said it will provide officials the necessary documents in an effort to prove Lopez' Filipino citizenship.

ABS-CBNs franchise issues including the supposed foreign ownership and operational procedures have surfaced following the February 10 quo warranto petition of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who sought to nullify the networks existing franchise.

ABS-CBN has repeatedly denied the allegations, stressing it did not violate any laws. The network, however, also apologized for possible shortcomings including for failing to air President Rodrigo Dutertes 2016 campaign advertisements.
Vegans rejoice. (Getty Images)

The owners of Cadbury have admitted plans to launch a plant-based version of the much-loved Dairy Milk chocolate bar.

As the rise in veganism continues, Mondelez announced its still looking for a vegan option suitable for people with nut allergies.

The brand was meant to launch the new vegan chocolate bar in January to coincide with Veganuary.

The delay is down to the company looking to find a nut-less recipe of the vegan chocolate bar.

Read more: M&S under fire for vegan trainers

The group, which is also responsible for bringing us Toblerone and Philadelphia cream cheese, started working on the new chocolate bar after public calls for a vegan version.

A spokesperson for Mondolez said: We're always listening to our consumers, so we can develop and provide people with a greater choice of products. This includes looking at a plant-based Cadbury Dairy Milk bar however, we have no immediate plans to launch a new product in market [sic].



"We are only interested in launching a new vegan product that retains the texture and taste that our consumers expect and love from Cadbury products.

The vegan Dairy Milk bar has been in development for two years, the Daily Mail reported.

Read more: Should vegans have own shelf in office fridge?

Dairy Milk bars have remained popular throughout their 115 year reign. The first bar was developed in Birmingham in 1905.

The bars purple branding and glass half full slogan became synonymous with Dairy Milk.

EU metric regulations meant that it had to drop the slogan in 2010.

Since then, it even removed all the branding for a limited edition run in collaboration with Age UK. The partnership was to raise awareness of loneliness among old people.

Read more: A 5 vegan egg has been named best in blind taste test

It came under fire recently for its four-in-one chocolate unity bar designed to promote diversity in India. It faced faced widespread backlash online with social media users mocking the chocolate giant for solving racism.

Story continues

All the while, vegan and dairy-free people have been quietly calling for a vegan Dairy Milk bar.

With a four-fold rise in veganism, its unsurprising that the big corporations would want to get in on the act. Especially given that Galaxy launched its much-anticipated vegan chocolate bar in November 2019.

Although it hasnt mastered the vegan Dairy Milk bar yet, Mondolez is no stranger to bucking healthy-eating trends.

Last year it brought out a version of its much-loved bar with 30% less sugar.

We might not know when its going to happen, but were very excited for the possibility.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
Odisha Police on Monday ordered a high-level probe into the death of a woman BJD leader from Ganjam district, who had committed self-immolation in front of the office of Berhampur SP earlier this month.

The investigation order was issued by DGP Abhay, officials said.

IG police modernisation Rekha Lohani will conduct the inquiry into the death of Mikakshi Mishra, who succumbed to burn injuries last week.

Mishra had set herself ablaze on February 12 in protest against the arrest of her son, one of the accused in a clash between two groups over a parking issue on January 28.

The 41-year-old executive body member of BJD's women wing had alleged that police arrested her son after implicating him in a "false case", officials said.

She had suffered 80 per cent burn injuries and died at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on February 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We need to pray hard, ask God for mercy and ask Him to deliver us from what lies ahead. May He preserve the peace of our nation and may the counsel of satan not stand over our affairs.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey's export of steel to Kazakhstan slightly increased in January 2020, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on Feb. 24.

In January 2020, Turkeys export of steel to Kazakhstan amounted to $916,000, which is 1.42 percent more compared to the same month of 2019.

In 2019, steel export from Turkey to Kazakhstan increased by 30.2 percent compared to 2018, and amounted to $44.9 million.

In January 2020, export of steel from Turkey to world markets dropped by 4 percent, amounting to $1.1 billion.

Turkeys steel export amounted to 7.8 percent of countrys total export in January 2020.

From January 2019 through January 2020, Turkeys export of steel amounted to $13.7 billion or 7.6 percent of countrys total export for this period.

In 2019, Turkeys foreign trade turnover exceeded $374.2 billion.

Turkey's export increased by 2.1 percent in 2019 and amounted to $171.5 billion compared to 2018. In the meantime, Turkey's import dropped by 9.1 percent and amounted to $202.7 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
A Turkish soldier killed in Idleb, opposition forces attack checkpoint, no coronavirus in Syria and Turkey closes airspace to Russian planes. Catch up on everything that happened over the weekend.

1. On Saturday, a Turkish soldier was killed in an attack by Syrian regime forces in the northern Idleb region, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Twitter. According to Zaman Al-Wasl, Turkey retaliated to the attack with full force and 21 regime targets were heavily hit and destroyed. The blood of our martyrs has never gone to waste and it never will. We wish Allahs mercy and grace for our hero soldier. We convey our deepest condolences to the family of the martyr and to the Turkish Armed Forces and our noble nation, the Defense Ministry said, according to the Anadolu Agency. At least 16 Turkish soldiers have been killed in northern Syria this month amid a crushing offensive by Bashar al-Assads forces, which seeks to recapture remaining opposition-held areas in the region.

2. Turkey has prevented four Russian military aircrafts, including two bombers, from crossing its airspace to Syria. Field sources knowledgeable about the Russian Hemeimeem Airbase, revealed on Thursday that the Russian forces brought in military reinforcements to the airbase, in an indication that battles may intensify in north-western Syria. The sources revealed to Al-Quds Al-Araby the arrival of heavy shipments of modern Russian tanks and missile launchers, heavy artillery and anti-armour missiles, in addition to shipments of bombs and missiles used by Russian strategic bombers and fighters, as well as the bombs used by Sukhoi aircraft of various categories.

3. Syrian opposition forces stormed three security checkpoints in central Homs province overnight, leaving dozen killed and wounded, local sources told Zaman Al-Wasl. The Military Intelligence outposts in the town of Talbiseh came under fire from rebel groups in the northern countryside of Homs. Casualties were ambulanced to the Military Hospital in Homs city.

4. The Ministry of Health reiterated that no cases of coronavirus have been registered in Syria. In response to rumors circulated on social media pages about coronavirus, the Ministrys media office assured everyone that all news and updates about this disease in Syria will be published by SANA. The office reiterated that no coronavirus cases have been registered in Syria to date.

5. Turkeys defense ministry said on Thursday that two of its soldiers were killed and five wounded following an airstrike in Idleb province, northern Syria, where the Turkish military is carrying out operations to recapture territory from the Syrian regime. The ministry, according to Al-Araby al-Jadeed, added that as many as 50 Syrian regime fighters were killed, and that it destroyed five tanks, two armored personnel carriers and a howitzer artillery launcher in Idleb. Turkeys Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said the strikes on Turkish forces were carried out by the Syrian regime forces. However activists on the ground had earlier reported that the jet that carried out the strike was Russian. Analysts have also used maps and imaging techniques to claim the strike came from a Russian plane.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
By Associated Press

NEW YORK: Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday on some but not all charges at his sexual assault trial, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

He was convicted on charges stemming from a 2006 sexual assault and a 2013 rape. The jury found Weinstein not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

The most damaging conviction, for the sexual assault of production assistant Mimi Haleyi, would carry a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Weinstein, 67, had a look of resignation as the verdict came in, and was seen talking to his lawyers shortly after.

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and that's-Hollywood excuses from Weinstein about how the casting couch works.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.

The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on Haleyi and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on "Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.

Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

ALSO READ | Harvey Weinstein grabbed breast, masturbated in front of me, says model in court

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails  and had sex with him  well after he supposedly attacked them.

The hard-charging and phenomenally successful movie executive helped bring to the screen such Oscar winners as Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction," The King's Speech and Shakespeare in Love and nurtured the careers of celebrated filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith.

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles. In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on Jan. 6, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013. One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.

The trial was the first criminal case to arise from a barrage of allegations against Weinstein from more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman. Most of those cases were too old to prosecute.

During the trial, Weinstein regularly trudged into the courthouse stooped and unshaven, using a walker after recently undergoing back surgery  a far cry from the way he was depicted in court as a burly, intimidating figure whose eyes seemed to turn black with menace when his anger flared.

ALSO READ | #MeToo: Harvey Weinstein offered 3 movies to a woman for threesome

Many of Weinsteins accusers described him as a Jekyll and Hyde character who could be incredibly charming at first, making jokes and showing interest in using his immense power to help their careers.

But that was an act, they said, meant to gain their trust and get them to a place  often a hotel room or an apartment  where he could violate them.

If he heard the word no, it was like a trigger for him, his rape accuser testified.

Several women testified that Weinstein excused his behavior as the price for getting ahead in Hollywood. One said that when she laughed off his advances, he sneered, "Youll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works.

The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured, that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises and that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.

The prosecutions task was made more complicated because two of the women at the very center of the case didn't just abandon Weinstein after the alleged encounters: Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks later, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterward.

Like Haleyi, she sent Weinstein friendly and sometimes flirtatious emails, such as Miss you big guy and I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call.

ALSO READ | Harvey Weinstein trial: Woman breaks down reading confessional email

During a cross-examination from Weinstein's lawyers so exhaustive that she broke down in tears on the stand, the woman said she sent him flattering emails and kept seeing him because she was afraid of his unpredictable anger and I wanted him to believe I wasn't a threat.

To blunt that line of questioning, prosecutors called to the witness stand a forensic psychiatrist who said that most sexual assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers and that they hope what happened to them "is just an aberration.

During closing arguments, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno charged that Weinstein had become "the target of a cause and a movement  #MeToo  and asked the jury to ignore outside forces."

This is not a popularity contest," she said.

In this courtroom drawing, Harvey Weinstein, center, sits at the defense table surrounded by his attorneys as jurors file out of the courtroom after being told by the judge to go back and keep deliberating in Weinstein's rape case. (Photo | AP)

She said the case against Weinstein amounted to "regret renamed as rape," arguing that the women exercised their free will to try to further their careers.

Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon told the jury that Weinstein considered himself such a big shot in Hollywood that he thought he could get away with treating women as complete disposables."

The universe is run by me and they dont get to complain when they get stepped on, spit on, demoralized and, yes, raped and abused by me  the king," she said, mimicking Weinstein.

Rumors about Weinsteins behavior swirled in Hollywood circles for a long time, but he managed to silence many accusers with payoffs, nondisclosure agreements and the constant fear that he could crush their careers if they spoke out.

Weinstein was finally arrested and led away in handcuffs in May 2018, seven months after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed his alleged misconduct in stories that would win the Pulitzer Prize.

Among other men taken down by the #MeToo movement since the scandal broke: news anchors Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, actor Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.

Weinstein, the product of a working-class family from Queens, achieved success at two movie studios he created with his brother Bob: Miramax  named for their parents, Miriam and Max  and then the Weinstein Co.

The Weinstein Co. went bankrupt after his disgrace. A tentative settlement was reached last year to resolve nearly all lawsuits stemming from the scandal. It would pay Weinstein's alleged victims about $25 million. Under the proposed deal, Weinstein would not have to admit any wrongdoing or personally pay anything; the studio's insurance companies would cover the cost.

Weinsteins efforts to silence his accusers and thwart journalists who sought to expose his secrets included hiring Black Cube, an Israeli spy agency staffed by former Mossad agents. Asked one day as he left court why he hired that firm, Weinstein turned to a reporter and said: For days like this.
Intelligence officials have uncovered a major spy ring in Australia involving foreign agents operating undercover as scientists and academics.

Australia's domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, says the threat of foreign espionage on home soil is higher now than it was during the Cold War.

A 'sleeper' agent was found to be sending information to overseas officials about expatriates who had fled their home countries and governments.

The expatriates and their families were then harassed after the information was passed back to the spymasters.

The foreign threat to Australia's national security was outlined during the Annual Threat Assessment in Canberra on Monday night.

Intelligence officials say the threat of foreign espionage in Australia is higher now than it was during the Cold War (stock image)

The head of ASIO, Mike Burgess, said the country is the 'target of sophisticated and persistent espionage and foreign interference activities' - without naming specific nations.

'ASIO has uncovered cases where foreign spies have travelled to Australia with the intention of setting up sophisticated hacking infrastructure targeting computers containing sensitive and classified information,' he said.

'We've seen visiting scientists and academics ingratiating themselves into university life with the aim of conducting clandestine intelligence collection.'

Mr Burgess revealed ASIO had recommended visa cancellations to stop foreign agents trying to travel to Australia, and intercepted foreign agents when they arrived.

Australia's national intelligence agency is particularly concerned about the threat of the internet and new technologies to Australia's national security (stock image)

'The level of threat we face from foreign espionage and interference activities is currently unprecedented. It is higher now, than it was at the height of the Cold War,' Mr Burgess said.

However, new laws dealing with foreign interference had 'caused discomfort and possibly pain for foreign intelligence services'.

The address also revealed terrorism continues to pose a threat for Australian intelligence officials.

Children as young as 13 are being targeted by extremist recruiters as the number of terrorism leads under investigation doubled over the past year.

'As a father, I find it truly disturbing to see cases where extremists are actively trying to recruit children who have only just started high school and are as young as 13 or 14,' Mr Burgess said.

'Our view is that the threat of terrorism will remain a constant feature of the global security environment in 2020 and the threat to Australia and Australian interests will remain.

'The number of terrorism leads we are investigating right now has doubled since this time last year.'

The director-general of security said that while messaging apps and greater global connectivity had been a 'force for good', they also had a dark side being used in nine out of ten priority counter-terrorism cases (stock image)

Mr Burgess said Australia's terrorism threat level remains at 'probable' and would remain unacceptably high for the foreseeable future.

'The unfortunate reality is that, right now, terrorists are still plotting to harm Australians,' he said.

Of great concern was the use of the internet and new technologies.

The director-general of security said that while messaging apps and greater global connectivity had been a 'force for good', they also had a dark side being used in nine out of 10 priority counter-terrorism cases.

'Technology should not be beyond the rule of law,' he said, praising laws that came into force a year ago.

'I can confirm that ASIO has used the Assistance and Access Act to protect Australians from serious harm.

The head of Australia's domestic intelligence agency ASIO, Mike Burgess, (pictured) said the country is the 'target of sophisticated and persistent espionage and foreign interference activities'

'We needed to take advantage of the new powers within 10 days of the legislation coming into effect - a clear indication of its significance to our mission. And I'm happy to report that the internet did not break as a result.

'The bottom line was this, these new powers helped ASIO prevent a real risk of injury to Australians.'

The laws enhance the obligations of communications services to assist agencies, establish new 'computer access warrants' for law enforcement and strengthen agencies' existing search and seizure powers to access unencrypted data on computers and mobile phones.

Mr Burgess said right-wing extremism was real and growing, citing one example of ASIO advice leading to an Australian being stopped from leaving the country to fight with an extreme right-wing group on a foreign battlefield.

'While we would expect any right-wing extremist inspired attack in Australia to be low capability - that is a knife, gun or vehicle attack - more sophisticated attacks are possible,' he said.
On the final episode of the three-part series on Amazon Smbhav broadcast on CNN-News18, industry experts discussed ways to bridge offline and online marketplaces, and the opportunities for Indian SMBs to go global.

On the final episode of the three-part series on Amazon Smbhav broadcast on CNN-News18, industry experts discussed ways to bridge offline and online marketplaces, and the opportunities for Indian SMBs to go global.

The two-day thought summit Amazon Smbhav, conducted under the aegis of Amazon India, concluded with many Indian SMBs being felicitated. The list of winners is as follows:

 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Tanvi Johri of Carmesi

 Digital SMB of the Year, Playshifu

 Global SMB of the Year, Vahdam Teas

 Best SMB Brand of the Year, Pee Safe

 Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Kadam Haat

 Innovator of the Year, Try and Buy Fashion

 Youth SMB of the Year, Arjun Vaidya, CEO, Dr. Vaidyas

 Fastest Growing SMB of the Year, Loom Solar

 Transformation of the Year, Being Chef

Industry and subject matter experts also discussed some of the most pressing challenges that Indian SMBs are facing, and how technology can be used as a tool for scaling up. One panel discussion was titled Physical Retail and Ecommerce: Growing In Harmony, and was moderated by Sameer Khetrapal, Director  Category Management with Amazon India. Top leadership of Shoppers Stop, Bata India, Vijay Sales, Amazon India, Samara Capital, participated in the lively discussion where they all agreed upon the premise that it was a mixture of online and offline retail that held the highest promise of sustained success. Sumeet Narang, Founder & MD of Samara Capital, said, Not companies but ecosystems will win. Having the right ecosystem partner is going to make a difference. Nilesh Gupta, Managing Partner of Vijay Sales, commented on how online retail has spurred on the massive growth of electronics consumption, and said, Most customers still buy things both online as well as offline. I think the retail ecosystem is still evolving. Manish Tiwary, Vice President  Category Management with Amazon India recommended to fledgling SMBs that they use the online platform as a launch pad, to experiment on the platform, to fine tune the product or service online before taking the product offline.

In another absorbing panel discussion entitled Blurring Geographical Boundaries For SMBs, key leaders from Amazon.com, HSBC, TRIFED, Vahdam Teas, among others participated to understand what challenges lay ahead for Indian SMBs for scaling up not just in India but also abroad. While HSBCs Aditya Gahlaut, MD & Head - Global Sales and Receivables Finance spoke about how banks are simplifying transnational transactions, Nicholas Denissen, VP-Small Business with Amazon.com, explained, We recently opened marketplaces in Australia, Singapore, and the UAE. SMBs look to Amazon to be able to reach such customers around the world. And were developing tools to help businesses with complicated challenges like pricing. Pravir Krishna, MD of TRIFED, a cooperative that sells products made by tribals in India, said that selling products abroad could be a gamechanger for Indian entrepreneurs. Marketing outside the country fetches twice or three times the price you get within India, he said.
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




Haiti - FLASH : Clashes in Champ-de-Mars, at least a dozen victims (Provisional assessment)





At midday, when bursts of automatic weapons were reported in Delmas, Bourdon, Nazon, Lalue, more than a hundred "police officers" demonstrators and hooded individuals arriving on the Champ-de-Mars, fired shots in front of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) next to the National Palace, to which the soldiers replied by firing warning shots in the air.



The situation worsened when armed and hooded individuals, resulting from this protest march, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30103-haiti-security-message-from-the-secretariat-of-the-high-command-of-fadh.html They gave the assault, firing shots, launching Molotov cocktails provoking the response of the soldiers, contrary to the first press release issued by the Secretariat of the High Command of the FAd'H which evokes only shots in the air to disperse the protesters... https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30103-haiti-security-message-from-the-secretariat-of-the-high-command-of-fadh.html . An attack that caused panic on the Champ-de-Mars.



Lieutenant-General Jodel Lesage, Commander-in-Chief of the Haitian Armed Forces, confirmed the attack on the Headquarters by hooded individuals, armed with firearms and automatic rifles, launching Molotov cocktails and tear gas canisters and the military's measured response against the individuals who attacked them.



A second press note from the Ministry of Defenses Communication Unit and the Armys High Command Secretariat said, "Despite repeated assaults by the assailants, military authorities maintained a defensive stance to avoid bloodshed. The High Command of the Armed Forces once again calls on the Haitian National Police to restore calm."



The Communication Unit of the Ministry of Defense confirmed 2 victims in the rank of soldiers 1 died from gunshot wounds and another injured in stable condition.



The provisional balance reports 3 dead (1 soldier, police and a 17-year-old boy) and more than a dozen wounded (1 soldier, at least 4 police officers and several civilians).



To be continued...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30104-haiti-flash-the-carnival-is-canceled-to-avoid-a-bloodbath.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30103-haiti-security-message-from-the-secretariat-of-the-high-command-of-fadh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30102-haiti-flash-high-tension-at-champ-de-mars.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Exopharm (ASX:EX1) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

Check out our latest analysis for Exopharm

How Long Is Exopharm's Cash Runway?

You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. As at December 2019, Exopharm had cash of AU$5.9m and no debt. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$5.3m over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of around 13 months as of December 2019. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

ASX:EX1 Historical Debt, February 24th 2020

How Is Exopharm's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

While Exopharm did record statutory revenue of AU$39k over the last year, it didn't have any revenue from operations. That means we consider it a pre-revenue business, and we will focus our growth analysis on cash burn, for now. Its cash burn positively exploded in the last year, up 236%. Given that sharp increase in spending, the company's cash runway will shrink rapidly as it depletes its cash reserves. Exopharm makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth.

Story continues

How Easily Can Exopharm Raise Cash?

Given its cash burn trajectory, Exopharm shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash to drive growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Exopharm has a market capitalisation of AU$30m and burnt through AU$5.3m last year, which is 18% of the company's market value. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted.

How Risky Is Exopharm's Cash Burn Situation?

Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Exopharm's cash burn relative to its market cap was relatively promising. Looking at the factors mentioned in this short report, we do think that its cash burn is a bit risky, and it does make us slightly nervous about the stock. Notably, our data indicates that Exopharm insiders have been trading the shares. You can discover if they are buyers or sellers by clicking on this link.

Of course Exopharm may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Looking back at rare sports moments in the first part of 2021
US national security adviser rejects Russia's meddling in US 2020 election

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 9:11 PM

The US national security adviser has dismissed claims that the Russians are interfering in the 2020 presidential election with the goal of reelecting incumbent President Donald Trump.

"I haven't seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump reelected," Robert O'Brien said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday.

"I think this is the same old story that we've heard before. ...We've been very tough on Russia, and we've been great on election security. So I think it's a nonstory."

During the ABC interview, O'Brien described reports that Russia wants to help Sanders as "no surprise" but sharply pushed back against ones dealing with Trump.

Earlier in the week, American intelligence officials claimed that Russia was interfering in the 2020 US presidential campaign after Moscow had a "developed preference" to reelect Trump.

The Kremlin rejected the "paranoid" claims and said the allegations were "like the usual paranoid announcements, which unfortunately will multiply as we get closer to the (US) election."

US officials have repeatedly claimed that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the forthcoming US presidential election race.

Russia has also been accused by US officials of meddling in the 2016 presidential election and colluding with Trump during his election campaign, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.

The allegations triggered an investigation into the matter by special counsel Robert Mueller, who, however, concluded in a report that there was no collusion between Trump's campaign team and the Russian government.

In April last year, a redacted version of the 400-page investigation by Mueller into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election was publicly released but stopped short of providing conclusive evidence of collusion between Trump and Moscow.

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said Sunday that it is banning employees from using the Chinese-owned app TikTok for social media outreach, after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent the agency a letter raising security concerns, AP reports.

The big picture: Schumer had previously requested that the U.S. government investigate whether TikTok poses any "national security risks. The app already has more than 110 million downloads in the U.S. alone, and it could become a Chinese vacuum for coveted American data as tensions between the countries continue to escalate.

Driving the news: Schumer sent a letter Saturday to TSA administrator David Pekoske citing a Department of Homeland Security rule banning the use of TikTok on agency devices.

Schumer said to AP: "Given the widely reported threats, the already-in-place agency bans, and the existing concerns posed by TikTok, the feds cannot continue to allow the TSAs use of the platform to fly."

"Given the widely reported threats, the already-in-place agency bans, and the existing concerns posed by TikTok, the feds cannot continue to allow the TSAs use of the platform to fly." The TSA said Sunday that a small number of TSA employees have previously used TikTok on their personal devices to create videos for use in TSAs social media outreach, but that practice has since been discontinued," per AP.

Go deeper: TikTok expands content rules, cracks down on misinformation
A 49-year-old man was convicted



under the POCSO Act for molesting a minor girl and sentenced to 10 years in jail by a court in Thane in Maharashtra.

District and Sessions Judge SB Bahalkar, in a recent order, convicted Ashok Namdeo Ghodekar, a resident of Turbhe in Navi Mumbai, and fined him Rs 10,000 which will be given to the 12-year-old victim as compensation.

"Ghodekar, May 27, 2016, took the victim, who lives in the neighbourhood, to his house and undressed and molested her. She later told her mother who filed a police complaint," said Additional Public Prosecutor Varsha Chandane.

He has been convicted under section 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the IPC and under sections related to aggravated sexual assault of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the APP said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, the founding director of Springfields Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley will be leaving her position, the organization announced Monday.

The group has yet to announce a replacement for Lugo-DeJesus, who has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector as well as at various nonprofits and in higher education, according to the organizations website.

Waleska has provided extraordinary leadership in building the organization and being at the center of a process that has been transformative for so many, the groups steering committee said in a statement. We cannot thank Waleska enough for her talent and inspiration in leading this work. Thank you, Waleska, and we wish you well in your future endeavors.

The organization, which formed in seven years ago, engages the community in how to address racism and create a healing environment, according to the groups website.

I firmly believe that understanding our own stories then, telling our stories to the world, is liberating. Through this work I was able to help our communities relate to each other in innovative and creative ways, Lugo-DeJesus said in a statement shared with MassLive. I step away from the Healing Racism Institute I helped build for reasons outside of my control, while feeling proud of the growth and transformation of thousands of community members statewide.

HRIPV holds signature two-day Healing Racism sessions about five times a year. The program seeks to educate those who attend about the impact of racism on the U.S. and the community in an engaging and transformative process, the website says.

Roughly 1,000 people and more than 100 organizations have participated the program, the steering committees statement said, adding that it continues to grow and strike new partnerships, including one last year with the Hampden County District Attorneys office.

Our work will continue and the initiative has taken the next stage in development by becoming a 501(c)3 that will allow us to more effectively apply for grants and private philanthropy, the steering committee said.

Lugo-DeJesus also served as a commissioner on the Massachusetts Art and Cultural Council, representing Springfield, and she volunteers as a liaison to Springfield Public Schools Race Matters task force, according to her bio on the institutes website.

She was appointed in 2008 as commissioner for Commonwealth Corps by former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and charged with promoting civic engagement across the state, the website says says. She also serves as co-chair for the Western Mass United for Puerto Rico coalition, an organization that helps families who were displaced after Hurricane Maria.

Thank you for being a part of our journey to eradicate racism and bring our community together. We look forward to engaging more individuals and organizations in this important work, the groups steering committee said in its statement.
After proposing deep cuts to federal agencies tasked with fighting serious diseases, the Trump administration is preparing to ask Congress for approval to access monies to battle the Coronavirus.

In its fiscal year 2020 budget request released earlier this month, the White House proposed a 12 percent funding cut for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a 10 percent reduction for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though presidents' spending blueprints generally are considered dead on arrival because lawmakers control federal dollars, they are a clear statement about a president's priorities.

To that end, the Trump White House has been panned for its overall set of proposed health agency cuts -- especially as the Coronavirus has spread, even roiling stock markets on Monday.

Administration officials as early as this week are expected to ask Congress for permission to move $130 million from other HHS accounts to fight the virus. In addition, the administration is cobbling together a request for emergency dollars to help with, among other things, a possible vaccine.

A group of House Democrats last week pressed the administration to send them a request for an emergency package, a rare moment of bipartisan budgeteering during Washington's decade-old partisan era.

The coming emergency request was first reported by The Associated Press. White House spokespersons had not responded to a request for comment. But one Democratic lawmaker did comment.

"The Dow dropped significantly this morning because of the continuing spread of the coronavirus," tweeted California Congressman Ted Lieu. "The @realDonaldTrump budget proposes cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retweet if you think cutting @CDCgov is really dumb." As of 4 p.m. ET, the post had been retweeted 16,600 times.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, meantime, told Fox News that "this president will continue working on that," referring to anti-virus measures.

She described the president as "fully engaged" in the federal government's efforts to combat the virus. In an indirect defence of the proposed cuts, Ms Conway said fighting such diseases is part of what that agency and others already do each day.

"We just don't know everything about this Coronavirus," she said, saying it is different from other viruses like the flu.

"We're doing everything we can," Ms Conway said. "And the president is briefed on this daily."

The president weighed in from India, just after 3 a.m. local time in New Delhi, where he is for a state visit.

"The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!" he tweeted as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and other markets were well down on Coronavirus fears. The Dow alone dropped over 1,000 points on Monday.
Naomi Seibt, a 19-year-old German who touts climate realism over climate alarmism" on YouTube, will join a libertarian think tank and lobbying group that promotes climate change skepticism at this weeks Conservative Political Action Conference, The Washington Post reported.

Described as a climate-skeptic answer to Greta Thunberg, the 17-year-old environmental activist from Sweden who inspired international climate protests, Seibt drew the attention of the Heartland Institute, a Chicago area nonprofit that cites a group of more than 50 independent scientists who say the impacts of climate change were all false alarms and that the likely benefits of man-made global warming exceed the likely costs.

Seibt headlined Heartland Institutes forum at the United Nations climate conference in Madrid in December, and in January the institute hired her to be the young representative of its climate skepticism campaign, according to the Post. The Post previously reported that the institute strongly supported President Donald Trumps environmental regulation rollbacks, but believed he could do much more.

A lot of hullabaloo about newest #climate communicator for Heartland. Her story of joining us in her own words. -> YouTube Personality Naomi Seibt joins The Heartland Institute https://t.co/GBUVuKRnyo via @YouTube  Heartland Institute (@HeartlandInst) February 14, 2020

While Seibt has disavowed the anti-Greta moniker, saying it suggests that I myself am an indoctrinated puppet, I guess, for the other side, the institute posted a video in December titled Naomi Seibt vs. Greta Thunberg: Whom Should We Trust?

It is important that we keep questioning the narrative thats out there instead of promoting it, Seibt said. These days, climate change science really isnt a science at all.

James Taylor, director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center for Climate and Environmental Policy at Heartland Institute, told the Post that Seibt is a fantastic voice for free markets and climate realism.

Graham Brookie, director of the Digital Forensic Research Lab, which researches and exposes disinformation, told the Post that Heartland Institutes campaign to question the scientific consensus around climate change is "not outright disinformation. But it does bear resemblance to a model we use called the 4ds  dismiss the message, distort the facts, distract the audience and express dismay at the whole thing.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which identifies and reports on areas of wide scientific agreement on climate change, says there is alarming evidence that important tipping points, leading to irreversible changes in major ecosystems and the planetary climate system, may already have been reached or passed.

The UN urges action and describes climate change as the defining issue of our time," citing a century-and-a-half of industrialization, deforestation and large scale agriculture as precursors to greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere rising to levels unseen for 3 million years. The resulting temperature increases in the atmosphere and oceans have already sparked rising sea levels and shifting weather patterns, the IPCC says.

Thunberg, who was named TIME Magazines Person of the Year, has been mocked multiple times by Trump. She also received a lecture from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who in January said that after she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain" the economic impacts of drastically cutting back on the United States reliance on fossil fuels.

CPAC, an annual event featuring conservative speakers and elected officials, begins Wednesday and continues through Saturday. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are among those on the agenda.
Sunrise host Natalie Barr has received an outpouring of support from across Australia after the emotional presenter broke down live on Sunrise.

She had been listening to close friends of murdered Brisbane mum Hannah Clarke tell heart-wrenching stories about her life on Monday morning.

Ms Clarke, 31, was killed alongside her three children by her estranged husband Rowan Baxter, 42, who set her car on fire on the school run.

Herself a mother-of-two, Barr, 51, began welling up as the women begged the Australian public not to forget Ms Clarke and her story.

Fans were quick to praise Barr for not being afraid to show emotion over the tragic Brisbane murder-suicides (pictured)

Another viewer (pictured) said you 'couldn't blame' the presenter for shedding tears over the tragic murders

'Thank you Natalie for being secure enough to share your emotions with the rest of the nation,' one fan wrote. 'We are all with you.'

The glamorous host (pictured) is normally the picture of composure

Another added: 'She is sincere in her reactions - it shows she is incredibly empathetic and real.'

'Yes Nat, we are all with you and respect you for breaking down,' one woman added.

'It is such a terrible thing to happen to Hannah and her children, very, very sad.'

It wasn't the first time the host had been overcome by emotion during a live broadcast.

Back in December 2014 during the Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney's CBD, she cried on air when she revealed her personal connection to victim Katrina Dawson.

The presenter was also praised for her humanity during the 2014 Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney

News had just filtered through to the star that Ms Dawson, a 38-year-old lawyer, had died during the attack - which also killed the cafe's manager, Tori Johnson.

'I'm just finding out that Katrina Dawson was the sister of a prominent barrister, Sandy Dawson, who has done some work for Channel Seven,' Barr said as she glanced down at her phone, gasping through tears as she revealed the connection.

Noticeably upset, she added: 'Sandy Dawson, who I know and I have friends who know. A mother of three children. Im just finding this out this morning.

'When you put the faces to the people who have died overnight, its just heartbreaking.'

A visibly shaken Barr was then given time to compose herself before bravely continuing the broadcast from a street near Martin Place, the scene of the siege.

Hundreds of viewers came out in support of Barr on Monday morning after the emotional interview

Another Sunrise viewer (pictured) praised Barr for 'being human' and crying live on air

Lawyer Katrina Dawson and cafe manager Tori Johnson died during the 2014 siege in Sydney's CBD (pictured, a staff member escaping the hostage scene)

Barr (pictured, left) cried as she presented with David Koch (right) back in 2014 during the Lindt Cafe siege

Hannah Clarke (pictured with her three children, aliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3) died of her injuries on Wednesday

Looking back on the fateful day, Barr later admitted she was 'embarrassed' that she become so emotional.

'I didnt want to cry, I didnt plan to cry, I was embarrassed I cried that day,' she told the Daily Telegraph on the first anniversary of the attack.

'Looking back, it was the moment the true horror of it all really hit me.'

'I didnt know Katrina Dawson. When I found out she was a mum of three little kids, an adored wife, a sister, a daughter. It was here, metres away, and it was someones life.'

Barr (pictured) choked back tears throughout the interview on Monday, describing the murder-suicide as 'just so sad'

Barr (pictured, left) cried as she presented with David Koch (right) back in 2014 during the Lindt Cafe siege

IS-sympathising terrorist Man Haron Monis held 18 staff and customers captive for 16 hours before the siege was ended in a hail of gunfire.

On Sunrise on Monday, Ms Clarke's close friends were appearing on the show to raise awareness about domestic abuse and pay tribute to their 'hilarious friend' and 'incredible mother'.

'The message is we have to make a change, we can't let their faces fade. Not this time, not another family, not another tragedy,' the women said together.

Barr promised nobody would forget as she thanked the women for speaking up.

Natalie Barr (pictured) is herself a mother-of-two, and has worked for Sunrise since 2003

'Thank you so much for talking to us, this has touched the nation. Our hearts go out to the whole family,' Barr said through tears.

Barr also choked back tears as she struggled to pay respect to Ms Clarke's parents, Suzanne and Lloyd, and said nobody could quite understand their grief.

'What do you say, its so sad... Its terrible,' she later said to her co-host David Koch.

Nikki Brooks, Ms Clarke's best friend of 17 years, said her favourite memory with the mother-of-three was the day she chose to leave her abusive husband.

'We came back to my place and the kids played. When they went to sleep we got drunk off margaritas and toasted to a fresh start.'

Ms Brooks said 'by the time they're abusive husbands, we're already dancing with the devil and its too late.'

Ms Clarke pictured with her three children before all four were brutally killed by Rowan Baxter

Nikki Brooks (pictured, left) and Lou Farmer (right) appeared on the show to discuss their friend and raise awareness about domestic violence

She and Ms Clarke's other close friend Lou Farmer planned a touching vigil on Sunday, where more than 1,000 mourners turned out to pay tribute to the family.

One of her friends made an emotional speech, saying Ms Clarke 'loved hard, and laughed every single day.'

Ms Farmer said she 'wasn't surprised at all' by the turnout.

'What happened was absolutely horrific. Even though it was rain and the weather wasn't great, that's a reflection of the true impact this has had on all of us.

'She was just the most amazing mum,' she said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured, left), Hannah Clarke's parents Lloyd and Suzanne (centre), and police commissioner Katarina Carroll (right) at the vigil

'What you saw of photos was exactly how it was. She lived for her kids, she was hilarious. She did everything for those kids and they absolutely adored her.'

The vigil was held at Whites Hill State College in Camp Hill - just blocks away from the murder scene.

Dressed in pink - Ms Clarke's favourite colour - her father Lloyd Clarke and brother, Nat, thanked the crowd for their support.

'We would have felt lost without all your support,' the distraught father said.

'I don't know how we can repay such kindness.'

A police officer speaks during a vigil to remember murdered mother (pictured). Thousands of mourners attended the event

He described the past week as the 'hardest of their life'.

'We may not know you all, but you embraced our family when our whole world collapsed and for that we are genuinely grateful,' he said.

'While dealing with this truly difficult time, my family and I are forever thankful to our neighbours and those who were first on the scene who tried to desperately help Hannah and the children.

'You selflessly and without hesitation did what you could to save them. I don't know how we can repay such kindness, other than to say we will be eternally grateful. You have restored out faith that there are many good and decent people in the world.'

Community members laid flowers by crosses bearing the names of Hannah and her children at the vigil (pictured)
NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, featured in the movie "Hidden Figures," died Monday at 101.

Johnson, who worked at NASA from 1953 to 1986, left her mark on the agency not only through her brilliance with numbers, which helped land men on the moon, but also through her role in breaking down racial and social barriers.

At HoustonChronicle.com: Unsung heroes: Behind-the-scenes work made Apollo 11s lunar landing possible

"NASA is deeply saddened by the loss of a leader from our pioneering days, and we send our deepest condolences to the family of Katherine Johnson," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement. "Ms. Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space."

Johnson was born in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., in 1918. Her aptitude and passion for numbers emerged at an early age. By 13, she was attending high school on the campus of historically black West Virginia State College. She enrolled in the college itself at 18, graduated with the highest honors in 1937 and took a teaching job at a black public school. In 1939, she was handpicked as one of three black students to integrate the graduate school at West Virginia University, though she left at the end of the first session to start a family, according to a NASA biography on Johnson.

As her three daughters got older, Johnson returned to teaching before starting her NASA career in 1953 at the all-black West Area Computing section at NASA' predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Working from Langley laboratory in Virginia, Johnson spent four years analyzing data from flight tests.

After the Soviet Union launched its Sputnik satellite in 1957, starting the space race, Johnson would become the first woman in the Flight Research Division to receive credit as a co-author of a research report in 1960. The next year, Johnson did trajectory analysis for the first human spaceflight with Alan Shepard.

The moment highlighted in the climax of "Hidden Figures" occurred in 1962 as astronaut John Glenn prepared for an orbital mission. Computers had been programmed with the equations that would control the trajectory of Glenn's capsule, but astronauts were wary of these machines that were prone to hiccups and blackouts. Glenn asked Johnson to run the same numbers by hand, trusting her calculations before liftoff and the successful mission.

Related: Got what it takes to be an astronaut? NASA is hiring.

Johnson would go on to work on the Space Shuttle and the Earth Resources Satellite, later renamed Landsat. She authored or co-authored 26 research reports. She retired in 1986 after 33 years at Langley Research Center.

And in 2015, at 97, Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is Americas highest civilian honor.

"We will never forget her courage and leadership and the milestones we could not have reached without her," Bridenstine said in his statement. "We will continue building on her legacy and work tirelessly to increase opportunities for everyone who has something to contribute toward the ongoing work of raising the bar of human potential.
Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane appeared in court on Monday over the murder of his estranged wife after a weekend in which he was said to be receiving emergency medical care in South Africa.

In the latest twist of a saga that has gripped the southern African kingdom, the 80-year-old premier attended the magistrates court in the capital Maseru.

Charges had been expected to be formally read out to him for allegedly acting in "common purpose" in the June 2017 killing of 58-year old Lipolelo Thabane, whom he was in the process of divorcing.

But after a brief sitting, the matter was deferred to the High Court and the prime minister was not formally charged. He was accompanied by his current wife Maesaiah Thabane, 42, whom he married two months after Lipolelo's death and who is considered a co-conspirator in the murder case. She has already been charged with murder and is out on bail.

Defence lawyer Qhalehang Letsika argued that Thabane should not be charged as long as he remained a prime minister.

"My client cannot be prosecuted while in office but he is not above the law," said Letsika, adding the beleaguered premier was "entitled to immunity" because of his status.

During the hearing, the lawyer asked whether a sitting prime minister should be subject to criminal prosecution as this could mean that he be placed in custody. Thabane had initially been due in court on Friday for the preliminary appearance but was a no-show, prompting police to warn they could issue an arrest warrant.

His aide initially said Thabane had gone to neighbouring South Africa for "routine" health checks, but later his office said he was seeking "emergency" medical attention and would appear in court on his return. On Saturday police said Thabane's sick note said that the premier would be "unfit" until February 27.

Wearing a navy-blue striped suit with a powder-blue shirt and flanked by his spouse, Thabane appeared nervous as the couple sat on one of the court benches.

Lipolelo's murder sent shockwaves 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 couple had been embroiled in a bitter divorce.

The accusations against the prime minister came after communications records from the scene of the murder included Thabane's mobile phone number. The case has piled pressure on Thabane to step down.

His All Basotho Convention (ABC) party has accused him of hampering investigations into the killing and asked him to leave. Last week Thabane announced on national radio and television that he would retire by July 31, citing his advanced age. But at the weekend speculation mounted that he could go earlier than expected.

The main opposition party the Democratic Congress, on Friday filed in parliament a motion of no confidence in the prime minister and his administration. If Thabane loses the motion, he could either step down or advise King Letsie III to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections.

(Photo: AP)
I have always wondered why kids particularly like my company with them. I get the pulling of hair, the feet in my face, all that, without any qualms and I love it.

In the company of kids, I can be 100% that what I see is what I get! And so as a mother, aunty, family friend, name it, I get to hear and see things that will make the everyday Ghanaian parent go deep blue. Sometimes I struggle between what I should let the mostly seemingly clueless parents know. Most of the time I tend to deal with issues myself and the parent who lives in the glass castle hopefully will never get a sniff of the storm that just went by.

But most importantly, this is why I love kids; the innocence, the sponge-like template of their minds, the creative mind without boundaries and barriers, the innovative mindset. A kid can bend a spoon with their mind in seconds if they focus! Do you believe it? You too can, until life got to you. Children take me back to a childhood I never really got past.

Recently I have been privileged to spend a little more time with children and as we all know, children are now wired to electronics like nobody's business and so we get to watch television.

Sooner or later, one can not tell who is the child here. I am as much engrossed as they are in the cartons or live-action movie or series.

This weekend, I noticed one of my kids turn away from a kissing scene. Pretending to pick something from under the table that lasted for exactly the same length of time as the action continued on the screen. I hid a smile in my cheek. We have all done this before. Before then, one of my kids had kissed me on the mouth and asked if I will be her valentine. 'I am your valentine forever my love' I responded. But she responded with, 'but I have a valentine at school, he is a boy in my class

Anyways, I digress. 'This program isn't really meant for kids, let's find something more appropriate, shall we?' 'Netflix!' They all scream. One show after the other, it was either swearing or speaking about love or some other thing that still made me itch. I searched for something with black characters, I practically find none! Even the animals somehow look white.

My own kids are grown now you see. I used to hustle over black dolls versus white dolls for my growing girls and messaging and self-worth and all that crap. They are now grown-up young women who carry their blackness with pride. Job done I thought. Not so fast!

Let's go to Ghana television. The unison in the No! That followed my comment said it all. 'Hey, we are in Ghana and so we must watch Ghana, eat Ghana, wear Ghana!' I insist. For at least this weekend ok? 'Ok, Aunty! But there is nothing on Ghana TV!'

I forced myself through Ghana television this weekend. The entire weekend, I searched for programming for kids. It is almost impossible to find.

Where one can find, it is littered with things children shouldn't be hearing or seeing. What worries me the most though, is that in a Black country in Africa, I couldn't find even one cartoon or live-action programming made with a character who is black or has black hair thick hair or skin.

Nothing on Ghana television is targeting Ghanaian kids that even teaches about our environments and who we are. The folklores, rich cultural themes! But perhaps I am old fashioned.

So forget about heritage! Where are the programs that teach our kids that people that look like them can go into space? Can do well in technology and be the best creatives in the world? Can we not find anything locally to make good content from that inspires our young ones into the future?

This month, Ghanaians have been happy about an American woman who attended the University of Ghana and who just returned from space! We have taken great pride in tagging ourselves to her. Have we asked ourselves what happens to the minds of all the black skin that also go to Legon such that they can't even manage earth?

I get it that whiles paying US$100 to purchase a carton from the US, which business person, TV station or Ghanaian producer wants to spend US$20,000 on local content when they can get the programs that are even better packaged for less than US$500?

Let me take the time to commend the few channels TRYING! Albeit, just trying!

But I wonder if we have taken the time to look at the real cost of our decisions and inactions. What is the cost of this US$100 content in real terms to Ghana over time? Can you name some?

I worry that parents stay away from this conversation. Is it that we feel that we are powerless and that our voices don't count? Or is it laziness on our part? Let's just let the TV business people decide for us what our children watch. Then we can blame them one day for whatever. We are too busy to do anything ourselves.

Children are like sponges. Whatever you feed them, that is what they will grow to become. Every once in a while there is an outlier from the group, but the probability that what we will see tomorrow is children who continue to have very low self-image and crave to be something else with different skin and hair and who therefore can never see value in who they are or where they are and who will continue to look outside to solve internal problems is very high.

This weekend at a funeral in the hot sun, some cool dudes were sitting by me. They both had bleached skin that was quarrelling with the sun.

Tell me who you think is winning this quarrel? Skin or sun?
The US Embassy said on Sunday that while it did not have any objection to the presence of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia at a Delhi school during the visit of US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday, it appreciated their recognition that it was not a political event. The remark came even as Sisodia said the two leaders respected the concerns raised by the embassy over their presence.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the US Embassy said: While the US Embassy had no objection to the presence of CM and Deputy CM, we appreciate their recognition that this isnt a political event and that its best to ensure focus is on education, school and students.

The US First Lady will visit a Delhi government school on Tuesday to get to know about a class under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments happiness curriculum.

Sisodia said on Sunday that he and Kejriwal would have loved to participate in the event but they respected concerns cited by the US embassy.

It is a matter of great pride for Delhi government, its teachers and students that the honourable First Lady (of the US), Melania Trump, is visiting a Delhi government school. It is a big appreciation for us that the work of AAP government in education sector, especially Happiness Classes, is being recognised in the world, said Sisodia, who is also Delhis education minister and led the team which drafted the happiness curriculum  an initiative that is aimed at helping children meditate, learn things out of syllabus, get relief from stress and discuss issues that trouble them in personal life.

In a statement, Sisodias office said: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and education minister Manish Sisodia would have loved to personally receive the US First Lady in the Dehi government school and brief her about the concept of Happiness Classes and the positive impact that it has had on students, during her visit to the classrooms.

However, certain concerns were expressed by US embassy regarding CM and Deputy CM accompanying the first lady during the school visit. We respect the same. We welcome honble US First Lady whole heartedly and will do our best to facilitate the tour, it added.

Senior government officials had earlier said that the US embassy officials had initially conveyed plans to invite the chief minister and his deputy but later changed them saying it was not a political event.

The CMs office was informed on Saturday morning by US officials that Kejriwal and Sisodia had not been included in the list of attendees at the school event.
National security officials have disputed the New York Timess characterization of a recent House Intelligence Committee briefing on election interference, arguing that it is misleading to suggest that intelligence officials have concluded the Russians are working to aid President Trumps reelection.

The Times reported last Thursday that the February 13 briefing left Trump angered and caused him to grill Joseph Maguire, the outgoing acting director of national intelligence and the direct superior of official Shelby Pierson, who delivered the briefing. Trump reportedly attacked Maguire because he had not been made aware of Piersons assessment before it was delivered to the House.

House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) tweeted out the story after it broke, and warned that Trump could be jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling.

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. https://t.co/viSBlnA1nb  Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 21, 2020

But the president later suggested the story was fabricated, and called it a misinformation campaign that was launched by Democrats.

Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates, Trump tweeted Friday.

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

Officials told CNN that the Timess characterization of the briefing reflected Piersons claim that Trump had Russian backing, which was not an accurate representation of the intelligence.

Story continues

The intelligence doesnt say that, a national security official said. A more reasonable interpretation of the intelligence is not that they have a preference, its a step short of that. Its more that they understand the President is someone they can work with, hes a dealmaker.

The reporting on the briefing caused Hillary Clinton to call Trump Putins Puppet, and accused him of taking Russian help for himself.

More from National Review
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the Albany Jewish Community Center was evacuated and searched Sunday morning after it, and several other centers around the country, received anonymous emailed threats.

Cuomo went to the Albany center after police evacuated about 100 people, searched the building and declared it safe. Cuomo's office said similar vague threats were emailed to about 18 other Jewish Community Centers around the country.

The centers provide educational, fitness and social programs for children and adults. Cuomo said the FBI is investigating where the threats originated. Cuomo said there have been about 42 anti-Semitic incidents around the state since the beginning of the year.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi after violence in parts of the city on Monday.

The JIH has alleged that the Delhi police did not taken action against the rioters.

"We have credible reports of clashes between pro and anti-CAA protesters in the Maujpur area in which the Delhi Police was just a mute spectator. The protesters were pelting stones and provoking others," said Salim Engineer, Vice President of the Jamaat.

"Delhi Police brutally did a lathi-charge on the anti-CAA protesters who were taking out a peaceful march in Hauz Rani last night," said the statement The JIH said that many women and girls have been seriously injured in the lathi-charge and were admitted in hospitals.

It also condemned the ultimatum given by BJP leader Kapil Mishra to the police, in which Mishra said: "Remove the anti-CAA protesters from Chand Bagh and Jaffrabad within three days".

The JIH alleged that the ultimatum is an open provocation to violence.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered that a protein found in the membrane of our sensory neurons are involved in our capacity to feel mechanical pain, laying the foundation for the development of powerful new analgesic drugs.

The study, published in Cell, is the first to show that TACAN, a highly conserved protein among vertebrates whose function remained unclear, is in fact involved in detecting mechanical pain by converting mechanical pressures into electric signals.

Using molecular and cellular approaches with electrophysiology, Reza Sharif-Naeini, a professor in McGill's Department of Physiology, and his team were able to establish that TACAN is found on the membrane of pain sensing cells where it forms tunnel like pores, a structure known as an ion channel.

The researchers also created a mouse model where TACAN could be "turned off," making the animals significantly less sensitive to painful mechanical stimuli.

"This demonstrates that TACAN contributes to sensing mechanical pain," says Sharif-Naeini, who is also the study's senior author.

A decade-long search

About 70 years ago, scientists imagined that tiny sensors might be responsible for providing our brain with useful information about our environment, explaining our sense of touch or our capacity to feel pain when pinched.

These sensors have since been discovered to be ion channels - pore like structures capable of translating mechanical pressures exerted on a cell into electrical signals that travel to the brain to be processed - a phenomenon known as mechanotransduction.

This phenomenon has been shown to be central in several physiological processes such as hearing, touch and the sensation of thirst. But the identity of the sensor responsible for mechanical pain remained elusive.

Because "most of the pain we feel - a pinch or a stubbed toe - is mechanical in nature," Sharif-Naeini said that competition to find the newly discovered sensor was fierce.

With the rampant problem of opioid overuse, the finding has practical implications for people who suffer from chronic pain. Patients with conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or neuropathic pain often develop mechanical allodynia, a condition where mechanical pain receptors become overly sensitive. Trivial things such as walking or a light touch thus become extremely painful, leading to a significant reduction in the quality of their lives.

"Now that we have identified the sensor associated with mechanical pain, we can start designing new powerful analgesic drugs that can block its action. This discovery is really exciting and brings new hope for novel pain treatment," adds Sharif-Naeini.

###

"TACAN is an ion channel involved in sensing mechanical pain" by Lou Beaulieu-Laroche et al. was published in Cell.

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Groupe d'etude des proteines membranaires.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada's top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
Uber and other vehicle-for-hire drivers may not have to do any in-person training under the citys newly proposed requirements.

Those requirements, which detail criteria for mandatory driver training, were quietly posted on the citys website on Feb. 14 as it solicits applications from third-party companies that want to be qualified to provide that training.

The requirements recommend that several practical elements like driving in an urban setting may be delivered through in-car training, video or simulations on-line.

The rules will apply to all vehicle-for-hire drivers, including taxis, under a change that technically came into effect at the start of this year. New drivers will have to provide proof of training by June 1, and existing drivers by the end of the year.

The new city rules leave open the possibility that companies like Uber and Lyft, which already operate legally in the city without any mandatory training, will choose the least-onerous training programs for their drivers  by video only.

Its beyond disappointing, said Cheryl Hawkes, whose 28-year-old son Nicholas Cameron was killed while travelling as a passenger in an Uber in 2018.

She called it lowering the bar yet again after council first voted to remove training for taxi drivers to, it was argued, level the playing field with the new app-based companies.

In 2019, council agreed to increased safety provisions under the citys bylaw governing vehicles-for-hire, including adding the requirement for mandatory training for all drivers.

Is it too much to ask for one in-car driving test? Hawkes asked.

Coun. Gord Perks (Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park) said he tells people not to use private companies like Uber over ongoing safety concerns.

You cant train someone to drive a commercial vehicle in the city of Toronto by showing them videos, he said. Ubers whole business model is built on cheaping out on safety and driver training. The city has caved here and put the business interests of Uber ahead of the safety of passengers.

Beck Taxis Kristine Hubbard called the city requirements infuriating.

Taxi companies, who stand to lose the most in the growth of rideshare apps, have long opposed the city regulating companies like Uber and Lyft and say it was a mistake by council to lessen safety requirements for everyone.

Beck has been running a training program for its drivers, including an in-car portion, through Centennial College since council originally removed the training requirements.

Hubbard said that if the new city-approved training is done remotely, the city will have no way to monitor if the actual drivers are doing it.

One person could sit and collect money for hundreds of other people and just sit and do tests all day, she said.

Other elements of the training requirements include how to interact with TTC streetcars and how to provide services to those with accessibility issues. Companies wanting to be accredited to provide training have until March 13 to submit applications.

The city said an expert panel of city and Canada Safety Council representatives reviewed the criteria and will help screen applications.

Carleton Grant, executive director, of the citys municipal licensing and standards division, told the Star in a statement that they worked with Centennial College to develop the eligibility requirements.

When asked whether it recommended criteria that allowed video-only training, Centennial Colleges Janna Erichsen, chair of part-time learning at the school of transportation, said: We consulted, however final decisions were made by the city.

Erichsen said the college plans to apply for city accreditation.

Asked about how to ensure video training is properly administered, Grant said: The city also has the ability to ensure that approved driver training programs have systems in place to ensure the integrity of their programs. He did not explain how the city would do that.

In a statement, Mayor John Torys spokesperson Don Peat said, it is our expectation that city staff will approve programs that have a mix of delivery methods for the training, including in-car training.

Fatima Reyes, the communications manager for Lyft Canada, said in a statement that the updated city bylaw allows Lyft to continue prioritizing safety, while ensuring Torontonians benefit from a reliable and cost-effective form of transportation. She did not answer questions about how video training would be handled by the company, or its preference for the method of training.

Martin Gray, manager of public policy for Uber Canada, said in a statement the company has been working closely with the city on the new requirements and is continuously investing in safety. Uber also did not directly answer the Stars questions about video training.

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Appachu Ranjan, BJP MLA from Madikeri, said a woman named Amulya had raised Pakistan Zindabad slogan at Bengaluru during a CAA-related meeting

Bengaluru: A day after Karnataka minister BC Patil felt the need for a law to shoot people who raise pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans, another BJP MLA on Monday said such people should be shot at sight or exiled to the neighbouring country.

Appachu Ranjan, MLA from Madikeri, said a woman named Amulya had raised Pakistan Zindabad slogan at Bengaluru during a CAA-related meeting.

"People saying Pakistan Zindabad, despite living in our country- eating food and drinking water available here- they should be shot at sight. Or else such people should be exiled to Pakistan, and no one should should show softness towards them and fight cases in their favour," he said at Somwarpet in Kodagu.

Amulya Leona, a woman who raised pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Bengaluru on Thursday, has been booked for sedition and remanded to judicial custody.

She had raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans thrice after the organisers, under the banner of "Save the Constitution", invited her to address the gathering in the presence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Agriculture minister Patil on Sunday had expressed the need for a legislation to shoot such people, and said he would make a request to the prime minister in this regard. "A law should be brought in the country that who ever raises slogans against India and in favour of Pakistan, they should be shot at sight. Bringing such a law is important," Patil had said.
West Nyack

An Orthodox Jewish man credited as a hero for attacking a knife-wielding man who stabbed five people during a Hanukkah celebration north of New York City is refusing to take a $20,000 reward from established Jewish groups because he considers them Zionists, according to a rabbi who knows him.

Officials with the Jewish Federation and the Anti-Defamation League told The Journal News that they were caught off guard by Josef Gluck's decision to turn down the reward, the newspaper reported Friday.

"The reward would have been for anybody who offered information that would lead to an arrest," said Miriam Allenson, spokesperson for the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County. "That was what was on our minds."

Allenson said that there were no strings with the money and that the groups had "no idea" regarding Gluck's decision to turn away the funds.

The reward presentation event was scheduled for Feb. 6, but Gluck said he had a family emergency, Allenson said.

Rabbi Dovid Feldman of Monsey said Gluck's decision stems from the discomfort he and some other Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox Jews have with organizations like the Jewish Federation and Anti-Defamation League. Feldman said Gluck was preparing to notify the groups in writing to explain in more detail his reasons for declining the reward.

Rabbi Feldman is a leader of Neturei Karta International. Its Orthodox Jewish members believe "the entire concept of a sovereign Jewish state is contrary to Jewish Law."

"It was his choice not to accept," Allenson said Monday. "We're letting it go. There's nothing else to say."

Gluck is credited with throwing his body in front of the machete-wielding man and using a wooden table to try and stop the Dec. 28 assault in Monsey, the newspaper reported. He then lured the attacker outside and documented the attacker's license plate number and alerted police.

Gluck has received several honors for his heroism, including a congressional certificate presented by U.S. Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey, of Harrison, the Town of Ramapo's Freedom Award and a New York State Senate Liberty Medal.

Evan Bernstein, an Anti-Defamation League vice president, said that while the group is disappointed Gluck decided not to accept the award, it will continue to work closely with the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey and elsewhere and offer rewards when merited to assist law enforcement in the investigation of hate crimes.

Grafton Thomas, the man accused in the stabbing, pleaded not guilty on multiple hate crime charges. Investigators found anti-Semitic writings in Thomas' journals and articles on Jews and Nazis on his cellphone, according to a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Thomas' defense attorney said last month that a psychiatrist found Thomas incompetent to stand trial.

The attack left five men wounded, including a 72-year-old who remains in a coma with a fractured skull and other injuries.
Copenhagen and Bern took the top spot thanks to having clean air, good facilities, and low crime rates. (Getty)

Copenhagen in Denmark and Bern in Switzerland have been ranked as the most liveable cities in the world, according to an annual study.

Global mobility experts, ECA (Employment Conditions Abroad) International looked at a variety of liveability factors including health services, housing and utilities, access to a social network and leisure facilities, infrastructure, climate, personal safety, political tensions and air quality to create the list.

Copenhagen and Bern took the top spot thanks to having clean air, good facilities, and low crime rates.

They were followed by The Hague in the Netherlands, Geneva in Switzerland, Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and Stavanger in Norway.

Read more: The best and worst cities to live and work as an expat in 2020

Several UK cities came in lower down the rankings with only Edinburgh making it into the top 20, coming in at number 19, tied with Stockholm in Sweden. Aberdeen wasnt far behind at number 21.

London came in at number 47, alongside Belfast, Northern Ireland, due to low personal safety and pollution scores.

Cardiff made it to 24, with Manchester at 39, and Glasgow at 55.

Neil Ashman, senior location ratings analyst at ECA International, said: Pollution, crime rate and terrorism threats are among the factors that affect the liveability of major UK cities such as London, Manchester, Belfast and Glasgow.

Dublin held on to its place within the top 10, remaining at number nine. The record number of Irish passport applicants last year will be able to benefit from the Irish capitals strong culture and infrastructure scores as well as low crime rates and good air quality.

Northern Europe dominated the top of the ranking with places such as Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Switzerland offering excellent transport links, a high standard of healthcare, and long-term political stability.

Read more: Top cities to live and work in the UK revealed

Four cities in the Netherlands placed in the top 20 with Eindhoven, a design and technology hub, climbing one place this year, making it into the top five. In Switzerland, four major cities also featured in the top 20.

Canada was revealed as the most liveable country outside Europe for UK expats, with the cities of Toronto and Vancouver the highest ranked non-European locations on the list.
On Saturday, the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced it would send evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship to Annistons Center for Domestic Preparedness, a Federal Emergency Management Agency facility, a decision that came as a surprise to elected and safety officials throughout Calhoun County, who had not been consulted prior to the decision. County and city leaders on Sunday were discussing legal action to fight the move.

Here is AL.coms complete coverage of the plan to bring coronavirus patients to Alabama

While officials say those plans are now canceled, many questions remain unanswered, but some relevant information is already available and important to remember as the situation unfolds.

What is COVID-19?

A new, or novel, form of coronavirus. COVID-19 was first seen in Wuhan, China, late last year, and has since spread to 32 locations internationally, including cases in the United States,according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Evacuees were said to be coming to Anniston. Where are they now?

A total of 328 American passengers were evacuated from the Diamond Princess and arrived back in the United States on Feb. 17, according to a New York Times report. Tests for 14 of those passengers came back positive for COVID-19 after they had already begun transport back into the United States. Those passengers landed at Travis Air Force Base in California and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Most were transported to Omaha, Nebraska, for treatment and study at the University of Nebraska.

More of those 328 passengers have tested positive, though; American officials have said at least 18 Americans who were on the ship have the virus, bringing the total in the United States up to 34.

What is the Diamond Princess?

A cruise ship that set out from a port in Yokohama, Japan, on Jan. 20. The ship carried more than than 2,600 passengers from around the world and more than 1,000 crew members. According to a BBC report earlier this month, an elderly man from Hong Kong spent a few days on the ship before disembarking in Hong Kong, where he was later diagnosed with COVID-19. The ship was quarantined, and American passengers only began evacuating last week, according to an NPR report. More than 600 passengers have tested positive for COVID-19.

What is a coronavirus?

According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses transmitted between animals and people. Prior examples, like SARS, were transmitted from civet cats, and MERS from camels. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Ive been diagnosed with a coronavirus. Do I have COVID-19?

Unlikely. Coronavirus is a common diagnosis, while COVID-19, a new form of coronavirus, is currently rare in the United States. According to the CDC, human coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s. There are four types  229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1  that are the most common diagnoses. The CDC and Alabama Department of Public Health have both issued guidelines for healthcare providers to help diagnose COVID-19, which should help doctors recognize the novel strain of coronavirus.

How do I protect myself from an infection?

The CDC recommends following the same everyday disease prevention routine that helps protect against colds and the flu: Wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects.

Are there any groups of people or demographics I should be wary of?

No. The chances of COVID-19 infection are still low in the United States, according to the CDC. The organization released a statement about stigmatizing people  especially those of Asian descent  which states that paranoia hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger towards ordinary people instead of the disease that is causing the problem.

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Three units of Goldman Sachs pleaded not guilty Monday in Malaysia over the investment bank's alleged role in the multi-billion-dollar scandal at the country's sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, official media reported.

Huge sums were allegedly looted from the Malaysian fund in a globe-spanning fraud, which reportedly involved ex-leader Najib Razak and his inner circle.

Goldman's role has been under scrutiny as it helped arrange a series of bond issues worth USD 6.5 billion for the investment vehicle.

Malaysia in 2018 filed charges against the units -- Goldman Sachs International, Goldman Sachs (Asia), and Goldman Sachs (Singapore).

They were accused of giving false statements that led to large sums being misappropriated in relation to the bond issues.

A Goldman Sachs representative entered not guilty pleas at Kuala Lumpur High Court, Malaysia's national agency Bernama reported.

The judge said the trial would begin in November.

Goldman has previously vowed to fight charges against it linked to 1MDB, saying the former Malaysian government and the fund lied to the bank.

Former Goldman executive Tim Leissner pleaded guilty to bribery and money laundering conspiracy charges linked to the 1MDB case, and agreed to a lifetime ban from the securities industry.

The scandal played a major role in Najib losing power in 2018 and he has since been arrested and put on trial.

The US Department of Justice, which is investigating the scandal as money was laundered through the American financial system, estimates that some USD 4.5 billion was stolen from the fund.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chamith Buthgumwa, Director, Isobar Sri Lanka, writes about how brands are using messaging to connect to customers, in real-time and personally. Customer service channels worldwide stand to gain much for their businesses by keeping in step with the preferences for their customers  and messaging is sure to be a critical part of it, he affirms.

According to Statista, 2020 will see over 5 billion people  two-thirds of all humans alive  use mobiles. Out of them, nearly 2.2 billion will be on the likes of WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, KakaoTalk, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. Thats 1.6 billion more people on messenger apps than just three years ago; and the apps have become a part of everything  from booking a check-up to organising their best friends baby shower.

With so many of the world messaging instead of talking to each other, messaging seems to be fast replacing person-to-person communication as the universal language of intimacy! Its changed how we share news with family, and emojis with friends. In fact, 70 per cent of customers would rather select the message me button than call me. Customers were 25 per cent more satisfied after a messaging conversation, than one over the phone. And since 2015, the number of brands using messaging to connect to customers, in real-time and personally, has been growing. But not fast enough. A tragic majority of businesses are still coyly replying customers on Twitter and Facebook with email-style messages, denying themselves the opportunity the platform affords. Could this be evidence for a lack of tools that help business connect personally and securely with the customer?

With Messenger and WhatsApp holding 1.3 billion and 1.5 billion users each, the space for messaging apps is as fragmented as it is competitive. WhatsApp and FB Messenger dominate share in Africa, the Americas, Australia and significant portions of the Middle East. WeChat, Viber and Line Telegram are more popular in certain other regions, including Japan, China, Russia and Iran. However, cutting across the differences of politics and language, is a visibly growing preference for peer-to-peer sharing and messaging as a news source.

Bringing this all back to business, we live in an age where post-sale customer delight is the standard, and the lines between marketing and customer service is blurred by great customer experiences. Customer service channels worldwide stand to gain much for their businesses by keeping in step with the preferences for their customers  and messaging is sure to be a critical part of it.

A superior customer service experience  crucial as it is for brand loyalty  isnt the only benefit organisations are seeing with messaging apps. End-to-end encryption security, GDPR compliance, and if used with a chatbot, round-the-clock availability, efficiency and automation. Smart businesses are taking this all one step ahead, and integrating messaging apps with their omnichannel stack, giving todays customer the experience, they expect. The year 2020 will see Facebook monetise WhatsApp with ads on your status tab, hot on the heels of their success with Messenger Ads. Messenger apps are well on their way to retain the lead as a preferred communication channel, and possibly advertising channel as well. Sure of providing customers a more seamless and engaging experience, the only question unanswered is which businesses customers will be engaging with.
A drunken mother and daughter abused cabin crew staff and even threw a punch at one, sparking a mid-air 'riot' after being repeatedly asked to stop swearing in front of other passengers, a court has heard.

Karin Parkes, 56, and daughter Carrie, 36, triggered a 'full on fight' involving up to 20 men at 30,000 feet while intoxicated on pink gin, it was alleged.

Staff on the easyJet flight from Manchester to Agadir in Morocco, which had 186 passengers on board, tried to calm the two women down but Carrie stuck her fingers in her ears and said: 'I'm not listening to that vile c**t.'

The captain of the aircraft eventually diverted to Casablanca after staff told him the rear of the cabin where the women were sitting was 'out of control.'

During the rampage it was alleged Karin swung a punch at a steward while Carrie had to be forcibly held down by other passengers after she demanded to use the toilet when the plane was coming into land.

The two women both deny being drunk on an aircraft while Karin also denies assaulting a member of cabin crew.

A third passenger Jonathan Thomas, 36, also from Blackpool denies being drunk on an aircraft.

Karin Parkes (left) and daughter Carrie leaving Manchester Magistrates Court, where they are accused of abusing and attacking cabin crew while drunk

They are charged with air rage offences over claims they sparked a mid-air 'riot' on an easyJet flight from Manchester to Morocco

An almost empty one litre bottle of Gordon's Pink Gin and empty bottles of vodka were found near the seats of the women after the flight landed.

The mother and daughter, both from Blackpool, Lancashire, were later detained by police.

Manchester Magistrates court was told the incident on January 19 last year began after flight EZ1905 took off at 3.30pm from Terminal One, Manchester.

A cabin manager said he urged the rowdy group to refrain from using bad language but was told: 'You can f*** off you c**t. Do what the f*** you want I'm not a**ed. We will see what happens.'

Nick Smart, prosecuting, added: 'One hour into the flight crew members at the rear of the aircraft had to ask a large group of males and two females to keep the noise down.

'Later the cabin manager spoke to all of them but whilst addressing them he heard one say: ''you can f*** off you c***''.

'He formed the view they were intoxicated and decided no more alcohol would be served.

'But on several more occasions the group had to be told to keep the noise down by various crew members. When told to quieten down Carrie Parkes put her fingers in her ears and said ''I'm not listening to that vile c**t''.

An almost empty one litre bottle of Gordon's Pink Gin and empty bottles of vodka were found near their seats. The mother and daughter, both from Blackpool, Lancashire (pictured on Carrie's Snapchat), were detained by police after the flight landed

'Karin Parkers then punched Carrie in the arm and told her not to speak to the crew like that.

'It would appear their eyes were becoming more red and glazed, Carrie Parkes was noticeably more drunk - her eyes were redder, more glazed and she fell off her seat she was trying to kneel on it.

'A little later on crew members decided it was time to collect rubbish it was discovered that a one litre bottle of Gordon's Pin Gin sticking out of a bag with only a small amount left in.

'That bottle and other empty bottles were recovered. The cabin officer heard Carrie Parkes shout more abuse and he began to explain to her that the captain had been already warned regarding the situation and she was told if it continued he would be further informed.

'But at this stage Karin Parkes came up to him shouting at his face saying he showed no duty of care towards Carrie.

Carrie Parkes outside Manchester magistrates court. The pilot diverted the flight to Casablanca after the 'riot'

'He considered she was drunk as she smelled strongly of alcohol, her eyes were glazed and she had stumbled towards him. She then swung her arm towards him with a closed fist her knuckle slid past his jaw. Other passengers got out of their seats trying to hold her back it was decided to divert the plane to Casablanca.

'The seat belt signs were illuminated but Carrie Parkes was shouting she needed the toilet. She stood up and was held down by nearby males but stood up again and refused to sit.

'When the plane landed Carrie Parkes at first refused to leave and began swearing at the cabin crew before eventually leaving somewhat violently.'

Cabin manager Liam Dickson told the hearing: 'There were people at the back being loud and using bad language and I went down and addressed this.

'But as I turned away I heard abuse being thrown a me. I knew it was the daughter's voice because I had just been talking to her. I said there is no need to speak to me like that but she wasn't interested - I could tell she had had a few drinks.

'Her mother was trying to control her trying to knock her on the arm and initially it did reassure me. But later there was more commotion and there was a couple of bags of alcohol being removed which they had been consuming on board the plane. It was very rowdy at this point there was a lot of swearing going on.

'I was trying to calm everyone down but there was now people stood up, there was bad language they were still being really abusive towards the crew. The mother did listen but the daughter didn't.

'The group even had their own speakers on board and that was playing quite load, I said these needed to be switched off and I didn't serve any more alcohol on that aircraft.

'But they were getting louder and louder I could smell alcohol on the mother. The daughter was with two men beside her and she was punching the seats.

'Her eyes were glazed she was very red in the face. She was trying to kneel on the seat but kept falling back.

'Then the mother started coming towards me she was staggering towards me and again I could smell alcohol. Her words were ''You've got no duty of care for my daughter'' and she did actually put her fists up towards me. I managed to step back her knuckles did catch the right side of my jaw. She was very close. She was just out of control.

A third passenger Jonathan Thomas, 36, also from Blackpool denies being drunk on an aircraft

'There were lads at this point who had jumped out of their seats and I didn't know if they were coming to protect or attack us. I stepped back and there was quite a big passenger who had grabbed Karin by her arms and dragged her to the back galley.

'There was a lot of fists flying around with other passengers. It was as if there was a riot happening at the back of the cabin and there were at least 15-20 men stood up at this point and I was very concerned.

'I actually went into the flight deck to tell them that the cabin was out of control and a full on fight was happening. I requested a divert straight away, the captain just asked me to keep it under control.

'The whole plane knew what was happening and Carrie was screaming and shouting - she was out of control and the crew members were trying to advise her to get back in her seat she was up in the aisle as we were landing. Carrie took a while to get off - she was in the galley crying to the crew members. There was a lot of kicking off, screaming, shouting.

'She had her fingers up towards the passengers telling them to ''f*** off'' she made quite a big scene while she was getting off the aircraft.

'It did play on my mind for a long time in the way they was trying to physically assault myself and crew members.

'It a very hard situation to deal with. They were out of control threatening and abusive.'

Air stewardess Beth Halliwell said: 'There was a lady passenger who asked if she could she move seats saying: ''they are doing my head in.''

'It then got out of control and I started to see people jumped up and arms flailing. My colleagues were very shaken up like we had lost all control of the cabin. When I got towards the back there was a lot of shouting and swearing going on towards Liam.

'Carrie was abusing him. We tried to tell Carrie to sit back down until we were on the ground and it was safe but she would get back up again. I remember Karin shouting: ''this is all your fault'' and it seemed like Carrie was shouting across. I was quite scared.

'Karin seemed regretful for it getting out of hand but her speech was quite slurred. I have never been so scared in my life at work it was very intimidating it was just not a nice experience at all.'

The trial continues.
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The question is whether movie sets safe for cast and crew in general.

With the arrest of the crane operator who was responsible for the equipment that came crashing down on February 19 and took the lives of three crew members of Shankars Indian 2 on the outskirts of Chennai, the question of safety measures on movie sets has come up again. Apparently, director Shankar and leading man Kamal Haasan are likely to be called in for questioning soon.

While most of the Tamil film industry is silent on the issue of safety  or the lack of it  a young filmmaker admitted on condition of anonymity that safety rules are often flouted on film sets. Everyone wants the scenes to be done quickly, so that they can go home. Yeah, rules are flouted. Nothing new about it, he said.

Says director Raj Nidimoru, of the Raj-DK duo who directed Go Goan Gone and Stree, The incident on the sets of Indian 2 was very unfortunate and horrific. Safety is not something thats foremost in the minds of many... and theres no value for life. Most of the things are done in a jugaad way. There are too many people doing too many things on the sets. Crowds of crew lead to a chaotic approach. A lot of process can be streamlined from the point of view of safety. This is where I feel the film bodies/unions come in. They need to sit together with producers and formulate rules and guidelines, keeping safety in mind. Every stunt is a risk. Its about first creating a safe environment and getting the right people to do the right job in a place that has the right equipment. Its not about winging it. Its not about Hojaayega... karlenge. Kamal Haasan has himself been a victim of several accidents on location, including 34 bone fractures.

Recalling his most serious injury, Kamal said, In a Tamil film, Kaligan, I did an action scene in a subway. It was a relatively easy sequence. But a car sped up and hit me smack on my spine. I landed on top of the car. Then, when it halted, I went under the wheel. I dislocated my jaw, my nose was cracked and I had three fractures. I thought Id never walk again. Thats when I made a comedy called Ladies Only  to feel better.

Then again, for the Hindi comedy, Mumbai Express, Kamal Haasan was shooting with a child actor on a motor cycle when the vehicle turned turtle. To protect the child from injury, Kamal took the full brunt of the fall.
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World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference Monday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 79,400 and killed at least 2,600 so far.

Named COVID-19, the virus has shuttered commerce across much of China and is hitting company earnings, global stock markets and manufacturing across the world.

WHO officials declared the virus a global health emergency last month, while urging the public against over-reacting to the virus.

In the past week, the virus has spread substantially beyond China. In Italy, the virus has infected more than 220 people and killed five as of Monday morning. The majority of the cases are in the northern region of Lombardy and neighboring Veneto, where authorities have shut schools and banned public gatherings in an attempt to contain the virus.

South Korea confirmed another 231 cases on Monday, which brings the total in the country to more than 830. The recent surge in cases prompted the South Korean government raise the COVID-19 alert to its highest level.

Meanwhile, Iran health officials have confirmed 61 total cases in the country as of Monday, with 12 deaths nationwide. Most of the confirmed cases were found in the city of Qom. However, last week health ministry official Minou Mohrez warned about unconfirmed cases.

"It's possible that it exists in all cities in Iran," he said.

The localized outbreaks 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.

As the virus spreads, director-general of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is calling the international community to action before it's too late."The window of opportunity is still there, but our window of opportunity is narrowing," he said on Friday. "We need to act quickly before it closes completely."

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Srinagar, Feb 24 : Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who operates her mother's twitter account has hit out at the Modi government.

In a tweet, Iltija talked about US President Donald Trump's India visit and wrote about the anti-CAA violence in Delhi and the rights of Kashmiris.

She alleged that Mahatma Gandhi's legacy is remembered only at perfunctory visits to the Sabarmati ashram while his values have been forgotten.

"Hi Tea & Namastey Trump while Delhi burns & 8 million Kashmiris remain deprived of fundamental rights. Gandhi ji's legacy remembered only at perfunctory visits to Sabarmati ashram by foreign dignitaries. His values long forgotten," she tweeted.

Iltija hit headlines after the detention of Mehbooba Mufti following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year by giving several interviews to national and international media.

She has been critical of the Centre for banning social media in Kashmir.
"We're proud and honored to have been selected for this contract allowing us to continue our support of NASA's mission," said Ed Boyington, president and CEO of Vertex Aerospace. "As the incumbent, this win is a testament to the trust our partners place in Vertex and the high-caliber services we provide. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with NASA."

During the course of the current contract, Vertex has provided pilots who have served as navigators, flight engineers, and instructor pilots, providing over 350 hours of instruction from 2013 to 2017. Transition efforts in support of this new award commenced January 17, 2020, and full performance began February 1, 2020.

About Vertex Aerospace

Vertex Aerospace offers a global capability and complete solution for aftermarket aerospace services for government and commercial customers. The Company's international presence and vast range of services has distinguished it from competitors for over 45 years. The Mississippi-based Company operates in over 100 locations worldwide and is proud to have a 50 percent veteran employee rate. Information about Vertex can be found at vtxaero.com.

POC: Rachel C. Henson

Corporate Communications Manager

[email protected]

Wk: 601-607-6552

Cell: 601-760-9297

SOURCE Vertex Aerospace

Related Links

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The US government and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will face off today in an extradition hearing in a high-security London courthouse.

The US authorities are trying to have the Australian sent to them for trial on spy charges, a decade after WikiLeaks published a trove of classified military documents.

The 18 charges carry a maximum term of 175 years.

The Woolwich Crown Court hearing follows years of drama, including Mr Assange (48) taking refuge for seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, beyond the reach of the authorities in Sweden, who wanted to try him on sex assault charges.

He had refused to go to Stockholm, saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the US or Guantanamo Bay.
President Donald Trump's national security advisor said Sunday he had seen no intelligence that Russia was again meddling in the US elections in favor of his boss. The assertions by National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien followed this week's ouster of the acting director of national intelligence after an aide had warned Congress of the meddling. "I haven't seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump re-elected," O'Brien said on ABC's "This Week," dismissing the reports as a "non-story." Shelby Pierson, an aide to acting intelligence chief Joseph Maguire, reportedly told members of the House Intelligence Committee in a classified briefing February 13 that Russia was again meddling in the US elections and had developed a preference for Trump. O'Brien said he had not spoken with Pierson but said he had been briefed by Maguire and CIA chief Gina Haspel "and I have not heard that analysis or seen any intel along those lines." "Who knows what happened at the House and the intelligence committee, but I haven't seen any evidence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump re-elected, and our message to the Russians is stay out of the US elections," O'Brien said. Trump, after learning of the House briefing, is reported to have dressed down Maguire in a tense Oval Office meeting. On Wednesday, he replaced him with Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist who is ambassador to Germany. Maguire had been considered the favorite to be nominated to the post on a permanent basis. But O'Brien insisted that Maguire was replaced because his term as acting director of national intelligence was up on March 11. "The president was not angry with Joe Maguire," O'Brien said. "He thinks very highly of Admiral Maguire, and would elect him to stay in government in a different role, but as you know, his time as the acting DNI was up in a week or two." On Twitter, Trump has dismissed the reports of the intelligence warning as a "rumor" and a "hoax," as he did after the US intelligence community concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help him win. Separately, US officials were reported to have briefed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination, that Russia was also interfering to help his campaign. "My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do," Sanders said in a statement.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Dear Care and Feeding,

I am concerned about my 11-year-old sons hygiene. When I was 11, I was showering every day of my own accord. My son does not shower unless and until someone tells him to. I am not convinced his showering involves more than rinsing, and I dont trust him to be honest with me. He frequently lies about whether hes brushed his teeth. I will tell him after breakfast to go upstairs and brush his teeth, and he will go upstairs and wet his toothbrush so it looks like he did, but then not brush his teeth. WHY???

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Additionally, he does not seem to care about his clothes. I dont mean hes got a grunge look, I mean he will wear clothes that obviously clash horrifically or do not fit him correctly (think skinny jeans that he outgrew a year ago, shirts that are too small and let his belly come out, or pants that are so big they are falling off even though theyre not designed to be those kinds of pants). Ive spoken to his father about it (we are divorced but co-parent together amicably), and he is also concerned, so its not just me having unreasonable expectations for a pre-adolescent boy.

Finally, and most distressing for me, he is clearly not doing a good job at wiping himself. When I do his laundry, I find skid marks on his underpants. I talked to him about it, and now he just avoids me doing his laundry and puts it into the wash himself. I suspect he is also throwing away underwear after they get very badly messed up because he seems to never have enough even though I buy them fairly often, and he hasnt reported outgrowing any.

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I want my son to take responsibility for his body and the image of himself he presents to the world. I dont want to be looking over his shoulder and reminding him to shower and wipe his butt. He starts middle school next year, and we all know thats hard enough without being the smelly kid! This is not a financial issue; his father and I buy him clothes regularly and would also buy any self-care products he would ask for. This year for back-to-school clothes, I got him an online subscription to clothes for a few months and set a generous budget for him to spend on it because I thought it would help to give him a sense of having more control over his clothes and possibly get him more interested in constructing cool outfits. It doesnt seem to have had any effect, although he was enthusiastic about the clothes. What can I do to help/encourage him to prioritize his appearance and hygiene?

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Distraught Tween Mom

Dear DTM,

This can be an extremely gross age. I get a lot of letters about this exact phase in a young persons hygienic journey (we cannot really smell ourselves reliably, and tweens do not necessarily detect the transition from having the sweat glands of a child to the stank glands of an adolescent). I remember a day in seventh grade (Grade 7, really, because of Canada) when our long-suffering teacher arrived carrying a crate of Teen Spirit, which he distributed to everyone and said please do not enter my class without having put on deodorant, its like the ape enclosure at the zoo in here. This is all to say: You are not alone.

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There are things you can do! First of all, donate or toss the too-small clothes. Pack up the too-large clothes. You can also choose to purchase only clothes that do not hideously clash, but I would let him continue to dress like Pete Davidson if that is where his heart lies (the kids are all about power-clashing these days). Its the hygiene you really want to focus on.

You cannot barge into the shower to ensure he is using soap, but you can sniff him when he exits (dressed or in a towel) and send him back in to get it right. You can absolutely stand over him while he correctly brushes his teeth, reminding him that tooth-brushing autonomy is something he has lost by his own duplicity and will have to be re-earned over time. You can insist he wear deodorant.

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The skid marks. Sadly, many people far older than your son have chosen to decide that its totally normal to end the day with underwear that looks like its been dragged under a car. I appreciate that, anatomically, some people have sufficiently furry undercarriages that toilet paper doesnt really do the trick, but your wetting-the-toothbrush son is unlikely to embrace a bidet, and I hate to contribute to climate change by encouraging daily baby wipe usage. If that winds up being the only solution, make sure hes not flushing them. I think its great your son is taking on the laundry responsibility for his dirty underwear, but since you are losing them at a great rate, it is not at all unreasonable to inform him that he will be replacing future missing pairs out of his allowance, which may offer the necessary motivation to get the job done more reliably.

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I advise you to ask your ex-husband to have the skid mark conversation, man to man, and also to tell him about your other hygiene strategies so he can enforce them on his own parenting time. It sounds like you have a very good co-parenting relationship, and share the same concerns, so I think this will go rather smoothly.

Tweens can be gross. Your tween is medium-to-high-gross in his habits. You have not failed. I think the situation will improve. Keep me posted, because I would love an update, and I think a lot of our readers will face this transition and it would be great to see what works and what doesnt.

On a personal note, please consider watching John Mulaneys New in Town special on Netflix, in which he discusses his lawyer father cross-examining him on his BONE-dry toothbrush. Mulaney wasnt even sneaky enough to wet his toothbrush, and now hes selling out Radio City Music Hall for multiple night engagements.

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Dear Care and Feeding,

I have a 3-year-old son, Max, and a daughter, Alice, who is almost 6. They have been sharing a bedroom since my son was 4 months old. Recently, my adult stepdaughter moved out, creating an open bedroom. My question is, do I separate the kids, or keep them together, and for how long? I know Alice would love her own room, but my little guy would have a hard time adjusting to not having his sister so close at night, and he would probably feel left behind. So far, Alice hasnt asked to move into her sisters old room but was very excited when she got to sleep there one night, when Max kept climbing up on her bed. Max cried for an hour that night.

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The kids have very different personalities; Alice enjoys making up stories with her dolls and drawing. She is generally very cautious, follows rules well, but sometimes gets upset at night, because she is afraid of having a bad dream, or saw something scary on the news. Max will dive right into anything and can be a bit wild. He cant always sit still for bedtime stories, and sometimes has trouble settling down at night. However, they get along very well, and clearly love each other tremendously.

To Share or Not to Share

Dear TSoNtS,

Oh, this is so convenient, because I have handled a very similar issue! I would tell Alice and Max that continuing to share a room depends on Maxs behavior. If Alices sleep is disturbed because Max is pestering her, she is welcome to get up and move to the other bedroom. If it happens enough that she says, Hey, I really want my own room, then she should be allowed to make it hers permanently. This will sadden Max, but life is full of consequences for our goofy behavior, and they would not have shared a room until college anyway.

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My kids have worked it out and continue to enjoy sharing a room. Some mornings I find one of them in the other bedroom, for whatever reason (coughing, jumping, an argument), but for now, theyd rather be together. Having an extra bedroom is a very rare and easy way to sort out squabbles, and we are both lucky to have that option. Keep it as an option for now, but let Alice decide when shes ready. She may immediately jump to the other room, and thats just fine. Max will be OK.

 If you missed Sundays Care and Feeding column, read it here.

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 Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!

Dear Care and Feeding,

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We have allowed our very responsible 12-year-old son to start an Instagram account to feature our dog. The stipulation he agreed to was that I get full access to his account to view private chats. There is a group of kids in his class who chat on this forum. I have noticed some serious concerns about online bullying between other children (not involving my son), and I am wondering if I should let the parents know? There is one boy in particular who has told another child that he is fat and should just go kill himself. I know this childs mother and as a mom myself, I would want to hear that my child is saying these hurtful and damaging things to another child. On the other hand, my son is adamant that I not get involved so he is not implicated in being the snitch. Thoughts?

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Concerned in Canada

Dear Concerned in Canada,

I would screenshot those messages and send them to the parents of the kid being bullied, asking them (strongly!) not to share their provenance. I would allow your son to keep his account, because then you retain the ability to see whats going on. If you make him delete it, hes absolutely likely to start a secret account (which he may well have anyway, the kids are way ahead of us), and then if he becomes a target, you will not know about it.

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Instagram has an age limit set to 13, which is close enough to your sons age that I think allowing him to have a dog-photo account was reasonable enough parenting. He hasnt done anything wrong with it, but he also doesnt get to be adamant in a situation where you have seen a kid being told to kill himself. Thats not a keepable secret.

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If he is very upset with you sharing the screenshots, even with the proviso that they be screenshotted in a way to keep his identity private and a very firm request to the other boys parents that they not reveal who sent them, hell look back on this as an adult (let alone as a parent) and realize you did exactly what had to be done. And if he doesnt  you still did the right thing.

Is It OK to Intervene With Other Peoples Bad Kids on the Playground?

Dan Kois and Jamilah Lemieux are joined by Elizabeth Newcamp on this weeks episode of Slates parenting podcast, Mom and Dad Are Fighting.

Dear Care and Feeding,

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I recently walked in on my 14-year-old daughter and her best (female) friend kissing. My husband and I have no particular problem with thisthe two girls have a sweet, supportive friendship; the fact that theyre both girls is immaterial to us; and we have no problem with our daughter exploring her sexuality. Weve talked to my daughter, both before this incident and since, about relationships, safe sex, and the physical and emotional issues that both those topics bring. Weve also made it clear that shes welcome to talk to us about this development in her relationship with her friend, but we respect her privacy (so far, shes declined any further conversation).

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My question is whether I should tell the friends parents. The parents are friends of ours, though not especially close. I dont know their position on romantic relationships for their daughter at her age, but Im reasonably certain that the girls gender wont be an issue for them. I havent spoken to my daughters friend about this at all, so Ive made no promises, and she hasnt asked me not to tell her parents. I feel like I owe it to my daughters friend to extend the same courtesy I extended my daughterto respect her privacy. But at the same time, if I were in the parents shoes, Id want to know. Whats your advice?

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Sitting on a Secret

Dear SoaS,

I wouldnt tell them. Theyre 14, and its just kissing (to the best of your knowledge). Fourteen is a great age to start just-kissing, in my personal opinion. I would deliver a brief speech to both of them that I do not wish to violate their privacy, but in return, I trust and expect them to abide by my house rules. In this particular instance, that would be no sleepovers, and no closed doors while the friend is over. If you find them feeling each other up in your pantry, theyve lost their right to privacy, and youll call the friends parents.

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Now, what may well happen is that your daughter and her friend go to the friends house to enjoy making out (everyones kids seem to be making out on Care and Feeding right now, perhaps this is truly the first sign of spring!), at which point they will get sloppy with their op-sec and the friends parents will catch them. And those parents can react however they wish to react. There is a very good chance they will react in a way that causes your daughters friend to say BUT SUSIES PARENTS ARE COOL WITH IT and then you have to have an unpleasant conversation with them. Please do not ask the friend to lie to her parents in an attempt to avoid this. If it happens, it happens. You can tell them that you felt it was harmless behavior, took your own steps to limit age-inappropriate escalation in your home, and wanted to protect your daughters privacy.

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They can set their own house rules. They can tell their daughter she cant hang out with yours anymore. That is their right as parents. But I think that remaining silent at the moment is completely defensible. Would I be more cautious if one of the kissees was a 14-year-old boy? Probably. But with pregnancy being off the table, I would extend a little trust and a little space.

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 Nicole

More Advice From Slate

How often can I let my fifth-grader cajole me into letting him have a play date on a weekday? He begs and whines about this daily, and I feel like a bad mom for saying not on weekdays. My sons school does not give homework other than reading, but I have heard that this really ramps up in middle schoolhe will be a sixth-grader this fall. Im a working parent with a spouse who travels frequently. As a result, I operate somewhat like a single parent with my kids. Basically, I want him to do something more constructive and to have a more predictable routine on weekdays. Am I wrong?
PORTERVILLE, CaliforniaMurder charges have been filed against two 13-year-old boys suspected of starting a blaze that killed two firefighters at a central California library.

Police said the boys were arrested after they were seen running from Porterville City Library shortly after flames erupted on the afternoon of Feb. 18.

The Tulare County District Attorneys Office on Friday filed two counts of murder with special circumstances of multiple murders and arson, the Visalia Times Delta reported.

The boys denied the charges and remain in jail, the newspaper said. Their names were not released because they are minors. They are scheduled to return to juvenile court on March 11.

Firefighters Patrick Jones, 25, and Raymond Figueroa, 35, were killed as they battled the flames that gutted the library in the town about 50 miles north of Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley.

The library was built in 1953 and did not have sprinklers, said Fire Capt. Joanne Bear.

It was not immediately known if the boys have attorneys who can speak on their behalf.

In California, children under 14 cant be tried as adults, even if they are charged with serious and violent felonies, such as murder.
Maria Alcivar-Zuniga has reached different milestones in her life since her illegal arrival in the United States of America in 1999 with her family, according to the Ames Tribune. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Iowa State University. Before 1999, she lived in Ecuador.

A Story of Success of a Once Undocumented Immigrant

Alcivar-Zuniga is married with one child, recently became a legal citizen of the United States, attained her masters, and is currently in the process of receiving her doctorate. She has accomplished a lot in the United States since 1999.

She gave birth to her child in December 2019. Three days before, she received an important email.

As she opened her email account to read messages, one message stood out. The message contains an invitation to Washington D.C. Seven other students in their graduate studies across the US also received the invitation.

In six weeks, Alcivar-Zuniga will be going to Washington D.C. for the acceptance of the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award. The award is granted to graduate students who are perceived to become the future leaders of higher education. Also, the award is granted to students who had shown dedication in creating academic and showcasing civic responsibility for themselves and to the community. Lastly, the award is given to those whose works emphasize on learning and teaching.

Alcivar-Zuniga said that she was shocked to receive such a prestigious award. She shared that it took her an entire day to realize that there are people who believed in her leadership skills and it will be recognized in a few weeks.

Her Work about Iowa Immigration Policy and Latin Community Empowerment

To most of her colleagues and mentors at the Iowa State University, the award was a reward for her exemplary work about immigration policy and the empowerment of the Iowa Latin community.

Alcivar-Zuniga will soon receive her doctorate in human development and family studies. As an immigrant who arrived in the United States when she was only 11, she did not think that reaching such a milestone in life would be possible for her.

Her work's focus is on the empowerment of the Iowan Latin community for both the youth and families. Her past had inspired her to pursue such studies.

Her personal experience and journey as a previously undocumented immigrant in the United States to a legal citizen of the United States, her academic achievements, and research had inspired her to make a study about general immigration policies and families.

The Iowa State University's Program that Helped Her in Her Work

Iowa State University and the Department of Human Services in Iowa partners every year for a research training campaign.

Alcivar-Zuniga developed a specific webinar that caters to social workers who need assistance for helping immigrant families and immigrants who survived domestic violence.

These training campaigns are not permanent for the Department of Human Services. However, Alcivar-Zuniga's efforts had made the webinar services as a permanent program to assist its staff members.

Life as an Undocumented Immigrant

Alcivar-Zuniga had difficulties adjusting after arriving in the United States with her mother and brother in 1999 as undocumented immigrants. She had difficulties learning in a new school system. Also, she had problems learning a new language. Additionally, she had to adjust to a new culture and social norms.

Upon their arrival in the US, they stayed in a one-bedroom apartment. They stayed in the apartment with her cousin. They stayed there until they were able to pay rent.

Her struggles were endless in their first few years in a new country. However, Alcivar-Zuniga studied hard to reach her goals.

Now, she is an example of a once undocumented immigrant who had made it in the United States with nothing but a brave and hopeful heart. She is now a very capable US citizen who has great power to shape and improve the society, especially the Latino Community through her academic successes.
The US Supreme Court will decide if Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia can continue to operate as a foster care provider, and receive public funding.

The city had partially blocked its funding to the religious, social service contractor after learning in 2018 that it had a policy of turning away same-sex couples who wanted to foster children.

When the city continued funding the agency for other social services, the archdiocese filed a lawsuit, claiming its First Amendment rights were violated.

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (pictured) has asked the US Supreme Court to decide if it can continue a policy of refusing same-sex couples who want to foster children, and receive public funding as a contractor for the city

The city of Philadelphia partially blocked its funding to the religious, social service contractor after learning in 2018 that it had a policy of turning away same-sex couples who wanted to foster children. Pictured, Philadlephia's City Hall as it is viewed from Market Street

Now, after losing its case on appeal, the agency has taken its argument to the higher court.

If the court rules in its favor, the decision could create a way for religious groups to discriminate against LGBTQ people who are seeking to legally adopt children, BuzzFeed reports.

The dispute between the city and religious contractor began in 2018, when a Phildelphia Inquirer story mentioned the agency had a policy that allowed it to refuse service to same-sex couples who wanted to be foster parents.

The city's response was to cut some of its funding to the contractor, but to continue providing money for other services, including group homes.

The agency lawsuit that followed suit claimed its First Amendement rights to free exercise were violated and that the nondiscrimination rule had been unfairly applied by the city.

The archdiocese's petition to the higher court argued that the agency 'cannot provide written endorsements for same-sex couples which contradict its religious teachings on marriage.'

The agency charged it was being targeted by Philadelphia's mayor, its city council, the Department of Human Services, and other local officials in an attempt to 'coerce it into changing its religious practices.'

If the higher court rules in favor of the Catholic Social Service of the Archdiocese of Philaldelphia, the decision could create a way for religious groups relying on public funds to discriminate against LGBTQ people

A federal district court and federal appeals court disagreed, ruling that the city's contract banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was legal and was applicable.

The rules, for example, are the same for both religious and secular contractors, BuzzFeed reports.

A filing made in October by the city says that it has enforced a ban on sexual discrimination for years.

'The city has never allowed contractors to turn away potential foster parents based on a protected characteristic,' says the filing.

'Although this longstanding policy applies to all city contractors  and although the city has long contracted with Catholic Social Services, and continues to do so for a range of other child-welfare services  (the agency) contends that the city's decision to enforce this policy against it reflects religious hostility.'

The Third Circuit of Appeals said the agency ' failed to make a persuasive showing that the city targeted it for its religious beliefs, or is motivated by ill will against its religion, rather than sincere opposition to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.'
DEERFIELD, Ill., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) Chief Financial Officer Andrew Bonfield is expected to participate in a fireside chat and Q&A session with institutional investors at CONEXPO 2020 on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. This event is being hosted by Jefferies LLC, Evercore ISI, Goldman Sachs, and Robert W. Baird & Co. as part of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) CONEXPO activities. Mr. Bonfield is scheduled to speak for 25 minutes, beginning at approximately 1:40 p.m. PST. There are no presentation materials for this event.

The event is expected to be webcast in real-time and available to the public at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/2193010/37ABDAC9A00E3C09D5200E070E463E8F.

Listeners should go to the website at least 30 minutes before the live event to register and to download and install any necessary audio software. The webcast will be available for replay for at least 90 days. A transcript is anticipated to be posted afterward on Caterpillar's investor relations website, https://www.caterpillar.com/en/investors/events-presentations.html.

About CONEXPO

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is North America's largest construction trade show representing asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earthmoving, lifting, mining, utilities and more. It is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

About AEM

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is a North American-based trade association representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers, with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide.

About Caterpillar

Since 1925, Caterpillar Inc. has been helping our customers build a better world  making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2019 sales and revenues of $53.8 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Services offered throughout the product life cycle, cutting-edge technology and decades of product expertise set Caterpillar apart, providing exceptional value to help our customers succeed. The company principally operates through three primary segments  Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation  and provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit www.caterpillar.com. To connect on social media, visit www.caterpillar.com/social-media.

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.

Related Links

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(Newser)  The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday it has stopped allowing employees to use the China-owned video app TikTok to create social media posts for the agency after the Senates top Democrat raised concerns about potential national security issues. Sen. Chuck Schumer sent a letter Saturday to TSA Administrator David Pekoske, months after news reports that the US government launched a national security review of the app, which is popular with millions of US teens and young adults, the AP reports. Schumer also cited a Department of Homeland Security policy prohibiting TikTok on agency devices. He also noted in the letter that Chinese laws compel companies to cooperate with Chinas government and intelligence collection.

story continues below

The TSA said in a statement Sunday that a "small number of TSA employees have previously used TikTok on their personal devices to create videos for use in TSAs social media outreach, but that practice has since been discontinued." In his letter, Schumer said national security experts have raised concerns about TikToks collection and handling of user data and personal information, locations, and other content. The agency said it never directed viewers to TikTok or published content directly to the platform, despite videos reposted on other TSA social media accounts having the TikTok logo in the bottom of the screen. The videos include musical parodies about what can and cannot be brought on an aircraft.

(Read more TikTok stories.)
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Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 10:15 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20662de60 1 National Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-Indonesia-zero-case,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Japan,COVID-19,outbreak,health-ministry,coronavirus,avian-influenza Free

A Japanese national has reportedly tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus after visiting Indonesia, raising concerns about the countrys ability to detect carriers of the deadly virus.

Because of this incident, Indonesian authorities are being urged to take swift actions to prevent its spread.

Bayu Krisnamurthi, who headed the National Committee for Avian Flu Control and Pandemic Preparedness between 2006 and 2010, said the Japanese man could have transmitted the virus to others in Indonesia through droplets expelled by coughs and sneezes.

The health authorities should quickly clarify this case. It should be assumed that the virus could have been contracted by someone else before the symptoms appeared, Bayu told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Previously, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that the Japanese man was in his 60s, lived in Tokyo and worked at a senior care facility.

The man visited a healthcare facility in Japan on Feb. 12 after developing cold-like symptoms but was sent home after he was not diagnosed with pneumonia. He then worked on Feb. 13, spent Feb. 14 at home and reportedly traveled to Indonesia on a family vacation on Feb. 15.

The NHK report did not specify the mans itinerary while in Indonesia.

The man returned to Japan on Feb. 19 and was soon hospitalized for having severe difficulty in breathing. He was said to be in serious condition.

Separately, the Tokyo Novel Coronavirus Infectious Disease Control Center of the Tokyo Metropolitan governments website confirmed that a Tokyo resident in his 60s had tested positive for the disease and that his symptoms appeared on Feb. 12.

The release does not mention any travel history to Indonesia, only that the man had not been to China within the previous 14 days. The patients condition was listed as serious.

The man was the 29th case of COVID-19 recorded in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Health Ministry's disease control and environment health directorate general secretary, Achmad Yurianto, said the ministry had contacted the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Tokyo to seek confirmation about the Japanese man, but his identity remained unknown.

We neither know his name nor which part of Indonesia [he visited]. So what can we investigate? Yurianto told the Post on Sunday.

Foreign Ministry acting spokesperson Teuku "Faiz" Faizasyah said that there had been no official communication with the Japanese authorities about the man.

The Post tried to contact the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo by phone on Sunday, but the line only responded with an answering machine message saying to contact the embassy during business hours.

Thats the problem: Up until now there has been no information yet from Japan, Yurianto said.

Airports across the country are using thermal scanners to detect persons who have contracted the coronavirus and are requiring international arrival passengers to provide health documents in the form of general declarations. Airlines must also provide passenger manifests to officials in the health office.

However, people with no health concerns on arrival might not show detectable signs of previous exposure to the coronavirus.

We could not possibly check them all, including their phlegm, Yurianto said.

Moreover, Bayu Krisnamurthi said the authorities should have already known the proper procedures for a virus outbreak, as there had been previous cases including the avian flu, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), among others.

He said the authorities should at least update the public daily about the coronavirus so people can get accurate and useful information since viruses mutate.

Citizens should also be persuaded to take preventive measures: wash hands, wear masks when sick with influenza, eat well-balanced nutritious food and, if needed, take some vitamins to increase the bodys immunity, he said.

Meanwhile, Amin Soebandrio, the director of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, said that if the Japanese man showed no symptoms during his stay in Indonesia he could remain undetected despite already carrying the virus during the incubation period.

The coronavirus' incubation period is up to 14 days.

This is not just in Indonesia. [The man would be undetected] in any country if no symptoms show before he returned to Japan, Amin told the Post.

Amin said that persons infected with the virus during the incubation period could theoretically spread the virus, although they would not necessarily do so if they did not show any symptoms.

If the person already has the symptoms then he can [spread the virus], Amin said.

Amin said that the Indonesian government had followed proper procedures as according to the World Health Organization, including requiring health cards and quarantine travelers recently coming to China.

So the problem is not in our ability to detect [the coronavirus] or not because we have all the measures, Amin said.

The case is the second time a patient tested positive for COVID-19 after a visit to Indonesia.

The first, a Chinese man identified as Jin, tested positive with the virus earlier this month, eight days after returning from Bali.

According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE), as of Sunday evening (Jakarta time), there were 78,823 confirmed cases globally, most of whom were in China where the virus has killed 2,437 people.

Outside of mainland China, a total 1,887 cases has been confirmed in 31 countries, including Hong Kong and Macau, resulting in 20 deaths.

Japan had 135 confirmed cases with one dead, according to Johns Hopkins CSSE.

A total of 23,364 people had recovered from the disease worldwide.
Washington County Public Schools asking public for input on funding

Washington County Public Schools is asking the public for input on how they should spend the American Rescue Plan money from the federal government.
As Elizabeth Warren addressed a crowd of about 500 supporters in Las Vegas on Friday at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheaterone day before the Nevada caucuses in which she would finish in a distant fourth placethe Massachusetts senator wound into a familiar part of her stump speech. Describing how I have known what I wanted to be since second grade, a public school teacher, Warren told the story of how she married young, dropped out of school, returned to a $50-a-semester commuter college, got her degree, and was ultimately able to achieve her goal.

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I could pay for it on a part-time waitressing job, she said. I finished my four-year diploma and I became a special education teacher.



Then came a line that she gives at every speech: Ive lived my dream job, Warren said.

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The point is that the younger Warren already struggled to reach her ambitions, priorities, and goals, and whether or not she wins the most powerful job on the planet, she has overcome long odds.

In Fridays telling, though, that subtext carried particular resonance. Warrens emphasis on the past-tense lived reflected a truth that has emerged in recent days and became much clearer after the votes were counted in Nevada: Sen. Elizabeth Warren is very likely not going to be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.

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Campaign surrogates argue against this, saying that a strong debate performance this past Wednesday in Las Vegas gave her campaign new life, showcased her skills at taking down arrogant plutocrats like Mike Bloomberg and Donald Trump, and resulted in a huge fundraising haul the night of the debate and a polling bounce. They note that there are still plenty of states left to be counted.

But the reality is that Bernie Sanders is opening up a sizable polling lead nationally and in many key states, and is building a steady delegate lead, which could soon become insurmountable. Even in her best new national poll, Warren trails Sanders by nine points in second place. In state poll after state poll released in the past week, meanwhile, she has often done no better than third. She is in fifth in a recent polling in South Carolina, where former Vice President Joe Biden still leads with Sanders in a close second. According to her strongest entrance polling showings in Nevada, meanwhile, Warren finished a distant third among black voters and fourth among Latino voters, trends thatif they continuewill only produce more drastic delegate deficits as the diverse Democratic electorate begins to have its say outside of the lily-white states of New Hampshire and Iowa.

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Warrens path to overtaking Sanders or even finishing in second in the delegate count is shrinking to virtually nothingFiveThirtyEights latest campaign forecast puts her odds of winning the nomination outright at less than 1 percent and of achieving a plurality of delegates at 2 percent. By Super Tuesday next week, they will likely fall much closer to zero.

How did Warren, who as recently as November appeared poised to take the first two states and finish a strong second in Nevada, see her campaign collapse so completely? In talking with her surrogates, supporters, and would-be supporters in the waning days of the Nevada campaign, a theme emerged. While Sanders earned unshakable support among a hardcore following of die-hards and Biden did well enough among the more typical Democratic constituency and interest groups to survive Nevada with a chance to claim victory in South Carolina, Warrens base of mostly college-educated liberals just could not make up their minds.

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I am seeking clarity, Megan Creider said before Warren took the stage at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater for the pre-caucus event on Friday. Im more of a Bernie supporter, but they do agree on a lot of the same issues, so Im not against Warren whatsoever. Im seeking some clarity from her.

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Creider was the first of nine people with whom I spokenearly in successionat Fridays event who told me that they were undecided or had already cast a ballot for someone else in early voting. Her uncertainty was typical, if not her support for Sanders.

Right now, its between Warren and maybe [Pete] Buttigieg, said Royce Ray, a former 23-year service member who said that getting Trump out of office was his top priority because he feared a disastrous foreign conflict might be undertaken by the impetuous president. I think the top four are all good.

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Gustav Lukban and Carmelita Lukban, who sat in the back of the five-sixths empty outdoor amphitheater, both had already caucused early. They had voted for Buttigieg, with Warren as their second choice. It was pretty close, Gustav said. I kind of second-guessed myself after I went with Pete. I was thinking, Warren really was my first choice, but at the last minute I switched.

If he doesnt reach that threshold, Ill be rooting for Elizabeth, he added.

Tracy Williams, who has a Ph.D. in educational leadership and is from Washington state, was also sitting near the back of the amphitheater. She had come in from Walla Walla to help knock on doors and get out the votenot for Warren, but for Joe Biden. Williams had done this canvassing at the behest of a close friend and was unsure whom she would vote for on March 10, one week after Super Tuesday.

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Im probably Warren, Biden, Klobuchar, and they could be interchangeable at any time, she said. Williams, who had initially supported former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro before he dropped out and backed Warren, was there in part to see Castro, who was introducing the former Harvard Law professor. When I read her education plan, Im like, Holy cow, I couldnt have written a better one if I called all my friends in education and said lets write this thing,  Williams said. I started reading the other plans and Im like: This woman has tapped into geniuses to put this stuff together, she didnt just throw out some good ideas, she got the best of the best. 

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Still, Williams hasnt been able to settle on a candidate since Castro dropped out. Now Im Warren, Biden, Klobuchar, she repeated. Its a teeter-totter.

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Waiting in the selfie line after Warren made her case, UNLV student and Hawaii voter Cody Pinzon also said he was still undecided.

Seeing a candidate in person is different than seeing a candidate online, he said of why he wanted to attend. I was leaning towards her. I might be leaning more towards Warren.

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At the Sanders eventjust 10 minutes up the road at the Springs Preserve Amphitheaterthere was little such ambiguity over who attendees were supporting, as 2,000 Sanders fans packed into the 1,500-seat outdoor venue, many of them decked out in Bernie gear. Jack Wagner and Chelsea Tadros, who left the event early, had come from Los Angeles to canvassnot for another candidate, but for Sanders. Wagner, who attended both the Warren and the Sanders events, said he was a bit taken aback by the subdued Warren crowd relative to the raucous Sanders supporters.

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Its just like a stark difference in terms of vibes, Wagner told me. To be fair, it was a lawn, [but] going from the Warren one, where people were sitting down and it was kind of spread out and not as many people, and then this is just a lot of people and everybodys standing up and screaming. Just, the energys very different.

She did great, he added of Warrens speech. I think shes super charismatic, and I like her as a candidate, and I enjoyed watching her speak.

Unlike the very progressive Wagner and Tadros, Warrens supporters and would-be supporters were a mix of some who leaned more toward the progressive wing of the party and others who leaned more toward the moderate wing. That was one of the candidates biggest problems. Warren has tried in recent days to bill herself as the candidate who was best positioned to unite the two wings of the party. But that difference-splitting only served to send progressives to Sanders and to scatter the undecided moderates. According to the Washington Posts entrance poll, Warren finished with just 16 percent of very liberal voters, second to Sanders 52 percent, and 7 percent of moderate or conservative voters, fifth behind Sanders, Biden, Buttigieg, and Klobuchar. In attempting and failing to appeal to these moderate voters by tempering her Medicare for All stance, Warren turned off any chance of winning over progressive voters while failing to turn around the center.

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When I asked Wagner and Tadros what they would do if Warren was the nominee instead of Sanders, Wagner said that he would reluctantly bite the bullet and vote for the Massachusetts senator. Tadros interrupted, saying, I dont know, man.

I like her, and she is charismatic, and I understand where her followers are coming from, Tadros told me. But she still believes in the capitalistic system to get the job done, and I dont agree with that. I think that Bernies the best guy for the job right now.

Its always hard, especially for working people that cant take the time off for work, said Julieta Garibay, a co-founder of the immigrant rights group United We Dream and a Warren surrogate, attempting to explain away the differences in rally attendance at the two pre-caucus events. Ive been door knocking in my state, Texas, and many of our communities have to have two jobs so going to a rally on a weekday can be hard, even if its a Friday night.

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Garibay was speaking with me at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino caucus site as dozens of hotel and casino employees piled into a Bellagio ballroom to cast their ballots. Many of these workers wore their work uniforms, and many wore Unidos Con Bernie stickers, despite the advice of their culinary union that Sanders health care plan would end their union medical coverage.

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In the end, 76 of the 123 working, mainly Hispanic community members who showed up to caucus went for Sanders. In the initial round of results, just six caucused for Warren, and she failed to meet the 15 percent threshold. Her supporters dispersed in the final tally to the Biden count and to uncommitted.

When I asked Garibay before the caucus what results the campaign was hoping to see in Nevada, she had demurred. We know likely that results wont be until maybe Sunday if were lucky, she told me. By Saturday at 4:30 p.m. local time, a few hours after caucusing ended at the Bellagio, NBC had called the race for Sanders. By Sunday evening, with 88 percent of the vote counted, Sanders had 47.1 percent of the awarded county convention delegates and outlets were able to make a call on second and third place, which went to Biden and Buttigieg with 21 percent and 13.7 percent respectively. Warren was in fourth with less than 10 percent, not enough to claim any delegates from Nevada.

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Sanders was aided in his Nevada victory by a major advertising blitz, paid for by millions of dollars hes taken in from small donors, and by an army of volunteers who knocked on more than 500,000 doors in the state. Bidens strong but distant second-place finish was brought about by the sort of special interest and constituent-buildinglabor endorsements and support in minority communitiesthat has been more typical of Democratic Party politics for years, and which Warren has not been as successful at achieving.

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At Bidens precaucus day precinct captain training event, held at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, some of the locals of the top unions in the country gathered to hear Biden speak. While nobody won the endorsement of the states powerful culinary unionwhose voters Warren aggressively courted, appearing at a picket line on Wednesday and a womens event on TuesdayBiden has had the backing of the International Association of Firefighters, the Amalgamated Transit Union, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

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In explaining his support for Biden, Ray LeClaira member of the firefighter localcited specific legislation Biden helped pass during his time in the Senate that provided benefits to surviving family members of firefighters who die in the line of duty and overtime for public sector workers.

When LeClair, who was caucusing for the first time, was asked if he had a backup to Biden in case the vice president didnt reach the threshold for viability at his caucusing site, he was adamant that his support would be going to Biden. Thats really not what were here for, right? he told me. Were here to make sure that the vice president meets that threshold and then bring the people that dont make that threshold over to Joes side.

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Bret Tantlinger, an IBEW member, said he was skeptical of some of the other candidates because he didnt feel their health care plans were realistic. He also believed that Sanders, who has listed himself as an independent in the Senate for years, is riding the coattails of the Democratic Party.

While the bulk of culinary union employees appeared not to have felt the same way as Tantlinger, the support of his union and others like them helped Biden claim second place in Nevada. According to NBCs exit polling, Sanders took 34 percent of the union vote, but Biden finished with 19 percent for a strong second. Warren had 11 percent of the union vote.

Similarly, Biden had a strong showing among black voters in the first diverse state of the primary season. Both the Biden and Warren campaigns had done outreach in the black community in Las Vegas, but Bidens efforts were clearly more effective. The day before the primary, Jill Biden made an appearance on the states only black public radio station, KCEP, and the Bidens received effusive praise from the programs hosts.

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He showed us that KCEP was important, one host said of the familys attention to the station.

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He keeps his promises, Jill Biden said.

And that he kept his promise! the host repeated.

Jill Biden was meant to appear at a community center of black senior citizens following her radio appearance to talk up the Biden campaign but backed out. A Nevada Biden campaign staffer told me the cancellation was because a local carpenters union was picketing one of the building management firms in the complex that housed the senior center over a payment dispute.

Despite the cancellation, the event still seemed to have its effect. The visit was to double as a celebration for all of the February birthdays for community members and the center was plastered in wall-to-wall Biden signs, as seniors clad in Biden stickers danced to 1970s funk music and sat around chatting.

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I have good confidence that hes going to do what he says hes going to do, Atlee Macklemore told me of why she supported Biden. He worked with the president.

He can get Trump out of there, Evelyn Johnson said.

I like all of them, I just want somebody to beat Donald Trump, Jacquelyn Washington said. She also supported Biden.

The day prior, Rep. Joaquin Castro had turned up at the same center as a surrogate for the Warren campaign, though he didnt sound too confident that many of the seniors would be backing her. I do think that in places that are in the first few states, whether its Iowa, New Hampshire, or Nevada, they see a lot of politicians, Castro told me of his reception. But I felt like people were engaged in terms of planning to go out and vote.

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In the NBC Nevada entry poll, Biden led among black voters with 36 percent to Sanders 25 percent. Warren finished tied for third with 13 percent. In South Carolina, the site of the next primary on Saturday and Warrens last chance to earn a campaign showing stronger than third place before Super Tuesday, more than half the electorate is made up of black voters.

On Sunday, I attended a Warren get-out-the-vote rally in East Los Angeles where a little more than 50 attendees came out to see Julian Castro speak.

Despite the disappointing finish in Nevada, the former HUD secretary sounded bullish notes on Warrens chances of building on her campaign momentum from a debate in which it was widely accepted that she had eaten Bloombergs caviar.

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The fact is that less than 5 percent of the delegates have actually been allocated already, Castro told me. This race is just beginning. In places like California, what Ive seen is that she has tremendous enthusiasm. Castro cited a Long Beach canvassing event he went to earlier in the day where 75 volunteers had turned up.

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She continues to gain support among Latinos, and I think thats going to pay off in California and Texas, Castro told me.

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On Sunday evening, Sanders held an event in Austin, Texas, with nearly 13,000 attendees.

In Nevada at least, Hispanic voters did not turn out for Warren. According to NBCs entry polling, Sanders won that demographic with 51 percent support, Biden finished second with 13 percent, and Warren finished fifth with 9 percent, behind Buttigieg and Tom Steyer.

I mean, he did well, but he only has 1.7 percent of the delegates that are going to be allocated, so we still have states with a huge Latino population in California and Texas and Florida and theyre not all the same either, Castro said. Im confident that Sen. Warren also has a good support base in the Latino community, and that will show itself in the states to come.

[Bernies] got a very progressive message so hes getting all the Latinx [voters] because were more progressive, said Roberto Murillo, a 68-year-old medical social worker with a masters degree in anthropology, who was at the L.A. event to see Castro speak. People of color are more progressive. They like the ideas of Medicare for All. The push for squashing student debt. All of the things that hes really been advocating since day one, especially the Medicare for All.

Murillo said he supported Warren because he was skeptical that Sanders could actually get those policies done. It may resonate with somebody, but what is the reality, what is the pragmatism, he told me.

Murillo and four family members had voted early for Warren, but if Sanders is the eventual nominee, he will support him, and he sees other possibilities as well.

Im going to support the Democratic candidate, he said, whether it be Sanders or Buttigieg, whos running for me as a strong second.
in this Dec. 21, 2019, photo, Islamic State (ISIS) militants either arrested or surrendered to the Afghan government are presented to the media 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. (Photo | AP/PTI)

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency on Monday conducted searches at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in three cases relating to the dreaded terror group ISIS, officials said.

In Tamil Nadu, searches were conducted at 10 locations including one each in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thoothukudi; three in Salem and four in Cuddalore, an NIA spokesperson said.

The first case was registered by the premier investigation agency in January this year under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act against 10 accused, the spokesperson said.

Pachaiyappan of Kanchipuram, Rajesh of Chennai, Anbarasan of Salem Rural, Abdul Rahman and Liaqat Ali of Salem besides Haneef Khan, Imran Khan, Mohammed Zaid, Ejas Pasha and Hussain Sherif of Bangalore were accused of conspiring with ISIS member Khaja Moideen of Cuddalore for carrying out unlawful activities and committing terrorist acts in the country by procuring illegal arms, for furthering the objectives of the proscribed terror group.

During searches at the houses of the accused, 16 SIM cards and two internet dongles besides documents and books have been seized, the NIA spokesperson said.

The second case ISIS Khaja Moideen Module  was registered by the NIA in January this year under relevant provisions of the IPC, Arms Act and UA(P) Act.

Abdul Samad, Khaja Moideen, Syed Ali Navas and Jaffer Ali besides their associates were named by the NIA for the conspiracy to carrying out terrorist attacks in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) to further the objectives of ISIS.

During searches at the houses of the arrested accused, four laptops, one tablet, two mobile phones and three SIM cards besides certain documents including books supporting violent jihad have been seized, the NIA said.

In Karnataka, the NIA carried out searches at 15 locations in Bengaluru and Kolar in connection with an investigation of a case ISIS Al Hind Module in the houses of arrested and absconding accused and office of Al-Hind Trust.

During searches, a number of digital devices including 9 mobile phones, 5 SIM cards, 1 laptop, 2 hard discs, 4 CDs/DVDs, 18 books, 1 auto-rickshaw, firecrackers and other incriminating documents were seized, the spokesperson said.

The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy of killing Hindu leaders, creating communal riots and to carry out "anti-national" activities by forming a terrorist gang inspired by ISIS.

The members of the terrorist gang conducted meetings at Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and propagated ISIS ideology, procured arms and ammunition and other incriminating material for executing their plans, the official said.

In this case, five accused Mehaboob Pasha, Mohammed Mansoor Ali Khan, Saleem Khan, Zabiulla, Syed Azmathulla were arrested while others are absconding.

The seized items will be submitted before the jurisdictional NIA Special Courts at Chennai and Bengaluru and the digital devices subjected to cyber forensic examination, the spokesperson said.
24.02.2020 LISTEN

The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is challenging claims of illegalities contained in the Auditor-Generals report.

GETFund in a long response to the Auditor General discredited many of the assertions in the report, indicating among other things that the claim that it had discontinued scholarship funding to the Scholarship Secretariat since 2008 is false.

According to GETFund, they disbursed funds to the Scholarship Secretariat even in 2009.

In 2009 and 2010 the Scholarship Secretariat submitted a schedule of fees and stipends due Ghanaian Students studying abroad for the GETFund to transfer same to the Ghanaian Missions abroad.

In 2011 as part of special allocations towards social intervention programmes, at the instance of Government, an amount of GHS22m (twenty-two million Ghana Cedis)was allocated and released to the scholarship Secretariat, GETFund said in its response.

GETFund added that it did not receive a request for the release of funds from the Scholarships Secretariat until 2017.

It also argued that unlike what was suggested in the Auditor Generals report, it was only responsible for providing supplementary funding support and not the main source of funding for the Scholarship Secretariat.

It is not the case or the intention that the GETFund would make regular allocations and releases to the Scholarship Secretariat, regardless of their needs, GETFund added.

Responding to the other claims of a lack of proper systems to ensure efficient use of public funds and the failure of the GETFund board of trustees to restrain the administrator from using his discretion to award scholarships, it said these claims may be related to the past administration before 2017.

It said the current administration which came to office in 2017 has put in a place measures to ensure an efficient and effective system in the administration of scholarships.

Under the current Board we can confirm that the Board works closely with the Administrator to ensure sound and prudent principles of management of public funds are adhered to. The Board has kept close monitoring of all activities of the GETFund, it said.

Click here to read GETFunds full response

The Auditor-General indicted the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for breaching its mandate and illegally funding foreign scholarships.

A performance audit report from the Auditor-General sighted by Citi News said the GETFund Secretariat breached the object of the fund and administered the scholarship themselves.

According to the GETFund's Annual Reports from 2012 to 2018, the secretariat spent GHS 425,698,937 on scholarships on 3,112 beneficiaries out of which 2,217 persons were unlawfully granted scholarships to study abroad.

It also said GETFunds selection process was not robust enough, describing it as unfair, dominated by one person and porous.

This allowed unqualified applicants to benefit rather than brilliant but needy Ghanaians as contemplated by Act 581, the report stated.

Some politicians, for example, are listed as beneficiaries of GETFund scholarships.

The report noted that the current Education Minister, Matthew Opoku-Prempeh and the current Procurement Minister and Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo benefitted from the scheme in the past.

This was however before they became government appointees.

The Procurement Minister is listed as having studied at the Harvard Kennedy School, benefiting from US$12,800 in allowances with US$17,004 in tuition fees.

Education Minister, Dr. Opoku Prempeh is noted to have participated in a course on National and International Security at Harvard University, where he received US$12,800 for living expenses and US$11,200 as tuition fees.

The Minister, in a statement, noted that he was the recipient of a GETFund award in 2014.

---citinewsroom
Police appeals to trace two men wanted on recall to prison

This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 24th, 2020

Police have issued separate appeals to help trace two wanted men.

North Wales Police Wrexham Rural say that 22-year-old Alex Williams from Southsea is wanted on a recall to prison.

They say if you know where he is hiding, please call the police on 101.

A separate appeal has also been issued by the towns policing team for 34-year-old Andrew Sumner from Wrexham.

The appeal states that Andrew is wanted on a recall to prison and that any sightings or information should be reported to North Wales Police on 101.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday it has stopped allowing employees to use the China-owned video app TikTok to create social media posts for the agency after the Senates top Democrat raised concerns about potential national security issues.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer sent a letter letter Saturday to TSA Administrator David Pekoske, months after news reports that the U.S. government launched a national security review of the app, which is popular with millions of U.S. teens and young adults. Schumer also cited a Department of Homeland Security policy prohibiting TikTok on agency devices.

The TSA said in a statement Sunday that a "small number of TSA employees have previously used TikTok on their personal devices to create videos for use in TSAs social media outreach, but that practice has since been discontinued.

In his letter, Schumer said national security experts have raised concerns about TikToks collection and handling of user data and personal information, locations and other content. He also noted in the letter that Chinese laws compel companies to cooperate with Chinas government and intelligence collection.

Given the widely reported threats, the already-in-place agency bans, and the existing concerns posed by TikTok, the feds cannot continue to allow the TSAs use of the platform to fly, Schumer said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Over the past few months, the agency has posted a number of videos reshared on other social media platforms such as Twitter, which have amassed hundreds of thousands of views.

The agency said it never directed viewers to TikTok or published content directly to the platform, despite videos reposted on other TSA social media accounts having the TikTok logo in the bottom of the screen. The agency said it had an active and award-winning presence on several social media platforms.

Some of the videos are musical parodies about what can and cannot be brought on an aircraft, while others advertise services like TSAs expedited screening program known as PreCheck. In one of the videos, a TSA spokeswoman with Nutella spread on her face is showing different containers of the chocolate-hazelnut spread to detail which one can be brought in carry-on luggage.
Washington: Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has said that if elected president he would "absolutely" use the military if warranted, both to protect US interests and to support its allies.

He also said he would be willing to meet with the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, as President Donald Trump has done.

Sanders has emerged with an early lead in the Democratic nominating process, and as a self-declared democratic socialist his foreign and security policies are starting to draw closer scrutiny. But he has denied being a pacifist.

In an interview airing Sunday on CBS's "60 Minutes," the Vermont senator was asked in what circumstances he, as commander-in-chief, would deploy US military forces. He listed these criteria: "Threats against the American people, to be sure. Threats against our allies. I believe in NATO."

"I believe that the United States, everything being equal, should be working with other countries in alliance, not doing it alone. We will not sit by," he said.

When the interviewer asked whether he would order military action if Taiwan came under attack from China, Sanders replied -- "Yeah. I mean, I think we have got to make it clear to countries around the world that we will not sit by and allow invasions to take place, absolutely."

The senator, who scored a resounding victory Saturday in the Nevada presidential caucuses, was asked if he would follow Trump's example and meet with the North Korean leader.

"I mean I've criticised Trump for everything..." he said. "But meeting with people who are antagonistic is, to me, not a bad thing." Sanders added that he believed Trump was "unprepared" when he met with Kim -- their meeting last year in Hanoi collapsed in disagreement.

"But I do not have a problem in sitting down with adversaries all over the world." In a recent New York Times survey of the Democratic candidates, Sanders and fellow Senator Elizabeth Warren said they would continue Trump's personal diplomacy with Kim, but former vice president Joe Biden, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Amy Klobuchar said they would not.

Sanders, along with Biden and Bloomberg, also said he would consider using force to pre-empt an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test.

Sanders is known best for his positions on economic justice -- particularly the yawning gap in the US between the wealthiest Americans and those much less well-to-do.

But as his chances of winning the Democratic nomination rise, scrutiny is bound to intensify on other issues. As a student at the University of Chicago during the turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, Sanders belonged to several leftist and anti-war groups, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

In 2015, when a Politico interviewer questioned him about his decision to register as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, he replied: "I am not a pacifist. I supported the war in Afghanistan," in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, he noted.

In 1991, however, he had opposed the first Gulf War.

Sanders told Politico that he had backed the Clinton administration's military actions in Kosovo and President Barack Obama's air strikes in Syria.

But he then added, "I happen to believe from the bottom of my heart that war should be the last resort."
Australian petrol giant Viva Energy has committed to spending more than $100 million in major maintenance upgrades at its 65-year-old Geelong fuel refinery, in a move the company says will provide employment certainty for the plant's hundreds of workers.

Viva on Monday said it had approved a maintenance turnaround, which would shut down the core of the refinery for nearly two months as part of a "significant overhaul to prolong its operating life".

Viva Energy operates the Geelong oil refinery. Credit:Craig Sillitoe

"The refinery in Corio has been an important part of Geelong for more than 65 years, employing and sustaining generations of Geelong workers," Viva Energy chief executive Scott Wyatt said.

"Our announcement is a significant commitment to continued operation of one of the region's last remaining industrial businesses and to the broader Geelong region."
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In a move to help customers, Indian Bank has decided stop loading ATMs with Rs 2,000 notes, IANS reported.

"After withdrawing cash from ATMs, customers come to the bank's branches to exchange Rs 2,000 notes with smaller denomination currency notes. To avoid that, we have decided to stop loading Rs 2,000 denomination notes in ATMs with immediate effect," a bank official told the news agency.

Indian Bank, which is headed for a merger with Allahabad Bank, will instead load more Rs 200 denomination notes, the report added.

The Rs 2,000 notes remaining in ATMs after March 1 will be removed, the report added.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

A decision on Allahabad Bank ATMs will be taken only after the merger, an Indian Bank official told IANS.

The government has proposed consolidation of 10 state-run lenders into four, which is scheduled to come into effect on April 1.

Other public and private sector banks have so far not followed Indian Banks move to stop loading Rs 2,000 notes.

"We have no instruction or information from our customer private banks to stop loading Rs 2,000 notes into ATMs," V Balasubramanian, President, Financial Software and Systems (FSS), told IANS.
LIMERICK council is to recommend to the National Roads Authority that Patrickswell becomes a server village for the N20 motorway.

This would allow the area to be signposted from the Limerick to Cork road in the hope that passing motorists would drop in and use the villages amenities.

Independent councillor Fergus Kilcoyne, pointing out there are 35 to 40 businesses in Patrickswell, as well as easy access in and out of it.

Fine Gael member Dan McSweeney, who is also based in the village formally seconded the motion.

He said: The village of Patrickswell has ample opportunity to grow over the coming years and it is important that Limerick City and County Council support the same. Patrickswell has a number of business ranging from B&B, petrol stations, deli counters and restaurants that serve passing trade and this trade provides significant economic benefit to businesses within.

Cllr McSweeney said while he backed the motion, he doesnt want this to bring about the advent of any Obama Plaza style development being built on the edge of Patrickswell. Referring to the facility in Moneygall, Co Offally, Cllr Kilcoyne said its had a detrimental impact on the businesses within, and have caused job losses.

Separately this Wednesday, councillors were informed that the Cork to Limerick motorway will be developed broadly along the same corridor taken by the current N20 scheme.

It will travel to Cork via Charleville and Mallow.

Following a year-long study from the team responsible for developing the M20, it was decided to arrive at this conclusion.

The team says this performs best in that it will provide the highest journey time savings between the two cities, has the potential to avert the greatest number of collisions, accidents and fatalities across the network, and allow the improvement in public transport service times and reliability.

Funding is in place to commence the scheme.
Ruling Congress MLAs on Monday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party in the Punjab Assembly, saying it "does not have a future" in the state.

Another Congress MLA Harminder Singh Gill said the AAP could not get even a single 'Sarpanch' (village head) elected in their constituencies after the 2017 Assembly polls.

Gill also claimed that the Congress-led government opened several smart schools in the state and they were even better than those in Delhi. "Almost 2.70 lakh students are studying in pre-primary schools," Gill said.

Participating in the discussion on the Governor's address in the budget session here, Congress MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal said, "I want to tell AAP leaders that they do not have a future in Punjab". He said the AAP was "convincingly" defeated by the Congress in 2017 assembly elections under the leadership of Amarinder Singh.

Chabbewal also took a dig at the AAP over infighting in the party, saying a few of their legislators kept sitting on their benches while others were in the Well of the House.

Except four AAP MLAs--Sukhpal Khaira, Kanwar Sandhu, Pirmal Singh Khalsa and Jagdev Singh Kamalu, other legislators were protesting in the Well of the House over Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta's purported remarks on the Kartarpur corridor's propensity to be misused for terror training.

Congress MLA Gill also targeted Akalis for burdening the state with Rs 31,000 crore of debt under food account and said the state was paying Rs 3,240 crore as interest per annum.

He also hit out at Akalis for holding separate programme on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev last year.

The legislator also took potshots at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over the rally organised by the rebel Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa in Sangrur on Sunday. "Where is Dhindsa now? Gill asked.

AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu hailed the Kejriwal government in Delhi for improving the condition of government schools.

Taking on the Congress government, Sandhu, MLA from Kharar, claimed that the sand mafias, transport mafias and cable mafias were still present in the state.

Sandhu also strongly condemned the purported statement of Punjab DGP and said, "There can be some conspiracy to shut the Kartarpur Corridor".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Motorists are being targeted by fraudsters using a range of different scam tactics in a bid to trick them into handing over money.

That's according to a fresh warning by the DVLA today, which has provided examples of scams it has been alerted to and traced in recent months.

There has been a 20 per cent rise in fraud attempts handed to the DVLA, with 1,538 reports made to agency in the last three months of 2019, new figures show.

Scam alert: The DVLA has said it has recorded an increase in fraudulent activity with con artists using bogus websites, emails, texts and social media messages to dupe motorists into handing over money

Car owners have alerted the DVLA to a number of different con tactics being employed by scam artists.

Motorists have said they have been swindled out of money and targeted by fraudsters using fake DVLA websites, emails, texts and social media messages.

It has warned drivers that these are becoming more prominent, having received 1,275 scam reports in the final three months of 2018 - some 263 fewer than in the final quarter of last year.

To raise awareness of the types of fraudulent communication motorists might receive, the DVLA has released images of recent scams it has been alerted to.

It hopes this will help motorists be aware of what to look out for and issue a clear warning that if something offered online or by text message appears too good to be true, then it almost certainly is.

Scammers are targeting unsuspecting customers with links to services that don't exist and messages of tax refunds, all of which are fake.

The DVLA recorded 1,538 fraud reports in the last three months of 2019, which is a fifth more than the same period a year earlier

The DVLA says motorists will never contact drivers to claim a refund, as this is done automatically and does not require an email or message

The reports also show that driver and vehicle documents are for sale on the internet.

The agency says anyone who is concerned about any calls, texts, emails or suspicious activity online, to always report these to the police via Action Fraud immediately.

DVLA chief information security officer David Pope said: 'We've released examples of real life scams to help motorists understand when a scam is at work.

'These websites and messages are designed to trick people into believing they can access services that simply don't exist such as removing penalty points from driving licences.

'All our tax refunds are generated automatically after a motorist has told us they have sold, scrapped or transferred their vehicle to someone else so we don't ask for anyone to get in touch with us to claim their refund.

'We want to protect the public and if something seems too good to be true, then it almost certainly is. The only trusted source of DVLA information is GOV.UK.

'It is also important to remember never to share images on social media that contain personal information, such as your driving licence and vehicle documents.'

The DVLA says motorists should alert the police any time they receive a text message or email similar to this that claims to be able to provide agency-related services

Many of the scams the DVLA has been alerted to are online and taking advantage of people on social media

This is another example of a fraudulent service being offered on social media to trick motorists into handing over money

A spokesperson for Action Fraud added: 'This can be a stressful time of year, sorting out finances for the year ahead. Fraudsters are aware of this and are using different ways to trick people.

'Taking a couple of minutes to familiarise yourself with a few simple online safety tips can be significant in protecting yourself from becoming a victim of online fraud.

'You should always be cautious when sharing personal information online and avoid being scammed by only using GOV.UK for government services online, such as the DVLA.

'If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it to us.'
February 24 : After rocking the world renowned Paris Fashion Week 2020, British actor and model Amy Jackson stunned all and turned heads yet again as she posed for the shutterbugs at a Vogue Italia and Boss event.

The actress shared a couple of pictures in a sultry black dress, looking glamorous as ever. For the starry occasion, Amy chose a black boudoir-inspired dress. The show-stopping outfit featured a sheer corset-style bodice, spaghetti straps and a fish-cut, hugging her slim body and accentuating her curves. If you are bold enough to pull off the ebony number, its a perfect one to wear on a glamorous night party.

For a glam quotient, the Singh Is Bliing actress picked a refined diamond neckpiece. The diamond-encrusted neckpiece was paired with a dainty bracelet. Keeping with the black ensemble, the British beauty chose a pair of black pumps. She kept her makeup in dark palette with dark lip colour and a pop of colour on her eyes. Amys sexy dress is perfect stand-out choice.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Amy was last seen in Rajinikanth's 2.0, also starring Akshay Kumar. She has not yet revealed her next project in India.
Bryan Cutler didnt have a lot of time for palace intrigue on Monday.

The Lancaster County Republican, now into his 14th month as the state House GOPs floor boss, instead used most of a lunchtime speech to race through a list of legislative accomplishments in the Republican-controlled chamber; to stress what he says is a little-noticed strain of bipartisanship in the House; and to lightning-round his way through a battery of issue-oriented questions submitted by an audience of business leaders, lobbyists, policy wonks and journalists.

But, inevitably, there was that question: Does he plan to run to replace House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, who announced his retirement earlier this year? And had Turzai, whos said he might leave office before his term expires at years end, given any indication that he might be stepping down early?

The speaker is still in office, Cutler told the Monday crowd at this months Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon, and our roles and responsibilities remain exactly the same. The speaker has earned his right to transition as he sees fit. I dont focus on it.

Asked again about his future plans, Cutler didnt exactly say he wasnt running either.

Im focused on the job, he said. If, and when, the time comes, thats something Id certainly entertain.

Cutler was not reluctant, however, to go relatively deep on matters of policy, notably on the emerging concern that a flood of mail-in ballots authorized by an election reform bill last year would slow down the counting of returns on Election Day this November.

Speaking to the crowd, and then to journalists after his appearance, Cutler said lawmakers were positioning bills that would allow for the opening of those mail-in ballots, but not the tallying of the votes within, before the polls close at 8 p.m. on this Nov. 3.

We want to be prepared on the election code, Cutler told journalists after his speech. We are positioning bills to use as vehicles if changes need to be made.

A sampling on other matters:

Bills addressing gun violence reduction: Asked if the issue might see action this spring after grinding to a halt in the House Judiciary Committee last fall, Cutler said the House can responsibly manage gun violence by making sure that criminals use firearms are held accountable, and that those actions can be prioritized without going after honest people.

On the nearly $600 million in supplemental appropriations being sought by the Wolf administration: Cutler tossed this political hot potato back to the Wolf administration, arguing that prison costs should be going down at a time when there are fewer prisoners in the corrections system and the state is moving to shutter one correctional institution. The administration is seeking $75 million in additional funding for the Corrections Department in the budget year that ends June 30. Cutler called this a management issue.

On the Wolf administrations proposal to raid a fund for the horse-racing industry to underwrite a $200 million grant program in the state System of Higher Education: Cutler left little doubt that the funding stream for the proposal would be vigorously debated this spring. But he also suggested that the administrations proposal directly contradicts the recommendations of its own workforce development council. Cutler said it was a mistake for Wolf to leave community colleges and trade schools out of his proposal.

The Wolf administration could not immediately be reached for comment.

This story first appeared on The Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

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Turkey on Sunday temporarily closed all its land border crossings with Iran over the COVID-19 cases in the neighboring country, a Turkish minister said.

"All transitions (from Iran to Turkey) are temporarily stopped," Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

But transitions from Turkey to Iran are still available, he noted.

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul, Koca said land and railway border gates with Iran would be closed as of 5:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Sunday over the rise of new coronavirus cases there.

He said the air traffic from Iran to Turkey would also be suspended from 8:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), while the departures from Turkey to Iran will continue.

The Turkish government decided to restrict border movements after 43 coronavirus cases were detected in Iran with eight deaths by Sunday, according to the Turkish minister.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:41:08|Editor: yan

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AMMAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Jordan announced on Monday that Qatar will offer 10,000 more jobs for Jordanians in the Gulf state's market.

The Qatari move to employ 10,000 Jordanians in its capital Doha is an addition to the previous 10,000 job opportunities in 2018, the Jordanian Ministry of Labor said in a statement obtained by Xinhua.

The move will help provide the much-needed jobs for the young Jordanians as the unemployment rate among the Jordanians has exceeded 19 percent, said Hosam Ayesh, a Jordanian economist.

The announcement was made at the conclusion of a visit by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to Jordan, where he met with King Abdullah II of Jordan over bilateral ties and regional developments.

During the visit of the Qatari emir, the two countries agreed on establishing an Amman-based Qatari office to ease procedures, implement bilateral agreements and issue visas, according to the ministry statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:53:09|Editor: yan

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COLOGNE, Germany, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of revelers gathered in the western German city of Cologne for the annual Rose Monday parade to mark the peak of Germany's carnival season.

Starting around 10 a.m., people dressed up in carnival costumes and gathered along the 7.5-km parade route in central Cologne for the celebrations. Participants of the parade threw huge amounts of candies, chocolate bars and flower bouquets to the masses as the crowds cheered for more gifts.

As many as 12,000 participants joined the parade, which consisted of floats, carriages, marching bands and dance groups. About 300 horses were also deployed, the organizers said.

A group of resident representatives from all 86 neighborhoods of Cologne made their debut in the parade this year.

In many places along the river Rhine, famously in Cologne, Dusseldorf and Mainz, people celebrate the German carnival which traditionally marks the final days before the start of the Lent, a religious observance in the Christian calendar.

Boasting a history of almost 200 years, the Cologne carnival is the largest of its kind in Germany, with Rose Monday being the highlight of the celebrations.

Unfortunately, a young woman was caught and killed by a tram during the hustle and bustle of Monday's celebrations in Cologne, according to the online news portal of the local government.
A Perth father who sexually abused his daughters and stepdaughters several times between 2001 and 2006 will remain behind bars after breaching his release order on more than ten occasions.

The man, whose name has been suppressed to protect the identity of his victims, was released back into the community in 2018 under a supervision order subject to several conditions.

However, he was arrested less than a year later after he breached his release order by removing his tracking device, loitering around children's playgrounds, contacting a 16-year-old girl online and coordinating an online bisexual exploration meet and greet group.

The man sexually abused his two daughters and three stepdaughters between 2001 and 2006.

The 53-year-old's criminal history stretches back to 2004, when he was sentenced to a 12-month community-based order for indecently dealing with his daughter's teenage friend.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2020/PRNewswire/ -- The global facial injectable market size is anticipated to reach USD 21.57 billion by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to exhibit a 11.8% CAGR during the forecast period, owing to advancements in facial rejuvenation procedures and the increasing importance of medical aesthetics across the globe.

Key suggestions from the report:

The hyaluronic acid segment held a lucrative market share in 2019 and is expected to witness a significant CAGR over the forecast period owing to increasing preference for combination treatments, such as hyaluronic acid with BoNTA

The BoNTA segment is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR over the forecast period due to increasing application in aesthetics and therapeutics

The aesthetics segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period owing to increasing expenditure on aesthetic procedures coupled with rising awareness regarding physical appearance among consumers

North America is expected to dominate the facial injectables market over the forecast period due to the growing geriatric population, consumer disposable income, and a surge in the number of facial procedures

Some of the key market players are ALLERGAN; Ipsen; Merz Pharma; Suneva Medical, Inc.; Medytox, Inc.; Sinclair Pharma; Bloomage BioTechnology Corporation Limited; Anika Therapeutics, Inc.; Prollenium Medical Technologies Inc.; and Galderma S.A.

Read 100 page research report with ToC on "Facial Injectable Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Botulinum Toxin Type A, Calcium Hydroxylapatite, Polymer Fillers), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/facial-injectables-industry

Development in products and procedures, as well as a change in patient demographics, is helping dermatologists and physicians treat multiple facial areas. These advancements help dermatologists or physicians develop customized treatment for patients and facilitate the use of combination products to obtain better outcomes. All these factors are expected to assist in market growth over the forecast period.

Augmented products such as Botulinum Toxin Type A (BoNTA) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers are used in combination to improve outcomes, especially in the lower face procedures. HA fillers are mostly preferred by physicians due to their better acceptance (few instances of hypersensitivity reactions), biodegradable nature, and high viscosity as well as for the longevity they provide to the restored volume.

Minimally invasive surgeries are used for facial rejuvenation, endoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy, and other procedures. These procedures are gaining popularity over time owing to faster recovery, low instances of postsurgery infections, lower pain, reduced scarring, and high accuracy and maximum benefits. For instance, as per the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), more than 23.0 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were performed worldwide in 2017 and the number of HA-based surgeries performed was nearly 3,298,266. Such factors are expected to contribute to the growth of this facial injectables market over the forecast period.

Grand View Research has segmented the global facial injectables market on the basis of product, application, and region:

Facial Injectables Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Collagen



Hyaluronic Acid (HA)



Botulinum Toxin Type A



Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA)



Polymer Fillers



Polymethylmethacrylate Beads (PMMA Microspheres)





Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA)

Facial Injectables Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Aesthetics



Therapeutics

Facial Injectables Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



Germany





U.K.





France





Italy





Spain





Netherlands





Belgium





Switzerland



Asia Pacific



Japan





China





India





Malaysia





Indonesia





Singapore





Philippines





Thailand





Australia





South Korea



Latin America



Brazil





Mexico





Argentina





Colombia





Chile



Middle East and Africa (MEA)

and (MEA)

South Africa





Saudi Arabia





UAE





Israel





Turkey

Find more research reports on Medical Devices Industry, by Grand View Research:

In-Vitro Fertilization Market - Global in-vitro fertilization market size was valued at around USD 18.3 billion in 2019 and is estimated to witness a CAGR of 9.5% over the forecast period.

in 2019 and is estimated to witness a CAGR of 9.5% over the forecast period. Radiation Oncology Market - Global radiation oncology market size was valued at USD 6.6 billion in 2019 and is expected to register a CAGR of 7.3% over the forecast period.

in 2019 and is expected to register a CAGR of 7.3% over the forecast period. Home Healthcare Market - Global home healthcare market size was valued at USD 281.8 billion in 2019 and is expected to register a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:



Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

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OTTAWA  Manitoba has only tapped a tenth of its federal carbon-retrofit cash, leaving two approved projects unannounced for eight months.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Manitoba has only tapped a tenth of its federal carbon-retrofit cash, leaving two approved projects unannounced for eight months.

The Low Carbon Economy Fund is meant to help provinces and companies reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but its also been a flashpoint between Ottawa and Broadway.

The $1.4-billion "leadership" portion of the fund is meant to reward provinces and territories for adhering to a 2016 set of policies on climate change, and to help pay for those commitments.

In December 2017, officials leaked a letter showing that Manitoba would lose out on its LCEF cash if it didnt endorse the deal.

The Pallister government signed on two months later, after it secured a guarantee the funding didnt require adhering to the federal carbon tax.

The Liberals hinted at changing their minds in October 2018, when Premier Brian Pallister cancelled his own carbon tax, but have since guaranteed the funding will flow to Manitoba.

A month later, former Environment Minister Catherine McKenna bemoaned the provinces delay in submitting LCEF funding proposals.

Former Environment Minister Catherine McKenna approved three Manitoba projects.(Justin Tang / The Canadian Press files)

According to a June 2019 briefing note, McKenna approved three projects for Manitoba. The details and amounts involved are censored under access-to-information laws.

In the eight months since that sign-off, only one of the three Manitoba projects has been announced, a $5.9-million efficient-trucking program that amounts to nine per cent of the provinces $66.7-million allocation.

Three provinces and territories have not accessed their LCEF funding. Among the 10 who have, Manitoba has picked up the least of its share. Those jurisdictions on average have accessed 73 per cent of their funding.

The office of Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard declined an interview request last week, and would not explain the hold-up.

Instead, a spokeswoman said Manitoba has submitted five project applications to Ottawa so far.

'A number of projects are being negotiated, or finalized. It would not be appropriate to comment further on ongoing negotiations...'  Manitoba cabinet spokeswoman Olivia Billson

"A number of projects are being negotiated, or finalized," wrote Olivia Billson.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further on ongoing negotiations until the projects and the funding agreements are finalized."

A federal cabinet sign-off is generally the last step for funding programs, as bureaucrats have already assessed projects and confirmed provincial cost-sharing by the time it reaches that point.

Guillemards predecessor, Rochelle Squires, said in November 2018 that her government plans to use the LCEF cash for electrifying vehicles, diverting organic waste from landfills and displacing propane as a heating source in the northern town of Churchill.

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The Pallister government has bristled at suggestions its been slow to access federal cash on everything from gang prevention to infrastructure projects.

Before repealing his own carbon tax, Pallister called for a higher levy than the federal benchmark, in order to bring down emissions faster. The Manitoba Climate and Green Plan also calls for expediting funding applications for industries the LCEF is meant to support.

The Pallister and Trudeau governments have exchanged accusations that the other is playing politics with climate change, instead of focusing on measures to reduce carbon.

The premier has argued Manitoba is among the greenest provinces in Canada, and pledged this past week that his spring budget will focus on environmental initiatives.

The LCEF funding could be used to boost those spending numbers.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJDs organisation polls, which began on December 27, reached its final stage with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik filing his nomination papers for the post of party president. Nomination papers were also filed for 81 member-strong state executive.

The Chief Minister was the only one to have filed nomination papers for party president, paving the way for his election to the post for the eighth time. Naveen submitted his nomination papers to state returning officer Pratap Keshari Deb at the state party headquarters here.

However, the nomination process is being seen as a mere formality as Naveens re-election to the post is a foregone conclusion. The organisational polls of the BJD is being held in five phases. The first three phases saw the election of presidents and committee members of gram panchayats and wards in urban areas, presidents of block committees and members in rural areas and presidents and committee members of Notified Area Councils (NACs) in urban areas and district committee presidents and members.

On February 21, the party declared the list of 33 presidents of organisational districts. As many as 14 old hands were elected as district presidents while 19 district chiefs were new faces. BJD general secretary Sanjay Das Burma told mediapersons that Naveen Patnaik, a five-time Chief Minister of Odisha, filed the nomination papers for the eighth time for the post of BJD president with 10 proposers.

The formal announcement of state executive committee members and the president will be made on February 26, he said.

Rajya Sabha member and BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra told mediapersons that the partys prime agenda is Odishas development and growth. We will continue to work for its development and that of the residents through people-friendly programmes such as Mo Sarkar and 5T, he said.

BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra, however, said, We had thought a new leader would be elected as president of BJD. Chief Minister and party president will be different persons. But the Chief Minister may be feeling insecure. That is why he kept both the positions.
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar, Bali  Mon, February 24, 2020 16:28 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206644c33 1 National Bali-tourism,Chinese-tourists,denpasar,Immigration-Office,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,China Free

More than 600 Chinese nationals have extended their stays in Bali amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak in China, securing emergency stay permits that enable them to remain on the resort island for another 30 days after their visas expire.

The Law and Human Rights Ministrys Bali office spokesperson, I Putu Surya Dharma, said the Chinese citizens had applied for the emergency stay permits through three immigration offices in Bali, namely Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Jimbaran, Denpasar Immigration Office and Singaraja Immigration Office in Buleleng regency.



Most applications were submitted through Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Jimbaran, Surya Dharma told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The policy of granting emergency stay permits for Chinese tourists has been in place ever since the government imposed a travel ban to and from mainland China on Feb. 5, which also temporarily suspended all flights connecting Indonesia and the East Asian country, where the deadly coronavirus was first detected.

Surya said that Chinese citizens could apply for the emergency stay permits at the nearest immigration office by bringing valid travel documents, namely their passports, Indonesian visa as well as their previous stay permit.

Read also: Japanese man's COVID-19 case raising concerns about Indonesia's detection ability

The application is free of charge, Surya said.

Authorities previously estimated that at least 5,000 Chinese tourists in Bali are likely to be stranded in the resort island as a result of the indefinite travel ban.

However, Chinese Consul General in Denpasar Guo Haodong said many of the Chinese citizens had departed from Bali to other countries that had yet to impose a travel ban to mainland China and had boarded flights from there to get home.

Guo said the some 600 remaining Chinese citizens had decided to extend their stays in Bali for fears of coronavirus in their home country as well as because many of their activities in China were halted due to the outbreak.

And they love to stay longer in Bali, enjoy Bali longer, Guo said, adding that all Chinese citizens holidaying in Bali were in good health.

The coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, has spread to nearly 30 countries since it first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December.

As of Monday, more than 2,500 deaths from the virus were confirmed in mainland China, while nearly 30 people outside mainland China have died after contracting the virus. More than 77,000 infections have been recorded worldwide, AFP reported.

Read also: 118 foreigners refused entry to Indonesia in February due to China travel history

Anak Agung Suryawan Wiranatha, the director of Udayana University's Center of Excellence in Tourism, said Bali should continue accommodating Chinese citizens stranded on the resort island as long as the provincial administration was able to lend them a hand.

Maybe they are more comfortable to stay in Indonesia because of the outbreak of the virus in their country. So, we should help them, he said.

Agung Suryawan further suggested that tourist industry stakeholders offer the Chinese citizens special discounts while staying in Bali, saying that this is a question of humanity".

He went on to say that people should not worry about their stay in Bali as they had passed the 14 days of coronavirus incubation period since the date they entered the province.

If they had contracted [coronavirus], they would have already shown symptoms. They are already here for more than 14 days, so there's nothing to worry about if they stay here longer, he said.
Elizabeth Warren released a new plan this week, focused on legalizing marijuana at a federal level and expunging past marijuana convictions.

The senator from Massachusetts has long been a supporter of legalization but the new plan goes well beyond that offering medical and recreational marijuana nationwide and considers economic justice to communities most impacted by drug arrests.

Its not justice when we lock up kids caught with an ounce of pot, while hedge fund managers make millions off of the legal sale of marijuana," she wrote in the policy plan. "My administration will put an end to that broken system.

If elected, Warren said she will work with Congress to legalize marijuana at a federal level and appoint agency heads who support legalization at the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Currently, 11 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Massachusetts became the first state to open recreational marijuana shops east of the Mississippi in November 2018.

Thirty-three states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legalized medical marijuana and 26 have decriminalized possession of marijuana.

Marijuana-related arrests continue to rise nationwide annually, with 663,367 arrests in 2018, an uptick from 2017 and 2016 figures. Nearly 92 percent of arrests were for possession charges.

Black and Latinos were more likely to be arrested on drug charges than white residents, including in states where recreational marijuana use is legal - including Massachusetts - despite similar use rates.

In Massachusetts, where black and Latino residents represent under 20 percent of the population, they represented 41% of arrests for marijuana sales and 24% of possession charges between 2000 and 2013.

If elected, Warren said her administration will prioritize an accessible expungement process for federal convictions for marijuana use and possession and incentivize states to do the same.

In Massachusetts, misdemeanor marijuana convictions can be expunged. Felony marijuana convictions that can be expunged are those that occurred not less than seven years before the petition for expungement is filed and involve a felony that wasnt a crime against a person.

She is not the only Democratic presidential hopeful to address the issue. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced his marijuana legislative plan in October. The Sanders plan calls for criminal reform measures including expunging past convictions and federal legalization.

He was the first major presidential candidate to call for marijuana legalization during his 2016 run.
[February 24, 2020] TV and Cloud Gaming Market is Set for a 90% Jump According to Jon Peddie Research

Jon Peddie Research (JPR), the market research firm for the computer graphics industry has issued its latest report for TV and Cloud Gaming. JPR estimates the TV and Cloud Gaming hardware market will reach $25 billion by 2025 representing an 11.3% CAGR from 2019. This represents an unprecedented increase of almost $12 billion. Ted Pollak, Senior Analyst Gaming Industry said, "In the TV Gaming market we are observing a confluence of multiple factors coming together in the coming years which will produce 'a perfect storm' of market opportunity for many industry players. The big three of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are set to release new local processing hardware in this window. Cloud services such as Google (News - Alert) Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, Sony PlayStation Now and other currently released cloud platforms should expand in quality and customer base. We expect new cloud gaming services from Microsoft (News - Alert) xCloud, TenCent Start, and possibly something from Amazon to come into play. Additionally, we are forecasting AppleTV and other micro-console platforms to refine and expand." Jon Peddie, President of JPR, noted, "Like most other expansions in gaming this comes down to the pixels and the networks. The resolution of TVs has quadrupled from the pevious generation with 4K displays replacing 1080p as the standard. Gamers demand high frame rates. The processing load to draw these frames requires powerful hardware whether it's local or in a data center. Internet speeds are getting faster and latency is dropping as the network edge moves closer to the user. We expect integrated cloud gaming services to come as a feature of future TVs. As with all of our gaming hardware analysis, we take into account the purchasing intent of the customer and reduce the market size for multi-use products to that which is impacted by the demand for video gaming capabilities."



The JPR TV and Cloud Gaming report covers gaming technologies designed to play on televisions. Evaluated within the report are Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Amazon, Nvidia, Apple (News - Alert), Cable and Satellite boxes, Cloud Gaming and more. The analysis contains a recent sales history and a five-year forecast for unit sales as well as the market size adjusted for gaming demand. The report comes with a spreadsheet. More information about JPR's renowned PC Gaming Hardware series is available on the JPR website. Pricing and availability

Jon Peddie Research's TV and Cloud Gaming Market Study is available now in an electronic edition and sells for a $16,000 annual subscription. Single copies are available upon request. Call 415-435-9368 or visit the Jon Peddie Research website at www.jonpeddie.com. Contact Robert Dow ([email protected]) for a free sample of any JPR reports. About Jon Peddie Research Jon Peddie Research is a technically oriented multimedia and graphics research and consulting firm. Based in Tiburon, California, JPR provides consulting, research, and other specialized services to technology companies in a variety of fields including graphics development, multimedia for professional applications and consumer electronics, high-end computing, and Internet-access product development. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005272/en/

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MEXICO CITY - Rescuers in Mexico were partially able to free a humpback whale that became entangled in a fishing net illegally set inside a refuge for the critically endangered vaquita porpoise in the upper Gulf of California, a conservationist group said Monday.

In a statement, the Sea Shepherd group said it was alerted on Friday to the trapped whale which was struggling from the net, several hundred yards (meters) long and tightly wrapped around its head, body and tail.

Alive but exhausted, the animal had suffered numerous injuries to its pectoral fin and tail and was unable to dive under the strain of the gillnet, Sea Shepherd said.

Rescuers worked for several hours to cut the netting from the whale. By early evening its head and body were free and it disappeared into the deep.

But Sea Shepherd warned that some remnants of the netting remained wrapped around its tail, a possible long-term threat.

The rescue took place in whats known as the refuges critical zone, where several vaquitas have been spotted. Its the same area where a Sea Shepherd vessel came under gunfire earlier this month by men in small boats.

Only about a dozen or so of the porpoises are believed to remain in the Gulf of California, their only natural habitat.

They are critically threatened by illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba, a species whose swim bladders can sell for thousands of dollars in China.

As the recent rescue shows, its not just the vaquita thats threatened by illegal net fishing in the refuge.

Sea Shepherd said it rescued an entangled humpback there in 2016, and the following year it discovered a dead Brydes whale also caught in a gillnet.

This whale entanglement is another example of why it is so important to continue to protect the Vaquita Refuge against illegal fishing, Sea Shepherd captain Octavio Carranza said in the statement. It is also a sad reminder of what the vaquita deals with on a daily basis in its quest for survival.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Mardi Gras is strongly associated with wild bacchanalia and debauchery, but the original intent of the holiday and how it's kept by the faithful is much different. Fat Tuesday, as it is known in English, is a long-standing tradition of the Catholic Church and it marks the last day of ordinary time before the start of Lent, a time of fasting and repentance. While the parties in Europe, South America, and parts of the United States have gained the most attention in popular culture, they seriously misrepresent and outright eclipse the Catholic intent of the holiday.

According to historians, the celebration of Mardi Gras has its roots in the pagan Roman celebration of Lupercalia. This was a February holiday and it honored the Roman god of fertility. It involved feasting, drinking, and carnal behavior.

However, with the rise of the Church in ancient Rome, Christian teaching and morals took root, but there always remained a strong need to blend ancient Roman traditional practices with the growing Christian faith. The blending of tradition with new religious beliefs was a common practice in the ancient world and it helped people to transition away from paganism. In fact, there are a number of ancient Roman traditions that persevere in the Roman Catholic Church to this day, where they continue to guide the faithful.

As Catholic Christianity spread throughout Europe during the first millennium, different cultures celebrated the last day before Lent in their own ways, adapting the practices to suit their cultures. In France, the holiday became particularly popular as people feasted on foods that would be given up during the forty days of Lent. Meats, eggs, and milk were finished off in one day, giving the holiday its French title of 'Mardi Gras' which means Fat Tuesday.

As Europeans crossed the Atlantic to colonize the Americas, they brought their religious practices with them. From the onset, holidays such as Mardi Gras were celebrated in the colonies with as much enthusiasm as they were celebrated in Europe. As the colonies swelled with European immigrants, the celebrations went from the simple to the elaborate. In New Orleans, masked balls and public celebrations quickly became common. In fact, the celebrations became so popular that virtually every citizen of the city joined in even if they were not Catholic.

However, in the late 18th century, the Spanish took control of New Orleans and having a more militant and serious perspective on the faith, they imposed significant restrictions on the holiday revelry. Among them, they banned masked balls. However, by 1823, this ban was lifted and parades returned by 1837. At this point, the celebration began to lose its identity as an exclusively Catholic tradition and became more secularized over the centuries.

In Louisiana, Mardi Gras in an official state holiday.

In other parts of the world, the holiday became a season unto itself each branded with unique cultural practices. For example, Venice, Italy is famous for the masked balls that take place on Mardi Gras and the days before. The Venetian tradition dates back to the 13th century and the city remains a popular Mardi Gras destination today.

Still, the original intent of Mardi Gras has always been to indulge, within the context of Catholic morality and reason, the last day before the start of the Lenten season. Here, it is appropriate to mention that while Lent is a season of self-sacrifice and repentance, it is not meant to be a period of self-punishment or extreme hardship.
This is an artistic impression of a red dwarf star's magnetic interaction with its exoplanet. CREDIT Danielle Futselaar (artsource.nl)

A team of scientists using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in the Netherlands has observed radio waves that carry the distinct signatures of aurorae, caused by the interaction between a star's magnetic field and a planet in orbit around it.





Radio emission from a star-planet interaction has been long predicted, but this is the first time astronomers have been able to detect and decipher these signals. The discovery paves the way for a novel and unique way to probe the environment around exoplanets--planets that orbit stars in other solar systems--and to determine their habitability.

Notably, follow-up observations with the HARPS-N telescope in Spain ruled out the alternate possibility that the interacting companion is another star as opposed to an exoplanet.

The work appears in articles in Nature Astronomy and Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL).

The breakthrough centered on red dwarfs, which are the most abundant type of star in our Milky Way--but much smaller and cooler than our own Sun. This means for a planet to be habitable, it has to be significantly closer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun.

Red dwarfs also have much stronger magnetic fields than the Sun, which means that a habitable planet around a red dwarf is exposed to intense magnetic activity. This can heat the planet and even erode its atmosphere. The radio emissions associated with this process are one of the only tools available to probe the interaction between such planets and their stars.

"The motion of the planet through a red dwarf's strong magnetic field acts like an electric engine much in the same way a bicycle dynamo works," says Harish Vedantham, the lead author of the Nature Astronomy study and a Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) staff scientist. "This generates a huge current that powers aurorae and radio emission on the star."

Thanks to the Sun's weak magnetic field and the larger distance to the planets, similar currents are not generated in the solar system. However, the interaction of Jupiter's moon Io with Jupiter's magnetic field generates a similarly bright radio emission, even outshining the Sun at sufficiently low frequencies.

"We adapted the knowledge from decades of radio observations of Jupiter to the case of this star," says Joe Callingham, ASTRON postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper. "A scaled-up version of Jupiter-Io has long been predicted to exist in star-planet systems, and the emission we observed fits the theory very well."

To be sure, the astronomers had to rule out an alternate possibility--that the interacting bodies are two stars in a close binary system instead of a star and its exoplanet. The team searched for the signature of a companion star using the HARPS-N instrument (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) on the Italian Telescopio Nazionale Galileo on La Palma, Spain.

"Interacting binary stars can also emit radio waves," notes Benjamin Pope, NASA Sagan Fellow at New York University and lead author of the ApJL paper. "Using optical observations to follow up, we searched for evidence of a stellar companion masquerading as an exoplanet in the radio data. We ruled this scenario out very strongly, so we think the most likely possibility is an Earth-sized planet too small to detect with our optical instruments."

The group is now concentrating on finding similar emission from other stars.

"We now know that nearly every red dwarf hosts terrestrial planets, so there must be other stars showing similar emission," observes Callingham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "We want to know how this impacts our search for another Earth around another star."

"If we find that most red dwarf planets are blasted by intense stellar winds, this is bad news for their habitability," Pope, part of NYU's Department of Physics and Center for Data Science and a co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper.

The group expects this new method of detecting exoplanets will open up a new way of understanding the habitat of exoplanets.

"The long-term aim is to determine what impact the star's magnetic activity has on an exoplanet's habitability, and radio emissions are a big piece of that puzzle," says Vedantham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "Our work has shown that this is viable with the new generation of radio telescopes and put us on an exciting path."

###

Paper information:

"Coherent radio emission from a quiescent red dwarf indicative of star-planet interaction" is published in Nature Astronomy on February 17, 2020: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1011-9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1011-9

"No Massive Companion to the Coherent Radio-Emitting M Dwarf GJ 1151" is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters on February 17, 2020:

DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b99

Full citation: Pope et al. 2020, ApJL, 890, L19

URL: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b99



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daagh wrote:

The source of this topic seems to be the condemned 1000 series. Notwithstanding that, let's see whether we can have any take away from that, especially because is has been cited in the discussions on the principles of modification

Following is an excerpt from the Manhattan guide:



1. Right: This model explains all known subatomic particles, SOME OF WHICH WERE only recently discovered.--



The question is whether the second part of this sentence is an IC or just a modifier clause. IMO, \it is an IC since we have a solid subject in 'many of which' and a solid verb in 'were'. The result is that this is rather a comma splice. In addition, the verb 'were' seems to be out of place here, since the first part is in the present tense and a present perfect such as 'have been' would have been better. However, tense may or may not a critical issue here. .



2. Right: This model explains all known subatomic particles, SOME OF THEM only recently discovered.



This seems to be correct since, the second part is a verbless phrase, simply modifying the touching noun 'particles'.



To extrapolate this to the issue at hand,





(D) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, MANY OF WHICH ARE chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.

(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, MANY OF THEM chiseled from solid rock centuries ago



In this also, the choice D is wrong more because D is a comma splice. Of course, whether they are chiseled or were chiseled may not the prima-facie fact.

DmitryFarber

GMATNinja

EducationAisle

VeritasKarishma
Thetica Systems Powerful Simplicity Thetica Systems is pleased to offer a single solution for all deal types with client choice of fully customizable interface.

Thetica Systems has launched a new web platform for CMBS pricing and analytics tools, complementing its fully customizable cloud-based Excel system. Clients can select the platform and interface that best fit their needs to price, analyze, compare, and report on CMBS and other structured finance products. Guests at the Structured Finance Associations largest annual conference, SFVegas2020, will get the first look.

Thetica Systems is pleased to offer a single solution for all deal types with client choice of fully customizable interface, stated Ariel Yankilevich, CEO. Our vast library of intellectual property enables rapid use of database modules, Excel interface, and building blocks for each bond type. Components are pre-integrated so clients get their individual system with remarkable speed. We can collaborate as needed to build out reports and views or give their IT teams access to customize.

The CMBS platform can be used to quickly analyze bid lists, gather market color, perform deep analysis, comparative analysis, and run pricing scenarios, research collateral, conduct various kinds of surveillance, set loan level scenario assumptions, and generate internal and client facing reports. Clients control the requirements for access to inputs and calculations. The company reports strong user satisfaction with flexibility and transparency as the most frequently mentioned beneficial attributes.

John Schaffner, Head of Production, commented, Our users can choose either business-friendly analytics with Excel functionality or a tightly controlled web interface, whichever best suits their individual requirements. Both approaches are fully customizable for all portfolio types, giving them a flexible system that can change with the market and their unique needs.

Thetica Systems has over a decade of experience in providing clients with custom systems for structured finance. The company supports Structured Finance portfolios and integrates a wide variety of client-licensed data. Clients include investment banks, hedge funds, accounting firms, professional services providers, asset management, brokers, dealers, and others that invest in or monitor structured finance securities. Users range from traders and trading desks, project managers, research and product controllers to risk managers, regulatory reporting, and IT.

About Thetica Systems

The company solves the buy-or-build dilemma for those who require a unique, customized, and flexible system to price, compare, analyze, and report on bonds. An experienced Intex partner, Thetica Systems can implement any business logic, models, or client-licensed data from any source for CMBS, CLO, RMBS/CRT, and ABS portfolios. The word Thetica was created from the Greek letter theta, representing thought or reason, and etica, representing ethics. Thought, reason and ethics are essential elements of any successful business and commitment to this concept is embedded in the companys name. For more information visit the company website and LinkedIn page.
Speaking at the meeting, Secretary of the Lao-based Party Committee Nguyen Ba Hung recalled the glorious 90-year history of the CPV, as well as noted with pride the great victories of the Vietnamese revolution and the strong and comprehensive development of the country taking place presently.

He emphasised that all party members in Laos always have great confidence in the Party, strive to study and follow President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style, and exert efforts to fulfill all assigned tasks.

Meanwhile, Quach Thi Thu Phuong, a student who is studying in Laos affirmed the resolve of the Vietnamese youth to uphold the tradition of older generations, study and work harder to contribute to the nations development.

Also at the ceremony, Prof. Dr Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Vice Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics also presented a speech on the glorious history of the CPV over the past 90 years.

On the occasion, a number of collectives and individuals the Lao-based Party Committee received certificates of merits for their outstanding achievements over the past years.
Illegal Fishing in Bangladesh's maritime boundary: 24 Sri Lankan fishers sent to jail in port city

February 24,2020 | Source: The Daily Star

Twenty-four Sri Lankan fishermen have been arrested from the Bay of Bengal on charges of fishing illegally inside Bangladesh's maritime boundary in Chattogram, said police. Four fishing trawlers have also been seized during the drive, they added. The detainees were handed over to Patenga Police Station on Friday night, while a court in Chattogram sent them to jail yesterday, said police sources. An official press release from Bangladesh Navy said members of "BNS Omar Faruk" during their patrolling in deep sea spotted four fishing trawlers carrying foreign nationals in Bangladesh water territory near the port on Tuesday night.



The navy intercepted the trawlers -- Sea Horse, Wasana-01, Wasana-03 and Sanju Putha-07 -- and informed the higher authorities. Meanwhile, a press release of Chattogram Metropolitan Police stated that another ship of navy -- BNS Surovi -- brought the fisherman to the naval base in Patenga on Thursday. Utpal Barua, officer-in-charge of Patenga Police Station, said, "Shafiqul Islam, an official of BNS Surovi, handed over the Sri Lankan fishermen to us on Friday evening, and filed a case against them for entering Bangladesh maritime border and catching fish illegally." Sub-inspector Abu Sayed Rana of the police station is investigating the case, he said. Md Kamruzzaman, additional deputy commissioner (prosecution) of CMP, said a metropolitan court sent them to jail after they were produced before it.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:01:42|Editor: huaxia

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Consulate General in Auckland Ruan Ping joined Auckland girls in singing for Wuhan on Monday.

The song, titled "Together with You" is aimed to lift the spirits of those in Wuhan and the rest of China in the fight against the novel coronavirus, sending a message of love and hope, and solidarity between the people of Auckland and Wuhan.

Appreciating the girls' performance of the song in central Auckland on Monday, Ruan joined in the choir and sang together with the girls.

Founder of the Auckland Girls' Choir, Leonie Lawson has just celebrated her 89th birthday. She wrote the music and lyrics as a message of hope and encouragement, a song for the people of Wuhan from the city of Auckland, New Zealand.

"I know the Chinese people have very good fighting spirit when they face something difficult. So the song I wrote is a very forward, uplifting and positive piece. Saying we must stand up and fight this together, we are with you Wuhan," said Lawson when introducing the song.

It took Lawson three days to write the song and the girls gave up afterschool activities to practice it.

"I was touched by both the girls' spirit and the beautiful song. This song is a call across the South Pacific from New Zealand. It encourages the Chinese people and shows New Zealand people's support for us", said Ruan.

"Our Chinese people are resilient and determined to defeat the Coronavirus. The song performed by Ms. Lawson and the Auckland Girls' Choir echoes Chinese people's endeavor," he added.

A banner full of best wishes written by the girls and local community members was also presented to Ruan on Monday. "Wuhan stay strong, together with you", reads one line in the banner.
Terror organisation Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on Sunday confirmed the death of its leader Qassim al-Rimi and appointed a successor, the SITE monitor said, weeks after the US said it had "eliminated" him. The announcement came in an audio speech delivered by AQAP religious official Hamid bin Hamoud al-Tamimi, said SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist networks worldwide.

"In his speech, Tamimi spoke at length about Rimi and his jihadi journey, and stated that Khalid bin Umar Batarfi is the new leader of AQAP," it said. SITE said that Batarfi has appeared in many AQAP videos over the past several years and appeared to be Rimi's deputy and group spokesman.

US President Donald Trump announced Rimi's death earlier this month, saying the US had "conducted a counterterrorism operation in Yemen" that eliminated him. That announcement came shortly after AQAP claimed responsibility for the December 6 mass shooting at a US naval base in Florida, in which a Saudi Air Force officer killed three American sailors. Washington considers AQAP to be the worldwide jihadist network's most dangerous branch.

READ| Imran Khan admits Pakistan Army, ISI trained Al Qaeda, justifies links

The Sunni extremist group has thrived in the chaos of years of civil war between Yemen's Saudi Arabia-backed government and the Shiite rebels who control the capital. "Under Rimi, AQAP committed unconscionable violence against civilians in Yemen and sought to conduct and inspire numerous attacks against the United States and our forces," Trump said at the time. "His death further degrades AQAP and the global Al-Qaeda movement, and it brings us closer to eliminating the threats these groups pose to our national security."

Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent chief dead

Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent's (AQIS) chief and Pakistani citizen Asim Omar, was killed in Afghanistan's Musa Qala district during a raid on September 23, last year Afghan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) had confirmed. For proof, NDS released two photos of the top terrorist, both alive and dead to confirm the news. However, Al Qaeda has not confirmed the death of Omar, neither has the White House or Pentagon released an official statement.

Born in Uttar Pradesh, the son of a peasant ran away from home to Pakistan, after being radicalised. Omar was reportedly picked up to head the AQIS after its formation in 2014. According to international reports, the terrorist was previously affiliated with Pakistan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and even Jaish-e-Mohammed in PoK, before being linked to the Al Qaeda.

Omar, in June 2019, had praised the Taliban for its "victory" in Afghanistan against the US forces, and even hailed the "unity" of the Taliban. Back in June, Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent also released a 20-page 'code of conduct' accentuating its fidelity to chief Ayman al Zawahiri and the emir of the Taliban. The presence of a senior Al Qaeda leader in the Taliban compound raises speculations over the armed group's willingness to cut ties with terror, amid the stalled peace negotiations with the United States.

(With PTI inputs)

READ| Donald Trump calls Osama bin Laden, Hamza "tall, very handsome"

READ| Osama bin Laden toy on sale in Russia; placed next to airplane models
Vinh Phuc, Vietnams worst hit locality by the novel coronavirus epidemic so far, feels the full brunt as people leave and businesses close down.

On February 18 Lu received a call from a customer saying they wanted to cancel a wedding feast with hundreds of tables she was to have prepared, citing an "unexpected emergency." Lu told them to call her whenever they want to book again, though she knew that day would not come anytime soon.

Lu, who lives in Binh Xuyen District in Vinh Phuc Province, a hotspot of the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic with 11 of the nations 16 diagnosed cases, has become used to cancelations. That call was the second that week alone.

She has not bothered to count how many times customers have canceled bookings since the epidemic broke out at the end of January.

"If I tell them Im from Binh Xuyen, it is hard to do business," she said.

For Lu and her family, the first few months after the Lunar New Year are the main time of the year for business. Lu cooks the feast, her sister buys ingredients and a niece does make-up for the bride and rents dresses.

The only problem is that they live in Binh Xuyen Districts Ba Hien Commune, not far from another commune called Son Loi in the same district.

Son Loi was locked down for 14 days from February 13 after six Covid-19 cases were confirmed. Though Binh Xuyen, with nine cases in all, has not officially been identified as an outbreak area, Son Lois lockdown has meant people are steering clear of the entire district.

Even locals have become wary. The most recent wedding Lu organized had 170 tables but only 90 filled up. It was unusual considering how weddings in the area are often crowded, she said.

Another wedding in Ba Hien had only 70 tables out of 140 occupied, she said.

"People dont even go to markets to buy food any more."

Abandoned markets

Duong Thi Minh, Lus niece, sells seafood at the Ba Hien Commune market. She had expected more people to come to buy after the Lunar New Year Festival since workers at a local industrial complex usually stock up on food for weekends. But that was ruined by the epidemic.

Nowadays Minh only goes out to get new products when a customer wants to buy them. In the past she could sell around 20 kg of seafood in half a day, but now not more two or three kilograms in a whole day. Even suppliers are hesitant to come into Binh Xuyen markets these days.

Minh friends, a trader in Tam Long Commune, nine kilometers from Ba Hien, stopped doing business two weeks ago.

When news broke that someone at the Tam Long market came down with the flu, almost no one came there the next day, Minh said. People resorted to stocking on food instead of going to markets. Word would spread if someone in the community so much as sneezed or coughed. That was how paranoid things are, she said.

Many traders in the province have stopped doing business out of fear and a lack of customers, she added.

Tourism affected

Trong Dat, a bartender at a 15-room hotel in Tam Dao District, about 30 km from Binh Xuyen, was the only one in the hotel on February 19. For 20 days the hotel had put up signs saying it still had rooms, but no one showed up.

"Usually I would be busy making hot chocolate for customers at this time," Dat, 32, said.

A deserted street in Tam Dao Town, Vinh Phuc Province, February 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

Until recently Tam Dao, a popular tourism destination, was bursting at the seams with visitors from everywhere. People were used to the cacophony of vehicles in the morning. Hotel owners often had to turn away customers. Dats hotel was fully booked for three months from January 26, the second day of the Lunar New Year holidays. The town was sleepless back then.

The morning of February 1, when Vietnam designated Covid-19 an epidemic, Dat and his colleagues were still serving customers when they heard of some cases of infection in Binh Xuyen. It was to spark a mass exodus from Tam Dao, but Dat did not know that yet.

The first call he received the next day was for a cancellation. "Ill come when the epidemics over," the customer said.

Many more similar calls came that morning and on subsequent mornings. Over 100 hotels, hostels and other places of accommodation in Tam Dao suffered the same fate in what was peak tourism season.

The numbers are stark: Tam Dao received around 26,000 visitors in February last year, while the number this month is 1,500. With tourism accounting for 93 percent of Tam Daos revenues according to last years data, it is a heavy blow.

Three days after the epidemic announcement, Dats hotel had to let four employees take temporary leave. The hotel owner even told him to turn off half the lights to save electricity. Dat managed to rent out only two rooms until February 19 and that too by offering a 50 percent discount. He hopes that would be enough to cover the electricity bill for the month.

Similarly, restaurants and cafes in Tam Dao are also feeling the pinch. Dozens of them have had to close down, and their owners, who used to be busy at night counting the money they had earned during the day, now hang out with each other for company.

A square in Tam Dao Town, usually packed with people, is now empty, February 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

Silver lining

Two food stalls in town have however refused to throw in the towel. Thanh and Luong, a married couple, opened one of them in 2015. With the rent for their place increasing every year -- it is VND500 million ($21,535) a year now -- they have no choice but to try and grab what little business they can.

Luong has told her husband to keep the lights on partly to attract customers but also because she misses the way Tam Dao used to glow at night. She misses the sound of embers crackling in her three stoves the whole day, how their 12 tables would always be filled with customers, chatting and enjoying their food, and how their workers would dash back and forth to take orders, clean tables and collect cash.

"Its supposed to be the peak season for business, but this disease just came out of nowhere," she said. Her place only has two customers, who have ordered half a roasted chicken and some drinks. Four more came half an hour later when they ran out of options to eat in town. The stall only manages to earn a tenth of its usual daily income.

But remarkably, despite their loss of livelihood, most business owners in Vinh Phuc show no bitterness.

"Theres an epidemic and so its understandable if people panic," Minh, the makeup artist and seafood seller, said.

"It is okay if people want to stay away for a while. When the epidemics over, we would have all the time in the world to run our business and have fun."
Britain on Monday starts hearing Washington's extradition request for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a test case of media freedoms in the digital age and the limits of US justice.

A ruling against Assange in the case could see the 48-year-old Australian jailed for 175 years if convicted on all 17 US Espionage Act charges and one count of computer hacking he faces.

Each stems from his site's release in 2010 of a trove of classified State Department and Pentagon files detailing the realities of the US campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One video from 2007 showed an Apache helicopter attack in which US soldiers gunned down two Reuters reporters and nine Iraqi civilians in broad daylight in Baghdad.

The files also disclosed the secret identities of diplomats and government agents in hostile environments -- as well as locals who risked their lives by cooperating with the United States.

These names were redacted by the Western newspapers with which WikiLeaks initially worked.

But a falling out with their editors prompted Assange to release hundreds of thousands of files in their original form.

The US Justice Department said last May that the "human resources" compromised by Assange "included local Afghans and Iraqis, journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates, and political dissidents from repressive regimes".

His supporters argue that Assange's prosecution was political -- and personal -- from the start.

"For the sake of press freedom, Julian Assange must be defended," the Committee to Protect Journalists said in December.

Trump's involvement

The case was injected with still more intrigue when the defence claimed US President Donald Trump promised to issue a pardon if Assange denied Russia leaked the emails of his 2016 election rival's campaign.

"In August 2017, Donald Trump's administration tried to pressure Julian Assange into saying things that would be favourable to President Trump himself," Assange's defence team coordinator Baltasar Garzon said on Thursday.

"When Julian Assange refused, he was charged and an extradition request was issued alongside an international arrest warrant."

The White House called the allegation "another never-ending hoax and total lie" but a judge agreed to add it to the case file.

Assange is additionally shadowed by a rape allegation and a sexual assault claim that stem from his 2010 visit to Sweden.

He denied everything and called the case a legal pretext for Sweden to extradite him to the United States.

Assange agreed to attend hearings into the charges in London and his legal battles crossed borders yet again.

- International fugitive -

A UK court ruled in February 2011 that Assange could be extradited back to Sweden to stand trial.

He secured political asylum in Ecuador's London embassy instead and became international fugitive by breaching his UK bail conditions in 2012.

Yet his campaigning continued in full.

Assange struck a deal with Russia's state broadcaster RT in 2012 and began airing Skype interviews with anti-Western figures such as Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah that further infuriated Washington.

A political realignment in Ecuador toward the United States saw Assange fall out of favour and begin losing his embassy privileges in 2018.

The last protections were lifted last April and Assange was dragged kicking and screaming out of the embassy and locked up in a high-security prison next to London's Woolwich Crown Court where the case will be heard in two sessions this week and in May.

- Public interest -

The sex charges no longer apply because of the statute of limitations and Swedish investigators' inability to question Assange about what a top prosecutor lamented in November remained a "credible" claim.

But the court will consider whether "the conduct described (by the US Justice Department) amounts to an extradition offence".

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service says the court must also weigh whether "extradition would be disproportionate or would be incompatible with the requested person's human rights".

The defence claims that it would and some US legal experts think Assange has a case.

"Use of the Espionage Act has a very checkered history in the century since Congress passed it," University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told AFP.

Many think "extradition and US prosecution would have a chilling effect on press efforts to expose government information that is important to the
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Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 18:46 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20664b344 1 Business BKPM,China,investment,coronavirus,outbreak,COVID-19,FDI,foreign-investors Free

The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) expects to see a decline in Chinese investment following the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

BKPM head Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday that although the agency had yet to see any decline in investment realization from China and other countries, he projected a decline in foreign direct investment if the outbreak continued until March.

This virus has caused a systemic, massive and structural impact [on the global economy]. So, if the outbreak continues until March, I think there will be an impact on our investment [realization], he told media in Jakarta.

Read also: Coronavirus may shave 0.6 percentage points of GDP growth: Sri Mulyani

He also admitted to harboring concerns that direct investment from China would decline due to the virus outbreak. However, he said the agency could not predict how much the decline would impact investment realization figures.

We will review the impact on our investment realization next month, he said.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Panjaitan told the media last Thursday that several of the countrys downstream projects worth a total of US$500 million were facing delays due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Some of the projects include smelter developments by nickel miners such as PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry, Tsingshan Group and publicly listed PT Vale Indonesia.

Most of these projects involve Chinese workers who cant enter Indonesia as the government is still barring flights to and from China from entering Indonesia, he explained, adding that the government continued to monitor the situation.

Foreign direct investment from China, the second-largest foreign investor in Indonesia, grew almost two fold last year to $4.7 billion from $2.4 billion in 2018, according to BKPM data.
A university student was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at 22 after a holiday in Ibiza despite doctors telling her it was nothing to worry about.

Nursery nurse Ellie Graham, from Liverpool, discovered a pea-sized lump after experiencing shooting pains in her right side last summer.

Despite initially being told that it was most likely just a cyst and nothing to worry about, she was referred to a breast clinic for further tests.

Ms Graham had an ultrasound and biopsy just to be safe before jetting off for a holiday in Ibiza with boyfriend Joey and friends.

But when she returned in September she was given the devastating news that she had stage three breast cancer and it had started to spread around her body.

After surgery and 15 gruelling rounds of radiotherapy, she is now cancer-free. But the nursery nurse is pleading with young women to check for lumps and 'even if the doctors tell you it is just a cyst, push for a biopsy.'

Ellie Graham, 22, discovered a pea-sized lump after experiencing shooting pains in her right side last summer

Despite initially being told that the lump was most likely just a cyst and nothing to worry about, she was referred to a breast clinic for further tests

Ms Graham, from Liverpool, had an ultrasound and biopsy just to be safe before jetting off for a holiday in Ibiza with boyfriend Joey and friends

Speaking publicly about her ordeal for the first time, Ms Graham said: 'I wouldn't have even thought to check as I'm only 22 but a manager who I work who is in her 50s went for a routine mammogram appointment.

'When she got the results back she was diagnosed with breast cancer, so that made me a bit more aware.

'I'd been having shooting pains in my breast for a couple of weeks but I thought it was just hormonal changes.

'And then four days later I found a lump. It was only small, it was pea sized.'

Ms Graham was referred for further tests just to be on the safe side, but was reassured it was likely only to be a cyst.

She added: 'They were convinced it was just a cyst but they did a biopsy just in case.

'I went on holiday to Ibiza with my boyfriend and when I got back we went in to get my results and they diagnosed me with breast cancer. I was in complete shock. It was horrendous.'

The nursery nurse was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, the fastest growing stage, on September 27, 2019 and was told by doctors that she needed to be operated on as soon as possible.

She became the youngest person to be diagnosed with the disease at the Linda McCartney centre at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

But when she returned in September she was given the devastating news that she had stage three breast cancer which had started to spread around her body

She was at low risk of the cancer returning after the operation so doctors put her on radiotherapy.

Ms Graham hopes her story will help to raise awareness of breast cancer and the signs that women of all ages should look out for.

Around 55,000 women are diagnosed every year with the disease and 11,000 of them die. Most women diagnosed are over the age of 50.

She said: 'It's bizarre that you don't start having routine mammograms [breast cancer screenings] until you're 50 when I'm only 22 and I got diagnosed.

'I know other young girls who are only in their 30s who go to the support group I go to and they have breast cancer too.

'If you're worried about something, even if the doctors tell you it is just a cyst, push for a biopsy.'

She added: 'If they hadn't done a biopsy on me I would've just accepted that it was a cyst and not thought about it again.

Ms Graham became the youngest person to be diagnosed with the disease at the Linda McCartney centre at the Royal Liverpool Hospital (pictured after being given the all-clear)

'But the doctors told me I was lucky to have found it at that stage because if it had spread to my lymph nodes it could've spread around my body.'

She said: 'It still doesn't feel real. I can't believe how long it's been since I was first diagnosed, I just been in a bubble.

'I feel like it's going to take a long time for me to get back to normal and to feel back to normal.'

Ms Graham, finished her last session of radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Cancer Hospital on Friday, February 21.

She rang the bell at the clinic on Friday to mark the end of her treatment, surrounded by friends and family.

She said: 'When I rang the bell the relief I felt, it was amazing. Over twenty of my friends and family were there to watch me ring it.

'You read a poem out before you do it and I couldn't even get my words out.'

Since posting the video online it has been viewed over a million times and she has had messages from celebrities.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty

If it wasnt for Mike Bloomberg, the alleged perpetrators of the worst terrorist attack in American history would likely have been convicted of mass murder by now.

According to all the evidence available both at the time and in the nine years since Bloombergs intervention, a federal court almost certainly would have convicted the five co-defendants. A judge would have had to reckon with the torture the CIA inflicted on them, barring the prosecution from using tainted evidenceand showing, for the record, how torture jeopardized the case. Most importantly, there would have been closure, provided in open court and displaying the inheritance of centuries of jurisprudence, for the atrocity of 9/11 and the brutality America chose when confronting it.

All that was why Eric Holder, then the attorney general, announced in November 2009 that the Justice Department would bring criminal charges against Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Ammar al-Baluchi, Ramzi Binalshibh, Walid bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi, whothen as nowwere detained at Guantanamo Bay. The venue for the trial was to be the federal courthouse in Manhattan, a short walk from the former site of the World Trade Center.

It was an even shorter walk to City Hall, where Michael Bloomberg presided as mayor. Bloomberg at first backed trying the 9/11 conspirators in the city. But the NYPD and the big real estate developers central to Bloombergs vision of New York as a luxury brand viewed the trial as a national-security version of a Not-In-My-Backyard concernall as a broader backlash to Barack Obamas handling of the war on terror was brewing. By January 2010, Bloomberg reversed himself, and his opposition doomed the trial.

I remember the hopes I had that there would be a federal trial, and I remember when Bloomberg and others came together and said it wasnt going to happen, said Terry Rockefeller, whose sister died in the World Trade Center and who apportions blame for the trials collapse on Holder as well. Its just been the most frustrating reflection on what weve done as a nation that this many years later we cant have a trial.

Story continues

The episode is less remembered than Bloombergs defense of racist policing, his accommodation of police Islamophobia, his history of misogyny and his affinity for foreign authoritarians, all of which Bloomberg shares with the occupant of the White House he seeks to dislodge. But it had a devastating effect on the Obama administrations ambitions for emptying the wartime prison in Cuba and proving the merits of civilian courts over military tribunals for what Holder had called the trial of the century. Eighteen years after 9/11, justice for the attack remains locked away in Guantanamo.

Its hard to overestimate the damage that Bloombergs opposition to holding the 9/11 trials in New York federal courts caused, recalled Karen Greenberg, the director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University. The inability to have closure on the 9/11 attacks, which this country is still owed; the lack of trust in the federal criminal justice system; and the perpetuation of Gitmoit is an incalculable misstep, and it pulled the rug out from under Obama and Holders conviction that the 9/11 trials needed to be held in federal court on federal soil, just as [international terrorism cases] had always been prior to 9/11.

Joseph Marguiles, attorney for Abu Zubaydah, another Guantanamo detainee tortured by the CIA, said Bloombergs rejection of the trial showed the same fear-mongering and bone-headedness as his embrace of stop-and-frisk.

Its all of a piece: a mindless, reflexive cowardice, Marguiles said.

Representatives for Bloombergs campaign did not respond to messages seeking comment. Holder, through a spokesperson, declined comment. So did Holders national security adviser at the time, Amy Jeffress.

Barack Obama came into office pledging to close Guantanamo Bay, but quickly alienated civil libertarians by his parsimonious definitions of what closure meant. Rather than forsake military detention away from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama sought to replicate it at an Illinois prison that critics derided as Gitmo North. By the spring of his first year in office, he proclaimed himself open to indefinite military detention for the toughest cases, even as he pledged he would seek civilian prosecutions for terrorist suspects whenever feasible.

The centerpiece for that feasibility was the 9/11 trial. For years, the 9/11 co-conspirators had languished in unofficial CIA prisons known as black sites where they faced torture so extreme that one of them, Hawsawi, experienced a rectal prolapse. Holder called prosecuting them in federal court the defining event of his tenure atop the Justice Department. He had support from important New York politicians. New York is not afraid of terrorists, boasted Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat representing Manhattan.

Bloomberg, at first, joined the chorus. It is fitting that 9/11 suspects face justice near the World Trade Center site where so many New Yorkers were murdered, he said the day of Holders announcement. Doing so was entirely feasible, he noted, as proven by the federal trial for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Bloomberg said he had spoken to Holder and pledged city support in any way necessary. He expressed confidence in the NYPDs experience dealing with high-profile terrorism suspects and any logistical issues that may come up during the trials.

But he quickly developed other ideas.

By the time the Justice Department announced its intended 9/11 trial, a backlash to Obama was coalescing around the country. One of its focal points was Obamas emphasis on using the criminal justice system for terrorism cases, which the right interpreted as a five-alarm fire. Mitch McConnell, the Senate GOP leader, led an early charge warning how dangerous closing Guantanamo could be. Then, weeks after the Justice Department announcement, FBI agents read a Miranda warning to a Nigerian jihadist named Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab who tried and failed to blow up a civilian airliner as it descended into Detroit. Abdulmutallab extensively cooperated with investigators, but to the right, it crystallized a danger Obama allegedly posed. Rudy Giuliani wailed, Why in Gods name would you stop questioning a terrorist?

The 9/11 trial suddenly had a new, hysterical context. A rally at Foley Square in December, featuring relatives of 9/11 victims, denounced the attorney general. It was organized by a group led by Islamophobic 9/11 widow Debra Burlingame, future Rep. Liz Cheney and neoconservative pundit Bill Kristol, called Keep America Safeexplicitly meaning safe from terrorism and, tacitly, from Obama. Accordingly, the crowd around or passing by Foley Square yelled traitor and lynch Holder!

Then there were more parochial concerns. The NYPD began worrying aloud that the trial would be a logistical snarl, and ratcheted up their estimates of its cost. Commissioner Ray Kelly briefed community officials with intimidating projections about blanketing downtown Manhattan with police checkpoints and intrusive searches. The police werent the only influential constituency that blanched. The New York Times reported that Bloomberg got an earful of opposition to the trial when he attended an annual gathering of the Real Estate Board of New York; its president warned it would destroy the economy in Lower Manhattan. Jane Mayer of The New Yorker noted that companies with downtown real-estate interests had been lobbying to stop the trial. The chairwoman of the downtown-Manhattan community board wrote an op-ed opposing having the trial in the midst of a dense residential and office neighborhood.

Bloombergs Money Wont Right the Wrong of Guantanamo-on-Hudson

By early January, weeks after supporting the trial, Bloomberg reneged. In a letter to the White House, Bloomberg asserted a security threat to the trial that he felt no political pressure to explain. Now the trial would cost the city over $200 million annually, largely due to reallocating police officers, who would accrue significant overtime. Bloomberg, backed by Kelly, expected federal reimbursementsomething he insisted would not be a blank check. Bloomberg was backed by his home-state senator, now-Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who insisted that not a nickel of these costs should be borne by New York taxpayers.

It happened that there was a test case undercutting Bloombergs argument in real time. In June 2009, federal prosecutors in New York indicted a different Gitmo detainee, someone whom the CIA also tortured in the black sites. The trial of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani wasnt on the scale of the 9/11 trialhe was indicted for his role in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzaniabut it featured no security disruption from terrorists, no abnormal police presence, and no economic disaster. Its judge, Lewis Kaplan, refused the government one of its desired witnesses, someone whom Ghailani named during his black-site interrogations. A jury acquitted Ghailani of all but one count of conspiracy, but it was enough to sentence him to life in prison in 2011, a sentence that has survived Ghailanis appeals. His trial took a month.

But by then, the 9/11 trial had long been a lost cause. At a press conference on a Wednesday in late January, fueled by a nonbinding community-board vote against the trial, Bloomberg said that his hope is that the attorney general and the president decide to change their mind and hold the trial elsewhere. Two days later, Justice Department officials conceded to Times reporters that it was now obvious the trial couldnt happen in New York.

If these trials were going to take place anywhere, theyd take place in New York, and the mayor of the largest city in the country said they cant handle it. Well, if you cant do it there, you cant do it anywhere, Marguiles said. It was just nonsense. Of course they could have done it. These cases would have been resolved 10 years ago.

That November, before the Justice Department could salvage the prosecutions and indict Mohammed and his co-conspirators elsewhere, the Republicans won control of Congress. Once in office, the new GOP majority spearheaded legislation barring the Pentagon from spending money to move Guantanamo detainees onto mainland American soil, effectively killing any federal criminal indictment of anyone held in the wartime prison, a prohibition that continues to this day. Conceding defeat, the Obama administration in 2012 re-indicted the five co-conspirators in a military commission held at Guantanamo.

The death of the 9/11 trial didnt stop Obama from prosecuting terror suspects, something Donald Trumps Justice Department has pursued as well. It just became impossible to resolve the stain of 9/11 and the reality of Guantanamo, Marguiles observed. Everything about the show trial taking place down at Gitmo is inferior.

Indeed, the 9/11 military tribunal has lasted almost eight years without proceeding to trial. Its been beset by a baroque series of setbacks, including accusations of government spying on the defense attorneys. Its new judge has set a trial date for 2021, some 20 years after 9/11, but that target is, as ever, in doubt. This week, one of Binalshibhs attorneys, James Harrington, sought to remove himself from the case on health grounds. To keep the trial date alive, the prosecution took the extraordinary step of motioning to keep Harrington involved.

Like many attorneysincluding HolderGreenberg and Marguiles believe the abundance of evidence about the 9/11 plot obtained outside of torture is sufficient to secure a federal conviction for the accused co-conspirators. As well, Marguiles said the 9/11 trial would have provided a way to reckon with the legacy of torture.

Without a trial, New Yorkers and Americans generally lack the closure and a narrative that court cases provide, Greenberg said. This country continues to live inside the post-9/11 moment, she said, in a way that didnt need to happen.

No one continues to live in that moment more than the thousands of people like Rockefeller, who lost their loved ones on 9/11. It was a crushing failure of will to actually do the right thing, to try the [accused conspirators] in a federal court, said Rockefeller, who is affiliated with Sept. 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. That would have been to say that our pride in our rule of law, and our belief in our legal system, is what makes us different from terrorists.

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Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2020 -- According to the new market research report "Livestock Monitoring Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, and Services), Livestock Type (Cattle, Poultry, Swine, Equine), Application (Milk Harvesting, Feeding, Breeding, Behavior Monitoring & Control), Farm Type, Geography - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Livestock Monitoring Market is expected to grow from USD 1.5 billion in 2020 to USD 2.5 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 10.9%.



The growing focus on livestock monitoring and disease detection, increasing adoption of IoT and AI by dairy farmers, and substantial cost-saving associated with livestock monitoring management are driving the growth of this market. The growing population of cattle with rising dairy farms and growing adoption of livestock monitoring technology in developing countries provide major opportunities for the growth of the livestock monitoring market.



Ask for PDF Brochure:

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Software component to witness the highest CAGR during 20202025



Key players in the livestock monitoring market are GEA Farm Technologies (Germany), DeLaval (Sweden), Afimilk Ltd. (Israel), BouMatic, LLC (US), Antelliq Corporation (France), Dairymaster Ltd. (Ireland), Lely International NV (Netherlands), Fancom BV (Netherlands), Fullwood Packo Ltd. (UK), and Nedap NV (Netherlands). These players are increasingly adopting growth strategies such as product launches and developments, partnerships, collaborations, agreements, and acquisitions to develop and introduce new technologies and products in the market.



Feeding Management expected to exhibit the highest CAGR in the Livestock monitoring market from 2020 to 2025



The Livestock Monitoring market for the feeding management application is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2020 to 2025. The feeding management application is expected to continue to dominate the livestock monitoring market, in terms of size and growth rate, during the forecast period. This high growth is predominantly driven by the increasing availability of innovative feeding technologies such as liquid feeding systems and dry feeding systems.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Livestock Monitoring Market"

104  Tables

46  Figures

195  Pages



Growing population of dairy farms and population expansion boost demand for livestock monitoring in APAC during the forecast period



The Livestock monitoring market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The population expansion in the region's developing countries is mounting pressure on the suppliers of livestock products to become more efficient and productive, thus pushing the sales of livestock monitoring solutions upward. The rising penetration of IoT in the animal monitoring application also boosts the growth of this market.



Inquiry Before Buying:

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Key players in the livestock monitoring market are GEA Farm Technologies (Germany), DeLaval (Sweden), Afimilk Ltd. (Israel), BouMatic, LLC (US), Antelliq Corporation (France), Dairymaster Ltd. (Ireland), Lely International NV (Netherlands), Fancom BV (Netherlands), Fullwood Packo Ltd. (UK), and Nedap NV (Netherlands). These players are increasingly adopting growth strategies such as product launches and developments, partnerships, collaborations, agreements, and acquisitions to develop and introduce new technologies and products in the market.



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Precision Livestock Farming Market by Functional Process (Climate Control, Water Usage, Feed Dosage, Weight Estimates, Animal Behaviour), Hardware (Camera, Milking Robots, Sensors, Microphones), Application, and Geography - Analysis & Forecast to 2019 - 2024



Agriculture IoT Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, & Services), Application (Precision Farming, Precision Forestry, Livestock Monitoring, Fish Farm Monitoring and Smart Greenhouse), Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2024



About MarketsandMarkets

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Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



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At least 46 rhinos have been slaughtered in Botswana in 10 months, a government official said on Monday as the southern African wildlife haven reported a surge in poaching of the endangered species. The killings -- slightly under 10 percent of Botswana's total rhino population -- have occurred in the northern Moremi Game Reserve since April last year. "Poaching has risen at an alarming rate in this area," Moemi Batshabang, a deputy director with the government's wildlife department told AFP. "I can attest that 46 rhinos have been killed by highly organised poachers between April last year to date," he said. Botswana is home to 500 rhinos, according to international conservation charity, Save the Rhino. They are a protected species in Botswana and fall outside the government's recent decision to end a five-year ban on trophy-hunting licences, which is largely targeted at the burgeoning elephant population. Most of the rhinos roam the grassy plains of the northern Okavango Delta, where Moremi Game Reserve is situated. "The increase in poaching of both the black and white rhino is of concern and unusual," said Batshabang. The unprecedented rate of poaching last year prompted the government to warn that the rhino population could be wiped out in the southern African country by 2021. Thousands of rhinos that once roamed Africa and Asia have been culled by poaching and habitat loss. Very few are found outside national parks and reserves. Poaching is fuelled by a seemingly insatiable demand for rhino horn in Asia, where it is coveted as a traditional medicine or an aphrodisiac, and can fetch up to $60,000 per kilogramme. Rhino horn is composed mainly of keratin, the same substance as in human nails. Botswana's neighbour South Africa, home to 80 percent of the world's remaining rhinos and the epicentre of rhino poaching, lost 594 rhinos to poachers last year. The good news is that this marks a 23 percent drop from the previous year. More than 7,100 animals have been slaughtered over the past decade There are fewer than 25,000 rhinos left in the wild in Africa due to a surge in poaching, and only 5,000 of them are black rhinos. Poachers are hunting rhinos in Botswana and South Africa for their horns which are wrongly believed to have medical value
Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) will showcase opportunities for growth and development within the Kingdoms defence sector at the upcoming Global Aerospace Summit 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.



The event, taking place from March 17 to 19, is one of the worlds leading thought leadership forums for the aviation, aerospace, space and defence industries.



SAMI is a national holding company owned 100 per cent by the Public Investment Fund (PIF); a sovereign wealth fund owned by Saudi Arabia. SAMI develops and supports military industries in Saudi Arabia and plays a major role in supporting efforts to localise more than 50 per cent of the Kingdoms military spending by 2030. The Kingdom is ranked in the top five countries in terms of military expenditures worldwide. This position enables tremendous investment opportunities.



SAMI will be representing the growing bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the Summit, as well as the increased regional focus on defence.



SAMI will participate in the summit through a speaking delegation led by Dr Andreas Schwer, CEO of SAMI; Walid Abu Khaled, CSO  Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at SAMI; and Mohammed Bushnag, Vice President of Human Resources at SAMI.



The delegation will address the key factors impacting the industry including Saudi-UAE bilateral relations, international partnerships, the Kingdom's 2030 vision and its role in developing and localising the nations military industry, as well as future investment opportunities within the defence sector.



EDGE, the newly established advanced technology group for defence in the UAE joined Mubadala Investment Company as the host partner of the Global Aerospace Summit 2020. Held under the theme of insights and integration, the Global Aerospace Summit 2020 will offer a platform for the UAE to highlight its strategy of working with international partners to enhance and develop local capabilities.



It will also be an opportunity to showcase methods for building national technological skills and leveraging cutting-edge solutions to achieve ambitious visions for the future.  TradeArabia News Service
The world is nearing the tipping point at which the coronavirus outbreak will become an uncontrollable pandemic, experts have warned.

Some 80,000 people have now been infected globally and more than 2,600 have died, mostly in China, according to a tracking database run by Johns Hopkins University.

At the weekend Englands chief medical officer confirmed that four people brought back to the UK from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive, bringing the British total to 13 cases. The quartet, along with 28 others, are now in quarantine on Merseyside.

Professor Paul Hunter, of the University of East Anglia, said a recent surge of cases outside China was extremely concerning. Infections in South Korea, Japan and Iran were causes for concern while said a cluster of cases in Italy was a big worry for Europe, he added.

Prof Hunter said: The director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently spoken of a narrowing of the window of opportunity to control the current epidemic. The tipping point after which our ability to prevent a global pandemic seems a lot closer after the past 24 hours.

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

And Dr Bharat Pankhania, a clinical lecturer at Exeter University, told The Daily Telegraph: It is clear that all the important ingredients for a pandemic are now present. Its better to be honest and say it.

The warnings came after the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a meeting of African health ministers of his fears about the emergence of cases that had shown no clear epidemiological link, such as travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case  especially in Iran.

On Monday Kuwait announced that it had detected its first three cases of coronavirus in people who had travelled from Iran, including a Saudi Arabian citizen. Bahrain also announced its first case, with the infected person again having travelled from Iran.

However, China has relaxed some restrictions on its citizens movements, including in Beijing, after rates of new infections fell. While admitting the outbreak remained severe and complex, premier Xi Jingping urged businesses to return to normal working patterns.

Guizhou, Yunnan, Shanxi and Guangdong provinces lowered their coronavirus emergency response measures from the highest level, joining the provinces of Gansu and Liaoning in easing travel restrictions.

The Johns Hopkins University tracking tool showed that about 25,000 people around the world had recovered from coronavirus infections.

Research released on Monday suggested that one-third of Britons would consider ceasing to travel overseas if the outbreak persisted, putting some 17bn of holiday spending on hold.

More than one-fifth, or 22 per cent, also said they would avoid using public transport.
Agra: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra: US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra, Feb 24 : US President Donald Trump along with First Lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US officials visited the monument of love Taj Mahal here.

The 79-vehicle cavalcade including the US President's luxurious 'Beast' crossed the 13-km stretch from Kheria airport here to the 17th century monument in about 25 minutes.

However, the US President then took the battery-operated cart to reach the premises of the Taj.

The US First Family will spend over an hour at the historic building, which was constructed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Following the visit of the US President, the Taj has been decked up in the last one week, as a fresh mud pack was applied to its walls.

Even the mausoleum of the historic monument has been cleaned in view of the high profile visit.

This is Trump's first state visit to India and also the first standalone visit by a US President to India.

Before Trump, President Bill Clinton visited Agra in March 2000 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959.

Following the visit of the Trumps here, the city has got a massive facelift.

The administration has put up huge billboards, placards, cut-outs and posters welcoming the US President and his wife.

The 13 km route from the airport to the Taj has been spruced up aesthetically and the US and Indian flags have been put up at roundabouts to give the area a festive look.
The fate of Malaysias ruling coalition is in doubt after surprise talks between Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamads PPBM party and other groups on forming a new government that would exclude his anointed successor and coalition partner, Anwar Ibrahim.

The tussle between old rivals Mahathir, 94, and Anwar, 72, has shaped Malaysian politics for decades, with tensions persisting despite their 2018 alliance to win the elections based on a promise that Mahathir would one day cede power to Anwar.

On Sunday, Anwar accused Mahathirs party and traitors in his own Peoples Justice Party (PKR) of plotting to form a new government with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)  part of the Barisan Nasional coalition, which ruled for over 60 years and was removed in a 2018 elections upset amid accusations of corruption.

He also said a meeting convened on Monday by a group of politicians was a political betrayal.

Sources told Reuters that Mahathirs PPBM (the Malaysian United Indigenous Party) and a faction within Anwars PKR met officials from UMNO and the Islamist PAS party on Sunday in efforts to form a new coalition.

Asked about what transpired during the Sunday meeting, which triggered talks about a new government, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who attended, told Al Jazeera that he was not at liberty to discuss it.





Saifuddin, who is a member of Anwars PKR, also would not comment about his future as the countrys top diplomat.

Malaysian stocks fell more than 2 percent when markets opened on Monday, affected by the political uncertainty.

Mahathirs party, UMNO and PAS met with the king on Sunday, media said, though it was not clear what they discussed and whether the new proposed coalition would secure backing from the king, whose role is largely ceremonial.

#Malaysia's Economic Affairs Min Azmin Ali emerges from meeting of different parties that could decide realignment of the govt of PM #Mahathir as early as Monday. Azmin is Anwar's rival from within the People's Justice Party, which is part of Pakatan Harapan governing coalition. pic.twitter.com/dQDoYWhlS5  Ted Regencia  (@tedregencia) February 23, 2020

Anwar to meet king

The king can dissolve Parliament on the advice of the prime minister and his assent is required for the appointment of a prime minister or senior officials.

But it is unclear what his role would be if the ruling coalition changed without a change in prime minister.

Anwar was also due to meet the king at 2:30pm (06:30 GMT) on Monday, his spokesman said, but gave no details of what he would seek.

Earlier in the day, Anwar also held meetings with other politicians from the current coalition government.

Devamany Krishnasamy, deputy president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, who was also present in Sundays meeting, told Al Jazeera that Mahathir had the numbers to form a new government.

This is politics. It happens around the world. The constitution says the Parliament can decide that any majority can run the government, and you must get the consent of the agong (king), as simple as that, said Devamany, whose party is a founding is aligned with the current opposition party.





Anwar and Mahathir united ahead of the 2018 election to drive out the UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional coalition.

But tensions had been growing between the two in their Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan, or PH) coalition, as Mahathir resisted setting a specific timetable for keeping his promise to hand power to Anwar.

PHs political fortunes have also been waning, with defeat in five recent by-elections.

Anwar also had a split with party mate, Mohamed Azmin Ali, the economic affairs minister, who was among those who joined the meeting on Sunday night.

Anwar was Mahathirs deputy when the latter served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 but Mahathir sacked him in 1998 after they disagreed on how to handle the financial crisis Malaysia was going through at the time.

Soon afterwards, Anwar was jailed for sodomy, charges he says were trumped up.

With additional reporting by Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:19:38|Editor: huaxia

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A central government team guiding the coronavirus epidemic control work in China's Hubei Province holds discussions with experts from Beijing, Shanghai and the military to assist Wuhan with the epidemic control at a remote consultation center of the Tongji Hospital based in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 24, 2020. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addressed the event. The central government team held a consultation with frontline medical experts and urged utmost efforts to treat patients of the COVID-19. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

WUHAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A central government team guiding the coronavirus epidemic control work in China's Hubei Province on Monday held a consultation with frontline medical experts and urged utmost efforts to treat patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The central government team, led by Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, visited the Tongji Hospital based in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. At a remote consultation center, the team held discussions with experts from Beijing, Shanghai and the military to assist Wuhan with the epidemic control.

Sun, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said equal importance should be attached to both severe and mild cases, calling for efforts to optimize the treatment schemes for severe and critical patients and the management standards for mild and common cases.

Efforts should be made to ensure the speedy recovery of mild patients and priority should be given to severe cases regarding the application of advanced equipment, technologies and medicines, she said.

Sun also stressed ensuring medical supplies to hospitals and increasing the cure rate and reducing the mortality rate through the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, preclinical medicine and clinical practices, treatment and nursing, as well as treatment and management.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Great Wall Motor (GWM), China's biggest SUV and pickup manufacturer, announced its full-year gross revenue reached RMB96.455 billion in 2019, edging down 2.8% compared to the previous year.

The annual net profit attributable to shareholders slid 13.73% over a year ago to RMB4.493 billion. However, excluding the impact of certain no-recurring gains and losses, the net profit still grew 2.41% to RMB3.982 billion, meaning the company did a better job in operation.



GWM said the net profit downturn should be partly ascribed to the increased cost in branding buildup. To improve the brand profile and cement consumers' loyalty, GWM adopted a series of measures like offering users overlong warranty period. Besides, both the increase in R&D expenditure and the decline in non-operating interest are blamed for the profit drop.

Despite the downturn for the entire year, GWM earned RMB2.975 billion of net profit in the second-half of 2019, shooting 94.3% year on year. The inspiring number showed the strong resilience of the automaker, which was also saddled with the downward pressure from the overall auto market.

Last year, GWM saw its full-year sales in 2019 edge up 0.69% year on year to 1,060,298 units, surpassing 1 million units for the fourth year in a row.

Aside from the blooming performance in domestic market, the automaker also boasted a 38.68% year-on-year hike with roughly 65,000 vehicles sold in overseas market.

(Photo source: Great Wall Motor)



The automaker is acting faster to deploy its overseas business. Earlier this month, GWM and General Motors reached an agreement to transfer GM Thailand and GM Powertrain Thailand legal entities, which include the Rayong vehicle assembly and powertrain facilities, to the former.

In addition, GWM's Tula plant in Russia successfully kicked off production in 2019, and the company also reached an agreement with GM to acquire its Talegaon Plant in India in early 2020.
Netflix Incorporated, the biggest online video streaming in the world, is moving its Latin American base to Mexico, according to Bloomberg.

It is known to nearly everyone, especially Netflix subscribers, that the biggest online video streaming in the world has been the home of Latin American movies over the past few years. In a previous article by Latin Post, it was reported the different Latin movies that will be streamed on Netflix. This includes the documentary series of Aaron Hernandez, Pablo Escobar, Narcos: Mexico Season 2, and a lot more.

It is undeniable that viewers from Latin America are surging as the years go by. This also gave Netflix the idea that they need to staff foreign employees coming from Latin America because of its growing custumers in the region.

On Friday, Netflix released a statement saying they will consolidate their executives to work in programming, marketing, and publicity across the region in Mexico City and will staff more employees. Meanwhile, Sao Paolo will remain the regional office of Netflix which serves as the Latin American hub.

When Netflix first expanded to Latin America, they struggled a lot because most customers or subscribers don't have credit cards and most countries didn't have internet infrastructures way back in 2011. However, with the growing popularity of the service due to Portuguese and Spanish original series, Netflix has now become one of the favorites of Latin Americans.

At present, it is estimated that there were more than 31.4 million Netflix customers in the region in 2019. This has doubled in the past three years making Latin America priority customers of Netflix.

In a statement that Netflix released, they said that costumers across Latin America have embraced Netflix. They also added that "With Mexico City as our base, we'll be even closer to the creative community as well as members all across the region as we continue to invest in best-in-class content that is loved in Latin America and all over the world."

Netflix has accounted for 90 percent of its growth in the international market in 2019. With the growing population of costumers outside the United States, the company pledged to invest $200 million in Mexican productions in 2020 and that includes La Casa de Las Flores, Diablero, and the most popular program out of Colombia, Siempre Bruja.

Netflix also said that they have produced more than 50 new TV and film projects that are co-produced by Mexicans from 2019 to present. This means, that the plan of Netflix to establish its office in Mexico means to displace dozens of Netflix employees. Moreover, Netflix has also opened offices in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, and a production office in Spain.

The biggest streaming service in the world has hired employees that specialize in Latin America. People such as publicists, marketers, and programming executives are currently assigned in Los Angeles and other offices. However, in light of the expansion, they have been given two options; either to move to Mexico City or find a new job.

The popularity of Netflix has gone beyond the borders of the United States and this is because of its Latin American customers and Latin American films that are using either Portuguese or Spanish languages as mentioned earlier.
Plans for a 124-mile gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to Schoharie County have been scrapped with the company that wanted to build it writing off the cost of a nearly decade-long battle to get started.

The Constitution Pipeline proposed by the Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams Companies, had approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. But New York State hadnt approved the water permits needed, since the proposed $1 billion project would have crossed numerous streams and wetlands.

The line would have run from the Pennsylvania border near Binghamton to Schoharie County where it would link to existing lines.

Williams  with support from its partners, Duke, Cabot and AltaGas  has halted investment in the proposed Constitution project. While Constitution did receive positive outcomes in recent court proceedings and permit applications, the underlying risk-adjusted return for this greenfield pipeline project has diminished in such a way that further development is no longer supported, the company said in a statement.

In addition to Williams, Cabot Oil and Gas from Houston, AltaGas of Calgary, Alberta and Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy were partners in the planned project.

The project was proposed in 2013 with a cost estimate under $700 million. But legal challenges and delays drove the price up by almost 40 percent and gas prices have remained low thanks to abundant supply.

Environmentalists said they were glad Williams was dropping the planned line, which would have carried hydrofracked natural gas to New York, where such extraction techniques are banned. Increasingly, climate change activists are opposing new pipelines, saying their construction would only continue the reliance on gas, which is a fossil fuel. They want to move quickly toward renewables such as solar and wind power in order to cut CO2 emissions.

Conservationists also worried about wildlife habitat, forests and waterbodies that the pipeline would have crossed.

This pipeline would have carried fracked natural gas across 251 waterbodies  including 89 trout spawning streams  and through many unique and sensitive ecological areas such as old-growth forest and undisturbed springs, Richard Webster, director of Legal Programs for the Riverkeeper organization, said in an email.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Riverkeeper as well as Earthjustice and other groups had opposed the plan.

In a report to investors earlier in the month Williams wrote that the project was written off to the tune of $354 million. Of that, Williams' 41% share was $145 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @Rick Karlin TU
WikiLeaks editor in chief Kristinn Hrafnsonn, Julian Assange's father John Shipton, and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood attend a protest against Assange's extradition. (Reuters/Peter Nicholls)

Fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood was one of a large group of protesters demonstrating outside the extradition hearing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday.

Wearing a headband reading angel, the fashion designer told reporters: I am Vivienne. Im the angel of democracy. Nobody knows more about democracies than Julian Assange.

Police formed a barrier around the demonstration as supporters chanted free, free Julian Assange.

Assange, 48, entered the dock at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday morning. US prosecutors want the WikiLeaks founder to face espionage charges that carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

Read more: Julian Assange: truth teller or criminal?

Wearing a grey suit and grey sweater with a white shirt, Assange spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, then nodded towards the press benches before taking his seat.

Supporters in a full public gallery include his father John Shipton, who last week said his sons extradition would be like a death sentence.

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood speaks during a protest against the extradition of Julian Assange at Parliament Square in London, 22 February, 2020. (Reuters/Peter Nicholls)

Outside the court, Dame Westwood said: It is not a crime to publish American war crimes. Its in the public interest, it is democracy, that he is allowed to do this.

I feel really worried and frightened actually, really frightened.

She told the crowd: I feel that I live in this surreal world that is so evil and orchestrated to collapse, and nobody really gets it.

Read more: From Hollywood star to footballing ace: Julian Assanges glamorous guests

Weve got no chance unless we break this wall of government corruption global, and I think Julians a Trojan horse and if we can get him free, then weve got this rock of democracy.

James Lewis QC opened the case against Assange on behalf of the US government.

After a week of opening arguments, the extradition case is scheduled to be adjourned until May, when the two sides will lay out their evidence. The judge is not expected to rule until several months after that.

Protesters hold placards as they block the entrance to Woolwich Crown Court at Belmarsh prison prior to Julian Assange's extradition hearing on Monday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Many of the demonstrators wore costumes as part of their protest, including several people dressed as judges.

Story continues

One man dressed as Jesus, holding a large yellow cross.

Giving his name as Jesus Gilet-Jaune, he said he had been motivated by his heart to attend the protest against injustice.

He said: This man is a man who is doing his job as a journalist, who cant say the truth, but he said the truth.

Nine tents and gazebos have been set up outside the perimeter of the courts, including an impromptu kitchen. Some activists said they intended to stay outside the court until the end of the initial week of hearings on Friday.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2011. (Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Brack, 58, will camp outside the court for two nights.

When asked why he was demonstrating, he said: What the big question is, are we believers in freedom of speech, human rights and in a respect for international law? And currently the UK justice system has decided not so much.

They make an example of him at the behest of our American federal prosecutors.

The protesters include approximately a dozen yellow vest protesters who travelled from Paris overnight.

Jean-Baptiste Voltuan, 64, told the Press Association: I am a yellow vest here to support because [Assange] did the best for all the world, for his courage. There are dozens of us. We took a night bus from Paris.

A protester pours red paint on the ground in support of Julian Assange prior to his extradition hearing. (Peter Summers/Getty Images)

A number of groups including the Stop the War coalition were also present.

Another demonstrator, Dawn Manners, 55, said: The Americans dropped bombs on people, Julian Assange exposed it and he should be the only one in the dock for that.

Im grateful he reported it, journalism isnt a crime, its b******s.

Assange, 48, is wanted on 18 charges over the publication of US cables a decade ago. He is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.

US authorities say WikiLeaks activities put American lives in danger. Assange argues that he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection, and says the leaked documents exposed US military wrongdoing.
Last time when Business Today met Nanoo Pamnani at his sea facing office in Belha Court at Colaba, the veteran banker had a treasure chest of stories to tell - starting from his days in Citibank to the post-retirement assignment in Bajaj Finance. By the time, he had completed 50 years in the banking industry, within India and abroad. He was one of the youngest CEOs of Citibank. He was instrumental in building Bajaj's financial services businesses, which is valued at Rs 4.4 lakh crore in the stock market, along with Sanjiv Bajaj (younger son of Rahul Bajaj) and Rajeev Jain, who is the managing director of Bajaj Finance.

He returned from London in 1967 after having studied from London School of Economics (LSE). Getting a job in Mumbai for Pamnani was not difficult at that point of time. He gave interviews for the job in National and Grindlays Bank, Unilever and Tata Administrative Service (TAS). Everybody wanted him to join, but the process was lengthy. Meanwhile, Citibank came up with an offer and the bank was swift in onboarding him.

"Citibank's first interview was at 9 o'clock. The person who interviewed second asked me what I was doing for lunch. I said I was going home. He said if I were free for lunch, he wanted one of his colleagues to meet me for lunch. That was the third interview. I had two more interviews on that day. The fifth person, who was the head of western region, was based out of Mumbai. Three out of five interviewers were Americans. They sent the offer letter the next day," Pamnani said.

Pamnani was 22 years old when he joined Citi. The normal rotation and training lasted 18 months in Citi at that time. But his training got over in six months. "They straight away gave me 35 per cent increase in compensation. My joining salary was Rs 1,200. I was part of operations division of the bank at that time," Pamnani told BT.

After 18 months, he shifted to Calcutta office and later moved to corporate banking as junior relationship manager. He cut his teeth there in building relations with business houses in north-east such as Bangurs and Goenkas. He came back to Mumbai after four years as the operations head of the country's largest region for the bank Western region, replacing a senior executive, who was retiring. Then he became country's second risk officer, and later deputy CFO. He became the South India corporate bank head at the age of 31 and it helped him build relations with MA Chidambaram, AC Muthiah and Murugappas.

Later he was brought to Mumbai and appointed as the head of India operations, which was headed by an American. Three years later, at the age of 37, Pamnani became the CEO of Citibank India, when Victor Menezes, another young and vibrant banker who turned CEO, was moving to Hong Kong.

"At Citibank, we were always in the managing committee of Indian Banks Association. The managing directors of most of the banks in the country were directors in the association. I was the youngest in the managing committee among all the mid-fifties MDs of public sector banks. They always looked at me like who was this young punk," Pamnani remembered.

After five years, Pamnani moved to Philippines, which was running into problems. It was tough job of five years. He had to negotiate the whole sovereign debt with the ministry of finance, which they couldn't pay. The restructuring process alone took two years, he says. "During that time in Philippines, the country was going through political turmoil. Ferdinand Marcos was under pressure and finally he had to leave. Corazon Aquino succeeded him to the post of President. She was weak to handle the issues. I had four security guards since I was representing American bank. The left wing people were against the Americans," he said.

He moved to Singapore after that as the Asia Pacific head of private banking. In 1995, he shifted to London to head operations of emerging countries. His mother fell ill and she was in coma at that time. So he and his wife came back in September 1997. He was the India CEO until his retirement in 2004. During this period, he set up the global services centre, a captive BPO, based out of India. Because of this, the cost of the bank has come down by one third. This business was sold to TCS in 2008.

Pamnani had to work for two years after retirement on China strategy. He chose to work out of Singapore and came back at the age 62.

Three months before he came back, Rahul Bajaj, who is his wife's sister's husband, called him. "He knew I was coming back. He was demerging Bajaj Auto into auto and financial services businesses and Sanjiv was going to handle financial services. He wanted me to help Sanjiv. I was planning to relax and travel around the world after retirement. But I agreed to help Sanjiv because they are from my wife's family," he said.

Sanjiv and Pamnani sat down to strategise Bajaj Finance. "We started mainly with some products which were commonly done like consumer durables financing. Which is why that has become central pillar for us," he said. Bajaj finance is valued at Rs 2.9 lakh crore in the stock market, while its holding company Bajaj Finserv is valued at Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The journey started from zero.

Pamnani picked up the present managing director Rajeev Jain for heading the operations. "Since we had to build from scratch, we went out to hire and we were lucky to get Rajeev Jain. He turned out to be brilliant. He is smart business person with great execution skills. His ability to think broadly is outstanding," he said.

Initially, the trio had different views on the growth plans, but their ideas converged over the years. "We are so aligned that we don't need to debate on anything nowadays. Because the minute someone puts an idea on the table, the other two will be on the same page," he added and said jokingly that it was frightening that we worked together for over a dozen years. Pamnani became the chairman of the holding company Bajaj Finserv last year, after Rahul Bajaj took up the ceremonial post of chairman emeritus.

He had a good rapport with the former Citibank colleague Aditya Puri, who is the managing director of HDFC bank. Former managing director of Bank of Baroda P.S. Jayakumar was his junior. "Aditya is a no nonsense person. He will take hard decision on every loan the bank gives. That is why HDFC Bank is the biggest of the best."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 17:57:30|Editor: Xiaoxia

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HAIKOU, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- This winter seemed prolonged and colder than previous years amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, but Chinese people, young and old, from all walks of life, have all pitched in in the fight against the virus and kept each other warm.

By the end of Sunday, the overall confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection on the Chinese mainland had reached 77,150, and 2,592 people had died of the disease, COVID-19, according to the National Health Commission.

So far, more than 30,000 medical personnel, including military medics, have been sent to Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, to help combat the epidemic.

In this invisible battle against COVID-19, there are also public-spirited common citizens, who have forged a strong force backing the front line.

A "SNOWBIRD" DOCTOR

Dong Jie, a 67-year-old veteran doctor, is one of the "snowbird" seniors who has been traveling from the north part of the country to the southernmost island province of Hainan, a natural tourist resort, for a warm winter each year.

He bought a house in the county of Chengmai after retiring from the infectious disease department of a hospital in northeast China's Liaoning Province in 2013. But this year, Dong is more than just a snowbird pensioner.

Dong was honored with a second-class merit citation for his outstanding work in the SARS outbreak in 2003. Seventeen years later, he joined in the fight against COVID-19 as a volunteer at the People's Hospital of Chengmai.

"I can share my experience in combating SARS with them and shore up their confidence," said Dong.

He made several Powerpoint presentations to instruct inexperienced medical workers in Chengmai hospital how to properly wear hazmat suits and better protect themselves from being infected.

"Sometimes he went to the infection and fever clinics in person to give our doctors some guidance, which has moved me a lot," said Lu Shanshan, vice president of the hospital.

A MOBILE BARBER STAND

In order to contain the epidemic, most public sites have remained closed, including barbershops. A mobile barber stand was set up in the county of Feixi, east China's Anhui Province in a timely manner.

Three volunteer hairdressers wearing masks with simple instruments like scissors, combs and as well as medical alcohol, make up the stand, which has served more than 100 customers since Feb. 15.

"Many people working for epidemic prevention and control have not had their hair cut for more than 20 days, and we want to do our bit," said 46-year-old Ge Xianling, one of the volunteers.

From 2 p.m. till dusk every day, the barber team is busy running around communities and rural areas, giving free haircuts to those at check posts for epidemic prevention and control as well as elderly residents.

"Those who were on duty and couldn't leave, we would go over to them, one by one, asking if anyone needs a haircut," said Ge. After each haircut, they would carefully disinfect their tools and rush to the next one.

A POST-00S DONATION

Most schools across the country have postponed the opening of the spring semester, but Chinese students currently have greater concerns than their studies.

A picture showing two girls in school uniforms standing in front of a truck loaded up with vegetables, with a banner tied on it saying "Wuhan be strong," has gone viral online.

Sixteen-year-olds Zheng Wenyu and Ye Qianqiu are students of Hainan Middle School. Together with their classmate, they initiated a donation for Wuhan on WeChat groups, according to Hainan Ribao, a local newspaper.

Their post-00s peers, including their friends and classmates, donated their pocket money and even their "lucky" money, which is given to children as a Lunar New Year gift. About 120,000 yuan (17,170 U.S. dollars) was raised within two days.

Learning that the sales of agricultural products in Hainan plunged to nearly nil due to the epidemic, they used the funds to purchase 60 tonnes of pumpkins and white gourds from local farmers and transported them to Wuhan.

"They have set an example for the post-00s generation, and they are the hope of our country," netizens cheered.

The winter has passed and spring is coming. Ordinary Chinese people, from the grey-haired to teenagers, are sparing no efforts to battle against the COVID-19 outbreak and have great faith in winning the "war" against the virus.
Overnight air raids on the southern suburbs of Damascus. Yesterday, the attacks focused on "dozens" of targets in the Strip, where at least four injured were registered. The new hotbed of tension triggered by the killing of a member of the group along the border.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Israeli army launched a series of air raids overnight against targets of the Palestinian extremist Islamic Jihad group in Syria and Gaza, in response to a previous rocket launch from the Strip. Some group posts in the southern outskirts of Damascus were targeted; yesterday the attacks focused on "dozens" of targets scattered across Gaza.

In the morning, the Israeli military leaders confirmed the operation, specifying that they had hit "an operational hub of Islamic Jihad"; last November a special army operation led to the killing of one of the leaders of the group.

Syrian authorities report that the air defense system intercepted and shot down most of the Israeli missiles. At least four wounded were reported in Gaza, but no deaths.

Israel attacked in response to the launch of at least 20 rockets from the Strip yesterday morning. Also in this case there is no damage to buildings or people. The killing of an Islamic Jihad member along the border between Israel and Gaza triggered the new wave of clashes yesterday. According to the military, the man was trying to place an explosive device.

A video, relaunched and shared on social media, shows an Israeli bulldozer extracting the man's body, causing the wrath of the Palestinians. The demand for revenge was followed, a few hours later, by the launch of rockets - claimed by Islamic Jihad - from the Gaza Strip, which put the defensive system across the border on alert.

Islamic Jihad, supported by Iran, is one of the most powerful militia groups in the Gaza Strip. A Hamas ally, the extremist movement has fought a series of wars against Israel in recent years. The latest clashes are part of a context of growing tension in the area, which has escalated following the publication of the so-called "deal of the century", the Middle East peace plan welcomed by Israel and rejected by the Palestinians.
Johnson piles pressure on EUs Brexit time wasters by kick starting trade talks with the US

Boris Johnson is set to kick start trade talks with the US within the next two weeks, amid frustration in Number 10 at EU time wasting. The Prime Minister will next week (March 2) publish the Governments red lines for its US trade negotiations which are expected to push back on US demands for its drug and health firms to have greater access to the British market The moves on US trade will be seen as an attempt to pile further pressure on the EU whose leaders have questioned whether a trade deal can be agreed before the end of year and are resisting the Prime Ministers demand for a Canada-style agreement. The Government will set out its detailed demands for a trade deal this Thursday, with Downing Street issuing a plea that the EU should not waste time.  Daily Telegraph

Minister says acid-washed chicken should be considered for import  The Times

Civil servants deliberately attempted to sabotage UKs EU exit  Daily Express

Brussels:

EU set for final push to toughen post-Brexit trade stance  FT

Macron warns getting a Brexit trade deal by December will be tense  The Sun

France eyes up British fishing waters as EU draws up shopping list of demands  Daily Express

Prime Minister extends votes to expatriates

Boris Johnson is to scrap rules forbidding expats who have lived abroad for more than 15 years to vote in general elections. The news came in a letter personally signed by Boris to campaigner Harry Shindler who has fought for more than 20 years to give Brits overseas the right to vote. Last night Harry, 99, who fought in WW2 and then retired to Italy where he now lives said:This is a great victory for all of us patriotic Brits who have campaigned for years to get the vote back. The PM has assured us that we will be allowed to vote on the next election even if we have lived abroad for more than 15 years. In the letter Boris told Harry: The government is committed to scrapping the arbitrary rule that prevents British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years from participating in UK parliamentary elections.  The Sun

Johnson urged to support 20,000 Britons in North Cyprus  Daily Express

Civil Service 1) Furious Patel demands leak inquiry over MI5 row

Priti Patel has demanded a formal leak inquiry into hostile briefings by officials in her department after claims emerged that intelligence chiefs at MI5 do not trust her. Security sources took the extraordinary step yesterday of issuing a public statement to say that the claims about the home secretary were simply untrue and not in the public interest. The Times revealed last week that Ms Patel was attempting to oust Sir Philip Rutnam, permanent secretary at the Home Office. Several sources inside the home secretarys department accused her of bullying, belittling officials in meetings and creating an atmosphere of fear. In response to the claims Ms Patel asked Helen MacNamara, director of propriety and ethics at the Cabinet Office, to conduct a leak inquiry to establish who was briefing against her.  The Times

Spy chiefs deny they are keeping secrets  Daily Express

More:

Public venues face legal duty to prepare against terrorist attack  FT

Editorial:

Letting civil servants undermine the Government insults taxpayers  The Sun

Civil Service 2) Johnson urged to pull back from cull of top civil servants

Boris Johnson was on Sunday urged not to conduct a politically motivated cull of senior civil servants, amid claims that Number 10 has compiled a hit list of mandarins it wants to purge from top Whitehall jobs. Peter Ricketts, former head of the Foreign Office, said the latest front in Downing Streets war with the British establishment would destabilise civil servants who were doing their best to offer impartial advice to the new government. Meanwhile, David Davis, former Brexit secretary, also warned Mr Johnson to back off. You dont solve a piece of managerial reform with a firing squad, he told The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC.  FT

Cummings faces curb from Whitehall HR respect initiative  Daily Telegraph

Golden goodbyes for 1,000 staff after ministers promised a ban  The Times

Comment:

Will Cummings reign bring the shadowy world of spads into the light?  James Butler, The Guardian

Chancellor may relax fiscal rules to secure up to 26 billion

The Chancellor may relax the fiscal rules to raise 26 billion extra a year in his Budget next month as he prepares for the biggest spending boost for at least two decades. Rishi Sunak is considering giving the Government the leeway to go one per cent above or below a balanced current budget  a move that could raise an extra 26 billion for hospitals, criminal justice, transport upgrades and schools. The other Budget option, which would raise an extra 11 billion, would relax the fiscal rules of Sajid Javid, his predecessor, to allow the Government to achieve a balanced budget within five, rather than three years. The moves on the fiscal rules  first floated by the Resolution Foundation last year  could also reduce the need to raise taxes amid signs of growing opposition to them amongst Conservative backbenchers.  Daily Telegraph

He could push spending to 1 trillion  The Sun

Spree would see Johnson spend more than Blair  Daily Mail

Fuel duty could rise to spare pension tax relief  The Times

Sunak bows to pressure on IR35 tax changes  FT

More:

Chancellor to move Treasury officials up north  The Sun

Matthew Elliott: Sunak should cut waste and keep taxes down

Part of his mandate for massive change is undoubtedly to spend more money on essential services. As crime has edged up, so has public concern, so extra spending for 20,000 new police officers makes sense. And with our nations infrastructure creaking and hospitals falling down, extra capital spending is needed too. But as the founder of the TaxPayers Alliance, I hope Boris and his Chancellor Rishi Sunak keep taxpayers in mind as they write their Budget. Government spending will be an eye-watering 881billion this year. Much of that money is used well, but the Government needs to keep a laser-like focus on the wasteful spending that crept in under previous administrations.  The Sun

Chancellor must give small savers a break  Libby Purves, The Times

Sunaks fiscal expansion is long overdue  Gavyn Davis, FT

He must know a poor South wont make the North richer  Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun

Believe the hype, budget 2020 is very important  Larry Elliott, The Guardian

>Today: Neil OBrien MPs column: How the Conservatives can do better with younger voters. And remain a compassionate party.

Crises 1) Eustice defends Johnsons absence from flood-hit areas

Boris Johnsons decision not to visit any flood-hit areas came under further scrutiny yesterday when the environment secretary was forced to explain his absence. Three hundred flood warnings and alerts were in place last night in England and Wales as the Met Office forecast more heavy rain, gale-force winds and snow. George Eustice defended Mr Johnson for defying calls to visit flood-stricken areas. He told Sky News: Its not true that the prime ministers not been engaged in this. In a cabinet government its not a one-man show, its right that on certain operational things such as this that the prime minister will ask one of his cabinet members to lead. I cant see anything wrong with that.  The Times

Boris must beware the fault lines that could rock his new coalition  Nick Timothy, Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday:

Crises 2) Pandemic warning as UK confirms four new coronavirus cases

Four new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the UK on Sunday, as experts warned of an impending pandemic with parts of Italy in lockdown after a massive rise in the number of new infections there. The new British patients had all been passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship and were in quarantine in The Wirral when they fell ill, having returned from Japan on Saturday. It emerged on Sunday that the patients had been tested while in Japan, but the results were not received until Sunday morning, by which point they were back in the UK. They have now been transferred to specialist NHS infection centres It brings the total number of UK cases to 13, and comes as the European threat from coronavirus dramatically increased, with three deaths in northern Italy following the diagnosis of more than 152 cases.  Daily Telegraph

Situation at tipping point with time running out to stop pandemic, experts warn  The Sun

>Today: Lord Ashcroft in Comment: An open letter to Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the new International Development Secretary

New group of MPs to hold Johnson to his word on Northern Irish prosecutions

Dozens of Conservative MPs have set up a veterans campaign group to ensure that Boris Johnson delivers on his promise to stop historic prosecutions of British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland. The group of 40 MPs wants to make sure the Prime Minister introduces legislation to protect former troops from prosecution for their involvement in any deaths during the Troubles. It comes as it emerged a former soldier who was being investigated over his actions in Northern Ireland had killed himself. Friends of the veteran, named as Eddie Spud Murphy, fear the pressure he felt at being investigated may have contributed to his death.  Daily Telegraph

Reneging on Northern Ireland pledges risks trade deals with US and EU  The Guardian

Editorial:

Such shameful treatment of Ulster veterans must end  Daily Telegraph

as MoD confirms US reports about replacement for Trident

New plans for a multi-billion pound replacement of Trident have been revealed by the US. The Pentagon revealed details of the new nuclear warheads in a US committee meeting before the UK government had even told MPs. Now the Ministry of Defence have confirmed officials are working towards replacing the warheads. The Observer revealed US Strategic Command commander Admiral Charles Richard wrote in a statement that a replacement warhead was needed in the States The statement was made last week, and it is understood the Government just had no time to tell MPs about it.  The Sun

Davis warns Huawei green light could be worst decision made by a British prime minister  Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: The worst decision a British PM has made  Davis

MPs urge Johnson not to wobble on Heathrow

Boris Johnson is being urged not to wobble on Heathrows third runway by MPs, amid fears he could use a legal challenge to quietly shelve the project. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and other opponents of the plan are expected to learn on Thursday whether their High Court case to stop the expansion has been successful. Some believe Mr Johnson  who once vowed to lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop a third runway  would be unlikely to appeal such a verdict. One ally said: Everyone knows the Prime Minister has been a vocal critic of a third runway for a long time. If anything, I imagine it would be a rather tidy result for him. However, former justice minister Crispin Blunt said there is no question of whether the third runway would go ahead.  Daily Telegraph

Labour 1) Starmer calls for end to infighting as rivals press him on donors

Sir Keir Starmer has called for an end to Labour Party infighting as allies of Rebecca Long Bailey mounted direct attacks on his campaign. With voting starting today, the front-runner to succeed Jeremy Corbyn warned that the party risked being out of power for a generation if it did not pull together and change. Two shadow cabinet ministers suggested that Sir Keirs campaign was funded by wealthy private donors and big corporations Ms Long Bailey has declared receipt of 55,000 from Momentum, the pro-Corbyn group, and Unite, the trade union. It is understood that a further 100,000 arrived from Unite on Friday. Sir Keir has declared 7,000 from the trade union Unison. But it is thought he has easily outgunned Ms Long Bailey in fundraising.  The Times

He commits to shadow cabinet roles for his rivals  The Guardian

Long-Bailey heading for humiliating third-place finish  The Sun

Abbott quits the shadow cabinet  Daily Mail

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Abbott  Becky stood by the members choice.

Labour 2) Party backs positive discrimination to close racial gap in policing

The racial imbalance that has existed in policie forces needs a radical change in the law to allow positive discrimination in favour of ethnic minority recruits, Labour has said. New research shows the race gap in policing has grown in the last two decades and Labours policing spokesperson, Louise Haigh MP, said the move was needed to make police forces less white and speed up the glacial pace of change. Haighs comments marked the 21st anniversary of the landmark Stephen Lawrence inquiry report into policing and racial justice. Sir William Macphersons report investigated the failings in the 1993 Metropolitan police hunt for the racist killers of black student Stephen Lawrence.  The Guardian

We need to escape the culture wars quagmire  Clare Foges, The Times

>Today:

SNP: Party faces selection battle in Davidsons seat between rival big beasts

The Scottish National party is facing a selection battle between two of its highest-profile politicians in an important seat in the Edinburgh parliament currently held by former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson. The contest between Joanna Cherry, an SNP member of the UK parliament, and Angus Robertson, the partys former leader at Westminster, is likely to shine a spotlight on growing internal tensions after nearly 13 years in government in Scotland. The SNP has been far more unified in recent years than Labour or the Conservatives and enjoys large leads in opinion polls, but party self-discipline is being increasingly tested by differences over strategy and policy.  FT

as Sturgeon dismisses MPs plan to force Scottish referendum

Nicola Sturgeon has called a plan by one of her MPs to force a second independence referendum through a series of by-elections unreasonable as tensions simmer within the SNP. The Scottish first minister is facing pushback from some in her ranks who want another ballot on separation to be held sooner rather than later The constitution is reserved to Westminster and although Ms Sturgeon has said she is prepared to take the British government to court to test whether Edinburgh could legislate for a referendum, she has repeatedly shown no appetite to rush towards a legal battle. This has led to disgruntlement from sections of the nationalist movement who want bolder action. Angus MacNeil, the chairman of the Commons international trade select committee, has suggested that all 47 SNP MPs could resign their seats and force by-elections.  The Times

First Minister emphatic she is still best person to lead SNP  The Guardian

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Sturgeon says shes not ready to quit

News in Brief:
A Sussex free range egg farm targeted by animal rights activists last month has had its RSPCA Assured membership reinstated.

Hoads Farm, which supplies major retailers, had its licence suspended by the food assurance scheme after activists claimed to have exposed unacceptable standards.

Around 150 campaigners from animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) entered the farm, near Hastings, on 27 January.

They filmed and took photographs of the East Sussex farm, and then proceeded to demand the release of 100 hens.

In a new update provided by RSPCA Assured, Hoads Farm has now had its membership reinstated and will be subject to three unannounced visits.

A spokesman for RSPCA Assured said: "We have carried out a thorough investigation over the past three-and-a-half weeks, which included multiple visits to the farm and extensive interviews with the staff and management.

"Following our investigation, we have reinstated the farm's membership but with special measures. These include three unannounced visits from our specially trained staff within the next six months.

"We are pleased that the farm has taken on board all of our concerns and fully addressed all of the problems identified.

"Our specially trained assessors are satisfied that the RSPCA's strict standards are now being met, and the current flock of hens is in good health."

A spokesman for Hoads Farm denied the allegations made by activists.

He said: "Following rigorous inspections by officials from Defra and the RSPCA, we are pleased to confirm that egg collections have resumed at the hen house.

"We were happy to welcome the RSPCA in to look at our hens, and at the time we were told they found them in good health."

The spokesman added: "Defra also visited the site with an independent vet, and similarly told us they could not find any issues with our birds, and were happy with both their condition and the egg production unit.

"The welfare of our birds is, and has always been, our number one priority, and this will continue to be the case."
By PTI

LONDON: A lawyer for the United States on Monday accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of risking the lives of intelligence sources by publishing classified US government documents, as his extradition hearing opened in a London court.

Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release by his whistleblowing website of a trove of files detailing the realities of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Assange spent much of the past decade holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but Washington is now seeking his transfer from Britain to stand trial.

Making the US government case on the first day of the extradition hearing in London, lawyer James Lewis denied the prosecution was motivated by embarrassment over the WikiLeaks release.

"It is solely where risk of harm is caused," he told Woolwich Crown Court as Assange, who is being held in the high security Belmarsh prison next door, listened attentively in the dock.

ALSO READ: US to lay out case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at extradition hearing

"The United States is aware of sources whose unredacted names and /or other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by Wikileaks who subsequently disappeared."

WikiLeaks initially worked with a string of high-profile newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation -- and outrage in Washington.

One video from 2007 showed an Apache helicopter attack in which US soldiers gunned down two Reuters reporters and nine Iraqi civilians in broad daylight in Baghdad.

But after falling out with their editors, WikiLeaks released hundreds of thousands of documents in their original form -- including the secret identities of diplomats and local sources.

Assange and his supporters claim the prosecution is politically motivated, and the case has alarmed free speech advocates.

The Australian's lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, told the court that the details in the US indictment were "misleading" and insisted his client was undertaking "journalist activities".

"We do not accept that this constitutes an extradition crime," he said.

ALSO READ: Donald Trump 'offered pardon' to Julian Assange if he denied Russia leak, court hears

Protesters gathered outside court holding up banners saying "Free Assange".

The Committee to Protect Journalists has previously warned that "for the sake of press freedom, Julian Assange must be defended".

But Lewis, for the US government, told the court, "Julian Assange is no journalist.

"It is inconceivable that any member of the press would disclose any of the names of their sources."

Assange, 48, could be jailed for 175 years if convicted on all 17 Espionage Act charges and one count of computer hacking he faces.

It is the most serious phase of a long-running legal saga that has seen him detained in some form for most of the last decade.

In 2010, Assange was accused of sexual assault and rape in Sweden and after a legal battle, was ordered by a British judge to be extradited there.

He always denied the Swedish allegations and the investigation has since been dropped.

To avoid extradition, he claimed asylum in Ecuador's London embassy, where he spent seven years until Quito gave him up last year following a change in government.

He has since served a jail term for breaching his UK police bail but remains in Belmarsh prison awaiting the US extradition case.

Some US legal experts think Assange has a case.

"Use of the Espionage Act has a very checkered history in the century since Congress passed it," University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told AFP.

Many think "extradition and US prosecution would have a chilling effect on press efforts to expose government information that is important to the public interest."

Assange's father John Shipton, who attended the hearing with Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton, decried the "ceaseless malice" of the authorities against his son.

"We're all here to vigorously and firmly support Julian in this 10-year long oppression and political action," he told reporters.

In a new twist last week, Assange's defence team claimed US President Donald Trump promised to issue a pardon if Assange denied Russia leaked the emails of his 2016 election rival's campaign.

"In August 2017, Donald Trump's administration tried to pressure Julian Assange into saying things that would be favourable to President Trump himself," defence coordinator Baltasar Garzon said.

"When Julian Assange refused, he was charged and an extradition request was issued alongside an international arrest warrant."

The White House called the allegation "another never-ending hoax and total lie" but a judge agreed to add it to the case file.
The 2020 season of MasterChef is slated to be the most nail-biting to date.

On Monday, contestant Hayden Quinn told The Daily Telegraph that this will be 'the most nerve-racking' series of the show yet.

The chef, who previously appeared on season three of the cooking competition, revealed that going up against other experienced chefs was a challenge.

Tough: On Monday, MasterChef contestant Hayden Quinn (pictured) told The Daily Telegraph that this is 'the most nerve-racking' series of the show yet

All 24 contestants in the upcoming season are previous contenders who have gone on to have successful careers in the culinary world.

'The most nerve-racking thing was the fact that I'm going up against these amazing cooks,' the Sydney cook said.

He added: 'It's so important to back yourself and have that self-confidence that you really need to do well.'

Hard work: 'The most nerve-racking thing was the fact that I'm going up against these amazing cooks,' the Sydney cook said. He

Back: He's not the only one with unfinished business, with season one runner up Poh Ling Yeow, 47, (pictured) also returning previously appeared on season three of the cooking show

Hayden recently told TV Tonight he was back to win, revealing: 'MasterChef changed my life. I'm stoked to be going up against the best of the best. I've learnt a lot, my skills have improved, I'm here to take it out'.

Since appearing on the show in 2011, Hayden has gone on to have an illustrious career as a chef, author, television judge and presenter.

He's not the only one with unfinished business, with season one runner up Poh Ling Yeow, 47, also returning.

Soon to Ten: MasterChef Australia's 2020 season Back To Win will see 24 of the show's former stars return

Preparing to give them a run for their money is the third runner up from season one, Chris Badenoch, 51.

The 'head-to-tail' enthusiast was best known for serving up a whole roasted pig's head, duck neck sausage and chocolate stout tiramisu called 'beeramisu'.

Also included in the lineup are Emelia Jackson, Harry Foster, Jess Liemantara, Khanh Ong, Laura Sharrad, Lynton Tapp, Reece Hignell, Reynold Poernomo, Rose Adam, Sarah Clare, Sarah Tiong, Simon Toohey, Tessa Boersma and Tracy Collins.
(Bloomberg) -- 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 Saturday that he will meet them all on March 5, without disclosing the location.

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.

READ: Turkey and Russia Near Breaking Point in Syrian Standoff

Russia supports the idea of holding such a summit, according to Vesti.ru, the website of the nations state broadcasting company, which cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The meeting will be held whenever the schedules of the four presidents are aligned, according to Vesti.ru. Meanwhile, Turkey isnt complying with last years de-escalation agreement between Putin and Erdogan, and Syrian rebels have been receiving very dangerous weaponry, Vesti.ru said, citing Peskov.

Turkey wants an end to intensifying attacks by Russian-backed Syrian forces in the countrys last rebel stronghold of Idlib, where one-time al-Qaeda 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 died Saturday en route to the hospital after being wounded by Syrian tank fire in Idlib, taking the total toll of Turkish casualties to 17 in February alone.

Story continues

(Updates with Kremlin statement in fourth paragraph.)

To contact the reporters on this story: Ugur Yilmaz in Istanbul at uyilmaz@bloomberg.net;Dina Khrennikova in Moscow at dkhrennikova@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Onur Ant at oant@bloomberg.net, James Amott, Helen Robertson

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

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A survivor of the about 44 Ghanaians who were killed In The Gambia has cast doubts on the remains of the eight Ghanaians that were reburied at the Osu Cemetery in 2009 claiming they are not the actual remains of the Ghanaians who were killed and buried in a mass grave in The Gambia in 2005.

Martin Kyere, a survivor and spokesperson for the victims' families of the Gambian massacre based his doubts on the fact that no DNA testing was conducted on the remains that were exhumed from a mass grave in the Gambia in 2009, nearly four years after the mass burial in the Gambia, and reburied at the Osu Cemetery.

He also said, there was a heavy stench around the coffins containing the eight bodies when they were brought to the funeral grounds at the forecourt of the State House, adding that the coffins were not opened.

Martin's comments are contained in an upcoming documentary film titled The Massacre of Ghanaians in The Gambia: Justice in Limbo? due to be premiered on Thursday, February 27, 2020 in Accra.

The documentary by the Jammeh2Justice Ghana Campaign, a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) examines the true events that occurred before, during and after the murder of the 44 Ghanaians and other West African migrants and was put together following months of field investigations and research undertaken in five West African countries  Senegal, Gambia, Togo, Nigeria and five regions in Ghana.

It is recalled that in July 2005 about 56 West African migrants including about 44 Ghanaians who were using an unapproved route through the Gambia to seek greener pastures in Europe were reportedly killed in The Gambia.

The eight Ghanaians were summarily killed by the Junglers, a paramilitary unit within the Gambian military that takes orders directly from President Yahya Jammeh on the first night, July 23rd, 2005, when they arrived in The Gambia and their bodies dumped by the road in front of Brufut Forest, near Ghanatown, a town predominantly inhabited by Ghanaians living in The Gambia.

The remaining migrants were shot over several days in Cassamance in Senegalese territory. Martin escaped.

citinewsroom
Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation Monday which creates the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders serving life sentences, and convicted sniper Lee Boyd Malvo then dropped his request for a resentencing, which was pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Malvo received four life sentences without parole for three Virginia slayings committed with John Allen Muhammad during the regional sniper rampage of October 2002. He received six additional life sentences, also without possibility of parole, for six more killings in Maryland during the same three-week period in 2002. The bill signed by Northam Monday would only affect Malvo's Virginia sentences. And it may clear the way for more resentencings of juveniles who received life sentences, since the challenge to that process by the Virginia attorney general is now gone.

The Supreme Court has ruled that defendants 17 years old and younger should not be sentenced to life terms without parole unless the judge has considered whether their crime "reflects unfortunate yet transient immaturity," or that the defendant is "the rare juvenile offender whose crime reflects irreparable corruption." Those exact criteria did not exist when Malvo was sentenced by a jury in December 2003, or by a Fairfax County, Virginia, judge in March 2004, and Virginia eliminated all parole in 1995.

So Malvo, now 35, sought a resentencing under those rulings, and won approval for a new sentencing in Virginia from both a federal district judge and a federal appeals court. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring then appealed that to the U.S. Supreme Court, which accepted the case and heard oral arguments last October. A ruling was pending.

But a bill introduced by Del. Joseph Lindsey, D-Norfolk, which moved quickly through both the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate in about a month, states that "any person sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for a single felony or multiple felonies committed while the person was a juvenile and who has served at least 20 years of such sentence shall be eligible for parole and any person who has active sentences that total more than 20 years for a single felony or multiple felonies committed while the person was a juvenile and who has served at least 20 years of such sentences shall be eligible for parole."

Both the Virginia solicitor general and Malvo's lawyers then agreed to seek dismissal of the pending Supreme Court case, saying it was moot since the life without parole sentence no longer existed.

But there are more than 700 inmates in Virginia who were juveniles when sentenced to adult prisons. Malvo and 232 others would be eligible for parole in the next six years, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Malvo then agreed not to seek resentencing, as the courts had granted him. This would leave the Fourth Circuit appeals court ruling from 2018, upholding Malvo's resentencing, as the applicable precedent for the mid-Atlantic states. There are 11 other people in Virginia prisons serving life sentences for crimes committed as juveniles.

Malvo has been in custody since October 2002, so he theoretically would be eligible for parole in October 2022, or in about 2 1/2 years. But he would then have to face his six life terms in Maryland. Malvo's lawyers in Maryland have sought a similar resentencing under the Supreme Court rulings, and that case is pending in federal district court.

"We've seen an incredible uptick in state legislatures banning life without parole for kids," said Jody Kent Lavy, executive director of the Campaign for the Fairf Sentencing of Youth, "and until now, Virginia has been woefully out of step with that national trend toward youth sentencing reform. . . . Children must be held accountable for their actions, and because they are fundamentally different from adults in their ability to assess risk and consequences, and their unique capacity for change, they should be held accountable in age-appropriate ways with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society."

Of the roughly 2,800 prisoners who were serving juvenile life without parole when the Supreme Court ruled that new criteria must be applied to their cases, about 1,950 have been resentenced, and 545 have been released, according to the Campaign for Fair Sentencing for Youth. About 830 inmates are still serving juvenile life without parole terms, the group said in October.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 24

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

The import of electricity from Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan has been fully restored, Trend reports referring the press service of the Uzbekistan National Power Networks JSC.

According to the press service, the malfunction of the power lines that arose as a result of the accident in Turkmenistan on the morning of February 21 between the Mary and Serdar substations was eliminated by the Turkmen power engineers.

Currently, work is underway to connect consumers temporarily disconnected from the power supply to the network. Short-term outages that can occur in the power supply due to various failures are eliminated," the companys press service said.

On Feb. 23, due to the accident, the supply of electricity to Uzbekistan from Turkmenistan decreased 13 times - from 780 megawatts to 60 megawatts.

According to an agreement with the Turkmenenergo State Electrical Power Corporation, the deliveries began on December 1, 2019.

Turkmenistan also sells electricity to Afghanistan.

Ashgabat is studying the prospects of supplying electricity to the markets of the Caucasus, Central and South Asia. The total volume of electricity produced in Turkmenistan is planned to increase up to 33 billion kilowatt-hours by 2024, which exceeds the current indicators by almost 30 percent.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently allocated $500 million for an electricity project in Turkmenistan. Within its framework, a transmission line for the country, which will increase the reliability of energy supply for both domestic consumers and neighboring importing countries, will be created.
She won a Silver Logie for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2011 for her panellist role on The Circle.

But for many years, Chrissie Swan has shied away from regular TV appearances.

Speaking to Stellar Magazine, the former Big Brother star-turned-media personality, 46, revealed the reason she has turned down lucrative TV roles is because she doesn't want to be separated from her family.

Family first: Chrissie Swan reveals she has turned down lucrative TV roles because she doesn't want to be separated from her children (Pictured on ABC's Hard Chat in 2017)

Chrissie and partner Chris Saville share sons Kit, seven, and Leo, 10, and six-year-old daughter Peggy.

'Most of the shows are filmed in Sydney and I just dont do well away from my family on any level, even for a night,' she explained.

'Most of the shows are filmed in Sydney and I just dont do well away from my family on any level, even for a night,' she explained

'I dont know if Im a sook, but I just dont do well out of my role as a mother. I wish I did. Ive tested it enough times to know, and the result has been the same.

'I get in a funk in hotel rooms. I just get so sad away from the kids. Id rather be here at home,' Chrissie continued.

Her last full-time hosting role was alongside Grant Denyer in 2016 for Channel Ten's family-friendly quiz show, The Great Australian Spelling Bee.

Back on TV: Chrissie has been known to pop in for episodes of The Project or Have You Been Paying Attention? (pictured), as they are both conveniently filmed in Melbourne

While Chrissie has become a fixture of Melbournes Nova 100 team since 2015, she does still make the odd appearance on Australian TV.

She has been known to pop in for episodes of The Project or Have You Been Paying Attention?, as they are both conveniently filmed in Melbourne.

Chrissie rose to fame in 2003 as a reality TV star on Big Brother, she then worked in radio from 2003 to 2007 before progressing to TV presenting in 2010.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson listens during the investiture ceremony for U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFaddenat the U.S. District Court in Washington on April 13, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Judge Overseeing Roger Stones Case Argues That Shes Not Biased

The federal judge presiding over the case of former Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone argued that shes not biased, after Stones team moved to disqualify her over remarks praising the integrity of jurors during Stones sentencing hearing.

Attorneys for Stone, an associate of President Donald Trump, filed a motion (pdf) on Feb. 21 asking Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, to recuse herself because she praised the jurors before deciding on Stones request for a new trial, which rests on the issue of whether the jurors were impartial.

Jackson said in a new court order dismissing Stones motion to disqualify her that her remarks praising the jurors came as part of an explanation about why defendants lies to Congress mattered.

Sure, the defense is free to say: So what? Who cares? But Ill say this: Congress cared. The United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia that prosecuted the case and is still prosecuting the case cared. The jurors who served with integrity under difficult circumstances cared. The American people cared. And I care, Jackson told the courtroom.

Jackson said her praise of the jury didnt purport to and didnt address a motion Stone filed about an unnamed juror.

She said her remarks didnt meet the standard of an extrajudicial source that the Supreme Court has outlined. The Supreme Court ruled in a 1994 case that opinions formed by the judge during a trial dont constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.

In other words, judges cannot be biased and need not be disqualified if the views they express are based on what they learned while doing the job they were appointed to do, Jackson said.

Jackson leaned into her praise of the jury, writing that jurors were uniformly punctual and attentive and delivered thoughtful communications with the Court during deliberation and the delivery of the verdict.

Roger Stone, former adviser to President Donald Trump, leaves the Federal Court after a sentencing hearing in Washington on Feb. 20, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

Stones team asked for a new trial after his team alleged that a 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.

Anti-Trump social media posts made by the forewoman of the jury came to light shortly before Stones filing. Some of the posts clashed with Tomeka Harts assertions to the court that she didnt pay that close attention to the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Hart frequently posted about developments of that probe, which was headed by special counsel Robert Mueller and found no evidence of conspiracy or cooperation between Trump or his campaign and Russian actors.

Hart told the judge that there was nothing about what shes heard or read about Stone that would affect her ability to judge him fairly. She said she couldnt recall anything specifically shed heard or read.

So I recall just hearing about him being part of the campaign and some belief or reporting around interaction with the Russian probe and interaction with him and people in the country, but I dont have a whole lot of details. I dont pay that close attention or watch C-SPAN, she said, according to a court transcript.

Harts Twitter account was full of posts about the special counsels investigation, including a retweet of a January 2019 post from a CNN contributor that attempted to downplay allegations that the FBIs raid on Stones house wasnt warranted.

Janita Kan contributed to this report.
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in easyJet plc (LON:EZJ).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year.

Check out our latest analysis for easyJet

easyJet Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

CEO & Director Johan Lundgren made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK181k worth of shares at a price of UK9.07 each. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (UK15.09), we still think insider buying is a positive. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

easyJet insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. 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!

LSE:EZJ Recent Insider Trading, February 24th 2020

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership of easyJet

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that easyJet insiders own 33% of the company, worth about UK2.0b. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

Story continues

What Might The Insider Transactions At easyJet Tell Us?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded easyJet shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like easyJet insiders think the business has merit. Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for easyJet.

Of course easyJet may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

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.
Open source

From the beginning of the day in the Donbas, militants once fired at the positions of the Ukrainian soldiers and used weapons of prohibited calibers. The press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports this information.

Militants fired on positions near Novotoshkivske. At the same time, they used 120 mm caliber mortars and fired 8 minutes.

The Ukrainian side did not suffer from shelling.

As we reported before, on late Sunday and early Monday, Russian militants used artillery to land provocative attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas. 20 shells hit the positions of Ukrainian forces there, the HQ of the Joint Forces Operation reported.

"The occupants opened fire with the 122 mm field artillery. The enemy fired 20 shells on the defenders of Kondrashivka Nova," reads the message.

The Ukrainian defenders were ready for the attack, as they knew that the enemy would make a salute to "celebrate February 23," the Day of Defender of the Motherland that is regularly marked in Russia.

The Ukrainian military who participate in the Joint Forces Operation claimed that they never opened and will never open any fire on the dwellings of peaceful civilians, and such criminal actions are typical only for Russian occupant forces.
News Desk Editor

Jack is the news editor at the Emerald. He is a journalism and political science major at the University of Oregon who enjoys reading alone, drinking coffee alone and eating in parks...alone. Send tips or food recs to jforrest@dailyemerald.com
PORT NECHES  Asbestos from the TPC Group explosions in Port Neches was found in debris blast recovered as far away as Bridge City. After company officials discovered that asbestos had been released from the Nov. 27 blast, they waited seven hours before informing county officials who were part of the joint command operation and responsible for alerting the public to potential hazards. Leaks of butadiene and other chemicals continued for more than a month afterward.

Such are the findings from a series of emails, text messages and other communications between TPC officials and Jefferson County staff members obtained by the Beaumont Enterprise. The newspaper requested the records from the county and followed up with TPC and with County Judge Jeff Branick to get a better understanding of the hectic days and weeks that followed the Thanksgiving Eve-explosions and fires.

The messages sent also show that in two instances, Branick insisted that officials use a stricter standard for determining air-quality levels for deciding on evacuations and shelter-in-place recommendations.

Also, TPC worked for three weeks after the explosions to clean up the shoreline of oil-slicked canals leading to the Neches River.

However, the lack of explicit communication from the company and other officials in real time  as residents were being told to evacuate, return home and then evacuate again, and as Port Neches-Groves schools canceled, resumed and then canceled classes  prompted numerous town hall-style meetings. Many residents said they were confused and frustrated by what appeared to be either a breakdown in communication or an intentional effort to withhold information.

>> RELATED: After plant blast, residents seek answers at town hall

The 2,000-plus pages of documents reviewed by The Enterprise begin with weather forecasts sent early on the morning of Nov. 27, just minutes after the initial blast, and end with the Jan. 5 daily summary. That is one of many documents that detailed daily happenings during the recovery process, such as leaks and shoreline cleanup, for local elected officials, company executives and other members of the Unified Command.

Here are the nine things the documents revealed:

More Information By the numbers Some estimates on the TPC Group explosion cleanup: Amount of waste item 1,320 gallons foam 48,970 gallons combusted material 13,270 feet booms Amount of wildlife impacts animal 68 dead fish larger than 3 inches 1 dead alligator 2,000 dead fish 2-3 inches 18 dead blue crabs 2 dead pigs* 1 dead turtle** Amount of safety status item 5 first-responder injuries 43,500 butadiene air monitor readings 240 butadiene air detections above actionable level 43,800 VOC air monitor readings 11 VOC detections above actionable levels Amount of equipment resources item 121 MultiRAE and UltraRAE air monitors 2,001 booms 35 pumps 18 skimmers 8,400 sorbent booms 6 vacuum trucks 182 vehicles Amount of community assessments as of Dec. 16 item 2,724 curbside assessments completed 578 properties with observed damage 306 properties with observed debris 86 industrial debris claims sampled Source: Jefferson County internal documents obtained by the Beaumont Enterprise. * The documents show Unified Command representatives do not believe the pigs were harmed by the explosion or subsequent releases. ** When teams went to investigate the report of a turtle caught in a boom, generally used to clean up oil spills, it wasn't there. See More Collapse

1) Leaks continued to arise more than a month after the initial explosion

As of Jan. 5, 18 leaks of various chemicals had been found at the plant, according to a summary of recovery actions that was given daily to members of the Emergency Operations Center, the hub for communication and dispatch of first-responders and others involved in the response.

The Jan. 5 report was the last one given to The Enterprise based on the timeline of the newspapers records request.

Five of the 18 leaks were repaired between Dec. 13 and Jan. 1, but the rest were ongoing at the time of the report.

A variety of materials were being released through the leaks, but the majority were types of raffinate and butadiene. The Chemical Safety Board has concluded that a vapor cloud over a butadiene unit was the cause of the original catastrophic explosion and nearly week-long fire at the plant.

Raffinate is an extremely flammable gas, according to a safety data sheet for the chemical.

When asked earlier this month how many leaks currently are ongoing and how many leaks TPC has had during the event, company spokeswoman Sara Cronin did not give any specific numbers.

She said occasional elevated air measurements onsite have been detected, but for more than 50 days, no actionable levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or 1,3 butadiene have been detected.

Response teams continue to closely monitor tanks, piping and equipment to detect, identify and repair any leaks, Cronin said in an email to The Enterprise. In our ongoing efforts to further secure the site, subsequent leaks may be detected onsite and mitigated in accordance to response plans.

The company is continuing to transfer material in the tanks, which will reduce the potential impact of further leaks, she said in the email.

2) Unified command established its own air monitoring action levels in addition to state and federal requirements

The normal 1,3 butadiene levels allowed for workers in plants is 5 parts per million, Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said.

For testing purposes, the unified command established its alarm level at one-tenth of that. Another, even smaller, level was established at Branicks request.

The other level that was created for me was the level where (the butadiene) would get to the point where it could cause temporary effects like burning eyes, scratchy throats and thats when we would recommend shelter-in-place and turning off HVAC units, he said.

According to an Environmental Protection Agency report from on-scene coordinator Adam Adams, a shelter-in-place or evacuation notice was ordered if readings were sustained at the lower level for 10 minutes or more.

3) TPC didnt discover harmful levels of airborne asbestos, but the substance was found in about half the suspected materials collected

Of 235 debris samples collected and analyzed for asbestos, 96 logged some level of asbestos. In some cases, the items were more than 50 percent asbestos. Detections ranged from 2 to 55 percent.

Cronin said despite those findings, fibers must be pulverized and airborne before they can be inhaled and become harmful.

More than 1,600 community air samples were collected and analyzed for airborne asbestos. No detectable air concentration were detected, she said.

Additionally, the documents show none of 184 wipe samples taken detected asbestos.

When asked if residents were made aware of the findings in the physical debris samples, Cronin referenced a news release that warned residents not to attempt to clean up debris and alerted them of the lack of measurable concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers.

The release does not mention the finding of asbestos in debris samples.

>> RELATED: Asbestos seen as new threat from TPC fire

4) TPC Group did not inform Jefferson County officials immediately upon discovering asbestos

A text message thread from County Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Grimms phone showed he and another person expressing surprise that asbestos was found.

The person he was corresponding with asked if he was aware that TPC found asbestos, to which Grimm told the person to ask why he and Branick were not made aware of the discovery.

When asked by the other texter, Grimm reiterated that he and the judge had not yet been told about the discovery. The texts show Grimm was the informed that TPC had known about the asbestos since the morning.

Cronin did not directly answer a question about when TPC informed county officials about the possibility of asbestos and the actual discovery of it. In an email, she gave an explanation of who was included in Unified Command and a definition of its purpose.

The Unified Command structure ensures a unified approach to addressing the incident through a coordinated response structure, she wrote. Through the Unified Command structure, all parties are kept uniformly informed of response efforts.

Branick said he was informed of the discovery seven hours after it happened, which he didnt think was quickly enough.

He acknowledged, however, that it was a very small piece and a not-dangerous type, which is why they didnt let me know.

Debris collected for asbestos sampling was recovered as far as West Roundbunch Road in Bridge City, although it was mostly concentrated on Merriman Street and Twin City Highway in Port Neches.

>> RELATED: Fire glows in ghost town

5) Crews used booms, low-pressure flushing and other methods to clean shoreline of canals near TPC that lead to the Neches River

Water runoff from firefighting efforts resulted in the release of contaminants into two outfalls and a canal for about eight days. The first affected outfall is inside the TPC facility and the second largely discharges into the Neches River through another outfall or the Star Lake Canal.

A total of about 8.5 miles of shoreline was analyzed.

The release of oil and other contaminants into the outfall canal that goes into the Neches River happened as firefighting runoff kept the the water level was high. When the water level went down, it left behind a bathtub ring of oiling on the shore.

Outfall canals in five of the affected areas are manmade and a sixth is an engineered wetland water treatment system with wildlife including alligators, turtles and birds.

Crews initially deployed multiple boom lines across the canals in all six areas. Oil snares also were used to limit oil sheening.

Several areas also were flushed and raked, oily debris was collected and low-hanging vegetation was trimmed to remove accumulation points for oil and oily debris.

Crews switched to maintenance of the shoreline, as opposed to active cleanup, on Dec. 12.

6) TPC officials were listed as managers of the Emergency Operations Center

In the immediate aftermath, Houston-based TPC Health, Safety and Security Manager Mike Wright and Port Neches-based Health, Safety and Security Manager Troy Monk were listed in reports as the night and day managers of the Emergency Operations Center, respectively.

Branick said Texas state law mandates that the county judge is the sole commander.

After that, the managers are generally members of upper-level management at the involved company who have a familiarity with government officials as well as personnel at the company.

They have everyones phone number and can jump out into the field and then report back to TCEQ, me and the EPA, Branick said. If we had questions, he went out and got the answers.

Branick said TCEQ and EPA personnel also were in the field.

>> RELATED: Interagency command at TPC Group site ends

7) An after-report by the county detailed several demonstrated strengths

Disaster housing: Ford Park was set up as a shelter within 12 hours of notification for more than 100 people. Hotels and other accommodations were found for affected parties.

Evacuation plan: Officials coordinated resources within and outside the affected area, worked with industry to determine safety zones, and worked with ambulance companies to evacuate people with medical needs.

Coordination: Twice-daily briefings allowed various agencies to update others on response operations and gave Unified Command updated information to make decisions. A consistent EOC battle rhythm also allowed staff to prepare for meetings and briefings.

Branick said the county, through the Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association, had familiarity with emergency operations personnel at the plants, which helped hit the ground running when the emergency struck.

8) The report also found areas for improvement

Disaster housing: The county should identify shelter sites before a major event; consider shelter training for county and local officials; develop guidance for multi-agency shelters; and ensure local government have contact information for local hotels.

Evacuation planning: The county and individual cities need to develop an effective, urgent and accurate evacuation notification system, with backup plans, for high-risk areas. The county also needs to improve consistent and coordinated communication about health and safety messages after the evacuation order has been given, on systems used to provide emergency response and with all city and county governments impacted by evacuation decisions. The county also should identify processes for evacuees without transportation.

Coordination: Initial EOC staff included TPC employees who werent well-versed in roles and responsibilities in an EOC environment.

Branick said the county had a good working relationship with emergency operations personnel and other top officials at TPC. But the relationship with operations people was lacking.

I think there was a lack of familiarity and trust between us, he said. I think the company thought I was there as an enforcer or someone who was there to punish them.

It ended up taking 48 to 72 hours to establish that trust, which makes it more challenging for Branick to get the information required to make decisions to protect life and the environment and bring the fire under control.

Hes since recommended those staff members also come to Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association meetings and events to build up that familiarity before an emergency situation.

>> RELATED: TPC Group expects to move chemicals this week

9) Cleanup and recovery is ongoing

Cronin said response efforts continue to focus on securing the site and minimizing the impact to the environment.

As of early February, nearly 50 percent of the materials in tanks and onsite equipment had been transferred to another location.

Moving forward, the company needs to complete the current de-inventory and transfer phase of low concentration butadiene material, raffinate, polyblend and other process materials to further secure the site and safely transfer all remaining materials.

It also is expected to re-establish capability of site utilities and complete evaluations and assessments of affected area to create strategies for preservation and restoration.

Jacob Dick contributed

to this report.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
By Miya Tanaka, KYODO NEWS - Feb 24, 2020 - 11:19 | All, World, Coronavirus

The two-day gathering of the Group of 20 finance chiefs ended Sunday with a commitment to mobilize all policy tools to keep the global economy on track amid increasing concerns over the ripple effects of the coronavirus shock that has left China largely idle.

But the message does not seem to offer much reassurance for the outlook, with the full scope of the economic impact from the virus remaining unclear. The epidemic shows no signs of abating in the world's second largest economy and fears over a wider regional outbreak continue to grow.

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso was among the participants who apparently felt frustration with the looming uncertainties as the virus situation unfolds.

As the G-20 meeting was taking place in Saudi Arabia, the number of infections spiked in South Korea and steadily increased in Japan, prompting the United States to raise its travel alerts to the two countries.

"We can't foresee well what kind of impact the coronavirus will have. Frankly speaking, we cannot even feel sure about the figures (regarding the situation) coming out from China," Aso told a press conference after the gathering.

(Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso speaks to reporters after the first-day session of the G-20 gathering in Riyadh)

The new coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has already proved to be far more widespread in China than the 2002-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic that claimed 774 lives globally.

In mainland China alone, the new pneumonia-causing virus has killed more than 2,000 people, with infection cases exceeding 70,000.

Takahide Kiuchi of Japan's Nomura Research Institute said that even if China's growth rate is pushed down by around the same amount as the time of the SARS outbreak, the impact on the world economy would nearly quadruple, given that China's share of the global gross domestic product has increased fourfold to 16 percent since 2002.

In the April-June quarter of 2003, China's GDP growth dropped to about 9 percent from around 11 percent the previous quarter.

Oxford Economics, a global advisory firm headquartered in Britain, has lowered its forecast for 2020 global growth from 2.5 percent to 2.3 percent, its weakest since 2009, expecting the virus to hit the Chinese economy sharply in the short term and cause disruption for the rest of the world.

"The global spillovers will come via four main channels: reduced goods imports by China, fewer tourism visits from Chinese nationals, supply-chain disruptions due to shortages of Chinese-produced intermediate goods, and financial market and business confidence effects," it said in a report issued earlier this month.

International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva told the G-20 meeting on Saturday that many different scenarios could play out, depending on how quickly the virus is contained.

But she said that the current expectation of the Washington-based institution is that China's economy will "return to normal" in the April-June quarter, with the impact on the world economy being relatively minor and short-lived.

Georgieva has been optimistic on the economic outlook, expressing hopes for a "V-shaped" recovery in which factories in China make up for lost time and warehouses are resupplied.

However, some economic experts question such rosy scenarios.

"I think it is too early to talk about something like V-shaped impact," said Ke Long, senior fellow at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research.

"I don't think this problem will be settled by June. Even if the number of infection cases decreases, there will still be reputational damage. It will take more time before things will return to the way it was," the expert on the Chinese economy said.

Initially, the year 2020 started off with some optimism over the outlook of the global economy, as the United States and China agreed in December to a truce in their bruising trade war.

But such hopes were dashed with the coronavirus outbreak, as China's economic activity has largely been in a standstill as it keeps battling to contain the crisis.

Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak and a major automotive hub, has been locked down since Jan. 23. Travel restrictions have been imposed and the Lunar New Year holiday was extended from late January until early February to keep factories, shops and offices in China closed.

Even after the holiday ended, businesses have only slowly restarted in China and many people are said to be working from home.

Japan, the world's third largest economy, is feeling the brunt of the virus outbreak through supply chain disruptions and a sharp drop in tourists. As further spread is confirmed, including cases in which authorities cannot track the infection route, a wide range of events in Japan have been canceled.

While the G-20 finance chiefs said in a communique that they stand ready to take action to address the risks, some economists warned that traditional responses to an economic crisis may not be as effective as expected.

"The current shock is a very unique shock, which is basically, people are staying home because of the health concerns. So deciding to spend more is not going to have the same effect because you're not going to get more people to work because they can't, or it's not wise for them to do so while there's still this concern," said Luis Oganes, head of currencies, commodities and emerging markets research at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

"So I think that we may see more fiscal stimulus once the coronavirus episode is over or...basically, the situation of people able to go back to factories is normalized. Before that, I think that any announcement may basically not be implementable if you still have this constraint on the ability of people to go to work," he said.

Meanwhile, major central banks in advanced economies such as Japan and the United States have already adopted accommodative monetary policies.

"Under the current economic conditions, I don't think there is much the G-20 economies can do (in terms of monetary and fiscal policies)," said Ke of the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research.

Ke also said the G-20 meeting should have been an occasion to press China to make sure all information related to the virus outbreak is disclosed. In the SARS outbreak, China was criticized for withholding information about the disease for too long.

"Information disclosure is the starting point of any kind of international cooperation," said the expert hailing from China's Nanjing city.
Hyderabad, Feb 24 : AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday blamed a former Delhi MLA for the violence in the national capital and told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that "the snakes raised by you will bite you".

"We want to tell the Prime Minister that the snakes you raised in your backyard will bite you," the Hyderabad MP said while addressing a protest meeting against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) here.

Condemning the violence, Owaisi said the BJP leader had given a statement that he is giving three-day ultimatum.

"These riots were a result of incitement by an ex MLA & BJP leader. Now there is clear evidence of police involvement. The ex-MLA should be arrested immediately, urgent steps should be taken to control the violence. Otherwise, it'll spread," Owaisi had earlier tweeted.

The MP was apparently referring to BJP leader Kapil Mishra setting three-day deadline for anti-CAA protestors to clear the roads in Jafarabad and Chand Bagh.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) said the killings of police constable Ratan Lal and a man named Furqan were condemnable. "It is shameful for the country that the violence has occurred when President of foreign a country is visiting Delhi," Owaisi said referring to US President Donald Trump's visit.

Owaisi demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should establish peace in Delhi and every citizen should pressurize Delhi Police to stop the violence.
Sixty-nine newly elected MLAs, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, took oath as members of the Delhi Assembly as its three-day session began on Monday.

Janakpuri MLA Rajesh Rishi could not take oath on Monday because he was not in town and he will now take oath as the member of newly-constituted Delhi Assembly on Tuesday.

This is the first assembly session after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) formed the government for third time in the national capital.

The oath-taking process started with Kejriwal, followed by Sisodia, Environment Minister Gopal Rai, Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and other legislators.

On the first day of the Seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly, sixty-one members took oath in Hindi, three in Urdu, two members in Maithili, and one member each in English and Punjabi.

AAP MLAs Saurabh Bharadwaj and Naresh Balyan took oath in the name of Lord Hanuman and several MLAs chanted 'Jai Hanuman', thumping their desks.

According to the Greater Kailash MLA, BJP MLA Anil Kumar Bajpai raised objection when he was taking oath in the name of Lord Hanuman.

Legislators such Sanjeev Jha and Ritu Raj Govind, who came dressed in traditional attire, took oath in Maithili language.

Matia Mahal MLA Shoaib Iqbal, who was appointed pro-tem speaker, oversaw the oath-taking ceremony in the House. A few hours before the start of first session on Monday, Iqbal took oath at the LG office.

Later, Shahdara MLA Ram Niwas Goel was unanimously elected as the speaker of assembly for the second consecutive term.

While Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh took oath in Punjabi, another AAP MLA Rajesh Gupta took oath in the name of his mother and father. MLAs Rohit Mehroliya took oath in the name of Maharishi Valmiki.

Raghav Chadha, Atishi Marlena and Dilip Pandey were among first time MLAs who took oath as the members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

BJP's Badarpur MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who was elected as Leader of Opposition earlier on Monday, hugged Iqbal after taking oath. Bidhuri and Iqbal were first elected to Delhi Assembly in 1993.

The seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly was constituted after the Aam Aadmi Party won 62 seats in the 70-member House. The BJP won eight seats, while the Congress drew a blank.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It's easy to forget that Antarctica is technically a desert, until you see it without snow.

A new pair of satellite images shared by NASA's Earth Observatory makes that stark reality clear as ice. NASA's Landsat-8 satellite snapped the two images of Eagle Island (a small island off Antarctica's northwest tip) on Feb. 4 and Feb. 13, 2020, bookending a period of record high temperatures in the southernmost continent. Between the two images, a significant amount of the island's glacial ice disappeared, revealing huge swaths of the barren brown rock underneath.

According to glaciologist Mauri Pelto, a professor of environmental science at Nichols College in Massachusetts, the island lost about 20% of its seasonal snow accumulation in just a few days.

"You see these kinds of melt events in Alaska and Greenland , but not usually in Antarctica," Pelto told NASA.

Related: One of Antarctica's fastest-shrinking glaciers just lost an iceberg twice the size of Washington, D.C.

The melt coincided with not one, but two record-high temperatures recorded on Antarctica this month. On Feb. 6, a research station on the northern edge of the Antarctic Peninsula (the finger of land on the continent's northwest tip, closest to South America) recorded a new record-high temperature of 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius)  surpassing the previous record of 63.5 F (17.5 C), set in March 2015.

Days later, on Feb. 9, researchers on the nearby Seymour Island saw their thermometers hit 69.35 F (20.75 C), setting another all-time high for the continent. (For comparison, that's about the same temperature reported in Los Angeles, on the same day. Balmy!)

As the new images show, those high temperatures caused significant melting on nearby glaciers. According to Pelto, Eagle Island lost nearly 1 square mile (1.5 square kilometers) of snowpack to the heat, creating several large ponds of bright blue meltwater at the island's center.

While every season has its highs, this summer has been especially warm for Antarctica, Pelto said. The continent has already seen two heatwaves this season  one in November 2019 and one in January 2020  reminding us that significant melt events like these are becoming more common as global warming continues unchecked.

Originally published on Live Science .
The writer is former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing. He is also the co-author of Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years and The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace.

At this stage we could claim that the security paradigm has succeeded but it shelf life has run out.

Meanwhile, Kashmir, which we rightly believe is nobodys business, appears to be becoming everybodys business. In Davos, with Imran Khan by his side, President Trump volunteered not for the first time to mediate between India and Pakistan. What Trump will say during his much-publicised visit is anybodys guess.

Kashmir, like the Internet, has been mostly in silent mode since August 5. The quietude could be deceptive. It is never easy to decipher the Kashmiri mind. Kashmiri duality has been both a liability and an asset. After August 5, it has kept everybody befuddled. Sometimes nothing needs to be done; you just live through it, wait it out. The winter in any event is a period of hibernation and this has been a particularly severe winter with an extended chillai kalan.

At this stage we could claim that the security paradigm has succeeded but it shelf life has run out. If the Kashmiri is tired of mourning the demise of Article 370, Delhi too seems to be back to the mid-1990s. Militancy has not ended. Radicalisation is growing apace with hopelessness but the Islamic State, which is often talked about, is still alien to Kashmir. The J&K police, which knows best about the goings-on in the Valley, is no longer wholly trusted. Boys laugh at the constable, yet he is the only one who knows what they are up to. There is talk of infiltration of foreigners in the last six months, yet those killed in recent encounters have mostly been homegrown. What is the Jaish, the deadliest of foreign terrorist groups, up to? The security forces, as always, have done more than their job in Kashmir. Now it is up to the politicians, as our generals have repeatedly said.

The Kashmiri is undoubtedly tired, castrated, beaten, desperately seeking normalcy. Much as he despises defeat, he is looking for a way out. In the hopelessness, he needs hope most of all. It is time to listen and to engage with the Kashmiri.

Since the lockdown, an impression has gained currency that Delhi was set to demolish the Abdullah family. That would be easier said than done  trying to wish away the National Conference as deeply etched in Kashmiri consciousness as Charar-e-Sharif, Shah-e-Hamdaan, Sahab and Hazratbal. As M.J. Akbar writes in Kashmir: Behind the Vale, Sheikh Abdullah was the greatest leader in modern Kashmir, without the force of whose personality and dedication to secularism, Kashmir would not have remained in India. On the Sheikhs passing, on September 8, 1982, a sea of Kashmiris choked the streets of Srinagar to catch a last glimpse of the Sher-e-Kashmir. Indira Gandhi and the director of the Intelligence Bureau, who had flown to Srinagar, had to travel by boat from the Centaur Hotel to Naseem Bagh near the Hazratbal mosque, Sheikhs final resting place. When the Sheikhs widow, Begum Akbar Jahan, or madre meharban, the benevolent mother, as she was called in Kashmir, passed away on July 11, 2000, her funeral was attended, among others, by Atal Behari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and George Fernandes, a personal friend of Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Where in the Valley will we find the Mahatma to replace Dr Farooq Abdullah and how would Atalji have reacted to the incarceration of his favourite Omar Abdullah, whom he desperately wanted to see chief minister in 2002? History cannot be distorted by cutting a couple of holidays. What history will record is that three generations of the Abdullah family that stood by India were in prison because of our prejudices. Nor will Vajpayee be easily forgotten in Kashmir. Like Banquos ghost, Vajpayee will haunt the policymakers of Kashmir for a long time.

As the former, renowned Mossad chief, Efraim Halevy, said of the Hamas, the Kashmiri can neither be destroyed nor permanently contained. Engagement is the only way forward. Without politics and democracy, radicalism, the offshoot of frustration, will eat into Kashmir, particularly its youth. P.V. Narasimha Rao understood this when, with terrorism not fully subdued, he promised the sky to the Kashmiris to facilitate elections in J&K in 1996. Then too, Farooq Abdullah came to Delhis rescue. Mufti Mohammed Sayeed never tired of saying that there was no solution to Kashmir except Farooq.

The Muftis refrain before he became chief minister in 2002 was that politics in Kashmir needed a level playing field. The playing field now is as bare as Mother Hubbards cupboard. The three former chief ministers who could possibly fill the void are all under detention and yet there appears to be a rush to the mainstream. In a vacuum everyone is a chief minister, or so they think. The Kashmiris are always ready to listen and engage.

The separatists too, at least the Advani Hurriyat, so labelled in Kashmir because of their engagement with the former deputy prime minister in early 2004, need to seriously contemplate, if given another, last, chance, whether they would grab it or continue to look over their shoulder and be consigned to the dustbin of history. The magic of democracy is that hardliners get moderated and mainstreamed.

Kashmir cannot be changed without compassion. It needs a sense of belonging and dignity. That is why we should also engage with Pakistan. Sudheendra Kulkarni, who visited Pakistan in December, wrote on his return that Pakistan was ready, more ready than ever before, for engagement with India. Imran Khan obviously wants peace but if people who visit Delhi via Islamabad and Rawalpindi are to be believed, then the generals too now want peace with India. Imran should not miss out on the invitation to visit India for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet that may pave the way for the resumption of the Saarc summit. As the poet Wallace Stevens says, After the final no comes yes and on that yes the future depends.

Meanwhile, Kashmir, which we rightly believe is nobodys business, appears to be becoming everybodys business. In Davos, with Imran Khan by his side, President Trump volunteered not for the first time to mediate between India and Pakistan. What Trump will say during his much-publicised visit is anybodys guess.

Given his sense of self-importance, the Kashmiri always finds himself stranded at the crossroads. Even when it is time to look ahead, he will be harking back to the past and his litany of grievances. Despair, however, Noam Chomsky says, even in the most horrendous situations, is not an option. Kashmir has two choices; give up and wait for worse to follow, or grasp whatever opportunity comes its way.

Our atoot ang is estranged. Friends are no longer what they used to be; at times, only familiarity remains. But Kashmir chose correctly in 1947 and will again, whenever tested. Kashmiriyat is not dead. Kashmiri goodness will prevail.
The continued condemnable targeting of Churches and the Clergy in the North East by the insurgents, in order to trigger a sectarian crisis, demands that special protection unit need to be deployed to protect worshiping centers, or their private guards be permitted to bear arms, Sen. Sani tweeted.
Like a grisly scene from a movie, uncovered jars filled with tongues and other body parts were discovered home contractors and was reported to the Florida Police. Said collection was inside the home of a researcher and erstwhile professor when it was inspected by workers.

The remains were stocked in formaldehyde that had the preserved body parts including tongues that were acquired in the 1960s stashed away until discovered in 2020. The jars were perfectly hidden in a crawlspace. Each jar had one gallon filled with formaldehyde labelled with a name and date, to identify its bodily contents.

Quite later, the identity of Dr. Ronald Baughman, a former researcher and current professor at the University of Florida, was verified. Reports reveal that Dr. Baughman was involved with one of the university's Advanced Training Programs on Maxillofacial Surgery. This information was dug up by the Science Direct website, further explaining the presence of the jars and why it it need such specific storing conditions.

Was it foul play?

Finding jars with remains is not very usual leading the police to investigate more about the items. It is normal police procedure to check and verify before filing charges. But finding such things alway leads to suspicions of foul play, especially under these circumstances, with cases of serial killers who preserve their victims parts.

Also read: 'iPhone 12' Release Date, Specs: 3D Rear Camera, 5G Connectivity

All the skin-crawling jars with human remains were connected to the work of Dr. Baughman, a former researcher and current professor at the University of Florida.

According to research, Dr. Baughman wrote studies over a long time and was the director of the university's Maxillofacial Surgery Advanced Training Programs.

Dr Baughman is a well-known pathologist and former academic at the University of Florida. He related to WCJB that those specimens were for research, so he brought them home to do further examination for his studies. The specimens need a cool area for storage, so he placed them there, and it remained kept in the area for a long time.

Officer Campos confirmed what Baughman said, saying that all the specimens were meant to be returned to the university it came from. The doctor's studies used the tongues to investigate thyroid and neck conditions.

When Baughman divorced, his ex-wife got ownership of the home. But she forgot about the jars with human body parts stored in the crawlspace.

Steve Orlando of the University of Florida said that Baughman taking the remains home, may or may not have been allowed. But, for sure it would have been surely disallowed to bring these jars outside of university premises.

Many federal and state laws are strict and that includes university rules that would prevent any of the jars taken home by faculty or researcher since it would not be very appropriate. Authorities cleared the case of the jars filled with preserved tongues and body parts, clarifying that there is no foul play. There isn't any word about the exact number of tongues in the jar, but authorities are doing conducting tests on the specimens.

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Jean Vanier, Catholic advocate for the disabled, sexually abused 6 women: internal report

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The founder of L'Arche and respected advocate for the intellectually disabled, Jean Vanier, who died last year at age 90, was sexually abusive to at least six women, an investigation has revealed.

The investigation was conducted by the U.K. consultancy GCPS, which included first-hand accounts of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct from six adult women, none of whom were intellectually disabled. The abuse occurred often in the context of him giving spiritual guidance.

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, LArche said, without specifying the nature of the harm suffered.

"These women reported similar facts associated with highly unusual spiritual or mystical explanations used to justify these behaviors," L'Arche said, which noted that his actions were "indicative of a deep psychological and spiritual hold" he had on the women.

Vanier also asked the women he abused to keep the incident secret.

The Canadian Catholic theologian died in May 2019 at age 90.



He formed his organization in 1964 to minister to persons with intellectual disabilities.

In response to the inquiry, Loren Treisman, CEO of LArche in the U.K., said the organization was "thoroughly shocked and saddened" by the news.

"We unreservedly condemn Jean Vaniers actions. They are in total contradiction to the values that he claimed and are contrary to the fundamental principles of our organization, which affirm the unique value in every person," he said.

"We want to acknowledge and thank the victims for their courage and express our heartfelt regret for the trauma they had to endure. We are devastated that our founder abused his position of power and caused deep hurt to some of his victims."

The investigation found that Vanier did not abuse anyone with learning disabilities.

"While we process this extremely upsetting news, we remain united in our mission to build a world where we celebrate the unique gifts of every individual," Treisman added.

The organization Vanier founded takes its name from Noahs Ark, which grew to include 154 communities in 38 different countries. Faith and Light, another community-based support network for the disabled that Vanier founded, has 1,450 chapters in over 80 nations. In 2015, Vanier was awarded the Templeton Prize.

Catholics who regarded him as a saint are expressing devastation at the report, particularly in light of another round of revelations about sex abuses and cover-ups from former leaders within the Church and its affiliated entities.

"Part of me wonders now if I was foolish, if I should have known better than to valorize any Catholic this way after watching Theodore McCarricks precipitous fall from grace in 2018 or even watching St. John Paul IIs record on sexual abuse be called into serious question after hearing the crowds chant 'Santo Subito' in 2005," Colleen Dulle, an assistant producer at the Jesuit magazine America, wrote Saturday.

"If such widely respected men could commit decades of abuse or turn a blind eye to allegations, why should I have believed Jean Vanier could not do the same?"
Given 2020 is a Leap Year, and we all get an extra day, we are making sure our nearly 3,000 employees across the country have the opportunity to make the most of it while also reaffirming our culture of volunteerism and giving back by allowing employees to skip work and use their extra day to volunteer in their local communities, explained Emily Hathcoat, vice president of marketing at Risk Placement Services (RPS). Its a big deal for our firm, given our size and scope now versus even just four years ago, to turn off from the office so we can tune in and use our extra day to give back.

Read more: How the insurance industry is doing good in communities

This years initiative is one of many in RPSs history of volunteerism, according to its founder and leader.

Weve always been an organization that wants to give back to the community, said Joel Cavaness (pictured), RPS president. It started back when we would have our sales meetings in different cities and we would adopt a local charity. For about three or four months leading up to our sales meeting, we would have a fundraising challenge.

Over time, RPSs national fundraising challenge has netted tens of thousands of dollars for charity. In 2017, the company raised $60,000 for Ronald McDonald House of South Carolina, and, in 2018, $70,000 was raised for Roots of Music in New Orleans. This paid for a full year of rent for the organizations new building, and all new musical instruments for its students. Then in 2019, RPS topped itself once again, when the company collected over $87,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Nashville, which equated to more than 20,000 nights for families staying at the house.

Read more: The culture of the insurance industry and raising money for charity go hand in hand

In 2020, with the extra day in the calendar, We thought that would be a good opportunity for us to pick a day to give back to our community, so weve asked each of the offices and all the people within RPS to spend that day giving back to the community and giving back to organizations of their choice, said Cavaness. Some are doing an all-office give back, [while] some are doing individual things.

RPS employees have responded very positively to the initiative as they plan their day of giving back during the month, added the RPS president. More broadly, a lot of the early talent coming into the organization appreciates the socially responsible side of the firm, which in part helped it to stand out as an IBA Top Workplace in 2019. RPS also has a program in place that matches employee donations so that when they have a specific charity that they work with, they can have their own contributions supplemented by an equal donation from RPS.

They know its a huge part of our culture and part of the way that we want to run the organization, said Cavaness. If you can achieve both the goals of giving back and the goals of making the required and expected returns, we think thats a good balance for people. And today, people expect you to be good members of your community.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  A TV network at the middle of a franchise controversy apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday for airing a political advertisement of the opposition in 2016 which offended the former mayor.

"We are sorry if we offended the President. That was not the intention of the network. We felt that we were just abiding by regulations that surround the airing of political ads, said ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak during the Senate inquiry on the networks franchise renewal.

Duterte's former personal aide, now Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, questioned during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services why ABS-CBN agreed to air an opposition-funded video which he said was meant to tarnish the reputation of the former mayor of Davao City. The commercial questioned if a tough-talking, cursing politician would be a good fit for president.

A Quezon City court banned the airing of the ad upon the request of Duterte's running mate, now House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

"Hindi mababaw ang rason ng Pangulo sa kanyang grievances against the network. Nasaktan ang Presidente, nababoy ang Presidente. Hindi vindictive ang Pangulo but it is clear that someone went overboard to malign him," Go said. "For me, this is very troublesome. Media networks are supposed to be neutral. Fair reporting, that's all the President wants... Kung masama ka kay Pangulo, mas magiging masama siya sa iyo at kung mabait ka kay Pangulo, mas mabait siya sa iyo."

[Translation: The President's grievances against the network are not superficial. The President was hurt, his image has been tarnished... If you are mean to the President, he will be meaner to you and if you are kind to the President, he will be even kinder to you.]

Katigbak said the network initially rejected the first version of that ad, but it was eventually cleared for airing after changes were made on what the two kids were doing in the video. "Any politician who comes to our station with an ad that is legal and legitimate must be accommodated," he added. "We continue to improve on our shortcomings. We hope we do a better job in the succeeding elections."

"ABS-CBN does not and will not have its own political agenda," Katigbak added.

READ: ABS-CBN franchise to expire on May 4, 2020  DOJ

Refused to air Dutertes campaign?

Duterte has been publicly ranting against ABS-CBN since assuming office, saying that the network refused to carry his campaign commercials even if they have been already paid for.

Katigbak clarified why the network could not air some of Duterte's ads. He said the President's camp bought a total of 182 million in commercial spots, split into 117 million for national ads  which were all aired  and 65 million in local ads, which would target audience in a specific province.

"Our policy on all our ads is first-come, first-served. Many of these spots were ordered on May 3, and May 7 was the last day of the campaign period. There had been many previous telecast orders that came in ahead," the company's chief executive said.

He went on to explain that slots for local ads were limited to just two minutes per hour, so the network could not find airtime for Duterte's content by then. Katigbak said ABS-CBN refunded about 4 million to the President, but got delayed in returning some 2.6 million to his camp. He said the President's camp refused to accept the delayed refund.

Duterte went on to win the 2016 elections.

Senators Migz Zubiri and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also said that they have their own ads which did not air during previous elections. "May hinanakit din kami, pero hindi natin dadalhin sa usapin na mawawalan ng trabaho ang 11,000 na kababayan natin," said Pangilinan, the husband of ABS-CBN star Sharon Cuneta.

[Translation: We also have our gripes, but we would not bring that to the point that 11,000 Filipinos would lose their jobs.]

TIMELINE: ABS-CBN franchise

'Nothing illegal'

Meanwhile, Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV believes that there is "nothing illegal" with the "offensive" advertisement he ran in 2016.

"Duterte/Bong Gos assertion that the airing of my advertisement is the reason why the ABS-CBN franchise should not be renewed is a lie. First, theres nothing illegal about the ad itself and the airing of the ad," he said in a statement.

He also argued that the said advertisement was also aired in the rival network.

"Second, the same political ad was aired in GMA7 and yet Duterte never complained about it when its franchise was renewed. So, definitely there is another ulterior motive in the blocking of ABS-CBNs franchise renewal," Trillanes added.

Apology accepted

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo welcomed the apology, saying that the President will "consider" Katigbak's statement.

"It's personal to him," Panelo said. "I'm glad finally ABS-CBN admitted its shortcomings to the President. Dapat noon pa nila ginawa [They should have done it a long time ago]."

Duterte has vowed since late 2018 to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise. Last year, he told the Lopezes to just sell the network to a new owner as he would make sure that the TV station is out by 2020.

CNN Philippines' Multi-Platform News Writers Melissa Lopez and Vince Ferreras contributed to this report
Ever since its announcement, Thalaivi, which stars Kangana Ranaut as Jayalalithaa has created huge buzz. The makers have been releasing Kangana's and MGR's look from the sets to keep up the anticipation on the film amongst the audiences.

To mark the birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa, the makers of the film have now released a new look of Kangana as Thalaivi, and we must say, she looks like a mirror image of the revered politician.

Clad in a white saree with black and white border, the look is of Jayalalithaa in her 30s when she was about to enter politics. With her hair tied up in a bun, round red bindi on her forehead and matching earrings, the actress' striking resemblance to Jayalalithaa will leave you in awe.

Not only the outfit and overall look, but even Kangana's facial expressions do complete justice to those of Jayalalithaa. As soon as the image dropped online, internet erupted in praise of Kangana nailing the look of the late superstar turned politician.

Speaking on playing an icon like Jayalalithaa, Kangana said "After Manikarnika, this is my second biopic, and I am honored to portray such a strong lady. Her personality was very different from anything I have portrayed earlier. It's very gratifying to play someone who was so determined, persevered but had a silent strength which distinguished her from everyone else."

AL Vijay, who is helming the multi-lingual (Hindi, Tamil & Telugu) was quoted as saying, "The film depicts the early years and struggle she faced both as an actor and as a politician."

The film will be an unvarnished depiction of Late Jayalalitha's life. He further added, " Her life was a mix of glamour, love, heartbreak, struggle and success. Our focus is to make it as real as possible, without trying to glorify her, but show the human side of the person she was."

The filmmaker further revealed that Kangana has brought a fierce quality to her muse who was a firebrand, "Kangana's dedication towards playing the character shows in the fact that she gained weight to stay true to the stage of her life that she is portraying. Her attention to details , her make up and costumes will make it a visual treat for the audience, they will feel like they are watching Jayalalitha herself on screen," he was quoted as saying.

The recent look of Kangana Ranaut performing Bharatnatyam went viral on the internet. To get into the character, the actress took Bharatnatyam and Tamil lessons and has also gained substantial amount of weight to match the looks.

Based on the story of legendary actor turned politician, the trilingual film is being directed by Vijay and also stars Arvind Swamy. Produced by Vishnu Vardhan Iduri and Shaailesh R Singh, Thalaivi is scheduled to release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on 26th June, 2020.

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OTTAWA - Canada's border measures to guard the country against incoming cases of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, will likely become less effective as the virus spreads, the country's chief medical officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus on a street in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. Iran's health ministry raised Sunday the death toll from the new virus to 8 people in the country, amid concerns that clusters there, as well as in Italy and South Korea, could signal a serious new stage in its global spread. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

OTTAWA - Canada's border measures to guard the country against incoming cases of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, will likely become less effective as the virus spreads, the country's chief medical officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday.

Canada has so far been able to detect and isolate cases of coronavirus as patients arrive in Canada thanks, in part, to passenger screening at international airports. So far Canada has confirmed 11 cases of the virus.

The most recent patient, a British Columbia man in his 40s, contracted the virus after coming into close contact with a woman who was infected on a recent trip to Iran. He showed symptoms before the woman was diagnosed.

The virus has also begun to spread from person to person in several countries outside China, where COVID-19 was first detected. The last few days have seen sudden increases of cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea.

"These signs are concerning, and they mean that the window of opportunity for containment, that is for stopping the global spread of the virus, is closing," Tam said. "It also tells countries like Canada, who have been able to detect and manage imported cases thus far, that we have to prepare."

The main concern is that people without symptoms, or with only very mild symptoms, could be spreading the virus in countries that don't have the means to detect cases, Tam said.

The government has also updated its advice to travellers returning from abroad and has asked them to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for two weeks after they return, no matter where they travelled. Those are similar to the symptoms of influenza: a cough, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, fatigue and aches.

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks at a press conference in Ottawa, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Canada's chief public health officer Theresa Tam says the window of opportunity to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus is closing as the virus begins to spread in more and more countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

"We can highlight countries that are currently impacted by the coronavirus, but it is important when you travel anywhere to take these general precautions," Tam said.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the public-health agency will be tracking other close contacts of the two most recent cases in B.C. to check on their health.

She said this situation is indicative of the global crisis, especially in countries like Iran where the virus spread initially without the government's knowledge.

"It is very important that we shift our focus to our domestic situation," Hajdu said.

The most important action the government can take at airports is to educate people as they come into the country, Tam said, so they know what signs and symptoms to look for and what to do if they have concerns.

The World Health Organization says it's still too early to declare COVID-19 a pandemic  the definition requires that a disease be detected just about worldwide  but the spread of the bug in multiple countries is a major concern.

"This is not the time to focus on what word we use. That will not prevent a single infection today, or save a single life today," said WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a briefing. "This is a time for all countries, communities, families and individuals to focus on preparing."

Canada's priority wouldn't change even if a pandemic were declared, Tam said. The goal is still to hold the virus off for as long as possible before it starts spreading from person to person within the country.

"By delaying even a little bit we might be able to reduce the impact now, and making sure our health system has gone past influenza season is a very specific public-health objective," she said.

Getting past the flu season without a major outbreak would seriously ease the burden on hospitals, she said.

It's not just up to the health system to get ready for a possible outbreak in Canada, Tam said. Workplaces also need to prepare. Part of that preparation will include encouraging people who are sick to stay home, despite the tendancy for Canadians to show to up work even when they're not feeling well, Tam said.

Another case of the virus has also been confirmed by health officials in Toronto, who said a woman in her 20s contracted a mild case while travelling in China. The woman had been in China since late last year, had travelled to Wuhan  the centre of the outbreak  before it was quarantined, then went elsewhere in the country before returning to Canada on Feb. 21.

"Given the fact that she actually is resolving and is quite well, the patient was discharged, was told to self-isolate and I'm pleased to say is presently recovering well at home and in isolation," said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's top public-health officer.

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The woman wore a mask while travelling back to Canada, and a family member who picked her up from the airport also wore a mask, de Villa said.

Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health, said given the limited contact with others and the woman's mild illness, she likely presents a low risk.

Meanwhile hundreds of Canadians remain in mandatory quarantine after they were repatriated from Wuhan, China, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was stricken with the virus earlier this month.

All of the evacuees are in good health and show no signs of the virus, Tam said. Those from Wuhan who have been isolated in the Canadian Forces Base Trenton for two weeks are expected to be released tomorrow, the second large group of evacuees to be allowed to go home.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.

With files from Allison Jones in Toronto
Survivors and victims of sexual violence, their supporters and others have hailed Mondays conviction of former movie producer Harvey Weinstein as a landmark verdict, but said their fight was far from over.

Once one of Hollywoods most powerful producers, Weinstein, 67, was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. He faces up to 25 years in prison on the sexual assault conviction.

The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence, and first-degree rape.

The case was a milestone for the #MeToo movement, which was re-energised following the accusations against Weinstein. Women across the world went public with misconduct allegations, many against powerful men in several industries.

While it is disappointing that todays outcome does not deliver the true, full justice that so many women deserve, Harvey Weinstein will now forever be known as a convicted serial predator, the Silence Breakers, a group of Weinstein accusers, said in a statement.

This conviction would not be possible without the testimony of the courageous women and the many women who have spoken out, the group added. Their bravery will forever be remembered in history. Our fight is far from over.

BREAKING: A New York jury has found Harvey Weinstein guilty on two counts  criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. The following is a statement in response from 23 #Silencebreakers: pic.twitter.com/fXtoZ3Evzc  TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) February 24, 2020

Prosecutors bolstered their case against Weinstein by calling several other accusers as witnesses.

One of these women, The Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors Weinstein came into her apartment one night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her.

Though the accusation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, prosecutors offered it to show Weinstein was a repeat sexual offender.

For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you, tweeted actress Ashley Judd, one of the first women to go on the record against Weinstein in the New York Times.

For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you.#ConvictWeinstein #Guilty  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) February 24, 2020

Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing, tweeted actress Rose McGowan, one of the Silence Breakers.

Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing  Rose McGowan (@rosemcgowan) February 24, 2020

Mira Sorvino, another woman who was part of the group, tweeted that Monday was the beginning of #justice. More to come, my sisters.

The beginning of #justice. More to come, my sisters. #weinsteinguilty  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) February 24, 2020

More than 80 accusers

More than 80 women had accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual. His defence lawyers have said Weinstein will appeal against Mondays conviction.

This trial  and the jurys decision today  marks a new era of justice, not just for the Silence Breakers, who spoke out at great personal risk, but for all survivors of harassment, abuse and assault at work, said Tina Tchen, the president and CEO of the Times Up Foundation.

The jurys verdict sends a powerful message to the world of just how much progress has been made since the Weinstein Silence Breakers ignited an unstoppable movement, she added. While we celebrate this historic moment, our fight to fix the broke system that has allowed serial abusers like Harvey Weinstein to abuse women in the first place continues. Abusers every where and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: Theres no going back.

(1/3) This trial  & today's verdict  mark a new era of justice not just for Weinstein survivors, but for all survivors of harassment, abuse & assault at work. It sends a powerful message on how much progress we've made since the #SilenceBreakers ignited an unstoppable movement. https://t.co/OOoShZ9jMx  Tina Tchen (@TinaTchen) February 24, 2020

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), of every 1,000 sexual assaults in the United State, 995 perpetrators will walk free.

Tarana Burke, who founded the MeToo movement more than a decade ago to support survivors of sexual assault, shared a statement from the movement that said a lot of work still must be done.

People participate in a protest march for survivors of sexual assault and their supporters in Los Angeles, California [File: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters]

Though today a man has been found guilty, we have to wonder whether anyone will care about the rest of us tomorrow. This is why we say MeToo, the statement read.

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles, California. In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on January 6, authorities allege he raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013.

In addition to the criminal cases, Weinstein and the company he founded are facing civil lawsuits filed by dozens of women for various allegations of sexual harassment or assault.

Lawyers for many of the women as well as creditors of the Weinstein Company, former board members and insurers have reached a proposed civil settlement worth approximately $47m. About $25m is expected to be available for compensating women who alleged abuse, according to a report by the New York Times.

The agreement would need court approval.
Queensland's stalking laws must be rewritten because they were shaped before social media and "intelligent" mobile phones, three domestic violence agencies agree.

Domestic violence agencies constantly report aggrieved partners using mobile phones, text messages, Facebook and other social media accounts to track, taunt and abuse their partners.

Womens Legal Service chief executive Angela Lynch, Di Mangan from the Red Rose Foundation and Karyn Walsh from Micah Projects say the legislation does not reflect how mobile phones and social media is used to track women and, sometimes, men.

Mourners at a vigil at Camp Hill to honour Hannah Clarke and her children murdered last week heard calls to fight domestic violence. Credit:Getty images

The agencies called for change after an emotional vigil at Camp Hill on Sunday, which remembered Hannah Clarke and her three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, who were murdered by their estranged husband and father.
TDT/Manama

An Asian man, who was arrested for brutally attacking a nurse in Salmaniya area in the Capital, confessed that he was attempting to rob her, as mentioned in his statement during the probe launched by the Public Prosecution.

The 29-year-old is now facing the charges of attempted robbery, while investigation in the case continue, a statement issued on Saturday by Capital Governorate Prosecution Chief Prosecution Mohammed Salah confirmed.

After receiving a report from the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science about an Asian man who assaulted a nurse on the public road and attempted to rob her, the Public Prosecution began investigating the report.

"The accused was arrested, interrogated and confronted with the findings of the investigations and the footage circulating on social media sites, Mr Salah said.

According to the Chief Prosecutor, the suspect confessed to the accusations raised against him and he informed the interrogators that he was trying to steal the 33-year-old victims bag, adding that his attempt went in vain after she resisted and cried out to passersby for help.

As reported on Tribune last week, the incident took place on Tuesday night while the victim, an Asian nurse working at Salmaniya Medical Complex, was walking home after finishing her shift at the hospital.

Footage of a security camera installed in a shop located near the crime scene showed how the suspect stalked the woman as she walked, then suddenly attacking from the back and bringing her to the floor, where he continued punching her before running away from the spot.

The footage went viral on social media networks, raising nationwide condemnation of the cowardly act and demands to bring the man to justice.

A statement issued by the Interior Ministry on Thursday mentioned that co-operation between the Capital Police Directorate and the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science in the Ministry resulted in the identification and arrest of the suspect.

Mr Salah added in his statement on Saturday that the Public Prosecution is continuing its procedures in order to refer the case to the concerned criminal court.

No further information was available.
As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But if you try your hand at stock picking, your risk returning less than the market. We regret to report that long term Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 36% in three years, versus a market return of about 48%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 11% in the last 90 days.

View our latest analysis for Hewlett Packard Enterprise

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During the three years that the share price fell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 26% each year. In comparison the 14% compound annual share price decline isn't as bad as the EPS drop-off. This suggests that the market retains some optimism around long term earnings stability, despite past EPS declines.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

NYSE:HPE Past and Future Earnings, February 24th 2020

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Hewlett Packard Enterprise's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's TSR for the last 3 years was 18%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Hewlett Packard Enterprise shareholders are down 13% for the year (even including dividends) , but the broader market is up 20%. Of course the long term matters more than the short term, and even great stocks will sometimes have a poor year. Fortunately the longer term story is brighter, with total returns averaging about 5.5% per year over three years. Sometimes when a good quality long term winner has a weak period, it's turns out to be an opportunity, but you really need to be sure that the quality is there. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Hewlett Packard Enterprise better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for Hewlett Packard Enterprise that you should be aware of before investing here.

We will like Hewlett Packard Enterprise better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The No-Fly List appears to include tens of thousands of people. The criteria for inclusion are opaque, making it subject to errors and abuse. Mr. Tanvirs lawyers say that he has never been arrested or charged with any crime and that he poses no threat to aviation safety.

Mr. Tanvir and the two other men sued the agents in 2013. A trial judge dismissed the case, but a unanimous three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in New York, revived it. The 1993 law, Judge Rosemary S. Pooler wrote for the panel, allowed Mr. Tanvir to seek money from the agents for the harm he had suffered.

The law was a response to a 1990 Supreme Court decision that declined to recognize religious exceptions to generally applicable laws. Congress effectively reversed that decision. What this law basically says, President Bill Clinton said before signing the bill, is that the government should be held to a very high level of proof before it interferes with someones free exercise of religion.

Dissenting from the full Second Circuits refusal to rehear the panels decision, Judge Dennis Jacobs said the decision was quite wrong and actually dangerous, sending an alarming message to law enforcement agents. The safest course for a government employee in doubt, Judge Jacobs wrote, would be to avoid doing ones job, which is not a choice in need of encouragement.

Judge Jose A. Cabranes, in a second dissent, said the Second Circuit had evaded, if not defied, Supreme Court precedents, and not for the first time.

In 2009, in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, for instance, the Supreme Court reversed a Second Circuit decision that had allowed a Pakistani Muslim man arrested after the Sept. 11 attacks to pursue a lawsuit against John Ashcroft, a former attorney general, and Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, for abuses he said he had suffered in a Brooklyn detention center.

Similarly, the Supreme Court reversed the Second Circuit in 2017 in Ziglar v. Abbasi, ruling against Muslim immigrants who said they had been rounded up and subjected to beatings, humiliating searches and other abuses at the same detention center. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the majority, acknowledged that the way the detainees said they had been treated was appalling. But he said lawsuits seeking money from government officials were not the right way to address asserted misconduct in the midst of a national security crisis.
Huawei has unveiled a new version of its foldable smartphone - the first that will be released outside of mainland China.

The Mate Xs is the Chinese tech firm's second folding phone after the Mate X, which launched last year.

Like its predecessor, the Mate Xs has a screen that wraps around the outside of the device, which can be opened out to become an eight-inch tablet-sized display.

Despite revealing its first foldable phone a year ago, Huawei did not release the original Mate X in the UK after the company's trade ban in the US meant it was no longer able to access Google apps, including YouTube and Google Maps.

The company has since begun building up its own app store - Huawei AppGallery - to replace Google's Play Store app marketplace.

The Mate Xs has a screen that wraps around the outside of the device, which can be opened out to become an eight-inch tablet-sized display

The device runs Android but does not have access to Google's Play Store app marketplace, with Huawei offering apps through its own AppGallery instead

Google has urged users not to attempt installing its apps on new Huawei phones through unofficial means, warning that the process was 'high risk' as it could not guarantee apps installed in this way had not been 'altered or tampered with in ways that can compromise user security'.

Speaking at Huawei's announcement, chief executive Richard Yu said the company 'remains committed to the Google ecosystem' and to working with it and other US companies in the future.

He said the Chinese firm 'brings value' to US companies with its technology, and in a swipe at the trade ban placed on it by the United States, said he believed 'technology should be open and available to everyone'.

On the new foldable, Huawei said the Mate Xs had a 6.6-inch front screen and a 6.38-inch display on the rear of the device, which unfold to become an eight inch screen - similar to the original Mate X.

Mr Yu said the Mate Xs had also been 'mechanically improved', with improvements made to the falcon wing hinge used to fold the phone.

The Mate Xs had a 6.6-inch front screen and a 6.38-inch display on the rear of the device, which unfold to become an eight inch screen

Huawei has reportedly made improvements to the falcon wing hinge used to fold the phone

The device also includes a quad-camera system, 5G support and a large 4,500mAh battery.

Mr Yu confirmed the Mate Xs would cost 2,299 and would go on sale 'next month' globally.

Huawei's announcement follows smartphone rival Samsung's launch of a new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip, earlier this month.

In contrast to Huawei, that device is designed to be a similar size to modern-day smartphones - it opens vertically like the flip phones popular in the early 2000s and has a 6.7-inch display and costs 1,300.

The new Huawei foldable was unveiled alongside a number of other new devices, including the MatePad Pro 5G tablet and several new MateBook laptops.

Industry expert Ben Wood, from analyst firm CCS Insight, said that despite improvements to the folding phone's design, he still had concerns about the flexible screen on the Mate Xs.

'The Mate Xs appears to be a heavily re-engineered update to the original device, addressing the fragility of the folding screen in particular,' he said.

'Based on a quick hands-on test, the hinge mechanism seems to have been significantly improved, however, I still have major reservations about the long-term durability of this design approach, with the flexible display permanently exposed.'

He said the high price meant the device would be 'ultra-niche' rather than for mainstream phone users.

The Huawei Mate Xs will cost 2,299 and would go on sale 'next month' globally.

Analysts claims the high price means the device will be 'ultra-niche' rather than for mainstream phone users

Thomas Husson, principal analyst at Forrester, added that Huawei's attempts to grow its own app ecosystem are likely to take time.

'2020 will be a pivotal year for Huawei,' he said.

'The lack of Google Mobile Services - and more specifically of the Google Play Store and Google Maps, YouTube or Gmail - will become an issue for many European consumers to buy a Huawei smartphone.

'Huawei Mobile Services and AppGallery to be launched on new Honor devices and on forthcoming P40 Huawei smartphones will struggle to become a serious alternative in 2020.

'It requires several years to truly build an app ecosystem with brands, developers and publishers.'

Mr Husson said he also did not expect the Mate Xs to sell in large numbers due to its 2,299 price tag.

'The launch of the new Mate Xs will remain a niche innovation since foldable smart devices are still very expensive and do not really offer new differentiated consumer experiences,' he said.

In terms of foldable phones available in the UK, the Mate Xs follows Samsung's Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip, and the recently launched Motorola Razr.
THE BOSS of power provider FortisTCI talked about his moves towards integrating more renewable energy in the territory at a global forum in Puerto Rico.





President and CEO Eddinton Powell was a guest speaker and panellist at the Clinton Global Initiative Action Network on Wednesday (February 19).





During the event, he had a one on one talk with Pegasus Capital Advisors chief strategy officer David Crane, a company press release explained.





He highlighted FortisTCIs focus on renewable energy and how the Caribbean is working to make a transition to more sustainable and green energy options.





Powell was also part of a guest panel which discussed the topic, Leading the energy transition: Small business growth, innovation and entrepreneurship.





It included representatives from various roles within the sector who shared their experience being at the forefront of the change towards more renewables.





The group explained the importance of building strong cross-sectional partnerships with policymakers, investors and innovative companies to create clean energy ecosystems.





Powell, who is chairman of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, spoke about the relationships FortisTCI has created through its Utility Owned Renewable Energy Programme.





"FortisTCI is embracing the integration of feasible renewable energy solutions, he said, "and aims to meet or possibly exceed targets as outlined in the countrys Resilient National Energy Transition Strategy.





"The goal of 33 percent renewable energy generation by 2040 not only increases resilience and sustainability profiles, but will also reduce environmental impact and can offer cost saving to our customers if done right.





The Clinton Foundation initially launched the Clinton Global Initiative Action Network on post-disaster recovery following the devastating 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria.





The goal of the network is to bring industry leaders together to develop long-term solutions that will create a more resilient and sustainable energy sector throughout the Caribbean region.




Before its request for emergency funds, the Trump administration had said it could shuffle money between accounts to fund its coronavirus response, pulling from a $105 million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rapid response fund and upward of $136 million diverted from other federal programs.

Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana and a physician who regularly works on health issues in Congress, said that when he met this month with Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the C.D.C. director, he was told that the funding it had then was sufficient.

There was no, We need help, Mr. Cassidy said.

Lawmakers have been skeptical. The presidents budget request for the fiscal year that begins in October would slash the C.D.C.s budget by almost 16 percent, and the Health and Human Services Departments by almost 10 percent. Tens of millions of dollars would come from the departments Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response and its Hospital Preparedness Program, which helps hospitals handle surges of patients during disease outbreaks.

The administration also proposed cutting more than $85 million from the C.D.C.s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. The center directly works on outbreaks like the coronavirus, which is believed to have emerged from live animals in Wuhan, China.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, the Trump administration had already narrowed its epidemic work in countries around the world. Its latest budget request included $3 billion in cuts to global health programs, including a 53 percent cut to the World Health Organization and a 75 percent cut to the Pan American Health Organization.

At a Senate hearing this month, Alex M. Azar II, the secretary of health and human services, said that his budget prioritized the C.D.C.s infectious disease program and his departments hospital preparedness efforts, and that the C.D.C. had begun working with local health departments to test people with flulike symptoms for the coronavirus.
U.S. National Security Chief Denies Seeing Evidence Of Russia Meddling To Help Trump

By RFE/RL February 23, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump's national-security adviser says he has seen no intelligence indicating that Russia is attempting to help the president's reelection campaign.

The comments by Robert O'Brien on February 22 came days after multiple media outlets reported that U.S. intelligence officials briefed lawmakers that Moscow was taking covert steps to boost the campaigns of Trump and of Democratic front-runner Senator Bernie Sanders.

Trump angrily condemned the press reports about his campaign as "another misinformation" effort by Democrats in Congress.

Sanders reacted to reports of Moscow aiding his campaign by blasting President Vladimir Putin as a "thug" and telling him to "stay out" of U.S. elections.

O'Brien's remarks were released in a transcript of an interview to be broadcast on February 23 with ABC TV's This Week with George Stephanopoulos program.

"The national-security adviser gets pretty good access to our intelligence," O'Brien said. "I haven't seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump reelected."

AP quoted an intelligence source familiar with the briefing as saying that lawmakers were not told that Russia was working to aid Trump's campaign but that some of them concluded that from what they were told.

O'Brien also denied the news reports that Trump forced out former acting national intelligence director Joseph Maguire because of anger over the briefing.

He said Maguire's time as acting director was to expire in early March and that Trump needed someone who had already been confirmed by the Senate to temporarily replace him.

Trump replaced him with current U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, who is considered a strong Trump loyalist.

"Ambassador Grenell is there for a temporary period of time," O'Brien said, adding that Trump would soon announce someone to be rapidly confirmed by the Senate as full-time director.

Meanwhile, Sanders confirmed that he had been told by U.S. intelligence officials about a month ago that Russia appeared to be engaging in disinformation and propaganda campaigns to help his 2020 campaign.

"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," 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.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-security- chief-no-evidence-seen-russia-aiding -trump-campaign/30449521.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.

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The ABC was forced to spend thousands of dollars on legal fees after the Australian Federal Police adopted an "unhelpful and uncooperative attitude" to resolving a dispute over access to documents seized during a raid on the broadcaster's Sydney headquarters, a court has been told.

The ABC and the federal police returned to the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday as the national broadcaster prepared to seek an urgent injunction to stop the federal police from accessing material seized during the raid while it considers whether to appeal against a court decision that found the warrant authorising the raid was legally valid.

Australian Federal Police officers leave the ABC headquarters in Ultimo after the raid last June. Credit:Wolter Peeters

The ABC is expected to indicate whether it will lodge an appeal by 5pm on Friday.

The federal police had previously given an undertaking not to use material seized during the raid on June 5 last year pending the outcome of the Federal Court challenge to the validity of the warrant.
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Christian Petzolds Undine begins with a breakup. Framed tightly on the face of lead actor Paula Beer, we absorb the news as she does. But this is no ordinary separation, and as jilted lovers go, Undines far from typical. Her name betrays what sets her apart, although in the vast realm of mythological entities, undines are hardly the well-understood creatures that Petzolds revisionist contemporary fable assumes (not in America, at least). As a result, this overripe romantic tragedy  which represented the Berlin School in competition at the Berlin Film Festival  wont have the same impact abroad as the three critical darlings that preceded it, Barbara, Phoenix and Transit.

If you leave me, Ill have to kill you, Undine tells Johannes (Jacob Matschenz), who has beckoned her to their usual cafe, across the street from the Berlin City Museum, where she works as a historian. This is the part in water sprite folklore when things typically turn dark. To our eyes, Undine looks human (Beer is big-eyed and lovely, and she plays the scene with surprising subtlety, considering that an operatic reaction would have been reasonable for one whose lover has doomed them both). Though the film doesnt explain it explicitly, Undine was a water sprite by origin, and as such, she was only able to achieve her present form by falling in love with a man  one who must remain faithful to her or else forfeit his life.

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By beginning at this point, Petzold has skipped over the sexy part of the story, at least as it is usually relayed in literature and the arts  and, on very rare occasion, in film (as in Neil Jordans Irish Ondine). Like Hans-Christian Andersens little mermaid, undines long to live among humans, and true love makes that possible. Now, the question becomes: Is Petzolds heroine obliged to fulfill her destiny? (Must she kill Johannes?) Or is there something she can do to alter it?

Story continues

Looking back through Petzolds oeuvre, we see that his heroines share a version of the undine ambition: They, too, want to lead a life  free from tragedy, oppression and the shadows of 20th-century German history. Few male directors of Petzolds stature have committed themselves so deeply to women-centric narratives. With Undine, the classical-minded helmer returns to the present, while remaining anchored to a female POV. His Undine does not wish to return to the lake from which she came. Although almost literally a fish out of water, she seems to have adjusted well to life on land: Undine holds a respectable job, inhabits a modern Berlin apartment and spends her days learning about the city  one whose complicated urban history occupies an inordinate amount of the films otherwise economical run time.

Johannes has betrayed her, but before she can even find time to grieve, Undine meets an industrial diver named Christoph (Beers Transit co-star Franz Rogowski), who sweeps her off her feet in an unexpected  and very wet  way. Christoph couldnt be less like Johannes. Hes sweet, and sentimental, and devoted to the point of being clingy, all of which the movie idealizes over the course of a gushy half-hour courtship. Christoph has been working in a lake near Wuppertal, Germany, where he comes face-to-face with a giant catfish  a good sign that hes not easily intimidated by underwater creatures, perhaps.

Christoph recalls having seen Undines name stenciled on one of the ancient arches beneath the surface, and he takes her diving there on a date. According to undine legend (or the films press notes), Should she come back into contact with her element after her marriage, she must return to it. But Undine is already breaking the rules, and Christoph seems to represent a loophole. Or maybe shes her own exception, since Petzold tends not to define his heroines through their relation to men, but rather in terms of their strength and resourcefulness. Could his Undine actually be free from the curse of co-dependence?

Frankly, trying to parse how Petzolds Undine stacks up against mythology that many audiences dont know to begin with feels like something of a fools errand. Better to let the romance wash over you. Savor the way that Christoph reveres her intelligence. At one point, he interrupts their lovemaking to flatter her intellect, insisting that she try out her latest speech on him. You say such clever things, and in a beautiful way, he tells her in all sincerity.

If Johannes represented the seemingly inevitable infidelity of man, Christoph serves as a humble counter-example. But the movie isnt ready to wish them happily ever after, and when Johannes resurfaces at the movies midway mark, we can feel the plot kick into gear: Undine must deal with unfinished business, and in so doing, risk losing Christoph. Shes a creature of the water, and as such, a swimming pool seems a reasonable place for Johannes to get his reckoning. The scene feels like something out of a late-night cable movie, minus the unearned nudity, though Undine returns to its more enchanted tone for the final reel, in which Christoph gets caught up in the movies ill-defined curse.

It would help enormously if Petzold had, at some point, managed to articulate the rules that govern Undine and her kind, so that audiences might appreciate how he intends to break them  and of course, the way in which she simply cannot overcome her fate. Theres a stylistic and narrative elegance to Petzolds approach, with its clean lensing and repeated use of a single piece of music (the rolling piano Adagio from Bachs Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974), that suggests restraint, where a queer filmmaker might have propelled things into camp territory. In a way, its a shame that Undine stops short, since the material feels thin, and the statement as murky as the lake to which the camera ultimately returns.

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Socialist/communist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders loves to sing the praises of a small Scandinavian country, Denmark. It seems he has fallen out of love with his previous favorite countries, the Soviet Union and Cuba, which he warmly praised in the late 1980s.

After spurning the USSR, the country he spent his honeymoon in, shirtless, singing along drunkenly with his fellow communist comrades, he has moved on to northern Europe as representing his idea of utopia.

YouTube screen grab

As CNN reported about Bernies newfound love,

Open a newspaper on any given day here in this small Europe nation known for high taxes, generous government services and its stubbornly happy citizens, and you'll almost certainly find a story about the U.S. presidential election. "I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden and Norway," Sanders said, "and learn what they have accomplished for their working people."

Danes may indeed be happy, but they bristle at being called socialists.

"I would like to make one thing clear," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said recently in a speech at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. "Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy. Denmark is a market economy."

That hasnt deterred Bernie, however. At a recent Democrat debate he proclaimed, "We should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden and Norway, and learn from what they have accomplished for their working people."

So, whats the magic in Denmark? Denmark is the second happiest country in the world, just behind Finland, according to CNN Travel. The US sits in 19th place. If you watch a Trump rally, you would find nothing but happiness. Compare that to a Bernie rally or a Democrat debate where the only messages are misery and victimhood.

Denmark is fortunate that they dont have our 24-7 cable news networks preaching gloom and doom and a major political party telling everyone how rotten Denmark is, a nation of victims. Who could be happy listening to nonstop pessimism?

Denmark is far from a socialist economy; instead they are the type of market economy that Bernie and his fellow Democrat candidates rail against. The CIA World Factbook describes Denmark this way.

This thoroughly modern market economy features advanced industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping, and renewable energy, and a high-tech agricultural sector. Danes enjoy a high standard of living, and the Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. An aging population will be a long-term issue.

Wow, a market economy, not big government controlling healthcare, energy, communications, and tech, as the Democrats desire for America. But these extensive welfare measures have a cost.

How does GDP per capita compare between the US and Denmark? In Denmark its $50,000, but in the US its 20 percent higher at $60,000.

Denmark, as a member of NATO, enjoys military protection paid mostly by America. The US spends 3.1 percent of GDP on defense, compared to 1.3 percent by Denmark, leaving them more to spend on their extensive government welfare measures.

This applies to most European countries, happy for America to pay for their national defense, leaving them more money for extended family leave and other benefits.

How do taxes compare? After all, how does Denmark pay for their welfare benefits? From CNN,

"Free" is actually the wrong word to describe these services. Danes pay some of the highest taxes in the world, including a 25% tax on all goods and services, a top marginal tax rate hovering near 60%. The top tax rate in the U.S., by comparison, is less than 40%.

Bernies tax plan calls for a top tax rate north of 50 percent. He also wants a wealth tax of up to 8 percent on the Michael Bloombergs and Warren Buffets of the world.

Nothing is truly free. Taxes simply take money from citizens, purchasing benefits that some use or want and others dont. Minus a hefty administrative fee to redistribute everyones income. Hardly free.

What about some of Denmarks programs that are more in line with Trump than with Bernie? Democrats are famous for situational praise and outrage.

For example, John Bolton was evil when he was nominated by George W Bush for UN Ambassador, but a saint when he was willing to testify in the Ukraine impeachment trial. Mitt Romney was a racist, sexist, reprobate when running for president against The One, but became Mother Theresa when he was the sole Republican casting a vote to convict President Trump in the Senate.

So too with Denmark. There are other parts of the Denmark model that Bernie and his fellow socialist candidates would want no part of. Again, from CNN.

As a small country heavily reliant on trade, Denmark imposes minimal tariffs on foreign goods. Businesses here are only lightly regulated. The corporate tax rate is much lower than in the United States, which has one of the highest in the world. There's not even a minimum wage in Denmark, although most workers are paid high salaries in large part due to the strength of labor unions. And in the past few years, Danish voters elected a right-of-center government, which has been instituting reforms that have put tighter restrictions on access to the long-held safety net.

Every Democrat candidate is pushing for a higher minimum wage, yet Denmark has none. Danish immigration policy would also be anathema to Democrats.

Denmark has some of the most aggressive anti-immigrant policies in Europe. That has included taking out foreign-newspaper adverts warning potential migrants that they are not welcome, and authorizing police to seize cash and valuables from arriving asylum seekers to offset the cost of their maintenance.

Denmark has an island, 3 kilometers off shore, to house rejected asylum seekers. Our Democrats whine about kids in cages, a policy started under a Democrat president. What if President Trump turned Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California into a giant detention center, following the Denmark model?

Lets ask Bernie if he endorses Denmarks other immigration policies including a burqa ban, mandatory schooling in Danish values for ghetto children, and required handshakes with immigration officials regardless of an immigrants beliefs about physical contact with members of the opposite sex.

A Danish Peoples Party spokesman believes Trumps policies on immigration are too weak.

Were a small country, and what binds us is a common language, and a common set of traditions and values. If we let in a large number of foreigners with their own cultures, ours will be overwhelmed.

Imagine hearing that from any Democrat candidate.

Bernie is simply cherry picking the policies of Denmark, such as generous welfare benefits, that he finds attractive, ignoring the numerous programs that are far more aligned with Donald Trump than the modern Democrat Party.

The reality is that, as CNN notes, Few Danish politicians today would characterize themselves as socialist -- even a democratic socialist -- as Sanders does. Ironically Trump has already instituted many Danish policies that Bernie now criticizes Trump over.

Yet Bernie continues to sing the praises of Denmark as his utopia, with no scrutiny from the lapdog media over a more complete analysis of Danish policies. But make no mistake, Denmark is not the socialist utopia Bernie Sanders claims it to be.

Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a Denver based physician and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in American Thinker, Daily Caller, and other publications. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and QuodVerum.
Concluding the jam-packed first day of India visit, US President Donald Trump and the accompanying delegation reached the luxurious ITC Maurya hotel here on Monday evening.

The presidential suites in one of the poshest hotels in Delhi has earlier hosted several heads of states including former US presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W Bush. Former US president Barack Obama had also stayed at the same hotel during his trip to India in 2015.

Trump along with his wife Melania Trump arrived here after completing their engagements in Ahmedabad and taking a family trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Trump is accompanied by a 12-member delegation which includes First Daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who also act as senior advisor to the US President, Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, 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.

On Sunday, the Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory for February 24 and 25 asking people to keep VVIP movement in mind while planning their commute ahead of the US President's grand visit.

Trump who is currently on a two-day maiden visit to India addressed around one lakh people at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad upon his arrival during the 'Namaste Trump' mega-event that was set on the lines of 'Howdy Modi' attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last September in Houston.

The US President then flew directly to Agra to catch a glimpse of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world before sunset. After attending a cultural programme here, Trump headed for Delhi.

On the morning of February 25, the visiting dignitary will first receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan at 10 am as per the protocol. From there, he will go to the Rajghat to pay homage at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

This will be followed by both, restricted, and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at the Hyderabad House in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.

The talks would be followed by the exchange of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.

The visiting President will also attend a short program at the US Embassy in New Delhi and meet Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Hyderabad House on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump will visit a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh and interact with the teachers and students there.

Trump will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the capital at 7:30 pm before leaving for the United States by his special flight on the night of February 25.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GRAND HAVEN, MI  A historic power plant in the heart of Grand Haven could see new life as the city prepares to shut it down.

The Grand Haven Board of Light & Powers Diesel Plant is situated on prime real estate at 518 S. Harbor Drive. It sits across the street from the U.S. Coast Guard station, making it just steps from the Grand River boardwalk and a half mile from the Lake Michigan beach.

Its a 1930s brick structure thats pretty cool, said Dave Walters, general manager of the board of light and power. My hope is to save it.

The plant has a 6-megawatt generating unit that has been used primarily as backup to the citys Sims Power Plant. It also at times has produced power that the city has sold through the Michigan Public Power Agency, Walters said.

The city recently shut down the Sims coal-burning plant and has switched to purchasing electricity for its residential and commercial customers from other plants. The shut-down came amid increasing criticism of coal-burning plants and the need to perform $35 million in repairs at the plant that is no longer financially wise to operate, Walters said.

The diesel plant can remain in use until June 1. After that, Walters said he hopes the building can be sold and restored. It sits on a 0.64-acre lot at the intersection of Harbor Drive and Sherman Avenue.

The brick buildings most impressive features are high ceilings and massive arched windows that bathe the interior in natural light.

The diesel plant, built in 1930, pre-dates Sims first two operating units that were built in the 1960s on Harbor Island. Those were shut down several years ago, leaving the No. 3 power plant that opened in 1983 and was shut down about two weeks ago.

Demolition of the Sims plant is expected to begin in June.

The diesel plant originally had seven engines, producing 18 megawatts of energy, and all but one have been shut down, Walters said.

Its known around town as the diesel plant, and to some, its known simply as the museum.

Old-timers in Grand Haven know that facility, Walters said. There are some really neat stories.

Read more on MLive:

Grand Havens coal-burning Sims power plant shutting for good

Depot to be new home for Grand Haven businesses ousted by Chinook Pier demolition

Driver accused of killing pedestrian arrested for drinking in Grand Haven bar
24.02.2020 LISTEN

In this interview taken by Kester Kenn Klomegah for Eurasia Review, Dr. Frangton Chiyemura, a lecturer in International Development at the School of Social Sciences and Global Studies, The Open University in the United Kingdom, discusses the impact of African policies on development and realization of infrastructure projects, the possible of running into debt-traps and the emergence of neo-colonialism in Africa. Here are the interview excerpts:

Q: Early December, you held discussions and shared your research on how African leaders influence the modality of engagement and negotiation process with China. What were the key points you discussed with the audience and participants who attended?

FC: First of all, I was invited to share my research findings with Oxford University China-Africa Network (OUCAN). OUCAN engages with researchers, think tanks, policy makers involved in Africa-China relations. My talk was part of this initiative to share research and evidence-based findings and conclusions on Africa-China relations.

My talk was based on my completed PhD research project where I investigated how the Ethiopian government exercised agency  defined as the ability to shape, control and influence, when engaging with the Chinese in the context of wind energy infrastructure. The key point was that the Ethiopian government was able to broker, negotiate, structure, implement and manage Chinese involvement in Adama 1 and Adama 2 wind farms.

The audience was quite engaging and wondered how the Ethiopian government was able to exercise agency as compared to other African governments dealing with the Chinese. There are several factors which make Ethiopia to have such clout when dealing with the Chinese as compared to other African countries. Such factors are not only limited to the governance and leadership model of the government especially under Meles Zenawi and Hailermariam.

Secondly, it relates to the geographic location of Ethiopia, which makes it a stabilising force in volatile East African region. Ethiopia, has a unique advantage, as it is the diplomatic hub of Africa  hosting the African Union (AU) and other international organizations. This adds weight to Ethiopia when negotiating with external powers.

Q: What are the general perceptions and attitudes toward this kind of relations? How do the political and business elites, interpret the benefits of determining concrete directions of investment in Africa?

FC: Both Ethiopian and Chinese governments see the relations as win-win. This comes at the backdrop of strong relations at the political party to party level. In the case of my research I conducted, I can confirm that the Chinese Communist Party has very strong relations with the then Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. In fact, during my research, I found out that the corporate deals are informally negotiated at the party to party level before they are transferred to the government level for formalization. There seems to be a seamless connection between the ruling party and the government, and any decisions reached at the party level are by extension seamlessly binding on the government.

Q: How would you explain neo-colonialism by foreign players in Africa? What is it and what foreign (external) countries are referred to as neo-colonisers, in your view?

FC: Neocolonialism argument is present in Africa-China relations especially proposed so by scholars who come from a neo-Marxian epistemological grounding. Neocolonialism can be seen as a new form of domination, plunder and exploitation using clandestine and economic statecraft. Of course, there could be some hints or pointers to suggest neocolonial tendencies, but I believe such claims should be levelled on case by case basis, and there has to be concrete evidence to suggest that way. That said, I think we have to be careful to scrutinize where such claims of neocolonialism are coming from, and potentially scrap beyond the surface to establish the motivations and interests for spreading or proposing such claims.

In my opinion, I believe there is no free lunch in the world, African countries should enter into partnerships based on their strategic interests and an understanding of what the partners can provide or deliver. Secondly, every African country should do a comprehensive evaluation of the structure and, the terms and conditions of their engagements with foreign powers. By so doing, this will eliminate the chances for the emergence of claims of neocolonialism. Instead of extending the blame to someone elsewhere, Africa needs to do its homework especially on the implementation and monitoring aspects of the deals. Africa has some of the best regulations and standards, but the problem lies in implementation and monitoring.

Q: Without doubt, Africa needs investment in infrastructure, agriculture and industry, and in many other sectors. Despite negative criticisms, what admirable roles is China playing here, we are talking about working towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa?

FC: China is playing a huge role in infrastructure financing and development. For example, available evidence suggests that between 2000 and 2017, China provided about US$143 billion worthy of loans to African governments. This has come quite handy especially given the shortage of finance to build the much-needed infrastructure targeting the SDGs.

In terms of trade, China became Africa's trading partner in 2009, and two-way trade volume reached its peak in 2014 at the value of US$215 billion. Further, in 2017, it was estimated to have reached about US$148 billion. Of course, trade transactions still remain unbalanced in favour of China. In addition, between 2000 and 2017, transport (US$38.1 billion), power (US$30.1 billion) and mining (US$19.1 billion) ranked respectively as top three sectors that have received the lion's share of Chinese loans in Africa.

Q: What is your interpretation of debt-trap most often discussed in various platforms and leveled accusations on China? But, tangible infrastructure have been built with these loans in many African countries

FC: Interestingly, I don't believe in this debt-trap diplomacy. First of all, it does not make any business sense that the Chinese will design a project targeting 'failure' so that they can control or pull the strings of a particular country. Second, most of the so-called assets that the Chinese are poised to be targeting to run are very complicated, messy and at times quite straining for the Chinese to dirty their hands. Therefore, it doesn't make any sense for me.

That said, I would not refer to it as 'trap' but as merely debt and the consequences associated with that. What that implies is that, for example, in the power sector, African requires on average more than 5 billion worth of investment per year for the next 10 years to address this challenge. Inevitably, part of the money will come from debt financing. For me, I am not really worried about 'productive debt'  defined as any money borrowed to invest in a project that has the ability to boost economic growth and at the same time, generate a revenue stream that will pay back the loan. I would be worried about countries that borrow to build, say, a presidential palace, a stadium, or to pay salaries. That type of borrowing for me is bad  its destructive and unproductive borrowing, and that must necessarily stop.

I have to disagree with the assertion that China is debt-trapping Africa. Of course, there are some African countries that are in debt distress situation, others have high risk of being in distress, but the contributions of Chinese finances towards that leave much to be desired. For example, countries such as Chad, Sao Tome and Principle, South Sudan are in high debt distress but the contributions of the Chinese towards that is very insignificant.

We also have some countries like Ethiopia, Cameroon and Ghana where the Chinese hold a substantial share of the debt, but those countries are not in debt distress, although they are high risk of debt distress. You will be surprised that according to World Bank, Africa's debt to China is less than 23%, compared to what Africa owes to private lenders (32%), and multilateral institutions such as World Bank, IMF etc. (35%). Sometimes, I see the hypocrisy of the West  with whom Africa has substantial debt, demonizing the Chinese on debt-trap diplomacy.

Q: In your expert view, what are the key challenges and problems facing Chinese investors in Africa, what are your suggestions how some aspects of the relations be improved between Africa and China?

FC: Of course, like any other relations, Africa-China engagements have their own challenges which need to be worked on to ensure there is mutual benefit and win-win situation. Some of the challenges relate implementation of regulations and standards by African governments when dealing with the Chinese. The issues lie not in regulations, but for me in the implementation and enforcement. This is the first aspect that needs to be addressed by African governments, especially in the infrastructure sector.

The second challenge relates to peace and security. Some of the African countries are in conflict situation or are, at least, under terrorist threat. This threatens some of the Chinese businesses and enterprises.

Third, the unbalanced nature of trade between China and Africa create room for emergence of neo-colonial arguments and such needs to be addressed immediately. Some of the challenges are minor, these include language barriers, differences in culture and work ethics. These can easily be resolved.

The fourth and final is about in some African countries lack policy certainty and stability which negatively impact on Chinese long-term business planning. Such countries include Zimbabwe where there has been of note currency uncertainty, policy uncertainty and even regulatory uncertainty. This impacts on long-term Chinese business interest.
By IANS

NEW YORK: When Donald Trump is greeted with a crescendo of "Namastes" when he lands in Ahmedabad he will be the seventh US President to visit India while in office.

He visited India in 2014 as a real estate businessman, but this will be a presidential visit.

President Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, who came to India in 1959 at the height of the Cold War was the first to visit India as it was coming into its own as an independent nation and the laboratory of democracy.

The visits reflect in some ways the status of India in the US world view.



ALSO READ | Passage to India: US President Donald Trump ready for warm embrace, adulation

Eisenhower's visit was to explore India as young democracy with hopes of closer cooperation, perhaps moving away from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's nonalignment.

While there have been gaps of about a decade between some of the visits, since Bill Clinton in 2000 every president has come to India in a sign of its rising importance in world efforts.

There was a ten-year gap between Eisenhower's visit and the next.

Democrats John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson had skipped India firmly ensconced in the nonaligned movement. (Johnson, however, had visited Pakistan, then a US ally.)

President Richard Nixon, another, Republican, visited India in 1969 and his successor Gerald Ford did not.

Nine years later, Democrat Jimmy Carter made the India trip in 1978 while Moraji Desai of the Janata Party was prime minister.



ALSO READ | From Namaste Trump to Taj Mahal visit, here's a look at US Prez's jam-packed schedule

His mother, Lillian Carter, had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Mumbai.

Ronald Reagan and George Bush (the senior) skipped India.

Democrat Bill Clinton came to India in 2000, ending the 12-year gap in presidential visits.

Since then, every president has come to India.

The highlight of Republican George W Bush's visit in 2006 was the signing of the landmark US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement - which was the only time a substantive agreement between the two countries was signed during a presidential visit.

The agreement, which he signed with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, virtually recognises India as a nuclear weapons power exempting it from some of the US nuclear nonproliferation restrictions in order for both the countries to cooperate in the nuclear field with access to some civilian nuclear technology and materials.

It effectively neutralised some of the stringent sanctions imposed on India after its 1974 nuclear test.

Barack Obama, a Democrat, is the only president to have visited India twice.

He first visited India in 2010 when Singh was the Prime Minister.

Modi was the Prime Minister during his second visit in 2015 when he was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations.
[February 24, 2020] Gulf Capital Bank Completes Largest Capital Raise of any De Novo Bank in the History of Texas

Gulf Capital Bank announced today that it has completed its capital raise of over $93 million, the largest capital raise of any de novo bank in the history of Texas. Houston's first de novo bank in more than a decade received approval from the Texas Department of Banking and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) to open for business. Gulf Capital Bank aims to redefine the value of a bank by offering the personal relationship touches of a traditional community bank combined with the ease of state-of-the-art banking technology and global connections provided by a group of Houston's business and civic leaders. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005823/en/ Gulf Capital Bank Lobby View Rendering (Photo: Business Wire) "We are proud that our management team personally completed the capital raise in a record time of five months. This signifies strong trust and belief in what we are offering the community," said Ed Jones, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Building on the momentum of this milestone, the bank is beginning the process on onboarding new customers starting with our nearly 300 local individual investors." "With th opening of Houston's first de novo bank in more than a decade, Gulf Capital Bank will be able to do banking the way it was always meant to be done: with personal relationships at the center of everything we do and our customers' goals at the top of our mind," added Jonathan Homeyer, President. "We are able to bring Houston companies big-bank products and services, in a more personal platform. We're building a seasoned team of the most capable and relationship-oriented bankers in the Houston market."



The bank is located on the first floor at One Riverway, at the corner of Woodway and South Post Oak Lane. Gulf Capital Bank will offer traditional walk-in services, and both personal and commercial checking and cash management, online banking and payments with Zelle, mobile deposits, secured and unsecured commercial loans, letters of credit and consumer loans. To enhance the personalized experience, customers will be greeted by a concierge representative who will personally assist them with their banking needs. The concierge service is also available to meet customers at their place of business or residence if they are unable to make it into the bank. The Gulf Capital Bank team is led by Ed Jones, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Jonathan Homeyer, President and Chief Lending Officer. Jones and Homeyer are the former commercial banking managers of Houston's largest banks, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company, respectively. Combined, the two hold more than 50 years of experience in the banking industry. The leadership team also includes Noreen Skelly, Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer, who has over 25 years of banking experience, most recently serving as former CFO of Veritex Holdings, Inc.; Jeremy Manning, Chief Information Officer, who joins the team with more than 25 years of technology and cybersecurity experience; and Ashley Lyons, Director of Marketing, who has prior experience at a leading Houston marketing agency. In addition to Mr. Jones, the Board of Directors includes respected Houston business and civic leaders George DeMontrond, John Kotts, Reed Morian, Dan Tutcher, and Donnie Young (proposed, subject to regulatory approval), as well as long-time West Texas banker David Williams.

Houston-based Endurance Builders, LLC served as the general contractor for the bank's office, and architecture and design were led by Houston-based Abel Design Group. Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP serves as the bank's legal counsel. About Gulf Capital Bank: Gulf Capital Bank, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a de novo bank that is redefining the value of a bank. The bank opened its doors in January 2020 and keeps personal relationships at the center of everything it does. With decades-deep local roots, the team uses hard work, straight talk and smart thinking to help customers and accomplish their vision. For additional information, please visit www.GulfCapitalBank.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005823/en/

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Representative image

Karnataka's Agriculture Minister BC Patil, on February 23, advocated for a new law to allow the shooting-at-sight of any person that raises anti-India and pro-Pakistani slogans.

Speaking to media persons gathered in Chitradurga, Patil said, It is important to introduce a much-needed law in the country to make sure that people who shout anti-India and pro-Pakistan are shot at sight.



BC Patil, Karnataka Agriculture Min: They're enjoying food, water & air of India. Why should they be here if they raise 'Pakistan zindabad' slogan? In China, people are scared to talk against their country. I request PM Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with traitors. (23.02) https://t.co/sOh2sNGxdB

 ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Patil said that since such people get away these acts, he requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introduce a law that would help deal with traitors.

Citing the example of China, he said, People in China are afraid of saying a single word against their country, and that is how it is in several other nations. But in India, people get away with raising anti-India slogans, while residing in the country and reaping benefits.

His comment comes days after a young woman, identified as Amulya Leona, had chanted Pakistan zindabad at an event in Bengaluru held in protest against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and had seen the attendance of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
The key is to understand what youre selling and optimize all four major stages

In 2020, according to the World Advertising and Research Center, spending on internet advertising will reach more than 50% of total global ad spend, an all-time record.(1) A subset of internet advertisingsearch engine optimization (SEO) is now the major battleground in marketing today. SEO expert Tony Rockliff, founder and CEO of Tony Rockliff Productions, states as SEO gets bigger, it gets tougher. For an increasing number of companies, especially SMBs, the smart move is to consider YouTube as an additional SEO powerhouse instead of the conventional reliance on Google. By using YouTube, business owners can combat the stiff competition for consumer attention and variating Google search algorithms.

Text Versus Video Content

According to a research study from Common Sense Media, more than twice as many young people watch videos every day as did four years ago, while the average time spent watching videosprimarily on YouTubehas roughly doubled, to an hour a day.(3) Videos popularity has exploded, while text takes a back seat. It is increasingly obvious in the industry that text-based content is saturated, and that if a company isnt willing to give it at least one year and invest considerable amounts, they shouldnt spend much time on traditional Google based SEO. (2)

The combination of the video-centricity of todays consumers coupled with the increasing expense and difficulty of attracting attention via text-based Google listings, Rockliff suggests, is what identifies YouTube an increasingly robust platform for video-savvy marketers.

How Businesses Can Adapt to YouTube

To capitalize on this opportunity, Rockliff urges marketers to research YouTube to qualify exactly what video content is needed, and which of this content will get the most responses from its viewers, or potential clients. He organizes the four major stages of YouTube optimization:



1. Find out what is being searched for on YouTube in your area or niche that you can compete for.

2. Create video content that answers what is being searched for, and also provides what YouTube is searching for, i.e. views per video, average time spent watching, engagement per video, and number of subscribers gained per video.

3. Publish your videos properly and in an optimized manner.

4. Promote your videos according to how and when YouTube wants to see them promoted.

Rockliff has been in search engine optimization since 1998 and online marketing since 1995. His online community membership site has grown to 1.3 million members and was receiving 1.5 billion hits per year before he sold it in 2002. Over the years, Rockliff has seen profound changes in both opportunity and approach of YouTube as a marketing strategy, and right now, YouTube represents a great prospect to get noticed and build a brand loyal following. This is especially useful for organizations that do not have an extensive marketing budget. The key is to understand what youre selling and optimize all four major stages, Rockliff states.

Tony Rockliff will be speaking at the Podfest 2020 Multimedia Expo, March 6th-8th, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida. For more information, please see http://podfestexpo.com/speakers/

About Tony Rockliff Productions:

Tony Rockliff Productions was founded in 1995 by digital pioneer and trailblazer, Tony Rockliff. His video marketing company is based out of Clearwater, Florida, and brings over fifty years of audio/video marketing experience to the business. Remaining to be a top disruptor of the video marketing and media industry throughout his career, his world-renowned success is a product of his passion for storytelling through the art of video. Tony Rockliff Productions specializes in video and audio creation, producing music and videos, YouTube optimization, and building out-of-the-ordinary websites. Currently, Tony Rockliff Productions focuses on organic YouTube video marketing, a profitable niche of the industry that is host to 1.9 billion logged-in users per month. You can visit him here https://tonyrockliff.com/
Armed off-duty police officers take cover during and exchange of gunfire with army soldiers, as they protest over police pay and working conditions, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Dieu Nalio Chery/Ap Photo)

Haiti Police Exchange Fire With Troops Near National Palace

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HaitiHaitian police officers exchanged gunfire for hours Sunday with soldiers of the newly reconstituted army outside the national palace, in a dangerous escalation of protests over police pay and working conditions.

At least three police officers were wounded, fellow officers told The Associated Press. The armys high command said in an online statement that a soldier had been wounded by a bullet in the back.

Haitis raucous three-day Carnival celebration was to have started Sunday afternoon in Port-au-Prince and other major cities but the government announced Sunday night that Carnival was canceled in the capital to avoid a bloodbath. Police protesters and their backers had burned dozens of Carnival floats and stands at recent protests, saying they did not believe the country should be celebrating during a crisis.

Shortly after noon Sunday, AP journalists saw dozens of men who said they were off-duty officers march with hundreds of supporters toward the palace in the latest in days of demonstrations demanding better pay for Haitian law-enforcement officers.

Armed off-duty police officers protest over police pay and working conditions, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Dieu Nalio Chery/AP Photo)

The protest stopped outside the army headquarters, which faces the palace.

AP journalists then saw soldiers at the headquarters building fire into the air. Shortly afterward, an exchange of fire erupted between the soldiers and police. It was not clear which side began firing at the other first.

As the afternoon wore on, uniformed officers joined their colleagues in the street outside the palace, firing at the military base with semi-automatic pistols and rifles. Many wore masks along with their uniforms to hide their identities.

Other armed men spotted a drone that appeared to be taking images of the violence and followed it to the offices of Radio Caraibes, then began shooting at the broadcasters building. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attack.

Police protests began this month after a half-dozen officers were fired over their attempt to unionize. The demonstrations are not directly linked to anti-corruption protests that roiled Haiti for most of last year, but they draw on the same widespread dissatisfaction with Haitis shrinking economy and President Jovenel Moises inability to improve the quality of life.

An off-duty police officer who was shot in the arm runs during a protest over police pay and working conditions for the national police, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Dieu Nalio Chery/AP Photo)

A uniformed police officer in a black-and-white clown mask told reporters outside the palace that officers were demanding the reinstatement of their fired colleagues as well as a pay raise for all officers.

Until this is done we will not sit and talk, said the officer, who declined to provide his name. The president has proven that he does not care about our demands.

Moise said at a news conference Saturday that he recognized the legitimacy of many police complaints and would increase some collateral benefits for officers, but police said Sunday that the concessions were not enough.

The Haitian army had been disbanded in 1995 after the fall of a dictatorship that used soldiers to repress domestic opponents. Moise reformed the army in 2017, promising that the military would patrol Haitis borders, assist in natural disasters and avoid domestic affairs.

At least three men were taken to a hospital near the shooting with wounds to the legs and feet that did not appear to be life-threatening. Uniformed police officers told an AP journalist that the wounded men were fellow officers. The uniformed officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Intense shooting continued until after 6 p.m., when it devolved into sporadic exchanges of fire.

By Evens Sanon and Michael Weissenstein
Harvey Weinstein was convicted on Monday of sexual assault and third-degree rape, five weeks after the opening arguments in his New York City criminal trial.

The former movie mogul now faces up to 29 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on 11 March.

He was led away in handcuffs on Monday, as his lawyers indicated he was being taken to a medical facility at Rikers Island jail.

The verdict was seen as a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement. It comes more than two years after allegations against the former producer were published in The New York Times and The New Yorker.

Here is a timeline of how the allegations against Weinstein became public  and how they led to Mondays verdict:

Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Show all 50 1 /50 Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Files arrive at the rape trial AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Louis R Aidala attends the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lance Maerov testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court AFP via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Kara Young exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Rosie Perez exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Photos are passed around to the jury Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein's rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges Elizabeth Williams via AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations Reuters

5 October 2017: The New York Times reports Weinstein allegedly settled with eight women who accused him of unwanted physical contact and sexual harassment over three decades. Weinstein in a statement apologised for causing pain to colleagues and said he was taking a leave of absence and entering therapy.

6 October 2017: Weinstein takes indefinite leave of absence from The Weinstein Co. The company later says he is fired.

10 October 2017: The New Yorker reports allegations by 13 women who claimed Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them, including three who alleged he raped them. Weinstein again denies non-consensual sex.

10 October 2017: Chapman, Weinsteins wife, says she was leaving him.

14 October 2017: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that selects the Oscar winners, expels Weinstein.

October 2017: Actress Alyssa Milano fuels the expansion of the #MeToo movement, founded by Tarana Burke, by writing on Twitter: If youve ever been sexually harassed or assaulted write me too as a reply to this tweet. In the following weeks, #MeToo would be used by millions of women.

1 January 2018: Hollywood celebrities launch the Times Up campaign to fight sexual harassment in the workplace.

25 May 2018: Weinstein surrenders to New York police on charges of rape and a criminal sex act involving alleged assaults against two women, in 2004 and 2013.

5 June 2018: Weinstein pleads not guilty to the charges.

9 June 2018: Weinstein pleads not guilty to new charges of sexually assaulting a third woman in 2006.

11 October 2018: Weinstein wins dismissal of the charges over the alleged 2004 assault. Charges involving the other two women remain pending.

17 January 2019: Benjamin Brafman, Weinsteins defence attorney, issues statement saying he is quitting, without elaborating.

25 January 2019: Weinstein appears in court to announce new defence team.

26 April 2019: Weinsteins trial is delayed until 9 September to allow defence more time to gather evidence.

11 July 2019: Weinstein hires third legal team after a second team of defence attorneys exits the case.

26 August 2019: Weinstein pleads not guilty to new indictment involving the same two women accusing him of two counts of predatory sexual assault, in 2006 and 2013. His trial is pushed back to 6 January 2020.

11 December 2019: Weinstein and his bankrupt studio reach tentative $25m settlement with dozens of women who accused him of sexual misconduct.

6 January 2020: Los Angeles prosecutors announce sexual assault charges against Weinstein just hours after he appeared in a New York court for the start of his trial.

7 January 2020: Jury selection at Weinsteins trial begins in New York.

18 February 2020: Jury begins deliberations.

24 February 2020: Jury convicts Weinstein of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping another woman in 2013. It acquits him on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault.

Additional reporting by agencies
Reports have suggested the US intelligence community believes Russia may be trying to boost the Sanders and Trump campaigns.

Mike Segar, Alexander Drago/REUTERS

President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Democrats to launch an investigation into whether Russia helped Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont win Saturday's Democratic caucuses in Nevada.

"Are any Democrat operatives, the DNC, or Crooked Hillary Clinton, blaming Russia, Russia, Russia for the Bernie Sanders win in Nevada," the president asked in a tweet.

On ABC's "This Week" earlier Sunday, the White House national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, argued that Russian operatives were most likely working to elect Sanders, the Democratic frontrunner.

O'Brien, however, denied reports that US intelligence believed Russia was working to help Trump's reelection campaign.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump on Sunday sarcastically suggested that Democrats might conduct an investigation into whether Russia was involved in the victory by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the Nevada caucuses.

"Are any Democrat operatives, the DNC, or Crooked Hillary Clinton, blaming Russia, Russia, Russia for the Bernie Sanders win in Nevada," Trump tweeted Sunday, going on to mention the special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. "If so I suggest calling Bob Mueller & the 13 Angry Democrats to do a new Mueller Report, Democrat Edition. Bob will get to the bottom of it!"

The White House national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, earlier Sunday denied reports that US intelligence believed Russia was working to help Trump's reelection campaign and instead argued that the country was working to help boost Sanders' White House bid.

"There are these reports that they want Bernie Sanders to get elected president  that's no surprise," O'Brien said about the newly cemented Democratic frontrunner, who won big in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. "He honeymooned in Moscow."

Story continues

"The president," he added, "has rebuilt the American military to an extent we haven't seen since Ronald Reagan, so I don't think it's any surprise that Russia, or China, or Iran would want somebody other than President Trump."

O'Brien said Trump was going to continue to strengthen US foreign and defense policy. He made the comments to George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week."

Last week, The New York Times reported that Shelby Pierson, a national intelligence aide, delivered a briefing before House Intelligence Committee lawmakers that said the intelligence community had information that Russia was working to help reelect the president in November.

The news drew the ire of Republicans and Trump, who for the first few years of his presidency battled allegations that he had colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. The special counsel's investigation gave a detailed summary of Russian election interference but found no evidence that the Trump campaign illegally conspired with the Russians.

Stephanopoulos pressed O'Brien on the idea that Russia was working to reelect Trump. Asked whether he'd reviewed reports on pro-Trump support from Russia, O'Brien said, "I have not seen that and I get pretty good access."

"I haven't seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump elected," he continued. "I think this is the same old story we've heard before. I've seen the reports from that briefing on the intel committee. I wasn't there, but I've seen no intelligence that suggests that."

The Washington Post on Friday reported that US intelligence officials also told the Sanders campaign that intelligence suggested Russia was working to help him secure the Democratic Party's nomination, though the scope of any such an operation is unclear.

"Let's be clear: The Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us, and unlike the current president I stand firmly against their efforts and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election," Sanders said in a statement following the Post report.

Sanders suggested at Wednesday night's Democratic presidential debate that some of the nasty posts on social media that have been attributed to his supporters may have actually the result of Russian involvement. He has often received criticism for his more passionate supporters, sometimes called "Bernie Bros." Recently, the Vermont senator faced criticism over reports his followers attacked members of Nevada's Culinary Workers Union after it criticized his "Medicare for All" platform.

The president, meanwhile, replaced his acting director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire, whose aide delivered the House Intelligence Committee briefing about the suspected 2020 Russian meddling. Trump had reportedly been particularly angry because Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California was present at the briefing. Schiff led Trump's impeachment in the House last year.

Maguire was replaced by Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany who has been an outspoken Trump supporter.

As NPR reported, the president on Sunday congratulated the Vermont lawmaker on his Saturday-night victory in the Nevada caucuses.

"Bernie is looking more and more like he'll be the nominee unless they cheat him out of it," Trump said as he was leaving the White House for a two-day trip to India.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

Key dates coming fast now, so I added some counters:

Here is a second counter for South Carolina, coming soon:

And for Super Tuesday:

Super Tuesday states: AL, AK, CA, CO, ME, MA, MN, NC, OK, TN, TX, UT, VT, and VA.

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* * *

2020

We encourage readers to want to play around with the charts; they are dynamic, and there are a lot of settings. Here is a link to alert reader dks project. You can also file bug reports or feature requests using the same contact process as for Plants, below. Thanks  but no promises! Today we have one new national polls from YouGov, and new state polls from SC, MI, and WI. As of 2/24/2020, 12:00 PM EST (three-day average): And the numbers: Hard to think this is what the DNC had in mind. Before we go to the states, some small multiples, helpfully annotated with arrows. Interesting! And now to states, with the caveat that they are all small samples, irregular, and bad: Nexts weeks SC: SC numbers: Sanders in striking distance. SC likes a winner, so NV may have an effect. Now to the Northern Tier. MI: MI numbers: WI: WI numbers: Sanders running away with the race up there in the frozen north. Sanders should get delegates everywhere, though we dont know how soft his support is. (My uninformed guess is less soft than average, because the media vilifies him; it takes a bit of courage to go against that tide.) CAVEAT I think we have to track the polls because so much of the horse-race coverage is generated by them; and at least with these charts were insulating ourselves against getting excited about any one poll. That said, we should remember that the polling in 2016, as it turned out, was more about narrative than about sampling, and that this year is, if anything, even more so. In fact, one is entitled to ask, with the latest I boomlet (bubble? (bezzle?)) which came first: The narrative, or the poll? One hears of push polling, to be sure, but not of collective push polling by herding pollsters. We should also worry about state polls with very small sample sizes and big gaps in coverage. And thats before we get to the issues with cellphones (as well as whether voters in very small, very early states game their answers). So we are indeed following a horse-race, but the horses dont stay in their lanes, some of the horses are not in it to win but to interfere with the others, the track is very muddy, and the mud has splattered our binoculars, such that its very hard to see whats going on from the stands. Also, the track owners are crooked and the stewards are on the take. Everythings fine. * * * UPDATE Bloomberg (D)(1): Bloomberg Killed the Best Chance at Justice for the 9/11 Attacks [Spencer Ackerman, Daily Beast]. If it wasnt for Mike Bloomberg, the alleged perpetrators of the worst terrorist attack in American history would likely have been convicted of mass murder by now. According to all the evidence available both at the time and in the nine years since Bloombergs intervention, a federal court almost certainly would have convicted the five co-defendants. A judge would have had to reckon with the torture the CIA inflicted on them, barring the prosecution from using tainted evidenceand showing, for the record, how torture jeopardized the case. Most importantly, there would have been closure, provided in open court and displaying the inheritance of centuries of jurisprudence, for the atrocity of 9/11 and the brutality America chose when confronting it. Bloomberg at first backed trying the 9/11 conspirators in the city. But the NYPD and the big real estate developers central to Bloombergs vision of New York as a luxury brand viewed the trial as a national-security version of a Not-In-My-Backyard concernall as a broader backlash to Barack Obamas handling of the war on terror was brewing. By January 2010, Bloomberg reversed himself, and his opposition doomed the trial.  Oh well. So much for the rule of law. UPDATE Bloomberg (D)(2): Please disregard, vote for Bernie: Inside Bloombergs paid social media army' [Los Angeles Times]. The Bloomberg 2020 operation is hiring more than 500 people at a rate of $2,500 a month to text friends and post on social media in support of the former New York mayor and billionaire media mogul. Rather than create their own content, organizers often use the exact text, images and links provided to them by the campaign.  And who could predicted this would happen? Four out of the five organizers interviewed said the promise of money was the primary factor in their decision to work for the Bloomberg campaign . One, a recent college graduate living in Sacramento, describes himself as an ardent supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the current front-runner for the Democratic nomination. But he hasnt had a steady stream of income since October, and the Bloomberg gig seemed like easy money, he said. The ambivalence shows up in his outreach efforts. Sam Donaldson just nailed it: Mike Bloomberg is the president we need to unite our country! he texted one of his friends Monday through Outvote  the app organizers use to reach out to their personal networks. He drew on language provided to him by the campaign and logged the text as part of his Bloomberg organizer responsibilities. But he quickly followed up with a personal addendum: Please disregard, vote Bernie or Warren. I did point out last week that this cobbled-together effort would lack the discipline of the Sanders campaigns app Bloomberg (D)(3): NCAI Condemns Mayor Bloombergs Cowboy Hat and a Shotgun Statement, Calls for Public Apology [LRinspire]. In 2010, New York City Mayor Bloomberg stated the following when speaking on a legal dispute between the state of New York and local Tribes, I said, you know, Get yourself a cowboy hat and a shotgun,' Bloomberg told Gambling. If theres ever a great video, its [Patterson] standing in the middle of the New York State Thruway saying, you know, Read my lipsthe law of the land is this, and were going to enforce the law.  Unsurprisingly, the National Congress of American Indians never got an apology. Sanders (D)(1): The Best Democratic Debate in Years [Peggy Noonan]. Of Sanders: In his affect: Im the last lion.  Not bad. As readers know, I have a soft spot for Nooners, although I think the day of her brand of Republicanism has passed. Sanders (D)(2): Centrist Dem Mark Mellmans Pro-Israel Group Attacks Sanders [The Intercept]. Enter Democratic Majority for Israel. Mellman and several strategists close to the Democratic Party launched the group last year. DMFI aims to curtail criticisms of Israel from the partys left flank by targeting primary challenges against pro-Israel Democrats. The groups political action committee, which formed in July, has only spent money in Iowa so far. The PAC does plan to spend in other races in other places, on behalf of pro-Israel Democratic candidates for House and Senate, Mellman said. We are still determining exactly which races we will be involved in. On Friday, DMFI PAC, which put out the anti-Sanders ad, released its donor list in a Federal Election Committee filing. The donor rolls include several overlaps with major AIPAC funders and activists. Though Mellman has denied that his new group is affiliated with the flagship Israel lobby, DMFIs ties to AIPAC run deep, including a lucrative relationship between the lobby group and Mellmans consulting firm.  Sounds like election meddling. Trump (R)(1): White House fears coronavirus could shape Trumps 2020 fortunes [Politico]. The fate of Trumps response rests on Azar, who has modeled plans based on his experience fighting SARS and other pandemics as a senior health official in the George W. Bush administration. The health secretary  who is steering the response in addition to his other duties  has been near-constantly flanked by top scientists like CDCs Redfield and veteran infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci at White House meetings, congressional briefings and televised updates [T]he administration has kept in constant contact with Congress about its response efforts  a sharp departure for an administration thats been in a near constant state of warfare with congressional Democrats, lawmakers and aides said. Officials including Azar, Redfield and Fauci have provided multiple briefings on their latest findings, in some cases spending more than an hour behind closed doors fielding questions and concerns. The administration is fully engaged, Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said following a meeting earlier this month. Were holding our own right now, which is where you want to be. The administration also has quietly worked with blue states like California and officials in staunchly Democratic cities like New York City. More substantially, both Republicans and Democrats have been struck by HHS refusal to seek additional funding to fight the disease, rather than shifting funds from other parts of the department.  Worth reading in full. (Note that the easy answer is a Coronvirus Czar. Does that ever work? Im having a hard time recalling a successful Czar. Note that in the Foreign Policy article below, Obama did set up a Czar after Ebola. Trump (R)(2): Why the Trump Administrations Coronavirus Response Continues to Raise Concerns [New York Magazine]. While some of the White Houses response has been praised, its approach has also included a mix of xenophobic policy, improvisation, and suddenly sharp turns in decision-making. And long before the first case of COVID-19 was discovered in mainland China, the administration had been putting off years of back-end work which may undermine the governments ability to prepare for and handle a breakout of the scale that coronavirus may reach. Specific to the U.S., the potential political impact of an outbreak in an election year shouldnt be underestimated, and its something that is already reportedly worrying President Trump. For an example of another question the U.S. may face: How will disinformation about the virus spread in a country where health officials have already been combating a proliferation of unsubstantiated fears about the safety of vaccines?  A very good question. Trump (R)(3): Trump Has Sabotaged Americas Coronavirus Response [Foreign Policy]. In 2018, the Trump administration fired the governments entire pandemic response chain of command, including the White House management infrastructure. In numerous phone calls and emails with key agencies across the U.S. government, the only consistent response I encountered was distressed confusion. If the United States still has a clear chain of command for pandemic response, the White House urgently needs to clarify what it isIf the United States still has a clear chain of command for pandemic response, the White House urgently needs to clarify what it isnot just for the public but for the government itself, which largely finds itself in the dark. In the absence of a formal structure, the government has resorted to improvisation. In practical terms, the U.S. governments public health effort is led by Daniel Jernigan, the incident commander for the Wuhan coronavirus response at the CDC. Jernigan is responsible for convening meetings of the nations state health commissioners and briefing CDC Director Robert Redfield and his boss, Azar. Meanwhile, state-level health leaders told me that they have been sharing information with one another and deciding how best to prepare their medical and public health workers without waiting for instructions from federal leadership. The most important federal program for local medical worker and hospital epidemic training, however, will run out of money in May, as Congress has failed to vote on its funding.  Pretty damning. Its reminiscent of George W. Bush putting a crony in charge of FEMA, which IIRC had not been bad under Clinton, who then butchered the job of responding to Katrina. However, Im deeply unsure that getting the bureaucratic response  meant non-perjoratively  to #COVID-19 correct will be nearly enough. You fight an epidemic with the health care system you have. In any case, if #COVID-19 is Trumps Katrina, that will solve some electoral problems, but at a cost only the heartless would have the country pay. * * * The Democratic Nomination: Its Getting Late Early [Sabatos Crystal Ball]. [Sanders] may be able to start building a lead that, because of proportional allocation rules, no other single candidate can reasonably surpass during the nominating season. So even if he doesnt get precisely to 50% +1, the magic number of 1,991 pledged delegates to win the nomination, he could be both close enough  and far enough ahead of whoever ends up in second  that hed have the only real claim to the nomination. A Sanders win in South Carolina  which now seems possible  would represent the culmination of an incredible February for Sanders in which the Democratic Partys insurgent, Sanders, would replicate the path of the GOPs insurgent, Donald Trump, four years ago: second-place in Iowa and then a sweep of Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Three days after South Carolina is Super Tuesday, which awards more than a third of all the pledged delegates. If Sanders is within striking distance of Biden in South Carolina, it probably suggests that Sanders is competitive enough with African Americans in the six other Southern states that vote on Super Tuesday Nevada may provide a preview of sorts of California and Texas, in that the two megastates voting on Super Tuesday each have larger Hispanic electorates than Nevada does. At this point itd be a shock if Sanders lost California, and at least a little surprising if he lost Texas.  Sabato is totally mainstream, so no doubt this is causing a little panic in the Establishment. No, You Drop Out: Why Bernies Rivals Are All Stubbornly Staying in the Race [Gabriel Debenedetti, New York Magazine]. On Sunday, I checked in with a wide range of plugged-in Democrats of different ideological stripes to gauge whether any had heard stirrings of any organized, backroom efforts to try and shrink the field  or if that was just a tweet and chyron fantasy. The only people talking about it were Twitter world & Dems who think they have power & dont, one texted back. Matt Bennett, the vice-president of the centrist Third Way think tank thats been trying to galvanize anti-Sanders efforts since at least 2018, replied, I have heard none, and if there were any, I would know about them. * * * SC: After Nevada, uncertainty awaits as the 2020 Democratic race shifts to South Carolina [Post and Courier]. Uncharted territory awaits.  The debate should be interesting. SC: Maybe: South Carolina is about 6% Latino, about the same as Iowa. But they were only 2% of the Dem primary electorate in 2016. If Bernie turns them out in large numbers, it could make the difference.  29 U.S.C.  157 (@OrganizingPower) February 23, 2020 All Latins are not alike (as the campaigns will no doubt discover in FL). TX: UPDATE Interview: Heidi Sloan on Running a Left Campaign in Texas [Current Affairs]. What a great answer: That is a great question. I think maybe the first thing, and this is true for so many people, more than it is even for me, that farmers do a lot more than grow food. That most farmers can rebuild their tractor, that most farmers can write a spreadsheet for crop rotation that would blow your mind, that most farmers are in charge of the sales of their farm, that most farmers are also raising their families onsite, and keeping ties with the community. That farmers are an exceptionally gifted and hardworking group of people, and I think that we sometimes just focus on one aspect of that work. Whereas, they, everyday, are running a whole ecosystem to itself. NV: Sanders ground game (1): Now we can tell you that @BernieSanders campaign talked to Latino culinary union voters at least 22 times before caucus day, Starting 6months ago! We organized, listened and invested and it paid off! We love and respect all unions and their leadership! #NotMeUs https://t.co/dQmrLJ4aDK  Chuck Rocha (@ChuckRocha) February 23, 2020 Readers will recall we supplied a podcast of Culinary Workers cheering Sanders #MedicareForAll presenation. NV: Sanders ground game (2): Just for the record this is NOT even close to what we spent on PAID spanish communications. We started PAID communication to Latinos 8 months ago and had over 76 Latinos staffer and 11 offices. The key to our strategy was spending money that folks would not track. #sneakattack https://t.co/et4NROLHKg  Chuck Rocha (@ChuckRocha) February 22, 2020 One wonders if the same has been done in CA, and how this strategy interacts with Bloombergs air war. UPDATE The Nevada caucuses were even better news for Sanders  and the Democrats  than you might think [WaPo]. In 2016, you may remember, nonwhite voters were Sanderss Achilles heel. Hillary Clinton, who went on to win the nomination, regularly routed Sanders with nonwhite voters, especially black Democratic voters. She built up a lead in the South that Sanders could never overtake. In Nevada this year, Sanders won about 42 percent of the nonwhite vote. This was actually the same percentage of the demographic that he won in the state four years ago, as the graph above shows. But again, it comes in the context of his support dropping among other demographic groups. Among white caucusgoers, for example, Sanderss support was 20 points lower this year than it was then. Among nonwhites, no change. Among very liberal attendees, he was down only 3 points, essentially unchanged. UPDATE How Bernie Sanders Dominated in Nevada [New York Times]. For at least one day, in one state, the long-promised political revolution of Mr. Sanders came to vivid life, a multiracial coalition of immigrants, college students, Latina mothers, younger black voters, white liberals and even some moderates who embraced his idea of radical change and lifted him to victory in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. By harnessing such a broad cross-section of voters , Mr. Sanders offered a preview of the path that he hopes to take to the Democratic presidential nomination: uniting an array of voting blocs in racially diverse statesin the West and the South and in economically strapped parts of the Midwest and the Southwest, all behind the message of social and economic justice that he has preached for years.  Theres a concept here that the Times seems unable to grasp, falling back instead on mush-mouthed, liberal, Democrat consultant-speak verbiage like a broad cross-section of voters, and uniting an array of voting blocs. That concept: The working class. Thats why the cross section is broad. Thats why the array us united. And the appeal, the unique selling proposition of the Sanders campaign: Universal concrete material benefits, as [lambert preens], I have been advocating for many, many years.

RussiaGate

Russiagate 2.0 Drowns Out Trumps Reckless Escalation Of US  Russia Nuclear Arms Race (podcast) [Aaron Mate, Pushback]. US media is once again consumed with evidence-free claims that Russia intends to interfere on Donald Trumps behalf. But as Democrats accuse Trump of being Putins Puppet, Trump is overseeing a hawkish agenda that has worsened US-Russia tensions. Nowhere is that more dangerous than Trumps escalation of the nuclear arms race with Russia: abandoning arms control treaties while deploying and developing new nuclear weapons. Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter joins Pushback to discuss the overlooked dangers.

Our Famously Free Press

Editors write the headlines: Change in Headline pic.twitter.com/tg9T5MFWnP  Editing TheGrayLady (@nyt_diff) February 24, 2020 UPDATE This is violence: CNN analyst spins a fantasy of Bloomberg clubbing Bernie in gory detailwith a spiked club to go medieval on him. Just in case you need a receipt of uncivil discourse for the tone police  pic.twitter.com/v23h1ane9i  Brook Hines  power to the people (@nashville_brook) February 23, 2020 I wouldnt mind the hyperbole, if it werent so obviously wish fulfillment.

Realignment and Legitimacy

About that Democrat Establishment: The Democratic establishment exists. Just ask the Bloomberg campaign for a list of who is on their payroll. https://t.co/kVsIzbcaNN  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) February 22, 2020 Josh Marshall denying theres any such thing as a Democrat Establishment Thats almost too rich.

Stats Watch

At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats. If anybody knows of other aggregators, please leave links in comments.

Manufacturing: February 2020 Texas Manufacturing Improves Again [Econintersect]. Important subindices new orders significantly declined (and is in expansion) and unfilled orders improved and now is in contraction. This should be considered a better report relative to last month.

Housing: Home Prices: While Up In Most Areas, Some Places See Decline [Econintersect]. And while prices have risen in most places, the U.S. index masks the fact that many cities have had a dip in values over the last year and some will experience declines in 2020 as well. During 2019 our index found more than 70 places that had an annual price decline, including the San Jose, CA and Bridgeport, CT metropolitan areas.

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Todays Fear & Greed Index: 29 Fear (previous close: 44 Fear) [CNN]. One week ago: 55 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Feb 24 at 1:21pm. Big move to Fear. Panic indeed!

Rapture Index: Unchanged [Rapture Ready]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 183. Remember that bringing on the rapture is a good thing. Finally, the Corona Virus shows up, but under Interest Rates, not Plagues. And then, under Plagues, no mention of an actual Plague of Locusts. What is this, end-time regulatory capture?

The Biosphere

How to Plant a Fruit Tree [Modern Farmer]. Five tips, this is the first: Start early. Its best to plant fruit trees in late winter or early spring before they emerge from dormancy. During this time, they may be purchased bare rootsans soil, that isfrom mail order nurseries. How early you can plant depends on where you live, but its essentially a matter of the ground no longer being frozen. Give the nursery your ZIP code and they will tell you the earliest window that its safe to ship the tree.  Others are: Find the Right Spot, Dig the Perfect Hole, and Set It Up for Success.  If you are thinking of starting a garden, or have already done so, I highly recommend you thinking about planting some trees now. In five years, youll be glad you did!

Teck withdraws application for $20B Frontier oilsands mine [CBC]. Vancouver-based Teck Resources Ltd., has withdrawn its application to build a massive oilsands project in northern Alberta, citing the ongoing debate over climate policy in Canada. The company said it will take a $1.13-billion writedown on the project, which it said would have created 7,000 construction jobs, 2,500 operating jobs, and brought in more than $70 billion in government revenue.  Yeah, yeah. Leave it in the ground.

OPP move in on rail blockade by Mohawks of Tyendinaga [CBC]. This morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and key members of his cabinet  Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Transport Marc Garneau, House Leader Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair and Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller  to discuss the blockades. On Friday, Trudeau said that the barricades on rail lines and other major transportation routes must come down after two weeks of the government calling for patience and stalled attempts at negotiation.

More knock-on effects from austerity:

Labour acted on the reports recommendations. Spending on flood defences increased by 10% in 2008/9 & an additional 10% in 2009/10.

But then austerity happened. Tories ignored expert flood advice and courted austerity. Behold the results@sjwrenlewis https://t.co/6NAS9sz6S6  Phil  (@Phil_Free_) February 24, 2020

Health Care

WHO says its too early to declare a coronavirus pandemic: Now is the time to prepare' [CNBC]. It is time to do everything you would do in preparing for a pandemic, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHOs health emergencies program, said.  Including canned goods, I assume. It strikes me that WHO is being reactive. In fact, the entire neolineral world-system is being reactive; one would think that there would be some institutional embodiment of the Precautionary Principle, with a decent budget and the best of science. Then again, perhaps that doesnt enable elites to extract enough from death and suffering. And fear, just by itself, is extremely profitable.

Offline: Facts are not enough (PDF) [The Lancet]. Interesting:

[W]e must ask questions usually considered outside the scope of international health. A Public Health Emergency of International Concern gives us a unique opportunity. First, what are the supreme guiding values of global health? Hitherto, the answer has been equity. But, as we have seen from Chinas efforts to contain COVID-19, perhaps we should consider liberty an equally fundamental value. Without liberty of expressionfor health workers, policy makers, the public, and mediathere is no means to forge a common view about the future (including the future health) of a society. Second, how important is the political system for health? Global health is typically agnostic about the kind of political system a country chooses to adopt. Global health and its institutions see health systems as separatetechnically, socially, economicallyfrom the political ideologies of nations. This view is not sustainable. We cannot say that the terms of political engagement within a country are irrelevant to our hopes for health. Third, what is prosperity? Conventionally, prosperity means monetary wealth. But could we redefine prosperity to mean something else, something more? Prosperity as the well-being of the community in synchrony with its environment. Fourth, how should we consider the place of the human body in society? How do we better connect the social to the biological? How do we incorporate the world in which we live into our biological selves? Our bodies and the illnesses they express tell stories about our lives. Our task is to uncover those stories and to link them back to our bodies and our health. Fifth, what do we mean by health anyway? Whatever we say about the absence of disease or a state of complete wellbeing, the idea of health is also related to our sense of what our lives have been and what they might be in the future. Isnt health contingent on the purpose we envision for our life, and the possibilities we have for enacting that purpose? In other words, isnt health also about our capacity to achieve meaning in our lives?

* * *

This Is The System We Are Going To Fight #COVID-19 with (1). Thread:

My wife and I shared a moment today over how touched we were reading about the Culinary Union workers stating frankly that the risks they'd face with #MedicareForAll were worth it because they knew so many people without healthcare who needed it. We face a similar risk. 1/  Erik Westlund (@erikdbwestlund) February 24, 2020

This Is The System We Are Going To Fight #COVID-19 with (2). Thread:

In 2010, I had good union health insurance. Obamacare was the law of the land. In November that yr my 1yo son was struck by a careless driver in a crosswalk. After two surgeries and a night in intensive care, he died.  Michelle DuBarry (@DuBarryPie) February 23, 2020

I see threads like this on the Twitter so often. Theyre a [family blogging] genre for pitys sake.

Suppose you had #COVID-19 symptoms but co-pays and an enormous deductible. Would you seek help immediately? Would you put the visit off as long as possible? Or would you to gut it out, at home? Would you self-quarantine? Suppose you had only $400 for emergencies, like most Americans. What if you were a retail worker? Or a server? Could you self-quarantine? (Waiting for the fingerwagging from PMCs on all this.)

Screening Room

Incredibly trivial, and really neat:

"NOW." Most 90'es #movietrailer #voiceover were done by Don LaFontaine and Hal Douglas.

BUT DID YOU KNOW  the average place in a voice-over #action #trailer to put the "NOW" is at 38.1%?

Well of course you did! Let's look at some examples. (thread) #cinephile #movies pic.twitter.com/ZCIQyxaOKF  Jonas Ussing (@Jussing) February 21, 2020

Black Injustice Tipping Point

From the archives:

Class Warfare

Tracking Extraction [Tracking Extraction]. For Patel and Moore, as for LPE, Capitalism is not just the sum of economic transactions that turn money into commodities and back again; its inseparable from the modern state and from governments dominions and transformations of natures, human and otherwise. Capitalism produces wealth in part by drawing human and nonhuman activities previously outside itself into its circuits of production, exchange and profit, without recognizing (let alone paying) the full social and ecological costs of their creation, maintenance, or extraction . Patel and Moore call this process making things cheap, and they illustrate their argument with seven cheap things: Nature, money, work, care, food, energy, and lives.  Lives, especially lives. Although data, too. Well worth a read.

Beauty and the bloke: why more men are wearing makeup [Guardian].  See above.

News of the Wired

More Libraries Are Doing Away With Overdue Fines [New York Times]. I think its an exciting thing, [said Eric Klinenberg, a professor of social science at New York University and the author of the 2018 book Palaces for the People.] of the new policies. There are a lot of people who need a safe, warm place where they are treated with dignity and respect. We are short on that these days.'  Libraries seem to be one of the few institutions to have avoided crapification. I wonder why?

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SV writes: On the heals of freezing fog, we now have this. Our friend Barbara writes: Also called flowering quince. The apocolyptica isnt supported by botany. Its supposed to bloom much later.'

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Garment and textile firms are aware of the opportunities to expand their export markets arising from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) but are facing difficulties in complying with the rules of origin.

Many garment and textile producers are daunted by the EVFTA rules of origin

The benefits of EVFTAcan best be seen in the garment and textile sector, with enterprises expected to enjoy plenty of room to expand into new markets due to the regulations setting out tax reductions.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam's textile and garment export turnover to the EU will increase by 81 per cent.

Most notably, in the context of unpredictable global developments such as trade protectionism, trade tensions, and the ongoing impact of the novel coronavirus, the trade deal could help local garment and textile firms boost their exports, persify markets, and achieve higher added value through the establishment of fresh supply chains.

The EVFTA opens opportunities for businesses with material autonomy as well as those with large EU groups of customers, such as TNG Investment and Trading JSC (TNG) and Thanh Cong Textile Garment-Investment-Trading JSC (TCM).

The EU is the largest market of TNG, accounting for 54 per cent of sales, while it makes up 40 per cent of GMC's total revenue. For TCM, the EU currently contributes only about 5 per cent of sewing revenue, however, with 60-70 per cent material autonomy, TCM is expected to meet EVFTA rules of origin.

Despite the EU being considered a promising market, in order to qualify for tariff exemption under the EVFTA, companies will need to increase the localisation rate of fabric because the EVFTA rules of origin (which are applicable from the fabric stage forward) are considered the largest barriers for garment and textile producers.

Along with Vietnamese fabrics, those imported from South Korea for export manufacturing are recognised to meet the EVFTA fabric-forward rules of origin and enjoy zero tariffs. Meanwhile, 60 per cent of imported fabrics come from mainland China and Taiwan at a far lower cost than fabrics imported from South Korea.

Thus, a number of garment and textile producers are sceptical of opportunities from this market. One of them is Song Hong Garment JSC, the representative of which said that the company cannot meet this requirement, and so will not be able to tap into the benefits of the free trade agreement. Additionally, the company does not expect to suffer an impact from this decision because its priority market has been the US for years now.

Other garment and textile producers also expressed intentions to focus on their traditional markets due to the low cost of materials from China. Even when the delays in supply from China due to COVID-19 pushed them to look for raw material imports from other markets such as South Korea, India, Bangladesh, and Brazil, many saw this as nothing more than a temporary solution.

Pham Xuan Hong, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Textile Association, said China simply cannot be replaced as the main supplier due to its much lower costs, while Truong Van Cam, vice chairman and general secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), said that a significant portion of the textile industry's feedstock is from China. VOV

Vietnams garment-textile expects boom in 2020 Vietnams garment-textile sector is expected to make breakthroughs in 2020 thanks to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

The global brewers yeast market size is expected to reach USD 5.22 billion by 2025 at an 8.0% CAGR during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing demand for by-products in animal feed is likely to augment market size.

Demand for feed supplements is anticipated to exhibit high growth over the coming years, on account of increasing awareness regarding proper animal nutrition and feed supplements. Use of natural additives and ingredients is becoming more widespread in animal feed, which will also aid in market growth. In addition, health benefits associated with brewers yeast, such as increasing animal well-being, production abilities, and enhancing intestinal flora, are driving product consumption in animal feed formulations. Animal feed brewers yeast is expected to support farmers in meeting this increased demand among consumers, thereby elevating the scope of the market. Research and development activities carried out by market players to provide consumers with efficient products are also expected to boost market growth.

Leading market players are channelizing their efforts for the development of new products and technologies with the help of advanced methods to effectively and efficiently manufacture yeast strains. On account of this, yeast and specialty yeast products are gaining importance among market players across the world. These companies are adopting and implementing various strategic plans to manufacture yeast and specialty yeast products.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for brewers yeast globally. The region is one of the largest animal feed producers in the world, which is expected to play a key role in boosting the utilization of brewers yeast-based animal feed in this region. China, India, and Japan are the major animal feed producers in Asia Pacific. Moreover, rising production of swine feed in emerging economies such as Indonesia and Vietnam is expected to have a positive impact on the market over the forecast year.

To request a sample copy or view summary of this report, click the link below:

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/brewers-yeast-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

By type, the dry yeast segment is anticipated to reach a market volume of 667 kilo tons by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2018 to 2025

On the basis of application, the feed supplement segment dominated the global brewers yeast market in 2017, with a revenue share of nearly 60.0%

S. has been one of the largest importers of brewers yeast, globally; in 2013, the country imported over 38.9 kilo tons of brewers yeast, which has increased to a valuation of 144.2 kilo tons as of 2017

Countries in Asia Pacific, most notably India, Indonesia, and China, are expected to observe commendable growth over the forecast period. In terms of revenue, the India brewers yeast market is anticipated to reach USD 164.8 million by 2025

The global industry is characterized by capacity expansions, mergers and acquisitions, and substantial investments to improve the market share of manufacturers.

Some of the prominent companies in the industry are Nutreco N.V.; Cargill Inc.; Lesaffre Group; Archer Daniels Midland Company; and Associated British Food Plc.

Grand View Research has segmented the global brewers yeast market report on the basis of type, application, and region:

Brewers Yeast Type Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2025)

Dry

Liquid

Brewers Yeast Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2025)

Feed Supplements

Food Supplements

Brewers Yeast Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2025)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Central & South America

Middle East & Africa

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - Julian Assange is wanted for crimes that put at risk the lives of people in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan who had helped the West, some of whom later disappeared, said a lawyer acting for the United States in its bid to extradite him.

Almost a decade since his WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, Assange, 48, is fighting extradition from Britain to the United States where he is accused of espionage and hacking.

He was wanted, said James Lewis, lawyer for the U.S. authorities, not because he embarrassed the authorities but because he put informants, dissidents, and rights activists at risk of torture, abuse or death.

"What Mr Assange seems to defend by freedom of speech is not the publication of the classified materials but the publication of the names of the sources, the names of people who had put themselves at risk to assist the United States and its allies," Lewis said at London's Woolwich Crown Court.

The United States asked Britain to extradite Assange last year after he was pulled from the Ecuador embassy in London, where he had spent seven years holed up avoiding extradition to Sweden over sex crime allegations which have since been dropped.

Assange has served a prison sentence in Britain for skipping bail and remains jailed pending the U.S. extradition request.

Lewis, speaking on behalf of the U.S. authorities, said hundreds of people across the world had to be warned after the WikiLeaks disclosures. Some had to be relocated. Others later disappeared, he said, although he said the United States would not try to prove that was directly a result of the disclosures.

Some WikiLeaks information was found at Osama bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan, he added.

The United States has charged Assange with 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law. Lewis said Assange had conspired with Chelsea Manning, then a U.S. soldier known as Bradley Manning, to hack Department of Defense computers.

Story continues

HERO OR ENEMY?

Supporters hail Assange as an anti-establishment hero who revealed governments' abuses of power, and argue the action against him is a dangerous infringement of journalists' rights.

Chants from 100 of his backers outside could be clearly heard in court. Assange himself complained about the din.

"I'm finding it difficult concentrating," said a clean-shaven Assagne, dressed in a blue-grey suit. Judge Vanessa Baraitser warned those in the public gallery not to disturb the proceedings.

Assange's lawyer said he should not be extradited as he would not get a fair trial and would be a suicide risk.

Lawyer Edward Fitzgerald said that the U.S. attitude to Assange had changed when Donald Trump came to power and that the U.S. president wanted to make an example of his client.

He said that in 2013 the U.S. government under former President Barack Obama had decided that Assange should not face any action. But that in 2017, after the 2016 election of Trump, an indictment was brought against Assange.

Why the change? "The answer is President Trump came into power with a new approach to freedom of speech and a new hostility to the press amounting effectively to declaring war on investigative journalists," Fitzgerald said.

He said conversations between Assange and his lawyers in the Ecuadorean embassy were secretly monitored by U.S. spies who received information from a private security company bugging the building.

In addition to releasing military records, WikiLeaks angered Washington by publishing secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders.

Assange made headlines in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 U.S. helicopter strike in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

(Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Peter Graff)
A new Star Wars film is in the works, although it is unclear whether it will be released on cinemas or Disney+.

The Hollywood Reporter suggests that director J.D. Dillard and writer Matt Owens have been approached to develop the project, although it remains unclear what roles they will have.

J.D. recently wrote and directed the sci-fi thriller Sleight, while Matt has penned scripts for Marvel shows Luke Cage and Agents of SHIELD.

More Star Wars: A new Star Wars film is in the works, although it is unclear whether it will be released on cinemas or Disney+. Here is Daisy Ridley in The Rise Of Skywalker

The last of the Skywalker drama: Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca, Oscar Isaac is Poe Dameron, Ridley is Rey and John Boyega is Finn

This project is unrelated to the pitch made by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Rian Johnson, who previously wrote and directed The Last Jedi.

Disney chief Bob Iger has previously suggested that the Star Wars franchise's foreseeable future was on television after the success of The Mandalorian.

Bob confirmed that there would be a second season of the Disney+ series and hinted at other spin-off projects.

The first was the best: From left, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope - 1977

It took the world by storm: The first film was so new and electrifying that it spawned eight more movies about the Skywalkers and two spinoffs

He added: '[There is] more coming from The Mandalorian thereafter including the possibility of infusing it with more characters and the possibility of taking those characters in their own directions in terms of series.'

Future films are in development, with the latest scheduled for 2022.

But Bob has suggested that they Disney won't be making any announcements for the time being.

A big hit: Disney chief Bob Iger has previously suggested that the Star Wars franchise's foreseeable future was on television after the success of The Mandalorian

The 69-year-old said: 'We have not announced any specific plans for movies thereafter.

There are movies in development, but we have not announced them.'

Bob previously suggested that Disney released too many Star Wars films within a brief period.

He said: 'I have said publicly that I think we made and released too many 'Star Wars' films over a short period of time. I have not said that they were disappointing in any way. I've not said that I'm disappointed in their performance. I just think that there's something so special about a Star Wars film, and less is more.'
Pete Davidson has revealed he wants a child in a candid interview with Charlamagne Tha God on Monday.

During an interview for the radio presenter's YouTube channel, the Saturday Night Live star admitted he's considered adoption.

'I just want to have a kid,' said the 26-year-old comedian.

An open book: Pete Davidson has revealed he wants a child in a candid interview with Charlamagne Tha God on Monday

Davidson's father died during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which the funnyman cited as a reason for wanting a child of his own.

'I want to be there for something or do something that I didnt have growing up. Thats my biggest thing,' said the star of The Dirt.

He also spoke frankly about his previous high-profile relationships, including his recent split from model Kaia Gerber.

'We were dating for a few months,' began Pete, talking about his relationship with 'KG' (Gerber).

Big plans: During an interview for the radio presenter's YouTube channel, the Saturday Night Live star admitted he's considered adoption

A case of the ex: He also spoke frankly about his previous high-profile relationships, including his recent split from model Kaia Gerber. Pictured together last November

'Shes very young, and Im f***ing going through a lot and it was before I went to rehab,' continued the comic.

'Its just like, she should be having fun. She shouldnt have to worry about some dude that just has issues and s***.'

'She should be enjoying her work.'

He also spoke of Kaia's parents, former models Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, saying, 'Her parents were really helpful and stuff, so theyre cool.'

Ex appeal: Apart from Gerber, Davidson has been linked to Ariana Grande, 26, Kate Beckinsale, 46 [pictured March 2019] and Margaret Qualley, 25

Taking a break: During Monday's interview, the star of the forthcoming Suicide Squad revealed he's 'not dating for a while'

Last December, Rande was heard telling his wife that Davidson was 'freaking out.'

He was snapped outside of his daughter's apartment, coming down to his waiting wife, where he was heard saying that the person upstairs - believed to be Pete Davidson - was 'freaking out' and had 'scratched eyes.'

Davidson was later seen leaving the apartment in a car down the street after his girlfriend's parents had talked.

Davidson and Kaia, 18, had started dating in October, but during the last episode of Saturday Night Live in 2019, Davidson hinted at going to rehab.

He later confirmed he'd sought treatment at the Sierra Tucson treatment center in Arizona.

Another one: Pete seen here with former flame Margaret Qualley in September last year

During Monday's interview, the star of the forthcoming Suicide Squad revealed he's 'not dating for a while.'

Unless I meet the love of my life,' Pete clarified.

'Im pretty done with [dating], Im going to try and stay away from that. Its just a lot.'

Apart from Gerber, Davidson has been linked to Ariana Grande, 26, Kate Beckinsale. 46, and Margaret Qualley, 25.
United States President Donald Trump will begin his maiden official two-day state visit to India on Monday, becoming the seventh American President to visit the country.

Trump will be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and a twelve-member delegation comprising US Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette among others.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India looks forward to welcoming the US President and that it is an honour that "he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad!"

"Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA!" Trump had tweeted on Sunday, quoting a morphed video showing him as the protagonist of hit Bollywood film 'Bahubali'.

The visiting dignitary will reach Ahmedabad around Monday noon and after a visit to Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram will address a mammoth crowd of more than 100,000 people at an event titled 'Namaste Trump' at the Motera Stadium in the city.

The event will be based on the lines of 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Prime Minister Modi in Houston in September, last year.

Security has been tightened across Ahmedabad ahead of Trump's visit.

"A lot of people are expected to line the roads to welcome President Donald Trump. Security has been tightened not only in the stadium but also along the entire route from where the convoy of President Trump and Narendra Modi is scheduled to pass," said Crime Branch Special Commissioner of Police Ajay Tomar.

From Ahmedabad, the US President and the First Lady will make a brief stop at the Agra where they will visit the Taj Mahal, before arriving at the capital for the main leg of the 36-hour long trip.

On the morning of February 25, the US President will first receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan as per protocol. From there, he will go to Rajghat to pay homage at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

This will be followed by both, restricted, and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at the Hyderabad House in the capital.

The other nine members of the delegation companying Trump are: His daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump, son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner, 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 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.

After official meetings, Trump and his wife will have a lavish lunch hosted by Prime Minister Modi. From there, the US President will reach the ITC Maurya Hotel where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu are expected to call on him.

Trump will leave for the United States by his special flight on the night of February 25.

TRADE TALKS

Among the key elements of the visit would be the trade talks between the United States and India. While answering a question on India-US Trade deal during the weekly press briefing on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said that New Delhi has been engaging with Washington for quite some time, and hopes to reach an understanding with an outcome that strikes the right balance for both sides.

"We do not like to rush into a deal as issues involved are complicated. We do not want to create an artificial deadline. For us, the interest of people are paramount," Kumar had said.

Kumar's remarks had come after Trump had said that India has not treated his country very well on the trade front and that a "very big" bilateral trade deal with New Delhi may not be signed before US Presidential election later this year.

"We can have a trade deal with India, but I am really saving the big deal for later, maybe before elections. But we will have a very big deal with India," Trump said while talking to reporters.

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.

Responding to a question on the issue, a senior Trump Administration official last week said that India's protectionist policy has remained a concern for the United States with respect to the trade deal between the two countries, and that the 'Make in India' campaign makes the discussion on trade difficult.

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."

AGREEMENTS

The MEA spokesperson had informed that New Delhi and Washington are eyeing around five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in the areas of intellectual property, trade facilitation, and homeland security, among others.

"We are also looking at a joint statement which will basically capture the essence of the partnership between the two countries. I will not go into the details of the MoUs, I will see if I can, maybe, give you some topics on which MoUs are expected, we are looking at MoUs in the areas of intellectual property for example, in the area of trade facilitation, in the area of homeland security. These are works in progress and we will have a much clearer picture closer to the date," Kumar had said.

Regarding the H1B visa issue, he had said, "We have remained engaged with administration and US Congress on the movement of Indian professionals. The matter is very important to us. We do not expect that the movement of Indian professionals is part of the agenda that could come up for discussions."

Responding to a question on the areas of focus, a senior Trump Administration official had said that the visit would focus on enhancing economic, energy, defence 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 an 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 world religions," the official added.

A day prior to Kumar's briefing on the areas of focus, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said that the two counties will hold talks in areas of defence, counter-terrorism, people to people contact, energy and regional issues, adding that it is an opportunity for both the countries to deepen their strategic partnership and a forward-looking relationship.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"Harvey Weinstein is guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree."

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justice is sweet

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where is it

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Im reading the verdict and I have been so nervous about but he was actually convicted.



Its long overdue though Im really hoping his victims can find at least some solace in this

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I was so nervous too but finally, sanity has prevailed. The details that came out of that trial turned my stomach.

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good. excited to see the "alleged" taken off his fucking name

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Thank goodness

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Guilty fucker! Good job jury

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Guilty on just 2 counts, could get 5-35 years for one count and 4 years for the other count



bullshit

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Yeah. He was found not guilty on the counts that could've sent him to jail for life

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But I think this is just for New York - I think their is still pending charges in LA too...

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Hopefully the judge gives him the max sentence, which at his age, would be life (or close to it). He also has charges against him in California which could give him up to 28 years. So it's still likely he will be in prison the rest of his life!

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All that hobbling around in a cane for nothing, burn in hell tbh

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Hopefully they let him bring it to prison and someone beats the shit out of him with it

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I love that song!

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a concept!

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It'll never be enough, but at least some justice was served.

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That's how I feel.

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mte

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agreed and it helps set a future precedent

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Bye bitch

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I will say, while I'd obviously have preferred he be found guilty on everything, as a lawyer I do like to see juries arriving at split decisions on different counts because it affirms that they actually did weigh the evidence seriously and try to approach each count differently.

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Thank god! Also I feel bad for laughing at the title of this post but lmao it really had to be cut off at exactly that point huh

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After his posters for the 2023 presidency surfaced a couple of times in Kaduna and Abuja, some hardball politicking about how much rotational presidency sucks, and a few sucker jabs at another likely aspirant, Kaduna Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has made a u-turn.

Presidency should now rotateaway from the northto the south where a major contender identified so far now is the APC National Leader Bola Tinubu. His posters, too, have been creeping up billboards intermittently in Lagos, and his foot soldiers have fanned out across the country.

El-Rufai has not specified which part of the south yet, but his new stand is music to the ears of those who thought he had been positioning himself all along.

According to him, it would be unjustified for the North to seek to retain the Presidency after President Muhammadu Buhari might have completed his eight years.

The general political consensus in Nigeria is that the Presidency should rotate between the North and the South. It is not written but everyone understands it, a report by the Vanguard quoted him as saying.

In some of the parties, like the PDP, it is even written down in their constitution but it was breached in 2015. I think that every politician of honour should understand and abide by that consensus except there is an extenuating circumstance compelling it to be set aside. What could this be?

President YarAdua died in office and it was compulsory for Jonathan to continue but when 2011 election came, there were many people who insisted that Jonathan should step aside for a northerner to complete the tenure of YarAdua but I opposed it because I didnt think it was proper for an incumbent that got there not by his own design should be stopped from contesting when the constitution has not barred him from running.

In the APC, we deliberately omitted rotational Presidency in our constitution and the emergence of a presidential candidate does not take into account zoning and that was why in 2015, Rochas Okorocha from the East contested, Sam Nda-Isaiah contested, Buhari, Kwankwaso and others contested.

I can say that as distinct from the PDP, APC has no rotational Presidency but candidates are selected strictly on the basis of political merit and the general acceptability of the candidate.

For that unwritten piece of constitution and mutual trust that originates from gentleman agreements, El  Rufai is actually proud of his party, his decision, and his north.

I want to say that those of us from Northern Nigeria honour agreements. We do not violate unwritten political agreements and I will be the last person to lead in violating that agreement, he said.

The northor Buhariis believed to have a sweetheart deal with Tinubu, the arrowhead of the southwestern dominant party ACN that formed part of the APC merger in 2013, and deal got mutually benefiting in 2019 when Tinubu went all out to support Buhari, sick and no-performing, for re-election.

The deal, many say, is for Tinubu to have shot at the presidency in 2023, too.

But El-Rufais initial opposition and subtle attack on Tinubu and his southwest made it look like the Kaduna governor didnt care about any deal between Buhri and Tinubu.

Now he cares.

I may have a personal view but that should be the basis. I dont care where you come from but I look for merit, he said.

He added hat the APC norther leaders now will settle down and endorse somebody from the south.

In the event Tinubu suits their books, El-Rufai, as some analysts observe, could end up a running mate.

Yet theres a snag: selling a Tinubu-El-Rufai ticket wont wash. Both are Muslims in a country where religion has become a lever for instability.

PV: 0
Services and retail are forecast to attract a large amount of Japanese direct investment into Vietnam this year.

About 2,000 people line up to buy clothing products in the first Japanese Uniqlo store in Vietnam when it first opened in HCM City last December. (Photo cafef)

Takeo Nakajima, Chief Representative of the Japan Trade Promotion Organization (Jetro) said As the consumption power of the Vietnamese increases across the country, more Japanese retail and service enterprises find opportunities in the growing markets.

He said there has also been an increase in FDI inflows from Japan into non-manufacturing activities to serve the Vietnamese market, with the footprints of two retail giants as Aeon and Uniqlo.

He expected this trend to continue.

Nakajima said though Japanese registered investment decreased last year, the number of new projects by Japanese investors increased compared to previous years.

He said: The number of licensed Japanese projects reached its highest ever, at 435 projects last year.

The latest survey from Jetro said 63.9 percent of Japanese enterprises in Vietnam intended to expand their business in the country, the highest rate of investment among the ASEAN region.

Nakajima said as most of Japan's large manufacturing corporations had already moved into Vietnam, the additional FDI inflows would be composed from their extended projects, forecasting that Japanese capital would increase thanks to non-manufacturing investment and from small and medium enterprises.

At the same time, Tetsuo Konaka, chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), told local media that Thailand was a more attractive market for Japanese investors and enterprises three years ago, but the trend had changed now as many Japanese investors had shifted their investments to Vietnam.

Konaka thought the investment trend in Vietnam would continue over the next few years, not only focusing on manufacturing, but the whole service area of the country.

Konaka said "Vietnam has a large market with more than 96 million people, so its service sector has huge potential," and said it was the reason why retailers like Uniqlo, Aeon and many other famous Japanese corporations entered the market.

"Japanese retailers have poured investment in Vietnam because the local middle class is growing rapidly and they are able to afford quality products," he said.

Besides retail and services, Takeo Nakajima also thought the investment would be also flowing strongly into other fields.

He said that: Hotels, health care, IT service, transportation, HR, and education have room to grow.

Jetros representative also said: The rate of local procurement in Vietnam by Japanese manufacturers is 36.3 percent, which is far below the number in China with 69.5 percent.

So he thought: The Japanese SMEs will have more business opportunities.

Do Nhat Hoang, Director of Foreign Investment Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment said that Japanese enterprises often took careful steps in investment. Last year, Japanese FDI with 1.07 billion USD ranked second after the Republic of Korea with 1.58 billion USD./.VNA

64% of Japanese firms want to expand business in Vietnam: Jetro About 64 percent of Japanese enterprises plan to continue expansion of their business in Vietnam due to its favourable investment environment.
Wilkes is the highest ranked institution in Luzerne County and within the top 25 percent of independent institutions in the nation. Wilkes University is once again being recognized for its commitment to social mobility. In
While the cost of redundancy payments has dropped, the number of workers losing their jobs in the UK is likely to be higher than official figures suggest. (Getty)

The number of redundancy payments in the UK has dropped to a 10-year low, falling to 180,000 in 2018/19, down from 480,000 in 2008/9 during the credit crunch.

The cost of redundancy payments to UK businesses also dropped 28% last year, falling to a decade low of 3.3bn ($4.25bn), down from 4.6bn in 2017 to 2018.

Commercial law firm EMW said the sharp fall in the amount paid out by UK businesses in redundancy payments suggests the negative impact of Brexit on the economy may not have been as bad as initially feared.

READ MORE: Redundancy  how to negotiate severance pay successfully

Another factor that many have reduced the number of redundancies is the UKs tight labour market. Some businesses may have chosen to retain staff they may not need in the short term due to the difficulties in recruiting replacements later, EMW said.

However, while the cost of redundancy payments has dropped, the number of workers losing their jobs in the UK is likely to be higher than shown by HMRCs figures.

This data does not include workers made redundant by their employers after less than two years employment, as they are not eligible for redundancy pay nor does it include agency workers laid off or those in the gig economy who in some cases are treated as self-employed.

READ MORE: How to cope with redundancy

Many of the jobs lost in the retail sector in the last year may not have involved a redundancy payment as retail businesses tend to have a high turnover of staff with many part-time employees leaving jobs after a short period.

EMW added that the value of redundancy payments could rise in the coming months as employers accelerate redundancy processes to avoid higher National Insurance Contribution (NIC) charges.

New rules coming into effect on 6 April will mean employers will have to pay NICs on any redundancy and severance payments in excess of 30,000. Some businesses may choose to push through planned job losses before the introduction of these rules.

Story continues

READ MORE: Being made redundant? Know your rights

Jon Taylor, principal at EMW, said: Brexit has not led to a large wave of redundancies, which will be welcomed by both businesses and workers but we are still in the transitional period and the position may be different this time next year.

Of course, these figures dont necessarily give a 100% complete picture  many people laid off in the last year wont have received redundancy pay for a variety of reasons. The fall in the total amount of redundancy pay might disguise much higher levels of people being laid off.

In addition, gig economy and agency workers who have their contracts terminated are not captured by these figures. As the gig economy and the agency sector grows, this will group is becoming more significant.




Haiti - Social : Project to combat domestic child labor





With funding from the Government of Canada, UNICEF is coordinating the implementation of the "Child Domestic Labor Project". Several partners are participating in this project including the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the National Institute for Professional Training (INFP) which implements the professional training component in three departments of the country, the South, Grand'Anse and the West.



This project to combat child domestic labor aims to implement interventions relating to the prevention of situations of exploitation, the development of protection and care mechanisms for children at risk or victims of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation. It also aims to provide support for children placed in households as domestic workers to live their childhood in full respect of their rights, and, for those of working age, to exercise a professional activity respectful of their development and labor law rules.



The training made it possible to reach a first class of nearly 834 young people, including 300 from Grand'Anse. The program aims ultimately to train 1,700 young people in the three departments targeted by the project. The sessions focused on three main sectors including sanitary plumbing, tailoring, agricultural and livestock techniques. The young people took more than 200 hours of lessons in total, the minimum required to obtain the INFP certificate. Tools were given to young graduates so that they could start their activities.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-28909-icihaiti-usa-worst-forms-of-child-labor-minimal-advancement-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24694-haiti-flash-more-than-200-000-minor-children-work-in-the-worst-forms-of-work.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17904-haiti-flash-haiti-on-the-blacklist-of-shame.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16846-icihaiti-social-over-200-000-domestic-slaves-under-15-years-in-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15815-haiti-politic-fight-against-trafficking-of-restavek-in-haiti.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Entertainment Trinidad carnival live stream Monday & Tuesday parades

Trinidad Carnival live stream

24.02.2020 11:26:22 - Live streaming from Port of Spain for the Trinidad & Tobago carnival parades. TT carnival online stream.



(live-PR.com) - The Trinidad & Tobago carnival is back in Port of Spain again this year with the fabulous and colourful parades taking place on carnival Monday and Fat Tuesday.



To watch the parades live stream online coverage:



www.myworldevents.com/parade/trinidad-tobago-carnival.html



Trinidad carnival



The Trinidad Carnival is one of the oldest in the world, and certainly one of the loudest and most colourful, watched live by crowds - The Trinidad & Tobago carnival is back in Port of Spain again this year with the fabulous and colourful parades taking place on carnival Monday and Fat Tuesday.To watch the parades live stream online coverage:Trinidad carnivalThe Trinidad Carnival is one of the oldest in the world, and certainly one of the loudest and most colourful, watched live by crowds of thousands with many more watching on TV and via the free live stream online options.



Today, musical competitions make up a large part of formal Carnival. To be named Calypso Monarch is one of the country's greatest honours, and the competition which is called Dimanche Gras is aired on television. Along with the honour comes an enormous trophy, a car, TT $1,000,000 and possible endorsements and other contracts. Other prestigious titles are the King and Queen of the Bands; the International Soca Monarch (both Groovy and Power); the Carnival Road March; and Panorama (for steelpan). For the latter, the 2011 prize was TT$2 million. There are also other competitions that are involved in the Calypso Monarch.



Traditionally, musicians use drums, claves, and the steelpan, created in Trinidad, and reported to be the only non-electrical instrument invented in the 20th century that has been hammered down in different areas to create a wide range of different notes. A group of performers practise weeks in advance on these pans to compete.



Trinidad and Tobago is multicultural (Amerindian, European, African, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern), and all of its groups have contributed musical influences to the sounds of Carnival. These cultures have combined to create music vastly different from that of Carnival in Spain, Venice, or New Orleans.



As with other Carnivals, many participants wear elaborate costumes, often decorated with feathers and sequins. Carnival bands are organized groups made up of participants who pay for costumes fashioned by a designer and assembled by teams of volunteers. The costumed participants dance through the streets to the sounds of a steel band, a soca band or a d.j.  this is called "playing mas'". A unique feature of this parade is that locals and tourists alike participate in the parade of bands. Each band is led by a King and Queen, who wear extremely large costumes, often requiring extensions and wheels to assist the masquerader to carry it through the streets. Each year on Dimanche Gras (Carnival Sunday), a competition is held to award the King and Queen of Carnival title to two of these masqueraders.



On Carnival Monday and Tuesday, the bands are in competition to win the Band of the Year title. Small monetary prizes are associated with these titles, though they do not cover the full amount of producing the band's music or the King's or Queen's costumes. Participation occurs at all levels of society; three-time calypso monarch David Rudder described it as "from bourgeois to grassroots." Children participate from as early as parents can get them into costume; sometime even strollers are decorated.



Children can extend their fun by participating in smaller "Kiddies' Carnival" shows, competitions and parades as early as 4 weeks before the culmination of the festival. For weeks ahead, several preliminary rounds of competitions and parties (or fetes) take place. As Carnival is part of the national curriculum, several programmes take place at schools across the country. Regional authorities handle smaller Carnival celebrations in smaller towns and villages. Some of the most innovative carnival costumes came from kiddies carnival. Rosalind Gabriel, a 30-year veteran and the most decorated children's bandleader in the country's history, has sent her costumes to carnivals in North America and other Caribbean islands. Proving that Carnival not only has worldwide appeal to adults, but children too.

of thousands with many more watching on TV and via the free live stream online options.Today, musical competitions make up a large part of formal Carnival. To be named Calypso Monarch is one of the country's greatest honours, and the competition which is called Dimanche Gras is aired on television. Along with the honour comes an enormous trophy, a car, TT $1,000,000 and possible endorsements and other contracts. Other prestigious titles are the King and Queen of the Bands; the International Soca Monarch (both Groovy and Power); the Carnival Road March; and Panorama (for steelpan). For the latter, the 2011 prize was TT$2 million. There are also other competitions that are involved in the Calypso Monarch.Traditionally, musicians use drums, claves, and the steelpan, created in Trinidad, and reported to be the only non-electrical instrument invented in the 20th century that has been hammered down in different areas to create a wide range of different notes. A group of performers practise weeks in advance on these pans to compete.Trinidad and Tobago is multicultural (Amerindian, European, African, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern), and all of its groups have contributed musical influences to the sounds of Carnival. These cultures have combined to create music vastly different from that of Carnival in Spain, Venice, or New Orleans.As with other Carnivals, many participants wear elaborate costumes, often decorated with feathers and sequins. Carnival bands are organized groups made up of participants who pay for costumes fashioned by a designer and assembled by teams of volunteers. The costumed participants dance through the streets to the sounds of a steel band, a soca band or a d.j.  this is called "playing mas'". A unique feature of this parade is that locals and tourists alike participate in the parade of bands. Each band is led by a King and Queen, who wear extremely large costumes, often requiring extensions and wheels to assist the masquerader to carry it through the streets. Each year on Dimanche Gras (Carnival Sunday), a competition is held to award the King and Queen of Carnival title to two of these masqueraders.On Carnival Monday and Tuesday, the bands are in competition to win the Band of the Year title. Small monetary prizes are associated with these titles, though they do not cover the full amount of producing the band's music or the King's or Queen's costumes. Participation occurs at all levels of society; three-time calypso monarch David Rudder described it as "from bourgeois to grassroots." Children participate from as early as parents can get them into costume; sometime even strollers are decorated.Children can extend their fun by participating in smaller "Kiddies' Carnival" shows, competitions and parades as early as 4 weeks before the culmination of the festival. For weeks ahead, several preliminary rounds of competitions and parties (or fetes) take place. As Carnival is part of the national curriculum, several programmes take place at schools across the country. Regional authorities handle smaller Carnival celebrations in smaller towns and villages. Some of the most innovative carnival costumes came from kiddies carnival. Rosalind Gabriel, a 30-year veteran and the most decorated children's bandleader in the country's history, has sent her costumes to carnivals in North America and other Caribbean islands. Proving that Carnival not only has worldwide appeal to adults, but children too. Author:

Martin Kerrigan

e-mail

Web: http://www.myworldevents.com

Phone: 0035799813173 24.02.2020 11:26:22 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.
DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan has suspended all air flights to Iran as many countries in the region scramble to take precautions after Tehran announced the highest death toll from the coronavirus outside of China.



Aziz Nabizoda, the deputy director of the Tajik Civil Aviation Agency, said all flights were suspended as of February 24.

According to Nabizoda, the agency has informed Iran's Varesh Airlines, as well as domestic airlines Tajik Air and Somoni Air, of the move.



Iran's semiofficial ILNA news agency reported on February 24 that 50 people had died from the virus in the central city of Qom, but Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi rejected the report, telling a news conference that the total number of confirmed cases stood at 61, including 12 deaths.



Iran is one of the most popular destinations for Tajiks as the two nations share historical, linguistic, and cultural ties.
US President Donald Trump, who has said that he is looking forward to being with the people of India, is on the final leg of his journey to Ahmedabad after a short scheduled stopover at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, according to the pool reporter travelling with him.

Air Force One spent 80 minutes at the base for refuelling on Sunday and continued the journey at 11:30 p.m. local time (4 a.m. Monday in India) and is scheduled to reach Ahmedabad at 11:40 a.m.



Before leaving the White House, he told reporters, that he felt the two-day trip was not long enough, although it will be very exciting.



He said, "I'm going to be there one night. That's not too much."



But "it's going to be very exciting," he said.





With the campaign for the November presidential election in full swing, he has a tight schedule.



A day after his return, Trump is to attend a campaign rally in South Carolina on Thursday before the state's primary election on Saturday.



He said, "I look forward to being with the people of India. We're going to have many millions and millions of people."



He added, "I get along very well with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi. He's a friend of mine. I committed to this trip a long time ago, and I look forward to going."



About the the "Namaste Modi!a programme at Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Stadium, he said, "I hear it's going to be a big event. Some people say the biggest event they've ever had in India. That's what the Prime Minister told me. This will be the biggest event they've ever had."



He had earlier tweeted, "Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA!"



Trump who had last visited India in 2014 as a real estate businessman returns as President this time.



The visit 19 days after his "acquittal " and his first foray abroad - is an attempt to revalidate his standings as a statesman admired by millions.



Trump is probably more popular in India than in the US, if the Pew Research opinion poll that showed 56 per cent of Indians having confidence in him is to be taken as a measure of his popularity.



In the US, his approval ratings in recent polls range between 42 per cent and 49 per cent for an average of 46 per cent, according to the polls aggregator RealClear Politics.



The highlight of his visit is the "Namaste Trump!" event at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, where he is expected to address a crowd of about 120,000.



For him and First Lady Melania Trump, the next stop is to be Agra and the Taj Mahal.



They fly to Delhi Monday night for fully packed Tuesday, when he is to hold bilateral talks with Modi, meet Indian investors in the US manufacturing sector and attend a State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.



Trump, who is into superlatives and records, probably meant the crowds for a visiting leader when he claimed that Modi had told him he would have "the biggest event they've ever had."
(Newser)  Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Monday to restored charges that accuse him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year in Chicago and falsely reporting to police that the phony attack was real. His lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf to six counts of felony disorderly conduct. She also told Judge James B. Linn that she has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to halt the case. A somber looking Smollett, 37, entered the Cook County courthouse wearing sunglasses and sporting a beard, flanked by his legal team and surrounded by reporters. "He's obviously frustrated to be dragged through this process again," Glandian told reporters after the hearing, calling the revived prosecution "an ordeal" for Smollett.

story continues below

Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of the charge in the same courthouse last year, just weeks before Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office abruptly announced it was dismissing the case, angering police and City Hall. Smollett's attorneys also have filed a motion in Cook County court arguing that the refiling of charges violated protections against being charged twice for the same crime, known as double jeopardy. Prosecutors have said double jeopardy does not apply because Smollett was not prosecuted last year. Linn on Monday set a $20,000 personal recognizance bond, which means Smollett does not have to pay any of it, reports the AP. He was not taken into custody. His next court date is March 18.

(Read more Jussie Smollett stories.)
This reads like a Tom Clancy novel on steroids. Like a bizarre merger between Debt of Honor and Executive Orders, our hero, Jack Ryan/Donald J. Trump as the Boy Scout who can't be bought, has to deal with a myriad of seemingly disparate circumstances that intertwine into a cataclysmic finish that only our hero can navigate. But unlike in a "normal" Clancy thriller, our hero is not presented with three simultaneous crises. In our real-life adventure, Trump is dealing with more than double that number.

Our in-your-face villain is the Deep State, who, in an unusual turn, has decided to come out in the open and directly come after a duly elected president. As an apparatus built for another candidate who could not lose, this antagonist is replete with secret agents, crooked cops, corrupt judges, and elitist snobs who wish to destroy our country from within. We'll throw in the entire Democrat Party, which has been co-opted by a 130-year-old "new" generation of command-and-control statists who know exactly what is good for us and who should lead.

Now stir in the billionaire boys' club that has no use for a strong America, as it goes against the final goal of a one-world order. The puppet-master of this part of our story is the man who has brazenly declared his wish for America's destruction. George Soros, through his web of non-profit "humanitarian" organizations, has ushered in liberty's destruction by purchasing battalions of basement-dwelling pajama boys to burn deep blue cities to the ground if they fail to capitulate.

Throw in the diabolical superpower that through currency manipulation and viciously unfair trade practices has managed to acquire 5% of our national debt and can burn us to the ground on a whim (again, see Debt of Honor). Mixed into this soup is a weaponized coronavirus that is now starting to make its way across the globe (see Executive Orders). If you believe that a closed society is willing to disclose the actual number of infections and death statistics, you really have not been paying attention for the last 70 years. Since China believes that it is already overpopulated, as demonstrated by its one child policy, it can more than rationalize wiping out a quarter of its population in order to wreak havoc across the globe. Since no other president has ever exhibited a "clear and present danger," and Trump has, China is looking for a twofer by reducing the number of mouths it has to feed and clearing the road for a more malleable resident of the Oval Office.

Normally, that would be enough intrigue to fill a two-inch paperback thriller, but not for our champion. Because, as he states, they are coming after him because he is fighting for us, they have to add more layers of antagonism to our story.

Since Trump has discovered the secret sauce for reigniting our economic recovery (reducing taxes and stifling regulations), the powers have decided that this boom must be sacrificed on the altar of convenience. Through that mustache-twisting private entity known as the Fed, we've seen the harbinger of economic destruction make a blip on the financial radar. Known as the inverted yield curve, which has historically predicted the next recession, we crossed that mark not once, but twice in 2019. Now the seeds of doubt have been sown on our roaring economy. Although our hero has slain the multitude of bad treaties that have hamstrung our country for years, those who pull the levers behind the curtain cannot let this market continue to prosper.

But how can a united people not withstand this hurricane? Well, they thought about that, too, as the great divider of the previous administration tried to split us into separate factions  black vs. white, rich vs. poor, American vs. illegal alien, red vs. blue. It is amazing that to date, we have not erupted into a civil war.

Not enough? How about trillions of dollars of public debt to drag down the one shining beacon of freedom left in the world? As Lady Liberty is yoked with an insurmountable level of debt, how can we defend the globe against the one-world order? Even hamstrung as we've become, everyone wants in for all the freebies we offer to the underserved. And this is only the debt we see the Fed holding over our great nation. The part of the iceberg we do not see is the amount of debt associated with the unfunded public pensions that are sure to bankrupt our governments at the state and local levels.

Just for fun, let's import refugees from parts of the world who have written in scripture that those who do not believe as they do deserve to die. In refusing to assimilate, they are sworn to take us down from within using our own tools of liberty.

Since the MSM have become the propaganda-waving cheerleaders of our demise, real news has gone underground through message boards via an anonymous group of patriots tracking all these vectors. My favorite Q drop has been number 3600, which states, "For those who decide to save the taxpayers some money. There is no escaping God." One can jump to the conclusion that Q believes that those guilty of these atrocities will take their own lives as the easy way out, but that is a sin against God. The correct interpretation of this message is to tell the Q Army not to go all Henry Bowman (see John Ross's Unintended Consequences) on them and commit the sin of murder by removing these plentiful scumbags from the chessboard. The message remains "Trust in the Plan."

You literally cannot make this stuff up. Enjoy the show.

Steven Baird (@rabbidfox) is a part-time failed politician trying to bring representation to the northern part of California and the author of My Kvetch  True Confessions of a Democrat Politician.
"Cynthia has served our board and our company with distinction since 2015," said Condron. "Her election as vice chair is a reflection of the confidence our board has in her and is intended to ensure a smooth and orderly transition to a new independent chair."

Egan was president of retirement plan services for T. Rowe Price Group, a global investment management organization, from 2007 until her retirement in 2012. Before joining T. Rowe Price, she held senior positions with Fidelity Investments, a multinational financial services corporation, from 1989 to 2007, including executive vice president, head of Fidelity's Institutional Services Company, president of the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and executive vice president of Fidelity Management Research Co. Egan is a director of UNUM Corporation (NYSE: UNM) and the BlackRock Fixed Income Funds Complex, as well as chair of the board of visitors of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Hughes has more than 40 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry. He currently serves as non-executive chair of the board of directors of HUB International, a privately held insurance brokerage firm that provides an array of property, casualty, risk management, life and health, employee benefits, investment, and wealth management products and services across North America.

"Marty is a highly experienced insurance executive with a broad and deep understanding of our business and an impressive record of accomplishment," said Condron. "He brings a unique perspective, formed through his experiences on the front lines of our business and ultimately as the leader of one of our industry's largest and most successful brokerage firms. We are pleased to have Marty join our board."

Hughes began his career in 1973 as a producer at Mack and Parker, Inc., an independent insurance agency (now part of HUB), where he later served as president from 1990 to 1999, and as chair from 1999 to 2001. He subsequently rose to the position of chair and chief executive officer of HUB International, serving in that capacity from 1999 to 2018, including while it was a public, New York Stock Exchange-listed company, before its sale to private investors. Hughes led the firm through a period of strong growth. He also has served as chair of both the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, an association of the top commercial insurance and employee benefits intermediaries, as well as Assurex Global, a leading worldwide insurance services organization.

Separately, The Hanover announced Michael D. Price resigned as a director of the board for personal reasons, effective at the company's annual meeting of shareholders, to be held May 12, 2020.

About The Hanover

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agents, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit hanover.com .

Contacts

SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
A Samsung Securities official explains its "online shareholders' meeting" platform at the Samsung Finance Campus in southern Seoul on Nov. 25 last year. Courtesy of Samsung Securities



By Lee Min-hyung



The introduction of the so-called "electronic voting system" is changing the landscape of conventional shareholders' meetings where individual investors were unable to voice their opinions to corporate management.



Until recently, minority shareholders could not exert their voting rights during general meetings, as it was impossible for many to attend during weekdays.



But as more companies here start to adopt the electronic voting policy, additional individual investors are expected to exercise their voting rights via online or mobile channels during regular shareholder meetings.



The system was introduced in 2010 to improve the voting rights of minority shareholders. But only a few listed firms implemented the system due to the now-defunct "shadow voting policy."



Under that system, the votes of shareholders who were not at the meeting were automatically excluded in the ratio of pros and cons from shareholders present. This was aimed at allowing meetings to meet quorum requirements.



For this reason, only a small portion of more than 2,000 listed firms here took part in the electronic voting system.



But things started to change from the beginning of 2018 after financial authorities abolished the shadow voting system, as it does not encourage small investors to participate in meetings.



As companies seek to pass crucial agendas during meetings by reaching the quorum, more listed firms here are on track to introduce the electronic voting system.



From this year, Samsung Electronics, the nation's largest firm by market capitalization, has decided to adopt the system. Other major conglomerates and their affiliates, such as Hyundai Motor Group and its 12 subsidiaries, and SK hynix, recently jumped on the bandwagon.



But it remains to be seen whether the online voting system will reap results as intended, as minority shareholders have traditionally shown little interest in meetings.



A change in perception is crucial for sustainable growth of the local stock market, according to industry sources. They said, however, more time is required to raise the awareness of the importance of minority shareholders' votes.



"In the past, the electronic voting system was only available through one online channel operated by the state-controlled Korea Securities Depository (KSD), but now more and more securities firms, such as Mirae Asset Daewoo, are offering a similar service," an official from the Korea Exchange said.



Starting this year, Samsung Securities also opened online channels for shareholders to vote.



"Under the current law, firms are not obliged to offer the electric voting system, but financial organizations, such as the Korea Listed Companies Association, are encouraging more firms to join the drive," the official said.



Above all, individual and minority shareholders will feel less tempted to attend the actual meeting of shareholders in this hyper-connected era with the rise of mobile phones and non-facial transactions, he said.



According to data from the Korea Capital Market Institute, e-voting is available at only about 20 percent of the top 100 KOSPI-listed firms, while more than 90 percent of listed firms whose market capitalization exceeds 10.7 trillion won ($9.1 billion) offer the service.



"But Korean firms will slowly stop sticking to the traditional concept of holding face-to-face shareholders' meetings and embrace the electronic voting system," the official said.



A KSD spokesman said: "The digital voting system was out of favor for the past decade due to shadow voting, but it is now gaining traction, with more and more securities firms set to open digital voting channels for small shareholders."



An official from one of LG's affiliates said the expansion of the e-voting system is a positive sign, allowing more investors to share their ideas for corporate growth.


Traveling is fun and exciting, but sometimes it can be dangerous. There are many popular tourist spots around the world where people have died. The deaths can occur because of poor construction, carelessness, inclement weather, wildlife, or difficult terrain.

Glass Walkways

China has seen a huge surge in the number of glass walkways over the last decade. However, many have been shut down in recent years because of injuries and fatalities. According to BBC, one tourist died at a glass slide in Guangxi autonomous region in 2019. Six more were injured on the same slide. A similar fatality occurred at a glass slide in Hubei province in 2017.

Action Park

Action Park gained a notorious reputation during its eighteen-year history. The amusement and water park was known for its poor safety record and dangerous rides. There were six fatalities at the park, including deaths from drowning, electrocution, and blunt-force trauma. Despite the deaths, the park remained open and some visitors attended the park because it was so dangerous. Following the closure of the park, the land was sold and a new a much safer water park opened in its place.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a breathtaking tourist destination, but the steep steps can also pose a risk to travelers. According to the Washington Post, a German tourist fell to his death at the site while attempting to take a selfie. Other recorded fatalities include a Russian tourist who was struck by lighting and an American who died when he fell down a ravine on the Inca trail.

Mount Everest

Many mountain climbers dream of reaching the top of Mount Everest, but even the most seasoned adventurers often fail at this task. According to CNN, eleven climbers died on the mountain in 2019 alone. Overcrowding is a huge problem on the mountain, and it is one of the reasons there are so many deaths.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is visited by thousands of tourists every year because of the beauty of the natural wonder. However, the Grand Canyon also poses risks despite numerous safety measures. The Arizona Daily Sun reported that 55 people have fallen into the canyon. However, dying from dehydration or heat exhaustion is much more likely. The chance of falling into the Grand Canyon is about one in 400,000.

Skellig Michael

Tourism at Skellig Michael has increased in recent years due to it being featured in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The increase in visitors has caused officials to worry. There have been multiple deaths at the iconic island. Two American hikers fell to their deaths on the island in 2009.

Half Dome

A staggering number of people have injured themselves or died trying to climb Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. The iconic rock formation poses numerous risks to hikers. According to Business Insider, there have been at least 190 accidents at the rock in the last fifteen years. Twelve people have died trying to hike to the top of the rock in the last fifteen years.

Pamplona

Every year travelers from around the world risk their lives to run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. The event offers adventuresome travelers a chance to experience something exhilarating, but not all participants make it out alive. The last fatally occurred in 2009, and fifteen people have died since recordkeeping began in 1910.

Aokigahara Forest

Aokigahara, which is a two-hour drive from Tokyo, has a staggering death toll. The forest is know as the Sea of Trees, and tourists from around the world come to see the splendor of this beautiful area that lies at the base of Mount Fuji. The forest has earned the nickname suicide forest because so many people visit the area with the intent to kill themselves. Some suicidal visitors change their mind once they reach the center of the forest, but the dense tree growth prevents them from finding their way back. According to the Japan Times, there were 54 suicides in the forest in 2010. Japanese officials have stopped releasing death statistics for the forest in recent years to dissuade suicide attempts.

New South Wales, Australia

Shark attacks make the beaches of New South Wales a dangerous place for tourists. According to finder.com, there were 156 shark attacks in New South Wales from 1988 to 2018. Seven of the attacks were fatal. Australia has the highest number of shark attack fatalities in the world, but the United States has a greater number of attacks.

Anything in life can be dangerous, including traveling. If you plan on visiting a dangerous vacation spot be sure to do your research and be prepared. Pay attention and always pack the proper gear.
Marrying into the royal family is not as glamorous as it seems. It is not only about titles and castles, but it also entails responsibilities -- and a massive one at that.

As royal experts would say, it is a job not for the weak at heart.

When Kate Middleton was first dating Prince Willian, Queen Elizabeth II expressed her concerns about her not having her own "identity." Some of the monarch's grave concerns included the fact that she may not be aware of the responsibilities of marrying into the royal family.

The Challenge on Kate

Kate Middleton did not appear to have much work ethics, and this caused the Queen to worry. In fact, she earned the title "Waity Kaitey" because she seemed like she was just waiting for Prince William to make a move and all will be well.

Katie Nicholl, a royal expert and author of the book "The Making of Romance" released in 201, revealed that the Queen had intervened in the relationship two years before their engagement. She wanted to make sure that Kate got a job before she married into the family.

Nicholl wrote in her book, "Privately (The Queen) believed that Kate needed to work to build an identity of her own before any engagement was announced."

The Queen is one of the most hardworking royals even at her age. "She wants to make sure that any future member of the Royal Family should have a full-time job because not working was completely unacceptable," Nicholl said.

Kate was advised by the palace to take on some charity work. That was when she started working with terminally ill children with Starlight. Alongside that, Kate also worked at Jigsaw, a fashion house, before she moved to work on their family business, Party Pieces.

Silencing Meghan

Meghan Markle, on the other hand, was a complete contrast as she was a full-time actress and a vocal activist for many years before she met and married Prince Harry. In fact, she has voiced out her stand on various issues, particularly on women empowerment. At some point, she was appointed as a UN Women's advocate.

The Duchess of Sussex, back then, was also known to speak openly about politics and even branded President Donald Trump as "Divisive" and "Misogynistic" in 2016.

Paul Burrell, the former butler to Princess Diana, revealed that Meghan was asked to "tone down" her beliefs. In an interview with the Royal Box of Yahoo U.K., Burrell said that "What comes with maturity is a set of beliefs and they do not sit well with the Royal Family."

Burrell further revealed that Meghan was asked to toe the party line and keep her opinions to herself.

Clearly, Kate was asked to step up her work and build her individual identity while Meghan (who was strong-willed from the beginning) was asked to get in line and be less outspoken.

Many have compared the Duchess of Cambridge to the Duchess of Sussex and how truly different they have become when they both married into the royal family. Although many speculations have been said about the relationship of Kate to Meghan, people who have worked closely with them could only speak of how different they are.

With the huge difference from the advice they received before they married into the royal family, the two women could only do so much. Was it unfair to Meghan to be told to speak less? It truly depends. At the end of the day, the royal family only wants the best for its members and constituents.
Due to the early starts, breakfast TV is known as the toughest gig in media.

But being the newsreader on Sunrise has given Natalie Barr, 51, the opportunity to have a front row seat at some of the biggest events in history.

As the award-winning journalist celebrated 25 years with Channel Seven on Monday, she revealed the event she still 'can't believe' she was lucky enough to attend.

Anniversary: On Monday, newsreader Natalie Barr revealed some of the highlights of her 25-year career at Channel Seven

'For me it was standing in the middle of two million people watching Barack Obama being sworn in,' Natalie revealed to Sunrise host David Koch on the show.

Over the last 12 years, Natalie has reported on everything from bushfires to terror attacks in Europe.

There was one story, however, which hit a little too close to home for the broadcast journalist.

In December 2014, during the Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney's CBD, Natalie was brought to tears when she revealed her personal connection to victim Katrina Dawson.

'I just can't believe I was there': Natalie said the best moment of her career was attending the inauguration of American President Barrack Obama on January 20, 2009

At the time, news had filtered through that Ms Dawson, a 38-year-old lawyer, had died during the attack, along with the cafe's manager, Tori Johnson.

'I'm just finding out that Katrina Dawson was the sister of a prominent barrister, Sandy Dawson, who has done some work for Channel Seven,' said Barr.

Noticeably upset, Natalie added: 'Sandy Dawson, who I know and I have friends who know. A mother of three children. Im just finding this out this morning.

In the field: During her career Natalie has covered everything from bushfire disasters to terror attacks in Europe

She continued: 'When you put the faces to the people who have died overnight, its just heartbreaking.'

A visibly shaken Barr was then given time to compose herself before bravely continuing the broadcast from a street near Martin Place, the scene of the siege.

Looking back on the fateful day, Barr later admitted she was 'embarrassed' that she become so emotional.

In tears: Natalie was left in tears when she covered the Lindt Cafe Terror attacks in Martin Place, Sydney with David Koch (pictured) in December 2014

'I didnt want to cry, I didnt plan to cry, I was embarrassed I cried that day,' she told the Daily Telegraph on the first anniversary of the attack.

'Looking back, it was the moment the true horror of it all really hit me.'

'I didnt know Katrina Dawson. When I found out she was a mum of three little kids, an adored wife, a sister, a daughter. It was here, metres away, and it was someones life.'
People wear masks to help guard against the new coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran on Feb. 23, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iran Denies Lawmakers Claim That 50 People Died From Coronavirus

An Iranian lawmaker from the city of Qom said 50 people in the city have died of the new coronavirus in February, drawing a swift rebuke from the countrys health ministry and insisted that the death toll is much lower.

Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, the lawmaker, made the claim in an interview with The Associated Press before accusing Irans leadership of failing to contain the outbreak.

I think the performance of the administration in controlling the virus has not been successful, Farahani said, referring President Hassan Rouhanis government. None of the nurses have access to proper protective gear, he added. So far, I have not seen any particular action to confront corona by the administration.

But health ministry spokesperson rejected Farahanis claim and said only 47 people have been infected and a dozen people have died.

No one is qualified to discuss this sort of news at all, Harirchi told AP, saying that lawmakers dont have access to such data. He said that Farahani may have mixed coronavirus death figures with influenza or other diseases.

A number of countries neighboring Iran have implemented travel restrictions or have gone so far as to close down their borders. Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Armenia announced land border closures in recent days.

A policeman and pedestrians wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus, in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

On Monday, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, and Oman announced their first cases of the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease and is believed to have emerged in Wuhan, China. Tens of thousands of people are suspected to have been infected by the virus inside China, although experts have raised concerns that China has not provided an accurate picture of the outbreak.

The new confirmed cases come as World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference that the world should be doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic. But cautioned that using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear.

Elaborating, WHOs Dr. Mike Ryan said that officials need to be very careful in the first wave of infections in any newly infected country, because we may only be detecting severe cases and the deaths will be overrepresented in that. We also need to be cognizant that the virus may have been there for longer than we had previously suspected.

The virus is believed to have spread primarily via religious gatherings in Qom, said Ryan, who noted it bears some similarity to other clusters of cases, including the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where hundreds of people became sickened after spending two weeks in medical isolation off the coast of Japan.
Boeing Co. put three employees who worked with the former chief technical pilot of the 737 Max on administrative leave as a federal grand jury investigates whether he intentionally misled the Federal Aviation Administration about a software system tied to two deadly crashes, people familiar with the matter said.

The employees were notified of the action this week, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters.

Meanwhile, as part of a U.S. criminal investigation, the grand jury has been examining statements made to the FAA by the former chief technical pilot, Mark Forkner, one person said. Forkner has been at the center of the Max controversy since October, when Boeing released internal messages in which he expressed worry over misleading the agency about the new software. He also discussed Jedi mind tricking regulators outside the U.S. into accepting the training requirements for the new plane.

Clowns and Monkeys

Boeing released more internal messages in January, provoking an outcry from Congressional investigators and victims families over comments in which employees mocked regulators and seemed to suggest a cavalier attitude toward safety. The names of the employees were redacted. This airplane is designed by clowns, who in turn are supervised by monkeys, one employee wrote. Would you put your family on a Max simulator trained aircraft? I wouldnt, an employee said in another message.

Under Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun, who took over for the ousted Dennis Muilenburg last month, the planemaker has pledged to restore public trust. The personnel moves come after Calhoun vowed to stamp out the disturbing behavior revealed in the messages. In a call with reporters Jan. 22, he called them totally appalling and said they were part of a micro-culture that doesnt reflect the companys values. A statement at the time the messages were released said Boeing would take appropriate action ultimately including disciplinary moves.

A Boeing spokesman declined to comment on the personnel moves.

The New York Times earlier reported that prosecutors have questioned several Boeing employees in front of the grand jury in recent months about whether Forkner deliberately misled FAA officials. Boeing is cooperating with the Justice Department investigation, said Gordon Johndroe, a Boeing spokesman.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

The Max, Boeings top-selling plane, has been grounded worldwide for almost a year, costing one of the largest U.S. exporters nearly $19 billion and disrupting the global aviation industry. A criminal investigation began weeks after the October 2018 crash of a Max operated by , and became public after another Max flown by Ethiopian Airlines crashed in March near Addis Ababa.

Unprecedented Scrutiny

The accidents killed a total of 346 people and led to unprecedented scrutiny of a century-old company whose name is nearly synonymous with flight. The investigation is being conducted in part by the Transportation Departments Inspector Generals office, and the Justice Departments Criminal Division in Washington is using a grand jury to help gather information, Bloomberg has reported.

In messages to a colleague in November 2016, Forkner expressed worry that he had misled the FAA on how the system implicated in both crashes, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, worked. So I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly), he wrote. It wasnt a lie, no one told us this was the case, a colleague replied.

Initially, Boeing engineers designed MCAS to activate only at high speeds. But the company concluded later in the planes development that it needed to operate during all speed ranges. Oh shocker alert! MCAS is now active down to M .2, Forkner wrote to his colleague, an apparent reference to 0.2 times the speed of sound, a relatively slow speed for a jet.

He continued by saying that MCAS  which automatically pushes down the nose of the jet  had been running rampant in a simulator and called it egregious.

The changes in MCAS have been a central part of the accident investigations; the increase in the systems power made it harder for pilots to counteract during a malfunction.

Forkners lawyer, David Gerger, has said the full context of the chat shows that there was no attempt to lie to the FAA. Forkners concerns were with how a simulator being developed for the Max was performing, Gerger said last year.

Marks career  at Air Force, at FAA, and at Boeing  was about safety. And based on everything he knew, he absolutely thought this plane was safe, Gerger said. He didnt reply Friday to an email seeking comment.

The messages released by Boeing in January included others suggesting employees were concerned they had misled people. This isnt a true statement, said one unidentified person in a May 15, 2018, series of messages. Yes, I still havent been forgiven by God for the covering up I did last year, another person replied.

The subject about which they are writing isnt clear from the messages, and later in the conversation one of the people added: Ok then. We are good. No problem then.

With assistance from Tom Schoenberg.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:51:42|Editor: yan

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JUBA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese experts on Monday urged President Salva Kiir and his newly appointed first vice president Riek Machar to rebuild lost trust and confidence during the three-year transition period.

Kiir last week reappointed Machar, leader of the main-opposition group Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) who had been fighting Kiir's government since the outbreak of conflict in December 2013.

The two leaders are currently locked in a discussion on ministerial appointments within the transitional unity government after Kiir also reappointed two deputy presidents including Taban Deng Gai, James Wani Igga, and two other newcomers Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior and Hussein Abdelbagi Akol.

Jacob Chol, professor of politics at University of Juba told Xinhua that the reappointment of Machar after he fled Juba during renewed violence in July 2016 augurs well for peace in the country.

"What we should look at now is that the two leaders should build their confidence to be able to ensure that they run through the three years of the transitional period. It means, that business should not be as usual as in (July) 2016, it should change in terms of ensuring that the leaders do not allow any hardliners in between," said Chol in Juba.

"They should always build consensus on whatever they talk about, they should build a relationship that is cordial and friendly," he added.

The expert noted that the decision of the former warring parties to recently compromise on the issue of the number of the states, has helped push them forward to resolve pending issues within the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

"The issue of skepticism about power struggle between the two leaders has been there, but South Sudanese have learned a hard lesson, that if we don't implement this peace agreement or if the leaders don't implement this agreement on time, that cannot be very good for the country and for them," added Chol.

Chol added that when South Sudanese got their independence in 2011, the challenge faced by post-independence leadership was that they concentrated on state-building and forgot nation-building, which has been the major cause of the 2013 crisis.

"The nation are the communities, tribal groups, so when these tribal communities were not built through reconciliation, and empowerment, these nations when conflict began at the level of the leaders especially on their disagreement, these nations got themselves involved into trying to support their own leaders because they themselves were not empowered," said Chol.

"The United Nations came in with a concept of building South Sudanese people as a state, and later on they came and said they wanted to build a state and they forgot the people. They realized that the state itself cannot be engineered without people being engineered," he added.

Augustino Ting Mayai, political analyst at the Juba-based Sudd Institute, revealed that the power struggle between the two leaders in 2013 sparked the political crisis in South Sudan.

He added that Kiir and Machar should rebuild lost trust, and confidence to help restore peace in South Sudan.

"If the parties to the conflict who have now agreed to end and do the right thing, there should be no return to renewed violence of July 2016. What we should be asking now is on whether the two leaders have enough trust between themselves to be able to deliver," said Mayai.

"If the principals are genuine in their commitment to peace, they should be able to rebuild their relationship, rebuild trust and confidence in one another, and if that is realized we should be able to see sustainable peace in the country, but again it's a big question whether or not that can happen?" he added.

James Okuk, lecturer of political science at the University of Juba, said the two leaders have decided to avoid going back to war and further sanctions by forming the government.

"The first thing they are saving their faces, and they are saving their necks from the wrath of the international community who are very angry with them. So, they are trying to cool down the international community first not the citizens of South Sudan," said Okuk.

"After cooling the international community, they are going back to their politics again, meaning each one will be working for their interests. That means, there will not be total harmony between them, there could be quarrels here and there between them," he added.

Okuk said Kiir and Machar have already violated the 2018 agreement, by failing to appoint cabinet on time.

"They have started the unity government with a violation of the agreement. For Kiir, to appoint one minister alone without a consensus of the others is a violation of the agreement. For Machar, to accept to take the oath of office without the security arrangement in place, particularly the necessary unified forces he is violating Chapter 2 of the agreement," added Okuk.

"They have met the deadline by forming the government, but the deadline is not the solution. There are a lot of overwhelming issues, that are pending to be resolved which means the citizen is still anxious about whether things will be smooth or again they could be some kind of clashes here and there," he added.
GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. - A New Brunswick doctor who uses cannabis to treat veterans with PTSD says Lionel Desmond wasn't suicidal and showed no sign he was a threat to others in February 2016, less than a year before the former infantryman killed three members of his family and himself.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Desmond Fatality Inquiry is being held at the Guysborough Municipal building in Guysborough, N.S. on November 18, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. - A New Brunswick doctor who uses cannabis to treat veterans with PTSD says Lionel Desmond wasn't suicidal and showed no sign he was a threat to others in February 2016, less than a year before the former infantryman killed three members of his family and himself.

"He was very open with his feelings, and he had things to live for," Dr. Paul Smith's told a provincial fatality inquiry, which entered its fifth week of hearings Monday.

"His suicidal thinking had dropped dramatically."

Smith's testimony was considered pivotal to the inquiry because he was the one who signed off on a medical form that allowed Desmond to purchase the semi-automatic rifle he used in the killings on Jan. 3, 2017.

The physician said he was unaware his recommendation would carry so much weight. In fact, he said, he expected Desmond's licence to be rejected by the RCMP or another agency.

"I didn't think I was the final decision maker," he testified.

Desmond, who served in Afghanistan in 2007, was medically released from the army in June 2015, four years after he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder.

On July 2, 2015, he met with Smith, who approved him for treatment using medical marijuana.

"Lionel was a likable guy right from the beginning, " Smith testified. "I didn't have to draw things out of him .... He wore his heart on his sleeve."

However, even though Desmond received psychotherapy and medications while he was in the military, Smith said it was clear he needed more treatment for his PTSD symptoms.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, Desmond told Smith the following symptoms rated a 10: hyper-vigilance, depression, flashbacks, anger and feeling disconnected.

Despite those numbers, Desmond rated his suicidal thoughts at 6, and Smith rated Desmond's homicidal ideation at zero.

At the time, Desmond had stopped taking drugs prescribed by military doctors because the pills didn't help with his insomnia, anxiety, depression, lethargy and muscle spasms, Smith said.

Instead, Desmond was smoking about one gram of cannabis daily, which Smith said was the equivalent of two marijuana cigarettes.

Smith prescribed Desmond up to 10 grams of medical marijuana daily, though he described that amount as a ceiling dose. At a follow-up meeting on Oct. 1, 2015, Desmond reported positive results.

"He had a significant improvement in symptoms," Smith said.

But there was a problem a few weeks later, when Desmond's wife Shanna called Smith to tell him her husband was acting aggressively and appeared to be in a manic state.

Smith said Desmond later insisted he was not feeling angry or manic, but he did tell the doctor he was frustrated with his wife for causing financial hardship, and he revealed that the two were headed for a separation.

"The only thing he was stressed out about was money," Smith said. "It's a raw issue. He's pissed off, and he's been that way for years."

The next time Smith met Desmond was on Feb. 23, 2016, when the retired soldier presented the doctor with a medical assessment form from the chief firearms officer in New Brunswick.

The form said Desmond's firearms licence was under review because he had indicated to his wife he was contemplating suicide on Nov. 27, 2015 when he was living in Oromocto, N.B. He was arrested under the province's Mental Health Act and his weapons were confiscated in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Smith said it was his assessment that Desmond was responding well to treatment and wasn't a threat to himself or others.

"Non-suicidal and stable," Smith wrote on the form. "No concerns for firearms usage with appropriate licence."

Inquiry council Shane Russell asked Smith if he was aware of two separate incidents in November 2015, when the RCMP in Nova Scotia were called to deal with Desmond after others complained he was acting in an aggressive manner.

Smith said he wasn't told about those police calls.

"It would have given a slightly different picture," he said. "(But) I thought I wasn't the one to make the final decision."

On Jan. 3, 2017, Desmond bought a SKS 7.62 carbine, which he used later that night to kill his 31-year-old wife, their 10-year-old daughter Aaliyah and his 52-year-old mother Brenda inside the family's home in Upper Big Tracadie, N.S.

He then turned the gun on himself.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.

 By Michael MacDonald in Halifax.
The medical report of the 23-year-old Dalit man, who was allegedly tortured by seven people in Rajasthans Nagaur district on February 16, shows the victim was hit by a blunt weapon and sustained multiple injuries.

The report by the medical board, headed by a medical jurist of Pt JLN Government Hospital in Nagaur, Dr Mahaveer Choyal, said multiple bluish bruises were found on the back of the victims body.

HT has a copy of the medical report.

Bruise of 12 by 3 centimetres (cm) was found on the backside of thorax, 11 by 2 cm on the upper part of the buttock, 8 by 3 cm on the backside of right thighs, according to the medical examination on February 19, the day FIR was registered.

The reports also said that the duration of injury was three to four days old.

Similarly, a brownish colour bruise of 10 by 1.5cm in size was found on his left arm and two blackish colour bruise of 14 by 2cm and 13 by 2cm were found on the left side of iliacregion close to the left buttock.

Also, a bruise of 7 by 2cm in size was found on the left thigh as slight reddish discolouration was noted in his anal regions.

However, the board has reserved its final opinion.

Opinion reserved will be given after receiving FSL report for which relevant samples are preserved, sealed and handed over to concern police station, the medical jurist said in the report.

The civil rights wing of the state police had ordered for a medical examination by a board on February 20 after the crime hit the headlines as the video of the incident went viral on social media.

The victim, a labourer, and his 18-year-old cousin went to Om Automobile in Karnu Village, about 60 km away from Nagaur town, to get their motorcycle serviced at about 2pm on February 16.

The labourer went inside the service station, while his cousin waited outside the shop.

As I was coming out of the shop, I was pushed towards the billing counter by Bhim Singh, who is an employee at the service station. I was accused of stealing money kept in the locker. Though I denied the allegation, they started beating me, said the labourer.

In the first information report (FIR), he claimed he was tortured.

First, they tied my hands with ropes and then they beat me with rubber belts for the next 15-20 minutes, he said.

In the videos, two Dalits are seen being beaten with fan belts and one of them, the 23-year-old, is stripped and violated with a screwdriver. One of the accused filmed the torture on his mobile phone.

Two more incidents of Dalits being beaten up have come to light in the last five days.

A video showing a group of people beating up three Dalit men, who allegedly stole five donkeys in Jaisalmers Rama village, was widely shared last Saturday.

Before that, a video from Barmer district surfaced on social media on Friday, in which a 22-year-old man was seen being beaten up by three men, who suspected that he had stolen a phone.
A surge in demand for single-aisle planes has helped make January the strongest month for aircraft orders on record, according to a report today.

Industry body ADS said there were 296 new aircraft orders during January, more than five times the number in January 2019. Single-aisle planes - such as the Airbus A220, the wings of which are made in Belfast - made up nearly all the total at 285 craft.

ADS chief executive Paul Everitt said: "Global demand for advanced, modern and increasingly fuel-efficient aircraft remains strong, and manufacturers are working hard to raise production rates and meet customers' expectations.

"While volatility and international headwinds remain in the aerospace market at the outset of 2020, manufacturers are expecting a return to growth in deliveries, which are worth billions of pounds to UK industry annually.

"The UK aerospace industry is focussed on boosting its competitiveness and addressing the challenge posed by climate change by developing advanced new technology."

He said the ADS had urged the government to help industry tackle the challenges in next month's Budget. ADS also said the backlog of orders had risen above 14,000 again to hit 14,1914, with a value to UK industry of 212bn.

"This backlog can bring optimism in the coming years and this confidence is matched by manufacturers' intentions to increase their production rates as work-in-hand continues to grow."
[February 24, 2020] Seward & Kissel LLP Survey Offers New Insight on Noncompete Agreements

Seward & Kissel, a leading law firm to asset managers and other employers, is making available an analysis of how six key states address a critical and evolving legal issue for employers and employees: limitations on non-competition agreements. Seward & Kissel's report, Noncompete Agreements Under the Microscope: A Survey of Recent Trends, analyzes various legislative and judicial developments regarding noncompete agreements that may place such agreements in jeopardy. The report focuses on six states where many financial institutions and other Seward & Kissel clients are based: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. The analysis can be viewed in full here. The report identifies proposed and existing legislation governing noncompete agreements in the six states and includes a practical chart indicating how current and proposed legislation addresses various issues such as noncompete duration, compensation during the noncompete period, and circumstances in which noncompete agreements are prohibited. Of the states surveyed, only California and Massachusetts currently have noncompete legislaton, and the Massachusetts legislation, while more recent, has become a model for other states. New York is considering a bill that includes many of the features in the Massachusetts Act. New Jersey considered a similar bill in 2019 which did not pass but is poised to reintroduce the bill during the 2020 legislative session, as outlined in the analysis.



"Talent management has always been one of the thorniest issues for employers to handle," said Seward & Kissel partner Michael McNamara, lead author of the report. "With so many employees working under noncompete restrictions, and the law moving so swiftly, this is an area that we are proactively monitoring for our client base." Between 36 million and 60 million private sector workers in the United States are subject to noncompete agreements, and nearly 50% of employers use noncompete agreements for at least some of their employees. The Noncompete Agreements Under the Microscope report offers a snapshot of the law covering noncompete agreements in six high-profile states.

The full report is available here. About Seward & Kissel LLP Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading U.S. law firm with an international reputation for excellence. The firm is particularly well known for its hedge fund and investment management work, having established the first hedge fund ever, A.W. Jones, in 1949, and having earned numerous best in class awards over the years. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Seward & Kissel LLP One Battery Park Plaza New York, NY 10004. 212-574-1200. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005536/en/

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A case has been registered in connection with a protest march against the citizenship law in south Delhi's Hauz Rani a day ago, police said on Monday.

An FIR was registered against the people who participated in the protest, mobilised the crowd and injured 37 police personnel, an officer said.

The case was registered under sections of rioting, unlawful assembly, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty and other sections of the Indian Penal Code, an officer said.

On Sunday, a group of citizenship law protesters, who were on a sit-in at Gandhi Park in Hauz Rani since the past month, were allegedly baton-charged when they took out a march towards the main road, a claim rejected by the police.

According to the police, no permission was granted for the march and the protesters had tried to block traffic at multiple locations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The simplest way to invest in stocks is to buy exchange traded funds. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, the China YuHua Education Corporation Limited (HKG:6169) share price is up 85% in the last year, clearly besting the market return of around -7.6% (not including dividends). So that should have shareholders smiling. China YuHua Education hasn't been listed for long, so it's still not clear if it is a long term winner.

Check out our latest analysis for China YuHua Education

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Over the last twelve months, China YuHua Education actually shrank its EPS by 9.7%.

Given the share price gain, we doubt the market is measuring progress with EPS. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics.

We think that the revenue growth of 43% could have some investors interested. Many businesses do go through a phase where they have to forgo some profits to drive business development, and sometimes its for the best.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

SEHK:6169 Income Statement, February 24th 2020

China YuHua Education is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think China YuHua Education will earn in the future (free analyst consensus estimates)

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for China YuHua Education the TSR over the last year was 90%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

China YuHua Education shareholders should be happy with the total gain of 90% over the last twelve months , including dividends . And the share price momentum remains respectable, with a gain of 27% in the last three months. This suggests the company is continuing to win over new investors. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with China YuHua Education , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

We will like China YuHua Education better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



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Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/24/2020 -- Advance Market Analytics released a new market study on Global Digital Diagnostic Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chat, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy to understand detailed analysis. At present, the market is developing its presence. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Digital Diagnostic Forecast till 2025*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study are Leica Biosystems (Germany), Ventana Medical Systems (United States), Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan), 3DHISTECH (Hungary), Philips (Netherlands), Medtronic, Inc. (Ireland), Neurovigil, Inc. (United States), Oxitone Medical Ltd. (Isreal), Cerora (United States), CellScope (United States) and MidMark Corp. (United States)



The global Digital Diagnostics market is expected to witness high demand in the forecasted period due to the rising prevalence of cancer. Digital diagnostics deals with a common tool in which a person can easily collaborate across the entire application lifecycle by allowing quick isolation and resolution of issues. This new technology supports progress in the medical care system by contributing to the precision and correctness of the diagnostics output. According to AMA, the Global Digital Diagnostics market is expected to see growth rate of 12.3%



Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/50591-global-digital-diagnostics-market



Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:



1) What all companies are currently profiled in the report?

Following are list of players that are currently profiled in the report Leica Biosystems (Germany), Ventana Medical Systems (United States), Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan), 3DHISTECH (Hungary), Philips (Netherlands), Medtronic, Inc. (Ireland), Neurovigil, Inc. (United States), Oxitone Medical Ltd. (Isreal), Cerora (United States), CellScope (United States) and MidMark Corp. (United States)

** List of companies mentioned may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger etc.



2) Can we add or profiled new company as per our need?

Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey.

** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Upto 3 players can be added at no added cost.



3) Can we get more level of segmentation to meet our market intelligence objective?

Yes it can be provided, however ETA would vary and final confirmation would be given only after checking data in data repository.



4) Can inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible?

Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be shared with our research before giving final confirmation to client.



** Depending upon the requirement the deliverable time and quote will vary.



Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/50591-global-digital-diagnostics-market



Market Trend

- The Increasing Demand from Drug Development and Companion Diagnostics

- Ease of Consultation Enabled By Digital Pathology

- Introduction of Affordable Scanners for Private Pathology Practices



Market Drivers

- The Growing Adoption of Digital Pathology to Enhance Lab Efficiency

- The Upsurging Governments Support for Digital Diagnostics

- Integration of Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and Digital Pathology Systems



Opportunities

- The ongoing technological advancements in digital pathology systems are projected to contribute to significant market growth. There are various advancements are responsible for market growth including digital imaging, robotic light microscopy, computerization, and multiple fiber optic communications. Whole slide imaging is a popular technology that has various benefits over traditional light microscopes, which is projected to provide lucrative opportunities to the global market.



Restraints

- The Growing Concern Related to High Cost of Digital Pathology



To comprehend Global Digital Diagnostic market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Digital Diagnostic market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas.



- North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico.

- South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.

- Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa.

- Europe: UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Russia.

- Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia.



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Try a limited scope research document specific to Country or Regional matching your objective.

GET FULL COPY OF United States Global Digital Diagnostic market study @ --------- USD 2000

And, Europe Global Digital Diagnostic market study @ --------- USD 2500



Major Highlights of TOC:

Chapter One: Market Overview

Chapter Two: Executive Summary ---------- Free of Cost

Chapter Three: Market Dynamics ------ USD400

Market Drivers, Market Challenges, Market Trends, Restraints & Opportunities

Chapter Four: Market Factor Analysis ------ USD400

Supply/Value Chain, Porters Five Forces, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent & Trademark Analysis, Bargain Power

Chapter Five: Global Digital Diagnostic, by Market Segmentation and Geography (value, volume**) (2013-2018) ------ USD1400



Global Digital Diagnostic

By Type: Human Pathology, Veterinary Pathology

By Application: Teleconsultation, Disease Diagnosis, Training & Education, Drug Discovery & Development, Academic Research, Cancer Cell Detection, Others

Product : Software, Device (Scanners, Slide Management System), Storage System

End User: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Hospital and Reference Laboratories, Academic & Research Institutes



Global Digital Diagnostic Region

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others)

Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Middle East & Africa, Others)



Chapter Six: Global Digital Diagnostic - Manufacturers/Players Analysis ------ USD1200

Competitive Landscape, Comparative Market Share Analysis (2017-2018), Peer Group Analysis (2018), BCG Matrix, Company Profile, Product/Service Offering Matrix

Chapter Seven: Global Digital Diagnostic, by Market Segmentation and Region (value, volume**) (2019-2024) ------ USD1400

------ Sections same as Chapter Five ------

Chapter Eight: Company profiles / Competitive Landscape [12 Players] ------ USD1250

Chapter Nine: Methodology/Research Approach, Data Source, Disclaimer

** If applicable



Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report.

AMA also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia.



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Can 19 lakh be extradited from Assam: Ask Trump says Chidambaram

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 24: Congress leader P Chidambaram took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Citizenship law, NRC and NPR, telling him to ask visiting US President Donald Trump if it was possible to extradite as many as 19 lakh people from Assam.

Addressing a meet here against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the former Minister, citing the BJP's brute majority in Parliament, asked what was the guarantee that the government would not bring in an amendment, similar to the CAA, to give a push to its idea of a "Hindu" country.

Alleging that there was a great threat to the Constitution and the need to save it, he said countries were now asking quesitons over the CAA. "U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he will ask questions about the CAA even before his arrival. If six to 10 lakh people are going to be affected, will the visiting leader go without posing questions?," he asked.

The European Parliament, UNHRC and a United States panel on religious freedom were all asking questions, calling upon the government to give up the contentious law. "We know who will be affected. The government is hiding that. The world (countries) is not a fool; it is awake that this will bring a huge threat to Muslims on the basis of their religion," he said, adding most countries have started asking questions.

Chidambaram terms Centre's decision on crop insurance schemes as 'anti-farmer, retrograde'

The CAA was "a tool" evolved to retain 12 lakh Hindus and send out seven lakh Muslims in Assam, he alleged. While there are countries which have stopped illegal immigration, there was no country that extradited as many as 19 lakh people, he said.

"Which country has extradited 19 lakh people? If Narendra Modi has any doubt, he can ask American President Donald Trump and he will answer," he said. He asked if the US president, who had all along talked about sending back those from Mexico, was successful.

"Where to send 19 lakh people ? Which country is ready to accept them? Through which mode of transport will you send them?" he asked.

Tracing the background to the NRC, beginning with the Assam accord, to determine foreigners, he said his party had cautioned -as early as when the survey was mooted- that it would lead to social discord. While 40 lakh people were identified as foreigners in the exercise initially, a review pegged it at 19,06,657, he said.

As soon as it came to be known that 12 lakh of them were Hindus and seven lakh Muslims, the Centre found itself in a quandary as all of them had to be sent out of the country. "The NRC in Assam is a very big failure," he said.

To overcome the "predicament" of 12 lakh Hindus, the government came up with the CAA, he said. Alleging that the government was lying about the law, he said the Ministers too were lying.

"A big lie is that the law (CAA) will not affect people who are in India. Will those in Africa will be affected,?" he asked sarcastically.

The CAA wants to send only Muslims out of the country while allowing others to stay put and the law has been challenged on grounds, including religious discrimination, in the Supreme Court, he said.

Whoever drafted grounds of detention for Abdullah, Mufti needs to be sacked: Chidambaram

If the BJP-led Centre could bring the CAA, which was tantamount to impinging on the basic features of the Constitution, there was no guarantee that the government will not bring other amendments, he said.

"Why will you not bring other amendments tomorrow? What is the confidence that you will not declare (India) a Hindu country in view of the brute majority?," he asked. The RSS and BJP were spreading "venomous views" that those belonging to the same 'gothra' should not get married.

"What is the confidence that this will not become a law (forbidding same gothra marriages),?" he asked. "Mischievous" questions have been included in NPR like place of birth of parents, their birth dates, mother tongue, Aadhar card, driving licence, Permanent Account Number and passport.

"Why are you asking these questions?," he said, adding this was an effort to identify people as foreigners through their parents if they cannot be directly named as such.

"That is why there is a scare among the people. The NPR exercise should be given up completely and this is our demand. NPR is not necessary. Ask questions in the Census."

The NRC drive must not be done at all and should be given up completely and instead, a census should be undertaken. The senior leader demanded that the government rescind the CAA.

"Otherwise the Supreme Court should declare it as null and void." The Constitution, he said, does not allow discrimination on the basis of religion and citizenship is based on the principle of territory and not religion.

Countering a claim against protests while the matter is pending in the apex court, he wondered whether the agitations were not held while the Ayodhya case was pending in the top court.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 7:47 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:27:48|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- As the impact of COVID-19 on China's economic growth is highly debated across the world, economists in the Middle East have voiced their confidence in the resilience and prospects of the Chinese economy.

Despite a short-term negative impact on China's economy, an economic recovery after the epidemic will largely offset the loss, according to the experts.

Turkish economist Dr. Merve Karacaer Ulusoy said that based on the experience of China's 2003 SARS outbreak -- a rapid recovery and steady growth of its economy within a short period of time after the epidemic was over -- the impact of the disease on the Chinese economy will be limited.

China's efforts in patient treatment, prevention and control of the virus, scientific research, and international cooperation have shown its determination and capacity to win the fight against the disease, said Ulusoy, an economics and finance specialist with the Ankara-based Institute of Strategic Thinking.

"With all measures to prevent the spread of the virus, China is doing its utmost to implement prevention measures in the right way," she said.

Noting that with an increasing number of recovered patients being reported recently China's current prevention and control measures have achieved positive results, Ulusoy expressed her belief that China would overcome the crisis in the near future.

Businesses across China have been gradually resuming operation, minimizing the fallout from the outbreak, so the negative effects of the virus on its economic and social development will be "temporary" and "limited," she said.

"China is the second largest economy in the world, and it plays a significant role in global development. Its economic relations with other countries in the world are quite complex. Therefore, it is natural that the outbreak of the virus affects the whole world," journalist Assayd Al-Zahra wrote in an article published in Dubai daily newspaper Gulf News.

"I noticed that there are intense scares about the effects of the virus on China, (with some people) talking about China's economic collapse, or the inevitable retreat of China's economic role and influence in the world, or the severe blow that the China's Belt and Road Initiative has received."

"Despite all these ... it can be said that with great confidence, China will overcome this challenge and recover from its effects," he wrote.

"The Chinese economy is not a random one that is growing along with developments or floundering due to crises, but is an economy with the highest degree of discipline and is based on thoughtful long-term planning," the journalist added.

Jawad Abbasi, who leads the Middle East and North Africa team of the GSMA, an industry organization representing the interests of wireless operators worldwide, said that the impact of the COVID-19 on the Chinese economy will be limited only to the current period, as the economy will return to its normal growth rates after the virus is defeated.

He said that modern technologies and remote working mechanisms will contribute greatly to reducing the epidemic's side effects on the economy, compared to what would have happened if the outbreak had occurred 20 years ago.

Some experts, according to Arab media, believe that compared to 2003, the ability of the Chinese economy to recover from damage caused by any virus outbreak has noticeably improved, thanks to a more developed "economic immune system," resulting from the development of technology and the service sector, allowing the general public to continue shopping and working by turning to e-commerce and other online services.

Noting that the overall impact of the disease on the Chinese economy is not yet clear, Dr. Mohamed Hamza al-Husseini, head of the Economic Committee of the Egyptian United Nations Association, however, said that when SARS broke out in China in 2003, the world thought it would take at least 10 or 15 years for the country to recover, but China in fact recovered within a short period and achieved tremendous economic success.

Despite temporary difficulties, the Chinese economy still has huge potential, he said, noting that the huge consumer market, the potential power of economic transformation, as well as effective decisions and policies made by the Chinese government are all major factors supporting steady economic growth.
Downing Street has ramped up expectations of a no-deal Brexit by saying that Boris Johnson will prioritise a clean break from EU regulations and courts over smooth trade in upcoming talks with Brussels.

Mr Johnsons official spokesperson said there was absolutely no question of the prime minister extending talks on the future relationship with the EU beyond 31 December  after which the UK will crash out on World Trade Organisation terms if no deal has been agreed, with the potential for massive disruption to trade and travel.

The comments  which represent a significant hardening in Downing Streets position  came as France accused the UK of using the self-imposed deadline as a way of blackmailing the EU into accepting a bad Brexit deal.

The PMs spokesperson denied the blackmail allegation and said that there would be no extension to negotiations once the 11-month transition period agreed by Mr Johnson comes to an end.

The UKs primary objective in negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on 1 January 2021, he said.

Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Show all 20 1 /20 Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Britain votes to leave the European Union - 23 June 2016 A referendum is held on Britain's membership of the European Union. Fifty-two per cent of the country votes in favour of leaving AFP via Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? David Cameron resigns - 24 June 2016 David Cameron resigns on the morning of the result after leading the campaign for Britain to remain in the EU Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Theresa May takes the reins - 13 July 2016 Theresa May becomes leader of the Conservative party and prime minister, winning the leadership contest unopposed after Andrea Leadsom drops out Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? High Court rules parliament must vote on Brexit - November 2016 - 3 November 2016 The High Court rules that parliament must vote on triggering Article 50, which would begin the Brexit process Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Article 50 triggered - 28 March 2017 The prime minister triggers Article 50 after parliament endorses the result of the referendum Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? May calls snap election - 18 April 2018 Seeking a mandate for her Brexit plan, May goes to the country Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? May loses majority as Labour makes surprise gain - 8 June 2017 After a disastrous campaign, Theresa May loses her majority in the commons and turns to the DUP for support. Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party makes gains after being predicted to lose heavily AFP/Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Negotiations begin - 19 June 2017 David Davis and Michel Barnier, chief negotiators for the UK and EU respectively, hold a press conference on the first day of Brexit negotiations. Soon after the beginning of negotiations, it becomes clear that the issue of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic will prove a major sticking point AFP/Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? MPs vote that withdrawal deal must be ratified by parliament - 13 December 2017 The government suffers a defeat in parliament over the EU withdrawal agreement, guaranteeing that MPs are given a 'meaningful vote' on the deal Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Boris Johnson resigns as foreign secretary - 11 July 2018 Following a summit at Chequers where the prime minister claimed to have gained cabinet support for her deal, Boris Johnson resigns as foreign secretary along with David Davis, the Brexit secretary Reuters Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Draft withdrawal agreement - 15 November 2018 The draft withdrawal agreement settles Britain's divorce bill, secures the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa and includes a political declaration commiting both parties to frictionless trade in goods and cooperation on security matters. The deal also includes the backstop, which is anathema to many brexiteers and Dominic Raab and Esther McVey resign from the cabinet in protest Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? May resigns - 24 May 2019 After several failed attempts to pass her withdrawal agreement through the commons, Theresa May resigns Reuters Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Johnson takes over - 24 July 2019 Boris Johnson is elected leader of the Conservative party in a landslide victory. He later heads to Buckingham Palace where the Queen invites him to form a government Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Parliament prorogued - 28 August 2019 Boris Johnson prorogues parliament for five weeks in the lead up to the UK's agreed departure date of 31 October. Stephen Morgan MP Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Prorogation ruled unlawful - 24 September 2019 The High Court rules that Johnson's prorogation of parliament is 'unlawful' after a legal challenge brought by businesswoman Gina Miller Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Johnson agrees deal with Varadkar - October Following a summit in Merseyside, Johnson agrees a compromise to the backstop with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar - making the withdrawal agreement more palatable to Brexiteers Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Final Say march demands second referendum - 19 October 2019 As parliament passes the Letwin amendment requiring the prime minister to request a further delay to Brexit, protesters take to the streets in the final show of force for a Final Say referendum Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Johnson wins 80 seat majority - 12 December 2019 The Conservatives win the December election in a landslide, granting Boris Johnson a large majority to pass through his brexit deal and pursue his domestic agenda Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? Withdrawal deal passes parliament - 20 December 2019 The withdrawal agreement passes through the commons with a majority of 124 Getty Brexit timeline: How did we get here? EU parliament backs UK withdrawal deal - 29 January 2020 Members of the European parliament overwhelmingly back the ratification of Britain's departure, clearing the way for Brexit two days later on 31 January. Following the vote, members join hands and sing Auld Lang Syne AFP/Getty

Asked later whether this meant that avoiding alignment with Brussels regulations and preventing any role for the European Court of Justice in ruling on future trade disputes were greater priorities than ensuring smooth trade after the end of this year, a senior No 10 source said: Yes.

The source added: Our overriding objective in the negotiations is by 1 January to have taken back control and we wont agree to anything that doesnt deliver that. Which means no rule-taking from the EU and no role for the European Court of Justice.

Our red line is we have to have taken back full control by 1 January.

The PMs spokesperson appeared to confirm that the new trade arrangements coming into force in 2021 will involve some sort of controls or checks on goods travelling from the British mainland to Northern Ireland, as a result of Mr Johnsons acceptance of a customs border in the Irish Sea in a protocol of the UKs withdrawal agreement.

The spokesperson said that the new system would ensure unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

But asked repeatedly whether the same unfettered access would be available for goods travelling in the other direction, he would say only that the PM was clear that beyond the limited changes introduced by the protocol there would be no changes to GB-Northern Ireland trade.

We have not asked any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between GB and Northern Ireland, said the spokesperson.

Brussels insists on checks on goods travelling from the mainland because of the possibility that they will enter the EU market by crossing the Irish border.

Amelie de Montchalin insists French firms will not pay the price for a quick trade deal (PA) (Brian Lawless/PA)

UK ministers are to meet for the so-called XS (exit strategy) committee in Downing Street on Tuesday to agree the UKs detailed mandate for talks on the future relationship with the EU, ahead of its publication on Thursday.

Meanwhile, ministers from the 27 remaining European Union members will meet in Brussels on Tuesday to agree their own mandate. Finalising the process on both sides will clear the way for talks to begin in earnest next month.

In a sign that the EU is prepared to take a tough line, French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin insisted that her countrys farmers, fishermen and businesses would not pay the price for a trade deal to be in place by the end of the year.

She told TV station France 2: In this negotiation it must be understood by British businesses that we do not want a bad agreement  almost certainly, that we will sign up to no blackmail.

Refusing to allow the UK to dictate the timetable, Ms De Montchalin said: It is not because that Boris Johnson wants a deal at all costs for 31 December that we will sign, under pressure, a bad deal.

In a further indication that access to UK fishing grounds will be one of the main flashpoints in the talks, the French minister said: The fishermen have the right to be protected, they know very well that if we sign a bad deal they will lose enormously.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Ram Niwas Goel was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly for the second consecutive time on Monday.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia moved a proposal nominating the name of Goel for the post of Speaker.

The proposal was supported by MLAs Kuldeep Kumar, Satendra Jain, Praveen Kumar, Dinesh Mohania, S K Bagga, Vishesh Ravi and Raghav Chaddha after which the motion was passed.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said it is a good thing that Goel was unanimously elected by both ruling and opposition members of the House. Goel is an MLA from Shahdara.

"In the last five years, we saw that Ram Niwas Goel ji was like 'Bhishma Pitamah' of the House of the Assembly," Kejriwal said.

Sisodia also congratulated Goel on behalf of all the legislators on being elected unopposed. He said under Goel's guidance, a new story of development will be written in Delhi.

"Under your leadership, the Delhi government will work towards developing all the Delhi constituencies on a faster pace," Sisodia said.

After being elected as the Speaker, Goel said with BJP MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri being appointed the Leader of Opposition in the 70-member House, he hoped that the opposition would play a good role.

Goel said he would give sufficient time to opposition members for constructive debate over public issues, but they should not lead to ruckus in the House.

Earlier in the day, Bidhuri was unanimously appointed by the party as the Leader of Opposition in the 7th Delhi Assembly.

Bidhuri's name was announced at the Delhi BJP office by Saroj Pandey, party's national general secretary and central observer, in presence of Delhi unit president Manoj Tiwari.

The seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly was constituted after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 62 seats in the 70-member House. The BJP won eight seats, while the Congress drew a blank.

The proceedings of the three-day special session of the Delhi Assembly began on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mahathir Mohamad on Monday resigned as Malaysias prime minister and his Bersatu party has quit the governing Alliance of Hope coalition.

Mr Mohamads move comes after a weekend of drama, with parties from both government and coalition meeting all day Sunday and Anwar Ibrahim, the designated successor to Mahathir, alleging betrayal by allies.

Messrs Ibrahim and Mohamad met on Monday, shortly before Mr Mohamad, 94, the worlds oldest Prime Minister, announced that he would quit.

Mr Mohamad previously said he wanted to remain as leader until after Malaysia hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November.

Eleven members of Mr Ibrahims Peoples Justice Party, which was part of the Mohamad-led coalition, announced that they are forming a new independent grouping under Azmin Ali, Malaysias economic affairs minister.

Mr Ali was among the former Mr Ibrahims allies seen at meetings on Sunday that spurred speculation that the government was about to fall and that members of the coalition were aiming to oust Mr Ibrahim and his allies.

It is not clear whether Mr Mohamad or Bersatu can yet form another government.

Muhyiddin Yassin, president of Mr Mohamads Bersatu party, said in a statement that he and the partys lawmakers continue to support and trust Mr Mohamad as prime minister.

Among the parties seen at meeting Sunday with Mr Mohamads allies was the opposition United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which Mr Mohamad led during his first 1981-2003 tenure as prime minister.

Messrs Ibrahim and Mohamad have a long and fractious history, going back to the early 1990s when Mr Ibrahim, a former finance minister and deputy prime minister, was seen as Mr Mohamads likely successor.

But after a spectacular falling-out, Mr Ibrahim was jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption.

The two men only reconciled in the run-up to Malaysias 2018 parliamentary elections, when Mr Mohamad led the opposition alliance to a shock election win over his former UMNO allies, the first change of government in Malaysian history.

In what could presage the announcement of a new government, Mr Mohamad will meet Malaysias King at 5 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Monday.

(dpa/NAN)
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Nitrogen Global Market Report 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global nitrogen market was worth $26.1 billion in 2019. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% and reach $38.372 billion by 2023.



This report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider nitrogen market, and compares it with other markets.



The growing food and beverages industry contribute to the growth of the nitrogen market. Nitrogen gas is widely used in food and beverages industry for packaging of food items. Nitrogen gas eliminates the oxygen contact with the food item, preventing the oxidation of food thus, increasing its shelf life. This prevents food spoilage and helps in maintaining its quality. According to a Statista report, the food and beverage industry is expected to grow at the rate of 8.4%.The growth of food and beverages industry results in significant increase in the demand for Nitrogen. Thus, positively affecting the growth of the nitrogen market.



Lack of safety measures used while handling nitrogen in industries such as aerospace, steel manufacturing etc. limits the growth of the industrial nitrogen market. Liquid nitrogen is used in industries such as oil and gas industries, metalworking, electronics, food processing and many manufacturing processes. Excess contact with liquid nitrogen can cause severe cold burns as well as frostbite. Further, any leak in nitrogen containers if kept in poorly ventilated room can cause severe damage to life and property. In December 2019, a liquid nitrogen line exploded at a Textron Aviation plant near Wichita, Kansas. The explosion in a 3-inch liquid nitrogen gas line also damaged a storage tank, causing nitrogen gas to vent out of the building. The incident resulted in serious injuries to 15 people accompanied by the loss of property. The difficulty in handling nitrogen gas restraints its usage, thus, negatively affecting the demand in oxygen market.



Industrial gas companies are increasingly using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology as a cost-effective and highly efficient method to produce nitrogen. PSA systems operate on the principle of adsorption. They consist of adsorption vessels packed with carbon molecular sieves (CMS) which are capable of adsorbing carbon dioxide and residual moisture. At high pressures, CMS selectively adsorbs oxygen, thus allowing nitrogen to pass through at the desired purity level. Onsite generation of nitrogen using PSA systems is more cost-effective than traditional cryogenic distillation or stored liquid nitrogen. PSAs can economically produce nitrogen at flow rates from less than 5,000 scfh to greater than 60,000 scfh, and at purities from 95% to 99.9995%. Mahler AGS, a German manufacturer of on-site gas generation plants, is using PSA systems for low-cost production of nitrogen. Major industrial gas companies such as Linde, Air Products, Air Liquide, and Praxair are using PSA systems to enhance nitrogen production.



In October 2018, The Linde Group and Praxair, Inc. merged to create a combined entity with a market capitalization of $90 billion. As part of the agreement, Praxair shareholders will receive one share of Linde plc for each Praxair share. Linde AG shareholders will receive 1.54 shares of Linde plc for each Linde AG share tendered. This merger is expected to further consolidate the nitrogen market by creating a global leader in terms of both sales and geographic footprint. Praxair has a strong presence in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, whereas Linde has a strong presence in Europe and Asia. The merged company is expected to be a leader in each of these four regions, thus leaving only three companies to compete in the industrial gas market on a global basis. Linde AG is a Brazil-based producer and supplier of industrial, process and specialty gases. Paxair is a US-based atmospheric, process, and specialty gases, and surface coatings producer.



The nitrogen market has been geographically segmented into North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, South America and Middle East & Africa. In 2019, Asia Pacific accounts for around 40% of the market. In 2019, Asia Pacific was the largest region in the nitrogen market and is forecasted to register the highest CAGR during 2019-2023. Major players in the market are Air Liquide, Linde Group, Praxair Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Messer Group, Southern Industrial Gas Berhad, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, Gulf Cryo, Emirates Industrial Gases Co. LLC, nexAir.



Key Topics Covered



1. Executive Summary



2. Nitrogen Market Characteristics



3. Nitrogen Market Size And Growth

3.1. Global Nitrogen Historic Market, 2015 - 2019, $ Billion

3.1.1. Drivers Of The Market

3.1.2. Restraints On The Market

3.2. Global Nitrogen Forecast Market, 2019 - 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

3.2.1. Drivers Of The Market

3.2.2. Restraints On the Market



4. Nitrogen Market Segmentation

4.1. Global Nitrogen Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Compressed Gas

Liquid Nitrogen

4.2. Global Nitrogen Market, Segmentation By End Use Industry, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Petrochemical

Oil & Gas

Metal Manufacturing & Fabrication

Food & Beverage

Electronics

Pharmaceutical & Healthcare

Chemical

Others

5. Nitrogen Market Regional And Country Analysis

5.1. Global Nitrogen Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2. Global Nitrogen Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion



Companies Mentioned



Air Liquide

Air Products & Chemicals

Aspen Air Corp.

CanAir Nitrogen

Chengdu Taiyu Industrial Gases

Emirates Industrial Gases Co. LLC

Gulf Cryo

Linde Group

Messer Group

nexAir

Praxair Inc.

Southern Industrial Gas Berhad

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation

Universal Industrial Gases

Yingde Gases Group Company

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Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



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Kolkata, Feb 25 : One of the two persons arrested in connection with the gruesome incident of a woman and her daughter being burnt alive in West Bengal is closely linked to a senior minister in the Trinamool Congress government, a top state BJP leader has claimed.

The killing of the mother-daughter duo, whose charred bodies were recovered from Jhikurkhali in East Midnapore district's Haldia, has sent shockwaves across the state.

East Midnapore district police officer said of the two persons arrested in the aftermath of the crime, one has already confessed. Police were also looking into whether more people were involved in the case.

The victims were residents of New Barrackpore in 24 Parganas (North) district.

Meanwhile, state BJP President Dilip Ghosh said one of the arrested - Saddam - was close to a Trinamool minister. "He was even arrested for rigging the polls on an earlier occasion. I don't know whether the Trinamool considers him an asset".
Huawei's new foldable smartphone, the Mate Xs, bent at an angle. Ryan Browne | CNBC

Huawei is giving foldable smartphones another go after debuting its first one, the Mate X, last year. The Chinese tech giant will sell it in Europe for 2,499 euros ($2,700), making it even more expensive than the original. The company's latest folding device, aptly named the Mate Xs, feels more like an update to the previous version as it looks almost identical, but it feels like a much sturdier device thanks to a more robust hinge.

Huawei's Mate Xs smartphone folded shut. Ryan Browne | CNBC

The Mate Xs has a new hinge design which comes packed with more materials than its predecessor, and this shows when folding it out into a flat tablet-like screen. You have to tap a button on the back to fold it outward, and I could hear  and feel  an audible crunching noise when opening the device out in full.

Opening out Huawei's new foldable smartphone, the Mate Xs. Ryan Browne | CNBC

Huawei says this isn't something to be worried about as it's simply the hinge working as it's been designed to. But it's not the easiest folding action and I wasn't confident enough to open it up without using both hands. Like the first model, Huawei's Mate Xs has a plastic display that folds backward, meaning the screen is always exposed. When closed, you're holding a standard-sized 6.6-inch smartphone with an additional slightly smaller 6.38-inch screen on the back. But open it up and you get a massive 8-inch panel on par with that of a tablet.

Huawei's new foldable smartphone, the Mate Xs, opened flat. Ryan Browne | CNBC

There's not a whole lot that separates the Mate Xs from the Mate X. The hardware seems mostly unchanged apart from the inclusion of Huawei's flagship 5G Kirin 990 chipset, itself an update to the Kirin 980 which powered the original Mate X. And its predecessor also came with 5G support anyway. It does run very smoothly though, and that performance is helped in part by a redesigned cooling system. The Shenzhen, China-based firm had originally planned to unveil the new phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, but switched to a pre-recorded broadcast after the event was cancelled due to fears over the new coronavirus. Huawei only sold its Mate X phone in China, at a steep price of 16,999 yuan ($2,420). At $2,700, the Mate Xs is even pricier than its original, and that may be a hard sell with some consumers.

Features

The Mate Xs comes with some pretty nifty features, like the ability to multitask with several apps on the screen. Drag your finger across the phone from the right and it'll show a sidebar of apps that you can pull out and open. The phone can display up to three apps at a time.

Huawei's Mate Xs folding smartphone can show multiple apps on one screen. Ryan Browne | CNBC

Then there's the camera, which takes advantage of the fact that there's two screens on one phone. When folding the handset shut, the screen on the front will show the main viewfinder. But turn it around and the phone lets you take a selfie. But again, while it's a good utilization of the phone's folding display, this isn't different to what Huawei's Mate X was already capable of. The Mate Xs camera from Leica also comes with the same quad-lens system as that of the Mate X.

Taking a selfie on Huawei's new Mate Xs foldable smartphone. Ryan Browne | CNBC

As for the name of the product, it's not something that detracts from its quality in any way. But it does sound awfully similar to Apple's iPhone X and iPhone XS phones  although Apple shelved the "X" branding with its latest flagship, the iPhone 11, last year.

Folding fever

Speaking of Apple, the U.S. hardware giant hasn't dipped its own toes into the foldable arena just yet. But there have been plenty of alternatives from the likes of Samsung, Motorola and Chinese start-up Royole. I got a hands-on with Samsung's new folding handset, the Galaxy Z Flip, and though I didn't get to compare it directly with Huawei's Mate Xs, it's clear that they're two very different products.

Huawei's new foldable smartphone, the Mate Xs, opened at an angle. Ryan Browne | CNBC

Whereas the Galaxy Z Flip took on a new form factor with its flip phone or "clamshell" design, the Mate Xs sticks with a style more akin to Samsung's first folding device, the Galaxy Fold, the main difference being that the latter opens and closes more like a book. There have been worries about just how durable these gadgets are  especially after review units of the Galaxy Fold broke for reviewers last year  and whether Huawei's latest venture into folding phones will stand the test of time remains to be seen.

Samsung's new foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip. Ryan Browne | CNBC

I thought the Z Flip would do a good job in putting those fears at ease, as the hinge on that device was pretty solid. Reports that its so-called "ultra thin glass" screens scratch like plastic displays aren't particularly promising  although Samsung has said this is because the glass is covered with a protective plastic layer.

Still Google-less

A key drawback for any new Huawei phone now is the fact that none of them can include Google's Android mobile operating system or associated apps like Maps and YouTube. That's because the company was placed on a U.S. trade blacklist last year. Washington took things up a notch recently, bringing racketeering charges against the Chinese tech giant. American officials allege Huawei's telecommunications equipment could enable spying from Beijing, a claim the company has repeatedly denied. The U.S. has also urged allies to block Huawei from their 5G networks, though the U.K. recently resisted those calls.

"Our first preference would be to use the full version of Google," Peter Gauden, senior product marketing manager for Huawei's consumer business, told a group of reporters. "In the absence of that, we are having to go in a different direction and do things for ourselves." The firm has instead been using a "forked" version of Android, copying the basic open source code of Google's operating system and creating its own independent one to get around the trade restrictions. Huawei is also working on its own alternative to Google software, called Harmony, but isn't using it for the new phone.

A Huawei employee demonstrates the company's new foldable smartphone, the Mate Xs, at a briefing in London. Ryan Browne | CNBC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have on Monday indicated that its presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, is likely to return to the Supreme Court for review of the judgement on the presidential election which upheld the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP leadership, accordingly, demanded the review of the Supreme Court judgement on the 2019 presidential election. The party maintained that the review has become imperative where the issue of certificate forgery and or presentation of false information in aid of qualifications was clearly established against the APC and her presidential candidate

The PDP had raised alarm over what the party considered desperation of the APC to subjugate, intimidate for the purpose of annexing the Supreme Court over Imo, Bayelsa and Zamfara governorship election judgments.

The Opposition Party resolved to challenge the presidential election judgment in response to perceived unnecessary return to the Supreme Court by the APC for review of judgment on the Bayelsa and Zamfara states governorship elections, after PDP had challenged the judgement on Imo State. The PDP felt that APC had not coordinated itself properly in recent court processes and judgements, leading to the ridicule of the judiciary and Nigerian judges, in as much as PDP had respected previous judgements in favour of APC in Osun, Kano, and others.

ALSO READ: INEC Chairman, Yakubu, chides parties over allowing court determine election results

Consequently, the National Working Committee of the PDP, after comprehensive consultations, states that our party has no choice left, given the manner with which the APC has conducted itself, than to ask for a review of the judgment of the Presidential election petition tribunal, where the issue of certificate forgery and or presentation of false information in aid of qualifications was clearly established against the APC and her presidential candidate.

The same applies to the judgment on the Katsina governorship election petition, where lawyers also established similar issue of certificate forgery.

The PDP equally has no choice than to ask the Supreme Court to review the Kano, Kaduna and Katsina election judgments, because of manifest violence and substantial non-compliance to our electoral law.

The PDP also asks the Supreme Court to review its judgment on the Osun Governorship election in view of manifest, complete and total disregard to our electoral rules in the conduct of the elections.

Our party will not fold its hands and watch enemies of our hard-earned democracy, who contributed nothing to its birth, to continue to appropriate our collective sovereignty for their selfish political gains while destroying our institutions and holding our people to ransom, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary, declared at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

The PDP had earlier expressed it wish to bring to the attention of the world that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is all out to destabilize the nation and destroy the hard-earned democracy. The National Publicity Secretary was of the view that the time has come for all Nigerians to stand in unity to defend the nation and salvage it from political marauders and oppressive elements.

He stated that many are already aware of the desperation by the APC to annex the Supreme Court, subjugate and browbeat the justices and direct judicial determinations to suit their selfish ends.

Ologbondiyan declared: The public space is already awash with reports of how the APC has been threatening and piling pressure on the justices of the Supreme Court to force a reversal of valid judgments already delivered on the Bayelsa and Zamfara governorship elections, where the party (APC) suffered self-inflicted losses.

Nigerians know that the APC has been going through a hemorrhage since the Supreme Court delivered valid judgments on Bayelsa and Zamfara and as a result, they are no longer interested in the logic of these judgments.

They have since thrown caution to the wind to destabilize our nation and destroy our hard-earned democracy especially the judiciary. The APC federal government is leading all forms of battles against the rule of law and constitutionalism.

ALSO READ: That unwarranted and cowardly attack on the Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili

The PDP, however, held that its sacrifices for the sustenance of democracy, as demonstrated in the partys patriotic comportment towards the verdicts of the court on the Presidential election as well as Osun, Kano, Katsina and Kaduna governorship elections tribunal, subsist.

The party noted that there is a consensus among majority of Nigerians and even the international community that there was obvious miscarriage of justice by the Supreme Court panel on the Imo State governorship election, for which the PDP accordingly reverted to the Supreme Court asking it to correct the manifest mistakes and errors in that judgment, which are already in the public domain.

However, the PDP finds it ludicrous, ridiculous and insulting to the sensibilities and respect of the Supreme Court Justices for the APC to hurriedly and malevolently head to the Supreme Court to attempt to arm twist the lord justices to effect a forceful reversal of the valid, flawless and faultless judgments on Bayelsa and Zamfara states governorship elections, Ologbondiyan declared.

PV: 0
London: A British court begins hearings on Monday, London time, to decide whether Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States almost a decade after his WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking secret US documents.

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.

The 48-year-old is wanted by the United States on 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law and could spend decades in prison if convicted.

Now, some 10 months after he was dragged from the Ecuadorean embassy where he had been holed up for seven years, Judge Vanessa Baraitser will hear arguments as to why he should or should not be sent to the United States.
Residents of Borno State on Monday embarked on a day of fasting and prayer after Governor Babagana Zulum called for inter-faith spiritual intervention for peace to return to the troubled state.

The governor declared the one-day fasting on Friday in a statewide broadcast.

This is the first time the state would embark on such spiritual exercise since the beginning of the Boko Haram crisis about 10 years ago.

The governor recalled the latest attacks around Chibok on Thursday last week and the most horrific ones that took place at Auno town in Konduga, during which many citizens were atrociously set ablaze.

Before these recent incidents, many communities also came under varying degrees of murderous attacks in the north, south and central parts of Borno State.

I know we have ceaselessly sought divine intervention in our individual and group prayer sessions. These notwithstanding, this time around, I will like us to seek Allahs intervention, not as individuals and groups, but as an entire state, he said.

The governor said during the prayer and fasting session, citizens should pray for those killed by insurgents, armed forces and volunteers who died fighting the insurgents and troops currently in battlefronts.

In our prayers, we should be kind to remember thousands who were killed in this unfortunate crisis, and those who gave their lives fighting it.

We should also be very deliberate that Monday (today), in giving help, particularly of food, to our nearest in need.

Fellow citizens, we should fervently pray for our armed forces and volunteers, who right now are in battlefronts risking their lives to keep us safe.

Mr. Zulum said he shared the grief of fellow citizens who have either lost their loved ones or confronted the agony of watching loved ones on hospital beds.

I feel the trauma of hundreds of thousands of fellow citizens who have lost everything and have been forced to live in makeshift shelters and rely on food and non-food aid as internally displaced persons and refugees in neighboring countries.

Beyond sharing the griefs and pains of fellow citizens, I assure you, that we have never for one second, ignored our constitutional and moral obligations towards you, the good people of Borno State.

He said as the governor in the last nine months, he had lived, slept and woken up with a constant reminder that where I deliberately fail to do my utmost best in trying to secure lives, Allah will hold me accountable at His appointed time.

Fasting residents

Mustapha Adamu, an entrepreneur who is also an N-Power volunteer teacher in a public school, said the call for prayers and fasting is not only a first of its kind but a call that is sync with the yearning of the people.

The response to the call for fasting and prayer is massive here in Maiduguri from among the old and young. I teach in a Public school, I was shocked to find out that most of our students fasted today because they said the Governor declared so.

This is what we ought to have been doing all this while. But all the sams, it can never be too late to pray and fast to God for his mercy. We hope this is the beginning of the end of our problem in Borno.

Another resident of Borno, Akingbule Gbenga, said it is a good call made by the governor that people should pray and fast for restoration in Borno state.

And it is also good from many of the citizens who have responded within and outside the state. Prayer and fasting answereth all human, and we all pray that God should answer our prayers.

The network of civil society in Borno State, in response to the governors call for fasting and prayers, urged all its members to participate in the spiritual exercise.

The president of the network, Ahmed Shehu, informed PREMIUM TIMES that we have not only responded to the call, we are also going to have an inter-denominational breaking of fast today where all Christians and Muslims would converge to eat, drink and offer prayers today.

Sheik Abubakar-Kyari, a prominent Borno Islamic cleric, in a video message circulated on social media, commended Governor Zulum for hearkening to the advice of the religious to call for the general fasting and prayer.

We are indeed happy and thankful to the governor for making this happen in our state, he said.

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Every one fasting and praying today should make it a point of contact by asking God to expose those who have hands in this. To expose those who are withholding intelligence that could have helped us all to bring this problem to an end.
Panning Donald Trump's visit to India, the Shiv Sena on Monday said the 36-hour-long sojourn of the US president in the country won't make 'an iota of difference' in the lives of poor and middle-class Indians.

While leaving for India, Trump has said he is going to discuss business with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which makes it clear that his trip is aimed at boosting US trade, the Sena said.

"There won't be an iota of difference in the lives of the poor and middle-class people in India due to Trump's visit. Then where is the question of people being appreciative or enthusiastic of his tour," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

"If there is any eagerness about Trump's visit, it may be in Ahmedabad, where he lands first," the Sena said.

More than the Trump visit the talk is about how walls were built to hide slums along the road he will traverse, the editorial said.

"It is reported that Trump will touch upon the issue of curbs on religious freedom in India. These are our internal issues. This country is run by people elected democratically and they don't need guidance from any outsider on this," it said.

Trump should instead indulge in 'tourism' of Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi, the editorial said.

When Trump leaves India 36 hours after his arrival, there will be no signs of his visit on the soil of India, the Sena said.
MANILA, Philippines  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday presented to the public the major parts of tunnel boring machines (TMB) for the construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project.

During an event held in Pasay City, the DOTr made a presentation showcasing the assembly timeline and how these machines will help accelerate the construction of the Metro Manila Subway.

The tunnel boring machines were unveiled together with representatives of the Japanese contractor, Shimizu Corporation, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Boring Machine is manufactured per specific designs. This is designed to what they found on the soil that is to be bored. Hindi to yung pupunta ka lang sa hardware at bibili ng dalawang boring machine. Hindi ho ganun yan. Thats why it takes a little bit of time. But the moment it comes and it is assembled, the boring becomes fast and more efficient, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters during a briefing.

The major parts of a TBM which were unveiled include the shield jack, cutter reduction gear motor, main bearings, and articulation jack.

The DOTr said TBMs are integral in building the subway as these are used to dig underground and lay the tunnels. These machines can excavate through a variety of ground conditions, from hard rock to sand.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said around six tunnel boring machines will be used for the construction of the partial operability phase, or the first three stations of the Metro Manila Subway.

Parte po ito ng tinatawag nating tunnel boring machine na siyang maghuhukay ng mga tunnels natin para sa Metro Manila Subway project natin. Yung una nating tunneling na gagamit ng tunnel boring machine ay mag-uumpisa galing sa depot natin sa Ugong, Valenzuela patungong Quirino Highway Station, Batan said.

The first tunnel boring machine is expected to be delivered in August of this year, about four months ahead of schedule.

Story continues

Batan said that after the machines delivery in August, the tunneling will begin from the East Valenzuela Station in Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela City towards Quirino Highway Station.

The Metro Manila Subway will have 15 stations from Ugong, Valenzuela, all the way to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

The DOTr said it is eyeing the subway to become partially operational by 2021.  RRD (with details from Correspondent Joan Nano)

The post DOTr unveils tunnel boring machines for construction of Metro Manila Subway appeared first on UNTV News.
G UCCI A-GO-GO

Theatrical as ever, Gucci turned its observers into the observed for its autumn/winter show, which offered a behind-the-scenes view of Gucci studio staff helping models get dressed into their outfits on a huge revolving stage.

Instead of walking down a catwalk models - wearing a typically eclectic collection that ranged from on-the-prairie dresses to nuns habits and leather harnesses - stood still and appeared to watch the audience as the stage turned like a merry-go-round.

The Gucci showspace - behind the scenes

Creative director Alessandro Michele said of the thought process behind the spectacle, Fashion is a shared ritual. Its a complex mechanism and something sacred. Its a religion.

LET THEM EAT CAKE

The real cake that Moschino sent to front rowers as an invitation to the AW20 show was a taste of things to come - quite literally. For his collection inspired by Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution, the brands creative director Jeremy Scott sent out serving after serving of dresses that looked like real cake, complete with saccharine shades of icing, white piping and tiers. Guests whooped when Joan Smalls walked out in a triumphantly realistic four-tier number decorated with iced roses and cherubs - but perhaps they were just hungry.

Getty Images

GIVE IT SOME WELLY

Pradas were lilac, Versaces were worn with miniskirts, while Hugo Bosss styles were high gloss black and navy. Long rubber wellies were an unlikely hit on the Milanese catwalks, but will you be wearing them come September?

IMAXtree

If there is a brand that can convert wellies to sales, its fashions new favourite cult label Bottega Veneta, which sent out bright, unisex rubber shoes with sculptural soles, styled with floor-grazing trench coats and fringed trousers. Watch this space, and pray for rain.

VIRAL FASHION

Handbags! Sunglasses! Hand sanitiser! As Italys police were rolled out to patrol areas linked to coronavirus cases, Giorgio Armani made the decision to cancel its show hours before it was due to start on Sunday over safety for audience members.

Instead it presented its autumn/winter 2020 collection to an empty (albeit virus-free) auditorium, and prompted fashion editors to only air kiss for the remaining fashion shows.

COLLABORATION STATIONS

Prada called a secretive press conference at midday on Sunday to announce that revered Belgian designer Raf Simons will become co-creative director of the brand alongside Miuccia Prada.

With one of the most impressive CVs in the fashion industry, thanks to positions at Calvin Klein, Dior and Jil Sander, Simons will be the first person outside the Prada family to hold a senior position at the 107-year-old Italian house.

TECH TALK

The most covetable accessory of the shows wasnt a handbag, but a gold case for your smart watch, thanks to Fendi and its new line of tech accessories designed in collaboration with the London brand Chaos. Pieces ranged from gold ear pod cases to earrings that double up as screen pens.

Fendi's tech accessories

DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE

Getty Images
Sony has unveiled its first 5G smartphone in a bid to prop up its struggling smartphone business.

With the Xperia 1 II flagship handset, Sony has leaned in to its heritage in camera and display technology. The device has a triple lens setup with the ability for users to adjust some of the settings found in professional cameras.

The device has a 6.5-inch 4K high dynamic range (HDR) display. 4K refers to the resolution while HDR is a technology that helps make the contrast between black and white more distinct to make the image on the screen look more realistic.

These features stem from Sony's expertise in camera sensors, which it also sells to other smartphone manufacturers, and its display technology.
The 1million corruption trial of a former Prime Minister of France and his British wife was postponed today after lawyers blockaded the tribunal building as part of the country's pensions protests.

Francois and Penelope Fillon, a mother-of-five who was born in Wales, were due in the dock on Monday.

But  in an embarrassing setback for a country currently plagued by industrial action  barristers blockaded the Paris Tribunal building where the process was due to start.

Lawyers blockaded the trial in Paris today as they protested against changes to state pensions

Former French prime minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope pictured arriving at court

The pair then left the court a short time later after their trial was postponed due to the protest

The protesting lawyers prevented the trial from going ahead, and so it was put back until Wednesday at the earliest, said a source close to the case.

The lawyers involved in the blockade were part of a nationwide movement campaigning against pension reforms being introduced by President Emmanuel Macrons government.

It was Mr Macron who came to power in 2017 thanks to the disgraced Mr Fillon losing the presidential election thanks to his involvement in the so-called Penelopgate scandal

It saw Ms Fillon, 64, allegedly stealing cash worth nearly 1million by pretending to be the parliamentary assistant to her 65-year-old husband.

The figure covers taxpayers cash that was paid to the Fillons from the mid 1980s to 2013, said a prosecuting source in Paris.

Ms Fillon also had a fabricated and highly lucrative job as literary advisor to a magazine ran by a political ally of her husband, it is alleged.

Lawyers burned papers symbolising the pension reform bill and waved trade union flags

Guards pictured protecting the court house today as the protest took place outside

French lawyers pictured engaged in a protest outside the Paris courthouse today

The exposure of such scams led to Mr Fillon, a right-wing conservative who made much of his Catholicism and devotion to family values, losing the election.

He had been the hot favourite to become head of state, with Mrs Fillon as his First Lady, but both were instead placed under investigation, and the independent Emmanuel Macron was the surprise victor.

The couple will be tried for misappropriation of public funds, fraud, theft and criminal complicity.

Most come with prison sentences of up to 10 years, and fines equivalent to some 1million.

Marc Jouland, the MP who did Mr Fillons constituency work when he served as Prime Minister for five years up until 2012, is all set to stand trial.

Mr Jouland, 52, is said to have renewed Mrs Fillons fake contracts and increased her salary for doing nothing.

A prosecutors report reads: There is no evidence indicating the reality of Penelope Fillons work.

Francois and wife Penelope leave trial today. Francois was in power until Macron was elected

The pair pictured leaving the Paris courthouse today surrounded by aids and security

All three defendants deny any wrongdoing and are set to contest all the evidence against them.

In her last public interview in 2017, Mrs Fillon said she was so surprised by all the violence and hysteria that I just withdrew inside my Welsh shell.

But she insisted she was innocent, and added: My husband needed someone to carry out these very diverse tasks. If it hadnt been me, he would have paid someone else to do it. So we decided it would be me.

Mrs Fillon is a solicitors daughter from Llanover, Wales, who went to King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny.

After studying modern Languages in London, and law at Bristol University, she married Mr Fillon, whom she had met while working as a teaching assistant in his home town of Le Mans.

The trial was due to open on Monday afternoon, and is scheduled to end on March 11.
Bernie Sanders unveiled his plan for 'universal childcare' in an interview Sunday  saying the new federal benefit will be funded by a tax on wealth.

The senator from Vermont defended the plan even as he takes fire from more centrist presidential rivals who have questioned the multi-trillion cost of his Medicare for All plan.

'It's taxes on billionaires,' he told host Anderson Cooper on CBS' '60 Minutes' Sunday.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders defended his plan for 'universal childcare' on '60 Minutes' Sunday

'You know, I get a little bit tired of hearing my opponents saying-- 'Gee, how you going to pay for a program that impacts and helps children or working class families or middle class families? How you going to pay for that?'' Sanders said.

'And yet, where are people saying, 'How are you going to pay for over $750 billion on military spending?' How you going to pay for a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the 1% in large corporations which was what Trump did?' he said.

'How you going to pay for a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the 1 per cent in large corporations which was what [President] Trump did? When you help the billionaires and you help Wall Street, 'Hey!' Of course we can pay for it. That's what America's supposed to be about.' Well, I disagree,' he said.

Principal Kevin Bowles and vice principal Sophia Tkac introduce their comfort dogs Brightly (r.) and Shine to a pre-kindergarten class at New Bridges Elementary school, on October 30, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York, New York

Sanders called it 'shocking' that he is now the Democratic frontrunner

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., waves to his supporters during a campaign event on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Austin, Texas

Sanders' plan would provide coverage for Americans with children up to age four, which would include child care and pre-K schooling. Sanders' camp puts the cost at $1.5 trillion.

By taxing the extreme wealth of the top 0.1 percent, we can invest $1.5 trillion over the next decade on guaranteeing free, universal, quality child care and early education for all,' it says in the ninth paragraph of its description of the plan.

When Cooper pressed Sanders on how much the plan would cost, he was vague, but agreed he didn't have a price tag for all his plans.

'No, I don't. We try to  you mentioned making public colleges and universities tuition free and cancelling all student debt, that's correct. That's what I want to do. We pay for that through a modest tax on Wall Street speculation,' he said.

'But you say you don't know what the total price is, but you know how it's going to be paid for. How do you know it's going to be paid for if you don't know how much the price is?' Cooper pressed.

'Well, I can't  you know, I can't rattle off to you ever nickel and every dime. But we have accounted for  you talked about Medicare for All. We have options out there that will pay for it,' Sanders responded.

'Childcare must be guaranteed for every child regardless of their parents' income, just like K-12 education,' he said in a statement. 'We know that the first four years of a child's life are the most important years of human development, so it is unconscionable that in the wealthiest country in the world, we do not properly invest in early childhood education.'

The government would set minimum wages for child care workers and guarantee ''low child-to-adult ratios and small group sizes' in the classes. The programs would be administered by states and local governments but funded by the feds  a federal model that only hints at what might happen if some states opt out, as they did even when provided near 100 per cent federal reimbursement for increased Medicaid programs under Obamacare.

Sanders trounced rivals in Nevada, and is competing for supremacy with former Vice President Joe Biden in South Carolina, which votes Saturday.

Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg blasted the self-described democratic socialist candidate for believing 'capitalism is the root of all evil' during a speech in Las Vegas Saturday.

'Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans,' Buttigieg said.

Sanders in the interview acknowledged he was now the frontrunner in the fight for the Democratic nomination, a development he called ''a bit shocking.' He agreed with Cooper that the Democratic Party has moved towards him.

'And the ideas that seemed radical four years ago are now kind of mainstream,' he said.
Researchers use atomically thin materials -- 1/100,000 the size of a human hair -- to manipulate the phase of light without changing its amplitude, at extremely low power loss

New York, NY--February 24, 2020--Optical manipulation on the nano-scale, or nanophotonics, has become a critical research area, as researchers seek ways to meet the ever-increasing demand for information processing and communications. The ability to control and manipulate light on the nanometer scale will lead to numerous applications including data communication, imaging, ranging, sensing, spectroscopy, and quantum and neural circuits (think LIDAR--light detection and ranging--for self-driving cars and faster video-on-demand, for example).

Today, silicon has become the preferred integrated photonics platform due to its transparency at telecommunication wavelengths, ability for electro-optic and thermo-optic modulation, and its compatibility with existing semiconductor fabrication techniques. But, while silicon nanophotonics has made great strides in the fields of optical data communications, phased arrays, LIDAR, and quantum and neural circuits, there are two major concerns for large-scale integration of photonics into these systems: their ever-expanding need for scaling optical bandwidth and their high electrical power consumption.

Existing bulk silicon phase modulators can change the phase of an optical signal, but this process comes at the expense of either high optical loss (electro-optic modulation) or high electrical power consumption (thermo-optic modulation). A Columbia University team, led by Michal Lipson, Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical Engineering and professor of applied physics at Columbia Engineering, announced that they have discovered a new way to control the phase of light using 2D materials--atomically thin materials, ? 0.8 nanometer, or 1/100000 the size of a human hair--without changing its amplitude, at extremely low electrical power dissipation.

In this new study, published today by Nature Photonics, the researchers demonstrated that by simply placing the thin material on top of passive silicon waveguides, they could change the phase of light as strongly as existing silicon phase modulators, but with much lower optical loss and power consumption.

"Phase modulation in optical coherent communication has remained a challenge to scale, due to the high optical loss that was associated with phase change," says Lipson. "Now we've found a material that can change the phase only, providing us another avenue to expand the bandwidth of optical technologies."

The optical properties of semiconductor 2D materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are known to change dramatically with free-carrier injection (doping) near their excitonic resonances (absorption peaks). However, very little is known about the effect of doping on the optical properties of TMDs at telecom wavelengths, far away from these excitonic resonances, where the material is transparent and therefore can be leveraged in photonic circuits.

The Columbia team, which included James Hone, Wang Fong-Jen Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia Engineering, and Dimitri Basov, professor of physics at the University, probed the electro-optic response of the TMD by integrating the semiconductor monolayer on top of a low-loss silicon nitride optical cavity and doping the monolayer using an ionic liquid. They observed a large phase change with doping, while the optical loss changed minimally in the transmission response of the ring cavity. They showed that the doping-induced phase change relative to change in absorption for monolayer TMDs is approximately 125, which is significantly higher than that observed in materials commonly employed for silicon photonic modulators including Si and III-V on Si, while being simultaneously accompanied by negligible insertion loss.

"We are the first to observe strong electro-refractive change in these thin monolayers," says the paper's lead author Ipshita Datta, a PhD student with Lipson. "We showed pure optical phase modulation by utilizing a low loss silicon nitride (SiN)-TMD composite waveguide platform in which the optical mode of the waveguide interacts with the monolayer. So now, by simply placing these monolayers on silicon waveguides, we can change the phase by the same order of magnitude, but at 10000 times lower electrical power dissipation. This is extremely encouraging for the scaling of photonic circuits and for low-power LIDAR."

The researchers are continuing to probe and better understand the underlying physical mechanism for the strong electrorefractive effect. They are currently leveraging their low-loss and low-power phase modulators to replace traditional phase shifters, and therefore reduce the electrical power consumption in large-scale applications such as optical phased arrays, and neural and quantum circuits.

###

About the Study

The study is titled "Low-loss composite photonic platform based on 2D semiconductor monolayers."

Authors are: Ipshita Datta 1,6, Sang Hoon Chae 2,6, Gaurang R. Bhatt 1 , Mohammad Amin Tadayon 1 , Baichang Li 2 , Yiling Yu 3 , Chibeom Park 4, Jiwoong Park 4, Linyou Cao 3 , D. N. Basov 5 , James Hone 2, and Michal Lipson 1

1Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia Engineering

2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia Engineering

3Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh

4Departmen of Chemistry, Institute for Molecular Engineering, James Franck Institute, University of Chicago

5Department of Physics, Columbia University

The study was supported by Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (EFRC Pro-QM #De-SC0019443), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (#HR001110720034 and #FA8650-16-7643), Air Force Office of Scientific Research MURI (#FA9550-18-1-0379), Office of Naval Research (#N00014-16-1-2219), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (#NNX16AD16G). Competing interests: M.L., J.H., I.D., S.C., G.R.B. and D.N.B are named inventors on US provisional patent application 16/282,013 regarding the technology reported in this article..

LINKS:

Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-020-0590-4

DOI: 10.1038/s41566-020-0590-4

https://www.nature.com/nphoton/

http://engineering.columbia.edu/

https://engineering.columbia.edu/faculty/james-hone

https://me.columbia.edu/

https://engineering.columbia.edu/faculty/michal-lipson

http://www.ee.columbia.edu/

https://apam.columbia.edu/

Columbia Engineering

Columbia Engineering, based in New York City, is one of the top engineering schools in the U.S. and one of the oldest in the nation. Also known as The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School expands knowledge and advances technology through the pioneering research of its more than 220 faculty, while educating undergraduate and graduate students in a collaborative environment to become leaders informed by a firm foundation in engineering. The School's faculty are at the center of the University's cross-disciplinary research, contributing to the Data Science Institute, Earth Institute, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Precision Medicine Initiative, and the Columbia Nano Initiative. Guided by its strategic vision, "Columbia Engineering for Humanity," the School aims to translate ideas into innovations that foster a sustainable, healthy, secure, connected, and creative humanity.
Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday hit out at the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said it is a battle between people of India and BJP.

"It is not a battle between Muslims and Central Government. But, it is a battle between the people of India and BJP. We are supposed to speak about the economy. However, we are talking about CAA and NRC. Why? Because protest is going on everywhere," Chidambaram said at a seminar here.

"Many have not read about the CAA. That's why the government lies. They say it will not affect people who live in India. Then who will be affected by it?" he said.

Protests erupted in parts of the country in December last year on the Act, which grants 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 December 31, 2014.

Meanwhile, when Chidambaram was addressing the gathering, a huge flex board came crashing down on the dais in close proximity behind him.

However, the Congress leader continued speaking and the board was fixed later. No one was injured in the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tried their hand at a charkha (spinning wheel) at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Monday, shortly after arriving in India for their first official visit. The US President, the First Lady and Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi toured the ashram associated with Mahatma Gandhis freedom struggle and self-reliance movement.

According to Kartikeya Sarabhai, trustee of the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust, the visitors said they got a sense of peace after visiting the ashram where Gandhi lived between 1917 and 1930.

The President and his wife said that the place gave them a sense of peace. They saw Hridaykunj, the humble abode of Gandhi ji, and also tried their hand at spinning the charkha. He and the First Lady really liked it very much, Sarabhai said.

Also read: At banquet dinner for Donald Trump, salmon tikka, raan ali-shan to mark cultural fusion

Trump landed at Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel airport in Ahmedabad at around 11:40 am following which he was given the guard of honour and welcomed in a traditional Gujarati ceremony.

In the message book at the Ashram, president Trump wrote, To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - Thank you for this wonderful visit. It was also signed by Melania Trump. Sarabhai said that there were multiple gifts and souvenirs given to the president, including a statue of the three monkeys, a favourite of Gandhi.

Lata Parmar, a communicator at the ashram who helped the Trumps with the spinning wheel, recalled her interaction .

The president was amazed at how the charkha functioned. I was called to help him spin it. He was amazed how the thread did not break. Outside the ashram thousands lined up behind barricades to greet Modi and Trump.

Also read: Trumps trip to India a message for Pakistan?

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The stakes are high in the $189.5 million school bond election that will come to a close as voters cast ballots today. More than 7,000 people have taken advantage of early voting.

Lori Severson, the election supervisor in the Pennington County Auditor's office, said most of the hundreds who came to her office to vote Monday said the forecast of snow today encouraged them to do so.

Precincts are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Snow is in the forecast, but Rapid City isn't expected to receive heavy snowfall.

Severson said it was possible, if conditions became dangerous, that the school board in conjunction with the county Auditor's Office, could postpone the election one week. "That isn't very likely," Severson said. "But if it happens, we would let the media and precinct workers know as quickly as possible."

Proponents in this election point to the fact that many schools are showing signs of age and, no bond issue has passed in the city since the 1970s. Opponents say the bond issue is too large and question whether the Rapid City Area Schools board of education could make improvements without again increasing property taxes.

The disagreements go far beyond the benefits and drawbacks of an 85 cents per $1,000 of valuation property tax increase, however. Pennington County State's Attorney Mark Vargo said Monday this election cycle is the worst he has seen.

"At one point a couple of weeks ago, I was fielding a call with a complaint about one of the sides every two hours," he said Monday. "This is the worst I have seen in terms of the variety and vociferousness of the complaints."

Vargo has been in office seven years and was a United States Attorney before becoming a state's attorney. He said his frustration stems from the fact that election laws exist for a good reason. Keeping elections fair is important to him.

Vargo said his office has received dozens of complaints hoping for someone to be punished, when he believes the intent of the laws is to insure compliance. He said most campaign laws require him to notify someone who is in violation and give them seven days to comply. He said he doesn't believe lawmakers or most people in the community want to see his office spending public money to prosecute people who may have violated an election law.

"Although, I won't say who it was, but one person filing a complaint did ask me if they should expect an arrest that afternoon," Vargo said.

Vargo outlined complaints made during the campaign and how his office responded.

Stolen, damaged signs

Multiple people from both sides of the bond issue called Vargo's office and the Rapid City Police Department to report damaged or stolen yard signs.

"That could be prosecuted as petty larceny if I found a vote 'yes' supporter with a trunk full of vote 'no' signs or vice versa," Vargo said. "But no one has the manpower to track down every sign that is damaged or stolen or put in the wrong place."

He said there was a chance that evidence might exist in some cases, but it was unlikely.

Misplaced signs

Vargo said signs being placed in the right of way near streets was a main concern in several reports. He said enforcing this law is difficult because how right of ways are measured differ depending on the street the adjacent property sits on. He said it was difficult to hold a campaign responsible for signs it gives volunteers. He said one specific instance was a vote "no" sign being placed on county property.

"Once again, the goal is compliance, not punishment," Vargo said. "So we asked for the sign to be moved and it was."

Use of public funds

Vargo said this complaint came several times in various formats from opponents of the bond issue. He said the initial complaint was that the informational website created by and funded by RCAS was advocating for passage of the bond instead of merely providing information as the law allows.

He said he found no direct violations with the site, but several portions were deemed to be in a gray area.

"I spoke with the attorney for the schools and asked for a few changes in language and they made those changes to be certain everything was appropriate on the site," Vargo said.

Other issues with public money came from later complaints from opponents who believed donations from Elevate Rapid City for the Vote YES for RC Schools group was an inappropriate use of public money, since Elevate received money from the city of Rapid City.

"I don't believe there is any violation there," Vargo said. "Just because money is public in origin doesn't mean it stays public forever."

Vargo said Elevate performs work for the city as a contractor. Because of that, the money isn't city money; it is money earned by the group for work they do.

"It is no different than a construction company building a building for the city," he said. "They are paid with public funds, but they don't stay public once they are received by the company."

He said other complaints alleged that funds were raised as a pass-through to protect donor identification. He said that hasn't happened.

"All of them have signed affidavits that they didn't raise money for this purpose and all of them list all of the necessary people involved in the company," Vargo said.

Non-compliant billboards

He said his office did take action against opponents of the bond measure. Some billboards they purchased didn't have appropriate disclaimers to let people know who paid for them. Other electronic billboards had no disclaimer included. The electronic billboards also haven't appeared in campaign finance reports, but Vargo said the group paying for them said they weren't donated and they were paying for them, but the invoice hadn't been delivered yet.

Vargo said with compliance in mind, the opponents of the bond had small stickers made and attached to the billboards.

"You couldn't see them driving by," Vargo said. "But we weren't sure what the requirements were so we asked the Secretary of State's office."

Vargo said his office has a lot of legal expertise among its associates, but there were several times when they had to consult with the State Auditor or Secretary of State because election laws contradict at times and often aren't specific in what an appropriate disclaimer or other terms mean.

He said the electronic billboards had to be changed slightly. The opponents did so within seven days so he considered them to be in compliance.

Electioneering

Vargo said his office received several complaints of "electioneering," which he said made no sense because that has a specific definition in South Dakota law. It deals with advocating for a candidate or campaign within a specific number of feet of a polling place.

He said many of the complaints were about school board members taking a public stance on the issue.

"Getting elected to a school board doesn't erase someone's First Amendment rights to free speech," Vargo said. Those complaints were dismissed.

Campaign reports

He said there have been issues with some campaign reports from opponents of the bond. The Taxpayers for Sensible School Bonds group was formed in 2019 and failed to turn in an annual report on time. As soon as they were made aware of the issue, they filed a report. The Rapid City Citizens for Progress group has sent letters to local businesses to oppose the bond. They used the letter to try to raise funds and claim to have hired a local consultant and another consultant in those letters. That group has yet to file any campaign reports.

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Romania needs the Black Sea gas resources in order to accomplish the ambitious carbon dioxide emission cuts undertaken through the Green Deal, Minister of Economy, Energy and Business Virgil Popescu told a specialist conference on Monday.

"The European Green Deal is the hot topic of this year. Under the Green Deal, the European Union aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 55 percent until 2030, a high ambition Romania has acquiesced to and I think that we can make it. The EU has an even bolder ambition for 2050, achieving carbon emission neutrality," the minister said in the opening of the forum The Geostrategic and Economic Importance of the Black Sea in the Current European Context, organized by Financial Intelligence.Popescu emphasized that for Romania, which covers 25 percent of its energy needs from coal resources, achieving these goals requires a lot of work."We have put up for public debate the Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate Change, whereby Romania has committed to a very ambitious target of 30.7 percent renewable energy in 2030. (...) Considering that in 2027 - 2028 a part of the current renewable capacities will go out of use, 30 percent is an ambitious target, because we must be able to make the replacement and much more," said the government official.He also mentioned that Romania plans to convert certain power generation groups from coal to gas in order to reduce power plant emissions.The Energy Minister also referred to the onshore and offshore Black Sea gas reserves and advocated political consensus for the amendment of the offshore law to an "unanimously accepted version"."We need gas, we need to bring it into the economic circuit, we need it in order to accomplish Romania's decarbonizing plan and the Green Deal targets, because without our gas, it is difficult to rely on import. On Friday I signed the building permit for the geological drilling required for laying out the pipeline in the Midia area, for the perimeter leased by Black Sea Oil and Gas, where the works are going ahead, and in 2021-2022 the gas will start flowing to the shore. I am optimistic that we will soon have the investment decision for the the Neptune block and the gas will reach the shore and will be processed in Romania," said the official. AGERPRES
Six women each gave harrowing accounts during Harvey Weinstein's New York trial as they accused the disgraced Hollywood producer of rape and vile sexual behavior

Six women gave harrowing accounts during Harvey Weinstein's New York trial to accuse the disgraced Hollywood producer of rape and vile sexual behavior.

Weinstein was convicted of third degree rape and criminal sexual act but was acquitted of first degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

The third degree rape conviction applies to aspiring actress Jessica Mann who he had sex with in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.

The sexual assault applies to film production assistant Mimi Haleyi who he forcibly performed oral sex on in his apartment in 2006.

The predatory sexual assault charge, which was the most serious, incorporated Sopranos actress Anabella Sciorra's allegation that she was raped by Weinstein in her Manhattan apartment in the mid-1990s.

Sciorra's allegation is too old to be charged on its own because of the statute of limitations, but jurors had to consider it as a basis for charges alleging Weinstein is a sexual predator.

To convict Weinstein of that charge, jurors had to agree on two things: That Weinstein raped Sciorra and that he committed one of the other charged offenses related to Mann or Haleyi.

During the six-week trial, the three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Marie Young - testified they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped.

District Attorney Cy Vance praised the women as 'heroic' on Monday after the conviction, saying they pulled our justice system into the 21st century by declaring that rape is rape and sexual assault is sexual assault no matter what.

He lauded the six accusers for coming forward courageously and at great risk, and abhorred Weinstein as a vicious, serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault, trick, humiliate and silence victims.

Their accusations were not the basis of any charges but they were brought in to help prosecutors show Weinstein had a particular intention or showed a signature behavior pattern when he invited women to meet with him.

The women told jurors Weinstein, who pleaded not guilty and maintains any sexual conduct was consensual, often faked interest in their careers to get them into a hotel room or an apartment before attacking.

Here are their stories:

Jessica Mann gave vivid description of Weinstein's 'deformed' naked body and told of how he bellowed 'you owe me!' before dragging her into a bedroom

Verdict: Guilty of third degree rape, innocent of first degree rape, innocent of predatory sexual assault

Jessica Mann, one of the two key accusers in Harvey Weinstein's case, testified that he raped her twice - in New York and Los Angeles - during an 'extremely degrading' relationship with the producer that lasted for years.

Mann told the court that she first met Weinstein at a party in late 2012 or early 2013 after she moved from Washington state to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career but said she didn't know who he was when he introduced himself.

When he pulled her aside later, he told her he was interested in her as an actress but not her Brazilian roommate Talita Maia who she came to the party with. Mann said she felt 'guilty' but gave Weinstein her number.

Jessica Mann, one of two key accusers in Weinstein's case, testified that he raped her one morning in March 2013 in a New York hotel room. She is pictured left in court and right in a 2013 film

THE CHARGES AGAINST WEINSTEIN EXPLAINED What was Weinstein accused of: Harvey Weinstein was accused of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his apartment in 2006. What are the FIVE charges he faced: Jessica Mann: First degree rape and third degree rape The first degree charge alleges Weinstein used physical force or an implied or expressed threat that led the alleged victim to fear immediate death or injury. The third degree charge alleges only that there was a lack of consent. Mimi Haleyi: Criminal sexual act for her forced oral sex allegation. Two counts of predatory sexual assault, one for each of the charged acts. How the predatory sexual assault charges works: Under New York law, one way a person can be found guilty of predatory sexual assault is if he or she committed certain sex offenses in the past, even if that conduct didn't result in criminal charges. In Weinstein's case, prosecutors alleged that he raped Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in late 1993 or early 1994 - an accusation that is too old to be the basis for criminal charges on its own because of the statute of limitations. The verdict: The jury convicted Weinstein of third degree rape for Mann. He was found guilty of a criminal sexual act for Haleyi. Weinstein was found not guilty of the two counts of predatory sexual assault and first degree rape for Mann. To find him guilty of predatory sexual assault, the jury had to believe Sciorra's allegations and that he committed one of the other charged offenses related to Mann or Haleyi. How much time could he face? The criminal sex act charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Third degree rape carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison. Why did three other accusers testify at trial: Three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Marie Young - testified they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped. Their accusations were not the basis of any charges but they were brought in to help prosecutors show Weinstein showed a signature behavior pattern. Under New York state law, they are known as 'Molineux' witnesses. Advertisement

When she met Weinstein at a bookstore to learn about movie-business history, Weinstein told her that she 'looked prettier than Natalie Portman' and that he wanted her to read for a top role in a vampire film.

A casting director later testified that, despite Weinstein's promises, Mann was too old and tall to fit the role and that it had already been cast at the time.

She later ended up in his suite at a Los Angeles hotel after what she thought was a professional dinner where she said Weinstein pressured her into giving him a back massage on the bed with his shirt off.

Mann said Weinstein started offering her invitations to events and, on one occasion, asked her and her roommate to his hotel suite to give them the vampire script he had been talking about - even though it had already been cast.

She said Weinstein started undressing before going into the bedroom and calling her name. When she went to the bedroom, she said he grabbed her arm, closed the door and started 'trying to kiss me like crazy'.

Mann said she tussled with him and he grew increasingly angry before saying: 'I'm not letting you leave until I do something for you'. Mann told jurors that Weinstein then performed oral sex on her. She said she feigned orgasm to get herself out of the encounter.

'I sort of locked up and got really quiet. I was worried about my friend out there by herself. I faked an orgasm to get out of it. He asked me how it was, if I liked it. I was nervous, so I told him it was the best I ever had,' she testified.

Mann said she then started having a twisted relationship with the mogul in which they had multiple consensual sexual encounters, including a failed threesome.

'I was confused after what happened and I made a decision to be in a relationship with him,' she said. Mann said that while she wasn't sexually attracted to Weinstein, she felt compassion for him and wanted his approval.

The failed threesome occurred in February 2013 when Weinstein had Mann meet him and actress Emanuela Postacchini at a Los Angeles hotel and he tried to persuade the women to have sex with him.

Postacchini, who was called as a prosecution witness, later told jurors that Mann went into the bathroom and was 'crying in the fetal position on the ground'.

Mann testified that the rape occurred a month later when she was staying at the Doubletree Metropolitan hotel in Manhattan with friends ahead of a breakfast meeting with Weinstein.

She said she panicked when she saw Weinstein checking in early. Mann claims that Weinstein told her to not embarrass him and ordered her to go upstairs to his hotel room.

She claimed she tried to get out of the room twice but Weinstein blocked her and ordered her to undress. Mann said he emerged from the bathroom naked and then raped her on the bed.

Mann said during her testimony that she found a needle in a trash can after and believed, after some research, that he had injected himself with an erection-inducing drug.

She admitted that she continued to see Weinstein after this incident but tried to avoid physical contact.

Mann accused Weinstein of raping her again eight months later when she was working as a hairdresser at a Los Angeles hotel after she told him she was dating an actor.

He flew into a rage and screamed 'You owe me one more time!'. He told her 'I don't have time for games' before attacking her, she said.

'Okay, now go have your relationship,' he told her, according to her testimony. His apology: 'I just find you so attractive, I couldn't resist.'

Mann sobbed on the witness stand as she told jurors that she was forced to strip off her clothing in a New York City hotel room one morning in March 2013. Mann, whose allegations led to charges being brought against Weinstein, claimed the heavyset Hollywood tycoon trapped her in the room and then raped her

Mann testified for three days, more than any other accuser, and broke down during an intense cross-examination. After losing her composure at one point, Mann could be heard screaming in a side room of the court

During her testimony, Mann was asked by a prosecutor to describe Weinstein's body. She said she didn't believe he had testicles and his penis looked like a vagina. She also said that when she first saw him naked she thought Weinstein was 'physically deformed or intersex' and may have been a burn victim due to 'extreme scarring' on his stomach.

The jury were shown naked photos of Weinstein to corroborate Mann's description of his body. The photos, which were only shown to jurors, were taken by a Manhattan District Attorney's office photographer on June 18, 2018.

As he left the court that day, Weinstein was asked by a journalist: 'Were those nude photos of you that the jury looked at?' Weinstein laughed and turned to one of his lawyers and said: 'No, it was Playboy'.

Mann testified for three days, more than any other accuser, and broke down during an intense cross-examination. After losing her composure at one point, Mann could be heard screaming in a side room of the court.

Mann admitted during her testimony that she had kept in touch with Weinstein by sending him flattering emails because 'his ego was so fragile'. She said it 'made me feel safe, worshipping him in this sense I wanted to be perceived as innocent and naive.'

The defense said Mann sent Weinstein warm emails that said things like 'Miss you, big guy.' Not once, in more than 400 messages between the two, did the woman accuse Weinstein of harming her, his lawyers said.

During her testimony, Mann was asked by a prosecutor to describe Weinstein's body. She said she didn't believe he had testicles and his penis looked like a vagina. The jury were also shown naked photos of Weinstein to corroborate Mann's description of his body

Asked why she didn't break off contact with Weinstein at the first sign of trouble, Mann said she didn't want to offend him. But defense lawyer Donna Rotunno asked whether it was really because the woman 'wanted to benefit from the power he had.'

She said her relationship with the then-married Weinstein was more complicated than that but defiantly declared: 'He is my rapist.'

The defense later called her friend and former roommate, Talita Maia, who claimed Mann didn't show any signs of distress on the day Weinstein allegedly raped her in New York.

Maia was with Mann in New York and said nothing seemed amiss when they met Weinstein for breakfast after the alleged rape, she testified. She told the jury she spent the rest of that day with Mann and she never mentioned the alleged attack.

Maia said Mann 'spoke highly' of Weinstein during her relationship with him, even calling him her 'spiritual soulmate' at one point.

'She seemed to really like him as a person,' Maia said.

'I told him I'm on my period': Project Runway assistant Mimi Haleyi told the jury that Weinstein pulled out her tampon and forcibly gave her oral sex in his apartment

Verdict: Guilty of criminal sexual act, innocent of predatory sexual assault

Former Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haleyi, the woman Harvey Weinstein went on trial on charges of sexually assaulting her, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.

'I was kicking, I was pushing, I was trying to get away from his grip,' the now 42-year-old testified. 'He held me down and kept pushing me down to the bed.'

She told jurors she thought she was being raped and wondered: 'If I scream rape, will someone hear me?'

'I did reject him, but he insisted. Every time I tried to get off the bed, he would push me back and hold me down'.

Former 'Project Runway' production assistant Mimi Haleyi, the woman Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting in 2006, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his SoHo apartment

Haleyi broke down in tears describing the alleged attack, saying 'I did reject him, but he insisted. Every time I tried to get off the bed, he would push me back and hold me down'

'I was crying no, no. I told him I'm on my period. It was as if he didn't believe me. I said something like where is it then? He literally pulled my tampon out.

'I checked out and decided to endure it. That was the safest thing I could do.'

Haleyi said she and Weinstein, who had gotten her the job at Project Runway, had sex at a Tribeca hotel two weeks later.

She said she 'just felt like an idiot' for letting Weinstein convince her to meet again, but thought seeing him could help her regain power as she tried to make sense of the alleged assault.

She said she didn't want to be intimate that time but didn't think Weinstein forced her to have sex.

Weinstein's lawyers suggested that episode was evidence he didn't coerce her during the first encounter either.

Haleyi's former roommate, Elizabeth Entin, later took to the stand to corroborate her testimony about the alleged sexual assault.

Haleyi, above in 2017, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his SoHo apartment

Entin said Haleyi had told her about the encounter a short time after it happened. She said Haleyi was anxious and pacing as she recounted telling Weinstein: 'No. No.'

She said she told Haleyi: 'That sounds like rape. I said why don't we call a lawyer. She still seemed very distraught and was shaking and walked away and didn't want to talk about it. She felt like she couldn't talk and wasn't very present.'

Entin testified that her friend changed after the alleged assault. Haleyi, whose given name is Miriam Haley, changed her name due to public scrutiny she faced after coming forward in October 2017 with the Weinstein allegations.

On cross-examination by Weinstein's lawyer, Donna Rotunno, Entin recalled thinking at first that it was just 'stupid' that Weinstein kept showing up unannounced at their apartment in the East Village.

'Because this older guy was trying to get your friend? Correct?' Rotunno asked.

'Correct,' Entin said.

'And you thought it funny?' Rotnunno asked.

'We did, at the time,' Entin said, recalling how her pet Chihuahua, Peanut, once chased Weinstein around the apartment after he barged in and demanded Haleyi go to Paris with him.

Entin said they viewed Weinstein 'as a pathetic older man trying really hard to hit on' Haleyi.

As Weinstein left the courtroom that day, a reporter in the hall asked: 'Mr Weinstein, are you afraid of Chihuahuas?' Weinstein smiled and said: 'Do I look like I'm afraid of Chihuahuas?'.

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra accused Weinstein of raping her, sending her chocolate penises and Valium - and turned up at her Cannes hotel room with baby oil

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who was the first accuser to take the stand, was brought in to testify about Weinstein allegedly raping her in her Manhattan apartment in the mid-1990s.

Weinstein is not charged with attacking Sciorra but her testimony is a crucial part of the predatory sexual assault charges, which require prosecutors to establish a pattern of serious sex crimes against multiple women. Her accusation is too old to be the basis for criminal charges on its own due to the statute of limitations.

Sciorra said she first met Weinstein at an industry event in Los Angeles in 1990 or 1991. By 1993, she had starred in one of his company's movies, the romantic comedy The Night We Never Met.

Sciorra told the jury that the burly Weinstein barged uninvited into her apartment in the winter of 1993 or 1994 and raped her after dropping her off from a movie-business dinner with actress Uma Thurman and other industry figures.

He threw her on a bed and forced himself on her as she tried to fight him off by kicking and punching him, she said. Sciorra told the jury that eventually she 'couldn't fight anymore because he had my hands locked' and that Weinstein told her he had 'perfect timing' after ejaculating on her nightgown.

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who was the first accuser to testify, told the jury that the burly Weinstein barged into her Manhattan apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and violently raped her. She is pictured left in court and right in January 1994

Recounting an accusation she said she kept largely secret for decades, Sciorra testified that after raping her, Weinstein went on to try to perform oral sex on her, saying: 'This is for you' as her body 'shut down'.

'It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was very unusual. I didn't even really know what was happening. It was like a seizure or something,' she said. 'I'm not sure if I fainted or fell asleep or blacked out, but I woke up on the floor with my nightgown kind of up and I didn't know if something else had happened.'

At other points in the 1990s, Sciorra said that Weinstein sent her packages with Valium and a box of chocolate penises and turned up early one morning at her Cannes Film Festival hotel room in his underwear with the body oil and the videotape.

She said he left after she frantically pushed buttons on the room phone to summon help.

Sciorra said that roughly a month later, she ran into him and confronted him about what happened and he replied: 'That's what all the nice Catholic girls say.'

She claimed Weinstein then leaned toward her and added menacingly: 'This remains between you and I.'

'His eyes went black and I thought he was going to hit me right there,' Sciorra testified.

Afterwards, she spiraled into cutting herself and drinking heavily, she told the jury.

She said she didn't tell anyone at first about the alleged rape, not even her brothers, saying: 'I wanted to pretend it never happened... I wanted to get back to my life.'

Her friend and fashion model Kara Young testified that a fidgety Sciorra 'seemed a mess' with long cuts on her legs when the two watched the Academy Awards together in 1994.

Do the Right Thing actress Rosie Perez also testified during the trial that her friend Sciorra told her in the mid-1990s that Weinstein had raped her but that she couldn't go to the police because 'he'd destroy me'.

The Sopranos actress (above) confronted Weinstein from the witness standing during her testimony, saying that he overpowered and raped her and made other crude overtures that included sending her x-rated chocolates and showing up uninvited in his underwear

Annabella Sciorra is cross-examined by Weinstein's defense lawyer Donna Rotunno. Sciorra, who was the first accuser to testify, was brought in to testify that she was allegedly raped by Weinstein in 1993 or 1994 in her Manhattan apartment

Perez said her friend Sciorra had told at some point in 1993, her voice shaking on the phone, that something had happened to her: 'I think it was rape.'

Perez said she asked if Sciorra knew who had attacked her, but Sciorra wouldn't say at the time. But months later, on another phone call from London, she said Weinstein was harassing her and she was scared.

She testified that they both started crying after she said to Sciorra: 'He's the one that raped you'.

Sciorra later acted in another Weinstein-produced picture, 1997s Cop Land but she said she didn't realize when auditioning that his studio was involved.

Weinstein's lawyers sought to sow doubts about Sciorra's story, raising questions about her actions after the alleged rape and asking whether she had once described the encounter as 'awkward sex', which she denied.

During cross-examination, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno noted that Sciorra never went to police or a doctor about the alleged rape.

'At the time, I didn't understand that that was rape,' Sciorra said. She testified earlier that she once thought rape was a crime of strangers. 'I thought he was an okay guy. I felt confused. I felt like I wished I never opened the door,' she said.

Rotunno also suggested that Sciorra's judgment and recollection were clouded by drinking but the actress replied that she remembered having only a glass of wine with dinner.

Weinstein's defense played a 1997 clip of Sciorra playfully telling late-night host David Letterman that she sometimes had fun with the media by making up stories such as her father raising iguanas for circuses. Sciorra said she would never lie about something as serious as sexual assault.

The defense also highlighted an August 2017 text message in which Sciorra told a friend she was broke and was 'hoping Harvey has a job for me'.

The actress said she was just 'fishing' to try to find out through the friend whether Weinstein knew that a reporter had gotten wind of her accusations, which were first published in The New Yorker two months later.

Cocktail waitress Tarale Wulff claimed Weinstein masturbated in front of her at a New York club - then raped her in his apartment

Former cocktail waitress and aspiring actress Tarale Wulff testified that Harvey Weinstein masturbated in front of her while she was working at the upscale New York club Cipriani and later raped her at his New York City apartment in 2005.

She was one of three women brought in to testify about encounters separate from the crimes Weinstein was accused of committing to try to establish his motive and a signature pattern of behavior that could bolster the main accusers' claims.

Tarale Wulff, a former cocktail waitress and aspiring actress, testified that Weinstein preyed on her vulnerabilities while pushing the notion that sex could lead to film roles. She is pictured left in court and right in 2009

She testified that Weinstein masturbated in front of her while she was working as a cocktail waitress at the upscale New York club Cipriani and later raped her at his New York City apartment in 2005

Wulff claimed Weinstein, who she met at the members-only club where she worked, raped her at his New York City apartment after luring her there in 2005 with promises of an audition for a film role.

She described the much larger Weinstein grabbing her by the arm, pushing her onto a bed and spurning her pleas to stop with reassurances that she shouldn't worry because he'd had a vasectomy.

Wulff, now 43 and a model, said she froze as he continued, thinking that would make it 'easier to get through, to get past it'.

She testified that on an occasion before the alleged rape, Weinstein grabbed her arm as she served cocktails at one of his usual Manhattan haunts, led her toward a darkened terrace and started masturbating.

Wulff said she froze and scooted around him to go back to the bar.

Weinstein's lawyers raised doubts about Wulff's recollection after she disclosed that she had worked with a therapist for a year to fill gaps in her memory.

Speaking to reporters later, Wulff's lawyer called that line of questioning a 'red herring' and said her memory of being raped has never altered.

Weinstein put his hand up my skirt and tried trading movie roles for threesomes by claiming Salma Hayek and Charlize Theron had done the same, aspiring actress Dawn Dunning told the jury

Dawn Dunning, an aspiring actress, told jurors that Harvey Weinstein put his hand up her skirt and fondled her genitals during what was supposed to be a 2004 meeting about her fledgling career and later tried trading movie roles for three-way sex with him and his assistant.

Dunning told jurors she met Weinstein while waiting tables at a Manhattan night spot where bottle service was a trendy indulgence for the rich and famous.

Weinstein immediately appeared to take an interest in her acting career, she said, and invited her to a lunch meeting where, noting his infamous temper, she said he was 'on the phone a lot yelling at people'.

Dunning said several meetings followed, including one at a hotel where Weinstein was using a suite as a temporary office when she was 24.

Weinstein led her into a bedroom at one point and put his hand up her skirt, she said.

'He just started talking really fast. He said, 'Don't make a big deal about this. It will never happen again,' she told the jury.

Dawn Dunning, also an aspiring actress, (left in 2019 and right in 2011) told jurors that Weinstein put his hand up her skirt and fondled her genitals during what was supposed to be a 2004 meeting about her fledgling career and later tried trading movie roles for three-way sex with him and his assistant

Dunning told jurors she met Weinstein while waiting tables at a different Manhattan night spot - one where bottle service was a trendy indulgence for the rich and famous

Dunning said she 'just kind of gave him the benefit of the doubt' and didn't scream or tell anyone because she was embarrassed and didn't want to be a victim.

She said she later agreed to meet Weinstein at a cigar bar but that an assistant took her to a suite where the producer was standing in a bathrobe.

She said Weinstein showed her a contract for three movie roles she would get on the condition she had 'a threesome with his assistant'.

Dunning laughed thinking he was kidding and had a 'crass sense of humor.'

'But when I started laughing, he got really angry and started screaming at me,' Dunning testified. 'He said, 'you'll never make it in this business, this is how this industry works.'

She said Weinstein claimed the lewd offer was the kind of thing that happened all the time in the film business and that he mentioned the names of several big stars in hopes of convincing her to do it.

Dunning, now 40, said Weinstein went on to namedrop actresses Salma Hayek and Charlize Theron, implying they had done similar things to achieve success - something both women have strongly denied.

Hayek has said she had to fight off Weinstein's constant harassment and bullying. Theron was upset when some accusers said he implied they had slept together.

Dunning said she didn't know what Weinstein would do after she laughed off the offer, so she ran for the door and down the hall to the elevator.

'He was a big guy. He was towering over me,' she testified. 'I was really scared.'

Weinstein's lawyers questioned why Dunning waited until last summer to tell prosecutors that he had had fondled her after she had gone public with the jobs-for-sex allegation, which was first published in a New York Times article in October 2017.

'His penis looked like it had been cut and sewn back on': Lauren Marie Young told the jury Weinstein groped and masturbated in front of her in a hotel bathroom and said he had a 'disgusting looking penis'

Lauren Marie Young, the final accuser at Harvey Weinstein's trial, told jurors he groped her in a Beverly Hills hotel bathroom just days before the Oscars in February 2013.

Young said she first met Weinstein a year earlier in February 2012 when she was invited by a friend to an Oscars party for the producer.

She testified that she met Mexican model Claudia Salinas there and told her about a script she was working on based on her life. Salinas gave her her e-mail address and then a year later asked her to bring her script for a meeting with Weinstein at the hotel where the alleged groping occurred.

Lauren Marie Young, the final accuser at Weinstein's trial, told jurors he groped her in a Beverly Hills hotel bathroom just days before the Oscars in February 2013

'I was excited. I got ready. I put on my best dress,' the 30-year-old testified about first connecting with Weinstein at the hotel. 'I was excited to network and pitch my ideas.'

At some point Weinstein said 'let's finish this conversation upstairs' and she went with him and Salinas, according to her testimony.

Lauren Marie Young, the final accuser at Harvey Weinstein's trial, told jurors he groped her in a Beverly Hills hotel bathroom just days before the Oscars in February 2013

Once in the hotel room, Young claimed Salinas closed the bathroom door behind them and that she did nothing to stop her alleged assault.

Young alleged that Weinstein stripped naked, groped her breast and then masturbated in front of her.

Young said Salinas 'was standing right there' when Weinstein was finished and she managed to get out.

Young told the jury that shot Salinas 'an evil look and I left as quick as I could without saying anything'.

Young described in explicit detail how Weinstein had a 'disgusting'-looking penis that appeared to be 'cut and sewn back on' and that he appeared to have no testicles.

'His body was hairy, it had moles on his rolls, a disgusting looking penis,' she told jurors. 'It had looked like it had been cut and sewn back on, not a normal looking scar from circumcision. Something didn't look normal and I remember noticing that and I didn't notice balls in the sack. I just saw a penis.'

Young described in explicit detail how Weinstein had a 'disgusting'-looking penis that appeared to be 'cut and sewn back on' and that he appeared to have no testicles

In a dramatic moment, the court was shown the lace dress Young claimed she wore the night of that alleged assault.

The dress could potentially be sent for DNA testing for evidence in a separate case against Weinstein in Los Angeles where the incident took place.

Salinas was later called as a defense witness and denied ever locking Young in the bathroom with Weinstein.

'That never happened,' Salinas told jurors.

'Did you ever close that door while Lauren Young was in the bathroom with Mr Weinstein?' Weinstein's lawyer Damon Charonis asked.

Salinas said: 'If I'd done that I'd remember it. I'd never close the door on anybody ever'.

Salinas, who is now 38 and working as a social media influencer, disputed other parts of Young's account, saying that while they did meet up at the hotel bar the night of the alleged assault, it wasn't because Weinstein wanted to see her.

She also said she didn't recognize the hotel suite and didn't remember following along as Weinstein sought to continue the conversation in his room while he got ready for an awards presentation, as Young had alleged.

Asked on cross-examination if she told investigators last year that it was possible Weinstein took Young to the room, Salinas replied: 'What's true is that I wasn't there in a bathroom scenario. It could have happened but it didn't mean I was there.'
Air New Zealand will turn one of its domestic aircraft into a flying environmental monitor as part of a world-first project with NASA to collect data used to predict severe weather events and to inform climate change research.

New Zealand's national carrier will install satellite receivers on one of its Bombardier Q300 turbo-prop aircraft, which will then collect environmental data for NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System as it flies between 19 different airports around the country.

An Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300, which will be used for the projected.

The NASA program consists of eight small satellites measuring wind speeds around the globe by tracing GPS and other signals reflected from the ocean and uses that to predict cyclones and hurricanes.

Gail Skofronick-Jackson, a NASA scientist working on the program, said Air New Zealand's low-altitude monitoring means the program could also track indicators of climate change such as drought, flooding and coastline erosion.
Karnataka agriculture minister BC Patil has advocated for a "much-needed" law against those who raise pro-Pakistan slogans or speak ill of India. Patil, while talking to media on Sunday, batted strongly for 'shoot at sight' law in the country.



They are enjoying the food, water and air of India. Why should they be here if they raise the 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan? In China, people are scared to talk against their country. I request PM (Narendra) Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with traitors, said Patil.

In my opinion there is need for a law that has to be brought in India - Shoot at Sight law has to brought in India for those who speak ill of India or raise pro-Pakistan slogans. It is very much needed, Patil was quoted as saying by ANI.

BC Patil, Karnataka Agriculture Min: They're enjoying food, water & air of India. Why should they be here if they raise 'Pakistan zindabad' slogan? In China, people are scared to talk against their country. I request PM Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with traitors. (23.02) https://t.co/sOh2sNGxdB  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Patil's statement comes just a few days after 19-year-old Amulya Leona shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans at an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act rally in Bengaluru.

Leona has been booked under Sections 124A, 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code. She has been slapped withs sedition charges.

She hogged limelight last Thursday when she was whisked away by the Police from the dais for shouting pro-Pakistan slogans at Freedom Park in Bengaluru where AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi was addressing an ani-CAA rally.

Following the incident, the Karnataka unit of the BJP had lashed out at the AIMIM and Owaisi, tweeting: "'Anti-CAA Activist Amulya Leona shouts PAKISTAN ZINDABAD in the presence of AIMIM Chief @asadowaisi at Bengaluru. Truth is that protests against #CAA is a joint venture between Pakistan & Anti-National Forces led by @INCIndia. Those who support Pakistan should go there forever."

Mega Media News

Owaisi, however, clarified that the party shares no links with Leona.

Amulya's father had, in unequivocal terms, condemned his daughter's act. "What she said is wrong. She was joined by some Muslims and wasn't listening to me."

While speaking with a Kannada news channel, her father had said: "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."

In the past, many BJP leaders have accused anti-CAA protesters of being anti-nationals and traitors.




I hope her piece o mess husband had the decency to be with her when she transitioned, that's the least he could do.

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Gosh, RIP :(

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The whole situation with her husband living in her house with his new girlfriend while she was still alive is so crazy.

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Yeah I wasn't too comfortable with that.

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So that IS this couple! I felt like it was something I made up in my head.



He's total trash for that, no matter how good they took care of her.

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i know 70 is old, but it still feels too young R.I.P.



:(



Edited at 2020-02-24 02:46 am (UTC)

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My dad turned 70 a couple weeks ago. He nearly died of a heart attack last week. It's way too young to die.

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I'm so sorry to hear that bb, I'm glad he made it! I hope he's getting better, sending love to you and your family <3

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R.I.P.



I remember reading a recent article about her and her husband. He had found a girlfriend, who was living with them and helping take care of Smith. I know the husband said he got death threats over it, but in the video they showed she treated the girlfriend like a friend and their daughter was ok with it. Like they really did seem to be taking care of her.



Alzheimer's is a terrible disease. It literally robs the person and family of memories they could share in their final moments. My great uncle is suffering from it and we recently had to place him in a nursing home, before he lived with his wife in assisted living but it was becoming too hard for the staff to manage.

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yeah, i wasn't jumping on him about the gf because i assumed that they had some kind of arrangement? i don't know the details.

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Yeah, I don't know if they had an arrangement.



I think it would be different if say B. Smith was the one to find a new love while suffering from the disease, but since its him it does look a certain way. I know I've heard of spouses who suffer from the disease finding comfort with a new love in a care facility and the other spouse has to decide if they're going to accept it or make another choice. I know my mom's friend her spouse suffered from Alzheimer's and he didn't even know who she was when she would come by to visit. They were married for over 60 years when he passed. He didn't find a new love, but he found more comfort from the other residents than her at one point. It was sad, but she understood.

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I used to visit people with Alzheimer's, just to volunteer. It is a brutal thing for everyone involved. I don't know if her husband is an asshole or the girlfriend is one too, but depending on when they got together and what B. Smith talked about with him, I can't be too hard on them without more info. He shouldn't have moved the girlfriend in, though, and have her take part in being a caretaker.



Edited at 2020-02-24 04:52 am (UTC)

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My close friend and former boss had Alzheimers. And as it progresses they don't know their spouses! Boss actually made friends with a lady in his memory care facility towards the end. They'd hold hands and were "girlfriend/boyfriend". He thought his wife was just another kind lady who visited the home. His wife found comfort in that bond he had in his altered state.



So I can't fault anyone for moving on at a point they don't even know you. He still loved her and cared for her. But at a certain point that's not the spouse you had, it's a cruel shell and altered mind of your dear loved one. Adjustment is crucial for his own health in the end.



My friend's widow simply isn't interested in a romantic relationship. So she still hasn't moved on and may never do so. But everyone is so different. I know I hate the idea of anyone else with my partner but if I'm in a state of delusion or when I pass I sure wouldn't want him to just sit vigil and go through the rest of his life pining for me. I know damn sure enough he'll never replace me just because he moves on and finds comfort with someone after I'm not there!



Many people simply don't understand the depth of dementia.



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All I can think about is B. Smiths husband capitalizing on her brand to push his new relationshipand move his girlfriend into their home while she was still alive. We deserve dignity in our last year on this side of the earthnot self-serving stories in legacy newspapers. https://t.co/41Jdfdcke1  Evette Dionne  (@freeblackgirl) February 23, 2020





I hope he gets fucked up. him and his POS mistress I hope he gets fucked up. him and his POS mistress

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https://www.today.com/health/b-smith-s-husband-chats-about-criticism-over-girlfriend-t148105



WTF. He actually ended an interview with this. "Many think I am neglecting or abusing B. but that is not the case. Im having a relationship that is complicated because my wife is no longer my wife. As I said before, I love my wife, but I cant let her take away my life."WTF. He actually ended an interview with this.

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Uhhh....this is fucking insensitive. This is why I have yet to marry. I'm better off single and being put in a fancy assisted living situation than that. Wtf

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the excuses for this was wild

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The news of her passing made me so sad - I remember seeing interviews with her and episodes of her shows and thinking she was so graceful and sophisticated, I wanted to be like her when I was little.



It's so sad how Alzheimer's robs people and their loved ones of so much. RIP

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I never really had a strong understanding of "poised" when I was little, but I feel like they could just put her pic in the dictionary for it.



In the video, her raggedy stepdaughter she helped raise was into the her dad's shenanigans so fuck her, too.

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I remember watching her show Sunday mornings. This news is reminding me of my own mothers death from early on set Alzheimers last June. Its such an ugly disease, and its really hard to understand what it is like living and caring for a person with Alzheimers if you havent lived it - thats why I didnt judge her husband too harshly about the girlfriend. Im not sure how I would feel if the situation was my family/father but I understood.

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Very sad to hear her struggles with Alzheimer's :( RIP

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@mccallpatterncompany had a nice post for her.

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RIP to a legend who seemed to have such a great and varied life.

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rip queen. i'll never forget how crazy the post we had about her husband having his new gf live in their house was

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were lots of ppl giving him a pass?

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Yes. It was pretty divided. Most people didn't like that he had his new gf living with him in the same house as B. Others were fine with it because of experiences with alzheimers and how difficult it is.



Me personally I don't think I'd like the new gf living with me in my house while I was not all there mentally. Idk if it was ever clarified if Ms.B was fine with that arrangement when she was of conscious mind.



Also B. Smith looks like she had a lot of money and so if they needed someone to help take of her in the good and moments of her alzheimer...why not get a home care nurse? Again they had money. Why bring in your new girlfriend?



Edited at 2020-02-24 03:46 am (UTC)

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That post is one of the many reasons why I only pop in here every once in awhile (mainly to see what's going on with yt celebs). People were too busy projecting and comparing their own caregiving situations to what was happening with B to actually see how fucked the situation was. It was even noted in the article that during B's lucid moments it was clear that she was not comfortable with the situation, but people were still giving her trash husband a pass anyway.



Edited at 2020-02-24 03:57 am (UTC)

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People here thought Ewan McGregor cheating on his wife was okay because they might have an ~open relationship~ until their daughter started posting stuff. People here were cheering on Jenny Slate for cheating with Chris Evans because they totally would too!

Its all cool because of all the projecting that goes on around here.



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I just read an article last week about the latest big hope drug trial for Alzheimers failing despite initial hope. The grief from the researchers was so palpable. They are like nothing is working and drug companies are giving up so that means no research money to even try. Its so damn devastating.

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Yeah I read about that study and I just cried after reading the neurologist just straight up was like it failed, we failed

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:33:10|Editor: zyl

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BUCHAREST, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Constitutional Court of Romania ruled on Monday that there is a legal conflict between the president and the parliament regarding the nomination of Liberal leader Ludovic Orban, also the outgoing prime minister, to form a new government.

Orban, whose cabinet stepped down after losing a censure motion in parliament on Feb. 5, was nominated by President Klaus Iohannis as new Prime Minister one day later.
Residents have been forced to leave their homes, while tourists have been stranded amid the Calima sandstorm.

Madrid, Spain  They were the longest 15 seconds of my life, said Lali Gutierrez, recalling how she and her family scrambled to escape a wildfire which advanced towards her home in Tenerife.

We grabbed our two dogs and a cat when they told us to leave, and that was all we had time for.

The 56-year-old told Al Jazeera of her escape from a blaze caused by a sandstorm which has wreaked chaos in the Spanish Canary Islands.

Strong winds of up to 120kmph (75mph) carried red sand more than 100km (62 miles) from the Sahara to the archipelago, which is popular with tourists all year round.

The gusts fanned three wildfires, forcing about 2,000 residents to flee their homes in Tenerife and Gran Canaria with whatever belongings they could grab.

The eight islands were on Monday covered in a murky red haze which could be seen from space  and which witnesses described as resembling the surface of Mars.

The Calima wind, carrying sand from the Sahara, closed the Canary Islands airports over the weekend and forced thousands of residents to leave their homes [Borja Suarez/Reuters]

Over the weekend, 745 flights were cancelled and 84 more were diverted to other airports because of the strong winds and low visibility.

Hundreds of tourists were left stranded at the airports or forced to find hotels, many of which subsequently raised their prices.

Paul Bevan, 58, a photographer from Winchester in the United Kingdom, was due to leave Gran Canaria on Sunday  but his flight was cancelled.

I came here on Saturday, then I was booked to go back Sunday night but I had to book a hotel, he told Al Jazeera. The hotels were getting full and they started to charge silly money like 1,200 pounds [$1,550]  but I got a hotel for 75 pounds [$97].

Dramatic Spanish television pictures showed firefighters battling blazes fuelled by the hot winds across the islands.

Just breathing has been painful for Blas Padron since the storm arrived in his native Gran Canaria on Saturday.

It has been difficult to inhale with this dust, but for those with breathing difficulties, they have been advised to stay inside because of the acrid sand. This dust clogs up your throat, Padron, a retired firefighter, told Al Jazeera.

This is the worst Calima  or sandstorm  which I have seen in my life, and I am 62.

The dust cloud remains hanging over the island.

It is Dantesque and brutal. It seems like Mars, said Emilio Cuevas Agullo, of the Spanish Meteorological Agency.

We are experiencing a tremendous sandstorm which will probably go down as the worst of its kind in history since records began.

Tourists have been stranded as flights were cancelled and hotels raised their prices [Borja Suarez/Reuters]

All primary schools and the islands two universities were closed on Monday.

The sandstorm has struck just as the islands prepared to celebrate carnival season. Several towns have cancelled their traditional celebrations.

It has been a nightmare of a weekend. We havent seen an episode like this for 40 years, said Angel Victor Torres, the head of the Canary Islands regional government.

But all eight airports were reopened on Monday as conditions improved, the Spanish transport ministry said.

The overnight improvement in the weather has allowed the resumption of air traffic in all airports in the Canary Islands, the ministry said on Twitter.

Jose Luis Abalos, the transport minister, tweeted: Air transport professionals dont remember seeing such adverse conditions for air transport in the islands.

Located off the coast of Morocco and Western Sahara, the Canary Islands temperate climate means the archipelago is a magnet for tourists all year round. Last year, 13.1 million foreign visitors came to the islands, making it Spains third-most-popular tourist region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

Trend:

Italy is one of Azerbaijans main political and economic partners, and the relations between the two countries are of multi-vector nature, Azerbaijani political analyst Jeyhun Ahmadli told Trend.

Thanks to the visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Italy, our cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, transport, science, education, innovations, defense and security, as well as culture, has become even stronger, Ahmadli noted.

The political analyst said that the Joint Declaration on Strengthening the Multidimensional Strategic Partnership, signed during the visit, provides an excellent clue to explain the current nature of relations between the two countries.

This document means that one of the political and economic centers of power in Europe, one of the members of the G7, has become Azerbaijans strategic partner, Ahmadli added. This can be seen as continuation of the diplomatic victory in Munich. The provisions set forth in the Joint Declaration also confirm this. The territorial integrity and inviolability of Azerbaijans sovereignty has been secured. The parties expressed support for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiations within the norms and principles of international law. This also made it clear that Pashinyans flimsy Munich theses werent taken seriously by Europe.

The analyst noted that Azerbaijan is one of the most respected and worthy players in the system of international relations.

The importance of our country for the EU is growing, and our state fully uses all these opportunities to ensure its national interests, Ahmadli added.
Were not running a presidential race. My election as their member of Congress has very much to do with the local issues that we talk about in our community, she said after her speech. What I do is not framed in the context of President (Donald) Trump or the presidential election  period. You very rarely hear me talk about President Trump and thats not what this is about.
Thailands government threatened legal action on Monday against a banned opposition party which claimed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha aided in the cover-up of Malaysias 1MDB graft scandal by harbouring a fugitive financier.

The stridently anti-military Future Forward Party, the third largest in parliament, was dissolved Friday by a court and its key members banned from politics for a decade.

On Sunday Future Forwards spokeswoman Pannika Wanich held a public conference and accused Prayut of allowing fugitive financier Low Taek Jho  commonly known as Jho Low  and his associates to pass through Thailand.

Low is wanted by several governments for his alleged mastermind role in plundering billions of dollars from Malaysias sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

A Thai government spokeswoman hit back Monday at Pannika, saying her accusations were not true.

This accusation  confuses the public, Narumon Pinyosinwat said on Twitter. Concerned ministries are considering legal action and  will hold a formal presser.

Walking to government house on Monday morning, ex-general-turned-premier Prayut appeared jovial when asked about Pannikas accusations.

The ministries are investigating and if its not true, they can sue, he told reporters.

Since 2016, a red notice was issued by Interpol at Singapores request to flag Lows travels.

Countries receiving flagged individuals would typically inform requesting governments about the fugitives whereabouts, executing an extradition process.

But Pannika claimed that Thailands immigration records showed Low passing through the country five times from 2016 to 2018.

She also said two of his associates  Tang Keng Chee and Jasmine Loo  had irregularities in their records, and she accused Prayuts government of obstructing international justice.

The gruff former army chief masterminded a coup against the government in 2014, and was head of a junta regime until 2019.

He was voted in during last years election as a civilian premier under a new military-scripted constitution which critics say tilted victory to his party.

Future Forward has been a thorn on the conservative establishments side since it scooped up 6.3 million votes.

The partys radical anti-military agenda appealed to mostly to millennials or those weary of the conservative royalist armys central role in Thai society.

But the party was undone by a $6 million loan from its billionaire founder, which breached the limit on party donations from an individual.

Dissolution of the Future Forward Party came ahead of a censure debate beginning in parliament Monday against Prayut.
Representative image

Latur city in Maharashtra is facing a water crisis despite a healthy monsoon in 2019 with officials admitting that supply to home taps was now once in 15 days, with the situation worsening because of disconnection of the civic body's power supply due to non-payment of bills.

Latur, some 290 kilometres from here, is part of the perennially parched Marathwada region and is Maharashtra's 16th largest city, often in the news for crippling shortage which require the running of 'jaldoot' or water wagon trains for its five lakh residents.

A senior Latur Municipal Corporation (LMC) official said there has been no supply of municipal water for the past six days.

He said the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited on February 20 disconnected power supply of LMC due to non payment of bills running to several crore rupees.

Due to disconnection of power supply, the LMC could not operate the supply mechanism from Harangul, Nagzari, Sai and Varvanti water purification facilities, an official said.

The Latur civic body pays around Rs 70 lakh for power supply every month.

"The electricity dues now stand at Rs 4.19 crore. We were supplying water to five lakh Latur residents once in six days but this frequency has now worsened to 15 days. Efforts are on to restore power supply and arrangements (to pay MSEDCL dues) are underway," LMC Executive Engineer Vijay Cholkhane told PTI on Monday.

Mayor Vikrant Gojamgunde, later in the evening, said power bills of one month would be paid to MSEDCL on Tuesday and water supply would normalise in the days to come.

"We had a meeting with MSEDCL officials. They too have not paid some of our bills raised for various civic works. We will pay MSEDCL Rs 70 lakh tomorrow. Water supply to areas under LMC will become routine soon," Gojamgunde told PTI.

The BJP is the largest party in the 70-member LMC though the mayor belongs to the Congress.

Later in the evening, BJP workers held a protest in front of the LMC headquarters against the erratic water supply and clanged empty pots.
Seventh Italian dies from coronavirus in Europe's worst flare-up Military officers stand outside Duomo cathedral in Milan

By Elvira Pollina and Emilio Parodi

MILAN (Reuters) - The death toll in Europe's largest coronavirus outbreak rose to seven on Monday and new cases climbed above 220 as Italy shut down much of its wealthy north to curb the disease's spread.

Italian shares tumbled more than 5%, the biggest daily drop in almost four years, on worries the flare-up could cause a recession, while worried residents emptied supermarket shelves to stock up on essentials.

Authorities in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, the industrial and financial heartlands of Italy, shut schools, universities, museums and cinemas for at least a week, and banned public gatherings including the famed Venice carnival.

Ten towns in Lombardy close to Italy's business capital Milan, with a combined population of nearly 50,000, have been placed under effective quarantine, with similar measures adopted for a small town in neighbouring Veneto.

"To be honest, nobody thought the spread would be so aggressive," Lombardy regional governor Attilio Fontana told 102.5 RTL radio, predicting, however that the virus would regress in days due to the emergency measures.

Local authorities announced four new deaths on Monday - three men in their 80s and a 62-year-old. Three previous fatalities recorded since Friday were also elderly people. All those who have died had underlying health problems.

Lombardy remained the worst hit region with 172 confirmed cases, while neighbouring Veneto had 33 infections, including four in Venice, which had been packed with tourists before its carnival was curtailed two days ahead of schedule.

At national level, 27 people were in intensive care, 101 hospitalised and 94 being monitored at home, officials said.

CANCELLATIONS

Economists warned the disruption would take a heavy toll on local businesses and Italy's blue-chip stock index fell 5.4%, with companies most at risk from an expected spending slump bearing the brunt.

Motorway and airport retail group Autogrill plunged 12.7%, while high-street clothing retailer OVS fell 12.9% and luxury goods group Tod's 11.4%.

Story continues

Italy is the world's fifth most visited country and tourism contributes about 13% to GDP, according to the World Trade and Tourism Council. The sector is already taking a hit.

"We have been swamped by cancellations in the last few days, in restaurants, hotels, everywhere," said Patrizio Bertin, the head of the Veneto branch of Italy's trade lobby Confcommercio.

Milan, a city of 1.3 million people, was much quieter than normal. The city's usually bustling courtrooms were deserted, normally packed bars were largely empty and even the city's imposing Gothic cathedral closed its doors.

"We were only meant to spend three days in Milan and then go to Venice for the carnival but everything is shut," said Russian tourist Violla Belova, 50, wearing a face mask as she took photographs of the shuttered Duomo cathedral.

"I hope we won't have to cut our trip short."

With other countries looking to stop the spread, Mauritius on Monday told passengers from Lombardy and Veneto just arrived aboard an Alitalia aircraft that they would have to go into quarantine if they wanted to stay.

Alitalia said 40 out of the 224 passengers and crew were affected and decided to fly back home immediately.

Ireland said its citizens should not travel to parts of Italy affected by the outbreak. Tunisia announced it may suspend some flights to Italy to reduce exposure.

Prior to Friday, Italy had reported just three cases of the virus - all of them people who had recently arrived from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the illness emerged late last year.

Health authorities were frustrated by their failure to identify how the outbreak in the north had started.

Doctors say the focal point was the cluster of now closed-off towns in Lombardy, with the disease spreading fast as the first patients sought hospital attention.

However, none of the initial patients had been to China and officials do not know who brought the infection to the area.

"By now, identifying 'patient zero' in statistical terms would be a great satisfaction ... but you understand that the situation has evolved and must be handled completely differently," said Lombardy official Giulio Gallera.

(Additional reporting by Angelo Amante, Silvia Aloisi, Giulio Piovaccari, Riccardo Bastianello and Giulia Segreti; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Giles Elgood, Peter Graff and Andrew Cawthorne)
History

The Nine Hundred: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Transport to Auschwitz

Heather Dune Macadam

Hodder & Stoughton, $34.99

"We were teenagers. We weren't adults. We were still young enough to want to throw temper tantrums, to be lazy, to shirk a duty or sleep late. Only a month ago we were giggling and gossiping about the latest bit of news in our community, and now we were seeing girls dying, girls our age who should live to become old ladies like I am now, already dead before their time. And then there is the question, will that be me too? Will I be dead soon, too?"

The main gates at Auschwitz, through which the women featured in Heather Dune Macadam's book were taken. Credit:Getty Images

The Nine Hundred tells the harrowing story of Edith Grosman  quoted above from an interview with Heather Dune Macadam conducted for this book  along with the equally compelling stories of many of the other nearly 1000 young Jewish women who were taken from towns and villages in Slovakia and deported to Auschwitz in March 1942.

In a secret deal with the Nazis, the women had been "sold" by the Slovak government as slave labour. Since the women were among the very first victims of the so-called Final Solution, they could not have known what was going to happen to them.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 25 : The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second biggest ally of the Congress in the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, here on Monday expressed unhappiness over the Congress-Kerala Congress (Mani) squabbles.

IUML Lok Sabha member P.K. Kunhalikutty called on state Congress chief Mullapally Ramachandran and the top leaders of the faction-ridden Kerala Congress (Mani) and expressed his concern on the frequent airing of differences by leaders of these parties.

The UDF is set to hold a meeting, here on Tuesday. Leader of opposition in Kerala House Ramesh Chennithala is chairman of the UDF.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Chennithala who led rival factions seem to have patched up to fight the way Ramachandran is running the party. All these factions have raised their grievances against each other with the central party leadership.

The Kerala Congress (Mani) is split in two factions, led by senior party legislator P.J. Joseph and Jose K. Mani, son of party founder K.M. Mani, who passed away last year.

Kunhalikutty has been assured by the top Congress leaders that things will be sorted out at Tuesday meeting. With the local polls scheduled in October and the Assembly polls in May 2021, the UDF will be finding it difficult to face the elections amid intra-party feuds, Kunhalikutty said.

Moreover, with the Kuttanadu Assembly by-election set to be announced shortly, he has warned that it will be curtains for the UDF if they end up loosing, like what happened in Pala, Konni and Vatiyoorkavu by-elections.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For decades, the Harvey Weinstein name meant Hollywood royalty  awards, money, power. But privately, and for almost as long, it had another meaning for the women caught in his orbit. Then in October 2017, some of them, including actress Ashley Judd, accused Weinstein publicly of sexual harassment. In speaking out, they lifted the lid on one of Hollywood's biggest open secrets and lit the fuse that would ignite the #MeToo movement worldwide. More than 90 women would eventually go public with claims against Weinstein and his casting couch, many of them involving rape and other sexual assault. Soon the veil would fall, too, from his network of spies and allies, as a trail of private settlements with alleged victims revealed just how far the industry had gone to keep complaints quiet. On February 25, more than two years on, Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault against two women and led off to prison in handcuffs. Speaking outside the courtroom, District Attorney Vance Jr. said the verdict had pulled America's justice system into the 21st century. He saluted the women who came forward against Weinstein, including the six who took the stand during the trial. While the 67-year-old movie mogul was acquitted of the more serious charge of predatory sexual assault, which marks a history of offending and could have put him behind bars for life, he now faces further charges in Los Angeles for allegedly raping one woman and assaulting another during Oscars week in 2013. So who are the key players in the Weinstein scandal? How has the case unfolded? What's next? How are people reacting? And why is it about more than just one predatory producer? Harvey Weinstein, pictured at the Weinstein Company Golden Globes after-party in 2017, less than nine months before sexual misconduct allegations broke. Credit:AP

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Who is Harvey Weinstein? Few executives in Hollywood history have wielded as much influence as Weinstein  the man famously thanked more times in award acceptance speeches than God (though slightly fewer times than Steven Spielberg). His production houses, Miramax and the Weinstein Company, helped turbocharge independent filmmaking with films such as Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love and Good Will Hunting. And alongside the 80-odd Oscars his movies have collected are a scattering of awards for his own humanitarian work. But there were always rumours. Over the years, reporters had chased the tale of Weinsteins alleged predation of women into dead-ends. People had signed non-disclosure agreements or were too afraid to speak. Knowing Weinsteins sphere of influence extended beyond just Hollywood and into politics and the media, no one wanted to put their names to the stories. Then, in late 2016, actress Rose McGowan dropped an explosive tweet. Shed been raped, she said, and then warned by a lawyer she would never win against a studio head. She didnt name the executive but it didnt take long for people to connect the dots. By 2017, Ronan Farrow  then reporting for NBC  and New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey were uncovering decades of private sexual harassment settlements that had been buried by Weinstein's company. What does this have to do with #MeToo? At the time, the social media hashtag #MeToo encouraging people to speak out against sexual violence was already trending. But the two bombshell investigations into Weinstein started an avalanche of allegations, against the producer and others, that quickly snowballed into a movement. More high-profile names joined the list of Weinstein accusers, including actresses Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek.

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His criminal trials are now viewed as a watershed moment for #MeToo, a test of how far the movement has come in holding powerful men to account as it throws up tricky questions of power and consent. Protesters, including a number of Weinstein's accusers, have held signs and chanted outside the New York courtroom over more than a month of proceedings. But the producer's lawyers have warned the trial is a case of #MeToo gone too far. The woman helming Weinsten's defence, seasoned lawyer Donna Rotunno, says women may rue the day that all of this started when no one asks them out on a date, and no one holds the door open for them". What was Weinstein charged with? Not long after the first accusations hit headlines, police in New York, Los Angeles and London began weighing up cases against the producer. In Manhattan, the clock was ticking especially loud. Among the bombshell allegations published in The New Yorker by Farrow was an account of a 2015 police sting in which model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez had worn a wire and captured Weinstein apparently apologising for groping her breasts the night before. Both the case and the tape were later thrown out by the prosecutor's office, as were more recent charges against him involving the alleged sexual assault of then aspiring actress Lucia Evans, despite both women wanting to go to court. The charges which did make it before the jury in New York were complex  the instructions for jurors reaching a verdict have been compared with an income tax return. (To find Weinstein not guilty of count one, for example, they had to also find him not guilty on count three.) But, in essence, the prosectution's case was built on five counts of sexual crimes revolving around three main allegations: that Weinstein raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013; that he forcibly performed oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006; and that, as part of a bigger pattern of historical offending, he raped The Sopranos star Annabella Sciorra in the mid 1990s. Prosecutors painted Weinstein as a well-established predator, a man who coaxed women into private meetings and then erupted into violence, who used the well-oiled machinery of his company, law firms and private investigators to bury complaints under iron-clad non-disclosure agreements, and manipulate and discredit alleged victims. Without any physical evidence of assault, much of the case against him hinged on the credibility of his accusers. Prosecutors deployed the same tactic used against actor and now convicted sex offender Bill Cosby - bolstering the accounts of the two victims at the heart of the trial by bringing in four other accusers to give testimony, including Sciorra. Yet Weinstein himself insisted all the encounters were consensual - sexual favours traded with eyes wide open in exchange for career advancement.

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After days of jury deadlock, he was convicted of the sexual assault of Haleyi and the third-degree rape of Mann. Charges of predatory sexual assault and the first-degree rape of Mann were thrown out but Weinstein still faces up to 25 years in prison for the assault and four for the rape ahead of sentencing on March 11. Why are only two victims' cases in this trial? While many women were willing to press charges against Weinstein, a number of their allegations involve harassment or abuse falling outside the scope of criminal law and so can only be tried in civil cases. Other incidents happened in jurisdictions other than New York or too long ago to fall within the statute of limitations, such as a claim of rape by Sciorra. Some women have deemed the personal cost of pursuing justice too high. Others, facing only civil avenues of remedy, have reportedly reached a collective $US25 million ($37 million) deal with Weinstein and the now-bankrupt Weinstein Company. How did the trial play out? The trial delivered new twists and at times excruciatingly graphic detail  including stories of Weinstein injecting himself with erection medication before one alleged attack and on another occasion turning up outside Sciorra's hotel room in just his underwear, holding a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a videotape in the other. The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist, prosecutor Meghan Hast said in her opening statement, pointing to Weinstein. But the producer's high-powered defence team say the case against him was a preview to a movie you are not going to see". Weinstein was not a master manipulator and all incidents had been consensual, they argued  if anything some women had used Weinstein to advance their careers. Under cross-examination many of his accusers were confronted with evidence of their ongoing association with Weinstein, including a trove of unearthed emails. The defence seized on the fact that the two victims in the trial - Haleyi and Mann  had had sex with him after the attacks.

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But both women spoke of feeling pressured into those subsequent associations. A forensic psychiatrist, who also testified during Cosbys retrial, told the jury of seven men and five women that it was common for victims of sexual assault to continue contact with their attackers, particularly if they felt pressured to stay quiet. Actress Rose McGowan, who has accused Harvey Weinstein of raping her, speaks outside the court on January 6 in New York. Credit:Getty Images What did the women say? First to testify among his accusers was Sciorra, who fought back tears as she recounted how Weinstein had bulldozed his way into her Manhattan apartment and raped her in the early 1990s. She had struggled, kicking and punching, she said and the encounter followed a number of inappropriate gifts from Weinstein, including X-rated penis-shaped chocolates. Haleyi recounted a vicious tug of war in Weinstein's New York apartment in 2006, when she says the producer held her down, removed her tampon and forcibly performed oral sex on her. The Scandinavian was then a production assistant on Project Runway, working under a tourist visa, and felt trapped into further meet-ups with Weinstein. Mann testified that she entered into an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that never included intercourse until she says he raped her in 2013. She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character: charming in public but revealing at times a terrifying anger when they were alone. Three other women  costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young  told jurors they were enticed into meeting Weinstein professionally and then groped or raped once the doors closed them in alone with him. Friends of the women at the time backed up many of the claims, saying they had told them of the assaults shortly after they happened.

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Prime Minister-designate Orban on Monday stated that, if there are solid grounds, the Liberals will notify the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) on the absenteeism during the vote on the investiture of the new government.

"Absenteeism, boycotting this meeting is the same with refusing to meet your constitutional obligations as MPs and with breaking the commitment of the representation contract which every MP has toward the citizens who granted their vote. (...) We will ask the MPs who are skipping work to come and do their job, the same as any citizen who is fond of democracy and the functioning of the state institutions would ask them to do. And the fact that there will be no quorum is actually more proof that we need to dissolve this Parliament," Orban said after the meeting of the Executive Bureau of the PNL (National Liberal Party).He showed that the PNL is considering notifying the CCR if the MPs don't turn to vote."We've made an evaluation of the situation based on the Constitution. If we find that we have solid grounds, we will notify the CCR," said Orban.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Komorebi is a Japanese word that describes how light filters through leaves--creating shifting, dappled "sunflecks" that illustrate plants' ever-changing light environment. Crops harness light energy to fix carbon dioxide into food via photosynthesis. In a special issue of Plant Journal, a team from the University of Illinois reports a new mathematical computer model that is used to understand how much yield is lost as soybean crops grapple with minute-by-minute light fluctuations on cloudy and sunny days.

"Soybean is the fourth most important crop in terms of overall production, but it is the top source of vegetable protein globally," said Yu Wang, a postdoctoral researcher at Illinois, who led this work for Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE). "We found that soybean plants may lose as much as 13 percent of their productivity because they cannot adjust quickly enough to the changes in light intensity that are standard in any crop field. It may not sound like much, but in terms of the global yield--this is massive."

RIPE is an international research project that aims to improve photosynthesis to equip farmers worldwide with higher-yielding crops needed to ensure everyone has enough food to lead a healthy, productive life. RIPE is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), and the U.K. Government's Department for International Development (DFID).

Past models have only examined hour-by-hour changes in light intensity. For this study, the team created a dynamic computational ray-tracing model that was able to predict light levels to the millimeter across every leaf for every minute of the day in a flowering soybean crop. The model also takes into account two critical factors: photoprotection and Rubisco activase.

Photoprotection protects plants from sun damage. Triggered by high light levels, this process dissipates excess light energy safely as heat. But, when light levels drop, it can take minutes to hours for photoprotection to relax, or stop--costing the plant potential yield. The team evaluated 41 varieties of soybean to find out the fastest, slowest, and average rate from induction to the relaxation of photoprotection. Less than 30 minutes is considered "short-term," and anything longer is "long-term" photoprotection.

Using this new model, the team simulated a sunny and cloudy day in Champaign, Illinois. On the sunny day, long-term photoprotection was the most significant limitation of photosynthesis. On the cloudy day, photosynthesis was the most limited by short-term photoprotection and Rubisco activase, which is a helper enzyme--triggered by light--that turns on Rubisco to fix carbon into sugar.

The RIPE project has already begun to address photoprotection limitations in soybean and other crops, including cassava, cowpea, and rice. In 2016, the team published a study in Science where they increased the levels of three proteins involved in photoprotection to boost the productivity of a model crop by 14-20 percent. In addition, the RIPE team from the Lancaster Environment Centre at Lancaster University is seeking better forms of Rubisco activase in soybean and cowpea. The RIPE project and its sponsors are committed to ensuring Global Access and making these technologies available to the farmers who need them the most.

"Models like these are critical to uncovering barriers--and solutions--to attain this crop's full potential," said RIPE Director Stephen Long, Ikenberry Endowed University Chair Plant Biology and Crop Sciences at Illinois' Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. "We've already begun to address these bottlenecks and seen significant gains, but this study shows us that there is still room for improvement."

###

The paper "Photosynthesis in fluctuating light: An overlooked opportunity for increasing crop performance in the field?" is published by the Plant Journal and available online or by request. Authors include Yu Wang, Steven J. Burgess, Elsa de Becker, and Stephen P. Long.

Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) is engineering staple food crops to turn the sun's energy into food more efficiently to increase worldwide food production sustainably. The RIPE project is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, and the U.K. Government's Department for International Development.

RIPE is led by the University of Illinois in partnership with The Australian National University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Lancaster University, Louisiana State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Essex, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-24 14:02:04

February 24, 2020

Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, has again been recognized as a Derwent Top 100 Global Innovator in Clarivate Analytics annual analysis of the global innovation ecosystem. The Derwent Top 100 Global Innovators report identifies the worlds most innovative organizations, those that successfully develop valuable patented inventions with strong commercialization potential based on their market reach and impact on other downstream inventions [1]. Philips has successively won a place on this prestigious list for the last seven years.

Philips innovation strength is powering our drive to provide integrated solutions that improve people's health across the health continuum, said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. I am pleased that we have once again been recognized, for the 7th consecutive year, as a Derwent Top 100 Global Innovator by Clarivate Analytics. I remain convinced that our ongoing commitment to innovation and R&D, combined with our sense of purpose and culture of customer centricity, will continue to drive our mission to make the world healthier and more sustainable.

Philips EUR 1.9 billion R&D program has resulted in the introduction of many successful innovations, including the new Incisive CT imaging platform for radiology departments, helping them to improve the patient and staff experience, enable smart clinical decision-making and increase efficiency, and the Ingenia Ambition 1.5T MRI system, which enables helium-free operations while delivering superb image quality. Philips also launched the new IntelliVue MX750 and MX850 patient monitors, which feature a wide range of measurements and analytics together with innovative new cybersecurity capabilities. In oral care, the company rolled out its connected Sonicare ExpertClean  a new smart power toothbrush that delivers superior oral care results with sonic technology and deep clean brushing modes.

The Derwent Top 100 Global Innovators 2020 report and a full list of the Top 100 organizations named in it can be found here .

[1] The Derwent Top 100 Global Innovators tracks innovation based on four indicators: 1. Volume: The organization must have had at least 100 granted inventions (and more than 500 filed in total) in the past five years. 2. Influence: The level of downstream impact by being highly cited externally by other organizations, and measured via the Derwent Patent Citations Index over the last five years, excluding citations from themselves. 3. Success: A high ratio of success in obtaining patent grants. 4. Globalization: The level of investment of a patent applicant in their invention, as tracked via the process of pursuing protection in all four of the key market patent offices of China, Europe, Japan, and the United States.

For further information, please contact:

Ben Zwirs

Philips Global Press Office

Tel.: +31 6 1521 3446

E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com

Leandro Mazzoni

Philips Investor Relations

Tel.: +31 20 59 77222

E-mail: leandro.mazzoni@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 80,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter .

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Springtime is always one of the best times to travel in Europe. Flights are cheap. Streets and sites are mostly empty. Flowers are blooming. Locals are friendly. And if you've had a hankering for Rome or Italy, it might be time to grab one of these ultra-cheap $260 roundtrip flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to Rome Fiumicino (FCO).

UPDATE 2:30 pm Monday: The $260 roundtrip fares are no longer available- the cheapest seats are now going for around $400. Still a good deal, but not $260!

Checking Kayak today for flights in March, April and May, we are finding several one-stop options on a wide variety of airlines such as Finnair via Helsinki, Lufthansa via Munich, Iberia via Madrid and Air Canada via Montreal.

The two airlines offering nonstops betweeen SFO and Rome are Norwegian Air and Alitalia, but neither is offering this crazy discount. Norwegian Air's nonstops are currently running at about $475 for springtime flights-- a good bargain. Alitalia is scheduled to start flying from SFO to Rome in June, and it has several nonstop options throughout the summer priced at $800-$900-- a very good deal for mid-summer travel.

Don't miss out on a shred if important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly travel alert emails.

As always, the cheapest fares are going to be in basic economy, with restrictions on carry on bags, seat assignments, etc. But with fares this low, you can bump your flight up to regular economy, and still get a very nice deal along with a more comfortable flight.

We found these deals on several websites today, including Kayak.com, Skyscanner.com and Google Flights.

Please note that these fares were available at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Keep in mind that coronavirus fears are now gripping Italy, and no one really knows where we'll be on that front come April or May. But if you can overlook those fears, this fare is a steal and won't be available very long.

Read all recent TravelSkills posts here

Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates!

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Married At First Sight's Michael Goonan has finally responded to rumours that he cheated on his 'wife' Stacey Hampton with Hayley Vernon during filming late last year.

Speaking to Monday's TV Week, Michael 28, confirmed that he and Hayley shared a kiss inside co-stars Vanessa Romito and Chris Nicholls' hotel room after a night of drinking and 'hanging out'.

'We were all joking and having a laugh. We were mucking around with the phone and were like,"Oh how funny would it be if this got out?''' he said of the kiss- which was allegedly captured on camera.

Married At First Sight's Michael Goonan, 28, (L) has finally responded to rumours that he cheated on his 'wife' Stacey Hampton, 26, (R) with Hayley Vernon during filming late last year

'We were fully clothed, just being stupid, being loose, having fun, not really understanding the implications of what rumours can do to your life.'

At the time of the kiss, Michael's wife Stacey was away in Adelaide spending time with her two children, TV Week reports.

Meanwhile, Hayley has insisted that her encounter with Michael was just a 'party pash' and nothing more.

'We were fully clothed, just being stupid, being loose, having fun': Michael 28, confirmed that he and Hayley, 32, (pictured) did share a kiss inside co-stars Vanessa Romito and Chris Nicholls' hotel room, after a night of drinking and 'hanging out'

'Everyone's had a 16-year-old party pash, haven't they?' Meanwhile, Hayley (pictured) has insisted that her encounter with Michael was just a 'party pash' and nothing more

'There might have been something shared, but it wasn't a connection, that was more like a bottle of alcohol', she told Monday's New Idea magazine.

'Everyone's had a 16-year-old party pash, haven't they?' she added.

Vanessa previously spoke to New Idea about the kiss, claiming that it was Michael who instigated the smooch after a night of heavy drinking.

Naughty boy! Fellow MAFS star Vanessa Romito previously told New Idea magazine that Michael (right) had instigated the make out session in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking

Fuming: Hayley's husband, David (right), was allegedly 'out for blood' in the wake of the scandal and determined to find out what had happened

Vanessa also recalled the bawdy conversation that led up to the kiss.

'Hayley said, "My husband doesn't want to f**k me." Michael [then] turned around and said: "I would f**k you both",' she told New Idea last week.

Meanwhile, Hayley's husband David was allegedly 'out for blood' in the wake of the scandal and was determined to find out what had happened.

Betrayed: 'The morning David found out Michael had hooked up with his wife the night before, he was absolutely ropeable and he went and confronted him about it,' a source said

Producers were reportedly forced to step in as tensions escalated, with one of the brides supposedly yelling for someone to call the police.

Furthermore, a source claimed that security was 'ramped up' at the dinner parties after the incident due to fears of violence among the participants.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
Concern about the spread of the new coronavirus seems to have escalated sharply in recent days.

The large outbreak in Italy is very unsettling. At least 190 people in Italy's north have tested positive for the virus and six have died, including an 84-year-old man who died overnight in Bergamo. None of the people were in China.

Officials still have not identified the person who brought the infection to Italy.

Is it under control now?

The Italian government has introduced draconian measures. It has closed off the worst-hit areas in the areas of Lombardy and Veneto. Milan city is not under lockdown and flights are continuing to fly in and out.

In eleven north Italian towns, 50,000 people have been in lockdown since Friday night, with police patrolling the streets and fines imposed on anyone caught entering or leaving outbreak areas.

Most coronavirus infections are still in China but apart from Italy there are outbreaks in South Korea and Iran.

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The significant traffic between Ireland the Italy increases our risk of seeing a case surely?

There is no case of the coronavirus detected in Ireland and around 78 have been tested here over the past few weeks. All were negative.

But there is now an increased threat to Ireland and other EU countries.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention said in the light of the outbreak in Italy the risk of similar clusters in EU countries has been elevated to moderate to high.

What is the advice to Irish people who may be travelling to Italy?

The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising people not travel to affected areas in Italy.

These include Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Lazio. There is no travel ban and it is a matter for the person themselves whether to travel.

But they must weigh up the risk as well as restrictions of movement and closures they would face depending on where in the region they travel to. In light of the Department of Foreign Affairs advice, people who cancel can get a refund.

What if people in Ireland have been in the affected regions in the last two weeks and are now home? Should they ask for a test?

If they are unwell and have symptoms like a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or fever they should contact their GP for advice by phone, rather than going to the surgery or hospital.

Will this impact big events such as the upcoming rugby international in Dublin between Ireland and Italy?

The match is under review for now but not cancelled. It is expected to be tomorrow before the expert group would be able to make a decision on it.

They will carry out a risk assessment based on advice from the European Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation. The prospect of large numbers of Italian fans coming here and the risk they might pose would have to be assessed.

Will the situation in Italy have a knock-on effect for our own preparations and action plan?

The European Centre for Disease Control is meeting today and is likely to issue new advice. This could mean most testing for the virus of people who returned to Ireland from Italy in the last two weeks who develop symptoms.

If that kind of outbreak could happen in Italy surely it could also occur here? Are we looking at similar lockdowns here in the future?

Ireland remains coronavirus-free and the hope is that if and when it does come, it will be confined to a small number of cases which will be contained.

To do that could involve the roll out of a series of strict measures including getting people to self isolate. Its unchartered territory but some lockdown could not be ruled out. The advice is to prepare for the worst.

What if a significant number of people with the virus need intensive care? Are there enough intensive care units?

Ireland does not have enough intensive care units currently so patients can face delays before admission. Dealing with coronavirus patients would place huge pressure on these units but the expert group overseeing planning for the virus here said all hospitals would be able to provide them.

That may not be the biggest problem, I imagine. If a person is found to have the infection but exposed many others before being diagnosed they will all have to be tracked.

Yes. That could be major exercise.They may not be normally resident in Ireland and some accommodation would have to be found if they need to go into isolation for fourteen days.

What do we know now about the impact of the virus on people who contract it?

For around 80.9pc the infection is mild. Less than 5pc are critical. It kills up to 15pc of patients over the age of 80.

So are we in a pandemic situation now and if one is declared what will it mean?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the coronavirus remains an international emergency. The terms pandemic was used in the past when when a new disease spread to several countries and showed sustained transmission between humans. But some experts say this is happening with coronavirus.

If a pandemic hits, containment has failed and the focus will switch to mitigation- slowing down how fast the virus spreads through a population. Mitigation can occur via individual measures, such as frequent hand washing, and collective measures.

This would see more cancellations of mass events, office closures and working from home.
The 'make do and mend' mentality is returning as environmentally conscious shoppers turn away from 'fast fashion'.

Brands are offering free repairs and alterations so customers can wear items again rather than bin them.

Others have workshops on how to sew and patch clothes worn only a few times.

Brands are offering free repairs and alterations so customers can wear items again rather than bin them after around 350,000 tons of used but still wearable clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year (stock image)

Around 350,000 tons of used but still wearable clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year.

Brands that offer free repairs or alterations include Levi's, Whistles, J Crew, Toast, Patagonia and Uniqlo.

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp told the Sunday Times: 'The No 1 reason for clothes to end up in landfill is missing a button.'

She wants schools to teach pupils to replace a button and to use a sewing machine.

Wearing a repaired item with a patch has now also become a badge of pride among some.

After Jessica Hinds-Turner's puppy ravaged her jeans in November, she took them to Toast in Harrogate, where tailor Molly Martin patched over the damage.

'I'm delighted to show off my mended items,' Miss Hinds-Turner, 27, told the Sunday Times.

'Yes, it's not brand new, it's loved and it's been fixed, but that makes it more valuable.'

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp (pictured) wants schools to teach pupils to replace a button and to use a sewing machine

Miss Martin, who runs repair workshops for Toast, told the newspaper: 'People are scared about what is happening to the environment. Fast fashion - buying so much and throwing it away - is out of favour.

'We are regaining a make-do-and-mend attitude.'

She said some repairs were invisible but other customers asked for visible or decorative darns and patches.

'They want to celebrate and draw attention to the fact they have old clothes and are taking care of them,' she said, adding that customers below the age of 30 'don't know what you are doing with a needle'.
One-third of parents of toddlers don't vaccinate their children on time, a new study estimates.

Researchers found that 23 percent of mothers and fathers either limited the number of shots given per doctor's visit or had their children skip at least one vaccine.

Another 14 percent did not follow the guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The team, from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, in Atlanta, Georgia, say the findings underline the need for pediatricians to make clear to parents the importance of getting their kids shots on time.

Not vaccinating young children leaves them highly susceptible to both infectious diseases and their complications, which can include brain swelling, pneumonia and even death, and was widely blamed for the resurgence of measles last year.

A new study from Emory University found that 23% of parents of children between ages 19 and 35 months old have skipped at least one vaccine and 14% do not follow guidelines (file image)

According to the CDC, more than 90 percent of children under age three have been vaccinated for polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Hepatitis B and chicken pox.

But that still leaves us barely reaching the threshold for herd immunity, which occurs when the vast majority of a community becomes immune so that, if a disease is introduced, it is unable to spread.

And more than 80 percent have received Haemophilus influenzae, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and pneumococcal infection vaccines.

However, mounting distrust - of the pharmaceutical industry and the research that states vaccines are safe - has led some parents to not immunize their children, in turn leading to outbreaks of diseases not seen in years, such as measles, whooping cough and mumps.

Research questioning vaccine safety has been debunked by countless times.

For the new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, the team analyzed data from the 2014 National Immunization Survey.

They looked at the up-to-date immunization status of more than 15 059 children between ages 19 and 35 months old.

By this age range, the CDC recommends shots against the 14 following diseases:

Hepatitis B (three doses)

Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (four of five doses)

Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (four doses)

Pneumococcal disease (four doses)

Polio (three doses)

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) (one of two doses)

Chickenpox (one of two doses)

Hepatitis A (one dose)

Influenza (Flu) (yearly)

Researchers found that most children - 63 percent - were receiving their vaccines on the recommended schedule.

But almost one-quarter of children were following an 'alternate pattern' - either delaying or skipping at least one shot - and 14 percent did not follow federal guidelines.

Children who moved across state lines, were not first-born, lived in the Northeast, were black or multi-racial, or lived below the poverty level were the most likely to not be up-to-date on vaccines.

Several past studies have found that vaccine misinformation - such as the myth that the shots cause autism - continue to perpetuated online.

Experts say this could be why parents delay their children's immunizations.

Another reason could be that as diseases have become less common, people don't remember a time from before vaccines were commonplace.

'Because we don't frequently see these diseases anymore, we don't perceive the risk of not getting vaccinated,' says Julie Bettinger, a vaccine safety scientist at BC Children's Hospital, told Today's Parent.

'But the diseases we developed vaccines for - like polio, which killed or crippled thousands of children - were selected precisely because they're so severe.'

The study authors say that interventions ions are needed to reduce vaccine delays and these children's risk of catching highly infectious diseases.

'[The study's results] let pediatricians know that this may potentially be a bigger issue than we've recognized (in the past),' co-author Dr Robert Bednarczyk, an assistant professor of global health and epidemiology at the Emory Vaccine Center, told Healthline.

'I hope these findings can help spur [pediatricians] to make sure that children are scheduled on time and that parents understand why. These schedules are created by people with great expertise.'
She's made a name for herself as one of the world's top models.

And Alessandra Ambrosio put her incredible figure on display to celebrate Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday afternoon.

The 38-year-old supermodel was dressed to impress in a shimmering gold bikini top as she paraded her fit physique with a host of friends at the Hotel Fasano.

Queen of Carnaval: Alessandra Ambrosio put her incredible figure on display to celebrate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday afternoon

Alessandra played host with the most at the stylish event for her swimwear brand, GAL Floripa.

The former Victoria's Secret stunner flaunted her assets in a metallic top with straps wrapped around her shoulders and back.

She added a classic touch with a pair of sheer and shimmering silver slacks, and wrapped a gold belly chain around her waist.

Blessed: The 38-year-old supermodel was dressed to impress in a shimmering gold bikini top as she paraded her fit physique with a host of friends at the Hotel Fasano

Boss: She added a classic touch with a pair of sheer and shimmering silver slacks, and wrapped a gold belly chain around her waist

Gorgeous: The former Victoria's Secret stunner flaunted her assets in a metallic top with straps wrapped around her shoulders and back

Ambrosio strapped on a pair of golden sandals and wore a host of matching jewelry around her neck and wrists.

She launched her lifestyle brand in March 2019 and has since focused on her swimwear collection.

The Brazilian beauty collaborated with her sister, Aline Ambrosio, and best friend, Gisele Coria, to create the brand.

Entrepreneur: She launched her lifestyle brand in March 2019 and has since focused on her swimwear collection

Fashionable affair: Alessandra posed with just a few of her closest pals at the event celebrating her brand

'We always had this dream. We grew up in Florianopolis, which is an island south of Brazil, and swim was always like our second skin,' Ambrosio told People magazine.

'We were always in a swimsuit going from one beach to another and always wanted to have a bikini shop there one day. That was our dream when we were 18.'

The brand's name is a combination of the ladies first initials and also a tribute to their favorite beach.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed US President Donald Trump's visit to India as a "new chapter" in the historic Indo-US relations, adding their ties is no longer just another partnership but a far greater and closer relationship.

Welcoming the President at the 'Namaste Trump' event at the new-look Motera stadium shortly after his arrival on the first leg of his two-day trip, Modi said a "new history" is being created and asserted that foundations of new alignments, challenges, opportunities and changes are being laid.

"India and the US relations and cooperation will play an important role in deciding the course of world in the 21st century. I am of the categorical view that India and the US are natural partners," he told an estimated one lakh-strong audience who broke into cheers frequently.

Underscoring the strong ties between the two nations, Modi said the US is now India's largest trading partner and the Indian military is involved in its biggest war exercise with the US.

Trump's visit to India at the turn of the new decade is a big opportunity, he said.

The Indo-US ties are no longer just another partnership but have touched far greater heights, and the Trump's trip with his family shows this, Modi said.

"Welcome to world's biggest democracy," the prime minister said.

Modi said President Trump's visit is a new chapter in the relations between India and America. "A chapter that will become a new document of progress and prosperity of the people of America and India," he added.

There is so much that the two countries share, Modi said.

He said the two countries also share spirit of enterprise and innovation, shared opportunities and challenges and shared hopes and aspirations.

Modi also appreciated Trump administration's efforts in the field of health.

The biggest strength between two people or nations is trust, Modi said while quoting an old adage that "friendship is where trust is unshakable".

In the last few years, trust between the US and India has strengthened further and has reached historic levels.

"What you have done for healthy and happy America is getting good results. What you are doing for children in society is admirable," Modi said.

Modi said today 130 crore Indians are jointly building a 'new India'.

"Our youth power is full of aspirations. Setting big goals, achieving them is becoming the hallmark of new India today," he said.

Modi noted that India not only has a the world record of sending the maximum number of satellites simultaneously, but also is making the world record by doing the fastest financial inclusion.

"Today the country with which India has the most extensive research and development partnership is America," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three notorious murderers (from left) David McVeigh, Gerry Stokes and Barry Skinner walk through the gates of Maghaberry high-security prison

A CHILD sex killer branded "extremely dangerous" by a court is back walking the streets of Northern Ireland.

David McVeigh, who murdered and sexually assaulted vulnerable 14-year-old Janet Swanson, is enjoying prolonged periods of temporary release from Maghaberry Prison ahead of being freed permanently.

This is despite a judge saying that "the greatest possible caution should be exercised before releasing him".

Sunday Life snapped the 39-year-old predator in the company of two other killers - UDA hitman Barry Skinner (39) and knife maniac Gerry Stokes (56) - dandering out the gates of the high-security jail.

The trio, who are all nearing the end of life sentences, were recently released for 10 days to stay with family and friends.

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie calling for answers as to why they were all released at the same time. The politician also called for tougher sentences with more serious consideration given for "punishment, deterrence and the protection of the public".

He said: "It is absolutely crucial that the justice system realises the importance of maintaining public confidence. Therefore decisions that result in dangerous individuals being released for extended periods before their sentence is completed must be explained to the widest possible audience.

"It is not enough for the justice system to simply shrug and say, 'They have done their time, we have to release them'. If people pose a threat to the public, then they should not be released."

Jail sources described the decision to free child sex killer McVeigh as being particularly high-risk. He has been thrown off previous pre-release schemes after concerns were raised about his behaviour. These include suspected drug use and shoplifting.

Expand Close Three notorious murderers (from left) David McVeigh, Gerry Stokes and Barry Skinner walk through the gates of Maghaberry high-security prison / Facebook

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Whatsapp Three notorious murderers (from left) David McVeigh, Gerry Stokes and Barry Skinner walk through the gates of Maghaberry high-security prison

Prison staff tasked with monitoring McVeigh are also worried by his close relationship with killer rapist Ricky Close - an ex-French Foreign Legionnaire who murdered retired Co Down teacher Daphne Taylor while on bail for sexual assault.

Another of his close friends is gunman Jimmy Hunter (57), who went on the run from Maghaberry last year and was recently moved to a jail in England.

"McVeigh is one of the most devious inmates in the prison," a security source told Sunday Life.

"No one here can understand how he is back on temporary release when he was thrown off two other previous schemes for rule-breaking.

"His relationship with Ricky Close is another major cause for concern. They are two convicted murderers and sex offenders, and they bring out the worst in each other."

McVeigh was given another period of temporary release two weeks ago to attend the funeral of a close relative.

Until recently he has managed to cover up the fact that he was convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting a child because the Northern Ireland man's crimes occurred in England.

Our source added: "McVeigh made out to the other prisoners in Maghaberry that it was a spur of the moment killing of an adult, he never let on his victim was a 14-year-old schoolgirl. The other inmates only found out recently and they are horrified."

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McVeigh was only a teenager himself when he murdered and sexually assaulted Janet Swanson in 1995. He met his victim through his dad who was dating her mum.

The killer exploited this link to lure vulnerable Janet to a forest near Leeds where he carried out a violent sexual assault before strangling her with the drawstring of an anorak and dumping her body in a ditch.

After McVeigh was arrested he denied involvement until the second day of his trial when he entered guilty pleas.

This was after he realised a lottery ticket found in Janet's pocket led cops to CCTV from the supermarket where it was bought.

The footage showed McVeigh with his victim just hours before the murder.

Jailing the child sex killer for life with a minimum 16 years, Judge Timothy Walker branded him "extremely dangerous", saying: "The greatest possible caution should be exercised before releasing him".

McVeigh's sentence was later reduced on appeal to a minimum 13 years, and he was moved back to prison in Northern Ireland in 2000.

The killers, in whose company he was photographed leaving Maghaberry Prison for 10 days of freedom, are also regarded as extremely dangerous.

UDA hitman Barry Skinner is considered a "psycho" and given a wide berth, even by other life sentence inmates.

The bodybuilder has spent the past 17 years behind bars having been convicted of the 2002 drugs feud murder of his former pal Alexander McKinley (22), who was shot in the back of the head. Skinner was named in court as the gunman who carried out the well-planned murder.

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Higgins said: "This was not a chance encounter. There is no sign of panic. This was an execution that was carried out with deliberation.

"The shooting of Alexander McKinley was not a random incident but was pre-planned, and involved luring him, at an appropriate time, to a rendezvous point."

Gerry Stokes, the third convicted murderer pictured by Sunday Life walking out the gates of Maghaberry jail, was jailed for life in 2008 for stabbing James Forsythe to death in Scotland. A judge ordered the thug to spend at least 14 years behind bars.

Prior to the killing, Stokes had served a 12-year jail sentence for a serious assault. His criminal record stretching back 40 years to 1979 also includes convictions for robbery, possession of firearms, and for numerous crimes of dishonesty.

cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk
Days after a young woman in Bengaluru was arrested and slapped with sedition charges for raising Pakistan Zindabad slogans at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Bengaluru, Karnatakas agriculture minister B C Patil has called for law to shoot at sight those who speak ill of India or raise pro-Pakistan slogans.

In my opinion there is need for a law that has to be brought in India - Shoot at Sight law has to brought in India for those who speak ill of India or raise pro-Pakistan slogans. It is very much needed, Patil was quoted as saying by ANI.

Patil said he would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with traitors.

Theyre enjoying food, water and air of India. Why should they be here if they raise Pakistan zindabad slogan? In China, people are scared to talk against their country. I request PM Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with traitors, Patil said.

Many BJP leaders have accused anti-CAA protesters of being traitors. In the campaign for the Delhi assembly elections recently, Union minister Anurag Thakur was slapped with a ban by the Election Commission after he egged a crowd at a rally to chant Shoot the traitiors. Over the past two months police across the country have slapped sedition charges against many anti-CAA protesters.

Punishment under the Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code that deals with sedition ranges from imprisonment up to three years to a life term, to which fine may be added. A person charged under this law is also barred from a government job.

Rights activists say the British era law has been used to suppress dissent in the country particularly against marginalised communities and minorities.

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A Ghanian father-of seven who lied to get into Australia before marrying two Australian women and sexually assaulting a child has been booted from the country.

The man's real name and date of birth are not known, however, he is known as Oko Mensah or Nii Odai Frank Quaye, and is possibly 53.

The man, from Sydney's west, is currently serving a six-year prison sentence after he plead guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of a minor.

His appeal against the ruling to revoke his citizenship was this week rejected by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

A Ghanian father-of seven who lied to get into Australia before marrying two Australian women and sexually assaulting a child has been booted from the country (stock image)

He had argued that he was forced to lie because of death threats to himself and his children.

'The applicant's migration offences and citizenship offence are serious,' senior AAT member Adria Poljak said, reports The Daily Telegraph.

'There is a great deal of interest in deterring others in the community from committing similar offences. Accordingly, it is contrary to the public interest for the applicant to continue to be an Australian citizen.'

The tribunal said the man's lies began in 2002 when he met Judith Anne Jullen while she was on holiday in Ghana.

He failed to inform authorities he had children when he arrived in Perth in 2003 on a spouse visa.

His and Ms Jullen's marriage didn't last a month and his visa was cancelled in April 2004, however, he attempted to unlawfully stay until he was caught be immigration officials and deported in May.

Mensah then got to know his next wife Anita Jean Baines, another Australian citizen, over the telephone while he was back in Ghana.

It is not known how they were introduced, however, the tribunal heard that Ms Baines provided him with financial support before they had met.

On December 1 2004, Ms Baines and her daughter visited him in Ghana and just over two weeks later they were married.

As soon as a three-year visa exclusion expired from Mensah's attempted overstay, he arrived back in the country on another spouse visa.

In 2011, after he was granted citizenship, his seven children arrived in the country.

Mensah and Ms Baines split up in February 2014 and he was convicted of the sexual assault and sent to prison in April 2016.

Despite his children speaking on his behalf and the claims his life would be in danger if he returned to Ghana, his citizenship was revoked by the tribunal citing no evidence of this.

The man appeared before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal this week to keep his citizenship




(TNS)  She has curly brown hair, warm brown eyes and and there are plans for her to speak at least four languages.Her name is Clara  a nod to the Spanish word claro meaning clear  and she's the New Mexico First Judicial District Court's new virtual receptionist, a first-of-its-kind avatar equipped with artificial intelligence that helps visitors navigate the courthouse.The lobby of Santa Fe's three-story district courthouse has a massive reception desk. But it's been vacant since the downtown building opened in 2013, little more than a place for people to put things while struggling into their winter coats or refastening their belts after passing through the metal detector.If someone had a question, they had to go to the clerk's office, where they could take a number.Clara is the court's attempt to make the courthouse less intimidating and more accessible to the public, particularly people with literacy or language issues."Using technology to serve people  that's our primary goal," said Paula Couselo-Findikoglu, manager of the Administrative Office of the Courts' Language Access Services."You see a lot of kiosks," said Couselo-Findikoglu, who came up with the idea for Clara. "The new thing is the integration of an avatar and artificial intelligence. ... We are the first ones in the nation."Couselo-Findikoglu said Clara, who appears on a large flat screen in the lobby, was installed in January and is a prototype for avatars that could one day be placed in courthouses across the state.Court-users can use a touch screen or their voice to get directions to any of the nine courtrooms in the building, access a list of frequently asked questions and email themselves a variety of forms such as divorce petitions or applications for restraining orders.But by summer's end, Couselo-Findikoglu said, Clara should be interfaced with the court's online court system and be able to provide users who enter or say their name or case number with the time and locations of their court proceedings.Clara speaks, writes and understands English. By year's end, she should be able to speak Spanish, Navajo and Vietnamese.Couselo-Findikoglu said the court gets more requests for Navajo translators than any other language besides Spanish. Vietnamese was selected with Albuquerque's population in mind.In the future, courts in different parts of the state will be able to customize the languages Clara speaks for their own demographics.Teaching Clara to speak Navajo has been challenging, Couselo-Findikoglu said, because there is no text-to-speech or speech-to-text technology for that language. She said the state is creating its own by having Navajo speakers translate and record thousands of phrases pertinent to court users.Rio Rancho translator Frank Morgan translated court terms into written Navajo, and Farmington court interpreter Joanna Manygoats is Clara's official Navajo voice.Clara can already answer 7,000 questions, Couselo-Findikoglu said, and keeps a record of the questions she can't answer so her human creators can teach her how to respond the next time."She gets some pretty hilarious questions," Couselo-Findikoglu said.For example: "How do I divorce my [expletive] husband?" And, when kids are involved, "Can I get a Ninja Turtle?"Clara  who began her life as an online assistant  has a built-in "personality" and can, when asked, tell a few jokes.Clara's current iteration costs about $10,000, but she can also be installed on smaller, less expensive devices such as an iPad, Couselo-Findikoglu said. Funding for the avatar has come from Language Access Services' operating budget.Couselo-Findikoglu said the realization of the AI-avatar prototype  through combining existing technologies  has been a group effort that has included Albuquerque software developer Alexander Smith and Ideum, a Corrales-based hardware company that specializes in museum exhibits.Students from the University of New Mexico Law School and staff from other judicial districts in the state have also contributed to the project.
Virginia State Police stand guard after gun rights advocates took part in a rally at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 20, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Virginia Lawmakers Shoot Down Sheriff Pay Raise Amid Gun Control Debate

The gun debate in Virginia took another turn after a Republican state senator said he was told that his attempt to pass an amendment giving the states sheriff departments a 3 percent raise failed because of opposition by some sheriffs to Gov. Ralph Northams anti-gun agenda.

When Sen. William Stanley on Feb. 20 had tried to amend the state budget with the wage increase, it was defeatedwith every Democrat voting against it. Stanley alleged that after the vote, he was approached by Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, a Democrat.

Hey Stanley, you want to know why your sheriffs didnt get a raise? Because they came to our committees and said that they werent going to enforce our laws, Saslaw said.

Stanley said he asked Saslaw which particular legislation he was alluding to, in which the majority leader responded, gun control.

Saslaws remark was an apparent reference to Second Amendment sanctuaries, a growing movement in which local officials and some sheriffs generally state that they wont follow new gun laws they believe are unconstitutional. In Virginia, 91 of the states 95 counties have passed some sort of measure affirming their support for Second Amendment sanctuaries.

I was shocked that the Democrats are now punishing our local Sheriffs Departments (by eliminating a pay raise for them), for their choice to protect and defend our citizens Second Amendment rights, Stanley wrote in a now-viral Facebook post following the incident.

Democrats want to restrict a citizens right to protect themselves, but wont pay our sheriffs deputies to protect Virginians, Stanley continued. Hypocrisy has a name.

Saslaw didnt immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment, but he told CBS 6 he did say those words.

All I said was a lot of people are upset that these people come in and say theyre not going to enforce my laws, he told the network. Thats all.

David Campbell, vice chairman of the Effingham County Board in Illinois, told The Epoch Times he sees the incident as a direct attack on Virginias sheriffs.

All representatives and senators take the same oath of office as the sheriffs do, he said via email. The sheriffs are only doing their job and what they were sworn to do, and that is to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America.

A handful of gun control bills have advanced swiftly through Virginias state legislature in recent weeks and could be passed in the coming days. Those bills include limiting handgun purchases to one per month, universal background checks on gun purchases, allowing localities to ban guns in public buildings, parks, and other areas, and a red flag bill that would allow authorities to temporarily confiscate guns from anyone deemed by a judge to be dangerous to themselves or others.

The Senate version of the state budget included a one-time, $200 bonus for sheriffs departments during the first year and a 3 percent increase in the second year, Stanley told CBS 6. He said he wanted to replace the one-time bonus with another 3 percent increase instead, arguing that $200 was too little.

Assistant Sheriff Grant Kilgore, who serves in Wise County, Virginia, said a 3 percent raise would have raised deputies base pay from the poverty level.

The fact that some senators and delegates want to punish thousands of dedicated officers to serve their own political agendas is petty and irresponsible even to their own constituents, and further goes against the oath that they swore to, Kilgore told The Epoch Times via email.

One county sheriff in Virginia wrote on his official Facebook page that he had a strong feeling this was going to happen.

The men and women who work as deputies throughout Virginia deserved a raise, Lancaster County Sheriff Patrick McCranie said. If the General Assembly wanted to leave Sheriffs out that would have been fine. I am sorry and feel very dejected but I will never stop fighting for our men and women. Thank you, Senator Bill Stanley for trying.

One of the gun control bills in Virginia, an assault weapons ban, considered by Second Amendment advocates as the most egregious measure, was recently rejected by state lawmakers, a result of efforts by gun rights groups using a wide-reaching and comprehensive awareness strategy.

The press secretary for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam didnt respond to a request for comment on the pay raise controversy.
Wanted man leads Chico police officers on overnight chase

Breaking news overnight- Chico police and the CHP are searching for a Paradise man they say led officers on a high-speed chase. Police are searching for Alex Cole Bundlie. Chico police say this all started out as a traffic stop, the suspect then sped off and led officers south of this highway.

Car crashes into pole, closing parts of Park Ave.

New overnight, police closed parts of Park Avenue in Chico after a car slammed right into a light pole. It happened on southbound Park Avenue, just south of W. 22nd street just after midnight. Chico police say the crash and damaged pole blocked traffic. Public works crews acted fast, installing a new light pole. Both lanes are now back open.

Cal Fire officials report the Beegum Fire in Tehama County is 90% contained

Cal Fire is working to monitor a vegetation fire burning west of Red Bluff. It started Sunday morning off highway 36 near Platina. At last count, the fire was 90% contained. The fire was first reported near Tedoc Road. No homes are threatened and the cause is still being investigated.

Additional voting assistance centers added in Butte County

Three new assistance centers opened in Butte County this weekend. At the centers, you can drop off your ballot, get a replacement ballot and get help with your ballot if you need it. You can also update your voter registration and vote on the same day. The assistance center will be open through Election Day at the Hall of Records on Nelson Avenue in Oroville, the BMU on the Chico State campus, and at the Terry Ashe Recreation Center in Paradise.

Control burn scheduled for Magalia, Monday

Happening today, if you spot smoke in the upper ridge area near Magalia don't be alarmed. Cal Fire Butte County will be conducting a control burn of about 12 acres of vegetation on Steiffer Road in Magalia. This burn was scheduled for last week, but due to strong winds, Cal Fire crews rescheduled. Members of the California conservation corps will be helping Cal Fire crews on this burn, designed to clear out "fire fuels" from the area.

Drive-by shooting in Chico appears to be random act, police say

Chico police are investigating what they called a "random drive-by shooting." Police are now searching for the person who fired at least two shots from his car. It happened just after midnight Saturday on West 5th and Oak Streets in Chico. No one was hurt and police say the incident appears to be random.

3 Killed, 21 injured in bus accident In San Diego County

This morning, the search continues for the cause of a deadly bus accident that killed three people. The charter style bus overturned around 10:30 Sunday while traveling on Interstate 15 in San Diego County. Three people were killed and another 18 were injured in the accident. Federal investigators are looking at three possible causes, weather, mechanical failure or driver error.

Two hikers in their 70s got lost in dense forest on Valentine's Day. On Saturday, rescuers found them alive

A couple who vanished in the northern California woods over Valentines Day weekend has been found alive. 77-year-old and a 72-year-old couple were last seen Feb. 14 at a vacation cottage near Inverness. After nearly a week of searching, volunteers heard the couple yelling for help and found them in a densely forested area. Sunday helicopter crews airlifted the couple to a hospital to be treated.

2 teens arrested in library fire that killed firefighter

Murder charges have been filed against two 13-year-old boys suspected of starting a fire that killed two firefighters at a central California library. Police said they were seen running from Porterville City Library shortly after flames erupted. Tulare County prosecutors filed two counts of murder with special circumstances of multiple murders and arson.
When suspended Colleton County Sheriff Andy Strickland got indicted Tuesday on 15 corruption and abuse of office charges  he had been suspended earlier after a domestic violence indictment  his attorney had an interesting take.

+3 New charges allege Colleton sheriff embezzled money, ordered deputies to work on his property A South Carolina grand jury on Tuesday indicted suspended Colleton County Sheriff Andy Strickland on new public corruption and misconduct charges, alleging that he used his power as sheriff to coerce an employee into a sexual relationship and ordered deputies to work on his home while they were on duty.

The default position today is that the law enforcement officer is wrong, Andy Savage declared. The world has changed.

No. Thats not the default position, at least not here in South Carolina. But yes, the world has changed. Until recently, the default position had been that the law enforcement officer is never wrong  even in those rare cases when its unquestionably clear that he killed an unarmed person, when no ones life was in danger. Today the default is that when its painfully, unquestionably clear that a cop has broken the law in a big way, were sometimes willing to do something about it.

Of course that criticism about the world turning against law enforcement officers is meant to conjure up images of the dedicated officers who patrol our streets and come face to face with bad guys who want to kill them.

+5 SC sheriffs earn 2019 Newsmaker of the Year for scandalous behavior South Carolina has had a parade of sheriffs caught up in scandals in recent years. A Post and Courier investigation earlier this year found more misconduct. Published in March, Above the Law, showed that one in four of South Carolina's 46 counties in the past decade had seen their sheriffs accused of breaking laws they swore to uphold. By the end of 2019, three more sheriffs had been indicted and removed from office.

Mr. Strickland, who had the administrative job of running the sheriffs office, is accused of flat-out corruption. Of taking advantage of the cops who are out there trying to protect us, by ordering them to work on his home, and on his campaign, while they were on duty. Of coercing an employee into a sexual relationship, giving away county property and illegally distributing prescription drugs. And more.

Mr. Strickland is the 14th S.C. sheriff in the past decade to be accused of breaking the law. Two more, and more than a third of our states 46 sheriffs will have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

The Legislature has met this growing epidemic with deafening silence. But days before Mr. Stricklands latest indictment, we got a valuable reminder that we dont actually have to wait for legislative action to protect ourselves from abusive but not yet indicted sheriffs.

After a prosecutor determined that Union County Sheriff David Taylor didnt actually violate the law when he asked employees to buy him alcohol while on duty and made sexually inappropriate comments, the Union County Council initiated a process to render the sheriff impotent.

South Carolina sheriff refuses to resign, despite council vote A South Carolina county council voted to ask its sheriff to step down after a state police report said he requested employees to buy him alcohol while on duty and made sexually inappropriate comments.

Although the state constitution requires that every county have a sheriff, it doesnt say what sheriffs do. And a law that traces its roots to the 1950s allows county councils to create county police departments to duplicate or replace the law enforcement functions of a sheriff. Charleston County used to have a county police department; Horry County still does, and the sheriff is relegated to providing courthouse security, processing warrants, fingerprinting, registration of sex offenders, funeral escorts, background checks and managing the county jail. The main police work is left to the county police chief, who can be fired by the county administrator for a lot less than a felony conviction.

Now, this sort of arrangement is clearly redundant. Its not a quick solution. And given some county councils weve seen, wed never suggest that letting the county fire a police chief is a perfect situation. Such a drastic move is simply the only solution the Legislature has allowed.

What we need is for the Legislature to give us more solutions that dont have these drawbacks  solutions that can deter bad behavior on the part of officials who have had every reason to believe the law doesnt apply to them. That can start by requiring routine outside audits of all expenditures by sheriffs, requiring them to follow state procurement regulations, giving county officials clearer authority to deny sheriffs office expenditures and requiring sheriffs to post details about all their spending online.

Editorial: One way or another, lawmakers must make SC sheriffs accountable The Greenville police chief was fired even though a prosecutor decided his special treatment of a suspect wasn't against the law, demonstrating one reason we have so many criminal sheriffs in South Carolina.

And in case heightened scrutiny isnt sufficient, the Legislature should give county councils the authority to remove abusive sheriffs. After all, the constitution allows for the removal of statewide officials (the agriculture commissioner and secretary of state, for example) who have far less opportunity for abuse than a sheriff.

If lawmakers arent willing to act, then perhaps more counties should consider workarounds to reduce the amount of power and money their now-unaccountable sheriffs can get their hands on.
The first Ethiopian-born Jewish woman elected to Israel's parliament, who said she is fighting for racial equality, has become a key player in the effort to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Pnina Tamano-Shata, a former television journalist first elected to the Knesset (parliament) in 2013, represents an Ethiopian-Israeli community that experts say could be pivotal in the country's March 2 vote. The election is Israel's third in less than a year and polls show another tight race between Netanyahu's right-wing Likud and the centrist Blue and White party, of which Tamano-Shata is a member. Sitting in a cafe in Hadera, a city north of Tel Aviv that is home to thousands of Ethiopian Israelis, Tamano-Shata argued that racial inequality remained rampant after Netanyahu's 14 years in office. "There are more Ethiopians in prison, more police brutality against us, higher poverty and a higher suicide rate," she told AFP in an interview. The killing last year of 19-year-old Solomon Teka by an off-duty police officer inflamed long-standing grievances among Ethiopian-Israelis, who claim they have repeatedly been targeted by police due to the colour of their skin. Tamano-Shata said her generation of Ethiopian-Israelis had a duty "to fight tirelessly for our acceptance". "We must assert that we are no different, that we are equal," she added. - Operation Moses - Israelis of Ethiopian descent have historically backed Likud as a legacy of gratitude for the 1984-1985 "Operation Moses" that brought an initial 8,000 Ethiopians to the Jewish state. That seven-week clandestine extraction after a devastating Ethiopian famine was carried out under the premiership of former Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir. Tamano-Shata's family was part of that operation. She recalls travelling with her pregnant mother and sisters to a camp for the displaced in Sudan from where she and thousands of others were exfiltrated to Israel. "We dreamed of Jerusalem for generations," she said. "I was born in a village without electricity." The Ethiopian-Israeli community has since grown to 140,000-strong, including 50,000 born in Israel. Their numbers may be rising, but Avi Yossef, a 35-year-old Ethiopian Jew born in a Sudanese refugee camp, said many in the community feel marginalised. "Before someone even knows who you are, he looks at your skin colour," Yossef told AFP. "You still need to prove who you are, that you are Jewish and grew up here, even if you speak perfect Hebrew." "Usually we vote for Likud because it's the party that brought Ethiopians back to Israel. But in the last election, we voted for Blue and White," he said. In the September polls, two Ethiopian-Israelis, Tamano-Shata and Gadi Yevarkan, were elected to the Knesset under the Blue and White banner. But last month, Netanyahu convinced Yevarkan to defect to Likud, underscoring the importance of the Ethiopian community's vote. Blue and White hit back after the defection was announced. "Bibi, Ethiopian immigrants are not for sale except maybe one," the campaign said, using the prime minister's nickname. Alon Burstein, a doctoral candidate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said their relatively small number had taken on greater importance as both major parties seek an elusive majority. Despite the historic bond between Ethiopians and Likud, some feel "betrayed" by what they perceive as the party's inaction in the face of racial injustice, said Burstein, who has written about the politicisation of Ethiopians in Israel. They have come to see Blue and White "as a good alternative", he said. Israeli Ethiopian Jewish hairdresser Baruch works at his barbershop in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. Israel's 140,000-strong Ethiopian-Israeli community could prove pivotal in the Jewish state's tight March 2 election. The first Israeli Jewish woman of Ethiopian origin to be elected to the Knesset (parliament), Pnina Tamano Shata Women of the Ethiopian Jewish community walk in the central Israeli city of Rehovot
The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has recommended the citizens for some period to abstain from the trips to some Italian provinces, which have been affected by a new type of coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

"Due to the aggravation of the epidemic situation related to the spread of the disease caused by the new type of coronavirus in the northern regions of Italy (2019-nCoV), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Ukrainian citizens temporarily refrain from traveling to the affected provinces of the Italian regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Piedmont, where there is the greatest risk of infection," said in the recommendations of the Ukrainian ministry released on Monday.

Ukrainians who continue to be in these regions need to pay increased attention and caution, avoid visiting the virus-affected provinces, report their whereabouts and contact details to the nearest Ukrainian consular post or register on the web site "friend.mfa.gov.ua".

According to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, Italian authorities have fully introduced quarantine measures in ten municipalities in the Province of Lodi in the Italian region Lombardy: Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano; in Vo Euganeo commune in the Province of Padova in the Italian Veneto region.

"Ukrainian citizens who are planning a trip to Italy or are currently in the country, please follow the recommendations developed by the Italian Ministry of Health," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry added.

Doctors detected coronavirus in 152 people in Italy, three of them died. Earlier on February 23, data were reported on approximately 130 patients and two patients who died.
PHOENIX  Three Arizona high school students enrolled in an automotive technology program were killed when a college van went off a highway on the way back from a professional drag racing event near Phoenix, officials said Saturday.

The van crashed Friday night on U.S. 70 near Pima, a rural community about 135 miles (217 kilometers) east of Phoenix, the state Department of Public Safety said in a statement. An adult was driving the van carrying seven high schoolers and one college student, the department said.

Two 16-year-old boys from the small towns of Thatcher and Fort Thomas and a 17-year-old boy from the tiny town of Duncan were ejected and killed when the van veered over the center line, went off the highway and rolled, the department and college officials said.

The driver and five other students suffered injuries that werent life-threatening. None of the identities of the victims were released.

The high school students were enrolled in the Gila Institute for Technology, a state-funded joint education district serving Graham and Greenlee counties and were considered part-time Eastern Arizona College students, said Kris McBride, a college spokesman.

McBride said the students were part of a group traveling in two vans as they returned from a National Hot Rod Association event in suburban Phoenix.

It would be directly relatable to what they were studying at the program, McBride said.

He said he didnt know whether the adult driver was a college employee.

The cause and circumstances of the crash were under investigation, but it didnt appear drug or alcohol impairment was a factor, the Department of Public Safety said.

College President Todd Haynie said the students deaths were a tragic loss and the school was offering counseling for those needing support.

We join the entire Gila Valley community in prayer for the families and friends of these students and send our heartfelt condolences to them, Haynie said in a statement.
Photo: US Embassy Canada/Flickr

Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Cleveland.

New video shows 2 people ditching car after child hit getting off school bus

Newly obtained security camera footage from a resident on the Southwest Side shows two people ditching a KIA Soul after a third-grader was struck by the car in a hit-skip Thursday.

Read the full story on 10News  ABC San Diego KGTV.

Browns hold funeral for bulldog mascot, Swagger

The 145-pound bull mastiff is survived by his 14-month-old son, Swagger, Jr., and his owners Fred and Debbie McLaughlin.

Read the full story on New York Daily News.

Robbers apologize for hitting wrong apartment, steal anyway

A pair of robbers apologized profusely after saying they broke into the wrong Cleveland apartment, but robbed the man inside anyway, according to police reports.

Read the full story on MySanAntonio.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
The newly appointed chancellor is poised to use his Budget to boost spending to higher levels than under Tony Blairs government, according to a new think tank report.

Economic analysts at the Resolution Foundation said Whitehall spending could be set to rise to as much as 1 trillion for the first time by 2023-24, with tax hikes likely to be required.

Rishi Sunak is likely to use his Budget on 11 March to boost spending to 40 per cent of GDP, a figure higher than at any point Mr Blairs tenure, the report said.

It comes after it emerged that Mr Sunak was planning to move parts of the Treasury to the north of England in a bid to show his party was listening to traditional Labour voters in red wall seats who defected to the Tories.

The chancellor is poised to water down strict fiscal rules, laid down by his predecessor Sajid Javid, to allow for higher spending, according to The Sunday Times.

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

The Resolution Foundation said the scheduled spending increase, which includes up to 100bn of extra capital spending and the fastest increase in day-to-day departmental spending since the early 2000s, would lift the governments total managed annual expenditure above 1 trillion within four years.

Borrowing is also likely to rise at next months Budget, the report authors said, increasing from 41bn in 2018-19 to 64bn by 2021-22.

But extra spending would still not undo a decade of cuts, with 24bn required to reverse just half of the financial reductions to non-health departments, the think tank found.

Jack Leslie, an economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: The chancellors big-spending plans to level up the country through infrastructure projects will lead to a bigger state than at any point under Tony Blair, and marks a big shift for a traditionally small state Conservative Party.

But new roads and rail lines are only part of the story for a government wishing to turn the corner on a decade of austerity.

If the chancellor wants to increase spending on day-to-day public services in a fiscally responsible way he will have to change another of his partys traditional priorities  lower taxes.

Higher spending will require higher taxes.

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said even the most hyped prediction of the contents of the Budget would fail to make up what the Tories have cut over the past decade.

He said: Even though the Tories at long last are following Labours policy of borrowing to invest in our infrastructure, the scale of spending will fail to tackle the decade of decline caused by the Tories and will not tackle the increasingly serious existential threat of climate change.

Having raised expectations so high, inevitably people will be bitterly disappointed at this failure to deliver by Johnson and Cummings.

Mr Sunak is expected to use his first Budget to announce that scores of the 1,500 jobs at the department will be moved to an economic decision-making campus.

A Treasury source said: The chancellor wants to put the Treasury at the heart of the levelling-up agenda and wants to rethink how we make decisions that affect the whole of the UK.

He wants to shift the gravity of economic decision away from the capital to our regions and nations  and setting up a new economic decision-making campus in the north of England will do that.

It will be key in helping spread opportunity and prosperity to all, and allow the Treasury to access a more diverse range of talent, making it more reflective of the country as a whole.
The UT administration finally swung into action on Monday, identifying 17 illegal paying guest units in three sectors, two days after three women lost their lives in a blaze at their rented accommodation in Sector 32.

Teams set up under sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) inspected registered and unregistered PG accommodation across the city to check if owners were following norms under the PG policy, after the administration issued orders allowing them to enter such premises.

Ten unregistered PGs were found operating in Sector 32, three in Sector 8 and four in Sector 7.

On the directions of the deputy commissioner Mandip Singh Brar, the SDMs, east, south and central, constituted teams with representatives of the estate office, policemen and patwaris for carrying out inspections in their respective areas.

The teams will submit their reports to the SDMs after which notices will be issued to the defaulting PG owners and action taken against them in accordance with the law.

The DC has directed the SDM to submit reports on the inspections to him within this week.

A survey of unauthorised PG units is being undertaken currently as the administration does not have accurate information. Notices, it has been learnt, will be sent to unauthorised PG unit owners.

COORDINATING WITH RWA AND POLICE

With the estate office and SDMs blaming lack of clarity on rules for poorly regulated PG units, the DC also called for better coordination with resident welfare associations (RWA) and the police.

Following this, the SDM (east) Sudhanshu Gautam held a meeting with the RWA falling within his jurisdiction on Monday.

READ: 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.

SDM (south) and SDM (central) will be holding meetings with the RWAs on Tuesday.

It has been learned that the meetings will help in gathering of data on illegal paying guest establishments.

The SDMs will also be meeting police officials in their areas.

All the tenants are to be registered with the police, which will regularly carry out checks and gather data on the number of tenants in each housing unit. The SSP, Chandigarh, has been directed to share data on unusually high number of tenants/guests with the SDMs concerned and also take independent action against them in accordance with the law.

The estate office will be putting in place a mechanism for speedy registration of all the entities wanting to register their PG accommodation.

On Saturday, a (HT FILE PHOTO)

REVISING PAYING GUEST POLICY

PG accommodation owners will have to get registration of their units renewed annually, states a proposal aiming for more clarity and stringency on the PG policy. It was submitted by the DC to the administration for its approval on Monday.

No registrations will be done unless the PG unit owners get a no-objection certificate from the fire department, which is not required currently. Periodic fire department inspections of the units will also be made mandatory.

ESTATE OFFICE HELPLINE

A call centre with the estate office helpline number 1860-1802067 will be set up for citizens to call and submit information on any illegal paying guest facility. Complaints will be sent to the SDMs concerned for action

INDEPENDENT ENFORCEMENT WINGS WITH SDMS

All SDMs will be in charge of independent enforcement wings with inspectors and other support staff. Similarly, the proposal for augmenting enforcement staff in the estate office has also been sent to the administration for approval.

FIRE DEPT SEEKS LIST OF PGS FOR INSPECTION

In the aftermath of Saturdays Chandigarh fire tragedy at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Sector 32, the municipal corporations fire department has finally decided to intervene.

On Monday, a letter was shot to the UT estate department, seeking a list of registered paying guests for inspections and checking for fire norms, confirmed chief fire officer Anil Garg.

The fire department had been of the view that fire no-objection certificates (NOC) for residential buildings were not applicable since PGs were not officially-declared commercial enterprises.

However, in wake of the Saturday blaze, deputy commissioner Mandip Singh Brar made it clear that the estate department will immediately move a proposal for making fire NOC and periodical fire inspections mandatory in PGs to ensure safety of life and property.

MC TO AMEND FIRE LAWS

After approval from the UT administration, the MC will make necessary changes in its existing fire laws to cover PGs for the purpose of obtaining fire NOCs, which are issued subject to compliance with necessary firesafety norms.

At present, it is mandatory for commercial, institutional and industrial buildings to obtain fire NOCs that are valid for three years from the date of issuance.

Garg said, Once the list of PGs is received from the UT estate department, we will immediately begin inspection.
On Feb. 16, the Algerian town of Kherrata held a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the Hirak protest movement. It was in this small northeast city where the year before, the first mobilization against now-deposed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his regime erupted. That protest is largely considered to have paved the way for similar events in other cities in the days after that would finally crystalize in nationwide demonstrations on Feb. 22, the formal beginning of the Hirak movement.

This year's protest in Kherrata took place amidst calls for mass mobilization on Feb. 21, to commemorate the birth of the movement and support the protests that have been asking for radical change in Algeria for 52 consecutive weeks. During this time, the Hirak has become what many consider one of the most powerful political movements in the countrys recent history, forcing the reshuffling of much of the political and economic leadership under Bouteflika.

In a speech the same day, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune referred once again to the Hirak as blessed and expressed his will to introduce radical changes in the country in line with the demands of the movement.

The 22nd of February was the end of one Algeria and the beginning of another, Zine Labidine Ghebouli, an Algerian scholar at the American University of Beirut, told Al-Monitor. It is the very first time that we have a national movement against the entire system, which has already collapsed, he said. The system is no longer as powerful as it used to be, people are no longer divided and marginalized as they used to be and [the Hirak] also came within an economic context [within which] it is very challenging for the system to keep buying social peace.

One of the characteristics that allowed the Hirak to last is the steadfast pacifism that it has maintained since its outbreak, largely attributed to Algerians' memories of the civil war in the 90s, the fear instrumentalized by the regime since then, as well as the violence in neighboring countries.

Pacifism is the most important characteristic of the Hirak, said Raouf Farrah, a political scientist and member of the Algerian civic movement Ibtykar. [Algerians] are saying that pacifism is our strength, as if we resort to violence, the regime will be more violent than us, he told Al-Monitor. The second factor is that if we fight in a peaceful way, we will bring together different [social] classes around a goal, such as a radical break with the Algerian system.

In that sense, the Hirak has been an intergenerational and socially diverse movement, cross-cutting issues such as social class, ideology and ethnic and professional groups, with women playing a central role. Through the summer, the Hirak remained highly popular. By October, support for a complete change of the political system had increased.

[The Hirak] is popular: It includes all trends and ideologies; all categories of Algerian society, political activist Azzedine Toumi told Al-Monitor.

The Hirak includes different activists from different generations and it is considered a bridge between them, said Faouzia Zeraoulia, an associate professor of political science at the University of Jilel.

The Hirak goes far beyond the regional loyalties that played such powerful roles during Bouteflikas regime. Despite its national nature, however, the mobilizations have been remarkably strong in Algiers and in the east, and less so in other regions, particularly in the interior.

As it marks its first anniversary, the Hirak remains a largely unstructured and leaderless movement, even if some activists have become acclaimed figures and many organizations are deeply involved in the movement or have emerged as a result.

If the Hirak has rejected the idea of representation and leaders it is because it is a way to protect itself against attempts to infiltrate or manipulate on the part of those in power, said Toumi.

Yet despite the changes achieved during its first year, significant challenges remain ahead for the Hirak. Since Tebboune's appointment as president, the Algerian regime's strategy has been based on calls for dialogue, promises of profound change and weak concessions, with continued repression to maintain the status quo.

In his Feb. 16 speech, Tebboune expressed his desire to initiate a serious dialogue, while state security forces prevented the holding of a press conference organized by a number of Hirak groups to present a manifesto of the movement's demands.

The main challenge for the Hirak in the last few months is how it can exact real change in the face of the regime rejuvenating instead of reforming, Yasmina Allouche, a researcher at TRT World Research Centre, told Al-Monitor.

There have been calls for the Hirak to become structured, adopt a formal program and appoint a leadership charged with building bridges with the regime and entering into negotiations. So far, however, only the civilian leaders of the military regime have opened the door for dialogue, and much of the parties that make up the Hirak still reject the idea.

The Hirak does not need a structure or representation, Farrah said. Other analysts say that this is its weak point, but I think that non-representation leaves the regime without a counterpart to co-opt and creates a sense of indeterminacy in which the regime cannot imagine what the next steps will be, he said. Farrah favors increased coordination among the political initiatives and civil society players that form the Hirak instead.

Even if its pace of biweekly protests, has avoided exhausting protesters, the number of those attending the protests appears to be in decline and the state's concessions have virtually halted since August. Some observers feel that the Hirak should escalate mobilization or find new forms of protest. Maintaining the same level of protest, however, risks increasing frustration among non-protesters, and stepping up activities could alienate them and risk further repression.

The pressure of the biweekly protests indicates the determination of Algerians to not simply accept what has been imposed on them by the government, Allouche said, but they must adopt further steps to ensure they are not run down.

The future of Algeria depends on the capability of the [Hirak] to organize itself in a way that allows it to represent an alternative to the system, said Zine.
Feb. 14

At 8:07 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the 6500 block of Vanderbilt in regards to found property. Upon arrival, the officer collected the found property. The officer was able to identify the owner of the property but was unable to make contact with the individual. The property was dropped into evidence for safe keeping.

Feb. 15

At 8:52 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the 5800 block of Kirby Dr. in regards to a theft that already occurred. Upon arrival and through investigation, it was discovered an unidentified suspect, sometime throughout the evening hours, took money from the safe without consent.

At 10:31 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the station in regards to a theft that already occurred. A report for theft was generated. It was later discovered the incident was not a theft and the item in question was found.

At 10:13 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of the 6300 block of Weslayan in reference to a citizen following a possible Driving While Intoxicated suspect. Officers located the vehicle stopped in the roadway, impeding traffic, in the 6500 block of Weslayan. An investigatory stop was conducted and after further investigation, the driver (Jessica Juarez) was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated with Child Passenger.

Feb. 16

At 1:39 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the police station in regards to found property. The reportee stated he discovered several credit cards, a Texas Drivers License, and miscellaneous property in the 3900 block of Northwestern. The police took custody of the property.

Feb. 17

At 10:37 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the police station to speak with a complainant, in regards to their identity being stolen by an unknown person(s). A report for identity theft was generated.

At 3:16 p.m. an officer was dispatched to a parking lot located in the 4000 block of Bellaire Blvd., in regard to a report of a minor accident. Upon arrival it was discovered that one of the vehicles involved in the accident had left the scene without providing any information. A report for a minor accident, and a report for failure to stop and give information were generated.

At 8:18 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the 3900 block of Bellaire in reference to a stolen credit card being used without the owners consent. A report was generated.

Feb. 18

At 10:26 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the 4200 block of Bellaire in regards to a Burglary of a Motor Vehicle that had already occurred. It was reported that an unknown person had forcibly entered the victims secured vehicle and removed items without the victims consent. Due to the victims vehicle not being at the scene of the alleged incident, a Police Information report was generated.

At 3:42 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the police department in regards to an Identity Theft call. The victim stated an unknown person(s) used his personal information to open two credit accounts. Information was taken and a report was generated.

Feb. 19

At 12:19 a.m. an officer checked by with Southside Place Police Officers who were conducting a traffic stop in the 6700 block of Mercer. After further investigation it was discovered that the driver had multiple active warrants with the West University Place Police Department. The subject (Jordan Azios) was taken into custody without incident.

At 7:57 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the Harris County Joint Processing Center (JPC) in regards to a prisoner (Christopher Lee Scranton) who had an outstanding warrant with the city of West University Place Police Department. Upon arrival, the suspect prisoner and his property were taken into custody and transported to the West University Place Jail for booking.

At 4:20 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the police department to speak to a victim of criminal mischief. The victim said that unkown persons caused a scratch on the passenger side of her vehicle.

Feb. 20

At 3:01 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the 5800 block of W. Sam Houston Pkwy S. to pick up an individual with outstanding warrants through the City of West University Municipal Court. The individual (Elvonda Zsanelle Guidry) was taken into custody and transported without incident.Feb. 21

At 3:22 a.m. an officer observed damage to a window of a business located in the 5300 block of Kirby. After further investigation, an offense report for Criminal Mischief was generated.
(Natural News) If you still believe that President Donald Trump is simply paranoid by purging his National Security Council and White House of staffers suspected of undermining him, this should convince you that hes absolutely not crazy to do so.

The president had given instructions to staff that 14 Americans aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were infected with Wuhan coronavirus were to remain in Japan until such time as they were infection-free.

Meanwhile, the president and his virus task force were told last week that Americans quarantined aboard the vessel but were not yet sick would be brought home on two chartered planes. However, as The Washington Post reports, that decision was ultimately overruled by someone without the presidents knowledge or permission.

The paper reported:

Trump was briefed on the decision and agreed that healthy passengers should not be on the plane with sick ones, three senior administration officials said. But the State Department and a top U.S. health official ultimately decided to bring back the 14 Americans who tested positive for the virus on the planes and place them in isolation  without informing the president first.

The president first learned about the decision after it was made and the infected people were aboard the flight, according to the report, leading him to become extremely angry  and rightfully so  that he was not consulted first.

The decision, according to the Post, could damage his administrations handling of the response. And quite frankly, anyone who has been following the undermining and sabotage of the president and his administration has to be thinking that this decision to overrule Trump was made on purpose.

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, the power added.

The president is ultimately responsible, not a State Department official

Naturally, the State Department defended its own personnel.

Its important to remember this was an emerging and unusual circumstance, claimed Principal Deputy Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ian Brownlee.

We had 328 people on buses, a plan to execute and we received lab results on people who were otherwise asymptomatic, un-ill people on a bus on the way to the airport, he added. The people on the ground did exactly the right thingin bringing them home.

Really? So, the president and his task force werent sufficiently briefed on the situation, thenby the State Department? Is that it?

Or, more likely, was it just someone making a decision against the will of the president because a) they dont like him; and b) dont think he knows what hes doing?

Either way, whoever was responsible has now put not just the presidents strategy of containing the virus at risk but the entire country as well. It could be that whomever decided to defy Trump just committed an act of biological terrorism against the country.

Also, as Zero Hedges Tyler Durden points out, coronavirus tests are not sufficiently reliable. They often show false negatives, while so-called asymptomatic super-spreaders are walking around the countryside infecting people.

And thats no different from standard flu tests, which are also not even close to 100 percent accurate.

If Wuhan coronavirus begins to spread among the American people, the last person to blame will be President Trump.

See all the latest news and information about the coronavirus outbreak at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

WashingtonPost.com

TheNationalSentinel.com
Modern anticancer therapies aim to attack tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. An interdisciplinary team of researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and FU Berlin has made important progress in this area: the scientists have produced tiny nanoparticles that are designed to specifically target cancer cells. They can navigate directly to the tumor cells and visualize those using advanced imaging techniques. Both in petri dishes and animal models, the scientists were able to effectively guide the nanoparticles to the cancer cells. The next step is to combine the new technique with therapeutic approaches.

The HZDR researchers start out with tiny, biocompatible nanoparticles made of so-called dendritic polyglycerols that serve as carrier molecules. "We can modify these particles and introduce various functions," explains Dr. Kristof Zarschler, research associate at HZDR's Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research. "For example, we can attach an antibody fragment to the particle that specifically binds to cancer cells. This antibody fragment is our targeting moiety that directs the nanoparticle to the tumor."

The target of the modified nanoparticles is an antigen known as EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor). In certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer or head and neck tumors, this protein is overexpressed on the surface of the cells. "We were able to show that our designed nanoparticles preferentially interact with the cancer cells via these receptors," confirms Dr. Holger Stephan, leader of the Nanoscalic Systems Group at HZDR. "In control tests with similar nanoparticles that had been modified with an unspecific antibody, significantly fewer nanoparticles accumulated at the tumor cells."

The scientists intensively studied the nanoparticles' behavior both in cell cultures and in an animal model. For this purpose, they provided the nanoparticles with additional reporter characteristics, as Kristof Zarschler explains: "We used two complementary possibilities. In addition to the antibodies, we attached dye molecules and radionuclides to the nanoparticles. The dye molecule emits in the near infrared spectrum that penetrates the tissue and can be visualized with an appropriate microscope. The dye thus reveals where exactly the nanoparticles are located." The radionuclide, copper-64, fulfils a similar purpose. It emits radiation that is detected by a PET scanner (positron emission tomography). The signals can then be converted into a three-dimensional image that visualizes the distribution of the nanoparticles in the organism.

Excellent properties in living organisms

Using these imaging techniques, researchers have been able to show that nanoparticle accumulation in the tumor tissue reaches maximum two days after administration to mice. The labelled nanoparticles are subsequently eliminated via the kidneys without being a burden for the body. "They are apparently ideal in size and properties," says Holger Stephan. "Smaller particles are filtered out of the blood in just a few hours and thus only have a short-term impact. If, on the other hand, the particles are too big, they accumulate in the spleen, liver or lungs and cannot be removed from the body via the kidneys and bladder." The interplay between the nanoparticles with an exact size of three nanometers and the attached antibody fragments evidently has a positive influence on the distribution and retention of the antibody in the organism as well as on its excretion profile.

In future experiments, the HZDR researchers want to test whether they can modify their system to carry other components. Kristof Zarschler describes the plans: "You can take these nanoparticles and functionalize them with an active substance. Then you can deliver a drug directly to the tumor. This might be a therapeutic radionuclide that destroys the tumor cells." It is also possible to attach antibody fragments specific for proteins other than EGFR to target different types of cancer.

###

Publication:

K. Pant, C. Neuber, K. Zarschler, J. Wodtke, S. Meister, R. Haag, J. Pietzsch, H. Stephan: Active targeting of dendritic polyglycerols for diagnostic cancer imaging, in Small, 2019 (DOI: 10.1002/smll.201905013)

Additional information:

Dr. Holger Stephan | Dr. Kristof Zarschler

Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research at HZDR

Phone: +49 351 260-3091 | -3678

Mail: h.stephan@hzdr.de | k.zarschler@hzdr.de

Media contact:

Simon Schmitt | Science editor

Phone: +49 351 260-3400 | Email: s.schmitt@hzdr.de

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf | Bautzner Landstr. 400 | 01328 Dresden / Germany | http://www.hzdr.de

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) performs - as an independent German research center - research in the fields of energy, health, and matter. We focus on answering the following questions:

How can energy and resources be utilized in an efficient, safe, and sustainable way?

How can malignant tumors be more precisely visualized, characterized, and more effectively treated?

How do matter and materials behave under the influence of strong fields and in smallest dimensions?

To help answer these research questions, HZDR operates large-scale facilities, which are also used by visiting researchers: the Ion Beam Center, the High-Magnetic Field Laboratory Dresden, and the ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources.

HZDR is a member of the Helmholtz Association and has five sites (Dresden, Freiberg, Grenoble, Leipzig, Schenefeld near Hamburg) with almost 1,200 members of staff, of whom about 500 are scientists, including 170 Ph.D. candidates.
By Trend

Two people suspected with coronavirus infection were received at the infectious diseases department of the first Clinical Medical Center in Baku on Feb. 24, Trend reports.

One of them is an Azerbaijani citizen working in Iran's Astara, while the other is an Iranian citizen who visited Azerbaijan.

The suspects showed no signs of coronavirus at the examination. One had a temperature of 37.1, the other - 37.3. Both are currently quarantined.

Iran is one of the recent countries, affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 60 people have been infected, 12 people have already died. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread.

Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

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 2,360 people have died and over 79,000 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 South Korea, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran, Thailand, the US, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam, the UAE, the UK, France, Macau, Canada, Philippines, India, Russia, Spain, Lebanon, Nepal, Cambodia, Israel, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Egypt and Sri Lanka.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Members of Nevadas most politically powerful labor group were warned by union leaders that Bernie Sanders plan would doom their prized health care, but they voted for him anyway. The casino workers of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 are powerful enough in Nevada Democratic politics that special caucus sites are set up in Las Vegas Strip casinos to accommodate them. In at least four of those seven caucus sites Saturday, workers threw their support behind Sanders.

The results are a warning sign to labor unions that any attempt to influence the primary risks being ignored, and a harbinger of Sanders' strength with working-class voters, Latinos and labor rank and file  all voters that will be critical in Californias delegate-rich primary early next month.

Morena Del Cid, a Culinary Union member and a porter at the Bellagio casino-resort, said she voted for Sanders because she thinks we need a lot of change in this country." She said that she knows Joe Biden had ties to her unions leaders, but she felt Biden and President Barack Obamas administration didnt get enough done on immigration and gun control after eight years in power.

We need something different. Somebody different. Somebody strong to put out Donald Trump, she said.

Culinary, like its parent union Unite Here, officially decided not to endorse, joining a number of national unions making a similar calculation to stay on the sidelines of a still-crowded primary and avoid causing dissension among their ranks.

The 60,000-member Culinary Union didnt stay totally neutral, however, sending out leaflets to members in recent weeks that said candidates pushing for a government-run insurance system under Medicare for All would force millions of hard-working people to give up their healthcare and create unnecessary division between workers, and will give us four more years of Trump." One leaflet specifically said Sanders would end Culinary healthcare.

Angel Lazcano, a 46-year-old busperson at the Aria and a Culinary Union member, didnt heed the warnings. Lazcano cited Medicare for All as one of the things that drew him to Sanders.

With Medicare for All, Lazcano said, "everybody can choose their own doctors instead of going through the insurance and taking only the doctors that use the insurance.

Geoconda Arguello-Kline, Culinarys leader, pushed back against the notion that the unions members failure to heed the warnings about Medicare for All is a sign of weakness, arguing that despite the leaflets, the union wasnt campaigning against any candidate.

We want the members to have the right information, but we know some members, they agree with that, some members dont agree with that, Arguello-Kline said.

Nelson Lichtenstein, a labor historian at the University of California Santa Barbara, said that like all other voters, laborers make decisions based on values.

Unionists are not green eyeshades accountants who say, How is this going to help me? he said

One of those values is fighting for all working people, said Mark Dimonstein, president of the American Post Workers, which backs Sanders. Unions are at our best not just for the workers we represent but for the betterment of the working class in general, he said.

Dimonstein said his members federal health benefits are better than many workers plans but there is still dissatisfaction as rising premiums keep cutting into workers pay checks. Postal workers would be far better off with Medicare for All, he said

Jody Domineck, a nurse in Las Vegas and executive board member with a local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, said that though many union members enjoy good insurance, its something that they have to continually fight for and questioned why employers use as a bargaining chip.

Even though we do have good benefits, they are threatened continually. And I feel like if we had an overall plan or some other access, that wouldnt be a tool that could be used against us.

Domineck said she doesnt know if Medicare for All is the best plan but shes open to it. She voted for Elizabeth Warren, who also has proposed a Medicare for All plan.

Whoever becomes the Democratic nominee, including Sanders, Arguello-Kline said Sunday that the Culinary Union plans to put 100 percent of its effort behind the nominee in service of a broader goal  defeating Donald Trump.
Indian National Congress, the principal Opposition party, has decided to stay away from Tuesday evenings state banquet organised in honour of US President Donald Trumps maiden visit to India. The Congress has taken a political stand for an event that holds highest diplomatic priorities for India.

The banquet, hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind, will be held at the Banquet Hall on Tuesday evening.

Days after accepting the invitation, Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, conveyed to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday that he would not attend the banquet, people familiar with the development said . Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also invited but it is unclear if he would attend. His aides maintained that Singh is unlikely to go.

Also read: On Day 2 of India visit, Modi and Trump to get down to business

Rashtrapati Bhavan invited Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Azad  the floor leaders of the Congress in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively  for the banquet. Chowdhury has decided to skip it as a mark of protest since no invitation was extended to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Trump is coming here. India to host a grand dinner for him but the Opposition is not invited. Why Sonia Gandhiji is not invited for dinner? What kind of democracy is this?, he told news agency ANI.
I met up with the Federalists Ben Weingarten in Minneapolis this past fall when he was in the process of finishing American Ingrate: Ilhan Omar and the Progressive Islamist Takeover of the Democratic Party. With a foreword by Andrew McCarthy, the book is published in paperback today by Bombardier Books; it is available on Amazon at the link.

Ben sent me and a few other students of Omar a copy of the book in galley last month. At my request, Ben forwarded the blurbs his early readers offered to recommend the book. With Bens permission, I am posting them below in lieu of a formal review of the book this morning:

Victor Davis Hanson: Benjamin Weingarten professionally and thoroughly dissects the strange case of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and demonstrates that much about the congresswoman is an enigma at best and a fraud at worst. We do not know, and authorities are apparently not interested in, her strange marriageher tax avoidance, her violations of campaign financing laws, and her apparent disgust with a country that shesought out and presently finds profitable. Weingartens case study of Omar serves as a larger indictment of the therapeutic mindset, which Omar manipulated so well on her way to notoriety and power. Weingarten suggests that if Omar had not existed, she would have had to be invented, given that she is a metaphor for a larger American pathology of progressive virtue-signaling and, ultimately, self-loathing.  Victor Davis Hanson, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University

Dennis Prager: American Ingrate is a serious, deeply researched work that makes the compelling case Rep. Ilhan Omar is the new face of the Democratic Party, and delves deeply into her background and beliefs. It compellingly sets forth the argument that she not only personifies but leads a Progressive-Islamist alliance held together by the glue of hatred of America, of Judeo-Christian values, of Western civilization, and of Israel. Read it and weep. Or better, read it and fight back. This is a manual in that fight.  Dennis Prager, nationally radio talk show host and columnist, co-founder of PragerU, and New York Times bestselling author of ten books, including, most recently, the first two volumes of The Rational Bible, a five-volume commentary on the Torah

Newt Gingrich: It has become clear that left-wing ideology and extreme identity politics have cultivated a dangerous strain of anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party that is part and parcel of its increasingly anti-Judeo Christian and anti-Western orientation. Benjamin Weingarten has done a brilliant job of illustrating this phenomenon through the story of Rep. Ilhan Omars rise to power despite her holding views about Israel, the Jewish people, and Americas role in the world which would have been unacceptable just a few years ago. American Ingrate is required reading for anyone seeking to understand the modern Democratic Partys posture towards Israel and its reflexive anti-Americanism.  Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House

Scott Johnson: Since she first emerged as a public figure in Minneapolis, Ilhan Omar has been accorded coverage fit for an old-fashioned fan magazine like Tiger Beat. The mainstream media have turned away from any serious examination of Omars shocking personal background or her foggy Islamist Marxism as though she were just any other prominent Democrat. Ben Weingarten pierces the fog in his penetrating study of Omar. In my own writing I have followed Omar closely from the moment she appeared on the scene as a conquering hero of the left in August 2016, yet I learned new things about her on virtually every page of American Ingrate. Omar is a leading indicator of the direction of the Democratic Party. This is therefore both an impressive and important book.  Scott Johnson, Power Line

Lee Smith: American Ingrate is a sharply critical reckoningcultural, political, and intellectualwith Ilhan Omar, one of the most divisive and destructive figures in American public life. The Democratic partys inability, or unwillingness, to censure or even criticize the Minnesota congresswoman for her hateful remarks about other Americans, American Jews, is evidence that one of the countrys two major political parties is trending in a dangerous directionnot progressivism but Middle East-style sectarianism. Benjamin Weingarten has the full story. His comprehensive research, unearthing Ms. Omars hidden past and unpacking her third-worldist ideological convictions, is an invaluable and timely contribution to the key debates shaping our American moment.  Lee Smith, investigative journalist and author of The Plot Against the President

Caroline Glick: Ilhan Omar, the subject of Benjamin Weingartens timely and copiously researched book, shares Jeremy Corbyns Communism, and his hatred of Jews and Israel and support for Islamic terrorists in the United States and terrorists worldwide. And as Weingarten demonstrates, she also hates the United States of America. While she doesnt hold a formal leadership role in the Democratic party[s]he is playing a central role in Corbynizing the Democratic Party. Weingartens book sounds a critical warning bell. Ilhan Omar is no mere symbol of diversity. She is a hardcore, radical, ideologue who went into politics to advance her goal of weakening America while making the United States an inhospitable place for Jews and for everyone who doesnt share her bigoted hatred for Americans, America, and everything it stands for.  Caroline Glick, award-winning columnist and author of The Israeli Solution: A One State Plan for Peace in the Middle East
Coronavirus outbreak spreads world, kills nearly 3,000

Bahrain, Afghanistan, and Kuwait on Monday confirmed the first cases of the new coronavirus.

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea.

Iran, which announced its first two cases on Wednesday, said it had confirmed 43 cases and 12 deaths. Most of the infections were in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Qom.

MANY COUNTRIES IMPOSED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

More cases appeared in the Middle East with Bahrain reporting its first case, the state news agency said, and Kuwait reporting three cases in people who had been in Iran. Afghanistan also reported its first case.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan imposed travel and immigration restrictions on Iran.

The coronavirus has infected nearly 77,000 people and killed more than 2,600 in China, most in Hubei.

China reported 409 new cases on the mainland, down from 648 a day earlier, taking the total number of infections to 77,150 cases as of Feb. 23. The death toll rose by 150 to 2,592.

Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to about 57 countries and territories, with a death toll of about two dozen.

Italy sealed off the worst-affected towns and banned public gatherings in much of the north, including halting the carnival in Venice, where there were two cases, to try to contain the biggest outbreak in Europe.

JAPAN HAD 773 CONFIRMED CASES

Austria suspended train services over the Alps from Italy for about four hours after two travelers showed symptoms of fever. The train carrying about 300 passengers from Venice to Munich, in Germany, was allowed to continue after the two tested negative for the new coronavirus.

In South Korea, authorities reported a seventh death and another 161 new cases on Monday, taking its total to 763. Of the new cases, 115 were linked to a church in the city of Daegu.

Japan had 773 cases as of late Sunday, mostly on a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo. A third passenger, a Japanese man in his 80s, died on Sunday.
TUCSON, Ariz.  A new task force will focus on decreasing cases of animal hoarding across Pima County.

The Pima Animal Care Center and other community organizations will meet Tuesday to discuss how to help overwhelmed pet owners before they get to the point of hoarding.

Center officials say animal hoarding is not necessarily the number of pets in a home but whether or not the owner can actually support them, the Arizona Daily Star reports.

Kristen Hassen, animal services director, said the task force wants to change how hoarding cases are handled.

The task force will work with pet owners and connect them with community resources. Two part-time public health nurses will now be available to talk with owners, Hassen said. In addition, owners will get assistance with spaying, neutering and pet vaccination services.

In 2019, the Pima County animal shelter took in almost 19,000 animals  many from hoarding situations and with medical conditions. Having animals with medical problems in the shelter system can be a tremendous burden on taxpayers, Hassen said.
No new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, 2 more discharged

With two more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospital on Sunday, February 23, 51 patients in total have fully recovered from the infection.

Of the 38 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. Five are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

There were no new cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore as of February 23. Photo: Connected to India

In a press statement, Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) said there has not been any new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the country of 2pm on February 23.

Authorities have also identified 2,812 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 908 are currently quarantined, and 1,904 have completed their quarantine.

As of now, Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel to Hubei Province and all non-essential travel to Mainland China. In view of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in South Korea, Singapore has advised the public to avoid non-essential travel to Daegu city and Cheongdo county.
A recent report on the status of Alabamas 4th grade reading proficiency noted that 50.17 percent of girls and 55.75 percent of boys are not proficient in reading. This sort of statistic gives me all the reasons I need to vote in favor of Amendment I on March 3, 2020, Alabamas primary election day.

I served two terms on the Alabama State Board of Education. When I was first elected in 2010, the State Board governed both K-12 and the Alabama Community College System.

During my second term, the Legislature moved to an appointed trustee board for the Community College System. I was honored to serve on that newly constituted board as an appointed trustee. Appointed trustees for Alabamas Community Colleges worked much better than the previous elected board. Leadership stabilized, efficiencies were achieved, consolidations occurred. Today, the Alabama Community College Systems is flourishing and continues to strengthen.

My colleagues and I at the Alabama State Board of Education did work hard and had episodes of success. However, the level of educational achievement our children need in Alabama requires a very long string of sustained, high-quality decisions by the governing body.

This will never occur with an elected board that tends to be swayed by a few special interests, tends to be chaotic, and has failed to keep pace with states whose students are getting educational advantages that our kids are not.

Amendment I does not affect local boards which will continue exactly as they were before. Amendment I will dissolve the current State Board of Education and will require Alabamas governor to appoint members from across the state to the new Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education. The Senate will then hold confirmation hearings to confirm or deny those appointments.

The new Commission would be in charge of hiring a Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education who is also subject to Senate confirmation. Finally, and extremely importantly, with Amendment I, the governor appoints a team of local educators to advise the Commission.

Please vote Yes on Amendment I and give our kids the opportunity for the education they need and deserve. Voting No on Amendment I is a vote to stay where we are with our public schools, and as they say, doing the same thing weve always done will get us the same thing weve always gotten.

Mary Scott Hunter served on the Alabama State Board of Education from 2011 to 2019. She lives in Huntsville with her husband, Jon Shultz, and their three children who attend public school. Mary Scott is an attorney and works for Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, a high-tech company in Huntsville. She is an Air Force Veteran. She can be reached via her social media or at hunter@maryscotthunter.com
The San Antonio Express-News has a new publisher  a veteran media executive with a strong background in developing digital audiences.

Mark Medici joined Hearst, the papers parent company, in 2018 and has served as president of the Houston Chronicle and as chief marketing officer for Hearst Newspapers.

He was named interim publisher of the Express-News on Monday. He replaces Michael Sacks, who had served as publisher since July.

Hearst Newspapers President Jeff Johnson said the change was effective immediately.

Johnson told employees gathered in the Express-News newsroom that Sacks had resigned for personal reasons. He did not elaborate.

Change is hard, Johnson said. Mark is going to help ensure a smooth and strong transition as interim publisher. Ive found him to be one of the most engaging and energetic leaders we have in the business.

Medici, 47, previously worked at the Dallas Morning News and the Portland Oregonian, among other news organizations. His grandfather was publisher of the Oregonian for more than four decades.

At the Morning News, Medici and his team launched the first paid digital subscription model in a metropolitan market, in 2011.

Im excited to be in San Antonio, Medici said. We have a great opportunity in front of us, and I want to keep the momentum going. I think San Antonio is just an amazing market, and this brand is so strong within it.

Watching his grandfather serve as a publisher had a profound effect on him, he said.

I literally grew up inside the walls of a newspaper, he said. I think people work in the newspaper industry because we believe were a vital part of the community. I strongly believe that.

Medici is a graduate of the University of Washington and was a 2011 fellow of the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

He said his first goals as publisher were to reach out to staff members across the newspapers departments and connect with San Antonio business and civic leaders.

Mark did a great job in Houston, doing outreach to the community and really understanding the fabric of the city, Johnson said. Im sure hell do that here.

Medici said a main focus will be growing the newspapers audience.

On the advertising side, we will focus on local relationships we have with businesses and bringing forward solutions for those businesses, he said. First and foremost, we do that by producing great content that attracts a large audience.

Medici said that although he is interim publisher, he intended to act as though its permanent.

On ExpressNews.com: Mike Sacks appointed publisher

Before working in Dallas, Medici was vice president of audience and newspaper operations for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Throughout his career, hes focused on cultivating audiences for digital content, acknowledged by all as the future of the newspaper industry.

I come from print, and that past is still a huge part of our future. Yet I watch my son, Blake, dance to TikTok videos across our house, he said, referring to the popular short-form mobile videos.

With its two websites (mySA.com and ExpressNews.com) in addition to the daily print newspaper, the audience of the Express-News has never been larger, Medici said.

Print is still an enormous part of our future and our current pathway, Medici said. But so is the evolution of our digital platform and our ability to monetize that through subscriptions.

The change in leadership comes as the newspaper industry struggles to adapt its business model to the internet age.

Younger generations of readers increasingly get their news on digital devices and often for free. Print circulation has declined, and advertising spending has shifted to internet platforms such as Facebook and Google.

Medici said he wants to help drive the transformation of this business.

Hearst is a privately held diversified media, information and services company with more than 360 businesses. Its newspaper group has more than 3,000 employees nationwide and publishes 24 daily newspapers, including seven in Texas.

The Express-News is the third largest daily paper in the state, with print and digital products reaching more than 1 million adults each week.

Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a general assignment reporter covering breaking news, cultural trends and interesting people and goings-on around San Antonio and Bexar County, as well as all across South Texas. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje
Gun wall rack with rifles - Getty Images/iStockphoto: Getty Images/iStockphoto

An 11-year-old girl has openly carried an AR-15 rifle into a gun legislation hearing in Idahos capital.

Bailey Nielsen  escorted by her grandfather  visited a House panel at the Idaho Statehouse to support legislation allowing visitors to the state who can legally posses firearms to carry concealed handguns in urban areas.

Under an Idaho law that went into effect last summer, any resident aged 18 and older can carry a concealed handgun within city limits inside the state without a permit. The law Ms Nielsen supports would extend that right to any legal US resident or armed services member.

According to the Associated Press, Ms Nielsens grandfather, Charles, addressed the panel. Ms Nilsen was silent during the encounter.

Bailey is carrying a loaded AR-15, Mr Nielsen said. People live in fear, terrified of which they do not understand. Shes been shooting since she was five years old, he said. She got her first deer with this weapon at nine. She carries it responsibly. She knows how not to put her finger on the trigger. We live in fear in a society that is fed dear on a daily basis.

He argued that responsible gun owners visiting the state should be allowed to carry their weapons without a permit.

When they come to Idaho, they should be able to carry concealed, because they carry responsibly, he said. Theyre law-abiding citizens. Its the criminal we have to worry about.

Opponents to the law argue it would allow teenagers to carry a concealed weapon within city limits without any training and could lead to shootings.

Republican Representative Christy Zito, who proposed the law, argued that the measure is intended to clarify existing gun laws and give citizens the ability to defend themselves.

I stand here before you today as a mother and grandmother who has had to use a firearm to defend their child, Ms Zito said. Even though I didnt have to pull the trigger, just the fact that they could see it, and they knew that I had it, was the determining factor.

Story continues

She said two men once approached her vehicle while she and her daughter were inside.

Last week, Ms Zito passed a gun bill allowing Idaho citizens to take guns into all publicly owned properties, including those leased by private entities.

CBS2 News in Idaho reported that city leaders said the bill might cost them financially as promoters require that guns be prohibited from venues.

Read more

Idaho shooting: Two dead after gunman opens fire at retirement home
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Miners in southern Poland worried that massive coal imports will eliminate their jobs on Tuesday blocked railway tracks on the import route.

A few hundred miners with trade union flags in the southern coal mining region town of Slawkow also planted devices on the tracks that looked like explosives.

They said that imports of millions of tons of cheaper Russian coal are undercutting their jobs and pointed to millions of tons of unsold Polish coal piling up at their mines.

Miners also announced a massive protest in Warsaw on Feb. 28 in demand of job protection, higher pay and an end to coal imports. The protest will take place early during campaign season ahead of the presidential election on May 10.

Coal mining is Poland's single largest employer, accounting for some 83,000 jobs.

The government says that Poland's coal will remain the nation's chief energy source for years to come and is supporting the opening of a new coal mine while also facing international pressure to cut the use of the fossil fuel that is harmful to the environment.

Last year, Poland produced over 61 million tons of coal but sold only 58.4 million tons. At the same time some 16.7 million tons of coal were imported, mostly from Russia.

___

Read all the AP stories about the impact of climate change at https://apnews.com/Climate
Tech industry titans including Sky and Mastercard have announced commitments to encourage more disabled people into the workforce.

The two firms, along with Audi and travel website Trivago, have signed up to disability inclusion programme The Valuable 500.

Comnpanies like Mastercard have announced commitments to encourage more disabled people into the workforce

Founded by Caroline Casey  who is registered blind  and chaired by former Unilever boss Paul Polman, The Valuable 500 pushes companies to make their workplaces more accessible.

More than 250 of the worlds largest firms have now joined the campaign, including Aston Martin, the BBC and Google.


A new study suggests that a mysterious human species mated with our own species tens of thousands of years ago in Africa.

Researchers say the study provides evidence that present-day West Africans can link about 2 to 19 percent of their genetic ancestry to an extinct human species. The study describes the species as a ghost population.

Scientists involved in the research estimated that mating between the two species happened about 43,000 years ago.

Homo sapiens  the species of human that exists today - first appeared more than 300,000 years ago in Africa. The species later spread worldwide.

Earlier genetic research has shown that our species mated with two early human species, the Neanderthals and the Denisovans. The species have been extinct for thousands of years, but modern human populations outside Africa still carry DNA from both.

Scientists have discovered many fossil records relating to the Neanderthals and a few from the Denisovans. So far, though, very little is known about the newly identified ghost population.

Sriram Sankararaman is a human genetics and computer science professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. He led the study, which was recently published in Science Advances.

Sankararaman told the Reuters news agency that not much is known about this mysterious species. We dont know where this population might have lived, whether it corresponds to known fossils, and what its ultimate fate was, he added.

Sankararaman said the extinct species likely split off about 650,000 years ago from the evolutionary line that led to Homo sapiens.

The study used genetic data from hundreds of West Africans, including the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin and the Mende people of Sierra Leone. The researchers compared the data with DNA information from the Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Scientists say they uncovered DNA material in the West Africans that can best be explained by ancestral interbreeding with an unknown member of the human family tree.

Sankararaman said it is no longer necessary to consider only DNA from fossils of early human species to confirm that humans intermixed with them. We can now see that such events took place by looking at our own DNA itself.

He added that the discovery opens a new path in understanding the complexity of human evolutionary history in Africa, where the picture hasnt been as clear.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters news agency reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - New Study Provides Evidence of Mysterious Human Species Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

extinct  adj. no longer living or existing

ghost  n. the spirit of a dead person that can appear to living people

fossil n. part of an animal or plant from the past that has been preserved in rock

correspond  v. to be the same or similar

fate  n. what happens to a person, especially when it is something bad

ultimate  adj. final or most important

evolutionary  adj. gradual process of change and development
[February 24, 2020] GreyOrange Showcases AI-Driven Software and Smart Robots Working Together to Modernize Omnichannel Fulfillment at RILA LINK2020

Attendees at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) annual conference LINK2020 will experience inventory in motion in a modern omnichannel operation demonstrated at GreyOrange booth 1507, Feb. 24-26, 2020 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Dallas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005649/en/ GreyOrange Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Samay Kohli (Photo: Business Wire) GreyOrange uniquely integrates Artificial Intelligence-driven software with a series of smart robots to modernize fulfillment operations worldwide. At LINK2020, the Company is demonstrating the GreyOrange Fulfillment Oprating System (GO System) orchestrating fulfillment in an omnichannel warehouse for a general merchandise retailer.



The GO System accumulates intelligence to continuously prioritize orders to fulfill through real-time interactions between GreyMatter software and a series of Ranger robots operating across a range of fulfillment tasks. Robots communicate with each other and with GreyMatter to inform and shape fulfillment decisions based on how actual operations on the floor are flowing with planned and real-time orders and store replenishment requests. The GO System will orchestrate communications among the Ranger robots on the show floor as they perform many of the tasks required in a real warehouse. Featured bots are Ranger GTP, a goods-to-person mobile robot that transports inventory to workers for picking and packing, and Ranger Mobile SORT, mobile conveyance and sortation robots that operate in fleets to efficiently and fluidly move parcels from receiving through dispatch to avoid sortation bottle necks that can occur with rigid systems. In the demo, Ranger Mobile SORT robots will convey packages to separate dispatch areas based on destination, carrier and shipping priority level.

Capabilities demonstrated include e-commerce and store replenishment orders managed from the same facility, as well as e-commerce orders with varying degrees of consolidation complexity, such as: variability in item type, size, shape and packaging

orders that include single items ("eaches"), cases and pallets

orders that include items tracked by serial numbers or lot numbers, and

orders that combine both fast-moving seasonal fashion items and slower-moving staple fashion items GreyOrange Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Samay Kohli noted, "Technology built for a previous era simply can't keep up with immediate e-commerce demands. Software and robots built together with the same underlying intelligence meaningfully advances fulfillment accuracy, speed and overall throughput, modernizing operations." "Robots operating as appendages to traditional software systems help a bit, but ultimately are limited by the capabilities of the software to which they are attached," Kohli added. "That's why we take a fundamentally different approach, integrating the intelligence of the software and robots so that each continuously makes the other smarter." About GreyOrange GreyOrange is a global company that modernizes order fulfillment through Artificial Intelligence-driven software and mobile robots built together so they cooperate in deciding on and executing warehouse activities that maximize payoffs and minimize tradeoffs to create the highest yield. The company's next era Fulfillment Operating System driven by always-solving GreyMatter software considers predictive and real-time data regarding orders, promises, inventory, shipping windows, and resources to orchestrate how workers and robots work as a team to fulfill the right orders at the right time. GreyOrange experts help organizations master fulfillment in the Age of Immediacy so they keep promises, capture more revenue, and improve work experiences for warehouse employees. GreyOrange has core operations in the United States, Singapore, Germany, Japan and India. www.GreyOrange.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005649/en/

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By Laman Ismayilova

Works of talented artist Narmina Valiyeva and students of Rangli Dunya Art Studio have been displayed at the National Art Museum.

The exposition showcased nearly 200 partings by 30 artists of different ages.

At the opening ceremony, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Arif Huseynov and Honored Artist Kubra Aliyeva spoke about the importance of the artistic education of children. They emphasized that drawing classes broaden the artistic horizons and improve the aesthetic taste.

Narmina Valiyeva is a member of the Azerbaijan Artists' Union as well as International Association of Female Artists (IAFA).

As Valiyeva says, she recommends her students to avoid gloomy and dull color palette in their art works.

"I urge students to avoid dark color shades. While painting, we are trying to add more bright and juicy colors to make viewers feeling happy and relaxed...", she told Trend Life.

The works of Narmina Velieva are often exhibited in Hungary, Germany, Italy and other countries. Moreover, the artist's paintings are also kept in private collections. Her students also conquer the art world with their colorful paintings.

The exhibition aroused great interest among viewers. The evening was followed by a fashion show inspired by traditional motives.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
An article from Miami Herald stated that some foreign citizens who entered the United States of America holding business or tourists' visas for a temporary stay in the country may want to extend their visit more than the allowed period granted by the United States Customs and Border Protection agents at different ports of entry.

There are various reasons why a traveler in the United States wants to legally extend their visit. Some of these reasons are the inability to return to their home country, shifts in their non-immigrant visa status, the petition of a family member, or marriage with a citizen of the US.

Conditions of the United States US Visa

US visas for visitors are strictly granted to travelers who possess uninterrupted intention to go back to their home abroad. Also, it does not allow the intention of immigration when applying for a visa to enter the United States.

During the presence of suspicion of a foreigner who intends to enter the United States, they are allowed to be granted entry to the United States.

The application obligates foreign travelers to showcase their intention to return to their home countries. Also, it is important to follow the declared places they plan to visit while in the country.\

To sum up the conditions, it is illicit to use a tourist visa if there is a plan of immigration in the United States. This statement is backed by the fact of their violation against the terms of their entry to the US.

90 Days after Legally Entering the United States

The first 90 days in the US for tourist visa holders are the most important part of their visit to the country.

Immigration agents closely monitor the conduct of foreigners with tourist visas in the United States in their first 90 days in the country.

If one of the immigration agents find out that the foreigner who applied for a tourist visa had worked for a job or studied in the country without securing a permit and did not disclose their intention to build a home in the US, the foreigner may be charged with an immigration fraud case.

Visitor's Visa Extension: Who is Qualified?

An extension to stay in the US after the allowed period a foreigner can stay in the country is permitted for short term problems. These short term issues can be a recovery from a medical emergency, treatment for a medical emergency, inability to fly home, family issues, and an event where a foreigner is intending to go home but is required to stay a little bit more in the US due to an unpredicted concern.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issues a recommendation to foreigners who plans to extend their period in the US. It suggested that these foreigners should apply 45 days before the expiration of their authorized period of stay in the US.

Shift to a Student Classification

Foreigners who arrived with tourist visas and later identified an opportunity to study in the United States, they can ask for an extension of their tourist visas and apply for a student and exchange visitors visas.

This lets the foreigner to legally stay in the country while processing his or her student visa.
Captain Tania Shergill, an officer with the Armys Corps of Signals, led an all-men contingent on Republic Day.

New Delhi: February 19, two days after the Supreme Court ordered the Indian Army to uphold the Constitution and its guarantee of equal opportunity by not just implementing the Delhi High Courts 10- year-old order to grant permanent commission (PC) to women officers, but to also giving them promotions and perks at par with men, senior advocate Aishwarya Bhati, who had represented the 322 affected women, said she was thrilled extremely happy because what the Supreme Court has demolished is the mindset.

In its 54-page judgment, the Supreme Court mentions mindset four times, and stereotypes/stereotypical five times. It then issues directions to the Bharatiya Thal Sena and sets a three-month deadline.

I love that line where the Supreme Court says that the kind of arguments that were raised to deny women command positions cast aspersion on their abilities on the ground of gender are an affront not only to their dignity as women but to the dignity of the members of the Indian Army  men and women  who serve as equal citizens in a common mission.

This battle for equality, which Aishwarya Bhati says began in 2003 with a PIL, should have ended with the High Courts order of March 12, 2010, when the Union government was asked to grant permanent commission to women officers (everywhere except in the combat arms, at par with men).

But the Union of India challenged it in the Supreme Court on grounds that courts cannot interfere in policy decisions. The Supreme Court decided to hear the case but did not stay the High Court order. Yet the government didnt implement it for nine years.

On February 25 last year, the Army issued a circular announcing that they have decided to grant women officers permanent commission in eight arms/services, in addition to the existing streams of JAG (Judge Advocate General) and AEC (Army Educational Corps).

But about a year later, in January 2020, while arguing against giving women officers the training for and option of promotions and command positions, it submitted a note that, Bhati says, became the turning point of the case.

Equal Opportunity is for Equals

The note, among other things, had a list of 11 excuses for not granting women equal training and opportunities for a shot at promotions above the rank of lieutenant colonel. It invoked national security, said senior women are untrainable, that women have domestic and matrimonial duties, and lower physical standards. Officers are expected to lead their men from the front and need to be in prime physical condition the physical capacity of Women Officers (WO) in the IA remains a challenge for command of units, the Army submitted.

It also said that in the unique all-male environment of a unit, the presence of WOs requires men to moderate their behaviour, leading to peculiar dynamics.

The 11th excuse was titled, Equal Opportunity is for Equals.

As if in response, the Supreme Courts order listed 11 examples of exemplary Army women officers who have been awarded by the Army itself, to tell the Army that while it had been putting women officers in situations that demanded no less valour and skill of them than their male counterparts, it wasnt being fair, just or honourable in giving them their due.

This is a judgment based on the performance of women Their stellar performance for the last three decades, Bhati said and added that during arguments, her team showed the court the citation of Mitali Madhumita, the first female Gallantry Award winner of the Indian Army who, in the face of a fidayeen attack in Kabul, displayed courage under fire and was single-handedly responsible for saving over 19 lives.

Bhati and her team also told the court that in the 30 years since women have been serving in the Army, there has not been even one instance of insubordination. Peculiar dynamics, indeed.

The Supreme Court heard the Union of India, and dismissed both their argument and their mindset.

Women officers have served the organisation for almost 25 years and the battle is against mind-sets, it said, and ordered that all serving women officers on short service commission (SSC) be given the option of opting for permanent commission, and those who do become permanent, will be entitled to all consequential benefits, including promotions.

Or, dear Indian Army, let us change your composition, while you figure how to change your mindset.

Very, very sceptical

Despite the enabling and empowering order, say Bhati, the women officers are very, very sceptical because even my experience in this case has been that the devil is in the details.

She and the women officers say that they are vigilant and waiting to see what kind of notification, plan the Army comes up with.

On February 20, the Army Chief, Gen. M.M. Naravane, announced that letters are being sent to women officers, asking whether they want to opt for permanent commission.

Indian Army does not discriminate against any soldier based on religion, caste, creed, or even gender. The outlook of the Indian Army has been throughout like this I must assure that everybody in the Indian Army, including women officers, will be given equal opportunity to contribute to the nation as also progress in their careers, he said.

A serving Army officer, female, speaking on the condition of anonymity, was surprised at this public posturing of the Indian Army being an equal opportunity employer.

Army has never championed gender equality, especially male officers. Army has, in fact, vehemently opposed the cases filed by women officers for gender parity. I cant believe How can the chief lie so blatantly? she said.

The way women and men join the Army is different and discriminatory. When the Indian Army was fighting the case in the Delhi High Court to deny its women officers the option of permanent commission, the Air Force and Navy changed their recruitment policy. They kept two routes for entry for both men and women  short service and permanent commission, and did away with the option of changing midstream.

A Lt. Col., who has completed 15 years of service through extensions of 5+5+4 years and is waiting for the option of permanent commission, says she is not yet celebrating the Supreme Courts order.

I am not saying anything as of now because once a judgment comes, the Army interprets it in its own way. I want to wait and see what interpretation the Army comes up with. The only silver lining at the moment is pension, which they will have to give. But whether they will do something about career progression or not, I am not sure. I am very, very doubtful that this will happen, she says.

Career progression

To be eligible to command a company of around 100 people, officers need to complete whats called the Junior Command Course (JCC). Its usually done between five-eight years of service, at the level of major.

Male officers do it, but for the past six-seven years women officers are not being called on this course I have not done it myself. A lot of my women course-mates have not done this course, the Lt. Col. said.

And then there is the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), the most prestigious exam and course of the Indian Army which prepares officers for senior command positions. It is also usually done at the rank of major.

This competitive exam, for which about 3,000 apply every year but only 250 get selected, is followed by a one-year course in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and the chances of whoever does it are 90-95 per cent brighter than others in getting through the selection board to become a full colonel.

Men get three chances to sit for this exam.

Women get none.

The Lt. Col. says a male batchmate of hers has taken this exam and is now her senior. Others will take it next, and become her seniors, in rank and pay.

At a personal level I can always call them by their name, but in front of others I have to salute them, because they are my senior, because they got chances which I did not get.

Its not like the Indian Army tested a few batches of women, invested in them, gave them equal opportunities in training, experience, and then decided that they are not up to the mark.

Nor did it take any feedback from jawans, officers and then decided that women will pose a problem.

A colonel, male, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, These decisions are taken by a few people, based on the assumptions of those few.

Bhati blames the middle-aged men in the Army. Others say its the paper soldiers at the ministry.

The Lt. Col. says, Im at a high-altitude area, commanding a small platoon. I am part of a brigade, and there are 5,000 troops and 100 officers and I am the only woman here. All of them do listen to me, they do whatever I tell them to They see your rank, they see how you conduct yourself, they see that you are an officer, they listen to you.

The mindset problem, she says, is not with the jawans, its with the male officers. If you talk to them, 90 per cent will say, these women are useless, they should not be given anything at all.

I am telling you, if women get a chance to go for JCC, or DSSC, they will just slay it.

Not medieval, just prudent

The Armys two main combatant units  infantry and armoured corps  are out of bounds for women officers for now and yet, talk to any senior Army officer, male, about women in the Army and there is a conjuring of scenarios in precisely these two streams.

Lt. Gen. Kamal Davar, who served as the first director-general of the Defence Intelligence Agency and is now retired, says, Pehle bechariyon ko 14 saal mein hum Jai Hind kar dete the. Now they will get pension and have also been granted permanent commission.

And then adds, We in the Army have a different sense of honour, different from that of civilians, and talks of the confined space inside tanks.

Its a very confined space, and you are physically on top of each other rubbing shoulders with two-three crew members. Why embarrass a lady officer? he says and then adds something about a pretty commander and a gunner.

Its not a medieval mindset, its just prudent.

When I asked him how much time had he actually spent in tanks, rubbing shoulders with men, or on top of other men, he said, Some time, in my initial years.

Sir or madam?

No one is harder on or expects more from women Army officers than the women Army officers themselves.

Two former officers I spoke with, Captain Gurmeet and Major Bhawna, constantly spoke of not expecting privileges, concessions, not asking for special accommodation, leave, not being lax in performing their duties at any time of the day or night, in any terrain and in any scenario.

While the Indian Armys motto is Service Before Self, it seems that its women officers have created another one for themselves  Always saavdhan, never vishram.

Capt. Gurmeet, who joined the Indian Army through SSC in 1997 and left after six years, recalls the confusion when there used to be just 20-25 women per batch, and just one-two women in the division.

They didnt know whether to call us sir or madam, she says.

We proved ourselves day by day, and have now come to what officers are now doing on Rajpath, she says, referring to Captain Tania Shergill, an officer with the Armys Corps of Signals, and the first woman parade adjutant who led an all-men contingent on Army Day and Republic Day.

Delighted with the Supreme Courts order, Capt. Gurmeet and her batchmates had a celebration because, she says, Im so thrilled, so thrilled. This will give them stability and job satisfaction. Its a pensionable service now and more and more women will be motivated to join the Army.

Talking about her days in Akhnoor, Jammu, during the Kargil War when she, in the supply division, was organising ration, fuel, transport and movement of jawans, she recalls the day when the bodies of two-three martyred soldiers were brought to the hospital.

I felt I should have been there I should have been there along with my male counterparts, standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

Were you prepared for it, I ask.

Ya, ya, ya. Of course. Thats the reason we wore the uniform. When we wore the uniform, we knew that tomorrow we may not return, she says, and credits the Armys training which makes you mentally so strong that you can take on any kind of challenge.

I think people who do not have that fire are not fit to be part of the Army, she adds.

Maam, no separate toilet

Major Bhawna, who joined the Armys signals corps in 1997, was the first lady officer ever to be nominated for a particular course in Bangalore.

When she reached the institute, she was told, with much apprehension, Maam, we are very sorry, we dont have a separate toilet for ladies.

I said, Sir, no lady is reporting to you. Only officer Lt. Bhawna is reporting to you and I dont have any problem in using the same toilet that male officers are using. Only I will put a latch. Thats it.

Once in uniform, you are an officer, not a lady, she says and adds that its very important that women officers are always upright, and then asks me, Got it? Got it?

Major Bhawna can open and fix a three-ton truck and says that, if given a chance, shell join the Army today.

There is a quick, sharp directness to the responses of all the women officers I spoke with. And though many carry a bit of gloom inside at having to cut short their career in the Army because there was no option of permanent service, their love and respect for the Army, regard for the men they worked with is intact.

Just like male Army officers are different from, say, civilian men, the women in the Indian Army are different from civilian women.

They are women of fine mettle. Disciplined, focused, tenacious, brave and with nerves of steel.

Like their male counterparts, they have cleared tough psychological and fitness tests, many are very good markswomen, often better than men, and have undergone rigorous physical training. They also have a passion to serve the country, and they love their uniform.

The Lt. Col. says that there was a time that the moment a general would see a woman officer, the first thing he would ask is, How do you feel in the Army? Are you comfortable and all that stuff.

I used to feel awkward. I have put in eight-ten years of service. I guess I am fine. I am an independent woman. I can take care of myself. You shouldnt be asking these s****y questions, she said.

Earlier I used to argue, put my point across. After a while you just get disappointed. You are giving everything to the organisation, you are getting nothing back. The least you expect is some sort of respect, and even that is not forthcoming, she said.

Antim pag

Bhati says that there are two ways of going forward for the Army. They can either be exclusive, or they can be inclusive.

The Army can train their women officers, invest in them, and then test them, along with the men, for higher, command positions. Or, they can stop after offering them the option of permanent commission and pension.

At the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, which men have the option of attending by clearing just one extra paper than women mathematics  lies a black granite slab with Antim Pag (the last step) inscribed on it. Gentleman cadets do not become officers until they ceremoniously cross the Antim Pag plaque.

How the Indian Army takes its antim pag on the Supreme Courts order will show whether they are both, officers and gentlemen, in body and in mind.
Italy battles Europes worst coronavirus outbreak

Italy locked down the Lombardy region, halting life for around 50,000 people in 10 towns, after more than 150 coronavirus cases appeared in the country in just a few days. Three people have died and 26 were in intensive care, asEurope began confronting one of the most serious tests yet of open borders.

Towns were being blockaded and isolation camps planned, as Venices iconic Carnival was canceled and fear permeated Milan Fashion Week. Here are the main developments around the world from the weekend:

President Moon Jae-in put South Korea on high alert, a move that empowers the government to lock down cities, after more than 760 cases of the virus were confirmed. Many of them were traced to a secretive religious sect.

The third death linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, long quarantined in Japan, was reported, as the number of confirmed cases among passengers and crew members reached 691. (Heres how a luxury vacation turned into an epidemiological nightmare.)

Several countries closed their borders with Iran, which has reported the highest number of deaths outside China  eight people, according to state media.

The World Health Organization told African leaders they needed to prepare for the virus.

Heres the latest, maps of where the virus has spread and tips for travelers.

A spread much faster than I expected

Amid all of those developments, it seemed like a good time to get a little perspective. We sat down with our infectious diseases reporter, Donald G. McNeil Jr., who has covered epidemics and pandemics for nearly two decades.

What worries you about this virus?

Its more deadly than flu, and its spreading like flu. Maybe not quite as fast, but these cases where hundreds of people all were infected in one church or aboard the Diamond Princess  that was scary. That was much faster than I expected.
UPDATE: Forest fire rages through 70 acres of N.J. park as firefighters battle steep terrain. Its about 30% contained.

Firefighters from federal and New Jersey agencies were battling a forest fire overnight in Hardwick Township that broke out in a popular hiking area near the Pennsylvania border.

The fire was still burning as of 7:20 a.m., according to a U.S.National Park Service spokeswoman. No injuries had been reported.

A news briefing was planned for 8:30 a.m., she said, and more information, including if the fire is in state or national territory, would be available afterward.

The fire that began Sunday afternoon was initially reported split between Worthington State Forest and the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, news outlets reported. A Facebook post from Knowlton Township Fire & Rescue Company No. 1 indicated the fire had grown to 70 acres by Sunday night. The Knowlton crew was involved in the initial response just before 2:30 p.m. to a brush fire off Interstate 80 about a half mile into the state, but the blaze was later determined to be farther up the ridge and well into the park, the post said.

The Knowlton Office of Emergency Management said Monday morning on Facebook that most of the visible fire was from forest firefighters intentionally setting back fires to contain and limit the main blazes ability to grow. Concern remained low that the fire would spread to structures or private property, the post said.

Park Service spokeswoman Kathleen Sandt said Sunday that the fire was on Mount Tammany off the Red Dot Trail. Visitors were asked to avoid the area but those on Sunday afternoon on the Red Dot and Blue Blazed trails were allowed to hike down the mountain. Access was closed to hikers seeking to go up.

A New Jersey State Forest Fire Service helicopter dropped water on the fire, but Sandt told the New Jersey Herald that the aircraft had to stop operating after sundown for safety reasons.

Volunteer firefighters were filling up backpack tanks of water and carrying them to the top of the 1,526-foot Mount Tammany, Sandt said.

Incident Commander Eric Weber told WFMZ-TV that the ground crews operating at night were contending with difficult terrain.

A fire burns Feb. 23, 2020, on Mount Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Hardwick Township. Firefighters from federal and New Jersey agencies were battling the forest fire that broke out in a popular hiking area near the Pennsylvania border.Daniel Freel/The New Jersey Herald via AP

Its pretty steep and rugged, Weber said. Its probably the steepest terrain in the entire State of New Jersey.

The crews were using an existing trail as a fire break, Weber told the station.

Pictures and video on social media showed a wall of flames not far from Interstate 80, which winds through the Water Gap and was backed up in both directions. A smoke advisory for drivers on I-80 was lifted just before midnight but reinstated just before 7 a.m., the New Jersey Department of Transportation said. Delays were reported again in the morning.

The fire broke out on a sunny February day that saw temperatures in the mid-50s, news outlets reported. The cause of the fire wasnt clear Sunday night.

This is a breaking news post and will be updated until enough new information becomes available to create a new post.

lehighvalleylive.com contributed to this report.
Small-business owners have received some upbeat news on the economy this month.

Retail sales figures released Friday showed that consumers were inspired by unseasonably warm weather to spend on their homes in January, but that overall sales growth was modest. The Commerce Department reported a 0.3% gain last month following a 0.2% gain in December.

Although economists called the report disappointing, they noted that more consumers are working, a good omen for higher retail sales in the coming months. January employment reports from the Labor Department and payroll processor ADP showed strong job growth at companies of all sizes.

The ADP report also showed that small businesses are joining larger companies in stepping up their hiring. ADPs business customers with up to 49 staffers added 94,000 jobs in January after creating 66,000 positions in December. The two-month showing was a big improvement over the nearly 31,600 new jobs ADP counted on average each month in 2019. In 2018, the monthly average was 52,000.

Nearly a third of the new jobs in the January count were at manufacturers, ADP said. Business owners may be ready to take more risks after curtailing their hiring last year, and manufacturers who were being squeezed by the Trump administrations trade tariffs are likely feeling more optimistic after the U.S. and China signed a truce agreement. Owners held back amid uncertainty about the economy last year, and a tight labor market made it hard for many owners to find qualified job candidates.

The coronavirus that has infected more than 73,000 people globally could hurt many small businesses if the outbreak is prolonged. Some small companies have reported theyve lost business because of the outbreak. And others are struggling to find components for manufacturing and merchandise for stores because factories in China were shut, first because of the weekslong Lunar New Year holiday and then due to the virus.
Clashes broke out between pro and anti-CAA groups in northeast Delhi's Maujpur area for the second consecutive day on Monday with agitators pelting stones at each other.

Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. A few policemen also attempted to pacify the groups.

The Delhi Metro also closed entry and exit at Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations as an uneasy calm prevailed in the area.

"Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," DMRC tweeted.

Clashes broke out Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad in northeast Delhi after a large number of people who have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act blocked a road, while similar sit-ins started in several others part of the national capital.

Police had to fire tear gas shells as members of the two groups pelted stones at each other in Maujpur, soon after a gathering, called by BJP leader Kapil Mishra, demanded that the police remove anti-CAA protestors within three days.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CHANDIGARH: Punjab director general of police (DGP) Dinkar Guptas recent remark that the visa-free passage cleared for Sikh pilgrims via Kartarpur Corridor was a security challenge from the terrorism point of view, kicked up a storm in the assembly on Monday afternoon, forcing two adjournments for half an hour each.

Soon after it met for a discussion on the governors address here, the Punjab assembly witnessed sloganeering and protests from opposition Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal members who demanded Guptas suspension for hurting Sikh sentiments.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders raising slogans against Punjab Police chief Dinkar Gupta outside the assembly in Chandigarh on Monday. (Keshav Singh/HT)

Though the DGP expressed regret for his statement on Sunday, it failed to assuage the hurt of opposition leaders who rushed to well of the House soon after the proceedings began at 2pm. Ten minutes later, Speaker Rana KP Singh adjourned the House for half an hour amid sloganeering. When the proceedings resumed, the slogan-raising continued, leading to an adjournment for another half an hour.

Akali legislators also wanted action against the state food and civil supplies minister after a suspended deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Balwinder Singh Sekhon, on Sunday demanded that Bharat Bhushan Ashu be booked for his alleged involvement in a bomb blast that took place in Ludhianas Gur Mandi area in April 1992.

Sekhon told reporters in Chandigarh that it was Ashu who suggested that the blast be carried out at Gur Mandi as it was a busy area. Ashu was booked for allegedly harbouring terrorists under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. Sekhon, who was suspended in December for using vulgar language against the minister on social media, alleged that the bombs were prepared in a dairy run by Ashu but there is no mention of it in the case.

The minister dismissed the allegations as a bunch of lies proffered by a tainted DSP that are nothing but a desperate attempt to malign my political image.
Hong Kong will bar non-residents arriving from South Korea from Tuesday morning in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak, the city's security chief said late Monday.

"Considering the development of the epidemic in South Korea, the Security Bureau will issue a red travel alert," John Lee told reporters.

"We also urge Hong Kong residents not to travel there unless necessary," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE:ARGO) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 3 days. If you purchase the stock on or after the 28th of February, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 16th of March.

Argo Group International Holdings's next dividend payment will be US$0.31 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$1.24 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Argo Group International Holdings has a trailing yield of 2.0% on the current stock price of $62.65. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing.

View our latest analysis for Argo Group International Holdings

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. It paid out 80% of its earnings as dividends last year, which is not unreasonable, but limits reinvestment in the business and leaves the dividend vulnerable to a business downturn. We'd be concerned if earnings began to decline.

Generally speaking, the lower a company's payout ratios, the more resilient its dividend usually is.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

NYSE:ARGO Historical Dividend Yield, February 24th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. Readers will understand then, why we're concerned to see Argo Group International Holdings's earnings per share have dropped 17% a year over the past five years. When earnings per share fall, the maximum amount of dividends that can be paid also falls.

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The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. In the past ten years, Argo Group International Holdings has increased its dividend at approximately 15% a year on average. 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. Argo Group International Holdings is already paying out 80% of its profits, and with shrinking earnings we think it's unlikely that this dividend will grow quickly in the future.

Final Takeaway

Has Argo Group International Holdings got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Earnings per share have been declining and the company is paying out more than half its profits to shareholders; not an enticing combination. All things considered, we're not optimistic about its dividend prospects, and would be inclined to leave it on the shelf for now.

Curious what other investors think of Argo Group International Holdings? See what analysts 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.
A good samaritan cop in West Bengal's Kolkata ensured that she appears for her boards examination after she forgot her admit card at home.

On Monday (February 24), around 11:40am, Sergeant Chaitanya Mallick of Ultadanga Traffic Guard of Kolkata Police received an information that a Madhyamik (class 10 board examination) examinee, Suman Kurrey was not being allowed to enter the examination centre after she forgot to carry her admit card.

Kurrey, whose examination Centre was Jaiswal Vidyamandir for Girls located at Vivekananda Road was being prevented from entering the hall. Later, she informed the cops and Sergeant Mallick took her to the invigilator and requested that she be allowed to sit for the examination and that he will get the admit card as soon as possible.

Without wasting any moment, Sergeant Mallick got in touch with the girls mother and reached her residence on bike and brought the admit card to the examination Centres hall. Mallick reached the Centre around 12:10pm and handed over the admit card to the examinee.

His action was hailed by not just the parents of the Madhyamik examinee but also by the Kolkata Police force.

Earlier on February 18, a Madhyamik student had lost her school bag containing admit card and registration card. Within hours of losing the bag, police officers of Narkeldanga police station recovered and returned the bag to her.
A major interchange near the approach to the George Washington Bridge in northern New Jersey is the nation's top trucking bottleneck for the second straight year, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).

The intersection of I-95 and SR 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, tops the latest list of 100 freight bottlenecks that ATRI tracks each year. The intersection of I-285 at I-85 on the northern outskirts of Atlanta was the number two freight congestion spot for the second straight year as well.

Top 20 truck bottlenecks (2019 data). Source: ATRI

The same locations that made the top 10 bottlenecks in 2019 were slightly reshuffled among the top 10 in 2020. The biggest changes among the top 10: Nashville, Tennessee's I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East) moved up five spots to third; and SR 60 at SR 57 in Los Angeles moved down five spots to ninth.

ATRI's analysis also found the number of locations experiencing "significant" congestion (average daily speeds of 45 mph or less) increased 92% over the past five years, outpacing 10% traffic congestion growth in the same time period.

American Trucking Associations (ATA) President Chris Spear commented that ATA has been "beating the drum" about the lack of government attention to worsening road infrastructure in the U.S.

"Thanks to ATRI's research we can see exactly how decades of ignoring the problem are impacting not just our industry but our economy and commuters everywhere," Spear said. "This report should sound the alarm for policymakers that the cost of doing nothing is too high, and provide a roadmap of where to target investments to really solve our nation's mounting infrastructure crisis."

Source: ATRI

ATRI's Top 100 list was released at the same time the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $1 billion available in FY2020 for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) federal grant program for surface transportation projects.

"BUILD grants will upgrade infrastructure across America, making our transportation systems safer and more efficient," commented DOT Secretary Elaine Chao in announcing the latest funding round.

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While the top freight congestion locations in the U.S. tend to be close to urban areas, DOT intends to award 50% of BUILD grants to projects in rural areas, which is consistent with DOT's ROUTES initiative. DOT noted that the maximum award for BUILD grants in this round is $25 million, with no more than $100 million to be awarded to a single state.

ATRI's Top 100 freight bottleneck list can be downloaded here.

Image by Erich Westendarp from Pixabay

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Britain's worst female paedophile Vanessa George has dyed her hair so she isn't recognised after being released from prison.

George, 49, was seen out and about doing some shopping with a new dark brown look this week, as pictured by The Sun.

The convicted child abuser, who now goes by the name Hazel, is believed to have dyed her hair black in prison to 'give herself some anonymity'.

But on her release from HMP Send in Surrey last year she went back to her signature blonde - only for people to start recognising her again.

A source told the newspaper yesterday: 'She clearly thinks her new hairdo will mean she's not recognised but she's not fooling anyone.'

Vanessa George, 49, is seen in her police mugshot (left) when she had blonde hair and (right) when it was dyed brown before she was imprisoned

George committed her crimes while working at Little Ted's Nursery in Plymouth (pictured)

Vanessa George has returned to her former brunette look (pictured before her arrest)

The 49-year-old, who is forbidden from returning to Devon or Cornwall where she committed her horrendous crimes, is believed to be still living somewhere in the Midlands, the Daily Record reported.

Timeline of the horrific Little Ted's abuse case September 2006: Vanessa George starts working at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth. Autumn 2008: IT worker Colin Blanchard, previously caught with child sex abuse images, makes contact with George. Late 2008/early 2009: George, Blanchard and other woman, Angela Allen, exchange child abuse images online. Detectives believe they may have been involved in a three-way contest to take the most depraved pictures. June 6, 2009: Blanchard is arrested at Manchester Airport after his business partner discovers indecent images on his computer June 8, 2009: George is arrested, her computer and mobile seized. She is identified from Blanchard's computers and interviews. June 9, 2009: Little Ted's nursery is shut. June 11, 2009: George first appears in court, sexual assault and making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. Members of the public shout at her and spit from public gallery. October 1, 2009: George, Allen and Blanchard plead guilty to various charges at Bristol Crown Court. January 10, 2011: Blanchard is jailed for at least nine years following long-running legal proceedings. Two other members of his paedophile ring Tracy Dawber and Tracy Lyons, are also jailed. July 11, 2019: It emerges that the parole board have approved George's release. September 18, 2019: Vanessa George is freed from prison. Advertisement

She is struggling with life on the outside, living in a halfway house where she is shunned by other residents.

George was jailed for a minimum of seven years in 2009 after she sexually assaulted up to 64 children as young as two before filming the abuse and sending it to other paedophiles.

In July, despite outrage from her victims' parents and MPs, the Parole Board ordered her release after she served 10 years. .

George, who lost three of her 19 stone in prison, convinced the board to release her after having treatment to boost her 'self-esteem'.

Following her release, a father who had a child at the nursery, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme that he was 'disgusted'.

'I knew this was coming, but to find out on the day it's already happened has made it worse,' he said. 'Again, no consideration for the victims.

He previously told the programme: 'Our sentence is still carrying on. The only time she's feigned remorse is in her first interview.

'I believe that woman is still a danger to children. She's had those urges before. I don't think they will ever go away. I think there's a very, very strong possibility she could do it again.'

A father of another potential victim claimed he would kill her if he ever saw her out on the street.

Child protection officers have visited 180 children thought to have had contact with George, and 21 families have taken up an offer of support.

George's co defendant Angela Allen, who raped a girl of three, has already served the five-year minimum of her sentence imposed at the same time.

The ringleader of the paedophile gang, Colin Blanchard, will be eligible for parole next year after being jailed in 2011 for a minimum of nine years.
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UNIVERSITY of Limerick students have expressed their concern and frustration regarding a new accommodation policy announced by the third-level institute.

The new policy states that rooms in ULs student accommodation for the 2020/2021 academic year are only available to incoming first-years and existing students who have lived in the accommodation for the duration of their studies.

The updated policy, revealed last Friday to students, also states that students progressing into 2nd and 3rd year this September can only apply for the new shared/twin bedroom option recently rolled out by UL in response to unprecedented demand for accommodation from UL Students in 2019.

Only twin room (shared) accommodation will be offered to 2nd and 3rd-year students in 2020/21 academic year, the policy states, students progressing into 3rd year will need to have lived in one of our residences for the last 2 years. 3rd-year students can apply for twin (shared) rooms only. Students progressing into 2nd year will need to be current residents. 2nd-year students can apply for twin(shared) rooms only.

Meanwhile, students progressing into their final year of study can apply for single bedrooms, though also have to have lived in one of ULs residences for the past three years.

The university has also removed the availability of single-semester rooms for its returning undergraduate students this September.

Priority Booking for current residents is opened form 11am this Monday, and will close at 9am on Wednesday, February 26, and UL warns that applicants who do not meet the criteria "will be waitlisted and offered rooms if/when they become

available", though notes that "being placed on the waitlist is not a guarantee of a room and students are advised to seek alternative accommodation."

Last week, the Limerick Leader reported that accommodation rates in ULs on-campus accommodation increased by 3.65 percent from last years rates at an average of 219.71, while prices have increased by 38.75 percent from 2016/2017 figures - an average of 1,682.21 in four years.

The universitys Students Union, UL Student Life, are set to release a statement today which is to include a course of action.

The newly-implemented shared/twin room option is said to add 630 beds to the 2,850 already available in ULs on-campus residences of Dromroe, Troy, Cappavilla and Thomond, with six-bed units being increased to eight-beds.

Photographs that are allegedly of the shared/twin rooms were circulated across Twitter over the weekend, with almost 800 students having signed a petition against the move by UL which is said to limit 2nd and 3rd years to shared rooms.

"So the University of Limerick has decided to hike rent rates by 3.5% and force any 2nd & 3rd years who want to live on-campus into really cramped potential unsafe accommodation designed for only one person. Thanks for exploiting students guys! No plans to build any new rooms," said one student.

So the University of Limerick has decided to hike rent rates by 3.5% and force any 2nd & 3rd years who want to live on-campus into really cramped potential unsafe accommodation designed for only one person



Thanks for exploiting students guys!

No plans to build any new rooms pic.twitter.com/gpS2uGsgVM  Daniel O'Reilly (@dan0rei) February 21, 2020

Regarding the shared/twin bedrooms, a UL spokesperson told the Limerick Leader: The allocation of rooms in University of Limericks on-campus accommodation is driven by a policy of creating vibrant communities in the residences. Residents can expect to live with students who are in the same year.

Booking on-campus accommodation at UL is an open process and rooms will be allocated based on year of study. Share requests for the new twin room option will be accommodated where possible.

The decision to provide shared (twin room) accommodation is reflective of the results of the UL Accommodation Survey 2019, which will also provide critical data to inform ULs accommodation strategy moving forward.
9th International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities begins today View(s):

The 9th International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World will kick-off today at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo.

With the theme of Health for All: Accelerate Efforts for Birth Defects Prevention and Care, the ICBD2020 from February 23-26 is relevant to Sri Lanka as it would provide an opportunity to showcase the countrys achievements in reducing infant deaths.

It would also enable Sri Lanka to learn from the experience of other countries in the difficult task of reducing infant death further by reducing preterm births and birth defects  the two leading causes of infant deaths in Sri Lanka today.

The opening ceremony today will be attended by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi; Conference Chair Dr. Kapila Jayaratne; Conference Co-chairs Dr. Anula Wijesundere (Past President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association 

SLMA) and Dr. Salimah Walani of March of Dimes; and Scientific Chair Prof. Vajira Dissanayake.

About 350 attendees from 36 countries will participate in this conference which has a rich technical programme with seven plenaries and 15 symposia. The ICBD 2020 has received over 150 abstracts on different topics such as surveillance of birth defects, public health policies, healthcare systems to ensure prevention and on how to improve the care of persons with birth defects.

While the SLMA, the apex professional body of the medical doctors of Sri Lanka, is hosting the ICBD2020, it is co-organized with support from the Family Health Bureau and Health Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Health; the World Health Organisation; March of Dimes, USA; the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, USA; the Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

Many professional associations including the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, the Perinatal Society of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Heart Association, the Sri Lanka Association for Child Development, the Sri Lanka Association of Paediatric Surgeons; and community organisations dedicated to the care of children with birth defects and disabilities are part of the conference.

Birth defects, also known as congenital anomalies, are structural or functional anomalies, of organs, systems or parts of the body that occur during intrauterine life and are caused by genetic or environmental factors or both, evident before birth, at birth or later in life. Some of these conditions include congenital heart defects, spina bifida, cleft lip or palate, limb deficiency, hypospadias, clubfoot, Down syndrome, congenital rubella syndrome, hypothyroidism and thalassemia.

In Sri Lanka, around 360,000 pregnancies are registered in a year and 328,000 babies are born alive. Of them, 5,800 are born with a birth defect. Many birth defects are preventable and those living with birth defects can be supported to reach their optimal status of wellbeing.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday urged Iraq's designated prime minister to protect US troops and meet grievances of a months-long protest movement ahead of a parliamentary confidence vote.

In the first substantive US comment on Mohammad Allawi since he was named on February 1 as a consensus candidate, Pompeo said he told him by telephone that the United States backed a "strong, sovereign and prosperous" Iraq.

Pompeo "stressed Iraq's obligation to protect US and coalition diplomats, forces and facilities," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

Pompeo spoke to Allawi about "the urgency with which Iraq's next government must put an end to the killing of protesters, seek justice for those killed and wounded, and address their legitimate grievances," she said.

Allawi has called a vote of confidence in parliament on Monday ahead of a deadline, after earlier skepticism that he could form and win approval for a government.

The United States last month outraged Iraqi leaders by carrying out a drone stroke at Baghdad's airport that killed a top general from neighboring Iran, Qassem Soleimani.

Tensions had soared after Iranian-linked Iraqi Shiite militias fired rockets on bases that are home to US bases, with fresh attacks reported in recent weeks.

US leaders scoffed at the Iraqi objections to the killing of Soleimani on its soil, with President Donald Trump threatening economic sanctions if Baghdad evicted the 5,200 troops in the country, which was thrown into chaos by the 2003 US invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Pompeo refused a request by the outgoing prime minister, Adel Abdel Mahdi, to send a delegation to discuss a troop withdrawal and said publicly that many Iraqi leaders privately wanted US forces to stay.

Abdel Mahdi stepped down in December in the face of the unprecedented anti-government protests demanding an end to corruption, an independent prime minister and a total government overhaul.

But protesters have slammed the choice of Allawi as his successor, saying the two-time former communications minister is too close to the elite they have railed against for months.

The Iraqi prime minister's office described the conversation with Pompeo as a congratulatory call. The State Department did not explicitly offer congratulations but described Allawi as the "new prime minister.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday attacked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot government over the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resolution passed in the state Assembly.

"Many people CAA affected people came to Rajasthan. The culture of Rajasthan is 'Atithi Devo Bhav'. India is home to people who are religiously persecuted. A resolution against CAA was passed in Rajasthan Assembly. They don't know that it is a subject of Centre and the decision regarding the same is taken in Parliament," Nadda said at a programme organised by BJP party workers to welcome him.

This was the first visit of Nadda to Rajasthan after taking over as party president last month.

Besides Rajasthan, governments of Kerala, Punjab, West Bengal and Rajasthan had already adopted resolutions against the CAA, which provides Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Burma Military Proxy USDP Adds Leaders Ahead of Myanmars Election

A Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) public forum in Naypyitaw in 2017. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has expanded its senior management in a move the party says will facilitate its preparations for the 2020 general election.

The military proxy opposition party has appointed two vice-chairs and three additional members to its central executive committee, the party said at a press conference on Friday.

The election is drawing near, and as we need to campaign on a wide scale, we have reinforced with two vice-chairpersons, said USDP spokesperson Dr. Nanda Hla Myint.

The new vice-chairs are former national police chief U Khin Yi and former Minister of the Presidents Office U Hla Tun.

U Hla Tun facilitated the transfer of power from the previous government, led by the USDP, to the current National League for Democracy (NLD) government following the 2015 election. Dr. Nanda Hla Myint said the USDP has appointed U Hla Tun as vice-chair in the hope that he will facilitate the process again if the USDP wins the election.

U Hla Tun is also a retired major general and served as an ordnance director before the USDP government leadership appointed him minister of the Presidents Office.

U Khin Yi was the chief of the Myanmar Police Force and is a retired brigadier general of the Myanmar military. He served as the Union minister for immigration and population in the USDP government.

With the appointment of two new vice-chairs, sitting vice-chairman and former Myanmar air force commander-in-chief U Myat Hein assumes a senior position, with U Khin Yi and U Hla Tun becoming vice-chairs 2 and 3, respectively.

The USDP also appointed current Lower House lawmakers U Maung Myint, U Thein Tun and U Sai Tun Sein to the partys central executive committee.

It is good for their party that those who are more capable and insightful have joined the party leadership, but there is not much difference from the point of view of the people. To the people, they are the same old actors, said political analyst U Ye Htun.

At the partys general conference in 2016, following its resounding defeat in the 2015 poll, the party elected 38 members to its central executive committee, including U Than Htay as its new chairperson.

With five new appointees, the central executive committee now has 43 members, still short of its standard structure of 60. However, the vice-chair positions have been filled.

At the 2016 conference, the party convened a nine-member leading committee that included former president and USDP chair U Thein Sein. One year later, U Thein Sein dissolved the committee of his own accord.

The party now maintains a 26-member central consultative committee of former ministers, deputy ministers, chief ministers and reliable party members. The committee provides advice to the central executive committee.

The USDP was born out of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a mass organization formed by the military government of the State Law and Order Restoration Council in 1993. In 2010, the generals in charge resigned from the military and joined the USDP to run in that years election. They won the election and formed the government but in 2015, they lost to the NLD and were forced to step down.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Vietnam is the most assertive in responding to Chinese actions. China is no longer alone in using weaponized fishing boats as others countries follow. Beijing, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur are at standoff. A code of conduct between the parties is increasingly at risk.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Fishing boats sailing the disputed waters of the South China Sea with military personnel on board to patrol and gather information on rival military movements has now become the norm. China started this practice; Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia followed.

Beijing began using fishing boats to hinder US Navy movement in the sea. Reacting to the situation, Washington said last week that it would treat Chinese "civilian" boats as warships.

According to Peking Universitys South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, at least 34 Vietnamese boats sailed in January in the waters off the island of Hainan, home to the Chinese Navy's South Sea Fleet.

Vietnamese boats often sail within the 12 nautical mile territorial limit. For Chinese observers, they are probably spy ships.

China claims sovereignty over almost the whole South China Sea, an area where goods worth US.3 trillion transit in ships. The sae is also rich in fish as well as oil and gas deposits.

Chinese claims are contested by other countries in the region, most notably Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan.

For years, the US Navy warships have sailed near a series of coral islands and reefs that Beijing turned into logistical and military outposts. For the US, the goal is to assert the principle of freedom of navigation and overflight in waters claimed by China.

But China is not the only target. Satellite images analysed by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) show Vietnamese fishing vessels monitoring Malaysia's naval activities as well.

A Malaysian ship is involved in hydrocarbon exploration in an area in the southern part of the sea where Vietnam and Malaysia have made a joint submission.

Recently, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel been positioned itself in the area, which is off the coast of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. AMTI reported that a three-way stand-off lasted for more than a month.

The Chinese use extensively their Coast Guard to control the South China Sea, intimidating civilian or military boats from other countries. The latter have responded with similar operations to assert their claims.

The repeated maritime incidents considerably have considerably reduced the chances that the parties will soon reach any agreement on a code of conduct for contested waters. Negotiations to reach an agreement on such a code have been dragging on for years now.
Editor's note: Mark Barnes is a freelance journalist currently based in Hanoi, Vietnam. He sent this piece to Tuoi Tre News as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused schools nationwide to close for weeks, until at least the end of February. Language centers, which employ a large number of expats living in Vietnam, have also felt the impact.

Out-of-work English teachers have led to an unseasonal drop in sales at businesses across Hanoi. As the coronavirus school shutdown enters its fourth week, many English teachers are feeling the pinch with pay cuts resulting in lower than expected spending on discretionary goods and services.

We are getting paid 50 percent for the first two weeks in accordance with whatever our schedule is, so it depends on how many classes you teach, says Regan Brown, an English teacher from the U.S. But for the second two weeks they are only giving us 25 percent of our pay.

Brown has been working in Hanoi for almost two years. She says she has savings to rely on but it is making her think more carefully about where she spends her money.

I have been trying really hard to stick to local places. Eat typical Vietnamese food, more 'banh mi,' [Vietnamese baguette] and less takeaway Joma, she said, referring to Joma Bakery and Cafe, which sells Western cakes and coffees.

The price of a standard Joma coffee starts at about VND45,000 (US$1.94), more than double the VND20,000 ($0.86) it costs for the Vietnamese version.

It is just one of many businesses in the hospitality sector having been adversely affected by the extended school break.

Lamont Wynn, co-owner of Turtle Lake Brewery in Tay Ho, says the brewery has also experienced a slump in revenue.

I dont think the overall virus has affected people going out but I have noticed a drop-off, he says. And some regular customers, that might come through, that are teachers, absolutely [are spending less].

Its almost totally fiscal, Wynn says. There doesnt seem to be much concern about the virus at all... Last night we had 200 people in here So were still getting the numbers through the door People are still going out.

Thats definitely true, says Brown. Were all bored. The whole expat community is about going out because there is really nothing else to do. We definitely cant afford to travel and we dont want to sit in the house any longer, so what else do you do?

Wynn estimates about 70 percent of Turtle Lakes clientele is made up of English teachers. This is similar to many businesses in the local area.

Known as an enclave of foreign expats, many Tay Ho businesses serve Western food and drinks well above local prices that cater to Western tastes.

With thousands of English teachers out of work, the Turtle Lake Brewery is not alone.

Everyone is feeling it, Wynn admits. Businesses all over Tay Ho.

Lamont Wynn, co-owner of Turtle Lake Brewery in Hanoi, which has experienced a slump in revenue due to the extended school closure in COVID-19-hit Vietnam, is seen in this provided photo taken at his establishment.

Auscham Vietnams executive director Simon Fraser agrees.

The service industry -- hospitality, tourism, food and beverage businesses with big workforces -- has been the hardest hit, he says.

AusCham, or the Australian Chamber of Commerce, operates networking events in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Fraser says members have been contacting the business group looking for advice on how to navigate through the extended uncertainty.

Weve had inquiries from the business community as to how they can mitigate the impact of a prolonged shutdown on their employees, he reveals. Weve been referring those on to specialists in the area."

But Fraser says, in general, AusCham members are not too concerned. In fact, many, he adds, can see a lot of opportunities.

Maybe, they think, if we get in now there will be an upsurge when the coronavirus passes, he speculates. Maybe its a good opportunity while Chinese investors are preoccupied to enter the market. Im not sure. But whatever it is, people are moving ahead with their plans.

The coronavirus school close-down began on February 3 and has now been extended to at least February 29.

Including Tet, this has meant that many schools have been closed for five weeks and it has been suggested that it should be extended right up to the end of March.

If this is the case, the impacts on local businesses could be dire.

I think everyone is really hoping that it will end soon, says Brown. One month is doable but if its still uncertain into March then I think thats when people are going to start bailing.

To survive the tough operating conditions many businesses have moved to heavily discount their products and services and have rolled out a number of special offers.

This is to the benefit of not only the out-of-work English teachers but other expats, locals, and tourists alike.

Whether this will be enough to see these businesses through this tough time, however, is, as yet, unclear.

In the face of an extended school break, the risk of permanent damage to the expat business community is very real. But the reality is that there is not much that anyone can do other than keep moving forward and hoping for the best.

As Wynn puts it: Business must go on And so should school.
A fringe Hindu outfit on Monday organised a 'yagna' ahead of talks between United States President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IMAGE: Men holding posters of the US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pray during a prayer ceremony organised by Hindu Sena to welcome Trump and for the world peace, in New Delhi. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

The 'yagna' was organised by Hindu Sena at Jantar Mantar.

"We performed the rituals to seek God's blessings for PM Narendra Modi and Trump as they begin their talks and to pray that they can work together to eradicate terrorism," Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta said.

IMAGE: Men pour milk over a Shivling next to a poster of the US President Donald Trump during a prayer ceremony organised by Hindu Sena to welcome Trump and for the world peace. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Meanwhile, members of various Left outfits and women's groups protested a few metres away at the same venue against Trump's visit, saying it does not augur well for India.
At least 30 people have been injured after a car drove into a carnival parade in Germany in what has been described as a deliberate crash, according to local reports.

The driver of the car has been arrested and children are among the injured people at the scene in Volkmarsen, about 280km southwest of Berlin, police have said.

The German newspaper Bild has reported that about a third of those injured have been seriously hurt, although an exact number of serious injuries has not been confirmed by authorities.

Henning Hinn, a police spokesperson, has said officials are working on the assumption that it was a deliberate act.

There were several dozen injured, among them some seriously and sadly also children, Mr Hinn said, adding that some of the injuries were life-threatening.

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The incident occurred during Rosenmontagszug, a German carnival parade which takes place in cities across the country on the Monday before Ash Wednesday.

It comes less than a week after a gunman shot down 11 people, including himself, in one of the worst racist attacks in Germany since the Second World War.

Earlier on Monday, commentary on racism featured prominently among carnival floats in western German cities following the far-right attack in Hanau near Frankfurt last week.

In Cologne, one float depicted a weeping carnival jester holding a heart with the slogan our heart beats for Hanau.

In a joint statement from the General Prosecutors Office in Frankfurt and police in the state of Hesse, officials said the motive of the crash was being investigated.

The investigation  especially on the background of the crime  is ongoing, the statement said.

No information can currently be given on the motive in particular; it is determined in all directions.

The suspect is a 29-year-old German citizen who has received medical treatement due to injuries suffered in connection to the incident.

The regional Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper reported soon after the crash that witnesses said the driver drove around a barrier blocking off traffic from the parade.

German media has also cited witnesses who said they had the impression that the driver was targetting children  however, this has not been confirmed by authorities.

Video from the scene showed a silver Mercedes station wagon with local license plates and its hazard lights blinking on the pavement, while emergency crews walked by.

The town of Volkmarsen, which has a population of 7,000, is near the city of Kassel in central Germany.
BIG IVY, N.C.  I live in Appalachia, and on Sunday mornings I hike the Appalachian Trail across the mountains I call home. It is my church. I drink from its springs and rest in the shade of its ancient forests.

For decades, the trail has been my refuge. I have run for miles through tunnels of rhododendron, crossed paths with bears and camped with my children beneath starry skies.

A few years ago, however, the 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline broke ground, and crews began clear-cutting a scar across the mountains to move fracked natural gas from West Virginia to customers in Virginia and North Carolina. On my trail treks in Virginia, I watched the bulldozers creep closer.

Then suddenly, on a crisp fall morning in 2018, the bulldozers stopped. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated a permit allowing the pipeline to cross the trail deep beneath the ground.
The commander of Nagorno-Karabakhs Armenian-backed army, Lieutenant-General Karen Abrahamian, was dismissed and replaced by his first deputy on Monday.

Bako Sahakian, the outgoing Karabakh president, signed relevant decrees five days after the sacking of two senior military officials in Armenia.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian fired the heads of the Armenian military police and an army department in charge of military moral following a spate of non-combat deaths of soldiers who served in Armenia and Karabakh.

Five of those soldiers are believed to have committed suicide in separate incidents investigated by law-enforcement authorities. The shootings caused public outrage and cast a renewed spotlight on the chronic problem of hazing and other abuses in the army ranks. Armenias political and military leadership pledged to improve military discipline in response to the outcry.

Pashinian and Sahakian chaired a meeting of top military officials in Stepanakert on Saturday. The participants included Abrahamian, Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and army chief of staff Lieutenant-General Artak Davtian. Few details of the meeting were made public.

The new commander of the Karabakh Defense Army, Major-General Jalal Harutiunian, served as Abrahamians first deputy and chief of the armys General Staff until now.

Like his predecessors, Harutiunian, 45, is a decorated veteran of the 1991-1994 war with Azerbaijan. He joined newly formed Karabakh forces in 1992 at the age of 17 and mostly served in artillery units during and after the war.

Harutiunian rose through army ranks after graduating from a Russian military academy in the early 2000s. In 2016, then Karabakh army chief Movses Hakobian described him as one of the armys best officers.

Harutiunian was promoted to the rank of major-general in July last year.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:06:05|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- With the positive trend of containing the outbreak of novel coronavirus illness (COVID-19), China is meticulously expanding business operations with a precise approach that attaches different priorities to regions in light of their health risks.

A total of 11 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday outside Hubei Province, the center of the outbreak, while 24 provincial-level regions didn't report newly confirmed cases, according to the National Health Commission Monday.

As more provincial-level regions have been reporting no newly confirmed cases for longer streaks, more local governments are starting to lower their emergency response to fast-track the restoration of economic and social order.

While high-risk regions still need to be fully committed to epidemic prevention and control, regions with relatively low risks are encouraged to focus on forestalling cases brought in from elsewhere and comprehensively restoring the order of production and life, said a meeting Sunday.

Coastal province Fujian has divided the 88 cities and counties into four groups, ranging from regions with over ten infections to regions with none, and adopted differentiated measures to better fight the outbreak and mitigate the impact on the economy.

Changting County in Fujian, for instance, which has no confirmed cases of infection, has seen most of the key enterprises resume production.

The country has pledged efforts such as arranging customized trains for migrant workers, smoothing the traffic, enhancing credit support and alleviating social security burden on employers to bring enterprises back on track.

Shanghai Municipality has rolled out 28 policies to provide targeted fiscal support, tax and fee cuts, as well as epidemic-prevention supplies for local enterprises, ferrying them through rough patches.

Foreign companies will also benefit from the supportive policies and be treated on the same footing as other types of enterprises, said Xu Wei, spokesperson for the Shanghai municipal government.

The operation resumption rate of 51,000 foreign-funded enterprises in Shanghai is nearly 70 percent, while that of the regional headquarters of 217 multinational companies is as high as 93 percent.

Wyeth Nutrition, a Sino-U.S. joint venture with its headquarter in Shanghai, is operating at its capacity to supply infant formula in China.

"The local commerce department has built a green channel for us, ensuring smooth operation of our supply chains and product delivery in the Yangtze River Delta," said Cao Jingheng, vice president of the company.

Foreign firms and firms are high on the agenda of Chinese government agencies when formulating preferential policies.

The Ministry of Commerce has promised to strengthen services and guarantees to foreign-funded enterprises while the General Administration of Customs vowed efforts to optimize the port business environment and promote reciprocal market opening up.

Now with the country gradually heading back to work, many are confident that the potential economic blow brought by the national production halt is expected to be only a short-term, one-off hit against China's solid economic foundation.

The epidemic might disturb economic activities in the first quarter of this year, but the economy is likely to steady shortly after the epidemic is contained, as the unleashing of pent-up demands will make up for previous weak economic performance, said Pan Gongsheng, vice governor of the People's Bank of China, the central bank.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Saturday that she expects China's economy to "return to normal in the second quarter" of 2020.

"As a result, the impact on the world economy would be relatively minor and short-lived," Georgieva said.
And if you must beg, then beg the government not individuals or relatives. This is because they should be responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of citizens.
Liar actor Ioan Gruffudd has opened up about the gruelling process of portraying a serial rapist on screen - admitting he would find himself 'crying in the corner' during filming.

The Welsh-born star, 46, who lives in Los Angeles with his family, said he had to 'numb' himself to the horrible things his character had done and take care not to 'judge' him.

Ioan plays suave, recently widowed surgeon Andrew Earlham in the returning ITV drama, which also stars Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt as school teacher Laura Nielson.

The first series in 2017 - a thriller which kept everyone guessing over whether Andrew had drugged and raped Laura on a date - came to a dramatic climax when Ioan's character was shown sprawled in a marsh with his throat cut.

Liar actor Ioan Gruffudd has opened up about the gruelling process of portraying a serial rapist on screen - admitting he would find himself 'crying in the corner' during filming. Pictured with co-star Joanne Froggatt as school teacher Laura Nielson

Speaking to The Guardian, Ioan said he couldn't wait to get his teeth into the character after reading the script, but the 'horrible things' Andrew had done took their toll on him.

'Every day, I'm playing this person who's unravelling, slowly,' he told the publication.

'The act of doing it I find myself in a corner, having a cry during the day sometimes, because you have to numb yourself to You can't judge your character, you have to be the character.'

Ioan added that filming this series has been 'probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do' - especially given it's required him to spend months away from his wife, fellow actor Alice Evans, and their two daughters Ella and Elsie, who are now 10 and six respectively.

Speaking to The Guardian, Ioan said he couldn't wait to get his teeth into the character after reading the script, but the 'horrible things he's done' took their toll on him

Alice hit the headlines in 2017 when she penned an article about her run-in with disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, following the allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him.

She claimed she met Weinstein at a party, where he asked her to go to the bathroom with him, branding it a 'sinister' come-on which made her want to 'run away fast'.

Alice turned him down, and he went on to make a comment about Ioan's - then her boyfriend - career. Ioan had auditioned for him the previous day, and neither of them were ever considered for one of his films again.

The first series of Liar in 2017 - a thriller which kept everyone guessing over whether Andrew had drugged and raped Laura on a date - came to a dramatic climax when Ioan's character was shown sprawled in a marsh with his throat cut (pictured)

Ioan told The Guardian he is proud of his wife for speaking out in an attempt to bolster the case against Weinstein.

The first series of Liar - created by brothers Harry and Jack Williams, the team behind The Missing - coincided with the rise of the #MeToo movement and sparked debate over whether casting doubt on Laura's rape testimony was potentially damaging.

But Ioan said the show wasn't trying to present one side over the other - rather, it was 'presenting a story that could happen anywhere'.

'Because of my past on-screen characters, most of the people in the street who approached me didn't want to believe that I was that person [a rapist] at all,' he explained.

Ioan revealed every decision he's made since being with Alice (pictured) has been collective and she's his biggest supporter

'Even though we clearly presented him doing these things. It worked so well that they can't comprehend somebody like that would have done such a thing.

'But offenders exist in every walk of life  CEOs of banks, teachers, doctors.'

Ioan added that the team were very keen to do the subject matter justice, especially given many female victims of sexual assault are too scared to come forward and only a third of the cases result in charges.

Audiences lapped series one of Liar with an average of 6.5 million viewers tuning in each week before the finale drew 7 million. Pictured, Ioan as Andrew Earlham in series one

Speaking about his stardom, Ioan admitted he's got into the habit of applying a dash of make-up before he leaves the house because he's sick of seeing pictures of himself 'looking like s***' when he poses for selfies with fans.

He is 'not ashamed to admit' that he wears tinted moisturiser and a bit of powder, and will direct photographs on the street so that they're taken in the best light.

The new series of Liar kicks off at 9pm on March 2 on ITV.
The median home price in the United States currently sits at around $300,000. But what does that very round number truly mean when it comes to places currently on the market?

For home buyers with a $300,000 budget, of course, what you get all depends on where you're looking. To give you a hint of what the median price looks like, we rounded up 10 homes across the country priced at precisely $300,000. What we found was a cool collection of homes ready to make even the pickiest homeowner's dreams come true.

No matter the style, it turns out three hundred large can still buy quite a bit, even in 2020's already warm-to-hot real estate market.

Ranging from as low as $93 per square foot in Louisville, KY, and up to $173 per square foot in St. Charles, IL, here are 10 homes on sale right now, perfectly positioned at the median price point. Come with us as we survey the middle ground.

Square footage: 2,490

Price per square foot: $120

Alabama revival: This three-bedroom home is stately and looks almost brand-new. We're in love with the arched entryways in the living spaces and the subdued color palette. It features newly refinished hardwood floors, new paint on the interior and exterior, and an all-new back deck to soak in the views.

Hoover, AL realtor.com



Square footage: 1,704

Price per square foot: $176

St. Charles classic: This all-brick classic from 1962 offers plenty of space to spread out. The basement has been fully updated and offers the possibility of adding another bedroom to the home's existing three bedrooms. There's a screened porch to enjoy during the warmer months and nearly an acre of land filled with mature trees.

St Charles, IL realtor.com



Square footage: 2,129

Price per square foot: $141

Lovely in Lebanon: Oak hardwood floors, skylights, and white cabinetry and woodwork help make this three-bedroom home feel airy. Built in 2006, the home is filled with upgrades, including an open sunroom with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a family room fireplace, a full-daylight basement, and a master suite with walk-in closet and extra storage.

Lebanon, PA realtor.com



Square footage: 2,200

Price per square foot: $136

Blond brick beauty: Sitting in a cul-de-sac, this Colonial was built in 1970 and has been updated throughout its four bedrooms. Recent upgrades include granite kitchen floors, a custom double-entry door, a new bathroom in the master suite, plus new windows, paint, and carpet. It's move-in ready!

Farmington Hills, MI realtor.com



Square footage: 2,340

Price per square foot: $128

Mighty in Manchester: Classic from every angle, this two-story brick home was built in 1986. It appears fresh inside, thanks to updated hardwood floors and newer carpets throughout. The large family room, formal living room, and rec room give this four-bedroom home the space for gatherings both intimate and grand.

Manchester, MO realtor.com



Square footage: 1,983

Price per square foot: $151

Pool party central: Hardwood floors, a brick fireplace, and chunky wood-beamed ceilings give this tidy four-bedroom home a warm, rustic feel. The four-season room is a highlight, and the fenced yard with in-ground pool begs to be the backdrop for summer block parties.

Mullica Hill, NJ realtor.com



Square footage: 3,239

Price per square foot: $93

Red-door residence: A bright-red front door is the cherry on top of this tasty four-bedroom home built in 1999. The brick house is located in what the listing says is a desirable neighborhood. A lower-level in-home office with built-in shelves makes this an attractive choice for anyone who works from home, while the bonus room with access to a back deck and yard is the ideal spot to hang out.

Louisville, KY realtor.com



Square footage: 2,334

Price per square foot: $129

Trendy in Tallahassee: This charming Craftsman sits on a half-acre lot that offers an in-ground pool, patio, and two-car garage. Inside, the four-bedroom house is cheery and spacious and features a brand-new bathroom in the master suite.

Tallahassee, FL realtor.com



Square footage: approximately 2,500

Price per square foot: $120

Bartlett beauty: Crown molding, hardwood floors, and an elegant fireplace give this four-bedroom home a sophisticated flair. With three bedrooms located on the first floor, it's an ideal split-level solution for a family. Built in 2001, it's on a corner half-acre lot.

Bartlett, TN realtor.com



Square footage: 2,017

Price per square foot: $149

Lawn mowing in Mooresville: This large lot in a cul-de-sac provides plenty of room for a rolling lawn. According to the listing, the four-bedroom brick home is located in a convenient spot near shopping and dining. Ten-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, and a wood-burning fireplace are just a few highlights of this single-story home, located in a community with views of Lake Norman.

Mooresville, NC realtor.com

The post 10 Homes Sitting Pretty, Right at the U.S. Median Price of $300K appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
As part of their We Move You campaign, Volkswagen Philippines has decided to name Gary Valenciano, Mr. Pure Energy himself, to represent their brand.

We celebrate the beginning of a dynamic partnership between one extraordinary performer and an equally iconic automotive brand, Volkswagen Philippines President Felipe Estrella III shares. Estrella believes that Valenciano is the perfect personification of VWs We Move You campaign. We at Volkswagen Philippines believe that we couldnt have chosen a better brand ambassador, Estrella continues. I can tell you that we ourselves at Volkswagen Philippines feel energized by Gary V.s decision to become part of the Volkswagen Philippines family.

Nung maliit pa ko, andyan na siya, Valenciano says about Volkswagen. Ngayon, they have transformed, kept up with the times, and they have gone ahead of what people have actually looked for and wanted. Im very proud and very thankful to be the brand ambassador of Volkswagen.

Valenciano himself owns a Volkswagen Lamando Sport Executive sedan.

The event in Trinoma not only hosted an energizing performance by Valenciano, but also showcased the current Volkswagen lineup. Four cars are displayed, the Volkswagen Lamando SE, Lamando SEL, Santana, and Santana GTS. As a special treat, Volkswagen offered massive discounts for their vehicles. Customers can get a Santana S AT with a Php 90,000 price reduction. The Santana MT is available for Php 66,000 less, and the Lavida for Php 85,000 off.

Volkswagens current lineup consists of the Volkswagen Santana which starts at Php 686,000, the Volkswagen Lavida that starts at Php 1.171 million and Volkswagen Lamando starting at Php 1.57 million.

Also Read:

The post Volkswagen Philippines Announces Gary V as Newest VW Ambassador appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.
Harvey Weinstein was one of the most powerful tastemakers in Hollywood. Now, after a Manhattan jury convicted him of two felony sex crimes, he faces the prospect of years in prison.

While the New York case was narrowly focused  the criminal charges centered largely on just two women  its symbolism was sweeping. More than 90 women have accused Mr. Weinstein of sexual misconduct, and the allegations against him set off the global #MeToo movement.

Mr. Weinstein is the first high-profile man to be ousted from a position of power during the movement and then criminally prosecuted. (He has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex.)
COLUMBIA  The University of South Carolina has announced a partnership with Prisma Health to explore finding commercially viable ideas and spinoff companies through teamwork between the institutions.

The deal, approved Friday by USC's board of trustees, will allow the health care provider to use USC's connections and experience with winning patents and its business incubator that can help startups grow, said Bill Kirkland, executive director of the school's Office of Economic Engagement.

Prisma Health is the state's largest private employer. It works with medical schools in Columbia and Greenville and has innovative capacity and concepts that could be developed into businesses or licensed ideas, Kirkland said. The partnership with USC should create an avenue for those concepts to make that leap.

"Physicians will get ideas out of their heads and into the marketplace," Kirkland said.

The arrangement follows existing ventures with the two health systems that came together  Greenville Health System and Palmetto Health  to form Prisma Health that have yielded results.

For instance, Humimic Medical moved to South Carolina from Arkansas to build medical training props that can be used for students to practice such skills as injections without causing pain.

The company's products use the kind of ballistic gel used in crime investigations to stand in for human flesh for health education.

USC experts can help medical organizations in a variety of ways, from adding engineering expertise to an idea to helping to navigate patent law. Those are not skills that the hospital systems have on staff.

USC also can help Prisma Health by connecting it to the university's other academic partners such as IBM, which is using its Watson Health arm to analyze medical data, Kirkland said.

"The key driver is how do we impact the health care of the citizens of South Carolina," Kirkland said.
Over 50% of the Vietnamese population does not have a payment account at banks, therefore, mobile money would offer a non-cash payment method for a large base of customers.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has suggested the pilot implementation of mobile money right in the first quarter this year would help expand e-payment services to 100% of the population and boost economic growth by 0.5 percentage points as international experiences showed, ICT News reported.

Mobile money, which allows people to transfer money through cellphone account instead of a bank account, would boost the development of e-commerce, e-market for agricultural products, fintech companies and innovative startups, said Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung.

Hung made the statement in response to the instruction of the government on January 7 requesting the pilot implementation of using mobile money for products and services with low value and new payment methods.

Recent data showed over 50% of the population in Vietnam does not have a payment account at banks, therefore, mobile money would offer a non-cash payment method for a large base of customers and contribute to a higher rate of cashless transactions.

Additionally, mobile money is expected to change the behavior of Vietnamese people in using cash in transactions.

Hung said right after the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the countrys central bank, issued licenses for mobile carriers to provide mobile money services, 100% of mobile subscribers in Vietnam could use e-payment services overnight.

Tran Duy Hai, deputy director general of the Authority of Telecommunications under the MIC, said mobile money is a viable solution to promote financial inclusion in rural and remote areas, where the lack of financial infrastructure is preventing the people from accessing banking services.

More importantly, mobile carriers could utilize the existing telecommunications facilities to provide mobile money services, in turn saving substantial financial resources in investment, Hai added.

As of present, major carriers in Vietnam including Viettel, VNPT and MobiFone have asked the government to draft new policies for the implementation of mobile money.

Phung Anh Tuan, general secretary of Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI) said mobile money is currently a global trend and Vietnam should join the process as the country intensifies its efforts in global economic integration.

Under the plan on non-cash payment in Vietnam in the 2016 - 2020 period approved by the prime minister, by the end of 2020, the ratio of cash transactions will be reduced from 90% in 2016 to below 10%. Hanoitimes

Ngoc Mai

SBV removes foreign ownership limit in payment firms The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has announced it would remove regulations limiting foreign ownership in local intermediary payment firms from its draft Decree No 101.
Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt celebrates her birthday in the company of sisters Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt. Her dad Mahesh took to Instagram to post a heart-warming picture of the his three children.

Sharing the picture, he wrote: I did not give you the gift of life, but rather, life gave me the gift of you. Happy birthday Pooja! In the picture, a beaming Alia and Shaheen stand next to Pooja, with a bouquet and gifts in front of them. Pooja holds a note in her hand, perhaps, what her sisters have written for her. The gift includes cactus and a potted plant and other items, suitably gift-wrapped.

The picture got a comment from Alias mother, Soni Razdan who wrote: Now thats lovely. Happy Birthday dear Pooja. Pooja is working with her father Mahesh on his next project, Sadak 2 and routinely posts pictures from the shoot. Sharing one picture of her looking into the monitor, she had written, The monitor at the monitor.

Pooja is quite vocal on issues that interest or concern her. Speaking out against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), she had recently said that she opposed it as it divided her family. I implore our leaders to listen to the voices that have risen in the country. The women in India, at Shaheen Bagh and Lucknow... Well not stop until we are heard loud and clear. Id implore people to speak up more. I dont support CAA & NRC as it divides my house, ANI quoted her as saying.

Also read: On Sridevis second death anniversary, her best family pictures with daughters Janhvi and Khushi, husband Boney Kapoor

Pooja has battled alcoholism in the past. Speaking about how she fought it and has been sober for nearly three years, she had written on Instagram: Two years & ten months sober today.. time to reflect on the past & absorb the now.. Kal Kisne Dekha after all? To any and all of you who are battling your demons & grappling with addiction issues,know that youre not alone. If I could do it,you can too. And if you flounder or fall, pick yourself up and keep going.. the rewards are multiple in more ways than one!

Follow @htshowbiz for more
VALPARAISO  Even as Porter County officials plan for the upcoming primary election, theyre trying to gather and correct financial reports from previous contests.

Porter Town Council member Erik Wagner, D-1st, will be summoned by the Porter County Election Board to explain why he still hasnt filed his annual campaign finance report from last year despite repeated requests to do so.

That Election Board meeting will be at 3 p.m. March 19.

Wagners report is the only one not yet filed, staffers told the board recently.

New policies to address delinquent and defective campaign finance reports were approved by the board recently.

For late reports, the process includes posting the names of delinquent filers outside the Porter County Elections & Registration office and notifying political party chairmen and members of the Election Board.

If enough time passes, a delinquent report can result in a hearing and a fine. Only a unanimous board vote would allow the fine to be reduced or waived if the penalty is deemed unjust under the circumstances.
A father has been praised for completing the final leg of his 113-kilometre triathlon in a firefighter outfit to raise money for charity.

Dek Wilson took part in the IRONMAN 70.3 in Geelong on Sunday to raise awareness about PTSI, depression and suicide within emergency services.

The first time IRONMAN, from Alexandra Country Fire Authority, battled 30C heat as he ran the 21.1-kilometre final leg in his 20-kilogram fire protective kit.

A father has been praised for completing the final leg of his 113-kilometre triathlon in a firefighter outfit to raise money for charity

Mr Wilson was met with cheers as he crossed the finish line in the bright yellow suit, which included an air tank backpack.

'I was so blown away by the support of the fellow athletes and the support from on lookers was just incredible plus all the messages of support,' he wrote on Facebook.

'I couldn't have made it if it wasn't for your encouragement/support and the support of my girls helping me out today.'

The volunteer firefighter completed the track in six hours and 56 minutes to raise money for Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb which goes towards Lifeline, Black Dog Institute and Emergency Services Foundation.

Mr Wilson, who also swam 1.9 kilometres and cycled 90 kilometres, was praised on social media for his legendary commitment.

'Well done mate. It is a real honour that I know you and could serve with you in the NSW fires this year,' one person wrote.

Dek Wilson took part in the IRONMAN 70.3 in Geelong on Sunday to raise awareness about PTSI, depression and suicide within emergency services

The first time IRONMAN, from Alexandra Country Fire Authority, battled 30C heat as he ran the 21.1-kilometre final leg in his 20-kilogram fire protective kit

'Dek Wilson you are such a an inspiration to your family and so many others. Well done,' wrote another.

'The toughest competitor on the course by far. Well done.

'Not all heroes wear capes, you bloody legend.'

Mr Wilson now has his eyes set on the Port Macquarie 70.3 in May.
Weather warnings for snow, wind and heavy rain have been issued for the beginning of the week.

The bleak outlook follows more than a fortnight of downpours and flooding that started with Storm Ciara, continued with Storm Dennis, and the weekend's unnamed storm.

It comes as Environment Secretary George Eustice defended Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme following criticism by opposition MPs that he has failed to visit the worst flood-hit areas ravaged by the recent storms.

Snow falls are expected to cause problems across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England as the Environment Agency (EA) issued 91 flood warnings and 182 flood alerts by Monday morning.

Weather warnings for snow across Scotland, snow and rain across northern England and snow across Northern Ireland have been issued for Monday, with traffic disruption predicted for the morning commute.

The EA said ongoing flooding is possible for parts of the West Midlands, along the Severn and Wye and also in parts of the north of England, including in the lower River Aire in Yorkshire.

A weather warning is also in place for South Wales, one of the areas badly affected by recent flooding.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: "I'm afraid we hold onto unsettled weather conditions across the UK over the next few days. We will see spells of wet and windy weather at times and there'll be some snow in the north at times too.

"Monday looks unsettled across all areas. We'll see wet and windy weather sweeping from the southwest - gales or severe gale-force winds in place, and some snow towards the north of the UK."

As those already hit by this winter's deluges continue to clean up, Mr Eustice said the government can't protect every home and admitted the problem is going to worsen.

He told Sky's Sophy Ridge it is "inevitable that we're going to get more of these extreme weather events", as "with climate change" they are becoming "more frequent each year".

Story continues

"All we can really do is improve our flood defences and improve our flood response," he said.

Mr Eustice also defended Mr Johnson for defying calls to visit flood-stricken areas despite a third consecutive weekend of storms.

"It's not true that the prime minister hasn't been engaged in this. From the very moment he appointed me, he has been engaged," Mr Eustice told Ridge.

"In a cabinet government it's not a one-man show, it's right that on certain operational things such as this that the prime minister will ask one of his cabinet members to lead, I can't see anything wrong with that," he added.

England has already received over 141% of its average February rainfall so far.

Scotland saw further flooding on Saturday, with a number reports of vehicles becoming stranded in various towns and villages west of Glasgow.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency said three flood warnings were in force on Monday morning with four further flood alerts.

And, in Wales, there were nine flood warnings in force and 19 alerts.

While the extreme weather should settle down over Tuesday and Wednesday - accompanied with a notable dip in temperatures - the Met Office said further heavy rain is expected on Friday.
New Delhi: There is a certain unease in the NDA camp in Bihar after Prashant Kishors exit. The political strategist, who was expelled from the JD(U) by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar last month, was asked to assess strategic planning data for the states ruling alliance for the coming Assembly polls.

The data, it was learnt, also included constituency-wise assessments of positive and negative feedback of the sitting MLAs  of both the JD(U) and the BJP  and local issues that could hurt the ruling alliances prospects in the Assembly polls that are expected by the end of the year.

A section within the JD(U), sources said, feels that with Mr Kishors ouster from the party, the data could be misused in the Assembly polls.

After being expelled from the JD(U), Mr Kishor had said he will continue to be politically involved in his home state of Bihar and has launched a campaign Bihar Ki Baat, an effort to enrol 10 lakh million to work for the states development.

However, a majority within the JD(U) is confident that the Nitish Kumar-led NDA in the state will retain power because of the development plank of the chief minister, who has a clean image and a decisive leadership. Also, the Opposition camp in the state seems divided over the leadership issue as not everyone in the grand alliance of Opposition parties are in favour of the RJDs Tejashwi Yadav as the face of the alliance.

The NDA has said it will fight the polls under Mr Kumars leadership.

Mr Kishor, along with former Rajya Sabha member Pavan K. Varma, were expelled from the JD(U) over their stand against the amended citizenship law. Both were once seen as close associates of Mr Kumar. In fact, Mr Kishor had played a key role in the 2015 Assembly polls in the state, which the JD(U) had fought along with the RJD and Congress, as the JD(U) had quit the NDA fold in 2013 over Narendra Modis elevations as the NDAs PM candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, the JD(U) rejoined the NDA in 2017.

In Bihar, people still compare the JD(U)s rule with that of the RJD. No matter which caste one belongs to or lives in a city or a rural area, no one wants a repeat of the RJDs misrule. Nitish Kumar has a clean image, his work is appreciated, no matter which caste or class one belongs to. He is a decisive leader, said a JD(U) leader.
Press Release

February 24, 2020 De Lima marks 3rd year of unjust detention; decries continued political persecution against her Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima today (Feb. 24) marks her third year of illegal arrest and unjust detention - a grim reminder that the Duterte regime is intolerable of dissent and perceives political opposition as a threat to his administration. De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under Duterte administration, maintained that her continued detention is caused, not because she is guilty of the drug-related offenses filed against her, but vengeance of a power-hungry President. "Let me say it again: I am INNOCENT of the trumped-up drug charges against me. I may not be a perfect person, but I have never betrayed my duty as a public servant," she said. "And if anyone would take a serious look at the details of my cases, including the ludicrous perjured testimonies of the so-called witnesses against me - they will see that I am merely a victim of political persecution," she added. De Lima's statement was read by her brother Vicente de Lima II before the more than 1,100 delegates of the recent "International Forum on Lawfare: Weaponizing the Law against Democratic Dissent" held at De La Salle University, Manila last Feb. 21. Despite her three years in detention, De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, vowed to continue shepherding measures needed to uplift the quality of life of Filipinos, especially the poor. Even under harsh living and working conditions, the lady Senator from Bicol has faithfully and diligently pursued her legislative mandate despite not having access to much needed work-related tools and gadgets. To date, she has authored and co-authored 68 bills and 31 resolutions in the 18th Congress. In the 17th Congress, she principally authored bills that were signed into law, such as the Magna Carta of the Poor and the institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). "The country saw that despite the persecution that I have been subjected to in the past three years, my spirit remains unbroken and our legislative accomplishments remain unhindered," the lawmaker pointed out. "Duterte and his merry band of trolls may continue their vile narrative towards me, but the country and the world are seeing through the smoke and mirrors regarding my situation," she added. In the past year, De Lima has continued to obtain international support, foremost of which was the adoption of a bipartisan resolution by the United States Senate seeking sanctions against officials involved in orchestrating her arrest and prolonged detention. The US Senate Resolution 142 also called for the invocation of the Global Magnitsky Act against State actors who are also involved on the extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs. In December last year, US President Donald Trump also signed into law the US Fiscal Year 2020 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill which includes a provision urging the US State Department to ban Philippine government officials responsible for De Lima's wrongful imprisonment from entering US territories. However, the multiple cases filed against De Lima are progressing at a snail's pace. As of this writing, six Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court judges have either recused themselves from hearing her drug cases or have opted for early retirement. Last January, the Supreme Court dismissed her petition for the writ of habeas data against Mr. Duterte whom it deemed immune from suit. De Lima's legal camp has filed a motion for reconsideration. Despite her continued persecution, De Lima has refused to waver in her conviction. In a Keynote Address at an international forum last Feb. 21, De Lima has declared herself as "free". "Today, I declare myself free. For though I may be physically detained, my mind is freer than it has ever been; my dignity is intact; and my will to fight to protect the freedom and interests of the Filipino people is stronger than ever," she said. "Thus, I am not a victim. I am not merely a survivor. I am not just a fighter. I am a defender," she added.
A 14-year-old girl has been transported to the hospital and is suffering from critical injuries after reportedly falling off a car early Sunday morning, Topeka Police say.

TPD responded to a call around 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning on the 1100 block of NE Kellam about an individual who had reportedly fallen off a car.

Upon arrival, they found a 14-year-old girl suffering from critical injuries and took her to a local hospital. The driver, a 17-year-old female, was cited for traffic infractions related to the incident.
Since Cole's birth, Josie and her family have lived through many of the challenges common to families coping with a rare disease. Some of these challenges can include finding an accurate diagnosis, the availability of treatment and gaining access when therapies are approved, and securing the ongoing care needed to support health and quality of life.

As a radio host, broadcaster and mom, Josie is sharing her family's experience in the hopes of increasing awareness about rare diseases in Canada, as well as helping combat the feelings of isolation many patients and their families feel. It's an important message for the estimated one in 12 (or more than three million) Canadians who live with a rare disease, two-thirds of whom are children.i

"Families need to remember that you're not alone," says Josie. "Sometimes we feel like we're sinking, and that we're the only ones struggling, but there are so many out there who are living with a rare disease. Being able to connect with others, who either share your experience or are willing to offer support, is absolutely crucial to long-term wellbeing."

What Makes You Rare?

With the goal of bringing attention to this remarkable and resilient community, the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD), in partnership with Sanofi Genzyme, is helping to highlight the stories of these patients and families to mark Rare Disease Day 2020.

"It is critically important to share the stories of those living with rare diseases in Canada," says Durhane Wong-Rieger, President & CEO, CORD. "When we listen to their experiences, we are more educated about, and more empathetic to, the challenges these individuals and their families encounter every day. In turn, we can each become champions of the rare disease community, helping to advocate for the services and support they need."

To encourage this national storytelling, CORD and its patient group partners Answering TTP Foundation, Canadian Association of Pompe, Canadian Fabry Association, Canadian MPS Society, and The National Gaucher Foundation of Canada, are posing the question "What makes you rare?". The question is meant to inspire Canadians to think about and articulate their own unique stories and share them as a sign of solidarity and support for the rare disease community. Canadians are encouraged to share their own answers via social media on the "What Makes You Rare?" Facebook event page.

Rare Disease Day 2020 Event: February 28, 2020, 8 AM to 6 PM, Brookfield Place (downtown Toronto)

In a further effort to help educate the general public about rare diseases and engage Canadians in a conversation about living with a rare disease in Canada, Josie, CORD, the partner patient associations and Sanofi Genzyme are hosting an interactive "What Makes You Rare?" event on February 28, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto.

At the event, visitors can engage with the different stories of Canadians in the rare disease community through original photography and videos.

"Rare Disease Day is a wonderful opportunity to become more educated about rare diseases and their impact," says Josie, "but it can't stop there. It's important to remember that we live with these rare diseases 365 days a year. For us, every day is Rare Disease Day."

Rare Disease Day 2020 Event Partners

About Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD)

CORD is Canada's national network for organizations representing all those with rare disorders. CORD provides a strong common voice to advocate for health policy and a healthcare system that works for those with rare disorders. CORD works with governments, researchers, clinicians and industry to promote research, diagnosis, treatment and services for all rare disorders in Canada. For more information, visit www.raredisorders.ca



________________________________

i https://www.raredisorders.ca/about-cord/

SOURCE Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders

For further information: Durhane Wong-Rieger, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, 647-801-5176, [email protected]; For media inquiries, please contact: Ian Solnick, Atlas Content Studio Inc., 647-294-9400, [email protected]
A Tioga County jury convicted a man of criminally negligent homicide in the death of a state Department of Transportation maintenance worker last March 13.

Lawrence Faucett, of Ulster, Pa., was charged with criminally negligent homicide by the Tioga County District Attorneys Office after he drove his tractor-trailer onto the shoulder of Route 17 and crashed into Dennis Matt Howe, mortally wounding him. Howe was parked in an advance warning vehicle with lights flashing to warn drivers of a road repair crew ahead.

He was airlifted to a hospital after the collision and died on March 18.

Faucett, a professional driver, was initially ticketed for moving from a lane unsafely and failure to exercise due care, a violation of the Move Over Law, which requires drivers to slow down and move over (if safe to do so) when they see lights, vests or reflectors and to exercise due care when approaching an emergency or hazard vehicle.

This verdict is a victory for highway safety and for highway workers everywhere, but it will not bring Matt back to his family, friends and co-workers who lived him, DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. We hope this verdict raises the publics awareness of how important it is for all drivers to slow down and safely move over when coming upon a work zone.

She also thanked Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin and his staff for their hard work, diligence and commitment to public safety in prosecuting this case.

Q: The stretch of Sand Creek Road in Colonie from the Colonie Village line to where it ends at Watervliet-Shaker Road (Rte 155) has always had a 40 mph speed limit, probably because there are only a couple of homes on that almost one-mile stretch of road. However, recently the speed limit has been reduced to 30 mph as indicated by new signs that have been installed. Nothing has changed recently on this stretch of road to warrant a need for this speed limit reduction. Why was it done?

Regards,

John Good, Colonie

A: According to Ed Sim, mayor of the village of Colonie, the village asked the town of Colonie to decrease the speed limit on that stretch of Sand Creek Road from 40 mph to 30 mph after multiple crashes at the village line.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Sims said that there had been 10 or 12 accidents there, some of which destroyed the Welcome to the Village sign.

Although most of Sand Creek Road is managed by the village, the western stretch you mention is managed by the town. Lt. Robert Donnelly of the Colonie Police Department, traffic safety division, explained that Sims and the deputy mayor asked the towns highway safety committee to consider lowering the speed limit in September, after a crash in which a motorist, driving too fast down that stretch, not only destroyed the sign but nearly hit a house.

The highway safety committee had no objection to the villages proposal, Donnelly said, after they looked into any particular reasons that the speed limit on stretch of road ought to be 40 mph.

Have a question about transportation in the Capital Region? Email gettingthere@timesunion.com and include your name, town and phone number or tweet @abigail_rubel.
Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg talks to supporters at a rally in Salt Lake City on Feb. 20, 2020. (George Frey/Getty Images)

Bloomberg Postpones Town Hall, Plans to Challenge Sanders at Debate

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pushed back his CNN town hall from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26, to better prepare for a Democratic presidential debate slated for Feb. 25.

Bloombergs campaign linked the move to the billionaires desire to confront Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

The country cant afford to let Bernie Sanders skate by another debate without a focus on his extreme record, Galia Slayen, the Bloomberg campaigns national press secretary, said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

Mike is preparing for Tuesdays crucial debate, and looks forward to taking part in CNNs town hall on Wednesday.

Bloomberg and Sanders, both 78, clashed at last weeks debate in Nevada. After Sanders said that billionaires are able to get by paying little in taxes, Bloomberg noted that the longtime federal lawmaker owns three homes.

What a wonderful country we have, Bloomberg said. The best known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses. What did I miss?

Sanders said one of his homes is in Washington, where he works as a senator, and another is in Vermont. The third, he said, is a summer camp.

Where is your home? Which tax haven is your home? Sanders asked Bloomberg.

The former mayor said he lives in New York City and pays all of his taxes. He added that as mayor, he raised taxes on city residents.

Democratic presidential candidates former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg (L), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) listen as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas in Nevada on Feb. 19, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

After Bloomberg said he earned his money by working hard, Sanders jumped in, telling him: Maybe it wasnt you who made all that money. Maybe your workers played a part in that as well.

The Feb. 25 debate in South Carolina will again feature Bloomberg and Sanders along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 70; Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 59; former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38; and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77.

Businessman Tom Steyer, who didnt qualify for the last debate, will be back on the stage on Feb. 25.

South Carolina voters head to the polls on Feb. 29.

Sanders cemented himself as the Democratic front-runner over the weekend in Nevada.

Bloomberg hasnt been on the ballots in the four early voting states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, but he has begun mixing it up with rivals after largely avoiding them since announcing his bid for the presidency late last year. The ex-mayors atypical approach includes focusing on the raft of states slated to vote on March 3, including California, Arkansas, and Illinois.

Bloomberg has poured hundreds of millions of his fortune into his campaign while Sanders, like most other candidates, has sought donations from supporters. Sanders campaign spokesman Faiz Shakir urged supporters to donate on Feb. 24, telling them that the last few days before Federal Election Committee deadlines often see a fundraising spike and we count on that in our budgeting and planning.

Bloomberg would have been blocked from the debates due to a requirement to have a certain number of donors, until the Democratic National Committee removed that requirement on Jan. 31, allowing Bloomberg to qualify for his first debate in Las Vegas on Feb. 19.
Since February 11, when it was formally announced, there has been a buzz about the visit of United States (US) President Donald Trump to Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi, which starts today.

This is not just due to his erratic, vain and headline-attracting personality, comments and tweets. Nor is it only because of the US global heft or the established importance of the bilateral political, economic, technological and defence cooperation dimensions of the relationship. It is also because the people-to-people linkage is among the strongest elements of the relationship, and captures the imagination of aspirational India.

There are now over 4 million people of Indian origin in the US. President Trump attending the Howdy Modi event in Houston, in September last year, before a 50,000-strong crowd of Indian-Americans, was a recognition of the growing importance of this community in US politics, voting and political fundraising. One out of seven patients in the US is seen by an Indian doctor. Around 40% of all hotel rooms are said to be owned or managed by Indian-Americans. They now have a growing presence as chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies, and in start-ups in Silicon Valley. There are 200,000 Indian students, presently in US universities, who are looking at a future in the US or in building US-India economic and technological linkages, whether they are based subsequently there or in India.

The buzz is also on account of the US, as the pre-eminent global power, (though it does now face technological challenges from China and military ones from Russia), having declared itself as supportive of Indias rise and national aspirations.

Under President Trump, the US has clearly recognised the challenge it faces from China, a process that saw spring shoots under George W Bush, and an Asia pivot under Barack Obama after his initial failed exploration of strategic reassurance. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in public comments on October 30, 2019, said that US hesitated and did far less than we should have when China threatened its neighbours like Vietnam and Philippines, and when they claimed the entire South China Sea.

The US has raised, significantly, tariffs on imports from China, to address its $350 billion trade deficit. It has strengthened measures to limit access of Chinese companies to high technology, curtailed participation of Chinese scholars and students in research and innovation labs in US universities, and is mounting a worldwide campaign to block participation of Huawei in 5G infrastructure.

The US is now having to deal with a challenge it has itself created. Since its outreach to China in 1971, and enhanced engagement since 1979, there was military and intelligence cooperation; encouragement of technology transfers; grant of preferential trade and investment access; large educational exchange programs (Chinese students today, at 400,000, are double the number of Indian students); facilitation of multilateral development financing through World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, among others; and enabling its entry into the World Trade Organization.

Besides its own measures to deal with the consequences of a risen China, the US is seeking to develop other partnerships, to shape the environment. Its frequent reiteration of a Free and Open Indo- Pacific; bilateral and triangular partnership with Japan and South Korea; the JAI with Japan and India, and the Quad (which includes Japan and Australia, besides India and the US); and renaming of its Hawaii-based Pacific Command as Indo-Pacific Command, are among the responses.

In addition to the strengths in the US- India bilateral relationship, it is the challenge from China that will, for now, provide a ballast focusing the thinking of US strategists.

However, given the compulsions of US domestic politics and policy preferences, there will be challenges and pinpricks in the US-India relationship. If the US supports the rise of India, as its leaders say, it does not follow that it has withdrawn the Generalized System of Preferences benefits, removed India from category of developing countries for countervailing trade measures, imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on national security grounds, and kept the envelop expanding in the ongoing trade negotiations.

While defence cooperation has increased significantly since the civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2008, with India now having contracted to buy $18 billion of supplies, there is still no major defence technology collaboration. On Pakistan, US policy vacillates depending on whether the policy of the moment is to pressurise or incentivise it in the context of terrorism and Afghanistan. The US sanctions on Russia and Iran also increase costs and challenge options for India.

During the Trump visit, therefore, Indias strategy suggests itself. Given his evident vain nature, lay out a welcome that will enable him to claim, right or wrong, that he had a reception and crowds beyond Bill Clinton (2000), Bush (2006) or Obama (2010 and 2015). Deepen the convergence on dealing with Chinese challenge, while maintaining freedom to build on the spirit of Wuhan and Mamallapuram informal India-China summits. Recognise the US compulsions on Pakistan, but ensure that pressure is sustained on its support to terrorism, including through the Financial Action Task Force. Welcome Trump lavishly, but keep in mind the need to maintain bipartisan support for India in US Congress, which is fraying a bit at this stage. And point out the incongruence in welcoming the rise of India and then taking steps that place economic costs.

Arun K Singh is former Indian ambassador to the United States

The views expressed are personal
Despite attempts by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to deny the transfer of $110 million stolen from Nigerias treasury by late military tyrant, Sani Abacha, to Mr Abachas most profligate money launderer and current governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, United States court papers obtained by PREMIUM TIMES show that the administration signed two agreements with Mr Bagudu that effectively sealed the transfer of the money to the governor.

Mr Bagudu is a close friend of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as a top member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The court documents also reveal that the Buhari administration is vigorously challenging a move by the United States government to further question Ibrahim Bagudu, the governors elder brother in relation to the laundered fund. The administration is also fighting to thwart Americas effort to remove the confidential classification of the agreements, which would make available for public scrutiny as well as being presented as evidence in court.

The court papers further rubbish the claim by Mr Bagudu that he had done nothing wrong and that the United States government was merely trying to use him as an excuse to confiscate the recovery of the money by the Nigeria government.

One of the agreements, signed on October 26, 2018, was an amendment of a 2003 agreement signed between the Bagudu family and the Nigerian government to settle all of Mr Bagudus civil claim against Nigeria and all of Nigerias civil claim, administrative, and criminal claims against Mr Bagudu for helping Mr Abacha to launder the funds.

The other agreement, signed on September 6, 2019, was a Deed of Variation, which amended the 2018 agreement by extending its termination date from August 30, 2019 to February 28, 2020.

The document counters the misleading explanations given by the Office of Nigerias Attorney General and supporters of Mr Bagudu and the Nigerian government.

After Bloomberg broke the news that the U.S. government was resisting a plan by the Nigerian government to transfer over $110 million to Mr Bagudu from money stolen from Nigerian treasury by the late dictator, Abubakar Malami, Nigerias Attorney General, denied that there was any such agreement between the government and Mr Bagudu.

Mr Malami on Friday released a statement that apparently sought to obfuscate the governments agreement to pay Mr Bagudu $110 million with a different portion of the Abacha loot recently repatriated to Nigeria from the Island of Jersey.

It is pertinent to recall at this juncture that prior to the 2020 agreement with the United States and the Island of Jersey, the Federal Government has signed an agreement for the return of over $300m in 2017 which was effectively deployed for the purpose for which it was agreed to be applied without any issue of reputation, his office said.

The FG is also negotiating the recovery of assets from several countries and the agreements for the recovery and the procedure for recovery are always presented to Federal Executive Council for approval and duly made public once the processes have been concluded.

No third-party interest was captured in the memo that was approved by the council.

What Mr Malami did not reveal was that the Buhari administration had actually agreed to transfer $110 million from another portion of the Abacha loot laundered by Mr Bagudu and kept in a trust held in the United Kingdom.

The decision to pay Mr Bagudu $110 million was taken following an amendment of a 2003 settlement agreement between the Federal Government and the Kebbi State governor. That amendment took place in 2018.

2003 Settlement Agreement

In 2003, the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo entered into an agreement with Mr Bagudu, which allowed the repatriation of $163 million to Nigeria. In exchange, Nigeria renounced any interest whatsoever in Mr Bagudus other assets which include funds domiciled in Blue Holding trusts held in the United Kingdom as well as any future plan to prosecute him for laundering the stolen funds on behalf of Mr Abacha.

Funds held in Blue Holdings trusts are believed to be part of Nigerias commonwealth Mr Bagudu laundered for Mr Abacha. The contested funds are different from the $300 million Abacha loot recently repatriated to Nigeria after a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Jersey and the United States, although it was repatriated from the accounts of one of Mr Bagudus money laundering vehicles, Doraville properties domiciled at Deutsche Bank in Jersey.

In 2012, the Goodluck Jonathan administration requested the help of the U.S. in reclaiming governments assets part of which are believed to be held in Blue holding trusts. Mr Bagudu immediately responded to the request by filing a claim of a breach of agreement in a UK court.

Immediately Mr Badugu filed the claim, Nigeria withdrew its request for the U.S. to help it retrieve government funds and subsequently declined repeated calls to assist the U.S. since then. However, the U.S. did not stop pursuing the forfeiture of the assets.

Despite Nigerias withdrawal of its request for U.S. assistance to retrieve its funds held in Blue Holding companies and its refusal to subsequently assist the U.S. in the forfeiture of the funds, Mr Bagudu obtained a breach of agreement judgement against Nigeria from the UK court.

Nigeria claimed that the judgement exposed Nigeria to the payment of an amount equivalent to any amount as may be forfeited to the United States.

Buhari govts plan to transfer $110 million to Bagudu

The Buhari administration did not appeal the judgement obtained by Mr Bagudu from the UK court. Instead, it quickly devised a plan, using the 2018 agreement, to transfer $110 million to Mr Bagudu and his brother, Ibrahim.

According to the 2018 amendment, which is aimed at preventing the U.S. from assessing the funds held in Blue Holding, Nigeria is the legal owner of the relevant trust assets. This effectively transfers the ownership of the funds held in Blue Holding companies from Mr Bagudu to Nigeria.

The 2018 Amended Agreement also stated that parties will use all reasonable endeavours to obtain a variation of the UK courts prohibition order in order for the assets which is worth 141 million ($157.5 million), to be transferred to Nigeria, which effectively clears Nigeria of any liability of the breach of the 2003 Settlement Agreement.

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The 2018 Amendment then stated that having received the money, Nigeria will then send 98.5 million ($110 million) to an account identified by the trustees of Blue Family Trust, owned by the Bagudu family, thus allowing Mr Bagudu and his affiliates to have peaceful enjoyment of the money.

The parties (Nigeria and Mr Bagudu) to the 2018 Amended Agreement argued that the payment of the money would satisfy Mr Bagudus default judgement against Nigeria for breaching the 2003 Settlement Agreement.

But the U.S. argued that the 2018 Agreement, which was reached just seven weeks after the court had forfeited another Abacha loot related fund held by the Bagudu in another trust, serves to conceal the forfeited and remaining assets out of the United Kingdom and away from the courts judgement and the arrest warrant placed on the assets.

It further described the 2018 Agreement as scheme designed to wrest control of the proceeds of corruption away from the U.S and U.K courts, so that $110 million can be secreted into the hands of one of the primary architects (Mr Bagudu) of the kleptocracy scheme.

The U.S. Court also ruled that by signing the 2018 agreement with the Nigerian government, Mr Bagudu cannot continue to lay claim to a breach of the 2003 settlement agreement as the ownership of the funds in the trust no longer belonged to him, but to Nigeria.

Surely it is relevant that the settlement agreement has been amended to declare just the opposite that Nigeria owns the assets, the court said.

The court papers thus revealed that Mr Malami was being economical with the truth when he claimed that Mr Bagudu was pursuing separate cases in court in the United State and the United Kingdom to assert his right in connection to the Abacha loot, without stating the active role played by the Buhari administration in assisting Mr Bagudu to reclaim the funds which are part of the money he laundered for Mr Abacha.

The court papers also discredit Mr Bagudus denial of any wrongdoing and that the U.S. was merely using him as an excuse to confiscate recovery of the money by the Nigerian government as 70 per cent of the said fund would eventually be transferred to him for his peaceful enjoyment, as the agreement stated.

Nigeria chose secrecy over transparency

The court papers also exposed the Buhari administration double standards in its commitment to the repatriation of the Abacha loots.

Mr Malami has repeatedly and publicly pledged Nigerias cooperation with the U.S. and other international partners as well as its commitment to transparency in the repatriation of Abacha loot. However, court documents in our possession revealed that Nigeria filed an interested party application on February 3, 2020, challenging a ruling of a U.S. District Court obtained by the U.S. government to unseal the confidential 2018 agreement.

In the application which demanded the court to reconsider its decision to unseal the 2018 Agreement, Nigeria through its counsel, Anthony Egbase, argued that unsealing the agreement without reference to the 2003 agreement paints an incomplete and misleading picture and subjects Nigeria to unwarranted prejudice.

The U.S., however, argued that if Nigeria was concerned that the unsealing of the document would paint a misleading picture, it should simply unseal additional documents to correct or supplement the record.

Nigeria also argued that U.S. court had erred in its December 23, 2019 ruling in concluding that there is a need for public access to the documents because it deals with a case that has international significance as the funds were laundered internationally. Mr Egbase argued that the documents are sovereign acts of Nigeria predicated on its official policy on Voluntary Asset Recovery Scheme issued under Presidential Executive Order 008.

But PREMIUM TIMES analysis of the Executive Order 008, which was signed by President Buhari on October 8, 2018, shows that it exclusively deals with tax-related issues. The order grants immunity to Nigerians in default in payment of tax on offshore assets as long as they voluntarily declare their offshore assets in exchange for a one-time levy of 35 per cent on the assets domiciled offshore.

The contentious assets are proceeds of what the U.S. believes to criminal activity (money laundering) and not legitimate assets owned offshore.

Curiously, the Buhari administration also challenged the ruling of the same court for Ibrahim Bagudu to be further deposed by a U.S. prosecutor in relation to the contested funds in Blue Holding.

Nigeria argued that given that the instant civil asset forfeiture implicates the 2003 Agreement, Nigeria cannot provide further assistance to the United States without subjecting itself to renewed liability for breach of the 2003 Agreement.

Accordingly, Nigeria has, through its Attorney General, repeatedly advised the United States of its inability to provide discovery assistance with respect to forfeiture of the Blue Holdings assets. Additionally, Nigeria has repeatedly notified the United States of the impropriety, under Nigerian law, of a foreign sovereign making unilateral contact with any agency of the Nigerian government or citizens of Nigeria on criminal matters or taking witness depositions without recourse to or approval of the Nigerian Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Egbase argued.

But the U.S. argued that Nigeria has lost its right to challenge the ruling of the U.S. court because it was notified and given ample time to respond but chose not to until after the ruling was given.

It also said that Nigerias argument that it could not respond to the application before a ruling was given because the document needed interagency review which took time, was nonsensical. Lawyers to the U.S. government said Nigeria could have applied to the court for an extension of the deadline to respond while waiting for the interagency reviewed to be done, but it did not.

Multiple attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to get the presidency to formally comment has been fruitless.

The best that has so far come from the presidency has been an unsigned comment by an official who refused to be named. The official also tried to shift the blame of the transfer of the $110 million to Obasanjo administration.

Yes, there is a $100 million yet to be resolved which the Obasanjo administration ceded to Senator Abubakar Bagudu, an agreement that is being litigated because the US government itself does not recognize that Obasanjo-Bagudu settlement, the official claimed.
Keep virus away

Why arent evacuees being quarantined for coronavirus in military bases in the Far East? Why not Japan, Okinawa, South Korea or Guam first? Why do they have to be brought to the heart of San Antonio? And why are civilian hospital systems here accepting infected patients?

Why dont the local hospitals tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State Department and the Department of Defense to take care of them in the world-famous Brooke Army Medical Center. In fact, the DOD, in all its press releases about the evacuees around the country, emphasizes it will protect the force and its employees from the virus. So, if the DOD wants no part of the virus, why should civilian facilities in San Antonio?

There is no evidence that Methodist Texsan Hospital is a world-class facility for handling poorly understood high-risk pathogens, like COVID-19. And just how many negative pressure isolation beds are there in San Antonio?

There is evidence that hospital workers in China and Japan are being infected in spite of precautions. COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that should be kept offshore as much as possible, not brought into San Antonio.

Brant S. Mittler

On ExpressNews.com: CDC: Quarantine lifted for first group of coronavirus evacuees at Lackland

Dems fading rainbow

The Republican Party is stereotyped as the selfish party, filled with big-business, Caucasian overlords. Meanwhile, the Democrats are seen as champions of minorities, people of color.

Its ironic how the field of Democratic presidential hopefuls  once a rainbow coalition of ethnicity  was whittled down to a handful of white, rich people.

Alfred Moy Jr.

Dreamers as pawns

Re: Protect Dreamers, Your Turn, Feb. 16:

The Democrats had plenty of opportunity to pass legislation to protect the Dreamers but chose not to when President Barack Obama used executive order instead of congressional legislation to implement DACA.

The current House of Representatives is under the control of Democrats, but they chose to pursue impeachment of President Donald Trump rather than legislation to protect the Dreamers.

No, the Democrats would rather use the Dreamers as a 2020 campaign issue, and that is the problem.

Robert M. Louie
Karnataka Chief Minister B S



Yediyurappa on Monday said he has been invited for the banquet hosted for US President Donald Trump in New Delhi, but is yet to decide on attending it.

"I have been invited, but I have various engagements and work, let's see, I have not yet decided on what to do. It is true that I have got the invitation," he told reporters in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga.

On expectations from the Trump visit, he said, "Let's see, what all agreements happen in two days, President of a powerful and rich country like America visiting is not a normal thing. He (Trump) has said that he personally shares good relationship with PM Modi and has confidence in him...let's wait and see."



Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and a high-level delegation, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for a little less than 36-hour-long trip.

On Tuesday, the US President will meet Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where a banquet will be hosted in his honour.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pete Buttigieg on a picket line with members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 outside the Palms Casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Bernie Sanders dominated in Saturday's Democratic Nevada caucuses, while Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar failed to earn significant support among the state's ample Hispanic and black voters.

Sanders' landslide win was facilitated in large part by his multiracial coalition of supporters.

Both Buttigieg and Klobuchar  each of whom overperformed in states like New Hampshire and Iowa  have long polled poorly among Democratic voters of color.

Their lack of traction among these voters was proved Saturday, laying bare both candidates' failure to connect with key voters and indicating the two could struggle in South Carolina, the next Democratic primary.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont dominated in Saturday's Democratic Nevada caucuses, winning 47% of county-level delegates  27 points more than the runner-up, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Sanders' landslide win was facilitated in large part by his multiracial coalition of supporters, in stark contrast with some of his opponents' overwhelmingly white fan bases.

While former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, placed in the top two with Sanders in both Iowa and New Hampshire, the Midwesterner did significantly worse in Nevada, where he came in third with 14% of county-level delegates. Similarly, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota plummeted from her promising third-place finish in New Hampshire to fifth place with about 4% of county-level delegates in Nevada.

Both Iowa and New Hampshire are over 93% white. In Nevada, however, just 49% of the population is white, while 29% is Hispanic or Latino, 10% is black, and 9% is Asian.

Both Buttigieg and Klobuchar have long polled poorly among voters of color, and that phenomenon was proved Saturday. The former mayor won about 10% of the Hispanic vote, while the senator earned just 4%, according to The Washington Post's entrance polls.

Story continues

They both did even worse among black voters: Buttigieg won just 2% of black voters' support, while Klobuchar secured 3%, according to The Post.

Sanders' strong showing among Hispanic voters in Nevada  he won 51%  reflects national polling that shows him leading among Hispanic voters, who make up about 20% of the Democratic electorate. Meanwhile, Sanders did better than expected among black voters but came up short behind Biden, who won the support of 39% of black caucusgoers to Sanders' 27%.

Nevada accounts for only 36, or 0.9%, of the delegates allocated throughout the nomination process, but it holds disproportionate importance by virtue of being the first state with a significant nonwhite population to express its voting preferences.

These are daunting results for both Buttigieg and Klobuchar entering this weekend's South Carolina primary, where black voters made up more than 60% of the state's 2016 Democratic primary electorate.

For the past several months, Insider has been conducting a recurring SurveyMonkey Audience poll to track the state of the 2020 Democratic primary field. You can download every poll here, down to the individual respondent data. (Read more about how the Insider Democratic primary tracker works here).

Below is Insider's own national polling data asking whether respondents would be satisfied with a given contender as president, which lays bare the issues for Klobuchar and Buttigieg:

how candidates are polling based on race updated 2/24

Ruobing Su/Business Insider

SurveyMonkey Audience polls from a national sample balanced by census data of age and gender. Respondents are incentivized to complete surveys through charitable contributions. Generally speaking, digital polling tends to skew toward people with access to the internet. SurveyMonkey Audience doesn't try to weigh its sample based on race or income.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The charges were filed on the eve of Weinstein's New York trial, so he has yet to appear in downtown LA. At the time of the filing, Lacey explained the timing of the charges. "We were working on investigating those cases. In regard to the victims in this case and other sexual assault cases, it was very challenging to get those victims to open up and tell us what they needed to tell us," she said. "For some, it was very embarrassing - terrifying - and so [we] told them we were just working to get the evidence we need to get to court." Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey. Credit:AP A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office said Weinstein's March 11 New York sentencing will take place before any proceedings initiate in California.

Weinstein has been charged with four counts of sexual assault in Los Angeles County, stemming from accusations brought by a pair of women who say the movie mogul attacked them in hotels in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills in 2013. One of the women is a former model and actress who described Weinstein's alleged assault to the Los Angeles Times in 2017, according to her attorney, David Ring. Loading She said the first assault took place at Mr. C's Beverly Hills hotel in February 2013 after she met Weinstein briefly at the Los Angeles Italia Film, Fashion and Art Fest. Weinstein "became very aggressive and demanding" while asking her to disrobe, the woman previously said. The woman said that she showed Weinstein pictures of her children and begged him to stop.

"He grabbed me by the hair and forced me to do something I did not want to do," she said. In a motion asking a judge to set Weinstein's bail in Los Angeles County at $US5 million ($7.56 million), prosecutors said the woman did not immediately report the assault to police because Weinstein threatened to kill her. She did report the alleged attack to three close confidants in 2013, however, including her priest, law enforcement sources previously told The Times. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance. Credit:AP Just days later, the second accuser said she had a business meeting with Weinstein and another woman at a hotel in West Los Angeles when he convinced them to visit his hotel suite, according to the bail motion. Once upstairs, the victim "unwittingly" followed Weinstein into a bathroom and the other woman closed the door, trapping her inside, court records show. Loading

At that point, Weinstein disrobed and showered briefly before undressing her, according to the motion. Prosecutors accused Weinstein of groping the woman while masturbating, court records show. Weinstein's conviction of sexual assault and rape by a New York jury was considered a milestone verdict for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men. Weinstein was acquitted on the most serious charges that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life. Justice James Burke ordered Weinstein to be held in custody immediately and he was put in handcuffs by officers in court. Officers helped Weinstein unsteadily to his feet before leading him away.

He faces up to 25 years in prison on the sexual assault conviction. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for March 11. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said following the verdict: "Its a new day because Weinstein has finally been held accountable." He praised the jurors. "Your verdict turned a page in our criminal justice system. During the trial, Harvey Weinstein often arrived at court using a walker. Credit:AP "To the survivors: I owe and we owe an immense debt of courage to you," Vance said. The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence, and first-degree rape of Mann. A conviction on predatory sexual assault would have meant the jury had concluded he was a repeat sexual offender.

He was convicted of third-degree rape, which carries a sentence of up to four years in prison. "This trial - and the jurys decision today - marks a new era of justice, not just for the Silence Breakers, who spoke out at great personal risk, but for all survivors of harassment, abuse, and assault at work," said Tina Tchen, the president and chief executive of Times Up, one of the groups that advocated on behalf of women who made allegations. Loading In the minutes after the verdict was read in court, Weinstein was seen talking to his lead lawyer Donna Rotunno. He appeared expressionless. During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a walker. He sometimes leaned on his lead attorney for support. Critics had accused Weinstein of playing up medical problems to win sympathy but Weinstein said he had back injuries.

"He's taken some good acting tips," actress Rose McGowan said at the start of the trial on January 6 while staging a protest near the courthouse along with actress Rosanna Arquette and other Weinstein accusers. Weinstein made his mark with critically acclaimed films such as The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual. Paul Callan, a former New York prosecutor who is not involved in the case, said Weinstein had strong grounds to argue the verdict should be overturned on appeal because of bias, noting that one of the jurors was the author of a forthcoming book on teenage girls and "predatory" older men. During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises to open doors in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

"The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said during opening arguments. Seated at the defence table, Weinstein often appeared impassive, though at times he looked intently at his attorneys when they cross-examined his accusers. 'Jekyll and Hyde' During the many weeks of trial, the prosecution methodically elicited graphic testimony from several accusers, including Haleyi, who said Weinstein invited her to his SoHo home after she had worked on one of his television productions. Mimi Haleyi testified that Harvey Weinstein raped her in his New York home in 2006. Credit:AP

After she arrived, Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally, yanking out her tampon, Haleyi told jurors. A one-time aspiring actress, Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she entered into an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her in 2013. She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character: He was charming in public but often showed terrifying anger when they were alone, Mann said. At one point, she started sobbing uncontrollably on the stand, prompting the judge to end testimony early for the day. Weinstein was charged with assaulting Haleyi and Mann, but prosecutors bolstered their case by calling several other accusers as witnesses.

Annabella Sciorra, centre, gave evidence during the trial. Credit:Bloomberg One of these women, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors Weinstein came into her apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her. Though the accusation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, prosecutors offered it to show Weinstein was a repeat sexual offender. Three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young - testified that they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped. Testimony of "prior bad acts" is generally not allowed in criminal trials, but an exception to the law allowed prosecutors to call these women to show Weinstein had a particular intention or a signature pattern of behaviour.

Legal experts said the women provided powerful evidence that was difficult for the defence to overcome. Dunning testified that the producer groped her in 2004 and offered her movie roles in exchange for three-way sex with him and his assistant, which she refused. Loading Young, a model and actress, testified that the producer trapped her in a hotel bathroom in 2013, masturbated in front of her while groping her breasts, and told her: "This is what all the actresses do to make it."

'Last line of defence' Throughout the case, the defence said regret drove the accusers to take consensual incidents and reframe them as crimes. Weinstein's lawyers zeroed in on friendly messages and ongoing contact between the women and Weinstein. During cross-examination of Haleyi, for example, the defence showed her a message she sent Weinstein signed "lots of love" after her alleged attack. Defence lawyers repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career.
Kohler recently announced the Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet was named one of the CES 2020 Innovation Awards Honorees in the smart home category. This is the third year in a row that the global brand was recognized at the recently held annual international trade event.

Kohler Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet

Products named as honorees scored above the threshold set for their respective product categories. The Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet joins other Kohler products that have won recognition at CES--the Verdera Voice lighted mirror with Amazon Alexa, which was a 2018 Innovation Honoree, and the Sensate Touchless Kitchen Faucet with KOHLER Konnect, a 2019 Best of Innovation winner.

An annual program that celebrates outstanding design, the CES Innovation Awards recognizes outstanding products across 28 categories. A panel of judges consisting of designers, engineers and members of the tech media reviews submissions based on design, functionality, consumer appeal, engineering and how the products compare with competition.

The Numi, Kohlers most advanced intelligent toilet, offers exceptional water efficiency, personalized cleansing and dryer functions, a heated seat and high-quality built-in speakers. The lighting features on Kohlers flagship intelligent toilet can be paired with speakers to create different spa-like environments within a bathroom space. The built-in Amazon Alexa enables simple voice control of Numis features and access to tens of thousands of skills.

KOHLER Konnect features innovative kitchen and bath products combined with quality product design and craftsmanship to deliver comfort, convenience and enjoyment to the home. Personalized features are managed through the KOHLER Konnect application for iOS and Android devices. Powered by the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, KOHLER Konnect offers support in select products for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. The KOHLER Konnect product portfolio is expanding with additional options for the enhanced smart home experience.

The CES Innovation Awards is sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), owner and producer of CES, the worlds largest and most influential technology event. CTA has been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976.

Kohlers Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet was displayed in the Innovation Awards Showcase at CES 2020. The complete list of CES 2020 Innovation Honorees, including product descriptions and photos, can be found at CES.tech/Innovation.

As Kohler Philippines stays true to its commitment to share the experience of luxury in the homes of the Filipinos, the Numi 2.0 is available in the Philippines through drop ship by accredited retailers of Kohler products in the country.
UPPSALA, Sweden, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IAR Systems announces full coverage for the RA Arm Cortex microcontrollers (MCUs) from Renesas Electronics Corporation. The complete development toolchain IAR Embedded Workbench provides powerful code optimizations and comprehensive debugging features in an easy-to-use integrated development environment with excellent worldwide technical support and training.

Renesas' RA MCUs deliver a combination of optimized performance, security, connectivity, peripheral IP, and easy-to-use Flexible Software Package (FSP) to address the next generation of embedded solutions. To support the new family, Renesas has built a comprehensive partner ecosystem to deliver an array of software and hardware building blocks that will work out of the box with RA MCUs, making it easy to develop Internet of Things (IoT) endpoint and edge devices for industrial and building automation, metering, healthcare, and home appliance applications.

"We are excited to extend support for IAR Embedded Workbench on our newest Renesas RA MCU Family," says Roger Wendelken, Senior Vice President, MCU Business Division, Renesas. "IAR Systems is a key ecosystem partner and their tools will help customers maximize the benefits of the RA MCU Family to build the next generation of embedded solutions."

"The embedded industry is moving faster than ever, and developers need to have access to integrated, flexible solutions that provides advanced functionality without compromising performance or quality," says Anders Holmberg, Chief Strategy Officer, IAR Systems, "With the RA Family, Renesas is meeting these demands by making the ecosystem an essential part of the offering. Developers can trust IAR Systems' tools to leverage this technology and provide the integrations they need."

In addition to highly optimizing build tools, the development toolchain IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm offers extensive debugging and analysis possibilities such as complex code and data breakpoints, runtime stack analysis, call stack visualization, code coverage analysis and integrated monitoring of power consumption. Integrated code analysis tools ensure code quality, and for simplified functional safety certification, a pre-certified version of the toolchain is available. In addition, IAR Systems' integrated in-circuit debugging probes offer further capabilities for seamless and flexible development workflows.

Through its technical training program IAR Academy, IAR Systems enables its customers to boost their skills and maximize their productivity by attending a live training or by accessing courses through the recently launched IAR Academy on demand portal.

Support for Renesas RA is available using IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm, from version 8.50. Learn more at IAR Systems' booth at embedded world 2020, Feb 25-27, in Nuremberg, Germany or at www.iar.com/iar-embedded-workbench/tools-for-arm.

Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, Embedded Trust, C-Trust, IAR Connect, C-SPY, C-RUN, C-STAT, IAR Visual State, IAR KickStart Kit, I-jet, I-jet Trace, I-scope, IAR Academy, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

IAR Systems Contacts

AnnaMaria Tahlen

Content & Media Relations Manager

IAR Systems

Tel: +46-18-16-78-00

Email: [email protected]

Tora Fridholm

CMO

IAR Systems

Tel: +46-18-16-78-00

Email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/iar-systems/r/iar-systems-extends-industry-leading-arm-tools-offering-with-support-for-renesas-electronics--ra-fam,c3042894

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Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu Constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ras Mubarak says the Minority's walkout during the 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Akufo-Addo was a protest against bad governance.



He said that their walkout on President Akufo-Addo should not come as a surprise to Ghanaians as it is the normal practice in Parliament to show the worrisome of the Minority with the happenings under the President and his appointees.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Ras Mubarak insisted that the Minority needed to draw the attention of Ghanaians and the international community to see the suppression they are enduring under President Nana Akufo-Addo.



Our walkout is not surprising to us. If you look at what is going on in the country it is worrisome and we need to draw the attention of Ghanaians and the international community to see that President Nana Addo is doing things that will not bring peace to the country, he said.



He added that President Akufo-Addos governance is encouraging corruption and causing destruction to the environment, as well as engaging in activities that undermine the democracy in the country.



You see instances where people who are NDC members are being oppressed . . . we have seen an instance where state security targets individuals who belong to the NDC, he claimed.



He argued that President Akufo-Addos promise to fight corruption in the country has rather gone out of hands to the point where every member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is free to do whatever they want.



The President promised to fight corruption but today corruption has gone out of hand . . . look at the issue of galamsey which he said he was coming to fight . . . his own party members are neck-deep in the galamsey menace to the extent that they are using it as a conduit to finance their political party activities, he stated.



" . . it was an opportunity to draw attention, not just to the Ghanaian public but to the international community who were represented in Parliament," he stressed.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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REDWOOD CITY (BCN)

One 18-year-old woman is dead and another is in the hospital with serious injuries Sunday and facing a DUI charge after a high-speed solo accident early Sunday morning on U.S. Highway 101 near Whipple Avenue in Redwood City, the California Highway Patrol said.

At 3:18 a.m. Sunday, the CHP got the call of a solo vehicle, headed south on 101, having flown off the road "at freeway speed" into a utility pole. The car, an Audi sedan, rolled over, said CHP Officer Dave Morey.

The passenger in the Audi, a San Jose resident, was pronounced dead at the scene, Morey said. The 18-year-old driver, also from San Jose, remained hospitali8zed Sunday afternoon with serious injuries, and will later be booked into the San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of felony DUI, he said.

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PITTSBURGH(BUSINESS WIRE)PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced initiatives to support coronavirus relief efforts in China. The company will donate $143,437 USD (1,000,000 RMB) to the Chinese Red Cross Foundation to assist with mid- to long-term recovery efforts, such as training, mental health assistance or other support for frontline health workers responding to the crisis. The funds also will be used to help vulnerable communities and families recover.

In addition to the corporate donation, PPG has committed to matching donations from its employees globally. The company is also actively seeking opportunities to donate its antibacterial coatings to assist with disease prevention.

PPG has nearly 4,000 employees working at 16 manufacturing sites, eight offices and four technical centers in China.

Our thoughts are with our Chinese colleagues and those impacted as they face the severe coronavirus outbreak, said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and corporate social responsibility. We truly are one global PPG community, and we lend our support through these relief efforts.

PPGs global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $11 million in 2019, supporting hundreds of organizations across 38 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow todays skilled workforce and develop tomorrows innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD

At PPG (NYSE: PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.1 billion in 2019. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

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We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

CATEGORY Global Charitable Contributions

Contacts

PPG Media Contact:



Greta Edgar

Corporate Communications

+1-724-316-7552

edgar@ppg.com

Hunter Lee

Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific

+86 22 6620 6102

hunterlee@ppg.com

www.china.ppg.com
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This article is based on interviews with nearly a dozen people familiar with the administrations knotty relationship with the proposal.

Yucca Mountain, in the desert about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, was conceived as a permanent storage place for the nations radioactive waste, which is currently scattered across dozens of holding sites around the country.

Nationally, Republicans have long favored the proposal, which was developed in the late 1980s and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002. But Nevada politicians of both parties have remained steadfastly opposed to the policy, which is deeply unpopular in the state.

I dont know of a major elected official in Nevada today, or in the last five years or 10 years, for that matter, that hasnt specifically pushed to keep the waste out of the state, Mr. Heller said.

The project was halted by President Barack Obama, partly at the urging of Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada who was the Senate majority leader at the time, but most Republican leaders outside of the state remained supportive. While the plans for Yucca remain law as set under Mr. Bush, Congress has never moved to fund it since.

People close to Mr. Trump, who won the Republican nomination in what amounted to a hostile takeover of the party, say he never favored the idea despite suggesting at the end of the 2016 presidential campaign that he was looking at it. But he also did not care enough to intervene as his previous energy secretary, Rick Perry, supported the measure, and as the Office of Management and Budget listed $120 million in the presidents budget to restart the licensing process of the site. It was listed as one of the administrations priorities.

Two of Mr. Trumps political advisers, Bill Stepien and Justin Clark, flagged Yucca Mountain early on as a political danger zone, particularly if Mr. Trump wanted to try to put Nevada in play in 2020.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Tippecanoe County man is throwing his hat into the ring for the Indiana House of Representatives District 25 seat. Alex Sabol announced his candidacy Sunday afternoon at the Tippecanoe County Democratic headquarters among friends, family and potential future colleagues like Rep. Chris Campbell and Rep Sheila Klinker.

Sabol is advocating for affordable health care, support for education and making Indiana a better place to live and work.

The 2009 Harrison High School valedictorian lived in New York City for several years after graduating from Indiana University with a degree from the Kelley School of Business. He said he's happy to be back with the chance to serve his community.

"I've been thinking about this for years," he said. "I've thought about coming back, really making a difference in my home community and so it's really exciting."

He's going up against incumbent Republican Don Lehe, who was first elected in 2002. Sabol said his goals for District 25 include bringing fresh perspective.

"Really what I saw that our state is in need of a new vision, especially this area is in need of a new vision for what is possible in the state," he said.

Sabol will be on the ticket for the May primary election. District 25 encompasses parts of Clinton and Cass Counties, Eastern Tippecanoe county and portions of White and Carroll Counties.

You can learn more about Sabol at his website or on his Facebook page.

Photo courtesy of Sabol's campaign Facebook page.
BISMARCK, N.D. - A non-profit group that arranges trips for veterans to visit Washington memorials dedicated to them will now have its first honour flight chapter dedicated to area veterans in western North Dakota.

The local chapter, Western North Dakota Honor Flight, announced its start a week ago with Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., in attendance, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The local chapter is the first since the Rough Rider Honor Flight Network ceased in 2011 after operating for two years.

Kathleen Bien, head of Western North Dakota Honor Flight, recalls a moment in 2018 when local veterans who visited Washington, D.C., returned to the Bismarck airport and were greeted by a cheering crowd.

The airport was filled, and the patriotism and the honour and respect they gave to veterans was just awesome, Bien said. That is when I knew I had to do something to continue this.

The group hopes to raise $160,000 through sponsorships, fundraisers, and donations to send about 100 area veterans to the nations capital on a private plane. The two-day trip planned for this fall will be free to the veterans, but they do have to apply to participate in the program.

Bien said the group is prioritizing World War II veterans because of their age.

The projected itinerary includes visits to the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Marine Corps Memorial  commonly known as the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The Honor Flight Network was founded by physician and retired Air Force Capt. Earl Morse in 2004, according to the local chapters website. He came up with the idea to fly veterans to Washington when he realized many were unable to visit the National World War II Memorial that was completed that year.
Islamic Jihad fired a further volley of rockets and mortars from Gaza towards Israel Monday, following a flare-up between the group and the Jewish state that triggered school, road and train closures in southern Israel.

Israel's army said in a statement that 20 "projectiles" had been fired from the Palestinian enclave on Monday, 18 of them intercepted by its air defence systems.

Israeli police images showed that at least one of the projectiles landed in an empty children's playground.

On Sunday, in response to Israel's killing of a militant along the border, Islamic Jihad launched more than 20 rockets from Gaza into Israel.

Israel's military said it responded to the rockets with airstrikes targeting "terror sites" throughout Gaza as well as near the Syrian capital.

The Damascus strike killed two Islamic Jihad fighters and four other Iran-backed militants allied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and the Tehran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Israel rarely confirms responsibility for such strikes, but did so on Sunday, describing the target as a base "used as a hub" for Islamic Jihad activities in Syria.

Israel took a series of precautions amid the rocket fire from Gaza.

The education ministry ordered 65,000 students in towns near Gaza to stay home, postponing exams at universities in Ashkelon, Sderot and Netivot.

The transport ministry cancelled trains between Ashkelon and Beersheba, a major southern city roughly 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Gaza.

The military said Zikim Beach on the Mediterranean Sea just north of Gaza had been closed to visitors.

Sunday's fighting was the most intense between Israel and Islamic Jihad since November, when an Israeli airstrike killed Rasmi Abu Malhous, described as a senior group commander.

That strike also killed nine members of a Palestinian family unrelated to the armed group, and was followed by a three-day conflict that left 35 Palestinians dead and more than 100 wounded, according to official figures.

There were no Israeli fatalities.

Islamic Jihad is allied with Hamas, the Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007.

But it has not accepted the informal truce Hamas has agreed with Israel in exchange for an easing of the crippling blockade on Gaza.

Hamas and Israel last fought a full-scale war in 2014, but smaller flare-ups are relatively common.

The latest escalation with Islamic Jihad came after Israel's military said Sunday it had killed a militant in Gaza who had tried to plant an explosive device near the border fence.

Israel later confirmed that it extracted the militant's body with a bulldozer.

A video emerged later on social media, which was authenticated by AFP, showing a bulldozer approaching a body while a group of young, apparently unarmed men, were trying to retrieve it.

The sound of gunfire is heard and the men ultimately run away as the bulldozer scoops up the body.

Israel's hawkish Defence Minister Naftali Bennett has pursued a policy of retaining the bodies of militants from Gaza as bargaining chips to pressure Hamas, which has held those of two Israeli soldiers since 2014.

Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, speaking before a weekly cabinet meeting, called the bulldozer incident "a heinous crime".

"(Israel's) occupation kills Palestinians in cold blood and with images that should shame humanity, and in violation of international law which Israel breaches day and night," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In 2018, California implemented the California Values Act, which gave special protection to illegal aliens by mandating that California law enforcement agencies cannot cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") thumbed its nose at California and arrested two people in Sonoma County Superior Court.

California has lots of reasons to hang onto its roughly 2.23.5 million illegal immigrants. They provide cheap, easily exploited labor. They swell the state's population, which matters for electors and congresspeople, as well as the distribution of certain federal funds. As illegal aliens are fed into the system, they provide reliable (legal or illegal) Democrat votes. And they make Californians feel virtuous even as they allow corrupt Latin American states to continue exploiting their own citizens and destroying their economies by relying on remittances from people illegally in America.

For these reasons, California enacted the pompously named "California Values Act." Although the act refers to "immigrants," it's obviously intended to affect only illegal aliens because the act's entire purpose is to use the agencies of the state to prevent ICE from gaining access to people illegally in California  including people who have committed crimes in California. This is the type of law that could only come from legislators and other virtue-signalers ensconced in comfortable middle- and upper-middle-class enclaves unaffected by felonies that would never have happened but for open borders and sanctuaries.

Throughout the Obama administration, sanctuary cities and states were able to get away with these policies because the Obama administration, despite Obama's sworn obligation to upload the laws of the United States, approved of open borders. Trump promised to change all that.

During the first three years of his administration, rather disappointingly, Trump was able to have little effect on illegal immigration or on deportation. However, Trump was just getting his ducks in a row. He was hampered by a reluctant Republican Congress, which was superseded by a violently resisting Democrat House. He also had to deal with "resistance" judges who blocked every immigration initiative he made.

Finally, things are changing. Trump was able to squeeze money out of Congress for his wall, and, even more importantly, with help from Mitch McConnell, he's changing the Judiciary:

Great news for the U.S. Constitution! @realDonaldTrump has flipped the 9th Circuit  and some new judges are causing a 'shock wave' https://t.co/WsdBQZsU9q  Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) February 22, 2020

With a Judiciary that believes in interpreting the law, not making it, Trump's administration is able to act in accordance with the Supremacy Clause (Constitution, Art. VI, Clause 2):

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

In other words, when there's a direct conflict between state laws and federal laws, federal laws prevail.

Because the critical mass of judges is no longer deliberately inserting itself as an obstacle between federal laws and illegal aliens, ICE is beginning to carry out its duty as written under the law:

U.S. immigration agents arrested two people at a Northern California courthouse, including a man detained in a hallway on his way to a hearing, flouting a new state law requiring a judicial warrant to make immigration arrests inside such facilities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests Tuesday at Sonoma County Superior Court, prompting an outcry from criminal justice and court officials who said the action undermines local authority and deters immigrants who are in the country illegally from participating in the U.S. justice system. ICE said California's law doesn't supersede federal law and "will not govern the conduct of federal officers acting pursuant to duly-enacted laws passed by Congress that provide the authority to make administrative arrests of removable aliens inside the United States." "Our officers will not have their hands tied by sanctuary rules when enforcing immigration laws to remove criminal aliens from our communities," David Jennings, ICE's field office director in San Francisco, said in the statement.

At long last, in Trump's America, the rule of law matters again. The reliability of law is one of the essential ingredients of a just and successful civilization. In that context, if you don't like the law, you change it through the democratic process, not through illegal and unconstitutional resistance.
WASHINGTON  Congress is poised to make lynching a federal crime for the first time.

The U.S. House is poised to clear legislation on Wednesday and send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Its the same bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker that passed the Senate unanimously a year ago.

Lynching has been used as a pernicious tool of racialized violence, terror, and oppression and is a stain on the soul of our nation," said Booker, D-N.J., the first black elected to the Senate from New Jersey. "While we cannot undue the irrevocable damage of lynching and its pervasive legacy, we can ensure that we as a country make clear that lynching will not be tolerated.

The vote will occur during Black History Month. Booker joined with the two other African Americans in the Senate, California Democrat Kamala Harris and South Carolina Republican Tim Scott, in sponsoring the legislation in their chamber.

The first bill to making lynching a federal crime was introduced in 1900 by Rep. George Henry White, R-N.C., later the founder of Whitesboro, N.J. At the time, White was the only black representative in Congress.

His efforts were backed by residents of New Jersey, who submitted a petition to the House in support of the bill, but the House Judiciary Committee quashed the legislation.

Anti-lynching legislation sponsored by Representative Leonidas Dyer, a white Republican from Missouri, passed the House in 1922 but failed to pass in the Senate.

In all, around 200 anti-lynching bills were introduced from 1882 to 1986, and all failed to clear Congress, according to the findings in the legislation.

According to the NAACP, 3,446 blacks were lynched from 1882 to 1968.

"The passage of this bill will send a strong and clear message to the nation that we will no longer tolerate this bigotry, said the bills chief House sponsor, Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill.

Rush said the legislation will send a strong signal in the face of the violent racism and hatred seen in Charlottesville, Virginia, during the 2017 march of white supremacists and neo-Nazis, and the massacre of 22 people at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart by a gunman warning of an Hispanic invasion.

The original House bill introduced by Rush was named after Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black who was lynched in 1955 after being accused of flirting with a white woman.

The Senate first passed the bill in December 2018, just days before the 115th Congress went out of business. The measure never reached the House floor before time ran out.

Then the Senate acted again early in the 116th Congress, passing the measure by voice vote in February 2019.

This time, there was plenty of time for the House to act.

This legislation is long overdue, but it is never too late to do the right thing and address these gruesome, racially motivated acts of terror that have plagued our nations history," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Six House members from New Jersey were listed as co-sponsors: Reps. Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist.; Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th Dist.; Tom Malinowski, D-7th Dist.; Albio Sires, D-8th Dist.; Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist.; and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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He called on Ukrainians to avoid panic.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk assures that all regions of Ukraine are ready to detect the novel coronavirus, and the relevant services have been mobilized to prevent its possible spread.

"We've defined a group of countries with infection risks, therefore, there is an additional procedure for controlling flights from those countries, namely body temperature screening for passengers at Ukrainian airports. If a person has symptoms of illness, we have each region prepared for this: there are teams of doctors dealing with infectious diseases who know all the protocols," he wrote on Facebook on February 24.

He added that hospitals had already been designated to handle the possible accommodation of potential patients.

Read alsoSome 74% of Ukrainians don't support protests against evacuees from China  poll

The national headquarters operates in Ukraine, which processes updates twice a day to detect possible cases of the coronavirus, he said. Ukraine is also in close contact with the World Health Organization.

According to him, the people who have recently been evacuated from China feel good, and the conditions of their stay in Poltava region are satisfactory.

"Some mobile operators have set up temporary towers at the medical center for comfortable communication between the evacuees and their relatives," he said.

Honcharuk assured that there was no reason for panic and called on Ukrainians not to respond to any provocation.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council said it would inform the public on the daily basis about the health status of the evacuees from China, who have been placed under 14-day observation in Poltava region.

A plane with 45 Ukrainians and 27 foreigners evacuated from China's Wuhan amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus arrived in Ukraine on February 20. The evacuees were then bussed to the town of Novi Sanzhary in Poltava region and accommodated at a local medical center, which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's jurisdiction.
People wearing facemasks as they wait at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan on Jan. 24, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Source: Many Medical Staff Infected at Major Hospital in Wuhan, China, After Treating Coronavirus Patients

A woman connected to a source with knowledge of the situation at a hospital in the city of Wuhan, the coronavirus epicenter, recently told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that many medical staff have become infected after treating patients.

Her source provided a name list of those who are ill.

Jiang is from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. Her family is still there, and knows well the situation in Wuhan University Renmin Hospital, named Hubei General Hospital.

Jiang currently lives outside of China, and had planned to go back to Wuhan on Jan. 24. On Jan. 23, the city government announced a lockdown, whereby all transportation in and out of the city was banned. Jiang had to cancel her flight tickets.

Jiang continues to communicate with her family in Wuhan.

The family, who has connections to the Wuhan University Renmin Hospital, told Jiang that more than 500 medical staff and their relatives who live on the hospital campus have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Outbreak

According to Jiang, the virus outbreak occurred at two campuses of the hospital: the headquarters in Wuchang district, and the eastern campus at Optics Valley in Hongshan district.

On the campus of the headquarters, there are living quarters, which have about 20 residential buildings. This is where the medical staff stay, Jiang said.

As one of the best hospitals in the city, the Wuhan University Renmin Hospital started to receive coronavirus patients in early January.

Since the middle of January, the whole outpatient department of the hospital has been full of patients waiting for treatment. They are sitting and lying around in the corridors and in all rooms, Jiang explained. The hospital is like a coronavirus active zone, and medical staff cant guarantee their safety, although they wear protective suits, goggles, masks, and so on.

In some cases, the medical staff then transmitted the disease to their family members. Jiang has a former classmate who works at the hospital and lives on campus. All six members of my classmates family were infected.

According to Jiang, diagnosed medical staff and their family members are being treated at the top five floors of the hospitals ophthalmology building and the whole surgery building.

Jiang added that authorities have been underreporting the numbers of infections and deaths, as her family and friends have told her that many people died in nearby residential areas.

Tough Situation

Jiang also said that more than 1,500 medical staff work at the headquarters.

But since the outbreak, the hospital has shut down most non-virus-related departments. All the staff at the cardiology and respiratory departments are working to treat virus patients.

But because so many medical staff have been infected [in the past weeks], medical staff from the Sichuan University West China Hospital and hospitals in Xiangtan City of Hunan province have arrived at the hospital and supported the treatment of patients, Jiang said.
Israels third round of elections should provide the country with a normal government and spare it a convoluted and expensive veto-based coalition, incapable of making any important decisions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be participating in the election while under indictment and without immunity, while preparing for his first court hearing, scheduled for two weeks and a day (March 17) after voters decide his fate at the ballot box. If he decides to resign and if some other politician replaces him as head of the Likud, a national unity government could be formed immediately. But this is not likely to happen. Netanyahu will not resign and his party will not depose him, while the Blue and White party cannot form a government or join a coalition with Netanyahu in his current state. His legal situation would prevent him from serving as a minister during the rotation period in which Benny Gantz is prime minister  because, according to Israeli law and court rulings, a minister must resign once he is indicted, whereas a prime minister is only required to resign once he is convicted peremptorily. Furthermore, it is unlikely that Gantz would agree to serve under a prime minister who is required to show up in court every day.

While the message of the Blue and White party  which has focused on a national unity government ever since it was first formed  could switch to support for a national unity government without Netanyahu, that doesnt seem to be a real option right now. Even Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman  with all his talk about a secular, liberal unity government  realizes that there will be no such thing as long as Netanyahu is a part of it, so he has been making do with all sorts of new terms and conditions (such as his refusal to form a government supported by the Arab Joint List). Anyone who takes these terms seriously will see that just by meeting them, it would be impossible to form a new government. The biggest hope now is that Israel's most enigmatic politician (Liberman) will come around and agree to a coalition with the support of the Arab Knesset members, so as to avoid a fourth round of elections.

If Netanyahu does manage to win a right-wing ultra-Orthodox bloc of 61 seats, he will have a narrow government with which he can try to push ahead with moves to expand the influence of religion, grow the settlements and annex parts of the West Bank. If, on the other hand, the center-left Arab-Liberman bloc wins at least as many seats as it won in the September 2019 election, there could be a coalition of about 50 Knesset members, with the outside support of approximately 12 members of the Arab Joint List. Such a government could make significant progress in matters pertaining to religion and state, including the introduction of civil marriage, or at the very least civil partnerships." It could even take important steps in advancing partial advances, if not more, on the diplomatic front. All in all, a narrow government is a sharp tool, while a broad coalition tends to be blunted. As soon as a narrow government focuses on one particular issue or other, it can have far-reaching success. It does not have to be the default option.

Menachem Begins government (1977-1981) was a narrow government without Yigael Yadin and his Dash party, when it began the peace process with Egypt. It was responsible for the most important diplomatic move in the entire history of Israel  with the help of the opposition Labor party  and was very successful at it. A few years later, a narrow right-wing government headed by Yitzhak Shamir (1990-1992) brought Israel to the Madrid Conference, which resulted in another important and ambitious diplomatic development: parallel peace talks between the Israeli delegation and delegations from Syria and Lebanon, as well as a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation, with the Palestinian part receiving regular instructions from Yasser Arafats PLO headquarters in Tunis. Yitzhak Rabins narrow left-wing government (1992-1995) was behind the Oslo Accord that led to peace with Jordan. Ehud Baraks narrow government (1999-2001) was able to get Israel out of Lebanon, while Ariel Sharons narrow government (2003-2006) was responsible for Israels disengagement from the Gaza Strip.

The claim that important diplomatic decisions require broad public consensus makes a lot of sense, but there is very little chance of it happening. In most cases, the very idea of achieving consensus was only valid in hindsight. In polls conducted before Egyptian President Anwar Sadats visit in November 1977, the vast majority of Israelis opposed a withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula. Similarly, it was only in hindsight that a vast majority of Israelis supported the Israeli peace treaty with Egypt, which not only included an Israeli withdrawal from every last inch of Sinai, but also the creation of a demilitarized zone within Israeli territory along the entire border with Egypt. The same was true about opposition to any talks with the PLO before the signing of the Oslo Accord, compared to the vast majority that supported such talks after the official signing ceremony in the White House.

If a narrow government is formed, it can certainly examine all sorts of original ideas  such as the creation of an Israeli-Palestinian confederation as an umbrella for two sovereign and independent states separated by a clear and recognizable border  even if there is no widespread support for such an idea at its inception. It would be based on the understanding that in hindsight such an agreement is assured very widespread support if it leads to full normalization with the Arab and Muslim world.

On the other hand, when it comes to religion and state, there is widespread support in Israel for ideas like civil marriage. Israel is currently the only democracy in the world without such marriages, and where laws pertaining to marriage and divorce are under the exclusive auspices of the religious establishment. It cannot remain that way, especially if the decision is based on a letter sent by Chairman of the Jewish Agency David Ben-Gurion to the ultra-Orthodox International Union of Agudat Yisrael in 1947, before Israel even gained its independence. Under no circumstances should such a letter compel people in the modern State of Israel to live that certain way in 2020.

A narrow liberal government can also take advantage of the political situation that will likely emerge after the upcoming March 2 election to resolve the question of military service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students once and for all. It can do this by amending the Military Service Law and granting the same exemption to men as it grants to women, for reasons of conscience or religion. This would ensure equality in terms of military recruitment, while taking control over such exemptions out of the hands of the yeshiva leaders, who must now confirm that the students actually attend their yeshivas. As a result, the yeshivas will no longer be full of young men who have no real interest in dedicating their lives to study. Even if this change to the law will not result in a large wave of ultra-Orthodox troops serving in the Israel Defense Forces, most of these young men will be able to join the workforce openly and legally, and in doing so, contribute to Israels economic growth.
Akshay Kumar Signs Yet Another Film, To Reunite With Ekta Kapoor
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
The cousin of loathed killer Rowan Baxter says he was an angry and violent child who showed signs of cruelty from a young age.

Alana Hampson lived with Baxter, 42, and his brother in New Zealand when she was a teenager going through foster care.

The 38-year-old, who is now estranged from her family, told Daily Mail Australia her cousin's aggression and contempt for women started when he was a child.

'There was a lot of violence and rough play... Rowan was disrespectful to women and talked dirty to females... He was f***ed in the head,' she said.

Ms Hampson added she didn't 'nothing bad to say' about Baxter's other siblings.

The cousin of loathed killer Rowan Baxter (pictured as a child with his siblings) says he was an angry and violent child who showed signs of cruelty from a young age

Hannah Clarke with Rowan Baxter and their children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey

Baxter burned his estranged wife Hannah Clarke and their three young children alive in their family car in a vicious act of domestic violence before he killed himself at Camp Hill, Brisbane, last week.

Laianah, aged four, Aaliyah, six, and Trey, three, died on the scene. Hannah died in hospital on Wednesday after suffering horrific burns to 97 per cent of her body.

Ms Hampson said her killer cousin showed 'little hints' of cruelty throughout his life.

'He was an angry kid. There was a bit of cruelty there sometimes, little hints throughout his life. He would yell at you to get out of his room or swear at you. Rowan was like that real abrupt kid,' she told news.com.au.

Alana Hampson revealed her cousin Rowan showed 'little hints' of cruelty throughout his life

Her mother, Dorothy Ann Baxter, is the sister of Rowan's father.

Dorothy Ann described her nephew as 'a good boy' who must have 'lost the plot'.

'He's lost the plot. I don't know. He couldn't handle it then one day he just lost it ... But I know he wouldn't do it out of his own mind so he had to be  just lost the plot ... I'm not saying Rowan was good for what he did but people do lose the plot,' she said.

It comes after another cousin on Rowan's mother's side, Sandra Taylor, told Daily Mail Australia he had a 'dangerous sense of possession and entitlement over his wife and children'.

'Rowan believed that women are two things - to be a house cleaner, and to be a prostitute,' the mother-of-one 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.'

She said that while she was 'shaken to the core' upon learning what her cousin had done, she was not surprised.

Rowan Baxter's cousin Sandra Taylor (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia she feared he would murder his estranged wife Hannah Clarke

Baxter is believed to have emotionally abused his ex-wife Hannah Clarke for more than a decade before she took out a violence order against him.

He lost access to his children in February after he breached the order.

Three days before the quadruple murder-suicide, Baxter told a friend he wouldn't do 'anything stupid', the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The pair spoke for two hours as the friend feared Baxter was suicidal after his estranged wife Hannah Clarke took out a Domestic Violence Order against him.

During the conversation Baxter revealed he was devastated that he was not allowed to see his children.

Killer dad Rowan Baxter emotionally abused Hannah Clarke for more than a decade

The children of Hannah Clarke and Rowan Baxter pose together on the beach before they were murdered by their father

Talking about Ms Clarke, he said 'she can do whatever she wants to me but don't take my kids away from me, that's all I've got left in life,' the friend told the newspaper.

The friend also revealed that when they parted ways after the meet-up he warned Baxter not to 'do anything stupid'.

'The last thing I said to him as he was walking away was "mate, don't do anything stupid" and he sort of turned as he was walking away and he just said "no mate, I'm not going to do anything stupid." I was sort of thinking that he might self-harm,' he said.

The friend said that Baxter was suffering extreme depression that drove him to become a 'monster' three days later.

'If someone told me Rowan was capable of that, I would say, no way, not to his kids. He loved his kids more than anything else in the world,' the friend said.

Hannah Clarkes brother Nathaniel Clarke is supported by her dad Lloyd during his speech at the vigil for her and her three children Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three

Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, (center at front) parents to Hannah Clarke, attend a vigil to remember murdered mother, Hannah Clarke and her three children

Meanwhile, more than 1000 mourners gathered at the vigil at Whites Hill State College in Camp Hill on Sunday - just blocks away from the murder scene.

Dressed in pink - Hannah's favourite colour - her father Lloyd Clarke and brother, Nat, thanked the crowd for their support at the vigil on Sunday evening.

'We would have felt lost without all your support,' the distraught father said.

'I don't know how we can repay such kindness.'

He described the past week as the 'hardest of their life'.

Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, parents to Hannah Clarke, break down at a vigil to remember their murdered daughter

Community members laid flowers by crosses bearing the names of Hannah and her children at the vigil

'We may not know you all, but you embraced our family when our whole world collapsed and for that we are genuinely grateful,' he said.

'While dealing with this truly difficult time, my family and I are forever thankful to our neighbours and those who were first on the scene who tried to desperately help Hannah and the children.

'You selflessly and without hesitation did what you could to save them. I don't know how we can repay such kindness, other than to say we will be eternally grateful. You have restored out faith that there are many good and decent people in the world.'

Mr Clarke spoke about his pride over everything his daughter managed to achieve before her life was cut short.

He also reflected on the joy his three grandchildren brought to his life.

Many who addressed the crowd spoke of Hannah's courage and love.


On Monday morning, the Supreme Courts conservative majority escalated its crusade to legalize anti-LGBTQ discrimination under the First Amendment. The court agreed to hear a challenge to a Philadelphia policy that bars the referral of foster children to religious agencies that wont work with same-sex couples. It also announced that it will consider granting religious individuals, groups, and businesses a First Amendment right to exempt themselves from certain laws, like nondiscrimination measures, by citing their religious beliefs. When SCOTUS hears the case next term, it could give people, organizations, and corporations a constitutional right to discriminate when they say their faith demands it.

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That case, Fulton v. Philadelphia, is an ideal vehicle for this assault on LGBTQ rights. In 2018, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Catholic Social Services, a religious foster agency, would not work with same-sex couples. The city had long contracted with the agency to screen and certify potential foster parents. But its contract with Catholic Social Services, pursuant to the citys human rights ordinance, prohibits anti-gay discrimination. Because the agency insisted on discriminating against gay couples, Philadelphia allowed its foster care contract to expire. The city still contracts with Catholic Social Services for other servicesfor instance, it still operates group homes for children who havent found foster parentsand these contracts add up to about $18.5 million. It is only forbidden from screening and certifying families for foster care because it turns away same-sex couples.

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SCOTUS would oblige every city and state to excuse religious people and businesses from laws they dislike.

Philadelphias actions indisputably furthered the guiding principle of family law: the best interest of the child. After all, Catholic Social Services wanted to shrink the pool of potential foster parents by excluding same-sex couples, reducing the odds that children will find loving homes. It is difficult to see how this effort to protect vulnerable kids could be unconstitutional under current law. In 1990s Employment Division v. Smith, the Supreme Court ruled that neutral laws of general applicability do not violate the First Amendment if they burden religious exercise. There is an exception to this rule when government officials target a specific faith or express hostility toward certain beliefs. But there is no evidence that Philadelphia did that here; rather, the city expressed its respect for the agencys sincere religious beliefs. It merely concluded that, under the citys nondiscrimination law, it could not maintain a contract with any agency that rejects same-sex couples.

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Catholic Social Services responded by suing Philadelphia, asking a federal judge to rule that the city violated the free exercise clause and to force it to renew Catholic Social Services foster care contract. The judge sided with Philadelphia, and the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed. Catholic Social Services, the 3rd Circuit wrote, can point to no specific evidence demonstrating that the City acted other than out of a sincere commitment to equality and non-discrimination. If every government effort to enforce nondiscrimination laws against religious entities is construed as ill will against the religious belief itself, then Smith is a dead letter, and the nations civil rights laws might be as well. Catholic Social Services asked the Supreme Court to halt the decision, and it declined in August 2018though Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

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Now that the Supreme Court has taken up the case, Fulton wont simply have disastrous consequences for foster kids. The case also asks the justices to overrule Smith, thereby creating a fundamental right for religious people to ignore laws that happen to restrict free exercise.

This argument has sweeping implications. If the Supreme Court reversed Smith, it would allow anyone to demand a carve-out from laws that go against their religion, unless those laws are narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest. (It will be very difficult to meet this stringent standard.) By writing religious exemptions into the Constitution, SCOTUS would oblige every city and state to excuse religious people and businesses from laws they dislike. LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws like Philadelphias would become optional for those whose faiths condemn same-sex relationships and gender transition. Small businesses and giant corporations alike could deny service to LGBTQ people and discriminate against LGBTQ employees. Hospitals, doctors, and pharmacy employees could refuse to provide contraception. As Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in Smith, any society with this system of freewheeling religious accommodations would be courting anarchy.

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When Scalia wrote Smith in 1990, conservatives typically opposed religious exemptions, in part because the people seeking them often belonged to minority faiths. Smith, for example, sought a right to use peyote during ceremonies at the Native American Church. Over the past 30 years, however, many conservative jurists have come to embrace religious exemptions, because the individuals and corporations requesting them are frequently evangelical Christians who want to discriminate against LGBTQ people and women. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch, as well as Justice Brett Kavanaugh, have all questioned Smith. If they can nab Chief Justice John Roberts vote to kill it, they will open the floodgates to a new era of legalized discrimination.

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If Roberts flinches, the conservative justices have a narrower (though still repugnant) option: They can establish a free speech right for religious foster care agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples. That might sound bizarre, because Catholic Social Services is free to vocally oppose same-sex marriage; it need only accept same-sex applicants to receive a city contract. In fact, as the 3rd Circuit noted, Philadelphia works with religious agencies that oppose same-sex marriage but do not discriminate against same-sex couples.

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But Catholic Social Services argues that Philadelphia actually forced it to speak and act as the government prefers by requiring it to accept gay applicants. It asserts that the city wants to compel the endorsement of ideas that the organization opposesnamely, support for same-sex marriage. This claim is similar to the charge, in Masterpiece Cakeshop, that Colorado forced a baker to endorse same-sex marriage by baking a cake for a same-sex couple. The Supreme Court ducked that question in Masterpiece, perhaps because Justice Anthony Kennedy wasnt willing to embrace it. Now, with Kennedy replaced by Kavanaugh, there may be five votes to hold that the government cant make businesses (including government contractors) endorse nondiscrimination laws by complying with them.

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In case that werent enough, Alito, joined by Thomas and Gorsuch, wrote separately on Monday to profess his desire to force businesses to grant special treatment to religious employees. The Civil Rights Act bars workplace discrimination because of religion, but since 1977s Trans World Airlines v. Hardison, SCOTUS has held that employers need not accommodate a workers religious exercise unless it would be very easy to grant accommodations. Alito wants to overrule that precedent and force employers to accommodate a much broader swath of religious practices. For example, he has suggested that public schools may have to let teachers lead school prayer, even though school-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional. Under Alitos vision of Title VII, companies may also have to let employees refuse to serve certain customerssay, gay people, or women seeking contraception. Government agencies could also be obligated to let officials exempt themselves from specific duties, like clerks who will not provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh have all signed onto at least one opinion doubting Hardison and Smith. Roberts has played his cards close to his chest, though he did sign onto an Alito dissent suggesting that pharmacists cant be required to sell Plan B emergency contraception. It is obvious that all five justices want to force the government to tolerate faith-based discrimination. The key question is how quickly they will move against decades-old precedent.
GREENVILLE, S.C.  Even though South Carolina is a Republican stronghold, the Palmetto State has a pivotal part to play in the Democratic presidential race.

The reasons have to do with timing and demographics, political experts say.

With Sen. Bernie Sanders coming off a commanding win in Nevada, and former Vice President Joe Biden going all-in on the first-in-the-South contest, here are a few reasons why South Carolina looms large in the Democratic primary.

South Carolina a momentum-builder

A total of 54 delegates to the Democratic National Convention will be up for grabs in South Carolina's primary on Feb. 29, making it the largest prize of the party's first four contests.

More importantly, the top candidates in the primary will gain critical momentum going into Super Tuesday on March 3, which will feature Democratic primaries in 14 states, including delegate-rich California and Texas.

Conversely, hope will fade for those who do poorly in South Carolina.

"If you can't win in South Carolina, then you're going to have a problem winning across the country," said state Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson.

After Nevada, Sanders had taken the lead in pledged national delegates, but a commanding win by one of his rivals could vault them ahead.

South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson speaks at a fundraiser Tuesday for Mary Geren, who is running against U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan.

Black voters are key

In South Carolina, the difference between success and failure will come down to winning support from black voters. Nationally, black voters account for about 25 percent of Democratic voters, but they are expected to cast a majority of the ballots in South Carolina's primary.

South Carolina "doesn't look like Iowa and New Hampshire," said Charles Bierbauer, retired dean of the University of South Carolina's College of Information and Communications. He covered five presidential elections for CNN.

"The black vote, which is critical to the Democratic Party, comes into play for the first time," Bierbauer said.

The primary ballot could be the most crowded in state history. A total of 14 candidates met a Dec. 4 deadline but the field is now down to 8.

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Several presidential hopefuls have campaigned in Greenville and other parts of the Upstate during the past several months, fueling interest in this month's primary.

"People are excited. There is a lot of talk about it," said Kate Franch, chairwoman of the Greenville County Democratic Party. "Definitely some voters know who they believe they are voting for, but there is still a good number who are trying to sort it out."

Kate Franch (left), the county chair of the Greenville County Democratic Party, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar stand on stage during the Greenville County Democratic Party's monthly breakfast held at Upstate Circle of Friends Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019.

History shows why South Carolina matters

The state's 2008 and 2016 primaries illustrated South Carolina's importance in the Democratic presidential race.

After finishing third in the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3, 2008, Hillary Clinton rebounded and won the New Hampshire primary.

But later that month, Clinton was swamped in South Carolina by Barack Obama. Obama went on to win 13 of the 23 Super Tuesday contests that year on his way to becoming the nation's first African American president.

South Carolina native John Edwards, who finished third in the state's 2008 primary, dropped out of the race four days later.

In 2016, Clinton turned the tables.

After losing in New Hampshire to Sanders, her resounding victory in South Carolina  where she took 73% of the vote set the stage for Clinton to win seven of 11 Super Tuesday contests. She later became the first woman to claim the party's presidential nomination.

A crucial test for Biden

A victory in the South's first primary would be vital for former Biden, especially if he struggles in Iowa and New Hampshire, said Danielle Vinson, a professor of politics and international affairs at Furman University in Greenville, last month before those races were contested. Biden did in fact stumble, taking third in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire.

"South Carolina may be a way to solidify him or stop any questions that have arisen about him heading into Super Tuesday," Vinson said.

Paige Hill, communications director for Biden's campaign in South Carolina, said the former vice president has a deep fondness for the state that has developed over decades.

"On a personal level, South Carolina is very important to Biden and his family," Hill said. "He has a very long history here, deep relationships and those relationships go beyond campaigning, they go beyond politics."

Steyer spending big

According to polls, the other top-tier candidates in South Carolina are Sanders, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and billionaire Tom Steyer.

Steyer's campaign claims he has momentum in the state, citing an early January poll conducted by Fox News that showed him running second to Biden.

Steyer has spent more than $14 million on ads in South Carolina since mid-November, according to data from Advertising Analytics published by NBC News. His investment dwarfs the $2 million paid by the second-highest spending Democratic candidate in the state, Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

Steyer also has the largest campaign staff in the state, according to Abdul Henderson, his deputy campaign manager for battleground states.

"We've put a tremendous emphasis on our direct-voter contacts and introducing Tom to South Carolinians," Henderson said.

"If we can come in in the top three we will call that a victory," Henderson said.

Vinson said Steyer may need a strong showing in South Carolina to remain viable.

"If he doesn't catch fire in Iowa or New Hampshire, it might be a way to keep him going if he did better than expected here," she said.

Tom Steyer on stage during the CNN/Des Moines Register Democratic Debate on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Sheslow Auditorium on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa.

South Carolina also could turn out to be critical for Sanders and Warren, who each support Medicare for all and other progressive positions.

"If progressives, younger voters coalesce around one, it could be important," she said.

For the rest of the field, a lack of success in South Carolina could foretell that they do "not have much of a path forward," Vinson said.

From left, Tom Steyer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, at the Democratic presidential primary debate on Jan. 14, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Will Democratic primary alter South Carolina's political landscape?

President Donald Trump won about 55 percent of the votes in South Carolina in 2016. He is widely expected to again win the state where Republicans control the governor's mansion, the General Assembly, both U.S. Senate seats and five of seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"All expectations are that in November of 2020 South Carolina is going to go Republican," said Bruce Ransom, a political science professor at Clemson University.

The fact that the state could be a key player in choosing Trump's opponent is "an irony," Ransom said.

While Vinson agreed that the state's presidential vote "is not really in play," Vinson said this month's primary could create energy that might help Democratic candidates in down-ticket races.

"Any time you can get attention focused on Democrats in the state it is good for them," she said. "There are enough people frustrated with Trump, there are new voters, there are the folks who supported Obama in 2012 but kind of sat out 2016. If you can get them back them up and involved as a result of this primary it makes it a little bit easier to get them to the polls in November."

Franch said she hopes the primary will help reverse a dip in the turnout of African American voters in Greenville that has been prevalent for the past decade while also leading to long-term growth for her party in the Upstate.

"This is always about touching voters and helping them see why it is important to be engaged," Franch said.

Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM

This article originally appeared on The Greenville News: South Carolina primary: Why it's a key state for Democratic 2020 hopefuls
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.
Inspired by the work of Instacart shoppers over the last few years, a handful of workers at Target-owned Shipt, a grocery delivery service, are beginning to organize. With the help of two key Instacart shopper-activists, Vanessa Bain and Sarah Clarke, who goes by a pseudonym, Shipt workers are now demanding better wages and the elimination of what some describe as a culture of fear.

"We want to be the first responders," Clarke tells TechCrunch. "Whenever gig workers find out there is a pay cut or some type of issue, they'll feel comfortable coming to us."

In January, Shipt started testing a new pay structure where, instead of basing it on cart size, Shipt takes into account the time it takes to complete and deliver an order. Shipt implemented these changes in Kalamazoo, Mich., San Antonio and Philadelphia. As Gizmodo reported earlier this month, there was some shopper backlash.

Prior to the changes, shoppers had received a $5 flat rate and 7.5% of the total store receipt, one shopper, who asked to remain anonymous, told TechCrunch.

"We are losing money as shoppers at a ridiculous rate," a shopper from Kalamazoo tells TechCrunch. "A very good, close friend of mine told me in the three weeks since the new structure was implemented, she has lost the equivalent of a car payment. It is a lot of money. Our best guestimation is, we're all losing about 30% or more. I did four orders this past weekend and I lost money on every single one."

But Shipt says its goal is to maximize the earning potential for its shoppers and to make sure they get the most value for their time spent. That's why Shipt is testing this new pay structure in certain markets to better account for time spent shopping and delivering orders, Shipt Director of Corporate Communications and Outreach Julie Coop told TechCrunch.

"In this structure, shoppers are guaranteed to make at least the minimum in the pay range shown at the time the order is offered to them," Coop said. "That range is based on the estimated amount of time the order will take to complete. We've seen pay levels remain consistent overall, and in some markets slightly higher. As always, Shipt Shoppers receive 100% of their tips on top of order pay."

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Shipt connected me with Stacy Smith, who shops for Shipt in Kalamazoo, Mich. Smith tells TechCrunch she has no issue with the new policy, saying that she's actually seen a slight increase in her pay. While it was more attractive and economical for her to get bigger orders in the old pay model, the size of the order now doesn't matter.

"I'm now getting a little less pay in larger-size orders and a little bit increase in the middle or smaller orders, which is the abundance of them," Smith says. "If we're not getting paid a little bit more for those smaller to mid-sized orders, that makes sense to me. The big picture is we used to get upset because we had these small or mid-sized orders. But now we get paid a little more for those orders."

At this point, it's not clear how many of Shipt's workers are for or against this new pay structure. Still, a number of workers reached out to Clarke and Bain once the pay structure started rolling out.

"Shipt has been pretty under the radar," Clarke said. "No one is really paying attention to them -- mostly because the workers are scared to speak out."

Willy Solis, who shops for Shipt in the Dallas area, is one of the shoppers who reached out to Clarke.

"I've followed Sarah and Vanessa's work and their efforts over on Instacart, because I'm on that platform as well," Solis tells TechCrunch. "I've been seeing what they've been able to accomplish, so when Sarah asked in our group lounge if anyone is interested in talking, I jumped at it."

Solis says he had been thinking about organizing for some time, but there had been no catalyst for him and other workers to do something. Now, Solis is working with Clarke and Bain through their Gig Workers Collective to figure out their strategy moving forward.

"While I am afraid of being deactivated due to speaking out, I am hopeful Shipt will hear the Shipt shopper community's voice as a collective whole, rather than censoring and ignoring dissenting concerns," he says.

There are two main Facebook groups where Shipt shoppers interact. One is Shipt Shoppers United, which one shopper from Iowa, who asked to remain anonymous, describes as being "a little more real." The group strictly prohibits people from Shipt's corporate team, but it's much smaller in size. This group has just a little over 6,000 members.

The other group is the Shipt Shopper Lounge, which is administered by members from Shipt HQ. This group has more than 100,000 members. It's in this group where Solis says Shipt has created a "cult-like environment" where the company deletes any negative comments in Facebook groups for shoppers and only lets shoppers see "feel-good stories in an attempt to keep up shopper moral."

Solis said his comments have been deleted from the Shipt Shopper Lounge Facebook group and his local Shipt group. This culture of fear, Solis says, leaves some shoppers feeling like they have to take every order, or else they'll be punished in some way, like getting sent low-paying orders or getting deactivated. Or, if they speak out against the company in Facebook groups, some say they fear they'll be deactivated.

"Shopper feedback has been incredibly important to improving the experience we create for our shopper community, members and retail partners," Coop said. "We encourage Shipt Shoppers to share their opinions and feedback about their journey with Shipt, and we offer multiple feedback channels where shoppers are encouraged to speak freely to Shipt about their shopper experience."

But the Iowa-based shopper, for example, referred to the vibe of the group as brainwashing.

"It's almost like it tries to brainwash you into thinking the company can't do anything wrong," the shopper from Iowa says. "They won't let you post negative things about it. If you do there's a good chance you'll be deactivated."

This Iowa shopper says she saw someone question the pay model Shipt is testing, only for that comment to be deleted. Shipt, however, says it only deactivates people based on things like performance issues.

"Shipt does not make deactivation decisions based on shopper feedback that may be critical of Shipt, but is respectful and falls within our guidelines of appropriate actions," Coop said in a statement to TechCrunch. "We do have written agreements with all shoppers that outline possible causes for deactivation including consistent performance issues resulting in a poor customer experience or unlawful behavior."

While the culture and pay practices at Shipt are concerning to Solis, he says what really gets at him is the amount of control he says Shipt tries to exert over him.

"I wake up in the middle of the night scared that I forgot an order and will get deactivated," he said, "That's the type of fear they instill into you. I like being an independent contractor but I am not an independent contractor with Shipt in any sense of the word. The exercise of control and them telling me how to do my work and deliveries -- it is control."

Shipt, for example, requires shoppers to take certain training classes, such as Late Delivery refresher, which is sent to shoppers who have been late 10% of the time on their last 50 orders. If shoppers don't get a perfect score, they risk being disabled from the platform. Here's what the course, which Shipt has designed to take about 15 to 20 minutes, looks like.

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Smith, on the other hand, says she feels like she can truly be independent on Shipt. Smith pointed to how she can make her own schedule determine which orders she wants to take.

"I know people look into things quite a bit and come up with theories," Smith says. "But at the end of the day, there's no way to say Shipt is trying to control this, that and the other. I've never felt controlled by them at all."

Shipt is the latest company in the gig economy to find itself at odds with its workers. Last year marked a turning point among gig workers who deliver for Instacart and DoorDash, as well as people who drive for Uber and Lyft. Between the passage of gig worker protections bill AB 5 and workers at Spin unionizing, gone are the days where workers for these big tech companies can be silenced.

"We do have some headwinds in organizing," Solis says. "The company is active in our groups. We have a lot of resistance from that standpoint so we need different strategies to let people know they can be anonymous and speak out and be heard."
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Playboy Enterprises today announced a corporate repositioning to establish its parent company as PEI Holdings ("Company"). PEI Holdings will become an owner, incubator and investor in multiple global lifestyle brands focused on four consumer categories: Sexual Wellness, Apparel & Accessories, Home & Hospitality and Beauty & Skincare. In addition, the Company will build, buy and invest in product development, marketing and distribution infrastructure to accelerate the growth of its brands.

As part of its effort to expand its direct-to-consumer product sales capabilities, PEI Holdings also today announced the acquisition of Phoenix-based, online intimates retailer Yandy. Coupled with Playboy's long and successful history in the domestic and international licensed consumer products business, the acquisition of Yandy will significantly expand the Company's direct digital audience reach, its e-commerce capabilities and back-end infrastructure.

Yandy has a strong, established, profitable business and an experienced team that is responsible for fulfilling more than 50,000 monthly orders of intimates, sleepwear and accessories to a primarily female, US-based audience.

"Establishing a holding company allows us to take advantage of the tremendous power of the Playboy brand to serve as a platform to launch and nurture other brands," said Ben Kohn, CEO of PEI Holdings and CEO of Playboy Enterprises. "We're excited to partner with the talented Yandy team to continue delivering value to their dedicated consumers and to accelerate the growth of all of our businesses with new shared capabilities."

"We're very proud of Yandy's growth over the past 13 years and consider this partnership with PEI Holdings to be our crowning achievement and a testament to the hard work of all of our colleagues," said Aras Koktas and Jeff Watton, Co-CEOs of Yandy. "We're inspired by our sister company Playboy's Pleasure for All mission and eager to collaborate on growth opportunities across our businesses."

G2 Capital Advisors, LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Yandy Holdings, LLC in the sale process.

ABOUT PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES INC

Playboy, the cornerstone of PEI Holdings, today reaches a wide global audience through a diverse portfolio of consumer products, content, gaming and hospitality offerings. With 97% unaided global brand recognition and nearly 50 million social media fans worldwide, Playboy remains one of the most iconic brands in history. Under its mission of Pleasure for All, the 66-year-old Playboy brand drives more than $3 billion in annual sales at retail across 180 countries.

SOURCE Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 03:11:55|Editor: yan

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FRANKFURT, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A car crashed into a carnival crowd in the western German town of Volkmarsen on Monday afternoon, leaving around 30 people injured, including children, local authorities said.

The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen from Volkmarsen, was arrested on site, and is being treated in hospital for injuries associated with the crash, according to a joint statement by the police of the state of Hesse and the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt.

The investigation is underway and there is no information yet on the motive of the suspect, which could be determined "in all directions", authorities said in the statement.

Around 30 people, including children, were injured as a result of the incident, which happened at 2:45 p.m. local time during a carnival parade. Several were injured seriously, authorities said.

The incident happened amid Rose Monday celebrations, when many cities and towns in west Germany stage carnival parades to mark the peak of Germany's carnival season. The police of Hesse announced on Twitter shortly after the crash that all parades in the state were called off as a precautionary measure.

Volkmarsen is a small town with a population of about 6,800.
President Donald Trump's "America First" worldview has, at times, shaken the foundation of some of the United States' traditional alliances and earned the 45th president the reputation as a disrupter on the world stage.

What makes his approach to India unique is how remarkably consistent he has been in advancing the same core goals of his predecessors in looking to deepen the strategic and symbolic alliance, despite simmering tensions over trade.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks during the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, Aug. 26, 2019. (Carlos Barria/Reuters, FILE)

As Trump touched down in India on Monday, he became the fourth consecutive U.S. president to visit the world's largest democracy. The brief, two-day visit is expected to be heavy on ceremony and light on substance, but is a symbolic display of the close alliance between the two nations.

MORE: 5 things to know about President Trump's trip to India

But it wasn't always the case that relations between the U.S. and India were so warm and American presidents made a point of visiting.

PHOTO: President Bill Clinton, center, and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wave from Hydrabad House in New Delhi, India, March 21, 2000. (T.c. Malhotra/Getty Images, FILE)

President Bill Clinton broke what had been a 22-year drought with a five-day charm offensive in 2000 and opened the door for a new chapter in the U.S.-India relationship at a time when China's ascent made a strategic U.S.-India partnership attractive.

Bruce Riedel of the Brookings Institution organized Clinton's historic visit and compared his welcome to a rock star's.

"The nearest thing I can say to it was it must've been like what it was when The Beatles came to America for the first time. It was just crazy -- enormous crowds everywhere he went -- and this for the man who had just imposed the most intense economic sanctions on India in the history of the bilateral relationship, which were still in place during that visit. The outpouring was enormous," Reidel said.

Ever since, visiting U.S. presidents have come to consistently enjoy India's warm embrace.

"In some ways, American presidents go to India to feel loved," said Tanvi Madan, also of the Brookings Institution.

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It's unbridled affection that President George W. Bush also benefited from when he visited India in 2006.

PHOTO: President George W. Bush delivers a speech at Purana Quila, a 16th century fort, in front of leading Indian businessmen and politicians in New Delhi, March 3, 2006. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

"Even President Bush, who was not considered to be very popular around the world, when he went to India towards the end of his administration, when he was getting criticized in U.S. allies and in other places, his popularity rating was very high and his favorability ratings were very high in India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh then hugged him and told him that, 'All of India loves you.'"

But Bush's visit to India wasn't without its detractors. Thousands of Indians, most of them Muslim, also came out to protest Bush over their opposition to the war in Iraq.

MORE: Trump, who loves a mega-rally, getting one during India trip

Beyond the pomp and protest of Bush's visit, his trip locked in the budding friendship between the two nations as a strategic alliance with the signing of a landmark nuclear agreement by which the U.S. effectively recognized India as a nuclear power.

PHOTO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama during a meeting at Hyderabad House, Jan. 25, 2015, in New Delhi, India. (Mint/Hindustan Times via Getty Images, FILE)

President Barack Obama sought to deepen the U.S.-Indian alliance still further, and in a demonstration of that prioritization, he became the first American president to make the passage twice.

"I am the first American president to come to your country twice. But I predict I will not be the last. Because, as Americans, we believe in the promise of India," Obama said during his 2015 visit.

This report was featured in the Feb. 25 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.

With passage to India, Trump following in footsteps of his predecessors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Egypt also urged the council to protect human rights in conflict zones and to curb racial discrimination against foreigners in European countries

Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Human Rights Ahmed Ihab Gamal El-Din delivered on Monday Egypt's statement before the high-level segment of the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), where he highlighted Egypts efforts in advancing rights and raising the council's attention to a number of issues including the violations against the Palestinian people.

The 43rd HRC session is held from 24 February to 20 March at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ambassador Gamal El-Din asserted that Egypt considers human rights an integral part of its comprehensive development strategy, and that the state and all its institutions abide by the constitution and the rule of the law.

Human rights for us, as it is for any other country with no exceptions, is a continuous, cumulative process in which no one has reached perfection, Gamal El-Din said. So, like everyone else, we strive every day to build on successes and address any shortcomings or challenges.

Gamal El-Din mentioned a number of the steps Egypt has taken in this regard over the past year.

Among those steps was Egypt's submission of five national reports to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' (OHCHR) committees: the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

He added that Egypt is currently working on finalising the rest of the overdue reports during the current year.

Gamal El-Din pointed out that Egypt has witnessed a massive shift in the advancement of citizenship rights and the elimination of discrimination, as well as in reinforcing religious freedoms, fighting extremism, and spreading tolerance.

He mentioned that Egypt has legalised about 1,500 churches and religious services buildings, and that starting the current academic year, a compulsory course on human rights and fighting corruption is being taught at all colleges and higher education institutes.

Ambassador Gamal El-Din raised the councils attention to a number of issues that represent an imminent threat to human rights, including the right to life.

The council must carry out its responsibilities and address the suffering of the Palestinian people and the violations they are subjected to, Gamal El-Din told the council.

Gamal El-Din urged the council to protect human rights in conflict zones like Syria and Yemen, and to sort out the conditions of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

He also urged the council to curb hate speech and racial discrimination, especially in light of the noticeable increase in attacks targeting Muslims and foreigners in many European countries.

Gamal El-Din said that Egypt urges the council to respect the Institution-building package adopted by the member states, and to refrain from negative practices and the increased polarisation that compromises the council's credibility and universality.

The council should not turn into an arena for serving narrow political agendas, exchanging accusations, negative stereotyping of different cultures, and trying to impose debatable notions. Gamal asserted.

The HRC was created by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in March 2006, and it consists of 47 UN member states elected by the UNGA.

The HRC holds at least three sessions per year in March, June and September. Its first ever regular session was in June 2006.

In 2016, Egypt was elected with a majority vote for a three-year stint on the UN Human Rights Council. Its term expired in 2019.

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The gas price in February 2020 will be the lowest since April 2016

Open source

In February 2020, the wholesale price of natural gas for the needs of the population, heat producers and other consumers will amount to 161,5 dollars per one thousand cubic meters. which is 15% less than in January 2019. This was reported by the press service of NJSC Naftogaz-Ukraine.

It is also stated that the new price will be 37% lower than in February 2019, and, accordingly, this will be the lowest wholesale price for the population since April 2016.

Naftogaz noted that the new price was calculated in accordance with a governmental decree and reflected market trends in reducing energy costs, which had been demonstrated by key European energy exchanges.

The government-approved approach to calculating gas prices for consumers is expected to be in place by April 30, 2020.

Naftogaz also specified that the price could fluctuate both in the direction of decrease and increase during this period, depending on the market situation, the balance of supply and demand, as well as weather conditions.

As we reported earlier, Andriy Kobolev, Chairman of Naftogaz-Ukraine's Board stated that the company was ready to discuss the extension of the contract on gas transit with the Russian Federation.

"We are ready to discuss the extension of the contract. We are also ready for this contract to be considered by a new independent unbundled operator. In order to do this, Ukraine needs to complete the implementation of European legislation governing the Ukrainian gas market. And then the conditions for the extension may be better than the conditions that are currently in force. For Ukraine," he stated.
The Supreme Court on Monday decided to take up a matter related to removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh here, on Wednesday in order to enable it to go through a report submitted by the interocutors.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph put the petitions for consideration on February 26.

Senior advocates Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran submitted their report, prepared after efforts made by them to talk to the protesting women over there. They had apparently not been successful in convincing them to shift their venue from protest, as suggested by the top court on the last date of hearing.

The court, however, refused to take their report into record, and also declined to order for handing over a copy to the parties in the case.

Petitioner-advocate Amit Sahni and BJP national executive member Nand Kishore Garg sought a direction to Delhi police to remove the squatters at Shaheen Bagh here, claiming it has caused severe hardships to lakhs of commuters between Delhi and Noida.

The court had on February 17 appointed two advocates as interocutors saying protesters did have a right to right but they cannot block public roads.

The women and children have been sitting on 'dharna' since December 15, in their protest against the CAA-NPR-NRC.


Over 7000 residents from various towns within the Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly, Sunday morning, joined Mr. Kingsley Agyemang, owner and founder of the Kingsley Keep Fit Club to walk for health.



The walk was to sensitize the residents on the need to observe healthy lifestyles and also raise support for calls made by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on obesity.



The walk covered a total of around 6.5 km which was followed by an aerobic activity.



Held at Kyebi, the hometown of President Akufo-Addo, Mr Agyemang said it was to show commitment to the recent concerns raised by him (President) on obesity and we believe our gathering here is to tell Mr. President that we have heard his call and we are ready to abide by it.



Presidents concern



It can be recalled that during the State of the Nation Address last week, President Akufo-Addo expressed concern about the poor eating habits and lack of exercise among citizens which is resulting in an increase in the rate of obesity in the country.

President noted that although his government is tackling obesity to reduce the rate of non-communicable related death, the lifestyle of Ghanaians is still a major problem.



Too many of us are overweight and obesity is an increasing problem even among young people. The food we eat, the mode of cooking and the lack of exercise all now have their great impression on our health, he stated.



Lead researcher



In December last year, the first ever stakeholder engagement on multi-level determinants of obesity in Ghana was held with Mr Agyemang as the Lead Researcher.



His research is being supervised by Professors Subhash Pokhrel, Christina Victor and Associate Professor Nana Kwame Anokye all of the Brunel University.



The workshop, the first of its kind to use a multi-sectoral approach, was to help understand how policymaking on obesity in Ghana happens and who the key actors are.



Addressing the mammoth gathering, Mr Agyemang said although the issues raised by the President is being tackled, living a healthy Lifestyle start with each and everyone.



The call made by His Excellency is a very important one and we must take it serious. I believe as an individual who people look up to, it will not be out of place to ensure that I also do my bit to drum home this message, he said.



Being obese,Mr. Agyemang held, comes with all sorts of risks including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, lower back pain among others.



He was optimistic that by the close of the year, the Kingsley Keep Fit Club will have over 500,000 members.



Touting some of the life changing programmes undertaken by the Keep Fit Club, Mr Agyemang said over 5000 people were registered with the Health Insurance Scheme for free last year December. I believe in having a healthy nation with healthy people, he said.



Call for support



He assured the people that there were a lot of goodies in stock for them. Explaining why he had to back out at the last minute in the Abuakwa South parliamentary primaries, Mr Agyemang said  the interest of the party was paramount to that of an individual and I am because you are.



I call on all of us here to fully throw our support behind Honourable Samuel Atta Akyea who will be leading our great party for this constituency in the next elections, he said to a thunderous applause.



Peace



Using the opportunity to call for peace in the upcoming December 2020 elections, Mr Agyemang asked the people to fully partake in the voters registration to be undertaken by the Electoral Commission on April 25 this year.



Let us all go out there and write our names because without it we will not be able to vote come December 7 2020. It is a very important exercise and as good citizens we cannot afford to not take part, he said.



Good project



Some of the participants said it was a very good programme which must be sustained and held often.



Madam Gladys Ankomah, a 65 year old native of Akoosi, said she was very happy with the initiative and had some advice for Ghanaians.



Of late our lifestyle is not the best to say the least. And I fully support this initiative by Mr Agyemang. He is leading by example, she said.



Another native of Asiakwa, Joana Asabea, a petty trader, said she couldnt have afforded to miss it, describing the exercise as very important.

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.

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MONTREAL - Quebec's education minister has formally apologized to a renowned McGill University ethics professor for removing him from consultations based on false information.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quebec Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge responds to the Opposition during question period Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MONTREAL - Quebec's education minister has formally apologized to a renowned McGill University ethics professor for removing him from consultations based on false information.

Jean-Francois Roberge delivered the apology in a statement Sunday, after several days of mixed messages.

Daniel Weinstock was to speak at a forum on the future of a provincial course on ethics and religious culture, but the Education Department withdrew its invitation Wednesday shortly after the publication of a column that erroneously accused Weinstock of supporting symbolic circumcision on girls.

The Journal de Montreal columnist admitted Friday that his piece was inaccurate but did not apologize, and Weinstock was told by the province he could attend the forum but not as a speaker.

On the sidelines of a conference Friday in Montreal, Roberge said he wished the situation had been handled differently and that he contacted Weinstock to "make amends," but he did not offer an apology, and he stood by his decision to remove him as a speaker.

Roberge described a "cordial" phone discussion with the university professor, but in Le Devoir's Saturday edition, Weinstock, who'd learned of his disinvitation through the media, said he planned to sue the government for damage to his reputation.

Roberge changed his tune on Sunday.

"I would like to offer my sincere apologies to Mr. Daniel Weinstock for having excluded him, as an expert, from the consultation forum on the review of the course on ethics and religious culture," Roberge said in a short statement.

Roberge added the government wants to hear from Weinstock and hopes he will be able to present at a later date.

For his part, Weinstock says in a Facebook post that he knows "apologies in politics are not easy, and I truly appreciate the fact that the minister has made them publicly."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2020.
Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera, who was held in jail for seven months in a case that prompted international concern, was freed on Tuesday after pleading guilty to economic crimes.

Kabendera, a reporter for local and international press outlets, was initially detained for questioning over his citizenship before the charges were upgraded to sedition.

But both lines of enquiry were dropped, and Kabendera was charged in August with tax evasion, money laundering and organised crime.

His detention provoked outrage, with rights groups demanding Kabendera be released and warnings that the case reflected worsening press freedoms under President John Magufuli, who came to power in 2015.

After plea bargaining the count of organised crime was dropped, and Kabendera pleaded guilty to counts of money laundering and failure to pay 173 million shillings ($74,000, 69,000 euros) in taxes.

Kabendera was freed after paying a 250,000 shilling fine for failing to pay taxes, but has to pay another 100 million shillings in fines for money laundering.

The journalist, whose case has been postponed multiple times, with him even being denied release to attend his mother's funeral, said he "appreciates the support of everyone."

"I have gone through difficult times and finally I am free. I did not expect this but I am grateful for all the support," he said.

Defence lawyer Jebra Kambole said the remaining fine would be paid in instalments.

The United States and Britain have voiced concern at the "steady erosion of due process" in Tanzania, citing Kabendera's plight as a case in point.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) -- which has labelled Magufuli a "press freedom predator" -- and Amnesty International, among other rights groups, had demanded Kabendera's immediate release.

Kabendera had written about being stalked and harassed in the years since Magufuli's election.

Magufuli, nicknamed "The Bulldozer", has shut down newspapers, banned opposition rallies, switched off live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions and used the cybercrimes law to jail critics.
US President Donald Trump, seeking re-election, on Monday criticised the Opposition Democratic Party, some 13,000 kilometres away from America in India, and suggested that Senator Bernie Sanders could be his likely rival in the presidential poll in November.

Trump also alleged that the Democratic Party leadership would prevent frontrunner Bernie Sanders from becoming its candidate in the election.

Trump, who is on a 36-hour visit to India commented on the ongoing Democratic Party nomination race and said, "It could go to the convention, it really could."



"They are going to take it away from Crazy Bernie, they are not going to let him win...I actually think he would be tougher than most of the other candidates because he is like me but I have a much bigger base," Trump told reporters as he flew on Air Force One from Ahmedabad to Agra, according to CNN.

Trump's comments on the American political scene came a day after Sanders comfortably won the crucial Nevada Democratic Caucus, giving a big boost to his campaign for the 2020 White House bid.

Trump has nicknamed 78-year-old Sanders as "Crazy Bernie" for his socialist policies.

Earlier in the day, 73-year-old Trump, a Republican, tweeted that he has secured a record 95 per cent approval rating in the Republican Party.

He also took a dig at Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and his Democratic Party rival in the 2016 presidential poll on the victory of Sanders in the Nevada Caucus.

"Are any Democrat operatives, the DNC, or Crooked Hillary Clinton, blaming Russia, Russia, Russia for the Bernie Sanders win in Nevada," Trump tweeted.

"If so I suggest calling Bob Mueller & the 13 Angry Democrats to do a new Mueller Report, Democrat Edition. Bob will get to the bottom of it!"



The president was referring to Mueller, the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who investigated possible Russian ties to the Trump campaign in the 2016 elections.

Trump also attacked Adam Schiff, a Democratic politician serving in the House of Representatives, who took a leading role in impeaching the president by the House.

"Somebody please tell incompetent (thanks for my high poll numbers) & corrupt politician Adam Shifty Schiff to stop leaking Classified information or, even worse, made up information, to the Fake Media," Trump tweeted.

"Someday he will be caught, & that will be a very unpleasant experience!" he added.

Trump also announced that he would be with his friends and supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CAPC) on Saturday in Alexandria city in Virginia. The CAPC is the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world, according to the CAPC website.

During his massive road show in Ahmedabad along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said that he and First Lady Melania have travelled 8,000 miles around the globe to deliver a message to every citizen across India that "America loves India. America respects India. And America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italy's automobile club Aci says it will support Imola and Mugello as the circuits bid to replace the postponed 2020 Chinese GP.

It was already known that Imola had put its hand up to replace Shanghai amid the coronavirus crisis, but now it emerges that Ferrari-owned Mugello is also keen.

"To hold a grand prix in Mugello would be a great opportunity to be on the international stage," said Federico Ignesti, mayor of the Scarperia e San Piero region.

Angelo Sticchi Damiani, who is president of Italy's automobile club Aci, told Tuttomotoriweb.com: "Imola and Mugello have come forward with legitimate aspirations.

"It seems difficult to me that a Formula 1 race can be organised between now and April on tracks that have not hosted it recently, but the Aci will do everything we can to ensure it happens if the conditions are met," he added.

(GMM)
Discount clothing retailer Primark, which trades here as Penneys, has warned that the coronavirus could affect its supply chain and product lines later this year, if delays to factory production in China are prolonged.

Primark sources an assortment of its product from China, but builds inventories ahead of the Chinese new year.

UK conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF), which owns Primark, said because of that, the retailer is stocked for several months and there shouldnt be any short-term impact.

However, it said: If delays to factory production are prolonged, the risk of supply shortages on some lines later this financial year increases.

ABF said it is assessing mitigating strategies for Primark/Penneys product supply, including a step-up in production from existing suppliers in other regions.

Primark expects a 4.2% increase in sales for the first half of its financial year, covering the six months to the end of February.

UK sales are expected to be 3% up on a year-on-year basis.

A large driver of growth will be the eurozone, where combined sales are likely to be up by over 5%.

ABF finance director John Bason said while sales growth has been particularly strong in France, Belgium, and Italy, Ireland is key to Primarks eurozone growth, despite the closure of one store here last year.

A key element of the improvement in the eurozone performance of Primark was an improvement in our trading in Ireland, said Mr Bason.

The one store closure related to a store in Rathfarnham, which was very small and therefore unable to showcase the best of Penneys.

Ireland is the home of Penneys and you should expect a continued development of our presence there.

The likes of Samsung and Apple have already seen their supply chains hit by the coronavirus. Apple is due to miss quarterly revenue targets as iPhone production in China has been impacted.

And, with Wuhan being a large base for the worlds pharmaceutical industry, the supply chains of many of the worlds leading drug firms with facilities in Ireland could still be hit hard.
United States President Donald Trump on Monday said India and America are in discussion for a 'fantastic' trade agreement, which will be among the biggest ever made.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks during the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

Addressing the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, Trump said that both the countries are in the early stages of discussion for an 'incredible' trade agreement to reduce barriers of investments.

"Over the course of my visit, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and I will also discuss our efforts to expand the economic ties between our two countries.

"We will be making a very very major among the biggest ever made trade deals," he said.

"We are in the early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investments, between the US and India and I am optimistic that working together, the prime minister and I can reach a fantastic deal that's good and even great for both of our countries," Trump said, adding the Indian prime minister is a 'very tough' negotiator.

The US President said that commerce between the two nations has increased by more than 40 per cent.

India is now a major market for American exports and the US is New Delhi's largest export market, he said.

Trump added a 'booming' America is a great thing for India and also for the world and 'that's why, we are so happy to announce that we have had the greatest economy ever in the history of the US'.

"In the US, we have proven that the best way to attract jobs and opportunity is to reduce burdens on business, knock down barriers to new investments and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, red tape, regulations and taxes," he said.

Trump added that Prime Minister Modi has already made significant reforms in his country, and the world is looking forward for even more rapid improvement in India's business climate.

"Under his (Modi) leadership, he wants to do and he is doing this at a record pace," Trump added.

The remarks of the US President on trade agreement with India assumed significance as there were expectations of announcement of a deal during his visit.

Officials of both the countries are yet to resolve issues pertaining to politically sensitive agriculture, dairy, data protection and localisation, e-commerce and other sectors.

An official has said that the deal between the two countries should be mutually beneficial and should not compromise India's interest.

According to the official, the US was adding more to its list of demands as trade talks were progressing.

As the US is seeking greater market access for its dairy products, India has conveyed to them that dairy and milk products should not be derived from animals that are fed internal organs, blood meal, or tissues of ruminant origin as it would hurt sentiments of the society at large.

The US also wants greater market access for its farm goods like walnut and apple, removal of price cap on medical devices like coronary stents, significant removal of customs duty on 1,600 cc bikes, making it competitive for likes of Harley Davidson to enhance their footprints in Indian markets, cut on import duties on some information and communication technology products.

The US has also raised concerns over high trade deficit with India.

On the other hand, India is seeking resumption of export incentives by the US, under its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme.

Under this programme, India had earlier exported goods worth $6.5 billion (Rs 45,500 crore). So if the US would resume these incentives, it would seek greater market access equivalent to this amount at least.

Under GSP, India was exporting 1,900 items from sectors like chemicals and engineering. It was rolled back by the US last year.

India is also demanding cut in visa fee for domestic professionals, exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, and greater market access for its products from sectors such as agriculture, automobile, automobile components and engineering.

US President has time and again termed India as a 'tariff king', an allegation strongly opposed by India.

In June last year, India announced a hike in customs duties on as many as 28 US products, including almond, pulses and walnut, in response to higher tariffs imposed by Washington on Indian products like steel and aluminium.

The US has surpassed China to become India's top trading partner, showing greater economic ties between the two countries.

In 2018-19, India's exports to the US stood at $52.4 billion (Rs 3.66 lakh crore) while imports were $35.5 billion (Rs 2.48 lakh crore). Trade deficit dipped from $21.3 billion (Rs 1.49 lakh crore) in 2017-18 to $16.9 billion (Rs 1.18 lakh crore) in 2018-19.

India received foreign direct investment worth $3.13 billion (Rs 21,910 crore) from the US in 2018-19, higher than $2 billion (Rs 14,000 crore) in 2017-18.

Generally in a free trade agreement, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on maximum number of goods traded between them.

Trump said that he is delighted to be joined by dozens of Indian women entrepreneurs who are helping to build India's future.

"They are great and natural entrepreneurs and I just say to the men be very careful, they are really good," he added
This was the sort of place where the socialist senator from Vermont had once been expected to founder: It was jammed with Latinos, African Americans, some white gentrifiers  not the stereotypical college students, grooving to whatever hot band was out busking for Bernie last week. I spoke to military wives and service workers, retirees and small business owners  normal people with real jobs. These voters went overwhelmingly for Sanders, as did the rest of the state; with 70 percent of the vote in, Sanderss support stood at 47 percent, more than 25 points ahead of former vice president Joe Bidens distant second.
SAGINAW, MI - Michigans Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is fining three companies after the state alleged asbestos-related violations during the demolition of a Saginaw factory in 2019.

EGLE issued violation notices to AP Sag, LLC, Messaros Trucking, Inc. and RJ Torching, Inc. after inspecting operations at 2328 E. Genesee Ave. in Saginaw, the site where a former TRW plant was being demolished.

RJ, based in Flint, and Messaros, based in Springfield, Ohio, received nine code violations from the state. The state allegations included not having a contractor supervisor on site, allowing visible emissions and failing to handle asbestos-containing materials properly during multiple steps of demolition, according to EGLE documents.

AP Sag LLC, which owns the facility, is part of Ravenswood, West Virginia-based Applied Partners, Inc. AP Sag had three violations, including failing to estimate the amount of asbestos-containing material on site.

The companies were issued notice of the violations by EGLEs Air Quality Division on Oct. 29, 2019. These violations wont have any long-term impacts on the area, said Jason Wolf, an environmental quality analyst with EGLEs Air Quality Division.

Its really making sure they are a little more aware of the potential risks in a facility this large, Wolf said.

AP Sag and RJ responded and met with staff, agreeing to the terms of EGLEs Consent Order to resolve the alleged violations. RJ will pay a $13,500 fine within 30 days, the documents state. AP Sag will pay $35,000.

Messaros was sent two violation notices, an enforcement notice and a final letter before meeting with staff and agreeing to a consent order, the documents state. It is subject to a $12,000 fine. All of the companies could be fined again for any future violations, according to the orders.

Both orders are now in a 30-day public comment period until March 11, after which they will go into effect for at least 2 years. According to the language of the orders, they are treated as settlements and not admissions of lawbreaking by the companies.

Mark Cenit, a consultant for Applied Partners, said the company wouldnt have signed a settlement that admitted wrongdoing. He said the company found hidden materials while demolishing a powerhouse and did what it should have done if theres an unintended discovery of asbestos: Stop work, have it tested, notify authorities and clean it.

As part of the process, they fine you, Cenit said. Weve had an ongoing discussion with them.

The age of the building and its size sometimes causes issues, he said. General Motors didnt keep detailed documentation of renovations either. The company has accepted the fine, but doesnt agree it deserved it, Cenit said.

We did find the asbestos, and it was cleaned up immediately within three weeks," Cenit said. Its a terrible system... Youre fining me for something GM (did).

The other companies could not be reached for comment.

The defunct TRW plant had a storied history of manufacturing before demolition began in December 2018. Though it was long an automotive plant, it was used to make propeller blades during World War II and tank transmissions during the Korean War, according to previous MLive reporting.

Read more:

Old Chevrolet plant in Saginaw that made bomber propellers during World War II being demolished
"A general facelift is being done," said Kartikeya Sarabhai, a trustee of the organisation. "[But] the beauty of the Ashram is in its simplicity." Sarabhai said that should Trump visit, he was likely to be given a charkha, a traditional spinning wheel used by Gandhi, as well as a copy of his autobiography. "We are also considering gifting a set of [Gandhi's] Three Monkeys, which stress on not seeing, hearing, or speaking evil," Sarabhai added. Preparations have not been without problems. A 9-metre arch by the VIP entrance to the stadium expected to be used by Trump collapsed on Sunday morning due to high winds, police said, though it was quickly repaired. And while there is enthusiasm among many in India for Trump's arrival in the city, others have been angered at the cost - nearly $US12 million for a three-hour visit, according to officials.

'Showy Distraction' "The visit is a low-risk and characteristically showy distraction from domestic controversies" for the populist leaders, Ian Hall, professor at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, and author of the 2019 book Modi and the Reinvention of Indian Foreign Policy, said via email. Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said last week that "tens of thousands" of onlookers and artists showcasing performing arts from different states and territories are expected to greet the President in Ahmedabad. Trump predicted that the crowds in India will make his domestic campaign rallies, typically attended by 10,000 to 20,000 people, "look like peanuts from now on". Trump's visit might boost his appeal among Indian American voters, an emerging voting bloc in the US that has traditionally backed Democrats.

Trump's visit might boost his appeal among Indian American voters, an emerging voting bloc in the US that has traditionally backed Democrats. Trump compared Modi to Elvis Presley last year after "Howdy Modi," a Houston event arranged for the Prime Minister's visit that drew about 50,000 Indian Americans. "Politically I'm sure there's at least a modest dividend to be achieved on that," Richard Rossow, an India expert at the US Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told reporters at a briefing. But India's red-carpet treatment of Trump, which includes the construction of a 500-metre-long wall to hide a slum from view along Trump's motorcade route, as well as a state dinner, belies a simmering trade dispute. Slum residents have criticised the building of a 500-metre-long wall that hides their community and poverty from the Trumps. Credit:Bloomberg While their security and political partnership remains close, the US and India have slapped retaliatory tariffs on each others' imports.

Officials have tried to hammer out a modest trade deal opening up India to US agricultural products and medical devices in return for the restoration of preferential export status that Trump stripped from India in 2019. Chances a deal would be announced soon appeared to dim when US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer scrapped a planned visit to India, according to people familiar with the negotiations. "We're going to India, and we may make a tremendous deal there, or maybe we'll slow it down. We'll do it after the election," Trump said at an event on Thursday in Las Vegas. Indian paramilitary personnel stand guard next to a billboard featuring US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Credit:AP Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Friday said he didn't expect "a big trade component in this visit," and called on India to open its markets to direct foreign investment and the "normal" trading of goods and services.

"I don't expect any details or much progress at all," Kudlow said on Fox News. Rossow said Trump and Modi may announce an agreement on a few narrow trade issues. That could include a reduction of Indian tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a US company Trump has championed. The leaders are expected to deepen their nations' defence ties, with the possible announcement of India's $US2.6 billion purchase of Lockheed Martin naval helicopters and of $US1.8 billion in arms, including air-defence radars and missiles, rifles and other equipment. The US has sought to become a top arms supplier to India, the world's fourth biggest defence spender, and elbow out Russia. Washington has pushed New Delhi, unsuccessfully so far, to cancel a contract worth more than $US5 billion to buy Russia's S-400 air-defence missile system. Citizenship law

Modi's domestic controversies are a potential minefield for both leaders. His new religion-based citizenship law sparked large protests, and his government has lost three consecutive state elections including in the Indian capital. He's also suffered criticism for an attempt to enforce Indian sovereignty over the disputed territory of Kashmir. Loading The Trump administration has had little to say about the law, which allows undocumented immigrants from neighbouring countries to seek citizenship as long as they aren't Muslim. Modi may gain political capital if Trump remains relatively silent on both the law and Kashmir, Hall said. A senior administration official said on Saturday, though, that Trump planned to press Modi on the topic of religious freedom. "Modi will derive a bigger dividend from this trip than Trump, because of the distraction it offers from the domestic controversies, but also because the Indian public simply cares a great deal more about international opinion than its American counterpart," said Hall.
Delhi Police has said that it is looking into allegations of lathi-charge on protestors who were taking out an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) march in Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar on Sunday.

Delhi Police Commissioner (South) Atul Thakur on Sunday said that that the police will look into allegations of lathi-charge adding that the protest march was organised without permission.

"Protesters tried to block traffic at multiple locations. Some of them verbally and physically abused police personnel and pushed female police personnel towards barricades," Thakur said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus infections rose sharply in South Korea, Italy and Iran, sparking fears that it will grow into a pandemic with disruptive and deadly consequences for countries around the world, a report said.

A surge of infections outside mainland China triggered steep falls in Asian share markets and Wall Street stock futures as investors fled to safe havens such as gold. Oil prices tumbled and the Korean won fell to its lowest since August, said the Reuters report.

Outside mainland China where it originated late last year, the outbreak has spread to some 28 other countries and territories, with a death toll of around two dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

Italy sealed off the worst-affected towns and banned public gatherings in much of the north, including halting the carnival in Venice, where there were two cases, to try to contain the biggest outbreak in Europe.

Austria suspended train services over the Alps from Italy for about four hours after two travellers showed symptoms of fever. The train carrying about 300 passengers from Venice, Italy, to Munich in Germany was allowed to continue its journey after the two tested negative for the new coronavirus.

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said a coronavirus task force would meet on Monday to discuss whether to introduce border controls with Italy.

South Korean authorities reported a seventh death and another 161 new cases on Monday, taking the total to 763. Of the new cases, 115 were linked to a church in Daegu.

Seoul raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level on Sunday after the southeastern city and nearby Cheongdo county - where infections surged last week - were designated special care zones.

Iran, which announced its first two cases on Wednesday, said it had confirmed 43 cases and eight deaths. Most of the infections were in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Qom.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan imposed travel and immigration restrictions on Iran.

South Koreas fourth-largest city Daegu grew increasingly isolated as the number of infections there increased rapidly, with Asiana Airlines and Korean Air suspending flights to the city until March 9 and March 28, respectively.

In Europe, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said he would talk with his European counterparts soon to discuss how best to cope with a possible epidemic in Europe, after Italy reported a third death from the flu-like virus and 150 infections, from just three before Friday.

Tonight there is no epidemic in France. But there is a problematic situation at the door, in Italy, that we are watching with great attention, Veran told a news conference.

China reported 409 new cases on the mainland, from 648 a day earlier, taking the total number of infections to 77,150 cases as of February 23. The death toll rose by 150 to 2,592.

At present, the epidemic situation is still severe and complex, and prevention and control work is in the most difficult and critical stage, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.
SAN ANTONIO - By the fall of 2018, when Democrats were promoting a slate of centrist candidates to topple Republicans in Congress, Bernie Sanders was seeing a very different picture.

The Vermont senator and avowed democratic socialist was convinced his most fervent supporters were as energized as ever, ready to rally around the political insurgency flag he planted in 2016. He could keep stoking the deep frustration and mistrust of the political system and attract backers who had felt too disillusioned to bother voting in the past  much like President Donald Trump had on the right.

Sanders, 78, the oldest candidate in the race, also saw his unwavering commitment to universal health care, combating climate change, cancelling student debt, and tuition-free college continuing to excite young people, including Latinos who came to call him Tio (uncle) Bernie.

And, most importantly, he was sure hed have the money, enough consistent financial backing built on mostly small donations made online from around the country, to finish what he started in 2016, rising from an unknown nationally to a credible challenger to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

This time, Sanders movement has a political machine to propel it.

Last time, we really did not know how this would go with our fundraising model, said Jeff Weaver, Sanders senior adviser. It ended up being $240 million, but we had no way of knowing that in the spring of 2015, so we were very slow to staff-up in early states. This time, we did things very differently. We knew we were a front-runner.

Now everyone else knows it, too. Sanders lopsided win Saturday in Nevada caps his remarkable transformation from political insurgent to possibly even a favourite to face off with Trump in November. Both have campaigns built on mobilizing die-hard loyalists but also disaffected voters  even though their politics are polar opposite.

The Trump Democrats are people that got abandoned by the Democrat Party and Bernie was straightforward about that, said Jim Hightower, a populist former Texas agriculture commissioner who endorsed Sanders in 2016 and remains loyal to him.

Sanders impressive campaign bank account has helped keep many others loyal to him as well. He raised nearly $96 million by the end of last year, raked in an additional $25 million in January and has vowed to raise and spend $1 billion to defeat Trump in November. His donors are like a faucet that he can turn on as needed because they contribute in small amounts, with little concern of exceeding federal limits.

That stream of cash has also meant Sanders could build a more professional operation, with longer-range planning and better organizational structure.

His last campaign didnt even have a human resources department, something that allowed multiple accusations of sexual harassment among staff to fester and forced Sanders to apologize before launching his 2020 bid. This time, Sanders has emphasized hiring more women and minorities to top positions, including Faiz Shakir, a Pakistani-American, who is the first Muslim to manage a major presidential campaign.

Its a money advantage that few of his competitors can match.

Beyond money and organization, Sanders has also worked to better frame issues. After he struggled in 2016 with foreign policy, Sanders spent the years between presidential runs giving speeches about Americas place in the world and became an especially vocal critic of U.S. efforts to help Saudi Arabia fight a war against insurgents backed by Iran in Yemen.

He also worked for change within the structure of the national Democratic Party, muscling through rules changes that helped his campaign this time. Superdelegates, mainly elected officials and party leaders, helped Clinton secure the partys nomination four year ago. Sanders supporters helped force a change to limit their influence during the national convention coming up this summer in Milwaukee.

And his campaign drove changes in the way that Iowa reported its caucus results by reporting voters first preference in addition to how many delegates a campaign won. Thats allowed Sanders to crow about edging Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in the popular vote, even though the pair essentially tied in the number of delegates awarded.

One way to put it is the 2016 campaign was compost that the 2020 campaign has grown out of, said Norman Solomon, co-founder of the activist group RootsAction.org and a Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. A lot of campaigns go boom and then go bust after they are over. Bernie is still booming.

It didnt always seem that way. Sanders joined the 2020 race with polling that was largely stable but not overly impressive, showing him among the leaders with former Vice-President Joe Biden, but potentially with less room for growth than newcomers like Buttigieg.

To improve his standing, Sanders began hiring staff in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada far faster than in 2016 when he wasnt well-known and it took a while for people to catch on, said Jane Sanders, the senators wife and close adviser.

They didnt know him throughout all of the country and that hurt, she said. They do now.

Rather than introducing himself to voters, Sanders focused on attracting Iowans who traditionally didnt vote, hiring students who lobbied their classmates. He ultimately won nine of the 13 precincts with more than 20% registered voters under 23.

Sanders also activated volunteers nationwide who supported him in 2016 and began pouring into Iowa as the election neared. By just before caucus night, his campaign said about 1,700 out-of-state volunteers had arrived.

I think a lot of people wanted change in the Obama years and we didnt see enough, said Boyd Walker, a 51-year-old real estate investor who drove from his home in Virginia to volunteer in Iowa for Sanders in the weeks before the caucus. Now were really ready for change.

The campaign also concentrated on 87 satellite caucuses, sites which Sanders supporters had lobbied for and which were designed to make voting more accessible for people unable to attend traditional caucuses  which, in some cases, were college students and minority voters.

The campaign said it built similarly strong racially diverse support in heavily Hispanic Nevada, where Sanders advertised in Spanish-language media and organized more than 30 events in Spanish, including a town hall led by one of his top supporters, New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.

It is attempting to do the same in California and Texas the largest states voting on March 2s Super Tuesday and home to an estimated 13.5 million eligible Hispanic voters. During a Saturday night rally in San Antonio, organizers led the more than 1,500 people in the crowd  some of whom didnt speak even basic Spanish  in cries of Arriba Tio Bernie!

Wooing minorities, especially African American Democrats throughout the South, was something Sanders was largely unable to do against Clinton in 2016. But his top advisers now say Nevada was a preview of their candidates improved appeal with people of colour that can help carry him through not only this years primary but the general election against Trump.

Sanders core message, though, remains an economic one. Hes promising to reduce income inequality, appealing to Americans Sanders sees as most hurt by the current system, working-class people and those under 25  even though they tend to vote in lower numbers.

They are the hardest constituency to get out to vote, Shakir said. Theyve got other things on their mind.

The results so far have been mixed. Sanders vowed to spark unprecedented Iowa caucus turnout and failed. Eight days later he won a New Hampshire primary that featured a record of nearly 300,000 Democratic ballots cast  but that total was inflated by the states voting-age population thats increasing rapidly.

Early in the campaign it seemed that Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was ascendant, and Sanders adjusted. He replaced his state director in New Hampshire and in South Carolina, home to the Souths first primary.

And then there was Sanders heart attack Oct. 1.

With that, I think hes also reassessed the campaign. Similar to when youre looking at your life and looking at a campaign, youre trying to see whats working, whats not, said Shannon Jackson, Sanders New Hampshire state director. It was a great point for us to pivot and really focus on various parts of the campaign that can really hopefully lead us to victory.

Indeed, Sanders was largely able to rebound not by overhauling his campaign, but by simply staying the same. Sanders top policy advisers say he focuses on making big ideas relatable to people who have felt left out of the political process.

One area the campaign had hoped to stress more this time compared to his 2016 run was Sanders personal side. In his announcement speech last March in Brooklyn, the senator spoke about growing up in a three-and-a-half room rent-controlled apartment nearby. In San Antonio on Saturday night, Sanders told a crowd about 150 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border that he understood the immigrant experience, speaking at length about his father arriving penniless in the U.S. from Poland.

While Sanders has made an undeniable connection with his voters, he hasnt done it by revealing much about himself, something he acknowledged in an interview that aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday.

Im a kind of  private person in a sense, he said. And ... you know, Im not particularly anxious to tell the world about everything personal in my life.

The higher he rises, though, the harder that may become.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) rescued 11 Kenyans and arrested two human trafficking suspects in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

Acting on a tip-off from members of the public, the detectives based in Pangani on Sunday went to the said location where they found two foreign nationals in one room.

Following a tip off from the members of the public that there were several people locked in a single room at Ushirika Estate within Eastleigh, @DCI_Kenya detectives based at Pangani proceeded to the said location where in one room they found two foreign nationals namely Thabit Hanni Yaseen Radman and Faren Yassin Radman, said the DCI in a statement.

A further search in the adjacent room believed to have been rented by the suspects resulted in the rescue of 11 Kenyans aged between 23-30 years.

Upon interrogation, detectives established that the foreigners were allegedly recruiting the young women for unspecified jobs in the Middle East.

The two suspects are expected to be arraigned on Monday as investigations continue.
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The air strike in the Adeliyah region outside Damascus targeted what the Israeli military called 'a hub of Islamic Jihads activity in Syria'

Jerusalem/Gaza: Israeli fighter jets launched air strikes on suspected Islamic Jihad positions in Syria, the Israeli military said on Monday, after the militant group and Israel exchanged rockets and air strikes around Gaza.

An Israeli military statement said its forces had struck Islamic Jihad terror targets south of Damascus in addition to dozens of Islamic Jihad targets throughout the Gaza Strip.

The air strike in the Adeliyah region outside Damascus targeted what the Israeli military called a hub of Islamic Jihads activity in Syria, including the research and development of weapons.

The Israeli announcement came shortly after Syrian state media said its air defences had intercepted hostile targets over the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The strike escalated the latest round of hostilities, which began around dawn on Sunday, when, Israel said, its troops killed an Islamic Jihad member who was trying to plant explosives near Israels border fence with the Gaza Strip.

Video footage shot by a Gaza photographer and widely posted on social media showed what appeared to be the lifeless body of an Islamic Jihad militant dangling from an Israeli military bulldozer as it removed the corpse.

Palestinian health officials and other onlookers said two other Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire directed at a group of people who had approached the area and tried to recover the body.

The images caused an uproar in Gaza, with many social media commentators calling for retaliation. Islamic Jihad fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza into Israel, setting off air-raid sirens in communities such as Ashkelon. Israel hit back with a series of air strikes in Gaza.

The rockets sent residents of southern Israel running for shelters. Some of the rocket fire was intercepted by Israeli aerial missile defences, and there were no reports of any Israelis injured.

The Israeli military said that among the dozens of targets struck in Gaza were underground infrastructure and compounds in Rafah that had been used to store raw material used for manufacturing rockets.

Shortly before midnight on Sunday, the Syrian state news agency SANA quoted a military source saying that Israeli planes had entered Syrian airspace and targeted areas around Damascus with a wave of guided missiles.

Syrian state-run al-Ikhbariya TV aired footage of what it said were explosions set off in the Damascus night sky by the air defence system shooting down missiles.

The Syrian military source said most missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets and that the aftermath of the strike was being examined. Israel says it has carried out hundreds of strikes against targets in Syria in recent years.

In November, Islamic Jihad said Israel had targeted the house of one of its officials in Damascus, killing one of his sons.
Dubai: The Iran government on Monday confirmed that 12 people had died nationwide from the coronavirus, but rejected claims of a much higher death toll by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the epicentre of the virus in the country.

The conflicting reports raised questions about the Iranian government's transparency concerning the scale of the outbreak.

Five neighbouring countries reported their first cases of the virus, with those infected all having links to Iran, including direct travel from a city where authorities have not even reported a confirmed case.

Iran's Health Ministry said the total number of infections have risen to 61 while deaths stood at 12. But a lawmaker from Qom, Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, was quoted by the semi-official ILNA news agency as saying that the death toll was 50.

Even with the lower toll of 12, the number of deaths compared to the number of confirmed infections from the virus is higher in Iran than in any other country, including China and South Korea, where the outbreak is far more widespread.

The World Health Organization said last week that in 2% of infected cases, the virus has been fatal. In Iran, according to the Health Ministry's figures, the death toll represents nearly 20 per cent of total infections.

There are concerns that clusters of the new coronavirus in Iran, as well as in Italy and South Korea, could signal a serious new stage in its global spread.

Authorities in Iraq and Afghanistan, which closed their borders with Iran, announced their first confirmed coronavirus cases on Monday. Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman also announced their first cases. In all five countries, the infected patients had links with Iran.

Farahani, the lawmaker, said the 50 deaths in Qom date back to Feb. 13. Iran first officially reported cases of the virus and its first deaths on Feb. 19.

He did not provide supporting evidence but said more than 250 people are quarantined in Qom, which is known for its Shiite seminaries that attract students from across Iran and other countries. Schools there have been closed.

I think the performance of the administration in controlling the virus has not been successful, Farahani said, referring to the government of President Hassan Rouhani.

His comments represent the most public criticism levied yet against the government for its handling of the virus, which originated in China in December.

None of the nurses have access to proper protective gear, Farahani said, adding that some health care specialists had left the city.

So far, I have not seen any particular action to confront corona by the administration." He spoke following a session in parliament in Tehran. His comments, first published by ILNA, were later carried by other news agencies in Iran.

While such harsh criticism is rare in the country, it reflects deep-seated public mistrust of the government, particularly since a Ukrainian passenger jet was shot down by Iran on January 8, killing 176 on board amid heightened tensions with the U.S.

Iranian government officials at first tried to conceal the cause of the crash before acknowledging that Revolutionary Guard forces had shot it down, mistaking it for an enemy target.

Health Ministry spokesman Iraj Harirchi rejected the lawmaker's comments, but said about 900 other suspected cases are being tested.
A group of more than 400 doctors and other health professionals including former Australian of the year Fiona Stanley have swung behind a campaign to force $50 billion superannuation fund HESTA to divest itself of fossil fuel stocks.

Professor Stanley, an acclaimed epidemiologist, and Professor Judith Savage, Dr Tim Woodruff, Dr Simon Judkins and Dr Tilman Ruff are among the notable health professionals calling on HESTA to divest itself of shares in 19 fossil fuel producers with business models the group argues are inconsistent with the Paris climate agreement seeking to limit emissions.

HESTA has more than 840,000 members largely working in the medical sector. The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald revealed last month that it was one of five major super funds to have billions of dollars invested in coal companies and other fossil fuel producers.

Its investments include Coal India, a company that boasts of being the "single largest coal producer in the world", operating 83 mines and producing 83 per cent of India's coal output.
Vernon Madison, one of the longest-serving inmates on Alabamas Death Row, died of natural causes over the weekend.

The Alabama Department of Corrections confirmed his death on Monday. The prison system confirmed Madison died Saturday at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, where Madison was housed along with most of the 175 other inmates awaiting execution. An autopsy is pending but no foul play was suspected, a prison system spokesperson said Monday.

Madison, 69, has been on death row for more than 30 years after being convicted in the April 1985 of killing Mobile police Cpl. Julius Schulte. He was set to die by lethal injection twice, but escaped execution via a U.S. Supreme Court order each time.

The last time Madison was set to die was in January 2018. The U.S. Supreme Courts order late that night halted the execution, and the nations high court heard the case in Washington, D.C. later that year. Madison argued in the last years of his life that he should not be executed because he couldnt remember the crime he was being put to death for committing.

In a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018, Madisons attorneys at the Equal Justice Initiative claimed Madison suffered from dementia, had two strokes, brain injuries, a documented loss of IQ and an MRI that showed substantial brain damage.

In February 2019, the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 in favor of Madison, ordering a state court hold a hearing to determine whether Madison was so affected by dementia that he cant be executed. That hearing would have only happened if the Alabama Attorney Generals Office obtained a new execution date, which the office had not at the time of Madisons death.

The 2018 filing from Madisons attorneys said the high court should address the substantial question of whether executing Mr. Madison, whose severe cognitive dysfunction leaves him without memory of his commission of the capital offense or ability to understand the circumstances of his scheduled execution, violates evolving standards of decency and the Eighth Amendments prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment."

It is undisputed that Mr. Madison suffers from vascular dementia as a result of multiple serious strokes in the last two years and no longer has a memory of the commission of the crime for which he is to be executed, according to the EJI filing. His mind and body are failing: he suffers from encephalomacia (dead brain tissue), small vessel ischemia, speaks in a dysarthric or slurred manner, is legally blind, can no longer walk independently, and has urinary incontinence as a consequence of damage to his brain.

Madison was 34 when he was charged Schultes death, who was responding to a domestic disturbance call. Madison also was charged with shooting the woman he lived with at the time, 37-year-old Cheryl Ann Greene. She survived her injuries.

According to court records filed by the Alabama Attorney General, here's a police account of what happened that night: Madison's neighbor's had called police, and Schulte was assigned to protect Greene and her 11-year-old daughter as Madison moved out of their house. After pretending to leave the property, Madison retrieved a pistol, crept behind the police car Schulte was sitting in, and fired two shots into the back of the officer's head. After shooting Schulte, Madison then shot Greene as she tried to flee. There were three eye witnesses.

Madison's first trial took place in September 1985. He was convicted, but a state appellate court sent the case back for a violation involving race-based jury selection.

His second trial took place in 1990. Prosecutors presented a similar case, and defense attorneys again argued that Madison suffered from a mental illness. They did not dispute the fact that Madison shot Schulte, but said he did not know that Schulte - dressed in plain clothes and driving an unmarked police cruiser - was a police officer.

He was again convicted, and a jury recommended a death sentence by a 10-2 vote. An appellate court again sent the case back to Mobile County for a retrial, this time based on improper testimony from an expert witness for the prosecution.

His third and final trial took place in April 1994. He was convicted, and the jury recommended a life sentence after both Madison and his mother, Aldonia McMillan, asked for mercy. Mobile County Circuit Judge Ferrill McRae sentenced Madison to death-- this time overriding the jurys recommendation.

Madison is the fourth longest-serving-inmate on death row in Alabama. The three men who have been on death row longer than Madison are Arthur Giles, William Bush, and Harry Nicks.
A carer who stole 41,000 of inheritance money from a grieving pensioner whose sons were shot dead has been given a suspended sentence on condition that she pay back the victim in full.

In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Melanie Greally gave Laura Pennick (aged 33) a three-year suspended sentence on condition that she continue putting aside 100 a week to repay Marie McNally the stolen inheritance money.

A total of 20,500 has already been paid over and it is estimated that it will take Pennick a further four years to fully re-reimburse the woman.

The judge said she was prepared to give Pennick extra time after Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, submitted that Ms McNally wanted all of her money back.

In November 2016, Judge Greally put the matter back so that Pennick could save 100 a week for her victim.

At that sentence hearing, Ms McNally jumped to her feet to ask Judge Greally for permission to speak, saying she was bursting to say something.

She took advantage of me when my sons were shot, Ms McNally told the court. She robbed me of every penny I had. She took that money from me when I was sick. She's a liar.

Mother-of-two Pennick, with an address in Bride Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to thefts totalling 41,935 from Ms McNally between January 2010 and December 2012.

The court previously heard that Pennick befriended Ms McNally when she was living two doors away from her in Finglas. Ms McNally's two sons had been killed and she was in ill health at the time.

Ms McNallys son, Alan, was shot dead in the Cappagh Nua pub in Finglas, North Dublin in 2012, three years after his older brother Graham was killed.

Pennick became Ms McNally's unofficial carer and started collecting her pension and paying her bills. She had access to Ms McNally's ATM cards and two bank accounts, including one which contained Ms McNally's inheritance from the sale of her late mother's house.

Garda Colin Rourke said Pennick made a number of withdrawals ranging from very small amounts up to 600. She spent the money on home improvements, fashion purchases, home furnishings, home appliances and holidays, he said.

When questioned by gardai following Ms McNally's discovery of the loss, Pennick said she had financial worries of her own and needed to do it. Damien Colgan SC, defending, said Pennick owed money at the time to individuals who made real threats against her.

She has 29 previous convictions including five theft convictions. One of these involved the theft of 1000 from her previous employer, JD Sports.
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Ethylene Propylene Global Market Report 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global Ethylene Propylene market was worth $9.82 billion in 2019. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% and reach $14.12 billion by 2023.



The Ethylene Propylene market has been geographically segmented into North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, South America and Middle East & Africa. In 2019, Asia Pacific accounts for around 68% of the market.



The Ethylene Propylene market covered in this report is segmented by type into solution polymerization, suspension polymerization. It is also segmented by appication into automotive, building & construction, plastic modification, lubricant additive, wires & cables, tires & tubes.



Use of Ethylene Propylene across various industries contributes to the growth of the ethylene propylene market. In the automotive industry, EPDM products bonds well with metals by providing a well-built barrier against the environment. EPDM possesses properties such as heat resistance, abrasion resistance, oil swell resistance, flame retardance, oxidation, ozone and weather aging due to their stable, saturated polymer backbone structure. Companies such as BRP manufacturing is providing EPDM for automotive industries that include under-the-hood, cabin pressure equalizing assemblies, interior trim, and striker plate blinds. Thus, the usage of EPDM in different industries is contributing to the EPDM market growth.



Release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while manufacturing ethylene propylene causes environmental pollution, which is challenging the EPDM market growth. VOCs consist of different chemicals that shows adverse effects on human health as well as the environment as they release fine particulates in the atmosphere, therefore results in the formation of smog and reduced visibility. For instance, to avoid harmful emission of VOC, the Hong Kong government has implemented various regulations such as products exceeding normal emission of VOCs are not allowed in the country. Thus, the increased release of VOC from producing ethylene propylene is limiting its market growth.



The increasing demand for ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber produced from bio-based feedstock acts as a key trend driving the growth of the EPDM market. Renewable EPDM rubber uses raw materials such as sugar and glycerin to replace traditional feedstock such as isoprene and butadiene in synthetic rubber production to reduce greenhouse emissions and to achieve sustainability. For instance, Keltan, a Netherlands based company, produced the first commercial bio-based feedstock KELTAN Eco based on renewable raw materials. Therefore, renewable EPDM rubber is expected to increase the market share of the EPDM market.



Major players in the market are The Dow Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Johns Manville, Inc., Kumho Polychem, Lanxess AG, Lion Elastomers, LLC, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., SK Global Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Versalis S.p.A.



Reasons to Purchase

Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies.

Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.

Identify growth segments for investment.

Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.

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Benchmark performance against key competitors.

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Scope

Markets Covered: 1) By Type: Solution Polymerization; Suspension Polymerization 2) By Application: Automotive; Building & Construction; Plastic Modification; Lubricant Additive; Wires & Cables; Tires & Tubes

Companies Mentioned: The Dow Chemical Company; Exxon Mobil Corporation; Johns Manville, Inc.; KUMHO POLYCHEM; Lanxess AG

Countries: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, UK, USA and Australia

Regions: Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

Time series: Five years historic and forecast.

Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, per capita expenditure.

Data segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.

Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Ethylene Propylene Market Characteristics



3. Ethylene Propylene Market Size And Growth

3.1. Global Ethylene Propylene Historic Market, 2015 - 2019, $ Billion

3.1.1. Drivers Of The Market

3.1.2. Restraints On The Market

3.2. Global Ethylene Propylene Forecast Market, 2019 - 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

3.2.1. Drivers Of The Market

3.2.2. Restraints On the Market



4. Ethylene Propylene Market Segmentation

4.1. Global Ethylene Propylene Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Solution Polymerization

Suspension Polymerization

4.2. Global Ethylene Propylene Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Automotive

Building & Construction

Plastic Modification

Lubricant Additive

Wires & Cables

Tires & Tubes

5. Ethylene Propylene Market Regional And Country Analysis

5.1. Global Ethylene Propylene Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2. Global Ethylene Propylene Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion



Companies Mentioned



The Dow Chemical Company

Exxon Mobil Corporation

Johns Manville, Inc.

KUMHO POLYCHEM

Lanxess AG

Lion Elastomers, LLC

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

SK Global Chemical Co., Ltd.

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

Versalis S.p.A.

JSR Corporation

SABIC

Eni (Polimeri Europa)

SSME

Jilin Xingyun Chemical

Lion Copolymer LLC

PetroChina Company Limited

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim

BASF SE (Germany)

China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (China)

PolyOne Corporation (The U.S.)

Carlisle Companies Inc.

OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim

Rubber Engineering & Development Company (REDCO)

Firestone Building Products Company, LLC

Warco Biltrite



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kvwtlg

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
RICHMOND -- Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator who solidified his front-runner status for the Democratic presidential nomination Saturday by winning the Nevada caucuses, will campaign Thursday in Richmond, ahead of Super Tuesday.

Sanders will hold a rally at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Arthur Ashe Junior Athletic Center, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.

The rally is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. Entrance will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

On Saturday  the day of the South Carolina primary  Sanders will return to Virginia and hold a 4 p.m. rally in Leesburg at West Belmont Place at the National Conference Center.

He then heads to Virginia Beach for an 8 p.m. rally at the Virginia Wesleyan University Convocation Hall.

Virginia is one of 14 states voting March 3 on Super Tuesday. In Virginia, 124 delegates are at stake.

Sanders and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg were tied for the lead in Virginia at 22% in a poll that Monmouth University released last week, with former Vice President Joe Biden at 18%, followed by former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 11% and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota at 9%.

Buttigieg, campaigning Sunday in Arlington, asserted that he and not Sanders is the candidate to unite the country.

Sanders vied with Buttigieg for the top spots in Iowa and New Hampshire before easily winning in Nevada.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  The province of Bulacans flooding woes may be finally over soon as the 1 billion dredging and expansion project on Tullahan River is on the way.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) launched on Sunday the Tullahan-Tinajeros River System dredging project at the Navotas Centennial Park, where the 36.4-km Tullahan River drains into the Manila Bay.

This project is a dredging and expansion initiative to address the problems of the Tullahan River, said SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang in a statement. First, we will take out the garbage, and then we will deepen the river so water can move more freely to the Manila Bay.

Ang explained that the river acts as a spillway from Angat and Ipo dams and is supposed to drain excess water into the Manila Bay.

However, the pollution buildup in the river, which made it clogged and narrow, resulted in flooding in low-lying areas like Bulacan province.

The dredging project is also expected to maintain the Manila Bay rehabilitation.

The project will use brand new dredging equipment from Japan, including backhoes with barges, 55-tonner cranes also with barges, tugboats and dump trucks.

For our part, we assure you, this will not be a one-time project," Ang said. "We will also do continuous yearly maintenance, and the dredging equipment we have bought will not be removed here anymore."
(Alliance News) - CloudCall Group PLC said it has secured a three-year contract to provide integrated telephony services to Vaco employees.

The communications software provider said it will provide the service to over a thousand of Vaco's employees in quarterly tranches over the next three years, with revenue realised expected to be spread throughout 2020 and into 2021.

Vaco, which is based in Tennessee, is a global recruitment firm with annual revenue of over USD750 million.

Cloudcall noted the contract win is an important one, adding it remains confident in achieving its outlook for 2020.

"I'm delighted that this large, well-respected talent company selected CloudCall. It's a testament to the quality of our technology, service and the depth of our integration. We very much look forward to working with Vaco, together with our partner Bullhorn, to collectively support the firm achieve its business goals and facilitate growth," said CloudCall Chief Executive Simon Cleaver.

Bullhorn Inc is a customer relationship management software firm that operates across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

CloudCall shares were trading 1.4% higher at 94.78 pence each on Monday afternoon in London.

By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:19:06|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian government announced on Monday that a meeting of foreign and water ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River will be held on Feb. 27-28 in Washington.

In a statement, the Egyptian cabinet said the Supreme Committee for Nile Water, headed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, held a meeting on Monday to review the latest developments of the GERD issue in preparation for the Washington meeting which would also be attended by the World Bank chief.

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have held a series of meetings in Washington and their capitals since a meeting at the level of the ministers of foreign affairs and ministers of water resources on Nov. 6 last year.

The U.S.-sponsored tripartite ministerial meetings, which were also attended by representatives of the World Bank, discussed the rules regulating the filling and operation of GERD.

The talks, which came after years of fruitless negotiations, have led to a consensus on a timetable and a plan for filling the dam, with a final agreement expected to be concluded and signed later this month.

Ethiopia, an upstream Nile Basin country, 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.

But Sudan, also a downstream country, eyes future benefits from the GERD construction despite Egypt's concerns, as the GERD is expected to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity and become Africa's largest hydropower dam upon completion.

While Ethiopia wants to fill the reservoir with a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters in five to six years, Egypt seeks to prolong the period to avoid the possibility of a water shortage.
When Disney dropped the surprise news that its popular streaming service would debut in Europe a week earlier than planned, the company was quickly pressed on whether it would offer any sign-up incentives like it did ahead of its US launch. After a brief period of silence, Disney has decided European users in a handful of countries (outside of The Netherlands, where it went live last year) will enjoy a small discount if they pre-order before the March 24th opening, promising 10/10 off a full year on registrations before that date.

In an email sent to the Disney+ waiting list, the company details a "limited time low price offer" which brings the annual price down to 49.99/59.99. The offer is valid until March 23rd, after which the price of a subscription will return to standard 5.99/6.99 a month or 59.99/69.99 a year.

5 wonderful worlds await.

Limited time offer  only 49.99 for a year.

Sign up at https://t.co/vVdgBqf37h and start streaming March 24. T&Cs apply. Offer is valid until 23 March. pic.twitter.com/jFHS3bKujF  Disney+ UK (@DisneyPlusUK) February 24, 2020

Disney has yet to confirm whether big-hitting shows like The Mandalorian will be subject to a staggered release in Europe, even though it is now available in its entirety in the US. The Simpsons is also said to be in state of limbo. In the FAQ section on the Disney+ website, the company has confirmed that there will be "differences between the content available in specific territories due to rights restrictions or other reasons."

Disney+ will be available in the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland on March 24th, with customers in Belgium, Portugal and the Nordics able to sign up soon after.
Meghan Markle 'will be conducting private and patronage-related meetings' when she returns to the UK next month, a source has told BAZAAR.com.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, will join her husband Prince Harry, 35, in Britain, next month for three public events before the pair officially step down from royal duties.

A loose itinerary was revealed for the trip last week, but it has been suggested that former actress Meghan could fill her remaining time with 'secret' engagements.

She has regularly made private visits to her patronages in the past and often shares photographs from the trips to her Instagram page at a later date.

Meghan Markle (pictured) 'will be conducting private and patronage-related meetings' when returning to the UK next month, a royal source has claimed

The source said: 'Meghan will be conducting something private and patronage-related meetings during her time in London.'

It comes as the Telegraph reported that the duchess is 'expected to run her own series of private engagements'.

Some fans hoped she'd make an appearance at the first British Vogue Forces For Change event with Salma Hayek on March 7, inspired by the issue of the the magazine she guest edited last year.

However, sources told the Telegraph that she won't attend, noting that she's scheduled to attend the Mountbatten Festival alongside her husband that day.

Meghan during a private visit to The Mayhew centre, an animal welfare charity in London, last month. She later shared a photograph of her trip to her Instagram account

The Queen pictured leaving Windsor Castle this afternoon. Meghan and Harry will officially step down on March 31

The duchess will join the Duke of Sussex at Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5 and the Mountbatten Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall two days later.

Their final official engagement is expected to be as soon as March 9, when they will join the Queen at Westminster Abbey to mark Commonwealth Day.

Before they officially step down on March 31, Harry will also attend a recording session with US rock star Jon Bon Jovi and the Invictus Games choir, who are rerecording his song Unbroken to promote this year's tournament.

What will happen next as Prince Harry and Meghan step down? February 28: Harry attends an Invictus Games event with Jon Bon Jovi March 5: Harry and Meghan will then attend the Endeavour Fund awards March 6: Harry will be at Silverstone with racing driver Lewis Hamilton March 7: Harry and Meghan will attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music. This is the same day as Edward Enninful's Forces For Change event. March 8: Meghan will mark International Women's Day March 9: The couple will join the Queen and the Royal Family for the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey April 1: The Sussexes will no longer have an office at Buckingham Palace Advertisement

On March 6, Harry will join British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton at the official opening of the Silverstone Experience.

The much-anticipated museum - which the duke has been backing for years - will tell the story of the past, present and future of British motor racing.

Meanwhile, Meghan is expected to undertake an engagement to mark International Women's Day on March 8, although no specifics have yet been revealed.
A new study has identified a key factor in protecting at-risk pre-school children from becoming overweight or obese and the elixir is sleep.

The University of Auckland research examined data from Growing Up in New Zealand, this countrys largest longitudinal study of child development, to determine what protects at-risk children from becoming obese.

The research shows that at-risk children who get even an extra hours sleep at night are 25 per cent more likely to have a healthy body weight, says lead author Dr Samantha Marsh from the National Institute for Health Innovation.

Our findings highlight the importance of night-time sleep for young children and the protection it offers for children who are potentially vulnerable to becoming overweight or obese.

However, the relationship between sleep and obesity is likely to be more complex, with organisation in the home and positive parent-child interactions at bedtime and other family routines likely to be important as well.

The researchers examined information collected from more than 6,000 children in the Growing Up in New Zealand study to compare risk factors and protective factors associated with obesity.

They focused on children who met at least two risk factors for being overweight or obese.

Risk factors included, families experiencing high levels of stress, insecurity and chronic poverty, families living in areas in which the built environment reduces opportunities for physical activity, families experiencing financial stress which could lead to the purchase of low-cost but energy-dense and nutrient poor foods.

Samantha says the researchers then looked at whether these at-risk children were a healthy weight, overweight or obese.

We know that many children maintain a healthy body weight despite being exposed to a range of risk factors for obesity. We wanted to know what it is that protects these children or gives them bodyweight resilience. If we can figure that out, then we can look at ways to help children who may be on a pathway to becoming overweight or obese.

A range of resilience factors were identified including style of parenting, family routines, child sleep, screen use and the family mealtime environment.

The research found that while less screen time and a higher quality of family meals were found to be important, night-time sleep seemed to be key, she says.

The fact that sleep is associated with bodyweight resilience may actually reflect greater organisation in the home environment which is supportive of sleep.

This means that promoting adequate night-time sleep in pre-schoolers may not be sufficient in and of itself. There may also be a need to reduce household chaos and promote greater family organisation.

Other studies have found that shorter night-time sleep duration increases the risk of children becoming obese, but have not looked at what might prevent obesity in vulnerable families, Samantha says.

This research is significant because it highlights resilience factors that families who face many of the traditional barriers to health may be able to action to help keep their pre-school children a healthy weight.

She says, further research is now needed to establish the exact relationship between night-time sleep and family organisation.

Its important to focus on how to build long-term healthy sleep routines in pre-schoolers in a way that is developmentally safe, culturally appropriate and protects the parent-child relationship, Samantha says.
The Rajasthan police arrested Congress councillor Surinder Singh Rajput on the charge of rape during a late night raid in Mohali on Sunday.

Belonging to Himachal Pradesh, Rajput resides in Sector 70 and represents it (ward number 45) in the Mohali municipal corporations General House. He also owns a shop in the sector and works as a property dealer.

Rajput is accused of raping a woman, who resides in the same sector, and blackmailing her for more than two years. A case under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at the Jaipur police station on the womans complaint.

A team from Jaipur had come to Mohali and arrested the Congress councillor, said Rajiv Kumar, station house officer (SHO), Mataur, Mohali.

According to the complaint, the victim came into contact with the accused  the area councillor  in February 2017 in connection with preparing her Aadhaar card.

Later, the victims husband  who is a transporter  was booked in a drugs case after the driver of one of his trucks was caught carrying poppy husk in Rajasthan.

Rajput reportedly offered to help her in getting her husband out on bail, claiming that he had links in Jaipur, and asked her to accompany him there.

The woman reportedly booked train tickets to Jaipur, as told by Rajput, and the two reached there past midnight on July 1, 2017. The councillor took her to a hotel to spend the night, where he allegedly gave her some medicine to treat her headache. Later, the woman fell unconscious and was allegedly raped.

The woman alleged that the accused had been blackmailing her on the basis of an obscene video that he had recorded that night and kept sexually exploiting her for the past two years.

The victim in her complaint alleged that on February 4, 2020, she along with her husband had approached the Mataur police station with complaint of rape against Rajput. However, the police allegedly refused to register an FIR over the jurisdiction dispute and asked her to approach the Jaipur police.

The fact is that there is a provision of registering a zero FIR in cases of crime against women. Later, investigation can be handed over to the police station concerned.

I dont know whether the victim had approached the local police or not. I will get it checked, said Mohali senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal. A team of Jaipur police had got in touch with us, stating that a case has been registered against Rajput. He was arrested with help of the Mohali police.

If Rajput is convicted, the party will take disciplinary action against him, said Deepinder Singh Dhillon, who was the president of Mohali districts Congress committee, which was dissolved recently.

I am not aware of the case. If anyone, be it from any party, has done anything wrong, he or she should be punished as per law, said Punjab cabinet minister and Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu.

Rajput is not new to controversies. In February 2012, he was booked for using casteist remarks against Shamsher Singh Purkhalvi, a Dalit leader and his neighbour. Even Purkhalvi was booked on Rajputs complaint for opening fire after an argument over a pet dog.
Being bullied at school for his dwarfism, 9-year-old Quaden Bayles said to the camera, "Give me a knife, I want to kill myself." His mother, Yarraka Bayles, uploaded the upsetting Facebook Live video this week to raise conscientiousness of the impact of bullying.

More than $200,000 charity money has been raised to send an Australian boy Quaden Bayles to Disneyland. Thousands of donors have chipped in to a GoFundme supporting the boy who was diagnosed with Achondroplasia dwarfism.

Yarraka explained that she witnessed a "bullying episode" while picking up her son. She says a classmate was patting the boy on the head and making fun of his height.

Quaden's mother Yarraka is an advocate for indigenous issues and disability awareness. The recorded video of his reaction had the caption, "This is the impacts [sic] of bullying! I seriously don't know what else to do!"

The video piqued the attention of Australian actor Hugh Jackman, UK TV host Piers Morgan and American comedian and actor Brad Williams, who set up a GoFundMe page for the bullying victim. Williams also has achondroplasia dwarfism.

"Quaden - you've got a friend in me," Jackman posted on Twitter in response to the torment, alongside a 20-second video saying "bullying is not okay, period, life is hard enough."

Yarraka Bayles said her purpose was to raise awareness about the scarring effects of bullying on children.

Also Read: Bully And The Brain: Being Bullied Actually Causes Brain Inflammation, Study Says

Quaden expressed multiple times his impulse to end his life. The Facebook video has gone viral with over 16 million views, gaining support from #WeStandWithQuaden messages.

Alongside celebrities, parents in other countries have posted video messages from their children. As of now, Williams has raised more than $200,000 (100,000) for the boy who broke hearts all over the world. The stand-up comedian has guested on Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Tonight Show.

Yarraka pleaded to educate the viewers' children, families, and friends. The plea cascaded to a movement.

Quaden expresses his longing in the video, "I wish I could stab myself in my heart. I want someone to kill me."

Williams wrote that he launched the fundraiser to show Quaden that there is good in the world. "I'm setting up this GoFundMe to let Quaden know that bullying will not be tolerated and that he is a wonderful human being who deserves joy," he said.

On Instagram, he posted, "His mother taped him crying, saying he wanted a knife to kill himself and put it on the internet to show people the effects of bullying. This story struck a nerve with me."

The money left from the fundraiser will be donated to anti-bullying/anti-abuse charities.

Meanwhile, All Stars invited Quaden to lead them out for their game against the Maori All Stars tomorrow night on the Gold Coast.

According to Latrell Mitchell on the behalf of the players, "We know you are going through a hard time now but the boys are here to support you. We've got your back and just want to make sure that you are doing alright, make sure that your mum is on your side, we're on your side."

Related Article: Canadian Teen Spreads Positive Post-Its In Response To Bully; Gets Reprimanded For Littering

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 17:49:29|Editor: zyl

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Local residents take an escalator in Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 24, 2020. South Korea confirmed 231 more cases of the COVID-19 on Monday, raising the total number of infections to 833, and the death toll rose to eight. The country raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level on Sunday as the virus infections soared for the past week. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea confirmed 231 more cases of the COVID-19 on Monday, raising the total number of infections to 833, and the death toll rose to eight.

As of 4:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), the number of infected patients totaled 833, up 231 from the prior day. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has updated the data twice a day at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time.

The country raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level on Sunday as the virus infections soared for the past week. A total of 571 new cases were reported from Wednesday to Sunday.

Under the red alert, the health authorities recommended people with fever or respiratory symptoms to refrain from attending schools and going to work, asking pregnant women, the elderly and the chronically ill to avoid crowded places.

The education ministry on Sunday ordered all preschools, primary and secondary schools nationwide to delay the opening day of the first semester by one week to March 9.

The country's parliament canceled its plenary session earlier in the day after it was known that the floor leader of the main conservative opposition United Future Party and two other fellow lawmakers had contact with an infected patient at a forum last week and took a test for the virus early Monday.

Two clusters of infections in the country's southeastern region contributed the most to the recent viral spread.

Of the total patients, 681 were residents in Daegu, about 300 km southeast of the capital Seoul, and its surrounding North Gyeongsang province.

As of 9:00 a.m. local time, 458 cases were linked to the church services of a minor religious group, called Sincheonji, in Daegu. It was up from 329 in the previous day.

Out of 70 new cases added to the afternoon announcement, the link to the church services had yet to be known.

Vice Health and Welfare Minister Kim Gang-lip told reporters that any failure to contain the virus infection in Daegu would raise the possibility for the virus to spread across the country, vowing to make all-out efforts to prevent the spread.

KCDC Director Jung Eun-kyeong told a press briefing that the focus would be placed on testing people with infection symptoms for the next two weeks, before the focus is to be moved on treatment for another two weeks.

The health authorities announced a plan to test for virus some 28,000 people in Daegu with flu symptoms and over 9,000 Sincheonji followers of the Daegu branch who attended the church services linked to the cluster infection.

For the past three days, the health authorities tested 4,500-5,000 suspected cases per day. The KCDC director noted that the number of tests, which can be conducted a day, could be increased to as many as 7,500.

The other 113 contagion cases were traced to Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo county, just south of Daegu. Test for more than 650 patients and medical staff of the hospital was completed as almost all the patients at the psychiatric ward tested positive for the virus.

One more death was confirmed, raising the death toll to eight. Six of the deaths were linked to the hospital.

The government designated Deagu and Cheongdo as a "special care zone" on Friday, while protest rallies were banned in downtown areas of Seoul.

Since Jan. 3, the country has tested more than 32,000 people, among whom 20,292 tested negative for the COVID-19 virus and 11,631 were being checked.

Four more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recoveries, lifting the combined number to 22.
OTTAWA - The federal government faced calls Monday to add more diversity to the senior ranks of the public service, as black civil servants gathered in the national capital to share their experiences of racism and discrimination in the workplace  and discuss ways to prevent it in the future.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

President of the Treasury Board Jean-Yves Duclos speaks with the media following a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Wednesday November 20, 2019. The federal government is being urged to increase the amount of diversity within the senior ranks of the public service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - The federal government faced calls Monday to add more diversity to the senior ranks of the public service, as black civil servants gathered in the national capital to share their experiences of racism and discrimination in the workplace  and discuss ways to prevent it in the future.

Several speakers at noted the lack of diversity at the top during the Federal Black Employees' Caucus meeting, which coincided with Black History Month in Canada as well as the halfway mark of the United Nations' Decade for People of African Descent that started in 2015.

Among those was Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos, whose department is responsible for managing the federal public service as a workforce.

In his speech, Duclos noted the recent appointment of Caroline Xavier as associate deputy minister at Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees Canada  one rung below the department's top bureaucrat. That makes her the most senior black federal public servant in Canadian history.

"It's an important step forward, but it's not nearly enough," Duclos said. "And it starts with us, the government, recognizing the issues you have identified as challenges."

Those challenges include overt racism as well as more subtle and even subconscious discrimination, many of which organizers said are unique to black public servants and could lead to everything from a lack of career opportunities to severe mental-health problems.

Richard Sharpe, a longtime public servant and one of the co-founders of the Federal Black Employees' Caucus, recalled one incident where he was mistaken for a deliveryman when he arrived to make a presentation to a group of senior managers at one of the largest departments.

"Before I had a chance to respond, the deputy minister came and he put his hands on my shoulders and said: 'Richard, come to the table so you can make your presentation.' The young woman was very redfaced," Sharpe said in an interview.

"But when I sat at the table and I looked around, there were 45 people there. They were all white. And I was the only black person there. And I was thinking: 'I'm probably the only black person that's made a presentation to this table all year.'"

There are an estimated 13,600 black public servants working for the federal government, Sharpe said, though exact figures are difficult to find because employees are not specifically asked their ethnicities or races.

There are roughly 288,000 federal public servants, of whom 16.2 per cent self-identified as being a member of a "visible-minority group" in 2016.

In his address, Duclos acknowledged the need to add more diversity to the public service and foster a more inclusive and respectful environment because it is the right thing to do  and because doing so is critical to addressing new challenges in Canada and abroad.

That is why the government is improving the way federal public servants self-identify as belonging to different "racialized" groups, Duclos said, and why the government is investing money in cultural-awareness training and mental-health services for those affected by discrimination.

Duclos also personally promised to work to increase the amount of diversity in the senior ranks of the public service, which the head of the largest federal-employees' union described as a frequent subject in consultations with his members.

"The consistent themes coming out of these conferences has been that racism is systemic, including anti-black racism, and that our members have been denied career opportunities," Public Service Alliance of Canada national president Chris Aylward said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
Centre appeals Mamata-led-TMC govt to join PM-Kisan scheme

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday asked the West Bengal government to join the ambitious central scheme, PM-Kisan, which completed one year of operation without the state on board.

Barring West Bengal, all other states and union territories are implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) which has benefited 8.45 crore farmers so far in the country, against the target of 14 crore farmers. The minister also launched PM-Kisan mobile App on completion of one year of the implementation of the scheme.

Tomar said: "West Bengal has not yet joined the scheme. There are 70 lakh farmers in the state. Benefits worth about Rs 4,000 crore will reach to these farmers if implemented." Of the 70 lakh farmers from the state, about 10 lakh farmers have already self-registered for the scheme via the online portal of PM-Kisan, he said and added the cash benefit to these farmers will reach once the state government verifies the data.

Stating that the cash benefit under the scheme will not only help farmers but also boost the state economy, Tomar said: "Our officials have approached the state government in this regard many times. I have also written twice to the chief minister urging to join the scheme. But no reply has come yet from the CM."

Tomar said some states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim are slow in authenticating their farmers' data and the central government is pursuing with them seriously. The aim is to achieve the target of 14 crore farmers by next year.

NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 24th, 2020

On PM-Kisan portal, the centre has received data of total 9.74 crore farmers. Already, payment has been made to 8.45 crore farmers, he said. About 85 per cent of the farmers data registered under the scheme has been Aadhar verified, the rest will be completed soon, he added.

Under the scheme, the centre is paying Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments to eligible farmers.

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 15:06 [IST]
The ninth  and final  defendant involved in defrauding a watershed that provided water to half a million New Jersey residents was found guilty Monday for her role in the wide-ranging corruption scheme.

Former Newark police officer Janell Robinson was found guilty in Newark federal court of giving kickbacks to the former director of the Newark Watershed Conservation in exchange for no-work contracts and fraudulent payments.

After less than a two-week trial, a jury convicted Robinson on charges of conspiracy to defraud the watershed corporation, two counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion affecting interstate commerce.

The jury deliberated for around two hours before returning the verdict.

Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced June 8. She could face up to 20 years in prison for each count and a $250,000 fine.

As the final defendant remaining in the scheme that led to most of the other conspirators to plead guilty, prosecutors had a wealth of information detailing how Linda Watkins Brashear, the former top official of the watershed corporation, hired contractors who did little or no work but received inflated payments, in exchange for kicking back cash payments to Brashear.

She received nearly $1 million in kickbacks through the scheme, prosecutors said.

In total, nine people have either been convicted or pleaded guilty.

The New Jersey Comptrollers Office released a scathing report in 2014 that found the public agency was extorting millions of public dollars and making illegal payments. The watershed was closed in 2013.

The Newark Water Group, a community group that first brought the corruption to public light in 2011, called the scheme one of the biggest and widest-ranging scandals Newark has ever experienced.

In Robinsons case, prosecutors said Brashear used funds from the watershed corporation to pay a phony security consulting company run by Robinson nearly $300,000 through no-work contracts and padded invoices.

On the first day of the trial, Brashear was transported in from a federal prison camp to testify against Robinson, who was once a close friend. Brashear was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty in 2015 to to charges of conspiracy and filing a false income tax return. She received a sentence significantly lower than the sentencing guidelines after agreeing to be a cooperating witness.

Brashear testified that Robinson was paying her a cut of each check the security company received to support her gambling addiction and pay other personal expenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie F. Schwartz said Monday that Robinsons security company, Protected and Secured Services, LLC, was a fraudulent business that (Robinson) set up to steal from the watershed.

During the trial, prosecutors detailed how Robinson used a variety of ways to conceal her involvement in the company, including having the company and its bank account registered under her brothers name, who testified he was not involved in the operations of the security company.

After the company was certified in April 2010, Robinsons company received six checks over the next year totaling around $89,000 from the watershed, yet prosecutors said no security work was done.

To legitimize the scheme, prosecutors said Brashear approved of a contract between the watershed and Robinsons security company in 2012 for $5,000 per month for security services.

However, the watershed paid Protected and Secured Services more than $5,000 every single month for more than a year, including multiple months where Robinsons company received more than $20,000 from the corporation. Prosecutors said the company only had one employee who worked 16 hours per week, canvassing the watershed for vandalism or illegal dumping. The security company had no other clients, Schwartz said during the trial.

Robinson reaped nearly $200,000 in fraudulent payments from the watershed based on the inflated invoices, prosecutors said. Of the $289,000 the watershed paid Robinsons security company, $76,000 in cash was withdrawn, which were most likely the kickbacks to Brashear, assistant U.S. Attorney Jacques S. Pierre said in his closing arguments Monday.

Schwartz told the jury that Robinson used the remaining money to pay off her credit card, lease a Mercedes-Benz, help her other struggling business ventures and for personal expenses, like remodeling her kitchen.

Robinson took the stand in the case, testifying that her security company did all the work it billed the watershed for. In his closing argument Monday, her attorney, Carlos Martir, said Protected and Secured Services was a viable company that had hired a payroll company, kept diligent time sheets and logs of their work, and used legitimate invoices.

If there is a scheme to defraud, you are not going to have that paper trail, Martir said.

Janell Robinson, of Protected and Secured, did the work, he said.

But ultimately, the jury found that Robinson was another cog in a massive kickback scheme that crippled the Newark watershed, which served half a million northern New Jersey residents before it disbanded in 2013 after reports of rampant corruption and mismanagement became public.

The Newark Water Group said in a statement it all could have been avoided had those in charge of the watershed upheld the public trust and simply put the interests of the people of Newark before their own as their positions so required them to do.

The curtain is finally dropping on the sad saga of the (Newark Watershed Conservation), the group said in its statement.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage.

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A Bamboo Airways aircraft taxis on a runway at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by Shutterstock/Phuong D. Nguyen.

Vietnams private airline Bamboo Airways will suspend all routes to and from South Korea to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Both routes from central Da Nang and Nha Trang to Seouls Incheon International Airport will cease operation starting February 26, it stated Monday.

The airline is currently operating seven trips a week on each route with the narrow-body Airbus A21neo capable of carrying nearly 200 passengers.

It stated flight suspension is vital to warding off the coronavirus from South Korea where the number of confirmed cases has reached 763, and death toll 7 as of Monday.

Last year, South Korea was Vietnam's second largest tourism market behind China with 4.3 million visitors, up 23 percent year-on-year.
The mother of a man charged with murdering a college student in Florida in 2001 says detectives obtained her DNA sample that led them to her son under false pretenses.

In November 2018, the Orlando Police Department announced the arrest of 39-year-old Benjamin Holmes Jr for the killing of Christine Franke after they matched DNA samples from the crime scene to those of the suspect's relatives through a genealogy website.

The long list of family members whose DNA was tested included Holmes' own mother, Eleanor Holmes, 79, who lives in Valdosta, Georgia.

Benjamin Holmes Jr, 39 (left), was arrested in November 2018 for the cold-case murder of Christine Franke, 25 (right), who was shot dead in October 2001 in Orlando

An evidence marker is seen at the scene of Franke's shooting death, where semen was collected from her body

On the floor of Franke's apartment, investigators found her empty wallet, phone and backpack

In an interview with NBC News, Eleanor claimed that when a pair of police detectives from Florida showed up at her home in October 2018, they told her they were trying to identify a woman who had been found dead years prior, and asked to take a DNA sample from her.

The detectives explained that they had already obtained DNA samples from Eleanor's sister and aunt in order to build a family tree of the victim.

Eleanor, who suspected the deceased woman might have been her niece, agreed to have her cheek swabbed by the cops right in her driveway.

It was not until a few days later, when she got a phone call from her son Benjamin's girlfriend in Florida telling her about his arrest on murder charges, that the mother learned the true purpose of the detectives' visit.

'When they arrested him, I knew they were lying,' Holmes said. 'They lied to us.'

Holmes Jr has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Franke's killing, and his parents say they are convinced he is innocent.

Police issued this composite made from DNA left at the scene but it did not lead to any tips

He is scheduled to go on trial in June, when his defense is expected to raise questions about investigators' use of deception to collect DNA samples from innocent people not suspected of any crime.

His mother told NBC that had the detectives stated the real purpose of their visit, she would have refused to give them her DNA sample.

Her husband, retired chef Benjamin Holmes Sr, declined to submit to testing.

'For me to give my DNA to you, you have to come with some kind of papers from lawyers or something,' he told the station.

From a legal standpoint, police are allowed to lie to people in order to obtain evidence, but surreptitious DNA collection is uncharted territory.

In federal cases, a policy recently introduced by the US Department of Justice requires authorities to obtain informed consent from people not suspected of a crime to obtain DNA samples from them.

If obtaining consent could jeopardize the investigation, federal officials may obtain the sample covertly with a judge's order, reported NBC.

But that policy does not apply to the Franke murder investigation, which is a state case.

Franke, a 25-year-old college student working as a waitress, was shot dead inside her apartment in Orlando on October 21, 2001, during a botched burglary and sexual assault.

Detectives used this chart to predict how closely the suspect was related to family members who had provided samples of their DNA

Investigators recovered semen from the victim's body and submitted a sample of it to the state crime lab.

Based on this evidence, a DNA profile was developed and entered into a national database, where it languished without producing a match for more than 15 years.

All that changed in the spring of 2018, when Orlando police detective Michael Fields joined forces with Parabon Nanolabs, a DNA testing website, which was given the DNA sample from the crime scene for testing.

The site found a match with two cousins on the website GEDMatch, an open data personal genomics database and genealogy website, and notified police who contacted the people who had submitted the samples.

After collecting voluntary DNA samples from a dozen family members, police narrowed their search to Benjamin Holmes Jr and his brother Reginald.

In at least two instances, detectives told the suspect's relatives a familiar story about seeking to identify a deceased woman in Florida.

Police first focused on Reginald Holmes, following him to work at a construction site where an undercover cop engaged him in a conversation and offered him a bottle of Gatorade.

The officer later trailed Holmes and collected the empty bottle from a trash can for DNA testing, which ruled him out a s suspect in Franke's murder.

Police then zeroed in on his brother Benjamin, who was a Wendy's restaurant manager with a criminal record in 2001.

Detectives staked out Holmes Jr outside a friend's house and collected his discarded empty beer bottle and cigar.

According to court documents, both items were sent to the state crime lab for testing and produced a match with the DNA sample collected from the scene of Franke's murder, leading to his arrest on November 2, 2018.

Holmes' defense attorney said his client told him he never met Franke and does not know how his DNA ended up in her apartment.

The lawyer conceded that police did not break any laws by resorting to a subterfuge to obtain the DNA sample from Benjamin's mother, but he he will try to have the evidence blocked from his trial, raising questions about a possible contamination at the crime lab.

State officiates, however, stated that DNA samples have been analyzed a second time under sanitary conditions.
Highlights Android 11 is going to introduce One-Time Permission feature, helping users get better privacy.

Google says that once Android 11 is launched, apps will have time till November 2 to comply with new OS.

One-time permission will help users curtail excessive access that apps have to private location or camera data.

How many times have you clicked "Allow" when apps want to access certain hardware data or component on your Android phone? It must have been a lot of times, inadvertently. And then once these apps have been "allowed" they keep accessing private data, such as location information, or keep using microphone etc in background, at times even when they have no business doing so. Now, Android 11 is putting an end to it.

Android 11 will be coming with a new feature called One-Time Permission, which will allow users to grant some permission to an app only for a particular moment. Next time when app needs similar permission again, it will have to ask for it. This is similar to the way one-time permissions are managed in the iPhone.

Krish Vitaldevara, director of Product Management Trust and Safety for Android, writes on the official blog that users are asking Google that they want more control on how apps use and access their location data. So, in order to prevent misuse and to take precaution, users will have more control in Android 11.

Vitaldevara writes, When users select (one-time permission) option, apps can only access the data until the user moves away from the app, and they must then request permission again for the next access. So in other words, no background access to any private data to an app.

The developer preview of Android 11 also reveals that Android users will have more control on allowing access to the sensitive information like the location, microphone and camera.

For instance, when a phone asks the user for their location, the device will give three options -- Only This Time, While Using the App and Deny. By selecting Only This Time, the user will give the app just "one-time" permission and the app will access the user's location temporarily.

As we took a closer look at background location usage, we found that many of the apps that requested background location didn't actually need it. In fact, many of these apps could provide the same user experience by only accessing location when the app is visible to the user, Vitaldevara explained.

Once Android 11 is out in public, by November 2 all existing apps that request background location will need to comply with new guidelines or they will be removed from the Google Play store. Android 11 is already out as first developer preview. It is expected that in the coming weeks, Android 11 will be rolling out to more developers as part of the second developer preview. These previews will keep coming out until Google brings out public beta, likely at the Google IO event in summer. The final build -- and the one that will be reaching Android phone users -- will come out later this year, probably around the time when Google launches the Pixel 5.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is seen in Oceanport, N.J., in a file photograph. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for William Hill Race & Sports Bar )

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to Undergo Surgery for Likely Cancerous Kidney Tumor

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has a likely cancerous tumor on his left kidney that will be surgically removed in early March, he announced on Feb. 23.

FriendsIve got a tumor on my left kidney and will undergo a partial nephrectomy in early March to remove it, Murphy, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter on Saturday evening, adding that the prognosis is very good and Im profoundly grateful to my doctors for detecting the tumor early.

Over 50,000 New Jerseyans will hear the words you have cancer this year, so Im far from alone here. Its a situation that far too many families find themselves in. Thats why were fighting for them each and every day, he said.

Murphy, 62, who last year signed legislation to establish a state-based health exchange, added that health care is a right, not a privilege for a select few, and skyrocketing medical costs are a national emergency.

If theres anything my diagnosis reminds me of, its that preventative services are lifesaving and we need to continue fighting for affordable health care for all, he said.

The governors communications director, Mahen Gunaratna, said that Murphys doctor had discovered a 3-centimeter-wide tumor on his left kidney during a recent checkup but noted that the doctor believes it is fully treatable since the tumor was discovered early.

He will undergo a partial nephrectomy, also referred to as a kidney-sparing surgery, in March, where doctors will remove the diseased tissue and save the kidney. The surgery can be performed through a single incision in the abdomen or side (open nephrectomy) or through a series of small incisions in the abdomen using a camera and small instruments (laparoscopic nephrectomy), according to the Mayo Clinic.

Gunaratna added that Murphys family is profoundly grateful to the medical professionals who detected this tumor early and sends thanks to everyone for their good wishes.

Murphy told NJ Advance Media that he does not expect hell have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment and will hospitalized for two or three days while undergoing surgery before spending a few weeks at home to recover. Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver will serve as acting governor while Murphy is in the hospital.

The governor, who is in the third year of his term and is expected to run for reelection next year, appeared to be optimistic about his recovery and told the outlet that he has a 5K run scheduled for April despite the recent diagnosis.

Murphy is scheduled to deliver his budget address to the state legislature on Feb. 25, Politico reported.

He is also scheduled to deliver the keynote address on Feb. 25 at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerces annual dinner in Washington, D.C.
Kosso, an endangered type of rosewood that grows in West Africa, is under threat because of high demand in China, where its timber is used to make luxury furniture. The harvest and export of kosso wood is supposed to be strictly controlled as it is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (or CITES). This is not the case in Mali, however, where companies exploit legal loopholes to export large quantities of the precious wood.



Every day, the Generale Industrie du Bois (GIB), or General Timber Manufacturing  the only company in Mali authorised to export wood  exports tons of kosso wood on behalf of Chinese companies.



The scientific name for kosso wood is "pterocarpus erinaceus". This type of rosewood is known by many names. In China, they call it hongmu", while in Mali, it is known locally as "nguenou". In other areas, it is known as barwood or vene wood.



Kosso wood, which grows in several countries in the arid Sahel region in Western Africa, is one of several types of richly-hued rosewood that is turned into luxury furniture in China. In 2016, kosso wood was added to the CITES Appendix II, meaning that all trade in the wood is subject to international regulation.





This video, filmed in early 2020, shows GIB workers loading kosso wood onto a truck.



An employee of the Chinese company buying the kosso wood supervises as it is loaded onto the trucks. (Our Observer took this photo in 2019).



The extraction and export of this wood should be subject to strict regulation. But our Observer, who works for a Chinese company that buys kosso wood in Mali and has asked to remain anonymous, says the wood is being over-harvested in the West African state.



The export of kosso wood is highly regulated internationally. But in the Kayes region in Mali, trees are being chopped down with no effective oversight because of the Chinese. This is leading to deforestation. Already, we are suffering the effects of climate change. We shouldnt be just chopping down trees without thought.



But even though kosso is classified as an endangered species, the Directorate of Forestry and Water continues to grant the Generale Industrie du Bois a permit for extracting and exporting this wood. This needs to stop.

Story continues



Mali has 12 million hectares of forest, but according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, it is disappearing fast: The country loses roughly 100,000 hectares each year because of the overexploitation of wood.





"Rosewood is the timber that is most widely sold illegally in the worldIn 2014, Mali announced an interministerial decree banning the exportation of all raw wood, including kosso wood. The decree has not prevented exports, however. According to the database on the CITES website, more than 52,000 cubic metres of kosso wood was exported from Mali to China in 2017. In 2018, Mali adopted another decree allowing the exportation of wood that had been "transformed" from its raw state.



Naomi Basik Treanor, an expert in governance with the American NGO Forest Trends, told our team that there has been a real rise in demand for rosewood in China.



Rosewood is the forest product that is most widely sold illegally in the world. Theres a larger illegal market for rosewood than ivory, rhino horn or pangolin. This precious wood is used to make luxury furniture and the demand for it has risen in China with the growth of the middle class. In the past, China sourced this wood in southeast Asia. But with the high demand in China, rosewood has practically disappeared from that part of the world. As a result, those countries have increased legal protections for rosewood and China has had to seek out other markets in West Africa.





This tweet posted by a furniture store in Singapore features examples of luxury furniture made with rosewood.



In 2015, Interpol seized the equivalent of $216 million in kosso wood (230 million or 15 billion CFA francs) illegally harvested in nine countries in West Africa including Benin, Ivory Coast and Mali.



Licencing illegal exportation?



China imported more than 155,000 cubic metres of kosso wood from Mali between 2017 and 2019, for a total value of $125 million (114 million, or 75 billion CFA francs), according to numbers published by Forest Trends. It is a lucrative business for GIB, formerly a government-owned enterprise, that has the only exploitation permit granted by the National Directorate of Waters and Forests.



Our team examined permits granted to the company by the directorate in January 2017 and January 2019. The 2017 permit grants the company the right to export 87 cubic metres of sawn kosso wood for a Chinese partner. The 2019 licence authorises the exportation of 513 cubic metres of "processed wood" for another Chinese company.



Our team spoke to a former high-ranking official within the Directorate of Water and Forests, who said these licences should never have been granted:



These permits are illegal. First of all, they use vague, undefined terms. Sawn wood and processed wood are not the same thing as transformed wood, which is the only commodity that can be exported legally. This language is just a way to exploit a loophole and make it seem as if the wood being exported has been processed here in Mali.



Under CITES, wood sold on the international market must be legally sourced. That means that there must be a forest land use allocation system with defined quotas. There must also be environmental impact reports.



To ensure that these standards are upheld, wood that is bound for export must have a certificate of origin from the forestry service. The reference numbers for this certificate should be listed on any exportation permit to ensure that the wood can be traced. But these permits dont have a reference number for a certificate of origin. That's not strictly speaking legal.





"The wood that our company sells is transformedAboubacrine Sidick Cisse, the director of GIB, rejects these allegations. He says that the resources his company exports are sourced legally.



As long as the wood is legally sourced, you can sell it anywhere in the world, even Washington. I operate in compliance with the law. My partners are in China so I have the right to export to China.



We dont export raw wood, contrary to what certain people allege. The wood that this company exports is all transformed, which is what the law allows. After the trees are cut down, the wood is cut into logs. Then the sides are squared off. As soon as wood is cut into squared-off logs [Editor's note: known as cants], thats already a form of processing.



How can you say that sawn wood or processed wood isnt transformed wood? You dont have to be a technician to understand that.



The director of GIB also told the France 24 Observers team that the logging firms his company works with have at least 50 management plans for the forested areas of Kayes, which is one of the most heavily forested regions in Mali. He didnt respond to our enquiries as to how much wood his company exports annually.



Our team reached out to both Bouraima Camara and Mamadou Gakou, the two directors of the Directorate of Water and Forests who signed the exploitation permits granted to GIB in 2017 and 2019, but they did not respond to our questions about the legality of the documents.



Our team also tried to reach the Directorate of Water and Forests without success. We will update this article if they do respond.



Unclear laws



The CITES glossary distinguishes between sawn wood and transformed wood. However, the 2018 decree regulating the extraction of forest products and their sale in Mali does not define the degree to which wood must be transformed before it is exported. The Malian Forestry Code does not have a fixed definition either, which means that the law is open to interpretation.



So should wood that has been cut into cants, or squared-off logs, be considered transformed wood? We showed the videos and photos of wood destined for export by GIB to a legal expert who specialises in international commerce:



The photos and videos show logs that have been squared off. Thats not transformed wood. Thats just wood thats had a chainsaw hack off a bit of the edges. But it hasnt been turned into wood planks, for example. There is not much of a difference between raw wood and squared-off logs. You just use a chainsaw to give the logs edges to make them stack more easily into a container.





The extraction of kosso wood has major consequences on the entire ecosystemBasik Treanor, of Forest Trends, says that the laws around the export of endangered wood are not clear in many countries, which makes it easy to get around them.



It is a global problem. In many countries, information on what is allowed for export is unclear: The laws are hard to access, and the definitions of what can and cannot be exported are vague. Its common to have a lack of clarity in the legislation. There can be a lack of coordination between the different ministries and the customs service, for instance.



Chinese demand for West African rosewood degrades the water supply for local communities. Its changing the climate. The entire ecocystem is impacted. The trees that are cut are often large, old trees that capture a lot of CO2.

This photo shows the destruction caused by kosso wood extraction. It was taken in 2019 by a bailiff under the orders of Bailloh Bah, a local elected official in the town of Sagalo in the region of Kayes.



Bailloh Bah, an elected official in the town of Sagalo in the region of Kayes, has been fighting against the extraction of kosso wood in his area for years. He told the France 24 Observers about the consequences that the over-exploitation of this resource has had in his area:



Its a very difficult fight. In my town, I'm the only one standing up for the trees. Here, there are hardly any forests left. I did everything I could but it is impossible.



Mali is an arid, desert country, yet we are letting people ravage the little forest that we have. Its terrible. These trees are more than 300 years old and they get chopped down in a day. The consequences are extremely serious. It prevents us from getting rain. How are the animals going to live after all this?



Article written by Hermann Boko
SHANGHAI, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- A C919 Chinese-produced large passenger jet landed in Shengli airport in Dongying city of east China's Shandong Province Sunday to conduct test flights.

The No. 106 C919 aircraft left the Shanghai Pudong airport at 11:08 a.m. and arrived in Dongying at 1:07 p.m., said sources with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer.

The aircraft will conduct tests concerning the passenger cabin, lighting and external noises at Dongying and other test bases, the sources said.

Meanwhile, China's domestically-developed ARJ21 regional aircraft are conducting intensive test flights, with the No.103 and No. 131 aircraft undergoing test flights Saturday at Shanghai's Pudong and Dachang airports, respectively.
Some protestors who gathered at Marine Drive here on Monday as part of a candlelight vigil in the wake of clashes in northeast Delhi were detained by Mumbai Police who also barricaded the Gateway of India premises.

Police barricaded the Gateway of India and people who had gathered to protest Monday's violence in Delhi started to gather at Marine Drive area from where they were dispersed by police and some of them were taken away in police vans.

"Somebody forwarded a message that gave a call for a protest regarding the Delhi violence. We have designated places for protest in Mumbai like Azad Maidan. Despite this people were going to the Gateway of India. When we stopped them they gathered at Marine Drive. It was causing inconvenience to locals. We talked to them and dispersed them peacefully. Some people have been detained," DCP Sangram Singh told reporters here.

Four people including a head constable of Delhi Police lost their lives in the clashes that took place between pro-CAA and anti-CAA protesters at various places in the North-East District of Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In only three years since the annual destination Brand Summit was inaugurated, the number of award nominations have grown from about 20 in 2018 to just over 30 in 2019, and the geographic spread has also grown impressively, attracting nominations from several provinces of South Africa.

1. Corporate Influencer Brand

2. Citizen Influencer Brand

3. SMME/Start-Up Influencer Brand

4. NGO Influencer Brand

5. Country/Continent Influencer Brand

6. Political Influencer Brand

7. Community Builder Influencer Brand

8. Media Influencer Brand

9. Education Influencer Brand, and

10. Food Value Chain Space/ Agri-business Influencer Brand

Following a two-year South Africa-focused incubation, the Brand Summit Africa/Africa Brand Summit is progressively spreading its thematic and programmatic focus to integrate broader, Pan-African, relevance. Organisers aim to grow the number of African countries represented from nine in 2019 to a lot more, in 2020 and beyond.The confirmed presence of the United Nations and the African Development Bank, in addition to confirmed attendance by delegates from as far afield as Russia, USA, Canada, Finland, UK, Portugal, India, Bulgaria, Hungary, Switzerland, etc., is indicative of the summits fast-growing brand awareness and interests in places beyond Africa.Africa will remain at the core of summit programme discussions, of course, while best practice examples and other destination brand management experiences will be drawn from different parts of the world, as no destination brand exists on an island of its own. While some destination reputation issues can be region-specific, in an increasingly connected world many others tend to similarly affect cities, regions, and countries across different parts of the world. These destinations can therefore learn a lot from one anothers experiences.Well-known brand reputation specialist, former PRISA President and MD of Reputation 1st Group, Tshepo Matseba, will continue to chair the Brand Summit Africas Awards Panel of Judges. He is joined in 2020 by three new judges, Silvana Dantu, Director of African Equations, Eric Leong Son, Head of Sustainability at Distell, and Brightness Mangolothi. Mangolothi is a Director at HERS-SA, former Head of Department for PR & Communication Studies at Nelson Mandela University, and Head of Programme at AdvTech Independent Institute of Education. Solly Moeng, Summit Convenor, serves as an honorary judge at the discretion of the panel.Additional details about the different award categories and nomination procedure can be found atOver the past two years, we have learnt people place significant value in being recognised. Being acknowledged for their work is something that recipients hold very close to their hearts, said Tshepo Matseba, Chairman of the Summits Judges Panel, adding that just like it is often said that the sweetest music to anyones ear is the sound of their own name, we have seen people travel to either Cape Town or Johannesburg in 2018 and 2019 to receive their awards and to be part of the summit. In 2020, we aim to have a more colourful, African themed, Awards evening. It will be held on Thursday, June 4th in Cape Town and is billed to leave both African and global delegates asking for more, he said.The 2020 Brand Summit Africa Award Nominations remain open until Friday, 24 April 2020.To learn more about the 2020 Brand Summit Africa, to register as a delegate while the early bird offer remains (for one more week) or to nominate your favourite brand for an award, please go to: www.sabrandsummit.co.za/register/
Geordie Shore bombshells Chloe Ferry and Sophie Kasaei ensured they pulled out all the stops as they supported their former co-star on Saturday night.

The glamorous duo turned out to cheer on Aaron Chalmers in his MMA fight against American rival Austin Clemat at Bellator Dublin, a match which he ended up losing.

Yet Chloe, 24, still seemed in good spirits on the night as she strutted around the venue in an eye-popping little black dress.

Revealing: Chloe Ferry, 24, put on an eye popping display in a little black dress as she joined co-star Sophie Kasaei at the MMA Bellator Dublin fight on Saturday night

Chloe's black dress hugged her surgery enhanced assets and drew attention to her svelte waist and tanned limbs.

The Ex On The Beach star paired the scantily clad ensemble with knee high grey snakeskin boots and carried a grey Louis Vuitton bag in the ALMA PM style.

She lengthened her bright blonde locks with curly extensions and wore a glamorous palette of makeup that boasted a glossy pink pout and feathery lashes.

Glamorous: Chloe paired the scantily clad ensemble with knee high grey snakeskin boots and carried a grey Louis Vuitton bag in the ALMA PM style

Sophie looked equally as glamorous as she put on a very busty display in a figure-hugging, plunging catsuit.

The 30-year-old reality star made sure all eyes were on her ample assets in the black striped and chequered ensemble.

She wore her long raven tresses loose and wore an equally glam palette of makeup.

Girl gang: The blonde bombshell joined fellow cast member Sophie Kasaei and Aaron's pregnant girlfriend Talia Oatway for the event

Busty: The black dress hugged Chloe's surgery enhanced assets and dress attention to her svelte waist and tanned limbs

Plunging: Sophie made sure all eyes were on her ample assets in the black striped chequered ensemble

The girls partied alongside Aaron's pregnant girlfriend Talia Oatway, who was there to support her other half in his fight.

She showed off her impressive shoulder ink in a one sleeved silver dress that also highlighted her burgeoning baby bump.

Talia appeared tearful when her boyfriend lost the fight and was comforted by her pal Sophie.

Cheers! Sophie wore her long raven tresses loose and pinned back and wore an equally glam palette of makeup

Giggles: Sophie appeared in high spirits as she laughed along side her c- star before the fight started

Aaron and Talia revealed they were expecting a baby back in October, tagging one another in Instagram posts, shortly after it was reported that they had unfollowed one another and had decided to split after two years together.

Proving they'd reconciled, Aaron uploaded a snap of an ultrasound, along with some baby clothes, posting: 'The BEST surprises are the 1s you dont expect.... Im going to be a DADDY!!! Cant wait to meet you @talia.oatway [sic]'

The baby news came a month after Aaron announced: 'I'll be joining the dad group soon, I reckon. Since Gaz's missus has been talking about it [Talia's] become obsessed. I've got two dogs and a step-daughter so the next step is my own.'

Emotional: Aaron's girlfriend Talia appeared tearful when her boyfriend lost the fight and was comforted by her pal Sophie

Selfie time: However they perked up soon after and took selfies together on Sophie's bling phone

After meeting, Aaron gushed: 'If youre in a relationship and you didnt think the other person is the one, then theres something wrong. Obviously I think she is, as otherwise Id just be wasting time.

'Shes literally my best friend  shes my number one fan when it comes to my fights, and shes the one that kicks me out of bed in the morning when Im going on runs and Im staying at her's. Shes literally my number one supporter.

'Im f**king over the moon that I met her, and shes an absolutely beautiful girl.'

Tousled locks: Chloe was spilling out of her very revealing dress when she sat and watched the fight from the sidelines
LONDONJulian Assange appeared before a British court on Monday to fight an extradition request from the United States which wants to put the 48-year-old on trial for hacking government computers and violating an espionage law.

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.

Almost a decade since his WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking secret U.S. documents, he is wanted by the United States on 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law and could spend decades in prison if convicted.

Now, some 10 months after he was dragged from the Ecuadorean embassy where he had been holed up for seven years, Judge Vanessa Baraitser will hear arguments as to why he should or should not be sent to the United States.

Wearing a blue-grey suit and cleanly shaven, Assange confirmed his name and age. Judge Baraitser told the court that any disturbances would see people removed from the building.

Jennifer Robinson, Assanges lawyer, says his case could lead to criminalizing activities crucial to investigative journalists and his work has shed an unprecedented light on how the United States conducted its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We are talking about collateral murder, evidence of war crimes, she said. They are a remarkable resource for those of us seeking to hold governments to account for abuses.

WikiLeaks angered Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders, from Russian President Vladimir Putin to members of the Saudi royal family.

Assange made international headlines in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

Pardon Deal?

The hearing at Londons Woolwich Crown Court will not decide if Assange is guilty of any wrongdoing, but whether the extradition request meets the requirements set out under a 2003 UK-U.S. treaty, which critics say is stacked in favor of the United States.

Baraitser has agreed that the case will get under way before being postponed until May 18, when it will resume again for a further three weeks to allow both sides more time to gather evidence.

Assanges lawyers have said in preliminary hearings that they would argue he was being sought for political offenses and that the treaty banned extradition on those grounds.

Other arguments would feature medical evidence, public denunciations by leading U.S. political figures and details from the case of Chelsea Manning, an ex-intelligence analyst who was convicted by a U.S. Army court-martial in 2013 of espionage and other offenses for leaking secret cables to WikiLeaks.

In 2012, Assange took refuge in Ecuadors London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden where he was accused of sex crimes, which he denied and which were later dropped, saying he feared he would ultimately be sent on to the United States.

After seven years, he was dragged from the embassy in 2019 and then jailed for 50 weeks for skipping bail. He has remained in prison ever since, after the United States launched its extradition request.

If the judge decides Assange should be extradited, the decision needs to be rubber-stamped by Home Secretary (interior minister) Priti Patel. He would also have the right to appeal to Londons High Court and then possibly to the Supreme Court, Britains top judicial body.

By Michael Holden
Coronavirus fatalities rocketed in Iran, with at least 12 and as many as 50 reported deaths from the malady which is penetrating the Middle East.

The illness, first encountered in China, has proven unusually lethal in Iran. The first cases were reported on 19 February, with 47 patients so far confirmed carrying the virus. That marks an official Iranian mortality rate of 25 per cent, far greater than the 3.2 per cent reported in China.

Research suggests the disparity could be attributed to access to differing levels of nutrition, housing and quality healthcare. But experts say it could also potentially point to the emergence of a new and more deadly mutation of the virus, though health officials said last week there was no evidence the virus was changing. John Paget, an epidemiologist at the Netherlands Institute for Public Health Services Research, suggested that the Iranians could just be undercounting the number of cases.

Its very worrisome, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, told reporters on Friday about the spread of the disease beyond China. These dots are actually very concerning, he said referring to a map showing the spread of the illness to new clusters.

The outbreak of the respiratory disease in Iran has dominated local headlines and news broadcasts, sparking a fresh wave of dread in a country already hit over the last year by various natural and manmade calamities including earthquakes, floods, political unrest, economic decline, and a near-war with the United States that resulted in the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet by the countrys own armed forces.

Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Show all 10 1 /10 Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A man wearing a face mask crosses a road in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Reuters Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A view of the empty entrance to the UniversitA Cattolica (Catholic University) in Milan, northern Italy, on 24 February, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A lone sanitation worker sits near the closed Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on February 24, 2020. Reuters Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A view of a deserted street in Codogno, northern Italy, on February 23, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Italian police officers set a road block in Codogno, Northern Italy, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. AP Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A supermarket closed in Codogno, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown, on February 23, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A lone cyclist wearing sanitary masks pedals in the center of Codogno, Northern Italy. LaPresse via AP Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty An empty road at the entrance of the small Italian town of Codogno on February 23, 2020. AFP via Getty

Schools, universities and cultural centres across 14 Iranian provinces have been closed.

The spread of the disease is also causing a wave of fear across the Middle East, with airport employees donning surgical masks and gloves, and commuters avoiding public transportation and physical contact with friends. Ancient religious pilgrimage routes have been shut down and aviation links have been closed.

Oman suspended all flights to Iran, while Qatar Airways announced a 14-day quarantine period for anyone traveling to the country from Iran or South Korea, where the virus has afflicted at least 600 people. And the health ministry of Israel, which has diagnosed multiple cases, announced on Sunday that any foreigner who had visited Japan or South Korea in the last weeks would be barred from entering.

In Bahrain, a single case was a bus driver who managed to drive children to three schools on Sunday; all three schools have been shuttered for two weeks. Kuwait said three patients diagnosed with the virus had all arrived from Iran in recent days.

Cases have also been reported in the United Arab Emirates, but perhaps most ominously in Iraq and Afghanistan, both war-torn countries with dilapidated public health systems ill-prepared to contain the deadly virus.

As with many matters in Iran, coronavirus has raised questions about government transparency. The outbreak in Iran has been traced to the shrine and seminary city of Qom, a major global crossroads for Shia pilgrims and students, as well as a pillar of the countrys clerical political elite.

While the countrys deputy health minister Iraj Harichi said 12 people had died from the virus, a lawmaker from Qom claimed 50 people had died. When his claim was challenged by the health ministry, he said he passed on the names of 40 of the dead to Mr Harichi.

Now, we await his resignation, lawmaker Ahmad Amirabadi-Farahani said, according to the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency.

Iranian officials quickly sought to cast blame for the outbreak, alleging that illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and China had brought in the virus, even as the first reported cases were in a city 600 miles from the countrys eastern borders.

Even as some officials sought to highlight the risks of the virus, broadcast media downplayed the epidemic, with a state TV presenter saying fear of coronavirus inflicts more damage than the virus itself.

Iraq had closed borders to Iran on 20 February to halt any spread of the virus. But Iraqi officials cited by local media said an Iranian seminary student in the shrine city of Najaf who had arrived before the travel restrictions had been diagnosed with the virus.

Woman wears protective mask while walking along the side of a street in the Iranian capital Tehran (AFP via Getty Images)

At least three Afghans in the countrys western Herat province, which neighbours Iran, have been diagnosed with the illness.

Despite the closing of the borders with Iran, public health officials worry that the thousands who traverse the regions porous frontiers via smuggling routes could help spread the virus, which like the flu can be transmitted via sneezing or coughing.

Another major problem in Afghanistan is illegal border-crossing, said Wahidullah Mayar, the spokesman for the Afghan health ministry.

The health systems of Iraq and Afghanistan have been devastated by years of war that have caused chronic shortages of utilities and an exodus of medical professionals.

Armenia on Monday announced that it was the latest country to close its land border with Iran following similar closures by Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey, which has suspended air and rail links to its eastern neighbour. Along with Georgia, Yerevan officials also imposed flight restrictions over fears the virus could spread to the Caucasus region.

But Mr Paget, the epidemiologist, suggested that public health offiicials and policymakers were overreacting. Theres too much panic, he said. They did the right strategy to try to contain it, but its not working. Transmissibility is super high. So we have to change strategy. We need to accept that this is now part of our ecosystem. Its probably going to be there every winter with all the other viruses.
THE grandson of a former Henley mayor is trying to make a career as a musician.

George Buckett, a hip hop artist and rapper, has played about 25 gigs in the past two years and is building a reputation for his songs online.

And the 21-year-old, who lives in Vicarage Road, says he wants to put the town on the musical map.

George was first introduced to music as a child when his late grandfather Terry used to play him Beatles songs. He found it was a useful distraction from school as he was not academic.

George grew up on the Gainsborough estate, where his mother Susan still lives, while his father Lee lives in Binfield Heath and runs his own removal company.

He has two half-sisters, Jodie, who works in fashion PR in London, and Charlotte, 11, and a half-brother, Harrison, eight.

George attended Trinity Primary School, where he learned to play the drums, and then Gillotts School.

He says: I tried at school but my head was always somewhere else. I had lots of energy but I didnt know how to use it.

I was always into music  even before I was born my dad would put headphones on my mums belly  but I was always listening to things that everyone else wasnt. Music is so fulfilling and for me it is a way of escaping.

When Mr Buckett, a postman and town councillor who was a key figure in the campaign to save Townlands Hospital, died in 2009, aged 56, it upset his grandson.

He used to play Beatles songs to me all the time, says George. His death affected me very badly but it also inspired me to make a success of myself.

I have always thought that if you lose one big voice you should try to gain another.

I had counselling when he died and then they started a guitar club at Gillotts and I started going to that instead of lessons.

I had drum lessons at Trinity and I had the instructions and the sticks but I didnt have the drum kit. I had to use a rubber mat to practise on.

I wanted to get out of school and find a way to express my creativity. Music has never been a chore for me and picking up an instrument feels very natural.

In 2013, when he was in year 10 at Gillotts, he and his friend Jake Clark formed a band called To Burn and Blossom for a school talent show. The teenagers would rehearse weekly at the home of his grandfathers widow Pauline in Vicarage Road  much to the annoyance of her neighbours.

George played the drums, Jake played bass guitar while the groups vocalist and lead guitarist were two 19-year-olds from Whitley.

When he left Gillotts, George went to Berkshire College of Agriculture to study creative media production.

The band broke up so he started recording music using a microphone from a PlayStation game.

He says: I didnt have any of the proper equipment as it is expensive but I was resourceful.

Since then he has spent many hours in his bedroom writing songs and has recorded one EP, called It Is What It Is, which was released a year ago.

One song on it is called Wait Stop Listen and is about the frustration of young people with politics.

George says: I like to make the sort of music that everyone can enjoy. It is hard for people to relate to a lot of music, so I like to put lots of topics in the lyrics that are relatable. I have always been about making people laugh.

I have taken down notes from every musician from John Lennon to Jon Bon Jovi. I will watch videos of them for hours to study them. I would say that John Lennon, post-Beatles, is a big influence. He would make music outside his kitchen and that is the way it should be.

He has been playing live for the last three years and in 2018 made only his fourth live performance at Bestival in Dorset, a music festival known for its diverse line-up. Also on the bill were Grace Jones and Chaka Khan.

George says: My manager at the time had connections with the festival. The owner of the festival had heard some of my stuff and asked me to perform on the Bollywood stage. It was incredible but I really struggled to get on stage as I had a bit of a panic attack beforehand. It was very surreal.

In fact it was the best performance Ive done so far. It was only to a few hundred people but I dont take anything for granted.

When you go out on stage you are an entertainer and you want to make sure that people who have come to watch you are happy and do not feel like theyve wasted their time and money.

Over the last two years, George has played 25 gigs at a venues in Reading and High Wycombe as well as London, Bournemouth and Bristol.

He has also been busy writing and last month he recorded some songs at Abbey Road studios in London, which was made famous by the Beatles. He worked alongside fellow former Gillotts pupils Harry Burrow and Sam Jones.

George says: I have already made enough music to release something online every month until next year. He is particularly proud of his online presence. He has achieved 92,000 plays on Soundcloud, a European music sharing website, and has 2,600 followers on Instagram.

Through Spotify, another digital music service, he is able to view the places where his music is most popular.

George says: London is at the top of the list and Bristol is second. I had to scroll all the way down to 33 to find Henley. That is something I would like to change.

I have lots of confidence in myself. I feel that you cant love music as much as I do without making something of it.

If Im at this level for the rest of my life I would be happy  I dont think I would want to be that well-known. I want to prove to young people that you can make music without much help.

With no investment apart from a laptop and a microphone, I have gone from having zero attention to having more than 140,000 streaming figures in more than 30 countries. I have had to work hard though.
Geordie Shore stars Bethan Kershaw and Beau Brennan have reportedly split after a series of explosive rows on the MTV series.

The two reality stars, both aged 25, are even said to have unfollowed each other on social media and have appeared to have removed all traces of their romance on Instagram.

Bethan and Beau met when they joined Geordie Shore for its nineteenth series last year and decided to pursue a romance after getting close in the house.

Split: Geordie Shore stars Bethan Kershaw and Beau Brennan have reportedly split after a series of explosive rows on the MTV series (pictured in November)

Yet it was soon trouble in paradise for the couple after they had several explosive rows during the MTV series with one argument resulting in Bethan reportedly storming off the show.

A source told The Sun: 'It's over - they're not together anymore.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for comment.

Bethan's reported split comes after her best friend and Geordie Shore co-star Chloe Ferry is said to have called it quits for good with on-off beau Sam Gowland following a turbulent nearly three-year romance.

Moving on: The two reality stars, both aged 25, are even said to have unfollowed each other on social media and have appeared to have removed all traces of their romance on Instagram

It was claimed earlier this month that Chloe packed up and moved out of the home they've been sharing.

The 25-year-old shared videos to her Instagram Story that hinted she was living in a new abode, as she cried tears of joy and shared a glimpse of the new house.

This comes after they couple previously split 'for good' in October then rekindled their romance on a group trip to Thailand in December.

Close: Bethan and Beau met when they joined Geordie Shore for its nineteenth series last year and decided to pursue a romance after getting close in the house

Trouble: Yet it was soon trouble in paradise for the couple after they had several explosive rows during the MTV series with one argument resulting in Bethan reportedly storming off the show

However, their third attempt at a relationship has now reportedly ended and Chloe is ready for a fresh start.

A source told The Sun: 'Chloe's finally cut ties with Sam and is moving on by herself. Today is Chloe's official moving day and she's so excited for the fresh start.

'It feels like the dawn of a new beginning for Chloe. No more Sam riding on her coat tails or trying to muscle in on what is hers.'

BFFs: Bethan's reported split comes after her best friend and Geordie Shore co-star Chloe Ferry is said to have called it quits for good with on-off beau Sam Gowland following a turbulent nearly three-year romance

It's OVER! It was claimed earlier this month that Chloe packed up and moved out of the home they've been sharing (pictured with Sam in happier times)

MailOnline contacted representatives for Chloe and Sam for comment at the time.

The couple went public with their romance in October 2017 but split in May last year after she accused him of cheating with Love Island beauty Amber Davies, something they both vehemently denied.

But reunion rumours circulated in December after it had been claimed that the Geordie Shore duo had moved back into the home they bought together.
A Statesville man has been sentenced to a prison term after being convicted of robbery.

Lonnell Jakwon Williams, 22, was sentenced by Iredell County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Joe Crosswhite to serve a minimum of eight years and a maximum of 10 years and eight months. A jury convicted Williams of robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. The verdict was reached Thursday, Feb. 20.

Williams co-defendant, Jaylen Tony Jones, 21, of Statesville, is serving a minimum of five years and maximum of seven years after he pleaded guilty in July. He is currently at the Pasquotank Correctional Institute.

Williams and Jones were charged with stealing $150 at gunpoint on Oct. 3, 2018. Statesville police officials said the two placed an ad on Facebook Marketplace advertising an Xbox for sale. The victims instant messaged them and agreed to purchase the Xbox for $150. They agreed to meet Williams and Jones in the 1300 block of Wilson Lee Boulevard at 11:30 a.m. When the victims arrived, police said, Williams and Jones walked over to their vehicle and a revolver-type handgun was pulled. They took the $150 and ran from the area, police said.
Concurs repetat pentru selectarea unei companii sociologice, care sa efectueze un studiu tematic "Barometrul opiniei publice in domeniul schimbarilor climatice"
Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician whose trailblazing contributions to the space agency during the Space Race got the silver screen treatment in the film Hidden Figures, has died, NASA announced Monday. She was 101.

Johnson played a pivotal role in many of NASAs first space missions  she did trajectory analysis for Americas first human spaceflight in 1961, and was also the first woman in the Flight Research Division to get credit as an author of a research report one year earlier, according to her NASA biography.

One of her most memorable contributions, though, came in 1962, when Johnson helped crunch the numbers that would control the trajectory of astronaut John Glenns orbital mission, making sure that those calculated by the IBM computer were correct.

We're saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson. Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers: https://t.co/Tl3tsHAfYB pic.twitter.com/dGiGmEVvAW  NASA (@NASA) February 24, 2020

If [Katherine] says theyre good, then Im ready to go, Johnson recalled Glenn saying, according to her biography.

Her hard work was highlighted in Hidden Figures, a best-selling book that was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae in 2016.

RELATED: Hidden Figures Real-Life NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson: If You Like What Youre Doing, You Will Do Well

Johnson was played by Henson in the film, which focused on the womens work as pioneering black female aerospace workers in a time when racial and social barriers still made achieving her level of success almost unheard of (she and her colleagues worked in a racially segregated computing unit until 1958).

Story continues

Katherine Johnson | Getty

Henson, 49, paid tribute to Johnson on Instagram, calling her a QUEEN and thanking her for sharing her intelligence, poise, grace and beauty with the world.

Because of your hard work little girls EVERYWHERE can dream as big as the MOON!!! she wrote. Your legacy will live on FOREVER AND EVER!!! You ran so we could fly!!! I will forever be honored to have been apart of bringing your story to life. You/your story was hidden thank GOD you are #hiddennomore. God bless your beautiful family. I am so honored to have sat and broke bread with you all.

She was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and went on to study at West Virginia State College, where she was the first African-American woman to desegregate the graduate school.

Johnson, nee Coleman, worked for years as a teacher before taking a job with NASA in 1953, where she was nicknamed the human computer.

I like to learn, she told PEOPLE in 2016. Thats an art and a science. Im always interested in learning something new.

Katherine Johnson | Getty

Before retiring from NASA in 1986, Johnson coauthored 26 research reports, and also worked on the Space Shuttle and the Earth Resources Satellite, according to the agency.

Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015.

RELATED VIDEO: Former NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson Makes PEOPLEs List of 25 Women Changing the World

She married her second husband James Johnson, an Army artillery officer, in 1959, according to the Washington Post, and was a mother to three daughters: Constance, who died in 2010, Joylette and Katherine.

I will always be grateful for her, her daughter Katherine told PEOPLE in 2016 of the mother she considered a role model.
U.S. stocks plummeted Monday, hitting Silicon Valley tech companies hard, after an explosion of new coronavirus cases reported around the world increased fears of a pandemic.

The Dow Jones fell 3.6%, with Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and Cisco each dropping more than 4%. Two Santa Clara chipmakers, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, plunged more than 7% on Monday.

Willy Shih, a management expert at Harvard Business School, said the coronavirus outbreak is showing the world what happens when the worlds second-largest economy is shut down.

This is a mess, Shih said.

Chipmakers are particularly caught up in the turmoil.

Chipmakers were hit the hardest because they have the biggest overall business exposure, Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, said in an email. Most electronics and technology products and even sub-assemblies are made in China, and if those manufacturers arent working, then chips arent being used, which leads to lower revenue.

But the malaise is hitting across the tech sector.

Peter Leroe-Munoz, vice president of technology & innovation policy at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, said members like Apple have been hit twice  once by a disruption in global supply chains, and again from lost sales from the massive Chinese market, with parts of the country under lockdown amid empty roads and closed stores.

Beyond production, tech also relies heavily on conferences that bring scores of companies together each year. But flight restrictions have reduced business travel, and some companies have pulled out of conferences  including some in San Francisco  as concerns about the virus swell.

At the RSA Conference, a major digital security convention in the citys Moscone Center that opened Monday, some key players were missing: IBM, AT&T Cybersecurity and Verizon all pulled out over coronavirus fears. Signs urged attendees to take precautions over health  like handwashing and not touching their nose or mouth  though the coronavirus was not specifically mentioned. Few attendees wore masks.

Im afraid its just a matter of time before the virus will spread, said Eric Kang, a Minnesota-based vice president at Swiss digital security firm Secude. He said that while he traveled to San Francisco for RSA, he will be canceling other engagements in Las Vegas; Washington, D.C.; and elsewhere because of the virus.

I just dont want to take unnecessary risks, he said.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed wrote a letter encouraging participants to attend the conference. The risk is low as the virus is not circulating in our community, she wrote.

Other conferences have also felt the impact. Facebook canceled its Global Marketing Summit that was scheduled in San Francisco next month. Kojima Productions, a Japanese company, announced Monday that it will not participate in the 2020 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco in March; Facebook and PlayStation made similar announcements earlier.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Leroe-Munoz said limited travel and canceled conferences hurt research and development.

It makes it more difficult to fund and ultimately build and innovate in a way that products and services will later be taken to the market, he said. There is going to be a little bit of a lag in innovation that were going to see down the line. The longer this virus persists and is not contained will lead to greater uncertainty, and uncertainty is always a drag on business and innovation.

In China, factories as long as multiple city blocks hold up to 20,000 workers who stand shoulder to shoulder on supply lines assembling small electronics and live with up to a dozen people in one room, Shih said.

A factory has to go through government inspections to reopen, and some workers, especially those from Wuhan and the rest of Hubei province, where the virus originated, cant travel to get back to their jobs, making it harder to restart, according to Stanford Graduate School of Business Professor Hau Lee.

Shih said that higher-value products like iPhones or semiconductors come in the air cargo bellies of passenger planes from China  all of which have been canceled from San Francisco International Airport through the end of April. SFO spokesman Doug Yakel said information on cargo numbers from the airline cancellations in February will not be available until next month.

Its a slow-motion train wreck, Shih said, adding: All of a sudden, this is a huge disruption to trade. Were going to have some time lags.

Mallory Moench and Chase DiFeliciantonio are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench @chasedifelice
The news was met with applause, but also caution.

Calhoun County officials gathered Sunday afternoon to discuss legal measures to keep Americans who have tested positive for coronavirus from being quarantined at a facility in Anniston.

Here is AL.coms complete coverage of the plan to bring coronavirus patients to Alabama

As the meeting unfolded before a packed room, Sen. Richard Shelby and Rep. Mike Rogers said the plan to bring the patients to Alabama has been cancelled. Residents clapped to hear the news, while some still asked if plans could change again. Nevertheless, officials assured residents they still plan on exploring any legal avenues to make sure that the transfer doesnt happen.

Were going to continue on, Calhoun County Commission Chairman Tim Hodges said. The Anniston City Council plans a 9 a.m. meeting Monday and Anniston city and council officials are planning a joint news conference at 11 a.m. with Rogers to address concerns.

However, officials said there are no coronavirus patients currently at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston.

They told us there are not any here, Hodges said. There are advance teams who had been logistically preparing at the center for the coming of patients. The CDP trains emergency responders from across the nation in responding to chemical, radiological and biological events through the Department of Homeland Security. The training deals with natural disasters as well as possible acts of terrorism.

Hodges said local governments were considering an injunction to simply give them time to prepare if patients were moved to the center. Calhoun County EMA Director Michael Barton said officials were briefed by the Department of Health and Human Services, but information was conflicting, to be honest.

That was not a vote of confidence, after officials said they were blindsided by an announcement on Saturday that the patients would be coming to the facility, located on the former Fort McClellan property.

It seems like they had not fully developed their plan and did not have a plan that was ready to be implemented, Barton said. What concerned them, Hodges said, was that the CDP is a training center and not a quarantine facility. Others raised concerns that local workers and area hospitals had not received training or equipment to deal with any issues related to the patients, if needed.

Its not the first time the CDP has been the reason for a health concern. In late 2016, FEMA revealed that almost 10,000 first responders training there had unknowingly trained with a toxic form of ricin over the course of four years. But the government said no CDP personnel or students were harmed during that time.

An overflow crowd of residents came to the commission meeting, asking for officials to make assurances that there were no patients at the CDP and that they would fight to prevent a transfer.

Bobby Foster, who works on the former McClellan property, said there is already too much misinformation in the community to deal with.

This is wild fire on social media, he told the commission. People think theyre already here. You need to get ahead of this.

Dora Jones, a resident of Anniston, said she wanted to be humane, but wanted to know if there would be specific staff to care for patients. Even if they quarantine them in the building, if someone in the building came down with the disease, they would have to go to one of our local hospitals, she said.

Another resident who spoke at the meeting said his biggest fear was lack of knowledge.

In neighboring Oxford, the city council had planned an emergency meeting Sunday afternoon, but adjourned it after hearing from Shelby and Rogers that the plan would not be moving forward.

Council President Chris Spurlin said the city was concerned

We were concerned on such short news about the evacuees being moved, afraid that our emergency personnel might not be prepared with such a short notice, he said.
The Earth formed much more quickly than we thought, according to a new study.

And it did so in a newly theorised way, with pieces of dust gradually sticking together to form the pro-Earth that became our planet, the research suggests.

The formation of that proto-Earth took 5 million years, according to the study from the Centre for Star and Planet Formation (StarPlan) at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen.

That is so quick that if the solar system's 4.6 billion years of existence were thought of as a day, the Earth only formed in about a minute-and-a-half.

The speed was the result of the way that the Earth formed, the scientists say.

Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust standing at three-light-years tall, bursting with jets of gas from fledgling stars buried within, was captured by Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope in February 2010 Nasa/ESA/STScI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever selfie taken on an alien planet, captured by Nasa's Curiosity Rover in the early days of its mission to explore Mars in 2012 Nasa/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Death of a star: This image from Nasa's Chandra X-ray telescope shows the supernova of Tycho, a star in our Milky Way galaxy Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Arrokoth, the most distant object ever explored, pictured here on 1 January 2019 by a camera on Nasa's New Horizons spaceraft at a distance of 4.1 billion miles from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory in January 2012. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon telescope, as part of a global collaboration involving Nasa, and released on 10 April 2019. The image reveals the black hole at the centre of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole resides about 54 million light-years from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Pluto, as pictured by Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft as it flew over the dwarf planet for the first time ever in July 2015 Nasa/APL/SwRI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures A coronal mass ejection as seen by the Chandra Observatory in 2019. This is the first time that Chandra has detected this phenomenon from a star other than the Sun Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks running downhill on the surface Mars were believed to be evidence of contemporary flowing water. It has since been suggested that they may instead be formed by flowing sand Nasa/JPL/University of Arizona Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Morning Aurora: Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station in October 2015 Nasa/Scott Kelly

The traditional story of the formation of the Earth suggests that it was formed as big planetary bodies collided with each other, gradually building up into the planet that would become our Earth over a relatively long period of a few tens of millions of years.

But the new study suggests our planet is the result of a much faster process of growth as tiny objects assembled to create what would become our Earth.

"The other idea is that we start from dust, essentially. Millimetre-sized objects, all coming together, raining down on the growing body and making the planet in one go," said associate professor Martin Schiller.

"Not only is this implication of the rapid formation of the Earth interesting for our solar system. It is also interesting to assess how likely it is for planets to form somewhere else in the galaxy."

The new study was made possible after scientists examined iron isotopes found on Earth, and comparing them across different meteorites. They found that there is only one type of material that looks similar to that on Earth, known as "CI chrondrites".

The dust in those meteorites is the best equivalent we have to our own solar system. A similar dust would have once been found in a disc around our growing Sun, in its earlier life, over a process of about five million years.

It was in that disc that the planets in the solar system were created. Researchers suggest that the particular make-up of Earth means that it must have already been made during this period, suggesting that it happened early enough that process had already happened.

'This added CI dust overprinted the iron composition in the Earth's mantle, which is only possible if most of the previous iron was already removed into the core. That is why the core formation must have happened early,' said professor Schiller.

'If the Earth's formation was a random process where you just smashed bodies together, you would never be able to compare the iron composition of the Earth to only one type of meteorite. You would get a mixture of everything."
She's been catapulted to the top of the Hollywood ladder thanks to her Oscar-nominated performance in the biopic Harriet.

And on Sunday night, Cynthia Erivo was feted once again, this time at the American Black Film Festival Honors in Los Angeles.

The British actress, 33, showed up to collect the Rising Star Award in a stunning blue patterned cutout dress.

Spotlight: Cynthia Erivo was feted at the American Black Film Festival Honors in Los Angeles on Sunday night where she was presented with the Rising Star Award for biopic Harriet

Erivo flashed a little cleavage in the sleeveless full-length dress which also showed off her legs thanks to the mesh pattern down the front.

The shoulder straps featured large silver clasps and she accessorized with several bracelets, rings and earrings.

Her eye shadow matched the color of her dress and she added rouge and glossy lip color to complete her look.

Looking fabulous: The British actress, 33, showed up in a sleeveless blue patterned cutout dress with large silver clasps on the shoulder straps

Blinged: The stylish dress showed off her legs thanks to the mesh pattern and she accessorized with several bracelets, rings and earrings

On hand at the event, too, was fellow honoree Jamie Foxx.

The 52-year-old was the recipient of the festival's Excellence in the Arts Award, which is presented to an artist in recognition of a body of work that has received critical acclaim.

Foxx, who won an Academy Award for Ray in 2005, was suave in a classic black tuxedo for his night in the spotlight.

Veteran actor Louis Gossett Jr. was honored with the Hollywood Legacy Award.

Gosset, 83, is best known for winning an Oscar for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer And A Gentleman and his main role in the 1977 TV miniseries Roots.

A-list: On hand, too, was fellow honoree Jamie Foxx, 52, who looked suave on the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo

Honored: Foxx was the recipient of the festival's Excellence in the Arts Award, which is presented to an artist in recognition of a body of work that has received critical acclaim

Familiar face: Veteran actor Louis Gossett Jr., 83, was honored with the Hollywood Legacy Award. He's best known for 1982's An Officer And A Gentleman and 1977 TV miniseries Roots

Eye-catching: Alisha Wainwright walked the red carpet in a strapless ivory dress that hugged her curves as it fell to the floor

Scandal: Wainwright, 30, made headlines late last year after being photographed holding hands with married co-star Justin Timberlake during a night out at a New Orleans bar

Among the celebrities who turned out to support the event was actress Alisha Wainwright.

Wainwright, 30, made headlines late last year after being photographed holding hands with married Justin Timberlake during a night out at a New Orleans bar during filming of their movie Palmer.

The Florida-born beauty looked gorgeous in a strapless ivory dress that hugged her curves as it fell to the floor.

She wore her long hair styled back from her face and accessorized with statement earrings.

Natural beauty: The actress wore her long hair styled back from her face and accessorized with statement earrings

Sparkly looks: Nafessa Williams, 30, (left), Tanisha Long, 35, (center) and Logan Browning, 30, (right) all opted for shimmery strapless dresses for their night out

Pretty: C. C. H. Pounder, 67, wore a colorful patterned number

Revealing: Malinda Williams, 44, served up a busty look in a low-cut lemon and silver patterned dress

Happy couple: Williams walked the carpet with her fiance Tariq M. Walker (left)

Red carpet ready: Sheryl Lee Ralph, 63, flaunted her curves in a long-sleeved yellow gown while Elise Neal, 53, dared to bare in an on trend shiny silver dress with thigh-high split

Suited up: Lena Waithe, 35, made a bold fashion choice with a purple suit and matching colored shirt buttoned up at the collar

Say cheese! Lena Waithe posed with the Industry Renaissance Award backstage with Crystal Windham (right)

Star power: Tiffany Haddish came along to present Erivo with her award and the two posed for photos together backstage

Excellence in the Arts Award: the Ray actor proudly held onto his honor as he gave an impassioned speech to the crowd

Unexpected: Leonardo DiCaprio made a surprise appearance on stage to present Foxx with his award

Pals: The two shared a hug on stage

Group shot: Foxx posed with his award backstage along with DiCaprio and Deon Cole, Jeff Friday and Suzanne de Passe

Old friends: Pounder presented the award to Gossett

Blast from the past: The cast of TV's The Wire led by Wendell Pierce reunited to take the stage to receive the Classic television Award at the ABFFH

Legend: Morgan Freeman backstage during the American Black Film Festival Honors Awards Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton

Stunning: Nicole Friday and Morgan Freeman posed for a snapshot backstage at the prestigious ceremony

And the winner is: The pair took to the stage to hand out one of the evening's accolades

Warm embrace: Friday and Freeman were more than jovial as they spoke before their peers

Reflecting: Images of Freeman were posted onto the award stage's screen

Making waves: Lena Waithe (right) Melina Matsoukas (left) were awarded the Renaissance Award
MANILA, Philippines  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday confirmed that the repatriation of Filipinos aboard the novel coronavirus-hit M/V Diamond Princess in Japan will push through on Tuesday, February 25, although some who work in the cruise ship may have to stay behind.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, DFA Assistant Secretary Ed Menez said they have yet to get the final number of Filipinos aboard the cruise ship who would be repatriated on Tuesday.

The vessels management also gave an indication that they may need some Filipino crew members to stay behind for the ships continued operation and maintenance.

Ang Diamond Cruises mismo ang nagsabi na titignan namin kung sino lang ang kailangan na crew members na essential para patuloy ang pagtakbo nung ship maintenance siguro pero lahat ng di essential kailangan ay nang umuwi, he said.

Repatriated Filipinos from the cruise ship will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period at a facility in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

A total of 538 Filipinos  531 crew members and seven passengers  were on the ship when it was placed under quarantine in Yokohama, Japan earlier this month after one of its passengers tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Of this number, 400 have expressed the desire to avail of the Philippine governments repatriation program while some manifested their intent to remain on the ship, according to Menez.

Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they have also received information that some Filipino crew members are still allowed to perform their job even while the ship was on quarantine.

They have said that some of these crew members were allowed to do their functions like serving food going and bringing these different provisions for the passengers, she said.

As of Monday, February 24, the number of Filipino found infected with the disease has climbed to 59.

Two have been discharged from the hospital after recovering from the illness.  RRD (with details from Correspondent Dante Amento)

The post Some Filipino crew of virus-hit cruise ship in Japan may have to stay behind  DFA appeared first on UNTV News.
HOLYOKE  On Sunday, the Holyoke St. Patricks Parade Committee and veterans groups honored the late President John F. Kennedy during the annual Irish flag raising at the monument that bears his name and image.

Committee members, veterans, and guests gathered for the flag-raising off Sycamore Street. Parade Committee President Marc Joyce and Grand Marshal John J. Driscoll led the proceedings.

Honorees included past grand marshals, Awards Recipient Brynn Feyre-Gillis and John Beaulieu, and Grand Colleen Moira McDermott and Court Members Haley Dusseault, Natalie Mayko, Patricia Haradon and Emily Couture.

Attendees sang the American and Irish national anthems before the flag-raising.

Ray Feyre, the 2015 Grand Marshal, said the ceremony began five years ago, a way for the committee and veterans to remember Kennedy, who marched in the 1958 parade. The committee recognized the then U.S. Senator for his Irish American heritage.

The event also kicks-of the St. Patricks Parade season.

After Kennedys assignation in 1963, the committee renamed the award after the president. Last Sunday, the committee announced banker and Holyoke native David Glidden as the 2020 JFK National Award Recipient.

Early in the parades history, the route covered Appleton Street, not far from where Kennedys statue resides at the foot of Our Lady of the Cross Church.

Feyre said the Kennedy family had supported the parade committee over the years, including the presidents brother, the late U.S. Sen. Edward M Kennedy.

Its been great to have the Kennedys throughout the years. Ted Kennedy would stop by here every time he was in Holyoke and pay respects to his brother, he said.

Driscoll, who became grand marshal 60 years after his father held the title, said he was 6 years old when Kennedy marched in the parade. My father was very involved, and he was on the committee that used to select the JFK Award winner, he said.

He still has photos of his father, Dr. John J. Driscoll, and Kennedy on the City Hall reviewing stand. My father loved him, and he thought he was a great guy. He was impressed that Kennedy came back here several years while he was a senator, Driscoll said.

Driscoll recalled his parents packing his siblings in the family car for Kennedys 1960 campaign stop in Springfield. We waited out there to see him come by for about 10 seconds, he said. Here we are honoring him again. Its a nice closed circle for me.

With bright skies and temps in the mid-50s, Joyce hoped the trend continues to the March 22 parade. He thanked American Legion Post 325 and the other veteran organizations for their assistance.

Its special for all our past grand marshals and our current grand marshal, Jay Driscoll, Joyce said. Were proud this monument can be constructed in Holyoke with the assistance of past grand marshals, the parade committee and the City of Holyoke.

He added, Every time you drive by it, you cant help be reminded of all the good things did and, unfortunately, the good things he would have done if he had survived. Joyce was 12 years old when Kennedy died.

Before the March 21 Bishops Mass, Glidden will lay a wreath at monuments base, a tradition for all JFK Award Recipients. He has a long family history with the parade committee, Joyce said.

Joe Bevins, of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 625, raised the flag along with Driscoll, Joyce and McDermott. American Legion Post 351, Disable American Veteran Chapter 11, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart were in attendance.

McDermott said, Its exciting to be part of this community and meeting people who served our country.
The sale of a stake in Mexicos giant Zama oil field promised to help Premier Oil pay down debts and strengthen its balance sheet, but an ownership conflict is complicating that process.

Some international oil companies operating in Mexico are waiting for a resolution to a conflict between Talos Energy, the fields primary shareholder, and state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos to resolve their dispute before they consider bidding on Premiers minority share in Zama, three oil executives with blocks in Mexico told Bloomberg News, requesting anonymity because the information is confidential.

Premier Chief Executive Officer Tony Durrant cautioned against a quick sale last month because the conversations were complicated. He had previously told Bloomberg that there was serious interest in the asset, which investment bank Jefferies Llc initially estimated at $439 million.

The price will be affected by a continued uncertain investment environment in Mexico, said John Padilla, managing director of IPD Latin America, in an interview in Mexico City. Theres a lot of uncertainty right now. That always breeds selling and buying, but the question is at what price.

While Zama was first hailed as the biggest success of Mexicos energy reforms, the 2017 discovery by Talos, Wintershall Dea GmbHs local subsidiary Sierra Oil & Gas and Premier, has run into some hurdles. The deposit spread beyond the boundary of Taloss block and into one owned by Pemex. Talos is holding discussions with Pemex to determine ownership of reserves that overlap the neighboring regions, but the talks have stalled amid a disagreement over who owns a majority of the shared reservoir and who will operate it.

The Zama sales process is ongoing and the company remains in discussions with interested parties, Premier said in an emailed statement in response to questions. The company announced in August that it was selling its minority interest in Zama.

Pemex didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.

Political uncertainty

Industry members fear that under the more nationalistic government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Pemex could receive a bigger share of the pie. Lopez Obrador has dialed back the energy reforms of his predecessor, suspending oil auctions and tenders enabling companies to partner with Pemex.

Pemex has said that the majority of the field probably belongs to the state. Talos, meanwhile, contracted Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc. to conduct a study which showed that 60% of the resources of Zama are located in block 7  the area that Talos and its partners won in Mexicos first competitive oil auction in 2015. The evaluation put Zamas reserve estimate at 670 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent.

The company is open to finding an appropriate role for Pemex, Talos Chief Executive Officer Timothy Duncan said in a phone interview this month. There are various roles and titles in different jurisdictions that could serve as a model.

The decision over how to divide Zama could be made by the National Hydrocarbons Commission, known as CNH, and the Energy Ministry if the parties dont come to an agreement.

Talos has drilled four exploratory wells so far in Zama, and Pemex was authorized by the CNH to drill its own well nearby between January and March.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Police are investigating a homicide after a man died Friday in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood.

Around 3:30 p.m., officers learned of a deceased man near Jennings Street and Wallace Avenue, police said.

Police believe an assailant fatally shot the victim, who the city's medical examiner's office has identified as 33-year-old Michael Hampton of San Francisco.

Police described the suspect as a man in his 20s wearing blue jeans and a red shirt. He was allegedly armed with a gun and was seen in a sedan-type vehicle, police said.

Anyone with information about the homicide is encouraged to call the San Francisco police anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to send a tip by text message to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start of the message.

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.
US President Donald Trump arrived in the capital on Monday evening for the main leg of his maiden India trip during which he will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump is accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration.

The US president arrived in Ahmedabad around noon for a little less than 36-hour-long trip to India.

After attending the Namaste Trump event at Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, he and his delegation travelled to Agra where they visited the Taj Mahal.

Trump was received at the airport here by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and a number of senior officials.

He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday morning. Trump will also pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Modi and Trump will later hold restricted and delegation level talks at the Hyderabad House here.

The US President will be staying at ITC Maurya hotel.
Hundreds of supporters and opponents of the law in Jaffrabad clash for second day as Trump kicked off his India trip.

New Delhi, India  At least three civilians and a police officer have been killed in violence in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on the day US President Donald Trump kicked off his two-day trip.

Nearly 50 people, including 37 police officials, have been injured after supporters and opponents of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) clashed on Sunday and Monday in the northeastern part of Delhi after alleged provocation by a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kapil Mishra, who led a rally in support of the new citizenship law.

A tyre market was set on fire later on Monday, the Press Trust of India said. One video posted on social media showed crowds of men shouting Jai Shree Ram or Hail Lord Ram, a revered Hindu deity, as they went on a rampage, according to the AFP.

Several vehicles and a fire truck were torched in Jaffrabad and Maujpur in the northeastern parts of the capital as police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Breaking now: one civilian dead in Delhi group clashes, one policeman dead. Tragic. While Delhi police focusses on security cover for our VVIP guest, while our leaders invoke Mahatma legacy, maybe time to be more pro active in ensuring peace on the street? @IndiaToday tv  Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) February 24, 2020

In a video posted by Mishra on Twitter, he was heard issuing an ultimatum to police to remove anti-CAA sit-ins in the area where hundreds of protesters, mostly women, blocked a road and demanded the revocation of the law, which critics say goes against Indias secular constitution.

In the video, Mishra said they would be quiet while the US president was in the country.

Giving a three-day ultimatum to Delhi police to clear the roads in Jaffrabad and Chand Bagh of protesters. Dont try to reason with us after this, Mishra can be heard saying in Hindi in the video. He added that if the roads were not cleared, we will be forced to hit the streets.

A ruling party leader flanked by a senior police official issues an open warning. No one has acted against him -neither the police or his party. 24 hours later, violence in east Delhi spirals, the police seem adrift. #chronology https://t.co/dEYS9zMSjf  Sreenivasan Jain (@SreenivasanJain) February 24, 2020

Hundreds of women have been peacefully protesting against the CAA since Saturday night near the Jaffrabad Metro station. But on Sunday, after Mishra led the rally, his supporters pelted us with stones leading to clashes, Zohran, a Jaffrabad resident, told Al Jazeera.

He said his uncle was also beaten up by an angry mob as he was returning home from a religious gathering which had nothing to do with the protests.

What we saw today is the result of Mishras comments, Zohran added.

The BJP leaders are trying to give the protests a Hindu-Muslim colour. They incite people in the name of religion which is very unfortunate.

Delhi police said some incidents of violence and arson were reported and they appealed to the people of Delhi and particularly to the North East District to maintain peace and harmony.

Indias Home Minister Amit Shah called an urgent meeting of top officials of Delhi over the violence in Jaffrabad.

People supporting the new citizenship law beat a #Muslim man during a clash with those opposing the law in New Delhi, India, February 24, 2020. The location is Chandbagh opposite Bhajanpura. @Reuters photo by @dansiddiqui .#DelhiBurning pic.twitter.com/SjBiesgQmd  Syed Hassan Kazim    (@kazimtweets) February 24, 2020

Yesterday, BJP supporters came to Jaffrabad and incited people. Police officials were there but they did nothing, Nadeem Khan, a Delhi-based activist, told Al Jazeera from Jaffrabad.

Members of various right-wing organisations, brought from various places, threw stones on houses and beat up the locals. Its clearly an organised, preplanned attack, he added.

Activist Harsh Mander said he was very fearful that the state will now try to crush the dissent, the spontaneous non-violent uprising across the country, with extreme use of force.

They make it into a Hindu-Muslim issue, spread lies and propaganda but that hasnt worked for them this time, Mander said before adding that its clear that they [BJP] will create hatred and incite violence in order to crush the anti-CAA movement.

Opposition Congress party spokesman Sanjay Jha termed the situation in the capital as extremely distressing.

Its disturbing that violence has escalated into a full-fledged riot with police forces unable to control mob fury. The death of a police constable manifests the gravity of the madness on the streets of Delhi. Provocative inflammatory speeches from leaders of the ruling dispensation are responsible for encouraging thugs, with police often a mere bystander, said Jha.

BJP spokesman Nalin Kohli said the violence in the capital city was highly condemnable.

The culprits must be identified, strictest action should be taken against them. There is after all the death of a police officer and 37 police officials have been injured.

This is making a mockery of what is supposed to be peaceful protest.
The dramatic, stirring words Lt. Col. William Barret Travis, Alamo commander, penned in a letter to the people of Texas and all Americans in the world, echoed across Alamo Plaza in a brief re-enactment Monday.

I have sustained a continual bombardment for 24 hours and have not lost a man, historical reenactor Erik McBroom, portraying Travis, told an audience of about 200 people, including dozens of schoolchildren, in an almost verbatim delivery of the legendary 164-word victory or death letter carried by couriers to East Texas and reprinted in newspapers and broadsheets.

The event was among the first of many daily period demonstrations and special events that run through March 7 at the famed battle site in observance of the 13-day siege and battle for Texas independence from Mexico. The series began over the weekend with historical demonstrations and a re-enactment Sunday of the arrival of the Mexican army in San Antonio on Feb. 23, 1836.

On ExpressNews.com: Alamo hosting two weeks of commemorations

When the letter was written on Feb. 24, the Alamo co-commander, Col. Jim Bowie, had fallen ill, leaving 26-year-old Travis, a former lawyer and newspaper editor, in charge of a garrison with only about 200 Texians and Tejanos, suddenly surrounded by 1,600 Mexican troops.

The Mexican army was led by Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who was well known for the take-no-prisoners style of warfare he had learned as a young Spanish officer at the bloody 1813 Battle of Medina south of San Antonio.

In his letter, Travis reported he had answered Santa Annas demand for surrender with a cannon shot, and shall never surrender or retreat.

Then, I call on you in the name of liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch, he wrote, warning that the enemy is receiving reinforcements daily.

If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country  Victory or Death, he added, handing the letter to courier Albert Martin, who carried it out of the Alamo.

On ExpressNews.com: What an 1836 newspaper story about Travis letter might have looked like

The only known favorable response was from 32 men from Gonzales who entered the fort, a former mission, on March 1, one day before delegates signed a declaration of independence about 100 miles to the east.

At least 189 known Alamo defenders, including the 32 from Gonzales, were killed in a predawn assault on March 6, 1836. Texas won independence at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.

Ernesto Rodriguez, Alamo curator, called the Travis letter one of the most famous letters to ever be written by anyone.

It is a plea for help. And in the world we live in today, unfortunately, writing isnt the same, Rodriguez told the audience, including students from Gregorio Esparza Elementary School, named for a Tejano Alamo defender, who were invited by Alamo officials to the event.

When you listen to the letter being read, you will notice that it is a very eloquent piece of literature, Rodriguez said. Unlike today, if somebody writes something, its (punctuated with a) little happy face, little sad face, thumbs up. And so weve lost that traditional way of writing.

The original letter, usually kept in Austin in the custody of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, returned to the Alamo for the first time in 2013 for a special public display in the Alamo church during the anniversary of the siege that year.

McBroom, 37, of Oklahoma City, said he has done historical reenactment for years. He added Travis to his repertoire after Alamo visitors began telling him he resembled the young commander. He has since studied historical descriptions of Travis, who was one of the first men killed in the battle when he was shot in the head.

On ExpressNews.com: Alamo project under way, but with battle fronts looming

People have just kind of latched onto me and said, That looks like Travis. Let me get a picture with him, McBroom said. If youre going to present this to the public in this type of forum, you have to do that in the most accurate way possible, for somebody that important in history.

Alamo CEO Douglass W. McDonald, who has led the staff at the historic site for nearly three years, said the Alamo is trying to build the programming more each year for the battle anniversary.

And this year, it has new programs, new activities and new energy, and we expect to have larger attendance, McDonald said.

Visit thealamo.org for more information.

Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore law and order in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi during protests for and against the new citizenship law. "Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in.

"I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic)," he tweeted.

Tension escalated in northeast Delhi with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, where pro and anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.
by Claire Chambers

In Owen Bennett-Joness ten-part podcast, The Assassination, which he made for the BBC World Service in 2017, listeners become immersed in the circumstances around the murder of Benazir Bhutto ten years earlier. They learn of the security concerns, sectarian hatred, and patriarchal demands faced by even this most privileged woman. Benazir, a dynastic leader from Pakistans best-known political family, was perceived by some extremists as belonging to the despised sect of Shiism because her Iranian mother was Shia. She and her husband Asif Ali Zardari  Mr Ten Percent  were rightly under investigation on extensive corruption charges. On top of that, misogynists were incensed by her claims to power; indeed, her son Bilawal has written that she was held to a different standard just because she was a woman.All that being said, the most alarming danger at this authoritarian moment in 2007 was that the powerful wished to silence her calls for the reinstatement of democratic rule in Pakistan.

As she returned to her country after eight years of self-imposed exile in Dubai, Benazir reflected in her posthumously-published memoir Reconciliation that she understood the dangers and the risks. Yet nothing could have prepared her for the violence that erupted within hours of her arrival in the fatherland. What Benazir called her caravan of democracy, a specially adapted flatbed truck with an escape hatch through which she could wave to the vast crowds gathered to greet her, was attacked by a suicide bomber. The unsuccessful sortie against her on 19 October resulted in the deaths of 179 people in Karachi, including more than fifty of Benazirs volunteers who were acting as human shields. It is chilling to read Benazirs words: It was the worst sight I had ever seen, and Im sure the worst sight that I will ever see as long as I live. She was right in this assertion, as she would only live for ten more weeks

Even more chilling is the act of reading Benazirs Reconciliation alongside her father Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos If I Am Assassinated. Zulfikar wrote this book in 1978 from the District Jail, Rawalpindi, where he was languishing after Zia-ul-Haq deposed him in a coup. Zulfikar was hanged by President Zia almost three decades before the assassination of his daughter who, for all her faults, was equally as courageous as her father. In his polemical text, Zulfikar wrote, the regime has gone berserk in not only trying to destroy my image, but in trying to present me to the people of Pakistan and the world as the greatest villain. I did my best. The regime has done its worst. It is less clear whether Benazir was also doing her best for Pakistan, as she avers in Reconciliation, or simply bent on lining her own pockets. What is certain is that history repeated itself after her assassination. The establishment similarly tied itself into pretzels to prove her villainy or persuade the public that her own foolhardiness led to her death.

The former premier knew before she left Dubai that there were four types of suicide bombers who would be likely to target her: al-Qaida; members of both the Pakistani and the Afghan Talibans (the latter probably linked with militants from the then-recent Red Mosque siege); and an unspecified group of extremists from Karachi.

According to Bennett-Jones, the culprit of her eventual assassination on 27 December 2007 was actually a fifteen-year-old member of the Pakistani Taliban. This boy from war-torn South Waziristan was known by the nom de guerre Bilal. He had received training at the famous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa madrassa Darul Uloom Haqqania. It is not for nothing that in her monograph Making Sense of Pakistan Farzana Shaikh refers to [t]he institutional capacity of the clerical establishment to resist and stand aloof from the state. There was no fallout for the seminary which, despite counting among its alumni the murderer of a former prime minister, continues to thrive as one of Pakistans elite madrassas.

Detectives found it easy enough to piece together Bilals identity due to a macabre quirk of suicide bombings. The human bomb  a person, yet seen by handlers and investigators alike almost as an inanimate object  has his face blown clean off its skull by the explosion. Bilals face mask, as with that of scores of other such attackers, was found near the scene of the crime, eerily intact. Scientists in Cambridge could then ascertain from this flattened visage his appearance. From evidence of an unfused skeleton found in other retrieved body parts, they determined that he was still an adolescent child.

Because of an intercepted phone call in which the Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud congratulated an associate on a job well done, many commentators (including Bennett-Jones) have concluded that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan were the ones giving young Bilal his orders. But in his book Getting Away with Murder Heraldo Munoz, the former head of the UN Commission of Inquiry into Benazirs killing, casts some doubt on this. He says that the tape-recording was received and translated from Pashto extraordinarily quickly. Munoz expresses ironic admiration at this release at a press conference given by the interior minister from Musharrafs military junta the very next day. There the authorities also victim-blamed by saying Benazirs death came when she hit her head on a lever from her vehicles escape hatch. This is incorrect: she was likely killed by a bullet to her head, which Bilal shot at close range just before he blew himself up.

It should not escape our attention that there had been infiltration of the Pakistan Taliban by the states administrative and security Repressive State Apparatuses. Some politicians and espionage chiefs found groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Haqqani Network useful assets in manoeuvring against India (and, to a lesser extent, Russia) in Afghanistan, Kashmir, and elsewhere. There was a degree of sympathy towards the Pakistan Taliban from the spying agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and more than a dash of ideological overlap between the two organizations.

Beyond the immediate wrong-doers, there were therefore four other culpable parties: Pakistans deep state, which as mentioned cultivates jihadists for use in Afghanistan and India; the establishment; General Pervez Musharraf; and members of Benazirs own party the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). In his chapter Whodunit, Munoz asserts:

In Benazirs case [], it would seem that the village assassinated her. Al-Qaida gave the order; the Pakistani Taliban executed the attack, possibly backed or at least encouraged by elements of the Establishment; the Musharraf government facilitated the crime by not providing her with adequate security; local senior policemen attempted a cover-up; Benazirs lead security team failed to properly safeguard her; and most Pakistani political actors would rather turn the page than continue investigating who was behind her assassination.

If it takes a village to raise a child, how horrifying to see that a similar horde is needed to slay a woman.

Though there is no other evidence to connect him to her murder, Musharraf had motives for not protecting Benazir. She had reneged on two parts of a deal: to support him staying on as president if she made her bid to become prime minister, and not to return to Pakistan until after the election. In an email to CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer (via her friend Mark Siegel) to be published in the event of her death, Benazir blamed Musharraf. Bewailing a litany of impediments: stopping me from taking private cars or using tinted windows or giving jammers or four police mobiles to cover all sides, she claimed none of these obstacles would be in her way without his say so. Munoz too calls it discriminatory that Benazir wasnt afforded the top tier of security given to two other ex-prime ministers. In 2015 Siegel would testify in court that Musharraf threatened her over the phone while she was in America preparing for her homecoming. Visibly shaken after taking the call, Benazir reported that the general had darkly pronounced that her security would be dependent on the nature of their relationship.

Munoz compares Musharrafs machinations to Henry IIs question Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest? Just as the kings minions took this as a directive to kill the archbishop Thomas Becket, so too Musharrafs laxity proved fatal. The former president was in fact put on trial for her assassination in August 2013, but he refused to appear and in 2017 the court declared him a fugitive, and was closed without coming to a verdict.

The PPP security detail were derelict in their duty of care to protect her. She died almost alone, her party workers having fled the site of the bomb-blast. Only the doughty activist and her close personal friend Naheed Khan was by her side. Khan took her to hospital, where after an hour of failed attempts at resuscitation she was pronounced dead.

As with the PPP security personnel who skulked off, the state also didnt want to know. There was a police coverup, which can be clearly seen in the swift hosing down of two crime scenes: the Karachi failed assassination site and Liaquat Bagh.

What followed, Bennett-Jones and Dawn correspondent Ziad Zafar show, were nine other extra-judicial killings. Included among the fallen was a security guard Khalid Shahenshah, who was behaving mysteriously on stage and miming slitting his throat. Standing near Benazir just before the assassination, video footage of his suspicious movements quickly went viral and launched a thousand theories. Shahenshah was sprayed with bullets seven months later at his house in Karachi. Baitullah Mehsud himself also died, in an August 2009 drone attack likely coordinated by the Americans with intelligence from Pakistans shadowy ISI.

Conspiracy theories began swirling almost immediately. One of the most persistent allegations was aimed at Asif Zardari. Benazirs husband allegedly had the strongest motive because he benefited when he became Pakistans eleventh president in September 2008. This is mere victim-blaming, according to their son Bilawal. To be sure, the former premier still sounds very upset about the death of his wife and his childrens mother in The Assassinations interviews. But his niece Fatima Bhutto, who hates Zardari since she believes he was behind the murder of her father Mir Murtaza Bhutto in 1996, states in Songs of Blood and Sword that [p]eople were saying the same sort of thing about his responsibility for Benazirs death.

There is no evidence to support these rumours about the widowers connivance in Benazirs slaughter, according to Bennett- Jones. The BBC reporter instead advances the argument that Benazir crossed the bloodiest of red lines when she said publicly that she would give access for the International Atomic Energy Agency to talk to Abdul Qadeer Khan if she returned to power. AQ, as he is commonly known, had sold Pakistans nuclear secrets to the United Statess enemies Iran, North Korea, and Libya. In their book The Nuclear Jihadist, Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins observe that even as Benazir and AQ got to know each other during her two terms of office (1988-1990 and 1993-1996), the relationship between them remained formal, and she distrusted him. The authors report an aides recollection that Benazir found the nuclear scientist and father of the Islamic bomb unruly, and too closely aligned with the military and intelligence factions that opposed her. In the post-9/11 climate, she thus had little compunction in saying she would cast him adrift for the IAEA to question.

Bennett-Joness finding is that this West-friendly statement is what sealed her fate. Winking at or actively involved in AQs dealings with rogue states, the military and intelligence factions she spoke of were incandescent at what they saw as her betrayal of Pakistans security. Several of the highest officials felt they simply couldnt afford for this popular politician to rise to the premiership once more.

Whoever is ultimately to blame, Munoz remarks sagely that Pakistan is a country where matters seldom come to any conclusion. As Benazir herself wrote in her posthumously-published memoir:

[I]n Pakistan things are almost never as they seem. There are always circles within circles, rarely straight lines. This [her attempted assassination] was meant to look like the work of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, and I do not doubt that they were involved. But the sophistication of the plan [] suggested a larger conspiracy.

Small wonder, given the undeniable existence of duplicitous wheels within wheels, that many Pakistanis quickly don tinfoil hats at moments of crisis.

Strange coincidences abounded. The location where assassin Bilals mission triumphed was Liaquat National Bagh in Rawalpindi. Not only was this the same city where her father had been killed, but looking further back in history to 1951 it was also the same park where Pakistans first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan had been assassinated. Not only that, but the doctor who spent an hour fruitlessly trying to revive her at Rawalpindi General Hospital was the son of the medic who had done the same for Liaquat fifty-six years before.

In an essay on Benazir written for a collection I co-edited some years ago, Cara Cilano argues that the female leader is paradoxically understood as at once saviour and a victim. She is often taken to represent both personal and hereditary victimhood and the saving of Pakistans supposedly benighted people from despotism. Criticizing the hallowing of Bhuttos image in post-9/11 America, Cilano suggests that Benazir was interpreted by many in 2000s Washington as representing Pakistans last best chance for democracy. Simultaneously, her threatened female corporeality was taken to stand for the civilizational vulnerability of the US and the West more broadly.

When compared with Bennett-Joness examination of the leadup to Benazirs assassination, flaws are revealed in both these otherwise excellent analyses. For instance, Cilano overstates Americas preference for Benazir. After all, the US refused to provide her with private security from the military company Blackwater. Instead White House insiders favoured a compromise deal where she would work with General Musharraf, George W. Bushs friend, after her return to Pakistan. Meanwhile, in his forensically-researched podcast Bennett-Jones nonetheless comes across as rather too embedded with the Bhutto-Zardari family. He downplays though does not deny the accusations of corruption against her and her husband, and contributes to the myth-making around Benazir which Cilano lambasts.

Nonetheless, what a story these nonfiction authors have to work with! In my next post for 3QD, I will return to the subject to see what novelists have done with the raw ingredients of hope, greed, tragedy, revenge, and familial drama surrounding Benazirs untimely death.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has decided to screen passengers from Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia too, after new COVID-19 cases were reported from these countries since Saturday. Earlier, the officials had been screening passengers from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and Japan.

Meanwhile, a media bulletin issued by the Directorate of Public Health on Sunday said, Till date, 63,769 passengers have been screened at airports in Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore. Among them, 2,429 passengers are under home quarantine for 28 days.

Till now, 47 samples were taken from passengers and sent for testing at King Institute of Preventive Medicine in Guindy, and the National Institute of Virology in Pune. The samples tested negative for COVID-19 infection. The health status of all the passengers under observation at homes are stable, the bulletin added.

In its communication letter to the States, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, A detailed review of the COVID-19 cases was taken up at the Cabinet Secretary level. In view of the rise in cases in other countries, it was decided to expand universal screening of passengers arriving from Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. The Union Health Ministry also requested the State Health departments to have a detailed review of airports.
No NRC in Bihar says Nitish Kumar

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Patna, Feb 24: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reiterated on Sunday that the National Register for Citizens would not be implemented in Bihar and only the National Population Register would be updated the way it was done in 2010.

The Janata Dal (United) president had in December already made its stand clear that the NRC would not be implemented in the state, though the party supported the Centre's Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

"NRC is not going to be implemented here (in Bihar) and only NPR will be carried out the way it was done in the year 2010. It will be done on the basis of that only," Kumar said in an official release.

He said this while addressing a function at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University at Chandanpatti in Hayaghat block of Darbhanga district, where he laid foundation stones for several schemes worth Rs 80 crore pertaining to minority welfare department.

Assam NRC data back online after 10 days: Report

Kumar laid stones for a 100-bed hostel at Biraul in Darbhanga, 100-bed hostel each for girl and boy for the university students, G plus three multi-storeyed building at waqf land and 560-capacity intake minority residential school, the release said.

Kumar had asked the Centre to drop new columns in NPR forms like parents' places of birth and Aadhaar, saying they were "not necessary" and might lead to apprehensions.

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 8:14 [IST]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says a section of the media has been trying to twist comment by acting Chairman, I...





The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says a section of the media has been trying to twist comment by acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, at the Passing Out Parade of its Detective Inspector Course 5 cadets.





The event was held at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in Kaduna on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.





Magu, during his speech at the event, clearly said: I strongly believe, Your Excellency, that even coronavirus is caused by corruption.Footage of the comment has been circulating on the internet has drawn criticism.





But on Sunday, EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, in a statement, insisted that Magu didnt mean it that way.





He quoted Magu as saying: Your Excellency, corruption is worse than cancer, Ebola-virus, Corona-virus and all other deadly diseases put together. Fighting corruption is thus a crusade against the evils of our society that are deeply-rooted and threatening to consume us.





Orilade stated that the EFCC is appalled by the fact that a section of the traditional and the New Media has been obsessed with a campaign to impugn and irritate the Commissions boss.





It should be noted that we have restrained ourselves from joining issues in a certain section of the media in the light of what Magu said on Corona-virus, but we are now constrained to issue this clarification because we least expect a medium like one of the national newspapers to join in the fray.





EFCC added that the war against corruption is on course and the commission will not be distracted in eliminating corruption in Nigeria.




Volkmarsen: Manuela Mattner says she is lucky her five-year-old son was unhurt when a man rammed his car into a carnival procession in the western German town of Volkmarsen simply because his father pulled him away from the speeding vehicle.

"If my ex-husband had not reacted so fast, my son would be in hospital or maybe dead," said Mattner, dressed in a black and white pirate costume with gold lining as she walked out of a bar near the site where 30 people were injured.

"He called me to tell me a car had driven into the parade and that they are both fine and that my son was crying and wanted to see me," added the 40-year-old nurse. "The driver clearly hates carnival but we love it."

The driver has been arrested by the police. Credit:AP

As night fell on this town of 7000 people, residents were still wondering what had sparked the rampage on "Rose Monday", a day of festivities ahead of the Christian season of Lent marked by street parades featuring comical and satirical floats.
P riti Patel has called for a formal investigation into claims she is being side-stepped by intelligence chiefs who do not trust her with certain information.

An ally of Ms Patel said she was "absolutely livid" and has demanded the Cabinet Office carry out a leak inquiry into the so-called "hostile briefings" at the Home Office.

However, Cabinet Office sources were adamant that a request had not been received either formally or informally.

On Sunday, MI5 - which often refuses to comment on newspaper reports - took the unusual step of strongly denying the claims it was limiting intelligence sharing and said Ms Patel was the victim of a dirty tricks campaign.

Ms Patel was promoted to Home Secretary under Boris Johnson last summer / PRU/AFP via Getty Images

But former minister Theresa Villiers hit out at the claims about Ms Patel on Monday morning. She told BBC Radio 4's Today Show: "I'm sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office.

"I think whoever's making these briefings should stop it."

Asked if she thought there was some misogyny in the comments aimed at Ms Patel, she said: "Yes, yes I do."

The latest allegation came after the Home Secretary was accused of bullying officials and creating an atmosphere of fear at the department, which allies denied.

She has expressed concern at the "false allegations" being made about her following claims of bullying and now distrust from senior intelligence officials.

An unnamed official was quoted in The Sunday Times claiming MI5 found Ms Patel "extremely difficult to deal with" and that she "doesn't grasp the subtleties of intelligence".

Another said Ms Patel was now receiving less information from the Security Service than her predecessor because of her attitude.

Following the report, a security source told The Guardian the information was "simply untrue" and that she was getting the same information from the agency as the previous Home Secretary.

Some of Ms Patel's allies believe officials are carrying out briefings in her absence because they do not like being challenged.

A Home Office spokesman said: The Home Secretary and permanent secretary are deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media.

They are focused on delivering on the Home Offices hugely important agenda, which includes creating an immigration system that works for the UK, putting more police on the streets and keeping the public safe from terrorism.

A Government spokesman responded: The Home Secretary and MI5 have a strong and close working relationship, and baseless claims to the contrary are both wrong and against the public interest.

The Home Secretary receives the same daily intelligence briefings as her predecessors, and no information is being withheld.

Allies have publicly defenced the Minister but Ms Patel has demanded an inquiry into leaks / Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images

Home Office Minister James Brokenshire said Ms Patel is demanding but he does not accept claims that she is a bully.

Yes, she is demanding, but in that role you have to be because you are dealing with some of the most sensitive, some of the most challenging things that you have to deal with across Government, he told Sky News.

I think the Home Secretary is absolutely focused on the public good, the agenda that weve set around policing, on immigration and indeed around counter-terrorism and security.

He described the reports as absolute nonsense, but conceded that there is huge frustration across the Home Office around some of the false assertions that have been made publicly.

It emerged last week that she had tried to move permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam from her department after they had a series of rows.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis was warning against the creation of hit lists for civil service staff.

His comments followed suggestions that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his chief adviser Dominic Cummings want to replace a number of officials as part of a Whitehall shake-up.

Speaking on BBC Ones The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Davis suggested the current issues in the civil service would not be resolved via a firing squad.

Ms Patel took up her first role in Cabinet in 2016 under then Prime Minister Theresa May. She was forced to resign a year later after it was revealed she failed to tell No 10 about a series of meetings she had with Israeli ministers while on a supposed holiday in the country.
In a wooded area between the W Road and Taft Highway on Albion Street lies the former residence of Byron De La Beckwith, convicted killer of National Association Advertisement of Colored People (NAAC) Mississippi field secretary Medgar Evans on June 12, 1963 in Jackson, Mississippi.

De La was born on November 9, 1920 in Colusa, California and at the age of six moved to Greenwood where his mother died of lung cancer when he was 12. After an unsuccessful college career, Beckwith enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and was assigned to duty as a machine gunner in the Pacific in World War II. He participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal and was wounded in the stomach during the battle of Tarawa. He received a Purple Heart and was honorably discharged in 1945.

When he returned to Greenwood after the war he married his first wife, Mary Louise Williams (1946-1960) and became a member of the Ku Klux Klan and the segregationist White Citizens Council that was formed after the ruling in 1954s decision of Brown v. Board of Education.

The Council used a variety of economic tactics to suppress black activism and sustain segregation by boycotting black business, denying loans and credit to blacks, and other non-violent actions.

However, Beckwith as a white supremacist and Klansman did not believe that the violent (Klan) and non-violent (Citizens Council) efforts were successful enough in stopping integration of the races and on June 12, 1963 he shot Medgar Evers as he was getting out of his car at his home. He was shot in the back by an assassin from across the street.

Although Beckwith was arrested for the crime, two all-white male juries could not reach a verdict in 1964. The White Citizens Council had paid for his legal defense in both trials.

Beckwith moved to the residence on Signal Mountain and lived a rather obscure existence with his second wife, Thelma Neff (1981-2001) until Medgar Evers widow, Myrlie Evers Williams, pushed for another trial after a newspaper investigation revealed proof that a state agency committed jury tampering in the 1964 trials.

Times had changed in the 1990s and a new and ambitious prosecutor, Bobby DeLaughter, brought a third indictment before the grand jury in Jackson charging De La once again in 1990.

He was extradited back to Mississippi and, after several unsuccessful years of legal maneuvers by his appointed defense counsel, (See De La Beckwith v. State 707 So.2d 547 (Miss 1997) cert, denied 525 U.S. 880) he went to trial. This was over objections by his lawyer to dismiss the charges on grounds of denial of a speedy trial due process of law and protection from double jeopardy. The Mississippi Supreme Court by a vote of 4-3 hence denied the motion to dismiss.

In January the third trial started and the physical evidence was the same except Beckwith had made several admissions before witnesses that he had shot Evers and stated that killing him gave me no more inner discomfort than our wives endure when they gave birth to our children. He was also quoted as saying, When I go to Hades I am going to raise hell all over Hades till I get to the white section, for the next 15 years, we here in Mississippi are going to have to do a lot of shooting to protect or wives and children from a lot of bad (N word)."

A mixed jury of black and white jurors found De La guilty of first-degree murder without the possibility of parole and sentenced him to life imprisonment at Central Mississippi Correctional Center.

On January 21, 2001 at the age of 80, De La died at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi after suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure and other ailments.

He was interred at Chattanooga Memorial Park, also known as White Oak Cemetery, in the community of White Oak. Many publications have been written about the murder of Medgar Evers. The feature film, Ghosts of Mississippi (1966), tells the story of the murder and 1994 trial. James Woods performance of De La Beckwith was nominated for an Academy Award.

Bobby DeLaughter who was once being considered for a federal judgeship, was suspended from the practice of law by the Mississippi Supreme Court on allegations of bribery and judicial corruption while a state judge.

On July 30, 2009, he pled guilty to one federal obstruction of justice charge and was sentenced to 18 months in the federal prison at McCreary, Kentucky. Said charge was linked to the criminal investigation of tort, asbestos and tobacco litigation lawyer, Richard Dickie Scruggs. Scruggs would be sentenced to jail for five years and was disbarred from the practice of law.
In 1999, I travelled 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 tent-like 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. And women could seek treatment only if accompanied by a male relative, even though many war widows had none.

I cant help recalling Stanekzais remarks as this peace process play out. Much has changed in Afghanistan during the past 20 years, but theres little sign the Taliban have changed their 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 of the Taliban holding to a seven-day significant reduction in violence nationwide, beginning with this past 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 different civil society groups. Their goal: 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 U.S. is satisfied with progress during the next four months, it will draw down its 14,000 military personnel according to an agreed timetable, starting this year. Supposedly a final withdrawal will depend on progress in the Afghan talks and proof the Taliban will keep any new terrorists down.

Yet is highly unlikely that the Taliban (or it fighters) will be willing to become one political party among many.

They are demanding a restoration of their former Islamic Emirate, where religious law would replace the current Afghan constitution with its guarantees of basic human rights, including for women. And 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, D.C. They know the U.S. is desperate to get out. And they hope they can ride U.S. impatience to the victory they cant win in the field.

Toward that end, the Taliban are already trying to burnish their image and airbrush their history.

The New York Times ran an op-ed by one of their most bloodthirsty leaders, Sirajuddin Haqqani, on Friday, who is on the U.S. terrorist list, in which he claims we were forced to defend ourselves and the killing must stop. Youd think from his piece that he spoke for all Afghans.

Youd never know from this pious piece that this mans Haqqani network was responsible for some of the bloodiest 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 in the last decade  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, prosecutors 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 peacemaker as he paints himself, that hes behind some of the most ruthless attacks of this war with many civilian lives lost.

This U.S.-Taliban deal may present an opportunity, but only if the White House holds out for a negotiated solution, not just a photo op at Camp David. And if Trump isnt gulled by Taliban sweet talk.

Pulling the plug too soon will destroy all U.S. leverage and hand victory to the Taliban. In that case, this peace plan will only produce more tragedy for Afghans and more security threats to the U.S.

Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Readers may write to her at: Philadelphia Inquirer, P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, Pa. 19101, or by email at trubin@phillynews.com.

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Jharkhand High Court on Monday barred people from other states from availing reservation in government services.

The court passed the order by a majority of 2:1, on a plea by Ranjit Kumar, a permanent resident of Bihar who had sought reservation in the police service.

The court had reserved the order in the case in October last year.

Additional Advocate General Manoj Tandon who had appeared for the state government said,"Today the High Court pronounced judgement in a matter related to the reservation in government services in the state of Jharkhand. The judgment states that the individuals who are not permanent residents of Jharkhand can not avail any kind of reservation in government services. It is for everyone irrespective of their categories."

The petitioner contended that in unified Bihar - now the states of Bihar and Jharkhand - his caste is included in Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories, so he should get reservation under these categories.

The petitioner also argued that he has been living in Jharkhand since its formation and hence cannot be denied the benefits of reservation.

This argument was opposed by the state government and it said that only permanent residents of Jharkhand can be given benefits under the reservation policy of the state.

Justice HC Mishra, one of the three judges who gave the verdict rejected the government's appeal and said that since it is a matter related to undivided Bihar, hence, the benefit of the reservation should be given, but other judges did not agree to this.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Endorsement list

Regarding Our endorsements for March 3 primaries, (A11, Feb. 18): I greatly appreciate your review of the candidates for the local elections, especially the judges. As you accurately state in the penultimate paragraph of your recommendations, I am daunted by the challenge of so many candidates and do not personally have the time to investigate their qualifications. As the Washington Post notes, Democracy dies in darkness. Thank you for shedding light on our elections.

Frankie Ann Holmes, Bellaire

In this years crowded ballot, your voter information was a beacon in the darkness of finding pertinent information on the candidates! Thank you for this service to the community!

Ann Terrell, Houston

The Houston Chronicle has now published its recommendations in local judicial primaries. The paper somehow crammed all the contested trial court primaries into one editorial, spending just a few sentences on each race, and examining no further than trite bromides like board certification or the Houston Bar Association polls, which disproportionately disfavor judges who are persons of color or fair to the little guy.

I have disagreed, often vehemently, with the Chronicle in previous judicial endorsements. Yet I always respected an editorial board process that gave background on each candidate, and defended the reasons for, say, eschewing an incumbent, taking a chance on a challenger or going with an unorthodox pick. This time, I often disagree again, but it is hard for me to identify why, exactly, the Chronicle erred, because it only gave its ruling, and not its reason.

Houston simply deserves better. Already, this newspaper is the only institution in town that dedicates any prose whatsoever in defense and explanation of endorsements downballot. The electorate deserves not just a list of names, but a reason why, or why not, each is worthy, or unworthy, respectively, of our votes.

Noah M. Horwitz, Houston

U.S. House

Regarding Bush for Dis. 22, (A14, Feb. 19): The editorial board wrote that Pierce Bushs family connections could make him more effective. Did the board have some kind of special amnesia for the years 2001-2009? We had a president then whose Bush family connections did little to prevent disasters in Manhattan, Iraq, New Orleans and the American financial system. Maybe its time to expect something more than name recognition from our elected officials. President Donald Trump has high name recognition, too.

John Mitchell, Richmond

Democratic debate reactions

Regarding Bloomberg under fire in debate debut, (A1, Feb. 20): After watching Michael Bloomberg debate and learning that he has spent over $400 million of his own money so far, I couldnt get the old Beatles song Cant Buy Me Love out of my mind.

Larry Roland, Fulshear

I watched the debate and have never seen a debate run this poorly. The moderators did not control the candidates who just talked when they wanted and say what they wished without regards to any decorum. Kindergarten debates are more civilized. Rules were completely ignored. The only candidate observing the rules appeared to be Michael Bloomberg. This show was comedy at its worst, a shouting match. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders have completely lost my respect. They are like 2-year-olds talking; one not listening to the other. Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Joe Biden tried to follow some civility, the others not at all. A total waste of time. Sad.

Marvin Eisenberg, Sugar Land

It is instructive to compare the ages of our leaders and many of our wannabe leaders. Sen. Bernie Sanders is oldest at 79, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is youngest at 71, Joe Biden is 77, Michael Bloomberg is 78, President Donald Trump is 74. By contrast, the leaders of our two most formidable adversaries are both younger, Russias leader Vladimir Putin is 67 and Chinas Xi Jinping is 66. It would appear that Americans look to the past for leadership, while our adversaries look to the future. President Ronald Reagan was 69 when he became president, and he faced an aging leadership in the Soviet Union (which had three leaders die during President Reagans term in office). It is past time for the younger generation to step to the fore.

Gonzalo Martinez, La Porte

The debate over capitalism versus socialism and the polls asking people if they prefer one over the other are absurd.

I work for a company that is based in Sweden. I travel to Sweden and Denmark. There are clear signs of thriving capitalism everywhere. What you dont see? Homeless on any streets. Everyone has health care. I work with these people. They are taxed more, but the social support they get in return provides them a high quality, contented life with a lot fewer stresses than we Americans face daily.

If pollsters and pundits would start asking the right questions theyd get totally different answers. The problem is too many have too much invested in the status quo.

Mike Beck, Houston
Alisha Wainwright's star continues to shine.

The 30-year-old actress looked amazing in a shoulderless cream gown with golden vertical embellishments at the American Black Film Festival Honors, which was held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday.

The Raising Dion beauty had her wavy black locks pulled back as she posed on the red carpet, accessorizing with golden bracelets and rings, with large earrings at the industry event.

Very beautiful: Alisha Wainwright, 30, donned a shoulderless cream gown with golden vertical embellishments at the American Black Film Festival Honors, which was held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday

Among the stars slated to be honored at Sunday's proceedings included Jamie Foxx, with the Excellence In The Arts Award; Cynthia Erivo with the Rising Star Award; Lena Waithe with the Industry Renaissance Award; and Louis Gossett Jr. with the Hollywood Legacy Award.

Wainwright, who's also been seen on Shadowhunters, made headlines months back when she was snapped November 21 in a cozy embrace with Justin Timberlake, her co-star in the upcoming film Palmer, at the Old Absinthe House in New Orleans.

The relationship between Timberlake and his wife of seven years, actress Jessica Biel, 37, fell under scrutiny in the wake of the outing, and the Can't Stop the Feeling! artist took to Instagram the following month with a statement about what had happened.

'I stay away from gossip as much as I can, but for my family I feel it is important to address recent rumors that are hurting the people I love,' the Memphis, Tennessee native wrote in the social media post.

Gorgeous: The Raising Dion beauty had her wavy black locks pulled back as she posed on the red carpet

In the limelight: Wainwright made headlines months back when she was snapped November 21 in a cozy embrace with Justin Timberlake

Beauty: The actress has also been seen on the TV series Shadowhunters

He continued: 'A few weeks ago I displayed a strong lapse in judgement - but let me be clear - nothing happened between me and my costar. I drank way too much that night and regret my behavior. I should have known better.'

The What Goes Around... Comes Around artist, who shares four-year-old son Silas with Biel, cited his family in the social media statement.

'This is not the example I want to set for my son,' he said. 'I apologize to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation and I am focused on being the best husband and father I can be. This was not that.'

Timberlake wrapped up in saying he's 'incredibly proud to be working on Palmer' and is 'looking forward to continuing to make this movie and excited for people to see it.'

Breathtaking: The actress posed with confidence at the luxe event in La La Land

Out and about: Timberlake and Biel were seen in LA earlier this month at the premiere of season three of her show The Sinner
Vijayawada: Political stability and investment opportunities have guided the United States in prioritising the prominence to be given to states during the visits of the Presidents to India.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has been invited to dine with President Donald Trump during his visit to New Delhi this week. Former chief ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had hosted visiting Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush Jr respectively in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

While Mr Naidu lobbied hard with various agencies to include Hyderabad in Mr Clintons itinerary, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy was clueless about Mr Bushs visit till the Centre informed him about it and asked that necessary arrangements be made.

Sources said Mr Chandrashekar Rao too came to know about the dinner invitation only when it arrived.

A combination of chief ministers of BJP and non-BJP ruled states are invited for official dinners and Telangana is preferred among non-BJP states because of the larger business interests of US-owned MNCs in Hyderabad and their inputs about the citys good investment climate, a senior Central government official concerned with the visit told Deccan Chronicle.

Explaining the process of selecting the stop-overs, a retired bureaucrat in the then Chief Ministers Office, who had coordinated Mr Bushs visit to Hyderabad, said an advance team from the US had visited Hyderabad and in the preparatory meeting held at Grand Kakatiya Hotel, US officials had mentioned Dr Rajasekhar Reddys contribution to the then United Progressive Alliance government coming to power and the influence he wielded in the Centre.

We were made to understand that the US, as a policy, cultivates relations with federal governments on foreign soil, keeping its long-term interests in mind, the bureaucrat said.

Mr Naidus implementation of the World Bank-dictated economic agenda and his frequenting the World Economic Forum in Davos for investment opportunities put Hyderabad on the global map.

Undoubtedly, his ability to pull off the Microsoft deal coupled with the emergence of Satyam Computers as a global player was an advantage and Mr Naidu maintaining good relations with diplomats in New Delhi added to our efforts, an official who was at the helm of affairs during Mr Naidus tenure recalled. The Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government, which depended on Mr Naidus support, initially did not put any spokes in the wheel.

President Clinton visited Hitec City and Mahaveer Hospital, while Mr Bush went to the agricultural university to see its research facility and interact with women self-help groups in Rajendranagar and the Indian School of Business, where he announced that a US Consulate would be set up in the city.

Mr Naidu tried to take maximum advantage of President Clintons visit by repeatedly mentioning it in his speeches for years together. Dr Rajasekhar Reddy, however, never took credit for, nor made a mention of, the visit of President Bush. He was not awed by the visit, a close associate of YSR said, adding that if there was anything of importance to him (YSR) it was the Congress high command.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: In what seems to be a dig at Pakistan, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu said one of Indias neighbours has been training and funding terrorists and spreading the virus to hurt India. To understand and foil their attempt, the police in the country have to be more vigilant and ensure better policing.

I call upon the police forces to be more alert and vigilant as certain forces want to create disturbance in our country. One of our neighbours is aiding, abetting, funding and training terrorists and we can see its effects in the country. The police and the society have to be alert to understand their evil designs and make sure their efforts are foiled to keep the country safe, said Naidu, while speaking at the closing ceremony of 20th All India Police Band Competition-2019, conducted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the South Central Railway (SCR) on Sunday.

Talking about smart policing, he said it does not mean police wearing new suits and boots, but making smart decisions. Smart-policing means advancement in technology, taking smart action and giving smart responses. I have been to many countries, which is why I think there is a lot of scope for improving the image of the Indian police. Appreciating the Police Department for the work they have been doing, he asked them to be people-friendly. All the policemen across the country should be people-centric and people-friendly, he added.
Bigg Boss 13s Asim Riaz Gives Heads Up For Next Project With Bohemia, Jacqueline Fernandez Likely To Join
VANCOUVER - Money laundering has distorted British Columbia's economy, fuelled the opioid crisis and overheated the real estate market, the province argued at the start of an inquiry into the criminal activity on Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Commissioner Austin Cullen looks over the hearing room before opening statements at the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia, in Vancouver, on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER - Money laundering has distorted British Columbia's economy, fuelled the opioid crisis and overheated the real estate market, the province argued at the start of an inquiry into the criminal activity on Monday.

Jacqueline Hughes, a lawyer for B.C., said in her opening remarks that money laundering is not a victimless crime and has significantly affected ordinary residents over the past decade.

"The Lower Mainland has, unfortunately, earned an international reputation as a haven for money laundering. This did not happen overnight or without warning signs," she said.

"The past cannot be undone. But what government can do going forward is learn from the past and take proactive steps to make British Columbia the most difficult jurisdiction in which to launder money."

B.C.'s NDP government called the independent provincial inquiry last year after three reports revealed that casinos and horse racing as well as the real estate and luxury car markets had become laundromats for the proceeds of crime.

Hughes told commissioner Austin Cullen that the stories of millions of dollars flowing through B.C.'s casinos in shopping bags have become well-known and the public deserves answers.

"Was there wilful blindness to what was going on in favour of income generated for public or private persons? Are there legislative barriers that prevent prosecution?" she asked.

"Most importantly, what is the true extent of money laundering in the province and what steps can we take to stop it?"

She said the government has taken steps including creating a beneficial ownership registry to prevent real estate buyers from hiding behind corporations and requiring those spending $10,000 or more at casinos to verify their source of funds.

But Hughes said there is still more work to be done and B.C. is looking forward to the inquiry's findings.

Federal agencies, including the RCMP and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, or Fintrac, also bear responsibility for fighting money laundering and B.C. Attorney General David Eby has called on Ottawa to boost their resources.

Judith Hoffman, a lawyer for the federal government, said it committed more than $170 million to Fintrac, the RCMP and the Canada Revenue Agency in the 2019 budget and met with provincial officials at a money laundering summit last June

While B.C. has received much of the attention, money laundering is a national concern, she said.

"Throughout Canada, there is widespread recognition that more must be done to combat this threat. Alongside the federal government, provincial and territorial governments have an important role to play," she said.

Fintrac is not an investigative body but instead collects intelligence and turns over leads to law enforcement, she noted.

Cullen said Fintrac has an "enormous" mandate with thousands of entities reporting to it. He asked the federal government to turn its attention, as the inquiry proceeds, to whether the agency is capable of responding to B.C.'s concerns.

However, a lawyer for the provincial Crown corporation that provides gambling services said it believes that much of what has been said publicly about its responsibility for money laundering is "misinformed."

William Smart said B.C. Lottery Corp. has consistently reported suspicious transactions to Fintrac and pointed out unusual conduct to the gaming policy enforcement branch. However, he said enforcement is the job of police and regulators.

The corporation has brought in measures to control or prevent the flow of dirty money since 2012, including creating an anti-money laundering unit made up of certified investigators and intelligence analysts, he added.

A lawyer for Great Canadian Gaming Corp., which owns several B.C. gambling sites including River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond and Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver, also defended the company's efforts to limit money laundering.

"Many public criticisms that have been made about its conduct and actions are factually unfounded or overly critical," said Mark Skwarok.

But Stephanie Smith, president of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, told the commissioner that her members' lives have been altered or endangered by the proliferation of money laundering.

Members include workers in the gaming policy enforcement branch, employees at River Rock and other casinos in Metro Vancouver, and health workers thrust to the front lines of the opioid crisis, she said.

"BCGEU members have experienced unique impacts, including seeing their livelihoods and personal safety threatened by the criminal activity that has been allowed, possibly even encouraged, to flourish in B.C.'s gaming sector," Smith said.

She encouraged the commissioner to recommend improvements to keep staff safe from gang members and stronger protections for whistleblowers, adding the inquiry would later hear from former employees who suffered retribution for speaking out.

Counsel for the Law Society of B.C. said lawyers may be at risk of being involved in money laundering when creating corporations, charities and trusts, and helping clients buy real estate and other assets, but the society has rules to mitigate the risk.

Ludmila Herbst argued it's important to ensure that the legal profession remains independent from government. The right to solicitor-client privilege and the duty of lawyers to protect their clients' interests must be preserved, she said.

Opening arguments are scheduled to continue through Wednesday. The inquiry will reconvene in May to quantify the extent of the problem in B.C., before main hearings are held from September through December to dig into specific industries.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 24, 2020 - 23:41 | World, All, Coronavirus

North Korea has quarantined around 380 foreigners across the country in an attempt to prevent an outbreak of a new pneumonia-causing coronavirus raging in neighbor China, state-run media said Monday.

The report comes as North Korea has cut off traffic to and from China and Russia since earlier this year in the wake of the spread of the new virus, which causes the disease officially known as COVID-19 that has infected more than 70,000 people and killed 2,000 worldwide.

The official media did not elaborate on the details of the foreigners, but foreign affairs experts speculated that they could be diplomats stationed in Pyongyang and those who are engaged in trading with North Korea.

North Korea has already stepped up preventive measures against the new coronavirus, first detected late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Earlier this month, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported, "The isolation period in the territory of the DPRK shall be prolonged to 30 days for the time being," referring to the nation by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Related coverage:

South Korea confirms 161 new coronavirus cases, total reaches 763

G-20 offer little reassurance over economy amid virus outbreak

Diamond Princess evacuee confirmed infected in Hong Kong

The Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, also said Sunday that all products arriving at North Korea should be left at isolated areas for 10 days.

Pyongyang has claimed that no person has been sickened with the new coronavirus in North Korea so far, as it has implemented such steps as conducting screening for all citizens to detect possible infection in an early stage.

North Korea is believed to be vulnerable to infectious diseases against the backdrop of chronic food and medical shortages triggered by economic sanctions aimed at thwarting Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions.

In the past, North Korea barred foreigners from entering the country during the 2002-2003 epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014.

In South Korea, meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has sharply increased in recent days, prompting President Moon Jae In to raise the nation's virus alert level to the highest in the four-tier system.

In a meeting Sunday in Seoul with top government officials and municipal authorities, Moon said the situation surrounding the outbreak has "reached a serious turning point."
There are two images of Julian Assange that display the deeply contradictory views of his supporters and his critics.

The first is of Assange at the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, microphone in hand, addressing the media gathered in the street below. That low-angle image captures the hero of transparency, accountability, the scourge of the powerful, who has dug around electronic rubbish bins for secrets that governments would rather keep hidden. It shows a man defiantly standing up to the might of the United States by exposing corruption and human rights abuses and defending press freedom.

Julian Assange being taken from court last year. Credit:AP

The other photo is of a fugitive, unkempt, wild-haired and shackled as he is dragged off to prison. That image is used by those who see an egotistical, misogynistic hacker who has gleefully exposed a swag of national intelligence secrets and placed countless lives and the security of several nations at risk. They are the ones who accuse him of hypocrisy, claiming the moral high ground of press freedom and democracy while cosying up to some of the worst abusers of both principles. To those folks, he deserves everything he is getting.

As a London magistrate's court begins hearing the US extradition case against Assange, those voices are likely to only get louder.
Delhi Police Special Commissioner, Crime, Satish Golcha on Monday requested the people to help police in ensuring that law and order is maintained in the city.

"We are trying to maintain law and order. We have been requesting everyone to come forward to support the Delhi Police in maintaining law and order. Our officers are holding foot marches and are appealing to gatherings to disperse peacefully," Golcha told reporters here.

Earlier today, stone-pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur area due to which the police resorted to firing tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob.

Maujpur is close to Jaffrabad metro station area, where women are holding a protest against the CAA amid heavy security.

In view of the developments, entry and exit gates of Maujpur and Babarpur metro station have been closed.

Earlier in the day, the entry and exit gates at Jaffrabad station was closed in the morning due to the anti-CAA protest.

Protest against CAA and NRC, which began the late evening on Saturday at Jaffrabad metro station continued today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Charities in Northern Ireland are reporting a fall in donations from the public though the amount they're getting from the government is up, according to a survey today.

Bosses of charities and social enterprises said cashflow had stabilised, with an increase in funding from government for the first time in at least four years.

But there were concerns over the future as around 29% of bodies making up the so-called third sector are reliant on funding from the EU.

Today's Ulster Bank and C03 third sector index also said around one-third of bodies were increasing their staffing.

And around 60% said demand for their services - which includes care, counselling and support, and training and development - grew in the second half of last year.

Nora Smith, chief executive of CO3, which represents leaders of charities and social enterprises, said: "Recent years have seen the sector squeezed by reduced government spending, but the latest survey is encouraging in that it suggests that both overall income and the amount of income from government increased in the second half of last year.

"This has helped ease cashflow pressures somewhat. However, whilst this is positive, financial pressures do still remain, relating to things like rising salaries, increases in demand for services, and meeting the National Living Wage," she added.

Two-thirds of third sector bodies said they were receiving funding from government, while under half get public donations. However, in the first C03 survey, carried out in 2016, 69% said they got public donations.

But Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey said sustainability of funding was a concern.

"Despite rising demand, income generation remains the number one challenge facing the sector in 2020 with 56% of respondents citing it as the top issue.

"When you factor in that 29% of organisations are also currently in receipt of EU funding - and the UK has left the EU - this provides another source of uncertainty with funding into the medium to longer-term."
The UAE Armed Forces signed five deals with a total value of over Dh156 million ($42.5 million) on the first day of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX) 2020, reported state news agency Wam.



"The total value of external deals reached Dh90.5 million whilst the total local contract deals amounted to Dh65.5 million," said Staff Brigadier Tareq Mohammed Al Bannai, spokesman for the UMEX and SimTEX 2020 exhibitions being held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.



Staff Brigadier Tareq Mohammed Al Bannai, spokesman for the UMEX and SimTEX 2020 exhibitions, confirmed that a contract was signed with Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments Company, ADASI, to purchase unmanned UAVs at a value of Dh55.1 million and with the Emirati company, EARTH, to purchase unmanned vehicles worth Dh10.3 million.



Staff Brigadier Al Bannai also pointed out that the US company, Insitu, was contracted to provide technical support for unmanned UAVs, at a value of Dh50.2 million, and the Ukrainian State Foreign Trade Enterprise will buy UAVs, worth Dh2.6 million. The UK company Caintech was also contracted to provide air systems worth Dh37.6 million.
A group of local activists wants to drastically limit how much San Antonio Water Systems leader is paid, among a slate of city charter amendments designed to change how the city-owned utility is governed.

The newly formed SAWS Accountability Act PAC, along with groups including the Alamo Sierra Club and the League of Independent Voters, is pushing for amendments that would slash the SAWS CEOs pay, limit the CEOs tenure in office and place stricter term limits on the utilitys board members.

Under the proposed amendments, the CEO could not make more than 10 times what the utilitys lowest paid full-time employee makes, which is about $31,720.

With that restriction, the most that CEO Robert Puente could make is $317,200  about half his current pay.

Last summer, the SAWS board of trustees bumped up Puentes salary by 5 percent to $496,520, along with a $100,000 bonus.

On ExpressNews.com: SAWS chief gets salary increase and a bonus

That figure doesnt look good to SAWS customers paying high water rates, said Reinette King, a spokeswoman for the coalition.

When they see how theyre being overcharged and they see (Puentes) salary ... its like waste, King said.

Puente has defended his pay level in the past and noted that he declined bonuses in 2010 and 2018.

Its not like Im just here to earn a paycheck, Puente said in August. I want to do well.

Under another one of the amendments sought by the group, the CEO could not serve in that role for more than eight years unless voters allowed the person to stay for another four.

Puente became SAWS CEO in May 2008.

The limits sought by the PAC and its allies are identical to those that voters placed on the city manager in November 2018.

In that election, voters passed a charter amendment limiting city managers pay to 10 times that of the lowest-paid full-time city employee. The change was sought by the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, the result of a years-long fight with former City Manager Sheryl Sculley over the unions contract.

Sculleys base salary was $475,000 at the time of the vote. Her successor, Erik Walsh, makes $312,000, the maximum allowed by the amendment.

The proposed SAWS amendments would also place more stringent term limits on board members.

The City Council appoints six members to the seven-person SAWS board. The mayor is the seventh member. Board members are capped at two four-year terms but are allowed by state law to continue to serve until the council names a replacement, which could mean serving indefinitely.

The coalition wants to end that practice  a measure aimed squarely at the boards chairman, Heriberto Guerra.

Council members named Guerra  CEO of Avanzar Interior Technologies, a local Toyota parts supplier  in 2011 to serve out the rest of a term vacated by Alex Briseno, a former city manager.

The council reappointed Guerra in 2014 to a term that expired in May 2018. Though his term ended nearly two years ago, Guerra has remained as chairman, waiting for a replacement to be named.

The proposed charter amendment would set a 30-day limit on how long board members could serve after their terms are up.

When your term is up, your term is up, King said.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg calls for end to bonuses for utility chiefs

Guerra has been allowed to stay in his role to oversee the completion of the 142-mile Vista Ridge pipeline, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. Guerra is slated to step down this summer after construction of the project is completed, Nirenberg said.

That pipeline is expected to begin pumping water from Burleson County in April, at a cost of more than $2 billion. The average monthly residential water bill is expected to jump to $88 this year, about $12 of which stems from Vista Ridge, according to the SAWS website.

King and others involved with the amendment push have criticized the Vista Ridge project as costly to ratepayers.

Among the other changes sought by the coalition: the City Council would get more say in SAWS lobbying efforts, and SAWS projects costing more than $1 billion would be subject to third-party audits.

The petitioners are trying to get the measure on the May 2021 ballot. Under state law, they have to collect at least 20,000 signatures from registered voters in San Antonio to get the measure on the ballot.

Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A user may not think twice when sharing exercise stats on an app with their trainer, but several University of Michigan researchers warn health privacy is affected as technology advances.

Healthcare professionals and lawmakers should be more concerned than ever about the uses of patients data outside the clinical setting, Jessica Golbus, a cardiovascular medicine fellow at the Michigan Medicine Frankel Cardiovascular Center, said.

Golbus and two colleagues authored a perspective Privacy Gaps for Digital Cardiology Data: Big Problems With Big Data," in the medical journal Circulation, which will publish on Tuesday.

In it, Golbus and her colleagues argue there is a greater role of physicians responsibilities to educate their patients on privacy when recommending technology, and a greater role for legislation that could protect data use.

The article came from conversations about digital interventions in health care. As more research began to show commercial interest in health-generated data, the team wondered about the implications. Of 24 prominent, medically related apps found that 19 shared user data with 55 unique entities, according to a 2019 study cited in the perspective.

Golbus said part of the issue is apparent in the narrow scope of the Health Information and Privacy Protection Act, or HIPAA. The U.S. health-data privacy law regulates data between healthcare professionals and patients, but not un-identified data.

Data without a name can still create a picture of someones health, Golbus said.

For example, somebody that shared a story on a website about depression -- that may be clear that person has depression, she said. "But you could also gain information from people searching for light therapy lamps and then if that person likes posts on a website from other patients of depression, these online sources may be able to combine or triangulate this information make inferences about health, in this case perhaps depression.

Even voluntarily shared data can face similar privacy concerns. If a patient is a Bluetooth-connected blood pressure cuff and an app to share the data, such as their heart rate or blood pressure, with their physician, that information is protected. However, if that patient shares that data with their fitness trainer or nutritionist, the data is unprotected. That data can be used in combination with other analytics to piece together more information about a person.

Even actions outside of health apps could be used in relation to health data. Processes like geofencing, or using smartphone-based location to trigger a digital response, could indicate how often a user visits a fast-food restaurant. That data can be used then to make predictions.

Third-parties may then use that information for sales, loan eligibility or create a health score to make decisions about life insurance or employment, she said.

But that doesnt mean doctors should shy away from mobile apps and other data-centered patient products, Golbus said. Not all health correlations are covered in non-discrimination laws.

Were really excited about the types of the things that we can do with this data to help our patients and deliver targeted interventions, she said. "We really are of the belief that all of this data were generating is ultimately for good and to help our patients. We also want to make sure were thoughtful while were doing this and that our patients are educated.

The team argues that once clinicians educate themselves on the topic, they will be able to have frank conversations about data privacy. Its too big of a burden to expect users to read lengthy, often technical privacy policies, Golbus said.

The authors also argued broader privacy laws would be better in the long run. They pointed to the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation passed in 2016 as an example. That law requires data processors and controllers to provide users with their own data, clearly disclose data collection, set high-privacy defaults and more.

Although we do not regard the General Data Protection Regulation as a panacea, the United States needs law that governs data, not just a limited number of covered entities that hold it, and embraces a broad and inclusive definition of health-related data, without the artificial distinctions inherent in HIPAA, the article states.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

10 things to know about health-insurance and ACA trends in Michigan

Design revealed for new Ann Arbor Area Transit Authority buses

Moldy lemons, ungloved hands among Washtenaw County restaurant violations for January
BURNT HILLS  Students from Richard H. O'Rourke Middle School won 4th place in the national Future City Competition.

The Burnt Hills students created a plan they titled Nerosparta for the "Clean Water: Tap Into Tomorrow" competition, earning $750 for the school's STEM program.

The annual event, held this year in Washington DC on Feb. 16, challenged middle school students to design solutions to important problems. This year, the students were asked to identify urban water threats and develop a plan to ensure that clean drinking water can be delivered to every home.

The 4th place award was funded by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
(Newser)  The judge overseeing Roger Stone's case has firmly rejected his defense team's demand that she step aside because of alleged bias. US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who sentenced the Trump ally to 40 months in prison last week, dismissed the motion to disqualify her as a publicity stunt, the Washington Post reports. "Given the absence of any factual or legal support for the motion for disqualification, the pleading appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use the Courts docket to disseminate a statement for public consumption that has the words 'judge' and 'biased' in it," she said in a six-page order issued Sunday night.

story continues below

Stone's lawyers argued that Jackson should be disqualified because she said during Thursday's sentencing hearing that jurors "served with integrity," reports Politico. She said Sunday the remark was based on the conduct of the "uniformly punctual and attentive" jurorsand in any case, judges' remarks aren't generally considered disqualifying unless they are made outside of court. "Judges cannot be biased and need not be disqualified if the views they express are based on what they learned while doing the job they were appointed to do," she said. Stone has filed a motion for a new trial and Jackson has said he will not be required to report to prison until at least two weeks after a ruling. (Read more Roger Stone stories.)
Scotland-based bakery supplier Macphie received a visit by Business Minister Jamie Hepburn on Friday 21 February.

Hepburn was joined by Mairi Gougeon, local MSP and minister of rural affairs and the natural environment, at the food manufacturers Glenbervie headquarters.

The visit was part of Hepburns trip to the north east of Scotland, to find out about the food manufacturers economic and environmental aspirations.

As a food manufacturer, Macphie welcomes the Scottish Governments acknowledgement that manufacturing is a key contributor to the countrys inclusive economic growth ambitions, said Alastair Macphie, chairman at Macphie.

We are constantly looking to advance our research, develop new products, improve productivity and upskill our significant investment in developing plant-based products, he added.

Gougeon was also interested in Macphies ongoing work in preserving its natural environment.

Using food technology to develop more sustainable products will help reduce the pressure on the worlds natural resources and is an integral part of the companys ethos.

Macphie is a member of B Corporation, a global community of businesses committed to hitting social, environmental and financial goals.

Macphie is committed to acting as a force for good in the business world. We were the first company in the UK to use an industrial biomass plant to generate power and produce food, said Alastair Macphie.

B Corporation members have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, but Alastair Macphie said he hoped his company would reach the target several years earlier.

At the moment, all the electricity used on our Glenbervie site is sourced from renewable sources  the majority from our on-site wind turbines  and the company is continuously working to improve its environmental sustainability.
Davis, who most recently held the position of vice president and general manager at Intel, will be tasked with creating a progressive approach to cloud computing, security and data analytics. In addition, she will lead efforts to integrate solutions that meet the changing needs of a modern workplace for our employees, and improved experience for our members, customers and providers.

"Lisa is a proven leader who is driven by excellence and understands both the complexities and interdependencies of technology and business," said Todd Walthall, chief operating officer for Blue Shield of California. "Her extensive experience and passion for building strong, collaborative partnerships is essential to ensuring we use state-of-the-art technology that helps to transform the healthcare experience for all."

Davis brings over 20 years of experience to the role and has received numerous industry recognitions, including the Top 100 Social CIO award, CIO 100 Award from CIO Magazine, and Digital Edge 25 Award for innovative use of technology to deliver business value.

"Blue Shield of California is already hard at work on an ambitious roadmap to develop a healthcare system that works better for all involved. Technology plays a huge part in this equation, so I am thrilled to join the team to provide solutions that will help us achieve that goal," Davis said. "I look forward to working with my colleagues at Blue Shield who are committed to transforming our healthcare system and ensuring that our customers are put at the center of that work."

Davis earned her bachelor of science degree in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University and a master of science degree in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University.

About Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California strives to create a health care system worthy of our family and friends that is sustainably affordable. We are a tax paying, not for profit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with over 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com.

Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

CONTACT: Jonna Constantine

Blue Shield of California

510-607-2359

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Shield of California
Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent.

1. Women older than 75 may not reap death benefit from continued mammography screening

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-1199

Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M20-0429

Free Summary for Patients: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/P20-0002

URL goes live when the embargo lifts

Healthy women over the age of 75 years might not benefit from continuing breast cancer screening. Researchers used data from the Medicare program to estimate the risk of breast cancer mortality under two strategies: continuing versus stopping screening in older women. They found a small mortality benefit for continuing to screen women between the ages of 70 to 74, but not those between 75 to 84. Findings from this population-based observational study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

An important question in cancer screening is the age at which it should stop. At some age, the modest potential harms associated with screening will outweigh the benefits because the latter accrue in the future. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Massachusetts General Hospital, and RTI Health Solutions used Medicare data to compare deaths from breast cancer over eight years follow-up in women who continued getting yearly mammograms and those who stopped screening. More than one million women between the ages of 70 and 84 years who had a mammography, a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and no previous cancer diagnosis were included in the evaluation. The researchers found that continuing breast cancer screening would reduce 8-year breast cancer mortality by one death per 1,000 women, with the 95 percent confidence interval (CI) ranging from two deaths to none. In contrast, continuing to screen women 75 years or older does not seem to affect 8-year breast cancer mortality. Regardless of age, women were less likely to receive aggressive therapies (radical mastectomy, chemotherapy) for breast cancer if they continued screening.

According to an editorial by Otis Brawley, MD, from Johns Hopkins University, the study's main disadvantage is that it uses data gathered between 1999 and 2008 when digital mammography was being introduced. It is basically the standard today. One-third of American women who die of breast cancer are diagnosed after age 70. These current estimates of the benefits of screening in this age range also reflect the current breast cancer treatments used in women over 70 potentially more than it does on the limitations of mammography.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Xabier Garcia-Albeniz, MD, PhD, please contact Todd Datz at tdatz@hsph.harvard.edu.

2. Clinicians encounter case of 'urinary auto-brewery syndrome'

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/L19-0797

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

Clinicians encountered a case of previously unrecognized auto-brewery syndrome in which a substantial amount of alcohol was produced by yeast fermenting sugar in a patient's urinary system, even though the patient had not consumed alcohol. This is similar to but distinct from the traditional auto-brewery syndrome, that the clinicians propose calling 'urinary auto-brewery syndrome' or 'bladder fermentation syndrome.' A brief case report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Clinicians at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital saw a 61-year-old woman for placement on the liver transplant waitlist who had cirrhosis and poorly controlled diabetes. She was advised to seek treatment for alcohol use disorder by two liver transplant teams rather than going on the waitlist because urine tests for alcohol were repeatedly positive even though she claimed not to have had anything to drink. The patient continued to deny alcohol use and the clinicians noted that plasma test results for ethanol and urine test results for ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate, which are metabolites of ethanol, were negative, whereas urine test results for ethanol were positive. In addition, the patient had no symptoms of alcohol intoxication. The authors tested to see if yeast colonizing in the bladder could ferment sugar to produce ethanol and found that it could experimentally. Therefore, they were able to conclude that the patient had a novel form of auto-brewery syndrome and not alcohol use disorder.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Kenichi Tamama, MD, PhD, please contact Allison Hydzik at hydzikam@upmc.edu.

3. Antibiotics and corticosteroids are effective for treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbations

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-3007

URL goes live when the embargo lifts

Antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids reduce treatment failure in adults with mild to severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A systematic review with meta-analysis is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

COPD is characterized by frequent exacerbations that are often treated with antibiotics, systemic corticosteroids, and short-acting bronchodilators. Whether all patients, especially those with mild exacerbations treated as outpatients, benefit from these treatments is uncertain.

To compare the effectiveness of these treatments, researchers from the Mayo Clinic analyzed 68 randomized controlled trials that enrolled adults with COPD exacerbation treated in outpatient or inpatient settings other than intensive care. They compared drug therapies with placebo, "usual care," or other drug interventions. They found that compared with placebo or management without antibiotics, antibiotics given for 3 to 14 days were associated with improvement of exacerbation at the end of the intervention and less treatment failure at the end of the intervention, independent of severity of exacerbations in outpatients and inpatients. Compared with placebo in outpatients and inpatients, systemic corticosteroids given for nine to 56 days were associated with less treatment failure at the end of the intervention but also with a higher number of total and endocrine-related adverse events. Evidence was insufficient to compare other drug interventions.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Claudia C. Dobler, MD, PhD, please contact Elizabeth Zimmermann at newsbureau@mayo.edu or 507-284-5005.

4. Sweetened beverage tax reduced volume sold of taxed beverages by more than 20 percent in Cook County

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-2961

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

The Cook County Sweetened Beverage Tax resulted in a substantial reduction in the volume sold of taxed beverages in Cook County, Illinois, even when accounting for cross-border shopping. Findings from a pre-post intervention-comparison study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with adverse health outcomes. As such, public policy in some cities has focused on reducing consumption by taxing the sale of these beverages. Similar to the beverage tax in Philadelphia, the Cook County Sweetened Beverage Tax applied to both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages. Understanding if these taxes succeed in deterring purchases of taxed beverages is important for future policy decisions.

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago used UPC-level data scanned from supermarkets and grocery, convenience, and other types of stores in Cook County, Illinois, where the tax was implemented, and in St. Louis City and County, Missouri, where the tax was not implemented, to measure the volume of beverage sold of taxed and untaxed beverages, across product categories and sizes. The researchers found that the net impact of the tax was a 21 percent reduction in volume sold of taxed beverages in Cook County, IL, during the time that the tax was in place after accounting for cross-border shopping. There was no significant increase in purchases of untaxed beverages. Also, there was no significant increase in the purchase of untaxed beverages in the border area suggesting that that cross-border shopping was limited to tax avoidance (i.e., purchases of the tax products) and did not involve consumers purchasing other grocery items across the border.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Lisa M. Powell, MD, PhD, please contact Jacqueline Carey at jmcarey@uic.edu.

###
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

On Friday, Jose Rito Arias cut the screen to the front door of the house where his 2-year-old son lived with the little boys mother and grandmother, according to a restraining order filed in 2nd Judicial District Court on Monday.

On Saturday, the grandmother said, he came in the house and pushed her out of the way to get to his son.

And on Sunday, she said, 28-year-old Arias tried to choke her, pushed her, and said he was going to kill her.

That same night Arias  who police say does not have custody of his son or a formal custody arrangement with the boys mother  ended up taking 2-year-old Johnny Arias from the grandmothers house, sparking a statewide Amber Alert around 11 p.m.

An Albuquerque Police Department spokesman said, Information from mother and field officers where father had made statements of violence against child led officers to believe child was in danger.

However, the father and son were found early Monday morning in a car about half a mile away, near 98th and Blake Road SW.

Johnny was unhurt and was returned to his mother and grandmother. Arias was booked into jail for violating the conditions of his release in an earlier case involving his son and a probation violation in another case.

He has not been charged in connection with Sundays incident.

New charges are being looked at right now, said Mike Anderson, an APD spokesman. He is not being held, at this moment, on charges from events in the last 24 hours.

Anderson said detectives are still putting their case together.

In the meantime, Johnnys grandmother has filed an application for a restraining order asking for Arias to be kept from contacting her, approaching her in public or coming to her house.

He says he wants my daughter to know what its like to be without a mother, the grandmother wrote in the application for the restraining order.

Ariass lawyer for his most recent case did not respond to a call from the Journal Monday.

Previous violence

This isnt the first time Arias has been in the news.

In 2011, Arias, then 19 and living in Roswell, shot his 22-year-old wife in the neck, killing her. Victoria Velasquez-Arias was the granddaughter of a Roswell City Councilor and friends and family told police the couple had a history of violence.

However, Arias told police he had bought a gun a day earlier to protect himself and then accidentally dropped it, causing it to discharge and strike his wife, according to the Roswell Daily Record. An expert for the defense testified that if Arias had attempted to catch it and put his finger inside the trigger guard and exerted pressure, it could have fired.

In 2013, a Chaves County jury found Arias guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Velasquez-Ariass death. He was sentenced to a total of four years in prison, minus the two he had already served before sentencing.

Other charges

Since his release from prison, Arias has picked up a handful of other charges involving drugs and guns, according to online court records.

In 2015, he was charged with assault with intent to commit a violent felony after police say he threatened his girlfriends ex-boyfriend with a gun at an elementary school. That case was dismissed pending further investigation.

Then, in 2017, when his son Johnny was 4 months old, Arias was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and child abuse. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Arias accused Johnnys mother of having an affair and then held his son upside-down by his legs and shook him.

Jose stated he will leave and kill himself and Johnny, the officer wrote in the complaint. Johnny was frightened and kept crying.

According to the complaint, Arias put Johnny in the car without a car seat, bottles or diapers, and drove away hitting Johnnys grandmother with the car and knocking her down. The officer said Arias called and said he would shoot himself and his son. That case was dismissed due to missed deadlines.

In June 2019, Arias was arrested and charged with child abuse again because an officer said he was driving drunk with Johnny in the car and then crashed and then tried to run away with the little boy. An officer said after looking at the markings around the car he estimated Arias had been driving 65-70 miles per hour before it crashed. There wasnt a child seat or other restraints in the car, but officers did find an open beer bottle.

Arias was released on his own recognizance in November.

He is now behind bars in that case until a hearing can be held to reevaluate his conditions of release after Sundays incident.
The federal government on Monday released for the first time the proposed alignment of the border wall in Webb and Zapata counties, a continuous barrier for 69 miles starting at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge and ending just south of San Ygnacio.

READ MORE: Zapata residents talk border wall as BP seeks permission to survey land

This is a proposed 30-foot-tall steel bollard structure with a 150-foot-wide enforcement zone that entails clearing all vegetation between the river and the wall. The maps show a proposed alignment running relatively close to the Rio Grande, following its contours.

It appears to touch areas such as Tres Laredos Park, Father McNaboe Park, the San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary, and some of the westernmost streets in west Laredo, the Santa Rita neighborhood, El Cenizo and Rio Bravo.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is also seeking comments from the public on the project. Comments may be emailed to laredocomments@cbp.dhs.gov with the subject line FY20 Laredo Border Wall System Projects until Tuesday, April 21.

CBP is seeking your input on potential impacts to the environment, culture, quality of life and commerce, including potential socioeconomic impacts from the approximately 69 miles of CBP-funded border wall system being proposed in Webb and Zapata Counties, reads part of a letter sent Monday from Paul Enriquez, acquisition, real estate and environmental director for Border Patrols Border Wall Program Management Office. Enriquez spoke last month concerning the border wall at a Laredo City Council meeting.

READ MORE: Winds topple US border wall being built; it falls in Mexico

CBP is seeking fact-based comments that will help the government assess any potential impacts to biological, cultural and natural resources. They are specifically looking to answer the following questions, according to Enriquezs letter:

Are you aware of threatened or endangered plant or animal species within the area of proposed construction? If so, where?

Are you aware of recreational activities that take place in the area of proposed construction?

Are you aware of possible impacts to businesses? Where are those businesses located?

Are you aware of historical sites or areas of cultural significance located within the area of proposed construction? If so, where?

Do you foresee your day-to-day activities being impacted by the proposed projects?

Are you aware of any studies, data or other information available that would aid in the analysis of potential environmental impacts in the proposed project areas?

Do you have any recommendations for practices the construction contractor should follow to avoid or minimize impacts?

The public may also submit comments to:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters

1300 Pennsylvania Ave. 6.5E Mail Stop 1039

Washington, D.C. 20229-1100

The names and addresses of those who comment will be part of the public record, the letter states.
The federal Liberals can breathe a little bit easier now  but only for about five minutes.

The Teck crisis has been averted, with the company standing down Sunday on its plans to develop a massive oilsands mine in Alberta that the federal government had to approve or disallow this week.

And the shortages of propane and medical supplies caused by the Wetsuweten blockades appears to have been somewhat mitigated, with the prime minister assuring premiers on Sunday that workarounds had been set up to deliver crucial goods to those who need them if the blockades persist.

But a far larger and more punishing political crisis has been laid bare by both the deadlock over Tecks proposed Frontier project and the cutting off of cargo and passenger trains: despite years of talking about energy development and environmental ambition going hand in hand, and despite his frequent insistence that reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is his top priority, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not fostered enough of a national consensus to make it so.

As youd expect, federal Conservatives and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney were scathing in their condemnation of Trudeau for Tecks decision to cancel its Frontier plans. Kenney pointed to federal indecision and a lack of courage in the face of environmental militants while federal Leader Andrew Scheer blamed Trudeau for emboldening radical activists. Never mind the role they both played in politicizing the project.

But the more devastating critique comes from Teck Resources itself, stating that it needed to pull back because Canada does not have the right conditions for a resource company to even attempt to be environmentally responsible in a way that invites investor confidence.

Global capital markets are changing rapidly and investors and customers are increasingly looking for jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change, in order to produce the cleanest possible products. This does not yet exist here today and, unfortunately, the growing debate around this issue has placed Frontier and our company squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved, Tecks president, Don Lindsay, says in a letter to Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson explaining the companys decision.

In other words, the markets are way ahead of our politicians. Investors are looking 10 or 20 years down the road, and theyre not convinced that companies expanding their energy production in Canada right now are properly anticipating a massive, global move to a low-carbon economy.

Alberta and Ottawa talk a lot about it, to be sure. Federal and provincial politicians alike, as well as business leaders across the country, all say they want Canadas oil and gas production to be as clean as clean can be.

But there are no standards for a company to prove its environmental compatibility, nor are there requirements for transparency so that shareholders can know exactly what the carbon footprint of their investments is. Thats something both Alberta and Ottawa could do something about.

At the broader policy level, the federal Liberals promised in the last election campaign to be completely carbon neutral by 2050 and to legislate the path to getting there, in five-year batches. But that plan is devoid of any details or even broad concepts, leaving companies guessing about its stringency.

The federal plan, were told, is coming together. But not fast enough for investors  or environmentalists, for that matter.

Alberta, meanwhile, is fighting against the federal imposition of a carbon tax on consumers.

The result is a vacuum where good intentions are pulled apart by critics on all sides and become meaningless, and anger replaces the will to devise an efficient, practical way forward.

The haziness around Ottawas and Albertas plans to marry energy and environment is mirrored on the reconciliation file.

RELATED STORIES Canada Teck to pull proposal for Frontier oilsands mine in Alberta

The Wetsuweten protests, and their tentacles into communities across the country, did not spring out of nowhere. They have been years in the making, heating up even as the federal government talked more and more about settling land claims and sorting out Indigenous rights and title, for once and for all.

But their words and actions have not fostered the trust required to reach enough meaningful conclusions to keep the anger at bay.

For now, the federal government may be hard at work finding ways to get the necessities to far-flung communities cut off by protests blocking the railways. But that only buys a tiny amount of time for what needs to be done if reconciliation is to take root and lead to a full appreciation of Indigenous communities within Canada.

After a decade of intense political rhetoric from all sides over what responsible resource development means, we seem to be no closer to a national understanding. The cost of no consensus is hurting all of us.

Read more about:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the violence in Delhi and urged people to show restraint, compassion and understanding irrespective of the provocation.

He said peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified.

"The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation," Gandhi tweeted.

Clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured in the violence.

Clashes were also



reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the city.

This is the second day of clashes in Delhi where US President Donald Trump will arrive on Monday evening.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Daily Beast

Fox News White House correspondent and perpetual nemesis of Jen Psaki thought he had Joe Bidens press secretary cornered on Monday when he asked her why the president is still referring to COVID-19 as a pandemic of the unvaccinated when so many people are getting breakthrough infections. He was wrong.I understand that the science says that vaccines prevent death, Doocy began, before undercutting that basic truth. But Im triple-vaxxed, still got COVID. Youre triple-vaxxed, still got COVI
Guiseppe Barranco / Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

A woman was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in a cell at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility early Monday, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office.

Correctional officers noticed Leeann Navarro, 31, of Beaumont, unresponsive in her cell around 1:40 a.m. and tried an unsuccessful attempt at CPR, according to a press release.
With billions of people using social media every day, several things go viral on the internet for good reasons. From heartwarming stories of people helping each other to several funny memes, people enjoy a wide range of content on the internet. Recently, a series of pictures stormed the internet, in which one can see a pack of hyenas devouring on a baby elephant. While social media users across the world expressed their thoughts on nature's cycle, many people are wondering how the baby elephant fell prey to the hyenas. Here are all the details:

Also Read | Heartwarming Video Shows Baby Elephant Helping Tortoise Cross The Road

Baby elephant stuck in mud gets eaten by a pack of hyenas

A series of pictures from the Mana Pools National Park, which is set on the plains of Zimbabwe, set the internet talking about nature's food chain, which featured a pack of hyenas feasting on a baby elephant, who was stuck in the mud. As seen in the photographs shared by Jens Cullmann, the hyenas tore off the babys leg as they attacked it overnight, while the mother desperately threw mud over her head in an attempt to scare off the predators. The mum elephant then slowly starved to death lying next to the rotting corpse of her baby and was eaten by marauding vultures in Mana Pools National Park. The horrifying scene was captured by wildlife photographer Jens Cullman, who hails from Germany.

Also Read | Five-star Resort In Phuket Slammed For Making Baby Elephant Dance For Customers

Cullman returned to the site to picture the plight of the helpless mother and baby. Reportedly, Cullman kept returning to the site to photograph the last days of the mother, as she slowly succumbed to dehydration. The last time Jens saw her was when the mother elephant was surrounded by flock vultures, patiently waiting for her to breathe her last. The stricken female later died, when an attempt to rescue her was made. Reportedly, Jens Cullman spotted the mother and baby elephant when he was out on a morning walk in the park.

Also Read | Baby Elephant Cries Out In Pain After Being Hit By Train In Midnapore

Also Read | Baby Elephant Demands His Keeper's Attention In Most 'adorable' Manner, See Video

(Promo image source: Canva)
By Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"I was deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties and destructions caused by an earthquake that hit today Van province, reads the letter.

"On the occasion of this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deep condolences to you, the families and the loved ones of those who were killed, and wish the injured recovery."

"May Allah rest the souls of the dead in peace!"

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Three Tree Coffee , a mission-driven coffee shop that opened in Statesboro, Ga., in 2015, had humble beginnings with a husband and wife team roasting coffee beans out in their backyard. Eventually, the operation grew to a bricks-and-mortar establishment with an on-site roasting room and 19 employees. Naturally, as the business grew, so did other elements of the business  inventory, machinery needs, overhead and customer requests  causing Klayman to struggle with cash flow and forcing him to focus on day-to-day tasks endlessly rather than the bigger, strategic plan and needs for the business.

"When a business owner struggles with cash flow and access to capital, other elements of their business will struggle," shared Greg Ott, Nav CEO. "Three Tree's grant application stood out because the challenge they faced is one we see our customers face every day  just a little extra capital is all they needed to unlock major growth. We're excited to see how the $10,000 removes hurdles for the Three Tree Coffee team and gives them the freedom to grow their business."

Klayman will use the $10,000 grant to purchase a weigh and fill machine to speed up production and reduce the labor cost of hand-weighing and packing individual units of bagged coffee.

"About 70 percent of our labor on the roasting side is spent weighing, bagging and labeling," shared Klayman. "The burden of spending so much time on these elements limits the volume we can produce and the packaging options for our customers. The new weigh and fill machine will automate nearly 100 percent of this component of our business and dramatically increase our production levels."

Additionally, Klayman anticipates that the new production equipment will also generate an increase in the wholesale side of the business, allowing them to acquire new bakery, coffee shop and restaurant contracts across the nation.

"Right now, we're focused on day-to-day operations. The laborious process that we have to go through each day just to bag the roasted beans takes away valuable time from other elements of the business that we've wanted to focus on. By automating just one element of our business, we'll be able to dedicate time and resources to expanding products and our customer base. More importantly, it will allow us to get back to the real reason we started the company - sourcing and roasting the best ethically sourced coffee beans and bringing communities together over their love for the drink."

To learn more about Nav's visit to Three Tree Coffee, read Nav's latest blog post .

Two other small businesses were also awarded grants in this round:

Animal Acupuncture & Chiropractic Care , an animal wellness facility owned by Dr. Susan Fife , DVM, received $2,000 to renovate a building needed to expand services to hydrotherapy clients during the winter months.

, an animal wellness facility owned by Dr. , DVM, received to renovate a building needed to expand services to hydrotherapy clients during the winter months. Sawtooth Services , a residential and commercial landscaping and tree removal company based in Idaho , was awarded $1,000 to offset costs needed to fabricate debris removal equipment.

The Nav Small Business Grant was established to bring awareness to the roadblocks that entrepreneurs encounter while chasing their dreams, and help them overcome these challenges. Since launching in 2018, Nav has awarded more than $70,000 to small businesses across the country. Each of the Grant winners have shared a common theme  their businesses' greatest challenge is figuring out how to easily and successfully access capital.

The next round of Nav's quarterly Small Business Grant is now open. To be considered for Nav's Small Business Grant , business owners must share a challenge their business is facing, explaining how the Grant will help them overcome that hurdle and have a free Nav account. Applications will be accepted on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn until May 30, 2020. More information about the Grant and details on applying are available at Nav.com/grant .

About Nav

Nav gives business owners the fastest, easiest and most trusted path to financing. The leading Business Financial Management app, Nav hosts a robust marketplace with more than 110 business financing products , and gives business owners free access to personal and business credit reports from major consumer and commercial credit bureaus including Experian, Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax and TransUnion. The marketplace uses a unique, lender-neutral approach to help business owners find the best financing options for their needs. Nav services related to credit card and alternative financing recommendations may not be available in all states. Nav's solution is also leveraged by other business service providers to enhance their customer experience. The company has offices in Silicon Valley and Salt Lake City. To learn more, visit Nav.com .

CONTACT:

Amanda Triest

Nav PR Manager

[email protected]

801-890-5024

SOURCE Nav

Related Links

http://www.nav.com


Occupancy rates in Irish hotels rose slightly last year, despite a dip in UK visitor numbers and the effects of restoration of the VAT rate applied to much of the hospitality sector.

Hoteliers report a 73pc average national room occupancy rate in 2019 - up from 72pc.

However, regional variations are stark - with an occupancy rate of 82pc in Dublin, 65pc on the west coast and just 53pc in the midlands.

Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) chief executive Tim Fenn said Ireland continues to have a two-tier tourism industry with the regions bearing the brunt of a slowdown in growth.

The IHF is hosting its annual general meeting and conference this week at The Galmont Hotel & Spa in Galway.

Growth in overseas visitor numbers stalled in 2019, compared to an increase of 6.5pc in 2018, the IHF said, reporting what it called a mixed performance for 2019 ahead of its annual members conference.

The 10.9 million overseas visitors to Ireland last year represented a strong year, Mr Fenn said, but warned of a loss in momentum from the UK in particular.

"We haven't regained the ground lost in UK visitor numbers caused by the uncertainty following the Brexit referendum in 2016 and the fall in the value of sterling.

"The UK market provides the widest geographical and seasonal spread of visitors so tourism businesses in the regions are being hit hardest.

"Many were just beginning to feel the recovery from the recession but now have to look at their investment plans," he said.

Tourism supports around 260,000 jobs, mostly outside Dublin and last year it generated over 9.2bn.
Ive dressed up like an astronaut for at least four Halloweens now, she said at the time. I really want to be an astrobotanist. They study plants in space, and if we do go to Mars, which we probably will, I want to be able to grow my own food in space and not just eat frozen things.
Public Eucharistic celebrations in the city-state were suspended indefinitely ten days ago. However, the Archdiocese is broadcasting the Mass every day on its YouTube and radio channels. For every Christian Church, the emergency has become an occasion to promote a message of unity.

Singapore (AsiaNews)  For the second time in a row, Singapore Catholics followed Sunday Mass on screen or radio, at home or with relatives and friends.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, the Archdiocese has regularly updated its directives and steps to prevent the spread of the disease among the faithful.

On 14 February, Archbishop William Goh Seng Chye released a pastoral letter in which he announced the suspension of Eucharistic celebrations indefinitely in order to discourage public gatherings.

However, to ensure that the faithful can remain in communion with the Church despite the outbreak, the Archdiocese decided to broadcast Mass every day on its YouTube and radio channels.

For Christians the issue is particularly important. As the new coronavirus spread across Asia and around the world, Singapore's health authorities discovered that about a third of the 89 reported clusters linked to two Protestant communities: the Life Church and Missions Singapore (six cases), in the east of the city, and the two churches of the Grace Assembly of God (23 cases).

The Paya Lebar Methodist Church is not considered a cluster, but someone with Covid-19 had visited the place of worship before being admitted to hospital.

Of all the religious communities in Asia, the Archdiocese of Singapore and the Diocese of Hong Kong were the first to suspend services in response to the outbreak.

In the city-state, the emergency has become an opportunity for all Christian denominations to send a message of unity. The faithful have been invited to pray at noon every day for the end of the epidemic, and for the safety of healthcare staff, health authorities and patients. Every community has urged its members to be "socially responsible and not to give in to fear.

On the website of the Archdiocese of Singapore, the online Mass is available at 10 am on Sunday and 1 pm from Monday to Saturday.

The Archdiocesan Communications Office (ArchComm) posted some testimonials from social media on how Catholics took part in yesterday's Eucharistic celebration.

Some assembled with relatives, wearing their Sunday best to follow the Mass. Others sanctified an otherwise secular television screen by adding a Bible, a crucifix, and other sacred items, reported an article posted yesterday.

We participated as if we were in church: stand, sit and kneel accordingly. We also dressed up properly, said GBI, a mother of two.

Citing YouTube statistics, the Archdiocese reported that the Mass was viewed by 27,000 screens. Since many families watched together, this suggests that the number of worshippers was much higher.

One of those people was RX, mother of two, who said she Prayed the Mass with my family in our living room It was beautiful. My usually chatty sons were so quiet and concentrated fully.

Some Catholics expressed sadness in seeing the Eucharist without being able to receive it. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so strongly, said MT. I was tearing throughout and broke down at the Spiritual Communion.

RL was sad as well. I cried all the time, especially when we had to say Peace be with you and there was no one except my bedroom furniture.

For some Singaporean Catholics, the live broadcast on the Internet was an opportunity to share the Mass with relatives who have strayed from the faith or who are usually too sick to go to church.

My sis(ter) had stopped going to church for a long time, explained JF. We had been praying for her Now that the Mass is brought to homes, she participated together with us.

KG too experienced the Mass with family. Father-in-law [is] immobile in bed. Mother-in-law in wheelchair. Wife and I [were] seated. First time in a long time, [we] participated in Mass [together]. We felt great peace.

About 16 per cent of the 869 Catholics who responded to a survey by the Archdiocese sanctified Sunday in a different way than those who watched the live stream.

Some recited the Liturgy of the Hours, others the Rosary or the Crown of Divine Mercy. Some also read us texts from the Bible or the family prayer promoted by Archbishop Goh.

(Photo Credit: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore).
Bernie Sanders' victory in Nevada was propelled by Latino voters who came out for the democratic socialist in force.

Latino voters made up 18 per cent of the electorate in Saturday's Silver State caucuses, according to entrance polling from the Washington Post, and Sanders won 51 per cent of that group. Joe Biden came in a far second place, with 17 per cent of Hispanic voters caucusing for the ex-veep.

After this Saturday's South Carolina primary, some of the most delegate-rich states with large Latino populations are next on the Democratic primary calendar.

Sen. Bernie Sanders could do some damage to the other candidates in delegate- rich states like Texas and California on Super Tuesday if he continues to dominate with Latino voters. Here he rallies in Austin on Sunday

Bernie Sanders (right) has benefitted from the endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left), a rising Latina star on the left, who led a Spanish-language town hall for the Vermont senator in Nevada in December

Bernie Sanders' campaign has spent money on Spanish language ads, which were on the airwaves in Nevada leading up to his big win in Saturday's caucuses

On 'Super Tuesday,' both California and Texas will vote. California is the biggest delegate prize of all - with 415 Democratic delegates headed to the convention. Texas comes in next with 228 delegates.

Sanders has put in work in both these states.

'Tio' Bernie shirts are also being sold on the campaign website. Tio means 'uncle' in Spanish and it's a nickname Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has used to describe Sanders

During the run-up to Saturday's Nevada caucuses, Sanders was simultaneously campaigning in both California and Texas. On Friday he flew to California for the day and held two rallies before coming back to Las Vegas to make his final pitch to voters there.

On Saturday, instead of staying in Nevada for the caucus results, Sanders was already in Texas and held three campaign rallies throughout the weekend.

Sanders has benefitted from the support of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed the Vermont senator in mid-October, on the night he returned to the debate stage after suffering a heart attack in Las Vegas.

AOC headlined a New York City rally for Sanders later that month, where she endearingly called him 'Tio Bernie.' 'Tio' means uncle in Spanish. His campaign is selling t-shirts using the phrase.

She's traveled with Sanders to a number of states, but in Nevada, particularly, helped reach out to Latino voters with a Spanish-language town hall, where she delivered a keynote.

Ocasio-Cortez was joined by the feisty mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico Carmen Yulin Cruz, another prominent Sanders supporter from the Latino community. Cruz became a household name for warring with President Trump in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which ravaged the island.

During the same December trip, Ocasio-Cortez introduced Sanders at a rally on Venice Beach in California.

In Nevada, Sanders ran Spanish language ads.

On caucus day, Sanders' overwhelming support from the Latino community was obvious.

At Rancho High School, where most of the population early voted, Sanders was the only viable candidate in two of the precincts holding their caucuses in the gymnasium. The bulk of those who came out for Sanders were Latino, and they were a mix of young and old.

There were 12 Sanders supporters, and then two for Tom Steyer, one for Elizabeth Warren and one for Pete Buttigieg, at one of the precincts. Trying to earn a few more votes for Sanders, one man grabbed the megaphone and made a case for the Vermont senator in Spanish. The other four voters decided against joining Sanders' group, who walked away with every delegate from that particular precinct.

Beyond California and Texas on Super Tuesday, Sanders could perform well in Colorado, which also has a chunk of Latino voters.

Later in March, Arizona, Florida and Illinois also vote - and if the trend remains consistent, Sanders could collect large numbers of delebates in those states too thanks to the Latino vote.
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors has loaded agenda on tap for Wednesdays meeting, with topics ranging from host-venue sponsorship agreements with three popular local events to possibly agreeing on a potential maximum property tax rate in the event the township directors decided to place incorporation on the November 2020 ballot.

The Wednesday meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., will feature one prominent topic up for discussion and possible action, a review and determination of the proposed maximum initial (property) tax rate related to the incorporation planning study.

The rate is part of the townships ongoing incorporation planning studies and could possibly be placed before township voters on a future ballot if the directors approve adding the tax rate and the question of whether or not the community should incorporate. The soonest the two items could be voted on is the November 2020 election, which would mean the two items would need to be approved by Aug. 17 for inclusion on this years ballot.

During a board meeting on Thursday, a maximum initial (property) tax rate was proposed by consultants from the Novak Consulting Group, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for consideration but no action was taken. Township board Chairman Gordy Bunch as well as Board Member Brian Boniface were both absent from the Feb. 20 meeting, hence the five directors present decided to wait until both were present before making a decision on the important topic.

Jonathan Ingram, one of the lead consultants from Novak, told the board his team had calculated the maximum initial (property) tax rate at 28.62 cents per $100 of valuation of a home or property, which would equate roughly to about a $311 per year property tax bill increase for a home valued at $500,000. The current property tax rate, which is set by township directors annually, is 22.4 cents per $100 valuation.

Director Ann Snyder told those in the audience and the Novak consultants she was not comfortable moving forward on the rate on Feb. 20. She first made a motion to postpone the decision until all seven members were present for the discussion, but when township President and General Manager Don Norrell informed the board that Director Brian Boniface  who was not present on Feb. 20  would also be absent from the Feb. 26 meeting, Snyder altered her motion to vote on the rate at the Feb. 26 meeting.

My thinking is this is an incredibly important decision. I think several things that i will wait to share, but I think all seven members of our board should be here to affirm or not the tax rate youre proposing, Snyder said. I think it is not something that just five board members (can act on) and I feel very strongly on that.

Board Vice Chairman Bruce Rieser said he was willing to postpone the vote until a future meeting when more directors were present, but stressed that he wanted residents to know the Novak tax rate proposal was not final. He also said only a quorum of directors  four  was required by state law to take action on an agenda item.

This is not a definitive setting of the tax rate, per se. That will come when, and if, we call a ballot election, Rieser said. It is possible that (tax rate) number could be slightly more or slightly less. I just want to make sure everyone knows, even if we voted on this tonight, it would not set that rate in stone. We are not setting the tax rate, we are not calling for an election (tonight).

Other items up for discussion during Wednesdays meeting include four different agenda items related to the townships host venue sponsorships and agreements with various community events each year. The township and the associated convention and visitors bureau arm  Visit The Woodlands  have agreements with assorted events and organizations that provide varying levels of financial support from sponsorships to the waiving of park use fees. The issue has come under scrutiny in the past year after officials from The Woodlands Pride, a new festival started in 2018 that celebrates LGBTQ culture and identity, had requested to have park use fees waived for the 2019 event but were rebuffed by the board.

Related: Woodlands park use fee waiver process to be examined in 2020

On Wednesday, the directors are expected to discuss the host-venue sponsorship policy as a whole before moving to three separate agenda items where discussion and possible action will be taken on host venue sponsorship agreements for the YMCA Dragon Boat Team Challenge Event; the Ironman North America triathlon; and the South County 4th of July Parade.

Another topic on Wednesdays agenda is a report from Montgomery County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Judge Wayne Mack, who will update directors on the progress of the Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force of Montgomery County, which was founded in 2019. Mack was one of several community leaders to step up and help create the task force after township Director Ann Snyder and now-retired director John McMullan had raised significant concerns in 2018 and 2019 about the epidemic of attempted suicides and suicides in The Woodlands and Montgomery County.

Related: Suicide prevention efforts continue in Montgomery County and The Woodlands

The township board meetings are hosted in the main board room of the township offices, 2801 Technology Forest Drive, The Woodlands. For more information, residents can telephone the township offices at 281-210-3800 or visit the township website at: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/.

jeff.forward@chron.com
The driver of the train which derailed en-route to Melbourne had emailed a friend about his concerns with the train service just over two weeks before the fatal accident.

John Kennedy, a 54-year-old train driver from Canberra, died alongside his 49-year-old pilot from Victoria when the five-carriage, Sydney to Melbourne XPT train derailed last Thursday.

On board at the time of the derailment were 153 passengers, 11 of which were also injured.

Mr Kennedy had expressed his concerns with the service to a friend, Clive Williams, through an email on February 3, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Train driver, John Kennedy, was killed in the derailment and had expressed safety concerns about the track weeks before the incident. Source: Nine News.

My last six Melbourne return trips have been very late or cancelled mainly due to train fault issues, he explained in the email.

On 3 of the six runs I was down to one engine, on another trip I had no speedo, and the only trip without a train fault was disrupted by the big derailment last week, part of the email said.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Williams said his late friend half expected the train to derail when first started driving down to Melbourne, due to the violent sideways movement on some sections of the track.

But he assumed the speed limit had been set by engineers who had calculated the safe speed for trains using those sections, said Mr Williams who is a rail enthusiast and a law professor.

Mr Kennedys sister Catherine has also spoken out since the derailment. Speaking to Alan Jones on 2GB she defended her brother.

John loved train driving, hes always wanted to be a train driver his whole life, Catherine said.

I just cant believe that he would have taken unnecessary risks with peoples lives. He took his job seriously.

Over the coming days the wreckage will be removed from the tracks at Wallan by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and Transport NSW.

The scene of an XPT train derailment in Wallan North, 45km north of Melbourne, Victoria. The train's driver and pilot were killed in the derailment. Source: AAP Image/Supplied by Australian Rail Track Corporation

"Over the next few days equipment including sleepers, rail and signalling equipment will be delivered to the site to repair the rail infrastructure once the XPT is removed," an ARTC spokesperson said to AAP.

Story continues

On Saturday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau examined the scene, looking at the maintenance of the train and railway, in addition to signalling data.

Some passengers who were on board have said the train was speeding at the time of the derailment, however it has been reported the train was supposed to slow down to 15km/h as it diverted through a different part of the track near Wallan Station.

Buses have replaced all train services to Seymour, Shepparton and Albury.

with AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
THE NEW Chief Justice of the TCI is Mabel Agyemang  a justice of the Court of Appeal in Ghana.





Justice Agyemang received high praise from Governor Nigel Dakin this week during his announcement of her appointment in a press release on Thursday (February 20).





"We will have in TCI a reforming chief justice, a chief justice who has won the respect of the bar and bench in multiple Commonwealth jurisdictions, a chief justice highly regarded by the Commonwealth secretariat, and a chief justice who stood up for the judiciary against an extremely powerful autocratic executive, he wrote.





Justice Agyemang has worked as a superior court judge in three Commonwealth jurisdictions, her latest as a justice of the Court of Appeal in Ghana.





She is a product of the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, and was in private legal practice from 1987 to 1991 when she joined the judiciary of Ghana.





In 2002, Agyemang was appointed a high court judge. Then from 2004 to 2014 she was seconded to the Commonwealth secretariat as an expert to the judiciaries of The Gambia and Swaziland.





She was then appointed an expert judge of The Gambia Court of Appeal.





From 2013 to 2014 she was the chief justice of The Gambia, and she took up her current role in 2015.





"It is worth saying something about her departure from her role in the Gambia, Dakin said, "this is a badge of significant honour.





"She stood up to an autocrat - one of Africas most notorious strongmen, Yahya Jammeh, whose 22-year rule only ended in 2017.





"Through integrity and courage, she attempted to protect the judiciary from an overarching executive.





In his press release, the governor said it is best to give a true example of her work as provided by the Bar Council in The Gambia.





"Justice Agyemang was elevated to the position of Chief Justice, a very difficult position to hold in an autocratic regime, they wrote.





"The bar welcomed her appointment as we strongly believed in her independence and capacity to steer the justice system.





"During her tenure as chief justice, she had firm control of the judiciary, as well as the support of the judges, the Bar Association and the judicial staff.





They explained that she instilled a culture of discipline and professionalism in the judiciary.





"The attitude to work by judicial officers dramatically changed, and they became more professional and effective.





"Punctuality was expected of everyone and she led by example.





Agyemang introduced reforms to ensure access to justice to litigants and to minimise the unnecessary delays in the dispensation of justice.





She initiated the amendment of the rules of court to ensure expeditious determination of cases.





And she was a driver of innovation and reform, introducing ICT solutions to judges for case law research amongst other things.





"It was regrettable that despite her excellent and successful tenure, the president at the time unlawfully terminated her services to the dismay and disappointment of the entire legal fraternity.





"At that period of the time, the then autocratic president was doing everything possible to control the judiciary.





"Indeed, the departure of Justice Mabel Agyemang was sorely felt, as she left an indelible mark in our judicial sector.





New judges and chief magistrate

Joining the new chief justice and Justice Shiraz Aziz will be new puisne judge Justice Tanya Lobban-Jackson.





Lobban-Jackson has been the "extremely effective chief magistrate of the TCI since August 2016, the governor said.





The magistrates courts, where the vast majority of cases are heard, have had conviction rates of 80 percent mirroring the UKs.





In that post she was also ex officio coroner and mutual legal assistance treaty authority.





Prior to being appointed to the magistracy, Lobban-Jackson was a senior prosecutor in Jamaica and senior Crown counsel in the Cayman Islands gaining 18 years experience.





Trained in the areas of child safeguarding, human trafficking, money laundering, and case management; she was first appointed to act as puisne judge of the Supreme Court in December 2018 and has done so periodically since then.





Jolyon Hatmin will be the next Chief Magistrate of TCI. He was appointed resident magistrate in 2012.





Prior to that he was the managing attorney of the Legal Aid Authority in his native Guyana, representing clients at the civil and criminal bar.





He also worked as a legal advisor to the Guyana Sugar Corporation and was a public prosecutor for several years. He was first admitted to the bar in 2000.





"Mr Hatmin has built a reputation for sound judgements in his role as a magistrate and his promotion will also allow him a seat at the senior stake-holders group that will take forward reform of the justice sector and is to be welcomed, Dakin said.





Judicial Service Commission

The governor makes his decisions based on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) - a group of three very senior and experienced judges.





The commission are Justice Sir Michael Barnett, a former chief justice of the Bahamas and now a judge on the Appeal Court of the Bahamas, Justice Hilary Philips, president of the Court of Appeal of Jamaica, and Justice Zaila McCalla, a former chief justice of Jamaica.





It is the JSC which sifts the applicants and then chooses which applicants it will interview. It is the JSC, and not the Governor, which conducts the interviews.





"Using the role of chief justice as an example, Dakin said, "the role was advertised internationally, not just regionally, and the JSC received a very strong field of applications.





"From this field, the JSC chose to interview seven candidates. They dont ask the governors views on individual candidates either before the sift or before the interview.





"They did consult with the president of the local bar and they did canvass individuals to see if there was interest from members of the senior bar in TCI.





"No local candidates chose to put themselves forward this time for the role of chief justice.





The JSC also canvassed the governors view, not in terms of named candidates but any special requirements the governor might identify.





"I said that beyond being an excellent jurist and having an independent spirit, TCI needed a chief justice with the energy and experience of taking through change in the justice sector.





"The blue print for that change has been crafted by our outgoing chief justice with significant support from those in the wider criminal justice stakeholder group.





As a result, all those interviewed were provided with a copy of the strategy and interviews included questions about approach and implementation.





"With regard to the appointments I am now announcing, I have acted on the advice of the JSC, the governor said, "not only in terms of the appointment of a successful named individual but also in terms of the type of contract that underpins the appointment.





The new chief justice asked the JSC that she be employed on a three-year contract and that was the JSCs recommendation to the governor which he accepted.





The JSCs recommendation was that Lobban-Jackson should be appointed with tenure until she reach the age of constitutional retirement, which the governor accepted.





"Ensuring there is a vibrant judiciary that not only dispenses justice but provides balance to the executive, is an essential element of democratic law-abiding society, Dakin said.





He revealed that over the next month or so he will be announcing further judicial appointments linked to the Appeal Court.




All eight airports on Spain's Canary Islands reopened on Monday a day after a sandstorm shrouded the archipelago, forcing their closure, the transport ministry said. "The overnight improvement in the weather has allowed the resumption of air traffic in all airports in the Canary Islands," the ministry tweeted. ENAIRE, the public body that manages Spanish airspace, said flights had resumed after "an improvement in the haze". Air travel was disrupted on the archipelago on Saturday after strong winds carrying red sand from the Sahara shrouded the tourist hotspot in a murky haze, forcing the cancellation or diversion of flights to and from the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Some flights briefly resumed on Sunday morning before Spanish airport operator AENA was forced to close all eight airports -- three in Gran Canaria and Tenerife as well as five others. Over 800 flights were disrupted on Sunday, affecting thousands of passengers, but planes were able to fly through the night, helping to clear the backlog, the head of the regional government of the Canaries, Angel Victor Torres, said during an interview with Spanish public television. At Tenerife's two airports local officials set up cots for stranded passengers who were not able to find hotel rooms, according to an AFP photographer at the scene. The sandstorm coincided with the start of the island's famous carnival festivities and many hotels were fully booked. Known locally as "calimas", the storms form when strong winds whip up dense clouds of sand and dust from the Sahara and carry them across the 95 kilometres (60 miles) of sea separating the archipelago from the mainland. Torres said this was the worst "calima" to strike the Canaries in four decades, calling it a "nightmare weekend". About 1,000 locals and tourists who were evacuated in Tenerife on Sunday because of the risk from blazes which broke out in the north of the island have been allowed to return to their homes and hotels, he added. Firefighters are trying to control wildfires in Tenerife and Gran Canaria by using water-dropping aircraft, which could not be deployed over the weekend because of poor visibility, Torres said. The Canary Islands are a popular tourist destination for northern Europeans seeking winter sunshine. They received 13.1 million foreign visitors last year, according to national statistics institute INE figures, making it Spain's third-most visited region.
Hayley Doak of Tyrone Husky Rescue with Junior, who died after being fed a cocktail of poisons

A Co Tyrone woman has been left devastated after her canine rescue centre was targeted in two suspected poisoning attacks that left one beloved pet dog dead and another seriously ill.

Hayley Doak (51), who runs the Tyrone Husky Rescue Centre in Dungannon, branded the attacks in the past two weeks "evil".

The latest incident, described as "malicious" by the PSNI, took the life of her nine-year-old male dog, an Alaskan Malamute called Junior, last Wednesday.

The dog, which Hayley believes was targeted while in his outdoor pen, became ill the previous day and was sent to her local veterinary clinic, Parklands Vets.

Another rescue dog, Tuatha, a Siberian Husky, is recovering after being targeted two weeks ago.

Yesterday the pet lover said it was incomprehensible that someone could harm animals in that way.

"I cannot put into words what I think about the person or persons behind this," said Hayley.

"To harm and kill an animal is horrific but to poison them is a slow and painful death.

"I'm absolutely devastated."

Hayley co-founded the rescue centre with her friend Lisa Marsh in early 2017 and now runs the organisation with her son, Luke (18). It has saved 200 dogs since it opened.

The sanctuary is a non-profit organisation which rescues Husky and other specialist breeds and crossbreeds from euthanisation, and finds the canines suitable forever homes.

Junior arrived at the centre aged just seven.

Originally put up for adoption, the mum-of-two said it soon became clear he would become a permanent resident.

"Junior came into rescue, but there was never any suitable home, he's so big. He weighed 57 kilos - he was our biggest dog - so he became my own personal dog," said Hayley.

"With all of the dogs, you just fall in love with them all. They're cared for the same. I kept him outside in his roofed pen, like all my own, personal dogs."

She added: "I just loved him more than anything. It would have taken an obscene amount of poison to kill him, he was big."

The dog lover said she first became aware that something was wrong with Junior last Tuesday evening, around dinner time.

"His breathing became laboured and he went into shock. The vet is only a couple miles away and they got him stable.

"I couldn't stay overnight, so I left him after a few hours. Sadly he passed away around six or seven o'clock on the Wednesday morning. When I rushed Junior in, I was quietly hopeful because Tuatha had been saved. Sadly he didn't survive."

Junior has been cremated, and his ashes returned to Hayley.

Meanwhile, Hayley said Tuatha is still recovering from what she has been told was rat poison.

"He's OK. He's making a very slow recovery. The trauma inflicted on his body has taken its toll."

She believes both attacks may have been linked, with the perpetrator gaining access to her property and feeding both dogs food laced with poison while inside their secured pens.

"My property is extremely secure at keeping dogs in. We have 26 dogs on the property. I didn't think I'd have to keep people out," said Hayley. "I've been told that Tuatha's was rat poison, while for Junior it was a stronger 'cocktail' of poison.

"What we're dealing with here is absolutely a different kind of evil and cruelty. I don't even know how to describe someone who goes out and poisons an innocent animal."

She stressed that she has now taken additional measures to increase security at the centre.

"We've stepped up our vigilance and security by doubling the number of CCTV cameras and I've heightened the fencing so that it's over seven feet. Police are also doing extra patrols at night," said Hayley.

While she is still grieving for Junior, Hayley said she had been heartened by all of the support on social media.

"It's been unbelievable. People have been sending messages over Facebook, with people offering to pay for vet fees. Others have been offering to do shifts at the centre. I've been gobsmacked by it all."

Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact them via the non emergency number, 101, quoting reference number 1648 of 18/02/20.
Elementary teachers are suspending their two days of strikes each week  but warn that without a deal by March 6, more job action will be on the way.

Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), said he is putting the government and Education Minister Stephen Lecce on notice.

Minister, you have two weeks  the ball is now in your court, Hammond said Monday after announcing a number of new work-to-rule measures and increased political action along with the hiatus on walkouts.

In a memo outlining phase six of the ongoing job action, the union instructed its 83,000 members to remain in class for the next two weeks, working with students and planning one, 20-minute picket each week while also upping the pressure on Tory MPPs.

It is not anticipated that actions taken through phase six will lead to any immediate school closures, however in the case that there are multiple absences without appropriate coverage, which may impact the operations of schools, the memo states.

But no deal means job action will escalate to phase seven, and Hammond would not rule out the possibility of an all-out strike.

No talks are currently scheduled between the ETFO and the government.

In a statement, Lecce said the safety and security of our students are of the utmost importance to this government. I hope that ETFO will work with school boards to ensure that the escalated work-to-rule measures do not risk student safety and security.

Lecce also said our government wants to see investments in education helping our students, not increasing compensation and enhancing already generous benefits packages, which he has insisted is the main sticking point.

But Hammond said his 83,000 members  teachers, early childhood educators and support staff  expect to see a bargaining outcome  that supports the learning needs of their students and improves working conditions.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association was back at the bargaining table on Monday, and the AEFO , representing French teachers, has negotiations set for Friday.

On Friday, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation will hold one-day strikes in a handful of boards.

The AEFO also announced a province-wide strike of its 12,000 members on Thursday.

Remi Sabourin, president of the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), said his union wants a deal, yes, but not at any price.

As for Fridays talks, he said that if the province and school boards have students success at heart, AEFO hopes they will actively engage in a dialogue to conclude a winning deal for students, for AEFO members and for school boards.

Last Friday, a mass walkout by the provinces 200,000 teachers shut down all publicly funded schools.

In the legislature Monday, Premier Doug Ford said I talk to parents every single day, like each and every one of us, and Im just saying what I hear, keep going. Do not back down. There has to be accountability for the first time in 15 years. Thats what Im hearing.

He also said the ongoing strikes are hurting families. Theyre hurting families when thousands and thousands of parents, who couldnt afford a day off, like some people take days off, couldnt afford it. They get docked pay. Thats what theyre frustrated with.

The government has already begun reimbursing families up to $60 a day per child to cover child-care during the strikes.

All teacher unions are engaging in work-to-rule job action, including bare-bones report cards, and, for elementary teachers, not taking part in extracurriculars.

Elementary teachers were also told Monday not to fill in for absent colleagues, and step up writing/online campaigns opposing the governments changes to education.

New Democrat MPP Marit Stiles, her partys education critic, said the Ford government wants to make deep cuts to our education system, and then claim theyre enhancing it. They want to rip resources away from kids, and say theyre preparing them for the future. They want to replace in-person learning with isolating online courses, and claim they care about student mental health.
State-owned engineering firm BHEL on Monday launched 'Quality First' initiative to transform its quality processes and systems to meet the future requirements.

Talking to PTI, a BHEL spokesperson said it has built a strong reputation in quality with products known for their sturdiness, performance and longevity delivering maximum value to the customers.

However, he said that in today's dynamic market scenario, the requirements are becoming increasingly demanding, cost competitive and the robustness of quality processes is a pre-requisite for any company to succeed.

Keeping these imperatives in view, BHEL is reviewing and revitalizing its quality processes and systems to better meet the future requirements.

Mission 'Quality First' focuses on four objectives -- empower, educate, engage and encourage employees, and putting in place the latest quality processes and systems to further strengthen the quality mind-set within the company.

BHEL is implementing a structured model -- Quality360 (latest in-house QMER model) -- to measure and improve the quality system maturity index across all its divisions.

Business Excellence movement has been initiated in-line with the latest EFQM 2020 (European Foundation Quality Model). The company has taken a number of steps, including standardization of quality processes and systems, extensive training programs at various levels and introduction of reward schemes to create a future ready workforce, delivering superior products and services.

BHEL has received numerous quality awards and was the first PSU to get the CII-EXIM Bank Prize in the year 2006.

The PSU adopted the ISO 9000 quality system since its inception in India in early 90's and today all its divisions are ISO-9001 certified.

The company is committed to meet and exceed the present and future requirements of its customers by delivering excellent quality products and services.

'Quality First' initiative, an integral part of BHEL's multi-pronged Transformation Strategy, is another step towards achieving organisational excellence focusing on maximizing customer value, the spokesperson said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, also known as AIPAC, has never taken sides politically. Its entire being is dedicated to promoting Israel generally, without regard to party affiliations. That worked well for the first 55 years of AIPAC's existence, from 1963 until around 2018. Then the system began to break down as Democrat Party politicians became increasingly hostile to Israel.

The election of Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to the House brought open anti-Semitism into the heart of Congress. Both women have implicitly and explicitly demonized Israel. When Omar's comments became so outrageous that Nancy Pelosi could no longer ignore them, she was eventually able to bully the House into passing a resolution that, while it was originally intended to condemn anti-Semitism, was watered down to condemn just about every "ism." In other words, the pro-Israel, pro-Jewish feeling that once animated both parties in America was gone.

This brings us to Bernie Sanders.

Despite being genetically Jewish, Bernie Sanders is now and always has been hostile to Israel and, by extension, to Jews. As a dedicated leftist, his anti-Semitism has its roots with Karl Marx, a self-loathing and vehemently anti-Semitic Jew. Hitler's Holocaust was a miserable fusion of Marxist anti-Semitism and traditional German anti-Semitism.

Within Bernie's lifetime, the left's hostility to Israel is a Cold War remnant, for Israel was America's ally. In addition, Stalin was deeply paranoid about Jews, which resulted in decades of Soviet policies executing Jews, sending them to gulags, and denying them even the most miserable liberties the Soviet Union meted out to its citizens. Bernie may technically be Jewish, but he's first, last, and always a Marxist.

It's unsurprising then, that Bernie has surrounded himself with people who hate Israel. There's Amer Zahr, an open and proud anti-Semite, who worked for Rashida Tlaib. As just one example of his views, in 2015, he tweeted out, "Describing defenders of Israel as 'scumbags,' 'pigs,' and 'bastards' is not necessary. 'Zionist' is sufficiently insulting. #Palestine."

There's also Linda Sarsour, who warned against "humanizing" Israelis. She's palled around with Rasmea Odeh, a terrorist who murdered two Israelis before illegally coming to America, with the two of them haranguing an audience that they must stop "Zionists" from their "land grab."

Aside from those two high-profile ones, Bernie has generally been a magnet for anti-Semites:

On Sunday, either Bernie or one of the Israel- and Jew-haters in his campaign sent out a two-part tweet on Bernie's Twitter account (a tweet that still exists and that Bernie has not disavowed):

As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region. 2/2  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 23, 2020

The tweets content is so vile that AIPAC broke its long-standing rule of nonpartisanship and put out a scathing rebuttal:

Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment.



Full statement: https://t.co/XDcNKhYXSq pic.twitter.com/aJGJiv2wv8  AIPAC (@AIPAC) February 24, 2020

Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evidence from his outrageous comment. In fact, many of his own House and Senate Democratic colleagues and leaders speak from our platform to the over 18,000 Americans from widely diverse backgrounds  Democrats, Republicans, Jews, Christians, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, progressives, Veterans, students, members of the LGBTQ+ community  who participate in the conference to proclaim their support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. By engaging in such an odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event, Senator Sanders is insulting his very own colleagues and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel. Truly shameful.

Of course, Bernie's not the only one. Warren is also trying to grab the "hate Israel and Jews" Marxist vote, so she too is eschewing AIPAC's conference this year. Today's Democrat Party is a haven for people determined to resurrect one of mankind's oldest hatreds. AIPAC is right: shame on them.
At about Monday midnight, the enemy allowed a ceasefire provocation, making a salute to "celebrate February 23", the Day of Defender of the Motherland that is regularly marked in Russia

Open source

On late Sunday and early Monday, Russian militants used artillery to land provocative attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas. 20 shells hit the positions of Ukrainian forces there, the HQ of the Joint Forces Operation reported.

"The occupants opened fire from the 122 mm field artillery. The enemy fired 20 shells on the defenders of Kondrashivka Nova", reads the message.

The Ukrainian defenders were ready for the attack, as they knew that the enemy would make a salute to "celebrate February 23", the Day of Defender of the Motherland that is regularly marked in Russia.

Before shooting at Ukrainian positions, the militants launched attacks on their own firing positions in Veselen'ke, so as to discredit the Ukrainian forces; these emplacements are located next to the residential buildings in this occupied settlement.

The Ukrainian military who participate in the Joint Forces Operation claimed that they never opened and will never open any fire on the dwellings of peaceful civilians, and such criminal actions are typical only for Russian occupant forces.
DANBURY  The disposition hearing of the man accused of assaulting staff and patients at a rehabilitation center before being shot by a city police officer seven months ago is scheduled for Friday.

Aaron Bouffard, 31, has been held at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Uncasville on assault, threatening, breach of peace and disorderly conduct charges, stemming from an incident at MCCA on Old Ridgebury Road back in July.

Bouffard was accused of fighting with a staff member and clients at the rehabilitation center on Old Ridgebury Road the morning of July 3.

Bouffard had been administratively discharged from the facility that morning for after assaulting a fellow patient and getting involved in a physical altercation with another, according to a police warrant affidavit.

He was then seen pacing back and forth  holding two big butcher knives in the back parking lot of the building before walking towards a fence separating MCCA and the Springhill Suites hotel, the affidavit states.

A chef at MCCA told police Bouffard took the knives from the kitchen.

Bouffard was gone by the time police got to MCCA. A manhunt ensued and ended around 10:45 a.m., when Bouffard was shot by Danbury Police Officer Alexander Relyea in the area of Old Ridgebury and Reserve roads.

Police said Bouffard was armed with two knives and did not follow orders to drop them when Relyea  the same officer who shot and killed a man months prior  encountered him in a recreational area on the former Union Carbide property.

Bouffards mother, Sherry Bouffard, said her son told her he didnt hear police orders to drop the knives.

According to state police, Relyea fired several rounds at Bouffard, striking him in the thigh, pelvis area and finger. Bouffards mother, however, claims her son was also shot in the ribs and has a bullet lodged in his spine.

Bouffard pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and first-degree threatening, and not guilty to the disorderly conduct and second-degree breach of peace charges. He also faces a violation of probation charge as a result of the incident.
By Kanishka Singh, Eric M. Johnson, Reuters | Feb. 24, 2020

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.
T he body of a boy, believed to be aged 13, has been found in a river in Durham.

Durham Police said the body was found after a search was launched following reports a person had gone into the River Wear, near Toronto Bridge, on Sunday.

The force said in a statement: We are sorry to report a body has been found in the River Wear near Bishop Auckland.

A multi-agency search operation was launched last night following reports that a person had gone into the river near Toronto Bridge.

Sadly, the body of a teenager was found in the river this morning. Formal identification has yet to take place, but it is believed to be the body of a 13-year-old boy.

"His family have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this tragic time.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

We would like to thank our colleagues from Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, National Police Air Service (NPAS) and the Coastguard for their assistance during the search.

Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland - Dehenna Davison - sent her condolences to the family and thanked the emergency services.

She said: "Im devastated to hear the news that a body was found in the River Wear this morning. To lose a loved one is agonising, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims family and friends.

"My sincere thanks go to all the agencies involved in the search, including the local police, mountain rescue, and the coastguard. Their work is outstanding, especially in such difficult conditions.

"My thoughts also go out to the individuals who took part in the search, who I know will have had an emotional stake in it.

"Myself and my team will be there to offer support to anyone affected by this sad news."

Earlier, the force had urged people not to join the search as conditions near the river were treacherous.

Before the body was found, the force tweeted: We are aware of a number of people who are planning to go to the Bishop Auckland area this morning to assist in the search.

Conditions near the river are particularly hazardous and we would request people stay away from the area for their own safety.
Fighting in northwest Syria is coming "dangerously close" to encampments with around a million displaced people, risking an imminent "bloodbath", the UN said on Monday.

Mark Cutts, the UN's Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, also said the UN was trying to double aid deliveries across a border crossing from Turkey from 50 to 100 trucks a day.

"The fighting is now coming dangerously close to an area where more than a million are living in tents and makeshift shelters," Cutts told reporters in Geneva.

Cutts warned there was a risk of "a real bloodbath".

A months-long offensive by Russia-backed Syrian troops against rebels backed by Turkey in northwest Idlib has seen hundreds of thousands of people flee the violence.

As a result of the escalation, Cutts said the UN was revising up its funding appeal for the crisis from USD 330 million to USD 500 million (462 million euros), adding that there was a shortfall of about USD 370 million.

The UN sent 1,200 aid trucks into the area in January and has dispatched 700 more so far in February, Cutts said.

"The reality is it is simply not enough. We're barely able to meet the needs of the people for the most urgent food rations and tents and blankets and winter items," he said.

Cutts also said aid workers were "overwhelmed", some warehouses had been looted and the fighting had damaged some 77 hospitals and other medical facilities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GENESEE COUNTY, MI-- Heres whats going on in Genesee County the week of Feb. 24 - March 1.

Beads in the Bayou

The Genesee Youth Corporation is hosting a Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the UM-Flint Riverfront Banquet Center.

Attendees are encouraged to wear Mardi Gras style clothing and a mask, or they can wear one of the masks available at the event. There will be New Orleans-style food and music, a photo booth and a silent auction. All proceeds will go toward the Genesee County Youth Corporation.

Tickets can be purchased here for $35.

Walk for Warmth

The Genesee County Community Action Resource Department is hosting its 27th annual Walk for Warmth on Feb. 29 at 601 N Saginaw St. Walk for Warmth is a statewide effort to raise awareness about people experiencing heat-related emergencies.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk itself will kick-off at 9 a.m. Registration forms will be available on-site or can be accessed here. Proceeds will go toward assisting Genesee County families facing high energy bills with limited financial resources.

Volunteers are still needed for the event to help set up, greet attendees, registration, serve food, help clean up and other roles. Contact sdavis@co.genesee.us.mi to volunteer.

Beekeeping 102

For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum is hosting the second installment of its beekeeping series, Beekeeping 102, from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29.

For-Mar and Withers Mountain Honey Farms head beekeeper Jim Withers will be teaching attendees how to care for honey bees and prepare for the upcoming honeybee season. No previous beekeeping knowledge is required, although the session is only for those 14 and older.

The sessions costs $6, and pre-registration, which can be done here, is required by Feb. 27.

Of Mice and Men

The Fenton Village Players are performing Of Mice and Men Feb. 27 - March 7 at the Fenton Village Theatre. The shows kick off at 7 p.m. each night.

Tickets cost $17 for adults and $10 for kids under the age of 12. A full schedule of the shows can be found here.
Seoul, Feb 24 : South Korea reported its seventh coronavirus death and 161 new confirmed cases on Monday bringing the total number to 763, with health authorities vowing to contain the spread of the virus in the southwestern city of Daegu where more than half of the total cases were reported.

Daegu, where 2.5 million people are asked to stay indoors, saw its confirmed cases jump by 131 to 457 on Monday morning, despite efforts to stem the spread of the virus, Yonhap News Agency quoted the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) as saying.

Although health authorities voiced hope that the virus can be contained, experts said the virus may have spread more widely nationwide as cases with no clear links to China or confirmed cases continued to be discovered in Seoul and other regions.

Vice Health and Welfare Minister Kim Gang-lip told reporters: "If authorities fail to contain the spread of the COVID-19 in Daegu, there is a high possibility that COVID-19 could spread nationwide." Despite an alarming surge in confirmed cases in recent days, the government has no plan to expand entry bans on foreign nationals from China's other provinces, officials said.

Currently, South Korea has banned foreign nationals entering the country from China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak.

A petition calling for President Moon Jae-in to expand entry bans to China's other provinces has exceeded 700,000.

On Sunday, South Korea raised its virus alert to the highest, or "red," level -- the first time it has done so since the 2009 outbreak of H1N1 swine flu.

Two clusters of infections -- at a branch of the Daegu-based Shincheonji church and a hospital in its neighboring county of Cheongdo -- have continued to rise sharply, taking up more than half of the total cases in the country, said Yonhap News Agency.

Authorities said they have acquired a list of members from the Daegu-based Shincheonji church and were closely monitoring them.

The KCDC earlier said it has placed more than 9,334 Shincheonji members in self-quarantine. Of them, 1,248 have shown COVID-19-related symptoms.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has appealed to the Centre to provide assistance given under the Jal Shakti Mission to the state in the ratio of 90:10 instead of 50:50.

In a letter written to Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the chief minister said the ratio of the Centre's share under the programme should be increased for Rajasthan considering water scarcity and large desert area in the state.

He said that under the scheme, the Centre-state share of Rajasthan has been kept equal to that of other states such as Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.

"It is not appropriate to compare Rajasthan with these states due to adverse climatic conditions of the state," a release quoted him as saying.

The chief minister said Rajasthan is the largest state geographically but the availability of water is very less in comparison to these states, according to the release.

He said most of the villages and hamlets of the state are scattered in desert areas, due to which the cost of drinking water schemes is much higher than other states.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang  Mon, February 24, 2020 14:17 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20663d08e 1 Business Indonesia,automotive,CV-Laksana,buses,exports,Bangladesh,Timor-Leste,Fiji,Philippines,Thailand Free

Central Java-based bus assembling company CV Laksana has exported 10 double-decker buses to Bangladesh after exporting about 200 executive buses to Fiji and Timor Leste last year.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Semarang Regent Mudjirin took part in a ceremony to mark the shipment of the buses, held at the companys factory in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday.

Whats exciting is that these [buses] are going to be exported. With a new design created by one of our own people, these buses have already been exported to several countries, Ganjar said.

Laksana, which exported about 200 executive and double-decker buses to Fiji and Timor Leste in 2019, plans to export similar buses to the Philippines and Thailand as well.

The governments incentive of offering tax waivers for imported materials for export-oriented goods (KITE)  which exempted those materials from value-added tax (VAT), luxury goods tax (PPnBM) and excise fees  has significantly helped companies such as Laksana in exporting their products overseas, Ganjar said, adding that such incentives made his companys buses more competitive in such countries as Bangladesh, Fiji and Timor Leste.

The process of obtaining [incentives] is faster; it took one hour [and] and everything was done.

Ganjar said he was happy the central governments initiative to provide incentives was helpful for local companies.

I want the President and the finance minister to know that here in Central Java, we have already taken advantage of the incentives given by the government. Weve already enjoyed the benefits; this is one of them.

Ganjar emphasized that the government would fully support the advancement of businesses, especially those focusing on exports, adding that he would help market Central Javas products to other countries.

I will help. I can call ambassadors from prospective countries to help market these products. These [products] are exemplary, grand and no less competitive than other foreign products.

He added that the reason behind his support was in his opinion, export was one of the ways to accelerate economic growth in Central Java, especially as he had targeted Central Javas economy to expand by 7 percent by 2023.

According to the Central Java office of Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Central Javas economy grew 5.41 percent in 2019, a slight improvement from the 5.31 percent recorded in 2018 and slightly better than Indonesias economic growth of 5.02 percent last year. (ydp)
(Bloomberg) --

Your sleek new Tesla Model S or electronic BMW has a distinctly 19th century feature that you may not be aware of, among its batteries. A company in Estonia wants to change that.

Skeleton Technologies Group OU is working on supercapacitors, light-weight and long-life components that can distribute intensive bursts of power. These may help eliminate lead-acid batteries, a piece of technology invented in 1859 that still lurks under the hoods of Teslas in addition to the main lithium-ion power source.

Supercapacitors have some way to go before they are widely adopted. There is still a gap with the popular lithium-ion units on how much energy they can store, Skeleton Chief Executive Officer Taavi Madiberk admits. Even so, the technology is promising for offering higher peak power output and reliability in extreme temperatures and Skeleton has already sold it to clients across the transport industry.

Sometimes people think that lead is a problem of the past because it relates to internal combustion engines but in practice all electric vehicles have 12-volt lead acid batteries, Madiberk said. We are working on a viable alternative to replace all lead acid batteries.

Musks PhD

Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk actually moved to Silicon Valley in the first place to do research on supercapacitors in his PhD studies at Stanford University, he wrote in a blog post in 2006. While Musk eventually dropped out from Stanford to start his new ventures, he hasnt abandoned his bet on supercapacitors, also referred to as ultracapacitors.

Tesla, also searching for a breakthrough for electric car batteries, bought Skeletons competitor Maxwell Technologies Inc. last year. Musks company, like other manufacturers, still uses the relatively cheap and recyclable lead-acid battery in addition to the lithium-ion unit.

The sector is at a stage where the lithium-ion battery industry was around 1999, according to Madiberk, whose company also has a base in Germany. Back then, lithium-ion batteries cost over $5,000 per kilowatt hour, compared with under $200 now. Supercapacitors may similarly go from $5,000 to as low as $300, he said, without giving an exact timeline.

Story continues

The technology may be useful for some tasks such as regenerating energy from braking, perhaps in conjunction with a lithium-ion unit, said James Frith, an analyst at BloombergNEF who focuses on energy storage. However, its only one of a number of available routes for the industry.

Theres been a lot of interest in supercapacitors over the years, Frith said. The trouble is that lithium-ion batteries have been coming down in price quite rapidly.

To replace lead-acid batteries, Skeleton is cooperating with some major European carmakers, Madiberk said, without disclosing names. Its products reach an energy density -- a key measure of performance -- of 60 watt-hours per kilogram, exceeding regular lead-acid batteries. Their raw material, a patented graphene composite, provides cost advantages in the long term not just compared with lead-acid but also lithium-ion batteries, he said.

Operating Profit

If you look at the supplies of cobalt, lithium, nickel, manganese, then sooner or later with electrification we see significant bottlenecks, Madiberk said. The issue with lead is, of course, its toxic: the manufacturing process is environmentally harmful.

In heavy transportation, Skeleton has supplied systems that recuperate the braking energy of trams made by Czech manufacturer Skoda Transportation AS and which reduce the fuel consumption of hybrid-electric buses made by the U.K.s Wrights Group Ltd. Having signed orders totaling more than 150 million euros ($163 million) last year, the company targets revenue of 1 billion euros by 2025 when it sees its serviceable market reaching about 60 billion euros. It expects to reach a profit on the operating level by the end of next year.

Aside from Tesla, Madiberk lists U.S.-based AVX Corp. and China State Railway Group as key competitors. The raw materials Skeleton uses have given it a competitive advantage over the bigger rivals, he said.

The companys products had the highest power and maximum peak current from five supercapacitor makers, including Maxwell and Ioxus Inc., in last years study by the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

Supercapacitors may find their niches if the cost becomes competitive, said Frith, the analyst at BloombergNEF.

The heavy transportation applications probably is the best use case for supercapacitors, Frith said. There definitely is a lot of areas within the automotive market where they could find applications.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ott Ummelas in Tallinn at oummelas@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrea Dudik at adudik@bloomberg.net, Andras Gergely

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

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Those who enter Vietnam from the Republic of Korea (RoK) have been officially required to fill out medical declaration forms amid the increase of COVID-19 cases in the East Asian country, according to the Ministry of Health.

At an airport in Vietnam - illustrative photo

The information was announced in a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on February 24.

In order to prevent the disease from entering Vietnam, the MoH has asked the People's Committees of provinces and cities nationwide to direct concerned agencies to apply medical declaration for all people from the RoK entering Vietnam at all border gates and airports.

Medical quarantine measures must be applied if passengers show signs of cough, fever, shortness of breath, and respiratory disease, the ministry said.

The international medical quarantine, preventive medicine, and disease control centres are responsible for printing and distributing medical declaration forms, which are provided free of charge at border gates.

Meanwhile, medical quarantine staff are required to check and store passengers' medical declarations, the ministry added.

Hanoi proposes isolating arrivals from South Korea epidemic areas for 14 days The Hanoi Department of Health has proposed putting any Korean or Vietnamese nationals who arrive from the epidemic areas in the Republic of Korea (RoK) in isolation for a 14-day period.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : BJP's Badarpur MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri would be the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly as party MLAs unanimously elected him as Leader of the Legislative Party on Monday.

A meeting in this regard was held at the BJP Delhi office at 10 am.

Bidhuri, a four-time MLA, started his political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of RSS.

However, he has been with different political parties at different points in time. In 1993, he won the Assembly election on a Janata Dal ticket. He joined the Nationalist Congress Party in 2003.

Bidhuri, a leader from Gurjar community, joined BJP in 2012. In 2013, he entered the Assembly again on a BJP ticket. He lost in 2015, but was re-elected MLA in the 2020 Assembly elections.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/24/2020 -- Toluene Derivatives Market: Introduction



The global toluene derivatives market is expected to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period, due to the increasing demand for these derivatives in various industries such as, building & construction, automotive, oil & gas, and consumer appliances. Growth in the petrochemical industry in countries in Asia Pacific such as India, Taiwan, and Thailand has also opened new avenues for the toluene derivatives market.



Toluene, also known as toluol and methylbenzene, is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is primarily used as an industrial feedstock and solvent. Toluene is used as a solvent in paint thinners, nail polish removers, glues, and correction fluids. Additionally, it is employed in the explosives industry in the manufacture of flammable & explosive compounds such as Trinitrotoluene (TNT). Furthermore, it is employed in the manufacture of hair dyes and cosmetic nail products.



Read report Overview@



https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/toluene-derivatives-market.html



Key Drivers of Toluene Derivatives Market



Rise in energy costs and increase in greenhouse gas emissions have compelled companies to improve energy efficiency. This has boosted the usage of polyurethane foams as insulators in the building & construction industry. Polyurethane is also used in automobiles due to its light weight, which helps lower fuel emissions. These unique characteristics of polyurethane foams are expected to drive the demand for these foams in the automotive industry. In turn, this is projected to drive the demand for toluene derivatives, which is a major raw material used in the production of polyurethane.



Rise in application of toluene derivatives in the manufacture of drugs and blending of petrol offers lucrative potential for the global toluene derivatives market, owing to rapid industrialization and expansion in the oil & gas industry. Increase in demand for toluene derivatives as octane booster in gasoline is also augmenting the global toluene derivatives market.

Demand for toluene derivatives has been increasing owing to the rise in usage of these derivatives in gasoline blends. Additionally, toluene derivatives such as benzene-toluene-xylene mixtures are used in the blending of petrol. These occur as by-products of styrene. This is also expected to drive the market during the forecast period.



Benzene & Xylene Type Segment to Offer Immense Opportunities



In terms of value and volume, the benzene & xylene type segment is estimated to account for significant share of the market during the forecast period, owing to the rise in demand for derivatives, including Polystyrene (PS) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), in numerous applications. This trend is anticipated to continue during the forecast period due to the growth in automobile and consumer appliances industries in Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa.



Rise in usage of xylene in paints and coatings, industrial chemicals, textiles, and plastics is expected to drive the market for benzene and xylene during the forecast period. This, in turn, is estimated to boost the toluene derivatives market in the near future.



Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is anticipated to be a rapidly growing segment of the market during the forecast period. TDI is primarily employed in the production of polyurethane foams, which are widely used in industries such as oil & gas, building & construction, and automotive for insulating applications.



Request PDF Brochure@



https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=75997



Asia Pacific Expected to Hold Major Share of Global Toluene Derivatives Market



In terms of value and volume, Asia Pacific accounted for significant share of the global toluene derivatives market in 2018. It is anticipated to continue its dominance during the forecast period, due to the growth in the paints & coatings industry and rise in demand for architectural and automotive coatings in the region. China is the largest producer of chemicals, paints & coatings, and adhesives in Asia Pacific. This is expected to further drive the toluene derivatives market in the country.



North America and Europe also constitute vital share of the global toluene derivatives market. The market is estimated to expand at a sluggish pace in these regions due to the implementation of stringent regulations regarding carbon emissions.



Brazil is the leading consumer of toluene derivatives in Latin America. It is projected to continue its attractiveness during the forecast period due to the expansion in the oil & gas industry in the country.

Latin America and Middle East & Africa are likely to be attractive regions of the toluene derivatives market during the forecast period. Latin America constitutes countries such as Brazil and Mexico, which are major manufacturers of automotive in the world. They are also manufacturing hubs for numerous industries. Economic growth in these countries is likely to create opportunities for the toluene derivatives market in Latin America.



Key players operating in the toluene derivatives market include:



ExxonMobil Corporation

LyondellBasell

BP Plc

Chevron Phillips Chemical

Indian Oil Corporation Limited

BASF SE

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation

Royal Dutch Shell Plc

CNPC

Mitsui Chemicals
The Holiday Guru is always on call to answer your questions.

This week finding budget hotels in Helsinki and plotting driving routes to Valencia are also on the agenda...

Q. I am taking my granddaughter to Maastricht in July. Is it best to travel by plane or train?

Barbara Walker, via email.

One reader wants to take her granddaughter to Maastricht in July. Above, an aerial view of the historic city in the Netherlands

A. There are no direct flights  it's best to fly or take the Eurostar to Brussels and catch a train from there. Flights are from 64 return (brusselsairlines.com), while Eurostar tickets are from 46. Brussels to Maastricht train tickets are from 17 each way, taking 1h 45m with a change in Liege (thetrainline.com).

Q. Can you recommend a budget hotel in Helsinki during May?

Claire Jones, via email.

A. For smart rooms under 100 a night, see Helsinki For Under 100 A Night! at dailymail.co.uk.

Q. We want to drive to Valencia after taking a ferry, with a stopover half-way in Spain. What do you think is the best route to take?

Rosemarie Mead, via email.

A. Catch the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry (brittany-ferries.co.uk) and stay overnight in Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon.

Q. My wife is over 6ft tall and would love to have a soak in a large bath tub. Can you recommend a suitable UK hotel?

Morris Parkes, Cannock, Staffordshire.

As his wife is over 6ft tall, one reader is on the hunt for a hotel with a large bathtub

A. A large selection of British hotels with big bathtubs is listed under the 'bathtubs for two' section of roomforromance.com.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

If you need advice, the Holiday Guru can answer your questions. Please send queries to holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk or write to Daily Mail Travel, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT  and include your contact details. We will do our best to answer your queries but we can't reply to every enquiry. Please do not send in any original documents. We look forward to hearing from you.
SDR2020: the first French SDR Winter School Don Beattie G3BJ reports more than 30 SDR Geeks attended the first SDR Winter School



The IARU-R1 site says:



Organized jointly by RCN-EG, the R.E.F. and group of trainers (Sylvain F4GKR, Eric F5HSV, Evariste F5OEO and Mehdi F4HIX), SDR2020 was held in the south suburbs of Paris from February 17-21.



The event was open to everybody and was attended by a very wide audience: whilst there was just a majority of licensed amateurs, there were 14 non-amateur attendees, some having no idea of what amateur radio is. Those attending ranged from 19 to 74 years old, coming from 4 countries (France, Belgium, Algeria and Senegal), many by train and plane.



Read the full story at

https://www.iaru-r1.org/2020/sdr2020-the-first-french-sdr-winter-school/
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 14:46:07|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in India's western state of Gujarat on Monday for a two-day state visit to the country.

Accompanied by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, the U.S. president arrived in the state's Ahmedabad city to a grand welcome.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed them at the Ahmedabad airport. Gujarat is also Modi's home state.

The U.S. president and the first lady will spend nearly four hours in the city before flying to northern city of Agra (in Uttar Pradesh state) to have a sun-set glimpse of the world heritage site the "Taj Mahal."

Finally, the Trumps' entourage will arrive in Delhi late on Monday evening.

This will be Trump's fifth meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi in the past eight months, said India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 16:45:19|Editor: huaxia

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A child wearing traditional costumes eats traditional food for the Tibetan New Year in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 24, 2020. The Tibetan New Year, a traditional festival of the Tibetan ethnic minority, falls on Monday this year. China is in a tough battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 2,592 lives and infected 77,150 on the Chinese mainland by the end of Feb. 23. Though Tibet only reported one confirmed case and has not seen new reports of the novel coronavirus infection for over three weeks, local authorities are still on high alert. Earlier on Feb. 19, authorities in Tibet called on citizens not to hold or participate in group activities during the Tibetan New Year. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

LHASA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Putting on new festive costumes and setting the table for a big New Year's feast, Yangjen Drolkar and his wife in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, are ready to celebrate the Tibetan New Year, which falls on Monday, in the traditional manner.

Only the room seems emptier.

"We decided not to let my son and his child come over to celebrate together," said Yangjen Drolkar. "Staying at home is making a contribution amid the epidemic. Everyone in the country being safe and sound beats anything else in the new year."

China is in a tough battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 2,592 lives and infected 77,150 on the Chinese mainland by the end of Feb. 23.

Though Tibet only reported one confirmed case and has not seen new reports of the novel coronavirus infection for over three weeks, local authorities are still on high alert.

Earlier on Feb. 19, authorities in Tibet called on citizens not to hold or participate in group activities during the Tibetan New Year, a traditional festival of the Tibetan ethnic minority.

The district-level governments under the administration of Lhasa suspended gathering activities during the festival.

And the city of Shannan in the region posted an initiative on its official account on WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform, calling on its citizens not to visit relatives or friends, nor to hold gatherings during the Tibetan New Year.

Nyima Tsering, a volunteer in a community in Lhasa's Chengguan District, is busy writing down a long list of commodities purchased by local residents.

Over 2,700 people from 934 households live in the community, and the unified ordering service can help reduce personnel flow amid the epidemic.

In addition, a total of 231 direct selling stores and vehicles have been set up in Lhasa and nearby regions for the convenience of citizens buying daily necessities during the festival.

Local residents even amused themselves by making zanba, a traditional Tibetan staple food of roasted barley flour as part of the celebration.

"Though we're geographically separated, our hearts are connected. A call or a message is enough to express our blessings to each other," said Nyima Tsering, who extended new year greetings to relatives in other places via WeChat.
By Laman Ismayilova

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), founder and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva has met with new Director-General of FAO Qu Dongyu.

Before the meeting held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Leyla Aliyeva congratulated Qu Dongyu on his appointment to a new post and wished him success in his future activities.

The meeting discussed prospects for sustainable agricultural development in Azerbaijan, FAO's efforts in this regard, as well as bilateral cooperation on such areas as environmental education, healthy and responsible food consumption and rural development.

Leyla Aliyeva highly appreciated FAOs important projects implemented in Azerbaijan on agriculture, forestry and fish farming. She expressed her gratitude for the contribution to the development of these areas in the country.

Qu Dongyu noted that Azerbaijan, as the region's leading country, plays a major role in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The sides also discussed the implementation of UNs "Zero hunger" global goal, quality and scarcity of drinking water, and exchanged views on possible partnerships to eliminate hunger and ensure food security around the world.

At the end of the meeting, Leyla Aliyeva invited FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu to pay a visit to Azerbaijan.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

The FAO aims to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO's partnership with Azerbaijan is focused on six priority areas, that include the promotion of women's representation in rural organizations and income-generating activities for rural women as a cross-cutting issue: Animal health and plant protection; Supporting investments in agriculture, food security and rural development; Capacity development, including agricultural education, research and extension; Strengthening the policy and institutional framework for agriculture and rural development; Improved crop, fisheries and livestock production; Sustainable, equitable and efficient forestry, land and water resource management.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The company, which released disappointing earnings results last week, said it will write down the $855 million carrying value of the project. Last month, Lindsay said that the mine would not be built  even if it secured government approval  unless there were more pipelines, higher oil prices and a partner to work with on the project.
"Novalung is a critical leap forward in providing heart and lung support therapy for a longer duration than ever available before," said Mark Costanzo, President of Renal Therapies Group, the technologies and pharmaceuticals division of FMCNA. "We've applied our leadership and technical expertise in renal medical devices to elevate standards for acute respiratory and cardiopulmonary failure treatments and technologies. We're proud to broaden our care offerings to provide new therapies for patients with acute cardiopulmonary conditions."

Patients in acute respiratory or cardiopulmonary failure often struggle to get oxygen into their bloodstream or expel carbon dioxide out of their bodies, resulting in dangerously low levels of oxygen. This acute low oxygen state can result from a wide range of conditions. Recent research has shown a significant increase in the use of ECMO with evidence of improved survival rates and no increase in hospitalization costs.1

The Novalung ECMO system pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood, reducing the stress on damaged heart and lungs. Additionally, Novalung offers an alternative to the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, which can cause additional lung injury as a result of the air pressure required. Novalung offers a portable therapy solution designed to improve clinical outcomes and accommodate various clinical care settings such as intensive care units, operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, and emergency departments.

"A long-term, effective ECMO solution gives critically-ill patients the time and support needed to heal," said Dr. Robert Bartlett, Professor Emeritus, Section of General Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine. "The system's pressure sensor technology ensures continuous monitoring and accurate flow control of each patient's blood, allowing the care team the flexibility needed to treat the underlying health issues."

The use of Novalung as an ECMO device for critical care has several benefits, including minimizing the need for invasive ventilation, the ability to provide support after multi-organ injuries, and better survival outcomes for patients in cardiac arrest. This integrated heart and lung therapy platform provides the lifesaving support needed for patients in critical conditions.

FMCNA expects Novalung to be available within the U.S. mid-year 2020. To learn more, please visit fmcna.com/novalung.

INDICATIONS FOR USE

The Novalung System is indicated for long-term (>6 hours) respiratory/cardiopulmonary support that provides assisted extracorporeal circulation and physiologic gas exchange (oxygenation and CO2 removal) of the patient's blood in adults with acute respiratory failure or acute cardiopulmonary failure, where other available treatment options have failed, and continued clinical deterioration is expected or the risk of death is imminent. These may include:

Failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass following cardiac surgery in adult patients

ECMO-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults

Caution: Federal (US) law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician.



Note: Read the Instructions for Use for safe and proper use of these devices. For a complete description of hazards, contraindications, side effects, and precautions, see full package labeling at www.fmcna.com.

About Fresenius Medical Care North America

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) is the premier healthcare company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities, outpatient cardiac and vascular labs and urgent care centers, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides coordinated healthcare services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world's largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at https://fmcna.com.

Disclaimer

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.

Media Contact:

Fresenius Medical Care North America

Brad Puffer

Director of Public Relations

[email protected]

(781) 699-3331

1 Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use has increased by 433% in adults in the United States from 2006 to 2011. ASAIO J. 2015 Jan-Feb;61(1):31-6. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000000160.

SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

www.fmcna.com


United States President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on Monday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram, which was home to Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1930 during India's freedom struggle.

The US First Couple was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached the Ashram a few minutes earlier, showed Trump and the US First Lady 'Hriday Kunj', a room inside the Ashram where Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba lived.

Modi explained the importance of this place in India's freedom struggle.

During the visit, Trump and Melania also tried their hands on the khadi spinning wheel, also knwon as charkha.

Melania also helped Trump in weaving khadi on charkha.

Before leaving, Trump wrote a message in the visitors' book of the Ashram.

"To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - Thank you for this wonderful visit," wrote Trump and signed the message.

It was also signed by Melania.

SEE: WHEN DONALD AND MELANIA TRUMP SPUN THE CHARKHA

The Trumps were in the Ashram for around 15 minutes.

Modi also presented "Three Wise Monkeys," a larger version of one belonging to Mahatma Gandhi, as a memento to the US president.

Trump and Modi then resumed their roadshow till Motera stadium.

Ashram trustee Kartikeya Sarabhai, who welcomed Trump and Melania with a khadi stole, told reporters later that the Trumps told him how much they enjoyed their visit to the Ashram.

"They said the place gave them a sense of peace. They said they understood the symbolism of this place. The Central government gifted them a statue of Gandhiji's Three Monkeys, conveying the message of speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil," Sarabhai said.

He said the Ashram trust gifted the Tumps a special edition of Gandhiji's autobiography, a pencil drawing of Gandhiji and a charkha.

Photographs: Al Drago/Reuters; ANI/Twitter; MEA/Flickr
The director of a film about Japan's Minamata disaster has criticised Australia for its failure to act on mercury poisoning in the environment, seven years after signing a convention in which it promised to do so.

Andrew Levitas directed Minamata, a new film starring Johnny Depp about a historic case in which a Japanese fishing village was poisoned by mass mercury contamination of the ocean. In an interview with this masthead, the 42-year-old American director said that Australia had fallen behind the rest of the world by failing to ratify the UN Minamata Convention to phase out the use of mercury, despite signing up to it in 2013.

Director Andrew Levitas, second from left, and Johnny Depp at the Berlin Film Festival premiere.

The people of Australia must demand that their government protect and advocate for them, not for big business, Levitas said after his film premiered to a packed house at the Berlin Film Festival at the weekend.

This film is meant to remind us all that these pollutants are not necessary evils. Its amazing that anyone is still using mercury.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, who are on a two-day visit to India, will be driven around in the presidential car known across the world as The Beast. The 2018 model of a unique Cadillac serves as a miniature version of the White House.

Full Coverage: Trumps Visit to India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Trump as he arrived at Ahmedabad airport on Monday. The Prime Minister is accompanying Trump on his two-day official visit. The motorcade is headed on a 22-km route in Ahmedabad to Motera Stadium where the US President will attend a Namaste Trump event.

The presidential state car, maintained by the United States Secret Service, is transported in the hold of Air Force One, the Presidents plane. The Presidential Cadillac is actually a giant Chevrolet SUV platform underneath a body designed to look like a Cadillac. That gives it the ability to be armoured, tough and able to hammer its way out of a crisis situation, while at the same time being a rolling symbol of American class.

Experts say the presidential limousine has run-flat tires, bulletproof glass and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack, among many other high-tech security features. It also has extensive electronic communications equipment.

Former US President Barack Obama had once said at a talkshow that the limo is a Caddy basically on a tank frame. Obama had said he could call a nuclear submarine right here from a phone in the car.

Until the assassination of John F Kennedy, US Presidents would often stand and ride uncovered in their state cars for the sake of their fans. However, Kennedys assassination led to tight security regimen with introduction of bullet-proof, armoured and sealed cars.

For much of the 20th century, the presidential limousine was a Lincoln. But since the early 1980s, the limousine has always been a Cadillac.

The latest, custom-built Cadillac has been produced by General Motors Co, and was unveiled in September, 2018. The previous version of the limo first appeared in January 2009 just before Barack Obama took office.

Motorcades escorting the US presidential state car constitute around 50 vehicles maintained by White House Military Office and helicopters of Marine One.

US secret service agents, for the last several months, have been scrutinising every detail of President Trumps travel logistics and secure exits in case of an attack in New Delhi, Agra and Ahmedabad.
Campaigners are challenging the 'discriminatory' law that allows abortion for Down's syndrome up until birth.

It is wrong to permit terminations at any time for babies with serious disabilities, including Down's, cleft lip and club foot, while other foetuses are protected by a 24-week limit, they argue.

Heidi Crowter, 24, a woman with Down's, has joined Cheryl Bilsborrow, who has a two-year-old with the genetic disorder, to write to Health Secretary Matt Hancock seeking a change to the 1967 Abortion Act to prevent late abortions for all non-fatal disabilities.

Campaigners are challenging the 'discriminatory' law that allows abortion for Down's syndrome up until birth (stock image)

The women, backed by the campaign group Don't Screen Us Out, are raising 20,000 to take the Government to court over the issue.

Miss Crowter, from Coventry, said: 'In the UK, babies can be aborted right up to birth if they are considered to be "seriously handicapped".

'They include me in that definition  just because I have an extra chromosome! What it says to me is that my life just isn't as valuable as others.

'I think it's downright discrimination.'

In Britain, about nine in ten women have abortions after being given a diagnosis for Down's, which is linked to delays in growth and intellectual disability.
ROME - Croatia and Greece have decided to suspend school trips to Italy for one month to limit the risk of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.



Croatian foreign minister advised citizens to avoid travel to Venice and in Lombardy, regions that have been declared "at risk for coronavirus contagion".



A group of 42 students and four teachers from a high school in Pola returned from Venice on Sunday and have been placed on home isolation and under observation for two weeks.



Albania has strengthened preventative measures following cases of coronavirus in Italy, but has decided not to impose bans on air and sea connections with Italy, despite their high frequency. On Monday alone, 17 flights are arriving at the Tirana airport from 11 Italian destinations, eight of which from the central-north.



"Our measures will be proportionate to the level of risk," said Albanian Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu, responding to journalists' questions on a probable ban on connections with Italy.



At the time of the verification of the cases in Italy, Albanian authorities doubled controls in the only international airport in Tirana, in the ports of Durazzo and Valona, and also at the border crossings.



Passengers from Italy have been subjected to temperature checks and are required to leave their contact information with authorities.



More than 4,000 passengers were checked on Sunday.



There are currently no verified cases of coronavirus in Albania.



Six suspected cases were tested and came back negative.



Patrick Pelloux, president of the French association of emergency room doctors, in an interview with BFM-TV reflecting on a hypothetical closure of the nation's borders as suggested by MP Eric Ciotti, member of the national assembly from the Alpes-Maritimes, said that closing borders with Italy would be "totally useless". "It wouldn't be efficient," said the doctor, who has been a longtime collaborator with the French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo, adding that "in any case, it would be a little late".



"There's also the question of whether it would have limited the contagion, which isn't certain," he said.



"I understand Ciotti's concern, but things must not be done haphazardly," Pelloux said.



"We know that in France, contrary to Italy, we paid a lot of attention to everyone who had initial symptoms," he said.



He said what is happening in Italy is "rather disturbing".



"If Italy manages to leverage confinements, managing to control the start of the epidemic, we can hope that the virus will stop around the region of Milan. If, however, Italy is overwhelmed by the epidemic, we must reflect on another scenario, with the passage of the virus into southeastern France," he said.



He said, however, that there mustn't be "fear of Italians" and that people "must have faith in the health system".



He praised the response by French authorities, who began isolating suspected cases back in January of people who had returned to France from China.



He said now is the time to prepare the "next act", which he said includes "ultra-rapid screening centres".

Egypt, Algeria, South Africa are the three African countries most at risk

ROME - Three African countries are more at risk for the novel coronavirus from China: Egypt, Algeria and South Africa, according to an international study that has analyzed flight connections between the African continent and the Chinese provinces affected by the outbreak. In other countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya, the risk of importing the virus is inferior but fear of a quick spread is increasing.

The study, published by Lancet, was conducted by the team of Italy's Vittoria Colizza, director of research Inserm of unit 1136 of the Institute Pierre-Louis of epidemiology and public health of the Sorbonne University, in collaboration with the Free University of Brussels, the Oxford Martin Program on Pandemic Genomics and the University of California in Los Angeles. ''This work - explained Colizza - enables to alert the most exposed countries to the need to prepare for the possibility of the virus' introduction''. The researcher added that for several African countries ''with limited resources to manage the epidemic, there are significant risks not to have the organization and infrastructure to report, contain and treat the sick, which increases the risk of an epidemic in the continent''.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  ABS-CBN asked the Supreme Court to junk Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition to void its existing franchise, saying the top government lawyer's allegations were unfounded.

The media giant said Calida's quo warranto plea was misplaced, saying that it is Congress and not the high court which has the authority to revoke legislative franchises.

"Granting the petition would violate the fundamental principle of separation of powers," the network said in its comment filed Monday. "Respondents beseech this honorable court not to pre-empt Congress' exercise of its power."

Committees at the House of Representatives and Senate have finally started work on several bills looking to renew the network's franchise, but are far from seeing approval. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said formal hearings in his chamber may start by May the earliest  just as ABS-CBN's franchise expires by May 4.

READ: Congress can authorize NTC to grant ABS-CBN provisional license to operate  DOJ

ABS-CBN also said that Calida violated the hierarchy in the Judiciary, which only allows petitions with "special and important reasons" to run directly to the high court.

"The violations supposedly committed by ABS-CBN and Convergence are within the jurisdiction of administrative agencies," the network said, citing Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the Philippine Competition Commission.

In particular, issues regarding foreign investment and control should be a matter for the corporate regulator to resolve, the media firm said, while the legality of the KBO service can be decided by the NTC.

RELATED: ABS-CBN did not commit violations  BIR, SEC

On ownership, the network said PDRs were not the same as shares of stock and do not accord its holders voting rights to control how the company is run. Instead, they only get cash distributions or dividends via ABS-CBN Holdings Corporation, a separate entity from the actual TV network.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN rejected Calida's request for the high court to stop KBO Channel's operations. It compared KBO to the services of Netflix and Amazon Prime which are paid video streaming services run by foreigners but are available in the Philippines. These companies are not regulated by the NTC, the firm said.

The network said it has been broadcasting multiple channels using digital technology, which allowed ABS-CBN to operate six channels using just one frequency. It pointed out that the NTC allowed such a structure in May 2019.

The network added that it has been given the right to operate "for commercial purposes," which to them includes offering pay-per-view services. It argued that this was still public service as the KBO rate of 30 to 99 is cheaper than heading out and seeing movies in cinemas.

READ: ABS-CBN's alleged illegal KBO operation would only cost 200 fine per violation

"The Republic believes that ABS-CBN should use its assigned frequency only for its 'free-to-air' channel and for no other. It fails to appreciate that DTT enables the simultaneous transmission of several channels, both free-to-air and pay-per-view, using only one frequency," the company said. DTT refers to digital terrestrial television.

ABS-CBN also cautioned against the grant of the quo warranto, saying that this would have a "chilling effect" among media outlets. It added that there was no "substantive evil" to justify the closure of the network's broadcast.

Calida has also asked the SC to issue a gag order to stop both his office and any of ABS-CBN's representatives from discussing the merits of the pending case in public, saying that such statements could "pre-judge" the case and influence the decision of magistrates. Calida skipped the Senate hearing on the network's franchise on Monday, explaining in a letter than he does not want to violate this rule.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
The gangster was nabbed in South Africa in a joint operation by the South Africa police and Senegal security agencies and was later extradited to Senegal

Bengaluru: Fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari who is wanted in many heinous crimes, including murder and extortion, was brought in the early hours of Monday from Senegal via France to Bengaluru, police said.

"Yes, we have brought him," a police officer told PTI requesting anonymity.

The gangster was nabbed in South Africa in a joint operation by the South Africa police and Senegal security agencies and was later extradited to Senegal, said police sources.

On learning about his arrest in Senegal, a team of police officers, including Additional Director General of Police Amar Kumar Pandey and Bengaluru Joint Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil went to Senegal to bring him.

The team completed the extradition process and finally brought him to Bengaluru by an Air France flight.

The don was arrested by the Senegal authorities last year and the Indian police tried it's best to catch hold of him but failed as a local court there granted him bail.

The gangster then jumped the bail and fled Senegal and had holed up in South Africa, said police sources. The gangster was allegedly involved in many heinous crimes and had set up his network in Karnataka.
Update 2:37: Sinn Fein has dismissed as hysterics the criticisms it has received from the leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael regarding the public rallies it will hold over the course of the week regarding Government formation.

Speaking at Leinster House this afternoon Pearse Doherty, Sinn Feins lead negotiator, said that suggestions earlier from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that his party has a casual relationship with democracy and is acting like it got the largest vote amount to pure hysterics.

We did get the largest mandate, but other parties got a mandate also which is why were intensifying negotiations with them, Mr Doherty said.

With regard to the five rallies the party has planned, starting this evening in Rochestown in Cork, he said that Sinn Fein had promised to listen to the voices of ordinary people in the corridors of power if we got into Government.

We very much welcome the huge publicity Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin have given to our public meetings where we will be opening ourselves up to questions from the public, he said.

This is about elected representatives going out to meet the people who voted for us and indeed those who didnt vote for us, and no amount of hysterics from Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin will stop us talking to ordinary people.

In any other democracy this would be applauded and welcomed, and Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin fear that, they fear the type of change the public wants, he said.

Mr Doherty denied that his party would, as the Taoiseach has suggested, take to the streets in protest should it be excluded from Government talks.

We have no intention of protesting. I have one mandate - to secure a programme for Government for change, that is the only mandate that we have, he said.

Sinn Fein is today stepping up its negotiations with the Green Party in a bid to reach compromise on a programme for Government. Mr Doherty denied that carbon tax, to which Sinn Fein remains totally opposed and which is fundamental to the Green Partys approach to reducing emissions, would be a stumbling block in those negotiations.

Were opposed to carbon ax as the alternatives are not there and it makes people poorer, he said.

What we have in common with the Green Party is the need to take the climate agenda very seriously. They disagree with the type of tax that is in place at present.

This is about changing behaviour and making the necessary investment in public transport and retrofitting so that people can make changes if the alternatives are not there.

He said that the outgoing Governments targets on climate are far too low. We have a far more ambitious agenda, he said.

On the subject of a united Ireland, Mr Doherty denied that his partys rhetoric had ramped up the focus on a unity referendum since the election.

It was up there in lights in our manifesto as far as Im concerned, he said.

Im a united Irelander, Im very proud of it as are my colleagues, this is a discussion that is happening both North and South, whats missing here is a discussion at Government level.

He said that Sinn Fein would be pushing for an all-party committee to look at the preparation required for a referendum on a united Ireland, together with a citizens assembly style forum for the public to express its views.

'It's hysterics': Doherty hits out at Varadkar's comments on Sinn Fein rallies

Original reporting by Digital Desk staff

Earlier: Sinn Fein's lead negotiator Pearse Doherty has called the Taoiseach "hysterical" for his comments about the party's planned political rallies.

Sinn Fein will hold public rallies in Cork, Dublin and Newry this week.

Leo Varadkar says they are part of a campaign of intimidation and bullying.

Speaking today, Mr Varadkar said: "It seems that Sinn Fein, having won less than a quarter of the vote, are behaving as though they won a majority.

"I think these rallies are designed to be the next phase in Sinn Fein's campaign of intimidation and bullying.

"It just shows once again that this is not a normal party. This is a party that has a casual relationship with our democracy."

Mr Doherty has the Taoiseach's comments as hysterical.

"It's hysterics to tell you the God's honest truth," said the Donegal TD.

"I've heard some of his comments about intimidation and bullying... These are public meetings.

"This is elected representatives going out to meet people who voted for us and indeed people who didn't vote for us.

"Opening us to questions and letting people know exactly what happens.

"And that the difference between and ourselves other political parties. When the election is over we don't just close the doors."
2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and Washington Governor Jay Inslee speaks during the Presidential Gun Sense Forum in Des Moines

By Eric M. Johnson

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Washington state lawmakers moved on Wednesday to remove a key tax break for Boeing Co <BA.> and other aerospace firms in a bid to head off possible European tariffs on U.S. goods and ease a transatlantic trade dispute over aircraft subsidies.

The United States last week toughened its own tariffs on aircraft built by Boeing's arch-rival, Europe's Airbus <AIR.PA>, after winning approval last year from the World Trade Organization to penalize European goods over Airbus subsidies.

The European Union is widely expected to win approval to impose similar tariffs on U.S. goods when a parallel case over U.S. support for Boeing comes to a head during the spring.

The WTO has found that the world's two largest planemakers received billions of dollars of unfair subsidies in cases dating back to 2004. The global trade body has faulted both sides for failing to comply with its previous rulings, opening the door to a tariff war.

After years of debate, the main focus of the European case against the United States involves a system of preferential state tax rates for aerospace introduced 16 years ago and renewed in 2013 to help attract production work for Boeing's 777X.

Washington state lawmakers in Olympia said they had introduced companion bills in the Senate and House that would remove the aerospace tax break, which saved Boeing more than $200 million in 2018.

"There is broad agreement in Olympia that we need to act this session to address the WTO issue in order to avoid retaliatory tariffs that would damage not just our commercial aircraft industry, but other important Washington exports," Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement.

He said Boeing - which was widely reported to have lobbied for the tax breaks to be extended to include the new 777X program in 2013 - had now asked for them to be removed.

"Boeing has said it would like that tax incentive at least suspended, until the issue is fully settled with the European Union," Inslee said in a statement.

The 777X, the largest twin-engined jetliner, staged a maiden flight last month.

Story continues

Boeing said in a statement that it fully supports legislation to reverse the tax breaks.

"This legislation demonstrates the commitment of Washington - and of the United States - to fair and rules-based trade, and to compliance with the WTO's rulings," Boeing said.

But, it said, Airbus and the European Union must "finally come into compliance by ending illegal launch aid subsidies once and for all and addressing the harm they have caused the United States aerospace industry and its workers."

The United States says the European Union has failed to address subsidies for Airbus' A380 and A350 airliners.

The European Union says it has fallen into line with the WTO's rulings and accused the Trump administration of dragging its feet on removing aid for Boeing.

Both sides have called for negotiations while accusing the other of failing to cooperate. Meanwhile, makers of products ranging from luxury goods to whisky have raised concerns over the impact of a tit-for-tat tariff war spreading beyond the aerospace industry.

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Additional reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 A 16-year-old girl was arrested at 5:26 p.m. Saturday after being accused of striking someone during a disturbance in the 200 block of West Beecher Avenue.

 Bobbie J. Ransom, 38, of 847 Hardin St. was arrested at 4:22 p.m. Saturday on a charge of driving while license is suspended after a traffic stop on Routt Street.

 Amanda N. Zulauf, 28, of 137 E. Pennsylvania Ave. was arrested at 1:16 p.m. Saturday on a charge of driving while license is suspended, operating an uninsured vehicle and having an expired registration sticker after a traffic stop on Davenport Street.

OTHER REPORTS

 Police were called to the 900 block of East Independence Avenue at 9:36 a.m. Saturday about someone who had been stabbed in the abdomen.

Officers said the unidentified man was aggressive and would not comply with nurses. He told police he had been stabbed with a knife but refused to press charges or cooperate with the investigation, according to a police report.

ACCIDENTS

 Khinlee R. Wilson, 23, of Edinburg was cited on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle after being unable to provide proof of valid insurance after police said he backed into a fire hydrant at West Sandy Street and Central Park Plaza at 2:05 a.m. Sunday.

VANDALISM

 Someone threw eggs at a car while it was parked in the 200 block of West Beecher Avenue, according to a report filed at 9:19 p.m. Saturday.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer
International courier company DHL Express has received the first of six new Boeing 777-200 freighters scheduled for delivery this year as it ramps up capabilities to serve the rapidly growing e-commerce market.

The new aircraft arrived last week at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), home to DHL's U.S. operations, the company said Monday in a press release. The new freighter will be operated by partner airline Kalitta Air on behalf of DHL Aviation.

The DHL Express unit uses an assortment of in-house airlines and charter operators to provide airlift for Amazon's Prime Air, which guarantees one-day delivery for more than 100 million items ordered online. Last May, Amazon broke ground on a $1.5 billion air hub at CVG, located in Hebron, Kentucky. Amazon is currently using DHL's facility to sort packages and service aircraft for Amazon's 14 routes from the airport. DHL also flies night operations for big international customers.

DHL ordered 14 777Fs in 2018, with four delivered last year and another four coming in 2021 as part of fleet renewal to equip the fleet with more modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. The Boeing 777F has the longest range  5,717 miles  at full payload (102 tons) of any widebody freighter and reduces emissions by 18% compared with aircraft it is replacing.

"With the modernization of our intercontinental fleet, we can simultaneously enhance our proven ability to meet growing demand, improve our environmental footprint and deliver best quality service to our customers," DHL Express CEO John Pearson said in the release.

DHL Express, part of German logistics conglomerate Deutsche Post DHL Group, has made e-commerce service a strategic priority. It operates more than 260 dedicated aircraft with 17 partner airlines on more than 3,000 daily flights.

"We expect further growth in cross-border e-commerce trade and, as a result, increased demand for our express logistics services and expertise in intercontinental deliveries," Travis Cobb, executive vice president global network operations and aviation at DHL Express, said.

Story continues

DHL's capital expenditure for the 777Fs is $4.7 billion at list price, according to Boeing, but airlines typically receive discounts for multi-plane purchases. The order doubles DHL's 777 fleet.

Image by Bilal EL-Daou from Pixabay

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
I also think theyre going to take the position that, Why didnt you take this more seriously, Mr. President? he said. Public corruption is something that has cast a long shadow upon state government, and to me, considering the environment that were in, it minimizes what should be a strong statement coming out of the administration about where it stands on issues of corrupt officials.
Cairo: The global terror network, Al-Qaeda, has confirmed the death of Qassim al-Raymi, the leader of Islamist group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Site Intelligence Group reported on Sunday (February 23).

U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that the United States had killed al-Raymi in a counterterrorism operation in Yemen.

The United States regards AQAP as one of the deadliest branches of the al Qaeda network which was founded by Osama bin Laden. Laden was responsible for the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States. The attack had claimed around 2990 lives.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now joined in the search for Evelyn Boswell, the 15-month-old Tennessee toddler who went missing in December as authorities arrest her grandmother for stealing a car.

William McCloud, 33, and Angela Boswell, 42, were arrested in North Carolina 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's daughter is Megan Boswell, the toddler's mother who authorities say has not provided reliable information about Evelyn's disappearance.

The FBI is assisting local law enforcement in Tennessee in the search for missing 15-month-old girl Evelyn Boswell

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 Evelyn Boswell, who has been missing since December

The gray 2007 BMW, which was said to have front-end damage, was reported stolen and McCloud and Boswell are believed to have information on the missing child.

The pair are due to be extradited back to Tennessee, according to The Tennessean.

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 on Friday 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 $56,000 reward for her safe return

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 thought 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 $56,000 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.
Job Title: Office Attendants (Several No

Experience O Level Jobs)

Organisation: Uganda National Meteorological

Authority (UNMA)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Human

Resource Officer/Head of Station

About US:

Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) is a

statutory body established by UNMA Act, 2012. The Act empowers UNMA to provide

for the control and development of technically sound and scientific

meteorological services in Uganda.

Job Summary: The Office Attendant will facilitate a good

working environment for smooth Office operations

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Clean office premises and ensuring that the

offices are properly locked;



Collect and deliver office items, documents,

mail and parcels as instructed;



Prepare and serve tea to officers;



Undertake any official errands outside the

office as instructed by the supervisor and any other official duties assigned.

Key Results:



Office premises cleaned and secured;



Office Items collected and delivered;



Office tea prepared and served; and Official

errands timely done

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The ideal candidate must hold a Uganda Certificate

of Education (UCE) with a pass in English Language.



Honesty and Integrity



Communicating Effectively;



Public Relations and Customer Care; and



Time Management



Age: 21-40 years.

How to Apply:

All applications must be accompanied with recent CVs

detailing work experience, present position, and current remuneration,

professional and educational qualifications. Applicants must also include a

copy of their National Identity Card and three (3) referees (including their

names, workplace and contact details).

Females are encouraged to apply and Applications should be

physically delivered to the address below;

The Executive Director,

Uganda National Meteorological Authority,

Plot 22/28 Port Bell Road, Luzira.

P.O Box 7025

Kampala-Uganda

Deadline: 23rd March 2020 by 5:00pm

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

CenterPoint Energy, the regulated utility that delivers electricity to the Houston area, said Monday that it will sell its natural-gas retail business for $400 million to Energy Capital Partners of New Jersey, a private equity investor.

CenterPoint said it will use the money from the sale of CenterPoint Energy Services to repay a portion of its outstanding debt.
The stone was found in an irrigation ditch (Getty)

A mysterious stone with strange inscriptions has led to the discovery of a lost ancient kingdom in Turkey  which may have battled Phrygia, a kingdom once ruled by King Midas.

The as-yet-unnamed ancient kingdom was found after a farmer discovered a huge stone containing a message from an ancient king in an irrigation ditch.

Researchers from the University of Chicago were investigating Turkmen-Karahoyuk, a large Bronze and Iron Age mounded settlement occupied between about 3,500 and 100 BC.

A local farmer told the researchers he had found a big stone with strange inscriptions while dredging a nearby irrigation canal the previous winter.

READ MORE

Assistant Professor James Osborne, of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, said, My colleague Michele Massa and I rushed straight there, and we could see it still sticking out of the water, so we jumped right down into the canal up to our waists wading around.

Right away it was clear it was ancient, and we recognized the script it was written in: Luwian, the language used in the Bronze and Iron ages in the area.

Full view of the archaeological mound at Turkmen-Karahoyuk (University of Chicago)

The survey team immediately identified a special hieroglyphic marking that symbolised the message came from a king.

The farmer helped pull the massively heavy stone out of the irrigation canal with a tractor.

From there it went to the local Turkish museum, where it was cleaned, photographed and readied for translation.

The inscription boasted of defeating Phrygia, the kingdom ruled by King Midas, famous from the mythical story where he developed a golden touch.

Prof Osborne says that the city covered 300 acres, making it one of the largest in Bronze and Iron Age Turkey.

The kingdom is as yet unnamed, but it could reshape the history of the area.

We had no idea about this kingdom. In a flash, we had profound new information on the Iron Age Middle East, he added.

Story continues

The researchers now hope to investigate the area further, and are planning to complete a survey this summer.

Prof Osborne said: Inside this mound are going to be palaces, monuments, houses. This was a marvelous, incredibly lucky find but its just the beginning.
For the first time, researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have recorded a "3D film" of magnetic processes on the nanometer scale. This reveals a variety of dynamics inside the material, including the motion of swirling boundaries between different magnetic domains. The insights were gained with a method newly developed at the Swiss Light Source SLS. It could help to make magnetic data storage devices more compact and efficient. The researchers are publishing the results of their investigations today in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

A magnetic sticker staying attached to a refrigerator door is hardly surprising. However, when one approaches the nanometre range (where one nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter), physicists still find magnets, and their behaviour, puzzling. At the same time, the effects occurring on this small scale are highly relevant for future technologies. Now, for the first time, PSI researchers were able to record a short "film" of the three-dimensional magnetic structure inside a material with nanoscale resolution.

"Magnetism plays a role in many ways in our everyday lives; but at this very small, fundamental level, the phenomena are not yet fully understood", explains Claire Donnelly, lead author of the study. Donnelly was a researcher at PSI at the time of the experiment and now works at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

The researchers used X-ray light from the Swiss Light Source SLS at PSI and a special tomographic method they recently developed there, which they call "time-resolved ptychographic laminography". Their team consisted of scientists at PSI and ETH Zurich, as well as in the UK. The sample they examined consisted of a gadolinium-cobalt compound patterned into a circular disc.

More than four days for seven images

"With our method we can non-destructively scan the material and from the data reconstruct several successive 3D images of the inner magnetic structure", says PSI researcher Manuel Guizar-Sicairos. "We can visualise the orientation of the magnetic moment at every measured point in the material and represent them as tiny magnetic compass needles."

Just like magnetic filings, these compass needles react to an external magnetic field and to each other, forming intricate patterns throughout the entire object. The patterns contain areas - so-called domains - in which the magnetisation points predominantly in one direction. The transitions between two such areas, i.e., the domain walls, are of particular interest to researchers: "People have proposed using them as memory bits, which could possibly be used to pack data even more tightly than when using the domains", says Donnelly. The details of these domain walls have only recently been made visible in 3D at PSI, among other places, using state-of-the-art imaging methods.

In the present study, the researchers went one step further by mapping the motion of both the domains and the domain boundaries. "We have taken seven snapshots showing points in time that are only a quarter of a billionth of a second apart. In these we can see how a domain boundary moves back and forth." It took the scientists a little more than four days of constant measuring to collect the data, which later yielded this sequence of seven images.

Like stroboscopic light

The observed movement of the domain boundary was repeatedly and specifically induced by the researchers themselves through an externally applied magnetic field. Their images were therefore not actually recorded within a quarter of a billionth of a second. Instead, the scientists created a time loop of the changing magnetic field and took images at different points in time within it- similar to stroboscopic light seemingly slowing down a repetitive movement.

The recording of the 3D images from inside the sample in turn draws on a basic principle from computed tomography (CT). Similar to medical CT scans, the X-rays were used to take many radioscopic images of the sample one after the other, each from a slightly different angle. From the data collected, the researchers were able to recover their 3D maps of the magnetisation using software they had developed for this purpose.

"With this method, we have not just achieved time-resolved 3D movies of the interior of an object", says Donnelly happily. "We also have been able to map the nanoscale dynamics in a magnet. In other words, we have shown that our new technique is really relevant to the development of new technology." And Guizar-Sicairos adds: "Our new method is also suitable for other materials and could therefore have many more useful applications in the future."

###

Text: Paul Scherrer Institute/Laura Hennemann

Images are available for download at https://www.psi.ch/en/node/32834?access-token=9atQMPm6kZ3mwZTY

About PSI

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI develops, builds and operates large, complex research facilities and makes them available to the national and international research community. The institute's own key research priorities are in the fields of matter and materials, energy and environment and human health. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether PSI employs 2100 people, thus being the largest research institute in Switzerland. The annual budget amounts to approximately CHF 407 million. PSI is part of the ETH Domain, with the other members being the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, as well as Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research).

Additional information

Diving into magnets - Press release from 20. July 2017: http://psi.ch/en/qG2P

Contact

Dr. Manuel Guizar-Sicairos

Coherent X-Ray Scattering Group

Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland

Telephone: +41 56 310 34 09, e-mail: manuel.guizar-sicairos@psi.ch [English, Spanish]

Dr. Claire Donnelly

Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0HE

Telephone: +44 12 23 74 69 05, e-mail: cd691@cam.ac.uk [English]

Original Publication

Time-resolved imaging of three-dimensional nanoscale magnetization dynamics

C. Donnelly, S. Finizio, S. Gliga, M. Holler, A. Hrabec, M. Odstrcil, S. Mayr, V. Scagnoli, L. J. Heyderman, M. Guizar-Sicairos, J. Raabe

Nature Nanotechnology 24. February 2020 (online)

DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-0649-x
Technavio has been monitoring the automotive air lift jack market and it is poised to grow by USD 5 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 26% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005557/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Air Lift Jack Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

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About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005557/en/

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flops

Ben Affleck Gets to Direct Movies, Kiss J.Lo Because of Gigli I did get to meet Jennifer, the relationship with whom has been really meaningful to me in my life.
It was Ireland's first ever full-blown EU leaders' summit without its long-time "big brother" the UK. And it was also a reminder that Ireland is now one of the European Union's rich countries.

It was also a strange outing because Taoiseach Leo Varadkar landed late at night and then met the two EU kingpins - new summit chairman Charles Michel and the new EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen - at 2am.

The name Charles Michel - who took over from Ireland's good friend through the Brexit talks, Donald Tusk - is one you will hear more of throughout this year.

He is a former prime minister of Belgium and as he embarked on chairing these talks in Brussels he said his challenge, to find a compromise deal on the EU's new seven-year 1.1trn budget plan, was harder than trying to get a government for Belgium. Since Belgium last had a working government in December 2018, and is still government-less after an inconclusive general election in May of last year, you will see what he was saying about the EU budget talks.

The newly dubbed 'caretaker Taoiseach' had bad news for Mr Michel and Ms Von der Leyen. Mr Varadkar insisted that Ireland could not accept the EU budget plans which will cover the years 2021-2027.

The funding regime runs out in December and agreement is urgently needed so that legislation and complex regulations can be drafted and put through the EU law-making processes. This debate over how much the EU should spend over the next seven years and on what makes few headlines across Europe because it is complex and dull.

But it has a huge impact on all our lives. EU funding is spent on a raft of areas ranging from farm subsidies and social and regional development to security co-operation projects, Erasmus student exchanges, and research. EU policy makers and most member governments now want spending to better target fighting climate change, managing migration, and improving security and defence.

In the past, successive Irish leaders always knew where they stood on this issue. We were with the poorer countries who always argued that richer net contributors to the budget should pay more. Dublin said the country needed help if we were to open our market to EU goods and abandon what monetary controls we had to join a one-size-fits-all currency union.

Through the 1980s and 1990s we got that support via big regional and social fund grants. Our comparative wealth rose accordingly. Now we are no longer in the poor camp.

Senior EU leaders are right to dislike reducing this debate to talk of "net beneficiaries" and "net contributors". There are far more benefits to EU membership in terms of crude economics than just calculating who pays what. By one measure, for example, Ireland nets 30bn a year in trade due to participation in the single market and the dozens of global trade deals which Brussels has made with places like Canada, Japan and China.

But we have to note that back in 1989 Ireland took 6 back in farm, social and regional grants for every 1 it paid in. In the last year for which figures are available, it is clear the balance has finally shifted and Ireland has paid in more than 200m a year than it took back.

The new budget regime which Mr Michel is trying to broker could leave Ireland paying in net terms double - and eventually possibly even treble that amount. It would still be money well spent for a whole variety of other reasons.

But Mr Varadkar had to say "Non" to Mr Michel. And so did the vast majority of the other EU government leaders, sending the EU boss's number crunchers back to craft another draft compromise for another summit in the coming weeks. A deal requires unanimous backing.

The 2021-27 EU spending plans are even harder to craft because Britain's exit from the EU means there is less money in the pot. The Brexit of the EU's second-biggest net payer will leave a 12bn per year gap. Pressure to increase funds for the new spending priorities have meant cuts in the EU's biggest priorities most familiar to Ireland.

Even after two days of talks last week the EU leaders failed to cross the first hurdle and agree the budget size. Mr Michel proposed a figure of 1.094 trillion, equivalent to 1.074pc of the 27 countries' gross national income. It sounds huge - but remember that it has to span seven years and run across 27 member states with 440 million people. So, in reality it is modest.

Haggling broke down into two camps - and Ireland hung aloof for now from each of them. There were the "frugals" from Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Austria and Denmark, who reckon they cannot afford to pay too much more. Then there were the "friends of cohesion", mainly from former Eastern Bloc states and also Ireland's former grant-seeking allies in Portugal and Greece, who need more support to even up development.

Ireland stayed close to France in its defence of farm and rural funding. Mr Varadkar said the deal looked like Ireland would pay more for much less - and that was not a runner.

Germany, the EU's biggest net contributor, is sometimes clubbed with the "frugals". But in reality it is always more flexible and puts agreement as a priority.

Ireland's biggest fight is about EU budget spending. Mr Michel's blueprint - known as a "negotiating box" - included steep cuts in farm and regional funding spending when compared with the previous 2014-2020 spending regime. He also wanted at least a quarter of the new regime to be spent on furthering climate goals, including the ultimate ambition to make the EU "climate neutral" by 2050.

He has also proposed more spending on modernising Europe's economy through science, research and digital innovation, and increases for border management following the EU's serious migration crisis in 2015-16. Mr Michel has proposed filling the Brexit gap with revenue from a new tax on plastics and funds from trading carbon emissions. Other taxes, like one on the digital economy, air travel, financial transactions and on products made at a cost of high CO2 emissions imported into the EU are also in the offing. But agreement here will not be easy.

Another sore point is making EU funding conditional on governments respecting the rule of law. Many of the net payers have insisted there is a need to keep up pressure on Poland and Hungary, which are accused of violating democratic checks and balances. Here the European Parliament will have a big say as MEPs have a central role in passing the budget.
He could have been president of France. Instead, former Prime Minister Francois Fillon is going on trial to face fraud charges after he used public funds to richly pay his wife and children for work they allegedly never performed.

The trial beginning Monday is scheduled to last until March 11, but it may be quickly suspended until Wednesday on request from Fillon's defence team out of solidarity with a lawyers' strike against French President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform.

Fillon is suspected of having given jobs as parliamentary aides, involving no sustained work, to his wife and two of their children from 1998 to 2013.

Altogether, the aide work brought the family more than 1 million euros (USD 1.08 million).

Once the front-runner in the 2017 presidential election, Fillon, 65, has denied wrongdoing.

The scandal, which made headline in the French media just three months before the 2017 vote, crushed the conservative candidate's campaign and allowed centrist candidate Macron to gain momentum.

Fillon has been charged with the misuse of public funds, receiving money from the misuse of public funds and the misappropriation of company assets. He faces up to ten years in prison and a 1 million euro fine.

His wife, Penelope Fillon, has been charged mostly as an accomplice.

A former lawmaker, Marc Joulaud, also goes on trial for misuse of public funds after he allegedly gave her a fake job as an aide from 2002 to 2007, while her husband was prime minister.

Fillon and Joulaud both had other parliamentary assistants.

In addition, charges also cover a contract that allowed Penelope Fillon to earn 135,000 euros in 2012-2013 as a consultant for a literary magazine owned by a friend of her husband also an alleged fake job.

The magazine owner, Marc de Lacharriere, pled guilty and was given a suspended eight-month prison sentence and fined 375,000 euros in 2018.

Fillon said last month on France 2 television that his wife's job was not fake. "She was my first and most important aide," he said. "Evidence will be produced during the trial."



In a 151-page document seen by The Associated Press ordering the case to trial, investigative judges said the probe showed that Penelope Fillon's activities were in line with the traditional role of an elected official's partner but in no way equivalent to the tasks of a parliamentary assistant.

Defence lawyers provided about 500 documents they say are related to Penelope Fillon's work.

"These documents did not show anything, or only confirmed a misleading interpretation consisting in calling parliamentary work the most trivial of her activities," investigative judges wrote.

The investigation also showed that the wages of the children's alleged jobs, well-paid and declared as full-time aides, were paid to the joint banking account of Francois and Penelope Fillon.

The lower house of Parliament, the National Assembly, joined the proceedings as a civil plaintiff to request reimbursement.

Fillon denounced the case as a "political assassination" after it was revealed in January 2017, when French investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine first reported Penelope Fillon's alleged fake job.

He continued his presidential campaign despite the judicial investigation, but his image as an earnest and honest politician with a strong focus on family values, was seriously damaged.

Fillon was eliminated from the race after finishing third in the first round, behind Macron and far-right leader Marine le Pen.

Welsh-born Penelope Fillon has always kept a low profile. In a 2007 interview with British newspaper 'The Sunday Telegraph' she presented herself as a housewife devoted to raising their five children.

She told investigators that her main role was to handle her husband's mail at their manor house near a small town in rural western France, Sable-sur-Sarthe, where Fillon was first elected to Parliament in 1981 at the age of 27.

Fillon served as prime minister under president Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012. He was also a government official under two previous presidents, Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.

The case came amid a series of scandals that prompted Macron's government to pass a law meant to clean up ethics in One measure bans lawmakers and government members from hiring close family members.

Fillon now works for an asset management company. He said last month that he won't attempt a political comeback.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: US First Lady Melania Trump will interact with students at a Delhi government school and witness various activities conducted as part of the 'happiness curriculum' on Tuesday, sources said.

All roads leading to the school have been fortified, with trees being pruned according to the directions of the security agencies.

According to the sources, Melania Trump will reach the school in south Delhi around noon and spend over an hour there.

ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi, Donald Trump to hold extensive talks on Tuesday to expand Indo-US global partnership

During the visit, she is likely to undertake a tour of the school, go to different classes, interact with the students and witness different activities being conducted as part of the 'happiness curriculum', they said.

Civic body officials said roads have been repaired, sidewalks freshly painted and saplings planted in the vicinity of the school.

Trees along the route which will be taken by the US First Lady to reach the school have been trimmed according to the directions issued by the security agencies, they said.

Melania Trump arrived in India on Monday with US President Donald Trump, who is on a two-day visit to the country.

The US First Lady will visit the school solo.

ALSO READ: Pakistan media avoids Trump's remarks on US efforts to curb terrorism in the country

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were earlier scheduled to welcome her at the school and brief her about the 'happiness class'.

However, the US Embassy communicated to the city administration on Saturday that names of Kejriwal and Sisodia do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.

Expressing anguish over the exclusion of the names of the two leaders from the list, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said it is a "protocol" and "convention" that state leaders are present when any foreign leader attends events in their states.

The party alleged that the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia were dropped at the behest of the BJP-led central government.

The US Embassy on Sunday clarified that it did not have any objection to the presence of Kejriwal and Sisodia during Melania Trump's school visit.

ALSO READ: Twitterati surprised over Trump not mentioning Gandhi in Sabarmati Ashram's visitors' book

Sisodia, who is also Delhi's education minister, has said he would have loved to receive the US First Lady at the school but respected the concerns raised by the US Embassy over it.

"It is a matter of great pride for Delhi government, Delhi government teachers and students that First Lady Melania Trump is visiting a Delhi government school," he said in a statement.

"It is a big appreciation for us that the work of AAP government in education sector, especially Happiness Classes, is being recognised in the world," he said.

The Delhi government introduced the 'happiness curriculum' in July 2018.

As part of the curriculum, students studying in classes I-VIII in Delhi government schools attend a 45-minute 'happiness class' every day, participating in activities like storytelling, meditation and question and answer sessions.

For nursery and kindergarten students, the classes are held twice a week.
Former Real Housewives of New York City star Jules Wainstein has been arrested for battery in Florida.

The 39-year-old former reality star was booked into Palm Beach Countys main detention center around 3:50pm on Sunday, Page Six reports.

Jules is accused of punching her estranged husband Michael in the face during a custody exchange which got heated.

Jules Wainstein, seen here in a mugshot from her arrest on Sunday, was booked for battery in Palm Beach

A source tells the website that during the altercation, which took place in a parking lot, Jules licked Michael's car window before moving to the back of the car and hitting the vehicle with a baseball bat.

She then allegedly punched Michael in the face. Their two children were in the car at the time of the incident, Page Six reports.

The duo are parents to daughter Rio, nine, and son Jagger, 11.

Michael, who was dropping the kids off with Jules on Sunday, filmed the incident on his phone and told cops that Jules hit and scratched his face, according to TMZ.

The businessman claims he started filming his ex because of a previous argument about child support which left him feeling threatened.

Wainstein and Michael appeared in court on Monday and her arraignment is scheduled for March 16.

Jules - who starred on RHONY for just one season in 2016 - has been embroiled in a nasty divorce from her estranged husband Michael for over three years. She is pictured in February 2017

Michael's lawyer Morghan Richardson said in a statement: 'This is a serious situation reflecting Ms. Wainsteins increasingly reckless behavior that unfortunately took place in front of the kids,'

'The children were released to Michael's custody yesterday and he is most concerned about protecting them.'

Michael also reportedly obtained a protective order against Jules.

The duo's messy divorce has been going on for over three years with police called to their home in New York in 2016 and Jules taking out a restraining order on her ex.

She has been living in Florida in recent months, telling Bravo in October 2019: 'I'm temporarily living in Boca [in Florida] at my parents, which actually happened to be a nice thing because unfortunately my father just recently passed away.

'So we got to spend the last year with him, which we wouldn't have spent as much time if we were living in New York. So we'll be there until things settle, and then hopefully we'll move back soon.'

Michael filed for divorce in May 2016, ending their eight-year union, after Jules discovered he was having an affair, her rep confirmed to DailyMail.com. The family are pictured in June that year

Michael filed for divorce in May 2016, ending their eight-year union, after Jules discovered he was having an affair, her rep confirmed to DailyMail.com.

Michael denied cheating at the time.

In 2017, Michael was facing jail time for not paying $135,000 in child support, rent and other expenses to the former Real Housewives of New York star.

Prior to that his lawyer had accused Jules of squandering thousands of dollars - meant to be saved for their children - in a matter of days.

Each accused the other of spending money in overly extravagant ways rather than saving it for the kids.

Michael, a real estate investor, made claims his wife's extravagant lifestyle had left him strapped for cash.

Both Jules and Michael had also been accused of hiding their finances by a judge presiding over alimony payments.

In 2017, Jules' husband Michael was facing jail time for not paying $135,000 in child support, rent and other expenses to the former Real Housewives of New York star

Ugly battle: Accusations have flown between the former couple with a judge accusing them of both hiding their finances in 2017

She starred on RHONY for just one season in 2016, joining in season eight but then leaving to focus on her family amid the divorce.

She has previously opened up about her lifelong battle with anorexia and bulimia and after leaving the reality show she recently said she didn't regret talking about it on TV.

'Eating disorders are a very secretive disease. I thought itd be really healthy and a big part of my recovery if I did speak about it. I always say, secrets kept you sick. Speaking about it, then, I could do the opposite.' she told BravoTV in October.

Meanwhile, Jules isn't the only cast member from RHONY to have a scrape with the law in Palm Beach.

In December 2017 Luann de Lesseps, 54, was arrested in Florida on misdemeanor counts of disorderly intoxication and trespassing after an drunken incident at The Colony hotel where she refused to vacate a hotel room that wasn't registered in her name and assaulted a cop.

Current RHONY castmembers Luann de Lesseps and Tinsley Mortimer have both been arrested in Palm Beach, Florida

It came on the one year anniversary of her marriage to now ex-husband Tom D'Agostino who she split with just one month after tying the knot.

Luann struck a deal with the court in July 2018 and pleaded guilty to the charges of battery, trespassing and disorderly intoxication.

In exchange for her her plea, she was ordered to pay fines, perform 50 hours of community service and received one year of probation.

In April 2016, Tinsley Mortimer, 44, was arrested for trespassing at the Palm Beach, Florida home of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Alexander 'Nico' Fanjul.

Fanjul called police when Tinsley - who appeared intoxicated,' turned up at his house uninvited while his new girlfriend was inside.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are certainly have plenty of money in the bank, but an expert has predicted the couple could reach the wealthiest echelon's of UK society after Megxit.

Robert Watts who is the compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List, has examined the Duke, 35, and Duchess, 38, of Sussex's potential to join the listing, which features those who have an extensive fortunes made up of property, finances, land, shares and publicly quoted companies.

'You can't underestimate the international appeal of being a royal - and the appeal is even bigger in the US, Canada and the rest of the world,' the London-based financial journalist told Hello! magazine.

'The couple already have an eight-figure fortune - perhaps one as large as 20m - but I think it's possible that in ten years' time, Prince Harry and Meghan could make it on to the Sunday Times Rich List with 500 million and 1 billion in the longer term.'

Robert Watts who is the compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List, revealed the potential for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured) to join the list of UK's wealthiest individuals

The Duke and Duchess, while incredibly well off, are not yet at Rich List level, which last year required contenders to have a fortune of at least 120 million.

Robert compared the couple's commercial power and relatability to the Beckhams, who appeared on last year's Rich List with 355 million.

He said Harry and Meghan's 'first years will be pivotal' for their earnings, but they must carefully consider the public when choosing which opportunities to embrace.

The wealth expert predicts that the Duchess could 'quadruple' the estimated 37,000 she earned while starring in Suits, if she goes back to acting.

However, he added it would be wise for the pair to spend time carefully developing their brand instead of accepting every opportunity that arises.

Robert describes the union of a British Prince and a Hollywood actress as 'something special', that could open up the world to them.

Robert estimates that Harry and Meghan (pictured in London) could have a fortune of 1bn in 20 years, if they carefully build their brand

Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they will be revising their roles to live a more independent family life earlier this year, how they will brand themselves has attracted much speculation.

In a recent statement on their website, the couple revealed they will stop using the term 'royal' from spring - but insist they will continue to have HRH titles although they aren't 'actively using' them.

A number of trademark applications that the pair had made for items including stationery, books and clothing have been withdrawn, after the agreed not to use Sussex Royal in their business endeavours.

The Queen (pictured) who was spotted leaving Windsor Castle this afternoon, doesn't want to talk about Megxit a source recently told Vanity Fair

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured in London) are believed to be completing their last engagements as senior royals towards the end of February

They will stop receiving funds from the sovereign grant on 31st March, in addition to having their office at Buckingham Palace closed when they stop carrying out official engagements on behalf of the Queen.

However, the couple still have a few official engagements in their diaries before Megxit is complete.

The couple are set to fly from Canada to the UK to carry out a number of engagements towards the end of February, before joining the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) A lawmaker on Monday took a swipe at the inaction of the House of Representatives in the controversial franchise renewal case of media giant ABS-CBN, even suggesting for the lower chamber to have a change in leadership.

Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza said he does not believe Congress is too busy to tackle the long-pending renewal measures a total of 11 pending before the committee level. This is contrary to the previous claim of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who said lawmakers will instead prioritize more urgent bills on the table.

I don't know what Speaker Cayetano is waiting for, the President has already admonished him, Atienza told CNN Philippines The Source. If he doesn't follow the President, then the thing will speak for itself. Maybe we should have a new Speaker.

Without knowing it, maybe he is destroying the institution of the Lower House now especially on the eve of our restoring it to full existence, he added, referring to the anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution.

Atienza also claimed the leadership has asked some Congressmen to withdraw their signatures from the resolution urging the panel to immediately tackle the bills.

They're moving heaven and earth to ask those 90 to withdraw. That's another insidious, self-destructing measure How can the Speaker be talking to the members to withdraw their signatures? Atienza said.

Addressing calls for him to resign, Cayetano meanwhile said he would leave his fate up to the process-- and his fellow Congressmen.

"Ang panawagan sa pag-resign ay ginagawa sa floor... The moment na ayaw na ako ng majority ng mga kongresista, aalis ako," Cayetano told reporters on Monday.

[Translation: The calls for resignation shall be done at the floor. The moment majority of the Congressman don't like me anymore, I will go.]

"Ayoko na pag na-pressure ng media, maghi-hearing na kaagad. Kung kayang tanggapin 'to ng majority ng kongresista, thank you. Kung hindi, then it's time to choose a new leader, bahala na kayo," he added.

[Translation: I don't like it that once there's pressure from the media, you'll hold hearings immediately. If majority of Congressman understands this, then thank you. If not, then it's time to choose a new leader, I'll leave it up to you.]

While the lower chamber has yet to officially calendar a hearing on the franchise bills, the House committee on legislative franchises has already begun the preliminary proceedings.

Lawmakers as well as concerned stakeholders were ordered to submit position papers on the issue, as the panel seeks to collate the merits and complaints of the case.

Panel vice chairman Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano, however, stressed that lawmakers may only be able to take up and vote on the bills by May at the earliest, once the committee finishes the review of the documents.

Under the term-sharing deal on the House leadership, Cayetano is set to serve as Speaker until October. Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who comes from the Presidents party PDP-Laban, will take over the remainder of the 18th Congress.

Cayetano previously expressed desire to stay on as House leader until 2022, but said he would still consult with President Rodrigo Duterte whether or not to relinquish post.

RELATED: Velasco: Cayetano to honor term-sharing deal

CNN Philippines is reaching out to Cayetano for comment.
Japan's government has drafted a basic policy on the coronavirus in a bid to stem the number of new cases.

The draft plan is based on discussions by a group of experts on Monday. The government plans an official announcement on Tuesday.

The plan calls on individuals and businesses to take a range of steps to prevent the spread of infections. They include asking people to take days off and stay home if they have a fever and other cold symptoms.

The plan does not demand that each and every event be postponed or cancelled. But it asks event organizers to carefully consider whether to go ahead with their plans.

Currently, when new cases emerge, authorities investigate the route of transmission while keeping an eye on those who had close contact with the infected person.

The plan says if the number of cases continues to rise, authorities should shift their focus to asking the public to stay indoors.

The plan also envisions the use of medical facilities in addition to those already designated, to address an increase in the number of people believed to be infected.

The government is currently asking people who believe they are infected to contact designated medical institutions.

Under the draft plan, the government will enable the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions to get a prescription by talking to doctors by phone, in order to minimize the risk of contracting the virus.

At Monday's meeting, experts said the next few weeks will be a crucial time for Japan to contain the spread of infections.

They warned that Japan could see a rapid increase in new cases, given the recent emergence of cases in which it's unclear when and how patients were infected.

The experts also raised concerns about the number of hospital beds in the Tokyo metropolitan area, many of which are being used by passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Monday (February 24) and his wife wrote their message in visitors' book at Sabarmati Ashram. They also put their signatures in the book. US President Donald Trump and Melania's message reads, "To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - Thank you for this wonderful visit!"

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump arrived at Sabarmati Ashram shortly after the latter landed at the Ahmedabad airport.

In his 15-minute stay at the Sabarmati Ashram, President Trump and Melania Trump also spin Charkha at Sabarmati Ashram.

Trump also garlanded the photograph of Mahatma Gandhi along with PM Modi at Sabarmati Ashram. The US President was briefed about Gandhiji and the importance of charkha as a symbol of self-reliance.

They left for the Motera stadium as part of the 22-kilometer roadshow, where they will address the mega 'Namaste Trump' event.

Trump reached Ahmedabad at 11.37 am for the first leg of his India visit.

Prior to their arrival, PM Modi and Trump took to Twitter to express their feelings. Responding to Trump's tweet in Hindi, saying "we'll meet everyone in a few hours", PM Modi also wrote, "Atithi Devo Bhava (Guest is god)".
The smiling faces always make me feel encouraged and loved. Almost every day since the epidemic outbreak, the Embassy received all kinds of support from this beautiful island.





by Cheng Xueyuan





My heartstrings have been pulled every day during the past few weeks. When following closely my home countrys all-out efforts to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, Im always being touched by the most concrete solidarity and the most sincere friendship from Sri Lankan people towards China. Although thousands of miles away, millions of Sri Lankan friends from all walks of life, ethnic groups and of all religious faiths, have been cheering and supporting China in your own way. I myself and all Chinese people who are altogether fighting for the epidemic are deeply moved by such great gesture, which elaborates the old saying that A bosom friend afar brings distance near.













The smiling faces always make me feel encouraged and loved. Almost every day since the epidemic outbreak, the Embassy received all kinds of support from this beautiful island. Many civil societies voluntarily gathered in front of the embassy, upholding our two national flags and posters to showcase their support for China in fighting against the epidemic. An old couple from up-country took a 6-hour ride to Colombo, just to say Come on China to me. 43 young girls from Devi Balika Vidyalaya wrote a letter to the First Lady of China, together with their drawings supporting China. What behind these drawings are the most sincere and friendly young hearts. Theyre the future of China-Sri Lanka friendship.





It is extraordinary that all Sri Lanka people, regardless their nationalities or religions, join together to pray for the oriental country thousands of miles away battleing the epidemic. Most Venerable Mahanayakes of the Malwathu and the Asgiriya have both voiced their support for China. His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith extended his firm support and conducted a Special Mass blessing China defeating the virus. Prayers were also offered in the Shri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil and the Dawatagaha Mosque.





It brings us great encouragement that solidarity and support were extended by senior leaders from different political parties. H.E. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gifted Ceylon Tea to China, which warms both body and soul of the patients and medics in Wuhan. Hon Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa led Pirith Chanting wholeheartedly for Chinese people fighting against the epidemic. Hon Speaker Karu Jayasuriya donated from his personal pocket to China and sent his care and encouragement. Former Prime Minister, UNP leader Hon Ranil Wickremesinghe cared about the epidemic and possible collaboration several times. The Opposition leader Hon Sajith Premadasa showed his concern and support to China unequivocally to the embassy. Many other parties have also expressed their support in letters or through phone calls. I would like to particularly mention Hon Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health, for whom I am especially thankful, hosted several media briefings on what is really going on and showed her confidence in Chinas capacity of preventing the epidemic.





Sri Lanka people often speak to me that they will never forget Chinas help in fighting LTTE, the Indian Ocean Tsunami and reconstruction aftermath. China will neither forget Sri Lankas support when we fighting against COVID-19 arduously since the very beginning of Chinese lunar new year. In the anti-epidemic battle, we have seen who are our true friends while some others running away, some even trying to kick China when she is down. We value such friendship and believe oceans can never separate China and Sri Lanka. I am convinced that Chinese people, under the firm leadership of President Xi Jinping, and with all-out and concerted efforts, will win this fight against the epidemic very soon.





Fear not the want of armor, for mine is also yours to wear. We will always remember our friendship and your smiling faces everywhere in this nation. My emotions are actually beyond words but STUTIYI, my dearest Sri Lanka friends!





The writer is Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka
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Linkedin Louisa Veronica Hartono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 25 2020

We time: A family relaxes in Malang, East Java, on Sunday. The draft law on family resilience is in the spotlight for its perceived intrusion into private matters. (JP/Nedi Putra AW)

The current draft of the so-called family resilience bill has riled many Indonesians. The purpose of the bill demands more explanation to unpick how it can truly make families stronger and more resilient.

It contradicts the spirit of previous laws that had endeavored to promote gender equality and protections for women and children.

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President Donald Trump picked a West Michigan native to serve as his top U.S. intelligence official.

Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany, was installed as the acting director of National Intelligence last week. He will temporarily oversee 17 spy agencies and advises the White House on matters of national security, and Trump said he will nominate a permanent director soon.

I will say Ambassador Grenell has done a fantastic job, Trump told reporters Sunday. This is just a temporary job. We have five people that were looking at very seriously -- expert people. And at a certain point in the not-too-distant future, well be announcing who they are.

Grenell, a graduate of Jenison High School in Ottawa County, has been an outspoken advocate and defender of the president on Fox News and social media. The White House said Grenell is committed to a non-political, non-partisan approach," but news of his appointment attracted criticism from Democrats who said Grenell was chosen for his loyalty to Trump instead of his qualifications.

I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany, @RichardGrenell, will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him. I would like to thank Joe Maguire....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2020

Grenell will need Senate approval to hold the job in the long-term, but Trump told reporters Sunday that he is considering other people for the position. There has not been a director of National Intelligence since Michigan native Dan Coats stepped down in August 2019.

Grenell replaces acting director Joseph Maguire, who testified during the U.S. House impeachment inquiry last year. Trump said Maguire was let go due to the Vacancies Reform Act, which sets a limited timeline for acting officeholders to stay in their position before being replaced.

The Trump administration considered appointing Holland native Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands and a former Republican congressman representing West Michigan, according to the New York Times.

Grenell has served as the U.S. ambassador to Germany since May 2018. He was confirmed by the Senate without the support of Michigans U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, who joined the majority of their Democratic colleagues in voting against Grenells confirmation.

Grenell is the longest-serving spokesman at the United Nations, performing that role from 2001-08 under the George W. Bush administration. He also served as the special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo negotiations.

He formed an international consulting firm Capitol Media Partners in 2010 and briefly worked as a spokesperson on national security and foreign policy for Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign.
A marine services firm based in Scotland has been awarded a 1 million ($1.29 million) contract to provide a 50-ton wave energy converter designed to turn the movement of the sea into electricity.

Malin Renewables will construct a half-scale version of the device, dubbed the Archimedes Waveswing, for AWS Ocean Energy Ltd (AWS). The kit will be fabricated and then put together at a site in the town of Renfrew, near Glasgow.

AWS has described the technology as a "submerged wave power buoy" that "reacts to changes in sub-sea water pressure caused by passing waves." A direct-drive generator is used to turn this movement, or motion, into electricity.

The Waveswing's development has been funded through Wave Energy Scotland's Novel Wave Energy Converter scheme. Set up in 2014, Wave Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish government.

"This particular project enables the team to utilise their expertise in hydraulics, electrical power, air systems, pressure vessels and mooring, delivering an integral piece of equipment for the wave energy sector," Malin Marine's Ben Sharples said in a statement issued last week.

The EU has described "ocean energy" as being both abundant and renewable. For its part, Scotland is home to several companies and projects looking to harness this type of power.

In December 2019, Edinburgh-headquartered Nova Innovation said it had been issued with a permit to develop a project in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. The company said a total of 15 tidal stream turbines would be installed by the year 2023. The project, according to Nova Innovation, will produce enough electricity to power 600 homes.

At the end of January 2020, it was announced that a tidal stream power project off the north coast of Scotland had sent more than 13.8 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity to the grid in 2019, a record that almost doubled the previous high of 7.4 GWh.

The 13.8 GWh of electricity exported in 2019 equates to the average yearly electricity consumption of roughly 3,800 "typical" homes in the U.K., according to Simec Atlantis Energy.
Singapore, Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2020 -- Makeshift is an innovative company that seeks to provide commercial clients with solutions that will see them achieve unique modern office spaces. Based out of Singapore, the company offers a variety of solutions ranging from Office furniture, accessories to office space planning as well as office reconfiguration, which get customized to meet varying client demands. Having been in this space for some time now, the company draws from its years of experience to ensure that every office project that they handle is a success. Makeshift further carries with it a team of experts who are passionate about what they do, make them the right service provider for all office requirements.



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Talking about their office workstation solutions, the company's spokesperson added, "When it comes to office workstation Singapore, it's important that you choose the right workstation design so as to enhance functionality as well as create a vibrant atmosphere in your workspace. At Makeshift, we provide you with a variety of premium designs that are aimed at transforming your office into an ergonomic and comfortable environment. We carry with us contemporary, multifunctional office furniture and workstations to address the various requirements of a business, making us the perfect partner for all your workstation needs in Singapore."



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Makeshift is a Singapore-based company that offers high-quality office solutions to clients in different industries. The company covers all aspects of office functionality and can be trusted to provide customized solutions at all times.
While the partial guilty verdict in the New York versus Harvey Weinstein case today does not deliver the full justice that I and the many women who have spoken out about being assaulted by Harvey Weinstein deserve, it does bring a measure of relief.

I was assaulted by Harvey Weinstein and I followed the trial religiously. While it is reassuring to know that Weinstein will serve some time behind bars, we are still in need of a justice system that recognizes how hard these crimes are to report and that respects the trauma women go through when assaulted and in court. The trial should never have looked the way it did.

When this trial began in early January, I was full of hope. The powerful producer who had assaulted me when I was a young actress was finally facing Lady Justice.

For 20 years I had kept silent about my assault, living with feelings of fear, trauma and shame that deeply affected my life and career. Sexual assaults are designed to isolate and intimidate and for all that time, I thought I was alone.

Then, in the fall of 2017, reports of Harvey Weinsteins decades of predatory behavior broke. Like many others, I found my voice. Since then, over 100 women have spoken out publicly, alleging that they were abused by Harvey Weinstein and the similarities in our stories are undeniable. We couldnt all be lying or colluding or conspiring to bring one man down. I felt as if we were finally collectively having our day in court.

As we faced those first days of jury selection and opening statements, I had faith that this trial would do even more to bring forward Harvey Weinsteins criminal behavior and challenge the systems and cultures that allowed a predator to go unchecked for so many years. After all, the injustices that had come to light with the MeToo movement were innumerable. Women had risen up and mobilized the world over to fight for equality, dignity and freedom from sexual harassment and assault. I was optimistic that we would begin to see our justice system catch up with the current culture.

I can say now that I was wholly unprepared for what this trial would actually look like, and as it has unfolded I have gone through more challenging and difficult moments than I can count. I have weathered heartbreak, despair and utter shock at how the witnesses who testified to their experiences of rape and assault by Harvey Weinstein were treated by the defense. And as these women and the choices they made were attacked, I felt as powerless as when I was assaulted.

I watched as they were portrayed as liars and forced to answer questions for hours in an attempt to undermine and discredit their personal accounts of traumatic events. Their morality and character was challenged and they were told that their assaults were a product of their own making.

Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Show all 50 1 /50 Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Files arrive at the rape trial AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Louis R Aidala attends the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lance Maerov testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court AFP via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Kara Young exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Rosie Perez exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Photos are passed around to the jury Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein's rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges Elizabeth Williams via AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations Reuters

People who are sexually abused by someone they know routinely suffer from trauma, shame, fear, an imperfect memory of events, and a desire to normalize and control their situation. I felt every insult, every rebuke and every combative question that was lobbied at the courageous women who stood against Weinstein in New York and it made me feel both physically ill and outraged.

This case has been described as a watershed moment for the MeToo movement, a rising up against decades of sexual harassment and abuse by men in power against women who are vulnerable. Harvey Weinstein has been exposed as a sexual predator, the ugly truth of his behavior laid bare for the world to see.

I am devastated by the enormous price those who come forward to report sexual assault still have to pay. The victim-shaming and character assassination that goes on in the criminal court system where sexual assault is concerned is inhumane, not to mention the very real effects that speaking out has on the careers and personal lives of all survivors. While we do it for justice, for others who have been harmed and in the hope it wont happen to anyone else, it is at great sacrifice  and it shouldnt be. If we want victims to continue to speak out and their abusers brought to justice, we, as a society, have to do better. I am committed to that change, as are many. As this case moves now to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, we will continue to speak out, we will never stop fighting for fairness and justice and yes, we believe her.

Having denied all allegations of non-consensual sex, Harvey Weinstein was convicted today of sexual assault and rape in the third degree. He faces further charges in Los Angeles
Barbara "B." Smith, a trailblazing model, television host, and restaurateur, died on Saturday evening at her home on Long Island. She was 70.

Smith spent years battling early-onset Alzheimer's disease. In a Facebook post, her husband, Dan Gasby, said "Heaven is shining even brighter now that it is graced with B.'s dazzling and unforgettable smile."

The Pennsylvania native started as a fashion model, and in 1976, she was just the second black woman to appear on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine. Smith was a spokeswoman for Verizon, Colgate, McCormick's Lawry seasonings, and Palmolive Oxy, and owned three restaurants. Her B. Smith's Restaurant in Manhattan opened in 1986, with Essence writing it was "where the who's who of black Manhattan meet, greet, and eat regularly."

Smith was also a cookbook author and host of B. Smith with Style, which aired on NBC stations. She launched a home products brand that debuted at Bed Bath & Beyond in 2001, making her the first black woman to have such a line sold at a nationwide retailer, The Associated Press reports. Smith is survived by Gasby and her stepdaughter, Dana Gasby.

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Madrid: Spain's Canary Islands are returning to normal after strong winds thickened the air with sand and dust from the Sahara desert, prompting the temporary closure of the islands' airports.

All airports on had reopened on Monday after authorities said the worst of the storm passed.

People in carnival dress walk across a street crossing in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Credit:AP

The sandstorm was accompanied over the weekend by wind gusts up to 120 kilometres per hour that also fanned at least three fires on different islands of the archipelago some 100 kilometres west of the African coast.

Primary schools were closed on all eight islands on Monday.
Political leaders on Monday condemned the violence that spiralled in parts of Delhi over the citizenship act and appealed to people to maintain peace, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that violence will not be tolerated.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured as clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas broke out again, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

Kejriwal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt Governor Anil Baijal to restore law and order, and ensure that peace and harmony is maintained in the national capital.

"I just spoke to the LG. He has assured that more police forces are being sent. Violence will not be tolerated by anyone. I request people to maintain peace. No solution will come out of violence," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

Condemning the violence, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people to show restraint, compassion and understanding, irrespective of the provocation.

The Congress also questioned the "silence" of Home Minister Amit Shah over the clashes in Delhi and demanded his resignation.

"The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation," Gandhi tweeted.

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the whole day was full of violence in Delhi and appealed to Delhiites to maintain peace, asserting that violence only causes harm to the common people and the country.

Lt Governor Anil Baijal instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to maintain law and order in the city.

"Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said he had never felt so scared in his own city.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari requested people to exercise restraint in view of the disturbance in Jafrabad, Yamuna Vihar, Karawal Nagar and surrounding areas of northeast Delhi.

Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai also urged people in the area to maintain peace in the wake of clashes over the new citizenship law, saying some people were trying to disturb the atmosphere on purpose.

Rai said that he had spoken to Baijal and was assured that more police personnel would be deployed to bring the situation under control.

"With folded hands, I request people in Babarpur Assembly to maintain peace. Some people are purposely trying to spoil the atmosphere. I have spoken to Delhi LG and he has assured me that more policemen will be deployed to bring the situation under control," Rai said in a tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Published on 2020/02/23 | Source

Son Sukku appeared in a magazine.

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Marie Claire framed Son Sukku in a concept where he's observing an exhibit freely.

In the following interview, Son Sukku showed anticipation for "The Roundup", which he was recently picked up for. He said, "I don't feel pressure about the first movie but rather, I feel it is a good reference". He also showed his respect for the director and his staff.

The actor expressed his condolences about the recent passing of Kobe Bryant. "I learned not to look back to become the best and not to care about what others think when it comes to doing what you love". He says he follows his footsteps in not being afraid to ask questions and make suggestions.

The pictures and interview of Son Sukku can be seen in the March issue of Marie Claire.
She's spent plenty of time in the French capital over the past few months while filming her forthcoming TV series, Emily In Paris.

And Lily Collins cut a casual figure as she touched down in Paris once again on Monday morning.

The actress, 30, looked effortlessly chic in a tan-coloured coat as she navigated through the airport to her waiting car.

Stylish jet-setter: Lily Collins cut a casual figure as she touched down in Paris once again on Monday morning

Opting for comfort during her flight, Lily, who is the daughter of British musician Phil Collins, wore black leggings pared with a black tee featuring various colourful graphics.

The star showcased her natural beauty, opting for a minimal make-up look for her journey, while her chestnut locks were left loose to frame her pretty face.

Lily coordinated her casual get up with a pair of white sneakers, while sporting a pair of round frames and a shoulder bag.

The day before her flight, the To The Bone star posted a carefree snap to her Instagram page, hinting to her upcoming trip to Paris.

Effortlessly chic: The actress, 30, looked effortlessly chic in a tan-coloured coat as she navigated through the airport to her waiting car

Comfort: Lily, who is the daughter of British musician Phil Collins, wore black leggings pared with a black tee featuring various colourful graphics

She captioned the photo, which saw her leaning on a sofa for a close-up selfie: 'Packing procrastinator'.

Emily In Paris tells the story of an American woman in her 20s who moves from the Midwest to the city of love for an unexpected job opportunity.

Protagonist Emily, played by Lily, must adjust to the challenges of life in a foreign city while balancing her new career, friendships and finding love.

The 10-part series, which is scheduled to air on Paramount Network in 2020, will see actor William Abadie and actresses Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu join Lily and Ashley Park in the comedy-drama.

Arrivals: The star showcased her natural beauty, opting for a minimal make-up look for her journey, while her chestnut locks were left loose to frame her pretty face

Lily's appearance comes after she revealed that she would never take on a character who was solely there to be 'eye candy' in a movie or television show.

Speaking to Vulture earlier this year, the actress said: 'It's not appealing to me to play someone who is just there for, whether it's eye candy or the female perspective, you need more than that.

'It shouldn't matter about the gender. It should matter about their drive.'

Lily first hit the screen at the age of two in the BBC drama Growing Pains, before going on to star in Mirror Mirror in 2012 and To The Bone in 2017.

Her recent roles have also seen her play Fantine in the BBC's Les Miserables and Liz Kendall, the girlfriend to serial killer Ted Bundy, in the chilling Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.
The corporation said it will continue to work with the "highly valued" presenter but did not reveal the settlement figure.

In January, an employment tribunal ruled that the Newswatch host should have been paid the same as fellow presenter Jeremy Vine.

Following the decision, Ms Ahmed said: No woman wants to have to take action against their own employer.

I love working for the BBC. I'm glad it's been resolved.

Samira Ahmed and Naga Munchetty (left) arrive at the Industrial Tribunal today / Jeremy Selwyn

On Monday, the BBC said in a statement: Samira Ahmed and the BBC are pleased to have reached a settlement following the recent tribunal.

Samira is a highly valued BBC presenter and now these matters have been concluded we all want to focus on the future.

We look forward to continuing to work together to make great programmes for audiences.

Neither the BBC, Samira or the NUJ will be commenting further on this case.

In last months hearing, employment Judge H Grewal and panel members Mr S Godecharle and Mr P Secher ruled unanimously that the BBC had failed to prove that the disparity between Ms Ahmeds and Mr Vines salaries was "because of a material factor which did not involve subjecting the claimant to sex discrimination".

Ms Ahmed was paid 465 per episode of her programme while Mr Vine received 3,000 for his.

The BBC argued the two presenters were not doing similar work.

A 40-page judgment said the BBC failed to show there was a difference between the two programmes.
The West Bengal police have arrested two people for allegedly burning a 40-year-old woman and her teenaged daughter to death near Haldia, around 100 km from Kolkata on February 18, an officer said on Monday.

East Midnapore police superintendent Indira Mukherjee said that the police arrested the two accused--Sheikh Saddam Hussain, 26, and Manzur Alam Mullick, 25--on Sunday. She added that more people were involved in the murder of the woman and her 19-year-old daughter without specifying the number. We are going to arrest them soon. An investigation is on, said Mukherjee.

The murders of the two, who were from New Barrackpore in East Midnapore district over 100km from the murder scene, came to light when residents on February 18 found their bodies burning on the banks of the Haldi River.

A preliminary probe into the murders has revealed that the 19-year-old was in a relationship with Hussain, which might have soured, resulting in the murders, according to Mukherjee. When they were burnt, the victims were still alive, she added.

Police refused to divulge details of the autopsy report.

A 13-member Special Investigation Team was formed and cracked the case with the arrest of the two accused from Durgachowk. Mullick works as a casual labourer at a Haldia factory while Hussain is a small-time contractor.

It was a pre-planned murder. The accused are now in custody. Once we interrogate them thoroughly, we will get to extract further details as to what exactly happened, how the victims were brought to Haldia, whether they were sedated or raped and how they were murdered, Mukherjee said.
Four held in Gujarat, days after 6 workers died due to inhalation of chemical fumes leaked from tanker

Violent clashes in Gujarat, 13 injured in Khambhat, mob vandalise houses, shops

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Ahemdabad, Feb 24: Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit in Gujarat, huge clashes broke out between two communities in Khambhat taluka area of Anand district in Gujarat on Sunday. Over thirteen people were injured in the clash.

Reportedly, the agitators vandalised vehicles and shops set houses on fire. This is the second clash within a month in the area.

The police said that the members of the two communities came face to face on Sunday afternoon over their past clash on January 24 that had claimed a life. However, the exact reason is still under investigation.

The Superintendent of Police, Divya Mishra, presently in-charge of the Anand district said that the area has a history of communal violence. The exact reason of the clash is still under investigation.

He also added that the situation is brought under control now. His team has rounded up 46 people.

Women trainees in Gujarat made to stand naked in a group for physical test, checked for pregnancy

Incidents of stone-pelting and arson has been reported. Nearly 15-20 houses and shops were reportedly set on fire. People who were injured in the clash were admitted in the hospital, later discharged.

The epicentre of the clash was Akhbarpura, sporadic incidents of arson were also reported from there, huge properties were damaged here by the agitators.

As per report, over 100 policemen have been deployed in the area to bring back normalcy.

The police were prompted to resort to baton-charge and lob tear gas shells to control the situation.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 9:37 [IST]
Samira Ahmed and the BBC have reached a financial settlement after she won her landmark sex discrimination case against them.

Ms Ahmed, 51, was paid 465 to present episodes of Newswatch, while her male colleague Jeremy Vine, 54, pocketed 3,000 a go for Points of View.

Last month at her employment tribunal in east London a judge ruled in her favour.

The tribunal agreed that the work carried out by both Ms Ahmed and Mr Vine were largely similar, with both programmes lasting for 15 minutes and offering viewers the chance to air their opinions.

The BBC argued they were 'not doing similar work', but the corporation has today agreed on a settlement in the case.

It is not clear how much Ms Ahmed will be compensated, but she previously claimed she had been underpaid by 700,000. The BBC refused to comment.

Samira Ahmed (pictured in November last year) and the BBC have reached a financial settlement after she won her landmark sex discrimination case against them

Ms Ahmed, 51, was paid 465 to present episodes of Newswatch, while her male colleague Jeremy Vine, 54, (pictured) pocketed 3,000 for Points of View

A BBC spokesman said in a statement: 'Samira Ahmed and the BBC are pleased to have reached a settlement following the recent tribunal.

'Samira is a highly valued BBC presenter and now these matters have been concluded we all want to focus on the future.

'We look forward to continuing to work together to make great programmes for audiences. Neither the BBC, Samira or the NUJ will be commenting further on this case.'

The corporation had argued that Newswatch was a 'relatively niche' programme which aired on the BBC News channel, while describing Points Of View as 'extremely well-known'.

Ms Ahmed said in a statement after winning her claim that 'no woman wants to have to take action against their own employer.

She added: 'I love working for the BBC. I'm glad it's been resolved. I'm now looking forward to continuing to do my job, to report on stories and not being one.'

Ms Ahmed is pictured arm in arm with family, friends and supporters ahead of her tribunal in November last year

The 51-year-old tweeted after the ruling on January 11: 'Bit overwhelmed. Thank you for all the kind words.

'Could not have brought this case without support of my union @NUJofficial my brilliant lawyers @claire_darwin and Caroline Underhill and all those who showed they understand equal pay is about fairness and men and women as allies.'

She has been among several female talents at the BBC to voice their concerns over pay equality following an outcry over former China editor Carrie Gracie's salary compared to male colleagues in similar roles.

Ms Gracie became a figurehead for other women at the BBC when she resigned from her position in January 2018 in protest at pay inequalities at the broadcaster.

Her move came after the BBC published the salaries of its highest earners in July 2017 under the terms of its new royal charter, which revealed that only one third of the list of talent earning more than 150,000 were women, with all the top names being men.

Ms Gracie also praised the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and 'the great legal team who helped SamiraAhmedUK to victory' in the landmark case.

The BBC (Broadcasting House in London pictured) argued they were 'not doing similar work', but the corporation has today agreed on a settlement in the case

Jane Garvey, who has openly supported Ms Ahmed throughout proceedings, tweeted: 'Just brilliant @SamiraAhmedUK - it took real courage and she has it. #equalpay.'

Labour MP David Lammy tweeted at the time: 'Congrats @SamiraAhmedUK. Equal work deserves equal pay.'

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said the BBC was currently looking at roughly 20 other cases like Ms Ahmed's but 'there are many more that remain unresolved, possibly as many as 70 at the time of the hearing'.

A statement from the BBC said: 'Samira Ahmed is an excellent journalist and presenter and we regret that this case ever had to go to tribunal.

'We're committed to equality and equal pay. Where we've found equal pay cases in the past, we've put them right. However, for us, this case was never about one person, but the way different types of programmes across the media industry attract different levels of pay.

'We have always believed that the pay of Samira and Jeremy Vine was not determined by their gender. Presenters - female as well as male - had always been paid more on Points Of View than Newswatch.

'We're sorry the tribunal didn't think the BBC provided enough evidence about specific decisions - we weren't able to call people who made decisions as far back as 2008 and have long since left the BBC.

'In the past our pay framework was not transparent and fair enough, and we have made significant changes to address that. We're glad this satisfied the tribunal that there was sufficient evidence to explain her pay now.

'We'll need to consider this judgment carefully. We know tribunals are never a pleasant experience for anyone involved. We want to work together with Samira to move on in a positive way.'
"WE NEED A PRO-WORKER FRANCHISE," HONTIVEROS TELLS ABS-CBN

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday obliged ABS-CBN to put the welfare of its employees as top priority by regularizing their contractual employees.

"We need a pro-worker franchise," the Senator said during the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing on the alleged violations of the media giant on its franchise.

Hontiveros compelled the network for its commitment to improve its labor practices, settle contractualization issues, and provide job security to its workers, once the franchise is renewed.

"Dapat genuine ang pagkalinga sa mga 11,000 manggagawa at hindi lang dahil may banta ng pagsasara," Hontiveros told the network executives.

"Kung tunay ang pagiging 'kapamilya,' dapat regular at may benepisyo ang mga empleyado ninyo," she urged.

While ABS-CBN has at least 7,000 regular employees, only 300 of which are members of the union. The rest of the 6,700 regular workers, known as confidential, enjoy wages that are 50% higher than union members.

The Senator explained that workers' welfare includes regularizing non-regular workers and talents and granting all the employees with guaranteed workers' and trade union rights.

"Moving forward, kapag mapagbigyan ang prankisa ng ABS-CBN, dapat kasama ang sapat ng benepisyo sa ilalim ng ating labor laws na may respeto sa mga unyon at sa collective bargaining agreement," she added.

"This is the promise of fairness that I expect from ABS-CBN," Hontiveros concluded.
Israel said Sunday it struck bases of the Islamic Jihad militant group near Damascus, while Syria claimed that its air defences shot down "enemy missiles".

The Israeli army said in a statement that fighter jets "struck Islamic Jihad terror targets south of Damascus," following rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

"In the Adeliyah region, outside of Damascus, an Islamic Jihad compound was struck, used as a hub of Islamic Jihad's activity in Syria," it added, while confirming a number of other strikes in Gaza.

Islamic Jihad operates in both the Palestinian territories and Syria and fired more than 20 rockets from Gaza throughout Sunday.

An AFP correspondent in Damascus heard several strong explosions shortly before midnight (2200 GMT).

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attacks were "near the Damascus international airport".

The Syrian state agency Sana said "most of the enemy missiles were shot down before reaching their targets," stressing that "no airport" was struck.

Earlier Sana said the anti-air defences were activated against attacks "in the Damascus area".

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government forces as well as allied Iranian forces and Hezbollah fighters.

It is rare for them to claim such strikes directly.

A missile attack blamed on Israel in mid-February killed three Syrian and four Iranian fighters in the Damascus airport area, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People walk amongst the rubbles in Baskale in Van province, Turkey, after a magnitude 5.7 earthquake in northwestern Iran. (Demiroren News Agency (DHA)/AFP.)

The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 9.23am (0553 GMT), was near the Iranian village of Habash-e Olya, less than 10 kilometres from the border, according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake had a depth of six kilometres, said Tehran University's Seismological Centre.

In Turkey, it was felt mostly in the eastern district of Baskale in Van province on the Iran border.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said nine people were killed, speaking to reporters from the quake scene in Van. Four of the dead were children.

"We have right now no citizens trapped under the rubble," he said.

Images showed collapsed adobe houses in several snow-covered villages in Van province.

In Gurpinar village, search and rescue teams were seen on top of the rubble pile, watched by anxious locals.

Van, which was hit by a 7.1 magnitude quake in 2011 killing more than 500 people, was struck by tragedy again this month when two avalanches left 41 people dead.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 37 people were injured and nine of them were in critical condition.

He said that 25 ambulances, one rescue helicopter and teams of medics were rushed to the quake region.

Turkish officials said some schools were also damaged in several villages.

DOZENS INJURED IN IRAN

The impact of the quake in Iran was less severe, according to latest reports.

It injured at least 51 people in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, 17 of whom had been hospitalised, the country's emergency services said.

The same source also said there was damage to buildings in 43 villages.

Sunday's earthquake was felt in several Iranian cities, including Khoy, Urmia, Salmas and Osku, state media reported, citing West Azerbaijan's crisis management centre.

Both Iran and Turkey sit on top of major tectonic plates and see frequent seismic activity.

In November 2017, a 7.3-magnitude quake in Iran's western province of Kermanshah killed 620 people.

In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake in southeastern Iran decimated the ancient mud-brick city of Bam and killed at least 31,000 people.

Iran's deadliest quake was a 7.4-magnitude tremor in 1990 that killed 40,000 people in northern Iran, injured 300,000 and left half a million homeless.

In December and January, two earthquakes struck near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Iran's Gulf Arab neighbours have often raised concerns about the reliability of the country's sole nuclear power facility, which produces 1,000 megawatts of power, and the risk of radioactive leaks in case of a major earthquake.

Turkey is also prone to earthquakes and over 40 people died in January after a 6.8-magnitude quake struck Elazig in eastern Turkey.

In 1999, a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Izmit in western Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people including about 1,000 in the country's most populous city, Istanbul.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2020) - Cardero Resource Corp. (TSXV: CDU) (OTC Pink: CDYCF) ("Cardero" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the matters placed before the shareholders at the Special Meeting held December 16, 2020 were approved. Voting results are as follows:

Votes FOR Votes Withheld Conversion of Preferred Shares 26,693,547 (99.67%)* 89,567 (0.33%) Amendment to Special Rights and Restrictions 49,883,370 (99.82%) 89,567 (0.18%)

*Excludes 23,189,823 shares held by Insiders

The detailed proxy voting on all resolutions submitted to the shareholders at the Special Meeting, is available upon request by contacting the Company's Corporate Secretary at (604) 408-7488.

Following the meeting and TSX Venture Exchange acceptance and, as outlined in the debt settlement agreement between the Company and the Kopple Family Partnerships, LP and E.L. II Properties Trust, the 12,000,000 Preferred Shares were converted into 48,000,000 common shares of the Company on January 9, 2020. The details of the debt settlement agreement was previously disclosed in the Company's news release number NR 19-07 dated November 7, 2019.

ABOUT CARDERO RESOURCE CORP.

The common shares of the Company are currently listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol CDU), the OTC Pink (symbol CDYCF) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol CR5). For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.cardero.com), Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and United States regulatory filings on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

CARDERO RESOURCE CORP.

"Stuart Ross" (signed)

CEO and President

Contact Information:

Stuart Ross,

604 408 7488

General Contact:

Email: info@cardero.com

Toll Free: 1-888-770-7488

Tel: 604 408-7488

Fax: 604 408-7499

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Forward Looking Information: This news release includes certain information that may be deemed "forward looking information". Forward-looking information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. All information in this release, other than information of historical facts, including, without limitation, the availability of financing to the Company are forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such expectations are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information include changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, delays in receiving approvals, and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of our business, investors should review our continuous disclosure filings which are available at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52720
Two of tonight's SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures have been postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

Finn Harps v Shelbourne has been called off following heavy snowfall in Ballybofey overnight. The Finn Park pitch was adjudged to be unplayable in a pitch inspection this morning.

St Patrick's Athletic v Derry City has also fallen victim to the weather due to a waterlogged pitch at Richmond Park. The decision was made following a midday pitch inspection.

New dates for the postponed games will be announced in due course, the FAI said.

Harps' next match is away to Cork City on Friday night, as they bid to continue their unbeaten start to the season, while Shels will welcome St Pat's to Tolka Park and Derry host Bohemians that evening.

Monday's Premier Division fixtures (7.45pm unless stated): Waterford v Shamrock Rovers (7pm); Bohemians v Sligo Rovers; Dundalk v Cork City.
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Here are some stocks that are in the news today:

Biocon: US FDA issued 3 observations to the company's Malaysia facility.

Bharti Infratel: Source said DoT approval paves the way for the Bharti Infratel-Indus Towers deal. As per a CNBC-TV18 report, Bharti Airtel had extended the long stop date for the merger to February 24.

Bajaj Holdings: The company will pay Rs 40 per share interim dividend.

Bajaj Auto: The comapany will pay Rs 120 per share interim dividend.

Bajaj Finance: The company will pay Rs 10 per share interim dividend.

Bajaj Finserv: The company will pay Rs 5 per share interim dividend.

Arvind Fashions: CARE has cut the long-term rating to 'A-' from A.

PNB Housing Finance: Crisil has downgraded its long-term rating to CRISIL AA/Stable from AA+/Negative.

Reliance Communications (RCom): A meeting of the company's committee of creditors is scheduled to be held today. "The 18th meeting of the committee of creditors (CoC) of Reliance Communications Ltd is scheduled to be convened on Monday, February 24, 2020," RCom said in a regulatory filing. No other details were disclosed.

PVR: Opened 5 screens multiplex at Nilamber Triumph Mall, Vadodara.

Indiabulls Housing: ICRA has cut the long-term rating to 'AA' from 'AA+'.

M&M: The company's unit will sell the entire stake in Cleansolar Renewable Energy, Divine Solren, Neo Solren.

Reliance Home Finance: The company has defaulted in payment of term loan from Federal Bank worth Rs 36 crore which was due on January 18.

GMR Infra: Competition Commission of India has given approval for the GMR group's proposed 49 percent stake sale in its airport business to France's Groupe ADP.

Aurobindo Pharma: US FDA inspection at Unit IV is still open and under review. Inspection at Unit IV was conducted by the US FDA from November 4-13, 2019.

Dr. Reddy's Labs: The company received EIR from the US FDA for Duvvada formulations manufacturing plant.

Yes Bank: ICRA cut bank's issuer rating to A- from A with a negative outlook.

Greenply Industries: As per a regulatory filing, CARE Ratings has given 'CARE AA-' ratings and has placed it on credit watch with negative implications for bank facilities worth Rs 378 crore.

Axis Bank: Axis Bank, Max Financial Services and Max Life have signed exclusivity agreements to explore the possibility of Axis Bank entering into a long-term strategic partnership with Max Life.

Dilip Buildcon: The company has executed an EPC agreement for the construction of a new greenfield airport at Rajkot in Gujarat.

UPL: The company's Mauritian subsidiary has raised $400 million (around Rs 2,840 crore) by issuing bonds. The proceeds would be used to repay the existing debt of UPL Corporation, it added.
WASHINGTON  President Trumps national security adviser said hes seen no intelligence to show that Russia is interfering in the U.S. presidential campaign in hopes of re-electing him.

Robert OBriens comments come after conflicting accounts emerged from a recent closed-door briefing by intelligence officials, who spoke to lawmakers about Russian interference in the 2020 campaign. One intelligence official said that lawmakers were not told that Russia was working to directly aid Trump.

But other people familiar with the meeting said they were told the Kremlin was looking to help Trumps candidacy. The people spoke on condition of anonymity.

The national security adviser gets pretty good access to our intelligence, OBrien told ABCs This Week in an interview that aired Sunday. I havent seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump re-elected.

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. Intelligence officials have warned Russia is doing the same in 2020.

But its a sore subject for Trump, who has played down the findings and said they are an attempt to delegitimize his victory. And Sen. Bernie Sanders acknowledged Friday that he was briefed last month by U.S. officials about Russian efforts to boost his chances for becoming the Democratic presidential nominee  something that could be seen as beneficial to Trumps re-election prospects.

OBrien claimed he had not seen any intelligence or analyses indicating that Russia was aiding Trump and neither had top leaders in the intelligence agencies.

OBrien also denied reports that Trump became angry when he was told about the briefing and that he confronted former acting national intelligence director Joseph Maguire and subsequently replaced him with Richard Grenell.

OBrien said Trump would have liked Maguire to stay in government in a different role. He said Maguires time as acting director was up in early March and the White House needed an individual to temporarily replace him.

Deb Riechmann is an Associated Press writer.
The billionaire investors advice comes as markets plunged on Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases outside China.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett on Monday warned investors not to get caught up in the headlines, as global markets tanked over growing concerns with the coronavirus outbreak.

It is scary stuff, Buffett told CNBC news network. I dont think it should affect what you do in stocks.

Warren, who is chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said that investors with a 10-to-20-year time horizon will fare well in stocks. The virus outbreak has not changed his long-term outlook, he added.

But markets worldwide fell on Monday as concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak spread. New cases were reported over the weekend in Iran, Italy, and South Korea. On Monday, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iraq and Oman reported their first infections from the coronavirus.

The coronavirus outbreak has killed 2,600, most of them in mainland China. It has also disrupted supply chains as many factories in China remain closed.

But Buffett on Monday said that Berkshire would certainly be more inclined to buy stocks than on Friday. If you look at the present situation, he said, you get more for your money in stocks than bonds.

While the United States economy is still strong, it has become a little softer than it was six months ago, he added. The US economy grew 2.3 percent last year but has experienced slower consumer spending and industrial production.

Buffett spoke two days after Berkshire said operating profit fell 3 percent in 2019 to $23.97bn, hurt by losses from insurance underwriting. Unrealized gains in Apple Inc and other investments boosted Berkshires net income to a record $81.42bn in 2019.

Berkshire, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has more than 90 operating businesses including the BNSF railway, Geico auto insurer and Dairy Queen ice cream.

Buffet did say that the coronavirus outbreak was affecting a significant number of Dairy Queens in China. Many of the roughly 1,000 Dairy Queens in China are closed, while those that are open arent doing any business to speak of, he said. Other companies like Johns Manville insulation and Shaw carpeting have seen supply chain disruptions, Buffet added.

Theres always trouble coming, he said. The real question is where are those businesses going to be in five or 10 years.

Berkshires stock price has trailed the Standard & Poors 500 over the last decade. Buffett said it will not trounce the broader market as it once did, in part reflecting its size and roughly $558bn market value.

Any long-term outperformance will be minor, but it will be done in a very very safe manner, he said.
Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg greets Zachary Ro, who asked Buttigieg to help him tell others he is gay

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg counseled a nine-year old boy who wanted advice on coming out as gay to everyone.

"Would you help me tell the world I'm gay, too? I want to be brave like you," Zachary Ro asked Buttigieg at a campaign rally in Colorado.

"I don't think you need a lot of advice from me on bravery, you seem pretty strong," Buttigieg responded.

Then the former mayor lauded the nine-year-old and said others would benefit from his courage to come out.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg had an emotional moment on Saturday night with a nine-year old boy who asked him for help to come out as gay.

During a Q&A session where questions were drawn from a fishbowl, the boy, later identified as, Zachary Ro, thanked the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana for his bravery and sought help from Buttigieg on coming out.

"Would you help me tell the world I'm gay, too?" Ro asked the first openly gay presidential candidate, adding, "I want to be brave like you."

The Democratic hopeful lauded Ro's emotional strength and cited his own turbulent journey to share the truth with loved ones about his identity.

"I don't think you need a lot of advice from me on bravery, you seem pretty strong," Buttigieg responded. "It took me a long time to figure out how to tell even my best friend that I was gay, let alone go out there and tell the world. And to see you willing to come to terms with you who you are in a room full of thousands of people you never met, that's really something."

Then the former mayor offered advice to Ro.

"Let me tell you a couple things that might be useful. The first thing is that it won't always be easy, but that's okay because you know who you are.," Buttigieg said. " And that's really important because when you know who you are you have a center of gravity that can hold you together when all kinds of chaos is happening around you."

Story continues

Buttigieg also told Ro that others would benefit from his courage.

"The second thing I want you to know is that you will never know who's taking their lead from you, who's watching you and deciding that they can be a little braver because you have been brave."

The Colorado Sun reported that Ro decided to ask Buttigieg the question at the last minute, but was happy he did so.

"It was exciting, and I felt really happy," the boy told the paper after the rally. "I was glad I was able to tell everyone in the audience that I'm gay."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A former Regions employee is going to federal prison after pleading guilty to the theft of more than $300,000 from an elderly bank customer.

Montreal Holley, 28, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for theft of funds, according to Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. He also will be on supervised release for three years once his sentence is complete, and hes been ordered to pay restitution.

According to court documents, Holley became the manager of a Regions Bank branch in Montgomery in May of 2018. Around December of 2018, Regions discovered he had wired $188,000 from an elderly customers account to his own account at another bank. Regions began to investigate, with the assistance of the United States Secret Service. The elderly customer passed away shortly after the investigation began.

Regions Bank and the Secret Service discovered that Holley had convinced the elderly customer that she could trust only him to handle her money and he took a total of $313,448.83 from her account over a matter of months. He issued cashiers checks, made wire transfers, and even issued a debit card on one of her accounts and used it to make ATM withdrawals.

According to statements made during his sentencing hearing, Holley paid off loans for himself, his wife, his girlfriend, and other family members. In one example, he transferred $23,266 from the customers account to pay off a car loan. He initially told investigators that the elderly victim directed him to make the transaction, but the investigation revealed that the loan paid off a car driven by Holleys girlfriend.

After he was caught, Holley returned $188,000 of the stolen funds, Franklin said. At his sentencing hearing on Friday he was also ordered to pay the remaining $125,448.83 in restitution to Regions Bank, who had previously credited the stolen funds back into the victims account.

This case is upsetting in many ways, and it serves as a reminder that criminals are targeting some of the most vulnerable people in our society, Franklin said. Holley selected his victim because of her advanced age and illness. He thought he would get away with stealing her money because no one would notice. Fortunately, Regions Bank discovered the suspicious activity in her account. We must all be vigilant and take action when necessary to protect our senior family members and friends from being exploited.

Montreal Holley, working in his position of trust and authority as a Branch Manager for Regions Bank, took advantage of an elderly client to steal over $300,000 from her, said Patrick Davis, Special Agent in Charge with the United States Secret Service, Birmingham Field Office. Regions Bank investigators should be commended in this case. Their investigators quickly identified suspicious account transactions and brought it to the attention of the U.S. Secret Service Montgomery Resident Office. Their quick response and thorough investigative support stopped this defendant from further financially exploiting the elderly victim in this case.

Don White, head of Corporate Security for Regions, said the bank has a continuous focus on detecting and preventing elder financial abuse. While we remain heartbroken for the family affected by this crime, we are grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly with us in pursuing justice, White said. Regions Bank is steadfastly committed to protecting the people we serve, and this case reflects our determination to identify and combat any instance of elder financial exploitation. We appreciate the teams that worked together to thoroughly investigate this matter and take appropriate action.
NLB Banka joins EBRD Women in Business programme in Montenegro

Programme to strengthen Montenegros economy through women inclusion

Sweden and Luxembourg funds support advisory services and technical assistance

Women-led businesses in Montenegro will benefit from a 2 million EBRD loan provided to NLB Banka Podgorica under its Women in Business Programme after the bank became the first commercial bank to sign up to the initiative in Montenegro.

The EBRDs Women in Business programme aims to unleash the potential of women entrepreneurs by providing access to finance and know-how to grow their businesses. Higher participation of women in the economy and closing the gender gaps is expected to increase the countrys overall prosperity.

The agreement between the EBRD and NLB Banka Podgorica was signed today in London during the EBRDs Western Balkans Investment Summit which was attended by Montenegros Prime Minister Dusko Markovic.

The Women in Business programme supports women entrepreneurs to access finance and know-how to grow their businesses. Since its launch in 2014, the programme has so far provided more than 520 million in credit lines, reaching more than 70,000 women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in 18 countries with access to finance, advisory services, training, mentoring and network-building activities.

In the Western Balkans the programme has reached over 5,000 women entrepreneurs with financing and advisory services to date.

Since it began investing in Montenegro in 2006, the EBRD has financed 60 projects worth 571 million in the country and provided over 100 Montenegrin women-led MSMEs with business advice and trainings.
(Natural News) A contingent of 40 House Democrats has signed a letter calling on the Trump administration to avoid issuing any exclusive licenses to drug companies that end up developing vaccines or any other pharmaceuticals for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).

Dated February 20, the letter urges President Donald Trump to ensure that all taxpayer-funded treatment protocols remain in a type of public domain, or at least be distributed among multiple drug companies to ensure fair competition and low prices in the public interest.

Issuing exclusive licenses, they further warn, could result in an expensive medicine that is inaccessible, wasting public resources and putting public health at risk in the United States and around the globe.

We should not grant any manufacturer a blank check to monopolize a coronavirus vaccine or treatment developed with public, taxpayer support, they go on to explain in the letter.

Should the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decide to go along with the provisions of this proposal, they would in essence be ensuring that any Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) drugs are kept in the public domain, particularly when it comes to pricing.

In the event that one or a handful of drug companies schemes to jack up the prices on a Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) vaccine, for instance, the HHS could intervene to drive the price back down to affordable levels for everyone.

Such an intervention is particularly critical for vaccines, which are most effective when the vast majority of the public is immunized, the letter goes on to contend, making a valid point that highlights the hypocrisy of Big Pharmas longstanding vaccine monopoly that makes it cost-prohibitive for many lower-income people to achieve herd immunity.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, shares advice about how to protect yourself against the coming coronavirus wave in the United States:

We the People own ANY medicine that was developed with our tax dollars

While were obviously not on board with the vaccine agenda, these House Democrats bring up some exceptionally valid points about the Big Pharma drug racket, and how Trump, in order to stay true to his campaign promises, owes it to the American people to break up this monopoly once and for all.

Especially when it comes to emergency medicine, Big Pharma cant be allowed to siphon the taxpayer coffers simply to pad its own patent portfolio. If taxpayer money is going to be used to develop synthetic medicines, especially during a global emergency, then the end product needs to be readily available at affordable prices to the populace that paid for it.

As it turns out, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has already spent a whopping $700 million in taxpayer dollars on coronavirus research, which began as far back as 2002 following the infamous SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak of that same year.

The pharmaceutical industry is currently running six different coronavirus clinical trials, and various nonprofit and public institutions, funded by taxpayers, are supporting all of them, reports indicate. These same taxpayer-funded entities are also supporting upwards of two-thirds of the current vaccine and drug efforts aimed at the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).

If the Trump administration fails to take aggressive action against a Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) drug and vaccine monopoly, then many Americans, as well as poorer people elsewhere in the world, will not be afforded the same protection against the disease as their wealthier counterparts.

If MY money pays for it, it is MY drug, wrote one insightful commenter at The Epoch Times. I (the taxpayer) am the investor. We are paying these researchers to do a JOB, not to take our money and then screw us over.

You can hear more podcasts each day at the official Brighteon.com H.R. Report channel.

More coronavirus news is also available at the new-and-improved Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
A head constable of the Delhi Police died on Monday after suffering serious injuries in stone-pelting during clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Gokulpuri area of the national capital. The constable, Ratan Lal, was the reader of the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Delhi Police.

The 42-year-old head constable was a native of Sikar, Rajasthan and had joined the Delhi Police as Constable in the year 1998. He was presently posted in the office of ACP, Gokalpuri. He is survived by his wife and 3 children, two daughters and a son.

Ratan Lal suffered injuries near Wazirabad road in Bhajanpura area. In Bhajanpura, rioters set fire to more than 10 shops, including a Maruti showroom and a petrol pump.

According to the fire brigade, a car was set on fire near the petrol pump after which some part of the petrol pump was also engulfed in the flames. The fire brigades present at the spot were also vandalised. Some incidents of violence and arson have been reported in the areas of the North-East District, particularly in the areas of Maujpur, Kardam Puri, Chand Bagh, and Dayalpur.

Delhi Police has appealed to the people of Delhi and particularly to the North East District to maintain peace and harmony and not to believe in any false rumours. It is also appealed to the media not to circulate any disturbing pictures which may further aggravate the situation.

The police is making every effort to restore normalcy. Section 144 has been imposed in the affected areas of the North East district and strict action will be taken against miscreants and anti-social elements.
The story of the crucifixion is told specifically in the gospels. If you are new to the faith, the gospels are biographical accounts of the life of Jesus. These accounts are found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each writer tells the story through their own eyes. By reading each of the accounts it helps you get a full picture of this remarkable event. To help you, here is where you can find the crucifixion story in each gospel book:

Matthew chapters 26-28

Mark chapters 14-16

Luke chapters 22-24

John chapters 18-20

Even though we see the event playing out in the gospels, it was predicted long before that. In the Old Testament, the Bible gives us shadows and types as well as specific prophecies pointing to the eventual death of Jesus. A type or shadow is something or some event in the Old Testament that reflects or points to something in the New Testament. For example, in the Old Testament they would anoint with oil. This was a symbol that represented the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.

One event closely related to the crucifixion was when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Here are some similarities:

Isaac was a son of the promise conceived miraculously by Abraham and Sarah who were well past their child-bearing years. Even in her younger years Sarah was unable to have children.

Jesus was a son of the promise and was conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit through a virgin named Mary.

Isaac was going to be sacrificed on a mountain and carried the wood up the mountain that he would be sacrificed on.

Jesus was sacrificed on the mount called Golgotha and he carried the cross that he would ultimately be crucified on.

Abraham was giving up his son.

God was giving up his only begotten son.

Isaac was a willing participant and at no point did he resist what his father was about to do.

Jesus willingly laid down his life. He submitted to the will of the Father.

All throughout the Old Testament from Genesis moving forward and through numerous types and shadows we see the Bible pointing us to this savior who would rescue us from our sin condition. One of the great passages of scripture that point to the events that we see laid out in the gospels is Isaiah 53. Here are some of those verses

Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:4-6

If you keep reading you will eventually see in verse 10 that it was Gods will to crush him and to make his life an offering for sin. He bore the sin of many, none of which were his own. I hope you are beginning to see the wonderful plan and story of redemption that is being played out. Now that we have laid a foundation lets consider some very specific facts you should know about the Crucifixion.

Photo credit: Getty Images/artisteer
/ -- India had almost 19 million unemployed people by the end of the year 2019. India has the second-largest population in the world and has ranked third in the annual World GDP contribution. India is making advancements, however, with many people being unemployed, unemployment is truly a serious issue for the Indian population. The Indian job market is in the stagnant stage with an unemployment rate of almost 5.29 %. This is because the economy is generating fewer jobs per unit of GDP. The rate of unemployment in the youth age 15-24 is almost 10.7% in the year 2019.

This is because of the lack of high-quality education and skills which are required to ensure that the person will end up bragging a good job and earn a handsome amount of money. To survive in the throat-cutting competition the fresher will have to work hard to acquire adequate knowledge and New Age skills.

Placements for the Academic Year 2019-20 at Jain (Deemed-to-be University) has once again ended on a high note with 1250 students being selected by 238 Companies. Some of the top-notch companies such as TCS, Mphasis, Ernst & Young, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Morgan Stanley, AXA, Synapse Innovation, Grant Thornton etc. have participated in hiring.

The highest CTC offered was 30 lakhs per annum and with an average CTC of 6 lakhs per annum.

"We are pleased the way the Industry has come forward to hire students and happy for our students who have secured their dream jobs in Campus placements. We have completed 80% of the placements and shall complete 100% by May 2019. These graduates are expected to join the industry from June 2020. We focus on preparing our students with new age skills that are required by high tech industries in India and abroad. To prepare our students to take up jobs overseas, we have increased the focus on imparting skills sets needed abroad including foreign language training." says Dr. Easwaran Iyer, Director - Industry Interface & Placements.

In recent years, companies have been looking for new age skills like Python, Devops, Full Stack, Cloud Technology, Internet of Things, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Mobile Applications. However, the students have preferred Python, Big Data, Cloud Technology & Cyber Security. To impart these skills, it is important to have the industry involvement in academia at various levels and the right pedagogy.

About Jain (Deemed-to-be University)



Jain (Deemed-to-be University) offers programs in the areas of Information Security, Mobile Technology, Cloud Technology, Data Science, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics & Automation, Metallurgy, Automobile, Aerospace and Aeronautical at the under graduate and post graduate levels. These new age programs bridge the skill gap and improve career prospects. For more information, please visit : www.jainuniversity.ac.in



The University works closely with some of the Industry partners to develop some of the best new age programs and delivers them effectively through innovative labs, regular faculty development programs, and various industry interface activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)




Haiti - UN : The Haitian economy is likely to sink deeper into the recession





During the Security Council session on the United Nations Integrated Office (UNINH) on February 20, Helen La Lime, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to the country took stock of the situation in Haiti, immersed in a political deadlock since 2018 which has paralyzed the functioning of Haitian institutions, afflicted the economy and fueled persistent insecurity.



Extract from Helen La Lime's speech :

"[...] Over the course of the past months, I have worked alongside the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States and the Apostolic Nuncio in Haiti to create an environment conducive to a negotiated resolution to the crisis, one that would catalyze a reform effort aimed at restoring the populations confidence in the State, ensuring that the most vulnerable receive much-needed basic services, and laying the groundwork for the timely holding of elections.



During two rounds of negotiations held at the Representation of the Holy See in Haiti in mid-December 2019 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29551-haiti-flash-crisis-failure-of-the-mediation-to-the-apostolic-nunciature.html and late January 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29925-haiti-flash-failure-of-the-political-conference-for-a-way-out-of-the-crisis.html , a consensus emerged on the contours of a political agreement articulated around four elements: the criteria for the formation of a government; the contents of a reform agenda; the sequencing of a constitutional reform process; and the definition of an electoral calendar. Despite progress regarding the nature of the reforms to be undertaken, including that of the Constitution, political actors have yet to settle on a formula that would lead to the designation by President Moise of a consensual Prime Minister and the formation of a new government.



The lack of agreement on this matter, as well as on the remaining length of President Moises term, threatens to needlessly prolong a situation that has already lasted too long. Haiti is about to enter in its second year with a caretaker government, its economy is forecast to sink deeper into recession, and 4.6 million of its citizens are now estimated to require humanitarian assistance. The effects of the strained economy and the prolonged political polarization risk further affecting the integrity and effectiveness of key institutions, such as the Haitian National Police. To avoid a greater deterioration, Haitian leaders need to rise to the occasion and commit to a way out of this impasse that will best serve the interests of their people.



A political agreement notwithstanding, the road towards improved governance through systemic reform will be arduous. Indeed, at the root of the recurring political and socio-economic crises which Haiti has experienced in its modern history lie such entrenched factors as consistently high levels of poverty, pervasive gender inequalities, limited access to basic social services, severe natural resource depletion, and the scourge of gangs, corruption and impunity."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29551-haiti-flash-crisis-failure-of-the-mediation-to-the-apostolic-nunciature.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29925-haiti-flash-failure-of-the-political-conference-for-a-way-out-of-the-crisis.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Around 1:05 a.m., officers responded to the 7400 block of Old Alexandria Ferry Road in Clinton for the report of a shooting, Prince Georges County police said in a statement. They found 52-year-old Stanley Gaskins Jr., of Washington and another man outside suffering from gunshot wounds, the statement said.
An early Monday crash involving a truck and a New Jersey Transit bus injured three people aboard the bus, state police said, though none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.

The crash in the express lane of Interstate 80 eastbound in Bogota occurred around 9 a.m. Officials closed one lane of the roadway and travel delays of up to 20 minutes were being reported in the area.

The three injured people were being treated at hospitals. Their names and further details on their conditions were not disclosed.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Free SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training Set For February 25th The National Weather Service will be in Hillsboro for a free severe weather training session Tuesday, February 25. This class is free of charge, and no pre-registration is necessary.



In 2019, north and central Texas experienced 40 tornadoes and several damaging straight-line wind events. These storms resulted in millions of dollars of damage. The 2020 severe weather season is not too far away, and the National Weather Service and local emergency management officials want you to be ready.



To get ready, the community is invited to this years SKYWARN Storm Spotter Class. The National Weather Service (NWS) will be offering this free class from 6 to 8 p.m. The program will be held at the Church on the Hill in Hillsboro and is held in partnership with Hill County Emergency Management.



This class is for established storm spotters, anyone with an interest in severe weather and/or anyone who wants to learn more about the severe weather threats in north and central Texas and how to be prepared.



This is part of a regional severe weather preparedness campaign, which will include spotter training sessions in many counties in north and central Texas.



This years program will feature an in-depth review and study of the various threats posed by severe thunderstorms. The program will also review thunderstorm characteristics and features associated with severe and non-severe storms.



Additionally, the program highlights severe weather safety and how you can report severe weather information back to the National Weather Service and local public safety officials.



By coming to this training session, you will gain a better understanding of Texas severe weather season, said Tom Bradshaw, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the NWS Fort Worth Office.



Waiting until storms are on your doorstep is not the time to start thinking about severe weather preparedness. We hope you attend these free sessions to learn more about the severe storms that impact the region every year, he added.



The Hill County severe weather program is one of over 35 training sessions that the Fort Worth National Weather Service Office will conduct between January and March 2020.



The National Weather Service in Fort Worth provides forecasts, warnings and weather services for 46 counties in north and central Texas.



For more information on severe weather, visit the website at http://weather.gov/fortworth, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NWSDallasFortWorth and on Twitter: @NWSFortWorth.


(Newser)  Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of rape and sexual assault against two women and could be sent to prison for decades, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement, per the AP. He was convicted on charges stemming from a 2006 sexual assault and a 2013 rape. The jury found Weinstein not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence. The most damaging conviction, for the sexual assault of production assistant Mimi Haleyi, would carry a maximum sentence of 25 years. After a judge ordered him sent to jail immediately, Weinstein was hauled out a side door of the courtroom with his hands cuffed in front of him.

story continues below

The Hollywood mogul had been using a walker to get in and out of court during his trial in Manhattan. Court officers held him up by his arms to help him along as they led him out. Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno had argued that recent back surgery was not successful and that her client needed more medical attention. Judge James Burke said he would make a judicial request for Weinstein to be put in an infirmary. Sentencing was set for March 11. The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on Haleyi, and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s. Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges on Friday, four days into deliberations. (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.)
The Serbian ambassador acknowledged the unfortunate fact and confirmed Serbia's continued support for territorial integrity and state sovereignty of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on February 24, 2020, summoned Ambassador of Serbia to Ukraine Aca Jovanovic to express deep concern about the fact that the name and symbols of the so-called " Republic of Crimea", the territory Russia grabbed from Ukraine in an illegal annexation in 2014, were spotted at a Russian stand during the International Tourism Fair in Belgrade.

Read alsoUkraine's FM calls on UN to multiply efforts toward release of Ukrainian political prisoners

Ukrainian diplomats drew the ambassador's attention to the inadmissibility of attempts by the Russian Federation to legalize in the international arena the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and also demanded that such facts not be repeated in the future, reads the report released by the MFA press service.

The Serbian ambassador acknowledged the unfortunate fact and confirmed Serbia's continued support for territorial integrity and state sovereignty of Ukraine.
Did a powerful queen of Coba, one of the greatest cities of the ancient Maya world, build the longest Maya road to invade a smaller, isolated neighbor and gain a foothold against the emerging Chichen Itza empire?

The question has long intrigued Traci Ardren, archaeologist and University of Miami professor of anthropology. Now, she and fellow scholars may be a step closer to an answer, after conducting the first lidar study of the 100-kilometer stone highway that connected the ancient cities of Coba and Yaxuna on the Yucatan Peninsula 13 centuries ago.

Once used mainly by meteorologists to study clouds, lidar--short for "light detection and ranging"--technology is revolutionizing archaeology by enabling archaeologists to detect, measure, and map structures hidden beneath dense vegetation that, in some cases, has grown for centuries, engulfing entire cities. Often deployed from low-flying aircraft, lidar instruments fire rapid pulses of laser light at a surface, and then measure the amount of time it takes for each pulse to bounce back. The differences in the times and wavelengths of the bounce are then used to create digital 3D maps of hidden surface structures.

The lidar study, which Ardren and fellow researchers with the Proyecto de Interaccion del Centro de Yucatan (PIPCY) conducted in 2014 and 2017 of Sacbe 1--or White Road 1, as the white plaster-coated thoroughfare was called--may shed light on the intentions of Lady K'awiil Ajaw, the warrior queen who Ardren believes commissioned its construction at the turn of the 7th century.

In an analysis of the lidar study, recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the researchers identified more than 8,000 tree-shrouded structures of varying sizes along the sacbe--with enough total volume to fill approximately 2,900 Olympic swimming pools. The study also confirmed that the road, which measures about 26 feet across, is not a straight line, as has been assumed since Carnegie Institute of Washington archaeologists mapped its entire length in the 1930s, with little more than a measuring tape and a compass.

Rather, the elevated road veered to incorporate preexisting towns and cities between Coba, which known for its carved monuments depicting bellicose rulers standing over bound captives, controlled the eastern Yucatan, and Yaxuna--a smaller, older, city in the middle of the peninsula. Yet, the isolated Yaxuna (pronounced Ya-shoo-na) still managed to build a pyramid nearly three times bigger and centuries before Chichen Itza's more famous Castillo, about 15 miles away.

"The lidar really allowed us to understand the road in much greater detail. It helped us identify many new towns and cities along the road--new to us, but preexisting the road," Ardren said. "We also now know the road is not straight, which suggests that it was built to incorporate these preexisting settlements, and that has interesting geo-political implications. This road was not just connecting Coba and Yaxuna; it connected thousands of people who lived in the intermediary region."

It was partly Yaxuna's proximity to Chichen Itza, Mexico's most famous Maya ruin which flourished after Yaxuna and Coba waned, that led Ardren and other PIPCY researchers to theorize that K'awiil Ajaw built the road to invade Yaxuna and gain a foothold in the middle of the peninsula. Coba's ruler for several decades beginning in 640 A.D., she is depicted in stone carvings trampling over her bound captives.

"I personally think the rise of Chichen Itza and its allies motivated the road," Ardren said. "It was built just before 700, at the end of the Classic Period, when Coba is making a big push to expand. It's trying to hold on to its power, so with the rise of Chichen Itza, it needed a stronghold in the center of the peninsula. The road is one of the last-gasp efforts of Coba to maintain its power. And we believe it may have been one of the accomplishments of K'awiil Ajaw, who is documented as having conducted wars of territorial expansion."

To test their theory, Ardren, an expert on gender in ancient Maya society who edited the 2002 book "Ancient Maya Women," and fellow PIPCY scholars received funding from the National Science Foundation to excavate ancient household clusters along the great white road. Their goal is to determine the degree of similarities between the household goods in Coba and Yaxuna before and after the road was built. The thinking, Ardren said, is that after the road linked the two cities, the goods found in Yaxuna would show increasing similarities to Coba's.

So far, the researchers have excavated household clusters on the edge of both Coba and Yaxuna, and they plan to begin a third dig this summer, at a spot informed by the lidar study. It sits between the two ancient Maya cities, on the great, white road that Ardren says would have glowed brightly even in the dark of night.

As she noted, the road was as much an engineering marvel as the monumental pyramids the Maya erected across southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras. Although built over undulating terrain, the road was flat, with the uneven ground filled in with huge limestone boulders, and the surface coated with bright, white plaster. Essentially the same formula the Romans used for concrete in the third century B.C., the plaster was made by burning limestone and adding lime and water to the mixture.

"It would have been a beacon through the dense green of cornfields and fruit trees," Ardren said. "All the jungle we see today wasn't there in the past because the Maya cleared these areas. They needed wood to build their homes. And now that we know the area was densely occupied, we know they needed a lot of wood. Because they also needed it to burn limestone''--and build the longest road in the Maya world 13 centuries ago.

###

In addition to Ardren, the coauthors on the lidar study include Travis W. Stanton, Nicholas C. Barth, Patrick Rohrer, and Stephanie J. Miller, of the University of California, Riverside; Juan C. Fernandez-Diaz, of the University of Houston; Aline Magnoni, of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology in the Maya Area; and Manuel Perez, of the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico City.
(TNS)  Is three years too long to learn that a ransomware attack happened at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office ? Yes, say cybersecurity and IT experts.In the wake of the dispute over the cyberintrusion at the county elections office,asked a series of security professionals to weigh in on the revelation of the Zepto virus exposure in September 2016."Not only should they report this, they should understand that just because everything seems normal it might not necessarily be," said Silka Gonzalez, founder of ERMProtect in Coral Gables. "Even if a hacker is already inside your network and passively stealing your information everything in your workplace is going to look normal and 'business as usual.' These things don't come with sirens and red lights."The scrutiny over Zepto and its purported encroachment by an unknown entity through an elections office computer in the weeks before the 2016 presidential vote has been a source of controversy. This month, current Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link revealed the previously unknown cyberattack via a Zepto virus. The severity of the episode, however, has been disputed by her predecessor, Susan Bucher.So, what is Zepto, and how does it work?Resist the urge to grab your facemask: Zepto isn't like the coronavirus. Rather, it's a type of ransomware virus that typically infiltrates a system through a phishing email, the sender posing as a seemingly legitimate source.Gonzalez noted that Zepto is a "very aggressive cryptolocker" and a variant of a virus called Locky, which peaked in 2016."People often assume (ransomware means) someone actively hacked in," said Alan Crowetz, president and CEO of West Palm Beach-based InfoStream, Inc. "It generally means someone within the organization was tricked."The virus is then launched by either clicking on a link or attachment and "effectively grants the ransomware permission to go in and begin encrypting the files on your system," said Paul Debogorski, owner of Corvinus IT Solutions in Jupiter.The virus renames typical office files with a ".zepto" extension, rendering them inaccessible without an encryption key."Almost always it means the hacker is not in your stuff. They've scrambled your stuff, but they're not actually seeing your data," Crowetz said. "I can't break into your car, but I can put a clamp on your tire and make you pay me."A ransom is demanded of the victim to get this encryption key needed to regain access to files and data  something the U.S. government does not recommend anyone pay."Sometimes (victims will) pay the ransom and get the key to decrypt the files, and other times (bad actors will) just take the money and run," Debogorski said.Without paying a ransom, the encrypted files that aren't saved on a backup will be lost. The best way to prevent the spread of such a virus is to turn the computer off or disconnect it from the network and WiFi, Debogorski said."If you get to it quickly enough, if you have an effective backup system ... and also if you train your staff as well to spot phishing emails ... you can minimize the impact," he said.Both former and current election chiefs  Bucher and Link, respectively  have said the office did not pay a ransom after the 2016 ransomware attack.Link said the incident happened on a computer at the main headquarters on Military Trail, encrypting Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets. Officials said voter information was not impacted, and that servers were immediately shut down, preventing the attack from spreading.The email that delivered the virus was opened by an employee. It purported to be from the employee's bank, Bucher told theEditorial Board on Feb 14. Bucher has not accepted areporter's multiple interview requests since Link first disclosed the incident on Feb. 12.Bucher, in speaking theeditorial board this month, said that she was reassured that the virus was contained behind a strong firewall.But a firewall isn't necessarily a "silver bullet that would protect them from everything," said Richard Forno, assistant director of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County's Center for Cybersecurity."If the firewalls are not scanning for email, having a firewall is not protecting you against that type of threat," Forno said.Gonzalez, founder of ERMProtect, added that "if firewalls were so awesome," she'd be out of a job and her company's services would not be needed."A firewall is as useful as a Swiss Army knife in a nuclear war," Gonzalez said.Bucher also told the editorial board that the virus was "quickly contained" and caused two people to lose their work product.Bucher added she did not inform anyone outside the elections office because the pertinent state official was a part-time worker who did not provide assistance when issues came up in weeks prior. Besides, Bucher said, they weren't aware of any election hacking threats at the time and did not feel, that as an isolated attack, the issue was grave enough to inform federal agencies.Current elections chief Link disagrees."That isn't the way it happened," said Link, who was not in office at the time of the attack, but relied on corroboration from several current employees. "Numerous people from many different departments have said they lost files."Cybersecurity officials say these days phishing attempts are not so much targeted as they are spread far and wide."It's usually very passive, meaning they're not targeting them specifically," Crowetz said, adding that the phishing attempt that plants the virus sends it to "tons and tons of people and see who nibbles the bait."It's difficult to figure out who is behind the attacks, why they happen and where they come from, Forno said."The question of attribution in cyberspace is one of the perennial questions we have yet to answer," he said.It's possible for attackers to mask their locations, he added, making it seem as if they're operating from somewhere they're not.But even though this particular virus that reached the elections office was limited in what it could do  encrypting files and demanding ransom  "it is something that the public should know about," Debogorski said.A similar misstep with a more dangerous virus could "open the proverbial floodgates," he said."This one itself couldn't really do much beyond encrypting the files and asking for the ransom, but there are scores of other viruses that transmit themselves (through phishing or a link)," Debogorski said. "They were lucky that it happened to be this one, where it didn't allow them to go in and make any sort of alterations."Gonzalez called it "fortuitous" that the attack occurred weeks before an election, and likened the opportunity bad actors had to Yahoo data breaches that impacted all of its users accounts, which "had been hacked for several years without even knowing that their data was being passively stolen for years."Crowetz said accountability is "a sign of IT maturity.""No one wants to brag that they got a black eye," he said.Notifying someone outside the impacted agency has at least one benefit, said Total Digital Security's Brad Deflin, but he isn't certain whether the office should have reported the incident."The reporting is very useful because we have to know the extent of this crime and where it's happening, and raise awareness so people are aware and more preemptive," Deflin said. "In many reported ransomware (cases) ... there was a huge lack of awareness all the way up to the top."Forno also erred on the side of being more cautious  maybe there isn't a need for a press release or conference, but the incident could have been written up in a report."A lot of factors go into why they may or may not want to publish or disclose," he said, listing reasons like eroding public trust, embarrassment or political finger-pointing.Ron Labasky, general counsel and executive director of Florida Supervisors of Elections, said Bucher wasn't necessarily in the wrong for not reporting the incident."It was apparently an assessment by the supervisor and her staff that this was not anything that compromised any security issue, didn't compromise any information that could cause any impact on the registration system and certainly not the voting," Labasky said."Should a police department or sheriff's office tell everybody every time they write a ticket?" he added.The awareness of the potential for these types of attacks has gone up since 2016. The Florida Department of State has offered so-called cybernavigators to shore up security of all 67 supervisors of elections, and other resources are being made available ahead of the 2020 elections.Today, the situation would likely be handled differently."I think probably at this point in time, you would have such a more coordinated understanding and effort of this issue that you would probably have a reporting of an incident of that nature," he said.
Our reporter, Eva Sommer, questions two young French midshipmen. "You know," they said, "we French sailors have a reputation for naughtiness. But it's entirely false." February 25, 1956 Credit:Ted Foster

Two beers in fact was all he did drink.

That was after he had drunk two beers.

I went to dinner with a French midshipman last night. He told me "I love your milk bars."

First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on February 26, 1956

The 900 French sailors now in Sydney have bypassed their traditional pursuit of wine, women and song for museum visiting and sight-seeing.

Judging by the two young midshipmen in my party last night, "that Navy"  with its reputation for gaiety and abandon  is out to destroy that reputation.

But it's quiet here

These 185 students of the French Naval Academy are newly created midshipmen - officers on their first trip abroad, and responsibility sits heavily on their young shoulders.

While the band played "Under the Bridges of Paris," my two were discussing with youthful idealism "the best way to handle our men"  crew members given into their charge for the first time.
Laredo police have identified a second suspect accused of stealing Craftsman tools from a store at the Mall Del Norte.

READ MORE: Laredo authorities discover, rescue 37 immigrants from stash house nearby local middle school

Authorities identified him as George Aguilar, 38. He has an active arrest warrant for theft out of the police department. Aguilar is about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs about 201 pounds.

Police first arrested his alleged accomplice, Daniel Herrera, 36, on the same charge on Feb. 12.

The theft was reported at about 12:59 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Sears on 5300 San Dario Ave. Loss prevention personnel stated that two men grabbed a Craftsman wrench tool set and an impact wrench and placed them under their clothing before exiting the store.

Investigators said they identified Aguilar and Herrera as the suspects via surveillance video.

READ MORE: Customs and Border agent kills wife and two sons before taking his own life

To report the whereabouts of Aguilar, call Laredo Crime Stoppers at 727-TIPS (8477). Callers will remain anonymous. Information leading to an arrest may be rewarded with up to $1,000.
President Donald Trump View Photo

President Trump visited Bakersfield, CA to discuss Californias water accessibility.

Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Hello to Bakersfield. Ive heard a lot about Bakersfield.

Im thrilled to be here today as we take historic action on behalf of our incredible farmers and ranchers, growers, and communities throughout the Central Valley  (applause)  and all across the great state of California. What theyre doing to your state is a disgrace. (Applause.)

After decades of failure and delays in ensuring critical water access for the people of this state, we are determined to finally get your problem solved. The state is not doing anything to help, but hopefully they will eventually come along.

Now that theyre rationing water for people, theyre saying youre going to get, very shortly  I heard the governor saying you get 50 gallons. Fifty gallons sounds okay. People tell me its like nothing. By the time you do with your showers, and your hands, and your tissues, and everything, 50 gallons is very, very little. Can you imagine a state being rationed, when you have millions and millions and millions of gallons being poured out into the Pacific Ocean that you could have? And youd have more water than knew what to do with. Its crazy. (Applause.) Crazy. Crazy.

So were honored to be joined by a warrior  a real warrior named Devin Nunes. (Applause.) And, Elizabeth, thank you, because you have to put up with it, Elizabeth  wherever you may be. But Mrs. Nunes is here, and shes a fantastic woman. And  but Devin has been, from day one, from the day I met him.

And, you know, this all started because I was driving up  what was the highway, Devin, that we were driving by?

REPRESENTATIVE NUNES: Ninety-nine.

THE PRESIDENT: Ninety-nine. Does everyone know 99? (Applause.)

And I kept saying, Devin, why are these fields all brown and they look like desert? They look like they were starved. Its too bad you have a drought. And then Id see little patches of the most beautiful land Ive ever seen. And then Id go to the next and Id see acres and acres of brown, really dry, horrible-looking stuff. And then Id see a patch of the most beautiful farmland Ive ever seen. I said, Whats going on? Its too bad you have a drought. He said, No, we dont have a drought. They wont allow us to have water in the state of California. Thats how this all started.

Believe it or not, thats how I really got to know Devin Nunes. Then he became a hero because he found out what was going on in government  (applause)  and he found out about the hoax and the witch hunt, and all of the horrible things that have gone on.

But we got over the fact that I said, Boy, thats a beautiful area, but why is everything else barren? And its because of water. You send millions and millions of gallons out. And we have now given full permission that you dont do that anymore. We have given  and the hard  the hard permits were, by the way, the federal permits. The state could do this with a flick of the governors hand. And we hope that hes going to do it because it makes so much sense.

But I want to thank Devin for being an incredible warrior. And, likewise, Kevin McCarthy  (applause)  who I think we can say  I mean, we have to work hard. We can pick up seven seats in the state of California. (Applause.) Seven seats.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Get rid of Pelosi!

THE PRESIDENT: And I want to thank 

(Laughs.) He said, Get rid of Pelosi. Thats okay with me. (Applause.) A lot of people agree. Look whats happened to San Francisco. So sad whats happened. When you see a slum  where its a slum. Its worse than a slum. Theres no slum like that. What theyve done to San Francisco is a crying shame. And its something that were going to do something about, because if they dont fix up, clean it up, take care of the homeless, do what they have to do, but clean up their city, the federal government is going to have step in. Were going to do it in Los Angeles and San Francisco. (Applause.)

And I want to thank Judy because she has to put up with these long hours that he works. Where is Judy?

LEADER MCCARTHY: Shes right over here. (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Judy. Thank you, Elizabeth. Thank you both. What you have to put up with. Long hours. But, you know, the people appreciate it. They really appreciate it. Because theres nobody doing a better job than these guys. And, really, the two of you. (Applause.)

You also have somebody here whos another warrior. Hes a warrior in the waiting. Hes been successful all his life, and hes running for the 21st congressional district: David Valadao. (Applause.) He is an incredible  he is an incredible guy. And I think  Im hearing youre doing great. But always pretend youre about one point down. (Laughter.) Right? But youre not going to have to worry about it. Hes going to be fantastic. We really need him badly in Washington. (Applause.) So, hopefully, youll be sending him there. Thank you, David. Good luck, David.

And where is Markwayne? Markwayne Mullin. Come on up, Mark. Come on up.

PARTICIPANT: Thats Jim. Jim.

THE PRESIDENT: And his son, Jim, whos a great wrestler, whos a great athlete. Markwayne, thank you very much. (Appause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Build that wall!

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, the wall is being built. You know, were up to 122 miles. (Applause.) A hundred and twenty-two miles. And youd think that money  that was not easy. But we got the money, and were building it. And we won a lot of cases in court. We were sued all the way along the line. And were up to 122 miles. In a very short time, well be over 500 miles. Its already had a tremendous impact. So, the wall is moving along. (Applause.)

But I want to thank you and Jim. Thank you very much. Stay up here, okay? Because Im going to be signing a very important legislation  a piece of legislation that is going to give you a lot of water and a lot of dam and a lot of everything. (Applause.) And youll be able to farm your land and youll be able to do things that you never thought possible.

And it is true though, I think, Devin, you can say: I really  look, Ill never forget. Its so bad. I said, Gee, its so bad. I never knew the drought was so bad. He looked at me like, What are you talking about? Theres no drought. We have so much water we dont know what to do with it. And this would take care of Los Angeles. It would take care of everything. Youd have more water than you knew what to do. You wouldnt have to be rationing water. And its just absolutely insane. So, hopefully, the governor will get his act together and youll get this done. (Applause.)

I also want to thank  we have many, many state and local officials with us, including our  a lot of the law enforcement, the firemen  finer men and women. And we appreciate it all very much. Thank you. (Applause.)

A man who is  been great is David Bernhardt. And hes working with you. But I have to say that Ive been watching another warrior, Tom McClintock. (Applause.) And he  Id call Devin, Id see him on television. Theres nobody that represented us during the impeachment hoax  theres nobody that represented us better. I said, That guy could represent me any day. He was tough and strong. That face was good-looking, I have to say. (Laughter.) In the Me Too generation, we dont talk about looks anymore. But hes a good-looking guy. (Laughter.)

Wheres Tom? Tom McClintock, come here. (Applause.) He was fantastic. But we do. We have some great fighters.

And with us today is Secretary David Bernhardt, a very important man in terms of what were talking about. (Applause.) And Davids leadership has been incredible on this subject. You know, were talking about something that will change this whole area. Actually change  if you think about it, Kevin, its going to change the whole state, if we can do this. (Applause.)

And its an easy word, but its a very complicated word, when you think of it. Its called water. We need water in this state, and you have so much water you dont know what to do with it. And this is the man thats going to help us.

So, David Bernhardt, Secretary of the Interior, please say a few words. (Applause.) David.

SECRETARY BERNHARDT: Good afternoon. It should be obvious to everyone in government and to the American people that when President Trump gives clear direction, he expects us to hit our target. And in the fall of 2018, the President directed the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to address the challenges facing the folks in the Valley and throughout the West relating to water operations.

And to do that, we assembled a wonderful team, including Commissioner Brenda Burman, the first female commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation; Aurelia Skipwith, the first African American female director of the Fish and Wildlife Service; and led by Paul Souza, a career SES executive. We have come up with a plan, changing our operations, to use real-time monitoring, better technology, and provide more efficient utilization of water so it wont be wasted.

And that is just the beginning. (Applause.) And its because of this congressional delegation, bringing this to the attention of the President, and the President saying, Lets get it done. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Come on up, David. Come on up. Youre going to be a congressman soon, so lets get him up here. Come on, David. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

So as a candidate for President, I promised to help solve the water crisis that was crippling our farmers due to the chronic mismanagement and misguided policies. And thats what it is: misguided policies and management.

For too long, authorities have needlessly flushed millions and millions of gallons of fresh, beautiful clean water from up north, straight into the Pacific Ocean. Its nothing for the Pacific Ocean. You know what it means? Like nothing. Were talking about the Pacific. (Laughter.) I think they think were helping the Pacific. Its like a drop. Its like a drop. But it can help us to a level that nobody can believe. On the basis of old science, obsolete studies, and overbearing regulations that had not been updated in many, many years, and sometimes for decades.

The resulting miscalculation and misallocation of water helped turn natural droughts into manmade catastrophes. I mean, its really a catastrophe, when you think. You have farmers that own land that are paying taxes on the land that arent allowed to farm your land. Theyre actually taking away your land, if you think about it. (Applause.) And thats the state  because, the federal government, weve done our part. That was supposed to be the hard part. We get it done fast. Commerce worked fantastically with you, David. I know that. Right? We got it done fast.

AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.)

To confront this problem, in 2018 I ordered the administration to update the outdated scientific research and biological opinions that helped to determine water allocation right here in the state of California. In other words, how much water is available for agricultural producers, communities, for all of the people that live in your great state.

Well, a lot of people speak badly of your state. I love your state. I understand your state. You have the potential like no place else, but you need the right government. You need the right governor. (Applause.) You need the right governor. (Inaudible) so much.

You know, I was explaining on the way in: cars. You could build a car for $3,500 less. It would take a tiny bit more  just a glass of fuel more. But that would take many cars off the road because people would be able to buy many cars that are obsolete that are what they call gas guzzlers. The new car would be safer because it would not be made out of papier-mache, because it would be allowed to be a little bit heavier. It would be a little stronger. It would be safer. It would cost you $3,500 less. And because of your rules and regulations in California, it will end up in a court case with your governor. Its so crazy. Were already in a court case over a train. Over a train.

AUDIENCE: Booo 

THE PRESIDENT: Billions and billions and billions of dollars. It was originally supposed to go from San Francisco to LA. That didnt work out, so now they did this in order to get the cost down. It keeps getting  pretty soon, itll be like a mile long. (Laughter.) Okay? Its very sad when you see some of the things.

But think about the car situation. In other words, youll get a less expensive car by $3,500 on average that will be safer, that will look better, and that will work better. And youll get a lot of gas guzzlers off the wor-  of the market because people are going to be able to afford, and theyre going to want this car because its a better car. And were going to have to fight it out in court, but well win. We always win. (Applause.)

Today, Im pleased to announce that this update is complete. 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. I mean, the federal government is very tough to deal with. We get it done very quickly. And at the request of Devin and Kevin and  this works out well: Devin and Kevin. (Laughter.) But theyre very similar people. Theyre tough.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

But we got it done, and we got it done fast. And you also worked with some of the other congressmen and women. We had a lot of our  a lot of help from a lot of the women that worked with us. And Ill tell you, were very proud of the job we did. Now we can do it very quickly if we can get the state to move. And you can take away the water allocation for people to 50 gallon going down to 42, 43 gallon. Throw it out the window; you dont have to worry about it anymore. What a difference that would be. Right? (Applause.)

Going forward, well use the latest science and most advanced technology to monitor and adjust water distribution in real time, ensuring that the environment remains protected while directing as much water as possible, which will be a magnificent amount  a massive amount of water  for the use of California farmers and ranchers and all of these communities that are suffering from a lack of water. You cant water your grass; we dont have the water. And yet, you look and you see the millions and millions of gallons being just wasted and poured into the great ocean.

We want to make sure that you get the water that you really are paying for by being citizens and paying taxes and all of the things that you do. You deserve water, and you have the water. (Applause.) There are communities that dont have water. You have the water. This is an easy one.

Here with us today is Jenny Holtermann, a fourth-generation almond farmer from right here in Kern County. Jenny, please come up and say a few words. Jenny? (Applause.) Where is Jenny? Come on up, Jenny.

MS. HOLTERMANN: Thank you, President Trump. Im proud to be a fourth-generation California farmer married to a fellow fourth-generation California farmer. I was raised by strong parents who showed me the farming lifestyle, taught me the importance of conserving our resources and the necessity of water to grow our food.

Today, it is not uncommon to find three generations on our family farm daily. However, because of the uncertainty of water deliveries, Im worried that we may not have a family farm to pass down to my children, or my niece or nephew.

As an almond farmer, we cant just fallow acres in years with less water. Orchards require consistent irrigation, and without a reliable water supply, hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland could be taken out of production of Californias Central Valley. Families like mine could be forced to abandon orchards or sell a family farm.

We are an industry of families, and we do not farm the same way that generations before us did. Using new science and technology, almond farmers today use 33 percent less water than they did 20 years ago. Our water infrastructure should be handled the same way: using updated science and new infrastructure to keep water flowing to families and family farms across our state.

I want to thank our President for cutting regulations and supporting the American farmer. (Applause.) President Trump is fighting for farmers with our best interest in mind, and he was working to bring water back to the Central Valley. Thank you. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you, Jenny. And, you know, Jenny reminded me of something. So, as you know, for businesses, small businesses, and farms and some small farms  most all small firms  we got rid of the estate tax or the death tax, as they call it. (Applause.) So 

So, now, all signed, all done. Part of our tax cuts. So, now, if you love your children  and there are some people that dont. (Laughter.) And if you dont love your children, this doesnt matter so much. Dont listen. But if you love your children, its nice that they dont have to mortgage the farm, is the expression. You know the words mortgage (Applause.) Theyre going to mortgage the farm and then theyre going to lose the farm.

So if you love your children, you have no estate tax to pay, you have no death tax to pay. So you can look down at your children and say theyre doing a nice job or theyre doing a lousy job, but at least they wont be having to go out to the banks and mortgage the farm  a very well-known term  because it never worked out too well. So you have no more estate tax to pay on your farm when you leave it to your children. (Applause.) I think thats a big point.

It doesnt pertain to water, but probably it does, right? Because the farm is going to be a lot more valuable if we can pull this off. A lot more valuable. And if we do, its because of the people right here.

Also joining us is Matt Fisher, a local citrus farmer. Matt, please come up. Matt. (Applause.) Thank you, Matt.

MR. FISHER: Thank you, Mr. President. I vividly recall the day that you were elected. That day gave my family and I such a tremendous feeling of hope and optimism about our future in agriculture.

Farming here in the state of California isnt the easiest, and every day since youve been in office, youve done exactly what you promised. (Applause.) You came to California and sought to understand our water issues. You listened to the right people, put a plan in place, selected the right people, assigned a deadline, and got it done. (Applause.)

These biological opinions and the balance that they will bring to the water that falls on this state will bring certainty not only to my family and our employees, but several other families that farm here in the state of California. They are based on sound science and will help the Bureau of Reclamation maximize water to not only family farms, but rural communities and the environment.

Your leadership on updating these biological opinions will bring significant relief to my family and will save literally thousands upon thousands of acres of citrus from being left to die.

So thank you again, sir, for keeping your word and following through to help us here in the San Joaquin Valley. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Matt. And you have to know that this meeting, Kevin was just saying, was set up long before  Devin and Kevin set it up long before we heard that Mini Mike hates the farmer. Long before we learned about his hatred of the farmer, disrespect of the farmer.

So I dont know  I dont think hes going to be the candidate anyway, to be honest with you. Well have to start working on Crazy Bernie pretty soon. (Applause.)

But it was set up a long time before that. We just found this out about two days ago.

On top of regulatory failures, California has not built any major water storage infrastructure since 1979, even as the states population has increased by nearly 70 percent. Think of that. In the past decade, the cost of water increased by 127 percent in San Francisco alone and over 70 percent in Los Angeles. And you cant even get it. Hundreds of thousands of acres of once-beautiful green farmland became bone dry.

In our reforms  and what weve done is, in place of  one year ago, actually, we estimated that our farmers would have received enough water to support up to 850,000 additional acres of crops. Think of that. Thats a lot of acres. And over 130,000 minimum  over 130,000 jobs.

With todays actions, we will help bring farmland back to life. All of the land that I talked about before will be green and beautiful. (Applause.)

You know, they say that  they say that this part of the world has among the best land in the world to farm. Right? (Applause.) Ive heard it from a lot of people. And its a massive amount we dont talk  its a massive amount of money, but its got  and you see that in those little patches. You say, Wow. But it needs water.

Larry Starrh is another farmer who will benefit by todays actions. Larry, please come up and share with us your story. Please, Larry. Thank you. (Applause.)

MR. STARRH: Oh, wow. Thank you. What a great honor this is to have you in our home, Mr. President. (Applause.)

So, water for us is everything. Water is the beginning, its the middle, and the end. Without it  without water, we have nothing. Its just the end.

I farm with my brother Fred and my brother-in-law Jay Kroeker, and, until recently, my father, Fred Starrh, senior.

My sons, nephews, nieces are involved as well. And, like everyone, water is the most critical part of our existence. It is, in fact, our lifeblood. And like blood, how it is treated, maintained, and pumped is the single most important factor in our existence.

Our farm has been forced to idle thousands of producing acres due to the uncertainty of our lifeblood, reduced water allocations year after year due to environmental takings, old science, questionable management, and increased regulations.

We pay for water we dont get. Still, we see more water taking out of the system. We see more ground being idled.

I can tell you that the  what the end looks like, and come out to my ranch and Ill show you what it looks like. We have considered selling the farm  prior to the last presidential election, in fact. Even my dad, who lived and breathed our farm, seriously contemplated selling out.

We thought, at the time, if President Trumps opponent had won, we would sell for sure. However, that did not happen. (Applause.) And you  and you were elected, Mr. President. And after that, if we even mentioned selling, my dad would go ballistic. He would say, Not now. He said, President Trump is going to get things done. He said, Hes our hope. (Applause.) Yeah.

And its a fact, Mr. President. You have got things done, and you have indeed revived our hope.

I heard you saying to Larry, four years ago, the California water situation is ridiculous. And you said, There will be water. There will be plenty of it. We can turn it around. I have that on my phone still. (Laughter.) That is a promise made and a promise kept. (Applause.)

I know that we have had water warriors fighting for us for a long time, working hard for us, fighting for these new regulations that are based on best science, using real-time conditions in the Delta, maximizing Delta water exports, while protecting threatened or endangered species in the Delta and protecting the environment. That is a win-win. Right?

Congressman McCarthy, I just want to thank you for your leadership and your friendship. And, Congressman Nunes, same thing. And I know David was involved earlier, and Congressman McClintock. We just  you know, these people were working on this before. And they were working and  you know, I want to mention also Ernie  Ernest Conant and Paul Souza, who were intricately involved with making these changes. (Applause.)

But they have been working on these issues for a long time and they were looking for traction. They were looking for some kind of change. And I can tell you, traction was found in 2016 when President Donald Trump was elected. (Applause.)

People have said to me, No, no, hes not why. Its timing. Its dumb luck. Its blah, blah, blah, blah.

AUDIENCE: Booo 

MR. STARRH: Yeah. Well, Im no expert, and I know a certain Democratic presidential candidate who says farmers need more gray matter. You know that. Yeah.

AUDIENCE: Booo 

MR. STARRH: But this aint rocket science. The reason were seeing these new rules implemented are because of President Donald Trump. (Applause.) And I want to publicly thank you, sir, and ask you to please keep fighting for us. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Larry. He could be running for politics one of these days. Right? Ill tell you, he could do  he could do a job. All of you, thank you very much. That was fantastic.

But its so easy. Its common sense. You know, Larry just said its common sense. And it is common sense. And all we need is a governor and  we can be nice to them. We can be rough with them. We can do whatever we have to do. Id love to be nice to them. Its all common sense. Remember I said, forest management. You dont need all these forest fires. Its management. I said, forest management. (Applause.)

Its the same thing here. This is even easier. This is even easier. Just have the valve go in a little different direction. Okay? (Laughter.) This one is easy. I cant imagine why they wouldnt do it. Someday youll explain to me politically why thats good that youre rationing water when you have so much water.

And it is  its different if you had a drought. You dont have a drought. You have tremendous amounts of water. So maybe we can get the governor to come along and really be friendly on this one, and get it done.

Huge numbers too. Forgetting about human lives, forgetting about businesses, this is tremendous amounts of money coming to the state, coming to the farmers. Your farmers would be doing much more business. Youd be  somebody said it would be the longest farm area anywhere in the world, if we allowed you to have the water to irrigate and to give you a little  you need the water. You need water. Its real. Its really simple. (Applause.)

And you have the water. You just need a signature. Youre going to have one today. (Applause.) And that was the tough one. Right, Tom? That was the tough one. The tough one was this one. The tough one to get was the federal government, but you got that. And you really had it a couple of months ago, but you have it today officially.

So, from the beginning, the Trump administration has delivered for our great farmers. We love our farmers. Under the previous administration, net farm income plummeted by 20 percent. And under my administration, net farm income has increased by over 50 percent. (Applause.)

And weve secured the historic trade deals, including the new trade deal with China. Theyre going to buy $50 billion worth of your product. I dont know if youre going to be able to make it. The most they ever bought  remember?  the most they ever bought was $16 billion. Now theyre going buy $50 billion. You know, they agreed to 20.

And on closing  I was saying hello, and I said, Where are you with the farmers? Sir, were at $20 billion. Thats more they ever bought. The most was $16 billion, two years ago. So I got them up to 20. I said, Make it 50. (Laughter.) They said, What? I said, Make it 50. You got 1.5 billion people. Fifty  its peanuts. Make it $50 billion. Would you do me a favor? Make it $50 billion. They agreed to do it. It wasnt that easy, but they agreed to do it. (Applause.)

See that beautiful tractor over there and the beautiful tractor? I said, You got to get bigger tractors. Thats all. (Laughter.) They look like nice, big tractors. Thats a big tractor right back there. You got to get bigger tractors. You got to buy a little more land.

So, Larry, instead of selling your land, buy  buy some more. Okay? You know, buy a little more land. (Applause.)

But, no, theyre going to increase it. So, think of it: If they go to 40 to 50 billion dollars, youre talking about a whole different industry.

Plus, I got Japan for $40 billion. You saw that. We signed that deal four months ago. (Applause.)

South Korea now is a big buyer. We signed that deal. (Applause.)

And the big one is the USMCA; thats Mexico and Canada. (Applause.) And now youre going to be treated with respect. You were treated pretty badly. You had tremendous tariffs going in  as example, on dairy products, you had a 287 percent tariff going into Canada, but we took care of it.

We virtually eliminated all of the taxes and all of the problems that the farmers were having. And Im very proud to do it. Very special people.

And when I was negotiating the farm deal  I told this to Kevin  you know, some people complain. Not the farmer. They were going up  the fake-news CNN  (laughter)  was putting microphones in your face and saying, Isnt this terrible? Because China  you know, theyre great negotiators  they pulled way back. And the farmers  I tell you, I didnt hear a negative  they said, Look, its very tough, but somebody had to do this. This has been going on for 17, 18 years. Really, much longer than that. But its been going on at least for 18 years. The farmer has been hurt. Somebody had to do it. The President is fighting for us.

And were going through a rough patch. But what I did is I solved the rutch [sic]  roof  you know, the patch by getting  we got you $16 billion and we got you $12 billion from the year before. We took it out of the tariffs that we imposed. People dont say it. They never like to say it, the fake news. But you were hurt the first year by $12 billion. Where we were taking in tens of billions of dollars in tariff, we didnt get 10 cents forever from China. Now theyre paying us 25 percent on $250 billion, and then more after that.

So what I did is I took out the $12 billion; we gave it to the farmer. Then I took out  the next year, I said to Sonny Perdue  great Secretary of Agriculture  I said, Sonny, how much this year? Sixteen. I said, Sixteen billion? They stopped buying. I gave you $16 billion out of the tariffs. We had billions and billions left over.

And China came and they signed a wonderful agreement. So were very happy about it. (Applause.)

But the farmers  and the farmers didnt even want this money. The farmers said to me  we had 36 farmers in the White House and they said very simply, We dont want this money. We just want a level playing field. I got you better than a level playing field, okay? Better. (Applause.)

And one of the biggest things I did  and I said, Im going to get killed on this one. We terminated the Waters of the United States Rule, which is  (applause)  basically, they were taking your property away from you. And think of that. They called it the Clean Waters of the United States. I said, How do you sign that? How do you do that? But other than the title, it was a disaster for builders and farmers and everybody.

And I remember when I signed it, I had a lot of people  a lot of farmers and construction workers and a lot of people behind me. And these are people that didnt cry when they were babies. They would  never cried in their life, and they were crying. A lot of them were crying because I gave them their land back. I gave them their rights back. They took away their rights. If you had a puddle in the middle of your farm, they said it was a lake, it was a river, it was a  I mean, they virtually said it was an ocean, right? You had no right; you couldnt get anywhere hear it. It was crazy. So we gave it back.

Federal bureaucrats will no longer micromanage every ditch, stock tank puddle, and pond on your land. From now on, its your land. Its not their land. Youre going to do what you want with it. (Applause.) Terrible. It was a terrible  other than the title, it was a terrible thing.

Since I took office, the Department of Agriculture committed investing over $6.1 billion to rebuild. Think of that  $6.1 billion to rebuild and improve the rural water infrastructure.

And last month, I took a decisive action to slash regulatory approval times for critical infrastructure, including water projects. We have many water projects going on right now that would have never happened under the previous administration, or if Crooked Hillary won, which fortunately she didnt. (Applause.)

Our proposal will limit the process to two years. Already, my administration is making every effort to finish the review process for the Friant Kern Canal in less than one year. (Applause.) Less than one year. Were going to have it done in less than a year. Right, David?

And just to finish up: America is a nation built by farmers who work hard to provide their families, support their neighbors, and draw out Gods abundance from the Earth.

You pour out your sweat and soul. You pour out your heart. You really do. Youre incredible people. You work so hard and youre smart as hell  (applause)  because to make it in your business, you have to be smart. Your communities, your country, we appreciate it so much.

And thats why Im here today and why I will always keep fighting for the American farmer and rancher. The people in this room are going to fight for you and were going to win. And were going to get you your water and put a lot of pressure on your governor. And, frankly, if he doesnt do it, youre going to get a new governor, because who could conceivably  (applause)  who could conceivably think of somebody that wouldnt 

So I just leave by saying, God bless the American farmer. God bless America. Thank you. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

(The presidential memorandum is signed.)

This is a big step. Where is Jim? Wheres Jim? Thats yours, Jim. (Applause.) Thank you, fellas.

Thank you, everybody.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend:

There are currently no cases of coronavirus infection in Azerbaijan, WHO Country Office in Azerbaijan said in the statement, Trend reports on Feb. 24.

The statement recommends not believing dubious information related to coronavirus and distributed on social networks, and to trust only official structures in Azerbaijan and the WHO official pages on social networks.

"Spreading unfounded news is more dangerous than the coronavirus itself (COVID-19). The WHO is constantly in contact with relevant entities. The country has a set of diagnostic tools for detecting coronavirus infection, and diagnosis of the people suspected of being infected will be carried out using these tools," said the statement.

The WHO stated that as a precaution, it is necessary to avoid people with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and often wash hands, especially after contacts with patients and their belongings.

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 2,360 people have died and over 79,000 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 South Korea, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran, Thailand, the US, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam, the UAE, the UK, France, Macau, Canada, Philippines, India, Russia, Spain, Lebanon, Nepal, Cambodia, Israel, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Egypt and Sri Lanka.
Oil prices tumbled nearly 3% towards a one-week low on Monday as the rapid spread of the coronavirus in several countries outside China left investors fretting about a hit to demand.

Global shares also extended losses as concerns about the impact of the new virus grew, with the number of infections jumping in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Brent crude fell by $1.69 or 2.9% to $56.81 a barrel by 0158 GMT. U.S. crude futures fell by $1.40 or 2.6% to $51.98.

"It's pretty clear in the middle of last week that the consensus overall was that it would be a temporary economic impact and that would be at least offset by the actions of central banks," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney.

"But as we've seen European and U.S. markets react on Friday night and then further news over the weekend about the global spread of the virus, investors now are questioning the assumption about economic growth and that of course is weighing on oil markets."

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

South Korea's government put the country on high alert after the number of infections surged to over 700 with seven deaths, while in Italy, officials said a third person infected with the flu-like virus had died, as the number of cases jumped to above 150 from just three before Friday.

Iran said it had confirmed 43 cases and eight deaths, with most of the infections in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan imposed travel and immigration restrictions on the Islamic Republic.

"We should not underestimate the economic disruption as a super spreader could trigger a massive drop in business activity around the globe of proportions the world has never dealt with before," said Stephen Innes, chief market strategist at AxiCorp in a note on Monday.

Oil prices received some support after local health commissions in China said on Monday that four Chinese provinces -- Yunnan, Guangdong, Shanxi and Guizhou -- have lowered their coronavirus emergency response measures.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday the world's largest energy consumer will adjust policy to help cushion the blow to the economy from the coronavirus outbreak.

In the United States, the oil rig count, an indicator of future production, rose for a third straight week. Drillers added one oil rig last week, bringing the total count to 679, the highest since the week of Dec. 20, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said.
[Bragard] is a global brand that immediately commands respect and we're excited to see what we can achieve together. -- Neil Gross, CEO of Chef Works USA

Chef Works, the global leader in culinary and hospitality apparel, announces the acquisition of Bragard Group SAS from Fristads Kansas Group in Sweden.

Over the last 80 years, Bragard established itself as a highly-respected culinary brand. Its heritage and textile innovations have set it apart  particularly throughout Europe. The companys longstanding associations with Michelin and Bocuse dOr continue to reinforce its prestige.

Chef Works, which operates in more than 90 countries, revolutionized the culinary and hospitality apparel industries with fashion-forward chef coats, aprons, shirts, pants and hats that range from street-inspired to traditional.

We have tremendous appreciation for Bragard and the contributions it has made to the culinary apparel space for more than 80 years, said Neil Gross, CEO of Chef Works USA. It is a global brand that immediately commands respect and were excited to see what we can achieve working together.

Over the coming months, Chef Works will work closely with the Bragard team to assess respective global strategies and footprint.

We have long respected Bragard for its originality, French identity and committed employees, said Paul Gross, managing director of Chef Works International. The brand is recognized around the world as a leader in the hospitality sector -- particularly in the restaurant business. By investing in the Bragard holding company, we are supporting long-term development to provide quality products and services to all customers around the world.

Added Guy Boeuf, CEO-President of Bragard: It is a unique opportunity for our group to receive support from a family-owned company like Chef Works in the same sector. They have decided to reinforce Bragard, a traditional brand with unique market share and independence.

Terms of the acquisition will not be disclosed.

ABOUT CHEF WORKS

Chef Works is the global leader in culinary and hospitality apparel with unrivaled distribution in more than 90 countries. With an emphasis on fashion and function, Chef Works dresses a diverse range of customers for the culinary and hospitality industries including: International hotel chains, award-winning restaurants and bars, culinary schools, food service companies, laundries, assisted living facilities and upscale cinemas. The family-owned-and-operated business has helped pave the way for the current culinary uniform movement by working directly with celebrity chefs, industry leaders and hospitality influencers to develop innovative, fashion-forward garments. For more information, visit http://www.chefworks.com

ABOUT BRAGARD

For more than 80 years Bragard, has married timeless French elegance with quality fabrics to perpetuate the brands values. Honoring the traditional, Bragard is proud to work with the most successful culinary institutions around the world. http://www.bragard.com
Late last year, the Doug Ford Conservatives, with support from the Liberal and Green parties, quietly made a series of changes to the rules of procedure that must be followed in the chamber of the Ontario Legislature. Tucked in amongst the changes is a mandate to sing the British national anthem God Save the Queen on the first Monday of each month that the government is sitting.

On Monday, the 124 elected members of the Parliament of Ontario will be called to join in the singing of God Save the Queen, and we, the three Indigenous members of Ontarios Official Opposition NDP, with the support of the NDP leader and caucus, will decline to participate.

Instead, on the first Monday of each month we will wait until the singing of God Save the Queen is completed before entering the chamber and undertaking our duties as members of the Legislative Assembly.

For each of us, the decision to abstain stems from a deep personal discomfort with the song and the values of the colonial era it represents. First popularized in England and Scotland during the 1740s, God Save the Queen is an archaic tribute to the British colonial period and the centuries of violence, oppression and discrimination the British Empire carried out against the nations and peoples it considered inferior  Indigenous peoples in Canada a glaring example among them.

While colonialism and racism remain embedded in the structures and institutions of our province and country, the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada calls for improved relations between the federal and provincial governments of Canada and Indigenous Nations.

The report highlights the need for public education on the injustices done to Indigenous peoples throughout Canadas history. We see the revival of God Save the Queen in the provincial legislature as a regressive shift from the aims of reconciliation to a past that not only condoned, but glorified, the brutality of colonialism and the erasure of Indigenous cultures, languages and bodies.

It is worth noting, that in imposing the singing of God Save the Queen, the Ford government is not resurrecting a time-worn tradition or venerated practice at Queens Park. In fact, according to research done by the legislative library, there is no historical evidence that singing the British royal anthem was ever formally mandated in the Houses proceedings (though it may have been sung in a spontaneous or informal manner).

Doug Fords decision to adopt the practice into the Houses formal proceedings is unprecedented. The question must be asked: Why introduce it now?

If we are to move closer to dismantling colonialism in Ontario and embracing reconciliation, Indigenous people in Ontario need to see themselves reflected in public spaces, including in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. We need to see ourselves reflected in the rituals of parliament, particularly as this is a body meant to represent all peoples in Ontario. Symbols matter, and for the government of Ontario to impose a colonial ritual like the singing of God Save the Queen indicates a turn away from recognition of the injustices done to Indigenous peoples in Ontario.

Ontarians are increasingly aware of the historical injustices caused by colonialism and the urgent need for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. There is growing awareness that the legacy of colonialism continues today, with Indigenous communities across the province denied the most basic human rights, like access to clean drinking water.

Our decision not to participate in the singing of God Save the Queen is a challenge to the Ford governments decision to take Ontario backward. How can we move forward on reconciliation in Ontario if our government is calling on MPPs to glorify an era infamous for its brutal treatment of Indigenous peoples?

By introducing God Save the Queen, the Ford government is sending a message that it is not serious about achieving reconciliation. We can only assume, then, that when this government makes statements about reconciliation it is merely paying lip service to an idea it never truly believed in.

Guy Bourgouin is the NDP MPP for Mushkegowuk-James Bay; Sol Mamakwa is the NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong; and Suze Morrison is the NDP MPP for Toronto Centre.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are house hunting in Malibu, CA! In addition to renting a gorgeous mansion on Vancouver Island, the couple are eyeing a Malibu rental called Petra Manor, according to the New York Post.

The gorgeous property, once owned by David Charvet of "Baywatch" and his ex-wife and reality TV star, Brooke Burke, is valued at anywhere from $7 million to $20 million. It can be rented out on Stay Awhile Villas for nearly $16,000 a night, although Charvet could be giving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a reduced rate in order to get them in the doorand enhance the property's celebrity status for future buyers.

This eight-bedroom, 10-bath mansionwith numerous outbuildings, pool, massive wine cellar, dance studio, and home theaterbrings Meghan back to her California roots, since the former "Suits" star was born and raised in Los Angeles. There's also plenty of space for visitors such as Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland.

The enormous home is known as Petra Manor. Stay Awhile Villas

Last but not least, the compound is also close to the beachanother excellent perkand in turnkey condition, so Harry and Meghan won't have to take on another massive renovation like with their U.K. digs, Frogmore Cottage.

A two-story tower adds drama to the villa's entrance. Stay Awhile Villas

Why Harry and Meghan are home shopping in Malibu

So, why is Malibu calling the Sussexes, anyway?

"Malibu is an ideal location because it's close enough to Los Angeles, yet secluded and away from the frenetic pace of daily life and the paparazzi," explains Cara Ameer, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles.

"The primary draw here is seclusion and privacy, since it's a virtual gated fortress with round-the-clock guards," says Tyler Drew, CEO of Anubis Properties in Los Angeles.

"A lot of the existing inventory in the area won't afford them nearly as much privacy unless you start going into the $40 and $50 million range," Ameer adds. "And lots of those properties are more of the typical L.A. style, which means ultrasleek and contemporary that's better suited to a musician instead of a young couple with a growing family."

All that said, Malibu isn't completely risk-free. Think: mudslides, wildfires, and earthquakes.

"It can be scary here if you've never experienced these things before, so they should put a disaster plan in place as best they can," says Ameer.

Scary or not, the potential for natural disasters in this area doesn't seem to be deterring other A-listers from settling in the area. Petra Manor is surrounded by celebrity neighbors, including Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, and Caitlyn Jenner.

Does this home match Harry and Meghan's style?

Another reason Harry and Meghan might be eyeing this house is that the style seems to mesh with their sensibilities.

"This home exudes a lot of English charm, so I can see why Harry and Meghan are drawn to it. There's understated elegance that's refined and not flashy, which is very much how this couple is," says Ameer. (Charvet seems to have renovated and expanded the property and may have upgraded the stone exterior and courtyard spaces, giving it a lighter, brighter facade.)

A wine cellar and tasting room that's fit for a prince Stay Awhile Villas

"The style is very much transitional on the inside, which means the couple has a flexible backdrop to personalize the decor as they see fit, whether that's California coastal chic or something more eclectic that reflects their diverse backgrounds," says Ameer.

The current, simple look can pivot to both modern or traditional decor. Stay Awhile Villas

Another plus for a family? A large, private yard.

"There's yard space for Archie to run around without the neighbors peering in," adds Ameer.

Visit the cineplex downtown? Not with their own plush seats, surround sound, and fireplace Stay While Villas

Dinner for 25? Not a problem with this deluxe kitchen! Stay Awhile Villas

As to whether Harry and Meghan will make this a forever home, it could happenbut it might be on the down low.

"With Southern California real estate, so many properties sell off market and it's not unusual for something to be found that wasn't formally listed," Ameer points out. "Jeff Bezos did it, so why not Harry and Meghan?"

The post Is This Home Too 'Scary' for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Alexandra Grant seems to be taking an extended stay in San Francisco as she visits her boyfriend Keanu Reeves.

The two were seen in the City By The Bay on Thursday evening as they left the Omni Hotel.

And on Sunday the lovebirds - who went public in November as they held hands at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles - were seen again walking side by side.

Side by side: Alexandra Grant seems to be taking an extended stay in San Francisco as she visits her boyfriend Keanu Reeves. They were spotted in each other's company on Thursday then again on Sunday (pictured)

In these new images the two are wearing familiar coats.

LA-based artist Grant had on a beige and black leopard print coat over a back outfit with UGG boots.

And her love, movie icon Reeves, wore a black coat with an army green quilted lining.

He added a green shirt, black blazer, green plaid slacks and morning slippers with a black beanie for his grunge look.

They both appeared to be in a sleepy mood as they didn't smile but seemed to converse on the busy street.

Tied together: And on Sunday the lovebirds - who went public in November as they held hands at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles - were seen again walking side by side

Both had heavy bags in their hands as they were likely heading to a night shoot for Matrix 4.

Thursday was the first time the 55-year-old actor and the 46-year-old painter have been spotted together since they went public with their relationship in November while holding hands at the LACMA Gala.

The Hollywood icon led the way with a bag in hand as he walked to a car with his grey-haired lady love following behind.

They were leaving the Omni hotel with a handler by his side while fans looked on. Some of the fans that lined the sidewalk even took photos of the pair.

Ready fr a blizzard! In these new images the two are wearing familiar coats. LA-based artist Grant had on a leopard print coat over a back outfit with UGG boots. And her love, movie icon Reeves, wore a black coat with an army green quilted lining. He added a green shirt, black blazer, green plaid slacks and morning slippers with a black beanie for his grunge look

The 6ft1in star had on a long black coat over a brown shirt with black slacks and shoes. His hair was long and he wore a scruffy beard.

Grant modeled a winter coat in a leopard print over black leggings and what looked like UGG boots.

Keanu has been in the Northern California city to shoot his movie Matrix 4 which will be released in 2021.

Production on The Matrix 4 began in early January with Lana Wachowski returning as co-writing and director of this latest entry.

They sizzled: Here they are seen beaming as they went public with their romance in November

'Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now,' Wachowski said in a statement. 'I'm very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends.'

Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell co-wrote the Matrix 4 script alongside Wachowski.

Keanu is again playing Neo with Carrie-Ann Moss back as well.

The Matrix 4 will also also feature Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who's best known to audiences as Black Manta in 2018's Aquaman.

Reeves' next film is the next Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure with Alex Winter.

On set: Fan Erin Leigh Carlson shared this image of Keanu shooting Matrix 4 on a busy street

The film franchise: from left, Joe Pantoliano, Laurence Fishburne, Keanu, Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix from 1999

Meanhile, Grant was last seen in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening at Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP Glow event at a private residence in Beverly Hills.

All women were asked to go makeup-free for the party.

Grant spoke with Paltrow in front of guests and the actress raved that the artist was a great thinker.

Also present was Demi Moore with her daughter Rumer Willis, Kate Hudson and Rachel Zoe.

Ever since Reeves and Grant went public in November, there has been much speculation about when they first started dating.

She's so Hollywood now! Meanhile, Grant was last seen in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening at Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP Glow event at a private residence in Beverly Hills; also pictured is Demi Moore

New pals: All women were asked to go makeup-free for the party. Grant spoke with Paltrow in front of guests and the actress raved that the artist was a great thinker

Some publications said they had been romantic for only a few months but then earlier this month Jennifer Tilly told Page Six that they had been an item for 'years.'
A Seven-Member District Census Implementation Committee (DCIC) with the core mandate to oversee the successful conduct of Ghana 2020 Population and Housing Census (PHC) has been inaugurated in the Obuasi East District in the Ashanti Region.

The United Nations recommends that every country should endeavour to undertake a population census every ten years and as it stands Ghana has it last Population and Housing Census in 2010 implying that, this year is a mandatory year for Ghana to conduct another census, hence the inauguration of this committee.

In her inaugural speech to inaugurate the committee, the District Chief Executive for Obuasi East Hon. Faustina Amissah, posited that a Population and Housing Census is indispensable governance tool, required to ensure good governance and democracy works for all.

The DCE touched on the importance of the Census as an interactive dialogue between users and producers of official statistics.

And also as the context of the National Development Planning, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), and Agenda 2063 for sustainable development and with the need for data producers to work with all partners from the data ecosystem.

Hon. Faustina Amissah tasked members of the District census Implementation Committee (DCIC) to provide the complement of skills and competencies needed for the successful conduct of the census in Obuasi East District and attain good quality results, stating that the success of this years Census depends on the extent to which the committee diligently execute the task given them.

The District Chief Executive assured all stakeholders that, the Assembly, chiefs, people and opinion leaders have resolved to work to ensure a successful Census.

The Chairman of the Committee who doubles as the District Coordinating Director for Obuasi East, Mr. Emmanuel Ntoso on behalf of the Committee Members promised to work assiduously to attain a good quality data for the District.

We are poised to make a very positive contribution towards the successful implementation of the 2020 Population and Housing Census Exercise, he added.

The Director of Administration, Ghana Statistical Service, in his presentation disclosed that the Ghana Statistical Service has empowered under the Statistical Law 2019 (ACT 1003) to carry out the Census. He also mentioned that the introduction of technology in this years exercise which has been termed E-Census will help have results readily available on time.

The Membership of the District Census Implementation Committee comprises of the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Emmanuel Ntoso as the Chairman, Bernard Kusi the District Census Officer, as the secretary.

The rest of the members are the, District Information Officer, District Planning Officer, District Director of Education, District Director of Health and the District Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

The exercise is expected to begin on 28th June, 2020 which marks the Census Night with the slogan 2020 Population and Housing Census! You Count, Get Counted.
Former prime minister will not attend the official banquet hosted by President in honour of Donald Trump on February 25, sources said.

Singh had earlier accepted the invite but expressed his inability to attend the same on Monday.

He has conveyed his regret to the President's office for not being able to attend the banquet, sources close to Singh said.

The opposition is peeved at the Modi government's move to not allow its top leaders a meeting with the visiting US president, as has been the tradition.

leader in Lok Sabha is also skipping the President's banquet in protest over the party's top leaders not being extended an invitation.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also expressed unhappiness over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia being dropped from Melania Trump's scheduled visit to a Delhi government school on Tuesday.

The US embassy on Sunday clarified that it was because the visit was not meant to be a political one.

"While the US embassy had no objection to the presence of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, we appreciate their recognition that this is not a political event and that it is best to ensure that the focus is on education, the school, and the students," said a US Embassy spokesperson.
Police have arrested and charged the babysitter whose care two-year-old Connor Horan was in when he died in a "tragic event" in the southern Queensland town of Warwick almost two years ago.

The 40-year-old woman was arrested on Monday and charged with murder, as well as a separate grievous bodily harm offence, related to an alleged assault on Connor on the day of his death.

The family still think about Connor every day, his grandmother Deborah Ballard said. Credit:Queensland Police Service

Police said Connor had been staying at a house on East Street in Warwick that belonged to his female babysitter, who was aged 38 at the time.

It will be alleged he was taken to Warwick Hospital on August 19 with head and internal injuries by his babysitter, who said Connor fell down a small set of stairs, but he died at 11.30am that day.
US President Donald Trump on Monday tweeted in Hindi to express his excitement about his India visit moments before his arrival in Ahmedabad.

"Hum Bharat aane ke liye tatpar hain. Hum raste me hain, kuchh hi ghanton me hum sab milenge (We are excited to come to India. We are on the way, we will be meeting in some time from now)," the US President tweeted.

Earlier, Trump re-tweeted a tweet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wherein he had mentioned that India looks forward to welcoming the US President.

"India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad!" Modi had tweeted.

It is worth mentioning that the Prime Minister tweets in languages of different countries where he visits.

The US President along with First Lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner are scheduled to arrive in Ahmedabad at 11:40 am, according to MEA.

Trump, along with his family and a ministerial delegation will be in India for around 36 hours. He along with the Prime Minister will be participating in a roadshow and address a huge gathering at the Motera Stadium, besides visiting the Sabarmati Ashram.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Techspert.io, a Cambridge, UK  based provider of a deep search AI platform to source and exchange knowledge, raised 3.76M in Series A funding.

The round was led by Nauta Capital and existing investors including Cambridge Angels. In conjunction with the funding, Carles Ferrer, Nauta Capitals General Partner, will now join techspert.ios board.

The company intends to use the funds to advance technology development, accelerate its U.S. expansion supporting the New York office launch and grow in financial services and management consulting industries.

Founded in 2016 by Managing Director Graham Mills and Chief Technology Officer Hari Jackson, techspert.io is an AI-driven technology for mapping the worlds expertise and connecting businesses directly to the source of technical and market insights. Deep search technology uses reinforcement learning models to autonomously crawl online content and data, mapping expertise in real-time and matching specialists to business needs.

FinSMEs

24/02/2020
Presidential staffer Kojo Frempong is optimistic delegates of the ruling New Patriotic Party will endorse his vision for Wenchi.

He battles Professor Baffour Gyan, a 16-year long MP and three others for the seat.

The 2014 and 2015 Television Presenter of the Year in a Citi News after filing his papers last week said he will run a campaign based on ideas and a renewed vision for the municipality.

I ask myself every day the same question I ask delegates. What is the vision of Wenchi? What do we want to become as a constituency? What goals do we have? How do we want to look like in the next five, ten or fifteen years and what apparatus must we set up to deliver the vision we want? For me, this is basic. It is the most elementary question to ask. The President declared Wenchi the capital of cashew in Ghana. How do we understand that?

We have a culture of growing tomatoes and mangoes in commercial quantities. How do we think about that as a resource? What do we want for our teeming youth? What is our idea of health, sanitation, and education for Wenchi? I am aware that MPs are primarily lawmakers. I have an extension view of that. My own view is that MPs are the 'unofficial mayors' of their constituencies? You need your MP to have a certain view or vision of the constituency or the people and place will stagnate? I am big on vision and I think that should be the baseline of this campaign for even the Bible says for lack of vision, my people perish, opined Kojo Frempong.

Professor Gyan Baffour, the current Minister for Planning who is about 70 years old is seeking another four-year mandate.

Kojo Frempong said he has a plan that can restore Wenchi, the historic seat of Ghana's first Prime Minister, Professor K.A Busia, to its former heights.

I believe we can make Wenchi great againWhen I was younger, Wenchi was the town everybody talked about in the Brong Ahafo Region. It was the soul of the region aside Sunyani. In the last 20 years, however, we have seen the supersonic rise of Techiman, a small town that used to be under Kintampo which was rather the town directly administered by Wenchi. The tables have now turned. Wenchi has become the smaller town and Techiman is growing exponentially. The reason is simple. Wenchi's economic anchors like the tomato processing factory, Tomacan, State Farms, Tobacco Plantations, Animal Husbandry are all gone. A municipality of 120,000 people with no factories and organized value chain development will definitely suffer an economic downturn. This is the reason Wenchi has lost out, said Kojo Frempong.

My priority is to create the right partnerships to bring factories and the right knowhow capital into the constituency. Wenchi has so many opportunities in cashew, tomato or mango processing, commercial farming, and yam value chain development. It could also become an incubating constituency for Technology development and knowledge due to a satellite campus of the Methodist University in the constituency. I have a plan that will bring at least 1000 jobs directly traced to what I will pursue as an MP. When we bring the jobs back to Wenchi, the municipality will become the envy of all soon. This is how we will make Wenchi great again.

Adu Gyimah, a delegate at Buoku electoral area told Citi News that Mr. Frempong's campaign is unique. He does not insult or condemn anyone. He respects everyone in his delivery and is really humble. By the time he finishes speaking with you, he would have shared a vision that you know and believe can be accomplished.

This is the kind of MP that Wenchi needs. He is accessible and full of solutions. All the delegates are talking about his powerful vision and humility. They speak about his plans for delegates and how he intends to find jobs for the Youth. I speak to many delegates across the constituency and all they say is that they will definitely change Professor Gyan Baffour this year and Mr. Frempong will be the perfect replacement to bring Wenchi's glory back, Adu Gyimah said.

Wenchi is primed to be one of the hotspots of the NPP parliamentary primaries which have been slated for April 25 in 169 constituencies in Ghana.

Some other places worthy of mentioning are new Juaben South where incumbent Mark Assibey Yeboah is fending off strong contention from the Chief Executive of the Free Zones Board, Michael Okyere Baafi.

Bantama Constituency is also up for grabs as Deputy Chief of Staff Assenso Boakye is challenging first time MP, Okyem Aboahye for the seat.

NPP Parliamentary Party scheduled for April 25

The New Patriotic Party has slated April 25, 2020, to elect the remainder of its Parliamentary candidates.

It will also be holding its Presidential Primaries on the same day.

The party has already held primaries for constituencies that do not have sitting Members of Parliament.

The party pegged filing fees for its upcoming parliamentary primaries at GHS20,000 and an additional GHS2,000 for picking of forms.

The leadership of the party is also charging all aspiring parliamentary candidates other than the sitting Members of Parliament a Party Development Fee of GH30,000.

---citinewsroom
Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 3:13PM

Porsche

As a display of what it can offer for electric vehicle owners, Porsche opened its dream EV charging park in Leipzig, Germany. It offers visitors a dozen 350kW stations for rapidly charging Porsche Taycans or any compatible EVs, as well as four stations delivering 22kW of power to those who need a quick top-up. The charging park offers a total of 7MW power, which all come from renewable energy. On top of charging your cars, the park has a customer center, which includes a car museum and shop. You can also book track time at the Leipzig circuit.

Source: Engadget
Hundreds of Australian travellers have been left in the lurch after an online flight retailer went into liquidation, leaving cancelled tickets and lost money in its wake.

Fly365 Pty Ltd is now in external administration, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Melbourne couple James Price and Steven Somers had planned a once-in-a-lifetime trip around Europe, booking flights through Fly365 after Mr Somers was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

The flights, worth $11,500, were cancelled by the company but no money has been refunded.

"We were told we needed to make the most of his mobility, essentially. So we thought, 'let's go, the timing is good'," Mr Price said.
USD/MXN PRICE ANALYSIS: US DOLLAR TO MEXICAN PESO FORECAST & TECHNICAL TRADE LEVELS

USD/MXN just notched its highest reading since December 11 following a 3.5% surge in the US Dollar relative to the Mexican Peso over the last four trading sessions

Spot USD /MXN price action is probing its technical resistance posed by its 200-day simple moving average after eclipsing downtrend resistance

Mexican Peso outlook remains upbeat but is mired by US Dollar strength as coronavirus outbreak concerns mount

The Mexican Peso is plunging against the US Dollar. Spot USD/MXN price action is extending its rebound off a key technical support level dating back to mid-2018.

While the spike higher in the US Dollar may be technically charged, the jump in USD/MXN is also likely attributed to the latest influx of currency volatility and risk-aversion, which comes amid mounting fears around the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Potential for a reversal in USD/MXN was pointed out recently in a note that the Mexican Peso was pressing resistance, but after spot prices climbed 3.5% over the last few trading days, where might this top emerging markets currency pair head next?

US DOLLAR DRIVEN BY INFLUX OF CURRENCY VOLATILITY & RISK AVERSION

An abrupt return of volatility  driven by rekindled recession odds  has largely encouraged traders to flee risk assets and move into safe-haven currencies such as the US Dollar.

The US Dollar is believed to reign over the broader FX market as the ultimate haven and is in high demand during periods of elevated volatility. This is widely due to vastly superior liquidity of USD relative to other major currency pairs.

I highlighted in a US Dollar volatility report that risk-aversion permeating across the forex market, most recently attributable angst that surrounds the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the global economy, looked to serve as a positive tailwind for the US Dollar.

USD/MXN price action has potential to continue its retracement higher, in turn, so long as volatility lingers and traders remain in risk-aversion mode.

MEXICAN PESO SUPPORTED BY CORONAVIRUS DISRUPTION TO GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN

Outlook for USD/MXN is also underpinned a positive fundamental backdrop for the Mexican Peso. According to Arturo Herrera, Mexicos Finance Minister, a return of growth to Mexico in 2020 is expected, which follows a contraction in GDP last year.

However, it was also pointed out that the Mexican Peso rally enjoyed earlier this year  owed largely to the coronavirus-induced global supply chain shock underpinning bullish MXN price action  was at risk of reversing amid widespread US Dollar dominance that pushed the DXY Index to a three-year high.

USD/MXN PRICE CHART: WEEKLY TIME FRAME (OCTOBER 2016 TO FEBRUARY 2020)

Looking at a weekly USD/MXN chart brings to focus the technical support bounce off the 18.500 mark. This level of confluent support is underpinned by the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement of the January 2017 to July 2017 slide in the Mexican Peso vs the US Dollar.

Spot USD/MXN price action now faces an intimidating level of technical resistance around the 19.000-19.200 zone, which roughly aligns with the 38.2% Fib of the aforementioned trading range.

Nevertheless, spot USD/MXN currently trades comfortably above its 9-week and 34-week exponential moving averages, which may provide a bit of buoyancy to the US Dollars ongoing rebound.

USD/MXN PRICE CHART: DAILY TIME FRAME (AUGUST 2019 TO FEBRUARY 2020)

USD/MXN could perhaps extend its ricochet higher off the 18.600 price seeing that the US Dollar has breached the downward-sloping resistance trendline extended through the swing highs printed August and November last year.

Notable technical obstacles faced by USD/MXN around the 19.200 level include the 200-day simple moving average and 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the December 2019 to February 2020 bearish leg could thwart a prolonged rebound in spot prices.

That said, recent strength exhibited by the US Dollar, which comes in light of rising currency volatility and diminishing attractiveness of the currency carry trade, may ultimately strongarm spot USD/MXN price action higher with coronavirus concerns running rampant.

Overcoming technical resistance posed by the 19.200 handle might open up the door to further upside potential. The 76.4% Fib of the latest bearish leg, as well as early December 2019 highs, could serve as other possible topside objectives for USD/MXN bulls.

-- Written by Rich Dvorak, Junior Analyst for DailyFX.com

Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes the idea. It says the tax would hurt returns in Americans retirement accounts and raise the cost of capital for businesses.

The United States actually collects a tiny tax of 0.00184% on stock sales to fund operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Until 1966, the U.S. also levied a stock transfer tax of 0.04%.

Leonard Burman, a co-founder of the Tax Policy Center, did a thorough study of financial transaction taxes in 2015. He says he expected to find them counterproductive, hurting markets while raising little revenue.

Instead, he concluded that a well designed tax could raise $50 billion a year and would be progressive, meaning it would hit the rich harder than the poor. The design issues would be formidable, though.
Dunn&Co., a leading branding, advertising and production company, today announces it won 36 total ADDY awards at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Tampa Bay 2020 ADDY Awards, held in Tampa on February 20.

Of the 36 awards, 21 were awarded Gold or Best in Show in their respective categories.



Overall Best in Show award for vodka and gin packaging for Skagway Spirits

Three Best of Bay awards

o Out-of-Home category for its Strike billboard for the Tampa Bay Lightning

o Sales Promotion category for its vodka and gin packaging for Skagway Spirits

o Elements of Advertising category for its key art illustration for Skagway Spirits

Dunn&Co.s award-winning work was recognized in a variety of categories, including TV broadcast, digital/web, packaging design, outdoor, video, art direction, illustration, copywriting, video editing and cinematography. The ADDYs recognized the agencys work on behalf of eight different clientsTampa Bay Lightning, Trivago, Grow Financial, Skagway Spirits, Harleston Green scotch whisky, Nextera, Connectwise and World of Beer.

Troy Dunn, founder and president of Dunn&Co., was also recognized during the evening with the American Advertising Federations lifetime achievement award, the Silver Medal. The Silver Medal 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.

It was simply an amazing evening, filled with hugs, high-fives and a lot of gratification, said Dunn. Year after year, were being recognized for the exceptional work product that we craft on behalf of our clients, and it never gets old. When we win creative awards that are also helping grow our clients businesses, everyones coming out on top.

The AAF ADDY Awards is the nations largest advertising competition, with more than 60,000 entries annually. The ADDY Awards is the only creative awards program administered by the advertising industry for the industry. AAF Tampa Bay serves advertising professionals from the Tampa Bay community, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Citrus and Hernando Counties.

Dunn&Co.s winning pieces will move on to compete at the district level competition for a chance to be forwarded to the national stage of the American Advertising Federation Awards in Orlando, Fla. in June 2019.

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, Tampa Bay Lightning, Trivago, Baxter Healthcare, Checkers, Grow Financial, Abbvie, Smokey Bones, The Florida Aquarium, Edgewater Spirits, World of Beer, Sabal Trust, Arrmaz, AmCap and The United Way.

About AAF  Tampa Bay

The American Advertising Federation  Tampa Bay exists to support its members, the community and the advertising industry. Its mission is to promote fellowship, education and career enhancement among members of the advertising community; foster and recognize excellence in advertising; champion public service causes; build an understanding of the role and benefits of advertising at all levels; and encourage advertising self-regulation and continuous improvement to raise industry benchmarks.
A lawsuit filed last week by the fired culinary director of Angler claims the Michelin-star San Francisco restaurant stored food and beverages in an "unkempt" basement with "dust and rodent feces."

Plaintiff Jonathan De Wolf was hired by Saison Hospitality in August 2017 to help open Angler, a seafood restaurant on the Embarcadero.

The wrongful termination suit, which was filed in San Francisco County Superior Court claims that even though the basement of Angler was left unfinished  with exposed ceilings and inadequate ventilation  the restaurant used it to store food and drink items such as pickles, fermented watermelon radishes, flour, sugar and grains.

"Saison did not take the necessary steps to protect its food products from vermin and insect because the storeroom and its entrances were not sealed tightly (or at all) and the room was not cleaned on a regular basis," the lawsuit alleges.

The suit claims De Wolf alerted staff of the allegedly unhealthy conditions as well as several other issues such as unsafe conditions at a wood-fire grill. De Wolf alleges he was fired "in blatant retaliation for lodging these complaints."

Saison Hospitality released a statement to the East Bay Times denying his allegations, saying they "were made by a disgruntled former employee who was terminated due to poor job performance. SFGATE reached out to Saison Hospitality and will update the story if we hear back.

ALSO: San Francisco restaurants, cafes that earned a perfect score on their health inspections

The San Francisco Department of Public Health inspected Angler on Jan. 29, 2020, and gave the restaurant a score of 92 out of 100. "Inadequately cleaned or sanitized food contact surfaces" were considered a moderate risk.

Inspectors also visited on May 2, 2019 and gave the restaurant an 88, noting the same issue with inadequately cleaned surfaces as well as "inadequate and inaccessible hand-washing facilities."

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Wildland-urban interface

We continue to build more buildings, said Young. Some characterize this as building buildings in the wrong spot  but thats not necessarily a fair characterization. The equation is simple. As the global population grows, countries around the world are developing more homes, and building critical economic and civil infrastructure. Young added: As you build more buildings, you just get more losses in total. But over the last 20 years, theres been about a 30% increase of buildings that are potentially in harms way of what is called a wildland-urban interface.

The wildland-urban interface is an area designated as highly prone to wildfires. Its where homes and buildings are built in close proximity or intermingling with flammable wildland vegetation. Developments in the wildland-urban interface are problematic for several reasons. First and foremost, the majority of wildfires are actually human caused. The more humans living in the wildland-urban interface, the greater the risk of ignition. Furthermore, as houses and other structures are built in the wildland-urban interface, native vegetation is lost, and the natural balance is disturbed. This also impacts the severity of wildfires.

Climate change

The second major cause of escalating wildfire severity is climate change so far, Young told Insurance Business. Climate change is basically about increased variability. As the polar ice cap melts and that changes the flow of the jet stream, you tend to get different types of weather patterns than you have traditionally seen in different areas. You might get more extremes in terms of rainfall and absence of rainfall. So, you tend to see larger floods and larger wildfires as a result of that.

Scientific study has proven that human-induced climate change promotes the conditions on which wildfires depend, therefore increasing their likelihood. As global temperatures rise, this could stimulate hot and dry conditions that promote wildfire risk.

Historic suppression

How we respond to wildfire can impact the nature of the risk in the future. Young gave the example of the United States in the 1930s and 40s, when the US Forestry Service had a policy of total fire suppression, known as the 10am policy. Under this directive, all wildfires were to be brought under control by 10am the morning after ignition, regardless of their location and proximity to human life and/or assets.

What weve found over time, and research scientists have been looking at this for a while, is that wildfire is actually a very natural part of the ecosystem, Young noted. They occur on average every 25 to 30 years. If you look at burns scar records from cross sections of trees that are in the National Forest, you see that this is the average frequency.

What happens when you suppress wildfires is that you tend to change the characteristics of the forest so that they have more burnable undergrowth. That means wildfires tend to spread faster and more frequently than they would in the absence of that kind of suppression. This is something that the fire fighter community is now realizing - that perhaps there are different patterns that we should be allowing in order to let the health of the forest continue to remain, and not cause the largest of the large fires.
Naomi Seibt poses for a portrait near her home in Munster, Germany. Seibt, 19, uses YouTube to denounce climate alarmism, countering the arguments of young climate activist Greta Thunberg. Seibt uses her media platform to spread long-debunked arguments used by people who deny climate science. Photo: Sebastien Van Malleghem / The Washington Post

By Desmond Butler and Juliet Eilperin

24 February 2020

(The Washington Post)  For climate skeptics, its hard to compete with the youthful appeal of global phenomenon Greta Thunberg. But one U.S. think tank hopes its found an answer: the anti-Greta.

Naomi Seibt is a 19-year-old German who, like Greta, is blond, eloquent and European. But Naomi denounces climate alarmism, calls climate consciousness a despicably anti-human ideology, and has even deployed Gretas now famous How dare you? line to take on the mainstream German media.

Shes a fantastic voice for free markets and for climate realism, said James Taylor, director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center for Climate and Environmental Policy at the Heartland Institute, an influential libertarian think tank in suburban Chicago that has the ear of the Trump administration.

In December, Heartland headlined Naomi at its forum at the UN climate conference in Madrid, where Taylor described her as the star of the show. Last month, Heartland hired Naomi as the young face of its campaign to question the scientific consensus that human activity is causing dangerous global warming.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks during a demonstration of the Fridays for Future movement in Lausanne, Switzerland, 17 January 2020. Photo: Pierre Albouy / REUTERS

Naomi Seibt vs. Greta Thunberg: whom should we trust? asked Heartland in a digital video. Later this week, Naomi is set to make her American debut at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, a high-profile annual gathering just outside Washington of right-leaning activists.

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, Heartlands tactics amount to an acknowledgment that Greta has touched a nerve, especially among teens and young adults. Since launching her protest two years ago outside the Swedish parliament at age 15, Greta has sparked youth protests across the globe and in 2019 was named Time magazines Person of the Year, the youngest to ever win the honor. []

Graham Brookie directs the Digital Forensic Research Lab, an arm of the nonprofit Atlantic Council that works to identify and expose disinformation. While the campaign is not outright disinformation, Brookie said in an email, it does bear resemblance to a model we use called the 4ds  dismiss the message, distort the facts, distract the audience, and express dismay at the whole thing.

Brookie added: The tactic is intended to create an equivalency in spokespeople and message. In this case, it is a false equivalency between a message based in climate science that went viral organically and a message based in climate skepticism trying to catch up using paid promotion. [more]

The anti-Greta: A conservative think tank takes on the global phenomenon
Hours before landing in India for their maiden official visit, the daughter of US President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, tweeted she was honoured to come back to India after two years. She added the friendship between the "world's two largest democracies has never been this stronger".

Two years after joining @narendramodi at the Global Entrepreneurial Summit in Hyderabad, I am honored to return to India with @POTUS and @FLOTUS to celebrate that the grand friendship between the world's two largest democracies has never been stronger! YY YY pic.twitter.com/r1d5fl9mtq - Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 23, 2020

In 2017, Ivanka Trump had visited Hyderabad with a bunch of delegates for a Global Entrepreneurship Summit, where she was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This summit was co-hosted by India and the US and its theme was supporting female entrepreneurs and encouraging economic growth. PM Modi had also hosted a grand dinner for Ivanka and the delegates at the Taj Falaknuma in Hyderabad.

Two years later, Ivanka will visit India with her father and US President Donald Trump. Trump is slated to arrive around 11:30 am today. A 22-km long roadshow has been planned for Trump from the Ahmedabad International Airport to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium.

Both these leaders will address the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera stadium, where around 1.25 lakh people are expected to attend the event featuring cultural performances.

Earlier, PM Modi tweeted that "India is looking forward to welcoming the POTUS Donald Trump". He was responding to a tweet by the Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. Rupani tweeted, "Entire Gujarat speaks in one voice -- Namaste Trump."

India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS@realDonaldTrump. It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad! https://t.co/fAVx9OUu1j - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 23, 2020

Also read: Donald Trump to arrive in India shortly: what's on the agenda

Also read: Donald Trump visit Live Updates: India all set to welcome POTUS

Also read: Visiting Taj, India Inc roundtable: Trump's got two busy days in India
Karen Jacquiline, a young lady who went viral on social media in 2019 after she attacked the boyfriend of her female colleague at the University of Ghana has allegedly tied the knot in a white wedding ceremony with her fiance.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

While it is not clear whether Karen is still a student at the University of Ghana, she gained wide traction online in 2019 after she assaulted Papa Kofi Owusu Kwarteng, the boyfriend of her female colleague for cheating on her at the time.

The United Nations Student Association chapter at the university (UNSA-UG) took measures to reconcile the two.

UNSA-UG released a statement signed by Derrick Schandorf Ayirebi-Acquah, UNSA-UG president, and Kofi Adofo Wadle to address the incident.

The release stated that the chapter was "unsettled" by the agitated press the University of Ghana received after the incident.

Following the statement Karin Jacquiline also released a short footage to apologise for assaulting Kofi Owusu Kwarteng.

Despite her heartfelt apology, many still lashed at the young lady who was already down. Some even stereotyped her and said it would be hard for her to find a man.

However, recent images on social media show that Karen may have tied the knot with the love of her life.

Twitter influencer @elly_serwaaa who shared the images indicated that she married over the weekend in February 2020.

However, some of her followers have said that the images are scenes from a music video.

View photos splashed on Twitter by @elly_serwaaa.

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that the birthing of a new face for Ghanas capital city Accra has begun starting from the Ako-Adjei Interchange formerly called the Sankara Interchange. Ghanas capital is currently witnessing a surge of graffiti culture with extraordinary designs aimed at transforming wrecked walls of major public spaces and monumental sites.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Creative Arts Council led by its vibrant creative director and daughter of the president, Gyankromah Akufo-Addo.

READ ALSO: Rahim Banda: First photos of teen actor's alleged 'secret' girlfriend hits the internet

Faces of Ghana: Ghanas 1st Female Police Bemoans High Rate of Police Indiscipline | #Yencomgh

Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Read more: h

Source: YEN.com.gh
SASKATOONMembers of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation have voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action.

The federation represents 13,500 teachers whose last contract expired Aug. 31.

The union says about 90 per cent of members cast votes in support of sanctions, and turnout was nearly 97 per cent.

Federation president Patrick Maze said Monday the union will provide 48 hours of notice if there are severe sanctions such as a walkout.

He said even though the bargaining committee has a mandate to move on sanctions, the goal is to negotiate a collective agreement.

Funding and classroom supports are key issues in the labour dispute.

Classroom complexity is an issue that needs to be resolved. It needs to resolved in the collective agreement, he said.

Government needs to show resolve and they need to step up to their responsibility to fund education.

Maze said the federation is to meet Tuesday with Saskatchewans education minister.

Carla Beck, education critic for the NDP Opposition, said teachers and students are concerned about a possible labour disruption.

She said the education minister needs to show the government is serious about addressing issues of class size and composition, which teachers have raised as a problem.

Im not sure that theres an appetite to balance the budget on the backs of our kids.
The Allahabad high court has directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, the state director general of police, the director general of Central Reserve Police Force, the vice chancellor and the registrar of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to adhere to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommendations, including giving compensation to six students who were grievously hurt during cane charge by the police.

The high court also asked the authorities to take action against policemen who caned students during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (anti-CAA) protests in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on December 15 last year. In its report, NHRC had said the students were caned unnecessarily.

The court directed the officers concerned to comply with the order and file a compliance report by the next hearing on March 25.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and justice Samit Gopal passed the order on a petition filed by Mohd Aman Khan of Prayagraj, alleging police brutality on students.

The petitioner requested the high court to pass several directions, including setting up of a court monitored committee to have a judicial inquiry into acts of violence and arbitrary detention of students by the state police and pare-military forces at AMU from December 12, 2019 to December 15, 2019.

Earlier, on January 8, 2020, the high court had asked NHRC to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Thereafter, a six-member team conducted a probe and the commission accepted the report. Later, a copy of the report was sent to the high court.

The recommendations made by the commission included giving compensation to six students, who were grievously injured in a cane charge by police, and taking disciplinary action against policemen seen in CCTV footage as unnecessarily caning students and damaging motorcycles on AMU campus.

NHRC also recommended that the police force, CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF) should be sensitised and special training modules be carried out to inculcate professionalism in handling such situations.

In pursuance of the directions given by this court on January 8, 2020, an inquiry has already been conducted by a six-member team of the National Human Rights Commission. The report submitted by the team has also been accepted by the Commission. A copy of the report along with order of proceedings has been sent to this court by the registrar (Law) of the National Human Rights Commission, the high court said.

The court also said, The report of the Commission along with order of proceedings be kept in sealed cover in safe custody of the registrar general of this court and the same be placed before the court on 25th March, 2020.

The court also directed the UP DGP to ensure that the SIT set up vide its order of January 6 shall investigates all the related cases on merit and in a time bound manner.

The court had advised the UP DGP and senior officers to improve and set up a robust intelligence gathering system and to take steps to counter rumour mongering and circulation of distorted and false news, especially on the social media.

The AMU vice chancellor and registrar were asked to establish a mechanism for better communication with the students fraternity so that they were not influenced by outsiders. They were also asked to take measures to rebuild the trust of students so that such incidents did not occur in future.

As per the averment contained in the writ petition, para-military forces and the state police, for no just and valid reason, on December 15, 2019 resorted to a lathi-charge with a massive amount of firing of teargas, rubber bullets and pellets. The forces also entered into Guest House No. 2-3, where the students were hiding, the petition said. The entire incident was recorded on CCTV cameras, the petition added.

The petition also said AMU students had been peacefully protesting against CAA after Parliament passed the new citizenship law.

According to the petitioner, students gathered at Maulana Azad Library and marched up to AMU gate on December 15, 2019.

On reaching the gate, police, who were deployed there, started provoking the students, but they did not respond, the petitioner said.

After sometime, the police started firing teargas shells on the students and also cane charged them, in which around 100 students were injured, the petitioner alleged.

Passing its order, The chief secretary, government of Uttar Pradesh, director general of police, Government of Uttar Pradesh, director

general, Central Reserve Police Force, vice chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University and the registrar, Aligarh Muslim University are directed to adhere to the recommendations made by the commission at earliest. A report of compliance be presented before this court on next date of listing. Let the writ petition be listed on 25th March, 2020.
LONDON, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IrisGuard UK Ltd, the world leading Iris-based financial payment platform, announced the deployment of its revolutionary EyePay Cash mobile platform enabling refugees in Egypt to receive their financial aid assistance via iris identification in partnership with Egypt National Post ENPO and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency.

IrisGuard's technology finds and authenticates one person out of millions, anywhere in the world, with 100% certainty in less than three seconds, without any form of ID. It delivers a transparent, error-free, secure, safe, contactless method for on boarding and verification.

The Egyptian National Post is one of the largest postal, financial and governmental service providers in Egypt with an extensive services portfolio supporting an average of 20 million customers across an impressive network of 4,000 branches nationwide. ENPO aims to contribute to Egypt's National Financial Inclusion Initiative sponsored by H.E Mr. Abdelfattah El Sisi, the President of Egypt, in which the use of digital financial services is promoted throughout the nation.

Within the framework of the partnership with UNHCR, ENPO has been providing instant remittances services to refugees in Egypt successfully since 2017. With the support of the EyePay, the vast majority of the refugee population benefiting from UNHCR assistance in Egypt can now receive their cash through having their iris scanned at some ENPO branches, and the records are then verified on UNHCR database to ensure that there is a match with their individual case number. The new technology eliminates the need for refugees to provide any other identification documents and feeds ENPO back with the type of assistance and amount the beneficiary is due. The beneficiary is able to decide which assistance they wish to utilise at that particular time. At the end of the transaction, the beneficiary will be provided with a receipt for complete transparency which states the amount withdrawn and the available balance.

"The beneficiary receives aid faster, in privacy and with dignity. The donors are assured complete accountability with every pound generously donated going only to those entitled to receive it, this is documented and a live report is available to ensure complete transparency. IrisGuard targeted aid distribution platform eliminates fraud, reduces bank fees, increases efficiency and allows more beneficiaries to receive the aid they so desperately need," said Steven Choka, UNHCR Cash-based Interventions Officer.

Imad Malhas, IrisGuard Founder and CEO commented, "We are proud to be leading the way in providing financial inclusion for refugees in Egypt. We are delighted to be partnered with Egypt National Post ENPO and the United Nations and to provide a safe, secure and 100% accurate solution for targeted instant remittances service."

The IrisGuard EyePay Cash platform is being actively used by millions of users worldwide including more than 2.5m refugees and asylum-seekers benefitting from the multi-purpose cash assistance program of UNHCR in different countries. The technology is safe, non-intrusive, efficient, 100% accurate and takes just a few seconds for the entire financial transaction to complete.

It can be implemented anywhere in the world quickly and with little infrastructure based on cutting-edge mobile iris technology developed and designed in the UK. The same platform is used in many other verticals such as pension schemes and healthcare organisations who are looking to secure patient medical record on the cloud, to reduce operational risks which will in turn reduce financial and legal liabilities. It is designed to easily integrate into existing payment services to securely process financial transactions.

Notes to editors:

For more information on IrisGuard , please visit www.irisguard.com

, please visit www.irisguard.com Images of our products are available on request

Interview with Imad Malhas , CEO also available on request

Media contact:

Eva Mowbray

Director of Marketing

IrisGuard UK Ltd

T: + 44-(0)-01908 597114

M: +44-(0)-7539-739450

E: [email protected]

SOURCE IrisGuard
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President Trump today received one of the most outstanding welcomes ever given by the Indian government to a foreign leader.

Tens of thousands of Indians lined up the 22km (13.7 mi) road between the Mahatma Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram and the Motera stadium, where over 125,000 people gathered to receive President Trump and the first lady. It was a spectacular welcome that President Trump said he would never forget.

President Trump was profuse in his praise of Prime Minister Modi, his accomplishments and what India has been able to achieve in 70 years as the largest democracy in the world.

As someone who has observed Americas relationship with India for decades, Im convinced these are among the most remarkable days between the worlds most powerful democracy and its largest one. This is largely thanks to Trump and Modis friendship, which in many ways has the potential to make the world a better place should they focus on:

Making the world a safer place

Despite being thousands of miles apart, the U.S. and India share very similar challenges to their national security. For example, both face competition with a rising China, and both face the threat of terrorists and extremists who want to undermine the democratic principles of free speech, religious liberty and capitalism. Extremist groups such as ISIS have radicalized individuals in both the U.S. and India to commit attacks against innocent civilians.

The U.S. and India have a strong history of counter-terrorism cooperation, and Trump and Modi vowed together in Houston to continue to fight terrorism. Strengthening cooperation between intelligence agencies is benefiting both nations.

Both nations also are contending with the challenge of securing their borders  the U.S. in its southern border with Mexico and India with neighboring Pakistan, Bangladesh and other nations.

President Trump has made addressing Americas immigration crisis a priority in office, not only to prevent undocumented immigrants from coming in illegally but to fight drug and sex trafficking. He has gone to great lengths to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, even justifying funds from defense spending to fulfill what is also in the national security interests of the United States.

Modis government has implemented a series of ambitious policies to address its own immigration and security challenges. Admittedly, some of these decisions have been more popular than others and some are being worked through Indias judicial process.

Making the world more prosperous

The U.S. and India have powerhouse economies, and the countries have been working toward a major trade deal for some time now. In fact, many were hoping President Trumps visit would serve as the occasion for the announcement. It doesnt seem India and the U.S. have reached an agreement yet, but President Trump has said a very big deal may come after the U.S. elections.

The moment this deal is done will represent a boon for Delhi and D.C.

Yet this doesnt mean the current U.S.-India economic relationship is insignificant. The U.S. is Indias largest trade partner, and according to reports, India approved $2.6 billion to buy U.S.-made Seahawk (MH-60R) helicopters ahead of Trumps visit.

Both Trump and Modi ran on promises to improve the economic lives of Americans and Indians. Under Trump, the U.S. has passed the most comprehensive tax reform in over four decades and hit the lowest unemployment rate in history. Stock market record after record has been achieved. On the other hand, Modi has launched sweeping economic reforms such as a standardized Good and Services Tax.

India is now the 5th largest economy in the world in terms of GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund. Were India and the U.S. to settle on a comprehensive trade deal, they could improve the lives of millions who are looking for better economic opportunities.

Making the cause of religious liberty for economic development

President Trump has made religious freedom for all a defining policy hallmark of his administration.

Prime Minister Modi  as the leader of a nation of majority Hindus, 200 million Muslims and millions of Christians and other religious minorities  has the enormous responsibility of upholding religious freedom in the most religiously diverse nation in the world.

Both President Trump and Prime Minister Modi need to counter religious and, yes, liberal extremism which is intolerant of diverse faiths.

Religious freedom and peace are advantageous for economic growth and to fight extremism, and protecting this right could further strengthen U.S. and Indias relationship.

India and the United States have much to look forward to if our leaders champion these priorities.

Most Rev. Joseph DSouza is a Christian theologian, author and human and civil rights activist. He is the founder of Dignity Freedom Network, an organization that advocates for and delivers humanitarian aid to the marginalized and outcastes of South Asia. He is archbishop of the Anglican Good Shepherd Church of India and serves as the president of the All India Christian Council.
Ontario police moved in Monday to clear indigenous protesters fighting a new pipeline who have caused major disruptions to the Canadian economy by blocking a key east-west rail artery for nearly three weeks.

The protesters, confronting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with a political crisis, had mounted the blockade on a Canadian National Railway (CN) line east of Toronto and at other places in support of a small group fighting construction of a natural gas pipeline on indigenous lands in British Columbia.

Ontario Provincial Police began clearing the line at 8:15 am (1315 GMT) Monday morning after a midnight deadline for the blockade's removal passed unheeded.

"Unfortunately, all avenues to successfully negotiate a peaceful resolution have been exhausted," it said in a statement as the operation to enforce a court injunction got underway.

Televised images showed dozens of police officers taking away protestors in handcuffs one by one, after a few minor scuffles broke out. "This is Mohawk territory you're on. You guys are trespassing," one protestor could be heard shouting to police in a video posted online.

At least six people were detained, according to reports that said they could be heard singing and banging the inside of a police van.

Meanwhile, fresh protests in support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs fighting the Coastal GasLink pipeline popped up in Saskatchewan province and at the Pacific port of Vancouver. Supporters also marched in Ottawa and Montreal.

Trudeau on Friday had called the situation "unacceptable and untenable," and said attempts to negotiate an end to the standoff had failed. His Liberal government has made reconciliation with indigenous peoples a priority.

But the disruptions to rail traffic -- the backbone of Canada's transportation system, moving more than Can$250 billion (USD 190 billion) in goods annually -- led to supply shortages and job layoffs.

Under pressure to end the crisis, Trudeau had sought to establish a dialogue with indigenous leaders but the overtures went unanswered. "We can't have dialogue when only one party is coming to the table," he said.

After emergency talks Monday with key ministers and officials, Trudeau's office said measures were being taken to cool tensions and restock depleted supplies. These included propane, chemicals to treat drinking water, and food transported by rail.

"The barricades had to come down because it was having a profound effect on the economy," Transport Minister Marc Garneau said as he left the meeting.

He assured, however, that the government remains committed "to sitting down and having a dialogue over the specific problems that exist at the moment with the Wet'suwet'en." Until now, police had been reluctant to use force to dislodge the protestors.

Violent clashes between police and indigenous peoples in past decades had led to the deaths of a policeman in Oka, Quebec in 1990 and a protester shot by police in Ipperwash Provincial Park in Ontario in 1995.

"All of these confrontations have been about land," said Kenneth Deer a Kahnewake Mohawk in Quebec, explaining his community's support of the Wet'suwet'en.

"It's about solidarity among the indigenous people," he said, "because we have that common experience of being dispossessed and disempowered."



On Saturday, the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs reiterated their demands that the pipeline construction be halted and federal police leave their ancestral lands as pre-conditions for negotiations.

Officials said the police have been pulled out. But construction of the Can$6.6 billion (USD 5 billion) pipeline to transport natural gas to a Pacific coast terminal for shipping to overseas markets continues.

The pipeline, which would run 670 kilometers (416 miles) from British Columbia's Dawson Creek area to Kitimat on the coast, received final regulatory approval last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nathaniel Ayettey

24.02.2020 LISTEN

A management and finance professional, Nathaniel Ayetteyhas filed his forms to contest as Member of Parliament (MP) for Ledzokuku Constituency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Greater Accra Region.

Submitting his forms recently at the constituency office, he said, We have a constituency to heal because it is so disjointed that somebody must step up and heal the constituency, he said.

According to him, it was sad that delegates and people at the grassroots were neglected after candidates were voted into Parliament.

He said he was inspired by the call of people in the party to contest the sitting MP, so he could come and assist them fulfill their expectations.

Mr Ayettey added that working hand in hand with delegates was what made him unique among other candidates and was of the view that he would not leave anyone behind.

Asked about his policies, he said he was going to be fair and open to everybody and also treat people equally when given the nod.

Mr Ayettey is a multi-skilled energetic and vibrant management professional with solid leadership skills in management and finance who will deliver projects with excellence using creativity, enthusiasm and years of solid experience in business analysis and project management.

He is an expert in business and process analysis with strong communication, problem-solving, analytical and negotiation skills with experience covering multiple industries and countries across West Africa.

He is the current serving patron for the current NPP executive committee for the Ledzokuku Constituency since 2006.

He was one of the huge contributors of funds and resources to the current MP for his campaign during the primaries and the main elections in 2016.

He has worked hand in hand with constituency executives on financial and matters of interest concerning members of the party and the constituency.

He served as an advisor to the Regional Youth Campaign team for the 2016 elections.

He is member of the Staunch Queens, Bold Patriots Accra Chapter and a patron of Teshie Youth for Change.

He was the Vice President of the Student Representative Council (SRC) for the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) from 2005-2006.

--Daily Guide
After a turbulent year during which the top editor was fired and rehired, The Markup, a website with ambitions to combine investigative and data-driven journalism to cover technology, will make its formal debut Tuesday.

Were calling it a launch, said Julia Angwin, the editor in chief. But were also cognizant of the fact that weve had several big public announcements prior to this, so this is a show our work moment for us.

Show our work is also a motto of The Markup. Alongside its articles, it will provide readers with detailed explanations of how its reporters got their stories.

The Markup was founded in 2018 by Ms. Angwin, an investigative journalist and a veteran of The Wall Street Journal and ProPublica; Jeff Larson, a data journalist who also worked at ProPublica; and Sue Gardner, a former head of the Wikimedia Foundation.
Antony Waste Handling Cell is expected to launch its nearly Rs 300 crore initial public offering for subscription on March 4.

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of up to Rs 43.5 crore and an offer for sale of up to Rs 250 crore.

The offer for sale comprises a 94,42,164 equity shares by Leeds (Mauritius) (13,90,322 shares), Tonbridge (Mauritius) (20,85,502 shares), Cambridge (Mauritius) (20,65,300 shares) and Guildford (Mauritius) (39,01,040 shares).

The issue will close on March 6. The company proposed to utilise the net fresh issue proceeds towards the reduction of the aggregate outstanding borrowings.

The company is one of the top five players in the Indian MSW management industry with an established track record of 17 years, providing a full spectrum of MSW services which includes solid waste collection, transportation, processing and disposal services across the country, primarily catering to Indian municipalities.

Equirus Capital Private Limited is the sole book-running lead manager (BRLM) to the offer. The company does not have any listed industry peers in India.

Having undertaken more than 25 projects as of January 1, 2020, of which 17 are ongoing, the company demonstrated track-record as a comprehensive service provider equipped with the resources to handle large-scale projects for municipalities as well as private players. Its portfolio of 17 ongoing projects comprised 11 MSW C&T projects, 2 MSW processing (including WTE) project and 4 mechanized sweeping projects.

It is currently undertaking projects for the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), the Mangalore Municipal Corporation (MMC), New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA).
Humble ISD students think big

During a sleepless night years ago, an idea crossed Summer Creek High School (SCHS) Assistant Principal Allen Seguras mind that has since become a reality.

After learning that veterans in Kansas City built tiny homes for homeless vets, Segura wondered why high school students couldnt do the same. As it turns out, they can. After forming a team and getting the go-ahead from Humble ISD Administration, SCHS and Kingwood Park High School students, teachers and staff have been working together to create a master-planned tiny home community for homeless veterans in the Houston area.

Students Helping Veterans: Big Heroes, Tiny Homes is a program organized and driven by students who, in collaboration with local architects, engineers and other community partners, design and build homes on each campus in an effort to provide a sense of community and safety to veterans who have lived on the streets of Houston. The hope is for each high school to produce one tiny house per year. With veterans accounting for 28% of the homeless population in Houston as reported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the effect may seem miniscule. However, Segura imagines the difference it would make if every high school in America built a tiny house to help veterans get off the streets.

Some other high schools in the Houston area, including Hall Center for Education in Aldine ISD, have already expressed an interest in joining the Tiny Homes effort, a promising start for a program with the vision and ultimate goal of growing nationwide.

Kingwood Park completed their first tiny house last year. Summer Creek finished their first one this month, celebrating the achievement with an Open House and Key Ceremony Feb. 21 at the school to welcome the chosen veteran, a 55-year-old disabled former Marine, to his new home. Summer Creek only recently learned the identity of the veteran; the selection process is handled by churches and other nonprofits in the area. Summer Creek Architecture Teacher James Gaylord, who oversees construction of the tiny house project, said that, though he initially thought it would have been nice to have known the identity of the veteran earlier in the process, the project was more meaningful without having known him.

The kids have been working on this project for the last year for this unknown person. Its kind of like what he did with his service. He served all of us. He didnt know our names or our faces, but he served us, said Gaylord.

The 325-square-foot, fully equipped and furnished home was designed by 2019 graduate Natalia Andrade, who seemingly had maximum efficiency in mind. Nine- and 11-foot ceilings with an abundance of natural light give it a spacious and airy feel. It will soon be transported from the build site at the school to Liberty County, where it will sit adjacent to the Kingwood Park tiny home on a family farm which has been converted by owner Barbara Lange into what she hopes will become a tiny house community for Houstons homeless veterans.

The Humble ISD Students Helping Veterans: Big Heroes, Tiny Homes program, while classified as Career and Trade Education (CTE), encourages students schoolwide to become involved in the tiny house project. At SCHS, students who work in design and construction are enrolled in a construction management course; however, every department at the school, from English to ROTC to choir, takes part in some important way. The student council is also heavily involved, having presented the program to the City of Houston, City of Humble and Humble ISD Administration in order to promote awareness of veteran homelessness in Houston and to involve the community in the Tiny Homes effort.

Each house costs approximately $25,000 to construct. With materials cost only partially funded by Humble ISD, the tiny house projects would not be possible without community partnerships and the financial support of nonprofits, businesses and private individuals through donations of cash and materials. Local businesses that generously donated to the Summer Creek tiny house project include Drake House Moving Company, Wisenbaker Builder Services, Skeros Furniture, Summerwood Home Depot No. 1832, and Specialized Building Systems.

SCHS students, teachers and staff invested over a years worth of time, knowledge and heart into their tiny house, a service-learning project where the product itself is really only a by-product, according to Segura, who serves as program director. The real product, he said, is what the students gain from this experience as they extend not a hand out, but a hand up in service to veterans and the fact that one less veteran will live on the streets of Houston.

The experience itself was anything but simple, as is the case with construction. Students worked in class, after class, on weekends and in all kinds of weather, from hot and humid to freezing cold, in order to complete the project. They made mistakes and they learned from them, gaining skills along the way. They gained something even more invaluable on this journey, however  a deeper sense of gratitude and understanding. Student Isaac Martinez, who represents the builders on the executive committee for the project, expressed that he has family members in the military so hes always been thankful for what they do but, after his involvement with the project, he now feels that he needs to give back. Student Councilmember Lauren Argueta said she has gained much from her involvement in the project as lead presenter and executive chair.

While I was aware and grateful for what has been given to me by veterans, it becomes so much more real when youre a part of the research [on veteran homelessness]  the realization that its not so distant, its closer to home than you think, said Argueta. For more information on the Students Helping Veterans: Big Heroes, Tiny Homes program, visit humbleisd.net/Domain/10782.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Global stock markets have been dropping today both on fears of the spread of the coronavirus in countries like Italy and S. Korea as well as on reports that the drop in production from China is having more of an impact on the global supply chain.

Almost 80,000 have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide while over 2,600 have now died. Almost a quarter of those who had fallen ill have since recovered.

Live coronavirus tracker

Coronavirus news in the U.S.

Dow futures drop nearly 700 points as coronavirus spread stirs fears of global economic impact (MarketWatch)

White House expected to ask Congress for coronavirus funds this week (CNN)

Economic expert says coronavirus might impact the local economy in Michigan (WWMT)

Trump administration backs off sending coronavirus patients to Alabama (Reuters)

Scientists from Harvard, China unite to fight virus (Harvard Gazette)

Coronavirus news around the world

Workers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. South Korea reported another large jump in new virus cases Monday a day after the the president called for "unprecedented, powerful" steps to combat the outbreak that is increasingly confounding attempts to stop the spread. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)AP

Global outbreak causes pandemic fears after cases jump in Italy, South Korea and Iran (Fox News)

Coronavirus cases soar in Italy as authorities scramble to find patient zero (CNN)

Coronavirus outbreak could cause shortages of 150 drugs (The Hill)

Iran denies cover up after reports of 50 dead (The Guardian)

Virus case reported in Toronto (WKBW)

Third passenger from quarantined cruise ship dies in Japan (USA Today)

North Korea quarantines foreigners (BBC)

Second coronavirus case in Israel confirmed, as panic increases (Jerusalem Post)

Lockdowns to curb coronavirus epidemic lead to a rise in mental health issues (NBC News)

Local coronavirus news

325 people in Michigan being monitored due to Coronavirus (NBC 25)

Local state economies expected to take hit from virus (Messenger-Inquirer)

Read complete prior coronavirus coverage on cleveland.com
Continued uncertainty surrounding details of a new law on foreign investment is likely to dent appetite toward Japan, experts warned.

Japan's parliament last November revised the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, which requires foreign investors to submit prior application to buy shares above a certain threshold in companies deemed crucial to national security. The revision lowers the threshold to 1% of the shares from the previous 10%.

About 400-500 listed companies are expected to be subject to the new rules, Nikkei reported on Friday, which is more than a tenth of all listed companies. An official list of companies will be released in April, ahead of the revised law's implementation in May.

With a large number of companies potentially affected, the focus has turned to a scheme that exempts investors who meet certain conditions. But details of the conditions -- a gauge of how strictly Tokyo intends to limit the ability of investors to propose changes in areas like governance -- remain uncertain, experts said.

"We were surprised" by the passing of the act, activist investor Daniel Loeb, CEO of the New York-based hedge fund Third Point, wrote in a letter to investors on Jan. 30.

Saying that the company had cheered Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's corporate governance reforms since 2012, Loeb said the 2019 changes "could undermine these positive reforms," by adding scrutiny to foreign investment. "One effect the bill clearly could have is to make it more difficult for engaged shareholders to build positions," Loeb wrote.

The activist investor questioned the rationale of the law revision. "The billas stated justification was to prohibit creeping foreign ownership of nationally strategic assets but, as in the U.S., there was little evidence presented that such a threat exists or could not have been addressed under existing regulations."

Third Point, a shareholder in Sony, has proposed to the company that it spin off its cash-cow image sensor business to unlock value for shareholders. Sony has refused to do so.
ROMEGovernment officials scrambled on Sunday to contain the first major outbreak of the coronavirus in Europe, locking down at least 10 towns near Milan, closing schools and cancelling the iconic Venice carnival, as nearly 150 cases were announced in recent days.

The new cases are mostly in the Lombardy region, which includes Milan, and is one of Italys most densely populated areas. The spike  from fewer than five known cases before Thursday  has quickly made the country the biggest test of whether the virus can be successfully contained in an open European society.

The coronavirus crisis began in China in late December, and since then, more than 2,000 people have died worldwide, with most of the cases and fatalities in China. The countrys authoritarian government has taken extraordinary quarantine measures and imposed stiff restrictions on travel, but has still struggled to contain the virus.

In Asia, outside China, the hardest hit country has been South Korea, where there have been 602 confirmed infections and six deaths. On Sunday, President Moon Jae-in put the country on the highest possible alert, empowering the government to lock down cities and take other sweeping measures to contain the outbreak.

The coming few days will be a critical time for us, he said at an emergency meeting of government officials.

The same challenge now looms for Italy, Europes fourth-largest economy, where the government, a wobbly, and often bickering, coalition between the Democratic Party and the 5-Star Movement, has been in disarray for months.

The 5-Star Movement has often muddied the waters on important health issues, like vaccinations, by embracing conspiracy theories and playing on voter distrust of government. Whether the government can coalesce and snap in place preventive measures to stem the further spread of the virus will be one of the biggest crises it has faced.

The government response has been aggressive so far, led by the health minister, Roberto Speranza.

Regional and municipal authorities throughout Italy enacted a series of restrictive ordinances after the government issued emergency measures late Saturday. All public events in the Lombardy region have been cancelled, whether cultural, leisure, religious or sporting, according to an ordinance issued by Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy region, drafted with the health ministry. Museums have been ordered to shut their doors.

Many other venues in Lombardy, aside from those providing essential services, have been closed, including most bars, nightclubs and movie theatres, as well as churches. In some other regions, similar closings took place.

We invite people to stay at home, to try and contain this phenomenon that we still dont know, except that it isnt aggressive but moves quickly, Giulio Gallera, the official responsible for health for the Lombardy region, said during a televised news conference Sunday.

In Lombardy, 10 towns were locked down after a cluster of cases emerged in the town of Codogno, about 60 km southeast of Milan. At least 50,000 people are affected by the lockdown. Residents were supposed to leave or arrive only with special permission.

On Sunday, police and armed forces personnel were deployed to monitor the entrances to the towns.

Maximum precaution has been taken to protect citizens, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of Italy wrote on Twitter Sunday.

Two military structures in Lombardy were being prepared to become isolation camps, while other military sites and hotels have been identified throughout the country. A military base in Rome has been housing evacuees from Wuhan, China, where the virus began, and the Italian passengers of the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship that has been under quarantine in Yokohama, Japan.

The outbreak in Codogno began after a 38-year old man known as patient one was admitted and diagnosed with the virus to the citys hospital on Thursday. But the man had developed symptoms perhaps five days before that, potentially allowing the virus to spread.

Even more disconcerting is that health officials still dont know how he contracted the virus because he had not been to China. But many cases in Lombardy, officials say, may be traceable to that one case.

At least five members of the hospital medical staff in Codogno and several patients have been infected. Other persons who tested positive include the mans pregnant wife, a close friend and others who spent time with them. The towns surrounding the ones where the man works and lives have been included in the shutdown.

Similar lockdown procedures will be applied if new clusters emerge anywhere in Italy, officials said. According to the government decree, local officials are obliged to take all appropriate containment measures in the case that someone has tested positive for the virus and the source of the contagion is unknown.

Quarantine measures will also be applied to anyone who has close contact with someone who has the virus.

Gallera, the health official for Lombardy, said hospitals were increasing intensive care facilities, and hotels and other structures were being identified as possible venues to isolate people with the virus.

We are acting pre-emptively to avoid managing a bigger emergency, he said.
For comparison, it usually takes a human mechanic about 60 minutes to rotate all four tires. RoboTire was founded in October 2018 with a simple notion: Make tire rotations faster. Founder and CEO Victor Darolfi got the idea while he was enduring the long wait for maintenance that we are all too familiar with. He thought, if we can use robots to put tires on a car in a factory, why cant we use them to take off and put on tires during maintenance too?A little over a year later, San Francisco Bay Area-based RoboTire has a robot that can do just that in only 10 minutes. The robot was designed in partnership with Mitsubishi robotics, and the company is ready to start licensing it out to auto shops and dealerships. At $250,000, the device isnt cheap, but the company estimates that using it will bring in about $10,000 a month, so it will pay for itself in just two years. The robot is currently scheduled to undergo its first pilot at Tooles Garage, a repair shop based in San Carlos, Calif.
U.S. satellite broadband provider Hughes Network Systems may have to shut its Indian operations due to unpaid levies owed to the government, which could put thousands of banking services at risk, a company letter seen by Reuters showed. India's Supreme Court late last year ordered a number of telecom companies, including Hughes and larger firms like Vodafone, to pay billions of dollars owed to the government. Hughes' India unit provides services to defence, education and banking sectors in the country and told India's telecoms minister in a letter dated Feb. 20 that it ...
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend:

The Khojaly genocide isnt the first genocide committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis, Samil Ayrim, a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Friendship Group, told Trend Feb. 24.

The Azerbaijani people have been subjected to the policy of ethnic cleansing, genocide and aggression carried out by Armenian nationalists over the past 200 years, Ayrim noted.

The Turkish MP added that in particular, genocide against Azerbaijanis was committed by Armenians in 1905, 1918 and 1992.

The leader of the friendship group added that information about the Khojaly genocide should be conveyed even more actively to the international community.

It was an act of unprecedented vandalism, and we must fully convey the message to the international community, Ayrim said.

The MP noted that Turkey has been participating in the Justice for Khojaly campaign conducted by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for several years.

All civil society organizations in Turkey hold events dedicated to the Khojaly tragedy, Ayrim added. Universities also participate in this. We believe that this year, the truth about the Khojaly genocide should be conveyed to even more people, and this is a joint goal of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

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, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

During the Karabakh war, on Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

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.
Two churches were burnt at the weekend by Boko Haram insurgents who attacked Garkida, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Residential houses, hospitals, shops and vehicles were also torched by the terrorists.

The Army on Sunday confirmed the death of a soldier.

The burnt places of worship are a parish of the Living Faith (aka Winners Chapel) and Ekklesiyar Yanuwa, a Nigeria (EYN) church.



Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on Sunday visited Garkida to sympathise with the people.

However, the 23 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army in a statement also said another soldier was injured by troops of 232 Battalion, who engaged the insurgents in gun duel.

The statement by Major Haruna Mohammed Sani, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, the 23 Armoured Brigade, indicated that the destruction would have been more extensive, but for intervention of the troops who killed some of the insurgents.

The statement reads: Gallant troops of 232 Battalion of 23 Armoured Brigade under Operation Lafiya Dole deployed in Garkida, Gombi LGA of Adamawa State, had thwarted a planned criminal attack on the peaceful town on February 21, 2020 by some criminal Boko Haram terrorists.

The terrorists besieged the town in about seven gun trucks and a number of motorcycles, setting some buildings ablaze and causing unrest within the community.

Instinctively, the gallant troops mobilised and intercepted the criminals advance and engaged the marauding criminals unleashing high volume of fire, leading to the elimination of several of the criminals while others withdrew in disarray, many of them with gunshot wounds as evident in the trails of blood along their withdrawal route.

Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price while another soldier was wounded in action. The wounded soldier has since been evacuated to a military medical facility and is positively responding to treatment.

The statement added that the Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Brig. Gen. Sani Mohammed, who visited the troops in Garkida on Saturday, congratulated them for their fighting spirit, but warned them to be vigilant as the terrorists may plan a reprisal due to the casualties they suffered.

Gen. Gowon and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, have advocated prayer as the surest means to ending the spate of killings and other forms of violent crimes in the country.

Gowon, who is the National Chairman and Convener of Nigeria Prays, spoke in COCIN LCC Millennium Quarters, Yelwan Kagadama , venue of the Northeast Zonal Prayer rally in Bauchi, Bauchi State.

Let us be assured that our prayers are not in vain. I can say this with every authority that prayer can solve problems better than faster than generals and soldiers can do with physical weapon, he told the rally participants.

He lamented the spate of insecurity and activities of insurgents and called on God to guide President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, in tackling the problems.

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Democrats seem nearly unanimous in their outrage over the assassination of the leading Iranian terrorist, Qasem Soleimani. Some Republicans have also expressed opposition to President Trumps decision to take Soleimani out.

I thought it was a great move. Im delighted that Soleimani has joined Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the ranks of those wondering where the heck those virgins are.

However, I questioned whether Soleimanis demise would seriously impair Irans ability to export terror through its Revolutionary Guard. I thought it at least as likely that a new leader would step fairly seamlessly into Soleimanis operation.

That might be the case. However, the Washington Post reports that it isnt. Rather, the Revolutionary Guard has struggled to regain its footing in the aftermath of Soleimanis unexpected departure. The loss of Soleimani, coupled with the downing of that Ukrainian airliner, has the Revolutionary Guard on its heels, according to the Post:

[A]nalysts and officials in the region say the Revolutionary Guard in fact now finds itself on the back foot, a notable change after successfully projecting its power in the Middle East over recent years. The assassination of Qasem Soleimani and the downing of the airliner were both shocks to the Revolutionary Guard. Soleimani was a big loss for the Islamic republic, and the downing of the airliner, it blew the Guards entire credibility, said Saeid Golkar, an expert on Irans security forces and a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

What about Soleimanis successor, Brig. Gen. Ismail Qaani?

[A]nalysts and officials say he lacks the ambition, charisma and strong connections of his predecessor. As a result, according to an official in the region with knowledge of the matter, the Quds Force has been significantly deterred from retaliating further against the United States, at least for now. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said Qaani does not yet have the power to freelance the way Soleimani did, coordinating battles and attacks across the Middle East and meeting directly with foreign leaders. The Quds Force, the official said, is suffering both emotionally and practically, and will be restrained until Qaani grows more confident and independent. Within Irans security apparatus, a struggle may already be underway to clip the Quds Forces wings. According to Golkar, the Revolutionary Guards secretive counterintelligence department is likely investigating the security breaches that contributed to Soleimanis killing in Baghdad last month.

Taking all of this into account, Maysam Behravesh, a former security policy adviser in Iran, says that the Revolutionary Guard is facing a support base problem, if not crisis, at home. The killing of Soleimani appears to be a significant contributing factor.

Will any of this cause Democrats and/or Republican doves to take a more favorable view of Trumps decision to kill Soliemani? No. But maybe it should.
A real bone-shaker of a journey I am a passenger of V/Line and XPT trains who has travelled the Albury to Melbourne line many times and from Melbourne to Sydney. The train is used by various age groups travelling to the city to catch planes, return home, go to footy matches and the like. Many of us have watched the Michael Portillo train trips series and have seen how smooth the rides are. Well, travel the Melbourne-Sydney route. I went to the disabled toilet and nearly left disabled as the train was lurching from side to side, forward and backwards. I had to grip on to the rails so I didn't get thrown around. Trains are late or replaced by buses. The staff are pleasant but the infrastructure is ageing. The local country MPs should be advocating for a better service, unfortunately it seems lives have to be lost before major steps are taken. Let's hope they are. Margaret Forster, Aberfeldie

We need to spend some ... May I suggest to all politicians, both state and federal, that instead of hopping on a plane, or ordering a chauffeur-driven car, they take the train the next time. That way, they will see for themselves, the state of disrepair of our rail network, and, for once, start spending money upgrading a failed rail system (a high-speed rail between our two largest cities would be a start) instead of splurging untold billions on submarines and frigates, which will no doubt be out of date long before they are put into operation. Chris Burgess, Port Melbourne ... decent money upgrading the corridor

The root cause of the derailment at Wallan will be the disgraceful level of funding for maintaining the rail infrastructure. But will this be uncovered, probably not, with people who can't defend themselves being clobbered by the bureaucracy. That is, the people allocating huge sums to the road system. Now that the Hume Highway has been gold plated perhaps some decent money, not patch-up money, can be given to our main rail corridor. Martin Baggott, Camberwell THE FORUM An expensive myth

The myth called the suburban rail loop (SRL), continues. The Age reports (CBD, 24/2) that further expensive staff have been added to the wages bill of the SRL Authority. Why do we need an SRL Authority, does it give credibility to a project that is yet to be proven viable or even achievable. An experienced working group made up of engineers, transport planners, transport economists, construction estimators and valuers could determine the demand for rail travel around the "loop", the viability, the cost and a realistic time to undertake the project. While this work is being undertaken, the government should determine and announce when the signalling will be upgraded at North Melbourne to allow commuter trains to run from Flemington Racecourse and when the single-track sections of the suburban rail network will be upgraded. Extension of the Glen Waverley rail line and the provision of a train service to Rowville would also appear to have a higher priority than hiring these people for the SRL. Des Grogan, Sorrento

Priorities are exposed Caulfield Grammar's decision to leave the name of former student and Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton off its new aquatic centre in order to preserve its commercial interests in China is disheartening. It exposes that its priorities lie with obsequious commercial arrangements with a foreign autocratic power and not with the advancement of liberal education for Australian children and recognition of its alumni who have showed a principled spine. It should not receive one more jot of government funding when it so blatantly places commercial interests first. Paul Miller, Box Hill South The nuclear reality

In response to your correspondent's assertion (Letters, 24/2) that rapid transition to renewables will provide cheaper and more reliable electricity, I would challenge him to provide any evidence supporting that proposition. It is a matter of engineering economics that renewable energy cannot provide reliable 24/7 power at anything less than a hideous cost per delivered kilowatt hour that would render our current standard of living unsustainable. Any reference to the green left poster child, Germany, in this respect is interesting. While pursuing a green left energy policy electricity prices are 50 per cent higher than neighbouring countries and the gap is not closing. Furthermore Germany is dependent on buying nuclear and coal-based power from France and Poland when transient supplies of renewables do not meet demand. The reality is that only nuclear power can provide the necessary complementary emissions free power to operate in conjunction with renewable energy. Greg Angelo, Balwyn North

Things have changed Shaun Carney ("Morrison's key to success", Comment, 24/2) details the compact between the majority of voters and the Prime Minister for do-nothing grand stability. This worked for Robert Menzies because, while he was not radical, living conditions, growth and hope thrived in the postwar environment. Today, the wheels have fallen off every institution one can think of, and there is little hope for a large part of society that is unemployed, underemployed, underpaid, homeless, struggling to buy a house, on a public health waiting list, and so on. There is also rising compassion in our society for refugees, those beneath the poverty line and the environment, and a rising disgust at rorting and deception. The Prime Minister's strategy is not one for our times and the thin margin is gone. He will adapt or depart.

Brewis Atkinson, Tyabb The appeasement bill Spare me, Christian Porter (Comment, 24/2), this religious discrimination bill is designed to appease homophobes upset by the "yes" vote on same-sex marriage. That is, it's a bill to appease conservative fearmongers, which we know, can be a very dangerous thing. Henry Herzog, St Kilda East

It's always been there The latest head of St Kevin's, John Crowley, has acknowledged the school now has a "mandate for change" and a "responsibility to grasp this opportunity". When has there not been a mandate to stop child abuse, and why has not every complaint been an opportunity? Sadly there will probably always be incidents like this, but there don't always have to be schools that don't deal with abuse head on, at the time, and without regard to reputation. That might engender more pride. And improve reputation. Penny White, Preston

An alarming decision The government wants to relax the coronavirus travel bans for Chinese students provided they agree to a period of self-isolation. This decision is alarming, even more so now that we know the incubation period of this virus is nearly double that previously believed. I work in an open-plan office in the CBD where a staff member recently returned from China during the travel ban. This person had no intention of self-quarantining before returning to work, their rationale being they hadn't been to Wuhan and they felt well. It was only because staff members raised their concerns that management postponed this individual's return for two weeks. To believe that thousands of students would comply with voluntary self-isolation if permitted to enter Australia is a pipe dream. The government has an obligation to put the health of its citizens before profit. The current travel ban should remain in place. Monica Clarke, Port Melbourne

Reclaim the footy It is a matter of great community shame that the Hawks continue with pokies and in so doing cause considerable harm to some of their most vulnerable fans. Collingwood have realised there are better ways to fund their community sport than pokies. Additionally, Jeff Kennett should hang his head due to his involvement with Beyond Blue. There is a strong correlation between gambling addiction and suffering mental illness. I know because I have been witness to this. Let's reclaim footy for the family. Deborah Fowler, Carlton North

Call it out Let's not call out just Bettina Arndt's profoundly offensive observations concerning Rowan Baxter's mass murder in Camp Hill by removing forthwith her New Year's honour, but let's call out all those who engage in the work of encouraging men experiencing marital or partner conflict to believe that a cult of male supremacy is the solution to their woes whereby Everywoman must submit to whatever Everyman disposes. Furthermore let us call out all those politicians who pander to such views in order to obtain some ephemeral advantage regardless of the consequences. Let us also call out those reactionary forces in government that seek to cripple the Family Court and those who serve it, in particular those charged with assessing the risk posed for spouses and children from those who are manifestly psychologically disturbed rather than providing these officers with greater powers and resources and insisting that they have the full and meaningful support of police forces everywhere. Let us finally clearly appreciate the manifest danger posed to all societies by the capacity to inflame and organise individuals in the age of the internet.

Timothy Brown, Footscray Accuracy is impossible When David Speers interviewed Anthony Albanese on the ABC's Insiders on Sunday (23/2) he tried to have Albanese detail every step of the way to 2050 zero emissions. Three decades into our future culture is hard to predict when we remember three decades in the past. In 1990 we were just beginning to understand computers. Now they are on our mobile phones and so are cameras.

Politicians should be wary of the easy questions about costs and employment. Graeme Lee, Fitzroy Where would it stop? A gay couple visit their regular doctor. Receptionist smiles, says, "Good morning. It is my honestly held religious belief that you will go to hell." All perfectly legal. The receptionist repeats this comment to the unwed mother, the woman who had an abortion and any other patient who does not meet her religious standards. Each patient in turn is offended, so they leave and find a new doctor. And the Doctor? Can he sack her for destroying his business? Probably no, because she is only stating her "honestly held religious beliefs".

Aileen Hewat, East Melbourne A life of total fear Having experienced life with a controlling bully who used physical abuse as part of his control regime, my thoughts are with Hannah's family and friends. One endures a life of total fear. I could never predict what would spark his violent outbursts. These men use revenge and punishment as their modus operandi. Everyone was aware of his behaviour. There was not a women's refuge in a country town in the mid 1970s and I was lucky to escape with my life. The final act of aggression was in front of my two small children. No drugs or alcohol were involved. He has since taken on a hyphenated name in an endeavour to rebrand.

My ex-husband would never have consented to counselling or anger management sessions. I am at a loss to know what strategy would solve this domestic violence epidemic. Name withheld A tired old scare campaign As predictable as night follows day Scott Morrison has come out decrying Labor's zero emissions target with the tired old scare campaign: how many jobs will it cost, how much will electricity go up, how will the economy be affected? And so on. Well guess what, Scott Morrison can't answer these questions either and he doesn't have any plan at all. Mr Morrison should detail what the cost of their do-nothing plan will be before he criticises Labor's goal, which the bulk of the civilised world seems to have already recognised.

Ross Hudson, Camberwell AND ANOTHER THING Duck hunting season If the duck season is really about sport, it's hardly a fair competition. How about replacing those guns with slingshots and blowpipes to give the birds a head start? Wendy Knight, Little River

Let them shoot ferals: foxes, cats, deer, pigs, rabbits ... not ducks. Mary Macmillan, Brunswick East Politics There are some big issues facing Australia right now but union-busting legislation and religious freedom bills don't even come close to being two of them.

Phil Alexander, Eltham State of the nation Australia can never be truly reconciled with its past while the Union Jack holds its privileged position on the national flag. What a powerful and positive statement it would be if we adopted a truly inclusive flag. Greg Pyers, Daylesford Hotel Australia, where most rooms have a Do Not Disturb sign dangling from the door handle, and the rest are occupied by the hard of hearing.

Bernd Rieve, Brighton Climate change If all the flat-Earth-thinking, climate change deniers on the far right go further to the right, will they fall off? Greg Tuck, Warragul The economy, costs and jobs won't matter much in a devastated world.

Paul Murchison, Kingsbury Prime Minister, the latest 12-monthly figures show our emissions went down by 0.3 per cent ("Emissions drop impeded", 24/2). Cantering or tanking? Tim Durbridge, Brunswick Time to go John Coates has been on the Australian Olympic Committee for far too long and it is time for fresh faces.
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SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI -- An evaluation for the suspect in the Kevin Bacon case has deemed he is not competent to stand trial.

Douglas Corwin, Jr., public defender for Mark D. Latunksi, confirmed Monday, Feb. 24 that the states Center for Forensic Psychiatry returned the competency evaluation.

Corwin said the centers evaluation opined that Mark David Latunski is not presently competent to stand trial."

Latunski, 50, is charged with open murder and mutilation of a body in connection with the Dec. 28, 2019 death of 25-year-old Bacon.

Competency and forensic evaluations were approved Jan. 8 by Shiawassee Chief District Judge Ward L. Clarkson. Corwin also submitted an insanity defense at the hearing.

Judge approves competency test for suspect in Kevin Bacon case

A hearing has been set for Thursday morning in Clarksons courtroom to make a formal ruling on the competency issue.

The evaluation was received by Corwin, the judge and the prosecutors office, Corwin said.

He noted none of them have objected to the findings.

After Thursdays hearing, Corwin said Latunski will be transferred to the center when a bed becomes available.

Alleged killer, cannibal Mark Latunski hospitalized a second time

He will remain incarcerated in the county jail until that happens, said Corwin.

Latunski will remain at the lockdown facility and receive treatment until he is found competent to stand trial.

However, there is a 15-month time frame to find Latunski competent.

Once the time frame passes, Corwin said the matter would be turned over to probate court on how to handle Latunskis mental health treatment moving forward.

Related news:

Man arraigned on murder, mutilation charges in Kevin Bacon case

911 caller woke up ... chained in a basement of house in cannibal, murder case

Grisly cannibalism, murder case update, what we know so far

Judge approves competency test for suspect in Kevin Bacon case

911 call reveals man escaped alleged killers basement with butcher knife
A decomposed body found in Upstate New York is believed to be a fugitive who fled police a year and a half ago.

WHEC reports skeletal remains were found by hunters near Route 20 in Geneseo, N.Y., on Sunday afternoon. Police say the remains are likely that of David Clyde Morgan, who allegedly pointed a gun at a Geneseo police officer during a July 2018 traffic stop and fled on foot.

We cannot say with 100% certainty that this is David Clyde Morgan but there are things on scene that lead us to believe that, Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty told media at a press conference Sunday evening. We would say that we believe it to be in a preliminary fashion.

Dougherty said DNA or dental records will still need be needed to confirm Morgans identity.

ICYMI: Authorities believe that they have found the body of fugitive David Clyde Morgan, but are awaiting official confirmation through DNA or dental records https://t.co/zBm07y3OqQ  news10nbc (@news10nbc) February 24, 2020

According to The Democrat & Chronicle, Morgan had been on the run since he was pulled over by a Geneseo police officer while driving a white Ford Explorer on July 18, 2018. Morgan reportedly coordinated with his girlfriend Sandra Brown to pull a gun on the officer, who fired a shot; the couple ran off into a nearby cornfield.

Brown was captured shortly after, but Morgans disappearance sparked a weeks-long manhunt aided by New York State Police and U.S. Marshals. The D&C reports Morgans body was found close by, around 1000 yards from where a search perimeter was set up.

Morgan, who lived in North Carolina and allegedly stole the SUV in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, had previously spent 14 years in federal prison on a felony charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamines in Texas. He also spent two years behind bars for a robbery in 1994.

He was on probation at the time of his traffic stop, which followed a raid that discovered 3 pounds of marijuana at his N.C. home. Brown told authorities that Morgan believed he was going back to prison if he was caught.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been criticized for a lot of things  but being compared to a fictional snow queen for making Prince Harrys heart a bit colder has to be a new one. As the dust begins to settle on the Prince Harry and Meghan royal exit drama, there is still some analysis surrounding whether Prince Harry was influenced by Meghan to make this drastic move.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry and Meghan announced their plan to step back

In January, the Sussexes announced their decision to step back from their royal duties in an effort to escape the constant public and media scrutiny they had been up against. Queen Elizabeth worked with them to finalize their plan, with the couple set to officially break their ties with the royal family beginning this spring.

The Sussexes most recent statement clarifying their exit, including the detail that they wont use the Sussex Royal name, hasnt sat well with royal experts.

Royal biographer Angela Levin, in writing for the Daily Mail, points out that The language is stilted, cold and legalistic, the sentiments juvenile and angry, adding that the statement is an expression of childish irritation that insults the most admired person in British public life.

Levin claims that the statement has everything to do with Meghan. My experience of Prince Harry is that he is charismatic and intuitive, a man with impeccable manners who is full of consideration to others and lights up in the presence of those who need his help, the biographer writes.

She adds: What on earth has happened to that Harry? Why is he in the strange and invidious position of seeming to side with his wife over a loving family that includes the 93-year-old grandmother he dearly loves and who has been his rock?

She believes Meghan has changed Harry

Levin further shares that the Sussexes seem sullen and resentful and worries about the impact Meghan has on Harry. In trying to understand how Prince Harry has changed, Levin writes: For me, there is only one way to understand his predicament, including this latest, wrong-headed outburst. I am afraid that Meghan is an impulsive woman and, as her past behavior suggests, when shes had enough of something or someone, she simply moves on.

Levin then draws comparisons between Meghan and a fictional character, writing: I am reminded of Hans Christian Andersens tale of The Snow Queen, as beautiful as she is cold, who leaves a sliver of ice in a young mans heart.

Captive, a prisoner in her frozen desert, he is angry and indifferent to those who truly love him, she writes.

Critics arent happy with their statement

Among the points in Meghan and Harrys lengthy statement, they addressed their intention to stop using the word royal in the Sussex Royal brand, but their critics are annoyed with the wording.

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, the statement notes.

Further, the Sussexes share: 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.
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Story by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA
WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES: A woman has been arrested for reportedly torturing her daughter and filming it to punish her ex-husband.

The incident was filmed in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where according to local media, the unnamed mum from the Phillipines had recently split up with her former husband - an Emirati man.

She allegedly filmed the video to get back at him.

She is currently married to another man, but had custody of the child from her former marriage, according to reports.

Footage shows the young girl crying and trying to defend herself. In a second clip, a woman can be seen pulling her by her hair. Source: Australscope

In the videos that were posted by herself, the mum can allegedly be seen yelling and hitting the little girl, who is clearly in distress and crying.

The girl is filmed wearing her underwear with bruises on her body.

In another clip, you can see a woman pulling the girl's hair and dragging her along the floor.

Police told local media the mum later posted the videos on social media to torment her former husband.

Officers said the woman was arrested soon after and the womans ex-husband filed a complaint with cops.

"There is no tolerance for anyone who harms or mistreats children and all necessary measures have to be taken against them in accordance with the UAE law," police said in a statement.

- Australscope

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
Dr. Sudeep Taksali, an orthopedic surgeon, became worried that his 8-year-old daughter had already grown taller than his 12-year-old son. And sometimes she had an attitude more befitting a teenager. Something seemed wrong.

Taksali and his wife, Sara, realized their daughter had grown 7 inches in two years and was showing signs of puberty. They took her to the doctor, who referred her to a pediatric endocrinologist for a work-up.

Eventually, their daughter was diagnosed with central precocious puberty. It's a rare condition that meant she would go through sexual development years earlier than her peers and would likely stop growing prematurely, too.

Adopted two years ago from India, she's a bright, avid reader who loves to do kettlebell workouts with her dad and Zumba with her mom. Still, moving across the world and learning a new language is no easy feat.

"Having one more thing for her to deal with  where there might be maybe some negative attention drawn to her changing body," Taksali said. "That was one of my big concerns."

On the advice of their daughter's doctors, the Taksalis decided to put her early puberty on hold. The recommended treatment is a product commonly known as a hormone blocker. Implanted beneath the skin in her arm, it releases a small dose of a drug each day that increases the bodys production of some hormones while decreasing others. The result is the childs progression toward adulthood slows.

The doctors told them there were two nearly identical drug implants  each containing 50 milligrams of histrelin acetate  made by the same company, Endo Pharmaceuticals, an American drugmaker domiciled in Ireland. But one was considerably cheaper.

Taksali wanted his daughter to get the less expensive option, but his insurer said it would cover only the more expensive option. Resigned, he asked the hospital how much it would charge for the expensive drug he had been hoping to avoid.

Then the estimated bill came.

The Patient: Sudeep Taksali's daughter, 8. She is insured through her father's high-deductible UnitedHealthcare plan.

Total Estimated Bill: The hospital told Taksali the insurer wouldn't cover the cheaper version of the drug, Vantas. After that, he spent hours trying to get an estimated bill ahead of the scheduled implantation. Supprelin LA would cost around $95,000 plus the cost of implantation, the hospital's billing department told him. Under his health plan, he has a $5,000 deductible and 20% coinsurance obligation, so he was worried how much he might owe.

Service Provider: OHSU Hospital in Portland, Oregon, part of Oregon Health & Science University.

Medical Procedure: Implantation of a drug-delivery device containing 50 mg of histrelin acetate, to stave off early puberty.

What Gives: Supprelin LA was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for central precocious puberty and has a list price of $37,300. Vantas was approved by the FDA in 2004 for late-stage prostate cancer and has a list price of $4,400.

The main difference between the two medicines is that Supprelin LA releases 65 micrograms of the drug a day, and Vantas releases 50 micrograms a day. Each implant lasts about a year.

The 15-microgram difference in daily dose with Vantas is less than the weight of an eyelash, and the doctors who recommended the treatment said it has the same effectiveness for children with central precocious puberty.

The much higher price for the children's version of the drug grated on Taksali. "From a parent standpoint, as a physician, as a consumer, it feels abusive," he said. "There's sort of a predation on parents who have that sense of vulnerability, who will do anything within their means to help their children."

Taksali questions why Endo Pharmaceuticals makes two nearly identical drug delivery implants with vastly different prices.(Kristina Barker for KHN)

Drugmakers can use the same chemical compound to create different branded drugs with different disease targets - and apply for FDA approval for each. FDA spokesperson Brittney Manchester said by email, "Generally, it is the sponsor's decision." Endo makes both Supprelin LA and Vantas.

Indeed, other drugmakers have used the maneuver: Pfizer makes two versions of sildenafil citrate: Viagra for erectile dysfunction and Revatio for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

When we asked Endo Pharmaceuticals why Supprelin LA and Vantas had such different price tags, the company said the implants aren't identical and treat very different conditions. It didn't respond to questions about why that meant the prices should be different and whether it was somehow more expensive to manufacture one versus the other.

Resolution: Taksali spent more than a month trying to make sure his daughter could use the cheaper drug and, finally, the week his daughter was scheduled to have the procedure, it was approved. The hospital submitted the request again and UnitedHealthcare said it would cover it.

"Our coverage policies are aligned with FDA regulations and Vantas is not FDA approved to treat central precocious puberty," UnitedHealthcare spokesperson Tracey Lempner said in an email. "In this specific case, when the provider expressed concern over the cost of Supprelin LA, we worked with them to allow for coverage of Vantas."

Taksali's daughter got the Vantas implant in late January.

When he got a breakdown of charges afterward, it listed $608 for the implantation and $12,598.47 for Vantas  about three times its list price. (Hospitals add markups to the list prices.) Still, that's far less than the $95,000 the Supprelin LA bill would have been.

According to his explanation of benefits, after insurance, Taksali will owe $4,698.45 - most of his high deductible. Because it is early in the year, the family had not yet spent any of its 2020 deductible.

Taksali said he fought for the lower cost drug on principle.

"Even if it is the insurance companys money, its still somebody's money," he said. "We are still contributing to those premium dollars."

The Takeaway: If you need an expensive drug, the first thing you should do is ask your doctor if there are cheaper alternatives. Often different formulations of the same chemical compound carry vastly different prices. In this family's case, the version to treat prostate cancer patients was far cheaper than the pediatric version for a hormone imbalance.

More commonly, the different formulations relate to different dosages - two 250 mg tablets may be cheaper than a 500 mg pill. Likewise, a pill you have to take three times a day may be far less expensive than the once-a-day extended-release version.

When a coverage denial leads to costly care, patients can ally with their health care providers or employers to appeal, though it can be time-consuming. Self-insured employers, in particular, won't want to waste health care dollars either. For Taksali, using social media to direct-message UnitedHealthcare garnered prompt responses and some answers.

If there aren't other options, drug manufacturers often offer coupons to help patients with their copays. You can find some using GoodRx or by visiting the drugmaker's website directly.

KHN senior correspondent JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.

Bill of the Month is a crowdsourced investigation by Kaiser Health News and NPR that dissects and explains medical bills. Do you have an interesting medical bill you want to share with us? Tell us about it!
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British holidaymakers will be able to return home after all but one of the Canary Islands' airports reopened following closures caused by a Saharan sandstorm.

Flights from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma and North Tenerife Airports will be able to take off, according to a statement from airport operator Aena.

But those departing South Tenerife continue to be grounded, the statement added.

Flights from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma and North Tenerife Airports will restart on Monday after planes were grounded at the weekend because of a Saharan dust storm (pictured, sand is blown across from Africa to the islands)

A passenger plane takes off from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport after the sandstorm eased enough to allow planes to fly

Holidaymakers, including many Britons, were hoping to escape the Canary Islands on Monday after being stranded since the weekend when airports including Santa Cruz de Tenerife (pictured) were closed

Passengers stand and queue in the airport in Santa Cruz de Tenerife after flights restarted on Monday following closures

Spain's Canary Islands remain in high alert because of a wind storm that has blinded the archipelago with sand and dust from the Sahara, but airports were allowed to reopen on Monday

Passengers at the airport in Santa Cruz de Tenerife wait to see if they will be able to fly home on Monday

Flights from the Canary Islands restarted on Monday (pictured, airport passengers) as forecasters said the dust storm is expected to clear by the afternoon

People stand outside the airport in Santa Cruz de Tenerife as skies remain overcast with dust and sand from the Sahara

Earlier, customer service staff at the airports told the PA news agency that the airports had remained open for passengers, despite there being no flights to board.

Passengers posted photographs of people sitting on the floor waiting for more information.

Greg Horsman, 29, was on holiday with his girlfriend and his friends on a Tui cruise and was due to fly home to Manchester on Saturday evening.

However, they were forced to stay in Gran Canaria for another two nights due to the storm.

He told PA: 'It's frustrating. We're just ready to be home.'

A spokeswoman for Tui said: 'We would like to sincerely apologise to customers for the disruption caused by the adverse and changeable weather conditions in the Canary Islands on Saturday and Sunday.

'The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority and we are working tirelessly to find the best solutions for all our customers.'

British holidaymakers soaking up some sun during the half term holidays were left stranded after the region's airports closed at the weekend. Only South Tenerife airport remained shut on Monday

Two travelers protect themselves from the heavy dust while they wait at Gran Canaria Airport after airplanes were not allowed to take-off in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday

Hundreds of passengers were stranded in the islands airports as flights were delayed and cancelled due to low visibility on Sunday. This group is pictured in Gran Canaria, the main airport on the island

Tourists wait to find out whether their flight has been cancelled at Gran Canaria's airport on Sunday

A woman applies tear drops to a man affected by the smoke caused by several fires due to the hot waves of wind and dust, in Santa Ursula, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Hundreds of passengers were stuck in airports across the island at the weekend as they waited to find out whether their flight would be cancelled. Pictured: passengers sitting on the floor at Las Palmas airport

Britons had been posting photographs of orange skies on the islands as strong winds carrying dust from the Sahara blanketed the islands.

Michael Nixon, who is on holiday in Tenerife with his family to celebrate his 50th birthday and is due to fly home to Newcastle on Wednesday, said 'pink dust' had covered his rented apartment balcony.

Speaking on Wednesday, he said: 'It's all a bit surreal. A heavy mist came in last night followed by very strong gusty winds during the night.

'This morning we awoke to yellowish haze and strong winds.

'We ventured out but it's difficult to see with all of the sand in the air.

'We are slightly concerned that our flight home on Wednesday could be affected.

'The sky is still yellow. It's around 29C (84F) but visibility is around 200m.'

Tim Crew, 69, had booked a holiday to Lanzarote with his family after cancelling their previous holiday to Hong Kong and Thailand because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Their BA flight out of Gatwick Airport on Sunday has been cancelled and the family has been booked into a hotel.

He said: 'It's one of those things really. If no one had talked to us and if there had been obvious problems and culpability, I'd probably be quite annoyed.

Tourists are pictured on the island of Tenerife after a storm blew across sand from the Sahara, turning the skies orange

Holidaymakers, including hundred of Britons, and locals got stranded amid the dust storm - which reduced visibility to just a few hundred yards in places

The storm, named Calima, struck Tenerife at the weekend (pictured, Tenerife on Sunday) but was easing on Monday, allowing most flights to resume

Despite the overcast skies temperatures remained warm, as people tried to carry on with their holidays (right)

Passengers queuing at Tenerife South airport. Meanwhile in the UK, flights out to the Canary Islands are being delayed or cancelled due to the sandstorm

A Ryanair plane attempts to make a landing in the poor visibility. Flights to the islands were cancelled from midday Sunday

A storm carrying clouds of red sand from the Sahara has hit the Canary Islands, shrouding the region in a haze of orange. Pictured: A tourist dries off after a swim in Chica Beach at Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventra

A view of the runway during a sandstorm blown over from North Africa at Las Palmas Airport, Canary Islands, Gran Canaria on Saturday

'But everyone's done the right thing. The pilot came out a few times and told us in person and apologised, saying they had no more news at the moment and they were going to send us to a hotel.

'It's not great, it's not how I planned it, it's not what I want, but these things happen.'

One resident heralded the storm as the worst she has experienced in 14 years of living on Fuertaventura. 'The sky has turned orange!', they said.

The Ministry of Education has also announced that schools will be closed on Monday, reports El Pais.

Residents have shared photos of streets and beaches shrouded in orange dust on social media.

It comes as 250 residents on Gran Canaria evacuated themselves to the beaches as fire swept through the area. Many were able to return to their homes this morning.

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.

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

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

A plane is seen parked on a tarmac at Las Palmas Airport during the sandstorm blown over from North Africa 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

A cruise ship in Las Palmas port is barely visible as one of the worst Saharan dust storms in recent years reduces visibility to 400 metres and caused the cancellation of more than 200 flights on Saturday
It might be a little late for thespians at Country Place to start acting coy about a characters side hustle in their new show, Nanas Naughty Knickers.

Wasnt the cat out of the bag when Pearlands popular 55-plus community put out a plea for sexy lingerie?

It started coming in, in unmarked brown bags, said resident Sandra Eliason. Can you believe, in a retirement community such as ours?

Anticipation is high for the show, even though its marketing doesnt mention that lingerie is what Sylvia, a grandmother, is illegally selling out of her rent-control apartment in the Upper East Side of New York City, said director Linda DAmbra.

Seniors take roles as young lovers

At the heart of the show is the awkward romance of Sylvias granddaughter, Bridget, a college student, and a sometimes-clueless young street cop, Officer Tom OGrady.

The budding lovebirds are played by actors in their 70s, said DAmbra.

More Information Want to go? What: "Nana's Naughty Knickers" Where: Carriage house at Country Place, 3119 Flower Field Lane in Pearland When: 6 p.m. Friday, March 6; 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8 Admission: $10 (Sunday matinee is by donation) Information: 713-436-1062, "Country Place, Pearland TX" on Facebook See More Collapse

DINING OUT: All the Houston area restaurants Guy Fieri has visited on 'Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives'

Eddie Young portrays Bridget, while Bobby Montalvo is cast as Tom.

Our Bridget wears a dark wig, and shes already petite; we will have her in youthful clothes, the director said. Our Tom wears a cop outfit 90 percent of the time.

Props include fishnet tights, leather bras

Another costume choice came with how to dress Ann Cisneros as Heather Van Pree, who mistakenly delivers Sylvia a package of kinky stuff from a company called Saucy Lips.

Heather is a sexy gal in high leather boots. There are a lot of references to What the heck is she wearing? said DAmbra.

The props list for that scene in Katherine DiSavinos comedy calls for whips, chains, leather bras with pointy cups, bolts of weird and hilarious fabrics, wigs, fishnet tights, belts with studs in them and other sundry items that will get a laugh.

Eliason said, This is going to be our funniest play yet.

In previous productions at Country Place, DAmbra portrayed a nun in Class Reunion and Angelina in Flamingo Court.

I decided I wanted to direct, said DAmbra, who arrived at Country Place in 2002 and retired in 2016 from a career that included substance-abuse counseling and developing workshops for offenders to reform and re-acclimate themselves into society.

As the director, you have to think about a lot of things, she said. It is very, very challenging and takes a lot more time than being an actor.

IN PEARLAND: Water billing mess has Pearland scrambling

Jokes abound

In Nanas Naughty Knickers, Carol Willis stars as Sylvia.

Her wisecracking sidekick is Sue Martinez as the fitness-averse Vera.

We dont go on walks, complains Vera. We go on death marches.

Rounding out the cast are Paul Hamilton, Bill Horton, Dutch Keen, Barbara Odom and Earl Odom.

The shows assistant director is Jean Smusz.

There is a lot of action in the show, said DAmbra, so when the characters are out of breath, the actors are really out of breath.

Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be contacted at donmaines@att.net
The new Justin Bieber album Changes officially made its debut at number one on the Billboard 200.

Changes was dropped on Valentine's Day which makes this Sunday the end of the first full week since its release.

Justin has released a grand total of five studio albums, every single one of which has now secured a place at the top of the Billboard 200.

Success is swell and success is sweet: The new Justin Bieber album Changes officially made its debut at number one on the Billboard 200

Two of his remix albums, Never Say Never: The Remixes in 2011 and Believe Acoustic two years later, have also reached the summit of that chart.

Changes has then become Justin's seventh album to climb to the coveted top spot of the Billboard 200, which has been updating weekly since 1967.

His previous studio album was the 2015 release Purpose, which also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

Purpose managed to remain on the chart for a grand total of 155 weeks, according to the outlet's archive of Justin's chart history.

There it is: Changes was dropped on Valentine's Day which makes this Sunday the end of the first full week since its release

Justin's first studio album My World 2.0 also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in March 2010 and did not leave the chart for 125 weeks.

My World 2.0 was a companion piece to his 2009 EP My World, which opened at the number six spot on the Billboard 200.

While promoting the album to Zane Lowe on Apple Music he shared that 'in due time' he and his wife Hailey Baldwin will have children.

However before beginning a family he would like to 'go on tour, be married, enjoy travelling with just us, build more of our relationship.'

Publicity rounds: While promoting the album to Zane Lowe on Apple Music he shared that 'in due time' he and his wife Hailey Baldwin will have children

His faith will influence his trajectory as 'When you accept Jesus, he says that now you walk with the Holy Spirit. So, I think I just want to be led by the Holy Spirit.'

Shortly after his last breakup from his on-off flame Selena Gomez in 2018, Justin and Hailey had whirlwind romance and he proposed that summer in the Bahamas.

Hailey, who got a $500,000 new Tiffany engagement ring, had a courthouse wedding with Justin in New York in September 2018.

However, the pair of devoted Christians were set on a religious wedding too and held a ceremony at the Montage Palmetto Bluff's Somerset Chapel last November.
Are your group chats as private as you think? (Getty)

WhatsApp group chats are not as private as some users might think - with groups easily discoverable on Google if an invitation link has been shared online.

WhatsApp user Jordan Wildon found private groups using Google searches, and was able to access all the users in a group, including their phone number.

The problem arises from WhatsApps Invite to Group via Link, which allows groups to be discovered online.

READ MORE

Using this process, Wildon discovered many groups, including ones devoted to sharing pornography.

In the groups, Wildon was able to see users and their phone numbers.

Your WhatsApp groups may not be as secure as you think they are.



The "Invite to Group via Link" feature allows groups to be indexed by Google and they are generally available across the internet. With some wildcard search terms you can easily find some interesting groups. pic.twitter.com/hbDlyN6g3q  Jordan Wildon (@JordanWildon) February 21, 2020

Wildon said, The Invite to Group via Link feature allows groups to be indexed by Google and they are generally available across the internet. With some wildcard search terms you can easily find some interesting groups.

Facebook spokesperson Alison Bonny said that links that users wish to share privately with people they know and trust should not be posted on a publicly accessible website:

She explained in an email to The Verge, like all content that is shared in searchable public channels, invite links that are posted publicly on the internet can be found by other WhatsApp users.

Yahoo News has reached out to Facebook for comment.

Last week, after years mired in privacy scandals, WhatsApp owner Facebook has suggested that it wants to work with governments on new rules for the internet.

Story continues

Invite links publicly posted on internet can be found by other WhatsApp users

The social media giant  which has been under fire over fake news and hate speech online  published a set of recommendations for online content regulation.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called for good regulation on social media companies.

The company published recommendations for future regulation, which suggest placing more accountability on companies to do content moderation.

Facebook argues this will be a strong incentive for firms to be more responsible.

Last week, the Government published early proposals for new online harms regulation, including placing broadcasting regulator Ofcom in charge of holding internet companies to account should they fail to uphold a duty of care to users.

Facebook has said it wants to work with governments on "new rules for the internet".

Sharing the company's guidelines on Twitter, Facebook's head of global affairs and communications Sir Nick Clegg said: "Facebook wants to work with policymakers to create new rules for the internet.

Facebook has said it wants to work with governments on "new rules for the internet" (PA)

"We published a White Paper that offers five principles that could frame content regulation, especially outside the US, that keeps the internet safe and protects free expression."

The guidelines suggest regulations should "respect the global scale of the internet and the value of cross-border communications" and encourage coordination between different international national regulators, as well as look to protect freedom of expression.

In terms of enforcing new rules, it also calls on regulators to develop an understanding of technology which still allows technology firms to innovate rather than issuing blanket bans on certain processes or tools, and asks regulators to take into account the "severity and prevalence" of harmful content in question, its status in law and efforts already underway to address the content.

Writing in the Financial Times, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said the company supported the need for new online regulation even if it damaged Facebook financially.

"I believe good regulation may hurt Facebook's business in the near term but it will be better for everyone, including us, over the long term," he said.

"These are problems that need to be fixed and that affect our industry as a whole. If we don't create standards that people feel are legitimate, they won't trust institutions or technology.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have just released the final details of their exit from the British Royal Family. The pair have been living a relatively quiet life on Vancouver Island in Canada. However, at the end of this month, the duo will head back to the U.K. to carry out an intense schedule of final royal duties.

After that, the Sussexes will be free to live life as they please for the next 12-months until their new roles are reevaluated by the remaining senior members of the royal family. Theyve already begun planting seeds for their financially independent life.

Though the duo will no longer be using Sussex Royal after April 1  they truly dont need the brand to become successful as non-royals.

The Sussexes may have made mistakes with the business plan

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their Megxit announcement very abruptly. As a result, many royal experts feel as though they rushed their business and plan rollout.

Its a classic example of how not to set up a business, political commentator Suzanne Evans said on Good Morning Britain. Theyve made every mistake in the book. They built this website in secret, suddenly launching it on an unsuspecting world. And of course, the Royal Family went, oh, what? Stop? No, its not going to happen. You cant trade on the royal brand, its an institution.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer be using Sussex Royal

After weeks of speculation, it has now been agreed upon by the duke and duchess and the British Royal family that the Sussexes will not use the term Sussex Royal moving forward.

Given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word Royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organization, when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation, the Sussexes spokeswoman said in a statement. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use SussexRoyal in any territory post Spring 2020.

This is unfortunate considering the royal part of the Sussexes brand was the most lucrative aspect of it. Royal experts estimated that it was worth billions of dollars. Theyve also put a ton of money into trademarking Sussex Royal and building their Instagram page, and website.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dont need Sussex Royal

Though it appears that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are losing out on a lot by not fighting for Sussex Royal. However, one royal expert doesnt think they need it.

They dont need to use it, marketing expert, Piers Bracher told Express. You get talking about it either way. They have an enormous amount of sympathy from people in or below their age group but for those older than them the word tiresome springs to mind. If you look at their combined revenue generation youd find its billions because they have the ability to create vast amounts of generosity among rich people.

We think with all of their connections these two will be just fine without Sussex Royal.
MONTREAL  The police on Monday morning moved to break up a blockade near a rail crossing in Ontario by an Indigenous group that has disrupted passenger and freight trains in Canada, stoked fears about fuel shortages and layoffs, and created a tricky political challenge for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The blockade had been set up along Canadian National Railways tracks by members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in support of Indigenous groups who oppose a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia. Dozens of police officers moved in on the protest, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, east of Toronto, after the disruption lasted more than two weeks.

The Ontario police said that several people had been arrested and that the use of force was a last resort.

The protest has affected rail travel for at least 103,000 Canadians and prompted temporary layoffs. The government-owned Via Rail Canada, which mostly runs on Canadian Nationals tracks, at one point shut down all passenger trains in the country and temporarily laid off 1,000 employees.
The world's oldest national leader, Mahathir Mohamad, submitted his resignation Monday as prime minister of Malaysia, triggering the collapse of his government.

Instead of taking him out of power, the move paved the way for 94-year-old Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia for more than two decades until 2003 before his second stint at the job began in 2018, to once again act as a kingmaker, as his ruling coalition crumbles under the weight of decades-old feuds, rivalries and elite backdoor politics.

Central to that feud are Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim, the elder statesman's 72-year-old protege-turned-rival-turned-ally. Anwar was ousted in the 1990s when he was Mahathir's deputy, jailed on sodomy charges that his supporters called fabricated and banished from the ruling elite. But in a rapprochement, the two men joined forces ahead of 2018 elections, leading a new movement that ousted a coalition that had ruled for six decades.

Mahathir pledged as part of their agreement that he would eventually hand power to Anwar, but it took just a few months after the 2018 vote for their political marriage of convenience to begin looking shaky.

The murky political drama, which was playing out without much transparency on Monday, undercut what had been one of the region's more promising political transitions and harked back to a time when backdoor dealing and palace intrigue were the keys to Malaysia's levers of power.

"There are perceptions that this undermines the democratic process and undermines the kind of mandate that people put in to the new government," said Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate at the University of Nottingham Malaysia's Asia Research Institute who has studied the country's politics. "There is a lot of disappointment among people who voted for the [Mahathir-Anwar coalition] to see the government collapse as it has."

A statement from the prime minister's office said Mahathir submitted his resignation to Malaysia's king. Under Malaysia's constitution, the entire cabinet must be dissolved if the prime minister resigns.

At the same time, Mahathir's party, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, known as Bersatu, said it would leave the ruling coalition. Mahathir also quit as the party's leader, and about a dozen other prominent lawmakers left to form an independent bloc in the legislature - paving the way for a complete reconfiguration of the Southeast Asian country's government.

Experts said the most remarkable characteristic of the upheaval is that all political blocs, the opposition and ruling coalition alike, are appealing for Mahathir to stay in power, giving him the opportunity to realign the political status quo and potentially sideline Anwar with a broad base of support.

"This will give [Mahathir] maximum flexibility; he can start everything on a clean new slate," said James Chin, director of the Asia Institute Tasmania at the University of Tasmania. "He holds all the cards."

The king, Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, has not commented publicly on the matter. Analysts say that Abdullah could call for fresh national elections, declare a state of emergency, negotiate with Mahathir to form a new government if he has a majority of lawmakers behind him, or call for an emergency session of the legislature to resolve the issue.

Mahathir was slated to meet the king later Monday evening local time, as was Anwar, who indicated he would comment afterward. His spokesman did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

In landmark elections in May 2018, Malaysians ousted a long-serving coalition government whose leader, Najib Razak, was dogged by a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal. The vote ushered in a new coalition - Pakatan Harapan, or the Alliance of Hope - led by Mahathir and Anwar.

Mahathir had promised to cede power to his former rival during his term, but he remained vague on the timeline. Months after the vote, in an interview with The Washington Post, Anwar groused that Mahathir and his supporters were working on the sidelines to stymie his leadership prospects. Throughout the past year, Anwar had been working to assure Malaysians that the two were finally able to get along, posting pictures on social media of their meetings and saying that he believed Mahathir was sincere about handing over the reins.

But the behind-the-scenes hostilities exploded into full view over the weekend, when Anwar said Mahathir's party and "traitors" within his own party were plotting behind the scenes to effectively form a new government, and sideline him.

Malaysia's ruling coalition was especially celebrated for being able to draw together liberal parties and conservatives across racial and religious lines. Hopes were high that the bloc's electoral success could usher in a new era of inclusive politics, where minorities including ethnic Chinese would have more say in a political landscape long dominated by Malay Muslims.

On Monday, Lim Guan Eng, secretary general of the Democratic Action Party, which counts Chinese Malaysians among its core supporters, condemned those within his old alliance who "attempted to form a backdoor government to replace the existing democratically elected" government.

"Such political manipulation has affected the government's effort to address economic and livelihood of Malaysian businesses and the ordinary [citizens]," Lim said.

The DAP and the other two parties remaining in the ruling coalition have pledged their continued support for Mahathir. They said Monday that they will urge him to remain in power, citing his ability to fight corruption.

Within the changing fortunes of the country's politicians, Welsh said, is the issue of minority politics in Malaysia, where both politics and economics have long played out along racial lines.

"Will this new government be an inclusive one, or one based on racial primacy?" Welsh asked. "These are things at the core of this - yet, for the people who are involved in these elite deals, it is all about money and power and who is getting what positions."

- - -

Edward reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Ocala, FL Dentist, Dr. Nickelice Brand, Offers Aesthetic CeraRoot Ceramic Dental Implants CeraRoot implants have proven to be highly successful. They are very cosmetic, and they serve the same purpose as traditional implants.

Respected dentist, Dr. Nickelice Brand, provides a metal-free option to dental implants in Ocala, FL with revolutionary ceramic dental implants. Dental Implants of Ocala offers the ceramic dental implant treatment, CeraRoot, for those with allergies to the metal in traditional dental implants, who have thin gums or who may want a more natural approach to implant dentistry. Dental implants are used to replace failing or missing teeth with a natural-looking, long-lasting alternative.

CeraRoot is a unique approach to dental implants because the entire implant is made from a single piece of ceramic material. Traditional dental implants are composed of separate pieces, a post and an abutment, making it easier for bacteria to accumulate under and around the implant. Since CeraRoot is made from a single piece of ceramic, this is no longer a concern. Additionally, some patients may have thin gum tissue, which can expose the metal threads of a traditional implant. CeraRoot implants are made of tooth colored ceramic material, so any exposure through the gum tissue will look like a natural tooth root.

Were one of few CeraRoot providers. People come from, not just all over the state of Florida, but nearby states as well to get the CeraRoot implants, says Dr. Brand. Theyve proven to be highly successful. They are very cosmetic, and they serve the same purpose as traditional implants.

CeraRoot implants are created from zirconia, a biocompatible ceramic material that assimilates well into the bone. Those with metal allergies can choose ceramic dental implants without fear of allergic reaction or of their body rejecting a metal implant. CeraRoot implants are approved by the FDA and provide the same levels of strength, longevity and results that traditional implants do.

All dental implants, when placed by an experienced dentist like Dr. Brand, allow patients to replace failing or missing teeth. The implants mimic natural tooth function, including stimulating the jawbone, preventing shifting of surrounding teeth and offering a natural look, feel and bite. Dental Implants of Ocala offers comprehensive dental implant treatment, including All-on-4 full mouth dental implants, same-day dental implants, and denture stabilization with implants. Additionally, patients undergoing dental implant treatment at this practice can receive soothing IV sedation from the dentist and his team in order to block sensations of anxiety or discomfort.

Those interested in learning more about ceramic dental implants or looking for an experienced dentist in Ocala, FL are encouraged to contact Dental Implants of Ocala to make an appointment. The practice can be reached by calling 352-653-2500 or visiting the website at http://www.dentalimplantsofocala.com.

About the Practice

Dental Implants of Ocala offers specialized and all-inclusive dental implant treatment to patients of Marion County, including Ocala, FL and beyond. Dr. Nickelice Brand, the practices leading implant dentist, has over 25 years of experience and focuses solely on providing innovative implant solutions for his patients. Placing over 500 implants a year, Dr. Brand has retained a 98 percent implant success rate and an even higher level of patient satisfaction. The team at Dental Implants of Ocala remains up to date on implant dentistrys most innovative and unique technologies, including bone morphogenetic protein, Digital Smile Design, and CeraRoot ceramic dental implants, to ensure the highest standard of care and most predictable treatment outcomes. To learn more about Dental Implants of Ocala and their innovative implant care, visit http://www.dentalimplantsofocala.com or call 352-653-2500.
A local court in Andhra Pradeshs Chittoor district on Monday sentenced a 25-year old man to death for raping and killing a five-year-old girl in November last year, an official release from the chief ministers office said.

Chittoor first additional district and sessions judge Justice M Venkata Harinath ordered that Patan Mohammad Rafi, who had committed the offence at a marriage hall Korabalakota town of B Kothakota block in the district, be hanged to death.

The girl, along with her parents, had gone to a wedding at the function hall on the evening of November 7, 2019. She was seen with her parents till 10pm but went missing later.

When her parents could not find the girl even after the wedding was over, they started looking for her.

Her parents, who lodged a complaint with the police early on November 8, 2019, suspected that a young man who was taking pictures of their daughter on his mobile phone, might have kidnapped her.

Within a few hours, the police found the girls body, with her clothes removed and scratches on her face and other body parts, in the bushes behind the wedding hall.

The investigation was taken up by Mudivedu sub-inspector of police M Sukumar, who established the identity of Rafi on November 12, 2019, and arrested him on November 16, within nine days of the crime.

After an investigation based on medical reports of the deceased, forensic reports, potency test conducted on Rafi and an identification parade, the police filed a charge sheet in the court on December 10, 2019.

The trial commenced on December 31 and went on till January 20. The court continued to hear arguments till February 22 and the judgement was delivered awarding death sentence on Rafi on Monday, the CMO release said.

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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
As one of over 100 women who came forward about abuse at the hands of Harvey Weinstein, his trial  which has now concluded with a guilty verdict on two counts, one of sexual assault and one of rape in the third degree  has been deeply triggering for me.

I was outside of the courthouse on the first day of the trial on a bitterly cold morning. For days before this moment, I was a complete wreck. But I knew that being there was important for other women like me. So, I gathered all my courage and stood there, waiting for my own personal monster to emerge.

As Harveys SUV arrived, I started trembling uncontrollably. It had been 12 years since I had been anywhere near him, and the last and only time I saw him he pressed his 6ft tall, 300-pound, nearly naked body against mine while holding me so tight I couldnt have any hope of escaping, whispering in my ear that he loved me, and asking if Id flirt with his friends and use sex to get ahead in my career.

But today hed be hobbling in with the support of his walker, a shrunken shell of the man who had caused so much pain for so many years. As he emerged from the truck, my fellow survivors and I stood taller, stronger; and while tears ran down our cheeks and our bodies shook, we were there in our full power, daring him to look at us.

But he didnt. Of course he didnt. The man is a coward and a liar. Thats why when the women he abused are on the stand, he mostly keeps his head down. He knows what he did. And our faces are the indelible reminder of his villainy. He kept us isolated and scared for years, decades, but he didnt anticipate what would happen when we found each other, when we raised our voices, and when we demanded the world reckon with the horrors he perpetrated upon us.

Later that day, I joined my fellow survivors for a press conference. It was overwhelming but empowering, and for about 24 hours I felt stronger and happier than I had in the two years since coming forward. But within a few days, my body shut down. I had one of the most severe and debilitating panic attacks Ive ever had. The toll of sexual violence is a large and complex one, with far-ranging physical, psychological, and economic consequences for survivors. Anyone who thinks people like me, or the warriors who have taken the stand, have come forward for fame or money needs to understand how much we have sacrificed just to tell the truth. This isnt done for personal gain; its to make the world safer.

But as the trial raged on, it became even more of a nightmare. Donna Rotunno and her colleagues seemingly delighted in bullying witnesses to the point of sobbing. It got so bad at one point that Judge James Burke had to dismiss witnesses and chastise the defenses tactics.

Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Show all 50 1 /50 Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Files arrive at the rape trial AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Louis R Aidala attends the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lance Maerov testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court AFP via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Kara Young exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Rosie Perez exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Photos are passed around to the jury Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein's rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges Elizabeth Williams via AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations Reuters

Watching coverage of the trial, I was struck by how many legal experts also touted rape myths as though they were legal precedents. I personally appeared on Court TV multiple times to dispel this dangerous thinking and educate its audience about how the law is not built to treat survivors fairly. Putting my own trauma aside in order to correct rape myths and victim-blaming is an incredibly difficult, draining, and time-consuming task.

Regardless of the strength I may show in interviews, I am still terrified. Terrified that this judgment on Harvey wont be enough; terrified that the film industry, the same industry that blacklisted me and countless other silence breakers, will welcome this horrible man back with open arms one day; terrified that my health will suffer further; terrified that Harvey will be set free to abuse more women in the future.

Dont get me wrong  the simple fact that Harvey Weinstein stood on trial was momentous. His power and influence cannot be ignored. This is a global reckoning, and I am proud of the small part I have played in it.

Harvey has been found guilty of two counts in New York, and he will now go on to face further charges in Los Angeles. He may not ever be held accountable for everything he has done, but this is an extremely encouraging start.

Harvey Weinstein is not simply my own personal monster: he is a dangerous predator who is symbolic of the toxic culture of rape, power, and abuse that permeates every industry and community.

I am a survivor and I will never stop fighting. But I look forward to a world where the fight ends because everyone joins together to say: Enough is enough; I believe survivors, I repudiate abusers, and I will never blame or punish victims of sexual violence again.
Libya's rival camps announced Monday they had suspended their participation in UN-sponsored peace talks this week in Geneva, although a United Nations spokesman said negotiations would still go ahead.

A parliament based in eastern Libya, backed by strongman Khalifa Haftar, said it would not take part because the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had not approved all its 13 representatives.

A rival authority in Tripoli, the High State Council -- the equivalent of a senate -- said it would also not participate in talks scheduled for Wednesday until progress was made in military negotiations.

"It is in light of conclusions (from military discussions) that the high council would decide to take part or not in political dialogue," the Tripoli body said.

Haftar's forces launched an offensive against Tripoli, seat of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), last April.

Stalemate around the capital's southern suburbs has persisted for months since then.

A joint military commission with five members from each said wound up talks Sunday in Geneva with a "draft ceasefire agreement" to be finalised in March, according to the UN mission.

A spokesman for UNSMIL said Monday that the political dialogue would still take place.

"The Libyan political dialogue will go ahead as previously scheduled, on 26 February," Jean El Alam told AFP.

"Many participants have already arrived in Geneva and we hope all invited participants follow suit," he said.

But Khaled el-Mechri of the GNA-aligned High State Council said it would not be bound by the outcome of political talks if they went ahead "before knowing the military dialogue's conclusions".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In recent years, the Standardbred racing industry has ramped up its efforts to highlight its economic importance to provincial and state governments. Harness racing leads to millions upon millions in economic activity, and the most recent entity to trumpet that fact is the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association.

Spectrum News 1 has put together a video report focusing on the positive economic impact that harness has on the State of Ohio.

The report focuses on Delaware Countys world-renowned Little Brown Jug week, and understandably so, but it also discusses Ohios Standardbred industry in general. The industry is strong, its booming, and the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association wants legislators to be fully aware of that.

The Ohio Harness Horsemans Association has stated that horse racing is a multi-billion dollar industry in Ohio. According to OHHA, the industry generated an estimated economic impact of $2.8 billion in 2018, and it accounted for 21,000 direct jobs, which, in total, led to $900 million in income that year.

Speaking in regard to the Delaware County fairgrounds, specifically, Little Brown Jug Publicity Director Jay Wolf explained that, Well have up to 200 horses that train here year round. So were collecting monthly stall rent, the farmers are supplying hay. Youve got veterinarians, trainers, grooms who live in town, work in town. Its an absolutely important part of the economy here in Delaware.

Wolf went on to explain to Spectrum News 1 that, obviously the horses will need hay, theyll need oats, theyll need water, theyll need vets, but that the economic impact goes beyond agriculture-specific metrics. For one example, horsepeople ship racehorses all across the state, and therefore lend great support to the auto industry that makes the trucks and trailers, businesses that have anything to do with the infrastructure surrounding shipping, etc.

We have more county fair racing in the state of Ohio than anywhere else in the world, said starting gate operator Mike Woebkenberg, who explained how deep the industry runs in Ohio. We are literally a world-class event that nobody knows about.

To watch the Spectrum News 1 video report, click here.

(With files from Spectrum News 1)
ALTON  The Hayner Public Library Board of Trustees monthly meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at 401 State St., Alton.

Among agenda items are an ordinance establishing the dates for 2020 board meetings and a resolution pertaining to non- resident library cards.

Ever since Hayners board of trustees approved library cards for non-residents, the board has been required to pass a resolution annually to continually allow the option for those who may live outside of a specific library district.

We do it as a service for those who geographically fall into those outlying areas, said executive director Bernadette Duvernoy. We dont really sign up too many people, but the option is there.

The cost for a non-resident library card is $130 a year based on the average annual tax contribution per household in the district. In comparison, a non-resident library card for the Jerseyville Public Library is $155 annually; public libraries in Edwardsville and Bethalto base their fees on the taxable valuable of their property or amount of rent.

Typically, a non-resident library card functions just like a resident library card, allowing use of all of a librarys services and allowing for use at other libraries in the Illinois Heartland Library System.

Once you have a library card, you can use it for all of our services, said Duvernoy. Its not restricted.

Also on Thursday, Duvernoy will give a directors report pertaining to various library facilities projects.

The Hayner Public Library Board of Trustees meets the fourth Thursday each month at 6 p.m. in the adminstrative building of The Hayner Public Library District, 401 State St., Alton. The board does not meet in December or March.
Daredevil and Flat Earth theorist Michael "Mad Mike" Hughes died Saturday in a rocket crash. Hughes, 64, wanted to prove the Flat Earth theory by taking photographs of the Earth from a homemade rocket.

Saturday's rocket launch was to be featured on the Science Channel, which was chronicling Hughes' attempts to launch himself high enough in a homemade rocket to take pictures of the curvature  or lack thereof as far as Hughes was concerned  of the Earth. This particular launch was only supposed to take Hughes 5,000 feet in the air, according to Discovery.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Hughes' family and friends during this difficult time. It was always his dream to do this launch, and Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey," Science Channel said in a statement.

Mad Rocket Scientist

In this Wednesday, November 15, 2017, photograph, daredevil/limousine driver Mad Mike Hughes is shown with with his steam-powered rocket constructed out of salvage parts on a five-acre property that he leases in Apple Valley, California. Waldo Stakes / AP

Although police did not positively identify Hughes, San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Public Information Officer Cindy Bachman said Saturday in a statement, "A man was pronounced deceased after the rocket crashed in the open desert during a rocket launch event. Medical aid was staged for the launch and was on scene immediately."

Hughes had previously completed a successful launch in March 2018, which sent him 1,800 feet in the air.

flat-earth-mad-mike-hughes-steam-powered-rocket-620.jpg

"Mad Mike" Hughes launched himself into the heavens in a steam-powered rocket he built himself, to confirm his theory that the Earth is shaped like a Frisbee. CBS News

"The Flat Earth thing is like everything else to me," Hughes told CBS News in October 2018. "I just want people to question everything. Question what your congressman is doing, your city council. Question what really happened during the Civil War. What happened during 9/11."

Story continues

At the time, Hughes stated that he built his homemade rocket mostly through "trial and error," and admitted, "You don't get a lot of second chances, though, in the rocket business."

In the 2018 documentary "Rocketman," Hughes described how he wanted to live and die. "We are supposed to come to the end of our lives not with anything left, but everything exhausted," Hughes said. "The tires are blown down, your out of gasoline, you are coming to a screeching halt  you know you have done everything you can possible do."

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The five flights departed one after the other bound for Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou as part of Qatar Airways voluntary offer of free air cargo transportation for medical relief aid organised by Chinese Embassies and Consulates worldwide to fight the coronavirus emergency.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: When this crisis began, we knew we had to contribute to support our friends in China. As one of the leading air cargo carriers in the world, we are in a unique position where we are able to provide immediate humanitarian support through the provision of aircraft and donating medical supplies as well as coordinating logistical arrangements.

By working with the Chinese Embassy in Qatar we hope our combined efforts can help limit the spread of this virus, ease the burden on local medical personnel and provide relief to the impacted communities in China.

Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China in the State of Qatar, Zhou Jian, who attended the convoys departure along with Qatar Airways' GCEO, said: At this critical moment when Chinese people nationwide are fighting against the Coronavirus, Qatar Airways has opened a Green Channel for donating and transporting medical supplies to China. This is a channel of love, friendship, solidarity and hope. We are deeply grateful for that.

The kindness of Qatar fully reflects the fraternal friendship the Qatari government and the people of Qatar have for the Chinese people. It is also a symbol of Qatars internationalism, and a symbol of solidarity among the international community to stand together in the face of difficulties. On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people. I would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the brotherly Qatari people.

Todays convoy follows an earlier batch of critical medical relief aid transported by Qatar Airways Cargo to Shanghai on 2 February 2020. The shipment included 100,000 medical-grade N95 respiratory masks and 2,700 medical-grade disposable latex gloves, providing essential protection to healthcare professionals working around the clock at hospitals in Hubei Province, the epicentre of the virus. The airline is planning to transport additional donations in the coming weeks.

The Green Channel initiative for complimentary air transportation was announced jointly by Qatar Airways and the Chinese Embassy in Qatar on 7 February 2020. Qatar Airways is the first international airline to volunteer emergency relief flight delivery.
Kuwait has airlifted 900 citizens from Iran, which grapples with an increase in the number of infections by the coronavirus.

Six aircraft transported the citizens to the Gulf country, which has set up an isolation center at a local hospital, Gulf News reports.

The citizens showed no sign of infections, the health ministry indicated, upon their arrival.

All necessary measures are in place according to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, Kuwaiti Health Minister Shaikh Basil Al Sabah said.

Iran has become the first country in the world outside China, the epicenter of the outbreak, to record 8 deaths caused by the virus.

Kuwait as part of precautions also barred Iranian expats from returning until they stay in a third country for two weeks, the incubation period of COVID-19, Gulf News reports.

The Arab Gulf country also suspended flights and maritime transportation of people to and from Iran until further notice.
Bribery, nepotism, and influence peddling are informal institutions that frequently undermine formal institutions and are often pervasive and entrenched.





by Zulkifli Nazim





It is said of Cato The Younger, a conservative Roman Senator in the period of the late republic, more than 2000 years ago, had a famous distaste for the ubiquitous corruption of the period. He was the pursuit of restraint, of dignity, and most especially of severity. He did not contend with the wealthy in wealth, nor with the partisan in partisanship, but with the vigorous in virtue, with the restrained in decency, and with the upright in integrity. He preferred to be good rather than to seem good, and so the less he sought glory, the more it attended on him. (Synopsis Paraphrased from the book Rubicon by Tom Holland)













Widespread corruption may have roots in culture and history, but it is, nevertheless, an economic and political problem. Corruption causes inefficiency and inequity. It is a symptom that the political system is operating with little concern for the broader public interest.





For many years the issue of corruption has, to some extent, been downplayed by governments, international organizations, and policy experts. This is true because, first, corruption was considered a cultural and political issue; and second, because measuring corruption, much less getting rid of it, was perceived as nearly impossible. Thus, elimination of corruption was not usually an economic objective of development reforms. Instead, it was taken as part of the nature of a country, as exogenous perhaps as its geography.





However, times have changed. Frustration with the lack of effectiveness of traditional approaches to development and the recognition that institutional development and good governance practices play a fundamental role in economic development have led to increased attention given to corruption.





Bribery, nepotism, and influence peddling are informal institutions that frequently undermine formal institutions and are often pervasive and entrenched. A strong kleptocratic state may suffer financial hemorrhaging at the top, but very little day-to-day petty corruption. Where the state pretends to be strong by implementing numerous strict regulations, but the rule of law is weak, petty corruption will be rampant.





The most salient question is: To what extent do public sector employees grant favors in exchange for bribes, kickbacks, or other material inducements, and how often do they steal, embezzle, or misappropriate public funds or other state resources for personal or family use?





Corruption in government, where public officials use their offices for private gain, has a significant negative impact in countries all over the world. In fact, very few governance issues have more of a negative impact than does corruption.





Self-interest and the public interest frequently conflict. Corruption perverts underlying public goals. Corrupt public officials claim that bribes have not influenced their behavior, but were merely gifts of appreciation. Even those who pay to receive something they ought to obtain for free may believe that bribery is better than the alternative presented by the corrupt official, who will be biased against them if no money or favors have changed hands.





The public servant weighs the expected benefit of accepting a bribe against the expected cost. They deal with whoever is willing to pay.





The economic goals of growth, poverty alleviation, and efficient, fair markets are undermined by this despicable bribery and corruption. Corruption erodes political legitimacy and the protection of rights of the people of a country.





Corruption manifests itself in innumerable areas, in various and complex forms and interactions. Corruption has dominated in the fiscal arena. Although often unintentionally, fiscal policies sometimes facilitate corruption in the private and public sectors, as a result of the ways governments collect and spend resources.





The relationships between corruption and fiscal policy can be simple and direct but also subtle and complex. In some cases, the public sector itself provides an incentive to its public servants, to be corrupt. For instance, poorly compensated public servants have powerful financial incentives to search for additional sources of income, including through bribes or extortion if necessary.





Poorly designed expenditure programs and budget processes may also give individuals or firms opportunities or incentives to bribe public officials or to perpetrate other frauds. Other corrupt practices are internal to the public sector itself. Corruption can result from acts by politicians or senior policy makers; tax administration and customs officials; or those entrusted with contracting or delivering government services.





In summary, there are countless types of corruption and many distinctions can be made based on the dynamics of the act  unilateral and multiparty systems; the agents involved  usually, high-level officials, low-level officials and middle men who are private agents. The size and volume of the corrupt act also comes into play vis-a-vis - grand corruption or petty corruption which includes the budgetary functions  expenditures and revenues, and so on. One main conclusion of this analysis is that all types of corruption  including fiscal corruption  are detrimental, in different degrees, to the fundamental role of government to provide a stable economic framework, generate economic growth, and improve general welfare.





In contexts where corruption is pervasive and the implementation of policy is distorted by corrupt officials being highly educated and politically sophisticated will not translate into high institutional trust. Because combatting corruption is a means to an end  improving both economic conditions and political legitimacy. Anti-corruption reforms should be embedded in overall efforts to improve the delivery of public goods and services.





Treating the symptom, but not the underlying problems, will not cure the malady. It is not enough to make a few high-profile arrests: true reform involves changing the way government interacts with society.





Finally, personal ethics play a role. Some people have such strong moral convictions that they will resist any corrupt proposal. At the other extreme, some are so cynical that they have no scruples about using corruption to get things done. Most have a sense of morality, but one that can be overcome for the right price.





Perceptions of corruption can help shape personal ethics: the more an individual perceives corruption to be the norm, the more that person is likely to engage in corruption.





Blood money comes at the cost of your soul. Bribes and corruption are not just wrong; theyre dangerous. Its corrosive. There are always strings attached, whether the money comes in the form of a salary or an envelope of cash slid under a table.





Concluding with An Anecdote from the pages of History





2167 Years ago in 147 BC, narrates the story of Titus Torquatus who was a famous politician, general and Consul of the Roman Republic. Consider the severity with which he treated his son Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus . His son was accused by a deputation from Macedonia of having taken bribes while praetor in that province. Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army; or an elected magistratus, assigned various duties.





Torquatus summoned him into his presence to answer the charge, and having heard both sides of the case, determined that his son had not held office in a manner worthy of his forebears, and banished him from his sight. The son thereupon committed suicide; his father refused to attend the Funeral.





These are those who loved and served their country, heart and soul.





Let Torquatus be an example and let Cato The Younger be an inspiration.
Battling cancer is one of the hardest things anyone can go through - but one anonymous person is helping make it a tiny bit better for sufferers in one hospital.

Every Monday for the past 12 years, someone has been sending a bouquet of flowers to the oncology ward at the Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.

However, nurses have absolutely no idea who theyre from - and so theyve been choosing a patient having a tough time to be the recipient each week.

The heart-warming story of what has become known as The Monday Flowers has been been revealed on Facebook by a staff member.

A cancer ward has been receiving a bouquet of flowers every week for more than a decade - but nobody knows who they're from [Image: Getty]

READ MORE: Man, 21, shares touching tribute to 74-year-old wife

Alivia Cozzarelli explained that a fresh bunch has arrived weekly on the cancer unit for more than a decade without fail, and they are handed to someone battling the condition who needs cheering up the most at that particular moment.

She revealed that all the nurses know is that they come from a business called Your House of Flowers.

Captioning a selection snaps of the bouquets that had been sent in, the staff member wrote: Our manager doesnt know for sure, but he thinks they are sent from a man whose wife passed away on our unit.

Ive made up so many stories in my head about this person. Like maybe he bought his wife flowers every week and when she died he didnt know where to send them so he just sent them to the place where she passed away.

READ MORE: Woman bumps into boyfriend she thought had died

Or maybe, someone brought her flowers when she was in the hospital and it made her so happy that he wanted to bring that same joy to another person going through a hard time.

Alivia noted that the identity of the person may remain a secret forever, but she thought the act of kindness was one worth sharing.

She added: I dont think well ever know the whole story but I do know that Im sincerely grateful for people like this kind, anonymous human.

And every Monday Im inspired to be kind to strangers every chance I get.

Story continues

READ MORE: Woman who texted daily updates to late father's number gets response from grieving man

Her post has received more than 5,000 likes, with over 300 people revealing how the tale had moved them.

One person wrote: That's beautiful but it did make me cry. GOD Bless you and all who work with and take care of.

Another commented: Beautiful gesture.

A third shared: They're so beautiful, shows humanity isn't lost...

And a fourth added: That is so incredibly special.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
The Indian Embassy in South Korea urged its citizens to reconsider non-essential travels to Daegu and Cheongdo county in Gyeongbuk after these were declared as Special Care zones by the government in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. The Embassy issued an advisory for Indian nationals living in South Korea following several calls and e-mails from them regarding a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in South Korea over the past few days.

Though the Korean government raised the virus alert level to red, most of the cases were largely centred in Daegu and the neighbouring north Gyeongsang province. Korean Government has declared Daegu and Cheongdo county in Gyeongbuk as Special Care zones. In this situation, please reconsider non-essential travel to these places, tweeted the Indian Embassy on February 24.

'Avoid physical contact'

The Embassy also advised Indian nationals to take other precautions against the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, such as refraining contact with sick people and avoiding physical contact with strangers. The Embassy also urged its citizens to avoid public gatherings and to wear masks while using public transport and moving around outside.

The Indian namastey greeting is best, the embassy advised people when meeting strangers.

Read: Iran Lawmaker From Qom Accuses Govt Of Coronavirus Cover-up: Report

South Korea has confirmed an additional 161 Coronavirus cases on February 24, with 763 total confirmed cases, making it the largest number of cases in the world after China. Most numbers of cases in South Korea are related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu.

Read: China 'comprehensively Bans' Illegal Wildlife Trade Over Coronavirus Outbreak

According to the latest report, 150 new deaths in China due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to nearly 2,600. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including Italy, Japan and the Philippines, have also now reported deaths related to COVID-19.

Read: Iran Govt Pledges Transparency On Coronavirus Figures After Cover-up Allegations

Read: Chinese Woman Builds anti-coronavirus Tent For Daughter So She Can Study Outside
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: In a major development, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) decided to accept the five-acre alternative land allotted to it by Uttar Pradesh government at Dhannipur village under Sohawal tehsil in Raunai township on Lucknow-Ayodhya highway. The land allocated to UPSCWB is just 20 km away from the temple town. The decision to accept the land was taken at the meeting of the Board here on Monday.

After confabulations in the meeting, the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board arrived at the consensus to build a mosque on the allocated land. It also decided to set up a trust to oversee the construction of the proposed mosque on five-acre land.

Moreover, the board also decided to construct a charitable hospital, a library and an Indo-Islamic Cultural Centre besides the mosque and other public utility facilities on the land allocated to it on February 5, this year.

The Board, which was one of the main litigants in the Ayodhya title suit, comprises of eight members from different fields. However, only six members including board chairman Zafur Farooqui, Adnan Farooq Shah, Junaid Siddiqui, Sayyad Ahmad Ali, Abrar Ahmad and Juneed Ahmad attended the meeting.

Remaining two members including Abdul Rajjak Khan and Imran Mabood boycotted the Monday meeting.

The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board has decided to accept the five-acre land allocated to it in compliance of Supreme Courts November 9, 2019 decision, said board chairman Zafur Farooqui.

He said that the board had decided to build a mosque on the land and soon a trust for the same would be set up. On the details of the mosque, its size and name, Farooqui said, The size of the mosque will be decided to keep in mind local needs.

Sharing other details of facilities proposed on the land, UPSCWB chairman Farooqui said that the Board had decided to establish an Indo-Islamic Cultural Centre on the land depicting the evolution of Islamic culture in context to India over the centuries. The centre will also provide facilities for research and study of Indo-Islamic culture, said Farooqui.

He added that the trust for the formation of the mosque would soon be set up. However, its format, number of members and name would be shared once it is set up, he maintained. Farooqui also said that the mosque would be built on crowdfunding model and the resources would be arranged by the mosque trust.

Sunni Waqf Board would not spend money on mosque construction, Farooqui claimed.

The name of the proposed mosque will be decided by the board members and those nominated in the trust to oversee its construction, said Farooqui.

In November last year, the Supreme Court had paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple by a trust at the disputed site at Ayodhya and directed the Centre to allot an alternative five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a prominent place in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, other Muslim litigants including Iqbal Ansari and Haji Mehboob of Ayodhya gave a very cold response to the UPSCWBs decision. While Ansari said he was with the Board on accepting the land as there was no choice for him, Haji Mehboob felt that the state government had not complied with the Supreme Court order in letter and spirit.

I am with the Sunni Waqf Board as it will do everything in the national interest, said Ansari.

However, Haji Mehboob minced no words in expressing his chagrin. I dont have much to say as the Sunni Waqf Board has already accepted the land in Raunai. However, the SC order had said that the land should be allotted in Ayodhya and that has not been done. Injustice has been done to Muslims by allocating the land in Raunai, said Haji Mehboob.
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has drafted a Right To Water legislation that promises a minimum of 55 litres a day per person to the states 76.2 million residents, a fine and a jail term of up to 18 months for anyone affecting the quality of water, and a 0.5% cess on all construction work to fund development of water infrastructure.

MP is the first state in the country to have drafted such a law. The Central government last year announced a Jal Shakti Mission promising piped drinking water to every household by 2024.

The draft law, a copy of which has been seen by Hindustan Times, is based on the public trust doctrine, which provides for citizens having the first right over natural resources such as water. The MP government seeks to consider water a fundamental right on the lines of right of life enshrined in the Constitution.

The Right to Water Act will be based on equal and fundamental right of every citizen over natural resources like the Right to Food and Freedom, said a senior government official of the public health engineering (PHE) department who didnt want to be named

Drinking water is the first priority, followed by water for irrigation, industry and public recreation in that order, according to the draft. It also says that water will be spared for the industrial sector and public recreation only after environment and social impact assessments are done.

The draft aims to set up two bodies --- the state water management authority (SWMA) to ensure protection of quality of water sources and soil health besides stipulating regulations for treatment plans and Jal Manch, a committee of stakeholders in every panchayat.

The draft contains provisions on ensuring environmental flow of rivers, sustaining ecosystems dependent on water, regulation of sand mining on river beds, preservation of water quality, mandatory rainwater harvesting, conservation of catchment areas, increasing the irrigation network and effective groundwater management.

The proposed law seeks to have water security zones and plans for surface and groundwater sources . The state government will be empowered to notify separate regulations for these zones .

With water crisis deepening its not possible to ensure certain amount of water to everyone without imposing restrictions on use of groundwater and also punitive measures on such offences, the official cited in the first instance said.

The draft has a separate section on penalties. Section 52 of the draft bill states, Whoever affects the quality of water or its availability shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend up to 18 months or with a fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or with both. The fine will be doubled for repeat offenders.

The draft prescribes more stringent punishment for extracting water from a water protection zone, which will be demarcated in case of drought or any other threat to water sources, and not complying with instructions given by the state water management authority. For such offences, the offender will be punished with imprisonment between six months and three years along with a fine up to Rs 10 lakh.

The draft proposes 0.5% cess to be collected on all kinds of construction works in the state because of the financial constraints of the state government

Sanjay Singh, national convener of Jal-Jan Jodo, a group that works on water related issues said,Not just MP but every state has to think of how to use water judiciously. If we dont act right now, only 40% of people in the country will have access to water by 2030, which will come down to 30% by 2050.

Though MP is a water hub, distribution and management is the biggest challenge. About 70% of water is used for irrigation, industries us 18% and the rest (12%) is for domestic use. The water allocated for irrigation and industries has to be reduced to make more drinking water available, he added

Sukhdev Panse, minister for PHE, said, The state government is working on the Right to Water Act in line with chief minister Kamal Naths instructions. We will be the first state to have such a law and hope to show the way to others on how to make judicious use of it to ensure water for all.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ranjan Ranjan Srivastava leads HTs coverage from Bhopal. He has spent more than two decades in journalism in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, covering political and other affairs. For the past 16 years, he has been working in Madhya Pradesh. ...view detail
On February 21, Indias ambassador to Kabul met Afghanistans vice-president Amrullah Saleh to reiterate Indias commitment to working with the new government and democratic polity in strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership. The meeting was timed parallel to the announcement of the United States (US)-Afghan Taliban deal, commencement of the reduction of violence period, an expectation of intra-Afghan talks, and President Donald Trumps India visit.

Loaded with strategic intent, Indias decision to support President Ashraf Ghani underlines the central driver of its Afghanistan policy: To strike a continuing strategic balance between Kabul and Islamabad. Over the last decade, in the light of Afghanistans structural weakness vis-a-vis Pakistan, New Delhi has focused on supporting Kabul in its struggle to influence, however tenuously, the terms of talks with the Taliban.

In this context, India faced twin inter-related dilemmas. One, how to ensure political coherence in Kabul where the president and the (now former) CEO Abdullah Abdullah are at loggerheads? This is important, because a split in Afghanistans mainstream body politic will weaken the governments hand in its negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. Two, should it engage with the Afghan Taliban or not? Regardless of Kabuls performance in the expected intra-Afghan dialogue, the Taliban is likely to become part of the government in some shape or form. On the first dilemma, India has firmly rejected Abdullahs idea of creating a parallel government with support from former vice-president Abdul Rashid Dostum. This decision, and its promptness, has little to do with the perceived legitimacy of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan. It has to do with the fact that Ghani enjoys relatively more US support than Abdullah, has a team that India can trust to secure its interests better, and that New Delhi simply cannot afford Kabuls collapse days before the intra-Afghan talks begin.

If anything, India will endeavour to strengthen Ghanis hand in the intra-Afghan talks. Short of putting boots on the ground, New Delhi might further increase political, diplomatic, financial, and intelligence support for Kabul in the coming weeks. During the negotiations phase, India is unlikely to find a better interlocutor than vice-president Saleh  an established Pakistan critic, a staunch India ally, and a tough negotiator with allies and adversaries alike.

Even if the desire for political coherence in Kabul was necessary for India to support Ghani, the presence and actions of Dostum gave the decision strategic sufficiency. New Delhi has little to be wary of Abdullah and his team given how closely aligned they have been to the country. But Dostums posture brings back painful memories.

In April 1992, the Jowzjani militia led by Dostum scuttled Indias plan to secretly exfiltrate its ally and then-president Mohammad Najibullah. Shortly after, the mujahideen took over Kabul. In this context, Dostums recent manoeuvres to dislocate the government are highly unwelcome, even if India retains sympathy for Abdullah and might be pressing him behind-the-scenes to stand-down.

But the fact remains that there are limits to how much India can support Kabul given its capacity limitations, Kabuls administrative dysfunction, and its toxic dependency on external aid. So the second dilemma remains. What must India do about the imminent comeback of the Pakistan-backed Afghan Taliban; engage with it or not?

In 1992, despite insurgency raging in Kashmir, India recognised the Pakistan-backed mujahideen government after denouncing them throughout the 1980s. What enabled this policy shift was a systematic silent outreach with the mujahideen (especially the Iran-based groups, but not just) prior to Najibullahs fall. Such outreach offered India a nuanced understanding of intra-mujahideen politics and an appreciation that not all mujahideen were under Pakistans control or fomenting trouble in Kashmir.

Similarly, India has refused to officially engage with the Afghan Taliban. Unofficially, however, there have been intelligence-level contacts and signalling. For its part, the Afghan Taliban too has shied away from being open about these channels to avoid complications with Pakistan. But despite such contacts, there is limited evidence that India has generated granular knowledge of and access to the Afghan Taliban leadership and combatants that will enable a serious and well-planned policy adjustment if the need arises.

Especially as the Taliban re-emerges on the political front, both sides need to reassess the costs and benefits of continuing disconnect. Now, it is unlikely (and even undesirable, for it will weaken Kabuls hand) that India will afford official recognition to the Afghan Taliban before a settlement is reached in the intra-Afghan talks (if at all). But in truth, the debate in Indias policymaking circles about whether or not to engage with the Afghan Taliban is very real and urgent.

The endurance of the US-India partnership promises New Delhi limited strategic cover in Kabul. Given the scale of US military involvement in Afghanistan, the withdrawal is likely to be complicated and tortuous. So, unlike the Soviet collapse that heightened Indian vulnerabilities in the early 1990s, the US strategic blanket is unlikely to disappear soon  but it requires proactive maintenance. To that effect, it remains to be seen how India capitalises on the Trump visit to push its agenda in Afghanistan and vis-a-vis Pakistan.

In either situation, that of relative peace or of continuing strife, the USs interest and involvement in Afghanistan will only diminish. For that reason alone, India must be prepared to support its allies in Kabul, but also expand its equities among different Afghan political constellations  from both within the mainstream body politic as well as the insurgent landscape.

Avinash Paliwal teaches at SOAS, University of London and is the author of My Enemys Enemy: India in Afghanistan from the Soviet invasion to the US withdrawal

The views expressed are personal
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

Trend:

The Armenian Armed Forces, having grossly violated ceasefire on the contact line of troops on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, have carried out a provocation, Trend reports Feb. 24 with reference to Azerbaijans State Border Service.

On Feb. 24, at 07:00 (GMT +4), a sabotage attempt of the Armenian Armed Forces from units located near Koti village of Armenias Noyemberyan district to a border fighting post near Gushchu Ayrim village of Azerbaijans Gazakh district has been suppressed.

The enemy suffered serious losses, one officer was injured, another serviceman was killed.

When suppressing the provocation committed by an enemy sabotage group using mortars and other large-caliber guns, soldier Ibrahim Valiyev died heroically.

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, in 1992 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.
Sahil Naik's exhibition speaks against the trampling of alternate discourses in a saffronised landscape  a phenomenon that has affected architecture as well.

Experimenter gallerys new exhibition responds to the way contemporary architecture is being appropriated in India, where an emboldened political class has set out to rewrite histories and legacies. Titled Monuments, Mausoleums, Memorials, Modernism, the exhibition brings together a new collection of sculptures and paper-based works by Sahil Naik, whose practice has been shaped by themes related to the built environment in South Asia and other parts of the world. His new exhibition is part of a chorus of voices speaking against the trampling of alternate discourses in a saffronised landscape  a phenomenon that has, in India, affected the evolution of architecture as well. Case in point is a recent exhibition by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, which traces the career of well-known engineer Mahendra Raj and his contribution to several modernist projects, including the Hall of Nations, New Delhi, which was demolished in 2017.

Naiks exhibits serve as architectural propositions at a time India witnesses dramatic changes to its built environment. These changes are taking place as landmark buildings (such as the Hall of Nations)  that have either colonial or post-independence significance  are being demolished, modified or simply ignored. In this conversation, the Goa-based artist, who studied sculpture at The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda and Goa College of Art, talks about the triggers for his new work, ranging from the question of erasure in architecture planning to the building of a dam in Goa that submerged a village.

Your new project is a response to the way architecture is being appropriated in contemporary times  a concern quite relevant to India. Can you talk about your own position on this subject, with specific examples?

We are at a crucial moment where historical narratives are being constantly appropriated and there is a concentrated effort towards erasure. We are looking at new plans of redevelopment and social housing, demolition of unstable buildings; new museums, memorials, trade centres, etc. This doing over of what we already have, has my interest. It amuses me how much legacy can mean in the narrative of national histories. The other is, of course, the claim of development and modernisation.

Closer to home, Charles Correas Kala Academy, an excellent example of public and cultural architecture that speaks to the climate of Goa, was threatened with partial demolition. The open-air theatre was damaged and instead of renovation/repair, a tearing down was announced. It was only after local uproar and the intervention of the High Court of Bombay at Goa that this was stalled. But several other buildings did not share this fate, like the Nazarbaug Palace in Baroda that was demolished to build a shopping centre or the Hall of Nations in New Delhi.

How did the idea behind the exhibition come about, and how did you approach the works, in terms of your process?

In the 1960s, Dayanand Bandodkar, the first chief minister of Goa presented his dream of building a modernist dam at Salaulim in Goa. The dam was eventually built, and it submerged the village of Curdi, amongst others, and displaced thousands of people. Every year in the summer, when waters of the reservoir recede, the village resurfaces and people return to visit what remains of their homes. I have been returning to Curdi every summer for many years. For me, this was in many ways a starting point for this project. Monuments, Mausoleums, Memorials, Modernism really started in 2015.

The project began with putting together material from diverse sources collected over the past four years. These include archival material, news clippings, material from the internet, social media and images/drawings from my own field trips. I began looking at post-independence architecture  the challenges, strategies and intentions  in new nations or recently liberated nations. I was thinking through the intentions of the state for her citizens through social housing, cooperatives and government buildings, parks, museums, banks and schools in the first two decades of independent India. The approach was simple  to constantly measure ambition with function, and through the citizen.

Your sculptures and paper works are a nod to the nostalgia towards modernist architecture, which is being revisited by artists and historians as India witnesses large-scale political changes to its built environment. In terms of the creative influences for this exhibition, are there any important architects or landmarks who/which may have informed your recent work?

I, on the contrary, think this project is not about the nostalgia of modernist architecture. It is instead critical of this nostalgia. It does instead think about the violence of the nation-building project, function and subjects in waiting. The ambition of Nehruvian modernism did little to bridge the distance between the large number of incoming refugees and the pace of construction. Having said that, there is a lot to admire in the modernist project as well, most importantly its attempt to provide security and a forward-thinking attitude. There was something strangely congregational about the architecture, that enabled a kind of community building. We are faced by another kind of violence today  one of rewriting  a show of power that constantly compromises people, culture and resources.

There are several architects and their works I am thinking about right now. Some of these would be Perin Mistris St Stephens Church on Nepean Sea Road, Mumbai; Charles Correas Goa Kala Academy; Minnette de Silvas Senanayake Flats in Colombo; Muzharul Islams Faculty of Fine Arts in Dhaka, and the National Museum of Natural History in New Delhi, which was gutted in a blaze in 2016.

You live and work in Goa, a state with its own history of appropriation of architecture, such as its temples, which represent a hybrid artistic influence both Indian and foreign. How has life in Goa shaped your own approach to architecture as an artist?

The architectural history of Goa is fraught with assimilation. The history of temple architecture, for example, can be traced to cave temples dedicated to nature Gods, which were carved out of red laterite, that later followed the standard temple layout. Over the years, with different rulers and cultural influences of several features  like a basilican floorplan from the churches, the Bijapuri domes and the stepped tank reminiscent of the Adilshahi Goan mosques  were assimilated into the states architecture. In terms of housing and social architecture, the Portuguese were fast losing resources by the 18th century. So the ambition of Goan architecture was mostly homegrown and led by natives. They worked with local skill sets, materials and crafts to create an architectural style truly unique to the region. I say Goan architecture because the term Portuguese architecture is grossly inaccurate.

Goa had its first multi-storeyed building in the Mandovi Hotel at Panaji, which was built to cater to the influx of visitors expected to attend the exposition of St Francis Xavier in 1952. Since there were no architects in Goa at that time, the hotel brought them in from Bombay, who were influenced by the Art Deco style. Growing up in Goa, all of these stories have had a deep influence on me, and they play out as simple fascinations or anecdotes in my work. I believe a large part of the conversations around architecture, particularly modernist architecture, is about form and aesthetics. I am more interested in the narrative and the anecdotal, a kind of humanising of architecture.

Monuments, Mausoleums, Memorials, Modernism runs from 8 Jan - 25 Feb at Experimenter, Hindustan Road, Kolkata.
There is speculation today that Plate of Origin has pushed back its production starting date.

The Australian reports production is now due to begin on March 15 in Dural, following a heads of department meeting early last week, attended by executive producer David Dutton (MKR) and director Kate Douglas-Walker (The Chefs Line, How Not to Behave).

The series, cheekily referred to as POO, is due to launch out of the Tokyo Olympics with Manu Feildel, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan, although Seven had to halt referring to the former MasterChef judges due to contractual reasons.

The newspaper suggests Seven execs have been panicked by the disastrous ratings of the networks other big cooking show, My Kitchen Rules and there is speculation it could be more like MasterChef than MKR.

However the format which pits cuisine against cuisine is probably closer to Family Food Fight and The Chefs Line, amongst others. Seven is also said to have still been on the hunt for Lebanese cooks through Facebook -which could also contribute to any date change.

Meanwhile The Age reports Seven recently attempted to outsource the show to Endemol Shine Australia instead of producing it in-house, but didnt land an agreement.

Seven declined to comment.
Dee Dee Myers

Dee Dee Myers, who served as Bill Clintons first press secretary, is leaving her post as executive vp of worldwide corporate communications and public affairs at Warner Bros.

Myers has been with Warner Bros. since 2014. Before that, she served as managing director, public affairs at Glover Park Group. She has also been a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, and from 1995 to 1997, co-hosted the political talk show Equal Time on CNBC.

Her political career started as a full-time employee on Walter Mondales 1984 presidential campaign. She served as assistant press secretary in the office of Tom Bradley during his tenure at mayor of Los Angeles and played key roles in Michael Dukakiss 1988 presidential bid and Dianne Feinsteins run for California governor in 1990.

At Warner Bros. Myers ran communications surrounding the studios merger with AT&T, the exit of Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara following allegations of misconduct, and the hiring of his replacement Ann Sarnoff from BBC Studios America.

Myers will leave the company on April 1, and no successor has been named.
A driver and a child care worker have been charged with the manslaughter of a three-year-old Cairns boy who died alone after being left on a mini-bus.

The little boy was picked up from a Mount Sheridan property about 9am on Tuesday last week and should have been taken to the Goodstart Early Learning centre at Edmonton.

Police investigating the boy's death at Edmonton in Cairns' south.

But police allege the boy was left on the bus when it was parked for the day outside Hambledon State School, about 1.7km from the child care centre. The boy's body was found about 3.15pm on the same day.

Police have laid manslaughter charges against the bus driver  a man aged 45  and a 34-year-old female employee, who was also on the bus. They will face the Cairns Magistrates Court later on Tuesday.
Outrage after Israeli forces use bulldozer to retrieve body of man they accused of planting improvised explosive device.

Khan Younis, Gaza  At the al-Naem family home in western Khan Younis, the relatives of 27-year-old Mohammed gathered in shock to grieve over the loss of a father, husband and son.

My son has no match, he was everything to me, said Mohammeds mother, Mirvat, 56. He was kind-hearted, religious and very moral. I cant imagine him gone.

More:

Mohammed was shot dead on Sunday by the Israeli military, which accused him of planting an explosive device near the Israeli separation fence east of Khan Younis in the besieged Gaza Strip. Mohammeds family denied this, saying that his presence near the fence area was peaceful.

A local journalist captured the scenes that followed in a video, widely shared on social media, which showed a group of Palestinian onlookers attempting to retrieve Mohammeds body when an Israeli military bulldozer approaches.

Gunfire can be heard as the men rush away from the body, which the bulldozer then scoops up after several apparently failed attempts. The body appears to hang from the teeth of the scoop by a piece of clothing as the bulldozer turns and heads towards the fence.

Men trying to collect a body as a bulldozer approaches them, along the Gaza-Israel fence, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip [Muthana Al-Najaar/AFP]

A great crime

The images of Mohammeds lifeless body being carried away by the bulldozer have caused widespread outrage among Palestinians and the family has demanded its swift return for burial.

Isnt it horrendous enough that they killed my young man? What they did is a great crime against humanity, said Mirvat.

All I want is for them to bring my son back  Its my right to see him for the last time and bid farewell to him and bury him near me to be able to visit him.

Mohammeds wife Hiba, 25, who struggled to speak through tears, described her husband as a kind-hearted, hard-working family man.

Mohammed was a very kind and very remarkable man. I cant imagine this happening to him, she told Al Jazeera. Weve been married for a year-and-a-half and hes been very tender-hearted and sweet to me. Our baby is less than a year old, what did he do to deserve growing up without his father?

Hiba said Mohammed was an engineer who worked with different companies as he sought to make a living to support his family. She said she would not watch the video.

Horrifying

Palestinian journalist Muthana al-Najjar, 36, said he learned that there had been an incident close to the fence near Khan Younis approximately at 6am local time (04:00 GMT) on Sunday and rushed to the scene with his camera equipment.

The scene of the incident was horrifying, he said. There was an intensive deployment of Israeli soldiers on sand mounds. There was also an Israeli Merkava battle tank standing on a sand mound, live rounds were being shot from the Israeli side, he said, adding that one person lay prone close to a motorcycle.

A group of onlookers had gathered and made several attempts to recover the body, but faced live fire from the Israeli soldiers, he told Al Jazeera.

The first rescue attempt was made by four civilian farmers who took a wheelbarrow and tried to approach Mohammeds body, but the army shot live fire towards them and their attempt to retrieve the body failed, al-Najjar said.

More residents of the area came to the incidents location, and there were loudspeakers calling on people to hasten and attempt to retrieve the bodies before the army comes and steals them as has been the case several times before.

As more people gathered nearby, al-Najjar said Israeli vehicles, including a military bulldozer, approached the area.

The bulldozer wasnt there yet, so four young people managed to reach the body and put the martyr on the wheelbarrow, but he fell off on their way back because of the Israeli fire and their fear of getting shot. They tried to carry him again, but the Israeli soldiers shot one of them, and he was injured so their balance was disturbed, and the martyr fell off again.

During the third rescue attempt, the bulldozer entered Gaza with the tank. And for the first time in years, we saw an Israeli bulldozer entering around 70 metres into Gaza, al-Najjar pointed out.

200223232221593

As one person managed to get a hold of Mohammeds body, the bulldozer rushed towards them and used its scoop to hold back the body, while soldiers shot the rescuer in his leg. The shooting continued so people couldnt approach the body.

Military flare-up

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) armed group said that Mohammed was a member of its armed wing. Late on Sunday, it launched more than 20 rockets towards Israel from Gaza in response to his killing.

Overnight, Israel carried out a number of air raids on what it called terror sites near Damascus, Syria and Gaza.

The group said that two of its members were killed in Syria.

On Monday, PIJ fired a further volley of rockets and mortars from Gaza. Israels military said in a statement that 20 projectiles had been fired from Gaza on Monday, 18 of which were intercepted by its air defence systems.
Details added (first version posted at 10:57).

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

Trend:

Khojaly genocide is a crime against humanity, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said at the event titled "Refugee Women's Call for Justice: Ensuring Their Needs on the Agenda for Peace and Security", Trend reports Feb. 24.

Hajiyev stressed that as a result of the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, one fifth of Azerbaijan's territory was occupied, more than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons, and more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis died during military operations.

"Today's event takes place on the eve of the next anniversary of the Khojaly genocide. Four UN Security Council resolutions condemn the Armenian occupation, reflecting support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within internationally recognized borders. These resolutions also reflect the humanitarian challenges that Azerbaijan has faced. The resolutions require the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories. They remain valid until executed," Hikmet Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev stressed that the representatives of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh play an important role in bringing the voice of fairness of Azerbaijan to the world.

"Azerbaijan is a supporter of the settlement of the conflict in accordance with international law and within the framework of its territorial integrity," Hajiyev added.
There were no Monday morning blues for Jessica Mulroney, who certainly had a pep in her step as she arrived at the Good Morning America studios, beaming happily for the cameras as she made her way inside.

The 40-year-old looked every inch the fashionista as she strutted her stuff along the New York City sidewalk wearing a blue plaid Zara suit over a blue tank top, which she accessorized with a blue suede belt and blue suede shows.

Jessica topped the look off with a pair of silver hoop earrings, while her long brunette locks were worn in a half up style, pulled back from her face, with loose waves left to hang over her shoulders.

On the go: Jessica Mulroney was seen arriving at the GMA studios on Monday morning wearing a chic blue plaid suit from Zara

Quick change! The 40-year-old was later seen leaving the same ABC location wearing a completely different outfit, having apparently changed after filming

Accessories: Although she arrived at Good Morning America with no purse, she was pictured carrying a large Louis Vuitton bag as she left

The fashion stylist went without a purse or handbag, but she carried her iPhone in her right hand, while holding her left in the pocket of her suit trousers, which retail for a budget-friendly $35.90, while her blazer is priced at $49.90.

A few chunky silver bangles were seen adorning her wrist above the pocket.

According to a spokesperson for GMA, Jessica was filming for GMA3: Strahan, Sara and Keke; the fashion contributor is helping to plan a wedding for a couple who will tie the knot during Friday's broadcast.

After filming for the show, Jessica was later seen leaving the studios in a completely different ensemble, having changed out of her power suit in favor of a more fun and flirty look.

In place of the suit, Jessica opted for a thigh-skimming $89 English Factory shirt dress, which comes complete with an oversized cream sweater, and a black ribbon neck tie.

She then paired the high hemline with a pair of blue thigh-high Stuart Weitzman boots, and added a pair of sunglasses, while modeling the same half-up hairstyle and silver hoop earrings she was pictured with earlier in the day.

To complete the look, Jessica carried a large briefcase-style Louis Vuitton bag.

Smile! Jessica has been working as a fashion contributor for GMA since early 2019

Happy as can be: The mother-of-three looked incredibly cheery as she arrived for work

Feeling blue: She accessorized her plaid suit with a blue suede belt and a pair of blue heels

Trend: Jessica is clearly into blue suede shoes at the moment, opting to change into thigh-high boots made from a similar material when she departed the studio

Daring to bare: Although she kept her hair in the same half-up 'do, Jessica changed into an $89 English Factory shirt dress

Jessica has been working as a fashion contributor for GMA since early 2019, and has teamed up with the show on a series of challenges and specials, including planning a dream destination wedding for one lucky couple.

That then set the scene for Jessica to announce that she had secured her own Netflix series, I Do, Redo, in which she helps couples who move on from their disastrous weddings by planning the perfect ceremony for them.

The show is set to premiere on March 22, however the first trailer was shown during the Oscars earlier this month.

'Your wedding day should be one of the highlights of your life,' Jessica narrates at the start of the preview clip. 'But sometimes, things dont go as planned.'

The video then cuts to footage of a storm brewing on the day of a wedding.

'That's where I come in,' Jessica continues. 'Helping couples and families redo that special day theyve always dreamt of.'

Shady: She added a pair of sunglasses to complete her second outfit of the day

Busy bee: Jessica has been busy promoting her new Netflix show, I Do, Redo, which is due to premiere in March

Moving on: She was helped to her car by a security guard, however Jessica made sure to flash a smile at the cameras

The trailer goes on to show clips of couples exchanging vows, brides trying on dresses, and Jessica tearing up while attending one of the weddings she helped plan.

Friends: It was reported on Saturday that Jessica registered the website sussexglobalcharities.com for Harry and her best friend Meghan

However on-air wedding planning is not the only thing that has occupied Jessica's time of late.

On Saturday it was revealed that the mother-of-three has begun making plans for a series of international charities in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's name.

The stylist, whose children were pageboys and a flower girl at the Duke and Duchess's wedding in 2018, registered the website sussexglobalcharities.com last Wednesday through her own charity the Shoebox Project Foundation, which supports vulnerable women.

It comes after the Duke and Duchess were told they would no longer be able to use their Sussex Royal brand when they officially quit the monarchy next month.

Earlier this year, The Mail on Sunday revealed how Andrew Meyer, the Duchess's US business manager, registered two websites, archefoundation.com and archefoundation.org, on October 23, 2018  just eight days after Meghan revealed she was pregnant.

In September, he renewed the trademark for The Tig, her lifestyle blog which was shut down in 2017.
SPRINGFIELD  Better, faster east-west passenger rail service could attract more than a half million commuter trips a year, regional planners from across Western Massachusetts told MassDOT officials Monday, offering an estimate that far exceeds the states recently released numbers.

State officials on Monday said they would revisit their estimates, and increase the catchment area around rail stations from 20 miles to 40 or more miles.

The Western Massachusetts planners looked at U.S. Census Bureau data from 2017 showing that roughly 21,000 workers from Western Massachusetts commute each day into Worcester and Boston. Assuming the train service would attract just 10% of those workers  multiplied by 260 workdays each year  the planners arrived at an estimate of about 550,000 annual trips.

And that doesnt count tourists, students or people making infrequent business trips from Pittsfield to Springfield, Worcester, Boston or points in between, said Jonathan Butler, president and CEO of 1Berkshire in Pittsfield.

Butler spoke Monday at the most recent East West Passenger Rail Study Advisory meeting, presenting a report developed by 1Berkshire, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments in Greenfield, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Hartfords Capital Region Planning Commission, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in Springfield and state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield.

MassDOT officials said a second look at the numbers would assume riders will travel further to get to a train station. The new analysis will also look at induced demand  accounting for potential changes in locations of employment and housing patterns if a rail system is built.

On Feb. 12, MassDOT released cost and ridership estimates for six east-west rail options. The estimates ranged from a modest $2 billion project to improve rail service along existing tracks to an eye-popping $25 billion for an electrified, high-speed rail line following the Massachusetts Turnpike.

The cheapest option would attract 11,500 riders a year, according to MassDOTs projections. The most expensive would draw a quarter-million riders a year.

First, I thought it was very important that they get the message that people do not think these ridership numbers are accurate  or were reflecting reality, state Sen. Eric Lesser said Monday.

Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat and longtime advocate for east-west rail, pointed to the 21,000-commuters-a-day number. And thats with awful traffic, really expensive parking , paying for gas and all of the other limitations, he said.

Some of the MassDOT speakers at Mondays meeting hinted that their analysis will now take longer and that a final recommendation may not be ready by the end of May  a deadline that has already been pushed back.

But Astrid Glynn, MassDOTs rail and transit administrator, said in a post-meeting interview that meeting that the deadline is still a priority.

We are still onlooking at the end of May, Glynn said. We do not want to extend it.

She added: We would like to get information to stakeholders as quickly as possible. Thats still our goal. But wed like to take a look at the steps between us and that goal."

Lesser said he doesnt want t see any further delay of a study that was first expected to be done in 2018.

We also cant delay this anymore. The report has already been delayed, he said.

He declined to voice a preference among the options, especially since MassDOTs planners say theyll probably pull elements from each plan.

Whatever happens has to be transformative," Lesser said. "It has to solve the challenge, which is an economy that is vacuuming resources and opportunities out of Western Mass.

The goal, voiced by many at this meeting and at every meeting on the subject, is to make it easier for people living in Western and Central Massachusetts to access jobs in fast-growing Boston, and to make it easier for Boston-area workers squeezed by rapidly rising housing costs to move west and commute each day.

I think we can all agree that we need to think big and bold, said Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Its a statewide project.

Pittsfield Mayor Linda M. Tyer emphasized the statewide benefit.

I know people in my part of the state paid for the Big Dig which benefited only a small portion of the state, she said.

Rail boosters, including U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, say planners need to consider induced demand created by the rail system. Its something Connecticut has seen with trackside housing developments along the Hartford Line CTrail route.

The concept recently got the backing of the Boston Globe editorial board and an affirmation from Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

I agree with @EricLesser & the @BostonGlobe: East-West rail is an important investment to grow our economy & help working families in Western MA & across the Commonwealth. Lets get this done. https://t.co/TyVGVdRLAQ  Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 21, 2020

On Monday, staffers for U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, Neal and Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey all reiterated the lawmakers support.

Neal, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, has said the rail expansion is a priority for him in a $760 billion infrastructure program Democrats introduced last month.

The Western Mass Rail Coalition, a group supporting the project says whatever the state does, do it fast. Higher speed service of up to 90 miles an hour is preferable to faster trains that might be a decade or two in the future. And Amtrak has the right to operate more trains on CSXs east-west line that could start, in theory, as soon as the state negotiates an agreement.

The Coalition is calling for six round trips a day between Boston, Framingham, Worcester, Palmer, Springfield, Hartford and New Haven, and four connecting trains from Springfield to Chester, Pittsfield and Albany, New York. They say the trains need to be timed to allow early morning commutes.

The Valley Flyer from Springfield to Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield is a state-supported demonstration project that started Aug. 30, 2019. By 2021, the service must reach 24,000 passengers a year  basically double the number of folks who traveled the line before more trains were added in August  or the state will pull its $1 million-a-year funding.

Planners will do a hand-count of passengers this spring to see how many people are riding.

Passenger rail numbers have been up across the Pioneer Valley since the $103 million renovation of historic Springfield Union Station, a project championed by Neal, was completed in 2017.

A chart displayed at a meeting of the East-West Passenger Rail Study Adivsory Committee on Feb. 6, 2020. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

Amtraks New Haven-Springfield route  which works in concert with the Connecticut Department of Transportations CTrail Hartford Line  reported a 26.5% passenger increase from 286,477 in fiscal 2018 to 362,442 in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Passenger volume on the Vermonter, which also runs through Springfield on a north-south route, was up 1.4% to 99,280. Numbers for the Valley Flyer line were not available.

The east-west Lake Shore Limited  a once-daily trip between Boston and Chicago  saw passenger volume grow by 5.9%, to 357,682.

More than a million riders have used the Hartford Line commuter rail service since its launch in 2018. The one millionth ride occurred during the busy Thanksgiving travel period in late November 2019.

Got a news tip or want to contact The Republican about this story? Email newsdesk@repub.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 12:59:48|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has urged major telecom operators to timely assess the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak and quicken construction on the 5G network.

Telecom companies should optimize construction plans of the 5G network and fully utilize its role in stabilizing investments and spurring the development of the related industrial chain, according to a statement released after a work conference of the MIIT on Saturday.

Boosted by the news, 5G-related shares rose across the board on Monday.

China has extended the use of 5G technology in the ongoing battle against the epidemic, with wide applications in work resumption, long-distance disease diagnosis and temperature checking in transport networks.

The ministry said businesses should capitalize on business opportunities in sectors such as online education and health services to promote information consumption.

China greenlighted the commercial use of the superfast wireless technology in June last year, triggering a surge in consumer enthusiasm and an acceleration in industrial investment.

Leading telecom operator China Unicom said Sunday it will work with China Telecom to finish the construction of 250,000 5G base stations across the country by the end of the third quarter.
Mark Lehain is Chair of the Parents and Teachers for Excellences Network, and was the Conservative candidate for Newcastle North in last years general election.

Yesterday it emerged that No. 10 is looking to make a small change to the Employment Relations Act. It might seem at first, a technical tweak, but it could potentially shake up the world of trade unions and workplace representation, for the better of millions of workers. Let me explain

Currently, if you find yourself facing a disciplinary or grievance procedure with your employer you have the right to be accompanied to meetings by a trade union representative, an official employed by a trade union, or a fellow worker. If you want them at a hearing, your employer cant say no.

However, if youre one of the three-in-four workers who are not in a union, in such a situation you could be stuck. Legally, your employer doesnt have to allow you to bring anyone along with you other than a fellow worker. Unless your friend happens to be an expert in employment law, youre going to be at a massive disadvantage.

This is obviously bonkers, and incredibly unfair.

It grants trade unions in the UK a legal monopoly that is almost unique in the developed world. It also means that if you work somewhere that unions havent organised, youre at a disadvantage if something goes wrong.

So it is only right that the government look to correct this. Most people join a union as a back-up in case something goes wrong. It is vital that people have good representation when theyre in a sticky situation, and its wrong that to guarantee this they have to join a union, particularly if it is one whose political actions they disagree with.

Ive experienced this myself. I was a teaching union rep. for several years but left when they embraced extreme stances on all sorts of issues. That this affected my employment rights isnt on.

The change being considered to the Employment Relations Act is simple: it would just mean that people have the right to be accompanied in meetings by a non-union qualified person. This would immediately empower the millions of workers who are not in a union and it would improve practice across the board.

It could also transform how employment relations work more broadly. Removing the union monopoly opens up the sector for alternative organisations to emerge to support people. There are already a few out there  including Edapt in education, and the MPS and MDU in medicine. But there would be far more if their subscribers could know for sure theyd be able to take them into conflict situations.

Imagine the positive impact of this. More support for workers in the gig economy where traditional unions havent penetrated. Greater choice for teachers, doctors, social workers, rail workers, and so on. And existing unions would have to become more focused on, and responsive to, their members priorities, to keep them happy.

It really is a common sense, win-win change, and one that wouldnt take much effort to enable. Put it alongside the increase in the Living Wage, wider earnings growth, record high employment, and record low unemployment, and you have yet further evidence of the Conservatives commitment to levelling up the quality of life of workers.

Of course, trade unions may resist such a change. After all, they benefit massively from their legal monopoly. However, all workers, union members or otherwise, deserve the same access to their rights, and it is a thoroughly Conservative thing to make this happen.
Canada's Teck Resources said Sunday it had withdrawn its application to develop a giant oil sands mine in western Alberta, a controversial project which the federal government had been set to vote on this week. The Frontier project would have cost about Can$20 billion ($15 billion) and had been expected to produce 260,000 barrels of oil per day. But its impact on the environment had been denounced by environmentalists and the region's indigenous population: mine production would have generated 4.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, according to a study by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. The Vancouver-based natural resources company said in a press release it had sent a letter to the environment minister explaining its decision. "We are disappointed to have arrived at this point," said Teck CEO Don Lindsay in his letter to the government. "Teck put forward a socially and environmentally responsible project that was industry leading and had the potential to create significant benefits for Canadians," he wrote, adding his company sought to balance economic development with environmental respect. Lindsay said investors and consumers increasingly want a framework in place that reconciles resources development and climate change. "This does not yet exist here today and, unfortunately, the growing debate around this issue has placed Frontier and our company squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved," Lindsay said. "In that context, it is now evident that there is no constructive path forward for the project." Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan said they appreciated that Teck had made a "difficult decision." "A strong economy and clean environment must go hand in hand. As Teck has rightly pointed out, and as many in the industry know, global investors and consumers are increasingly looking for the cleanest products available and sustainable resource development," they said in a joint statement. "We agree with Teck and leading industry groups that all orders of government need a real plan for climate action now and to reach a net zero economy by 2050." Leaders of oil-producing Alberta province had considered the Frontier project essential for the region's growth and employment. A decision would however have been particularly delicate for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who when he was reelected in 2019 had pledged to make Canada carbon-neutral by 2050. Canada is currently gripped by indigenous protests that have blocked rail lines for more than two weeks to oppose a natural gas pipeline being built across indigenous lands in British Columbia. An oil sands mine in Alberta. The Canadian province's leaders had welcomed Teck's planned project but environmentalists had denounced its impact on the environment
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a meeting to advance the work on coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 and economic and social development, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

The Chinese nation has experienced many ordeals in its history, but it has never been overwhelmed. Instead, it has become more and more courageous, growing up and rising up from the hardships, Xi said.

"No victory should be lightly announced until there is a complete win."

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday stressed unremitting efforts in the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic and coordination in advancing economic and social development.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when delivering an important speech at a meeting in Beijing to advance the work on coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 and economic and social development.

The Chinese nation has experienced many ordeals in its history, but it has never been overwhelmed. Instead, it has become more and more courageous, growing up and rising up from the hardships, Xi said.

The epidemic situation remains grim and complex and it is now a most crucial moment to curb the spread, he noted.

Xi asked Party committees and governments at all levels to continue to make unremitting efforts in various prevention and control work and resume work and production in an orderly manner.

Efforts should be made to fully unleash the huge potential and powerful driving force of China's development and strive to achieve the goals and tasks for economic and social development this year, Xi said.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended sincere greetings to Party members, officials and the general public throughout the country, especially those in Hubei Province and its capital city Wuhan, and expressed respect to the medical workers, officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and comrades from various sectors who have been fighting on the front line of epidemic prevention and control.

He also expressed his sincere gratitude to compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, as well as to countries, international organizations and friendly people that have provided various support to the epidemic prevention and control.

Xi also expressed deep condolences to compatriots and medical personnel who lost their lives in the fight against the epidemic, and sincere sympathy to patients and their families who are struggling with the disease, as well as to the families of those who died on duty and the deceased patients.

Sunday's meeting was presided over by Li Keqiang and attended by Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng attend a meeting to advance the work on coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 and economic and social development, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

POSITIVE TREND EXPANDING

Xi said since the start of the outbreak the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the issue, made swift deployment, strengthened the centralized, unified leadership of the Party, requiring Party committees and governments at all levels to put people's lives and health as the top priority and adopt effective measures to curb the spread of the virus.

The CPC Central Committee has made it a prominent task to improve the admission and cure rates and reduce the infection and mortality rates, Xi said, noting that Wuhan and Hubei have been taken as the country's main battlefield against the epidemic.

Efforts have also been made to strengthen the emergency supply of medical materials and daily necessities, safeguard social stability and win the support of the international community, he added.

The COVID-19 outbreak is a major public health emergency that has spread in the fastest speed, caused the most extensive infection and is the most difficult to contain in the country since the founding of the People's Republic of China, said Xi.

"This is both a crisis and a big test for us," Xi said, adding that after arduous work, the positive trend in the prevention and control work is now expanding.

"It has been proven that the CPC Central Committee's judgment on the situation of the epidemic is accurate, all work arrangements are timely, and the measures taken are effective," said Xi.

"The results of the prevention and control work have once again demonstrated the notable advantages of the leadership of the CPC and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics," he added.

A medical worker wears protective suit and equipment before entering the isolation ward at Wuhan No.1 Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

SOLID, METICULOUS EFFORTS REQUIRED

Xi called for firm, solid and meticulous efforts in the epidemic prevention and control, urging Party committees and governments at all levels to remain vigilant and make unremitting efforts in the epidemic prevention and control work.

No victory should be lightly announced until there is a complete win, Xi said, making the following demands:

-- Hubei Province, as well as its capital city Wuhan, should be safeguarded with resolute efforts, with focal attention paid to containing the spread at communities and treating the patients;

-- The epidemic prevention and control work in Beijing should be carried out with all-out efforts. Both imported cases and spread within the city should be prevented;

-- Medical resources and key supplies should be allocated in a scientific manner, providing more protection for the medical workers;

-- Scientific research should be accelerated in terms of drug and vaccine development. Effective diagnosis and treatment plans should be summarized and promoted in time;

-- International and regional cooperation should be expanded. Good communication with the World Health Organization and experience sharing with relevant countries should be continued;

-- Public communication through news media should be more effective. Release of epidemic information should be improved;

-- Social stability should be well safeguarded. Illegal activities disturbing medical treatment, epidemic prevention, and market and social order should be severely punished.

IMPACT MANAGEABLE

The impact of the epidemic on China's economic and social development is temporary and generally manageable, Xi noted.

He said the COVID-19 epidemic will inevitably deal a relatively big blow to China's economic and social development. However, at such a time it is even more important to view China's development in a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective, and to strengthen and firm up confidence.

In general, the fundamentals of China's long-term sound economic growth remain unchanged, Xi added.

Medical team members cheer up for each other before leaving for Hubei Province at the Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 22, 2020. The 9th batch of 176 medical workers from Guizhou Province to Hubei Province departed on Saturday to aid the novel coronavirus fight there. (Xinhua/Tao Liang)

ORDERLY RESUMPTION OF WORK, PRODUCTION

Stressing orderly resumption of work and production, Xi made specific requirements to that end.

Each region should adopt a precise approach when advancing resumption of work and production based on local health risks, Xi said.

Regions with relatively low risks should reorient their disease prevention and control strategies as soon as possible to focus on forestalling imported cases and comprehensively restoring the order of production and life, Xi said.

Medium-risk regions should promote work and production resumption in an orderly manner based on local epidemic-control situations, while high-risk regions should continue to be fully committed to doing a good job in epidemic prevention and control, he said.

Xi stressed strengthening the regulation role of macro-economic policies, calling for more positivity in the country's proactive fiscal policy and the roll-out of more targeted interim policies in cutting taxes and fees to help micro, small and medium-sized firms tide over difficulties.

Besides, the prudent monetary policy should feature more flexibility and moderation, Xi said, calling for making good use of existing financial support policies and introducing new policies and measures in due course.

China will step up efforts to keep employment stable, with all-round measures to cut corporate burdens, keep the payroll stable, and create more jobs, Xi said, adding that in addressing the outstanding problems of serious scarcity of workers in some enterprises, high pressure in keeping the payroll stable, and difficulty of key groups to obtain employment, efforts should be given to support flexible employment through multiple channels and facilitate employment of college graduates.

The country should resolutely accomplish the task of alleviating poverty despite the impact of the epidemic, Xi said, urging efforts to help poor workers return to their posts in an orderly manner, support leading poverty alleviation enterprises and workshops to resume work as soon as possible, and improve mechanisms to prevent people from returning to poverty.

Xi underscored efforts to push for the resumption of work and production with precise epidemic prevention and control strategies, while smoothing travels and logistics channels and lifting cargo transport bans to push all links in the industrial chains to resume work and production in a coordinated way.

The country should actively expand effective domestic demand, fast-track the progress of projects under construction and new ones, as well as enhance guarantees for labor, land, funds and other production factors.

In the meantime, China will ensure the timely agriculture work in spring, Xi said.

In doing so, he urged efforts to address the protruding issues in spring farming preparation and ensure well-organized production, transportation and supply of farming materials.

Migrant workers get on a train at Chongqing North Railway Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Feb. 23, 2020. A total of 518 migrant workers from various districts and counties in Chongqing took a special bullet train to resume work in Shaoxing of Zhejiang province on Sunday, in order to help the resumption of production there in a safe way. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Xi also noted that people's basic livelihood should be guaranteed, such as the supply of staple and non-staple food. Enhanced efforts should be made to take care of those in need as well as those losing their family members due to the epidemic. Efforts should also be made to coordinate medical treatment for patients with other diseases.

The country should keep the foreign trade and investment stable amid the epidemic outbreak, Xi stressed.

Foreign trade policy tools like export tax rebates and export credit insurances should be put to good and full play to ensure smooth operation of foreign trade industrial chains and supply chains.

Major foreign investment projects should be well implemented, while opening-up of finance and other services should be expanded. Business environment should continue to be optimized to strengthen foreign businesses' confidence in long-term investment and operation in China, Xi said.

In order to win the people's war against the epidemic, the Party's leadership should be strengthened, Xi said.

Xi required cadres at all levels, especially the leading officials, to take initiative in fulfilling duties.

Cadres who make outstanding contributions should be awarded, while those who fail to perform their duties should be held accountable, Xi noted.

Stressing more care for primary-level cadres, Xi called for solving their practical difficulties in a timely manner and resolutely rectifying the practice of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism.

Xi also required summing up experience and drawing lessons from the weak links exposed in the epidemic to improve the ability to deal with major public health emergencies.

While presiding over the meeting, Li Keqiang called for rallying more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core and required the solid and precise implementation of the decisions and policies made by the CPC Central Committee.

Li demanded efforts to achieve this year's economic and social development goals and tasks, and secure finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and completing the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Now Open

24 February 2020

Avi Brosh's Palisociety, the independent hotel brand behind award-winning properties throughout the country, has announced the opening of its newest west coast hotel, Palihotel San Francisco. The property joins the brand's heralded collection of bespoke, dynamic neighborhood-centric hotels as one of six new 2018/2019 openings, alongside Palihotel Culver City (Conde Nast Traveler Hot List 2019), Palihotel Seattle (Travel + Leisure It List 2019), Palihouse Miami Beach (Travel + Leisure It List 2020), Silver Lake Pool & Inn and Palihotel Westwood Village.

Palihotel San Francisco, located just steps from Union Square and within walking distance to the best of the Financial District and South of Market neighborhood, is a reincarnation of a century-old, Mission and Spanish Revival-style edifice on Stockton Street that has been home to several historic properties since its development, including the Colonial Hotel in the 1920s, the Hotel Navarre in the 1930s, the Navarre Guest House in the 1950s and most recently, the Mystic Hotel.

The property is debuting with a selection of newly designed guest rooms, exterior facade and common reception space; Palihotel San Francisco also features Fisher Loft, an expansive, loft-style restaurant, lounge and liquor bar in 2,900 square feet on the property's second floor. Open to hotel guests and locals alike, Fisher Loft features an all- day menu of classic comfort food alongside an expansive cocktail program and beer and wine list, all developed by Palisociety's in-house food and beverage team and group executive chef.

The property has been reimagined by Brosh and his team into an urban neighborhood inn that juxtaposes the old and the new seamlessly. While the hotel's historic patina and details are still in abundance, it has been layered with a contemporary, California-centric sensibility highlighted by a soft, neutral color palette with natural wood accents and earth-toned tiles; a bright, minimal collection of art; and a mixed and matched assortment of patterns, textures and accessories that is a signature of Palisociety's irreverent, approachable take on modern-day hotel design. The hotel features 82 rooms, ranging in size from 150 to 400 square feet, including a two-bedroom suite, king and queen accommodations. Each room is equipped with Palisociety signature bath amenities, black Smeg refrigerators, Nespresso machine and an in-room tablet with curated neighborhood guide.

At Fisher Loft, the menu features classic, American-inspired dishes with a nod to the nostalgia of a mid-century era where a stiff cocktail at lunch and a bite of caviar before dinner were the norm. Breakfast begins with an optional breakfast bar or a la carte menu, featuring fluffy blueberry pancakes, a staple American-style eggs and bacon and more. The all-day menu precedes breakfast with a mix of burgers, sandwiches and salads, all turned up a notch with the addition of housemade and carefully sourced ingredients and flavors. Afternoon tea service features a traditional high-tea setting with a California casual influence where an assortment of teas is served with a three-tier selection of finger sandwiches, small pastries and petits fours. Finally, Fisher Loft's nightly dinner menu features a small, carefully crafted menu of American favorites including filet mignon Oscar-style and a whole chicken de-boned, alongside a signature caviar service, featuring all the classic accoutrements and an optional bottle of chilled vodka. The cocktail program at the Fisher Loft is a meeting of the old and the new, paying equal attention to time honored classic cocktails and innovative new ideas such as the Big Trouble (peanut butter washed rum, snap pea, galangal, salted coconut cream) and the Little Bustard (green tea vodka, blanc vermouth, Szechuan peppercorn, pomegranate molasses, yuzu tonic). All alongside a large wine list, local beers, and a back bar featuring an exceptional world spanning whiskey collection.
The Lagos state police command have arrested a 33-year-old man, Ojo Adeyinka, for forging the States Riders Identity Cards of Motor Vehicle Administration.

According to a statement from the state police command spokesperson, Bala Elkana, the suspect who is a 2013 Mass Communication graduate, was picked up at about 7:30pm on Friday, February 21st by a joint squad of police detectives from Ikorodu Division and Lagos State Taskforce.

The police spokesperson added that Ojo who resides at House No1, Miracle Villa Street, Abafo area of Ogijo in Ogun State, took advantage of the proximity of his shop to the Licensing Office at Odogunyan area to lure his victims, under the guise of being an agent of the VIO.



The Station Manager of Riders Card, Ikorodu Division, one Prince Ibrahim Audu, was said to have lodged a complaint at Ikorodu Police Station, alleging Ojos criminal act of forging Identification cards which, according to the complaint, he sold as official permits to unsuspecting motorcycle owners.

The permits fee was between Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (#2,500.00) and Three Thousand, Four Hundred Naira (3,400.00) each.

The suspect confessed to committing the crime, stating that he started forging riders permits in January 2020 Bala said.

Among the Items recovered from him were machines used in printing the fake documents and large quantity of the printed materials.

Bala added that the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for an in depth investigation and then prosecution of the suspect.

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WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of r21 Holdings, Inc. ("rue21") today announced several actions to continue its path toward becoming a best-in-class specialty apparel retailer. Michael Appel has returned to his consulting practice and will no longer serve as Chairman of the Board and CEO. We thank Michael for his contributions in leading us through the transition after our 2017 reorganization.

The Board has named John Fleming as interim CEO of rue21. Fleming has been an active board member of r21 Holdings, Inc. since October 2017 after rue21 emerged from its reorganization. Fleming is a career merchant and an early pioneer in eCommerce and held executive positions at Dayton Hudson, Walmart and Uniqlo. Fleming previously served as an advisor and Board member for StitchFix and currently serves on the Boards of Bed Bath and Beyond, Visual Comfort & Company and Untuckit.

The Board also named Scott D. Vogel as its Chairman. With deep experience investing in both public and private companies, Vogel serves as a director of and advisor to companies in the midst of transition and transformation.

"Contrary to the view that the apocalypse of retail is imminent, this is an exciting time to build relationships and serve customers," said Fleming. "Given the momentum we have at rue21, I'm excited by the opportunity to accelerate our business by modernizing our model and delivering value to our customers by building a seamless and personalized experience."

About rue21

rue21, the pioneer of fast fashion, offers stylish apparel and accessories for guys, girls and plus sizes at prices everyone can love. Built on the belief that everyone should look and feel great with what they wear, rue21 combines great fashion and great value for their customers.

Headquartered just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, rue21 operates 690 stores in 45 states and online at www.rue21.com .

Contact:

Joanna Doven

Premo Consultants

[email protected]

724-420-0870

SOURCE rue21
Underworld don Ravi Pujari, 52, was arrested in South Africa on February 23 and flown to Bengaluru, where he was produced before court today.



"A four-member Karnataka Police team brought Pujari to Bengaluru in the wee hours of the day in an Air France flight via Paris after he was extradited from Senegal in Africa," City Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Jain told news agency IANS.

The police team was led by state Additional Director General of Police AK Pandey and Bengaluru joint commissioner of police Sandeep Patil, a police inspector and a constable.

File Photo

"Pujari will be produced in the first Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court in the city for judicial custody," Jain said.

Pujari was taken to an undisclosed place in the city from the international airport under tight security.

According to the Indian Intelligence sources, Pujari was nabbed in a remote South African village where he was hiding with a false identity as Anthony Fernandes, a Burkina Faso passport holder.

"Pujari had jumped bail from Senegal last year and escaped to South Africa and got involved in big-time trafficking and extortion," sources said.

On a tip-off from the Indian intelligence, the Senegal police flew to South Africa last week.

Pujari had parted ways with another underworld don, Chota Rajan, and is wanted in more than 200 cases of heinous crimes, including murder and extortion, was detained with the help of the South African agencies.

File Photo

The mafioso shot to notoriety in early 2000 when he started extorting huge amounts from famous Bollywood personalities and builders. He was involved in an attempt to murder case, aimed at killing a prominent lawyer of Mumbai.

Pujari's wife Padma and three children also fled India and some of them hold Burkina Faso passports. His son, who was recently married in Australia, reportedly holds an Australian passport.

Last year Pujari, living under the identity of Anthony, jumped bail from a Senegal court through fraudulent means.

Pujari, a movie junkie influenced by Amitabh Bachchan's portrayal as Anthony Gonsalves in "Amar Akbar Anthony" was using the name Anthony Fernandes
Hardwoods Distribution Inc. (TSE:HDI), which is in the trade distributors business, and is based in Canada, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the TSX over the last few months, increasing to CA$17.19 at one point, and dropping to the lows of CA$14.94. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Hardwoods Distribution's current trading price of CA$16.35 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Hardwoods Distributions outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

Check out our latest analysis for Hardwoods Distribution

What is Hardwoods Distribution worth?

Good news, investors! Hardwoods Distribution is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is CA$25.35, but it is currently trading at CA$16.35 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Hardwoods Distributions beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

Can we expect growth from Hardwoods Distribution?

TSX:HDI Past and Future Earnings, February 24th 2020

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Hardwoods Distributions earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 27%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

Story continues

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? Since HDI is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on HDI for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its prosperous future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy HDI. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on Hardwoods Distribution. You can find everything you need to know about Hardwoods Distribution in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Hardwoods Distribution, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Report Includes:

- An overview with a trend analysis of the global market for social robots, which are designed to engage with people and to elicit an emotional connection



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05866863/?utm_source=PRN



- Discussion of social robots in the use-cases or categories such as human-like, medical/therapeutic, personal/customer services and toys; ethics and risks associated with using this technology

- Analyses of global market trends with data from 2019, estimates for 2020 and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2025

- Review of recent patent grants and accepted applications for patents with respect to design innovations and end uses



Summary

The Star Trek series character Data represents the epitome of development of a social robot. Notwithstanding his difficulties with his "emotion chip," he, like other social robots, is designed to engage with people and elicit an emotional connection.



Anthropomorphic or human-centric robots (also termed androids) like Data have long been featured in science fiction books and films. However, the rapidly advancing technology and capabilities of artificial intelligence along with the development of facial expressions and human-like appearance of robots is drawing this science fiction into science fact.



Scientific American identified social robots as one of the "Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2019." These were suggested as "world-changing technologies that are poised to rattle the status quo." This announcement is likely to trigger significant interest in this topic and makes it worthy for further study as an emerging market.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05866863/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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The Wonder of India, the romanticized monument Taj Mahal is being given a special treatment in honor of the US President Donald Trumps visit. The Yamuna River just behind the monument is also given 17 million liters of water to make it look a little more appealing.

Pixabay

After building a wall in Ahmedabad to hide the slums areas from the view of the president, India is undertaking another project before US President Donald Trump's visit. This is the first time in 300 years that the graves are being cleaned since the actual installation happened. The treatment on the Taj Mahal involved the application of a thick layer of clay followed by the wash with distilled water.

The interesting part is the clay which is used in the cleaning of the monument is originally derived from the traditional face pack Indian women use to appear cleaner and fairer. The Taj Mahal itself has been cleaned with the clay pack treatment five times, but the replicas of the graves were never cleaned. The real graves of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal are situated in the chamber below the replicas.

AFP

Donald Trump who has to visit the Taj Mahal with his wife, daughter and son-in-law, during his visit to India which is starting today February 24 2020. Trump with his family may not visit the actual grave as it is because the entrance of the same is five feet high.

Trumps security team, which visited the Taj Mahal recently, said that he will not bow down, even if it is to see a 17th century old grave.

The original Taj Mahal graves are opened three days a year for the public to commemorate the death anniversary of Shah Jahan who also claims to be a descendant of Bahadur Shah Zafar. He was the last Mughal Emperor, and also visited the graves to give lineage to the Mughals.

The Archaeological survey of India (ASI), which is undertaking this project is cleaning everything, even the dark spots on the walls and on the floors. The chandelier above the grave is also being cleaned with tamarind water.

Trumps visit to the city of Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located, is a high-security event that has brought too many preparations with it.

Religionworld.in

The Yamuna river which is just behind the Taj Mahal is recently cleaned and has also received 17 million liters of water. Trump will reportedly be welcomed by dancers at the airport and the Taj Mahal will be closed for tourists on the day of Trumps visit. There is a wall from the airport which is also painted with different cultural heritage to showcase the Indian culture. To protect Donald Trump from monkeys in Agra, five langurs (large monkeys) will be deployed to make sure no monkeys attack the guests.

Trump is scheduled to visit 24-25 February to meet the Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi.
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Linkedin Robert Williams and Daniele Lepido (Bloomberg)  Mon, February 24, 2020 16:00 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206642c14 2 Lifestyle Raf-Simons,Prada,designer Free

Prada SpA named the Belgian designer Raf Simons as its co-creative director, adding an industry star to its ranks in an unprecedented shakeup for the Milanese fashion giant.

Simons, who was previously head designer at PVH Corp.s Calvin Klein brand and LVMHs Christian Dior, will work side-by-side with Miuccia Prada, the brands iconic designer and co-chief executive officer. Her signature mix of sporty and bourgeois looks has long driven success at the brand.

I am committed and excited, Prada told reporters in a press conference in Milan. The 70-year-old designer insisted that the move was not a signal she was preparing to step down. This is not a succession. This is a way to boost creativity.

Prada returned to growth in 2018 after several years of slumping sales, but the recovery has been facing fresh challenges in recent months in the form of political protests in Hong Kong, a key luxury-shopping hub, and in the coronavirus outbreak that has put the brakes on spending by key Chinese clients. Chinese shoppers make up more than one-third of luxury spending and two-thirds of the industrys growth.

Shares rose as much as 3.5 percent in Hong Kong on Monday morning, but soon pared gains and went into negative territory along with the broader market.

Read also: Raf Simons presents his take on Dr. Martens Original 1460 boots

Simons, who is known for conceptual runway shows inspired by youth sub-cultures like punk and rave, has long been a respected figure in the fashion industry. In late 2018, he left Calvin Klein after less than two years as his runway collections failed to reinvigorate demand at the underwear and jeans-makers more affordable divisions.

A change in designer might rejuvenate the brand and help it to catch up with the growth trends of other leading luxury brands, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. analysts led by Anne Ling wrote in a note, adding that investors view the possibility of the company becoming a target for acquisition as remote.

While creative directors rely on extensive behind-the-scenes resources to design, market, and merchandise collections, the move by Prada is a bold attempt to have two major stars share power at the top.

Simons said he hoped the collaboration would send a message to the world that we should not forget creativity.

--With assistance from Jinshan Hong.
Representative image

A 29-year-old female doctor died on Sunday after contracting the coronavirus while treating patients at a hospital in China's worst-hit Wuhan city, taking the death toll of the medical staff to 10, according to a media report.

Xia Sisi, a gastroenterology physician got infected while working at the Union Jiangbei Hospital of Wuhan in Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus.

She was hospitalised on January 19 and later transferred to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University on February 7 after her condition worsened. She died on Sunday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The Union Jiangbei Hospital mourned the death of Xia and expressed condolences for her family.

The Chinese medical staff, who are on the frontline fighting the COVID-19, are paying a heavy price in treating the surging number of cases.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

China's National Health Commission earlier said that a total of 1,716 medical workers had contracted the infection as of February 11.

Xia's death takes the death toll among the medical staff to 10.

On February 20, Peng Yinhua (29), who postponed his wedding to treat patients infected with the coronavirus, died.

Earlier, Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old doctor, who was one of the first people to sound the alarm about the new outbreak died on February 7.

Li sent a message to his medical-school alumni group on December 30, warning that seven patients had been quarantined at Wuhan Central Hospital after suffering from respiratory illness that seemed like the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Liu Zhiming, head of the Wuchang Hospital too died due to the virus.

Liu Fan, a senior nurse of the hospital, also died along with her parents and brother from the disease.

Ninety-seven more people died in China due to coronavirus, taking the death toll to 2,442, while the confirmed cases rose to 76,936, officials said on Sunday.
A giant US agriculture firm described by environmentalists as the worst company in the word is set to join the meat-free revolution.

Cargill, which has been accused of being one of the largest drivers of deforestation in Brazil, is to create vegan hamburgers and mince, putting it into competition with startups like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods in the red-hot market for imitation meat.

Cargills fake-beef products will be made from either soya or pea protein and be sold by retailers under their own labels from April.

Beef is associated with particularly high carbon and methane emissions, often several times those of chicken or pork.

Much of those emissions emanate from clearing trees in richly biodiverse regions like the Amazon and neighbouring Cerrado forests to make way for grazing land.

Recommended British food consumption linked to deforestation abroad

Soya, from which many meat alternatives are made, is also associated with large-scale deforestation, although it is considered a more efficient use of land than cattle grazing.

Cargill is one of the worlds largest traders of soya beans and conceded last year that it would not meet its commitment to net-zero deforestation by 2020.

Americas largest privately held company exported 39 million tonnes of soya from Brazil between 2006 and 2016, according to Trase, an organisation that seeks to hold companies to account by tracking commodity supply chains.

Deforestation in Brazil increased rapidly last year as wildfires raged and environmental protections were slashed under president Jair Bolsanaros government.

We believe were uniquely positioned to be very effective and efficient in the supply chain, said Elizabeth Gutschenritter, managing director of Cargills alternative protein team.

American NGO Mighty Earth produced a report in July alleging that Cargill was the worst company in the world thanks to its environmental impact.

Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire rages in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billlows from burning tracts of the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Para on August 23 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire rages in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Land in the Amazon rainforest left scorched in the fires in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil on August 23 AFP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire tears through a farm in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures An area of the Amazon rainforest left scorched in the fires in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 24 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Satellite images show a series of fires in the southwest Brazilian state of Rondonia on August 15 AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A satellite image released by NASA shows the active fires that have been detected in the Amazon region EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Indigenous people from the Mura tribe wallk in a deforested area inside the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 20 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire tears through a farm in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Indigenous people from the Mura tribe wallk in a deforested area inside the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 20 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A view of logs felled illegally in the Amazon rainforest are seen in sawmills in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 22 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A scorched patch of land in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil on 20 August EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Several fires are seen burning in the Amazon rainforest in this satellite image taken by NASA on 11 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures The sunsets behind clouds and smoke from fires in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 18 August EPA

Mighty Earth chief executive Henry Waxman noted that: In contrast to the oil and tobacco industries, for instance, bad practices are not inherent to the products Cargill sells, and are, in fact, entirely avoidable.

There are 1 billion acres of previously degraded land where crops can be grown without further imperiling native ecosystems, at no additional cost, Mighty Earth said.

In September, Cargill reaffirmed its commitment to not sourcing produce from newly deforested areas in the Amazon

Demand for plant-based alternatives to animal products is soaring as consumers become increasingly conscious of the carbon footprint of what they eat.

Barclays forecast last year that sales of meat alternatives could hit $140bn (108bn) in the next decade - around a tenth of the global meat market.

Cargill has already made tentative steps into meat alternatives, investing $75m in Beyond Meat's pea protein supplier back in August.
US President Donald Trump on Monday reached out to Indians by hailing the "genius" of the Hindi film industry and recalling two all-time favourites, "Sholay" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (DDLJ).

Addressing the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera Stadium here, the US president said people "take great joy" in watching Bollywood films and understanding Indian culture through them.

"This is the country that produces nearly 2,000 movies a year from the hub of genius and creativity known as Bollywood," he told the gathering of about 100,000 people packed into the stadium.

"All over the planet people take great joy in scenes of bhangra, music and dance, romance and drama, and classic Indian films like 'DDLJ' and 'Sholay'," Trump said.

While the 1975 multi-starrer "Sholay", labelled a "curry western" by many, is an action-adventure film that has stood the test of the decades, the 1995 Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol-led "DDLJ" is an out and out romance.

This is not the first effort by the US president to use popular culture to strike a chord with movie loving Indians.

Ahead of his maiden visit to India, Trump shared a video in which his face was superimposed on the hit movie-character Baahubali.

"Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA!" Trump tweeted on Saturday alongside the 81-second clip.

Before that, Trump praised Ayushmann Khurrana's latest release "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan".

On a tweet complimenting the movie for celebrating a same-sex love story on the celluloid, Trump last week commented "great".

Former US president Barack Obama also referenced "DDLJ" during his 2015 visit to India when he quoted Shah Rukh's famous dialogue from the iconic film.

"Last celebration here we celebrated festival of lights in Mumbai. We danced with some children. Unfortunately, we were not able to schedule any dancing in this visit. 'Senorita, bade bade desho mein'... You know what I mean," Obama said while addressing a town hall event in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Caroline Flack fans were overcome with emotion after a special tribute to the late Love Island host was made on one of the London Underground boards yesterday.

All on the board, two unnamed London Underground station staff who write original poems and inspirational quotes on tube station whiteboards, dedicated their latest work to Caroline.

The former X-Factor presenter, 40, was found dead at her rented flat earlier this month after taking her own life as she awaited trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, in December.

Heartbroken social media users were quick to praise the poetic team for their 'perfect' message after it was shared on Twitter.

It followed a tear-jerking Love Island final on Sunday, which saw current host Laura Whitmore open with an emotional tribute to her friend and former-presenter.

All on the board, who write original poems and inspirational quotes on tube station whiteboards, dedicated their latest work (pictured) to Caroline Flack

Caroline (pictured in June, 2019), 40, was found dead at her rented flat earlier this month after taking her own life

Heartbroken social media users were quick to praise the poetic team for their 'perfect' message after it was shared on Twitter

Alongside her name and the years '1979 - 2000', All on the board's tribute read: 'As the sun sets on an island of love, You will shine on forever in a paradise above;

'Nobody will forget you, your personality, your walk and your infectious laugh, Your departure has left so many hearts broken in half.

'May your ocean be calm, may there be no storm, For eternity may there be no storm, For eternity may you be happy and the light forever keep you warm;

'May Heaven be as beautiful as you, May you find true peace of mind, There is no solution for your confusion, But, we need to always be kind.'

Fans admitted to breaking down in to tears after reading the heartfelt tribute, with one person writing: 'Made me cry, perfect and so true.'

The poem's last line made reference to a phrase shared on Instagram by Caroline shortly before her death, that read: 'In a world where you can be anything, be kind'.

Fans admitted to breaking down in to tears after reading the heartfelt tribute, with one person writing: 'Made me cry, perfect and so true.'

Another said: 'Wow!!! Those words hit me in the heart but theyre beautiful words for a beautiful woman!'

A third wrote: 'Thanks for making me cry again! Well said. Forever miss her,' while another added: 'Literally crying reading this.'

Other social media users admitted that they found the tribute to be 'perfect' and 'amazing'

On Sunday, Love Island's Laura Whitmore was overcome with emotion as she paid a heartfelt tribute to the show's late host Caroline during the live finale from the Capetown villa.

Whitmore said: 'The past week has been extremely difficult coming to terms with the loss of our friend and colleague Caroline. We're thinking of her family and everyone who knew her at this time.

'Caroline loved Love Island, she loved love and that's why tonight's final is dedicated to her.'

A montage of Miss Flack's most memorable moments from the show she hosted from 2015 to 2019 then followed with a backing track of Rudimental's 'Feel the Love.'

Paige Turley and Finley Tapp were later crowned winners of the sixth series, claiming 50,000 in cash which they chose to split.
A BJP MLA from parched Marathwada



region in Maharashtra on Monday appealed to the Shiv Sena-led coalition government to not wind up the 'Jalyukt Shivar' scheme and the water grid project of the previous Devendra Fadnavis government.

Addressing a press conference here, the MLA Narayan Kuche said, "If you want, you can rechristen the 'Jalyukt' and water grid schemes after NCP chief Sharad Pawar or Congress president Sonia Gandhi, but don't wind them up as they are crucial in resolving the water woes".

He also accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government comprising the Sena, NCP and the Congress, of closing down the welfare schemes launched by the ersthwile BJP government in the state.

"Even the farm loan waiver scheme of the MVA government is deceptive. This government is running on three wheels and is direction-less," the Badnapur MLA alleged while speaking to reporters.

He alleged collusion between some officials of the Revenue department in Jalna district and police officers in operating an illegal sand extraction racket.

The MLA demanded revocation of ban on sand mining, saying the closure of the activity is responsible for the rise in the illegal smuggling of sand.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALTON  Ten-year-old Landon Page of Fairview Heights got to portray Emmett Till, young Martin Luther King Jr. and Trayvon Martin on stage Sunday as a cast member of Change to Passage, a new musical theater piece showcased during an African American History Month program at Alton Middle School.

It was pretty cool, Page said of the opportunity to play the three men associated with the fight for civil rights. He said that he learned from the production that it was hard for them back then but the world has changed a lot.

Sundays Annual Community Black History Program featured song, dance, comedy, poetry, praise, a recitation of Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech and the Change to Passage performance directed and accompanied by the author, Paul Herbert Pitts.

We are using musical theater devices, dancing, acting and singing, and through that we can tell the stories of the black historical figures who have changed our world, said Pitts, the director of theater at Alton Middle School. It makes it more memorable and engaging for the audience.

You can sit there and look at a movie or listen to someone recite a historical fact, Pitts said. But when you see a diverse group of people come together to tell the story of why something is significant, in a contemporary style of musical theater, it makes it a much better, enjoyable experience and you retain a lot too.

Danny Holliday is the pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Alton. He was among the more than 100 people who gathered for Sundays program.

Its important that we commemorate all of American history, and all Americans should understand that people from all backgrounds, races, creeds and colors contributed to the history of this great country, Holliday said.

I really wish that we didnt have just one month, he said. You shouldnt have to set aside one group of people for a certain amount of time. Just like in the history books, you tell the whole story.

As a black American I am proud of this country, and I appreciate events like this to show our young people that we all belong here and we all have contributed, Holliday said.

Several Alton School Board members were in Sundays audience, including Ed Gray, who said programs like the one on Sunday give students a chance to display their skills and to help people understand the importance of black history not only in their own community, but in the state and nation.

State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, helped promote Sundays program and said she and her colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly commemorate African American History Month by remembering someone in history each day they are in session. She said those so honored this year have included Harriet Tubman and Carol Moseley Braun, the former U.S. Senator and ambassador who came up through the ranks in the General Assembly.

Alton School Board member Rosetta Brown, who helped organize the Black History Program, was pleased with the diverse audience attendance. She said the program was a reminder of our shared history.

We are standing on the shoulders of a lot of great people and we have to keep that in mind because without them we might not know where we are going, Brown said. We should be thankful for those who have paved the way, our parents, teachers and community leaders.

Its great how the community comes together and helps one another to rise up and be the best people they can be, Brown said.

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month, now known as African American History Month.
To help aspiring young veterinarians pursue their dreams, Vet Set Go invites 6th - 8th grade students to enter the Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest 2020. The love of animals is a passion that begins early. Thats why were proud to give aspiring veterinarians a chance to attend Auburn Universitys Junior Vet Camp to give them early access to the world of veterinary medicine.

To help aspiring young veterinarians start now to pursue their dreams of becoming a veterinarian, Vet Set Go  the first and only community dedicated to aspiring teen and tween veterinarians  invites sixth through eighth grade students to enter the fourth annual Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest 2020. The online essay contest will award three prizes for students to attend the Auburn Universitys Junior Vet Camp from July 12-17, 2020, at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, one of the nations premiere veterinarian schools.

The prize package (valued at $835) includes camp tuition and room and board at the Auburn Junior Veterinary Camp in in Auburn, Alabama (transportation to the camp is the responsibility of the winners.) The contest opens Monday, March 2 at http://www.vetsetgo.com and closes Saturday, March 28 at 11:59 EST. Contest winners will be notified on or before May 30.

National surveys show that veterinary medicine is the number one career choice of tweens and teens and that one in every five students want to become a veterinarian.* The love of animals is a passion that begins early, said Chris Carpenter, DVM, founder and president of Vet Set Go. Thats why were proud to give aspiring veterinarians a chance to attend Auburn Universitys Junior Vet Camp to give them early access to the world of veterinary medicine.

The Become a Veterinarian Contest is open to students entering sixth through eighth grade in Fall 2020. With the help of a parent or guardian, students enter the contest using the official entry form available Monday, March 2 at http://www.vetsetgo.com. They will be asked to complete a short online essay (300 words or less) that addresses at least one of these topics:



Why they want to be a veterinarian

Why they love animals

What they have done to get animal experience or learn more about science

Contestants will be asked to submit a photo of themselves with a favorite pet or animal or doing something to demonstrate their animal experience. Every contest applicant will receive a free Vet Set Go Become A Vet Quiz. The web-based quiz offers aspiring veterinarians a custom 19-page report with custom advice and guidance to pursue their dreams.

During the camp, contest winners will learn about veterinary medicine in classrooms, laboratories, and outdoor facilities. Curriculum includes learning about public health, food animals, wildlife, anatomy, x-rays, and first aid as well as valuable mentoring about veterinary science careers.

Veterinary medicine is a calling, and at Vet Set Go, we believe now is the time to give aspiring veterinarians the resources they need, said Dr. Carpenter. Vet Set Go surveys show that 65 percent of todays veterinarians decided before the age of 13 that it was the career path they wanted to pursue.

Yet because of their young age, it can be difficult for young people to find opportunities to gain animal experience or volunteer, which is a competitive factor for entrance to veterinary programs, adds Dr. Carpenter. Our Vet Set Go contest offers a solution to this challenge by giving future veterinarians a unique opportunity to pursue their dreams  starting now.

ABOUT Vet Set Go

Vet Set Go is the first and only web community dedicated to helping teen and tween aspiring veterinarians explore their passion. Founded by Dr. Christopher Carpenter, Vet Set Go works to encourage future veterinarians to explore their dream and to show them how they can start today.

Vet Set Go! published the only book available for young veterinarians to show them how to get animal experience, volunteer, learn animal science, meet veterinarians, and/or connect with other aspiring veterinarians. The 60-page, full-color hardcover book is a Moms Choice Award winner. Since 2002, Vet Set Go has connected hundreds of thousands of aspiring veterinarians to resources, activities and connections to unique volunteer opportunities. For more, visit http://www.vetsetgo.com.

ABOUT Auburn Junior Veterinary Camp

The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine offers the Auburn Junior Veterinary Camp on its campus in Auburn, Alabama each summer for youth entering the sixth through eighth grade who are interested in the veterinary medicine profession. Faculty, technicians and second-year veterinary students provide unique veterinary coursework and experiences for campers in laboratories, classrooms and outdoor facilities in one of the nations premiere veterinary schools. Over the course of its 125-year plus history, the Auburn University has produced more than 6,400 veterinarians and more than 500 specialists and researchers.

*A national survey by Duracell and Timetoplaymag.com

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A Queensland tradesman who asked a pre-teen girl for nude photos as a birthday present had only celebrated the birth of his first child three months earlier.

Jamie Robert Lanskey, 31, avoided jail for grooming a 12-year-old girl online, despite his interactions being described at Cairns District Court as 'sexual and disgusting'.

The apprentice electrician tracked down his victim on Facebook messenger where he lied about his age to try and get naked photographs, The Cairns Post reported.

The apprentice electrician originally tracked down his victim on Facebook messenger where he lied about his age to try and get naked photographs and engage in sexually explicit conversations (stock image)

Lanskey told his victim he was 21 years old when they began talking in March 2018.

Within three days of the conversation the victim's parents discovered the messages and reported the incident to police.

Police then lay a trap to catch Lanskey, with an officer posing as a 14-year-old girl and engaging in conversations of a sexual nature.

But it took almost a year before any charges could be laid as officers sought to uncover whether any other children had been targeted.

Lanskey faced Cairns District Court this week where he was given a suspended 18 month jail sentence.

Sickening details emerged during the court appearance.

Crown prosecutor Jodie Crane told the court Lanskey asked the girl why he 'didn't get my present' when she refused to send him naked photos.

Lanskey then asked the undercover police officer for naked photos.

A Queensland tradesman has avoided jail time after trying to groom a 12-year-old girl using Facebook Messenger (stock image)

When police sent through two images, including a photo of a child with their underwear partially pulled down the new father made sexually explicit comments about the image.

Lanksey was charged with two counts of grooming a child under 16.

His defence argued against jail time, saying Lanskey had already undergone counselling and rehabilitation over the incident.

Judge Brian Devereaux said it was clear Lanskey was 'ashamed and remorseful' for his actions.
Chinas bold actions in the coronavirus epidemic epicentre of Hubei and Wuhan have probably prevented hundreds of thousands of cases, Bruce Aylward, leader of the WHO delegation here said on Monday, adding, that the global community was not ready with either the mindset or material to act in the same way.

Aylwards statement at a press conference in Beijing comes in the backdrop of an increasing number of covid-19 cases and deaths in Italy, South Korea and Iran amid the fear that the epidemic could escalate into a pandemic.

First infections were also reported from Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iraq and Oman on Monday.

The virus is new but it is capable of causing great impact on public health, the economy, and society, Alyward said, adding it is neither SARS nor the influenza.

Explaining the global impact context, he said the fundamentals of what China did in Hubei and Guangdong in south China could be applied elsewhere.

This is a dangerous virus and we have to work with experience we have. And this (China) country has demonstrated its measures can work, he said.

Praising China for being the first line of defence, the WHO expert said other countries should consider similar action to be a second line of defense to prevent spread to low income countries with lower ability to fight it

The WHO expert sidestepped a question on the initial information on the outbreak in Wuhan being covered up.

Our purpose was to find what works. Awareness is a common problem in many outbreaksWe didnt look at that factor. There were other factors we looked at as well. The most important is speed. What worries me is have other countries learned lessons from Chinas experience. There is one other point. President Xi (Jinping) himself said mistakes were made. We need to address; there is a recognition that the human cost is unacceptable. We all have to look at our systems because none of them as fast enough, he said.

This virus is sneaky and tricky. We needed to fight while we learned, while we improved. This is what we lacked in the early stages, Chinas national health commissions (NHC) Liang Wanning said.

Liang and Alyward were heading a 25-member joint WHO-China team that visited Wuhan, Beijing, Sichuan and Guangdong over the past week and submitted a 45-page report to the government on their findings on the outbreak.

Liang said the rapid rise in covid-19 cases had been halted but the situation was still grim.

The situation in Wuhan is still severe. We are in a critical moment whether we can win this war. Severe and critical cases/confirmed cases, if they continue to drop, that would be good news, Liang said.

Outside Hubei, mainland China reported 11 new cases, the lowest since the NHC started to publish nationwide daily figures on January 20.

The coronavirus has infected nearly 77,000 people and killed more than 2,500 in China, most of them in Hubei.

Meanwhile, China on Monday  in a rare decision --- officially delayed the Two Sessions, the countrys annual Parliament and biggest political event, because of the outbreak and further restricted the trading and consumption of wild animal meat.

New dates for the Parliament session will be announced later.
The Home Office has deported of a group of criminals to Jamaica following a last-minute legal challenge.

However half of the original number planned for deportation remained in the UK after a judicial review.

A Court of Appeal judge ordered the government not to deport many of the 50 detainees due to board the plane amid concerns over their access to legal advice.

Seventeen people were deported on Tuesday morning, according to the Home Office, and 25 who were due to leave are still in the UK after the judge intervened.

Downing Street said it bitterly regretted the Court of Appeal decision and plans to appeal.

On Tuesday the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: There are 25 foreign national offenders who the court ruled could not be removed and are therefore still in the country.

The offences which these people were responsible for include one manslaughter, one firearms offence, seven violent offences, two which are in the category of rape or sexual offences and 14 drugs offences.

The 17 deported had amassed sentences of 75 years between them for offences including rape, possession of firearms, violent offences including actual bodily and grievous bodily harm and the supply of Class A drugs, Downing Street said.

Protesters demonstrated against the deportations to Jamaica outside Downing Street on Monday evening (Getty)

The PMs official spokesman added: The legal process for removing these offenders, which has included repeated appeals and judicial reviews, has already cost the British public tens of thousands of pounds.

Dominic Cummings, one of the Prime Ministers closest aides, said there must be urgent action on the farce that judicial review has become following the Court of Appeal decision, ITV News reported.

Dominic Cummings, political advisor to Boris Johnson, criticised the Court of Appeal decision . (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The Tories also seized on Labours criticism of the flight and claimed it showed they have not learned the lesson of the 2019 electoral drubbing.

The decision followed calls to halt the flight until after the publication of a report into the Windrush scandal, which led to many people who had arrived in the UK from the Caribbean before 1973 being wrongfully detained, threatened with deportation, and in some cases, wrongly deported.

Story continues

Protesters obstruct Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith in a minsterial car as he leaves the Houses of Parliament in London, as their protest against government plans to deport 50 people to Jamaica continues.

Campaigners have criticised the deportation flight, arguing that some of the foreign nationals being kicked out of the country had come to the UK as children, had no links with Jamaica and had been convicted of one-time drug offences when they were young.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We make no apology for trying to protect the public from serious, violent and persistent foreign national offenders.

"The court ruling does not apply to all of the foreign national offenders due to be deported and we are therefore proceeding with the flight."

Sajid Javid defended the government's decision to go ahead with the deportation flight on Tuesday.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We will always do what we can to protect the public. These are all foreign national offenders  they have all received custodial sentences of 12 months or more. They are responsible for crimes like manslaughter, rape, dealing in class A drugs.

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Briton who caught coronavirus feared to be super spreader linked to seven cases

On Monday night, a Court of Appeal judge ordered the Home Office not to carry out the scheduled deportation amid concerns mobile phone outages had prevented detainees from having access to legal advice.

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According to a source, Dr Mahathir has designated Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as an interim prime minister after his PPBM party opted to leave the ruling Pakatan Harapan administration.  Picture by Firdaus Latif

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24  Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail could be Malaysias first woman prime minister following the resignation of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after an allegedly failed coup to form a backdoor government with opposition parties.

A source told the Malay Mail that Dr Mahathir has designated Dr Wan Azizah as an interim prime minister after his PPBM party opted to leave the ruling Pakatan Harapan administration.

Wan Azizah is the interim prime minister, said a source close to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when asked if she will be replacing Dr Mahathir.

At the same time, the source also said that Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali who is also PKR deputy president and his right-hand woman Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was a senior party official had been sacked from PKR.

In a separate Facebook post, PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the party has decided to leave the ruling coalition that after yesterdays party meeting involving its senior leaders.

The PPBM top leadership has decided in a special meeting held on February 23, 2020 to leave Pakatan Harapan.

All PPBM Members of Parliament have also exited Pakatan Harapan. All of them have signed a statutory declaration to continue supporting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Malaysias prime minister, said Muhyiddin.

All across Sunday, the political parties of Bersatu, Umno, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Parti Warisan Sabah, and the PKR faction aligned with Datuk Seri Azmin Ali gathered for furtive meetings that each tried to play down as normal despite their patently atypical nature.

Despite the open speculation that the PH government was about to collapse and be replaced by the new alliance of ruling and Opposition parties, no government leader or representative has come out to deny this and calm the nation.

Instead, the personalities involved have chosen to play coy about the true reason for their gatherings and attempted to pass off their meeting with fierce opponents as casual encounters.

Story continues

While Anwar described the betrayal as complete last night, it is still unclear if the parties in the purported plot have the numbers to replace Pakatan Harapan.

The coalition and its partner Warisan squeaked into power in 2018 with 121 seats, but has steadily added to this by recruiting lawmakers from Opposition parties, primarily Umno, to bring its representation in Parliament to 139.

However, most joined Bersatu and the departure of its 26 MPs and and Warisans nine is certain to undo the government as this would leave PKR, DAP and Amanah with just 104 seats, short of the 112 needed to continue with a simple majority.

This is also before accounting for PKR MPs from Datuk Seri Azmin Alis so-called cartel who are expected to join the new coalition.

The allegiances of Warisan and GPS are still undeclared, although leaders of both attended a peculiar meeting in the capital here at the same as a hurriedly convened Umno supreme council meeting.

Without their support, the purported coalition government will be stillborn and from the looks of things, Warisan and GPS seemed to have abandoned the attempt to form a government.

Related Articles Malaysias stock market drops by 41.4 points at close today, lowest in nine years, amid crisis in govt Sabahs Warisan next to support Dr M as PM Anwar dedah rayu Dr Mahathir kekal Perdana Menteri
(TNS)  The downtown area envisioned for the Stafford County courthouse may someday be so technologically advanced that the amount of garbage in each trash can will be electronically monitored.Ultra-wide broadband will be abundant, as will smart energy, lighting, water and temperature controls that will be built into energy-efficient housing units and commercial buildings.Were looking to build a secure facility from the ground up, said David Ihrie, chief technology officer of the Center for Innovative Technology. Our goal is to make Stafford a model community for all of Virginia.The CIT, an extension of the state government, works with early start-up companies, manages grants and focuses on economic development.The original plan for Downtown Stafford, which featured 673 residential units, a museum, boutiques, restaurants and family-friendly things to do, has been talked aboutand kicked down the roadfor years.But the project was reinvigorated when Ihrie met Mike Cannon, Stafford director of information technology, at a symposium in October 2018. Cannon discussed Downtown Stafford with Ihrie and the two saw it as a perfect publicprivate partnership opportunity.County supervisors recently were briefed on the project by John Holden, Staffords director of economic development. He told supervisors the first step of the process would be to use the area in and around the government center as a proving ground for technology that could someday be incorporated into the larger Downtown Stafford area.Ihrie said CIT would bring a host of interested partners to Stafford to help boost economic development in the region and realize his vision.We want to make Downtown Stafford the states first standalone smart community, Ihrie said.Supervisors overwhelmingly supported the concept.Holden told supervisors that the county share of the buildout would be limited to roads and supporting infrastructure, with private partners funding the construction of buildings within the new community.Holden said construction of Downtown Stafford, which is anticipated to be along Courthouse Road, across from the existing courthouse, will begin in mid-2022.This could be a five- to 10-year development process for full completion, said Holden.The existing urban zoning in the area must be modified in coming months to accommodate an increase in density and parking.Supervisors will hold a public hearing to discuss the rezoning in the spring. In the meantime, county staff is fine-tuning the project after receiving direction from supervisors.Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer said to have pedestrian-friendly communities like this, the zoning in the area must be more dense. He said the proposed downtown area has many advantages, including potential jobs and office space within walking distance of the government center.If we can get jobs down here, hopefully people wont be driving to D.C. all the time, said Dudenhefer. The only issue I see with rezoning ahead of construction is builders willing to build to county specifications.Ihrie envisions Downtown Stafford as a smart community, where government, businesses and residents use the latest technical innovations.The project brings private partners in to develop technologies and other vendors to develop tools to implement smart city applications, said Holden.Holden said Downtown Stafford will feature fewer brick-and-mortar retail outlets on its 28 acres. Instead, Holden said, shoppers can expect an experiential retail experience, such as augmented reality clothing stores with holographic technology to allow customers to try on different outfits.This is an opportunity for the county to be the showcase for the whole commonwealth and beyond, said Cannon. [The technology] will enhance the quality of life and safety of those living, working and shopping in Downtown Stafford.CIT has already invested $100,000 to develop a strategy and a vision for Staffords downtown area. It has engaged Optimal Solutions and Technologies to test out ideas.OST, a Tysons Corner-based technology firm, enhances physical assetssuch as buildings, roads and lightingto create efficient infrastructure. The firm completed specifications for Staffords downtown area last summer.This summer, OST and other contractors will install equipment and software in government center, which will serve as the operations center for the endeavor. Even after Downtown Stafford is built, the center will remain in operation, continuing to test and evaluate new technology for the county to consider including in the new town center.For now, Ihrie said a wide range of equipment and sensors will be tested, and some will tie into existing traffic cameras.Were paying a lot of attention to cameras and their use, and where to use them, said Ihrie. There are ways we can improve traffic flow and congestion and improve the community experience, like whens the best time to leave for work.Ihrie said sensors inside buildings could help save energy, while monitoring daily operations. During emergencies, other technology could provide critical information to first responders, monitor pollution along the Interstate 95 corridor, and could keep a watchful eye on the landscape.Well test if [sensors] can sense and detect a wildfire, if they can distinguish between a barbecue or a fire pit, said Ihrie.To sweeten the pot even more, Fredericksburg-based Jarrell Properties Inc., which owns 6 acres at the corner of Courthouse Road and U.S. 1, has agreed to join the publicprivate partnership. Its property will serve as the gateway for visitors to the countys new town center.Holden said Jarrell Properties will start building a mixed-use development around communal open space. The county anticipates 309 apartments will be built on the property, known as Fountain Park. There will also be office space, which thee county plans to occupy, serving as the anchor tenant.Several old buildings that now sit on the site of the future Fountain Park will be demolished as part of the Courthouse Road widening project that begins this year. Next month, the former law office of Robert Hyman, the bank building next to it, and the Aquia Medical Center building situated directly across the street from the courthouse will come down before attention is turned to structures at the Fountain Park site.After demolition, a portion of the land will serve as a temporary parking area during the construction of the new $45 million county courthouse. That building, which is in the design phase, will be adjacent to the Chichester Building at 1245 Courthouse Road.After the new courthouse is open, the existing one will be used by the countys legal and law enforcement departments.
The Curl Talk Project - Aleah, UK

"The beauty standards are evolving, but more work has to be done. There are so many versions of beauty that arent showcased to the public. Not seeing diversity can be very damaging, especially for younger generations. Many women struggle with regards to their hair, but we need to understand that there is a reason why our hair has been given to us the way it is. Loving it can be difficult when you dont know how to take care of it but this is a journey we have to get into, its nothing but a learning experience."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:13:44|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong reported five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total to 79, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said.

At a daily press briefing, the CHP introduced the new cases, including two female patients, 58 and 59 respectively, returning to Hong Kong from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan.

Head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch Chuang Shuk-kwan said three of the passengers from the ship have been diagnosed with pneumonia caused by COVID-19 and two have been preliminarily tested positive.

Altogether 12 of more than 200 passengers from the ship were in hospital and the rest were in quarantine.

Another two cases involved two women aged 57 and 68, who both went to a Buddhist worship hall in North Point, Hong Kong Island. Up to now, there have been six elder female victims who once went to that worship place.

The other case involved a 35-year-old businessman who once drove to Shenzhen in early February.

Among the 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19, two patients have passed away, 19 have been cured and discharged from hospitals, while the others remain hospitalized.
Rifling through a bag to find a debit card could soon be a thing of the past for commuters.

Technology being developed by payment giant Mastercard would allow travellers to pay simply by walking up to a turnstile.

The US company is working on systems which will identify customers by examining their physical characteristics and how they walk.

Rifling through a bag to find a debit card could soon be a thing of the past for commuters (stock image)

So-called 'gait analysis technology' would use cameras around tube and train stations to film passengers approaching the barriers  and automatically let them pass if they matched the person's walk with a valid bank account.

Ajay Bhalla of Mastercard told financial news website MarketWatch that the company was already working with transport organisations to develop gait and facial recognition payment systems.

He said: 'The way you hold your phone, which ear you use, and how your fingers touch the buttons are all unique to you.

'We have been testing heartbeat, vein technology, and the way people walk to authenticate people.'
Sanjay Raut on chopper tragedy: We claim to have modernised armed forces, how could this happen?

Campaign curbs should apply to all, PM Modi must lead by example: Sena's Raut

Donald Trump's visit to India won't make any difference: Shiv Sena

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mumbai, Feb 24: Maharashtra's Shiv Sena on Monday said that the 36-hour-long journey of the US President Donald Trump in the country won't make 'an iota of difference' in the lives of poor and middle-class Indians.

While leaving for India, Trump has said he is going to discuss business with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which makes it clear that his trip is aimed at boosting US trade, the Sena said.

"There won't be an iota of difference in the lives of the poor and middle-class people in India due to Trump's visit. Then where is the question of people being appreciative or enthusiastic of his tour," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece, Saamana said.

Terror sanctuaries along Durand Line must be closed: Modi to tell Trump

"If there is any eagerness about Trump's visit, it may be in Ahmedabad, where he lands first," the Sena said. More than the Trump visit the talk is about how walls were built to hide slums along the road he will traverse, the editorial said.

"It is reported that Trump will touch upon the issue of curbs on religious freedom in India. These are our internal issues. This country is run by people elected democratically and they don't need guidance from any outsider on this," it said.

"Trump should instead indulge in 'tourism' of Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi," the editorial said.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to greet President Trump in Ahmedabad for a road show leading to the rally at the huge stadium which has a capacity to accommodate 110,000 spectators.

From H-1B visas to trade, Congress throws questions at Modi before Trump visit

After his mega rally and road show in Ahmedabad and a stopover in Agra to see the Taj Mahal on February 24, Trump will hold official meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi the next day.

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 11:26 [IST]
Luxembourg will experience a historic shift by the end of this week, as free public transport will come into effect on Sunday 1 March. This week, we'll be examining the individual aspects of the decision and legislation ahead of the day itself.

It is certainly true that the 2018 government's decision to move towards free public transport will enter the history books. The government's announcement brought Luxembourg acclaim and analysis on a global scale, as news outlets from further afield - rather than just our neighbouring countries - reported on the decision.

Amongst those with a prominent platform praising the move was, notably, US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders.

Whilst the main focus is the change for the Grand Duchy's society, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel admitted the international effect of the decision: "We believe this belongs to the concept of nation branding. This means people will know that when they visit Luxembourg, they don't need to worry about fares and can simply get on the bus or train and travel somewhere else."

The move shifted Luxembourg's representation in the foreign media from the proud tax haven to a generous country taking steps to improve its complex traffic issues, exacerbated by its cross-border traffic. However, the journey to 1 March has been a long one, as long as the topic of traffic issues has been on the public agenda.

The first time free public transport was offered was in 1997: five municipalities in eastern Luxembourg offered free public transport for 24 hours.

The aim of the move was to encourage people to leave their cars at home and resort to buses or trains. There have been similar initiatives in the following years.

The next monumental shift occurred in 2016: the government introduced free public transport for students, whether these residents were enrolled in Luxembourg or abroad. Two years later, as the October 2018 election neared, the topic of introducing free public transport appeared on election manifestos.

Five parties, namely the Democratic Party, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party, the Communist Party of Luxembourg, the Pirate Party, and the Left, all clearly and instantly advocated for free public transport. Alternative Democratic Reform Party MP Gast Giberyen also outlined his interest in the idea, arguing it could incentivise people.

The Green Party, on the other hand, was initially cautious. Francois Bausch, now Minister for Mobility and Public Works, explained his apprehension: "We in Luxembourg have the cheapest public transport in the entire European Union. It costs 100 a year for those over 60 to travel around the country, at an unlimited rate. The issue is not with the cost of public transport."

Instead, Bausch highlighted the importance of improving punctuality, the quality of public transport, and, crucially, the availability. As for Bausch's shift towards supporting the idea, Bettel said this required new calculations rather than work spent convincing the minister. Three months later, Bausch said: "Free public transport is the cherry on top of a cake representing a complete mobility strategy, but the cake itself must be baked. Naturally, the cake is investing in infrastructure."

The City of Luxembourg authorities were also sceptical to start with, as the move would mean the state treasury would be missing 24 million as of 1 March.

Officials also grumbled that they had not been invited to the official presentation of free public transport. This minor clash was quickly resolved, as the move will be inaugurated by a free concert on 29 February, held in the capital, of course.
Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media

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Going to the dogs can be quite interesting

With the 2020 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show wrapped up on Feb. 11, here are some interesting facts about the annual competition from mentalfloss.com.

The first show was organized for hunting dogs. In 1876, a group of sportsmen gathered at The Westminster Hotel in Manhattan, decided to have a competition for their dogs and aptly named themselves the Westminster Breeding Association (later the Westminster Kennel Club). The first show featured primarily setters and pointers, with a total of 1,201 dogs entered. When tens of thousands of spectators showed up by the second day, the group could clearly see they were on to something.

The website notes that In 2009, a 10-year-old Sussex spaniel named Stump (registered name: Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee) broke the record for oldest dog ever to win "Best in Show." He later appeared on the cover of AARP magazine.

The overall winner each year traditionally eats a celebration lunch at Broadways famous Sardi's, and that used to be a violation of New York Citys health codes which prohibited animals from entering restaurants. The citys laws have been modernized to accommodate guide dogs and emotional support dogs  and this instance.

Some people comment on the snootiness of names given to show dogs, but its not necessarily the case; mentalfloss.com notes that The 2015 WKC Dog Show featured a Pomeranian named Starfire's Spank Me Hard Call Me Crazy, a basset hound named Easthill Broxden Woodland Lettuce Entertain You, and a border terrier named McHill's His Royal Highness Prince Gizmo House of Gremlin.

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Jersey Shore Animal Center

Cindy is a 4-month-old female pit bull terrier mix at the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick. For more information, call 732-920-1600 or email info@jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

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Tabby's Place

Chloe is a senior female calico cat in the care of Tabby's Place in East Amwell. For more information, call 908-237-5300 or go to https://www.tabbysplace.org/.

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Eleventh Hour Rescue

McEnroe Lonestar is a 1 1/2-year-old male shepherd/black mouth cur mix in the care of Eleventh Hour Rescue in Rockaway. For more information call 973-664-0865 or go to https://www.ehrdogs.org/.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Bartholomeow is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Steel is a 2-year-old male pit bull terrier mix at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Animal Alliance

Aldo is a 1-year-old male domestic shorthair in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to https://www.animalalliancenj.org/.

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One Step Closer Animal Rescue in Sparta

Raco is a 3-year-old male German shepherd/black and tan coonhound mix in the care of One Step Closer Animal Rescue in Sparta. For more information, call 973-810-2853, email oscarrescue@yahoo.com or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/sparta/one-step-closer-animal-rescue-o-dot-sc-dot-ar-dot-nj133/.

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Salem County Humane Society

Luigi is a 2-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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Burlington County Animal Shelter

Seuss is a 5-year-old male pit bull terrier mix at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-265-5073 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mount-holly/burlington-county-animal-shelter-nj148/.

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Chance at Life Cat Rescue

Alice is a 4-month-old female kitten in the care of Chance at Life Cat Rescue in Bergen County. For more information, call 201-982-2219, email chanceatliferescue@gmail.com or go to https://chanceatlifecatrescue.com/.

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Wise Animal Rescue

August is a 2-year-old female hound mix in the care of Wise Animal Rescue in Parsippany. For more information, email wiseanimalrescue@gmail.com or go to wiseanimalrescue.org.

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Animal Welfare Association

Bronx is a 1-year-old male domestic shorthair in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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The Humane Society of Atlantic County

Katie is a 2-year-old female beagle mix in the care of The Humane Society of Atlantic County. For more information, call 609-347-2487 or email shelter@humanesocietyac.org.

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Karma Cat and Zen Dog Rescue

David Bowie is a 1 1/2-year-old male domestic shorthair in the care of Karma Cat and Zen Dog Rescue in East Brunswick. For more information, call 732-568-4694, email info@karmacatzendog.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/milltown/karma-cat-zen-dog-rescue-society-nj639/.

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One Step Closer Animal Rescue

Abby is a 7-year-old female boxer/Labrador retriever mix in the care of One Step Closer Animal Rescue in Sparta. For more information, call 973-810-2853, email oscarrescue@yahoo.com or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/sparta/one-step-closer-animal-rescue-o-dot-sc-dot-ar-dot-nj133/.

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St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in North Branch

Melissa is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in North Branch. For more information, call 908-526-3330 or go to https://www.sthuberts.org/animals-available-for-adoption/.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter

Vest is a 2-year-old female mixed breed in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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Humane Society of Ocean City

Yoyo is an adult female domestic shorthair at the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 or email info@hsocnj.org.

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Southern Ocean County Animal Facility

Precious is a 3-yeat-old female pit bull terrier in the care of the Southern Ocean County Animal Facility in Manahawkin. For more information, call 609-978-0127, email socaf@@ochd.org or go to https://www.ochd.org.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Barrel is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Cold Nose Warm Heart Dog Rescue

Auggie is a 2-year-old female Labrador retriever/shepherd mix in the care of the Cold Nose Warm Heart Dog Rescue in Succasunna. For more information, email info@coldnosewarmheart.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ742&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Cocoa is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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All Star Pet Rescue

Minnie is a 7-year-old female Chihuahua/feist mix in the care of All Star Pet Rescue in Linden. For more information, email allstarpets@comcast.net or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/linden/all-star-pet-rescue-nj451/.

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New Beginnings Animal Rescue

Annabelle is a 3 1/2-year-old domestic shorthair in the care of New Beginnings Animal Rescue in East Brunswick. For more information, call 732-238-1348 or go to https://newbeginningsanimalrescuenj.org/home.

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SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals

Burton is a 7-year-old male hound mix in the care of SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals in Skillman. For more information, call 609-309-5214 or go to https://savehomelessanimals.org/.

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SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals in Skillman

Grey Catsby is a 7-month-old male domestic shorthair in the care of SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals in Skillman. For more information, call 609-309-5214 or go to https://savehomelessanimals.org/.

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Animal Alliance

Cynthia is a 2-year-old female hound mix in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to https://www.animalalliancenj.org/.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland

Baby Spice is a 1-year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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St. Hubert's Noah's Ark

Baxter is a 12-year-old male dachshund mix at St. Hubert's Noah's Ark in Ledgewood. For more information, call 973-448-7601, email amagyar@sthuberts.org or go to https://www.sthuberts.org/animals-available-for-adoption/.

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Jersey Shore Animal Center

Bella is a 5-year-old female brown tabby at the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick. For more information, call 732-920-1600 or email info@jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

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Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Jessie is a 5-year-old female shepherd mix at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-725-0308 or go to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/sras.html.

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Burlington County Animal Shelter

Geodude is a 2-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-265-5073 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mount-holly/burlington-county-animal-shelter-nj148/.

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Salem County Humane Society

Sandi is a 2-year-old female golden retriever mix at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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Liberty Humane Society

America is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. Call 201-547-4147, email lhs@libertyhumane.org or go to https://www.libertyhumane.org/.

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Humane Society of Ocean City

Murphy is a 3-year-old male catahoula leopard dog mix at the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 or email info@hsocnj.org.

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Summit Animal Rescue Association

Muffin is a male ragdoll cat between 8 and 9 years old in the care of the Summit Animal Rescue Association. For more information, call 908-578-4354, email saracats.julia@gmail.com or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/berkeley-heights/s-dot-ar-dot-a-inc-nj264/.

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Animal Welfare Association

Nala is a 7-year-old female pit bull terrier mix in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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Liberty Humane Society

Manchego is a senior male English bulldog mix in the care of the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. Call 201-547-4147, email lhs@libertyhumane.org or go to https://www.libertyhumane.org/.

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Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media
People wear masks to prevent the novel coronavirus walk along the street in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

US Military Dependent in South Korea Confirmed to Have Coronavirus

Top Commander Confirms Identity as 61-Year-Old Widow

A family member of a U.S. service member was diagnosed with coronaviruswhich causes COVID-19in South Korea, as the number of cases in the country continues to rise.

In a press release on Monday, U.S. Forces Korea said it was told by South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a military dependent living in the southern city of Daegu tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first case linked to U.S. Forces Korea.

The commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Gen. Robert Abrams, identified the 61-year old female as the widow of a retired soldier. She had visited Camp Walkers Post Exchange on Feb. 12 and Feb. 15, according to the news release, and officials are trying to determine if others have been exposed.

We are saddened to hear of her contracting the virus, Abrams wrote on Twitter. We pray for her recovery.

Dear Korea Herald: to be clear, this is a 60+ year old widow of a retired soldier. We were saddened to hear of her of contracting the virus. We pray for her recovery. https://t.co/fzrgiF0Z5g  Robert Abrams (@DogFaceSoldier) February 24, 2020

At the same time, the military raised the risk level to high in South Korea amid the outbreak as a prudent measure to protect the force, according to the release.

U.S. Forces Korea also warned its personnel to exercise caution while traveling off-base and if service members feel sick, dont go to work or school and seek medical help.

It also ordered service members to limit in-person meetings, gatherings, and temporary duty travel and assignments. Personnel were also warned.

People wearing masks to prevent the novel coronavirus walk along the Myungdong shopping district in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Personnel should expect longer wait times, possible temperature checks and screening questionnaires at gates to access installations, the service added. Basic hygiene measures such as washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or not touching ones face or eyes were also recommended.

Koreas health agency said it has confirmed 833 cases as of Monday.

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Il-kwon said he will visit Daegu this week to observe quarantine measures.

Preemptive measures are necessary to prepare for the possibility of [the coronavirus] spreading across the nation, Chung said, reported the Yonhap news agency.

The outbreak in Daegu is believed to have been triggered by a 61-year-old woman who had traveled from Wuhan, China, where the virus is believed to have originated and went to a local church.
by Chris Horner

The political philosophy, and more importantly, political practice that took root in the wake of the Age of Revolutions (say 1775-1848) was liberalism of various kinds: a commitment to certain principles and practices that eventually came to seem, like any successful ideology, a kind of common sense. With this, however, came a growing sense of dissatisfaction with what it seemed to represent: bourgeois society. Here is a paradox: at the very point at which the Enlightenment promise of the free society seemed to be coming true, discontent with that promise, or with the way it was being fulfilled, took hold. This was a sense that the modern citizen and subject was somehow still unfree. If this seems at least an aspect of how things stand with us in 2020 it might be worth looking back, for doubts about the liberal project have accompanied it since its inception.

Three political philosophies were contending for the inheritance of the age of revolution: Radical/egalitarian, Conservative and Liberal. For conservatives, after the more extreme response of figures like Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821) who wanted the speedy eradication of the fact and the idea of the revolution; a total return and restoration of the ancien regime, a more pragmatic reaction remained possible. Edmund Burke (1729-97) stands here in an interesting position. No bone-headed follower of despotism, he had argued the case of the American colonists in their Revolution with great eloquence. But things changed when he considered events in France. His Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790) stems from a horror at many things, not only sans culottes rampaging through the Tuileries, but also the pretensions of the democratic revolutionary elite. He can be seen as a mere counterrevolutionary, yet the conservative tradition to which he belongs (which includes Carlyle and Ruskin) did develop a critique of the liberal individualism of the new century.

Burkes thinking is rooted in his conception of political economy and his linking of Utility and Natural Law. For Burke the free market and the old order he defended were intertwined, because custom, tradition and habit were the necessary pillars of a successful capitalism. Since the free market would necessarily imply the subordination of the working class we have an outlook that combines a faith in nascent capitalism with a profoundly anti democratic perspective. Here we have a conservative outlook that links markets not to any egalitarian outlook, but to hierarchy. Not every conservative was to prove as sanguine about the providential working of the free market as Burke.

John Ruskins Unto This Last (1860), for instance, belongs to a tradition of social criticism that was to prove influential on the labour movement of the early Twentieth Century as well as the leaders of the struggle for independence in India (Gandhi translated it into Gujarati). Ruskins book is an extended attack on liberal political economy with John Stuart Mills volumes on the subject as one of its main targets. Ruskin was certainly no socialist (he makes the point repeatedly that he does not support egalitarianism) but the force of his attack is on the way in which the ideology of free-property, free-trade, free-labour dehumanised and atomised social life. The outlook is one that emphasises not equality or liberty, but fraternity, or social solidarity, a rejection of value free liberal political economy as bogus and destructive.

Nevertheless, liberalism entrenched itself in power and wrote the narrative that made its dominance seem inevitable and right, a part of a new common sense. While one can contrast liberal theory from liberal practice, it is worth noting that liberalism has a number of problems even considered as a group of ideas. And there were economic and historical forces that would inhibit liberalism in fulfilling the enlightenment promise of a responsible, mature citizenry in the driving seat of power. These forces were present from the start. In effect, the development of conception of liberal freedom  that is, one restricted to political freedoms, associated with the inegalitarian principle of free-trade, free-property, free-labour meant that the goal of a republic in which all the people had a role to play in government, in politics, would be subordinated to the private interests of one class. In the light of this, it is clear that an account of politics that forecloses consideration of political economy, is bound to be incomplete.

Liberal is a protean word. Most liberals would presumably agree that at its heart is a concern for freedom of the individual, here thought of as the opportunity to choose freely. The state is supposed to respect the individuals freedom by being neutral on the question of what would be good for him/her to choose (this would include lifestyle, beliefs, choice of occupation), while acting to ensure that the exercise of freedom by individuals and groups should not cause harm to others. This is the famous harm principle we find in JS Mills On Liberty (1859).

So law regulates intercourse between individuals and does not promote a particular view of the good, and a strict distinction is maintained between public and private, the latter including not only individuals and families but also economic activity in civil society. The state is an essentially external agency to society. The problem is that although citizens are encouraged to vote, join parties etc, there is a growing tendency for public political life to become the preserve of an elite class of politicians and bureaucrats.

Historically, this approach has tended to be linked to capitalism, although there is no necessary connection between free markets and liberalism anymore than there is between markets and democracy, as Burke realised And one only needs to consider Lee Kuan Yus Singapore or China today to see that capitalism can thrive in non-liberal societies. We should take note of this, as it could be that western capitalism too may find that it doesnt need democracy or liberal norms in order to thrive.

The historic link between liberalism and capitalism has meant that liberalism has accepted inequality of distribution of wealth and property. This is not a contingent point, but rather a necessary outcome as free individuals in a competitive society will not all be economically successful, and although the state may provide a welfare safety net or assistance in overcoming bad luck there is no expectation of an end to actual inequality. That this has serious implications for the liberal conception of freedom is clear, and is a point that Marx and others have made with great force: freedom without the power to actualise ones choices is empty because it is ineffective. Furthermore the category of the political itself which comes under threat in this kind of society, and it is on this point that Hannah Arendt also makes some telling points.

What is crucial for Arendt is that the powerful forces unleashed by capitalism (especially technology and the class of technical experts who direct and administer it) threaten to eliminate political life itself. Arendt, like Marx, is much struck by the dynamic, endlessly revolutionising quality of modern capitalism, the way in which all that is solid melts into air and there are passages in her work (especially in The Origins of Totalitarianism and The Human Condition) which rival Marx himself on the subject of the bourgeois-liberal approach to private gain at the expense of public good. For it is the res publica, the public thing, that is squeezed out by the kind of society we have been discussing. This is important for Arendt because it is through acting and speaking together that humans realise their unique potential to bring something entirely new and unprecedented into the world, what she calls natality.

This may seem a surprising claim to make, given that a defining feature of modernity is the idea of openness to the new, to change itself. Yet the new promoted by capitalism is arguably a false new. This is concisely expressed by Adorno in his section called Late Extra in Minima Moralia (1951): The cult of the new, and thus the idea of modernity, is a rebellion against the fact that there is no longer anything new.

Capitalism generates a universe of commodities, and a cult of the new, which is a kind of rebellion against the fact that there is no longer anything new, since new here simply means one more thing to be consumed. In this sense we are like addicts, seeking to enjoy the new, again and again. Like addicts, this is experienced as compulsion, not freedom, and as cyclical, not linear or progressive. No one is getting anywhere and nothing new occurs, for all the innovations in technology stimulated by the process. For Arendt, Adorno and Marx it is not in this essentially private realm of pleasures that there is true freedom. The role of political elites becomes one of managing and influencing the masses, here conceived as essentially irrational and incapable of autonomy. An example of this view is Public Opinion (1922), in which Walter Lippmann argued that it was the essentially selfish, herd-like mass of private individuals, essentially an aggregation of potentially conflicting interests, who had to be manipulated by the elite into agreeing with what was good for them, by a process he called manufacturing consent.

It is against this threat to human freedom that Arendt stresses our capacity to begin anew. This is the idea that people can act and speak in ways that are not bound by the past, or by inherited norms and rules. In this she was a good student of Kant: a free citizenry must act and speak for itself, and not take direction from experts, priests or technicians. For this to occur, there must be a public space of freedom, where people can show who and what they are; it is therefore vital that we preserve a public dimension because only there are we at our most human, displaying our individual uniqueness as part of the plurality of the human condition. What went wrong with political modernity is that we lost the place, or practice, of genuine politics.

Liberalism achieved certain important goals  a notion of the importance of individual autonomy in fashioning ones life goals, the idea that rights are there to delimit the powers of governments and majorities, and more. So in what ways did it fail? For Marx, it failed to achieve the Enlightenment promise of freedom as genuine autonomy because of its close identification with an economic system that does not serve human good, and which must be overcome. Arendts complementary insight is that if the private pursuit of happiness-as-consumption substitutes for public engagement (what Jefferson called public happiness) we are delivered into the hands of our equivalent of the aristocrat and the priest: the bureaucrat and the expert, the manufacturers of consent. Politics is replaced by management. But politics is indispensable for human flourishing because it is the activity in which we disclose possibility, and a public space survives only where new beginnings are perpetually added to the flow of things that have already been initiated. Without a public space of this kind the modern citizen will continue to be enmeshed in the false freedom of consumption, which cannot make up for the absence of freedom in the world of work and politics. The result is anomie and alienation. Arendt can sometimes seem conservative and sometimes radical because she is Janus-faced: she looks to the past, to a delicate ecology of the shared human world, that Burke and Ruskin prized; but she sounds most like radical when she grasps the centrality of our capacity to begin again, because, as she said, we are all new, we are all new beginnings.
Iran's government vowed Monday to be transparent after being accused of covering up the deadliest coronavirus outbreak outside China, dismissing a lawmaker's claim the toll could be as high as 50. The authorities in Iran have come under mounting public pressure since it took days for them to admit to "accidentally" shooting down a Ukrainian airliner last month, killing 176 people. The government announced Iran's coronavirus death toll had jumped by four to 12 -- by far the highest outside China -- as several regional countries reported their first cases on Monday, even after imposing travel restrictions and strict quarantine measures. But Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, a lawmaker from the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, alleged Iran's government was "lying" about the death toll. "As of last night, about 50 people have died" from the COVID-19 outbreak in Qom alone, he was quoted as saying by ILNA news agency after a closed session of parliament on the crisis. The government rejected the claim. "I ask our brother who declared this figure of 50 deaths to provide us with a list of their names," said Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi. "If the number of deaths in Qom reaches half or a quarter of this figure, I will resign." - Suspicion on streets - But people on Tehran's streets were also suspicious. "State TV gives us statistics, but when we go to hospitals we see something different. The number of people who died is much more," said Elahe Zarabi, 56, a housewife carrying bags of bleach. Shoaib, a 24-year-old pharmacy employee, said the shop was running out of stocks as it had gone from selling 500 face masks a day to 10,000. "The mullahs are saying Muslims are immune because of their faith," he said. "How will they quarantine a huge city like Tehran when they cannot even quarantine a hospital?" Iran has been scrambling to contain COVID-19 since Wednesday when it announced the first two deaths in Qom, a centre for Islamic studies and pilgrims that attracts scholars from abroad. Authorities have ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres across the country as a "preventive measure". But it has not all been doom and gloom. A video has gone viral of young men greeting each other by tapping their feet together to avoid infection, instead of shaking hands or the increasingly common fist-bump. - Transparency pledge - The government also vowed to be open about the disease's spread. "We will announce any figures (we have) on the number of deaths throughout the country. We pledge to be transparent about the reporting of figures," spokesman Ali Rabiei said. Assadollah Abbassi, a spokesman for Iran's parliament, announced the latest four deaths among 61 infections after Monday's session. Citing Health Minister Said Namaki, he said "the cause of coronavirus infections in Iran are people who have entered the country illegally from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China". After reporting two deaths in Qom, Iran has yet to give a breakdown of where the other patients died. The province worst hit by infections is Qom, with 34 cases, according to official figures. The others are in Tehran with 13 infections, Gilan with six, Markazi with four, Isfahan with two and one each for Hamedan and Mazandaran. The health minister said one person who died in Qom was a businessman who had made trips to China. Namaki said direct flights between Iran and China had been suspended, but the Qom businessman had travelled there "on a connecting flight". Iran's Mahan Air said it had stopped China services this month, apart from eight flights to deliver virus aid to China and return people under the health ministry's supervision. - Border closures - Since it emerged in December, the new coronavirus has killed nearly 2,600 people in China. Iran now accounts for nearly half of the 30 deaths so far reported elsewhere in the world. Many of Iran's neighbours have reported infections in people who had travelled to the Islamic republic. Afghanistan on Monday reported its first case in a person who had been to Qom. Baghdad and Muscat also reported their first cases -- an elderly Iranian citizen living in Iraq's Najaf and two Omani women who had returned from the Islamic republic. Iraq has shut its border with Iran and imposed a travel ban, while Oman halted flights to and from the virus-hit country. Preventive measures have been imposed by Afghanistan, Armenia, Pakistan and Turkey. Kuwait and Bahrain also confirmed their first novel coronavirus cases, all of whom had come from Iran.
The cast of the popular 90s series "Friends" is bringing home the bacon.

When they agreed to a reunion special for HBO Max, they got themselves a hefty pay in exchange. However, its nothing compared to the excitement it brought their fans and supporters from all over the world transcending generations.

Reunited and It Feels Good

Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry will be making at least $2.5 million each for the reunion special, according to the report released by Variety last February 21.

The original offer was at $1 million each, the same amount they were earning for every episode for the final two seasons of "Friends." However, all six actors turned down the offer, according to the report by the Wall Street Journal.

HBO Max has already made the announcement in a statement on Friday, confirming the reunion of all six of its original cast members in an untitled, unscripted special. It will be filmed on the original 24 soundstages in the Warner Bros. Studio lot.

Kevin Reilly, chief content officer of HBO Max and President of TBS, TNT and truTV, said in a statement: "I became aware of "Friends" when it was in its early stages of development and then I had the opportunity to work on the series many years later. I am delighted to see it being able to catch on with viewers generation after generation."

"Guess you can call this the one where they all got back together," Reilly added. The production will be bringing back David, Jennifer, Courteney, Matt, Lisa and Matthew for an HBO Max special program along with the "Friends" library.

"Friends" for Life

The exciting new development of all six original cast members in one show has got all of them pumped up, too.

They shared the good news on their private Instagram pages. Their followers and fans were quick to leave positive responses to the caption "It's happening" that came with the same "Friends" poster. They were in a retro ensemble from a photoshoot they did together years ago.

Their celebrity friends could not help but feel excited about the reunion as well, with the likes of Kate Hudson and Sarah Hyland commenting.

"I feel like the whole world just had a collective orgasm," Hudson commented on Aniston's post on Friday.

"EXCUSE ME?!" wrote Sarah Hyland along with crying emojis and a lot of hearts.

The Reunion Special

The reunion special will be aired on HBO Max. The same executive producers will be working on it, namely Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. The special show will be the first time all six actors will appear on screen together since their finale in May of 2004.

Although the majority of the cast had a small reunion in 2016 for an NBC special in honor of Television director James Burrows, Matthew Perry had a previous commitment and was not able to make it.

The "Friends" reunion special and all of their 236 episodes will be available to all subscribers of HBO Max for the whole month of May.
With the spotlight on railway blockades across the country in support of Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs who oppose a natural gas pipeline that would run through their territory in northern B.C, it would be easy to assume that all First Nations are against development on their lands.

But this is not the case. Not in all parts of B.C. and definitely not in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs and their allies are trying to make a case for having more say about resource development in their particular territory by holding up construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline that would ship natural gas from northeastern B.C. to Kitimat, where it would be liquefied and shipped overseas.

But other First Nations in Western Canada are not so immovable when it comes to pipelines. Instead, they want in on the action of extraction and transportation of oil and natural gas.

No better example exists than the consortia of Indigenous players that want to bid on purchasing the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline now owned by the federal government.

The Indian Resource Council has been working to facilitate a bid for Indigenous ownership since the federal government bought the pipeline for $4.5 billion 18 months ago.

Based on the Tsuutina First Nation just outside Calgary, the IRC consists of 190 First Nations from across the country, although most are located in the four Western provinces. One hundred and thirty four members, such as the Blood Tribe in southern Alberta, have oil and gas resources on their land. Others such as the Flying Dust First Nation in central Saskatchewan do not have petroleum resources.

There are now three separate groups vying for a controlling share of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which would eventually ship 890,000 barrels a day of diluted bitumen from Alberta to the West Coast for export by tanker.

Project Reconciliation, which is also based in Calgary and led by Delbert Wapass, a former chief of the Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan, has received the blessing of the IRC. It includes First Nations in the B.C. interior and proposes a majority share in the pipeline with profits designated for a Sovereign Wealth and Reconciliation Fund that would be shared among participating communities.

The Iron Coalition, a consortium of Indigenous and Metis leaders from northern Alberta, proposes to return the profits from the pipeline directly to both First Nation and Metis communities that participate in the purchase of the pipeline.

Chief Allan Adams of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, who once vigorously opposed oil sands development in his territory, is backing this proposal.

Western Indigenous Pipeline Group is a coalition of First Nations along the Trans Mountain pipeline route in B.C.

When asked why he wants to buy the controversial pipeline, Mike LeBourdais, chief of the Whispering Pines/Clinton band told the CBC: The same reason everyone else wants to buy it  because it is profitable.

They [pipelines] are always profitable. They produce revenue and profit daily.

Hes right about that. And thats one of the reasons one of these groups or some combination of all three may be able to obtain financing for a multi-billion majority share of the pipeline.

The re-election of the Trudeau Liberals and the recent court judgment that ruled the federal government had fulfilled its obligations to consult with Indigenous communities affected by the pipeline has put wind in the sails of those vying to buy a majority share.

And no doubt the example of Fort McKay, a First Nation right in the middle of oil sands development, that years ago decided to negotiate with oil sands operators rather than fight them and grew wealthy because of it, has influenced other First Nations when it comes to resource development.

Of course not all First Nations toe the same line. And why should they? Circumstances vary from place to place. Some West Coast First Nations are still concerned about the danger of spills and other disruptions that would flow from completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

Yet the railway blockades in support of the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs leave the impression that all First Nations are opposed to resource development when that is definitely not the case.
Fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari who is wanted in many heinous crimes, including murder and extortion, was brought in the early hours of Monday from Senegal via France to Bengaluru, police said.

"Yes, we have brought him," a police officer said.

The gangster was nabbed in South Africa in a joint operation by the SA police and Senegal security agencies and was later extradited to Senegal, said police sources.

On learning about his arrest in Senegal, a team of police officers, including Additional Director General of Police Amar Kumar Pandey and Bengaluru Joint Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil went to Senegal to bring him.

The team completed the extradition process and finally brought him to Bengaluru by an Air France flight.

The don was arrested by the Senegal authorities last year and the India police tried it's best to catch hold of him but failed as a local court there granted him bail.

The gangster then jumped the bail and fled Senegal and had holed up in South Africa, said police sources.

The gangster was allegedly involved in many heinous crimes and had set up his network in Karnataka.
On 26 November 2018, the NASA InSight lander successfully set down on Mars in the Elysium Planitia region. Seventy Martian days later, the mission's seismometer SEIS began recording the planet's vibrations. A team of researchers and engineers at ETH Zurich, led by ETH Professor Domenico Giardini, had delivered the SEIS control electronics and is responsible for the Marsquake Service. The latter is in charge for the daily interpretation of the data transmitted from Mars, in collaboration with the Swiss Seismological Service at ETH Zurich. Now, the journal Nature Geoscience published a series of articles on the results of the mission in the first months of operation on Mars.

As reported in these articles, InSight recorded 174 events until the end of September 2019. Since then, the measurements have continued leading to more than 450 observed marsquakes as of today, which have not yet been analysed in detail. This accounts for one event a day on average.

The data allows researchers observing how seismic waves travel through the planet and unveiling its internal characteristics - similar to how x-?rays are used in medical tomography. Before InSight landed, researchers had developed a wide range of possible models to represent the internal structure of the red planet. The recorded marsquakes, already after few months, enable refining the understanding of the structure of the planet and to reduce the uncertainties.

Interpreting marsquake data is challenging

Marsquakes are similar to the seismic events we see on Earth, although they are generally of smaller magnitude. The 174 registered marsquakes can be categorized in two families: One includes 24 low-?frequency events with magnitudes between 3 and 4, as documented in the papers, with waves propagating through the Martian mantle. A second family of marsquakes comprises 150 events with smaller magnitudes, shallower hypocentral depth and high frequency waves trapped in the Martian crust.

"Marsquakes have characteristics already observed on the Moon during the Apollo era, with a long signal duration (10 to 20 minutes) due to the scattering properties of the Martian crust", explains ETH Professor Giardini. In general, however, he says, interpreting marsquake data is very challenging and in most cases, it is only possible to identify the distance but not the direction from which the waves are arriving.

InSight landed on a thin, sandy layer

InSight opens a new era for planetary seismology. The SEIS performance exceeded so far expectations, considering the harsh conditions on Mars, characterized by temperatures ranging from minus 80 to 0 degrees Celsius every day and by strong wind oscillations. Indeed wind shakes the InSight lander and its instrumentation during the day leading to a high level of ambient noise. However, at sunset, the winds calm down allowing recording the quietest seismic data ever collected in the solar system. As a result, most seismic events detected on Mars by SEIS occurred in the quiet night hours. The challenging environment also requires to carefully distinguishing between seismic events and signals originating from movements of the lander, other instruments or atmospheric-?induced perturbances.

The hammering by the HP3 instrument (another InSight experiment) and the close passage of whirlwinds (dust devils), recorded by SEIS, allow to map the physical properties of the shallow soil layers just below the station. We now know that SEIS landed on a thin, sandy layer reaching a few meters deep, in the middle of a 20 meter-?wide ancient impact crater. At greater depths, the Martian crust has properties comparable to Earth's crystalline massifs but appears to be more fractured. The propagation of the seismic waves suggest that the upper mantle has a stronger attenuation compared to the lower mantle.

Seismic activity also induced by tectonic stress

InSight landed in a rather quiet region of Mars, as no events near the station have been recorded up to now. The three biggest events were located in the Cerberus Fossae region about 1'500 km away. It is a tectonic graben system, caused by the weight of the Elysium Mons, the biggest volcano in the Elysium Planitia area. This provides strong evidence that seismic activity on Mars is not only a consequence of the cooling and therewith the shrinking of the planet but also induced by tectonic stress. The total seismic energy released on Mars lies between the one of Earth and of the Moon.

SEIS, complementary to other InSight measurements, also meaningfully contributed data to better understand the meteorological processes on Mars. The instrument's sensitivity to both wind and atmospheric pressure allowed identifying meteorological phenomena characteristic of Mars, including the many dust devils that pass by the spacecraft every afternoon.

###

Reference

Banerdt B et al.: Initial results from the InSight mission on Mars, Nature Geoscience, 24 February 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41561-?020-0544-y

Giardini D et al.: The seismicity of Mars. Nature Geoscience, 24 February 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41561-?020-0539-8
The national capitals new assembly convened for the first time on Monday, with 69 of the 70 legislators taking oath as members of the House and officially electing the Speaker as well as the leader of Opposition.

Ram Niwas Goel, the Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) MLA from Shahdara, was chosen as the Speaker for the second time in a row, while the Bharatiya Janata Party  which won eight seats  chose Badarpur MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri as the leader of Opposition. The opposition leader in the previous assembly was Vijender Gupta.

The oath was administered to all the legislators by Matia Mahal MLA Shoaib Iqbal, who was appointed the pro-tem speaker by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. Iqbal, a six-time MLA from the seat who joined the AAP from the Congress ahead of the polls, took his oath in the L-Gs office at 9:30 am, before the Assembly session began at 11 am.

Some accompanied by their family members, several legislators took their oath of office and secrecy in their mother tongue.

In the last five years we saw that Ram Niwas ji was like the Bhishma Pitamah of the House. He also did not give any opportunity to the opposition to complain against him, said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

To this, Goel responded by saying that a new story of development will be written in Delhi under Kejriwals leadership. Under your leadership, the Delhi government will work towards developing all the Delhi constituencies on a faster pace. As the speaker, I intend to open a dedicated TV channel for the Delhi assembly and also make it paperless, he said.

On being appointed as the opposition leader, BJPs Bidhuri said: My role as the leader of opposition will be to keep a check on the Kejriwal government. And also to ensure that the promises made by him to the people should be fulfilled. Otherwise, we will protest, both inside and outside the Assembly.

On Tuesday, the L-G will address the House.

AAP MLAs from Greater Kailash and Uttam Nagar, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Naresh Balyan, referred to the Hindu god Hanuman, prompting several legislators in the House to chant Jai Hanuman while thumping their desks.

Legislators Sanjeev Jha and Ritu Raj Govind, who came dressed in traditional Bihari attire, took oath in Maithili.

Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh took his oath in Punjabi while Wazirpur MLA Rajesh Gupta took oath in the name of his mother and father.

Out of the 70 MLAs, only one -- AAPs Janakpuri MLA Rajesh Rishi -- was not present to take his oath. Officials in the Delhi Assembly said Rishi had informed the Vidhan Sabha secretariat about his leave citing an unavoidable engagement. He will be sworn in on Tuesday.

Chief minister Kejriwals party routed the BJP for the second time in a row, though the opposition party managed to pick up four more constituencies than it had the last time.

The three-day assembly session that started Monday is being held after a gap of more than two-and-a-half months.

The House had last met on December 3 in 2019. Elections for this assembly were held on February 8 and results were declared on February 11.

There was also some show of bonhomie among legislators. BJPs leader of opposition Bidhuri hugged Iqbal after taking oath. The two were first elected to the Delhi assembly in 1993.

Prominent AAP faces, Raghav Chadha, Atishi and Dilip Pandey were among the first-time MLAs who took oath.

Following the oath ceremony, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia proposed Goels name for Speaker. The proposal was supported by MLAs Kuldeep Kumar, Satyendar Jain, Praveen Kumar, Dinesh Mohania, SK Bagga, Vishesh Ravi and Raghav Chaddha, after which the motion was passed by voice vote.

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Liam Neeson has confessed to having previously used a body double because he hates his Irish butt.

The Ballymena man admitted that he used a stunt butt during a famous nude scene in the 2014 American western comedy, A Million Ways to Die in the West.

In the scene, Charlize Therons character, Anna Barnes-Leatherwood, the wife of Neesons character, bullying outlaw Clinch Leatherwood, whacks a trouserless Neeson over the head and cheekily place a flower where the sun doesnt shine.

Appearing on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, alongside his Ordinary Love co-star Lesley Manville, he was asked about his bare-faced cheek.

Did Charlize Theron actually shove a flower in your ass in A Million Ways To Die In The West, or was it a butt double? asked host Cohen.

Okay... Neeson began. Mark Vanselow is my stunt coordinator. Were working now on our 24th film together. When we were doing that movie - I hate my Irish butt, okay.

I said to Mark, as is a sign of our friendship, would you ever do this scene where Charlize Theron puts a daisy in your butt? And he said, sure.

Neeson added: I gave him a big hug afterwards. I thought, theres no f****** way is anybody going to see my Irish butt.

Theron spoke previously about the scene, saying there were worse jobs than having to look at Neesons naked bottom.

I said what any healthy woman would say, recalled Theron, giggling. I get to see Liam Neesons butt. Thats what happened. I can think of so many worse jobs.
Harrison Ford has revealed his top tip for a long-lasting marriage in a new interview that saw him discuss his career.

The Star Wars actor, 77, who has been married to Calista Flockhart, 55, for almost 10 years, addressed the longevity of his relationship with the Ally McBeal star during a promotional interview for his new film, The Call of the Wild.

Dont talk  nod your head, Ford quipped to Parade, with a smile.

Ford, who has been a licensed pilot for 25 years, also added that he only goes flying if my chores are done and theres nothing more pressing.

The actor met Flockhart at the Golden Globes in 2002 and they married eight years later.

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

In the same interview, Ford revealed he was not the first choice to play Indiana Jones and discussed the forthcoming film, which will mark the fifth time hes played the adventurer.

Theyre hard, but theyre fun, he said, refusing to comment on plot details of the new Steven Spielberg film.

The actor went on to reflect upon his career, telling Parade: I never had targets. I never had boxes to tick. I think one of the pleasures of my work is not knowing whats coming.

The Call of the Wild is in cinemas now.
The Czech capital city will rename the square that's home to the Russian embassy after a murdered critic of President Vladimir Putin, risking a confrontation with its Cold War master Moscow.

The Prague city council agreed on Monday to change the name of the Pod Kastany square in the northern Bubenec neighborhood after Boris Nemtsov, a former Russian deputy prime minister and later opposition leader who was shot dead on a bridge near the Kremlin in February 2015.

It was the latest in a string of decisions by the city of 1.2 million that has put it at odds with the governments of large foreign powers. In January, Prague triggered tensions with China when it signed a sister-city agreement with the Taiwanese capital Taipei. It canceled a similar accord with Beijing and rejected demands from China that it sever ties with Taiwan and Tibet.

"Our decision is in line with the Czech democratic tradition and respect for human rights," Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib said in an email. "We are joining cities like Washington D.C., Vilnius and Kyiv in this international initiative."

In a growing trend of liberal capital cities diverging from the policies of populist national governments, the leadership in Prague has clashed with Milos Zeman, the country's anti-immigrant president who has built ties with far-right politicians and is an admirer and supporter of Putin. Zeman denounced the change as a "definite political step."

As the center of the "Velvet Revolution" in which anti-communist dissidents led by late President Vaclav Havel helped topple the Iron Curtain 1989, the city has a long tradition of opposing totalitarian ideals.

As mayor, Hrib reinstated the practice of flying the Tibetan flag above City Hall, a tradition halted by his predecessor that is a rejection of Beijing's "One China" principle that rejects the recognition of Tibet.

City officials will make the name change official at a ceremony on Thursday, the fifth anniversary of Nemtsov's killing. The city council is also seeking to name a site after Anna Politkovskaya, another prominent Putin critic, who was gunned down in 2006.

It's not the first time Prague has clashed with Russia. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow protested last year when a district mayor sought to remove a statue of Ivan Konev, the Red Army commander who helped push Nazi forces out of the Czech capital in the final days of World War II. Konev's later actions included a role in crushing Hungary's 1956 anti-communist uprising.

Hrib said the square was chosen in line with an international campaign that includes the renaming of streets outside Russian embassies in Washington D.C. and Lithuania's capital, Vilnius. The mayor said he sees no reason for Moscow to be upset.

"Nemtzov was a former Russian deputy minister and successful regional politician who was assassinated," Hrib said.
Asbestos-related deaths have devastated thousands of Missouri families, with more than 4,700 residents dying between 1999 and 2017 from diseases triggered by asbestos exposure, according to a recent analysis of federal mortality data by the Environmental Working Group Action Fund.

Among those Missourians who face an outsize burden of falling sick and dying from exposure to the deadly carcinogen are our veterans. Thats because of the militarys decades-long heavy use of asbestos in Navy ships and in Army, Air Force and Marines barracks.

Veterans make up about 8% of the countrys population but account for roughly 30% of Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma  the extremely painful and fatal form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, stomach and other organs and is caused only by asbestos exposure.

There are about 465,000 veterans in Missouri. Many have been able to receive compensation for their illness. But now legislation has been introduced that would erect a series of almost insurmountable roadblocks to prevent those who already or could one day suffer from asbestos-triggered diseases from getting the compensation they are due  or even deny it altogether.
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission says it is exploring suitable options at its disposal following the ruling delivered by a Kano Federal High Court.

The ruling is on the commissions interim investigation report on the alleged misappropriation of N3.4 billion by the Kano Emirate Council.

The court nullified the report.

The commissions stance is contained in a statement issued by its Chairman, Muhyi Magaji-Rimingado, to journalists in Kano on Monday.

This Commission is in receipt of a ruling delivered by the Federal High Court, Kano, on Friday, February 21, 2020, in a suit No. FHC/KN/CS/102/2019, Muhammadu Sanusi II V Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission & 2 Others, he said.

According to him, the applicant (Mr Sanusi) had approached the court to seek for the nullification of the commissions Interim Investigation Report dated May 31, 2019, and submitted on June 6, 2019.

The court in its judgment voided the report on grounds of lack of fair hearing under Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

He noted that the court in its wisdom quashed the interim investigation report on the basis of non-invitation of the applicant.

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The court held that it violated the applicants fundamental human right to fair hearing and awarded N200,000 cost of instituting the action against the commission.

Having studied the ruling of the Honourable Court, it is our understanding that, the Honourable Court presided by Justice O.A. Egwuata did not stop the Commission from further investigating the case and or submitting a report after hearing from the Applicant.

Consequently, the Commission has two options for consideration: Firstly, to appeal the judgment as there are numerous grounds of appeal.

Secondly, continue with the investigation since the case has been decided and invite the Emir in compliance with the Court ruling, Rimingado said.

He explained that the interim report under reference was submitted becauee of obstruction of the ongoing investigation by the Applicant, which hindered progress of the process.

The Commission is exploring suitable options available at its disposal as the matter is still under investigation, he assured the public.

(NAN)
The prosecution of Assange threatens press freedom. This is the first time that the US Espionage Act has been used against a publisher. Ahead of the proceedings in a UK court, professionals, activists and human rights defenders around the world are coming together to intervene in this highly politicized case.

On Tuesday, a group of doctors representing 117 physicians and psychologists from 18 nations penned an open letter in the Lancet medical journal, appealing to governments to end the torture of Mr. Assange, and provide the best available healthcare before it is too late.

The Doctors for Assange group asserted:

Should Assange die in a UK prison, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has warned, he will effectively have been tortured to death. Much of that torture will have taken place in a prison medical ward, on doctors watch. The medical profession cannot afford to stand silently by, on the wrong side of torture and the wrong side of history, while such a travesty unfolds.

International human rights and free speech organizations like Amnesty International and Reporters without Borders (RSF) came out as strongly opposing Assanges extradition to the United States, where he would face 175 years in prison. Both have now launched petitions against the extradition.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic also issued a warning, demanding that "Julian Assange should not be extradited due to potential impact on press freedom and concerns about ill-treatment."

On Thursday, journalists worldwide came together in support of Assanges freedom. A joint statement released by 1200 colleagues from 9 countries called for the immediate release of Assange and criticized the US governments move toward criminalization of journalism:

All journalists use information from confidential sources so the legal actions are an extremely dangerous precedent that threatens the worlds journalists and news media. The signatories believe Assanges imprisonment and the court proceedings are a gross miscarriage of Justice.

They also wrote: "We urge our fellow journalists to inform the public accurately about this abuse of fundamental rights. We urge all journalists to speak up in defense of Julian

Assange at this critical time. Dangerous times call for fearless journalism."

The signatories included staff from most of the worlds major media organizations, including many award-winning and prominent journalists. One of the signatories, John Pilger, a renowned journalist and a long time supporter of Assange and friend, emphasized once again that Assange should "be freed, not betrayed." He made it clear that "when Julian Assange steps into Woolwich Crown Court on Feb. 24, true journalism will be the only crime on trial."

As the countdown to a trial on journalism begins, the fight for free press is now on. In anticipation of Mondays hearing, a powerful light was shone by protesters projecting footage of the US military airstrike on Iraq civilians onto the British Parliament building. It reminded all, of the reason why Assange sits in a maximum high security prison.

On the weekend before the hearing, protests against extradition are planned across the world. On Saturday, supporters will march from Australia House to Parliament Square in London. From medical professionals to journalists associations, the waves of courage that have emerged this week in defense of Julian Assange, invite all of us to join in, and stand on the right side of history.

Nozomi Hayase, Ph.D., is a writer who has been covering issues of freedom of speech, transparency, and decentralized movements. Her work is featured in many publications. Find her on twitter @nozomimagine.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Matanat Nasibova  Trend:

Rattan company, an Azerbaijani manufacturer of wicker furniture, plans to export products to post-Soviet states, a source in the company told Trend.

According to the source, the company plans to export furniture to Georgia, as well as to several CIS countries.

"This year we are going to increase the companys production volume up to 25 percent. On average, the company sells products in the amount from 120,000 manat ($70,588) to 150,000 manat ($88,235) a month," the source added.

The company is working on the development of new types of wicker furniture.

"The product range will be replenished already in the first half of this year. Basically, we are talking about new types of wicker arbors, and sofas," the company said.

Rattan company produces high-quality and stylish furniture by using artificial rattan. As stated, Rattan is the only company in Azerbaijan consisting of a professional team of designers and makers of modern furniture.

(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on Feb. 24)

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced today the appointment of Dr Mahender Nayak as area head for the companys ICMEA (India, CIS, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa) Area.

In the capacity, Dr Nayak will lead the companys operations from Dubai, UAE, where he will be based.

Dr Nayak has more than 20 years of performance-driven leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, having worked in multinational and regional companies. Before this role, he oversaw portfolio management for Takedas Growth and Emerging Markets Business Unit based in Singapore (2018 to 2020). Prior to that, Dr Nayak was the general manager of Takedas operations in Korea.

Dr Nayak said: This is an exciting time to move to a part of the world that is teeming with great opportunities to increase patient access to Takedas highly innovative medicines. We aim to do this through our commercial activities and commitments around our approaches to access to medicines across rare diseases, oncology, neuroscience, and gastroenterology.

Across ICMEA, Takeda collaborates with governments and regulators, to ensure that its diverse portfolio of innovative medicines is made available to patients as quickly and safely as possible.

These countries are open to innovation and partnering with world-leading R&D-led organizations like Takeda. Our diverse talent across the companys presence in over 82 geographies bring many different experiences, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives that help drive health innovation and ultimately benefit patients. This can only be done by nurturing and developing the best talents and ultimately becoming an employer of choice, added Dr Nayak.

Dr Nayak started his career as a physician in Bangalore, India and has an MBA in Marketing. He joined Takeda in 2011 and, since then, grew within the company to hold various senior international and regional roles. - TradeArabia News Service
Root cause for enterprises becoming loan defaulters - Case study  India



by N.S.Venkataraman





All over the world, it is not uncommon to find even large industrial units and commercial enterprises becoming sick and getting liquidated, due to the inability to service the debt. Often, the basic and fundamental reasons for such situation happening are largely similar in all countries.











Based on detailed investigation by Nandini consultancy Centre, based in Chennai and Singapore (www.nandinichemical.com), highlights of the case study of industrial sickness in India is explained in this article.





Indian scenario :





In recent years, particularly after the introduction of Insolvency And Bankruptcy, Code Act 2016 was implemented by Government of India, it has come to light that number of well known companies have been declared as loan defaulters and debt ridden companies. These companies were perceived to be well managed in the eyes of the general public due to their stage managed advertisement campaign,





General public were shocked to know about telecom companies in India such as Bharti Airtel, Tata Tele Services ,Vodofone, Idea that have defaulted in repayment of debt and the extent of their default in repayment which run into several thousand crores of rupees.





While the Supreme Court ordered that the telecom companies should clear the loans within specified period, these companies seem to be creating an impression that they would be forced to close down, if concessions in tariffs and waiver of loans would not be extended to them.





In the case of Air India, hugh debt burden and high level of loan default have reached such a high level, that Government of India has to conclude that there is no way to revive Air India at all in its present conditions and the Government of India has been forced to take steps to sell the entire company itself by auction, after providing much liberalized terms while conducting the auction.In the process, Government of India is likely to incur heavy loss, which would be tax payers money.





There are so many other sick industrial units and financing companies in India; that have caused high concern about the efficiency level of management of these companies.





Little impact of IBC





In India, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) have forced defaulting enterprises into panic mood and has also given wake up call to the banks. However,the ultimate benefits of this Code are yet to be realized, even after three years.





Undoubtedly, the IBC is an effective deterrent for willful and slippery defaulters; but at the same time, it is not a magic wand which will bring immediate relief to all stake holders .





To expect operational creditors to showcase resolve to rejuvenate business is asking for too much, in view of the long drawn out process of IBC.





Dilemma of banks and financing institutions :





Obviously, there is temptation to adopt the path of least resistance by the banks and financial institutions. Often,banks take a 50 to 60% haircut on loans and tax authorities cut its demand to settle the case.





It is very obvious that the banks have been liberally extending more loans to such defaulting companies in the past, to ensure that the units would not be closed. Such strategies of banks to stabilize the performance of the companies by extending further loans had not helped in most cases





Have the debt ridden companies taken the favoured treatment from the banks and government for granted ?





Government and banks are now facing dilemma as to whether they should enforce the rules and force the companies to repay the loans and outstanding debts at stipulated time, which may end up in closure of some units, resulting in huge loss of employment.





Warning signal ignored :





The fact is that sickness in enterprises including industrial organizations and commercial bodies do not happen all of a sudden over night. There would be enough indication of the impending disaster faced by the units. Owners and managements of sick units have obviously ignored the warnings and thought that they could get loans from banks and other financial institutions to overcome the problems.





Can one conclude that the management of the sick units are so inefficient and callous to allow matter to deteriorate to such an extent of sickness ? One cannot be blamed if such conclusion would be arrived at.





Why companies become sick ?





Many common men wonder as to how such huge loan default have happened and why these telecom companies and several others have not implemented remedial measures and evolved appropriate strategies to set right the issues to make the units to run efficiently with profit generation, so that the loan repayment schedule would be adhered.





Even companies operating in fast growing market such as tele communication get into state of sickness due to any one or more of the following reasons





* Lack of forward planning by the management, which result in not moving in positive direction in tune with the market trend and technology developments





* Poor corporate planning exercise that have resulted in not knowing the changes in trends in the existing market in quick time and not tracking the plans and priorities of the competitors.





* Unhelpful policies of the government in imposing taxes and duties and various tariff agreements with other countries that are detrimental to Indian companies.





* Corruption and nepotism in government machinery that causes delay in implementation of projects and creation of deliberate hurdles in functioning of the companies.





* Government organizations such as Discoms ( Power distribution companies in India) often do not pay the dues promptly to the suppliers.





* Counter productive environmental activism and creating unrest by environmentalists and political groups, that disable the units





* Trade Unions, now largely managed by politicians, being used for political purposes that result in destabilizing the companys functions, by calling for frequent strike and agitations.





* Siphoning of the fund from the companies by owners by adopting dishonest practices.





* Family led companies, where incompetent relatives such as wife,brothers, sisters,sons, daughters,nephews and nieces are given prime positions, ignoring the claims of competent professional executives.





Ultimate yardstick to assess performance of companies





Certainly, every company, whether commercial enterprises or industrial units contribute to the progress and welfare of the country in one way or the other and on most occasions in several ways.





However, the best yardstick to assess the performance of the units would be to measure the profit generated by the companies.





There are several companies which have become sick and loan defaulters in the past and such units may still have valuable technology and modernized equipment and facilities apart from well trained manpower. However, such strength possessed by the companies, do not reflect on the profitability of the companies, in some cases.





Making adequate profit is compulsive need for the commercial organizations and industrial units. Therefore, whether the organizations belong to private sector or public sector, it would be appropriate to consider the units that are not run profitability as failed units.





Any efforts to interpret the performance of the unit by yardstick other than profitability of the units is a negative exercise and argument in vacuum.





Inefficiency of management-Root cause for the sickness





Like a failed student offering variety of explanations for the failure, management of failed units also offer various justifications for the sickness of the units. It is common to see such managements stating that sickness have happened due to reasons beyond their control.





It is often seen that whereas one industrial unit or commercial organization operating in particular field turning out good results, but other commercial organization \ industrial unit operating in the same field with nearly similar capacity and technology incurring loss and become sick. In such cases, the only difference between successful unit and sick unit is the quality of management and competence level of the top managers.





Certainly, there are several potential reasons for units becoming sick. However inefficiency of the management in reading the writing on the wall without loss of time with clear understanding of the ground realities is the most important cause for sickness. It is a myth to say that there is impossible problem. There would always be number of ways for overcoming impossible problem, if efficiency and pragmatism of the management would be there.





While good financial management is one of the key elements for the success of the units, technology inputs and marketing management practices and human relationships also have key roles to play in ensuing success of the enterprises. All such different aspects of management can be well managed, if there would be adequate forward planning and straight forward and pragmatic management practices would be ensured by the companies.





A careful analysis of the problems of sick units reveal the fact that timely solutions are not found and applied and impossible problem is allowed to persist for unduly long time .Such undue delays prove to be very costly , until the passage of time and lead to a situation that would be beyond repair resulting in terminal illness





What is the way out ?





It is necessary to clearly recognize the fact that in most cases ,the sick units cannot be revived simply by pumping fresh money into companies, when changes in the management team would not be ensured.





In todays fast developing technology and management scenario, several banks and financial institutions have not equipped themselves with adequate and all round expertise to understand intricacies of multiple and interdependent management issues in variety of sectors. Banks and financial institutions often expose themselves by funding the projects without adequately assessing the competency of the management of the units and adopting practice of constantly and adequately monitoring the performance of the units.





In such circumstances, it is often seen that banks and financial institutions come to know about state of affairs and problems of the units only when debt repayment schedule are not adhered to and loan default take place. in such scenario financial institutions are not forewarned.





It is a fact that while financial institutions monitor the funded projects, it can be done only to a limited extent. Certainly, the managers in the banks and financial institutions cannot view themselves as substitute for the managers in industrial units and commercial establishments





The fact is that in India today, the biggest stake holders in the companies are the banks and financial institutions, much more than promoters and equity holders. Therefore, the banks and financial institutions have to necessarily become more assertive in insisting that the loans should be repaid as per schedule.





Both the financial institutions and government should realize that the management of the failed units need no consideration or sympathy and they should be treated as failed team of managers.





Obviously, in such cases, best way of protecting the interest of the banks and financial institutions who are the major stack holders is to mercilessly dismiss the management of the debt ridden defaulting companies. They need to have necessary power to do so and it is necessary that the legal conditions should be created for such practices.





Often the management of debt ridden companies create a bogey that tough stand by the financial institutions will result in closure of the units and lead to loss of production as well as job loss. Financial institutions often are frightened by such bogey and give a long hope for debt ridden companies and such approach become counterproductive.





Banks need not be worried about such bogey since there are always better manages in India and elsewhere who can take over such units.





Now, the problem happens only since the financial institutions act too late when the units become terminally sick.





IBC also address such problems to some extent but not enough. Owners of the units are given huge opportunities to delay investigation process and this makes the situation worse.





Extending powers to the financial institutions and banks to change the management of sick units by due process in quick time is the need of the day.
But defense lawyers said the women had willingly had sex with Mr. Weinstein to further their careers. Only years later, his lawyers said, after Mr. Weinstein had become a symbol of the #MeToo movement, did the women say their encounters with him were not consensual.

The defense presented evidence that Ms. Haley and Ms. Mann not only had friendly communications with Mr. Weinstein after they said they were attacked, but they also had sex with him.

After deliberating for five days the jury, seven men and five women, determined that Mr. Weinstein had broken the law.

The verdict was a victory for the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., whose legacy is likely to largely be defined by the outcome of the case. He came under heavy public pressure to prosecute Mr. Weinstein after declining to do so in 2015, when an Italian model said the producer had groped her breasts at a business meeting.

The earlier decision came back to haunt Mr. Vance in late 2017 when dozens of women came forward to accuse Mr. Weinstein of sexual misconduct. The district attorney became a target of protests, even as Mr. Weinstein went on trial last month.

After the verdict was announced, Mr. Vance said that the women who testified against Mr. Weinstein changed the course of history in the fight against sexual violence and that society owed them an immense debt.

The women, who came forward courageously and at great risk, made that happen, he said. Mr. Weinstein, he added, was a vicious serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault, trick, humiliate and silence his victims.
Pipeline

24 February 2020

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia's largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a Taj hotel in Jaipur. This will be a management contract with Kanha Hotels & Spa Pvt. Ltd.

The hotel is strategically located off the Delhi Jaipur highway, with close proximity to the historic Amer Fort. The hotel is a modern interpretation of Jaipur's rich heritage and magnificent palaces. Taj Jaipur will have 250 luxurious rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, specialty restaurant, roof top bar and recreation facilities including the award winning Jiva Spa. The hotel will also have over 30,000 sq. ft. of banquet halls and open lawns, making it ideal for hosting large conferences and weddings. The Brownfield project is slated to open in 2023.

Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is popularly called the Pink City because of the dominant color scheme of its buildings. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has inscribed Jaipur among its World Heritage Sites. It has also become an important commercial hub over the years.
Packages moving along a conveyor at an Amazon warehouse facility in Goodyear, Ariz. Delaware officials approved plans to aid Amazons largest-ever fulfillment center on the site of a demolished General Motors plant west of Wilmington. Read more

Delaware officials approved plans Monday to aid Amazons largest-ever fulfillment center on the site of a demolished General Motors plant west of Wilmington.

The state Council on Development Finance unanimously approved $4.5 million in taxpayer subsidies for the 5-story warehouse over objections from a few state legislators, plus union workers and neighbors.

Site owner Dermody Properties plans to spend $200 million building the warehouse, and Amazon would spend another $50 million outfitting the site with robotics and other equipment, pending final negotiations.

The 3.7 million-square-foot Amazon.com Services LLC facility would occupy the site of the old Boxwood Road auto assembly plant  one of the Delaware auto plants where immigrants including future Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley labored to build cars, from the 1940s to the late 2000s.

The planned center will be more robust than older Amazon centers, using more robotics to line up boxes for workers to process, said Holly Sullivan, an Amazon global economic development team leader.

This is one of our new designs, she added. We will go up in height, rather than out.

 READ MORE: A group thinks Amazon is too big to govern and wants to lead the resistance

The 1,000 full-time workers Amazon estimates it will need at the site is less than the number working at some of the facilities Amazon has developed in central and northeastern Pennsylvania and other states since the 1990s  which cover one-quarter to one-third the floor space of the planned, 90-foot-high center.

Delaware expects to collect 100 times the subsidy in wages, in real estate and other taxes, thanks to the new center, over the next several years, said Damian DeStefano, the state official who conducted the hearing. (His office later clarified that this would include direct and indirect economic benefits.)

But why should Amazon, which is run by Jeff Bezos, the richest man in America, and which earned $12 billion in after-tax profits last year, need any money from taxpayers, asked State Rep. John Kowalko (D., Newark).

Enough is enough, Kowalko said. Stop these gifts to these obscenely wealthy companies.

He also objected to the way state officials released details of the plan only after it was approved. Bottom line: The American people are funding Amazons pursuit of an e-commerce monopoly.

 READ MORE: Firm that built big South Jersey center for Amazon adds 88 acres in northern Delaware

The companys annual financial report, which took up most of the 103-page grant application, acknowledges that Amazons North American fulfillment center profits fell last year, despite higher sales, amid relentless cost-cutting.

Kowalko was joined at the meeting by State Rep. Kim Williams (D., Wilmington) and other opponents of subsidies for Amazon, including activists from Local 74 of the plumbers and pipefitters union, who pointed out that site demolition contractors have used out-of-town labor from Virginia and other states.

While Kowalko, a Port Richmond native and longtime oil refinery worker, criticized his fellow Democrats for giving big employers tax breaks and grants while cutting social spending, the subsidy also raised objections from conservatives, including Jake Smith, host of the Delmarva Live radio program on WGMD-FM, which devoted a segment to questioning the giveaway last week.

Sue Laushey, who lives near the plant, said Amazon would employ fewer people in a larger facility than at other sites. She asked for noise, traffic, air pollution studies."

Todd Ruckle, a real estate agent and Newark councilman and son of a Boxwood Road GM worker, said former workers who stayed in the neighborhood have had a tough time finding comparable jobs. He added that home values have risen in Middletown since Amazon built there and called the state aid a pinprick compared with the benefits Delaware will gain.

But Amazon pay projections released by state officials after the proposal was approved shows the jobs created dont replace the high-end manufacturing jobs lost when the plant shut in the late 2000s.

 READ MORE: Should Amazon pay warehouse workers while they wait for security screenings? Pa. Supreme Court will decide.

According to an application filed with state officials, Amazon expects to pay 900 of the 1,000 workers on the site an average $31,200 a year, or $15 an hour. And 50 more-skilled workers would earn $33,000, while the remaining 50, area and operations managers, would average $60,000, plus benefits. The current median household income for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area is now more than $70,000, according to U.S. Census data

GMs base pay the year before the plant closed was $26 an hour, plus benefits, or around $54,000, close to the then-median household income in the region.

The financial incentives Amazon requested included a $3 million performance grant for adding to the 2,500 full-time Delaware-based workers Amazon already employs at centers in New Castle and Middletown, plus a $1.5 million capital spending grant, said Kirk Foreman, chief executive of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, which presented the request to the council.

Both are matching grants that can be clawed back if Amazon didnt make good on its promises.

Builder Dermody has contracted general contractor Clayco Inc., of St. Louis, Mo., and Corrado Construction Co., Wilmington, to help complete demolition at the site, said Jeff Zygler, a New Jersey-based Dermody official.

State Sen. Anthony Del Collo (R., Elsmere) said he would like to see states move away from subsidies to profitable companies such as Amazon.

But development council member Nancy Cook, a former Democratic state senator, said Delaware, as one of the smallest states, has little alternative but to court wealthy employers such as Bezos Amazon.

We have to have incentives, she concluded, or we cannot compete with other states.
As Newshub's James Fyfe writes, Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree by a jury in New York.

The Hollywood producer faced two charges of rape, one count of criminal sexual act and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

Although he was found guilty of two of the charges, Weinstein was acquitted of two counts of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape, the most serious charges he was facing.

He faces up to 25 years in prison for the sexual assault conviction and up to four years for the third-degree rape conviction. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11.

Following the verdict, Weinstein was ordered immediately into custody.

If he had been found guilty of predatory sexual assault, Weinstein could have been sent to prison for life.

More than 80 women have accused the 67-year-old of sexual misconduct dating back decades, though only a few of the accusations led to criminal charges.

Six women testified at his trial, but Weinstein faced charges only in connection with two of them.

Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting his former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, an aspiring actress, in 2013.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to reach their verdict in the State Supreme Court, in New York.

On Friday the jury appeared to be hung, sending a note to the judge asking if it was possible to be unanimous on some of the charges but not on others. They were told that their verdict must be completely unanimous and ordered to keep deliberating.

The accusations against Weinstein were a key factor in fuelling the #MeToo movement, in which women across the globe have spoken out against sexual misconduct by powerful men.

His downfall began in 2017 after the New Yorker magazine published an in-depth article featuring scores of allegations against him.

Throughout the trial, Weinstein - who himself did not testify - maintained any sexual encounters were consensual.

SOURCE: Newshub's James Fyfe
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey conducted by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) reveals that a vast majority of Americans (86%) do not know the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). While 50,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, the disease remains largely unknown.

"Awareness of PF and its symptoms remains very low, and for many, the first time they hear of it is when they are diagnosed," said William Schmidt, president and CEO of the PFF. "Improving understanding of this disease can help drive earlier diagnoses and encourage support for needed research, so that we can ultimately find a cure for PF."

More than 200,000 Americans are living with PF, a progressive and debilitating disease that leads to scarring of the lungs, with no known cure. Symptoms include persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath and fatigue.

At-risk Populations Remain Unaware

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common form of PF, has no known cause. However, there are some populations that are more at-risk for IPF, including those over the age of 60 and those with a history of smoking.

Of those aged 60 and over, 91% do not know the symptoms of PF and 96% have never talked to their doctor about PF.

Among those who currently smoke or have smoked, more than 80% do not know the symptoms of PF, and only 9% have ever talked to their doctor about the disease.

Significantly, those with a history of smoking are three times more likely to have had PF or known someone affected by PF.

Symptoms Prompt Doctor Visits

When faced with the symptoms of PF, Americans say they would seek medical attention quickly.

80% of Americans would see a doctor if they experienced shortness of breath for longer than a month.

Nearly 4 in 5 (78%) Americans would go to the doctor if they had symptoms of a lingering cough and fatigue.

1 in 2 Americans would wait less than 3 weeks to visit a doctor if they had symptoms of a lingering cough and fatigue.

"Because many symptoms of PF are similar to those of other illnesses, like the common cold, it can be difficult to diagnose and treat, leading to late stage diagnoses," said Schmidt. "Our national survey results show a clear need to increase understanding of PF, so patients are better able to recognize the early signs of the disease and start conversations with their physicians."

Focusing on a Cure

Despite the overall lack of awareness of PF symptoms, 82% of Americans consider PF to be a serious disease. About 1 in 2 Americans (49%) say that finding a cure for PF is very important and 61% of Americans are unsure if there will be a cure for PF within their lifetime.

"This national survey and the PFF's awareness efforts are critical to ensuring that Americans understand PF, its symptoms and risk factors, and engaging people nationwide in fighting this serious lung disease," said Schmidt.

For more information about pulmonary fibrosis, please visit www.AboutPF.org. To download the full report, please click here.

About the Survey

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation National Awareness Survey was administered online to 2,013 adults in the United States. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. The fieldwork was performed between January 9 and January 10, 2020 by Atomik Research, an independent creative market research agency.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis will live longer, healthier lives. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, patients, and caregivers worldwide. The PFF has a three-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or 312.587.9272 from outside the U.S.

Contact: Claire Vartabedian

L.C. Williams & Associates

312-565-4605

[email protected]

SOURCE Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
JACKSON, MI  The city of Jackson is ramping up efforts to reduce gun violence in the wake of the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy last week, a city news release states.

Cameron Kasprzycki was found fatally shot outside his home Friday, Feb. 21. The boy was found by his father on the ground outside the residence near the driveway in the 500 block of Orange Street, Jackson Police and Fire Services Director Elmer Hitt said.

14 year old fatally shot identified, extra counselors on call at his school

The city approved funding for the Cure Violence Program in October. It involves community organizations targeting areas and people directly involved in gun violence, the release said. Violence interrupters and outreach workers will work with those areas and people.

14-year-old shot and killed in Jackson

Program leaders will visit the Cure Violence headquarters in Chicago in the next couple of weeks, the release said. The March through June program will cost the city $58,000.

After the visit, the first training sessions for violence interrupters and outreach workers will start. Then, after workers are certified, the program begins in the coming months, the release said.

The City of Jackson understands the impacts that gun violence has on our residents and neighborhoods, the release said. Efforts such as Cure Violence and many others being used to stop these harmful acts.
A Nigerian man, Tony Abayomi Alder, who waited for 23 years to have his own child has died just 7 months after welcoming a set of twins. The man who is said to have deligently serves God and was faithful to his wife, is said to have died 24/2/2020.

Though the cause of his death was not revealed, businesswoman, Ibukun Awosika who mourned him on her isntagram page praised him for his service to God. She wrote;

Tony Abayomi Alder. Who went to be with the Lord today 24/2/2020.

A most faithful, most diligent, most dedicated , most trust worthy and loyal member of my team at Christian Missionary Fund for the past 25 years. You became my brother and my friend as we sought to build an institution to serve the Lord through the support of the missionaries across the length and breath of Nigeria. That you will be missed is an understatement.



I am grateful to God that , after waiting for 23 years, you witnessed the birth and enjoyed being a father to your twin boys, if only for 7 months. We truly love you but humbly submit to the will of God. May you forever be remembered for your cheerful service to the God you loved so much, your faithfulness as a husband to Toyin and your love of all around you.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
South Sudan's main rivals are once again uncomfortably sharing power, but analysts warn it will be a long and perilous path to peace for the war-ravaged nation.

Rebel leader Riek Machar on Saturday was sworn in as first vice president, embracing his bitter rival President Salva Kiir who vowed the weary nation's suffering was finally over.

The appointment was part of broader peace efforts that have struggled to fully end a six-year war between the two men that has left almost 400,000 dead.

"This is a major step but it's just one point along what will be a very long journey to bringing South Sudan out of conflict," Alan Boswell, a South Sudan expert with the International Crisis Group (ICG), told AFP.

"There is still a lot of scepticism among the South Sudanese that these two leaders will work together and not against each other."

Machar's swearing in came after much last-minute pressure, wrangling and compromise from both sides to meet the deadline to form the unity government under a September 2018 peace deal -- which had already been postponed twice.

Both men received praise from regional and international partners for their willingness to make key compromises.

Map of South Sudan.. By (AFP)

Kiir, for accepting to return to South Sudan's 10 states after he unilaterally expanded the number to 32 -- even though his plan to add three special administrative areas encompassing key oil fields threatened to derail talks.

And Machar, for accepting the protection of Kiir's forces as a planned unified VIP protection force was not yet ready.

However both sides still have their own armies -- as plans to train a 83,000-strong unified military have yet to come to fruition and some reforms under the peace deal have yet to be carried out.

"The security arrangements are a total mess. They have yet to graduate any forces into a joint unit. Both sides are keeping their main forces in reserve and there has been widespread recruitment," Boswell said.

He said that with so many issues on the table, and potential for future disagreement, if not handled properly, the situation could "easily slip out of control."

'Real power sharing'

Luuk van der Vondervoort, a South Sudan expert with the European Institute of Peace, said the key question was whether there would be a real unity government with acceptable power sharing.

"The last time around that was not the case."

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 war marked by ethnic bloodshed between Kiir's Dinka and Machar's Nuer communities.

Thousands have been forced from their homes by the long war. By SIMON MAINA (AFP)

A 2015 peace deal brought Machar back as vice president and he returned to Juba with his own private militia.

When the government hit a deadlock, tensions escalated and clashes between Machar's troops and Kiir's plunged the country back into war.

Van der Vondervoort said continued international pressure would be key.

"We need to be mindful of the fact that, despite all the public images and rhetoric around forgiveness and reconciliation and hugs and smiles, this agreement came about as a result of sustained pressure from the region and the United States."

While Machar and four other vice presidents have been sworn in, haggling is now under way over a 35-minister cabinet and other government positions.

Nevertheless, observers see signs of hope, in the apparent willingness to compromise by the two men who are both blamed by the UN for overseeing horrendous crimes during the war.

"So far we don't know what will happen because Dr Riek has not yet gone to his office and he has not yet begun to embark on his work ... but if they continue with the compromises then we will see good things happen," said Abraham Kuol Nyoun, an assistant professor of political science at the University Of Juba.

The war has seen four million flee their homes and around 190,000 people are still cowering in UN protection sites (POCs) around the country to scared to go home.

"They are there making power-sharing, getting their share on the table, but we the civilians ... we really need peace so that we can go to our homes," Tech Chan, who lives in one of the sites in Juba, told AFP.

Away from the political haggling in Juba, more than half of the population is facing severe hunger this year, villages and towns have been shattered by brutal ethnic conflict and Boswell said the country "will take generations to repair."

"Trying to create a national identity again and national forgiveness will take a very, very long time," he said, adding that the country's leaders needed to convince the population that nine years after independence "South Sudan can work and is viable moving forward."
Expressing displeasure at the message left by US President Trump Donald Trump in the visitors' book at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad -- which has no mention of Gandhi -- the Mahatma's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi on Monday said that it seemed Trump did not find visiting the Ashram set up by Gandhi a worthwhile experience.

"The visit of President Trump to Sabarmati Ashram, a clip that has been doing rounds since morning as to how the President is spinning the charkha, but if you look carefully you will see that it was the First Lady who was spinning the charkha wheel," Tushar Gandhi told ANI.

"On being prompted also, the President was not actually participating in that in any way. He was just sitting there and posing. Also, the message that he has written in Sabarmati Ashram (visitors' book) does not seem to reflect that he felt it was a worthwhile experience. He has basically just written a thank-you message to his friend PM Modi," he added.

President Trump along with First Lady Melania Trump reached Ahmedabad on Monday for the first leg of his India tour and visited the Ashram upon arrival.

The visiting dignitaries were seen spinning the charkha, which is closely associated with India's freedom struggle and Mahatma Gandhi. Trump, along with PM Modi, also garlanded a photo of Mahatma Gandhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pop Smoke warned his girlfriend to keep her door locked before he was shot dead inside a California home, she has revealed.

Girlfriend Yummy Yellow revealed on Instagram that her rapper boyfriend instructed her to lock her door in their final meeting before he was gunned down.

The rapper, whose real name is Bahar Jackson, 20, was killed last Wednesday after being shot in the chest by up to six gunmen.

'I can't sit & say I wish I hugged u more before u walked out that door Monday cause I hugged u all night before that flight to Cali (sic),' she wrote.

Pop Smoke pictured with his girlfriend, known as Yummy Yellow, before his death

Girlfriend Yummy Yellow (pictured) revealed on Instagram that her rapper boyfriend instructed her to lock her door in their final meeting before he was gunned down

Paramedics rushed to help Pop Smoke after he was shot in the chest in a home invasion

'Can't even say we should of said I love u more that night/morning cause we said it over 20 times.

'U even came back after leaving the house & said 'didn't I say lock the door?'

Yummy Yellow paid a heartfelt tribute to her late boyfriend after his death. 'The more I get to thinking, I realize I tend to have a cold heart but, you melted mine so quickly,' she said.

'We taught each other self-awareness. He was rare. Never once did he try to change me. He was so resilient.

'Nothing could bend or break him.

'He never ceased to amaze me with his honesty, I knew everything, I mean everything.'

'Pop I love u. I adore u. You exceeded my expectations as a man. I tried to protect u from everything, u know that (sic).'

Yummy Yellow paid a heartfelt tribute to her late boyfriend after his death. 'The more I get to thinking, I realize I tend to have a cold heart but, you melted mine so quickly,' she said

'Pop I love u. I adore u. You exceeded my expectations as a man. I tried to protect u from everything, u know that (sic),' Yummy Yellow said of her late boyfriend

It comes after it emerged Pop Smoke cancelled a performance just three days before he was killed, over concerns there would be gang members present.

Pop Smoke, real name Bashar Barakah Jackson, was scheduled to play a show at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York, last Sunday when he announced on Instagram it would be axed.

He initially cast blame of the cancelled show on the New York Police Department, but a law enforcement source told TMZ that Pop Smoke made the decision to pull the plug.

TMZ reports that rapper Pop Smoke (pictured) cancelled a performance just three days before he was killed over concerns that gang members would be present

'I apologize to all my fans that when to Kings Theater today to see me,' the 20-year-old artist wrote.

'Unfortunately, NYPD wouldn't let me perform once again, but don't worry [I'm going to] make it up to you.'

Pop Smoke was out on bail in a federal car theft case where he was accused of illegally transporting a 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith from California.

He was ordered by a judge to stay away from gang members and gang affiliates, so sources say cancelling the show was done for protection.

Pop Smoke, 20, apologized to fans in an Instagram post about cancelling a show and blamed the NYPD for sudden change

It's been reported that Pop Smoke has ties to the Crips gang in New York City and mentioned being a member during a song released on February 7, 2020.

'Everybody know I'm Crip,' he rapped in Armed N Dangerous.

Authorities say Pop Smoke was killed around 4.13am on February 19 in a suspected gang-related attack after it was reported he was the victim of a home invasion gone wrong.

The murder came several hours after Pop Smoke shared several social media posts showing off high-value items inside a home he was renting from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband.

Teddi Mellencamp, 38, confirmed that a shooting had taken place at one of the couple's rental properties in an Instagram post.

'Foremost, we would like to extend our prayers and condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss of life,' she wrote in the caption.

'We aren't aware of any of the details beyond what we've been told or seen reported on the news and at this time we would like to refrain from commenting further as we wish for the focus to remain on the law enforcement officers who are diligently doing their jobs.'

The house is owned by actor and producer Edwin Arroyave, the husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp (pictured together in February 2019)

Teddi Mellencamp, 38, confirmed that a shooting had taken place at one of the couple's rental properties in an Instagram post (pictured)

Devastated relatives of murdered rapper Pop Smoke are in 'full investigation mode' to try and find out who shot him dead in Los Angeles.

Family sources say they have personally questioned friends and witnesses who were at the $2.5million Hollywood Hills mansion before the shooting and have demanded to see security footage.

A source told TMZ that 'nothing makes sense' as it would be unlikely for an East Coast hitman to travel all the way to L.A. when the rapper spends so much of his time in New York.

The source said Smoke was in L.A. to promoting his new album and to 'relax a bit' before going on tour in March.

The apparent home invasion unfolded at about 4.30am at 2033 Hercules Drive (pictured). Pop Smoke was reportedly renting from Real Housewives star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband

Insiders who have seen CCTV footage told TMZ four men can be seen approaching the $2.5million home on Hercules Drive roughly ten minutes after people inside deadbolted the front door.

One of the suspects apparently walked to the back of the house, where there were no cameras, and entered before multiple shots were fired.

That suspect, who TMZ said is presumed to be the shooter, then fled through the front door with nothing in his hands.

He and his alleged accomplices are still on the run as of Thursday morning.

Police arrived at the home within minutes of receiving a call about the gunfire.

The murder of 20-year-old rapper Pop Smoke is being investigated as a gang-related attack, police sources say

LAPD officials say they are still searching for the assailants, who fled the scene on foot

First responders with the Los Angeles Fire Department were filmed rolling Pop Smoke out of the home on a stretcher.

He was transported by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives questioned the witnesses inside the house and determined none of them were involved in the shooting.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, LAPD Captain Steve Lurie said authorities were searching for between two and six suspects.

Lurie did not disclose the name of the victim but multiple law enforcement sources and Pop Smoke's record label, Republic Records, confirmed it was the rapper, whose real name is Bashar Barakah Jackson.

Lurie said the motive for the shooting has not been determined and investigators were not ready to say if it was targeted or random.

Detectives suspect the assailants are probably gang members, but they have not determined if the slaying was motivated by gang rivalry, the outlet reported.

Pop Smoke shared a video on his Facebook Story hours before the shooting which featured the exact address of the home where it took place

Hours before he was killed Pop Smoke shared three photos of himself outside the home on Instagram. In two of the photos (above) the rapper is seen posing with Louis Vuitton luggage next to the same white Range Rover that was parked in the driveway when medics arrived

'There is a lot of information available,' LAPD Captain Jonathan Tippet said. 'We have some work to do.'

Pop Smoke shared three photos of himself outside the home on Instagram the day before he was killed.

In two of the photos the tracksuit-clad rapper is seen posing with Louis Vuitton luggage next to the same white Range Rover that was parked in the driveway when medics arrived.

In the third photo, Pop Smoke is sitting in the driver's seat of the SUV next to his friend Mike Dee, who is holding a massive stack of cash.

The caption read: 'GET STRAIGHT PASSION - ZIP HIM UP BAG EM - LOUIS V LOUIS V LOUIS V.'

He also shared a video on his Facebook Story showing off pricey gifts he'd been sent.

One of the gift bags clearly featured the address of the home - sparking speculation that the attackers learned where to find him via the post.

Pop Smoke, who hails from Brooklyn, rose to fame last summer with the release of his debut mixtape Meet the Woo.

The lead single on that album, Welcome to the Party, reached number five on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and was remixed by Nicki Minaj.

The rapper released his second mixtape, Meet the Woo V.2, earlier this month. The album was met with rave reviews and reached number seven on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.

He rapper was set to go on tour in March, with 24 shows across the US and the UK. Ten of those shows were sold out within two weeks of when the tour was announced.

Pop Smoke was also slated to perform at the famed Rolling Loud hip-hop festival in Miami in May.

Last September the Times published an interview with Pop Smoke and noted that he'd recently been required to wear an ankle monitor as part of a diversion program connected to a weapon charge, which was later dismissed.

The rapper told the newspaper that he wanted to make music for young people who 'got to carry their guns to school because it ain't safe, but they still got to make sure they get they diploma 'cause they mom could be happy. I do it for them.'

In other interviews he described how he was expelled from middle school because he brought a firearm to campus.

In October, Pop Smoke was removed from the lineup for Rolling Loud's festival in Queens after the NYPD sent a letter to organizers raising concerns that he and four other artists posed a public safety risk because they were 'affiliated with recent acts of violence citywide'.

Warning - Explicit language:
By FARAI MUTSAKA

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP)  Zimbabwes main opposition leader says he will roll out anti-government street protests this year, declaring that the collapsing economy will improve only if political issues, including a long-disputed election, are resolved.

Nelson Chamisa told hundreds of Movement for Democratic Change party supporters in the capital, Harare, that he will use the protests to push for a transitional authority to run the southern African nation until credible elections are held.

This year is going to be a year of demonstrations and action, he said to cheers. It is time to fight for a Zimbabwe we all want, and have been dreaming of. Come what may, we will not be intimidated.

Zimbabwe held largely peaceful elections in 2018 in a transition from former leader Robert Mugabes nearly four-decade rule. But days later the military shot dead several people in Harare as opposition supporters protested a delay in releasing results.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former Mugabe protege, has said Chamisa should accept the election results, but the opposition leader still asserts the vote was rigged even though the constitutional court threw out his legal challenge.

Zimbabwes military and police have crushed subsequent anti-government protests, while opposition events are routinely banned.

Police were uncharacteristically absent at Tuesdays rally, although officers mounted roadblocks on roads leading into downtown and circulated with loudspeakers shouting: Dont be used, please go to work.

Local churches have failed to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table, while former South African president Thabo Mbeki, with the support of the regional Southern African Development Community, visited Zimbabwe late last year to push for dialogue.

The economy has continued to deteriorate, erasing hopes of improved fortunes that greeted the fall of Mugabe in 2017.

At the rally on Tuesday, his first this year, Chamisa said the military, which led the coup against Mugabe and continues to hold significant influence in political matters, should take part in any future dialogue.
In his firms annual report released this weekend, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett included a side note on one of the companies his conglomerate bought in 2011 for $9 billion, a company called Lubrizol.

Lubrizol is an Ohio-based global specialty chemical company. On September 26, 2019, a large Lubrizol plant in France had a fire.

The result was significant property damage and a major disruption in Lubrizols business, Buffett says in his letter. Even so, both the companys property loss and business-interruption loss will be mitigated by substantial insurance recoveries that Lubrizol will receive.

Buffett then quotes the late radio newscaster and commentator Paul Harveys famous line, Heres the rest of the story before explaining how he knows about the insurance. Buffett writes:

One of the largest insurers of Lubrizol was a company owned by . . . uh, Berkshire. In Matthew 6:3, the Bible instructs us to Let not the left hand know what the right hand doeth. Your chairman has clearly behaved as ordered.

Thus, Buffett revealed, one of Berkshires companies that suffered a fire is insured in part by another Berkshire company.

Buffett said his note on Lubrizol underscores the wide scope of Berkshires operations.

Other Victims

Uh, but wait. Heres the rest of the story.

Lubrizol was not the only victim of that fire.

The fire erupted in the early morning of Sept. 26 at the Lubrizol factory in Rouen, France, a tourist center and the capital of the region of Normandy. More than 5,000 of tons of chemicals used in engine oil and industrial lubricants burned in the flames.

Lubrizols own team of first responders responded immediately and were soon assisted by more than 100 firefighters.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries. But the effects were felt for months afterwards because the fire sent plumes into the sky, polluting the air and coating the city in soot. Rouen residents complained of headaches and vomiting and were reluctant to go outdoors at first. Farmers were upset because their milk and crops were contaminated, while shop owners complained that tourists would stay away now that the citys image had been damaged.

Activists and officials raised health and safety concerns and criticized the government and corporations for what they saw as inadequate safety regulation and an environmental disaster.

The government launched an inquiry and the CEO of the Ohio-based company, Eric Schnur, appeared in person before the French Parliament. We want to be good neighbors, we want to help, he told the lawmakers and the public.

Schnur claimed that the fire started outside of his companys property, suggesting it began at a nearby facility owned by Normandie Logistique, whose owners deny the suggestion.

In addressing the health concerns, Schnur said his company knows well the chemicals it has in the plant and that none of those that burned pose a health threat. We are confident that what was burned in our facility, as well as our materials that burned at Normandie Logistique, pose no health threat other than the short-term irritation one would normally experience in the presence of smoke, he testified, emphasizing that environmental testing validated this view.

He said the company has been fully compliant with all regulations. Just two weeks before the fire, he confirmed, one of its other insurers, FM Global, completed a formal risk analysis that also supports the claim that there should be no health impacts from the chemicals that burned.

Lubrizol established funds to support farmers, businesses and the community. It committed to further environmental testing and cleanup and said it would support promotional efforts for the local tourist industry. It also paid all of its 600 employees during the recovery.

Lubrizol employs 8,700 people at 60 sites across the globe.

On Dec. 13 the company announced it had received approval to reopen the Rouen plant.

But wait. Heres the rest of the story.

Lubrizol has also played a role in one of Buffetts and Berkshires few embarrassing chapters.

In 2011, a likely successor to Buffett, David Sokol, resigned for buying shares in a company right before urging Buffett to acquire the company. Some analysts said the event raised questions about internal controls at Berkshire. Buffett said Sokol resigned to create his own business and increase his philanthropy.

The shares Sokol bought were in Lubrizol.

Topics Legislation Pollution Chemicals
One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Ronshine China Holdings Limited (HKG:3301).

Ronshine China Holdings has a ROE of 12%, based on the last twelve months. Another way to think of that is that for every HK$1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn HK$0.12.

See our latest analysis for Ronshine China Holdings

How Do I Calculate ROE?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Ronshine China Holdings:

12% = CN4.7b  CN40b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.)

Most readers would understand what net profit is, but its worth explaining the concept of shareholders equity. It is all earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. The easiest way to calculate shareholders' equity is to subtract the company's total liabilities from the total assets.

What Does ROE Mean?

Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the yearly profit. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses.

Does Ronshine China Holdings Have A Good Return On Equity?

By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Ronshine China Holdings has a superior ROE than the average (8.4%) company in the Real Estate industry.

SEHK:3301 Past Revenue and Net Income, February 24th 2020

That's clearly a positive. In my book, a high ROE almost always warrants a closer look. For example you might check if insiders are buying shares.

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How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity?

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking.

Ronshine China Holdings's Debt And Its 12% ROE

Ronshine China Holdings clearly uses a significant amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.57. Its ROE is quite good but, it would have probably been lower without the use of debt. Debt increases risk and reduces options for the company in the future, so you generally want to see some good returns from using it.

The Key Takeaway

Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE.

But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
As of February 24, some 79,360 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported across the world, of which 2,619 were fatal.

To date, no cases of COVID-19 coronavirus have been registered in Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko told a Kyiv briefing Monday, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"To date, not a single case has been registered in Ukraine, not a single positive sample has been detected showing the presence of coronavirus," he said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, at the end of December, Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan.

Read alsoPrime minister: All Ukrainian regions ready to detect novel coronavirus

The causative agent of the disease was a new type of coronavirus, COVID-19. The virus is transmitted from person to person, with the incubation period lasting about two weeks.

On January 30, the World Health Organization declared an international emergency in connection with the spread of coronavirus from China.

As of February 24, some 79,360 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were registered across the world, of which 2,619 were fatal.
Eva Mendes is both 'shocked' and 'proud' to be turning 46 in under two weeks.

At the start of the month she replied to an Instagram troll who commented: 'She's getting old,' by giving a 'thank you for the reminder that Im still here.'

This weekend she told People: 'I was excited by the reaction because in no way do I think that person that left that comment about me getting old was being malicious.'

Hello, gorgeous: Eva Mendes is both 'shocked' and 'proud' to be turning 46 in under two weeks, she told People while attending a Los Angeles event this Saturday

Eva added: 'I do not think it was a malicious comment, but I think its more dangerous because it wasnt malicious because its just ingrained in society that getting older is something we should either fear or be ashamed of.'

She argued that 'the whole thing about not asking a woman what her age is archaic. Its like you can ask me my age and I will happily tell you, Ill be shocked, somewhat shocked. Im about to turn 46 and thats somewhat shocking to me.'

The Hitch star, who shares her daughters Esmeralda, five, and Amada, three, with her longtime love Ryan Gosling shared: 'But Im proud of that.'

By replying to the troll 'I want to show you that I take it as a compliment because Im still here. And I have, you know, instead of saying I am 46, I wish we could change it and I wish I could say: "I have 46 years to me" because in Spanish its very beautiful.'

Taking it in stride: At the start of the month she replied to an Instagram troll who commented: 'She's getting old,' by giving a 'thank you for the reminder that Im still here'

She explained: 'It says you say: "Tengo cuarenta seis anos" I have 46 years and in English I know, its a little, you know its semantics but its important.'

Said Eva: 'Its like I dont feel 46 but I do feel like I have 46 years of experience to me. I just find that so empowering.'

She was attending the Create & Cultivate fete at Rolling Greens Los Angeles this Saturday when she spoke to People about the Instagram exchange.

Looking back: This weekend she told People : 'I was excited by the reaction because in no way do I think that person that left that comment about me getting old was being malicious'

Ryan and Eva met during the 2011 shoot of their movie The Place Beyond The Pines and became a couple that year, before the movie's 2012 release.

Eva revealed in Women's Health last year that having children was 'the furthest thing from my mind' until 'Ryan Gosling happened.'

She clarified: 'I mean, falling in love with him. Then it made sense for me to have...not kids, but his kids. It was very specific to him.'
An adorable pit bull puppy was left at the door of a Mexican animal rescue shelter with a heartbreaking letter. A 12-year-old boy named, Andre, along with his mother left the canine at the Refugio Xollin shelter to keep it safe from his abusive father. The shelter posted a picture of the puppy along with the letter written by Andre in Spanish.

They left us this dog outside the shelter, inside a box, with a note and a stuffed animal, reads the caption when translated from Spanish. The post goes on to describe the little boys request in the letter.

The note was written by a boy where he explained that his father mistreated this puppy and was going to sell it, says the post. The letter goes on to describe how the boys father kicked the puppy so badly that it hurt its tail, reports Daily Mail.

The puppys tail appeared to be fractured and it also needed to undergo deworming procedures.

Read the heart-wrenching post:

Shared on February 13, the post has since received a lot of adoption requests and heartfelt messages from netizens.

I imagine how painful it must have been to make the decision. The puppy is beautiful! Much love and strength for all who collaborate in this shelter, writes a Facebook user. Poor child, his heart will be broken by leaving his friend. I hope he and his mother are well, comments another. Tragic and so heartbreaking. This dear, very brave doggie has been rescued. I am very concerned for the brave boy who left this dog at a shelter with a stuffie, writes a third.

A few hours ago, the shelter shared a follow up on the puppys condition with a picture of it with the stuffed toy the boy left with it.

The puppy is up for adoption and is currently being cared for by the shelter.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH), a global energy technology company and the worlds leading supplier of solar microinverters, today announced it has joined forces with the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), one of Australias oldest and most trusted member-based organizations. This collaboration is part of an RACV initiative to enhance its current residential and commercial solar offerings and make renewable and safe energy solutions accessible to more Australians.



Established in 1903, RACV, with more than 2.2 million members currently, exists to improve the lives of Australians living in the state of Victoria through advocacy and by addressing their needs in the areas of motoring, home, leisure, and sustainability. With a growing focus on the provision of safe and more energy-efficient solar solutions, RACV Solar, and its commercial arm Gippsland Solar, selected Enphase IQ microinverters to ensure its members and customers benefit from the reliability, performance and design flexibility of Enphase products.

RACV Solar and Gippsland Solar are thrilled to join forces with Enphase to deliver safe, smart, and highly-efficient microinverter solutions for our clients, said Andy McCarthy, chief executive officer at RACV Solar and Gippsland Solar. After a recent tour of the Enphase facility in Fremont, California, it was clear that to cater to the Australian consumers ever-increasing demands for solar safety, flexibility, and quality, Enphase technology is the perfect fit for our product range.

RACV Solar and Gippsland Solar will utilize Enphase IQ 7 and IQ 7+ microinverters to simplify solar installations, maximize energy production and deliver a complete AC system that ensures neither installers nor homeowners are exposed to high-voltage DC, providing a safe solar solution for homeowners and commercial sites. IQ 7 and IQ 7+ microinverters leverage Enphases unique software-defined architecture and semiconductor integration for excellent reliability and economies of scale.

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Enphase microinverters are subjected to a rigorous reliability and quality testing regimen with more than one million cumulative hours of power-on testing to ensure exceptional performance under heat, high humidity, salty air, extreme cold, and harsh climate conditions. The Companys microinverters are designed to be long-lived energy assets and are backed by a 10-year warranty in the Australian solar market, which can be extended for a fee to 15, 20, or 25 years by the homeowner.

This alliance brings Enphase, a solar technology pioneer, together with an iconic Australian organization with a rich heritage of working for the wellbeing of its members and the broader community, said Dave Ranhoff, chief commercial officer at Enphase Energy. It is a privilege to collaborate with RACV on its commitment to help shape a more sustainable future for its members, customers, and the Australian state of Victoria.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company, delivers smart, easy-to-use solutions that manage solar generation, storage and communication on one intelligent platform. The Company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter technology and produces a fully integrated solar-plus-storage solution. Enphase has shipped more than 25 million microinverters, and over one million Enphase systems have been deployed in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit www.enphase.com/au and follow the company on Facebook , LinkedIn and Twitter .

Enphase, IQ, IQ 7, IQ 7+, the Enphase logo, and other trademarks or service names are the trademarks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected safety, reliability, performance and advantages of Enphase Energys products and technology. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase's current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in Enphases most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents on file with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

Enphase Contact:
Illegal armed formations mounted attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the village of Kindrashivska Nova, no Ukrainian servicemen injured, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported.

"At about midnight, the situation on the contact line in the Luhansk sector escalated ... Invaders fired from 122 mm caliber artillery. The enemy launched 20 shells at the defenders of Kindrashivska Nova," the JFO said after midnight on Monday.

The JFO HQ noted that the shelling attacks is another provocation from illegal armed groups.
Rainbow Flat, Australia

Standing in thick mud between burned trees and a concrete slab where his house had been, Peter Ruprecht admitted he was not sure how or when to rebuild.

He was dizzied by what Australia's volatile climate had already delivered: first a drought, then a devastating bushfire, then a foot of rain from a tropical storm.

Ruprecht, a former dairy farmer, said, "We speak about the warmth of Mother Nature, but nature can also be vicious and wild and unforgiving."

Australia's fire season has eased, but its people are facing more than a single crisis. With floods destroying homes not far from where infernos raged, they are confronting a cycle of what scientists call "compound extremes": one climate disaster intensifying the next.

Warmer temperatures heat up the atmosphere, which means clouds hold more moisture for longer periods of time. So droughts get worse, giving way to fires, then to crushing rains that the land is too dry to absorb.

One result of that multiplier effect for Australia is that rebuilding after a disaster becomes far more complicated.

At the same time, the economic costs of a changing climate are skyrocketing. Philip Lowe, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, warned recently that Australia was already paying a price, and that it would only go up.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Tourism has already taken a major hit. The insurance industry is scrambling to adjust. The drenching storms of the past month led to a rush of damage claims and left tens of thousands of homes without electricity, prompting insurers to declare a catastrophe for the sixth time in five months.

Now, more disasters are threatening to overlap.

In Conjola Park south of Sydney, where fires destroyed 89 homes, the lake recently flooded, causing more damage. Up and down Australia's east coast, trees killed by drought, charred by flame and toppled by thunderstorms have crushed cars and homes.
Its time for President Trump to declare victory and end his trade wars. With the election just nine months away, it would help both the economy and his reelection prospects.

Economies boom and slump for many reasons and politicians often get too much credit and too much blame for both. Still, an administrations policies can have a significant effect on the economys performance. And in Trumps case, his tax cuts and general easing of business regulation likely contributed to the economys strong performance during his first three years in office.

However, the trade wars Trump has initiated have had the opposite effect: slowing the U.S. and global economies.

Roughly half of all U.S. imports are raw materials or intermediate goods that are part of the production process for U.S.-based firms. Tariffs and restrictions put in place during trade wars increase business costs and slow economic growth. Similarly, when other countries retaliate against U.S. trade restrictions by erecting their own trade barriers, U.S. exporters are harmed.

Those are the direct effects. But theres more. Trade wars also create uncertainty, which is anathema to business planning. This leads businesses to hold back on new investments in their global supply chains. This, too, retards growth.

The United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is one important step in the right direction. Canada and Mexico are the United States two largest trading partners. Although far from perfect, the agreement preserves most of the benefits provided by NAFTA, the earlier three-way trade agreement signed during the Clinton administration, and eliminates the uncertainty of a trade war with Canada and Mexico.

However, the future of Trumps trade war with China, which had been Americas largest trading partner before the trade war began, remains uncertain. The so-called Phase One deal announced in December mostly just pauses the trade war, keeping it (at least temporarily) from escalating. While the agreement stops implementation of new trade restrictions, it also retains most of the duties imposed since the start of the trade war  with two-thirds of all Chinese imports facing duties that are six times higher than when Trump took office.

Furthermore, the agreement could break down if China fails to purchase an additional (above 2017 levels) $33 billion in U.S. manufactured goods, $12.5 billion in farm products, $18.5 billion in natural gas and crude oil and $13 billion in services by the end of this year. These targets were a stretch to start with, but with the coronavirus epidemic creating a major slowdown in the Chinese economy they almost certainly will not be met and the trade war could resume.

To make matters worse, the president has signaled the start of a new trade war with the European Union, which includes three more top U.S. trading partners: Germany, France and Italy. Pushing for new trade agreements can be a tool to create a freer global trading environment, but thus far all of Trumps actions have taken the United States in the opposite direction.

Ideally, the United States would have duty- and barrier-free trade agreements with all of its trading partners. But even in the absence of such agreements, if the United States practiced free trade unilaterally we still would benefit economically.

Thats why Trump should declare victory in his trade wars, take pride in the concessions hes received from other countries and unilaterally begin lowering U.S. trade barriers. This would give a boost to U.S.-based exporters and importers and encourage businesses that have been stymied by uncertainty to begin making new investments.

Most voters understand little about the content or effects of trade agreements, but they know how they feel the economy is doing.

If Trump declared victory in his trade wars, the vast majority of voters wont know or care much about the details, but theyll have more confidence in the future of the economy and the president will get the credit in November.

Benjamin Powell is a senior fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, Calif., and executive director of the Free Market Institute and professor of economics at Texas Tech Universitys Rawls College of Business. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

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Farmers will play a crucial part in Devon's transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy, a committee's report says.

Devons food and farming systems should be transformed to focus on public health, the environment and the wider South West economy, according to the report.

The locally-led inquiry into the county's countryside forms part of the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, a national commission on the UKs rural affairs.

The inquiry listened to voices from across the region, hearing stories of a system that is not working for farmers, for public health or for the environment, but with many opportunities for transformation.

It argues climate emergency and Brexit make a transition to a safe, secure and inclusive food and farming system, a flourishing rural economy and a sustainable and accessible countryside all the more important.

The report focuses on improving the countys grasslands and livestock production, bettering the environment and making sure that new entrants to farming are welcomed.

It also calls for relevant advice and training for farmers to make the transition to low carbon farming, and more funding for mental health within the farming community.

The report suggests that a transition to low carbon farming will be possible with the introduction of novel farming practices such as agroforestry and agroecology.

And in tandem with an ongoing pilot, there should be a duty for public sector bodies to buy local and sustainably grown food, initially for schools and hospitals, it says.

David Fursdon, Director of the Devon Inquiry said: Working with people and our partners across the region we can create an exemplar of sustainable food and farming systems, in service of thriving natural habitats and communities. It is a call to action and the time to act is now.

The RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission is an independent inquiry, funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and chaired by Sir Ian Cheshire.

The Commissions Devon Inquiry was chaired by David Fursdon and members were drawn from a range of food, farming and environmental backgrounds.
L egendary composer Joe Hisaishi has announced a special live orchestral show in London, celebrating 35 years of Studio Ghibli in the UK for the first time.

Hisaishi scored the music for classic animations like Spirited Away, Ponyo and My Neighbour Totoro, and his talents will be showcased with a date at the SSE Arena in Wembley on September 19.

Tickets for the show goes on sale at 10am on February 28, and can be bought here.

The show will feature montage footage from the films, celebrating the work of both Hisaishi and director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki.

The composers music will be performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus. As well as writing scores for nine films, the prolific Hisaishi has released nearly 40 albums across his career.

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 in Tokyo and went on to produce some of the most revered animated films ever made. A selection of them were made available on Netflix earlier this year.
[February 24, 2020] PPG, Employees Support Coronavirus Relief Efforts In China

PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced initiatives to support coronavirus relief efforts in China. The company will donate $143,437 USD (1,000,000 RMB) to the Chinese Red Cross Foundation to assist with mid- to long-term recovery efforts, such as training, mental health assistance or other support for frontline health workers responding to the crisis. The funds also will be used to help vulnerable communities and families recover. In addition to the corporate donation, PPG has committed to matching donations from its employees globally. The company is also actively seeking opportunities to donate its antibacterial coatings to assist with disease prevention. PPG has nearly 4,000 employees working at 16 manufacturing sites, eight offices and four technical centers in China. "Our thoughts are with our Chinese colleagues and those impacted as they face the severe coronavirus outbreak," said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and corporatesocial responsibility. "We truly are one global PPG community, and we lend our support through these relief efforts."



PPG's global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $11 million in 2019, supporting hundreds of organizations across 38 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today's skilled workforce and develop tomorrow's innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com. PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD

At PPG (NYSE: PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.1 billion in 2019. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com. We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. CATEGORY Global Charitable Contributions View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005222/en/

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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Lesser prairie chickens have a flair for the dramatic. During mating season on the grasslands of eastern New Mexico, the male bird puffs out its chest, inflates colorful air sacs and fans out its feathers as it struts across the plains. That drama is echoed in the debate over how to save the bird from extinction.

In 2013, five states with lesser prairie chicken habitat  New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado  created a rangewide conservation plan for the bird in conjunction with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). The chicken conservation area is about 40 million acres in the five states.

We dont need a chicken on every acre, but we do need acres that are beneficial to the chicken, and I think weve seen a lot of success with this plan, said Bill Van Pelt, WAFWA grasslands coordinator and one of the plan authors. The plan is unique; it doesnt pay attention to state boundaries, but does whats best for the bird.

The association pays landowners to set aside chicken habitat and allow other conservation activities using mitigation fees from energy companies, who make the payments to offset habitat impact by their activities. But the birds status under the Endangered Species Act is up in the air, so companies dont have to mitigate impact.

In 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined the lesser prairie chicken should be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. That decision was overturned after the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and four New Mexico counties filed a lawsuit in which they argued that the agency rushed the listing process. Some environmental groups have since asked Fish and Wildlife to reconsider and again put the bird back on the list.

Listing drama aside, public and private efforts have a mutual goal: for the chicken and its habitat to recover to a point that population numbers are no longer at or near historic lows.

But some private conservation companies say the federal program needs a turnaround. At least two program reviews say it has strong strategies but lacks money to produce adequate results.

RiverBank Conservation helped secure a prairie chicken conservation easement last month on Mack Kizers Lost Draw Ranch near Portales. Xcel Energy, which is building a massive wind farm nearby, paid for the easement with mitigation fees. Chickens avoid wind turbines, oil rigs or trees because raptors perch there.

Landowners represent a solution, said Adam Riggsbee, founder of RiverBank Conservation, which helped initiate and secure the Lost Draw Ranch easement. Out on the plains of eastern New Mexico and west Texas, it tends to be an extractive economy, and the land gets the short end of the stick. But ranchers like Mack care about the land. He bought more land next to his ranch because of the Xcel deal, and wants to make that land better for the lesser prairie chicken  but we have to be able to pay him to do that.

An independent audit of the WAFWA lesser prairie chicken program provided to the Journal says the programs finances are not properly administered. Between $5 million and $7 million designated for reimbursing landowners who allow conservation activities on their land was instead transferred for staff salaries and other administrative costs, according to the document.

That could be because industry mitigation fees are too low. The rates are based on federal Farm Bill programs. The audit suggests reducing biology staff costs, conducting proper financial analyses before new agreements, and focusing more on permanent conservation easements.

Oil and gas activity is expanding in lesser prairie chicken states. But energy development doesnt automatically mean more energy industry mitigation money, as companies often drill outside sensitive bird habitat instead of paying to mitigate impacts. Avoiding delicate habitat is a positive step, but limited energy participation doesnt bode well for WAFWAs main revenue source.

Reviews of the WAFWA program call for transparency and a better system to show impact of mitigation dollars and conservation easements. A 2017 review by the North American Grouse Partnership said a strategic approach needs to be combined with increased funding and better collaboration amongst programs.

WAFWA has secured 150,000 acres for conservation and 22 mitigation contracts since adopting the rangewide plan. The audit says finances should be retooled to direct revenue to more long-term conservation contracts. Program objectives to obtain a specific ratio of short-term and permanent conservation lands are being met, a goal Van Pelt said is built into the adaptive nature of the mitigation strategies.

The plan had to address changing climatic patterns and create a moving mosaic of chicken habitat based on where the chickens are, he said. We do 10-year contracts so we can be adaptable. If too much weight is placed on permanent side, you may be putting lots of money into an area where the birds might not be in a few years.

The bird thrives on connected habitat, so organizations work to connect conservation acres, like sewing patches together on a quilt. New Mexico Game and Fish, the Bureau of Land Management, the Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund and the Department of Defense have secured a combined 100,000 acres of prairie chicken land with adapted ranching practices or oil and gas restrictions in New Mexico.

Prairie chicken populations have fluctuated for years. There were about 38,000 birds rangewide at the end of 2018, and the program has a goal of 67,000 birds.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
At least 26 per cent of our oceans need urgent conservation attention to preserve Earth's marine biodiversity, a University of Queensland-led international study has found.

Dr Kendall Jones said the international community needed to rapidly increase marine conservation efforts to maintain the health of the world's oceans.

"Preserving a portion of habitat for all marine species would require 8.5 million square kilometres of new conservation areas," Dr Jones said.

"Currently one-third of all marine species have less than 10 per cent of their range covered by protected areas.

"Conserving the areas we've identified in our study would give all marine species a reasonable amount of space to live free from human impacts like fishing, commercial shipping or pesticide runoff."

The authors mapped more than 22,000 marine species habitats and applied a mathematical approach to identify the minimum area required to capture a portion of each species range.

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They also included areas of international importance for biodiversity (known as Key Biodiversity Areas), and areas where human impacts on the ocean are extremely low (known as marine wildernesses).

They found that the total ocean area required for conservation varied from 26-41 per cent, depending on the proportion of each species range conserved.

Key regions for conservation included the Northern Pacific Ocean near China and Japan, and the Atlantic between West Africa and the Americas.

Director of Science at the Wildlife Conservation Society and UQ scientist Professor James Watson said the findings demonstrated the need for greater worldwide conservation efforts.

"The world's nations will be coming together in China this year to sign an agreement that will guide global conservation for the next ten years," Professor Watson said.

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"This science shows that governments must act boldly, as they did for the Paris Agreement on climate change, if we are to stop the extinction crisis facing many marine species."

Professor Watson said it was crucial that global conservation strategies involved rapid action to protect endangered species and ecosystems, combined with approaches to sustainably manage the ocean in its entirety.

"This isn't just about strict marine protected areas," he said.

"We need to use a broad range of strategies such as no-fishing zones, community marine reserves and broad-scale policies to put an end to illegal and unsustainable commercial fishing operations."

The authors stress that ocean conservation was essential for people and biodiversity.

"Millions of people around the world depend on marine biodiversity as a crucial source of food and income," Professor Watson said.

"A well-designed global conservation agreement will help preserve these livelihoods into the future."
The Hanoi Department of Health has proposed putting any Korean or Vietnamese nationals who arrive from the epidemic areas in the Republic of Korea (RoK) in isolation for a 14-day period.

In the face of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in the RoK, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control convened an urgent meeting on February 23.

During the course of the meeting, Hoang Duc Hanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, emphasized the need to implement strict monitoring on arrivals into Vietnam and put people arriving from epidemic areas into quarantine.

The department noted that wards and communes must take steps to compile a list of people who have recently arrived from epidemic areas in order for them to undergo strict monitoring, whilst also urging people not to travel to epidemic areas.

According a report completed by district leaders, approximately 9,127 Korean nationals are temporarily staying in Nam Tu Liem district, largely in the wards of My Dinh 1 and Me Tri.

Recent days have seen the district become more active in supervising people from China and the RoK, with prevention activities to combat the epidemic receiving greater publicity, schools being disinfected, and body temperatures scanners being purchased as a means of serving students upon their return to school.

Indeed, Thanh Xuan district is home to roughly 1,600 Koreans and 160 Japanese people, with the locality deciding to establish three working groups aimed at supervising, classifying, and advising on regulations related to isolating cases in the area.

Currently, Bac Tu Liem district contains approximately 5,000 foreigners, including over 3,000 Koreans and 167 Japanese nationals.

The district has assigned relevant forces to provide citizens with further instructions, distribute leaflets in both Korean and Japanese language, whilst also working closely with the RoK Embassy as a means of ensuring management over people in the district.

Nguyen Khac Hien, Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, proposed isolating people who arrive from epidemic areas in countries that have faced complicated developments in COVID-19 cases, such as the RoK, Japan, and Singapore. VOV

Vietnamese warned not to travel to coronavirus-hit areas in RoK The Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Korea has recommended Vietnamese citizens to avoid travel to areas that are affected by COVID-19.
Mongolia will ban flights to and from South Korea starting Tuesday until March 2 due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, weeks after closing its border with China over the epidemic.

The decision by the National Emergency Commission was announced by Enkhamgalan Byambatseren, a member of parliament, who told Mongolians it will be wiser to stay in (South) Korea where the healthcare system is much better than Mongolia.

Mongolia has not reported any cases of the novel coronavirus but is nervous about contagion since nearly 2,600 people have died in neighbouring China and dozens more in other countries.

Travel into and out of the capital Ulaanbaatar has been banned for the Mongolian Lunar New Year, known as Tsagaan Sar, which started Sunday and ends Thursday.

The landlocked country has also closed rural highways and suspended train and bus services during the five-day holiday.

The number of cases in South Korea has soared past 800 in the past few days -- the highest figure outside China -- leaving eight dead.

Mongolia late last month banned Chinese nationals and foreigners entering from China by plane, train or road.
Re-opening of schools comes after the Indian government loosened a communication lockdown in the disputed region.

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir  Nearly a million students in Indian-administered Kashmir have attended classes for the first time in almost seven months.

The schools reopening on Monday marked an end to a lengthy break that began in August 2019, when the Indian government imposed a security and communications lockdown in the Muslim-majority region, and was later followed by the annual three-month winter vacation.

Last week, authorities in Kashmir announced, for the third time in recent months, the resumption of classes as the security situation remains under control and weather conditions have improved.

I am very happy to be here, 19-year-old Muskan Yaqoob said, on her first day studying commerce in class 12.

I was very eager to come, added Yaqoob, who last attended school on August 3. At home, there was nothing to do; even concentrating on studies was difficult.

Authorities last week announced the re-opening of the schools amid a continuing security lockdown [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera]

On August 5, the government in New Delhi abolished Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to the Indian-administered portion of the Himalayan region, including the right to its own constitution and autonomy to make laws on all matters except defence, communications and foreign affairs.

Under a government crackdown, which saw thousands of people including students detained, strict communication and military curbs were imposed in the region to prevent protests.

Kashmiri activists fear that the abrogation of Article 370 changed the geographical realities in Kashmir by removing a seven-decades-old law that had protected the demography of the region.

Following the controversial move, authorities on two occasions announced the reopening of schools, but students stayed away amid the ongoing restrictions and concerns among parents about the childrens safety at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The two neighbours have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of. Armed rebels in Indian-administered Kashmir, meanwhile, want either independence or a merger with Pakistan.

Last weeks announcement about the reopening of schools brought the winter break to an end one week before schedule. It also came amid an easing of the communication lockdown which has seen low-speed mobile internet restored.

Today, I decided to let my children attend school because I felt a little safe. I have a working phone where I can know about the wellbeing of my children, said Shafat Ahmad, after dropping his 11-year-old son and six-year-old daughter at a school in the main city of Srinagar.

Ahmad said that over the past few months, he had decided against sending his children back to school despite the government insisting them to attend.

The government cares about its interests and not about the future of our children and they wanted to use them to manufacture normalcy last year, he said, accusing it of being responsible for disrupting the normal life in Kashmir.

They have jeopardised the future of so many children who are languishing in jails. In this place, you cannot express your real voice. We want a future with dignity for our children so that they do not have to fear to talk freely.

Parents decided to send their children back to school after a communication lockdown was loosened [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera]

The reopening of the schools came as hundreds of security personnel continued to patrol the streets of Srinagar in riot gear to prevent any demonstrations.

The atmosphere of fear has subsided and the parents have taken an honourable decision to prefer schooling to vagaries of time, a senior government official told Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity.

We will ensure the smooth functioning of the schools.

GN Var, who heads a local union of private schools in Kashmir, Private Schools Association Jammu and Kashmir (PSAK), told Al Jazeera that the seven months of closure created a huge gap in education.

The loss cannot be measured, Var said, adding that it will affect students in upcoming exams.

This place is uncertain but we hope the time [ahead] remains smooth and students will continue to pursue education like children everywhere else.

Mehwish Rafiq, 18, said that while she and her friends were happy to return to class, there is always a fear that something might happen and schools will be shut again.

I completely value what it means to be at school, Mehwish said, adding that there are so many barriers to our success.

There is a mental trauma after a long disconnect with books.
Harbor Springs to host Winter Fest this Saturday

The City of Harbor Springs is hosting a winter themed and family-friendly event to shake off the cabin fever this Saturday.
Ferozuddin Feroz, the minister of public health, told a press conference in Kabul one of three suspected cases had been confirmed in the Western province of Herat

Kabul: Afghanistans minister of public health said on Monday the country had identified its first case of coronavirus.

Ferozuddin Feroz, the minister of public health, told a press conference in Kabul one of three suspected cases had been confirmed in the Western province of Herat.

He announced a state of emergency in the province, which borders Iran where dozens of cases of the disease have been confirmed and eight people have died.
Four more people have died of coronavirus in Iran, a spokesman for parliament said on Monday, bringing to 12 the country's overall death toll from the outbreak.

"The minister of health announced the deaths of 12 people and 47 cases of infection in the country," Assadollah Abbassi was quoted as saying by semi-official agency ISNA after a closed session of parliament.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OTTAWA - Canada's poverty rate has fallen to a historic low in one of the sharpest three-year declines on record, the national statistics office says, but millions of Canadians still live below the poverty line.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Statistics Canada's offices at Tunny's Pasture in Ottawa are shown on Friday, March 8, 2019. Statistics Canada will lay out today how many Canadians live below the country's low-income threshold as part of an updated portrait of poverty. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - Canada's poverty rate has fallen to a historic low in one of the sharpest three-year declines on record, the national statistics office says, but millions of Canadians still live below the poverty line.

Statistics Canada reported Monday that the national poverty rate dropped to 8.7 per cent in 2018 compared to 9.5 per cent a year earlier.

The child-poverty rate was little changed at 8.2 per cent. Still, the agency said 566,000 children lived in poverty compared to one million at a peak six years earlier.

Even under potential changes to how the agency calculates the official poverty line, national rates have dropped.

Statistics Canada said its proposed new formula for calculating poverty would increase the rate by 2.3 percentage points and bump the number of Canadians considered to be living in poverty from just under 3.2 million to almost four million.

"Irrespective of the measure you're using, we've seen an improvement in people's lives when it comes to poverty and it's entirely a result of public policy," said David Macdonald, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, citing the federal government's income-tested Canada Child Benefit as one example.

Statistics Canada reported drops in monetary indicators of poverty  such as the number of people far below the poverty line, also known as "deep poverty." But other measures, such as being able to afford housing and a set collection of healthy foods, moved in the opposite direction.

Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said federal programs need to take into account the circumstances of different Canadians.

"At the end of the day, it's about the quality of life of Canadians. Are they able to be able to pay for the goods and services that make their life better, that they need to enjoy a modest living?" Hussen said at a morning event at a produce store in Ottawa.

"We want to make sure our policies and our measures are removing more and more people out of poverty, which is what we are doing."

The numbers showed no matter the formula used, poverty dropped by the more than 20 per cent the Liberal's anti-poverty strategy called for by this year. The next key benchmark is a 50 per cent cut from 2015 levels by 2030.

Miles Corak, who spent a year as the resident economist in Hussen's department, said the government should set a "new, intermediate target" of cutting poverty rates by 20 per cent below 2018 levels.

"If (the Liberal government) is serious about continuing 'to move forward,' then it should do this," Corak, now an economics professor at City University of New York, wrote on Twitter.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The agency's release of income numbers also included proposed changes to the poverty line. The "market basket measure," as it's known, calculates the minimum a person or family has to earn to afford a list of goods and services needed to reach a modest or basic living standard.

Statistics Canada proposed increasing the amount needed to afford housing in various parts of the country, adding cellphone costs to the formula, and rethinking transportation costs since some low-income earners use cars in urban centres.

The results would increase the low-income threshold in all regions: In Toronto, the threshold would rise $6,000 to $48,142; Vancouver, just over $8,000 to $48,677; and in Edmonton, almost $9,300 to $47,869. Raising the threshold would mean more people would be beneath it, and be counted as poor.

The changes, particularly for housing, will provide a better understanding of poverty and more accurately capture the costs many low- and middle-income Canadians face, said Garima Talwar Kapoor, policy and research director at Maytree, an anti-poverty foundation.

"This is really helpful, but now we really have to think of nuanced policy responses that take into account differences in geography and demographics in order to help further reduce the poverty rates," she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
In the wake of violence in some parts of Delhi, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Monday said the situation in the national capital was fully under control and sufficient forces were deployed on the ground.

The home secretary's comments came after violent clashes claimed the life of a policeman in North East Delhi.

"The situation in Delhi is fully under control. Senior police officials are on the ground and sufficient forces are also deployed at the spot," Bhalla told reporters here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Wanted: Officials in Alabama are on the hunt for escaped inmate Daniel Miner, 43, who has been serving a life sentence for a murder conviction since 1994

Authorities in Alabama are hunting for a convicted murderer serving a life sentence after he escaped from a work-release facility.

Inmate Daniel Miner, 43, left the Childersburg Work Release Center in Alpine on Saturday night, the Alabama Department of Corrections said in a statement.

Miner was not found in his bed during a count of inmates at the facility located in Talladega County and was reported missing at 9.30am the following morning, officials said.

Miner was last seen wearing state prison-issued white clothing. He has 'white power' tattooed on his arms and torso, an iron cross, and a dragon on his back, according to the prison escape report.

In July 1994, Miner was handed a life sentence with the possibility of parole for the 1993 shooting death of Edward Lee Williams during a robbery in Marshall County, reported WAAY31.

In 2003, he was sentenced in Limestone County on a charge of promoting prison contraband charge.

Miner left the Childersburg Work Release Center in Alpine on Saturday night and was declared missing the following morning

Miners custody classification is 'minimum-out,' which the department describes as 'Appropriate for inmates that do not pose a significant risk to self or others and suitable to be assigned off-property work details without the direct supervision of correctional officers.

Inmates are requires to wear prison garb at all times and may be assigned to work for various government agencies for paid employment.

Inmates in the work-release program work for private employers in the community.

Miner is described as a white male who is 5-foot-6-inches tall and weighs 192lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is being asked to call the Alabama Department of Corrections at (800) 831-8825 or 911.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued notice to the telecom companies for submitting their self-assessment of AGR amount at the earliest.

While official sources said DoT has sent notice on self assessments, telecom operators said they are yet to receive any notice and it may be in the process of being finalised from the government side, to include the latest dues.

This will also include a notice to Tata Teleservices which has submitted lesser amount than the DoT demand, producing self-certified copies of its assessment. Tata Teleservices had submitted Rs 2,197 crore AGR dues as "full and final" payment against a DoT demand of Rs 14,819 crore.

The department has also sought the self-assessment report from TTSL.

So far out of the Rs 53,000 crore, Vodafone Idea has paid Rs 3,500 crore and Airtel has paid Rs 10,000 crore out of the dues of Rs 35,500 crore. Both the companies have said they are in the process of self-assessment. Airtel Chairman and promoter Sunil Mittal has said the company would abide by the Supreme Court order while for Vodafone Idea Ltd, it appears difficult as the company is seeking relief on AGR dues.

The self-assessment of AGR are carried out on a circle basis and is possible that they vary from what DoT has calculated.
An Italian Finance guard (Guardia di Finanza) speaks with a driver at a check-point at the entrance of the small town of Zorlesco, southeast of Milan, on Monday. Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images

The world is not ready for global outbreak of the coronavirus, the World Health Organization warned on Monday, but amid major spikes of confirmed COVID-19 cases in three countries over the past week, many experts have begun acknowledging that a pandemic is now all but inevitable. Authorities are currently struggling to contain  and understand  escalating outbreaks in South Korea, Iran, and Italy, while all over the world, governments and public health officials scramble to prepare for more coronavirus outbreaks.

Below is a look at the scope and scale of these new outbreaks, and what the spike in global cases could mean.

The big picture, by the numbers

We have all got to look at our systems, because none of them work fast enough, WHO epidemiologist Bruce Aylward cautioned Monday after reviewing Chinas unprecedented efforts to slow the original and largest outbreak of COVID-19. According to Mondays WHO report on the outbreaks, more than 79,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported globally. Nearly 2,600 people have died from the illness, mostly in China, where more than 77,000 of the confirmed cases have been reported. There have been welcome signs that the spread of the virus in China has temporarily slowed. Outside of China, if you subtract the cases contracted on the Princess Diamond cruise ship, more than 1,300 COVID-19 cases have been reported across 29 countries on every inhabited continent except South America.

The numbers reported by health officials do not offer the complete picture of the virus spread, however, despite how often those numbers lead coverage of the crisis. The WHO only reports cases that have been confirmed with laboratory tests. The total number of infections in any given country  including cases which have, for various reasons, gone undetected, untested, and/or unreported  is far from clear. That doesnt mean the whole world is already infected and health officials havent figured it out, but it most likely means that there are many more cases yet to discover, including in countries like the U.S.

As the below graph of the global cases as of Sunday reveals, efforts to prevent the global spread of COVID-19 have not succeeded. Now the world waits to find out how bad it will get, and how fast.

1. @WHO's daily #Covid19 report is up.

Cases outside China rose to 1769 (+367), which is a sharp increase in recent days. There are now 17 (+6) deaths outside China.

1 month ago, there were 11 known cases outside China. Takes a while for spread to take off. Seeing it now. pic.twitter.com/jHi5S2Ux9Y  Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) February 23, 2020

Red alert in South Korea

South Korea continues to face the largest known outbreak outside of China. As of Monday, 893 cases of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus have been confirmed in the country, resulting in 8 deaths. On Sunday, President Moon Jae-in instituted the highest possible alert level over the virus, giving the government the power to impose draconian measures, including lockdowns, in an effort to contain the outbreak.

Cases have reportedly been confirmed in every major city and province in the country, but hardest hit are the cities of Cheongdo and Daegu, the nations fourth largest city. In Daegu, a single person is believed to have potentially exposed thousands of people to the virus at a branch of a secretive religious sect called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus  where more than half of the COVID cases in the country originated. Its still not clear how that woman became infected, but the government says it has ordered self-quarantines and coronavirus tests for some 9,500 members of the church who may have been exposed at the Daegu branch.

Disinfection professionals wear protective gear while spraying antiseptic solution in an effort to control the spread of coronavirus outside the National Assembly on Monday in Seoul, South Korea. The National Assembly called off its plenary session and temporarily closed its buildings after it learned that a coronavirus patient attended a parliamentary forum last week. Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

South Korea has an excellent national health-care system and valuable experience containing outbreaks of other diseases, but health officials have acknowledged they will not be able to contain the virus in Daegu, which along with Cheongdo has been designated a special care area. Residents of the cities have been asked to remain in their homes and avoid public places and gatherings, but long lines for supplies have been reported, including this line for face masks on Monday:

Irans outbreak may be even worse, endangering the entire Middle East

Since last Tuesday, Irans government has reported 61 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths  the highest death toll outside of China. But there is reason to believe the real size of the outbreak is much larger, and that Irans government has not only mismanaged its response, but may have hid the escalating epidemic from both Iranians and the world.

All of Irans neighbors have closed their borders with the country, but it appears to have been too late to contain the outbreak. On Monday, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait all announced their first reported cases of coronavirus  all reportedly linked to travel from Iran.

And its still not clear how widely COVID-19 has been transmitted inside Iran, while some reports have indicated the entire country has been exposed. The Iranian regime claims it has a handle on the outbreak and that it has been transparent about the outbreak, but the new crisis comes little more than a month after Irans Revolutionary Guard shot down a passenger jet near Tehran killing all 176 people aboard, then lied about its responsibility for days.

First responders wearing protective masks stand along a street in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Monday. Irans government vowed to be transparent after being accused of covering up the deadliest coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak outside China. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

Medical staff inside Iran have reported a shortage of supplies and lack of preparation by the government. Iran was also slow to restrict air travel from China, possibly because the countrys reliance on China amid crippling U.S.-led sanctions. It was still allowing air travel within the country as of Monday.

The holy city of Qom has been the hardest hit, with at least 26 reported cases of the coronavirus. On Monday, a semi-official news agency in the country reported that a member of Irans parliament from Qom had announced that at least 50 people had already died in the outbreak  more than four times what Iran has reported. He also claimed that 250 people were already quarantined in Qom and that the outbreak started six days before Iran says it did. The Islamic Republic has denied the report.

Also on Monday, one of the top medical officials managing the outbreak in Qom said on state television that the situation was very dire and warned that the virus had spread across the city. The doctor also claimed that Irans health ministry had ordered officials in the city not to publish statistics about the outbreak.

Meanwhile, thanks to the constant traffic of Shia pilgrims in and out of Iran  often traveling to Qom  its quite possible countless people in the region have been exposed to the coronavirus. Irans outbreak may quickly become the Middle Easts disaster.

Italys outbreak leaves Europe on edge

In Italy, 229 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed, leading to six deaths. The countrys outbreak is the now the third largest in the world, as well as the biggest in Europe.

More than 50,000 Italians are now living under lockdown in the northern Lombardy region, where 90 percent of the cases have occurred, primarily near the town of Cordogno, where the regions outbreak seems to have begun with a single case. Health officials still dont know how that man was infected, having not traveled to China.

Police are patrolling the streets of 11 towns and issuing fines to anyone caught leaving or entering the locked-down areas. Mass has been cancelled in Milan, some 45 miles north of the epicenter of the outbreak, as well as other cities in Northern Italy.

Women walk through the Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II, close to the Piazza del Duomo in central Milan, on Monday. Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, dozens of cases have been confirmed in the Veneto region, including cases in Venice, where 20,000 people attended the citys annual Carnival event on Sunday morning before authorities canceled the two remaining days of the celebration.

Schools and universities across the country have been closed. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has urged Italians to have faith in the political and scientific institutions, which are doing everything possible, while health officials have asked people to avoid crowds and isolate themselves if theyve been exposed to anyone with the coronavirus. 27 million people live in the parts of the country where the government has restricted public activities.

Across Europe, EU members are trying to figure out how to handle travel from Italy while bracing for outbreaks of their own.

This post has been updated throughout.
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This is an open letter to the City of Gatineau Prosecutor who for weeks has been seeking to apparently evade scrutiny by the Quebec Human Rights Commission regarding cases of racial profiling in which a black man has been accosted by Gatineau Police for such reasons as "walking funny"; "walking on the grass"; "driving a rented vehicle" and "walking-off the sidewalk". Have you every heard of such outrageous behaviour by police in Canada?





Is this Canada in 2020 or Jim Crow Alabama in the 1950's or apartheid South African in 1970's when the police there didn't have to have any reason for stopping black people?







Apparently, this is the Gatineau Police's regular way of "welcoming" black men.







How has this Prosecutor been evading human rights scrutiny, you might ask?





"Mr. Prosecutor" has done this by apparently for weeks evading telephone calls from the Quebec Human Rights Commission.





Mr. Prosector's first apparent excuse that his office gave was that he was on "paternity leave". But having come back from paternity leave he has continued to not return any calls.





I'm here to tell you today sir, that as long as Quebec is a part of Canada, you Mr. Prosecutor have an obligation to affirm the human rights of all Canadians in relation to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.





You might ask want the name of this prosecutor is?







There will be no need to reveal his name provided that he returns the phone call of the Quebec Human Rights Commission and begins to redress the horrific patterns of racial profiling under his watch within 24 hours of this Open Letter.





Oh, on second thought - Mathieu Cloutier.


After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly advised against travel or trade restrictions and called on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and convincing.

However, there are still certain countries that didnt follow the WHOs authoritative advice and took excessive restrictions. Such beggar-thy-neighbor and selfish practices didnt help with epidemic prevention and control, but created fear and panic, disturbed normal international personnel exchange and cooperation, and exerted negative impact on the order of the international aviation market and the development of the global economy, causing rising anxieties among the public.

In front of the epidemic, any impulsive, irrational or unwise behavior could bring about secondary challenges. When the WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) according to the International Health Regulations (IHR), it did not recommend any broader restrictions on travel or trade.

Thanks to Chinas decisive and effective prevention and control measures, the number of confirmed cases reported overseas only accounts for less than 1 percent of the total number worldwide.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) noted that adopting measures that go beyond the recommendations of the WHO and the ICAO without a proper risk assessment may result in unnecessary negative effects.

Responses that are anchored in fear, misinformation, racism and xenophobia will not save us from outbreaks like COVID-19. Thats from a joint statement made by 16 health law scholars from the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Switzerland, Chile and Italy in a commentary published on The Lancet.

They called on countries to start by rolling back illegal travel restrictions that have already been implemented and by supporting WHO and each other in implementing the IHR.

Such voice show respect for the international laws and are conducive to safeguarding global common interests.

Scientific research and practices indicated that taking extreme restrictions such as halting flights cannot really reduce the risk of virus spread.

Canceling flights, cruises and locking down borders when its not advised by international agencies will be not only an act of economic self-harm but also a wasted opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past, said an article published by American media.

In the era of globalization, the world needs to conform to the trend of the times and jointly shoulder responsibilities and cope with challenges. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, national leaders of Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Canada have made it clear that they wont ban entry of Chinese nationals.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that France respects the professional guidelines proposed by the WHO in responding to the COVID-19 epidemic, and its response to the outbreak is generally objective, adding that the French Consulate General in Wuhan is still operating.

Canadian Health Minister Patty Hajdu believes that it lacks basis and is unreasonable to ban entry of Chinese nationals. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said imposing a travel ban on Chinese citizens won't help the government's fight against coronavirus.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen visited Beijing amid the raging epidemic, showing support from the Cambodian government and the Cambodian people. Kang Seung Seok, the new consul general of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Wuhan, arrived in the city amid the epidemic on Feb. 20.

These facts prove that the strong and resilient relations between China and these countries are unbreakable and cannot be destroyed by certain countries.

In the era of globalization, the interests and destinies of countries are intertwined. To respond to the epidemic is by no means to stop all socio-economic activities. The right choice is to try to ensure normal economic activities on the premise of strengthening health and safety protection.

However, excessive or even extreme restrictive measures adopted by some countries, such as cancelling flights, will only lead to more negative impacts of the epidemic, causing lose-lose results and casting a shadow on world economic growth.

According to U.S. media reports, Washingtons comprehensive restrictions will severely hurt U.S. companies that rely on Chinese products or target Chinese customers. Goldman Sachs recently released a report anticipating a 0.4 percentage point slowdown of U.S. annualized growth in the first quarter due to the coronavirus outbreak, as the U.S. restrictions will reduce the number of Chinese tourists by 28 percent and their spending by $5.8 billion.

When speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump over phone, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that it takes joint efforts from all countries to bring the epidemics under control. He also said China hopes that the U.S. will assess the epidemic in a calm manner, and adopt and adjust its response.

In response to public health emergencies, panic, chaos, and excessive restrictions are not suggested. In the era of globalization, adopting beggar-thy-neighbor and selfish practices is not able to keep oneself unharmed. The right practice is to strengthen international cooperation and work together to cope with challenges in a scientific, rational and responsible manner.

Those who treat their neighbors as threats and plunder a burning house will hurt not only the interests of the world, but also those of their own.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)
The son of cowardly killer Rowan Baxter has thrown his support behind his murdered stepmother and her three kids.

Isaiah Baxter, 22, shared a photo of Brisbane's Story Bridge lit up in pink to honour Hannah Clarke, 31, who was murdered by her estranged husband Baxter.

The failed NRL player burned Hannah and her children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4,and Trey, 3, alive in their car in Camp Hill, Brisbane, on Wednesday morning.

Isaiah Baxter, 22, (centre) the son of killer dad Rowan Baxter (left), has shown his support for his stepmother Hannah whom his father murdered along with their three kids

Isaiah Baxter, 22, shared a photo of Brisbane's Story Bridge lit up in pink, Hannah's favourite colour, on Sunday night to honour her and the three children

Isaiah posted the photo with #SmallSteps4Hannah, the name of an anti-domestic violence charity her parents Lloyd and Suzanne are setting up.

He added heart and butterfly emoticons and also shared a fundraiser for Hannah's family which has gathered more than $200,000.

The young man is Baxter's son from a previous relationship before he married Hannah 11 years ago, and has been estranged from him for several years.

He also changed his social media profile pictures to an image of Hannah in heaven with angel wings alongside her children, which is popular among mourners.

Isaiah expressed his support after more than 1,000 people packed a vigil for the murdered family on Sunday evening at her old school, which he wasn't able to attend.

Isaiah also changed his social media profile pictures to an image of Hannah in heaven with angel wings alongside her children, which is popular among mourners

Isaiah (left) is Baxter's son from a previous relationship before he married Hannah (right) 11 years ago, and has been estranged from him for many years (photo taken in 2015)

Dressed in pink - Hannah's favourite colour - her father Lloyd Clarke and brother, Nat, thanked the crowd for their support.

'We would have felt lost without all your support. I don't know how we can repay such kindness,' the distraught father said.

He described the past week as the 'hardest of their life'.

'We may not know you all, but you embraced our family when our whole world collapsed and for that we are genuinely grateful,' he said.

'While dealing with this truly difficult time, my family and I are forever thankful to our neighbours and those who were first on the scene who tried to desperately help Hannah and the children.

'You selflessly and without hesitation did what you could to save them. I don't know how we can repay such kindness, other than to say we will be eternally grateful.

'You have restored out faith that there are many good and decent people in the world.'

Ms Clarke and her children, Laianah (bottom) Aaliyah (top) and Trey (held by his mother) were killed at the hands of their father

The family's charity is named Small Steps for Hannah as the only part of her body that wasn't horrifically burned was the sole of her foot. This print of it was taken by hospital nurses

Family Image of Hannah Clarke critically injured standing with Rowan Baxter who died in the car fire along with the three children

Mr Clarke spoke about his pride over everything his daughter managed to achieve before her life was cut short.

He also reflected on the joy his three grandchildren brought to his life.

Hannah's brother Nathaniel Clarke said he was working in Central Queensland on Wednesday morning and was told to rush home by his bosses.

'My wife had called me to say, look, just come home, I knew sort of what happened, I just didn't know the whole world knew,' he told Triple M on Monday.

The family's charity is named Small Steps for Hannah as the only part of her body that wasn't horrifically burned was the sole of her foot.

Sergeant David Beard shared her dreams of becoming a police officer at the vigil at Whites Hill State College in Camp Hill - just blocks away from the murder scene.

Hannah spoke about her plans at a Police Citizens Youth Club while visiting a friend the day before she burned to death.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said Hannah's courage and heroism were the makings of an excellent officer.

'Right through to her passing, Hannah showed amazing courage and heroism, ensuring that she gave our police and emergency services at the scene a detailed statement of the horrific events that unfolded, leading to the death of her three children and ultimately herself,' she said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left), parents to Hannah Clarke Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke (centre), and Police commissioner Katarina Carroll (right) at the vigil

Lloyd Clarke is comforted by his son Nat at the community vigil for his daughter Hannah and her three children

A police officer speaks during a vigil to remember murdered mother. Thousands of mourners attended the event

Crosses bearing the names of the mother and youngsters who were burned alive by their father are swarmed with flowers from mourners

'Hannah's determination to provide our police the information they needed to ensure justice should be served truly encapsulates the sort of person Hannah was. She was strong, she was determined, she was courageous.

'How lucky we would have been in the Queensland Police to have welcomed someone with those attributes into our policing family.'

The Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge and City Hall in Brisbane were also lit with pink lights to honour the family.

Baxter doused their car in petrol and set it alight while Hannah was dropping the children off at school.

The youngsters died at the scene while Hannah succumbed to her horrific burns in hospital later that day, and Baxter stabbed himself in the chest and died from his injuries.

Hannah Clarke stands at the beach with her daughters Laianah and Aaliyah

The Victoria bridge is seen lit up in pink in the Brisbane CBD in honour of Hannah Clarke and her three children who were doused in petrol and set alight

For 24/7 confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
Hrithik Roshan is one of the most successful actors today. But the handsome hunk has had his own battles to fight during his growing years. The superstar had a stammering problem and not many know that he underwent speech therapy sessions, so that he could speak fluently. In his interview with Quint in 2016, Hrithik had opened up about how his school and college days were "hell" for him because of his speech impediment.

Recently, a fan tweeted about her cousin, who was facing a similar issue at his college, and how he lost his confidence after being humiliated by his teacher for stammering during a presentation. War star, Hrithik stood up for the boy and slammed the teacher for the shameful act.

In a series of tweets, a Twitter user by the name Marium Zufiqar opened up about her cousin's ordeal.

He now refuses to go back to his university and face anyone in the classroom or study, his confidence is shattered. All i wanna say is that how the hell can someone on such post stoop so low and break a teenager's confidence? The HOD is of NUML uni BBA dept.  Marium Zulfiqar (@MariumAwazar_) February 22, 2020

A teacher can make or break a student's confident. How can someone be so fucking insensitive??????  Marium Zulfiqar (@MariumAwazar_) February 22, 2020

An angry Hrithik called out the professor for humiliating the student and wrote, "Please tell your cousin that that professor and his judgement both are irrelevant. Stuttering should never hold him back from dreaming BIG ! Tell him it's NOT his fault and it's NOT something he needs to be ashamed of. People who shame him are no better than brainless monkeys."

Please tell your cousin that that professor and his judgement both are irrelevant. Stuttering should never hold him back from dreaming BIG ! Tell him its NOT his fault and its NOT something he needs to be ashamed of. People who shame him are no better than brainless monkeys. https://t.co/BDQp9PArag  Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) February 23, 2020

Meanwhile, Hrithik's gesture left the fans impressed and one of them commented on his tweet, "You know the struggles that come with stammering and you've beautifully overcome it despite all odds to become one of the actors with the BEST dialogue delivery in Bollywood. Bravo and more power to you, hero!"[sic] Another netizen wrote, "You're such a motivation HR. I'm happy to see you showing concern for a Pakistani girl's cousin. After all, nothing's bigger than humanity and gotta respect you for that."[sic] "Thanks for the support. I am sure that guy would have a great boost after knowing that u supported him. All people like us need is someone who can believe in them rather than mocking them or insulting them. Being a victim of stammering I can only thank u for encouraging this kid," [sic.] read another comment.

In the past, Hrithik has been quite vocal about his struggle with stammering. The actor had said in one of his interviews, "Back then I used to think of myself as weak. Not capable. Not equal, not normal. School and college was hell. And children as sweet as they are, can be quite mean unintentionally. Not having enough information or education was the problem. Not the stutter itself. Awareness is what we need. Today I look back and label all those moments as moments of strength and power. It ignited a passion in me that made me invincible. Now I believe I can do anything in life."

Hrithik Roshan Reveals How He Has Grown And Evolved In His Life

Hrithik Roshan Is Impressed With Tanhaji; Showers Praises On Kajol, Ajay Devgn And Saif Ali Khan
Rural lobby group AgForce is working with the Queensland government to drop thousands of bales of hay to livestock isolated by floodwaters in central and western Queensland.

AgForce chief Brett de Hayr said livestock that had been able to seek refuge on higher ground would need feed urgently.

"It's a very significant cattle producing area ... there was a lot of water that came up quickly so we would assume there would be some high numbers (stranded)," he told AAP.

"If you are talking about areas that have been inundated with floodwaters for a long time, well there's no feed for them actually once the water goes down - it's all coated in mud and flattened."

Mr de Hayr said logistics were yet to be worked out but hoped to start dropping feed to stranded animals by helicopter in the coming days.
A massive sandstorm from the Sahara Desert has shrouded the Canary Islands with dust, causing travel misery for tourists flying in and out.

Aena has said that operations resumed at all airports at a reduced capacity on Monday and a backlog of disruptions is expected.

Wind gusts of up to around 75 mph battered the islands through until Monday morning, Spain's national weather service said.

A massive sandstorm from the Sahara Desert has shrouded the Canary Islands with dust, causing travel misery for tourists flying in and out / AFP via Getty Images

What has caused the travel disruption?

The sandstorms, known localy as "calimas", form when strong winds whip up dense clouds of sand from the Sahara.

The gusts then carry them across the 60-mile gap to the Canaries.

This latest storm hit at a particularly bad time, coinciding with British school holidays, when thousands of holidaymakers descend on the islands in search of winter sun.

On Saturday night, the storm complicated efforts to quell a wildfire on Gran Canaria as firefighters were unable to deploy aircraft to tame the blaze, the island's government said.

Planes are pictured at Tenerife SouthReina Sofia Airport during a sandstorm / Reuters

The Canaries regional government declared a state of alert and advised people to keep doors. Authorities have closed schools for Monday.

Some of the carnival celebrations for which the islands are renowned have been cancelled.

Spain's national weather service said winds of up to 120km/h (75mph) battered the Canaries until Monday.

The UK Met Office tweeted yesterday: A #Sandstorm is currently affecting #Fuerteventura and #Lanzarote locally known as a #Calima.

This Saharan dust may spread across the rest of the Canaries over the coming days.

At the airports passengers posted photographs of people sitting on the floor waiting for more information.

Greg Horsman, 29, was on holiday with his girlfriend and his friends on a Tui cruise and was due to fly home to Manchester on Saturday evening.

A thick yellow haze enveloped the islands / AFP via Getty Images

However, they were forced to stay in Gran Canaria for another two nights due to the storm.

Speaking to PA, Mr Horsman said: "It's frustrating. We're just ready to be home."

Which Canary Island flights have been cancelled or delayed?

Hundreds of flights have been affected by the weather conditions, leaving tourists stranded at airports across the Canaries.

On Sunday, 822 flights were affected, Aena said in a tweet.

Aena added that the airports are now operating at a reduced capacity and passengers should check the status of their flights with the airline.

According to the latest update from live air tracking site Flight Radar 24 the airports are beginning to operate as normal.

Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are running with minimal delays while Tenerife North and Gran Canaria are dealing with some disruptions.

Tui, British Airways, Norwegian, easyJet, Ryanair, Vueling and Jet2 are among the carriers that have been affected.

British Airways has said that it plans to operate a normal schedule on Monday, when Norwegian has no scheduled flights to and from the Canary Islands today.

Stranded passengers wait at Las Palmas Airport in Gran Canaria / REUTERS

Jet2 has announced that all UK flights operating to the Canary Islands will leave on Tuesday.

Tui said following the weather improvement overnight, all flights scheduled will depart today as planned.

In a statement the airline said: "We would like to sincerely apologise to our customers whose flights were disrupted by adverse and changeable weather conditions in the Canary Islands over the weekend.

"The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority and were working tirelessly to get everyone to their destination as quickly as possible."

The Standard has contacted all the airlines for comment.

Can I get a refund if my flight has been affected?

Passengers have been advised to check with their airline about how to get home if their flight is disrupted.

Some will try to transfer people onto the earliest available flight while others will provide overnight accomodation.

Norwegian has said customers who are affected by the closure of these airports can get a full refund or rebook their ticket free of charge.

Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, offered advice to holidaymakers who are affected by the disruption. He said: Passengers affected by the flight cancellations to and from the Canary Islands should have the right to food, refreshments and crucially, overnight accommodation for long delays.

Its unacceptable if those travelling - including many families with small children returning after half term - are being told to sleep in terminal buildings when airlines know that they have a duty of care.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have attacked Islamic Jihad militant group targets in Syria and the Gaza Strip, IDF said in a statement on Monday.

"We just struck Islamic Jihad terror targets in both Syria and Gaza in response to rockets fired at Israeli civilians today," IDF wrote on Twitter.

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Earlier, the Syrian state-run Sana news agency reported that Syrian air defence was repelling attacks in the air over Damascus.

IDF said on Sunday that it had targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad members who were preparing to launch rockets from the Gaza Strip.

According to IDF, Palestinian militants fired 21 rockets into southern Israel on Sunday.

"Four Palestinians were wounded because of Israeli rocket attacks on Gaza," a representative of the Palestinian Health Ministry told Sputnik.

On Sunday morning, Israeli servicemen attacked a group of Palestinians, who were trying to plant a bomb at the border fence separating Israel and the enclave. The military said that this group had already tried to place explosives at the border with Israel in the past.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana describes his upcoming "Gulabo Sitabo" as a sweet, simple film about the banter between a tenant and a landlord.

The film reunites Ayushmann with director Shoojit Sircar, eighth years after their hit, "Vicky Donor" and also features megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

"'Gulabo Sitabo' is an extremely simple film. It's a sweet film about the banter between a landlord and a tenant. I'm the tenant, Bachchan sir is the landlord and we are always at loggerheads. It's as simple as that.

"The magic is, sometimes you find simplicity most exciting in life and that's what the film is about," Ayushmann told PTI.

Set in Lucknow, "Gulabo Sitabo'' is billed as a quirky family comedy, penned by Sircar's longtime collaborator Juhi Chaturvedi. They have worked together on "Vicky Donor", "Piku" and his last directorial venture "October".

Ayushmann, who teams up with Bachchan for the first time, says working with the 77-year-old actor was a learning experience.

"Bachchan sir is amazing. What I marvel about him is that he's so well prepared always. He will know your lines also. It is not easy to act in front of him. You have to be on your toes as a co-actor."



Ayushmann has, over the years, build an on screen image of doing socially relevant films, touching on topics ranging from balding to homosexuality.

The actor says he's "full of gratitude" for the work and love coming his way and feels for one to continue doing relatable films, it's important to keep an ear to the ground.

"It's important to know what's going around. I dwell on relatable subjects. If you are un-approachable with the common folk, then where will you get your fodder from? It becomes difficult but now I do it with an agenda. To look for good stories, " he adds.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi Police constable was killed during the clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Maujpur in Delhi on Monday. Head Constable Ratan Lal was posted in the ACP Gokalpuri office in Delhi, according to a report by India Today.



In Bhajanpura, the pro and anti-CAA groups clashed and rioters set a petrol pump on fire. The confrontation started Sunday evening in Jaffrabad and Maujpur.

A bullet fired by unruly protesters injured a youth, while several vehicles and a house in the vicinity were also set ablaze.

By Monday noon, things turned ugly between the two groups leading to several vehicles being set ablaze while a house near Maujpur metro station was also set on fire. Heavy stone pelting was reported from both sides.

AFP

Efforts to bring normalcy in the area have been in vain, despite the presence of various high level Delhi police officers on the spot. Security forces have also used tear gas shells to scatter the protesters, but the situation remains tense.

Meanwhile, sources say that paramilitary forces have been called in to assist the police.

#SOS Chandbagh: Continuous stone pelting is going, Cars and public properties set on fire by Pro CAA, NRC protestors in #Chandbagh.



Situation is getting worse, violent Mob is roaming all around in broad day light and #DelhiPolice is missing from the scene!!#CAA_NRC_Protests pic.twitter.com/RxJgC5vOqD  Khushboo khan (@Khushbookhan_) February 24, 2020

Why are the policemen throwing stones alongside the #mob @DelhiPolice? @CPDelhi is this lack of training or something more serious? #DelhiPolice https://t.co/88UL1ZrSlJ  jatin gandhi (@jatingandhi) February 24, 2020

Localities in Seelampur, Jafrabad and MaujpurBabarpur have hoisted saffron flags to mark their houses safe from the Hindutva goons. This unrest is so organized.#Maujpur #DelhiPolice #DelhiSos pic.twitter.com/VHKK9Rb1U5  Faizan Jamil   (@FaizanJaamil) February 24, 2020

A Mazaar (shrine) was set ablaze by a violent Right wing mob in Bhajanpura, Delhi. The mob fired gun on DCP Ratan Lal and killed him. If #DelhiPolice have controlled the situation and stop the sanghi rioters, this would have not happened.#Maujpur #Chandbagh #DelhiViolence pic.twitter.com/W573eytUPx  Kashif Ahmed Faraz (@kkkash_if) February 24, 2020





Journalists covering the spot were also targeted by the protesters as they were stopped from recording videos of the clashes and some of the media personnel were even beaten up.

Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-east district of Delhi. Earlier on Sunday stone pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur due to which the police resorted to firing tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob. Section 144 restricts the protesters from gathering in an area and is imposed to curb possible violence.

In view of the ongoing protests in the Jaffrabad metro station area against CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday morning has closed the entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur metro stations citing security reasons.

AFP

Localities in this part of the national capital have been witnessing violent clashes between the anti-CAA and pro-CAA groups since Sunday afternoon. The pro-CAA groups assembled at Maujpur metro station while the anti-CAA protesters settled down about a kilometre away, at Jaffrabad metro station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara, Amit Sharma was injured during clashes over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in northeast Delhi on Monday, a senior official said.

According to the official, Sharma suffered injuries to his head and hand. He has been hospitalised and is doing fine.
Though they are officially named of Knights of Columbus Counsel 13452, many clients of Midland's Cancer Services know a local group of volunteers as "Heat Heroes."

On Thursday, members of a local chapter of the Knights of Columbus collected firewood from a fallen tree to give to Cancer Service clients in need next winter. The group has been collecting and distributing firewood for more than 10 years.

"We have a lot of clients at Cancer Services that heat with wood pellets and other sources than regular (heating)," said Julie Nunn, Cancer Services executive director.

Under the guidance of coordinator David Rupp, the Knights of Columbus donate about 70 face cords -- or a stack of firewood often measuring about 4-feet-by-8-feet -- to between five and 10 people each year, with five or six face cords going to each person.

People in need of the firewood must first contact and be approved by Cancer Services.

"We don't want to get into asking personal questions about finance, so we let Cancer Services do the vetting for us," Rupp said.

The group also receives referrals from local Catholic parishes and Community Mental Health.

Rupp said there are about 100 people within the Knights of Columbus, with an average of 25 helping with firewood program each year.

"The compassion this group of gentlemen shows towards our Cancer Services clients is heartwarming," Nunn said. "People who depend on wood to heat their homes while fighting cancer are unable to physically cut, split and stack the wood a Michigan winter requires. We are incredibly grateful for the heavy lifting -- literally -- this team of volunteers does year after year."

Typically the collection of the wood takes place around February or March, with distribution beginning near the start of November as the weather gets colder. After they collect the wood, the group splits and stores the logs for a year to season them before delivering to people who need wood to heat their homes.

This year's tree was located in the 2700 block of Plymouth Street, and was chosen after the homeowner, whose son-in-law is member of the Knights of Columbus, donated the wood after having a tree service cut down a tree in his backyard.

"That's what happens a lot of times-- I"ll just get the call, 'Hey, we're taking down some trees, do you want the wood,'" Rupp said.

While Midland is often seen as an "affluent" city, Rupp said there is nevertheless a large number of people living in poverty, especially out of city limits in the greater Midland County area.

Rupp recalls a time his group's donation moved a recipient to tears. A local woman -- with no more than $40 to spend -- cried when she got the call from Rupp, because it meant she would not have to choose between spending her money on food or spending it on firewood.
Zoriana Skaletska was dressed in a special white protective suit and closed her eyes with something like a transparent plastic

Minister of Health of Ukraine Zoriana Skaletska conducted a morning examination of evacuees from Wuhan, who are currently quarantined at a medical center in Novi Sanzhary. This was reported by journalist Oleksandr Makhov on his Facebook page.

The photo shows that the minister, accompanied by doctors, was wearing a special white protective suit, mask, and closed her eyes with something like a transparent plastic.

According to Makhov, the minister visited the Ukrainian family with 8-year-old boy Sashko, who asked for chess.

Skaletska also visited an Argentinean who is under quarantine with her two children and handed over construction kits to them.

As we reported earlier, 48 citizens of Ukraine and 29 foreigners were evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan. There were transferred to Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, in order to be quarantined for 14 days.

Ukraines Minister of Health Zoriana Skaletska said that she was willing to join the quarantined people and would spend the following 14 days with them.

However, she left the sanatorium after the first day, stating that she would definitely come back.
Reporter (R): How does the USTRs removal of Vietnam from the list of developing or least-developed countries affect Vietnam?

Minister Tran Tuan Anh: The economic-trade relations between countries across the world have changed considerably and are built based on fair, equal, transparent and reciprocal relations, rather than developed countries unilaterally provide preferential treatment to developing countries. Developed countries now put their interests first, instead of offering certain incentives for developing countries as before.

The recent policy change in the US is one of the next steps in the trend. However, Vietnam have been proactively prepared in advance, the aforementioned changes have not created major impacts on Vietnam. The country has participated in negotiations and signed of a number of new-generation free trade agreements, which are built on equal relations and mutual benefits, with a comprehensive scope of cooperation and broader and longer-term vision.

R: Could you please tell us the specific preparation of Vietnam amid fundamental changes in economic-trade cooperation relations in the world?

Minister: We have effectively utilized domestic resources of the economy and international opportunities over the past few years. We have been aware of changing trends and have taken concrete preparations several years ago. The 12th Party Central Committee issued Resolution No.06-NQ/TW on November 5, 2016 on the effective implementation of international economic integration and maintenance of socio-economic stability in the context of Vietnam joining a new generation of free trade agreements. This is a very important document which clearly defined the fluctuations expected to take place in the region and in the world as well as the strength of the domestic economy to set out major orientations to continue Vietnams international economic integration. On that basis, we have accelerated the negotiations and joined new-generation free trade agreements in order to establish economic and trade relations in accordance with the new situation.

In the APEC Year 2017, Vietnam joined Japan and other countries to promote the formation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Vietnam also completed the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the agreement was ratified by the European Parliament. If the deal continues to be approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam, it can be put into force in the middle of this year.

We have also established a high-level regular dialogue mechanism with the US to address issues arising in the bilateral relations. Vietnam is said to be less affected than other countries when powerful countries change their approach in international economic and trade cooperation. For example, the US withdrawal of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to developing countries and the EUs upcoming removal of GSP to some products of several developing countries will create insignificant influence on Vietnam. Some observers also see this as an opportunity for the Vietnamese economy to rise as Vietnam is the only developing country in the region that has successfully built new-generation FTAs with many large partners in the world in a quick and drastic manner.

R: Being a leading country in building new-generation free trade agreements, Vietnam will also face challenges, so what should we do in the future?

Minister: To prepare for a new phase in the process of international economic integration, the Ministry of Industry and Trade together with other ministries and sectors have actively implemented the orientations set forth in Resolution No.06-NQ/TW. However, when the new-generation free trade agreements take effect, we will need much more effort than in the recent time.

To implement CPTPP as well as EVFTA, the National Assembly of Vietnam has passed amendments to many legal documents such as the amended Labour Law, the Intellectual Property Law and the Insurance Business Law, among others. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also proposed the Government to step up the building of new EVFTA compliant mechanisms, which can be implemented as soon as the agreement is approved by the Vietnamese National Assembly.

It is important to fulfill commitments and generate new economic benefits in addition to building institutions to ensure that benefits from economic integration can be shared fairly among all citizens, including workers and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Thank you very much!
Though still positive, the Vietnamese business community has a more negative outlook for the year ahead.

Biggest fear and reservations among Vietnam's businesses and consumers for 2020

Around 84 per cent noted business being negatively impacted by the coronavirus with an estimated reduction of 13.5 per cent in revenue in 2020, according to the first Business and Consumer Confidence Index Post Coronavirus Outbreakreleased by Infocus Mekong Research.

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.

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. VIR

Vietnams economy in coronavirus whirlwind The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has predicted that the GDP would grow by 5.96 percent, a 7-year low.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  For James Felder, the question of which presidential candidate to support in the South Carolina primary has never been terribly complicated. The 80-year-old civil rights activist has always backed Joe Biden, appreciative of the eight years he spent as the No. 2 to the first black president.

But when Felder opened a recent forum at historically black Benedict College to questions, students in the room werent so convinced.

JKobe Kelley-Mills, a junior English major, said he was torn between Biden and Bernie Sanders, the progressive Vermont senator who is now the Democratic front-runner after strong performances in the first three primary contests.

They both have decades of political experience, Kelley-Mills said of Biden and Sanders, adding that most of his friends were siding with the senator. Theyre going to really know how to communicate with people on the other side of the aisle in the Senate and I think that if we can get them in there, we can finally start to see the government start to move forward.

Faith Dupree, a senior psychology major and member of Benedicts NAACP student chapter, said she was backing Sanders, and sophomore Luis Gonzalez said he would likely vote for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

The dynamic was a reminder that black voters arent unanimous in how theyre approaching the rapidly evolving Democratic contest. Thats a challenge for Biden as he seeks a commanding win in South Carolina on Saturday. After disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, he cant afford losing much black support here, which could leave him with a narrow victory or, even worse, in second place.

Were not that monolithic group that we used to be, Felder said. Youve got a whole generation and a half, maybe, who dont know Biden, dont know what has happened in the past.

This generation, Felder continued, is more open to others, new faces, as opposed to us who knew what Biden did. We appreciated him as vice president and the fact he served (President Barack) Obama so well, but youve got a generation whos coming along now who says Well, thats fine, but let me hear over here, too.'

A national Washington Post-Ipsos poll conducted in January found Sanders with an advantage among black voters under 35, even as Biden had a big lead among black Democratic voters overall. That poll was conducted before any of the primary contests began.

The generational split among African American voters in South Carolina parallels the divide seen among whites and Latinos in early contests, with Sanders polling stronger among younger voters. The challenge for Sanders will be to generate enough turnout among those younger voters, who historically turn out at rates far lower than their elders.

After a second place finish in Nevada, Biden quickly focused his campaign on South Carolina over the weekend. He told parishioners at a black church in North Charleston that the election can rip out the roots of systemic racism if voters help him win the Democratic nomination.

But his rivals arent ceding the state, sensing Bidens vulnerabilities. Billionaire Tom Steyer has flooded the airwaves with millions of dollars of television advertising. Warren and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, will hold events across the state this week. And Sanders plans to hold at least four large rallies, which tend to attract young voters, between Wednesday and Friday.

As they decide how to vote, African Americans arent split cleanly along generational lines. For 71-year-old Andrea Loney, the challenge is more about sifting through a large all-white field to find an appealing candidate.

Its an unusual conundrum for Loney, who, as a longtime African American activist, often works the phone during election years to urge friends to vote and give them advice on whom to support. This year, she said she can only wring her hands.

And by that, I mean, I am looking at who is the candidate that is most likely to be able to beat Trump, said Loney, who works as legal counsel for poor people in South Carolina.

Loney joins her family on a group chat to discuss their choices for the Democratic nomination. One of her daughters, Kwamine Gilyard, is backing Warren.

I am probably the only one who is firmly decided who Im supporting and made that decision after the first debate, said Gilyard, 49, who is a school administrator. Im the only one who, I think, has not changed that. For me, its just that shes been very consistent in her message, and keeping the focus on Trump as the person we are trying to beat, not each other.

George Hart, a professor and faculty adviser to Benedicts student chapter of the NAACP, said the chapter wont endorse a candidate, but the most important criterion for black voters of all ages is backing a contender who will beat Trump.

Its unfortunate that the field is as it is, he said. I am for the strongest candidate, and the strongest candidate would be the one who can endure whats about to come at them.

__

Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Charleston, South Carolina, and Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report.
HANOI -- Bamboo Airways will suspend flights to South Korea from Feb. 26 over coronavirus concerns, the company said on Monday.

Its flights between Da Nang and Nha Trang to Seouls Incheon International Airport will cease operations starting Feb. 26, a spokeswoman told Reuters by telephone.

Our plan to open a new route from Hanoi to Incheon this June may have to be suspended, too, she added.

South Korea was Vietnams second-largest tourism market behind China, with 4.3 million visitors in 2019, up 23% from a year earlier.

The Ministry of Health said on Monday that 15 out of 16 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country had recovered, while 32 suspected cases were being quarantined in hospital.
One woman died, and another person was injured after a shooting at a Maple Shade apartment Sunday, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said.

Police responded to the shooting at The Arbors apartment building on Lenola Road around 2:30 p.m., authorities said. The two gunshot victims, a man and a woman were transported to Cooper University Medial Center in Camden.

The woman who lived in the apartment complex, 22-year-old Kayla Winkler, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The male victim was treated and released after suffering being shot in the shoulder.

Law enforcement officials are still investigating the shooting. Anyone with information on the shooting should call Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113, or send an email to tips@co.burlington.nj.us or tips@mapleshadepd.com.

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
GRANDVILLE, MI  Police rescued a suicidal woman who threatened to jump from an upper exterior walkway at RiverTown Crossings.

Police managed to grab the woman and pulled her back over the rail.

The incident happened just after noon on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Grandville mall. Sgt. Dave Huizinga and officers Jon Steffes and Roger Bouma responded to a report of a suicidal woman who was going to jump from the outside walkway.

Huizinga built a rapport with the woman before he moved into position to grab her, and, with Steffes help, pull her back over the rail, police said in a statement.

The woman was taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Deputy Chief Renee Veldman praised the officers for their amazing work in helping the woman.

Grandville police were assisted by Grandville firefighters, mall public-safety officers and American Medical Response paramedics.

2nd carjacking reported in Kalamazoo County

Multiple gunshots fired at house on Grand Rapids Northwest Side

Mother, boyfriend who abused, murdered 4-year-old lose appeals
Two internet touts who re-sold tickets worth millions of pounds to high profile events like Ed Sheeran and Adele concerts have been jailed in the UK.

Peter Hunter (51), who is originally from Dublin, and David Smith (66) - who traded as Ticket Wiz and BZZ - were found guilty of fraudulent trading following a landmark trial which ended earlier this month.

Hunter was jailed for four years and his husband Smith was jailed for two-and-a-half years on Monday.

The pair used multiple identities and computer bots to buy tickets, selling them on secondary ticketing websites, prosecutors told Leeds Crown Court.

On Monday a judge was told by prosecutors that, between 2010 and 2015, BZZ sold tickets with a face value of more than 17 million for more than 26 million - a gain of 9.3 million.

Sheeran's manager Stuart Camp gave evidence in the pair's long-running trial, telling jurors they had decided to take a stand against touts after spotting 75 seats at a Sheeran charity gig on sale for 7,000.

National Trading Standards (NTS) said Hunter and Smith bought more than 750 tickets for Ed Sheeran concerts alone in 2017.

Hunter and Smith, of Crossfield Road, north London, were found guilty of three counts of fraudulent trading and one of possessing articles for fraud.

After they were convicted, a National Trading Standards (NTS) spokesman said it was "a landmark case" which marks "the first successful prosecution against a company fraudulently reselling tickets on a large scale".

The court heard how the pair sold the tickets on secondary ticketing sites, including the "big four" - Viagogo, GetMein, StubHub and Seatwave - at inflated prices.

But Hunter and Smith's defence teams told the jury that they were a trusted and reliable source of tickets.

When their north London home was raided, investigators found 112 different payment cards in 37 different names.

NTS said Hunter and Smith deployed at least 97 different names, 88 postal addresses and more than 290 email addresses to evade platform restrictions.

The charges they faced related to a range of practices including falsely representing their identities when buying tickets and failing to inform consumers buying tickets that they were at risk of being refused entry.

Hunter told the jury how he started his business when a friend without a credit card asked him to buy tickets for a Madonna concert for her and he realised he could re-sell extra purchases at a huge profit.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: "This was a case of sustained dishonesty for a number of years."

But he told Hunter: "You are not somebody who deliberately went out of their way rip off the consumer. But I'm afraid this is a serious matter. A lot of people in this case paid a lot more than they could have paid."

And Judge Khokhar said: "It gives me no pleasure to impose the sentences I'm about to impose but I have to consider my public duty."

The judge also praised Smith, who is a former news editor of Gay Times, for his work for LGBT rights, saying he should be "justifiably proud".

The case has provoked calls for a wider criminal investigation of the secondary ticketing market.

Adam Webb, campaign manager, FanFair Alliance - which is supported by managers of artists including Arctic Monkeys, Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran and Little Mix - said: "It's a fantastic result for National Trading Standards and for music lovers across the UK, and should also send shockwaves through the likes of Viagogo and StubHub whose businesses are dependent upon large-scale resellers.

"By facilitating the activities of online touts, there must be concerns that the platforms themselves are profiting from the sale of tickets unlawfully acquired by their biggest suppliers.

"This should be investigated as a matter of urgency, and lead to action against those platforms if they have benefited from the proceeds of criminality."
Police are searching for a 14-year-old boy who ran from home after his young sister had been shot inside a northwest Houston apartment early Monday.

The childrens mother awoke to the sound of gunfire around 12:45 a.m. while she was asleep at their home in the 4600 block of West 34th Street, near Mangum. She rushed into the living room and found her 5-year-old daughter had been shot, police said.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : US President Donald Trump's top aide Dan Scavino jr expressed awe over the presence of a sea of people along the Ahmedabad airport to the Moreta stadium route to welcome the motorcade.

"In motorcade en route to the stadium. I've never seen anything like this. Unbelievable!!!!," Trump's top aide and White House Director of Social Media tweeted. Scavino also tweeted photos and videos of the crowd.

The tweet came as the Trump delegation was on its way to the stadium for the 'Namaste Trump' event that saw presence of over 1.25 lakh people.

Thousands were standing along the 22-km airport-to-Sabarmati Ashram-to-stadium route to greet Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
by Adele A Wilby

The translated versions from Tamil into English of Perumal Murugans two books, One Part Woman and the The Story of A Goat, weave stories of the complex life of the rural people of South India in an engaging and highly readable form.

Murugans use of imaginary language in both books effectively brings to life the rural context and lifestyle of poor farmers. Likewise, they are infused with subtle references to the caste system in India. But while the caste system is a crucial issue that warrants the scrutiny that it gets, it is but one theme in Murugans complex novels; they are, in effect, thematically layered narratives and they deal with the issues common to various degrees in most societies: the relationship between the individual and society and the state,the disciplining force of social norms and expectations and the extent to which religion plays a crucial role in the lives of the people. In doing so, Murugan creates a fiction that has, at its core, a human essence which makes his novels highly accessible and relatable.

In One Part Woman, Murugan explores the sad tale of a young couple, Kali and Poona, married for twelve years, and childless. By choosing this topic as his main theme, Murugan has hit on a sensitive issue and he examines it from many cultural perspectives.

Tamil custom expects that a woman should be pregnant within the first months of marriage, and at most by the end of the second year. Failure to do so activates fertile minds and sets tongues wagging, casting aspersions, firstly over the womans ability to reproduce. This is not an insignificant issue for a woman in Tamil society where motherhood is central to the identity of women. Women without children are referred to as barren, an unpleasant enough word in the English language, and a highly derogatory and ugly term in the Tamil language. Indeed, such women can be considered as inauspicious and bearers of misfortune as was the case when Poona went to the fields: her proximity to newly planted seeds was thought to bring bad luck in the form of a poor harvest. However, in Murugans story telling he addresses the impact of childlessness on the man also. Kali ultimately becomes the butt of nasty comments and innuendo concerning his masculinity: his sexual potency and virility are called into question. It is not enough if the water you take in is great, the water you send out should be top-class too, says Kalis friend, looking at him during a drinking session together.

The emotional pain of enduring social aspersions and deriding of their worth consequent to their childlessness compels the couple to resort to any means available in a bid for Poona to conceive. Thus, we see Poona and Kali turning to home remedies and promising every god imaginable eternal debt should Poona become pregnant. Ultimately, the idea of a second wife is put to Kali for him to at least have another shot at becoming a father, the presumption being Poonas infertility, a proposal he outrightly rejects. Such an idea adds to the tension and thus begins the unravelling of Kali and Poonas passionate and loving relationship. Ultimately the couples two mothers, themselves the perpetrators of innuendo, take the unusual step of collaborating in a bid to get Poona to accept the extreme measure for getting her pregnant: a night of sexual freedom for Poona with the young men available during the last night of the annual temple festival in the area.

Kali rejects the idea of Poona attending the festival, but relatives plot to take him away from the house while the two mothers escort an unknowing Poona to the festival only to abandon her to the throng of people and the desires of the young men at the event. What is interesting at this point is what we learn of the faithful Poona: not only do fantasies of a young man to whom she was attracted before marriage come flooding into her mind, but she quickly falls into the swing of things at the festival and seems to quite enjoy flirting with the young men eyeing off potential partners. In that sense, the author is clever at hinting that married women might find men other than their husbands attractive, an issue not easily accepted. This in itself suggests the meaning of the god for whom the festival takes place, that Maadhorubaagan is one part woman.

Under normal circumstances, a young married Tamil woman amidst a sea of young men would bring social opprobrium to the woman, but acceptance of childless women engaging in sexual freedom on such an occasion is justified by the elevation of young men to a godlike status for this one night. Should a pregnancy result from such sexual activity, it is considered a gift from god and therefore acceptable. But as Kali knew well from his participation in the event prior to his marriage, the purpose of young men attending the festival had nothing to do with religion, but simply an opportunity for them, as he put it, to fuck.

However, Murugans apparent radicalness in acknowledging womans acceptance of a sexual encounter outside marriage for the purpose of conception and Kalis apparent sympathy for his wife in her attempts to find solutions to their childlessness is undermined by Kali resorting to a typical male response when he learns of Poonas presence at the festival and calls her a whore. Ironically, as Poona gets a whiff of the alcohol on the breath of young men as they whirl and twirl to music at the event, we never do learn if Poona does have sex with the young man with whom she is holding hands and reference to her as a whore maybe unjustified.

Murugan is critical of the social pressures that define peoples lives and how people respond to such pressures, even when they are happy. But it is through the unmarried uncle of Kali, Nallayyan, who has consistently defied social conventions, that we hear a more definitive radical voice. He marries, separates and has no children and feels no disgrace or loss of honour. For whom do I hang my head now? he says in response to Kalis suggestion that wouldnt he feel proud if he were married and had children. We gain a clearer insight into Murugans thinking on this issue when we hear his voice, and not that of the narrator, in the second person sentence commenting on the social pressures that compel Kali and Poona decisions. He writes, if you are always worried what others are going to say, you will always be in trouble.

Poona is a major female character in One Part Woman around whom Murugan has raised social issues associated with childlessness in Tamil society. In The Story of A Goat, the second of Murugans novels to be translated into English, a woman also takes centre stage. However, the The Story of A Goat is a more political novel that One Part Woman woven around the life of Poonachi, the kid goat, an allegorical representation of the life of a female child growing into adulthood.

Vivid imagery is created when Murugan uses the simile, it looked as if a tree trunk shorn of all branches had uprooted itself to describe the awesome figure of a man carrying something in his arms as he moved towards the old man grazing his goats. He hands over a day-old female kid, lamenting that he is too poor and is unable to look after it. The reader cannot but fail to draw an analogy between the poverty of poor farmers, who, in their desperation, might give their children away to those who can care for them. This is particularly the case with female children whose parents are required to provide dowries for daughters at the time of marriage, adding further financial stress to the already poverty- stricken farmers. But as if being female was not enough, Poonachi is also black. Dark-skinned girls adds to the woes of parents; men and their families frequently prefer light-skinned women as wives and daughters-in-law. Thus, the old farmer also ponders as to how he is going to raise Poonachi, this piece of dung that wriggled like a worm in the basket he places her in after taking possession of her.

The presence of the kid generates new vitality in the conversations between the old farmer and his wife, and the old woman in particular grows to love Poonachi as if she were her child. Rejected by other goats and fed on gruel, Poonachi survives the early months of life and all goes well until the time comes for her to be registered with the authorities. A rare black goat with no history: how could the old couple explain her existence to the authorities without them assuming she had been stolen?

At this stage in the novel the politics become apparent. The assertion of power over the poor by the authorities is not an unusual feature of Indian social life, or indeed any society for that matter, and the novel opens out to symbolise the contradictions between the state and the people. Gathered together to register their animals at the government office everyone was well versed in how they were expected to behave towards the regime. They had mouths only to keep them shut, hands only to make obeisance, knees only to bend and kneel, backs only to bend, and bodies only to shrink before the authorities. But of course there are always those who justify the authority of the government: the government needs statistics on everyone because it is not easy to herd goats and look after themIf we dont keep a strict eye on them, theyll become arrogant and do anything they want for there is truism in the saying that when goats get together, it spells danger.

Poonachis love story is also a way in which Murugan transforms his tale of a goat into social criticism. Poonachi chooses the male goat, Poovan, to whom she is attracted and would like to mate, but the farmers tear the couple apart: he is sold off to other farmers, the inference suggesting a preference for arranged marriages as opposed to a love marriage. Poonachi is left pining for Poovan.

Perumal Murugans novels may be set in South India and on one level they are brilliantly written tales of social and cultural issues in the state of Tamil Nadu, particularly One Part Woman. His switch to a more political novel in The Story of A Goat however, demonstrates the versatility of the issues the author delves into. The themes explored in the novels can be read within the local context, but his work is elevated further by addressing themes of survival and struggle that are common to humanity. It is hoped that readers will not have to wait too long before another novel by this talented and engaging author appears in English.
They talk to their son at least every other day now, sometimes daily, narrowing the 7,000 miles between their home on Cooper Court and his apartment in Hangzhou, China.

They talk about what he read or how he spent his day. They talk about whats happening in Lincoln.

An hour can pass, easily.

We just try to keep some normalcy to it, Deb Hicks said.

But sometimes, their son Sam will point his phone out his 11th-story window, so they can see what he sees. And theres nothing normal about a city so big but so seemingly abandoned.

Normally outside his apartment, its like Manhattan. Five lanes of traffic, Deb Hicks said. But there are no cars on the street. There are no people out there. There are no businesses open. This city of 10 million is shut down.

For much of February, their son has been living under mandatory quarantine restrictions, only allowed to leave his apartment for a few hours every other day, and only after a doorman in a hazmat suit takes his temperature.

On the street, the 28-year-old Lincoln East High School grad is surrounded by precautions intended to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which originated 500 miles to the west in the city of Wuhan and has infected more than 75,000 people in China and killed more than 2,000.

Restaurants are closed. Bars are closed. Coffee shops and gyms are closed.

Its eerie walking around as the normally busy streets are devoid of cars and there are very few people walking around on the street, he wrote.

He has to wear a face mask, give his temperature and get his hands doused with antibacterial spray just to go to the grocery store, one of the few open businesses.

But even thats a break from his apartment, where hes been battling boredom with books, movies, cards with other tenants and calls back home.

And thats fine with his parents.

We love that hes quarantined, Deb Hicks said. Id rather have him be bored and safe than out walking around.

* * *

Sam Hicks had a degree in psychology from UNL and job delivering Valentinos when he realized he wanted something more.

That didnt surprise Deb and Doug Hicks. Their son has always had an adventurous spirit.

He decided he wanted to see the world, his mother said. Though we thought he was going to Colorado or Maine.

Not quite. A Facebook friend had posted about teaching English in Turkey, and that sounded interesting.

That night, Hicks Googled teaching English abroad and found a school in Prague that hired instructors to teach English as a foreign language.

He applied, went to bed and woke to something close to an acceptance letter.

And I began making plans to move to Europe, he wrote in an email last week.

He completed the schools training course in October 2016 and spent a year in the Czech Republic before seeing a posting for a job in China.

The offer from China was for a much higher salary, he wrote, and it afforded me the opportunity for the adventure of a lifetime.

He called his first post, Nanxun, a very small town.

And even with 300,000 people  more than Lincoln  it was, by Chinese standards.

It was the equivalent of living in a village, he wrote.

Two years later, Hicks transferred to Hangzhou, where he teaches English to kids ages 2 to 6 years old. Many of his students have already traveled to English-speaking countries, or were born there.

He described the area as one of Chinas most affluent areas  think Silicon Valley  with parents who pay his school $7,000 a semester.

Before the virus upended his city, hed settled into a routine. Up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready for work and spend an hour studying Mandarin, work until 4:30 p.m., hit the gym, get home, cook dinner, go to bed early.

On weekends, hed spend time with his co-workers. Just one other teacher is from the U.S., but hed join instructors from 13 other countries and China for dinner and drinks and discussion, and spend a few hours every Saturday as a student, learning Chinese at a school near the scenic and historic West Lake.

All that changed during his schools break for the Chinese New Year.

* * *

Hed flown to Bangkok the third week of January, and he noticed taxi drivers in Thailand were starting to wear face masks, and locals were joking about not getting too close because hed traveled from China.

However, they are very friendly and polite people, so they never seriously gave me any trouble, he wrote.

He was at the airport Feb. 4 when it all hit him: He was flying home to a country at the center of a global panic. He pulled his mask on anyway and boarded the plane.

What was of more concern to me, even then, were the lifestyle restrictions I was flying back to, rather than the chance of getting infected.

He got back to his apartment the next morning but still couldnt get home. The quarantine had kicked in.

They refused to let me in initially, but after calling my employer, who has some money and influence in this area, an hour later they let me into my apartment.

That stood out to him, he said. Because it showed foreigners  especially white American foreigners  are granted privileges, even during a potential pandemic.

Had I been a Chinese person, he wrote, I would not have been allowed to enter my apartment.

But now that he was home, a new routine began.

It just so happened that my first day back in China was the start of the massive restrictions in my city.

He wasnt yet cleared to leave his apartment, though he could order food in, the receipts from McDonalds documenting the body temperatures of every employee and driver who handled his meal.

His province announced schools wouldnt resume until the end of February, so hes been recording video lessons, sending them to his students.

And when he was given permission to leave, on a limited basis, he found empty streets and locked doors.

Filling the rest of his time became a challenge.

He posted on Facebook: Over the last two weeks I've read three books, watched hundreds of episodes of TV shows, and have watched numerous movies, all from the comfort of my bed.

Recently, Hicks was granted even more freedom  to come and go from his apartment as he pleases, even though there are few places to go.

He isnt worried about getting sick. He wears his mask and washes his hands and hes young and healthy enough that the symptoms would probably go through him like the flu.

Hed survive the virus. But the monotony might kill him.

At first I wasnt too bothered, but as the days carried on, I began to worry I might die not of the virus, but of sheer boredom.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or psalter@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSPeterSalter
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 06:13:12|Editor: huaxia

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United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) speaks on the situation regarding the COVID-19 at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 24, 2020. Guterres on Monday praised China's contribution to the global fight against COVID-19, noting that the Chinese are making efforts for humanity. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/KEYSTONE/Pool via Xinhua)

GENEVA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday praised China's contribution to the global fight against COVID-19, noting that the Chinese are making efforts for humanity.

After discussing COVID-19 outbreak with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva, Guterres called on all countries to assume their responsibilities in combating COVID-19.

The UN chief urged all countries to "do everything to be prepared" for containing the epidemic, stressing the principle of non-discrimination, non-stigmatization and human rights should be respected.

"If some fail, if some do not do everything that is needed, this disease can still become out of control with dramatic consequences in global health and economy," he warned.

In response to a question from Xinhua, Guterres expressed his gratitude to all the people in China who are sacrificing many aspects of their normal lives to prevent the virus from spreading to others.

The decline of the number of new cases since the beginning of February is a very good indication, Guterres said, expressing the hope that this trend can be maintained on a continuous basis.
The regimes Military Police have rounded up a number of men, including university students with exemptions, to send to fight on the frontlines in northern Syria writes Baladi News.

Regime Military police carried out a campaign of arrests in Aleppo city on Sunday.

A source told Baladi News, Regime military police carried out a campaign of arrests in the morning which affected a number of young men with the aim of getting them into military service. There were also arrests of university students.

The source added that the campaign focused on the al-Mashhad district and Salaheddin in Aleppo city, with four young men arrested, as well as the arrest of a man from Aleppo University, who was from Idleb province, despite the fact that he had a student delay from the university.

The source said that many young men had been arrested recently to be put on the fronts in western and southern Aleppo and in the Idleb countryside in light of the fighting there.

The Military Police have been carrying out arrests for a long time in Aleppo city, affecting dozens of young men in various districts, and sending them to the fronts.

Regime forces have recently begun an offensive on towns and villages in the western Aleppo countryside and the Idleb countryside, killing and wounding hundreds of regime fighters.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Out of control CDU searching for stability in the wake of far-right gains.

Germanys conservatives are expected to unveil their new leadership on Monday, as Angela Merkels party puzzles over how to prepare for the veteran chancellors departure next year.

Ratcheting up the challenge for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is an internal crisis over how it should position itself against the extremes of right and left that have reshaped the nations political landscape.

After announcing her resignation as CDU leader earlier this month, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer  widely known as AKK  is to reveal her plans around midday on Monday, one day after the party suffered its second-worst result ever in a regional election, placing third in city-state Hamburg with just 11.5 percent of votes.

German media reported that leaders would likely put off the key question of who should lead the party as chancellor candidate in upcoming parliamentary elections, planned at the latest for autumn 2021.

200221195914468

Meanwhile, an extraordinary party congress in May or June should anoint a new party chairperson  unless the CDU opts for a stop-gap solution that shares power among the contenders to avoid a damaging internal dust-up.

Far-right crisis

AKK opened up the race to succeed Merkel, after barely a year as head of the party, by announcing her resignation on February 10.

The defence minister had been struggling to stamp her authority on the CDU and become a credible candidate to succeed Merkel.

In what was seen as the latest example of that, regional CDU legislators in the eastern state of Thuringia defied an edict from Berlin to not ally with the extremes by voting with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

AKK initially planned a quick departure, hoping to elevate a successor who would also lead the party into the 2021 election.

AKKs example shows how difficult it is for a party chief to make their mark while the phenomenally popular Merkel remains in office.

200210181115696

How can Angela Merkel be got rid of to clear the way, top-selling daily Bild asked.

In the starting blocks are two politicians who promise to break with her centrist course and lead the CDU rightwards, to win back voters from AfD.

One, Friedrich Merz, is a former Merkel rival who recently described her fourth government as abysmal, while young Health Minister Jens Spahn is a rising party star.

Facing them are two more moderate candidates: North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Armin Laschet and Norbert Roettgen, a former environment minister who Merkel had dismissed.

Self-destruction

The choice of leader will set the tone for the future of a party that has dominated German politics since the post-second world war federal republic was founded in 1949.

Polls highlight the urgent need for action, as only 27 percent of respondents still say they would back the CDU, ahead of 23 percent for the Greens and 14 percent for the far right.

200213164756741

Beyond the high-profile personalities, the conservatives also need to clarify what they stand for in an increasingly splintered political landscape that hinders stable majorities, be it in Berlin or the 16 state parliaments.

Top of the list is whether the CDU will stick to its rigid policy of refusing to cooperate with either the far right or the far left, borders growing increasingly difficult to maintain as their share of the vote increases.

Thuringia is a textbook case, as last years regional elections produced no clear governing majority following a surge by the AfD.

CDU state legislators voted with the far right, breaching a historic political taboo, to install a liberal state premier.

But after a nationwide outcry, the regional CDU retreated  only to be publicly rebuked by Berlin chiefs for its plan to tolerate a minority government led by radical-left successors of the one-party state in communist East Germany.

Weekly Der Spiegel labelled the CDUs zig-zagging self-destruction by a party without direction or a strategic centre.

The conservatives are a party out of control, Bild said.
By George F. Will

ERIE, Pa.  Two women  one black and not affluent; one white, wealthy and famous  are contrasting faces of Americas debate about equal educational opportunity in grades K through 12.

Porschia Anderson, a mother with daughters in kindergarten, fourth and 10th grades here, and parents like her have an enormous stake in Pennsylvania expanding charter schools and supporting other avenues to educational choices. The aim of such measures is for parents of modest, or negligible, means to have alternatives that affluent parents take for granted. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is ardent for equality as an abstraction but is even more ardent for the support of public school teachers unions. They are tenacious in defense of their semi-monopoly in primary and secondary education: Just 6 percent of the nations pupils are in charter schools, and only 218,000 (0.39 percent) of the 56.6 million pupils received vouchers.

In Pennsylvania, as elsewhere, there is a wearying constant, a simmering conflict. On one side are parents seeking charter schools  public schools granted more administrative and instruction discretion than enjoyed by unionized public schools. These parents also seek tax credits for privately funded scholarships that low-income families can use to pay tuition at private schools. On the other side are teachers unions characterizing such programs as attacks on public education funding.

Some attacks: Nationwide per-pupil public expenditure (in constant dollars) doubled between 1960 and 1980, and doubled again by 2016. Warrens and Sen. Bernie Sanderss jeremiads against greed exempt that of teachers unions.

The Commonwealth Foundation is a tireless advocate for more Pennsylvania charter schools and for tax credits for scholarships. This school year the foundation, prevailing against labors big battalions, expanded scholarship access to 15,000 more children. Unfortunately, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who attended a prestigious and pricey prep school, the Hill School, has issued executive actions to restrict enrollments in charter schools. And to cut funding for charters. And to force charters to pay the government to perform its duty of compelling reluctant school districts to obey the law: Pandering to teachers unions, some districts refuse to provide charters with legally required per-pupil funding. Charter funds are distributed by school districts that often are running the underperforming schools that make parents desperate for the alternative of charter schools.

Last year, Philadelphia, where 34,000 students recently applied for 7,500 available charter spaces, refused all three applications for new charters. Demand does not elicit supply when monopolists use politics to restrict supply.

A 2019 Education Next poll showed African American majorities favoring public charters and private-school vouchers for low-income families. Nevertheless, Warren pledges to end federal funding for the expansion of charter schools and ban for-profit charter schools. She who preens about her granular mastery of policy details must know that her pledge would have a disparate impact on low-income and minority families. Sanders, too, vows to ban for-profit charters (about 12 percent of charters) and to freeze funding for new charters.

Before the Supreme Courts 1954 school desegregation decision, state and local governments could tell African Americans where they could not send their children. Sanders and Warren would have the federal government do that. George Wallaces ghost is smirking.

Last November, Warren spoke in Atlanta with some African Americans who had interrupted her speech to protest her opposition to school choice and who accused her of sending her children to private schools. Warren replied, as a clever lawyer would, No, my children went to public schools.

This was technically true but (unless her sons schooling slipped her mind) tendentious. She has tweeted #PublicSchoolProud, and her daughter attended public schools. So did her son, until he didnt. After fifth grade, he attended private schools in Austin and in Haverford, Pa. The public schools that Warrens children did attend probably did not resemble those from which parents seek relief when residing in, as is delicately said, challenging urban environments.

The following is pretty much what Porschia Anderson believes: The term voucher has become a dirty word in many educational circles ... The fear is that partial-subsidy vouchers provide a boost so that better-off parents can opt out of a failing public school system, while other children are left behind ... (But) a taxpayer funded voucher that paid the entire cost of educating a child (not just a partial subsidy) would open a range of opportunities to all children.

Those are not, however, Porschia Andersons words. They are from the 2003 iteration of Elizabeth Warren. She also has celebrated the extraordinary results of Massachusetts charters, some of which started with the sort of federal aid she now vows to abolish.

George F. Will is a Washington Post columnist.
A ctivists from the #MeToo and Time's Up movements have welcomed the conviction of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for sexual assault and third-degree rape.

Weinstein was found guilty of a criminal sex act for assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006 and third-degree rape of a woman in 2013.

The jury found him not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

However, Weinstein's most damaging conviction, for the sexual assault of Ms Haleyi, carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Harvey Weinstein sits at the defence table reading papers during jury deliberations / Reuters

Actress Rosanna Arquette, one of Weinsteins high-profile accusers, tweeted: Gratitude to the brave women whove testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defence.

She added: We will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited, and so that its easier for people to report their rapes.

Ashley Judd, who has also accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, thanked the victims for testifying in the case.

She said: "For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you."

Dame Heather Rabbatts, chairwoman of Times Up UK, said that Weinsteins conviction marks a new era of justice for victims of sexual misconduct.

She said in a statement: This trial  and the jurys decision today  marks a new era of justice, not just for the Silence Breakers, who spoke out at great personal risk, but for all survivors of harassment, abuse and assault at work."

Ms Rabbatts added: Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: Theres no going back.

Attorney Gloria Allred said she would see Weinstein at his next trial / AFP via Getty Images

Gloria Allred, attorney for the accusers, said that she looked forward to seeing Weinstein in LA for his second trial.

He faces charges of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery.

If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 28 years for the charges in California.

She said: "I look forward to seeing him in Los Angeles after the sentencing, for the criminal charges which will face him there."

Ms Allred thanked Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who gave evidence against Weinstein during the trial

She continued: "Annabella is absolutely one of the bravest people I know, she sacrificed so much, privacy, invested so much time, went through so much, just for the cause of justice.

"She didn't have to do it, she did do it. And I am just so honoured to know her, and to represent her."

Ronan Farrow, one of the first journalists to report on allegations against Weinstein, tweeted: Todays outcome in Harvey Weinsteins New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk.

"Please keep those women in your thoughts today.

Actress Rose McGowan said Harvey Weinstein will finally know how it feels to have power wrapped around his neck.

Today is a powerful day, she said. Every one of us who has come froward, we have a name, we have a history, we have a life, we are more than Weinstein. But today, because of the brave women, who bared their deepest hurt for the world to see, hes in Rikers Island.

For once he wont be sitting comfortably. For once he will know what its like to have power wrapped around his neck. Today is not a referendum on #MeToo, this is taking out the trash.
It has stood since 1798, home to centuries worth of church services and weddings.

The Peace Church survived the Civil War. It has survived development near the Carlisle Pike, and earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

But now the old church at East Trindle and St. Johns Church roads in Hampden Township needs a new owner. And if it doesnt get one, its possible that it could become something other than a church.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission decided last month to transfer ownership of the two-story, stone church from the state system to a local group. The problem is, no local groups have expressed interest in owning it.

But Historical and Museum Commission spokesman Howard Pollman said they are still early in the process of finding a new owner, and their goal is to find one who will preserve the historic church as it is.

He pointed out this move isnt meant to say the Peace Church isnt historically important.

Some of our properties are of incredible local significance, but not statewide significance, Pollman said. The Peace Church is one of these properties.

It is a common thing for the commission to turn over such properties to local governments or local historical societies and organizations. With numerous properties around the state, upkeep and maintenance can become costly, making such transfers necessary.

The commission has held onto the Peace Church for 28 years and spent around $434,000 to maintain it during that time, he said.

They first approached the Friends of Peace Church group to offer that group the church.

President of the Friends of Peach Church, Joseph Bower, said the organization already pays for the utilities and maintenance, as well as running the operations and programs there, but ownership would be too much for the small group of volunteers.

If we take ownership, were responsible for everything, Bower said, adding they cant take on that kind of liability. Id like to see it continue under state ownership.

Hampden Township Commissioner John Thomas, who is also vice president of the Friends of Peace Church organization, said he hopes the state reconsiders and determines the church is of statewide historical value.

It was involved in the Civil War and the beginnings of the Church of God, Thomas said. It wouldnt be a bad thing for the state board to take another look at it and reconsider.

It is a big part of the community now, sitting close to Carlisle Pike. Its host to many weddings, Christmas programs, a Good Friday service and the townships summer concert series.

And it played a part in the regions history, too.

According to the commission, the simply-designed church was erected by a Reformed congregation in 1798, and was shared with a Lutheran group in 1806. Its home to an organ made by Conrad Doll  the first instrument of its kind to be used in a Cumberland County church. Various Protestant denominations have worshiped there over the years.

Thomas cited a township newsletter saying the church saw some combat during the Civil War with Confederate cannons on its grounds, firing towards the Union forces near Camp Hill in the days leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Peace Church was named to the National Register of Historic Places on March 24, 1972.

Thats why Thomas hopes the state reconsiders and keeps it.

The commission does want to see it preserved. Pollman said the goal is to keep it as a historical resource in the public domain for the community to use and appreciate  just not under the purview of the state.

These are still the early stages of a process that could take several years. The commission is trying to either set up a long-term lease with a local government or sell it for a low-fee transfer to a non-profit group to keep the site publicly accessible. This would require legislative action.

If neither of those options are possible, a third option is called surplus and disposition. This means it will be sold if no non-profit is willing to take ownership. That would mean just about anyone can buy the church.

While that is a possibility, Pollman noted the deed would likely come with covenants calling for the historic character of the church being maintained, though it could still be adapted for another use, like a restaurant.

Numerous properties have been transferred from the state to local groups over the years and have maintained their historic significance. They include the John Brown House in Kitochtinny, sold to the Franklin County Historical Society in 2001; the Robert Fulton Birthplace, transferred to the Southern Lancaster County Historical Society in 2016; and the Tuscarora Academy, transferred to the Juniata County Historical Society in 2016.

This post has been updated to correct the title of Hampden Townships elected officials. They are commissioners.

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.
A seven-year jail term was suspended today in the case against a Lithuanian man on condition that he would leave Ireland by midnight tomorrow.

The accused confessed to allowing his industrial unit in Carrigaline to be used to store cannabis and to handling 63,000 worth of marine goods including boats and outboard engines.

39-year-old Viktoras Andreijevas of New Bungalow, Castleterry, Mitchelstown, County Cork, was given consecutive sentences totalling seven years but these will be suspended on the condition that he would be gone from the jurisdiction by midnight tomorrow.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain was told that the accused had a ticket to leave Ireland by ferry tomorrow. Andriejevas was effectively released from prison today on condition that he would use this ticket.

The judge said, He allowed his premises to be used for storing a large amount of marine parts and boats. It seems to have been a significant operation that he was aware of.

These are difficult cases to prove. If the trial went on it would be a lengthy, difficult and problematic. A sentence of three years is merited.

While on bail for that he was found allowing his premises to be used for storing of drugs. It is a significant factor that being on bail, he allowed this level of criminality to occur on his premise. It was a knowing and deliberate action.

The judge imposed a four-year sentence consecutive to the three years, but suspended on condition that he would leave the jurisdiction and not return for ten years.

Detective Garda Eoin OToole testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that he obtained a warrant to search on February 20, 2019, at VD Fashions, Unit 5, Carrigaline industrial estate, Kilnagleary, County Cork.

Cannabis worth 10,000 was recovered following the search.

Donal McCarthy prosecution barrister said, The prosecution is accepting it was not his business but he was allowing his premises to be used for it.

Andriejevas pleaded guilty to allowing his premises at VD Fashions, Unit 5, Carrigaline industrial estate, Kilnagleary, County Cork, to be used for the purpose.

Detective Garda Oisin Cotter testified about another set of offences related to handling stolen property.

Det Garda Cotter said the accused had 63,000 worth of stolen property in the back of a truck which was about to be transported out of the country.

It consisted partly of expensive outboard engines, RIBs, dinghies and other property stolen from various yacht clubs.

Dermot Sheehan, defence barrister, said the defendant became aware that his life might be in danger from criminals making death threats against him.

If he were to leave the country it might help everybody, Mr Sheehan BL said.
Serbia Receives Delivery Of Russian Antiaircraft Systems Despite U.S. Sanction Threats

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service February 24, 2020

Serbia has over the weekend received a delivery of Russian-made Pantsir S1 air-defense systems, despite warnings of possible U.S. sanctions against the Balkan state, which is seeking membership to the European Union.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic made the announcement on television on February 23 a day after the Defense Ministry confirmed receiving two of the six ordered short-range, rapid-fire antiaircraft systems.

"Serbia strengthened its defensive and deterrent capabilities," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Vuicic intimated the radar-guided systems were purchased after suggestions from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Buy Pantsir, it showed its best efficiency in Syria," Vucic quoted Putin as saying during one of their recent meetings.

The delivery stems from a deal made last year that comes with a target detection and designation radar, target and missile tracking radar, and electro-optical sensor systems.

"Each Panstir system is capable of guiding up to four missiles at a time," Air Force Technology reported.

They are meant for defense against cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft.

Despite formally seeking EU but not NATO membership, Belgrade has maintained strong political and economic relations with Moscow.

The delivery of the Pantsir systems come less than a week after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Belgrade, praising the two countries' "upward trend" in defense cooperation.

Serbia has increased defense spending every year since 2016 and last year spent $906 million, or 28.7 percent more, on defense than the previous year, according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).

In the past three years, the Serbian military has purchased from Russia five Mi-17V-5 helicopters, four Mi-35M fighter helicopters, and received six donated MiG-29 aircraft.

Additionally, Serbia last year received 30 armored combat vehicles from Russia, as well as 30 more T-72 tanks.

In October, Serbia held joint air military exercises with Russia in which the Russian-made long-range S-400 and Pantsir-S systems were deployed.

It was the first time that an S-400 battalion and a Pantsir-S battery had appeared in military drills outside Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry stated at the time.

Amid the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Serbia fought wars against neighbors Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo.

NATO intervened in 1999 to stop a bloody Serb crackdown against Kosovo and Albanian separatists in 1999.

The United States has threatened sanctions against Serbia if it purchases weapons that could jeopardize the security of neighboring NATO-member states.

With reporting by Air Force Technology, AP, and Deutsche Welle

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-receives- delivery-russian-antiaircraft-systems-despite- u-s-sanction-threats/30450693.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.

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PORTLAND, Ore. - Tiny bits of broken-down plastic smaller than a fraction of a grain of rice are turning up everywhere in oceans, from the water to the guts of fish and the poop of sea otters and giant killer whales.

Yet little is known about the effects of these microplastics  on sea creatures or humans.

Its such a huge endeavour to know how bad it is, said Shawn Larson, curator of conservation research at the Seattle Aquarium. Were just starting to get a finger on the pulse.

This week, a group of five-dozen microplastics researchers from major universities, government agencies, tribes, aquariums, environmental groups and even water sanitation districts across the U.S. West is gathering in Bremerton, Washington, to tackle the issue. The goal is to create a mathematical risk assessment for microplastic pollution in the region similar to predictions used to game out responses to major natural disasters such as earthquakes.

The largest of these plastic bits are 5 millimeters long, roughly the size of a kernel of corn, and many are much smaller and invisible to the naked eye.

They enter the environment in many ways. Some slough off of car tires and wash into streams  and eventually the ocean  during rainstorms. Others detach from fleeces and spandex clothing in washing machines and are mixed in with the soiled water that drains from the machine. Some come from abandoned fishing gear, and still more are the result of the eventual breakdown of the millions of straws, cups, water bottles, plastic bags and other single-use plastics thrown out each day.

Research into their potential impact on everything from tiny single-celled organisms to larger mammals like sea otters is just getting underway.

This is an alarm bell thats going to ring loud and strong, said Stacey Harper, an associate professor at Oregon State University who helped organize the conference. Were first going to prioritize who it is that were concerned about protecting: what organisms, what endangered species, what regions. And that will help us hone in ... and determine the data we need to do a risk assessment.

A study published last year by Portland State University found an average of 11 micro-plastic pieces per oyster and nine per razor clam in the samples taken from the Oregon coast. Nearly all were from microfibers from fleece or other synthetic clothing or from abandoned fishing gear, said Elise Granek, study co-author.

Scientists at the San Francisco Estuary Institute found significant amounts of microplastic washing into the San Francisco Bay from storm runoff over a three-year sampling period that ended last year. Researchers believe the black, rubbery bits no bigger than a grain of sand are likely from car tires, said Rebecca Sutton, senior scientist at the institute. They will present their findings at the conference.

Those studying the phenomenon are worried about the health of creatures living in the ocean  but also, possibly, the health of humans.

Some of the concern stems from an unusual twist unique to plastic pollution. Because plastic is made from fossil fuels and contains hydrocarbons, it attracts and absorbs other pollutants in the water, such as PCBs and pesticides, said Andrew Mason, the Pacific Northwest regional co-ordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations marine debris program.

Theres a lot of research that still needs to be done, but these plastics have the ability to mine harmful chemicals that are in the environment. They can accumulate them, said Mason. Everything, as it goes up toward the top, it just gets more and more and the umbrella gets wider. And who sits at the top of the food chain? We do. Thats why these researchers are coming together, because this is a growing problem, and we need to understand those effects.

Researchers say bans on plastic bags, Styrofoam carry-out containers and single-use items like straws and plastic utensils will help when it comes to the tiniest plastic pollution. Some jurisdictions have also recently begun taking a closer look at the smaller plastic bits that have the scientific community so concerned.

California lawmakers in 2018 passed legislation that will ultimately require the state to adopt a method for testing for microplastics in drinking water and to perform that testing for four years, with the results reported to the public. The first key deadline for the law  simply defining what qualifies as a micro-plastic  is July 1.

And federal lawmakers, including Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, last week introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a pilot research program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study how to curb the crisis of microplastic pollution.

Larson, the conservationist at the Seattle Aquarium, said a year of studies at her institution found 200 to 300 microfibers in each 100-litre sample of seawater the aquarium sucks in from the Puget Sound for its exhibits. Larson, who is chairing a session at Wednesdays consortium, said those results are alarming.

Its being able to take that information and turn it into policy and say, Hey, 50 years ago we put everything in paper bags and wax and glass bottles. Why cant we do that again? she said.

____

Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus
Hydropower is the largest single source of renewable electricity in the world, dwarfing solar and wind. As such, it has established a positive reputation in the media and many academic papers. But thats not the whole story ...

Hydropower has a darker side that is threatening freshwater ecosystems more than oil, more than gas, and more than any other form of energy.

As of 2019, the worlds total renewable energy capacity stood at 2,351 GW, of which around halfor 1,172 GWwas hydropower capacity. This includes both large dams and so-called run-of-the-river dams. Both have rather negative effects on the environment.

Two-thirds of the worlds long rivers have been dammed to produce energy, freshwater scientist Jeff Opperman wrote in a recent story for Forbes. Some 70 percent of the planets wetlands have been lost, and much of this loss has to do with what we call water management and what essentially involves changing flows of rivers to use the water for agriculture, industrial activities, domestic needs, or electricity generation.

For all the good water management has done for our species, it has also led to loss of habitat for dozens of species and alterations to fragile freshwater systems.

Just consider this: the number of species living in freshwater ecosystems declined by a staggering 83 percent between 1970 and 2014, according to the latest Living Planet Report by the World Wildlife Fund. This is the greatest loss of biodiversity among habitats, even though, as Opperman notes, it is rainforests and corals that tend to get more media attention.The loss of so many species is itself a tragedy, but it also affects humankind in negative ways: loss of freshwater fish species means loss of sustenance for communities relying on freshwater fishing, for example. There is also an increased risk of flooding from dams. Related: Two Abundant Elements That Could Create A Superbattery

The negative impact of hydropower on the environment has three aspects: flooding arable land or forests; blocking the flow of sediments and nutrients that are essential for freshwater ecosystems; and blocking the path of migratory fish species, reducing their populations and eventually leading to their extinction.

One might ask whether these negative effects negate the positives of hydropower generation as an alternative to fossil fuel generation, and there are plenty of arguments for both sides. The fact remains that hydropower is not all good for the environment. But there is a silver lining: with the right planning of new dams, the negative impact of hydropower on the environment can be mitigated.

A team of 25 scientists recently released a paper outlining six steps to mitigate the negative impact of human activity on freshwater habitats. Titled The Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity, the paper includes measures such as water allocation for riversdam operators are required to release a certain amount of water into dammed rivers to keep them flowingregulation of the most polluting industries, and restoration of critical habitats.

Flow allocation seems to be the essential first step in the recovery of freshwater habitats: Opperman, who was among the authors of the study, says the release of so-called environmental flows could restore key components of the natural flow regime of dammed rivers, which would in turn help the restoration of freshwater species populations.

Regulation is essential here: the U.S. is an example of a country where dam operators are required to release environmental flows into rivers in order to have their licenses renewed, but it is not a common practice around the world.

Regulation is also essential for the restoration of freshwater habitats. Removal of some dams in a dam cascade, for example, can do wonders for previously depleted habitats, but it must be done with active government participation. Better dam planning is also contingent on regulatory requirements since, as history has shown time and again, left to their own devices, businesses will only focus on their profits and nothing else. Related: Aramco To Invest $110 Billion In Huge Gas Field

So, it seems it is once again governments that bear the responsibility of making the world a better place through policies aimed at mitigating the negative effects renewable hydropower has on the environment.

Already, in Europe and North America, more dams are being removed than built, as pointed out in another paper discussing how to make hydropower energy more environmentally friendly. Like other power plants, hydropower installations have a productive life and it is not too long it seems, with many dams built in the 1950s now being removed.

Yet in Asia, dam construction is on the rise and they are building them big. This means deforestation, loss of land and species, and changed river patterns. As with other renewables, Asia is once again the focus of attention. Prescribing measures to mitigate the negative effects of hydropower on the environment will be up to Asian governments, who can avoid repeating the mistakes made in Europe and North America by acting early, while the dams are still in the process of construction.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Extra safety measures used on train tracks when normal signals are down may not have been in place when an XPT train derailed last week, killing two people and injuring 11.

The revelation comes as colleagues mourn the death of the train's pilot Sam Meintanis, who was killed alongside driver John Kennedy when the Sydney-to-Melbourne express derailed on Thursday night.

Mr Meintanis, from Castlemaine, who worked as a track protection officer for rail company Programmed for 14 years, has been remembered as a "popular member" of staff.

The train's pilot was 49-year-old Sam Meintanis from Castlemaine. Credit:Facebook

The XPT train was carrying 153 passengers when it derailed at Wallan, north of Melbourne, not far from its final destination  Southern Cross Station.
Despite a dangerous spread of corovirus in Iran, there is evidence that at least one Iranian airline is still continuing flights to China.

A flight tracking website, Flightradar24 shows Mahan airlines, with links to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and sanctioned by U.S., flew from Beijing to Tehran (Flight W578) three days ago and landed at 4:40 in the morning in the Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran.

Iran announced its first cases of coronavirus infections and deaths on February 19 and since then the number of fatalities has increased to 8, with at least dozens diagnosed with the disease.

Irans Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and several minister had decided January 31 to stop all flights to and from China, but since then other officials have admitted Mahan continues its flights, claiming not for carrying passengers. But reports later indicated the company is flying Chinese citizens, who have few options of air travel since the outbreak of the virus, to Turkey and back.

Mahan airline was designated by the U.S. Treasury in 2011 for supporting the Revolutionary Guard's Qods Force. On December 11, 2019 the Treasury Department designated three of Mahan Air's general sales agents based in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong for "facilitating the Iranian regime's support to proxy militias".
A majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed supportive of a crucial permit for Dominion Energy Inc.s planned $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline, suggesting the Forest Service acted lawfully by clearing the natural-gas line to cross under the Appalachian Trail.

In an hour-long argument in Washington Monday, Chief Justice John Roberts said the position taken by environmental groups opposed to the pipeline would create an impermeable barrier along the 2,200-mile (3540-kilometer) trail, separating consumers on the eastern seaboard from inland energy resources.

A ruling in Dominions favor would eliminate the biggest obstacle to the 600-mile pipeline, which would carry as much as 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day from the Marcellus shale basin in West Virginia to customers in North Carolina and Virginia.

Without the permit, the whole enterprise is done, Justice Department lawyer Anthony Yang told the court Monday. President Donald Trumps administration is backing Dominion, challenging a federal appeals court ruling that tossed out the permit.

Dominion, which is developing the pipeline with Duke Energy Corp., says it expects to begin construction by mid-year and complete it by the end of 2021. The company is still facing a pending administrative review of the impact on endangered species.

The case will also affect EQM Midstream Partners LPs Mountain Valley gas pipeline from West Virginia to Virginia. Mountain Valley told the Supreme Court in December that the appeals court ruling forced a halt to its project, which is 90% complete at a cost of more than $4.3 billion.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Forest Service lacked authority to issue the Atlantic Coast permit because the Appalachian Trail is controlled by the National Park Service. The U.S. Mineral Leasing Act says the Forest Service doesnt have jurisdiction over lands in the National Park System.

Dominion and the Trump administration contend that while the National Park Service manages the Appalachian Trail, the underlying land is part of a national forest -- putting it within the Forest Services jurisdiction.

Justice Elena Kagan called that effort to distinguish the trail from the land a difficult distinction to wrap ones head around.

But other justices, including Roberts and Democratic appointee Stephen Breyer, focused on the proposed placement of the pipeline more than 600 feet below the trail. Roberts likened the trail to an easement, in which one entity owns the underlying land but others have the right to walk along it in certain places.

This just doesnt strike me as that unusual a concept, the chief justice said.

Michael Kellogg, the lawyer for the environmental groups, said their position was a limited one that would block pipelines only on federal land. State, local and private lands are unaffected, he said.

Longest footpath

The trail, completed in 1937, is the worlds longest hiking-only footpath, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which works to protect and maintain it.

Atlantic Coast says more than 50 pipelines already cross the trail, some of them on Forest Service land. But the environmental groups say none of those were authorized under similar circumstances. Some are on state or private land, while others predate the 1968 congressional designation of the Appalachian Trail.

The case is to some degree a proxy for a broader fight over the nations energy policy. Business groups are backing the pipeline, as are unions that would benefit from the thousands of jobs it would create. Local property owners are joining environmental advocates in seeking to block the project.

The Appalachian region, which includes the Marcellus shale basin, is practically drowning in natural gas. Pipelines like Atlantic Coast have been proposed as a way to shuttle fuel out of gas fields and toward demand centers in the southeastern U.S., where it can be used for heating and cooking as well as to generate electricity.

Opponents question the need for new gas infrastructure, pointing to slowing demand in the years since the project was announced in 2014. Environmental groups say natural gas pipelines further Americas dependence on fossil fuels at a time when climate change demands a complete shift to renewable sources of energy.

The cases are United States Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association, 18-1584, and Atlantic Coast Pipeline v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association, 18-1587.
By Azernews





By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The Khojaly massacre committed on 26 February 1992 by Armenians against civil Azerbaijani population, is a crime against humanity, Presidential Aide, Head of the Presidential Administrations Foreign Policy Affairs Department Hikmet Hajiyev has said.

Hajiyev made the remarks addressing the event on "Refugee Women's Call for Justice: Ensuring Their Needs on the Agenda for Peace and Security" on February 24.

He stressed that as a result of Armenian aggression, nearly 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory was occupied, more than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons, and more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis died during military operations.

The official said that four UN Security Council resolutions condemn the Armenian occupation, reflecting support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within internationally recognized borders. These resolutions also reflect the humanitarian challenges that Azerbaijan has faced, he said.

"The resolutions require the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories. They remain valid until executed.

He further underlined that the representatives of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh play an important role in making Azerbaijanis voice be heard.

"Azerbaijan is a supporter of the conflict settlement in accordance with international law and within the framework of its territorial integrity," he concluded.

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.

Today, the Khojaly genocide has been recognized and condemned by 17 countries: Mexico, Pakistan, Colombia, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan, Panama, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Sudan, Slovenia, Romania, Indonesia, Paraguay, Djibouti and Scotland.

Moreover, 24 states of the United States such as Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin recognize the Khojaly genocide.
February 24 marks the death anniversary of the legendary actress Sridevi, who redefined stardom for female actors in India. On the occasion, her daughter Janhvi remembered the late actress with an emotional post and a throwback picture of her mother.

On her second death anniversary, Janhvi shared an image of Sridevi from her childhood. Janhvi as a toddler can be seen hugging Sridevi in the black white picture and captioned it as, "Miss you everyday."

A number of celebs like Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar and Mohit Marwah among others reacted to the pic by dropping heart emojis in the comment section.

The Bollywood star tragically passed away at the age of 54 due to accidental drowning in the bathtub of her hotel room in Dubai. Bollywood's first female superstar was in Dubai for a family wedding.

Sridevi began her career at the age of four in the devotional film Thunaivan. She worked across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi movies.

For her great contribution to the country's art and cinema, she was honoured with the National Award and Padma Shri.

Follow @News18Movies for more
Urbanization is a tricky subject. It affects each state, region, county, and town differently, and there are certainly benefits to expanding our communities. More people mean more jobs filled, more ideas flowing, and more economic activity to help people live their lives better.

A necessary evil of this growth, though, is the reality that we need houses and businesses and restaurants and schools for these people. Everyone deserves a home, workplace, and school they love. But developing these projects has to be done right, because too often they may come at the expense of valuable farmland. Farmers and rural communities around the nation have experienced this for years.

Between 1982 and 2012, the EPA reports that developed land in the U.S. (excluding Washington, D.C. and Alaska) increased by 42 million acres, a total jump of 58%. In that same period, the Census Bureau estimates that population grew only 36%. In fact, percent change in developed acreage reached higher levels than percent change in population each reporting period from 1982 until 2007, when development began to slow down.

Keep in mind that population growth was no small number during this time period, either. The number of people in the U.S. more than doubled from 1950 to 2010. Now it has nearly plateaued, as 2019 saw the lowest population growth rate in the past century at just 0.5%.

We do still have over 329 million people to feed and clothe, though. Luckily, agricultural advancements have allowed us to continue to get more efficient  making food for these additional people with less land because were using it for other things. But of course, we need productive land to house animals, to spread manure, and to grow crops; we need enough land to do all of this in a way that is environmentally responsible. Some areas of the country have plenty of arable land, although they may struggle with water availability, air pollution, any number of other resource problems. Other areas continue to see farms sold and built up.

This isnt exactly a new problem, even though on a local level it can feel like a sudden invasion. What can we do?

Since the late 1970s, multiple states have implemented voluntary agricultural preservation programs. Each varies, but most are a combination of state and county or regional funding that offers either direct financial assistance or purchases easements and pays the landowner back. In general, the programs provide a permanent deed restricting the land from any future use that would negatively impact its agricultural productivity. The landowner retains the title and can pass it to heirs or sell it to another agricultural entrepreneur.

The 2017 Census of Agriculture calculated that 900.2 million acres, approximately 40% of the countrys entire land, are used for agriculture. The Farmland Information Centers 2018 survey of state Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) programs found that nearly 3 million acres of land have been protected.

Its a long process of applying, being evaluated and ranked, and then receiving payments. In some places, the money comes from the revenues of specific taxes. In nearly every place, there are more applicants than can be supported. The success of a land preservation program hinges on available funding.

That funding goes toward helping control a regions growth, manage reasonable cropland prices and keep food affordable, protect highly profitable food production land, maintain open green space and the environmental benefits it provides, and allow for food to be produced closer to where it is consumed. When supported, agricultural preservation programs are a bid for a communitys future viability, environmental health, and farming legacy that all Americans, urban and rural, will benefit from for decades to come.

For more information about preservation programs in your area and statistics on national land use, visit www.farmlandinfo.org.

Katelyn Allen joined the Hoards Dairyman team as the Publications Editor in August 2019. She manages the development, editing, and marketing of the variety of resources offered through the Hoards Dairyman Bookstore. Katelyn is a 2019 graduate of Virginia Tech, where she majored in dairy science and minored in communication. Katelyn grew up on her familys registered Holstein dairy, Glen-Toctin Farm, in Jefferson, Md.
Chennai, Feb 24 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said on Monday that there is no threat to minorities in the state.

Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Palaniswami said that unnecessary fears are being created about the National Population Register (NPR).

He also said that the government has declared February 24 as Girl Child Protection Day to mark the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister J. Jayalaltihaa, the former General Secretary of AIADMK.

On the opposition parties' charge of increasing debt for the state, Palaniswami said the expenditure towards developmental projects have gone up and hence the loan amount has also increased.
Highlights Nokia 9 PureView was launched for Rs 49,999

Nokia 9 PureView has received a price cut of Rs 15,000

Nokia 9 PureView is the only phone that has a Penta camera setup.

Nokia's flagship phone, the Nokia 9 PureView that launched in India in 2019 has got a massive price cut. The phone that was initially priced at Rs 49, 999 has a got price cut of Rs 15,000, bringing it down to Rs 34,999. The device is available in a single blue colour and also has no-cost EMI options. The latest price has been updated on the company's official website. Nokia, however, has not specified whether the price cut is permanent or temporary.

Since its launch in July 2019, Nokia 9 PureView got a price cut for the first time. It is a flagship phone by Nokia that features a 5.99-inch Quad-HD + POLED screen. It is powered by Snapdragon 845 SoC with 6GB RAM and has an internal storage of 128GB. The phone has five 12-megapixel cameras and a 20-megapixel on the front. Interestingly, the Nokia PureView is the only phone that has a Penta camera setup.

However, as much as the Penta-camera setup amuses you, it wouldn't be very pleasant to look at. Especially, if you have trypophobia. So if the rear design of Nokia 9 PureView creeps you out, you are most likely to be suffering from trypophobia.

In simple terms, trypophobia is a fear of holes, basically, anything which has too many holes or bumps will most likely trigger your phobia and Nokia 9 PureView might just do that. The phone has not five but six holes in total, enough to trigger your trypophobia. Soon after the first look of the phone was unveiled, people thronged to Twitter to complain about the design of the phone and how it makes their skin crawl.

A senior lecturer at the University of Essex's Centre for Brain Research told metro.co.uk that the phone's design could instantly trigger a trypophobic."When a person takes a picture of you, the camera on this phone could fall roughly at a distance and alignment which could trigger a trypophobic response. The pattern of the camera really does have the structure to cause trypophobia," he said.

However, despite having too many cameras at the rear, the one thing that it doesn't have is the camera bump. In simple terms, the phone lies flat when placed on a surface, unlike some phones with huge camera bumps.

So in Rs 34,999, Nokia 9 PureView is not a bad deal if you are a Nokia fan however, you should definitely consider One Plus 7T if you are willing to spend around 34k on a phone.
The move by comes after Egypt's population officially hit the 100 million mark earlier this month in a surge that officials have described as 'catastrophic'

Egypt has said that it is launching a family planning initiative nationwide starting May, a statement by the health ministry said.

The statement comes weeks after the government said it is prioritising combating population growth after the country's population hit 100 million at home.

Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the programme comes under efforts to limit population growth and to continue family planning services already available in the country.

The programme will be implemented in three phases across the country, with the first phase including Cairo, Giza, Qalyoubia, Assiut, Sohag, Sharqiya, Port Said and Alexandria.

The second phase will include the governorates of Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Qena, Aswan, Daqahliya, Damietta, Gharbiya and Ismailia.

The governorates of Menoufiya, Kafr El-Sheikh, Beheira, Suez, Luxor, New Valley, the Red Sea, North Sinai and South Sinai will be included in the third phase.

The head of the Ministry of Health and Populations Family Planning Department Sahar El-Sonbaty said the programme aims to increase the use of modern contraceptives from 58.5 percent in 2014 to 71.6 percent by 2030.

The move by the health ministry comes after Egypt's population officially hit the 100 million mark earlier this month, with the government on high alert to combat population growth.

The 100 million figure does not include Egyptians living abroad, who are estimated at over 13 million.

Since 2017, Egyptian officials have described the country's rapid population growth as a "catastrophe" that threatens national development plans and demands immediate attention, just like the country's war against terrorism.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has repeatedly said that the current rate of population growth poses a threat to the nation and restricts Egypt's progress.

Last year, Egypt launched a two-year initiative called 'Two Is Enough' to encourage people to have fewer children. The social solidarity ministry is providing EGP 75 million in funding and the UN EGP 10 million.

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Congress on Monday criticised US President Donald Trump for not mentioning Mahatma Gandhi in the visitor book of Sabarmati Ashram and instead praising Modi and called him "great friend" (PM Modi) and called his tour a "wonderful visit"

"This is a snapshot of the note that someone sent. It ostensibly is @realDonaldTrumps note at Sabarmati. No mention of the Great Mahatma. Does he even know who Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was?" Manish Tewari wrote while tweeting the pictures of the visitor book.

Tewari also shared the picturess of Barack Obama who praised Gandhi during his visit. "And this is what @barackobama had to say about the Great Mahatma possibly at Rajghat or Sabarmati.

"The distinction cannot be more stark...The visiting US president Barack Obama wrote about Gandhi in 2010 that 'a hero just not to... India but for the whole world'."

"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth. Messrs Modi and Trump doing their best to prove Einstein right in a way he didn't intend -- by erasing the Mahatma from his abode!" tweeted Tharoor
Do you take the Market-Frankford Line to or from work? If so, youll be experiencing some weekday changes starting today. News-wise, weve got a lot of politics in todays newsletter. Well start locally, with West Philly voting tomorrow in a special election to choose a new state rep. Nationally, Bernie Sanders has the lead in three battleground states, including Pennsylvania, according to a poll. And, ex-NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg is starting to make an impact in both Pa. and New Jersey.

 Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

Hundreds of foreign organizations have made financial gifts to or contracted with the University of Pennsylvania between 2013 and the middle of last year, according to federal records. Among the organizations were Chinese banks and real estate firms, pharmaceutical companies in nearly a dozen countries, and Saudi Arabias Ministry of Defense. The total amount of foreign money that flowed to Penn during that time period totaled $257.9 million.

But Department of Education officials who are cracking down on how schools report foreign funds say that the total should be even higher. The department said that since July 1, 10 schools  including Penn and Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh  disclosed $3.6 billion in previously unreported foreign money.

West Philly voters are going to the polls tomorrow to fill the vacancy left by ex-state Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell. She resigned after being charged with taking more than $500,000 from her own nonprofit. Voters will choose between a Democrat and a Republican. But neither of the candidates were chosen by voters in a primary.

Why?

In Pennsylvania, party insiders and loyalists nominate candidates for special elections. That gives these selectors a lot of power because a person elected in a special election is likely to stick around for years.

The poll, which was conducted before the Vermont senators win in Nevada on Saturday, looked at the primary contests in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. President Donald Trump is running close to each of the Democratic contenders in those states, according to the poll. But among the Dems, Sanders led in all three of those states.

And while Pennsylvania and its fellow battleground states usually get a lot of attention, New Jersey often does not. At least not until Mike Bloomberg came along. Hes the first Democratic candidate to have a brick-and-mortar presence in the state. Back in Pennsylvania, though, Bloomberg might be making some inroads, particularly in the Latino community.

Interested in how Pennsylvania is shaping the 2020 election? Were launching a new email newsletter covering the nations ultimate battleground state. Sign up and dont forget to pass it along.

What you need to know today

Through your eyes | #OurPhilly

Did anybody else get outside and enjoy the sunshine yesterday? Thanks for sharing the pic, @stoneyandersen.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

Thats interesting

Opinions

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.  writes columnist Helen Ubinas about the paralyzed gunshot survivors who brought their stories and struggles to a recent City Hall meeting.

The Fire Department is an example of what treating addiction like a disease, not a crime, looks like, The Inquirer Editorial Board writes.

When is graffiti historic? And, can it ever merit preservation? When it comes to the Boner 4Ever building on North Broad, the most Philadelphian approach would be to leave it alone, giving the city a new, shared monument, writes Noah Yoder, a graduate student of architectural conservation at Penn.

What were reading

People tagged Kensington potholes with the names of Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke and Streets Department commissioner Carlton Williams in an effort to get their attention, CBS3 reports.

Vox reports on why its so hard to find gender-neutral baby clothes.

Startups use all this unique language, reports New York magazine. Do you know what a parallel-path version is?

Your Daily Dose of | The New Phanatic

The Phillie Phanatic sprouted some wings, grew bushier eyebrows, and got a bigger backside. The mascots makeover debuted yesterday at the Phillies spring training game down in Clearwater, Fla.
Four of the nine current and former councillors from Nerja who are due to give evidence related to the release of untreated sewage into the sea of Nerja have been summoned to do so over the next two weeks.

Mayor Jose Alberto Armijo who also held the position between 1995 and 2005, urban planning councillor and housing councillor, Mari Nieves Atencia, former environment councillor, Jorge Bravo and Jose Miguel Jimena will all appear in Torrox court to be questioned over their part in the case, known as operation Vastum.

Former mayor Rosa Arrabal will also have to give evidence at a later date.

In 2017, environmental group Ecologistas en Accion denounced Nerja town hall, along with Coin and Alhaurin el Grande town halls to the Junta de Andalucia for not complying with EU rules which state that towns with populations over 15,000 should treat their own water.

They also accuse Nerja town hall of fraud for charging residents for water treatment in their bills, despite that fact that none of the towns have operating waste water treatment plants. The organisation claims that the council has been doing so as far back as 2011.

Nerja businessman Jorge Narvaez has joined Ecologistas en Accion in their complaint as he claims raw sewage is present in a stream that passes his establishment and flows into the sea on Burriana beach.

In Coin, five current and former councillors, including the last two mayors, are under investigation. In January this year SUR reported that the amount of raw sewage discharged in Alhaurin el Grande currently stands at the equivalent of 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
A Chinese community officer has allegedly beaten two toy poodles to death with an iron rod in front of their owner to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The pets were clubbed to death in broad daylight in a residential complex after the officer and the dogs' owner got into a heated argument, according to reports.

It is said the officer tried to stop the owner from walking his pets, but the resident insisted on taking the animals out.

A Chinese community officer was caught on camera killing two toy poodles with an iron stick. The officer expressed 'his deepest apology' to the dog's owner later in a social media post

A blogger, who claimed to be the dog owner's friend, has posted a video of the officer violently striking one of the dogs as the owner tries to protect his pet.

The owner is seen in the video backing away from the community officer and trying to protect the toy poodle in his arms.

The online user said the owner was walking his two toy poodles on Sunday morning before the officer 'snatched the dogs away'.

'The officer threatened to beat the owner to death if he didn't give away the dogs,' the account wrote in his Twitter-like Weibo.

The incident occurred after the officer and the owner got into an argument. The officer said pet owners were not allowed to walk their dogs in the area due to the coronavirus epidemic

One of the dogs was 10-year-old and had crippled back legs, the Weibo user said.

He condemned the officer in his post: 'You've killed dogs today. Are you going to kill people tomorrow?

'Where is justice when such violence exists?'

In a post allegedly uploaded by the officer, he apologised for his behaviour.

He said: 'I'm deeply sorry and I will compensate the owner accordingly.'

He claimed that residents had been banned from walking their dogs in the complex 'out of concerns over the coronavirus outbreak'.

'The owner refused to listen after our management team had tried to reason with him multiple times,' he wrote in the post.

A video clip shows the officer violently striking the dog as the owner tries to protect his pet

The officer continued, 'We were both very stressed out and aggressive. I overreacted after we got into an argument. I want to express my deepest apology again.'

The incident is now under investigation by local police, according to Chinese media.

Communities around China have ordered their residents to stop keeping pets - or risk getting them culled - amid fears that animals could also catch the new virus.

Another clip, shared by an animal activist , shows one officer who was wearing a face mask touching a lifeless dog by the side of a street while a few of his colleagues watched on

A distressing video shared by Nanchong Missing Animal Aid Group last week shows several bloodied dogs, thought to be dead, lying at the back of a truck.

It is reported that community officers in south-western China's Sichuan Province knocked on doors and ordered villages to hand over their pets.

Fears of pets being able to spread the disease began last month after a Chinese health expert claimed animals needed to be quarantined during the outbreak to stop the spread of the disease.

However, the World Health Organization dismissed the claims suggesting there is no evidence to show the virus being transmitted to pets.

Chinese pet owners are flocking to buy face masks for their dogs amid the coronavirus outbreak. No evidence shows that the strain of virus can be passed onto pets, WHO says

A Chinese woman is pictured wearing a mask in Beijing during the coronavirus epidemic

The new coronavirus has killed at least 2,628 people and infected over 79,732 people globally

A group of Iranians are pictured wearing masks in Tehran as Iran today reported one more death among 10 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in Iran to 5

A woman is seen wearing a protective mask as Italy announced today its fifth death from as the country imposes drastic security measures to contain the first major outbreak in Europe

The new coronavirus has killed at least 2,628 people and infected over 79,732 people around the world.

Italy announced today its fifth death from as the country imposes drastic security measures to contain the first major outbreak in Europe.

China's top legislative committee on Monday passed a proposal to ban all trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed responsible for the country's deadly disease.

Experts believe that the new coronavirus has been passed onto humans by wildlife sold as food, especially bats and snakes.
AMHERST  The risk of contracting the new coronavirus remains low in Massachusetts, according to the state Department of Public Health, but Amherst officials say they are prepared nonetheless.

In a written report to the Town Council on Monday, Town Manager Paul Bockelman said Amhersts Health Department has been working with the Police and Fire Departments, the colleges and University, neighboring communities and nonprofit partners including local hospitals to prepare for the Corona Virus. There are protocols in place and standards for identification and transport. Communication between local and State authorities is very high.

On its website, the health department said it is monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus and is in close communication with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as our local institutions of higher education.

If you have traveled in or through mainland China, or if you have had direct contact with someone ill with coronavirus in the past 14 days, contact your health provider, the website says.

The risk to residents in Massachusetts remains low, the state website says.

University of Massachusetts Amherst data show the school admitted 5,731 out of 42,085 applicants this fall, including 444 international students. The data says 77% are from Massachusetts. Total undergraduate enrollment at the school is 23,515, graduate enrollment is 7,078, with 1,076 tenure-track faculty and 4,414 staff.

Amherst College data shows international students represent 12% or 56 members of the first-year class of 472.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday recommended that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the Peoples Republic of China (this does not include Hong Kong, Macau, or the island of Taiwan).
The DUP has condemned a "bomb scare" at a Co Antrim school.

Police dealt with an incident at Larne High School at Sallagh Park on Monday afternoon.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the incident was a hoax.

"Glad that all children are safe," he tweeted.

"The PSNI are to be commended and have now declared that this was a hoax. The person/people behind this are a disgrace."

DUP councillor Paul Reid added: "I totally condemn the bomb scare at Larne High school.

"This only serves to upset pupils and staff at the school. Especially those working towards exams.

"Sadly there are those who want to cause upset by attacking places of worship, war Memorials, morals and now schools."

The school sent a text message to parents informing them police are investigating an incident in the grounds and all children were safe.

This ongoing incident at school is being dealt with by the PSNI. Parents are requested to not attend school grounds. Pupils are safe in classrooms," the message said.

Moyle Primary School and Nursery - which is beside the school - said it was operating as usual.

Meanwhile, the Larne Times has reported "threatening letters" were sent to Larne and Inver Primary School.

Principal Kirk Patterson said two anonymous, threatening letters were received on Monday morning and police called as a precaution.

At no stage was anyone in any danger and the issue has now been dealt with in line with school and PSNI procedures," he said.

Inspector Aaron Brown said: The first report made to us shortly after 9:15am was a device had been left in the vicinity of a school on Glynn Road, while the second report, made at 12:07pm, was that a device had been left in the vicinity of a school on Sallagh Park.

Police conducted searches however, no device was located. No roads were closed and no homes or businesses were evacuated.

An investigation is underway, and I am appealing to anyone who has information about either of these incidents to call us on 101, and quote reference numbers 431 or 783 of 24/02/20, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111," he said.

We believe, at this time, both reports to be hoaxes, however, when it comes to keeping people safe we will not take chances. We will aim to keep any disruption to a minimum, but our priority is keeping people safe and we will not take any chances.

I would urge the public to be vigilant. To the local community, and to people travelling through the area, if you come across anything suspicious, or that looks out of the ordinary, do not touch it and please contact us immediately on 101.
In other words, a lockdown is mostly a delaying tactic. By distributing cases over time, it can help manage an outbreak  but only if it takes place against the backdrop of a robust health care system. Yet even the best system is too fragile, and a moderate increase in infectious cases, whether of seasonal flu or Covid-19, can quickly overwhelm resources, in China or the United States.

As chilling as it is to imagine this scenario, what happened in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the outbreak, will likely play out elsewhere, too. Hospitals might have to turn away all but the people most seriously ill; their ability to handle their usual load of patients with heart attacks, critical injuries or cancers may be severely compromised.

In a world ill-prepared for a potentially life-threatening, easily transmitted disease like Covid-19, the most effective way to mitigate the pandemics impact is to focus on supporting health care systems that already are overburdened.

This is the main reason every countrys top priority should be to protect its health care workers.

The United States and other countries in the Northern Hemisphere already are in the throes of a moderately serious flu season. Their inventories of protective equipment used by doctors, nurses and emergency medical workers  N-95 respirator masks, gloves, eye protection, disposable suits  are running low. These limited supplies must go to health care workers first, rather than the public. This is partly to ensure that hospitals themselves do not become sites where the coronavirus is spread more than it is contained: If infected health care workers die in large numbers, entire societies may be shaken to the point of panic.

Governments should also conduct Covid-19 preparedness drills in local hospitals and expand hospitals temporary capacity, for example, by setting up emergency tents in parking lots, as is already happening in some places in the United States. To minimize the strain on overstressed acute-care hospitals, supportive nursing care might have to be provided, in makeshift facilities and patients homes, as was done during severe pandemics in the past, such as the Great Influenza of 1918-19.

The manufacturing and distribution chains for drugs and other vital products like needles and syringes must remain open, and that, given the global nature of the industry, requires international cooperation. In keeping with World Health Organization guidelines, coronavirus-stricken countries shouldnt be walled off the way that the United States and others are trying to do with China at the moment. Otherwise, as the virus spreads, we will be isolating ourselves, too, and will jeopardize our ability to obtain critical resources. Many of the active ingredients in lifesaving generic drugs  the ones that stock hospital crash carts and maintain our daily well-being  come from China and India. If that production is brought to a standstill, many people could die, not directly from Covid-19, but indirectly from a lack of access to those drugs.

Ensuring all of this means facing the hard facts of this unfolding pandemic  and that requires thorough, transparent disclosures to the public. Past experiences, with the anthrax-laced letters in 2001 and the 2014 Ebola outbreak, suggest that people react more rationally and show greater resilience to a full-blown crisis if they are prepared intellectually and emotionally for it.
Patiala, Feb 24 : An Indian Air Force officer was killed and a NCC cadet injured when the single-engine, two-seater plane used to teach flying to NCC members crashed in Patiala city in Punjab, officials said.

The plane belonging to the Patiala Aviation Club crashed in the military area near the club situated on the Sangrur-Patiala road.

The deceased pilot was identified as Wing Commander GS Cheema.

"Wing Commander Cheema of the Indian Air Force was on deputation with the NCC to train the cadets. The injured cadet, Vipan Kumar Yadav, is a student of Government Mohindra College here. He has been shifted to the Command Hospital in Chandimandir near Panchkula in Haryana," Senior Superintendent of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu told the media.
Bri Bagwell to appear twice at County Line BBQ in San Antonio Donations of food or funds from concert patrons enable the San Antonio Food Bank to meet the growing need of San Antonians facing hunger. County Line BBQ donors have provided well over one million meals through this concert series.

The Ancira Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram 2020 Live Music Series at The County Line that benefits the San Antonio Food Bank is back for its 20th year on Thursday nights, beginning March 5. This very popular live music series will run March 5 through July 31.

As in past years, the concerts occur on the patio of The County Line Bar-B-Q restaurant at 4334 Hyatt Place Drive (on IH-10 West between the Wurzbach and Huebner Road exits, near the Colonnade). Concerts begin at 7:30 and run until 9 p.m.

As always, this live music series does not charge an admission fee. However, all who attend are asked to make a food or monetary donation to the San Antonio Food Bank. In 2015, the County Line was recognized by the S.A. Food Bank for raising enough food to feed over 1 million people since the inception of the music series in 2001. In 2017 alone, it brought in a record-breaking number of donations which equaled 80,609 lbs. of food to feed the hungry. In 2019 donations made at the music series provided 35,000 meals.

We are so excited to again be part of the County Line Music Series. Donations of food or funds at the gate from patrons enable us to meet the growing need of kids and seniors in San Antonio facing hunger, says Eric S. Cooper, President & CEO, San Antonio Food Bank. Together we have provided more than 1 million meals since the start of this series, and we hope this year we break records for BBQ sold and donations made to support this great mission.

Free parking is available at Hallmark College, less than one block away on IH-10 access road. Concerts are held rain or shine. County Lines great array of food can be ordered in the restaurant and taken outside. Happy hour will run inside and outside of the restaurant, from 3 to 7 p.m. on concert days.

Performers as of Feb 19 are:

3/5/2020  Mario Flores, Gabe Garcia, Clay Hollis and Bri Bagwell

3/12/2020  Small Town Habit

3/19/2020  Isaac Jacob Band

3/26/2020  Scotty Alexander

4/2/2020  Logan Samford

4/9/2020  Clay Hollis

4/16/2020  Chris Saucedo Band

4/23/2020  Carson Jeffrey

4/30/2020  Brandon Michael Band

5/7/2020  Bri Bagwell

5/14/2020  TBD

5/21/2020  Reed Brothers

5/28/2020  TBD

6/4/2020  Gabe Garcia Band

6/11/2020  Kin Faux

6/18/2020  Mario Flores & The Soda Creek Band

6/25/2020  Jesse Stratton Band

7/2/2020  Hayden Haddock

7/9/2020  Jade Maria Patek

7/16/2020  Tanner Sparks

7/23/2020  TBD

7/30/2020  TBD

Sponsors of the series include Ancira Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram; Treaty Oak Distilling; Rebecca Creek Radio; Rebecca Creek/Enchanted Rock; Stolen X; Heaven's Door Whiskey; Comfort Air/Primo Plumbing; Ozarka; Pure Party Ice; and Hallmark University.

"Besides feeding millions of people, with the promise to do more going forward, County Line has a deep history of community philanthropy," says Mike Crenwelge, General Manager of the IH-10 County Line location since 1980. "Even before we started this incredible donation campaign with the San Antonio Food Bank, we have been active donors to the Food Bank's Second Servings program from the 1980s to now. When we started the music series, we made a commitment to hold a free, family event that would benefit the Food Bank. Although the music series has evolved in many ways since we started it 20 years ago, we have always stayed true to our mission, and intend to keep it that way."

This music series has featured some of the very best Texas and national country musicians in the past including Cory Morrow, Randy Rogers, Jason Boland, Roger Creager, Wade Bowen, Pat Green, Aaron Watson, Radney Foster, Kevin Fowler, Bleu Edmondson and many more.

Visit https://countyline.com/san_antonio/ for the full concert schedule or follow the County Line on IH-10 on Facebook. Call 210-641-1998 for more information.

NOTE: On February 11, 2020, at the TASTY BITES Competition put on by the Alamo Chapter of NACE (National Association for Catering & Events), the County Line IH-10 team won TWO awards: Best Hors d'oeuvre for its "Bar-B-Cuterie Board; " and an awardalong with partner Great Events and Rentalsfor its Booth and Decor Presentation at the event. They competed with the most respected catering companies, hotels and restaurants in San Antonio.
The actress Rosanna Arquette, one of the most outspoken accusers of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, has welcomed his conviction of two counts of sexual assault, saying it signals an opportunity to make life less traumatic for rape victims.

She tweeted: "Gratitude to the brave women who've testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense.

"We will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that it's easier for people to report their rapes."

Weinstein was convicted on Monday on one count of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. He could be jailed for up to 25 years.

However, he was found not guilty of predatory sexual assault, the most series crime he had been charged with.

Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Show all 50 1 /50 Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Files arrive at the rape trial AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Louis R Aidala attends the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lance Maerov testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court AFP via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Kara Young exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Rosie Perez exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Photos are passed around to the jury Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein's rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges Elizabeth Williams via AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations Reuters

The producer  one of the most influential people in Hollywood until his stunning fall from grace  looked resigned as the verdicts were read out, according to Associated Press reporters in the courtroom.

The judge ordered him to be handcuffed and held in custody until his sentencing.

Arquette was one of the first people to share allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein.

In October 2017, she was quoted in the New Yorker as part of an extensive investigation by Ronan Farrow, alleging that during a meeting in the early 1990s, Weinstein asked her for a massage, pulled her hand towards his crotch and, when she stopped the interaction, told her she was making a mistake. Arquette alleges that her career was derailed after the incident.

As Weinstein's trial began in New York in January, Arquette appeared at a news conference outside the Manhattan court with other accusers, including the actress Rose McGowan. She said: "As we stand here at the beginning of a new year and a new decade, time's up on sexual harassment in all workplaces. And time's up on the pervasive culture of silence that has enabled abusers like Weinstein."

Arquette appeared in films including Pulp Fiction, one of Weinstein's breakout movies as producer.

Weinstein will be sentenced on 11 March. He still faces charges of sexual assault in California.

Farrow, whose investigative reporting is credited with helping to uncover allegations against Weinstein, also paid tribute to the women who have come forward to tell their stories.

He tweeted: "Today's outcome in Harvey Weinstein's New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today."
Highlights

The EC has blatantly and consistently lied about the true facts of the current biometric system and its ongoing effort to procure a new one.

The EC's claims that it will cost just $56 million to procure a new system whilst the cost of refreshing and maintaining the existing one would cost $74 million are dangerous untruths.

A sham tender recently completed by the EC has revealed that the EC plans to spend $72 million on hardware alone. IMANI believes that by the time software and services are added the total costs for technology alone will amount to $85 million.

Compared to a limited registration to capture just those not on the voters' register, a fresh mass registration shall cost $50 million. Refreshing the existing technology at competitive prices will cost just about $15 million.

Hence the total loss to Ghana of the EC's actions amount to $150 million, if one factor in contingency. If the fact that thousands of perfectly good equipment shall be thrown away is also considered, the total loss rises.

But economic cost is not the only thing to be worried about. The EC also bungled the procurement process, leaving a trail of evidence suggesting tender-rigging. This has opened the process to litigation and delay.

The EC used one day to disqualify well-qualified bidders, claiming that they had reputational problems, when the vendor it awarded the tender to, after the one day of evaluation, Thales (and its Gemalto unit) has even bigger scandals hanging over its head. In fact, it was once globally blacklisted by the World Bank.

The EC's tender processes were so bad that the Chairman of the technical evaluation panel dissociated himself from the results forcing the EC to discard a 4-month process and compress it into a one-week evaluation.

At any rate, the timeframe for negotiating a proper contract; designing better specifications to correct the many things the EC claims are wrong with the existing system; securing procurement approvals; integrating disparate software and hardware systems from different vendors; and deploying and testing the platform cannot be fitted within the EC's artificial timeline of April 18 th 2020 for the commencement of registration.

2020 for the commencement of registration. If the EC goes ahead and throws caution to the wind to maintain the shambolic April 18 th timeline, the credibility of the new system shall suffer.

timeline, the credibility of the new system shall suffer. The proposed mediation process by Gamey & Co Alternate Dispute Resolution Center is wise and must be considered by all parties.

Whilst the nation's attention was firmly elsewhere, the Electoral Commission (EC) continued to dig its heels in over requests to review its problematic decision to compile a new voters' register and, on top of that, procure an entirely new biometric voters' platform.

It continued working on consummating its sham tender and on executing the multimillion-dollar datacentre project, configuring and reconfiguring servers to deploy the yet to be specified biometric system.

This brief paper is a timely alert to the general public and the political class that the danger of the EC's gamesmanship is escalating. The ongoing procurement activity has been riddled with serious defects that, if not remedied thoughtfully, would worsen an already bad situation.

Before we discuss the problems with the tender, let us recap the main reasons why a brand new system needn't have been procured in the first place.

Part 1: A Redundant Tender The EC's case for a new voters' register and biometric voters platform is essentially three-fold: the existing system is hopelessly obsolete;

ii. The cost of replacing the obsolete platform is lower than the cost of refreshing or refurbishing the existing one; and

The cost of registering everyone afresh in 2020 would be lower than the cost of registering only those who are yet to register judging by the cost of the 2016 partial/limited registration budget. (A partial or limited registration refers to a situation where only those who are not already captured in the biometric register are registered.)

A simple equation governs this debate: Total Cost = Cost of Technology + Cost of Registration. Two variants of the equation sum up the case of the EC and that of its opponents.

For the EC:

Cost of New Technology + Cost of Full Registration < Cost of Refreshed Technology + Cost of Partial Registration.

For the opponents of the EC, such as IMANI:

Cost of Refreshed Technology + Cost of Partial Registration < Cost of New Technology + Cost of Partial Registration.

There is another dimension to the debate besides Cost, and that is the dimension of Risk.

For the EC:

Risk from a New Platform + Risk from Full Registration < Risk from a Refreshed System + Risk from Migrated Data.

For the opponents of the EC:

Risk from a New Platform + Risk from Full Registration > Risk from a Refreshed System + Risk from Migrated Data.

This is a highly empirical debate that in any serious society ought to be settled on the basis of sound data and analysis.

Using data from the Office of the Auditor General and appropriations documents from the Ministry of Finance, IMANI has established conclusively that the charge of equipment obsolescence is completely unfounded. It is so unfounded that despite much taunting, the EC adamantly refuses to release its asset registers and recent, independent, audits into the state of the biometric platform.

There are four main classes of equipment involved in defining the current electoral technology platform in Ghana: BVDs + BVRs + Satellite Discs + Servers. In addition to this hardware are three main software systems: the ABIS + Administrative System + Distributed Device Software (on the BVDs and BVRs).

Since this integrated platform was first procured in 2011 and deployed in 2012, more than $60 million has been spent on refreshment, by which we mean the purchase of brand new devices and the refurbishment of worn down ones. More than 70% of the BVDs in use were bought new or have been refurbished since 2016. The same is the case with the BVRs, of which a whopping 40% was procured in 2018.

An equivalent proportion of satellite dishes (VSATs) and datacentre servers is in this same condition. Because new devices come bundled with software, many of the new devices already have contemporary software editions installed, and at any rate the software on even the devices dating from 2012 is fully supported. We have provided referenced extracts in this document here: https://imaniafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMANI_New_EC_Biometric_Register_CSO_Opposed_2020_Jan-19.pdf.

It is extremely dangerous for a state institution of the calibre of the EC to be lying so blatantly about the status of its assets when official information and records exist.

The EC's case falls completely on the failure to sustain the charge of obsolescence. The original vendors of the EC's system and the subsequent replacements for major parts of it are fully compliant with the highest quality standards. HSB International and Genkey are Dutch companies with impeccable technical standards who have deployed biometric systems in many countries around the world. Evidence for the quality of the existing refreshed system is to be found in the improving performance recorded in Ghanaian elections, data about which is amply supplied in this IMANI statement: https://imaniafrica.org/2020/01/26/imani-moving-beyond-electoral-commissions-self-serving-vendors-posing-as-objective-experts/

Data from the most experienced elections observers in Ghana, such as CODEO and the EU's elections monitoring teams, show that the worst incidence of biometric system breakdowns across polling stations, 33%, occurred in 2012, when the biometric system was fresh. In 2016, there was a dramatic improvement as the failure rate declined to 7.5%. In the 2019 district elections, only 5% of polling stations recorded breakdowns. A system that is getting better over time due to considerable investment cannot be described as obsolete.

With this context, we can return to the original equations and plug in the deceitful numbers the EC has relied on in a very misguided attempt to push its will at all cost:

New Technology + Full Registration < Refreshed Technology + Partial Registration

Summary: According to the EC, a new system will cost $126m whilst refreshing the system will cost $164m.*

This elementary mathematical model has been at the heart of the EC's cost argument.

*(for simplicity, we will leave the datacentre and communications components out of these deliberations as the money has already been spent.)

Were the EC's facts, as reproduced above, correct, the economic argument for a new system would be a no-brainer. But as we have already hinted above, none of the EC's numbers are actually true. In fact, they are the product of shameless, reckless and irresponsible propaganda by the EC and its conflicted and self-serving consultants.

We know from the ongoing sham tender that the EC's propaganda that the new system shall only cost $56 million is a pure lie. The system will cost considerably more than this amount. More on that later.

We know that the full costs of mass registration and the deployment of a complex new technology requires a contingency allowance of at least 20%. Consequently, we shall shortly, in this brief paper, provide the updated estimates of the costs of the EC's reckless gamble with our voting system.

But even if we take the EC's $126 million total cost for a brand new system at face value, its argument still does not hold. The $74 million indicated as the cost of refreshing the new system by replacing or refurbishing truly worn out hardware and updating the software is wholly flawed on account of the following:

A presumption that every BVD and BVR needs replacement is complete nonsense given how infrequently the machines have been used (there are thousands of equipment that have been used only for a few weeks in 2019). Furthermore, the fact that a considerable proportion, as much as 70% of the EC's biometric portfolio, dates from 2016 and 2018, not 2012 and 2013 as the EC claims, renders any calculation based on the need to replace all 77,500 devices nonsense.

A presumption that price quotations the EC purportedly received from a local intermediary, STL, for refurbishment would be the same ones it would receive were it to run a special tender for original vendors to replace the truly worn out machines is completely unjustified.

Should only the truly out of date equipment (15000 BVDs + 2000 BVRs) be replaced or refurbished at competitive prices, $15 million shall be sufficient for the purpose as we have shown in previous commentary on the subject cited above.

D. Likewise, it is wholly and patently illogical to claim that the cost of a partial or limited registration would outstrip the costs of a full registration. There is no means by which the cost of registering more than 17 million voters afresh can be lower than the cost of registering the 1.2 million voters who failed to register less than a year ago. In fact, the historical data shows that the costs of registration the latter class of voters will not exceed $20 million.

E. The end result of the above analysis is the need to reset the numbers in the original equation and change the direction of the inequality as follows:

Cost of Refreshed Technology + Cost of Partial Registration < Cost of New Technology + Cost of Partial Registration.

$15m + $20m < (at least) $56m + $70m

$35m < $126m

That is to say, refreshing the system will cost $35 million whereas buying a brand new system will cost at least $126 million.

F. If the costs of the depreciated value of the existing equipment that are in perfectly usable condition (many of them having been used for only a few days during the 2019 limited registration only) amounting to about $40 million is added to the financial implications of the EC's decision to opt for a completely brand new system and register, (i.e. $126m + $40m = $166m) the total amount of wasted resources arising from the EC's decision to buy afresh rather than to refresh is at least $131 million (i.e. $166m - $35m)

G. But as we shall show in the subsequent section, the amount is considerably higher than this amount owing to a spate of recent and ongoing reckless decision-making by the EC in the sham tender it is currently closing.

Part 2: A Sham Tender

At the outset, we explained to readers that the primary lens through which to assess the EC's decision-making and its dangerous implications is to reduce all of it to a simple model: Cost + Risk. We have so far only discussed cost.

Obviously, an important decision such as the safeguarding of the integrity of our precious democracy cannot be evaluated on the basis of cost alone. Risk is a critical dimension. This is the section where we discuss the risk aspect. We intend to explain very carefully, but also very simply, why the EC's most recent conduct, much of it occurring even while the debate about its decisions was heating up, has seriously exacerbated an already difficult situation. Let us, first, remind you of the elementary equations at the heart of this debate:

Cost of Refreshed Technology + Cost of Partial Registration < Cost of New Technology + Cost of Partial Registration.

Risk from a New Platform + Risk from Full Registration > Risk from a Refreshed System + Risk from Migrated Data.

Replacing the dummies with real numbers gave us:

$15m + $20m < (at least) $56m + $70m

$35m < $126m

The $56 million new technology cost was widely peddled by the EC's propagandists in the course of the debate. In fact, in a now notorious presentation deck, the phantom savings from paying this amount instead of the alleged quote from STL (which was merely a middleman in any final transaction) were emblazoned across the sheet in bold red font. We reproduce this for effect:

SUMMARY GRAND TOTAL OF OLD BVR+BVD (USD) 74,364, 500.00 GRAND TOTAL OF NEW BVR+BVD (USD) 56,000,000.00 SAVINGS WHEN NEW SYSTEM IS PROCURED (USD) 18,364,500.00 SAVINGS WHEN NEW SYSTEM IS PROCURED (GHS)@5.7= 1USD 104,677, 650.00

Table 1. EC's Phantom savings numbers

The latest information we have from the EC's sham tender is that these figures were deceptive in that they did not include any of the engineering, installation, commissioning, peripherals and auxiliary costs that one should expect in a brand-new deployment.

We have it on very good authority that the tender to supply the hardware component alone has been awarded to Thales (a French conglomerate that recently bought Gemalto, a player in the biometric authentication industry, which shall be the actual unit handling the deployment). In a tender technical evaluation report submitted to the EC's hierarchy exactly a month ago (20th January 2020), Thales, which bid $70.3 million to supply the BVDs and BVRs, plus accessories, peripherals and auxiliaries, was favoured on account of purported technical superiority over Smartmatic (the same company that lost out in the 2011 tender awarded to the STL consortium) which bid $69.93 million.

Based on the re-evaluated tender price, the EC must pay out $72 million to Thales for just the hardware. The software tender is apparently still underway and will add several million dollars to the cost. In short, we estimate that by the time the EC is through, the cost of new technology shall not be $56 million but instead anywhere between $75 million to ~$85 million (i.e. hardware costs of $72 million plus software and services costs of up to $13 million).

Consider that the EC has known all along that these were the numbers its shambolic tender was producing, and yet it BLATANTLY LIED TO THE MEDIA AND TO GHANAIANS THAT A NEW SYSTEM WILL COST $56 million.

Why do we call the ongoing tender a sham? For many reasons. Firstly, it has been shrouded in the kind of secrecy that is completely unbefitting of a public tender of such consequence. Secondly, the EC cancelled the first published tender on 16th April 2019 but failed to produce any sensible reasons or even announce that it had done so to the public through the media. Thirdly, it published another tender on 21st August 2019, conducted a demonstration among vendors on the 10th of December 2019, and obtained results that the top hierarchy of the EC decided it did not like. On 18th December 2019, the EC Chairperson wrote to the Entity Tender Committee and literally instructed them to change the report to suit the views of the top hierarchy which had not participated in the gruelling 4-month review process.

Fourthly, there is considerable evidence of tender rigging in view of the EC's top hierarchy's strong intent to strong-arm the technical experts it assembled itself to review the application. In the 18th December 2019 correspondence from the EC Chairperson to the technical committee, the intent to muscle out the two companies with the deepest and most extensive track record in the biometric voter management space, Idemia and Smartmatic was blatant. In fact, the EC bosses simply told the committee to pass the other three companies: Miru, with scant track record in this space, Buck Press, with no track record at all, and Thales, the favourite from the outset.

Thinking that they have finally had their way, the EC's top hierarchy then communicated their preferred outcome to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA). Unfortunately for them, the Chairman of the technical committee, mindful of posterity, wrote to the PPA to dissociate himself from the rancid mess. The EC then dissolved the technical committee on January 10th, 2019, rapidly assembled a pliant group chaired by a EC commissioner, Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo, a lawyer with zero track record in information and computer technology. The group's first meeting was on 13th January 2019. Its primary sessions were on 17th January 2020 and 19th January 2020.

On 18th January 2020, the awam (controversial) technical evaluation committee recalled all the four companies (Smartmatic had finally been allowed to proceed but Idemia stayed disqualified) to demonstrate their technology. The next day, it prepared its report selecting Thales's bid as the winner, forwarded same to the EC's top hierarchy, after which much merrymaking must have ensued, complete with a live band ensemble.

In case, it is not entirely clear, let us repeat: after ditching a four-month process, the EC assembled a new committee in a week that took ONE DAY to work on a fresh evaluation and come to a definite conclusion on a $72 million contract. Let that sink in, dear reader.

But why do we argue that this shambolic tender has heightened the risks facing Ghana? For a number of alarming reasons. Firstly, given what we have seen with the hardware tender, the software tender is bound to be even more shambolic. The total opacity means that there shall be no multistakeholder oversight to ensure sound conduct.

This is a EC that has been misconducting itself so often it is safe to say its modus operandi is obfuscation. Unfortunately, once the hardware has been specified, considerable efforts are required for the integration activity. The EC announced to the world that it has now decided to opt for an option in which it would own the source code of the software packages installed across the Biometric Voters Management System (BVMS) that it is procuring. Unfortunately, this was a blatant lie as none of the tendering companies have committed to this. And indeed, they cannot offer this seeing as they are proprietary systems developers. In short, detailed integration work is required to ensure a seamless operation. Yet the disorganised nature of the tender and the artificial timelines the EC has set seriously undermines a proper weighing of the risks of integration.

The EC has set an artificial timeline of April 18th, 2020 (barely two months away to commence use of the system to conduct the voter registration exercise). As we stated in our previous comment, THIS IS A SERIOUS TIMEBOMB. The EC has not even completed award notices to tenderers for the hardware and software components of the BVMS, much less completed pricing negotiations and PPA approval procedures, not to talk of the gruelling specification and integration design work. Then there is the legal drafting and negotiation phase, plus logistics delivery and testing, not to talk about commissioning and remediation of any bugs uncovered following the review of testing results.

NO ENGINEERING PROJECT (AND THIS IS AN ELABORATE AND COMPLEX ENGINEERING PROJECT) CAN BE MANAGED IN THIS SHAMBOLIC WAY.

Even delaying the commencement of the registration till June carries serious risks because four months is much too short a time to complete all the standard procurement, engineering, commissioning, testing and deployment elements of such a critical and mission-sensitive rollout. The EC is determined to do things without sound engineering standards. If it continues along that path, the spate of unresolved disputes about registration, exhibition and adjudication is likely to impact the credibility of the elections in due course.

Furthermore, it is not as if the shambolic tender results are immune to legal attack. Smartmatic has already given hints of its intent to challenge the results. Just as it did in the 2011  2012 cycle. Some of the reasons proffered by the EC's awam committee for reducing its technical eligibility in favour of Thales were preposterous to say the least. For example, a threat by politicians against both the Philippino elections management body and its contractor, Smartmatic, was held up as evidence of business risk. This is despite the fact that politicians make threats all the time and attack the integrity of electoral systems as a matter of course. The awam committee claims that it could not find similar evidence of business risk against Thales, which is laughable. Here is a literal canopy of corruption allegations against Thales, many of them the products of actual investigation, not just random allegations by politicians. See: https://sites.tufts.edu/corruptarmsdeals/tag/thales/

To be clear, Thales' record of corruption is so pungent that in 2005, the World Bank's Integrity Unit blacklisted them from participating in any of their projects because of credible accusations of their use of bribery to win business around the world. Then 5 years later, they were ordered after being found guilty in a serious investigation to repay 630 million euros back to the Government of Taiwan for serious procurement abuse, including the paying of hefty bribes to Taiwanese government officials. The situation stank so badly that the death of the Head of the Taiwanese procurement authority has been connected with the scandal.

The Gemalto unit of Thales that shall be executing the contract is no stranger to corruption investigations. In 2015, many NGOs provided compelling evidence of corruption of elections officials in Gabon in which Gemalto was heavily implicated. (See: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/347427/economie/gabon-gemalto-sellette-a-paris/).

In Benin, a favourite reference in Gemalto's CV, a lawmaker in 2015 provided evidence to show that Gemalto had been transferring tens of millions of CFA to an inactive company founded by a member of the oversight body of the electoral management commission of Benin (COS-LEPI), a scandal that became known as the Ahossi  Karimou Chabi-Sika affair.

The Estonian government was recently embarrassed when ID cards developed by Gemalto were proven defective and had to be recalled amidst great confusion. It sued Gemalto seeking to recover nearly $180 million. (See: https://www.reuters.com/article/estonia-gemalto/estonia-sues-gemalto-for-152-mln-euros-over-id-card-flaws-idUSL8N1WD5JZ).

So, regarding the claims of the awam technical evaluation committee not to have found any information on business risks related to Thales and Gemalto, one can only conclude, considering how widely known these matters are, that the cause of the Committee's blindness is the need to rig the tender in support of Thales and Gemalto. For any sincere researcher to find Smartmatic's needle in the haystack allegations in the Philippines but fail to so much as encounter the more widely discussed and analysed Thales-Gemalto corruption investigations and indictments beggars belief.

Furthermore, some of the technical observations against Smartmatic in the report amount to pure hair-splitting. The BVR associated printer was judged to be A6-incompatible, though paper sizing is a matter of orientation settings in the kind of modern printer proposed by Smartmatic. Their proposed laptop was said to lack screen scratch-resistance, even though such requirements are easily addressed through peripherals. As already mentioned, the unfavourable risk profile finding based on unhappy politicians in the Philippines who had threatened not just Smartmatic but also the Electoral Commission in that country (COMELEC) is completely ridiculous, considering the fact that Thales, as the ongoing state capture investigations in South Africa have shown, has a far worse record when it comes to sharp business practices.

The only serious demerit, on the face of it, in the Smartmatic proposal was its insistence that the number of equipment requested by the EC can only be delivered, in full, within 7 months, not the 5 months demanded by the EC. (The BVRs needed at the start of the registration would have taken 4 months) But this point of contention opens a whole new can of worms. Firstly, Smartmatic is so much more experienced in deploying biometric systems for elections than any of the other three bidders. We count 21 major implementations around the world compared to Thales-Gemalto's seven. In fact, with the suspicious disqualification of Idemia on technical grounds, they were the only truly globally experienced biometric voter systems integrator left in the running, having executed projects on virtually every continent. A careful observer would give more credence to their estimate of reasonable delivery timelines than they would to Thales'.

Thales has pointed to Gemalto's record in Benin of delivering 3200 Coesys equipment within an impressive timeframe of two months in 2011. But that implementation was considerably different from the one envisaged in Ghana because of the far smaller scale of the deployment coupled with the absence of polling station and exhibition-time voter authentication.

Secondly, given that the EC has always known that even its preferred vendor, Thales, would need 3 months to deliver the BVRs, and that all of the devices are required to come for testing before the process can commence, why then, in God's name, did it deceive blatantly, the public, that it can commence registration on 18th April? Surely, if it intends to negotiate a better agreement than the existing ones that it has demonised so thoroughly, then, as any serious corporate lawyer would tell you, at least four months is required. Considering that it has not even completed its tender processes, how can anything less than 6 months be reasonable when planning for the procurement of such a complex system?

Thus, the EC has compounded the risks facing this country in respect of the elections by failing to acknowledge that the dimensions of risk confronting a greenfield IT project are more varied and impactful than the risks confronting a brownfield project. Especially when the EC also claims that it doesn't merely want new versions of the existing system but completely different legal relationships, technical architecture, and support and maintenance arrangements. When such a confluence of novel factors occurred in 2012, Ghana saw its most problematic elections in more than a decade.

All of these areas of concern constitute new risks which require time for a high level of legal and IT consulting skill to be brought to bear. But here is an EC whose main consultant is a gentleman from a company which had been hoping to replace an intermediary contractor and is therefore incentivised to push for totally greenfield systems. An EC tortured by conflicts of interest. An EC that claims that its IT team is hopeless because they agreed to a previous arrangement in which systems were supplied without warranty and licenses were allowed to expire for 5 years without replacement even whilst millions of dollars were being spent on IT every year.

Though the EC has legal autonomy, the judicial authorities have been wise to ensure that in technical matters, its autonomy should be circumscribed. That is why in Ghanaian Elections Manuals, the Head of the Judiciary is always minded to appoint High Court Judges as heads of the review system for any disputes of decisions made by the EC on registration matters. The EC has been shown by successive audits to lack internal systems of sound technical decision making, financial spending, and control and accountability. This country has to compel the EC to come to the table in a spirit of openness, sincerity and good faith to debate the technical matters concerning the rollout of its proposed new system.

It is in light of that simple and urgent fact that IMANI is announcing today that we support the offer made by Gamey & Co ADR Center to pursue a professionally mediated settlement between the EC and its critics. We hope that the EC's Eminent Persons' Advisory Committee and the Peace Council shall impress on the EC to take this offer very seriously.

We at IMANI are always available to bring our research to bear before, during and after any such conciliatory processes and proceedings.

IMANI Ranked 1st in Ghana for Eighth Consecutive Year &3rd in sub-Saharan Africa on the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report (2019)

Please support IMANI today by emailing our finance head, Patrick Stephenson at [email protected] . We are currently seeking financial support for our 2020 political manifesto assessments. Please find previous assessments @ https://imaniafrica.org/category/imanifesto/
Aramco plans to invest $110 billion in the development of the Jafurah gas field that is estimated to hold some 200 trillion cu ft of gas, the Saudi press Agency reported.

Jafurah is the largest unconventional gas field in Saudi Arabia and could begin producing in 2024, the agency also reported. Production is seen at 2.2 billion cu ft daily, a rate to be reached by 2036.

Besides gas, Jafurah could also produce around 425 million cu ft of ethane, and 550,000 bpd of gas liquids and oil condensates.

Developing its natural gas reserves is a priority for the Kingdom as it seeks to reduce its reliance on crude oil for local power generation and switch to gas so there is more oil for exports. In the future, Saudi Arabia plans to generate 70 percent of its electricity from natural gas and the remainder from renewables.

Yet the Kingdom also plans to become a natural gas exporter, and soon, according to its new energy minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman.

"Soon you will hear about the ability of the kingdom to be a gas exporter," bin Salman said earlier this month without offering any further details.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia is also seeking international expansion in natural gas. Last year the companys senior management noted this ambition in the first conference call of the company ahead of its initial public offering, which took place in December, noting an agreement signed with Sempra Energy for the purchase of 25 percent in the Port Arthur LNG project.

Yet natural gas is also key for the petrochemicals industry and Aramco has big plans for petrochemicals as well. The Saudi company is committing billions of dollars to new petrochemical projects, including a US$44-billion refinery and petrochemical complex in India and a US$7-billion investment in another complex in Malaysia, and is in negotiations with companies for more partnerships in this segment.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
New Delhi: Barely hours before the arrival of United States President Donald Trump's maiden visit to India since assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday (February 24) that the country is waiting for his arrival and asserting that his visit will further strengthen the friendship between India and the US.

Taking to Twitter, Modi wrote, "India awaits your arrival @POTUS @realDonaldTrump! Your visit is definitely going to further strengthen the friendship between our nations. See you very soon in Ahmedabad."

India awaits your arrival @POTUS @realDonaldTrump! Your visit is definitely going to further strengthen the friendship between our nations. See you very soon in Ahmedabad. https://t.co/dNPInPg03i  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2020

United States President Donald Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad for a two-day India visit today. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Unprecedented security personnel has been deployed not only around the Ahmedabad's Motera stadium but also along the entire route from where the convoy of President Trump and Narendra Modi is scheduled to pass.

Cumulatively, a total of 108 senior police officers, including 33 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 75 Assistant Commissioners of Police besides thousands of junior officers and jawans are part of the security arrangements during Trump`s visit to the city.

Tight security has been put in place outside Sabarmati Ashram too with sniffer dog of the US security also present.

PM Modi, who will also arrive in Ahmedabad today, will hold a roadshow along with US President Donald Trump and participate in the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera stadium.
Jill Duggar has made another move to differentiate herself from the rest of her family: While she and her siblings were all homeschooled, the former Counting On star has just enrolled her oldest son in kindergarten.

Jill, 28, made the surprising announcement on Instagram on Saturday, sharing a photo of four-year-old Israel posing with a huge smile on his face.

'Look whos registered for kindergarten!' she wrote, later adding in a comment: 'He's so excited!'

Ready to learn! Jill Duggar and her husband Derick Dillard have registered their four-year-old son Israel for kindergarten this fall

Out in the world: The little boy is 'so excited' to head to school and make new friends

Israel, who turns five on April 6 and will likely be starting classes in August or September, seems to be thrilled about the big-boy move.

'He was just talking with a friend the other day telling them about his new school," Jill gushed to commenters. 'He's looking forward to it for sure!'

Taking to the family blog, Jill went on: 'Its hard to believe he will be five this year! We have already been homeschooling him some, but decided it would be fun to let him go to kindergarten this year.

'Its extra special because its the same school district Derick enrolled in over 25 years ago,' she added, uploading a video showing the family at registration.

Derick was also quite excited, writing: 'Proud moment as Israel got registered for kindergarten this week.'

Starting a child off on a path of public school education is a natural move for Derick, who attended public school himself before getting an accounting degree at Oklahoma State University.

Bracing herself: Jill shared the news on Instagram, surprising followers who know that she and her siblings were all homeschooled

The value of an education: Derick attended public school  in the same district  and went on to get a college degree

'He was just talking with a friend the other day telling them about his new school," Jill gushed to commenters. 'He's looking forward to it for sure!'

Going her own way: Jill is the first of her siblings to send her kids to public school, though she is only the second with a school-age child

He was also active on campus, dressing up as the school mascot, joining the honor society Beta Alpha Psi, and playing in the marching and spirit bands. Now he is perusing a law degree at The School of Law at the University of Arkansas.

But it's a major departure for Jill, who, along with her 18 siblings, was homeschooled.

In an interview with the Christian homeschool curriculum publisher AOP, Jill's mother Michelle said her kids spent just four hours homeschooling in 'core subjects' while growing up, with additional time spent on music lessons.

They followed a Christian curriculum from The Institute in Basic Life Principles called Advanced Training Institute International, which is described as a 'biblically based' program.

With Michelle, the older kids would cover topics like 'science, history, law, or medicine,' but would also 'memorize Scripture, learn hymns, and study godly character qualities.'

But with 19 kids of varying ages, Michelle couldn't possibly teach them all  so older kids were responsible for teaching the younger ones.

For the best: Most of Jill's siblings have followed their parents' strict teachings into adulthood, but Jill is taking a different path with Israel and Samuel, two

Hands full: Jill's mom Michelle (pictured with husband Jim Bob) homeschooled the kids, but passed a lot of the teaching duties onto the older siblings like Jill

Passing the buck: Michelle, who has only a high school education, taught her oldest kids when they were younger  but then had them pass those skills onto the youngest siblings

'We've adopted the biblical Titus 2 organizational principles of older children teaching the younger,' she said. 'Working within an assigned buddy system, each of our older children assists in helping with the needs of a younger sibling.'

So while Jill, as one of the oldest siblings, likely spent her early years learning directly from mom, as she grew older she was expected to teach  and many of her younger siblings were predominantly taught by her, Jessa, Jana, and the other oldest kids.

Jill's acquiescence in following her husband's example and sending Israel  who also has a younger brother, Samuel  to public school makes her the first of her siblings to do so.

Jill's oldest brother, sex pest Josh, has six kids with his wife Anna. Ten-year-old Mackynzie, eight-year-old Michael, and six-year-old Marcus are all already school age, but are homeschooled by their mom.

Meanwhile, Jill's sister Jessa and her husband Ben Seewald haven't said definitively whether or not they will homeschool four-year-old Spurgeon, two-year-old Henry, or nine-month-old Ivy.

Following in those footsteps: Sex pest Josh has six kids with his wife Anna, who is homeschooling

Teacher: Jessa's three children are still too young for school, but Duggar-watchers assume she will homeschool as well

The other children are also still too young for school: Joy Anna and Austin Forsyth's two-year-old son Gideon, Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo's one-year-old daughter Felicity, Joe and Kendra's one-year-old son Garrett four-month-old daughter Addison, Josiah and Lauren's three-month-old daughter Bella, and John David and Abbie's one-month-old daughter Grace.

Duggar-watchers have speculated that most will follow Jim Bob and Michelle's example, perhaps with the exception of Jinger and Jeremy. Like Derick, Jeremy also attended public school and has a degree.

But Jill has set a precedent for breaking with her parents' super-strict teachings.

Though she is a stay-at-home mother, she has only had two kids, with her youngest already two-and-a-half. (Most of her siblings, meanwhile, have had more babies in quick succession.)

Derick had indicated on Instagram that they may use birth control, something that Jill's parents have preached against.

Stunning accusations: In December, Derick said that he and his wife Jill aren't allowed at her parents' house without father Jim Bob's permission

A rift? Fans noticed that they weren't at Jim Bob and Michelle's house for Christmas, even though they live nearby and most of Jill's siblings were there

The rules: Derick revealed that they're not allowed at the house when Jim Bob isn't there, and Jill needed permission from him to come over and assist in her sister Jessa's birth in May

Laying it out: He also accused Counting On network TLC of pressuring 'an abuse victim to continue filming when we tried to quit'

She is also more lax on modesty standards when it comes to clothes, wearing pants and even denim shorts. Nearly all of the other Duggar women  except Jinger exclusively wear dresses and skirts.

Jill also has a nose ring, and recently cut her hair to a few inches longer than shoulder length  remarkably short for Duggar women, who subscribe to the idea that a woman's hair is her crowning glory and should be long.

What's more, Jill has spoken openly about sex in a way that is a major departure for her family. Though she and Derick waited until their wedding day to share their first kids  and, naturally, everything else  Jill now promotes sex games and books on social media, sharing pictures of an abridged version of the Kama Sutra and encouraging married couples to 'have sex often.'

All of these factors unfortunately may have contributed to a rift in the family, especially in regards to the iron fist of patriarch Jim Bob.

Jill and Derick didn't spend Christmas at her parents house, though most of the rest of the family was there.

When a fan asked whether they ever spend time with Jill's family, Derick dropped a bombshell.

Daddy dictator? Derick has made it clear he doesn't think much of Jim Bob, accusing him of using a heavy hand in administering the lives of his adult children

Not good for the camera? Derick's reply to this commenter seems to indicate that they aren't invited over because they aren't useful for publicity

Presured: He told another commenter that he and Jill were 'made to believe' they 'didn't have a choice' when it came to filming and thought they'd be 'sued' if they refused

'Yes, but it's just harder now because we're not allowed at the house when JB isn't there,' he said.

'Jill even had to ask JB permission to go over to the house to help her sister when she was in labor because her sister wanted her help, but Jill couldn't provide the assistance until we got it cleared with JB.'

Derick was referring to Jill's sister Jessa, who gave birth to daughter Ivy Jane in May. Jill, a midwife, helped with the delivery  though it seems her involvement didn't come as smoothly as it seemed on camera.

Though Jill did appear on screen in Jessa's birth episode, she and Derick are otherwise absent from Counting On.

'We're not on 19 Kids and Counting anymore,' he said.

'We've only made guest appearances over the years for wedding, birth, etc.,' he added. 'We've never had any contact with TLC hence not knowing there was a contract. Nobody from TLC has even mentioned to us what they would prefer we say or not say.'

Controlled: He also suggested that Jill's siblings may be facing similar pressure

But leaving the show, he said, wasn't easy.

Greedy patriarch? Derick reiterated a past claim that only Jim Bob ever had contracts with TLC. He has previously said that only Jim Bob was paid

Who's in charge? He wrote that despite the rebranding from 19 Kids and Counting to Counting On, it's still Jim Bob and Michelle's show

'We were made to believe we didn't have a choice and that we would be sued if we refused [to film],' he said. 'However, once we became more enlightened, we realized that we could easily defend ourselves against a lawsuit from the family/TLC.

'We were pressured to think that we were required to and that we would get sued if we didn't.

'It's not going to look good for TLC when it's exposed that they pressured an abuse victim to continue filming when we tried to quit, just so they could continue with Jill & Jessa: Counting On after 19K&C.'

In 2015, Jill famously came out as one of the molestation victims of her older brother Josh, 31.

When Josh was a teenager, he admitted to touching the chest area and genitals of four of his younger sisters, as well as a family friend, and was subsequently sent away from counseling  though the seedy family history was buried until 2015, when inTouch unearthed an old police report.

Jill and Jessa both came forward as two of Josh's victims, submitting to an interview with Megyn Kelly on Fox News in which they defended their big brother.

But Derick's comments shed new light on that interview, indicating that Jill may not have wanted to participate but felt powerless to opt out.

Interestingly, Josh doesn't appear face similar rules governing when he can be at his parents' house, despite the fact that he once admitted to molesting his sisters.

In fact, he, Anna, and their children reportedly live on the compound, and are more frequently seen in family photos and Instagram videos posted on the @DuggarFam Instagram account.

Commenting on Instagram in December, Derick also doubled down on his previous claim that only Jim Bob ever had a contract with TLC  and only he received any payment.

'All of the shows have been under his contract, and he is the only one with a contract,' he said.

He also speculated that Jill's siblings may continue to film because they are being 'pressured into submission with threats of lawsuits' or else they are 'too deep into it/dependent.'

Derick had previously said on Twitter that TLC wouldn't release them from a 'bogus contract,' though in his latest comments, he didn't shed more light on that claim.
UNIVERSITY of Limerick's student's union, UL Student Life, has released a statement this Monday afternoon on behalf of the university's students regarding UL's new controversial accommodation policy.

UL Student Life has said that the new accommodation policy outlined last Friday to students "is not acceptable", and have demanded that UL "stops all plans to increase the student population until adequate infrastructure and services are in place to cater for the 16,300 students currently enrolled in UL."

A statement from UL Student Life on behalf of all students. pic.twitter.com/2SazifE2Ky February 24, 2020

This Monday morning, the Limerick Leader reported on the new policy change whereby rooms in ULs student accommodation for the 2020/2021 academic year are only available to incoming first-years and existing students who have lived in the accommodation for the duration of their studies.

Moreover, the policy also states that students progressing into 2nd and 3rd year this September can only apply for the new shared/twin bedroom option, while single-semester rents have been abolished.

According to UL Student Life: "The announcement has come too late in the year to allow students adequate time to find alternative arrangements for September.

"While we recognise the need to prioritise first year and International Students this cannot be at the expense of all other students. This policy is in no way cognisant of the needs of second, third and fourth-year students.

"It is very clear that there is not enough accommodation for students at the University of Limerick, with solutions such as the doubling up of rooms being proposed. This solution does not solve the problem, as these rooms were never designed for two students.

"We now call on all newly elected Dail Deputies to work proactively towards a new model for Higher Education funding. Students cannot be the revenue generator for universities. We do not stand for the privatization of Higher Education.

"Education is a right, not a privilege."
MI5 bosses reported to be wary of 'bullying' and over-ambitious Patel

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 3:25 PM

Britain's hard right Home Secretary, Priti Patel, is under renewed pressure today as reports emerge of a serious rift between her and the chiefs of the Security Service, MI5.

According to the Times newspaper, senior officers in MI5 have "reduced the volume" of intelligence they share with the controversial Home Secretary.

Moreover, according to the Times, MI5 bosses regularly "roll their eyes" at Patel's interventions in meetings.

Patel's icy relationship with the powerful MI5 bosses comes on the heels of the resignation of the Home Office's most senior civil servant on immigration. The official quit after being allegedly bullied by Patel.

More broadly, Patel has been accused of creating an "atmosphere of fear" inside the Home Office, and specifically of trying to force out the department's Permanent Secretary, Sir Philip Rutnam.

But the latest allegations of conflict between Patel and MI5 bosses is the most serious to date as it speaks to instability at the heart of the British security apparatus.

Besides Patel's bullying leadership style, MI5 chiefs have plenty of reason to be wary of the over-ambitious Home Secretary who maintains extensive contacts with foreign officials.

Back in November 2017 Patel was embroiled in a scandal centred on unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials.

She was forced to resign as international development secretary after it transpired that during a trip to Israel in August 2017 she held a series of unauthorized meetings with senior Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Patel also had a further two meetings with Israeli politicians in September 2017, without the presence of British officials, whose job it is to monitor such encounters.

Britain's close ties to Israel notwithstanding, Patel's extensive ties to Israeli leaders and politicians is bound to cause anxiety at the higher reaches of MI5.

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New Delhi, Feb 24 : A protest march call given by the Jamia Coordination Committee on Monday evening against alleged police brutality turned out to be a damp squib when less than 20 students turned up and claimed they were being detained en route.

The call for protest march in front of the new police headquarters in central Delhi was given by the Jamia body against what they called "police brutality and Sangh terror on peaceful protestor against CAA". While a call to reach the PHQ was given for 6.30 p.m, no students showed up till 8.30 p.m.

IANS has relatively learnt, facing a thin turnout, the crowd met near the Constitution Club and to chalk out their strategy. While nearly a couple of hours late they started their way to the PHQ, they were detained on the way and taken to the Nizamuddin police station, the students claimed.

However, the DCP concerned has denied that any students were detained.

Jamia's call for protest came in the aftermath of massive violence that rocked Delhi's Jafrabad and Maujpur areas after pro- and anti-CAA protesters clashed. A Delhi Police head constable and a civilian were killed while many were admitted to hospital with serious injuries.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : It was love in the air as Ivanka Trump, in a Proenza Schouler floral printed dress, took a stroll at the Taj Mahal with her husband Jared Kushner on Monday.

Proenza Schouler is a women's wear and accessories brand founded in New York in 2002 by designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez.

"Taj Mahal. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is awe inspiring!" she posted on her Instagram page.

"And so are you, keep fighting the good fight," posted a follower on her Instagram page.

In a nod to sustainable fashion, Ivanka wore a repeat Proenza Schouler dress which she wore on her visit to Argentina back in 2019.

"Kya baat hai. Beautiful," posted another follower.

In a Sunday tweet, Ivanka said she is honoured to return to India.

"Two years after joining @narendramodi at the Global Entrepreneurial Summit in Hyderabad, I am honoured to return to India with @POTUS and @FLOTUS to celebrate that the grand friendship between the world's two largest democracies has never been stronger!" Ivanka tweeted.

Ivanka visited India to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in Hyderabad in November 2017, and had dinner with global delegates at the Taj Falaknuma Palace.

She praised Modi for proving that "transformational change is possible".

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Now-infamous Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of criminal sex act and third-degree rape in a historic case prosecuted by lifelong Staten Islander Joan Illuzzi-Orbon.

The conviction comes after several accusations of sexual misconduct that ended Weinsteins career and gave rise to the #MeToo movement, encouraging women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for misconduct.

The case against Weinstein was built on three allegations: That he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

The criminal sex act conviction stems from the Haleyi incident and the rape conviction was from 2013. The jury found him not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

Weinstein did not testify, and his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.

Harvey Weinstein leaves his trial Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)AP

Illuzzi-Orbon of Grasmere was appointed as lead prosecutor of the case last year by the Manhattan district attorney, nearly half a year into the law-enforcement investigation.

The 57-year-old attorney isnt new to the national spotlight.

In 2015, she campaigned as a Republican against Democrat Michael E. McMahon for Richmond County district attorney. At the time, she spoke to the Advance about growing up with her siblings in Midland Beach, where her family provided the nativity scene at St. Margaret Marys R.C. Church. for about 50 years.

In 2016, she was in the national spotlight again as senior trial counsel in the Manhattan D.A.'s office, when she prosecuted the kidnapping and killing of 6-year-old Etan Patz. After an initial mistrial, a second jury issued a guilty verdict for the defendant, Pedro Hernandez, who was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Rape is rape, Manhattan DA Cy Vance says after reading the names of eight key women in the case - the six witnesses who testified against Weinstein and prosecutors Joan Illuzzi-Orbon and Meghan Hast. pic.twitter.com/941XiRxGfG  Jane Wester (@janewester) February 24, 2020

In a previous interview with the Advance, she said her philosophy as a prosecutor was to make sure she was convinced a defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt before I would walk into a courtroom and ask 12 people to decide if somebody was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles, in which authorities allege he raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013.

One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.

-- Associated Press material was used in this report
Panning Donald Trump's visit to India, the Shiv Sena on Monday said the 36-hour-long sojourn of the United States president in the country won't make 'an iota of difference' in the lives of poor and middle-class Indians.

IMAGE: Bikers ride past life-size cut-outs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on a street, ahead of Trump's maiden visit to India, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI Photo

While leaving for India, Trump has said he is going to discuss business with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which makes it clear that his trip is aimed at boosting US trade, the Sena said.

"There won't be an iota of difference in the lives of the poor and middle-class people in India due to Trump's visit. Then where is the question of people being appreciative or enthusiastic of his tour," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

"If there is any eagerness about Trump's visit, it may be in Ahmedabad, where he lands first," the Sena said.

More than the Trump visit the talk is about how walls were built to hide slums along the road he will traverse, the editorial said.

"It is reported that Trump will touch upon the issue of curbs on religious freedom in India. These are our internal issues. This country is run by people elected democratically and they don't need guidance from any outsider on this," it said.

Trump should instead indulge in 'tourism' of Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi, the editorial said.

When Trump leaves India 36 hours after his arrival, there will be no signs of his visit on the soil of India, the Sena said.
UP Sunni Waqf Board meeting today, decision on mosque land likely

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Lucknow, Feb 24: The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board is likely to take a decision in its meeting on Monday regarding the land given by the state government for construction of a mosque.

"We have already said about honouring the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya issue," board chairman Zufar Farooqui told PTI on Sunday.

"The meeting of the board will deliberate upon the documents pertaining to allotment of land by the government. A decision will also be taken as to what should be built on that piece of land," Farooqui said.

Ram temple construction to begin within 6 months, will be ready in 3.5 years

Asked about Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma's offer regarding formation of a trust for construction of a mosque, Farooqui said: "The government formed the trust for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on the directives of the Supreme Court. No such instructions were issued for the mosque. This offer will be discussed in the board's meeting."

On Friday, the board had said that it did not have the option to reject the alternative piece of land given to it under the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict, but would decide how to use it when it meets on Monday. In a historic verdict in November on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of construction of a temple. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque within Ayodhya. Soon after the verdict, there were suggestions that the board should not accept the land.

"Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Sunni Waqf Board does not have the choice of rejecting the five-acre alternative land for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya as it would amount to contempt of court," Farooqui had said.

"We had been saying since the very beginning that we will abide by the court verdict on the issue, and because of this we did not go in for a review of the verdict. There has been no shift in our stand," he had said.

Ram Mandir trust elects office-bearers, PM's ex-Principal secy to oversee construction committee

Besides Farooqui, there are seven other members on the Sunni Waqf Board. Earlier this month, the Uttar Pradesh government gave the allotment letter to the board for the plot at Dhannipur village in Ayodhya's Sohawal area. It is on the Ayodhya-Lucknow highway, about 20 km from the district headquarters.

Based on the SC verdict, the Centre had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to allot five acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board. The UP cabinet made the allotment after its meeting of February 5.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 8:30 [IST]
You are here: China

A C919 Chinese-produced large passenger jet landed in Shengli airport in Dongying city of east China's Shandong Province Sunday to conduct test flights.

The No. 106 C919 aircraft left the Shanghai Pudong airport at 11:08 a.m. and arrived in Dongying at 1:07 p.m., said sources with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer.

The aircraft will conduct tests concerning the passenger cabin, lighting and external noises at Dongying and other test bases, the sources said.

Meanwhile, China's domestically-developed ARJ21 regional aircraft are conducting intensive test flights, with the No.103 and No. 131 aircraft undergoing test flights Saturday at Shanghai's Pudong and Dachang airports, respectively.
A major offensive by Russian-controlled forces on Ukrainian positions on the night of February 18 raises questions, whether Moscow really strives for peace in Donbas as much as it claims in the international arena. But why did the Kremlin need a new escalation in Donbas on the same day that Russia convened the UN Security Council?

At five in the morning on February 18, Zolote was rocked as if in an earthquake. Such devastating shelling hasn't been heard here since the beginning of war. Residents again were forced to rush into bomb shelters. Oleksandr Kishkinov confesses: he thought that after such a cannonade the invaders would try to seize the village. Had it not been for the response of Ukrainian troops, the enemy would have already been there.

Oleksandr feared that the "Russian World" would make its way to Zolote, but said that most of his neighbors had opposite feelings for the militants. According to him, ninety-nine percent of those living in the village are waiting for Russian passports and Putin.

"I tell many from our area that Putin's forces might come. And they say to me: 'Well, that's great! We'll get Russian passports'," he says.

It didn't take long to confirm Oleksandr's words. In ten minutes, a local old lady repeats  in pure Ukrainian language  the words she heard on TV.

"Are you waiting for Putin?" we ask.

"You, Ukrainians, have come to the East with such hatred! Putin What does Putin have to do with all this?!" she responds indignantly.

"But he has deployed his troops," we continue.

"And haven't you, too? You have Georgians, Americans fighting along, You come to our land and start war here" the old woman says.

"You say, 'yours'. Does this mean Ukraine is not your country?" we ask.

"It's you who came from the West and do your war here," she insists.

"I'm not from the West, I'm from the East," I try to convince her.

"East? What are you telling me?" the lady says, being confident in her words.

Immediately after the battle in Zolote, the enemy launched an infowar campaign. Hundreds of accounts in social network started spreading lies about the irreversible loss of the Ukrainian Army.

"Disinformation is a more powerful weapon than guns. Messages on social networks have flooded the internet," notes TSN Tyzhden's special correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko.

The messages go along the following lines: "The 72nd [brigade] was forced to retreat from five strongholds in Zolote, three KIAs, forces retreated to the town of Horske, leaving Zolote behind for separatists."

"Here it is, Zolote -4. We just arrived from there and we didn't see any separatists there, only looked into the eyes of calm and confident Ukrainian troops," Tsaplienko assures, reporting from the scene.

On this day, the whole world learned about the observation post, code-named "Bania" [Sauna]. "The battle unfolded at the observation post, the so-called Bania, manned by the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade... Accordingly, we returned fire, employing all weapons available," said Chief of General Staff Ruslan Khomchak.

The observation post, from where Ukrainians had to retreat, was set up just recently, in January 2020, in the area between the villages of Zolote, Orikhove and Novotoshkivske. Very close to enemy positions. Several lightly-armed fighters observed the enemy from the old, abandoned trenches, dug at the beginning of the war. One of those soldiers, Maksym Hitaylov, was killed in the battle. In addition to the Bania post, the enemy tried to break through in two more directions.

We are moving closer to the point where the enemy was covering his infantry with tanks. They arranged the so-called "tank carousel". As you know, a tank is a weapon used in an offensive breakthrough.

"The attack was planned as an offensive operation. Actually, that's what it was. The enemy struck with the artillery approaches to the Ukrainian positions. Next came the assault groups. And one more detail. From where we are driving now, along the vast stretch of the front line, the enemy used a smoke screen to prevent us from seeing them. This is a clear sign of the offensive. Of course, the decision to carry out such operations is taken at the strategic level, not by some militants," Andriy Tsaplienko says.

On the eighteenth of February, everyone, from the head of the General Staff to a simple gunner, understood who was on the other side.

"The enemy employed tanks and a smoke screen, which testifies to the fact that the operation was elaborately planned. Another sign is that there was a massive artillery fire ahead of the attack," says Andriy, a Ukrainian military.

The left flank of the enemy operation is Popasna. Russian shells plowed the local cemetery. As if they wanted to destroy the memory of those who lay here. Our soldiers search for what's left of enemy ordnance. If you are lucky, you will be able to figure out a projectile manufacturer: "Here is the nose part where. Here is an extension  'Made in Russia'."

And here's the right flank. Not far from the village of Krymske. Yaroslav, the fighter we're talking to, is celebrating his second Birthday. A mine exploded three meters from him, but he didn't have a scratch.

"Adrenaline and joy. What else? If you're going to die, do it with a smile, right?" he shares his impressions.

Now Yaroslav is ready to share the excess adrenaline: "It can't be explained in words. This is like some high speed chase adrenaline  you don't know what will happen to you."

Now imagine this. There are almost forty kilometers of front line between Krymske and Popasna. And the enemy launched tonnes of ammunition of all areas across this whole area within hours. The Ukrainians lost one soldier and was forced to retreat from one of its observation posts.

The Russian attack was already hotly debated in New York that same evening, at the UN Security Council meeting. But it was precisely Russia that asked for that meeting ... back on February 12, around the time when  it was already evident  an offensive on Ukrainian positions was being plotted.

So let's look at this, again. The Ukrainians were attacked on the day the Security Council met. At Russia's request. So the Moscow strategists were hoping to talk about the strike at the Security Council. But why?

The fact is that the attack in Zolote is only a small element of the global game led by Moscow. It is likely that Russia is shifting the attention of the eternally concerned United Nations to Ukraine so that they do not notice the crimes elsewhere in the world. Like, in Syria. Why not?

As the UNSC was debating on the Ukrainian war, dozens of people were being killed in Syria by Russian air force and the Syrian troops with Russian generals behind their backs were shooting at soldiers of the Turkish army. Some even talked about a new Russian-Turkish war. And the Russians had to avoid it  just a half-step before gaining full control of Syria.

In preparation for the offensive on Idlib and the inevitable confrontation with Turkey, the Russians occupied key positions along the Turkish-Syrian border.

The Russian grouping entered the Qamishli airport.

"Beyond Qamishli, the capital of Syrian Kurds, lies the Turkish territory. Multi-storey apartment blocks just several hundred meters away are part of Turkey. And we were informed that right now we are under the close control of Turkish snipers," Andriy Tsaplienko reports from East Syria.

This is the main Russian base here. And here they even tried to apprehend the camera crew as they were filming a Russian military patrol. As soon as the Russians will force Turkey to give up their interests in Syria, Moscow will move even further  to try to remove the Americans from the region.

"Russian mobile patrols are moving deep into the Kurdish territory. It's like an inconspicuous creeping offensive. Its goal is to gain control of the oil fields, where black gold is pumping along the roads, immediately turned into real money. The only force that prevents the Russians from implementing their plan is the U.S. military," Tsaplienko says.

If the tricolor banner flies above the local oil fields, the "Russian World" may claim a win in Syria. And after the victory  which Moscow is so close to  it will release its military resources and be able to tighten its grip on Ukraine.

Intelligence reports: invaders might try to penetrate Ukrainian defense lines in another area. At the front line, Ukraine is once again preparing for another escalation.

Andriy Tsaplienko, Serhiy Shchekochikhin, Vitaliy Tkachuk
Piney Point

2/14/20 at 1330 Hours. 1-100 Block of Windermere. Fraud. Victim reported receiving a delivery of toy that they did not order to their residence. Upon examining the order, the victim learned that unknown person(s) had accessed their credit card account and ordered the item and had it sent to the victims home. The account was frozen, and the item returned to the business who was also notified of the attempted fraud. Information was collected and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.

2/16/20 at 2330 Hours. 300 Block of Blalock. Possession of a Controlled Substance. Officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle traveling with extensive fresh frontend damage and no headlights on Blalock. Upon approaching the driver, it was learned that the driver had no license or paperwork for the vehicle. A search of the driver located marijuana and crack cocaine on his possession. The 21-yer-old male was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail. The vehicle was towed.

2/17/20 at 1600 Hours. 2000 Block of Piney Point Road. Failure to Stop and Give Information. Officers were dispatched to the area after receiving information of a Hit and Run Accident. The officers learned that the victim had been sideswiped by another vehicle traveling on Piney Point Road. However, that vehicle did not stop and continued North. Officers were able to access the nearby ALPR system and locate and identify the suspects vehicle which had temporary paper plates. Officers were able to identify the registered owner. Information was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.

2/17/20 at 2115 Hours. 11400 Block of Memorial Drive. Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a traffic violation. Upon approaching the driver, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Upon further investigation officers located a small quantity of marijuana inside of the vehicle along with empty shell casings from a firearm. A detailed search located a stolen forearm. The firearm and shell casings were collected, and the driver was placed under arrest. The 18-year-old was booked into the Harris County Jail and detectives were notified about the stolen firearm and shell casings. The vehicle was towed.

Hunters Creek

2/14/20 at 1545 Hours. 800 Block of Voss. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle. Members of a construction crew located items and documents from a possible burglary at a nearby construction site and notified MVPD officers. Officers learned that the items had been taken from the victims vehicle sometime during the night while parked at her residence in the 800 block of Voss. Several items were missing from her vehicle and not recovered. Information was obtained and provided to detectives. It was also learned that a nearby surveillance system might have captured the burglary. Detectives are following up on the incident.

2/20/20 at 1345 Hours. 1-100 Block of Willowron. Fraud. The victim reported that she had received notice of an overdue bill that she was sure she had paid. Upon investigating with her bank, she found that 4 checks that she had written to 4 different payees, had been intercepted and subsequently washed. The checks were then fraudulently changed to other unknown persons that she did not know, and the amounts were changed. It is most probable that the checks were stolen from the mail. The bank was able to provide the names of the persons that the checks were changed to and addresses (Houston area). Information was obtained about the checks and provided to detectives who are working with bank officials on the case.

Bunker Hill

2/20/20 at 2130 Hours. 12200 Block of Memorial Drive. Public Intoxication. While on routine patrol an officer observed a vehicle partially pulled off to the side of the roadway and stopped to investigate. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer could see a male subject laying across the seat, passed out holding a beer. The officer woke the subject up who was found to be highly intoxicated. The 35-year-old male was taken into custody for public intoxication and the vehicle towed. The subject was booked into the MVPD jail.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020

The omnibus bill on job creation mandates the establishment of an investment management agency to manage a sovereign wealth fund drawn from tax revenue and foreign investment that is intended to aid Indonesias development.

Chapter 10 on central government investment and national strategic projects in the draft bill mandates the establishment of a special authority agency led by the finance minister, a vehicle that President Joko Jokowi Widodo has described as a sovereign wealth fund.

The finance minister, as the state treasurer, can invest in financial instruments, manage assets for investment, partner with trust funds, determine investment partners, give and accept loans and manage all assets, Article 146 of the omnibus bill states.

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E mergency laws to stop terrorists being automatically released halfway through their sentences have cleared a major hurdle in the Lords.

The second reading of the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill was backed by peers on Monday without a vote.

There could be more challenges ahead for the bill during the detailed committee stage, but if the legislation is passed unamended it will be ready to become law.

Ministers want to get legislation, which has already cleared the Commons, on the statute book by February 27, before the next terrorist prisoner comes up for release.

The House of Lords / AP

It follows the Streatham terror attack earlier this month, when Sudesh Amman stabbed two bystanders with a knife he had grabbed from a shop.

The 20-year-old had been jailed in December 2018 for possessing and distributing terrorist documents but had been freed midway through his sentence less than a fortnight before the attack.

It was the second attack in three months by a convicted terrorist, after Usman Khan stabbed and killed two people at Fishmongers Hall near London Bridge in November.

He had been released nearly a year earlier, halfway through a 16-year jail sentence.

Tributes in London Bridge / PA

In the Lords, a former terror legislation watchdog challenged the retrospective nature of the emergency legislation.

Lord Anderson of Ipswich said recent terror attacks mean a political reaction is inevitable and wholly understandable.

But he told peers: Urgent and piecemeal legislation rarely makes for optimal results.

Challenging the retrospective aspect of the legislation, Lord Anderson said: Its a long-established principle of our law that existing prisoners should not be adversely affected by changes in the sentencing regime after their conviction.

Labour former lord chancellor Lord Falconer backed the Bill but also challenged the impact of increasing the point at which terrorist prisoners would be considered for release.

What is so objectionable about retrospectively increasing a sentence? he asked.

What is objectionable about it is it is not the courts who are deciding how long you are in prison, it is the executive or the legislative deciding, pursuant very frequently to public pressure, and that really undermines the rule of law.

Opening the debate, Tory justice spokesman Lord Keen of Elie said Parliament must put a stop to current arrangements that allowed a dangerous terrorist to be released from prison by automatic process of law before the end of their sentence.

Lord Keen said automatic halfway release was simply not right in all cases and emergency laws were required with further releases due in days.

A police officer is seen near a site where a man was shot by armed officers in Streatham / REUTERS

The aim was to standardise the earliest point at which terrorist offenders may be considered for release at two-thirds of the sentence imposed and require the Parole Board to assess whether the prisoner is safe to release.

Lord Keen acknowledged that applying the legislative provisions retrospectively was an unusual step but insisted this reflected the unprecedented gravity of the situation and the danger posed to the public.

He said the provisions did not alter the length of the sentence but the amount of time served in prison.

The plans, which will affect around 50 prisoners, aim to make sure terrorist offenders serve two-thirds of their sentence before they are considered eligible for release, rather than the current halfway mark.

Before being freed they would need to be reviewed by a panel of specialist judges and psychiatrists at the Parole Board.
Accusations of sexual misconduct had swirled around the film producer Harvey Weinstein in New York and Los Angeles long before he was on trial in Manhattan.

Here is a timeline of events in Mr. Weinsteins journey toward a verdict.

March 27, 2015

Prosecutors in Manhattan declined to prosecute Mr. Weinstein.

Ambra Battilana, an Italian model, told the New York City police that Mr. Weinstein groped her breasts during a business meeting at his office in Manhattans TriBeCa neighborhood. The next day, working with investigators, Ms. Battilana visited Mr. Weinstein at the TriBeCa Grand Hotel and secretly recorded him apologizing for the encounter.

But after a two-week investigation by sex-crimes prosecutors, the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., announced that the evidence did not support charging Mr. Weinstein with forcible touching, a misdemeanor.

August 2017

Mr. Weinstein hired investigators to learn who was talking to reporters.

As reports began to circulate that journalists were looking into allegations that Mr. Weinstein mistreated scores of women over decades, the producer hired a private intelligence firm, Black Cube, to investigate what he described as red flags  or people who he suspected were talking about him to reporters.
Hitting out at the centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday stated it to be battle between people of India and BJP. The leader has vehemently opposed the act time and again, asserting it to be a challenge to the Constitution.

Speaking at a seminar, Chidambaram mentioned the rampant protest across the country and stated that instead of focusing on bigger issues, the discussion over CAA and NRC still prevails. He further highlighted the unawareness among people over the act and accused the government of lying,

"It is not a battle between Muslims and Central Government. But, it is a battle between the people of India and BJP. We are supposed to speak about the economy. However, we are talking about CAA and NRC. Why? Because protest is going on everywhere," Chidambaram said.

"Many have not read about the CAA. That's why the government lies. They say it will not affect people who live in India. Then who will be affected by it?" he added.

Earlier on February 13, the leader called for a 'huge mass movement' if any Muslim is sent to detention camps, in the case the Supreme Court upholds the validity of the contentious Citizenship law. Speaking at the JNU campus in the national capital, Chidambaram said that CAA was an outcome of the 'NRC fiasco' in Assam which left 19 lakh, people, out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

READ: Internet services suspended in Aligarh amid clashes between anti-CAA protesters & police

READ: Accept CAA as we don't have Parliament majority: Congress MLA to party

The hypocrisy of Congress over CAA

Congress among other opposition parties has opposed the CAA vehemently after it was passed by Parliament. However, Congress in its election manifesto ahead of Rajasthan assembly elections in 2018 had mentioned that the party would work for the holistic development of Pakistan displaced Hindu and Sikh refugees including their rehabilitation and citizenship. Congress leaders such as Ashok Gehlot and Manmohan Singh had repeatedly spoken in favour of granting citizenship to Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan in the past but Congress has changed its rhetoric after the act was proposed by the Central government in parliament.

READ: Fadnavis appreciates Uddhav's stance on CAA, Bhima Koregaon, says 'will felicitate him'

READ: Chhattisgarh govt may bring anti-CAA resolution in budget session
A fortnight on from the last few seismic results of Election 2020 pouring in and the potential governments are starting to take shape. Last week's first sitting of the Dail did flush out some positions. But there's still a lot to play for.

The Social Democrats were the big movers at the weekend, clarifying their position. Here's where your local TD stands on the election of the Taoiseach and formation of the new government.

Fine Gael

Acting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is still insisting his party is heading for opposition and will only be involved in a coalition as a last resort. Outgoing ministers are saying there is an obligation on Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail to do the running on forming a government. However, Varadkar is holding exploratory talks with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin this week, possibly tomorrow.

Fianna Fail

Martin remains favourite to become the next Taoiseach. Following his vituperative and iconic exchanges with Mary Lou McDonald in the Dail last week, an alliance with Sinn Fein is off the table. His only realistic route to Government Buildings is via a coalition with Fine Gael and others, either the Green Party or a group of Independents. He got the support of four Independents in the vote for Taoiseach, bringing him up to 41 votes. Fine Gael ministers are also ruling out a reverse confidence and supply arrangement, this time for a Fianna Fail minority government.

Sinn Fein

Mary Lou McDonald's negotiating team is continuing with talks with smaller parties and Independents. The party is also having rallies around the country. Sinn Fein's Padraig Mac Lochlainn accepted yesterday it will take two of the three larger parties to form an actual government with a majority that can implement its policies. Ruled out by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, McDonald's only remaining option is to pursue a minority left-led coalition, which appears a bridge too far. McDonald got 45 votes last week but needs to add the Greens and Social Democrats to keep the momentum going.

Green Party

The Greens continue to talk to everybody, meeting with Sinn Fein today and Fianna Fail on Wednesday. Eamon Ryan's party is spoken of as the most likely potential partner of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Labour Party

Going through its own leadership contest, Labour is sitting this one out. Leadership contenders Alan Kelly and Aodhan O Riordain also agree the party is going into opposition.

Social Democrats

The party's position shifted substantially over the weekend, moving it closer to staying out of coalition entirely. Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy's party ruled out going into a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael grand coalition - but didn't rule them out individually. Yet their six TDs know Fianna Fail is ruling out Sinn Fein and Fine Gael won't back a Fianna Fail minority government. The Soc Dems have a meeting scheduled with Fianna Fail this week and are open to meeting Fine Gael.

People Before Profit

The alliance of Solidarity-People Before Profit-Rise, headed by Richard Boyd Barrett, with Brid Smith, Gino Kenny, Paul Murphy and Mick Barry, voted for McDonald. But the support is contingent on not going in with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.

Independents backing Sinn Fein and Mary Lou McDonald

Left-wing Independents Thomas Pringle from Donegal, Joan Collins from Dublin South-Central and Catherine Connolly from Galway West, also rowed in behind McDonald in the Dail.

Independents backing Fianna Fail and Micheal Martin

Sean Canney from Galway East, Noel Grealish from Galway West, Michael McNamara from Clare and Cathal Berry from Kildare South voted for Martin last week. Canney, previously a minister, also voted for Varadkar.

Independents with no previous party affiliation

Beyond that, there are plenty of Independent TDs still sitting on the fence. Michael Collins from Cork South-West, Michael Fitzmaurice from Roscommon, Marian Harkin from Sligo-Leitrim and Matt Shanahan from Waterford seem to be up for grabs. Collins voted against Varadkar for Taoiseach but abstained on Martin, McDonald and Ryan. Fitzmaurice voted against Ryan for Taoiseach but abstained on the rest. Harkin and Shanahan abstained on all four candidates.

Independents from Fianna Fail gene poll

Michael and Danny Healy-Rae from Kerry, Mattie McGrath from Tipperary and Richard O'Donoghue from Limerick County have past Fianna Fail ties, which make them targets for Martin to seek support. But they'll come at a price. The Healy-Rae brothers voted against Varadkar and Ryan for Taoiseach, but abstained on Martin and McDonald. McGrath and O'Donoghue voted against Varadkar, but abstained on the other three.

Independents from Fine Gael gene pool

Michael Lowry from Tipperary, Denis Naughten from Roscommon, Peter Fitzpatrick from Louth and Verona Murphy from Wexford were all previously in the Fine Gael camp, before leaving for differing reasons. They all abstained on all four Taoiseach nominees.

Independents from Sinn Fein gene pool

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin from Meath West heads up his own party but he's a sole trader in the Dail. He and Carol Nolan from Laois-Offaly both left Sinn Fein over the abortion referendum as they hold pro-life views. However, relations between Toibin and Sinn Fein are bad and Nolan gave no indication of warmth so neither are backing McDonald. Toibin voted against Varadkar for Taoiseach and didn't vote on the other three candidates, while Nolan voted against Varadkar and Ryan but abstained on Martin and McDonald.
Hong Kong brings home 3rd batch of residents aboard virus-hit cruise ship from Japan

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:59, February 23, 2020

HONG KONG, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The third chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government arrived in Hong Kong Sunday morning, bringing back five more residents from the COVID-19-inflicted Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

The flight landed at the Hong Kong International Airport at around 6:10 a.m. local time. Those passengers will undergo the same 14-day quarantine as other 208 Hong Kong residents who took flights back home days ago.

Diamond Princess, initially carrying around 3,700 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries and regions, had been quarantined at the Yokohama Port south of Tokyo since Feb. 5.

Before the evacuation operation by the HKSAR government, there were altogether 364 Hong Kong residents on board the quarantined ship, including 68 tested positive for the COVID-19 and about 30 close contacts, according to the HKSAR government.

The majority of the task force sent by the HKSAR government for evacuation operation took the third charted flight back to Hong Kong too. And there were a number of Immigration Department officers staying in Japan to continue to provide assistance to the Hong Kong residents who were receiving medical treatment there.

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The police lobbed teargas shells and resorted to a mild lathicharge to bring the situation under control.

Protesters raise slogans during a demonstration against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) at Jaffrabad in East Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PRITAM BANDYOPADHYAY)

New Delhi: Several people sustained minor injuries following a clash between pro- and anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protesters near northeast Delhis Jaffrabad area on Sunday. The police lobbed teargas shells and resorted to a mild lathicharge to bring the situation under control. Later in the evening, the police took out a flag march to maintain law and order in the area.

The clash erupted at around 3 pm when the two groups started throwing stones at each other. All this happened in the presence of a heavy police contingent in the area. Witnesses said 500-odd people, mostly women, had gathered to protest against the new citizenship law. The protesters had also gathered in the area on Saturday night demanding that the new law be taken back.

As the anti-CAA group was shouting slogans against the new law, some people turned up shouting Jai Shri Ram slogans. Suddenly, some people came and started throwing stones at the people gathered in the area, an eyewitness told this newspaper. Soon, both the groups indulged in stone-throwing, forcing the police to resort to a lathicharge. The police also lobbed teargas shells to disperse the crowd.

The trouble escalated further as BJP leader Kapil Mishra decided to hold a rally backing the new citizenship law. Mr Mishra, who arrived near Jaffrabad Metro station, demanded that the anti-CAA protesters be removed from the road. After some time, some people came from a nearby street and started pelting stones.

Tension prevailed in the area as the protesters blocked the road near the Jaffrabad Metro station that connects Seelampur with Maujpur and Yamuna Vihar.

This was the second day that anti-CAA protesters had hit the streets, prompting the Delhi Metro to close the entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad station. Later in the day, the Delhi Metro also closed the entry and exit gates to the Maujpur-Babarpur station.

A woman, who identified herself as Bushra, had said that till the time the CAA was not revoked, the protesters would not leave the site. Social activist Faheem Baig said there was resentment among people over the way the government was handling the issue.

This protest is against the CAA, NRC and also seeking reservation for dalits. The movement is primarily led by women, while the men are only supporting them, said Shadab, one of the protesters. We have blocked the road in order to protest and we will not move from the site till the Centre revokes the draconian law, he said.

In the evening Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (eastern range), said stones were also pelted at the police. The situation has been brought under control. Adequate personnel have been deployed and are conducting flag marches.

Mr Mishra tweeted: We have given a three-day ultimatum to the Delhi police to get the road cleared. Get the Jaffrabad and Chandbagh road cleared.

In a video that he tweeted where he is seen addressing the gathering, Mr Mishra said: They (protestors) want to create trouble in Delhi. Thats why they have closed the roads. Thats why they have created a riot-like situation here. We have not pelted any stone.

Till US President is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully. After that we wont listen to you (police) if the roads are not vacated by then, he told the gathering.

The fresh sit-in protest comes at a time when efforts are on to negotiate with the protesters at Shaheen Bagh, whose agitation has led to traffic snarls along the Delhi-Noida route. A small stretch of the road closed for over two months was opened by a group of demonstrators on Saturday, but police barricades remained on one side.
February 24, 2020  Ottawa, ON  National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

This week, approximately 350 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel will deploy to Resolute Bay and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut as part of Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT 2020 (Op NA-NU 20).

From February 24 to March 27, 2020, CAF personnel and international partners will work together to enhance and test their specialized Arctic skill-sets, and reaffirm their ability to operate in the High Arctic.

Ranging from ground and underwater activities to complex logistical support, Op NA-NU 20 will demonstrate the presence and capabilities of the CAF in the Arctic, and will improve our readiness to operate in the region: a key component of Canadas Defence Policy  Strong, Secure, Engaged. Operations like Op NA-NU 20 also enhance Canadas ability to work effectively with northern partners and Allies.
February 24 : Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez is one lovable and gorgeous Bollywood artist who leaves no stone unturned in life. She gives her own blast of love, life and fun into any film and event that she becomes part of. This time, the Sri Lankan beauty made a sassy glitzy appearance at the Liva Miss Diva 2020. Check her out!

Jacqueline captioned her post as,  I love the stage, at least be honest Liva Miss Diva 2020. She had worn a Manish Malhotra costume and was a vision of a starry glam night. The blouse was silver and included delicate tassels that danced away.

She coupled the top with a short mini skirt and also then a bright red glitzy pant. The actress had decked up for a dance at the Liva Miss Diva 2020. Her makeup was done by Shaanmu and she nailed the rockstar look in style. Her face had an overload of shimmers. She went in rosy hues of makeup, left her silky tresses open and sizzled away for the event. Her accessories were minimal, as her ravishing dress, and those flexible dance moves did all the talking.
Schools in the Kashmir Valley reopened on Monday after remaining mostly closed following the nullification of the Constitutions Article 370 that stripped Jammu & Kashmir of its special status in August.

Mohammad Younis Malik, the school education director (Kashmir), said the attendence ranged from 70% to 100%. Everybody was happy and the atmosphere was joyous, Malik said. Private Schools Association president G N War said most students attended classes. Many schools planned activities to interact with students.

Faheem Ahmad, a class 9 student in Srinagar, said he was excited to return to school. Staying home for six months was so boring. I am so happy...

The government announced the reopening of educational institutes in phases last year. But students stayed away from classes first because of a communications blackout and a lockdown that were imposed to prevent protests against the nullification of Article 370 and later due to a shutdown when the curbs were eased. The government announced a winter break on December 10.

Mohammad Ishaq, the father of a 13-year-old school-going daughter, said the break was so long that the school shoes his daughter wore six months back do not fit her anymore. She wore the shoes after months and they were hurting her. I had to rush to a footwear shop in the morning to replace her shoes. That sums up the whole story of education here, he said.

Athar Ahmad, a teacher and an administrator at a private school in Srinagar, said he hoped the situation would continue to remain normal. The students suffered a lot during these months. It has happened for the first time that schools remained closed for such a long period.

Schools, colleges and universities across Kashmir Valley were closed ahead of the nullification that ended provisions that prevented non-residents from buying land and getting jobs in the region. Hundreds of politicians and activists were also detained ahead of the nullification that coincided with Jammu and Kashmirs split into two Union territories as well. Three former chief ministers, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and Farooq Abdullah, are among the top politicians under continued detention.

Despite no classwork since August, around 76% of students cleared the class 12 and 74.7% class 10 examinations held in October and November. We had very good results which prove that the students studied very hard and that is why students are enthusiastic about joining classes of the new academic session, Malik said.

(With PTI inputs)
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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With the telecom firms staring at a massive Rs 1.47 lakh crore of AGR dues, SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar on Monday said "nobody wants to kill the sector". The state-owned bank is yet to hear from the government on the issue, he said, when asked if it has sought views from bankers.

"Nobody wants to kill the sector, let me be very clear," Kumar said, when asked about the problems being faced by the telecom industry.

It can be noted that earlier this month, Kumar had said that State Bank of India has a loan outstanding of Rs 29,000 crore to the telecom sector and another Rs 14,000 crore in bank guarantees, which can get invoked in case of a non-payment of dues by the telcos.

There has been a flurry of meetings in the national capital between senior official of the telecom firms and the government over the past week.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court has asked the telecom firms to deposit an estimated Rs 1.47 lakh crore in past dues for spectrum and licences by March 17.

Payment of the dues is being seen as an existential threat for some players, especially Vodafone Idea, which has to pay RS 53,000 crore.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 22:42:21|Editor: yan

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BUCHAREST, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Constitutional Court of Romania ruled on Monday that there is a legal conflict between the president and the parliament regarding the nomination of Liberal leader Ludovic Orban, also the outgoing prime minister, to form a new government.

In this case, the president will have to make a new nomination for the position of prime minister, according to local analysts.

Orban, whose cabinet stepped down after losing a censure motion in parliament on Feb. 5, was nominated by President Klaus Iohannis as new Prime Minister one day later.

The Constitutional Court debated Monday the complaint signed by the presidents of the two Houses of Parliament regarding a legal conflict of constitutional nature between the president and the parliament regarding the appointment of the new prime minister.

According to the original schedule, the parliament is due to meet late in the afternoon for the investiture of Orban's new cabinet.

"Today's meeting must take place. I believe that the decision of the Constitutional Court will be taken, we will probably have views of the political parties, but it cannot go on with the procedure," said Senator Adrian Tutuianu.
Singapore advises against non-essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea

In view of the recent increase in the number of confirmed cases in South Korea  particularly in Daegu city and Cheongdo county  Singapore has advised travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo.

Ministry of Health (MOH) also reminds the public to continue to exercise caution when travelling to the rest of the Republic of Korea.

Singapore has advised public to avoid non-essential travel to Daegu city and Cheongdo county in South Korea. Photo courtesy: unsplash

As of 2pm on February 23, South Korea has reported 556 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. These include 306 cases linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, and 114 from Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo. Five cases are currently not linked to any of the confirmed cases.

Daegu and Cheongdo have been designated by the Republic of Korea government as special care zones. Measures have been put in place in these regions to reduce the risk of further transmission.

As of 2pm on February 23, South Korea has reported 556 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. Photo courtesy: unsplash

In view of the heightened risk of transmission from travellers arriving from Daegu and Cheongdo, the definition of suspect cases will be expanded to include persons with pneumonia or severe respiratory infection with breathlessness who had been to these places, within 14 days before onset of symptoms. This took effect from February 23.

Health Advisory Notices will be issued to all travellers arriving at Changi Airport from South Korea to advise travellers on the precautionary measures to take when travelling to or arriving from the affected regions.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:29:30|Editor: ZD

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad abruptly resigned on Monday, which could lead his country's politics into unchartered territories.

Mahathir announced his resignation earlier in the day, both as the prime minister and as the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), one of four component parties of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition.

"Mahathir Mohamad had sent a letter of resignation as Prime Minister of Malaysia today," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement, adding that the letter had been given to King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who served as the country's ceremonial head of state.

Following a meeting between Sultan Abdullah and Mahathir at the national palace, chief secretary to the government Mohd Zuki Ali said in a statement that Mahathir's resignation was accepted.

Sultan Abdullah also appointed Mahathir to serve as the interim prime minister until a new Prime Minister was chosen and a new cabinet established, the statement added.

The 94-year-old Mahathir has neither spoken publicly since announcing his resignation nor provided any reason or explanation for doing so. But it came amid speculations that he might seek to form a new government with oppositions after receiving internal pressure from the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope, to step down for former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

After a Pakatan Harapan Supreme Council meeting on Friday, Mahathir insisted that he would step down after the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit at the end of the year but the exact timing will be decided by himself.

It came amid intense speculations that a possible political realignment was being planned, with several political parties, including the opposition, holding meetings on Sunday.

The PH coalition comprising Mahathir's PPBM, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara, took power after the national polls in May 2018, defeating the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition led by United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which ruled the country since 1957 until 2018.

Mahathir himself headed the UMNO and BN as Malaysia's Prime Minister from 1983 to 2004.

Shortly before Mahathir's resignation on Monday, PPBM President Muhyiddin Yassin said the party was leaving the PH coalition with the party's supreme council making the decision.

"All members of the House of Representatives of the party are also out of Pakatan Harapan. All of them have signed the oath to continue to support and trust Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister of Malaysia," the PPBM president said.

However, Finance Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who met Mahathir on Monday shortly before his resignation, said Mahathir had resigned due to his principles, refusing to work with the UMNO or form a "back-door" government through undemocratic means.

Lim said his party will continue to support Mahathir as the prime minister, blaming "renegade and treacherous" elements for attempting to form a government through the back door.

Following Mahathir's resignation, analysts predicted parties will work on realignment in a bid to get a majority in the lower house of the parliament to form a new government.

Professor Azmi Hassan from University of Technology Malaysia said it was less likely that a fresh national polls would be called, but instead a realignment would take place.

"Basically this realignment means that any entity that will form the government will not only consist of the current Pakatan Harapan government but also maybe from Members of Parliament from the opposition."

Azmi also said political parties from the northern Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak would play a critical role in making up any new government, considering the number of seats held by them.

"The East Malaysian parties are the entity to be courted by both sides because they hold a substantial number of Members of Parliament and if any entity will form the government after this, they need the numbers provided by the northern Borneo states," he said.
[February 24, 2020] IANS Research Partners With Securosis and Cloud Security Alliance to Introduce the Cloud Security Maturity Model and Diagnostic

BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IANS, a Boston-based cybersecurity research and advisory firm, today announced the public availability of the Cloud Security Maturity Model (CSMM). The framework, developed in conjunction with Securosis, helps organizations understand their current cloud security practices and maturity across 12 categories over three domains. "The CSMM is not a one-size-fits-all set of recommendations for any organization," said Kathy Sullaway, SVP of Client Success & Operations at IANS, who leads IANS' Faculty of over 60 expert security practitioners. "Instead, the model and associated diagnostic help organizations self-assess their existing cloud security activities, understand their strengths and weaknesses against the model and then make informed decisions about their cloud security strategy moving forward." "As organizations move critical applications, data, and IP to the cloud, being intentional about the security of their cloud environment is critical," said Mike Rothman, President of Securosis. "The CSMM helps organizations of all sizes understand what the cloud security journey looks like as they move workloads and applications to the cloud. It's not about achieving level 5 maturity for every category, rather making conscious decisions having visibility of all aspects of their cloud security program when determining what makes sense for their organization." IANS and Securosis are partnering with Cloud Security Alliance to integrate the CSMM into their cloud security research program. Jim Reavis, CEO, Cloud Security Alliance stated, "We are pleased to partner with IANS and Securosis to further the awareness and adoption of the Cloud Security Maturity Model within our community. Maturity models are a proven means for continuous improvement within information security and we intend to incorporate it within appropriate training programs and guidance." The CSMM diagnostic evaluates 12 categories of cloud security capabilities over thre domains:



Foundational  Covers the activities organizations must consider as they begin to move to the cloud, including account creation, Identity and Access Management logging and monitoring, and incident response.

 Covers the activities organizations must consider as they begin to move to the cloud, including account creation, Identity and Access Management logging and monitoring, and incident response. Structural  Covers traditional network, application, and data security activities, and how those must evolve when moving to the cloud and optimizing for automation and elasticity.

 Covers traditional network, application, and data security activities, and how those must evolve when moving to the cloud and optimizing for automation and elasticity. Procedural  The Procedural domain covers process oriented concepts that bring consistency and predictability to cloud deployments. This includes integrating security into software architecture to leverage secure design patterns, and into modern DevOps processes. The CSMM diagnostic is available at iansresearch.com/cloudmaturity. Organizations can use the diagnostic to assess their cloud security program as a whole or an individual cloud project, then compare their results for each domain to other organizations. It helps justify and communicate security decisions by providing a common language and vocabulary to communicate what they need to achieve better cloud security. About IANS

For the security practitioner caught between rapidly evolving threats and demanding executives, IANS Research is a clear-headed resource for decision-making and articulating risk. We provide experience-based security insights for Chief Information Security Officers and their teams. The core of our value comes from the IANS Faculty, a network of seasoned practitioners. We support client decisions and executive communications with Ask-An-Expert inquiries, our peer community, deployment-focused reports, tools and templates, and consulting. For more information, visit https://www.iansresearch.com.

About Securosis

Securosis is an information security research and advisory firm dedicated to transparency, objectivity, and quality. We are totally obsessed with improving the practice of information security. Our job is to save you money and help you do your job better and faster by helping you cut through the noise and providing clear, actionable, pragmatic advice on securing your organization. Following our guiding principle of totally transparent research, we provide nearly all our content for free. You can find out more about who we are, what we cover, and the services we offer at https://securosis.com/services. About Cloud Security Alliance

Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is the world's leading organization dedicated to defining and raising awareness of best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. CSA harnesses the subject matter expertise of industry practitioners, associations, governments, and its corporate and individual members to offer cloud security-specific research, education, certification, events and products. CSA's activities, knowledge and extensive network benefit the entire community impacted by cloud  from providers and customers, to governments, entrepreneurs and the assurance industry  and provide a forum through which diverse parties can work together to create and maintain a trusted cloud ecosystem. For more information, visit https://www.cloudsecurityalliance.org. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ians-research-partners-with-securosis-and-cloud-security-alliance-to-introduce-the-cloud-security-maturity-model-and-diagnostic-301009497.html SOURCE IANS

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(CNN)  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."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "How TikTok became a hitmaker for the music industry."
A protest rally against the occupation of Crimea by Russia took place on the Beyazit Square in Istanbul on February 23.

"A protest rally against the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by Russia took place in Istanbul," the Consulate General of Ukraine in Istanbul reports.

The protest, attended by the representatives of Crimean Tatar, Turkic and Ukrainian unions, was organized by the Crimean Tatar Center in Istanbul.

The rally participants were holding the posters "Yesterday Stalin, today Putin", "Stop crime of Kremlin, return the stolen", "Crimean Tatars will not surrender" and others.

The activists also protested against the closedown of the ATR Crimean Tatar TV channel.

At risk. The only Crimean Tatar TV channel under threat of closedown, one of the posters said.

For six years, our compatriots have been hard pressed as they have no opportunity to observe their customs, to freely profess their religion, to study in their language. Now the Crimean Tatars living in Crimea are being persecuted because of their nationality and religion, Ukrainian Cultural Society correspondent Aliya Usenova wrote in a publication about the rally.

As reported, Ukraine will continue to pursue legal action against Russia in the international courts to bring it to justice for actions in Crimea and Donbas.

Photos: facebook.com/CGUinIstanbul

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A huge humpback whale almost crushed a small catamaran - as it flung itself out of the water to 'warn' the sailors away from a nearby mother and her calf.

Don McLeish was sailing off Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii, on February 17 when he spotted a 22-ton male whale escorting a mother and her baby.

After following the animals through the clear blue water in his Zodiac boat, a catamaran appeared to be heading straight towards the whales.

A huge humpback whale almost crushed a small catamaran - as it flung itself out of the water to 'warn' the sailors away from a nearby mum and her calf.

Don McLeish was sailing off Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii, on February 17 when he spotted a 22-ton male whale escorting a mother and her baby

He believes the 22-ton whale breached close to the catamaran to 'warn' the sailors away from the group

Suddenly the male giant performed a stunning breach and when it came crashing into the water, the yacht could have been squashed as it was less than a 'whale length' away.

On re-entering the Pacific Ocean, the 40-foot-long whale made a huge splash, sending water flying high into the air.

Don, a 67-year-old retiree, said: 'I believe the escort was alerting the catamaran to the presence of the mum and the calf.

Suddenly the male giant performed a stunning breach and when it came crashing into the water, the yacht could have been squashed as it was less than a 'whale length' away

After following the trio through the clear blue water in his Zodiac boat, a catamaran appeared to be heading straight towards the whales

'We had been watching them and felt the boat was headed on a course that might intersect the spot where the pair had dived down,' he said

'We had been watching them and felt the boat was headed on a course that might intersect the spot where the pair had dived down.

'I was stoked to have the camera in my hand and able to get the second half of the breach recorded.

'I have seen hundreds and possibly even thousands of breaches but never one with the proximity to the catamaran and the nice splash at the end.

'I was stoked to have the camera in my hand and able to get the second half of the breach recorded,' Don McLeish said

Don, a 67-year-old retiree, said: 'I believe the escort was alerting the catamaran to the presence of the mum and the calf'

'He only breached the once and then all three started moving north and the calf breached multiple times, but neither adult came out again,' said Don

'He only breached the once and then all three started moving north and the calf breached multiple times, but neither adult came out again.

'Less than one whale length separated the male and the catamaran.'
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Linkedin Kim Young-won (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network)  Mon, February 24, 2020 10:07 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20662c854 2 Lifestyle parasite,film,Bong-Joon-Ho,South-Korea Free

For Jeon Da-jung, a 35-year-old office worker who often commutes through the neighborhood of Buam-dong, central Seoul, the concrete staircase that leads to the nearby Jahamun Tunnel didnt mean much to her.

But Parasite, from the acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, completely changed her mind. By using the urban landscape as a metaphor for the deepening social divide between the haves and the have-nots, it opened her eyes to the reality of Korea today, she said -- to something she had probably known deep inside for years but felt no immediate need to think about.

I never thought that the stairs and tunnel I just passed by could turn into fascinating places with some socioeconomic implications, she said Monday on a visit to the site -- her way of paying homage to the Oscar-winning film.

The movie has changed my view on the overall society that still has lingering problems such as poverty and a social chasm between the rich and poor.

Jeon is one of many Koreans exploring the class-conscious movie by taking day trips to filming locations or copying gestures, recipes or songs that appear in the film.

The stairway leading to Jahamun Tunnel in Seouls Buam-dong neighborhood was featured in the Oscar-winning movie 'Parasite'. (The Korea Herald/Kim Young-won)

The filming locations in Seoul have become hot spots for locals and foreign tourists alike.

Since Parasite won four Academy Awards, places shown in the movie -- including the tunnel, stairways and the Woori Supermarket -- have been bustling with visitors in recent days.

The dark comedy starring Song Kang-ho shed light on the ever-widening social divide via two families -- the wealthy Parks and the impoverished Kims. The two families show the stark contrast between the opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. But they also invite global audiences to consider untold stories about Korean society through unusual symbols such as a creative instant noodle recipe, a catchy song, a semi-basement home and a fake university degree.

The melody that the Kims daughter, Ki-jung, sings as a mnemonic to remember her false identity has swept the internet recently. The so-called Jessica jingle -- Jessica, only child, Illinois, Chicago, originates from a song about Koreas easternmost islets, Dokdo. It is so addictive, according to people on social media, that many Parasite fans could not stop humming it after watching the film.

Also trending among young moviegoers on social media are selfies with black or white bars over the eyes, recalling the official movie poster depicting the families posing in an odd arrangement with their eyes covered.

The younger generation is taking to YouTube and Twitter to share its Parasite obsession, film critic Philip Yoon was quoted as saying in the local newspaper the Hankyoreh.

Read also: Black-and-white 'Parasite' screened in Indonesia

"Parasite" wave in markets

Thanks to the films recent achievements at the Oscars, stocks of the companies behind Parasite have soared in value. Barunson E&A, which invested $11 million in the production of the film, saw its shares hit record highs Feb. 10-13. After closing at 2,000 won ($1.70) on Feb. 7, they more than doubled to 4,470 won as of Monday.

CJ, which owns the films distributor, CJ ENM, saw the value of its shares jump more than 10 percent Feb. 7-17.

A noodle dish called jjappaguri (translated as ram-don in the English subtitles) -- a combination of black bean-based instant noodle brand Jjapaghetti and instant udon ramen brand Neoguri -- boosted sales for the manufacturer of both products, Nongshim, here and abroad, as well as its stocks. In the movie, instant noodles symbolize the social divide. The rich Parks enjoy eating the cheap snack with slices of expensive Korean beef -- unlike the poor Kims, who eat instant noodles because thats all they can afford.

Every time the movie launches in each nation, jjappaguri goes viral on social media, said a spokesperson for the instant noodle maker, which has given out the snack at theaters around the world in an effort to promote its brand along with the film.

The Korean food company has also put up YouTube videos providing the recipe for the fusion dish in 11 languages, including English, Japanese and French.

During the four trading days after the movie bagged the four Academy Awards on Feb. 9 (local time), Nongshim shares surged by some 10 percentage points.

Some market analysts forecast that the overall Asian food market will gain popularity around the world thanks to Bongs latest masterpiece.

The Oscar-winning movie is expected to generate more than $12 million in economic value, according to local brokerage firm Korea Investment & Securities.

Parasite earned 86 billion won revenue in the domestic market and its estimated operating profit stands at 21.5 billion won, said Oh Tae-hwan, an analyst from the investment firm.

The sales will likely increase with the movie launching in more global markets in the near future, the analyst added.

Some market analysts said the movie has helped take the nations content market to the next level, as the local industry will receive more attention from global investors.

Parasite has proved that content created here can appeal to global audiences, and Korean producers will likely be reevaluated in the global film industry, Lee Hwa-jeong, an analyst from NH Investment & Securities, said.

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This article appeared on The Korea Herald newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
Spain is home to many castles, but these five are particularly special. They are located in areas of great natural beauty, and immediately take you back to a bygone era.

1. Almodovar del Rio Castle (Cordoba)

The Almodovar del Rio Castle owes its perfect silhouette to Raphael Desmaissiers, the 12th count of Torralava. Towards 1901, the count used his own money to restore the castle  instead of knocking it down and selling its ashlar stones as building material, as other nobles used to do. The magnificent palace-fortress is one of the best-preserved in Spains southern region of Andalusia. It overlooks the Guadalquivir River, and is made in the Gothic-Mudejar architectural style. Enrique II of Castile ordered the castle to be built on top of an old Arab fort in the 14th century. The King of Castile and Leon, Pedro the Cruel, who ruled from 1350 to 1366, moved his court to the castle. The rooms are decorated with figures from the period that help visitors understand everyday life in a medieval fort.

2. La Calahorra Castle (Granada)

La Calahorra Castle. Paco Nadal

Guadix is one of the most unique cities in Spains southern province of Granada. But what many travelers dont know is that a few kilometers away, there is county that is just as special  the Marquisate of Cenete. This is the home of the La Calahorra Castle, an atypical castle that sits atop a sloping hill at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It was ordered to built by Don Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar y Mendoza, the count of Cid and marquis of Cenete. Spanish engineers began to build the military fortress in 1509. But the marquis, who knew what was fashionable beyond the Pyrenees, tasked Italian architects with designing the palace. No expense was spared: all of the marble was brought in from Italy. The work on the Renaissance-style palace was completed in 1512, and the marquis lived there until his death in 1523.

In 1910, a wealthy American tried to buy the building, and move it to his ranch in the United States, a practice that was popular among the American nobility at the beginning of the 20th century. The palace features a Renaissance cloister, is filled with Carrara marble, and has original wooden coffering dating back to 1509.

3. Loarre Castle (Huesca)

Loarre Castle is one of the best-preserved fortresses in Spain. Paco Nadal

The first thing that most visitors do when they arrive at Loarre Castle is tap their knuckles on the facade to check that it is real. But it is real, and their knuckles may regret hitting the hard limestone masonry erected in the 11th century by King of Pamplona Sancho Garces III, also known as Sancho the Great. The castle was built to strengthen the kings position against Muslim forces at the unstable Pyrenees border. This proud and solitary castle, which sits on a rocky cliff, is now viewed as one of the best examples of Romanesque civil and military architecture. Given the castle was only briefly at the forefront of the Aragon kingdom, it was able to escape major clashes and sieges. This meant that its strong walls, two crenelated towers (the keep and Tower of the Queen), the convent grounds and the beautiful Romanesque church were hardly damaged. Today Loarre is a gem of Romanesque architecture in Europe.

4. La Mota Castle (Jaen)

La Mota was one of the most complex defensive systems of Al-Andalus. Paco Nadal

The La Mota Castle stands on a hill overlooking Alcala la Real, in the southern Jaen province. It is the most important fortress of what we now call the Caliphate Route  the historic road that linked Cordoba with Granada, which was one of the most important trade and military routes of Muslim Spain, or Al-Andalus. La Mota is one of the most impressive castles of the county, and is of great historical and artistic value. You only need to look at the castle from a distance, surrounded by a sea of olive trees, to appreciate its beauty. The castle was built on an indigenous settlement where Arab invaders had built a walled city, complete with a mosque and an Alcazaba fortress. In 1341, Alfonso XI of Castile, the king of Castile, Leon and Galicia, seized and conquered the area. He ordered an abbey to be built inside it and reinforced its defenses. The great abbey of Santa Maria la Mayor, which still dominates the site, was erected in 1620. The castle fell into neglect and was further damaged during the Napoleonic invasion. Today, the fortress is home to a visitors center, which provides information on what it was like to live at the border in those times.

5. Velez-Blanco Castle (Almeria)

Velez-Blanco Castle in Almeria. Paco Nadal

Velez-Blanco has one of the most beautiful castles in the southern province of Almeria. But to see it in its entirety, you have to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The Renaissance fortress was the official residence of Pedro Fajardo y Chacon, the marquis of Los Velez, who controlled territory throughout Almeria and Murcia. The castle still stands majestically on top of a rocky outcrop that soars over the town of Velez-Blanco in the north of Almeria. It is one of the best examples of a 16th-century castle-palace. But its stunning patio, made of white Macael marble  one the treasures of the Andalusian Renaissance  was acquired by a wealthy American in 1904, and transported in pieces to the United States. Now the patio is exhibited in the New York Metropolitan Museum. It is 16 meters long and 13.5 meters wide, and features two raised galleries with lowered arches and columns, and decorative classical statues. The real castle in Almeria has six turrets and a cavalry yard which connects to a drawbridge that leads to the main gate, which provides access to the nobles area and palace. The castle is a maze of rooms, corridors and stairways, with ornamentation far beyond what would be expected of a military compound.

English version by Alicia Kember.
One lesson Boris Johnson must be learning as Prime Minister, if he did not take it well enough as Mayor of London, is that big infrastructure projects have a habit of splitting a politicians political coalition.

His decision to green-light the first phase of HS2 illustrates this. The move was warmly welcomed by a portion of the Tory tribe, most prominently Andy Street and his campaign to hold on to the West Midlands mayoralty. But it also met serious opposition, including from a section of the Partys new cohort of northern MPs.

No sooner had he bitten that bullet, however, than he finds another whistling towards him in the form of Heathrow.

The Prime Ministers record on this largely one of evasion. Whilst Mayor he famously advocated building an entirely new airport in the Thames estuary, which inevitably came to be dubbed Boris Island. But at least some of his City Hall team take the cynical view that this was much more a device to allow Johnson to simultaneously look pro-expansion whilst opposing every practical means of increasing capacity. Then he rowed back on his pledge to lie down in front of the bulldozers when Theresa May graciously gave him the chance to be out of the country during the key Commons vote on Heathrow.

Now he once again finds himself torn between two competing camps. As George Trefgarne noted in a recent piece for this site, many senior London Conservatives are strongly against expansion. Given the upcoming mayoral contest and the Partys increasingly precarious position in the capital, that is not to be taken lightly.

But this mornings Daily Telegraph reports that other Conservative MPs are heaping public pressure on the Prime Minister to press ahead with Heathrow expansion, and just as with HS2 there is also a well-established lobby  a Heathrow-industrial complex, if you like  which has built up around the current proposals.

With HS2, at least, Johnson can shift a lot of the blame to his predecessors. For the minute he could do the same with Heathrow, which was authorised by the previous Parliament. Yet if the Government ends up having to go to the Supreme Court to fight for the proposals, that will remove a lot of that distance and put the Prime Minister in an awkward spot.

Should that happen, it will raise an interesting question: will we hear any more about Boris Island? After all, the man himself now sits at the apex of British politics. Theres nothing and nobody to stop him at least setting the ball rolling on the idea, and one can see the appeal of building a new, 21st-century air hub which could incorporate a lot of extra capacity, as opposed to alternatives involving relatively small increases.

If we dont, it probably tells you everything you need to know about whether or not the Boris Bridge to Northern Ireland will ever get built.
For the past two years, Benjamin Pullia says he has been bundling up inside his Dovercourt Road apartment without proper heat in his unit.

It is one of several ongoing issues the tenants of his building in the west end of downtown Toronto have identified with the landlord. Pullia says he has made repeated complaints to the city about the radiators and the heat not meeting the city bylaws minimum temperature of 21 C, and although bylaw officers have visited his apartment  including on Thursday  the problem has not been fixed.

The ongoing issues wont have any bearing on how his building or thousands of others in the city would be publicly rated as part of the citys RentSafeTO program  what tenant advocates say is a major flaw in the early draft of a ranking system published by city staff this week.

The proposed colour-coded system involving signage to be displayed in buildings would be based on evaluations already being conducted by city staff once every one to three years that focus entirely on common areas such as elevators and hallways and dont take into account problems in individual units or any history of a landlord not complying with city-issued work orders.

Its unbelievable, Pullia said. It seems like there isnt being priority given to actually enforcing the rights of tenants as they currently exist under the law.

The draft rating system is now open for consultation with tenants, landlords and others. A public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 24 at city hall at 5:30 p.m. and an online survey has been posted that will be open until March 2. The survey will be presented to the planning and housing committee on March 23.

The concerns over the rating system are just the latest issues raised about the citys RentSafe program.

Three years after council first voted to create the new bylaw for apartment buildings as a way to better enforce building standards with landlords, track tenant complaints and improve the conditions in 3,500 buildings  housing nearly a third of all of Torontos residents  tenant advocates say the rating system as proposed does little to help with those goals, while enforcement of other RentSafe rules already in place remains lacking.

RentSafe was supposed to be modelled off of DineSafe  you go into a restaurant, you find rodents, you shut the restaurant down until you comply, said Geordie Dent, executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations, a tenants rights advocacy group with more than 3,000 members.

You cant shut down rental housing but the idea is if you find rodents youre supposed to get a failing grade or a conditional pass until you fix it. Thats not going to happen. Youre going to have a building that could be passed, has a complete bed bug explosion and no ones going to know.

The overall RentSafe program came into effect in 2017 and forced all landlords of buildings three storeys or more and 10 units or more to register and pay an annual fee  currently $11.02 per residential unit  to help pay for the RentSafe program, including enforcement.

Dent said the point of a public rating system is to get landlords to comply with city rules, with the hope landlords would be compelled to fix issues quickly to secure a better rating and have an easier time renting out their units.

The way theyve set it up basically prevents it from doing that, Dent said. Its not what tenants asked for and its not whats needed.

Staff were directed in 2016 to look at the feasibility of a rating system similar to citys DineSafe program  Toronto Public Healths proactive way of alerting patrons to restaurants food safety history with coloured signs and a database online.

It wasnt until November 2019 that staff reported back to councillors, recommending against the idea of a rating system. A city staff report said posting the colour-coded report card could cause stigmatization of tenants living there. It also noted staff would likely need to increase the frequency of inspections to ensure a rating system would be up-to-date.

But council, at the urging of Coun. Josh Matlow (Ward 12, Toronto-St. Pauls), who had led the earlier push at council for the new bylaw, directed staff to create a rating system.

The colour-coded system staff have proposed is a green, yellow or red rating based on the percentage from the last evaluation done by city enforcement officers.

Those evaluations look at common areas in the interior and exterior of a building and score them in several categories.

In the first two years of the program, only one to two per cent of all buildings scored 50 per cent or lower, requiring a further audit at the landlords cost, according to a city report published at the end of 2019.

On Thursday, Matlow took issue with the proposed rating system, saying it needs to consider tenant complaints related to their units and landlords compliance with orders to fix those issues.

RentSafe signage has the potential to contribute to Torontos renters living in homes that are clean, safe, and healthy, Matlow said in a press release. The new colour-coded rating system is an important first step, but must be more flexible to reflect residents actual day-to-day experience and hopefully the progress made by landlords to improve the quality of life of their tenants.

Carleton Grant, executive director for the citys municipal licensing and standards division, said they are working to make improvements to the evaluation system, stressing the rating system is still in the draft phase, subject to feedback from tenants and others.

Proposed changes by city staff include increasing the fail rate for buildings to 60 per cent, meaning more buildings would be subjected to a full audit. Based on the most recent evaluations, the majority of buildings after that change would fall into the yellow category, he said, with scores between 61 per cent and 79 per cent, and would be re-evaluated within a year. The updated evaluation will also ensure compliance with RentSafe rules to have a tenant notification board and required information posted, he said.

Regardless of the evaluation score of the building, if a landlord/property owner does not comply with the maintenance standards, the RentSafeTO team can issue orders and charge landlords (and/or) property owners, which can result in substantial penalties, Grant said in an email.

When asked if the rating system could reflect any deficiencies identified by bylaw officers in between evaluations and non-compliance with orders by landlords, Grant said the challenge of using indicators other than the evaluation score is in weighting it properly with our current evaluation system but that they are consulting on different options.

He said staff also plan on creating an online portal where residents or prospective tenants can access information about recent evaluations and work orders, but that website and the new rating system wont be implemented until towards the end of 2020.

Daryl Chong, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Apartment Association representing landlords, said a rating system wrongly labels people and shouldnt be used. Its a political decision, he said.

Chong also raised issues with the citys evaluation process, saying there are inconsistencies with how different officers record scores and that landlords want a manual from the city explaining how the rating in each category is determined so they can better be in compliance. There also needs to be an appeals process for the evaluations, Chong said.

When it comes to Pullias building, 394 Dovercourt Rd., the last evaluation score posted was 71 from an inspection examining common areas on Nov. 28, 2019, according to city records, meaning it wont face evaluation again for another two years.

In the meantime, the city has publicly logged at least eight requests for inspections in that building concerning unspecified property standards problems and inadequate heat, like the complaints made by Pullia.

Despite the heating issues, Pullia, like many residents of the building, does not want to leave his affordable rental home and is part of a group of long-term tenants who have been fighting several attempts by the building owner to remove them during renovations, as the tenants fear their legal right to return will be ignored. Another hearing is scheduled for later this month.

The property owner for 394 Dovercourt, AIPL Canada Holdings Inc., sent a statement through a lawyer saying: We take all tenant concerns seriously and will investigate and address any issues that come to our attention.

Pullia said his recent experiences with the heat have caused him to lose faith not only in his landlord, but also in the city.

I think before I really started having this frustration with the bylaw officers and the inaction on the part of the city, I was predisposed to trust that the system was going to work in my best interest, Pullia said.

Its becoming clearer and clearer to me that they dont seem interested in actually solving problems on behalf of the tenants.
Country Director Mike Welch at the British Embassy in Seoul's Department for International Trade speaks during the "Coffee for zero plastic" event jointly organized by the embassy and Dohwa Engineering in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, Feb. 21. / British Embassy



By Yi Whan-woo



The British Embassy in Seoul encouraged using less plastic when drinking coffee during an event last week as part of its "Green is GREAT" campaign, which highlights the United Kingdom's hosting of the 2020 U.N. Climate Summit in November.



To be held in Glasgow, the summit is also called COP 26 in reference to the 26th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).



The "Coffee for zero plastic" event, jointly organized with construction consulting firm Dohwa Engineering, was held at company premises in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, Feb. 21.



The embassy and the engineering consulting firm offered free coffee to Dohwa Engineering staff who brought their own coffee cups or mugs.



"This is a critical year for our planet. A truly global effort is required from governments, businesses and each member of society," said Mike Welch, the embassy's country director for the Department of International Trade.



He thanked Dohwa Engineering for its support and expressed hope of celebrating "even more collaboration between it and U.K. companies in the future."



"If we work together to develop and deploy clean technologies, we can accelerate innovation, increase economies of scale, and bring down costs more quickly," Welch added.



The "Green is GREAT" campaign is to raise awareness of the U.K.'s environmental protection efforts and also to encourage the global community to combat climate change.



The U.K. is committed to becoming the first major economy to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 and also slashing corporate tax rates to be among the lowest in the Western hemisphere.



The U.K.'s reliance on coal is below 5 percent of its total energy use, while its use of renewable energy grew to 40 percent between 1990 and 2017.



The U.K. has the world's largest installed offshore wind capacity, with over a third of global capacity.



Through the offshore Wind Sector Deal announced in 2019, the country plans to deliver up to 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030.



It has been estimated that the low carbon economy in the U.K. could grow four times faster than the rest of the economy up to 2030 and could deliver up to 170 billion pounds ($220 million) in exports by 2030.


Snow and rain fell across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England on Monday morning as warnings of further flooding were issued.

Commuters were advised to expect traffic disruption as the new working week began.

Further south, a severe flood warning  meaning an imminent danger to life  continued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury, as the Environment Agency (EA) warned of ongoing flooding dangers across England.

The EA said in a statement that heavy rainfalls had caused the Severns levels to rise and flooding of property is expected to continue.

(PA Graphics)

A yellow weather warning has been issued for snow across all but the most northern areas of Scotland and Aberdeen until 10pm on Monday.

The Met Office said: Here, two to five centimetres of snow is likely above 100 to 200 metres whilst above 300 metres 10 to 20cm snow may build up.

Yellow warnings for rain and snow have been issued for Northern Ireland and northern England.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna warned commuters to monitor the conditions for hazards, saying: At the moment were seeing ice and frost overnight most nights, and there are going to be a lot of icy patches around this morning.

People need to keep an eye out.

There's a massive contrast in #temperature across the UK this morning, with the mercury dipping to between -2 and -6 degrees across the high ground in central and northern Scotland where it's still dry, whilst holding up at +11 in parts of the south in the drizzly warm sector pic.twitter.com/yUzFH9wnf0  Met Office (@metoffice) February 24, 2020

The forecaster said there would be a temperature disparity on Monday as the mercury hovered around a quite mild 11-12C in the south of the UK and dipping to -6C in northern Scotland.

Rain and snow were expected to push north and east across the country before giving way to some brighter weather across the south and west of Britain later in the day, Mr Petagna said.

As well as the severe flood warning for Shrewsbury, the EA had issued 92 flood warnings and 182 flood alerts as of Monday morning.

Warnings and alerts were in place from Cornwall to the Norfolk coast and from Dorset to the Scottish border.

A crashed car near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire after overnight snow (Danny Lawson/PA)

An EA spokesman said ongoing flooding is possible for parts of the West Midlands, along the Severn and Wye and also in parts of the north of England, including in the lower River Aire in Yorkshire.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency said three flood warnings were in force on Monday morning with four further flood alerts.

And in Wales, there were nine flood warnings in force and 19 alerts.

While the extreme weather should settle down over Tuesday and Wednesday  accompanied by a notable dip in temperatures  the Met Office said further heavy rain is expected on Friday.

The bleak outlook follows more than a fortnight of downpours and flooding that started with Storm Ciara, continued with Storm Dennis and kept going with the weekends storms, which  contrary to some reports  have not been named by the Met Office.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 03:03:54|Editor: yan

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PARIS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite the spread of the novel coronavirus in Italy, the worst-hit in Europe, French officials do not envisage to close the country's border nor impose control at the frontiers, but pledge to reinforce precaution measures to contain an eventual virus outbreak.

"France does not need border controls," Health Director General Jerome Salomon told France info on Monday.

"The situation is worrying in Italy. Cases are likely to be reported in France because of the proximity. But our objective is always the same: to offer a rapid detection of cases," he said, stressing that "what is important is to quickly detect any infected person."

On Sunday, Health Minister Olivier Veran said closing border "would not make sense" as "the virus does not stop at borders."

Meanwhile, France was attentive to the situation in Italy and was preparing for a "possible epidemic". "We are taking all the measures that are necessary to ensure the safety of the French," he said.

The virus has killed five in Italy where many villages in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto have been put into lockdown.

A sharp rise in infections in Italy raised fears of an epidemic and forced its French neighbour to increase vigilance and step up measures to detect possible new cases notably in regions near Italy.

In Corsica, regional health officials and local authorities had met to ensure that hospitals have the adequate measures "to detect cases as early as possible."

Early Monday, the Ministry of National Education asked students who had spent holidays in China, Singapore, South Korea, and also in Italy's Lombardy and Veneto to stay at home for two weeks.

"We are adapting to this very evolving situation...There are more than 100 hospitals ready to receive patients, more than 30 laboratories able to carry out more than 1,000 tests per day," Salomon said.
Two men have appeared in court on charges relating to illegal net fishing for salmon on the lower River Nore.

The pair appeared in front of Judge Geraldine Carthy at Kilkenny District Court on Tuesday in respect of breaches of fisheries legislation on the River Nore which occurred on July 15, 2019.

Fisheries Officer John Cullen outlined the facts of the case to the court and how officers used a mobile scout camera (CCTV) to capture video and still images of both men using a net and a cot (small wooden boat) to illegally catch eight wild salmon. The incident occurred is a remote area on the tidal section of the River Nore, approximately 8km downstream of Inistioge.

Judge Carthy said she had considered the significant nature of the offence but also took into account the good character references for both defendants, and the fact that they have no previous convictions. Judge Carthy imposed fines and costs totalling 1,500 to each of the two men.

Our fisheries officers patrol the waterways in overt and covert operations day and night with the aim of protecting and conserving our precious salmon stocks and valuable fisheries resource using a range of technologies," said Director of the South Eastern River Basin District at Inland Fisheries Ireland David Mc Inerney.

"This conviction highlights that illegal salmon fishing will not be tolerated and is a serious environmental crime.

"The River Nore has been closed to the harvesting of salmon since 2014 and the river is only open on a catch and release basis for salmon angling since 2014. There has been a significant decline in salmon stocks in recent years and the River Nore is significantly below its conservation limit, which indicates that every effort needs to be made to conserve this fishery."

Members of the public can report instances of illegal fishing, water pollution of invasive species by calling Inland Fisheries Irelands confidential hotline number on 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24.

For more information on Inland Fisheries Ireland, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie.
Connecticut is at risk of losing an average of $2,900 for each person who is not counted in the 2020 Census. Multiply that by the thousands of children and adults who were left out of the decennial count 10 years ago, and you can begin to grasp the importance of achieving a complete count this time around.

An accurate count is critically important to Connecticut because it means nearly $11 billion in federal funding for vital programs including Head Start, National School Lunch Program, SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Community Development Block Grants, transportation and highway projects, and more.

Thats why upon taking office, our administration made the 2020 Census a top priority and committed to be the best counted state in the nation by launching a statewide complete count committee. The state also allocated $500,000, matched by philanthropic funding, to assist local communities in preparing for the count which will take place from March through July.

There are challenges to achieving a complete count, however, one of them being that approximately 22 percent of residents in our state are what the U.S. Census Bureau describes as hard to count.

So who in our state is at risk of not being counted and why?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are many factors that affect self-response to the census. Those who have been historically known to not participate include people of color, low-income families, young children, non-English speakers, single parent households, renters and homeless populations, immigrants, undocumented residents, and people who distrust government. In Connecticut, places like Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Hartford, New Haven, and New London  to name a few  will be most affected.

In order for these communities to receive the funding they deserve, we need trusted voices to engage people to come forward and be counted. Our Connecticut Complete Count Committee is made up of individuals and organizations that families know and can rely on, including chambers of commerce, labor unions, educators, health centers, faith leaders, the NAACP, ethnic organizations, immigrants right advocates, tribal leaders, and many more.

Its also why I encouraged municipal leaders to create their own local complete count committees. To date, more than 155 local committees have been established in almost every city and town across the state, each with its own group of trusted community leaders.

Our statewide efforts are focused on the people most likely to be left out of the count, including children from newborns to age 5. In the 2010 Census, thousands of young children in Connecticut and over a million nationally went uncounted and most of the children who werent counted live in a household that completed a census form. When we dont count a child, their community loses out on funding for schools and services for 10 years, until the next census, forcing local and state taxpayers to make up those dollars.

Connecticuts Office of Early Childhood and the Department of Children and Families are working to support CT Early Childhood Alliances Counting all Kids program, in working with local childcare facilities and other child services agencies to ensure parents and guardians arent leaving their little ones out of the count.

Currently, Connecticut is ranked first in the nation for paying the most in federal income taxes and getting the least federal dollars in return, therefore maximizing the federal dollars that come into our state is a priority.

Because the 2020 Census will affect all of us, not just in government, but also private businesses, schools, hospitals, non-profits, and other public and private entities, we must all take responsibility for participating in the count and ensuring that our friends and neighbors are counted too by filling out the form online, over the phone, or by completing the printed formed thats mailed to your home.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz is the chair of Connecticuts statewide Complete Count Committee.
By Olivia Rose

PROPOSALS have been made to the Government for the introduction of small pod trains - like those used for travel around major airports - to connect Grand Turk and Salt Cay.





This was revealed by Hon. Goldray Ewing, Minister of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation, while he was a guest on TCIG Speaks on Radio Turks and Caicos.





During the February 10 broadcast, he said: "I think the Turks and Caicos Islands right now is ready for a pod train service.





"We have proposals for the connection of Grand Turk and Salt Cay to run a pod train service, which means that you dont have to cross that ocean to get from Grand Turk to Salt Cay - you can do that anytime of the day.





The zero-emission electric, autonomous Heathrow pods at Heathrow Airport in London have been running since 2011.





They travel along guideway tracks, navigating laterally using a laser at each wheel so they do not bump into the barriers.





Ewing explained that a similar service in the TCI would not only make travelling easier for residents and tourists, it would also boost the economic landscape.





"It would create some serious commerce between those two islands, adding that his previous initiative to get the Caicos Islands joined up is "still on the table.





In February 2018, while at the helm of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, Ewing took an information paper to Cabinet with a proposal for a Spine Road Project.





The inter-island connection project aimed at linking the islands from as far as South Caicos to Providenciales.





"I took that as far as I can take it. Its ready to go honestly, but we have our challenges in terms of environmental studies and stuff like that.





"As soon as we hop over those hurdles and those obstacles well be on our way to making sure that that dream of JAGS McCartney becomes a reality.





The transportation minister stressed that in order for the territory to thrive, linking the Islands is crucial.





"That is necessary. It has to happen for this country to grow and continue to grow. We have to open up the islands with the most land.





Ewing stressed that many islands within the TCI archipelago boast enormous untapped potential.





"Middle and North - the potential on those two islands is huge. I mean its indescribable what could happen in Middle and North Caicos.





On proposing the spine road project, Ewing said it could be one of the biggest projects the Government could undertake and would have the biggest impact socially and economically.





He told the Weekly News that although the territory did not have the funding to pursue such a monumental project on its own, it could be accomplished through public private partnership.





Ewing further explained that the Government had a medium-term plan to have a transhipment deep-water port in South Caicos, which would support the bridging system.





"Basically we are hoping that as more and more business goes into South Caicos, it would also increase the demand for the bridging of the islands, the minister added.





The Government has since drafted a request for proposal for a public private partnership for the deep-water port in South Caicos.




AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Downtown Austin Alliance's new extensionthe Downtown Austin Alliance Foundationwill present a series of public art installations in downtown Austin called Writing on the Walls. The foundation aims to empower locals and encourage social engagement through community-driven initiatives that celebrate the spirit of Austin.

The first project, which will result in two permanent murals for the community to enjoy, will include public events that begin Wednesday, March 4, and conclude the following week upon completion of the murals.

"This project is the result of months of collaboration with partners in Austin and internationally," Molly Alexander, executive director of the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation, said. "The events and art installations will spark curiosity, interest and community engagement throughout downtown Austin. We invite Austinites and visitors to take these opportunities to connect with downtown, local and international artists, and each other."

Writing on the Wallswhich spotlights urban art and elevates the importance of art, diversity and public spaces in the communitymarks the official unveiling of the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation. This year's theme is inspired by the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Programs and events were designed to celebrate women and commemorate history. Among the week's highlights is a new mural that will become the largest in Austin.

Canadian contemporary/pop urban artist Sandra Chevrier led the design and collaborated with American street artist and graphic designer Shepard Fairey on an iconic mural extending 12 stories high. The mural will be painted on the west side of The LINE hotel at the corner of Congress Avenue and Cesar Chavez. The partnership between these artists demonstrates the values of equality and collaboration between the sexes. These internationally acclaimed artists created a design that fuses both their styles and incorporates iconography that evokes the power of women and a significant moment in the history of women's rights in this country.

Simultaneously, local artist Sade Lawson will contribute a large-scale mural on the northbound side of Lamar Boulevard, near Sandra Muraida Way. Additionally, 20 other local artists will participate in Writing on the Walls programming throughout the week.

Among the public events are opportunities to interact with the artists and watch the murals be created in real time. Writing on the Walls programming includes:

Wednesday, March 4  Artists begin painting murals at The LINE and Lamar Bridge

 Artists begin painting murals at The LINE and Friday, March 6  Community kick-off celebration at The LINE 4-6 p.m. : Meet-the-Artists happy hour with Chevrier, Fairey and Lawson 7 p.m. : "Obey Giant," Documentary screening about the life and work of Shepard Fairey, directed by Academy Award-winning director James Moll followed by a Q&A with Fairey

 Community kick-off celebration at The LINE Saturday, March 7 10 a.m.-2 p.m. : Four artists from HOPE Campaign will bring their Murals and Mentors program to Republic Square with a gallery featuring four temporary walls, each measuring 6 feet by more than 16 feet wide. During that period, they will create a mural alongside CASA, Heart Gallery of Central Texas and attendees. 7-11 p.m. : Paint party at The LINE showcasing an all-female lineup of HOPE artists spray painting live. Guests can enjoy beverages from several breweries while listening to a #bossbabes ATX-curated set along with a special guest DJ set by Shepard Fairey.

Sunday, March 8  To celebrate International Women's Day and to launch SXSW EDU, Writing on the Walls will participate in a panel discussion at Antone's titled The Public Realm  Art, Activism and Place: How public art can transform our perceptions of ourselves and our community.

Other events during the week include artists visiting local schools as part of the Artists in Schools program. Each artist has partnered with a nonprofit organization. Chevrier and representatives of The Kindness Campaign will visit Gullett Elementary School; Fairey and representatives of the Texas Cultural Trust will visit the Austin Independent School District's Performing Arts Center; and Lawson and representatives of MINDPOP will visit the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.

From start to finish, the first week of March will incorporate a number of events throughout downtown Austin, including workshops and panel discussions with female leaders, documentary screenings and a pop-up shop at The LINE. All event details can be found here.

The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation aims to be the trusted resource for charitable giving around downtown Austin, as it brings together passionate patrons and partners with causes that help the area prosper. Writing on the Walls is being made possible through the generous support of like-minded individuals, companies and partners of the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation.

"I am beyond thankful for the chance to create a mural in honor of female empowerment. Nearly a century ago, women won the right to vote. It gave them a chance to finally be heard and have a voice. My voice today with this piece speaks to the power of owning all of our emotions, even ones perceived as weak. It doesn't define our capabilities, if anything, it makes us stronger."

 Sade Lawson

"Feminism is a forward looking context that keeps reinventing itself, but at the core, it is about women having the rights to be what they'd like to be. I am very honored to be part of this beautiful project alongside Shepard Fairey who is a great artist but also a great thinker."

 Sandra Chevrier

About the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation

The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation is the charitable extension of the Downtown Austin Alliance with a vision to strengthen community, empower locals and encourage social engagement through community-driven initiatives that celebrate the spirit of Austin. The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation aims to be the trusted resource for charitable giving around Downtown Austin, bringing together passionate patrons and like-minded partners with causes that help the area prosper. For more information, visit https://downtownaustin.com/about-us/foundation/.

Contact: Walt Zaykowski or Candice Honaker, 512-472-9599

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Downtown Austin Alliance

Related Links

https://downtownaustin.com


DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), the global leader in medical technology, is hiring its first Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, underscoring its continued focus and significant investment in inclusion and diversity as a business priority.

Sally Saba, M.D., will assume the newly created position effective March 2, 2020. In this role, she will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive global inclusion and diversity strategy and strengthening Medtronics inclusive culture and employment brand, ensuring the company is well-positioned to attract and retain top talent. Saba will report to Carol Surface, Chief Human Resources Officer.

I am proud of the progress weve made, including our recent Catalyst recognition, and am excited to have Sally on board to continue to build on our strong foundation and help us reach new levels of inclusion, diversity, and equity at Medtronic, said Carol Surface, Chief Human Resources Officer. Her thought leadership, authenticity, and passion for the Mission and healthcare make her uniquely suited to lead our efforts into the future.

My philosophy is to listen and learn, and bring people along to co-create, said Saba. When employees participate in shaping the future of who they want to be as a company, they are more engaged, and we collectively move faster. Equity, inclusion and diversity isnt one big thing you do  its a million little things that we all do every day.

Most recently, Saba was the Vice President of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity at Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Hospitals, the largest non-profit integrated healthcare system in America. In her time there, she spearheaded key initiatives, including a high-profile supplier diversity program. Before joining Kaiser, Saba served in leadership roles at global telecom company Vodafone.

Saba holds a medical degree from Cairo University and an MBA from Ecole Superieure Libre des Sciences Commerciales Appliquees in Paris. Learn more about Sally Saba on the Medtronic Newsroom .

About Medtronic

Medtronic plc ( www.medtronic.com ), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the worlds largest medical technology, services and solutions companies  alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

-end-





Erika Winkels

Public Relations

+1-763-526-8478

Ryan Weispfenning

Investor Relations

+1-763-505-4626
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org has released a new blog post explaining how to avoid being scammed, just by using free car insurance quotes online.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org/can-online-quotes-help-you-prevent-car-insurance-scams/

Being scammed by fake agents or fake offers is certainly an unpleasant experience. The entire budget of a family can be dramatically drained when trusted people reveal their true faces. Before signing for an offer that seems too good to be true, drivers should get quotes online. Car insurance quotes, like the ones provided by http://compare-autoinsurance.org will help drivers understand the real costs and avoid being fooled by really low offers.

Auto insurance scammers have become more and more experienced . Scammers have mastered the art of fooling people. The internet has also helped them a lot and now they use all sorts of databases to find out more info about their potential victims. After the victim takes the "bait", the scammer can cause a total loss of money. In many cases, the "trustworthy" company disappears as soon as the client files a claim.

. Scammers have mastered the art of fooling people. The internet has also helped them a lot and now they use all sorts of databases to find out more info about their potential victims. After the victim takes the "bait", the scammer can cause a total loss of money. In many cases, the "trustworthy" company disappears as soon as the client files a claim. The most common car insurance scams are the fake-call, the fake agent or ads for really low-cost offers. Scammers design attractive offers, but the victim is asked to provide multiple info, including sensitive financial data, like PINs, credit card number and security number. Be vigilant and do not provide information to an unsolicited caller. Do not answer to auto-insurance questions to strangers, especially if you were not looking for coverage. The so-called "insurance agent" can be nothing more than a crook. When it comes to discussing car insurance matters, contact the insurance provider or rely on well-knows, established companies. Being approached by "agents working for a newly opened insurance company in your town" is clearly something suspicious.

Scammers design attractive offers, but the victim is asked to provide multiple info, including sensitive financial data, like PINs, credit card number and security number. Be vigilant and do not provide information to an unsolicited caller. Do not answer to auto-insurance questions to strangers, especially if you were not looking for coverage. The so-called "insurance agent" can be nothing more than a crook. When it comes to discussing car insurance matters, contact the insurance provider or rely on well-knows, established companies. Being approached by "agents working for a newly opened insurance company in your town" is clearly something suspicious. Do not click on ads that pop-up and present really low offers . Pay attention to pop-up windows. The best thing to do is to call the advertised company and ask if the info is read. Of course, first, verify if the company exists, sell car insurance and if it has been known for scamming people. These pop-ups may contain malicious code that has the potential of corrupting files, copy sensitive personal and financial info and send it back to scammers.

. Pay attention to pop-up windows. The best thing to do is to call the advertised company and ask if the info is read. Of course, first, verify if the company exists, sell car insurance and if it has been known for scamming people. These pop-ups may contain malicious code that has the potential of corrupting files, copy sensitive personal and financial info and send it back to scammers. Use online car insurance quotes to avoid scams . Instead of working with shady websites and suspicious individuals calling out-of-the-sudden, rely on legit quotes, obtained from legit insurance companies. Getting quotes directly from well-known insurance companies will totally remove the risk of being tricked. The client will know exactly the average costs. Additionally, drivers can use well-established brokerage websites and compare prices.

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/.

"Scams are still a major concern for the car insurance industry. Using online quotes from legit companies and brokerage websites will help you avoid being tricked" said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

CONTACT:

Company Name: Internet Marketing Company

Person for contact Name: Gurgu C

Phone Number: (818) 359-3898

Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz

Website: https://compare-autoinsurance.org

SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577529/Best-Car-Insurance-Tips-2020-How-To-Avoid-Car-Insurance-Scams
Jordi Greenham, the co-founder and CEO of Mexican long-term rentals startup Homie, has resigned after a sexual harassment investigation was carried out by the company's ethics board.

On February 14, Homie launched an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Greenham, according to a corporate Facebook post. The message followed reports of sexual harassment that were posted to Facebook earlier the same day. In them, a woman, who has asked to remain anonymous to protect her privacy, claimed that CEO Greenham propositioned her in a WhatsApp message around 1:30 a.m. on February 14 to spend the night with him in exchange for 3,000 pesos (about $150 USD).

Below is a screenshot of her Facebook post, which translates to English as:

Today, Jordi Greenham Asensio, co-founder of Homie offered me money to spend the night with him. It should be noted that we do not have a personal connection and that he contacted me on LinkedIn a few months ago to offer me a job at his company, we communicated through WhatsApp to schedule the interviews and for his team to communicate with me. I carried out the process and I did not get the position and there, that is the extension of the relationship. It is not correct that someone, in this case a man, thinks that it is acceptable to make these types of solicitations. It makes me angry that I delayed in saying something about this in thinking that there are no consequences for these types of actions. Attached evidence of the conversation.

The WhatsApp exchange can be translated to English here:

Homie CEO Greenham: Hi I would like to see you Recipient: Can you explain to me the random texts at strange hours? Homie CEO Greenham: No, there is no rational explanation. It was irrational. But I understand that it doesnt interest you How much could I pay you for one night? 3,000?

The woman tells TechCrunch that she met Greenham once through a mutual friend five years ago but had no contact with him since that initial introduction until he reached out to her on LinkedIn in September 2019. She told TechCrunch she had been interested in a role at the fast-growing startup, and communicated with Greenham over WhatsApp to arrange interviews and discuss the position. Ultimately, after interviewing for the role, she says she never heard back from the company.

Story continues

TechCrunch reached out to both Greenham and Homie on February 21. Homie responded to TechCrunch's request for comment on the 23rd with this statement:

On the 14th of February, the Homie Board of Directors was informed of the unacceptable behavior of the CEO and took immediate action. The Boards Ethics Committee carried out the necessary investigation and on the 16th of February, after having discussed it internally, Jordi Greenham Asensio resigned as CEO and President of the company. The fast and unwavering action of the Board reflects our commitment for the highest standard of conduct, in all levels of the organization. The opinions and comments of Jordi Greenham no longer represent that of Homie.

Homie's February 14 Facebook post detailed that its code of ethics deems harassment, discrimination and gender violence to be unacceptable and that those standards apply to "all levels of the organization."

Homie, which has raised $8.2 million, is currently active in more than 100 Mexican cities. According to Crunchbase, the company employs between 100-250 people. Homie recently raised a $7 million Series A round in December 2019 led by Equity International, a fund founded by American billionaire Sam Zell.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had little doubts about Senate President Ahmad Lawan and his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege, prior to their emergence as leaders of the Senate.

They were the unanimous choice of most of the APC members, he said.

The pastor made the comment during a Thanksgiving service for Mr Omo-Agege in Efurrun, Delta State, according to a statement by Mr Omo-Ageges media aide, Yomi Odunuga.

The vice president who described Mr Omo-Agege as a brilliant and bright lawyer, noted that such qualities are however, not sufficient to win elections in a rugged terrain.

Everybody knows it is a very rugged terrain. It is not just the brilliance but a lot of courage. Both himself and Senator Lawan were the unanimous choice of most of us in the APC. At last at the leadership of the APC, there were very little doubts that these two and we worked very hard to make it happen. The reasons are very simple.

Senator Lawan has always proven to be a party person and same as Ovie. A part of Ovie that I do not know very well is his commitment to Christian faith. But hearing him singing some choruses, preach, reading one or two verses of scripture, I am convinced that Ovie has a long way to go in the ministry as well, he said.

In his speech, Mr Lawan said Mr Omo-Agege has been a big blessing to the Senate. This is even as he boasted about the unity that exists in the Senate.

He is a big blessing for us even though none of us emerged unopposed, other senators ran against us but today the senate is one. In fact here, we have all the principal officers of the PDP in the Senate, led by no other person but the leader of the minority, Senator Abaribe.

I believe this is necessary particularly in this time. Politics were done by the time of elections but it now the time for governance. I am happy with our governance and working with Mr. President to ensure that we are able to fix all the challenges we face as a country. We need to continue for Nigeria.

While he urged the attendees to continue to pray and work for Nigerians, he said the Senate has since decided to work harmoniously with the executive because it is a must.

The framers of the 1999 constitution did not envisage that National Assembly should fight with Mr President for progressives to be established. It is assumed there will be disagreements between the two arms of government but even then it is assumed the differences will be for national interest and that is what we are trying to do. We will continue to support M. President all the way.

Mr Lawan further described his deputy as one who is loyal, committed, dedicated, courageous and never shy of taking responsibility.

Charge, demands

In his homily, Anthony Ozele emphasised the need for love, forgiveness and oneness in political parties and across the country.

This is even as the reverend father preached against politicians seeking to make trouble in the name of vengeance.

He praised Mr Omo-Agege for his upright spirit and admonished him to attend to the relevant needs of the people of Delta Central which he (Omo-Agege) represents.

Omo-Agege, We do not need Federal Polytechnic in Warri Central, we need Warri port; we need Sapele Port; we need Aladja rolling mill. We do not need a Federal Polytechnic in Delta state, we need a university of food science and technology.

He urged the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, to assist Mr Omo-Agege in bringing home dividends democracy in Delta Central.

Mr Vice President sir, you are an ardent believer. Delta State is the chick that lays the golden egg and needs federal support. We need your voice to re-echo the voice of the senator to bring home to our people in Delta central and other parts of the Delta state.

Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, be wise and be courageous. We know courage is not a virtue in which you are lacking; in wisdom be wise. Be mindful of fair weather friends because a leader is only as good as those he surrounds himself with. For the sake of your people, reach out your hands across the political divide; search for common grounds.

While congratulating you on your recent appointment to head the Constitution review committee at the national assembly, be sure to let the Lord guide you; together you can bequeath to Nigerian the document that can really be reflective of the aspirations of the people of Nigeria,

He further said Nigerians should be thankful that the country is still standing today only by grace because if the corruption, nepotism and decay that we witness in this nation was to exist in some other countries, they would have long be gone.

The event attracted dignitaries from all walks of life including Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Nasiru El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).

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Others are former Delta State Governor, James Ibori; APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole; Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva; Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo; Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori; lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly, captains of industry, among others.
The White House is readying an urgent budget request to address the deadly coronavirus outbreak whose rapid spread is spooking financial markets and restricting international travel.

The request is still being developed but is likely to come this week, a senior administration official confirmed Monday. The Department of Health and Human Services has already tapped into an emergency infectious disease rapid response fund and is seeking to transfer more than USD 130 million from other HHS accounts to combat the virus but is pressing for more.

Among the needs is funding to reimburse the Pentagon, which is housing evacuees from China who are required to undergo 14-day quarantines at several military bases in California.

Democrats controlling the House wrote HHS Secretary Alex Azar earlier this month to request funds to help speed development of a coronavirus vaccine, expand laboratory capacity, and beef up screening efforts at U.S. entry points. Azar is slated to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, and the U.S. response to the outbreak is sure to be a major topic.

The White House budget office, led by Russell Vought, a stout conservative, is working with HHS to shape the request, with the agency seeking more than the White House is likely to approve. There is a receptive audience for the request on Capitol Hill, though stand-alone emergency spending bills can be tricky to pass since they are invariably a target for lawmakers seeking add-ons.

The quickly spreading virus has slammed the economy of China, where the virus originated, and caseloads are rapidly increasing in countries such as South Korea, Iran, and Italy.

The official required anonymity because the request is not public.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After Pompeo urged leaders to condemn crackdown, experts say Beijings clout in the region is too strong to resist.

To Arslan Hidayat, the reluctance of Central Asian governments to lambast or even address Chinas persecution of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities is all about Beijings investments.

For [these governments], all of this is a matter of economics, the 32-year-old ethnic Uighur activist, whose parents fled China after Mao Zedongs death to settle in Australia, told Al Jazeera.

According to rights groups, witnesses and relatives of alleged victims, at least a million Muslims, mostly Uighurs, in Chinas western Xinjiang province have been incarcerated and indoctrinated in overcrowded re-education camps, while Beijing turns their home into a digital dystopia, where every walk of life, on and offline, is strictly monitored.

Uighur and other Muslim organisations claim that hundreds of thousands have been subjected to torture, sterilisation and rape in the camps.

China denies wrongdoing, saying its measures are not a form of systemic discrimination but an effort to curb terrorism.

China's considerable investments and trade ties have chained the Central Asian states to Beijing. Alisher Ilkhamov, programme officer at the Open Society Foundations

Hidayat, whose father-in-law spent almost a year in a reeducation camp and whose closest friends are still there, said even though some Uighur rights groups operate in Central Asia, the best that they could get is silence from the governments.

The language, culture, music and cuisine of more than 10 million Uighurs are rooted in Turkestan, a historical region of steppes and deserts half the size of the United States, divided into what is now Central Asia and Xinjiang by imperial China and Russia.

Hundreds of thousands of Uighurs live in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan after their forefathers fled China in several waves since Beijing cracked down on Muslim revolts in the 1860s.

Even larger numbers of Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads traversed in the opposite direction after Communist Moscow forced them to settle on collective farms.

But experts and activists said these ties mean little to the governments of modern-day Central Asia that have received tens of billions of dollars in Beijings investments and loans.

Pompeos failure

To the top US diplomat, the rights of Chinese Muslims seemed like a perfect rallying cry to unite these governments behind Washington.

In my private meetings today, I plan to discuss the Chinese Communist Partys repression of Uighur Muslims, Kazakhs, and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, on February 3.

The meetings he referred to were face-to-face discussions with each foreign minister of the five stans. Three of these nations  Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan  are home to sizable Uighur diasporas.

In response, Pompeos Uzbek counterpart appeared to dismiss the concerns.

We would really not like to feel on ourselves the unfavourable political consequences related to the competition in our region between large powers, Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov told the US official.

The powers are Washington, Moscow and Beijing; the latter has already grown into Central Asias financial hegemon, analysts say.

Chinas considerable investments and trade ties have chained the Central Asian states to [Beijing], London-based expert Alisher Ilkhamov, programme manager with the Open Society Eurasia Program, told Al Jazeera.

Selective silence

Even testimony of former reeducation camp inmates, collected by human rights groups, were not enough to convince regional leaders.

Many reports by international rights groups dont reflect reality, Kazakh President Qassym-Jomart Tokayev told the German broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, in early December.

Some 250,000 Uighurs live in Kazakhstan, which shares a border with China, but Uighurs and ethnic Kazakhs fleeing persecution encounter difficulties seeking asylum, activists claim.

It is very difficult, one can say, impossible to seek asylum in Kazakhstan, said Leila Adilzhan of the Ata-Jurt rights group, which documents the plight of Chinese Muslims and provides legal help to refugees.

Sayragul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh woman from Xinjiang, faced deportation after crossing into Kazakhstan in 2018 without documents, with her family.

After Ata-Jurt intervened, a Kazakh court overruled the deportation order, but they were denied asylum, even though her husband was a Kazakh national. They left for Sweden last June.

While Ata-Jurt fights for every applicant, many refugees do not get in touch with rights groups and are deported.

We dont know how many refugees have been secretly returned, Adilzhan said.

Pressuring activists

Last year, the head of Ata-Jurt and Adilzhans husband, a China-born Kazakh named Serikzhan Bilash, was arrested and charged with interethnic hatred.

He said he was forced to agree that he would abandon issues relating to Chinese Muslims and then released.

In November, border guards in neighbouring Uzbekistan deported Gene Bunin, a Russian-American scholar of the Uighur language who runs Shahit.biz, an online collection of testimony of thousands of Chinese Muslims.

I am a hundred percent sure it is connected to my work, Bunin reportedly said.

In impoverished, mountainous Kyrgyzstan, where some 50,000 Uighurs have lived for decades and whose government heavily relies on trade with China and Beijings loans, some Uighurs claim they are being watched by security services.

When we celebrate a holiday or attend a wedding, we only talk about business, family or friends because politics is not something Uighurs in [the Kyrgyz capital] Bishkek want to discuss, a Uighur trader told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity in 2017.

A string of rallies against Chinas policies in Xinjiang were held in Kyrgyzstan in recent months, and police fined dozens of protesters.

One of them was arrested for two months in late January and reportedly charged with inciting interethnic hatred.

Some Uighur activists warn that with its loans, investments, infrastructure projects and political backing, Beijing will gradually take over Central Asia, parts of which used to belong to China since the inception of the Great Silk Road two millennia ago.

Salih Hudayar, who heads the East Turkestan National Awakening Movement, a Washington-based group, compared the economic takeover of the region to the way Communist China has been subjugating Xinjiang since 1949.

Slowly, they chipped away our independence buying our leaders, and here we are today, he told Al Jazeera.

In the long run, [the Central Asian governments] will too become like us, they will lose their independence in favour of some small economic benefits.
Infection cases soar in several nations, raising pandemic worry

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/23 23:58:41

It's time for the international community to treat the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) as a threat to global public health, with more infection cases being identified in countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East and some cases showing no clear travel history linked to China. It is necessary to consider the epidemic as a possible pandemic that requires thorough preparation and coordination regarding technology, medical capabilities and resources at global scale, analysts called.

As China witnessed confirmed cases outside Central China's Hubei Province stabilizing during the past few days, the situation has become more serious in several Asian countries including South Korea and Japan, while the number of infection cases also soared in Europe and the Middle East with more deaths reported.

The US is now preparing for the likely spread of the coronavirus while South Korea raised its health response alert to the highest level.

South Korea reported its fourth coronavirus death as total infections surged to 602 as of Sunday and more fatal cases have been reported in many regions, according to local media.

The South Korean government raised the country's disease alert to its highest level, vowing to take "unprecedented powerful" measures to combat the deadly virus.

In Europe, Italy implemented city lockdown measures in northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto amid growing fears of the disease spreading further, following cases in the country jumping to over 130 including two deaths.

Israel reported its first case of coronavirus infection, AFP reported on Friday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned that some cases outside of China, where the epidemic originated, have no clear epidemiological link to China.

Outside China, there are now 1,200 cases in 26 countries along with 8 deaths.

While some analysts and health officials urged countries to take more active steps to enforce disease prevention, particularly, to draw lessons from Wuhan, the city in Hubei where the disease originated.

China's lessons

"To some extent, other countries are lucky at this point as China made some mistakes at the outbreak's early stages, which others could avoid and draw lessons from," said Cai Jiangnan, director of the Center for Healthcare Management at the China Europe International Business School.

They could provide relevant information as early as possible while enhancing information-sharing mechanisms with the WHO, take strict prevention and control measures soon, letting the top-down medical treatment system play out its advantages, an example being to initiate timely screenings at a community level, Cai noted. "At the early days of the outbreak, many people rushed into large-scale hospitals in the city, weighing heavily on medical care system and causing cross infections," he said.

The US has been preparing for the possible spread of COVID-19 at community level, which requires joint efforts at all levels of government to enforce disease surveillance. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently mentioned that it has begun working with five public labs to conduct community-based influenza surveillance so it could test those with flu like symptoms for COVID-19. The CDC confirmed with the Global Times over the weekend that surveillance has not begun yet.

Health authorities of the US may want to be ready to adopt school and business closures similar to Asian countries if the virus begins to spread through US communities, Reuters reported, citing Nancy Messonnier, an official with CDC.

Other tough measures that China has taken include the implementation wartime measures in cities in Hubei, banning public gatherings, restricting residents from going out, extending the Spring Festival holidays and urging people to stay in quarantine, which could be used as reference for other countries amid the outbreak, analyst said.

Joint efforts

Given the current situation, no single country can combat this disease alone, and we can't wait until every country reports confirmed cases to take action together, said Shen Yi, director at the Research Center for Cyberspace Governance, at Fudan University.

"We can't underestimate the virus or afford to take chances. They [local officials] in Wuhan didn't take it seriously at the beginning as there were only dozens of cases, such a mentality led to disastrous outcomes," he said.

The WHO also called on all countries to invest urgently in preparation amid the outbreak, warning that the window of "containment: is narrowing after several death cases in Iran, pushing countries to act quickly.

Under the WHO structure, it's time for the countries to come up with an unified emergency response mechanism toward the COVID-19 in order to coordinate technology, resources and medical capabilities, Shen noted.

Compared to China's advantages in mobilizing society all levels, developing countries face a limited capacity of social mobilization, while some might also encounter political pressure from opposition groups. Countries like Italy and Japan now have to deal with shortage of protective masks and nucleic acid test kits.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - David Brooks, a conservative New York Times op-ed columnist and political commentator, is the recipient of the 2020 Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life, Calvin University recently announced.

Brooks will receive the honor, which comes with a $10,000 award, on April 27, during the Kuyper Conference hosted by Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary in New York City.

The Kuyper Prize, established in 1996, is named after Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch neo-Calvinist theologian, pastor, politician, and journalist, who was prime minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905.

The prize is awarded each year to a scholar or community leader whose outstanding contribution to their chosen sphere reflects the ideas and values characteristic of the Neo-Calvinist vision of religious engagement in matters of social, political, and cultural significance in one or more of the spheres of society.

While Abraham Kuyper was well known as a scholar, politician, and religious leader, one of the other hats he wore was that of a journalist. And we see in David Brooks work as a journalist and a political commentator that he has worked tirelessly to promote civil discourse in polarizing political landscapes, something that characterized Kuypers public life as well, Calvin University President Michael Le Roy said.

Brooks writes about politics, culture and the social sciences for the New York Times. In addition to being a columnist and author, he is also a commentator on PBS NewsHour, NPRs All Things Considered and NBCs Meet the Press.

Jordan J. Ballor, director of the Kuyper Conference, said Brooks is an ideal recipient for the award largely because he represents a way of engaging the public square and political discourse, in particular and public life more generally.

"It is that combination of principled commitments but openness and a kind of disposition toward reconciliation or finding a way to get along, finding ways to live together, thats respectful of all people,'' he said.

"Theres a kind of openness and pluralistic disposition that I think Mr. Brooks embodies that is very much in the spirit of Abraham Kuyper and his approaches in the 19th century. ''

Ballor said it is not so much that Brooks is inspired by Kuyper, rather there are some parallels there that are really fascinating.

For example, he said Kuyper and Brooks both brought and bring a perspective to politics about the human person and what it means to live together and to flourish that is broader and deeper than the merely political.

Ballor said there is a also a spirituality element in Brooks more recent writings such as his latest book, The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life.''

The book explores the four commitments that define a life of meaning and purpose: to a spouse and family, to a vocation, to a philosophy or faith, and to a community.

The Second Mountain provides valuable guidance in challenging the way we view ourselves as image bearers and the development of our character within society," said Jul Medenblik, president of Calvin Theological Seminary.

In this book and in his broader work Brooks models a very Kuyperian way of thinking about humanity, culture, and civil institutions.

John M. Perkins, one of the leading evangelical voices for political and social justice to come out of the Civil Rights Movement, received the 2019 Kuyper award.

The Kuyper Centennial Congress will be held April 27-29. More than 100 are expected from around the world, including London and Amsterdam. The event marks the 100th anniversary of Kuypers death.

The prize is funded thanks to a generous grant from the late Rimmer and Ruth de Vries.

Calvin University and Calvin Seminary are grateful to Rimmer and Ruth for helping to advance Christian engagement with culture, said Le Roy. While Rimmer passed away earlier this year, his and Ruths enthusiasm for this work are forever etched in their legacy.

The theme of this years Kuyper conference plenaries is Secularism and Spirituality. The centennial congress will conclude in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, November 19-20.

There a multiple sponsors and partners for the New York City event including Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute, a think-tank whose mission is to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles.

For more information on the conference and the award, visit https://www.kuypercon.org/.

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What happened

Shares of Senseonics (NYSEMKT:SENS) are up 13% at 12:52 p.m. EST after the company presented data on its Eversense continuous glucose monitoring system at the Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes conference in Madrid, Spain, last week.

Investors are also likely reacting to the Soros Fund -- run by famed investor George Soros -- disclosing a 5.1% stake in the company.

So what

Senseonics looked at real-world data from almost 600 Eversense users, and found that all age groups met the recommendation of wearing the device at least 70% of the time. The time that patients wore the device increased with age. Patients above 60 years old wore the device 87.2% of the time, while those aged 45 to 59 were a close second at 86.7%. At the low end, patients 18 to 24 years old only wore their device 76.6% of the time.

The increased usage also improved the time patients were able to keep their glucose level in the target range. Patients over 60 were in range 67.6% of the time, compared to just 50.3% of the time for patients aged 18 to 24.

The presentation highlighted that the healthcare company and patients' doctors have some work to do with younger patients, but it also noted an opportunity to grow sales, especially in older patients. Senseonics only recorded $4.3 million in revenue in the third quarter of last year.

Now what

George Soros taking a 5.1% stake in Senseonics suggests the guru sees some value in the struggling company, and it's not surprising that investors who follow Soros would jump in behind him. Just keep in mind that these bumps are often short-lived.

Senseonics' long-term value will ultimately be determined by its ability to sell Eversense -- not by who owns shares of the company. New coverage by Cigna effective earlier this month should help improve sales, but the company has a long way to go in its competition with other continuous glucose monitors.
A federal judge on Sunday denied a request by Roger Stone's lawyers that she be removed from the case in which she last week sentenced the long-time adviser to President Donald Trump to three years and four months in prison.

US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had been accused of bias by Stone's attorneys in a filing on Friday that called for her recusal.

Stone, 67, was convicted on November 15 of lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

In a court filing on Sunday, Jackson rejected his lawyers' arguments and defended her impartiality.

Trump has also complained about the judge in posts on Twitter. He has said he has no immediate plans to pardon Stone and would let the legal process play out, but that 'at some point I'm going to make a determination.'

His tweets about the case plunged attorney general, Bill Barr, into a crisis over the rule of law, with the president declaring himself the 'chief law enforcement officer,' and demanding Barr 'clean house.'

US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, left, denied a request by Roger Stone's, right, lawyers that she be removed from the case in which she last week sentenced the long-time adviser to President Donald Trump to three years and four months in prison

President Donald Trump has also complained about the judge in posts on Twitter

In sentencing Stone on Thursday, Jackson said the veteran Republican operative's lies to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election amounted to a threat to American democracy.

She 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.

She slammed the 67-year-old defendant as an 'insecure person who craves and recklessly pursues attention.'

'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.'

She had savaged him in his sentencing remarks - and rebuked the president himself, possibly for his tweet this morning which was during the first part of her hearing.

'This case did not arise because Roger Stone was being prosecuted by his political enemies,' Berman Jackson said.

She said Stone told 'flat out lies,' and that his conviction had nothing to do with whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

Former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone talking from the witness stand as Judge Amy Berman Jackson listens in Washington last Thursday

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.

He was spared immediate incarceration while Judge Berman Jackson decides whether or not to grant his request for a retrial.

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump board Air Force One as they depart Washington for India from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday

Department of Justice attorneys had originally requested a far harsher punishment of seven to nine years only to see their recommendation ripped up by Attorney General William Barr, who drew praise from Trump for labeling it 'excessive and unwarranted'.

The intervention sparked accusations of political interference, forcing Barr on the defensive as he denied bowing to White House influence and appealed for Trump to curb his explosive Twitter criticisms of Judge Jackson and the supposedly 'tainted' case against Stone.

The president had issued a rash of presidential pardons last week, leading to speculation Stone would be the next person to receive one.

But instead Trump said he was watching how the legal process played out.

'I am following this very closely, and I want to see it play out to its fullest,' the president said.

'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 is the best thing to do. Because I would love to see Roger exonerated, and I would love to see it happen. Because I personally think that he was treated very unfairly,' Trump said of his longtime adviser.

Stone was convicted of lying to the Intelligence Committee about his attempts to contact WikiLeaks, the website that released damaging emails about Trump's 2016 Democratic election rival Hillary Clinton that U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian hackers.
Till the end of December quarter, at $68 billion, Indias bilateral trade with the US has gone up above $64 billion with China. While both exports and imports to the US have been growing in the past few years, imports from China have been showing a declining trend.

Chennai: The US is expected to be Indias largest merchandise trade partner for the second straight year in FY20. While Indo-US trade continues to grow, Chinese trade has shrunk even before coronavirus started affecting the shipments. This is going to be beneficial for Indias overall trade balance as India has a trade surplus with the US against a trade deficit with China.

Till the end of December quarter, at $68 billion, Indias bilateral trade with the US has gone up above $64 billion with China. While both exports and imports to the US have been growing in the past few years, imports from China have been showing a declining trend.

In 2018-19, the US had become Indias largest partner with a total bilateral trade of $87.9 billion, leaving behind China with a trade of $87 billion in the second position. Until 2017-18, China has been Indias largest trade partner.

The trade with China is likely to get further affected in the March quarter owing to the Coronavirus infection that has hit shipments between both the countries.

Since the trade war started between the US and China, demand for Indian products has gone up in the US. There are multiple product categories for which our exports to US have increased whilst the increase in imports is mostly due to oil products and raw diamonds, said Pawan Gupta, founder of Connect2India.

Overall withdrawal of Generalised System of Preferences and higher tariffs on steel products did not have major impact on exports, said Ajay Sahai, director general and CEO of Federation of Indian Export Organisations.

While exports to the US grew from $47 billion FY18 to $52 billion in FY19, imports grew faster from $26 billion to $35 billion. This narrowed down the trade surplus from $21 billion to $16 billion. Till December, exports stood at $40 billion and imports at $27 billion.

The import of defence equipments and aircrafts from the US is likely to grow in the coming years. We have grown our exports in several categories, especially those in which there is tariff war with China. However, capacity is an issue as far as Indian export growth is concerned, said Sahai. However, he does not see the trade surplus with US turning into deficit at least in next five years.

In case of China, imports to India shrunk from $76 billion to $70 billion while exports grew from $13 billion to $16 billion. The trade deficit narrowed down from $63 billion to $53 billion. In the first three quarters of the current fiscal, the exports have already crossed $13 billion and imports stood at $51 billion. Trade war and coronavirus is an opportunity for India to increase its production and capacity. Though we have seen some investments happening in sectors like electronics, India is still awaiting large investments, added Sahai.
With the promotion of Norman Snyder Jr. to lead Reeds, the Norwalk-based company has its third CEO in the span of months, as it readies to go toe-to-toe with Canada Dry, Schweppes and Seagrams with a new ginger ale and rolling out other products pegged to its heritage in ginger beer.

Reeds installed its board chairman, John Bello, last year to replace former CEO Val Stalowir, who led the companys 2018 headquarters relocation to Norwalk from Los Angeles. Reeds has since sold its California production plant to a new company created by founder Chris Reed, who is producing ginger beer and root beer on an outsourced basis for other companies and Reeds, even as the company expands into new lines like ginger-based wellness shots.

Earlier in his career, Snyder was head of operations for SoBe, which was co-founded by Bello and based in Norwalk prior to its 2000 sale to Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo.

Snyder has led Reeds operations since September, previously holding CEO roles with Cleveland-based Avitae USA, which sells caffeinated water, and with the Rochester, N.Y., beer company High Falls Brewing.

At SoBe, he was with me from day one, where together we built a $275 million brand in five years, Bello said in November when mentioning Snyders initial hire. I have an exceptionally high level of confidence in his ability to effectively and efficiently drive our business to new levels.

At Reeds, Snyder can now add to his resume the responsibility for running a publicly traded company. Though it is one that has fallen from favor with investors, with shares dipping below the $1 threshold required to list shares on the Nasdaq National Market.

Reeds lost $12.3 million in the first nine months of 2019, with sales of $26.7 million off 7 percent from the same period the preceding year. In October, the company raised $7.5 million in a sale of stock, while issuing Stalowir shares valued at more than $300,000 as part of a separation agreement.

In his early tenure as CEO, Snyder is overseeing the launch of multiple new products, including Reeds Craft Ginger Mules  developed alongside the Oregon craft beer company Full Sail Brewing  while expanding distribution of zero-sugar sodas through Target and supermarket chains like Trader Joes.

Reeds is also in the early stages of adding ginger ale, Bello said in November, calling it a logical extension for the company without laying out a timetable.

We decided to go fishing in a broad pond, recognizing that the ginger ale category is really the star of the carbonated soft drink industry, Bello said. We have presented it to a number of accounts, all with great receptivity. Our hope is that we can break out of the natural specialty set into a broader category, and appeal to those users in the ginger ale category right now who are really looking for ginger in their product.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday threw out a court order to seize assets belonging to the Roman Catholic archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to pay pension benefits for Catholic school teachers.

The justices said in an unsigned opinion that a Puerto Rico court lacked the authority to issue an order to seize $4.7 million of the archdioceses assets to cover the pension benefits.

The high-court ruling does not end the fight over the benefits, which arose amid the long-running recession that led Puerto Ricos government to declare bankruptcy and Congress to create an oversight board to help the U.S. territory deal with more than $100 billion in debts and public pension obligations.

In the midst of the crisis, active and retired employees of the Catholic schools sued over claims that the archdiocese had effectively eliminated pension benefits.

The justices ruling Monday turned on a technical legal matter  the case was briefly in the federal court system and the local court seizure order was issued before the case was returned to Puerto Rico courts.

The larger undecided issue in the case is whether the archdiocese has religious protections under the Constitution that would prevent a court from interfering with its internal operations.
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A town with 28 hairdressers within a mile of each other has been slammed as overrun - while others praised the salons for keeping busy with so much competition.

There are eight hairdressers on a single 200-metre stretch of road in Ashford, Kent, leading some residents to wonder whether locals 'just have good hair'.

Last month - when HD Barbers moved in - the total was brought up to 28 in a town with a population of around 74,000.

Resident Angela Lines said the numbers make the town boring. She added: 'There are too many - same as cafes. Bring back shops we can browse around. It will keep the high street alive and browsing leads to sales.

A town with 28 hairdressers within a mile of each other has been slammed as overrun - while others praised the salons for keeping busy with so much competition

There are eight hairdressers on a single 200-metre stretch of road in Ashford, Kent, leading some residents to wonder whether locals 'just have good hair'. Pictured: Charisma salon on the high street

Resident Angela Lines said the numbers make the town boring. Pictured: Papa G's Barber on Bank Street in Ashford, Kent

Resident Ms Lines added: 'There are too many [salons] - same as cafes. Bring back shops we can browse around. It will keep the high street alive and browsing leads to sales'. Left: AT salon. Right: Namuna Hair & Beauty Salon

Just a few yards away from Papa G's Barber on Bank Street, another babershop, Razor Room can be found. These are two of many barbers found in Ashford

Not all residents think the amount of salons is a bad thing. Ashley Close told KentOnline: 'People should be applauded for starting their own business and making their own money, not whinged at.' Pictured: Tommy's Barbers

In Park Street there is NAT'ural Hair, while Christophe, Kings Barber, Gentleman's Barber and Master Cutters (pictured) are a stone's throw away

Koko Barbers and Dyson Brown are two more barbershops in close radius of each other. Some residents have slammed the town for having 'too many' salons

'We've certainly lost our nice market town we used to have.'

Not all residents agreed. Ashley Close told KentOnline: 'People should be applauded for starting their own business and making their own money, not whinged at.'

What are Ashford's 28 salons all within a mile of each other NAT'ural Hair, Christophe, Gentlemans Barber, Edge, Master Cutters, Dyson Brown Barbers, Tommy's Barbers, House of Hair, Papa G's Barber, Razor Room, Dyson Brown, HD Barbers, Celly's, Sweeneys, Namuna, AT Barbers, Charisma, Angels, Lounge Hair, KOKO for Men, Man Cave, Spencers Barbers, Melvin & Westleigh Brooks Barbers, Buzz Hair Design for Men, Riz Barber 3, Blossoms Hair and Beauty, Kings Barber and Trend Hair. Advertisement

The high street is crammed with hairdressers all within a few yards of each other, namely: Celly's, Sweeneys, AT, Charisma and Namuna.

In Park Street there is NAT'ural Hair, while Christophe, Kings Barber, Gentleman's Barber and Master Cutters are a stone's throw away.

There is also Edge - a vegan salon - in Castle Street, run by Janet Maria Clare, 48.

In Bank Street, almost every other shop caters for people's barnets, with Dyson Brown, Tommy's Barbers, House of Hair, The Old English Barber Shop, Papa G's Barber and the Razor Room a minute's walk from each other.

There are two hairdressers in the town's Park Mall while County Square shopping centre has a barber - Man Cave - too.

The average age of people in the town is 40 and it has an almost even split between women (51 per cent) and men (49 per cent).

Another resident, Louise Day, 39, said the numbers weren't a problem.

She said: 'Ideally we'd like a bit more variety but I guess if they're doing well it's hard to complain about it.

Another resident, Louise Day, 39, said the numbers weren't a problem. She said: 'Ideally we'd like a bit more variety but I guess if they're doing well it's hard to complain about it.' Pictured Gentlemen's Barber in Ashford

One of the 28 salons in Ashford, Kent, is Edge - a unisex organic and vegan salon - in Castle Street, run by Janet Maria Clare, 48

Christophe and NAT'ural Hair are two of 28 salons all in a single market town. NAT'ural is a newer addition while Christophe was established in 1972

'Do people here just have good hair? Maybe.'

A staff member at one of the women's salons said: 'At the end of the day they are all busy and they're all making money - maybe that's what High Streets should be like?'

There are an estimated 35,000 hairdressers in England, with almost 15 per cent in the south east, according to figures released by the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority.

A spokesman for Ashford Borough Council said as long as businesses were opening up, it was a positive sign.

He added: 'We support business in the town centre and a varied offer is critical to continue to grow the town centre.'
EDWARDSVILLE  In a 4-0 vote Thursday, the Joint Review Board (JRB) passed extending the citys tax-increment financing (TIF) district #2 to pay for a new parking structure. Lewis and Clark Community College abstained from voting; Edwardsville Public Library and District 7 did not send representatives.

Representatives of the city, Edwardsville Township, Madison County and a new public member all voted for the TIF extension and forwarded it to the city council for action. This TIF was established in April 1997 for $6 million and was amended in 2006 for $9 million. The JRB is the second stop in the citys effort to extend this TIF, which was originally scheduled to end at the end of 2021. Its end date is now Dec. 31, 2033.

Alderman Will Krause represented the city; Supervisor Fred Schulte represented Edwardsville Township; Manager Tim Bell represented Lewis and Clark Community College; Compliance Officer John Thompson represented the county; and the board chose Paul Bosch as the public member.

Mike Weber, director, and Adam Stroud, project planner, with PGAV Architects, serve as consultants on the project. Weber and Stroud took turns giving an overview of this TIF district and its extension.

To remove the parking strain from downtown streets, Edwardsville has long planned to build a parking garage behind city hall on several parcels of land. However, as the original TIF deadline loomed, the report claims that there was no time to allow for any meaningful level of TIF financing. Thus, an extension was applied for and granted.

Weber said the extension is covered by Illinois Senate Bill 2445, which amends the Gubernatorial and Commissions Act. Governor JB Pritzker signed that bill into law on Aug. 14, 2018. However, Weber said because the city added parcels and adjusted the budget and other changes, the full TIF extension amendment process must be followed.

This extension adds four smaller (0.66 acres) parcels along North Main Street to the project area boundary that were formerly part of TIF #1, which expired in 2011.

Three of those four parcels will be used to provide one of the garages access points. Stroud said according to act, these three added parcels are considered vacant land. The equalized assessed valuation (EAV) of these parcels have also underperformed compared to the citys EAV. Part of the surface parking lot behind the fourth parcel, Big Daddys, will become part of the proposed parking garage.

Local resident and TIF critic, Karen Zimmerman, assailed the extension as a $15 million change order, charged officials with corruption and said District 7 is on a state financial watch list.

She claimed that with this project, the various taxing districts are being asked to forego their share of the revenue for the next 12 years. She claims this TIF has material omissions and is part of a scheme to intentionally defraud taxpayers via the unlawful conversion and expenditure of taxpayer funds. She said residents are drowning in property taxes.

City officials have consistently pointed out over the past few months that the citys portion of property owners tax bills has remained nearly flat. Weber said that while Zimmerman correctly noted that the city has accomplished a lot with this TIF, the parking problem identified in the original TIF in 1997, remains.

Jason Henderson, District 7 superintendent, sent a statement via email Friday.

The district and the City of Edwardsville have always worked closely together on redevelopment plans and projects to ensure that the district is not detrimentally impacted, he said. We believe that the economic vitality of the downtown Edwardsville area is essential for improving the quality of life in our citys core and ultimately grows EAV to a level that benefits everyone.

The district has worked with the city to close another TIF early to allow the district to begin receiving tax revenues sooner than expected. Also, the district is comfortable that the annual pass-through of revenue it currently received from TIF#2 will continue with the proposed extension.

Stroud said there is a 10 percent revenue surplus declaration built into the budget that goes into effect in the 2020 tax year. These surpluses would go back to the county treasurer for distribution to all of the taxing bodies according to their portion of the levy. Stroud and Webb said this was done to offset the impacts to the taxing districts, even to Edwardsville. As an example, Weber said District 7 would receive 55 or 60 percent of the surplus.

Brett Reinert with Lewis and Clark Community College asked how much revenue the college would sacrifice with this project. Weber said the college would surrender $14.5 million in equalized assessed valuation (EAV).

It has yet to be determined if it might cost to park at the garage, but the city will likely own the building. Officials added that it is possible for this TIF to expire early, too.

The next step for the project is a public hearing on March 24 at 6 p.m. in the city council chamber at city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735
Taiwan bans its healthcare professionals from traveling abroad

ROC Central News Agency

02/23/2020 06:22 PM

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Sunday announced a prohibition on overseas travel by the country's healthcare professionals, saying it was a temporary measure to effectively manage human resources amid the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (), who heads the CECC, said that with the current shortage of manpower in the health system, Taiwan cannot afford to put its medical personnel into 14-day quarantine when they return from trips abroad.

The prohibition applies only to frontline medical personnel employed in hospitals nationwide and does not extend to the staff at clinics, according to the CECC.

Healthcare professionals who must attend important meetings and epidemic-related seminars abroad will have to obtain approval from the relevant health authorities at the local government level, the CECC said.

The announcement came one day after three local governments banned overseas travel by their public servants.

The island county of Penghu was the first to impose the ban, saying it was aimed at lowering the risk of its employees contracting the deadly virus.

Later in the day, Taichung and Tainan cities said their public servants would be prohibited from visiting countries and territories listed in the CECC's Level 2 and 3 travel alerts.

These include China, Hong Kong and Macau, for which the CECC has issued a Level 3 travel warning, its highest alert, which urges people to avoid unnecessary travel to those places, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The CECC has also issued travel warnings for Singapore, Japan and South Korea (Level 2), and for Thailand, Iran and Italy (Level 1), urging travelers from Taiwan to take precautions while in those countries.

The local governments in other municipalities in Taiwan have said they do not plan to prohibit overseas travel by their employees but will ask them to observe the CECC travel warnings.

Meanwhile, the national Directorate-General of Personnel Administration said Sunday that it respects the local governments' decisions but has no intention of imposing a national ban on public servants any time soon.

In the military, personnel have been advised against visiting any of the 29 countries and territories that have so far reported COVID-19 cases, after it was confirmed that two of the 600-plus infections in South Korea had occurred in the military.

Taiwan's military spokesman Shih Shun-wen () said the travel advisory was meant to prevent an outbreak among the troops responsible for national security.

Military personnel who choose to travel to any of 29 areas listed by the CECC as having confirmed COVID-19 cases will be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days after they return, and that time will be deducted from their annual leave, Shih said.

The 29 countries and territories listed by the CECC are China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Germany, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, India, the Philippines, Italy, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Finland, Cambodia, Nepal, Belgium, Sweden, Egypt, and Iran.

As of Sunday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan had climbed to 28, with one death.



(By Chen Wei-ting, Chen Yun-yu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/pc

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The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Armstrong World Industries, Inc.'s (NYSE:AWI) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months, Armstrong World Industries has a P/E ratio of 22.98. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 4.4%.

Check out our latest analysis for Armstrong World Industries

How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Armstrong World Industries:

P/E of 22.98 = USD106.45  USD4.63 (Based on the year to September 2019.)

Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each USD1 of company earnings. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.

Does Armstrong World Industries Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. The image below shows that Armstrong World Industries has a P/E ratio that is roughly in line with the building industry average (23.0).

NYSE:AWI Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 24th 2020

Armstrong World Industries's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. If the company has better than average prospects, then the market might be underestimating it. Further research into factors such as insider buying and selling, could help you form your own view on whether that is likely.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. And as that P/E ratio drops, the company will look cheap, unless its share price increases.

Armstrong World Industries shrunk earnings per share by 5.8% last year. But over the longer term (5 years) earnings per share have increased by 15%.

Story continues

A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).

Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context.

How Does Armstrong World Industries's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio?

Net debt totals 11% of Armstrong World Industries's market cap. That's enough debt to impact the P/E ratio a little; so keep it in mind if you're comparing it to companies without debt.

The Verdict On Armstrong World Industries's P/E Ratio

Armstrong World Industries has a P/E of 23.0. That's higher than the average in its market, which is 18.2. With modest debt but no EPS growth in the last year, it's fair to say the P/E implies some optimism about future earnings, from the market.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. People often underestimate remarkable growth -- so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
A 41-year-old businessman,



convicted for molesting a former actor on board a domestic flight in December 2017, has approached the Bombay High Court against his conviction and three-year sentence.

A sessions court on January 15, 2020 convicted Vikas Sachdev under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with an intent to outrage her modesty) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as the victim was a minor when the incident took place.

He was awarded three years' imprisonment in the case.

The sessions court had on the same day granted bail to Sachdev and suspended the sentence imposed upon him.

On February 20, the businessman filed his appeal before the high court, claiming that the trial court had erred in finding him guilty.

In his plea in the high court, Sachdev refuted the allegations levelled against him and said even before the trial court, the victim had not identified the accused.

He said in his plea that this was a fit case for the conviction and sentence to be quashed and set aside.

The appeal is likely to be taken up for hearing on March 2.

The incident took place when the victim, then 17 years old, was travelling by an Air Vistara flight from Delhi to Mumbai.

After landing, the victim narrated the ordeal through a video post on Instagram.

Sachdev was subsequently arrested and later released on bail.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By the fall of 2018, when Democrats were promoting a slate of centrist candidates to topple Republicans in Congress, Bernie Sanders was seeing a very different picture.

The Vermont senator and avowed democratic socialist was convinced his most fervent supporters were as energized as ever, ready to rally around the political insurgency flag he planted in 2016. He could keep stoking the deep frustration and mistrust of the political system and attract backers who had felt too disillusioned to bother voting in the past  much like President Donald Trump had on the right.

Sanders, 78, the oldest candidate in the race, also saw his unwavering commitment to universal health care, combating climate change, canceling student debt, and tuition-free college continuing to excite young people, including Latinos who came to call him Tio (uncle) Bernie.

And, most importantly, he was sure he'd have the money, enough consistent financial backing built on mostly small donations made online from around the country, to finish what he started in 2016, rising from an unknown nationally to a credible challenger to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

This time, Sanders' movement has a political machine to propel it.

Last time, we really did not know how this would go with our fundraising model," said Jeff Weaver, Sanders' senior adviser. "It ended up being $240 million, but we had no way of knowing that in the spring of 2015, so we were very slow to staff-up in early states. This time, we did things very differently. We knew we were a front-runner.

Now everyone else knows it, too. Sanders' lopsided win Saturday in Nevada caps his remarkable transformation from political insurgent to possibly even a favorite to face off with Trump in November. Both have campaigns built on mobilizing die-hard loyalists but also disaffected voters  even though their politics are polar opposite.

The Trump Democrats are people that got abandoned by the Democrat Party and Bernie was straightforward about that, said Jim Hightower, a populist former Texas agriculture commissioner who endorsed Sanders in 2016 and remains loyal to him.

Sanders' impressive campaign bank account has helped keep many others loyal to him as well. He raised nearly $96 million by the end of last year, raked in an additional $25 million in January and has vowed to raise and spend $1 billion to defeat Trump in November. His donors are like a faucet that he can turn on as needed because they contribute in small amounts, with little concern of exceeding federal limits.

That stream of cash has also meant Sanders could build a more professional operation, with longer-range planning and better organizational structure.

His last campaign didnt even have a human resources department, something that allowed multiple accusations of sexual harassment among staff to fester and forced Sanders to apologize before launching his 2020 bid. This time, Sanders has emphasized hiring more women and minorities to top positions, including Faiz Shakir, a Pakistani-American, who is the first Muslim to manage a major presidential campaign.

It's a money advantage that few of his competitors can match.

Beyond money and organization, Sanders has also worked to better frame issues. After he struggled in 2016 with foreign policy, Sanders spent the years between presidential runs giving speeches about America's place in the world and became an especially vocal critic of U.S. efforts to help Saudi Arabia fight a war against insurgents backed by Iran in Yemen.

He also worked for change within the structure of the national Democratic Party, muscling through rules changes that helped his campaign this time. Superdelegates, mainly elected officials and party leaders, helped Clinton secure the party's nomination four year ago. Sanders supporters helped force a change to limit their influence during the national convention coming up this summer in Milwaukee.

And his campaign drove changes in the way that Iowa reported its caucus results by reporting voters' first preference in addition to how many delegates a campaign won. That's allowed Sanders to crow about edging Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in the popular vote, even though the pair essentially tied in the number of delegates awarded.

One way to put it is the 2016 campaign was compost that the 2020 campaign has grown out of, said Norman Solomon, co-founder of the activist group RootsAction.org and a Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. A lot of campaigns go boom and then go bust after they are over. Bernie is still booming.

It didn't always seem that way. Sanders joined the 2020 race with polling that was largely stable but not overly impressive, showing him among the leaders with former Vice President Joe Biden, but potentially with less room for growth than newcomers like Buttigieg.

To improve his standing, Sanders began hiring staff in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada far faster than in 2016 when "he wasnt well-known and it took a while for people to catch on, said Jane Sanders, the senators wife and close adviser.

They didnt know him throughout all of the country and that hurt," she said. "They do now.

Rather than introducing himself to voters, Sanders focused on attracting Iowans who traditionally didn't vote, hiring students who lobbied their classmates. He ultimately won nine of the 13 precincts with more than 20% registered voters under 23.

Sanders also activated volunteers nationwide who supported him in 2016 and began pouring into Iowa as the election neared. By just before caucus night, his campaign said about 1,700 out-of-state volunteers had arrived.

I think a lot of people wanted change in the Obama years and we didnt see enough, said Boyd Walker, a 51-year-old real estate investor who drove from his home in Virginia to volunteer in Iowa for Sanders in the weeks before the caucus. Now were really ready for change.

The campaign also concentrated on 87 satellite caucuses, sites which Sanders supporters had lobbied for and which were designed to make voting more accessible for people unable to attend traditional caucuses  which, in some cases, were college students and minority voters.

The campaign said it built similarly strong racially diverse support in heavily Hispanic Nevada, where Sanders advertised in Spanish-language media and organized more than 30 events in Spanish, including a town hall led by one of his top supporters, New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.

It is attempting to do the same in California and Texas the largest states voting on March 2s Super Tuesday and home to an estimated 13.5 million eligible Hispanic voters. During a Saturday night rally in San Antonio, organizers led the more than 1,500 people in the crowd  some of whom didn't speak even basic Spanish  in cries of Arriba Tio Bernie!

Wooing minorities, especially African American Democrats throughout the South, was something Sanders was largely unable to do against Clinton in 2016. But his top advisers now say Nevada was a preview of their candidate's improved appeal with people of color that can help carry him through not only this year's primary but the general election against Trump.

Sanders' core message, though, remains an economic one. He's promising to reduce income inequality, appealing to Americans Sanders sees as most hurt by the current system, working-class people and those under 25  even though they tend to vote in lower numbers.

They are the hardest constituency to get out to vote, Shakir said. Theyve got other things on their mind.

The results so far have been mixed. Sanders vowed to spark unprecedented Iowa caucus turnout and failed. Eight days later he won a New Hampshire primary that featured a record of nearly 300,000 Democratic ballots cast  but that total was inflated by the state's voting-age population that's increasingly rapidly.

Early in the campaign it seemed that Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was ascendant, and Sanders adjusted. He replaced his state director in New Hampshire and in South Carolina, home to the South's first primary.

And then there was Sanders' heart attack Oct. 1.

With that, I think he's also reassessed the campaign. Similar to when you're looking at your life and looking at a campaign, you're trying to see what's working, what's not, said Shannon Jackson, Sanders' New Hampshire state director. It was a great point for us to pivot and really focus on various parts of the campaign that can really hopefully lead us to victory.

Indeed, Sanders was largely able to rebound not by overhauling his campaign, but by simply staying the same. Sanders' top policy advisers say he focuses on making big ideas relatable to people who have felt left out of the political process.

One area the campaign had hoped to stress more this time compared to his 2016 run was Sanders' personal side. In his announcement speech last March in Brooklyn, the senator spoke about growing up in a three-and-a-half room rent-controlled apartment nearby. In San Antonio on Saturday night, Sanders told a crowd about 150 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border that he understood the immigrant experience, speaking at length about his father arriving penniless in the U.S. from Poland.

While Sanders has made an undeniable connection with his voters, he hasn't done it by revealing much about himself, something he acknowledged in an interview that aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday.

I'm a kind of  private person in a sense, he said. And ... you know, I'm not particularly anxious to tell the world about everything personal in my life.

The higher he rises, though, the harder that may become.
TORRINGTON  First responders pulled six people out of Burr Mountain Pond Sunday morning, after the thin ice they were on gave way.

Five ice anglers went into the water or became stuck, according to Torrington Fire Chief Peter Towey. The sixth person was a bystander who tried to reach those in trouble but also became stuck on the ice.

Fire department personnel from Torrington and Winsted arrived on scene at 385 Burr Mountain Road 11:20 a.m.

Once there, firefighters suited up in ice rescue suits before they traversed the unstable and breaking ice to reach the victims who were located about 100 yards offshore, Towey said.

Four people were originally reported as having fallen through the ice.

All six people were rescued off the extremely unstable ice within about 40 minutes, Towey said.

LifeStar helicopters were sent to transport two of the patients, but staff at the LifeStar center did not say where the patients were taken.

Two other patients were taken to the hospital by ambulance, Towey said. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for over-exertion but is expected to return to service.

A volunteer crew was called in from Harwinton to cover any other calls in Torrington while personnel worked to save those stuck on the ice.

The ice fishing equipment could not be recovered because of safety concerns.

This was a very difficult and physically demanding rescue effort by all personnel involved, Towey said. Personnel involved performed admirably in challenging conditions.

The melting ice led to a similar rescue at Mount Tom State Park in Washington, where two people were rescued by bystanders after they went through the ice while fishing.

The ice is extremely unstable and must be avoided at this time, Towey said. Everyone is reminded that the ice is thin and unstable due to the warm weather and are advised to remain off it.
FGE recovers 55,000 square meters of land in Cancun

Cancun, Q.R.  A communique issued by the FGE reports the seizure of approximately 55,000 square meters of land Saturday morning that was obtained during the previous administration. La Fiscalia General del Estado says Investigative Police secured a property located in lots 2 and 4 in SM 295 of Cancun, which was related to a complaint for procedural fraud.

The FGE says that the land is part of the Instituto del Patrimonio Inmobiliario de la Administracion Publica del Estado (IPAE) and that it was sold below the real value during the past administration. The seizure of land was due to the proceedings undertaken by the ministerial authority since the property belongs to the Territorial Reserve of the State Heritage Institute in Quintana Roo. The land was being used for public parking.

The investigation is ongoing. The FGE says they are working on the necessary evidence to be able to request the corresponding arrest warrants, noting they will review the IPAI records in order to verify the file related to the property to determine the participation of employees of this institution in the events reported, and if the state has an impact on its assets.

The lot was insured and made available to the Public Prosecutors Office specialized in Attention to Patrimonial Crimes.

Photo: FGE

The land is alleged to have been obtained by brothers Alberto N and Heriberto N during the former Borge administration. The brothers were the owners of the Playa del Carmen newspapers Diario Respuesta and Polemica, which were at the service of then-governor Roberto Borge.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has delivered a heartfelt tribute to murdered Brisbane mother Hannah Clarke and her three children, promising further government resolve to tackle the scourge of domestic violence.

In a rare show of bipartisanship on the floor of the House of the Representatives, Mr Morrison began question time with an emotional statement, telling Federal Parliament lessons must be learned from their deaths at the hand of their estranged husband and father Rowan Baxter.

He said the actions of Baxter, who ambushed Hannah and their children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, on their way to school in their family car last Thursday - setting them on fire before killing himself - were "just too horrible to contemplate".

"The act itself and that somebody could perpetrate that act, particularly as a father... It is incomprehensible," Mr Morrison told Parliament.
This transmission electron microscope image shows the virus that causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the United States, emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab in February 2020. (NIAID-RML/CC BY 2.0)

More Coronavirus Cases Expected in Italy, EU in Coming Days, European CDC Warns

Officials have warned that Italy is likely to see a surge in cases of the Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 disease, in the coming days as the third coronavirus death in the country was confirmed on Feb. 23.

Italy is battling to contain the biggest outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, sealing off the worst affected towns and banning public events in much of the north amid a rising death toll with more than 130 cases reported since Friday.

Authorities in the wealthy regions of Lombardy and Veneto, which are the focal point of the flare-up, ordered schools and universities to close for at least a week, shut museums and cinemas, and called off the last two days of the Venice Carnival.

The civil protection unit said the number of cases of the highly contagious virus totaled 152, all but three of them coming to light since Friday.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in a statement Sunday it is closely monitoring the situation and working with Italian authorities towards limiting sustained local transmission.

The agency warned of an uptick of coronavirus cases in the country, and potentially within the EU, within the next few days.

As the situation is rapidly evolving, more cases are expected in Italy, and possibly in the EU, in the coming days, the ECDC said in a statement.

The ECDC added that it would issue an updated risk assessment on Monday after assessing the impact that the affected clusters in northern Italy will have on the overall risk for the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA).

The risk associated with the virus for people from the UK and the EU/EEA is currently considered to be low to moderate.

Italys third patient died of the illness on Sundayan elderly woman from the town of Crema, east of Milan, who was also suffering from cancer. The two other coronavirus deaths were elderly patients in northern Italy.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told state broadcaster RAI he was surprised by this explosion of cases, as he warned that the numbers would likely rise in the coming days. We will do everything we can to contain the contagion, he said.

Almost a dozen towns in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto with a combined population of some 50,000 have effectively been placed under quarantine, with locals urged to stay home and special permission needed to enter or leave the designated areas.

These extraordinary measures in northern Italy are essential to limit the outbreak and may need to be replicated in other communities in the coming days, the ECDC said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will receive US President and his family at the Agra airport on their arrival from Ahmedabad, officials said on Sunday.

"The Uttar Pradesh Governor and the Chief Minister will welcome Trump at the Kheria airport," Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N. Singh told IANS.



However, the two leader will not accompany the US President and his wife Melania Trump to the Taj Mahal.





Singh said, "Governor and Chief Minister shall stay at the airport and when the US President along with his family and several other officials return to the airport, they will send them off to Delhi."



On the arrangements on Trump's route from Kheria airport to the Taj Mahal, Singh said, "On the 13 km-long route we have planned performance by over 3,000 artists at 21 different locations."



Singh said at the airport over 250 artists will give special performance highlighting the culture of Uttar Pradesh like Brij, Awadh, special performance on Lord Krishna, dance themed on Radha and many others.



Huge billboards and cut-outs of Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi dotted the historic city on Sunday, including the airport and other public places.



According to authorities, hundreds of hoardings and cut-outs of Trump and Modi had been put across across the city, especially the 13-km route from the airport to the Taj Mahal.



The US President and his entourage will take the route on February 24 evening to visit the Taj Mahal, where they will spend about an hour.



The work of putting up hoardings -- with welcome messages for the visiting dignitary and his entourage -- as well as cut-outs, was still on and expected to be completed by early Monday morning.



The District Magistrate further said that entire route from airport to the Taj Mahal has been spruced up aesthetically and the US and Indian flags have been put up at roundabouts to give the area a festive look. We have done our best to welcome the US President to Agra.



Trump is scheduled to visit India on February 24 and 25 along with wife Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US officials.



The couple will spend the first day of the visit in Gujarat's Ahmedabad and Uttar Pradesh's Agra before moving to Delhi for the official reception and bilateral talks.



This is Donald Trump's first State Visit to India and also the first standalone visit by a US President to India.



Before Trump, US President Bill Clinton visited Agra in March 2000 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959.
A few hours after his email exchange with The Times, Mr. Reid released a statement reiterating his call last week for Nevada to jump ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire on the presidential nominating calendar.

I firmly believe that Nevada, with our broad diversity that truly reflects the rest of the country, should not just be among the early states, Mr. Reid said. We should be the first in the nation.

He added, I believe its time for the Democratic Party to move to primaries everywhere.

The Democratic National Committee will not take up the matter of which states will get to go first in the next presidential contest until at least 2021, and no vote on the issue is likely until 2022.

The party began to move away from caucuses during the aftermath of the nasty 2016 race between Hillary Clinton, the eventual nominee, and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

After Mr. Sanders and his allies claimed he was cheated out of a caucus victory in Iowa because of irregularities in the reporting process, the Democratic National Committee incentivized caucus states to shift to primaries. Only Iowa, Nevada, North Dakota and Wyoming, along with three territories, are holding caucuses this year.
As more than 20,000 US troops and 20,000 military vehicles began to arrive in Europe for the massive Defender 2020 exercise targeting Russia, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper took part in a war game at US Strategic Command headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska involving the simulated use of nuclear weapons against Russian troops.

The scenario included a European contingency where youre conducting a war with Russia and Russia decides to use a low-yield, limited nuclear weapon against a site on NATO territory, the Defense Department said in a background briefing Friday.

When pressed by reporters, the Pentagon made clear that as part of the exercise, the US launched a nuclear weapon against Russian troops in what the Pentagon called a limited response.

I mean, in the course of the exercise, we simulated responding with a nuclear weapon, the Pentagon briefer said.

U.S. Marines run to firing positions during live-fire training in Jordan [Credit: Marine Corps, Staff Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez]

None of the reporters at the background briefing asked the obvious question: Whether the use of nuclear weapons by both the United States and Russia led to a full-scale nuclear exchange. But as journalist Fred Kaplan recently commented, No one in officialdom has ever played a war game in which a limited attack believably stays limited. Things spiral out of control pretty quickly.

Russian authorities viewed the exercise as a threat. Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian legislatures upper house, linked the war game to the United States recent withdrawal from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.

If you conduct exercises on a nuclear response to an attack by an enemy, you are thereby convincing people that such an attack is likely, and you need not to negotiate or sign arms control agreements, but arm yourself, Kosachev told RIA Novosti on February 22.

Last year, the United States withdrew from the INF treaty, which prohibited the deployment of land-based missiles, including nuclear missiles, with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

The US is massively expanding and modernizing its nuclear arsenal. In December, Washington tested a ballistic missile that would have violated the treaty.

[Credit: US Army via Twitter]

These moves are part of US preparations for what Defense Secretary Mark Esper, speaking at this months Munich Security Conference, called high-intensity conflicts against competitors such as Russia and China.

In Fridays background briefing, the US officials went into detail on the US governments sweeping $1 trillion plan to enlarge the US nuclear arsenal, making clear that most of the nuclear modernization that you see before you started under the previous administration, started under the Obama administration. And were just continuing it.

Over the past two months, the US Navy deployed several new low-yield warheads on Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The move was widely condemned by arms control experts. Despite having just a fraction of the explosive force of normal nuclear warheads, these weapons are by all accounts indistinguishable from strategic nuclear weapons, the use of which would in most conceivable scenarios trigger a full-scale thermonuclear exchange and the end of human civilization.

As Kaplan recently warned, For many years, arms control advocates have argued that low-yield nuclear weapons are destabilizing because they lower the threshold between conventional and nuclear war. They seem to bethey are designed to bemore usable as weapons of war, and therefore some president, in a crisis, might feel more tempted to use them.

On Friday, the same day that the Pentagon disclosed the nuclear exercise, the first contingent of US tanks, troops and equipment arrived in the German port of Bremerhaven for Defender 2020. The exercise will involve 37,000 troops, including 20,000 soldiers transported across the Atlantic, in the largest US military deployment in Europe in 25 years.

The security order that Europe believed it had with Russia no longer works, Claudia Major, an expert in security and defense policy at a leading German think tank, told Deutsche Welle. Russia is no longer a strategic partner. Europeans have to deal with the question again: How do we defend ourselves in Europe?

The Trump administrations threats against Russia come as the Democrats, joined by a faction of anti-Trump Republicans, intensify their anti-Russia campaign, centered on allegations that the Trump administration is insufficiently confrontational toward Moscow.

In a column titled Why the Russians still prefer Trump, Washington Post columnist Max Boot defended his claim that Trump has been soft on Russia. He wrote: Its true, as Republicans say, that Trump sent anti-tank missiles to Ukraine--but only under conditions that make them useless against Russia.

He continued, In July 2017, Trump ended a covert program of training and supplying moderate Syrian rebelsa move long sought by Russia, as the Post noted. Boot added, Trump has facilitated Russian designs not only in Syria but also in Libya.

The Democratic impeachment drive was framed entirely on this pro-war basis, with Congressman Adam Schiff, speaking from the Senate floor on the second day of the impeachment trial of President Trump, declaring that the United States aids Ukraine and her people so that we can fight Russia over there and we dont have to fight Russia here.

Last month, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which for more than seven decades has maintained a Doomsday Clock, warned that human civilization is closer to midnight, i.e., total destruction, than at any other period in history, including the Cuban Missile Crisis at the height of the Cold War.

Civilization-ending nuclear warwhether started by design, blunder, or simple miscommunicationis a genuine possibility, the group said in its annual report. Any belief that the threat of nuclear war has been vanquished is a mirage.
Mike Bloomberg has delayed his CNN town hall by two days to make improvements after his shambolic first performance against fellow Democratic candidates was widely criticized.

The billionaire was attacked by multiple candidates, including senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts who questioned his use of non-disclosure agreements to resolve claims of sexual harassment and misconduct.

Sitting president Donald Trump also weighed in, branding his performance 'the worst in the history of debates'.

The former New York mayor has now shifted his one hour question-and-answer session with voters to Wednesday - so that he can spend more time preparing for the next Democratic debate tomorrow in South Carolina.

Mike Bloomberg's debate performance was criticized by Democrat and Republican pundits

Bloomberg (left) has had his one-hour question-and-answer debate with voters moved to Wednesday following his shambolic performance last week (pictured at the debate)

Despite the schedule change, his campaign team said he viewed the broadcast as 'crucial' and said 'the country can't afford to let Bernie Sanders skate by another debate without a focus on his extreme record'.

No other candidates have asked for their appearance to be rescheduled.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will appear at 9pm ET, followed by former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 10pm ET, and businessman Tom Steyer at 11pm ET.

On Wednesday Bloomberg will now appear first at 7pm ET, followed by former Vice President Joe Biden at 8pm ET, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar at 9pm ET and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren at 10pm ET.

The audience they face will be composed of Democrat voters, who will get to question each candidate.

Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned his use of non-disclosure agreements to cover up sexual harassment and misconduct claims

Bloomberg's performance at the last debate was slammed by Democratic and Republican pundits alike.

Senator Warren began her debate by saying: 'I'd like to talk about who we're running against: A billionaire who calls women 'fat broads' and 'horse-faced lesbians'. And no, I'm not talking bout Donald Trump. I'm talking about mayor Bloomberg.

'Democrats are not going to win if we have a nominee who has a history of hiding his tax returns, of harassing women, and of supporting racist policies like redlining and stop and frisk'.

Sitting president Donald Trump branded it the 'worst in the history of debates'.

'He was stumbling, bumbling and grossly incompetent,' said the president. 'If this doesn't knock him out of the race, nothing will. Not so easy to do what I did!'

Bloomberg has sunk $464million into his presidential campaign, prompting criticism and questions on whether he can buy his way to the White House.

Donald Trump's campaign in 2016 spent more than four times less at $94million.

Bloomberg will join his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination again on Tuesday in South Carolina.

He did not compete in the first four voting states but is on ballots in the slew of states that vote March 3.

The billionaire businessman is trying to stop Sanders from opening a substantial delegate lead that day.
LANSDALE  A tax discount on a planned apartment building in Lansdale is another step closer.

Developer Westrum made the case last Wednesday for a five-year phased-in tax discount for the Lansdale Luxor apartments, saying it could make or break the proposed project.

We couldnt move forward, we couldnt build this project (without the discount). And theres no way to value-engineer this project any more than we already have, said attorney Joe Clement.

Starting in fall 2018, developer Westrum has presented plans for Lansdale Luxor, a five-story building with 205 apartments, east of Broad and Vine Streets and south of the borough freight station. Those plans were approved by the boroughs planning commission in late November, councils Code Committee in early December, and full council later that month.

Financing and taxes on the parcel were first raised last September , when Westrums team asked the North Penn School Board for a LERTA, or Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act incentive, to phase in the increased property taxes over the next ten years. North Penns board asked for a period shorter than the proposed ten year phase-in, and asked the developer to have that conversation with Lansdales borough council first.

Clement and Westrum CEO Jon Herzog made the case for the LERTA to councils administration and finance committee earlier this month, and showed the same facts and figures to full council last Wednesday night. Underground contamination from prior industrial uses, combined with required relocation of a stream running through the property, have added costs the phased-in taxes would help offset, the two told council.

The property is contaminated. We did know it was contaminated when the property was put under agreement, but we did not know the entirety of what that contamination was, Clement said.

We do now know what that looks like, and what we have to do to remediate, he said.

Prior plans called for the stream to be covered and channeled through a pipeline, but more recent requirements by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers require the stream be moved in a walled channel and buffered by trees, changes the attorney said produced a tremendous amount of added cost.

Total construction costs are estimated to be around $34 million, Clement said.

LERTA doesnt mean tax free. Thats a common misconception. Right now, the property is taxed around $4,500 a year to the borough. That would continue throughout the project, Clement said.

With no development, that amount would stay level and yield a total of $49,749 in tax revenue to the town over the next ten years. Under the LERTA, that revenue would grow by just short of $20,000 per year once the project is finished, and by 2027 would yield a new annual tax revenue of $96,955 per year, and a total of nearly $688,000 in local real estate taxes to Lansdale over the same time period.

Thats it, in a nutshell, what were looking for. In addition to the revenues you get through taxes, and one-time (sewer) fees, there are also recurring fees that would come into the borough as well, Clement said.

Those one-time fees are estimated at roughly $656,000 in the first year, and other fees would then total roughly $71,783 annually, yielding a total revenue combining taxes and fees of roughly $2 million over the ten years, he said.

These projections are based on what occurs at other Luxor projects, so were very comfortable with those numbers, said Clement.

Councilman Leon Angelichio asked why Westrums figures showed the revenues scaling up over seven years, not five, and Clement said that was due to an estimated 18-month construction period. The councilman asked for details about the contamination cleanup, and Clement said monitoring wells already on the site would remain, and a vapor barrier would be installed underground, with no apartments below or on the ground level of the proposed building, only parking.

Councilwoman Carrie Hawkins Charlton asked if the LERTA would make or break the economics: Essentially, if we dont move forward with the LERTA, is that done with the project then?

The attorney answered that the LERTA would be needed to offset the remediation costs, and that all other plan approvals have already been granted.

Angelichio asked if the developer was confident in approval for the LERTA from the school district and from Montgomery County, and Clement answered that both were watching Lansdale to see their decision first.

We cant do it without you, Clement said.

Lansdales borough council next meets at 8:30 p.m. on March 4 with various committees starting at 6:30 p.m., all at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine St. For more information visit www.Lansdale.org.
Israeli practice of humiliating, withholding bodies of Palestinians is extension of control and war crime, analysts say.

Israels use of necroviolence on bodies of Palestinians has been condemned as part of its policy to exert further control over the people living in the occupied territories.

On Sunday, a video that went viral on social media showed an Israeli bulldozer violently scooping up the body of a Palestinian who had been shot by Israeli forces east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli authorities alleged that the man, identified as 27-year-old Mohammed Ali al-Naim  a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, was attempting to plant an explosive device near the Israeli fence.

The video showed a group of Palestinians running forward with a wheelbarrow to try to carry al-Naims body, as well as another man who was wounded, back from the fence but they were also targeted by Israeli soldiers.

At least two men were shot in the legs, according to Gazas health ministry.

Muthana al-Najjar, the journalist who shot the video, said the Israeli bulldozer, which was accompanied by a Merkava tank, ran over al-Naims body and tried several times to pick it up with its blade before taking it back to the Israeli side as the body dangled from the edge of the blade.

Desecrating the dead body of a young unarmed man on the borders of the Gaza Strip in front of the cameras of the whole world is a heinous crime that adds to the occupations list of crimes against our Palestinian people, said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the Hamas movement that governs the Gaza Strip, in a press statement.

According to Budour Hassan, a legal researcher with the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC), this necroviolence  the act of humiliating human bodies  is a means of exerting control over bodies of the Palestinians.

We see it as an extension of an entire policy designed by Israel to control bodies of Palestinians, Hassan told Al Jazeera.





The word necroviolence, Hassan added, is borrowed from anthropologist Jason De Leons book, The Land of Open Graves, in which he coined the term to describe the mistreatment of bodies of migrants who crossed the US border from Mexico.

Hassan added that while desecrating Palestinian bodies was not exceptional to the Israeli forces, the video of the incident was a rare instance where it was carried out publicly.

Israel carries out similar forms of humiliation on bodies silently in morgues or in the cemeteries of numbers, she explained, referring to mass graves marked with numbers etched on metal plates rather than names.

The cemeteries are situated in secret locations that Israel has deemed closed military zones. Some of the bodies have been there since the 1967 war.

Furthermore, the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv, which holds bodies of Palestinians killed in alleged attacks on Israelis, is notoriously known as the place where Palestinian organs and body parts have been harvested.

Collective violence

According to JLAC and Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights, an NGO, Israel is the only country in the world that has a policy of confiscation of human remains, where it relies on regulations dating back to 1945 (during the British Mandate) as grounds for its policy.

In September 2019, the Israeli High Court approved the practice after several legal cases were brought against the state. According to Adalah, the ruling stated that emergency regulations allowed the Israeli military to order temporary burial of Palestinians classified as enemies based on considerations that take into account state security, civil order, and the need to negotiate for the return of the bodies of Israeli soldiers.

However, international law considers the practice a violation of human rights. According to the Geneva Conventions, the parties of an armed conflict must bury the deceased in an honourable way, if possible according to the rites of the religion to which they belonged and that their graves are respected, properly maintained, and marked in such a way that they can always be recognised.

Ramy Abdu, the founder of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, said Israel withholding bodies of Palestinians is an act of collective violence that is considered a war crime.

The Israeli authorities have repeatedly adopted a policy of withholding Palestinian bodies, which blatantly contradicts several international conventions, Abdu told Al Jazeera. Articles in the Geneva Conventions assure the necessity of burying the bodies of deceased detainees or those who were killed with respect according to procedures that are appropriate with their religious culture, he added.

Dehumanising Palestinian bodies

According to the JLAC, 52 bodies of Palestinians have been detained by the Israeli government as part of a cabinet decision in 2016.

A further 18 bodies were also detained by Israel from the 2014 Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, whereas the cemeteries of numbers hold at least 253 bodies.

There are two branches to this policy, Hassan said. One is the legalised violence that is approved by the Israeli High Court, and the other is the violence practised by the Israeli army. Both follow the same pattern of dehumanising Palestinian bodies.

It is widely known that Israel employs the practice as a tactic for leverage in negotiations. In 2012, Israel released bodies of 90 Palestinians in a gesture for reviving peace talks. Between 2013 and 2014, some 27 bodies were returned.

Speaking about Sundays incident, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett confirmed the bulldozer was used to collect al-Naims body. He said he intended to keep the bodies from Gaza to use as bargaining chips with Palestinian militants in body-swap deals, and slammed the uproar over withholding al-Naims body as the hypocritical criticism of the left.

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I back the IDF that killed the terrorist and collected the body, he said in a post on Twitter. This is how it should be done, and this is how it will be done.

Hassan said while Bennetts comments are not surprising, they are interesting in the way it justifies the extent to which Palestinians have been dehumanised in Israeli media and by Israeli officials which is a culmination of the whole system of necroviolence that is being exerted on Palestinians.

In a letter sent to the Israeli chief military advocate general, Adalah called for a criminal investigation of the incident, and termed the manhandling of the body a blatant violation of international criminal law, human rights and humanitarian law.

The Israeli Supreme Court has likewise recognised in past rulings that harm to the dignity of the deceased is a violation of Israels basic law: human dignity and liberty, the centre said.

Aida Touma-Sliman, a Palestinian Israeli member of Knesset representing the Hadash party  a part of the Joint List alliance, called Bennett the minister of death and brutality.

They steal a body, abuse it with a bulldozer and still argue that the army is the most moral in the world, she said. Since Bennett took office as defence minister, hoarding bodies to bargain with is Israels declared policy.

Ofer Cassif, another Joint List parliamentarian, called the abduction of a body as the nauseating, blood-thirsty act of vampirism.

Here is what [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu has to offer: Siege, killing and abducting bodies, Cassif wrote on Twitter. We need to put an end to their celebration of death.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Karo, North Sumatra  Tue, February 25 2020

Leisure time: A man paddles a canoe in the middle of Lake Lau Kawar in Karo regency, North Sumatra.

The 200-hectare lake, with its calm, clear blue waters, is located around 70 kilometers from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra.

The trip from Medan to the lake usually takes around three hours. The lake is located at the foot of Mount Sinabung, a volcano in Namanteran district in Karo regency.

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New Delhi, Feb 24 : Don't wait for a special day to express your feelings towards someone you look forward to growing old. Prashant Pitti, Co-Founder and Director, EaseMyTrip suggests seven of the most romantic places in India to propose to the love of your life.

Goa: On a cruise during sunset

With charming beaches, hippie vibe and passionate nightlife, the place sets the vibe of cheeriness. Choose a calm and romantic yacht cruise and spend some moments in each other's company while taking advantage of this gorgeous location in proposing to your love.

Srinagar: Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

Indulged into a flawless beauty of nature, a shikara ride on Dal Lake is a wonderful experience. The whole background is simply indulgence into the glory of romance and you can use this romantic setting to open your heart.

Jaisalmer: Starry night camping

Spending a night under the stars has a special romantic appeal and your experience can be really intensified when you camp in Jaisalmer. The gorgeous setting of the stars in the vast desert creates a magical aura and ensures you spend some really wonderful moments with the person you love.

Ooty: In the rains

Monsoon in Ooty is an amazingly romantic experience. This splendid land gets covered with a grayish shade and reflects a wild charm with colorful flora. Rains in the Ooty enhance its beauty due to the blossoming of different regional flowers and verdant green surroundings. The place appears awe-inspiring in the rains and you can choose the place to express your feelings. While getting wet in the rain, you can simply bend down and express your desire to marry. Only a 'yes' will be the answer.

Jaipur: Hot air balloon

It is fantastic to enjoy rides in hot air balloons. These rides set romantic expectations for people slightly above in the skies. Taking your love for a hot-air balloon ride over majestic forts and palaces of the pink city seems like a fairytale. You can literally feel like you are flying above the sky with your sweetheart. When your girl is enjoying this romantic ride with you, then open up and say whatever you feel for her.

Taj Mahal: In front

What can be more beautiful than proposing your love in front of the Taj Mahal?. It is the most beautiful symbol of love that has ever existed. The beauty of the Taj makes everyone mesmerized with its purity and awesomeness. Tell your partner that you can't afford to make such an expensive monument to prove your love feelings for them are nowhere less than Shah Jahan's for Mumtaj.

(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
(Natural News) Iron is an essential mineral that plays a key role in producing hemoglobin  a complex protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Aside from that, this mineral also has a wide variety of other beneficial effects on overall health, including eliminating fatigue, improving muscle strength, preventing anemia and supporting the immune system. However, like all other nutrients, recent research suggests that too much iron can be harmful to your skin health.

A study published in the journal PLOS Medicine found that high iron levels can lead to an increased risk of developing bacterial skin infections. This global study is the first to use large-scale population data to investigate this association.

We used a statistical method, called Mendelian randomization, that employs genetic data to better estimate the causal effect of iron status on 900 diseases and conditions, Beben Benyamin, the studys co-lead author, said. Through this, we found a link between excess iron and a reduced risk of high cholesterol, Benyamin added.

The dark side of iron

While there is plenty of research available that highlights the positive effects of iron consumption in the body, there arent many studies that look into the negative effects of excess iron. In this global study, researchers from the University of South Australia, in collaboration with Imperial College London and the University of Ioannina in Greece, explored the broad clinical effects of varying iron status.

To do so, the researchers used the genetic and clinical data from around 424,439 people, aged 40 to 69, who are enrolled in the U.K. Biobank. The researchers claim that their study was able to rapidly determine the effects of raised iron status on hundreds of clinical outcomes using data that has been already captured. From their analysis, they were able to document the positive effects of iron  namely its ability to protect the body against anemia and reduce the risk of high cholesterol.

Anemia refers to a condition wherein there are not enough healthy blood cells to circulate the oxygen throughout the body. According to the World Health Organization, anemia affects about 1.62 billion people worldwide, which is equivalent to 24.8 percent of the population.

However, the researchers also revealed that excessively high iron levels can also increase your risk of developing bacterial skin infections like cellulitis. (Related: Iron supplements cause more harm than good.)

Although there are previous trials that manipulated iron status in people with anemia, none of them so far have focused on managing skin infections or regulating cholesterol using iron levels. The researchers believe that they need significantly more trial data before even attempting iron manipulation.

In this study, we have provided population-based evidence that iron is associated with certain diseases. The next step is to investigate whether direct manipulation of iron levels improve health outcomes through clinical trials, said Benyamin.

Natural ways to treat a bacterial infection

The common trend nowadays is to use antibiotics to handle bacterial infections. However, there is a growing concern that these bacteria can develop resistance to the antibiotic medicine recommended by most health experts. Thankfully, there are natural remedies available that have been used for years to treat various skin bacterial infections

Aloe vera. This plant has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a fantastic remedy for any skin condition, especially bacterial skin infection. You can apply freshly extracted aloe vera gel directly on the affected areas of the skin then leave it for a few hours before rinsing with water. Repeat this process regularly 2 to three times a day. Turmeric. This spice is famous for the variety of health benefits it provides, such as its potent anti-inflammatory properties. This is all thanks to turmerics active ingredient, curcumin, which exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which are essential in fighting bacterial infections. You can create a paste-like substance by mixing water and freshly ground turmeric. Then, apply this paste on the affected areas of skin and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing off with water. Tea tree oil. This essential oil has powerful anti-bacterial properties that help you treat a wide variety of skin infections. Pour a few drops of this essential oil in coconut oil before applying the mixture on the bacteria affected skin. Garlic. This kitchen staple contains a compound called allicin that works effectively in treating bacterial infections. For skin infections, you can apply a bit of garlic oil directly on the affected skin and massage gently for a few minutes to ensure absorption and equal application.

Nutrients.news has everything you need to know about iron and other minerals.

Sources include:

MedicalNewsToday.com

Journals.PLOS.org

WHO.int

DIYRemedies.org
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Rami Ayyub

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Gaza militants on Monday fired rockets towards Israel, which responded with air strikes, in the second day of an escalation that began to ebb after the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad announced a halt to its attacks.

Islamic Jihad has fired 80 rockets towards Israeli communities along the Gaza border since Sunday, an Israeli military spokeswoman said, while Israel has attacked sites in Gaza and Syria that killed three Islamic Jihad members.

The violence comes a week before an Israeli election in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a fifth term in office after two inconclusive votes.

Islamic Jihad said earlier on Monday it had ended its "military response" to Israel. But it then reversed course and resumed firing rockets, saying Israel had continued air strikes after the militants' apparent de-escalation.

"We have carried out a response in order to stress our position: bombardment for bombardment," said Abu Hamza, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad's armed wing.

A Palestinian official later said that Israel and Islamic Jihad had reached a "reciprocal and simultaneous" ceasefire, brokered by Egypt and the United Nations and set to take effect at 23:30 (21:30 GMT).

The Israeli military said its jets truck an Islamic Jihad training and weapons storage facility in southern Gaza, as well as other underground infrastructure.

"Yesterday we attacked in Syria and in Gaza. We are continuing to strike now with jets, tanks and helicopters," Netanyahu said in a statement on Twitter on Monday evening.

"We will continue to strike until quiet is restored," Netanyahu added.

Israel's defence ministry said it had closed all of its border crossings with the Gaza Strip, which it keeps under blockade citing security concerns, and closed the coastal enclave's waters from fishing. Crossings would remain closed except for humanitarian cases, a statement said.

Story continues

The latest fighting began around dawn on Sunday when Israeli troops killed an Islamic Jihad member who was trying to plant explosives near Israel's border fence with the Gaza Strip.

Video widely shared on social media showed what appeared to be the lifeless body of the militant dangling from an Israeli military bulldozer as it removed the corpse.

The images created an uproar in Gaza, prompting calls for retaliation. Islamic Jihad later fired a barrage of rockets into Israel.

Just before midnight on Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck what the military called "a hub of Islamic Jihad's activity in Syria" in the Adeliyah region outside Syria's capital, Damascus.

Islamic Jihad continued to fire rockets into southern Israeli communities into Monday as funerals for the group's two dead militants were held in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus.

The Gaza rocket fire sent residents of southern Israel running to shelters, and the Israeli military said it had closed down roads in the area as a precaution. No casualties were reported.

There was no sign that Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas had been drawn into the rocket firing.

An uneasy truce between Israel and Hamas has helped stave off the sort of large-scale fighting that led to Israel-Gaza wars in 2014 and 2008.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Rami Ayyub and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Hugh Lawson and Dan Grebler)
LONDON  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is not a free-speech champion but an ordinary criminal whose publication of secret documents put many people at risk of torture and death, a lawyer for the U.S. government said Monday as Assanges extradition hearing opened in a London court.

Assanges lawyer countered that the Australian computer expert was being victimized as a result of the declaration of war on leakers and journalists by the administration of President Trump.

The U.S. wants to try Assange for espionage over the 2010 publication of hundreds of thousands of secret military documents and diplomatic cables. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

Lawyer James Lewis, representing the U.S. government, called WikiLeaks 2010 document deluge one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.

Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a license to break ordinary criminal laws, he said.

Dozens of Assange supporters protested outside the high-security Woolwich Crown Court, chanting and setting off a horn as District Judge Vanessa Baraitser began hearing the case. Assange, 48, attended the proceedings, brought there from Belmarsh Prison next door, where he has been imprisoned for 10 months.

Assange has been indicted in the U.S. on 18 charges over the publication of classified documents. Prosecutors say he conspired with U.S. army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password and hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Assange argues he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection, and says the leaked documents exposed U.S. military wrongdoing. But Lewis said Assange was guilty of straightforward criminal activity in trying to hack the computer. And he said WikiLeaks activities created a grave and imminent risk to U.S. intelligence sources in war zones, who were named in the documents.

Jill Lawless is an Associated Press writer.
Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday (February 23) asked China to give a "positive consideration" over relief and evacuation flight India wanted to send to Wuhan to evacuate the Indian citizens living there.

"In a humanitarian gesture of medical relief, a gift reflecting the solidarity of the people of India with the people of China, is expected to be delivered to Wuhan by a special flight. We have also called upon the Chinese authorities to allow Indian citizens and those of our neighbouring countries to return by the same flight. We hope that they will give it positive consideration," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently written to Chinese President Xi Jinping and offered Indian assistance in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 2,000 people in China. The request for relief and evacuation flight was sent on February 13 and the proposed flight was expected to take off on February 20 but no clearance was given by Chinese side. During this time period three foreign flights were able to leave Wuhan, the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak in China.

India also reminded China, that it will "precautions... in accordance with the WHOs advisory about the outbreak of Corona virus infection, which is a global public health emergency" after Beijing called for ease of restrictions on trade and travel.

MEA spokesperson added, "Some restrictions have been imposed on the export of certain medical equipment in view of the fact that these items are in short supply here too."

"Responding to the needs of our Chinese friends, the Government had allowed a one time exemption for the export of some items which had been restricted for export," he noted.

Chinese embassy in a statement called on Indian side to "review the epidemic situation in an objective, rational and calm manner" and "resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between our two countries as soon as possible."
W hen was the last time you found a spare hour to meditate? Frankly, have you ever?

If you call the city home, chances are youre more likely to microdose your mindfulness. For those who choose yoga just for the savasana at the end or plug into Headspace mid-commute, why not multi-task mindfulness into your morning skincare regime too?

Thanks to a rise in beauty brands incorporating slow beauty practices into streamlined skincare designed for modern life, its time to embrace ritual over routine. From aromatherapy shower sprays to face oils that come with their own breathing exercises, heres a guide to Gen Zen.

Champo

Kapha Balancing Shampoo, 18.50, Shop it here / Champo

Pronounced shar-pour, Champo is the Sanskrit term for shampoo and refers to the ancient Indian practice of cleansing, soothing and massaging the head. Spiritually superior to our standard lather, rinse and repeat, the ritual incorporates handcrafted blends of plant oils and extracts  divulged to founder Kuldeep Knox by her Indian grandmother who had maintained lustrous hair well into her Seventies  along with Ayurvedic healing principles which have been streamlined to complement modern life.

The range is divided into the three Ayurvedic Dosha types; Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Head to the brands site, where you can take a quiz to identify your Dosha and in turn, reveal character traits of your hair.

Vatas element is air, which dictates that hair can be dry, delicate and stubborn to style, therefore, craving hydration, control and shine. Pitta is fire, which is said to consume energy. Fuelled by environmental factors such as pollution, poor water quality and lack of sleep, Pitta hair types  often fine in texture  require strength and nourishment.

Conversely, Kapha  a mix of earth and water elements  is represented through an imbalance, such as oily roots and dry ends, and therefore behaves best when it achieves harmony. Each Dosha boasts its own shampoo and conditioner, made in the UK and specially formulated from 98 per cent naturally derived ingredients, from toning turmeric to energising essential oils.

Earl of East

Shower Spray, 24, Shop it here / Earl of East

To complement its line of scented candles and soothing bath salts, handcrafted-in-Hackney boutique brand Earl of East has introduced a duo of aromatherapy sprays to turn daily routines into self-care strategies. The first is a sleep mist, laced with mandarin, lavender and frankincense to spritz over your linen before bed. The other is a shower spray named Mezame, meaning to awaken from sleep. Made from 100 per cent eucalyptus oil, simply spray into the hot water before stepping in and let the fragrance diffuse and fill the room for a morning shower that could rival any spa.

Kyushi

Shop Kyushi's products here / Kyushi

Taken from the Japanese word meaning pause, Kyushi (pronounced key-you-see) champions slow skincare which gives you permission to do just that  to stop, take a deep breath and focus, instead of slathering on your serum with one hand while checking your morning emails on your phone with the other.

When I discovered there was research showing that it takes approximately 21 minutes for the properties of essential oils to reach every cell of the body, I knew that I wanted to create skincare that would benefit both skin and mind, says founder and Hollywood film make-up artist Alice Moore.

Simple and effective, there are three face oils in the range, designed to guide you through each day, every season and any lifestyle change: energising Orange & Neroli, calming Jasmine, Lavender & Cedarwood and reparative Chamomile and Helichrysum, along with a nutrient-dense Power of Ten booster oil which is perfect for sensitive skin and the eye area or combined to supercharge other Kyushi oils.

But crucially, application is just as important  if not more so  as the product itself. Inspired by the Japanese belief in being in the moment, the ritual involves pausing for a few moments twice a day and placing three drops of your chosen oil in the palm of your hand. Gently rub together and cup hands over nose, close your eyes and take three long, deep breaths, before finally applying the oil to your face, neck and chest.

Saint Iris Adriatica

Saint Iris Adriatica Purity Paste, 48, Shop it here / Saint Iris Adriatica

Inspired by therapeutic plant remedies and based around fjaka  the Croatian concept of me time  Saint Iris Adriatica believes in a holistic approach to what it calls whole-body wellness with products that can be used on both the face and body alike.

There are currently five products to choose from including a radiance boosting Vitality Spritz, revitalising Energy Cleanse shower gel and nourishing Serenity Salve moisturiser. Its Wake-Up Droplets also combine Adriatic mountain daisy extract, vitamin C and prebiotic pomegranate enzyme within a silky gel-serum to smooth, brighten and balance from top to toe.
How did that help you tell your own story?

It helped me realize that mine was not just personal, but one of many women and children, that we all carry. But I didnt feel ready to share it when #MeToo emerged. It took me a long time to make the personal journey to look at myself as a victim. I also dont think I moved any faster than French society.

Some politicians in France criticized you for sharing your story in the media without pressing charges initially. Why did you do that?

We have a justice system that doesnt make violence against women a priority. Some public figures expressed their surprise, but do they know what it takes, today, for a woman to face the judicial system in France? Does anyone take into account the huge challenges that lay along the path of a female victim of sexual violence?

My case is now being treated in an ideal manner, with trained police and investigators who are attentive and well-meaning. I wish all survivors could have treatment like this.

Some women have complained that their cases didnt receive the same treatment.

Under French law, rape is a sexual act committed with violence, surprise or under constraint: It is centered on the method used by the abuser, not the absence of consent from the victim. But what if during the assault a victim is in total shock? How do you seek justice?

We also have to believe all the women who speak out: Whenever a woman has less power than a man, one suspects her of wanting revenge. We have nothing to gain from coming forward as a victim, and the consequences on our private life are very negative.
Mike Bloombergs campaign had sharp words Monday for Sen. Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary, after the word oligarch  often uttered during Sanders speeches and seen on signs at his rallies across the country  scrawled its way, in spray paint, to a Bloomberg campaign office in Chicago.

Yet again, one of our campaign offices has been vandalized with derogatory language  using the word oligarch  in an act of hate," Kevin Sheekey, campaign manager for the former New York City mayor, said in an emailed statement. We cannot, and will not, tolerate these acts.

Sheekey said the campaign does not know who is directly responsible, but added that Sanders and his campaign have repeatedly invoked this language and the word oligarch specifically when discussing Mike Bloomberg. Sen. Sanders refusal to denounce these illegal acts is a sign of his inability to lead, and his willingness to condone and promote Trump-like rhetoric has no place in our politics."

The campaign headquarters of Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg is seen after it was spray-painted with the words "racist," "sexist," "GOP" and "oligarch" in Chicago on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Police are investigating the incident. (Carly Behm/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)AP

Police are investigating after responding to a call around 1 a.m. Monday that the words oligarch, GOP, sexist and racist were painted onto the front windows of a Bloomberg office in the North Side, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Just days ago, the Bloomberg campaign said a field office in Knoxville, Tennessee, was vandalized with orange spray paint that appeared to say resist and f--- Bloomberg, NBC News reported.

Sheekey again urged Sanders to call on supporters to cease their spread of hateful rhetoric.

In an email Monday, the Sanders campaign declined to comment.

Sanders, who lost the 2016 nomination to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has been using the word oligarch" in his speeches and comments for several years. The Vermont progressive has long denounced the billionaire class and pushed for a government agenda and policies that he says support the working class.
The government of Wuhan, the epicentre of the Chinese coronavirus outbreak, has rescinded an earlier statement announcing the relaxation of the city-wide lockdown.

On Monday afternoon, a notice on the provincial government website announced that non-residents in quarantined Wuhan would be permitted to leave for the first time since the city was closed off in January.

But that notice was later deleted, with another posted by Wuhans municipal government.

The notice said the earlier announcement was made by traffic controllers without permission from central leaders or the disease control command centre.

Those responsible for the earlier announcement are already facing severe criticism and punishment, the statement from the Wuhan government read.

(dpa/NAN)
[February 24, 2020] Telos Corporation Nationally Designated as One of the Best Workplaces for Commuters in 2020

Telos among select group of U.S. companies recognized for offering employees exceptional commuter benefits and reducing environmental impact. ASHBURN, Va., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telos  Corporation , a leading provider of cyber, cloud and enterprise security solutions for the worlds most security-conscious organizations, has been named one of the 2020 Best Workplaces for Commuters for offering employees exceptional commuter benefits. Telos is among a select group of workplaces in the United States that have achieved the Best Workplaces for Commuters National Standard of Excellence by providing an array of commuter benefits, resulting in at least 14 percent of their employee base not driving alone to work within a 12-month period. Telos offers employees several commuter benefit options, including: Teleworking program, which reduced the number of commuting trips employees took per week by at least 6 percent,

Compressed work schedules that reduced overall employee commuting trips, and

Secure bicycle parking at Telos headquarters, and on site showers and lockers accessible to employees who walk or bike to the workplace. Telos Corporation is one of the top employers in the nation offering high level commuter benefits to their employees, said Julie Bond, program manager, Best Workplaces for Commuters. Telos made the list because they offer transportation choices that include a teleworking program and the option of a compressed work week. Telos gives its employees the support they need to get to and from work and be at their best before, during, and after their workday. We take immense pride in receiving our 2020 Best Workplaces for Commuters national designation, said Shelley Trask, vice president of human resources, Telos. Our benefits give us a competitive edge in employee recruitment nd retention while helping reduce traffic congestion and negative environmental impact.



The Best Workplaces for Commuters program offers designated organizations access to a range of support services to assess and promote non-driving commuting of employees, including organizational assessment and implementation tool-kits, web-based tools and webinars, staff training, and information exchange. To learn more about a career at Telos, visit: www.telos.com/careers

About Telos Corporation

Telos Corporation empowers and protects the worlds most security-conscious organizations with solutions for continuous security assurance of individuals, systems, and information. Telos offerings include cybersecurity solutions for IT risk management and information security; cloud security solutions to protect cloud-based assets and enable continuous compliance with industry and government security standards; and enterprise security solutions to ensure that personnel can work and collaborate securely and productively. The company serves military, intelligence and civilian agencies of the federal government, allied nations and commercial organizations around the world. The company is a recipient of the prestigious James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award from the Defense Security Service (DSS), awarded to less than .03% of eligible organizations. For more information, visit www.telos.com and follow the company on Twitter @TelosNews About Best Workplaces for Commuters

Best Workplaces for Commuters is the national authority on recognizing and assisting workplaces that provide exceptional commuter benefits to employees. More than a recognition program, the Best Workplaces for Commuters program provides support needed to create and sustain an employer-provided commuter benefit program, including online assessment tools, advisory services, case studies, tool-kits, web-based tools, webinars and training. Best Workplaces for Commuters represents over 350 workplaces with Best Workplaces for Commuters designation representing over 2,000,000 employees. The Best Workplaces for Commuters program is managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida with support from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Contact:

Allison Phillipp

Telos Corporation

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 703.724.3642



[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
AN international dressage rider has been given the go-ahead to build a private riding school in the grounds of her home.

Anna Wilson, of Upper Bolney Road, Harpsden, was granted planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council which said the development would not significantly harm views of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Mrs Wilson says she needs the centre, which will be 6.25m high and measure 64m by 21m, to further her career as it will meet Olympic standards and will have a viewing gallery and large mirror to check her form.

Several neighbours objected, saying it would clash with the rural surroundings due to its industrial scale and their narrow street would be damaged by heavy goods lorries during construction.

The council agreed it would be undoubtedly significant in scale for a private facility but accepted Mrs Wilson's case that it was needed to allow her to compete at the highest level.

They said views of the site from surrounding roads and footpaths were limited and the site was well screened, although more trees or hedges should be planted to make up for the handful which will be removed.

The neighbours said the school would be visible from their properties but the council said this wasn't a planning consideration as there would be no noise disturbance or overlooking. It imposed a condition banning commercial use.

Harpsden Parish Council raised no objections as long as the school remained private and there were also six letters of support.

Mrs Wilson, who lives with her husband Richard, has previously built a stable, horse walker and storage shed on the site.

She began competing nationally in 2006 and made her international debut for Poland, of which she is also a citizen, in 2017.

She currently takes her horses to hired indoor training facilities and says the school will reduce vehicle trips to and from the site, reducing air pollution and noise in her road.
A majority Supreme Court has decided to refer key issues in convicted murderer Graham Dwyers mobile phone data retention case to the EU Court of Justice.

Although the States appeal over a far-reaching High Court finding that a 2011 law permitting phone data to be used in his trial breaches EU law will not be fully decided by the Supreme Court until the CJEU rules, the Chief Justice Frank Clarke expressed important preliminary views today with which six of his colleagues agreed.

Those included a view that a system of universal but limited retention of phone data is not in itself incompatible with EU law but there must be a particular robust access system in place which includes having independent prior permission for such access.

The current Irish access system does not meet that standard, the Chief Justice said.

Another important preliminary view, including for the purpose of Dwyers separate appeal over his 2015 conviction for the murder of Elaine OHara, was that national courts have power to decide that any declaration of invalidity of the 2011 Act should only be prospective, apply from the date of the court judgment to that effect.

The Supreme Court is delivering its ruling on the State's appeal against convicted murderer Graham Dwyer's successful challenge to the retention and accessing of mobile phone data. | https://t.co/AdIAwyo92L https://t.co/UaPUxky7F9  RTE News (@rtenews) February 24, 2020

Because the High Court finding if invalidity was made in 2018, that suggests, if the preliminary view stands, the data relevant to Dwyer would have been legally retained and accessed.

The Chief Justice stressed on Monday that the Supreme Court did not concern Dwyers separate conviction appeal and only concerned the High Court finding that provisions of the Telecommunications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 breach EU law because it allowed for indiscriminate data retention without adequate safeguards including a prior independent overview of access requests.

Each of the preliminary views expressed in this case involved consideration of difficult issues of EU law, the Chief Justice said.

The Supreme Court is obliged, under the EU Treaties and case law of the Court of Justice, to make a referral on any issue of EU aw which is necessary to decide proceedings unless there is a clear answer to that issue of EU law.

He was not satisfied the answer to any of the issues he had identified was clear and the court would therefore make a reference to the CJEU.

A draft reference document was provided to the lawyers for the sides and they now have seven days to make observations on that before it is finalised.

Mr Justice Donal ODonnell, Mr Justice Liam McKechnie, Mr Justice John MacMenamin, Ms Justice Iseult OMalley and Ms Justice Mary Irvine all agreed with the Chief justice while Mr Justice Peter Charleton dissented.

He said this case was all about excluding vital metadata and Ireland is not part of any legislative obligation for the exclusion of evidence.

He said issues of proportionality of a legislative measure impinging on guaranteed rights should be resolved by national courts and can therefore be resolved here in the State.

There was enough evidence before the Supreme Court for a ruling to be made as to whether the High Court decision should be reversed or upheld, he said.

It was also not appropriate to refer cases under Article 267 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU which relate to criminal law and which should be resolved by application of a test on the protection of rights.

The judgments were delivered on Monday during the first ever sitting in Waterford of the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court ruling on State's appeal against High Court challenge won by Graham Dwyer

The Supreme Court will rule today on an appeal taken by the State against a legal challenge won in the High Court by convicted murderer Graham Dwyer.

If the decision is upheld, the State claims it could have serious implications for the way serious crimes are investigated and prosecuted.

One of the most crucial pieces of evidence used in Graham Dwyers prosecution for the murder of Elaine OHara emerged following the analysis of several phones linked to the case.

Using cell-site analysis, gardai were able to track the movements of one phone in particular that they claimed belonged to Dwyer.

It put him at certain locations relevant to their investigation, and he was found guilty following a high-profile trial almost five years ago.

His plans to appeal that conviction were given a huge boost in 2018 when the High Court ruled the law which allowed his data to be retained and accessed was invalid.

The State believes the law should stand, and says the upholding of the ruling could have adverse consequences for the investigation of serious crimes.

Dwyer is only concerned with his own case and the admissibility of phone evidence in his trial  which they say would not have been put to the jury if the decision is correct.

The Supreme Court is due to deliver its judgement at a special sitting in Waterford later this morning.

More as we get it ...
Press Release

February 23, 2020 On her 3rd year of unjust detention, De Lima identifies self as 'free' and 'defender' Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is marking her third year of illegal arrest and unjust detention identifying herself not as victim or survivor or fighter, but as defender. "Today, I declare myself free. For though I may be physically detained, my mind is freer than it has ever been; my dignity is intact; and my will to fight to protect the freedom and interests of the Filipino people is stronger than ever," she said. "Thus, I am not a victim. I am not merely a survivor. I am not just a fighter. I am a defender," she added in her Keynote Address at the recent "International Forum on Lawfare: Weaponizing the Law vs Democratic Dissent" last Feb. 21. Wishing the over a thousand local and foreign legal experts, human rights advocates, democracy defenders and students an "empowering day", in a message read by her youngest brother Vicente "Vicboy" de Lima II vowed to fight the weaponization of law. De Lima has remained feisty, saying that she continues to fight using truth, reason, and compassion - "the three things that my oppressors lack in themselves and fear most in those they oppress." Noting that the weaponization of law, especially against political enemies, is not new, she welcomed this "gathering of the brave. Brave enough to share their experiences as victims of lawfare. "Brave enough to face the reality that the weaponization and bastardization of the law cannot truly take root and overtake justice as its twin pillar without the complicity or, at the very least, the passive acquiescence of the people," she pointed out. De Lima also vowed "up to my very last breath and to the very last words I utter, I will make everything I do count as a counterattack against the weaponization of Law, and a defense of democracy, the Rule of Law and, most of all, the sovereignty and welfare of the Filipino people." For condemning and investigating Mr. Duterte's deadly drug war, the lady Senator from Bicol was subjected to misogynous congressional hearings and later to politically motivated and trumped-up illegal drug trading charges. In Feb. 24, 2017, it may be recalled that De Lima presented herself to authorities. For her continuing detention, she has been referred to as a "prisoner of conscience" by numerous international human rights organizations. Before her election as senator, De Lima was an election lawyer, a chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, and a justice secretary.
With the coronavirus still a major concern in China, some are wondering what that means for Disneys overseas debut of the live-action adaptation of Mulan. Is Mulan still premiering in China this March? According to a Disney spokesperson, the company is monitoring the situation closely.

Director Niki Caro of Mulan and President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production Sean Bailey | Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Disney is set to premiere its live-action version of Mulan in March

Theres a new Disney live-action adaptation heading to theaters this year  a reboot of the 1998 animated film, Mulan. The new version stars Liu Yifei as the title character, a woman who masquerades as a man to save her father and protect her family.

Because this movie stars a fierce Chinese warrior, some analysts predicted Mulan would be successful overseas. However, with the coronavirus outbreak, Disney might have to postpone the films premiere date in China.

There are some fears regarding coronavirus and the premiere of Mulan in China

Mulan might not debut in China on its anticipated premiere date of March 27. This is due in part to the coronavirus and its impact on China. According to CNN, a Disney spokesperson said the studio is monitoring the situation closely.

All of the movie companies that are expecting to distribute movies coming up in China obviously are impacted by this, Disney CEO Bob Iger said during an interview with CNBC. The bigger issue on everybodys mind, the bigger concern, is whats going on with this virus and how far will it go in terms of its impact on people.

This is not the first time the coronavirus outbreak has impacted Disney. The companys Shanghai and Hong Kong theme parks recently had to shut down due to the virus. Theres no word regarding when Mulan will make its debut in China, but Disney will presumably release a statement as the North American premiere date draws near.

Why does China matter so much for the premiere of Disneys Mulan?

Mulan features a predominately Chinese cast. Additionally, this adaptation reportedly follows the Chinese fable, The Ballad of Mulan, more closely than Disneys original animated movie. Being that China is one of Disneys largest markets overseas, the movie has been expected to make a big splash at its debut.

Mulan is a perfect example of where Disneys infrastructure in China begins to pay off, Aynne Kokas, a professor at the University of Virginia and author of Hollywood Made in China, told CNN Business. It has the advantage of not being a story that just has a few Chinese characters added in, which Chinese audiences find insulting. Its also a family film, which is a genre that has garnered success in the country.

Disneys Mulan premieres in the United States on March 27, 2020. Until then, fans can watch the original animated film on Disneys streaming platform, Disney+.
Ms. Anggono realized she had a knack for restaurant management, first in Colorado, then after moving to New York in 2000. From 2004 to 2011, she was co-owner of a pan-Asian restaurant in Holtsville, on Long Island, where she experimented with Indonesian offerings like grilled satay skewers and beef rendang. She eventually got a green card, which inspired her to help other Indonesian immigrants navigate the byzantine path to American residency and then citizenship.

I felt so blessed, she said. So now I tell people: In Indonesia, if you have money, you can do anything, you can buy paperwork. But here its about the truth. No matter what, you have your rights as a human being. 

Ms. Anggonos twin passions for Indonesian cooking and American bureaucracy inspired her to start the bazaar. She recruited cooks through the local community and on Facebook, and helped new vendors apply for food-vendor and fire-safety permits.

Sometimes they get upset with me, she said with a smirk, because I make them get all their paperwork. So I tell them, You want to sell food here but not follow the rules? You need patience to organize something like this.

At the bazaar, Ms. Anggono flitted among vendors, helping with logistics and resolving disputes between cooks. Every few feet, there was another friend to catch up with; she discussed coming events with an Indonesian Consulate employee, and introduced a retired ambassador to customers.
In a landmark #MeToo case, disgraced former film producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of two counts of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and one count of rape in the third degree early Monday afternoon.

However, Weinstein was not convicted of two counts of predatory sexual assault, the most serious of the five charges he faced, which could have carried the sentence of life in prison.

The former filmmaker was immediately sent to jail after his conviction and will remain there while he awaits his sentencing on March 11. Weinstein is facing anywhere between five and 25 years in prison and is still facing felony sexual assault charges in Los Angeles.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. held a press conference after the ruling to say that the case and the women who testified changed the course of history in the fight against sexual violence. Vance also referred to Weinstein as a vicious sexual predator who used his power to trick, assault and humiliate his victims.

To the survivors of Harvey Weinstein, I owe, and we all owe, an immense debt to you, he added.

It was Vance, however, who declined to prosecute Weinstein in 2015, after a model alleged that the producer had inappropriately grabbed her breasts during a meeting. At the time, Vance said that he did not feel there was enough evidence to prosecute.

Following Mondays verdict, New York City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera tweeted that Weinstein should have faced charges in 2015, but Vance dropped the case.

GUILTY: Harvey Weinstein has been convicted of sexual assault and rape.



Should've happened in 2015, but Cy Vance dropped that case. Today I celebrate those who advocated for this justice with a renewed commitment to ensuring our next DA takes sex crimes seriously from Day 1. https://t.co/UzQkbMNaDV  Carlina Rivera  (@CarlinaRivera) February 24, 2020

So far the majority of the reactions to Weinsteins convictions have been celebratory and have applauded the women who testified against him.

Harvey Weinstein is a rapist and predator - but this verdict would not have happened without the bravery of every woman who spoke up & helped create the #MeToo movement.



These fantastic women have my heartfelt support and thanks.https://t.co/1QGg7Knva8  Carolyn B. Maloney (@CarolynBMaloney) February 24, 2020

Finally some justice for the brave women who came forward.

This is a long overdue moment of reckoning.

Believe survivors. Hold abusers accountable. Change the culture. https://t.co/uTwGgvTldl  Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) February 24, 2020

This verdict would not have been possible without the brave women who came forward to share their stories. They are the #SilenceBreakers, the change-makers, and warriors for justice. Thank you for your sacrifice. We are holding you close today and always.https://t.co/i6pwpGZJkn  Alessandra Biaggi (@SenatorBiaggi) February 24, 2020

But not everyone is pleased with the fact that Weinstein was not convicted of the most severe charges.

Stop telling me to be grateful that Harvey Weinstein got convicted on only two of the five charges  Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) February 24, 2020

And some laid that blame directly at Vances feet.

Cy Vance has the audacity to say "rape is rape" after spending years ignoring victims and blocking reforms that would bring them justice. He doesn't get to take a victory lap for prosecuting Weinstein after public pressure forced his hand. Vance needs to resign now. https://t.co/XZqYtyF1BW  Aravella Simotas (@AravellaSimotas) February 24, 2020

Critics have accused Vance of having a blind spot when it comes to sexual misconduct. And though the role of district attorney has long been considered a de facto lifetime position, widespread dissatisfaction with Vance has led to a number of candidates challenging him from the left. It remains to be seen whether the Weinstein conviction will satisfy those critics, or whether the mixed verdict will only intensify progressive calls for the district attorney to be replaced.
Information technology giant Microsoft Corporation is looking to tap more digital opportunities in India by focusing on start-ups and enterprises on the cloud platform, and enabling companies to build their own technologies.

At an event in Mumbai on Monday attended by the heads from the corporate world, most of whom were Microsoft's clients, the company CEO Satya Nadella said that the era of intelligent cloud is at hand" and that looking at the next ten years, we need to have broader productivity, that cuts across all sectors, and where the small, as well as the big enterprises, will benefit.

According to Nadella, the big question is how companies in India can ride the technology wave. There are 50 billion devices that are going to be connected by 2030. By 2025, that total amount of data will go up to 175 zettabytes. As much as 70 per cent of the opportunities for developers will be outside the tech sector, he said. By 2023, over 500 million application will be created, more than what was created in the past 40 years, he added.

Anant Maheswari, president of Microsoft India said that India has the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world. This, coupled with the fact that the country has 650 million people below 25 years of age, presents a big opportunity for Microsoft, as the new start-ups need tools that can help them create solutions. Similarly, 70 per cent of businesses are already on the public cloud, and most companies doing work on artificial intelligence are small and medium enterprises, which means the ecosystem is growing. How do we upscale presents a huge opportunity, said Rajesh Gopinathan, MD & CEO of Tata Consultancy Services, one of Microsoft's high profile clients in India.

Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, yet another large client of Microsoft, said that thanks to technology, mobile networks in India were at par with anywhere else in the world. India's turning to a $3 trillion economy is due to technology, he said. Even since Reliance Jio has come into the fray, 380 million have migrated to 4G technology, he claimed.

This is the first visit by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella after he commented India's Citizenship Amendment Act several weeks ago. From Mumbai, Nadella is scheduled to visit Delhi and it is expected that he will have several meetings in the town to reaffirm Microsoft's commitment to India.
Just look at the picture of the Queen inspecting newly fledged officers at Sandhurst's passing out ceremony.

Even in profile you witness her pride back in 2006 as she looks up at Captain Wales  as if thinking: 'Who'd have thought that scamp would turn into this fine young man?!'

Sword in hand, her grandson flushes scarlet  stifling self-conscious giggles as a cheeky grin stretches ear to ear.

It is a picture to treasure  because it encapsulates the very special relationship between a grandparent and grandchild.

Just look at the picture of the Queen inspecting newly fledged officers at Sandhurst's passing out ceremony, writes Bel Mooney

And as the storm clouds swirl around the House of Windsor, it is worth remembering the achingly poignant bond that has long existed between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry, a bond that now seems under threat as never before.

At the weekend, the Sussexes released an extraordinary statement aimed squarely at the Queen's decision to refuse them the right to continue using the brand Sussex Royal, claiming the monarch has no 'jurisdiction' over the word 'royal'.

Their response has resulted in criticism from royal observers, with Tom Bower, Prince Charles's biographer, saying: 'The comments smack of spiteful fury. I fear it will get worse.'

This, and other recent developments within the Royal Family are enough to plunge any loyal monarchist  and I am one  into deep gloom.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry leaving St. Georges Chapel after the blessing

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh with their grandchildren; Prince William (L), Prince Harry (C), with Peter Phillips (standing at back), and Zara Phillips

I can hardly bear to talk about what most thinking people surely see as catastrophic errors of judgment in the way Prince Harry and Meghan have acted and spoken. But that's not what most grieves me.

When I look at all the wonderful photographs of Harry with his grandmother, I am not seeing a great Monarch and a Prince of the Realm.

No, I contemplate an adoring grandmother and loving grandson, and want to weep at what he has stepped far away from and how she must hurt for what is lost. An old Italian proverb says: 'If nothing is going well, call your grandmother.'

And as someone brought up in a 'grandmotherly' family (with Gran/Nan playing a key role for three generations) I can tell you it's true. Tell Granny your troubles, moan about Mum and Dad, be naughty  and know she won't give you away.

Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Margaret, pictured in 1990

Where the parent-child relationship can be complicated, grandparent-grandchild interactions have the freedom to be far more relaxed and accepting.

And it goes far beyond the cliche of handing them back at the end of the day.

It's about knowing about parenthood and loving a second crack at getting it right  without all the tension.

You have only to look at a wonderful portrait of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Balmoral with their first four grandchildren to sense the truth of that.

Sitting cosily between his grandparents, merry little Harry looks out with laughing confidence  as happy as it's possible for a child to be.

A video clip of Prince Harry and his grandmother Queen Elizabeth to promote the 2016 Invictus Games, which were held in Orlando, Florida

Years pass, the images multiply, the story is the same. Here's Harry making a goofy face to make Granny smile.

There he is teaching her about FaceTime on her mobile phone, to the Obamas no less!

The whole sequence of pictures is a delightful story of inter-generational warmth. At the 2008 wedding of his cousin, Peter Phillips (another sad story there), Harry beams as he stands behind his grandparents.

Something has entertained them both, but what matters is that Harry's gaze is fixed on them. It's clear he is revelling in their mood of relaxed enjoyment  and seconds later he leans forward to whisper in Granny's ear, giving her a kiss, too. It is a beautiful picture of tenderness.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London, in May 2015

The Queen's Christmas Day broadcast in 1984 came from the heart of a grandmother thrilled at a new baby. Over film of Harry's christening she said: 'The happy arrival of our fourth grandchild gave great cause for family celebrations.

But for parents and grandparents, a birth is also a time for reflection on what the future holds for the baby and how they can best ensure its safety and happiness.'

She went on to say that the two older generations, 'must be prepared to learn as much from them as they do from us'  and praised the 'sturdy confidence and devastating honesty' of children.

The trouble is, those children grow into adults and become influenced by stronger personalities and the ways of the world.

The Queen & Prince Harry Attend Charity Polo Match At Guards Polo Club In Windsor

Parents and grandparents have no choice but to let them go, watch them make mistakes and then . . . well, just wait and see.

At least the photographs of happier times prove the permanent truth of precious moments.

The camera does not lie. Harry may have changed and moved away, but I've no doubt our Queen is as steadfast as she was in that 1984 Christmas broadcast, when she also reflected: 'Above all, we must retain the child's readiness to forgive.'

But how long can she hold to this sentiment in the face of that churlish outburst from Vancouver Island?
Comedy legend Peter Kay will return to the stage in April to DJ at six charity dance-a-thon events.

Fans feared for the comic genius when he cancelled a nationwide tour in 2017 due to unforeseen family circumstances and disappeared from the limelight.

But a post to the comedian's Twitter page this morning announced that the Dance For Life event - to raise month for Cancer Research UK - would return with Kay as the DJ in April and May.

Comedy legend Peter Kay will return to the stage in April to DJ at six charity dance-a-thon events, a post to his Twitter page confirmed

The Dance For Life event - to raise month for Cancer Research UK - would return with Kay as the DJ

Fans feared for Kay when he cancelled a nationwide tour in 2017 due to unforeseen family circumstances and disappeared from the limelight. Pictured: Kay in November 2017 on The Jonathan Ross Show

Since his self-imposed hiatus, the Lancashire-born comic has rarely been seen in public but has promoted charity events.

The Dance for Life JustGiving page states that Kay 'is returning to the decks' for the events in Manchester, Liverpool and London.

Kay told Bolton News: 'Ive honestly never had so much fun as I had working on Dance For Life.

'The atmosphere was so happy and positive; it really is a great way to raise money for the worthiest of causes. All people have to do is turn up and dance.'

His last stage appearance was when he spoke to an audience gathered to see a charity screening of his BBC comedy Car Share in April 2018.

He was photographed on December 27 when he made an appearance at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre to watch X Factor star Chico and iconic duo Canon and Ball in a production of Peter Pan

Since his self-imposed hiatus, the Lancashire-born comic has rarely been seen in public but has promoted charity events. Pictured: Kay performs in support of US singer and pianist Billy Joel in Dublin, Ireland, in July 2006

All the times Peter Kay broke his self-imposed hiatus after cancelling a tour for unforeseen family circumstances December 13 2017 - Kay announces that he will cancel all future work projects - including his Peter Kay Live: Have Gags Will Travel tour March 29 2018 - Kay announces charity screening of Car Share April 7 2018 - He addressed the audience gathered to see the final charity screening April 22 2019 - Kay is seen on a tram in Blackpool on Easter Monday. He was snapped grinning with the driver and conductor of the tram September 27 2019 - Kay takes to Twitter to announce Phoenix Nights is coming to the big screen in aid of Cancer Research UK December 27 2019 - Peter slammed Channel 5 for using an 'incredibly misleading title' for 'Peter Kay: In His Own Words' - a documentary on his life and career December 27 2019 - He made an appearance at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre to watch X Factor star Chico and iconic duo Canon and Ball in a production of Peter Pan December 29 2019 - Kay smiled for a photograph at the final performance of Nativity! The Musical in London January 2020 - Star confirmed that hes laid out plans for a movie version of Phoenix Nights - while speaking in pre-recorded footage shown at a charity screening of the series Advertisement

The three screenings were to raise money for The Lily Foundation, supporting children with mitochondrial disease, that the Phoenix Nights star had 'first-hand experience of'.

He was photographed for the first time in eight months on December 27 when he made an appearance at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre to watch X Factor star Chico and iconic duo Canon and Ball in a production of Peter Pan.

TV personality Chico posted a picture of the four men together on his fitness page with the caption: 'When Peter Kay pops in to see us #panto with the legends that are Cannon and Ball life is complete.'

On December 29 he was seen looking in high spirits as he smiled for a photograph at the final performance of Nativity! The Musical in London.

Kay posed for the snap alongside the show's director Debbit Isitt, who later posted the photo on her Twitter page alongside a caption about the star.

She penned: 'So lovely to see the brilliant comic genius Peter Kay and his lovely family tonight for our final show! What a lovely surprise for us all!'

This came hours after Kay broke his social media silence to slam Channel 5 for using an 'incredibly misleading title' for a documentary on his life and career.

'Peter Kay: In His Own Words' aired at 9pm on the channel on Sunday, but doesn't feature any new interviews with the comedy legend.

A strongly-worded statement posted on the funnyman's official Twitter account hours before the programme aired stated that Peter wasn't involved with the two-hour documentary in any way.

Earlier this year, the star confirmed that hes laid out plans for a movie version of Phoenix Nights - while speaking in pre-recorded footage shown at a charity screening of the series, The Sun reports.

He said: 'People always ask, Will there be more Phoenix Nights? and I can now confirm there wont  but I am thinking of a film.'
Parliament's meeting for the investiture of the Orban Government II was closed on Monday by Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber Marcel Ciolacu, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) interim Chairman, who announced that there was no quorum to carry out the works.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies announced that out of 456 MPs, only 188 registered their presence."Because there is no quorum, I declare the meeting closed," Ciolacu mentioned.According to the joint regulation of the Deputies' Chamber and the Senate, in order for the meeting for the investiture of the Orban Gov't II to be carried out, at least 233 MPs need to be present so they can ensure the necessary quorum of joint meetings.The PSD, the Pro Romania and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) announced that their MPs would not attend the meeting.The meeting was held on the same day that the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) established that there is a legal conflict between the President and Parliament regarding the designation of PNL leader Ludovic Orban as Prime Minister.On 10 February, PM-designate Ludovic Orban lodged in Parliament the list of the new Cabinet, which included the same ministers as in the previous Government, as well as an updated governing programme.On 17, 18 and 19 February, the hearings of the proposed ministers took place in the parliamentary committees. Only four out of the 16 proposed ministers received a positive opinion - Nicolae Ciuca, Bogdan Aurescu, Virgil Popescu and Adrian Oros, whereas the rest of them received a negative opinion. The opinion of the parliamentary committees is advisory.
CAZENOVIA, NY -- Its been shuttered since last fall, but theres been plenty to talk about in Cazenovia on the rebranding and reopening of the former Empire Farm Brewery off Route 13.

The new owners of the property, Feldmeier Equipment Co. of DeWitt, plan to reopen the destination brewery, tasting room and restaurant by this summer. It will be called Meiers Creek Brewing Co., with new beers and a new menu.

Theyre also planning some physical changes -- expanding the seating capacity, redesigning the layout to include a two-story interior space, and reconfiguring the parking and entrance from Route 13. (See village planning board minutes).

Some of those plans have neighbors of the property at 33 Rippleton Road (Route 13) concerned.

The Cazenovia Village Planning Board has a special meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in which the new plans will be discussed. It follows at least two other public meetings on the topic this year.

Some neighbors, who had issues with the Empire brewery during and after its opening in 2016, believe the Meiers Creek project is going to be too big -- with particular concerns about the increased seating and parking.

The Feldmeier / Meiers Creek team said it has also met privately with some of the neighbors.

Our objective first and foremost is to bring the brewery site up to Cazenovia standards, not only to comply with the regulations in place, but to also create a safe and enjoyable place for the community to enjoy for years to come, Lela Feldmeier, director of marketing for Meiers Creek, wrote in an email to syracuse.com. To do this that does mean making some adjustments that differ from whats existing now, but in every instance its in an effort to make right the issues that were present with the property when it was acquired and to create a successful business that will be a part of Cazenovias fabric for years to come.

A sampling of logos and branded products for the Meier's Creek Brewing Co., which plans to open later this year on the site of the former Empire Farm Brewery off Route 13 in Cazenovia. (Some of the product designs are "conceptual" and have not been finalized). (Meier's Creek Farm Brewery)

The Empire Farm Brewery declared bankrupty in August and Feldmeier, which designed and built the brewhouse, was one of the creditors. Feldmeier, through a separate limited liability coporation (LLC), bought the Empire property, equipment and furnishings in October at a bankruptcy auction. It then closed the brewery with plans to reopen it as Meiers Creek.

Empire Farm Brewery had $10 million in debts at the time of the bankruptcy. Feldmeier paid $3.44 million (and was owed at least $300,000).

The sale did not include Empires "intellectual property -- the trademarks, logos, beer names and recipes. Those have been acquired by the Ellicottville Brewing in western New York, which is now preparing to re-launch some of the Empire beers in the coming months.

The bankruptcy was unrelated to the nearly simultaneous closing of the original Empire Brewing Co. brewpub in Armory Square. It closed after a rent dispute with its landlord in October.

Both the Cazenovia brewery and the Armory Square brewpub were owned by David Katleski, but operated as separate companies.

Related:

 Empire Brewing beers return under new ownership

 They bought the former Empire Brewery. Heres their plan

 Empire Brewing owner helped create New Yorks craft industry. Now hes out

 Ellicottville Brewing expands to fourth location

Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
VANCOUVER - Teck Resources Ltd. has withdrawn its application for a massive oilsands mining project just days ahead of an expected government decision, citing the political discourse over climate change.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The corporate logo of Teck Resources Limited is shown. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

VANCOUVER - Teck Resources Ltd. has withdrawn its application for a massive oilsands mining project just days ahead of an expected government decision, citing the political discourse over climate change.

The Vancouver-based company said it will take a $1.13-billion writedown on the Frontier project in Alberta, which was expected to create an estimated 7,000 construction jobs, 2,500 operating jobs and about $12 billion in federal income and capital taxes, but was also expected to produce about four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year over 40 years.

In a letter to the federal environment minister, Teck CEO and President Don Lindsay says investors and customers increasingly want jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change.

"This does not yet exist here today and, unfortunately, the growing debate around this issue has placed Frontier and our company squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved," Lindsay wrote. "In that context, it is now evident that there is no constructive path forward for the project."

He said Teck is not "merely shying away from controversy" and stands ready to face opposition from a vocal minority.

"Frontier, however, has surfaced a broader debate over climate change and Canada's role in addressing it. It is our hope that withdrawing from the process will allow Canadians to shift to a larger and more positive discussion about the path forward," he wrote.

"Ultimately, that should take place without a looming regulatory deadline."

Fourteen First Nations and Metis communities signed participation agreements with the company on the mine, and the project was awaiting approval from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which had been expected by the end of the month.

In a joint statement, Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Sunday night they had been informed by Teck that it was withdrawing its application for the mine.

"As a result, Cabinet will no longer be making a decision on this project," they said.

Cabinet was expected to discuss the project at its meeting on Tuesday. It had until the end of the week to make a decision, though it could have decided to push that deadline back.

Wilkinson has been signalling for weeks that cabinet's discussion would include the fact that Alberta has not set specific greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, and in recent days specifically asked the Alberta government to enforce its cap on emissions from the oilsands.

Kenney, in a statement, laid blame elsewhere.

"It is what happens when governments lack the courage to defend the interests of Canadians in the face of a militant minority," the premier said. "The timing of the decision is not a coincidence."

He pointed to blockades in opposition to RCMP presence on Wet'suwet'en territory, where hereditary chiefs oppose a natural-gas pipeline project. Those barricades have paralyzed rail traffic across swaths of Canada for upwards of two weeks.

"Teck's predicament shows that even when a company spends more than $1 billion over a decade to satisfy every regulatory requirement, a regulatory process that values politics over evidence and the erosion of the rule of law will be fatal to investor confidence," Kenney said.

In their statement Sunday, Wilkinson and O'Regan said they appreciate the decision Teck made was a difficult one and appeared to keep the door open to rejuvenate this project or others in the future.

"Important parts of Canada's economy have been built on our natural resource sector and the workers across the country who have powered it for generations. Our government is committed to developing our natural resources sustainably and to creating good, middle class jobs. A strong economy and clean environment must go hand in hand."

They also praised how Teck went about engaging with Indigenous communities during the project development and review period.

"Their model should be an example for all proponents of future projects," they said.

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News of the cancellation shocked Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam, whose community was one of the 14 to sign agreements with Teck. The First Nation had also just struck a deal with the province to ensure the development would protect the environment and Indigenous culture.

"That's very astonishing news because we worked hard to get to what we wanted to get," he said. "I don't even feel like eating after that news."

But Frontier was not without its detractors.

On Friday, Canadian author Alice Munro, biologist Jack W. Szostak and 40 other Nobel Prize winners from around the world wrote an open letter to Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland urging them to deny the plan and all expansions of the fossil-fuel sector.

"The mere fact that they warrant debate in Canada should be seen as a disgrace," reads the letter, which appeared on the Guardian's website. "They are wholly incompatible with your government's recent commitment to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2020.
Policemen from Ikorodu, Lagos, have arrested a serial burglar, Ganiu Solomon and recovered some stolen items from him.

The spokesman of the Lagos State police command, DSP Bala Elkana, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect was arrested following complaints of burglary and stealing by residents of the Ota Ono area of Ikorodu.

He said: All the complaints received followed the same modus operandi, suggesting the fact that the crime was perpetrated by the same syndicate.



One of such cases was reported earlier by one Ms. Nkiruka Ezeokobe of Mojisola Sari Street, Ota-Ono, Ikorodu, where the suspect passed through the ceiling to gain entrance into her home.

Items recovered from the suspect were one Samsung phone valued at N235, 000 and one gold necklace valued at N150, 000 among other items.

Elkana said the suspect confessed to the crime and investigation was ongoing to ensure that other members of his gang are arrested.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Editors note: This story is part of a series on how mental health is impacting lives across Michigan. Visit https://www.mlive.com/mentalhealthessays/ to read personal essays, including Tony Moayyers.

Tony Moayyer is a survivor.

He survived the Iran-Iraq War as a child, when he saw bombs dropping, bodies blown up, a best friend who fatally shot himself after he was raped.

He survived permanent separation from his mother at age 11, when he and his father immigrated to America and the Iranian government forced her to stay behind.

He survived the death of his father, effectively leaving Tony an adolescent orphan in Grand Rapids.

He survived being a homeless teenager, trying to build a life in his new country.

Out of nightmarish circumstances, Tony has crafted his own version of the American Dream. At age 39, the Grand Rapids resident has a wife he adores, a career he loves, a community of friends.

But its come at a price.

Tony struggles with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome, the legacy of a childhood filled with trauma.

This is a story where I survived war. I survived cancer. I survived suicide. I survived not having a job, being homeless, no parents, he said. I could have probably six feet under right now, if I had made different decisions.

Its a story that begins in Tehran, where Tony was born in 1980, a few months before Iraq invaded Iran. During the eight-year war, I witnessed missiles hitting our neighbors, he said. Everything blowing up, people burning.  Kids with no arms, woman with no head. It was crazy.

But the war was the only the first of a series of traumas. Tonys father decided to emigrate from Iran, but Iranian law wouldnt allow both parents to leave with an underage son, Tony said. So Tonys mother stayed behind with the intention that she would eventually follow.

The father and son settled in Grand Rapids, where they had relatives. But in less than two years, Tonys father died of a stroke at age 45 and Tony  an eighth-grader at the time  was alone in his new country without any parent.

Returning to Iran was not an option, Tony said. He lived for a time with relatives, he said. When that arrangement abruptly ended when he was 16, he lived for a time on the streets. He got a job at McDonalds, and became a self-supporting teenager. The job at McDonalds led to a job with Pepsi, working in their merchandising department.

On the surface, he had landed on his feet. But Tony struggled to hold it together.

When my father died, something died in me, he said. I started to have really severe anxiety, but I didnt know what anxiety was. I didnt know what depression was. It was just feelings that came to me, and I didnt know what to deal with it.

There were times he considered suicide  you know, how about just throw myself over the balcony or, or bridge, he said. My body was telling me that something wasnt right.

His torment was evident to others around him. Tony said he saw his first therapist at age 19 at the urging of a Pepsi co-worker. Up to that point, Tony said, he had never heard of psychotherapy.

It was not a successful process, he said; the therapy simply brought up lots of bad memories, and the medication prescribed had side effects that were a living hell.

Meanwhile, Tonys mother back in Iran was expressing skepticism of the therapy and the medications, telling Tony to use natural herbs, such as saffron.

Tony got married, bought a house, moved up the ranks at Pepsi. I was living the American Dream, he said. But there were times Id panic or times Id get upset for no reason, and I didnt know how to deal with it.

In 2011, things fell apart. In short order, Tony and his wife divorced, and his mother passed away without ever seeing her son again. Tony was diagnosed with stage II prostate cancer. His beloved dog died.

Tony became severely depressed. His job performance suffered and he was forced to resign from Pepsi. Mentally, I couldnt function at all, he said. Without an income, his house went into foreclosure.

All the things that I had built over the years, it was just gone, gone, gone, he said. To me, as a man, it was just unacceptable. That was my first attempt at suicide.

He tried overdosing on pills, but a friend who stopped by to check on him called 911.

Tonys friends rallied around him, pushing him to rebuild his life. At their urging he went on Match.com, where he met April Guinsler, a spunky redhead who also was newly divorced.

Their first date lasted eight hours. Tony was drawn to her positive attitude and her willingness to look beyond his current circumstances. She was drawn in by his charm, his thoughtfulness, his sensitivity. They reveled in their ability to have deep conversations and their shared ambitions for the future.

Within six months, they moved to Las Vegas to start a new life together. The couple spent four years in Vegas, then went to Idaho for a year before returning to Grand Rapids in 2018.

Tony says April has changed his life. April says its been a journey. Shes found her soulmate, but he can be a troubled soul.

When they first moved to Vegas and before he found work, there were times April would find him curled up in a fetal position on the couch, sobbing that he was a failure. He would talk about hurting himself. He would get angry for no apparent reason, and refuse to talk to April for days, without explanation.

April said that it took awhile for her to realize that Tony struggled with depression and anxiety, and even longer for her to figure out how to deal with it.

She went to counseling herself, she said, and found it extremely beneficial.

I wasnt at a breaking point, but I needed help, she said. It took a long time for me to realize that I couldnt fix him.

Instead of trying to protect others from his moods, she said, shes learned to let the chips fall where they may. Instead of trying to engage Tony in conversation when hes not communicating, shes learned to give him space. She learned how to find the balance between setting boundaries and being supportive.

And the fact is, she and Tony say, hes doing much, much better in handling his mental-health issues. He still eschews therapy. But hes found that CBD oil helps his depression, as does exercise. Even more important, Tony says, is having a supportive, positive partner and the satisfaction he gets from helping others  whether its April, his friends or his work.

Even when Im having severe anxiety, if you call me and say I need your help, my brain kicks in and I dont have that anxiety anymore, he said. Its like my medicine  by me helping people, and them having a good experience with me, the more happy I get.

Its true, April says.

What fuels him is when hes able to help people, identify their problems and discover solutions, she said. What makes him tick is that sense of ambition, that sense of purpose.

They married last April and are now buying a house in Grand Rapids. Tony has found success as a real estate agent, a job that combines his salesman skills and his passion for customer service. April works as an executive assistant at a financial firm and helps with the real estate work. The couple also have formed a CBD business, Shah Saffron CBD, to market the oils that seemed to have helped Tony.

Theres much to love about Tony, April said. Hes curious and compassionate, and he's funny and he's caring.

Plus, April added, youre marrying the whole person, and the person is not perfect. None of us come into a relationship without any issues or baggage or challenges.  Im no angel either.

His experiences, this is what makes Tony who he is, April said. And hes a great person. But if I could take the heartbreak away, I certainly would.

To read more about mental health experiences, go to to https://www.mlive.com/mentalhealthessays/
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Linkedin Gene Emery (Reuters)  Mon, February 24, 2020 07:07 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066239b6 2 Health study,health,alcohol,alcohol-death,Women Free

Alcohol-related deaths in the United States rose sharply from roughly 2012 through 2016, with the biggest increases among white and Latino women, according to a new study by researchers who called the trend "an urgent public health crisis".

They also said the trend appears to have continued beyond 2016, but did not offer a theory for its causes.

The findings, published on Friday in JAMA Open Network, was based on death certificate data dating from 2000. It showed declines in alcohol-related deaths among some groups during the early part of this century, but those promising trends flipped dramatically in recent years.

For example, while the alcohol-related death rate among men declined by an average of 0.6 percent per year from 2000 to 2005, it rose 4.2 percent per year from 2012 to 2016.

Among all women, the death rate jumped 7.1 percent per year from 2013 to 2016, while for white women the annual increase was 7.8 percent. Among Latino women it was up 5.6 percent per year beginning in 2012.

"The steepest increases in the rates of alcohol-induced deaths among white individuals in our study population occurred among younger adults, particularly women," the researchers said.

"It seems like the trends are continuing in the 2017 data," senior author Neal Freedman of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics at the National Cancer Institute told Reuters in a telephone interview.

The reason behind the trends "is a question we really need to answer," he said, calling the situation "an urgent public health crisis".

Read also: Alcohol responsible for one in 20 deaths worldwide: WHO

While the percent increases were sharpest among women, they are still not close to men in terms of actual numbers.

For every 10 women who died from alcohol-related causes in 2016, 27 men died. The causes included overdose, organ damage, or mental problems related to liquor.

Deaths where alcohol was not the direct cause, such as alcohol-related cancers or alcohol-related traffic accidents were not included in the data. Alcoholic liver disease accounted for 63 percent of the deaths in 2016.

White men showed a smaller percentage increase than white women in recent years at 4.4 percent annually.

Alcohol deaths among black and Latino men had declined until about 2012 and 2013, researchers found.

Annual increases after that were 4.1 percent among Latino males and 2.7 percent among black men. Black women had an increase of 3.1 percent per year from 2007 through 2016.

The alcohol-related death rate rose steadily over the 17-year period among Native Americans and indigenous Alaskans. For men it was up 3.3 percent per year and for women 4.2 percent.
A couple evacuated to the UK from Wuhan to escape the coronavirus may now be made to pay more than 10,000 to have their baby on the NHS.

Jed Jones, 28, and his 24-weeks-pregnant wife, Liu Pan, were quarantined in Milton Keynes for two weeks after being rescued by the British government.

They were released yesterday (February 23) after being given the all-clear and are now thought to be staying with Mr Jones' family in Gloucestershire.

But the couple, who had lived in Wuhan for two years before being evacuated, now face a worrying few months as Mrs Liu approaches her due date.

British citizen Mr Jones said because his wife only has a temporary six-month visa, she will have to pay for NHS care  her labour could cost up to 7,800.

He said they didn't know this would happen before they left Wuhan. The couple now face the possibility that she will have to return to China to give birth.

More than 79,000 people have now been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and over 2,600 have died  almost all the cases and deaths have been in China.

Jed Jones, from Gloucestershire, said he and his pregnant wife were evacuated from Wuhan by the UK Government but they now cannot get free NHS pre-natal care

'I just want to ensure my wife is able to access the NHS,' Mr Jones said.

'For me it seems unfair that we suddenly realise we are stuck paying thousands of pounds just to ensure the safety of wife and my unborn child.

'We followed government advice to evacuate, we went through their procedures.

'To me it seems like if they're going to issue visas, they should issue one that is suitable for the person and their situation.

'We didn't know about these costs and we didn't know this would be the situation when we were told to evacuate.'

More than 79,000 people have now been infected with the coronavirus and over 2,600 have died  almost all the cases and deaths have been in China

WHO GETS NHS HOSPITAL CARE FOR FREE? A&E and GP treatment in the UK are free for everyone. People who are ordinarily resident in the UK, meaning they are there legally and have been for six months and don't have plans to leave, are entitled to free NHS hospital care. People from European Economic Area (EEA) countries may be able to get free care in the UK if they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)  the care is paid for by an agreement between European countries. Free care is also available to people who have claimed asylum, are refugees, are in full-time education, are a UK Government employee, or are a victim of human trafficking. Non-EEA people who have applied for a visa to live in the UK but have been there for less than six months must pay a health surcharge of 400 per year which entitles them to the same level of care as an ordinarily resident person. If a non-EEA national does not pay the surcharge and needs NHS care they may be charged for it according to a National Tariff Payment System. Source: Department of Health Advertisement

Mr Jones is now home in Lydney, Gloucestershire, but his wife does not qualify for free NHS care.

Hospital treatment is only free for people who are 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, meaning they live here most of the time.

Mr Jones moved to China seven years ago and his wife is a Chinese citizen, which excludes them from getting the childcare for free. It is unclear if he gets free treatment.

Mrs Liu was granted a six-month permit by Border Force after initially getting a visa waiver to come to the UK with her husband and go into quarantine.

Mr Jones said: 'I've got a quote for just the pre-natal care and it is 1,500. It could be up to 4,500. The birth could cost anything between 2,600 to 7,800.'

The fees would either have to be paid upfront or become a debt, which could affect her future visas.

The couple spent two weeks quarantined in Kent Hill Park, Milton Keynes, after arriving in to UK on February 10 but were discharged yesterday, February 23.

They have been married for five years. Mr Jones moved out to China to work as a software developer and met his wife, a graphic designer, seven years ago.

Mr Jones claims that the entire time he has been in China he has worked for British companies remotely and has paid his taxes and national insurance in the UK.

'The issue appears to be that the Home Office have issued everybody with this six month visa, without really paying any attention to the aforementioned situation. Individuals, people, situations here,' he said

'What I have been told by the nurses here, if she was given six months and one day, she would have been able to access the NHS.'

Mr Jones said he has attempted to contact the Home Office through their special coronavirus helpline to discuss his situation but 'they weren't even really aware of us'.

'Their helpline didn't have any advice for us whatsoever,' he said.

Mr Jones says they directed him towards the standard immigration helpline who were also were unable to provide help.

'The result is, we are on this situation but we are unable to actually contact anybody who is able to effect real help,' he said.

The thought of his wife having to go back to China to give birth makes him 'really nervous,' he said.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We understand this is an unusual and challenging situation, and the NHS will never refuse maternity care.

'The NHS is a residence based service so overseas visitors are required to pay towards the costs of their treatment, just as British taxpayers do, but the NHS will always provide maternity to those who need it, including anyone repatriated from China.'
The prosecutor for a Hague-based court has handed down the first indictments over alleged war crimes committed by Kosovo guerrillas during a 1990s conflict, a spokeswoman said Monday.

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers did not identify the suspects but several former high-level officials from recent years have previously been summoned for questioning by the tribunal.

The EU-backed tribunal was established in 2015 to investigate crimes by independence-seeking ethnic Albanian guerrillas against mainly Serb civilians during the 1998-1999 war.

"I can confirm that the president has assigned a pre-trial judge to review indictments filed by the Specialist Prosecutor. The content is confidential," a spokesman for the court said.

"The pre-trial judge has a maximum of six months to either confirm or dismiss the indictments." The war pitted Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas seeking independence for the southern Serbian province of Kosovo against Serbia's forces, who withdrew from the territory after an 11-week NATO bombing campaign.

The tribunal was created following an international probe after a Council of Europe report tied top former Kosovo guerrilla leaders, including current President Hashim Thaci, to atrocities.

Kosovo's outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned in July after being summoned by the prosecutor for interrogation as a suspect.

Kosovo's wartime intelligence chief and outgoing parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli said in November he had been summoned by the court to be questioned.

The KLA's war veterans' organisation has said that more than 100 ethnic Albanian fighters had been called for questioning so far.

The Council of Europe report noted the disappearance of almost 500 people, including about 400 Serbs, after late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic's forces withdrew from Kosovo in June 1999, when the KLA had "virtually exclusive control on the ground".

The report unveiled reports of abductions, summary executions and -- most controversially -- the trafficking of prisoners' organs.

The court operates under Kosovo law and sits in The Hague in the Netherlands to protect witnesses. It is staffed with international judges and prosecutors funded by the European Union.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The opposition CPI (M) in



Tripura on Monday demanded immediate arrest of those who allegedly attacked and ransacked two of their party offices in the state.

The party claimed that anti-socials backed by the ruling BJP had attacked their party offices in North Tripura and Sepahijala districts on Sunday.

A five-member delegation led by the party's state secretary Goutam Das met Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Rajiv Singh, on Monday, and submitted a memorandum to him demanding arrest of the culprits.

Das later told reporters that the CPI (M) party office at Dharmanagar in the North Tripura district was ransacked on Sunday and six persons were injured in the attack.

Despite filing a case in the local police station, no action was taken against the culprits, he said.

Das also alleged that a group of BJP cadres had hurled petrol bombs at the CPI (M) party office at Bishalgarh in Sepahijala district besides attacking party workers there.

"The entire incident happened in front of the police. But they did not do anything," claimed Das.

Two cases have been registered and investigations are on, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A dog trainer who once worked for Princess Anne is suspected of murdering his wife at the cottage where Boris Johnson grew up.

John Zurick, 67, allegedly shot his estranged wife Debbie, 56, after he discovered she had a new boyfriend. He then turned the shotgun on himself, friends said yesterday.

Paramedics were called to the cottage, on the Prime Minister's family estate in Somerset, on Saturday afternoon but were unable to save Mrs Zurick.

Her husband was airlifted to hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition. The couple, who had been married for 30 years, bred and trained clumber spaniels.

A photograph on Mr Zurick's Facebook page from March 2016 appears to show Mr Johnson outside the cottage in Winsford, near Minehead, with one of the couple's dogs, also called Boris.

Pictured: Debbie Zurick and John Zurick. Neighbours of the couple, who lived in Nethercote Cottage, Winsford, Somerset, next to the Johnson family's 500-acre estate, say the couple's marriage was in crisis and Mrs Zurick had asked her husband for a divorce

Pictured: Debbie and John Zurick with their dogs. Police have opened a murder probe

Paramedics were called to the cottage, on the Prime Minister's family estate in Somerset, on Saturday afternoon but were unable to save Mrs Zurick (pictured)

The Zuricks bought the property, where the Prime Minister spent some of his childhood, from Mr Johnson's father Stanley for 440,000 in 2013.

Stanley Johnson owns the neighbouring 14th century farmhouse on the Nethercote estate with his wife Jennifer. A third house on the estate is owned by the Prime Minister's sister Rachel.

There are also a number of barns, which have been converted into properties, whose owners include Boris and his brother Leo.

The Zuricks were regulars at game shoots and were key figures in the Working Clumber Spaniel Society, of which Princess Anne is president.

On the society's website, Mr Zurick describes how he trained Anne's dog Sparkle but received a rebuke from the princess when the hound failed to bring back a pheasant.

Stanley Johnson told the Daily Mail last night: 'Both I and my whole family are shocked, stunned and saddened by this tragic incident.

A picture posted on the couple's social media showing Boris Johnson meeting their dog, also called Boris

'We very much regret the passing of Mrs Zurick. She was a neighbour and she was much loved.

'She was honorary secretary of the Working Clumber Spaniel Society and was much loved for the work she did, in the society and in Exmoor and beyond.' He declined to say whether his family had taken working spaniels from the Zuricks.

Friends of the couple said Mrs Zurick had become 'exasperated' with her husband and moved to a friend's house in Ireland 'to get away from it all'.

Mr Zurick had hoped for a reconciliation and was deeply upset when he discovered his wife had a new boyfriend.

Mrs Zurick, who is said to have been treated for cancer, is believed to have been shot when she returned to the cottage on Saturday with a female friend to collect some possessions and take care of the dog breeding business.

Officers were called to the property after reports of a hearing a gunshot in Winsford, Somerset

The Zuricks were regulars at game shoots and were key figures in the Working Clumber Spaniel Society, of which Princess Anne is president. Pictured John Zurick, second right

Firearms officers were despatched to the property at 2.30pm and found Mrs Zurick outside with severe injuries. Her friend was uninjured. Mr Zurick, who had suffered a shotgun wound, was in an outbuilding.

Last night Avon and Somerset Police said it had referred itself to the police watchdog over 'prior police contact with those involved'. A close friend of the couple told the Daily Mail: 'They split up a few months ago and Debbie went to live in Ireland to get away from it all. She was exasperated with their relationship.

'Debbie returned to the cottage because of the dogs and John had just found out about the new man in her life.'

One neighbour said: 'Debbie wanted a separation.

'Things came to a head over the last couple of weeks. I've been told that she's dead and that is such awful news  particularly as she seemed to be recovering well from cancer treatment.'

Neighbours of the couple, who lived in Nethercote Cottage, Winsford, Somerset, next to the Johnson family's 500-acre estate, say the couple's marriage was in crisis and Mrs Zurick had asked her husband for a divorce

Winsford borders Exmoor National Park and is home to a 12th century pub, The Royal Oak Exmoor

Another neighbour said: 'Debbie was popular around here. She lived for her dogs and she'd look after other dogs for friends.

'From what you hear they were friendly with the Johnsons, which is just as well as there's no other property for at least a mile in any direction.'

Mr Zurick developed an interest in shooting through his father-in-law and bought his first shotgun from him, friends said.

Mr and Mrs Zurick had no children. Mr Zurick's son from his first marriage died in 1995 aged 17.

Police have begun a murder investigation and are continuing to search the property but are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Detective Superintendent Julie Mackay said: 'This is a very serious incident in which a woman has lost her life. Due to prior police contact with those involved, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

'It would be inappropriate for us to go into further details while the referral is being considered.'

Mrs Zurick's half-brother Phillip Townsend told MailOnline last night: 'I've been told that Debbie is dead and John is in a bad way in hospital. The police haven't told us anything. We are just in shock, it's terrible.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 15:58:12|Editor: ZD

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Afghan Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz attends a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 24, 2020. Afghanistan's Public Health Ministry on Monday confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country. (Xinhua/STR)

KABUL, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Public Health Ministry on Monday confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

"The first coronavirus case was found in western Herat province. The patient had no direct contact with the public recently," Afghan Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz told reporters here.

"The first infected person has been isolated," he said.

An emergency situation has been announced in the province, 640 km west of Kabul, said the minister, adding an 80-bed isolation ward has been set up in the Herat Regional Hospital in case if any new case was found.

The minister said groups for detecting contagious diseases have already been established in the province, bordering Iran.
NEW HAVEN  LaQuvia Jones stood in the crowd, lit by candlelight, voice hoarse, cracked, strong, urging them to choose peace and honor her son, Dashown Myers, taken before his time.

Myers, 18, a city resident, was found shot around 3:48 p.m. Sunday, according to Capt. Anthony Duff. He was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatment, but died. Police identified him as the citys first homicide victim of the year Monday.

Jones said her son was book smart and street smart, as well as a gifted football player at Wilbur Cross High School. She spoke to those attending a vigil held in his honor, sharing the pain and grief that has entered her life.

She asked those gathered, mainly teenagers and youths, to turn away from the streets, refrain from violently seeking retribution for her son, and find God.

This is the part that you guys dont hear when youre out there playing with guns, when youre living the street life. This is the part of the heartbreak where innocent people begin to hurt  and thats going to be a hole that we live for the rest of our lives, said Jones. I love you guys. I just pray that you all stay safe. And like I said last night, violence is not the answer  and its not going to bring (Myers) back.

Jones said she hopes that she hoped his death would bring an end to the senseless loss that comes with gun violence. Without him, she said she was left with unbearable, indescribable pain.

My heart is broken. Theres nobody but God that keeps me standing, and the fact that my son loved me and I loved my child. But to see my daughter, to see my grandson, calling for somebody thats never going to come back is heart-wrenching. Heaven and hell is real, said Jones. Please, stop this, this senseless (violence). Because this, right here, is senseless ... my baby lost his life for absolutely nothing.

Myers is the first homicide victim of the year in New Haven. Intentional deaths caused by another person are considered homicides.

Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Otoniel Reyes and Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson attended the vigil Monday. Elicker and Reyes said it was important to show that the city was available to support Myers family.

Both expressed their sadness, Elicker noting his own two daughters and the magnitude of losing a child, Reyes conveying the feelings of the department.

This is something that impacts a community forever, said Reyes, noting the department was committed to doing what it can to stop gun violence.

Duff asked anyone with information to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. He noted that callers may remain anonymous.

There were 12 homicide victims killed in New Haven in 2019. The first, David London, 46, died after being found wounded on Diamond Street on Jan. 10.

According to New Haven police, this is the second time since 2011 that the first homicide of the year has happened after the end of January.

In 2012, Thomas T.J. Mozell was killed on March 17. In each of the other years, the date of the first slaying ranged between Jan. 1 and Jan. 23.

Last year, David London, 46, died after being found wounded on Diamond Street on Jan. 10. He was one of 12 homicide victims killed in New Haven in 2019.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Days after accepting the invitation, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has conveyed to Rashtrapati Bhavan that he will not attend the state banquet in honour of US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, people familiar with the development said on Monday.

Rashtrapati Bhavan had invited Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Azadthe floor leaders of the principal opposition party in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha  for the dinner.

Azad had accepted the invitation earlier but he told the President secretariat that he will not come for the banquet.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh has also declined the invite to attend the banquet.

ALSO WATCH | No substance in Donald Trumps India visit: Congress leader Manish Tewari

Chowdhury has said he will skip the event saying no invitation was extended to his partys 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 the 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 had said, according to news agency ANI.

Trump 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 landed in Ahmedabad earlier in the day for a two-day visit to India to a grand welcome.

He addressed the packed Namaste Trump event at the Motera Stadium in the largest city of Gujarat along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before a short visit to the Sabarmati Ashram.

Trump 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 on Tuesday.

President Ramnath Kovind will host a banquet for Donald Trump before he departs on Tuesday after a 36-hour visit.

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He shared a copy of a "passport" issued by the so-called "LPR" to a recently killed mercenary.

Ukrainian TSN journalist Andriy Tsaplienko has said the command of the Russian occupation forces sends "almost children" to die in Donbas.

Read alsoRussian-led forces try again to penetrate contact line in Donbas, get fitting rebuff

The journalist posted a copy of a "passport" issued by the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") to a recently killed mercenary.

"This is the 'LPR passport' of a fighter who was on February 22 shot dead by members of the [Ukrainian] 93rd brigade near the Bakhmutka highway. Just where the invaders tried to seize Ukrainian positions a few days ago, on February 18. Please look at the man's date of birth. He was nineteen. This means the Russian command sends almost children to their death. When the war began, he was fourteen. And, probably, the circle of despair and propaganda drove him into mercenarism like a billiard ball into the pocket," the journalist wrote on Telegram.

According to published information, the deceased was born in the village of Chornukhyne near the occupied town of Debaltseve in Ukraine's Luhansk region.

"Who knows  if five years ago the Armed Forces of Ukraine had still been in Debaltseve, this guy would have been alive. His life would have been different. It's a pity," Tsaplienko said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, late on February 22, Russian-led forces attempted to attack a fortified position of the 1st battalion of Ukraine's 93rd mechanized brigade near the village of Krymske at the Bakhmutka highway. The sides are separated by a road and the distance between them is about 300 meters. An enemy fighter was captured; he later died of wounds.
US-Vietnam partnership intensifies

The US Mission to Vietnam will lead a delegation of Vietnamese companies to Washington, D.C. to attend the SelectUSA Summit on June 1-3. The summit is an unparalleled opportunity to bring together investors from all over the world, economic development organisations from every corner of the United States, and senior government officials to facilitate investment in the US. The trip will pave the way for Vietnamese companies to invest in the US and form partnerships with American businesses.

Consul general Marie Damour spoke at last weeks seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, We continue to make it one of our top priorities to promote a commercial relationship with Vietnam that is developed on the foundation of free, fair, and reciprocal trade and contributes to the prosperity of both of our countries, she said. I often speak about the benefits of purchasing US manufactured products, but there is another aspect of the US-Vietnam commercial relationship that has only recently begun to develop  Vietnamese investment in the US.

Indeed, the US and the Southeast Asian nation have made efforts to tighten economic ties. Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of economic relations between the US and Vietnam, while 2020 will celebrate the anniversary of official diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past 25 years, US businesses have brought capital, corporate governance, and training programmes to Vietnam.

According to Vietnams General Statistics Office, last year, Vietnam was the US 13th largest trading partner with a total trade value of $75.6 billion, including US exports to Vietnam totalling $14.3 billion.

So far, American investors have registered $9.4 billion in about 990 projects across Vietnam.

Amanda Rasmussen, chairwoman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, said that the prospects for US investment to Vietnam are good and improving, and many US companies are planning to move to the country. The US is still one of the top investors in Vietnam. Americans are in Vietnam putting money into manufacturing and infrastructure, as well as providing high quality consumer goods, agricultural and industrial products, and technology and services. US companies have invested billions of US dollars here, integrating Vietnam into the global supply chain, creating quality jobs, and helping the country become more productive, efficient, safe, and cleaner, according to Rasmussen.

CEO of Underwriters Laboratories Keith Williams said, Vietnam is an important growth market for our business. Our investments here support local manufactured products to meet global standards and requirements for export markets. In addition, our research in safety science goes towards helping safe, secure, and sustainable living and working environments in Vietnam.

On the same note, Keith Meyer, president of Alaska Gasline Development Corporation said, Vietnam is one of the most exciting growth markets in the world for liquefied natural gas. I think there is a great chance to form a long-lasting bond between Vietnam and Alaska in development of each others natural gas infrastructure.

According to Vu Tu Thanh, deputy regional managing director of the US-ASEAN Business Council in Vietnam, Vietnam is the most attractive economy in the ASEAN in the eyes of American investors.

Vietnam should define its role in the regional and global economy. Enterprises should participate more actively in global supply chains, especially in key sectors like agriculture, tourism, digital content, healthcare, energy, and climate change response, Thanh said.

He added that besides implementing international rules, Vietnam should continue its efforts to create favourable conditions for domestic and foreign enterprises to increase investment and expand production and business activities. Once they believe in the governments commitment and capability to protect their interests in international market transactions, they will have more motivation to invest in the country, said Thanh.
Publishing professionals from around the country gathered at Hilton Portland Downtown in Portland, Ore., for the annual PubWest conference last week. Running from Feb. 20-22, the trade associations programming focused on ways to improve access, representation, and diversity in the publishing industry.

PubWest executive director Kent Watson counted 225 attendees (up from 175 last year). Watson was proud that students from Portland State Universitys Book Publishing program could join the proceedings this year. It's important to bring young, new voices into the group, he said. We can also learn from them. What information they're looking for, how they want their books delivered, what and who they want to read, and what is really going to spark their interest.

The Editorial: Own Voices panel opened programming on Friday, engaging with the #OwnVoices debate sparked by the release of Jeanine Cumminss American Dirt earlier this year. The session name referred to a popular social media hashtag (first credited to the YA author Corinne Duyvis) supporting books whose protagonist shares the authors identity. "Small presses have been doing this work for decades, long before the #WeNeedDiverseBooks hashtag came along, said Jessica Powers, founder of Catalyst Press and an editor and publicist at Cinco Puntos Press. Small presses have an advantage because we're smaller, more flexible, and we're outside of the New York bubble, she said.

Steve Wasserman, the publisher of Berkeleys Heyday and a veteran literary agent and editor, agreed that small presses will help change the conversation, but objected to restricting the kinds stories writers are allowed to tackle. The whole point of literature is to reward the genius time travelers who seek to imagine themselves into the lives of others, he said. So as to arouse in readers the idea that you too could vicariously, having grasped their extending hand, travel with them on a journey to meet people who are not in your community.

Fridays keynote tackled the subject of representation head-on, as literacy advocates shared strategies for making sure the next generation of writers includes people from all backgrounds. Writing is a powerful tool that can change the professional and academic trajectory of lives, but it is not distributed equitably across the United States, said Laura Brief, CEO of 826 National, a nonprofit that teaches creative writing to 80,000 students around the country. Reading is access, but writing is power. Writing influences whose voices are represented in our books, whose voices are represented in the boardroom and policymaking tables, said Brief.

Saturdays keynote focused on Reader Engagement, a key topic for publishers navigating the post-#OurVoices environment. The U.S. is becoming increasingly more racially, ethnically diverse and people are hungry to see themselves represented in media, said Charlotte Abbott, the keynote speaker and founder of FutureProof Content Strategy. These young readers and writers, if they don't get what they want from traditional publishers, they are ready, willing and able to bypass all of us to go out and make the change they want to see.

Every year, PubWest gives the Jack W. Swanson Scholarship so one young publishing professional can attend the conference free of charge. This year, Leah Hernandez won the award for founding Young Authors Publishing, a children's book publisher that shares stories from underrepresented communities around the country. Heyday founder and publisher Malcolm Margolin received the annual Jack D. Rittenhouse Award, an annual honor recognizing an important contribution to the Western community of the book. The legendary publisher earned two standing ovations for his work at the Berkeley press he founded in 1974.Look for the strengths in a manuscript, he said, sharing advice for the next generation of publishing professionals assembled in the room. Build around the strengths, rather than the faults.

PubWest shared the Hilton with the annual ComicsPRO convention, an annual meeting for the trade organization for direct market comic book retailers. Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC) programs director Kit Steinaway attended both conferences. In 2019, we helped 47% more booksellers than we helped 2018. And it looks like it's going to be the same or more for [this] year, she said. It's mostly medical-related. But there are a lot of housing-related issues on the West Coast because housing prices are rising.

PubWest board member Arielle Kesweder said that conversations about the representation of diverse voices in publishing would continue at next years conference. We're aware of the climate in which we are existing, said Kesweder, the chair of the organizations diversity committee. We want to be open about it and we want to open up those discussions.

PubWest 2021 will be held in Denver, Colo. from February 4-6.
A 38-year-old San Francisco resident was shot dead in the citys Bayview and police are on the hunt for his killer, officials said Monday.

The victim, Michael Hampton Jr., was shot around 3:50 p.m. Friday at Jennings Street and Wallace Avenue, police said.
In Mykolaiv, a part of the pedestrian pontoon bridge collapsed due to poor weather conditions, as the local news agency Evening Mykolaiv reports.

It is reported that the approach to the bridge from the Embankment side was fenced with a tape.

It is likely that strong gusts of wind caused the fall of part of the bridge.

Mykolaiv is embraced with the North European cyclone. Gusts of heavy wind tumbled dozens of trees. Blocked roads, broken electric wires, and broken cars are the result of the rampant disaster.

The administration building on Cathedral Square also suffered, balconies were damaged, and a number of premises were in emergency conditions.

As we reported before, major blackouts are observed in seven regions of Ukraine, mostly in the western and the northwestern regions. The State Emergency Service reported that on February 24.

"251 settlements in seven regions (...) were cut off the electric grid due to the activation of the automatic protection system of power lines", the message reads. In the Lviv region, the number of such settlements made 70, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region - 69, and in the Ternopil region - 65. In Volyn, Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, and Rivne regions, the numbers are smaller.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) , has approved a resolution banning all kinds of single-use plastics in all government offices nationwide.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu signed NSWMC Resolution No. 1363, Series of 2020, which bans the use unnecessary single-use plastic products particularly cups less than 0.2 millimeter in thickness, drinking straws, coffee stirrers, spoons, forks, knives, labo or thin and translucent plastic bags, and thin-filmed sando bags lower than 15 microns.

The NSWMC resolution is a major step to curb the use of single-use plastic items that pollute our waterways, kill marine life and contribute to our countrys increasing solid waste, Cimatu said.

Meanwhile, DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGUs Concerns Benny Antiporda said that the specific banned single-use plastics are those with available alternatives.

It was the decision of the NSWMC to come up with a balanced judgment on the use of single-use plastics by taking into consideration that we can only ban those that have available alternatives, explained Antiporda.

He cited Section 29 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which states that non-environmentally acceptable products shall not be prohibited unless the [NSWMC] first finds that there are alternatives which are available to consumers at no more than 10 percent greater cost than the disposable product.
Italy coronavirus deaths now stand at 7, with 220 people infected. Italian villages are now on lockdown in Europe's worst flare-up of COVID-19.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today says word "pandemic" does not yet fit the facts.

"We must focus on containment while preparing for a potential pandemic," he told reporters in Geneva, and says the world is not yet seeing an uncontained spread or large-scale deaths.

The epidemic in China peaked between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2 and has been declining since, the WHO said. Dr. Mike Ryan, head of WHO's emergencies program, told reporters it was still possible to contain the virus and that it might appear each year like the flu. "The virus may settle down into an endemic pattern of transmission, into a seasonal pattern of transmission, or it could accelerate into a full-blown global pandemic," he said in Geneva on Monday. "And at this point, it is not possible to say which of those realities is going to happen."

The outbreak has spread beyond China's Hubei province to at least 29 countries or territories, with two dozen confirmed deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

Read more:

Coronavirus kills seventh person in Italy, pandemic fears grip Wall Street [reuters]

If true, this revelation by Conte ("mismanagement of security 'protocols' in one hospital") can maybe justify the astonishing outbreak and rapid death toll of #Coronavirus in Northern Italy. Hospitals and GPs surgeries are the perfect scenarios for the virus to spread (and kill).  Antonello Guerrera (@antoguerrera) February 24, 2020
Four persons including three civilians and one Head Constable of Delhi Police lost their lives in the clashes that took place after protests related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) took a violent turn at various places in North-East District of Delhi on Monday.

The two civilians who were killed in the violence were identified as Shahid and Furkan while the identity of one person is not yet known. Furkan lost his life in clashes related to CAA in Bhajanpura.

At least, 10 cops were injured in the violence while the number of civilians who sustained injuries in the clashes is not yet known.

Delhi Police Head Constable Rattan Lal lost his life in similar clashes in Delhi's Gokulpuri. He was a native of Sikar, Rajasthan and had joined the Delhi Police as Constable in 1998. He was posted in the office of ACP, Gokulpuri.

According to police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amit Sharma also sustained injuries in the clashes, which rocked parts of Gokulpuri area.

Delhi Police said that the man in a red t-shirt who opened fire at the police during violence in North-East Delhi has been identified as Shahrukh.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said the violence that took place in North-East Delhi was orchestrated with an eye on US President Donald Trump's visit to India.

"Violence in North-East Delhi was orchestrated with an eye on US President Donald Trump's visit to India. I condemn it. A Head Constable also lost his life in the violence. The Government of India will never tolerate violence. We will take strict action against those responsible. Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation," Reddy told ANI in Hyderabad.

Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal has instructed the Commissioner of Police of Delhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi and also asked the people to maintain peace.

"Have instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for the maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-East district of Delhi, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The relatively affluent Indian diaspora in the United States could be a great target market for Donald Trump to garner political donations for the upcoming presidential polls, according to foreign policy expert Richard Rossow.

"In terms of political potential political donations Indian American diaspora could be a great target market for Donald Trump, it would not be a prime market but a good secondary one," Rossow, Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) told ANI ahead of Trump's arrival in India.

"The Indian diaspora here in the United States is a growing community with almost 4 million of them now relatively affluent," he added.

On the growing defence ties between the two countries, he said, "Well, 20 years ago the United States had zero defence sales to India, and now we are at USD 17 billion."

"It is also important to the US because it is trying to counter India's purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia. How do we (US) make the case that we should not sanction India on Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CATSA)," he added.

Commenting on the possible outcome of Trump's visit, he said: "I know that we're all hoping that there would be this mini trade deal to remove some of the recent trade impediments that look like it's not going to happen. But you should see some substitute to trade deals where India is going to announce new buys from the United States in defence and energy sector."

"I think the two governments are coming closer together in terms of how they look at some of the rising threats in Asia and the security front, and that's going to trigger deeper defence collaboration," he 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.

However, it should be noted that despite several meetings between the two sides in both India and the US trade negotiators of the two countries are yet to finalise on a deal even after 18 months.

"I know that we're all hoping that there would be this mini trade deal to remove some of the recent trade impediments that looks like it's not going to happen. But you should see some sub to trade deals where India is going to announce new buys from the United States in defense and potentially energy," Rossow said.

This is also one of US President's rare stand alone visits.

"I think for India which all of a sudden is starting to fear that the United States and Pakistan have started to move a little bit closer together. Going to India and not going to Pakistan is going to be a huge checkmark I think in the Indian government's box..." Rossow said.

Trump along with First Lady Melania Trump is set to arrive in Ahmedabad today on a two-day visit to India.

The US President, along with his family and a ministerial delegation, will be in India for around 36 hours. They will visit Ahmedabad, Agra, and Delhi during their stay.

This is Trump's first official visit to India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett said Monday he has spoken to fellow billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates about efforts to contain the spread and impact of the coronavirus.

"Now what they hope to get is a universal flu vaccine, but that's a long way off. It isn't impossible. I mean I asked my own  my own science advisor is Bill Gates, so I talk to him, I call him," Buffett told "Squawk Box" host Becky Quick. "I talked to him in the last few days about it and he's bullish on the long-term outlook for a universal prevention of it."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the world, is actively working to combat the impact of the coronavirus as part of its broader effort to promote global health, said Buffett, who along with the Gateses is one of the foundation's three trustees.

With respect to Berkshire, Buffett said several of its businesses were feeling an impact from the deadly virus, which has now spread beyond China and threatens to disrupt the global economy.

He said his China-based Dairy Queen franchises were seeing little to no business, and he noted Apple's recent announcement that the company would fall short of its first-quarter guidance because of recent of store closures in China and supply-chain disruptions. Berkshire holds 5.6% of Apple's stock.

"I have heard that the summer is not likely to cause the end of this," Buffett told CNBC.
D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said the suspects and the man they had targeted were involved in a transaction, though it was not clear whether they knew each other. Police said the suspects exited a vehicle about 2:20 p.m. and approached the victim in an effort to take the victims property.
Global dominator and Bollywood diva Priyanka Chopra Jonas says fashion for her is spontaneity. The Sky is Pink actor is well-known for her impeccable fashion sense and has been one half of the People Choice Best dressed couple (2019) for a reason. Priyanka who made a comeback on the ramp at the finale of the 15th edition of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour last week, opened up about the feeling of returning on the runway and shared her fashion aesthetic. The 37-year-old actor kick-started the fashion event by walking the ramp in a sensuous black gown which was accentuated with a metallic belt and complementary statement earrings. She sported a bouffant with her hair up and dark, dramatic eyes completed her look.

Addressing the audience, Priyanka said, This is the 15th edition of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, and I have been fortunate enough to be with them for ten years... This is my one decade anniversary as well.

What started as an idea to showcase Indian fashion has today become one of the premier events in this country. Its a testament of the brands passion, commitment and loyalty to promote Indian fashion, she said.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas walks the ramp during Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, in Mumbai, Saturday. (PTI)

Priyanka also paid tribute to Goa designer Wendell Rodricks whose recent untimely death left the fashion industry in shock. She said, Its only apt on a night like this in the presence of so many luminaries from the Indian fashion industry that we remember Wendell Rodricks. He was a pioneer. He was a visionary of Indian fashion and he will always and forever be missed.

What is fashion for you?

Fashion for me is spontaneity. I think I always choose to wear things that make me feel good .. and Id say this to young, emerging designers, that go out there and make clothes that make you believe in. Let your creativity alone drive you. No one shattered the glass ceiling by playing safe.

Three fashion essentials for you?

My fashion is usually a reflection of how Im feeling that day and the outcome of my discussions with my stylists.

How is the feeling of walking the ramp after so long?

Yeah..Its been a while since Ive walked and I really enjoyed it. The highlight tonight for me was to see so many prolific designers from India come together for a showcase... that was just so incredible to watch.. It was an amazing evening overall.

What is pride for you?

Pride to me is the respect that you build, that you earn for yourself.. whether its your personal or professional life.

Q: How has your long association with Blenders Pride been?

It has been almost a decade and its been such a wonderful journey. It started as an idea to support and promote the amazing talent we have in the fashion industry in India... Its such an amazing feeling to see the way the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour has grown over the years and all the talent it has showcased.

The actor also recently posted a video of herself thanking her fans as she crossed the 50 million milestone of followers on her Instagram profile, she captioned the video, Thank you for being there for me, with me... weve come such a long way and have miles to go by Gods grace... much Love to you all.

(With inputs from ANI and IANS)

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The Law Society of Ireland is encouraging entrepreneurs and start-ups across Longford to make sure they get the right advice from the beginning to help plan for short & long term success.

The decisions made at the very start of the life of a business can impact every aspect of its future. We cannot stress enough the importance of getting the right advice at an early stage, said Teri Kelly, Law Society of Ireland Director of Representation and Member Services.

Ms Kelly says one of the most important decisions to make when starting a business is which type of legal structure to use, before advising people to always seek expert advice.

We always recommend seeking the expert advice of your local solicitor. Its important to remember that the small law firm or sole practitioner down the street from you in Longford town or Ballymahon is a small business owner as well as a legal expert.

They are rooted in the Longford business community, as well as being uniquely plugged in to a local, national and international network of fellow, highly qualified legal experts. No start-up challenge is too big or too small for your local solicitor. Solicitors can also advise across all other areas of the business, including tax, employment, GDPR and more.

Its also worth remembering that your local solicitors firm was once a start-up business itself, she concluded.
Police have released images of two men following a burglary in south Belfast last year.

On August 14 2019 police received a report that earlier that month, on August 6, the male occupant of a house on Wolseley Street was waken at around 6am by two men in his bedroom, one of whom was armed with a machete.

The suspects ransacked the house and made off with a television set and a sum of money.

Police have now issued two images of the suspects in a bid to locate the pair.

Detective Constable McVeagh said: "Our investigation into this incident continues, and we have released these two images today and would appeal to the individuals pictured, or anyone who believes they knows them, to contact us on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 497 14/08/19."

"Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111."
MANILA, Philippines  Network giant ABS-CBN expressed its apology to President Rodrigo Duterte for failing to air then-presidential candidate Mayor Dutertes campaign ad in 2016.

During the Senate hearing on Monday (February 24), the networks president and CEO Carlo Katigbak explained why they couldnt air some of Dutertes campaign ads.

He explained that though the Presidents camp bought and paid a total of P182-M in commercial spots, they were limited by the networks airtime requirement.

The said amount was split into two  P117-M for national ads and P65-M for local ads.

Katigbak said all of Dutertes national ads were aired; however, they couldnt find airtime for Dutertes local ads since they were limited to just two minutes per hour.

Our policy on all our ads is first-come, first-served. Many of these spots were ordered on May 3, and May 7 was the last day of the campaign period. There had been many previous telecast orders that came in ahead, the network executive said.

He added that the network refunded some P4-M to the President, though some P2.6-M were delayed which the Presidents camp refused to accept.

Senator Christopher Go, who was the Presidents special aide at that time, shared some images of the check of the refunded amount.

President Duterte had ranted about his unaired campaign ads with ABS-CBN on several public occasions in dismay of the network.

Despite this, ABS-CBN maintained it has not committed a violation against the franchise law contrary to the claims of Solicitor General Jose Calida in his filed quo warranto petition against the Kapamilya network before the Supreme Court (SC).

Katigbak insisted that though they admit some lapses on their part of the operation, they stand by their commitment to provide service to the Filipino people and vowed to rectify all mistakes committed.

We acknowledge our shortcomings in our failure to release that refund in a timely manner, he said.

We are sorry if we offended the President. That was not the intention of the network. We felt that we were just abiding by the laws and regulations that surround the airing of political ads, he said. MNP (with inputs from Harlene Delgado)

The post ABS-CBN apologizes to Duterte for not airing campaign ad in 2016 appeared first on UNTV News.
Hessy Levinsons Taft, a retired chemistry professor at St. John's University, New York, has an amusing story to tell. When she was only 6 months old, her photograph was selected by the Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to represent the perfect Aryan baby. Her cherubic face with chubby cheeks and wide eyes graced the cover of a popular Nazi family magazine Sonne ins Haus or Sun in the House, and she appeared on cards and posters across Nazi Germany. Unknown to Goebbels, Hessy Levinsons was a Jew.

Hessy Levinsons Taft holds a copy of Sonne ins Haus.

Hessy Levinsons was born in Berlin in 1934 to Jewish parents, Jacob and Polin Levinson. Her parents were originally from Latvia, where they had studied classical music before immigrating to Berlin. There, they found employment at an opera house. Six years later, Hessy was born.

When Hessy was six months old, her parents decided to have her picture taken and took her to the studio of Hans Ballin, a well-known German photographer in Berlin. Her parents liked the photograph so much that they had her farmed and propped it up on the piano her father had given her mother as a present after Hessy was born.

A few months after the photo shoot, the Levinson were shocked to find their babys photograph on the front cover of the hugely popular Nazi magazine called Sonne ins Haus. The Sonne ins Haus was one of the few magazines that was allowed to circulate at the time. Edited by a friend of Nazi leader Hermann Goering, the magazine sang virtues of Nazi Germany, about the superiority of the Aryan race, and its pages were brimmed with images of men wearing swastikas. The Levinson were terrified. They rushed to Hans Ballins studio to confront the photographer.

It turned out that the Nazis were running a contest to find the most beautiful Aryan baby to further their philosophy, and asked photographers to submit their ten best photographers. Hans Ballin slipped Hessys photograph along with nine others into an envelope and sent it to the office of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment & Propaganda, knowing full well that Hessy was a Jew.

I wanted to allow myself the pleasure of this joke. And you see, I was right. Of all the babies, they picked this baby as the perfect Aryan, Hans Ballin explained to the stunned mother.

Ballins little prank put the Levinson family in great danger. With her face plastered all over the streets in storefront windows and in newspaper and magazine stands, Hessy became instantly recognizable and had to be kept hidden indoors.

I could no longer play in the park, Hessy Levinsons Taft recalls. And I couldnt go to the zoo, my favorite place.

I can laugh about it now, she tells, But if the Nazis had known who I really was, I wouldnt be alive.

After Hessys father Jacob Levinson was arrested in 1938 on fraudulent tax charges, he decided that Germany was no longer safe for his family, and the same year, they moved to Latvia, Jacobs home country, and then to Paris. A few years later, when the Nazis began rounding up Jews in Paris, they fled Europe altogether for Cuba, before settling in the United States. There, she studied chemistry at Barnard College and Columbia University and in 1959 married Earl Taft.

The story came to light only in 2014, when Hessy Levinsons Taft, now an octogenarian, visited Yad Vashem, Israel's official museum dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust, and gifted the foundation a copy of the Sonne ins Haus with her baby picture on the front cover.

The Nazis never found out the truth.

References:

# Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/07/the-perfect-aryan-child-the-nazis-used-in-propaganda-was-actually-jewish/

# Yad Vashem, https://www.yadvashem.org/blog/jewish-girl-was-poster-baby-in-nazi-propaganda.html

# C&EN, https://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i36/Hessy-Taft.html
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:44:08|Editor: yan

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PARIS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The last patient hospitalized in France because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has been cured, French Health Minister Olivier Veran announced on Monday evening.

"There is no longer any patient (of novel coronavirus infection) hospitalized in France. The last patient hospitalized in Lyon is cured. He is no longer infectious and can return to his home," Veran told a press conference.

The minister stressed that the government's policies remain "adaptable and revisable at any moment" so as to prevent the spread of the virus.

The patient was one of the six British nationals (including one child) infected during a stay at the Alpine ski resort Contamines-Montjoie at the end of January.

So far France has registered 12 cases of infection, among which 11 have recovered. An 80-year-old Chinese tourist died on Feb.14.

In addition, more than 350 people have been quarantined since their repatriation from Wuhan, China. At present only the last batch, 28 people in total, remain quarantined at a holiday center in Calvados in western France.

Earlier in the day, the French authorities said there is no need to close the country's border nor impose control at the frontiers with Italy, where the virus has killed seven and many villages in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto have been locked down.

Meanwhile, the government pledged to reinforce precaution measures to contain an eventual virus outbreak. The Ministry of National Education has asked students who had spent holidays in China, Singapore, South Korea, and also in Italy's Lombardy and Veneto to stay at home for two weeks.
In what is being hailed as a historic, landmark decision, Ontarios human rights tribunal has ordered the Ford government to boost the wages of the provinces 963 registered midwives due to long-standing gender discrimination.

The ruling last Wednesday, which flows from a 2018 interim finding of gender discrimination, orders a 20 per cent pay hike retroactive to 2011. It also awards eligible midwives $7,500 for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect.

The decision could mean a payout of as much as $186,000 for a midwife with 10 years of experience. And it means top salaries could jump to as much as $130,000 from about $107,000 today, according to the Association of Ontario Midwives, which launched the pay equity case in 2013.

It really feels like such a landmark, historic decision, said association policy director Juana Berinstein.

We are all really moved, really emotional, to see the acknowledgment from the human rights tribunal of the discrimination that has been experienced by midwives in terms of compensation, she said in an interview.

The orders really get at closing the gap and providing retroactive compensation for workers who were impacted by a pay equity gap. And they also provide remedies to prevent discrimination from happening in the future, Berinstein added.

The tribunal orders the government to launch a study conducted by a pay equity expert to determine additional adjustments that may be owing to eligible midwives from 2014.

And adjudicator Leslie Reaume further orders the government to develop a gender-based analysis of the provincial midwifery compensation policies and practices to prevent future discrimination.

Midwives, who must complete a four-year bachelor of health sciences degree and are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, currently earn between $82,000 and $107,000 a year. Annual salaries for family physicians working in community health clinics  a historic wage comparator for Ontario midwives  run between $190,000 and $220,000.

Last year, midwives supported 25,283 Ontario births, or about 18 per cent of all births in the province.

A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General said the government is reviewing the decision.

Since the province has applied for a judicial review and the matter is before the court, spokesperson Victoria Clare said it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Ontario Divisional Court is scheduled to hear the case from April 7 to 9 this year.

Midwives hope the province accepts the decision and abandons its appeal, said midwife Elizabeth Brandeis, president of the association.

I am really hopeful that the groundswell of support from the people who understand the value of midwives will be able to put pressure on this government, she said.

We know that continuing to fight this case through the court system is a waste of taxpayer money. We know the longer the government delays implementing the remedy, the more they have to pay, she added.

In its application for a judicial review, the province argues the tribunal failed to consider evidence concerning the differences in training, responsibilities, patient populations and scope of work between physicians and midwives.

The tribunal heard no direct evidence that sex was a factor in the differences in compensation and ignored evidence that most physicians in community health centres are women, according to the governments application.

Brandeis acknowledges the predominance of female physicians in community health centres, but said the tribunal accepts midwives view that medicine is still quite dominated by men, if you look at positions of power and decision-making within medical institutions.

Last weeks ruling comes in the wake of the tribunals 2018 interim decision that found the midwifery profession has been chronically undervalued because it is primarily staffed by women, is concerned with providing care to women, and deals with a health-care issue associated with women.

The case, filed by midwives in 2013, was seeking redress, including retroactive pay for gender-based discrimination dating back to 1997, shortly after midwifery became a formally regulated part of Ontarios public health system in 1993.

Between 1993 and 2005, the provincial Health Ministry negotiated pay for midwives and positioned their skills, effort, responsibility and working conditions between those of nurse practitioners and physicians in community health centres, the tribunal noted in its ruling last week. In 1993, midwives pay was set at 65 per cent of community health centre physicians.

But the ministry stopped using this benchmark after 2005 and hasnt conducted a study of midwives work and pay since 2010. At that time, a non-binding joint review conducted by midwives and the Health Ministry recommended a 20 per cent increase to midwives pay along with regular salary reviews based on the original benchmarks.

The province disagreed, and in 2018 the tribunal upheld the original benchmark, ruling that the government was underpaying midwives  a predominantly female profession  compared to community health centre physicians, a historically male profession.

But instead of issuing a compensation order, the tribunal recommended midwives and the Health Ministry negotiate appropriate redress.

The ministry, however, refused to negotiate, saying it disagreed with the tribunals decision and sought leave to appeal to the Divisional Court

As a result, the midwives went back to the tribunal and asked it to move forward with a remedy, Brandeis said.

The fact that the remedy includes retroactive pay to what the (2010 compensation study) would have implemented does feel vindicating, she said.

Brandeis said the decision is particularly satisfying for midwives because it compels the government to really think about the gendered impacts of work that is so steeped in gender.

One of the large motivators for midwives in bringing this case forward wasnt just about midwifery, but taking the step for all sex-segregated workers, for all female-dominated professions, for all professions that are subject to a gender pay gap, she said.

The midwives lawyer Mary Cornish said the ruling is important because it provides a road map for other equity-seeking groups.
Exciting fun-filled festivities and colorful decorations and costumes will fill the streets in Brazil. The Carnival celebrations in Rio, Brazil have officially opened. However, Rio contaminated water will be causing a bit of a problem for the celebration.

During the summer in Brazil, temperatures can reach as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit. For the celebration of the Carnival, potable water has transformed into a valuable resource.

Since the start of January, showers and different faucets had been releasing cloudy water. It was also said in an article from Fox News that the water coming to the faucet smelled like clay.

Currently, Rio contaminated water has not been fixed yet. The influx of approximately 10 million travelers in the following week will make the water issue in the country worse.

The Public Water and Sewage Management Company in Rio

CEDAE, the public water and sewage management company in Rio, had said their apologies for the water issue in the country. The company blamed 'geosmin.' 'Geosmin' is a safe and organic material that increases in volume when stored in aquatic environments rich in nutrients. An example of these aquatic environments is springing where the untreated but nontoxic water is released. However, some people disagree with that claim.

According to a biologist named Ana Passos, water should be tasteless, colorless, and odorless to be safe.

The Water Potability Crisis in Rio

On February 3, the entire water treatment center in Guandu was closed after a huge volume of detergent was found in the water. The source of the compound was still unknown. However, some experts believe that the source may have originated from different industries outside Rio and blamed the heavy rainfall.

Stopping the Contamination

To resolve the contamination, the facility was treated with activated charcoal. However, experts claim that the proposed solution was only temporary.

According to a specialist from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro named Marcia Dezzoti, the sewage discharges from the City are directly released to the Guandu River. She said the water quality that arrived at the overloaded station is not that good.

The Water Crisis in Rio Does not Cause International Alarm

For travelers, the water from Rio is not safe to drink. Also, filtered water is not safe anymore.

The water crisis in Rio had not caused fear to international visitors, said the City Hall. The hotel occupancy in the city is reaching 90%. The majority of the international travelers in Rio for the Carnival celebration are Americans and Argentinians. Tourism Representatives are worrying about the insufficiency of information for those who are going for the festive season.

According to the Discovery Hostel owner, the tourists checks-in at the hotel and are not knowledgeable about the Rio contaminated water. He said that it is important to let the tourist know of the condition of water in the city for their safety.

The Health Surveillance Agency is letting the online community know about important information. However, there are still a lot of visitors who are not well-informed about the issue.
So Bernie Sanders has won three Democratic Party nomination contests in a row  what now for the rest of the field?

The simple answer is that everyone moves on to the next primary in South Carolina, and beyond that the Super Tuesday collection of states on 3 March. But the truth is that every campaign bar Sanders will be feeling the pressure.

Biden has made clear that South Carolina is his campaigns firewall. Second in Nevada is better than he has been doing, but he has trumpeted his support among black voters  he needs a solid win in the next state to give him the momentum he requires on Super Tuesday.
Digital Twins are a complete, 360-degree replica of a companys physical assets, from pipelines, pumps, and gathering systems, to heat exchangers, turbines, and compressors

The Dallas Federal Reserve predicts the oil and gas sector to cut capital spending by 15% in 2020, causing a surge of efficiency and overall industry consolidation by 2021. (1) To combat this low-cost crude, Brian Sallade, Chief Executive Officer at Kinsmen Group continuously transforms major oil, gas, and utility companies through adaptation of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. Under the digital transformation umbrella, Digital Twin technology improves operational insights, saves customers money, and gains them a competitive edge. A digital twin is a virtual or digital representation of a physical asset, article, or manufacturing practice.

Digital Twin Technology

Digital transformation can unlock approximately $1.6 trillion in value for oil and gas companies. (2) Digital Twins are a complete, 360-degree replica of a companys physical assets, from pipelines, pumps, and gathering systems, to heat exchangers, turbines, and compressors, concludes Sallade. These virtual counterparts are created as digitalized duplicates of machines, equipment, or physical sites using sensors in a virtual world before deploying them in the real world. This technology enables modeling of process, control, and monitoring of equipment health, acting as a live model before an asset is physically built.

Digital Efficiencies Translates to Business Growth

Digital Twin technologies are used in high-risk industries and have different applications. PWCs industry 4.0 survey measured the first movers advantages at 30% revenue increase, while at the same time 30% cost reduction, through utilizing historic data and advanced collaboration platforms. (3) Were identifying a trend where digital technologies can help disrupt the industry status quo to solve key business problems. This Digital Twin framework enables operational excellence by helping oil and gas operators quickly turn massive amounts of data into wisdom that generates real-time value, including predicting asset failure, uncovering hidden revenue opportunities, and providing continuous improvement for heightened competitiveness. (4)

These trends coincide with The Digitalization of Everything as more tasks will eventually be automated offshore. (2)

Staying Ahead of Pitfalls Before Disaster Strikes

Industry challenges such as: oil and gas supplies, demand, prices, layoffs, and investments can fluctuate wildly. (5) Digital Twins can help companies overcome the restrictions of their aging infrastructure by optimizing their current technology and increase the production of new rigs.

Thats why more companies are now looking towards a digital transformation to drive more effective capacity, optimize operations, improve asset availability, greater scalability, shorter lead times, and more rapid response to ever-changing market conditions.(4) As experts in engineering information and specialists in services for any firms who design, build, operate and/or maintain large physical assets, Kinsmen Group believes implementing the Digital Twin Strategy and getting in front of any potential pitfall or danger before disaster can strike is paramount. Thus, the race to digital transformation among the industry giants is underway. (6)

About Kinsmen Group

Kinsmen Group is a leading team of Engineering Information Management Specialists with a passion for applying innovation to prominent oil, gas, Tier I pharmaceutical, and utility companies. Their organization strives to deliever superior business results through excellence and pragmatism each time they partner with any business, revolutionizing each with wiser decision-making, risk reduction, safety improvement, and higher returns on their investments.

Kinsmen Group is ranked as the Best of the Best Professional Service Organizations by Service Performance Insight Research and among the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America by Inc. Magazine. To learn more, contact Kinsmen Group at http://www.kinsmengroup.com

About Brian Sallade

Brian Sallade is the president and CEO of Kinsmen Group. He has built his 30-year career in leadership as CEO, spearheading SNC-Lavalin Group and BlueCielo ECM Solutions, where he maximized revenue by over fivefold. One of Sallades most valuable creations was the development of a turn-key solution to help pharmaceutical companies comply with regulations such as 21 CFR part 11. Now, Sallade continuously displays a wealth of business acumen in a myriad of industries, while staying true to his unique passion for engineering information management.

1. Patti, Domm. US Oil Industry Expected to Cut Spending by 10-15% and Restructure, Dallas Fed Says. CNBC, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2020, cnbc.com/2020/02/18/us-oil-industry-expected-to-cut-spending-by-10-15percent-and-restructure-dallas-fed-says.html.

2. Digital Transformation Initiative Oil and Gas Industry. World Economic Forum, Jan. 2017, reports.weforum.org/digital-transformation/wp-content/blogs.dir/94/mp/files/pages/files/dti-oil-and-gas-industry-white-paper.pdf.

3. PWC. Industry 4.0: Building the Digital Enterprise. 2016 Global Industry 4.0 Survey, 2016, pwc.com/gx/en/industries/industries-4.0/landing-page/industry-4.0-building-your-digital-enterprise-april-2016.pdf.

4. Lek, Eddy, Digital twin strategy improves offshore oil and gas production, Offshore Magazine; April 1, 2019, offshore-mag.com/production/article/16763951/digital-twin-strategy-improves-offshore-oil-and-gas-production.

5. Charles, Collins-Chase T., et al. Oil and Gas Digitalisation: Overcoming 101 to Obtain Valuable Patents. Finnegan, 16 Aug. 2019, finnegan.com/en/insights/oil-and-gas-digitalisation-overcoming-101-to-obtain-valuable-patents.html?utm_source=Mondaq&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=View-Original.

6. McEachran, Rich, Oil and gas sector using digital tech to drill for value, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, December 27, 2018, imeche.org/news/news-article/feature-oil-and-gas-sector-using-digital-tech-to-drill-for-value.

7. Holmas, Havard; Sjatil, Odd Arne; Santamarta, Sylvain; Lindseth, Sverre, Forbes, Peter; and Romanin, Pietro; Creative Value with Digital Twins in Oil and Gas; Boston Consulting Group; October 3, 2019, bcg.com/en-us/publications/2019/creating-value-digital-twins-oil-gas.aspx.
The lack of direct military conflict on the peninsula, together with the myth of Russias supposedly bloodless annexation of Crimea, have led to a dangerous willingness to defer all issues to do with Crimea and prioritize Donbas

Oleksiy Melnyk from the authoritative Razumkov Centre believes that Russia will use blackmail or resort to a military operation to get Ukraine to reinstate water supplies to occupied Crimea. The lack of direct military conflict on the peninsula, together with the myth of Russias supposedly bloodless annexation of Crimea, have led to a dangerous willingness to defer all issues to do with Crimea and prioritize Donbas. Russia is meanwhile carrying out a process of creeping annexation of the Black Sea basin and is effectively annexing the Sea of Azov.

At a roundtable discussion on Crimea on 20 February, Melnyk warned that Ukraine is not paying sufficient attention to the military threat from occupied Crimea and cited the example of the North Crimean Canal which until 2014 supplied Crimea with 85% of its fresh water needs. If the water shortage in Crimea becomes especially acute, one of the options Russian President Vladimir Putin may use is a military operation. This is a real danger which Ukraine should be considering, he stresses.

Melnyk was not raising this prospect for the first time. In a recent interview on TV5, he predicted that Russia, like the mafia, will find a proposal that would be difficult for Ukraine to refuse  either military blackmail, or blackmail using some kind of economic levers. He noted then that Russian politicians have already voiced the argument that since the Dnipro River which, until 2014, supplied Crimea, originates in Russia, this somehow makes it Russian water.

Melnyk had been asked to comment after two MPs from Ukraines majority Servant of the People party separately voiced the idea that Ukraine could reinstate water supplies to Crimea. As reported, Yuri Aristov, who is the head of the parliamentary budget committee, asserted back on 17 October 2019 that selling water to Crimea would help supplement Ukraines finances. This elicited angry responses, especially from Crimean Tatar leaders, and a categorical statement from the Presidents Representative on Crimea, Anton Korynevych, that water supplies would be reinstated only when Russias occupation of Crimea ends.

Then MP David Arakhamia publicly suggested that water supplies could be reinstated in exchange for an agreement on Donbas. There was public outrage over this, and Arakhamia apologised.

The fact that two MPs from the party associated with President Volodymyr Zelensky should have come out with such statements has raised fears that Zelenskys administration is testing the ground to see whether this is something that could be considered as part of a deal.

Melnyk is emphatic that any deal which effectively boils down to water in exchange for Donbas is totally unacceptable. He points out that one of the reasons that the Kremlin began its military aggression in Donbas was as a means of diverting attention from its annexation of Crimea, so Putin would be delighted if such a deal were to be accepted.

Even Melnyk is suggesting that Ukraine should use water as a lever for political concessions from Russia, In a separate interview, he noted that the issue is extremely complex and needs to be considered in detail, with the involvement of experts. As well as the fear of military aggression from Russia, there is also a high risk of environmental and man-made catastrophes in Crimea. The dangerous chemical spillage at the Crimea Titanium Factory in September 2018 was a first sign of likely problems in the future, with these of immediate environmental impact not only for Crimea itself.

The problem with Melnyks tentative suggestions is that it is quite unclear how the agreements he suggests would in fact foster deoccupation. Yes, we can demand that Russia release all Crimean Tatar and other Ukrainian political prisoners held in Crimea or Russia. Even if it does so, in exchange for water, how do we stop it arresting more Ukrainians as soon as the water is flowing again? Where are the political prisoners to go? Thus far, all those released in exchanges have ended up exiled from their homeland, with this also playing into the Kremlins hands. Another condition Melnyk proposes would be measures towards demilitarization of Crimea. This is undoubtedly important, but could any such agreement be implemented?

Melnyk acknowledges that this is for the moment pure theory, and acknowledges that any agreement would mean that Ukraine was handing over one of the most powerful levers it has. He only hints at what would almost certainly be a further, highly undesirable consequence. If Ukraine begins selling water to the Russian occupiers of Crimea, how can we expect other countries to retain their sanctions? Once those sanctions have been withdrawn, the chances of them being reinstated seem very remote. This in exchange for concessions from an aggressor state whose leaders have thus far shown only treacherous mendacity with respect to any agreements.

The Mejlis, or self-governing body, of the Crimean Tatar people, and several prominent Crimean Tatar victims of Russian persecution have all spoken out clearly against any reinstatement of water supplies to Crimea. They are adamant that any such agreement with Russia will signify Ukraines abandonment of Crimea and the loss of any hope of liberation from Russian occupation.

Over the last six months, Ukraines leaders have made controversial concessions to Russia as part of agreements to secure the release of political prisoners held in Russia or POWs and hostages in Donbas. Since those exchanges, there have already been a number of new arrests in Crimea, Russia and seizures of hostages in Donbas. There seems no reason to believe that the situation would be different if water supplies were made part of an exchange deal, and it is vital that Ukraines leaders understand that this is a red line that must not be crossed.

Read the full article here.
Smoke billows over the village of Qaminas, near Idlib city in northwest Syria, following air strikes

Five civilians were killed in Russian air strikes backing Syrian regime forces as they chipped away at the country's last major rebel bastion in fighting that cost dozens of lives Monday, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air raids hit the Jabal al-Zawiya area on the edge of the jihadist-dominated northwestern province of Idlib.

In fighting on the ground, regime forces gained ground in the southern part of Idlib, the Britain-based monitor said.

They seized 10 towns and villages south of the M4 highway linking the coastal regime stronghold of Latakia to government-held second city Aleppo since Sunday, it said.

Nearly 50 fighters were killed on several fronts in the Idlib region, according to the Observatory, including 21 pro-regime fighters, as well as 27 jihadists and allied Turkey-backed rebels.

State news agency SANA, for its part, said "units of the Syrian army continued to progress in the south of Idlib" province.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said the regime's aim was to wrest back control of stretches of the M4 still under the control of jihadists and allied rebels.

That would require operations against the towns of Ariha and Jisr al-Shughur, both along the M4.

Analysts expect a tough battle for Jisr al-Shughur, held by the jihadist Turkestan Islamic Party whose fighters mainly hail from China's Uighur Muslim minority.

They are allied to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate which dominates the Idlib region.

Loyalist forces have already taken back control of another key commercial artery running through northwest Syria -- the M5 that connects the capital with Aleppo.

They have also secured the region around the northern city, a major pre-war industrial hub.

Regime forces have since December clawed back chunks of the Idlib region, forcing close to a million people to flee their homes and shelters amid bitter cold.

The United Nations said Monday that the latest fighting was coming "dangerously close" to encampments of the displaced, risking an imminent "bloodbath".

Mark Cutts, a UN's humanitarian coordinator, also told reporters in Geneva that the world body was trying to double aid deliveries across a border crossing with Turkey from 50 to 100 trucks a day.

Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.
Integrated care conferences highly effective, yet surprisingly uncommon, according to researchers in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association

CHICAGO--February 24, 2020--Hospitals can dramatically reduce the length of a patient's stay (by up to 67%) when their provider teams hold integrated care conferences (ICCs), a daily meeting for providers to share information at once. However, the seemingly obvious concept is rarely implemented, according to researchers in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

Admitted patients require multidisciplinary teams to provide care, including nurses, social workers, pharmacists and more. Most hospitals leave it up to the primary physician to do the leg work of coordinating that care via individual emails, phone calls and in-person meetings.

"When I first encountered a hospital with ICCs, I was awestruck by how much easier and efficiently everything ran," says Ryan Shilian, DO, an adult and pediatric allergy/immunology fellow with University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and lead author on this study. "At the vast majority of hospitals, it is left up to the primary physician to physically seek out and coordinate supporting services."

An intuitive practice with dramatic results

Dr. Shilian set out to quantify the efficiency of ICCs by comparing the lengths of stay for COPD patients at two University Hospital facilities. Each had similar staffing and resources, as well as patient populations. The key difference was one maintained a daily ICC in which representatives from each care provider team met to discuss patient progress and address barriers to a safe discharge. The other did not.

The average length of stay for patients with COPD at the hospital with ICCs was 3.37 days, compared to 5.55 days in the hospital without them. Additionally, in the hospital with daily ICCs, patients aged 40 to 69 years old had a 67% shorter admission, and patients aged 70 to 99 years or older had a 36% shorter length of stay compared with patients at the hospital without those meetings.

Dr. Shilian says that the more common model of care coordination--without ICCs--is not only slower but allows more opportunities for miscommunication and gaps in treatment. He adds that reducing the length of hospital stays will save money and improve patient outcomes as patients will have less exposure to risks like secondary infections and other complications.

The vast majority of hospitals conduct multidisciplinary rounds (MDRs) in which the attending physician visits each patient with an entourage of residents, medical students, nurses, ancillary clinicians and staff to discuss the diagnoses and treatment plans. Dr. Shilian notes that MDRs are often held at the bedside, leaving little space and time for the large group to have meaningful discussion and/or input.

He adds that ICCs are held in a conference room that can accommodate the required staff, but also provide a more collaborative environment that dedicates time for every team member's input. ICCs are typically led by nursing supervisors, who represent the most direct point of care, and are focused on the patients' progress and identifying the necessary steps to getting each patient healthy enough to discharge.

###

About The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association

The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) is the official scientific publication of the American Osteopathic Association. Edited by Robert Orenstein, DO, it is the premier scholarly peer-reviewed publication of the osteopathic medical profession. The JAOA's mission is to advance medicine through the publication of peer-reviewed osteopathic research.

Media Contact

Jeff Brennan, Media Relations Manager

312-202-8161 | jbrennan@osteopathic.org
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Monday held a meeting with representatives of several ministries seeking suggestions on areas that could be selected for audit.

With a view to involve the executive side in the audit planning process by seeking their suggestions, the CAG interacted with the representatives of seven selected ministries here on Monday, said an official release.

This would help in understanding their concerns and would also supplement the risk-assessment exercise being undertaken by the CAG in the course of finalising the annual plan of audit activities.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Anita Pattanayak, sought more effective audit exercise from the secretaries and representatives of the selected central ministries and departments.

The ministries included environment, forest and climate change, jal shakti, earth sciences, new and renewable energy, science and technology, food processing industries, and food and consumer affairs. The meeting was intended to focus on development, technology and climate-related issues.

"We are keen on this interaction... Activities undertaken by scientific and environmental ministries are critical to the national objective of broad-based economic growth and balanced development across all sectors.

"Food and nutritional security is another key challenge that the country is grappling with, which requires timely and sustained government interventions," Pattanayak said.

The brainstorming session was second such exercise held by auditors after a suggestion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Conclave of Accountants General in November last year.

It is intended to make the institution of the CAG friendlier and a more active contributor in good governance, the release said.

At the meeting, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Parameswaran Iyer said the rural sanitation is a dynamic process.

The second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission is from 2020-21 to 2024-25.

For the first time, funds have been earmarked for sanitation by the 15th Finance Commission. The ministry is also working on the solid and liquid waste management. Audit should see how the earmarked funds are utilised, Iyer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Married At First Sight has been rocked by allegations that several cast members are hired actors.

And Amanda Micallef, who is one half of the show's first lesbian couple, has responded by saying that actors deserve to find love, too.

She explained that while she has worked as a TV and film extra in the past, that doesn't mean MAFS was an acting job.

Scroll down for video

Having her say: Married At First Sight's Amanda Micallef (pictured) has responded to allegations the cast are hired actors, after her 'cringeworthy' talent profile resurfaced

Amanda, a 34-year-old strength trainer from Melbourne, was responding to her resurfaced StarNow profile, which advertised her services as an actor.

'Bit cringeworthy to read a very old extras profile,' she commented on the MAFS Funny Instagram page earlier this week.

'And whilst I haven't had extra work since my mid-twenties, actors are also entitled to give the experiment a shot. So embarrassing.'

Setting the record straight: Amanda explained that while she has worked as a TV and film extra in the past, that doesn't mean MAFS was an acting job. Pictured on Today earlier this month

She also wrote on her own Instagram account: 'News has it apparently I'm an aspiring actress, if that's the case my acting skills are terrible.'

Amanda officially split from Tash Herz on Sunday's episode of MAFS, with both women voting to leave at the second commitment ceremony.

In her final moments on the show, she tearfully apologised to the gay and lesbian community for how toxic the pair's 'marriage' had become.

It's over! Amanda officially split from Tash Herz (right) on Sunday's episode of MAFS, with both women voting to leave at the second commitment ceremony

'It just didn't work': In her final moments on the show, Amanda tearfully apologised to the gay and lesbian community for how toxic the pair's 'marriage' had become

'This relationship is not a reflection of all gay relationships. There are a lot of good, functioning gay couples out there,' she said.

'I think Married At First Sight were really hoping we were going to work and that were were going to do justice for the gay community at large.

'But we were just another couple, and it just didn't work. It's that simple.'

Married At First Sight EXCLUSIVE: Ten cast members are exposed as actors, TV stars or performers - and here's the damning evidence to prove it

Married At First Sight is meant to be a program about regular people finding love.

But in reality almost half of this year's participants are hired actors with experience in television, modelling or stage performance.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that 10 cast members tried to make it in showbusiness before signing up for Nine's social experiment.

Are you surprised? Ten MAFS participants tried to make it in showbusiness before being cast on Nine's social experiment. Pictured: Amanda and Tash

In 2014, Cathy Evans graduated from Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland with a degree in performing arts and moved to Sydney to launch an acting career.

'These are the best acting headshots ever. Time to take over Australia,' she wrote on Instagram in August 2015, after having professional photos taken for her portfolio.

Cathy launched her own YouTube channel in March 2016, but it's unclear what roles, if any, she landed before appearing on MAFS.

The 26-year-old is described as a 'logistics investigator' on the show and her acting qualification is not mentioned.

Trained actress: In 2014, Cathy Evans graduated from Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland with a degree in performing arts and moved to Sydney to launch an acting career

Poser: 'These are the best acting headshots ever. Time to take over Australia,' Cathy wrote on Instagram in August 2015, after having professional photos taken for her portfolio

Actress and influencer? Cathy launched her own YouTube channel in March 2016, but it's unclear what acting roles, if any, she landed before appearing on MAFS

Meanwhile, operations manager Mikey Pembroke has been on television in the past.

In 2017, he made his acting debut in Friday on My Mind, an ABC miniseries about Australian rock band The Easybeats, in which he played a background character.

He appeared in five or six scenes across two episodes.

Mikey, 29, was also a contestant on Channel Seven's Deal or No Deal in 2015.

Surprise! Mikey Pembroke has been on television in the past, having been a contestant on Channel Seven's Deal or No Deal in 2015 (pictured)

Did you spot him? In 2017, he made his acting debut in Friday on My Mind, an ABC miniseries about Australian rock band The Easybeats, in which he played a background character

Sixties style! Mikey posed for this selfie during a costume fitting for Friday on My Mind

Vanessa Romito has experience in front of the camera, too.

Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of the Perth-based pharmacy manager, 31, filming a project with GrindFilms in February 2019.

In one scene, Vanessa plays a character at a party with several other women.

Her old MySpace profile is also full of professional photo shoots, which were taken more than a decade ago.

She's an actress too! Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of Vanessa Romito (second from left) filming a project with GrindFilms in February 2019

Model: Her old MySpace profile is also full of professional photo shoots, which were taken more than a decade ago

Meanwhile, Amanda Micallef has a StarNow profile where she advertises herself as an 'actor, extra, model and TV/radio presenter' looking for work.

She boasts of being able to 'transform into characters naturally' and has been doing so for 'her whole life', despite having 'no formal acting training'.

The 34-year-old personal trainer briefly appeared as an extra in the 2009 film Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage.

Hire me! Amanda Micallef has a StarNow profile (pictured) where she advertises herself as an 'actor, extra, model and TV/radio presenter' looking for work

Born performer: She boasts of being able to 'transform into characters naturally' and has been doing so for 'her whole life', despite having 'no formal acting training'. Pictured in 2005

Actor's life: She briefly appeared as an extra in the 2009 film Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage

Sebastian Guilhaus, who will join the cast as an 'intruder' in the coming weeks alongside Elizabeth Sobinoff, has made no secret of his desire to be a performer.

In 2018, he told Adelaide Now: 'The only thing that's been consistent [in my life] has been my love of entertaining people and making people smile. I thought, "What encompasses all of that?" and I came up with acting.

'I'm a massive movie buff and initially I had film in my mind, but now that I'm enjoying the rawness of stage theatre I'm open to anything. I have no doubt that this is the path I want to follow for the rest of my life - I've finally found my passion.'

In 2013, Seb appeared on current affairs show Today Tonight as a model in a segment about 'Adelaide Party Girls'.

'I'm open to anything': Sebastian Guilhaus (pictured), who will join the cast as an 'intruder' in the coming weeks alongside Lizzie Sobinoff, has made no secret of his desire to be a performer

Experienced! In 2018, Seb told Adelaide Now that acting was his 'passion' in life. Five years earlier, he'd appeared on Today Tonight as a model in a segment about 'Adelaide Party Girls'

Josh Pihlak writes and performs his own viral comedy skits, and already has a cult following on social media.

The Newcastle-based truck driver, 28, has been creating multi-angle short films for TikTok and Instagram for the past year.

In one video, Josh plays a tradesman father who disapproves of his son's metrosexual lifestyle.

Star in the making: Josh Pihlak writes and performs his own viral comedy skits, and already has a cult following on social media

Creative: The Newcastle-based truck driver, 28, has been creating multi-angle short films for TikTok and Instagram for the past year. In one video, Josh plays a tradesman father who disapproves of his son's metrosexual lifestyle

Two other Married At First Sight stars, Steve Burley and Aleksandra Markovic, have previously appeared on dating shows.

In 2018, barbershop owner Steve, 51, starred on Channel Seven's First Dates.

Real estate agent Aleks, 27, was a contestant on Take Me Out that same year. She joked around with host Joel Creasey, but didn't manage to secure a date.

Not his first rodeo: Steve Burley starred on Channel Seven's First Dates in 2018

Hayley Vernon and Tash Herz are both experienced live performers.

While she has no formal acting experience, Tash, 31, used to work as a burlesque dancer and striptease artist.

'I have absolutely no shame about my work as a dancer,' the bartender recently told Daily Mail Australia.

'I fully support all women working in the sex industry and I don't have time for anyone who judges that. I embrace my sexuality and I am proud of my past.'

Throwback! Aleksandra Markovic was a contestant on Take Me Out in 2018. She joked around with host Joel Creasey (left), but didn't manage to secure a date

Hayley, 32, is also proud of her former career as a topless waitress, which involved hosting bucks parties and corporate events in Melbourne under the alias 'Lee'.

'It was no secret to her friends and she never tried to hide it. She made great money, had fun and never did anything that made her feel uncomfortable,' a source said earlier this month.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine

'I have absolutely no shame': Tash Herz (left) has no formal acting experience but previously worked as a burlesque dancer and striptease artist
Who has done the most damage to cities, the central points around which the modern world turns and the kind of interesting, intense places where most Canadians want to live? Youre right, architects.

They were given a free hand but now that the dull, cheap, tissue-box buildings put up after the Second World War are falling down, we have to decide what beautiful green-natured and human-friendly buildings will replace them. This time, lets not leave it to established architects from one of the most female-hostile professions extant.

Postwar architecture  and pre-war and throughout history, it must be said  was left to grandiose architects building monuments to themselves. Its time for women to have a say, if architecture will only let them in.

We are mainly arguing about facades here, given that this is how a city is on view, and its a dreary sight, almost always hostile to the passing human. So many cities are ugly outside a historic core they decided too late to treasure, to hold in the hand like an injured bird.

If only U of T had never built brutalist hawk-like Robarts Library (this ones personal; studying there constituted half of my teenage student gloom). If only New York hadnt demolished Penn Central in the 60s. If only Ottawa hadnt permitted the blighting of the Chateau Laurier.

If only Trump hadnt destroyed a 1929 Art Deco building to put up Trump Tower, a glass and steel monstrosity with hideous insides, as travel writer Bill Bryson once described: all brass and chrome and blotchy red and white marble that looked like the sort of thing that if you saw it on the sidewalk you would walk around it. Here it was everywhere  on the floors, up the walls, on the ceiling. It was like being inside somebodys stomach after hed eaten pizza.

I dont love the facade that Trump smashed to bits, but that 12-storey jewel box building had a personality. It had detail. Modern architecture shuns detail, partly because detail is expensive and flat generic buildings are cheap.

I single out Trump because of a foul executive order he seems ready to sign. It was inspired by a group of Trumpers with no informed love of architecture but with a hatred of modernity as passionate as Osama bin Ladens.

Its not just that they think American government buildings are ugly  the CIA building should be bleak and terrifying; its a bleak and terrifying entity  but the order will mandate the return of classical architecture.

Basically, theyre talking pillars, the fogeys icing on the cake.

As Financial Times columnist Janan Ganesh describes the American disaster to come, it is not a sincere preference for the harmonious lines of the ancient world. It is a vulgarians conviction that anything old is classy.

Long after real estate developer Trumps gone, he intends his buildings to remain.

This was very much Hitlers thinking when he commissioned Albert Speer to redesign German cities marked with gigantic classical buildings celebrating the Third Reich. His Volkshalle domed stadium was ridiculous, so impossibly huge that the collective breath of the crowds inside would have made it rain indoors.

It was to be built after the Nazis established world dominion. All strongmen  Bolsonaro, Ceausescu, Stalin, Orban  have a boyish crush on architectural grandeur. Its part of the job description. I should have realized that Trump would want imperial headquarters for a government he claims to despise. Even if Trump wins re-election, it will never be built. Our heating planet requires something else entirely, possibly underground.

Many patches of Toronto are ugly, from Yonge and Bloor to Jarvis Street to vast hot identikit suburbs unsuited to Canadian social life. Buildings are not machines for living, as Le Corbusier said, they are our servants, geared to what we like and need.

If citizens feel unable to fight architectural fashions, its because we were never taught about built structures, about balance and beauty, excellent materials, detail and the human scale. If beauty had ever been a subject taught in schools, this country would be much lovelier.

Ugly buildings wont last. Neither will Trump. Consider their replacements. Make yourself heard.

Heather Mallick is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs. Follow her on Twitter: is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @HeatherMallick

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Ohio church pays off kids lunch debt in 10 school districts

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When pastors at a church in Ohio presented a challenge to pay off childrens lunch debt in two school districts, they weren't sure what would happen. They were shocked when the congregation gave enough money to eliminate lunch debt in 10 districts.

"Because of your generosity and because of the abundance and grace of our God, not only did we hit that goal but exceeded it and to date over $40,000 have come in!" Salem Church of God Lead Pastor Steve Southards said on Sunday.

The Clayton, Ohio, church had initially reached out to two neighboring school districts  Northmont and Brookville, which had a combined student lunch debt of over $14,000.

Though unsure about the congregations ability to give that much, Southards and the churchs Next Steps pastor, Bob Hawker, decided to announce the project during last Sundays service. Within four days, members gave $40,000, enough to pay off outstanding lunch debt in 10 school districts.

The church can now eliminate lunch debt also in the districts of Vandalia-Butler, New Lebanon, Milton-Union, Tri-County North, Franklin-Monroe, Troy, Eaton and Kettering.

One school food service manager was pretty emotional. He said theyve [had the debt] for so long, Hawker said. There was immense gratitude. Our schools spend so much of their time giving and giving, so for them to get to receive is a big deal.

As a church, we want to go looking for trouble, and we want to right a wrong, Lead Pastor Steve Southards was quoted as saying. We want to show the love of Jesus in really tangible ways that meets the needs of people.

Northmont Superintendent Tony Thomas said, Its nice to be in a community with a place like Salem Church of God, who obviously is doing something right because the fruits of their generosity have really exploded. For us, the focus is the kid. The kid cant be the victim. I dont know what the parents situations are. But we deal with kids. And nobody wants to see a kid not eat.

The church now wants to set up an angel fund to pay off lunch debts on a regular basis.

On Sunday, Pastor Southards thanked the congregation in his sermon and told them that the media interviewed him but edited out the credit that he gave to Jesus. But I believe with all my heart that God is the one who moved in our hearts for this deal, he said, adding that its amazing to see what can happen when we are sensitive to Gods voice in our hearts.

Southards also gave credit to Hawker for his extraordinary leadership, saying it was his idea to start the program and that he reached out to all the school districts.

Generosity is contagious, Southards said, and human beings have a desire to be generous because God is generous. Giving brings joy into the hearts of the givers also, he stressed.

The pastor quoted 2 Corinthians 9:7-8, Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
It takes courage to leave a secure job to fulfil a long-held ambition. Here, three NI women who did just that talk to Stephanie Bell.

Co Down mum-of-two Sinead Lunny was a busy solicitor who gave up the drama of the courtroom to pursue her love of amateur acting.

Today she runs a burgeoning business, Public Speaking NI, through which she offers her services as a voiceover actor, corporate public speaking coach and speech and drama teacher.

For Sinead, whose parents are both in the legal profession - her mum is a retired solicitor and her dad a barrister - studying for a career in law seemed like a natural step in her teens.

However having grown up with a love of amateur dramatics, her passion for speech and drama never left her. She thrived on standing up in a courtroom to represent her clients but got to the point when she realised this was the only part of her job she truly loved.

It was after a traumatic period in her life five years ago when her newborn second child was diagnosed with heart problems that she made the huge decision to quit her career in law.

Married to Niall (42), a digital consultant, the couple, who live in Banbridge, have two children, Eabha (8) and Niall (5).

Talking about her son's sudden diagnosis, she recalls just how traumatic that period of her life was.

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"Nothing was picked up during my pregnancy and when Niall was born everything seemed to be fine," she says.

"Then I noticed he was getting out of breath when he was feeding and was very pale. He was diagnosed with bronchiolitis and admitted to Craigavon Hospital.

"He was given oxygen but it was having no effect and he was in hospital for three weeks when doctors decided to do an ECG and echo tests on his heart."

Much to Sinead and Niall's horror, the tests picked up a serious heart condition and they were told he needed urgent surgery in London.

"His arteries were plumbed wrongly and he wasn't getting enough oxygen to the heart... and his heart was starting to fail," explains Sinead. "He then developed pneumonia and a bacterial infection and a third infection and it was three weeks before he was well enough to travel by air ambulance to London."

Baby Niall came through a successful five-hour surgery in February 2015 which corrected his heart issues, although he still attends hospital for check-ups.

For Sinead it proved a major turning point in her life.

"Sitting in the hospital with Niall I thought about how stressful my job was," she says. "I was dealing with a lot of family law and with that came a lot of emotion. I realised something had to give and I thought about what other skills I had. I am qualified in speech and drama so I decided to set up a Saturday morning class.

"People in the town know me from my own amateur dramatics growing up, when I was winning awards all over the place, so I soon filled the class.

"In February 2016 I handed in my notice and my boss was really taken aback. I did think about how on earth we were going to survive as we had a mortgage to pay and two children.

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"But at the same time I felt such a relief and the stress just lifted from my shoulders. Now I love what I do. It is a real passion for me and with hindsight it is what I should have been doing from the outset.

"I am really enjoying it. It's grown from my speech and drama classes for children to helping people who are nervous about making speeches, corporate training and voiceovers for radio and TV ads. It's fantastic."

Sinead draws on her courtroom experience and her speech and drama skills to train people in how to use their voice for maximum effect and impact.

And taking the bold step to follow her heart has not just made Sinead happier but her entire family.

"If I've learnt one lesson, it is life is too short not to do what you love," she says. "A couple of years ago I would have thought that was a terrible cliche but I've discovered it is absolutely true.

"If I was to advise anyone considering leaving their job to follow their dreams it would be to make sure that they are fiscally stable and don't just jump into the abyss like I did. Also what is the worst that can happen? If it doesn't work out you can always go back to your old career."

Find out more at www.publicspeakingni.com

My husband lost both his parents within months of each other... it was a real wake-up call

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Jacqueline Rooney Wilson was head of a busy secondary school art department for 12 years when she finally left to pursue her dream of becoming a professional artist.

Having just turned 40 and with two sons, she realised life was passing her by and she took the huge gamble of giving up her secure job to follow her heart.

Today as she supplies galleries around Northern Ireland and the Republic, and fulfils commissions with her vibrant semi-abstract landscapes, she has no regrets. "It is the best thing I have ever done," she smiles. "I love Sunday nights as I get to Monday quicker. I am so happy to be doing what my heart has always wanted and feel it shows in my work."

Jacqueline (42) is married to Scott Wilson (42), a teacher, and lives in Rostrevor with their two children, Finlay (4) and Evan (3).

She says that from the age of three she has been sketching the beauty of the Mourne coastline and mountains where she grew up.

In her teens, however, she was advised against realising her true vocation of being an artist and instead opted to study for a degree in art and design and go on to teach art.

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"Careers advice when I was growing up was that I would never make a living as an artist," she says.

"I had been teaching for 20 years and for 12 years was head of art at St Joseph's High School in Crossmaglen.

"I always encouraged my students to follow their dream and if they wanted to be artists then they should go for it.

"It struck me that I needed to follow my own gut instinct and advice.

"Having my two sons made me realise that anything is possible and around the time they were born, my husband lost both of his parents within months of each other and that was a real wake-up call for me."

Having made up her mind to leave teaching behind to paint full-time, Jacqueline sensibly prepared by saving for two years so that she would have some financial security.

Much to her delight, her business took off almost immediately and she now has her work in 12 outlets across Ireland as well as selling from her home studio and through her website and social media channels.

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Thrilled to be finally living her dream, she is the keynote speaker at an event in Newcastle this April talking on the subject Finding Your True Vocation.

She adds: "I now wake up and go to sleep thinking about my business and most days paint into the night and I love every minute of it.

"It has just exploded, I have been so overwhelmed by how well it has gone.

"We only get one life and my message is that it is never too late to follow your dream, even in your 40s.

"I always think of the quote 'she believed she could so she did' which really resonates with me.

"There is so much support out there for new businesses and my advice would be to take advantage of that and believe you can do it and you will."

Find out more at www.jacquelinerooney.com

I wake up excited about the day ahead  I never felt that way when I was in banking

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Louise Donnelly Crawford gave up a career in her local bank to train in beauty and open her own salon in her home town of Ballycastle.

It was a huge risk pouring every penny into a business that was brand new, but she hasn't looked back and has even amassed a few celebrity clients along the way.

Louise (34), is married to Gabriel (35), a fitness instructor, and has two children, Cadhan (11) and Ellie (6). She first studied early learning education at Liverpool's Hope University with the aim of becoming a teacher.

However since early childhood she loved beauty and make-up and as part of her GCSE business studies exam, drew up a business plan for a beauty studio on the main street of her home town.

But at the time it seemed just like a dream and she instead focused on getting a degree.

"When I was in my teens beauty was not really considered a great career and it was felt that you had to go to university," she says. "When I finished my degree I knew I didn't want to teach. A job vacancy for a cashier came up in my local bank and I applied, thinking it would be a good career.

"I did it for six years and I knew it wasn't for me. It was mostly doing the same thing every day and I found it boring.

"For as long as I can remember I wanted to do beauty so I looked into training and signed up for a course in Belfast, which I did one day a week for a year. I also signed up for a nail course in Belfast which was another day a week for a year."

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On qualifying six years ago, she gave up her job in the bank and opened the Louise Donnelly Make-up and Beauty studio on Ann Street in the heart of Ballycastle - just like she had dreamed of as a teenager.

She was initially worried about building up a client base, however, her business took off from the very start.

"It is so crazy and I do so many hours," she says. "I take photographs of everything I do and when I finish and go home I look back on my work and get really excited about the next day - I would never have had that in banking. I'm never bored and when I wake in the morning I bounce out of bed looking forward to the day ahead.

"In a small town like ours you meet so many nice people and when you are doing treatments you are chatting and having a coffee.

"Sometimes people text you to thank you for the chat and it makes it more meaningful."

A fan of the hit TV reality series Love Island, Louise was astonished last year when one of the contestants, Georgia Harrison, messaged her through Instagram and invited her to come to London and do her make-up for a photoshoot.

Louise recalls: "I was following her on Instagram and I 'liked' a post she put up and she then messaged me about doing her make-up for a photoshoot for the next day.

"I was in a real panic but I knew I had to do it and I booked the 6.30am flight to London the next morning and was with her in her apartment in Kensington by 9am.

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"She was getting publicity pictures taken for her social media and I did the make-up. I had watched her on Love Island and it was surreal being there.

"She was lovely and she talked about how difficult it is for contestants to keep themselves relevant after the show ends."

And country music star Lisa McHugh also asked Louise to do her make-up after spotting her work on Instagram.

Louise certainly has no regrets and for anyone thinking of changing careers to follow their dream job she has this advice.

"I would advise anyone to go for it," she says. "I left a full-time job not knowing if one person was going to come through my door. I think if you have the drive and the passion you can make it work.

"I don't do it for the love of money as anything I make I put it back into the business. Money is secondary to doing what I love."

Find out more at Facebook.com/louisedonnellymakeupandbeauty
School cleaners have been warned against accepting a job promoted as a "great opportunity to earn some good money" to clean a quarantine centre for the crew of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

The job offer involves spending six days of cleaning in response to one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks outside China. More than 630 people aboard the ship have been infected with coronavirus, including two who died.

Cleaners received a text message on Monday which said a "really great opportunity has arrived".

The United Workers Union said members who work as public school cleaners for the Broadspectrum cleaning company were approached on Monday with an offer to work for six days in Japan. Some workers said they were told by supervisors they would be cleaning the Diamond Princess.

One, who works in a NSW public school, asked if the supervisor was joking and what compensation they would receive if they contracted the virus.
Raising questions about the



situation in Kashmir, senior Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Sidddaramaiah on Monday asked the BJP heading the union government to prove 'normalcy' by hosting US President Donald Trump's event in the valley.

If @BJP4India feels Kashmir has returned to Normalcy, & If @BJP4India feels that there is no govt orchestrated violence. Now is the time to prove the same by hosting @realDonaldTrump's event at Kashmir, Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Amid concerns raised by opposition parties, the government has said efforts have been made to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir which faced months of restrictions after its special status under Article 370 was scrapped in August last year.

Siddaramaiah, who is Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, in another tweet hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the long wall built near the airport in Ahmedabad allegedly to block view of a slum, ahead of Trumps visit.

It is time for @realDonaldTrump to get inspired from @narendramodi. Inspiration to build decorative walls to hide not so decorative life!! he tweeted.

The opposition Congress in Gujarat had accused the BJP- ruled civic body in Ahmedabadof building the 500-metre long wall to block view of a slum colony.

Refuting the allegations, AMC officials had said the construction of the wall, around four feet in height, was approved much before Trump's Gujarat visit was finalised.

Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and a high-level delegation, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for a little less than 36-hour-long trip.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: A 20-year-old woman, Tayyaba, who was part of the 40-day long protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the Ghanta Ghar, Lucknow dies after falling ill. Tayyaba, who was a final year BA student from Karamat Girls College, was protesting along with other women protestors against the recently enacted law.

She fell ill after she was drenched in rain and died after struggling for four days.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old protester in Aligarh got shot and was seriously injured during the violent clashes between anti-CAA protestors and police on Sunday (February 24).

"With protesters indulging in vandalisation of property and throwing stones at security personnel in upper Kot area under Kotwali police station area, the police fired teargas shells to disperse the mob," Aligarh District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh told PTI.

Following the violence, the administration also suspended internet services in the city till midnight on Sunday as a precautionary measure, Singh added.

There has been a countrywide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was enacted into law on December 12, 2019.

The Amendment benefits Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who sought refuge in India before December 31, 2014.


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Authorities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have suggested imposing quarantine restrictions on people arriving from South Korea and Japan, as the numbers of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in these countries have shot up in recent days.

South Korea reported 161 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 763, health authorities said on Monday, a day after the government raised its infectious disease alert to the highest level.

Meanwhile, authorities in Japan had confirmed 773 cases by early Sunday evening, most of them from a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo.

Ho Chi Minh City is at a very high risk of COVID-19 penetration from South Korea because it regularly receives a large number of passengers arriving from or passing through the East Asian country, the municipal Department of Health said on Sunday.

The health department has therefore sought permission from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health to require medical declarations from people arriving from or traveling through South Korea upon entry in the southern metropolis.

It also requested guidance on applying quarantine restrictions to people arriving from or traveling through South Korea.

From 3:00 pm on Sunday, people who enter Vietnam from South Korea have been required to declare their medical condition while going through immigration at Vietnamese ports of entry, the Ministry of Health said in a letter sent to local administrations on Monday morning.

On Sunday evening, Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung chaired an extraordinary meeting on the prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic in light of unusual developments of the viral disease in South Korea and Japan.

At the meeting, Hanois Department of Health deputy director Hoang Duc Hanh proposed imposing home isolation on foreigners from the COVID-19 epicenters in Japan and South Korea, and placing Vietnamese people returning from those areas in quarantine at medical facilities.

According to Hanh, Vietnams airlines currently operate four flights weekly between the southeastern Korean city of Daegu, where more than half of South Koreas COVID-19 cases have been reported, and Cam Ranh International Airport in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa.

There has been one case  a Vietnamese student returning to the northern Vietnamese province of Thai Binh from Daegu  being put in quarantine at a local general hospital, while a taxi driver who drove the overseas student home from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi has also been placed under home isolation, Hanh told the meeting.

Speaking at the event, chairman Chung asked for cooperation from the capitals military command in case Vietnam has to evacuate citizens from South Korea and Japan.

Around 200,000 Vietnamese live and work in South Korea, according to the Vietnam News Agency. A 2019 report by Japanese broadcaster NHK put the number of Vietnamese in Japan at over 300,000.

The COVID-19 has killed 2,522 people and infected over 79,300 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 from the hospital. 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!
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has declined the invitation to attend the dinner invitation extended by the President Ram Nath Kovind in honour of visiting US President Donald Trump.

The sources close to the Congress leader said, "since no invitation has been extended to Chairman of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Sonia Gandhi, so it would not be appropriate for him to attend the function." Earlier, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had declined the invitation to attend the Presidential banquet saying since party Interim President Sonia Gandhi has not been invited, he will not attend.

The floor leaders of both the Houses of Parliament have been invited for the Presidential banquet to be hosted on Tuesday. The schedule of the US President has no mention of meeting with any Opposition leaders. The Congress said on Friday that it had not received any invitation for its leaders to meet Trump on his two-day visit to India.
Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi on Monday suggested that violence in parts of Delhi was a conspiracy aimed at defaming the peaceful Shaheen Bagh protest.

Gandhi was in Nagpur to deliver a lecture on 'Kasturba, A Remarkable Life' organised by SGR knowledge Foundation.

Clashes had broken out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) groups near Jaffrabad in northeast Delhi.

On Monday, the violence escalated resulting into killings of a head constable and a civilian.

"This violence is a conspiracy to discredit the peaceful Shaheen Bagh protest. We need to know the source of violence and its architects. They are still afraid of Mahatma Gandhi. We cannot shun non-violence, but the perpetrators of violence will get a reply," he told PTI on the sidelines of the event.

In his lecture, Tushar Gandhi spoke about the huge contribution of Kasturba in Satyagrahas held by her husband, Mahatma Gandhi, for the cause of Independence.

Hundreds of women have been holding a sit-in protest at the Shaheen Bagh in Delhi against the new citizenship law (CAA) that was passed by Parliament in December last year, alleging that it was discriminatory against Muslims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I recently found myself trapped in the arms of a shaman. It was a hug  and a consensual hug, let me be clear  albeit an unexpected one. I had held out my hand to offer this person a shake, as we were meeting professionally for the first time. He rejected my hand and instead pulled me in for a warm hug. He smelled amazing.

A few seconds later, I was preparing to pull back, and yet there we stayed in an embrace. And stayed. And stayed. By the time the hug was finished, I was so panicked about the emails piling up in my inbox that I was practically convulsing.

It takes forever for him to leave a party, the shamans assistant said, rolling her eyes.

I am a New Yorker. If the involvement of a shaman hadnt tipped you off already, this hug occurred in Los Angeles.

But the shaman was not an outlier. In my entirely unscientific research, this is the way that some people in Los Angeles  you know, the cliched touchy feely types the city has always been associated with  seem to greet each other.
The government has extended the time till March 6 for bidders to pose additional queries regarding sale of its 100 per cent stake in Air India.

The government has issued the first set of clarification on Air India disinvestment answering queries of interested bidders on the 'confidentiality undertaking' listed out in the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) issued on January 27.

The last date for submission of written queries on PIM and Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) was originally set at February 11, following which the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) on February 21 issued a set of 20 clarifications on the queries raised.

The additional time period for submission of written queries on PIM and SPA is till March 6, 2020, the DIPAM said.

The government in January restarted the divestment process of Air India and invited bids for selling 100 per cent of its equity in the state-owned airline, including Air India's 100 per cent shareholding in AI Express Limited and 50 per cent in Air India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd.

The last date for putting bids is March 17 and interested bidders for Air India should have a net worth of Rs 3,500 crore.

After its unsuccessful bid to sell Air India in 2018, the government this time has decided to offload its entire stake. In 2018, the government had offered to sell its 76 per cent stake in the airline.

Of the total debt of Rs 60,074 crore as of March 31, 2019, the buyer would be required to absorb Rs 23,286.5 crore, while the rest would be transferred to Air India Assets Holding Ltd (AIAHL), the special purpose vehicle.

As a precursor to Air India sale, the Cabinet in February 2019 approved setting up AIAHL to transfer Rs 29,464 crore worth loans of the national carrier and its four subsidiaries-- Air India Air Transport Services (AIATSL), Airline Allied Services (AASL), Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) and Hotel Corporation of India (HCI).

Also non-core assets - painting and artefacts - as well as other non-operational assets of the national carrier too will be transferred to the SPV.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The body of a teenage boy, believed to be aged 13, was found in the River Wear near Bishop Auckland this morning, Durham Police said.

A spokesperson for the force said a search operation had been launched last night following reports that a person had gone into the river near Toronto Bridge.

They confirmed that the body of a teenager was found in the river today. Police are not treating the death as suspicious, they added.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: 'We are sorry to report a body has been found in the River Wear near Bishop Auckland.

A spokesperson for the force said a search operation had been launched last night following reports that a person had gone into the river near Toronto Bridge

'A multi-agency search operation was launched last night following reports that a person had gone into the river near Toronto Bridge.

'Sadly, the body of a teenager was found in the river this morning.'

They said that formal identification has yet to take place, but that the boy's family have been informed, adding 'our thought are with them at this tragic time'.

Dehenna Davison, Tory MP for Bishop Auckland, said: 'I'm devastated to hear the news that a body was found in the Wear this morning. To lose a loved one is agonising, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and friends.

'My sincere thanks go to all the agencies involved in the search, including the local police, mountain rescue, and the coastguard.

'Their work is outstanding, especially in such difficult conditions.

'My thoughts also go out to the individuals who took part in the search, who I know will have had an emotional stake in it. Myself and my team will be there to offer support to anyone affected by this sad news.'
Julian Assange wearing two pair of glasses in seen at court during an extradition hearing: REUTERS

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is at high risk of suicide if he is sent to the US to face claims he endangered the lives of whistleblowers around the world, a court has heard.

At an extradition hearing in London, Assanges lawyers argued he is the victim of a politically motivated prosecution that forms part of Donald Trumps war on investigative journalists.

But the US government claimed some sources had disappeared after the WikiLeaks founder put them at risk of serious harm, torture or even death by leaking classified information.

James Lewis QC, opening the case against Assange, said on Monday that information published by WikiLeaks was useful to enemies of the US.

In response, lawyers for the 48-year-old editor and political activist have warned he could face fatal consequences if he is extradited to America, where he faces 18 charges including espionage and hacking allegations.

Assange faces up to 175 years in jail if found guilty of all of the charges, which relate to 2010 and 2011.

Mr Lewis told Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates' court, that most of the charges related to straightforward criminal activity in a conspiracy to steal from and hack into the Department of Defence computer system.

These are ordinary criminal charges and any person, journalist or source who hacks or attempts to gain unauthorised access to a secure system, or aids and abets others to do so, is guilty of computer misuse, the barrister said.

Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a licence to break ordinary criminal laws.

Mr Lewis said that the US identified hundreds of at-risk and potentially at-risk people around the world due to WikiLeaks actions and made efforts to warn them of the danger they faced.

The US is aware of sources, whose redacted names and other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by WikiLeaks, who subsequently disappeared, although the US can't prove at this point that their disappearance was the result of being outed by WikiLeaks, he added.

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Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing Assange, said the extradition would be the height of inhumanity, exposing the WikiLeaks founder to a lengthy sentence in prison and leading to a high risk of suicide.

Mr Fitzgerald went on to say it was completely misleading to suggest Assange and WikiLeaks were to blame for the disclosure of unredacted names and suggested that the Trump administration was making an example of Assange.

The lawyer also alleged that spies had considered kidnapping or poisoning Assange while he was living inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

That claim was made by a whistleblower who also said private security agents from the Spanish firm UC Global, acting on behalf of the US, were involved in intrusive and sophisticated surveillance.

Assanges extradition hearing will be adjourned at the end of the week and continue with three weeks of evidence scheduled to begin on 18 May.

A decision on the case is not expected for months and is likely to be appealed against by the losing side, whatever the outcome.

Assange has been held on remand in Belmarsh prison since last September after serving a 50-week jail sentence for breaching his bail conditions while living in the Ecuadorian embassy.

He entered the building in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex offence allegations, which he has always denied and which were subsequently dropped because of the length of time which had passed.

Additional reporting by PA

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Trump rejects claim he offered Julian Assange a pardon as 'total lie'
India and the United States will sign two defence deals worth $3 billion in Delhi on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said on Monday.

The defence deals pertain to the sale of 24 MH-60R helicopters for the Indian Navy and six AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Army.

"As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most-feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India," the US President said while speaking at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad after landing in the Gujarat city earlier.

"I am pleased to announce that tomorrow, our representatives will sign deals to sell for over $3 billion the finest, state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces."

Ahead of Trump's visit to India, the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 19 cleared the two deals to acquire 24 MH-60 'Romeo' naval multi-mission helicopters for $2.12 billion and six AH-64E Apache attack choppers for $796 million from the US.

The first batch of six MH-60R helicopters, equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision capabilities as well as Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets for potent anti-submarine warfare, would be delivered within a year. The remaining 18 will be delivered within four years.

The six Apaches, armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, guns and rockets, would be delivered in three and a half years.
A new scheme has given heroin to the worst addicts to stop them committing crimes.

The scheme is based in Middlesbrough, which has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Britain, and spends more than 11,000 on diamorphine to give to 11 of the district's most entrenched addicts.

None of the 11 addicts who injected themselves with diamorphine under supervision for the project had re-offended in the 15 weeks since the scheme was launched.

One 42-year-old man who has been addicted to heroin for 20 years said he used to shoplift 80 worth of goods every day to feed his habit. A stock image is used above [File photo]

One addict called the scheme, which started in October, 'the chance of a lifetime'.

One woman is now looking at entering rehab and one participant is reducing his diamorphine intake.

The addicts have also put on weight and look healthier and can begin to address the cause of their addiction now they are not looking for street heroin and committing crime to pay for it.

Cleveland police and crime commissioner Barry Coppinger said the 11 participants had committed more than 900 detected crimes and their offending had cost the taxpayer 3.7 million

A 42-year-old man who has been addicted to heroin for 20 years said he used to shoplift 80 worth of goods every day to feed his habit.

He said: Ive been in treatment since 1999 and Ive never gone without heroin in all that time.

Ive spent a lot of time in jail, but I used in there as well.

I want to be totally abstinent of everything and then help other people do it.

Ive been through it and I know what the problems are.

This scheme might not work for everyone but its worked for me and its worked for the other people that Im on the programme with.

Theres not many of us on it and weve been given the chance of a lifetime and you can see the difference in everyone.

Cleveland police and crime commissioner Barry Coppinger said the 11 participants had committed more than 900 detected crimes and their offending had cost the taxpayer 3.7 million, using an official calculation method.

Mr Coppinger hoped to expand the scheme to other areas using money seized from criminals.

He said: Its my intention to use funding seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act to go back into our communities, to repair the harm that the illegal drug trade has wrought not only to those on the programme, but to our entire society.

Clinical lead Danny Ahmed said: Evidence from countries like Canada and Switzerland told us that heroin assisted treatment could work here in Middlesbrough, but I continue to be impressed with overwhelming change in our participants in such a short time frame.

The majority of these individuals have battled addiction for decades and they are finally able to lift their head out of the daily struggle of substance use and look forward to living life.
FIANNA FAIL Councillor Tom Brabazon has been elected as Lord Mayor of Dublin in a special city council meeting this evening.

He was elected by 34 votes to 26 in a roll call vote, with three councillors exempt at Dublin City Hall.

Councillor Brabazon served as Deputy Lord Mayor to Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe, who was elected to Dail Eireann earlier this month.

Expand Close Former Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe at the Mansion House. Photo: Caroline Quinn / Facebook

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Whatsapp Former Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe at the Mansion House. Photo: Caroline Quinn

Mr Brabazon's wife Liz and their three children joined him after his election.

Independent Councillor and director of Inner City Helping Homeless Anthony Flynn also contested the position.

Green Party, Labour and Social Democrat councillors voted for Cllr Brabazon, while Fine Gael, People Before Profit and Social Democrat councillors voted for Cllr Flynn.

Expand Close Inner City Helping Homeless, Councillor Anthony Flynn. Credit: Mick Carolan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Inner City Helping Homeless, Councillor Anthony Flynn. Credit: Mick Carolan

Five councillor vacancies created by those elected to Dail Eireann earlier this month were also filled.

Fianna Fails Paul McAuliffe vacancy was filled by Breege Mac Oscair filled his seat, a student at Kings Inn and a TCD graduate.

Sinn Fein Chris Andrews seat was filled by Daniel Keating a Cork native who has attended college in Dublin for five years.

Green Party Patrick Costellos seat was filled by former journalist Caroline Moore.

Green Party's Neasa Hourigans seat was filled by Darcey Lonergan from Monaghan, who was previously Mayor of Carickmacross.

Social Democrat Gary Gannon TD seat was filled by Kath ODriscoll, who studied science of UCC and was Vice President for Academic Affairs with the Union of Students in Ireland.

Fine Gael's Colm O'Rourke lost out to Fianna Fail Cllr Racheal Batten, who was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Cllr Batten was elected with 33 votes to 12, with 10 abstentions and eight absent.
They were the oddest of political colleagues: a nonagenarian onetime autocrat and the former protege he had jailed for sodomy.

Mahathir Mohamad, the 94-year-old prime minister of Malaysia, and his perennial presumptive heir, Anwar Ibrahim, joined forces in 2018 to oust a governing party to which both had once belonged. That party, the United Malays National Organization, known as UMNO, was at the center of the 1MDB scandal, the brazen looting of billions of dollars of Malaysias public funds.

But the unwieldy coalition that brought Mr. Mahathir and Mr. Anwar together crumbled on Monday.

After a flurry of meetings that had political analysts feverishly analyzing whose car was pulling up in which driveway, Mr. Mahathir submitted his letter of resignation as prime minister on Monday afternoon.

The move, however, did not appear to be designed to result in Mr. Mahathir actually giving up leadership of Malaysia, a job that he has held twice, analysts said.
Global tech giant Microsoft's chief executive Satya Nadella on Monday urged Indian businessmen to keep inclusivity at the centre of their digital technology pursuits.

Nadella said the last decade has seen the advent of connected technologies through mobile but rued that only aggregators have made the most out of the opportunity, and underlined that there is a case for broadening of the productivity gains.

The India-born Nadella made the remarks while addressing a CEO summit organised by his company as part of a three-day visit to the country. The speech, which came in the backdrop of Nadella's disappointment with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), did not have any political overtones.

The 30-minute speech focused heavily on the way forward on technology and was peppered with real-life examples of Microsoft's work with Indian companies.

Addressing the CEOs, Nadella said, "When you build tech intensity, you also got to consider how is what you are doing with digital technology driving more inclusive economic growth?"



He added that "stakeholder capitalism" is very important in a multi-constituent world.

Leaders need to be ready to adapt to technological changes as quickly as possible, while they build the tech capabilities, Nadella said.

In the decade gone by, we understood the importance of consumer economy, he said, wondering if it is the "only economy".

"The business model which was most successful during that period (last decade) was the aggregator business model or the market places. Is that enough? clearly not!" he said, making a case for a cross-sectoral impact of technology which will broaden the productivity gains.

"To me, it boils down to how every organisation in India can ride this wave, build their own tech intensity," he said.

While giving the example of an artificial intelligence powered safety system being implemented by online cab aggregator Ola, Nadella said "driver safety and road safety in India is going to be a massive issue".

He said all the companies that are deploying technology in their processes need to create trust among stakeholders in aspects such as maintaining privacy or using artificial intelligence only for ethical purposes.

The nature of tech jobs is changing, making re-skilling an important aspect, he said.

Stating that tech is getting used more broadly by all companies now, Nadella cited data from its professionals' networking site, Linkedin, which says 72 per cent of the jobs available for software engineers were in non-technology companies.

Nadella asked companies to be wary of cyber security risks, adding that compromises have resulted in losses of USD 1 trillion on this account.

He also cited a focused attack on 11,000 devices in north India carried out to do blockhain mining while citing a domestic instance.

The companies whose case studies got cited by Nadella included Piramal Glass, Ola, Narayana Health and also Reliance Industries.

He said the partnership with Reliance will be a "defining" one for the next decade.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UWs Wind River Startup Challenge Deadline Extended

The University of Wyomings Wind River Startup Challenge (WRSC) has garnered significant interest, with more than 40 Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho entrepreneurs participating in the first workshop in mid-January.

I was encouraged to see the turnout, and Im hopeful for our Wind River community, says James Trosper, director of UWs High Plains American Indian Research Institute (HPAIRI). If each of those people who attended the first workshop starts a business, it will change things overnight.

This challenge offers a $25,000 seed fund supported through the National Science Foundations EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research). This seed funding will give Native-owned and -managed startups the business capital needed to launch.

Entrepreneurship is driven by homegrown solutions, says David Bohling, the director of UWs Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC). Seed funding can enable the launch of new ideas into meaningful and beneficial ventures. Seed funding through WRSC is a grant, meaning it does not have to be paid back. Instead, we look forward to seeing that modest financial leverage translate to benefits for the entire community through the work of the entrepreneur.

In collaboration with HPAIRI, Central Wyoming College (CWC) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Riverton, another workshop is set for Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 6-8 p.m. at the Frank B. Wise Building in Fort Washakie. The workshop is designed to support entrepreneurship in the Wind River community regardless of eligibility or participation in the challenge.

The deadline to apply for the challenge has been extended to Sunday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m.

We want to give everyone the opportunity to ask questions and receive individualized counsel, says Veronica Donahue, an intern at the WTBC. Two additional weeks gives applicants extra time to finalize their submissions.

The application can be found online at www.windriverstartupchallenge.com or at the SBDC in Riverton.

Following submission of applications March 1, semifinalist teams will be selected and interviewed. A final pitch day will be held in May, with an independent judging panel deciding on award funding amounts to winning teams.

Interested parties are encouraged to meet with business counselors before submitting proposals.

The enormous potential and enthusiasm for this project have made discussions with tribal entrepreneurs very rewarding and fun, says Kyle Trumble, a CWC instructor and business counselor. I look forward to the upcoming workshops and continuing to learn how our entrepreneurial ecosystem can support Native-owned startups in new ways. This is just as big, if not bigger, of a learning opportunity as it is a teaching opportunity for me.

Entrepreneurs across the state can receive free support in the form of business counseling from the SBDC and the WTBC. These organizations are part of the Wyoming Business Resource Network, which assists all businesses -- big and small -- throughout the state.
There are now 13 cases of coronavirus in the UK.

Four Britons rescued from a coronavirus-hit cruise ship are being treated at specialist centres in the north of England after testing positive for the illness.

Confirmation of the cases brings the total number of people diagnosed with the COVID-19 strain in the United Kingdom to 13.

The four  the first diagnoses in people brought back to the UK on repatriation flights  had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship which was held in quarantine off the coast of Japan for more than two weeks amid the outbreak.

They were among a group of 30 Britons and two Irish citizens who arrived at a quarantine block at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside on Saturday. On Sunday the National Health Service England (NHS) confirmed the positive diagnoses.





The virus was passed on in the cruise ship, Englands chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said.

Two of the patients are in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, one is in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and a fourth was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

The Department of Health said a full infectious disease risk assessment was done before the repatriation flight and that no one who boarded the plane had displayed any symptoms of the virus.

Any more passengers who test positive will immediately be taken into specialist NHS care, the department said.

Professor Keith Willett, NHS strategic incident director for coronavirus, said the specialist centres are well prepared to deal with cases as he called for calm in the face of any further potential cases.

Experts said it was unsurprising that some of the returned passengers had tested positive, because the ship was not working as a quarantine.

Professor Keith Neal, emeritus professor of epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said: The UK authorities brought the passengers home as they would have continued to be at risk staying on the ship.

Almost one-fifth of the 3,711 passengers originally on board the cruise liner have been infected and it is understood some British nationals who are part of the Diamond Princess crew had opted to remain on the ship.

The tipping point after which our ability to prevent a global pandemic seems a lot closer after the past 24 hours. Professor Paul Hunter, University of East Anglia

The number of coronavirus fatalities from the Diamond Princess rose to three on Sunday, after Japanese authorities confirmed a local man in his eighties had died in hospital.

British couple David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, who were on the cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary, are still in a Japanese hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus and pneumonia.

Relatives said the couple are both having a really tough time and feel very much in the dark in terms of treatment, adding that they are awaiting further tests.

Hours before the latest UK cases were confirmed, 118 people were released from a coronavirus quarantine centre in Milton Keynes.

The group  who had been brought back to Britain earlier this month on a repatriation flight from Wuhan  spent 14 days at the Kents Hill Park training and conference centre.

They spoke of their relief at being allowed to return home on Sunday, with one man saying it felt fantastic to be out.

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The training and conference centre has been professionally cleaned and will be back in business from next week, NHS England said.

Of the 13 people in the UK diagnosed with coronavirus, eight have been discharged from hospital. One remains at St Thomas Hospital in London.

The death toll in China passed 2,500 deaths early on Monday, with the countrys authorities also reporting 77,345 people had tested positive for COVID-19.

The increases came as South Korea reported another two deaths  taking its total to seven  and a rise in confirmed cases by 161 to 763.

The University of East Anglias Professor Paul Hunter said recent cases outside China have been extremely concerning.

He listed South Korea, Japan and Iran as causes for concern and said a cluster of cases in Italy is a big worry for Europe.

The director-general of the World Health Organization has recently spoken of a narrowing of the window of opportunity to control the current epidemic, he said.

The tipping point after which our ability to prevent a global pandemic seems a lot closer after the past 24 hours.
Few people are as knee-deep in our work-related anxieties and sticky office politics as Alison Green, who has been fielding workplace questions for a decade now on her website Ask a Manager. In Direct Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better.

An unsettling number of people are confused about what kind of loyalty they owe their employers.

I regularly receive letters asking whether it would be disloyal to look for a new job (as if an employer is a romantic partner an employee would be cheating on) from people who feel guilty about leaving their jobs for a better offer and also from people who would like to quit but feel obligated to stay because were so busy right now or another key person on my team left recently.

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Its not that people shouldnt have any loyalty to their employers. Its reasonable to have some allegiance to the company that employs you and signs your paychecks! But people get the balance wrong in ways that disproportionately harm themselves while benefiting their companies.

Take this person, for example, whose company cut her salary, yet she still worries about being a traitor if she leaves:

The company is undergoing dramatic financial issues and last week management cut everyones salary by 10% to preserve our financial stability.  Management is adamant that this difficult time is for staff to give back to the company and make sacrifices for the whole. All my friends and family say I should run, quit, and find a new job ASAP. I feel hesitant because I did really like my job before this happened and felt like I had a career trajectory at this company. Im also struggling to determine if I owe it to the company to stay, put in the work, and weather the storm of 2020 for $3,000 less a year than what I was making.  Am I a traitor if I leave?

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This person sees her company struggling financially and knows she should start looking for another job but worries that other employers will think shes being disloyal when she interviews:

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Ive been working at my current organization for 12 months, and generally enjoy my job. Recently however, the organization has lost a major contract and rumors are rife that other large contracts will be pulled too.  I want to start a job search just in case things do get worse, but I am worried this will make me look flaky to potential employers, particularly when expressing why I want to leave my current job. Im concerned that telling the truth and saying Im worried about my job security will look like Im being very disloyal to my current employer for jumping ship before it potentially sinks.

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In a particularly impressive display of chutzpah, this company tried to demand loyalty from a job candidate who wasnt even working for it yet:

My partner recently interviewed at a potential employer. The feedback was good, and he has now heard from his recruiter that they are going to make an offer. However, the recruiter also said that the employer asked that my partner show loyalty and stop interviewing for other roles while they put the offer package together.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this idea of workplace loyalty is largely a one-way street. Employers dont tend to sacrifice their own financial interests to protect their employees. When budgets are tight, they lay people off. If an employee isnt meeting their work requirements, their job is likely in jeopardy. Thats not to say managers dont ever struggle with those decisionsthey often dobut ultimately, employers act for their own benefit. And thats not a criticism! These are business relationships; both sides are supposed to be able to walk away without significant guilt when the arrangement no longer works to their advantage. Yet workers often struggle with that in a way that employers dont.

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The problems with misplaced loyalty play out in other ways too. Youll find a particularly dysfunctional version in companies that like to proclaim, Were like a family here! While one can, of course, have warm and caring relationships with ones colleagues, companies arent families. Most obviously, families dont (usually) fire their members. More insidiously, though, were like family here often means employees will be expected to prioritize the company above their own interests by doing things like working long hours, accepting lower pay, and, you know, not unionizing, and will be expected to be loyal to the company in ways that wont be returned. Because family! (Ive long believed that if an interviewer ever tells you their company is like a family, you should strongly consider running.)

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But it can be tough as an employee to shed these beliefs about loyalty, damaging as they are. Thats especially true if youre a conscientious worker who truly likes your colleagues and your company. In most other areas of life, when we like people and spend a lot of time with them, a duty of loyalty does develop, so its confusing when the rules are different at work. Ultimately, though, were paid to be at work, and the relationshipwhile it may be warm and supportive and even a source of real joy and satisfactionshould last only as long as it remains in both parties best interests.

Its also important for employees to stay really clear about what loyalty does and doesnt demand. You do owe your employer some things: You owe good work, clear communication, professionalism, and a reasonable amount of notice when you decide to leave. You dont owe your employer all your weekends or a lifelong commitment to stay or the sacrifice of healthy boundaries. Youre trading your labor for money, and the clearer you can be about the nature of the relationship, the better.
by Purushottam Nayak

He studied at a ashram established by Swami Lakshmanananda where They instilled the poison of hatred in my mind since childhood. Tortured for joining Christianity, today he visits families and invokes the healing of the sick through the power of prayer.

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - Instead of praising the god Ram (Jai Shree Ram), Niladri Kanhara, 53, now praises Jesus (Jai Yesu).

A former member of the Hindu radical nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteer Organisation, RSS), a former leader in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (Universal Hindu Council, VHP), and former follower of guru Lakshmanananda Saraswati in Kandhamal, before the 2008 pogrom, he took part in the desecration of churches in Odisha (Orissa) and in attacks against Christians.

Since then he has repented and converted to Christianity, and for this he too has been persecuted. I found the true God and I welcomed Jesus Christ as my Redeemer and Saviour, he said.

Niladri hails from Phiringia block, a village in Kandhamal with 90 Hindu families, an RSS stronghold.

I studied up to 6th Class in 1980 in Chokapad, Tiakabali Block, the ashram built by VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda. They instilled the poison of hatred in my mind since childhood. I learnt to hate and torture Christians. The belief was: To save Hinduism, Christians must be eliminated from Kandhamal'.

When I was a VHP and RSS leader I tortured many Christians, threatened them with Ghar Wapsi[*] to Hinduism. I desecrated many churches. In 2005 my wife Usharani had divine visions. She forbade me from eating meat and drink.

Our five children were sick. I went to the temple and offered pujas.[] I sold gold off jewels; I sacrificed goats; I spent a lot of money.

One day, Rev Pavitra Mohomo Kata came to my house and spoke to my wife. He told her: 'If you believe in God, your daughter will be saved.' I hated him because he was a Christian. But Jesus Christ healed my daughter from illness thanks to the pastors constant prayers.

After this, My Sangh Parivar[] colleagues were furious and abducted my son Bantu to teach the father a lesson. Eventually, Niladri and the clergyman were physically attacked and beaten by members of the RSS and VHP. No one stood by him.

The Sangh Parivar carried out a social boycott of the "traitor" family: nobody could talk to them, nobody could help them, their children couldn't go to school. In 2008 Niladri fled to the forest and never went home.

In 2014, when the BJP rose to power in the centre, the VHP and the RSS invited me to return to Hinduism by promising me many goods and opportunities. I refused everything to proclaim Jesus my Saviour.

Currently, Niladri is actively involved in visiting families and praying, despite the death threats against him. Dusha Pradhan, Kalumaha and Raikia are three people who have benefited from the power of his prayer.

I had been sick for a long time, then I was healed by the power of Jesus Christ through Nilagris prayers, said Pradhan.

Before, I used sacred threads, tying medicine to my hand, but now I no longer use these remedies after finding the true God, Dusha added.

Gladdy Pradhan is taking her Class 10 exams. She had constant headaches and felt dizzy. I was unable to concentrate on studying. [But] Now I am completely healed and I can study.

[*] Literally, back home: reconversion activities.

[] Devotional ritual prayers to propitiate the favour of the gods.

[] The umbrella term for the organisations connected to the RSS.
Court-appointed interlocutors on Monday filed their report in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court on the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

IMAGE: A stretch of the road closed for over two months in Shaheen Bagh due to an anti-citizenship law protest being opened, only to be closed after some time. Photograph: PTI Photo

Advocate Sadhna Ramachandran, who was appointed an interlocutor along with senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, placed the report before a bench of justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph.

The bench said it would peruse the report and the matter would be heard on February 26.

It made it clear that the report of interlocutors will not be shared with the petitioners and counsels representing the Centre and Delhi Police at this stage.

At the outset, Ramachandran told the court that she is grateful for the opportunity given to her and the interlocutors had a learning experience which was positive also.

"Let us examine it. We will hear the matter day after tomorrow," the bench said.

When the counsel for one of the petitioners said the report be shared with them also, the bench said, "We are here. Everyone is here. Let us have the benefit of the report first. The copy of the report is for the court only."

Former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah had earlier told the top court that the protest was peaceful and inconvenience being caused to commuters was due to barricades "unnecessarily" put by police on roads far away from the site.

The same stand has been taken by social activist Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad in their joint affidavit filed in the apex court in the matter.

Habibullah, Azad and Naqvi have jointly filed an intervention application in the apex court which is seized of the matter.

The apex court had earlier said that though people have a fundamental right to protest "peacefully and lawfully", it was troubled by the blocking of a public road at Shaheen Bagh as it might lead to a "chaotic situation".

Naqvi and Azad, in their joint affidavit, have alleged that "the present ruling dispensation, at the behest of its political masters, had devised a strategy of extinguishing these protests by falsely attributing violence and acts of vandalism to peaceful protestors".

Habibullah, in his affidavit, has also stated that the protestors have asked him to convey to the apex court that their dissent "was out of desperation and compulsion" as they see the CAA, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens as a "death knell" for their and future generations' survival and existence.

Restrictions have been imposed on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch and the Okhla underpass, which were closed on December 15 last year due to protests against CAA and NRC.

Separately, former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nand Kishore Garg has filed a plea in the apex court seeking directions to authorities to remove protestors from Shaheen Bagh.
Nova star Kate Ritchie has spoken about the 'daunting' task of motherhood, amid her rumoured split with husband Stuart Webb.

Appearing on The Morning Show on Monday, the 41-year-old was candid while talking about her daughter Mae, six.

'I guess in some ways it is daunting,' Kate told hosts Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur.

'My life is pretty unglamorous': Kate Ritchie, 41, (pictured) has revealed the 'daunting' task of motherhood during an interview with The Morning Show on Monday. Pictured with daughter Mae, six.

The former Home and Away star said she was thankful she had a 'drive' show, which meant she didn't need to talk about her personal life.

'We don't actually talk about ourselves a great deal. I suppose there's a lot of ourselves in what we are saying,' she said.

Kate went on to say she just lived an ordinary life: 'My life is pretty unglamorous. It's pretty mundane,' she said.

Candid: 'I guess in some ways it is daunting,' Kate told hosts Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur, while reflecting on motherhood

It comes three months after the actress reportedly moved out of the couple's marital home, after police took out an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) on Stuart Webb.

In December, Stuart made headlines for his five-time drink driving history.

His shocking history was revealed in a police fact sheet, as he faced court for blowing 0.083 when he was pulled over by a highway patrolmen in the city's east in March.

Private: 'We don't actually talk about ourselves a great deal. I suppose there's a lot of ourselves in what we are saying,' Kate (pictured) said

Stuart came in front of a magistrate on the same day that NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that he will not be charged over a separate 'incident' at home with Kate in October.

That ended in an AVO being brought against him, which banned him being in Kate's company within 12 hours of drinking alcohol.

Court documents about the March incident said Stuart had 'glazed and bloodshot' eyes when he was pulled over by highway patrolmen in Randwick.

Success: Former Home and Away star Kate has gone on to become a star at Nova

He had just run a red light and was also driving home on a suspended licence.

In court documents, police described Webb as a drink driving 'repeat offender'.

Daily Mail Australia confirmed Kate had moved out of the couple's marital home in Sydney's Randwick in October.

The former couple had reportedly been spending weekends away prior to the incident, in a last bid to save their marriage.
US President Donald Trump on Monday said the United States should be India's premier defence partner and the two countries will together protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Addressing a huge gathering at Motera stadium here, Trump said: "I believe that the United States should be India's premier defence partner, and that's the way it's working out. Together, we will defend our sovereignty, security, and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region for our children and for many, many generations to come."

He said that the US will Tuesday sign deals to sell over USD $3 billion of "absolute finest, state-of-the-art military helicopters" and other equipment to the Indian armed forces.

Trump also reflected India's concerns on cross-border terrorism and said his administration was working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on the terrorist organisations and militants that operate "on the Pakistani border."

He hoped that there will be reduced tensions in South Asia and noted that India has an important leadership role to play in shaping a better future in the region.

"The United States and India were committed to working together to stop terrorists and to fight their ideology. For this reason, since taking office, my administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on the terrorist organisations and militants that operate on the Pakistani border," he said.

Trump said the relationship between the US and Pakistan "is a very good one."

"Thanks to these efforts, we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan. And we are hopeful of reduced tensions, greater stability, and the future of harmony for all of the nations of South Asia," he said.

The US President said India has an important leadership role to play in shaping a better future as it takes on greater responsibility for solving problems and promoting peace throughout this incredible region.

Trump said the United States and India are also firmly united in our iron-clad resolve to defend our citizens from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism.

"Both of our countries have been hurt by the pain and turmoil of terrorism and that terrorism brings. Under my administration, we unleashed the full power of the American military on bloodthirsty killers of ISIS in Iraq and in Syria. Today, the ISIS territorial caliphate has been 100 per cent destroyed. And the monster known as al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of ISIS, is dead," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referred to Indo-Pacific region in his remarks.

He said the two countries can not only make an effective contribution to peace in the Indo-Pacific but also in the entire world.

Modi said Trump coming to India at the beginning of the decade was a "big opportunity".

The US president referred to joint tri-service military exercise between the two countries as a major step.

"It was something to behold. We called it Tiger Triumph. As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the United States looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made - aeroplanes, missiles, rockets, ships. We make the best. And we're dealing now with India. But this includes advanced air defence systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles," he said.

Trump said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deepen the relationship between the two great countries during their talks.

"Both of us understand that when leaders put the interests of their own citizens first, we can forge strong and fair partnerships to build a safer and more prosperous world," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While Michael Bloomberg's Nevada debate performance was justly and widely panned, he attacked Bernie Sanders effectively, demonstrating he's probably the only candidate who can derail the Vermont senator's nomination. By the same token, Sanders can wreck Bloomberg's hopes by mobilizing his own base against the billionaire at the convention or even running as an independent candidate. Each man has the ability to take the other one down, and that dynamic is the key to who eventually wins the nomination.

The sudden ascent of Bloomberg to the top ranks of Democrat contenders is generating plenty of speculation about machinations within the party to derail Sanders, quash the Democrat far left, or sacrifice the presidency in return for down-ticket success. Such conspiratorial speculation is natural, but it requires assumptions about backroom plotting for which there is little or no evidence. Better to go with what we can see with our own eyes, which suggests that, whether by design or accident, Bloomberg has the capacity to severely damage Sanders and vice versa.

In Nevada, we saw Sanders really attacked for the first time in the campaign, and only by Bloomberg. Why the reticence by the other candidates to go after the demonstrably wacky socialist senator? Because to do so, they have to either call him out as a phony or attack his socialist agenda.

They can't attack him as a phony because they are all phonier than he is. Sanders's great strength in this campaign is his relative authenticity compared to his opponents. Sanders may be a kooky "democratic socialist," but he's been a consistent kook, and he revels in it. He deliberately displays it, from his loud-mouthed Brooklyn patois to his studiously rumpled appearance. By contrast, his remaining opponents are a bunch of insincere, dishonest Democrat ticket-punchers, and the voters know that.

Secondly, they can't really attack his socialist agenda, either. They are just a hair or two to his right. And as a practical matter, the Democrat Party has been heading toward outright socialism for two generations.

So they've left Sanders alone, and he's cleaning their clocks. Nobody not named Bloomberg is likely to really take on Sanders in the nomination race.

Bloomberg doesn't care about authenticity. He's one of the richest men in the world and didn't get there by being authentic; he got there beating his rivals, however necessary. He knows there is no road to the nomination unless he breaks Sanders.

Bloomberg effectively attacked Sanders's authenticity at the Nevada debate  first by calling him a communist, which Sanders called a "cheap shot." Really? If Bloomberg had called Sanders a capitalist, would that have been a cheaper shot? Certainly, Sanders wouldn't have taken it as a compliment. He spent his honeymoon in the Soviet Union, for crying out loud. Be proud, Bernie  be authentic!

Then Bloomberg hit lower, demonstrating that Sanders is not authentic at all, but a hypocrite like everybody else, a socialist millionaire with three homes. Well, Sanders sputtered, he needed a mansion in Vermont and one in D.C. and like other Vermonters a "summer camp" (a roomy country house and a guest cabin). That's what any prole needs, he suggested.

If Bloomberg continues to attack Sanders like this, he threatens to limit the senator's ability to expand his support beyond Bernie Bros looking for a handout (and younger voters in general) to the more moneyed and influential virtue-signaling bourgeoisie. Sanders might even lose some Millennials who like him because they think his rumpled uncool "authenticity" is cool.

It helps that Bloomberg and Sanders clearly despise one another  two septuagenarian New York Jews without an ounce of common ground between them, except perhaps a taste for dill pickles, upscale travel, and nice houses. They even sharply disagree about support for Israel. How can two seemingly similar fellows be so at odds? Just look at Israeli politics.

In fact, if Bloomberg keeps it up, he might force Sanders out on health grounds. Sanders seemed ready to explode in Nevada when Bloomberg went after the senator's wealth  looking every inch like a stooped old man, sputtering in anger, red-faced, with his blood pressure no doubt through the roof. Supposedly, Sanders's physicians have cleared him to campaign despite a recent heart attack, but his refusal to release his medical records raises serious doubts. Hopefully, his doctors have good malpractice insurance.

The flip-side of all this is that Sanders has the ability to badly hurt Bloomberg should the billionaire derail the Bernie train. A word to his base at the convention, and all hell will break loose. And Sanders retains the ability to run a hugely damaging third-party campaign that would practically guarantee Trump's re-election.

There is a real possibility that these two will knock each other out, leaving the door open for the compromise candidate closest to being a semi-normal human. That's mainly why Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar hate one another so much  they both think they are that person.

Image: AFGE via Flickr.
The agriculture ministry has roped in the government's e-governance services provider CSC SPV to fast-track registration of eligible farmers for Kisan Credit Card.

Under the collaboration, around 3.65 lakh common service centres will enrol interested and eligible farmers for KCC, which provides them credit support for farming as well as non-farming activities.

"CSC e-Governance India Ltd has been authorised by the agriculture ministry to register eligible farmers for KCC," CSC e-Governance India Ltd CEO Dinesh Tyagi told PTI.

Currently, 6.67 crore farmers across the country have been provided KCCs.

The government has decided to provide benefit of KCC to all 9.7 crore farmers registered under the PM Kisan Scheme.

"Evidently, 50 per cent of farmers do not have access to institutional credit under KCC. In order to facilitate institutional credit to all farmers across the country, the government has launched a special drive to cover all beneficiaries of the PM Kisan Scheme," Tyagi said.

While details of the Scheme will be fetched through the the PM Kisan portal, the village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs) will enter other details of crop, allied activities and type of KCC.

"Following the submission of details, the VLE will provide a printout of the acknowledgement to the farmer. The VLE will collect Rs 30 per farmer for this service," Tyagi said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A passenger due to fly from London Heathrow to Milan today refused to board a British Airways flight amid fears they would contract the deadly coronavirus.

The flight to Italy this morning was delayed by 15 minutes after one customer changed their mind about flying, a BA spokesperson told MailOnline.

NBC reporter Molly Hunter tweeted today at around 7.45am: 'At Heathrow, our BA Milan flight is delayed - the captain just announced there are passengers (I count 3) on board who dont want to travel due to coronavirus.

'Already pushed back... now re-attaching.'

A spokesperson for British Airways said: 'As with all our customers, we will always respect their wishes if they change their mind about flying at the last minute. The flight left within a few minutes of its scheduled departure time.'

A passenger on a BA flight to Milan today voluntarily got off the plane amid alleged fears over the coronavirus outbreak in Italy (pictured, BA planes at London Heathrow, 2019)

NBC reporter Molly Hunter tweeted today (pictured) at around 7.45am: 'At Heathrow, our BA Milan flight is delayed - the captain just announced there are passengers (I count 3) on board who dont want to travel due to coronavirus. Already pushed back... now re-attaching'

Italy today has announced its fourth death from coronavirus as the country imposes drastic measures to contain the outbreak. An 84-year-old man was confirmed dead today in Lombardy in northern Italy, where 50,000 people have been placed under lockdown, schools have been shut and bars and restaurants have been ordered to close

This follows news today that Italy has announced its fourth death from coronavirus as the country imposes drastic measures to contain the outbreak.

An 84-year-old man was confirmed dead today in Lombardy in northern Italy, where 50,000 people have been placed under lockdown, schools have been shut and bars and restaurants have been ordered to close.

The man died in Bergamo after he was taken to hospital with an unrelated illness but was later found to have the coronavirus, Italian media said.

The outbreak has sparked fears that tourists returning from Italy could send the epidemic spiralling across Europe, with many Britons returning to school and work after the half-term break today.

Italy has confirmed more than 160 cases of the virus, by far the largest number outside China, Japan and South Korea.

The wealthy Lombardy region which includes Milan is the worst-affected region, while 22 people have been infected in neighbouring Veneto which includes Venice.

Austria halted trains from crossing the Alps into Italy after two German women reported a fever on board, although they later tested negative.

Authorities in Lombardy and Veneto have banned public events including Masses, while Milan's famous cathedral has been closed to visitors.

Armed personnel were today guarding the Milan church and stopping drivers in Lombardy while carriages were empty in rush-hour trains.

The outbreak has sparked fears that tourists returning from Italy could send the epidemic spiralling across Europe, as Britons return to school and work after the half-term break today

Italian soldiers stand outside the Duomo cathedral in Milan, closed over coronavirus fears

ITALY - AUSTRIA BORDER: A train stopped by authorities stands on the tracks at the train station on the Italian side of the Brenner Pass on Sunday with 300 passengers on board after two complained of flu-like symptoms. The train was later given the all clear

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, medical workers outside a hospital in Padua)

The first to die was retired bricklayer Adriano Trevisan, 78, (pictured) who passed away in a hospital in north eastern Italy on Friday evening

Tourists wear protective face masks in a gondola, due to an outbreak of coronavirus, in Venice

A map showing the latest numbers of coronavirus cases around the world. Cases have surged in South Korea in recent days

The spread of the virus has also forced the stoppage of high-profile events including the Venice Carnival, Milan Fashion Week and Serie A football fixtures.

After Italy recorded its first death on Friday, the director general of the World Health Organisation spoke of a narrowing 'window of opportunity.'

Sharp rises in Italy, Iran, and South Korea have brought this window into stark focus as the global infection toll soared to 79,565 today, including over 2,600 deaths.

South Korea today reported another surge in cases, with another 161 patients diagnosed - most of them linked to the secretive religious sect at the centre of the outbreak - bringing the total to 763 of whom seven have died.

The country has also postponed the start of the new football season after officials said the outbreak had 'entered a serious phase'.

Elsewhere, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Bahrain have confirmed their first virus cases, with all three countries saying their first patients had recently returned from Iran.
A petition that started on Jan. 23 on the Cheong Wa Dae website to ban all travelers from China amid the coronavirus scares closed Saturday with hundreds of thousands of signatures.

A total of 761,833 people signed the petition, the third biggest number since the website was opened in 2017.

Any petition that garners over 200,000 signatures must be answered by Cheong Wa Dae.

But the government is still against banning all travelers from China, saying now that it would be tantamount to shutting the stable doors after the horse has bolted, even as its own reluctance to impose the ban contributed to the spike here.
A New York jury on Monday convicted former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of criminal sex act and rape, American media reported.

Weinstein has been convicted of criminal sexual assault in the first degree, based on the testimony of Miriam Haley, and rape in the third degree, based on the testimony of one-time aspiring actress Jessica Mann, Hollywood Reporter reported.

He was, however, found not guilty of the more serious charges of predatory sexual assault and of rape in the first degree.

More details to follow.
Meredosia-Chambersburg school administrators are working with a program called IL-Empower in the hope of getting assistance with specialized services in such things as curriculum and culture.

Superintendent Thad Walker and Principal Jeff Abell said the program through the Illinois State Board of Education focuses on school improvement to ensure all students have access to educational opportunities and resources.

The program works with schools to focus on childrens social, physical, emotional, health and educational development.

It also connects school districts with peer learning partners who have experienced the same types of challenges being faced by the recipient school.

Abell told board members work is being done on establishing a schedule for students that meets new requirements by the state.

For example, the school district now requires that students take more social studies courses than the state says are necessary. By the school district reducing its requirement, students have more options for other subjects. Students may also get to use the time to mentor younger children for credit hours.

The changes also add more time to class periods.

School board President Jason Morton said the schedule example seems beneficial.

Walker said the district is ensuring new employees and volunteers are going through background checks and being fingerprinted in accordance with new regulations that went into effect this year. The changes expand the list of those who must be fingerprinted and undergo a background check before they can have any involvement with students.
In 2016, a federal jury found Apple guilty of infringing VirnetXs patents and awarded $302 million. Currently, the outstanding amount stands at a staggering $440 million and includes interest. Apple is trying to avoid paying damages to VirnetX for using its internet security technology in features like FaceTime. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Apples appeal against paying damages to VirnetX.

Apple has been arguing on the lines that certain parts of VirnetXs patent have been canceled by the U.S Patent and Trademark Office. When the court didnt find validity in this argument, Apple decided to knock the Supreme Courts door. However, even the Supreme Court has refused to listen to Apples plea. Apple appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court early this year and termed the ruling as grossly unfair.

Previously, Apple had appealed to the Supreme Court and said that the recalculated claim amount of $439.7 million is too high and that the court hasnt taken into account the earlier cases. The company says that it objects to the Federal Court ruling, and the decision was based on fundamental legal errors. Furthermore, Apple also accused lower courts of allowing VirnetX to ask for damages that stood beyond the value of the patent.

Our Take

The whole case revolves around VirnetXs patents related to network security, which have allegedly been used by Apple in FaceTime and iMessage services used in iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, and Macs. Its a case thats more than ten years old now, and its quite complicated. VirnetX is considered a patent troll by a lot of firms, including Apple, Cisco, and Microsoft.

The saga started a decade ago when VirnetX filed a lawsuit against Apple in the Eastern District of Texas. According to the complainant, Apple has infringed four patents for secure networks. Interestingly, this is not the only case between Apple and VirnetX. In another case, VirnetX has won over $500 million in a payout from Apple.

[via Reuters
Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Enlabs AB (publ) (STO:NLAB) Independent Director, Ludwig Pettersson, recently bought kr577k worth of stock, for kr21.49 per share. However, we do note that it only increased their holding by 6.4%, and it wasn't a huge purchase by absolute value, either.

View our latest analysis for Enlabs

Enlabs Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent purchase by Ludwig Pettersson was the biggest purchase of Enlabs shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is kr21.60. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. 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. Ludwig Pettersson was the only individual insider to buy over the year.

You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

OM:NLAB Recent Insider Trading, February 24th 2020

Enlabs is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that Enlabs insiders own 19% of the company, worth about kr262m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

Story continues

What Might The Insider Transactions At Enlabs Tell Us?

It is good to see the recent insider purchase. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about Enlabs. Looks promising! Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Enlabs.

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.
PechaKucha (PK; pron: Peh-cha Koo-cha, ---) announces the usage of its visual storytelling format in international academic environments has more than doubled in the past year, based on increased PK For Schools license purchases among schools and teachers.

Additionally, teachers and researchers attest that when the PechaKucha framework [20-image by 20-seconds of commentary per slide] is in use, students see a reduction in performance anxiety, improved presentation and public speaking skills, as well as heightened student engagement. Teachers recognize that PechaKuchas 20X20 format appeals to many learning types across all ages, said Sean Smyth, CEO of PechaKucha.

One researcher is Dr. Katharina Huseman. In 2016, at the Royal Holloway-University of London, Huseman incorporated PechaKucha into a 200-student, graduate-level course. A post-course focus group shows PKs measurable and positive student impact. PechaKucha facilitates the development or improvement of six skills needed in the workplace: presentations, teamwork, time management, organization, creativity, and openness to innovation, says Dr. Huseman.

Thousands more published research papers at CORE (the worlds largest collection of open-access research) reference PechaKuchas 17+-year influence in design, education, and communication. Many of these studies follow students learning English as a foreign language. Observed students experienced reduced speaking anxiety when using PechaKucha, as well as enhanced reading comprehension, speaking, and improved oral presentation skills.

Sueli Brodin, Communications Officer at United Nations University-MERIT and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, runs PechaKucha workshops and events for Masters and Ph.D. students. She says PKs stimulate students to present research projects in a visual, powerful, concise, and understandable way -- especially when addressing a non-academic audience.

In academia, its unfortunately standard for students and lecturers to read the text straight from their slides. This makes it difficult to establish an audience connection, says Brodin. PechaKucha is efficient and connective because its limited to just 400 seconds. This format makes it easy for students to simply explain their often complex research as well as practice their communication skills. These skills benefit their learning, employability, and chances for societal impact.

Smyth adds, Recent tech improvements to the PechaKucha platform -- including easier/faster image uploads, voice recordings, and more, make it easier for teachers, students, and schools to implement this popular format in the classroom.

For more information about using PechaKucha in schools, visit http://www.pechakucha.com/schools.

# # #

About PechaKucha: PechaKucha is the fastest-growing storytelling platform used by millions of people across the globe. Today, PechaKucha Nights are held in more than 1,200 cities in 137 countries. Schools, businesses and government agencies worldwide license PechaKuchas 20 images x 20 seconds brand format to easily and quickly share information and present concepts. PechaKucha, which means chit chat in Japanese, is based in Chicago and Tokyo. Visit http://www.pechakucha.com to gain inspiration from 15,000+ PechaKucha stories.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday appealed directly to Cuba to free leading dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer, vowing to hold the communist government accountable for the treatment of prisoners. In an open letter to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Pompeo said that Ferrer has been "dragged, chained, beaten and burned" by authorities since he was arrested on October 1. "Until there is democracy and respect for human rights in Cuba and all political prisoners are freed, the United States will continue to hold the regime accountable for its abuses," Pompeo wrote. "For the sake of the Cuban people and for the betterment of your nation, we urge you to free Jose Daniel Ferrer immediately and take the first step toward a better future for Cuba." Ferrer, one of the most recognizable dissidents who has chosen to stay in Cuba rather than go into exile, was jailed in 2003 after leading calls for democratic political reforms. After being released in 2011 following pressure from the Roman Catholic Church, he formed the Patriotic Union of Cuba, an opposition group. Following his latest arrest, Cuba's official Granma newspaper called Ferrer "a paid agent of the United States," allegations dismissed by Washington. European governments and human rights groups have also urged Cuba to release Ferrer. US President Donald Trump has reversed a thaw in relations under his predecessor Barack Obama, who re-established diplomatic relations and declared engagement to be the best way forward after the failure of a half-century US effort to topple Cuba's communist government. Steps by Trump have included sharply reducing the number of flights from the United States to Cuba and restricting remittances. The Trump administration has highlighted its hard line against leftists in Latin America when rallying exile communities in Florida, an electorally crucial state. Cuban dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer, seen here on a 2016 visit to Washington, has been sent back to prison
'Grand Challenge' review stresses global impact of microplastics

Beach Plastic: Plastic debris on a remote Gulf of Alaska beach. Onshore debris can weather to microplastics, be eaten by local wildlife, or return to the water, where it can be transported long distances by ocean currents. Some of the plastics here arose from the 2011 Japanese tsunami. Photo by Chris Pallister/GoAK.org Photo - of - Hide Caption

Professor Rob Hale of William & Marys Virginia Institute of Marine Science is lead author of a new Grand Challenges paper commissioned to mark the 100th anniversary of the American Geophysical Union, the worlds largest association of Earth and space scientists with more than 60,000 members in 137 countries.

The paper, A Global Perspective on Microplastics, is co-authored by VIMS doctoral student Meredith Seeley and senior research scientist Mark LaGuardia, along with Lei Mai and Eddy Zeng of Jinan University in Guangzhou, China.

Microplastics are microscopic particles fabricated for products like facial scrubs, or produced when physical, chemical and biological forces break down larger pieces of plastic debris. There has been widespread concern among scientists and the public that these minute, synthetic fragments are impacting marine ecosystems.

AGU Executive Director/CEO Chris McEntee says the Grand Challenges represent a special collection of open-access review papers with the shared goal of transforming Earth and space science to meet the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow. They explore where major research and discovery are needed to address fundamental questions in our understanding of Earth and the solar system.

Not just an ocean problem

The teams paper appears in the January issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, but Hale is quick to stress that microplastics are a concern outside the marine environment as well.

Its not just an ocean problem, says Hale. Theres growing evidence that microplastics are distributed across the land surface and in the air. Were finally opening up the other boxes and discovering a pretty substantial footprint.

Indeed, the broad nature of the microplastic threat is a main focus of the authors manuscript.

We stress that microplastics are a global phenomenon that cant be adequately understood or addressed in the context of the marine environment alone, says Hale. Plastics are produced, used, and discarded on land, and disperse through soils, rivers, and the atmosphere. The cats already out of the bag if youre talking about dealing with these materials after theyve reached the ocean.

The researchers note that the global scope of the issue extends to the social sphere as well.

We have to recognize that microplastic pollution is an international problem that doesnt respect political boundaries, says Seeley. As with climate change and species management, developed and emerging nations will have to cooperate to find equitable solutions.

Not all plastic is the same

A second goal of the article is to gain broader recognition that plastic is a catch-all term for a complex array of materials that vary in chemical composition, size, texture, and shapeincluding pellets, fragments, and fibers. Adding further complexity is that plastics are often infused with additives, including flame retardants and UV inhibitors, which may themselves have environmental and health impacts.

People often assume that all plastics are the same and behave identically in the environment, says Hale, but that isnt the case at all. To resolve key questions and mitigate possible impacts, everyone  manufacturers, scientists, health-care specialists, engineers, economists, policymakers and others  must collaborate to better understand the composition and nature of plastic products and their additives.

The researchers also stress that the characteristics of microplastics can and do change during and after use. The researchers also stress that the characteristics of microplastics can and do change during and after use.

The complexity of microplastics becomes even more convoluted once they enter the environment and begin to intermingle and weather, says LaGuardia. We have to better understand these complexities, especially in transition zones such as estuaries.

People often assume that all plastics are the same and behave identically in the environment, says Hale, but that isnt the case at all. To gain that understanding, the authors recommend the research community move beyond studies of individual habitats, size ranges, polymer types or forms and into more holistic studies of the changing characteristics of microplastics and their impacts on ecosystem health and processes.

A need for better tools

The researchers third main message is that comprehensive understanding of the microplastics issue, and the most effective responses, will require better analytical tools.

To understand the real impacts of microplastics, says Hale, weve got to improve our sampling and analytical capabilities, including the ability to study nanoplastics and weathered materials.

Nanoplastics are particles even smaller than microplastics, with sizes ranging from 1 nanometer to 1,000 nanometers or a micron. A strand of DNA is about 2.5 nanometers across.

Hale says current state-of-the-art instruments, such as FTIR and Raman microscopes, provide really great information when you zero in on a single microplastic particle. The problem, he says, is that many samples contain thousands of different particles, and many of these particles are really, really small.

Theres a disconnect, says Hale. A lot of our technology cant get down to stuff below 10 microns, and in terms of effects on organisms, we think that smaller particles may be more toxic.

Trying to bridge this gap, VIMS recently received funding from the NOAA Marine Debris program to investigate interactions between particles smaller than 10 microns and infectious disease in fish.

Effects on human health?

The authors concerns regarding microplastics extend to potential impacts on human health.

There have been concerns about ingesting microplastics from seafood, but the indoor environment is our biggest direct threat, says Hale. Many people in developed countries spend almost all their time indoors, in spaces that are increasingly air-tight and insulated with things like polystyrene foam. Our exposure to microplastics from breathing and ingesting indoor dust may have toxicological consequences, but theres been very little research.

To address these concerns, Hale and colleagues at VIMS are acquiring a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, which will hopefully allow them to better analyze chemical contaminants associated with microplastics, as well as those found in other environmental samples.

This will help us start going after all these unknown additives in plastics and open up that Pandoras Box a little better, says Hale. I think thats where the action really is in terms of human health.
US President Donald Trump arrived in India on Monday on a two-day official visit. The Presidents delegation, including wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner and several senior members of the US cabinet, reached Ahmedabad airport on the Air Force One, the highly customised Boeing 747-200B series aircraft which symbolises the US presidency.

The presidential plane - it goes by the radio call sign of Air Force One when the president is on board - was once a Boeing 707 that had orange above and below the nose and United States of America painted on the sides in blocky, all-caps lettering.

According to Boeing history, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy picked new colours for the plane used by her husband, President John F Kennedy. A swath of baby blue covers the nose and sweeps back along each side of the fuselage. The lettering was changed to a font inspired by the heading of the Declaration of Independence.

Since the middle of the 20th century, it has been standard practice to refer to specific planes that are equipped to transport the US President, according to the White House. The Air Force designation for the aircraft is VC-25A and carries the tail codes 28,000 and 29,000.

These planes are designed to be an airborne White House able to fly in worst-case security scenarios, such as nuclear war, and are modified with military avionics, advanced communications and a self-defence system.

The plane is capable of refueling mid-air and has unlimited range so that it can carry the President wherever he needs to travel. The White House says that the onboard electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse, and Air Force One is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, allowing the aircraft to function as a mobile command centre in the event of an attack on the United States.

It also gives the US President and his entourage a floor space of 4,000 square feet spread over three floor, including an Oval Office for the President, a presidential suite and conference room. The plane also includes a medical suite and a doctor is permanently onboard.

Air Force One is maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group, part of the White House Military Office.

Trump reached an agreement with the Boeing Co in 2018 to provide two Air Force One planes for $3.9 billion. He later told CBS in an interview that the new model Air Force One would be updated on the inside and have a different exterior colour scheme from the current white and two shades of blue dating back to President Kennedys administration.

Red, white and blue, Trump said. Air Force One is going to be incredible. Its going to be the top of the line, the top in the world. And its going to be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate.
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BERLIN  Slowly but surely, Madrid-based Telefonicas original production drive is building on the other side of the Atlantic. The first Latin American series to be seen in Europe is Ruido capital, a Colombian six-episode series, a coming of age story that follows a group of misfit teenagers as they battle to form a rock band during the fraught period of 1990s Bogota. A show that lightheartedly manages to explore those strange years of adolescence as they unspool against a very real, very tough historical background.

The series is produced with Fidelio, an Colombian production company who has Mauricio Leiva Cock as its inhouse showrunner, a filmmaker who before his debut feature premieres has already worked as co creator of Green Frontier for Netflix, head writer on Falco for Amazon, TNT and Telemundo, and a writer on Wild District, again for Netflix, among others. Co directing with Argentinas Ana Katz and Uruguays Pablo Stoll, Leiva Cock stands out as part of a new generation of Latin American showrunners, a figure that has taken some time to consolidate in the region.

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This new production continues Movistars tradition of betting on and endorsing strong talents. As Joanna Lombardi, Movistar head of fiction, Latin America, says: More than a year ago at Movistar we took a big step towards the production of fiction content in Latin America and we are very excited about the great results we have obtained. Ruido Capital, our first Colombian series, has talent from different countries and reinforces our intention to strengthen the Latin American audiovisual industry.

Variety talked with Leiva in the build-up to the premiere of the show at Berlinale Series Market on Monday Feb. 24.

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Could you comment on the writing process of a six-episode series and how youve structured its plot threads?

We were telling the story of a boy who does not belong, his life takes a dramatic turn and he enters a new school. Where although he feels he does not belong, he feels recognized in the group of those who do not belong. And we wrote the band as the central point of the series, music or art as catharsis against the perhaps violent situations that these young people were living. To me in terms of format and length six episodes of 30 was great. Even if we follow the scheme of coming of age narrative, and we were inspired by some British and North American coming of age series like Inbetweeners. we tried to avoid the predictable beats that people would expect and in a Colombian way give it our own twist. With a more softened melodrama, of punk teenagers.

The intro to the series gives a brief portrait of Bogota in the 90s, and without a doubt the historical context surrounding these teenagers plays an important role in the story.

This is a story I wanted to tell for several years. I grew up in Bogota at that time, very close to the age to these boys. The subject of memory has always been very important to me. I remember the attack on the Mall of 93rd Street struck me a lot. My mother had her office very close and I saw the news being very small and that news like I was marked. Somehow the serious talk of how one in that adolescence perceived those acts of violence that were so close and at the same time so alien. During the writing process, each episode includes a historical moment from our adolescence in Colombia at that time, from 1992 to 1995 or thereabouts and we tried to capture those moments that most impacted us, even if it was a 5-0 win against Argentina that was a moment of national happiness though a medicine that did not cure what was happening in the country. It is not a series about violence but how it affects young people who were growing up at that time.

In the sound design the series seems to maintain television codes but at the same time there is a drums and a trumpet that enter chaotically and give another tone to the series. Where did this idea come from?

This was something we talked a lot with Pablo and Ana. From the beginning I wanted the sound of the series to represent each of the characters. The drummer being Gabo, the trumpet Sebas, Vale the guitar, Porra with all that he plays. And that the music will change scene by scene depending on who is leading the scene. Then when Simon enters the new school, an improvisation is heard, half jazz, half rocker, as he explores himself. It is the first time that he knows what his friends and his band will be, but at first he doesnt succeed. So what we did was compose a final song and after built it into noises and sounds. Almost all the music is interwoven and the sound is interwoven for that final song. A deconstruction of that final song and what they are experiencing until they reach that first song they compose together. We try to generate a narrative that joins in music and sound.

How has been your experience with Movistar?

I feel we have been lucky. I have worked with Netflix, with Amazon and now with Apple and the relationships have been very positive. I think that Movistar took a lot of risk with Ruido Capital because it has a very independent feel. The relationship was very fluid, they came on board very early. I had the idea and the characters outlined There was an interest from the beginning to bring an international perspective to the series, not to make it just a Colombian narrative, which obviously s in part: I am very close to the material, it is a little inspired by the adolescence of my brothers friends, of mine, very much of my circle and I wanted someone to look at it without the prejudices that we as Colombians carry regarding our own history. The presence of Pablo and Ana was very very positive.

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ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BLACKCLOAK, providers of Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy protection to high-net-worth individuals and C-Suite executives, today announced the release of its new Cybersecurity & Privacy Platform. In addition, its CEO & founder Dr. Chris Pierson will be giving two speeches at the upcoming RSA Conference on cybersecurity, which will take place February 24-28th in San Francisco.

BLACKCLOAK Cybersecurity and Privacy Platform

Cybersecurity & Privacy Platform :

Solving cybersecurity and privacy for certain groups of high-profile persons is complex and takes a concierge approach. BLACKCLOAK is excited to launch its new Cybersecurity & Privacy Platform that brings together its centralized threat management capabilities, privacy hardening, and cybersecurity protection into one product suite. "The release of the BLACKCLOAK Platform provides our clients insight into their digital lives and allows the team to provide the around-the-clock cybersecurity protection they need," said Pierson. Dave McKinley, its Chief Technology Officer stated, "When we think about our customers and the products we develop to protect them and their family, we want to ensure ease of use, communication, protection and above all delight. The cybersecurity experience for these clients has traditionally been non-existent or mixed and we are changing that." As cybersecurity attacks migrate to persons of high-net-worth, family offices and executives, BLACKCLOAK is there to protect them in a seamless manner that continues to grow as the threats change.

RSA Conference Speeches :

In addition, Dr. Pierson will be giving several speeches at this year's RSA Conference. Each year, the RSA Conference brings together the best global cybersecurity minds to share their knowledge on emerging cybersecurity threats and solutions. Pierson's expertise spans cybersecurity, privacy, law, and homeland security. "It is always a great privilege to engage with other thought leaders, CEOs, CISOs, and those in the entrepreneurial ecosystem at the conference," said Pierson. "If you want to find cutting-edge technology and solutions providers, this is the place to be." Having given over twenty speeches at RSA in the past that push cybersecurity and privacy thought leadership to the next level, Pierson continues to be an RSA Conference "top-rated speaker."

Pierson will be moderating a panel of experts as they delve into discussing how to protect against, respond to, and recover from ransomware threats. "Despite global awareness on this cybersecurity and business risk, companies of all sizes continue to be attacked and threatened each day," said Pierson. "Cybercriminals continue to look for ways to hold companies hostage as they know every hour they are down, business is being lost and reputational risks increase. While best-in-class controls, education, and insurance are able to mitigate ransomware infections or their impacts, we still see a lot of low hanging controls that have still not been addressed."

Separately, in a more immersive learning lab environment, Pierson and Michael Bruemmer from Experian and James Shreve from Thompson Coburn LLP will tackle how to respond to data breaches using external vendors. "Too often we see companies of all sizes be unprepared when responding to a data breach and behind the curve when it comes to selecting outside vendors to ensure customers are as protected as they can be and the internal teams have the right expert advice and guidance," Pierson said. "Being prepared ahead of time is solvable in terms of the assistance companies will need and we are looking forward to helping the attendees make sure they are prepared."

More than 50,000 cybersecurity professionals attend RSA globally each year, making it the largest and most respected cybersecurity event in the world.

About BLACKCLOAK

BLACKCLOAK provides Concierge Cybersecurity services to high-net-worth individuals, high-profile persons, and corporate executives to mitigate their hacking, financial, and reputational risks.

Learn more at www.blackcloak.io and @BLACKCLOAKCYBER.

Contact:

Ingrid Gliottone

833.882.5625

[email protected]

SOURCE BLACKCLOAK
A convicted murderer is on the loose after escaping from a work-release facility in Alabama, officials said.

Daniel Miner, 43, was reported missing from his bed on Saturday night during a count of inmates at the state-run facility in the town of Alpine, about 40 miles southeast of Birmingham, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. It's unclear how the inmate escaped.

MORE: Death row inmates fight for his life shines light on use of jailhouse informants

Miner is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after being convicted of murder in Marshall County in 1994. He was also sentenced on a promoting prison contraband charge in Limestone County in 2003, according to inmate records.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office said it is working with state authorities to locate the escaped inmate.

PHOTO: Daniel Miner, 43, a convicted murderer was declared missing from the Childersburg Work Release Center, Alpine, Ala., Feb. 22, 2020. (Alabama Department of Corrections)

Miner was last seen wearing a white state-issued prison uniform. He is described as a white man who is 5-foot-6-inches tall and weighs 192 pounds. He has "white power" tattoos and others on his neck, arms, torso and back, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Miner's custody level is listed as "minimum-out," which the Alabama Department of Corrections describes on its website as "appropriate for inmates that do not pose a significant risk to self or others and suitable to be assigned off-property work details without the direct supervision of correctional officers."

MORE: 16th inmate dies in troubled Mississippi prison system

The Childersburg Community Based Facility and Community Work Center in Alpine, from which Miner escaped, is a minimum-security institution where inmates may be assigned to work for various government agencies for paid employment, while inmates in the work-release program work for private employers in the community, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections website.

Anyone who sees Miner or may have information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Alabama Department of Corrections at 1-800-831-8825 or call 911.

Alabama inmate convicted of murder on the loose after escaping custody originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A man drove his Jeep off the roof of a six-story parking garage just seconds after two people managed to jump out of the car to safety, authorities said.

The 20-year-old driver was found in the crumpled Jeep shortly after midnight in Santa Monica, about two blocks from the Santa Monica Pier.

Cops investigating the crash said it's not clear why the man drove off the roof, or whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

They added that the driver, who was not immediately identified, was conscious and speaking with officers when they arrived, but was later taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The two female passengers who managed to escape to safety were not injured.

First responders in Santa Monica, California, were called to the scene after a Jeep landed against a McDonald's early on Sunday morning

Emergency responders managed to extricate the driver, a 20-year-old man, from the wreckage and rush him to a local hospital

Two passengers who were inside the vehicle managed to get out before it fell off of the roof of a six-story garage

The image above shows the garage in Santa Monica which the Jeep drove off of early on Sunday morning. The circle indicates the location of the roof

The above image shows a stock photo of the McDonald's where the Jeep landed

The Jeep appeared to have broken through the wire fence on the sixth level of the parking garage before it plunged to the street.

The destroyed car had landed against a McDonald's building across the street from the garage after the plunge.

Firefighters extricated him from the wreckage and took him to a local trauma center, where he was listed in critical condition, the Santa Monica Fire Department said.

Police in the coastal city were investigating the cause.

Because the man was receiving medical treatment, investigators said they were not yet able to determine whether drugs or alcohol were a factor.
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Linkedin Arisyi Raz (The Jakarta Post) Birmingham, United Kingdom  Mon, February 24, 2020 12:22 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206634a77 3 Opinion Wuhan-coronavirus,#Wuhan,#coronavirus,fiscal-policy,opinions,coronavirus,COVID-19,economy,finance,financial-crisis,financial-system,fiscal Free

A number of recent events appear to be unrelated, but are actually connected to each other, particularly in their effects on the Indonesian economy.

The first event was the market and investor confusion over the policy steps taken by the United States central bank, the Fed, which has been inflating its balance sheet since October. Many suspect that the Feds inflated balance sheet is quantitative easing (QE), wherein the central bank injects large funds into the economy as part of an expansionary monetary policy to overcome a financial crisis.

Jerome Powell, its chairman, has tried to clarify that what the Fed is doing is not QE, because what is doing is not in the context of monetary policy. Many investors remain skeptical, however, since the Fed continues to buy US$60 billion in short-term government securities every month, and given the central banks unclear signals to the market.

How does this affect Indonesia? If we look back, the Feds QE after the 2008 global financial crisis resulted in excess liquidity in the global economy.

This gave investors an incentive to invest the excess liquidity in high-yield markets, mostly in developing countries such as Indonesia. This effect strengthened the rupiah as a result of the large inflow of foreign funds to Indonesia.

However, when the US economy started recovering and its central bank began to reduce the QE funds (later known as the Tantrum Taper), the increased capital market volatility and exchange rates due to increased capital outflows slightly disrupted Indonesias financial stability.

We should be wary of this kind of effect, since it could repeat this time around. The Feds expanding balance sheet is one of the important factors that can stabilize the rupiah to below 14,000.

However, because of the unclear policy signals from the Fed, many investors speculate that it may take the initiative to stop inflating its balance sheet, which in turn will have an adverse impact on the stability of Indonesias financial system.

The second occurrence is the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has been declared a global emergency and is expected to slow the global economy further. The Chinese city of Wuhan  the epicenter of the outbreak  has a large industrial zone and is connected to the global supply chain.

The disruption of economic activities in the city will affect global economic growth, including Indonesias growth.

US rating agency Standard and Poors has projected that the outbreak will slow Chinas economy to around 5 percent in 2020, from 6.1 percent in 2019. On the other hand, the International Monetary Funds analysis shows that a 1 percent fall in Chinese growth will cause Indonesias growth to decline almost 0.2 percent.

In other words, we must expect a correction of about 0.2 percent to the baseline projection of Indonesian growth.

The final event is Indonesias fiscal condition, which may be a cliche. The government announced last month that Indonesias fiscal budget deficit reached 2.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) due to a revenue shortfall of Rp 207.9 trillion ($15.4 billion). This figure is below the governments 1.8 percent target.

The government has targeted tax growth of 13 percent in 2020, but this is more optimistic than the historical average increase in the 8-9 percent range.

The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) estimates that, if the government fails to achieve its optimistic tax growth target, the budget deficit can widen to 2.8 percent of GDP, closer to the legal ceiling of 3 percent.

Put another way, the three abovementioned events are interconnected vis-a-vis how they could have simultaneous, negative effects on Indonesias financial stability.

In terms of monetary and financial stability policies, Bank Indonesia must send a clear signal to the market regarding its policy direction. Policy transparency will increase policy effectiveness and reduce information asymmetry. Market intervention may also be necessary to anticipate a greater shock that might occur in the future.

In terms of fiscal policy, the Indonesian government may face many challenges in increasing the driving force behind fiscal policy effectiveness.

Despite its efforts to reform the economy through the omnibus bill, this can be realized only in the medium term.

Therefore, there is a need for fiscal prudence in the short term, especially in spending and debt management, in order to maintain Indonesias fiscal health as a cushion against the possibility of short-term turmoil.

***

Doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham and financial risk manager

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

The Malaysian-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce can help Uzbekistan build a pilot training center and a modern logistics hub in Urgench city, Trend reports with the reference to the Uzbekistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Uzbek Ambassador Ravshan Usmanov discussed this issue during his talks with Malaysian-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (MUCC) Secretary General Raj Darairaj in Kuala Lumpur.

At the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to further development of bilateral cooperation by establishing a direct dialogue between business representatives to explore prospects of implementing joint investment projects. The sides also considered organizing export deliveries of Uzbek products to Malaysia, the message said.

Following the negotiations, the sides agreed on organizing a visit of the MUCC members, headed by its president Poobalan Marison, to Uzbekistan on March 5-12, to sign a cooperation agreement with Uzbek\s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It is also planned to discuss the opening of a pilot training center and a modern logistics hub in Urgench city by Midlands Aviation Pacific Asia company, the construction of a hotel in Bukhara by NL Innovations, as well as conducting study by Eko Enviro Services International on the possibility of building a plant in Khorezm region for the processing of household waste for the production of electric energy.

Malaysian-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce was founded in October 2019 by Malaysian industrial and trading enterprises in order to intensify trade, economic and investment cooperation with Uzbekistan.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
(Newser)  Jeffrey Epstein once bought Caribbean islands and private jets with the flick of a pen. Now lawyers for his $600 million estate say checks are starting to bounce, the Miami Herald reports. On Thursday, they told the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands that liens placed by a local attorney general make it impossible for them to pay employees and basic bills at estate residences in New York, New Mexico, and Florida. "The harm caused by the Government's Lien-imposed freeze on the Estates account at FirstBank is no longer theoreticalit is now immediate and real," they write. The lawyers, who represent estate co-executors Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, add that worker health-insurance checks are bouncing and properties may be forced to turn the lights out.

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They also say they "can no longer pay for the defense of the twenty-two lawsuits pending against the Estate arising from claims of sexual abuse by Mr. Epstein." Said liens were imposed by Attorney General Denise George in a civil enforcement action that names Kahn and Indyke as co-conspirators in Epstein's sex crimes against minors. Her goal, she says, is to ensure the lawyers don't drain a compensation fund before victims in the Virgin Islandssome who were as young as 12get their share. George says she also hopes to get back two local islands held by Epstein shell companies. What's more, she tells Vanity Fair the estate must release former employees from NDAs so they can cooperate with law enforcement. "They have to be allowed to speak up," she says. (Read more Jeffrey Epstein stories.)
How the state funds public education has been one of the thorniest of thorny subjects for years -- a Gordian knot of Illinois politics.

Now Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker is adding another tangle.

In his budget address last week, Pritzker presented two spending plans and said that he'll hold back millions in state education money if voters don't approve his constitutional amendment on the progressive income tax. That change has been a marquee issue for Pritzker the candidate and Pritzker the governor.

Some background: Currently, Illinois residents pay the same flat tax rate of 4.95% on income. The progressive tax plan would tax based on income, with higher earners paying more. The new way would require a change to the state constitution, which means approval from voters. That's on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Enter Pritzker's dual budget proposal.

On one side is if voters don't approve the tax change. In that case, state funding for education would increase by $200 million, about $150 million short of the minimum established by the evidence-based funding formula. The money would go only to the most in need.

On side two, the $150 million would be divided up if voters approve the constitution change.

With us so far?

The logic here is that the progressive tax will make an estimated $1.4 billion and that more money could go to schools and higher education. The problem is, Pritzker's approach holds the money hostage as he rolls the dice. This kind of strong-arm bullying tactic is not unusual in politics, but the governor is taking an unusual approach in creating uncertainty for school districts.

This is a substantial about-face for school funding. The need-based funding formula was a big accomplishment for the state in 2017 -- a true bipartisan piece of legislation signed by GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner. It sought to fix decades of spotty fund distribution.

Pritzker's curve ball means school districts will have to craft budget plans before a September deadline without fully understanding how much money will be coming after the November vote. Schools typically have few options in those situations, including cutting staff, eliminating programs or hiking property taxes.

Pritzker has repeatedly said he wants to address skyrocketing property taxes, one driver in the state losing population as people flee. This approach does the precise opposite.

Where you fall on the progressive tax question doesn't matter. What does matter is that our education leaders are facing yet another budgetary hoop introduced by the state.

There has to be a better way.

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For more than two decades, Rowena Chius secret was known to only a handful of people. It was so destructive that she twice tried to take her own life, yet she never confided in her husband, her parents and certainly not her four young children.

To her friends and neighbours, the 45-year-old was no different to any other stay-at-home mother.

But four months ago, that all changed, when Rowena revealed that she was one of Harvey Weinsteins victims; he had tried to rape her when she was a 24-year-old assistant working in his London office.

The reason for her silence? A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that she was pressured into signing after the assault  which Weinstein has always denied  the terms of which were so restrictive that she was barred from telling anyone; not members of her family, not doctors, not counsellors for the rest of her life.

The only positive  so Rowena thought  was that the NDA agreement would prevent the movie mogul from attacking other women.

Four months ago when Rowena Chiu revealed that she was one of Harvey Weinsteins victims; he had tried to rape her when she was a 24-year-old assistant working in his London office

She and fellow assistant Zelda Perkins, who Rowena confided in after the assault, signed the NDA after coming to a reluctant financial agreement with Weinstein, having resigned from their jobs.

Realising they were unlikely to get justice through the legal process, they insisted on clauses designed to protect others. These legally obliged Weinstein to attend sex therapy for a year, to never be alone with an assistant and, if a similar type of settlement was ever made again, he would tell his employers or resign.

But as the 67-year-old Hollywood producer was convicted yesterday of rape and committing a criminal sexual act  and the list of alleged victims nudges towards three figures  its clear his side of the bargain was not adhered to.

We thought we had got him and we had helped other women. We thought we had got some measure of justice, Rowena told the Daily Mail.

While she was born and raised in the UK, she now lives with her husband  a product manager for Facebook  and their four children, daughters aged ten and eight and boys aged five and two, in Silicon Valley, California.

He [Weinstein] did not reform in any way  he just went right on violating women for two decades, she added. We gave up our lives, our careers in film and suffered decades of trauma in silence so that these constraints could be put on him, and he didnt even abide by them.

It felt like our sacrifice was for nothing, absolutely nothing. If Miramax had stuck to those clauses we could have potentially saved hundreds of women.

Rowena and fellow assistant Zelda Perkins, pictured with Weinstein in 1998, signed an NDA after coming to a reluctant financial agreement with Weinstein, having resigned from their jobs

They promised us that they would put constraints on him so he wasnt as free to rape and pillage and that is the only reason we took that money. But he did rape and pillage.

As an English literature student, Rowena had been president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. When she landed a job working as an assistant for Hollywood god and Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein in the summer of 1998, it seemed her dreams had come true. She was thrilled to be earning 18,000 a year working alongside Zelda Perkins, a more senior assistant also in her 20s.

I was completely elated, Rowena recalls. Harvey Weinstein was considered to be the most powerful man in Hollywood.

There were a few catches, however. Zelda warned Rowena that Weinstein could be hard work and that he would needed to be handled robustly.

I was like bring it on which in context of what happened afterwards is really sad, she says.

Her first encounter with him was at a 1998 private screening of Shakespeare in Love, where Weinstein simply barked at her to sit the f*** down.

Harvey jail where hell be inmate No 06581138Z Sparse: A jail cell on New Yorks infamous Rikers Island New Yorks huge Rikers Island prison has such a grim reputation that its going to be closed. Sadly for prisoner No 06581138Z Harvey Weinstein, that wont happen soon enough. He will join such illustrious company as previous inmates Sid Vicious, former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and John Lennons killer, Mark Chapman. Its nicknames include Torture Island and  because its steel doors and concrete walls soak up the summer heat  The Oven. With 10,000 inmates at any one time, watched over by 9,000 guards, the 413-acre island in the East River has been described as the worlds largest penal colony. Advertisement

He was unpleasant, he was disrespectful, he was rude, it was in no way a pleasure to work for him, she says.

But there was also the more glamorous side; arranging meetings and flights on private jets with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon and Robert De Niro.

She found herself alone with Weinstein for the first time when she travelled with him and Zelda to the Venice Film Festival in September 1998. The office was run out of a suite at the Excelsior hotel. The assistants worked in shifts, late into the night, and Rowena was tasked with doing the late shift, finalising scripts and setting up meetings, between 10pm and 2am.

Although never explicitly warned about Weinsteins behaviour, colleagues had joked that she should wear plenty of clothing and never sit on a couch with her boss.

To Rowenas horror, as soon as Zelda left, Weinstein got naked almost immediately.

He told me: I like Chinese girls because they are discreet  they know how to keep secrets.

He was constantly asking for massages, sexual favours and oral sex. I was very scared and felt very vulnerable. I was alone in a hotel room with a very big guy wearing no clothes.

She recalls how, on that first night, hed flattered her as they looked at a script for Jane Austens Mansfield Park.

He said: You are so smart you went to Oxford, I see you have a real love of literature, tell me what you think.

He told me: You work for me now, if you do well you can do anything you want.

She tried desperately to steer the conversation back to work, and it more or less worked.

The second night, however, she was not so lucky. Rowena says Weinstein stripped off again, and started rubbing her back and trying to grope her breasts.

It was awful. I was really scared. I was trying to move away but hes a big guy. He held me down on the bed and told me it will soon be over.

Rowena, who is 5ft 4ins and weighs just 8st 7lbs, felt powerless against the 6ft, overweight, Weinstein. I felt that if I confronted him or screamed, the gloves would be off. I felt trapped. It was not only that he was my boss but he was physically much bigger than me.

Rowena managed to wriggle free but was warned, we will pick this up tomorrow, which she interpreted as meaning she would be raped.

Harvey Weinstein pictured at his office in New York City, April 1989. While Zelda spoke out about Weinstein in 2017, she never named Rowena, who decided to break the terms of her NDA four months ago, detailing her experience in the book She Said

The next day she tearfully confided in Zelda.

Extraordinarily, her colleague, who was just 25, marched over to where Weinstein was having lunch with several A-list stars, and demanded to speak to him. He got up, meek as a lamb, Rowena recalls, but swore nothing had happened. Back in London, Rowena and Zelda weighed up their options. They found a legal firm willing to take them on  Simons Muirhead and Burton  and resigned from their jobs at Miramax by sending a fax to New York.

It specifically said, Harvey, we resign our positions due to behaviour you know full well about and we can no longer stand.

That night there were string of desperate voicemails left on Zeldas answer phone by Weinstein, begging for a meeting.

But the next day he had engaged law firm Allen and Overy to draw up an NDA (the firms partner Mark Mansell is facing the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over his role in drafting the contract, with a hearing date due this year).

After weeks of intense negotiation, which Rowena says was conducted under duress, including one evening when they were kept at the office from 5pm to 5am, they signed on October 23, 1998.

The NDA prevented them from ever speaking about their time at Miramax or about Weinstein. They could only discuss it with a therapist if the therapist agreed to contact the law firm and agreed to also sign an NDA.

When you read our NDA we were buried as good as dead bodies could be buried, Rowena says.

She recalls Weinstein making a rambling apology  which was noted secretly by their lawyer but later denied by the movie producer, but no one was saying this is wrong, these young women should be at the police station!

Both women received a settlement of 125,000. Rowena set up a small paint-your-own ceramics cafe in Notting Hill.

She was struggling, suffering from depression, anxiety and flashbacks. She sought help from eight therapists, but none agreed to sign the NDA. She and Zelda broke off all contact: it was impossible to stay in touch, as they were forbidden by the NDA ever to discuss what had happened.

After two failed suicide attempts, Rowena made a life-changing decision to start a new life where Im going to try to never think about this man. She went into management consultancy, a world where there are HR departments.

Happily her life has blossomed: she met her Australian husband Andrew and moved to the US.

While Zelda spoke out about Weinstein in 2017, she never named Rowena, who decided to break the terms of her NDA four months ago, detailing her experience in the book She Said.

Weinstein denied her claims, saying (through his lawyer) that he and Rowena had had a six-month physical relationship, which she finds outrageous, considering she worked for him for only two months. Weinsteins lawyer threatened to sue, but nothing has come of it.

I really do want to have my day in court, Rowena says. But its not really about doing it for myself, its the bigger picture. We want to change the world for young women to come. For all our daughters and granddaughters to come.
Harvey Weinstein was convicted on Monday of sexual assault and rape, more than two years after allegations of the disgraced movie mogul's sexual misconduct sparked the global #MeToo movement. The 67-year-old was acquitted of the most serious charge of predatory sexual assault but faces a lengthy jail term. The guilty verdicts were hailed as a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement, with accusers, activists and attorneys lining up to congratulate prosecutors. Here is the best of the reactions: - 'Collective healing' - Actress Ashley Judd, one of the first Weinstein accusers to go public with her allegations, thanked the six women who told the high-profile trial that the ex-Hollywood titan had sexually assaulted them. "For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you. #ConvictWeinstein #Guilty," she wrote on Twitter. Actress Ellen Barkin simply named them. "Right now Harvey Weinstein is on his way to prison. These are the women who put him away... Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Lauren Young, Tarale Wulff," she tweeted. High-profile accuser Rose McGowan tweeted: "Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing." Italian actress and director Asia Argento, who told the New Yorker magazine that Weinstein raped her in 1997, posted a photo of herself and another woman on Instagram. "Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist. Two survivors cry and celebrate. Thank you God," she wrote alongside it. Actress Rosanna Arquette paid tribute on Twitter to "the brave women who've testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense." Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, said in a statement: "The implications reverberate far beyond Hollywood and into the daily lives of all of us in the rest of the world." - Sciorra lament - Gloria Allred, attorney for Sciorra and Haleyi, told reporters outside court that, "It's no longer business as usual in the United States." "This is the age of empowerment of women, and you cannot intimidate them anymore, because women will not be silenced," she said. "They will speak up, they will have their voice, they will stand up and be subjected to your small army of defense attorneys cross-examining them, attempting to discredit them," Allred added. Some took to social media to express regret that the jury failed to convict Weinstein of predatory sexual assault based on the testimony of "The Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra. She testified that Weinstein raped her almost 30 years ago as the prosecution sought to portray him as a career sexual predator. "HARVEY WEINSTEIN HAS BEEN HANDCUFFED & TAKEN TO JAIL!" tweeted actress Rosie Perez, who testified on Sciorra's behalf during the trial. "GUTTED FOR MY DEAR FRIEND #ANNABELLASCIORRA WHO TOLD THE TRUTH! YET I CONGRATULATE HER & ALL WHO CAME FORWARD FOR THEIR BRAVERY. THIS IS NOT ENOUGH BUT SURVIVORS TAKE COURAGE! THIS IS STILL A GREAT WIN!" she wrote. "#IBelieveAnnabellaSciorra," actress Alyssa Milano wrote on Twitter. Journalist and former Miss America Gretchen Carlson simply tweeted: "I hope the handcuffs are tight..." Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court, on February 24, 2020 in New York City before being convicted of two charges of rape and a criminal sexual act Rosie Perez testified at Harvey Weinstein's rape trial in New York Women's rights attorney Gloria Allred leaves the Manhattan Criminal Court on February 24, 2020 in New York City after Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault and rape
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Azerbaijan and Turkey will strengthen diaspora activities, a source at the Turkish Presidential Administration told Trend.

According to the source, currently, this is one of the most crucial topics.

"Despite the fact that Azerbaijan and Turkey are taking the right position, unfortunately, serious propaganda is being conducted against both states today, especially in the West," the source said.

"Strengthening diaspora activities will be an important step in combating propaganda against our countries," the source added.

The creation of a joint diaspora will soon be on the agenda, the source said.

It was stressed that Turkey is interested in expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan in all areas.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
(CNN)  Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad submitted his resignation to the country's king on Monday, his office announced, a shock move that could plunge the country into political crisis.

The surprise announcement comes amid speculation that 94-year-old Mahathir was attempting to form a new ruling coalition that would exclude his promised successor Anwar Ibrahim.

It is not clear who will be the next Prime Minister or whether general elections will be held.

Mahathir's party, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu) announced Monday it would be dropping out of the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan in support of the prime minister.

"All members of the House of Representatives of the party are also out of Pakatan Harapan. All of them have signed the Oath to continue to support and trust Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the Prime Minister of Malaysia," according to a statement from BERSATU President Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.

Deepening the political turmoil, Malaysia's Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin were both fired from Anwar's People's Justice Party earlier Monday.

Nine other lawmakers declared their allegiance to the ousted pair and left the party as well, according to a statement from the lawmakers. The 11 lawmakers also announced that they are forming an independent block in parliament.

It follows meetings over the weekend between lawmakers of the ruling coalition and members of the former ruling party United Malays National Organization (UMNO), over alleged plans to form a new government, according to local news reports.

In response, Anwar called out "traitors" within his own party and accused members of Mahathir's party of plotting a change in the current ruling coalition.

"We know there are attempts to bring down PH and form a new government," Anwar said.

Speaking at his party headquarters Monday, Anwar said he had met with the Prime Minister and told him that, "this treachery could be dealt with together."

"Those from my party and outside are using his name. He reiterated what he said to me earlier. He had no part in it. He made it very clear in no way would he work with those in the past regime," Anwar said.

Confrontation had been building

Mahathir, the world's oldest leader, stunned many observers with a surprise election win in May 2018, ending six decades of dominance by the ruling UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional coalition led by Najib Razak.

Entering into his second stint as prime minister, having previously held the position from 1981 to 2003, Mahathir was credited with turning Malaysia into a major trading and economic force in Southeast Asia.

After defeating Najib, who he blasted as corrupt and dictatorial, Mahathir had promised to hand over power to Anwar, who Mahathir himself once jailed.

Amrita Malhi, research fellow in the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University, said Mahathir's resignation "is likely a tactical move" with "no sure outcome."

"What tonight's situation shows is that after the intense jockeying of the last few days, the confrontation that has been building inside the Pakatan Harapan government since its election has now been triggered," Malhi said.

"Both parties and coalitions -- political formations that have existed for the last couple of years or decades -- are now splintering, and every single new grouping will have been preparing for any number of scenarios and contingencies in whatever negotiations are taking place now."

Longstanding rivalry

Mahathir and Anwar's complicated relationship goes back decades.

Anwar was the heir apparent to then-Prime Minister Mahathir until 1998, when he was fired and charged with corruption and sodomy. He spent six years in prison after being convicted of corruption charges in 1999 and of sodomy charges involving his wife's former driver in 2000.

Malaysia's highest court overturned the sodomy conviction and ordered him released from prison in 2004. However, the corruption verdict was never lifted, barring him from running for political posts until 2008.

In 2008, once his ban on political participation was lifted, Anwar was hit with further sodomy charges. He was convicted again and jailed in 2015. The government denied accusations that his imprisonment was politically motivated.

In 2018, Mahathir and Anwar put aside their longstanding rivalry to fight together to defeat Najib and his UMNO party, which forms the largest constituent in the Barisan Nasional coalition.

Following Mahathir's re-election, Anwar received a royal pardon that allowed him to enter politics again. Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had endorsed Mahathir and served as his deputy in the coalition to oust Najib.

Speaking to CNN in 2018, she described the fraught relationship between her husband and Mahathir.

"We were great friends, then we were great enemies, and now we are together building our great country again. That is important. No feeling of revenge at all. We want to look forward to the future and build together."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigns"
Pittsfield ZBA Approves Marijuana Cultivator & Retailer

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Zoning Board of Appeals approved True East Leaf's special permit request to grow and sell marijuana at the former Richmond Bakery.

After some discussion Wednesday over odor and parking concerns, the ZBA approved the request with the needed supermajority vote.

"Needless to say you saw the board at their most vulnerable tonight and this is a difficult decision," Chairman Albert Ingegni III said. "On behalf of us all continue to make all of the efforts you have made."

True East Leaf looks to both cultivate and sell cannabis at 161 Seymour St. Although it received approval through the Community Development Board last year, the Zoning Board had delayed a vote through a series of meetings with concerns over possible odor and parking.

The business has no off-street parking and, in order to keep limited on street parking open for customers, it was asked to find alternative spots for employees to park.

Attorney Anthony Doyle said his clients have done this and have executed agreements with surrounding business for eight separate spots for employees. He said they were only asked to provide four.

However, there was another side to the limited parking that was a concern and neighboring businesses felt inevitably that True East Leaf patrons would encroach on their limited parking.

"I know this is going to happen as well as I know my own name," former Tahiti Take Out owner Patricia Simonetta said. "Because this already happened to us ... employees and patrons will park as close to the building as possible it is human nature."

The board also heard from the owners of Viale Florist and Wahconah Street Green House, who said even without anybody occupying the former Richmond Bakery, parking is an issue with Tahiti Take Out patrons parking in their designated spots and their own patrons parking in Tahiti Take Out's lot.

This was a sticking point for board member John Fitzgerald, who felt without off-street parking the business did not belong in such a dense area.

"I have no doubt that they will be successful but I have problems with the location," he said. "Even though they have assigned parking I think it will create problems for existing businesses."

Board member Erin Sullivan heard the board's concerns but said the location is zoned industrial and historically businesses have operated in that very location.

Ingegni echoed Sullivan's statement and felt the board had to be careful to deny a permit based on a parking scenario that exists throughout the entire city and other communities.

"This is an inner-city store and if you are in downtown Boston or Worcester there is not always parking," he said. "I am not sure that precludes a business from starting and I think we have to be cautious because we don't want to dismiss a business where they don't have a parking lot with 20 spaces."

Doyle said they have filed a parking plan as the board had asked and planned to hire an employee to enforce proper parking. He did agree parking was not ideal but said this is the case throughout the city.

"I have an office on Park Square. I don't have off-street parking. Patrick's Pub does not have any," he said. "Right down North St. none of those stores or restaurants have parking ... It is what it is and we will do our best to make sure it does not impact our neighbors."

Odor was the other point of contention and neighboring businesses were concerned that a marijuana smell might take over the neighborhood.

Nicole Swegel, a relative of the True East Leaf owners and primary investor, spoke to the subjective nature of smell and felt everyone could learn to co-habitate.

"Some people like it, others do not. It is no different than odors emitting from a restaurant," she said. "Fried food -- that is a smell I consider foul but I have no issue when I am watching a ballgame at Wahconah Park. I believe in peaceful coexistence."

She also said like many of the surrounding businesses, True East Leaf is a family business and the majority of the investors are related and they hope True East Leaf can spark some revitalization in the area and occupy a building that will otherwise continue to deteriorate.

Swegel circled back around to odor and said True East Leaf hired Hill Engineers to design a heating and air system that is at over 90 percent efficiency.

Engineer Michael Wilke of Hill Engineers said all applicable doors will have a vestibule system that uses negative air pressure to remove odor. He said that the doors will be mechanical so they cannot be left open.

"All the doors have vestibules," he said. "The space between the doors is evacuated into the central exhaust system."

Doyle added that captured odor will be sent through a high velocity stack that will blow air upwards through carbon filters away from surrounding businesses.

Fitzgerald changed his focus from smell to sound and thought the high velocity fan that would exhaust the air could be too loud.

Wilke said they have not chosen a fan yet because they have not completed designs. Since they are only in the schematic phase of design work, equipment and components will be picked out in the next stage.

Fitzgerald said he was hesitant to make any approvals without 100 percent design but Wilke said it is quite normal to work through these phases. He said with the board's approval, True East Leaf would expend more funds to further design work ultimately creating construction schematics.

Doyle said more importantly Hill knows this system will work because they have designed them before.

"They aren't starting from scratch here and this is something they have done before," he said.

Fitzgerald made a motion to deny the permit still with concerns over parking and smell -- specifically with questions over how the board could quantify an odor violation.

Permitting Coordinator Nate Joyner said if there is a violation, True East Leaf would have to come before the board. Sullivan added if more than one abutter complains, they will know there is an issue.

Fitzgerald also did not think True East Leaf could afford the proposed plan.

Sullivan said she did not think this was a reason to hold up a permit.

"That is part of the entrepreneurial spirit and they have done what we have asked of them," she said. "They have thought it through."

The motion failed with only Fitzgerald and Esther Bolen voting to deny.

Board member Thomas Goggins voted to approve the permit but asked to up the efficiency percentage of the HVAC system to 95 percent instead of the minimum 90 percent. Fitzgerald switched his vote creating the supermajority needed to pass the special permits.

Bolen remained the only no vote.
The Lagos State Government has intensified drainage clearing and dredging towards preventing the perennial flooding during the rainy season across the state. This is about the first time the Lagos State Government is taking such pro-active action on flood control in the state over the years.

An inspection team at the weekend visited sites of ongoing drainage clearance and dredging projects for on-the-spot assessment of work done.

The team, led by the Special Adviser on Drainage Services, Engr. Joe Igbokwe, which include the Permanent Secretary, Drainage Services, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde, visited canals and drainages under systems 6c, 5 and 4, which comprise of LUTH/Itire/Daniyan in system 6c; Babs Animashaun in system 5 and Alaka/Iponrin/Tejuoso to Gbagada Bariga, Anthony Oke, Alo and Apelehin Buxton Cole in system 4.

Joe Igbokwe in a media interaction after the inspection, said that in preparation for the rains, the government is paying desired attention to the clearing of drainage channels in the State. He added that the tour became necessary in order to ascertain the level of work done by the contractors assigned to dredge and clear some of the canals towards resolving flooding issues.

ALSO READ: Remo Stars FC Player faced untimely death in the hands of SARS Officers

Igbokwe assured Lagos residents that with the early commencement of the clearing of major drainage, manholes and canals, when the rains commence, it will flow into its natural channels.

Igbokwe acknowledged said that the ultimate goal of clearing and dredging of the drainage channels and canals is to allow easy passage of rainstorm water. He ordered residents who erected fences obstructing passage/movement of machinery that would ensure the clearing of silts at System 6c in Itire to remove them immediately or have them demolished.

The Permanent Secretary, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde, stated that it is regrettable that many of the channels that have been cleaned before are being filled again with refuse by some residents. He emphasised the need for a change of attitude by the people, warning that the continuous dumping of refuse in the canals and drains will come back to haunt them if they do not desist.

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If there was a prize for judicial triteness, the contributions of the Indian judiciarys cream at the opening of the International Judicial Conference 2020, hosted by the Supreme Court, on Saturday would be a clear winner. Cringe-worthy as that was, it pales into insignificance seen against the sycophancy towards Prime Minster Narendra Modi, and the out-of context deference shown to exactly the sort of things said routinely by the current political establishment.

Their lordships simply failed to inspire confidence in the idea of the independence of the judiciary as they delivered sermons on the subject of Judiciary in a Changing World before a gathering from 20 nations. What impression of Indias democracy they left on visitors is moot.

Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, the third senior most judge of the Supreme Court, eulogised the PM as an internationally acclaimed visionary and a versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally as he thanked Mr Modi for his inspiring speech which would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the conference.

The PM, in his speech, thanked Indias judiciary for striking a balance between the needs of the environment and imperatives of development, and for delivering verdicts that were accepted by all Indians. These evidently struck Justice Mishra as being forays into genius territory. For other Indians, the question is apt to arise: In a tricky case, can ordinary citizens expect to be shown the same solicitude as the government if hosannas are publicly sung to the PM by a Supreme Court judge?

In the annals of Indias judiciary, the Supreme Court has keeled before the executive in the past (as during the Emergency) and is perceived to be doing so to this day. The Ayodhya case, the Judge Loya case, silence on habeas corpus matters pertaining to Kashmir, and the manner of handling the Rafale issue, have left much to be desired, and raised questions. However, it is hard to recall words that parallel Justice Mishras in praise of the PM.

Indeed, rectitude and reticence of a high order were not so long ago deemed worthy attributes even of sub-district judges, leave alone luminaries of the higher judiciary, as judicial officers routinely declined social and sometimes even family invitations to underline the neutrality and impartiality of their office. Once when then PM Rajiv Gandhi sought to visit the Chief Justice of India who had taken ill, the CJI quite rightly advised him not to, lest the harmless gesture be misunderstood.

The present CJI could have been more circumspect too at Saturdays conference. Instead, Justice S.A. Bobde stressed fundamental duties, exactly as Mr Modi does. He spoke of courts functioning courts in India 2,000 years ago (Manu Smriti), which seemed like pandering to the gods of present-day politics, forgetting that legal institutions of ancient Egypt go back 5,000 years, and those of ancient Babylon (Hamurabi), ancient Rome  from which a good deal of modern laws derive  and ancient Greece pre-date the ancient Hindu system by many centuries.
/ -- Not-for-profit, public policy think tank, Mumbai First is set to host a two-day international conference, 'Climate Crisis: Action for Tropical Coastal Cities' in collaboration with the European Union and CSIR-NEERI, supported by The Government of Maharashtra and MoEFCC. The conference will bring together government representatives, industrialists, politicians, urban planners, academicians, social and environmental scientists and environmentalists together to examine the impact of climate change, and the impending climate crisis, on the bustling coastal metropolis.

Scheduled to be held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on February 27th and 28th, 2020, this unique conference will examine the threat that global warming and consequent rising sea levels pose to coastal cities like Mumbai.

Speakers, featuring leading names from the government, the ministry, and international experts from the European Union will engage with the issue from various perspectives via a number of themes. The conference theme presentation will be given by McKinsey India with support from knowledge partner, CSIR-NEERI.

The conference themes range from urban flooding and risk management in coastal cities to the ecological impact that climate change is set to have on human health and marine life. Furthermore they will also delve into issues addressing group-specific vulnerabilities of climate change such as the debilitating impact it can have on livelihoods of the urban poor, women and youth.

Rising global temperatures have already begun playing havoc with climate patterns. Record summer temperatures in Europe, bushfires in Australia, the gradual melting of the Antarctic ice caps, and the erratic but protracted monsoons in Mumbai, are all evidence that climate change is real.

The United Nations estimates that nearly 70 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2050, with high-density cities at greatest risk from climate change.The outlook is far more grim for cities like Mumbai, which being coastal, will have to contend with rising sea levels and could be underwater by as early as 2050.

Unless addressed, this could exact a heavy toll on Mumbai, resulting in a loss of life, an increase in the outbreak of health scares and the destruction of local livelihoods and communities, like the indigenous Koli fishing community.

Already struggling to bear the brunt of even seasonal monsoons, the large scale flooding will cripple infrastructure and transport services. Moreover, with Mumbai the country's financial capital, it could potentially even derail India's economic ambitions.

Mr. Narinder Nayar - Chairman, Mumbai First, said that addressing these issues is the need of the hour. Mumbai First anticipates the two-day conclave will spark a conversation around mitigating the impact of global warming, propose meaningful, executable solutions for Mumbai and other tropical coastal cities to combat the rising seawaters. He added, "Our aim is to address the problems of today and seize the opportunities of tomorrow through partnerships with government, business and civil society and help Mumbai regain its title of 'Urbs Prima in Indis', that it once wore with pride and a certain panache."



About Mumbai First



Mumbai First is a not-for-profit think tank which works towards making Mumbai a better place to live, work and invest in by catalysing the efforts of the government, corporates, civic societies and citizens. With its unique model of public-private participation, it was set up by India's industry leaders 25 years ago. The Tatas, Mahindras, Godrej, ICICI, Asian Paints and HDFC are few of the patrons of this organisation which has worked with the Union, State and Municipal governments as a nonpartisan body, to engage ordinary citizens, urban experts, and captains of industry.

Among its achievements, Mumbai First institutionalized the Empowered Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, and the Citizens Action Group chaired by the Chief Minister. Each is co-chaired by Mumbai First. Mumbai First was also responsible for putting together the 40-year Concept Plan for the MMR and assisted the Maharashtra government in setting up the War Room (Chief Minister's Sankalp Kaksha) to monitor critical projects. In association with the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai First organized the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave in 2016 during India's Presidency of the BRICS Nations. The proceedings of the Conclave were presented at the BRICS Nations Summit, later in the year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is spending crores of money for Donald Trump's visit and added that the US President is using Indian soil for his election campaign.

"It is not clear what India will gain from this. India will see 'Namaste Trump'. Modi ji is spending crores of rupees to make Trump happy. Trump said Modi ji promised him 10 million people who will welcome US President. What is the need for this? Trump is not Lord Rama then why is the need for spending so much amount of money," Chowdhury told ANI.

The Congress leader said "Trump is using Indian soil for this election campaign. There are many Gujaratis living in the US whose votes are important for Trump. US President said there will not any trade deal... Earlier, US President used to meet principal Opposition party leaders. Now there is nothing like that."

President Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump is on a two-day visit to India starting February 24.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Chowdhury had earlier 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. 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.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 15:25:13|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Yunnan Province has punished several officials over a case of intercepting a batch of masks amid the fight of the novel coronavirus earlier this month, local disciplinary authorities said Monday.

Gao Zhihong, Party chief of Dali City, was dismissed, according to the CPC provincial commission of discipline inspection and supervision.

Du Shugan, mayor of Dali, and Lou Zenghui, deputy mayor of the city, were removed from their posts.

Two other officials in the city and three from the prefecture that administers the city were also given punishment ranging from inner-Party warning to admonition.

The masks, bound for neighboring Chongqing Municipality, were intercepted and requisitioned when they were transported via Dali city, prompting outrage across the country.

The city has apologized for the misconduct. On Feb. 6, Yang Yanchi, head of the health bureau of Dali, was dismissed over the case.
WINDHOEK, Namibia, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of recent media queries received by Trustco regarding inaccurate news stories, the Group Managing Director and CEO of Trustco Group Holdings Ltd, Dr Quinton van Rooyen, has issued the following statements to clarify matters.

On the matter of: Trustco's properties being overvalued

Our property valuations are clearly disclosed on page 53 of Volume 2 of our Integrated Annual Report, as well as on page 50 of our Audited Financial Statements. As is shown there, Trustco's 2 377 hectares of property (or 23.77 million square meters of sellable land) is valued at NAD 100.28 per square meter on average, with individual values differing based on land servicing and development. A cursory investigation in properties available for sale (on https://www.myproperty.com.na/ ) and other cost indexes (First Capital Building Cost Index: http://firstcapitalnam.com/research.php) would indicate our valuations are well below current market rates for the area, and not currently the most valuable in both Namibia and South Africa.

Trustco does not determine its own land values. Rather, the land is valued by between two and four independent valuation experts, whose assumptions are included on page 50 of our 2019 Audited Financial Statements. The land selling prices used in these valuations are below comparable land parcels. Page 49 of the same report shows that all properties were fair valued lower in 2019 versus 2018, except for Elisenheim.

As land is zoned for development, services (roads, water, electricity) are installed, and top structures are created, the value of the land increases (this should be obvious). This increase is measured by the independent valuers, and the gains or losses are recorded per IFRS accounting standards in our financial statements. We cannot choose to include or not include these gains or losses. This is common practice in property development: over the last two years, Growthpoint has recorded approximately R3.4 billion in fair value property gains.

On the matter of: Herboth's sale of NAD 1 billion being overvalued

Since the publication of Trustco's financial statements, the Herboths Development has received approval of its Need and Desirability for Township establishment, which was reported to the market via SENS on 9 October 2019. It specifically indicated that this will have a material impact on its valuation. The sale price per square meter is NAD 60.24 per square meter, still well below the average valuation of Trustco's other properties. The transaction also requires two independent property valuations to occur, which will determine the final purchase consideration.

On the matter of: Trustco history of transforming 'barren land' into developed properties

Trustco has been developing properties in Namibia for more than 25 years, and over that time has completed several developments  some in even more 'barren' locations than the Herboths Development. Just in recent years, the Elisenheim Lifestyle Estate (residential development), Lafrenz Park (industrial estate) and Ondangwa Development (industrial park and residential Ombala development) have been completed, are in progress or close to completion as noted on pages 54 to 61 of Volume 2 of our Integrated Annual Report.

An easy look at Google Earth will show that Phase 1 of the Herboths Development has already been completed by the previous developer, and in the adjacent property across the main road, the Finkenstein development has also been completed.

When land is rezoned, services are installed and top structures added, it is obvious that the value of the land will increase. For example a piece of land without mining rights will be worth less than a piece of land with mining rights. Similarly, land zoned for development of a township will be worth more than land zoned for agricultural purposes.

On the matter of: The decision to postpone development of certain properties

Market conditions dictate how and when development of properties should take place, and corporate boards should take cognizance of these facts regularly. Supply and demand are basic economic principles and should be considered in determining when the optimal time to increase, decrease or maintain supply should be. Every economy moves through cycles where prudent managements will increase or decrease supply, whether it is land, shoes or cucumbers.

In accordance with IFRS accounting principles, an asset must be designated to the appropriate category in the financial statements. When there is a change in use of an asset, this allocation must be tested. In the case of Elisenheim, certain parts of this property were held in inventory, which is required to be held at the lower of cost or net realizable value. In other words, it is not held at market or fair value. However, when it was decided to slow the sale of stands (inventory) into the market, the asset was required in terms of IFRS to be reclassified to investment property. However, an asset in investment property must be carried at fair value, and not at the lower of cost or net realizable value. This transfer, which was proved to the auditors and the JSE, requires a fair valuation (again, done independently) for this asset.

On the matter of: Profit does not equal cashflow

Even a layman knows that profits does not equal cashflow. The investment cycle does not always coincide with the cashflow cycle. For some this might be difficult to understand  especially if the most complex transaction that they've completed was exchanging one second-hand car for another. The cycle of property development requires large upfront investment that repays over time. In 2017, Trustco generated NAD651 million, in 2016 NAD507 million and 2015 NAD448 million in cash flows, in line with the property development and economic cycles of the time. Net cash flows from operating activities include net advances to student funding and therefore represent investments into the business, and not cash outflows.

On the matter of: The cashflow statement shows a net leak of 150 million

If leak means spending money on buying and developing assets, investing into systems and investing into personnel, then Trustco's cashflow statement has always shown a leak, and will continue to do so going forward. The group's policy is to invest and reinvest cashflow into assets to ensure future earnings, resulting in greater future returns for all stakeholders. A group with excess cash earnings on the balance sheet usually indicates a group that doesn't know how to reinvest that cash, doesn't have the opportunity to do so, and cannot generate greater returns. The economic cycle in Namibia is adverse, and while others are hoarding cash and afraid to invest in opportunities, Trustco is making investments and positioning the company to generate much greater earnings and cash flows over the next cycle. We don't see how it should be done any other way.

On the matter of: Including profits from a loan waiver in headline earnings

We do not choose to include any amount in our headline earnings. They are included as required by IFRS. This was clearly disclosed in the fourth and sixth paragraph of our interim financial results, as well as the notes to the relevant line items. IFRS similarly requires the assessment of the use of assets and how those assets are valued, specifically as it relates to fair value gains of property assets. Headline earnings also include, also not by our choosing, NAD247 million of provisions in terms of the adoption of the IFRS 9 accounting standard.

On the matter of: Trustco's accounting policies

Trustco's accounting policies are aligned with IFRS as required, and the policies as well as the financial statements are checked and audited by two different external auditors, two different IFRS consulting firms as well as various sponsors and regulators. By our count, over 56 Chartered Accountants were involved with ensuring the correctness and compliance of our accounting policies and financial statements. Some investors understand the accounting movements as they relate to our business, whereas some clearly do not, and some seem to believe we should decide what parts of IFRS to apply to our business, which is clearly a ridiculous suggestion.

On the matter of: Trustco's difficulty in raising capital

While local funding may have dried up for all companies due to economic conditions in Namibia, Trustco has three stable lines of funding - two major supporting shareholders, as well as a wide array of international funders. The support they provide the group is shown in our financial statements. Our property portfolio is currently completely ungeared. Liquidity statistics of the banking sector are publicly available and affect all companies in Namibia, not just Trustco.

On the matter of: Legal Shield Holdings valuation in the Constantia Acquisition

The valuation of the unlisted Legal Shield Holdings was determined by a third party, with a research report available (https://insights.tellimer.com/article/trustco-group-holdings-namibian-triple-play and https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/TSCHY/research) after taking into account the minority interest and the acquisition of Trustco's Banking and Finance segment, as announced on SENS on 27 October 2019. A comprehensive internal valuation was also performed and approved by the board. For the record some of the assets in LSH are actually valued negatively on a DCF basis which speaks to the conservativeness of the valuation process.

On the matter of: Riskowitz Value Fund planning to take over Trustco

Not that Trustco is aware of, and not that Riskowitz Value Fund has ever indicated.

On the matter of: Trustco's plans to delist

This is a discussion that takes place on a regular basis. So far, the benefits of listing outweigh the cons. The group values its many and varied shareholders and will not take action to place them at a disadvantage.

On the matter of: Trustco's low share price

The market dictates the share price, not the group, and at current market prices, the group is significantly undervalued.

On the matter of: The lack of share buybacks since the share is undervalued

Share buybacks are done when a group reaches a position where it is generating more cash than they can reasonably reinvest in the business. Share buybacks are a capital allocation decision that must be measured against other opportunities in the group. The group believes it can generate more wealth for stakeholders currently by reinvesting cash into the business, rather than by returning cash to shareholders. When a company voluntarily returns its equity capital, it may indicate that it has no viable projects in which to invest. This is categorically not true of Trustco, in all parts of the business.

On the matter of: Trustco's negative press

Trustco does not respond to negative and uninformed press  as such, a small cabal that has an unhealthy crush on anything Trustco get their views in the press. A false narrative of this cabal has seemingly appealed to certain sections of the media. We would prefer to focus on building our business and creating wealth for our shareholders than engage with trolls - the law will take its course (Case number: CAS 525/11/2018. Investigating Officer: JJ Dlamini (Johannesburg Commercial Crime Unit). Riskowitz Value Fund concurs with our assessment on this matter. (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/financial-mails-biased-misleading-narrative-poisoning-sean-riskowitz/)

Dr Quinton van Rooyen

Group Managing Director and CEO

Trustco Group Holdings Limited

TRUSTCO GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

Incorporated in the Republic of Namibia

(Registration number 2003/058)

NSX Share Code: TUC

JSE Share Code: TTO

OTCQX share code: TSCHY

ISIN Number: NA000A0RF067 ("the Company" or "Trustco")

SOURCE TRUSTCO GROUP HOLDINGS LTD
Three more passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who are quarantined at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland have tested positive for the coronavirus, raising the confirmed diagnoses in that group to five.

Two of the new cases were identified through voluntary testing for the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, that is being offered to the 144 cruise ship evacuees who were quarantined last week at Lackland. The other person exhibited symptoms and was diagnosed after being taken to a local hospital, Kate Grusich, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday.

All of the sick evacuees are being treated in isolation nearby, at a designated medical facility, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: As San Antonio coronavirus cases grow to three, health officials expect more cases in cruise ship passengers

The first two diagnoses from the Diamond Princess evacuees at Lackland were announced Friday. The CDC has said they expect to see more confirmed cases of coronavirus in the hundreds of American evacuees. They are at a high risk of contracting the infection, officials say, because of the conditions on the ship, where hundreds of passengers and crew fell ill during a failed self-quarantine at a Japanese port.

Six people who were under federal quarantine at Lackland have now tested positive for coronavirus, including one person who was evacuated to the base from Wuhan, China, earlier this month. The 90 other people in that group were declared healthy and released Thursday by CDC officials after completing a two-week quarantine.

The infected Wuhan evacuee improved last week but is still hospitalized in San Antonio. That person was initially treated at Methodist Hospital | Texsan before being transferred elsewhere.

On ExpressNews.com: Victims of circumstance: Cruise ship passengers quarantined at Lackland faced chaotic trip home

While federal officials have declined to identify where the Lackland coronavirus patients are receiving medical care, state health officials have confirmed that an unspecified number of coronavirus patients are being treated at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease.

The state-run tuberculosis hospital, located on San Antonios South Side, has reserved a separate 22-bed wing for the isolation of infected patients with mild symptoms, as well as those suspected of having the virus.

Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba
Credit: Brantley GutierrezAre Foo Fighters bringing their Cal Jam festival to the capital?

Over the weekend, Dave Grohl's band started teasing something called "DC Jam." "Coming soon," they wrote in a tweet posted Saturday.

The Foos first launched Cal Jam in San Bernardino, California in 2017, and held the festival again in 2018. The 2018 edition included a brief Nirvana reunion performance featuring Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear.

Back in 2015, Foo Fighters held a massive July 4 concert in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1995 self-titled debut album. This year, of course, marks the band's 25th anniversary.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
I think it would be a real burden for us in these states or congressional districts that we have to do well in, Clyburn said on ABCs This Week. If you look at how well we did the last time [in the 2018 midterm elections] and look at the congressional districts, these were not liberal or what you might call progressive districts. These were basically moderate and conservative districts that we did well in.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed Indias ties with the US as he called President Donald Trumps two-day visit to the country as a very big opportunity.

Trump landed in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to a spectacular welcome, at the start of a two-day trip.

US President Donald Trumps India visit day 1: Follow live updates here.

Modi, who has built a personal rapport with Trump, pulled out the stops for Trumps visit as he welcomed the US president with an embrace when he stepped off Air Force One, along with his wife, Melania Trump, at the airport.

We are ready to come to India, we are on our way, we will be meeting everyone in a few hours, Trump had tweeted in the Hindi before he landed. Modi responded with an old Indian saying as he tweeted: Athithi Devo Bhava (the guest is God).

Sharing the stage with Trump later at the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabads Motera Stadium, the Prime Minister said America is Indias largest trading partner.

Full Coverage: Trumps visit to India

Our bilateral partnership will deepen, our strategic relationship will enhance. Long live our friendship. And therefore, I believe that President Trump coming to India at the beginning of this decade is a very big opportunity, he said to a cheering crowd that packed into the stadium.

Watch: Namaste Trump l India & US no longer just another partnership: PM Modi

Ahead of his visit, Donald Trump held out the possibility of the announcement of a tremendous deal on trade during his visit to India, but he also said the two sides may slow it down for now and do it after the November election in which he is seeking a second term.

Prospects of the two sides signing a limited trade deal during the February 24-25 visit have looked slim recent days after a top US trade negotiator cancelled an India visit to wrap up negotiations without ascribing reasons.

The United States is seeking access to Indian markets in dairy and poultry, removal of control over medical device prices in a limited trade deal and India has sought relief from tariffs on its steel and aluminium exports to the US and restoration of benefits under a zero-duty preferential trade programme.

Modi, however, stressed on the friendship between India and the US as he stressed on the future roles the countries will play.

In the 21st century, new alignments, new competition, new challenges, and new opportunities are laying the foundation for change. The relationship and cooperation of India and America will have an important role in setting the direction of the 21st-century world, the Prime Minister said.

He also pointed out that India conducts the largest number of war exercises with the US.

We can make an effective contribution not only in the Indo-Pacific Region but in the peace, progress and security of the whole world, he added.

Trump did say that the two countries will sign deals on Tuesday sell military helicopter worth $3 billion and that the US must become the premier defence partner of India.

As the US president described Modi as a tough negotiator, he said he was going to discuss economic ties with the Prime Minister.

We will be making very, very major, among the biggest ever made, trade deals. We are in the early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investment between the United States and India, he said.

And I am optimistic that working together, the Prime Minister and I can reach a fantastic deal thats good and even great for both of our countries, except that he is a very tough negotiator.

The buzz words ahead of the event seemed to be the friendship and rapport between the leaders of India and the US.

Trump is also more popular in India than in many countries around the world, with the Pew Research Centers polls showing support for him has grown almost four-fold since 2016. The latest survey showed 56% of Indians have a positive view of him.

The Namaste Trump event was on the lines of the Howdy, Modi! programme addressed by Modi and Trump during the Prime Ministers trip to Houston last September.

The next stop on the US presidents itinerary was Agra to see the Taj Mahal before he leaves for Delhi for a day of meetings and deals on Tuesday.
By PTI

GUWAHATI: A local court on Monday extended by four days the police remand of JNU student Sharjeel Imam who was arrested on charges of sedition and brought to the state last week.

Imam was brought to Assam from New Delhi on February 20 and produced in court which had initially sent him to four days' police remand, they said.

Upon the expiry of his police remand, he was on Monday produced before the Kamrup (Metro) Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The student, who came into the limelight during the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on January 28 for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University and in Aligarh.

Imam was slapped with a sedition case after his speeches went viral on social media wherein he was heard allegedly speaking about Assam's possible secession from the country in the wake of the CAA.

A case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been registered against him in Assam.

On February 18, the Delhi Police had named Imam as an "instigator" in its charge sheet filed against 17 people in a case related to violence during protests against the CAA at New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia last year.

Meanwhile, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government is keeping a tab on the developments related to Imam's interrogation.

On reports claiming that Imam had contact with AIUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal for some years, Sarma told reporters, "I have seen it in the media only. If there is any connection found between them for unlawful activities, we will take the necessary action."
The bushfire-racked town of Mallacoota is pleading for a new kindergarten after the existing 1970s building was rendered uninhabitable by heavy rain last month.

Mallacoota preschooler Tom Brownlie watches on as mould-damaged equipment is thrown away on Monday. Credit:Rachel Mounsey

Three and four-year old children have been forced to spend their first weeks of kindergarten in a makeshift room with no running water or toilets.

The nearest toilet is almost 100 metres away and some children have been wetting themselves in class.

The towns ageing kindergarten was flooded during a storm in late January, destroying the carpet and many toys.
Ilham Rawoot

Ilham Rawoot works for Friends of the Earth Mozambique/Justica Ambiental and is the coordinator of the No to Gas! Campaign. She is a freelance journal... more ist with a focus on the extractive industry, climate justice, and corporate human rights abuses.
Dozens of reporters at the Wall Street Journal have signed a letter protesting the papers refusal to apologize for a headline the Chinese government deemed racist, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

The headline, China is the Real Sick Man of Asia, was chosen for an opinion column by Bard College professor Walter Russell Mead comparing Chinas response to the Wuhan coronavirus and the shaky financial foundations of the countrys economy. The phrase sick man of Asia was used in the late 1800s to describe China, which had at the time lost a series of wars and feared colonial rule by western nations.

We. . . ask you to consider correcting the headline and apologizing to our readers, sources, colleagues and anyone else who was offended by it, read the letter signed by reporters at the papers China bureau and sent on Thursday to the Journals publisher.[This] is not about the content of Dr. Meads article. It is about the mistaken choice of a headline that was deeply offensive to many people, not just in China.

Publisher William Lewis on Wednesday expressed regret for any harm the headline had caused but did not issue a formal apology.

On February 19, China ordered three Journal reporters to leave the country within five days, one of the largest single expulsions of reporters since the Mao era.

The Chinese government has been coercive in its demands for apologies from all sorts of international groups on issues that are essentially domestic political issues, Susan L. Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego, said in comments to the New York Times. This has the effect of interfering in freedom of expression in our own countries.

More from National Review
By Agencies

NEW DELHI: A head constable was among five people killed and over 100, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi, turning it into a battlefield on Monday with frenzied protesters torching houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, and hurling stones.

This is the second day of clashes in the city where US President Donald Trump arrived on Monday evening on the main leg of his India visit.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathicharge as clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA groups at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura. Security personnel conducted flag marches and prohibitory orders were clamped to bring the situation under control.

Ratan Lal (42), a head constable attached to the office of the ACP Gokalpuri, died after he sustained injuries during stone pelting at Gokalpuri.

Three other civilian succumbed to injuries in the clashes, a Delhi government official said, adding 50 people with injuries had come to hospital for treatment.

ALSO READ: Violence only causes harm to common people: Priyanka Gandhi on Delhi clashes

At least 11 police personnel, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara, Amit Sharma and ACP (Gokalpuri) Anuj Kumar were injured while trying to quell the protests. Two CRPF police personnel were also injured, sources said.

Government sources said the violence in the national capital appears to have been "orchestrated" by some for publicity as it comes at a time when Trump is visiting the country. They said Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was stationed at the police control room and closely monitoring the situation.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla told reporters the situation in the national capital was fully under control and sufficient forces were deployed on the ground. Officials said at least eight companies (100 personnel each) of central armed police were present on the ground, besides the Delhi Police.

All private and government schools in Northeast Delhi district will remain closed on Tuesday in the wake of the violence, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.

The violence-affected areas witnessed several rounds of stone-pelting from pro and anti-CAA protestors. The roads were strewn with bricks, stones and glass shards.

In Maujpur, pro and anti-CAA protesters indulged in stone pelting and at least three vehicles were torched. Even closed shops were vandalised. At least one house was set on fire and plumes of smoke bellowed from the balcony.

A protestor fired multiple rounds in air as a policeman was seen trying to stop him. The man is yet to be identified.

ALSO READ: Congress seeks Amit Shah's resignation; Rahul Gandhi condemns violence

Pro-CAA protestors were also seen gheraoing and assaulting a man at Maujpur. Blood was oozing from his head, while some of the attackers raised provocative slogans.

A petrol pump and two school buses were torched at Bhajanpura-Yamuna Vihar border during the rampage by the protestors.

Police chased and hit at least four young men with batons near a footbridge on one side of the road, where dozens of personnel were deployed in anti-riot gear, a PTI reporter witnessed.

At least half a dozen youths were also picked up in a truck by the police.

Another identified man was chased down and assaulted as he ran to escape the mob on an intersection under the Gokulpuri flyover at around 6.30 pm.

Police have imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in areas affected by violence in northeast Delhi.

Vehicular traffic remained restricted on road number 59, which leads to Bhajanpura on one side and Ghaziabad via Gokulpuri flyover on the other side, causing inconvenience to commuters and locals, including students.

At Gokalpuri, protestors resorted to stone pelting in which Head Constable Ratan Lal was killed.

At Bhajanpura Chowk, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to an emergency call in the area.

ALSO READ: DMRC opens four stations, shuts five on Pink Line

There were many who were caught in the crossfire.

"I don't know how are we going to go back home now," a woman hawker, standing along with a fellow hawker at C Block Yamuna Vihar bus stand, wondered as they waited for a DTC bus.

A 20-year-old man carrying a helmet said he had to leave his motorcycle in Gokulpuri as he tried to make his way to Mustafabad but was stuck at barricades put by the police.

"My sister works there and she is calling me repeatedly, asking me to come and take her home in this situation. I am unable to find a way to reach her," the man, visibly worried, told PTI.

A family from Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh which had come to Rohini for a member's treatment was also left stranded.

"Five of us, including two women, had come here in the morning. Rest four are still at the hospital in Rohini and I had come here for some work. Now I am waiting for the violence to end so that I can go pick them up and we all can return home," a man, who identified himself as Abhishek Thakur, said as he sat on a pavement with his hatchback parked near Dayalpur police station.

Violence had occurred on Sunday also over the amended citizenship law near Jaffrabad over blocking of the road by anti-CAA protesters , while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital including Hauz Rani.

The situation had escalated after BJP leader Kapil Mishra called a gathering on Sunday. Mishra demanded that police remove the anti-CAA protestors within three days.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to restore law and order in the national capital. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said he has instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to ensure the situation is brought under control.

ALSO READ: Section 144 imposed at ten locations in north-east Delhi after cop killed at CAA clash

"Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

In a tweet, Sisodia said all internal exams scheduled for Tuesday in schools in northeast Delhi will not be held and he will speak to Union HRD Minister R P Nishank on the issue of postponing the Board exam in this district.

Taking to Twitter, Baijal said, "Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the violence in Delhi and urged people to show restraint, compassion and understanding irrespective of the provocation.

He said peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified.

"The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation," Gandhi tweeted.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said the death of a Delhi Police head constable was a "ploy" to embarrass India during Trump's visit and likened it to the massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura in 2000 during the then US president Bill Clinton's trip to the country.

"Shocked to hear the death of HC Sh Ratanlal in a brutal & barbaric manner. This reminds me of massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura during Clinton's visit. Incidents change but anti India forces remain the same. Ploy to embarrass India, Request all to remain calm & maintain peace," she said in a tweet.

The Delhi Metro has closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Shiv Vihar, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave stations as violence prevailed in the area. The entry and exit of Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Udyog Bhawan were shut for nearly an hour.
Rome

Government officials scrambled Sunday to contain the first major outbreak of the coronavirus in Europe, locking down at least 10 towns near Milan, closing schools and canceling the iconic Venice carnival, as nearly 150 cases were announced in recent days.

The new cases are mostly in the Lombardy region, which includes Milan, and is one of Italy's most densely populated areas. The spike has quickly made the country the biggest test of whether the virus can be successfully contained in an open European society.

The coronavirus crisis began in China in late December, and since then, more than 2,000 people have died worldwide, with most of the cases and fatalities in China.

In Asia, outside China, the hardest hit country has been South Korea, where there have been 602 confirmed infections and six deaths. On Sunday, President Moon Jae-in put the country on the highest possible alert, empowering the government to lock down cities and take other sweeping measures to contain the outbreak.

"The coming few days will be a critical time for us," he said at an emergency meeting of government officials.

The same challenge now looms for Italy, Europe's fourth-largest economy, where the governmen has been in disarray for months.

The government response has been aggressive so far, led by the health minister, Roberto Speranza.

Regional and municipal authorities throughout Italy enacted a series of restrictive ordinances after the government issued emergency measures late Saturday. All public events in the Lombardy region have been canceled, whether "cultural, leisure, religious or sporting," according to an ordinance issued by Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy region, and drafted with the health ministry. Museums have been ordered to shut their doors.

Many other venues in Lombardy, aside from those providing essential services, have been closed, including most bars, nightclubs and movie theaters, as well as churches.

"We invite people to stay at home, to try and contain this phenomenon that we still don't know, except that it isn't aggressive but moves quickly," Giulio Gallera, the official responsible for health for the Lombardy region, said during a televised news conference Sunday.

In Lombardy, 10 towns were locked down after a cluster of cases emerged in the town of Codogno, southeast of Milan. At least 50,000 people are affected by the lockdown. Residents are supposed to leave or arrive only with special permission.

On Sunday, police and armed forces personnel were deployed to monitor the entrances to the towns.

Two military structures in Lombardy were being prepared to become isolation camps, while other military sites and hotels have been identified throughout the country. A military base in Rome has been housing evacuees from Wuhan, China, where the virus began, and the Italian passengers of the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship that has been under quarantine in Yokohama, Japan.

The outbreak in Codogno began after a 38-year old man known as "Patient One" was admitted to the city's hospital and diagnosed with the virus on Thursday. But the man had developed symptoms perhaps five days before that, potentially allowing the virus to spread.

Even more disconcerting is that health officials still don't know how he contracted the virus because he had not been to China. But many cases in Lombardy, officials say, may be traceable to that one case.

At least five members of the hospital medical staff in Codogno and several patients have been infected. Other persons who tested positive include the man's pregnant wife, a close friend and others who spent time with them. The towns surrounding the ones where the man works and lives have been included in the shutdown.

Similar lockdown procedures will be applied if new clusters emerge anywhere in Italy, officials said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Quarantine measures will also be applied to anyone who has close contact with someone who has the virus.

Gallera, the health official for Lombardy, said hospitals were increasing intensive care facilities, and hotels and other structures were being identified as possible venues to isolate people with the virus.

"We are trying to contain a phenomenon, but it's not a pandemic," Gallera said.

The presidents of other northern Italian regions suspended all educational activities for varying periods of time. In Milan, Mayor Giuseppe Sala announced that schools would be closed for a week.

At least two trade fairs in Milan were postponed to a later date, though most of the women's fashion shows continued on schedule. Giorgio Armani held his show behind closed doors, to an empty room, livestreaming the event.

Carnival is one of Venice's major annual events and the canceling of events caught off guard many tourists who had thronged to the city before Tuesday's final Mardi Gras celebration.

Two elderly people who tested positive for the coronavirus were in intensive care at Venice's municipal hospital.

"The couple did not have contacts with the Chinese community," Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region, said, according to Italian media reports.

Also Sunday, the patriarch of Venice, Rev. Francesco Moraglia, suspended all religious ceremonies, including Ash Wednesday observances, which mark the beginning of Lent.

So far, three people have died from the virus, including a 78-year-old man from Veneto who died Friday and an elderly woman who died in Crema on Sunday.

The third, a 77-year-old woman, died in her home in Casalpusterlengo, Lombardy, and tested positive for the virus posthumously. But Gallera told reporters Saturday that her health was compromised and that she may have died from other causes.
Thich Quang Do, the patriarch of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam and a defiant champion of religious freedom, democracy and human rights in his country, died on Saturday. He was 91.

His death was confirmed by the Paris-based International Buddhist Information Bureau, an arm of his church. There was no information on where he died. A spokeswoman for the organization said that the Vietnamese authorities had held him incommunicado at the Tu Hieu Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City and that it had been impossible for members of his organization to make contact with him. He had diabetes and a heart condition for many years, she added.

Thich Quang Do had for decades repeatedly challenged, and angered, the Communist government on issues of religious and political freedom and had effectively been under house arrest since 2003. He had spent the last 30 years or so in and out of prison, under house arrest or forced into internal exile for refusing to submit the Unified Church to government control.

He issued a stream of public statements over the years, putting him in the forefront of religious activism in Vietnam, which permits only a single government-sanctioned Buddhist organization. The Unified Church, founded as an umbrella organization for various Buddhist sects in 1964, was banned.
Italy has expanded quarantine measures in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the north, after the number of cases topped 100  two of them fatal. Iran has also imposed lockdowns after eight deaths, while South Korea has raised its COVID-19 alert to the "highest level".

The epidemic has now killed nearly 2,500 people in China as it continues its relentless global expansion.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned Africa's poor health systems left it vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease, which spilled out of China to more than 25 countries.

Responding to the rising number of new cases, Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said 11 towns in north, in the Lombardy and Veneto regions, would be placed under quarantine, affecting about 50,000 people.

"More than 100 cases" have now been reported throughout the country, Lombardy president Attilio Fontana told SkyTG24 television, with 89 of those centred around the small town of Codogno, about 70 kilometres southeast of Milan.

Two people have died from the so-called COVID-19 epidemic in Italy, which was the first country to ban direct flights to and from China in January.

Iran deaths on the rise

Iran ordered the closure of schools, universities and cultural centres across 14 provinces from Sunday following eight deaths in the Islamic Republic -- the most outside East Asia.

Iran's outbreak surfaced Wednesday and quickly grew to 43 confirmed infections.

"The concern is ... that we have seen ... a very rapid increase in a matter of a few days," said Sylvie Briand, director of the WHO's global infectious hazard preparedness department.

'Highest' alert

South Korea has raised its coronavirus alert to the "highest level" following a sharp jump in new cases, President Moon Jae-in said Sunday.

The number of infections has nearly tripled over the weekend to 602.

Led by an outbreak cluster in a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu, South Korea now has the most infections outside of China -- apart from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan.

"The next few days will be crucial," Moon said following a government meeting on the virus.

"The government will raise the alert level to the highest level according to experts' recommendations."

South Korea reported 169 new cases and three more deaths on Sunday, taking the countrywide fatality toll to five.

More than 300 cases have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus sect in Daegu with some 9,300 members either quarantined or asked to stay at home, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 1,240 have reported symptoms.

The new cases also included a Samsung Electronics employee at a plant in Gumi city, leading the tech giant to suspend operations there until Monday.

(with AFP)
Breakbulk Middle East (BBME) 2020, the two-day GCC-based breakbulk and project cargo event, will officially kick off tomorrow (February 25).



After a year-long process of laying down foundational groundwork, the comprehensive conference and exhibition is ready to help guide the regional industry to the next level.



BBME 2020 is being held under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority (FTA) for Land and Maritime. The event will occur on February 25 and 26, at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE.



High expectations

The opening ceremony for BBME 2020 will take place in Zaabeel Hall 5 at the Breakbulk Main Stage at 10:00 am. With over 125 exhibitors, and more than 4,000 anticipated visitors, the event is on pace to experience an unprecedented amount of participation. Moreover, the events conveniently located venue will attract more than 1700 companies from over 75 countries to represent the international strength of the industrial supply chain.



Dr. Al Nuaimi commented, This year marks the beginning of an important decade for the UAE, with Expo 2020 positioned to be at the forefront of the many milestone achievements that the country expects to accomplish. With regional infrastructure investment rising, optimism is emitting itself from the GCC and Middle East. Accordingly, we will leverage Breakbulk Middle Easts robust representation of the industrial supply chain to build greater momentum into Expo 2020.



AlNuaimi added: The UAE has been diligently working to diversify and integrate our economy. The successful realisation of this will set up the country to thrive for years to come. In turn, we will be able to better serve the best interests of the region to ultimately benefit the global economy. With a huge variety of projects rising in the region, the next two days should prove useful in making progress to fast-track the UAEs ambitions.



Engineer Ahmed Al Khouri, director-general of the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport, added: The UAEs firm commitment to fostering its shipping infrastructure and functionality involves addressing key points of focus which can be greater strengthened. The successful realisation of this concept involves all aspects of the shipping industry, including optimisation of cargo transport, implementing methods of lowering operational costs while still maintaining elite efficiency, and establishing programmes, which will properly nurture the next set of maritime professionals that our emirate will rely on for future decades. Though topical dialogues centred on these areas of focus are essential, attendees who are willing to listen contribute ideas, and advocate change are equally important. Through the years, Breakbulk Middle East has established a notoriety for creating engaging discussion between individuals who can formulate change, and this years event should only further demonstrate that.



Extreme enthusiasm

Ben Blamire, event director of Breakbulk Middle East, said: Kuwait is working on $3 billion, 157km rail route to connect the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has plans to invest $1.61 billion in infrastructure enhancements, resulting in a wider construction spend of $2.43 trillion. The UAE is responsible for more than 50 per cent of the GCCs construction spending. All of this clearly indicates that infrastructure potential is currently enormous in the Middle East. With the fifth edition of BBME kicking off tomorrow, key players from these countries, and others in the region, will be able to connect and collaborate towards maximising these prospects.



Leslie Meredith, marketing director of Breakbulk Events & Media, added: Its been a long road to ensure tomorrows event is as successful as the previous four editions. We are excited for the industry to finally experience the benefits of this preparation. With a thoroughly extensive and topical agenda, highly qualified speakers, a variation of new and innovative event additions, some of the most prominent companies in the world, and major decision-makers slated to be in attendance  tomorrow will be a great step towards enriching the collective breakbulk industry. With that said, we look forward to seeing all industry leaders and experts present." - TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi here on Monday condemned the clashes in northeast Delhi over the new citizenship law and appealed for peace.

"The violence today in Delhi is disturbing & must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Calling for peace, the former Congress chief said, "I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion & understanding no matter what the provocation." The Congress had earlier alleged hate speeches by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and inaction on the part of the Delhi Police for total breakdown of law & order.

"The Delhi Police, under the Home Ministry, have failed to control law & order. BJP leaders have been openly delivering hate speeches and threats, but no action is being taken," it had said.

The statement had come after violence broke out in northeast Delhi between pro and anti-CAA activists in which one Delhi Police head constable lost his life.

The Congress alleged BJP leader Kapil Mishra made hate speeches in complicity with senior leaders. "Such comments can only be made with complicity of senior party leaders and the police," the Congress wrote on official Twitter handle.

A youth also received bullet injury. Several vehicles and a house in the vicinity were also set ablaze. Tension prevailed in the area.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party on said an annual meeting of the country's rubber-stamp parliament would be postponed amid the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, which has now seen nearly 80,000 cases confirmed globally, along with more than 2,500 deaths.



This year's annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), which sees nearly 3,000 delegates routinely nod through policies, approves budgets and confirms leadership changes decided in advance, had been scheduled for in Beijing.



But the NPC standing committee said after a meeting on that it would be "appropriate" to postpone the session because of the epidemic, state broadcaster CCTV reported.



The NPC and its sister advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) would usually see thousands of delegates from across China converge on the Great Hall of the People and other Beijing venues over a three-week period, giving ample opportunity for fresh clusters of infection.



The announcement came as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Beijing reached 400, with four deaths reported.



More than 200 medical staff at hospitals in the capital were being held under clinical isolation and observation after being suspected of contracting COVID-19, health authorities said.



Beijing municipal health commission spokesman Gao Xiaojun said one cluster involved 34 confirmed cases at Beijing's Fuxing Hospital, including medical staff, nursing staff cleaners, patients and family members of patients.



There were also confirmed cases among patients and their visiting relatives at the People's Hospital attached to Peking University, Gao said.



But Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for people to return to work as soon as possible.



"This is both a crisis and a big test for us," Xi said in comments translated by state news agency Xinhua.



Xi also called on people to return to work in an orderly manner, with each region adopting a customized approach based on the local situation, the report said.



'A second Wuhan'

Peking University graduate Wang Jiaqi said having people return to work would only help the virus to spread further.



"The epidemic is getting worse," Wang said. "Beijing could even become a second Wuhan," he said of the central Chinese city and capital of Hubei province where the outbreak first emerged, and where millions of people are still confined to their homes as the virus rages through the region.



"This disease is highly infectious, with such a high mortality rate in China," he said. "But I think more than 95 percent [of infections] were caused by the government, because the measures they took have consistently led to the virus spreading further and faster."



"I personally think this disaster is a political disaster, and it doesn't have that much to do with the epidemic itself," he said.



Chinese leaders have been widely criticized not just for seeking to shut down comments from medical workers who tried to warn the public about the virus in the early stages of the outbreak, but also for announcing a lockdown of Wuhan ahead of Lunar New Year, and then leaving enough time for an estimated five million people to leave the city.



Meanwhile, Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts announced it would cancel all performances in March.



"In order to prevent the spread of infection by reducing gatherings of people ... [we] have decided to cancel all performances and other activities from -31," the center said in a statement on its official website.



"The theater will continue to carry out comprehensive disinfection work in all areas, and work together to build a Great Wall of epidemic prevention!" it said in a statement dated Feb. 23.



The National Health Commission is currently rolling out a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment plan for COVID-19 patients, but without any obvious impact on the outcomes for those infected.



TCM for political effect



A medical worker who gave only her surname He said the move to use TCM, which was used in a bid to alleviate the symptoms of patients in the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, was likely a political move, rather than one informed by medical research.



"A large number of patients who have mild disease are being put straight onto antibiotics and proprietary TCM medicines, as well as regular antivirals, but these medicines aren't effective at all," she said.



"They even cause gastrointestinal side-effects and damage liver and kidney function," He said. "I have been worried all along that that this drug treatment regime will actually mak the milder cases into more serious cases, or worsen the more serious cases."



Sources told RFA that medical staff have been ordered to give TCM medicines to all coronavirus patients regardless of how seriously ill they are.



Anyone who doesn't comply is judged to be violating government policy and the spirit of epidemic prevention directives.



Abidol, a drug developed by the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Research Institute, has been linked to liver damage and shown to be ineffective in coronavirus cases, according to health authorities.



Commentator Lin Bin said the drive to use TCM to treat coronavirus patients comes all the way from the top, from Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi.



"The big guy is saying they need to ... promote the development of TCM, local officials don't have the medical expertise, and local health commissions are too afraid to speak out against it," Lin said.



"Nobody would dare, or [the police] will come knocking on their door for 'tea'," he said.



Repeated calls to the National Health Commission seeking comment on TCM treatment went without a response at the time of writing on.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Siu-san and Sing Man for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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These fascinating black-and-white photos show ramshackle shops, mine trenches and a ship dodging an ice berg as more than 20,000 people rushed to find their fortune in an Alaskan town 120 years ago.

An estimated 112 tonnes of the prized metal was pulled from the ground in Nome, on the frozen western tip of Alaska, during the famed Alaskan, or Klondike, 'Gold Rush'.

The window into the town, where homes, schools and banks had to be built quickly as thousands flocked to the area, has been revealed by an old photo album being sold by auctioneer Elstob & Elstob based in Bedale, North Yorkshire, Britain.

One photo allegedly shows 'the most northerly' school in America, while a second says it shows 'the most northerly railway station'. A family of eskimos was also pictured riding in a car.

Auctioneer David Elstob said: 'It is a fabulous album full of wonderful views and the photos are in a really nice condition. It is unusual for an album like this to be discovered in north Yorkshire, and there has been a lot of international interest in it already.

'The photos are full of people and activity, and it is nice that the indigenous population feature in so many of them. It is fascinating to see how a town emerged in the middle of nowhere.'

The Alaskan, or Klondike, 'Gold Rush' was triggered after gold was unearthed in the region in 1896. The chance to get rich led to more than 100,000 people emigrating to mine the frozen wastes of Alaska and the icy banks of the Klondike river, Canada.

The sale of the photos, which are expected to more than 100, takes place on February 29.

A family of Eskimos sit in a car in Nome, on the western tip of Alaska. Thousands flocked to the area during the Alaskan 'Gold Rush', lured by the chance to make a fortune

An estimated 112 tonnes of gold was pulled from the ground around the town of Nome (pictured above) during the 'Gold Rush'

Miners pictured digging for gold at Anvil Creek near Nome, Alaska. The photos have emerged in an album that has gone up for auction in Bedale, North Yorkshire, Britain

Miners and their dogs pose for a photo in front of the Keewalk Hotel. More than 20,000 people moved to the area to hunt gold

A whaling ship, called The Alexander, makes its way to Nome as it skirts around ice bergs at the Cape Prince of Wales in 1903

Three golden nuggets mined from the area and photographed for the album. They are the 'largest' found in the area

Miners dig for their fortune at a mine in Alaska in 1904. The Gold Rush peaked in the early 1900s before tailing off

Water channels pictured at a mine in Nome, Alaska. IT was operated by the pioneer mining company

A channel carries water towards a frozen mine in Sunset Creek in September 1903. A worker is also seen standing next to it

Houses in Candle City next to the Keewalk river in September 1903. Buildings shot up as thousands flocked to the area

Schoolchildren wait next to the road at Nome Kindergarten, Alaska, in 1905. Mining in the area peaked around this time

A newsagents and grocers in Nome, Alaska, pictured in the early 1900s. Miners would also travel from here to Canada

A fancy restaurant in the Alaskan town which had sprung up due to the Gold Rush. Men and children are standing outside

Pictured above is the Miners and Merchants bank of Alaska in 1905. Buildings shot up as people moved to the area

Fire engines did not exist in the town. Instead they had a cart pulled by two horses. (Nome Fire Department pictured in 1904)

The front street of St Teller, Alaska. The album is expected to fetch more than 100 during the auction happening this month

A woman and men pictured at the train station in Nome. The locomotive was used to bring mined gold back to the town

A herd of reindeer grazes on the frozen ground at the Cape Prince of Wales. It is alleged to be the largest in Alaska

Miners standing by the side of the Imnachuk river. Their activities disrupted its flow through the area

Men pictured wading through the surf to boats at the Nome port, from which gold was exported

An American-flagged ship, called the Augusta C, pictured arriving at the port in Nome, Alaska

Passengers and mail are loaded onto the SS Olympia at Home in 1904. They may have been sending messages to Britain

Eskimos pictured on an animal skin boat at Grantley Harbour, Alaska. They were also pictured riding in a car

Stacked bags by the railway contain an estimated 6,000 tonnes of coal. They were pictured in August 1905
Ghanaian architects and developers are seeing the benefits of IFCs EDGE green building certification as recognition for their projects.

Available in over 160 countries, EDGE is gaining popularity around the world, with more than nine million square meters now certified.

EDGE provides architects and developers with a free, interactive application that helps them determine the most cost-effective ways to design green within their local climate context.

Each design and building element, from the type of flooring to the cooling system, has an impact on resource intensity. The EDGE software helps determine the savings in energy, water and embodied energy in materials for a project, as well as the cost-effectiveness of design choices.

Buildings that reach the EDGE standard of 20 percent savings are eligible for certification. Verification at the design and post-construction stages are required. In Ghana, certification services are provided exclusively by thinkstep-SGS.

To date in Ghana, there are several high-caliber building projects that have achieved EDGE certification, including Atlantic Tower at the Airport City enclave, the workshop and administrative offices of Terminal 3 at Tema Port, and the Takoradi Mall. The upcoming 363-key Pullman Hotel, which is going to be the largest in the country when completed in 2021, is also aiming to achieve EDGE certification.

More developers are following the lead of early adopters. Aside from being a modern and practical choice to improve comfort for occupants and reduce utility costs over time, EDGE also provides developers a way to distinguish themselves in a crowded market.

Last month, December 4, at the EDGE-certified Atlantic Tower in Airport Square, IFC brought together stakeholders from the real estate sector to learn from those who have certified their projects with EDGE. The event also provided an opportunity for developers and building owners to showcase their certified projects.

Rebecca Menes, the Global Marketing Lead for EDGE, encouraged Ghanaian developers to certify their buildings and take advantage of the marketing potential.

Ms. Menes said, Its important for developers to ensure that they dont just build green, but that they also get credit for their achievements by certifying their properties. In this way, they will be able to best leverage visibility for their exceptional projects and enhance their sustainable brands.

Dennis Papa Odenyi Quansah, IFCs Green Building Lead for Ghana, shared the good news that the global commitment to EDGE is strong. EDGE has been supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of Switzerland, and most recently the United Kingdom (UK) Government has entered into a partnership with IFC to support EDGE.
The members of the royal family are no strangers to scandals, and their history with negative attention from the public stretches back for decades. Still, the royals had to be happy to see 2019 coming to a close as it was filled with high-profile cases that kept bringing them into the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Now theres fresh speculation that one of the people at the center of what was arguably the worst scandal for the family has faced new consequences for his actions. Has Prince Andrew lost his royal title just like Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex?

Prince Andrew is still embroiled in controversy

Prince Andrew, Duke of York | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Prince Andrew voluntarily stepped away from his official royal duties back in November of 2019. The shocking move came after months of outrage from the public as Prince Andrews past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein made its way back into the headlines.

Epstein and the Duke of York had become friends after meeting back in 1999. During their years-long friendship, the pair were spotted partying together at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago Club and at Windsor Castle.

Accusations of sexual assault surfaced against not only Epstein but also Prince Andrew himself. In 2001, Virginia Roberts claims to have had sex with Prince Andrew multiple times and to have been trafficked by Epstein for that purpose.

While those accusations rested just beneath the surface, Prince Andrew seemed to escape most of the fallout as Epstein was later convicted of prostituting minors and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Shortly following his 2010 release, Epstein was spotted with Prince Andrew in New York. Negative press from photographs of the pair together forced Prince Andrew to resign from his U.K. trade envoy role in 2011.

When he was named in legal documents in the United States, the prior allegations against him resurfaced in 2015. The scandal went without major consequences until 2019, when Epsteins apparent suicide brought renewed attention to the situation, leaving Prince Andrew named in newly surfaced documents about the past crimes.

There have been recent whispers of a potential FBI investigation, and insiders report that the queen and Prince Charles are both bracing for even more scandal.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lost their royal titles

Meanwhile, a much less crime-filled scandal unfolded when Prince Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step away from their royal duties. Citing concerns for their own privacy and well-being as a family, the pair have worked out a plan to relinquish their responsibilities  and the pay that comes with them  in favor of independent life.

Part of that deal involved the loss of their official royal titles. Prior to this exit, Prince Harry was officially His Royal Highness and Meghan was officially Her Royal Highness. While the pair remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they are no longer allowed to use the HRH titles, as they are frequently known.

Prince Andrews much darker scandal may be providing some cover for Prince Harry and Meghan to make their exit without as much chaotic news coverage as they would normally get, but they are still caught up in a media circus surrounding their decision.

Has Prince Andrew lost his HRH title?

Prince Andrew eventually stepped down from his royal duties as the Epstein scandal continued to worsen, but there was no indication that he had lost the title of His Royal Highness.

The queen has silently supported her son. Prince Andrews move to step down has been portrayed as a public relations decision since the negative attention was making it difficult for him to fulfill his roles, and many of the people and companies he had to work with did not want to be associated with him.

Now, though, there is fresh speculation that Prince Andrew may have lost his title after all. The royal familys official Instagram account posted its annual birthday announcement for the disgraced prince, and the caption left off the HRH in the message. This is notable because the title was present in the birthday post for 2018 and 2019.

Its possible that the missing title is simply an oversight, but it certainly has royal fans wondering if Prince Andrew has faced even more consequences for his scandal.
Hungarys foreign ministry recommends that people planning a visit to northern Italy should make a final decision following thorough consideration due to the coronavirus epidemic, the state secretary for communications and Hungarys international image said on Sunday.

One of the reasons for this is the health risks involved and the other is that in case the Italian authorities see a need for expanding the quarantine, nobody will be able to leave the towns, villages and areas in question until it is lifted, Tamas Menczer said.



The ministry is asking Hungarians in Italy to pay attention to warnings and obey the instructions of the local authorities, he said. The Hungarian ministry is monitoring the situation and will keep the public informed about all the relevant measures, the state secretary said.



Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport operator Budapest Airport said on Sunday that flights from northern Italy would be monitored and passengers from such flights would be scanned with heat cameras.



No passengers had high temperatures on the first two affected flights, from Treviso and Bergamo, respectively, on Sunday.



MTI Photo: Balogh Zoltan
MARQUETTE, MI  A woman who was rescued from Carp River in Marquette was trying to reach a dog that had fallen in before she fell in herself.

The woman was rescued from the river, and told first responders that her dog had fallen in and was missing, Upper Michigans Source reports. The search for the dog was unsuccessful.

Firefighters found the 51-year-old Marquette woman in chest-deep water clinging to an ice shelf in Carp River near Cliff Power Road on Sunday, Feb. 23. Rescuers used a flotation device to pull her out. She was taken to a Marquette-area hospital to be evaluated. She was later released with no injuries.

The Marquette City Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Marquette City Police, Marquette County 131, U.S. Coast Guard and Chocolay Township Fire Department.

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Combs was tapped back in December to take on the chief executive officer role of Berkshire Hathaways GEICO unit. He took over from Bill Roberts, who became vice chairman and stated that he plans to leave GEICO by the end of this year.

The current CEO is the insurers third head honcho in recent years  a revolving door of leadership that began when Tony Nicely stepped down as GEICOs CEO in 2018. Nicely had run the company for decades and was replaced by Roberts, who later told Berkshire that he would be retiring soon, according to reports from Bloomberg.

Besides picking stocks and leading GEICO, Combs has also helped with building Berkshires health-care venture with JPMorgan Chase and Amazon, while Ted Weschler, Buffetts other key investing deputy, has given Buffett a hand in negotiating key deals, such as the purchase of German motorcycle-equipment retailer Detlev Louis Motorradvertriebs GmbH.
Google appears to be making fundamental changes to its Search Engine Results Pages (SERP), at least in the EU. Thats based on a recent report from Search Engine Land. At the center of the most prominent current change, is the appearance of a new row of results featured at the top of the page. The change centers around competing businesses that list out results for a given category.

Each of those businesses is given its own custom button link to follow to exit Google and navigate to that respective site.

For example, users might search for a specific type of service, whether thats a great restaurant, plumbing, or any other service in a specific area, region, or city. These are search results that can also be found via competing sites such as Yelp. Now, those other sites are given their own links at the top of the search results. Just below that, Google lists its own local results as pulled from Maps.

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Avoidance of legal consequences in the EU may be at the heart of the SERP changes

For now, the feature has been confirmed in the UK, Belgium, Spain, Greece, and France. But it is believed that it may have already been put in place or be rolling out throughout the EU. So, the change appears to be in place in a bid to get out ahead of possible legal repercussions. Specifically, thats cases that could be brought against the company due to how it handles the presentation of competing companies.

This isnt the first case of Google attempting to fall in line with the European Commissions expectations via SERP changes in the EU either. The search giant attempted a similar approach back in 2013, although that ultimately failed. But there are several distinctions to be made between the two approaches.

In 2013, Googles solution was to explicitly call out its own corresponding services in search results. This time around, Google is putting competing sites and services ahead of its own. Those are contained in their own material design box, highlighted by their own buttons for users to follow out of Googles site.

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Is Googles change enough and could they spread to other regions?

The latest change may not be enough to hold off other legal repercussions Google is currently facing, particularly where data collection is concerned. The company has faced increasing scrutiny for its collection and, more importantly, for how it uses that data. In the US, for example, Google is facing allegations from New Mexicos state attorney general that it is collecting student data for users under the age of 13.

However, the change may be enough to hold off legal challenges by the European Commission where relevant. The company isnt simply seeking to disclose which results will directly benefit its own business. This time around its giving other companies space above its own results, making those the first results a user sees.

The changes seem specifically geared toward holding off lawsuits from the EU. So that appears to be the only region its launching in for now.
The platform of the ruling party's nominee for Paris mayor, Agnes Buzyn, "appeals to the right", according to Cedric Villani, the dissident candidate who will be running against his former party in the race to the Hotel de Ville.

Villani was excluded from President Emmanuel Macron's LaREM party after refusing to back the previous candidate Benjamin Griveaux, who was forced to withdraw in disgrace over a leaked sex video.

When Buzyn revealed her platform to the Journal du Dimanche on Sunday, three weeks before the first round of voting on 15 March, Villani was quick to go on the offensive.

He slammed his rival's programme, saying her priorities were short-sighted and identical to those of conservative candidate Rachida Dati.

"I see a platform that focuses on safety and cleanliness  it obviously appeals to the right," said the mathematician and MP, who defines himself as "neither right nor left".

He dismissed the two themes as obligatory. Indeed, they feature in his own platform, which plans for a municipal police force and advances in artificial intelligence to help clean the streets.

'Paris of the future'

But the real question is, what are we going to do about it? he asked. "Yes, we need to fix the Paris of today. We have to maintain a high level of security and cleanliness. But we also have to prepare the Paris of tomorrow, a Paris that will be greener, more democratic, a Paris focused on education and knowledge, he said, assuring that he was the sole candidate with his eye on the future.

Incumbent socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo found common ground with Villani, criticising the conservatism of the ruling centrist party's candidate.

She added that both Buzyn and Dati failed to address the climate emergency, recalling her efforts to cut pollution by reducing vehicles in Paris and underlining future plans to plant 170,000 trees in the capital in the coming years.

The latest Ifop-Fiducial poll, published on Sunday, gives Hidalgo a 2-point lead in the first round of voting, with 24 percent. Rachida Dati sits second ahead of Buzyn, with the Greens candidate David Belliard further afield.

Despite polls systematically placing him fifth behind the rest of the candidates, Villani insists he has his eyes set on victory in the elections, which conclude on 22 March.
The information is preliminary; further checks and updates are necessary to be sure that it works, the Chinese ambassador to Russia said

Chinese scientists have developed a vaccine, which, preliminarily, proved efficient against the coronavirus. China's ambassador in Russia Zhang Hanhui said so as quoted by Interfax.

"The vaccine has already been developed in China; it shows the immunity ['s capability to fight the virus]. But that's just preliminary; one needs further checks and developments", the diplomat said.

He also claimed that the effective medication against coronavirus was found.

"The practice shows that Chinese drugs are effective. There hasn't been a single case of complication, as long as the medicine is taken. The overall effectiveness rate of Chinese medications exceeds 85 percent [of all cases], in some areas it exceeds 90", the Chinese diplomat said.

The official claimed that an old medication against the disease, chloroquine phosphate, was found in China. "We've been using it against malaria", he said.

"There's also an old Soviet-made drug. So far, two kinds of medications are considered more effective. The most effective ones are the European medicine combined with the Chinese", he said.

Besides, Zhang Hanhui denied any allegations that the origins of the coronavirus are artificial ones. "Perhaps, it's a SARS virus that originated from the wild animals", he said.

The ambassador added that they still search for the source of the virus; there's a version, according to which the host was a bat, but it's yet to be checked and confirmed.
Despite having established its earn-and-learn apprenticeship program in the United States several years ago, insurer Zurich North America for the first time hosted an Apprenticeship Week Summit for high school students last fall.

With a goal of attracting 85 high school students, Zurich held the event in Chicago in November 2019 as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Far exceeding expectations, the summit ultimately brought in 115 high school students, accompanied by their high school counselors, career advisers and teachers, according to Al Crook, Zurichs Head of Human Resources Business Partners and Executive Sponsor of Zurichs Apprenticeship Program.

In another first, we attracted students from high schools in the city of Chicago, in addition to the suburbs surrounding our headquarters in the northwest suburb of Schaumburg, which have produced some of our apprentices over the past three years, Crook said in an email to Insurance Journal.

Crook said the apprenticeship summit was well received by attendees. He shared feedback from a High School District 211 career counselor who commented in an email after the event, saying: Thank you, again, so much for inviting us to the Apprenticeship Summit today. I am overwhelmed by all of the positive comments that I have received from staff members, career advisors and students. Everyone had nothing but amazing things to say about every presentation, panel, breakout session and interaction with the Zurich employees. I have never seen so many young people genuinely excited about career opportunities in insurance in my life; it is all they could talk about on the ride back to school.

Zurich partnered in 2015 with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Ill., to create its U.S. apprenticeship program, which is basically a work/study program where students work on a two-year business administration degree while being employed at the insurer. Upon graduation, participants receive a Certified Insurance Apprentice designation through the Department of Labors ApprenticeshipUSA initiative.

Zurich NAs parent company, Zurich Insurance Group, has long had an apprenticeship program in Switzerland, where the group is headquartered.

I had heard of apprenticeship programs for individuals in the trades, but not for individuals in a corporate environment. I knew right away this was the right opportunity for me.  After the first week, I could see that the Apprenticeship Program was designed for me to succeed. Justin Williams  Zurich Construction property underwriter assistant and apprentice graduate Before the apprentice program, I worked full time and went to school at night and on weekends. The program allowed me to spend more time with my son while giving me the foundation to build my career. It also gave me the opportunity to participate in a project where I earned an Impact Award. Im beyond grateful. Noelia Salgado  Zurich international service specialist and apprentice graduate Zurichs Apprentice Program gave me exposure to an industry that I never would have explored otherwise. Dane Lyons  Zurich underwriting services specialist, apprentice graduate, Navy veteran, and an apprentice alumni adviser The cyber apprenticeship has allowed me to develop a new set of in-demand skills and real-life experience that I would not be able to generate by solely attaining a degree. David Jaeger  Zurich cyber apprentice

The number of apprentices chosen to participate in Zurichs U.S. program varies from year to year, depending on the needs of its business units, Crook said.

Since its inception, Zurich has hired a total of 85 apprentices and has a goal of reaching 100 by the end of 2020. He said the company is on target to meet that target.

High school students arent the only participants. Others include military personnel who are transitioning out of service, people who want to move from job to career and people wanting to re-enter the work force after a hiatus. Applicants must apply and be accepted to Harper College, our educational partner in the program, which means satisfying the college-ready requirements in English and math based on either college entrance exam scores or placement tests that Harper administers, Crook said.

Candidates also are assessed for competencies that include initiative and accountability, as well as collaboration and teamwork, he added.

In an interview with Insurance Journal in early 2018, Crook described the program as an earn-and-learn model. The apprentices are in the Zurich offices for three days of the week and they go to Harper College for two days of the week.

Hired as full-time employees, they receive the same benefits as other Zurich employees. Through the program, apprentices also are exposed to all the functions and units within the company.

The U.S. programs retention rate now exceeds 83%, Crook said. Upon completing the apprenticeship and earning their associates degree, apprentices are immediately promoted one level and remain in the area of their final rotation for one year. After that, they are eligible to apply for other posted positions within Zurich.

Zurich employees who have completed a year of full-time employment are eligible for tuition reimbursement benefits if they wish to continue their education.

For instance, Noelia Salgado who was an apprentice in our first cohort in 2016, was promoted when she graduated from the program and has since been promoted again to international service specialist. She also chose to continue her college studies after earning her associates degree at Harper College. She is on track to receive her bachelors degree from Loyola University, Crook said.

The companys vision was to create a program that was not only viable for Zurichs commercial insurance business but was also flexible, scalable and sharable, he said. This would allow us to grow apprentices within our company, across our industry and within the regions that we work. Our success is not simply measured internally, but also includes the leverage we can gain by supporting the apprentice movement.

Crook said the company evaluates the program on an ongoing basis, assessing both the carriers needs and workforce trends. The insurer also is looking at expanding the program beyond the Chicagoland area.

Apprenticeships are an innovative, win-win way to address labor shortages and barriers to professional advancement, he said. Zurichs Apprenticeship Program proves that exciting careers are not only predicated on a four-year college degree.
Freshly brewing friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Donald Trump is a class act TBH. Both love media attention when they're proclaiming their love for each other, and both have a way to navigate their best pleasantries forward. This is called the new-age 'bromance' ladies and gentleman!

We have two charismatic country leaders displaying their sublime form of friendship, you will ever witness between two grown men.

 Twitter

But let's understand the chronology behind Trump and Modi's memorable bromance that's been a big hit the moment Trump set foot on the Indian soil, or even when Modi was greeted with a big 'Howdy' back in Texas.

The first time the two met as the leaders of two of the largest democracies of the world was in June 2017, when Modi visited Washington and Trump claimed that ties between Delhi and Washington have never been stronger. After pleasantries were exchanged, their meeting commenced and both Modi and Trump bestowed each other with some rather valuable memorabilias to strengthen their bond. After which, their subtle and unsubtle ways of greeting each other havent really been a hidden spectacle.

 Twitter

Modi's infamous bear hug though is a standing testimony of archaic bromance behavior. The last time he met Trump, he made sure to divulge in an adequate amount of PDA, just enough to make Trump rather uncomfortable at first and then act like he was born to hug Modi. Here, take a look!

Here's Modi, creeping up with his slow Cheetah like approach.

 Twitter

Then he catches hold of Trump's hand, almost in a strong handshake grip, to probably draw him close. You can see by now how awkward Trump really is.

 Twitter

He finally hugs the US president like a koala stuck to a Eucalyptus tree, with his head buried in his chest, with zero inhibitions and staunch Gujarati hospitality vibe, while oozing a boatload of confidence.

 Twitter

Trump finally gives in and although their eyes still don't meet, we can assure you, bro code was understood and achieved and established quite successfully that day between the two leaders.

 Twitter

Isn't this just a lovely beginning to a lifelong friendship? We sealed the deal with that very question as soon as Trump arrived in India on February 24. First off, the two brothers from different mothers, were busy chit-chatting on Twitter about Trump's respective itinerary, where Trump was disclosing his travel plans to Modi.

Later on, the successful Modi hug happened, which Trump gladly received as soon as he landed in Ahmedabad.

 Twitter

We believe bromance is strongest when two boys absolutely hit it off and create a rampage out of their newly found friendship. But it also exists in men of particular age, like the ones who went to college together, or the ones who grew up in a neighborhood together, or the ones, who run democratic countries and surprisingly propagate the same ideologies and philosophies and show immense public display of friendship.

Here are four things you can learn from Modi-Trump bromance -

(1) Hugs Go A Long Way

If you see your friend once a year then make sure to give him that big hug he truly deserves. Hold him close, bury your head in his chest and close your eyes and absolutely feel the thrill of hugging a real friend.

 Twitter

(2) Acknowledge Each Other On Social Media Often

Sometimes when you're about to meet your friend from a far away land, you can post on Twitter about it and tell him how you're looking forward to seeing him. It definitely strengthens the bond further.

(3) Sharing Similar Aspirations & Dreams

If you're really close with someone, especially a friend, it's inevitable not to have the same aspirations and things you want to see for each other's future, which could tangibly lie on the same lines. For instance, PM Modi Tweeted what Trump and he share in common and that's the kind of bromance that will really go a long way.

There is so much that we share:



Shared Values & Ideals



Shared Spirit of Enterprise & Innovation



Shared Opportunities & Challenges



Shared Hopes & Aspirations: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 24, 2020

(4) Hatred For Similar Things



Well in this case, both have a hatred for radical Islamist terrorism but you can obviously define your dislikes differently. Maybe learn to love and accept most things except maybe Mondays and boring documentaries?

Trump Rocking: The United States & India are firmly united in our iron-clad resolve to defend our citizens from the threat of #RadicalIslamicTerrorism



Both of our countries have been hurt by the pain & turmoil of terrorism & that terrorism brings#MoteraStadium #TrumpInIndia pic.twitter.com/UwCHQhkY25  Sandeep Kumar Shivhare (@SKS_Shivhare) February 24, 2020

What Trump and PM Modi share is a testimony for strong brethren sort of bromance, the kind that can last a long time with an eventful future if you consciously take care of minute things. And if you already have that with your best brother, no matter how old you two are, maybe you can strengthen it further, just like how Trump and Modi are doing so right now.






A Prattville man pleaded guilty last week in connection to a scheme to sell cars he did not own.

Robert Brandon Malone, 35, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of wire fraud and one count of transporting a stolen vehicle.

Malone was motivated by greed and arrogance, stated U.S. Attorney Louis Franklin. He carried out his schemes with no apparent fear of being caught and held accountable. However, thanks to our law enforcement partners, his victims will get the justice they deserve. This case is a stark reminder that we must always be vigilant and exercise caution when making purchases through online websites such as these.

Court records show that in April 2017, Malone posted a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck for sale on Craigslist. The truck was actually a trade-in vehicle to the dealership where Malone worked at the time. He was contacted by a potential buyer and represented he was the owner. The buyer made the purchase but returned the vehicle after learning Malone did not own the truck. The buyer did not receive his money back.

In January 2018, Malone was working on a Chevrolet C-10 pickup for someone and was storing it at his shop. Once again, he created a Craigslist post listing it for sale. A buyer contacted Malone and arranged a trade for another vehicle. The buyer later learned Malone did not own the truck and returned it to its rightful owner. The trade-in vehicle was not returned, officials said.

The third incident occurred in November 2018. Malone went to a car dealership in Georgia and was in the process of completing paperwork to purchase an Audi R8. Before the purchase was complete, however, Malone drove the vehicle off the lot and back to Prattville, where he contacted someone who was in the market for the vehicle. The purchaser gave him a down payment and left his F-150 with Malone to hold until he could pick it up. Malone then listed the truck on Instagram and sold it to another individual. The Audi was later returned to the dealership and the truck to the Audi owner but neither victim recovered their losses.

Malone faces up to 20 years in prison as well as fines and restitution. His sentencing hearing will take place in the next few months.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano criticized politicians who he said just want to court the favor of ABS-CBN amid its franchise woes.

Cayetano said he did not see any sense in conducting Monday's hearing at the Senate on the television networks franchise, which will end on May,

Parang nag-a-attendance ngayon lahat ng gustong sumipsip sa ABS-CBN, di ba?, Cayetano told reporters.

[Translation: It seemed that those who attended were those who want to ingratiate themselves with ABS-CBN, right?]

The Senate Committee on Public Services investigated the alleged violations of the company and its compliance with the terms and conditions stated under Republic Act No. 7966.

Cayetano questioned the move of the Senate as the discussion on the networks franchise renewal should start at the House of Representatives.

Bakit nag-hearing ang Senate? Anong purpose? Parang nag-aattendance e. Sa ABS, hello. Im here. Im for you. Kasi sabi nila, its not for the franchise kasi hindi pa sila pwede mag-hearing sa franchise, nandito pa. So, whats it for?, said the Speaker.

[Translation: Why did the Senate conducted hearing? For what purpose? It seemed that those who attended were like, Hello, ABS, Im here for you. Because they said that its not for the franchise, because they cannot conduct yet a hearing since the matter is still in the House. So whats it for?]

He added, There's no question, yung iba nagmamalasakit lang, there's no question there are solid supporters of ABS but yung iba OA (over acting) na eh, di ba? . We want ABS to get or not get their franchise based on the merits and we can only go to the merits if we have a sober discussion through a committee hearing.

[Translation: Theres no question, there are those who symphatize and those who are solid supporters of ABS, but the others are over acting already.... We want ABS to get or not get their franchise based on the merits and we can only go to the merits if we have a sober discussion through a committee hearing.]

However, Cayetano reiterated that the House will discuss the issue but it's not considered urgent as of this time.

We've said from the start that the reason why we think it's important but not urgent dahil hindi naman tayo papayag that there will be a single minute na hindi nagbo-broadcast ang ABS-CBN, ang problema maraming gustong umepal, maraming gustong maging part ng solution, he said.

[Translation: We've said from the start that the reason why we think it's important but not urgent. Because we will not allow that there will be a single minute that ABS-CBN will not broadcast. Yet, the problem is there are many who want to interfere in the issue, there are many who wanted to be part of the solution.]

The ABS-CBN has 11,000 jobs but the CITIRA produced 1.5-million jobs, di ba (right?)?.

The Speaker assured a more organized hearing in the House.

There are at least 11 bills filed at the House aiming for the franchise renewal. House Committee on Legislative Franchises chair Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez earlier said that the panel is planning to conduct hearings on the bills filed either in May or August.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: President Xi Jinping on Sunday admitted the novel coronavirus outbreak is the largest public health emergency since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, as the toll crossed 2,400 and the infection count crept towards 77,000. This is both a crisis and a big test for us, news service Xinhua reported Xi as saying while giving a pep talk to the Communist Party of China.

Xi acknowledged that the epidemic will inevitably have a large impact on the economy, but added the effects will be short-term and controllable. Telescoping Xis concern, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned that the outbreak could put an already fragile global economic recovery at risk. The projected recovery... is fragile, she said in Riyadh.

While China has sought global assistance, it is yet to let a plane load of Indian relief material to fly in. Instead, it nudged India to resume bilateral trade and movement of people. India, however, clarified that restrictions were imposed on export of certain medical equipment due to their of their short supply at home.The push came on a day when aviation regulator DGCA ordered screening of incoming passengers from four more countries  Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia  adding to the current hotlist of China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore.

ALSO READ | Anger and desperation as Italy prepares to isolate 11 virus-hit towns

Iran big hotspot

Iran on Sunday confirmed eight deaths, the highest toll of any country outside China. Pakistan declared medical emergency and shut its Iran border

S Korea, Italy

South Korea raised alert to its highest level after the number of infections nearly tripled. Italy, too, weighed options and asked people in over 10 towns near Milan to stay at home.

ALSO READ | Coronavirus puts South Korea on highest alert
By Rasana Gasimova

Head of the Italian financial and banking association Cassa Depositi Prestiti SpA (CDP) has urged increasing mutual investments between Azerbaijan and Italy to remove trade imbalance between the two countries.

Addressing the meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and representatives of major Italian companies held in Rome on February 20, Giovanni Gorno Tempini said that Italys export to Azerbaijan is less than 500 million while the trade turnover between the two countries was $6bn in 2019.

Italy is Azerbaijans number one foreign trade partner. Azerbaijan is one of Italys three main energy resources suppliers and the implementation of the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP) project will raise our cooperation to a new level. Our mutual trade turnover in 2019 amounted to almost 6 billion, he said.

He emphasized that within the framework of economic diversification, Azerbaijan focuses on the development of agriculture, eco-friendly transport and energy sector modernization.

Italian companies are ready to contribute to this goal. In addition, CDP, as a sovereign investment fund, offers many joint investment opportunities for companies interested in Azerbaijan, Tempini added.

Note that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Italy increased by 10.5 percent year-on-year between January and September.

Italy has so far invested $770 million in Azerbaijans economy, and Azerbaijan has invested $1.7 billion in the Italian economy.

The economic partnership between the two countries is primarily based on the energy sector and Azerbaijan is one of Italy's major oil suppliers. Azerbaijan exports mainly oil and oil products to Italy, as well as chemical industry products, while Italy supplies products, light and food industry products to Azerbaijan.

SOCAR has supplied 15.9 million tons of crude oil, 189,000 tons of oil products and 43,700 tons of petrochemical products to Italy over the last two years.

Italy is one of Azerbaijans main trade partners and some 113 Italian companies operating in various fields are registered in Azerbaijan.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A desperate search is underway for a missing man days after he posted a video of himself scaling Britains tallest mountain.

Tomas Gafrik, from Slovakia, was last heard from on Thursday when he shared a short film of himself on social media as he passed the halfway mark on Ben Nevis in the Scottish highlands.

Some 40 rescuers have been working round the clock to find Mr Gafrik after they were alerted to his disappearance on Sunday morning.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) said 27 of its own members, accompanied by a helicopter and 12 volunteers from other groups, had launched a major effort to locate him before strong winds and snow sweep the area.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, LMRT pointed to Mondays forecast of 50-80mph winds with extensive heavy snow, which it acknowledged would make search around the mountains summits extremely difficult.

The group also offered a glimmer of hope, saying Mr Gafriks intention had been to visit nearby fjords after his Ben Nevis climb.
Drugs are flowing into the country as our borders cant be properly patrolled. It is one of the myriad ways we are suffering due to the under-resourced Defence Forces, writes Defence Correspondent Sean ORiordan

The Defence Forces have often been described as the Swiss army knife of government, because they were so highly trained and capable of turning their hand to anything, especially in an emergency.

However, successive governments have so ignored them that many of the knifes arms have either broken off or are rusting away.

This crisis is everybodys business, because it affects the public in so many ways.

People may say we dont need an army, naval service, or air corps because we are not a warring nation. Old enemies are now friends and it doesnt look like anybodys going to invade us anytime soon.

We wouldnt want to be at war with fewer than 8,600 trained men and women (minimum strength agreed by all political parties should be around 1,000 more and some experts estimate it should be 10,500).

The Defence Forces, the insurance policy for the State, is in danger of being downgraded from comprehensive to third-party status.

Ireland has the lowest percentage of GDP (gross domestic product) spend of any EU state on defence. At 0.3%, we are even lower than Luxembourg (0.4%) and Malta at (0.6%.) By contrast, Estonia is at 2.4% and its 2.1% in Greece.

This low spending, especially on personnel, has directly led to the manpower crisis.

Currently, the naval service has a third of its fleet out of action and the air corps is haemorrhaging vital technicians who keep our aircraft flying.

Irelands foreign direct investment-focused economy is based on a secure, stable nation where civil society flourishes.

Therefore, Ireland needs a military that can defend Ireland against the modern threats of hybrid warfare, industrial espionage, international terrorism, and cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, while securing our maritime and air resources.

So, what do the Defence Forces do for the ordinary people? Well, for starters, the naval service is tasked with protecting our maritime resources, such as oil, gas, and fish.

On top of that it has a vital role in intercepting drug shipments.

As Independent TD and former Irish Army officer Cathal Berry recently put it, the country is awash with drugs and 99% of them come into this island via the sea.

ABANDON SHIP

International drug dealers watch the media. They know the naval service is overstretched, manpower-wise and with a third of its ships out of operation.

There is no doubt they have their own spies based in Ireland who will monitor the movement of ships in and out of the naval base at Haulbowline Island in Cork harbour.

Huge drug shipments have been intercepted by the naval service before. The last big one was in 2018 when its personnel seized 500kg of cocaine from a yacht.

In 2008, during Operation Seabight, the navy seized 750m worth of cocaine off the coast of Cork  the largest in the States history.

Berry said where there are drugs, there come guns and murders between rival gangland factions.

On top of that there is the misery experienced by addicts, which not only takes a massive toll on them but also their families.

So, less Naval Service patrols are likely to lead to more drug importation and more misery all round.

The cost to the State from this is far more than it would be to properly resource the naval service and, indeed, the gardai.

Also, the naval service is involved in many search/rescue and recovery operations every year. A vital part of that component is the naval diving section.

It has a current strength of six out of an establishment (minimum acknowledged level) of 27, and has had to pull in divers from other units to conduct operations, said Commandant Conor King, general secretary of Raco (the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers).

He said there were fears the tying up of a further ship could be imminent, given the safety concerns due to the lack of suitably qualified and experienced personnel.

When LE Roisin comes out of a mid-life refit, LE Niamh is due in for a similar maintenance, so there will be no net gain.

As the retention crisis continues to bite, military management may be faced with having to mothball another vessel and the ageing LE Ciara would seem the most likely one to be tied up.

Despite many warnings in recent years, numbers continue to drop in the naval service with a net loss of over 50 personnel in 2019, despite a recruitment drive.

Raco has constantly warned that the failure to retain suitably qualified and experienced personnel as a result of inferior conditions of service is having a detrimental impact on the morale, welfare and safety of our personnel, and it is clear that they are voting with their feet, said Comdt King.

It is apparent now that this failure is beginning to impact on operations, which can only have a significant consequence for our ability to carry out our key roles as laid out by government.

Berry said millions of euro had been spent on providing the saval service with new ships, which was all very well, but there was no point purchasing such equipment when you dont have the trained people to operate it.

And the reason theyre abandoned ship is simple  theyre not being properly paid.

FLYING LOW

Irish Aer Corps Westland Augusta helicopter lifts off from Bishopstown GAA pitch after transferring a patient to an emergency ambulance for transfer to CUH. Picture: Larry Cummins

The air corps also plays a vital role in aerial surveillance of suspicious vessels, be they suspected of carrying drugs or fishing illegally.

However, as one naval officer pointed out, planes and drones can do surveillance, but you still need somebody to board a ship and thats where the navy comes in.

The air corps also operates the emergency aeromedical service (EAS) helicopter, based in Athlone, which has kept many a critically ill person alive.

However, last November, due to a chronic shortage of trained pilots, the air corps was forced to reduce the number of hours it could operate the service.

It confirmed that, as a result, it would be unable to man the helicopter for four days per month up until the start of March.

Defence Forces sources said it was planned to accelerate pilot training to ensure there are more personnel qualified to fly the helicopter.

But this presumes that the current exodus of experienced air corps pilots will cease to allow this increase in capacity. With the pilots being refused basic allowances for flying these dangerous missions, more retirements due to frustration and better employment prospects elsewhere are surely imminent.

The Defence Forces press office training of new personnel is progressing in line with expectations.

In a statement it said:

The (EAS) matter is under continuous review, with a view to the service resuming in March.

The air corps also provides maintenance and the pilots to fly the Garda air support unit.

Three officers and 22 enlisted personnel left the air corps between July 4 and November 20, 2019. Of the 22 enlisted staff who left, 13 were highly trained technicians.

Meanwhile, theres a shortage of army bomb-disposal officers, who are stretched to their limit trying to deal with call-outs from An Garda Siochana to make safe improvised explosive devices, which are commonly used in criminal feuds.

Despite their depleted numbers, the Defence Forces continue to carry out a huge amount of operations.

Last year, the army conducted nearly 200 operations in support of the gardai. These included bomb-disposal call-outs, prisoner escorts, cash escorts, and search operations.

A further 2,614 personnel were deployed on security operations for the visits of US president Donald Trump and US vice-president Mike Pence, receiving a fraction of the pay that their Garda colleagues were given for those operations.

The naval service carried out 780 boarding operations and detained 12 vessels for alleged infringements of fishing regulations.

Meanwhile, its diving section was deployed for 26 operations, including four separate search-and-recovery operations.

The air corps conducted in excess of 130 maritime surveillance-patrol flights and completed 233 life-saving EAS missions, supporting the HSE in providing a medical service for seriously ill patients in isolated rural communities.

Its crews provided 32 inter-hospital air-ambulance service supports to the HSE in response to time-critical medical emergencies, of which 20 required patient delivery to Britain or mainland Europe.

THE THIN GREEN LINE

When theres a national emergency, such as severe snow or flooding, who gets called out to deal with the clean-up? The Defence Forces.

If theres an ambulance strike, who steps into the breach? If the prison officers take industrial action, who takes over the security in the jails? The Defence Forces, of course.

Add to that their commitment to overseas peacekeeping missions, flying the flag abroad on our behalf.

The Defence Forces have the longest unbroken record of overseas service with the United Nations of any country in the world since first deploying to a UN mission in 1958.

They are Irelands largest and most visible physical manifestation of foreign policy. An auxiliary diplomatic corps, so to speak.

On average around 600 troops are required at any one time to fulfil overseas operations, whether under the auspices of the UN or the EU.

The bulk of the troops are on UN missions in Lebanon and Syria. In addition, there are troops in Mali, including members of the elite army ranger wing.

Defence Forces personnel are also present, in lesser numbers, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Western Sahara, Kosovo, and on the Golan Heights.

Staff officers are also serving at UN and EU headquarters in New York and Brussels.

The thin green line is stretched, very stretched.

BRAIN DRAIN

Dr Cathal Berry is now an independent TD. He is also a former second-in-command of the Irish Army Ranger Wing.

Berry said the crux of the matter is retention, rather than recruitment.

Raco, and its sister organisation PDforra, which represents enlisted personnel, have repeatedly said there is no way the Defence Forces can recruit their way out of the current crisis.

Around 15m is spent on recruitment annually.

We should reduce that by half and use the money to pay the people we have. They are fit and able and they want to stay, but their pay is so abysmal they are walking out to other jobs, said Berry.

He pointed out that the training of recruits is putting massive pressure on trainers and instructors, who are burning themselves out.

Trying to replace experienced people with the inexperienced is a recipe for disaster.

It can take years to train some people properly and Raco has warned that the brain drain is going to lead to accidents and the possibility of people getting killed.

A climate survey on the Defence Forces, conducted by University of Limerick researchers, identified the dysfunctional cycle of turnover that was leading to a lack of mentoring and supervision, impacting on morale and work/life balance, damaging governance, and increasing risk.

PAYING TIME

Indeed, the Public Service Pay Commission conducted its own research and came to the conclusion that the Defence Forces is at a critical juncture.

It said that without immediate and substantial intervention in respect of pay, allowances, and pension entitlements, the organisation may, within a short time, face major difficulties in maintaining its personnel and carrying out its mandate.

The fact the commission made no recommendations on pay or pension entitlements clearly shows its inadequacy in halting the retention crisis affecting the Defence Forces.

Its chief of Staff, vice-admiral Mark Mellett, DSM (distinguished service medal), has gone on record numerous times as saying that pay is the number one issue in his organisation, and that, in a healthy organisation, it should be number three or four.

Vice-admiral Mellett also recently went on record as stating that retention is one of our biggest risks at the moment.

Last year, the Defence Forces inducted 600 recruits, but it lost a record 850 personnel.

While some had reached retirement age, the vast majority chose to leave before they had to, in order to pursue better paid jobs in the private sector.

So determined were they to get out some even paid up to 20,000 for their discharge.

Service personnel who have acquired technical training from the Defence Forces are required to pay a penalty if they leave before fulfilling a certain number of years of a contract.

Meanwhile, gaps cant be plugged effectively because the Reserve Defence Forces has also been run down.

The minimum strength of the Reserves is supposed to be 4,069, but it is currently under 2,000  and they are even more poorly paid than the regulars.

Earlier this year Paul Kehoe, the junior minister with responsibility for defence, announced that he had approved increasing their remuneration for training days.

Experts have warned that the absence of any meaningful employment protection legislation for the Reserves to protect the employee and their parent organisation means the Reserve Defence Forces can never be properly utilised.

SKILL SHORTAGES

PDforra, which represents 6,800 enlisted personnel, has consistently warned that skilled technicians are leaving in droves, across all arms of the Defence Forces.

One electrician section within the naval service is only operating at 5% of its designated manpower strength.

While the government failed to provide any pay increases to the Defence Forces (the lowest-paid of all public servants) in the Public Service Pay Commission review last year, it did provide them with a 10m increase in allowances. But this only brought them back to the rates they were at prior to the recession.

Leo Varadkar, now the acting taoiseach, promised at the time to look at possible increases for highly qualified technicians and commissioned a special report on the matter.

Both Defence Forces representative associations were informed that the report on this review would be published on October 4 last year.

On Friday, January 31, Varadkar told the Irish Examiner he hoped to publish it before the general election on February 8.

That promise, from the man who is in fact the senior defence minister, didnt materialise either.

To add insult to injury, troops have been waiting for allowances they should have been paid months ago while serving in the Lebanon.

As some of them say You cant eat medals. Theyve families to feed, clothe, and try and keep a roof over the heads.

A survey carried out by Raco revealed that 79% of officers who had joined up from 2013 onwards were saying they planned to quit the military before the age of retirement, due to inadequate pension provisions compared to the wider public service, which fail to compensate for forced early retirement.

The majority said they felt they had no long-term future in the Defence Forces.

Many private companies are actively headhunting experienced military personnel for their punctuality, reliability, technical, and managerial skills and loyalty.

The government knows the loyalty of the men and women of Oglaigh na hEireann. They will not strike under any circumstances.

But the patience of soldiers, sailors, and aircrews is now running very thin and they believe theyre being taken advantage of because of this loyalty.

Many arent holding their breath for pay increases and are getting out. It is a form of permanent industrial action, from which there is no return.
NASA and the aerospace world are mourning the death today of Katherine Johnson, one of the pioneering black women in the space program who became known as hidden figures for their early and uncelebrated mathematical contributions to space travel. She was 101.

Johnson was born in White Sulpher Springs, W. Va., in 1918 and shone in mathematics early in school. By 13, she was attending high school on the campus of a traditionally black university. At 18, she enrolled in West Virginia State College itself and went on to earn a PhD in math.

In 1952, Johnson joined an all-black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACAs) Langley Laboratory. The 1957 Sputnik launch by Russia changed her life. Johnson had provided math for Notes on Space Technology, a collection formed by NACA engineers who became part of NASA when that agency was formed in 1958. Johnson came with them and joined the new space agency, too.

Johnson would do the trajectory analysis for Americas first human space flight by astronaut Alan Shepard in 1961. She and a male engineer, Ted Skopinksi, coauthored Determination of Azimuth Angle at Burnout for Place a Satellite Over a Selected Earth Position, a report on the equations for an orbital spaceflight with a landing site target. It was the first time a woman in NASAs Flight Research Division received credit for authoring a research report.

Katherine Johnson shares some smiles with astronaut Leland Melvin.

In 1962, Johnson began the work for which she is most known. John Glenn was preparing for his orbital flight and was reluctant to trust the new computers calculation of his orbital trajectory. Get the girl to check the computers math, Glenn told engineers. Johnson herself remembered Glenn saying, If she says theyre good, then Im ready to go.

Johnson would cite her calculations on syncing the Apollo Lunar Model with the orbiting Command and Service Module as her greatest contribution. She would author or coauthor 26 research reports before retiring in 1986 from Langley. She was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and played by Taraji P. Henson in the movie Hidden Figures about NASAs black women pioneers.

NASA is deeply saddened by the loss of a leader from our pioneering days, and we send our deepest condolences to the family of Katherine Johnson, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said today. Ms. Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space. Her dedication and skill as a mathematician helped put humans on the moon and before that made it possible for our astronauts to take the first steps in space that we now follow on a journey to Mars. Her Presidential Medal of Freedom was a well-deserved recognition.

At NASA we will never forget her courage and leadership and the milestones we could not have reached without her, Bridenstine said. We will continue building on her legacy and work tirelessly to increase opportunities for everyone who has something to contribute toward the ongoing work of raising the bar of human potential
The deputy head of China's embassy in Australia, Wang Xining, has appeared on the ABC's Q+A program to defend the Chinese goverment's handling of the coronavirus outbreak and its domestic policies, claiming most Western media criticism of China misleadingly focused on isolated "pieces out of a big jigsaw".

In a rare television appearance, the senior embassy official stuck to the Chinese government's line, describing detention facilities in which more than a million Uighurs are held in the Chinese province of Xinjiang as "training camps" and claiming that Western media crews are free to go to the region to investigate.

Wang Xining, Deputy of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, speaks to the media about the coronavirus in Canberra in February 2020. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

But Mr Wang, whose decision to go on Q+A forms part of China's increasing efforts to counter criticism in Australia, made one clear misstep on the program.

Asked by a Chinese-Australian woman whose father had died from cancer the previous night if the Chinese government was taking steps to ensure she could safely return home to spend time with her family, Mr Wang assumed she was talking about visa issues linked to dissident political opinions.
On Wednesday, February 19th, Doug Matthews Classic Fighters of America rolled out their freshly-restored North American F-86F-30 Sabre (52-5116) into the Florida sunshine for the first time following its arduous, decade-long restoration effort. We have been following this project for some time now, and it is clear that the workmanship is of a very high calibre. Classic Fighters had hoped to have the Sabre flying by January, but they shouldnt miss this target by much. When asked for a comment about how things are progressing, Doug Matthews responded wryly, Getting close! Engine runs next month!

Every system in the aircraft has been thoroughly overhauled or newly-fabricated, and the entire wiring system is brand new. According to the restoration shop, Also featured are faux .50 caliber machine guns, a modern ejection seat and an all glass/Garmin instrument panel, topped off with a special treatment paint scheme taking three months to complete.

This particular aircraft served in the U.S. Air Force initially, before reconditioning for service in Argentina. It joined the Argentine Air Force as C-119 in November, 1960, and flew with that nation until its retirement in 1986. Around 1989, Rick Sharpe brought her back to the USA. She passed through a number of owners in the interim, including the Commemorative Air Force (her last owner), before Doug Matthews acquired the fighter in 2013. In seeking a suitable F-86 for this project, Matthews was keen to find an example similar to the one he already flies, F-86F 53-1201, which wears the livery of the famed Skyblazers aerial demonstration, forerunner to todays USAF Thunderbirds.

Matthews has had the aircraft painted to resemble F-86F 51-2910 BEAUTEOUS BUTCH II, one of the Sabres which famed jet-ace Captain Joseph McConnell flew from Suwon Air Base during the Korean War with the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. McConnell is credited with shooting down sixteen MiG-15 jet fighters during the conflict, while damaging an additional five examples.

Captain McConnell is Americas highest-scoring jet ace, but interestingly, he started out as a navigator on B-24 Liberator bombers during WWII, flying on sixty combat missions. He stayed in the military after following the Allied victory though, and pursued his dream of becoming a fighter pilot; earning his wings at Williams AFB, Arizona in February, 1948. He joined the Korean conflict, quite late, arriving for service in September, 1952. All of his victories came between January and May, 1953, with the first eight being scored in F-86E-10 51-2753. McConnell had each of his fighters painted with the name Beauteous Butch on the side in honor of his wife Pearl, whose nickname was Butch. His second Sabre was F-86F-15 51-12971 however, a Chinese MiG-15 pilot named Daoping Jiang got the better of him on April 12th, 1953, shooting him down over the Yellow Sea. Fortunately, McConnell managed to eject from his stricken fighter, and a rescue helicopter plucked him from the water and brought him safely home. He was back flying in combat the following day though, and shot down another MiG-15. The third Sabre which McConnell flew in combat successfully was F-86F-1 51-2910. He shot his final two MiGs and damaged a third on his final combat mission on May 18th, 1953. His Sabre was painted in his honor following this mission, renamed now as BEAUTEOUS BUTCH II.

McConnell was sent home to the USA, where he took up a posting with the Sabre-equipped 445th FS at George AFB in Apple Valley, California. Soon after, he took up a prestigious posting as a test pilot under secondment at Edwards Air Force Base to evaluate the then-new F-86H variant. While conducting a test flight in the 5th production example, F-86H-1-NA 52-1981, on August 25th, 1954, the aircraft experienced a serious control-system failure and crashed. Sadly, McConnell lost his life in the accident. His legend lives on though, and will be rekindled for the aviation-minded public when Doug Matthews new Sabre flies
MIAMI  Cuban exiles and Democrats in Florida on Monday angrily rejected comments from Sen. Bernie Sanders praising aspects of the Communist Cuban revolution that aired in an interview with 60 Minutes.

The Vermont senators remarks threatened to undercut his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the nations largest presidential swing state, as he seeks to build momentum on a broader scale after a series of early primary victories.

Im totally disgusted and insulted, said Lourdes Diaz, president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus in Broward County, who is Cuban American. Maybe this will open peoples eyes to how super, super liberal and radical Bernie is. Im not going to defend him anymore. Im over it.

In the interview, which aired Sunday night on CBS, Sanders said he opposed the authoritarian nature of the repressive Cuban regime.

But you know, its unfair to simply say everything is bad, Sanders told the host, Anderson Cooper. When Fidel Castro came to office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?

Cooper noted that many political dissidents remained imprisoned in Cuba.

Thats right, Sanders acknowledged. And we condemn that.

Unlike Donald Trump, lets be clear, I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend, Sanders added. I dont trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine.

The comments ricocheted across Miami, a bastion of Cuban exiles where any defense of Castro is seen as disqualifying to hold public office. Many Cuban Americans are Republicans, but those who are Democrats have been increasingly worried that Sanders views on Cuba and other authoritarian leaders in Latin America could cost the party support among Hispanic voters.

Sen. Sanders has clearly and consistently criticized Fidel Castros authoritarianism and condemned his human rights abuses, and hes simply echoing President Obamas acknowledgment that Cuba made progress, especially in education, Mike Casca, the campaigns communications director, said.

In Havana in 2016, Barack Obama praised Cubas enormous achievements in education and in health care. But those comments were made in the middle of a historic policy overture and not in the middle of a primary campaign. The Florida primary is March 17.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
- Megebe Temesgen, an Eritrean, and Shasitu Nigusse, an Ethiopian, are two perfect neighbours made from heaven

- During the border war that broke out between both countries, Megebe had to abandon her home in Ethiopia and flee

- In her absence for 20 years, Shasitu rented out her neighbour's house and kept the money for her until she returned

True neighbourhoods are like families. During the border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea 20 years ago, many lost their homes.

Megebe Temesgen had to leave her home and friends behind because she was Eritrean in Ethiopia.

Her neighbour, Shasitu Nigusse, had to help her look after the home and everything she had in it.

During Megebe's absence, Shasitu rented out the apartment and kept the money for her for two decades.

When her neighbour got back, she gave her the 20-year rent. Photo source: BBC News

Source: UGC

Whenever local administration officers came around to make enquiries about the house, she always stood in for her.

Megede was only able to return to her home in Ethiopia 20 years after peace had been restored and the borders were reopened.

In an interview with the BBC, the Eritrean said she was deeply moved by her neighbour's kind act.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a man in the US, Micheal Gray, showed great love to his wife after he bought an abandoned house and renovated it to a great taste.

PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update

Gray, who lives in Detroit, bought the home from his nephew for $1500 (N545,250) and moved into it immediately.

Before the purchase, the man was living in the basement of his niece. A year after in 2010, the man started a 10-year renovation plan that would thoroughly transform the house.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better

Slum Chronicles: We pay 5k for houses without toilets, bathroom | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
If you're planning a spring-break getaway on Galveston Island this year, now's the time to secure a place to rest after a long beach day.

While some upscale hotels offer stylish spaces and resortlike amenities, for some travelers, nothing tops a character-filled boutique bed-and-breakfast housed in a historic Victorian home. And Galveston has its fair share of these.
New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew with President Donald Trump at Trump campaign rally in Wildwood on Jan. 28, 2020. Read more

EGG HARBOR CITY, N.J.  Six New Jersey Democrats piled into a Teamsters hall here last week to make the case for why they should be the one to take on their partys longtime standard-bearer turned archenemy.

On the surface, there wasnt much tension among the candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who defected to the Republican Party last year after opposing President Donald Trumps impeachment.

We agree on 90%, Brigid Callahan Harrison, a professor at Montclair State University and one of the Democrats running in the South Jersey district, said during the candidate forum Thursday. We all have a common goal. ... If were going to beat Jeff Van Drew, we have to be unified.

 READ MORE: Jeff Van Drew enjoyed a Trump-fueled cash surge after he switched parties

But despite the talk of unity, theres a deeper debate brewing: Should it be an establishment Democrat or an outsider who goes face to face against Van Drew?

Harrison is the establishment front-runner. She entered the race first, almost immediately after Van Drews party switch in December. She has support from six of the eight county party chairs in the district, and endorsements from key unions like the American Federation of Teachers.

Meanwhile, Amy Kennedy, a former public school teacher, has come to be seen as the leading outsider candidate, despite her pedigree as a member of a prominent Democratic family. She has significant name recognition and the potential to tap into a powerful national fund-raising network fueled by the ties to donors of her husband, former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy.

What remains to be seen is whether rank-and-file Democratic voters, having just been spurned by the ultimate machine Democrat in Van Drew, will pay any mind to the establishment in the June 2 primary.

Im wondering what Im going to do in November," said Angela Bardoe, 48, of Vineland. Im just so frustrated with this party-machine apparatus."

Bardoe went on to say that if Harrison ends up being the Democratic candidate, maybe Ill vote for" her.

One thing that could alter the balance of the race is who wins support of the Atlantic County Democratic Committee. The party in the county  where 37% of the districts voters and 41% of its Democrats live  has remained neutral in the primary. And the local party chair, Michael Suleiman, says hes going to keep it that way until March 8, when committee members vote on an endorsement.

Suleiman stressed that committee members are "hungry for policy positions when deciding whom to endorse in the primary, but that come June, they will get behind the Democratic nominee.

No matter who we nominate," Suleiman said, "we gotta get behind him or her 100%, [because] we gotta kick Jeff Van Drews ass.

Other dynamics at play are whether all the candidates, who include Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett and former Sen. Cory Booker staffer Will Cunningham, will ultimately remain in the race.

The benefit for Harrison is that in a divided primary, organizational support matters, said Ben Dworkin, director of public policy at Rowan University. If all of the anti-organization votes are split among Kennedy and several others, then the person who has the organizational support, in this case Harrison, can emerge victorious.

 READ MORE: Democrats are furious at Jeff Van Drew. But beating him wont be easy.

In 2018, Van Drew, then a centrist Democrat, ran against multiple progressives, who ended up splitting the vote. He won the Democratic primary with 57% of the vote.

Van Drew is definitely on the minds of voters and candidates, but so are kitchen-table issues like health care, the economy, and the environment. Still, voters are finding it hard to rally around one candidate.

I dont find that theyre that different myself, said Susen Shapiro, 71, of Egg Harbor Township. I have to tell you I am undecided."

Harrison was the only Democrat required to file a 2019 campaign finance report. She has shown some fund-raising strength, raking in $45,000 in the last two weeks of the year. And 57% of that haul came from small-dollar donors.

Van Drew had $1.1 million in the bank at the end of the year.

The district, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs in Gloucester County south to Cape May, and from north of Atlantic City into Burlington County, is a battleground. Trump carried it by five points in 2016. Barack Obama won 53% of the vote there each time he ran.

The district, overall, has been represented either by a Republican or extremely conservative Democrat now for over two decades, Dworkin said. Therefore, one would say that its more important to have someone who could appeal to these middle-of-the-road voters. But that kind of candidate might not win in the Democratic primary, where progressive voices have a much larger role to play."
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Global oil benchmark, Brent on Monday extended early losses and logged one of the biggest single day fall in the recent past.

Brent crude futures fell nearly 5 per cent to $ 55 a barrel over fears of further disruption in economic activity owing to the jump in coronavirus related deaths, particularly outside China.

The WTI Crude oil index also plummeted nearly 5 per cent to $50 a barrel as cases of coronavirus infection cases climbed sharply in outside China. South Korea reported its seventh coronavirus death and 161 new confirmed cases on Monday, taking the total number to 763.

Italy saw virus cases jumping exponentially from three on Friday morning to more than 150 by Sunday. Italy's spike now marks the biggest outbreak outside of Asia.

In China, the epicentre of the outbreak, coronavirus related death jumped past 2,600. The deadly virus has infected more than 77,000 people in China and was described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as the "largest public health emergency since the founding of the country".
CHEYENNE  Wyoming lawmakers advanced legislation Monday that would give the states coal companies a tax break on coal shipped overseas through ports in Canada and Mexico. The sponsors of the bill believe the effort could help Powder River Basin coal avoid blocked export terminals in states like Washington to reach lucrative markets on the Pacific Rim.

Sponsored by Reps. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne, and Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, House Bill 231 would eliminate all state severance tax payments for coal companies that, because of a mix of geography, economics and politics, currently cannot feasibly export their products to overseas markets where they could potentially be competitive against dirtier or cheaper sources.

Overall, the tax cut  if passed  would reduce those companies taxes by 3 percent, bringing their total payment to 4 percent.

The legislation is part of a larger strategy to export Wyoming coal to Asian markets, where coal is still a popular and highly in-demand resource. Earlier this year, Gov. Mark Gordon filed a lawsuit against the state of Washington for blocking Wyomings coal exports through the Millennium Bulk Terminal in Longview. And in the Legislature this session, lawmakers are working to approve tens of millions of dollars in new spending to help stimulate and market the states ailing coal industry, which lawmakers have argued still has a role to play in the worlds energy portfolio.

It is unclear what the fiscal impact  positive or negative  of the legislation could be. There is no available data to show the end destination of the 112,000 tons of coal exported out of the state in 2018  the latest year for which data is available  and, in the future, it is unknown how much money could be raised from a potential stimulus to the states energy sector, according to a fiscal note attached to the bill.

The bills sponsors believe the tax exemption may be the missing link needed to help encourage coal exporters and offer a more affordable alternative to Asian markets that  while still heavily reliant on coal  could be willing to pay just a little extra for cleaner-burning coal. The only thing holding back states like Wyoming, Nicholas said, is the cost to deliver that coal.

My suggestion is that selling some coal  lets say 75 million tons goes to the market  thats going to help our coal industry, thats going to help the folks in Gillette and Sheridan, thats going to help jobs, Nicholas said. Quite honestly, anyone opposed to this, frankly, doesnt want to help coal because they dont like coal. Its that simple.

Whether that would allow Wyoming coal to be competitive against states like Montana  which has a higher severance tax rate, cleaner and higher BTU coal, and greater export volumes than Wyoming  and eventually help to stimulate the states coal exports is an open question.

This severance tax break will do nothing, said Shannon Anderson, a staff attorney and organizer for the Powder River Basin Resource Council. A very small portion of Wyoming coal is currently exported  almost all of it out of Canada, at a port with excess capacity. Any idea that there will be a greater amount of coal exports is pure speculation at best. There will be no pay-off from this tax exemption.

The skepticism about the prospective payoff of the tax exemption was apparent with a number of members of the committee, who argued that the state was not only interfering with the free market but also explicitly going out of its way for returns that may never coalesce.

The notion that people on this committee would vote no on this bill because they dont like coal, I think, is an unfair characterization, said Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie. What this bill would do is lower the amount of money that could be coming into Wyoming. We dont have a dollar figure, we dont have a fiscal note on this, we dont know how many tons will be coming out, we dont know what the negative impact on our revenue streams would be. So I would take some concern with the characterization we would vote no on this because we dont like coal. Voting no on this could mean we like to keep our tax dollars in the state, as opposed to sending it overseas.

Nicholas, however, argued the tax break was one of the few tools Wyoming had to fight back against states like Washington who he said had already interfered in the free market, holding the states industry back from its full potential.

If they had those fair practices, wed be saving 20 bucks a ton and wed be shipping coal right now, Nicholas said.

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The Met Office has issued a weather warning for ice after widespread disruption across Northern Ireland on Monday morning after heavy snow overnight.

The latest warning kicks in at 8pm on Monday as temperatures dropped and lasts to 10am on Tuesday morning.

Forecasters warn of travel disruption and hazardous conditions.

The Met Office issued warnings for snow and rain right across Northern Ireland for what was the first day back since the end of the school half-term break for many.

Lying snow slowed down the morning commute with some roads closed because of flooding or fallen trees.

Police urged drivers to clear their cars of snow before setting off and to take extra care. There was also disruption to the public transport network. As well as gritting, snow ploughs were out on some roads with some resources in the north west diverted to keep the Glenshane Pass open.

Almost 30 schools in Tyrone, Co Down, Co Antrim and Co Londonderry closed for the day.

Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh was forced to close because of flooding.





I didnt hear any warnings about this @barrabest? 3am in The Brantry and I cant get my car out of the drive. Its going to be a dicey one on the roads tomorrow! @WeatherCee @Bigpaddy2 pic.twitter.com/Cjet0mP56T  Michelle Gildernew (@gildernewm) February 24, 2020

Send your winter pictures to digital.editorial@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

The weather warnings for Northern Ireland ends at noon on Monday.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna warned commuters to monitor the conditions for hazards, saying: "We're seeing ice and frost overnight most nights, and there are going to be a lot of icy patches around this morning.

"People need to keep an eye out."

The last few hours have brought #rain to many parts, with #snow affecting parts of Northern Ireland, northern England and southern and central Scotland.



Warnings are in force, stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/jzCZsChiUF  Met Office (@metoffice) February 24, 2020

The forecaster said there would be a temperature disparity on Monday as the mercury hovered around a "quite mild" 11-12C in the south of the UK and dipping to -6C in northern Scotland.

Rain and snow were expected to push north and east across the country "before giving way to some brighter weather," Mr Petagna said.

Read More

For Northern Ireland it will be mainly cloudy in the afternoon with a few showers.

Some bright spells coming through across Down and Armagh. A cold day with brisk westerly winds. Maximum temperature 8C.

Monday night will be a mixture of clear spells and occasional showers, these wintry on high ground. A chance of ice inland on any untreated surfaces. Fresh westerly winds and a minimum temperature of 0C.

Tuesday will be a cold day with a mixture of bright spells and wintry showers, these giving further snow over the hills. Brisk westerly winds. Maximum temperature 6C.

The rest of the week will be a mixture of sunny spells and showers, these heavy and wintry at times. Remaining cold with overnight frosts and a risk of ice.
Lucknow, Feb 24 : The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board has decided to accept the five acre plot for a mosque in Ayodhya after a meeting here.

Board Chairman Zufar Ahmad Faruqi said: "The board will set up a trust soon for the construction of the mosque. Besides the mosque, there will be an Indo-Islamic research centre, a public library, a charitable hospital and other useful facilities on the land." "Information about the trust and its members will be shared after the establishment of the trust," said Faruqi.

The trust will accept the donations for the construction of the mosque as well as other facilities. The Sunni Waqf Board will not spend a single penny on it. The name of the mosque to be built here will also be decided later.

Six members -- Adnan Faruq Shah, Junaid Siddiqui, Syed Ahmed Ali, Abrar Ahmed and Juneed Ahmed -- reached Lucknow to attend the meeting of the board, chaired by Faruqi, while Abdul Rajjak Khan and Imran Mabood boycotted the meeting.

In a historic verdict, on November 9, 2019, on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the construction of a temple. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque within Ayodhya.

The Yogi Adityanath cabinet on February 5 decided to give an alternate plot to the Sunni Waqf Board on the Ayodhya-Lucknow National Highway.
After months of paperwork and negotiations, Priyanka Chopra has finally inked the deal with Amazon Studios to play the role of bioterrorist Ma Anand Sheela in the upcoming movie Sheela.

It is a controversial subject because Sheela, who was also a secretary to Rajneesh a.k.a Osho, was one of the key conspirators in the largest biological terrorist attack on US soil when she tried to poison local eateries in Oregon in 1984. Other cases filed against Sheela were of immigration fraud, arson, espionage, and wiretapping. The paperwork for all Hollywood productions take a while and though one expresses an intent to work in the beginning, it is what in black and white that matters, says our source.

Sheela, helmed by Barry Levinson, is being produced by Priyanka, Jason Sosnoff and David Permut along with Levinson. The script has been penned by Nick Yarborough.

Meanwhile, Priyanka is in advanced talks to join the cast of The Matrix reboot. Details about her prospective character have been kept under wraps but The Matrix 4 marks a revival of the popular sci-fi series for a 2021 release. Matrix released in 1999 and has had two sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, both released in 2003. Priyanka will join Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick and Jonathan Groff while Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss retain their roles in the film directed by Lana Wachowski, adds our source.

Additionally, the actress is also working on the film The White Tiger based on the Man Booker prize-winning novel by Aravind Adiga.
An annual event, the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce Awards brings the business community together to celebrate the achievements of local businesses and individuals. This year Bedfont are proud to have been named as finalists for Exporter of the Year and Innovative Business of the Year.

Image credit: Bedfont Scientific

Bedfont, who design and manufacture breath analysis medical devices, have been trading since 1976, and export their products across the globe thanks to their network of carefully selected distributors.

They began with one breath analysis product, which was innovated and developed over the past 40 years to create 8 breath analysis products.This includes carbon monoxide (CO) monitors such as the Smokerlyzer, used for smoking cessation, and the ToxCO, used by emergency services, to screen for CO poisoning.The NObreath FeNO monitor provides accurate analysis of airway inflammation for the control of asthma, and the Gastrolyzer range aids in the detection of gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances. Quick and non-invasive, breath analysis is the new blood test.

Jason Smith, Managing Director, comments:

Were thrilled to make it through to the finals of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce Awards; neither achievement would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Bedfont Family  our employees and distributors. Just to be named among the top companies in Kent is an honour and we look forward to celebrating everyones accomplishments at the Gala.

The awards are being held at Westenhanger Castle on 19th March.
 Flash

Cambodia and Laos pledged on Sunday to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership for mutual benefit, a senior Cambodian official said.

The pledge was made during a meeting here between Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and visiting Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, said Eang Sophalleth, a personal assistant to the prime minister.

He said both leaders agreed to further promote cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and security along the border of the two countries.

"Also, Samdech Techo said that local authorities and soldiers along the border played a very important role in building closer ties between the two countries," Sophalleth said, referring to Hun Sen's official title.

Trade and investment volumes between the two ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members are still relatively small. On the tourism side, Laos is the fourth largest source of tourists to Cambodia with 363,951 Laotians traveling to Cambodia in 2019, down 14.6 percent year-on-year, according to tourism data of Cambodia.

Bounnhang started a two-day state visit to Cambodia on Sunday morning.
Gangster Ejaz Lakdawala and his



aides Tarik Parveen and Salim Maharaj alias Salim Penwala have been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch's Anti Extortion Cell in a fresh Rs 7.5 crore extortion case, a senior official said on Monday.

The three are already in custody for other cases, and the fresh FIR is based on the complaint of a real estate developer at Pydhonie police station, the official said.

The complaint stated that the developer faced losses of Rs 7.5 crore due to calls made by Lakdawala asking him to pay money to different people or to give property at cheap rates, police said.

The complainant told police Parveen approached him on the day he started getting calls from Lakdawala, while a probe found it was Penwala who was supplying information about the developer to the gangster.

"We have arrested the three in a fresh case under section 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt in order to commit extortion) and 34 (common intention). It was filed at Pydhonie police station," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Santosh Rastogi told PTI.

Lakdawala was held by Mumbai police on January 9 from Patna in Bihar, while Parveen and Penwala were held on the basis of his interrogation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harrison Ford headed out 'Solo' on Sunday afternoon.

And the 77-year-old actor was spotted exiting Helen's Cycles in Marina Del Rey with a bag full of various bike parts.

Ford recently sat down with Parade, as he promoted his latest film The Call Of The Wild, to take a retrospective look at his nearly 50-year career in cinema.

Still a hunk: Harrison Ford proved he still had swagger when he hit up a local bicycle shop in Marina Del Rey on Sunday afternoon

The Star Wars alum looked sharp in a pair of dark denim jeans and a light blue button down shirt.

Harrison rounded out his Sunday style with a silver buckled belt and a pair of brown lace up boots.

With bag in hand, the actor headed over to his nearby vehicle and fled the local shopping center.

Ford just celebrated the release of his latest film The Call Of The Wild which hit theaters on Friday.

Settling down: The actor looked ready to settle down and indulge in some tinkering after weeks of promoting his latest film The Call Of The Wild that hit theaters on Friday

On the same day, the actor's in-depth interview with Parade hit news stands and the Indiana Jones star discussed everything from his love of flying to the secret behind his lasting marriage with wife Calista Flockhart.

The Call Of The Wild forces Ford to perform alongside a CGI dog in the latest adaptation of the classic Jack London novel.

The dog, who goes by Buck, goes from a domestic pet to a working dog, as Ford's character John Thornton rescues him and decides to bring him along on a Gold Rush oriented quest.

Ford recalled reading Call Of The Wild when he was a young boy, but 'didn't remember how tough of a book it is' until he reread in anticipation of the film's shoot.

Man's best friend: Harrison stars alongside a CGi dog named buck in The Call Of The Wild

Book to movie: The film derives from the novel written by Jack London in 1903

He remarked on the violent nature and startling realism of the novel's descriptive scenes.

'[There are] dogs fighting amongst themselves for primacy in a pack and other aspects of the natural world that remain generally unseen by the gentle folks who live in cities.'

In the interview, Ford revealed his appreciation for the story's overarching theme.

'Nature doesnt need people. People need nature to survive, to thrive.'

Though the world of the film was set in Alaska, the actor and the rest of the film's cast and crew did not have to brave the harsh conditions of the Yukon.

Instead, the film was shot comfortably on sound stages in Southern California.

The real message: Ford revealed that the message of the film is simple, 'Nature doesnt need people. People need nature to survive, to thrive'; the 77-year-old actor was photographed at the red carpet premiere of The Call Of The Wild on February 15 in Los Angeles

In his nearly 50-years in the industry, the veteran actor has accumulated an astonishing amount of success, but Harrison holds his relationship with wife Calista Flockhart the most dear.

When asked about his secret behind cultivating such a strong and healthy relationship, Ford gladly offered some cheeky advice on how to deal with husband-wife bickering.

'Don't talk. Nod your head,' urged Ford.

Ford, laughing off his quip, admitted to Parade that he spends an abundant amount of quality time with Flockhart.

Harrison wed Calista in June of 2010, eight years after their very first meeting on the red carpet of the Golden Globes back in 2002.

Still going strong: Harrison wed Calista in June of 2010, eight years after their very first meeting on the red carpet of the Golden Globes back in 2002; the couple were pictured at the 2018 Governors Awards in Los Angeles

Ford and Flockhart own a lavish mansion in Los Angeles, as well as a ranch in rural Wyoming.

The Star Wars alum, who is an avid pilot, often flies himself and Flockhart 'to Wyoming and back himself.'

When the couple are spending their days and nights at their Wyoming residence, Ford makes sure to keep up on his 'honey do's' before diving headfirst into his activities of choice.

'Well, if my chores are done and there's nothing more pressing and the weather's good, I'll go flyingI love to fly up thereor walk in the woods, do some work, ride my road bike or mountain bike.'

The couple share an adopted son Liam Flockhart Ford, who Calista had adopted at birth a year before meeting Harrison in 2002.
VALDOSTA, Ga., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A major auction event set for March will include 2,425 acres of land in South Georgia and North Florida, with Seven Hills Auctions marketing the land and conducting the auction. The properties offered include land fronting on Interstates 10 and 75, land across from Valdosta Regional Airport, and substantial acreages of timberland with merchantable timber.

"This will be a major event for developers and investors. All three properties will be offered at auction the same day, with live and online bidding," said Buddy Lee, president of the auction company.

The property with I-10 frontage is 36 acres, located at the interchange with Highway 53, which leads into the City of Madison, Florida. "This land is also designated as an opportunity zone and is an ideal place for such commercial uses as shopping, restaurants and hotels," said Lee.

The property near the Valdosta Regional Airport is 228 acres, selling in tracts of 62 acres and 166 acres in Lowndes County, Georgia. It is located just across the street from the airport at the major intersection of Inner Perimeter Road and Madison Highway.

The third property is 2,160 acres with timberland, recreational land and residential building sites, with frontage along Interstate 75, Old Clyattville Road and Madison Highway. "This will be offered in 21 sub tracts. The timber stands vary in age, providing a wide range of opportunities for recreation and harvest," said Lee.

The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern Saturday, March 14, at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center in Valdosta. Individuals seeking additional information may visit 7Hauctions.com or call 800-742-9165.

Seven Hills Auctions, based in Tallahassee, markets land, commercial properties, and bank-owned real estate through live and online auctions.

For more information:

Carl Carter, 205-823-3273

SOURCE Seven Hills Auctions
A court in Bengaluru on Monday remanded notorious gangster Ravi Pujari in police custody till March 7 hours after he was brought to India from Senegal. He is accused of murder, kidnapping and extortion,

A team of officials including senior IPS officers escorted Pujari in an Air France flight that landed around 1 am at Bengalurus Kempegowda Internatinal Airport. Authorities waited for all passengers to deboard before escorting Pujari out. A heavy security blanket had been thrown over the airport.

Pujari was later produced in the first Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court in Bengaluru and was remanded in 14 days custody to City Crime Branch (CCB) to enable them to interrogate him.

ALSO WATCH | Gangster Ravi Pujari extradited from Senegal, brought to India

Though we dont have an extradition treaty with Senegal we were able to finally nab him because of our bilateral understanding. Would like to thank Senegalese authorities for the cooperation extended to us, said Additional Director General Police Amar Kumar Pandey who played a key role in Pujaris arrest in South Africa last week and his extradition from Senegal.

He also said that Pujari had been travelling on a Burkina Faso passport after having obtained citizenship there.

Pujari has more than 200 cases registered across the country including 97 cases in Karnataka alone. He was arrested in Senegal in West Africa in January 2019 but he jumped bail and fled to South Africa, where he was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and extortion rackets. Pandey said that Pujari was hiding under the identity of Anthony Fernandes, a Burkina Faso passport holder, and was located in a remote village in South Africa. On a tip-off from the Indias external intelligence agency, the Senegal police flew to South Africa last week and arrested the 52-year-old gangster.

Once the Karnataka police investigate him in all the cases registered in the state and charge sheets submitted, other agencies would be given opportunity to try him under the law, Pandey said.
The Porsche Design Group is opening a new Porsche Design Franchise-Store in the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, one of the biggest and most luxurious malls in the world.



The store is located in an exclusive location on Level 1 and has a floor area of 179 sq m. The complete product portfolio of the exclusive lifestyle brand will be presented, ranging from timepieces and eyewear to fashion, sportswear, accessories, bags, luggage and electronics.



The United Arab Emirates is a key market in the Middle East for Porsche Design. We are very happy to open this new Porsche Design Store in such a high-class setting inside the Mall of the Emirates together with our franchise partner Jashanmal National Company, said Dr Jan Becker, CEO of the Porsche Design Group.



With the new store in the heart of Dubai we are presenting a flagship store format in the Middle East where our customers can experience the Porsche Design World. We are very much look forward to further increasing our business in this region.



Tony Jashanmal, president of Jashanmal National Company, said: We are extremely pleased to partner with Porsche Design and launch our first among many new outlets to come in the UAE. This reflects the confidence of the global luxury brands on Dubai  the hub of the luxury retail in the Middle East. As the retail market undergoes a shift, Jashanmal is also taking initiatives to remain ahead of the curve and the collaboration with Porsche Design is a step towards the right direction.



Khalid Soliman, CEO of Jashanmal National Company, said: As a preferred partner, Jashanmal offers a wider customer base, a wider network and a strong retail eco-system to the global brands for them to flourish in the GCC markets. With our extensive network of stores and operations spread across the GCC, we offer a greater value to international brands, most of which have been with us for decades.



With Porsche Design, Jashanmal National Company sees a great opportunity to widen its base while offering the exclusive lifestyle brand a deeper penetration in our home ground, adds.



The Dubai flagship store embodies the DNA of Porsche Design, the engineered passion for flawless form, innovative materials and supreme functionality for which the exclusive lifestyle brand is known for nearly fifty years.



Visitors can discover the latest timepieces novelties like the new Porsche Design 1919 Globetimer UTC that combines precise technology with functional design - switching time zones at the push of a button - with no loss of minutes and seconds. Or get their hands on the iconic Porsche Design P8478 sunglasses, a true style icon and the worlds first sunglasses with interchangeable lenses.



Another highlight will be the new SS20 fashion and sportswear collection, perfectly meeting the 24/7 lifestyle demands of Porsche Design customers. Exclusive materials, innovative technologies, highly functional details and the unmistakably clean style of Porsche Design characterize the entire collection.  TradeArabia News Service


ASSANDH (KARNAL): Maninder Singh Sahi, 29, who was shot dead in a grocery store in Los Angeles on Saturday, was an illegal immigrant in the US and debt-ridden family had sold its two acres in Karnal to pay 50 lakh for fulfilling his US dream even if it meant taking the backdoor via a donkey flight and then seeking political asylum.

Maninders dream was cut short when a masked assailant killed him at a grocery store at Whittier City in Los Angeles, California, early on Saturday. He worked as a clerk at the store. The killer is absconding.

Family members say Maninders father, Joginder Singh, 62, sold his two acres of farm land at Uplana village in Karnal district of Haryana to pay 28 lakh to an agent to fulfil his only sons dream of going to the United States in May last year. In November, he again spent 24 lakh on bonds and to hire advocates to help his son apply for a political asylum there. Maninders relatives in the US also helped him when he was arrested for illegally entering the country. He was released from jail in November 2019.

His relatives in the US broke the news to his family. All Maninder wanted was to provide us a better life. He went there so that his children could get a better life. We sold our land to send him abroad. He was happy with his job and would send a large part of his income to us as he wanted us to repay the debt, his wife, Amandeep Kaur, said.

Maninder married Amandeep in 2010 and they have a daughter Seerat, 8, and a son Shaan, 6.

Combination pictures of Maninder Singh Sahi, posted on GoFundMe.

Amandeep said her husband had called her up a day before the incident but he did not pick up the phone on Saturday which is when their US-based relatives called to inform the family that he had been shot dead.

Maninders parents, Joginder Singh and Sarvjit Kaur, live with his wife in the village, while his younger sister is married in Karnal.

Kuldeep Singh, his brother-in-law said, Maninder was the only breadwinner of the family and they spent more than 50 lakh to get him settled abroad. His death has left the family shattered. The future of his children is our concern.

Maninders friend Sanjeev Kumar, also a resident of Uplana, said, Maninder wanted to leave this poverty behind. He was a matriculate and became a photographer. He ran a photography studio in nearby Assandh town for five years. He was impressed by the lifestyle of his NRI cousin settled in the United States for years and decided to leave. Now his family has lost everything.

The family has expressed its inability to bring back the body to India for cremation though Karnal deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav has assured all help to it.

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A national solution to the boy crisis? By Rachel Alexander

Dr. Warren Farrell is known for is 2018 groundbreaking book, The Boy Crisis. In it, he gives the evidence for the crisis as a global crisis, and identifies the single biggest cause as a lack of father involvement (the boy crisis resides where fathers do not reside). Hes been trying to bring national attention to this, and has finally gotten the attention of the White House. He initially wanted the administration to start a White House Council on Boys and Men, but was told President Trump isnt really into creating councils. Farrell spoke with several high-level officials from the Health and Human Services agency, who have heard his talks. Next, he spoke with high level officials from the White House and DOJ, presenting the problem and proposing solutions. He explained how there are both economic and psychological costs of not attending to father involvement and family. He recommends creating an overarching program called Make the American Family Great Again. Underneath that would be a Father Warrior Training program to implement it. The program would teach boys how to be great future fathers; how to love and be loved in the family. They would learn in elementary school how to care and be responsible. Trump could issue an executive order that asks each department of government to look at their already-existing programs and see how they could be channeled to address the problems in the boy crisis. Farrell documents how promoting father involvement and addressing the problems boys face would actually reduce the size of government, since dad involvement, male teachers, male mentors and dozens of other changes would lead to fewer boys and men committing crimes and being sent to prison. And fewer ISIS recruits, the great majority of whom are dad deprived. Similarly, all five of the U.S. school shooters in the 21st century who killed 10 or more people, whose backgrounds we know about, were dad deprived. And dad-deprived boys mothers are also more likely to turn to the government-as-substitute husband. Farrell estimates that neglecting the boy crisis costs taxpayers about a trillion dollars per year. Farrell has also reached out to the Democratic presidential candidates. He interviewed seven of them in depth about this issue, and all were very receptive. However, when he talked to their campaign managers afterwards, they expressed their doubts, saying a focus on father involvement would alienate three parts of their Democratic base: unwed mothers, divorced mothers and lesbian couples. Unfortunately, the vast majority of societys attention gets focused on women and girls. But its not women filling up the prisons and who become separated from their children. Women now attend college in higher numbers than men, and there are more women in the workplace than men. Boys are 44% more likely than girls to drop out of high school, and 20% of these dropouts are unemployed in their 20s. That is more than five times the national unemployment rate. Critics complain about toxic masculinity, but they dont understand the causes. Its not because of male privilege, its because of male sacrifice. Boys are trained to be heroes, serve in the military where theyre disposable and taught to keep their feelings to themselves. These do create toxicities, but ones that emanate from sacrifice. Farrell suggests that a better future will include training our sons for a balance between health intelligence and heroic intelligence. Farrell has also recommended to the White House a Male Teacher Corps  giving scholarships to men to become elementary school teachers in exchange for serving at least two years as one. He found that children most in jeopardy go from mom-only homes to female teachers in elementary school or nursery school. An astounding 95% of elementary school teachers are women. Boys who dont have male role models that are constructive are vulnerable to male role models who are destructive  like gang leaders and drug dealers. In his research for The Boy Crisis, Farrell uncovered nine differences between male and female styles of parenting. The children who do the best have what he calls checks-and-balance parenting. The boy crisis has already started getting national attention. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said the two big crises facing the U.S. are cyberwarfare and boys not doing as well as they could, especially in artificial intelligence and tech. He recommends a massive increase in vocational education, especially in AI and tech. In Japan, 30% of students are in vocational ed., and 99.6% of those who graduate get jobs after graduation. Farrell is dynamic and charismatic, the right person to lead this effort. Hes my favorite person to interview, and his book was one of the best books Ive ever read. Farrell recommends that people interested in helping contact their representatives and tell them there is a boy crisis and something needs to be done. Its time to swing the pendulum back from solely focusing on womens problems and stop ignoring whats going on with our boys.



Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications.mericano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home
Novel coronavirus contained in Australia: health minister

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:15, February 23, 2020

CANBERRA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has relaxed its coronavirus travel ban to allow some students from China into the country after Minister for Health Greg Hunt said COVID-19 has been contained in Australia.

As a result, Chinese students enrolled in Australian secondary schools - excluding those from Hubei province, will be able to apply for an exemption to the travel restrictions and travel into the country on a case-by-case basis.

There are more than 700 Chinese students enrolled in Year 11 and 12 - the final two years in the Australian education system - who have not been allowed into Australia because of the government's China travel ban.

If state and territory governments agree to a proposal put forward by Hunt, those students will undergo a 13-step process to enter Australia for education.

"It is incredibly important that we get some normality back to the international student market," Hunt said on Saturday.

However, the estimated 100,000 Chinese students enrolled at Australian universities will have to wait longer before they are allowed into Australia.

"At this stage we are looking at year 11 and 12 students but the medical advice has said in a week we could look at what would happen with tertiary education students," Hunt said.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia remains at 15. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Saturday that its spread has slowed significantly and that allowing people in from China was no longer a significant risk.

"The good news in the last few weeks from China has been that there have been very, very few exported cases of this disease from China - the last official count I saw was only about six," he said.

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On Feb. 16, they and members of other neighboring fire departments gathered at the Niles Fire Station on Dempster Street to shave their heads in solidarity with Aprati, who is in the middle of her first phase of chemotherapy treatments. Aprati had been planning to have her husband, Brian, shave off her blond locks due to the hair loss she was experiencing from the treatments, but when she heard members of the department wanted to do a mass shaving event at the fire station, she agreed to hold off.
The US' Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai on Monday met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash and discussed issues ranging from spectrum to 5G.

However, the two sides did not discuss the contentious issue of participation of Chinese telecom vendors such as Huawei in the futuristic 5G networks.

Chinese telecom gear maker Huawei, which rivals western equipment makers such as Ericsson, is facing curbs in the US.

India, however, had made it clear that government will allocate airwaves to all telecom service providers for conducting trials of super-fast speed 5G networks, and that New Delhi will not bar any equipment suppliers in the upcoming trials for 5G.

Asked about his views on Huawei and if concerns around data security risk from Chinese companies were real, Pai said, "I would refer you to the comments I made previously. So the US Government embraces a risk-based framework domestically and that is a part of the reason why FCC has, in parts, prohibited the use of funding that we oversee from being used by telecom carriages in the US, and equipment and services that have been deemed to be insecure."



"We haven't singled out any particular country...But we initially designated Huawei and ZTE," he told reporters.

Pai, who is part of the US delegation currently visiting India, said he and Prakash discussed "topics of mutual interest".

"The US and India are not just good friends but have lot of similar priorities when it comes to telecommunications issues...We talked about a variety of spectrum issues including 5G," Pai said.

Prakash, however, asserted that the issue of Huawei did not figure in Monday's discussions.

"We discussed how the teledensity is progressing, what is their fiberisation, which spectrum bands are they using, what they intend to do, what is their auction process, what has been their experience," Prakash pointed out.

The two sides will work more closely and co-operate on measures to improve spectrum efficiency.

"We also informed them about Low Mobility Large Cell (LMLC) which we have developed for 5G technology and these technologies will also be used by the US since it has a large cell area," Prakash said.

Earlier during the day, Pai also met his Indian counterpart RS Sharma, chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A 23-year old man, R Devakumar, who has been missing since February 15, was found dead with injuries near a canal at Thoraipakkam on Sunday morning. Police said the mans friend, who suspected him of stealing his mobile and cash, had murdered him with the help of three friends and dumped the body near the canal. According to sources, Devakumar of Thoraipakkam was an auto driver who also worked as a food delivery agent. On February 15, he did not return home from work and his wife filed a man-missing complaint.

Investigation revealed that Devakumar was last seen with his friend Govardhan, who runs a mechanic shop at Muthamizh Nagar in Karapakkam.

During inquiry, Govardhan told the police that he suspected Devakumar of having stolen his mobile phone and a sum of Rs 4,000, and had murdered him with the help of three other friends.

The body has been sent for post-mortem. Police arrested Govardhan and K Thavan (19) of Semmanchery and remanded them in judicial custody. The third accused, a 17-year-old, has been sent to an observation home. A hunt is on to nab the fourth accused identified as Ajith.
After a week of investigation, the fire that left one woman dead in Elizabethtown last Monday was ruled accidental, according to police.

Kelsey Sheilds, 26, died after a fire broke out in her home in the 200 block of East High Street around 6:28 a.m. on Feb. 17, Elizabethtown police said.

Police and other first responders tried to evacuate the building at the time but were told there might be someone else in the apartment that was involved with the fire. Police said officers were pushed back by fire when they tried to enter the home.

Following a lengthy firefight, Sheilds was found dead in the apartment, police said. Firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to neighboring residences, and no other injuries to people were reported. The Elizabethtown Police Chief previously reported that a dog died in the residence as well.

The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal investigated the scene and determined it likely started in the kitchen.

Elizabethtown police said the department recognizes how Sheilds tragic death has touched the community and passed along condolences to her family.

Read more on PennLive:
It could also have other beneficial effects such as increasing the national interest in the party, he said.

New Delhi: The Congress must fix its leadership issues on top priority to address the growing perception among the people that the party is adrift, senior leader Shashi Tharoor said on Sunday and asserted that resolving the uncertainty over a long-term president was crucial for the partys revival.

In an interview to PTI, Mr Tharoor also said that it was up to Rahul Gandhi to take a call if he wishes to return as Congress chief, but if he does not change his earlier stance then the party needs to find an active and full-time leadership so that the party can move forward as the nation expects.

The Thiruvananthap-uram MP, who last week renewed his call for elections for the Congress Working Committee (CWC), said the process of electing some members of the partys highest decision-making body will usher in a dynamic leadership team with a credible mandate to work together to address the organisational challenges.

Asserting that the Congress is the indispensable national alternative to the divisive policies of the BJP, Tharoor said, The immediate cause of worry for many of us is that there appears to be a growing perception in the eyes of the public that we, as a political entity, are adrift.

This is naturally driving some voters towards considering other political options and the most recent example of this was seen in Delhi, where the voters chose to side primarily with the AAP and to a smaller extent with the BJP, leaving the Congress with naught, he said. This is where the compelling case for urgently addressing this perception in the eyes of the public comes from  and for that matter, changing the attitude of the media, which is repeatedly writing us off dismissively, Mr Tharoor said.

But for us to do so, we do need to fix our current leadership issues. We need to start with a longer-term, as opposed to interim, Congress president, as well as the elected membership of the Working Committee, the former Union minister said.

Mr Tharoor said he is an advocate for free and transparent elections within the party for these positions as such a process would significantly add to their credibility and legitimacy.

The CWC found an excellent interim solution in Sonia Gandhi, but the party cannot indefinitely keep depending on and burdening a president who had only just relinquished the job less than two years ago, he said, adding that it is neither fair to her, nor to the voters.

He also said the repeated question of Gandhi or non-Gandhi as party president was missing the wood for the trees. The larger concern and the need of the hour is to find a new president and leadership, and I am confident that if we do so through a participatory, transparent and democratic electoral process internally, the workers will at the end of the day throw their might and energy behind whoever emerges as the winning candidate, he said.

Asked if the problem remains that of who will bell the cat and raise leadership issues with the Gandhi family, Tharoor said, I dont think the issue at hand is specifically about not being able to raise these concerns with members of the Gandhi family. It is of critical importance that we delay no further and work together to move forward. Resolving the uncertainty about long-term leadership is an indispensable aspect of our process of revival. It must be given foremost priority, Mr Tharoor said.

Talking about the partys conundrum over whether to convince Rahul Gandhi to come back or move on, Tharoor said Gandhi will always hold a special place at the core of the party and the rank and file of the party are pretty unanimous in their belief that he has the vision to rally the party together and take it forward.

This is why most of us were keen for him to continue and stay on in this role after the elections, because while we respected his desire to publicly offer accountability for our defeat, we still felt that there is no one better to ensure the much needed process of revival that is needed for the party, he said.

At the end of the day, just as his resignation was a personal decision, the question of his return is one as well, he said.

Pitching for election of CWC members, Tharoor pointed out there are three categories of members  elected members, permanent invitees and special invitees.

All three are currently named by the high command, but I believe it would be healthy for the party if the elected members were actually elected, he said.

There may be differing opinions on whether or not the CWC should be opened up for elections and some do feel the president should have like-minded people around him or her in the decision-making body, Mr Tharoor said.

As a democrat, I believe the value of a truly representative body within the party is immeasurable, he said.

Tharoor hoped that those who are currently against the idea of elections for CWC recognise that a participatory electoral process, which channels the wishes of the members of the AICC plus PCC delegates  some 10,000 workers in all  is an exercise in inner-party democracy that will strengthen the party.

It could also have other beneficial effects such as increasing the national interest in the party, he said.

Asked if Rahul Gandhi is not convinced on coming back as chief should Priyanka Gandhi Vadra take on the leadership role, Tharoor said he was neither for nor against any Congress leader who might want to put their name forward.
The Calcutta High Court on Monday set aside reservation of seats in the South Dumdum Municipality and ordered that it be prepared afresh.

The order came on a petition claiming that the list of reserved wards was prepared in contravention to West Bengal municipal laws.

Setting aside the reservation list of seats in South Dumdum Municipality, Justice Arindam Sinha directed the State Election Commission to prepare a fresh list as per the municipal laws.

With the South Dumdum Municipality set to go for elections this year along with many other civic bodies in the state, the commission had prepared a list of reserved seats.

Finding that ward number 29, which was reserved for women in the last election, having been in the same category this year also, a resident of the ward moved the high court.

Petitioner Arup Dey claimed that he intends to fight the elections this year, but the reservation prevents him from doing so.

His lawyer Anindya Lahiri told the high court that according to the municipal laws, a ward cannot be reserved for women for two consecutive terms.

The commission's lawyer claimed that the reservation was done in accordance with the law.

Hearing both the parties, the court set aside the prepared list and directed the West Bengal State Election Commission, which holds the elections to the civic bodies, to prepare the list afresh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actors perform during an acrobatic show in Houston of Texas, the United States, on February 22, 2020. Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Presented by the Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. [Xinhua/Lao Chengyue]

HOUSTON, February 23 (Xinhua)  Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States.

Presented by The Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. The performance received cheers and acclamation from the audience.

According to head of the acrobatic troupe Li Yufei, there are around 20 artists in the troupe which brought 15 performances to Houston this time. They have been performing in various cities in the United States since last November.

The Houston show was brought by the Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), a nonprofit presenting internationally acclaimed artists from the entire performing arts spectrum.

General Manager of the SPA Lee Strickland told Xinhua that the organization has brought some Chinese art performing groups in Houston in the past 20 years and this was the fourth time that The Peking Acrobats had performed here.

"Traditionally it's been great. People actually love this company," he said. "They are the fans' favorite."

Strickland said the novel coronavirus disease in China should not stop people from celebrating the culture.

"Especially at a time like this, it's best to celebrate the Chinese people and their arts that they provide. The richness of their culture should be celebrated, not feared," he said.

Since its founding in 1986, The Peking Acrobats have achieved international acclaim, dazzling audiences around the world.

An actress performs during an acrobatic show in Houston of Texas, the United States, on February 22, 2020. Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Presented by the Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. [Xinhua/Lao Chengyue]

Actresses perform during an acrobatic show in Houston of Texas, the United States, on February 22, 2020. Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Presented by the Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. [Xinhua/Lao Chengyue]

Actresses perform during an acrobatic show in Houston of Texas, the United States, on February 22, 2020. Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Presented by the Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. [Xinhua/Lao Chengyue]

An actress performs during an acrobatic show in Houston of Texas, the United States, on February 22, 2020. Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Presented by the Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. [Xinhua/Lao Chengyue]

(Source: Xinhua)
What happened

Crude oil prices tumbled on Monday. Both WTI (the U.S. benchmark) and Brent (the global benchmark) fell about 4.5% by 10:45 a.m. EST to $51 and $55.75 a barrel, respectively. That slump in the oil market weighed heavily on energy stocks, especially shares of financially weaker companies. Leading the decliners were Valaris (OTC:VAL), Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR), Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS), Oasis Petroleum (NYSE:OAS), and Parsley Energy (NYSE:PE). Each one slumped by around 10% at one point in the trading day.

So what

The number of coronavirus infections outside of China spiked over the weekend in places like Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan. That has increased the risks of it impacting global economic growth, which could dent demand for oil. That prospect for lower consumption added more weight to crude prices, which have already been under pressure due to an overabundance of supply.

Today's slump in the price of crude put pressure on the stock prices of almost every company related to the sector. Kosmos Energy, Oasis Petroleum, and Parsley Energy all produce oil. Thus, today's sell-off will have a direct impact on their cash flows if oil remains at these lower levels. That would make it harder for each one to produce the money it needs to fund operations and maintain debt. Because of that, they might need to reduce their capital spending if crude prices continue to weaken, which would impact their growth prospects.

Valaris, meanwhile, operates offshore drilling rigs while Nabors operates onshore rigs and provides a variety of oil-field services to both sectors. While the sell-off in oil prices won't directly impact their cash flows, it could have an indirect effect. That's because oil companies might pull back spending on new projects, which would affect the rates they charge customers. Those lower prices would weigh on the cash flow those companies produce, making it harder for them to maintain their debt, which is a concern for Valaris after its debt spike last quarter.

Now what

The oil market is growing worried that the spreading coronavirus will start cutting into oil demand, potentially pushing crude prices even lower and negatively impacting the cash flows of producers and the companies that provide equipment and services to the sector. That will make it even tougher for the sector's financially weakest players to stay afloat, which is why so many are selling off today.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 17:01:22|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and Iraqi joint forces arrested on Monday a leader of local paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters in an airdrop operation on his house in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial police officer said.

The airborne force conducted an operation before dawn on the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and arrested Maadi al-Obeidi, a leader of local tribal fighters affiliated with the Hashd Shaabi forces, the officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops transferred al-Obeidi to the nearby Ayn al-Asad airbase, where hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed, the source said, adding that there is no immediate information about the reason behind the arrest.

Ayn al-Asad, previously named al-Qadisiyah, is the second largest air base in Iraq and has the largest number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against Islamic State (IS) militants, mainly providing training and advising to the Iraqi forces.

The troops are part of the U.S.-led international coalition that has been conducting air raids against IS targets in both Iraq and Syria.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 03:56:31|Editor: Wang Yamei

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Kenyans who studied in China take part in an event supporting China's fight against the novel coronavirus in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Feb. 23, 2020. The Kenya-China Alumni Association, which comprises of Kenyans who studied in China, on Sunday showed solidarity when China is combating the novel coronavirus outbreak. Members of the alumni were optimistic that the Chinese government's efforts to contain the spread of the virus will soon bear fruit. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

NAIROBI, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Kenya-China Alumni Association, which comprises of Kenyans who studied in China, on Sunday showed solidarity when China is combating the new coronavirus outbreak.

Members of the alumni were optimistic that the Chinese government's efforts to contain the spread of the virus will soon bear fruit.

"We would like to express our support to the people of China during this difficult period because China has been a true friend and has always supported us," Nathan Kimani, secretary of the Kenya-China Alumni Association said.

The Kenya-China Alumni Association members also donated 63,300 Kenyan Shilling (about 633 U.S. dollars) to be used towards combating the virus.

Wang Xuezheng, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, said that the outbreak of COVID-19 has been a huge challenge.

"However the Chinese government and the Chinese people have withstood the test and won the respect and recognition of the international community with their efforts and even sacrifice," Wang said.

He said that after the outbreak, the Chinese government immediately set up a nationwide mechanism to mobilize resources across the country.

"It has taken the most comprehensive, stringent and thorough prevention and control measures, many of which are well beyond what is required by the international health regulations and the recommendation of the World Health Organization," said Wang.

Wang said that as China battles the disease, the friendship and trust with other countries will be strengthened and deepened. At this difficult time, Kenya and African friends have given China strong support.

Isaac Mbeche, local director of Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, said that Kenya has developed strong education links with China and is a formidable partner.

He hailed China's efforts to control the spread of the virus.

"Kenya can learn a lot from Chinese measures that have been put in place to defeat the coronavirus," said Mbeche.

Henry Kibet, chairman of the Kenya-China Alumni Association, said that the best that Kenya can do is to encourage and give moral support and confidence to the Chinese people as well as the Kenyan students currently in China.

"My plea to the whole world is to stand with China as it enters a new phase where more and more patients are recovering from the coronavirus," Kibet said.
Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, on November 2, 2018.

Thomas Peter/Getty

China cancelled the central event of its political calendar after it became impossible to hold a mass gathering because of the deadly coronavirus outbreak ravaging the country.

The annual meeting of the National People's Congress in Beijing was due to start on March, but will now be delayed to an unspecified time.

Experts say the risk of the disease spreading at the event is high.

New arrivals to Beijing are currently placed in a 14-day quarantine, making the logistics of a large-scale event almost impossible.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

China cancelled the central event of its political calendar because of the crippling impact of the coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than 2,500 people there.

China was due to kick off the annual meeting of the National People's Congress in Beijing, which symbolically approves the nation's political agenda for the year, on March 5.

But China's state TV said on Monday that the event is now postponed, Reuters reported. Its new date has yet to be decided.

A doctor examines a patient who is infected by the coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province.

STR/AFP via Getty Images

According to The Guardian, this is the first time the event has been delayed since the Cultural Revolution of the 1970s.

The delay also means that the Chinese People's Political Consultative Process  China's top political advisory body  is postponed, The Associated Press reported. The events run together and are collectively known as the Two Sessions.

Early in the progress of the outbreak, commentators predicted that if the disease kept worsening then the event would likely have to be scrapped.

All people who return to Beijing from other parts of the country are currently subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine, which would make the logistics of a large, national event almost impossible.

Nonetheless, formally abandoning their plans is a stark move that makes clear the authorities there could not exert sufficient control over the virus to protect the gathering.

Story continues

The standing committee of the Congress met earlier on Monday before making the decision.

Journalists observe during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress in China.

Getty Images/ChinaFotoPress

More than 5,000 usually delegates gather for the event.

An anonymous source familiar with the organization of the events last week told the South China Morning Post that the meetings would be an unacceptable health risk, Business Insider's Mia Jankowicz reported.

"The health risk of convening the annual sessions early next month would be too high when the coronavirus outbreak has not yet been effectively contained," they said.

"The risk of cross infections would be very high for nearly 8,000 people  as well as staff responsible for administering the meetings, under the same roof of the Great Hall of the People."

Ling Li, a lecturer on Chinese politics at the University of Vienna, told Agence France-Presse before the decision was made that China deciding not to delay it would be seen as "unreasonable and signal a desperate effort of the authorities to keep up the appearance of political normality, which is not there."

Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital, where the patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus are being treated, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 20, 2020.

Reuters/Stringer/File Photo

Dorothy Solinger, a Chinese politics expert at the University of California at Irvine, also told AFP it would be a "smart move to postpone."

"Look at the message that sends," she said. "We (the government) are putting all our effort into combatting the virus. We don't have the time to hold these meetings now."

The coronavirus has now infected more than 70,000 people in China, and has spread to at least 29 other countries.

The outbreak has been a political challenge for China's ruling party, and has caused some in China to call for freedom of speech protections.

Read the original article on Business Insider
by Wang Zhicheng

Yesterday there were 150 deaths and 409 new infected. As of today, non-Wuhan residents without coronavirus symptoms can leave the city, isolated for nearly a month. Guangdong lowers the alert level. But Wuhan's doctors warn: recovered people can be healthy carriers of the virus.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese health authorities have announced this morning that yesterday there were 150 other coronavirus victims and another 409 newly infected. To date, the total is 2595 deaths, including two in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan. The total number of infected is 77262, including 74 in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 28 in Taiwan. 24757 have recovered.

All yesterday's deaths occurred in Hubei, the epicenter of the epidemic, minus one death in Hainan.

The authorities in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, have decided to loosen the isolation measures effective January 23. From today, non-residents who do not exhibit coronavirus symptoms and who have not had contact with infected people can leave the city. However, due to the blockade imposed on all communication routes, transport is still in a precarious situation. But after only three hours, an order came to reassert the isolation of the city, canceling the openings that apparently were taken without the permission of the higher authorities.

Guangdong Province also has lowered the alert from level 1 to level 2 today. Guangdong is the second most affected province, after Hubei, with 1345 cases of infections and six deaths. The authorities hope that people will be able to resume work and that the damage caused to the economy by closing their factories for almost a month will be reduced.

In any case, the authorities continue to warn the inhabitants, asking them not to participate in unnecessary rallies. For two days, the Wuhan authorities have decided to quarantine all the people who appear healed for 14 days: some of them have had a relapse. Some Wuhan doctors have expressed serious concern since they discovered that many of the recovered patients can be healthy carriers of the virus.
United States President Donald Trumps expansion of the public charge rule broadens the criteria the government can use to deny an immigrant US entry or legal status. After Trumps proposal was blocked by several federal courts, a narrowly divided Supreme Court sided with him in late January. The so-called final rule takes effect on February 24. Some say it makes it easier for government officials to deny legal status to low-income immigrants who use or are deemed likely at any time to use certain public benefits.

Heres whats new, what benefits are included and what the experts say about Trumps final rule.

What is the public charge rule?

A version of the public charge rule has been on the books in the US since 1882. It was used to deny US entry to any person unable to take care of himself or herself without becoming a public charge. While that federal law did not provide any definition of a public charge, officials took several factors into account, including an immigrants willingness to work.

Whats new about Trumps final rule change?

Trumps final rule replaces guidelines in place since 1999. It recategorises several non-cash health-related programmes as heavily weighted negative factors that deem an individual a public charge, or cost to the US government. The final rule gives US immigration officials a broad range of factors to determine whether an individual applying for entry or a green card, now or at any time, will require public assistance. These include age, health, family status, assets, resources, finances, education and skills.

What non-cash benefits are included?

For the first time, non-cash benefits will be used to determine whether someone is or may become a public charge. Immigration officials can now deny a green card to an individual receiving non-cash benefits like US government subsidies that assist with healthcare, food and housing. These benefits include non-cash health programmes such as Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, subsidised health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps. A legal immigrant in the US receiving these benefits for more than 12 months out of the last three years may be deemed a public charge and denied permanent status such as a green card.

Is anyone exempt from the final rule?

Yes, children, those receiving disability benefits, and pregnant women are among those excluded from the final rule. Also exempt are refugees, asylum seekers, and Afghans and Iraqis with special immigrant visas.

Why should non-immigrants care?

The final rule can potentially cause 10 million noncitizens to disenroll from public benefit programmes, according to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI). These noncitizen immigrants live with millions of US citizens, among them children.

Everyone benefits when all people have their basic needs met and can access public services, from going to the doctor when sick to reporting crime, Hamutal Bernstein, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute, told Al Jazeera.

Has the final rule affected communities yet?

Experts warn that expansion to the preceding public charge rule has already had chilling effects. The Urban Institute found that one in seven adults in immigrant families did not participate in a non-cash benefit programme in 2018 when the final rule was first unveiled. Moreover, one in five adults in low-income immigrant families did not seek a non-cash benefit programme also for fear of risking future visa status.

Will some ethnic groups be more impacted?

Latinos, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will be disproportionately affected by the final rule, according to MPI. More than 16 million people live in benefit-receiving families with at least one Latino noncitizen. And three million live in families with at least one Asian American and Pacific Islander noncitizen.

Does the rule accurately predict migrant productivity?

Most immigrants receiving public assistance use it to supplement their salaries, MPI found. Its research notes that 63 percent of noncitizens between 16 to 64 years of age receiving at least one public benefit are employed, compared with 51 percent of the US-born population.

The fact that someone works one, two or three jobs and still needs benefits to survive doesnt make them lazy, it makes them the working poor, Reaz H Jafri, immigration lawyer at Withersworldwide, told Al Jazeera.

Investing in immigrants pays off, according to the New American Economy [File: Bloomberg]

While on average, first-generation immigrants receive more benefits than the native-born generation, investing in them pays dividends. According to the New American Economy (NAE), a research and advocacy organisation, 43.8 percent of all Fortune 500 companies were founded by an immigrant or the child of immigrants.

Is the final rule unfair to low-income people?

Yes, Andrew Lim, director of quantitative research at NAE, told Al Jazeera. People who are worse off in their home countries immigrate to the US for the American Dream. Essentially, what the Trump administration is saying is heres a bar and you have to jump over it,' Lim said. But immigrants come here for a better life, and being on food stamps forever is just not a part of that plan.

Is the final rule part of a global trend?

Some Western governments, including top destinations for immigrants, are tightening their immigration policies. A post-Brexit United Kingdom recently announced plans to adopt a points-based system to end low-skilled migration. One way to rack up points in the UK is to have a job that pays at least 25,600 pounds ($33,171) a year. Germany is also looking to introduce a points-based system to attract only high-skilled workers.

We are sending a message that we dont want poor people and that they are less worthy of us, which sadly appeals to the lowest common denominator among us, Jafri, the immigration lawyer, said.

Dont we want to attract hardworking people?
Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella touted the new India cloud partnership with Reliance Industries as he shared centre-stage with its chairman Mukesh Ambani at an event in Indias financial capital on Monday.

Microsoft struck a 10-year deal with Reliance in 2019, committing to power the oil-to-telecoms conglomerates data centres with its Azure cloud.

Weve been working with Reliance across the entire stack - everything from what they are going to be doing with Azure in their own data centres and how they will extend it, said India-born Nadella at the event in Mumbai, where he began the first leg of his India tour.

Its sort of a great example of a business leader and a company which is in very diverse sectors to take a platform approach, to use technology to create more technology.

The executives did not provide specific details about their growth plans.

Were very excited about the partnership that Jio (Reliances telecoms unit) and Microsoft will have and I think that will be, as we look at this decade, a defining partnership, Ambani said.

During a keynote speech earlier, Nadella emphasised the need for businesses to build their own technology at a time digital services are transforming all industries, and even homes.

Nadella visits his home country just weeks after telling Buzzfeed News that Indias new citizenship law saddened him and was just bad.

Indias Citizenship Amendment Act, which paves a way for minorities from neighbouring Muslim-majority nations of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to gain citizenship, has sparked weeks of protests.

Critics say that the law, combined with a proposed national register of citizens, will discriminate against Indias Muslims minority.

Nadella, who did not broach political issues at Mondays event, will also travel to Bengaluru and New Delhi.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 01:22:45|Editor: yan

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BANGKOK, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that Thai exports grew 3.35 percent in January 2020, the first turnaround in six months, mainly due to oil and gold export.

The ministry's Trade Policy and Strategy Office said the rise was due to the results of positive sentiment from the Phase-1 trade deal between the U.S. and China.

Exports of products related to U.S.-China tariff measures, such as computers and components expanded in both the U.S. and Chinese markets, the office said.

In terms of export destination, Thailand's exports to the two major trading partners grew favorably at 9.9 and 5.2 percent, respectively.

Additionally, exports to China, countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Middle East rose 5.2 percent, 3.8 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Jerusalem  Mon, February 24, 2020 18:20 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20664ca79 2 World #Palestine,#Israel,rocket,attack,Gaza Free

Islamic Jihad fired a further volley of rockets and mortars from Gaza towards Israel Monday, following a flare-up between the group and the Jewish state that triggered school, road and train closures in southern Israel.

Israel's army said in a statement that 20 "projectiles" had been fired from the Palestinian enclave on Monday, 18 of them intercepted by its air defence systems.

Israeli police images showed that at least one of the projectiles landed in an empty children's playground.

On Sunday, in response to Israel's killing of a militant along the border, Islamic Jihad launched more than 20 rockets from Gaza into Israel.

Israel's military said it responded to the rockets with airstrikes targeting "terror sites" throughout Gaza as well as near the Syrian capital.

The Damascus strike killed two Islamic Jihad fighters and four other Iran-backed militants allied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and the Tehran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Israel rarely confirms responsibility for such strikes, but did so on Sunday, describing the target as a base "used as a hub" for Islamic Jihad activities in Syria.

- Schools, roads closed -

Israel took a series of precautions amid the rocket fire from Gaza.

The education ministry ordered 65,000 students in towns near Gaza to stay home, postponing exams at universities in Ashkelon, Sderot and Netivot.

The transport ministry cancelled trains between Ashkelon and Beersheba, a major southern city roughly 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Gaza.

The military said Zikim Beach on the Mediterranean Sea just north of Gaza had been closed to visitors.

Sunday's fighting was the most intense between Israel and Islamic Jihad since November, when an Israeli airstrike killed Rasmi Abu Malhous, described as a senior group commander.

That strike also killed nine members of a Palestinian family unrelated to the armed group, and was followed by a three-day conflict that left 35 Palestinians dead and more than 100 wounded, according to official figures.

There were no Israeli fatalities.

Islamic Jihad is allied with Hamas, the Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007.

But it has not accepted the informal truce Hamas has agreed with Israel in exchange for an easing of the crippling blockade on Gaza.

Hamas and Israel last fought a full-scale war in 2014, but smaller flare-ups are relatively common.

- Bulldozed -

The latest escalation with Islamic Jihad came after Israel's military said Sunday it had killed a militant in Gaza who had tried to plant an explosive device near the border fence.

Israel later confirmed that it extracted the militant's body with a bulldozer.

A video emerged later on social media, which was authenticated by AFP, showing a bulldozer approaching a body while a group of young, apparently unarmed men, were trying to retrieve it.

The sound of gunfire is heard and the men ultimately run away as the bulldozer scoops up the body.

Israel's hawkish Defence Minister Naftali Bennett has pursued a policy of retaining the bodies of militants from Gaza as bargaining chips to pressure Hamas, which has held those of two Israeli soldiers since 2014.

Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, speaking before a weekly cabinet meeting, called the bulldozer incident "a heinous crime."

"(Israel's) occupation kills Palestinians in cold blood and with images that should shame humanity, and in violation of international law which Israel breaches day and night," he said.
Pete Buttigieg was trolled by 'Black Voters Matter' activists as he tried to march in support of giving fast food workers a $15 minimum wage while campaigning in Charleston, South Carolina Monday.

Buttigieg was front and center as striking workers - dressed to match the 'Golden Arches' in red and yellow - marched to a McDonald's in the southern city. The group even paraded through the restaurant's drive-thru.

But Buttigieg's appearance attracted its own protest, as a group of 'Black Voters Matter' demonstrators chanted 'Pete can't be our president, where was $15 in South Bend?' in the direction of the 2020 Democratic candidate.

Pete Buttigieg joined a group of fast food workers who were marching Monday in Charleston, South Carolina, in an effort to be able to unionize and get a $15 minimum wage

Pete Buttigieg had to shout through is remarks because a group of 'Black Voters Matter' activists showed up to the union demonstration and heckled him

The group of Black Voters Matter demonstrators are on a bus tour of South Carolina this week and chanted, ''Pete can't be our president, where was $15 in South Bend?'

Pete Buttigieg is trying to improve his standing with black Democratic voters, as South Carolina Democrats head to the polls Saturday

After listening to several McDonald's and Wendy's workers speak, Buttigieg shouted through his remarks as about a dozen 'Black Voters Matter' protesters continued heckling him.

'You deserve a union and we stand with you,' the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana said. 'No matter who you support, I support you, we support you, we stand together and we will not rest until one job is enough in the United States of America.'

'Thank you for standing up, thank you for inspiring me,' Buttigieg said before trying to make his way to his waiting SUV.

The 2020 candidate was followed by droves of reporters - and the 'Black Voters Matter' group, who continued their chant.

They kept it going even after Buttigieg's campaign vehicle sped away.

Brittany Smalls, the Pennsylvania coordinator for Black Voters Matter, said she didn't believe Buttigieg truly supported a $15 an hour minimum wage because he didn't enact one in South Bend.

'And we cannot have people come into our neighborhoods, pimping our people and wanting photo-ops and really are not for the cause of raising [the minimum wage to] $15 an hour,' said Smalls. 'If your own city has not raised the wage to $15 an hour, how canyou advocate for something?' she added.

A spokesperson for Buttigieg's campaign pointed out that the mayor's hands were tied thanks to Indiana's state laws.

Democrats in state government have tried multiple times to raise the state minimum wage but have been unsuccessful.

The Atlanta-based Black Voters Matter, which is technically non-partisan despite their anti-Buttigieg fervor, kicked off a South Carolina bus tour on Saturday and will hold events around the state until Saturday's Democratic presidential primary.

The South Carolina primary is the first test of presidential candidates' strength in the south, where the population of black voters is a bigger chunk of the electorate than it is in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, where contests have been held so far.
(Natural News) A total of 16 passengers from the infamous Diamond Princess cruise ship, 11 of them Americans, have reportedly been moved to hospitals in the United States, including four who were taken to the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.

Sacred Heart was chosen for these specific four passengers due to its outfit with secured isolation rooms, Sacred Heart being one of just 10 hospitals in the country with these special units. The others, meanwhile, are at currently undisclosed locations.

The Spokane Regional Health District says that all of the arriving patients at Sacred Heart have tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), according to local Spokane news outlet KREM. Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz told the media that they all arrived at the Spokane International Airport from Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento, California.

As for the 12 other patients sent to other locations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesman Scott Pauley declined to tell The Associated Press the names of them all.

It is no risk to the general population, Lutz stated during a recent press conference. I will emphasize that as much as I possibly can, he added, noting that health officials have reached a consensus that the risk of other people contracting the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) in the United States is low.

It was the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that chose Sacred Heart as the location for these four individuals, which was originally five individuals before the agency made a last-minute change. Health officials have not yet indicated whether any of these patients contracted the virus in China or in the U.S.

As has become the norm, all of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) patients whove been transferred to Sacred Heart or elsewhere will now be in containment for two weeks, despite the fact that the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) has an incubation period of up to 24 days.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how this whole coronavirus situation has the markings of an intentionally designed house of cards that was designed to induce an economic collapse:

Meanwhile, the CDC cleared 180 others at Travis Air Force Base to leave and join the general public

As all of this was happening, the CDC cleared the remaining 180 people who were being held at Travis Air Force Base to go back home. Two other groups, reports indicate, were also slated to be cleared as having completed their time in quarantine.

Back at Sacred Heart, officials there explained that the staff members caring for those now in isolation will always be wearing fluid-impermeable gowns, gloves, and N-95 medical face masks with face shields, and will also have on their persons powered air-purifying respirators.

The level of personal protective equipment we are wearing is in alignment with the CDC guidelines they have put out for caring for these patients, so that includes airborne protection, mucus membrane protection, and contact precautions, stated Christa Arguinchona, manager of the hospitals Special Pathogens Unit.

The most recent numbers issued by the Washington state Department of health show that nearly 800 people throughout the state are currently under public health supervision due to the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19). All of them are being monitored as if they have the disease.

We have the highest confidence in the medical professionals assisting with the care and transport for these people and we remain committed to assisting our partners in Spokane as needed, reads a statement issued by the Department of Health.

Be sure to check out the all-new Pandemic.news for more of the latest Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) coverage.

Sources for this article include:

APNews.com

KREM.com

NaturalNews.com
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would like to see Russia and Ukraine mend their relationship, which has been badly damaged by Moscow's seizure of Crimea and the ongoing war between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of eastern Ukraine.



"Well, I'd like to see them come together. I think if they came together in the sense that they got along with each other, that would be a great thing," he told reporters on February 23 before departing on Marine Force One for his maiden voyage to India.



A reporter had asked Trump to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent accusations that other countries are trying split neighbors Russia and Ukraine apart, saying the two predominantly Slavic and Orthodox Christian countries would be a world superpower if they came together.



In response, Trump added that "it would be a great thing for the world.... If Ukraine and Russia could work out some agreement where they get along, to me that would be very good."



About 7 percent of Ukraine's territory has remained beyond Kyiv's control since 2014, when Russia occupied and annexed Crimea and backed separatists who seized parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, igniting a conflict that has killed more than 13,000 people.



Russia denies being a party to the Donbas conflict and insists it is a civil war.



Kyiv has accused Russia of trying to further destabilize the country by sowing discord through propaganda and disinformation, frequent cyberattacks, and using energy as a coercive tool.



Both countries are embroiled in several international lawsuits related to debt, trade, and seized assets.
(Natural News) The Cascade Mountain Range extends from British Columbia in Canada through Washington State, Oregon and Northern California. This beautiful mountain range supplies a lot of freshwater not just to the state of Washington but also to the rest of the United States. This freshwater is now under threat from corporations that want to bottle up the water and ship it out for their personal profit.

The Washington State Senate wants to make sure the states natural resources remain within the state. They just passed a bill, SB 6278, titled Concerning water withdrawals for commercial bottled water production 28-20 (28 Democrats for, 19 Republicans and 1 Democrat against) that aims to ban new permits for water bottling operations. While it still needs to pass the Washington House of Representatives, if signed into law, the bill will go into effect retroactively. It would apply to all new permits filed after January 1, 2019.

Water health campaigners around the state have hailed the passage of the bill, declaring it a breakthrough. Washington State is carving the path towards a groundbreaking solution, said Mary Grand in a statement. Grand is the director of Food & Water Actions Public Water For All campaign. This legislation would ban one of the worst corporate water abuses  the extraction of local water supplies in plastic bottles shipped out of watersheds and around the country. (Related: Coca-Cola rolls out a recycled bottle made with a tiny fraction of all the plastic waste the unethical corporation has dumped on the world.)

Corporations continue to profit off and poison the water

Bottled water is the most popular packaged beverage product in the US by volume. But residents of places where the water is sourced arent too happy with the businesses. In Southwest Washington, the company Crystal Geyser has been pumping and packaging 400 gallons of bottled water every minute. SB 6278 would affect their operations, making them pack up and leave the state.

The bill recently went through its first reading in the Washington House of Representatives on February 20 and is currently in committee. Its scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources on February 26. The language of the legislation specifically dictates that any use of water for the commercial production of bottled water is deemed to be detrimental to the public welfare and the public interest. This is happening across the country, and many local activists have been warning state officials that the bottling companies may end up depleting many local aquifers.

I was jolted to the core to realize the depth and breadth and magnitude of how they have lawyered up in these small towns to take advantage of water rights, said Washington State Senator Reuven Carlyle in an interview. Carlyle, a Democrat, is the primary sponsor of SB 6278. The fact that we have incredibly loose, if virtually nonexistent, policy guidelines around this is shocking and a categorical failure.

Washingtons proposal isnt unique. Both Michigan and Maine have also introduced legislation aiming to place restrictions on bottled water companies and to protect their states respective freshwater from commercial use. Local ballot measures protecting natural water resources have also passed in Montana and in Oregon, which has also scrapped a deal to open a plant with Nestle, citing environmental concerns. In Florida, an online petition specifically targeting Nestle garnered more than 83,000 signatures and aimed to stop them from bottling water in Ginnie Springs.

According to the Center for Environmental Law & Policy, water bottling companies have taken a keen interest in setting up shop in Washington state. The establishment of these plants would allow Washingtons water to be taken not for the benefit of the people, but of the corporations that may not give back to the communities they take the water from.

Washingtons waters belong to the people of Washington, they said in a statement.

Sources include:

EcoWatch.com

Apps.Leg.WA.gov

TheGuardian.com

Edition.CNN.com
GUYSBOROUGH, N.S.The inquiry investigating why a former soldier killed three family members and himself is hearing testimony today from a New Brunswick doctor who prescribed him medical cannabis.

Dr. Paul Smith, who specializes in treating military members with PTSD, provided the inquiry with a detailed explanation of his practice and the various uses of medical marijuana.

Smith said he prefers his patients to use cannabis oil instead of smoking marijuana, because the results from smoking are unpredictable.

The family physician said Lionel Desmond  diagnosed with PTSD and major depression in 2011 after serving in Afghanistan  was smoking cannabis more than the doctor would have liked when he was receiving treatment in the summer of 2015.

The inquiry has heard Desmond told Smith the drug had helped reduce his anxiety and depression, while virtually eliminating his suicidal thoughts.

However, the inquiry has also heard Desmond stopped using medical marijuana a few months later, which is when he asked Smith to sign off on a medical assessment form for reinstatement of a firearms licence.

Though Smith was aware that Desmond was experiencing marital problems, Smiths lawyer has told the inquiry he felt comfortable completing the form indicating that he had no concerns that Mr. Desmond posed a safety risk to himself or others.

On Jan. 3, 2017, Desmond bought a Soviet-era SKS 7.62 carbine, which he used later that night to kill his 31-year-old wife Shanna, their 10-year-old daughter Aaliyah and his 52-year-old mother Brenda inside the familys home in Upper Big Tracadie, N.S.

He then turned the gun on himself.

Read more about:
US President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled plans for the sale of military helicopters worth more than $3 billion to India, saying Washington should be New Delhis premier defence partner as his country revitalises military alliances across the world.

Addressing the Namaste Trump rally at Motera Stadium, Trump dwelt at length on the burgeoning defence ties between the two countries, and said the US had spent $2.5 trillion to rebuild its armed forces and make it the most powerful military anywhere in the world.

Defence and security ties between India and the US have grown sharply in recent decades as foreign secretary Harsh Shringla said last week that New Delhi has acquired American military hardware worth more than $18 billion to significantly enhance defence preparedness.

Also read: Donald Trump promises united front against terrorism

I am pleased to announce that our representatives will sign deals to sell over $3 billion in the absolute finest, state-of-the-art helicopters to the Indian armed forces, Trump said. I believe the US should be Indias premier defence partner... Together, we will defend our sovereignty, security and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region for our children..., he said.

Though Trump did not give details of the deals he spoke of, it has been widely reported that the two countries are expected to sign a $2.6-billion deal for 24 MH-60R helicopters for the Indian Navy, and a follow-on order for six Apache attack helicopters worth some $800 million.

Defence ties between the two sides have remained robust with the militaries of India and the US conducting a series of exercises whose scope and complexity have increased over the years. Experts say these exercises have also helped increase interoperability between the two militaries.

Trump, too, spoke of the importance of defence cooperation, saying the critical partnership took a major turn when the US military and brave Indian armed forces conducted the first ever air, land and sea exercises called Tiger Triumph. He said the US is keen on providing India some of the best and most-feared military equipment, ranging from aeroplanes and missiles to ships, advanced air defence systems, and armed and unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles.

Also read: Is Trumps trip to India a message for Pakistan? | Analysis

Centre for Air Power Studies additional director general Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) said there was a transformation taking place in the Indian military from Russian-origin equipment to that from the US. While it is good that relatively modern technologies are being acquired (relative, because no country gives the latest), it also should serve as a sobering thought that the situation is proof of failure of our indigenisation drive. The geo-political cards need to be played with dexterity to leverage these extremely expensive purchases to serve as stepping stones to develop home grown tech - there is no other way but to go desi...
Police arrested a 26-year-old Lincoln man for allegedly swerving to collide with an oncoming Chevy Tahoe at Ninth and Adams streets just before midnight Friday.

Brent Taylor was booked into jail on suspicion of two counts of second-degree assault.

Officer Erin Spilker said two women  a 40-year-old passenger in Taylor's Jeep and a 47-year-old woman driving the Tahoe with which he collided  were taken to a hospital for their injuries.

She said Taylor had left the scene but officers found him nearby with injuries and intoxicated.

He was ticketed with driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license and willful reckless driving.

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Malaysian was in turmoil Monday after leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim denounced a "betrayal" by coalition partners he said were trying to bring down the government, two years after it stormed to victory.

Anwar's "Pact of Hope" alliance was thrown into crisis after his rivals within the coalition and opposition politicians met at the weekend reportedly to try to form a new government.

Speculation is mounting that Anwar, who had been the presumptive successor to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, and his lawmakers would be left out of any new coalition, ending his hopes of becoming premier any time soon.

According to reports, the proposed new government includes Mahathir's party, the United Malays National Organisation -- the party of scandal-tainted ex-leader Najib Razak, which was ousted at the 2018 polls -- and a hardline Islamist group.

However, it was still unclear Monday morning whether the push to form a new government would succeed and Mahathir is yet to comment publicly.

Anwar said late Sunday he was "shocked" at the bid to topple the ruling coalition, describing it as a "betrayal, because there has been a promise (to hand over power to me)".

Anwar -- a former oppositive icon who was jailed for years on widely-criticised sodomy charges -- was expected later Monday to meet the king, who must give his assent to the formation of a new government.

He had teamed up with former nemesis Mahathir ahead of the 2018 elections to oust the government of Najib, who had become embroiled in the massive 1MDB graft scandal.

They led an alliance to an unexpected victory against a coalition that had ruled Malaysia uninterrupted for over six decades, and 94-year-old Mahathir agreed to eventually hand power to Anwar.

But Mahathir, in his second stint as premier after first holding the role from 1981 to 2003, has repeatedly refused to say when he will transfer power, stoking tensions within the four-party coalition.

The alliance's popularity had plummeted as it was accused of failing to raise living standards and protect the rights of the ethnic Malay Muslim majority, and it lost a string of local polls.

After the weekend meetings, analysts said the government stood little chance of surviving.

James Chin, a Malaysia expert at the University of Tasmania, said many Muslims were unhappy with the government and believed the argument put forward by opponents that it was being dominated by ethnic Chinese politicians.

"They want Mahathir in power, and they want Malay supremacy," he told AFP. Race is a highly sensitive issue in Malaysia. About 60 percent of the population is Muslim but it is also home to substantial ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

Many were angry, however, that the democratically elected government, which came to power partly on a pledge to push through much-needed reforms, could be replaced without an election.

The people "will not agree to or cooperate with any 'backdoor' government formed out of the selfish, self-preservation agenda of certain MPs," said a statement from a group of leading activists and academics.

Some called for a snap poll, although politicians appeared to be trying to form a new government without holding an election.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Scientists have developed "soft robotic linguine fingers" to safely scoop up deep-sea jellyfish when conducting undersea research.

The technology allows for researchers to study jellyfish without causing them significant stress or physical harm and the tools could one day be used to help rehabilitate stroke victims.

A study of the robotic fingers, published in the journal Current Biology, describes how soft robotics like these could transform ocean exploration.

Marine biologists currently use rigid robotics to take DNA swabs or capture underwater creatures in deep oceans, however this can cause great harm to fragile organisms like jellyfish

"Using genomics, we confirm that newly developed soft robots are a kinder way to handle some of the slipperiest organisms: jellyfish," said Michael Tessler, a post-doctoral fellow at the American Museum of Natural History who was involved in the research.

"With new technologies we can often make massive advances on techniques, like deep-sea animal handling."

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

Co-author Nina Sinatra added: "By expanding our toolbox of materials, engineers can unlock exciting and clever solutions to challenges that would notbe tractable for conventional robots."

The research is part of the nascent field of soft robotics, which ditches rigid parts typically found in traditional robots in order to deal with uncertain and changing tasks and environments.

Marine biologists adopted soft robotic linguine fingers' as tools to conduct their undersea research (Jason Jaacks)

Beyond interacting with delicate organisms, the researchers say the latest tools could be used for applications that directly benefit humans.

"They could be used to harvest fruits from trees without bruising them, rehabilitate the muscles of stroke patients, and many other things that rigid-bodied robots are just too clunky and overpowered to sccomplish today," said co-author Rob Wood.
A meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland will be held in Warsaw (Poland) on March 23-25, 2020.

The date and venue of the meeting were agreed by Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk and Vice Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Ryszard Terlecki, the parliaments press service reported.

"According to the agreement reached by the co-chairs of the Assembly during their meeting in the town of Krasiczyn (the Republic of Poland), the meeting will be held in Warsaw on March 23-25, 2020. The parties also exchanged views on the content of the future meeting of Ukrainian and Polish MPs," the report reads.

The agenda of the Warsaw meeting will include, in particular, the issues of interaction between the two countries in the field of Ukraines integration into the EU and NATO, development of inter-regional cooperation, implementation of joint projects, cooperation under the Three Seas Initiative, legal and social protection of Ukrainian labor migrants working in the Republic of Poland.

ish
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Census notices will begin arriving in the mail in less than three weeks, a key point in the once-a-decade process first undertaken in 1790 to count everyone in the United States.

From planning through completion, census 2020 will cost $15.6 billion - or almost $50 a person.

The numbers produced not only will determine representation in Congress and the allocation of billions of tax dollars for any number of government programs, the official count will also be the basis for nearly every population-based private survey conducted in the United States.

Leading the effort is Census Director Steven Dillingham, confirmed by the Senate in January 2019 after previously serving as director of the bureaus of justice statistics and then transportation statistics.

Dillingham was in Cleveland this past weekend to promote the count of young children, a group researchers say have historically been undercounted. After speaking to Cleveland school children Friday, he sat down with cleveland.com to answer a variety of questions on other census topics.

Q: What is the most important thing people should know about the need of completing the census?

A: Please answer the questionnaire. You have three different choices on the way that you answer. If you dont answer, then we do come knock on the door. But we prefer people self respond in the method they are most comfortable with, either the internet, or by phone, or on paper.

Q: What assurances can you provide to people who worry about privacy?

A: We have an excellent track record. We have got the strongest laws in the nation. If anyone was to violate those by revealing your information, they could go to prison for a long time. More importantly, they (census workers) are professionals. They will protect your information. They have since the laws were passed in the 50s.

In addition to that, we have all the available protections in our computer systems, our data storage and in our devices.  Furthermore, its a very elaborate process to get access. For example, I dont have access to the data and Im the director of the agency. You really have to have a need to know and then you have to be monitored.  The data is protected for 72 years.

Census director Steven Dillingham speaks to kindergarten students at Wade Park School in Cleveland.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

Q: Obviously you want every household to fill out the census. It saves money and the census is going to be more accurate if everyone fills it out. Is there a way to count the people you dont end up reaching (or who dont complete the form)?

A: There are various populations that we call the hard to count or hard to reach. For some extreme examples, its the homeless.... Wherever those people are, we have procedures to reach them. We will send people out at night in pairs. ... If we can get certain indicators, we have some very scientific ways of completing the picture for them.

For other people, we do have administrative records that we will check against. A good example might be a home where a college student is in another state. The college student might report near the campus like they are supposed to if they are living there. But the parent might include the person on their census. We have administrative records where we can check the information and prevent any duplication.

Q: What is your biggest concern? We are only a few weeks out.

A: The biggest concern is if anything is going to happen between now and then that could in any way delay us or impact us. But we have planned this for 10 years. We have all these contingency plans with tests in our systems. Everything is looking very good  We are very prepared to conduct this census. In fact, we are doing it in Alaska right now. But there are always unknowns.

Q: Since you were confirmed by the Senate unanimously, do you think that alleviates some of concerns (of partisanship) when it comes to the census?

A: I was confirmed unanimously by the Senate in 1990 for the Bureau of Justice Statistics and then they were kind enough to do it again for this job. I think Im the only person that anyone knows of that has headed three statistical agencies (Also the Bureau of Transportation Statistics). Im not sure what it means, but it shows at least that I have an affinity for numbers and healthy respect.  There is no room for partisanship in the census. Its a bipartisan operation. Almost every member of Congress is a partner.

Q: There was a lot of controversy last year over whether there would be a citizenship question. There is not going to be a citizenship question. Are you concerned about any leftover concerns that people might have had about that. Maybe people wont fill out the census?

A: We think it is important to stress the positive and not revisit what may have been a past concern. We are very, very pleased. Last year we did some research that indicated the response rate was basically the same among people who were for or against the inclusion of that question. We dont think it will be an obstacle.

Were doing the census as it has been done in the past. At the end of the year we will provide the president with our total count of the population living within the United States. He will then transmit the data to Congress.

Q: Speak to the massive nature of preparing for a census every 10 years.

A: We call it the largest civilian mobilization since World War II. It happens every 10 years. We will be hiring from 320,000 to 500,000 people on a part-time basis to help conduct the census, thats a mammoth operation.

Census Director Steven Dillingham delivers the message that Everyone Counts in reading to students Friday at Wade Park School in Cleveland.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

Q: Whats your favorite part of this job?

A: To me, its the most interesting job in the world. The people in the Census Bureau, I dont know the numbers, but we have a relatively low rate of turnover because people really love being part of building knowledge. Its a knowledge development business that helps the country in so many ways.

Q: Anything you would like to add?

A: There is one thing I want to stress, the importance of our partners all across the country. They make the difference. We will have more than 300,000 (community) partners in the country helping us. We have got more than 10,000 (local and state) complete count committees. This is in fact a national, state and community level exercise.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. Find other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral or use this link for other census 2020 coverage.

Read previous stories

Census 2020 Q&A: Who gets counted, new chance to complete online, iPhone 8-equipped enumerators and more

Tackling a historic undercount, census director tells Cleveland school children to make sure theyre counted in census 2020

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan stand to lose U.S. House seats after 2020 census, analysis shows

Will you get a paper census form in 2020, or be asked to complete census online?

Census 2020 preparations ramp up with opening of offices in Cleveland, Akron

Aging Ohio: 2020 census projected to show Ohioans age 60 and older will outnumber those under 20
Hard-Liners Take All Parliamentary Seats in Tehran; Full Vote Totals Still Not Released

By RFE/RL February 23, 2020

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 Tehran's 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/RL's Radio Farda, AFP, dpa, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/conservatives- appear-ahead-as-votes-counted-in-iran-s- parliamentary-elections/30448660.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.

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Its time for an intervention. Past time, really, but now will do. Waiting, however, even a bit, will likely result in disaster.

Without a quick and dramatic turn, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the septuagenarian socialist from Vermont who continually rants about the need for a revolution, will soon become an unstoppable force in the Democratic Party's presidential nominating contest, amassing so significant a delegate lead that he'll not be able to be caught. We saw this movie, on the Republican side, just four years back. A big presidential field. An outsider who hadn't even been a member of the party. And everyone afraid to move against him. Until it was too late. Don't Democrats remember how then-candidate Donald Trump vanquished his rivals? And what happened to the once-Grand Old Party as a result?

They aren't acting like they do.

Something needs to happen to shake things up. Now. How about a joint statement from former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, the last three Democrats to get themselves elected president? There are worse ideas.

The strength that Sanders showed across varying demographic groups in Saturday's Nevada caucuses is worrying. If he can repeat that feat on Feb. 29, when South Carolina holds its primary, Democrats will be looking at a train wreck of their own making.

Just four years back, the Republican establishment, such as it was, stood idly by, in stunned silence, doing and saying nothing as Trump rose in the polls and began to accumulate delegates in early nominating contests. Surely, the onetime power brokers believed, what they were witnessing was anomalous and would soon enough pass.

How'd that work out?

Sanders is the Trump of the left. And his most-fervent supporters are much like those red-cap wearing Trump supporters. Their guy, and their guy alone, knows the way. Their guy tells it like it is. The system is rigged. And on and on they go, equally divorced from reality.

Sanders, like Trump, is a populist, stoking fear and anger and resentment among his followers. Sanders, like Trump, doesn't believe the rules apply to him. One example: After he suffered a heart attack just four months ago, Sanders promised to release his complete medical records. Instead, he put out a couple of letters from doctors attesting to his great health, and said that would have to be good enough.

Sanders, like Trump, is being supported by Russia. And when he was briefed by intelligence officials on that fact fully a month back, he didnt bother to say anything about it. After The Washington Post reported that Sanders is being supported by the Kremlin, he endeavored to muddy the waters by saying, We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign.

Maybe other countries? Sounds like something Trump might say, doesn't it?

Democrats won back the House in 2018 by running moderate candidates who focused on preserving the gains that came from Obamacare, not by promising revolution.

There's an obvious lesson there: Run moderates and talk about bread-and-butter issues, and Democrats win. So why, oh why, would the party nominate a man widely seen as a socialist?

On Friday night, on the eve of the Nevada caucuses, Sanders posted the following to Twitter:

"I've got news for the Republican establishment. I've got news for the Democratic establishment. They can't stop us."

Note to Sanders and his backers: the Republican establishment doesn't want to stop you. On the contrary, the Republican establishment is cheering you on.

Here was Trump, on Twitter, after Sanders' big win on Saturday:

"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. Don't let them take it away from you!"

Trump and the Republican Party want nothing more than to face "Crazy Bernie." Because Trump would crush him in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, all states the Democrats would need to win to have a chance in November. And Republicans in congressional races across the land would tie their opponents to Sanders and socialism, putting the Senate out of reach and imperiling Democrats' House majority.

If former Vice President Joe Biden can win in South Carolina, the Democrats will have a race on their hands again. If not, it could be all over but the shouting.

As such, those who have no chance of winning the nomination -- here's looking at you, billionaire activist Tom Steyer -- should get out of the race and out of the way. Because sticking around divides up the moderate vote, boosting Sanders. And helping Sanders aids Trump.

Democratic Party elders remain silent at the nations great peril.
He alleged that the ruling party has been trying to go to the civic body polls without giving time to the BJP.

Kolkata: West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday took a swipe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not raising her demands for funds by meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi .

Threatening to move the court if the Trinamul Congress creates any anomaly over the Municipal Election, he alleged that the ruling party has been trying to go to the civic body polls without giving time to the BJP. On Banerjees recent letter to the PM seeking Rs 50,000 crores as the Centres dues to her government, the Midnapore BJP MP in Howrah asked, Why does not she visit when the Centre calls her?

He elaborated, She should go and tell face to face what she has to say. She sent the letter just to show us as if she has sought something. But I suspect if she wants something at all because accounts are sought when someone goes there. That is why she does not attend the meetings. Half of the funds, starting from environment to security, return without getting spent.

Ghosh added, These funds must be spent and the accounts of expenditure should be furnished also. The central government is waiting to disburse funds.

On the Municipal polls, he said, They want the Municipal polls be held anyhow so that other parties can not prepare themselves. But we want the polls to happen as per the rules. We will however move the court if any irregularity happens.

Hitting back to Ghosh, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said, When the PM came here, the CM met him. She placed her demands before him. Earlier she did the same in Delhi.

On the state BJP chiefs allegations against the Trinamul on the civic body polls, Hakim added, As a municipal affairs minister, I even do not know when the municipal polls would happen untill the election commission sends us any recommendation. But how could Ghosh know about it?
US President on Monday said India and America are in discussion for a "fantastic" trade agreement, which will be among the biggest ever made.

Addressing the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera Stadium here, Trump said that both the countries are in the early stages of discussion for an "incredible" trade agreement to reduce barriers of investments.

"Over the course of my visit, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and I will also discuss our efforts to expand the economic ties between our two countries. We will be making a very very major among the biggest ever made trade deals," he said.

"We are in the early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investments, between the US and India and I am optimistic that working together, the Prime Minister and I can reach a fantastic deal that's good and even great for both of our countries," Trump said, adding the Indian Prime Minister is a "very tough" negotiator.

The US president said that commerce between the two nations has increased by more than 40 per cent.

India is now a major market for American exports and the US is New Delhi's largest export market, he said.

Trump added a "booming" America is a great thing for India and also for the world and "that's why, we are so happy to announce that we have had the greatest economy ever in the history of the US".

"In the US, we have proven that the best way to attract jobs and opportunity is to reduce burdens on business, knock down barriers to new investments and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, red tape, regulations and taxes," he said.

Trump added that Prime Minister Modi has already made significant reforms in his country, and the world is looking forward for even more rapid improvement in India's business climate.

"Under his (Modi) leadership, he wants to do and he is doing this at a record pace," Trump added.

The remarks of the US president on trade agreement with India assumed significance as there were expectations of announcement of a deal during his visit.

Officials of both the countries are yet to resolve issues pertaining to politically sensitive agriculture, dairy, data protection and localisation, e-commerce and other sectors.

An official has said that the deal between the two countries should be mutually beneficial and should not compromise India's interest.

According to the official, the US was adding more to its list of demands as trade talks were progressing.

As the US is seeking greater market access for its dairy products, India has conveyed to them that dairy and milk products should not be derived from animals that are fed internal organs, blood meal, or tissues of ruminant origin as it would hurt sentiments of the society at large.

The US also wants greater market access for its farm goods like walnut and apple, removal of price cap on medical devices like coronary stents, significant removal of customs duty on 1,600 cc bikes, making it competitive for likes of Harley Davidson to enhance their footprints in Indian markets, cut on import duties on some information and communication technology products.

The US has also raised concerns over high trade deficit with India.

On the other hand, India is seeking resumption of export incentives by the US, under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme.

Under this programme, India had earlier exported goods worth USD 6.5 billion. So if the US would resume these incentives, it would seek greater market access equivalent to this amount at least.

Under GSP, India was exporting 1,900 items from sectors like chemicals and engineering. It was rolled back by the US last year.

India is also demanding cut in visa fee for domestic professionals, exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, and greater market access for its products from sectors such as agriculture, automobile, automobile components and engineering.

US President has time and again termed India as a 'tariff king', an allegation strongly opposed by India.

In June last year, India announced a hike in customs duties on as many as 28 US products, including almond, pulses and walnut, in response to higher tariffs imposed by Washington on Indian products like steel and aluminium.

The US has surpassed China to become India's top trading partner, showing greater economic ties between the two countries.

In 2018-19, India's exports to the US stood at USD 52.4 billion while imports were USD 35.5 billion. Trade deficit dipped from USD 21.3 billion in 2017-18 to USD 16.9 billion in 2018-19.

India received FDI worth USD 3.13 billion from the US in 2018-19, higher than USD 2 billion in 2017-18.

Generally in a free trade agreement, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on maximum number of goods traded between them.

Trump said that he is delighted to be joined by dozens of Indian women entrepreneurs who are helping to build India's future.

"They are great and natural entrepreneurs and I just say to the men be very careful, they are really good," he added.
By West Kentucky Star & WKCTC Staff Feb. 23, 2020 | 08:07 PM | PADUCAH

WKCTC's Read Across America, which is free and open to the public, is part of the National Endowment for the Arts annual awareness project to motivate and encourage every child across the country to celebrate reading and to observe the March 2 birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.





"We host this event each year to bring together local kids, teenagers and adults for a fun way to promote reading and literacy, and to encourage lifelong learning," said Megan Dotson, WKCTC reading program coordinator.





Participants can enjoy refreshments, listen to stories, play games, and make crafts during the free event. Each child will also receive a goodie bag.



For more information about the Read Across America event on the WKCTC campus, contact Megan Dotson at 270-534-3354 or megan.dotson@kctcs.edu.



West Kentucky Community and Technical College is hosting its annual Read Across America March 2 from 6-7:30 pm in Matheson Library.
"Trumps signature is exactly as the sine wave I was trying to generate in the oscillator during my engineering days."

All eyes were glued on US President's Air Force One as Donald Trump along with First Lady Melania Trump touched down at the airport in Ahmedabad on Monday, where they were received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Trumps joined Modi on a 22-km roadshow which was dotted by thousands of spectators, before heading to Sabarmati Ashram, where the President and First Lady paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

There, the two also tried their hands on the iconic charkha before Trump was gifted a marble replica of Gandhi jis 3 bandar (three monkeys).

Before checking off Motera Stadium from his list, Trump thanked Modi for the wonderful visit, calling the Indian PM his great friend.

To my great friend, Prime Minister Modi  thank you for this wonderful visit, the US president wrote in the visitor's diary of Sabarmati Ashram.

While Trump's warm message spread far across, it was his signature on the diary that caught the imagination of the Twitterati.

ECG? Sine wave? Only a chemist could decode Trump's scribble (read: sign) Twitter believed.

"To My great Friend Prime Minister Modi, Thank You for this wonderful Visit " : US President Trump's message in the visitor's book at Sabarmati Ashram pic.twitter.com/fXJEIkvBv1  All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) February 24, 2020

I showed Trump's signature to my pharmacist, he gave me medicines for 3 days. #TrumpInIndia pic.twitter.com/s40bMyUgip  Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 24, 2020

Once In childhood I did same signature like Donald trump but that time my friend called me a potential doctor .#NamasteyTrump pic.twitter.com/DjwrmYmAIu  JOSH  (@NobitakaDost) February 24, 2020

Donald Trump's signature looks like when someone scribbles to make a new pen work  #TrumpInIndia #TrumpIndiaVisit #NamasteyTrump pic.twitter.com/g14h6itkw2  Shaan Haider (@shaanhaider) February 24, 2020

Very gracious of Donald Trump to draw the design of Bandra-Worli sea link instead of his signature. #NamasteyTrump pic.twitter.com/LspkrwrqLN  Pratik (@fake_engineer7) February 24, 2020

GATE2021: find the rms value of trump's signature. Is it in half wave symmetry? (2 marks) pic.twitter.com/r7boxBMvHi  TomRosicky (@awkwardarm23) February 24, 2020

Trumps signature also looks like the Bandra-Worli sea link.   Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) February 24, 2020

Trumps signature is exactly as the sine wave I was trying to generate in the oscillator during my engineering days #TrumpIndiaVisit #TrumpInIndia pic.twitter.com/cN5rV3thYv  Mitesh (@Me2mitesh) February 24, 2020

Why does Trump's signature look like Durgam Cheruvu Hanging Bridge ?#TrumpIndiaVisit pic.twitter.com/jK3PPHoo3r  Jai Solanki (@ComicAccountant) February 24, 2020

Haan woh sabb toh badhiya hai ki Trump & Modi ji mil rahe in India but what's with Trump's signature looking like an electrocardiogram (ECG) test #TrumpInIndia pic.twitter.com/k0eQvNffnC   (@king_snow008) February 24, 2020
A newborn baby died after hospital staff had difficulty inserting a tube into his airway to assist his breathing.

Baby Nathan Kranjcec was not breathing when he was born at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin at 12.30am on June 5, 2017. He was pronounced dead 45 minutes later.

Parents Katarina and Valentino Kranjcec, originally from Croatia but living in Dublin, said the loss of their first baby together left them devastated.

"We are absolutely heart-broken over the loss of baby Nathan. Our world has fallen apart," the parents said, through their solicitor.

The couple said they found the process of gathering answers following the death of their only son very difficult "with no end in sight".

Dublin Coroner's Court heard that baby Nathan was considered a high risk delivery because he was underweight and had a heart defect. A post-birth cardiac procedure was expected to save his life.

Katarina Kranjcec was 37 weeks pregnant when she arrived at the Coombe at 3pm on June 4 2017. Her waters had broken that morning. She was assessed and brought to the ante-natal ward. A CTG test revealed the babys heart was beating normally at 6pm.

The babys heart rate was checked again at 11.45pm and was found to be abnormal at first before returning to normal. Mrs Kranjcec told her midwife she was concerned because the baby had not moved since around 6pm.

When I went to her bedside, I asked her if she was feeling okay. I asked if the baby was moving as normal. She (the mother) reported the baby was quiet and said this would normally be the babys busy time (for moving around), midwife Tara Fakhry said.

Asked if anyone interacted with Ms Kranjcec since the previous check at 6pm, the midwife said not to her knowledge.

Ms Fakhry said it was a busy night and no staff had time for a break all night.

She said:

There was our usual allocation of staff but sometimes during the night we dont have time to stop for 12 hours.

The midwife called a doctor to review the latest CTG reading and a decision was made to bring Mrs Kranjcec to theatre for a Category Two emergency Caesarean section.

Baby Nathans heart rate was detected in theatre four minutes before he was born at 12.30am, but he was not breathing at birth.

Attempts were made to intubate and ventilate the baby but 22 minutes passed before these attempts were successful.

Baby Nathans condition once ventilated did not improve and he was pronounced dead at 1.15pm.

A post-mortem gave the cause of death as hypoxia due to the inability to ventilate immediately after birth, the cause of which was undetermined.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a narrative verdict and offered condolences to the babys parents.

I hope that whatever we have been able to establish here, its made things a little clearer for you, but we are still not completely sure exactly what happened and why it was so difficult to help his breathing, the coroner said.
Janalyn Maes, a second grade teacher at Albuquerques Hodgin Elementary School, knows her job is not done when the school bell rings after the last class of the day. Often, some of her most valuable work gets done in after-school programs.

Hodgin has something every month, Maes, 49, said. We have Dr. Seuss Meets Harry Potter Night, a program with reading at the core of it. We have Kids Cook Day. We invite parents in, we cook foods from around the world, learn geography and read a story.

We all believe we should reach out for families and help them support their children at home. If you get the buy-in from parents, you have such a better classroom and community  after school and during the day.

Because of her commitment to her work, her students and their parents, Maes was recently named a 2019 PBS KIDS Early Learning Champion, one of only 10 teachers in the country so honored.

This past week, she was recognized for her achievement during the Albuquerque Public Schools board meeting.

Can-do spirit

Maes received the award in November during the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The award program recognizes devoted teachers who work with children from infants to second graders and makes available to them a variety of community building, leadership and professional learning opportunities provided by PBS KIDS.

Hollie Lovely, early childhood education outreach coordinator for New Mexico PBS, KNME-TV, nominated Maes for the award after seeing her involvement at Hodgin with the PBS KIDS program Family Creative Learning.

We work with teachers quite a bit, and most of the time we get a little resistance because teachers are so busy they are reluctant to take on new things, Lovely said. But Janalyn saw the benefit right away of taking advantage of the Family Creative Learning program. She had such a can-do spirit and was willing to step outside her normal schedule.

Early Learning Champion educators receive no monetary award. Instead, they get more work.

Maes honor comes with a two-year commitment to team up with PBS to introduce PBS KIDS educational programs and tools to other early learning teachers in the Albuquerque Public Schools.

I told her, This is the next phase of your career, teaching other teachers to be as amazing as you are,  Lovely said.

Making connections

Maes grew up in Santa Fe, graduated from Santa Fe High School, did her undergraduate work at New Mexico State University and earned a masters degree from Grand Canyon University.

She taught in Arizona for two years and Tularosa for 12 years before coming to Albuquerque in 2007. She was on the teaching staff at Zuni Elementary for a few years and is now in her eighth year at Hodgin, 3801 Morningside NE. She has taught pre-schoolers, kindergarteners, first graders and second graders. She thinks second graders are really special.

Kids 7 to 8 years old are fabulous, she said. They are kind of independent, and they have personalities. They say things that make you crack up. But they love school. They want to be here and learn. Wow, we are going to do subtraction. 

Through local PBS stations, such as Albuquerques KNME, PBS KIDS offers children 2 to 8 the chance to explore new ideas and worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs.

For example, the PBS KIDS Family Creative Learning program brings parents and kids together in four sessions over four weeks at places such as libraries or school cafeterias.

We had eight to 10 parents at Hodgin, Maes said of the Family Creative Learning sessions at her school last spring. We worked with parents to show them how technology can be used for learning, not just for babysitting. And there was some craft-making involved. We made stuff, showed stuff.

Lovely said participants in the Family Creative Learning program also eat together during the weekly get-togethers.

The program helps (parents and kids) develop relationships with their schools, Lovely said. It really helps parents with supporting their kids and cuts down on absenteeism.

Maes is working now with PBS AIM Buddy Project at Hodgin. Interactive media featuring characters from the PBS series Arthur are used in this program to aid in social, emotional and character development.

A special element of the AIM Buddy Project is that students are paired with partners from another grade  fourth graders with second graders in the Hodgin program. Partners work together on interactive comics and games that focus on specific topics.

The project teaches them about empathy, forgiveness, generosity and learning from others, Maes said. It teaches them the difference between bullying and teasing. There are some really good conversations between the fourth graders and the second graders.

Something special

Maes said she was honored and surprised to be named an Early Learning Champion.

And of course I am excited about the opportunity to further my learning and to help my students, school and family, she said. I will be helping other teachers to use these (PBS) resources.

Lovely said Maes is a humble person.

She said, I dont do anything more special than everybody else,  Lovely said. But shes really something. I am so excited to be working with her.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police last week arrested a 21-year-old man over the alleged fatal stabbing of his father at their residence in Setagaya Ward, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Feb. 22).

At around 5:30 p.m. on February 21, Kurumi Kamada, of no known occupation, allegedly used a knife to repeatedly stab his father, aged in his 50s, in the back and chest at the residence, located in the Okura area.

The victim was later confirmed dead, the Seijo Police Station said.

Kamada and his father shared the residence. A neighbor tipped off police after finding the victim collapsed outside on February 21.

An officer arriving at the residence pursued Kamada after he fled the scene. After the officer apprehended him on a road about 1 kilometer away, he was taken in for voluntary questioning and later accused of murder.

Kurumi Kamada (Twitter)

aPhysically and mentally harasseda

Earlier this month, the suspect consulted with police via telephone about problems related to his father. aI have been physically and mentally harassed by my father,a the suspect said.

Afterward, police met with Kamada and his father separately. During the meeting with the father, police issued him a warning.
New movie follows heroic mission of Free Burma Rangers as they help war-torn areas in Jesus' name

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The remarkable humanitarian services provided in war-torn areas by David Eubank and his rangers can now be seen on the big screen in the riveting documentary, Free Burma Rangers.

Free Burma Rangers will be in theaters Monday and Tuesday through Fantom Events and is being released in partnership with LifeWay Films and Deidox Films. The film follows the valiant Eubank family and the army of rangers/missionaries theyve rallied to help people in war-torn regions of the world. The raw and inspiring movie truly illustrates Christianity in action.

David Eubank, who grew up as a missionary child, is a former U.S. Army Special Forces and Ranger officer turned life-risking aid worker who carries the words of the Bible in his heart and a rifle in his hand when out on his rescue missions. Unlike most people, Eubank and his thousands of trained rangers run toward the sound of gunfire and bombs when out doing what he believes God called him to.

The documentary follows the gripping story of the Free Burma Rangers led by Eubank, along with his wife Karen along with their children as they strive to deliver the Gospel alongside food and medicine in the most dangerous parts of the world, such as Burma (Myanmar), Iraq and Syria.

According to their website, Free Burma Rangers have helped 1.5 million displaced persons to date who would have otherwise died.

Eubank's mantra is that love is the antidote to evil. The following is an edited transcript of The Christian Post's interview with Eubank who describes the heartbeat behind his mission and Gods providential protection.

Christian Post: If you could define Free Burma Rangers so the rest of the world could understand it, how would you describe it?

Eubank: We are a humanitarian relief group motivated by love to help people under attack and oppression. We go where we are invited to help people and put a light on what is happening.

I am motivated by what Jesus does for me and want to share His love and encourage people to follow Him. We are not to be led by comfort, fear or pride, but go in the love God gives us. We go into areas of direct combat to save lives and share love.

CP: Your life's mission has been a true example of walking in faith. How have you encouraged yourself to trust God in all things?

Eubank: By prayer and choosing to follow God no matter what. [Its] mostly by the supernatural power of Jesus I have experienced that enables me, as weak, sinful and foolish, as I sometimes am, to do good when I could not. I see Gods way works and mine doesnt. I have experienced the transforming power of Jesus in myself and others and this builds my faith. I am carried not so much by my faith but by His grace.

CP: You've been on the front lines and have seen the power of forgiveness, prayer, and supernatural protection in action. Can you talk about witnessing the hand of God at work?

Eubank: All the time, from my heart changing, to others' hearts changing, to miracles in combat and doors opened. Impossibly being freed from capture, escape from death, our children healed in the jungle, people who have given their lives to Jesus who before were Muslims and atheist.

CP: You've lost a lot of people and have seen a lot of evil, how do you keep going when your spirit is broken?

Eubank: I pray, I cry, and God refills me and gives me love, faith, strength and hope and I go again in His power.

CP: In the film, you talk about the difference between justice and vengeance and the fine line between the two reactions. Can you share your experience with that?

Eubank: [In 2017] we were providing medical and food support for displaced people as we move with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi militia on the west side of Mosul. As we carefully approached, a family emerged fearfully and the father greeted us in English.

We told them that they had nothing to fear and that we came to help. I said I was an American and that we loved their people. I asked if I could pray to God for and with them and the father agreed. I prayed in Jesus name for good things and a new life for them.

The children, who were afraid at first, began to smile shyly. We talked with them and made friends and gave them some food. It was a bright spot in our day and we all were happy. To me, this felt like Gods will being done on Earth as it is in Heaven and that we were blessed to be a part of it.

We then walked back up the hill and the family got onto their tractor and trailer and began to drive off. They only made it a few hundred yards before they hit a landmine ISIS had laid. There was a big explosion and screams as the family was thrown off the tractor. We raced down the mountain to help. We all went to work, praying and treating the wounded.

As we treated the casualties, I noticed one of the Iraqi medics doing CPR on the youngest child, a girl about 3 years old. I went over to help but she died. I prayed and asked God to heal her. I thought, My prayers must not be very effective and my faith is weak, but what else can I do?

Our Land Cruiser ambulance drove down the hill to evacuate the wounded and we put the lifeless little girl in with her badly-wounded mother and the rest of the family. They were all crying. As we walked up the hill, I turned to Monkey, our team pastor, and said, That is why ISIS must be stopped. That is why people need to fight them. We pray their hearts will change but if not, they should die.

That night, as I went to sleep, I asked God to show me His truth on all this. The next day I was up before dawn and prayed and read my Bible. I got the same message and meaning in every reading, Vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay.

I confessed to God that I wanted to exact vengeance and gave that up to Him. I felt suddenly free and light. I was still sad, but I was free. Free to love, free to pray, free to fight if and when God directed, free to heal, free to keep going, and free from the false duty of vengeance.

The things of this world are fatal but they are not final. We can be sad and live well. I believe we will see that little girl in Heaven. Until then, in spite of those who will do evil, we can walk with God so that His will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

CP: How can people link arms with you?

Eubank: Prayer, praying for us and the people we serve. [They can also] ask their representatives to take action to help the oppressed, [As well as] pray about sending funds and volunteer with us.

CP: What do you want people to take with them after watching, "Free Burma Rangers"?

Eubank: Jesus is real and saves us. Jesus can be depended on. Go for it in life and do not settle for less. Put on all God's armor and tell Him you give up all and will do anything, and then obey at all costs. Live in love and its result will be boldness. Dont be led by fear or pride or comfort. Nothing is impossible with God and He uses all of us. It adds to the beauty of life.
Editorial

Freedom of discussion, unity of action

Two weeks ago, Channel Ten broke an exclusive story regarding the Otis Group  a group of rebel MPs who, according to ALP senator Don Farrell, are interested in supporting coal-workers. This story was so exclusive that even Anthony Albanese didnt know about it until Ten political editor Peter van Onselen broke it to him.

After Kevin Rudds leadership challenge rules were implemented in 2013 there seemed to bring over peace within the ALP in the last five years, which constituted part of a decade that saw a revolving door of prime ministers from both sides of the political aisle.

The Coalition has also had its fair share of political leadership turmoil. We have seen three prime ministers and two deputy prime ministers during their time in government. The tally of deputy prime ministers might have been higher had Barnaby Joyce been successful in his attempt to return as Nationals leader earlier this month.

On this point, what is it that all bourgeois parties have in common? The answer is this: factionalism. The open display of Left and Right wings within these parties allows schisms to emerge and even dominate their parties.

Lenin saw the damage factionalism caused and started work to implement its prohibition. This started with the 6th Congress in 1917, where Lenins organisational principle of democratic centralism would be the guiding tactic which the Bolsheviks (and subsequent communist parties) would implement to avoid public demonstrations of internal battles. These rules were: That all directing bodies of the Party, from top to bottom, shall be elected; that Party bodies shall give periodical accounts of their activities to their respective Party organisations; that there shall be strict Party discipline and the subordination of the minority to the majority; that all decisions of higher bodies shall be absolutely binding on lower bodies and on all Party members.

By the 10th Congress factionalism was banned. Lenins report from that congress, On Party Unity, stated: It is essential that all class-conscious workers clearly realise the harmfulness and inadmissibility of any factionalism whatsoever which inevitably leads, in practice, to less friendly work and to repeated and intensified attempts by enemies of the ruling party who have attached themselves to it under false pretences, to deepen the divisions and use them for purposes of counter-revolution.

However, Lenin didnt devise democratic centralism as a means to stamp out any and all dissent. In his Report on the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P., (A Letter to the St. Petersburg Workers), Lenin summed up democratic centralism as freedom of discussion, unity of action. That is to say, within the party, discussion and debate are encouraged.

It is important that comrades practice this principle; that we are open in our discussions with comrades, we put our best arguments forward in order for comrades to make the most informed decisions possible so that the best positions can be won and that ultimately they are abided by. Without this discipline of unity the bourgeoisie will inevitably find our political cracks and break us.

However, it is because we are a party of a new type, and not of the bourgeois type, that we can exploit this weakness in the bourgeoise. It is clear that in their public show of infighting that bourgeois politicians do not care about the working-class, that their focus (outside of securing the interests of capitalists) is political power that merely furnishes the ego of this or that factional leader. Lenin saw that it was necessary for a communist party to destroy factionalism if it were to achieve its goal of being a vanguard party; that egos of a group of individuals not dominate party life if it is to secure better conditions for the working class. This more evident today in Australias political climate than perhaps ever before.
Rotunda Rumblings

Get in line online: Ohio may allow residents to submit supporting documents online in their applications for the higher-security Real ID drivers license, cleveland.coms Andrew Tobias writes. The Department of Homeland Security last week told states they would allow for online submissions of passports and birth certificates to try to streamline the process. Officials are worried there will be long lines at BMVs or chaos at airports on Oct 1., when a deadline will pass after which standard IDs will no longer be accepted at airport security for domestic flights.

Lending an ear: Ohio motorcyclists will be legally allowed to wear earplugs or earphones  as long as theyre for hearing protection  while riding, under a bill signed Friday by Gov. Mike DeWine. The bill stems from a request from a Seven Hills motorcyclist, who told Tobias that upon realizing that earplugs were illegal, he just started calling random state representatives until someone returned his call. Previously, wearing earplugs was a minor misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $150.

Child support: The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is creating a $1 million emergency fund to help county child service agencies struggling from the results of the opioid epidemic, cleveland.coms Laura Hancock reports. Counites are placing record numbers of children in temporary homes, and seeing caseworkers quit due to burnout, among other problems.

Improving the count: U.S. Census chief Steven Dillingham was in Cleveland Friday to push the need to improve counting of young children, reading to kids at a Cleveland elementary school and then asking them to take the message home, cleveland.coms Rich Exner reports. Then on Saturday, Count von Count of Sesame Street was tapped to spread the word during a census family fair at the Great Lakes Science Center. Why? Because the Census Bureau knows young people historically are undercounted, some because of complicated family situations, some because they are newborns (all babies born by April 1 are to be counted). So the Census Bureau is doing a big PR push to get the word out ahead of census 2020 mailings next month.

Case closed: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has tossed out a complaint the Ohio Republican Party filed alleging that a Democratic congressional candidate voted twice in the 2008 presidential primary, cleveland.coms Sabrina Eaton reports. The complaint against Hillary OConnor Mueri was shot down earlier by the Lake County Board of Elections, which verified she didnt vote twice. Yosts office cited an expired statute of limitations in saying it wouldnt investigate.

Coming together on climate change: Former Gov. John Kasich, former Secretary of State John Kerry and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will discuss climate change at a town hall March 8 at Otterbein University, the Associated Press reports. Its part of a new campaign called World War Zero, a bipartisan effort to fight climate change and pollution involving politicians and celebrities, the AP reports.

Green thumbs-up: The Ohio Environmental Councils political action committee on Friday announced endorsements of three Democratic legislative primary candidates: State Rep. David Leland of Columbus in House District 22, Dontavius Jarrells of Columbus in House District 25, and state Rep. Sedrick Denson in House District 33. Of the three, only Jarrells is considered to be in a competitive race.

Immortalizing Glenn: Fans of the late astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn are working to bring a statue of his likeness to the Ohio Statehouse to mark major future milestones, such as his birthday and the anniversary of his famous space flight, writes Julie Carr Smyth of the Associated Press. The proposal comes from State Rep. Adam Holmes, a Zanesville Republican.

Projects on tap: The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on Friday announced the award of $1.5 million in water-quality projects from the DeWine administrations H2Ohio fund. Pike Water Inc., a utility company in Pike County, will get $1 million to build a new water line connecting 100 homes currently without public water. Coshocton will get $500,000 for its own water-line project connecting to the village of West Lafayette.

California dreamin: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is scheduled to speak at a Friday elections conference at the University of California, Irvine. The events subtitle poses a cheerful question: Can American Democracy Survive the 2020 Elections?

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from state Rep. Emilia Sykes Feb. 18 financial disclosure.

1. She didnt report any income outside of working for the state. She reported earning $50,000 to $99,999 from the Ohio House last year.

2. She reported being a backup trustee and beneficiary of both the Sykes-Strong Family Irrevocable Trust and the Sykes-Strong Living Trust.

3. She invests in a pension with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and an account with Ohio Deferred Compensation.

4. At some point in 2019, Sykes reported owing more than $1,000 each to the U.S. Department of Education, Bank of America, Navient, Capital One, GM Financial and GE Capital.

5. She reported receiving awards from the National Coalition of 100 Black Womens Central Ohio chapter, the Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats, the Summit County Democrats and the Ohio Mayors Alliance.

Birthdays

Quinn Beeson, Buckeye Institute economic research analyst

Wilson Shannon, Ohios 14th and 16th governor (1802-1877)

Straight from the Source

If we do wait, everyone is just going to solidify even more into their positions. There has to be some type of movement forward.

-State Sen. Teresa Fedor, a Toledo Democrat, commenting in the Columbus Dispatch on the fact that the House and Senate still have not reached an agreement on changes to the EdChoice school voucher program, despite delaying the application window until April 1.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
Scientists suggest that 70- 90% of all existing coral reef habitat will be eliminated over the next 20 years due to rising sea temperatures and acidic waters. To curb this, some groups are transplanting live corals from the laboratory to dying reefs.

Scientists are pessimistic, however, noting that restoration projects may seem futile as research mapping for best areas for restoration show that by 2100, few to zero suitable habitats will remain as sea surface temperature and acidity are changing due to climate change. Researchers emphasize the urgent need to protect corals by combatting the rising level of ocean temperatures and worsening ocean acidification caused by global warming.

Bleached Out Corals, Wiped out Corals

The study, done by researchers at the University of Hawaii emphasized the widespread coral bleaching, the devastating effect of climate change on corals. Coral bleaching happens if corals are exposed to warm waters for long periods. This causes the algae found within the coral to separate from the animal, causing corals to lose their colors and leave behind a visible white skeleton. Corals will also tend to weaken or die, which happens in cases of severe bleaching.

To map areas that are suitable for coral restoration efforts in the next decades, researchers simulated ocean environment conditions such as sea surface temperature, wave energy, the acidity of the water, pollution and overfishing in areas with existing corals.

The result of the study showed that areas, where coral reefs exist today, will be wiped out by 2045, showing a much worst condition by 2100. The researchers point rising temperatures and ocean acidification are to be blamed for the dying coral habitats. The study also revealed that human pollution plays a minor contribution to the looming eradication of reef habitat "because humans have already caused extensive damage to coral reefs."

Combating Climate Change

Some groups have been racing against time to bring corals back to life by coral restoration. Yet, these recent findings suggest that coral restoration may not be enough as even the present best suitable restoration areas may be wiped out a decade from now.

Researchers emphasize the urgent need to combat climate change to protect coral and avoid compounded stressors-the rising level of ocean temperatures and worsening ocean acidification. Drastic measures to reduce carbon dioxide emission to prevent further warming and deoxygenation of oceans are needed as a future with no coral reef has dire consequences to marine life that largely depend on coral reefs and to humanity.

Extensive Coral Bleaching in Great Barrier Reef

As this develops, the U.S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report of the recent bleaching in the world-heritage listed reef, Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Pockets of bleaching have been observed in Lizard Island, north of Cooktown, and more than 1,100 kilometers south-east at Heron Island, off Gladstone.

A third mass bleaching is expected to happen if temperatures would not drop from current levels over the next two weeks, the authorities reported. It is predicted that this 2020 might be the most extensive coral event so far.
[February 24, 2020]

Canada and the United Kingdom collaborate on responsible artificial intelligence

Understanding challenges around AI is key to successful technology deployment

OTTAWA, Feb. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Canada is a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI)the single-largest transformative technology in the world. Fostering Canada's advantage in digital technologies, including AI, is one of the pillars of the Government of Canada's economic growth strategy. To develop and deploy this technology in a responsible way that benefits all Canadians, research on understanding how the technology will impact our society is needed, alongside investments in the technology itself.

Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Susan le Jeune d'Allegeershecque, British High Commissioner to Canada, announced investments of approximately C$5 million and 5 million over three years, to fund 10 interdisciplinary, international AI research teams under the Canada-UK Artificial Intelligence Initiative.

These projects, co-led by principal investigators from both countries, will advance understanding of important AI challenges, such as countering abusive online language, improving labour market equality, informing the development of AI transportation systems, helping neurosurgeons perform surgery, and creating technology to better detect and monitor global disease outbreaks.

The projects announced today will encourage new, multidisciplinary and international partnerships in responsible AI research, and promote enhanced infrastructure and training for researchers in Canada and the UK.

Quotes

"Artificial intelligence is transforming all industries and sectors, opening up more opportunities for Canadians. Today, we take one step further toward ensuring that AI innovation and growth builds competitive and resilient economies, and maximizes the social and health benefits in both Canada and in the UK."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Science, Innovation and Industry

"The responsible use of AI demands as much attention to its impact on society as to the science itself. I am delighted that these new projects will inform the design of AI technologies, which will maximize their uptake and realize their societal benefits, while mitigating potential harms."

Ted Hewitt, President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

"Building strong partnerships across disciplines, populations, sectors and countries is central to research excellence. This unique interdisciplinary collaboration between partners in Canada and the United Kingdom in such a thriving area will generate world-class scientific and engineering knowledge, talent and expertise benefiting human kind."

Alejandro Adem, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

"The responsible development and application of artificial itelligence has the potential to extend our impact in ways we can hardly imagine today. These projects not only capture the imagination, they also reflect a robust international collaborative approach to addressing critical research issues of our time. I am very proud to see the collaboration between the Government of Canada through its federal research funding agencies and our sister agencies in the United Kingdom."







Dr. Michael J. Strong, President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

"The increasing prevalence of AI, machine learning and automation in our lives is generating a range of challenges and opportunities that demand better understandings and sophisticated solutions. This raises social, technical and cultural questions that the social sciences in collaboration with other disciplines can help address.

"Recent work has revealed that there is not enough interdisciplinary collaboration in AI research, and that building bridges between the mathematical and computational sciences and other disciplines will enrich the field.

"Collaborating with Canadian funding agencies (the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) and other UK Research and Innovation research councils (the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council) on these projects, using an interdisciplinary approach, will contribute to the inclusive, responsible and impactful development of AI technologies, and address important economic, societal, health and global challenges."

Jennifer Rubin, Executive Chair, Economic and Social Research Council

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SOURCE Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo said hes not sure whether he will take advantage of early voting, but he knows he will support U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warrens bid for president.

I just think when watching her in the debates and whatnot, I think shes best suited to be the next president of the United States, DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat, told reporters Monday afternoon.

DeLeo said he spoke with Warren following the states implementation of a gun control law that was signed in 2014 under the Patrick administration. The law created new firearm crimes, including assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, enhanced penalties and required schools to address students mental health needs, among other things.

DeLeo said Massachusetts gun control reforms served as a template for Warrens own gun control plan, which she introduced in August. Warren said her goal would be to reduce the number of U.S. gun deaths by 80% and promised to sign executive orders requiring background checks at gun shows and online, require reporting on multiple purchases and raising the minimum age for gun purchases.

Senate President Karen Spilka said she voted for Warren at a town hall last week, submitting an absentee ballot.

I think she is electable, and shes got a very strong grassroots organization across the country, said Spilka, an Ashland Democrat. Shes got a great head on her shoulders, shes a collaborator and she works really, really hard ... so Im hoping that she is able to clinch the nomination.

Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, didnt share who he planned to support.

Im going to vote on Election Day because thats just when I usually vote ... but I said for a while that were going to stay out of presidential politics, and I meant it," Baker said.

A poll released Friday from the UMass Lowells Center for Public Opinion shows Warren and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders neck-and-neck in Massachusetts. Sanders, the New Hampshire democratic socialist, received 21% of support from likely Massachusetts primary voters. Warren received 20%.

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg came in third place at 15%, followed by former Vice President Joe Biden at 14%, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg at 12%. No other candidate reached double digits, according to the poll.

While Sanders has come out on top in nearly every vote, Warren has struggled to break into the top three. After placing third in Iowa caucus, Warren came in fourth in New Hampshire and Nevada, capturing no delegates.

Warren has support from her constituents across Massachusetts, including from high-profile officials such as Attorney General Maura Healey, U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern and Lori Trahan and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera.

Sanders has support from state legislators such as Reps. Lindsay Sabadosa of Northampton, Nika Elugardo of Boston and Mike Connolly of Cambridge, among others. Sanders announced 18 endorsements from the Bay State on Monday.

Massachusetts is one of 14 states that have primaries on March 3, often referred to as Super Tuesday. The Secretary of States Office has 15 candidates on the Democratic presidential primary ballot, including some who have already suspended their campaigns. Meanwhile, there are four candidates on the Republican presidential primary ballot, including President Donald Trump and former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.

Related Content:

Material from the State House News Service was used in this report.
When Jessica Mann was invited to Harvey Weinstein's Manhattan hotel room in November 2016, the aspiring actress believed she was there to provide a shoulder to cry on following Weinstein's mother's death.

She, too, had recently lost her father, and so would understand his grief, he said.

Instead, she found Weinstein lying naked on the bed, wanting to do 'something sexual', she told a court this month.

What sort of a man would exploit his mother's death so cynically for sexual gratification?

Married man: Weinstein and first wife Eve at the Oscars in 2003. Harvey Weinstein's catastrophic fall from grace cements not only his shame but that of an industry that fawned over him, even though rumours of his rapacious sexual appetites were widespread

The same man who was yesterday found guilty of raping Mann in 2013 and sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

The movie mogul's conviction on two out of the five charges he faced came after a landmark three-week trial that was part circus and part freak show.

Shivering journalists and the public had queued from long before dawn each day for a seat at New York's most hotly anticipated trial for decades  and they weren't disappointed as lurid claims of Weinstein's deformed private parts and depraved sexual habits were aired.

For his victims, it was retribution indeed to witness both the humiliation of the brutish former Hollywood power broker  nicknamed 'The Punisher'  and his punishment.

Double act: Aged five with younger brother. His career and personal life are in ruins; Miramax, the company he founded with his brother Bob and named after their parents, is no more

The man who once swaggered in black tie on red carpets around the world had shuffled to and from the courtroom each day pushing a walking frame (his lawyers insisted he has back problems), a shrunken husk of his once 21st bulk, in an ill-fitting suit and unironed shirt.

He'd hung his head in shame as images of his bloated, naked torso were passed among jurors as proof that his accusers were telling the truth about his anatomy and its 'heavily-scarred' state. And the shocks kept coming as Weinstein's accusers went into excruciating detail about his behaviour.

At the same time, the defence made good on its promise to challenge the assumption that his accusers were all simply victims, producing emails to show that some had carried on friendly relationships with him after he allegedly assaulted them.

The shadow of Hollywood's casting couch has loomed large over the trial and may help explain why the jury's decision was only a partial victory for the prosecution.

That's scant consolation for Weinstein, whose career notched up 300 Oscar nominations for films such as Shakespeare In Love and The King's Speech.

His career and personal life are in ruins; Miramax, the company he founded with his brother Bob and named after their parents, is no more, and his second marriage to British designer Georgina Chapman, mother of two of his five children, foundered in the wake of the allegations.

Weinstein is pictured above with brother Bob in 1989. More than 90 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, assault or rape, many recounting a familiar horror story of going to discuss business in his hotel room only for him to greet them wearing just a bathrobe

Prior to his trial, Weinstein was already damned in the court of public opinion.

The assumption was that this was an open-and-shut case offering no new insights into the vile behaviour that kick-started the #MeToo movement  how wrong that assumption was.

More than 90 women have accused Weinstein of harassment, assault or rape, many recounting a familiar horror story of going to discuss business in his hotel room only for him to greet them wearing just a bathrobe.

Some of the tales were truly stomach-churning, such as journalist Lauren Sivan who said he once masturbated into a potted plant in front of her in a deserted restaurant.

During the trial, six accusers  two whose allegations were the basis of the criminal charges against him and four who were allowed to testify to prove a pattern of 'prior bad acts' by Weinstein  gave often startlingly similar accounts of the way he would trick and trap them.

Four of the women admitted to staying on friendly terms with Weinstein after the alleged assaults, so bolstering the defence case that his behaviour was the norm in Tinseltown.

In response, prosecutors called an expert witness who warned that the psychology of abuse victims is complicated, and they may continue to associate with their abuser as if nothing has happened.

The testimony of Jessica Mann, both the strongest and weakest witness, was both compelling and puzzling in this respect.

Ms Mann, 34, a highly emotional witness at times, had an on-off five-year relationship with Weinstein. They met at a party in 2012 shortly after the aspiring young actress arrived in Los Angeles.

Raised in an abusive home in Washington state, she had fallen on hard times and at one point had to sleep in her car. When Weinstein showed an interest in her, Ms Mann thought he was a 'blessing' from God.

It proved not much of a blessing when Weinstein started grooming her, she said, breaking down her reserve by initially just asking for a massage. She agreed to knead his 'blackspot-covered' back in his hotel suite.

Within a month, they were meeting again at a Beverly Hills hotel with Weinstein telling Ms Mann and another woman that he was considering them for lead roles in a vampire film.

He invited them up to his suite to read scripts. 'I am a harmless old man,' he said when Ms Mann expressed reservations.

In the suite, Weinstein separated the two women and pulled Ms Mann into the bedroom.

Weinstein is pictured with second wife Georgina at a gala in France in 2014. His second marriage to British designer Georgina Chapman, mother of two of his five children, foundered in the wake of the allegations.

'You accepted my invitations to parties. You aren't leaving until I do something for you,' he allegedly told her.

Fighting back tears, she claims she sat on the bed as Weinstein committed a sex act on her by force.

'I sort of 'locked up' and got really quiet,' she said. 'I was worried about my friend out there by herself. I faked an orgasm to get out of it. He asked me how it was, if I liked it. I was nervous, so I told him it was the best I ever had.'

Although she felt 'horrified and confused', Ms Mann said she decided to have a relationship with Weinstein, naively convinced it would be 'real'. Instead, she said, it was 'extremely degrading from that point on'.

Weinstein would 'talk very dirty to me about fantasies and compared me to other actresses he said were doing kinky and dirty things', the court heard.

'The first time I saw him naked I thought he was deformed or intersex [a person born with sexual anatomy that doesn't fit the typical definitions of female or male],' she said. 'I didn't know if he was a burns victim but it would make sense. He does not have testicles and it appears like he has a vagina.'

He also smelt rank, she added.

But Ms Mann didn't just feel revulsion, she was 'filled with compassion, absolute compassion,' she testified. 'It seemed his anger came from a place of pain.'

There was no physical attraction on her part, she admitted, although 'his approval would have meant so much to me'.

In court when reading out an email to a former boyfriend in which she called Weinstein a father figure who 'validated' her Hollywood dreams, she started sobbing uncontrollably, left and was heard screaming in another room.

Later, she described how their sexual trysts became more humiliating. In 2013, Weinstein separately invited Ms Mann and Emanuela Postacchini, an aspiring Italian actress, to his Beverly Hills hotel suite and he told them he wanted a threesome, the court heard.

Weinstein 'orchestrated' events, told them to undress and then instructed them into what positions he wanted them to assume, said Ms Mann.

She said she fled in tears while Ms Postacchini, 28, testified that she'd been 'tricked' into the situation and had no idea another woman would be there.

A more degrading encounter took place in another LA hotel room. 'He asked me to come into the shower and then he said to me, 'Have you ever had a golden shower?' ' Ms Mann testified. He performed a sex act on her. 'I was in shock by it. It was gross,' she said. 'I turned into the corner of the shower and just looked away.'

Ms Mann said she didn't dare break all contact with Weinstein for fear of what he might do to her and her family. In March 2013, she was due to have a breakfast meeting with Weinstein at a New York hotel but 'panicked' when she saw him booking a room.

When she asked why, he warned her not to embarrass him and to go upstairs. The night manager at the hotel that day testified that Ms Mann's body language was so negative that he advised security to check on the room to ensure she was safe.

Up in the room, Weinstein allegedly told her to undress and blocked the door when she protested. Disappearing into the bathroom, he re-emerged naked.

He then raped her, she alleged. Later, she went into the bathroom and discovered a syringe in the bin which she later discovered was to boost erectile function.

The testimony of Jessica Mann, both the strongest and weakest witness, was both compelling and puzzling in this respect. Ms Mann, 34, a highly emotional witness at times, had an on-off five-year relationship with Weinstein. They met at a party in 2012 shortly after the aspiring young actress arrived in Los Angeles

Eight months later, Ms Mann said, when she was working as a hairdresser  a job Weinstein had got her  she visited him at his LA hotel and told him she had a boyfriend, a 'well-known' actor. Livid, Weinstein allegedly screamed: 'You owe me one more time!'

He then dragged her into the bedroom, violently ripped off her clothes and raped her again, she said. She passed out and woke to find him performing a sex act on her that 'choked' her.

Weinstein apologised and told her: 'I just find you so attractive I couldn't resist.'

Despite this catalogue of demeaning abuse, the court heard she went to see him again in 2016 when he claimed to be mourning his mother.

The defence cited friendly emails Mann sent Weinstein even after he allegedly assaulted her, including one just a month after the New York rape incident in which she gushed: 'As always happy to see your smile and I hope to see you sooner than later. I hope some of your genius rubs off on me.'

For her part Mann explained she was 'too scared to confront him' and prosecutors argued she had 'buried her trauma' and was trying to navigate Weinstein's powerful hold on her.

During the case, five more accusers painted a similarly damning portrait of him, although jurors rejected the predatory assault charges. In particular, the testimony of model Lauren Young echoed Jessica Mann's claims about the producer's physical and sexual deformities.

In February 2013, she claims he performed a sex act in front of her in an LA hotel bathroom.

Ms Young, 30, became tearful as she accused Weinstein's friend, Mexican model Claudia Salinas, of closing the bathroom door and trapping her inside with him.

Ms Young protested but he told her: 'This is what all actresses do to make it.'

As she laughed nervously ('I was worried and scared that he was going to hurt me') he unzipped her lace dress, groped her painfully and pleasured himself.

The following day Weinstein offered her a part in his TV reality show America's Next Top Model, which she declined.

She said she didn't tell police as she feared his retaliation. In court, Ms Salinas contradicted Ms Young's testimony about her.

Mimi Haleyi, 42, a former TV production assistant, testified that Weinstein forcibly performed a sex act on her at her New York flat in 2006. 'Every time I tried to get off the bed, he would push me back and hold me down,' she said.

The biggest name to testify against Weinstein was ex-Sopranos star Annabella Sciorra, 59. She claimed he violently raped her in the early 1990s.

In addition, Tarale Wulff, 43, who was working as a cocktail waitress at Cipriani Upstairs lounge, claimed he raped her at his New York flat in 2005 after calling her in for an audition.

Dawn Dunning, 40, another aspiring actress, said he put his hand up her skirt during a business meeting at his hotel suite in 2004 and offered her film roles in exchange for a threesome.

Harvey Weinstein's catastrophic fall from grace cements not only his shame but that of an industry that fawned over him, even though rumours of his rapacious sexual appetites were widespread.

Admired, feared and loathed in equal measure, he was notorious for his monstrous ego, and a volcanic and uncontrollable temper that could tip into physical violence. Stars chose to tolerate all this, largely because Weinstein won them the adulation they craved.

But in the end Weinstein found few rallying to his side when hit by an avalanche of accusations. In recent years he has cut a lonely and isolated figure.

Looking at up to 25 years in jail, Weinstein also faces another trial in LA and possible criminal charges in Britain and Ireland.

His conviction yesterday may not bring his accusers the crushing penalty they hoped, but any dreams of a career comeback have been obliterated.

All the Presidents' friend

Guest list: With Bill Clinton at his wife Hillarys birthday party in 2000
Sanditon Episode 8 Season 1 Episode 8 Editors Rating 3 stars * * *  Previous Next Photo: Simon Ridgway/PBS

I KNOW. I KNOW YOURE MAD. The U.K. was mad too. With no promise of a renewal, our bonneted drama series has ended on a giant cliffhanger. Not even a cliffhanger really, more like a very large anvil dropped squarely on top of Sidney and Charlottes newly blossoming relationship. He is engaged! To that woman no one likes but me! How devastating for almost everyone. Probably Charlotte the most. Or Sidney. Or you, who have perhaps made Tumblr GIFsets of them staring at each others lips with a text overlay of Sidneys speech from the last episode. How dare they, truly.

Lets go back to happier times, before Sidney destroyed all of Charlottes hopes and dreams by putting family before romance. Remember earlier in the episode when they were just being weird around each other? And by weird I mean intensely awkward? This turns out to be because of their seemingly overpowering sexual tension, which reminds me of nothing so much as being a teenager who is also bad at flirting. They take a constitutional on the Sanditon cliffs, walking so closely that Sidneys arm keeps hitting Charlottes in that way that if youre not into the person, you go oh, sorry! and move farther apart. But these two fuzzbuckets are basically sophomores on a school field trip, so theyre both very into the arm-bumping.

There would be no reason for them to be walking on this cliff if they werent going to make out while violins play. This is a period drama. We know how this goes. The camera switches to a wide shot and they are STILL making out, because this is Sanditon: Let the Romance Sweep You Off Your Feet (if Sanditon had a marketing department, it would be Tom alone in a room, and that is what he would write).

I hope you liked that scene, because its one of the last good ones youre getting. Charlotte and Sidney spend almost the entire rest of the episode just missing each other (until he comes back with the news hes ruined both of their lives). The one exception is at the Midsummer Ball (I love a ball!) when he returns to the Rudeness Balcony and my suspicions that Old Sidney is dead become canon. New Sidney says, What a brute I was. Not now, though. That man is dead. Charlotte says hes the same man, but much improved. False. That man is in a ditch, and were all better off for it.

Sidney soon has to rush off, though, because fire! There is a fire! The thing about the past is everything could easily be on fire. There were no sprinklers! There was no official fire department! But lets backtrack to Young Stringer dooming his father to a certain end.

Young Stringers life is all set before him. Hes been offered an apprenticeship with a London architect. Hes reasonably certain Charlotte is not into him, so hes able to cut those ties. All thats left is his dad. His dad tells him hes only going to London to raise his social standing for Charlotte. In the words of the notes I took for this episode, Stringer calls his father a selfish, miserable old man, which means something bad is going to happen to his father. Sure enough, Old Stringer has a heart attack and drops a candle, setting the new building on fire, which leads to Toms ruin, as he never paid the fire insurance company. (Did anyone else immediately think of G.O.B. Bluth hurling the check into the sea?) So now Sidney must offer himself to Mrs. Campion, the woman he spent ten years getting over, but now is just not that into.

You know who IS kind of into the person theyre marrying, but not that much, but were still supposed to see it as a successful love story? Esther. Lord Babington proposes after Edward tells everyone at the ball that they may be siblings, but they were also in love. Babington asks no follow-up questions about this. He says he wants to marry her because he wants to make her happy, which is  its just really nice, you guys. Its weird that Babington was fine with Esther saying she likes him but does not love him, but lets ignore that, because theres so little happiness otherwise in this finale.

Speaking of: Georgiana Lambe. Look, show. Its clear you didnt know what to do with Georgiana, but could you not think of more plot for her than shes really angry all the time and almost always hangs out in her room alone? Shes one of the only people of color on the entire show, and you end up isolating her physically and emotionally from everyone else. Not your best look, Sanditon.

And you know whos received short shrift but whom I have loved from afar for many an episode? Arthur Parker. Oh Arthur, with your love of toast and ill-fated attempts at hiking, and eternal joy and optimism about every task in life. Arthurs friendship with Georgiana is a treasure, as hes the only person trying to lift her spirits. His sister Diana is worried hes going to marry and leave her, but he assures her hes gay via Regency Englandspeak (I dont really know how ladies work; Im a lifelong bachelor). Arthur finishes out the series by winning the hearts of introverts everywhere with the following: Much better to be snug in ones own home, toasting crumpets by a roaring fire. Has anyone investigated the possibility that Arthur might be Winnie the Pooh?

But thats the end. Sidney tells Charlotte he doesnt love Mrs. Campion, which Charlotte rightfully chastises him for saying, then they bid each other farewell forever. Charlotte rolls off in a carriage crying. Sidney stands by his horse looking shook.

THE AUDACITY. THE HUBRIS, that the creators, like winged Icarus, put such trust in their shows mortality that they flung its heroes love at the sun, trusting it would survive into a second season. WELL GUESS WHAT, THE SHOW WAS CANCELED. There is still a possibility that, post its airing in the US, renewal may yet happen, but the odds are not great. If you squint, you can view the incomplete feeling of Sanditon as a tribute to Austens unfinished novel. Well never know its true ending, so maybe we shouldnt try to give it one.

 No, thats ridiculous, #SaveSanditon.

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New Delhi, Feb 24 : On instructions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy held a meeting at the MHA over the anti-CAA violence in northeast Delhi on Monday.

The Delhi Police Commissioner has been instructed to keep intelligence teams on alert at all sensitive places in north Delhi.
A state appeals court panel has rejected an attempt by the family of a woman who died from cancer to link her fatal disease to a popular brand of talcum powder she used nearly every day for 24 years.

The relatives of Sally Brandt simply didnt provide sufficient scientific evidence that her favorite Cashmere Bouquet powder contained asbestos particles that caused Brandts malignant plural mesothelioma, Judge Alice Beck Dubow concluded in the Superior Courts opinion.

That decision upholds a Philadelphia judges ruling dismissing a lawsuit Brandts family filed against the Colgate-Palmolive Co., the maker of Cashmere Bouquet. According to Dubow, Brandt used that powder daily from 1956 to 1970. She was diagnosed in 2014 with the cancer that killed her in 2018.

In suing Colgate-Palmolive, Brandts family insisted the powder contained asbestos particles that ended up in her lungs and caused her cancer. The Philly judge dismissed the suit against the company after concluding scientific experts the Brandts relied on to make their case didnt tie Cashmere Bouquet to the disease.

As Dubow noted, one expert testified that he could not verify that asbestos particles were present in Brandts lung tissue by examining that tissue using a light microscope. Another examiner supposedly detected asbestos particles using an electron microscope, the first expert testified, but he lacked the supporting information to verify that the electron microscope findings were scientifically reliable, the Philly judge found.

The same questions hovered over claims by other experts hired by the family who claimed testing showed the powder did contain dangerous levels of asbestos. One of those experts simply repeated the opinion of another, Dubow noted. In any case, she wrote, other courts have found the methodology used by those experts to gauge Brandts supposed asbestos exposure to be scientifically unreliable.

In sum, there was no competent medical testimony that the powder caused Brandts cancer, Dubow found.

Brandts family isnt alone in suing over a supposed connection between Cashmere Bouquet, asbestos exposure and cancer.

Last June, a California jury ordered Colgate-Palmolive to pay $4.8 million in damages to a dying woman who claimed her cancer was caused by prolonged exposure to Cashmere Bouquet. Three months later, a jury in Kentucky rejected a similar lawsuit by the family of another woman who tried to blame her fatal disease on asbestos in Cashmere Bouquet.

Colgate-Palmolive reached an undisclosed settlement in a similar court case in New Jersey in 2017. Juries in other parts of the country have awarded millions of dollars in damages in other such suits.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump is all set to embark on a 36-hour-long visit to India and his schedule is jam-packed. Starting from addressing 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad to visiting Taj Mahal in Agra, President Trump has a lot on his plate during his stay in India.

Trump's Air Force One will touch down at Ahmedabad's Vallabhbhai airport on Monday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will personally receive him at the airport. Trump's wife Melania, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner are part of the high-level delegation accompanying him during his visit to the country on February 24 and 25.

Here is a detailed schedule of the first day of the US president's stay in India:

11:40 am: Trump's Air Force One will arrive at Ahmedabad's Vallabhbhai Patel international airport

12:15 pm: Visit to Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Ashram and pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi

12:30 pm: Grand roadshow on the streets of Ahmedabad leading to newly-built Motera Stadium

01:05 pm-2:50 pm: To participate in 'Namaste Trump' event and address a gathering of over 1 lakh

03.30 pm: Proceed from Ahmedabad to Agra

04.45 pm: Arrive at Agra's Air Force station where he will be received by Yogi Adityanath

05:15 pm: Visit to Taj Mahal

06:45 pm: Emplane for Delhi

07:30 pm: Arrive at Delhi's Palam Air Force station

08:00 pm: Retire at Delhi's ITC Maurya hotel

The other nine members of the delegation companying Trump are: Ivanka Trump, advisor Jared Kushner, 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.

Trump will leave for the United States by his special flight on the night of February 25.
Bernie Sanders has praised Fidel Castro's 'massive literacy program', standing by comments he made praising the dictator's rule of Cuba in the 1980s.

The Democratic frontrunner and socialist, 78, defended the Communist regime as 'not all bad' during a wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview which aired Sunday.

During the interview, he told Anderson Cooper: 'We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know?

'When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?'

Sanders had said of dictator Castro in 1985: 'He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know?'

Castro ruled Cuba for nearly half a century. A Cold War foe of the U.S., Castro's government imprisoned dissidents and imposed one-party rule on the island nation. He died at the age of 90 in 2016.

When pushed further on the dissidents imprisoned in the country, Sanders replied: 'That's right. And we condemn that. Unlike Donald Trump, let's be clear...I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend.

'I don't trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine.'

Bernie Sanders has praised Fidel Castro's 'massive literacy program', standing by comments he made praising the dictator's rule of Cuba in the 1980s

Fidel Castro and his brother Raul attend a parade December 2, 1996 in Havana, Cuba

Sanders had said of dictator Castro in the 1980s, pictured: 'He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know?'

Bernie Sanders defends his 1980s comments about Fidel Castro in an interview on 60 Minutes. https://t.co/ySqvQKoiBU pic.twitter.com/lTwuXWp9sA  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) February 24, 2020

'SHOCKED' TO BE A FRONTRUNNER

The self proclaimed Democratic socialist won a decisive victory Saturday in the Nevada caucuses, solidifying his frontrunner status in the race to choose the Democratic nominee who faces President Donald Trump in November's election.

The 78-year-old senator from Vermont was leading with about 46 percent, followed by former vice president Joe Biden at 19 percent.

But even for Sanders the results are 'shocking', adding: 'The ideas that seemed radical four years ago are now kind of mainstream.

'When Donald Trump was a private businessman in New York, he got $800 million in tax breaks and subsidies to build luxury housing. That's called corporate socialism.

'What democratic socialism is about is saying, 'Let's use the federal government to protect the interests of working families.'

Moderate Democrats are growing increasingly nervous that Sanders' call for a political 'revolution' would drive voters away from the party, both in the matchup against President Donald Trump and in House and Senate races.

'I think it would be a real burden for us in these states or congressional districts that we have to do well in,' South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip and the top-ranking black Democrat in Congress, said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week.'

'The country can't afford to let Bernie Sanders skate by another debate without a focus on his extreme record,' said Mike Bloomberg spokesperson Galia Slayen.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., smiles while the crowd chants his name during a campaign event on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Austin, Texas

Sanders, right, labeled rival Mike Bloomberg's, left, stop and frisk policy as 'racist'

BLOOMBERG'S STOP AND FRISK POLICY WAS 'RACIST'

Labeling rival Mike Bloomberg's stop and frisk policy as 'racist' in the interview, Sanders added: 'I think the more people understand Bloomberg's record as mayor of New York, where he engaged in horrifically racist policies of stop and frisk, people in America don't want that.'

He said: 'I think this is the problem of a Bloomberg candidacy. It's not just my supporters, he is not going to be a strong candidate. But, what I have said, and you quoted me correctly, is I said on day one I will support the Democratic nominee, no matter who that nominee may be.'

Admitting he 'does not talk about personal stuff that much', Sanders said his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, shaped his political beliefs.

But, he added: 'I'm a kind of a private person in a sense. And you know, I'm not particularly anxious to tell the world about everything personal in my life.'

Other topics touched on during the interview included how he plans to fund Medicare for All.

Sanders admitted: 'You know, I can't rattle off to you ever nickel and every dime. But we have accounted for..Medicare for All. We have options out there that will pay for it.'

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders arrive for a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas

FUNDING MEDICARE FOR ALL

But despite offering no firm financial plans with universal healthcare Sanders now says he wants to also introduce universal childcare for children up to the age of four, adding: 'We have a tax on wealth to pay for that.

'You know, I get a little bit tired of hearing my opponents saying 'Gee, how you going to pay for a program that impacts and helps children or working-class families or middle-class families? How you going to pay for that?'

'And yet, where are people saying, 'How are you going to pay for over $750 billion on military spending?' How you going to pay for a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the 1% in large corporations which was what Trump did? When you help the billionaires and you help Wall Street, 'Hey! Of course we can pay for it. That's what America's supposed to be about.' Well, I disagree.'

TAKING ON TRUMP

Sanders, who says he is looking forward to taking on President Donald Trump, said: 'Anyone who tells you that Donald Trump is not gonna be a tough opponent is kidding themselves. The way you beat Trump is bring nontraditional voters into the political process.

'What we will bring up is that the president of the United States is a pathological liar. And it is increasingly clear that many people just don't believe anything that he says.

'He is a fraud. I look forward to taking him on.'
United States President Donald Trump will begin his maiden official two-day state visit to India on Monday, becoming the seventh American President to visit the country. Trump will be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and a twelve-member delegation comprising US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette among others.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India looks forward to welcoming the US President and that it is an honour that "he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad!"Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA!" Trump had tweeted on Sunday, quoting a morphed video showing him as the protagonist of hit Bollywood film 'Bahubali'.

The visiting dignitary will reach Ahmedabad around Monday noon and after a visit to Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram will address a mammoth crowd of more than 100,000 people at an event titled 'Namaste Trump' at the Motera Stadium in the city. The event will be based on the lines of 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Prime Minister Modi in Houston in September, last year.

Security has been tightened across Ahmedabad ahead of Trump's visit. "A lot of people are expected to line the roads to welcome President Donald Trump. Security has been tightened not only in the stadium but also along the entire route from where the convoy of President Trump and Narendra Modi is scheduled to pass," said Crime Branch Special Commissioner of Police Ajay Tomar ANI
"Please welcome the 46th President of the United States of America, Bernie Sanders."

You could be hearing those exact words come 2021. Those who say Sanders has no chance of winning are denying the reality of the current state of American politics. That being said, Sanders may not even end up as the Democratic nominee and, to be clear, I'm not writing this in support of his candidacy. Rather, my point is that Sanders could plausibly win both the Democratic nomination and the White House in 2020, especially given the lessons of Donald Trump's unexpected win.

I'm loathe to compare Sanders with Trump in any way given that Trump is a man who traffics in bigotry, racism and continually defends Republican men accused of abusing women, such as former Fox News head Roger Ailes after 25 women accused him of sexual harassment.

But the Sanders 2020 campaign, fueled by a populist message, does share some commonality with Trump's improbable 2016 run.

First, both Sanders today and Trump during his 2016 campaign drew massive, passionate crowds at their rallies. For example, in August 2015, then-candidate Trump drew 30,000 at a campaign event in Alabama. This was at a time when numerous political experts gave Trump almost no chance of winning. In January 2016, shortly before the New Hampshire primary, Trump attracted approximately 8,000 supporters at his rally near the border of neighboring Massachusetts.

Today, Sanders is seeing comparable numbers and energy surrounding his campaign. Last Sunday, Sanders was scheduled to hold a rally at a 5,000-seat venue in Denver, but because of a tsunami of demand, the campaign moved it to a larger venue where he drew more than 11,000. Two weeks ago, the night before the New Hampshire primary, Sanders packed more than 7,500 into an arena, with USA Today noting that this "event easily marked the largest in the Democratic contest in New Hampshire."

A second similarity is that many political pundits warned that if either secured the nomination they would not only lose horribly but drag their respective political parties down with them.

For example, Karl Rove, who served as a top adviser to former President George W. Bush, warned in January 2016 that, "If Mr. Trump is its standard-bearer, the GOP will lose the White House and the Senate, and its majority in the House will fall dramatically." Now-dogged Trump defender and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted in May 2016 that "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it."

In fact, some Democrats were "giddy" at the prospect of running against him, predicting he would get crushed the same way the GOP's very conservative 1964 presidential nominee Barry Goldwater lost to President Lyndon Johnson in that election. In reality, in 2016 with Trump as the nominee, the Republicans held onto control of both the Senate (losing only two seats) and the House.

Today, some Democrats are expressing identical concerns: If the very progressive Sanders is the nominee, it will result in Democrats losing more moderate states and could enable the GOP to regain the control of the House it lost in 2018. Some have recently equated Sanders with the very progressive 1972 Democratic nominee George McGovern, who went on to lose horribly to Richard Nixon by 23 percentage points. Republicans are even expressing "glee" that Sanders might be the nominee, believing they can use his "democratic socialism" as a bogeyman to scare voters.

First, can Republicans paint Sanders' "democratic socialism" as something to fear? Well, fear is crucial in motivating voters, and GOP politicians are the masters of using it. In recent years, they have warned of threats posed by everything from Muslims to gay marriage and Hispanic immigrants.

It will be up to Sanders and the Democratic Party, if Sanders wins the nomination, to explain that he's not a socialist in the traditional sense. Rather, as he explained in a 2019 speech on the topic, his focus is completing President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" by, among other things, ensuring all Americans have health care as a right and helping to close the income equality gap by raising the minimum wage.

But comparisons to McGovern's electoral fate fall flat. In head-to-head matchups in 1972, Nixon never polled less than 53% while McGovern never got over 38% -- trailing Nixon at times by over 30 points. In contrast, last week's Washington Post/ABC poll shows Sanders topping Trump 51% to 45%. Obviously, this poll doesn't mean the election will turn out that way, but it does make it clear Sanders currently attracts more support than McGovern ever did and that Nixon was far more popular in 1972 than Trump is today.

We are only three contests into the Democratic process to pick a nominee, and no one knows for certain who that will be. And regardless of who it is, Trump could still win re-election. But one thing is certain: History does tell us Bernie Sanders has a viable chance of sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office come January 20, 2021.
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.

[ Editor: WPY ]
The number of cases of the novel coronavirus continue to rise with already 79,930 cases and 2,465 deaths globally including 20 deaths outside mainland China. With these rising numbers, people continue to ask what risk factors are associated with the spreading of COVID-19.

According to The Guardian, an expert on communicable diseases control from the University of Exeter Medical School, Dr. Bharat Paankhania, said that it is not surprising that the virus has affected people belonging in different demographics.

He further added that everyone is at risk of the disease which is why there is superlative efforts to contain it and prevent it from circulating.

Meanwhile, Dr. David Heymann a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, specializing in infectious disease epidemiology, said that since the disease is new in humans, nobody has immunity yet, even health workers who work in the front line to combat the disease are at risk.

While everyone is at risk of contacting the disease if exposed, the mortality and degree of symptoms vary based on demographic factors.

Read also: Coronavirus Transmission: COVID-19 May Spread Thru Feces?

According to Forbes' Nina Shapiro, the following are to be considered as risk factors of the dreaded disease.

1. The disease is more fatal to older people.

Based on the cases and statistics, there have been 208 deaths out of the 1,408 cases of corona virus in people over 80 years old. This gives it a fatality rate of almost 15%, which is almost 5 times the fatality rate for the virus which is around 2.8%. While in children aging 0-9 years have no recorded deaths in the 416 cases and there is only one fatality recorded of the cases of children and teens aging 10-19.

2. Those who have existing chronic illnesses do worse.

Since the outbreak started, there have been about 5,000 cases of corona virus in individuals that already have co-morbid medical conditions like, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, lung disease or cancer. The mortality rate is also higher in this group with about 5-10% mortality compared to the less than 1% mortality rate of those who have no reported medical condition before contacting the disease.

3. The disease is more fatal to men than women.

According to a piece posted by CNBC, women fare better than men in terms of surviving the disease. While there are almost the same number of confirmed cases across the sexes, the death rate is substantially higher in males at 2.8% and only 1.7% in females.

Over the weekend, the cases in Italy has risen to 132 which is the highest number of cases outside Asia. This means that the virus is slowly becoming a pandemic spreading across countries and continents. Hence, it is advised that people need to take steps in protecting themselves from contacting the virus since it has also been recorded that with heightened awareness, the cases of fatality is lesser for those who contacted it in February than in January when the outbreak peaked.

With the outbreak spreading rampantly across countries, with now 28 countries having confirmed cases, there is a need to be more aware of the risks associated with it or with contacting it.

Related article: U.S. Preps for Possible Coronavirus Outbreak After Confirming 35 Cases

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At least 29 demonstrators were injured in Ethiopia when they were headed for a rally in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Ahmed's supporters became the victims of a bomb attack on Sunday in the town of Ambo, in the Oromia Region, media reports said on Monday.

Ezega News cited local police as saying that the attack was carried out by members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), an opposition party.

According to police, demonstrators sustained only light injuries and 28 out of the 29 injured have already returned home.

According to Arab News, six suspects have been arrested. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not attend the Sunday rally in Ambo.

A national election is scheduled to take place in Ethiopia on August 29. Campaigns will start in May.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Director Sekkhar Suri is all set to bring Karann Nath to silver screen after a gap of 10 years with his latest offering Guns of Banaras, a remake of 2007 hit Polladhavan starring Dhanush. After watching Polladhavan, the director says, he wanted the story to reach a wider audience and Hindi was the best option for the purpose.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Sekkhar said he had tweaked the original quite a bit in order to suit north Indian sensibilities. He added that he has done away with dark elements and introduced commercial ones. Polladhavan was a dark film and it worked with south Indian audiences. But I think, for north Indians, it may not work. I know Anurag Kashyap and several others have made dark films that have worked on the ticket windows but it does not happen all the time. Vetrimarans film was rather dark and conformed to regional sensitivities.

Also read: Pawan & Pooja review: Deepti Naval-Mahesh Manjrekar liven up this series of urban love stories

I had to rewrite the script to suit cultural and regional sentiments of north India and tried to add some fun elements in Guns of Banaras. I made it more appealing and transparent. I dont want to use the word commercial but I think I have added commercial elements. I have made sure it is sensible, sensitive cinema with logic and right emotions, he added.

Shot and set in Banaras, the films trailer suggests a heavy dose of cultural and religious details from the region. Asked if the backdrop was chosen deliberately, the filmmaker said, When I saw Polladhavan, I needed a small town. I happened to like Banaras, the place, the culture, structure...everything, and I chose the place. There are Hindus, Muslims and foreigners in Banaras. It is known for its own flavour. You will get to watch the core of Banaras in the film, my main characters belong to a middle class family in the Uttar Pradesh town.

The films lead Karann added, I always wanted to do action genre. When I saw Polladhavan, I was completely bowled over by the content. I wanted to remake the film in Hindi for the audience in north. We based the film in Banaras. I have been involved in every step, scripting, post production... this is like my child.

Asked if he feared backlash for his film, the director said, People are talking about the title but it only means the youth of Banaras. The film is also about guns and gangsters but there is nothing in the film that people can be offended with. I have not made the film with the intention of hurting anyones sentiments - religious or otherwise.

Asked about his films clash with Taapsee Pannu starrer Thappad, Sekkhar said, The (two) films are different genres and I think all films should work will. How else will filmmakers continue making films and entertain?

Karann, who made his debut with Yeh Dil Aashiqana (2002) and was last seen in 2009 film Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, also opened up on his 10-year break from films. In my free time, all these years, I wrote a few one-line stories which I would love to make one day. I am not saying I am turning a director, writer or producer right away. Right now I want to focus on acting.

Asked if he felt dejected at times, he added, I am a positive person and am happy with my journey. I am lucky to be born in a family of famous people. My grandfather was famous actor (DK Sapru, actor in around 300 films including Pakeezah and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam), my father (Punjabi film producer) and my mother was a writer, Saajan being her most popular film. Whatever happens, happens for the best.

He also elaborated on his role, I play Guddu Shukla who comes from a lower middle class family in Banaras. He is crazy about bikes and his parents cant afford his dream bike. How he gets involved in crime world in the process of getting a bike, is what makes the film.

The actor further said, Our film has nothing to do with politics, nor are we trying to give any message through it. The story is really good, action is by Sham Kaushal who shot it in a very realistic manner. Shams recent projects included Kalank, Mamangam and Student of the Year. He is also working on Mani Ratnams Ponniyin Selvan.

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An intruder was shot multiple times during a predawn home invasion Monday in Elmore County.

The ordeal began just before 5 a.m. in the 200 block of Clemons Road in the Flatwood community. Sheriff Bill Franklin said the scene is a residential area that consists of about a dozen or so mobile homes.

A man, who along with his wife and young child, were awakened at 4:55 a.m. by a loud banging at the front door. The homeowner grabbed his 9 mm handgun and went to investigate.

When he got to the front door, he came face to face with 39-year-old Charles Bowne, who lives nearby. At that point, the sheriff said, Bowne told the homeowner, Give me your (expletive).

Bowne then reached toward his pocket and the homeowner said he feared the intruder was going for a gun. The homeowner fired four to five rounds, shooting Bowne in the head, bicep, shoulder and left leg, and then called 911.

Bowne was airlifted to a Montgomery hospital where he is in critical condition. The sheriff said a crack pipe was retrieved from Bownes sock.

Franklin said Bowne spent time in prison in Indiana and has previously had at least one other confrontation with another neighbor. He said he does not expect any charges to be filed against the homeowner.

We dont have that many home invasions in Elmore County, the sheriff said. Its not every morning you wake up at 4:55 a.m. to somebody inside your front door. Thats pretty rough.
As yet more tech hubs spring up on the African continent, the question becomes how these tech centres can really empower, support and accelerate innovation across the region.

There are more than 600 tech hubs actively operating in Africa, according to the GMSA Ecosystem Accelerator Program and BriterBridges. The usual suspects crop up again and again when you look at the concentration of tech hubs, though: close to 50 percent of all hubs on the continent are in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt or Morocco, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC). So how are tech hubs aiding innovation in Africa?

Taking stock of how tech hubs are contributing to startup ecosystems and entrepreneurship in Africa, in particular their role in catalysing investment, a report from venture capital fund Village Capital argues that Africa needs better tech hubs rather than more of them.

The best thing to do is support existing hubs rather than to open new hubs. There are enough hubs, but they dont possess resources, said Aboubaker Benslimane, a research participant for the Village Capital report and Morocco lead at Jokkolabs, dedicated to creating an international innovation ecosytem via startup acceleration programs, bootcamps, incubation labs and hackathoins. There are a lot of hubs that are living with grants and very few sponsors, and when these grants and sponsors leave, they cant survive anymore, Benslimane said.

What is a tech hub?

Tech hub is an umbrella term for organizations that support developers and entrepreneurs. Noting the variety of hubs, Village Capital instead uses the term entrepreneur support organisation (ESO). ESOs may include: simple co-working facilities; incubators that offer classes and business services; accelerators that provide access to investors; and maker spaces or fab labs, where entrepreneurs and developers can share technology and ideas.

Tech hub funding varies. Hubs often get off the ground with grants or investments from government and public entities, tech vendors and venture investors, but many generate revenue from rent, membership and providing various tech and business services.

Tech hubs offer a way for expertise and investment to be extended to early-stage ventures that need it. As such, hubs and ESOs more generally have been instrumental in the success of numerous ventures that are now scaling rapidly, such as PiggyVest, which offers a savings and investment app, in Nigeria.

According to the Village Capital report, hubs are also figuring more prominently in the plans of development agencies that cultivate startup ecosystems in Africa, with funding of at least US$150 million in aggregate targeted at this objective since 2016.

Funding gains lag tech hub proliferation

However, as the World Bank identified in 2018, ESO failings can result in few start-ups landing investments and disenchanted investors. Moreover, early stage investment in Africa, whilst rising, has not risen at the same speed as the emergence of tech hubs and remains relatively low, representing less than 1 percent of global startup funding in 2018.

Access to capital is still one of the main challenges for entrepreneurs, says Vijayakumar Bhagavatula, director of the Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Kigali, Rwanda. Banks and other financial institutions are not willing to give loans unless there is some kind of collateral, and access to other types of financing  seed funding, angel funding  is still significantly smaller than in other places.

CMUs Industry Innovation Lab is currently supporting two companies started by former students who went through CMU Africas Masters programmes. Interconnect Point is using IoT sensors to quantify the quality of tea leaves, since tea is a big cash crop in Rwanda. The other company is Hepta Analytics, which was created by Masters students who were originally from Kenya. Although their initial focus during their studies was on using data analytics for sentiment analysys during the Kenyan elections, they have now turned their talents to the creation of a Google Translator-like tool that will take online content that is in English and translate it into local languages in real-time. In the future, CMU hopes to be able to support eight to 10 such start-ups each year  but this will depend on funding.

Cash is not the only need for tech hubs; access to other resources can be as important. IBM is one of the partners of the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Hub, an initiative by Wits University in South Africa. One of the areas of innovation for the hub is in quantum computing.

The hub has created a platform for Wits students to access IBMs quantum computing system via the cloud. This gives them the chance to run their own algorithms on real hardware to learn how to program a quantum computer. IBM recently hosted a week-long Quantum Computing Summer School in the hub.

Emerging tech as a key to success

The key to success for Tshimologong is that they have shaped the hubs strategy toward emerging technology with broad potential, such as cloud, AI and quantum, says Solomon Assefa, vice president of Emerging Market Solutions and director at IBM Research Africa. Besides the obvious, such as passionate and talented experts and reliable infrastructure, innovation hubs also need to leverage open technologies, according to Assefa.

Community building is also important for success in such hubs, Assefa adds. For hubs to be successful they need to have low barriers of entry and be very engaging to make members feel like they are part of something special.

Steve Brooks, principal in charge of planning at Oz Architecture, which is working on Konza Technopolis, a proposed smart city tech hub initiative by the Kenyan government, believes that the best way to support technology development is creating a stage for innovation and the exchange of ideas with locations that have critical mass and act as a magnet for talent.

Konzas mission has been to establish a major technology hub that would be an economic driver for Kenya. Early projections based on interviews with hundreds of companies, indicated that Konzas initial phase development would create 1,700 tech jobs and 17,000 jobs overall in the first phase for 30,000 residents. The city is anticipated to add $1.3 billion to the national GDP. Infrastructure will support Konza smart city being a living laboratory for IoT.

Brooks notes that success in African tech hub development requires political stability and good governance to support it. Many African countries are suffering setbacks in tech development because of social unrest or governments that are not open to free communication, he says.

But there is political will to encourage innovation in places throughout Africa; Brooks cites President Kagames efforts to support STEM education in Rwanda and the work of President Bio of Sierra Leone, who is striving to plant the seeds of technology as rapidly as possible.

Reliable infrastructure is also needed for successful tech development, Brooks emphasises. High-speed internet access with cybersecurity, Wi-Fi and fibre-optic cabling can enhance success. Robust data centres, for example at Tier 3 level, require redundant primary electrical power from at least two grid sources, plus on-site backup power generation.

A tech-hub success checklist

The Village Capital report highlighted several recommendations for ensuring that Africas tech hubs are successful, including:

Narrow programmes that focus on a single sector, to attract higher quality ventures and achieve superior outcomes.

High-quality, vetted curricula, localised to suit relevant sectors, geographies, and languages.

Sustainable business models that, for example, diversify beyond philanthropic capital and subsidies by extending into consulting, research, space rental, corporate sponsorship and commission on capital raised.

Strategic hiring for the development of tech hub teams with diverse, critical skills.

Thinking regionally: Regional programmes that help entrepreneurs address the problem of scaling in small economies have been more successful in raising operating and investment capital. Organisations such as i4Policy are leading the charge on lobbying governments for startup-friendly policy, including through creating collaborative linkages across ecosystems.

With the right strategy and an awareness of the need for quality over quantity, tech hubs in Africa can play a significant role in the development of future technologies. We just need to give Africans opportunities now, because ultimately the majority of innovation impacting the world will be coming increasingly from Africa in the next decade, Assefa says.
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has denied presenting a forged certificate of exemption of the National You...

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has denied presenting a forged certificate of exemption of the National Youth Service Corps to the Independent National Electoral Commission.He had been accused of forging the certificate to aid his qualification as the then running mate of the Bayelsa State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 governorship election, Mr Douye Diri, who was recently declared the governor of Bayelsa State by the Supreme Court judgment.He explained that the NYSC made a spelling error on his surname and spelt it as Ewhruojakpa, adding that he later wrote to the NYSC, notifying it of the error and asking it to correct the mistake as well as to reissue him a certification of exemption with his correct name. He said the NYSC later corrected it and reissued him with an exemption certificate bearing his correct name, Ewhrudjakpo.He spoke through his counsel, Mr Clement Kekemeke, during a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday.A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Benjamin Youndiowei, had dragged the deputy governor, the PDP, and the INEC before a court, claiming that Ewhrudjakpo had issued a false/forged certificate to INEC to aid his qualification as Diris running mate.But Kekemeke said, The position of my client is that he never forged NYSC exemption certificate. The copy issued was issued by the issuing authorities in error and they have owned up to that by re-issuing a corrected certificate. Even before he ran for Senate in February 2019, he had earlier written to the NYSC seeking that correction. It had not been effected until he ran for the office of the Senate. He presented the erroneous copy. After the matter was struck out, being statute barred, he commenced the procedure by writing to the NYSC and they re-issued it, admitting the error, the IGP has investigated, written to the NYSC and they confirmed same and they have owned up that the error was that of the issuing authority and once the issuing authority owns up to the error, the certificate cannot be said to have been forged even errors are contained therein.My client submitted the erroneous certificate he presented to the INEC because as of that time, the procedure for re-issuance was still on and until the issuing authority did same, he could not have had another copy to present. So the question now is whether the copy he presented was forged? It is only forged when the presenter altered it but now the issuer said the error is mine.Kekemeke said the deputy governor had not bribed any INEC official to change the documents he submitted to the commission as alleged by the APC. He stated that the documents he submitted to INEC were still intact with the commission.
FORT VALLEY, Ga. - A 23-year-old Georgia college student whose body was found days after she disappeared was strangled, according to an arrest warrant.

The cause of Anitra Gunns death was revealed Monday as a judge read aloud the charges against DeMarcus Little. Little, also 23, was charged on Friday with malice murder just hours after being arraigned on criminal damage charges. Authorities said Little smashed windows in Gunns home and slashed her car tires on Feb. 5.

Gunn, an agriculture student at Fort Valley State University, went missing on Valentines Day. Her remains were found days later in Crawford County, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) south of Atlanta and about a mile and a half east of where Little lived with his aunt, according to investigators. Her death was ruled a homicide on Thursday.

Littles lawyer, Benjamin Davis, denied the charges during a hearing on Monday.

Hes a soldier, so his primary focus in life is defending America, putting his life on the line, Davis said. If he were the kind of person that would commit a malice murder ... like this, that would have been borne out in the military.

Little was denied bond and remained in Peach County jail. Another hearing is set for April 24.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 02:30:51|Editor: yan

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WARSAW, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A poll published here on Monday predicted that President Andrzej Duda would win 41.9 percent in the first round of the vote in Poland's presidential elections on May 10, almost 20 percent more than opposition candidate Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska.

The poll was conducted on behalf of the local daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna and radio station RMF FM and based on a nationwide sample of 1,100 adult Poles.

Kidawa-Blonska, candidate of the opposition Civic Platform (PO) party, was projected to receive 22.2 percent of the vote. Third place would be taken by Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, chairman of the Polish People's Party (PSL), with 10.4 percent.

In the second round of the elections, Duda would win 49.6 percent against Kidawa-Blonska, who serves as deputy marshal of the Sejm (lower house of parliament). However, the current president would lose in a duel with Kosiniak-Kamysz, with the former projected to secure 43.9 percent of the vote, while the latter 45.9 percent.

The president of Poland, who is limited to two five-year terms, is directly elected using the two-round system.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RV Retailer, LLC announced today that Motor Home Specialist (MHS) was the #1 seller of new motorhomes by a single dealership in the United States for the 7th consecutive year in 2019. MHS was purchased by RV Retailer in 2018.

Jon Ferrando, Chief Executive Officer and President of RV Retailer, stated, "I am proud of Donny O'Banion and the entire Motor Home Specialist team in Texas. The achievement of a 7th consecutive year as the largest new motorhome dealer in the United States speaks to the team's continued commitment to exceed expectations of motorhome customers."

"I am thrilled that we were able to continue our reign for the 7th year in a row as the largest new motorhome dealer in the United States. We couldn't achieve our incredible sales levels without the dedication of all our associates at Motor Home Specialist and the support of our manufacturer partners," said Donny O'Banion, President of Motor Home Specialist. "I'm proud to be a part of RV Retailer, the RVR team's support has been instrumental in our continued success."

RV Retailer also announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Palm RV located in Fort Myers, Florida. The store will be rebranded RV One Superstores  Fort Myers, the 7th RV One store in Florida and 11th RV One location overall. Upon closing of the Palm RV transaction in early March, RV Retailer will have 30 locations across 7 states with over 1,200 associates.

"We have been focused on Florida as a key market from the day RV Retailer was formed, which makes it great for us to hit our 30th store milestone in under two years with an acquisition in Florida. Fort Myers is an excellent RV market with over 50 RV parks and campgrounds along the Southwest Florida coastline," stated Jon Ferrando.

"We thank Tom Wegge for selecting us to acquire Palm RV. The Wegge family has an incredible history in the RV business," added Jon Ferrando. "RV One Superstores  Fort Myers will be managed under the leadership of Don Strollo, RV Retailer's East Region President. We expect to drive significant growth in the Fort Myers market by successfully building on Palm RV's foundation that was set by Tom over many years. We look forward to welcoming our new associates in Fort Myers into the RV Retailer family."

About RV Retailer, LLC

RV Retailer, LLC is a leading recreational vehicle retail company in the United States with a focus on providing an outstanding experience for recreational vehicle customers in new and used sales, service and parts, and customer financial services. RV Retailer currently owns 26 RV stores in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas with over $1 billion in annual revenue. Regional store brands include: RV One Superstores, Motor Home Specialist, ExploreUSA, Sonny's Camp N Travel, and Tom's Camperland, which sell and service a wide range of new and used RV brands with thousands of RVs in inventory. MHS sold the most new motorhomes in the United States in 2019 (and prior years) based on data provided by Statistical Surveys.

RV Retailer's capital partner is Redwood Capital Investments. RV Retailer is led by co-founders Jon Ferrando, Chief Executive Officer and President, and John Rizzo, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Jon Ferrando and John Rizzo were instrumental in building America's largest automotive retailer from start-up to over $20 billion in revenue. RV Retailer's leadership team has over 200 years of automotive and RV retail industry experience.

About Redwood Capital Investments

Redwood Capital Investments is the private investment company for the founders of Allegis Group. Redwood partners with founders, family-business owners and management teams to build best-in-class companies over the long-term. Redwood has a diverse portfolio of operating company investments across the consumer, transportation, distribution and telecom sectors.

Contact

Jon Ferrando, (954) 908-3650

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 15:57 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066414b1 4 News Singapore-Airlines,coronavirus,Airlines,travel Free

Singapore Airlines has canceled some flights to Indonesia until the end of May, including those of subsidiary Silk Air.

"Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will temporarily reduce services across our network due to weak demand as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak," the carrier announced on its social media accounts on Feb. 18.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and make further adjustments as necessary. Affected customers will be notified and re-accommodated onto other flights."

The canceled flights are:

Singapore Airlines

SQ968 Singapore-Jakarta on March 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 21, 26 and 28

SQ951 Jakarta-Singapore on March 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 27 and 29

SilkAir

MI224 Singapore-Surabaya on March 11 and 18

MI223 Surabaya-Singapore on March 11 and 18

MI142 Singapore-Makassar on Feb. 24; March 2; April 27

MI141 Makassar-Singapore on Feb. 24; March 2; April 27

MI196 Singapore-Bandung on April 7, 14, 21 and 28; May 5 and 12

MI195 Bandung-Singapore on April 7, 14, 21 and 28; May 5 and 12

MI138 Singapore-Balikpapan on April 24

MI137 Balikpapan-Singapore on April 24

MI134 Singapore-Balikpapan on May 18

MI133 Balikpapan-Singapore on May 18

The airline has also canceled its services from Singapore to other Southeast Asian destinations, such as Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia.

Following the news, Transportation Ministry civil aviation director general Novie Riyanto told tempo.co on Monday that the ministry had received reports from Singapore Airlines regarding the decision.

"[The policy] is not a permanent one; only temporary. The cancelations were due to weak demand caused by the coronavirus. Cathay Pacific has also reduced its services because of the outbreak," said Novie, adding that the ministry was currently making a record of foreign carriers that had reduced, canceled or postponed flights to Indonesia. (gis/kes)

__________

Editor's note:

The title and first paragraph in this article have been corrected.
Members of the House of Representatives committee on power have threatened not to approve appropriation in the 2021 Federal Budget for the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) if the agency is not returned to the Ministry of Power.

The Chairman, House Committee on Power, Magaji Dau Aliyu, who issued the threat on Monday said NBET has always been an agency under the Ministry of Power and should be allowed to remain that way.

NBET no doubt has a critical role to play as the key financial organ of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

As lawmakers, we frown at every possible attempt at contravening aspects of the law. The provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 with regards to successor companies, shows clearly that NBET is an agency under the Ministry of Power.

It is my opinion that the alleged decision to move the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Plc from the Ministry of Power to the Ministry of Finance is akin to hitting the self-destruct button.

We cannot afford to play politics with an issue as sensitive and as vital as this. I, therefore, wish to use this medium to reiterate that as far as the National Assembly is concerned NBET still remains an agency under the Ministry of Power, he said.

The lawmaker did not explain in details where his fears emanated from.

Trail of crisis

Last December, the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, had announced the suspension of the Managing Director of NBET, Marilyn Amobi, following the crisis that rocked the organisation.

Ms Amobis suspension followed a report that detailed how she instigated the arrest and detention for several hours of nine top officials of the agency by the State Security Services (SSS, also called DSS).

But, her suspension, which was first announced by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) quoted the minister as saying the order for the MD to step down was in continuation of the governments effort to reorganise and sanitise the Federal Ministry of Power and its affiliated agencies.

However, barely a week after the suspension, President Muhammadu Buhari overruled the Minister over the decision and ordered the immediate reinstatement of the controversial MD.

Apart from her reinstatement, the president directed that Ms Amobi be moved to the finance ministry until further notice.

The decision had provoked wide criticism, as many saw it as an attempt by the government to condone corruption despite several indicting investigative reports by the anti-graft agencies.

READ ALSO:

Both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other relate Offences Commission (ICPC) had submitted indicting reports against Ms Amobi.

Mambilla

Meanwhile, on the Mambilla Hydro-Power project, Mr Dau Aliyu said despite governments determination to pursue its completion in recent times, the over 40 years old project existed only on paper.

The lawmaker said there was nothing on ground to show the project has commenced before the coming of the present administration.

He spoke on Monday during the committees oversight visit to the Ministry of Power headquarters in Abuja.

In the presentation of a Right-of-Way report presented by the Director, Renewable Energy & Rural Power Access, Federal Ministry of Power, Faruk Yusuf Yabo, the lawmakers were told the land for the project has just been acquired.

Until now, there was no legal title to the land. Let me sincerely thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Power for achieving this feat. There was never anything like Mambilla power project. It exists only in books and on papers before this government, he said.

He said the approval of funds and other activities geared towards kick-starting the Mambilla project was an indication of governments display of political will in providing adequate and steady power supply to Nigerians.

The committee chairman said the National Assembly was concerned about the slow pace of implementation of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Act, 2010 and its subsequent amendment.

He drew the attention of the minister to the Houses earlier resolution that HYPPADEC should commence operation by January 1, 2020.

Following the resolution, he said HYPPADEC was ordered to relocate to Niger to commence operation.

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Earlier, the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, said the HYPPADEC Act was passed into law in August 2010 and amended in July 2018.

The Minister said the objective of HYPPADEC was to bring development to the communities in the area affected by activities of hydro power plants.

In accordance with the concern and directive of the National Assembly during 2020 Budget defence for immediate take -off HYPPADEC, the ministry has appointed a director to oversee the coordination of the take-off of the commission.

A source of funding to enable the take-off of the commission has been approved, he said.

The implementation of Kashimbiiia 40MW Hydropower Project is at 100 per cent completion but that of Mambila 3,050MW HEPP is currently at inception stage.
Prominent Sydney neurosurgeon Tim Steel has had his medical registration suspended following criminal charges relating to allegations of domestic violence.

Dr Steel, who is former head of the Department of Neurosurgery at St Vincents Hospital in Darlinghurst, has been charged with assaulting his wife Emma, occasioning actual bodily harm and damaging property.

Sydney neurosurgeon Dr Timothy Steel.

The charges relate to an alleged altercation at the couple's Bellevue Hill home on Saturday, December 14.

Police are also seeking an apprehended violence order against Dr Steel on behalf of Emma Steel, who is listed on LinkedIn as her husbands practice manager.
People wear face masks as they leave an office building in the Central Business District in Beijing as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, China on Feb. 24, 2020. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

WHO Declines to Declare Spread of Coronavirus a Pandemic

The spread of the new coronavirus hasnt met the level of a pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday even as the number of cases and deaths continued rising sharply in Iran, South Korea, and Italy.

The sudden increase in cases in those three countries are deeply concerning, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva, but said that experts at the agency have decided against describing the situation as a pandemic.

Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely it has. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet, he said.

Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it certainly may cause fear.

There are epidemics of the new virus in multiple countries, Tedros said.

World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference in Geneva on Feb. 24, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO, an international agency that is supporting countries in trying to combat the new virus, declared a public health emergency of international concern in late January after cases were confirmed among patients with no history of travel to China, where the virus emerged in December 2019. The global emergency is defined as an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an epidemic is an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area. A pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top official at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said during an appearance on CNN over the weekend that a pandemic features consistent, sustained person-to-person transmission in different places around the world.

We are clearly at the brink of that, he said.

Italian soldiers patrol by a check-point at the entrance of the small town of Vo Vecchio, situated in the red zone of the COVID-19 the novel coronavirus outbreak, northern Italy, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Marco Sabadin/AFP via Getty Images)

As of Monday, there were 2,074 cases of COVID-19 caused by the new virus in 28 countries outside China. Twenty-three people died outside China from the disease, a number thats quickly rising.

In addition to the spike in cases in Iran, South Korea, and Italy, some half-a-dozen countries in the Middle East reported cases on Monday. Many of the cases were the first confirmed in those countries.

Our decision about whether to use the word pandemic to describe an epidemic is based on an ongoing assessment of the geographical spread of the virus, the severity of disease it causes and the impact it has on the whole of society, Tedros told reporters in Geneva.

For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this coronavirus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death.

Medical workers wearing protective gear carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea on Feb. 21, 2020. (Lee Moo-ryul/Newsis via AP)

Nations, groups, and people should focus on trying to contain the virus but still must prepare for the possibility of a pandemic, he added.

Dr. Mike Ryan, WHOs emergencies program director, told reporters that the word pandemic refers to the belief that the whole worlds population would likely be exposed to the new virus, with a portion getting infected.

Pandemics of influenza can sometimes be called a lot earlier because the world has seen them before, he said.

Its much easier to say a pandemic will occur in an influenza situation. What we dont understand yet in COVID-19 are the absolute transmission dynamics, he said, citing figures from the Chinese Communist Partywhich are widely questioned by expertsthat claim the number of cases in China are falling.

The news conference came after a study estimated that two-thirds of the virus carriers from China went undetected by the countries where they traveled.

Researchers at the Imperial College London, analyzing flight data from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, concluded that some countries have detected significantly fewer than would have been expected based on the volume of flight passengers arriving from Wuhan.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has urged the UK Government to live up to its promises in the Withdrawal Agreement (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ireland and Brussels have urged the UK Government to honour all the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement.

The statements came on Monday, after reports suggested that Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered his Brexit team to find ways to get around the Northern Ireland protocol.

But Downing Street insisted the UK would comply with our obligations under the deal struck with Brussels, and said it would require only limited changes to Great Britain-Northern Ireland trade.

Vehicles arrive at Larne Port in Northern Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Sunday Times reported that officials in Taskforce Europe are seeking to evade Irish Sea checks on goods passing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, on a visit to Londonderry on Monday, cautioned against getting caught up in rumours and stuff in the press.

Mr Lewis reiterated the Governments insistence that there would not be a border down the Irish Sea.

Speaking in Dublin earlier on Monday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Withdrawal Agreement is an international treaty and he expects the UK to honour that in full.

He said there can be no backsliding and urged Mr Johnsons Government to focus on the next phase of negotiating a free trade agreement.

There can be no backsliding on the Withdrawal Agreement, let's not even go there and let's focus instead on what should be the next phaseLeo Varadkar

We totally understand why they may want to minimise any checks at the ports and airports in Northern Ireland, we want to do that too, but the agreement clearly says if there have to be checks anywhere, they would happen at the ports and airports in Northern Ireland rather than on the land border between north and south, he said.

So I am saying to the British Government, there can be no backsliding on the Withdrawal Agreement, lets not even go there and lets focus instead on what should be the next phase, which is negotiating a free trade agreement between the European Union and Ireland and the UK so we can protect jobs and our economy.

Brussels said the Withdrawal Agreement must be effectively implemented  and cautioned that respecting legal obligations would be very important for establishing trust between the UK and EU in future negotiations.

Dana Spinant, deputy chief spokeswoman of the European Commission, told reporters: The Withdrawal Agreement has been signed and ratified by both sides and as such it must be effectively implemented.

That includes of course the protocol on Northern Ireland and all its constituent parts.

Of course in this context, as in all others, we would expect our partners to respect their international obligations under their national law and under international law  that includes of course the Withdrawal Agreement, which has legal force.

Obviously, with respect to the future and how this plays in the negotiation, of course respecting our legal obligations is very important for establishing trust between two partners in a negotiation.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs a meeting of his new Cabinet (PA)

Mr Johnsons Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to sign off on the proposals, it was reported, which are expected to be presented in Parliament and published online on Thursday.

The Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU leaves Northern Ireland within the UK customs area, but all EU procedures will apply to goods arriving there.

The UK signed the Withdrawal Agreement including the protocol last month, we will comply with our obligationsPrime Minister's spokesman

Mr Lewis was asked about the issue on his first visit to Derry since replacing Julian Smith as Secretary of State.

I think its safest not to get too caught up in rumours and stuff in the press over the weekends, we are focusing on our main job, he said.

We have always said we want to make sure there is unfettered access between GB and Northern Ireland, weve always as a Government obviously gone by the rule of law and we will continue to do that.

We want to make sure that the United Kingdom is one whole union, and one that is good for business across the United Kingdom.

Weve always said there will not be a border down the Irish Sea, there will be unfettered access for business.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The protocol specifically allows the UK to ensure unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to GB.

The UK signed the Withdrawal Agreement including the protocol last month, we will comply with our obligations.

The spokesman added that Boris Johnson has been clear that beyond the limited changes which are introduced by the protocol, there will be no changes to GB/NI trade.

We have not asked any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between GB/NI.
[February 23, 2020] Thomson Reuters investment brings smart research to small law

SYDNEY, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal practitioners in boutique firms can now handle matters for clients faster than ever before, with a Thomson Reuters investment offering firms and sole practitioners an all-in-one approach to legal research. Built with input from practising lawyers and barristers in the profession, the solution provider's technology initiative is expected to provide relief to the small law market, who are known for spending excessive time on legal research for clients. Carl Olson, Vice President of Legal Professionals at Thomson Reuters, Asia and Emerging Markets, said: "The small law segment no longer has to rely on the uncertainty of free legal research, as we have innovated with the industry to provide a smart alternative that is typically only afforded to large law firms. The profession can expect to see a rise in nimble law firms and barristers yielding speedier results for clients, due to the data retrieval benefits such as complex search algorithms and natural language search that Thomson Reuters' legal research technology offers." Boutique firms and sole practitioners commonly draw on free legal esearch to represent their clients, which can turn clued-up prospective clients away from using their services. However, this new opportunity for the small law market to invest in verified legal research will provide additional assurance to existing and prospective clients.



Project leader, James Jarvis, who is Vice President of Legal Solutions at the company across Asia and Emerging Markets, said: "Good legal solutions ought to provide business-oriented results for lawyers and I am pleased our legal research software, Westlaw, can save practitioners up to four hours per week. Our design partners are the real heroes in the story here, where they have joined us on our digital transformation journey to overhaul research workflows." Forget everything you know about searching for precedents and case law - the new software is a totally different experience for practitioners, and it's now easily accessible to the smaller end of town, with an additional suite of niche practice areas to tap into."

The design partners who helped inform the software developments include Danny King, Principal at Danny King Legal who founded her successful firm in 2011. Through partnering with Thomson Reuters, the benefits of the Thomson Reuters product to her employment law firm have been clear. King stated: "I have noticed my juniors have been spending less time looking for answers and more time conveying them to the team. As a boutique law firm, our resources are precious, so we see the new Westlaw as a smart investment for a nimble law firm like ours looking to take the burden out of manual knowledge work." Corporate and litigation boutique law firm Principal, Mark Wilson founder of W Advisers, has said that Westlaw provides a compelling business case for firms like his across key knowledge areas. Westlaw in its newest form has also been praised by Melbourne-based barrister, David Kim, who noted that the marriage of the smart citator, built-in classification system and search function is a game-changer for how he will be able to serve his clients, now and in the future. Thomson Reuters Westlaw is trusted by thousands of law firms and organisations in the Australian legal profession, offering unparalleled legal research capabilities in the cloud. You can find out more about Westlaw at https://legal.thomsonreuters.com.au/new-westlaw. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200221/2727020-1LOGO SOURCE Thomson Reuters

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Luke Richard William Thomas, 39, pleaded not guilty to four charges on Monday

A Sydney man has denied sex acts with a woman in a park as children walked past on their way to a nearby school.

Luke Richard William Thomas, 39, pleaded not guilty to four charges - including behaving in an offensive manner near a public school - when he appeared briefly at Newtown Local Court on Monday.

The Manly man was arrested a week ago along with a 31-year-old woman - who will face court in March - after police received reports the couple was performing 'a sexual act' in Weekley Park in Stanmore.

Police allege the incident occurred at 8.30am about 100 metres from a primary school as children were on their way to morning classes.

The 39-year-old was also charged with wilful and obscene exposure as well as two counts of possessing a prohibited drug after allegedly being caught with 0.3 grams of methamphetamine and 0.6 grams of cannabis.

He entered not guilty pleas to all charges on Monday and is scheduled to appear in court again on April 6.

The Manly man was arrested a week ago along with a 31-year-old woman - who will face court in March - after police received reports the couple was performing 'a sexual act' in Weekley Park in Stanmore
Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - The Congolese Ministry of Health and Population has launched a yaws control project in the departments of Sangha and Likouala in Brazzaville, with a view to eradicate the disease which affects nearly 60 per cent of the native population in the two departments
Terror sanctuaries along Durand Line must be closed: Modi to tell Trump

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 24: Counter terror, Pakistan and Afghanistan would be on the table, when US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet on Tuesday for a bi-lateral.

The discussion on Afghanistan is particularly important as the US gets set to withdraw from the country. In the Indian context, Modi would look for stability in the region and hence Afghanistan would be discussed in detail.

One of the key concerns for India are the terror sanctuaries along the Durand Line that borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. These sanctuaries will need to be closed if peace and stability has to return to Afghanistan, Modi would tell Donald Trump. Further India would also look to ensure that the meddling by Pakistan is limited in Afghanistan. India would impress upon the US the importance of keeping Pakistan away from Afghanistan in case there has to be peace in the region.

Namaste Trump: Five things you need to know about Sabarmati Ashram

Top sources in Delhi, tell OneIndia that Pakistan is another issue that would come up for discussions. The discussions are particularly important in the wake of Pakistan continuing to stay in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force. The FATF had issued a stern warning to Pakistan and gave it time until June 2020 to clean up its act failing which it would be downgraded to the black list.

Both Modi and Trump are likely to issue a joint statement on Pakistan, asking it to take more action on terrorists. Further the two leaders would urge Pakistan to stop allowing its soil to be used by terrorists and not indulge in cross border terrorism.

'Hum rasthe mein hein, khuch hi ghante mein hum sabse milenge': Trump tweets in Hindi

During the Modi-Obama summit of 2015 and also the Trump-Modi summit in 2017, statements urging Pakistan to take decisive action on terrorists were issued. The source cited above said that a statement on Pakistan, stability in the region and Afghanistan would be issued by the two leaders following the summit.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 11:04 [IST]
Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea Abida Islam, fourth from left, pose with other ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps in Seoul during a ceremony to mark Language Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul, Feb. 21. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo



By Yi Whan-woo



The Embassy of Bangladesh in Korea celebrated Language Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day last week at the Korean National Commission for UNESCO in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul.



The celebration paid tribute to the martyrs of the movement led by the country's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Feb. 21, 1952, to protect the rights of speaking the mother tongue  Bangla  as well as self-entity, culture and heritage.



Bangladesh was then East Bengal under the Dominion of Pakistan that sought to make Urdu its only official language.



Students and other advocates of Bangla as an official language were killed in Dhaka during their campaign.



Also led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country became independent in 1971. The country's name means "land of Bangla-speaking people."



In 1999, UNESCO proclaimed Feb. 21 as International Mother Language Day in accordance with the Bangladeshi people's request.



"The language movement continually inspired us to fight against the oppression of the rulers of then Pakistan and eventually led to the creation of independent Bangladesh in 1971 through a nine-month historic war of liberation," Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea Abida Islam said during the commemoration.



Ambassador Islam said she was happy to see that the spirit of Language Martyrs Day was "now resonating in the hearts" of the peoples of 193 countries after UNESCO's designation of International Mother Language Day.



She noted that Bangladesh and Korea had "striking similarities with our language movement," noting that Korea had struggled to protect Hangeul during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation.



UNESCO predicts that almost 3,000 languages are at the risk of disappearing and more than half may be extinct by the end of this century.



Accordingly, Bangladesh  the home of 41 small ethnic groups consisting of more than 3 million people  established the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka in 2001.



"To that end, our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka in 2001, which is dedicated to preserving and carrying out research on spoken languages all over the world," Islam said.



"The government is also sincere about addressing issues related to the absence of written alphabets in the languages of most of the ethnic minorities, including lack of language teachers and educational materials."



The Seoul celebration was attended by Korea National Commission for UNESCO Secretary-General Kim Kwang-ho, Director General of the Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau Kim Jung-han at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several ambassadors  including Philip Turner of New Zealand, Michael Danagher of Canada and Jibao Mattai of Sierra Leone  whose countries advocate multilingualism.



The three ambassadors shared the initiatives of their respective countries in promoting multilingualism.



Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent congratulatory messages, which embassy officials read.



"To embrace martyrdom for the cause of the mother tongue is a rare incident in world history," the president said. "Observing the International Mother Language Institute, I firmly believe it will play a positive role in attaining a sustainable future through multilingual education."



The prime minister, who is also a daughter of the founding father, referred to International Mother Language Day as "a source of inspiration to all people of the world in establishing truth and justice."


Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has flown into the eye of a storm over his claims that bomber passengers "will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion".

The Dublin City Interfaith Forum (DCIF) was among those who condemned the controversial comments over the weekend.

It called on all public people "with an audience for their words and statements to moderate their language" and to be mindful of the harm they can do with "careless" comments.

Adrian Cristea, a spokesperson for the group, told the Herald yesterday the forum comprises a broad network of leaders and representatives of different faith communities, including Muslims from different mosques around the city.

He said the forum had decided to issue a statement because they felt it was important to do so in the light of one group being "very clearly" singled out.

The statement urged Mr O'Leary to reflect and learn from the incident, and make some kind of "real gesture" to indicate he has learned from his speech.

"The words that we say sometimes can hurt people," said Mr Cristea.

He said the forum's statement had gone up on social media and had reached hundreds of people.

They wanted to highlight the importance of paying attention to what we say, and how we say it. The controversy took off on Saturday when Mr O'Leary gave an interview to a newspaper in which he was discussing airport security measures.

When asked what the government should do, he said he would profile passengers.

"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 f***ing 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.

Denied

"If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat."

Front-page comments by Mr O'Leary were published under the headline: 'Airline boss wants extra checks on Muslim men.'

However, this was strongly denied by Ryanair, and the company issued a statement that said: "The headline in yesterday's paper is simply inaccurate.

"No call for extra checks on any group or persons was made.

"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."

He apologised sincerely for any offence caused to any group by the "inaccurate headline".

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "Comments such as those reported would reflect a simplistic, even lazy view of international affairs to which I don't subscribe."

Meanwhile, the head imam of the Islamic Centre of Ireland, Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, said Mr O'Leary's comments were "very irresponsible" in the current climate.

Separately, in the same interview, Mr O'Leary described most airport security as "utterly useless".

He said that "it is only designed so that politicians can convey the impression that they are doing something".
Thousands of private WhatsApp group chats including those used to trade child sex abuse images have been exposed in Google search results.

The messaging app's group chat feature is 'not as secure' as its users may think, experts warn, and users' phone numbers and conversations could be exposed.

Groups are normally only available to join by direct invitation within the app, or via the creation of a digital invite link that can be shared anywhere.

However, WhatsApp appeared not to have configured these links to request that they do not get indexed by search engines like Google.

Around 470,000 such invite links had been added to Google's index  allowing them to be pulled up with simple search terms.

Following the identification of the issue, WhatsApp has now configured its chat site to request that search engines like Google do not index invite links.

However, these exposed links are still appearing on other search engines link Bing, Yandex and DuckDuckGo  and may still be published elsewhere on the internet.

WhatsApp users who fear that their group chats may have been exposed can reset their group invitation links via the in-app group settings.

Scroll down for video

Thousands of private WhatsApp group chats including those used to trade child sex abuse images are exposed in Google search results, experts warn

The messaging app's group chat feature is 'not as secure' as its users may think, experts warn, and user's phone numbers and conversations could be exposed

HOW DO I SECURE MY GROUP CHAT? If you fear that your group chat has been exposed online, you can reset the chat link via the group settings. To this, select the group name in the chat window in-app. From here, select 'Invite to Group via Link' and hit 'Reset Link'. WhatsApp warn users to online share invite links with people they trust. Advertisement

The security issue was first pointed out on Twitter by journalist Jordan Wildon of the German media firm Deutsche Welle.

'Your WhatsApp groups may not be as secure as you think they are,' Mr Wildon wrote.

'The "Invite to Group via Link" feature allows groups to be indexed by Google and they are generally available across the internet.

'With some wildcard search terms you can easily find some interesting groups.'

These included WhatsApp groups apparently established for the sharing of 'nude live videos' and child sex abuse images.

However, the flaw also exposed groups relating to major organisations like the United Nations, the Sun reported.

Anyone finding a group link online could conceivably join the chat  enabling them to see potentially private or confidential exchanges as well as the members' phone numbers and WhatsApp usernames.

According to computer security expert Jane Manchung Wong, a simple Google search revealed around 470,000 WhatsApp group invite links.

Groups are normally only available to join by direct invite in-app, or via the creation of a digital invite link that can be shared anywhere, as pictured. This screen in the WhatsApp settings also allows the invite link to be reset, in the event it should be exposed

WhatsApp appeared not to have configured group chap invite links to request that they do not get indexed by search engines like Google. Around 470,000 such invite links had been added to Google's index  allowing them to be pulled up with simple search terms

'Group admins in WhatsApp groups are able to invite any WhatsApp user to join that group by sharing a link that they have generated,' a spokesperson for WhatsApp said in a statement.

'Like all content that is shared in searchable, public channels, invite links that are posted publicly on the internet can be found by other WhatsApp users.

'Links that users wish to share privately with people they know and trust should not be posted on a publicly accessible website.'

Regarding the existence of group chats for the sharing of child pornography on their platform, WhatsApp said its has a zero-tolerance policy around child sexual abuse and bans around 250,000 accounts each month in adherence with this.

Following the identification of the issue, WhatsApp has now configured its chat site to request that search engines like Google do not index invite links. However, these exposed links are still appearing on other search engines link Bing, Yandex and DuckDuckGo  and may still be published elsewhere on the internet
Benchmark indices on February 24 posted massive losses amid rising concerns over the deadly impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Sensex plunged 806.89 points or 1.96 percent, the biggest single day fall since February 1 this year to 40,363.23, while Nifty fell 251.50 points or 2.08 percent to 11,829.40.

"The short-term trend of Nifty continues to be negative and more weakness is likely in the next few sessions. The next crucial support to be watched around 11,600, before showing another round of minor upside bounce in the market," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol.

On the upside, 11,900 is going to be a key overhead resistance for the next few sessions, he said.

The broader markets also fell in line with frontliners as the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices were down nearly 2 percent each.

All sectoral indices ended in the red with Nifty Metals (down 5.5 percent) and Auto (down 3.5 percent) falling the most, while the rest of indices declined 1-3 percent.

"We expect the markets to be choppy in the near term as global sentiments continue to remain muted. In addition, F&O expiry could also see some volatility during the week," Ajit Mishra, VP - Research at Religare Broking said.

We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades:

Key support and resistance level for Nifty

According to the pivot charts, the key support level for Nifty is placed at 11,757.7, followed by 11,686. If the index continues moving up, key resistance levels to watch out for are 11,956.8 and 12,084.2.

Nifty Bank

Nifty Bank closed at 30,455.10, down 1.58 percent. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 30,354.66, followed by 30,254.23. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 30,628.86 and 30,802.63.

Call options data

Maximum Call open interest (OI) of 47.79 lakh contracts was seen at the 12,000 strike price. It will act as a crucial resistance level in the February series.

This is followed by 12,200 strike price, which holds 45.38 lakh contracts in open interest, and 12,100, which has accumulated 37.66 lakh contracts in open interest.

Significant call writing was seen at the 12,000 strike price, which added 33.75 lakh contracts, followed by 11,900 strike price that added 20.03 lakh contracts and 12,100 strike price, which added 11.61 lakh contracts.

Call unwinding was witnessed at 12,400 strike price, which shed 5.4 lakh contracts, followed by 12,300 which shed 0.7 lakh contracts.

Put options data

Maximum Put open interest of 30.55 lakh contracts was seen at 11,800 strike price, which will act as crucial support in the February series.

This is followed by 11,700 strike price, which holds 27.82 lakh contracts in open interest, and 11,500 strike price, which has accumulated 24.76 lakh contracts in open interest.

Put writing was seen at the 11,700 strike price, which added 8.04 lakh contracts, followed by 11,600 strike, which added 6.99 lakh contracts and 11,800 strike which added 5.79 lakh contracts.

Put unwinding was seen at 12,000 strike price, which shed 12.84 lakh contracts, followed by 12,100 strike price which shed 7.49 lakh contracts and 12,200 strike, which shed 3.43 lakh contracts.

Stocks with a high delivery percentage

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.

4 stocks saw long build-up

Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top stocks in which long build-up was seen.

51 stocks saw long unwinding

Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen.

82 stocks saw short build-up

An increase in open interest, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short build-up was seen.

4 stocks witnessed short-covering

A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 4 stocks in which short-covering was seen.

Bulk deals

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Analysts and Board Meetings

Satin Creditcare Network: Company will be meeting investors/analysts in Ahmedabad on February 25.

Sudarshan Chemical Industries: Board to consider declaration of the interim dividend if any on February 28.

Kalyani Steels: Board to consider declaration of interim dividend on February 27.

Suzlon Energy: Board to consider raising funds via equity on February 27.

IndiaMART InterMESH: Board to consider the proposal for payment of interim dividend, if any, on March 3.

CEAT: Board, on March 12, to consider payment of interim dividend.

The Ramco Cements: Board, on March 3, to consider payment of interim dividend.

Dilip Buildcon: Company representatives will host an Investor/Analyst day and site visit for institutional investors and sell-side analysts, on March 13 and 14.

Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals: Company's officials will meet IIFL AMC on February 25.

Cummins India: Company has scheduled a plant visit for Prabhudas Lilladher on February 26.

Stocks in the news

HDFC Life Insurance, Info Edge, Bandhan Bank: These stocks to be included in NSE F&O segment w.e.f February 28.

Vodafone Idea: Department Of Telecommunications approved merger of Indus Towers with Bharti Infratel on February 21.

Hindustan Unilever: Board approves formation of new 100 percent owned subsidiary.

RBL Bank: RBI approved re-appointment of Rajeev Ahuja as Executive Director of bank for 3 years.

NTPC: Company gets CCI nod to acquire 74.50 percent of issued & paid-up share capital of THDC India.

Lumax Auto Technologies: Board approved the acquisition of roto moulded plastic auto component business of OK Play Group.

HDFC Bank: MD Aditya Puri sells 12.52 lakh shares of bank from February 11-12.

GTPL Hathway: Company acquired balance 4.82 percent equity shares of subsidiary GTPL Vidarbha Tele Link Private Limited.

JSW Steel: Company declared preferred bidder' in Jajang Iron Ore block auction in Odisha.

Ajanta Pharma: Promoter released pledge on 1 lakh shares (0.11 percent equity) on February 20.

Tourism Finance Corporation: IFCI sells entire stake in company from January 1-February 17.

Avanti Feeds: Board declares interim dividend of Rs 5 per share.

Bharat Forge: Board approved payment of second interim dividend for FY19-20 at Rs 2 per share.

Tech Mahindra: Company declared interim dividend of Rs 10 per share.

Tech Mahindra: Board approved proposal to acquire 100 percent stake in Zen3 Infosolutions (America).

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,160.9 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares of worth Rs 516.21 crore in the Indian equity market on February 24 , provisional data available on the NSE showed.

Fund flow

Stocks under F&O ban on NSE

Yes Bank is under the F&O ban for February 25. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.
by Niall Chithelen

Night BusBeijing

The night bus takes you across the city in a straight shot. This city has straight shots, its wide across, you span some middle area, and who knows where the night bus goes when you leave.

The night bus shows up at odd times; you realized shamefully late that there even was a schedule. The other people who take the night bus arent like you, not taking it for your reasons, whatever those reasons are. They take their folded-up delivery bikes and sigh off at their stop. You stand up a few blocks out and then swing out, tilting home.

The night bus is where you collect yourself after a social evening, where the emptied streets remind you that you are anonymous and you return to the grey neighborhood where your footsteps are loud after midnight. Usually you are grateful for this strange nighttime routine. Sometimes you wish you stayed longer among the neon lights.

SeasideSan Diego

In the daylight, this route takes you up and down a hill along the water and you can breathe some ocean breaths. Bus or no bus, this is a sight better than most people get to see today. Youve stepped in this ocean only once, though, dunked yourself into it, nervous, unsure what you had to lose; mostly youve seen it through windows or past stone walls.

On the way back, in the dark, you dont notice the water. Its not window time anymore, but instead looking down at your black plastic grocery bag time, or your phone, where you have pulled up a video that will stop playing if you change applications, so that you dont check your messages so often. But youre not good at not checking. You change applications. Its a shame youre heading home for no reason other than being done, out there.

As you step off at your inland corner, the ocean waits quietly, not too far away, wondering when you might return again.

Line 52Tompkins County, New York

My winter boots are much too big, not in fit, just in general, so Ive ruined some pretty nice shoes treading carefully during snow season. To or from work, I saw a bus I never took, bus 52, from Ithaca to Caroline. I suppose Caroline is a town, but maybe it isntI was struck with the thought of the bus, plaintive, searching:

Line 52: Caroline

please come home
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

Feb 20 (Reuters) - In the wee hours of Jan. 8, Tehran retaliated over the U.S. killing of Irans most powerful general by bombarding the al-Asad air base in Iraq.

Among the 2,000 troops stationed there was U.S. Army Specialist Kimo Keltz, who recalls hearing a missile whistling through the sky as he lay on the deck of a guard tower. The explosion lifted his body - in full armor - an inch or two off the floor.

Keltz says he thought he had escaped with little more than a mild headache. Initial assessments around the base found no serious injuries or deaths from the attack. U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted, "All is well!"

The next day was different.

My head kinda felt like I got hit with a truck, Keltz told Reuters in an interview from al-Asad air base in Iraqs western Anbar desert. My stomach was grinding.

Keltz, who said he had concussion symptoms for days, is among 109 soldiers diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries in the wake of last months attack, a figure that has steadily risen as more troops report symptoms and get medical screening.

Reuters interviewed more than a dozen officials and soldiers and spoke with brain-injury specialists to assemble the most comprehensive account so far of the nature of the soldiers injuries and how they sustained them.

The slowly rising casualty count underscores the difficulty in detecting and treating what has become one of the most common injuries in the U.S. military during two decades of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, where U.S. troops face roadside bombs, rockets and mortars.

More than a week after the attack, on Jan. 16, Defense Secretary Mark Esper was made aware that soldiers had suffered brain injuries from the missiles, the Pentagon said. That day, the Pentagon reported that an unspecified number of troops were treated for concussive symptoms and 11 were flown to Kuwait and Germany for higher-level care.

On Jan. 22, Trump said that he "heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things, prompting criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers and a U.S. veterans group that the president was underplaying the casualties from the attack.

Story continues

"I think it was unfortunate to use those words," said Republican Representative Richard Hudson, who represents Fayetteville, North Carolina, home to Fort Bragg that includes the Army's Special Operations Command.

The White House declined to comment for this story.

A DIFFERENT CLASS OF WOUNDS

The U.S. military has long treated brain injuries as a different class of wounds that do not require rapid reporting up the chain of command, unlike incidents threatening life, limb or eyesight.

Since 2000, nearly 414,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, according to Pentagon data. The number is likely higher because the Pentagon only counts as one injury cases where a soldier suffers brain trauma in multiple incidents.

U.S. troops operating drone flights appeared to have suffered the most brain injuries during the attack on al-Asad, said Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Garland, who was on the base at the time. Many worked near the air strip, he said. Like Specialist Keltz, who was manning a guard tower, the drone pilots had been assigned to watch for a possible ground attack.

"Those drone pilots, they're the ones that took the brunt of the TBI cases," said Garland, who as commander of Task Force Jazeera oversees more than 400 soldiers.

The number of troops diagnosed with brain injury from last months attack was expected to stabilize near the current count, one U.S. official said. Less than 10 were now being monitored with possible TBI symptoms, the official said.

The total U.S. military count, however, excludes civilian contractors on the base at the time, many of whom have since departed.

Some U.S. troops also suffered from anxiety-related symptoms after the attack, including sleeplessness and, in at least one case, a sustained high heart rate, according to interviews with soldiers and officials. However, they could not provide a specific number.

The Pentagon categorizes brain injuries as mild, moderate, severe or penetrating. The vast majority of injuries are classified as mild, as were all of the injuries reported from al-Asad.

STANDING GUARD

Garland, the commander, said he was taken aback when he learned of U.S. intelligence indicating that Iranian missiles would strike within hours. He immediately found a base map and started sizing up the best options to shelter his troops.

He recalled old bunkers on the base built during the era of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator toppled by U.S.-led forces in 2003. But the bunkers wouldnt hold everyone. Some would need to disperse, taking cover in armored vehicles driven away from targets.

Others in Garlands unit -- including Specialist Keltz --would need to stand guard to watch for additional attacks beyond the expected missiles.

Keltz said he and a fellow soldier were already manning a tower when First Sergeant Larry Jackson came to them, explaining the intelligence and giving them their orders.

"What I need you boys to do is to lay down on the ground when the impacts happen - and then I need you to jump right back up and man those guns, Jackson said in an interview, recounting his instructions to Keltz and other soldiers at the base.

As the Iranian missiles streaked through the night sky toward the base, their engines glowed orange - like the ends of lit cigarettes, Garland said. The glow was all that Garland could see in the darkness before scrambling back into a bunker.

Then came the blasts. At least eleven missiles struck the base, destroying housing units made from shipping containers and other facilities.

"Every explosion I heard, I was thinking, OK, that's a number of people that have just lost their lives," he said.

But initial checks after the attack showed nobody was killed or obviously injured, despite massive devastation to the base. Word got back to Washington. Just before 6 a.m. in Baghdad, Trump tweeted an update: "Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good!"

FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS

On the ground at al-Asad, U.S. Army Major Robert Hales, a doctor who is deployed to al-Asad, defended the initial reports of no injuries.

"Everyone here did not have any outward physical injuries, he said in an interview. There were no lacerations. There's no shrapnel wounds."

Such silent injuries take time to manifest, he said. Injury figures kept climbing in the weeks after the attack. What began as at least 11 cases grew to 34 about a week later.

On Jan. 22, Trump made his controversial comment, referring to the injuries as headaches. The Veterans of Foreign Wars demanded an apology for Trump's "misguided remarks".

A week later, on Jan. 28, the toll of brain injuries climbed to 50. In early February, Reuters was the first to report that the count had surpassed 100.

The brain injuries sustained in the Iranian missile attack are fundamentally different than those that have typically resulted from past attacks, brain-trauma specialists said.

Thats because the al-Asad bombing was more intense than typical quick-hit, single-explosion attacks: The explosions came in waves and lasted more than an hour.

When a roadside bomb goes off in Afghanistan, head wounds are often visible. In insurgent bomb blasts, shrapnel or other flying debris can cause brain injuries upon impact. But the damage from large pressure waves from a major blast - like the ones at al-Asad that Specialist Keltz felt - often take more time to diagnose.

Marilyn Kraus, director of the Traumatic Brain Injury program and concussion clinic at George Washington University, said troops may minimize or underreport their symptoms initially. Others may not show symptoms until much later in part because their injuries are initially masked by the adrenaline rush that comes with combat.

"Some of these things can fall into the cracks initially," said Kraus, who previously served as medical director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Consult Section at the Walter Reed military hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.

In the short term, mild traumatic brain injury can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness and confusion, while longer-term effects can include chronic headaches, mood changes and dizziness, Kraus said. Repeated head injuries can lead to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain degeneration disorder that some researchers have linked to suicidal thoughts, substance misuse and depression, she said.

Hales, the Army doctor, cited research within the past six months showing in animal models that signs of damage to the brain can increase in the weeks after a blast. At al-Asad, soldiers started showing symptoms such as headaches or a "foggy feeling days after the attack, Hales said. The symptoms often persisted.

"That's the reason why you saw a huge delay in identifying the injuries, he said. That prompted us to re-screen pretty much the whole population of al-Asad." (Stewart and Ali reported from Washington. Editing by Brian Thevenot and Jason Szep)
It is now abundantly clear that the United States (US) is suffering from some sort of pending-replacement anxiety about China, and is waging an all-out war on all fronts to bring down the world's second largest economy. The widespread propaganda campaigns against China are an important tool in that war, and many Western media outlets are joined at the hip in running these campaigns. For a long time, they have mounted massive propaganda blitzes but failed to bring their falsehoods to life. They have never been tired of keeping their campaigns running. From time to time, they change topics and targets of their propaganda, but have never stopped in their efforts to smear China.

Though the Western propaganda machine never misses out even a single issue surrounding China and sometimes makes issues out of nothing, Xinjiang seems to have always been a hot and easy target for them, as they stop at nothing to publish fake and fabricated news of so-called 'Muslim oppression' in Xinjiang. This fake news sometimes even leaves Muslims in the western region of China puzzled. In their continuing propaganda blitz, many Western media have recently published more fake stories of 'Muslim oppression' in Xinjiang. This time, they have resorted to 'phoney leaked files' to make their story. The Chinese government has categorically denied the authenticity of these files.

The Western propagandists never tell the world that Xinjiang-related issues are not about ethnicity, religion or human rights, but about fighting separatism, violence, and terrorism. Thanks to the counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts taken by the Xinjiang government, there hasn't been a single violent terrorist attack over the past three years. The government is supported by the 25 million people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang and has been commended by Muslim countries and the wider international community. This is definitely China's major contribution to the global counter-terrorism cause.

The main and driving force of such tremendous successes in eradicating terrorism in Xinjiang is the introduction of vocational education and training centers. The local authorities in Xinjiang set up the centers to help people who have been deceived by or have even joined terrorist forces and committed minor offenses to get rid of extremist ideologies. As a result, the people of Xinjiang are enjoying lasting political stability, ethnic solidarity, and religious and social harmony. But Western propagandists are unfortunately finding nothing good in the Chinese initiatives to combat terrorism, and sparing no efforts to label the camps as so-called 'concentration camps'.

Some Western media also try to hide the truth that the Chinese government protects freedom of religious belief for all Chinese citizens, including ethnic minority groups like the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. There are nearly 200 million followers of various religions in China. Twenty million of them are Muslims. There are 24,400 mosques in Xinjiang, one for every 530 Muslims. Although there are 10 Muslim ethnic groups that have historically enjoyed complete religious freedom and practiced their religious rituals all over China, including Xinjiang, those media are intentionally targeting only Xinjiang for their smear campaigns.

Xinjiang is an easy target for Western propaganda because of the regions Muslim population. Through spreading fake stories of 'Muslim oppression' in Xinjiang, they want to make the Muslims around the world stand against China in order to hold back its constant rise. The propagandists have been playing with the sacred religious sentiments of Muslims, turning them against China in order to politically isolate the East Asian nation and hamstring its economic growth.

To go into further detail, China has huge business and strategic partnerships with Muslim countries, and is the largest trading partner of many Muslim nations. China imports the lions share of its energy from some Middle Eastern Muslim states in order to keep production in its export-oriented economy running. Many Muslim countries are also located in geographically strategic places that are important for the smooth movement of Chinese goods around the world. Furthermore, around two billion Muslims around the world form a huge market for Chinese goods. Thats why the Western propaganda machine has targeted Xinjiang to make the world's Muslims upset with China, as they know very well that any strain between Muslims and China will leave the Chinese economy highly vulnerable.

So, Muslims have to understand the reality of Xinjiang. They mustn't believe the Western propaganda on so-called 'Muslim oppression' in Xinjiang. They have to be more cautious so that nobody can play with their religious sentiments to serve their vested interests. Muslims must realise that the rise of China can save the Muslim world from more bloodshed, destruction and war.

The writer is a former diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Sun, a leading national English broadsheet daily in Bangladesh.
He added, Many in this establishment are behaving, in my view, as they face the prospect of a Bernie Sanders nomination, like out-of-touch aristocrats in a dying aristocracy. They should be asking, he said,  Why is this happening? What is going on in the lives of my fellow citizens that they may be voting for something I find so hard to understand? 
Oman's Ministry of Transport has awarded contracts worth more than RO165 million ($427 million) for two key road developments in the sultanate, said a report.



The first agreement was for addition of third and fourth lanes to the 27-km Rusayl-Bidbid road, which runs from Muscat Expressway to Sharqiyah, while the second one was for a series of internal roads that will connect the Batinah Highway, reported the Oman Observer.



This road will be designed according to all traffic safety requirements with vehicles able to operate at a speed of 120 km/hour. Also, two new intersections will be added including one in Ghala to keep pace with urban development and population growth in these areas, it stated.



The RO86 million project is due for completion in 30 months and once ready it will be able to handle around 8,030 vehicles per hour, said the report, citing Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport.



To facilitate the pedestrian crossing, the existing underpasses have been expanded, and four overbridges will be provided to serve the communities on both sides of the road. Also a service road running 18 km long will be added to the main road.



The second agreement valued at around RO79 million for Batinah Expressway Package 7 will be completed in three years. The project also includes roads linking to the old Al Batinah Highway, said the Oman Observer report.



The scope of works include establishing a road linking the Khazaen economic zone with the Batinah Expressway for a length of 14 km; construction of a single 22.7-km-long road linking Al Batinah Expressway to the Musannah roundabout, it added.
Thank goodness for Canadas privacy commissioners. They seem to be the only public authorities prepared to push back against the attempt to end the right to simply go about ones business in public without being subject to official surveillance.

Certainly, we cant trust the police on this front. Thanks to the Stars Kate Allen and Wendy Gillis, weve learned that at least four Toronto-area forces have dipped their toes into this poisoned pool.

Theyve tested controversial facial recognition technology that, on the face of it, violates Canadian law and the right of ordinary people to basic privacy.

The police forces  in Toronto, Peel Region, Halton and Durham  all say theyve stopped using the technology developed by the American company Clearview AI. As they should.

Nor, it seems, can we rely on our politicians. Neither the federal government nor the provinces have kept up with the new threats posed by technology to your privacy. They have lagged behind while the tech companies come up with increasingly sophisticated ways to make money off personal information.

Instead, its been left up the privacy commissioners to take the lead in this case, and they deserve three cheers for stepping up.

Four commissioners  those in Ottawa, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec  announced on Friday that they will conduct a joint investigation into Clearview AI, dubbed by the New York Times as the secretive company that might end privacy as we know it.

It was the Times that shone a bright light on Clearview in January, reporting that the little-known start-up had developed a revolutionary facial recognition app designed to let police forces and others identify people by matching their photos with billions of images scraped from Facebook, Youtube, and millions of other sites on the internet.

Some 600 police forces are already using the app, according to the company, although some cities, including San Francisco, have banned it.

The potential for misuse is obvious. Anyone with access to such a tool could instantly find out all sorts of personal information about a person simply from an image captured in public. Not even a name would be needed to figure out a persons movements, friends, employment history, associations, and so on.

Even Google, according to the Times, decided years ago that this was one area it wouldnt venture into because the technology could be used in a very bad way.

Appropriating that kind of personal information is also almost certainly illegal in Canada.

Michael Bryant, executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, explained in the Star this past week that there must be due process and and appropriate safeguards in place before any kind of biometric information, such as DNA or fingerprints, are collected or stored. There must be compliance with laws designed to recognize that biometrics are particularly personal, sensitive information.

And what could be more personal than your own face? It seems hard to imagine that the privacy commissioners will not conclude that the kind of facial fingerprinting system developed by Clearview AI runs afoul of federal and provincial privacy laws, especially in the absence of any guarantees against misuse.

Whats needed is a comprehensive framework for the use of any such technology, and a pause in its use while those rules are developed.

Legislators are also going to have to do much better in keeping up with the constant innovations of the tech world, both for good and less-good. Canadian governments have been particularly slow to meet the challenges of Big Tech, and to update our laws to deal with new threats to privacy.

In that regard, they should make sure that privacy commissioners have broader powers to enforce the law, by levying substantial fines if necessary on companies that violate or disregard it. Without that, our watchdogs may bark loudly, but they cant bite hard.

Read more about:
Ahead of the visit of US President Donald Trump, the Delhi Police had issued an alert based on intelligence reports that the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests could increase and turn violent during his stay in India.

According to the police, the incidents of violence that took place in the national capital on February 23 (Sunday) was a pre-planned conspiracy. The police added that these incidents are being instigated by the same forces that are active in Shaheen Bagh.

READ | Delhi Police head constable dead, DCP injured during clashes over CAA in Gokulpuri

Notably, Maujpur had witnessed massive stone-pelting on Sunday (February 23) too. The situation turned violent on Sunday after BJP leader Kapil Mishra arrived at Maujpur Chowk.

The police further added that these forces don't want to resolve the matter in a sensitive way and want the deadlock to continue. These demonstrators want that there should be so much chaos during Trump's visit that the matter reaches the international level, asserted the police.

READ | Violent clashes erupt between CAA supporters, protesters in Delhi's Maujpur again

A head constable of the Delhi Police on Monday died after suffering serious injuries in stone-pelting in Gokulpuri area of the national capital, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) has confirmed. The constable, Ratan Lal, was the reader of the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Delhi Police. There was stone-pelting in Gokulpuri in which DCP Shahdara, Amit Sharma, was also injured.

A total of six policemen, including one DCP and one ACP(IPS), were admitted to the Max Hospital.

The rioters also set fire to a petrol pump in the Bhajan Pura area. According to the fire brigade, a car was set on fire near the petrol pump after which some part of the petrol pump was also engulfed in the flames. The fire brigades present at the spot were also vandalised.



According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sources, the Delhi CP is in the control room and the police in touch with the MHA. "It seems all violence in Jaffarbad is well planned and orchestrated with an eye on Trump's visit," added the sources.

The Delhi Metro on Monday shut five stations on its Pink Line in wake of the violence. "Entry & exit gates of Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave, and Shiv Vihar are closed. Trains will terminate at Welcome metro station," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.

The DMRC had earlier shut down Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur metro due to the ongoing protests against the amended law.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 20:30:58|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi parliament said Monday that it will hold an extraordinary session on Thursday to vote on the lineup of the cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi.

The presidency of the Council of Representatives (parliament) held a meeting during the day and set Feb. 27 a date for the extraordinary session to vote on granting confidence to the new government, on condition that the prime minister-designate sends the ministerial program and CVs for the candidates ahead of scheduled date, the parliament said in a statement.

The parliament's announcement came amid a heated political struggle among the Iraqi political blocs over the future of their interests in the expected Allawi government.

On Feb. 19, Allawi called on the parliament to hold an extraordinary session to vote on his cabinet's lineup.

Allawi has pledged to form a competent government beyond sectarian quotas and political parties.
Heng Swee Keat presenting Budget 2020 in Parliament, 18 Feb. SCREENCAP: Ministry Of Finance video

SINGAPORE  Budget 2020 had something for nearly everyone. It was exceedingly generous with Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, the heir apparent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, dishing out a bumper crop of giveaways for employers, workers, families and older Singaporeans.

The goodies were not unexpected as the 4G leadership had to show the people that it will put its money where its mouth is in helping them get over the double hump of an invisible enemy called the coronavirus, and that other visible foe called the economic slowdown.

First off the block was the $6.4 billion package to protect jobs, help companies struggling to make ends meet and make sure those directly affected by the virus see some hope. Then there was the $8.3 billion to be paid out over the next three years to help companies transform and grow.

So far, so good. But where was the plan to remodel the economy to make it fighting fit for smart workers and even smarter machines?

There was no clear vision on this in the Budget. A lot of the goodies that are being given out are rehashing old schemes. The post-Budget headlines tell the story: more support for workplace training and learning new skills, $500 extra SkillsFuture Credit for mid-career workers aged 40 to 60, $8.3 billion to spur businesses to transform and grow, Jobs Support Scheme to subsidise wages of local workersThey all looked very familiar, and thats because they were taken from the old Budget playbooks.



Even Heng, perhaps in a moment of misplaced candour, admitted that the Enterprise Grow Package to push companies to innovate and go global will be a mixture of new grants and enhanced versions of the old. The long view is absent. A sliver of hope appeared in the announcement on Deep Tech, a source for technological wonders like brain-sensing headbands that translate ones thoughts into actions and rockets that could fly one to Mars. These are essentially start-ups in hardcore scientific research and backed up by patents.

Story continues

Heng said he was putting in another $300 million to attract investments in companies in that space. But analysts say the money is too little, maybe even a little too late as the likes of China, Taiwan and Israel are already doing a lot of work in that field. It is debatable if such industries can take root here as the Singapore is a risk-averse country and lacking in enough right talent. Not only that, the gestation period for such innovations takes time and they can fail.

It is not that Singapore doesnt have the money. Just look at the surplus the current government has amassed: a hefty $18.5 billion. And it is likely that it will have a surplus of $15 billion, come Budget 2021. It can throw money at a problem if it wants to. We have seen that happen in its social programmes for the Pioneer and Merdeka generations.

The problem can be easily addressed by recruiting more foreigners for these industries. But after what happened in the 2011 election, the government has been going slow on this front. This is one challenge for the 4G leadership: it has to go out there and convince the country that immigration is needed to help resolve economic problems. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing has addressed this issue but his comments were too nuanced for the common man to grasp.

I say, choose a good and an unflappable and earnest minister-communicator to put across the dark scenarios that can arise if the immigration policy is not calibrated even further. That is, bite the bullet and tell the people the hard truths Singapore will face if the country continues to shadow box on this front.

Is this an election Budget? One eye is on the coming election, for sure. But it is not an out-and-out one aimed at the ballot box. I am sure the government does not want to come across as cashing in on the virus crisis and making political capital out of it. That would be seen as being irresponsible.

My sense is that the Prime Minister will wait for the crisis to taper off before pushing the election button. With Singapore winning praise internationally on its handling of the health scare, the Opposition will be extremely hard put to counter the ruling Peoples Action Party this time round.

P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist who was formerly chief editor of Today, as well as an editor at The New Paper. He is currently a media consultant. The views expressed are his own.

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These include reception of citizens and documents issue.

The Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan is suspending operations amid the spread in northern Italy of the novel coronavirus type COVID-19.

"Given the proliferation of coronavirus in Lombardy, according to the order of President of Lombardy Attilio Fontani and Minister of Health of Italy Roberto Speranza on the introduction of preventive measures, including on 'the termination of the offices for the reception of citizens, except for the provision of priority services,' Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan, by agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, from February 25 suspends the reception of citizens and the issuance of documents," says the statement posted on Facebook.

Reception of citizens will be resumed after the relevant recommendations are received of the regional authorities of Lombardy, which will be announced in a timely manner.

Read alsoNo COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in Ukraine  health officials

In the event of an emergency (loss of documents, the need for an urgent departure to Ukraine, the death of a relative, a traffic accident, arrest, etc.) is confirmed, Ukrainians are advised to contact the Consulate's hotline +39 348 725 4038 or e-mail gc_itm @ mfa.gov.ua.

Diplomats recall the need to comply with the general recommendations on antiviral security posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

According to ANSA, in Italy, 219 people were infected with the coronavirus, six people died.

Angelo Borelli, head of the Department of Civil Protection, said 167 infections were detected in the Lombardy region (4 fatalities), 27 cases in the Veneto region (1 fatailty), and 18 more cases in Emalia Romagna, four in Piedmont and three in Lazio. Another fatal case was recorded in a Milan hospital.

Borelli said that 99 people are being treated at hospitals, 23 are undergoing intensive care, while 91 remain in isolation at home.

Now Italy ranks third worldwide in terms of the number of detected novel coronavirus cases after China and South Korea.

As UNIAN reported earlier, at the end of December 2019, Chinese authorities announced an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan. The causative agent of the disease was a new type of coronavirus COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of February 24, 2020, some 79,360 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were registered in the world, of which 2619 were fatal, 25,360 people recovered.
The Swedish compact luxury SUV offers four drive modes such as Eco, Comfort, Dynamic and Off-road.

With BS-6 emission norm being implemented from April 1, Volvo Cars has revised its XC40 compact luxury SUV. The Swedish luxury carmaker has ditched the diesel engine and replaced it with a petrol version, which is rapidly becoming the preferred choice of fuel. While the XC40 diesel was all-wheel drive, this one is front-wheel drive.

The new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine replaces the diesel in its line-up, and the XC40 is now available in a single, fully loaded R-Design trim.

We test drove it in green picturesque Goa terrains recently to find out if it was as impressive as the diesel.

The Exterior

In fact, on the exterior, there is no change to set it apart except for the T4 badge. Also, being an R-Design, there is not too much bling. The only chrome bits are the logo on the grille and the exhaust tips at the rear. The front is typical Volvo, featuring the famous 'Thors hammer' design for the LED headlights and a glossy black grille.

The SUV gets the same 18-inch alloy wheels and a blacked out roof that looks very cool and at the rear, the boomerang-like taillights are unmistakeably Volvo.

The Interiors

The interiors of this new car are top class living up to its badge Volvo in letter and spirit. The design, build and the overall feel exudes the feeling of being premium and luxury, making you feel it is worth your money. The dashboard is dominated by soft-touch materials and subtle piano-black accents around the vents and the vertical touchscreen look nice.

The 9.0-inch touchscreen is responsive, high on functionality, and despite being the one-stop location for most of the controls, it is easy to use, navigate and extremely user friendly too.

The steering and the fully digital instrument cluster see no revisions, but the seats are now all black, as opposed to the bright orange theme that you could opt for with the older car.

Undoubtedly, the seats are superb. You get premium leather upholstery, memory functions for the driver side and they offer excellent support in just the right areas, so long drives are an absolute breeze. The heated seats have been omitted now, which is a downer for those in the north.

The rear seat of the XC40 is not the best in its class, but you do get enough room back here. However, the backrest is a tad too upright and the low set seats mean that taller passengers tend to sit knees-up. But with plenty of storage throughout the cabin and a big 460-litre boot, the car is very practical.

Equipment wise, this SUV is loaded. In fact, It gets tech and features seen on cars two segment above. The list includes radar-based safety assists like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, a collision mitigation system, six airbags, ABS with EBD, brake-assist, hill ascent and descent controls, and a lot more. You also get wireless charging, a tyre pressure monitor and front and rear parking sensors with a reverse camera.

The Drive Experience

The new XC40 T4 is powered by a BS-6-compliant, 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine that makes 190hp and 300Nm of torque. When you start the engine, you experience Volvo as you experience excellent refinement levels, and there are no vibrations and the engine runs silently at low revs too.

The SUV offers four drive modes such as Eco, Comfort, Dynamic and Off-road. But I found the Dynamic setting not providing enough punch from the engine. Perhaps, a lot of that has to do with the 8-speed automatic gearbox, which is not that responsive enough.

However, shifts are smooth, and efficient. When on an Off-road mode, it lightens the steering, engages hill-descent control and turns off the auto start/stop for a climb down a steep trail.

Driving around the city or cruising on a highway is smooth and a joy. The body roll is well contained, grip from the Pirelli P-Zero tyres is excellent and steering is consistently super. In terms of ride comfort, the car is quite impressive with its high-speed stability, absorbing potholes and broken patches.

Should I buy it?

Overall, the XC40 T4 is a comfortable, practical and luxurious car for daily as well as weekend getaway driving with friends and family. Tagged at Rs 39.9 lakh, but offering long list of features, you will not hesitate to own this compact luxury SUV.
I think there might be, but he probably will choose not to.

Suppose Barack Obama endorsed his former VP for president. The endorsement would probably carry Joe Biden to victory in South Carolina and position him for a solid showing on Super Tuesday.

Suppose Obama endorsed Pete Buttigieg, the gay Obama. Biden, who is campaigning on the fact that he was Obamas number two, would be finished. Buttigieg would suddenly be able to capture more than de minimis support among African Americans.

In either scenario, Bernie Sanders might show up at the convention with a plurality of the delegates. But the candidate endorsed by Obama would probably have enough support to be a plausible nominee at a brokered convention. Obama would take a lead role in the brokering.

However, the former president has shown no inclination to endorse a candidate in this race. I very much doubt that he will endorse one now. I have heard no talk about him doing so.

Why wouldnt Obama move to stop Sanders now that its clear that the Vermont socialist is the frontrunner? One reason is that, ideologically, Obama probably has more in common with Sanderss socialism than with Bidens traditional liberalism.

In any case, Obama may see socialism as the emerging Democrat ideology and Bidens liberalism as tired and outdated. The last thing Obama wants to do is to stand on the wrong side of history.

Obama might also fear that he cant stop Sanders. Biden has tried to turn the battle for the Democratic nomination into a referendum on the Obama-Biden presidency. However, few take Biden seriously on this score. If Obama were to endorse Biden, the race would truly be a referendum on the Obama presidency. Obama might lose the referendum.

Finally, Obama might not want to spoil things for Michelle Obama. I doubt that the former First Lady wants to run for, or be, president. However, her husband might not want to alienate Sanderss army of supporters, just in case.

One can imagine a scenario in which Sanders is crushed this year, and battered Democrats turn to Michelle Obama to rescue the party in 2024. I dont know whether the Obamas imagine such a scenario, but if they do, they have no incentive to stop Sanders this year.

For these reasons, and maybe for others, we can expect Obama to remain on the sidelines until the Democrats pick their nominee, who probably will be Bernie Sanders.
A new "crystal clear lagoon" is planned for the 29-acre amenity village in the Sierra Vista development located in Rosharon along the Highway 288 corridor, according to a release from the company behind the development, Houston-based Land Tejas.

The Rosharon location marks the company's third lagoon in Texas. Land Tejas opened its first 2-acre lagoon in Humble's Balmoral community in 2018 and is set to complete phase one of its second, 12-acre lagoon in Texas City's Lago Mar community sometime this year.

ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: 'Largest Crystal Clear Lagoon' in the state coming to Texas City

The 4-acre lagoon planned for Sierra Vista will feature multiple white sand beaches, a splash pad, kids cove, a swim-up bar and paddleboard and kayak options. Plans for a "celebration lawn," restaurant, grotto and music performance stage are also in the works. The lagoon will employ environmentally friendly technology that helps maintain turquoise, crystal clear waters with fewer chemicals and less energy than a traditional pool, according to the release.

We envision this to be a luxurious beach destination for those seeking a beach experience closer to home, Uri Man, President of The Lagoon Development Company, a Land Tejas partner, said in the release. It will also elevate the lifestyle for our Sierra Vista residents who will be able to enjoy what is becoming a hallmark amenity for Land Tejas communities.

BUCKET LIST: Texas' best swimming holes make for amazing road trips

Construction will begin in early 2020 with an opening date planned for 2021. It is unclear whether the Sierra Vista lagoon will be available to the public and if residents will need to pay additional fees to fund its maintenance.

In 2018, residents of the Balmoral community expressed concern after some were lead to believe the company was offering annual passes to the lagoon to people who don't live in the development, the Houston Chronicle reported. Tim Johnson, director of community sales and marketing Land Tejas, told the Houston Chronicle in 2018 the Balmoral lagoon was always intended to be primarily for the residents.

Unlike Balmoral, the company will offer public access to its Lago Mar lagoon, with a large portion of the lagoon restricted to residents only. That lagoon anchors a 70-acre resort that will feature multiple beaches, a floating obstacle course, a swim-up bar and a beach club with cabana pool, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Requests for comment regarding the availability to non-residents at the Sierra Vista lagoon were not met as of Monday afternoon. Check back for updates on the new lagoon on Chron.com.

Click through the photos above for a look inside the new crystal clear lagoon planned for Rosharon...

Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com
Alleging that police did not take prompt action in the torture case of Dalits in Nagaur, Rashtriya Loktantrik party MLA Narayan Beniwal on Monday demanded in the Rajasthan Assembly that the government remove the Nagaur SP.

The MLA also termed that atrocities on the Dalits as an inhuman act and not less than a gangrape.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Beniwal said the two Dalits were tortured on February 16, a video of the incident surfaced on February 18 and the police registered the case on February 19 under lenient sections.

He alleged that the police tried to dilute the case and demanded the government remove the Nagaur SP and put him under awaiting posting orders (APO) status.

Leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria said no strict action was taken against the accused. He alleged that police booked the accused under lenient sections and that the DG had to get another section added to the FIR later.

The two Dalit men were brutally beaten and tortured on allegation of stealing money.

Seven persons have been arrested in this connection so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Constitutional Court on Monday found, in accordance with its Decision No.80/2014, that the nomination of the candidate for the position of prime minister must aim to ensure the coalescing of a parliamentary majority in order to form a new government.

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) ruled on Monday that there is a legal conflict between President Klaus Iohannis and Parliament regarding the appointment of National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ludovic Orban as prime minister.Thus, President Klaus Iohannis has to make a new nomination for the position of prime minister.The Constitutional Court on Monday considered a complaint over the existence of a legal conflict of constitutional nature between the President and Parliament regarding the appointment of PNL leader Ludovic Orban as prime minister.According to the complaint signed by the chairs of the two houses of Parliament, the conflict consists in "the president exercising his powers in a discretionary manner, as they are regulated by the Constitution, by designating on February 6 candidate Ludovic Orban for the position of prime minister."The complaint shows that Orban's appointment was made "in violation, directly or indirectly, of the constitutional principles or provisions: the principle of loyal co-operation between public institutions, derived from Article 1(4); the constitutional obligation to ensure the observance of the Constitution and the proper operation of public authorities, as provided for in Article 80 (2)(I); the constitutional obligation to exercise the function of mediation among the state powers, as provided for in Article 80 (2) (II).""By his move, the President of Romania disregarded and diverted from the purpose provided by the constituent legislator in the imperative provisions included in Article 114(2) of the fundamental law, according to which the Government is dismissed if a motion of censure, filed within 3 days after the presentation of the bill, is voted on under the conditions of Article 113. By appointing Ludovic Orban as prime minister, the President of Romania violates the will of Parliament, which had just withdrawn its confidence by a recent censure motion. By denying the choice for prime minister expressed by a parliamentary majority, the President of Romania will trigger, as he has stated, a legal conflict of a constitutional nature, preventing the formation of a government, with the stated purpose of dissolving Parliament and getting to early elections," reads the complaint.It also says that Article 89 (1) of the Constitution of Romania, republished, provides for the dissolution of Parliament as a means of resolving a governmental crisis unresolved by Parliament due to the fact that it withhold a vote of confidence in a government after two failed attempts and a 60-day deadline, with the purpose being the election of a new Parliament that can solve the crisis, and the President of Romania violates these provisions by openly declaring that he aims at early elections, using as a pretext Parliament's failure to solve the government crisis in 60 days.
The government has asked telecom including Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices to submit supporting documents on AGR self-assessment that formed the basis of their statutory dues calculation, according to a source.

The source, who did not wish to be named, said the exercise will help the Department of Telecom (DoT) examine the AGR calculations being made by the telecom players.

All three telecom Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices have been asked to provide substantiating documents to support their claims on AGR arithmetic, the official added. However, no deadline has been given to to submit the supporting documents.

Once substantiating documents are filed by the companies, the telecom department will initiate random test checks on the AGR calculation in a time-bound manner. The 'test check' will be done for any one year (of telcos' dues) to examine the deviation between telecom companies' assessment and the government calculation of AGR liabilities.

Asked what prompted the department to seek supporting documents to verify AGR-math done by companies through self-assessment, the source equated the exercise to filing of income tax returns where the assessing authority examines the calculations/claims made.

Moreover, the wants to ensure that the court-mandated criteria is being followed by companies in computing their AGR dues, the source added.

While the three operators - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices - are first off the block, the DoT will also follow the same procedure for all other AGR-hit companies including internet service providers.

"For those who are saying we are giving dues by self-assessment, we will seek supporting documents. If some companies say they are going by DoT's calculation, then we don't need to do it," the source added.

In all, 15 entities owe the government Rs 1.47 lakh crore in unpaid statutory dues -- Rs 92,642 crore in unpaid licence fee and another Rs 55,054 crore in outstanding spectrum usage charges. Of the estimated dues that include interest and penalty for late payments, Airtel and Vodafone Idea account for about 60 per cent.

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 (AGR) of telecom companies, a share of which is paid as licence and spectrum fee to the exchequer.

The Supreme Court earlier this month rejected a plea by mobile carriers such as and Vodafone Idea for extension in the payment schedule and asked companies to deposit their past dues for spectrum and licences.

Since the February 14 tongue-lashing Supreme Court gave telecom companies for missing its previous deadline of January 23 to pay past dues as well as the Department of Telecommunication for failing to enforce it, firms and Telecom Ministry are busy doing separate maths on the actual dues.

Vodafone Idea, which is confronted with Rs 53,000 crore in statutory dues as per DoT's calculation, has so far paid only seven per cent of those dues in two tranches.

Airtel has paid Rs 10,000 crore out of its DoT estimated liability of over Rs 35,000 crore.

Airtel on February 17 had said that the company "is in a process of completing the self-assessment exercise expeditiously and will make the balance payment upon completion of the same, before the next date of hearing in the Supreme Court".

Tata Teleservices has paid Rs 2,197 crore, the entire outstanding it believes to have arisen after the October ruling of the apex court for calculating dues.

Amid a deepening crisis in the telecom sector, the government is looking to strike a balance between complying with the Supreme Court order on AGR dues, ensuring the health of the sector and safeguarding consumer interest.

Both Chairman Sunil Mittal and Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla continued to meet top government functionaries throughout last week to seek prompt measures that would offer a breather to the troubled sector.

Mittal has urged the government for reduction in levies and taxes, as he termed the AGR "an unprecedented crisis for industry".
Calls for social commentator Bettina Arndt's Order of Australia to be revoked will be considered by the Australia Day Council, following weeks of outcry over the decision to grant her the honour.

The Governor-General's office confirmed it had received correspondence from the public calling for Ms Arndt to be stripped of her award and had referred it to the council for "advice and action".

Bettina Arndt. Credit:Joshua Morris

Ms Arndt, 70, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day honours "for significant service to the community as a social commentator, and to gender equity through advocacy for men".

The appointment sparked criticism from many who viewed Ms Arndt as an inappropriate candidate for the award because of her anti-feminist views that often provoke outrage.
Immigrants wait in line to become U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony in New York City, N.Y., on Feb. 2, 2018. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Trump Administration Starts Enforcing Public Charge Immigration Rule

The Trump administration on Monday started enforcing new income-based requirements for green cards and certain types of visas, coming days after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the measure.

Under the new rules, most green card applicants in the United States and abroad will now have to be evaluated under a new set of guidelines to determine whether theyll be a public charge. The rule is expected to affect millions and might force numerous immigrants to stop using public welfare programs, including Supplemental Security Income, assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, Medicare, and other programs.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it will also look into an immigrants age, health, family status, assets, resources, financial status, education, skills, and other factors.

President Trump continues to deliver on his promise to the American people to enforce our nations immigration laws. After several judicial victories, DHS will finally begin implementing the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule, said Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security. This rule enforces longstanding law requiring aliens to be self-sufficient, reaffirming the American ideals of hard work, perseverance and determination. It also offers clarity and expectations to aliens considering a life in the United States and will help protect our public benefit programs.

The agency said that an immigrant who received one or more public benefits for more than 12 months within any 36-month period will be deemed a public charge.

Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli addresses the Virginia GOP Convention in Roanoke, Va., on June 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Cuccinelli said he wouldnt guess how many people might be denied under the new rule but stressed that its the immigrants behavior that may change.

The goal is to make sure that people who are granted long-term status, legal permanent residence status, can stand on their own two feet. And get back to that American tradition that has been in law for over 140 years, Cuccinelli told the Washington Times.

The move drew a rebuke from some advocacy groups, who said they would create awareness campaigns about the new requirements.

The implementation of the public charge rule today is a devastating blow for all Americans. The rule is heartless, cruel, and betrays our core values as a nation of immigrants, Kristin Brown, president of the Empire Justice Center, said in a statement to CBS News. This public charge screening tool will guide community-based organizations in helping families make crucial decisions that may carry life-changing consequences.

The new rules dont apply to refugees, asylum-seekers, and immigrants in the United States on special victim visas.

Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on the new plan in a development that was praised by the White House.

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(e) of United States taxpayers, the statement released by the Office of the Press Secretary said on Saturday.
Of the more than 50 Southeast Texas municipal and school board seats up for election in May, only about 12 will see contested races.

Many city and school district officials say canceling elections for a lack of candidates isnt uncommon. The shortage likely stems from the lack of reward for service in the often time-consuming position, but it lets officials know residents are content with the current system and keeps stability on boards with a pretty steep learning curve.

Vidor Superintendent Jay Killgo said of the eight years hes been with the district, five have had uncontested races, resulting in the cancellation of those races.

I think society in general, people are less inclined to get involved in local government and they hear, Oh, it is tough. You get a lot of phone calls, you deal with a lot of stuff and you dont get compensated at all for it, he said. So I think people in general are more hesitant to get involved in things like that nowadays and they werent in the past.

Related: Silsbee resident seeking to recall council member

Lumberton City Secretary Susan Collins said she most often sees contested races when theres some sort of unrest in the city.

Residents first come to City Council meetings to see how the issues causing unrest are being handled and, if theyre unsatisfied, throw their hat in the ring to run for the seat in their district in the next election.

More Information Candidates for contested May races Hardin County Silsbee Council member District A: Susan Kay Bard (i), William Roy Gravis II Council member District B: Christopher James Barnes (i), Tina Michelle Young-Holman Jefferson County Port Arthur District 1: Ingrid West Holmes, Willie "Bae" Lewis, Jr., Mike Mason District 2: Cal J. Jones (i), Armando Ruiz District 3: Thomas J. Kinlaw, III (i); Morris Albright, III; Charlie Lewis, Jr. District 4: Greg K. Richard, Kenneth Wayne Marks, Jonathan Sanchez District 7: Charlotte Marie Moses (i), Rashad A. Harris, Yadi Cardenas District 8: Raymond Scott, Jr; Tieranny S. Decuir; Rosendo Ochoa, Jr.; Donald Ray Frank, Sr. Orange County Pinehurst Mayor: Dan Mohon (i), Troy Pierce Orange At-large Place 6: Paul Burch (i), Charles Ray Thomas Bridge City ISD Place 6: Michael C. Johnson (i), Keith A. Jones Place 7: Mark Anderson, Cory L. Mitchell See More Collapse

We havent had a lot of controversial topics, so we havent had a lot of input, she said.

Nederland City Clerk Gay Ferguson said shes fielded quite a few calls recently from residents who want to become more involved but will start first on a city board or commission. As a result, thats where the city sees many of its council members come from when another member decides not to run again.

Without term limits, if things are going good, people tend to keep their position forever, she said.

Related: BISD retakes control after long journey

With a democratic process built on allowing voters to choose the best person to represent them, repeatedly canceled elections may not seem like a good thing.

But Killgo said it often brings stability to the governing body instead of starting from the ground up with the board procedures every year or two years if a new representative is added.

They are not expected to know the policies inside and out, but they need to be aware of things. So for me  I value stability, he said. I think the system generally works out pretty well in that, when somebody gets elected, they typically stay on for two or three times until they just get tired of it.

The last day to register to vote for these local races is April 2. Early voting runs from April 20 to 28 and Election Day is May 2.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com
A new police pathways programme has opened up for students in the Tauranga area.

The programme was launched at Bethlehem College last week, with eight schools from around the region set to take part.

Sarah Pinchin jumped at the opportunity to lead the programme.

Students will learning about the history of the police, the role of police and the different careers within the police.

Sarah says theyre also hoping to get many guest speakers in from the police.

The local police have been incredibly supportive and open to coming in and being part of it which is amazing.

They will also experience the physical training as well because, as Sarah says, thats the part of the recruitment process and something they need to uphold.

Im hoping that each of the students get a passion for what they want to do and perhaps even consider the police, or any kind of community service or community kind of orientated things.

The values for the police are critical for great citizens so if these students can walk out with some sense of that and maintain some sense of that then I think we are in for a good ride ahead.

The programme is NZQA accredited and students will be getting credits for it.

Participating schools include Bethlehem College, Aquinas College, Mount Maunganui College, Tauranga Boys and Girls College, Papamoa College, Otumoetai College and Te Puke College, with Bethlehem Collage grounds being the host for it.

District Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor says one of the outcomes of this programme is the hope that some of the graduates will want to join the police force.

The other outcome is they get a very good understanding of what policing is about and its about prevention.

Its about taking every opportunity to prevent harm and victimisation right across the community. And thats what weve got to do, and weve got to do things different.

So the big thing with these young kids is they think the police are not too bad. Theyre okay. Theyre actually doing a great job with what they do, because a lot of the time we speak to them in the street it could be quite adversarial, whereas we want to make it an enjoyable experience more than anything else.

The programme came about in Tauranga because teachers from different schools around the district wanted to give students the opportunity to do the same thing as students in Rotorua - where the programme has already been running for the past two years, says careers and transition education chairperson Mikaere Smith.

We had what we call a Trades Academy, which is run through the local polytechnic  Toi Ohomai, and they were unable to offer it this year so we thought lets get together as a group of schools  as a CATE organisation to then create our own course.

Each school has selected a handful students who have then gone through an intense selection process by each school and the careers advisors.

Its a wonderful opportunity for education within our school network and also the relationships with the police and our families, says Mikaere.

Andy says he sees this programme as a fantastic thing.

Theres a bit of study involved so theyve still got to use their frontal lobe which is good, but it just broadens their experience and they find out what our role is, they get to get around and experience policing first-hand.
When it comes to telling the story about crime in their country, Americans are unreliable narrators. Violent crime has dropped sharply in the last 25 years, and the rate of property crimes has also decreased, but Americans have consistently expressed the belief that theres been more crime this year than there was crime last year.

A journalist pointing out that disparity would be remiss not to mention the responsibility news organizations bear for the misperceptions. While reputable news organizations dont make up stories of crime, the placement, frequency and tone of stories sometimes give the impression that everything is spiraling out of control.

Now in addition to news stories, there are smart phone apps that ostensibly keep their users apprised of crime and suspicious activity but may contribute to a collective paranoia that crime is raging and every stranger is up to no good. Those apps are often used to racially profile people who arent doing anything wrong, and nothing good ever comes of racial profiling.

Given the average Americans tendency to overestimate the prevalence of crime and the prevalence of crime-monitoring apps being used as a channel for users racist suspicions, its surprising that a new crime-monitoring app is being funded by a former head of the NAACP.

As my colleague Evan MacDonald reported earlier, one of the major investors in Citizen, an app thats just been made available for users in Cleveland, is venture capitalist Ben Jealous, who served as president and CEO of the NAACP from 2008 to 2013. Since he stepped away from the civil rights organization, multiple news outlets have written about Jealous new career as a venture capitalist and his stated commitment to funding companies that make a social impact and solve a social problem. In a Wednesday afternoon phone conversation, he explained the problem he thinks Citizen solves and how he thinks his involvement in Citizen complements his previous work as a civil rights leader.

I invested in Citizen for the same reason that one of my predecessors at the NAACP 100 years ago might have wanted to invest in street lights, Jealous said. He said NAACP field reports from the early 20th Century indicate that the campaign that got the least national attention but generated the most local members was for street lights. Citizen is the 21st century street light. We give to you today what streetlights have always done, make it a little easier for you to see whats in front of you, a little easier for you to see someone you may need to avoid or someone who may need your help.

Civil rights leaders often focus on the amendments to the Constitution, Jealous said, but the documents first focus is to establish justice and tranquility. In other words, our first civil right is safety.

Citizen sends real-time 911 alerts to its users phones after they are filtered by a team of people that include former first responders and journalists. Therefore, users wont be bombarded by every random suspicion that one of their neighbors has, but will only be notified of the most serious threats that are closest to you. Those serious threats include fires, missing persons and acts of violence, Jealous said. Because we alert you when theres something you should worry about, were also giving you permission to not be worried all the time. There are a lot of apps and media out there that stoke peoples fear. We made a decision early on not to be like that.

He said hes well aware of the negative impact some of the other apps have had. When folks crowdsource incidents, he said, theyre often crowdsourcing suspicion, and that tends to magnify problems of discrimination. When youre sourcing it from the 911 system and youre filtering that for the most serious incidents, then youre only making users aware of real danger.

Citizen is free to use, and the company promises not to sell its users data. How, then is it making money?

Were now simply focused on expansion, Jealous said. In the future we may have other offerings on the platform, but the basic app will always be free, and we will never share your data.

Citizen is only available in 15 cities across the country. The only other cities in the Midwest where its available are Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Detroit.

Jealous shared an anecdote about a woman alerted to a shooting two blocks ahead. She was able to make a turn and avoid a dangerous situation she otherwise wouldnt have known about. There were other anecdotes, too: emergency room doctors using the app to get a heads-up on a major accident, residents of multi-story buildings being alerted to a fire several floors down and missing persons, including children and elders, who were quickly re-united with their loved ones.

Those are all positive stories, but there must be positive stories about those other apps, too, and yet, there are enough negative stories about them to give us pause. It remains to be seen if Citizen will be as different from the other apps as Jealous says and if this app is an extension of civil rights work or a turn away from it.

Jarvis DeBerry is a columnist at Cleveland.com and a member of the editorial board. Reach him at jdeberry@cleveland.com or on Twitter at @jarvisdeberry.
With gangster Ravi Pujari been extradited to India from Senegal, Mumbai Police are now keen to interrogate him for his alleged role in at least 50 cases, most of them of extortion, pending against him in police stations in the city and nearby Thane, police said on Monday.

Pujari, who had been wanted in many heinous crimes, was brought to Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday from the west African country.

Earlier in the day, the court of the first Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) in Bengaluru remanded Pujari to police custody till March 7.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told reporters on Monday night that the police will later seek custody of Pujari.

"Once the Karnataka Police completed their interrogation of Pujari, we will seek his custody. We are in touch with the Karnataka Police," he said.

According to Crime Branch sources, Mumbai Police had sent a letter in English to Senegal seeking custody of Pujari after his arrest.

"However, they demanded a letter in French and handed over Pujari's custody to Karnataka Police. We have sent the letter in French," an official said.

He said stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was slapped against Pujari in at least 25 cases.
The Historic Harrisburg Association announced Monday evening its annual list of buildings and sites whose preservation the group says are a priority.

Organizers say the Historic Preservation Priorities 2020 list includes properties deemed to have special importance to the community as architectural or historic landmarks, as important civic landmarks, or as pivotal elements in a larger neighborhood revitalization objective.

Some of these buildings are at risk of being lost, while others are awaiting the resources needed for preservation.

Were a historic preservation organization, but we encourage smart growth, said HHA preservation advisor Jeb Stuart.

If a building or site can be saved, the group brings it to the publics awareness and does what they can to try to save it, connecting the dots between buyers and preservationists, he said. Sometimes, these buildings can be preserved through adaptive reuse  preserving the buildings historic nature, but turning it into something that can be used for other purposes, like housing, a gallery or a restaurant, he said.

Stuart said by putting these sites on the non-profits annual list, it puts them in the spotlight and may encourage new owners to step forward and preserve a little bit of Harrisburg history.

This years list includes:

The J. Donald Cameron Mansion

J. Donald Cameron Mansion

Located at 407 N. Front Street, the historic mansion is currently listed for sale for $1.1 million.

It was built in the 1860s and was home to the son of U.S. Senator and Secretary of War Simon Cameron, after whom the Harrisburg street was named. Its rumored that Ulysses S. Grant once visited the home and was spotted outside, smoking a cigar, Stuart said.

Supper Club opens in historic Cameron Mansion in Harrisburg: Cool Spaces

The home is a pristine, high-Victorian property, and one added to the list in hopes that a buyer preserves its historic integrity.

The Riverside Firehouse

Riverside Firehouse.

Built in 1923 when Riverside was a newly acquired neighborhood in Harrisburg, this historic structure now sits vacant.

Its a good example of a firehouse in the 1920s, but a neighborhood firehouse, Stuart said.

While its unlikely this property could ever be used for its original purpose, it can still be preserved through an adaptive reuse project and could become something like an art gallery, he said.

The sale of the firehouse, located on 3201 and 3202 North Fourth Street, is awaiting consolidation of the two lots, which are expected to be transferred to the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, he said.

The Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge

Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge

Not all of their priority properties are buildings. This bridge was built in 1916, but it has not been a railroad bridge in many years. Its owned by Capital Area Transit now, but the status of what will be done with it is unknown. It was originally purchased with the idea of a light-rail system connecting the East and West shores, but that project has not moved forward, he said.

Stuart said this bridge could serve as a bicycle connector between Lemoyne and Downtown Harrisburg, and it could be a link between East Shore and West Shore trail systems.

Former Gerbers Department Store

Former Gerber's Department Store

Built in 1922, the property at 1507 North Third Street has been vacant for a long time. But in the first half of the 20th Century  before malls drew shoppers to the suburbs -- it was a thriving department store.

Its vacant and for sale, and its ripe for a new owner to preserve its historic integrity, Stuart said, while adapting it for something else.

In a growing Third Street Corridor, it could be a good site for apartments, he recommended.

Milestone Inn (the former Baker Mansion)

Milestone Inn (former Baker Mansion)

The mid-1920s Baker mansion was almost torn down years ago until the HHA lobbied strongly against that move, Stuart said.

It then became a bed and breakfast, but now, the Tudor-Revival structure is empty and for sale.

Its located at an ideal location on 2701 North Front Street and would still make a great inn or a bed and breakfast, he said.

Peace Church

Peace Church, built in 1798, at East Trindle and St. John's Church roads. February 19, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The association doesnt limit itself to the city. Or to the East Shore. The Peace Church was just added to the 2020 list Monday morning when HHA officials saw a story about it on PennLive.

It is currently owned by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and they are looking for a local organization to take ownership of the church, which dates back to 1798.

Sheepford Road Bridge

Sheepford Road Bridge, which goes over Yellow Breeches Creek between Cumberland and York counties, has been closed to protect public safety. Photo provided by Cumberland County

A historic bridge linking Lower Allen Township to Fairview Township, its jointly owned by Cumberland and York counties.

The bridge was closed indefinitely for public safety in January, leaving some residents to drive four miles or so out of their way to find another crossing.

Plans for the historic bridge remain unknown, he said.

The Historic Harrisburg Association is a non-profit organization formed in 1973 to promote historic preservation, urban revitalization and smart growth.

For more information about the group and their events, visit their website.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
- Increasing hand hygiene and avoiding travel are among actions taken to minimise risk

- Leading hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley calls for continued hygiene awareness and advocates 'destination handwashing' to break the chain of infection

Global study results of changing hygiene behaviours in response to COVID-19 outbreak

SLOUGH, England, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A large portion of the population  as much as 50%  say that they have changed one or more behaviours to cope with the threat of COVID-19, including increasing handwashing and sanitising as well as avoiding public places and cutting back on travel. The findings are part of a new multi-national public opinion poll by Harris Interactive and RB, the maker of Dettol and Lysol.

- Health authorities and international experts are the most trusted sources of information

- More fact-based information to debunk myths surrounding the outbreak is needed

The survey showed that:

54% handwash more often

44% avoid crowds

41% use hand-sanitiser more often

34% wear masks more often

32% stay home more often

31% avoid travel

The vast majority of people (95%) are aware of the virus outbreak, but the levels of concern about the personal risk from infection differ according to geography. Globally, 66% of respondents said that are worried for their family and their own safety. The survey revealed that countries closer to the epicentre of the virus outbreak, including India, Malaysia and Thailand and China, expressed the highest levels of concern about contracting the virus (92%, 91%, 86% and 84% respectively). These countries also report the highest levels of personal actions taken to prevent exposure to infection such as handwashing.

British and German respondents appear to be the least concerned about the virus but many still report modifying their behaviours such as handwashing (35% UK, 40% Germany), using hand sanitisers more often (26% UK, 26% Germany) or wearing masks (6% UK, 5% Germany). Globally, the majority of people believe that good hygiene will protect them, especially in the countries with highest levels of COVID-19 infection.

"This survey shows that while concern about the novel coronavirus is high, it is encouraging to see that people are already adapting their hygiene behaviours such as handwashing," said Dr Lisa Ackerley, a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner and Hygiene Expert. "Not only will this help to protect against coronavirus infection, but the simple action of hand hygiene at key moments helps guard against other respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases."

The survey found some differences in attitudes and behaviours between gender, with women (57%) more likely than men (51%), to have adopted increased handwashing and hand sanitising behaviours. Older respondents, those of 65+ years who tend to be most at risk of complications from infections, were less likely to say they had changed their handwashing behaviour.

Dr Ackerley also advocates for the concept of 'destination handwashing' that centres around washing your hands when you arrive at a destination to help prevent the spread of infection. "When you arrive home, at work, at a restaurant, or at the gym, these are moments to trigger reminders for handwashing," she said. "Simply keeping your hands away from your face when travelling is also a useful tip to reduce the risk of transferring viruses from dirty hands to the eyes, nose or mouth."

The global spread of the novel strain of coronavirus (named SARS-Cov-2) has led to an epidemic of a different kind; the spreading of inaccurate news about the virus has been called an 'infodemic' by the World Health Organisation.[i]

With so much information about the global health emergency, there is also an increasing risk of misinformation or the proliferation of myths about how consumers can combat the virus. There is clear need to make sure that information is accurate and from trusted sources. The survey showed most people turn to international and local health authorities as their most trusted source of information on COVID-19, followed by international and local news outlets.

The survey is the latest in a programme of efforts to support the fight against the spread of the virus and to increase knowledge for consumers worldwide. RB recently announced two major donations; 5.5 million in cash and hygiene products to China through its Dettol brand and additional RMB 550,000 cash donation to support expectant mothers in Hubei Province through its infant nutrition MJN business.

"We encourage good hygiene practices to break the chain of infection at all times, but it is vital to increase awareness during times of increased concern or when new outbreaks such as COVID-19 occur," said Dr Bruce Charlesworth, Chief Medical Officer for RB.

About RB

RB is a leading global health, hygiene and home company inspired by a vision of the world where people are healthier and live better. Its purpose is to make a difference by giving people innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes. Through its two business units, Health and Hygiene Home, RB has operations in over 60 countries and its products reach millions of people globally every day. Its trusted household brands include names such as Enfamil, Nutramigen, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Mucinex, Durex, Scholl, Clearasil, Lysol, Dettol, Veet, Harpic, Cillit Bang, Mortein, Finish, Vanish, Calgon, Woolite and Air Wick. RB's drive to achieve, passion to outperform and commitment to quality and scientific excellence is manifested in the work of over 40,000 diverse, talented entrepreneurs worldwide.

For more information visit www.rb.com

The survey was conducted with 11,000 adults across 11 countries: Australia, China, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States. The online survey with ten questions was fielded from 6-11 February 2020.

References

[i] Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report  13. Available at: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200202-sitrep-13-ncov-v3.pdf Last accessed 17.02.20

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094018/RB_Coronavirus_Infographic.jpg

SOURCE RB
Are officials playing kick the can with the financial impact of the coronavirus on the global economy, or are we ready to say were going to see zero growth during the first quarter? And how long are we going to have to wait for predictions of a global recession? Two quarters?

I get that no one wants to cause a panic in the markets, but guess what, I think there will be, once the seemingly optimistic Federal Reserve policymakers finally have some negative data they can work with. By then it may be a little too late to rescue the second quarter.

After sounding too optimistic about the economy in 2018 and aggressively raising rates three times in 2019, they now appear to be a little stubborn about acknowledging there is a future economic downturn in the air.

Sometimes I feel that Fed members are more worried about predicting the length of an economic downturn than the actual start of economic problems. But now is the time to set aside track record worries like they were batting averages and make the call, even it is a tad early.

In this case, calling it a disaster early will be better than calling it too late. I dont think anyone is going to be upset if the Fed makes a pre-emptive strike and makes an insurance rate cut a few months early. After all, investors are already pricing in at least one rate cut later in the year.

IMF: We Dont Know When It Will Happen, but Well Tell You What It Will Look Like

On February 19, International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva said the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak is the most pressing uncertainty facing, the world economy right now.

She further added its an international health emergency that we did not anticipate in January and It is a stark reminder of how a fragile recovery could be threatened by unforeseen events.

But then she went into optimistic mode and said, If the disruptions from the virus end quickly, we expect the Chinese economy to bounce back soon, she wrote. Spillovers to other countries would remain relatively minor and short-lived, most through temporary supply chain disruptions, tourism, and travel restrictions.

Story continues

February 19? This sounds like something she should have said in late January. Last week, Apple warned investors about reduced demand and supply chain interruptions. So I think the IMF is behind the ball.

To her credit, Georgieva did mention the IMFs longer-term viewpoint, saying that a long-lasting outbreak would have significant consequences for the Chinese and global economies.

Its global impact would be amplified through more substantial supply chain disruptions and a more persistent drop in investor confidence, especially if the epidemic spreads beyond China, she said in a post.

Over the weekend, Georgieva started to acknowledge a worst case scenario, But we are also looking at more dire scenarios where the spread of the virus continues for longer and more globally, and the growth consequences are more protracted.

Economic Impact of Coronavirus Will Be Clearer in Three or Four Weeks, Mnuchin Says

Meanwhile, U.S. officials will have a better idea of how the coronavirus outbreak will impact the economy in three or four weeks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday.

I think were going to need another three or four weeks to see how the virus reacts, until we really have good statistical data, he said.

Mnuchin further added, Although the rate of the virus spreads at is quite significant, the mortality rate is quite small. Its something were monitoring carefully, one of the discussions were having here is that countries should be prepared, but I think were at a point where its too early to either say this is very concerning or its not concerning.

Will check back with you, Mr. Mnuchin, in three or four weeks, to see what the markets seem to already know.

Fed Still Waiting on the Numbers

Last week, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida reiterated that the fundamentals in the U.S. are strong though he said Fed officials are monitoring risks, in particular the coronavirus.

Its obviously something that is probably going to have a noticeable impact on Chinese growth in the first quarter, he said. However, theres no indication at this point that it will impact policy.

What we would be looking for is some body of evidence that suggests that we need to make a material reassessment of our outlook, and certainly we have not done that yet, Clarida said. But we are monitoring, because China is a huge part of our economy.

Conclusion

The IMF is not predicting an economic downturn per se, but seems to be telling us what one would look like in both the short-term and long-term. Mnuchin says we wont know if there are going to be problems for three or four weeks and the Feds Richard Clarida says the economy is fine and the Fed is monitoring the situation.

In the meantime, the financial markets, especially U.S. Treasurys, gold, the Japanese Yen and to some extent, the global equity markets, seem to be saying the economic problems are already here.

Financial market investors were ahead of the Fed before in 2018 and central bankers made three cuts in 2019. I think they are right again so I expect the Fed to cut its benchmark rate sooner rather than later in 2020.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
If you go transgender rights are our big thing, you are going to lose that culture war

Over in the United States, in the competiton for the Democrats presidential candidate nomination, Bernie Sanders has suggested that illegal immigrants should have the same rights to welfare as American citizens.

All of our people  when I say all I also mean the undocumented in this country  all of our people are entitled to basic human rights, he told a campaign rally. This is part of what he calls rethinking America.

Sanders thus offers a context in which to mull how the Ango-American Left is ceasing to be the movement of the working class. Thus opening up the space for Boris Johnson to win his stonking majority last December.

Tony Blair set the scene in Britain by spurning transitional controls on migration from Eastern Europe in the wake of enlargement.

This was a significant factor in swelling the long-term rejection of Labour by a huge swathe of the working class. The New Labour years paved the way for the rise of UKIP and the EU referendum.

Lord Ashcrofts research suggests that immigration was the second-biggest factor in driving Leave voters to back quitting the EU.

And Labours reluctance to abandon freedom of movement had an impact four years later. The Tory lead among CDE voters last year was bigger than among ABC ones.

Neil OBrien correctly writes on this site today that the Conservatives are endangered in the medium-term by their lack of support among younger voters, city dwellers, public sector workers and ethnic minorities.

However, Labour is lost in the short-term, and for longer too, if its support outside Scotland is restricted to those parts of the population. There are not enough of them to build a durable majority.

The partys majorities in some urban seats can be awesome, but the likes of Bristol West and its neighbours, Oxford East, Cambridge, Reading East, the Luton seats and Norwich South are like red islands amidst a blue sea.

And Labours main leadership election candidates seem set on digging themselves deeper into working class trouble as the ballot opens.

All three  including Keir Starmer, the likely winner  back restoring freedom of movement (though Rebecca Long-Bailey has suggested that this may be impractical).

The next election is a long away away, but the policy will be an albatross round Starmers neck for the next four years (if he wins and doesnt resile from it).

Tony Blair is Labours past rather than its future, and his experiment has left a sour taste, at least in the mouth of those crucial voters in Red Wall seats.

But he is right to argue that the party has no electoral future if it remains rooted in so narrow a part of the population  a gallery that Starmer, Long-Bailey and Nandy are playing to.

His nose for the needs of the day is as acute as ever, and it is significant that he has alighted on transgender campaigners and his partys future.

If you go, Transgender rights are our big thing, and the right say, Immigration control is our big thing, you are going to lose that [culture] war, so you are not going to advance any of the things you want to do, he said recently.

It comes as Nandy seeks to untie herself from self-inflicted knots over trans  explaining that she signed a pledge card demanding the expulsion of bigoted party members despite taking pause for thought first.

She went on to complain about pledge cards in general, saying that with hindsight, if we could have all signed a pledge card at the beginning to say that we wouldnt sign pledge cards.

Nandy may not have been entirely serious. However, it is a statement of the obvious to say that if you dont want to sign a pledge cardjust dont sign a pledge card. Its as simple as that.

This Conservative site might be expected to rejoice at the prospect of the main opposition party setting itself on becoming unelectable if it possibly can.

On the contrary, we want Britain to have a proper opposition  not one set on sending out Ken Livingstone-style search parties for ever-more-hard-to-find favoured and fashionable minorites.

Clement Attlee set the post-war pattern for Labour by welding left-wing economics with a right-wing security policy  or at least a deeply patriotic one.

The party wobbled about during the 1970s and 1980s, but a certain norm of outlook and approach ultimately reasserted itself  until Blair and Gordon Brown quietly tore up the migration consensus and went for growth.

One wonders what Attlee would have made of the shift in his party, and that taking place within the Left throughout much of the Anglosphere, and elsewhere.

At any rate, Labour is leaving space for Boris Johnson to wind down the pace of government if he wants to  and himself advance an immigration policy that is deeply ambiguous.
A lawsuit alleging that a municipal public works director in Gloucester County groped an employee, verbally harassed the woman and placed a camera over her desk has been settled for $225,000.

Deanna Tyciak sued Franklin Township and her boss, Charles M. Bosco, alleging repeated harassment and a failure by township officials to address the abusive behavior.

Bosco, 54, of Malaga, was indicted in October on charges that he groped Tyciak and stole from the township.

He was charged last March after Tyciak reported that he repeatedly touched and sexually accosted her.

Bosco rejected a plea offer in June and has called the charges false.

The lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court, also alleged that Bosco repeatedly tried to convince Tyciak to have sex with him and that when she rejected his advances, he retaliated by cutting her hours and calling her a dumb blonde and a bitch. He also had a camera installed above the plaintiffs desk in order to watch her, Tyciak alleged.

Under the settlement, in which the defendants admit no liability, Tyciak will receive a check for $111,080 and her attorney, Schorr & Associates, P.C., will receive a check for $113,920.

Representatives for the township and Tyciak declined to comment on the settlement.

Tyciak will keep her job with the township, according to the agreement.

Tyciak is currently employed as an administrative assistant in the public works department and her hours will now be increased to 35 hours a week. As a full-time employee, she is immediately eligible for medical benefits and can participate in the townships pension program.

Bosco was initially suspended with pay from the township, but his status shifted to unpaid following his indictment.

He was indicted on two second-degree official misconduct charges and a fourth-degree criminal sexual contact charge.

In addition to the sexual contact allegation, Bosco is accused of selling public works scrap metal at a local scrap yard, then, instead of turning the money over to the township, spending it at local restaurants and stores.

He is scheduled to return to court March 2 for another hearing in his criminal case.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The 82-page opinion dismissed the concerns of three lower courts on the West Coast that did not rule on the merits of the change in the family planning program, known as Title X, but which were leery enough of it that each issued an injunction last spring preventing it from taking effect.
BRADENTON BEACH  Last week, the Times reported on dangerously-high levels of enterococcus bacteria have been sampled along the waterfront at Bridge St. and Bay Dr. South in Bradenton Beach. In response to the readings, the city issued the following response:





On Friday, February 14, the city (of Bradenton Beach) was informed by Joe McClash and Andy Mele that Suncoast Waterkeeper performed two water samplings somewhere in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Class 3 body of water adjacent to Bay Drive South.





The city was told that the test result identified the presence of Enterococcus. Enterococci are normally present, as colonizers, in the intestinal tract of human beings and animals, and can be recovered from feces in large quantities.





Mayor John Chappie has been in communication with Tom Larkin at the Manatee County Health Department. Mr. Larkin was made aware of the boating community activities in the waters tested, the Manatee County force main construction activities adjacent to that area and recent boring activities for the undergrounding of utility lines on Bridge Street. Mr. Larkin indicated he was also in communication with Florida Health Beaches Program in Tallahassee regarding this matter.





Mayor Chappie has asked the Bradenton Beach Public Works Department to conduct local inspections at and around the Bridge Street Pier. It was noted a recent CRA meeting that there have been higher counts of pelican fecal matter on the pier and floating dock, which may be the contributing cause for the recent water samplings collected by Suncoast Waterkeeper.





The city of Bradenton Beach has partnered with Southwest Florida Water Management District and invested in the development and creation of a customized stormwater management plan to clean the water going into the water table and the water bodies. The city, through the Community Redevelopment Agency, has invested substantial funds to develop a living shoreline and use nature to promote an environmentally friendly aquaculture.





The CRA recently authorized $5,000 to monitor the water quality impacts of the 2019 clam restoration project conducted in the waters near the pier. That authorization also includes the installation of seagrass cages that promote seagrass growth. The CRA also authorized $10,000 for the purchase and installation of 14 of the larger-sized Mini-Reefs to be placed in the waters off the east end of the Bridge Street Pier through the Center of Anna Maria Islands Go Green initiative.





The city has partnered with Mote Marine, S.T.A.R.T., Oceans Habitats Inc., Sea and Shoreline LLC, local restaurants and local fishermen for these projects. The city also supports the clam mitigation efforts proposed to the Florida Legislature in House Bill 3829.








New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/24/2020 -- Global Vanilla Market research report offers essential information to help the buyers plan ideal strategies and experience huge success over the forecast period 2020 - 2025. The literature holds crucial information like drivers, opportunities, existing trends in the industry, and challenges that helps the buyers and business owners to understand the market scenario and make future plans accordingly. Industry players can hence, create benchmark in the market and improve their market presence significantly in the coming years. Experts have delivered accurate statistics on market share, size, and growth rate for better information to the buyers.



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Geographic Details:

Researchers have studied the market scenario in the major regions and delivered crucial statistics and demographic information. Demographic information will help the producing companies to understand the existing demand pattern of consumers and highlights on the spending power of consumers. This will assist the producers to predict the future demands and plan production capacities eventually. Players in the Vanilla market can also track potential opportunities for considerable growth and earning prominent position among competitors.



Additional Insights:

The study also shares crucial information on the existing government regulations in the major economies and current environmental policies. This will help the businesses and manufacturing companies to plan policies for introducing new products or make advancements in the existing technologies. Producers can not only support environment policies and improve their goodwill, but also contribute to the growth of Vanilla industry, significantly. Operating players in the Vanilla market can further, gain large number of clients and increase their customers over the forecast period.



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Major Players in Vanilla market are:

Givaudan

Symrise

Premium Goods

Van Aroma

Firmenich

IFF

Mane SA

McCormick-Company



Major Regions that plays a vital role in Vanilla market are:

North America

Europe

China

Japan

Middle East & Africa

India

South America

Others



Most important types of Vanilla products covered in this report are:

Uncured

Cured



Most widely used downstream fields of Vanilla market covered in this report are:

Food Processing

Cosmetics

Medical Care

Others



Table of Content:



There are 13 Chapters to thoroughly display the Vanilla market. This report included the analysis of market overview, market characteristics, industry chain, competition landscape, historical and future data by types, applications and regions.



Chapter 1: Vanilla Market Overview, Product Overview, Market Segmentation, Market Overview of Regions, Market Dynamics, Limitations, Opportunities and Industry News and Policies.

Chapter 2: Vanilla Industry Chain Analysis, Upstream Raw Material Suppliers, Major Players, Production Process Analysis, Cost Analysis, Market Channels and Major Downstream Buyers.

Chapter 3: Value Analysis, Production, Growth Rate and Price Analysis by Type of Vanilla.

Chapter 4: Downstream Characteristics, Consumption and Market Share by Application of Vanilla.

Chapter 5: Production Volume, Price, Gross Margin, and Revenue ($) of Vanilla by Regions (2015-2020).

Chapter 6: Vanilla Production, Consumption, Export and Import by Regions (2015-2020).

Chapter 7: Vanilla Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions.

Chapter 8: Competitive Landscape, Product Introduction, Company Profiles, Market Distribution Status by Players of Vanilla.

Chapter 9: Vanilla Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application (2020-2025).

Chapter 10: Market Analysis and Forecast by Regions (2020-2025).

Chapter 11: Industry Characteristics, Key Factors, New Entrants SWOT Analysis, Investment Feasibility Analysis.

Chapter 12: Market Conclusion of the Whole Report.

Chapter 13: Appendix Such as Methodology and Data Resources of This Research.



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An aspiring entrepreneur and social media influencer from San Francisco, with an inspiring life story 'from washing cars in the streets to a millionaire in less time than it takes to receive a bachelor's degree', has created an initiative called the ATM Movement, to help people with digital marketing using their smartphones.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Experts tend to suggest that the most successful people are those who have businesses based on their own interests. Most entrepreneurs find that fulfillment is at its peak when one has their own business which aligns with their own values and interests. Ricardo Cucalon, better known as Ricky Cucalon, has one of the largest Bitcoin wallets in Latin-america. Being an influencer on social platforms, he has Created a revolutionary initiative called the ATM Movement, with the goal to assist people, primarily from Latin-america to pursue their entrepreneurial journey using technology.

"Being someone who's originally from Peru, I know the struggle one has to go through to make ends meet and the lack of resources we are provided with. I wanted everyone to have an opportunity to succeed in life. So I created the 'ATM Movement' with the intention to help start people make a livelihood putting their smartphones to work. We live in a time where we can not only use these devices to share photos with friends but also generate an income with a device we walk around with in our pocket. I started feeling the true freedom when I became able to do what I want, wherever, whenever, and however I want. I want to pass that on to others" explains Ricky.



To avoid the many risks and heavy outlays of being one's own boss, many people are now turning to digital marketing as the way to become an entrepreneur. Starting a business using modern technologies, mostly involves investment in time and can be done in as little as an hour a day. Comparing this to a traditional business is a no brainer. Most traditional businesses force you to invest at least 100K and spend 80+ hours a week to generate income, with the technology we have today primarily all we need is our smartphones and a will to succeed. Ricky wants to provide them with an opportunity to use their mobile devices to get started. "I was fortunate to have met Sylvester Stallone and I asked him what would be the biggest advice he would give the young rockys. He explained that his world was much different than the one we are living in currently. Ours has become more competitive now and we need to go out there with a winning mindset ready to get hit, and it's okay if you fall, but it's important to continue to get up". Ricky recalls his meeting with Rocky himself.



Ricky was an early adopter of blockchain technology and invested in it 2016, selling his Honda Accord to buy 18 bitcoins at $800. He started his own business in May 2018 after bitcoin went to its peak, with a vision of helping people to generate a livelihood using their smartphone. By adopting an approach of working smart instead of working hard, his business expanded very quickly all over Latin America, Hong Kong, Europe and in the US. More details about Ricky Cucalon can be found on his YouTube channel ATM Movement and on his Instagram @ricky_cucalon.



Media Contact Information:

Name: Ricky Cucalon

Company: ATM Movement

Email: info@atmmovement.com

Website: https://atmmovement.com

SOURCE: Ricky Cucalon

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577592/Ricky-Cucalon-A-Civil-Engineer-from-California-Introduces-the-ATM-Movement-to-Help-Millennials-With-Digital-Marketing
Appointment

24 February 2020

Klaus Kabelitz has been appointed General Manager of The Biltmore Mayfair, bringing over 35 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry with him. He arrives from Belmond Cadogan Hotel London, where he had held the title of General Manager.

Commencing his career in 1979 with Hilton, Kabelitz then spent seven years honing his skills with Four Seasons in London and Berlin. He went on to hold key leadership positions in prestigious London hotels such as Claridge's and The Berkeley, where he served as General Manager from 2003 to 2012. His career has also taken him to Switzerland, where he managed Le Richemond Geneve under the Dorchester Collection, and the United States, where he took charge of Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara CA, and Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond.

With Kabelitz's depth of international experience and strategic mindset, he is perfectly placed to build on the strong foundations of the hotel established throughout the past year, and to position it for ongoing commercial success.

As well as his native German, Klaus is fluent in English and French.
By Trend

Representatives of the Azerbaijani and Lithuanian customs services have discussed prospects for the development of relations, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

Chairman of Azerbaijans State Customs Committee, Colonel General of the Customs Service Safar Mehdiyev noted during a meeting held with Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Egidijus Navikas that relations between the two countries cover all spheres.

Safar Mehdiyev informed the ambassador about the reforms carried out under the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in all areas, including the customs system.

The colonel general noted that the applied innovations, along with the development of Azerbaijans export potential, simplification of customs processes, ensuring transparency, create favorable conditions for easy and quick implementation of international trade.

It was noted that the goal of structural and personnel reforms in the customs sphere is to create a flexible and dynamic customs service with the involvement of professional personnel.

Egidijus Navikas expressed his countrys interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan in all areas.

Speaking about the pace of development of customs relations between the two countries, the ambassador touched upon prospects in this area.

Navikas said that he will continue to make every effort to further strengthen the interaction between the Azerbaijani and Lithuanian customs services.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
This is an opinion column.

Dear God, Im scared.

What if I get that coronavirus thingy? Will I die? Mommy and Daddy tell me not to worry, that they wont let any sick people into our town. And if they did somehow get in, Jesus would protect me. I know he would.

Miss Lott at school told us not to worry at all, to wash our hands like we always do and to cough in our sleeves. She had to tell Tommy not to pick his nose, but everybody always tells Tommy not to pick his nose, and he doesnt listen. Miss Lott says people have gone crazy over this Chinese virus because they dont understand it, but that a lot more people get the flu every year and a lot more people die from that. That makes me scared too, because I dont want to die from that either. It seems like theres always something to die from, and I dont want to die.

I got the flu last year, and I didnt die. Dr. Cash gave me pills and Gatorade and I had to miss school. It was OK, though. I got to watch SpongeBob on YouTube. SpongeBob got sick too, but he didnt die either, because he had friends who took care of him.

I guess they were like Jesus.

But Im still scared. Not just of dying, either. Daddy said the government set up a super special place in my state where people who got sick with that coronavirus could go. Special doctors would watch them and give them the bestest pills and Gatorade and try to save their lives, like Jesus. They would be kept there so they didnt sneeze on anybody anywhere. They probably would have somebody like Miss Lott make sure they didnt pick their noses either. But Daddy didnt want sick people coming there.

I heard him tell Mommy they should stay where they are. It was like he didnt even care if they were sick. Mommy said somebody has to help them, but Daddy said that better be somebody somewhere else.

I guess other people are scared, too. Daddy got excited when he heard that Mr. President said none of those sick people would come to the special place in my state. I asked Daddy where theyd go, but he said he didnt know. He hoped it was California or something. Mainly he just stomped and said Not here. It was like he didnt believe Jesus would protect us. Not like I did, anyway.

All sorts of important people -- those old men and women who run my state -- thanked Mr. President for keeping those sick people away. I guess I should thank him too, because I dont want to die.

But Im still scared, God. And not just of dying.

What if I get sick again, with this coronavirus or another kind of flu that makes people scared? What if they wont let me go to see Dr. Cash again, or go to the childrens hospital, or to that special place in my state that is supposed to take care of sick people? What if they take me away from Mommy and Daddy and send me away? Im afraid thats what Daddy would want. Im afraid, more than anything, that they would send me to California. Im scared of California.

I know I shouldnt be afraid, God. I know Jesus will take care of me, and Mommy and Daddy, too. But Im scared for those other people. How come Jesus doesnt want us to take care of them?

Thanks for listening, God.

Your BFF, Betsy

P.S. Amen.

John Archibald, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is a columnist for AL.com. His column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register, Birmingham Magazine and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com.
The global tally of people diagnosed with coronavirus passed 100,000 on Friday, while the number of cases in the UK saw its biggest jump to date.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, confirmed a second person with Covid-19 had now died in Britain, as the number of patients in the country rose to 164  up from 116 the day before. In other developments:

More than 4,000 people have been placed in quarantine across New York state, where 33 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19, according to governor Andrew Cuomo

Italys death toll rose by nearly 50 on Friday to 197, while the number of confirmed cases surpassed 4,000

Boris Johnson announced 46m extra funding for research into developing a coronavirus vaccine, saying he hopes one would be ready to use in around a year

Facebook shut its London offices over coronavirus after an employee tested positive

Two teenagers were arrested over an attack on a Singaporean man in London, during which they allegedly shouted I dont want your coronavirus in my country

At least 3,400 people have died across the world after being infected with Covid-19, figures showed on Friday.

The US saw its death toll rise to 15, after another person who had tested positive for the virus died in Washington  bringing the total number of fatalities in the state up to 12. Donald Trump has signed an $8.3bn (6.4bn) emergency funding bill to combat the disease - but also claimed erroneously that its spread had been "stopped" and that cases were "very few because we have been very strong at the borders".

Two people have now died in the UK who were both suffering from underlying health conditions, according to the health secretary. An elderly man died at Milton Keynes Hospital on Thursday after testing positive, it was announced on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Downing Street said it was accelerating work on the next phase of its response to the virus, saying it was upping efforts to delay its spread. The decision followed warnings from the chief medical officer that it is highly likely that the infection will spread in a significant way, according to a No 10 spokesperson.

Multiple countries announced their first confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Friday, including Colombia, Togo and Serbia.

The Vatican also revealed its first positive diagnosis, saying that a patient was being treated within its walls after attending a three-day conference nearby. Pope Francis  who has cancelled several public events in recent weeks after suffering from a slight cold  tested negative for coronavirus on Tuesday.

The Netherlands reported its first death from the infection on Friday, after a 86-year-old man died at Rotterdam hospital.

The growing number of cases and deaths in new countries came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) urged nations to make containing the deadly virus their top priority.

The UN agency stressed that slowing down the epidemic allowed hospitals to prepare and saves lives, while warning that there was no evidence that spread would wane as the northern hemisphere gets warmer.

It is a false hope to say yes it will just disappear in summertime, like influenza virus, the executive director of WHOs emergencies programme, Dr Mike Ryan, said. There is no evidence right now to suggest that that will happen.

Some countries announced stricter measures to combat the virus spread, with France saying it would close schools in badly-hit areas for two weeks. The country counted more than 600 cases of coronavirus on Friday, jumping by 190 compared to the day before, according to the head of the public health service, Jerome Salomon.

Meanwhile in Italy  the worst-hit European country  cases soared to 4,636 compared to 3,858 on Thursday. Its death toll rose by 49 to reach 197, according to the Civil Protection Agency.

Chinas Hubei province, where the outbreak started, reported zero new cases over 24 hours for the first time during the outbreak, excluding its capital Wuhan, where the first cases of Covid-19 were reported last year.

Companies also announced infections among their staff, with Facebook shutting its London office for deep-cleaning after an employee was diagnosed with the virus and British Airways saying two baggage handlers had tested positive.

The UN also took action amid Covid-19s spread, saying that key meetings in the run-up to its climate summit in Glasgow would be cancelled.

The number of cases rose to 164 in the UK on the same day that the PM announced extra funding to develop a vaccine to fight the infection, saying he hoped a vaccine could be developed in about a year.

The announcement followed the UKs chief scientific adviser telling BBC Radio 4s Today that he did not believe one will be discovered in time for the current outbreak.

It is not unreasonable to assume that we will end up with a vaccine and we may do so in a year or 18 months, Sir Patrick Vallance said, which is remarkable when you consider just a few years ago it would have taken 20 years to do that.

The UK government has attempted to reassure the public that they will continue to have necessary food and other supplies amid shortage fears driven by Covid-19.

George Eustice, the environment secretary, held talks with supermarket and trade body bosses over food supply contingencies on Friday and said he was reassured retailers were taking all the necessary steps to keep shelves well-stocked.

Meanwhile in the UK, two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a Singaporean student, allegedly shouting about coronavirus as they launched their attack.

Additional reporting by agencies
Hollywood kingmaker Harvey Weinstein has had a meteoric fall from grace since dozens of women accused him of sexual assault and harassment.

Here are the key developments in his downfall.

 October 5 2017

The New York Times exposes allegations of sexual harassment against Weinstein from former colleagues including actress Ashley Judd.

Harvey Weinstein (Anthony Devlin/PA)

The producer apologises, saying he realises he has caused a lot of pain and says he intends to take a leave of absence from his firm, The Weinstein Company (TWC). The following day, TWCs board of directors says the majority of its members strongly endorsed his decision to step aside indefinitely.

 October 8 2017

TWCs board of directors announces that Weinstein has been dismissed with immediate effect in light of new information about misconduct.

 October 10 2017

Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie become the latest Hollywood stars to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment.

Video of the Day

Meanwhile, three women allege in an article in The New Yorker that Weinstein had raped them.

Weinstein issues a statement through his spokeswoman, saying he unequivocally denies any allegations of non-consensual sex.

 October 11 2017

Georgina Chapman, Weinsteins estranged wife (Sue Moore/PA)

Weinsteins wife, British fashion designer Georgina Chapman, announces she is leaving him.

 October 12 2017

Police in Britain and the US say they have opened investigations into Weinstein.

Merseyside Police say they received an allegation of sexual assault in the London area in the 1980s, and referred it to Scotland Yard.

From October 12 until October 28, UK police receive sexual assault allegations from seven women, for dates ranging from the 1980s to 2015.

 October 14 2017

Oscar hosts The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences vote to immediately expel Weinstein, making him only the second person in history to be turfed out. This comes three days after the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) suspends his membership.

 October 15 2017

The #MeToo movement is sparked by actress Alyssa Milano as a response to the floods of reports about Weinsteins alleged abuse, and the alleged abuse by a number of other high-profile men in the industry.

Passing on a suggestion from a friend, Milano advises women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted to write me too in a tweet, to give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.

If youve been sexually harassed or assaulted write me too as a reply to this tweet. pic.twitter.com/k2oeCiUf9n  Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 15, 2017

 October 19 2017

The Los Angeles Police Department launches an investigation after an Italian actress and model claims Weinstein raped her in a hotel near Beverly Hills in 2013.

 October 27 2017

Weinstein sues his former studio to gain access to his emails that he believes contain information exonerating him from claims of sexual harassment and assault.

The disgraced movie mogul lodges the lawsuit against TWC, which he co-founded with his younger brother Bob Weinstein, to help defend himself against civil and criminal allegations.

 October 29 2017

Actresses Annabella Sciorra and Daryl Hannah make allegations about Weinstein, with Sopranos actress Sciorra alleging she was raped by the film producer in the early 1990s.

 November 3 2017

The New York Police Department (NYPD) says it is investigating a credible rape allegation against Weinstein by actress Paz de la Huerta.

Chief of detectives Robert Boyce says the NYPD is working with the attorney general to gather enough evidence before obtaining an arrest warrant for Weinstein.

 November 28 2017

Weinstein is sued under sex trafficking laws by an aspiring British actress who claims she was sexually assaulted by him in Cannes.

The lawsuit, lodged in the US, sees Kadian Noble allege Weinstein attacked her in the French city after allegedly grooming her in London with the prospect of a role in one of his films.

 December 13 2017

Hollywood star Salma Hayek alleges years of harassment from Weinstein, whom she calls a monster, including that he would turn up at her hotel room throughout the night and ask her to take a shower with him while working on the 2002 film Frida.

Hayek also alleges that at one point he threatened to kill her.

 December 14 2017

Weinstein denies Hayeks allegations in a statement issued by his spokeswoman, saying that he does not recall pressuring Salma to do a gratuitous sex scene with a female co-star and he was not there for the filming.

 January 1 2018

Its time to shift the balance in the workplace, from representing the few to representing us all. Sign the #TIMESUP solidarity letter and donate to the #TIMESUP Legal Defense Fund right here: https://t.co/GNhkSnWIDb pic.twitter.com/a5oi2Sbaam  TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) January 1, 2018

The Times Up campaign  an initiative to fight sexual harassment  is launched by 300 women in Hollywood, including Judd, Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria and Meryl Streep.

The group unveils its mission with a full-page advert in The New York Times and also launches a website.

 January 8 2018

Awards season kicks off with the Golden Globes, where there is a heavy focus on the Times Up campaign and the Hollywood sexual harassment scandal.

The majority of stars wear black in solidarity with victims of sexual assault, while many of the speeches and commentary at the event are geared towards the events of the past few months.

Host Seth Meyers tells the audience: Harvey Weinstein isnt here tonight because Ive heard rumours hes crazy and difficult to work with  but dont worry, he will be back in 20 years when he becomes the first person booed during the In Memoriam.

 January 15 2018

Judd, who was one of the first women to speak out against Weinstein, says she believes she was blackballed by him and that he sabotaged her career.

 February 2 2018

Bafta announces it has formally terminated Weinsteins membership

 February 3 2018

British police investigating Weinstein confirm they have received further allegations of sexual assault, bringing the total number of women who have reported the disgraced movie mogul to police in the UK to nine.

On the same day, Kill Bill star Uma Thurman alleges Weinstein assaulted her in a London hotel room around the time of the release of Pulp Fiction in 1994.

She also recalls a second incident in which it is alleged he threatened to derail her career.

 February 12 2018

New Yorks attorney general files a lawsuit against Weinstein and TWC following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

 February 20 2018

The Bafta awards red carpet is awash with black as stars of film, TV and stage showed their support for Times Up. Host Joanna Lumley opens with a speech about the suffragettes and the powerful Times Up movement.

A number of allegations of sexual misconduct have been levelled against Weinstein (AP)

 February 23 2018

Weinstein apologises for citing Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence in an attempt to get a class action lawsuit against him dismissed.

Lawrence hits back, calling him a predator after Weinsteins lawyers used favourable quotes about him from the Hollywood stars.

Her comment follows Streep firing back at Weinstein, who said the action was pathetic and exploitative after his lawyers cited her saying she was never harassed by the producer in an attempt to shut the case down.

 February 28 2018

British police receive a further allegation of sexual assault, bringing the total number of women who have reported the disgraced movie mogul to police in the UK to 10.

 March 3 2018

At the 90th Academy Awards, host Jimmy Kimmel addresses the Weinstein scandal, saying: We cant let bad behaviour slide any more, the world is watching us.

In the first Oscars following the scandal that rocked the industry, stars arrive at the red carpet wearing pins for the Times Up movement.

 May 10 2018

Ms Chapman speaks for the first time since leaving Weinstein, saying she was so humiliated and so broken after the allegations of sexual misconduct emerged against him.

The Marchesa fashion designer, who has two children with Weinstein, tells US Vogue she did not go out in public for five months following the first wave of accusations.

 May 25 2018

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the first precinct while turning himself in to authorities in New York City (AP)

Weinstein arrives at a police precinct in New York amid reports he is to be charged by authorities in the United States.

He ignored reporters questions as he arrived at the New York Police Departments 1st Precinct, wearing a black suit, white shirt and blue jumper and clutching three books.

He is charged with rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct in charges concerning two women and smiles as he is escorted out of the building in handcuffs to be driven to court.

There he confirms he understands the charges and agrees to conditions for his release.

Posting a one million dollar cash bail, he agrees to wear an electronic monitor which tracks his movements 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The mogul also agrees to surrender his passport and to stay within the states of New York and Connecticut.

Weinstein intends to plead not guilty, his lawyer says.

 January 14 2019

Weinsteins lawyer Benjamin Brafman, whose previous clients have included Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Jay-Z, quits the case.

 December 11 2019

A 25 million US dollar settlement to end nearly every sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against Weinstein and his former film studios board is tentatively agreed.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan court (AP /Mark Lennihan/PA)

 January 6 2020

Weinsteins trial begins and he arrives at the Manhattan court using a walking frame after needing surgery on his back.

Outside, actresses including Rose McGowan and Patricia Arquette held a press conference wearing red in protest.

 January 22 2020

Weinsteins trial begins and opening statements are heard.

Donna Rotunno leads the defence, assisted by Damon Cheronis and Arthur Aidala.

 February 18 2020

Jurors begins their deliberations in Weinsteins trial.

 February 24 2020

Weinstein is found guilty of a criminal sex act for assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006 and third-degree rape of a woman in 2013.

The jury found him not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) announces a robust series of programming for the first edition of Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert, which will take place from March 4 to 7, 2020 in the Al Marmoom Desert.

As part of Dubai Art Season, the event aligns with the new cultural vision of Dubai to establish the city as a global centre for art and culture, position it as an incubator for creativity, and ensure that it remains a thriving hub for talent. Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert is a unique concept in the region, where enthusiasts can watch films under the stars amid the golden dunes of the desert and learn more about the industry from experts.

It also has a focus on heritage, within which visitors can witness some of the cultural richness of Dubai and experience an authentic taste of what life was like in the desert for generations in the past. Designed for all members of society, including to families, the event is set to take a firm place on the cultural landscape of Dubai.

Acting as curators for the film programme, Cinema Akil, the first arthouse cinema in the GCC, will be bringing critically acclaimed films from around the world to audiences at Al Marmoom. The organisation, founded by Butheina Kazim, opened a permanent home for independent cinema in Alserkal Avenue in September 2018 to educate and build awareness on cinematic arts. For Al Marmoom, the selection of films will be screened on a four-sided cinema screen, offering a unique watching experience for audiences of all ages.

The film programme in the desert brings Cinema Akil back to its nomadic roots, having started its long journey for the love of film as a traveling cinema bringing film to audiences all around the UAE.

The line-up will present a series of films speaking the language of the desert, which has captivated filmmakers since the beginning of film.

Over four nights in Al Marmoom, through the common language of deserts, the programme will present both narrative and documentary films, such as the award-winning feature-length film, You Will Die at Twenty, by Sudanese director Amjad Abu Alala; and Nearby Sky, a documentary film by Emirati filmmaker Nujoom Al Ghanem, which follows the journey of one womans devotion to her camel. The selection includes the critically acclaimed Mimosas by Oliver Laxe as well as George Millers 1981 fantasy, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. Finally, the line-up will also feature the premiere of the restored classic The Lion of the Desert by Moustapha Akkad and a programme of short films featuring some of the most established voices of Emirati film.

The event will host two key activation spaces, designed to host hands-on workshops centred on various aspects of filmmaking. The space dedicated for workshops will feature multiple experiences, including one dedicated to children and youth, comprising workstations fitted with green screens and movable toys for participants to create stop motion animation films. Those taking part will also be able to create handmade VR binoculars using stencilled, folded paper. Through a guided session, participants can also produce their own short films by going through a process of storyboarding, role allocation, as well as scene and stage setting. At the end of the workshops, the films will be exported and stored for later use.

A series of masterclasses will take place through one-off sessions featuring seasoned experts of the industry, who will address topics and stimulate discussions for the interests of amateurs, expert filmmakers, and enthusiasts.

Topics will include the stereotyping of Arabs in film as well as the future of the film industry in an age of streaming, digital media and the so-called death of the studio.

In addition, industry conversations with members of the local and regional film scene will be using the masterclass as a platform to share their experiences.

There will also be a conversation about animation, and the UAE as a filming destination and the use of the countrys landscapes as a location for international films as well as a discussion about film distribution and how to enrich the existing film scene.

Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert is an event designed with all society in mind. It is a place for young people to come and learn, for industry talents and emerging film makers to hone their craft, for families to enjoy their time together, and for students to expand their experience. For amateurs and enthusiasts, there will be a series of bespoke filmmaking workshops and an opportunity to use green screens to recreate stunts. There will also be one-off, intimate discussions or huddles around fire-pits designed to give authentic desert experiences. These discussions will take place with local industry experts and filmmakers accommodating for up to 20 people. These sessions will offer participants direct access to ask questions about their personal stories and the art of filmmaking, hearing directly from the experts themselves.-- Tradearabia News Service
STORY LINK Pound New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) Exchange Rate Flat as Covid-19 Takes Control Again

Pound Sterling New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) Muted as Coronavirus Death Toll Nears 2,600

The market reaction to the coronavirus appears to be evolving, beginning to differentiate the currencies vulnerable to the virus from the rest.

We came back in again and corona took control again and that's where we've traded all day.

Sterling (GBP) Flat Ahead of Budget and UK-EU Trade Negotiations

A quiet week in terms of data releases is going to leave space to the other two key drivers of GBP: UK-EU trade negotiations and hints about the content of the upcoming UK budget.

We suspect both will hardly come to the support of the Pound, as the negotiations may enter an even more confrontational phase and the government is unlikely to endorse markets high fiscal hopes.

Pound New Zealand Dollar Outlook: Will Covid-19 Worries Send NZD Lower?

Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues:

The Pound Sterling New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) exchange rate remained flat, trading at around NZ$2.0404.The New Zealand Dollar remained flat amidst growing concern about the spread of Covid-19 as other countries such as South Korea, Italy and Iran began to battle outbreaks.The outbreaks resulted in lockdowns and travel restrictions in all three countries.China has reported around 77,000 cases of coronavirus, and there have been close to 2,600 deaths. Meanwhile, there have been 1,200 cases in 26 other countries, with over 20 deaths.Markets are looking at how quickly the virus will spread and will be forced to rethink the economic impact.In a note, Barclays analysts wrote:Commenting on NZD exchange rates, dealer at Kiwibank, Mike Shirley said:Monday saw the Pound stumble, as coronavirus fears caused investors to move away from assets in favour of the safety of the US Dollar.Many analysts view the American economy as largely well-shielded if the Covid-19 outbreak should hurt global economic growth.The Pound was able to make gains after stronger-than-expected British data and the belief the new Chancellor will announce more spending in next months budget.However, these gains were capped by worries about UK-EU trade negotiations and broad Dollar strength.Commenting on this, ING analysts wrote in a research note:Looking ahead, the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) could slump against the Pound (GBP) if risk appetite continues to decline.If traders continue to worry about the risk the Covid-19 outbreak will turn into a pandemic, the risk-sensitive Kiwi will slide.Meanwhile, Sterling could suffer some losses as traders anticipate UK-EU trade talks.If reports continue to reveal the UK and Brussels remain far apart on key issues, this will leave the Pound New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) exchange rate flat.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

TAGS: Pound New Zealand Dollar Forecasts
EDMONTON - The Alberta Court of Appeal gave opponents of the federal carbon tax their first win on Monday when it ruled that the levy is unconstitutional.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney speaks to supporters after being sworn in as MLA for Calgary-Lougheed, in Edmonton Alta, on Monday January 29, 2018. The Alberta Court of Appeal is to release its decision today in the province's challenge of the federal government's carbon tax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON - The Alberta Court of Appeal gave opponents of the federal carbon tax their first win on Monday when it ruled that the levy is unconstitutional.

In a 4-1 decision, the Appeal Court said the legislation that brought in the tax erodes provincial jurisdiction.

"The act is a constitutional Trojan Horse," said a portion of the decision written by three of the four majority justices.

"Almost every aspect of the provinces' development and management of their natural resources ... would be subject to federal regulation."

A fourth judge filed a separate opinion in support of the majority.

The Alberta government had argued in its challenge of the tax that climate change isn't a national concern requiring overriding federal intervention. A provincial lawyer said in hearings last December that if greenhouse gases could be considered such, then anything could.

The federal government countered by saying climate change is a national and global issue that can't be left to each of the provinces to take on alone.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney immediately welcomed the ruling.

"We will continue to stand with our allies in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec and elsewhere in defending working families and defending our constitutional authority as a government," he said. "We expect the government of Canada to comply with the order of the court today and to remove the federal carbon tax on Albertans."

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also called for the tax to be rescinded.

The court ruling is a constitutional reference and contains no orders.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson pointed out that two other provincial Appeal Courts  Saskatchewan and Ontario  sided with the federal legislation.

The Supreme Court is to hear arguments next month when Saskatchewan appeals the ruling from its court.

"We look forward to the Supreme Court, which is the ultimate arbiter of issues around differing interpretations of jurisdiction, to be making the ultimate determination in March. We feel confident that the federal position will be upheld," Wilkinson said in Ottawa.

"We need to work together, but we need to do it in thoughtful ways that are efficient, that are affordable for Canadians and one of those ways is a price on pollution."

Kenney gave no indication of compromise.

"We do not believe Canadians in this cold northern country should be punished for simply living normal lives," said the premier, who promised to defend Alberta's interests from what he called "a hostile federal agenda."

"If we didn't do so, then provinces could see their inherent power usurped," he said. "We would no longer be sovereign in our own constitutional sphere, but would become vassals of a federal government."

The Appeal Court appeared to agree. It noted that the Supreme Court has only recognized the national concern argument three times since Confederation.

"Courts have been highly reluctant to use the national concern doctrine to create judge-made heads of power," says the majority decision written by three justices, including Chief Justice Catherine Fraser.

It noted health care, minimum wages and justice are all national concerns but are administered by the provinces. The court ruled that, for something to be a national concern within federal jurisdiction, it would have to be beyond the scope of provincial powers.

The judges said the carbon tax law gives the federal cabinet "endlessly expansive" powers.

"Conspicuous for its breadth, the act allows the federal government to intrude further into more and different aspects of lawful daily life."

One justice did side with Ottawa.

Kevin Feehan wrote that environmental concerns didn't exist at the time of Confederation and, since then, jurisdiction has been found to be shared between the provinces and federal government.

"Effective and stringent carbon pricing cannot be realistically satisfied by co-operative provincial action, due to the failure or unwillingness of a province to adequately address greenhouse gas emissions, with resulting adverse effect on other provinces," he wrote.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Joshua Ginsberg, a law professor at the University of Ottawa who represented the David Suzuki Foundation at the hearing, said the Alberta court's reasoning may not jive with that of the Supreme Court.

"The majority decision is trying to (dodge) around the Supreme Court jurisprudence on this issue, which does confirm that if there's significant provincial inability to deal with a problem, the federal government can step in."

Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said she hopes the Supreme Court rules quickly on the tax.

"As long as we have a government here in Alberta that resists significant, meaningful effort that can be consistently relied upon by international investors to address climate change, while setting out clear rules for how we grow our oil and gas resources in a responsible way, Alberta will be left behind."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said the decision was the third to side with the federal government.
Gigi Sohn has spent the last 30 years as a public interest advocate. Her main focus, nowadays? Getting telecommunications giants to take on fiduciary duty. Now that the internet has become the essential communications tool of the 21st century, Sohn thinks broadband connection is a right, not a privilege. This doesnt mean that shes on board with all technological advancements. Sohn, an ex-senior staffer at the Federal Communications Commission, has her doubts about a lot of things that may look like progress, including 5G and the potential repeal of Section 230, which exempts internet companies from responsibility for content they publish. CoinDesk called Sohn for a brief interview about key election topics for the tech industry including reinstating net neutrality, expanding internet access and the realities of internet throttling.

Why have you dedicated such a significant portion of your life to fighting for internet connectivity?

Well, internet access is the fundamental 21st century communications technology. Yet, 30 percent of people do not have access to a fixed broadband connection at home. Believe it or not, policymakers say broadband is a luxury, not a necessity. I would love to ask them to give the internet up for a week and see how it feels. Without access to the internet, its impossible to fully participate in the economy, society and in culture. Even applying for the most menial jobs today necessitates broadband access. Sure, you can go to the library, but the advantages of using it in your home are incalculable. If you dont have internet at home, youre sitting outside of McDonalds or using a mobile phone. Thats not acceptable.



Related: FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: Restore Net Neutrality and Expand Internet to All

What do you define as decent internet connectivity?

25MB per second down and 3 up is outdated. 100 symmetrical is a better definition, but it depends on how many devices will be connected. Some people will never get an internet connection; thats fine. The issue is, most cannot afford it.



Story continues

Whats standing in the way of affordable internet connectivity as youve defined it?

Several, but it all comes down to the cost of the service. Theres a lack of competition. Competition drives down price. My prescriptions have to do with driving down the cost, and increasing the availability of low-cost $1015 per month subscriptions. A lot of places without affordable internet access are not served by cable. In rural areas the small providers get government money, millions of dollars to provide service, and [are] essentially a monopoly. If the government is giving you a handout, you should have to provide a $10 option. Comcast has [its] $10 a month option, which is commendable but has some limitations. Charter has a $15 per month plan, which is  commendable. I also think, those already receiving government support should be eligible for the Lifeline program.



Related: The Domain Startups Building an Uncensorable Internet on Top of Ethereum

Is there any merit to FCC Chairman Ajit Pais claims that repealing net neutrality would increase competition among ISPs?

I dont think Pai ever said it would promote competition. I think he said it would increase investments. Though what hes done by reclassifying broadband as a Title 1 service is abdicating the FCCs role in the market, whose remit was to promote competition and promote investments. Its the competitive environment that determines investment, not the amount of regulations. That is now conclusively proven. Once Title Two [of the Telecommunications Act, the framework in which the FCC was able to investigate and charge broadband providers as utilities] was eliminated, most major broadband providers slowed their investments.

Why is that?

There is little competition for fixed broadband service. Youre lucky if you have access to two providers. Its a rarity to have three or four. Investments are more closely correlated with upgrades to technology and infrastructure. Take 5G. All mobile companies have been upgrading their networks to 5G. These investments started several years ago. Imagine that, even during the horrible Title 2 times, there was significant investment. Its a false narrative that regulatory oversight stymies competition and growth. Right now were in a period where there arent upgrades. All the 5G funding has already been spent. Classifications, as in labeling broadband providers Title 1 or Title 2, do not matter one way or another to investments. Its all about the state of technology.

Speaking of 5G, I honestly dont understand what it is. I see commercials from Verizon advertising 5G service, and also hear the U.S. is in a competitive race to 5G with China. Is it here or not?

Its partially arrived. There was a Super Bowl ad, I think it was a Super Bowl ad, from T-Mobile saying Verizons 5G isnt much faster than [its] 4G. Isnt that great? The only commonality you can say is 5G, the next generation of mobile wireless. What it looks like is anyones guess. Its likely to be only an enterprise service, for smart cars, GPS, analytics that kind of thing. The question is if it will even benefit the ordinary consumer. I dont know if there is a race, but 5G is coming in one shape or form. Whether we have to win the race is a dubious proposition either way. Its often better to be the second mover and learn from [the first companys] mistakes. So far, there isnt a standard for 5G service, and if you ask honest executives what they think it should be theyll say they dont know. For sure its not coming to rural America. Its too expensive and companies dont have the spectrum. A lot of rural communities still run on 3G and 2G.

RELATED: FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: When the FCC repealed its net neutrality protections it gave a green light to broadband providers to muck around with their customers internet experience.

So what is your vision for broadband connectivity?

My first dream is for everyone to have broadband. My more realistic dream is  every community that wants to build its own network will be able to. In 19 states theyre prohibited. Right now, open access is the rage, which Im in favor of.

Open access is when a community or municipality forms a partnership with a private company to build broadband infrastructure. Typically, the public will build a middle mile network, or service to the majority of the population, and the corporate partner will build last mile service. Its cropping up all over the country.

My other dream is for everyone to have access to multiple providers. In Utah, they have 10 providers. That wont happen in every city but it can in places with open access networks. Unfortunately, I dont see big cities getting open networks. Republicans say that having more than one option is overbuilding. To me, that is competition. One provider means people are paying more. Further, low-income, rural citizens or residents pay more than higher-income people because no one wants to serve those areas.

Where is the role for federal funding to expand rural infrastructure?

The government is giving millions to monopoly networks, which are using the money not on CapEx (capital expenditure, such as building plants, property and equipment) but on OpEx (operating expenses). The FCC just granted $24 billion to ISPs. I would like to see the plan that demonstrates where and what is actually getting built.

Theres a lot of evidence that suggests the FCCs methodology for mapping connectivity is flawed. If I understand, the FCC relies on reports from service providers themselves to show that an area has broadband, and they often plaster over hard-to-reach areas while still accepting government funding. Why is this allowed to happen?

Because the FCC allows them to. It was different when I was there, but I admit its one thing we didnt fix. We were doing repairs on problems our predecessors caused. The issue is simple  that ISPs say if one person in a community has access, then everyone has connectivity, even if they dont. And so is the solution  actually providing service where you say you provide service. But a new mapping program wont be ready for another two years. At that point, a quarter of the $24 billion stimulus will go out under the old mapping procedure. That means the funds will go to areas that are unserved, while underserved areas that are mapped as served wont get a chance at the money.

You mentioned your predecessor. It seems like today there are two faces of the FCC, either non-elected federal officials are for the people or for enterprise. Was that the case during the previous administration?

Some issues are divided along partisan lines. Republicans never liked net neutrality. Though among the American people, regardless of party affiliation, there is support for Title Two net neutrality. And no one likes their cable provider. Since the repeal of net neutrality, every single one of the big companies have raised their prices. No love lost for ISPs among the American people. But ISPs are also very generous givers of campaign contributions

What is the pathway to restoring net neutrality?

There are several ways. In fact, theres a case winding through the courts now, which seems unlikely to win. Or if a Democrat is re-elected, I have no doubt Title Two will be reinstated. The best way is for Congress to pass a law to reinstate 2015 open internet order.

Its that simple?

Yes. In 2017, Chairman Pais FCC repealed net neutrality. In 2018 the Senate reversed that ruling, meaning that Congress, with a simple majority, can reverse the agencys action. bipartisan. The House did not. The House gets a bill this year to reinstate the 2015 open internet order. So both houses need to [pass the measure during] the same [congressional sesssion]. [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell is not taking the House bill. Last time around, Republicans voted to overturn the FCCs repeal.

What are the actual effects of the repeal of net neutrality? Have the much anticipated Internet Superhighways formed?

To the extent that the main argument for the repeal was that ISPs will investment more, that hasnt happened. But the conversation was always more than just the possibility of providers blocking and throttling searches. The repeal also raises questions about the industrys ability to wantonly raise prices, and track and sell consumer data. Making sure these companies dont engage in fraudulent billing practices was a core component of Title Two. I dont see a way that repealing oversight of a duopoly is good for the American people.

Are there any [presidential] candidates that you think have a solid plan regarding connectivity?

I think every single Democratic candidate will put in place an FCC chair who will restore Title Two. Both [Bernie] Sanders and [Elizabeth] Warren have comprehensive broadband plans. The others do not. [Senators] Sanders and Warren can call for billions in investment, but Congress still has to pass the bill. Theres only so much a President can do. Three good Democrats need to walk in lockstep. Thats why this Trump presidency is doing well. We need an FCC commission that wont kowtow to the industry.

Former Vice President Joe Biden wants to repeal Section 230, the law that protects internet companies from liability for the content they distribute. Are you for or against repealing it?

Repealing it would be a disaster for small companies, not big companies, and lead to platforms not moderating content at all. Ive been working on an independent standards and practices body where if a platform is in compliance, it would give them the presumption of immunity. You get an extra boost under 230 if you comply. Its an early formulation of an idea. Getting rid of 230 hurts small companies and everything being a cesspool. People want to commit platforms to moderation, but everyone has different standards for whats acceptable. An independent body would set the standards for the industry. Hang 230 protection on that. What we have now is not perfect. Allowing the status quo is a terrible idea, repeal 230 is a terrible idea, having a government censor is a terrible idea. Nothing Ive heard so far appeals to me.

Do we need a new federal privacy law?

There should be a consumer privacy bill. Why arent basic there protections for privacy across the economy, not just telecommunications? Its not just about giving consumers choice about what they want to share, but protecting people against massive data breaches, which happen to hotel chains credit cards, not just FaceBook and Google. We dont because there is a fight over whether its a state or federal issue, and whether individuals should have a private line of action. Folks ought to think about giving the FCC more resources for consumer privacy issues. We should create  like every European country  a data protection authority tasked with protecting consumer privacy. Im stunned we do not have a consensus here, the Democrats and Republicans are not too far apart. Its too big an issue to leave to the feds alone. If we end up with just the state or private line of action. Its gotta be the feds-plus.



Related Stories
WASHINGTON  Pls have Mr. G bring the documents, reads the March 27, 2019, email from a State Department official to someone who worked for Mr. G., better known as former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a central figure in the Ukraine pressure campaign that culminated in the impeachment of President Trump.

S is happy to meet with him tomorrow for 10 minutes, went an email, apparently between State Department officials, the next day (both sender and recipient are redacted, though the title Office Manager to the Secretary of State is visible in the senders signature). S was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is suspected by Democrats to have had a more central role in that Ukrainian campaign than has yet been publicly acknowledged. (One of Pompeos top deputies, Lisa Kenna, also calls him S in scheduling emails.)

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Rudy Giuliani. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via AP, Charles Krupa/AP)

Trump was acquitted by the Senate on charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress earlier this month. But because agencies like the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget steadfastly refused House subpoenas, much remains unknown about how, exactly, the Trump administration decided to hold up $400 million in aid to Ukraine until that country announced investigations that could benefit Trump in the 2020 election.

While the impeachment proceedings are now over, ongoing lawsuits and upcoming books are expected to reveal still more details about the campaign to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pursue the investigations Trump wanted. Progressive groups like American Oversight have continuing Freedom of Information Act lawsuits against the administration for documents, and a book by former national security adviser John Bolton is scheduled to be published within a matter of weeks. Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, also has a book in the works.

Democrats have little enthusiasm for impeaching Trump again, but if information about Ukraine continues to emerge that bolsters the Democratic narrative of a White House willing to misuse foreign policy, it could still prove a problem for Trumps reelection campaign, and even beyond.

Story continues

Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters)

Impeachment is not over until Americans vote in the election, went the headline of a recent op-ed by Stuart Gerson in The Hill. Gerson, a former assistant attorney general who opposes the Trump administration, said that damaging information can change public and congressional opinion even after a successful reelection.

The small but significant trove of documents released on Friday by the State Department to American Oversight make clear that Giuliani  who was acting as Trumps personal attorney  pressed American diplomats to consider the information hed unearthed in Kyiv about corruption. Though the documents released amount to fewer than a dozen pages of emails, they nevertheless show aides to Pompeo unambiguously receptive to Giulianis overtures.

He wanted to connect with Giuliani which I was able to do lickety split, one of the emails says. Another has staffers seemingly rescheduling a conversation between Pompeo and Sean Hannity, the primetime Fox News anchor and Trump confidant. In the spring of 2019, Hannity aggressively promulgated the information Giuliani provided from Ukraine about American diplomats.

Beyond the impact on Trump, the continuing stream of information could prove damaging for Pompeo. The forthcoming book from Bolton will describe how Pompeo acknowledged privately that there was no basis to [Giulianis] claims, according to a New York Times description of the books content. Yet last March the secretary of state and Giuliani discussed Ukraine, though Pompeo has steadfastly refused to reveal the nature of those discussions. I don't have much to say with respect to the Ukraine investigation," he said in November.

The Department of State did not respond to a request for comment. A press representative for Giuliani also did not comment on his meeting with Pompeo in March.

Page by page, email by email, the full story of the Trump administration's Ukraine scheme is going to come out, American Oversight executive director Austin Evers told Yahoo News. We now know Mike Pompeo and his aides encouraged Rudy Giuliani to deliver his bogus 'dossier' smearing Ambassador Yovanovitch during a week in 2019 when Giuliani's henchmen were stalking the ambassador in Kyiv. If the White House and [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell thought obstruction and a rushed trial would keep the public from learning the truth, they will continue to be disappointed.

The reference to stalking by Evers relates to Giuliani associates discussing potentially conducting surveillance on Yovanovitch in Kyiv. That discussion took place just two days before Pompeos aides apparently began working to set up a meeting between Giuliani and the secretary of state.

A longtime foreign service official, Yovanovitch was dismissed in May without explanation. Testimony by Yovanovitch, as well as revelations made to the press by Giuliani associate Lev Parnas, make clear that Giuliani had convinced Trump that she was standing in the way of investigations targeting Trumps political opponents. Even when pressed, Pompeo refused to defend her against political attacks.

Marie Yovanovitch testifies before the House Intelligence Committee during the impeachment hearings against President Trump on Nov. 15. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

On March 20  about a week before Giuliani and Pompeo met in Washington  John Solomon of The Hill published an op-ed alleging that Yovanovitch gave Ukraines top prosecutor, Yuri Lutsenko, a do not prosecute list during their first meeting. That list presumably included Burisma, an energy company that listed among its board members Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, who is now running for president.

Solomons columns on Ukraine became a centerpiece of the White House fixation on that country. An internal investigation published by The Hill last week found that Solomon committed multiple transgressions of journalistic ethics.

That investigation also notes that much of Solomons information came from Giuliani. I really turned my stuff over to John Solomon, Giuliani said in November.

Although the newly released State Department emails are vague, they do constitute further evidence that Giuliani was eager to also share his findings with Pompeo.

Six weeks before he reached out to Pompeo, Giuliani had met with Lutsenko in Warsaw. He returned to the United States plainly energized by what Lutsenko  who was fired after Zelensky took over in May  had told him. He began meeting with Parnas and other associates at the Trump International Hotel to build a case against Yovanovitch and, ultimately, against the Bidens.

Eventually, that case was shared with Pompeo. Mr Giuliani has documents pursuant to his conversation with S the other day, one internal State Department communication released to American Oversight read. If possible, he would like 10 min with S upon delivery. He said he will drop off the documents whether S has time to meet or not.

Responding to an email about what appears to be Pompeo wanting to connect with Giuliani, Pompeo aide Kenna wrote a single word: Super!

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
The long-awaited data protection bill was introduced by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the Lok Sabha on 11 December. Immediately, the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 (PDP 19) ran into controversy.

The principal bone of contention is the power the proposed law gives the government to allow law enforcement agencies and authorized third parties to access citizen data to investigate crimes faster, with seemingly total exemption from any legal obligations. The agencies do not need any permission from any court or have to cite any specific criminal investigation to access the personal data of any Indian.

This obviously has led to fears of misuse. Justice B.N. Srikrishna, the chief architect of the first draft bill, which did not give government this untrammelled power, said these exemptions for government agencies can be disastrous" and that this can turn India into an Orwellian State". The law also seems to fly in the face of the 2017 Supreme Court judgement, which upheld the right to privacy as a fundamental right. The bill has now been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

What has, however, gone mostly unnoticed in India, is that on 19 February, the European Commission (EC), the executive body of the European Union (EU), released a far-reaching document titled A European Strategy For Data. The paper outlines the way the EC wants the 27-country economic coalition to move over the next five years, in a world where data could be simultaneously the most valuable commodity, currency, enabler and socio-economic development tool, and the most lethal weapon.

Why EU Matters

The document is significant for two reasons. One, much of the worlds data now resides in the cloud", massive server farms, but three-quarters of the cloud is owned by four companiesthree American and one Chinese. Both the US and China have laws that can give their governments access to the data stored on their companies serversin fact, China can access the data at will. This extreme asymmetry can have serious consequences.

Two, the EU has led the world in matters of data privacy and security. Its landmark 2016 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serves as a guide for the worlds lawmakers. Indias PDP 19 bill, for instance, has clearly relied on the GDPR for definitions of and transfer restrictions on personal data.

So the ECs data strategy, though it is focused on European interests, could be valuable to countries across the globe trying to protect themselvesand thrive inwhat the document calls, the data-agile economy".

The EC is calling for nothing short of a European common data market, like its economic common market. Digital Europe and its laws, the EC says, should reflect the best of Europeopen, fair, diverse, democratic, and confident. The EU should not compromise on its principles, it assertsall companies which sell goods or services related to the EU must respect EU legislation and this should not be compromised by jurisdictional claims from outside the EU.

The strategy lays great emphasis on correcting the imbalance caused by the vast amounts of data collected by the Big Tech companies, and on helping European small and micro enterprises (SME) to grow to their potential. This would entail both legislative action to level the playing field and creating conditions for a local cloud services marketplace to grow, where competition is fair and innovation is not stifled by entrenchedand non-Europeanmuscle power.

The EU has the potential to be successful in the data-agile economy," reads the document. It has the technology, the know-how and a highly skilled workforce. However, competitors such as China and the US are already innovating quickly and projecting their concepts of data access and use across the globe... In order to release Europes potential we have to find our European way."

Now, just replace EU" and Europe" in that statement with India". There is much in the documentfrom the current situation to specific strategythat is equally applicable to India.

How Things Stand

The world produced 33 zettabytes of data in 2018 (one zettabyte = one trillion billion bytes, thats 21 zeroes). This is expected to go up to 175 zettabytes in 2025. This ranges from the emoji you sent as a response to a WhatsApp joke, to your biometrics, which, if they fall into the wrong hands, could be potentially catastrophic.

The global public cloud infrastructure market was worth $214.3 billion in 2019, according to research firm Gartner, which estimates it to grow to $333.1 billion by 2022. But a stunning 75% of this market is owned by four companiesAmazon, Microsoft, Alibaba and Google. Amazon alone controls 48%. This is unbelievable power in the hands of a few. It not only makes the rest of the world (whether EU or India) almost entirely dependent on foreign providers, and vulnerable to external data threats, but also with little investment potential for an indigenous data processing industry.

While any data stored by Chinese companies can be accessed by the government, the US passed the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act in 2018, which allows federal law enforcement agencies to compel American tech firms to provide them with stored data for a customer or subscriber on any server they own and operate, even data stored on foreign soil.

The CLOUD Act does have safeguardsfor instance, companies or courts can challenge or reject a request on certain grounds. But the EU has expressed strong reservations because it seems to clash directly with its GDPR. The EC strategy document says that it is working on an EU-US Agreement to facilitate cross-border access to electronic evidence, alleviating the risk of conflict of laws and establishing clear safeguards for the data of EU citizens and companies".

But, among these challenges also lie opportunities that can be seized. A large part of the data of the future will come from industrial and professional applications, and areas of public interest, be it health, environment or education.

As the Internet of Things becomes a part of our daily lives, entirely new vistas could open up, especially in areas such as cloud at the edge, where data processing takes place close to the user. No techno-savant, however many viral TED talk videos he may have racked up, can foretell the coming transformation with full confidence. Says the EC: These trends indicate that the winners of today will not necessarily be the winners of tomorrow. But the sources of competitiveness for the next decades in the data economy are determined now. This is why the EU should act now."

The Way Forward

Each new wave of data represents major opportunities for the EU to become a world leader in this area," says the EC.

Furthermore, the way in which data is stored and processed will change dramatically over the coming five years.

Aside from the economic and sustainability advantages that this development presents, it opens up additional opportunities for businesses to develop tools for data producers to increase control over their own data."

So what does the EC want to do? One, it will continue to closely monitor Big Tech. It is analysing the role of data in creating or reinforcing imbalances in bargaining power and the way these companies use and share the data across sectors".

Once that is done, the EC will consider how best to address systemic issues related to platforms and data, including by ex-ante regulation if appropriate, to ensure that markets stay open and fair". (Ex-ante regulation seeks to foresee problems and shape stakeholder behaviour through pre-emptive intervention.)

Two, build a thriving ecosystem of private actors to create economic and societal value from data. The EC sees startups and scale-ups playing a key role here.

But for this to happen, these SMEs need help. So the EC plans to invest in a High Impact Project" that will fund infrastructures, data-sharing tools, architectures and governance mechanisms for data-sharing and artificial intelligence ecosystems, addressing specific needs of industries in the EU.

Three, facilitate the setting up of a cloud services marketplace for EU users.

If the EU has a supply-side problem in the non-EU oligopoly in the cloud services market, it also has a demand issue in low cloud uptake in the public sector and among SMEs. This leads to less efficient public services, and lower productivity and competitiveness. In other words, its in the same boat as India.

The EC believes this marketplace will be particularly useful for the public sector and SMEs, which may not be so tech-savvy. Only companies vetted on parameters like data protection, security, data portability and energy efficiency, will be allowed to sell their products. Conversely, since the public sector demand should be high, it will be able to support the marketplace, thus giving a chance for smaller providers to grow.

Four, the long-term strategic intent is to shift the centre of gravity of the global data economy and make the EU an attractive site for the storage and processing of data from all over the world.

The EC plans to measure the flow of data, both within the EU and between the EU and the rest of the world, and put an economic value to it. It will then attempt to leverage this commercial heft along with its talent pool to get international data services investment.

The EC strategy document is clear about the EUs unique selling proposition: the EUs fundamental values, including protection of privacy". It will ensure free and safe flow of data across the planet, without prejudice to the EUs framework for the protection of personal dataan open but assertive international data approach based on (the EUs) values".

In parallel, the EU will actively promote its standards and its values. It will work in multilateral fora to fight abuses such as the disproportionate access of governments to data, for instance, access to personal data that is not in line with the EUs data protection rules.

In particular, the EC notes an opportunity to support Africa in creating an African data economy for the benefit of its citizens and businesses".

What India Can Learn

Whether the EC will be able to achieve its ambitions is a question that only time can answer. Acrimony among the EU member-states has been rising over the past few years, on issues ranging from contributions due to and from members, and corruption charges, to migrants and participation in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. No one particularly likes the amount of clout that Germany and France wield. However, the ECs strategy document can be of great value to India.

The European scenario it describesthe current situation, challenges, opportunities and potentialis almost exactly the same as Indias. The strategy it proposes can be easily adapted for the Indian context.

In fact, while the EC can only talk right now about goals like helping create an African data economy, India already has all the tools in place.

In June last year, the government had spoken about Russia and several countries in Africa and West Asia showing interest in building Aadhaar-like systems. Was any progress made on this?

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is acknowledged as the worlds best digital financial transaction service. In December, Google wrote to the US Federal Reserve to look at UPI to build FedNow, its new interbank settlement system. Have we followed up on that?

While India evolves the regulations we need on data localization and transfer, and non-India-based tech companies, expectedly, complain, why cant we set our sights slightly higher than just keeping our data within Indias borders, to making India a hub for the global data economy?

India has all that is required, from connectivity to talent pool. Sure, Europe scores as it can tout its European values" of liberal democracy and individual rights. But in reality, other than in North and Western Europe, how many of its 27 member-states do actually have a real functioning liberal democracy?

The data economy offers a big opportunity for India. But the government giving itself the power to access all personal data without due process is definitely not going to help grab it.

Sandipan Deb is a former editor of Financial Express, and founder-editor of Open and Swarajya magazines.

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President Donald Trump predicted the Democrats' presidential nominating contest could go all the way to the party's July nominating convention and argued Bernie Sanders would be the toughest candidate for him to beat.

The president weighed in on his rivals primary contest as he flew to Agra, India, for a visit to the Taj Mahal.

'It could go to the convention, it really could,' he said of their race to pick a nominee.

President Donald Trump predicted the Democrats' presidential nominating contest could go all the way to the party's July nominating convention

Bernie Sanders is leading after winning two primary contests but President Trump predicted the party would take the nomination away from him

A contender has to win a certain number of delegates in order to win the party's nomination. If that doesn't happen, a 'brokered' or open party convention would determine who would take on Trump in November.

The Democrats' last brokered convention was in 1952.

Trump also repeated his prediction Democrats would take the nomination away from Bernie Sanders, who leads the delegate count after winning primary contests in New Hampshire and Nevada.

'They are going to take it away from Crazy Bernie. They are not going to let him win,' he said.

Trump, who has dubbed Sanders with the 'crazy' moniker, said the Vermont senator would be one of the toughest members of the Democratic field for him to beat.

There is some thought out there that the president and his party wants to see Sanders emerge as the Democratic nominee because his liberal political philosophy would drive away voters in the general election.

'I actually think he would be tougher than most of the other candidates because he is like me but I have a much bigger base,' the president said.

There has been concern among Democrats that the party could emerge from the bloody primary process without a firm nominee.

The party faithful have not coalesced around any of the candidates remaining in the field - Sanders, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar or Elizabeth Warren.

The topic came up at last week's Democratic debate.

Theres a very good chance none of you are going to have enough delegates to the Democratic National Convention to clinch this nomination, moderator Chuck Todd said to the candidates. Should the person with the most delegates at the end of this primary season be the nominee even if they are short of a majority?

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in India Monday for a two-day state visit

Sanders, who is leading in the delegate count, said yes.

The others hedged.

There are a total of 3,979 pledged delegates in the Democratic Party and a candidate has to win a majority of them on the first ballot at the convention to win the nomination.

If not, the deal making starts happening in what is known as a 'brokered' convention. Democrats will gather in Milwaukee on July 13.

Trump has pushed a theory Democrats will deny Sanders the nomination.

After the 2016 Democratic primary, Sanders supporters were outraged when it was revealed the party put its weight behind Hillary Clinton to ensure she received the nomination.

Clinton emerged battered from that bloody primary and went on to loose to Trump.

Party officials fear a repeat scenario this cycle.

Before he left for India, Trump told reporters he thinks the Democrats are plotting to deprive Sanders the party's nomination.

'I think what it could be, the Democrats are treating Bernie Sanders very unfairly,' Trump said. 'It sounds like its '16 all over again for Bernie Sanders.'
Hangin With the Bernie Bros on Nevada Victory Night

Commentary

LAS VEGASI had a theory about the Bernie Brosabout their motivations, who they were deep downso I set out to meet as many of them as I could at Bernie Sanderss Nevada caucus returns watch party.

It was held at a grunge-type bar in the Las Vegas Arts District, a hipster redoubt not all that far from the Strip.

I figured the Bros would be in a good mood and willing to talk because it was already a victory celebration, Sanders having romped in the state.

I was right. Loud, gleeful chants of Bernie! Bernie! Bernie! burst out spontaneously every few minutes in the jam-packed bar when I was there, as if the Bros were trying to reach the ears of their candidate, who was already campaigning in Texas, while at the same time, laying down their rejoinder to the Trump fans and their cries of USA! USA! USA!

Maybe the Bros should have been shouting Vegas be gone! because, as I asked a spokeswoman for the locally powerful Culinary Workers Union at a press gaggle earlier that day, if America went socialist, would there still be a Las Vegas? (A devout Bernie supporter, she pretended not to hear my question, looking around nervously for someone else to answer.)

But back to the Bernie Bros and my theorysuch as it is. I think their rise and abject devotion to Sanders is closely related to the diminished and problematic role of young males in our society that has been written about so eloquently by Dr. Helen Smith, among others.

Our boys have some serious problemsdrugs, school dropouts, a disturbing suicide rate. Many are lost, devoid of prospects and ambition. (Females already outnumber males in our colleges, 6040. No one but the most extreme feminist should feel sanguine about where that will lead.)

Bernie has become something of a father figure to these young men, many of whom never had one. Others that did had ones that we could call questionable role models.

In and outside the bar, both of these generations were in evidencethe younger ones dressed in replication of the older (with minor variations) who seemed to be in the same clothes they wore to a love-in back in 1968.

I had seen the same generations together before at a Sanders rally I attended in Des Moines, Iowa, during the 2016 election. The candidates speech then, much the same as the one he gives now, was also identical in rhetoric, if not in style, to what one heard from Tom Hayden or Mario Savio back in the 60s.

Theres nothing so old as the avant-garde, as they say. But it was all new to those kids then and these kids now.

Inside the bar that night, it was easy to meet them. I felt in bad faith, playing the role of a Bernie supporter, although that was certainly easy, if you remembered to keep the buzzwords relatively contemporary.

The first guy I spoke was older than most, in his mid-30s, I would guess, and had, he admitted almost proudly, a checkered work career, living in several cities and holding a variety of jobs before he settled in Las Vegas. Now, hes a Bernie-guy all the way; no other candidate was worth anything. Health care was the reason, he said. He had seen too many friends die from lack of care, others from overdoses. He was very concerned about the opioid crisis.

For a moment, he looked grim despite the festive atmosphere. I asked him if things could get violent if Bernie lost. He wasnt sure. There was something ominous in his equivocation.

The strange thing was his occupationhe designs slot machines. He was in the right town for that, he added with satisfied smile. I had visions of all the poor suckers pouring their paychecks into his inventions. I wondered if he sensed the irony, but resisted asking. In Bernieland, there was too much irony to go around.

Outside on the bars patio, the Bros were of a more pleasant sort, passing the inevitable joint. Among them was a guy who wore an official Sanders observer button. That meant the campaign sent him to Vegas to observe one of the precincts.

I asked if he was going on to South Carolina for the primary. He shook his head and said he wished he could, but he had to go back to Seattle for his work. He was a substitute elementary school teacher, a job he liked, he explained between tokes, because it gave him a lot of time off.

I didnt get what the others in the smoking group outside did, if anything; employed or not, they seemed nice enough, laughing and sharing and praising the nirvana to come under Bernie. They made me sad, and I said my good-byes, leaving before I really wanted to.

Like most social scientists, I had seen what I expected. They call it confirmation bias, but in this case, youll have to excuse me because I really do think what I had assumed was true. They are lost.

Sanderswho still has good things to say about Fidel Castro, a so-called revolutionary who murdered his friends, impoverished his people, and ended up a billionairewill likely lose in the general election, but these boys will still be there.

Maybe we should think about doing something for them. I wish I knew what.

Roger L. Simon, senior political columnist with The Epoch Times, is also a novelist and an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. His latest work is The GOAT, available on Amazon.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Iran introduces contingency plans as coronavirus death toll rises to 8

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 8:27 AM

Iran has put in place a set of contingency plans, including the temporary shutdown of schools, universities and cultural centers, in an effort to curb a coronavirus outbreak that has already claimed eight lives in the country.

The Health Ministry on Sunday raised the death toll from the virus to eight and the number of people who had tested positive for coronavirus to 43.

The ministry's spokesman Kianush Jahanpour said that 15 new cases were identified in the past 24 hours, three of whom lost their lives.

The epicenter of the outbreak is the central city of Qom.

As a preventive measure, Iranian authorities have ordered a week-long closure of educational and cultural institutions across 14 provinces as of Sunday.

These provinces include Qom, Markazi, Gilan, Ardabil, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Zanjan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Hamadan, Alborz, Semnan, Kordestan and the capital, Tehran.

Spokesman for Tehran's Department of Education, Masoud Saghafi, said the decision was made to "prepare schools" which have to be disinfected and sanitized.

Tehran's Mayor Pirouz Hanachi said Sunday that all the city's public places, including the metro trains and buses, are being disinfected every night as part of attempts to contain the spread of the virus.

Head of Food and Drug Administration Mohammad Reza Shanehsaz also said that pharmacies will no longer be allowed to sell protective masks and that masks will be distributed among the population via government-run centers free of charge, with the priority given to virus-hit provinces.

Mansour Gholami, Iran's Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, called on all university deans to make every effort to maintain a calm atmosphere and adopt effective measures to prevent the virus from spreading.

The Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance has also announced the cancelation of all concerts and other cultural events for one week.

The government also announced that all indoor art events across the country have been cancelled and cinemas will remain closed until the end of the week.

Authorities meanwhile said all sport matches will go as planned but without spectators.

Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said that Iran's Supreme National Security Council had convened and that President Hassan Rouhani had attended the session.

In the meeting, it was decided that the Health Ministry would be in charge of announcing the need to shut down any city it deemed necessary.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran first surfaced on Wednesday, when authorities said it had claimed the lives of two elderly people in Qom.

More than 2,400 people have died of coronavirus since it began more than a month ago in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Countries like South Korea and Iran are reporting growing number of infections despite a fall in cases in China in recent days.

The coronavirus can cause various illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as pneumonia. Common signs of the infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughing, shortness of breath, and other breathing difficulties.

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India has deeply appreciated the Senegal government's decision to extradite fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari to India, official sources said on Sunday.

Facilitation of transit provided by the Government of France has also been acknowledged, they said.

Ravi Prakash Pujari, accused of committing a number of serious offences including murder and extortion in multiple jurisdictions, was extradited from Senegal on Saturday.

The probe agencies have persistently pursued the case for his extradition with the authorities in Senegal. India had made a request with Senegal for his extradition in early 2019, sources said.

Pujari was associated with gangster Chhota Rajan, but he also worked for fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Monday, February 24, 2020 at 2:36PM

Amazon plans to take out listings like these that claim to kill or prevent the coronavirus

Amazon is getting rid of products that claim to cure or prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The online retailer has been getting in touch with third-party merchants who sell these products, informing them that these listings will be taken out. In one case, Amazon let a seller know it was taking out its listing for surgical face masks because it had "unapproved medical marketing claims" in the description.

It's a good move considering these products do nothing but give bad actors a way to profit from people's fears. The virus itself is becoming more widespread, affecting over 78,000 people worlding, including nine people in Canada.

Source: CNBC
As we approach year three of the pandemic, its safe to say weve learned to be more cautious and flexible with our plans. And with the omicro
The Auditor-General has indicted the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for illegally funding foreign scholarships.

A performance audit report from the Auditor-General sighted by Citi News said the GETFund Secretariat breached the object of the fund and administered the scholarship themselves.

The Auditor-General concluded that the failings of the GETFund led to brilliant but needy students being deprived of scholarship in favour of politicians in some cases.

The report also said, GETFund did not establish any systems, policies and procedures to ensure the economic, efficient and effective use of public funds.

This led to the imprudent administration of scholarships between 2012 and 2018, the report concluded.

The Secretariat was also indicted for not instituting measures to ensure scholarship expenditures stayed within scholarship budgets.

It exceeded scholarship amounts by 300 percent from 2012 to 2014, the report noted as an example.

It also said the selection process was not robust enough describing it as unfair, dominated by one person and porous.

This allowed unqualified applicants to benefit rather than brilliant but needy Ghanaians as contemplated by Act 581, the report stated.

Some politicians, for example, are listed as beneficiaries of GETFund scholarships.

The report noted that the current Education Minister, Matthew Opoku-Prempeh and the current Procurement Minister and Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo benefitted from the scheme in the past.

This was however before they became government appointees.

The Procurement Minister is listed studying at the Harvard Kennedy School and benefiting from $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in tuition fees.

The Dr. Opoku Prempeh is listed as participating in a course on National and International Security at Harvard University where he received $12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees.

The Minister in a statement noted that he was the recipient of a GETFund award in 2014.

Reaction from GETFund

Reacting to the report, GETFund has said its mandate is not limited to serving needy but brilliant students in line with the GETFund Act 2000.

The fund may, per its mandate, also provide support for other educational activities and programmes to serve strategic national interests.

GETFund also noted that the scholarships were not awarded by the Fund's current administration.

citinewsroom
Bernie Sanders issued harsh criticism to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Sunday, claiming the pro-Israel group provides an outlet for bigotry and anti-Palestinian sentiments.

The Jewish senator announced that he would not be attending AIPAC's conference on March 1-2 in Washington, D.C., where several lawmakers will show up and speak, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

'The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people,' the Vermont senator wrote on Twitter. 'I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference.'

'As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region,' he posted in a second tweet.

Bernie Sanders said he will not be attending the AIPAC conference because he feels it gives a platform for 'bigotry'

He instead voiced his concern for the Palestinian people living in Israel

AIPAC responded by bashing the Jewish senator from Vermont for touting 'shameful' comments against the 'mainstream, bipartisan American political event'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken at many AIPAC events

Some of Sanders' more well-known surrogates including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian-American, and Ilhan Omar  members of the so-called 'squad' of progressive representatives.

Donald Trump and some of his allies have attacked Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib and Omar for touting anti-Semitic tropes.

Sanders has also, in the past, slammed AIPAC and has claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the Trump administration's biggest allies, is a 'right-wing politician' who runs a 'racist' government.

AIPAC issued a statement Sunday night in response to Sanders' tweets, claiming the Democratic socialist presidential candidate is 'shameful' and adding that he never attended their conference.

'By engaging in such an odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event, Senator Sanders is insulting his very own colleagues and millions of Americans who stand with Israel,' the statement read. 'Truly shameful.'

The committee then exhibited its inclusion by adding that the guests and speakers at its conference have ranged among people of all different races, religions, ages, sexual orientations and political parties.

Currently, Sanders is the frontrunner candidate in the Democratic primary race.

He is boasting the first-in-the-nation caucuses in Iowa as a win, repeating the he won the 'popular vote' over Pete Buttigieg, who earned the most amount of delegates.

The senator came in first with the most per cent in New Hampshire and Nevada and is hoping to continue that momentum as South Carolina votes in its primary election on Saturday.
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Highlights WhatsApp chat links can be easily found via a Google search, reports claimed.

WhatsApp seemed to have fixed the bug, confirmed an enthical hacker.

In 2019, WhatsApp disclosed 12 vulnerabilities

A few days ago, a report claimed that WhatsApp chat links can be easily found via a Google search due to a technical glitch in the messaging app. This meant that anybody could join the WhatsApp groups just by searching for it on Google. A report on Motherboard highlighted that the WhatsApp Group chats were indexed by Google. The number of groups that were reportedly searchable on Google was close to 470, 000. However, now WhatsApp seemed to have fixed the problem.

The glitch by WhatsApp came to the fore when a Twitter user by the name of Jordan Wildon issued a warning on the micro-blogging site. He wrote, Your WhatsApp groups may not be as secure as you think they are. The "Invite to Group via Link" feature allows groups to be indexed by Google and they are generally available across the internet. With some wildcard search terms you can easily find some interesting groups.

To this, Google's public search liaison, Danny Sullivan replied saying, Search engines like Google & others list pages from the open web. That's what's happening here. It's no different than any case where a site allows URLs to be publicly listed. We do offer tools allowing sites to block content being listed in our results."

However, now it seems that WhatsApp has fixed the bug. Renowned ethical hacker Jane Manchun Wong, who earlier revealed that over 470k WhatsApp groups have been exposed to Google, took to Twitter and wrote, Looks like WhatsApp has fixed it by removing the existing listing from Google and adding the `noindex` meta tag on.

WhatsApp has still not commented on the entire fiasco officially but a spokesperson told the Verge, Like all content that is shared in searchable public channels, invite links that are posted publicly on the internet can be found by other WhatsApp users. The links that users wish to share privately with people they know and trust should not be posted on a publicly accessible website.

This is not the first time WhatsApp is in the eye of the storm, earlier in January; the messaging app disclosed over 12 vulnerabilities. Out of which, seven were said to be extremely critical. It was reported that hackers got access to install spyware on the devices due to one of WhatsApp's vulnerability. The biggest blow to security came to the fore when it was reported that over 1400 people were targeted using Pegasus spyware, out of which 121 users were Indian journalists, human rights activists and other prominent figures. However, WhatsApp did fix the vulnerability and urged users to update to the latest version of the app.

WhatsApp should really pull up their socks' and work towards strengthening the privacy and security of all the 1.6 billion users it has across the world.
Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault by a New York jury on Monday, a victory for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men.

Once one of Hollywoods most powerful producers, Weinstein, 67, was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013.

He faces up to 25 years in prison.

He was acquitted on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence.

During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a walker. He sometimes leaned on his lead attorney, Donna Rotunno, for support.

Hes taken some good acting tips, actress Rose McGowan said at the start of the trial on Jan. 6 while staging a protest near the courthouse along with actress Rosanna Arquette and other Weinstein accusers.

Weinstein made his mark with critically acclaimed films such as The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love.

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.

Paul Callan, a former New York prosecutor who is not involved in the case, said Weinstein had strong grounds to argue the verdict should be overturned on appeal because of bias, noting that one of the jurors was the author of a forthcoming book on teenage girls and predatory older men.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises to open doors in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said during opening arguments.

Seated at the defense table, Weinstein often appeared impassive, though at times he looked intently at his attorneys when they cross-examined his accusers.

Jekyll and Hyde

During the many weeks of trial, the prosecution methodically elicited graphic testimony from several accusers, including Haleyi, who said Weinstein invited her to his SoHo home after she had worked on one of his television productions.

After she arrived, Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally, yanking out her tampon, Haleyi told jurors. [nL1N29W0I0]

A onetime aspiring actress, Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she entered into an extremely degrading relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her in 2013. [nL1N2A0110]

She described Weinstein as a Jekyll and Hyde character: He was charming in public but often showed terrifying anger when they were alone, Mann said.

At one point, she started sobbing uncontrollably on the stand, prompting the judge to end testimony early for the day.

Weinstein was charged with assaulting Haleyi and Mann, but prosecutors bolstered their case by calling several other accusers as witnesses.

One of these women, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors Weinstein came into her apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her.

Though the accusation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, prosecutors offered it to show Weinstein was a repeat sexual offender.

Three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young - testified that they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped.

Testimony of prior bad acts is generally not allowed in criminal trials, but an exception to the law allowed prosecutors to call these women to show Weinstein had a particular intention or a signature pattern of behavior.

Legal experts said the women provided powerful evidence that was difficult for the defense to overcome.

Dunning testified that the producer groped her in 2004 and offered her movie roles in exchange for three-way sex with him and his assistant, which she refused. [nL1N29Y0G8]

Young, a model and actress, testified that the producer trapped her in a hotel bathroom in 2013, masturbated in front of her while groping her breasts, and told her: This is what all the actresses do to make it. [nL1N2A516L]

Last line of defense

Throughout the case, the defense said regret drove the accusers to take consensual incidents and reframe them as crimes.

Weinsteins lawyers zeroed in on friendly messages and ongoing contact between the women and Weinstein.

During cross-examination of Haleyi, for example, the defense showed her a message she sent Weinstein signed lots of love after her alleged attack.

Defense lawyers repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career.

Weinstein never testified in his defense, although he told reporters he had wanted to. One of his lawyers said the case was too weak to warrant putting him on the stand.

Weinsteins lawyer Rotunno told jurors during closing arguments that they were the last line of defense against an overzealous prosecution and that women were responsible for the choices they make to further their own careers.

Prosecutors pushed back against claims that his accusers were not credible and the notion that they were responsible for the alleged attacks.

Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said it was irrelevant whether they had ongoing contact with Weinstein after the alleged attacks.

Illuzzi rejected a defense claim that Mann had a loving relationship with Weinstein, but said it would not matter if she had been head over heels in love with him.

He still wouldnt be allowed to rape her on March 18 of 2013, she said.

Weinstein still faces sexual assault charges in California, which were announced just hours after his New York rape trial began, and dozens of women have filed civil lawsuits against him.
Good morning and welcome to On Politics, a daily political analysis of the 2020 elections based on reporting by New York Times journalists.

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If you want to know what the candidates are thinking, just look at where theyre traveling. As the results of the Nevada caucuses rolled in on Saturday, Bernie Sanders was in San Antonio, clearly hoping to use the momentum from his win in Nevada to drive open a lead over Joe Biden in Texas. It is one of 14 states to vote on Super Tuesday  just over a week away!  and recent polls there have shown the two candidates essentially tied.

More to the point of San Antonios relevance: Among Texass five largest cities, its the most heavily Latino. Roughly half of Latino caucusgoers in Nevada backed Sanders, versus less than a third of that number for Biden, according to entrance polls. In Texas, Hispanic voters made up roughly a third of Democratic primary voters in 2016, according to exit polls.

The Nevada results are still not fully counted. Sanderss seemingly wide margin of victory helped Nevada avoid becoming another Iowa, but were still waiting on official results from 12 percent of the states precincts  and Pete Buttigiegs campaign is already crying foul about irregularities in the reporting process. (More on that process below, from our on-the-ground reporter, Reid J. Epstein.)

Even the man who was once the Nevada caucuses most prominent booster now thinks they ought to be a thing of the past. Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader, was largely responsible for moving his states caucuses up to the coveted No. 3 spot on the nominating calendar in 2008. But on Sunday, he declared that its time for caucuses, with their complex and often-arcane processes, to be eliminated. Our Democratic Party did a good job, he told (our) Reid. All caucuses should be a thing of the past. They dont work for a multitude of reasons.

Biden appears likely to finish in a distant second, but the silver lining is that he maintained his lead among black caucusgoers (a key base of support), capturing two of every five African-American votes. Sanders received 27 percent, good for second place among that demographic.

But a CBS News poll of likely South Carolina primary voters  conducted online by YouGov, before the Nevada caucuses were complete  found that Bidens advantage in South Carolina has taken a big dip. Hes down to 28 percent (from 45 percent in November) while Sanders holds 23 percent. Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge-fund investor who has focused heavily on winning over black voters in South Carolina, was not far behind, with 18 percent of likely primary voters.

Theres one race Steyer is winning by a mile: the race for eyeballs. More than four in five likely voters said they had seen a TV or web ad from the candidate. Steyer wasnt on the debate stage last week, but he has qualified for Tuesdays showdown in Charleston, S.C.

That debate, hosted by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, will also provide a much-needed opportunity for redemption for Michael Bloomberg. Its the last debate before Super Tuesday, when he will be on the ballot for the first time (in all 14 participating states).
Technavio has been monitoring the sparkling red wine market and it is poised to grow by USD 216.16 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 4% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005655/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Sparkling Red Wine Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

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About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Siti Kamal (pictured), 24, admitted to trying to blackmail $1,000 from the parents of the dying baby girl

A Malaysian woman who blackmailed the parents of a dying baby with precious photos on their stolen phone has been slammed for her 'extraordinary cruelty'.

A judge ripped into Siti Kamal after she tried to extort $1,000 from an anguished couple, whose baby was dying in Melbourne.

Jay and Dee Windross had issued an urgent plea to trace their stolen phone in April 2019, as it contained special memories of their daughter Amiyah.

Amiyah, who was 11 months-old, died in April, days after a mobile phone containing irreplaceable family pictures was stolen from a Melbourne shopping centre.

During a hearing in the County Court of Victoria on Monday, Judge Elizabeth Gaynor indicated she would send Kamal to jail.

Baby Amiyah (pictured) tragically died in April after succumbing to an undiagnosed neurological issue

'You've got a couple spending their last days with their dying child,' the judge told Kamal during a plea hearing on Monday.

'In a situation of almost indescribable anguish ... I can hardly think of a worse case (of blackmail).

'The extraordinary cruelty that this involved is a concern.'

Kamal, 24, pleaded guilty in July to blackmailing the couple in the hours before and after little Amiyah's death from an undiagnosed neurological condition.

She had contacted Jay and Dee Windross on WhatsApp after they made a desperate public plea for the return of the Samsung Galaxy S8 phone.

The cruel thief said she would only return the phone - and the precious pictures - if the grieving couple paid her.

Melbourne couple Jay and Dee Windross' (pictured) 11-month-old daughter Amiyah had been fighting an 'undiagnosed neurological issue from the day she was born', and died in April

In a cruel twist - it appears Kamal never even had the phone, and it still hasn't been returned.

Mr Windross said she continued to text him through the night while he had been trying to spend 'every emotional minute' with his child.

'It was a hoax. Not only was it a complete and utter waste of my time, it was interrupting my final moments with my dying daughter,' he wrote on Facebook.

The couple believe the phone was stolen from the toilets next to Target at Chadstone Shopping Centre in April.

'It's despicable. It's disgusting, Ms Windross said at the time.

'Why would anyone do that and she knew the position we were in. You could tell by the messages. How could you be so disgraceful?'

'The hours that we spent holding our daughter, this woman was sitting in her own house demanding money from us.

Kamal (pictured) had contacted the couple as they spent their last precious moments with their dying daughter

Ms Windross (pictured, left) left her phone in a toilet cubicle at Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre on April 20, and her husband (right) made a desperate plea for its return

Kamal contacted the couple via WhatsApp after they made several desperate posts on social media to help them retrieve the phone. Her husband is pictured leaving court

Her barrister Rahmin De Krester acknowledged the woman would be handed a jail sentence but asked that be time already served in custody.

'I accept that this is a morally indefensible crime,' Mr De Krester said.

He asked Judge Gaynor to take into account Kamal's age, lack of criminal history, early guilty plea and problems with impulsivity.

She does not have a diagnosable disability or personality condition and the judge indicated she was preparing to hand down a longer jail sentence.

'The only conclusion the court is left with is this was a deliberate, albeit impulsive, decision to act in an extraordinarily cruel way,' Judge Gaynor said.

'These victims were chosen because of their vulnerability.

'To see an opportunity in the suffering of others is extraordinarily concerning.'

Kamal will be sentenced on March 10 and is likely to be deported to Malaysia after her release from jail.
Istanbul -- A magnitude 5.7 earthquake in northwestern Iran on Sunday killed nine people, including children, in neighbouring Turkey and injured dozens on both sides of the border, authorities said.

Ambulances and teams of medics rushed to the scene after the quake left homes in piles of rubble in eastern Turkey, picking through the wreckage, while nearby schools were also reported damaged.

Turkish officials said four children were among the nine dead, and Iran reported more than 65 people injured, including 39 who were hospitalised.

In Turkey, the earthquake was felt mostly in the eastern district of Baskale in Van province on the Iran border.

"We have right now no citizens trapped under the rubble," Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.

At least 37 people were injured, nine in critical condition.

The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 0553 GMT was near the Iranian village of Habash-e Olya, less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border, according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake had a depth of six kilometres, Tehran University's Seismological Centre said.

A total of 24 aftershocks hit the region Sunday, two of them over 4.0 magnitude, Turkey's disaster management agency said.

Dozens injured in Iran

Sunday's earthquake was felt in several Iranian cities, including Khoy, Urmia, Salmas and Osku, state media reported, though the impact was less severe than in Turkey.

Most injured in West Azerbaijan province, which was struck by two aftershocks Sunday.

The first aftershock was 4.3 magnitude and struck the same region at 1428 GMT, according to the US Geological Survey.

The second, at 1600 GMT, was 6.0 magnitude but it was four kilometres deeper than the one in the morning and therefore less likely to cause serious damage.

Both Iran and Turkey sit on top of major tectonic plates and see frequent seismic activity.

In November 2017, a 7.3-magnitude quake in Iran's western province of Kermanshah killed 620 people.

In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake in southeastern Iran decimated the ancient mud-brick city of Bam and killed at least 31,000 people.

Iran's deadliest quake was a 7.4-magnitude tremor in 1990 that killed 40,000 people in northern Iran, injured 300,000 and left half a million homeless.

In December and January, two earthquakes struck near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Iran's Gulf Arab neighbours have raised concerns about the reliability of the country's sole nuclear power facility, which produces 1,000 megawatts of power, and the risk of radioactive leaks in case of a major earthquake.

Turkey is also prone to earthquakes and over 40 people died in January after a 6.8-magnitude quake struck Elazig in eastern Turkey.

In 1999, a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Izmit in western Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people including about 1,000 in the country's most populous city, Istanbul.

Van, which was hit by a 7.1 magnitude quake in 2011 killing more than 500 people, was struck by tragedy again this month when two avalanches left 41 people dead.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:36:31|Editor: yan

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JAKARTA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will revoke passports of hundreds of its nationals who have joined the IS group in Syria and Iraq in a bid to prevent them from coming back into their home country, Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD said on Monday.

As many as 689 Indonesians have been classified as foreign terrorist fighters, and pledged allegiance to the IS group, according to the government.

The militants have been identified and their documents have been gradually handed to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Minister Mahfud said.

"Their passports are going to be revoked so that they cannot enter Indonesia," he said at his office.

Still, the government will repatriate children aged under 10 years old and without parents, the minister said.

Currently the government has been identifying the children who have joined their parents in Syria and Iraq, he added.

In addition to revocation of the passports, Indonesia has boosted patrols and surveillance in the border areas of the vast archipelago, primarily the sea border shared by the country and the southern Philippines, according to Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

Indonesia has been stricken by a string of suicide bombings since years ago, involving women and children. The deadly attacks killed dozens of people and wounded scores of others.


The great Katherine Johnson, one of the legendary African-American mathematicians who were essential to the Apollo 11 moon landing, has died at age 101. You'll recall that Johnson, who worked at NASA's Flight Research Division for more than three decades, was the central character in the film Hidden Figures. From the New York Times:



Mrs. Johnson was one of several hundred rigorously educated, supremely capable yet largely unheralded women who, well before the modern feminist movement, worked as NASA mathematicians.



But it was not only her sex that kept her long marginalized and long unsung: Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson, a West Virginia native who began her scientific career in the age of Jim Crow, was also African-American.





In old age, Mrs. Johnson became the most celebrated of the small cadre of black women  perhaps three dozen  who at midcentury served as mathematicians for the space agency and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.





In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, proclaiming, "Katherine G. Johnson refused to be limited by society's expectations of her gender and race while expanding the boundaries of humanity's reach."





In 2017, NASA dedicated a building in her honor, the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility, at its Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
Irans conservatives claimed victory Sunday in a general election marked by the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution amid public anger against the government, an economic downturn and the disqualification of half the candidates.

A conservative resurgence would heap pressure on beleaguered President Hassan Rouhani and signal a shift from four years ago when reformists and moderates won a slender majority in parliament.

The interior ministry announced results of 95 percent of the 208 constituencies in Fridays election, declaring the names of the winning candidates but without specifying their political affiliation.

Victory for the anti-American candidates, a new slap for Trump, crowed the ultra-conservative Kayhan newspaper.-

The people have disqualified the reformists, it added, alluding to Rouhanis backers, who have been weakened by President Donald Trump pulling the US out of a landmark nuclear deal and by a slew of economic and political crises.

Seventeen women were elected, the website of the government newspaper Iran said  the same number as in the outgoing 290-seat parliament.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli announced the participation rate was 42.6 percent  the lowest in four decades.

The election came two days after Iran announced its first cases of the deadly new coronavirus that emerged in China.

We held these elections when there were various incidents in the country: we had bad weather, there was this coronavirus disease, there was the plane crash, Rahmani Fazli said, referring to the January 3 downing of a Ukrainian airliner which killed 176 people.

He said that in such a scenario the turnout rate seems perfectly acceptable for us.

A low participation had been widely forecast, as a conservative-dominated electoral watchdog disqualified about half of the 16,000-odd candidates, mostly moderates and reformists.

The Fars news agency said a second round would be held in at least 11 constituencies. One woman candidate has qualified for the second round, Iran newspaper added.

 Negative propaganda 

Voter apathy marked the polls, but Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lauded the peoples huge participation despite what he termed negative propaganda by foreign media.

It began a few months ago and grew larger approaching the election and in the past two days, under the pretext of this illness, he said.

Their media did not miss the slightest opportunity to discourage people from voting. (Our enemies) are even opposed to any election by the Iranian people, the leader added.

Iran on Sunday reported three new coronavirus deaths, taking its toll to eight  the highest in any country outside China. It said there were 43 COVID-19 virus infections nationwide.

Authorities ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres in 14 of Irans 31 provinces from Sunday and said Tehran could be under quarantine, if necessary.

Art events, concerts and film shows have been banned for a week across the country.

In the past 24 hours, four new infections surfaced in Tehran, seven in the holy city of Qom  where the countrys first infections emerged  two in Gilan and one each in Markazi and Tonekabon, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said.

We are on the frontlines, we need help, said the head of Qoms medical sciences university, Mohammadreza Ghadir.

If I can say one thing, it is help Qom.

 Free treatment 

Irans health minister, Saeed Namaki, said the treatment of COVID-19 cases would be free.

In every city, one hospital will be dedicated to treating coronavirus cases, he said, adding that this number would be greater in bigger cities like the capital.

Tehrans city hall has ordered the closure of snack shops and water fountains in metro stations, officials said.

Tehran municipality spokesman Gholamreza Mohammadi said buses and underground trains were being disinfected.

Mohsen Hashemi, head of Tehrans municipal council, said, If the number of infections increases in Tehran, the whole city will be quarantined.

Posters were also put up across the sprawling city of eight million on Sunday, asking people not to shake hands as part of a coronavirus prevention campaign.

Irans cyberpolice meanwhile warned that anyone putting fake clips online related to the virus would be punished.

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.

SOURCE: AFP
A man who imprisoned his ex-partner and three-year-old child and threatened to burn the house down before assaulting and raping the woman has been jailed for 12 years.

The man pleaded guilty to carrying out a number of offences, including assaulting the woman and fracturing her jaw during the May 2016 incident. However, he continues to deny he raped her, a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing was told.

He was found guilty of raping the woman by unanimous jury verdict following a trial in December last year.

Passing sentence today, Mr Justice White said this was an incident of the utmost seriousness, which was all the more serious because it was inflicted on the man's former partner and the mother of his child.

Mr Justice White said the offending was aggravated by the horrific nature of the violence inflicted on the victim. He said a further aggravating factor was the man continuing to harass his former partner for a period of six weeks subsequent to the offences.

He said he did not consider the guilty pleas of the man really that beneficial as the victim had to give evidence in two separate jury trials. He said the only mitigation taken into account were the sad circumstances of the man's life when he was a young child.

Mr Justice White sentenced the man to 12 years imprisonment.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, the woman said she had changed since enduring the horrific false imprisonment and sexual assault at the hands of her ex-partner.

I'm not me any more and I don't know if I ever will be again, she said. I was at your mercy and you showed me none.

She said she continues to have nightmares of being raped in a burning home as her child screams mammy.

She no longer leaves her home unless she has to, has been unable to return to work and has lost friends who were intimidated by the man, she said. She already dreads him being released from custody.

The 32-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect his victim's anonymity, pleaded guilty in July 2018 to assaulting the woman, damaging her phone and producing a carjack handle in the course of an assault at her home in Westmeath on May 14, 2016.

He also pleaded guilty to harassing her between May 14, 2016 and June 30, 2016.

The man stood trial in July 2018 and was found guilty by a jury of falsely imprisoning the woman, threatening to kill her, threatening to burn her house down and producing knives in the course of the assault.

He was found guilty of rape following a separate trial last year. He has 28 previous convictions, including convictions for assault and false imprisonment.
While it may seem as if TLC never runs out of 90 Day Fiance seasons or spinoffs, 90 Day Fiance fans should still be rejoicing. Theres another season of 90 Day Fiance: What Now? coming your way. However, with so many spinoffs of the show on hand, it can be hard to keep track of whats what when it comes to TLCs hit franchise. In fact, theres also another season of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days hitting screens tonight, Feb 23. Heres what we know about What Now?

What is 90 Day Fiance: What Now

Anny Springs will appear on 90 Day Fiance: What Now? | anny_dr02 via Instagram

90 Day Fiance: What Now is a digital spinoff for 90 Day Fiance, created by TLC. The goal is to help viewers stay in touch with whats going on for couples on past seasons of the show.

This doesnt just apply to couples that stuck together and made it work in a positive way  it also means catching up with the perceived villains of previous seasons. Fans can also check in on individuals who have ended their relationships with their significant others since the time of filming.

The digital spinoff will be available on TLC GO, the TLC streaming service. Episodes start streaming today, on February 23. Future episodes will premiere each week, featuring different cast members.

Right now, fans can catch up on Jesse Meester, as well as Steven Frend and Olga Koshimbetova.

Who to expect on the new season

Darcey Silva of 90 Day Fiance fame | Brad Barket/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc.

Of course, there will be several other familiar faces to catch up with aside from Meester, Frend, and Koshimbetova. Fans will also have an opportunity to catch up with Avery Mills and Omar Albakour.

Omar Albakour is a Muslim man from Syria, and Avery Mills is an American from Ohio who converted is Islam. Albakour and Mills dealt with visa issues stemming from the Syrian travel ban in the U.S. The two have been married for a year now, and its not clear where the two are living  Mills had previously expressed an interest in moving to Syria.

Corey Rathgeber and Evelin Villegas will also be featured. These two are well-known among 90 Day Fiance fans for frequent fights and accusations of infidelity. The two are currently living in Ecuador, where they own a bar together. However, Villegas and Rathgeber have recently been caught up in some drama with Laura Jallali, another past star.

Speaking of Laura Jallali, it seems as if she and her ex-husband, Aladin Jallali, will also be featured on the spinoff. Laura Jallali is known for picking fights with other cast members, so it will be interesting to see if this is addressed during her segment on 90 Day Fiance: What Now?

Other returning cast members include Rachel Bear and Jon Walters, Robert and Anny Springs, Loren and Alexei Brovarnik, Ronald Smith and Tiffany Franco, David Toborowsky and Annie Suwan, and Zied Hakimi and Rebecca Parrott.

Darcey Silva makes a comeback

Those arent the only familiar faces fans will have a chance to reconnect with. The newest season of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days will be featuring reality alum Darcey Silva, who has appeared twice on the franchise prior.

Darcey Silva will be meeting up with Tom Brooks, with whom her relationship failed. It seems likely that this spinoff might include the series of events that lead up to her breakup with Brooks, though it remains to be seen exactly what happens.


Mahathir had promised to cede power to his former rival during his term, but he remained vague on the timeline. Months after the vote, in an interview with The Washington Post, Anwar groused that Mahathir and his supporters were working on the sidelines to stymie his leadership prospects. Throughout the past year, Anwar had been working to assure Malaysians that the two were finally able to get along, posting pictures on social media of their meetings and saying that he believed Mahathir was sincere about handing over the reins.
US President Donald Trump announced a defence deal, including for helicopters worth $3 billion, on Monday. And he chose to make the announcement at Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad, the grand welcome function planned by India.

Im pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign defence deals worth over $3 billion, to sell absolute finest state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces, said Trump.

Full Coverage: Trumps Visit to India

As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India, the US President added.

With a trade deal off the table, India and the US are looking to focus sharply on defence cooperation during Trumps two-day official visit.

Talks on the finalisation of the Basic Exchange and Co-operation Agreement (BECA) are scheduled to begin as early as March, one of the officials familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. BECA will allow India and the US to exchange geo-spatial maps to get pinpoint military accuracy of automated hardware systems and weapons such as cruise and ballistic missiles, apart from its civilian use.

In addition, the two countries are likely to sign multiple deals for defence purchases, added this person. This includes a $2.4 billion deal for 24 MH-60R Sikorsky helicopters, and a $930 million deal for six Apache AH-64E attack helicopters for the army from Boeing, both of which were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security last week. There could also be a further order of eight Poseidon P8I multi-mission aircraft for the Indian Navy and a full spectrum missile shield for New Delhi.

Since Trump took office in 2017, long-standing trade differences between the worlds biggest democracies have come to the fore, with Trump calling India the tariff king.

The two have warred over everything from tariffs on farm goods to Harley-Davidson motorbikes and price caps on medical devices and Indias new rules on local data storage.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said Trumps visit will be brief but intense. The US President and his wife Melania will also visit the Taj Mahal in Agra before coming to Delhi.
Veep: Fight against coronavirus requires nat'l resolve

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 23, IRNA -- Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Sunday that fight against coronavirus requires national resolve.

Speaking in the committee themed "fight against coronavirus, Jahangiri urged Iranians to help prevent spread of the virus through preventive measures.

He said all bodies in the private sector are obliged to maintain necessary cooperation on fight against coronavirus with the committee.

The meeting was held in presence of Minister of Education, Research and Technology, Minister of Road and Urban Development, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Government Spokesman, Head of Crisis Management Office, Head of Passive Defense Organization and Minister of Health.

Addressing the meeting, Minister of Health Saeed Namaki said based on the decisions made, those cases with positive results are now kept in isolation while the suspected ones will remain under examination.

Earlier, Head of Iranian Health Ministry for public relations affairs Jahanpour said that the death toll of the coronavirus epidemic reached eight people, adding that 43 others were affected.

Based on the medical test results, some 15 more have been affected by lethal virus, he said.

He added that 7 people in Qom, 4 in Tehran, 2 in Gilan, 1 in Markazi and 1 more in Tonekabon have been affected.

Some 43 people have been affected and eight have been killed by coronavirus in Iran.

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The finance ministry has objected to waiving or differing a part of interest and penalty owed by telecom players under their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, The Times of India reported.

Any concession on payment of the penalty would set a wrong precedent and lead to similar demands from other sectors, a source told the paper.

Telecom players have to clear AGR-related dues worth Rs 1.47 lakh crore to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) by March 17. Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices owe the maximum amounts to the telecom regulator.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

At a finance ministry meeting on February 23, there was consensus that all efforts need to be taken to save the existing companies, the report stated.

The telecom industry should not be a monopoly or even a duopoly, a government official told the publication.

There was also a recommendation to provide soft loans to telecom companies, but the authorities were split of the modes of issuing the financial assistance.

However, it was mentioned that any such credit window should not be given through the telecom department, since it is also the receiver of the dues. Thus, it was proposed that public sector banks or other financial institutions or instruments can be used to provide emergency credit, a source told the paper.

A multi-ministry digital communications commission is expected to meet on February 24, the report added.
Harvey Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, will likely spend the next several years in an eight-by-10-foot cell in upstate New York.

Weinstein, 67, who was found guilty Monday of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape, faces a sentence of between five and 25 years on the first count. Though the former movie mogul was acquitted on the most serious charge against him  predatory sexual assault, which carried a possible life sentence  any lengthy sentence could see a man of Weinsteins age spending the rest of his days in prison.

After the verdict was read, Weinstein was led away by two court officers with his hands shackled in front of him. He will be held in custody until his March 11 sentencing. His lawyer said Weinstein was being sent to a hospital on Rikers Island.

His time behind bars will be far from the glittering world he once inhabited. Unlike many white-collar offenders, Weinstein wont be going to a minimum-security Club Fed that lets inmates receive frequent visits from family and sometimes work outside the facility. Instead, he is likely to be classified as a violent offender, meaning he will be locked up in one of the states tough maximum-security prisons.

Frank Perrone, a defence attorney and former Queens prosecutor, said Weinstein would probably be kept separate from the general prison population for his own protection.

In prison individuals that are convicted of sexual crimes such as rape, their time is much harder than the guy selling drugs or burglarizing a house, said Perrone. So heres someone who would probably need to have protective custody so they could ensure his safety.

If the state decides Weinstein needs protection, he may end up in the Clinton Correctional Facility, said Jennifer Scaife, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York, a non-profit group that monitors state prisons. The maximum-security prison, located five hours north of New York City in the town of Dannemora, has a segregated unit for high-profile prisoners. Its perhaps best known for a daring 2015 escape by two inmates who were aided by a prison employee.

Equivalent to Life

Weinstein is likely to spend most of his time alone in an eight-by-10-foot cell outfitted with a bed, toilet, sink and a bookcase for personal possessions, Scaife said. Under protective custody, he would still be allowed to work in the prison and participate in educational courses or counselling.

Former Tyco International chief executive officer L. Dennis Kozlowski, who was convicted in 2005 of looting millions from his company, described life in his 12-man protective unit in a 2006 interview with Bloomberg at the medium-security Mid-State Correctional Facility in the upstate town of Marcy. Kozlowski was kept in his cell eight hours a day and earned $1 a day as a dining room attendant and teachers aide.

Under maximum security, Weinstein would face an even stricter regimen than Kozlowski did, said Laura Brevetti, a former prosecutor who has also defended sex-crime cases.

His life is going to be whatever they tell him life is going to be, she said. Every minute of your day, you are told where to be and how long you have to spend there.

The judge has a bit of leeway in sentencing because Weinstein has no prior criminal record, said Brevetti, but theres no way Weinstein is getting off lightly.

Obviously for a person whos 68 years old, if you sentence him to 15 years thats pretty much equivalent to life as a practical matter, she said.
Though Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are scheduled to sign a final agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam later this month, some issues still need to be resolved

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that it could be "months" before the dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is resolved.

Pompeo's statements came as a surprise considering that only a few days before, following the conclusion of the latest round of negotiations in Washington on 12 and 13 February, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a joint statement issued by Egypt, Ethiopian and Sudan, the US Department of the Treasury and the World Bank had said that The United States, with technical support from the World Bank, has agreed to facilitate the preparation of the final agreement for consideration by the ministers and heads of state for conclusion by the end of the month.

Pompeo, speaking at a press conference Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, said "a great deal of work remains, but I'm optimistic that over the coming months we can resolve this". Pompeo was on a three-nation Africa tour that also included Senegal and Angola before he was scheduled to head to the Middle East.

The talks in Washington saw a serious attempt to reach a final agreement. But it is obvious there are still differences, something the Ethiopian minister of irrigation underlined when he stated more work is needed for the agreement to be ready by the end of this month, said a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are scheduled to fly back to Washington by the end of this month to sign the final agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

During the most recent round of talks the ministers of the three countries reviewed progress achieved by their technical and legal teams and reaffirmed the importance of transboundary cooperation in the development of the Blue Nile and their commitment to concluding an agreement.

A statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the final agreement would be prepared by the US and the World Bank and presented to the three countries. It is expected to include details of the filling of the dam and its operating process in times of drought.

In earlier talks, scheduled in Washington for 28 and 29 January but which were extended for two extra days, the participants had agreed that the technical and legal committees should continue to meet to hammer out outstanding differences and prepare a final agreement to be approved by the parties foreign ministers and ministers of irrigation on 12 and 13 February and signed by their governments by the end of the month.

The two most controversial points in negotiations have been the timetable for filling the dams reservoir and its operating protocols. Ethiopia wanted a four-year timetable for filling the dam, Egypt said this would be too short, especially in the event of drought, and argued that a minimum amount of water reaching Sudan and Egypt must be set.

When tripartite negotiations failed to produce an agreement in October Egypt reiterated its calls for international mediation. Ethiopia initially resisted the idea: it was only when Washington stepped in and offered to host the talks that Addis Ababa agreed.

A roadmap was drawn with the three countries which provided for four meetings to be attended by the US Treasury and the World Bank as observers. It set mid-January as the deadline for an agreement.

On 15 January the US Treasury Department announced that the three countries had reached a consensus on principles. After three days of intensive talks in Washington the ministers also agreed the filling of the reservoir should be executed in stages during the wet season, generally from July to August, and undertaken in a cooperative manner that takes into account the hydrological conditions of the Blue Nile and potential impact of the filling on downstream reservoirs.

They also agreed to include mitigation measures for Egypt and Sudan during dry years, periods of drought and prolonged drought.

Issues that the parties still need to agree include details of the dams operation during periods of normal rainfall, precise mechanisms to guarantee the implementation of the final agreement and a mechanism to resolve disputes.

The operation of the dam will be an ongoing process for years to come. It is important to agree a mechanism for resolving differences that might occur over the implementation of the agreement in the future. Given the role that they have recently played, the US and the World Bank are widely considered as suitable arbiters, said the diplomat.

Disputes over the filling and operation of the dam began in 2011 when Cairo expressed fears that GERD would restrict the flow of Nile water on which Egypt is almost entirely dependent.

Addis Ababa repeatedly denied the dam would harm Egypt though no impact studies were undertaken, and insisted GERD was essential to Ethiopias economic development.

A number of historic agreements protect Nile water rights. A 1902 agreement obliges Addis Ababa not to construct or allow any work to be constructed across the Blue Nile which will arrest the flow of water except in agreement with Britain and the government of Sudan.

A 1959 treaty stipulates Egypts share of Nile Water at 55.5 billion cubic metres and Sudans at 18.5 billion cubic metres. The treaty reaffirmed Egypts right to veto any construction projects that could impede the flow of Nile water.

In 1993 Ethiopia pledged not to harm Egypts water interests and in 2015, following a series of tripartite talks between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, the three countries signed the Declaration of Principles stating they will cooperate to reach an agreement on guidelines for filling the dams reservoir and its annual operation.

Following yet more rounds of talks, Egypt declared negotiations had failed in October last year.

The dam will begin partial operation by July this year. Ethiopia hopes to complete the dam by 2022.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Bernie Sanders could be Trump's opponent in the November US election

US President Donald Trump predicted Monday that the Democratic Party leadership would prevent frontrunner Bernie Sanders from becoming its candidate in November elections.

Sanders' leftist politics alarm many moderate Democrats, who fear that if he heads the ticket in the election, the party could face sweeping losses.

At the weekend, Sanders cemented his new status as the favorite to win the Democratic nomination with a clear victory in Nevada's primary.

Trump has nicknamed Sanders as "Crazy Bernie" for his socialist policies, but also claimed that he could be a tough candidate to beat.

"They are going to take it away from 'Crazy Bernie,' they are not going to let him win," the president said during a visit to India.

"I actually think he would be tougher than most of the other candidates because he is like me, but I have a much bigger base."

Though from different ends of the political spectrum, both Trump and Sanders have been party outsiders who promote themselves as outspoken individuals standing up to the establishment.

Celebrating his win in Nevada, Sanders said his "multi-generational, multi-racial coalition" was "going to sweep this country."

Sanders's progressive policies, including universal health care, higher taxes on the wealthy and an increase in the minimum wage, have struck a chord with Democrat voters.

But the Vermont senator, 78, also faces criticism that he is a radical socialist, out of touch with millions of Americans.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Branch, the Ohio-headquartered insurance startup that pioneered bundling home and auto insurance online in seconds, launched, Community Pledge, a new program to help customers continue to lower the cost of their insurance. Community Pledge, which will first roll out in Ohio, allows Branch customers to request a "vouch" from other Branch customers in exchange for up to 5% off their insurance.

"The concept behind Community Pledge is simple: if a Branch customer is willing to vouch that you're a trusted member of the community, we'll reduce your insurance price by 1%," said Branch CEO and co-founder, Steve Lekas. "We founded Branch out of the deeply held belief that by leveraging the power of community, we could make insurance better and more affordable for everyone."

According to the FBI , the total cost of insurance fraud (non-health insurance) is estimated to be more than $40 billion per year, costing the average U.S. family between $400 and $700 per year in the form of increased premiums.

Branch sees the Community Pledge program as a way to help reduce the risk of insurance fraud. By equipping users with the technology needed to foster a more trusted community of users, Branch expects to reduce the incidence of fraud while passing the savings along to customers.

How it Works

Community Pledge becomes available to customers as soon as they buy a Branch policy (provided the program is available in their state). Once a user downloads the Branch app , they can sync their contacts and identify any friends who are Branch customers. From there, the user sends a "vouch request" to their contact using the app. The contact will then receive a short email from Branch asking the user to vouch for their friend with a simple click. Once vouched for, the user will see a 1% discount off their insurance.

Branch's Commitment to Creating a Community of Savings

The Community Pledge is the latest in a series of innovative programs designed to leverage the power of community to improve insurance and make it more affordable.

SafetyNest rolled out in October 2019 to help uninsured (or underinsured) people who have experienced some kind of incident that has put their financial condition in jeopardy.

rolled out in to help uninsured (or underinsured) people who have experienced some kind of incident that has put their financial condition in jeopardy. My Community Discount will begin in early 2020, to help customers invite their friends to Branch in exchange for Amazon gift cards and monthly savings.

To see how much you can save by bundling your home and auto insurance, simply go to ourbranch.com and enter your name and address.

About Branch

Branch was founded in 2017 by Steve Lekas, formerly of Allstate and Esurance, and Joe Emison, founder of BuildFax. Branch believes deeply that by harnessing the power of community, it can make insurance better and more affordable for all. Branch insurance is underwritten by General Security National Insurance Company (GSNIC) an AM Best A+ Financial Rated insurance company. Branch is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

CONTACT: Kimberly Klenk, 614-406-7229, [email protected]

SOURCE Branch Insurance

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A draft deal prepared by the US Treasury Department on the mechanism of filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been sent to Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, according to Sudanese officials.

"The three countries received the draft to be considered ahead of the next round of negotiations set to be held in Washington on 28 February," AFP quoted Sudanese irrigation minister Yasser Abbas as saying.

At a press conference held in Khartoum on Monday, Abbas revealed that the three parties reached a consensus on about 90 percent of the outstanding points related to the filing and operating the dam and the rest are only technical points.

He added that the draft is the result of negotiations that lasted for years between the three parties.



According to the Sudanese legal negotiator Hisham Kahn, the draft contains provisions about the safety of the dam during the operation process and about the means proposed to resolve the disputes that could arise between the three countries.



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 to be signed by the end of this month, a joint statement by the five parties read.



However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that it could take "months" to resolve the dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over the massive dam on the Nile.



The US stepped up to host negotiations in November after the three countries announced that talks had reached a dead end, and after Egypt asked for an international mediator.

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, but Cairo fears the project will diminish its water supply from the Nile, a lifeline for a country of 100 million people.

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Gold extended its gain for the eight consecutive day to touch a new record high of Rs 43,590 per 10 gram in the Mumbai bullion market on news that fatalities over coronavirus continue to rise and on a weak rupee.

The yellow metal is up 11.08 percent so far in 2020, after rising 23.75 percent in 2019 in rupee terms.

The rate of 10 grams 22-carat gold in Mumbai was Rs 39,928 excluding GST, while 24-carat 10 gram was Rs 43,590 plus GST. The 18-carat gold quoted at Rs 32,693 plus GST in the retail market.

"The spike in coronavirus cases beyond China pushed investors to take shelter under the safe-haven metal. Concerns about the spread of coronavirus outside China grew over the weekend with a sharp rise in infections in South Korea, Italy and Iran," Navneet Damani, Vice President, Motilal Oswal, said.

The broader trend on Comex could be $1,640-1,700 while on the domestic front prices could hover in the range of Rs 43,000-43,600, said Damani.

Officials in China are taking measures and are expected to step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow to its economy from the outbreak.

Silver prices gained Rs 1,430 to Rs 49,035 per kg from its closing on February 20. The gold/silver ratio inched up to 88.89, which refers to the amount of silver required to buy an ounce of gold.

In the futures market, gold touched an intraday high of Rs 43,788 and an intraday low of Rs 42,932 on MCX. For the April series, the yellow metal has seen a low of Rs 37,530 and a high of Rs 43,788.

Gold futures for delivery in April gained Rs 964, or 2.26 percent on the MCX trading at Rs 43,630 per 10 gram in evening trade in a business turnover of 17,562 lots. Gold contracts for June delivery rose Rs 944, or 2.2 percent, at Rs 43,807 per 10 gram in a business turnover of 7,966 lots.

The value of the April contract traded so far is Rs 6,473.42 crore while the June contract saw the value of Rs 273.58 crore.

Similarly, Gold Mini contract for March was up Rs 947, or 2.23 percent at Rs 43,458, in a business turnover of 9,526 lots.

Commenting on the outlook for gold, Axis Securities said gold has immediate support near Rs 43600 levels. "A breakdown below the mentioned level may drag prices lower towards 43,500 levels on intraday basis," it said.

Source: Axis Securities

The broking firm advised its client to sell April Gold below at Rs 43,600 with stoploss at Rs 43,700 and a target of Rs 43,470.

Initial profit booking can be seen in MCX Gold after the recent rally, but the overall bias remains positive and buying on dip is still recommended, said Motilal Oswal.

The broking firm said gold has support at Rs 43,345-43,120 whereas resistance is at Rs 43,765-43,900.

In London trading, spot gold rose $38.95 at $1,682.27 an ounce at 12:46 pm (GMT), .
Vietnam's 16th patient of the novel coronavirus is being checked at a hospital in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, February 23, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

The last of 16 people who have been infected with the novel coronavirus in Vietnam has tested negative, doctors announced Sunday.

They said the 50-year-old man will be tested again before he is discharged and released from quarantine. The native of Son Loi District in the northern Vinh Phuc Province is the father of Nguyen Thi Du, a 23-year-old woman who was one of eight people who returned from Chinas Wuhan city, epicenter of the outbreak, in January. Six of the eight people were found infected later, and some of them passed it on to relatives and friends.

The father was the 11th person in Vinh Phuc Province who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and the only one still quarantined.

He had stayed with his daughter after she returned from Wuhan until she was quarantined on January 25. Other members of the family were also infected, but they have been treated successfully and discharged.

Doctor Nguyen Thanh Hai, Director of Vinh Phuc Health Department, said the father will be tested again to guarantee that he's free of the virus associated with Covid-19. He remains in quarantine and in stable health, Hai added.

Under the Health Ministry regulations, a person infected with the novel coronavirus is deemed healthy once she/he shows no sign of fever for three days and tests negative twice in three days. Other signs include improved clinical symptoms, overall stable status and vital signs, normal organ function and improved chest X-ray readings.

No Covid-19 infection has been recorded in Vietnam for the past 10 days.

Vietnam officially declared the coronavirus outbreak an epidemic on February 1.
The catwalk took nine minutes to walk. (Getty Images)

Model, Maye Musk, 71, walked the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week for Philipp Plein.

It wasnt just any catwalk though, it was the longest ever runway which took an eye-watering nine minutes to walk down.

Thats a long runway but anybodys standards, but doing it in 6 inch heels deserves a round of applause.

The mother of SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, shared her plight in an Instagram post.

In the post she wrote: Do I look angry because Im cool, or because I walked the longest runway ever, for 9 minutes in 6 heels?

Were guessing its the latter.

She went on to thank designer Philipp Plein for including me in this most magnificent extravaganza, using the hashtag #ItsGreatToBe71.

Read more: Gucci model stages mental health protest at Milan Fashion Week

Due to an outbreak of the coronavirus, Giorgio Armani was forced to cancel its iconic show on Sunday, however Philipp Pleins Saturday night presentation went ahead as planned.

The show took place on Saturday evening. (Getty Images)

The show pulled out all the stops.

There was a fighter jet, boats, cars and even a helicopter at the event, all emblazoned with Philipp Pleins logo.

After a performance from Tyga, actress Jada Pinkett Smith opened the show followed by an array of models, which included Maye Musk as well as content creator and actor Cameron Dallas and YouTuber Gigi Gorgeous.

Read more: Best windbreakers under 100

The theme of the evening was excess, which explains why the catwalk was a lot longer than average.

It also explains the fighter jet.

As far as the fashion goes, the new collection featured a lot of animal print, motorcycle jackets and thigh-high boots.

The designer received some of backlash on social media after his FW20 collection show featured a tribute to Kobe Bryant.

During the show, models walked the runway wearing Swaroski-embellished Lakers-style tops.

Some Twitter users thought it insensitive to honour Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this year, next to a helicopter on the stage.

Story continues

One user wrote: Philipp Plein made two gold helicopters for his show today, which falls 27 days after Kobe died in a helicopter crash.

But dont worry he whipped up a bunch of Swarovski Kobe jerseys (with Plein written on them??) so its cool.

F*** you, Philipp.

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The checks will be performed in the airports as the passengers arrive, - Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk

The Ukrainian government has introduced an extra safety measure in terms of the prevention of coronavirus spread. From now on, passengers from countries with a high risk of virus spread to get body temperature checked upon arrival in Ukraine. Oleksiy Honcharuk, the Prime Minister posted that on Facebook.

"We found a group of countries with risks of contamination, so the extra procedure of flight control from these countries: passengers' body temperature is checked in Ukrainian airports", the Premier claimed.

According to him, all regions of Ukraine are ready to react if anyone shows symptoms of coronavirus. Besides, the hospitals are ready to take the patients in, if necessary.

Earlier, the Chinese coronavirus, or COVID-19, took the lives of 150 people on February 23 alone; the overall death toll in this country made 2,592 fatalities.

Earlier, the Center for System Research at Johns Hopkins University reported that 23,290 people in the world have been cured of coronavirus; the number of infected has grown to 78,817.
In 2012, the phrase 'Chipping Norton Set' was included in Brewer's Dictionary Of Phrase And Fable, and anyone interested in this influential assortment of politicians, musicians, media types and movers-and-shakers based in the Cotswolds should head straight for the village of Kingham.

At the bar of the lovely Kingham Plough, rumours abound of members of the set who have popped in recently: former Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha, The Grand Tour's Jeremy Clarkson and Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith.

But it's not just the great and the good who drop by. At the end of the working day (and sometimes earlier), farmers and villagers gather to enjoy a tipple and gossip, and sometimes free bar snacks such as bowls of chips, roast potatoes and sausages.

The cosy bar area at the Kingham Plough in Oxfordshire, which has been frequented by a number of famous faces including the former Prime Minister David Cameron, The Grand Tour's Jeremy Clarkson and Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith

This handsomely decorated 17th Century Cotswolds stone pub  all low beams, oak panels, flagstone floors and decent rugs  has a welcoming feel.

The Kingham Plough has just been taken over by Matt and Katie Beamish, an ebullient couple who have between them worked with culinary maestros aplenty, including Raymond Blanc, Fergus Henderson and Jamie Oliver.

'Good beer, good atmosphere, smile at people  it's not rocket science,' says Matt, summing up his approach to the pub, which also has six rooms.

The restaurant, previously overseen by the Plough's ex-chef patron Emily Watkins, a former Great British Menu winner, has just been given a Good Food Award for Gastro Pubs (goodgastropubaward.com).

The USP: This village pub has a bit of zing. Expect pop music and soul, signed prints by Damien Hirst and Salvador Dali no less, chatter reverberating beneath low beams, crackling open fires and plenty of dog-walkers (dogs are given free biscuits).

Elegant: One of the six rooms at the Kingham Plough, which are spread across the main building and an annexe

The rooms: Six comfortable rooms are a cut above average, spread across the main building and an annexe. Vibrant colours mixed with neutral hues, antiques, the odd splash of art, and bathrooms with good-quality Bramley products are the order of the day. Tea and coffee are taken care of along with freshly baked cookies. If you fancy more space, the two rooms in the annexe are the largest, with skylights, super-king beds and, in room six, a decadent roll-top bath.

The food: Talented head chef Jonny Pons has a masterful touch. Dishes suit the rustic setting: pork pies, black puddings, blades of beef, burgers and pork chops, although seafood dishes are also offered (oysters are among the starters). The warming artichoke soup and perfect chicken liver parfait with red wine shallots make great starters, while the pheasant pie was tender and delicious, and the apple tarte tatin with calvados ice cream an absolute winner.
The online cryptocurrency Bitcoin was in the news when, as part of a CAB investigation into the sale and supply of drugs, a man was made to forfeit Bitcoin worth 52m by the High Court.

Bitcoin is just one of several types of cryptocurrency which are widely used to make

payments online.

You can even find Bitcoin ATMs in many countries including Ireland.

Bitcoin is a bearer document for the digital age and can be compared to the most familiar bearer document, a euro note. A euro note has value because a bank has issued it, and its value is attributable to the person holding it. If you lose or forfeit the euro note, you lose the value. If, like the man in the High Court last week, you lose or forfeit digital access to the Bitcoins you own, you lose that value too.

That simplicity also extends to the way Bitcoin investments are taxed. It is treated much like any foreign currency once you get past its digital mystique. When you use euro to buy foreign currency, say US dollars, you are acquiring an asset. You can gain or lose on that asset depending on the relative value of a euro to a dollar when you go to sell it.

The same goes for Bitcoin. Gains are taxable, losses are allowable to offset future gains. When Bitcoin is received as payment in any commercial transaction, the same tax rules which are in place for payments

received in other foreign currencies also apply.

Payment by Bitcoin doesnt exempt goods or services from Vat, nor allow imports to escape customs duty. Businesses still have to keep records of Bitcoin payments received and must pay tax on profits made from Bitcoin receipts.

So much about Bitcoin is routine. Where it really differs from other types of currency is that it dispenses with the need for an independent institution, like a bank or a credit card company, to verify its issue and use. That makes it tricky for the likes of Revenue or the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to trace, certainly far harder than tracing euro, sterling or dollars which tend to end up somewhere in some bank account to which a tax man or woman can request access.

There is no equivalent type of bank account for Bitcoin savings. They exist in a computer file to which their owner has access, while the record of their validity is registered across multiple platforms on the internet using blockchain technology. That can make Bitcoin a haven for illicit earnings which were derived either from the proceeds of crime or the more mundane but equally culpable tax evasion.

It would be incorrect however to regard the use of Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency as the sole preserve of criminal behaviour. Illegal activity tends not to advertise itself so it is difficult to

accurately gauge the extent to which cryptocurrencies have a role.

One estimate by a US cryptocurrency consultancy Chainalysis puts the share of cryptocurrency in illicit use at less than 2% of the total in circulation. Even if that estimate is on the low side, it does suggest that much of cryptocurrency use is entirely legitimate.

To deal with illicit use, law enforcement agencies may have to think about the ways of tracing Bitcoin-derived activity, for example, by tighter regulation of businesses which convert Bitcoin to and from the more traditional currencies.

The High Court action suggests that they are making progress and that perhaps Bitcoin is no longer a safe haven for some illicit earnings.

Brian Keegan is Director of Public Policy at Chartered Accountants Ireland
Ever since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was agreed in principle in 2015 by Iran and the P5+1 group of nations (U.S., U.K., France, Russia, and China plus Germany), the Islamic Republic has teetered between fully committing to being a moderate, Western-friendly regime or a hardline, anti-West but pro-Russia and China state. The strong showing in last weeks four-yearly parliamentary elections of the hardline (Principlist) faction, comprising religious conservatives supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC), portends a decisive shift towards the latter hardline state model, reinforced by the existing political structure of the country.

It is true that the specific powers of Irans 290-member parliament (Majlis) are not as extensive as those of the parliaments of many other countries but it is also true that with at least 220 members being hardline conservatives the result of the latest four-yearly election that took place last week will have enormous repercussions for Irans foreign and domestic policies for years to come. Such a hardline philosophical view will serve only to reinforce the same hardline conservative inclination that is already entrenched in the fact that all of the legislation passed by Irans parliament then needs to be approved by the Guardian Council of the Constitution. This is a 12-member body that acts in the manner of a general constitutional overseer, with half of its membership always being Shia theologians directly chosen by the Supreme Leader  currently, Ali Khamenei  himself. The other six members are lawyers selected by the head of the judiciary, who is, in turn, also directly appointed by the Supreme Leader. In practical terms, then, Irans parliament has tended to deal with domestic issues only  albeit not those related to state security  with the bigger picture issues, such as foreign policy (including major policy programmes relating to the oil and gas sector) being decided in practice between the senior commanders of the IRGC and the President and his closest allies, with the resulting recommendation being made to the Supreme Leader, who then formally makes the decision. Related: Cant Afford An EV? Youre Paying For It Anyway

In broad terms, from when current President Hassan Rouhani assumed his first presidential term in August 2013 to the middle of 2017, the moderate, pro-West faction held sway, both with the public and with Supreme Leader Khamenei, according to a source who works closely with Irans government. Rouhani came to power on a big popular mandate of increasing civil rights, improving the economy, and re-engaging more fully with the West, and the IRGC had little choice but to take a back seat, he told OilPrice.com last week. He [Rouhani] was able to maintain this momentum as the JCPOA was first agreed in principle in 2015, then implemented a year later, and then for the next year or so news came virtually every week of a new foreign company signing an MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] for this or that oil or gas field or other business, so he was even more popular at that point, which is how he won the second term, and the Supreme Leader was backing him, he added.

Indeed, in May 2017 when he won a landslide victory against a range of strong conservative opponents  including the relatively popular and IRGC-favoured Ebrahim Raisi  Rouhani was probably at the peak of his powers but it was only shortly afterwards, bolstered by this win, that he made a terrible mistake. It was then that he decided, along with senior members of his closest supporters, that in order to finalise a lot of the deals that had been agreed in principle with foreign firms  in the oil and gas sector but in other sectors as well  he needed to start to cut back the powers and the scope of interests of the IRGC, said the Iran source. This was in line with what countries like that U.S. and the U.K. were pushing for in order for more involvement from their companies, although other Western powers  like France, Germany, Italy, Spain and so on  had already started to deal again with Iran, he added. However, Rouhani began to push for the IRGC to start to scale back its interests in the huge range of businesses, he underlined.

Even prior to the implementation of the JCPOA in January 2016, evidence was given to a sub-committee of the U.S.s House Committee on Foreign Affairs that the IRGC had significant ownership shares in 27 companies that were publicly traded on the Tehran Stock Exchange at that time and that the IRGC had placed top commanders at the heart of more than 200 Iranian companies. According to the testimony, the IRGC at that point was active in the Iranian oil, gas, petrochemical, automotive, transportation, telecommunications, construction, and metals and mining sectors. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, in September 2012, described the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) itself as an agent or affiliate of the IRGC and therefore subject to sanctions under the Iran Threat Reduction Act. Related: Oil Trading Giant Sees Oil Price Recovery Later This Year

This existential challenge to the IRGC was compounded in the middle of 2017 when Rouhani and his closest advisers let it be known to the senior commanders of the IRGC that he eventually wanted them to disband as a standalone group and become just a part of the regular army, with no privileges and no business interests at all, according to the Iran source. Shortly after this, the IRGC resumed ballistic missile testing  specifically cited by the U.S. as being something that it would not tolerate - showcasing new weapons (including a new guidance system upgrade compatible with the Fateh-110 and Zelzal series of missiles and rockets), and at the same time going after Rouhanis key man in Irans key sector of oil and gas, Bijan Zanganeh. Given that it was these IRGC-related activities and the resulting re-imposing economy-crushing sanctions on Iran that led to the U.S. unilaterally withdrawing from the JCPOA in May 2018 in the first place, it was ironic to say the least that in December Zanganeh faced impeachment from the Iranian parliaments energy committee over the governments decision to raise gasoline prices by at least 50 per cent, which prompted widespread protests. This manoeuvre was designed to show that the IRGC was not going to go anywhere quietly and that it was absolutely set upon re-imposing its own influence on Iran, the Iran source told OilPrice.com last week. It was the IRGC as well that was strongly implicated in the 14 September attacks against Saudi oil facilities that came at a time when hopes were high that the U.S. and Iran were set to sit down at the negotiating table, following a high-level prisoner exchange in Switzerland.

As it now stands, then, the strong showing of the hardliners in last weeks parliamentary elections lays down a marker by the IRGC that although some rapprochement with the West might be tolerated  provided that it is deal-specific and not part of a broader effort to moderate Iran  in reality it is more likely that Iran will continue to drift into the geopolitical orbit of Russia and China. This has been evidenced since the decline in Rouhanis effective power from the middle of 2017, with deals being cancelled by Western companies, and then taken up by Russian or Chinese ones, as has been exclusively and deeply analysed by OilPrcie.com.

There is an argument that the relatively low turnout (just over 42.5 per cent, the first time it has dipped below 50 per cent since the 1979 revolution) amongst Irans 58 million voters (from a total population of 84 million people) might be indicative of some sort of protest against the tightening grip of the IRGC but this is a non-sequitur. The electorate is tired of the IRGC, yes, but tired as well of the lack of real economic results that came to them as a result of Rouhanis more moderate policies and re-engagement with the West, said the Iran source. Moreover, with Rouhani not allowed under the constitution to run in next years presidential elections, the moderates will not have a recognisable figurehead for their cause. And the U.S.s attempt to cause some sort of change in Iranian politics towards the moderate philosophy by continuing to squeeze the economy only encourages patriotism as although Iranians dont necessarily like the IRGC or the moderates, they do love their country, and they dont like being pushed around, and they are used to making do without things, the Iran source concluded.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A father-to-be from Grant City was getting ready to hug his daughter for the first time, but that dream was shattered when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody at the end of January, his family says.

His arrest came in one of two recent raids in the South and East shores that have immigrant activists questioning the agencys tactics after relatives of the detained allege the officers were vague about which law-enforcement branch they represented.

The raids occurred on back-to-back days, and both men were supposed to appear in court for driving-under-the-influence arrests, but had not yet been convicted of any crime.

They violated their due process, said Yesenia Mata, an immigrant activist and the executive director of La Colmena, a job community center in Port Richmond.

GRANT CITY ARREST

Three officers knocked on the door of Michel Avendano Palacioss Grant City home at about 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 28, initially identifying themselves only as police and telling his mother they were conducting an investigation, without being specific, according to his family.

The officers did not present badges or a warrant signed by a judge; they only wore vests that said police, his mother, Maria, said.

At that point, Palacios wife, who was nine-months pregnant, asked if they had an order signed by a judge to enter their house and refused to open the door. The three men left -- or so Palacios thought.

At around 10:30 a.m., Palacios, his father and his wife exited the house and went to the deli around the corner on their way to work. At that point the officers came back.

They grabbed him inside the deli, said Palacios brother, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Palacio is still detained at Bergen County Jail in New Jersey.

A week later, his daughter would be born. Palacios, 33, was not there.

On his first day there, his blood pressure went up and he had a fever, Maria said. He is very anxious. He wants to know his baby. He is very hurt and very sad.

Palacios brother said about three weeks later that the situation remains complicated, especially for the 34-year-old wife.

The baby was born with a heart complication and dealing with both this and [what happened to her husband] is becoming too much for her, he said.

Palacios came to the United States from Mexico in 2004 and is undocumented, the family said.

He was arrested on a driving under the influence charge in September 2019, according to the NYPD.

Palacios was supposed to appear in court for that case in March.

ARREST IN TOTTENVILLE DAY LATER

The next day ICE was back on Staten Island.

At around 6 a.m. on Jan. 29, four people showed up at Eved Sanchezs home in Tottenville, said his wife Edith, who wished to only be identified by her first name.

Someone came to knock on the door very hard, Edith said. I got scared. We didnt know what was happening.

Three men and a woman were behind the door, all in plainclothes, with three of them wearing a vest that only said police, according to the wife.

One of the men identified himself as police, adding that he was in the middle on an investigation and that he was looking for a man, Edith said.

Right away they asked me open the door we want to check inside of your house, she said.

But Edith refused and asked to see a warrant.

The man said he didnt have any paper, but said he had a picture of a man named Luis who he was looking for, and showed her the photo through the window, Edith said.

She said she did not recognize the man and they left.

About 40 minutes after the encounter, Sanchez got ready to go to work, but his wife had a bad feeling.

I did ask my husband not to go to work and stay home and wait, Edith said.

Edith, 29, and her husband got in the car and immediately noticed an unmarked vehicle was following them. She said the officers stopped them and asked the couple to get out of the car.

Once again, the officers did not provide any paperwork or badge, Edith said, so she and her husband sat in the car and one of the officers showed them a picture of Sanchez and the date of his DUI arrest.

Sanchez was arrested in August of 2019, police records show. He was supposed to appear in court for the pending case in March.

After Edith asked multiple times for a warrant, a woman showed her a plain piece of paper with a paragraph written on it, but she wouldnt hand it to Edith and ordered one of her colleagues to open the door and take Sanchez, the wife said.

At that point, Edith, who said she was seven months into a high-risk pregnancy, started to have cramps in her stomach.

I started to get nervous and started shaking, she said.

Edith said these three weeks have been emotionally, mentally and physically tiring and she still has dreams of the sound of a knock on her door which wake her up in fear.

He hasnt done anything wrong to this country, Edith said of her husband. Every immigrant comes to this country to work and to get a better life for them and their families in Mexico and just for a little mistake or maybe for some other persons mistakes we all pay for that. We dont deserve to be treated this way.

DECEPTIVE TACTICS?

ICE is using deceptive tactics to enter homes and that is one of the things we are afraid of because if ICE comes to someones home and then says I am a police officer and they are not showing anything and all you see is just a pistol, obviously you are going to be afraid, Mata, the activist, said. What do you do when someone is taking someone you love? You are going to try to protect that person.

Mata said the way ICE conducted the arrests will eventually drive the community away from trusting the Police Department.

At times we will talk to the police and now in this situation how are we going to cooperate with the police? Palacios brother said.

An ICE source confirmed to the Advance that both Palacios and Sanchez are in ICE custody.

According to the source, the officers identified themselves as ICE officers in both cases.

Reports like this raise concerns about how ICE actions endanger public safety by creating confusion among community members as they carry out their mass deportation agenda," said Bitta Mostofi, the commissioner of the Mayors Office Immigrant Affairs, in a statement to the Advance. We want all New Yorkers to know you have rights in an encounter with federal immigration enforcement. You do not have to speak to ICE. You do not have to consent to their entry into your home. You do not have to agree to meet anyone later.

Arrests like Palacios and Sanchezs were not a priority under President Barack Obama, but things changed under President Donald Trumps administration, activists say. The most updated data shows that 64% of the people detained have no criminal record.

In another attempt to tackle immigration, Trump recently decided to deploy agents with the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, who usually deal with potentially dangerous situations at the southern border, to sanctuary cities such as New York.

Sending SWAT teams trained for rural border areas into our densely-populated streets is a formula for disaster that wont make our city any safer, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. But this stunt isnt about keeping people safe, its Trumps desperate attempt to get re-elected.
The coronavirus outbreak spreading from Wuhan in Chinas Hubei province surged globally this weekend, as case loads increased in Italy, Iran and South Korea. Medical staff are racing to avert a deadly pandemic, underscoring the need for a coordinated, international offensive to halt the spread of the disease.

China remains the center of the epidemic, with 652 new cases and 99 new deaths Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in China to 76,940, with 2,444 deaths.

The disease is steadily moving across Asia and Europe. Moreover, due to its long incubation period, it may have already infected many in the Middle East, Africa and the Americas undetected. On Friday, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that while we are still in a phase where containment is possible  our window of opportunity is narrowing.

People stand on the platform near a train stopped by authorities at the train station on the Italian side of the Brenner Pass, Italy [Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader]

In South Korea, where 166 new cases were confirmed and four people died, bringing the total sickened to at least 602, the government declared a level four health emergency, the countrys highest. In Daegu, the current epicenter of the disease in South Korea, Mayor Kwon Young-jin shut down schools, church services, malls and other public gatherings, calling the disease an unprecedented crisis.

The danger that Europe will see a full-scale epidemic is rising. Italy put several northern towns under quarantine over the weekend, canceling cultural events, religious events and school and university classes, as 149 new cases were detected, bringing the total from three on Friday morning to 152, of whom three have died.

Yesterday, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said he is attentively monitoring the situation in Italy. He also said he considers significant numbers of new cases in France very probable, and that he is preparing for an epidemic.

Of particular concern is the fact that a group of coronavirus patients near Venice has no known link to China. This infection apparently had an unknown European source. The Italian government has announced that the police and the army will be mobilized to enforce quarantine orders, and Austrian officials have already turned back an Italian train at the border.

WHO doctor Walter Ricciardi blamed the Italian government, saying that A serious mistake was made not to quarantine people who arrived in Italy from China. He added that within two weeks, we will know if we are facing an epidemic. In the meantime, he advised Italians to avoid crowded places: metros, buses, trains, schools, discos and gyms.

In Iran, authorities shuttered much of the country after a sixth coronavirus death, with 28 cases reported so far. Authorities suspect that Chinese construction workers in Qom who traveled back to China for Lunar New Year last month may have brought the disease to Iran. There are also unconfirmed reports that coronavirus patients sicken and die much faster upon admission to hospital in Iran than in China, possibly because the virus there is now spreading from their lungs to their hearts.

The Iranian government has ordered the closure of schools, universities and theaters in Qom, Markazi, Gilan, Ardabil, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Zanjan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Hamedan, Alborz, Semnan, Kurdistan and the capital Tehran. The head of Qoms medical sciences university, Mohammadreza Ghadir, issued an appeal on Iranian state television, declaring, We are on the front lines, we need help If I can say one thing, it is: Help Qom!

Pakistan and Afghanistan closed their borders with Iran this weekend amid fears that the disease could spread from Iran across the Middle East, where medical systems have been devastated by decades of US-led imperialist wars and economic sanctions. Two Iranian tourists tested positive for coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, and Lebanon confirmed its first coronavirus case Friday, a 45-year-old woman returning from Qom, a famous pilgrimage site.

Africa currently has only one confirmed coronavirus case, hospitalized in Egypt, but there is rising concern that there may already be many undetected cases therearriving either from China, which has extensive investments on the continent, or through third countries in Europe and the Middle East.

Halting this previously unknown virus requires a massive, internationally coordinated effort to develop and test vaccines, make antiviral drugs and manufacture medical equipment. However, consistently implementing such a policy requires a decisive break with policies of austerity and war imposed by capitalist ruling elites worldwide for several decades.

The coronavirus epidemic is extremely serious. For now, government officials often present a WHO estimate of the deadliness of the disease based on dividing the number of coronavirus victims by the number confirmed infected. This calculation, which shows that 2 percent of those known to have contracted the disease have already died, appears to substantially underestimate the seriousness of the disease and the challenges involved in treating it.

As of yesterday, a worldwide total of 78,993 people were confirmed to have been infected by the coronavirus. Of the 25,889 no longer being treated, 2,470 (9.5 percent) were dead and 23,419 had recovered. Of the remaining 53,104 active cases, 41,535 (78 percent) were suffering from mild symptoms, while 11,569 (22 percent) were in serious or critical condition, requiring hospitalization and oxygenation to treat pneumonia triggered by the coronavirus.

Thus, about 20 percent of diagnosed cases require high-tech, labor-intensive care to stay alive. Overall, of those cases where treatment has ended, roughly one in 10 ended in death. Were the number of patients to continue to grow internationally at the current rate for several months, this could overwhelm health systems in even the most advanced economies.

Of course, many people have contracted coronavirus without becoming seriously ill and thus have not been diagnosed, so that overall rates of serious illness and death are lower. However, this is little comfort: It appears that as yet undetected coronavirus carriers can nonetheless spread the disease to others, who do get sick or even die. Particularly if the coronavirus became endemic in areas of Africa or Central Asia, with fewer advanced hospitals, this could have devastating consequences.

In the meantime, humanity is being brought face to face with the consequences of decades in which trillions of dollars were spent on waging destructive imperialist wars and showering an obscenely wealthy financial aristocracy with public funds. From Mali and the Congo to Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, millions have died in imperialist wars of occupation or proxy wars that left only a trail of devastation in their wake. In these areas, critical medical infrastructure has either been destroyed or was never built, leaving hundreds of millions of people virtually defenseless.

As for North America and Europe, they have subjected their medical centers to endless rounds of hospital closures and funding cuts costing billions of euros. In European countries, including Portugal and France, nurses protesting a decade of European Union wage freezes and underfunding since the 2008 crash have played a key role in strikes against austerity. Yet capitalist governments of various political colors have repeatedly threatened them with dismissal or assault by riot police.

British authorities issued a statement on the coronavirus declaring, Our world class National Health Service is well prepared, and we are doing everything we can to protect the public. This drew a caustic reply from John Campbell, a British doctor commenting on coronavirus online.

Working in local hospitals, he said, often we werent prepared for a Monday morning. He continued: If there were a few cases of chest infections or influenza, we were struggling. The idea that there could be an epidemic of coronavirus on top of that and that wed be well prepared is absolute nonsense. So how can we criticize China, Iran and North Korea for not telling us the whole truth, when the official voice of the UK government is telling me that we are well prepared for thousands of people getting sick all at the same time?
The long-awaited peace agreement between the U.S. and the Afghan Taliban seems close. According to the announcements by the U.S. administration and the Taliban, the two sides will sign the historic peace deal on February 29.



The key question for millions of Afghans, having seen nothing but war and destruction over the last four decades, is whether the agreement can bring peace, stability and much needed prosperity.

Early indications are good. The Taliban have agreed to offer a limited truce ahead of the signing of agreement. It will formally end more than 18 years of this particular American war  the longest in the U.S. history  and Western troops will start leaving the embattled country.

However, we don't know at this stage how many American soldiers will stay on to ensure that the terms of the agreement are followed  a few thousand at least.

The real search for a durable peace is to begin with the launching of an intra-Afghan dialogue in Oslo next month, which is the most crucial phase of the peace and reconciliation movement in Afghanistan. All hard questions will be on the table and rival Afghan factions and groups will grapple with the trickiest issue of how to share power.

Traditionally, Afghanistan had been ruled through a devolved system of power with the capital Kabul using powerful clan chiefs and local influential individuals to achieve obedience. However, much has changed since the introduction of constitutional democracy by the Americans.

The Taliban had been fighting against successive constitutional governments. Now, it will important to see their attitude when they are being forced to negotiate with the government they always opposed as an "American puppet."

The intra-Afghan dialogue is essentially a political chessboard where rivals will try to achieve gains through hard bargaining. The worst fear is that the process will break down under the weight of complex antagonistic interests and traditional rivalries.

The prevailing political situation of Afghanistan has compounded such fears. The result of presidential election has created new rifts. Incumbent president, Ashraf Ghani, has been declared as the winner of last year's poll. However, his rival Abdullah Abdullah has refused to concede defeat, acknowledging Ghani's victory, and this unsavory situation could plant seeds for fresh sinister developments.

There is lack of clarity about who will lead the Afghan side in the talks with the Taliban. The electoral victory of Ghani has strengthened his position but he would be weakened if he fails to gather broader support of rival politicians on the key issue of who should be included in the delegation to hold talks. The Taliban would like that Afghan government was divided so that they could make separate deals with different groups and parties.

Another moot point is if the Taliban will agree to permanent ceasefire. Apparently, they may not because it could weaken their bargaining position. Another reason for saying no is that, once their militia is demobilized, it will be difficult to reorganize them. Hence, they will like to make peace under the blazing guns of their fighters.

On the positive side, there is deep yearning for peace in Afghanistan and among all the neighboring countries.

Most importantly, the American leadership wants to extricate itself from Afghanistan, but apparently by providing a semblance of stability so that militants are not allowed to use as a future base camp. We can say that path to a lasting peace in Afghanistan is arduous but not impossible.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
Iran's government vowed Monday to be transparent after being accused of covering up the deadliest coronavirus outbreak outside China, dismissing a lawmaker's claim the toll could be as high as 50. The authorities in Iran have come under mounting public pressure since it took days for them to admit to "accidentally" shooting down a Ukrainian airliner last month, killing 176 people. The government announced Iran's coronavirus death toll had jumped by four to 12 -- by far the highest outside China -- as several regional countries reported their first cases on Monday, even after imposing travel restrictions and strict quarantine measures. But Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, a lawmaker from the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, alleged Iran's government was "lying" about the death toll. "As of last night, about 50 people have died" from the COVID-19 outbreak in Qom alone, he was quoted as saying by ILNA news agency after a closed session of parliament on the crisis. The government rejected the claim. "I ask our brother who declared this figure of 50 deaths to provide us with a list of their names," said Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi. "If the number of deaths in Qom reaches half or a quarter of this figure, I will resign." - Suspicion on streets - But people on Tehran's streets were also suspicious. "State TV gives us statistics, but when we go to hospitals we see something different. The number of people who died is much more," said Elahe Zarabi, 56, a housewife carrying bags of bleach. Shoaib, a 24-year-old pharmacy employee, said the shop was running out of stocks as it had gone from selling 500 face masks a day to 10,000. "The mullahs are saying Muslims are immune because of their faith," he said. "How will they quarantine a huge city like Tehran when they cannot even quarantine a hospital?" Iran has been scrambling to contain COVID-19 since Wednesday when it announced the first two deaths in Qom, a centre for Islamic studies and pilgrims that attracts scholars from abroad. Authorities have ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres across the country as a "preventive measure". But it has not all been doom and gloom. A video has gone viral of young men greeting each other by tapping their feet together to avoid infection, instead of shaking hands or the increasingly common fist-bump. - Transparency pledge - The government also vowed to be open about the disease's spread. "We will announce any figures (we have) on the number of deaths throughout the country. We pledge to be transparent about the reporting of figures," spokesman Ali Rabiei said. Assadollah Abbassi, a spokesman for Iran's parliament, announced the latest four deaths among 61 infections after Monday's session. Citing Health Minister Said Namaki, he said "the cause of coronavirus infections in Iran are people who have entered the country illegally from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China". After reporting two deaths in Qom, Iran has yet to give a breakdown of where the other patients died. The province worst hit by infections is Qom, with 34 cases, according to official figures. The others are in Tehran with 13 infections, Gilan with six, Markazi with four, Isfahan with two and one each for Hamedan and Mazandaran. The health minister said one person who died in Qom was a businessman who had made trips to China. Namaki said direct flights between Iran and China had been suspended, but the Qom businessman had travelled there "on a connecting flight". Iran's Mahan Air said it had stopped China services this month, apart from eight flights to deliver virus aid to China and return people under the health ministry's supervision. - Border closures - Since it emerged in December, the new coronavirus has killed nearly 2,600 people in China. Iran now accounts for nearly half of the 30 deaths so far reported elsewhere in the world. Many of Iran's neighbours have reported infections in people who had travelled to the Islamic republic. Afghanistan on Monday reported its first case in a person who had been to Qom. Baghdad and Muscat also reported their first cases -- an elderly Iranian citizen living in Iraq's Najaf and two Omani women who had returned from the Islamic republic. Iraq has shut its border with Iran and imposed a travel ban, while Oman halted flights to and from the virus-hit country. Preventive measures have been imposed by Afghanistan, Armenia, Pakistan and Turkey. Kuwait and Bahrain also confirmed their first novel coronavirus cases, all of whom had come from Iran. Iranians have been taking precautions against the COVID-19 virus since the country's first deaths were reported last week Map locating cases and fatalities from the coronavirus around the world Iran has the highest death toll from the novel coronavirus outside of China Sales of face masks at Iranian pharmacies have surged in recent days
ALTHOUGH the way it has been celebrated over the years has changed, the lessons of the People Power Revolution in 1986 should never be forgotten.

Retired Regional Trial Court executive judge Meinrado Paredes, a prominent Cebuano figure in the struggle for democracy during Martial Law under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was referring to the events that led to Marcos ouster and exile that year.

Thirty-four years ago, the Philippines garnered worldwide recognition for toppling a more than 20-year dictatorship in a bloodless revolution with a series of massive and popular demonstrations on the Epifanio de los Santos Ave., or Edsa, that started on Feb. 22 and culminated on Feb. 25.

For Paredes, this stage of Philippine history showed the world how the participation of all sectors of society could effect change.

But changes on how the event is being commemorated are evident, he said.

During the first anniversary of the Edsa Revolution, many people gathered. Hundreds of thousands participated. Those who took a leading role in the ouster of dictatorship, they were there. But then some sectors tried to discredit Edsa, saying it was the military that won the revolution and not people power, Paredes said in a mix of Cebuano and English. They ignored the millions of Filipinos who took to the streets calling on Marcos to step down. From then on, participation in the Edsa Revolution anniversary waned.

Political fluidity

Emmanuel Mongaya, a retired Cebu newspaper editor who was present during the Edsa rally in 1986, said the Edsa celebration over the years has been divided.

At first, it was like a reenactment of what happened. Then the excitement died. But during the time of President Estrada, it again became a celebration. During the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Edsa became anti-administration. During the time of former President Benigno Aquino III, it was like anti-pork barrel. Right now, the Edsa celebration is both a celebration for the opposition and at the same time an occasion for the pro-administration, Mongaya said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

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Because of fluidity in politics, Paredes and Mongaya believe it is important for the new generation to be socially and historically aware.

The youth, Paredes said, must struggle to uphold democracy and freedom of expression and of the press. They must also fight attempts to revise history, he said.

Paredes reminded the public that Marcos had abolished Congress and controlled the media during Martial Law.

Mongaya, for his part, said it is important for the youth to carefully study history by learning which resources to read and believe in.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said what happened in Edsa showed the world that blood didnt have to be shed during an uprising.

This reminds us that we can have a peaceful revolution, peaceful grievances, said Labella on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

Cebu City Councilors Antonio Cuenco and Joel Garganera, who participated in the simultaneous street rallies here in Cebu in 1986, said the event called for the people to keep an eye on the government.

Cuenco said the government is capable of committing abuses, which requires public scrutiny to be resolved.

He said he even led a rally here in Cebu City, which attracted more than 20,000 participants.

When he got wind that Marcos had issued a shoot-to-kill order against Corazon Aquino, who was in Cebu when the protests in Manila began, he and his wife Nancy hid the future president in the Carmelite Monastery in Barangay Mabolo.

Achieving the impossible

The revolution might have agitated the public, Cuenco said, but it also united a public that was tired of the Marcos dictatorship.

Garganera, then a Political Science student at the University of the Philippines Cebu who participated in the protest marches in Cebu City, said now is the time to revisit the event.

What we fought for before, are we still fighting it now? he said.

A similar uprising may not happen again in their lifetime, but the two local legislators urged the public, especially the youth, to do patriotic deeds in their own little way.

Garganera said following traffic rules and disposing of garbage properly already show their respect for the country.

Romielyn Romano, chairperson of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, said it is important to commemorate the People Power Revolution anniversary to instill in everyones mind that nothing is impossible, including getting rid of a dictator in a peaceful manner.

It is important because it teaches us that we can do more if we are united. And that change can be achieved in a non-violent way like in Edsa, said Romano.

Hannah Figuracion, a USJ-R fourth year International Studies student, said there is a need to celebrate what happened in Edsa 34 years ago because it had a great impact on the lives of every Filipino.

It is important not just because we became a democratic country but because we were from the abusive hands of the Marcos administration, giving us the freedom to express, she said.

Not a mere holiday

Phoebe Zoe Maria Sanchez, associate professor at the UP Cebu, recalled the hundreds of thousands of people from various sectors who went out on Edsa to display their outrage against the Marcos regime and the Marcos cronies.

She said the Edsa gathering was the peak of all pent-up anger of the Filipinos from 1965 to 1986.

Meaning, there were varied political formations that took place before Edsa People Power. There were variegated colors. There were different sectoral formations casting claims against the regime long before Edsa People Power took place. So the mass work was done many years before one Edsa uprising could take place. It was not an overnight call, said Sanchez. Although the underground movement against Marcos was not there, the underlying nuances that were triggered by the underground was felt and was evident in Edsa because Edsa represented the 16,000 other families violated by the Marcoses and the exploitative ruling class, she added.

She said the events that took place back then should be seen as a great national turning point that todays young should understand so they can contribute concretely to nation-building and not just make a parody of the commemoration.

For me, it is politically derogatory to associate a providential nationwide incident as a mere holiday to skip official obligations, Sanchez said, adding that the occasion should be used to re-educate and decolonize a colonial mentality since members of the current generation would not be who they are today if there were no protest actions and people who stood up against tyranny in the past. (WBS / JJL / MAE FHEL GOM-OS, USJ-R JOURN INTERN )
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Canntab Therapeutics Limited (CSE:PILL.CN)(OTCQB:CTABF) (FRA:TBF1.F) (the "Company" or "Canntab"), the leading innovator in cannabinoid and terpene blends in hard pill form for therapeutic application, is pleased to announce that Health Canada has granted the Company a Cannabis Research Licence for the purpose of continuing research and development of the Company's growing line of next generation medical cannabis solutions at the Company's Markham Ontario Facility.

Canntab intends, following receipt of a Standard Processing Licence and Sale for Medical Purposes Licence from Health Canada (the "Additional Licences"), to produce various hard pill oral delivery formulations including extended release, instant release, and bi-layered hard pills that provide patients and practitioners with a highly bioavailable medical solution with accurate dosing. The Additional Licences will enable Canntab to submit Notice of New Cannabis Products (NNCP) to Health Canada.

"Our Cannabis Research Licence will allow us to be prepared for when we receive our Standard Processing Licence and Sale" for Medical Purposes Licence, which we expect to receive shortly, by allowing us to do research and testing. Once we obtain our Standard Processing Licence and Sale for Medical Purposes Licence, we will have products ready for distribution and sale, explains Jeff Renwick, co-founder and CEO of Canntab. Mr. Renwick continues, "our facility is fully built-out and we are excited to prepare our final formulations for submission. We are equally excited with the prospect of continuing research and development in full force at our Markham facility, beginning with our proprietary Oral Dissolvable Tablet formulations which enter through the buccal cavity in the patient's mouth."

About Canntab Therapeutics

Canntab Therapeutics Ltd. is a Canadian company with operations in Canada. Canntab has also established a wholly owned US subsidiary through which we will operate our business in the United States. Upon our receipt of LP Status from Health Canada, Canntab will begin full-scale manufacturing of its suite of precision oral dose products that are unavailable elsewhere in the marketplace, namely, formulations in multiple doses and time release combinations. Additionally, Canntab through its wholly owned American subsidiary operate Canntab's manufacturing and distribution business in the United States, with the Company's partner Exactus Inc.

Canntab's proprietary hard pill medical cannabis formulations will provide doctors, patients and consumers with medical grade solutions which incorporate all the features one would expect from any prescription or over the counter medication sold in Canadian pharmacies.

Canntab trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol PILL, on the OTCQB under the symbol CTABF, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol TBF1.

Cautionary Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or negatives of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including successful receipt of the Additional Licences, the approval by Health Canada of the Company's Notice of New Cannabis Products, and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties will not prevent the Company from conducting its business. While Canntab considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies and they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including without limitation, risks associated with Health Canada not approving the Company's application for a new licence or Notice of New Cannabis Products, general economic conditions, adverse industry events, marketing costs, loss of markets, future legislative and regulatory developments, the inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms, the medical and recreational cannabis industry in Canada in general, income tax and regulatory matters, the ability of Canntab to execute its business strategies, competition, crop failure, currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Except as required by law, Canntab disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Forward- looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Canntab Therapeutics Limited

Related Links

https://canntab.ca/


Today we'll take a closer look at ChemoMetec A/S (CPH:CHEMM) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. If you are hoping to live on the income from dividends, it's important to be a lot more stringent with your investments than the average punter.

When buying stocks for their dividends, you should always run through the checks below, to see if the dividend looks sustainable.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

CPSE:CHEMM Historical Dividend Yield, February 24th 2020

Payout ratios

Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Looking at the data, we can see that 100% of ChemoMetec's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. With a payout ratio this high, we'd say its dividend is not well covered by earnings. This may be fine if earnings are growing, but it might not take much of a downturn for the dividend to come under pressure.

In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. With a cash payout ratio of 382%, ChemoMetec's dividend payments are poorly covered by cash flow. Paying out more than 100% of your free cash flow in dividends is generally not a long-term, sustainable state of affairs, so we think shareholders should watch this metric closely. As ChemoMetec's dividend was not well covered by either earnings or cash flow, we would be concerned that this dividend could be at risk over the long term.

With a strong net cash balance, ChemoMetec investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective.

We update our data on ChemoMetec every 24 hours, so you can always get our latest analysis of its financial health, here.

Story continues

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. With a payment history of less than 2 years, we think it's a bit too soon to think about living on the income from its dividend. Its most recent annual dividend was 3.00 per share.

We like that the dividend hasn't been shrinking. However we're conscious that the company hasn't got an overly long track record of dividend payments yet, which makes us wary of relying on its dividend income.

Dividend Growth Potential

Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it's also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see ChemoMetec has grown its earnings per share at 114% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share have been growing very rapidly, although the company is also paying out virtually all of its profit in dividends. Generally, a company that is growing rapidly while paying out a majority of its earnings, is seeing its debt burden increase. We'd be conscious of any extra risk added by this practice.

We'd also point out that ChemoMetec issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend when issuing new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Companies that consistently issue new shares are often suboptimal from a dividend perspective.

Conclusion

When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. We're a bit uncomfortable with ChemoMetec paying out a high percentage of both its cashflow and earnings. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the company has not been paying dividends as long as we'd like. With this information in mind, we think ChemoMetec may not be an ideal dividend stock.

See if management have their own wealth at stake, by checking insider shareholdings in ChemoMetec stock.

If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Agra, Feb 24 : US President Donald Trump arrived on Monday in the historic city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh to visit the iconic 17th century monument of love - the Taj Mahal.

Trump arrived here along with US First Lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US officials.

Earlier in the day, the Trumps were welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad.

In Agra, they were received by UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Kheria airport in the Taj city of Agra.

Over 250 artists performed at the airport to welcome the Trumps.

Image Source: IANS News

According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Agra A.P. Singh, over 25,000 school students and women from self groups welcomed the US President in Agra along the 13-km route from the airport to Taj Mahal.

Meanwhile, over 3,000 artists at 21 different locations performed for the US President to welcome him in the city highlighting the culture of Uttar Pradesh.

Image Source: IANS News

Trump will spend an hour at the Taj Mahal and then emplane for Delhi for the final leg of his trip.

Following the US President's visit to the city, Agra has got a massive facelift.

The administration has put up huge billboards, placards, cut-outs and several posters welcoming the US President and his wife Melania.

The 13-km route from the airport to the Taj Mahal has been spruced up aesthetically and the US and Indian flags have been put up at roundabouts to give the area a festive look.

Image Source: IANS News

At many places on the route, the administration has installed several statues of animals with flowers.

The walls have been adorned with paintings reflecting the Braj culture and architectural heritage of Agra, Victorian-style lamp posts have also been installed and the lawns of the Taj Mahal have been bedecked with colourful blooms as the historic city gears up to welcome the Trumps.

Traffic was halted in the city since 2 p.m. in several parts that fell on the route of the US President's cavalcade.

Image Source: IANS News

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Minister of the Chinese Embassy Wang Xining appeared on ABCs Q&A panel show on Monday night

A Chinese embassy representative has been laughed at by a Q&A audience for describing prison camps as 'training centres'.

Minister of the Chinese Embassy Wang Xining appeared on ABCs Q&A panel on Monday night to defend his government's reaction to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

But Mr Xining was grilled by audience members and panellists for China's treatment of detainees in facilities in the nation's far-west region of Xinjiang.

China previously described the camps as 'professional vocational training institutions' used to counter terrorism while improving employment opportunities for citizens guilty of minor offences.

When Q&A host Hamish Macdonald tried to ask the Chinese official if people in the camps were there of their own accord, Mr Xining interrupted.

'Are people in these camps  you call them re-education camps,' Mr Macdonald started.

Left ro right: Q&A host Hamish Macdonald, Minister of the Chinese Embassy Wang Xining, journalist Vicky Xu

'No, no, no they are not camps,' Mr Xining corrected.

'They are training centres,' he said, as the audience burst into laughter.

While the official smiled briefly, he went on to say most of the 'trainees' had chosen to be there.

'I think most of the trainees committed minor offences - not to the degree of criminal persecution...' said Mr Xining.

'But are they there voluntarily?' Mr Macdonald asked for a second time.

'Some of them... Many of them, I would say,' he replied.

While China has been accused of detaining Muslim minorities and forcing them to adopt Chinese language and practices, Mr Xining said these were misconceptions.

This photo taken on June 2, 2019 shows a facility believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained in China's western Xinjiang region

'You people laughed at my explanation because you were immersed with messages and information provided by the western media,' he said.

'You were not even reading the Muslim media. In the UN human rights council, Australia joined the other 22 countries and wrote a letter to the high commissioner blaming China for the Xinjiang policy. That represents 600 million people.

'But there are more than 30 countries that supported China - writing the same letter to the high commissioner - they represent three-billion people.'

The letter was addressed to the president of the Human Rights Council and the UN high commissioner in July 2019 and called for and end to mass detention in the camps.

China slammed the signatories and accused them of having a 'total disregard for the truth' and interfering with that nation's internal affairs.

This photo taken on May 31, 2019 shows a watchtower on a high-security facility near what is believed to be a re-education camp

The Q&A episode comes two months after China defended its vast network of re-education camps in Xinjiang and said it would continue 'training' residents in the province.

The statement, made by the governor of Xinjiang, came after explosive government document leaks in November detailed surveillance and control of the region's Uighur population.

The New York Times obtained 403 documents on Beijing's crackdown on mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in the region, including unpublished speeches by Chinese President Xi Jinping who urged officials to show 'absolutely no mercy' against extremists.

A separate leak of government documents by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) showed how local officials were ordered to monitor camp detainees and prevent their escape.

Xu Hairong, party secretary of Xinjiang's capital city Urumqi, slammed the New York Times and ICIJ's document leaks, accusing them of 'maliciously distorting and slandering' the region's re-education camps and 'counter-terrorism, de-radicalisation work'.

Rights groups and foreign media have reported that official documents and satellite images show the facilities are equipped and run like prisons.

People walk by a police station is seen by the front gate of the Artux City Vocational Skills Education Training Service Center in Artux in western China's Xinjiang region

When asked about the coronavirus on Q&A, Mr Xining said the sacrifice China has made 'is for the benefit of the world'.

'Wuhan had been locked down overnight. More than 30,000 medical staff have been dispatched to Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province to help their colleagues,' he said.

'It's unprecedented and challenging in human history. It's an unprecedented campaign organised by the Chinese government, against an epidemic which is a common enemy of mankind.'

Rejecting accusations of China's low level of democracy and cover-up of the seriousness of the virus, Mr Wang commended the Australian medical authorities for their success in controlling the spread.

Amid further back and forth about China's political system and media control, Mr Wang continued defending the country's efforts to tackle the virus, including 'dragging people out' of their homes when they were 'not very willing to cooperate'.

He said China sees itself not as a s a 'socialist democracy', rather than a 'party state'.

'A simple comparison between Australian democracy and the Chinese democracy will be like this  you have a ''voting'' democracy, we have a ''working'' democracy,' he said.

'Efficiency is our top concern.'
President Trump on Sunday touted his record with African Americans, saying he has done far more for blacks than 'any other president' and that Crazy Bernie (Sanders) and the Democrats' should take note.

The president on Sunday subtweeted a video posted to Twitter by the two pro-Trump social media vloggers Diamond (Lynnette Hardaway) and Silk (Rochelle Richardson).

Crazy Bernie and the Democrats should see this, the president wrote in the caption.

I have done far more for the African American community than any President.

Secured funding for HBCUs, Criminal Justice Reform, Opportunity Zones, School Choice, Record Low Unemployment, and so much more.

President Trump (left) on Sunday touted his record with African Americans, saying he has done far more for blacks than 'any other president' and that Crazy Bernie (Sanders) (left) and the Democrats' should take note

The president on Sunday subtweeted a video posted to Twitter which shows the release from a federal prison of a black man, Clinton Stewart

Clinton Stewart is a free man thanks to President @realDonaldTrump.

The First Step Act is in full affect. pic.twitter.com/xfArEdWk38  Diamond and Silk (@DiamondandSilk) February 23, 2020

THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

HBCU is the acronym which stands for historically black colleges and universities.

The video shows the release from a federal prison of a black man, Clinton Stewart.

Stewart was released from a Colorado penitentiary in January after serving time in prison for financial offenses.

Video on social media shows several of his supporters holding up signs in praise of Trump and crediting him with Stewarts release.

The clip interviews a woman who identifies herself as Stewarts daughter.

She praises Trump, crediting him with the release of her father.

Later in the clip, Stewart is seen getting out of a car outside of the penitentiary and leading a chant of the presidents name.

Thank God for President Trump and the First Step Act, Stewart said. President Obama had an opportunity to help us out, he refused.

In December 2018, Trump signed into law the First Step Act.

Passed by overwhelming majorities in Congress, the First Step Act stands out as a rare bipartisan achievement in an era of sharp political divisions.

Trump has invited ex-offenders to the White House and his State of the Union speech.

The law allows inmates who are serving time for selling crack cocaine to ask a judge to reduce their prison sentences.

Its a belated recognition, supporters say, that tough-on-crime policies that required lengthy prison terms for crack dealers were too punitive and fell most heavily on African Americans.

Sanders, the senator from Vermont, is riding high after his victory in the Nevada Caucuses on Saturday.
Beijing: The coronavirus death toll in China increased to 2593 and a total of 77345 cases were confirmed as per health authorities report on Monday (February 24).

Other than China, South Korea is the biggest hotspot of the deadly coronavirus which has lead to worsening health conditions in the country. The Middle East and Europe are also at the front lines in the spread of coronavirus.

South Korea has seen a rapid rise in infections since a cluster sprouted in a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu last week.

More than 200 infections and two more deaths were reported in South Korea on Monday, bringing the total cases to more than 830 - by far the most outside China.

Afghanistan, Bahrain and Kuwait also announced their first cases of the virus, and the death toll in Iran climbed to 12 on Monday.

Here's is the list of country-wise details of death and cases due to coronavirus:

CHINA- 77345 (2593 DEATHS)

S KOREA- 833 (8 DEATHS)

ITALY- 217 (4 DEATHS)

JAPAN- 146 (1 DEATH)

SINGAPORE- 89

HONG KONG- 179 (2 DEATHS)

IRAN- 47 (12 DEATHS)

THAILAND- 35

U.S- 35

TAIWAN- 30 (1 DEATH)

AUS- 22

MALAYSIA- 22

GERMANY- 16

VIETNAM- 16

U.K- 13

UAE- 13

FRANCE- 12 (1 DEATH)

CANADA- 1

MACAO- 1

PHILIPPINES- 3 (1 DEATH)

KUWAIT-3

ISRAEL- 2

AFGHANISTAN- 1

BAHRAIN- 1

LEBANON- 1

SWEDEN- 1

IRAQ- 1

Chinese authorities insist they are making progress in containing the virus, citing slowing infection rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) also lauded China's effort to handle the emergency situation and said, ''China's "incredibly difficult measures" in tackling the coronavirus that emerged late last year has probably prevented hundreds of thousands of cases in the country.''

Coronavirus has led to more than 30 deaths outside of China and about 30 countries have reported infections.

The virus is taking an increasingly heavy toll on the global economy, with many factories in China closed or subdued due to quarantines, and global travel choked.

Earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged that the virus had become the country's "largest public health emergency" since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.
Level Up Ukraine is a unique platform for creating an ecosystem where business, government, and society are agreeing upon a partnership, sharing potential and opportunities and interacting in order to enforce each other

Level Up Ukraine 2020 112 Agency

Kyiv hosted the annual Level Up Ukraine 2020 business forum on February 21.

Level Up Ukraine is a unique platform for creating an ecosystem where business, government, and society are agreeing upon a partnership, sharing potential and opportunities and interacting in order to enforce each other.

The fourth annual event gathered the reputable speakers, representatives of the government and big business communities in order to create the basis for win-win cooperation together.

The main topic for the 2020 forum was principles: creating more.

This year Natalya Ulyanova, project author and the Vice-President of the Association of Taxpayers of Ukraine, invited:

Grigol Katamadze , the President of the Association of Taxpayers of Ukraine, Ambassador Extraordinary, and Plenipotentiary;

President of the Association of Taxpayers of Ukraine, Ambassador Extraordinary, and Plenipotentiary; Timothy Mylovanov , Ukraine s Minister of Economy;

Ukraine s Minister of Economy; Hizo Uhlava , First Deputy Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine;

First Deputy Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine; Oleksandr Borniakov , Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation of Ukraine;

, Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation of Ukraine; Vladislav Krikliy - Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

- Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine. Ingo Friedrich , Honor Member of the European Parliament, President of the European Economic Senate;

Honor Member of the European Parliament, President of the European Economic Senate; Deborah Fairlamb , Venture Funding and Development Finance Strategy Adviser at USAID Competitive Economy Project;

Venture Funding and Development Finance Strategy Adviser at USAID Competitive Economy Project; Michael Jaeger, the Secretary-General of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, and others.

Level Up Ukraine 2020 Open source

The panel discussions Cooperation: Principles for creating more", Trust is the main component of investment: business, society, government were followed by the roundtables Investing in infrastructure. Development issues of concession and privatization and Continuing development: Principles of continuous education for business, government and adult population of the country, with networking all the way.

The decision-makers discussed the most attractive economy sectors, the educations impact on new Ukraines ecosystems, etc.

The Level UP Ukraine platform updates the issues of cooperation between business, government and the community through an artistic lens. At Forum 2020, the art project "The Art of Interaction" was created, in which the works of young artists raised questions such as: "What is real interaction?", "What is the result of productive cooperation?", "Where are we going?".

The Forum also hosted a charity auction of works aimed at supporting socially important projects of Ukraine.
NEW YORK - Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault against two women and led off to prison in handcuffs Monday in what his foes hailed as a landmark moment for the legal system and a long-overdue reckoning for the man vilified as the biggest monster of the #MeToo era.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Harvey Weinstein leaves the courthouse during jury deliberations in his rape trial, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in New York. ( (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK - Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault against two women and led off to prison in handcuffs Monday in what his foes hailed as a landmark moment for the legal system and a long-overdue reckoning for the man vilified as the biggest monster of the #MeToo era.

The 67-year-old Weinstein had a look of resignation on his face as he heard the verdict: guilty on two charges, not guilty on a set of more serious ones.

While it was not the across-the-board victory prosecutors and his accusers had hoped for, it could put the stooped and feeble-looking Weinstein behind bars for the rest of his life. The charges carry up to 29 years in prison.

District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. saluted the women who came forward against the once-feared studio boss, saying they "changed the course of history in the fight against sexual violence" and pulled our justice system into the 21st century.

"This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe, and it is a new day. It is a new day because Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed," Vance said.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations continue in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Weinstein's lawyers said they will appeal.

Harvey is unbelievably strong. He took it like a man," defence attorney Donna Rotunno said. "He knows that we will continue to fight for him, and we know that this is not over. Another of his lawyers, Arthur Aidala, quoted Weinstein as telling as his legal team:: I'm innocent. I'm innocent. I'm innocent. How could this happen in America?

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find Weinstein guilty of raping an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and sexually assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006 by forcibly performing oral sex on her.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse for jury deliberations in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

He was acquitted on the most serious charges, two counts of predatory sexual assault, each carrying up to life in prison. Both of those counts hinged on the testimony of Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein barged into her apartment, raped her and forcibly performed oral sex on her in the mid-1990s.

Judge James Burke ordered Weinstein taken to jail immediately. Court officers handcuffed Weinstein and put their arms under his, leading him unsteadily out of the courtroom via a side door without the use of the walker he relied on for much of the trial. He was later taken from the courthouse in an ambulance, strapped to a stretcher in his suit, and taken to a locked unit at Bellevue Hospital.

The judge said he would ask that Weinstein, who had been free on bail since his arrest nearly two years ago, be held in the infirmary at the city's Rikers Island jail complex after his lawyers said he needs medical attention following unsuccessful back surgery.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations continue in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Rotunno said in an appearance on Fox News that Weinstein was initially headed to the jail, but was diverted to Bellevue to be checked out for heart palpitations and high blood pressure. "He's O.K, she added.

Sentencing was set for March 11. The sexual assault charge carries up to 25 years in prison, while the third-degree rape count is punishable by up to four years. (The jury acquitted Weinstein of first-degree rape, which requires the use of force or the threat of it, and found him guilty of third-degree rape, which involves a lack of consent.)

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and excuses from Weinstein about how the Hollywood casting couch works. In addition to the three women he was charged with attacking, three more who said they were assaulted by Weinstein testified in an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behaviour.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., speaks after a verdict in the Harvey Weinstein rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. Vance spoke outside the courtroom, Monday, shortly after a jury convicted Weinstein of rape and sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Whispers about Weinstein circulated in Hollywood for years before they finally turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The trial was the first criminal case to arise from the barrage of allegations against Weinstein from more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd, Uma Thurman and Mira Sorvino. Most of those cases were too old to prosecute.

While prosecutors and other Weinstein foes were disappointed by his acquittal on the most serious charges, they exulted over the guilty verdicts.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., speaks after a verdict in the Harvey Weinstein rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. Vance spoke outside the courtroom, Monday, shortly after a jury convicted Weinstein of rape and sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

"The era of impunity for powerful men who rape people is over," Sorvino said, breaking down in tears on a conference call of Weinstein's former accusers. He will rot in jail as he deserves.

Judd, who accused Weinstein of damaging her career by spreading lies about her after she rejected his advances, tweeted: For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to get ahead in Hollywood. The defence seized on the fact that the two women he was convicted of attacking had sex with him  and sent him warm and even flirty emails  well after he supposedly attacked them.

In this courtroom sketch, Harvey Weinstein, is led out of Manhattan Supreme Court by court officers after after a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 in New York. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence.in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

In the end, that argument didn't seem to gain any traction. Instead, the jury had trouble with Sciorra's allegations. Four days into deliberations, the jurors sent out a note indicating they were deadlocked on the two predatory sexual assault counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. The judge told them to keep on deliberating.

After the verdict, jury foreman Bernard Cody was asked what the deliberations were like for him personally and responded: Devastating. He did not elaborate.

Sciorra said in statement: "While we hope for continued righteous outcomes that bring absolute justice, we can never regret breaking the silence. For in speaking truth to power we pave the way for a more just culture, free of the scourge of violence against women.

Ambra Battilana Gutierrez speaks to reporters outside of a Manhattan courthouse after Harvey Weinstein was convicted in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. A jury convicted Weinstein of rape and sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.

The phenomenally successful movie executive helped bring to the screen such Oscar winners as Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction," The King's Speech, Silver Linings Playbook and Shakespeare in Love and nurtured the careers of celebrated filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith.

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles. In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way in early January, authorities allege he raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013.

Women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, right, speaks during a press conference as Harvey Weinstein's attorneys Arthur Aidala, left, and Donna Rotunno, second from left, argue their place in line to speak outside a Manhattan courthouse after Weinstein's rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. A jury convicted the Hollywood mogul of rape and sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

During the trial, Weinstein regularly trudged into the courthouse stooped and unshaven, using his walker  a far cry from the way he was depicted in court as a burly Jekyll-and-Hyde figure whose eyes seemed to turn black with menace when his anger flared.

If he heard the word no, it was like a trigger for him, his rape accuser testified. One woman said that when she laughed off his advances, he sneered, "Youll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works.

The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured, that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises and that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.

Harvey Weinstein's walker sits folded up in a sport utility vehicle outside Manhattan Supreme Court after Weinstein was ordered to jail immediately after being convicted in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. A jury convicted the Hollywood mogul of rape and sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The prosecutions task was made more complicated because Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks after she was supposedly attacked, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterward.

The rape accuser admitted sending Weinstein emails saying Miss you big guy and I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call. Under fierce cross-examination from Weinstein's lawyers, she explained that she was afraid of the movie executive's unpredictable anger and I wanted him to believe I wasn't a threat.

To blunt that line of questioning, prosecutors called as a witness a forensic psychiatrist who said that most sexual assault victims struggle to comprehend what happened to them and continue to have contact with their attackers.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse for his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. A jury convicted the Hollywood mogul of rape and sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence.(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

During closing arguments, Rotunno charged that Weinstein had become the target of a cause and a movement  #MeToo  and asked the jury to ignore outside forces. She said the case against Weinstein amounted to "regret renamed as rape," arguing that the women exercised their free will to try to further their careers.

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Weinsteins lawyers repeatedly raised objections during the case that could form the basis of an appeal. Among other things, the defence complained that the Los Angeles charges were timed to influence jury selection, and they unsuccessfully opposed the seating of a juror who wrote a novel involving predatory older men.

Over the years, Weinstein managed to silence many accusers with payoffs, nondisclosure agreements and the constant fear that he could crush their careers if they spoke out. He also employed an army of attorneys, publicists and private investigators to thwart journalists and suppress news stories about his behaviour.

Weinstein was finally arrested in May 2018, seven months after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed his alleged misconduct in stories that would win the Pulitzer Prize. Among other men taken down by the #MeToo movement since the scandal broke: news anchors Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, actor Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.

Weinstein's studio, the Weinstein Co., went bankrupt after his disgrace. A tentative settlement was reached last year to resolve nearly all lawsuits stemming from the scandal. It would pay Weinstein's accusers about $25 million, but he would not have to admit any wrongdoing or personally pay anything; the studio's insurance would cover the cost.

___

On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays
Libya's warring sides have proposed a draft ceasefire agreement that would see the United Nations monitor the safe return of civilians to their homes, the UN said Monday.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it would facilitate the ceasefire process alongside a military commission with members from both sides.

The announcement came after a second round of indirect military talks in Geneva between Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) and eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar's forces.

The talks, mediated by UN envoy Ghassan Salame, are aimed at brokering lasting ceasefire to fighting that has left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced some 140,000 since last April, according to the UN.

Several rounds of talks focused on economic issues, including fairer distribution of Libya's oil wealth, have also taken place in Egypt and Tunisia, and talks towards a political solution are scheduled to start in Geneva on Wednesday.

UNSMIL said it and the two parties had "prepared a draft ceasefire agreement to facilitate the safe return of civilians to their areas with the implementation of a joint monitoring mechanism".

"The two parties agreed to present the draft agreement to their respective leaderships for further consultations and to meet again next month," the statement said.

The next meeting would be dedicated to drawing up terms of reference for the committee in charge of the implementation of the agreement, it said.

Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival armed factions still vying for power.

In the latest outbreak of fighting, Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli last April but after rapid advances his forces stalled on the edges of the capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have a complicated marriage, high-powered careers, an endless supply of controversy, and four adorable kids.

Fans were surprised when Kardashian, after giving birth to their first two babies, went on to use surrogates to carry the last two. Their daughter Chicago is now two years old, and their son Psalm is nine months old.

Kardashian has been pretty open about her familys experience with surrogacy, and she had some very good reasons not to get pregnant again. But Kardashian and West really wanted more children, so they had to find another road. She recently shared more about this emotional journey.

How Kim Kardashian chose her surrogates

Kim Kardashian West | David Livingston/Getty Images

When Kardashian chose to have a surrogate carry her children it was not a casual decision; her pregnancies had been traumatic and dangerous. She and West very much wanted more babies, but her doctor told her that getting pregnant again would be so dangerous that hed be guilty of malpractice. Kardashian realized theyd have to build their family in a different way.

Kardashian started looking into surrogacy, and she discovered that it is illegal in New York, but in California, it was not. She hired a lawyer and a therapist that both specialize in surrogacy, and they started the search for someone to work with. She decided that she wanted to find a woman who had her own kids and had been a surrogate before.

Kardashian also wanted the woman to know who the couple was shed be working with before she said yes, in case she wasnt a fan. When they found someone who was interested, Kardashian and West went to dinner with her and her husband.

The surrogate agreed to help them. She was able to get pregnant with Kardashian and Wests embryo, so Chicago is genetically theirs, even though the surrogate carried her.

Why Kim Kardashian used a different surrogate the second time

Since everything went so well with Chicagos birth, Kardashian had planned to work with the same woman the second time around. However, when they were ready for the next pregnancy they discovered that the surrogate had gotten pregnant with her own child.

Their happy news meant that Kardashian and West would have to find someone else to carry their baby. Kardashian was more comfortable with the process this time, so she took charge of the search, working with the surrogacy lawyer.

Before long, they found another woman who was willing to help them. Again they used their own embryo, and nine months later they had Psalm in their arms.

Kim Kardashian stays in touch with both women

Kardashian explained that she is still close to the gestational carriers who helped her family. The surrogate therapist she worked with from the beginning of the process helped her get to know the women and establish good relationships with them.

The therapist was there to help them navigate important questions like who would be in the delivery room. She gave Kardashian advice on how to be sensitive and handle such an unusual and emotional situation.

Kardashian said the therapist would suggest, Hey, I think you guys should communicate once a week through text, maybe on Mothers Day. Shes a mother as well. Maybe get her a massage or something thats appropriate for her to pamper.'

These days Kardashian stays in touch with both women. Shes very grateful to them, explaining: Its not for everyone, but I absolutely love my gestational carrier and this was the best experience Ive ever had. Our gestational carrier gave us the greatest gift one could give.

Although its not the way Kardashian imagined having her babies, surrogacy has given her the family of her dreams.
One person had to be pulled from the car following the crash and was taken to Northwest Community Hospital with injuries that werent believed to be life-threatening, according to a news release from Arlington Heights police.
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coronavirus is causing global panic, both within the health industry and across global commerce markets. The outbreak has forced Chinese plants to close for extended periods of time resulting in significant delays and supply bottlenecks. This is causing panic within the picture frame sub sector and prices are soaring.

Elgin based Gemini Builds It! has the infrastructure and inventory on hand to alleviate this potential disruption and get us out of this jam!

Gemini, the leading frame manufacturer, is uniquely designed to handle frame manufacturing because of their newest installation of the Fletcher-Terry Automated Auto Saw. Gemini is the only independent distributor in America to have the state-of-the-art machinery to ensure the best quality frames in the timeliest manner. With the use of the Fletcher-Terry Automated Auto Saw, Gemini will be able to run production 24 hours a day and seven days a week, producing at the highest speed possible.

Available for Interviews:

Courtney Wright, CEO Gemini Builds It!

About Courtney Wright:

Courtney Wright has the equation for success  stay curious, listen to feedback, fail a lot and make time for friends and family. Coco's (all her friends call her Coco) tenacity begins at 4:30AM when she begins to connect the dots. She's always laser focused on her master plan. The five-decade old business bombshell is New England born, but calls Illinois home after attending Lake Forest College. She founded CDW Merchants, the leading provider of 3D visual retail displays and e-commerce gift packaging for the nation's top retailers, including Kate Spade, Sperry and Club Monaco. In 2016, Courtney packaged CDW for the last time and sold it to a global billion-dollar BUNZL.

Free time isn't her thing  quickly she jumped on an opportunity to buy a company she worked with closely, a vendor to CDWM. In 2016 she bought Gemini Builds It (F/K/A Gemini Molding). Since the deal closed, she saved 60 jobs, bought a business to close the gap on outsourcing and offers 401K and continuing education to the staff. Gemini is housed in a 50,000 square-foot manufacturing center in Elgin, but Courtney has her mind set to double the growth of the business again this year, and bring the sales team to Chicago ... she's one woman making manufacturing cool in Chicago.

Contact:

Mika Stambaugh

[email protected]

312-671-3040

SOURCE Gemini
London, Feb 24 : Several people were injured when a car crashed into a crowd of people during a carnival procession in a town in Germany's Hesse state on Monday, reports said.

The incident was reported from the town of Volksmarsen, the BBC reported.

Police have taken the driver of the car into custody and investigations are on, it added.

According to local German media, the number of those injured is between 10 to 15, and includes several small childran. Ambulances and a helicopter have reached the spot.
A policeman was killed in New Delhi on Monday during violent clashes over a contentious citizenship law, hours before US President Donald Trump arrived in the Indian capital as part of a two-day visit. Protests have broken out across India since the law, that critics say discriminates against Muslims, came into force in December. At least 30 people have been killed in clashes with police. The new law has raised worries abroad -- including in Washington -- that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to remould secular India into a Hindu nation while marginalising the country's 200 million Muslims, a claim he denies. The latest unrest erupted between several hundred supporters and opponents of the law in a Muslim-dominated area of northeast Delhi on Sunday, and continued on Monday. A constable died after receiving a critical head injury, while another senior officer was injured. "Please renounce violence. Nobody benefits from this. All problems will be solved by peace," Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted that schools in the capital' northeast would be shut on Tuesday and exams postponed. Protesters torched at least two houses and shops, the Press Trust of India said. Local TV channels showed plumes of black smoke billowing from buildings. One video posted on social media showed crowds of men shouting "Jai Shree Ram" or "Hail Lord Ram", a revered Hindu deity, as they went on a rampage. Trump arrived in the western state of Gujarat on Monday and addressed about 100,000 people at a rally with Modi before he visited the Taj Mahal monument in Agra. The US president arrived in Delhi late Monday before official talks in the city on Tuesday. A senior US official told reporters that Trump would raise concerns about religious freedom in the Hindu-majority nation during the trip, calling them "extremely important to this administration".
An autorickshaw driver on Monday



alleged he was beaten up by a sub-inspector of the Vakola traffic police in the metropolis though the latter's seniors denied the allegations and claimed the driver was abusive and at fault.

A video of the altercation between Sub Inspector Dhondiram Pingole and autorickshaw driver Shadab Ali (27), which took place at 11:30 am on Monday in front a police post in Kalina area of Santa Cruz, was widely shared on social media.

The video showed Pingole hitting Ali, fining him Rs 400 for wrongly parking the autorickshaw, and then offering him tea at a roadside shop.

"The PSI slapped me some 15-20 times because of which I am unable to hear properly. I came to speak to him after my brother's autorickshaw was found parked wrongly and I had offered to pay the fine. The PSI, however, started hitting me," Ali alleged.

He said he had undergone several medical tests to prove the injuries inflicted by the PSI and would lodge a case.

Denying the charges, Senior Inspector Arvind Chandanshive of Vakola traffic police division said, "If he files an FIR, we too will charge Ali. I was present at the spot and it was Ali who abused our officer after his rickshaw was found in a no-parking spot. His allegations are completely false."



Vakola police station Senior Inspector Kailash Ahwad said no complaint has been received from either side.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain on Monday starts hearing Washington's extradition request for WikiLeaks founder in a test case of media freedoms in the digital age and the limits of US justice.

A ruling against Assange in the case could see the 48-year-old Australian jailed for 175 years if convicted on all 17 US Espionage Act charges and one count of computer hacking he faces.

Each stems from his site's release in 2010 of a trove of classified State Department and Pentagon files detailing the realities of the US campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One video from 2007 showed an Apache helicopter attack in which US soldiers gunned down two Reuters reporters and nine Iraqi civilians in broad daylight in Baghdad.

The files also disclosed the secret identities of diplomats and government agents in hostile environments -- as well as locals who risked their lives by cooperating with the United States.

These names were redacted by the Western newspapers with which WikiLeaks initially worked.

But a falling out with their editors prompted Assange to release hundreds of thousands of files in their original form.

The US Justice Department said last May that the "human resources" compromised by Assange "included local Afghans and Iraqis, journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates, and political dissidents from repressive regimes".

His supporters argue that Assange's prosecution was political -- and personal -- from the start.

"For the sake of press freedom, must be defended," the Committee to Protect Journalists said in December.

The case was injected with still more intrigue when the defence claimed US President Donald Trump promised to issue a pardon if Assange denied Russia leaked the emails of his 2016 election rival's campaign.

"In August 2017, Donald Trump's administration tried to pressure into saying things that would be favourable to President Trump himself," Assange's defence team coordinator Baltasar Garzon said on Thursday.

"When Julian Assange refused, he was charged and an extradition request was issued alongside an arrest warrant." The White House called the allegation "another never-ending hoax and total lie" but a judge agreed to add it to the case file.

Assange is additionally shadowed by a rape allegation and a sexual assault claim that stem from his 2010 visit to Sweden.

He denied everything and called the case a legal pretext for Sweden to extradite him to the United States.

Assange agreed to attend hearings into the charges in London and his legal battles crossed borders yet again.

A UK court ruled in February 2011 that Assange could be extradited back to Sweden to stand trial.

He secured political asylum in Ecuador's London embassy instead and became fugitive by breaching his UK bail conditions in 2012.

Yet his campaigning continued in full.

Assange struck a deal with Russia's state broadcaster RT in 2012 and began airing Skype interviews with anti-Western figures such as Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah that further infuriated Washington.

A political realignment in Ecuador toward the United States saw Assange fall out of favour and begin losing his embassy privileges in 2018.

The last protections were lifted last April and Assange was dragged kicking and screaming out of the embassy and locked up in a high-security prison next to London's Woolwich Crown Court where the case will be heard in two sessions this week and in May.

The sex charges no longer apply because of the statute of limitations and Swedish investigators' inability to question Assange about what a top prosecutor lamented in November remained a "credible" claim.

But the court will consider whether "the conduct described (by the US Justice Department) amounts to an extradition offence".

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service says the court must also weigh whether "extradition would be disproportionate or would be incompatible with the requested person's human rights".

The defence claims that it would and some US legal experts think Assange has a case.

"Use of the Espionage Act has a very checkered history in the century since Congress passed it," University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told AFP.

Many think "extradition and US prosecution would have a chilling effect on press efforts to expose government information that is important to the public interest.
Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who calculated rocket trajectories and earth orbits for NASAs early space missions and was later portrayed in the 2016 hit film Hidden Figures, about pioneering black female aerospace workers, has died. She was 101.

Johnson died Monday of natural causes at a retirement community in Newport News, Virginia, family attorney Donyale Y. H. Reavis told The Associated Press.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement that Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color.

Johnson was one of the computers who solved equations by hand during NASAs early years and those of its precursor organization, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

Johnson and other black women initially worked in a racially segregated computing unit in Hampton, Virginia, that wasnt officially dissolved until NACA became NASA in 1958. Signs had dictated which bathrooms the women could use.

Johnson focused on airplanes and other research at first. But her work at NASAs Langley Research Center eventually shifted to Project Mercury, the nations first human space program.

Our office computed all the (rocket) trajectories, Johnson told The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in 2012. You tell me when and where you want it to come down, and I will tell you where and when and how to launch it.

In 1961, Johnson did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepards Freedom 7 Mission, the first to carry an American into space. The next year, she manually verified the calculations of a nascent NASA computer, an IBM 7090, which plotted John Glenns orbits around the planet.

Get the girl to check the numbers, a computer-skeptical Glenn had insisted in the days before the launch.

Katherine organized herself immediately at her desk, growing phone-book-thick stacks of data sheets a number at a time, blocking out everything except the labyrinth of trajectory equations, Margot Lee Shetterly wrote in her 2016 book Hidden Figures, on which the film is based.

It took a day and a half of watching the tiny digits pile up: eye-numbing, disorienting work, Shetterly wrote.

Shetterly told the AP that Johnson was exceptional in every way.

The wonderful gift that Katherine Johnson gave us is that her story shined a light on the stories of so many other people, Shetterly said Monday. She gave us a new way to look at black history, womens history and American history.

Johnson considered her work on the Apollo moon missions to be her greatest contribution to space exploration. Her calculations helped the lunar lander rendezvous with the orbiting command service module. She also worked on the Space Shuttle program before retiring in 1986.

Johnson and her co-workers had been relatively unsung heroes of Americas Space Race. But in 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson  then 97  the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor.

The Hidden Figures book and film followed, telling the stories of Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, among others. Johnson was portrayed in the film by actress Taraji P. Henson. The film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and grossed more than $200 million worldwide.

In 2017, Johnson was brought on stage at the Academy Awards ceremony to thunderous applause. Jackson and Vaughan had died in 2005 and 2008 respectively.

Johnson was born Katherine Coleman on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, near the Virginia border. The small town had no schools for blacks beyond the eighth grade, she told The Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1997.

Each September, her father drove Johnson and her siblings to Institute, West Virginia, for high school and college on the campus of the historically black West Virginia State College.

Johnson taught at black public schools before becoming one of three black students to integrate West Virginias graduate schools in 1939.

She left after the first session to start a family with her first husband, James Goble, and returned to teaching when her three daughters grew older. In 1953, she started working at the all-black West Area Computing unit at what was then called Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton.

Johnsons first husband died in 1956. She married James A. Johnson in 1959. He died last year.

Johnson is survived by two of her three daughters, six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, said Reavis, the family attorney.

Johnson spent her later years encouraging students to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Just last week, she was giving an interview to a high schooler who wanted to talk to her in French, Reavis said. She had two degrees. One in French, and one in Mathematics.

Looking back, Johnson said she had little time to worry about being treated unequally.

My dad taught us you are as good as anybody in this town, but youre no better,' Johnson told NASA in 2008. I dont have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. Im as good as anybody, but no better.
Science has moved beyond the lab. Researchers are using non-scientists more and more to help conduct their research and expand their reach. Everyday people are contributing their data, helping researchers learn more about a topic and get comprehensive results.

But what does "citizen science" mean and how can it support science learning and education?

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has found that citizen science is reshaping research. It can greatly facilitate large-scale research by providing opportunities to study more topics while teaching people more about science and enhancing science education. T

he report is one of the first of its kind to examine the available information on citizen science projects and, through peer-reviewed evidence, clearly identify trends, weaknesses and opportunities for growth.

Darlene Cavalier and Lekelia "Kiki" Jenkins, professors at Arizona State University's School for the Future of Innovation in Society, were members of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Designing Citizen Science to Support Science Learning, which authored the report. Cavalier and Jenkins, will share their expertise on citizen science and the findings from this new study at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) during the session "Learning Through Citizen Science: Enhancing Opportunities by Design."

"This session specifically highlights the potential of citizen science to support science learning," said Cavalier. "We'd like to share best practices to intentionally design citizen science programs with science learning as one goal. Personally, I enjoy the Q&A sessions where I learn about developments and hear from people shaping the field."

"We need to understand where we are before we can start thinking about where we need to go," offers Jenkins, who is organizing the AAAS session as well as giving a presentation. "That's the reason why this study was done, because people were doing citizen science and assuming that, you're doing science, you're going to learn something. But without being directed in what are the learning objectives and how we are building in support structures to make sure people are learning these things, actually what we find is that people don't learn as much as they could."

Cavalier, a professor of practice, is a founding board member of the Citizen Science Association. She's also the founder of SciStarter, a platform that connects people to citizen science projects they can participate in. She says she wanted to learn more about how people without formal degrees could participate in science.

"Opportunities were out there, but they were difficult to discover and little was known about the projects or participants," said Cavalier. "I wanted to make it make it easy for anyone to find and engage in projects they are curious or concerned about and catalyze research across the landscape of projects, people and perspectives."

Citizen science has been used to study a wide variety of topics. Cavalier and a team from SFIS and ASU Libraries recently developed citizen science kits that can be checked out of local libraries. The kits include all the instruments and resources needed for people to research things like light pollution, air quality and biodiversity. Associate Professor Jenkins focuses much of her research on marine conservation, including studying fisheries learning exchanges, where fishing communities learn from each other how to mitigate common problems involving habitat damage and decreasing fish populations. Fisheries learning exchanges and citizen science share similar approaches to collective problem-solving.

Citizen science not only benefits researchers, but it also provides teaching opportunities outside a typical classroom setting."Not only do scientists get data, but the people who are participating in citizen science are learning something as well," said Jenkins.

When done right, citizen science can be an opportunity to support and extend learning and welcome different skills and beliefs. But according to the report, those opportunities can only be reached if diversity, equity and inclusion are included as goals in a project's original design. Jenkins said people have to intentionally design citizen science projects around those three things; otherwise, it can lead to bias in the project.

"It's a mission that everyone needs to take up if they care about those issues," said Jenkins. "We all have a role to play around diversity, equity and inclusion in the sciences."

###

Jenkins is also part of the AAAS IF/THEN ambassador program, which highlights women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) who contribute to those fields and inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM. She's also won awards for science dance, a performance art form where people use dance and body movement to communicate research.

Jenkins will give her presentation "Mapping the Landscape of Citizen Science" on February 14 at 8:00 a.m. PST, and Cavalier will give her presentation "Citizen Science as a Context and Opportunity for Learning" the same day at 8:30 a.m. PST.

Jenkins will also be a part of the AAAS Family Science Day as a featured Meet-a-Scientist on February 16 at 1:00 p.m. PST. She will lead participants in a movement activity titled "Saving Sea Turtles Through Technology and Dance."

Report link https://www.nap.edu/read/25183/chapter/1

SciStarter link https://scistarter.org/

IF/THEN article - https://asunow.asu.edu/20190918-jenkins-selected-aaas-ifthen-ambassador

Dance link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px2XpQ6M4pM&feature=youtu.be
"When starting Angel's Envy, my father and I were deeply inspired by the world of Scotch and its rich history of secondary finishing. As we tasted our bourbon, it became clear just how much the process enhances the whiskey with a subtle sweetness and complex flavors," said Angel's Envy Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer Wes Henderson. "By applying this familiar technique to our bourbon, we've been able to create a product that has already gained popularity with fans in the UK, and we're looking forward to sharing it with an even wider audience this year."

Distribution in the UK will begin in London with a limited number of cases.

"In a market such as London, where the cocktail scene is rapidly growing and constantly evolving, complexity and nuance of flavor in spirits is more important than ever," said Jay Needham, ANGEL'S ENVY Marketing Director. "As a finished, craft Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Angel's Envy is an innovative product with a taste profile different from anything else on the market, and we're excited to share it with consumers in the UK and elsewhere outside the U.S."

ANGEL'S ENVY Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels is handcrafted in Louisville, Kentucky. It is blended in small batches of eight to twelve barrels at a time and aged for up to six years, then finished in 60-gallon ruby port wine casks made from French oak and imported directly from Portugal. The port finishing process lasts between three to six months, depending on taste.

ANGEL'S ENVY Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels is 86.6 proof (43.3% ABV). On the nose, it offers notes of subtle vanilla, raisins, maple syrup and toasted nuts. On the palate, notes of vanilla, ripe fruit, maple syrup, toast and bitter chocolate are present before it finishes with a clean and lingering sweetness and a hint of Madeira that slowly fades.

About ANGEL'S ENVY

ANGEL'S ENVY is a Louisville-based craft distiller that produces small batch, finished whiskeys. Co-founded in 2011 by the late Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson and his son Wes Henderson, it began as a passion project that combined their family's deep-rooted passion for and knowledge of the industry with an innovative outlook on bourbon making and finishing. Today, Wes Henderson and his sons Kyle, Andrew, Connor and Spencer Henderson continue the family legacy, working together to produce ANGEL'S ENVY's core offerings  Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels and Rye Whiskey Finished in Caribbean Rum Casks  as well as a variety of innovative, special releases.

ANGEL'S ENVY opened the doors to its distillery in 2016  it was the first full-production whiskey distillery in downtown Louisville and is located at 500 East Main Street. The company distributes to all 50 U.S. states and the UK as of February 2020. ANGEL'S ENVY is produced by Louisville Distilling Company, a subsidiary of Bacardi Limited.

For more information, please visit us at www.angelsenvy.com , or on:

Facebook: facebook.com/AngelsEnvyBourbon or facebook.com/TourAngelsEnvy

Twitter: @angels_envy

Instagram: @angelsenvy

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY.

2020. ANGEL'S ENVY is a registered trademark. Bottled by Louisville Distilling Company, Louisville, KY. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels  43.3% Alc. By Vol.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1093171/ANGELS_ENVY_Bottle.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/558903/Angels_Envy_Logo.jpg



SOURCE ANGEL'S ENVY
Racially inflammatory speech by political elites can embolden members of the public to express their own prejudice

When Donald Trump formally announced his presidential candidacy in a June 2015 speech, he declared, among other comments, that "when Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best," referred to Mexican immigrants as rapists, and reiterated his intention to build a wall at the border.

What impact did Trump's remarks have on normalizing expressions of prejudice? In the years since the election, many have speculated his racially inflammatory speech empowered people with latent prejudices to finally act on them -- a phenomenon known as the "Trump effect."

Now, a new study from a team of political scientists at the University of California, Riverside, has found empirical support for what they term Trump's "emboldening effect."

The team's findings, published online last week in the British Journal of Political Science, suggest Trump's inflammatory remarks on the campaign trail emboldened particular members of the American public, giving them license to express deeply held prejudices.

From UCR, the study's co-authors include Benjamin Newman, an associate professor of public policy and political science; Jennifer Merolla, a professor of political science; Sono Shah, a doctoral candidate in political science; Loren Collingwood, an associate professor of political science; and Karthick Ramakrishnan, a professor of public policy and political science. Co-author Danielle Casarez Lemi received her doctorate in political science from UCR in 2017.

To better understand the impact of Trump's racially inflammatory rhetoric, the researchers surveyed a total of 997 respondents in two online waves in spring 2016, during presidential nomination season.

In the first wave, respondents provided demographic information and their political orientations. To measure respondents' existing prejudice, the researchers asked them to rate how well the words "intelligent," "lazy," "violent," and "here illegally" describe "most Hispanics" in America. These are measures often used to capture stereotypes people hold about the Latinx population.

During the second wave about a week later, each respondent read one of five articles generated by the researchers. The articles drew on real election content related to either campaign finance reform or immigration and discussed the positions of Hillary Clinton and either Jeb Bush or Donald Trump.

Only some articles featured examples of Trump's racially inflammatory speech; of those, certain articles also included text about other political elites condoning or condemning his remarks.

After reading one of the five articles, each respondent read a short vignette and was asked to rate the acceptability of the behavior depicted by a character in the vignette. The main vignette read:

* "Darren Smith is a middle manager at an accounting firm and has been working at the firm for nearly eight years. One part of Darren's job is to supervise the new interns for the accounting firm. While Darren usually likes the interns, he does not like a new intern named Miguel. Darren regularly throws away Miguel's leftover food in the break-room fridge, claiming that 'Miguel's food is greasy and smells up the fridge.'"

"The purpose of this vignette was to depict a mundane situation in which an individual a) harbors prejudice and b) engages in discriminatory behavior," the researchers explained.

They noted that while most respondents described the behavior featured in the vignette as completely unacceptable (49%) or unacceptable (42%), the remaining 9% considered it normatively neutral or acceptable, denoting tolerance of prejudiced behavior in this instance.

The purpose of the activity was twofold: First, the researchers wanted to see whether respondents' tolerance of the behavior featured in the vignette could be linked to their existing prejudice, as measured during the first wave.

Additionally, the team was interested in determining if exposure to Trump's racially inflammatory remarks would have bearing on whether respondents with existing prejudice would subsequently demonstrate more tolerance of the behavior featured in the vignette.

They found exposure to Trump's racially inflammatory speech did have an emboldening effect, making individuals seem to feel more comfortable expressing their prejudice.

Moreover, when respondents weren't exposed to such rhetoric, the opposite was true: Prejudiced individuals appeared to suppress their prejudice by actively denouncing prejudiced behavior.

"However, we find that this 'suppression effect' slowly unravels and gives way to tolerance and acceptance of prejudiced behavior following exposure to racially inflammatory speech by a prominent political elite," the researchers wrote.

They said their most stunning finding was that the emboldening effect of Trump's speech on respondents was strongest when other political elites were presented as tacitly condoning his remarks.

Elites staying silent likely gave the impression that a norm -- in this case the norm of racial equality and tolerance -- was breaking down, which could lead members of the public to feel less pressure to conform with it, the researchers noted. They also found that this effect extended to behavior toward Latinx individuals.

"The emboldening effect of an elite like Donald Trump is most pronounced in a context where citizens are given signals that the political system tolerates prejudice by allowing candidates who engage in prejudiced speech to continue their campaigns without sanction," they added. "Last, we find that condemnation by other elites does little to suppress prejudice once it is activated."

###
- Popular Nigerian musician, Davido, has come out to speak about the hack attempt on his Twitter account

- This came days after another artiste, Naira Marley lost his account to a hacker

- In the short Twitter post, Davido said rained a curse on the person who is trying to take over his account

Days after Naira Marley's account was hacked, Davido has cried out about an attempt to hack his Twitter account.

The Blow My Mind crooner made this known on Sunday, February 23, where he said God will punish whoever is trying to do so.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Naira Marley, the popular Mafo crooner, whose real name is Azeez Fashola on Saturday, February 22, took to his social media page to tell his fans how he outsmarted the person who hacked him.

It should be noted that a few days before then, his official and verified Twitter account was hacked by someone who called himself Fros.

In a video that followed the tweet, shared by one of his fans, Marley went into details of how he was able to recover the account.

He said despite the fact that he changed his phone number, email, and password, he was hacked again.

In other news, Davido never minced words in his response to a fan who pointed out that Chioma is still his fiance and could be snatched away by another man.

PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update

The Twitter follower did not stop there, he said whenever that happens, Davidos son with Chioma, could also be taken by the person according to the Igbo tradition.

To that, Davido succinctly replied with a laughing emoji that the person will die. The tweet convos all started when the DMW boss said that men should stop trying to get ladies but make the women want to get them.

One of the people who replied to the tweet asked if the same applies to married men. The Blow My Mind crooner said that it does not apply to those in the marriage circle.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: We have upgraded to serve you better

Davido or Wizkid: whom would you rather hang out with? | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
LAS VEGAS  Sen. Bernie Sanders won big Saturday and is now the clear front-runner. Former Vice President Joe Biden saved enough face to march on to his must-win in South Carolina a week from now. Pete Buttigieg finished in the top tier again and embraced the urgency of knocking down a rising Sanders, though it is not clear where he wins next. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren is awash in cash after her debate dismantling of Michael Bloomberg  $9 million in three days  but the performance did not nudge her up in the standings in Nevada.

Here are five takeaways from Saturdays results and what theyll mean for the rest of the Democratic primary:

Sanders has taken command of the race

Sanders did not just win Nevada. Entrance polls show that he dominated.

Those polls showed Sanders winning men and women; whites and Latinos; voters in all but the oldest age group (17-29, 30-44 and 45-64); those with college degrees and those without. He was carrying union households and nonunion households, self-identified liberal Democrats (by a wide margin) and moderate and conservative ones (narrowly).

Welcome to the revolution, said Waleed Shahid, a spokesman for Justice Democrats, a progressive group.

The Sanders victory was built upon three distinct and yet overlapping bases of support: young people (56% support among those 44 and under), very liberal voters (49%) and a majority of Hispanic voters. The latter was a new factor in Nevada after two heavily white opening states, Iowa and New Hampshire, and particularly important as the race expands to big and diverse states on Super Tuesday with large Latino populations, none more significant than California and Texas.

Sanders has now won the most votes in each of the first three states (Buttigieg appears to have edged him in delegates in the still-disputed Iowa results) and has more momentum than all his rivals and more money than everyone besides the two self-funding billionaires, Tom Steyer and Bloomberg.

It was no accident that Sanders spent much of the day before the Nevada caucuses in California and had two rallies in Texas on Saturday: His campaign is looking ahead to Super Tuesday, March 3, as the day he breaks away from the rest of the Democratic field.

Speaking of which 

The rest of the field isnt shrinking

Not long after the first results began rolling in, a super PAC supporting Buttigieg announced it was buying TV ads in Super Tuesday states. Bidens campaign manager declared that the Biden comeback had just begun. Sen. Amy Klobuchar dropped from her New Hampshire showing yet claimed to have exceeded expectations. And Warrens campaign manager said her performance at last weeks debate would prove more important than the actual election.

Translation: No one is about to quit this race.

And the longer all the alternative candidates remain, the longer Sanders can keep carrying states and consolidating his own coalition without a singular rival.

The Nevada results reinforce the reality that this fragmented field is putting Bernie Sanders on pace to amass an insurmountable delegate lead, said Kevin Sheekey, the campaign manager for Bloomberg.

Each has their own arguments for staying.

Biden, who carried black voters in Nevada, is the best positioned to beat Sanders in an upcoming state (South Carolina). Buttigieg has had the strongest showings overall besides Sanders. Warren, whose campaign announced a $21 million haul for February, argues she has the money and organization to compete. Bloomberg has his billions. Klobuchars path  which took her to Fargo, North Dakota, on Sunday  seems less clear and may be more about grabbing spare delegates than the nomination.

The collective impact is clear. A remarkable six candidates all had at least 12% of the vote among voters over 45 in Nevada, an almost impossibly even level of fracture.

Bidens best finish yet is still second place

The Biden case for the nomination has been straightforward: Hes the guy to beat President Donald Trump. Yet for the third time in three races, Biden did not win. He did improve from his bad fourth-place finish in Iowa and his disastrous fifth place in New Hampshire (as of late Saturday both Buttigieg and Biden were claiming second as Nevada sloooowly processed results).

But throughout February, Biden had said that his fortunes would be reversed now that more diverse states were voting. Except it was Sanders who soundly defeated Biden among Latino voters, according to entrance polls, while Bidens lead among African Americans  his strongest base  continued to shrink to 12 percentage points.

Yall did it for me. Yall did it, Biden nonetheless told his supporters in Las Vegas.

He notably sharpened his contrast with Sanders and Bloomberg, who has vied to take over the moderate lane the former vice president occupied for virtually all of 2019.

I aint a socialist. I aint a plutocrat. Im a Democrat, he said. And proud of it!

Biden could well still win in South Carolina, where he has consistently led in the polls, and that could be a springboard to Super Tuesday. But his schedule has him locked down in the must-win state for much of the week as rivals cross the nation.

And dont forget: Biden led in the Nevada polling averages for much of the past year.

Until he didnt.

Buttigieg wants to be the anti-Bernie

Of all the victory and concession speeches Saturday, Buttigiegs was the most revealing. He used the big platform not just to make the case for himself but to slash at Sanders, whom he accused of pushing an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans.

He talked about the urgency of beating Trump and the importance of nominating a Democrat who actually gives a damn about down-ballot races. Speaking on MSNBC, one of the campaigns national chairs, Rep. Anthony Brown, called Buttigieg the leader in the non-revolutionary lane of the primary, though if such a lane exists, it is more a tangled mess.

Going forward, the problem is that Buttigiegs early successes in Iowa, New Hampshire and, to a lesser extent, Nevada, have not yet lifted him nationally.

The Nevada entrance polls had him carrying a meager 2% of black voters. Advisers to his rivals and Democratic strategists who want to see Sanders stopped have been frustrated with Buttigiegs campaign, arguing that while he has been relatively successful so far, he is now in a demographic cul-de-sac.

But Buttigieg has a compelling counterpoint, as he said pointedly in his speech: Ours is the only campaign that has beaten Sen. Sanders anywhere in the country this whole campaign cycle.

After sizzling debate, Warren doesnt get Nevada bump

If Wednesdays debate performance was going to turn Warrens political fortunes, it did not do so fast enough for the Nevada caucuses.

The results trickling in delivered another round of frustration for a candidate who fell below expectations in both Iowa and New Hampshire and had her campaign manager, Roger Lau, arguing Saturday that the days-old debate would prove more significant than the actual election.

We believe the Nevada debate will have more impact on the structure of the race, Lau wrote on Twitter. He called the actual results a lagging indicator because so many votes  true  were cast before the debate.

The problem is that election results create their own new gravitational reality in politics and the race itself will be reset with the next debate Tuesday. Then comes South Carolina, which was long seen as her weakest of the four early states. Then, suddenly, Super Tuesday, where Sanders seems to be making a play for Warrens home state of Massachusetts.

Warren still has fans. Before one of the largest crowds of her campaign in Seattle on Saturday, she told supporters that she had raised $9 million in the past three days, a huge sum. That gives a financial cushion to a campaign that was so close to running out of money in January it took out a $3 million line of credit.

But on a day that Sanders won and was building momentum, Warren was still focused on her preferred target: Bloomberg, reliving some of the greatest hits from the debate.

And she added some new, off-brand material for a candidate who rose in the polls last year on the strength of her myriad plans and reputation as a wonkish fighter.

She cracked a height joke.

Bloomberg, she said, posed a big threat, not a tall threat, but a big one.

Her rivals had not even mentioned her in their assessments.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Cardiovascular disease was once considered a mens club.The notion that men were more likely to die of heart attack or stroke was a belief in medicine that persisted for decades.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cardiovascular disease was once considered a mens club.The notion that men were more likely to die of heart attack or stroke was a belief in medicine that persisted for decades.

This is a myth. Women are just as likely to experience a stroke or heart attack; only their risk factors can differ.

The latest research shows womens biology  more dissimilar from mens than previously thought  may often require different preventative care, diagnosis and treatment than men.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation has been leading the charge for a greater emphasis on female heart health, supporting research and raising awareness, a campaign that often peaks in February  Heart Month.

Its a national, if not global, effort. And many important studies are going on in our backyard.

Among them are the work of three principal investigators at the Albrechtsen Research Centre at St. Boniface Hospital, one of Canadas leading centres for cardiac science.

Heres a quick look at their research, all which aims to improve and save womens lives in Manitoba and beyond.

WARMing up to womens cardiovascular risk

One challenge regarding womens risk of heart attack and stroke is that many benchmarks for blood pressure and cholesterol, for example, are based on data skewed toward men. Todd Duhamel, a professor at the University of Manitobas faculty of kinesiology and recreation management, says the most well-known of these tools is the Framingham Risk Score (named after a city in Massachusetts that was the focus of a population study, which formed the basis for the assessment).

Supplied Todd Duhamel. a professor at the University of Manitoba's faculty of kinesiology and recreation management, says current assessment tools are skewed toward diagnosing men.

"Although very useful, it seems to be able to better predict cardiovascular disease in men than women," he says.

Enter WARM, or Womens Advanced Risk Assessment in Manitoba.

The recently launched study, which is seeking women aged 55 and older to participate, aims to create new criteria for cardiovascular risk in women.

Among the measures are a walking test to see how fast a participant can walk eight metres, and another that gauges hand-grip strength. Both are thought to be predictive of cardiovascular disease risk, Duhamel says.

Presently about 400 women are involved. About 600 more are required for the studys completion. If youre a woman age 55 and over, have not had a heart attack or stroke, and want to participate, email warmheartsresearch@gmail.com.

And who knows? One day, women around the world might be given the Manitoba risk assessment, instead of the Framingham test.

The difference between men and women under the microscope

Dr. Ross Feldmans work on an estrogen hormone receptors role in womens heart health has been featured before in the Free Press. The principal investigator of womens health at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at St. Boniface and his team found a variation of a commonly found receptor, called GPER. The receptor helps regulate many bodily functions, including blood pressure.

The variant version of the receptor is present in about 25 per cent of the population and is associated with increased heart disease risk.

Feldman notes estrogen has long been considered protective against cardiovascular disease for women before menopause. And thus it was assumed that its decreased levels after menopause play a role in doubling their risk of heart disease compared with men the same age.

Supplied Dr. Davinder Jassal, a cardiologist and a principal investigator at St. Boniface.

But research shows its not lower estrogen levels that elevate heart disease risk. Instead, its the interaction between the reproductive hormone and GPER, specifically its variant.

"So if you have the second-rate version of GPER, you are likely to have higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol" after menopause, Feldman says. While men have the receptor too, it has little bearing on disease.

"But if you are a woman, the odds of you having hard-to-treat blood pressure and the bad version of GPER are twice that of the general population."

The reason remains a mystery, and that is the focus of Feldmans work examining male and female differences at the cellular level. A greater understanding of these biomechanisms, he says, may one day lead to sex-specific preventative care and therapies.

Fighting cancer without sacrificing the heart

Some side effects of chemotherapy, such as hair loss and nausea, are well known. But a lesser known one  heart failure  is among the more troubling side effects when patients undergo treatment for breast cancer. Doxorubicin (also referred to as anthracycline) is the most common, and generally best, treatment for the breast cancer.

"Its great for killing the cancer cells, but bad for the heart," says Dr. Davinder Jassal, a cardiologist and a principal investigator at St. Boniface. "One in four women who receive this chemotherapy will actually develop heart failure."

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Thats why he and another researcher, Dr. Scott Grandy, an oncologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, are leading a new study supported by the Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Called EXACT 2.0 (EXercise to prevent AnthraCycline-based Cardio-Toxicity), it builds on previous work demonstrating regular exercise can prevent heart failure. "We saw that their heart function was maintained," says Grandy. The previous pilot study involved women exercising twice a week at the hospital. But that "turned out to be a major barrier for a lot of participants because they didnt want to go back there any more than they had to," he adds.

So the new study  now underway  wants to find out if women exercising 30 to 60 minutes at a time, twice a week at home, receive similar benefit.

"The goal is to eventually have a program prescribed with their chemotherapy to offset its negative impacts, specifically to the heart."

Only rather than in a clinical setting, it can done all from the comfort of their home, Grandy adds.

joelschles@gmail.com
The frontline lawyer recalled that he had advised some rich people to invest in education and establishment of industries because that is the way to get the youths engaged.
By Express News Service

MADURAI: A 29-year-old cab driver spent over one hour and twenty minutes inside a fuel station lavatory in Madurai on Sunday with his right hand stuck inside an Indian-style toilet.

The Thanjavur resident was trying to recover his cars key that had accidentally fallen into the toilet when his hand got stuck. According to firemen who rescued him from his predicament, Ramkumar (name changed) was returning home after dropping off his customers. Around 5 am, he stopped by a fuel station along the Madurai Bypass Road to attend natures call.

He was about to leave when his cars key fell into the toilet. When he tried to get it out, his hand touched a cell phone that had ended up inside the toilet earlier. Believing that the key was behind the cell phone down the pipe, he pushed his hand deeper. When he tried to pull his hand out, he could not. Leaving the key and the cell phone, he tried again, but in vain. We believe his hand got air locked, said Station House Officer of Madurai Fire and Rescue Service Station Venkadesan.

After 20 minutes, Ramkumar decided to seek help. However, shouts for help did not derive any response from outside. In the end, he managed to push the door open using his legs and waited for someone to pass by.

Around 5.20 am, an employee saw him and alerted the firemen, who reached the spot within three minutes. At the end of an hour-long operation, a team of firemen managed to safely remove Ramkumars hand by breaking the toilet, sources said. A local car dealer arranged a duplicate key for Ramkumar who headed home a while later.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KELA , a darknet threat intelligence provider, today announced it has been awarded the InfoSec Award for the Cutting Edge Threat Intelligence category from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM). The award recognizes information security innovators for startups, early stage, late stage and public companies.

"We are very pleased to receive this prominent cybersecurity award, and it's an honor to be selected from a wide selection of top-notch companies that were in the running for this prize. Our hard work has paid off in being recognized as global leaders in threat intelligence," said KELA COO Eran Shtauber.

"KELA embodies three major features the judges look for to become winners: understanding tomorrow's threats today, providing a cost-effective solution and innovating in unexpected ways that can help stop the next cyberattack," said Gary S. Miliefsky, Publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine.

A list of this year's InfoSec Award can be found at http://www.cyberdefenseawards.com/.

About KELA

A leading darknet threat intelligence firm, KELA's mission is to provide 100% actionable intelligence on threats directly targeting clients. Our success is based on a unique integration of our proprietary automated technology and qualified intelligence experts. For more information, visit www.ke-la.com.

About CDM InfoSec Awards

This is Cyber Defense Magazine's eighth year of honoring InfoSec innovators. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early stage, later stage or public companies in the information security (InfoSec) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. Learn more at www.cyberdefenseawards.com

About the Judging

The judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company submitted materials on the website of each submission including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature and other market variables. CDM has a flexible philosophy to find more innovative players with new and unique technologies, than the one with the most customers or money in the bank. CDM is always asking "What's Next?" so we are looking for Next Generation InfoSec Solutions.

Media Inquiries

Josh Turner

Mobile: +1-917-231-0550

turner@siliconvpr.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094214/KELA_InfoSec_Award.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094213/KELA_Logo.jpg
People wearing face masks sit in front of Dongdaegu railway station in the southeastern city of Daegu, South Korea, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

Over 830 People Test Positive for Coronavirus in South Korea, Including US Force Individual

South Korea on Feb. 24 reported 231 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including a U.S. Forces Korea dependent.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced 70 new cases and one additional death late on Feb. 24. Earlier in the morning, the country reported its seventh death and a rise of 161 new cases from the previous day.

Now South Korea has at least 833 known cases of coronavirus, with eight fatalities.

U.S. Forces Korea announced that it had been informed by the KCDC that the 61-year-old widow of a retired soldier had tested positive for the virus, after visiting the Camp Walker Post Exchange in Daegu on Feb. 12 and 15.

It marks the first time that a U.S. Forces Korea individual has been infected with the virus since South Korea reported its first confirmed case on Jan. 20.

KCDC and [U.S. Forces Korea] health professionals are actively conducting contact tracing to determine whether any others may have been exposed, the announcement stated.

U.S. Forces Korea also raised the risk level to high for U.S. personnel in South Korea as a preventative measure.

It is unclear what the womans nationality is and whether her case has been included in the total 833 confirmed cases reported by KCDC.

Camp Walker is a U.S. military base in Daegu, which is about 186 miles southeast of the capital Seoul.

South Koreas defense ministry announced that 13 of its service members have been infected with the virus as of 4 p.m. local time on Feb. 24, according to local outlet Yonhap News Agency.

Of the 13 cases, 10 are in the Army, and one each in the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.

About 7,500 Korean soldiers have been isolated at their bases. Among them, 350 people either have symptoms of the virus or had direct contact with infected patients, said South Koreas deputy defense ministry spokesperson Moon Hong-sik.

KCDC also reported two deaths on Feb. 24. According to Yonhap, the eighth death involves a 67-year-old man who tested positive for the virus on Feb. 20 at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, a county in North Gyeongsang Province. The man had been transferred to Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, where he died a few days later.

The countrys seventh death involves a 62-year-old man who died on Feb. 23 at Daenam Hospital.

Of the eight deaths, six have been connected to Daenam Hospital. According to Yonhap, over 110 people, including nine medical staff at the hospital are infected with the virus.

Of the 231 new cases, 205 are in Daegu and the broader North Gyeongsang Province, and four are in Seoul.

Among the new cases reported on Feb. 24, at least 129 were linked to a super-spreader who attended services at Shincheonji Church. The 61-year-old female and the countrys 31st confirmed case tested positive for the virus on Feb. 18the first in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said that he will visit Daegu on Feb. 25 to spearhead local quarantine measures in person, according to Yonhap.

Preemptive measures are necessary to prepare for the possibility of [the coronavirus] spreading across the nation, Chung said.
Update Geotarget, a leading provider of groundbreaking products and innovative services for Local Narrowcasting, has signed on Mirum India for servicing social media marketing and media planning.

Mirum India, recognized as one of the leading digital solutions agencies with a pan-India footprint, will support Update Geotarget with a bouquet of digital services across Brand Planning, Media Planning and Social Media Management.

India is going through a phase of hyper-local conversations, and it has become vital for brands and companies to reach the audience via the right platform and content, amidst the ever rising competition. In such an increasingly cluttered marketing landscape and tough business environment, brands need more efficient and impactful ways to reach audiences. As resonance among the audience gets tougher, brands are looking for ways to target better  through geography, relevance and behavioural patterns of the target audience.

By onboarding Mirum India for their digital mandate, Update Geotarget is aiming to expand their presence across media to achieve elated brand communication with relevant narratives.

Sharad Alwe, Co-founder and Managing Director, Update Geotarget, said, We are thrilled to have Mirum India onboard for managing our digital mandate. Mirum India has a proven track record and understanding of emerging marketing trends. With Mirums digital and brand marketing proficiency, we hope to build visibility for our initiatives and achieve our business goals. Mirums expertise and industry insight will allow us to reach brands and marketers across India.

Since inception in 1991, Update has been offering pioneering products and services, consistently aiding the evolution of the Local Narrowcasting ecosystem.

The Update Geotarget Platform is designed to optimise campaign effectiveness and deliver brand message through 2500 FTA Narrowcast TV channels drilled down to Urban, Rural, States, SCRs, Districts & Cities. Delivering through narrowcast platforms is an impactful, cost-effective way of drilling down to the local level for contextual engagement.

Sanjay Mehta, Co-founder and CEO, Mirum India, said, Reach and relevance is the need of the hour for brands, and Updates Geotarget platform is eradicating the gap between digital and mainline with the help of innovative solutions. This has presented us with an opportunity to explore the sweet spot between the two areas with a perfect partner. Update is at the forefront of an evolution of narrowcasting ecosystem, and with our knowledge of the current marketing scenario, we hope to support them with our digital solutions and build value for the brand and the services. We are thrilled and excited to work closely with Update Geotarget and expand our horizon, as well.
As a performance of Mikhail Bulgakov's Heart Of A Dog drew to a thundering close at Tashkent's Ilkhom Theater recently, a line of people stood up from the applauding crowd to unfurl a banner that read, "We Are With You, Ilkhom." The banner was part of a wave of support that has included statements from foreign embassies and ambassadors as well as a tweet from Saida Mirziyoeva -- the daughter of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev -- after reports that the Ilkhom Theater group was about to be forced out of the building it had performed in for 44 years. The central Tashkent building was recently sold to a property-development company, Ofelos Plaza, and on February 7 the company sent a letter to Ilkhom's management requesting the theater troupe vacate the premises.

The entrance to the Ilkhom Theater in central Tashkent. Ilkhom uses the property rent-free and has no apparent legal basis to challenge Ofelos Plaza's decisions to renovate the building. Ilkhom -- which means "inspiration" -- was founded in 1976 by director Mark Weil and became known for performances that spoke, often with subtle political zing, about issues affecting ordinary Uzbeks. Weil said he wanted to create "unedited life and real people on our stage" -- a rare feat in the tightly edited world of Soviet art.

Ilkhom's founder, Mark Weil (left), speaks with performers in Tashkent in 1988. Ilkhom is the Uzbek word for "inspiration." Irina Bharat, who was hired by Weil 16 years ago and is the theater's deputy director, told RFE/RL that Weil was "absolutely a Tashkent guy, he loved this place and used to say [Ilkhom] could only happen here. In the Soviet time it was too far from Moscow, so they couldn't control everything." By the time the Kremlin took notice of the free-speaking performances taking place on a subterranean stage in Tashkent, Ilkhom was known around the world and it was, Bharat says, "already too late" for the authorities to close it down.

Theatergoers walk past a portrait of Mark Weil, who was murdered in 2007. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Ilkhom played on under independent Uzbekistan's authoritarian leadership of Islam Karimov, and Weil cemented his reputation for fearlessness when he produced a play about Islam called Imitations Of The Koran. In September 2007, two men outside Weil's apartment rushed at the 55-year old director and stabbed him to death. At their murder trial, the men said the killing was in response to the play's depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

An actor walks past the hundreds of messages left by performers and fans that have been scrawled on the theater's walls. Despite Weil's murder, the theater has continued running nearly nightly shows under the management of the young team he built. But nearly three weeks after the letter from Ofelos Plaza management, there is confusion over what the future holds. Bharat says, "In the beginning [the new property owners] told us they want to reconstruct this place, now we understand that they want to remove everything and put a six-story business complex here."

Young fans of the theater photograph a sign saying, "Tashkent Needs The Ilkhom Theater." But at a press conference on February 12, a representative from Ofelos Plaza said the theater would be allowed to move back into its historic basement after renovations, but that work could take up to two years. That period of time for Ilkhom -- which operates on a shoestring budget and without any state support -- would probably force it to shut down. Bharat believes such a hiatus would be "a death sentence" for the theater and the exhibition space that Ilkhom created. And despite the show of support from the president's daughter, Bharat says, "so far we don't know how she will help us. She made this tweet but we haven't received anything official."
Photograph: Barcroft Media/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

In the aftermath of Bernie Sanders victory in Nevada and as the South Carolina primary looms, the Democratic party establishment continues to grapple with the increasing likelihood that the Vermont senator, a self-proclaimed socialist, will be its nominee for president.

Related: Trump holds rally in India while Steyer qualifies for South Carolina debate  live

Sanders latest victory showcased his popularity among a more representative chunk of the Democratic base  Latinos, African-Americans and union members  than voted in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states in the primary.

Weve brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition that is not only going to win Nevada, its going to sweep this country, Sanders said in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday.

In the next eight days, 15 crucial elections will take place.

Centrists in the party having failed to coalesce around a moderate candidate, the nomination could be there for Sanders taking after South Carolina votes on Saturday or after Super Tuesday, 3 March, when 14 states follow suit. Only 2.5% of the delegates needed to win the nomination at the convention in July were on offer in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it? Bernie Sanders

Sanders began his crucial week planning extra rallies in Super Tuesday states but also under fire for comments made in an interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday night.

Sanders told 60 Minutes he opposed the authoritarian nature of Cuba under the Castro regime, but said Fidel Castro did some good things.

He had a massive literacy program, he said. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?

The Florida Democrats Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell were among those to criticize Sanderss muted praise for the deceased Cuban president.

Im hoping that in the future Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro, Shalala tweeted.

Story continues

The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families, Mucarsel-Powell wrote. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press and stifles a free society.

Sanders comments are likely to feature in Tuesday nights Democratic debate in Charleston, South Carolina.

Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has spent more than $460m of his own money in an attempt to establish himself as the Democrat best placed to beat Donald Trump, indicated on Monday that he would also target Sanders on gun control.

The Bloomberg campaign released a video attacking the senator for his mixed record on the subject.

Before Sanders was elected to Congress in 1990, for example, he received support from the National Rifle Association because his Republican opponent had supported banning assault weapons. The Bloomberg video also highlighted Sanders support for a law that helps stop mass shooting victims suing gun manufacturers and the five times he voted against a bill which called for waiting periods before acquiring guns and instant background checks on gun purchases.

Sanders addressed the issue in the New Hampshire debate earlier this month.

Until the last  two years ago  we had virtually no gun control legislation at all, and I represented that perspective, he said. The world has changed, and my views have changed.

And my view is right now, we need universal background checks. We end the gun show loophole. We end the so-called strawman provision. We make certain that we end the sale and distribution of assault weapons in this country.

We are going to let people know how we feel about these candidates James Clyburn

Bloomberg has poured money into the gun control movement but it is unclear if his cash can overcome the damage wrought by other candidates focus on his own record regarding women and people of color.

At the last debate, in Nevada, the former mayor failed to craft a convincing response to criticism of his controversial policing policy, stop-and-frisk, which disproportionately impacted minorities.

The favored centrist candidate in South Carolina is Joe Biden, who remains popular with African American voters, a dominant presence in Democratic contests in the state, after serving for eight years as vice-president to Barack Obama.

A CBS News poll taken before Nevada, where Biden placed second, showed him in the lead in South Carolina with 28% support. Sanders was second with 23%, followed by the second billionaire in the race, Tom Steyer, with 18%.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton dominated South Carolina, winning with 73% of the vote to 26% for Sanders.

Biden, who has denied suggestions that that his campaign will be over if he does not win South Carolina, is expected to receive a well-timed endorsement from the House majority whip, Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking African American in Congress.

Related: 'Namaste Trump': India welcomes US president at Modi rally

We are going to let people know how we feel about these candidates, and it may not line up with Nevada or New Hampshire or Iowa, Clyburn told ABC News on Sunday.

As Trump tweeted gleefully about supposed establishment attempts to block Sanders, some Democrats called on candidates including the Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg to exit the race in order to consolidate the moderate vote.

All the remaining candidates, however, have said they plan to stick around for Super Tuesday.

Buttigieg, who like Sanders declared himself the winner of the muddled Iowa caucuses, used his concession speech in Nevada to warn against a rush to nominate Sanders to face Trump in November.

The senator, he said, is a disaster in waiting.
Participants acknowledged outcomes in cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand, and pledged to closely coordinate in ensuring efficiency of regional cooperation mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM).

Sharing the same view of supporting an open, fair and rules-based multilateral international trading system, the two sides agreed to evaluate the implementation and negotiation for upgrading the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and exert efforts to complete negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2020.

Participants at the dialogue (Photo: VNA)



The meeting also noted the progress of drafting the ASEAN-New Zealand Action Plan for the period 2021-2025.

New Zealand affirmed its support for the central role played by ASEAN in the region, while appreciating the ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific document, and proposing the strengthening of cooperation in the fields relating to security, economy, people and environment.

Regarding international and regional situations, the two sides reiterated their views on the East Sea stated at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in January, which emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, strictly and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and actively negotiating to build an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

New Zealand supports ASEAN's efforts in humanitarian assistance activities in Myanmar's Rakhine state, and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.

The two sides also shared concern over the impact of the coronarivus disease (COVID-19) on the world and the region, and agreed to enhance cooperation to combat this disease.

As the ASEAN Chair, Vietnam shared ASEAN's priorities and initiatives in 2020, affirming that Vietnam will continue to promote the close relationship between the bloc and New Zealand.

Vietnam also suggested stronger cooperation between the two sides in specific fields such as maritime collaboration, economic connectivity, sub-regional development and gender equality. It affirmed to closely coordinate with ASEAN countries and New Zealand to successfully organise the ASEAN-New Zealand Summit in order to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the partnership between the two sides in April this year./.
Italian police officers check cars and passengers moving in and out of Casalpusterlengo as restrictive measures are taken to contain the outbreak of the new coronavirus. (Piero Cruciatti/Sipa USA)

Window of opportunity to tackle new coronavirus is narrowing, WHO says

Global infections near 80,000 as death toll passes 2,600

Outbreak in Italy sees 12 cities in lockdown and tourists afraid to visit

Confirmed number of UK cases reaches 13

Time is running out to prevent a global coronavirus pandemic, health experts have warned.

Italy has locked down 50,000 people in 12 northern towns after more than 100 people became infected with the new coronavirus, while sharp increases in cases have happened in Iran and South Korea.

Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, told the Daily Mail: The director general of the World Health Organization [WHO] has recently spoken of a narrowing of the window of opportunity to control the current epidemic.

The tipping point after which our ability to prevent a global pandemic ends seems a lot closer after the past 24 hours.

Specialist centres set up in the UK to treat coronavirus. (PA Graphics)

While cases in China  where the outbreak originated from  are declining, he described the new cases as extremely concerning.

Read more: Two MPs self-isolate over coronavirus fears

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, said on Friday that the window of opportunity to tackle the coronavirus, officially named Covid-19, was narrowing.

The surge of infections has triggered steep falls in Asian stock markets and oil prices tumbled. The Korean won has fallen to its lowest point since August.

Four Britons are being treated at specialist centres in northern England after testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 13.

They were on the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan for more than two weeks and flew back on a repatriation flight.

Read more: Fear, boredom and adventure: life on a quarantined cruise ship

A total of 30 British people and two Irish citizens were quarantined at Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, after arriving back in the UK on Saturday.

Police patrol outside the buildings at Arrowe Park Hospital, which is being used to quarantine people while they are assessed for coronavirus. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

As cases spiked in Italy, authorities cancelled the famous Venice carnival and called off football games while Austria halted rail traffic to and from Italy for several hours after suspecting one train had people with coronavirus on board.

Story continues

In Iran, four more deaths confirmed by officials brings the Covid-19 death total to 12.

There have now been 47 confirmed cases in the country, including people who have died, according to the state broadcaster.

The Iranian outbreak is mostly concentrated in the city of Qom but it spread rapidly in the last few days to four other cities, including the capital, Tehran.

But another health expert, David Heymann, the professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, described the use of the word pandemic as distracting.

It is still a series of outbreaks and countries where they are occurring should make every effort to stop transmission and all countries should prepare for more widespread occurrence if it happens,j he said.

Transmissibility in the community is not yet fully understood  terms such as pandemic are distracting  what is necessary is to understand the current situation in each country.

Outbreaks must be stopped if possible, and if there is community spread also, community mitigation such as social distancing should be considered along the lines of pandemic preparedness plans for influenza that countries may decide to roll out.

It is for WHO to determine when the outbreaks should be called a pandemic and they will do this based on information from many different sources.

Watch a video about the outbreak below
PUNE Residents of Phursungi stopped the Pune Municipal Corporations (PMC) garbage-carrying vehicles on Monday, from entering the area to access the Uruli Devachi and Phursungi garbage depots.

Phursungi residents allege that the PMC does not segregate the garbage it is sending to these depots.

PMC solid waste management department head, Dnyaneshwar Molak, said, It is true that the residents from Uruli Devachi and Phursungi are agitating, but the allegations made by them are not true. PMC garbage is mostly segregated. We will talk to the residents and take necessary steps to solve the problem.

An officer of the PMC, requesting anonymity, said that agitations by residents of Phursungi typically begin in March or April, ahead of summer, to prevent garbage being dumped in the open at the sites.

Tukaram Badale, a resident of Phursungi, said, It is true that the condition of the garbage depots has gotten better in the last several years in terms of the smell, but open dumping of garbage is still common. Even the processing plants are not functioning.

The PMC official said that a plan is in place to issue two tenders to restart the garbage processing plants. This plan will be placed before the standing committee for clearance, the official said.
Taiwan gearing up to produce 10 million face masks per day

ROC Central News Agency

02/23/2020 02:18 PM

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Taiwan is set to increase its production of face masks from the current 4 million per day to 10 million by early March to meet high demand amid preventative efforts against the novel coronavirus, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

At the request of the government, a team of machine tool builders, in collaboration with three research institutes, has built 60 new production lines, each of which can manufacture 100,000 surgical masks per day, the ministry said.

When production starts in the first half of March, therefore, the daily output will be 10 million masks, the MOEA said in a Facebook post last Friday.

Normally, 60 new production lines would take four to six months to build, but the team completed the work in just one month, the ministry said.

This was "not a miracle but the result of cooperation among the Taiwanese people," the MOEA wrote, commending the "national team" for "completing an almost impossible task."

The team of machine tool builders was assembled by Habor Hsu (), chairman of the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA), and assisted by personnel from the Industrial Technology Research Institute, the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, the Precision Machinery Research Development Center, and some 30 companies in the machinery sector.

The TMBA said it hopes that when output reaches 10 million masks per day, people will no longer have to stand in long lines to buy two masks per week under the government's rationing system.

Since the deadly coronavirus began spreading from China late last month, Taiwan has recorded 26 cases and one death.

As part of the Taiwan government's efforts to contain and deal with the epidemic, it has been requisitioning and distributing all domestically produced masks to healthcare workers and professionals and to over 6,000 pharmacies and drugstores for regulated sale to consumers.

(By Wu Po-wei, Chang Chien-chung and Elizabeth Hsu)

Enditem/pc

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Every student at Bledsoe County High School received a copy of Big Fish, written by best-selling Southern author Daniel Wallace, in preparation for the writers visit to the school in April. This purchase of 530 copies of the novel was made possible through grant funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission and additional financial support from Chattanooga States Humanities Department.

Mr. Wallaces upcoming visit to Bledsoe County High School on April 9 is a part of his involvement in Chattanooga States Writers@Work series which celebrates Southern literature by integrating the work of selected authors into the curriculum of the department's Composition Two course. Each year, the nearly 1,500 students enrolled in Composition Two engage in activities focused around a specific work while practicing critical course skills. Every spring, the W@W featured author comes to Chattanooga to share his or her work and writing experience with the faculty, staff, and students of Chattanooga State and the general public.

Past W@W authors include an impressive lineup of nationally-recognized and best-selling Southern authors, including Terry Kay, Jill McCorkle, Lila Quintero Weaver, Rick Bragg, George Singleton, Ron Rash, Robert Morgan, Tom Franklin, Beth Ann Fennelly, and Chattanoogas own Ishmael Reed. The 2017 W@W author, Tayari Jones, recently received the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary WorkFiction for her novel, An American Marriage, which was also a 2018 Oprah's Book Club Selection.

This years Writers@Work installment features Daniel Wallace and his novel Big Fish, which Publishers Weekly describes as featuring a plainspoken style dotted with transcendent passages and possessing the transformative quality of fable and fairy tale, stating that the novel's roomy structure allows the mystery and lyricism of the story to coalesce.

Mr. Wallaces novel will be celebrated in a week-long series of events including readings, interviews, a meeting with students at Bledsoe County High School on April 9, a discussion of the film adaptation of the novel, and a production of Big Fish: The Musical by Chattanooga States Theatre Department.

For more information on the program or this years events, please visit the programs website at www.chattbigread.com.
The legendary German electro pioneers Kraftwerk on Monday announced a North American tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The influential group -- which has inspired artists from David Bowie to Kanye West and Daft Punk -- will kick off the 27-date trek throughout the US and Canada in Seattle on June 19, with destinations including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago along with Vancouver and Montreal. The act promises immersive "3-D Concerts" -- a concept launched in 2013 that fuses three-dimensional visuals and performance art with Kraftwerk's music catalog -- that will return stateside for the first time since 2016. Ralf Huetter and Florian Schneider started Kraftwerk in Dusseldorf in 1970 as part of the experimental "krautrock" movement, a broad genre blending psychedelic rock with electronic rhythms and early synthesizers. The group, who famously said that they wanted to make music more as machines than as men, quickly gained international recognition for industrial sounds, sparse arrangements and computerized beats that provided a blueprint for later genres including electro, hip hop, techno and synthpop. Kraftwerk -- whose major albums include "Autobahn," "Trans-Europe Express" and "The Man-Machine" -- were honored in 2014 with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. The notoriously reclusive act has been a major contributor to music technology, constructing homemade instruments and devices to craft its innovative sound. The band Kraftwerk performs at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 2012
Pressure is mounting over a report which revealed mixed-race children were routinely withheld for adoption in mother and baby homes - and which remains unpublished.

Details of the report by the Collaborative Forum on Mother and Baby Homes were exclusively revealed in the Sunday Independent yesterday.

They revealed children were subjected to "racial profiling" and stripped of their identities in the homes. In one account, a child's skin colour was listed as a "defect".

The report was given to outgoing Children's Minister Katherine Zappone last year, but she decided not to publish it on the advice of the Attorney General.

To the disappointment of forum members, only its recommendations were published.

The forum was appointed in parallel with the Commission of Investigation into mother and baby homes, which discovered the remains of children in a disused sewerage container at the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway.

A statement on the minister's behalf said the forum's report will be "revisited" when the Commission of Investigation completes its final report. It has been delayed until June.

Examination

Fintan Dunne, a spokesperson for the advocacy group Irish First Mothers, told the Herald yesterday he believed both reports should be in the public domain "as soon as possible".

"Let the incoming government move expeditiously to get this information out before legislators and the public, and then let's have a national examination. We appreciate the Attorney General's concerns, but we would like to see both reports as soon as is legally and politically possible.

"Let's begin to address the issues now on a cross-party basis and start to progress this issue, irrespective of the delays that are taking place in other political arenas.

"We believe the public debate should begin now.

"Let's not wait for the politicians and the paperwork. We already are armed with most of the truth thanks to the work of the media."

He said they would take the Commission of Investigation report as a first step of a "substantive" investigation.

The forum's report was also highly critical of the child and family agency Tusla, which holds birth records from adoption services and some mother and baby homes.

It said levels of anger, frustration and discontent with the agency from survivors trying to access their records "has escalated to record numbers".

In a statement, Ms Zappone said she had already expressed her disappointment she could not publish the forum's full report, saying that it cut across the work of the Commission of Investigation.

There were also "concerns" about publishing material that makes allegations against others "in the absence of fair procedures being afforded to the persons concerned".

Tusla did not comment yesterday.
Vice President Mike Pence will meet with agriculture stakeholders and battleground voters on a bus tour through Michigan just a few short weeks before the states primary election.

Pence is scheduled to deliver remarks at the Michigan Farm Bureau Lansing Legislative Seminar, then hold a Keep America Great rally in Troy on Tuesday, Feb. 25. John Sellek, CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs, said the visits target two key constituencies that helped deliver Michigan to a Republican presidential nominee for the first time in decades -- farmers and blue-collar workers.

Both groups resonated with President Donald Trumps message on trade, Sellek said. Trump has since secured renegotiated arrangements with its trading partners in North America and China.

The President was listening to blue-collar workers and the agriculture industry when he ran for office, and they said that the status quo with China was unacceptable, Sellek said. He entered into the fight to try to even the score with China and trade. Its been tough ... I expect (Pence) to say he thinks the president has farmers backs and he senses that overall farmers have the presidents back.

The swing through Michigan comes after a similar bus tour through Wisconsin and Minnesota, and while the vice president actively campaigns in Nevada, Colorado, Virginia and other states that will hold primaries and caucuses during the next few weeks.

Pence told reporters in Iowa last month that he enjoys retail politics and campaigning in smaller events at more intimate venues, calling himself a small-town guy. While Trump prefers to speak in front of thousands of his supporters at arenas, the vice presidents trips to Michigan have typically been more subdued, allowing Pence to meet one-on-one with voters in key constituencies.

The vice president held an event for blue-collar workers in Saginaw on the same day Trump spoke at a Christmas-themed rally in Battle Creek. The vice president met with religious leaders during previous stops in Portage and Holland last December.

Pences visit comes on the same day as the Christian holiday Fat Tuesday, also known as paczki day in Michigan.

Pence is expected to speak before more than 470 attendees at Michigan Farm Bureaus Lansing Legislative Seminar, which will also be attended by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

The Trump administration has kept a focus on appealing to farmers as his re-election effort kicks off. Meanwhile, Democrats criticized the president for harming the agriculture industry through his trade war with China.

Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski said farmers faced the tip of the spear while China hoped to inflict enough economic damage that Trump would end the trade war.

China is among the largest buyers of many Michigan agricultural products, and Michigan soybean farmers were hit hard by tariffs China imposed on U.S. farm products. Trade damages from retaliatory tariffs impacted a host of U.S. commodities, including soybeans, corn, wheat, fruit crops and livestock products like milk and pork.

Agriculture has struggled while those tariffs were in place and while we were being perhaps targeted by some of these other countries, Bednarski said. The thing is though, agriculture has been through ups and downs before. Weve seen what the president was trying to do. Wed seen and understood there were issues outside of agriculture that were affecting our country and we decided to stand by the administration.

Federal bailouts were given to farmers to help offset the impact of the presidents trade wars. The program began in 2018 as a $12 billion effort and grew to $28 billion last year.

However, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, expressed concern that the aid program provided more funding to southern states and larger farms. The U.S. Government Accountability Office is opening a review of the farm bailout at Stabenows request.

Stabenow, the Senate Agriculture Committees ranking member, released a report last year which claimed the USDA is picking winners and losers in their attempt to aid farmers affected by President Trumps turbulent trade agenda.

Fifteen Michigan farms declared bankruptcy in 2019, up from 10 in 2018. The number of bankruptcy filings in the Midwest increased by 17% in the last year, with Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio recording decade-high numbers.

Though farmers have suffered financially under Chinas retaliatory tariffs, Sellek said recent polling shows they remain strong supporters of the president.

A January poll from agricultural trade publication Farm Journal found 83% of farmers and ranchers approve of the presidents job performance. It is the highest level of support for Mr. Trump among farmers since he took office, Farm Journal said.

Hes staked a good chunk of his presidency on the blue-collar consistency seeing him take action, Trump said. Even if the waters are kind of rough while its happening, they will see that he promised that he would do something and he in the process of doing it. It may not all be wrapped up into a bow by the time the election comes, but I think what a lot of people were looking for was somebody that was wanting to go in and get aggressive.

The Michigan Democratic Partys Rural Caucus criticized the Trump administration for its erratic trade wars."

Vice President Pence will have pretty words, but what has his administration delivered? rural caucus co-chairs Cathy Albro and Mark Ludwig said in a joint statement.

Pence is also likely to tout the positive effects of the new North American free-trade agreement. The rewritten deal is expected to open new markets for agricultural exports and was supported by the Michigan Farm Bureau.

Chris Bliley, senior vice president of regulatory affairs at Growth Energy, said he will be looking for Pence to highlight the administrations decision to end an Obama-era ban on the sale of higher-ethanol blends of gasoline. The Trump administration made good on its promise to allow gasoline stations to sell blends containing up to 15% corn-based ethanol year-round.

The decision is a win for Michigans agriculture community, Bliley said. Michigan is home to five biofuel production facilities that create $321 million in income and 4,600 jobs.

Pence is also scheduled to hold a rally at the Detroit Marriott Troy hotel. Sellek said the Trump campaign obviously recognizes an opportunity to reach Michigan voters while Democrats have been focused on early primary states.

I think smart presidents are able to take advantage of the fact that theyre able to look ahead, theyre able to visit all 50 states and communicate what theyre doing to get the job done, Sellek said.

Trump barely lost in the city of Troy during the 2016 presidential election, with voters choosing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by a razor-thin 314-vote margin.

Trump also lost the surrounding Oakland County by 8 percentage points, and voters in those suburban communities north of Detroit went on to overwhelmingly support Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.

However, Troy borders Macomb County, a key Michigan battleground that helped deliver the state to Trump in 2016. The Tuesday rally is a close drive for Republicans in Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township and other nearby cities that supported Trump.

Trump became the first Republican to win Michigan since 1988 in part due to his appeal among blue-collar voters in places like Sterling Heights, which Trump visited in the final days of the previous presidential election. Trump won Michigan by only 10,704 votes in 2016, his closest margin of victory in any state and the closest result in Michigan electoral history.

Trumps re-election campaign is expected to dispatch surrogates to Michigan before the March 10 primary, much like the president has done before elections in several other states this year.

The Oakland County Republican Party is advertising ticket reservations for an upcoming event with Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, who also chairs a fundraising committee for the presidents re-election campaign. The time and location have yet to be announced.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan farmers brace for new Chinese tariffs as trade war rolls on

Michigan farmers say nobody wins in Trumps trade war with China

Here are the Michigan farms that received the most money from Trumps aid package, by commodity

Michigan farmers got $193M from Trumps tariff-aid package
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving forward with the next version of their charitable organization. A close friend of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Jessica Mulroney, is rumored to have registered a website for a charity called Sussex Global Charities. The move comes after Queen Elizabeths decision to prohibit the couple from using the charity they set up last year, Sussex Royal. Now Mulroney wants to make it clear that the new charity is not exactly how it appears.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson  Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle forced to ditch Sussex Royal

There have been a lot of developments since Harry and Meghan Markle announced their exit at the beginning of January. In their initial plan, the two were going to continue their work with Sussex Royal.

But after weeks of meetings, Queen Elizabeth declared that they will no longer be allowed to use their royal titles in public. Prince Harry and Markle will formally keep their HRH styles, but they cannot use them until they return to the royal family.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry not royal anymore as Queen 'lays down the hammer' https://t.co/ki5KZf4TUT pic.twitter.com/LQPoLaFEZz  Daily Express (@Daily_Express) February 23, 2020

This includes the use of the charitable foundation they established last year, Sussex Royal. As royal watchers will recall, the Sussexes launched the new initiative after leaving Prince William and Kate Middletons organization, The Royal Foundation.

Prince Harry and Markle have not said anything about their plans to establish a new charity, but the former actresss best friend just dropped a major clue about their future plans.

Sussex Global Charities website gets registered

In light of their exit from the royal family, Prince Harry and Markle have been working behind the scenes to start a new life in North America. Apart from becoming financially independent from the crown, the two are looking to continue their work in the charity world.

Although they can no longer use Sussex Royal, they reportedly already have a name for their new foundation. According to NY Post, Markles best friend, Jessica Mulroney, just registered a website with the URL, sussexglobalcharities.com.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are sharing new details about their split from the royal family after being told they will no longer be able to use the Sussex Royal branding in future plans, @joefryer reports. pic.twitter.com/PaCHRqrYpJ  TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 24, 2020

The name of the website is supposedly a major clue to what Meghan Markle and Prince Harry plan on calling their next charity.

This is a clever way to get around Queen Elizabeths decree while still using Sussex as their brand. That said, Mulroney has since come out and denied that she is the one who registered the new website.

Did Mulroney register the new website?

Its no secret that Mulroney and Markle are best friends. Jessica Mulroney is a well-known fashion designer who was Markles maid of honor at her wedding back in 2018. Her daughter and son also acted as flower girls and pageboys at the ceremony.

Considering their close ties, and the fact that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now in North America, it makes sense that Mulroney would be heavily involved in their next charitable venture. Mulroney, however, begs to differ.

Jessica Mulroney is setting the record straight.https://t.co/m5tApXgDEX  Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) February 24, 2020

Taking to Twitter, Mulroney assured her followers that she had nothing to do with registering the new website. The site was registered under an organization called Shoebox Project Foundation, which closely resembles the name of Mulroneys charity, The Shoebox Project.

If certain investigative journalists were to do their jobs, perhaps they would see that Shoebox Project Foundation is owned by a Mr Roy in North Carolina and has no affiliations or ties to our charity The Shoebox Project, Mulroney explained. Happy Sunday.

The founders of the Shoebox Project Foundation have not commented on the controversy surrounding their new website. It is also unclear if the organization has any ties to Harry and Markle.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles exit timeline revealed

While we wait to learn more about Sussex Global Charities, Prince Harry and Markle just confirmed when they will officially be stepping down as senior members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth previously stated that Megxit will become official in the spring, and the couple confirmed that their final departure will take place on March 31.

Harry and Meghan are being urged to be more gracious about the terms of their departure from the royal family after they issued a bitter and petulant statement over the weekend, after being banned from using the name Sussex Royalhttps://t.co/JX72cQusEW  The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) February 24, 2020

At that time, Harry and Markle will become financially independent from the crown and will stop appearing in public as representatives of the monarchy. Harry is expected to continue his work with the Invictus Games and Sentebale, but the pair will be giving up everything else.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also not revealed where they will set down roots in North America. The two are currently staying in Canada, though they are reportedly looking to purchase a home in either New York City or Los Angeles.
SafeWork NSW is investigating a building collapse that forced the evacuation of two sites in Sydney's inner west on Monday, scattering bricks onto the road and burying parked cars under fallen signs and rubble.

Emergency services crews were called to the building, next to a construction site, on New Canterbury Road at Dulwich Hill about 11.45am, a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

"Police evacuated the building and a neighbouring building as a precaution," the spokeswoman said. "All workers have been accounted for and there were no injuries."

The tumbling building also brought down electricity wires and was slowing eastbound traffic between Canterbury Road and Melford Street about 2.30pm, according to Live Traffic NSW.
WASHINGTON  Capital Region voters gave more money to the campaigns of President Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders than any other presidential candidates in 2019.

A Times Union analysis of Federal Election Commission data shows that while voters statewide in New York showered more contributions on former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg than any other Democrat, voters from six Albany-area counties favored the Vermont senator last year, according to the most recent data available.

Nationally, Sanders has raised over $107 million, more than any other Democrat, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, trailed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Buttigieg. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and businessman Tom Steyer have more campaign money than Sanders because they are giving whopping personal contributions to their campaigns.

Strong fundraising numbers in New York do not necessarily give either Buttigieg or Sanders a shoe-in to win the New York primary on April 28. Only a small percentage of voters ever contribute to a political campaign and an even slimmer group give money early in a race.

"Money is a crucial resource and those that have it are better positioned, said Middlebury College Political Science Professor Matthew Dickinson. Where is it not a good measure is the breadth of your support more generally.

Personally bankrolling his run for the Democratic nomination, Bloomberg is not accepting individual contributions so his support in upstate New York cannot be gauged by fundraising numbers. Moreover, factors like candidates' wins or losses in primaries and caucus are likely to change the playing field before late April.

The Capital Region fundraising data can be viewed as a snapshot of one metric of candidate performance at the close of 2019.

The most recent polling on New York presidential preferences is from November 2019. A Siena College Research Institute Poll found former Vice President Joseph Biden leading the race among New York Democrats at that time. Now, Biden trails in national polls to Sanders and Bloomberg.

In Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties, voters gave more significantly money to Democrats running for president than to Trump, the data shows. That likely reflects the fact that Democrats were nearing a heated primary fight in 2019, whereas Trump's campaign was still simmering.

Its where we are in the process," said Middlebury College Political Science Professor Matthew Dickinson. "The Trump campaign hasnt really hit the ground.

The FEC data is sorted by Zip Code, with voters who share the first three digits of their home Zip Code grouped together. Voters with Zip Codes that start with "128"  people in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties  gave $67,898 to Trump as of the end of 2019, more than any other 3-digit Zip Code group in the region.

Voters whose Zip Codes start with "122"  people in Albany County, including the city of Albany  gave the most to Sanders of Zip Code groups in the region; the area gave $40,430 to Sanders.

Dickinson said the discrepancy between Buttigieg getting the most contributions in New York but Sanders winning the Albany area illustrates a demographic difference in who is contributing to each Democrat.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Buttigieg has held at least 18 fundraisers in New York, including several high-roller evenings, as well as some grassroots events. Sanders has steered away from expensive pay-per-plate fundraisers and instead, flexed his famed email efforts to reach voters across the country.

(Buttigieg) is drawing disproportionately from a more affluent donor pool, Dickinson said. "Sanders has been a pioneer in developing these Internet sources and going back to them again and again and again.

Sanders's campaign said his New York fundraising is now surging. Sanders raised more than $2.4 million from over 58,000 individual New Yorkers in the month of January 2020 alone, his campaign said. In comparison, Sanders collected $3.4 million from New Yorkers in all of 2019.

He is proving each and every day that working class Americans are ready and willing to fully fund a campaign that stands up for them and takes on the biggest corporations and the wealthy," said Sanders's campaign manager Faiz Shakir.

The Sanders campaign has had over 2,000 events across New York since it launched in 2019, including some in the Albany area, a Sanders spokesperson said.

Buttigieg's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Although he dropped out of the race in February, Democrat Andrew Yang also saw solid financial support in 2019 from the six Capital Region counties examined by the Times Union. Yang spent his first four years of life in Schenectady and maintains ties to the region. He raised just shy of $60,000 from the six counties, FEC data shows.
Sources revealed by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange disappeared after he put them at risk of torture and murder, a court has heard.

Opening his extradition hearing on Monday, James Lewis QC, said the 48-year-old is guilty of ordinary criminality by stealing from and hacking into US government computers.

He told District Judge Vanessa Baraitser that Assange, 48, is not charged with publishing embarrassing information the US would rather was not disclosed.

The lawyer said the dissemination of specific classified unredacted documents put dissidents in Afghanistan and Iraq at risk of serious harm, torture or even death.

He told Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates court, that the US identified hundreds of at-risk and potentially at-risk people around the world and made efforts to warn them.

Mr Lewis said: The US is aware of sources, whose redacted names and other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by WikiLeaks, who subsequently disappeared, although the US cant prove at this point that their disappearance was the result of being outed by WikiLeaks.

Supporters of Julian Assange outside court (Yui Mok/PA)

Australian Assange is wanted in the United States to face 18 charges in the Eastern District of Virginia over one of the largest compromises of classified information in the countrys history.

Mr Lewis said most of the charges relate to straightforward criminal activity, which he described as a conspiracy to steal from and hack into the department of defence computer system along with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

These are ordinary criminal charges and any person, journalist or source who hacks or attempts to gain unauthorised access to a secure system or aids and abets others to do so is guilty of computer misuse, Mr Lewis said.

Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a licence to break ordinary criminal laws.

This is true in the UK as it is in the USA and indeed in any civilised country in the world.

Among Julian Assanges supporters was fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood (Yui Mok/PA)

The lawyer said three charges relate to the dissemination of specific documents which put sources at risk.

By disseminating the materials in an unredacted form, he likely put people  human rights activists, journalists, advocates, religious leaders, dissidents and their families  at risk of serious harm, torture or even death, he said.

What Mr Assange seeks to defend by free speech is not the publication of the classified materials, but he seeks to defend the publication of sources  the names of people who put themselves at risk to assist the US and its allies, Mr Lewis continued.

He is not charged with the disclosure of embarrassing or awkward information that the government would rather not be disclosed. The disclosure charges are solely were there was a risk of harm.

Mr Lewis also described Assanges lawyers claims that he would face up to 175 years in jail if found guilty of the charges as hyperbole, although he did admit that any sentence would be a matter for the US court.

Wearing a grey suit, and grey sweater over a white shirt, Assange spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth in front of supporters in a full public gallery, including his father, John Shipton.

Among Julian Assanges supporters was fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood (Yui Mok/PA)

Scores of protesters, some of whom had pitched tents nearby, made so much noise that they could be heard inside the courtroom.

The noise, which included a siren, chanting and singing, was so loud it prompted Assange to address the court before the lunch break.

He said: Im having difficulty concentrating. All this noise is not helpful either.

I understand and am very grateful of the public support and understand they must be disgusted

But the judge stopped him from speaking, instead asking his lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC, to address her.

He said: What Mr Assange is saying is he cant hear and cant concentrate because of the noise outside.

The extradition hearing will be adjourned at the end of this week of legal argument and continue with three weeks of evidence scheduled to begin on May 18.

The decision, which is expected months later, is likely to be appealed against by the losing side, whatever the outcome.

Assange has been held on remand in Belmarsh prison since last September after serving a 50-week jail sentence for breaching his bail conditions while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

He entered the building in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex offence allegations, which he has always denied and were subsequently dropped.
In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of Feb. 24.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Protesters stand at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Sunday Feb. 23, 2020, during a protest in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en Nation hereditary chiefs attempting to halt construction of a natural gas pipeline on their traditional territories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of Feb. 24.

What we are watching in Canada ...

Ontario Provincial Police reportedly gave protesters until midnight Sunday to clear a rail blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, or face an investigation and possible criminal charges.

But the deadline came and went, and the blockade near Belleville, Ont., that has crippled both freight and passenger rail traffic in most of eastern Canada for nearly three weeks remained in place Monday morning.

The barricades are a 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.

Hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation oppose the work on their traditional territory, despite support from elected band councils along the pipeline route.

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was time for the barricades to come down and injunctions ordering the tracks cleared to be enforced.

But Heredity Chief Na'moks, also known as John Ridsdale, said Sunday that Trudeau's "misinformed" and "antagonistic" speech had just the opposite effect.

"If the prime minister had not made that speech the Mohawks would have taken down everything," he said. "They were ready. We were on the phone."

---

Also this ...

Teck Resources Ltd. says it's withdrawing its application for a massive oilsands mining project just days ahead of an expected government decision, citing the political discourse over climate change.

The company says it will take a $1.13-billion writedown on the Frontier project in Alberta.

In a letter to the federal environment minister, Teck CEO and President Don Lindsay says investors and customers increasingly want jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change.

He says that "does not yet exist here today," and that the growing debate around the issue has placed Frontier and the company "squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved."

The proposed $20.6-billion project was expected to create an estimated 7,000 construction jobs, 2,500 operating jobs and about $12 billion in federal income and capital taxes, but was also expected to produce about four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year over 40 years.

Fourteen First Nations and Metis communities signed participation agreements with the company on the Teck mine, and the project was awaiting approval from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.

---

ICYMI (in case you missed it) ...

Ontario health officials say there's a new presumptive case of the novel coronavirus in Toronto.

They say a woman arrived in Canada from China on Friday and went to a Toronto hospital with an intermittent cough.

The province says the woman was tested for the new virus, known as COVID-19, and was sent home for self isolation because her illness was mild.

Officials say the woman's local tests came back positive for the virus on Saturday and the sample has been sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg for confirmation.

The province says it's unlikely that the woman was infectious.

It says she "followed all protocols and wore a mask throughout her travels back to Toronto."

This is the only known case of the disease in Ontario, after three people with previous diagnoses were cleared of the virus.

---

What we are watching in the U.S. ...

CHARLESTON, S.C.  Any momentum that Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders gains in South Carolina after his win in Nevada could be devastating to Joe Biden.

The former vice-president is looking to the state for a commanding victory that can keep his candidacy alive through Super Tuesday.

The March 3 contests will unfold in 14 states and award one-third of the delegates needed for the Democratic nomination.

Moderate Democrats are growing increasingly nervous that Sanders' call for a political revolution will drive voters away from the party, both in the matchup against President Donald Trump and in House and Senate races.

---

What we are watching in the rest of the world ...

SEOUL  South Korea reported another large jump in new virus cases Monday a day after the president called for unprecedented, powerful steps to combat the outbreak that is increasingly confounding attempts to stop the spread.

The 231 new cases bring South Korea's total to 833, and two more deaths raise its toll to seven.

China also reported 409 new cases on Monday, raising the mainland's total to 77,150 after a zigzag pattern of increases in recent days.

The 150 new deaths from the COVID-19 illness raised China's total to 2,592 and showed a spike after hovering around 100 for four days. All but one death were in Hubei province, where the outbreak emerged in December.

Significant jumps in cases outside China have raised concern of the outbreak getting out of control. South Korea has the third-highest national total behind China and Japan, and cases have rapidly increased in Italy and Iran in just a few days.

Most of Japan's cases were from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where nearly one-fifth of its 3,711 passengers and crew became infected.

More than 140 of South Korea's new cases were in and near Daegu, the city of 2.5 million people where most of the countrys infections have occurred.

---

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Feb. 24, 2020.
Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Florin Iordache maintained on Monday, at the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR), that early elections should only be triggered if Parliament is not functioning, not as a result of the political action of the head of state.

"Early elections should be exclusively the consequence of Parliament failing to function and not a political purpose of the President or of a parliamentary minority resulting from the elections. In no case should the Legislative be placed in the situation of giving the vote of confidence to a government under the pressure of losing its mandate," said Iordache.In his opinion, the position of President Klaus Iohannis equates to an attack on another authority, in this case the Parliament."We note that this obligation of the President is a genuine obligation of diligence, not a formal stage, lacking content. The President of Romania cannot exercise his constitutional prerogatives referring to the designation of the candidate for the position of Prime Minister with the deliberate purpose of starting a political crisis to dissolve Parliament, thus conferring to this competence a new unconstitutional connotation. This situation would equate to an attack on another public authority," Florin Iordache argued.The CCR is debating, on Monday, the complaint regarding a constitutional legal conflict between the President and Parliament in relation to the appointment of the leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Ludovic Orban, to form a new Government after the one he was leading was sacked through censure motion.According to the document signed by the leaders of the two chambers of Parliament, the conflict consists in "the President's exercising in a discretionary manner his constitutional powers, by designating on February 6 candidate Ludovic Orban as Prime Minister."At the start of the session, the President of the Constitutional Court, Valer Dorneanu, announced the joinder of the two complaints formulated by the leaders of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. AGERPRES
McGrath Estate Agency have posted a revenue rise of 15 per cent over the first half of the 2020 financial year.

Chief executive Geoff Lucas said that, subject to economic conditions, they expect the turnaround of the business to continue throughout the year.

"[This] will manifest in the FY2020 results", Lucas said.

McGrath's number of properties sold jumped from 4,862 in the first half 2019 to 5,768 in the first half 2020, up 19 per cent.

Lucas noted this was achieved "in a period where market listings have been consistently below the prior year." The average rise was four per cent across markets.

Lucas still cited the "challenging property environment".

"As the market conditions improved in Q2 of FY20, we were well placed to capitalise on these positive tailwinds", Lucas said.

We have seen a strong start to activity in January 2020 with an increased number of vendors who have gone to market early and benefitted from strong demand and continued rising values during the last quarter of CY2019.

"We believe this will have a positive impact on vendor sentiment for the second half."

McGrath noted that an uplift in market sentiment and strong clearance rates, notwithstanding the markets lower listing numbers has contributed to the business performing significantly better in the first half of FY20.

Over 32 of McGrath staff who had previously left the company have returned over the last 18 months.

McGrath shares opened trading at 30 on Monday. They rose to 34 in morning trading.
South Korea reported 161 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 763.

South Korea reported 161 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 763, health authorities said on Monday, a day after the government raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level.

Of the new cases, 115 were linked to a church in the southeastern city of Daegu after a 61-year-old woman known as Patient 31 who attended services there tested positive, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

KCDC also reported the seventh death from the virus, a 62-year-old man from a hospital in Cheongdo, a county that saw surges in confirmed cases along with nearby Daegu in recent weeks.

Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the new outbreak, with Patient 31 having no recent record of overseas travel.

South Korea imposed its highest infectious disease alert on Sunday, vowing extra resources to the region and limiting public activities.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-24 13:00:41

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VANCOUVER , BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / International Mining Corp (CSE: IMCX) (OTC: IMIMF) (the "Company" or "IMC"), is pleased to announce it has completed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 3,110,000 units (each, a "Unit"), at a price of $0.25 CDN per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $777,500 CDN. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share", and collectively, the "Common Shares"), and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one additional common share of the Company for two years at a price of $0.40 CDN per share.All securities issued in connection with the private placement are subject to final approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") and the statutory four-hold period expiring June 22, 2020.The proceeds of the financing will be used principally for the exploration of the Company's Bullard Pass Property in Arizona, USA, the Thane Property in British Columbia, Canada, and for general working capital purposes.The Company paid finders' fees of $21,750 CDN in cash and issued 87,000 finder warrants, with each finder warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire a Common Share at a price of $0.40 CDN per Common Share until February 21, 2022.In addition, the Company announces the appointment of David Charlton as the Company's new Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Charlton is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 7 years' experience working with junior mining, oil and gas, blockchain and cryptocurrency companies in the public sector. Prior to joining the Company, David worked for midsize audit firms where he serviced a variety of TSX Venture Exchange and CSE-listed companies in audit and assurance, business consultation, financial statement preparation and compliance.The Company wishes to thank outgoing Chief Financial Officer, Eli Dusenbury, for his service over the past year.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities referred to herein will not be or have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSBrian ThurstonChief Executive Officer and PresidentABOUT INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.IMC International Mining Corp. is a junior exploration and development company. It is focused on creating shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration and development of gold assets, which include the Company's 100% owned Bullard Pass Property in Arizona.IMC continues to evaluate additional properties to add to its portfolio of mining assets.INVESTOR RELATIONS:ir@ internationalmining.ca 1 (604) 588-2110Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding: the completion of the Private Placement, the Company's intention to acquire further mineral properties; the Company's business plans and prospects and the future of the Company's business, the acquisition, exploration and development of its assets; and the ability to create shareholder value. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Private Placement may not complete in the full amount contemplated, or at all, that the Company may not acquire any additional mineral properties, that the Company's plans and prospects will vary from those stated in this news release and that the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release.SOURCE: IMC International Mining Corp.
16/12/19 Ian Bailey (62), with an address at The Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, West Cork, at the High Court. PIC: Collins Courts

A hearing into the proposed extradition of Ian Bailey to France, where he is facing a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier, is expected to take place in early May.

It is the third time French authorities have sought Mr Baileys surrender in relation to the death of Ms du Plantier, whose badly beaten body was found outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996.

Mr Bailey, with an address at The Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, west Cork, was convicted of the Frenchwomans murder in his absence in a Paris court in May 2019. The three-judge Cour dAssises in Paris accordingly imposed a 25-year prison sentence on him in his absence.

The 63-year-old Englishman denies any involvement in the mother-of-ones death. He did not attend the French court and had no legal representation in the proceedings, which he has described as a farce.

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Lawyers for the Minister for Justice told the High Court today that they had received an affidavit from Mr Baileys solicitor, Frank Buttimer, which was voluminous and they required time to consider it.

Counsel for Mr Bailey, Marc Thompson BL, asked the court to reserve May 5 next as a date for the hearing of the case. That would provide ample time for the consideration of any issues that might arise, Mr Thompson said.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy fixed a provisional date of May 5 next for the hearing, which is expected to take three days in the High Court. He remanded Mr Bailey on continuing bail until that date.

The case will be mentioned on March 30 to affirm the hearing date, but Mr Baileys attendance will not be required on that occasion.

Mr Baileys senior counsel, Ronan Munro SC, previously told the judge that they will be opposing surrender on grounds related to fundamental rights and that the authorities previous two extradition attempts were relevant to their points of objection to the present attempt.

The court has also heard that Mr Bailey swore an affidavit setting out certain factual matters, particularly in relation to his health.

The Supreme Court refused to extradite Mr Bailey in 2012 and a second French extradition request in respect of My Bailey was dismissed as an abuse of process by the High Court in 2017. On that occasion, Mr Justice Tony Hunt held that the unique features of the case justified termination of the proceedings.

Mr Justice Hunt said Irelands Director of Public Prosecutions had concluded long ago that there is no basis for either (a) charge or trial on this matter in this jurisdiction, and unusually, a comprehensive statement of reasons for this prosecutorial decision came into the public domain during the previous Supreme Court case.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2020) - Japan Gold Corp. (TSXV: JG) (OTCQB: JGLDF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the formation of a country-wide alliance with Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE: GOLD) (TSX: ABX) ("Barrick") to jointly explore, develop and mine certain gold mineral properties and mining projects in Japan (the "Barrick Alliance"). The Company is also pleased to announce a further consolidation of its position in the Southern Kyushu Epithermal Gold Province with the acceptance of an additional six new project areas, by the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI").

Barrick Alliance Highlights:

The Barrick Alliance covers the entire country of Japan including 28 out of 30 projects currently held by Japan Gold (Figure 1).

The Barrick Alliance does not include the Ikutahara Project in Hokkaido and the Ohra-Takamine Project in Kyushu and Japan Gold will continue to advance these two projects independently.

Barrick will sole fund a 2-year Initial Evaluation Phase of each project.

Barrick will sole fund a subsequent 3-year Second Evaluation Phase on projects which meet Barrick criteria.

Japan Gold will act as the Manager of each project, subject to Barrick's right at any time to become the Manager of a project.

Barrick may identify a project as a Designated Project, at any time during the Initial Evaluation Phase or the Second Evaluation Phase, which Barrick may elect to sole fund to completion of a pre-feasibility study (" PFS "). Upon completion of a PFS, Barrick will earn a 51% interest in the Designated Project.

Barrick may elect to continue to sole fund a Designated Project following the completion of a PFS to a bankable feasibility study (" BFS "). Barrick's interest in the Designated Project at the completion of the BFS will increase to 75%.

Where Barrick has elected to sole fund a Designated Project through to completion of a BFS, Japan Gold will be fully carried through completion of the BFS and retain a 25% interest in the Designated Project.

Barrick and Japan Gold will establish a Technical Committee to, among other matters, provide input in respect of the preparation of programs and budgets for, and the conduct of operations on, projects that are part of the Barrick Alliance. All programs and budgets for projects that are part of the Alliance will be subject to approval by Barrick.

New gold projects acquired by Japan Gold may be included in the Barrick Alliance, at Barrick's election and if Barrick wishes to apply for any new gold mineral rights in Japan, or acquire an interest in certain mining rights or projects in Japan, it will be required to offer such opportunity first to the Barrick Alliance.

Story continues

Barrick's CEO, Mark Bristow, commented "We are pleased to partner with Japan Gold, who have assembled an impressive portfolio of exploration tenements within the renowned epithermal gold provinces of Japan. We look forward to advancing our partnership by combining Barrick's technical and financial resources with Japan Gold's first mover advantage, to deliver new world class gold discoveries."

Japan Gold's Chairman and CEO, John Proust commented "Japan Gold is delighted to welcome Barrick Gold to Japan. As Barrick is one of the pre-eminent gold producers in the world we look forward to a very positive partnership. Every great new frontier starts with geology. Japan is an ideal, underexplored, setting to make new large low sulphidation epithermal gold discoveries, building on the great success of the Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd.'s Hishikari Gold Mine. Barrick's global experience of operating 15 mines on 4 continents combined with Japan Gold's in country knowledge and operational expertise make an ideal partnership to advance the gold mining industry in Japan."

Japan Gold Acquires Six New Projects in the Southern Kyushu Epithermal Gold Province

In conjunction with the Barrick Alliance, Japan Gold has acquired six new projects in the northern part of the Southern Kyushu Epithermal Gold Province and now holds a dominant position in a district which hosts most of the low-sulphidation epithermal mineralization in the province. In excess of 11 million ounces of gold have been produced from low-sulphidation epithermal deposits within the province with notable producers including: the Hishikari Mine with 7.8 million ounces produced to date at average grades of 30-40 g/t Au1, the Kushikino Mine which produced 1.8 million ounces at 6.7 g/t Au, the Yamagano Mine which produced 910,000 ounces at 17.4 g/t Au, and the Okuchi Mine which produced 714,000 ounces at 13.6 g/t Au2,3. Low-sulphidation epithermal gold deposits within the district are hosted along a volcanic front which lies west of the Kagoshima graben, (Figure 2). A review of geological and geophysical conditions favourable to hosting the known mineralization of the district has provided the basis for the recent round of applications. The new projects give the Company contiguous cover over the remaining portions of exposed prospective Pliocene and Pleistocene geological sequences between the Kushikino Mine in the southwest and beyond the Fuke Mine in the northeast, (Figure 3).

The six new projects include: Kushikino-Iriki; OT-Yaeyama Extension; Mizobe-Onoyama; Mizobe 1st Extension; Onoyama-Yamagano Extension; and the Tobaru-Fuke Extension and comprise 47,853 hectares. The Company now holds priority over 94,402 hectares comprising 15 projects in southern Kyushu and a total of 30 projects (176,370 hectares) across the 3 main Islands of Japan. With the acceptance of the new applications Japan Gold has priority over these areas and authorization to commence surface exploration.

Barrick Alliance Details

The Barrick Alliance will initially include all of the Company's projects, excluding the Ikutahara Project in Hokkaido and the Ohra-Takamine Project in southern Kyushu (which are subject to existing agreements with a third party), for a total of 28 projects including 152,152 hectares over Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu.

Under the terms of the Barrick Alliance, Barrick will sole fund all expenditures incurred in respect of certain gold mineral properties and mining projects in Japan ("Included Projects"), with programs and budgets for Included Projects providing for minimum aggregate expenditures of: (a) US$3 million for each of the first two years of the Barrick Alliance; and (b) US$4 million for each of the third, fourth and fifth years of the Barrick Alliance, subject to certain limitations and exceptions.

As long as the Barrick Alliance remains in effect, if Japan Gold acquires an interest or an option to acquire an interest in any mineral property in Japan, Barrick will have 90 days to elect to include the new project in the Barrick Alliance. Barrick has also been granted rights of first offer in respect of certain projects. During the term of the Alliance, if Barrick wishes to apply for any new gold mineral rights in Japan, or acquire an interest in certain mining rights or projects in Japan, it will be required to offer such opportunity first to the Barrick Alliance.

Barrick can elect to designate an Included Project as a Designated Project and has the right to earn a 51% interest by sole funding and completing a PFS for the project. Following completion of a PFS in respect of a Designated Project, Japan Gold and Barrick will enter into a joint venture agreement in respect of the Designated Project, the terms of which shall supersede the terms and conditions of the Barrick Alliance agreement in respect of the Designated Project. Barrick may obtain an additional 24% ownership interest in a Designated Project (increasing Barrick's ownership interest to 75%) by sole funding a Designated Project until completion of a BFS that satisfies certain criteria.

Under the terms of the Barrick Alliance agreement, if Barrick acquires common shares of Japan Gold and Barrick's ownership interest in Japan Gold is at least 10%, Barrick will have the right, but not the obligation, to appoint a nominee to Japan Gold's Board of Directors. Such right will terminate in the event that Barrick's ownership interest in Japan Gold falls below 10%.

Investor Conference Call



Japan Gold Corp. will hold an audio conference call on February 24, 2020 at 11:30am eastern (8:30am pacific) to discuss the Barrick Gold Alliance. A presentation is available on Japan Gold's website: www.japangold.com.

Participants may dial in using the numbers below (no access code is needed).

Canada/USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-4610

International Toll: +1-604-638-5340

Japan Toll Free: 0053-116-0941



UK Toll Free: 0808-101-2791

Callers should dial in 5  10 min prior to the scheduled start time and simply ask to join your call.



The conference call will be available for playback until March 24, 2020 by dialing 1-800-319-6413 (toll free Canada/US) or +1-604-638-9010 (international) and quoting access code 4189.



____________________

1 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., LTD. website, production as of end of March 2019.

2 Watanabe Y, 2005. Late Cenozoic evolution of epithermal gold metallogenic provinces in Kyushu, Japan. Mineralium Deposita (2005) 40: pp 307-323

3 Garwin, S.G. et al. 2005. Tectonic setting, Geology, and gold and copper mineralization in the Cenozoic magmatic arcs of Southeast Asia and the West Pacific. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Vol. pp 891-930

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Japan Gold's Vice President of Exploration and Country Manager, Andrew Rowe, BAppSc, FAusIMM, FSEG, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Japan Gold Corp.

"John Proust"

Chairman & CEO

About Japan Gold Corp.

Japan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused solely on gold exploration across the three largest islands of Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu. The Company has a country-wide alliance with Barrick Gold Corporation to jointly explore, develop and mine certain gold mineral properties and mining projects. The Company holds a portfolio of 30 gold projects which cover areas with known gold occurrences, a history of mining and are prospective for high-grade epithermal gold mineralization. Japan Gold's leadership team represent decades of resource industry and business experience, and the Company has recruited geologists, drillers and technical advisors with experience exploring and operating in Japan. More information is available at www.japangold.com or by email at info@japangold.com

For further information, please contact:

John Proust

Chairman & CEO

Phone: 778-725-1491

Email: info@japangold.com

Cautionary Note

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results related to future partnerships and the Company's 2020 gold exploration program. These statements are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to, general economic, market and business conditions; competition for qualified staff; the regulatory process and actions; technical issues; new legislation; potential delays or changes in plans; working in a new political jurisdiction; results of exploration; the timing and granting of prospecting rights; the Company's ability to execute and implement future plans, arrange or conclude a joint-venture or partnership; and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual results achieved may differ from the information provided herein and, consequently, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this News Release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.





Figure 1: Japan Gold/Barrick Alliance project locations.

(Projects outlined in blue are excluded from the Barrick Alliance)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5665/52692_472c33db447cebcf_002full.jpg





Figure 2: Japan Gold/Barrick Alliance Projects on the island of Kyushu.

(Projects outlined in blue are excluded from the Barrick Alliance)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5665/52692_472c33db447cebcf_003full.jpg





Figure 3: Japan Gold/Barrick Alliance Projects in the Southern Kyushu Epithermal Gold Province.

(Projects outlined in blue are excluded from the Barrick Alliance)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5665/52692_472c33db447cebcf_004full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52692
Big number: 551 per cent

Thats the amount Le Select Bistros property tax bill increased between 2007 and 2020. Businesses in many growing areas of Toronto have seen similar increases due to reassessments, even as they deal with construction.

Spare a thought for the Toronto shopkeeper. Business could be better.

Nowhere is that more true than across Eglinton Avenue, where business owners learned last week that the completion date for the Eglinton LRT project has been pushed back again, from September 2021 to some nebulous date in 2022.

The projects construction, managed by provincial agency Metrolinx, has turned Eglinton into something resembling Mad Max: Fury Road, featuring cavernous pits, twisted metal barriers and drivers amped up on rage. Turns out a post-apocalyptic death race is not an ideal environment to operate a salon.

The delay adds insult to injury. For businesses hoping for a return to normalcy, the light at the end of the tunnel just got dimmer.

Its also a bad omen for storefront businesses anywhere in Toronto. Theres a lot of major infrastructure work on the books over the next decade. Given the Eglinton experience, is there any reason business owners should put stock in optimistic timelines for road-ripping megaprojects like the Ontario Line?

Maybe construction disruption would be manageable if it was the only challenge facing Toronto business owners these days, but its not. Not by a long shot.

Theyre also facing crushing property taxes. Thanks to the vagaries of the assessment system, theyve gone up huge for a whole bunch of businesses in areas with population growth. Last fall, Frederic Geisweiller, owner of Le Select Bistro on Wellington St.W., started an online campaign to bring attention to the fact that his commercial property tax bill went up by more than 500 per cent between 2007 and 2020.

I repeat: 500 per cent.

Thats because of a provincial assessment system that values buildings based on their highest and best use. Because Le Selects property could one day be home to a giant condo tower, their property tax bill is based on the estimated value of that hypothetical giant condo tower.

Itd be like if you were charged income taxes not based on your current salary, but based on what the government estimated you could be making if you really applied yourself.

Its a system that seems designed to force the turnover of existing businesses to make room for condo development. Perhaps that could be tolerable if established businesses could find new opportunity in the retail spaces built into new condos, but that hasnt really been happening. Instead, those new retail spaces are rarely designed to accommodate uses like music venues, specialty retailers or independent grocery stores. Too many of them sit vacant.

There are policies that could help. When council meets this week, it will consider a request from Coun. Brad Bradford to look at a tax that would apply to vacant commercial storefronts. Done right, it could encourage landlords to rent spaces at more affordable rates, instead of waiting around for chain store tenants.

But thats not enough. The provincial government needs to sort out assessment policy, so that business owners arent paying the freight for assessments they have no control over. Since 2018, Toronto city hall has soothed the situation by instituting a cap so a businesss tax bill can increase by a maximum of 10 per cent in any given year, but thats still a steep hike. A better fix is needed.

Finally, the provincial and municipal governments need to come up with a plan that does more than offer platitudes and apologies to businesses dealing with construction projects. Put your money where your mouth is. Develop a system that pays out rebates to affected businesses when projects blow past deadlines or dont adhere to reasonable standards for maintaining access to storefronts.

Theres a lot at stake. A mix of vibrant retail and restaurant spaces is the lynchpin for every desirable neighbourhood in the city. If the result of all this construction is condos with mostly empty storefronts, what the hell was the point?
A Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured as clashes over the amended citizenship law broke out again in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

Violence between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was also reported in the Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas.

This is the second day of clashes in the city where US President Donald Trump will arrive on Monday evening.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted lathicharge to disperse the violent crowd of protesters.

Ratan Lal, a head constable attached to the office of the ACP Gokalpuri, was killed. Several police personnel, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara, Amit Sharma, were injured while trying to quell the protests.

The police also imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in areas affected by violence in northeast Delhi.

There was heavy stone pelting in Maujpur, while police baton-charged to disperse protesters in Jaffrabad. Shops and houses were vandalised and set on fire in Maujpur and Bhajanpura.

A protestor was also seen moving towards a Delhi Police personnel with a gun in his hand. He shot a few rounds in the air.

According to officials, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to a fire call in the area.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to restore law and order in the national capital. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to ensure the situation is brought under control.

"Very distressing regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

Taking to Twitter, Baijal said, "Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony."



Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai also urged the people in the area to maintain peace in the wake of the clashes over the citizenship law, saying some people were purposely trying to disturb the atmosphere.

On Saturday night, a group of women blocked a carriageway outside the Jaffrabad Metro station against the CAA.

Clashes broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad over blocking of the road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital including Hauz Rani.

The situation escalated after BJP leader Kapil Mishra called a gathering on Sunday. Mishra demanded that police remove the anti-CAA protestors within three days.

Since then northeast Delhi has been on the boil. It has also been witnessing spurts of violence.

The Delhi Metro has closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations as an uneasy calm prevailed in the area.

"Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a tweet.

Entry and exit were closed at the Jaffrabad metro station for over 24 hours.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Passengers at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport (Photo: VNA)

Speaking to the VNA, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan further added that RoK passengers who have booked or bought tickets to Vietnam have canceled their plans and currently flights from Vietnam only carry RoK passengers back to their country.

As there are no passengers, airlines have suspended flights from Vietnam to Daegu city which is described as the epicenter of the disease in the RoK, the official said, stressing that authorities are closely watching the situation there.

Earlier, on February 21, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam issued a press statement affirming that the information alleging that there is a ban of flights between Vietnam and the RoK as well as between Vietnam and Japan is a fabrication.
The first Ethiopian-born Jewish woman elected to Israel's parliament, who said she is fighting for racial equality, has become a key player in the effort to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Pnina Tamano-Shata, a former television journalist first elected to the Knesset (parliament) in 2013, represents an Ethiopian-Israeli community that experts say could be pivotal in the country's March 2 vote.

The election is Israel's third in less than a year and polls show another tight race between Netanyahu's right-wing Likud and the centrist Blue and White party, of which Tamano-Shata is a member.

Sitting in a cafe in Hadera, a city north of Tel Aviv that is home to thousands of Ethiopian Israelis, Tamano-Shata argued that racial inequality remained rampant after Netanyahu's 14 years in office.

"There are more Ethiopians in prison, more police brutality against us, higher poverty and a higher suicide rate," she told AFP in an interview.

The killing last year of 19-year-old Solomon Teka by an off-duty police officer inflamed long-standing grievances among Ethiopian-Israelis, who claim they have repeatedly been targeted by police due to the colour of their skin.

Tamano-Shata said her generation of Ethiopian-Israelis had a duty "to fight tirelessly for our acceptance".

"We must assert that we are no different, that we are equal," she added.

Operation Moses

Israelis of Ethiopian descent have historically backed Likud as a legacy of gratitude for the 1984-1985 "Operation Moses" that brought an initial 8,000 Ethiopians to the Jewish state.

The first Israeli Jewish woman of Ethiopian origin to be elected to the Knesset (parliament), Pnina Tamano Shata. By JACK GUEZ (AFP)

That seven-week clandestine extraction after a devastating Ethiopian famine was carried out under the premiership of former Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir.

Tamano-Shata's family was part of that operation.

She recalls travelling with her pregnant mother and sisters to a camp for the displaced in Sudan from where she and thousands of others were exfiltrated to Israel.

"We dreamed of Jerusalem for generations," she said. "I was born in a village without electricity."

The Ethiopian-Israeli community has since grown to 140,000-strong, including 50,000 born in Israel.

Their numbers may be rising, but Avi Yossef, a 35-year-old Ethiopian Jew born in a Sudanese refugee camp, said many in the community feel marginalised.

"Before someone even knows who you are, he looks at your skin colour," Yossef told AFP.

"You still need to prove who you are, that you are Jewish and grew up here, even if you speak perfect Hebrew."

Women of the Ethiopian Jewish community walk in the central Israeli city of Rehovot. By MENAHEM KAHANA (AFP)

"Usually we vote for Likud because it's the party that brought Ethiopians back to Israel. But in the last election, we voted for Blue and White," he said.

In the September polls, two Ethiopian-Israelis, Tamano-Shata and Gadi Yevarkan, were elected to the Knesset under the Blue and White banner.

But last month, Netanyahu convinced Yevarkan to defect to Likud, underscoring the importance of the Ethiopian community's vote.

Blue and White hit back after the defection was announced.

"Bibi, Ethiopian immigrants are not for sale except maybe one," the campaign said, using the prime minister's nickname.

Alon Burstein, a doctoral candidate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said their relatively small number had taken on greater importance as both major parties seek an elusive majority.

Despite the historic bond between Ethiopians and Likud, some feel "betrayed" by what they perceive as the party's inaction in the face of racial injustice, said Burstein, who has written about the politicisation of Ethiopians in Israel.

They have come to see Blue and White "as a good alternative", he said.
Vadim Rogovin

25 years ago: Professor Vadim Rogovin launches US lecture tour, Was there an alternative to Stalinism in the USSR?

On February 27, 1995, Professor Vadim Zakharovich Rogovin, a leading Marxist historian in the former Soviet Union, began a US tour with a lecture delivered at Michigan State University in East Lansing. The lecture, sponsored by the Center for European and Russian Studies, was titled Was there an alternative to Stalinism in the USSR? The historic event marked the first time a Soviet scholar presented to American audiences an analysis of the struggle waged by Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition against the Stalinist bureaucracy.

While working as a sociologist in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, Rogovins research, influenced by the critique of Stalinism made by Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition, had focused on the origins and consequences of social inequality in the USSR. Rogovin initially hoped that the policy of glasnost , or openness, started by Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, would lead to a revival of socialism. However, as the pro-capitalist character of its twin reform, perestroika, or restructuring, became increasingly pronounced, Rogovin became openly critical of the bureaucracys market-based policies and the justifications made for them by layers of the intelligentsia.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Rogovin commenced work on his magnum opus: a seven-volume series on Stalinism and the socialist opposition to the bureaucracy, exposing the vast campaign of historical falsification that accompanied the restoration of capitalism in the USSR.

A delegation from the Workers League, the forerunner of the Socialist Equality Party, greeted Dr. Rogovin and his wife, Galina, in Detroit on February 21. He shared his thoughts with the International Workers Bulletin, the American predecessor of the World Socialist Web Site. I hope that my lectures at the university and other locations will help free peoples minds from the accumulated layers of lies promulgated by the Stalin school of falsification, and also from the latest myths brought to the West by the bearers of new thinking. I hope to meet in America with many sincere, selfless and honest people working for the truth, and to become friends with them.

Save 30% on the English editions of Rogovins works this week only. Other works on Dr. Rogovin include, In Memory of Vadim Z. Rogovin, and Vadim Rogovin and the sociology of Stalinism.

Carlos Arana Osorio

50 years ago: Rightist leads in 1970 Guatemalan general election

On March 1, 1970 Guatemalans voted in the general elections to select a president and representatives to Congress. No candidate received over 50 percent of the vote. The two leading candidates were Carlos Arana Osorio of the reactionary National Liberation Movement (MLN), with 43 percent of the votes, and Mario Fuentes Pieruccini of the reformist Revolutionary Party (PR) with about 35 percent of the vote.

The election took place during the ongoing Guatemalan Civil War, which had begun in 1960 and would not officially end until 1996. The war was a protracted struggle between the Guatemalan government, backed by the US, and various left-wing guerilla movements linked to the Guatemalan Party of Labour (Partido Guatemalteco del Trabajo, or PGT).

The 1970 elections were widely regarded as corrupt. The PGT had been made illegal in 1954 after a US-backed coup took power, leading to a series of military rulers. Thus, the PGT could not participate openly in the elections. In addition, PGT leaders had been the targets of extrajudicial killings by the PR-led government in the 1960s.

Carlos Arana Osorio, representing the MLN, ran on a law and order program calling for a terror campaign to crush left-wing groups and working-class organizations. During one speech he said, If it is necessary to turn the country into a cemetery in order to pacify it, I will not hesitate to do so.

After the election failed to deliver a president, Congress assembled and, in July 1970, a coalition between the two right-wing parties, the MLN and the Institutional Democratic Party, selected Arana Osorio as president. Once in office he would carry out a massive crackdown on the population.

By November 1970 he had declared the country to be in a state of siege. Martial law was imposed, including a blanket curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. each night. In addition to the curfew, the Arana Osorio government, with support from the United States through the CIA, carried out mass killings against suspected communists.

It is estimated that police and security forces killed 20,000 political opponents of the government between 1970 and 1974. Many of those killed included radical student leaders who had communist sympathies or organized opposition to the state of siege.

Red Army in Lower Silesian offensive

75 years ago: Soviet Red Army secures a series of victories over the Nazis

This week in February 1945, the Soviet Unions Red Army won a series of significant victories over German troops occupying Eastern Europe. The Nazi defeats underscored that World War II was approaching its conclusion. The prospect of an imminent Allied victory in the conflict was reflected in declarations of war against the Axis powers by a series of countries that had previously remained neutral, including Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Ecuador.

On February 24, Soviet troops, spearheaded by a Ukrainian Front division, achieved the strategic aims of the Lower Silesian Offensive. They cleared German troops from the region, in territory transferred to Poland after the war, and laid siege to the provincial capital of Breslau, which had previously served as a significant Nazi outpost. The offensive concluded with the capture of a bridgehead on the Neisse River, preventing further German attacks on Soviet troop movements in the area.

The success of the campaign followed the VistulaOder Offensive, which had ousted Nazi forces from the bulk of Poland the previous month. It had accomplished the liberation of Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps, and created the conditions for further westward operations targeting Germany itself.

On February 23, the Red Army had vanquished a force of more than 80,000 German and other fascist forces in the Battle of Poznan. The victory was the outcome of a month-long campaign, aimed at capturing that city, which had served as a garrison for the Nazis in Poland. The battle involved street fighting, the use of artillery bombardments and improvised explosive devices, and the construction of makeshift forts. The fighting claimed some 10,000 Soviet casualties and 6,000 German losses. Around 23,000 German troops were taken as prisoners of war.

On February 24, the Soviets began the East Pomeranian Offensive, aimed at capturing Pomerania, on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea. Over the course of a month, the Red Army would suffer more than 234,000 casualties in the campaign. In late March, they would capture Danzig, in Prussia, present day Gdansk, Poland. The series of defeats and the loss of territory ever closer to Germany proper heightened the crisis of the Nazi regime and its fascist allies throughout Europe and internationally.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, poster

100 years ago: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari premiers in Berlin

On February 26, 1920, the silent film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, premiered in front of a Berlin audience at the Marmorhaus theatre. Directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer, the film is about a hypnotist, Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss), who uses a sleepwalker, Cesare (Conrad Veidt), to commit murders.

By 1920 the Allied boycott on German films maintained during the First World War had been lifted and T he Cabinet of Dr. Caligari became an instant favorite with international audiences and appeared at the Capitol Theater in New York City the next year. The film today stands as a classic of the horror genre.

The settings are impressive, generally abstract and graphic. The sets sharp angles and their artificiality have led the film to be called expressionist, after the school of German art and cinema. Many technical aspects impressed filmmakers, such as the innovative camera work.

Most critics agree that the character of Dr. Caligari symbolizes irrational authority in some sense, and Cesare helpless obedience. These and other elements of the film make the experiences of World War I evident. Janowitz was an officer in the German Army who became a pacifist, and Meyer feigned insanity to avoid military service.

While the authors apparently had no overt political message in the film, many years later Janowitz felt that the authoritative power of an inhuman state was the subconscious intention of the writers.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Mon, February 24, 2020 11:45 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206632122 2 Entertainment rapper,Saudi-Arabia,Women Free

Official calls to arrest a Saudi female rapper who appeared in a music video has sparked an online backlash with many calling the move hypocritical as the kingdom invites Western women to perform.

In the video, the young rapper from Mecca, who identifies herself as Asayel Slay, praises what she describes as bold women in Islam's holiest city.

Wearing a headscarf and sunglasses, she describes the women as "sugar candy" in the song titled "Mecca Girl".

But Mecca governor Khaled al-Faisal has ordered the arrest of those behind the video, saying in a statement on Twitter that the video "offends the customs and traditions" of local Saudis.

The move underscores the limits of a recent Western-style liberalization drive in a society steeped in conservatism.

The statement sparked indignation on social media, with many tweeting their support under the hashtag "Mecca girl represents me".

"I am from Mecca & the only thing I find offensive is your racism, misogyny and your war on a young woman & her artistic expression of her culture & her people," said one Twitter user.

"This is so typical for the #Saudi government -- bring Western influencers to artwash the regimes crimes but attack real Saudi women who try to artistically express their cultural identities," tweeted Amani al-Ahmadi, who calls herself a Saudi feminist.

"This is racist, sexist."

A host of Western women musicians - from Janet Jackson to Mariah Carey and rapper Nicki Minaj -- have been invited to perform in the kingdom as its eases its tight restrictions on various forms of entertainment, in a bid to shake of the country's ultra-conservative image.

Nicki Minaj however pulled out of the concert in what she described as a show of support for women's and gay rights in the kingdom.

De facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has has scrapped decades-old bans on cinemas and women drivers while allowing gender-mixed concerts and sports tournaments.

The relaxed social norms have been welcomed by many Saudis, two-thirds of whom are under 30.
A businessman could not believe his luck when Richard Branson offered him a free holiday - for giving him a lift when the motorway was closed 10 years ago.

Steve Chandler spotted Sir Richard, 69, wandering by the side of the road after a crash closed the M40 around a decade ago.

The entrepreneur was desperately trying to get to an important meeting in London and had abandoned his driver in search of a quicker option.

Last month Mr Chandler tweeted the Virgin founder to ask him to confirm his story because friends and family had never believed him. But to his shock, he got a reply and a free holiday to repay his kindness.

Mr Chandler had tweeted: 'I've always regaled friends and family with a story about the time I picked u up when you were trying to get to London after being stuck in on the M40, this was about 10 years ago. No-one believes me, please tell it was really you #fingerscrossed.'

And Branson replied: 'Hi Steve. Yes it was me. Appreciate the lift! Was really late for a critical meeting. Would like to return the favour - want a lift with @VirginAtlantic to Miami, then a cruise with @VirginVoyages to say thank you?'

Steve Chandler (pictured with his wife) spotted Sir Richard Branson, 69, wandering by the side of the road after a crash closed the M40 around a decade ago

Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson (pictured) was desperately trying to get to an important meeting in London and had abandoned his driver in search of a quicker option

Last month Mr Chandler tweeted the Virgin founder to ask him to confirm his story because friends and family had never believed him

But to his shock, he got a reply and a free holiday to repay his kindness

Mr Chandler, who works as a logistics driver for TV and film, was elated.

He replied: 'A massive thank u to @VirginAtlantic and @VirginVoyages for helping me to arrange my trip so very kindly offered by @richardbranson.

'I can't see how I'm ever going to repay this but to say I will support the Virgin Group whenever possible. Been a @virginmedia customer from day 1.'

He later told The Sun: The M40 was shut because of a crash and traffic was chaos, but I'm local so was able to navigate the back roads through little villages.'

Sir Richard only wanted a lift as far as the service station at Beaconsfield, where he got out and attempted to hitch hike the rest of the way.

He added: 'He was so grateful we stopped for him, and was really nice and chatty with my son.

'I've been telling this story since it happened in 2010 and a lot of people didn't believe me so I thought I'd tweet him and ask him to confirm it.'

And sure enough, two weeks later, he replied.

Sir Richard Branson unveiled his first cruise ship - the 17-deck Scarlet Lady - in Dover on Friday. It is the first of four Virgin Voyages ships that will come into service each year for the next four years

Newly-released photos show the vessel's slick interiors, with this spiral staircase being one of the many standout features

Mr Chandler, who works as a logistics driver for TV and film, was elated

Sir Richard, who started out in the music industry, but has since branched out to air travel, mobile broadband and much more, unveiled his first ever cruise ship last week.

The luxury 17-deck ship - Scarlet Lady - was unveiled in Dover on Friday and is the first of four Virgin Voyages ships that will come into service each year for the next four years.

The adult-only ship has swapped traditional buffets for a wide selection of swanky eateries and includes 'rockstar suites' and an outdoor running track.

Mr Chandler will be flown on a Virgin Atlantic plane from London to Miami where he will embark the Scarlet Lady and cruise around the Caribbean in May.

Sir Richard is pictured on board the Scarlet Lady, which will set sail for the first time in April

Its maiden voyage is due to take place in April, with routes on offer including a five-day sailing to Costa Maya in Mexico, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, and a quick getaway to Key West and the Bahamas.

Speaking at the launch last week, Sir Richard said: 'I have dreamed of starting my own cruise line since I was in my 20s and I'm thrilled that moment has arrived.

'The Scarlet Lady is truly special and we've worked with some of the world's most sought-after designers, artists and architects to craft an extraordinary experience.

'The benefit of our five decades in business in so many industries is that we can offer a voyage like no other.'
The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board (SCWB) announced on Monday that it would accept the five-acre land allotted to it as part of the Supreme Courts verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case on November 9.

The board, which was the main litigant in the case, also announced the formation of a trust to look after the construction of the mosque as well as an Indo-Islamic Centre, a grand hospital and a public library on the land.

Mondays announcement came after the SCWB held a meeting of its members to discuss the pending issues related to compliance with the SC order.

Chairman of SCWB Zufar Ahmed Farooqui said, In the board meeting, it was decided to accept the five-acre land and to form a trust to look after the construction of the mosque.

Farooqui said the trust would also construct a centre that would highlight the rich Indo-Islamic culture.

He further said the suggestion to construct an Indo-Islamic Centre, a hospital and a library came from the board members.

On November 9, the board had called a press meet and announced that it would welcome the SCs order and not file a review petition. In a historic verdict in November 2019 on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of construction of a temple. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque within Ayodhya.

Based on the SC verdict, the Centre had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to allot five acres of land to the SCWB. The UP cabinet after its meeting on February 5 made the allotment in Dhannipur village in Sohawal tehsil of Ayodhya district. The piece of land that was inspected by a team of SCWB last week is 18 km from the district headquarters Faizabad (Ayodhya), 200 metres from the highway and has easy access.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, which represented the Muslim litigants in the court, had rejected the offer to allot a land to Muslims for the mosque.
Marshal nominations, parade entrants needed

The entry deadline for those who would like to participate in this year's St. Patrick's Day parade is 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, March 9. Submit a form at the link below or in person at the Chamber of Commerce, describing your entry and agreeing to abide by the parade guidelines. http://www.butteamericafoundation.org/parade.

The St. Pat's Day parade marshal has always been a coveted role. If you would like to nominate an individual or group whom you believe deserve this honor, fill out the nomination form at the web address below from now until March 1. http:// www.butteamericafoundation.org/grandmarshal2020.

Skijoring coming to Wisdom

Skijoring, a fun outdoor winter activity for people of all ages to watch, is coming to Wisdom at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 29 and March 1, at the Wisdom Airport, 216 County Road.

A womens and beginners division, including a snowboarder division, will also be included. There is a 900-foot straight track, nine gates, including one ring and three jumps.

Details: 406-689-3260.

Rent a dress for prom

Amy Schulte, the owner of Graceful Gowns, is back again this year at the Butte Plaza Mall offering free prom dress rentals to local high school students in Butte.

The dresses will be available starting from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday, March 4 and 7, and from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 8, in the mall.

There are about 250 dresses to choose from in sizes ranging from 0-26. There arent any income requirements to rent a dress from Graceful Gowns. Dresses must be returned after the dance.

Student named to deans list

WHITEHALL  Cheyann Tooman, a student at Northern Vermont University, in Vermont, was named to the dean's list for the fall 2019 semester. Students who achieve between a 3.50 and 3.99 semester average are placed on the list.

Attend art walk planning meeting

The initial planning meeting for the 2020 Art Walk season will be 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 5, at the Main Stope, 8 S. Montana St. Bring your ideas to help artists and Uptown Butte.

If you are an Artist or an Uptown Business, or just someone who would like to be involved, come and join. Details: Judy, 406-431-0958.

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Picnic and barbecue twist for Year of the Outdoors food challenge!

This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 24th, 2020

Eateries across Wrexham are being invited put forward their best barbecue or picnic dishes for a brand new food challenge.

The North East Wales Tourism Team is once again launching its annual culinary contest to celebrate the start of the Welsh Year of the outdoors.

In a new approach to the competition, the 2020 challenge will see restaurants and cafes, coffee shops or tearooms take part in some friendly competition to showcase the best local produce within North East Wales.

For restaurants, the challenge will be to develop a bbq / grill dish that showcases local North East Wales producers, with the dish playing on the senses and help diners learn more about the 2020 Year of the Outdoors in Wales.

For cafes / coffee shops & tearooms, the challenge is slightly different and encourages the design of a eat in or takeaway picnic, which again uses as much local North East Wales produce as possible. The dish must also incorporates the promotion of a local walk to get visitors out & about in our area, whilst enjoying their picnic at the same time.

Taking place between 6th -27th March, eateries across the region will have their entry available each day (during normal hours) whilst they also will receive two mystery dining visits that will score their entry, how it is promoted and how it matches the entry criteria.

The three highest scoring bbq / grill dishes will then be invited to a cook-off at the start of April with prizes including the associated publicity, plus a live cooking demo at a local Food & Drink Festival later this year  whilst the cafes with the most intriguing picnic / walk combinations will have the ingredients and walks published in some North East Wales literature ahead of the busy summer period.

Speaking about the event, Sam Regan, chair of the This Is Wrexham Tourism Partnership said: With the Visit Wales Year of Outdoors launching last month, its great to see our tourism partners from North East Wales running another food competition which is always well received  and crucially fosters new relationships between producers and ourselves in the restaurant trade.

The two new competitions offer a chance for both restaurants and cafe / tearooms to compete on an even platform whilst creating a new product for visitors to this region.

How to enter

If you are a chef or run a local eatery within Wrexham, Flintshire or Denbighshire and wish to take on the challenge, youll need to forward details of your dish to tourism@wrexham.gov.uk by 9.00am on 28th February.

This should include the name of the dish, details of all suppliers to be used and any other details you think

will make your dish stand out. As entries are limited per category, if the category is oversubscribed, youll be notified if youre successful the next day, after which businesses involved will need to attend a short briefing event on 3rd March.

Details of all dishes entered into the challenge will be published on 5th March and be available to view at www.northeastwales.wales and on the @NthEastWales tourism social media channels on the same date.
Visiting a maximum security prison may not be the place you would think of turning when you need help, but thanks to the Puppies Behind Bars program, it is giving veterans and first responders a new leash on life.

Puppies Behind Bars began in 1997, when five Labrador puppies were brought into the maximum security Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in Westchester County. Ten female inmates were tasked with nurturing, loving, and training the puppies to be future working dogs.
Iran not looking for JCPOA's end: President Rouhani

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sun / 23 February 2020 / 09:44

Tehran (ISNA)  Iran's President stressed that Tehran considers the nuclear deal beneficial to the region and the world, and said, "We must all try to save the deal and we have not closed the door of negotiation with the European Union in this regard".

Speaking with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Stef Blok on Saturday afternoon in Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani also referred to the friendly relations between the two countries for centuries, saying, "We are willing to deepen political and economic relations with the Netherlands".

He added, "Our foreign policy is based on constructive interaction with other countries and we are willing to have warmer relations with the European Union".

Referring to the United States' illegal and unilateral sanctions on Iran, Dr. Rouhani said, "The United States' unjust sanctions include even Iranians' medicine and food and it is expected that free nations in the world condemn these illegal sanctions with an explicit tone".

Referring to the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he said, "We believe that the nuclear deal is beneficial to the region and the world and the US' withdrawal from the deal has been to the detriment of the peoples of the region and the world, and even the American people, and unfortunately within the past 21 months after the Americans' withdrawal from the deal, the EU has not been able to take effective steps in maintaining bilateral relations and living up to its commitments under the deal".

He also said that the root cause of insecurity in the region is the United States' presence and behaviour towards the region, saying, "The Iraqi parliament has voted to expel Americans from the country, US forces' presence in Syria is against the will of the government of the country and in other countries like Afghanistan, people are against America's presence in their country".

The President continued, "If the US stops its terrorist acts and unlawful interferences, our region will be safe and secure naturally in its own right".

"Our policy is based on the fact that the security of the region must be protected by regional states themselves and we do not believe foreign forces' presence in the Persian Gulf region under different coalitions is beneficial for the region," said Rouhani.

Dr. Rouhani also said that Iran is fully ready to negotiation with the European Union regarding regional issues, adding, "With regard to the fact that the Netherlands is house to great world lawyers and jurists in The Hague, we can have good talks regarding regional security with the language of logic and the law".

At the same meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands also stressed the development of relations between the two countries in all fields of mutual interest, including economic relations and referred to his meetings with representatives of Dutch companies in Tehran, expressing hope that his country can play a more active role in INSTEX.

Stef Blok stressed the importance of saving the JCPOA as an international agreement, saying, "We have told the Americans in private and public that their withdrawal from the deal has not been right".

He also said that his country would try to save the deal, adding, "To do so, we need to continue negotiations, and dialogue can resolve issues and disagreements".

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

WILL Canadian consumers want to eat gene-edited food?

Theres a lot of excitement in agriculture about the introduction of gene-edited food products into the Canadian food system over the next few years. But theres also a great deal of apprehension.

Gene editing is about tweaking a plants genome by turning off certain genetic traits. By using a technology called CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), almost anyone with some molecular biology training can cut and paste certain genes of a plant without going through a cost-prohibitive process.

For example, a tomato grower can gene-edit plants to get shorter stems, so the tomatoes become more clustered. Mushrooms that dont turn brown, which in turn can extend shelf life and reduce waste, would be another example.

Some gene-edited, low-gluten and high-fibre wheat has already been developed in the United States. Gene-edited soybeans, which can be cooked at high temperatures without producing trans fats, have been planted.

Experts claim the technology could make some foods more nutritious without increasing costs, and also reduce food waste. Unlike genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which involve crossing species that would not normally cross in nature, gene editing is about fine-tuning what nature has given us. Glyphosate-tolerant canola, for example, is a GMO and was entirely created by humans. Gene editing, on the other hand, doesnt add anything to the genome.

As it stands, public oversight for gene editing would be minimal, if at all. If the process doesnt introduce any novel traits to the plants genome, Health Canada doesnt require safety testing for new products. Certification or approvals would likely not be necessary, so monitoring and tracing gene-edited crops will be challenging.

And, as with genetically modified content in foods, there are no plans to require mandatory labelling of gene-edited foods.

This is truly a recipe for another risk communication disaster.

Genetically-modified crops took the world by storm in the early 1990s without anyone knowing about it  other than farmers and the biotechnology industry, of course. Today, almost 90 per cent of the corn, soybeans and canola grown in Canada comes from genetically modified seeds, and almost 80 per cent of all processed foods in any grocery store in Canada contains at least one genetically modified ingredient.

Since GMO labelling isnt mandatory in Canada, most consumers are unaware of their presence in food products.

Most major health authorities around the world, including Health Canada, have concluded that consuming GMO ingredients in food doesnt pose short- or long-term health risks.

But that doesnt matter to many consumers.

The food industrys last venture into genetic engineering, more than 30 years ago, was a commercial success for agriculture. Global agriculture has benefited from the technology, which has made crop-growing more efficient, without a doubt. But it also became a risk-communication disaster over the years  consumers started to fear what was happening to their food, without knowing about genetic engineering.

"Frankenfoods" is one well-used label to describe GMOs, and it reflects how misunderstood the technology is.

The biotechnology sector never bothered connecting with the public as it was promoting its new products to farmers. So its difficult to blame consumers for being fearful about whats happening in farmers fields.

The political opposition from interest groups was fierce, and those concerns made the biotechnology industry mindful of how social licensing is critical to their business. What biotechnology companies are doing is important, but it remains exceptionally misunderstood. Most Canadians know of GMOs but cant accurately explain 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.

For Canadians to befriend the science, mandatory labelling for genetically modified and edited content would be a logical starting point.

Gene editing is a reality, and its only a matter of time before the technology reaches grocery stores. Our food systems are evolving as we try to figure out how to feed a growing population. Gene-edited crops can help farmers produce safe and affordable food, feed, fibres and energy in the 21st century. But proponents of the technology need to make a legitimate case to consumers.

Given the GMO risk-communication fiasco of the last 30 years, lets hope we can learn from past mistakes by making sure consumers are on board.

Regrettably, the effort to educate the public is close to nonexistent. That suggests we havent learned a darn thing.

Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.

 Troy Media
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Linkedin Joseph Sipalan (Reuters) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Mon, February 24, 2020 10:13 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20662d26a 2 SE Asia Malaysia,politics,Mahathir-Mohamad,Anwar-Ibrahim,coalition-forces Free

The fate of Malaysia's ruling coalition hung in doubt on Monday after surprise weekend talks between Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's party and other groups on forming a new government that would exclude his anointed successor Anwar Ibrahim.

The tussle between old rivals Mahathir, 94, and Anwar, 72, has shaped Malaysian politics for decades and tension has persisted, despite their alliance to win 2018 elections based on a promise that Mahathir would one day cede power to Anwar.

On Sunday, Anwar accused Mahathir's party and "traitors" in his own party of plotting to form a new government with the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the former ruling party ousted in 2018 amid widespread corruption accusations.

Sources said Mahathir's party and a faction within Anwar's party met officials from UMNO and the Islamist party PAS in efforts to form a new coalition.

Malaysian stocks fell more than two percent when markets opened on Monday because of the political uncertainty.

Mahathir's party, UMNO and PAS met with the king, media said, though it was not clear what they discussed, and whether the new proposed coalition would secure backing from the king, who plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia.

The king can dissolve parliament on the advice of the prime minister and his assent is required for the appointment of a prime minister or senior officials.

But it is unclear what his role would be if the ruling coalition changed without a change in prime minister.

Anwar was also due to meet the king at 0630 GMT on Monday, his spokesman said, but gave no details of what he would seek.

Anwar and Mahathir united ahead of the 2018 election to drive out the UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional coalition that had ruled the Southeast Asian country for six decades in a surprise victory.

But tension between the two in their Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition had been growing, as Mahathir resisted setting a specific timetable for keeping his promise to hand power to Anwar.

The coalition's political fortunes have been waning with defeat in five recent by-elections.

Anwar was Mahathir's deputy when the latter was prime minister during his first stint from 1981 to 2003. But Mahathir sacked him in 1998 after they disagreed over how to handle the financial crisis.

Soon after Anwar was jailed for sodomy, charges he says were trumped up.
Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA)  The meeting of the Council of G5 Sahel ministers, preparing for the sixth ordinary summit of Heads of State, due for Tuesday, have opened in Nouakchott, official sources have told PANA
Lebanese authorities reported their first case of coronavirus in Lebanon, confirming that a 45-year old woman tested positive for infection. The woman arrived Thursday on a flight from the city of Qom in Iran. Along with her are two other suspected carriers without active symptoms yet. The three will be quarantined at the Rafik Hariri Government hospital, in Beirut.

In a presscon, Lebanese Health minister Hassan Hamad confirmed that all three will soon be quarantined to avoid any outbreak. Another World Health Organization official, Iman Shankit was present and concurred with the Lebanese Health minister, saying that this may signal the spread of COVID-19 into Lebanon.

Hamad Hassan told reporters that once the female patient seemed to have a positive coronavirus infection, she was isolated to protect other passengers. The plane came from Qom, where the first two Iranians died from the virus originated from. About 150 were on the plane, who are to be tested and quarantined. Lebanese officials asked the passengers to isolate themselves for 14-days.

It was a Mahan Air flight that arrived on Thursday 7:30 pm (1730 GMT) that carried the positive female passenger. But, no decision to stop flight from Tehran was issued, according to a source at the Beirut airport.

More incidences of coronavirus infections are seen, and keeping it in check is getting more difficult, said the World Health Organization as more cases are reported all over the world. The lack of cure and tests that can detect the virus immediately is making it hard for WHO and researchers studying the contagion.

Iran officials commented that the coronavirus outbreak in Iran has already killed four people and two are elderly. The center of the Iran ground zero is located are the Shi'ite city of Qom.

Also read: Coronavirus Transmission: COVID-19 May Spread Thru Feces?

News from the Iranian health ministry stated that the cause of the coronavirus outbreak are Chinese workers in Qom, who travelled to the mainland where the pandemic first came out.

As of this date, about 2,100 people died in China as the contagion spreads and causes lockdowns of cities. Previous assumptions were mistaken, and the virus which was given the latest name COVID-19 by WHO is more contagious. Authorities are afraid for their population as the newer virus becomes harder to cure.

Hassan stressed to the public that safety measures to prevent a full-blown outbreak, in consultation with WHO is getting done. A hotline for worried Lebanese is created to make it easier to report any suspected infections.

He also added that there is no need to panic, adding that the positive coronavirus carrier is currently okay. She will be closely monitored if there are changes in her stable condition. The crew and the passengers of Mahan Air flight are kept on the watch to guard if they are sick with the virus.

Authorities are checking on arrivals to Lebanon from the past 10 days for potential cases, he said. Many are hopint that this coronavirus infection in Lebanon will be the only one.

Related article: Coronavirus Effects: How it Harms Human Body Organs

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Actor Rajpal Yadav, who was last seen in Judwaa 2 alongside Varun Dhawan, has been roped in for the much-anticipated sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

The 48-year-old actor expressed his excitement over bagging the role and stated, "I'm very grateful to be the part of this franchise. At the same time thankful to audiences as they loved my role in part one and still remember it. Special thanks to Anees Bazmee and Bhushan Kumar. I'm starting my shoot for the same and am very excited for it."

The shooting schedule for the comedy-thriller will start from February 21 in Jaipur. In the first instalment, Rajpal played a significant part. He will be seen playing a similar role in the sequel as well.

Helmed by Anees Bazmee, 'Bhool Bhulaiya 2' also features Kartik Aaryan, Tabu, and Kiara Advani in pivotal roles.

Rajpal has many projects in the pipeline this year including Bole Chudiyan, Coolie No 1, and Hungama 2.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
W e may have only just said goodbye to Love Island, but fans are already anticipating their next fix.

Despite speculation over whether or not the programme would be cancelled, host Laura Whitmore confirmed the hit ITV2 reality show will return in summer during the series finale of the recent winter version.

So, what can we expect from the new season and how do you apply?

We've got you covered...

The Winter Love Island finale saw Paige Turley and Finley Tapp claim victory / ITV2

When does Love Island 2020 start?

While there is no set date for the summer version of the show, it is anticipated to return in June this year.

For the last few seasons, Love Island has kicked off on June 3 and 4, respectively - both dates being a Monday.

Although originally the summer series extended over eight weeks, it is expected that this year's will air for only six, just as the winter version did.

Love Island 2020: Series 6 Finale - In pictures 1 /18 Love Island 2020: Series 6 Finale - In pictures Paige Turley and Finley Tapp are announced as winners by Laura Whitmore Rex Features Paige Turley and Finley Tapp Paige Turley and Finley Tapp are announced as winners by Laura Whitmore ITV Paige Turley and Finley Tapp ITV Paige Turley and Finley Tapp ITV ITV ITV Love Island Caroline Flack tribute ITV Love Island Caroline Flack tribute ITV Love Island Caroline Flack tribute ITV Love Island Caroline Flack tribute ITV Love Island Caroline Flack tribute ITV Love Island Caroline Flack tribute ITV Love Island Caroline Flack tribute ITV

How do I apply for Love Island this year?

Applications for the new summer show are now open.

You can apply to be on Love Island 2020 via the ITV Be On TV website here.

If you do wish to be on this year's series, you'll have to act fast - applications close on April 30, 2020.

Auditions are taking place between January 12 and April 30, and applicants must be aged 18 or over.

Will Laura Whitmore be hosting again?

Return: Whitmore will be back for a second series (ITV) / Rex Features

She sure will! The Irish presenter has been a massive hit since her Love Island debut in January this year.

Whitmore, who is in a relationship with narrator Iain Stirling, took over from Caroline Flack at the start of the year.

Following Caroline Flack's death in February, the host dedicated the winter series' finale to the late presenter.

Love Island Pay Tribute To Former Presenter Caroline Flack On Live Final

Addressing viewers at home, Whitmore gave a touching tribute to her friend, saying: "The past week has been extremely difficult coming to terms with the death of our friend Caroline.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump landed in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Monday, shortly before 12 pm.

The US President will participate in the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium in a short while from now with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Later in the day, Trump will travel to Agra, where he and his wife will visit the historic Taj Mahal.

The US President is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Modi on Tuesday in New Delhi. The visiting dignitary will also meet Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and President Ram Nath Kovind.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
File photo taken on May 12, 2018 shows Mahathir Mohamad attending a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has submitted the letter to resign as Prime Minister, his office said Monday. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has submitted the letter to resign as Prime Minister, his office said Monday.

The resignation letter was submitted to Malaysia's King around noon, said a statement released by the PM office.

The announcement comes amid reports that Mahathir, 94, will break up the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, which has been in power since winning the general election in May 2018, to form a new government with other parties.

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OnePlus 8 Pro 5G Specifications Leaked: Confirm To Feature 64MP Camera News oi-Vivek

OnePlus recently confirmed that the brand will have a regular offline and online launch event for the OnePlus 8 series of smartphones. Even though the company has not announced anything concrete about the upcoming devices, leaks suggest that the brand is planning to launch three smartphones.

Now, a screenshot from the settings section of the smartphone is circulating the web, hinting at the possible specifications of the OnePlus 8 Pro 5G smartphone and it is internally named HD2023.

OnePlus 8 Pro 5G Specifications

The OnePlus 8 Pro 5G, as the name suggests will launch with 5G capabilities. The smartphone will come with a QHD+ resolution 6.65-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is likely to be protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 6. One key difference between the display on the OnPlus 7 Pro and the OnePlus 8 Pro 5G is the fact that the latter has a punch hole cutout, instead of a pop-up selfie camera.

The smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage. The brand is likely to use a UFS 3.0 or UFS 3.1 storage module. The device with Android 10 OS with custom OxygenOS skin on top.

Just like the OnePlus 7T Pro, the OnePlus 8 Pro 5G has a triple camera setup with a 64MP primary camera, 20MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens. Considering the present trend, the company is likely to use the Sony IMX 686 64MP primary camera, which is currently used on the Poco X2.

It is speculated that the OnePlus 8 Pro 5G is likely to offer IP rating and wireless charging support as well. However, this material does not indicate anything related to those features. As per the pricing, the OnePlus 8 Pro 5G might cost a bit more than the OnePlus 7T Pro, considering the hardware upgrade in almost every department.

Best Mobiles in India

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Married At First Sight's Vanessa Romito reportedly launched a 'verbal attack' against her co-star Natasha Spencer in scenes that didn't air on TV.

According to Woman's Day, the 31-year-old pharmacy manager was left fuming over suspicions that Natasha, 26, was interested in her 'husband', Chris Nicholls.

'Vanessa had it in her head that she had a thing for Chris,' an insider claimed.

Rumours: Married At First Sight's Vanessa Romito (left) reportedly launched a 'verbal attack' against her co-star Natasha Spencer (right) in scenes that didn't air on TV

Tensions between the two women reached boiling point when Natasha reportedly 'stroked' Chris' arm.

'Things descended into chaos when Natasha stroked Chris' arm,' the source alleged.

'Vanessa was just on edge the entire time. Chris couldn't go out for a drink without her firing up,' they added.

Jealous? According to Woman's Day, the 31-year-old pharmacy manager was left fuming over suspicions that Natasha, 26, was interested in her 'husband', Chris Nicholls

The pair's feud was apparently considered too 'intense' to broadcast, so MAFS producers decided to leave it on the cutting room floor.

Meanwhile, viewers have noticed that Vanessa and Chris have been getting hardly any screen time lately, appearing for just 47 seconds on Sunday's episode.

On Monday, an insider told Daily Mail Australia that the newlyweds were 'too boring' compared to the other participants on the show.

'After their wedding they just faded into the background compared to the bigger personalities,' they said.

Say what?! Tensions between the two women reached boiling point when Natasha reportedly 'stroked' Chris' arm. Pictured: Vanessa and Chris at Sunday night's commitment ceremony

Where did they go? Meanwhile, viewers have noticed that Vanessa and Chris have been getting hardly any screen time lately, appearing for just 47 seconds on Sunday's episode

'There wasn't any arguments or drama, they just took things nice and slowly while getting to know each other, which isn't particularly interesting to watch on TV.'

Another source added that the couple's only major argument happened off camera during an 11-day production break in early October.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
BFIG President, Reuben Jaja, is very bitter. After being declared the winner of the bid for the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in 2004, he spent another eight years to fight a bitter legal battle up to the Supreme Court to upturn the decision by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to cancel the win in 2012.

Another eight years running, he is still fight in various courts in Nigeria and abroad to get BPE to respect the order of the Supreme Court on ALSCON. On Tuesday, he will appear at the Appeal Court in Abuja to get the Director General of BPE, Alex Okoh, imprisoned for his serial disobedience of the Supreme Court order for 16 years.

On Friday, Mr Jaja spoke with journalists in Abuja over his travails and frustrations and on why BFIG has not been able to pay for ALSCON years after the Nigerian-American consortium won the bid and was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Excerpts:

PT: Its going to 16 years cumulatively since BFIG was declared winner of the bid for ALSCON by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), and about eight years after the Supreme Court ordered BPE to reverse its decision to cancel the win. Why is BFIG yet to pay for ALSCON? BPE says the consortium has no money to pay?

JAJA: I came home from the United States as a member of Nigerians in Diaspora to support the economic rehabilitation and development of our nation shortly after the military regime.

We came to help revive one of Nigerias strategic assets called ALSCON. We were advised by BPE to put together a consortium for that purpose.

When Olusegun Obasanjo came to power, he visited us then in the Diaspora. He asked us to come and meet with him in Atlanta, Georgia. We jubilated that our country was going to bounce back. We trooped to Atlanta to meet with our President.

That was the session I mustered the courage to lead a team to come to Nigeria to take over ALSCON and rehabilitate it for the benefit of not only the Niger Delta people, where it is located, but also for the entire nation.

We came, bided for ALSCON and won. But, I was naive. I did not know winning ALSCON was the beginning of not only my nightmare, but also our struggle.

PT: What do you mean?

JAJA: Let me summarise this complex transaction chronologically in three distinct levels of activities involving ALSCON.

It has been widely reported by BPE in the media that they took ALSCON away from BFIG and gave to UC RUSAL because we could not pay for the plant several years after the Supreme Court ruled in our favour on July 6, 2012.

But, let me tell you, BPE is telling a blatant lie from the pit of hell. It is very very annoying. I will prove to you with facts and documents.

BFIG won ALSCON in June 2004. It is apparent we were not the preferred choice to the powers that be. Immediately BFIG won ALSCON, there was an effort to take it away right from the closure of the bid.

From 2004, BPE summoned the media and told them BFIG could not pay for the bid offer (of $410 million).

BPE told this blatant lie in 2004. In 2005, BPE summoned the media and shared the same blatant lie again. Same in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012  a period of eight years that the media was bamboozled and fed with nothing but barefaced lies.

But, on July 6, 2012, the Supreme Court in a unanimous vote declared that BPE was telling a lie, and that our case was meritorious to the extreme.

The entire five Justices of the apex court, including the current Chief Justice of the Federation, Tanko Mohammed, said: BPE, you are telling a lie. You have not even got to a point of payment in the transaction. All what you have been talking about payment for ALSCON is a lie, because you have not even given BFIG the share purchase agreement (SPA) to sign in line with the approved bid guidelines.

But, most media houses keep writing these lies from BPE. You can see why BFIG is so bitter. Why would an agency of government bamboozle the media with so much lies to mislead the nation?

PT: Specifically, what was the ruling of the Supreme Court?

JAJA: The Supreme Court was unambiguous in its ruling giving an order of specific performance by BPE. It ordered: Terminate your contract with UC RUSAL; provide BFIG with a mutually agreed SPA to sign before talking about payment.

But, all through these eight years, press conference upon press conference, BPE fed the media with lies and the country was misled on the acquisition of such a strategic asset, just because of personal and self-aggrandizement of a few opportunists.

PT: But, BPE says it has given BFIG the SPA on more than one occasion and you were unable to pay the money?

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JAJA: Thats another lie. In 2012, after more than four months of the Supreme Courts judgment, the BPE DG at the time agreed to give BFIG the same 58-page SPA given to UC RUSAL in 2006 to sign.

The document contained almost all what BFIG agreed to as bidders at a special technical conference of all parties to the bid in 2004, including BPE and all the bidders.

In the meeting, it was agreed that whoever emerges winners will be invited by the BPE to negotiate the SPA, after which 15 working days will be allowed for the winner to make payment.

Immediately BFIG received the SPA, it did not waste time to sign it. This was in October 2012. In the transmittal letter to BPE, BFIG requested from BPE to provide its account coordinates to deposit the $41 million initial payment.

One month passed, BPE did not give any response. We wrote them a reminder. Still no response between October 2012 when BFIG returned the completed SPA and January 2013.

Later, they wrote to apologise that they were organising so we can go and inspect the property and conduct a technical audit, so that we know what we were buying.

When the then BPE DG (Bola Onagoruwa) refused to change the decision, she was fired from office. After four months, all of a sudden, BPE abandoned the 58-page agreement we had signed and returned to them.

The new DG then (Benjamin Dikki) came in January. His first job was to give BFIG a brand new agreement. This time, only 16 pages.

BFIG reviewed this 16-page document, and wondered how BPE dropped the agreement from 58 pages approved by the Supreme Court to just 16 pages.

In the new agreement, key attachments, including the source of gas supply, were removed. Everything that would make BFIG successful were carefully uprooted by BPE from the agreement.

BFIG said this was not commercially viable, as no serious commercial bank would ever give a dime for such nonsense.

To worsen the situation, BFIG had already submitted the other signed 58-page agreement to its Board of Directors, bankers, investors and lawyers in the United States. BPE had assured us in writing that all was well. But, that is where the new fight started after the Supreme Court ruling.

Between 2012 and 2018, BPE continued to invite the media to misinform them that BFIG could not pay, whereas the (real) SPA has never even been given to us.

PT: What happened after BPE issued the 16-page SPA?

JAJA: We went back to the Supreme Court to complain that BPE had refused to obey its order. The Supreme Court said it had delivered its judgment in simple, plain language, and asked BFIG to go the lower court and enforce the judgment.

That is how we went back to the lower court. So, between 2012 and 2018, the lower court enforced that judgment in our favour, and told BPE that the 58-page agreement is what BFIG must sign, because that is the only agreement others, including UC RUSAL, had signed.

BPE kicked and rejected it. It appealed the order. At the Appeal Court, they abandoned their application there and refused to file their papers.

At the ruling, the Justices of the Appeal Court said refusing to file its case was BPEs tactics to frustrate the Supreme Court judgment.

In 2018, the Appeal Court again ruled in BFIGs favour and asked BPE to go and sign the SPA, ending another six years of lies by BPE that BFIG could not pay.

PT: Was it that all these years neither the Supreme Court nor Appeal Court justices could not see that BFIG could not pay? Why did they keep giving judgments in its favour?

JAJA: No! They had seen the facts that BPE had not even reached the point of demanding for payment, and they have not given BFIG the SPA to sign.

Moving ahead, BPE gave BFIG the agreement the Appeal Court judge recommended in 2018. We again signed it and returned along with about 19 different attachments under the annexures to the SPA.

These annexures include the audited financial statements of ALSCON 2004; authority to sell ALSCON; gas agreement and all the foundation documents BFIG completed in 2004 prior to the bid.

BFIG signed all the six copies and returned to BPE and requested an appointment on the final day BPE was to sign its portion.

Surprisingly, BPE countersigned and returned only two copies to BFIG, but detached all the 19 annexures, making the SPA BFIG signed incomplete, completely in defiance of the Supreme Court order, setting up another round of confrontation.

They said BFIG should come for the renegotiation of the annexures. Our lawyers reminded them that the Supreme Court ordered for a mutually agreed SPA to be given to BFIG and not bits. BPE refused.

PT: So what next step did BFIG take?

JAJA: BFIG threatened to proceed with enforcement action. When they refused, BFIG initiated Forms 48 and 49. Form 48 was to warn BPE that it was in disobedience and contempt of the court. We served it on BPE.

We waited for some time before serving another one. When all failed to persuade BPE, we proceeded to file Form 49, where DG of BPE, Alex Okoh was invited to defend himself. He refused to honour the invitation and sent his lawyers.

After looking at the case, the judge in his ruling called BPE a serial disobedient organisation. He said the court would not watch as the Supreme Court of Nigeria was being thrashed by any agency of government. The DG of BPE was ordered remanded in jail for a minimum of 30 days.

Those are the facts. That is the truth. As we stand now, the SPA has not been given to BFIG by BPE as ordered by the Supreme Court.

PT: But suppose BPE decides to respect the Supreme Court order today and ask BFIG to make payment, do you have the money?

JAJA: Let me say this. BFIG came into Nigeria as part of a consortium of investors, like I said earlier. It will shock anybody to know that we brought in 2.5 billion to Nigeria before the bid for ALSCON. That money was lodged at Union Bank of Nigeria. Immediately the money landed in Nigeria, Union Bank took 400 million allegedly for transaction charges and returned 2.1 billion to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

As of today, the whereabouts of those funds are unknown. We have initiated lawsuits that have traveled all the way from the lower courts, Appeal Court to the Supreme Court, which upheld last week that the Nigerian government must return our money. Would 2.5 billion not be enough to pay $410 million for ALSCON?

BFIG believes what BPE is torturing us because of that money. At some point, we received intelligence that the money was transferred to CBN and they could not account for it.

Meanwhile, while that money was still hanging, BFIG initiated for another $500 million funding from the U.S. to enable it pay for ALSCON. This was at a time BPE gave us the 58-page SPA to sign in 2013, ostensibly in obedience to the Supreme Court order.

But, we could not take that money, because BPE refused to give BFIG the SPA that could have convinced the banks to part with their money. And those who arranged the funding ended up with a suit against BFIG and claimed $3.2 million for tying down their money. I have documents to show for all these.

What is BPE talking about money to pay for ALSCON? We have incurred more than $32 million in legal fees alone, because we have sued UC RUSAL in Britain, British Virgins Island, United States and Nigeria just to uphold our right to ALSCON.

Besides, the third funding BFIG obtained was from Zenith Bank in Nigeria. It was put together then by the current CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele. Then, Udom Emmanuel, who is the current governor of Akwa Ibom State, was with the bank.

The loan was obtained in January 3, 2013. Immediately the new DG BPE (Dikki) came in and realised BFIG had arranged the facility, he made sure BPE delivered to us a contentious SPA.

What I have to tell Nigerians is that they should not continue to buy the cheap lies BPE is selling that BFIG has no money to pay for ALSCON.

BFIG has not even reached the stage of payment yet. If BPE is telling the truth, how come the Supreme Court Justices could not see this in 2012; six years later the Appeal Court Justices saw this and said we have not even reached the stage of payment?

PT: At a certain point, ALSCON was handed over to UC RUSAL. Have you conducted a technical audit to ascertain the state of what you are buying?

JAJA: This question is sad. After the Supreme Court gave its judgment in 2012, BFIG found out that the KPMG audited financial report on ALSCON (the asset BFIG bided for in 2004 for $410 million) under the management of UC RUSAL, with BPE seating on the Board as the co-manager, was drastically stripped.

At the time BFIG bided for ALSCON, the value was about $1.03 billion. But, after the plant was handed over to UC RUSAL, KPMG said ALSCON was worth less than $89 million. It has gone down further since then.

How would anybody expect BFIG to take $410 million and pay for $89 million asset? If BFIG dares present that to its bankers in the U.S., they will think we are insane. UC RUSAL stripped and damaged the asset. But, BPE will never go there.

Again, production at the plant had dropped to zero by 2013. When Nigerians were managing ALSCON, before privatisation, out of 200 metric tons of aluminium ingots production capacity, they were operating at 32 per cent of installed capacity.

But, when UC RUSAL took over, the highest production capacity they attained was about 10.5 per cent. Clearly, UC RUSAL did not come to revive ALSCON, but to kill it, so that Nigeria will continue to import their own products.

Supreme Court gave a perpetual injunction to BPE to vacate UC RUSAL from the plant. But, till today they are still there in contempt of the Supreme Court order.

So, DG BPE (Alex Okoh) is saying he was not part of the fraud. He is lying. He is the worst DG of the agency to date. He even traveled to the UK and negotiated the handing over of ALSCON to the Russians knowing too well the Supreme Court judgment was till subsisting.

PT: There were reports the former Minister of Mines & Steel and current governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, arranged a buy-out deal for you on ALSCON. Why didnt you accept the offer?

JAJA: While BPE was busy telling the media that BFIG did not have money to pay for ALSCON, Fayemi summoned a meeting for me in his office at the Federal Ministry of Mines & Steel, Abuja. They offered me $35 million to forget about BFIGs right to ALSCON. They wanted me to sell the Supreme Court judgment to them for $35 million.

When I rejected the offer outright and walked out of the meeting, DG BPE (Okoh) called me to his office and told me, even if I wanted more, he would be ready to assist in negotiating for more.

In the midnight, he kept calling my home. I was so annoyed, because I thought they were inviting me to try to find solutions to the problem.

Somebody they claimed does not have money. They were offering $35 million, with a promise to increase it? And the poor man rejected the money and insisted on getting his plant.

BPE cannot be saying two things at the same time. One, BFIG is poor and cannot pay for ALSCON, and two, money was offered to him and he rejected. It just doesnt add up at all.
by Shadab Zeest Hashmi

Gibraltar in the background, I pose sideways, wearing a Spanish Chrysanthemum claw in my hair, gitana style, taking a dare from my husband. The photo is from an August afternoon, captured in the suns manic glare. My shadow in profile, with the oversized flower behind my ear, mirrors the shape of Gibraltar, Jabl ut Tariq or Tariqs rock. An actual visit to Gibraltar is more than a decade ahead in the future. I would spend years researching the civilization of al Andalus (Muslim Spain, 711-1492) and publish a book about the convivencia of the Abrahamic people before finally setting foot on Gibraltar. In Cordoba, I write, Im inside the tremor of exile the primeval, paramount home of poetry and that I am drawn to the world of al Andalus because it is a gift of exiles, a celebration of the cusp and of plural identities, the meeting point of three continents and three faiths, where the drama of boundaries and their blurring took place. At the heart of this pursuit is my own story, one that is illuminated only recently when I see in Gibraltar more facets of my own exile and encounter with borders.

On the flight from Karachi to Frankfurt, before my first train trip to Spain, Im in my silk shalwar kameez and high heels, a young newlywed: halved, doubled, protean, wearing a new identity I have not yet divined or defined. When the immigration officer in Frankfurt asks questions, my husband who is half-German, responds in German and I in English. No, I do not speak German. Yes, we were married two weeks ago. My passport has my maiden name, but I have now adopted my husbands family name Hashmi. Yes, our flight out of Europe is from Frankfurt and we will fly to the USA where we will live.

A few months earlier, when I designed my wedding cards, I had an emotional exchange with my father on the matter of changing names; it was a difficult decision to give up my family name for my husbands. The topic of my name was fraught. My first name was my fathers gift, my middle name was my mothers and the family name held the possibility of either reinforcing my attachment to my birth family by retaining it after marriage or giving it up as a gesture to honor my husbands family. I chose the latter.

The usefulness of having a literary name occurred to me thenbut my published poems and interview appearances seemed insignificant against the questions of identity that implied belongingness in the realm of the people in my life rather than my work. From now on it will always be that way: I will be between two families, between cultures, between languages; when I have children, Ill be between generations that I deem more deserving of my time than my own. Ill also be between two urgent preoccupations: motherhood and writing.

For my wedding card, I had chosen MC Eschers geometric drawing of a flock of interlocked birds because these birds appear to me to form a webbed nest while in flight, wings raised, at home between land and sky; what a stupendous task to make a home of abeyance, weaving themselves as they do, into eternity a metaphor for the sharing of mortalitys burden and paradox of permanence in flux, an image encapsulating both migration and marriage.

Neither my husband nor I know what is in store for us as immigrants in the US. Having grown up in the East and finished my education in the West, I am on a cusp of identities. I have left behind many places I call home, each bordering with another country: Lahore, my birthplace on the border with India; Peshawar, my hometown, with Afghanistan; Portland where I attended college, in the Northwestern United States, the vicinity of the Canadian border. My future home, the city I will live in the longest, is San Diego, along the border with Mexico.

Gibraltar hangs like a pendant between Europe and Africa; attached to the Iberian Peninsula, it has always been of strategic importance, and is named after Tariq bin Ziyad, the commander who initiated the legendary conquest of al Andalus. The history of al Andalus asks to be retrieved from somewhere between a long-lived, singular splendor and equally prolonged silencing by the Inquisition. When Gibraltar became part of the British overseas territory in the 18th century, the land that is now Pakistan was also under the political influence of Britain, though not officially part of the British empire. To someone who has grown up in a British post-colonial culture, the peculiarities of the place are unmistakable and somewhat unsettling but certainly offer a whole new perspective to be explored.

Gibraltar, this dramatic rock between the continent of ice and the continent of fire reminds me that betweenness is a contradictory gift but it is best to embrace it, and that poets are part of the equation when it comes to historys erasures. Uncovering what is lost or stolen is one way that poetry recovers and regenerates the past. The essential pull in this history for me are the very multiplicities that defy easy naming and desperately require poetrys coinage.
Minneapolis, Minn. - February 24, 2020 - A new website developed by researchers at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI) and the University of Minnesota (UMN) is making it easier for organ transplant candidates to choose which transplant center is right for them.

The website, transplantcentersearch.org, was developed for candidates seeking kidney, liver, heart and lung transplants. Data for liver centers is currently live. Data for other organs will soon be available.

"In order for patients to join a waiting list for an organ transplant they must complete an evaluation at a transplant center. Different transplant centers have different criteria for candidates. For example, some centers are more likely to accept an older candidate. They also have different waiting times and outcomes," said first author Cory Schaffhausen, PhD. "Patients can use the website to see how many transplant recipients at any US center have characteristics like themselves."

This personalized decision guide uses information about the patient's donor type and medical profile to match factors important to the individual. It uses data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, a national transplant registry operated by HHRI under contract from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Schaffhausen recently published an article about the new tool entitled "Tool to Aid Patients in Selecting a Liver Transplant Center," in the March issue of Liver Transplantation journal. This article is featured on the front cover of the journal. The Principal Investigator and senior author on the project is Ajay Israni, MD, MS and other researchers and co-author include Warren McKinney, PhD at HHRI. The HHRI team is also working with multiple collaborators at UMN.

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This website was created as part of a research study funded with a federal grant by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). User feedback about the site will be an important part of this research study, and will be used to make updates and improvements in the future.

To view the Liver Transplantation journal article online, go to https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lt.25715

About the Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute:

Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI) is the research arm and a nonprofit subsidiary of Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., a comprehensive health system in Minneapolis. HHRI is one of the largest nonprofit medical research organizations in Minnesota and consistently ranks in the top 10 percent of all institutions receiving research funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Media Contact:

Susan O'Reilly

Corporate Communications Manager

Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute

soreilly@hhrinstitute.org

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LAS VEGAS  Bernie Sanders announced to the Democratic establishment earlier this week that it cant stop his campaign. Many rivals and party insiders now admit he might be right.

Sanders is zooming toward Super Tuesday with victories in Nevada and New Hampshire, a foothold in the delegate-rich states of California and Texas, and a divided, jam-packed field of moderate opponents. All of which puts him on a path to potentially collect enough delegates by the middle of March that no one else can catch up with him, say a growing number of Democratic officials and operatives.

They think the Vermont senator could amass a plurality of delegates by March 17, at which point more than 60 percent of the race's total delegates will have been awarded  thereby making it difficult if not all but unfeasible for his opponents to overtake him.

Its entirely possible that Bernie wins South Carolina, particularly because Tom Steyer is drawing a lot of support there. That would give him a head of steam heading into Super Tuesday three days later, said Andrew Yang, the former Democratic presidential candidate. He may have a nearly insurmountable lead in the delegate count by mid-March.

Democratic presidential candidate businessman Andrew Yang passes as he speaks at the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Mark Longabaugh, a senior adviser to Sanders 2016 campaign, said changes to the Super Tuesday lineup could also benefit him. North Carolina, one of his strongest Southern states that year, moved their primary to March 3. Maine, another 2016 stronghold, has also switched to a Super Tuesday primary. Most importantly, California is going to the polls on Super Tuesday, too.

"March 3 is not the Southern-dominated March 1 that it was in 2016," said Longabaugh. "People haven't really been paying attention, but this Super Tuesday lines up for Bernie Sanders much, much better than the Super Tuesday we barely survived last time."

Sanders is first in the Golden State, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average, which plays to his advantages: The electorate is liberal and heavily Latino. On Saturday, Sanders won a striking 51 percent of Hispanic caucus-goers in Nevada  34 points ahead of his closest opponent, according to entrance polls.

Story continues

Keep in mind that California has been voting for two weeks. Texas has been voting for five days, and the ballots dropped in Colorado weeks ago, said Chuck Rocha, Sanders senior adviser and architect of his Latino outreach strategy, at a caucus night party in Nevada. Weve already been banking all of those votes and all of those Latinos, getting their ballots, calling them, talking to them. Thats going to be a real key to our success.

Dan Pfeiffer, a former adviser to former President Barack Obama, was asked by Meet the Press host Chuck Todd on Sunday if it is possible to stop Sanders if no candidate drops out before Super Tuesday. I do not believe it is, he replied.

Tim Miller, Jeb Bushs 2016 communications director who was part of a super PAC that year aimed at stopping Donald Trump, wrote on The Bulwark under the sub-headline that reads history is repeating itself that what I didnt fully realize is that when I joined the PAC, unless something dramatic happened, the race was already functionally over  two days after South Carolina.

Sanders is suddenly being taken seriously enough that some Democrats think he might be able to pull off an upset  or at least a strong second-place finish  in South Carolina. A CBS News/YouGov poll found Biden with 28 percent and Sanders with 23 percent, and Steyer right behind them at 18 percent. Either scenario would be a remarkable turnaround from 2016, when he lost the state to Hillary Clinton by 47 percentage points.

Bernie has learned a lot since he got crushed here in 2016, said Brady Quirk-Garvan, a former Charleston Democratic Party chairman who had backed Cory Booker. Hes been campaigning forever down here, made early investments, and a crowded field of moderates is his dream scenario.

Sanders is stumping this week in North and South Carolina, including near the border, where, Quirk-Govan said, he can simultaneously campaign in a Super Tuesday state but try to eat into Bidens lead in South Carolina.

But as he gains momentum, Sanders looks to be entering a more challenging moment. At the final debate before Nevadas caucuses, most of his rivals chose to train their fire not on the frontrunner, but on Bloomberg  just one example this cycle of Sanders benefiting from his opponents seemingly underestimating him.

After Sanders' decisive victory in Nevada, however, Pete Buttigieg used his caucus night speech to accuse Sanders of believing in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans.

Joe Biden took a similar shot Saturday, saying, "I aint a socialist. I aint a plutocrat, referring to Sanders and Bloomberg. And Elizabeth Warren has stepped up criticisms of Sanders in recent days, saying, I dont want to be president just to yell at people.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden meets with supporters during a caucus night event, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sanders team expects an onslaught of attacks at Tuesdays debate. And Bloombergs campaign has not ruled out millions in negative ads  and with an unlimited budget, its difficult to predict the result of such an effort.

Still, there are no signs yet that any of Sanders top opponents are dropping out. Buttigiegs campaign argued in a memo that he is the one to challenge him head-to-head, despite his difficulty appealing to voters of color, saying that if the dynamics of the race did not dramatically change, Democrats could end up coming out of Super Tuesday with Bernie Sanders holding a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.

Likewise, Bloombergs aides wrote in a memo that "I dont think many people understand the dire circumstances here and suggested other candidates should drop out  seen as an affront by those who have already participated in primaries and amassed delegates.

Even if the field winnowed, its possible a one-on-one race would not deliver the results Sanders many moderate opponents hope. But a February Yahoo/YouGov poll showed him defeating Bloomberg and Buttigieg by double digits if they faced off against him one-on-one. Biden and Warren were the most competitive in a hypothetical match-up, though Sanders was still ahead of them by four and two points, respectively.


After 34 years in law enforcement, a Rio Rancho Police deputy chief is heading off to new experiences.

Deputy Chief Paul Rogers last day with the department where hes spent almost 29 years will be March 1. He has secured a new position as the deputy director for the City of Albuquerques Security Services Division.

I had been thinking about retiring for the last 12-18 months, but I still enjoyed doing what I was doing, Rogers said.  Every day theres a challenge, theres something new.

Nevertheless, he wanted to experience something new, and when he learned about the opening in Albuquerque, he pursued it.

Ill miss serving the citizens of Rio Rancho, he said, hoping his new job will be as interactive as law enforcement.

He and his wife, Erin, have lived in Rio Rancho throughout his career with the police department. Both of their children grew up in Rio Rancho, graduating from Cleveland High School.

Rogers was disappointed that their son, Paul III, wont be able to attend any going-away party or ceremony he has with RRPD, due to being stationed in South Korea with the U.S. Army. However, their daughter, Courtney, lives in this area, working in the film industry.

Rogers began his law enforcement career in October 1986 with Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office.

I had always been interested in being a police officer since I was a kid, Rogers said.

However, he began working in fire services while going to community college in Arizona and continued as a firefighter in the Air Force. While on active duty at Kirtland Air Force Base, he served as a reserve deputy with Bernalillo County and was allowed to leave the Air Force five months earlier to become a full-time deputy.

His Air Force career was going well, but he preferred the more sustained activity and community interaction of police work, as well as the chance to initiate efforts to help where he thought it would do the most good.

I liked the ability to help people, Rogers said.

After 3 years, he and his wife moved back to Arizona to be near family, and Rogers served with Sedona Police Department for two years.

We missed this area, so we decided to come back, he said.

It has always been important to him to live where he worked, and Rio Rancho was affordable. In July 1991, he got a job with what was then the Rio Rancho Department of Public Safety.

Rio Rancho police officers at that time doubled as firefighters, and Rogers said it was hard to keep up the necessary certifications for both careers. He recalls having to change from his police uniform into the firefighting gear in his trunk, and then change back and answer police calls while still smelling of smoke and sweat.

Im sure that more than once, we got a strange look from people, he said.

Over the years, Rogers rose through the ranks and worked in patrol, traffic enforcement, the DWI unit, internal affairs, criminal investigations, public information and support services.

I responded for a long time to every traffic fatality, and thats something you dont want to see all the time, he said.

He felt very strongly about enforcing traffic and DWI laws.

DWI arrests involve a lot of paperwork and drunken people are hard to deal with, he said. But hes often wondered how many fatal wrecks he and other officers prevented with those arrests.

Youve got to know what youre doing has a greater impact that overshadows those negatives, Rogers said.

Rogers recalled one night during his time with the DWI unit when he was helping with a checkpoint near the intersection of Unser and Southern boulevards. While working, he heard an impact and saw sparks fly.

In the darkness, none of the officers initially knew what happened but ran toward the crash. They soon realized a car had rear-ended a motorcycle, and there was nothing they could do for the motorcycle rider.

Rogers thought the lights and activity of the checkpoint must have distracted young man driving the car. It turned out the driver had worked multiple shifts and fallen asleep at the wheel.

I was horrified that we had played a part in that and relieved to find out we didnt, he said. Unfortunately, its still a very tragic situation.

Rogers was promoted to deputy chief in 2016 and served as interim chief in 2017. He has been a police-driving instructor for 20 years, as well as teaching use of radar and lidar, which uses a laser beam, for speed detection.

The things that kept him in law enforcement for so long are the same things that drew him into the career.

And thats what Ill truly miss, Rogers said.
MS Vidyanandan By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Green or insensitivity... you name it! The recently-held scrutiny of social security pension beneficiaries found that the ineligible persons in the list included government employees, service pensioners and PSU staff. About five lakh persons abstained from the mustering which involved the collection of biometric details. Of them, the most number of ineligible beneficiaries were the dead, about 2.5 lakh persons.

Their relatives did not bother to inform the death to the local self-government. Direct benefit transfer was a boon for the relatives since they withdrew the amount using the ATM card of the deceased. The second largest category of ineligibles were those drawing pension from more than one LSG. Remarried women who continued to draw widow pension formed the third category.

And the fourth-largest group were government employees and pensioners. Scrutiny officers said the government employees who found place in the list were mostly part-time or contingent staff. Large number of family pensioners, that is, those drawing half the government pension amount of their deceased spouse, too enrolled in the scheme. The Finance Department has now asked all such persons to return the entire amount collected by them so far. They have also been advised to voluntarily ask the local self-governments to exclude them from the scheme.

The government has warned of disciplinary action against government employees drawing social security pension. Efforts are on to collect details of service pensioners who found place in the list.

A senior Finance Department officer said the exclusion of the ineligible will help the government save Rs 750 crore a year.

The state spends Rs 650 crore a month to pay pension to 48 lakh beneficiaries under five categories - agricultural labourer, old age, disability, unmarried women above 50 years of age and widows. The monthly payment is Rs 1,100 with some exceptions. Considering the states stressed finances, we cannot afford the ineligible persons continue in the list. In fact this is a bold move of the government, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 10:15:20|Editor: Liu

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CANBERRA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A coalition of health experts have called on the Australian government to urgently establish an air pollution authority in response to the bushfire crisis.

In a paper published by the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, researchers from leading Australian universities warned that the government can't wait for the findings of the Bushfire Royal Commission to act on the issue of air pollution.

Much of Australia's east coast was blanketed by smoke from fires that devastated the country. Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra all experienced the worst air quality in the world at different times amid the crisis.

Sotiris Vardoulakis, the lead author of the paper from Australian National University (ANU), said in a media release that the current health protection advice relating to bushfire smoke is "impractical."

"Telling people to stay indoors or reduce physical activities outdoors isn't sufficient. Smoke pollution levels vary over hours and days and can change quickly. For this reason, we need hourly averaged particulate air pollution - PM2.5 data - reported in real-time," he said in a media release.

"More nuanced advice would encourage individuals to be guided by location-specific air quality forecasts and the pattern of hourly PM2.5 concentrations at nearby air quality monitoring locations.

"It would also mean people could better plan their daily activities in ways that minimize exposure to pollution."

The paper highlighted inconsistencies in the current approach measuring air quality and called for a uniform national approach.

The proposed independent national expert committee would be charged with measuring air quality and communicating that information to the public while also coordinating research into the impact of air pollution on health.

"Public access to local, user-friendly air quality information and reliable smoke forecasts is essential for managing personal exposure as well as clinical deterioration in sensitive individuals," the paper said.

"More government investment is needed in air quality monitoring, forecasting and research on public health messaging, and exposure reduction measures to protect Australians from bushfire smoke."
HP Inc. today announced a multi-year strategic and financial value creation plan that is expected to deliver $3.25 to $3.65 non-GAAP diluted net EPS by 2022. This significant expected earnings growth is supported by HPs market leadership and track record of execution across Personal Systems, Print, and 3D Printing & Digital Manufacturing, disciplined and sustained cost actions, as well as a new capital return program of approximately $16 billion during fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2022.

Under this value creation plan, HP expects to generate:

$4.7 billion to $5.1 billion of non-GAAP operating profit in fiscal 2022;

$10.7 billion to $11.7 billion of cumulative free cash flow in fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2022; and

$1.2 billion structural cost reductions in fiscal 2022 with flow through to non-GAAP operating profit of approximately $650 million.

Enrique Lores, President and CEO, HP Inc.

HP is out of the gate strong in Q1, with outstanding earnings and a robust plan to create significant value for shareholders, said Enrique Lores, President and CEO, HP Inc. Our three-year financial targets reflect a company at the top of its game, combining the industrys best innovation with disciplined cost management and aggressive capital returns to support a compelling investment in both the short and long term.

Lores added, Our commitment to HP shareholders is unwavering and its abundantly clear the revised Xerox proposal meaningfully undervalues HP, creates significant risk and compromises the future of our company.

Chip Bergh, Chair of HPs Board of Directors

The HP Board is united in its full support of the Companys strategy and team. HP has a proven track record of consistent value creation and it is well-positioned in both Print and Personal Systems to drive operating profit growth and attractive shareholder returns, said Chip Bergh, Chair of HPs Board of Directors. Our new capital return program enables us to optimize our balance sheet while maintaining the appropriate capital structure for the business.

As part of HPs value creation plan for shareholders, HPs Board of Directors has authorized a capital return program that will target the return of capital of approximately $16 billion to HP shareholders during fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2022. This represents approximately 50% of HPs current market capitalization. The Company has also increased its total share repurchase authorization to $15 billion, up from the $5 billion share repurchase authorization announced in October 2019.

HP expects implementation of this capital return program to include the repurchase of at least $8 billion of HP shares over 12 months, commencing following HPs 2020 annual meeting. This plan builds on HPs strong history of generating strong free cash flow and returning capital to shareholders, with a total return of $9.1 billion over the last three years.

HP is increasing its target long-term return of capital to 100% of free cash flow generation, unless higher return opportunities emerge. HP intends to maintain dividend per share growth at least in line with earnings.

HP is committed to maintaining an investment-grade rating, targeting a gross Debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.5x to 2.0x. HP plans to use its cash and available debt capacity to support this capital return program.

Xerox Proposal: Flawed Value Exchange, Irresponsible Capital Structure, Overstated Synergies

HP believes there is merit in industry consolidation which is why it acquired Samsung Printing in 2017. However, consolidation must benefit HP shareholders. The revised Xerox proposal, announced on February 10, 2020, meaningfully undervalues HP, creates significant risk, and compromises HPs future.

The revised Xerox proposal:

Exchanges HP stock for cash and Xerox stock at a fundamentally flawed value exchange that does not compensate HP shareholders for the value of HP executing on its strategic plan and transfers value from HP shareholders to Xerox shareholders;

Uses HPs balance sheet as transaction consideration and creates an irresponsible capital structure that would jeopardize the future value of the combined company and constrain its ability to invest in growth and innovation; and

Overstates the potential synergies by including HPs existing plans for independent cost reductions and productivity gains.

HP is reaching out to Xerox to explore if there is a combination that creates value for HP shareholders that is additive to HPs strategic and financial plan.

HPs Board of Directors is committed to pursuing the most value-creating path and to serving HP shareholders best interests.

HP is the market leader in Print with 40% unit share and the highest operating margins in the industry.

In Print, HP is announcing today that it is establishing a long-term target operating margin range of 16% to 18%.

HP has beat or met non-GAAP diluted net EPS guidance for all 17 quarters as a standalone company, including strong earnings growth as separately announced today, and has beat or met free cash flow guidance for four out of four years since HPs separation.

Over the last three years, HP has grown revenue by $10.5 billion, grown GAAP diluted net EPS by 45%, generated $12.9 billion in cumulative cash flow from operations and returned $9.1 billion, or 80% of free cash flow to shareholders.

HPs Board and management team are committed to continuing this record of profitable growth, strong cash generation and capital return. The Companys strategy is focused on advancing its leadership in Personal Systems and Print, disrupting industries with breakthrough technologies across Graphics and 3D Printing & Digital Manufacturing, and transforming the way it works to continue to optimize its cost structure.

See the ONLY Tech companies that matter at the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW:

2020 exhibitors included: Amazon, Cisco, Google, IBM, 88, ClearlyIP, Avaya, Vonage, 88, Comcast Business, BlueJeans, CoreDial, Dell, Edify, Epygi, FreeSWITCH, Grandstream, Granite, Intrado, Frontier Business, Fujitsu, Jenne, West, Konftel, Intelisys, Martello, NetSapiens, OOMA, Oracle, OpenVox, Peerless Network, Phone Sentry, Phone.com, Poly, QuestBlue, RingByName, Sangoma, SingTel, Spracht, Spectrum, Sprint, Tallac, Tech Data, Telarus, TCG, Teledynamics, Teli, Telinta, Telispire, Telstra, Unified Office, Vital PBX, VoIP Supply, Voxbone, VoIP.MS, Windstream, XCALY, XORCOM, Yealink, Yubox, and ZYCOO. Full List.

Marie Douglas with @IBM is crushing it onstage at the @ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW



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Here is a cool video she started the keynote with pic.twitter.com/tYSRyWzv3T  Rich Tehrani (@rtehrani) February 12, 2020

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Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the gross violation of the Budapest Memorandum, which gave Ukraine security guarantees in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons, actually destroyed the non-proliferation regime.

"It is unfortunate to say that, but Russian aggression has also killed the nuclear non-proliferation regime. In my opinion, we will no longer find any country that would do what Ukraine did," former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, incumbent Chairman of the Centre for Russian Studies Volodymyr Ohryzko said during a panel discussion Budapest Memorandum: 25 Years since Nuclear Weapons Relinquishing organized by NGO Unlimited Democracy at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.

The ex-foreign minister noted that the Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's Accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed in 1994, was in fact "a chance to lay a solid foundation for global security."

According to Ohryzko, after the USSR had collapsed, Ukraine became the third largest nuclear country in the world, and rockets from its territory could reach "anywhere in the world - from Alaska to Australia." "We had a larger nuclear arsenal than the UK, France and China taken together. This is exactly what Ukraine's nuclear potential was after the collapse of the USSR," he said.

Ukraine inherited huge nuclear stockpile: 176 intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic Tu-95MS and Tu-95MS bombers (from 30 to 43), 1,950 strategic nuclear warheads, 2,833 tactical nuclear warheads.

At the same time, the cost of nuclear weapons (fuel) was estimated to be at least $60-65 billion (with a maximum estimate of $105 billion).

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The Diamond Princess cruise ship sits docked at Daikoku Pier in quarantine in Yokohama, Japan on Feb. 7, 2020. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Australia Updates Advice for Travellers Going to Japan and South Korea

Australia has updated its official travel advice for Japan and South Korea due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Travellers are being told to exercise a high degree of caution in both countries.

Monitor your health closely and follow the advice of local authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

There are 47 Australians receiving medical treatment in Japan after testing positive to coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19.

Another 170 have been flown back to Australia after evacuating the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama last week.

Seven evacuees have tested positive to COVID-19 since their arrival in Darwin, with six sent back to their home states for treatment and the seventh being transferred on Monday.

The remaining cruise ship passengers will be quarantined at Howard Springs for at least two weeks.

There have been 22 cases of coronavirus in Australia.

Ten people have recovered and the others are in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, 266 people who arrived on a flight from Wuhan on February 9 are on their way home from Darwin on Monday following 14 days of isolation.

None tested positive for the disease.

Australia has imposed a travel entry ban for Chinese passengers, but relaxed the rules for Year 11 and 12 students, apart from anyone who remains in the Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak.

There have been 78,973 cases worldwide and 2466 deaths.

Air New Zealand has suspended flights to South Korea after the country experienced a surge in reported cases of the virus.

Australia does not have a local carrier that flies into South Korea, meaning the government would have to advise airlines about their travel routes.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said the government updated advice about flight paths and travel warnings every day.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:42:32|Editor: yan

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COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was in coordination with its missions in Rome and Milan and was closely monitoring the rising COVID-19 cases to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans residing in Italy.

The ministry said that according to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome and the Sri Lanka Consulate General Office in Milan, presently no Sri Lankans had fallen victim to the virus.

"Over 104,000 Sri Lankans reside in Italy of which approximately 60 percent are in the Lombardy region. The missions are presently communicating with the health authorities in these regions and are in contact with Sri Lankan Temples, community leaders and all others concerned," the ministry said.

The ministry has also requested Sri Lankans visiting Italy, in particular, northern Italy to be vigilant and take all necessary precautions in line with rules, regulations and safety measures issued by local authorities for the contaminant of the virus.
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Adrenomed Announces Positive Top-Line AdrenOSS-2 Phase II Results with Adrecizumab in Septic Shock

Details Category: Antibodies Published on Monday, 24 February 2020 11:52 Hits: 1962

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  1 ) trial in sepsis

) 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 and BERLIN, Germany I February 21, 2020 I 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 (NCT030857583) enrolled a total of 301 patients with early septic shock and elevated blood levels of bio-ADM 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 Adrenomedullin6

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. Adrenomeds 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 ADMs protective effects on the endothelial barrier.

About Adrenomed

Adrenomed AG is a German privately financed, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Adrenomeds 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 companys 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.

SOURCE: Adrenomed
China on Monday said competent authorities from the two countries were in contact over the planned arrival of the IAF relief and evacuation aircraft in coronavirus-hit Wuhan city, days after India said Beijing was deliberately delaying it.

The statement from the Chinese foreign ministry comes in the backdrop of the back and forth between New Delhi and Beijing over delay in the IAF aircraft getting the required clearance to land in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

After bringing in medical supplies to aid China, on its way back, the transport aircraft is scheduled to evacuate some 100 Indians who continue to be stranded in the city, locked down for more than a month now.

Competent authorities of the two countries have been in communication and coordination on this matter, the Chinese foreign ministry told HT in a written statement.

On Friday, spokesperson Geng Shuang had said: There is no such a thing as China delaying giving flight permissions.

There apparently is, according to external affairs ministry officials in New Delhi who said over the weekend that Beijing was simply not moving on the request.

The Indian embassy in Beijing told the anxious Indians in Wuhan over the weekend that it was waiting for Beijing to clear the flight, asking them to ready to be transported to the Wuhan airport and fly at short notice.

India submitted details of the IAFs Boeing-made C17 aircraft to the Chinese foreign ministry more than a week ago.

It is not clear what has caused the delay but in the same statement the Chinese foreign ministry sent to HT on Monday, it responded to a query on Indias ban on medical imports to China.

On the Prohibition on the export of medical materials, China has taken note of the above ban issued by relevant departments of India, the statement said.

I want to point out that the Indian side has on many occasions publicly expressed its support to the Chinese government and people in their all-out efforts to combat the outbreak of the new coronavirus pneumonia. China appreciates this, the statement added.

We hope that the Indian side will, in the spirit of humanitarianism, release as soon as possible the medical and protective materials purchased by China before the ban and take concrete actions to support the Chinese people in fighting the epidemic, the statement added.

A leading Beijing-based south Asian expert thought that the ban on anti-epidemic material could be the reason behind the delay in clearing the aircraft.

The ban on exporting protective clothing could be the main reason despite the China-specific waiver that New Delhi implemented a week after the ban on January 31.

What could have irked the Chinese authorities is that the initial ban on protective clothing especially masks was implemented abruptly and delayed orders, especially for masks, by Chinese companies placed in January.

As a result of the ban, a large volume of masks meant for China got stuck at New Delhi airport for days  a crucial week was lost.

Even after the ban was partially lifted on February 8, the perception in China is that it still prohibited the export of high-standard and critical anti-epidemic material like N95 / N90 masks and European standard FFP1 / FFP2 / FFP3 masks and protective clothing to China.

The perception seems to be this: India didnt reach out to China at a time of a major crisis while Beijing helped in the evacuation of 647 of its citizens in the days after the mask ban was put in place.

Other reasons could have irked China as well: The perception that India closely followed the United States to take the lead in evacuation and embargoes on Chinese cities, banning e-visas for Chinese, the visit of home minister Amit Shah to Arunachal Pradesh and the seizure of the Chinese ship Da Cuiyun.
Two persons have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district for allegedly posing as policemen and extorting money from commuters, an official said on Monday.

Chowki incharge Suresh Chand Sharma was suspended for dereliction of duty following the arrest of the two accused, the officer said.

Ghaziabad Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani had issued directions for an investigation after it surfaced that a gang was extorting money from commuters in Kaushambi area, said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Indira Puram, Anshu Jain.

During probe, it was found that three persons posing as policemen in plain clothes and carrying fake identity cards were flagging down vehicles for checking and then taking money from the commuters, she said.

Two of the accused, identified as Praveen and Tahira, were held on Sunday night and a report submitted to the SSP after which he suspended the chowki incharge, the officer said.

Two identity cards of police constables and Rs 4,200 in cash were recovered from Praveen and Tahira, she said.

An investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused were operating in connivance of police and a search for the third accused is on, the officer added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
All five suspects in an armed robbery at an LSU dorm have been arrested, booking records show.

Desmond Tolbert, 19, of New Orleans, was arrested Sunday. He's the the last of five people accused of robbing LSU students at a dorm on Valentine's Day.

Police say Tolbert was one of five men seen on surveillance video entering Cypress Hall at LSU's main campus around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 14.

Men robbed LSU students at gunpoint inside dorm after set-up to 'play video games,' police say A group of five men, including at least two Southern University students, are accused of robbing two LSU students at gunpoint inside their dor

Video shows three of the men enter a dorm room while two others remain outside. Two victims told police the three men all had guns and robbed them.

Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

They're accused of taking two iPhones, a camouflage Sony PlayStation controller, the keys to a 2019 Honda Accord and eventually the vehicle, according to the arrest report. That vehicle has since been recovered.

Tolbert was booked on counts of armed robbery and theft of a motor vehicle.

The others taken into custody earlier this month are:
Fidel Castro observes the May Day parade at the Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba May 1, 1998.

Democratic front-runner Bernie Sanders came under fire Monday from his rivals over his recent partial defense of Cuban revolutionary and communist dictator Fidel Castro.

Less than two days after NBC News projected that Sanders won the Nevada caucus by a wide margin, his campaign foes tore into comments about Castro that he made during an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes."

"Fidel Castro left a dark legacy of forced labor camps, religious repression, widespread poverty, firing squads, and the murder of thousands of his own people," tweeted former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

"But sure, Bernie, let's talk about his literacy program."

Bloomberg TWEET

Bloomberg, whose net worth is estimated at over $60 billion, has already spent hundreds of millions of his own dollars on his presidential bid. He plans to unleash a full-on media onslaught against Sanders, including attack ads and the publication of opposition research, Bloomberg campaign aides told CNBC.

Bloomberg and other presidential hopefuls are ramping up their attacks against Sanders, who is poised to head into Super Tuesday on March 3 with more momentum and support in the polls than any other candidate

But some Democratic political watchers fear that Sanders, a 78-year-old democratic socialist, may be a risky choice to take on President Donald Trump in a general election.

Sanders told "60 Minutes" that while he opposed the "authoritarian nature" of Castro's regime, "it's unfair to simply say everything is bad."

"When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program," Sanders said in the interview, which aired Sunday night. "Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?"

After a reporter noted that many dissidents had been jailed in Castro's Cuba, Sanders responded, "That's right, and we condemn that."

Sanders used the opportunity to contrast himself with Trump, who has been criticized for his at-times warm language toward foreign leaders with poor track records on human rights.

"Unlike Donald Trump, let's be clear ... I do not think that [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un] is a good friend. I don't trade love letters with a murdering dictator," Sanders said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, added Sanders, is "not a good friend of mine."

Castro died in 2016.

Other Democratic candidates were quick to lash out.

"After four years of looking on in horror as Trump cozied up to dictators, we need a president who will be extremely clear in standing against regimes that violate human rights abroad," said former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg in a tweet.

"We can't risk nominating someone who doesn't recognize this," Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg TWEET

Buttigieg, the youngest Democrat in the primary race, won more state delegates in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus and narrowly lost the popular vote to Sanders in the New Hampshire primary. But Buttigieg was projected to place third in Nevada, trailing former Vice President Joe Biden, who had once been seen as the Democratic frontrunner.

Biden, Bloomberg and Buttigieg all took shots at Sanders as the Nevada results started rolling in.

"Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans," Buttigieg said in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"If we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base  like Senator Sanders  it will be a fatal error," Bloomberg's campaign said in a statement.

Biden, meanwhile, took a swipe at Sanders less directly, by referencing The Washington Post's recent report that Russia is attempting to boost Sanders' campaign as part of its efforts to meddle in the 2020 election.

"We're going to have more help from Vladimir Putin, who wants somebody he doesn't think can beat Trump," Biden said at his own campaign event in Vegas on Saturday.

Sanders has denounced the Kremlin's reported attempts to meddle, once again, in a U.S. presidential contest.

Sanders also took heat from multiple Democratic lawmakers in Florida, home to the majority of the U.S. population of Cuban exiles who escaped Castro's authoritarian government.

"As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanders' comments on Castro's Cuba absolutely unacceptable," Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said on Twitter.

"The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families," the House Democrat wrote.

Dem TWEET

Rep. Donna Shalala, also a Florida Democrat, tweeted that she hopes Sanders in the future "will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro."

Shalala TWEET
An Indian-origin woman trainee lawyer in the UK fell unconscious after being beaten by an unidentified man when she tried to save her Chinese friend from a racist attack over coronavirus, media reports said on Monday.

The incident took place when Meera Solanka (29) from England's Solihull town was out with her friends, including her Chinese friend Mandy Huang (28) from London, celebrating her 29th birthday in Midlands region.

Solanka was knocked unconscious and hospitalised after she stepped in when Mandy was told: "Take your f****** coronavirus back home!", Birmingham Mail newspaper reported.

Mandy was accused of carrying the virus outside Birmingham's Ana Rocha Bar and Gallery on Frederick Street in the early hours of February 9.

"I was having birthday drinks with a group of girls and guys including Chinese friends. There were a group of Asian men inside the venue - one of them kept coming up to me and harassing me. He seemed to have a problem with me being an Indian girl with a multi racial group of friends.

"For some reason he got really angry with her (Mandy) and started abusing her calling her a dirty chink. He said "take your f****** coronavirus and take it back home. I was shocked and angry so I shouted for him to stop and tried to push him away," Solanki was quoted as saying by the Sunday Mercury newspaper.

"He punched me in the head, I hit the pavement and was knocked unconcious," she said.

Solanki was rushed to hospital where she was treated for concussion.

"I was so shocked and horrified by his aggressive behaviour and horrific words. As I lay unconscious he continued to threaten my friends and abuse them before walking away calmly with his group of friends who did nothing to stop him or help me," she said.

A spokeswoman for Birmingham Chinese Society said: "There has always been abuse. The virus has given some individuals a reason for that abuse."



A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "We're investigating after a woman was assaulted after another was racially abused in Frederick Street, Hockley, around 2am on Sunday February 9.

"A man made racist marks to one woman and after he was asked to stop he punched another female, in her 20s, in the face. She was temporarily knocked unconscious but escaped without serious injury".

The police said that the attacker is described as an Asian, 5ft 8ins tall, of large build and was wearing a flat cap and hoodie at the time.

According to the report, there are 400,000 Chinese people living in England and Wales.

More than 2,500 people have died and over 77,000 infected with the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China, according to health officials.

The novel coronavirus, officially known as 'COVID-19', has spread to over 25 countries across the world.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On Friday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, received the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, accompanied by Clerk of the Parliament, Mr Neil Laurie and Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr Michael Watkins, for the presentation of two Appropriation Bills for Assent.

Following, at Government House His Excellency hosted a breakfast for overnight guests.

Following, guests departed Government House.

In the evening, at Hamilton, His Excellency and Mrs de Jersey attended a reception in celebration of the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and the Governor addressed guests.
Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman who spent several years on death row after a 2010 conviction of blasphemy, has said she is seeking political asylum in France.

Bibi, 49, said in an interview with France's RTL radio on February 24 that her "great desire was to live in France."

On February 25, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo will bestow an honorary citizenship certificate granted to Bibi by the French capital in 2014, when she was still behind bars in Pakistan.

Last month, Bibi released a memoir in which recounts the nightmare conditions she was subjected to in prison until her release in 2018, amid an international outcry over her case.

The book, Enfin Bible!, was released in French, with an English version due in September.

Bibi was sentenced to death by a court in the central province of Punjab in 2010 for allegedly committing blasphemy in a dispute with Muslim women while working on a farm.

Bibi was only able to depart Pakistan for Canada in May 2019 after being kept in protective custody out of security concerns.

Islamic extremists have threatened to kill her and also urged the overthrow of the government following Bibi's acquittal.

Bibi's case brought international attention to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law, which carries an automatic death penalty.

Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab, was killed in 2011 for defending Bibi and criticizing the misuse of the blasphemy law.

Pakistan's minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated later that year after demanding justice for Bibi.

Based on reporting by AFP and RTL
oOh!media chief executive Brendon Cook says he is confident the outdoor advertising company will grow its revenue and earnings this year although he warned the coronavirus impact remains an unknown quantity.

Its too early in the cycle to say what will happen with the coronavirus, were not seeing a definitive impact yet but obviously weve got to see how that plays out, said Mr Cook at the company's full year results on Monday.

oOh!media unveiled underlying earnings that were at the lower end of its forecast range, as flagged to the market in January. Mr Cook said the company continued to outperform the broader market and actually grew revenue in a tough market that saw ad revenue decline 5 per cent.

Brendon Cook founded oOh!media in 1989. Credit:Peter Braig

July and August saw a bigger drop in media expenditure in general than the GFC, he said.
Footage of the incident was posted on Twitter and viewed 100,000 times

Turkish police wrapped him in plastic after he resisted being put on the flight

He was arrested during a layover in Istanbul and accused of having a fake visa

Shoe dealer Emmanuel Chedjou, 47, was on his way to Dubai on a business trip

A businessman from Cameroon was wrapped from head to toe in bubble wrap and put on a plane by Turkish police as he was deported for allegedly having a fake visa.

Shocking footage shared on Twitter shows Emmanuel Chedjou, 47, shouting and struggling as his whole body is wrapped in plastic.

He also had his wrists cuffed in cellotape and tissue stuffed in his mouth to keep him quiet.

In the footage, Chedjou can be heard saying in French: 'They are trying to kill me.'

While a female voice can be heard saying that those who did this to him are 'evil.'

He was released after fellow passengers saw what was going on and demanded that the bubble wrap be removed.

Emmanuel Chedjou, 47, was restrained by bubble wrap when he was deported from Turkey after being arrested for allegedly having a fake travel document

Emmanuel Chedjou in a selfie taken at Istanbul Airport before his arrest

Mr Chedjou, a shoe dealer from Douala, Cameroon, was detained in Istanbul on his way to Dubai with his partner in January

He said he was on a business trip and left Istanbul Airport to get some air during an eight-hour layover. Passport control said that his transit visa was faked and placed him in custody.

Mr Chedjou, who denies having any fake documents, told France24 that he was kept in custody for several days before being put on a Turkish Airlines flight TK667 back to Cameroon.

When he protested that he wanted to continue his journey to Dubai and refused to board a flight to Cameroon they wrapped him in plastic.

He said: 'They took the rolls of plastic film used to pack the suitcases. They put me in a special room.

'There were a dozen officers and they joined forces to control me. They first put plastic straps on my feet and wrists, then real metal handcuffs.

'Then they filled my mouth with tissues and closed it with tape.

Mr Chedjou says he was on a business trip to Dubai when he was wrongly detained

Shocking footage of the businessman wrapped in plastic was shared on Twitter

'Finally, they took two large rolls of plastic film, which are used in airports to pack suitcases. They put layers on me and layers from neck to toe, so it was absolutely impossible to move.

'At that time, I really started to have trouble breathing.

'Three of them put me in a wheelchair and took me on a plane that was leaving for Yaounde. Inside they carried me like a package to my seat.

'When the passengers were all seated and there were about 15 minutes before takeoff, I managed to spit out the tissues that were stuck in my mouth and I could cry out for help.

'The passengers reacted immediately when they saw me and protested that I be released from all this plastic. My partner was on the plane she saw me so and took two videos to keep evidence.'

He also claims 2,400 euros in cash was taken from him.

He said: 'My clothes were torn when I was fighting with the police and I asked to collect my hand luggage to change my clothes. In the pocket of my ripped jeans, which I had left on my seat, there was 2,400 euros (1,860) in cash that I had taken to trade in Dubai.

'When the officer returned the pants to me, the pockets were empty. He said to me, "You're already lucky, we're going to kill you."'

Two clips shared on Twitter have been viewed 60,000 and 45,000 times respectively.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Two sitting MPs, nine former parliamentarians and 576 other people are currently illegally occupying official accommodations provided by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs here with several of them ensconced for over a decade, and in some cases, for over two decades.

The ministry has found that huge amounts -- all which is public money -- are due from these illegal occupants.

They revelation came after the ministry prepared an internal report to share with its legal and enforcement wing.

The oldest occupant of the government accommodation is living there since 1998. There are persons, who are staying from 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and later on.

There are nine families who are occupying government flats for more than a decade. There is another set of nine people who are in illegal possession of government flats and about a decade and each have rental dues of more than Rs 50 lakh.

The ministry found that retired official V.P. Rao is in illegal possession of a bungalow at Rajpur Road and has dues of Rs 95 lakh. Similarly, another former official R.K. Swami, who retired in 2001, is in illegal possession of a government house at Vikaspuri and has rent of Rs 74 lakh due.

ALSO READ: PWD crackdown on illegal occupants of government flats in Delhi

Two sitting MPs and nine former MPs are illegally occupying bungalows in Lutyens Delhi even after they have been given eviction notices. Most of have been illegally occupying since dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha on June 25, 2019.

Lok Sabha member Veena Devi is in possession of type VI bungalow at C-II/32 Tilak Lane and has dues of Rs 2.54 lakh, while Rajya Sabha member KC Ramamurthy, who resigned as a Congress Rajya Sabha member and later got re-elected to the upper house of Parliament as a BJP member, is also illegal possession of a government bungalow, the ministry found.

Among the former Lok Sabha members in illegal possession of their official residences are A.P. Jithender Reddy, living in a type VII bungalow at 1, BRM Lane and total rental due is Rs 3.87 lakh, Dr K. Gopal, staying in Type V bungalow at 209 North Avenue and has rent of Rs 1.31 lakh due, and Tej Pratap Singh Yadav is in possession of type VI bungalow at C-1, 14 Humayun Road and has dues of Rs 1.51 lakh.

Late BJP MP Manohar Untwal's family is in possession of C-2, MS Flat and owes rent of Rs 5.19 lakh.

Udit Raj is in possession of Type V bungalow at T-5, Atul Grove Road and has a rental due of Rs 3.45 lakh.

Murali Mohan Manganti is in possession of Type VI Bungalow at 201 Kaveri and has due of Rs 2.44 lakhs.

Ranjeet Ranjan is in possession of Type VII bungalow and a rent of Rs 3.39 lakh is dues and Dhananjay Mahadik is in possession of Type V bungalow at 81 South Avenue and has incurred a due of Rs 1.90 lakhs.

Former Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Sinh is in illegal possession of a type VII bungalow at 82 Lodhi Estate and owes rent of Rs 5.87 lakh.

After finding number of people illegally occupying government houses, a senior ministry officer said that prima facie appears that "there is connivance from the officers of the ministry also".
Calif. man dies in rocket crash: A California man who said he wanted to fly to the edge of space to prove his theory that the world is flat died after his home-built rocket blasted off into the desert sky and plunged back to Earth. "Mad" Mike Hughes, 64, was killed Saturday after his rocket crashed on private property near Barstow. Hughes also was a limousine driver, who held the Guinness world record for "longest limousine ramp jump" after jumping 103 feet in a Lincoln Town Car stretch limo at a speedway in 2002.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg raises his hand to speak during the ninth Democratic 2020 U.S. Presidential candidates debate at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas Nevada, February 19, 2020.

Mike Bloomberg's $400 million bet on his 2020 presidential campaign  pegged heavily to his performance on Super Tuesday  is looking more and more likely to flop.

The billionaire former mayor of New York has dropped hundreds of millions of dollars to prop up a long-shot presidential bid in a historically crowded field of Democrats.

But with just over one week until 14 states cast their ballots on Super Tuesday, which is March 3, Bloomberg's wager is looking unlikely to present a meaningful challenge to Sen. Bernie Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist who's leading in state and national polling.

A blowout victory from Sanders in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, following popular vote victories in the previous two contests, and a poorly received Bloomberg debate performance in Las Vegas last week could ultimately leave the three-term mayor of America's largest city with zero state wins.

Bloomberg, who has accumulated more than $60 billion on the back of his financial services and media empire, has made a slogan out of his reliance on data. The data shows that Bloomberg is on track to win few if any upcoming nominating contests. To be specific:

Bloomberg, who skipped the first four states in order to devote resources to the contests that will take place in March, has not won any delegates to date and will not appear on ballots in South Carolina, which votes Saturday.

The five largest states to vote on Super Tuesday will be California, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia and Massachusetts. Bloomberg trails Sanders in each state, according to FiveThirtyEight polling averages.

The same mostly holds true with the averages compiled by RealClearPolitics, although that website does not have data on Massachusetts and registers Bloomberg and Sanders to be tied in Virginia.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar leads in her home state of Minnesota, the sixth-largest state to vote on Super Tuesday, which will award 75 delegates, according to both FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics averages.

The only major state that Bloomberg is leading in is Florida, according to the FiveThirtyEight average, after the precipitous decline in state surveys for former Vice President Joe Biden. The RealClearPolitics Florida average, however, continues to register a Biden lead in the state. And FiveThirtyEight's Democratic primary election model, which factors in more data than its polling average, forecasts that Sanders will win the state, which votes March 17.

To be sure, it is possible that Bloomberg is performing well in Super Tuesday states in which he has spent large sums on advertising but which have not been extensively polled, such as Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Bloomberg has made seven trips to those three states since beginning his campaign, a spokesperson said, and opened 12 field offices with 90 paid staffers.

The campaign did not respond to an inquiry from CNBC asking which other states it believes it can win.

But even those wins could be for naught. A decisive Sanders showing on Super Tuesday could propel the Vermont senator to an insurmountable lead in delegates, the Democratic primary's counting stick for becoming the party nominee.

The bad math for the Bloomberg campaign marks a reversal in momentum from just a few weeks ago. The campaign appeared to be ascendant in national and state polling until Bloomberg's disastrous performance during the Nevada debate Wednesday.

Bloomberg took incoming fire from his rivals on stage and failed to defuse their attacks. His odds of winning the nomination plummeted almost immediately in online betting markets.

Howard Wolfson, a top Bloomberg advisor who oversaw debate planning, took responsibility afterward for Bloomberg's inadequate preparation.

Bloomberg will have another shot at the Democratic debate stage on Tuesday in South Carolina, and will appear on national television again on Wednesday for a CNN town hall.

As for Bloomberg's spending juggernaut, it has no signs of slowing. The campaign has said it has a staff of more than 2,400 people in 43 states, and federal filings show that it has spent about $409 million.

Bloomberg has said he will spend prodigiously to elect whoever wins the Democratic nomination. In an interview with The New York Times, he did not rule out spending as much as $1 billion on the effort, though he added later that it will "hopefully not" cost quite so much.
Codogno in the Lombardy region was labelled by health officials on Saturday as the epicentre of the new wave of confirmed cases in Italy's north AFP/Miguel MEDINA

"It's a ghost town, it's horrible for us," a young woman named Paola told AFP as she walked down a deserted street near the station on Saturday night.

"People are locked in their houses, there's nobody in the streets," she added.

The station, like most parts of the town of 15,000 people, was closed. No one was selling tickets, no passengers awaited trains.

Italy became the first European country to report the death of one of its own nationals from the virus on Friday, followed by a second death on Saturday, amid a sudden rise in confirmed cases of contamination now totalling 132.

Codogno in the Lombardy region was labelled by health officials on Saturday as the epicentre of the new wave of cases in Italy's north.

Italian authorities have imposed travel restrictions on about a dozen towns, where special permission will be needed to enter or leave.

The virus which broke out in China in December where more than 2,200 people have died has now spread to 30 countries and territories.

In Codogno's centre, the pharmacy remained open on the orders of the local authorities.

"We're all scared, but we keep our fingers crossed," the pharmacy's owner Rosa Cavalli told AFP.

She said protective masks had long sold out but customers were stocking up on disinfectants, alcohol and bleach.

"Most of (the masks) came from China and they've kept them, they need them, they're in trouble," she added.

One woman ventured out to buy drinks and snacks from one of the few vending machines in the town.

"We're trying to stay calm because in these situations it's easy to panic," said Erica, who only gave her first name, adding that she was buying food because it wasn't clear whether supermarkets would remain open.

"I'm a little scared because we can all be infected. I work in a restaurant and have a lot of contact with people," she added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:22:38|Editor: yan

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LONDON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The British government plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) with former Prime Minister Winston Churchill's famous war-ending speech being broadcast across the country.

As part of Imperial War Museums' Voices of War project, an extract from Churchill's victory speech will beam out over public spaces at 3 p.m.(1400 GMT) on May 8, the government has revealed.

Meanwhile, the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will perform a fly past over Buckingham Palace on the VE Day.

Other events include a Service of Remembrance and parade in Welsh's Cardiff and a veterans' parade and concert in Scotland's Edinburgh.

"This program of events gives the whole nation a chance to thank all those involved for everything they did -- both for those alive today, and for future generations," said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"By commemorating these moments, we can remember and remind ourselves of the fragility of peace, and the need for us all to collectively uphold this," said Johnson.

VE Day is celebrated every year on May 8 to mark the conclusion of World War II in Europe.
Neil Parish is MP for Tiverton and Honiton, and chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee.

Air pollution is a public health problem in urgent need of fixing. The scale is significant. The British Heart Foundation estimates that, unless action is taken, the number of heart attack and stroke deaths attributable to air pollution could exceed 160,000 by 2030.

The charitys research has found fine particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, can enter our bloodstream and damage the heart and circulatory system, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. And that is just one hazard: PM 2.5 has also been linked to many other health problems, such as asthma and dementia.

This week, the Environment Bill will be debated in Parliament. It is the perfect means by which to address this issue. Not only is the Bill a vehicle for strengthening protections for our precious environment, it can improve human health too.

As it stands, the Bill commits to improving the air we breathe  an important first step to following the comprehensive roadmap laid out in our Clean Air Strategy last year. But it could go further and faster in cutting our exposure to toxic air which has been found to be so injurious to our health. Thats why I am tabling vital amendments to the new Environment Bill.

First, the Bill should require the Secretary of State to consider human health in setting environmental targets. Given the dire impact of air pollution on human health, it is essential the Bill references this  alongside improvements to the natural environment.

Second, the Environment Bill should include commitments to adopting 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limits for PM 2.5 by 2030. This would ensure the right level of ambition and reflect one of the key recommendations made in our 2018 Joint Select Committee report, Improving Air Quality, published by the EFRA, Environmental Audit, Health, and Transport Select Committees. We need to work further and faster, across government, to improve air quality.

Third, not only should we get on and set these regulations at the earliest opportunity, we should set a mechanism to review statutory targets when the latest scientific evidence is published. For example, updates to the existing WHO guidelines are currently pending, and are likely to be published by 2022. If the Government dont want to adopt them, they should explain why.

Efforts to reduce toxic air should not be on the back-burner. People across the country have no choice over the air that we breathe, and its therefore vital for our Government to take strong action to protect peoples health. Lets not forget it was Conservative governments in 1956 and 1993 who introduced and strengthened clean-air legislation.

Such opportunities to improve the health of everyone in the country do not come along very often, and it is only with joined-up, cross-governmental support that we can seize the chance to be world leaders on this issue.

As we debate the Environment Bill in Parliament this week, I would urge colleagues to support these more ambitious measures and ensure we have a lasting legacy in tackling air pollution, and protecting human health, for years to come.
Trouble looms and the next trade war for President Trump might be with India. Before the G7 Summit meeting, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended, an American Sentor stressed that India charges too high tariffs on American products.

The U.S. president has always his America First Policy, and made a point about the tariffs placed on US goods by the India leadership. President Trump calls India, the "tariff king" as a result.

According to Senator Lindsey Graham, India is one of the places where tariffs are very high. When it comes to American products they pay more, but these tariffs are not acceptable anymore. The senator even remarked that India is one of the worst in the world tariff regime.

When it came to South Asia, Senator Graham has chimed in on relevant issues where America's interests are crucial. Also, he has become of President Trumps closest advisers in US state affairs.

When President Trump met with the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on a state visit to the US a while back, Senator Graham was present when the Pakistani official was in the White House. A question was asked of the South Carolina Senator, whether a bill was introduced to allow the President of the United States (POTUS) to charge a country like India the same high tariffs with business agreements.

According to Graham, it gives the U.S. president the power to put a similar tariff on another nation's products, like India to avoid losses. As much as can be, if zero tariffs are better.

The accord of Trump and Modi is a breakthrough in U.S.-India trade relations because of higher tariffs and financial concerns that crucial for both.

Also read: Single-Family Housing Registers Better Numbers in U.S. Housing Market

Before meeting at the G7, the White House mentioned prioritizing trade and tariffs as the focus of their inter-nation talk, which is needed by both to clarify and ease trade tensions for the U.S. and India.

A senior administration official said that solutions are needed for the trade front which includes reducing tariffs and opening markets for more U.S.products that will benefit the American economy.

India's foreign Ambassador Vardhan Shringla went and met Graham in Capitol Hill to discuss things. A statement from the Indian Embassy commented that establishing closer strategic and economic ties were a priority for both America and India, one of the most important democracies today.

The tariffs that India raised were almonds, pulses and walnut from the US for preferred access when it is Indian products. Lowering trade limits and having a fair and reciprocal trade will be the theme of the Trump Administration in the meeting with the Indian Prime Minister.

At one point, Donald Trump wanted fewer fees for the export of Harley Davidson motorcycles as unfair. Modi promptly had the tariffs cut by 50%.

On June 21 2019, the Indian government choose to impose fees for the hiking of customs costs for some steel and aluminum products. In March 2019, the US Administration raised a 25% tariff on steel and 10% for aluminum goods.

With the U.S. and India having trade spats, reports are looking into a possible trade war similar to what is happening between U.S. and China.

Related article: U.S. Administration Limits China's Access to Chip Technology

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Feizal Valli of The Atomic Lounge (right) curated the beverage portion for the 2019 Southern Foodways Winter Symposium

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A crush on Birmingham

John T. Edges opening remarks at the 2019 Southern Foodways Winter Symposium were words of affection.

The SFA has a crush on Birmingham, he told those gathered downtown at Haven last weekend, eager to discuss the stories of Southern food and its impact on the regions culture.

It was the symposiums second year

in the city. In 2018, the SFA gave its winter conference a permanent home in Birmingham. It was a full circle moment -- the SFA was founded at a two-day meeting in the Magic City, and had previously sponsored

in Birmingham.

In keeping with its mission to present attendees with an authentic taste of the city, the SFA teamed up area culinarians : Dining options were curated by chef Roscoe Hall and Jay Ogleby, drinks and light fare from Feizal Valli of the James Beard nominated The Atomic Lounge and chef John Hall of Post Office Pies. In-depth narratives on the Magic City's food history came from Ben and Ryan Ray of Millie Ray and Sons and AL.com's own John Archibald.

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The gents of Millie Ray and Sons talking about zesting 1000 oranges. Food is work indeed. #SFABHAM #foodiswork @southfoodways  sam fore (@tuktuklex) February 9, 2019

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An incredibly hot food city

But Birmingham isnt only the SFAs sweetheart. The Iron City is in the midst of a

, and it has received no shortage of press since 2015 when Zagat ranked Birmingham No. 1 on its list

.

Dozens of restaurants opened in

But the citys most significant achievement of 2018 was two James Beard awards. After years of nominations, chef Dolester Miles at Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega and Chez Fonfon was named

, and chef Frank Stitts Highlands Bar and Grill was named

.

More than a

are set to open this year in Birmingham, including the first Alabama location of 2018 James Beard award-winning

All of these restaurants will bring jobs. And with those jobs will come culture changing stories.

The theme of this years symposium was  Food is Work, and the SFA believes that Alabamas largest city is a good place to tell stories about the evolution of food in the region.

Food is not a plaything," said Edge." Its a serious topic that prompts serious conversations."

Here are lessons from that weekend about the culture of food in Birmingham and throughout the South.

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Food saved the city of Birmingham

I dont know if food is what defines us, or if who we are defines our food, said John Archibald, AL.coms

who has covered politics in Birmingham since 1986.

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John Archibald waits to take the podium at the SFA Winter Symposium (Shauna Stuart for Al.com)

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Built by grit

Birmingham, says Archibald, was built by grit in the years after the Civil War, as poor people across the south  both blacks and whites  began making new lives for themselves in the fledgling city.

As the steel industry developed, the sparks flew and the city grew so rapidly that people began to call Birmingham the Magic City. But Archibald says the romantic nickname glazes over the citys tough history.

They say Birmingham is the Magic City. That it was built by magic. It wasnt  it was built

And as people flocked to the city to work, they brought their food with them their collards, their cornbread, and their barbecue.

In 1873,

nearly wiped out the city. As people fled Birmingham, a prostitute named Lou Wooster decided she would stay, tend to the sick, and bury the dead.

To me, thats Biblical, said Archibald, alluding to the anointing of Jesus in the book of Luke, where a woman who lived a "sinful life" washed the son of Gods feet with her hair as he prepared to eat with the Pharisees.

All the well-off left Birmingham and went to the other side of the street. And she stepped up to help.

But Archibald did have a moment of levity in the midst of the somber history lesson.

What did she feed them? I would like to think it was cornbread.

Cornbread the proper way, of course, without sugar.

Jesus wouldnt have put no sugar in his cornbread, said Archibald, as the audience erupted into laughter and applause.

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How Greek chicken became a Southern staple in Alabama

When Greek immigrants started coming to the city in the 19th century, they didnt just open restaurants exclusively for Greek cuisine.

They made Southern restaurants with Greek influence, said Archibald.

Greek chicken is a Southern staple in Birmingham and diners in the city can find it as an option for meat and threes from

to

In The Birmingham Greeks, the SFA took a look at

that have defined the Magic City and the next generation of restaurateurs.

"They say at one point in the seventies that if it weren't for the Greeks, Birmingham would starve," Johnny Hontzas told the SFA in an interview. "Greeks had a very strong relationship with farmers, because if they weren't in the produce business, they were in the restaurant business. I think that's what has inspired meat-and-threes and the Greek influence on that."

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Birmingham has its own hot dog

Another dish Greek restaurateurs influenced heavily in Birmingham: the hot dog.

"We cant discount the importance of hot dogs in this town, said Archibald.

A weiner topped with ground beef, chili powder, onions, and special spices, the Birmingham hot dog played a special role in the roots of the city. In 2014, Archibald paid the hot dog

:

Birmingham hot dogs, dispensed for decades in downtown holes in the wall by Greek immigrants with names like Pete and Gus and Sammy, nourished an upstart town as it burst, as if by magic, into a bustling industrial city.

From

, to

, to the Collins

, the citys hot dog has a legacy. So much so that the SFA coined Birmingham Hot-dogopolis nearly 10 years ago in a documentary devoted to the history of the Birmingham dog.

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Hot-Dogopolis from Southern Foodways on Vimeo.

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Birmingham vs. Chicago

Still, John Archibald wrote in his 2014 column that its hard to

of the Birmingham hot dogs legitimacy, even though Greek restaurateurs have been opening hot dog spots all over the state, including

Id pit the Birmingham hot dog against the Chicago dog any day, Archibald told the audience.

(For those who want to take Archibald up on his word, here are

)

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Beer has become one of Birmingham's economic markers

For those who live in Alabama, its no secret that Birmingham is a beer city. Breweries have played a huge part in the Magic Citys flourishing dining scene, attracting people downtown and providing an anchor for food trucks.

According to the

, beer sales and production in Alabama had a $616 million dollar impact in 2016.

The rise of Alabamas breweries, says Archibald, can be credited to young, brave, creative people that have made their mark on the city.

Some of those young people were part of

, a grassroots lobbying organization devoted to

.

In Birmingham, Good People Brewing

for the states breweries, including being the first in the South to can its beer, proving that a local market existed for

.

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The future of food work in Birmingham is hopeful, but also troubling

While Birminghams flourishing dining scene is bringing more jobs, Archibald wonders if those numbers will be sustainable for the citys long-term economic growth.

From 2015 to 2016, 43 percent of new jobs in the Birmingham-Hoover area were in the

.

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Ramsey Archibald for Reckon by Al.com

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While these numbers are on par with national trends, a vibrant restaurant scene isnt usually a citys economic backbone.

Another worry of Archibalds: the fame surrounding Birminghams food scene will start to eclipse its history  a history that includes being the battleground of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Its a little scary to me that were known more around some circles for our food rather than our past, said Archibald. We need to remember that.

But, all in all, the awards and the publicity, say Archibald, have given the city a much needed boost of morale.

What food has done for Birmingham is to make it believe in itself again.

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Heather Ehl of Macs 1 Stop in Birmingham doesnt have plans to retire any time soon

Last year,

Ava Lowrey debuted her documentary about

at the SFA Winter Symposium.

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At this years conference, she debuted her

about Macs 1 Stop,

at 400 19th Street South, the intersection of 4th ave north and 19th street.

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One Stop from Southern Foodways on Vimeo.

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Macs is famous for its patty melt, whipped up by cook Patrick McMillan. During the snowstorm of 2014,

Macs stayed open to feed a hot meal to those who were stranded downtown.

They cooked until they ran out of food, said Lowrey.

Serving the community has always been a mission of Macs and its one reason owner Heather Ehl doesnt want to retire any time soon. She and her husband Allen dont have any children, and there would be no one to immediately inherit the gas station, Lowrey told the audience.

Ava Lowreys other documentaries about Alabama include

about the Randle family farm outside Auburn, and

Johnny's Restaurant in Homewood.

You can view more of her films on SFAs

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The restaurant industry is finally finding its voice

Knowing how to handle a crisis is essential for any restaurant. Melany Robinson, the founder of hospitality public relations firm Polished Pig Media, remembers handling the media calls when the dock at Crosbys seafood collapsed

But what happens to a restaurant when the crisis is internal and it's the employees who need the help? During a panel moderated by chef Lisa Donovan, Robinson and Dr. Patricia Bundy shared

and talked about the seismic shift happening in the hospitality industry as more workers are starting to come forward with their experiences of mental health problems, substance abuse, and sexual misconduct.

The industry is finally finding its voice, said Robinson. People are finally telling their stories.

The effects of the Me Too movement that initially shed a light on sexual assault and misconduct in Hollywood have also extended to the culinary industry. In 2017, several women came out with allegations of sexual misconduct against

. The chef and TV personality would eventually be fired from The Chew, the daytime

In 2018, Lisa Donovan took home a James Beard media award for her personal essay

, which detailed her own experiences with sexual harassment in the restaurant industry and beyond.

For Robinson, handling the John Besh restaurant scandal would be one of the defining moments of her career. In October 2017, Brett Anderson, restaurant critic for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, published an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the

. During the eight-month investigation, 25 current and former employees told

that they were victims of sexual harassment while working at either Besh Restaurant Group or at a number of its restaurants.

One of Robinson's roles was to help restaurant employees who could suddenly be out of a job. She remembers taking a call from Shannon White, the newly-named CEO of Besh Restaurant Group, who was terrified.

We have 10 restaurants and 1,000 employees that dont deserve this, White told Robinson over the phone.

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Restaurants should prioritize care for their employees

In a conversation with Food & Wine editor-in-chief Hunter Lewis, Steve Palmer, the Managing Partner of

, talked about his own impact on restaurant culture: putting restaurant employees first.

Restaurants are known for their traditional customer is always right approach. For Palmer, who has spent over 20 years in the restaurant industry, his approach starts with employee-focused restaurant culture, prioritizing the health and well-being of the people in Indigo Road Hospitality.

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That model places employees first, guests second, and the community third.

We talk so much about sustainability, said Palmer. Is the fish sustainable? Is the produce sustainable? But we never talk about whether our people are sustainable. Can our people thrive in this environment?

To Palmer, restaurant culture is a feeling.

So, whats the smell test? Lewis asked.

Smiles, Palmer responded.

In Indigo Roads case, a thriving restaurant culture also means helping employees invest in the future. Employees who express interest in culinary school or hospitality management have an opportunity to have their tuition matched by $20,000. The group also offers loans to those who need help putting a down payment on their first home.

Like, Dr. Patricia Bundy and Melany Robinson, Palmer would like to see the restaurant industry prioritize the mental health of its employees and encourage them to come forward if they need help.

In the restaurant industry, we spend all our time taking care of people. Were just now learning to take care of ourselves.

The upbeat panel took a somber tone as Palmer remembered the late Anthony Bourdain,

Bourdain, who had written openly (sometimes with profanity) about his experiences with drugs and alcohol, was well known around culinary circles as

But many with only a cursory knowledge of Bourdain knew of him solely for his

-- a rebellious rockstar who was bold, tattooed, and sometimes brash.

Palmer says restaurant culture was complicit in pushing the testosterone-fueled, self-indulgent image of the bad boy chef-- an image that romanticized vices and acting on them without consequence in a industry with one of the highest rates of substance abuse.

For the 20-year restaurant veteran, the issue of mental health is personal. Palmer is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for 17 years.

He started

, a support group for those in the restaurant industry who struggle with abuse and addition, after his own friend and chef Ben Murray took his life after years of struggling with alcoholism. The group is currently in seven cities, and Palmers mission is to bring it to all 50 states.

If were going to address restaurant culture, we have to address mental health, said Palmer. I just want our industry to be more real.

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John Hall of Post Office Pies has something new cooking

The night before the symposium, chef John Hall, owner of Post Office Pies, gave attendees a taste of Birmingham through an evening of small bites  oxtail dumplings with braised collard greens and red snapper crudo with grapefruit, radish, celery, and mint.

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During the symposium, he sat down with John T. Edge to talk about his impact on Birmingham's dining scene and his plans for the future.

John Hall has built an

, cooking with Michelin-starred chefs and restaurants in New York and Luxembourg. In the past, Edge had

. Like Stitt, Hall left Alabama to improve his craft, but later returned home.

Pizza was Halls

restaurant scene. But Halls vision extends beyond helming successful restaurants. His other goal is to be a teacher in the food world, particularly for those who havent gone to culinary school. Hall frequently instructs at Jones Valley Teaching Farm. When celebrity chef Carla Hall was writing her cookbook  Carla Hall's Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration," she visited Alabama. In Birmingham,

, and he inspired her recipes for cooking okra as they talked about his desire to teach kids from the community how to cook. In November of last year, he cooked his own interpretation of one of Carla Halls recipes at the James Beard House.

Hall cares deeply for his staff at Post Office Pies. During the symposium, he told Edge that he uses the restaurant as a teaching lab, where his employees learn skills such as 12-hour yeast fermentation and how to make mozzarella. While he loves teaching, you wont find him teaching cooking classes for those who dabble in the culinary world as a hobby. Hed rather spend his time teaching his employees  who he affectionately calls his babies  marketable skills that they can use, even if they leave Post Office Pies.

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Thats not to say Hall doesnt have plans to open a new restaurant in the Birmingham area.

After a little prodding from an audience member, Hall announced that he has been working on securing a building for his new venture, saying I want to be behind the stove every night.

He wouldnt tell the audience any more. But clues to the menu of his future restaurant may lie in the dishes he prepared for the SFA opening reception and in a 2015 interview he did with

where he said he eventually wanted to bring together all of his culinary experiences and translate them into his own food.

I want to grab a bit of Gramercy, a bit of Momofuku, all these places, and make it my own."

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Birmingham's neigborhoods as birthmarks

Birminghams Celestia Morgan was this years SFA Winter Symposium artist in residence.

has long been a vessel of social commentary as she examines race and southern culture through the lens of photography. In 2017, the SFA showcased her photo essay

in its spring edition of

Gravy

. The black and white photo series paid homage to the time she spent

and the spiritual connection she felt with her grandmother, who she never met.

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This year, in keeping with the theme food is work the SFA commissioned Morgan to document the people who feed Birmingham, from the cooks, to the dishwashers, to the servers.

"Food is Work: Birmingham," which debuted at the symposium, featured 20 women and men of Birmingham who stand on line every day to nourish the city, whether they are serving customers or working behind the scenes.

In keeping with showcasing the voice of the city, the exhibit will be installed at the Birmingham Public Library until March 26.

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This photograph of Kandra Abubaker of Al's Deli is part of Celestia Morgan's Food is Work: Birmingham series

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During her artist talk with John T. Edge, Morgan said she could see the close-knit bond between the people she photographed.

Everyone I interviewed is like family.

She said one of the most memorable photos of the series was of Tanisha Bell, a food prep worker at Post Office Pies.

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A photograph of Tanisha Bell, a food prep worker at Post Office Pies.

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Bell quit her job to care of her grandmother when she got sick. After her grandmother died, she decided to apply to work at Post Office Pies after hearing about the restaurant from a friend.

That story, said Morgan, reflected the sense of community she felt while photographing the staff at Post Office Pies.

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Morgans previous photo series

explores the the history of racially based housing discrimination in Birmingham and the

When asked if she saw a connection between the two projects, Morgan said that the biggest link she saw between the series was the wealth gap.

Black people worked in white establishments to build them. But I didnt see black people able to pass the mantle to their own {families}, said Morgan. People are living near your restaurants, but they cant afford to eat there. I wanted to bring attention to that.

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While Birminghams food scene is enjoying well-deserved publicity, many of the neighborhoods that were previously

and the farm to table fare boasted by many of the citys establishments.

Can we bring restaurants to those areas? asked Morgan as she paused to think about the neighborhoods that have been left at standstill as Birminghams burgeoning dining continues to take off.

I look at those neighborhoods as birthmarks.

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The future of the restaurant industry: hold people accountable

When chef Ashley Christensen delivered the final keynote of the symposium, Promises of a Female Led Restaurant, her message rang clear: hold people accountable.

Introduced by Food & Wine senior editor Mary-Frances Heck, Christensen held court as she recounted her rise as one of Americas most influential chefs and

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The 2014 James Beard award winner for Best Chef Southeast has steadily built an

of five restaurants in North Carolina, a state where women dominate the

and are the heavy hitters in the states food industry. In 2015, the New York Times named North Carolina a

for women in food. One of the reasons, Christensen said in an interview, is a firm support system of teaching and mentorship.

As women have moved into positions of leadership and ownership, we began learning more about community and how to take better care of each other and our staff.

A

by the Womens FoodService Forum,

and McKinsey & Company reported that while women make up 49 percent of entry- level workers in the food industry, they only make up 20 percent of senior vice president positions (that number increases to 23 percent for c-level executives).

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Im often asked to cook women chefs dinners. I love to cook alongside other women, but I prefer to call that cooking with badass chefs. @A______C______ on the promise of female led restaurants. #SFABHAM #foodiswork @poolesdiner  Southern Foodways (@southfoodways) February 9, 2019

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During her address, Christensen told the audience that at one point, she was alone in a lot of her decision making-- a situation that is prevalent in the culinary industry.

We operate as isolates, said the award-winning chef.

And in an industry with so many first-time managers, she says, more people in the culinary world need to create a checks and balances system to help emerging leaders make better decisions as they learn their craft.

Were trying to create an environment where people are setting clear expectations. saud Christensen. Mentorship is an important part of what we do.

For more information on oral histories, documents, and upcoming programs from the Southern Foodways Symposium, go to southernfoodways.org.
Photo credit: JoeBiden.com

From Woman's Day

Dr. Jill Biden is a woman on a mission. On a cold day in January, she took time from her husbands campaign in Iowa to talk to Womans Day about a group of people she wants every American to honor: our men and women in uniform, and the people behind them who make their service possible.

Working with military families is a cause close to her heart. Dr. Bidens late son, Beau Biden, was in the Delaware Army National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009, and she was active in Delaware Boots on the Ground, an organization that supports military families in her home state. In 2011, she launched Joining Forces with former first lady Michelle Obama, an initiative focused on developing education, employment and wellness programs for military families. Today, crisscrossing the US campaigning for her husband, Joe Biden, she urges Americans to double down on their commitment. She says bluntly, We need to lift up our veterans and their service, and remind Americans of just who they are.

Photo credit: Joebiden.com

So what can you do to help? One way to support military families is by volunteering with Blue Star Families, which gives active duty and veteran families access to a variety of programs, from passes to parks and museums to career initiatives for military spouses and outlets for caregivers. The organization also offers an easy way for civilians to build connections with families. Starbucks offers Coffee Chats/Connects meetups (free coffee!) in participating stores, and the six-week START Reading Book Club puts civilians and military families together at local libraries to share a meal and discuss a good read.

This kind of fellowship can make a huge difference in the lives of military families. Allyson Harasimowicz, whose husband was in the Air Force for 25 years, saw this first hand when her young son was diagnosed with cancer while they were in the middle of one of the familys 10 moves. Harasimowicz, Blue Star Families NYC chapter director, says, through it all, and being away from extended family, if it wasn't for the support we had with military and community families we met along the way, I don't know how we could have gotten through it.

Story continues

Photo credit: Allyson Harasimowicz

One group in particular need of support are military caregivers. According to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, some 5.5 million people in the US care for ill, wounded or injured military service members and veterans every day. They manage medications, schedule doctors visits, coordinate healthcare paperwork, and sometimes do the down-and-dirty work of bathing, feeding and dressing their loved ones, often while holding down a job and raising children. I dont think people realize how the physical and emotional effects of war continue year after year to affect our service members, says Dr. Biden. Its a tremendous burden on caregivers.

Colleen Johnson is one of them. Her husband, Thomas, returned from his last deployment in Afghanistan in 2013 with debilitating migraines and symptoms of PTSD. As a caregiver, I wish people understood our complex role in the healing of our nations wounded, ill, and injured warriors, Colleen says. I became a caregiver in a moment with no fanfare, no training, though huge expectations.

With a burden this complex, caregivers need support too. A Biden administration would offer a $5,000 tax credit for informal caregivers, who often have to give up their jobs to be there for loved ones, and make sure that they receive professional and peer support, including mental health services. On a more personal level, Dr. Biden urges people to reach out to military families in church, school and in the community and help however you can. Johnson adds, Friends, family, and neighbors can best support military families by giving their time in what they love to do. For some, its a telephone call, for others, its a meal, and yet another its a task. I have found that when people give me what they love, it makes both of our hearts happy.

Photo credit: Colleen Johnson

Reaching out, no matter how, is key. Says Dr. Biden, Our one sacred obligation is to take care of our military when they come home. We cannot forget. We still have to keep pushing that all Americans commit to honoring and helping our military families.

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michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily.

[music]

Today: Harvey Weinstein is found guilty of two felony sex crimes. Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey on what the jury was asked to do, and what it means that they did it. Its Tuesday, February 25. Jodi and Megan, what did we understand about this case before it started?

megan twohey

We knew the charges. We knew that Weinstein had been charged with criminal sexual assault of one woman. We knew that he had been charged with rape of another. We knew that he had also been charged with predatory sexual assault, which is basically a pattern of predatory behavior. We also knew that it was complicated. That with at least one of the women in the charges, Weinstein appeared to have ongoing friendly communication with her. That, the defense was saying, was proof that the entire relationship was consensual.

jodi kantor

It seemed really narrow. Remember that there was an ocean of women who brought allegations against Harvey Weinstein for sexual harassment, for sexual violence. And yet, there were only two women at the center of these charges.

michael barbaro

And remind us why that is, just two?

jodi kantor

Well, some women had stories that lay beyond the statute of limitations, meaning their stories were essentially too old for them to participate. Some of the behavior they described was not necessarily criminal. And also, there are some women who did not want to participate. They were scared of the scrutiny of a criminal trial.

michael barbaro

And Jodi, what didnt we know as the trial starts?

jodi kantor

Well, we didnt know a tremendous amount. Most importantly, we didnt know anything about the evidence. Harvey Weinsteins team had released these emails between him and some of his accusers. Would they be able to actually prove that these relationships were affectionate, that they were romantic, that they were consensual?

michael barbaro

And therefore, quite possibly, not criminal?

jodi kantor

Right.

michael barbaro

So Megan, what are you thinking as this trial is about to start? Whats going through your head?

megan twohey

Well, Im very curious to know more of the details. And if Im being totally honest, Im also a little skeptical. The district attorney here in New York had come under intense pressure to charge Weinstein once the story blew up. There had been so much outrage that the district attorneys office had failed to bring charges against Harvey Weinstein in 2015, when a woman actually went to the police to report being groped by him, that the D.A.s office was now under so much pressure that they would maybe bring charges now before they had a really solid case in hand.

michael barbaro

That basically, they were responding to public outcry, not necessarily the strongest possible legal case.

megan twohey

Exactly.

michael barbaro

So what happens, Jodi, when this trial actually begins?

jodi kantor

It feels really momentous. Were down at 100 Center Street in Manhattan.

archived recording

Harvey, how you doing?

jodi kantor

There are a million cameras. Its almost like him showing up on a kind of red carpet in reverse. Hes got this walker that immediately becomes the cause of a lot of suspicion. He kind of hobbles into court.

archived recording

Mr. Weinstein, how are you feeling today? Hows your back?

archived recording (harvey weinstein)

Not so good. Better.

jodi kantor

And the prosecution and the defense make their openings. And then the prosecution begins to call witnesses. And what you immediately see is, you know, theres a saying in sex crimes prosecution that there are no perfect victims. And what people mean by that is that these stories dont unfold in neat scripts. Almost every sex crime story has its sort of wrinkles, its counterintuitive elements. But we see that, in particular, this case is not a case with, quote unquote, perfect victims. There were six alleged Weinstein victims who testified during this trial. On the one hand, theres Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley. They are the basis of the charges. The jury is making its decisions based on whether they believe these womens stories or not. On the other far end, there are these kind of pattern witnesses, these Molineux witnesses. Its a controversial concept in the law. Theres been a big fight over whether they should even be included, that the prosecution won. They are there simply to establish a pattern. Its like in the Cosby trial when you had additional witnesses, you know, repeating the same details, telling the same stories of predation. Its very powerful. But the jury cant actually decide anything based on what they say. Theyre not at the basis of the charges. And in the middle is Annabella Sciorra, and shes playing a very unusual role in this trial. She tells this story of being violently raped by Harvey Weinstein many years ago. Its emotional testimony. Theres major news coverage. But she doesnt remember everything about it. Its a long time ago. And remember, the Annabella Sciorra case is outside the statute of limitations, so the jury cannot convict or acquit Harvey Weinstein simply based on Annabella Sciorras story. But if they believe those first two women  either Jessica Mann or Miriam Hailey or both  and then if they also believe Anabella Sciorra and add her, then they can get to the most serious charges of predatory sexual assault, which can potentially send Harvey Weinstein to prison for life.

michael barbaro

So Megan, after this dramatic testimony from Annabella Sciorra, what happens in the trial?

megan twohey

Both Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann testify.

michael barbaro

The two women at the center of the criminal charges.

megan twohey

The two women at the center of the criminal charges. And in both cases, their stories turn out to be more complicated than we could have ever predicted.

michael barbaro

What do you mean?

megan twohey

In the case of Miriam Hailey, she talks about how, when she first met Weinstein, she was trying to get breaks in the entertainment industry and he helped her get a job as a production assistant on one of his TV shows. And that it had started what was kind of half personal, half professional relationship. She says that he assaulted her, that he sexually assaulted her. But that after that, she continued to have friendly communication with him. And two weeks after that, she agreed to meet him at a hotel room, where she says she had sex with him without resisting. And so that is looking to be more nuanced than we originally knew.

michael barbaro

And by nuance, you mean it introduces the possibility of some kind of consent  a question.

megan twohey

It certainly is providing the defense with an opportunity to do some serious cross-examination of her. It wasnt just that she had returned to meet with him in private and had actually had sex with him after her alleged sexual assault. Its that she continued to send him messages and signed one of her emails, Love, Mimi. And so the defense, in its cross-examination, is going really hard at her on that and suggesting that this is evidence that the whole relationship was consensual, and that she was actually using him to try to advance her career.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. And how does she explain the ongoing relationship she has with Weinstein after this encounter?

megan twohey

Well, she describes it as, she was kind of trying to regain some sort of power. That she was trying to reframe and regain control over what had happened. And then she says, in terms of staying in touch with him after the fact and having friendly communication with him after the fact, that that was because she was just trying to maintain a positive professional relationship to help her with her career. And she even at one point had used the language of, I was just trying to put it away in a box and pretend like it didnt happen.

michael barbaro

And what about Jessica Mann?

megan twohey

If Miriam Hailey looks like a little more complicated on the witness stand, Jessica Mann looks so much more complex. This is a woman who didnt just have some friendly communication with him after she said she was sexually assaulted by him. She describes a three-year romantic relationship with him that went in and out of consensual and nonconsensual sex. And that she felt like he was powerful, and that he manipulated her, and that she stayed within his web of control, because she didnt know how to break out of it. And that she feared that he could actually even harm her family if she didnt participate. And in this case, the cross-examination is pretty brutal at times. In fact, Jessica Mann, in trying to explain how and why she stayed in this relationship with Weinstein for years after he had, you know, as shes told it, assaulted her, she is getting increasingly upset. And there is one point where she just breaks down sobbing uncontrollably, and the judge has to adjourn court early for the day because it looks like shes pretty much almost having a panic attack. And she can even be heard after court has adjourned behind a closed door, screaming.

michael barbaro

Wow.

megan twohey

So Jodi and I are watching this and thinking, wow, this looks really painful, and it seems somewhat unusual that prosecutors would bring charges in these cases. And then we actually start working the phones. We start calling around to former prosecutors and defense attorneys. And theyre saying, it is unusual. While sex crimes experts will tell you that its not unusual for victims to have ongoing communication with their perpetrators, that its not unusual for them to even have sex with them after the fact, that its really unusual  it basically never happens  that prosecutors bring charges in these type of circumstances. And so we are also, as were doing this reporting, realizing that, in fact, this prosecution appears to be even more risky than we had originally thought.

jodi kantor

And what some of these observers are so worried about as theyre watching the trial  these are prosecutors, former prosecutors  theyre saying, is the prosecution meeting the bar for explaining these relationships? When you have these kind of complexities in a trial, you have to really own them. You have to acknowledge that this is very complicated, and you have to provide a narrative of how, essentially, how a relationship can become so abusive. And the prosecution is working on it. They call this sex crimes expert, Dr. Barbara Ziv, whos counseled many, many victims. And shes talking about how theres often this kind of counterintuitive behavior, and how these relationships can be extremely abusive.

michael barbaro

And why are these outside prosecutors worried about a case thats not their own?

jodi kantor

Because they realize the symbolic importance of whats happening here. And remember that in prosecution generally, theres this big, philosophical question of, do you try the easier, more clear-cut cases where youre more assured of victory? Or, do you take the really risky cases, which on the one hand can be a source of progress, but on the other hand, they can be a source of a kind of backlash? What these sources are worried about is, what if the prosecution against Harvey Weinstein fails? And in doing so, gives support to the idea that #MeToo has gone too far, that #MeToo is exaggerated, that victims stories arent completely credible.

michael barbaro

In other words, all these prosecutors and these sex crimes experts youre talking to, they recognize these womens descriptions. They understand these complicated relationships. They dont doubt them. But they think that by putting these on trial, it could actually undermine the work that theyre doing and future cases like this.

jodi kantor

Absolutely. Theyre saying, is the Harvey Weinstein trial, of all things, actually going to end up swinging the pendulum back in the other direction away from victims?

megan twohey

And thats actually what Harvey Weinsteins defense team is arguing in the court. They are saying that this entire case is proof that the #MeToo movement has gone too far, that all of these women had consented to these sexual encounters with Weinstein, and that they are now being relabeled and reimagined. They caution about basically accepting a universe where women have no agency and are not held responsible for their actions for agreeing to go to the hotel rooms to meet men and not expecting there to be sexual advances. Harvey Weinsteins lead defense attorney is this woman Donna Rotunno, who has made a career of representing men accused of sexual misconduct, and is basically becoming the female face of the backlash to #MeToo, and really seeking to frame the defense within that backlash at every turn.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. Megan, what are you thinking about as you consider the jury in this case and them taking this all in?

megan twohey

So Im looking at these 12 jurors, these seven men and five women, and thinking, wow, we as a country have not been able to come to a consensus on some of the most basic questions of the #MeToo movement. And here they are being asked to go off and decide and render a verdict on some of the most thorny issues that were all grappling with right now when it comes to sex and power and consent. And this isnt just a case in which the two central accusers acknowledged having consensual sex with Weinstein after they say he victimized them. This is also a case thats missing a lot of the key things that you find in sex crimes prosecutions. Youre not finding a lot of corroborating witnesses and other evidence to bolster the case. It really feels like its coming down to 

michael barbaro

Do you believe these women?

megan twohey

Exactly.

jodi kantor

Thats basically the pitch that the prosecution makes to these 12 jurors. And on the very final day of arguments, what the prosecution is doing is theyre arguing the case on the facts they have, but theyre also making a kind of plea for a different world. A different, more nuanced, more humane way of looking at rape victims. Theyre saying, look, sometimes their behavior is contradictory. Sometimes theyre slow to even acknowledge and accept that a crime has occurred. But thats what we need to start understanding. Joan Illuzzi, the prosecutor, says, come enter this new world. Come enter this new and more nuanced understanding of who rape victims are and how they behave. So then the following Tuesday, the judge basically says to the jury, you go decide.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back. So Jodi, Megan, tell us about today, Monday.

jodi kantor

Well, the jury has been deliberating for four days. And actually, at the very end of the day on Friday, there was kind of an inkling that a verdict was coming. And the courtroom, I think from the first moment this morning, based on what we heard, felt kind of momentous. And then soon enough, midway through the morning, they come out and they say a verdict has been reached.

megan twohey

And when the verdict is read out, it is mixed. The jury has found Weinstein not guilty of those predatory sexual assault charges, the ones that could have potentially sent him to prison for the rest of his life. But they have found him guilty of criminal sexual assault of Miriam Hailey and of third degree rape of Jessica Mann.

michael barbaro

So this jury believed both of these women, despite all the complexities and all the nuance and all the layers of their cases?

megan twohey

Thats what the verdict suggests, that they did, in fact, believe them.

michael barbaro

What is Harvey Weinsteins reaction to this verdict?

megan twohey

So Harvey Weinstein is apparently sitting there motionless, and he eventually turns to his defense attorneys and says over and over again, but Im innocent. But Im innocent.

michael barbaro

So theres a sense of disbelief.

megan twohey

It sounds like he was in total disbelief.

[music]

And not long after court is finally adjourned,

archived recording (cyrus vance jr.) Good morning. Can you hear me?

megan twohey

Cy Vance, the district attorney, the head prosecutor overseeing this case, holds a press conference.

archived recording (cyrus vance jr.) Rape is rape, whether the survivor reports within an hour, within a year, or perhaps never. Its rape, despite the complicated dynamics of power and consent after an assault. Its rape even if there is no physical evidence, and even if that happened a long time ago. This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe. And this is a new day.

michael barbaro

Megan, what do you make of what Cy Vance is saying?

megan twohey

I mean, Cy Vance is trying to paint this conviction with the most sweeping strokes possible. Saying that this is ushering in a whole new era of sex crimes prosecutions and delivering an unprecedented level of accountability and justice for victims of sexual assault.

michael barbaro

Is he right?

jodi kantor

Well, I think thats the question. So for two years now, Megan and I have been looking at the impact of #MeToo. And we see that social attitudes have changed. But weve said to ourselves, when does that actually begin to come into the courtroom. When does it change a jurys perception? When does it change a judges perception? Look, its too hard to say yet. But I do think theres something that may be very true here. Not really the way Cy Vance put it, but it may turn out to be correct, that in bringing this very risky, very high profile, very boundary-pushing case, the Manhattan D.A. actually has expanded what feels possible in sex crimes prosecutions.

megan twohey

And that it does reshape the public understanding and belief about which victims deserve their day in court.

michael barbaro

And that, of course, is a real victory for some people, and a very scary overreach for others, I imagine.

megan twohey

Thats right. There are definitely other people who have watched and seen prosecutors not just bring this case, but win it. And to see these jurors convict on something that the rest of society had yet to come to consensus on and have said that this whole thing has gone too far.

[music]

michael barbaro

Jody, Megan. Thank you very, very much.

jodi kantor

Thank you.

megan twohey

Yeah. Thanks for having us.

[music]

michael barbaro

On Monday afternoon, lawyers for Harvey Weinstein said they would appeal his conviction as well as the judges decision to hold him in jail until his sentencing, scheduled for March 11. Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording

Ugly day for Wall Street, the worst weve seen for stocks in years. Take a look at how we finish up the day. It looks like 

michael barbaro

Fear of economic fallout from the coronavirus reached the financial markets on Monday 

archived recording (dominic chu)

What this has to do with is the spread of the coronavirus. Now, weve known for quite some time that the Chinese cases have been escalating.

michael barbaro

 as the stock market plunged over the prospect that the disease will hurt global commerce.

archived recording (dominic chu)

But now it seems so investors have turned their attention to whats happening overall with cases outside of China.

michael barbaro
On Saturday, Nevada held its Democratic caucuses, and Bernie Sanders won. Unlike in Iowa and/or New Hampshire, the results werent close/marred by logistical chaos; with most of the votes counted, Sanders had won close to half of the county convention delegates on offer, handily beating all the moderates in the race put together. The vast majority of the country is yet to vote, of course, and there surely are twists and turns to come; still, as things stand, it looks rather like Sanders is running away with the Democratic nomination. This state of affairs has been foreseeable for a while, yet the chatter of the pundit classwhich loves both suspense and Democrats who arent Bernie Sandershas obscured it, to an extent. The results out of Nevada made it harder to avoid. Democrats should start sobering up and thinking through the real possibility of Sanders being the nominee, Joy Reid said, somewhat belatedly, at the top of her MSNBC show yesterday. Bernie is the frontrunner nowfull stop. It is what it is.

What it is, among other things, is unpalatable to many of the talking heads on Reids network. The Sanders campaign has long had a fraught relationship with MSNBC, whose pundits have long criticized Sanders. Last week, things came to a head. Ahead of the networks debate in Las Vegas last Wednesday, Sanders, according to Page Six, upbraided Phil Griffin, the networks president, and jabbed another executive repeatedly in the face with his finger; meanwhile, his campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, told Tom Kludt, of Vanity Fair, that Fox News has been fairer on Sanders than MSNBC has. On Saturday, as the Nevada results came in, Kludt tweeted that The resignation on MSNBC right now is palpable. Chris Matthewswho, in weeks past, already compared Sanders to George McGovern, some old guy with some old literature from his socialist party, and Castro and the Redslikened his breakthrough in Nevada to the fall of France in the summer of 1940. James Carvillea Democratic strategist who Sanders recently called a political hacksaid on air that the Nevada results were going very well for Vladimir Putin. (It emerged last week that Russia is trying to boost the chances of both Sanders and Donald Trump, perhaps seeing the former as conducive to the latter; in response, Sanders warned Putin to stay out of the election.) Talking with Carville, Nicolle Wallace, an MSNBC anchor, said the Sanders and Trump campaigns are alike in their use of dark arts, of abusing the press, of bullying the press, and warned of the dangers of paying attention to a squeaky, angry minority. Yesterday, on Reids show, Jimmy Williams, a commentator and operative who is currently advising Tom Steyer, called on Democratic elites to speak upif they dont, Williams said, Sanders will be the nominee, which would be a major disaster for the country.

ICYMI: A pipeline runs through Southern news deserts

MSNBC was far from the only vehicle for fretting and other forms of Sanders-skepticism over the weekend. In news stories, moderate down-ballot Democrats and figures from the party establishment distanced themselves from Sanders and griped about party elites ineffectiveness in stopping him. (In one such story, Edward-Isaac Dovere, of The Atlantic, wrote that so far, the supposedly all-powerful leaders of the party have been about as well organized as The Muppet Show.) Jennifer Rubin, a columnist for the Washington Post, tweeted that the Democrats are playing high risk with horrid ramifications. The political panel on Face the Nation, on CBS, chewed on Sanderss divisive rhetoric; on State of the Union, on CNN, we heard again that Putin was the real winner in Nevada. Rick Santorum, the Republican former senator turned CNN talking head, said on the same show that Sanders represents the extreme of the Democratic Party. (Santorum does not believe the same is true of Trump vis-a-vis the GOP.)

In some quarters, these and similar takes co-existed with detailed data from the Nevada caucuses, which painted a very different picture. According to entrance polls, Sanders won among men, women, white voters, Latinx voters, all age groups aside from the over-65s, and all issue-priority groups aside from people who care foremost about foreign policy. He won a plurality of caucusgoers who described themselves as moderate or conservative, and a plurality of caucusgoers from union householdsdespite the well-advertised opposition of leaders of the states powerful Culinary Workers Union to Sanderss flagship Medicare for All policy. All in all, in fact, a clear majority of caucusgoers expressed support of that plan.

As Ryan Lizza wrote for Politico, Sanderss broad-based coalition in Nevada laid waste not just to his five main rivals but also to every shard of conventional wisdom about the Democratic presidential primaries. You could see the dominoes of punditry cliches falling inside the caucus rooms. Cable news, in particular, has been responsible for the dominance of such cliches in campaign coverage to this point. Predicting who will vote for whom is a hard task, of course. When it comes to coverage of Sanders, its been made harder still by the dearth of pundits who understand his worldview, let alone support it. TV news panels (and, it must also be said, some newspaper opinion sections) have been dominated by voices who represent, or at least channel, the moderate establishments of the Democratic and Republican parties; after 2016, some outlets added a sprinkling of pro-Trump voices to their offerings, but continued to neglect pro-Sanders voices, despite their increased relevance. There are some exceptions to the rule. CNN added Alexandra Rojas, who worked on Sanderss 2016 campaign, as a political commentator (she was on State of the Union yesterday); on MSNBC, some personalitiesChris Hayes, Ali Velshi, and Anand Giridharadas, for examplehave given Sanders and his policies a fairer hearing than others. Still, as Kludt wrote for Vanity Fair last week, Identifying a Sanders sympathizer on MSNBCs roster is reminiscent of Wheres Waldo?

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This lack of representativeness isnt just a problem because it limits the range of ideas we get to substantively debate (though that is certainly a big concern). Whatever you think of its merits, it also distorts our coverage of the horseraceif we skew our opinion programming toward elites, we miss large swathes of viewpoints that are influential in the country. Trumps rise proved this in 2016, yet still we seem surprised by the Sanders surge. Thats unforgivably complacent; as a result, much of the national political conversation feels panicked and reactive.

On Reids show yesterday, Giridharadas tackled this short-sightedness head on. I think this is a wake-up moment for the American power establishment, he said, implicating the media in generaland Matthews, in particularin his critique. Faced with Sanderss success, this establishment is behaving like out-of-touch aristocrats in a dying aristocracy, Giridharadas said. It is time for all of us to step up, rethink, and understand the dawn of what may be, frankly, a new era in American life. Reids first response was to defend her friend Chris Matthews.

Below, more on Sanders and 2020:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Governments of the world just ramped up spying on reporters

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
ITS hard to imagine what goes through someones head when their loved one says goodbye before heading off to war.

For some the waiting is the hardest part  waiting for them to return home, if they return home  and whether they come back the same person.

The Man Who Left is Not the Man Who Came Home is a story of resilience, hope and change which is based on more than 100 interviews with soldiers and their wives.

It comes to the Kenton Theatre in Henley next Thursday (February 27) at 7.30pm and its cast of three includes a military wife, who will tell of her own experiences as the play unfolds.

Kevin Dyer, who wrote and directed the play, said it is not a tale of men at war but a story told through the eyes of the women who wait and the impact on their relationships.

He said: Most of us with partners say goodbye to them when they go to work, but we know that they are going to come back  not so if you are a military wife.

The play was put together over the last four years which I spent talking to soldiers in uniform in their barracks and talking to the women there.

It soon became clear in my conversations that the pressures on the pair of them  the wife and her man  were immense, extraordinary and not at all like civvy street.

There have been loads of stories about men serving in Afghanistan and Iraq but not many from the point of view of the wife or girlfriend whose husband has gone away and might never come back.

The stories of the women who watched their man go, spent time thinking, wondering, hoping, coping whilst he was away, then experienced him coming back home, were vivid and inspiring.

Among those whom Kevin interviewed was the Military Wives Choir in Aldershot. He had prepared a set of questions which included: What was it like before he went?; What was it like saying goodbye? and What was it like after the first buzz of his return had passed?

Kevin was particularly interested in the minute before he went away and the first minute that passed when he returned.

He said: I heard stories of love, hate, betrayal, uselessness, kids, mates, denial and madness. The stories are varied and never simple.

A lot of them said how they had got themselves into a real rhythm while their husbands were away and so when they came home the honeymoon period wasnt straightforward.

They may have become, in effect, a single parent and so its hard for both of them to readjust and in some cases the man who left is not the same man who came back and it is not just those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

When you do big things in your lives, you change, and you have to start all over again. One woman told me that when they saw their husband again all they wanted to do was kiss his face off, which was an expression I loved, but another said they found it difficult to communicate.

In the army there is no grey area  its black and white  which made things like negotiating who was picking up the kids hard.

The whole of the play takes place in an army quarters, which has a tiny kitchen with an oven that doesnt work which Kevin says those who have lived in such accommodation would identify with.

The couple, Chloe (Stephanie Greer) and Ashley (Sam Wilson) have two children but there is so little space, they dont even have room for a sofa.

Kevin says: It is a play about two people struggling to make their lives work. It starts from when they first met and it goes all the way through to when he comes back home from the army and it is a bumpy journey.

They are two people who have immense life in them, two people who you would love to go out and spend time with, and it is a close-up of the two of them.

It is a story about love and how to keep our partners so you dont have to be from a military background or know anything about the military to come and see it. You will see how jobs get in the way of relationships and we try to cope with it.

But in addition to the two professional actors, who are remarkable, we have a third member of the company which the audience will see  a real military wife (Sam Trussler), whose husband did two tours of Afghanistan.

She tells her story and what it was like for her. Her dad also served in Northern Ireland so she came from a military family and so she takes you into this whole other world that she has known all her life.

Sams story will run parallel to the action performed by the two actors. Sometimes it overlaps and intersects and sometimes it contradicts or doesnt seem to connect at all.

Kevin said: It is a real story told by a real person in the midst of a theatrical production that also tells real stories. What the theatre offers is empathy and audiences will get to see what it is like to be in their boots and so we know what it is like for them.

But it is also an uplifting play because you are getting the truth of real stories from real people. There is so much truth in the play and it is this factor that makes reality TV as popular as it is with audiences.

This production means a lot to Kevin, whose father was in the army and he found that he was giving all his money away to Combat Stress in the years before his death.

He was in the third commando of the D-Day Landings and this caused a shadow over his life, Kevin said, although he was a happy and gentle man. My grandfather and great grandfather were also in the army.

I think hearing all these stories for this play really touched me and gave me an understanding of why my dad was the way he was.

After the performance there will be a conversation on the themes of the play and the bigger questions surrounding war, the armed forces and the country we live in.

Audience members will get the opportunity to share their own stories and experiences.

 Tickets for The Man Who Left is Not the Man Who Came Home are 19 with concessions available at 17.50, which includes a 1 theatre restoration levy. The performance, which runs for 70 minutes with no interval, has an age rating of 14+.
Delhi Police have registered a case against several persons under sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to rioting, criminal conspiracy and unlawful assembly over the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest in the city's Malviya Nagar on Sunday.

According to police, as many as 18 people have been named in the FIR. Among those named in the FIR are Indrani, Devika, Sunita, Pooja, Ajra, Mehnuma, Sabana Yasmin, Sabina, Haider, Salaudin, Abid, Salman, Zahid, Munna, Wasim Gauri, Naeem, Waqar, Rahman, and others.

A case was registered under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of functions), 353 (criminal force to deter public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (acts by several persons) of the IPC.

Demonstrators at the anti-CAA protest in Malviya Nagar area on Sunday had alleged that the police lathi-charged them.

"Protesters tried to block traffic at multiple locations. Some of them verbally and physically abused cops and pushed female police personnel towards barricades," Atul Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, had said on Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Automotive Fuel Level Sensor Market 2020-2024

The analyst has been monitoring the global automotive fuel level sensor market and it is poised to grow by USD 448.31 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 2% during the forecast period. Our reports on global automotive fuel level sensor market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05207126/?utm_source=PRN

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by increasing demand for telematics to monitor fuel.In addition, growing integration of sensors with smartphones is anticipated to boost the growth of the global automotive fuel level sensor market as well.



Market Segmentation

The global automotive fuel level sensor market is segmented as below:



Type:

Capacitive

Resisitive

Others



Geographic Segmentation:

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America



Key Trends for global automotive fuel level sensor market growth

This study identifies growing integration of sensors with smartphones as the prime reasons driving the global automotive fuel level sensor market growth during the next few years.



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We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global automotive fuel level sensor market, including some of the vendors such as Bourns Inc., Continental AG, Delphi Technologies Plc, elobau GmbH & Co. KG, Minda Corp. Ltd., Pricol Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, Rochester Gauges LLC, TE Connectivity Ltd. and Valeo SA

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The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.





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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.



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Dublin, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Cloud Service Market By Service Type (Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service & Software-as-a-Service), By Type (Public Cloud, Private Cloud, & Hybrid Cloud), By End Use Application, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities 2014-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Vietnamese cloud service market is projected to grow from $165 million in 2018 to $291 million by 2024, exhibiting a double digit CAGR of over 10% during 2019-2024.



Growth in the market is led by surging adoption of cloud services such as Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Software-as-a-Service, etc., and growing number of small & medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, cloud is cost-efficient as users are not required to install any hardware or software. Additionally, enterprise mobility along with rising need for data storage is further anticipated to drive growth in the Vietnamese cloud service market in the coming years.



By service type, Infrastructure-as a service dominates the Vietnamese cloud service market as Infrastructure-as-a-service involves various solutions such as servers, storage, networking, virtualization, etc., which saves IT staff time as numerous users can work on a single piece of hardware anywhere and anytime. However, Software-as-a-Service is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during forecast period as it helps companies in lower up-front cost, as it is subscription-based and has no up-front license fees resulting in lower initial costs.



Among end-use applications, corporates/private organizations account for the majority share in the Vietnamese cloud service market owing to the low costs of cloud services, as well as open and transparent costs policy, which is attracting corporates/private organizations towards cloud services.



Northern Vietnam is the leading region in the Vietnamese cloud service market owing to the presence of large corporates/private organizations, government & defense institutions coupled with the growing number of SMEs in the region.



Key players in the Vietnamese cloud service market are FPT Corporation, Viettel-CHT Limited Company, CMC Corporation, IBM Vietnam Company, Microsoft Vietnam, Amazon Web Services Vietnam Company Limited, Mat Bao Corporation, NTC Cloud Computing Company Limited, SAP Asia (Vietnam) Co, HPT Vietnam Corporation, Google LLC, and Salesforce.com, Inc.



Years Considered



Historical Years: 2014-2017

2014-2017 Base Year: 2018

2018 Estimated Year: 2019

2019 Forecast Period: 2020-2024

Objective of the Study

To define, segment, describe and forecast the Vietnamese cloud service market on the basis of service type, type, end-use application, region and company.

To analyze and forecast the Vietnamese cloud service market size.

To scrutinize the detailed market segmentation and forecast the market size on the basis of segmenting the Vietnamese cloud service market into end-use applications, namely, Corporates/Private Organizations, BFSI, Government & Defense, Retail, Healthcare, Academic & Education Institutions, and Others.

To identify the drivers and challenges for the Vietnamese cloud service market.

To analyze and forecast the market size for the Vietnamese cloud service market with respect to service type, type, end-use application, region and company.

To strategically profile leading players in the market which are driving the innovation and technological advancements in the Vietnamese cloud service market.

Key Topics Covered



1. Product of Interest (POI): Cloud Service - An Introduction & Classification



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Voice of Customer/Customer Insights

4.1. Awareness of Cloud Services

4.2. Usage & Applicability Analysis

4.3. Key Benefits of Cloud Service

4.4. Factors Influencing Vendor Selection Decision

4.5. Challenges faced & Unmet needs



5. Vietnam Cloud Service Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast

5.1.1. By Value

5.2. Market Share & Forecast

5.2.1. By Service Type (Infrastructure as a Service, Software as a Service and Platform as a Service)

5.2.2. By Type (Public Cloud; Private Cloud; and Hybrid Cloud)

5.2.3. By End Use Application (Corporates/Private Organizations, BFSI, Government & Defense, Retail, Healthcare, Academic & Education Institutions and others)

5.2.4. By Region (Northern Vietnam, Southern Vietnam and Central Vietnam)

5.2.5. By Company

5.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Service, Type By Type, By End Use Application and Region)



6. Vietnam Public Cloud Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Service Type (Infrastructure as a Service, Software as a Service and Platform as a Service)

6.2.2. By End Use Application (Corporates/Private Organizations, BFSI, Retail, Government & Defense, Healthcare, Academic & Education Institutions and Others)



7. Vietnam Private Cloud Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.1.1. By Value

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.2.1. By Service, Type (Infrastructure as a Service, Software as a Service and Platform as a Service)

7.2.2. By End Use Application (Government & Defense, BFSI, Corporates/Private Organizations, Retail, Healthcare, Academic & Education Institutions and Others)



8. Vietnam Hybrid Cloud Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.1.1. By Value

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.2.1. By Service Type (Infrastructure as a Service, Software as a Service and Platform as a Service)



9. Market Dynamics

9.1. Drivers

9.2. Challenges



10. Market Trends & Development



11. Policy & Regulatory Landscape



12. Vietnam Economic Profile



13. Competitive Landscape

13.1. Competition Outlook

13.2. Company Profiles

13.2.1. FPT Corporation

13.2.2. Viettel-CHT Limited Company

13.2.3. CMC Corporation

13.2.4. IBM Vietnam Company

13.2.5. Microsoft Vietnam

13.2.6. Amazon Web Services Vietnam Company Limited

13.2.7. Mat Bao Corporation

13.2.8. NTC Cloud Computing Company Limited

13.2.9. SAP Asia (Vietnam) Co. Ltd.

13.2.10. HPT Vietnam Corporation

13.2.11. Google LLC

13.2.12. Salesforce.com Inc.



14. Strategic Recommendations



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e7xinv

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Upcoming political events in the Bay Area:

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.

SATURDAY

Devaluing California: Exploring how the electoral system devalues Californian votes from the Electoral College to the Senate, and a look at solutions including the National Popular Vote Compact and ranked-choice voting. Part of the 2020 Visions series. Free. 3:30 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here.

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.

SUNDAY

How does it end? An audience participation theater piece on what happens if President Trump is re-elected as economic and climate-change problems mount. Impeachment? Coup? Revolution? Do nothing? A piece of speculative fiction and political satire from co-writers Stardust Doherty and Kari Barclay and the Theatre Makers project. Free. 2 p.m., San Francisco Public Library main branch, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. More information is here.

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.

TUESDAY

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.

Book launch and watch party: Launch party for Rad American History A-Z with author Kate Schatz and illustator Miriam Klein Stahl, plus political comedian guest W. Kamau Bell. Followed by Super Tuesday results watch party. Free. 6 p.m., dona, 3770 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 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 4

Racial justice: A session on white fragility and cultivating resilience for coping with it, drawing from the work of racial justice experts including authors Robin D'Angelo and Resmaa Menakem, theater practitioner and political activist Augusto Boal, and activist, racial justice trainer and psychotherapist Katherine Roubos. Hosted by Showing Up for Racial Justice Marin. Free. 1 p.m., YWCA, 30 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 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.
In this file photo, Indian Air Force soldiers march past the C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft during the Indian Air Force day parade at the Hindon air base on the outskirts of New Delhi. The aircraft will be used to evacuate Wuhan of Indian citizens on Thursday, Feb 27, 2020. (Photo | AP)

New Delhi: India is likely to send a military transport aircraft to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan on February 26 to deliver relief material and bring back more Indians following a clearance from China, Union Health ministry officials said on Monday."

As informed by the Ministry of External Affairs, departure of the Air Force flight to Wuhan is being planned for February 26 and the evacuees will arrive on February 27," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, official sources had said that the neighbouring country was delaying clearance to the C-17 military transport aircraft which was to fly on February 20 to Wuhan, though Beijing had allowed fights from other countries to evacuate their nationals.

According to a health ministry official, China has now given clearance to the Indian military transport aircraft.

Official sources said Japan, Ukraine and France have been allowed to operate flights between February 16 and 20 but India's request had not been approved.

When contacted, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson had said there was no deliberate delay in grant of permission for the Indian flight to reach Wuhan.

The aircraft will carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan.

Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan, who undertook a review of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID19) management across the country with the senior officials of the Ministry, informed that at present the screening of passengers is being done in all 21 airports, 12 major and 65 non-major seaports and border crossings.

In all 4,48,449 passengers from 4,214 flights have been screened so far.

Also, as of now, 2,707 samples have been tested of which only three samples earlier had tested positive (Kerala) and all the three patients have been discharged from the hospitals. They are now in home isolation.

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.

Also flight passengers coming to India from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore , Japan, Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia are being screened at 21 designated airports in the country for a possible exposure to the novel coronavirus.

All Indian evacuees from Wuhan had tested negative for COVID19 and have gone back to their homes from the quarantine facilities. Also, 23,259 persons were brought under community surveillance in 34 states and UTs through the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network.

Regarding movement across Kartarpur border in Punjab, Vardhan was informed that in discussion with the Home Ministry, Health Ministry and Health Secretary, Punjab, special screening has been strengthened across the border and further necessary facilitation for masks to be worn by pilgrims is being initiated.
The next witness is former FSS forensic scientist, Samantha Underwood, who is giving her evidence via video-link from the UK.

The court is sitting late to hear her evidence.

Ms Underwood was involved in the examination of the yellow top containers which stored Ciara's fingernails in September 2008, prior to the samples undergoing DNA testing.

The containers were not opened during this examination, and the details of the examination were detailed in Ms Underwood's colleague, Carole Evans' evidence last week.

In January 2011, Ms Underwood also examined a petri dish with scrapings from Ciara's T-shirt, taken by the FBI in 1999, known as Q7.

She said she viewed the petri dish under a microscope to review the approximate 50 hairs in the dish under a low powered microscope, to determine if any of the hairs could undergo mitochondrial DNA testing.

She said at the time she was wearing "full PPE" which included a hair net, face mask, disposable lab coat and gloves, and would have removed the hairs from the petri dish with sterile forceps or tweezers and placed them acetate sheets.

Once the hairs were placed onto the sheets, in May of that year Ms Underwood instructed two assistant scientists to review the hairs for potential testing.

She mentioned there was also some testing relating to "lambs for sheering", and in an earlier document shown in court for items sent to the UK for testing in late 2010, "species hair testing - newborn lamb" was one of the instructions.

No context has been provided as to what led to this testing.

The petri dish hairs eventually became a critical exhibit for the state after microscopic blue polyester fibres were allegedly found during an examination in 2012.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 02:26:51|Editor: yan

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GAZA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians expressed fear on Monday that the tension, ongoing for two days, between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip, may lead to a large-scale military escalation.

Elham al-Aqqad, in her 40s, a resident of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, was busy all the time watching her children and asking them to be away from windows to avoid glass fragments hitting them.

"The sounds of bombs and explosions are scaring us and I imagine that I may lose one of my children at any moment if this tension grows to large-scale escalation," al-Aqqad, mother of three, told Xinhua.

She said "when Israeli warplanes bomb the Gaza Strip, it doesn't differentiate militants from civilians," adding that "I follow up the news on television and social media to know more details about what is going on."

Mohammad Ismail, a man in his 30s and a resident of Gaza city, told Xinhua that he spent last night with a group of his friends in front of his home listening to local radio stations to see if there will be a cease-fire or not.

"People's fears for an Israeli escalation are growing every day, especially before holding the parliamentary elections in Israel which are scheduled next Monday," said Ismail.

He expressed hope that Israel and Gaza militant groups, mainly Hamas and Islamic Jihad, could reach a cease-fire soon "because the living situation in Gaza is so hard and the people can't bear another large-scale war."

Tension in the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave began early on Sunday when Israeli soldiers stationed on the borders between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel shot and killed a militant member of the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The scenes of pulling the body of the Islamic Jihad militant Mohammad Naem by an Israeli army bulldozer had sparked outrage among the Palestinians.

In response, Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, fired barrages of rockets later on Sunday into southern Israel. Israeli war jets had in return launched missiles at military posts and locations that belong to the group.

Israeli war jets also attacked a military base that belongs to the group south of Damascus in Syria, leaving six killed, two of whom were members of the group.

On Monday, the group's militants fired more barrages of rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, and Israeli war jets then struck more sites and locations in the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, home to 2 million Palestinians, people do not want any war similar to the one in 2014 which lasted 50 days.

Since 2014, Egypt and the United Nations usually intervene and broker a cease-fire between the two sides before tension escalates and leads to a large-scale military offensive.
Joshua Rosenstein, another attorney who specializes in FARA, agreed. If you have a domestic organization, particularly a domestic nonprofit, which receives funding from a foreign government, it is certainly possible that you would have a registration obligation  even if your client is incorporated in the U.S., Rosenstein said. In very similar situations, the Department of Justice has required registration by consultants working on behalf of U.S. nonprofits which were funded in part by foreign governments, where the purpose of the efforts in the U.S. were to strengthen ties between the U.S. and the foreign government.
A postponement of the vote for the new government's investiture is a flight from responsibility, considers Save Romania Union (USR) leader Dan Barna.

"Postponing the vote on the government is a flight from responsibility, with the only definite effect of dragging out the political crisis. Parliament is dysfunctional and must be replaced with one that can give a reformist majority and a government with a solid mandate. If PSD [the Social Democratic Party]'s tactic succeeds, 2020 will be a lost year. The responsibility is theirs, but we will all bear the damage," the USR Chairman wrote on Facebook on Monday.Parliament convenes in a joint meeting at 4 pm on Monday for the investiture of the new Orban Government.The joint regulation of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate requires the presence of at least 233 MPs in the hall for the meeting where the Orban II Government should be voted in to take place.The lawmakers of the Social Democratic Party, Pro Romania and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats have announced that they will not attend. AGERPRES
US President Donald Trump is visiting India Monday onwards for a two-day visit along with his wife Melania Trump, daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump, son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, National Security Advisor Robert OBrien, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other prominent officials. This is Donald Trumps first visit to India as the US President. Since coming to power, PM Modi and the US President have had multiple meetings, sharing a good rapport.

PM Modi at White House: June 17, 2017

PM Modi was greeted by the US President and his wife Melania Trump outside the White House. He was given a guided tour of the White House including the Lincoln bedroom. On this occasion, the PM and Donald Trump discussed several issues such as peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, energy, commerce and elimination of terrorism. Later, he presented Trump a folio containing an original commemorative postal stamp that had been issued by India in 1965 to commemorate the death centenary of Abraham Lincoln.

Read: Shiv Sena Not Excited For US President Trump's Visit, Says 'he Won't Solve Our Problems'

ASEAN Summit: November 13, 2017

The second meeting between the PM and the US President took place just months later in Manila, Philippines on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. The two leaders not only discussed the comprehensive strategic partnership between the US and India but also shared their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Donald Trump appreciated the fact that India had purchased 10 million barrels of oil in recent months.

Read: Ahead Of 'Namaste Trump', Amul Welcomes US President Donald Trump With A Quirky Doodle

G20 Summit: June 28, 2019

In Osaka, PM Modi held a productive meeting with US President Donald Trump on bilateral trade issues. Both leaders were in Japan to attend the G20 Summit. The PM stated that India was committed to deepening economic and cultural ties with the US. Moreover, Iran and defence ties also figured in the discussions.

Read: Enroute India, US President Donald Trump Tweets In Hindi From Air Force One; 'Can't Wait'

G7 Summit: August 26, 2019

The two world leaders again met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France. The mediation for the Kashmir region was an important issue discussed in the meeting. PM Modi categorically rejected Donald Trumps offer to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

US Visit in 2019

A piece of 90-minute engrossing music, dance, and multimedia show flagged off the Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures programme in Houston on September 22. It featured 400 artists from Texas and other parts of the US, with 27 groups performing in a seamless manner. This was followed by an address by US President Trump, who not only laid down the achievements of his administration but also lauded the work of PM Modis government in India. Subsequently, the PM delivered his speech, covering a range of issues from Article 370 to highlighting the diversity of the country. Thereafter, Donald Trump and PM Modi held a bilateral meeting at the UN Headquarters on September 25.

Read: PM Modi Rolls Out Indian Hospitality As US President Donald Trump Lands At Ahmedabad

(Image sources: PTI, ANI, Associated Press, @narendramodi, @PMOIndia)
The CEO of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society is speaking out against a bill that would make sweeping changes in how investigations of animal cruelty are handled in Alabama.

The bill by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, would give the state Department of Agriculture and Industries exclusive authority over animal businesses, invalidate city and county ordinances on those matters, and make it a crime to make a frivolous report of animal neglect or abuse.

There are so many egregious things in the bill that its hard to choose the one that really jumps out, Greater Birmingham Humane Society CEO Allison Black Cornelius said.

Cornelius attended a Senate committee meeting last week where the bill was approved. That moves the bill into position for a vote by the Senate.

Williams, the bill sponsor, did not return phone calls or an email seeking comment about the legislation.

Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate said he was not consulted about the bill and said it would mean a significant expansion of the departments responsibilities.

It would be a huge change in our mission and it would involve lots of people we dont have, lots of money we dont have," Pate said.

Heres what the bill would do:

Give exclusive jurisdiction to the Department of Agriculture and Industries over the regulation of working animals and animal enterprises.

Invalidate all county and municipal laws and regulations regulating working animals and animal enterprises.

Make it a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine of up to $500, to file a frivolous complaint of animal cruelty. The complainant would have to pay for the investigation and the cost of boarding and caring for animals resulting from the complaint.

The bill also sets up specific rules on making a complaint of animal cruelty:

The person filing the complaint would have to make a sworn statement to a sheriff or municipal judge.

The statement would be delivered to the Department of Agriculture & Industries for investigation.

The investigator could give the business or animal owner up to 10 days to correct any problems.

If probable cause of animal cruelty is found, the department or law enforcement would petition a court for authority to impound the affected animals. The court would hold a hearing within 10 days. Only animals at risk of imminent death or severe physical injury could be impounded.

Law enforcement could not allow the release of any photographs or information showing evidence of animal cruelty before a conviction. Releasing such information would be a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine up of to $3,000.

Those convicted of animal cruelty would have to cover the cost of care of impounded animals.

If the animals are housed at humane shelters that solicit charitable donations, the shelters would have to deduct the amount of donations they receive from the costs charged along to the animal cruelty offender.

Cornelius said that last point raises concern about the intent of the bill.

To me, that right there speaks to the venom in the bill, Cornelius said. That something is going on that shows the personality of this bill. Theres a personality to this bill that just screams anger at somebody or some party. Because who thinks that if youre convicted of abusing animals that a charity should have to offset your fines and penalties and vet bills?

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society encourages people to report animal abuse and neglect to law enforcement. The GBHS also checks into reports of abuse and neglect in Jefferson County that it receives through a cruelty prevention hotline and online complaint form.

Allison said the GBHS often tries to resolve problems through discussions with animal owners when it responds to a complaint. It does not have authority to impound animals or file charges of animal cruelty and calls law enforcement when those steps are warranted, Allison said.

Pate said the Agriculture and Industries Department receives complaints about abuse or neglect of livestock and checks into those to the extent it can. He said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is the agency with the main authority to handle those investigations.

Well go out and look and follow up with ALEA, Pate said. Weve got a good relationship with them.

Pate said he raises cattle and that livestock can look bad during winter months, even if theyre well cared for. He said hes not aware of the department receiving any frivolous complaints and is not aware of concerns that the department is not following up on complaints.

The Alabama Farmers Federation does not have a position on the bill and has not been involved with it in any way, according to Jeff Helms, director of communications for the federation.

Cornelius said local officials should be able to set standards for their communities and regulate areas such as retail pet sales and animal policies.

The whole idea that theyre going to take all issues related to warm-blooded animals and put them in the Department of Agriculture and strip a city councilor or a county commissioners ability to pass an ordinance or have oversight of issues in their own community that relates to tethering, or spay-neuter, or retail pet sales, or whatever it is they want to do for the people in their community who tell them they want it to be done ... that part concerns me from the standpoint of disenfranchising citizens at the local level, Cornelius said.

Alabama and national politics.
A little boy is walking after being shot in the head.

Lavier Robinson, 2, spent over two months in the hospital after a drive-by shooting at his Virginia home, WRIC-TV reported.
DANBURY  The pre-trial hearing of the Sherman man accused of murdering his husband in a drunken rage last year has been continued to March 25.

James C. Maharg, 66, was arrested and charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in March after police found his 63-year-old husband, Thomas Conley, dead in the couples Sherman home.

Authorities said the March 19 murder culminated after months of trouble for the couple, when Maharg called 911 and announced: My husband is dead.

Maharg told police that he and his husband had stopped going into their Manhattan fashion retail supply business because it was failing, and as a result they were losing their 20-acre farmhouse to the bank and were dealing with it by drinking three bottles of tequila a day.

Responders found empty tequila bottles in the couples house, as well as Conleys cold, naked body at the bottom of a staircase with two wounds to the top of his scalp.

The victim walked into the kitchen and said something nasty to Maharg, and Maharg pushed the victims chest, causing him to fall backward into the kitchen cabinet shelf, according to a police affidavit.

Maharg stated he must have struck the victim in the head at some point during this time, however, he could not provide us with the object or the exact time frame, the affidavit says. [He] stressed he must have struck him in the head with a significant object to create the large gash.

Maharg is being held on $2 million bail at the Bridgeport Correctional Center.
They asked Katherine Johnson for the moon, and she gave it to them.

Wielding little more than a pencil, a slide rule and one of the finest mathematical minds in the country, Mrs. Johnson, who died at 101 on Monday at a retirement home in Newport News, Va., calculated the precise trajectories that would let Apollo 11 land on the moon in 1969 and, after Neil Armstrongs history-making moonwalk, let it return to Earth.

A single error, she well knew, could have dire consequences for craft and crew. Her impeccable calculations had already helped plot the successful flight of Alan B. Shepard Jr., who became the first American in space when his Mercury spacecraft went aloft in 1961.

The next year, she likewise helped make it possible for John Glenn, in the Mercury vessel Friendship 7, to become the first American to orbit the Earth.

Yet throughout Mrs. Johnsons 33 years in NASAs Flight Research Division  the office from which the American space program sprang  and for decades afterward, almost no one knew her name.
(Newser)  Haitian police officers exchanged gunfire for hours Sunday with soldiers of the newly reconstituted army outside the national palace, in a dangerous escalation of protests over police pay and working conditions. At least three police officers were wounded, fellow officers told the AP. The army's high command said in an online statement that a soldier had been wounded by a bullet in the back. Haiti's raucous three-day Carnival celebration was to have started Sunday afternoon in Port-au-Prince and other major cities, but the government announced Sunday night that Carnival was canceled in the capital to avoid a bloodbath. Police protesters and their backers had burned dozens of Carnival floats and stands at recent protests, saying they did not believe the country should be celebrating during a crisis.

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Shortly after noon on Sunday, AP journalists saw dozens of men who said they were off-duty officers march with hundreds of supporters toward the palace in the latest in days of demonstrations demanding better pay for Haitian law-enforcement officers. The protest stopped outside the army headquarters, which faces the palace. AP journalists then saw soldiers at the headquarters building fire into the air. Shortly afterward, an exchange of fire erupted between the soldiers and police. It was not clear which side began firing at the other first. As the afternoon wore on, uniformed officers joined their colleagues in the street outside the palace, firing at the military base with semi-automatic pistols and rifles. Many wore masks along with their uniforms to hide their identities. Police protests began this month after a half-dozen officers were fired over their attempt to unionize.

(Read more Haiti stories.)
BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Sylvia Maxfield and Jonathan I. Shulman as new independent directors. These appointments expand the Company's Board to 15 Directors, 12 of whom are independent. The Board has determined that Dr. Maxfield and Mr. Shulman are qualified financial experts, and both will serve on the Board's Audit Committee and Risk Management and Capital Committee. These new Board members strengthen Berkshire's governance and support its strategic vision of purpose driven performance for all stakeholders. Dr. Maxfield and Mr. Shulman were also appointed to the Board of Directors of Berkshire Bank.

Sylvia Maxfield is currently the Dean of the Providence College School of Business and was previously Chairman of the Faculty and MBA Program Director at Simmons University in Boston. Additionally, she serves as voting member of the Rhode Island State Investment Commission, where she oversees fund performance, including asset allocation and all investment-related contracting. Maxfield also votes on shareholder proxy activity on behalf of the State. Previously, she has served on the boards of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Social Enterprise Greenhouse and the 21st Century Fund. She earned her B.A. in government and economics from Cornell University, and her Ph.D. in political economy from Harvard University.

Jonathan I. Shulman previously served as Executive Vice President & Treasurer at KeyCorp, a publicly traded U.S. bank. Shulman possesses deep commercial banking experience that includes financial markets, governance, and balance sheet and risk management disciplines. He began his career with KeyCorp in 1989 and served in leadership roles in financial market strategy, asset liability management, wholesale funding and capital planning. Shulman has also held committee membership positions on KeyCorp's Asset Liability Committee, Market Risk Committee, Model Risk Committee and Funds Transfer Pricing Committee.

"We are pleased to welcome these important additions to our Board," said Chairman J. Williar Dunlaevy. "Sylvia and Jon bring tremendous experience with their backgrounds in economics, asset management and commercial banking, and they will provide valuable perspective to our Audit Committee and Risk Management and Capital Committee. Additionally, our acquisition of SI Financial Group gives us a presence in Rhode Island, so we are pleased to add a director who is active in that market."

"Our new members will bolster the expertise on our committees and strengthen our corporate governance," added President and CEO, Richard M. Marotta. "They add to our Board's diversity and resources to support our vision for building a 21st century community bank. I look forward to working with Sylvia and Jon as we continue to evolve our company with a focus on purpose driven performance."

BACKGROUND

Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the parent of Berkshire Bank which is transforming into a 21st century community bank pursuing purpose driven performance based on its Be FIRST corporate responsibility culture. Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire operates 130 banking offices in seven Northeastern states, with approximately $13.2 billion in assets.

CONTACTS

Investor Relations Contact

David Gonci; Capital Markets Director; 413-281-1973

Media Contact

Diana Pisciotta; Communications Contact; 617-784-5256

SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.berkshirebank.com


Steve Burley's quiff has left Married At First Sight fans scratching their heads.

While the 51-year-old barbershop owner always looks perfectly groomed on the show, there's one unusual detail about his hair that has baffled viewers.

He has been accused of 'purposely' receding his hairline so it looks straighter, with many speculating that he's trying to look younger.

Did you notice it? Steve Burley's quiff has left Married At First Sight fans scratching their heads, with many accusing him of 'purposely' receding his hairline so it looks straighter

Steve appears to have two hairlines on his forehead: his main one, which is combed back, and his natural one, which is visible by the slight regrowth in front of his quiff.

'Hold up, does he recede his own hairline?' one fan tweeted on Sunday.

'I just realised that Steve shaves in a new hairline... what?' another asked.

'Yikes. I'm not really sure what's going on with Steve's hairline but it can't be unseen,' a third viewer wrote.

Seeing double! 'Hold up, does he recede his own hairline?' one viewer tweeted on Sunday, after noticing that Steve appeared to have two hairlines on his forehead

But Daily Mail Australia can reveal the simple explanation behind Steve's hairstyle.

He chooses to shave back his V-shaped hairline, sometimes known as a widow's peak, so it's evenly straight, before slicking it into a fashionable quiff.

Steve said that he 'now regrets it' after all the speculation about his appearance.

Explained! Steve chooses to shave back his V-shaped hairline, sometimes known as a widow's peak (outlined above), so it's evenly straight, before slicking it into a fashionable quiff

Whoops! Steve told Daily Mail Australia that he 'now regrets it' after all the speculation about his appearance. His natural hairline is visible by the slight regrowth in front of his quiff

Now that MAFS has finished filming, Steve spends his days managing Kingsman Barbers in Melbourne's inner south-east.

While he doesn't cut hair himself anymore, he speaks with customers and sometimes enjoys a game of pool with them while they wait.

During Sunday night's commitment ceremony, Steve chose to stay with his 'wife', Mishel Karen, while she voted to leave.

Businessman: Steve owns Kingsman Barbers in Melbourne's inner south-east. While he doesn't cut hair anymore, he can often be found chatting to customers or playing pool

Per the rules of the experiment, the couple must now live together for another week.

'When I wrote my vows, I said too many people give up too quickly. Let's not be those people. I think there is something worth fighting for here,' he said.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
Poco launched in India as a Xiaomi sub-brand in 2018. It launched its first and only smartphone, the Poco F1, that year and took the market by storm with its performance-focused flagship processing unit at a much affordable price.

After an year-long sabbatical and parting ways with Xiaomi, Poco has, yet again, bet big and stuck to its value-for-money model. This time, however, the price segment and the target audience is slightly different.

The Poco X2 is not a successor to Poco F1  something that Poco Fans and enthusiasts have been waiting for since a very long time. Instead, the Poco X2 comes to India as a rebranded Redmi K30 4G launched in China.

Nonetheless, consumers only care about specifications, features, and the way a smartphone performs. So, does the Poco X2 steal the crown from Realme X2 as the best smartphone under Rs 20,000 in India?

We feel the Poco X2 is indeed the best smartphone under Rs 20,000, but then there is a tiny asterisk of compromises there.

Most smartphones launched under Rs 20,000 in India look quite similar, but the Poco X2 tries to differentiate itself from the crowd. The front has a tall 6.67-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen. The display might seem tall, but thanks to the 20:9 aspect ratio and the slightly curved sides on the back, I found it quite comfortable to hold. However, do not, by any chance, mistake it to be a smartphone that can be used single-handedly.

The Poco X2 also offers 120Hz refresh rate support  a feature that no phone currently in its price range offers. Poco calls it the RealityFlow display. The smartphone allows you to switch between a 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate, which means that the screen will refresh images and animations 60 or 120 times per second, depending upon the setting.

A higher refresh rate, coupled with software optimisation, assists in a smoother and refreshing user experience. We wish Poco offered an option to switch to 90Hz as it would have saved on battery usage while offering a better experience than 60Hz. Users may not notice the difference, but the Poco X2s 120Hz screen will surely come in handy for mobile gamers. You can check the gaming performance details in the performance section of this review.

The IPS LCD panel is not the sharpest and most vibrant among the lot but is not bad either. We did not face any difficulty while viewing any kind of content from any angle, even when outdoors. The display setting does offer the option to switch between warm and cool tones if the default colour scheme does not suit your eyes.

The dual punch-hole on the top-right of the display houses a 20MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. We also did notice some colour bleeding around the hole-punch cutout. The display comes with HDR-10 and WideVine L1 support for streaming HD content.

Poco X2 has a glass-and-metal sandwich build that gets a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front and back. The rear panel comes in three colours  Matrix Purple, Phoenix Red, and our review unit Atlantis Blue.

Instead of a subtle plain design like the Poco F1, the company went ahead with a flashy and gradient colour mix with the Poco X2. The vertically-aligned rear camera module is surrounded by a circular patch that may look like a cutout, but is not. Despite being having a glossy back, the Poco X2s rear panel did not attract as many fingerprints as we had expected.

Lack of an AMOLED panel means that instead of an in-display fingerprint scanner, the biometric option can be found on the right edge, which also doubles as a power button.

You may find it a bit difficult to place your finger or thumb correctly, but once you get the hang of it the fingerprint scanner detects and unlocks quickly. Above the power button is the volume rocker. The bottom edge houses the mono speaker, USB Type-C port, and the 3.5mm headphone jack. The hybrid SIM tray is located on the left edge.

Poco X2 packs loads of features while being light on the wallet, but it does feel a little heavy on the hands (weight: 208 gm).

Powering the Poco X2 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor with an Adreno 618 GPU. The processing unit is paired with 6GB/8GB RAM and up to 256GB UFS 2.1 internal memory. For Rs 20,000, one needs to appreciate Poco for offering 8GB RAM and 256GB inbuilt memory, as other competitors in the price range have limited themselves to 128GB.

Snapdragon 730G is the best processor for mid-range smartphones, and if you compare it to Poco F1s Snapdragon 845, the latter offers better CPU and GPU, but lags in the camera performance and artificial intelligence department.

We played classic races on Asphalt 8 and TDM/RageGear matches on PUBG Mobile. While the performance was lag-free and smooth, the device did get slightly warm. However, it should not be a huge concern, courtesy of the liquid-cooling feature for thermal heat management.

PUBG Mobile loaded at a high frame rate with HD graphics. As mentioned earlier, we did not experience any lag or frame drop while playing eSport. We enabled gyroscope as a controller option while playing Asphalt racing, and even there we found the performance to be smooth. The device did get a tad warm but was manageable.

When it comes to battery life, Poco X2s 4,500 mAh battery can easily last for a day. Our medium usage included social media scrolling, streaming shows on Netflix and Prime Video, and some gaming. While consuming media (audio and video), the device was paired with Bluetooth headphones. We did manage to get an average screen on time of about 4.5-5 hours during our two-week review period. Throughout this review period, the refresh rate was set at 120Hz.

If that is less for you, the 27W fast-charger bundled with the Poco X2 should recover quite quickly. At the launch event, Poco claimed that the Poco X2s 4,500 mAh battery charges faster with its 27W charger than Realme X2s 4,000 mAh and 30W VOOC charger combo.

The claim is true in our experience. Do note that Realme trickles down its charging speed once the battery is 90 percent charged. The charging speed is comparatively slower between 90 and 100 percent so as to avoid any long term battery health problems. Poco X2, on the other hand, continues to charge at the same 27W charging rate from zero to 100, allowing it to refuel the bigger battery faster than its competitor.

The mono speaker at the bottom is loud and clear, however, it gets easily covered when you are holding the phone in landscape mode. Fortunately, there is the 3.5mm headphone jack that can be used as an alternative if not for Bluetooth headphones.

Face unlock, too, is quick, but we would not rely much on it when it comes to security.

Out-of-the-box, Poco X2 boots on MiUi 11 for Poco based on Android 10. The custom ROM comes with some additional customisations over MiUi like an app drawer, raise to wake and Digital Wellbeing.

MiUi is also popular for its ads and bloatware. While setting up the device itself, the software prompts for installing various apps. In case you do not want to install them, you can choose to skip or delete them later. Some of these apps also haunt you with notifications.

For example, GetApps will recommend you to download one app at least every day. Several third-party apps like Gaana, Helo and DailyHunt come pre-installed and can be deleted. We did not come across ads during the review, which is a good sign that the company is (hopefully) listening to the community. Some apps do spam with notifications, which also can be turned off via Settings.

Poco X2 is not just a performance-centric performance. The company is also promoting the device's imaging capabilities. The Poco X2 has a total of six cameras  four at the back and two on the front.

The rear camera setup includes a 64MP f/1.8 Sony IMX686 sensor (a first in India), an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and two 2MP sensors for depth and macro photography. We were very impressed with Poco X2s primary camera. The pictures clicked offered enough detail, even at the corners. In the past, 64MP cameras offered better detail in the centre of the image, whereas the corners were slightly soft.

The camera does struggle to maintain the same amount of sharpness and detail in low-light, which is when the night mode comes into play. Although not great, night mode on Poco X2 does the job well enough. Do not expect excellent levels of sharpness and detail though. There were also times when the dedicated 64MP mode did a better job in low-light conditions than in night mode. The dynamic range is also pretty good on its primary camera.

The 8MP ultra-wide sensor does a decent job too. However, the colour temperature is not always the same as the primary sensor and often boosts the shadows, especially in the corners. A plus point here is minimal distortion around the edges.

We did not click macro shots too often given the struggle of keeping our hands still while being close to the subject. The Poco X2s camera does click pretty good macro shots provided the lighting is good. The sensor manages to focus the subject correctly while you hold the phone still. There were a couple of instances in macro mode where it struggled to focus the subject, which was well within its 2-10cm range.

The 20MP+2MP front camera setup also clicks detailed shots. If you love taking selfies, you will often use various modes like stage, movie and natural under the portrait mode section. Turn off the beauty mode option, and you will get selfies as good as real. The skin smoothening was also minimal and edge detection, too, was on point. In short, the Poco X2s front camera is a treat for selfie lovers.

Reiterating what we mentioned at the beginning of this review, the Poco X2 is, undoubtedly, the best smartphone under Rs 20,000.

If the Poco F1 brought a flagship-grade performance in its price range, Poco X2 sets a benchmark in the sub-Rs 20,000 category.

The smartphone comes with category-first features like a 120Hz refresh rate display with a dual punch-hole cutout. The quad-camera setup and the processing unit do not disappoint and offer a more-than-reliable performance.

We have been used to seeing ads and bloatware on Redmi devices. However, the frequency of spam notifications on the Poco X2 was significantly less during our experience.

Software is one area where users may have divided opinions. Some may prefer a cleaner and stock UI, while others may like the customisations and features that Poco X2 brings with MiUi 11.

The trade-off here is the choice between an LCD and AMOLED display. Realme X2, which is considered to be one of Poco X2's biggest competitors, offers an AMOLED screen. It also offers a waterdrop notch, which some may prefer over the dual punch-hole on the Poco X2.

There is also the placement of the fingerprint scanner. Although reachable, the smaller surface area makes it difficult to place one's fingers at the dedicated spot to unlock the device quickly.

If these tiny niggles could possibly bother you, the Realme X2 ( Review ) could be a better smartphone. For everyone else, the Poco X2 should currently be an ideal smartphone to buy under Rs 20,000.
The Bruce Museum in Greenwichs seventh annual Art of Design Luncheon on Thursday, March 12, will feature keynote speaker Marc Hruschka, Chief Executive Officer and President of Graff USA, for a conversation about the world of diamonds and the latest trends in the art and design of the lustrous jewels.

Joining Hruschka at the noon luncheon at Greenwich Country Club, which benefits the museums exhibitions and educational programming, will be Jill Newman, a contributing editor with Town & Country who has covered the international luxury business for more than 25 years, with a focus on fine jewelry, diamonds and gemstones.

Founded in 2014 as a forum to provide fresh insight into the ever-evolving intersection of art and design, this years Art of Design Luncheon co-chairpersons are Felicity Kostakis and Romona Norton. Honorary Guest is Bo Kim, VP General Manager, The Saks Shops Greenwich. Bo Kim joined The Saks Shops Greenwich in October 2019, from the Saks Beverly Hills store.

The luncheon will include a special raffle of a Graff Butterfly Silhouette Necklace, fine wines from Graffs Delaire Graff Estate in South Africa, a private shopping experience at Graffs flagship store on Madison Avenue, and other exclusive luxury items. The luncheon will also feature models showcasing Graff jewels and dressed by The Saks Shops Greenwich, with a soundtrack provided by noted local DJ April Larken.

Hruschka recently joined Graff with 25 years experience within the luxury industry, including executive leadership roles at prominent jewelry houses. About his new role as CEO and President of Graff USA, Hruschka is quoted in a Bruce Museum news release as saying, It is an honor to work alongside the Graff family, who meticulously oversee every aspect of the business. This is exceptionally unique in today's retail environment and their dedication is remarkable.

Newman, Town & Country magazines Contributing Editor, Jewelry and Watches, also contributes articles to Departures, Vanity Fair UK and other media platforms. In January 2018, she spearheaded the launch of Muse by Robb Report and serves as the editor of this new digital and print platform, which features female thought leaders and covers relevant topics, from politics and art to health and finance. As part of the launch, Newman established and hosted Musings, a speaker series in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco which brought together leaders in business, philanthropy, the arts, the culinary world and more.

Were delighted to have Marc give his insights on Graff diamonds and designs and excited that he will be joined by Jill, who has touchpoints across the intersecting worlds of jewelry, art, and fashion, said co-chairperson Norton. And were sure that our guests will have many wonderful questions to pose to Marc and Jill  that portion of the luncheon is always fascinating.

Helping the co-chairpersons organize the 2020 Art of Design Luncheon is an active and engaged committee of 51 members from Greenwich, surrounding communities, and New York City.

The Bruce Museum expressed gratitude for the support of Graff and Saks Fifth Avenue for their exclusive raffle items, Green of Greenwich and Horseneck Wine & Spirits. The event organizers also thanked Greenwich Magazine/Moffly Media for media sponsorship.
The mother of a tragic teenager who took his own life after suffering 'relentless bullying' has shared his agonising last words.

Julie Steward, 53, from Tonyrefail, near Pontypridd, South Wales, told how Simon Brooks, who died on April 1 in 2014, was lying in hospital after taking a cocktail of medication when he asked her: 'Mum, am I going to die?'

A suicide note was later found at their family home, but Julie told how her son told her he regretted his drastic actions and 'wished he hadn't done it'.

Julie said Simon suffered at the hands of bullies throughout his childhood and she is now campaigning with other parents across the UK to push the government into introducing new laws that ensure complaints are never ignored to avoid similar tragedies.

Julie Steward, 53, from Tonyrefail, near Pontypridd, South Wales, has shared her son's agonising last words to her

Simon Brooks, pictured, who died on April 1 in 2014, was lying in hospital after taking a cocktail of medication when he asked Julie: 'Mum, am I going to die?'

She added that six years on she still feels the pain she felt the day Simon died, admitting it 'feels like it happened yesterday'.

'For the first 18 months, I was like a zombie - but I was getting by,' Julie told Wales Online.

'I ended up having a mental breakdown and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. But I need to make sure that Simon's death was not in vain and that bullying is taken seriously.'

Julie described her son as a 'beautiful' and 'flamboyant character' who was also very articulate and sensitive.

She said he didn't always understand social situations and admitted he was more comfortable socialising with adults than people his own age, which she believes made him an easy target.

Julie described her son as a 'beautiful' and 'flamboyant character' who was also very articulate and sensitive

Julie said six years since Simon's death, she still feels the pain she felt the day he died, admitting it 'feels like it happened yesterday'

While Simon did have a group of close friends, Julie said he was bullied from as early as primary school, where classmates stole his bag and called him names.

By the time he got to secondary school it escalated to physical violence.

'It was relentless. He couldn't get away from it,' she said. 'On the day he took his own life, he'd had a fall out. It was over something trivial, but I think it had built up inside and this was what tipped him over the edge.'

The proud mother said Simon loved learning and favoured subjects like design and technology.

Just before his death, Julie told how they had agreed to let Simon be home-schooled, as he dreaded going to school in Pontyclun.

Julie said Simon didn't always understand social situations and admitted he was more comfortable socialising with adults than people his own age, which she believes made him an easy target for bullies

'Every Sunday night he would beg me not to send him to school,' Julie said previously.

'During the school holidays he would count the days and hours until he had to go back. He was so brave he used to go every day and try to stick up for himself.'

On March 28 in 2014, Simon left school early and wrote a goodbye letter in the notes of his mobile phone which said: 'I can't cope any more.'

Julie told how he'd been messaging a friend and told her what he'd done, saying he 'wanted to be with God'. She managed to find out where he lived and phoned the police.

When Julie arrived home, having been out with friends, she saw the emergency services outside and ran inside the house, where she found her son sat at the dining table talking to paramedics.

Simon, pictured aged two, with Julie, far right, and friends Len and Pat Gordon, got to the point where he was scared to go to school due to the bullying he received

Julie recalled how nobody thought it was serious at first, as there was 'no sense of urgency' and they waited an hour for the ambulance to arrive.

'Nobody thought it was a big deal because he was conscious and was cooperating with the emergency services. Looking back, I wish I had dragged him into the bathroom and made him vomit,' she said.

Simon was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital that evening and transferred to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales two days later, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Julie said Simon was lying in his hospital bed when he told her what he'd done was stupid and he didn't want to die.

On March 28 in 2014, Simon left school early and wrote a goodbye letter in the notes of his mobile phone which said: 'I can't cope any more'

'He didn't want to kill himself,' she recalled. 'He was telling me that he was sorry and that he wished he hadn't done it and that he'd been stupid.'

At that point Julie believed her son would make a recovery, but when a nurse became concerned about his low haemoglobin levels, the room became full of doctors and it 'all happened at once'.

Simon was transferred to the ICU and put in an induced coma, with Julie told to make plans to say goodbye. He died two days later.

An inquest into his death concluded the medical cause of death was multiple organ dysfunction, caused by an overdose of several drugs.

Julie, who has two other children, said she feels like a part of her has been ripped away.

Next week mother-of-three Julie, along with other families from across the UK who have lost children to suicide or had children seriously harmed as a consequence of alleged failures to address bullying, will travel to Westminster to meet Ministers and MPs. Pictured: Simon, right, with his brother Michael and sister Stephanie

Julie said Simon was lying in his hospital bed when he told her what he'd done was stupid and he didn't want to die

'Simon and I were incredibly close, we had a bond that I can't describe and I will always feel the loss and the pain that comes with losing him,' she told Wales Online.

Next week Julie, along with other families from across the UK who have lost children to suicide or had children seriously harmed as a consequence of alleged failures to address bullying, will travel to Westminster to meet Ministers and MPs.

They will present a case to the Government for changes to be made to laws and policies to ensure bullying and violence complaints can no longer be ignored.

For confidential support, log on to samaritans.org or call the Samaritans on 116123.
Christin Marioni, a photographer who owns her own business, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Tucson Music Hall, in Arizona, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Jane Yang/The Epoch Times)

TUCSON, Ariz.New, unexpected, tear-jerking: that was the experience that photographer Christin Marinoni had when she attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at Southern Arizonas Tucson Music Hall. The artist and business owner called the New York-based classical Chinese dance company moving artit was stunning to see it.

Ive never seen anything like this before, Marioni said, who attended on Feb. 23, 2020. So I was absolutely blown away by the colors, the costumes. And what was really interesting to me was the story behind it all. So that was the most interesting aspect in it. Really added to the dance and the story  it put more meaning to it for me, yes. I really appreciated that.

And deep meaning indeed is what Marioni came away with from the presentation.

Oh! You know, whenever they were telling the story about the couple  people being repressed for their beliefs, that actually, that part brought tears to my eyes because I didnt realize. That made it more real for me to see that expression and see the pain happening.

Shen Yun utilizes classical Chinese dance to not only tell legends and stories from Chinas ancient heritage but also to convey scenes out of modern-day China where persecution has been raging for 20 years against a spiritual discipline known as Falun Dafa.

Falun Dafa is an ancient method of meditation and self-refinement that follows three moral principles: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Spiritual traditions like Falun Dafa are not welcomed in China today by the ruling communist party, which enforces its official atheism and materialism onto the country that was once called The Divine Land, and has done so since coming to power since 1949.

Marioni felt thankful that Shen Yun included narratives about the persecution of these innocent believers. She was moved to tears.

I felt it. I really did. There were actually probably about three different times that I was trying to hide that I was tearing up. So I was emotionally moved by that and I was grateful to be able to have it shown to me in a way that I could feel it and understand it better, the photographer said.

Marioni was so intrigued she felt she needed to further understand the story shed just seen.

Wow. Well I actually looked up in the intermission Falun Dafa, and getting to know a little bit more about, see what it represents and what it means and that its being repressed, she shared. That made me very sad because I felt like that that was something that, I mean, shouldnt be.

Its a good thing! And I dont see how it could be looked upon in a negative way. So, that, it was very interesting to me and now I feel like I want to learn a little bit more about it, you know. I know about qigong a little bit, but reading up on it gave me a better idea but I would like to learn more, Marioni said.

The spirituality seen in Shen Yun, inspired by traditional Chinese culture, culminates with a scene that depicts the Creator.

Oh, my gosh. Well, you know, that brought in that spiritual element for me, Marioni said, in reference to this finale, as well as the opening scene, which also depicted the Almighty, to be able to see that and try to understand what it represented. I guess in a way it put me in touch a little bit with my feelings of spirituality and seeing that, you know, like, Okay, what does this mean to them, you know, what does this mean in the story?'

Seeing these dance stories made her feel connected to something grand in the universe.

I did feel more connected. And the representation, you know, the colors, the light, the costumes. It felt, yes, very easy for me to go into that.

Oh! The composition, the choreography, the poise, everything was just so well put together. It was moving art, you know? she said. It was stunning to see it.

The color was, the color and the costumes, the way the colors would fade into other ones were justit was, was like a moving rainbow, you know. It was beautiful!

And the music, the instruments, Id never really heard those live, performed. So I felt like I was getting a taste of something that I really couldnt get very many places. So that was, it was a very unique experience and Im really happy I came and I got to see it today, Marioni said.

Shen Yuns unique live orchestra consists of Eastern and Western instruments blended harmoniously to bring the artistic directors original compositions to life in a way no other orchestra in the world can.

Marioni was glad she attended the performance that day.

Yes! Im very happy. Yes, it was unlike anything Ive seen before, and it was absolutely stunning, she said.

With reporting by Jane Yang and Brett Featherstone.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006.
GREENWICH  Deadlines for scholarship applications are looming, but students still have time to write essays and fill out forms to receive money toward their post-high school education costs.

The Greenwich Scholarship Association compiled a list of open scholarship contests as part of its mission to help high school seniors attend the college or university of their choice.

The University of Connecticuts Womens Center: Established in 1992, this scholarship honors a high school senior planning to enroll at the University of Connecticut who, as a role model or advocate, has advanced the role and contributions of women in society. This award ranges from $750 up to $1,000. For more information, visit womenscenter.uconn.edu/programs-services/signature-programs/scholarship/. The deadline is Feb. 28.

Connecticut PTA Scholarship is in memory of Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space who was killed in the Challenger explosion in 1986. To be considered, a student must be attending a four-year college or university to pursue a career in teaching and submit a one page essay on The reason I am entering the teaching profession is The amount of this scholarship is $1,000. Deadline is Feb. 28.

Carol P Duggan Nutmeg PTA Scholarship is presented to a student planning on attending a four-year college to pursue a career in service to children other than teaching. The applicant must submit a one-page essay on I expect to be serving children 10 years after college graduation by The amount of this scholarship is $1,500. Deadline is Feb. 28.

Joseph G. Pearson Scholarship is presented in memory of a longtime supporter of Nutmeg PTA to a student who has been identified with special needs and will be attending a post-secondary education or training. The applicant is required to write a one-page essay on I expect to overcome challenges in the future by The amount of this award is $1,000. The deadline is Feb. 28.

Applications for the previous three scholarships are available in the Greenwich High School Career Center.

The Gary DeSalvo Memorial Scholarship  Applicants must be graduating seniors from Fairfield or New Haven counties and an active bowler currently in a bowling league, school bowling team or a school bowling club. The applicant must be entering an accredited university, college or vocational school. The deadline is March 1 and applications are available in the Career Center. The fund has at least two scholarships available at a minimum of $1,000 each.

Greenwich Scholarship Association  GSA awards need-based scholarships to students who live in Greenwich or attend Greenwich High School who have demonstrated financial need. Awards range from $500 to multiple combined awards up to $10,000, and are paid directly to the college or university for tuition, room, board and mandatory fees. The deadline to submit all materials is March 10. The application includes: the online application found at www.greenwichscholarship.org, as well as the Student Aid Report (SAR), which is generated when the FAFSA is completed. Applicants who do not meet the financial criteria will be notified in early April. All accepted applicants must attend an interview with GSA at GHS on May 1. Students also must submit financial aid packages from their intended school before matching with scholarship funds can be completed. Visit www.greenwichscholarship.org for more information, and email studentgsa@gmail.com with questions.

More Information Dates to remember in Greenwich High School March 25: CT School Day SAT March 31: 3rd Marking Period Ends April 3: Registration Deadline for May 2 SAT April 7: 12th Grade Parent Meeting - 7 pm See More Collapse

PWC  CT Chapter  This scholarship awards students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in construction, construction management, interior design, architecture, landscape design or civil, mechanical, structural and electrical engineering. The application and all required documents must be completed and uploaded no later than March 25 at 5 p.m. to www.pwcusa.org/chapters/about-connecticut/connecticut-scholarship/ . Scholarships will be awarded based on the academic achievements. Call 860-558-0292 or email rpaolillo@draws.com with questions.

The Student-View Scholarship Program is offering $12,000 worth of scholarships to high school seniors who plan to attend a four-year college, community or junior college or career school. The program includes: a $5,000 scholarship, two $1,000 scholarships and a total of 10 scholarships of $500. Go to www.student-view.com and complete a 20-minute application survey. Deadline is April 22.

The Middlesex County Blue Star Mothers-CT Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America is offering a $750 scholarship to be awarded to a CT high school student who will attend a four-year college and who has a parent (or legal guardian) actively serving in the military or who is an honorably discharged veteran. Completed applications must be postmarked by April 4. Applications are available in the Career Center.

The Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity provides scholarships to high school and college students who have demonstrated they are innovative and creative problem-solvers. This is a scholarship of up to $20,000, or $5,000 per year for four years. It is open to high school juniors and seniors, and college freshmen in Connecticut and New York. Application available at rbffoundation.org/ and it must be completed before May 1.

PB&J Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship for students who have experienced challenges in their life and have the drive to succeed. It is open to all college-bound seniors who will be attending an accredited two- or four-year college in the fall. Application available at scholarsapp.com/scholarship/pbj-scholarship?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pbj. Deadline is May 31.

The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund offers renewable four-year scholarships to students with financial need who display academic achievement, a commitment to serving others, a consistent history of part-time work, grit and passion for overcoming obstacles and/or achieving goals and leadership qualities. Application available at www.phillips-scholarship.org

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Testing: GHS is offering students in Grades 10, 11 & 12 the opportunity to take the ASVAB Test on April 30 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Seminar Room 2 of the GHS Media Center. GHS graduates are also welcome to take the test. Registration and parent permission form available in the Career Center.

The UConns Natural Resources Conservation Academy connects high school students with adult volunteers with the environment through hands-on activities and experiences. The programs begin in the summer and can continue into the school year. They are perfect for any students who enjoy getting outdoors and exploring nature and showcasing their creativity. The Stamford workshop will be held on June 13 and June 14. Contact Nicole Freidenfelds by emailing Nicole.freidenfelds@uconn.edu, calling 860-486-6933 or texting 860-468-5359. Visit nrca.uconn.edu for more information.
Wanted gangster Ravi Pujari, who was arrested in South Africa and brought to India, was on Monday sent to police custody till March 7 by a Bengaluru court.

First Additional City Magistrate V Jagdish, while sending Pujari to police custody, said that there should be no interference in the investigations.

The court also asked the police to record video and audio of the interrogation process.

Pujari, who was wanted in over 200 cases of serious crime including murder and extortion, was brought to India by a team of senior officials and arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport here.

Pujari was extradited from Senegal on February 22 pursuant to an extradition request made by India in early 2019.

"He is physically fit. Questioning will begin from tomorrow. He is supporting our investigation and answering questions," Additional Director-General of Police Amar Kumar Pandey told reporters here earlier today.

Pujari, who parted ways with underworld don Chhota Rajan had jumped bail after he was arrested in Senegal in 2019 and had escaped to South Africa, where he was involved in drug trafficking and extortion.

According to sources in the Indian intelligence, Ravi Pujari was hiding with a false identity of Anthony Fernandes, a Burkina Faso passport holder, in a remote village in South Africa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HONG KONG  The Hong Kong government, which has faced growing demands to evacuate its residents from mainland China after one died of the coronavirus, said on Monday that it would begin bringing people back from Hubei Province, the center of the outbreak.

Thousands of Hong Kong residents have been unable to return after much of Hubei was put on lockdown last month. Their worries were heightened when officials said on Sunday that a 77-year-old Hong Kong man who was infected with the coronavirus had died in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei.

Hong Kong lawmakers had demanded to know why some Hong Kong residents in Japan were whisked home on chartered flights last week, while others remained stuck in mainland China.

We know that it was not only a decision for the Hong Kong government, said Ivan Choy, a political science lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It was also the decision of the Japanese and the mainland governments.
The prosecutor who put Harvey Weinstein behind bars is a no-nonsense mother-of-two who is known for resolving cold cases and keeping her cool when facing off against high profile defendants.

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, 57, had already worked for the Manhattan Assistant District Attorney's office for 30 years when she became the lead prosecutor in Weinstein's case in 2018.

On Monday, Weinstein was convicted of two counts; third degree rape and criminal sex act.

The rape was of Jessica Mann, who he had sex with in a hotel room in 2013 without her consent. The criminal sex act was against Mimi Haleyi, who he forcible performed oral sex on in 2006.

He was acquitted of the more serious charges of rape in the first degree and two counts of predatory sexual assault, but still faces life in prison.

Dubbed the 'soldier' because of her team-player attitude to the District Attorney's office, she has worked on several major cases throughout her career.

Among her other notable cases is that of Etan Patz, a six-year-old who was murdered in 1979 after being kidnapped from a Soho bus stop.

Iluzzi-Orbon convicted his killer, Pedro Hernandez, in 2017.

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon brushes past a sea of photographers and spectators during the Harvey Weinstein trial on January 22. Dubbed a 'soldier of the army of the district attorney', she has served in that office since the 1980s. She kept quiet throughout the media circus that was Weinstein's trial, saving all her punches for the courtroom

She also prosecuted Lil Wayne and Ja Rule in 2007 on weapons charges and the duo ended up taking plea deals which put them behind bars for one and two years respectively.

Iluzzi-Orbon seldom speaks to the media and has kept a low profile throughout the media circus that has been Weinstein's case.

Such is her passion for the law that the defense attorney in the Lil Wayne an Ja Rule case called her a 'soldier' of what she believes to be justice.

Illuzzi was brought into replace the lead prosecutor overseeing the Harvey Weinstein rape investigation nearly half a year into the probe

'She calls herself a soldier in the army of the District Attorney's Office,' Stacey Richman said previously.

'She is a true believer and seeks to serve what she perceives is just.'

Even Ben Brafman, who briefly represented Weinstein, heaped praise on her.

'I have always found her to be a consummate professional who does her job very well,' he said in a January interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

The DA's office spokesman Danny Frost has described Illuzzi-Orbon in the past as 'one of the finest trial lawyers in the nation with unparalleled expertise in high-profile cold cases'.

Rather than speaking to the media, Illuzzi-Orbon reserved all her punches for the courtroom.

She set an immediately combative tone, painting Weinstein as a 'predator' and the 'master of his own universe' where he crushed actresses and models 'like ants' if they did not do as he wished.

'He felt like he had a surefire insurance policy that the witnesses were standing in line to get into his universe.

'The universe is run by me and they don't get to complain when they get stepped on, spit on, demoralized and, yes, raped and abused by me - the king,' Illuzzi-Orbon said, mimicking Weinstein.

Illuzzi immediately set a combative tone at the beginning of Weinstein's trial by referring to him as a 'predator' as she worked to convince the jury he was guilty

In 2017, Illuzzi-Orbon convicted Pedro Hernandez (right) of the murder of Ethan Katz in 1979. It was a cold case that ran New York's blood cold for years

She also suggested that Weinstein was turned on by the fear in his alleged victim's eyes.

'Let's face it, the defendant didn't have to trick women into his lair.

'There are professional sex workers you can get without tricking... but maybe his kink was the fear in their eyes.'

Illuzzi-Oborn put Ja Rule behind bars for two years in 2007 on a weapons charge. He took a plea deal

Illuzzi-Orbon has worked in the DA's office ever since she graduated from St. John's University School of Law in 1988.

She resigned briefly in 2015 to run for Staten Island District Attorney but returned to Manhattan after losing the election.

She lives in Staten Island with her personal injury lawyer husband with whom she has two adult children.

Veteran prosecutor turned defense lawyer Evan Krutoy, told the Hollywood Reporter that his former colleague's work is never affected by the name, stature or wealth of the defendant.

'She is a great investigator and people are very comfortable discussing difficult topics with her.

'She presents as thorough, thoughtful and heartfelt.

'It would not be uncommon for victims who Joan worked with to visit her or call her years later to thank her - not simply because she did her job well but also because it was clear she cared deeply.'

In an interview with Staten Island Live, Illuzzi-Orbon said she always ensures she is convinced a defendant is guilty 'before I would walk into a courtroom and ask 12 people to decide if somebody was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt'.

She added that sending an innocent person to prison is a 'prosecutor's worst nightmare'.

Illuzzi-Orbon was brought into replace the lead prosecutor overseeing the Weinstein rape investigation nearly half a year into the probe.
Viral infection has now spread to nine Middle Eastern countries, with more than 79,000 cases worldwide.

Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iraq and Oman on Monday reported their first infections from the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 2,600 globally, the vast majority in China.

Kuwait reported three cases, Oman two and Bahrain and Iraq each confirmed one, bringing the number of countries in the Middle East with the virus  officially known as COVID-19  to nine.

Meanwhile, Turkey, Pakistan and Armenia have closed their borders with Iran, where authorities reported 61 coronavirus infections and 12 deaths.

China had 150 new confirmed deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday, the National Health Commission announced.

The death toll nationwide on Monday had climbed to 2,595 among 77,262 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization.

South Koreas cases continued to balloon, reaching 833 with seven confirmed deaths.

And in Italy, seven deaths have been reported in the countrys north and the number of confirmed cases has risen to 229, prompting emergency measures in a number of Europeam countries.

Here are the latest updates:

Click here for February 25 updates.

Monday, February 24

Kuwait suspends flights to and from Iraq: state news agency

Kuwaits civil aviation authority has suspended all its flights to and from Iraq over fears about the coronavirus, state news agency KUNA reported.

The statement was issued in accordance with the Kuwaiti health ministrys instructions.

Impact on economy could be very strong: Italys PM Conte

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy could be very strong.

The economic impact could be very strong. At this moment we can calculate that there will be a negative economic impact, we are not yet in a position to forecast what will happen, he told reporters.

Italys Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte leaves the Civil Protection agency building in Rome after attending a briefing on the coronavirus outbreak in Italy [Remo Casilli/Reuters]

China bans trade and consumption of wild animals

China has banned trade and consumption of wild animals being farmed or in captivity, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.

Hunting, trade and transport for consumption are now banned, with any transgression to be severely punished, Xinhua reported.

Even use of wild animals in scientific research or for medicinal purposes is to be strongly supervised and requires a permit.

Saudi Aramco CEO expects impact on oil to be short-lived

Saudi Aramco expects the coronavirus impact on oil demand to be short-lived and for consumption to rise in the second half of the year, Chief Executive Amin Nasser told Reuters.

Oil prices have fallen this year as the rapid spread of the coronavirus in China, the worlds largest energy consumer, has dented demand. Prices fell again on Monday as the number of cases in countries outside China continued to climb.

We think this is short term and I am confident that in the second half of the year there is going to be an improvement on the demand side, especially from China, he said.

World must avert dramatic effects on health, economy: Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to prevent the coronavirus epidemic from spiralling into a crisis with dramatic consequences for global health and the world economy.

Guterres, speaking to reporters during a visit to the World Health Organization (WHO) centre for managing emergencies, called for fully funding the agencys appeal of $675m to cover its overall response for three months.

WHO funding appeals were vital to support governments and avoid this tragic disease from becoming a global nightmare, Guterres said.

Asian stocks, currencies fall sharply

Shares and currencies across Asia slumped as the number of coronavirus infections rose sharply in South Korea, Italy and Iran, sending investors scurrying to safe havens such as gold.

Gold soared to a seven-year high while in South Korea, the won fell nearly 1 percent to its lowest since August and stocks dropped more than 3 percent.

Read more here.

China postpones key political meetings because of virus

China announced it postponed its most important political meetings of the year because of the outbreak of the new virus, a significant step for an authoritarian government that has always kept tight control over its political calendar.

The annual meetings of the National Peoples Congress and its chief advisory body usually begin about March 5 and run for more than two weeks, bringing thousands of delegates to Beijing for discussions, speeches and political ceremony.





White House may seek $1bn for coronavirus response: report

The White House could request close to $1bn from US lawmakers to help boost the nations response to the coronavirus, the Washington Post reported citing three unnamed people briefed on the plan.

The White Houses request may be sent to Congress in a few days, the newspaper reported.

World must prepare for potential pandemic: WHO chief

The World Health Organization chief said the world should be working harder to contain the spread of the deadly new coronavirus, and should be preparing for a potential pandemic.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva that so far, the WHO does not consider the outbreak that has killed more than 2,600 people a pandemic, but said countries should be doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic.

The sudden increase of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning, Ghebreyesus said.

Read more here.

The WHO director said this was not a time of fear but time to take action to save lives [ File: Denis Balibouse/Reuters]

Health ministers from Italy, nearby countries to meet

Health ministers from Italy and countries in its vicinity have decided to meet on Tuesday in Rome to discuss the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Ministers from Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, France and Germany are set to coordinate their policies with their Italian counterpart, Austrias health chief Rudolf Anschober announced at a press conference in Vienna.

Tajikistan suspends air links with Iran

Tajikistan has suspended flights to and from Iran due to the spread of the new coronavirus there, the Central Asian nations government said.

The air link will remain suspended until the virus situation in Iran stabilises, the Civil Aviation Agency said in a statement.

Seventh person dies in Italy

A seventh person has died in the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, news agency ANSA reported, while the number of confirmed cases rose to more than 220.

ANSA said the latest person to die was an 80-year-old man who had been taken to hospital last week in Lodi after suffering a heart attack.

Doctors believe he caught the virus there from another patient.

Oman reports two cases of coronavirus

Oman reported its first two cases of coronavirus, and halted flights to and from Iran with immediate effect, authorities and reports said.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the two infected citizens who had returned from Iran are in a stable condition and subject to quarantine at home.

The civil aviation authority said in a tweet that it was suspending all civilian flights between the sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran starting today and until further notice.

Iran denies virus coverup after claim of 50 deaths

Irans government vowed to be transparent after being accused of covering up the deadliest coronavirus outbreak outside China, dismissing a lawmakers claim the toll could be as high as 50.

The government announced Irans coronavirus death toll had jumped by four to 12  by far the highest outside China.

But Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, a lawmaker from the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, alleged the government was lying.

As of last night, about 50 people have died from the coronavirus in Qom alone, ILNA news agency, which is close to reformists, quoted him as saying after a closed session of parliament on the crisis.

The government rejected the claim.

Sixth person dies in Italy

A sixth person has died in the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, state broadcaster RAI reported.

It said the person was a cancer patient in the northern town of Brescia.

Women wear respiratory masks in Milan, Italy. The Lombardy is one of the most affected regions in Italy by the infection of the Coronavirus [Pier Marco Tacca/Anadolu Agency]

Tokyo 2020 preparation unaffected

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) remains confident that this summers Tokyo Games can take place as planned, despite a growing number of sports events being cancelled around the world.

The preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 continue as planned. Countermeasures against infectious diseases constitute an important part of Tokyo 2020s plans to host a safe and secure Games, the IOC said.

Vietnam tells banks to cut or delay loan payments from virus-hit firms

Vietnams central bank ordered commercial banks to eliminate, cut or delay interest payments on loans to companies facing losses due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The order applies to all payments due January 23 to March 30, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said on its website.

Commercial banks have to assess losses the companies are enduring since the outbreak and ensure to maintain creditworthiness for future loans, it added.

Hong Kong to bar non-resident arrivals from South Korea

Hong Kong will close its doors Tuesday to all arrivals from South Korea except returning city residents in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak, the territorys security chief said.

Considering the development of the epidemic in South Korea, the Security Bureau will issue a red travel alert, John Lee told reporters.

The notice means anyone who has been in South Korea in the last fortnight will be denied entry to the international finance hub.

Hong Kong residents will be allowed to return, but will have to undergo a fortnight of medical surveillance.

China says more than 3,000 medical staff infected

More than 3,000 medical staff in China have been infected by the new coronavirus that emerged in the country late last year, an official at Chinas National Health Commission has said.

Liang Wannian told reporters during a joint press briefing with the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) delegation to China, Bruce Aylward, the infections have mostly occurred in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak that has killed nearly 2,600 to date in the mainland. The infections were likely due to the lack of protective gear and fatigue, he said

Nurses distribute meals to patients at a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan, Hubei province [Yuan Zheng/EPA]

Turkish Airlines cancels flights to four Iranian cities

Turkish Airlines has cancelled its flights to four Iranian cities and decreased the frequency of flights to Tehran until February 27.

The company said it cancelled flights to Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz and Shiraz until that date. It also decreased the frequency of Tehran flights to two per day. Turkey has already closed its land border with Iran and halted incoming flights.

Mauritius blocks some Italian visitors over coronavirus concerns

An Alitalia plane landed in Mauritius on Monday but some of the passengers and crew opted to return straight home after being told they would have to go into quarantine because of local concerns over the coronavirus, the airline said.

Some 224 passengers and crew had been aboard the flight from Rome to the Indian Ocean island. Forty people from the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto decided to head home because of the quarantine threat, Alitalia said in a statement.

Fifth person dies in northern Italy

A fifth person infected with the coronavirus has died in Italy, the chief of the Civil Protection agency has said, with more than 200 cases reported in the north of the country since Friday.

Italian media reported that the dead patient was 88 and came from the region of Lombardy. The four other people who have died of the illness were also elderly and at least three of them had been suffering serious underlying health problems.

Pakistan quarantines 200 near Iran border

Pakistan began quarantining at least 200 people near the Iranian border, officials said, as fears spiralled over the growing toll from the coronavirus in the region amid allegations of a cover up in Iran.

In Pakistans southwestern Balochistan province authorities quarantined at least 200 people after Shia Muslim pilgrims returning from Iran entered the country and briefly interacted with other residents. The quarantine announcement came shortly after Pakistan sealed off its land border with Iran.

Iraq confirms first case

Iraq has confirmed its first novel coronavirus case, an Iranian national living in the southern city of Najaf, according to health officials.

Iraq had blocked travel to and from Iran days before announcing that the religious seminary student in Najaf is its first confirmed case. The case brings the total countries in the Middle East with confirmed cases to eight.

Iranian health ministry says death toll remains at 12

Twelve people have died and up to 61 have been infected with the new coronavirus, Irans Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi has said during a news conference on state TV, rebutting claims from a member of parliament that 50 people had died in the country from the virus.

We will announce any figures (we have) on the number of deaths throughout the country. We pledge to be transparent about the reporting of figures, government spokesman Ali Rabiei said in a news conference aired live on state television.

Iranians buy protective masks in a drug store to prevent contracting a coronavirus, in Tehran [Reuters]

Iranian member of parliament says the death toll in Qom is 50

A staggering 50 people have died in the Iranian city of Qom from the new coronavirus this month, a member of parliament from the city of Qom has said, according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency.

He is accusing the health ministry of not being transparent with the official death toll, he claims that more than 50 people have already died from the virus in Qom, Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, said.Now this is something the health ministry has not confirmed yet.

China postpones parliament for first time in decades

China has decided to postpone the annual meeting of its parliament due in March for the first time since the Cultural Revolution, as the country fights to contain the coronavirus outbreak, state media reported.

The standing committee of the National Peoples Congress will decide on a new date later, state broadcaster CCTV said.

EU: Any travel restrictions should be proportionate, coordinated

European Union health commissioner Stella Kyriakides has said possible travel restrictions in the Schengen border-free area should be proportionate and coordinated among EU states, as the bloc faces a coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

For the moment WHO has not advised imposing restrictions on either travel or trade, Kyriakides told reporters on Monday, adding that a mission of the World Health Organization will go to Italy on Tuesday to assess the situation

South Korea top flight postpones start of season due to coronavirus: Report

South Koreas professional football league has postponed the start of the new season due to the surge in coronavirus cases in the country, Yonhap news agency reported.

The K League made the decision to postpone all matches at an emergency board meeting in Seoul. The 2020 season had been due to kick-off on Saturday. The league had also asked its four teams in the AFC Champions League, the continents elite club competition, to hold matches behind closed doors, Yonhap reported.

South Korea reports 70 new cases

South Korea has reported 70 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total in the country to 833 infections, according to health authorities.

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 coronavirus [Yonhap/AFP]

Fourth person dies in coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy: RAI radio

A fourth person infected with the coronavirus has died in Italy, RAI radio has reported, as officials struggle to contain an outbreak of the illness in the north of the country with around 150 cases reported since Friday.

The dead patient was in his 80s and had been in hospital for treatment for an unrelated illness when he was struck down by coronavirus, RAI said. The three other people who have died of the illness were also elderly and at least two of them had been suffering serious underlying health problems.

Iran coronavirus death toll rises by four to 12: Report

Four more people have died of coronavirus in Iran, a spokesman for parliament has said, bringing to 12 the countrys overall death toll from the outbreak.

The minister of health announced the deaths of 12 people and 47 cases of infection in the country, Assadollah Abbassi was quoted as saying by semi-official news agency ISNA after a closed session of parliament.

Iranian women wearing protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus walk at Grand Bazaar in Tehran [Reuters]

WHO says it has phased out use of pandemic to describe outbreaks

The World Health Organization (WHO) no longer has a process for declaring a pandemic, but the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak remains an international emergency, a spokesman said.

There is no official category (for a pandemic), WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said. WHO does not use the old phasing system that some people may be familiar with from 2009. Under the IHR (International Health Regulations), WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern.

China not considering travel advisories

Chinas foreign ministry said on Monday that Beijing was not considering issuing travel advisories for countries such as South Korea and Japan that are reporting an increase in coronavirus cases.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the remarks during a press briefing in Beijing

Afghanistan confirms first case, declares provincial state of emergency

Afghanistans minister of public health has said the country had identified its first case of coronavirus.

Ferozuddin Feroz, the minister of public health, told a press conference in Kabul one of three suspected cases had been confirmed in the Western province of Herat. He announced a state of emergency in the province, which borders Iran.

A woman wears a protective mask in light of the coronavirus outbreak in China as she walks at the Trocadero esplanade in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris [Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters]

French minister: No need to close border with Italy

French junior transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has said that he saw no need to close down transport borders between France and Italy, despite the spread of coronavirus.

Closing down the borders would make no sense, as the circulation of the virus is not just limited to administrative borders, Djebbari told BFM Business, referencing the recent outbreak in Italy, where cases have risen to more than 150.

Virus epicentre Wuhan revokes announcement easing lockdown

An announcement that the Chinese city of Wuhan would relax some of its travel restrictions and allow some people to leave was made without authorisation and has been revoked, the local government said.

The city at the epicentre of a coronavirus outbreak said it would continue to impose strict controls over its borders in order to prevent the virus from spreading further. It added it had reprimanded the people responsible for the earlier announcement that healthy people would be allowed to leave if they had vital business.

Qatar to quarantine passengers arriving from Iran, South Korea

Qatar will ask passengers arriving from Iran and South Korea to remain in home isolation or a quarantine facility for 14 days over fears of new coronavirus outbreak, Qatar Airways said in a statement.

Qatar has not yet reported a confirmed case of the virus.

Restrictions placed on some Lebanon residents

Lebanons health ministry has asked parents who recently visited countries severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak not to send their children to school for 15 days, Lebanons health minister has said, according to local media.

In accordance with the education minister, we ask parents who were in Iran or in countries that have been found to have coronavirus infections not to send their children to school or university for 15 days as a precautionary measure, Health Minister Hamad Hasan told local TV channel LBCI. Lebanon confirmed its first case on Friday.

Iraq closes border crossing with Kuwait amid coronavirus spread

Iraq has shut its Safwan border crossing with Kuwait to travellers and trade at Kuwaits request, the local mayor has told Reuters news agency without providing a reason.

Kuwait said on Monday three people, including a Saudi national, who returned from Iran were infected by the new coronavirus. Meanwhile, Iraq extended on Saturday an entry ban for any non-Iraqis coming from Iran, which has so far said it had confirmed 43 cases and eight deaths.

China considers complete ban on wildlife trade

Chinas top legislative committee has begun deliberating a proposal to ban all trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed responsible for the countrys deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The official Xinhua news agency said the proposal was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC), which is currently set to start its session next month, but is expected to postpone.

Customers wearing face masks shop inside a supermarket in Wuhan [Reuters]

Kuwait, Bahrain confirm first coronavirus cases

Kuwait and Bahrain have confirmed their first cases of coronavirus, both of their state news agencies have reported.

Bahrain confirmed one case, a citizen arriving from Iran, the state news agency reported, citing the health ministry. Meanwhile, Kuwait had three cases, the state news agency KUNA reported, citing the ministry of health.

China says new coronavirus deaths increase with 150

Mainland China had 150 new confirmed coronavirus deaths on Sunday, the National Health Commission said on Monday, up from 97 the previous day.

In a statement, the commission also confirmed 409 new infections during the same period, down from 648 reported a day earlier.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases on the mainland is now 77,150, and 2,592 have died from the outbreak, the commission said.

Meanwhile, China announced that it will allow healthy non-residents of Wuhan to leave the epicentre of the virus.

A photo published on Monday showed community workers waiting to pick up recovered coronavirus patients departing from a temporary hospital in Wuhan on Saturday [Shi Zhi/China Out via EPA]

Four Chinese provinces lower coronavirus emergency response level

Four Chinese provinces; Yunnan, Guangdong, Shanxi and Guizhou, on Monday lowered their coronavirus emergency response measures, local health commissions said.

Yunnan and Guizhou cut their emergency response measures from level I to level III, while Guangdong and Shanxi lowered their measures to level II.

China has a four-tier response system for pubic health emergencies that determines what measures it will implement, with level I the most serious.

Gansu province was the first to lower its measures on Friday, followed by Liaoning on Saturday.

South Korea reports 161 more coronavirus cases

South Korea reported 161 more cases of the new virus on Monday, bringing its total to 763 cases.

On Sunday, the country raised its disease alert to the highest level after a surge in infections and two more deaths.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in also ordered officials to take unprecedented, powerful steps to stem the spread of the outbreak.

Austria stops train from Italy due to suspected infections

Austria denied entry to a train from Italy on suspicion that two of the travellers might be infected with the coronavirus, Austrias Ministry of the Interior said.

Tonight a train on its way from Venice to Munich was stopped at the Austrian border, the ministry said.

The Italian State Railways informed Austrian train operator OBB that there were two people with fever symptoms on the train, the ministrys statement said.

The train was now waiting at the Brenner Pass in Italian territory. The further procedure is currently being discussed together with Italian authorities.

France, EU partners to discuss coronavirus: French health minister

French Health Minister Olivier Veran said he would talk to his European counterparts soon to discuss how to best cope with a possible epidemic risk in Europe as Italy battles an explosion in cases.

Tonight there is no epidemic in France. But there is a problematic situation at the door, in Italy, that we are watching with great attention, Veran told a news conference.

The situation tonight is very evolutive at [the] international level, he added. I spoke with my Italian and German counterparts  We have agreed to have a discussion between several European health ministers, probably next week, to assess how we can together face epidemic risk, he said.

A third person dies in Italy

A third person infected with the coronavirus died in Italy, a regional official said, as the government struggles to contain an outbreak of the illness in the north of the country with more than 130 cases reported since Friday.

Lombardy regional councillor Giulio Gallera told reporters the victim was an elderly woman from the province of Cremona in the Lombardy region.

The woman was also suffering from cancer, Gallera said.

Read updates from Sunday, February 23here.
Oven-fresh croissants tickle your nostrils. Your amant pours coffee from a French Press. You stretch, light a cigarette, and toss your feet out from under the covers. You flanes around the apartment like an indecisive diplomat before taking breakfast on the balcony. Orange juice, espresso and five-star views.

 And then you wake up in your two-star pension (which cost about the same as a four star hotel anywhere else). It was all a dream and a cruel one at that. But why the heck is Paris so expensive, even for those of us that can usually afford decent digs anyplace else?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by HOTEL | CHAMPS ELYSEES | PARIS (@hotel_balmoral_paris) on Feb 17, 2020 at 12:57am PST

Well, as we reported last year, not only is space a premium in Paris, but locals have a different lifestyle which  if you dont adapt to it  can ruin your brief Paris experience. So other than drinking enough Gran Marnier that you wouldnt be able to tell a budget backpackers from a five-star hotel by the time your stumble back to your room, what can you do?

In the past, wed have said suck it up. But a recent piece by The New York Times suggests there is another way. The article, which reads, How To Have A Five-Star Experience Without Booking A Room gives tight-fisted travellers five ways to get the five-star Paris experience all while staying in a hostel, cheap hotel or Airbnb.

How? By walking into five-star establishments off the street, to have a one-off luxury experience on the cheap (ish). Keen? Here are the best places to do it, courtesy of the worlds most prolific Pulitzer Prize publication.

Dinner  V Restaurant at Hotel Vernet

Hotel Vernet, 25 Rue Vernet, 75008 Paris, France

Like leather banquettes? How about romantic stained-glass domes? Or architecture designed by Gustave Eiffel? This pinch-me-Im-in-Paris moment is numero uno among the NYTs Paris recommendations, and has all three attributes.

The down low? Read on: With only 35 seats, V Restaurant is a paean to the talents of the chef Richard Robe, a master of French gastronomy who coaxes intense flavor from seasonal products and delights in reimagining historic dishes for contemporary diners.

This winter, a la carte highlights include the V pie  a puff pastry filled with a savory melange of duck, foie gras and porcini mushrooms  and a modern take on an 18th-century recipe, Lievre a la Royale: slow-braised rabbit stuffed with foie gras and a roulade of Parmesan-crusted cannelloni pasta brimming with stewed meat and crushed juniper berries.

The seven-course tasting menu (95, or around $105), The New York Times continues, deftly balances richness with lighter, acidic dishes: think crayfish carpaccio with avocado and passion fruit puree, risotto laced with chanterelle mushrooms and chorizo, and Le Chocolat puffed pastry for dessert.

Tldr? Foodie heaven.

Cocktails: the Duc de Morny Library at La Reserve Paris

La Reserve, 42 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France

Tucked into Avenue Gabriel, this mansion-turned-hotel brings Belle Epoque glamour and intimate feel-like-home ambience together.

For those after Belle Epoque glamour theres the bar; for those that seek feel-like-home ambience theres the library.

NYT recommended cocktails include the Femme Fatale  Champagne mixed with lime, cucumber and elderflower liqueur, or the Bain de Folie, a sweet blend of raspberries, lime, Hendricks gin, Chambord, egg white and fresh mint.

Cooking class: the Ritz Paris

Hotel Ritz Paris, 15 Place Vendome, 75001 Paris, France

Forget torturing yourself at LAmi Louis. Instead, if youre a foodie, The New York Times says you should take a half-day course at the prestigious Ritz Escoffier cooking school (inside the Ritz Paris hotel) and then consume your creations ensemble with the chef and newfound friends.

The menu includes dishes like roasted duckling filet with quince and creamy polenta, warm molten chocolate cake with orange custard and roasted mango or hazelnut crumble with yogurt sorbet. There are also classes focusing on Madeleines, modern tarts, macarons and all things chocolate.

Oh and, just casually, the Ritzs Francois Perret was recently named best pastry chef in the world (before or after class, grab one of his whimsical creations at Bar Vendome).

Art: Le Royal Monceau

Le Royal Monceau, 37 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris, France

Le Royal Monceau is a five star hotel with an in-house art concierge, a 99-seat cinema and avant-garde artworks installed throughout. As The New York Times tells, On Sunday evenings, nonhotel guests can attend a private screening at Katara Cinema (40 per person), which includes a glass of Champagne and a cone of caramelized popcorn by the hotels acclaimed pastry chef, Pierre Herme.

Or pop outside to the holiday-themed Winter Terrace for a Veuve Clicquot tasting experience in an alpine-feeling chalet.

Afternoon tea: Four Seasons George V, Paris

Four Seasons George V, 31 Avenue George V, 75008 Paris, France

For a fairy tale lapres midi experience, the Fout Seasons George V, Paris is where its at. A 60 euro force de swank which involves your choice of tea, champagne, scones, financiers, artful pastries and savory bites like blini with salmon and cauliflower cream. Oh and theres also a 130 euro spa for those that need to sweat out their pudding.

Read Next
UFC champion Israel Adesanya has apologised for telling his opponent he would 'crumble like the twin towers'.

The middleweight fighter made the remark during a UFC press conference call towards Yoel Romero, who he is set to fight in Las Vegas next month.

Adesanya said on his Instagram on Sunday: 'I never made a joke about people dying or made light of the tragic event that was 9/11.

UFC champion Israel Adesanya has apologised for a 9/11 remark aimed at his next opponent

Adesanya's opponent Yoel Romero speaks to the media during the UFC 248 Press Conference

The World Trade Center towers burst into flames after being struck by hijacked planes

ADESANYA PROFILE Occupation: UFC middleweight champion Born: Lagos, Nigeria Fight record: 18-0-0 Age: 30 Advertisement

'I was simply rambling and my brain worked faster than my mouth in a moment to (choose) the wrong euphemism.

'You speak on the mic enough times and you're bound to miss the mark with some bars.

'I did on this one and for that I'm sorry. I'll be more careful in (the) future with my words.'

The remark was made in reference to the terrorist attack in 2001 on September 11 in which over 2,000 people were killed as Al-Qaeda-affiliated hijackers flew two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City.

The MMA community were not impressed including middleweight contender Paulo Costa.

Costa wrote on Twitter: 'Israel Adesanya. You are a disgusting piece of s***. How dare you make a joke disrespecting the thousands who died and the heroic firefighters and police. I will really kill you, dirty Kiwi.'

Adesanya will defend his middleweight title at next month's UFC 248 event against Romero and could fight Costa if he wins.

Adesanya, 30, has won all 18 of his fights and was born in Lagos, Nigeria before moving to New Zealand.

His opponent, Romero, was born in Florida in the United States and has won 13 of his 17 fights losing four.
The violence-affected areas witnessed several rounds of stone-pelting from pro and anti-CAA protesters.

At least 11 police personnel, including DCP Shahdara and ACP (Gokalpuri) were injured.

2 CRPF personnel were also injured.

All private and government schools in Northeast Delhi district will remain closed on Tuesday.

IMAGE: A pro-CAA protester throws a stone during a clash between supporters of the amended citizenship act and those who are protesting against it, in New Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

A head constable was among four people killed and at least 50 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi, turning it into a battlefield on Monday with frenzied protesters torching houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, and hurling stones.

This is the second day of clashes in the city where United States President Donald Trump arrived on Monday evening on the main leg of his India visit.

IMAGE: A protester brandishes a pistol during the clashes at Jaffrabad in Northeast Delhi. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathi-charge as clashes broke out between pro and anti CAA groups at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura.

Security personnel conducted flag marches and prohibitory orders were clamped to bring the situation under control.

Ratan Lal, 42, a head constable attached to the office of the ACP Gokalpuri, died after he sustained injuries during stone pelting at Gokalpuri.

IMAGE: He aimed his gun towards the Delhi Police personnel, but fired a few rounds in air later. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

Three other civilian succumbed to injuries in the clashes, a Delhi government official said, adding 50 people with injuries had come to hospital for treatment.

At least 11 police personnel, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara, Amit Sharma and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Gokalpuri) Anuj Kumar were injured while trying to quell the protests.

Two Central Reserve Police Force police personnel were also injured, sources said.

Government sources said the violence in the national capital appears to have been 'orchestrated' by some for publicity as it comes at a time when Trump is visiting the country.

They said Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was stationed at the police control room and closely monitoring the situation.

IMAGE: This is the second day of clashes in the city where United States President Donald Trump arrived on Monday evening. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla told reporters the situation in the national capital was fully under control and sufficient forces were deployed on the ground.

Officials said at least eight companies (100 personnel each) of central armed police were present on the ground, besides the Delhi Police.

All private and government schools in Northeast Delhi district will remain closed on Tuesday in the wake of the violence, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.

The violence-affected areas witnessed several rounds of stone-pelting from pro and anti-CAA protesters.

The roads were strewn with bricks, stones and glass shards.

IMAGE: An alleged pro-CAA protester throws a petrol bomb during the clashes. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

In Maujpur, pro and anti-CAA protesters indulged in stone pelting and at least three vehicles were torched. Even closed shops were vandalised.

At least one house was set on fire and plumes of smoke bellowed from the balcony.

A protester fired multiple rounds in air as a policeman was seen trying to stop him. The man was later identified as Shahrukh, according to Delhi Police sources.

Pro-CAA protesters were also seen gheraoing and assaulting a man at Maujpur. Blood was oozing from his head, while some of the attackers raised provocative slogans.

IMAGE: People part of a violent mob vandalise a protest site during the clash. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

A petrol pump and two school buses were torched at Bhajanpura-Yamuna Vihar border during the rampage by the protestors.

Police chased and hit at least four young men with batons near a footbridge on one side of the road, where dozens of personnel were deployed in anti-riot gear, a PTI reporter witnessed.

At least half a dozen youths were also picked up in a truck by the police.

Another identified man was chased down and assaulted as he ran to escape the mob on an intersection under the Gokulpuri flyover at around 6.30 pm.

IMAGE: A policeman helps a woman injured in the clash. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Police have imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in areas affected by violence in northeast Delhi.

Vehicular traffic remained restricted on road number 59, which leads to Bhajanpura on one side and Ghaziabad via Gokulpuri flyover on the other side, causing inconvenience to commuters and locals, including students.

At Gokalpuri, protestors resorted to stone pelting in which Head Constable Ratan Lal was killed.

At Bhajanpura Chowk, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to an emergency call in the area.

IMAGE: A man pushes his damaged scooter past a burning petrol pump during the clash. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

There were many who were caught in the crossfire.

"I don't know how are we going to go back home now," a woman hawker, standing along with a fellow hawker at C Block Yamuna Vihar bus stand, wondered as they waited for a DTC bus.

A 20-year-old man carrying a helmet said he had to leave his motorcycle in Gokulpuri as he tried to make his way to Mustafabad but was stuck at barricades put by the police.

"My sister works there and she is calling me repeatedly, asking me to come and take her home in this situation. I am unable to find a way to reach her," the man, visibly worried, told PTI.

IMAGE: People supporting the CAA jump over a road divider during the clash. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

A family from Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh which had come to Rohini for a member's treatment was also left stranded.

"Five of us, including two women, had come here in the morning. Rest four are still at the hospital in Rohini and I had come here for some work.

"Now I am waiting for the violence to end so that I can go pick them up and we all can return home," a man, who identified himself as Abhishek Thakur, said as he sat on a pavement with his hatchback parked near Dayalpur police station.

Violence had occurred on Sunday also over the amended citizenship law near Jaffrabad over blocking of the road by anti-CAA protesters , while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital including Hauz Rani.

IMAGE: Pro-CAA protesters push a police barricade. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

The situation had escalated after Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra called a gathering on Sunday. Mishra demanded that police remove the anti-CAA protestors within three days.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to restore law and order in the national capital.

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said he has instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to ensure the situation is brought under control.

'Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic),' Kejriwal tweeted.

IMAGE: Protesters throw bricks during clashes at Jaffrabad. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

In a tweet, Sisodia said all internal exams scheduled for Tuesday in schools in northeast Delhi will not be held and he will speak to Union Human Resource Development Minister R P Nishank on the issue of postponing the Board exam in this district.

Taking to Twitter, Baijal said, 'Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony.'

IMAGE: A car set afire at Chand Bagh area. Photograph: PTI Photo

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the violence in Delhi and urged people to show restraint, compassion and understanding irrespective of the provocation.

He said peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified.

'The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified.

'I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation,' Gandhi tweeted.

IMAGE: Constable Ratan Lal of Delhi Police who was killed in the clashes. Photograph: PTI Photo

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said the death of a Delhi Police head constable was a 'ploy' to embarrass India during Trump's visit and likened it to the massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura in 2000 during the then US president Bill Clinton's trip to the country.

'Shocked to hear the death of HC Sh Ratanlal in a brutal & barbaric manner. This reminds me of massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura during Clinton's visit.

'Incidents change but anti India forces remain the same. Ploy to embarrass India, Request all to remain calm & maintain peace,' she said in a tweet.

IMAGE: Brick-bats lie on the Khajuri road after the clashes. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Delhi Metro has closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Shiv Vihar, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave stations as violence prevailed in the area.

The entry and exit of Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Udyog Bhawan were shut for nearly an hour.

IMAGE: Protesters vandalise a car during the clashes at Maujpur crossing. Photograph: PTI Photo

Case registered over CAA protest march in Delhi's Hauz Rani

A case has been registered in connection with a protest march against the citizenship law in south Delhi's Hauz Rani a day ago, police said on Monday.

A first information report was registered against the people who participated in the protest, mobilised the crowd and injured 37 police personnel, an officer said.

The case was registered under sections of rioting, unlawful assembly, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty and other sections of the Indian Penal Code, an officer said.

On Sunday, a group of citizenship law protesters, who were on a sit-in at Gandhi Park in Hauz Rani since the past month, were allegedly baton-charged when they took out a march towards the main road, a claim rejected by the police.

According to the police, no permission was granted for the march and the protesters had tried to block traffic at multiple locations.
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New York, February 24, 2020  Kyrgyzstan authorities should not contest the appeal of journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov and should release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

The countrys Supreme Court is set to hear Askarovs appeal tomorrow, according to independent Kyrgyz news website Kloop and Askarovs son Sherzod Askarov, who spoke to CPJ. Askarov has been jailed since 2010 on charges including incitement to ethnic hatred and complicity in the murder of a police officer, which were filed in retaliation for his coverage of inter-ethnic conflict in Kyrgyzstan, according to CPJ research.

In 2016, the U.N. Human Rights Committee found that Askarov had been unjustly arrested, convicted, and imprisoned, and was held in inhumane conditions, and called for his release, according to a statement from the committee.

If Kyrgyzstan wants to wash the terrible stain from its press freedom and human rights record, it should finally release Azimjon Askarov, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. Kyrgyz authorities should deliver long-overdue justice in Askarovs final appeal, and allow him to reunite with his loved ones and get adequate medical treatment.

As a contributor to independent news websites including Voice of Freedom, and director of the local human rights group Vozdukh (Air), Askarov documented human rights violations for over a decade until his arrest in June 2010, according to CPJ research. During CPJs July 2019 prison visit and in letters he wrote from prison, which CPJ reviewed, Askarov said he was in poor health and complained about the harsh conditions in prison.

Askarov received CPJs International Press Freedom Award in 2012.
Back in February 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) talked about a new virus that will emerge and wreak havoc across the globe. Disease X was the term used for this new unknown pathogen that might cause a future epidemic.

Two years later, the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, has evolved from a mild to deadly virus and is spreading across the globe. This begs the question, is COVID-19 the dreaded Disease X that the WHO predicted back in 2018?

Disease X is a placeholder name adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for any new unknown pathogen that may cause disease and potentially an epidemic in the future. Image Credit: Lightspring

What is Disease X?

Disease X is a deadly plague and an outbreak of a flu-like illness, which can result in a pandemic that can kill millions of people worldwide. In 2018, the WHO classified Disease X as more deadly than the Lassa fever and the Ebola virus disease.

Disease X also represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by an unknown pathogen to cause morbidity and mortality. During that time, the diseases being studied by the WHO include the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Lassa fever, Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, Nipa and henipaviral diseases, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-Cov), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Rift Valley fever (RVF), and the Zika virus.

Coronavirus infection magnitude

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is thought to have emerged in late December 2019 in a seafood market in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Since then, the virus has spread to 30 countries across the globe.

As of writing, there are 79,152 confirmed cases of the deadly virus, and it has killed 2,470 people, most of whom in the epicenter of the outbreak in Hubei Province. The majority of the cases were in mainland China, while outside the country, South Korea reported the greatest number of infections, with 763 cases, followed by Italy with 155 cases.

The WHO has declared the coronavirus a global health emergency on Jan. 30 due to the rapid spread of the virus. Many countries have already closed their borders from countries with many confirmed cases.

South Korea has seen the rapid spread of the disease in the country, prompting officials to declare the highest alert advisory. The number of cases increased from 31 on Feb. 18 to a staggering 763 six days after. The sudden spike in infections can be traced to the city of Daegu. Officials have identified a religious group, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, as a coronavirus hotbed, where an infected woman attended masses for several occasions.

The virus has spread to 30 countries, including South Korea, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran, Thailand, United States, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, France, Macau, Canada, the United Kingdom, Philippines, India, Russia, Spain, Lebanon, Nepal, Cambodia, Israel, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Egypt, and Sri Lanka.

Is the coronavirus the Disease X?

The coronavirus is fast spreading, and if it is not contained, it can become catastrophic. The WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus raises concern about the increasing number of the coronavirus without a clear epidemiologic link.

He added that what they fear is if the virus spreads to a country without a sound and strong healthcare system. He fears that if the virus reaches these countries, which have weak healthcare systems, it can be devastating.

Now, scientists caution that the viruss way of infection is still unclear. During the first weeks of its spread, the incubation period was estimated to be a couple of days to 14 days, but new cases have emerged with longer incubation periods. Further, the disease can be transmitted from human to human, with aerosol and droplets as a possible mode of transmissions.

With several things still unclear about the virus and how it spreads, scientists say that the novel coronavirus fits the disease X category.

Whether it will be contained or not, this outbreak is rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that fits the disease X category, listed to the WHOs priority list of diseases for which we need to prepare in our current globalized society, Marion Koopmans, head of viroscience at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, and a member of the WHOs emergency committee wrote in the journal Cell. Time will tell whether the consolidated efforts of the Chinese authorities and the international public health and research community will succeed. But we also need to understand how we make this model of preparedness future-proof, she added.
ALBANY  U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg are New York Democrats' top two choices for president, according to a Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday.

Sanders, from neighboring Vermont, garnered the highest support among registered Democrats, clocking in at 25 percent, with Bloomberg in second place at 21 percent  a four-point difference that falls within the poll's margin of error. Following far behind were former Vice President Joe Biden with 13 percent support; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 11 percent; and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg tied at 9 percent.

It's a stark difference from late November, when another Siena poll indicated that New Yorkers increasingly favored Biden for the nomination, putting him on top with 24 percent support, followed by Warren at 14 percent and Sanders at just 13 percent. That poll was released just days before Bloomberg announced his White House run.

This is more of a snapshot of Democrats than pre-election poll, since it is likely that South Carolina (on Saturday) and Super Tuesday (on March 3) will significantly reduce the size of the field, and this poll did not look at likely primary voters," said Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg.

New York's presidential primary will be held on April 28  nearly two months after South Carolina's primary and the Super Tuesday primaries of 14 states and one U.S. territory.

But no matter who the Democratic nominee is, it still appears that New York will be a firmly blue state this year: Each of the six leading Democratic candidates won double-digit leads over President Donald Trump in head-to-head comparisons. Still, 62 percent of voters across the political spectrum believe Trump will be re-elected this November, including 48 percent of registered Democrats and 73 percent of independents.

If a Democrat were to come out on top, 33 percent of voters believe Bloomberg has the best chance to become president, followed by Sanders at 22 percent.

Separately, Monday's poll also indicated that support for recently enacted bail reform is on a continued decline. Fifty-nine percent of voters believe the reform, which eliminated the use of pre-trial detention and cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, is bad for New York  up from 49 percent who opposed the law last month

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Just a third of New Yorkers believe the change is good for the state, a drop from the 55 percent of voters who favored the law when it was passed in April 2019. In the two months it has been in effect, the law has received intense backlash from Republicans and some Democrats who say the reform places dangerous criminals back on the streets.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has indicated that he would like to include changes to bail reform in the annual budget due by March 31, and state Senate Democrats have a plan to do just that. But Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie has so far stood by the law , arguing that opponents are spreading misinformation about the reform and that it's too early to make any amendments.

Siena polled 658 registered voters, including 315 registered Democrats, between Feb. 16 and 20. The margin of error is 4.5 percent for questions involving all New Yorkers and 6.6 percent for questions involving only Democrats.
Press Release

24 February 2020

Los Angeles - BLLA and StayBoutique's Female Empowerment Conference is an offline gathering of enlightened women in the travel, boutique and hospitality industries.

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Transformed from the (Travel Industry) Executive Women's Conference, BLLA and StayBoutique's Female Empowerment Conference recognizes women internationally who lead in fields related to the boutique lifestyle including hospitality, travel, and tourism. This conference consciously creates a forum for women to support each other and to discuss, debate, and deliberate on issues of importance as it relates to the modern female achiever. As our community grows, we feel it is important to tackle issues that influential women in this industry space must face. We consciously support all avenues to success for our network of femme entrepreneurs and professionals including ownership and management as well as securing investors for their hotel and entrepreneurial projects.

The day begins with a networking breakfast and continues with sessions on money, investment, empowerment, purpose and pioneers and also includes super sessions on branding, the art of the side hustle and lastly, the rise of the global boutique culture. Sessions are held in one room for the duration of the day. Breakfast, lunch, breaks and a reception for VIP ticket holders will be served. There will be an evening cocktail party on March 8th before the full day's conference for attendees to meet and mingle.

Speakers include Helene Henderson, Founder, Malibu Farm, Seija Ojanpera, Founder, The Dwell Hotel, Olivia Young, Founder, Box + Flow, Mary Bartlett, Co-Founder, Future Gin, Amy Atwood, Co-Founder, Future Gin, Jersey Banks, Partner, The Dive Motel and Urban Cowboy, Devon Tarby, Partner, Proprietors LLC, Ashley Wells, Co-Owner, All Time, Remy Allis, Founder, Allis, Tia Graham, Founder, Arrive At Happy, Angela Setters Bessard, Founder & CEO, Conquer Credit Management, Christine Yi, Co-Founder, Potli, Zlata Stanislavovna Sushchik, Founder & CEO, HURO, Annabel Lawee, Founder & CEO, Breeze, Dorian Morris, Founder & CEO, Undefined Beauty, Bianca Monica, Founder, Limone Creative, Diana Bianchini, Founder, Di Moda Public Relations, Jane Lerman, Founder, L.E.R Public Relations, Frances & Ariela Kiradjian, Partners, BLLA and StayBoutique

Applications to attend are still available - please click "Get Tickets" to apply to register for the conference! Sponsorships include multiple tickets. Email [email protected] to discuss available sponsor packages.

2020 Series

This year's theme will be The Enlightened Women of Our Age. We rally women in the travel, hospitality and boutique businesses to evoke contemporary change and support each other as a community.

With this conference series, we have focused around the growing influence of women in these fields. This is the platform where participants will be challenged to think differently and champion the cause of inclusivity. We view this conference series as a Women's type of Coffee House or Salon, reserved for bold women with the feminine eye.

Our attendees come to feel empowered, gain the right resources, make strategic interactions, and celebrate the growing movement of modern feminism. We are crusaders and intellectuals coming together with the same goal. Together, let us defy the convention of sameness. Words spark movements, so let us come together and keep the conversation going and growing.

Attendees join fellow professionals in changing the status quo on March 8-9, 2020 in Los Angeles.

#EnlightenedWomen2020 #DaretoKnow2020 #StayBoutique #BLLA

About StayBoutique - StayBoutique discovers the best in boutique for the world to experience, be inspired by and share. As the BLLA's media platform, StayBoutique has been part of the boutique movement for the last 10 years. As boutique has grown from travel experiences into a thriving lifestyle, StayBoutique has extended beyond their hospitality origins to reach into consumers' lives. stay-boutique.com
STAMFORD  A Stamford man who died while fishing along the Mianus River on Saturday morning spent the last moments of his life doing what he enjoyed most, a fellow fisherman said Monday.

The man died on the Stamford side of the Mianus River, police said Monday.

Sgt. Robert Shawinsky said the 59-year-old man, whose identity has not yet been released by police, was found by Mianus River Park-goers who called police at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Dennis Carr, a fisherman from Malverne, N.Y., said he had seen the man fishing on the river about a dozen times since last summer in that area  a spot the man had become addicted to in the park, which is on the Stamford and Greenwich side of the river.

Witnesses tried to resuscitate the man but could not get him to breathe again, Shawinsky said. When police were first called, they were told there was an unconscious and unresponsive man who may have fallen into the rivers frigid waters near Merriebrook Lane.

But after officers arrived, one witness, who was with their family in the park at the time, said they saw the man fishing from across the river and he appeared to be all right, police said. But moments later, as the family began to pass the fisherman, he was seen lying in the river face up about six to 10 feet off the riverbank, police said.

They called out to the man but received no response. Someone else threw a stick at the man, narrowly missing him, but the man made no reaction.

Witnesses from the side of the river where the man was fishing pulled the man out of the water and began giving him CPR.

Medics arrived at the same time as responding police officers and began treating the man.

The man was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Shawinsky said there was no reason to begin a criminal investigation.

Carr said he saw the man, who had become his friend, fishing at about 9 a.m. Saturday. You kind of develop a casual fishing relationship and talk about how the fishing has been and what the fish are biting on, Carr said.

Carr said the two were wearing waders and were fly-fishing that morning and released their catches.

The death of his fellow fisherman hit him hard, Carr said. That morning, the man had told Carr that he had caught a large trout that got away from him a day earlier.

The man also told Carr that he was addicted to the spot about a quarter mile up the river from the Merriebrook Lane bridge.

It was very sad. You talk to someone who was so full of life, but then only 20 minutes later it was just horrible seeing him lying on the rocks, Carr said.

On Monday when he did not show up at his fishing hole, Carr said about three or four other fishermen noticed he wasnt there and he had to tell them that the man had died Saturday morning.

Some of the guys say he was fishing his spot and caught a big fish and died doing something he liked to do. It was fast and its where he wanted to be, if that is any consolation, Carr said. It makes you think should live every day like its your last.

He was a nice man. Full of energy and loved fishing.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Cairo/Xinhua: Egypt welcomed the formation of a transitional unity government in South Sudan, hoping it would lead to comprehensive peace in the country, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The statement expressed "Egypt's hope that this step would generate the necessary push to implement all the items of the revitalized peace agreement to achieve permanent and comprehensive peace in South Sudan."

Egypt will continue providing support to all peacemaking efforts in South Sudan in coordination with different regional and international partners, according to the statement.

On Saturday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and ex-vice president and later opposition leader Riek Machar announced formation of a transitional unity government to end the civil war in South Sudan.

Machar was also sworn in as the first vice president of the country, besides three other vice presidents.South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been suffering a civil war since late 2013 following Kiir's dismissal of Machar over a conspiracy suspicion.

The conflict has claimed the lives of several thousand in South Sudan and displaced about a third of the country's 12-million population.

The unity government formation is based on a 2018 revitalized peace deal signed in Ethiopia, which states that the government and opposition groups are tasked with establishing a unified national army to avoid repetition of violence that ruined a 2015 peace agreement.

(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
On Saturday, 'Mad" Mike Hughes died when his DIY rocket crashed near Barstow, California on a private parcel of land at 1.52 pm, close to Highway 247, as reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

According to reports, both Mike Hughes and Waldo Stakes were on a cosmic quest to reach space on a cheap budget. They built a steam-powered rocket which will send 'Mad Mike' to 5,000 feet in the air, as related to by the Science Channel that confirmed his demise. One comment about this is stunt, is that it was an event that was the first step to reach space without a large budget.

Freelance Journalist, Justin Chapman informed Associated Press that both he and his wife saw the crash. He assumed that the rocket scraped against the launch support, which might have damaged the parachutes badly. With the chutes damaged the rocket plummeted into the ground, killing Hughes.

One of those present at the accident was Waldo Stakes, who was working with him on the project. He was interviewed by Associated Press concerning the tragic crash. The accident was confirmed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office in an official statement about the failed rocket launch.

According to the official statement of the Sheriff's Aviation and Specialized Investigators, Hughes was dead when the DIY rocket crashed in the desert in the launching. Emergency first aid was made available, but Hughes died on impact.

Also related: Celestial Event Over NYC: Moon, 3 Planets and Red Star Antares Line Up in Sky

However, this was not Hughes first rocket launch, he is also a flat earther too. In one launch, he flew up 1, 875-feet and landed hard in the Mojave Desert in March 2018.

In one interview with Mike Hughes, he told AP that the rocket was made in his garage. His project has attracted weirdos who have been asking too many questions about it. However, he was not keen on all the attention he is getting.

ABC News Houston station KTRK said the failed rocket launch was only, the first of three planned events to be shown on Science Channel "Homemade Astronauts." The show is supposed to follow how low budget teams were trying to outdo each other to reach space. His rocket was steam-powered one, not using chemicals for thrust.

Science Channel representatives gave out their condolences to the Hughes family, after the accident, who ommented that Hughes' dream is to launch his steam rocker, and the channel was there to cover his feat.

Who is Mike Hughes?

He used to be a limousine chauffeur, who later on studied rocketry and became an amateur rocket scientist later on. In 2014, riding a DIY home-built rocker, he went up as high as 1374 feet, over Winkelmann in Arizona and landing there too. He was physically exhausted and took 3 days to get better after the launch.

His antics and as a DIY rocket specialist and a daredevil for his stunts, were supposed to have been on "Homemade Astronauts." He was intent to be the first civilian to build a crewed spaceship on a budget.

The last attempt failed and Mad Mike and his Home-Made Steam Rocket, did fly but it led to his death by accident. This attempt was for fundraising and awareness. Hughes did not think that science exists, and science or science fiction had no differences.

Related article: Jars Filled With Tongues, Other Body Parts Alarms Florida Police

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Linkedin Jean-Baptiste Oubrier (Agence France-Presse) London  Mon, February 24, 2020 12:25 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066350db 2 Business UK,financial-services,fintech,digital-economy,banking-industry,digital-disruption Free

Among Britain's digital app-based banks that are attracting moneyed urban millennials is Monese, which also courts customers neglected by the country's established lenders.

In early 2000, Estonia-born entrepreneur Norris Koppel arrived in Britain and spotted a major gap in UK banking for newly-arrived foreigners who had trouble opening traditional accounts.

Koppel was snubbed by banks owing to a lack of address documents and no credit history -- and vowed to help those in a similar predicament.

In the nation's booming financial technology or fintech sector, mobile phone app-based "neo-banks" such as Revolut, Monzo and Starling have established themselves as plucky upstarts.

Koppel's lender Monese joined them, expanding to 31 nations in Europe with two million customers in only five years of operation.

Riding the wave

"Investor trust in Fintechs and the amount of investment being poured into neo-banks is actually very significant; it hasn't really slowed down. 2019 was definitely a peak point so let's see how 2020 goes," Koppel told AFP.

"It's very clear that banking is going through fundamental changes .. and there are a group of neo-banks including Monese who are on top of that wave."

The company describes itself as an electronic money institution that provides banking facilities -- but it does not currently offer credit.

"Monese was born from my own very personal frustration," Koppel explained.

"When I moved to the country I couldn't open a simple account and I thought maybe that is something that can be done.

"Monese is built for people who are moving to a different country, starting a new life, finding a better job, retiring, going for studies, or getting married somewhere else," he added.

In Britain, around 80 percent of Monese customers are foreigners whose salary goes directly into their account.

Groups like Monese that only operate online carry out checks to verify the identity of new applicants to help fight money laundering.

The app aims to compete with Revolut and Monzo, which have eight million and three million customers respectively in a fiercely competitive market.

Monese expects to turn a profit by 2021.

'Uber of banking?'

Monese, which has a global workforce of roughly 400 people, describes itself as the "Uber of banking", in reference to the popular ride-hailing app.

"It's a good comparison," Koppel said, noting that it was used by a lot of gig-economy workers at Uber and takeaway delivery service Deliveroo.

Britain's traditional banking sector, which is still reeling from the 2008 global financial crisis and a string of product mis-selling scandals, retains a strong grip on personal banking, experts say.

Warwick University's Andreas Kokkinis, who specializes in corporate law and financial regulation, told AFP that fintech was gaining a foothold however.

"The six biggest UK banks have 87 percent of the market share for current accounts so the remaining 13 percent is split amongst smaller conventional banks and building societies, and challenger banks," he said.

"In that sense large universal banks -- HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Santander UK -- retain their dominance over UK retail banking market.

"However, challenger banks, which operate exclusively online and thus offer cheaper services, are popular amongst customers below the age of 37."

Kokkinis added that, if current trends persist, "the market share of challenger banks will grow significantly in the near future," which could lead to takeovers.

"This does not necessarily mean that large banks will lose their dominant position in retail banking markets.

"What is more likely to happen is that large banks will acquire successful challenger banks."

Monese is now in fundraising talks that could give it coveted unicorn status -- meaning that the business would be valued at more than 1.0 billion British pounds (US$1.3 billion, 1.2 billion euros).

The company is seeking 100 million pounds in additional funds from new and existing shareholders, which include US online payments specialist Paypal and British Airways parent group IAG.
A doting vet has given a twelve-week-old bird a beautiful new pair of wing tips made from donated feathers after a 'severe wing trim' left it unable to fly.

Like many pet birds, Wei Wei  a young Green Cheeked Conure  had her wings clipped to stop her from flying away.

However, the procedure had left her falling to the ground and hurting herself.

It is unclear whether this procedure was performed by Wei Wei's owner, a pet store, breeder, or another veterinarian.

Animal doctor Catherine Apuli, 31 of Brisbane, Australia's 'The Unusual Pet Vets' assembled the new wing tips which were glued on while Wei Wei was unconscious.

Known as 'imping', repairing a damaged feather by attaching part of a new one is a centuries-old practice that is painless for birds to undergo.

The procedure involves attaching parts of donated feathers to the bird's clipped or damaged ones using glue and a form of support  in Wei Wei's case, toothpicks.

The operation was a complete success, with Wei Wei taking to the air again within hours  allowing her to learn how to manoeuvre and land herself safely.

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A doting vet has given a twelve-week-old bird a beautiful new pair of wing tips made from donated feathers after a 'severe wing trim' left it unable to fly. Pictured, 12-week-old Wei Wei

Like many pet birds, Wei Wei  a young Green Cheeked Conure  had her wings clipped to stop her from flying away. Pictured, Wei Wei's new wing tips, which were donated to the clinic

Animal doctor Catherine Apuli, 31 of Brisbane, Australia's 'The Unusual Pet Vets' assembled the new wing tips which were glued on while Wei Wei was unconscious, pictured

The operation was a complete success, with Wei Wei taking to the air again within hours  allowing her to learn how to manoeuvre and land herself safely. Pictured, Wei Wei and veterinarian Catherine Apuli

WHY ARE PET BIRDS' WINGS CLIPPED? Pet birds have their wings clipped to stop them from flying away  such as through open doors or windows. It also keeps them from dangers like ceiling fans, stoves and toilets. Light clips allow the bird to fly downwards and land safely indoors. Clipping also makes birds more dependant  with some suggesting this can improve the pethuman bond. Clipping is typically done by owners, breeders, vets or pet stores  and is painless when done correctly. However, some pet owners believe that the procedure is cruel, as it takes away the bird's natural freedom. Clipped birds also lose a primary means of getting exercise. Advertisement

'The bird had a severe wing trim, which means that the flight feathers were cut too short and too many feathers were cut,' said Dr Apuli.

'As a result of the wing clip, the bird was sustaining heavy falls to the ground, which has the potential to injure the bird.

'In Wei Wei's case, she was falling heavily and the owner noticed she was painful on her feet.'

When done correctly, clipping should leave a bird able to fly downwards and land safely indoors.

'Primary flight feathers  the big feathers at the ends of the wings  which have been traumatised may result in pain, bleeding, unwanted aggressive behaviours and self-induced feather plucking,' said Dr Apuli.

'The imping procedure was performed to prevent further physical injury and to regain flight for optimal mental and physical health.

WHAT IS IMPING? Imping  or 'implanting'  is a procedure in which damaged feathers are repaired with parts of new ones. Donated feathers are cleaned, and sterilised prior to attachment. The base of the feather is cut to allow the entry of a wooden toothpick, wire or other support, which is then secured in place with glue. The procedure is painless  and often used to by falconers to repair feathers damaged when birds are hunting. Advertisement

'The feathers were donated to the clinic; each feather was then cleaned, sterilised and dried prior to preparation,' Dr Apuli continued.

'The base of the feather was cut to allow the entry of a wooden toothpick, where it is secured in place with glue.

'The bird was then placed under a light anaesthetic to ensure the Wei Wei did not move whilst the feathers were placed correctly and the glue dried for this painless procedure to be performed.

'Wei Wei was then placed in our heated hospital room for a couple of hours before encouraged to fly.

'The bird had a severe wing trim, which means that the flight feathers were cut too short and too many feathers were cut,' said Dr Apuli

'As a result of the wing clip, the bird was sustaining heavy falls to the ground, which has the potential to injure the bird  in Wei Wei's case, she was falling heavily and the owner noticed she was painful on her feet,' said Dr Apuli

'Primary flight feathers  the big feathers at the ends of the wings  which have been traumatised may result in pain, bleeding, unwanted aggressive behaviours and self-induced feather plucking,' said Dr Apuli

'The imping procedure was performed to prevent further physical injury and to regain flight for optimal mental and physical health,' said Dr Apuli

'She flew very well after a few attempts and appeared quite excited that she could suddenly fly!

'Now that Wei Wei has learnt how to fly, she can safely land and manoeuvre herself through the air.

'She no longer falls to the ground and so does not hurt herself.'

'The feathers were donated to the clinic; each feather was then cleaned, sterilised and dried prior to preparation,' said Dr Apuli

'The base of the feather was cut to allow the entry of a wooden toothpick, where it is secured in place with glue,' said Dr Apuli

'The bird was then placed under a light anaesthetic to ensure the Wei Wei did not move whilst the feathers were placed correctly and the glue dried for this painless procedure to be performed,' said Dr Apuli

'She flew very well after a few attempts and appeared quite excited that she could suddenly fly!' said Dr Apuli
Palmdale Learning Plaza Abigail Portillo (left) and Javier Santana and their classmates in teacher Melanie Montgomerys sixth-grade class helped troubleshoot an issue with Chromebooks that will benefit students across the state in advance of statewide testing this spring.
Joint Statement



1. Almost two decades after the historic Thessaloniki Summit of 2003, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs/representatives of the Hellenic Republic, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Bulgaria, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia and the Western Balkans partners, the Republic of Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo*, in the presence of Croatia, current EU Presidency, the European Commission and the European External Action Service, met today, on February 24th, in Thessaloniki, to declare, once again, our common objective for a peaceful, strong, stable and united Europe through the full integration of the Western Balkans in the European Union. We are deeply convinced that only full integration of the whole region into the European Union serves the best interest of Europe.



2. The Enlargement Policy has been one of the most successful EU policies; it has contributed significantly to the Unions role as a regional and global power. Keeping enlargement at the top of the EU agenda is of paramount importance; recalling the Final Declaration of the Zagreb Summit of 2000, the Thessaloniki Summit Agenda of 2003 and the Sofia EU-Western Balkans Summit Declaration and Sofia Priority Agenda of 2018, and building on the efforts of previous EU Council Presidencies, we reiterate our firm belief that the unification of Europe cannot be completed without the Western Balkans.



3. We recognize that the EU Membership perspective has proved to be the most powerful incentive for the necessary internal reforms as well as the best means to guarantee peace, stability, security and prosperity in the long term for the whole Western Balkans region. It also provides strong impetus for the full transformation of the region and the consolidation of democracy through advancing the necessary reforms especially in the areas of the Rule of Law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, good governance, as well as the protection of human rights, including rights of persons belonging to minorities and property rights.



4. We reiterate our full support to the efforts aiming at strengthening good-neighborly relations, in accordance with international law and EU requirements including those falling under the Stabilization and Association Process, as well as promoting reconciliation, regional stability and inclusive regional cooperation in the Western Balkan region.



5. It is essential for the EU to offer credible enlargement perspective and for the Western Balkans to speed up all the necessary reforms in their EU- agendas, based on strict and fair conditionality and the principle of own merits.



6. We express the expectation that in line with the European Commission recommendations, the EU will decide to open accession negotiations with the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia before the Zagreb Summit of May 2020, preferably in March.



7. To this end we take note of the recently published Communication of the European Commission on Enhancing the accession process  A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans which reaffirms the EUs commitment to the Enlargement Policy, making it more credible, effective and dynamic, while maintaining its fundamental values and objectives.



8. We welcome the overall progress made by Montenegro and Serbia in their accession negotiations and we encourage them to step up their reform efforts; we believe they have the potential to advance faster in their respective European paths. We look forward to Bosnia and Herzegovina implementing the key reforms identified in the 2019 Opinion by the European Commission which is a comprehensive roadmap for BiH European path. While recognizing the importance of visa liberalization for its citizens, we hope that Kosovo* will make good progress in its European Reform Agenda.



9. Regional cooperation has advanced over the years; it is now crucial that commitments taken in this framework are implemented in the interest of citizens and economies of the Western Balkans. Reconciliation and good neighborhood relations remain an important element for the future of the region: in this respect the comprehensive normalization of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina needs to become a reality in the near future.



10. We recognize that the acceleration of the reform process for all Western Balkans partners would require swift merit-based funding mechanisms. In this regard, we will focus our efforts, within the EU, in streamlining the proper means, mainly through the effective use of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) funds as well as through the use of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) as a successful blending platform.



11. Additionally, the possibility shall be explored for the Western Balkans partners to take advantage of EU policies, including the provisions of the new Enlargement methodology, with a view to a smooth EU integration. We stand ready to offer them technical assistance.



12. We underline our valuable cooperation in further regional schemes such as the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, which provide an additional tool to assist the Western Balkans on their path towards the EU.



13. In the run up to the Zagreb EU-Western Balkans Summit in May 2020, the neighboring EU Member-States, together with their Western Balkans partners, recognize the importance of actively promoting a market and investment-friendly economy in the Western Balkans in order to move faster towards a digital economy and to sustainable and climate-friendly societies in line with the Paris Agreement, and developing modern networks and infrastructures, in order to obtain transport, energy and digital connectivity within the region and beyond. Energy security should be prioritized including diversification of sources and routes. Special emphasis should be put towards creating further opportunities for the Youth. Cooperation of all parties involved in order to increase the ownership of the projects is essential for the efficient transformation of the Western Balkans region.



14. In view of the upcoming European Council in March 2020, we agree to stay in close contact and coordinate our actions.





* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 07:55:54|Editor: mingmei

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Photo taken on Feb. 23, 2020 shows traditional Tibetan supplies for Tibetan New Year at a welfare institute of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 23, 2020. Welfare institutions in Tibet have prepared abundant supplies to welcome Tibetan New Year, which falls on Feb. 24 this year, without any gathering or celebration event due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
[February 24, 2020] Devo Security Operations Recognized with Multiple Awards at RSA Conference 2020

Devo Technology today announced that Devo Security Operations, the company's new platform that transforms the security operations center (SOC) and scales security analyst effectiveness, received multiple awards at RSA (News - Alert) Conference 2020. Devo is demonstrating the unmatched capabilities of Devo Security Operations in booth 2339 (South Expo) at RSAC. Devo Security Operations earned: The Editor's Choice Award for security information and event management (SIEM) from Cyber Defense Magazine's InfoSec Awards.

InfoSec Awards. The Info Security Product Guide's Global Excellence Awards Silver Award for SIEM.

Recognition as one of CSO's "Hottest new cybersecurity products" at RSAC 2020. Devo Security Operations, delivered on the powerful Devo Data Analytics Platform, is the first security operations solution to combine critical security capabilities together with auto enrichment, threat intelligence community collaboration, a central evidence locker, and a streamlined analyst workflow. Analysts no longer must rely on multiple tools to manually assemble the data, context and intelligence required to identify and investigate the threats that matter most to their business. Devo Security Operations puts this information at analysts' fingertips across the entire threat lifecycle, reducing analyst workflow from hours to minues, keeping SOCs ahead of even the most sophisticated adversaries.



"Earning such prominent industry recognition for this innovative new security solution confirms that Devo Security Operations fulfills a critical need for SOC teams," said Julian Waits, general manager, cyber, Devo. "We are honored by how rapidly Devo Security Operations is gaining traction with new and existing customers, as well as with leading industry influencers." About Cyber Defense Magazine

With over 5 Million monthly readers and growing, and over 17,000 pages of searchable online infosec content, Cyber Defense Magazine, and its sister magazine being announced after the show, is the premier source of IT security information. It is managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Its mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. It delivers electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conference. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group, a division of Ingersoll Lockwood. Learn more at http://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit http://www.cyberdefensetv.com and http://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. About Info Security PG's Global Excellence Awards Info Security Products Guide sponsors the Global Excellence Awards and plays a vital role in keeping end users informed of the choices they can make when it comes to protecting their digital resources and assets. It is written expressly for those who are adamant on staying informed of security threats and the preventive measure they can take. Readers will discover a wealth of information in this guide including tomorrow's technology today, best deployment scenarios, people and technologies shaping cyber security and industry predictions and directions that facilitate in making the most pertinent security decisions. Visit http://www.infosecurityproductsguide.com for the complete list of the Global Excellence Awards winners. About Devo Devo unlocks the full value of machine data for the world's most instrumented enterprises, putting more data to work-now. Only the Devo data analytics platform addresses both the explosion in volume of machine data and the new, crushing demands of algorithms and automation. This enables IT operations and security teams to realize the full transformational promise of machine data to move businesses forward. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Devo is privately held and backed by Insight Partners. Learn more at www.devo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005949/en/

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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CSIOS Corporation was honored by Cyber Defense Magazine with three 2020 Cyber InfoSec Awards including: Most Innovative Cyberspace Operations Team of the Year, Best Defensive Cyberspace Operations Service Provider, and Next Gen Cybersecurity Service Provider Optimization Services.

This year, the InfoSec Awards ceremony took place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California during the RSA Conference 2020. This is Cyber Defense Magazine's eighth year honoring the most innovative and valuable cyber defense companies from around the globe.

"To be recognized by Cyber Defense Magazine with three 2020 InfoSec Awards is just remarkable," said Cesar Pie, President and CEO of CSIOS Corporation. Mr. Pie added, "Our cyber capabilities and services are unparalleled. Not only is CSIOS the only cyber rm with a Cyberspace Operations Division appraised to operate under CMMI-DEV V2.0 and CMMI-SVC V2.0 Maturity Level 3 ratings, we are also the only cyber rm with cyberspace operations and cybersecurity services certied under quadruple ISO standards. These achievements alone merit these top cyber awards."

Details about the InfoSec Awards and the list of 2020 winners are available at www.cyberdefenseawards.com.

Media Contact:

Josue Ayala

Phone: (732) 710-5854

Email: [email protected]

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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation on Monday, said his office.

"Mahathir Mohamad had sent a letter of resignation as Prime Minister of Malaysia today," the Prime Minister's Office said in a brief statement, adding that the letter had been submitted to the Malaysian King around noon.

The development comes amid intense speculation that a possible political realignment was being planned, with several political parties, including the opposition, holding meetings on Sunday.

Mahathir returned as Malaysia's Prime Minister after the Pakatan Harapan, or the Alliance of Hope coalition, won the general election in May 2018. He is also the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), one of the four component parties of the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

Shortly before the resignation statement, PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin announced leaving the Pakatan Harapan coalition with the party's supreme council making the decision after a meeting on Feb. 23.

"All members of the House of Representatives of the party are also out of Pakatan Harapan. All of them have signed the oath to continue to support and trust Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister of Malaysia," the PPBM president said.

"This decision is made taking into account the current and future political developments of the country," he said.
Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has submitted a letter of resignation to Malaysia`s King, his office said on Monday (February 24), amid talk of forming a new governing coalition.

The fate of Malaysia`s ruling coalition had been in doubt after surprise weekend talks between it and opposition groups on forming a new government that would exclude Mahathir`s anointed successor Anwar Ibrahim.

"The letter has been sent to His Royal Highness the King at 1 p.m," Mahathir`s office said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear if Mahathir could form another government with the support of other parties, but his party, Bersatu, has also quit the ruling coalition, its president, Malaysian home minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Facebook.

On Sunday, Anwar had accused Mahathir`s party and "traitors" in his own party of plotting to form a new government with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the former ruling party ousted in 2018 amid graft accusations.

Sources said Mahathir`s party and a faction in Anwar`s party met officials from UMNO and Islamist party PAS in efforts to form a new coalition and possibly back Mahathir to serve out a full five-year term as prime minister.

The turmoil, amid growing fears about a spreading coronavirus, had spooked investors, driving Kuala Lumpur`s benchmark to a 10-year low, while the ringgit currency slid 0.7% to an almost six-month low, its sharpest drop in over three years.

The tussle between old rivals Mahathir, 94, and Anwar, 72, has shaped Malaysian politics for decades and tension has persisted, despite their alliance to win 2018 elections based on a promise that Mahathir would one day cede power to Anwar.
Hyderabad, Feb 24 : The United Muslim Action Committee, an umbrella grouping of Muslim organisations headed by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Monday urged the Telangana government to stay work on National Population Register (NPR).

Speakers at the protest meeting organised by the UMAC against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) and the NPR said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao should stay NPR work like his Kerala counterpart.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi said they would meet the Chief Minister once again to urge him to stop the NPR.

The Hyderabad MP said while they welcome the Chief Minister's decision to pass a resolution against CAA in the Assembly, this alone would not be a solution.

Owaisi said his party would raise the issue in the Assembly and demand a stay on the NPR as such a step alone could stop work on the NRC.

On Telangana Home Minister Mehmood Ali's reported statement that NPR is only for data collection, Owaisi said the minister should know that same data would be used to identify doubtful citizens. The MP said Mehmood Ali should not forget that he is not the minister of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) alone but the minister for entire Telangana.

The AIMIM chief said the protest against CAA, NPR and NRC should continue but it should be peaceful.

Owaisi alleged the hatred had increased to such an extent that a woman working in a government department in Uttar Pradesh for 20 years was called a Pakistani and terrorist by the head of the department.

He said Shabana Bee of Bareilly had applied for passport to go for Haj and wanted a certificate from the department but the head of the department told her to show the proof of citizenship. "When the woman asked who are you to demand the proof, he called her a Pakistani and terrorist. It's time to wake up. This is dangerous time and if we don't wake up there could be several examples like that Shabana Bee," he said.

Large number of protestors participated in the meeting held at Eidgah Bilali at Masab Tank in the heart of the city. Leaders of various groups opposing CAA, NPR and NRC addressed the meeting.
Georgia will take measures to prevent spread of Coronavirus from Iran - GeorgianJournal
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 12:11:42|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers on Monday started deliberating a draft decision on thoroughly banning illegal wildlife trade and eliminating the bad habits of eating wild animals to safeguard people's lives and health.

The draft decision was submitted to Monday's bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The draft, consisting of eight articles, focuses on the prominent problem of some people recklessly eating wild animals.

It aims to completely ban the eating of wild animals and crack down on illegal wildlife trade before relevant laws are amended so as to provide a strong legislative guarantee for safeguarding public health and ecological security.
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Miami, February 24, 2020  The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to hear the case of Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo against a criminal defamation suit filed by former President Rafael Correa.

In March 2019, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a regional body of which Ecuador is a member, found that the 2011 criminal defamation verdict against the newspaper in an Ecuadorian court constituted a violation of freedom of expression, and referred it to the bodys court system, which informed the newspaper on February 21 that it would hear the case, according to news reports.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights decision to hear the El Universo case is an important step toward long-overdue justice in this affair, which was one of the most extreme examples of the abuses committed against the press under the Correa administration, said CPJ Central and South America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick in New York. This case can also serve to highlight how Ecuadors outdated criminal defamation provisions were systematically used to punish critical journalists.

The criminal defamation suit, filed in March 2011 while Correa was in office, stemmed from a critical column published in the newspaper that February, as CPJ documented at the time. Three executives and a former opinion editor at El Universo were sentenced in July 2011 to three years in jail and to pay $40 million in damages, as CPJ documented. After Ecuadors highest court upheld the conviction in February 2012, the defendants filed a complaint with the Inter-American Human Rights System, according to news reports.

EDITORS NOTE: The text has been modified in the second paragraph to correct the action taken by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on February 21.
Buffett set to hand over reins of Berkshire Hathaway

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who heads Berkshire Hathaway, one of Americas biggest financial empires, on Saturday hinted at his departure from the top of the financial firms he helped to build, saying that Berkshire Hathaway is ready for his departure as well as that of his longtime partner Charlie Munger.

Buffett, dubbed as the "Oracle of Omaha," is 89, while Munger is 96 and according to Buffett, they both are in the twilight zone where they need the assistance of younger blood.

"Charlie and I long ago entered the urgent zone. Thats not exactly great news for us. But Berkshire shareholders need not worry: Your company is 100 per cent prepared for our departure," Buffett's annual letter read.

Buffett, one of the world's richest men, did not go into detail or name a successor. But, he gave some clues of who will lead the Birkshire Hathway empire after his departure at an annual shareholders' meeting last May. He had then said that Gregory Able and Ajit Jain would in the near future join him and Munger on the stage to answer questions.

Able, 57, and Jain, 67, had been promoted to the board of directors the previous year.

"Charlie and I have very pragmatic reasons for wanting to assure Berkshire's prosperity in the years following our exit," Buffett said in the letter published Saturday.

"The Mungers have Berkshire holdings that dwarf any of the family's other investments, and I have a full 99 percent of my net worth lodged in Berkshire stock."

Buffett added that he has never sold any shares -- and has no plans to do so.

Besides its own investment and reinsurance, transport and energy arms, Berkshire Hathaway has holdings in companies such as American Express, JPMorgan Chase, Amazon and Goldman Sachs.

Buffett, who built reinsurance firm Geico, rail transport network BNSF and energy form PacifiCorp, however, is concerned about America's severe wealth inequality.

Along with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates, Buffett in 2010 launched the "Giving Pledge," in which the billionaires promised to give at least half their wealth to philanthropic causes.

Last year Buffett announced that he had donated $3.6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and four other charities, meaning that he had given a total of about $34 billion to the five foundations.

He and Gates have both expressed concern about America's severe wealth inequality.

Buffett continues to live in a relatively modest house about 10 minutes outside downtown Omaha, Nebraska that he bought in 1958.

In the letter, Buffett underlined that his will directs executors and trustees "not to sell any Berkshire shares."

The will orders that each year a portion of his Class A shares will be converted to Class B shares that would then be distributed "to various foundations," Buffett said.

In his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Warren Buffett said Berkshire earned $81.4 billion in 2019, which included $24 billion of operating earnings, $3.7 billion of realised capital gains and a $53.7 billion gain from an increase in the amount of net unrealised capital gains that exist in the stocks.

Each of those components of earnings is stated on an after-tax basis. The earnings trends showed the last two years had been a bumpy ride for Berkshire.

"Charlie and I urge you to focus on operating earnings  which were little changed in 2019  and to ignore both quarterly and annual gains or losses from investments, whether these are realised or unrealised," Buffett's letter said.

Buffett added that over time, he expects the equity holdings of the group to deliver major gains, albeit in an unpredictable and highly irregular manner.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has set March 31 as the deadline for the completion of the Panama and Paradise Papers' probes. It has apprised the tax department's investigation wing of the deadline.

The department may file prosecution against the entities after completing the investigation, to assist other agencies to initiate action.

In 2016, around 426 Indian entities with offshore accounts were under the scrutiny of the income tax department. The department had uncovered over Rs 1,000 crores of undisclosed income in Panama Papers alone, in which several prominent personalities including Amitabh Bachhan, Aishwarya Rai, Sameer Gehlaut and KP Singh from DLF were named.

Around 714 entities and individuals had been named in Paradise Papers case that came to light in 2017. Former minister of state Jayant Sinha who is a member of parliament from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand state was named in the case.

Much of the data on Paradise Papers was disclosed by Appleby, a Bermuda-based legal services provider and Singapore-based Asiaciti, that facilitated setting up of offshore firms with low or zero tax rates.

A source in the Enforcement Directorate told Moneycontrol, Currently, we are investigating these cases under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. Once the tax department starts filing prosecution cases, we have the base to convert our case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act."

The income tax department is currently investigating these cases under the Black Money Act, 2015. Under the Act, any person unable to justify the source of funds in question will have to pay a penalty of nearly 300 percent of the applicable tax liability on it.

However, there are many complexities as most of the cases are from before the financial year 2011-12, when it was not mandatory to disclose foreign assets. Some entities that disclosed details after the requirement became mandatory are also part of these investigations.

Another source in the department told Moneycontrol, these cases are not dependent on the domestic investigation; the department is fully dependent on foreign agencies for information. So, setting up a deadline for completing investigation is not favourable for the investigation as well as for the department."

Arti Sathe, a lawyer who deals in tax issues told Moneycontrol, Considering the voluminous documentation and the involvement of various offshore entities used to stash away the alleged black money by Indian entities and individuals, this deadline may be difficult to achieve."

"However, once the Dept gets some conclusive evidence, it may seek to invoke the provisions of the PMLA and Black Money Act and crystallise the demands...probably in view of bringing back the alleged black money. The downside of carrying out the voluminous investigation in a short time-bound manner may also lead to anomalies, unnecessary tax demands without proper investigation, and ripening of proceedings that are already completed under scrutiny assessment, she said.

An official from the investigation wing said, Panama and Paradise Papers only mentioned company names. Seeking data from foreign agencies requires proper information which the department does not have, thus delaying the investigation. Some times, the department's own machinery strikes down the request due to unfulfilled SOP set by the department."
The nun, 36, is a member of Missionaries of Jesus, the same congregation to which the first accuser belongs. The bishop of Jalandhar, who is on extended leave from his post, is accused to forcing the nun to undress and watch erotic material during video-chats. She did not however file a complaint. For Card Gracias, justice [must] be done for both the victim and the accused.

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  A second nun of the Missionaries of Jesus in Kerala has accused Bishop Mgr Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar of sexual misconduct.

The prelate, who asked to be relieved of his episcopal duties pending the case, was indicted following rape allegations made by another member of the same order.

The new allegation came to light last Friday, the day before the bishop was supposed to appear in court for his trial.

For the prelates defenders, the timing of the new allegation is part of a conspiracy. However, one of the nuns who backs the first victim said "we are happy another nun has come out to talk about her plight.

The second victim, 36, is a witness in the trial against the bishop. Her testimony is part of the evidence collected by Kottayam police, which set up a special investigative team dedicated to the case in 2018

In her statement, the nun said that the bishop forced her to show her private parts and that he, in turn, undressed during video calls in which he forced her to take part.

The incidents in question date back to 2015, when the bishop, she says, summoned her to discuss "important issues".

She adds that other Sisters endured "similar suffering" but are too afraid to speak out against the "powerful bishop".

I felt revulsion she said. This was hurting my self-esteem. He kept talking about obscene things. Later he started video-chats describing his body and mine too. I wasn't interested in sexting, but I didn't have the courage to stand up to him because he headed our congregation.

The nuns statement was made in 2019 to the special investigative team. However, the latter did not open a case against the bishop because the victim refused to press charges.

Instead, the statement was leaked to the media by the Save Our Sister Forum group, which calls for reform in the Indian Church.

Meanwhile, Mgr Mulakkal did not appear at the court hearing on Saturday. He asked that the charges of multiple rape involving the superior of the Missionaries of Jesus between 2014 and 2016 be dismissed.

The case, which is one of the issues dividing Indias Catholic Church, was discussed by he bishops in their plenary assembly last week.

For Card Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), the goal is for the truth to emerge and justice be done for both the victim and the accused. The Church remains neutral on the issue. She hates sin but loves the sinner.
An ancient sea gave Red Lodge Mountain ski area its most striking formation.

Skiers and snowboarders know the angular ridge of rocks along the ski areas northern border as the Palisades.

The word refers to enclosures that are built from burying logs upright to create a fence or stockade. The Latin root of the word, palus, means stake.

Palisades is also the name of one of Red Lodge Mountains two high-speed quad chairlifts in the Cole Creek drainage. Last Sunday, in the wake of heavy snowfall earlier in the week, the Palisades lift was drawing an eager crowd. (Not a Vail-like crowd, where people were forced to wait in line for hours a week earlier, but a long line for Red Lodge.)

Mountain manager Jeff Schmidt makes it a point to take people who have never been on the mountain to see the Palisades.

"They love it," he said.

Early history

The skiers and boarders were assembling to make turns on the smooth, blue intermediate runs of Columbine and Palisades, as well as test their skills on the bumps and remnant powder of Flintlock, Winchester and Lobo  more difficult black diamond runs.

Framing the backdrop are the rugged Palisades rock formations. Made of limestone, the Palisades were formed by the deposition of millions of tiny shelled creatures that died and sunk to the bottom of an inland sea. The ancient waterway divided North America 80 million years ago.

About 57 to 65 million years ago in a mountain building period known as the Laramide orogeny, the large slabs of limestone were pushed upright along a fault, leaving them protruding above ground like blunted stone fangs.

An extension of the rocks can be seen to the right while driving up the road to the ski area. They also continue south and north along the Beartooth Front, popping above the surrounding pine green forest as if straining for a view of the Montana prairie stretching to the east.

Lifts

When the Palisades and Cole Creek lifts were opened to the public in 1996, skiers finally had easy access to the slopes with the scenic pillars. The two chairlifts were the first installment of an ambitious $17 million plan unveiled in 1993 to upgrade the ski area.

Future projects included slope-side lodging near the Miami Beach ski run, and a new restaurant atop the 9,410-foot top of the ski area, Grizzly Peak. Eventually, it was envisioned, a lift would run from the base area straight to the top of the peak, almost a mile-and-a-half long with a vertical climb of 2,000 feet.

Plagued by lack of snow as Montana entered a prolonged drought, the Cole Creek and Palisade lifts saw limited use. In really bad years the lifts never carried a skier.

Thats not the case this season as Red Lodge Mountain received ample early snow before a prolonged dry spell in January. Then February struck with a flurry, luring skiers from around the region with the promise of 4 feet of powder that piled up in one week. As homeowners groused about shoveling out their sidewalks and driveways, powder hounds drove through the town of Red Lodge with wide smiles.

The three-day Presidents Day weekend saw about 300 cars parked two miles down the road as holiday skiers and snowboarders from 32 states scrambled to the area to carve turns, according to Schmidt. And theres no quicker place to rack up vertical on the mountain than the Cole Creek and Palisades lifts, which fly riders uphill at a rate of a thousand feet a minute  the fastest lifts on the mountain.

Snow makes my life easy, and it makes me look good, Schmidt said.

Rumor

Gliding up the slopes last Sunday a fellow lift rider said he had heard rumor that the high-speed quads had been installed in Cole Creek drainage to create an entirely new base area for Red Lodge Mountain.

Schmidt said the tale likely originated with a 1960s mountain plan, with "Jetson-like drawings," that was never pursued because of the cost of buying surrounding private land.

Jeff Gildehaus, recreation manager for the Beartooth Ranger District, oversees the ski areas permit to operate on the Custer Gallatin National Forest. He said hed heard mention of the possibility of a second entrance at Cole Creek years ago as a possible high-end real-estate development. Gildehaus said the lifts were originally put in the gulch because it was the only place the ski hill could expand, adding about 700 acres of terrain to the mountain.

That extra terrain comes in handy on busy days like Presidents Day weekend. Even though about 2,000 skiers and boarders showed up (an amount almost equal to the entire population of the Red Lodge community), they were dispersed so well across the 1,700 acres of terrain that short lines were found at many of the six lifts.

"The mountain can handle all we put on there and more," Schmidt said, "easily 3,000" skiers and snowboarders. Past holiday weekends have peaked with as many as 2,600 riders.

As long as Cole Creek and Palisades lifts are open, riders are spread across the ski area.

"People love it back there because it's so beautiful," Schmidt said. "I'd like to get snowmaking over there so we don't have to rely on natural snow."

The next time you visit Red Lodge Mountain, take time to stop and admire the Palisades. Although the view across the prairie to the Crazy, Snowy and Pryor mountains from several points on the ski hill can be jaw dropping on a clear day, theres something unique about the pointed rock formations porpoising above the foothills. It's a sight unique to Red Lodge Mountain. An ancient sea bed stands exposed. A beach frozen in time above snowy surroundings. A place where the rocks are stars.

Mountain parking A heavy snow day at Red Lodge Mountain ski area can be a curse for those navigating the mountain road. Two weeks ago amid an epic storm, mountain manager Jeff Schmidt made the difficult decision to close the road as powder hounds whimpered, whined, cajoled and even bribed him in an attempt to reach the hill. He stressed to drivers they needed the right vehicle to make it up the hill, otherwise the road would be blocked by stuck cars as they spun out or attempted to turn around. Weve got a problem and we dont want you to add to it, Schmidt said he told drivers. For the most part, skiers and snowboarders were understanding. With parking limited at the mountain, Schmidt will be talking to the Forest Service, which oversees the ski are permit, the possibility of creating a lower parking lot near the West Fork Rock Creek Road turnoff. Depending on its size, a parking lot there could accommodate an overflow of 400 to 1,200 vehicles, with riders shuttled uphill. Id rather have people get in a nice bus and come up here, Schmidt said.

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Italy registers more than 150 cases and three deaths linked to Coronavirus in Europe's biggest outbreak.

Italy is now the country with the world's third highest number of people infected with the Coronavirus as the amount of cases rises to 153, three of whom have died from complications arising from contracting the virus.

Italy has overtaken Japan to come third after China (78,811 confirmed cases, 2,462 deaths) and South Korea (602 infected, four dead), according to data by John Hopkins University.

The Coronavirus cases in Italy are centred mainly in the country's northern regions, with the highest number (116) in Lombardia where regional authorities have ordered the closure of schools, playgrounds, museums and cinemas, with bars forced to close at 18.00 each evening.

Police enforcing a travel ban in 11 northern Italian towns.

The spread of the outbreak is also a source of concern for neighbouring countries, with Austria briefly stopping Italian trains from crossing the border on 23 February.

Italy's national train company Trenitalia has ordered the installation of hand sanitisers on all trains with plans to offer refunds to anybody who wishes to cancel their journeys.

READ ALSO:

In Rome the mayor Virginia Raggi has ordered the suspension of civil service entrance exams, involving 3,600 people coming to the capital from across Italy, on 24 February.

The government has placed 11 north Italian towns in quarantine in the Lombardy area with police officers and soldiers patrolling the areas to enforce the lockdown in the worst affected areas.

With Italy now representing the biggest outbreak of the Coronavirus in Europe, authorities have appealed for calm amid reports of panic-buying in Milan and cases of Rome pharmacies selling out of masks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the window for containing the Coronavirus globally is "narrowing", with its greatest concern being the potential spread of the virus to countries with weaker health systems, particularly in Africa.
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has announced on February 24 that the ban on arrivals from mainland China would be extended for eight more days amid the deadly Coronavirus outbreak. The extension of the ban is an attempt to curb the spread of the outbreak to New Zealand after a sharp increase in cases in South Korea, Italy, and Iran. Fears erupted that the outbreak would grow into a pandemic with deadly consequences for the rest of the globe.

Ardern told the media that New Zealand has no plans to widen the ban to other countries. She added that the nation would continue to focus on the epicentre of the outbreak. Ardern added that the deadly virus is highly likely to arrive in New Zealand, although no confirmed infections have been confirmed in the country so far.

READ: Coronavirus Outbreak: Death Toll In Iran Rises To 12 Amid Surge In Cases

Australia issues travel warning

On the other hand, the Australian government has reportedly raised the travel warning to level two and further advised people travelling to Japan to 'exercise a high degree of caution' because of the Coronavirus. The warning comes as Japan has registered nearly 150 cases of the deadly virus.

The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy reportedly also said that Japan is becoming a hotbed for the virus to spread. While speaking to an international media outlet, Murphy said that the coming days will be a 'critical time'. He further asked the central government, local governments, health officials, and medical personnel to wage an all-out, concerted response to the problem.

READ: Australia Issues Travel Warning To Japan Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

CNHC confirms 150 new cases

The warning by the Australian government also comes after South Korea raised its level to the 'highest' possible and Murphy further noted that the significant increase in reported cases is a cause for concern. Meanwhile, the death toll in China has surpassed 2,500 and the National Health Commission reportedly confirmed 150 new cases. The total number of confirmed cases within China also hit nearly 77,000.

First detected in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province of China, the virus outbreak has now spread across more than 25 countries since December 2019 and more than 1,700 people have recovered from the disease, whereas, nearly 12,500 Coronavirus patients have by now been discharged from hospitals.

READ: Italy Calls Off Venice Carnival After Surge In Coronavirus Cases

READ: Coronavirus-hit Wuhan Partially Lifts Curbs On People's Movement; Death Toll Reaches 2,592

(With Agency Inputs)
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex released a statement that provided more details about their exit from the royal family, including their agreement to give up the name Sussex Royal. The Sussexes critics have taken aim at this statement, with their most vocal critic, Piers Morgan, slamming the couple on Twitter.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth II | JOHN STILLWELL/AFP via Getty Images

The Sussexes wont use the Sussex Royal name

As rumors swirled about whether the queen would ban Prince Harry and Meghans use of the Sussex Royal name, the couple released a statement to clear things up.

While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding the 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, read the statement on the couples website.

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, the statement further explained.

They continued: 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.

Morgan found the statement disrespectful

The lengthy statement the Sussexes released provided more clarity around their transition but Morgan was quick to find fault with it. The staggering disrespect these two keep showing to the Queen is outrageous. Who the hell do they think they are?, he tweeted.

When royal fans challenged Morgans thoughts on the matter, he had plenty more to say. He tweeted: I read it in their own statement, posted to their own website last night, in which they directly dispute the Queens right to stop them using the Royal tag abroad to flog themselves to bankers. Ive never seen any royal publicly try to challenge the Queens authority like this.

When another fan said to leave them alone, Morgan made his view clear, tweeting: Pipe down you clueless, sycophantic clown. They released a lengthy statement last night directly challenging the Queens authority. I will continue to support Her Majesty & the Monarchy against the Sussexes shameful efforts to have their royal cake and eat it. End.

Does their statement reveal how unhappy they are?

While the intention of the statement was to quiet rumors as the couple makes their official move away from the royal family, one royal expert believes its very telling of how unhappy the Sussexes are about the arrangement.

The statements underlying message is they are very, very unhappy with this arrangement, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun Online, adding, It was completely unnecessary.

Fitzwilliams further noted that this may lead to future trouble  they dont like the arrangement that is forcing them to step down as working royals and not use their titles, even though they will have them.

He continued: They want to use Sussex Royal but by saying the monarchy doesnt have the power to prevent them from using it  why say that? Theres no point.

My hope is the bitterness they seem to feel with the current arrangement will become more positive as months progress, Fitzwilliams shared.
Jackson rebutted any claim that she has not treated Stone fairly. On the contrary, she wrote, she took each issue raised by [him] seriously  ruled with care and impartiality  granted important evidentiary motions in his favor  and  repeatedly resolved bond issues in his favor, even after he took to social media to intimidate the Court, after he violated conditions imposed by the Court, after he was convicted at trial, and after he was sentenced to a term of incarceration.
Ethiopias Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel C.M., is marking the start of Lent by calling on Ethiopians to pray for conversion of heart.

Habtamu Abrdew Beture - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

In his Lenten message, Cardinal Berhaneyesus emphasised that conversion of heart is the invitation of God our Father.

We are all sinners in need of Gods mercy and forgiveness, the Cardinal said, and added, Lent is a special time for penance and repentance in response to Gods invitation for renewal and conversion of heart through prayer, good works and sacrifice in the midst of a secular culture of materialism, individualism and religious indifference.

According to the Ethiopian Oriental Churchs tradition, the Lenten Season, this year, starts on 24 February. Easter will be on 19 April.

Penance draws us closer to Christ

The Cardinal has also asked Ethiopians to forgive each other and be instruments of peace in the nation.

Let us take a keen interest in this gracious moment of blessings and with sincerity of heart ask for Gods forgiveness for our sins; let us be ready to forgive others and live in love as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who completely poured himself out for love of us. Penance helps us to grow; it brings us into more intimate contact with Christ, enlarging our capacity for His love, said the Addis Ababa prelate.

Families should pray together in Lent

For Christian families, Lent is an opportunity to unite and strengthen their spirituality.

This sacred Season of Lent is a great opportunity for families to spend more time together; to pray together; to share the Word of God; to teach their children the meaning of Lent and the importance of making sacrifices, the Cardinal said.

A time to go out and be of service to others

Cardinal Berhaneyesus continues by saying that Lent is not a Season for staying indoors. Instead, it is a Season to go out of ourselves and be available for the service of others. Almsgiving reminds us that we should not live for ourselves, but for God and for our neighbour. We are stewards, not masters, of Gods many blessings, and by sharing the precious gift of ourselves and our resources, we increase our capacity for sharing as Christ doeswithout measure.

(AMECEA News)
A federal judge in Puerto Rico has denied a request by Julia Keleher, the islands former secretary of education, to have her trial on fraud charges moved from the U.S. territory to the mainland.

In an order issued Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernandez also denied a motion from Keleher seeking to modify a gag order on the case that her attorneys said was unconstitutionally vague prior restraint on her First Amendment rights. Delgado-Hernandez set the trial date for February 2021.

Keleher, who served as the islands top K-12 education official for nearly two-and-a-half years before resigning in April 2019, was arrested last summer by the FBI and charged with illegally steering millions of dollars in Puerto Rico Department of Education contracts to consultants, including in one instance to her close friends. She was not alleged to have personally benefitted from that activity and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

See Our In-Depth Coverage: Putting Puerto Ricos Schools Back on Track

In her motion to move the trial to a different venue , Keleher argued that she and the charges against her were too well-known in Puerto Rico for her to have a chance at a fair trial. To demonstrate her notoriety on the island, which she blamed in part on her arrest taking place amid a series of government scandals, Keleher said she had been physically assaulted on the island not long after the charges against her were made public. She also cited opinion research about her showing that a majority of those surveyed believed her to be guilty.

During her tenure, Keleher oversaw the islands public school system through Hurricane Maria (which had roughly 350,000 students enrolled when the storm hit) and afterwards led major structural changes to her department, closed hundreds of schools, and backed new policy reforms such as charters. She won praise for her hard-charging approach to overhauling the K-12 system, but also drew the ire of those who believed she was disrupting the system without improving it.

The fraud case doesnt represent all of the former education secretarys legal troubles, however. Keleher was arrested against last month for allegedly getting a cut-price deal on a San Juan apartment in exchange for turning over public school property to a private company. She has also pleaded not guilty in this second case.

A defense attorney for Keleher, Lanny Davis, told the Associated Press last week that he didnt know if she would appeal the judges decision not to select a new trial venue for the charges stemming from her 2019 arrest. As of Monday, no record of such an appeal was listed in court records.

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
February 24 : On March 9, 2020, the auspicious festival of Holika Dahan 2020 will be celebrated. Under the blessing of Lord Vishnu, this ritualistic festival will commemorate the death of a demon named as Holika. The day is also called as Kamadu Pyre, Holika Deepak, and Choti Holi, and Hindu devotees celebrate this festival one day before the festival of colors  Holi 2020 . The day signifies the victory of good over the evil forces.

As per the Hindu scriptures, the Holika Dahan rituals have to be performed just before sunset (during Pradosh Kaal), and while the Purnimasi Tithi prevails. But it should be remembered that no auspicious work should be done during Bhadra timings. During Pradosh Kaal, bonfires are lit and Lord Vishnu is worshipped, but this should not be done during the Bhadra Tithi.

The Holika Dahan Puja Muhurat Timings

Sunrise: March 9, 2020, 06:30 am

Sunset: March 9, 2020 06:30 pm

Purnima Tithi will begin by March 9, 2020, 03:04 am and end by March 9, 2020, 11:17 pm

Holika Dahan Muhurta extends between March 09, 06:30 pm until March 09, 08:56 pm

Bhadra Mukha Time extends between March 09, 10:39 am until March 09, 12:20 pm

Bhadra Punchha Time extends between March 09, 09:38 am until March 09, 10:39 am

Additional Information: The above panchang is generated for Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. To change the date and place, go to Panchang

Significance of Holika Dahan

On Holika, people burn the effigy of the demon Holika, as it symbolizes that evil can be cast away from our lives. By burning, the negative energies and diseases on ones family will be taken away. They offer prayers to Lord Vishnu in order to be blessed with prosperity and good health.

Latest updates on Holi Festival 2020
Former President and leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has stated that in the next NDC government, each district would get a technical institute in order to improve upon the human capital of the Ghanaian youth.



In this regard, he called for the needed attention to be given to technical and vocational training in the country since not everyone could acquire secondary education.



Former President Mahama, who was speaking at separate rallies at Ahebenso, Afere and Kwasikrom all in the Bodi Constituency of the Western North Region to round up his three days tour of the Region, lauded the Free Senior High School policy but accused the NPP government of not implementing it properly.



He indicated that he would cancel the double-track system of the free SHS if the NDC wins the next general elections.



The former President called for unity among the rank and file of the Party and advised Party faithful to vote massively for the NDC parliamentary candidates.



Mr Micheal Aidoo, Western North Regional Chairman of the Party, asked the members to remain loyal and committed to the cause of the NDC, since that was the only party that had their interest at heart.







Source: GNA









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By Rasana Gasimova

Azerbaijan is the third safest travel destination among the CIS countries, according to the ranking of famous Insurly website.

As to its ranking worldwide, Azerbaijan took 52nd place among 180 countries in the overall ranking of the countries that are the safest for tourists. The website rated Azerbaijans healthcare system at 79 points, and air pollution at a satisfactory level.

It was noted that there are no threats of infection with yellow fever, malaria, cholera and Zika virus in the country, and the basic sanitary conditions are good.

The countrys transport conditions were rated at 75 points, natural disaster risk at 58 points, and the level of violence at 51 points.

Among the CIS countries, only Uzbekistan (46th place) and Belarus (48th place) are above Azerbaijan in the rating.

Switzerland topped the list with 93.4 points from a maximum of 100 points. Singapore came in second with 92.7 points, and Norway ranked third with 91.1 points. Luxembourg, Cyprus, Iceland, Denmark, Portugal, Finland and Japan were also included in the top ten.

Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan took the last three places in the ranking.

Azerbaijan is among the developing countries in the field of tourism, occupying the 39th place among 148 countries in terms of global competitiveness in tourism. Over 3 million tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2019.

Earlier, The United Nations World Tourism Organization has included Azerbaijan in its top-20 fastest-growing travel destinations ranking.

The country secured the 18th place in the ranking with an 11.4-percent-increase in its tourism sector.

The government supports the development of tourism as part of the non-oil policy. It is planned to provide tax benefits to those providing travel services in tourism sector in order to stimulate the further development of this sphere.

Azerbaijan is also developing a program of investments in the tourism sector. This year, the country will host the largest tourism event in the region - Travel Business Azerbaijan 2020.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
American actor, Jussie Smollett is set to make his first court appearance Monday on a new set of charges accusing him of lying to Chicago police about being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack last year.



Hes scheduled to be arraigned before Judge LeRoy K. Martin Jr. at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse and could either be released on his own recognizance or held on bail.



The 37-year-old actor is expected to plead not guilty to the six counts of felony disorderly conduct during Monday's hearing.



Last year, Smollett was slapped with 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct for making false statements to the Chicago Police Department, just weeks before the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office announced it was dismissing the case.



At that time, Chicagos mayor Rahm Emanuel, expressed his anger at the decision to drop the charges was a whitewash of justice.

Retired appellate judge Sheila OBrien later petitioned the court to appoint a special prosecutor to reopen the case and examine why charges against Smollett were dropped.



Special Prosecutor Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney who was appointed to examine the state's attorney's office's handling of the case, is expected to attend the hearing.



Back in January 2019, Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home. He said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in MAGA country, a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.



Weeks later, police alleged that Smollett had paid two Nigerian brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo $3,500 to stage the attack.

If convicted in the new charges, Smollett could be jailed for three years, given mandatory community service and a $25,000 fine.















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The Sharma Committee, which has members of the All Assam Students Union (AASU), one of the signatory bodies of the Assam Accord, and is headed by Justice (retired) Biplab Kumar Sharma, will submit its recommendations on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord on Tuesday as the debate over who is 'Assamese' continues. The

Amid the raging protests over the contentious citizenship Act and the proposed National Population Register (NPR) across India, a high-level committee formed by Ministry of Home Affairs is set to recommend that the government use 1951 as a cut-off year to determine indigenous people of Assam, as per various news reports.

The Sharma Committee, which has members of the All Assam Students Union (AASU), one of the signatory bodies of the Assam Accord, and is headed by Justice (retired) Biplab Kumar Sharma, will submit its recommendations on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord on Tuesday as the debate over who is 'Assamese' continues. The reports of 1951 being selected as a cut-off year have left minority groups worried.

Strong opposition to setting 1951 as the cut-off date comes from groups who have claimed that such a move would encourage illegal immigration and defeat the purpose of the NRC and NPR. Hafizul Ahmed, president of the Goria Moria Desi Jatiya Parishad, told Firstpost the Assam Accord provides for constitutional safeguards only for Assam natives and not immigrants.

But if 1951 is accepted as the cut-off year then it would wrongly include a chunk of the populace whose forebears migrated from various parts of India and then East Pakistan, Ahmed added.

Large-scale migration to Assam began after British annexed Brahmaputra Valley in 1826. If 1951 is accepted as the cut-off year, then a large chunk of immigrant population would be eligible for reservations meant for the indigenous, Ahmed said. That would render such provisions meaningless.

As per a study conducted by Madhumita Sarma, a research scholar in University of Adelaide, Australia, in 1951, Assam had an immigrant population of approximately three million. If millions are added to the list of indigenous, then how is the government going to protect the rights of the indigenous ethnic groups? Sharma asked.

There are 1.30 crore Muslims in Assam, less than a third of whom are indigenous to Assam. Mrinal Hazarika, a pro-talks ULFA chief, and also a leader in a civil society organisation advocating for the rights of the indigenous, told Firstpost setting 1951 as the cut-off year would be unacceptable and warned of protests.

All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) also opposed accepting 1951 as the cut-off date. How is the government going to determine this? Certainly, the NRC prepared in 1951 would be accepted as legacy data. But then the 1951 NRC is itself not complete. Data related to 35 percent of the states area is not available in the 1951 NRC. So how would the government include the people belonging to the data in blank areas? Certainly these people would get wrongfully excluded from the list of indigenous citizens, said Azizur Rahman, a leader of the AAMSU.

A recent article citing a report tabled in the Assam Assembly argued, The truth is that 35 percent of Assams population is not covered by the existing 1951 list. In simple terms, 35 percent population of Assam or around one crore people cannot find their names in the existing 1951 NRC list so the definition of indigenous or foreigners cannot be applied to them, the article said.

Rahman also said many remote areas were not covered in the 1951 NRC because they were inaccessible. Many indigenous fear the inclusion of immigrants may encourage further immigration from Bangladesh. Many immigrant families have relatives in Bangladesh. Many such families in India and Bangladesh also have common ancestors who were based in Assam. If they can prove the existence of their common ancestors in Assam prior to 1951, then a Bangladeshi can claim indigenous status, said Ahmed.

A final list of Assams NRC was published last year, with 1.9 million people being left out.

What is clause 6 of the Assam Accord

The Assam Accord, which laid foundation for NRC, also provides for special constitutional protective measures for the Assamese people by way of reservations in jobs and constituencies, protective measures for preservation of Assamese language and heritage. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord suggests such protective measures for the Assamese people.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently announced that the committee would submit its recommendations on 25 February to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
A High Court in Kaduna, on Monday, ordered the Correctional Center, to allow the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zinat, full access to medical services before taking their plea on April 23.

The court presided by Justice Gideon Kurada, gave the order, after the Controller of the Correctional Centre, Kaduna, appeared before the Court at 12:00 noon on Monday as ordered.

Mr Kurada had earlier ordered the controller to appear to explain why he refused to allow physicians to the two defendants access to them in the facility as directed by the court on February 6.

Mr Kurada at the resumed hearing of the case on February 6, adjourned the case to February 24 and 25 for the defendants to appear in court and take their plea.

The counsel to the defendants, Femi Falana, had on February 6 said the defendants were not in court because Zinat, the second defendant and wife of El-Zakzaky was ill, therefore my clients were not in court.

The IMN leader and his wife Zinat are standing trial on allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among other charges.

Justice Kurada had granted the defendants application to allow them access to their personal physicians to enable them appear in court and take their plea at the next adjournment date of February 24 and 25.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Marshall Abubakar, also counsel to the defendants, told the court that the physicians were denied access to his clients as the court had directed.

Even though Zinat was in court, however, Mr Abubakar requested that the court invite the controller to give reason for disobeying court order.

The request was granted and the case was stood down to allow the controller to appear before the trial judge at 12:00 noon.

Mr Abubakar told journalists at the resumed hearing at 12:00 on Monday that the controller of the center appeared in court and gave reasons for refusing to allow the physicians access to his clients.

He said the court had renewed the order to the center to allow the two defendants full access to all necessary services they need for them to be fit to appear and take their plea in the next adjourned date.

On his part, Dari Bayero, lead prosecution in the suit, said the court had allowed the two defendants full access to medical services so that there will be no excuses when they come to take their plea on April 23 and April 24.

Mr Bayero said the prosecution is ready with its witnesses to prosecute the case in the court on that day.

(NAN)
HILLSBORO, Ore. --- Officials told KEZI 9 News that a passerby has discovered human remains in the woods in Washington County.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office said the remains were discovered on Saturday and appear to have been there for some time.

The body was found south of the Tualatin Valley Highway on some railroad tracks.

Authorities have not released the person's gender or age but they say the person was an adult.

Stay with KEZI 9 News for updates.
Jenna Bush and Henry Hager Wedding in Crawford, Texas

Did you know Jenna Bush Hager was first to propose to her husband, Henry Hager? The Today show co-host told Hoda Kotb recently that she was the one to pop the question only three months into dating Hager.

I asked Henry to marry me, the political scion told Kotb, whos currently in the process of planning her own wedding.

How did I not know that? Kotb, 55, replied.

Because he said no, Bush, 38, replied. And then he asked me five years later.

At the time, the former First Daughter was likely 21, though she was certain Hager was her life partner. (For context, the average marriage age in the U.S. is 32.) After three months of datingand I mightve had a Christmas cocktailwe were dancing. I said, This is it, I know it. Lets just get married, what are we waiting for?'

After Hager initially rebuffed her question, he waited five years until Bush was 26 to propose. In 2007, they got engaged and married a year later. The wedding took place on the Bush Family ranch close to Crawford, Texas, where about 200 loved ones gathered to witness the moment. Just this past year, Jennas twin sister, Barbara Bush Pierce, married at the Bush Family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

CRAWFORD, TX  MAY 10: In this handout image provided by the White House, Henry and Jenna Hager pause as they cut their wedding cake during a reception in their honor following the ceremony at Prairie Chapel Ranch May 10, 2008 near Crawford, Texas. (Photo by Shealah Craighead/The White House via FilmMagic)

The reason why the proposal is now making news is because the NBC News personality was recently prompted to reminisce about the entire process during a conversation with Traces Ellis Ross and Oprah Winfrey. I, like many of us, was taught to grow up dreaming of my wedding, not of my life, and I spent many years dreaming of my wedding and also waiting to be chosen, she said, according to the Today show. Well, heres the thing, Im the chooser.

Story continues

The Hagers are now parents to three children.

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Union minister for food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday blamed the state government for the slow progress of food park projects in the state.

Harsimrat was speaking at the inauguration of two food processing units set up by Iscon Balaji Foods and Godrej Tyson Food Limited at Gur Kirpa Mega Food Park in Laddowal. She said, The project has been moving at a snails pace since it was sanctioned in 2015 because of the lackadaisical attitude of the Punjab government.

It seems that I will inaugurate the food park in 2022 after the Akalis resume power in the state. What happened in the case of AIIMS, Bathinda, is being seen again in case of the 117-crore food park, for which the ministry of food processing had sanctioned a grant of 50 crore, she said.

We brought three mega food parks to the state. While the park at Fazilka has been inaugurated, the ones in Kapurthala and Laddowal in Ludhiana are still suffering, she said.

I have repeatedly written to chief minister Amarinder Singh, but to no avail. He has been deliberately delaying the completion of the 118-crore mega food park project for the last three years, Harsimrat said, adding that the CM deserved an Idle CM award as opposed to an Ideal CM award as he had done nothing for the state and its people.

Harsimrat said the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited (PAIC) was not showing any initiative to stick to

schedules, which was detrimental to farmers, unemployed youth and industries. The park was slated to be completed in May 2018, she said.

Badal said the food processing units that she inaugurated will benefit the people of Ludhiana and surrounding districts of Jalandhar, Moga, Amritsar and Fatehgarh Sahib. The units cost 95 crore, of which the ministry of food processing industries granted 5 crore to each. The units will run at a capacity of 7,200MT per annum for potato processing and 5,700 MT per annum for frozen ready-to-eat and cooked products, she said.

She said her ministry was doing its best to generate employment: Once all 42 mega food parks (that will cost 1,200 crore) are ready they will give employment to 50,000 people. These are actual figures unlike the claims of providing 11 lakh jobs made by Captain Amarinder Singh in Delhi recently,

she said.

THE PROJECT

The mega food park is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to around 6,000 people and benefit around 40,000 farmers of the surrounding areas.

Once complete, the fully operational park will boast of facilities such as 500 kg/spiral freezer, 1,000 tonne cold store for onion and garlic, 1,000 tonne frozen cold store for vegetables, 10,000 tonne dry warehouse, 10,000 tonne silos, 100 tonne ripening chamber (ECRC), 1 MT/Hr dehydration line (air dried), 400 MT cold storage, reefer vans, food incubation centre and testing labs.

Harsimrat said the deliberate delay was affecting thousands of youth who had been promised ghar ghar naukari, besides 1.5-lakh farmers who would benefit from the project.

DGPs remarks on Kartarpur sacrilegious

Reacting to director general

of polices recent remarks on Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, Harsimrat said they were tantamount to sacrilege.

She said, Captain Amarinder Singhs handpicked officer had tried to defame the holy shrine where the first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev spent 18 years of his life.

She asked the CM to sack the officer immediately for hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikh community: The statement was part of a well-planned strategy of the anti-Sikh Gandhi-family ruled Congress party to get the Kartapur Sahib corridor shut down.
CHICAGO - Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Monday to restored charges that accuse him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year in Chicago and falsely reporting to police that the phoney attack was real.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this March 26, 2019, file photo, actor Jussie Smollett talks to the media before leaving Cook County Court in Chicago. Smollett is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Chicago since a special prosecutor announced that he'd been indicted for a second time on charges that he lied when he told police he was a victim of a racist and anti-gay attack. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)

CHICAGO - Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Monday to restored charges that accuse him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year in Chicago and falsely reporting to police that the phoney attack was real.

His lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf to six counts of felony disorderly conduct. She also told Judge James B. Linn that she has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to halt the case.

A sombre looking Smollett, 37, entered the Cook County courthouse wearing sunglasses and sporting a beard, flanked by his legal team and surrounded by reporters.

Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett arrives for an initial court appearance Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, on a new set of charges alleging that he lied to police about being targeted in a racist and homophobic attack in downtown Chicago early last year. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

"He's obviously frustrated to be dragged through this process again," Glandian told reporters after the hearing.

She called the revived prosecution "an ordeal" for Smollett and said he has the support of relatives, some of whom flew out from California to be with him.

"Hes strong, hes resilient, hell get through this, but hes frustrated," she added.

Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of the charge in the same courthouse last year, just weeks before the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office abruptly announced it was dismissing the case, angering police and City Hall.

Actor Jussie Smollett, center, arrives for a court appearance at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Monday Feb. 24, 2020, on a new set of charges alleging that he lied to police about being targeted in a racist and homophobic attack in downtown Chicago early last year. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Smollett's attorneys also have filed a motion in Cook County court arguing that the refiling of charges violated protections against being charged twice for the same crime, known as double jeopardy. Prosecutors have said double jeopardy does not apply because Smollett was not prosecuted last year.

Linn on Monday set a $20,000 personal recognizance bond, which means Smollett does not have to pay any of it. He was not taken into custody. His next court date is March 18.

Special Prosecutor Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney who was appointed to examine the state's attorney's office's handling of the case, represented the state. Foxx's office is not involved in the new case against Smollett.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the defence motion filed with Illinois' high court argues that the appointment of the special prosecutor was legally flawed.

Brothers Olabinjo Osundairo, left, and Abimbola Osundairo arrive at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 where actor Jussie Smollett made an appearance on a new set of charges alleging that he lied to police about being targeted in a racist and homophobic attack in downtown Chicago early last year. The brothers claim Smollett hired them to stage an attack on him. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Smollett has repeatedly denied police allegations that he staged the attack to get attention and further his career.

Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home in the early hours of Jan. 29, 2019. He said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in "MAGA country," a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."

Weeks later, police alleged that Smollett had paid two black friends to help stage the attack because he was was unhappy with his salary as an actor on "Empire," a Fox series filmed in Chicago that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry.

The friends, brothers Abimbola "Abel" Osundairo and Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo, were among those who attended Monday's proceedings. If Smollett's case makes it to trial, they would be the state's star witnesses. The brothers are bodybuilders and aspiring actors whom Smollett knew from the "Empire" set and the gym.

Their attorney, Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, told reporters after the hearing that the brothers were there to "support the process."

"They are here because they want the truth to be told. ... The brothers are sorry for their involvement and they will do everything they can this right," she said.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Glandian, Smollett's lawyer, said she was "surprised" the brothers showed up.

"There was no reason for them to appear in court," she said.

Glandian has questioned the integrity of special prosecutor's investigation, pointing out that Webb's probe relied on the same detectives who were part of the original investigation despite pending civil claims that Smollett is pursuing against the city and police for malicious prosecution.

Foxx's handling of the case has become a key issue in her bid for re-election, with her opponents accusing her of having acted haphazardly and indecisively.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Tarm contributed to this report.
Pro-Pakistan slogans were found written on the walls and doors of Higher Primary School in Budarsingi village here on Monday, said Raman Gouda Hatti, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), DCRB, Dharwad.

"The headmaster of the school noticed the slogans written on the walls and doors by chalk and he informed us. We will investigate the matter based on the complaint," said DSP Hatti.

The slogans were written in the Kannada language. Those behind the incident have not been identified so far.

The villagers staged a protest demanding action against those behind the act.

Congress leader HK Patil condemned the incident and asked for culprits to be identified and punished soon.

"Anti-social elements are involved in these acts. The government has failed to identify these people and punish them. The culprits behind this act need to be identified and punished. This incident is unfortunate and the intelligence department should work to stop these kinds of incidents," said Patil.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Equity benchmark indices closed nearly 2 per cent lower on Monday as the spread of coronavirus outside China spooked global markets.

The virus claiming 2,442 lives in China has spread to 28 other countries with investors grappling to assess its impact on economic growth.

The BSE S & P Sensex closed 807 points or 1.96 per cent lower at 40,363 while the Nifty 50 cracked by 242 points or 2.01 per cent to 11,839.

All sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the red with Nifty metal down by 5.36 per cent, auto by 3.51 per cent, pharma by 3.09 per cent and realty by 2.16 per cent.

Among stocks, JSW Steel suffered the most with a fall of 7.35 per cent at Rs 261.10 per share. Vedanta dropped by 6.4 per cent, Tata Steel by 6.2 per cent and Hindalco by 5.5 per cent.

Auto stocks too took a dip with Tata Motors slipping by 4.9 per cent, Eicher Motors by 4.5 per cent and Maruti by 4.1 per cent. ONGC fell by 4.8 per cent at Rs 97.85 per share.

Bharti Infratel plunged by 4.3 per cent after the company extended the deadline for its merger with Indus Towers by two more months to April 24. It cautioned that the final call on scheme implementation will be taken by the board based on the assessment of the telecom crisis and its impact.

Meanwhile, Asian shares and oil prices slid as the spread of the coronavirus outside China darkened outlook for world growth.

South Korea's Kospi index fell by 3.87 per cent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index eased by 1.79 per cent.

South Korea put the country on high alert while the number of infections jumped to over 700 and deaths rose to seven. In Italy, three deaths were reported while the number of cases jumped to above 150.

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan imposed travel and immigration restrictions as fears mounted that the coronavirus outbreak in China will grow into a pandemic with deadly consequences for countries around the world.

.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The relatively small number of electric vehicles you see on the road today masks what many experts say is a disruptive revolution coming to the business of refuelling our vehicles.

With some claiming as many as 80 per cent of conventional gas stations could be driven out of business in 15 years, Canadian companies are at the forefront of figuring out how to profit from the coming transformation of the business model for how we get a fill-up.

And as with the effect of previous technological disruptions on such firms as Kodak or former music titan PolyGram, unexpected innovations mean there is no guarantee that established players will retain their dominant position in a market where all the rules have changed.

The increasing number of battery-powered offerings at last week's Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto and the many more in the pipeline hint at an energy transformation fuelled by climate change and startling advances in electric-vehicle tech, meaning the recharging business is now playing catch-up.

Growing demand

Repeated studies have shown there are not enough chargers even for existing demand, said Colleen Kaiser, who researches the electrification of transport for the Smart Prosperity Institute, a Canadian think-tank studying market-friendly sustainability.

On a life-cycle basis, studies have shown electric vehicles are already cheaper than their internal combustion equivalents, and competition and better technology is beginning to push prices down.

Experts say that will inevitably push EV sales up.

"What we are starting to see is the more progressive oil and gas companies are now looking at themselves as providers of power to fuel transportation," said Kaiser, pointing to Canadian oilsands giant Suncor, which has already begun to install electric chargers at its Petro-Canada gas stations.

Don Pittis/CBC

But as with previous technological disruptions, Kaiser said new growth in the EV-recharging business is not simply a matter of replacing gas pumps with electrical outlets. Perhaps the most significant change in the business model is that the many people who currently go to the service station for a fill-up will be able to recharge at home or at work.

Story continues

As Kaiser says, if we had gas pumps at our houses, we wouldn't be using gas stations, either.

Among the many other complications is having enough power in the right locations. A bank of EV chargers in full use demands as much power as an office building, Kaiser said, and that kind of juice might not be easily available  especially in remote areas where chargers are needed.

Even if people switch to EVs as quickly as some forecasts suggest, there will still be decades of demand for conventional fuelling stations, as existing vehicles gradually wear out and are replaced by electrics.

End of the retail fuel era

Research by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) suggests that the world faces "the end of an era in fuel retail" as gas stations begin to disappear. According to the authors' calculations, many traditional gas stations simply won't make enough money.

"In a market environment in which electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous vehicles and new mobility models take off rapidly, up to 80 per cent of the fuel-retail network as currently constituted may be unprofitable in about 15 years," reads the report.

But that doesn't mean everyone is suffering. Paradoxically, even as existing service stations face a future profit challenge, new entrants are rushing to figure out ways to make money from a shortage of electric-charging points.

Analysis of Kodak's collapse after the arrival of digital photography helps show why business disruption by technological change can be perplexing.

For instance, Kodak did not stubbornly refuse to make digital cameras. Instead, as digital imaging took off, the advantages the company had created with massive investments in the world's best film technology suddenly became a liability, and nimble specialists in electronics and software crowded into the digital photography space.

Experts now say something similar has happened in the automotive business, as electric engines wipe out years of competitive advantage by German carmakers in sophisticated internal combustion mechanics.

Mike Symington/CBC

Whatever the future of conventional gas stations, Travis Allan, vice-president and general counsel at the EV-charging system FLO, said that his company's system of electric fast chargers is an expanding business.

FLO, which just announced a deal to install charging points at Canadian Tire stations across the country, is owned by the award-winning Quebec-based startup AddEnergie.

As well as building out a charging network, the 10-year-old privately held firm  listed in one business directory as an "application software" company  makes charging hardware for home and commercial use. It is also an expert in the software needed to regulate the electricity flow and bill customers. And the company is expanding its business into the U.S., including through a recent deal with electricity giant Consolidated Edison.

While Allan agrees that EV owners will charge at home when they can, he said there are many reasons besides long journeys why people will want access to public chargers.

In urban cores with street parking, such as New York and Montreal, for example, there's a need for street-level charging. Car-share vehicles, ride-hailing companies, plus the eventual arrival of self-driving vehicles will also contribute to commercial charger demand.

The Norway experience

There are reports that the Quebec-based convenience store and gas station company Couche-Tard, which operates under the brand name Circle K around the world, is using its subsidiary in Norway to lead the way in global research on how to continue to profit in the new world of EV charging.

Even at existing gas stations, studies show the associated convenience stores are a bigger source of profit than fuel sales. Couche-Tard is exploring the best way to offer services to a captive audience of customers waiting for their vehicles to charge.

Another new entry into the business is the Ontario-based Ivy Charging Network, currently installing 163 chargers at more than 70 locations across the province. A private business owned jointly by Ontario Power Generation and electricity distributor Hydro One, Ivy will effectively be drumming up business for its parent companies by making it easier to use electric vehicles, said Ivy co-president Theresa Dekker.

"Ontario's electricity system is very, very clean, and so it just makes sense to use our clean electricity in the province to help support increased adoption of electric vehicles and increase use of the product," said Dekker.

As with other electrical utilities across Canada and around the world, the business urge to sell more product means there will be market pressure to find ways to keep pumping volts  even if conventional gas stations eventually disappear altogether.

Follow Don on Twitter @don_pittis
Ever since Donald Trump took over as President of the United States, a lot of books have been written based on his presidency and his term in the White House. While some of these books highlight Trump and his administration's work, others focus on how Donald Trump's presidency has ruined America. Take a look at a few books that are based on his presidency.

Books about Donald Trump's presidency

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House

Published in January 2018, the book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House managed to reach the top spot in New York Times best-selling list. Written by Michael Wolff, the book is said to describe the behind the scenes from the first year of Trump's administration. One of the anecdotes in the book that caused havoc was former adviser Steve Bannon saying the 2016 meeting at Trump Tower involving Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and the Russians was "treasonous" and "unpatriotic."

ALSO READ | Enroute India, US President Donald Trump Tweets In Hindi From Air Force One; 'Can't Wait'

Media Madness: Donald Trump, the Press, and the War over the Truth

Written Howard Kurtz, Media Madness: Donald Trump, the Press, and the War over the Truth was also released in January 2018. Kurtz is known to host a popular show called Media Buzz on a renowned news channel. The book focuses on Donald Trump's relationship with the media that covers him.

Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic

Published in January 2018, Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic falls into the biography category. Written by David Frum, the book stresses on how Trump has damaged American democracy and hurt America's future. Frum was a former White House speechwriter for George Bush and argues that Trump and his administration are permanently hurting American democracy.

ALSO READ | From Eisenhower To Obama; Donald Trump Latest In Long Line Of US Presidents To Visit India

It's Even Worse Than You Think: What the Trump Administration Is Doing to America

Originally published in January 2018, It's Even Worse Than You Think: What the Trump Administration is Doing to America is written by David Cay Johnston. A New York Times bestseller, the author writes that Trump is undermining various aspects of a federal government and that it is having a compromising effect on the American people. The book mainly focuses on Trump's desire to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, the implementation fo Tariffs, and his efforts to drain the Swamp.

Killing the Deep State: The Fight to Save President Trump

Released in February 2018, Killing the Deep State: The Fight to Save President Trump is written by Jerome Corsi. The author is known to be a far-right political commentator and a conspiracy theorist. He claims that the mainstream media, bureaucratic holdovers from the Obama administration, and the democratic candidates are conspiring to destroy Trump's presidency.

ALSO READ | Donald Trump Calls PM Modi His 'friend' As He Departs For India

ALSO READ | Donald Trump In India: Dishes From Gujarati Cuisine That The US President Should Try
This weekend, France's biggest agricultural show, the Salon Internationale de l'Agriculture, opened its gates to the public. French President Emmanuel Macron put in a long day visiting stands on Saturday, but he was mobbed by farmers and activists worried about their future.

The agricultural world is under attack by an economic dictatorship, both at the French level and at the global level, according to Nicolas Girod, spokesman for the Confederation Paysanne, the country's third-largest farmers' union.

Many smaller farmers feel they are being left on the sidelines of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In 2018, the CAP accounted for about 40 percent of the 160 billion euro EU Budget. Most of the CAP funding (more than three-quarters) goes to farmers in the form of direct payments.

But with uncertainties as a result of Brexit and the EU's incapacity to agree a budget, farmers fear that they will pay the price.

We feel Macron is not likely to fight for a big PAC budget, says Girod.

Even if the EU's PAC budget was to remain unchanged, small farmers won't benefit.

Unfair

The bigger you are, the more subsidies you can get, says Claude, a vegetable farmer in Burgundy who came to the Salon de l'Agriculture.

That doesn't work. It's unfair.

Aurelie Catalo, coordination manager of the platform For Another Common Agricultural Policy says that currently, agribusiness is counted by surface.

Her organizations proposes to grant payments per worker, and not per hectare. So you would finance with public money employment in rural areas, she says, adding that the majority of French farmers are very worried".

Catalo thinks that the budget of the CAP will decrease in the coming years. You can't expect farmers to change practices as subsidies are going down.

Brexit worries

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said during his speech at the opening of the show, that he was "not sure" it would be possible for the European Union and Britain to reach a trade deal by the end of the year. But the French leader insisted that the CAP must not bear the consequences for Brexit. We did not sacrifice the CAP and I said very clearly: 'It is not the CAP which will pay for Brexit'.

Macron has also firmly rejected a British suggestion that City of London companies could be given broad, permanent access to EU markets without conditions.

Overall, French fishing boats generate 30 percent of their revenue from catches in British maritime territories, particularly rich in fish stocks.

French officials say that the UK exports the bulk of its catch to Europe, indicating that British fishermen have plenty to lose if the two sides fail to reach a deal.
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State Bank of India will be holding a mega e-auction of over 1,000 open plots, commercial, residential and industrial properties on February 26, 2020.

It will be auctioning these non-performing assets (NPAs) this month to recover its dues from those borrowers, sources said.

These properties are located in New Delhi, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), Shahjahanpur (UP), Badanpur (UP), Lucknow (UP), Kottayam (Kerala), Kollam (Kerala), Palakkad (Kerala), Burdwan (West Bengal), Nadia (West Bengal), Karur (Tamil Nadu), Nilgris (Tamil Nadu), Erode (Tamil Nadu), Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu), Tindivanam (Tamil Nadu), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Namakkal (Tamil Nadu), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Amreli (Gujarat), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Anand (Gujarat), Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nagpur (Maharashtra), Boripada (Orissa), Ramgarh (Jharkhand), Durg (Chattisgarh) among others.

The bidders can bid for the properties online after registering online by February 26, 2020 on the website of https://www.bankeauctions.com/SBI or https://ibapi.in or https://sbi.auctiontiger.net or www.tenderwizard.com/SBIEAUCTION.

Most of these properties are those that have been pledged as collateral for housing and other business loans and taken over by the bank under the Security and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (Sarfaesi) Act due to non-payment of pending dues by the borrowers. The defaulters were given a notice period of 60 days under the Sarfaesi Act, after which the properties were seized and auctioned.

"If a borrower fails to honour the loan, we start the legal process and repossess the property and later sell it at an e-auction. We have empanelled valuers who keep the construction, location and the area in mind before valuing the property. The plausible value given by them helps us set the reserve price which is disclosed to the bidder beforehand. Those interested in the bid have to deposit an initial amount of 10to 15 percent of the value of the property," said a bank official.

But do banks make a profit from e-auctions?

In the current market conditions we try and recover the principal amount. We were able to make 15 to 25 percent profit earlier but now we are not even able to recover auction and valuation costs, says an official not wanting to be named.

Buyers should not have the misconception that these properties always have legal issues attached to them. Banks are in a position to auction properties only if they have a clear legal title. Also, prices of such properties are at least 5% to 10% less than the market value, so its worth signing up for the auction. Also, it is a direct deal between the buyer and the bank as there are no agents or brokers involved, says a bank official.

As per the Act, those signing up for the e-auction have to pay 10% of the reserve price set for the distressed property which is returned in case the bidder is not successful. If the bidder is successful, the amount is adjusted in the final price.

Banks seize properties when they are convinced that the borrower will not be able to repay a loan. After the borrower misses multiple payments, the lender auctions the property to recover the outstanding principal and interest amount. Given the troubled past of such properties, they are usually available at a discount to the market price.

Banks give out details of the properties they are auctioning. A portal launched by the Indian Banks Association (IBA) provides a common platform. Prospective buyers can log on to ibapi.in, register themselves, view details of properties and even participate in the auction process.

In case of residential properties that are auctioned, buyers should check if there are any "liabilities associated with the property that is being auctioned".

"These could include society dues and other liabilities unknown to the lenders. There is always a deficit in information and the discount on offer is due to that. On an average such properties sell at a discount of 15 percent," said a valuer.

Banks get the premises vacated before they are auctioned and have to get possession of the house through a collector or a district magistrate to avoid any law and order issues.

Since those bidding for the property in an e-auction are allowed to inspect the property, they should check from the society if there are any dues pending against the property in question. There could be cases of subletting that may not be known to the bank. If that is the case, the buyer who purchases such a property will not be in a position to sell without the tenants approval. Sub-tenancy can create its own share of problems. No buyer will know that until he actually goes and resides in that property, he adds.

Also, if a buyer plans to take a loan for purchasing the property, he should try and get an in-principle home loan approval from the lender. Banks give such loan approvals solely on the basis of the credit history and repayment capacity of the bidder. The loan is sanctioned by the bank on the condition that the bidder will cover the applicable property registration charges, stamp duty and other legal costs and submit the valid property registration document with the bank, before the disbursal of the actual loan.
The Anantara Villa Padierna has become part of The Leading Hotels of the World, the biggest global association of luxury hotels. It is the third establishment in the Marbella area to be admitted to the club, and with it a select market of top-range clientele, after the Marbella Club and Puente Romano. The Gran Hotel Miramar in Malaga city is also a member.

Villa Padierna announced this week that it had met the requirements to join the association, which is a benchmark for high-end tourism all over the world. Manager Jorge Manzur says its membership will increase the hotels volume of business by between 500,000 and 750,000 euros this year alone.

Its official incorporation will take place on 1 March and will give the hotel the best access to American markets as well as those of some European countries which until now have been difficult to reach. It will also help to attract more group and conference business at times of year when fewer tourists visit the area.

It is not easy to become part of The Leading Hotels. An anonymous inspection is carried out by an independent auditing company and membership is only possible for those who receive an 85 per cent satisfaction rating or higher.

The inspectors, who book as genuine clients, evaluate their whole experience from the moment they arrive to the time they check out. At the end of their stay they identify themselves and interview the manager about the internal functioning of the hotel. They then examine the results of client satisfaction surveys. Villa Padierna passed with a rate of 90 per cent.
Mukesh Ambani during his conversation with Satya Nadella during the Future Decoded CEO Summit in Mumbai said that Reliance was a small start-up when his father started it. He said, "Reliance was founded as a startup even before startups became - like my father founded Reliance with a table and a chair and Rs 1,000, it was five decades ago. It then became micro-industry, then it became a small industry, medium - today you can consider it large."

Back in 1966, Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh Ambani's father set up Reliance Commercial Corporation. Almost after 10 years of being founded, Reliance went public. In 1985 they renamed to reliance Industries Limited and started their expansion from textiles and polyesters to other sectors like petrochemical, power generation and telecom.

By 2001, Reliance Industries Ltd and Reliance Petrochemicals Ltd became the largest financial organizations. In 2006, Dhirubhai's sons split the company into The Reliance ADA group and Reliance Industries.

Satya Nadella and Mukesh Ambani also talked about the future of smaller businesses in India and what role technology has to play in it. "I'm saying this is fundamentally to just drive the point that every small business and entrepreneur has the potential in India to become Dhirubhai Ambani or Bill Gates. And that is the power that is what differentiates India, from the rest of the world I think that the entrepreneurial power that we have at the grassroots is enormous," Mukesh Ambani said.

The Reliance Industries Chairman also talked about the reduced internet rates in the country after Reliance Jio was introduced and how it has increased internet consumption across different classes. He said after the introduction of Jio, data charges in India dropped to Rs 12-14 per GB from the earlier Rs 300-500 per GB.

Also Read: 'Jio brought down data costs in India from Rs 500 to Rs 12 per GB,' says Mukesh Ambani to Satya Nadella

Also Read: Donald Trump announces mega $3 billion defence deal with India

Also Read: Trump in India: POTUS to meet India Inc CEOs on Tuesday
A South East Central Railway



(SECR) employee was arrested on Monday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Chhattisgarh's Durg district for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000, officials said.

Office Superintendent S Bhattacharya posted at the office of Senior Section Engineer (Pathway) in Bhilai under Raipur Railway Division was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe from a trackman to clear his travel allowance bill and to stall his transfer, Superintendent of Police (ACB) Manish Sharma said.

"Trackman Suresh (57) approached the Central Bureau of Investigation unit in Raipur claiming Bhattacharya was seeking a bribe of Rs 25,000. The CBI forwarded the case to us and we laid a trap and arrested Bhattacharya from his office while accepting the first installment of Rs 10,000," Sharma said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Within half a month, Vietnamese scientists gained encouraging research results which help cope with the Covid-2019 epidemic.

1/ The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) on February 7 announced it has successfully cultured and isolated the coronavirus in the lab.





The achievement would allow quicker testing for coronavirus, so thousands of samples could be tested a day, if necessary. As such, Vietnam is one of the few countries which have succeeded in isolating the virus.



The research team selected two out of nine new samples positive to nCoV and cultured on two cell samples provided by a lab at Nagasaki University (Japan).

Within half a month, Vietnamese scientists gained encouraging research results which help cope with the Covid-2019 epidemic.

Infected cells were monitored and observed daily by a microscope and the presence of virus was detected with real-time RT-PRC method. After 72 hours of research and isolation, at 9:40 am on February 7, Vietnamese scientists saw coronavirus in the laboratory.



According to NIHE director Dang Duc Anh, the successful culture of viruses will help accurately decipher the origin of the novel coronavirus, its virulence, pathogenic mechanisms, immunity and viral endurance in different environments.



This provides important data for studies to find therapies and develop specific diagnostic bio-products and vaccines



2/ Currently, the standard method recommended by WHO to detect nCoV is RT-PCR and Realtime RT-PCR biological kits. It takes at least four hours to get the test results. The other disadvantage of the method is that it needs very expensive equipment and the production cost is VND1 million for each kit.



On February 9, the research team of Dr Le Quang Hoa and Dr Nguyen Le Thu Ha from the Institute of Biotechnology and Food Technology, an arm of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology announced the successful creation of RT- LAMP bioproduct which quickly detects nCoV.



The kit uses RT-LAMP technique, mostly used to detect RNA of pathogenic viruses. The time needed for the analysis is short (70 minutes including RNA extraction stage).



The obvious advantage is the short reaction time of only 15-30 minutes, very fast compared with the current standard process (at least 2 hours), Hoa said.



The other advantage of this method lies in the low production cost, just VND350,000.



3/ Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh has approved the research project on evaluating the effectiveness and safety of the use of lopinavir/ritonavir as supplementation in the treatment of patients with nCoV.



The scientists will try the treatment for four weeks or on 10 patients. Later, they will report about the effectiveness of clinical, subclinical and virological response, and the safety of the use of lopinavir/ritonavir.



Prior to that, the ministry assigned the tasks of researching and manufacturing bioproducts to quickly detect and screen nCoV to serve the fight against the epidemic.

Thanh Lich

Three-month-old coronavirus patient successfully treated A three-month-old baby from the northern province of Vinh Phuc, Vietnams youngest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient, has been successfully treated, according to the National Childrens Hospital.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they hope bills coming out of the 2020 General Assembly session will improve the lives of active duty military and veterans, especially for Colorado Springs where one in four veterans in the state live.

The bills include increasing the pay for National Guard troops called out for state emergencies, allowing spouses and children of active duty military to receive in-state tuition, and promoting better services for ailing veterans.

Senate Bill 91, which would improve the pay for the lowest-paid National Guard troops, has already won unanimous support from the state Senate and will be reviewed by the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee Tuesday. Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., is one of two sponsors of the bill in the House, along with Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron.

Currently, a member of the National Guard called out by the governor for an emergency  most recently, the 2018 Spring Creek fire  gets paid $20 per day. The work can often result in 14- or 15-hour shifts. It equates to about $1.67 per hour for a 12-hour day.

Additionally, the current system for calculating pay is cumbersome and sometimes affected by human error, said Master Sgt. Jessica MacDonald, who serves on the joint staff of the National Guard. Putting down the plow and picking up the rifle isnt such a hard decision when the compensation is comparative," she told the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee in January.

SB 91 would bump up the pay to an E-4 level with six years experience, or about $88.80 per day.

Sen. Dennis Hisey, R-Fountain, is the Senate sponsor of House Bill 1275, which would allow spouses and children of active duty military to receive in-state tuition at any Colorado community college. The bill passed the House Education Committee on a unanimous vote on Feb. 18 and is expected to win easy passage in the House.

Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, told the education committee that while her husband was in the Army, it was hard for her to pursue an education and she often scrambled to accumulate enough college credits while stationed at a base.

Under current law, a new Colorado resident has to wait a year to be eligible for in-state tuition. Colonel Paul DeCecco, a retired 29-year Army veteran, and director of military and veterans programs at Pikes Peak Community College, said that in 2019, 196 military-affiliated students had residency issues. Of them, 13 chose to attend at out-of-state tuition rates, and seven wound up in collections when they couldn't afford it. He estimated at least another 60 would have attended if in-state tuition had been available.

The bill is awaiting its second reading debate in the full House.

Democratic Rep. Marc Snyder and Republican Rep. Terri Carver, both of Colorado Springs, will present House Bill 1220 to the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Tuesday. The bill will be carried by Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, should it reach the Senate.

HB 1220 addresses an issue that came to light at a 2019 town hall held by Snyder and Lee. Nicole de Naray told the lawmakers she didn't understand why she had to drive to Florence -- 50 miles each way -- to see her husband, who was in declining health and in a veterans living center, when Colorado Springs had such a large military presence. There are no veterans living centers in Colorado Springs, Snyder said.

Snyder told Colorado Politics the Department of Human Services does an assessment of veterans living centers every five years, but it's been more Denver-centric and doesn't take into account communities with large military populations, such as El Paso County. HB 1220 requires that assessment, which is due to be conducted this year, to be statewide, with a special requirement to examine veterans' needs in El Paso County.

The bill would require Human Services to look at younger veterans as needs grow for those who served in Vietnam and later conflicts, Snyder said. The assessment would look at changing demographics, post-traumatic stress disorder and other behavioral health issues, and alternative models of care.

Snyder said alternatives to past styles of care could focus veterans living centers on being more community integrated, with smaller facilities, perhaps 20 that could house five people each, rather than a 100-bed center, for example.
The visa-free stay of Ukrainians in Argentina, extended up to 90 days within 180 days, will take effect on March 14.

"From March 14, the period of visa-free stay of Ukrainian citizens in the territory of Argentina doubles: from 90 days within a calendar year up to 90 days within 180 days," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine posted the announcement on Facebook.

A similar simplification is mutually applied by the Ukrainian side to the citizens of Argentina, the Foreign Ministry informed.

In July 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved an order to sign a protocol between the governments of Ukraine and Argentina to amend the visa waiver agreement, increasing the period of visa-free stay in the territories of the states.

On November 21, 2019, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko and Ambassador of Argentina to Ukraine Elena L.T.Mikusinski signed a corresponding protocol.

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February 24, marked two years since Bollywood's legendary actress Sridevi breathed her last. Her brother-in-law and co-star Anil Kapoor took to Instagram to post an emotional message remembering her.

Anil's post read, "Sri, 2 years have gone by and we've missed you every day. Reminiscing about old memories is a bittersweet feeling. We wish you had more time with the people you love, but we are thankful for all the time we did have with you. You're in our thoughts and prayers forever." (sic)

Boney Kapoor and his daughter Janhvi Kapoor held a pooja marking Sridevi's second death anniversary. Boney and Sridevi's other daughter Khushi Kapoor could not attend the pooja because she was abroad, studying.

Remembering her mother, Janhvi too had taken to Instagram to share a special picture. Posting a black and white picture of her when she was just a kid, with her mother, Janhvi wrote, "Miss you everyday." (sic)

Sridevi passed away after a tragic drowning accident in her hotel room when she was in Dubai for attending her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding. Her death shocked not only members of the film fraternity, but the entire nation for Sridevi was one of the most loved actresses in the country, having starred in numerous films not only in Hindi, but also in South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

Anil and Sridevi were a popular on-screen couple, having shared screen space in films like Mr. India, Janbaaz, Lamhe, Mr. Bechara, Judaai and so on. In fact, it has been announced that Mr. India, directed by Shekar Kapur, is going to be rebooted into a trilogy film series by Ali Abbas Zafar. While Shekar and Anil have expressed their unhappiness over this news, Boney, who produced the film, is yet to share his opinion.

ALSO READ: Boney And Janhvi Kapoor To Mark Sridevi's Second Death Anniversary With A Puja

ALSO READ: Janhvi Kapoor Gets Praised For Following Sridevi's Footsteps!


The UK suspended an order freezing the assets of Grace Mugabe in line with an EU decision last week. AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi

The UK government plans to reject a European Union decision to lift sanctions on the wife of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, suggesting its approach to financially targeting foreign individuals is set to diverge after Brexit, the 'Sunday Telegraph' reported.

The UK suspended an order freezing the assets of Grace Mugabe in line with an EU decision last week. It remains bound to follow EU sanctions decisions until the Brexit transition period expires at year end.

The UK government said it disagreed with the decision and will review it once Brexit is complete. The 'Sunday Telegraph' said Britain plans to reimpose sanctions on Ms Mugabe once the transition period is over. The EU has renewed an arms embargo introduced in 2002 in response to serious human rights violations by Mugabe's government.
(Photo : Touched by Health - Wellness Institute, LLC Facebook Page)

When people talk about the largest producer of greenhouse gases, most fingers point to China. China's Carbon Emission has reduced greatly because of the coronavirus going viral and halting or at least crippling the manufacturing industry. The shutdown of most functions within the country have become the cause of this unexpected positive environmental effect.

Studies have found alarming numbers being reduced

The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air or CREA has been behind a study that has pointed out that about 100 million metric tons of carbon emissions that come directly from China have been dropped and have stated that this could be because of the Coronavirus halting most of their operations! China is already known to have been behind about 25% of Earth's total emissions of greenhouse gasses. Even if China has decreased this number during 2014 and 2016, the carbon emissions have still rebounded, and this is mostly because of the country's reliance on coal as a cheap energy source to be able to manufacture large quantities of products at a lower price massively.

Read Also: BlueDot: Fighting the Deadly Coronavirus Outbreaks with AI

According to CREA, China has a huge responsibility in the rise of carbon emissions around the globe in 2019. Although there is currently a huge drop in carbon emissions, this is still expected to be temporary because of Beijing's plans to revive its industrial activities.

There are a lot of sectors being affected because of the Coronavirus

Even if this virus had positive effects on the environment, we cannot dismiss the fact that its fatality has brought panic to the whole world and there are more negative effects in the public health and economic sector of not just China but other countries as well. The total lives lost were a loss for humanity in general, and although our environmental status has improved, there should be no reason to celebrate as other factors were deeply affected as well.

Read Also: Harvard Study Hails Singapore's Coronavirus COVID-19 Detection System as the World's Best

There have been a lot of tech giants like Apple and Google who have pulled out certain factories from China, which can really cripple them economically because most of their manufacturing is made with the help of China. Other industries like construction materials and machinery are also greatly affected by this because of export bans and export relations with other countries.

Burning fossil fuels and the harm it has done

There are reportedly 1.8 million premature deaths in China every year, according to a survey on smog and other pollutants and their effects on the public. As for the country's economic state, China is said to earn US$900 billion annually.

President Xi Jinping has already tackled this topic about four years ago, setting a goal for China to reach its carbon emission peak in 2030 and reduce the carbon footprint after. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the focus has shifted into the public health of their citizens, and because of the unfavorable halts and limits on manufacturing and other industries, China's carbon emissions have been greatly reduced.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Death row inmates fight for his life shines light on use of jailhouse informants

James Dailey is staring death in the face.

Unless something drastic changes, its likely just a matter of when.

Dailey was sentenced to die in August 1987 for the brutal stabbing and drowning of a 14-year-old girl, Shelly Boggio -- a horrific crime that stunned the nation. Both he and his roommate, Jack Pearcy, were found guilty of the murder. Pearcy received life in prison but Dailey got death.

For more than three decades, he has sat on death row in Florida, all while proclaiming his innocence.

Time is now running out and Dailey, a 73-year-old Vietnam War veteran, is making a last-ditch effort to avoid execution.

PHOTO: James Dailey speaks to ABC News during an interview on Jan. 9, 2020. (ABC News)

The entire case, and Dailey's life in fact, hang in large part on the word of Paul Skalnik, a 70-year-old former Texas police officer and a conman, who made a career out of being a jailhouse informant and whom ABC News found living in a Texas nursing home.

Ultimately, the world may never know if Dailey is an innocent man, as he claims, even after Pearcy changed his story and confessed to being Boggio's sole killer in a 2017 affidavit (that affidavit was later deemed inadmissible after Pearcy refused to answer questions about it on the stand and testified that its contents were false).

"I'm not afraid to die," Dailey told ABC News in an exclusive interview from death row. "What I'm afraid of is spending the rest of my life in prison for a crime I didn't commit, not being able to clear my name for my kids and my grandkids and my great-grandkids."

Dailey's case highlights the controversial use of jailhouse informants in criminal cases and the expectation of leniency from law enforcement and prosecutors for their information and testimony, which critics say creates an incentive to lie.

To that point, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, -- a joint project from the University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law -- nearly 200 people had their convictions overturned since 1968 in cases where a jailhouse informant was used at trial, including 27 who were sentenced to death.

Story continues

There is also the issue of disclosure: whether and prosecutors and other law enforcement officials are forthcoming in court about promises made to informants.

While the Supreme Court has ruled that prosecutors have a constitutional obligation to disclose information that could potentially benefit the defense, advocates say this does not go far enough in specifying what type of information has to be disclosed.

And while a number of states have made attempts to address the issue of jailhouse informants by creating programs that monitor their use, some experts say these measures dont go far enough.

A chilling murder

Robert Heyman, one of the prosecutors in Dailey's murder trial, told ABC News in an interview that he remembers Boggio's case vividly.

Boggio was a 14-year-old who was hitchhiking with her twin sister and a friend near St. Petersburg in May 1985 when they were picked up by Dailey and Pearcy.

After a night of partying, Boggio and Pearcy left together.

Witnesses said that Boggio was alone with Pearcy for a period of time, but the prosecution argued that Dailey rejoined the couple later that night and was the one who held the young girls head under water, drowning her.

The girls body was found with 31 stab wounds in the Florida's Intracoastal Waterway.

PHOTO: James Dailey is seen here in this undated mug shot. (Florida Department of Corrections)

Pearcy was convicted of Boggio's murder in 1986 and a jury put him behind bars for life.

The following year, Dailey was also tried on first-degree murder charges. Unlike his roommate, he was sentenced to death.

Heyman maintained that Dailey was the most culpable and "decided to wade out there, waist deep, and hold her under the water until she drowned," he said. "I think it was powerful at the guilt phase, and it was powerful when the jury decided whether or not Dailey should get death."

MORE: 4 of the 5 counties with the most death penalty executions are in Texas: Data

But advocates point to a lack of physical evidence that implicates Dailey.

Heyman conceded in the same interview that there "was nothing that was found on her (Boggio) that could link her to either Dailey or Pearcy" and "the weapon, the--the knife was never found."

Specifically, there was no physical evidence to connect Dailey to the more than two dozen stab wounds Boggio sustained. Instead, prosecutors hinged their case on testimony from a friend who saw Dailey the night of the murder returning home wearing wet pants, Pearcy's statement after his arrest that Dailey killed the girl and the word of three jailhouse informants.

Dailey, who was 38 at the time of Boggio's death, has always maintained his innocence.

181 overturned cases

The use of jailhouse informants has been a subject of heated debate for years.

For instance, in Orange County, California, claims by public defender Scott Sanders sparked a years-long investigation by state prosecutors after Sanders argued that jailhouse informants had improperly obtained statements from his clients awaiting trial. He also claimed that Orange County prosecutors had withheld information about these informants that could have helped exonerate his clients.

MORE: Attorney says jury didn't hear key information in death row case

Last year, the California attorney general -- which investigated the alleged misconduct with jailhouse informants -- announced they were dropping the investigation.

However, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer have ongoing investigations into the alleged misuse of jailhouse informants and are focusing on some previous prosecutions within the office, according to the Orange County Register.

Since Spitzer was sworn in, in January 2019, no jailhouse informants have been used for any criminal trials and a policy was implemented where he has to personally approve the usage of any jailhouse informant, Kimberly Edds, spokeswoman for the Orange County DAs office, told ABC News.

Experts say that the potential offer of leniency combined with the prospect of continued confinement creates a potent incentive for informants not to be truthful.

"Anytime there is a jailhouse snitch in a case, anyone with a shred of common sense can see that this is someone who is looking for something -- whatever that may be -- in exchange for cooperating," said Mark Bederow, a defense attorney who is currently appealing a 2003 murder case in New York against his client John Giuca, which was tied to the testimony of a jailhouse informant who later recanted.

"Informants don't do this out of the goodness of their heart and prosecutors have to deal with this [off] the bat," said Bederow.The problem is you have to rely on the prosecutor to disclose the benefits [that the witness received]...If a prosecutor wants to rely on a snitch and is forthright with the information to let the defense expose that to the jury, it will give the jury the opportunity to weigh the case and have a fair evaluation."

In Dailey's case, there was increased pressure to win a death penalty conviction after prosecutors failed to secure the death penalty for Pearcy, according to Dailey's 2018 appeal.

PHOTO: James Dailey is seen here in a 1986 booking photo. (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office)

"My sense is that the prosecutor took that as a political loss," said Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. "The only other person they had as a potential suspect was James Dailey and there was evidence that connected him to Pearcy."

"They were roommates and was with him later on the night of the murder," Dunham added.

'Worst type of informant'

John Halliday, the lead detective on the case, went to the jail Dailey was housed in after Pearcys sentencing and began interviewing numerous inmates looking for a potential informant, according to court documents.

No one at that point said they had information about Daileys case, but his 2018 appeal states that days later, three other inmates came forward claiming that Dailey had spoken to each of them about the murder.

The testimony of these jailhouse informants "became the linchpin of the States case, even though none of their statements possessed any independent indicia of reliability," according to the document.

Skalnik's life as an informant started in Texas shortly after he was forced to quit the Austin Police Department in the 1970s for allegedly cashing bad checks, according to The New York Times Magazine and ProPublica, which partnered for an ongoing investigation on jailhouse informants.

Throughout Skalniks adult life, he has been in and out of jail on numerous charges and became a jailhouse informant for 18 murder cases where four of the defendants were sentenced to death -- including Dailey, according to The New York Times/ProPublica.

Daileys appeal blasted star witness Skalnik as a career conman who was convicted of at least twenty-five crimes of dishonesty, gave false statements about corrections officers to have them removed from the jail wings where he was serving and lied on the stand about his violent criminal history at Daileys trial.

At the time Dailey was booked for Boggios murder, Skalnik was in Pinellas County Jail, the county where Boggio was murdered, on grand theft charges. Skalnik alleges Dailey first asked him for legal advice and then confided in him about the murder. It was a pattern that became a hallmark of how Skalnik claimed he received information, according to The New York Times/ProPublica.

Skalnik testified that Dailey confessed as Skalnik was passing by his cell on the way to recreation. "That Mr. Pearcy had actually held the young girl under," Skalnik testified. "Under, I did not know what 'under' was but he said the young girl kept staring at him, screaming and would not die. And he stabbed her and threw the knife away."

Dailey insists he never confessed to Skalnik.

Everybody in jail knew he was a-- world's biggest snitch, you know? They knew he was an ex-police officer. I mean even the officers in the county jail told us not to talk to him, you know? Dailey told ABC News.

"Skalniks behavior while incarcerated precisely mirrored his behavior when not incarcerated: he was willing to say anything, regardless of the truth of the matter, and regardless of whom it might harm, if he believed that doing so would benefit him," Daileys legal team wrote in his appeal.

Prosecutors argued in their response to Daileys 2018 appeal that Skalnik willingly contacted authorities, did not receive a deal for his testimony and that the court had already rejected Daileys claim that Skalnik provided false information.

"You should never rely solely on the uncorroborated testimony of a jailhouse informant," said Dunham.

Dunham said that jailhouse informants are more attracted to high-profile cases such as Boggio's because they think they can reap a greater benefit from prosecutors and law enforcement for their cooperation.

"Skalnik, he was the worst type of informant, a serial snitch...yet he has somehow managed to come up with 37 confessions in murder and other felony cases. Eight cases where a defendant was charged with first-degree murder and four end up on death row," said Dunham. "The likelihood of that really happening is so remote, its laughable."

Skalnik has never been charged with perjury and told ABC News in a phone interview from his nursing home bed in Texas that he was truthful and has no regrets.

At the time of Dailey's case, Skalnik was facing the possibility of up to 20 years in prison if convicted of grand theft. Heyman said that he did not have a deal with Skalnik if he testified at the Dailey trial. However, five days afterDailey was sentenced to death, Skalnik was released from jail on his own recognizance and without bond despite a stern warning from his parole officer a year earlier that he was a flight risk, according to ProPublica.

He would go on to serve time for additional offenses, including 10 years in prison for the sexual assault of a child.

Policy changes

Connecticut, Illinois and Texas have made efforts to implement policies to monitor the use of jailhouse informants, like keeping a log of every informant's testimony and turning over disciplinary and visitor records among other documentation.

"If a prosecutor has a problem with disclosing any information, the question should be what's the prosecution trying to hide, transparency benefits the prosecution," said Dunham.

Another proposed action by Dunham is to tell the defense and the jury what expectations or plea bargains were made in exchange for the informant's testimony.

PHOTO: James Dailey is seen here in a 1986 booking photo. (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office)

Duffie Stone, the president of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), said some of the suggested policies are "not necessary" since they are supposed to be a part of a prosecutor's "ethical obligation."

The Innocence Project has ongoing petitions in Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts and Oklahoma to reform policies on the use of jailhouse informants.

Texas is one example of a state passing reforms regarding government informants. In June 2017, the state passed legislation where prosecutors must keep a comprehensive record of the inmate -- previous cases in which theyve testified and any benefit they received, along with a complete arrest record -- and to turn over that information to the defense, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Texas has had 366 wrongful convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. Of those, 13 had a jailhouse informant involved with their case and three inmates were sentenced to death.

MORE: Attorney says jury didn't hear key information in death row case

In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a wide-ranging bill in July 2019 that has created the nations first statewide system to track the use of jailhouse informants, including any benefits offered in exchange for their testimony, the Associated Press reported.

In November 2018, Illinois lawmakers amended a law to now require judges to conduct a pre-trial hearing for all cases involving jailhouse informants in order to assess the reliability of their testimony. This policy had been in effect only for death penalty cases, which were then banned in the state in 2011.

"The states that are trying to implement rules to have hearings to seek reliability of an informant are in the right path, but the real issue is having all the information about the witness in front of the jury," said Bederow.

Dailey awaiting justice

Dailey breathed a sigh of relief in October 2019 when a federal judge temporarily tossed his Nov. 7, 2019 execution date in order for his newly assigned attorneys to research and file a motion to vacate his conviction and death sentence.

His appellate attorney, Josh Dubin, filed a motion on Jan. 21 seeking to vacate the conviction alleging a Brady violation -- failing to disclose evidence that's favorable to the defense or can discredit a witness.

MORE: Death-Row Inmates Prefer Death to Life

"Skalnik had everything to gain," Dubin told ABC News. "And absolutely nothing to lose. He had pending charges against him. He got up on that witness stand, um, and he lied..."

According to Dubins motion, Skalnik "perjured" himself about his criminal history on the stand.

The New York Times/ProPublica investigation points out that Skalnik had been charged with lewd and lascivious conduct on a child under 14 in 1982, but four months later, prosecutors agreed to drop the charge in a plea deal in exchange for Skalniks pleading guilty to grand theft.

MORE: Attorney says jury didn't hear key information in death row case

Skalnik, according to Dailey's latest motion, lied when questioned by Daileys defense attorney, saying he had never faced charges of physical violence. In Florida, the lewd and lascivious assault on a child under 14 is considered physical violence.

"The State knew, at the time of Mr. Daileys trial, that Skalnik had perjured himself before the jury. Mr. Heyman was apparently prepared to ask Halliday about Skalniks prior sexual assault charge, but, after Skalniks false testimony regarding his criminal history, Mr. Heyman did not. The State permitted Skalniks false testimony about his criminal history to stand uncorrected," according to this motion.

The 1987 trial transcripts do not indicate that the prosecutors corrected the record or entered a stipulation for the jury to consider that charge on Skalnik's criminal history during deliberations.

"We knew he'd had -- a history of a sexual assault allegation," Heyman said to ABC News. Heyman later acknowledged to ABC News that he never mentioned Skalniks sexual assault charge to the jurors, saying that it would only have been his responsibility to alert the jury had there been a conviction for sexual assault.

At a court hearing on on Feb. 20, Circuit Judge Pat Siracusa granted the defenses request for an evidentiary hearing at which Pearcy will be called to testify. That hearing is scheduled for March 5.

A new execution date has not been set for Dailey.

PHOTO: James Dailey speaks to ABC News during an interview on Jan. 9, 2020. (ABC News)

Editors note: This story was updated to reflect that Paul Skalnik claimed in his testimony during trial that James Dailey told him it was Jack Pearcy who held Shelly Boggios head under water.

Death row inmates fight for his life shines light on use of jailhouse informants originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Several law firms are lending their newly graduated civil litigation attorneys to the Harris County District Attorneys Office to help prosecute cases in the 16 justice of the peace courts, the office announced Monday.

The assistance is meant to give the new lawyers experience in the courtroom and simultaneously ease county prosecutors workloads, District Attorney Kim Ogg said. She has asked county commissioners several times to fund more prosecutors for her office, but has rarely been successful.
South Africans are grappling with regular load-shedding which can last four hours at a time, but this could be the start of something much worse.

This is the warning from Zimbabwe national Tafadzwa Choto, who said she has seen it all before in her home country.

In December 2019, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, Zesa Holdings, implemented electricity cuts for as long as 24 hours per day.

This was necessary because the countrys local power generation capacity was critically constrained, with demand far exceeding supply.

Zimbabwes Kariba South hydropower stations reservoir was drained, its Hwange coal-fired generators kept breaking down, and it struggled to pay for imports from South Africa and Mozambique.

Zesa Holdings told stakeholders that load-shedding is now being implemented over and above the advertised schedule.

Choto told SABC News that the power cuts in Zimbabwe, just like in South Africa, also started with two-hour outages.

This has now changed, and Zimbabweans have to deal with power cuts of between 15 and 18 hours per day.

If South Africans are not careful, they will go the Zimbabwean way, said Choto.

Many load-shedding promises

Over the past decade, South Africans have often heard that load-shedding would be a thing of the past.

In 2007, when load-shedding was first implemented, the government said its Medupi and Kusile power stations would resolve the energy crisis.

In July 2013, Eskom CEO Brian Dames reiterated that South Africans will not experience power cuts going forward, thanks to the new power stations.

Three years later, former President Jacob Zuma said he met with Eskom management and assured South Africans that they will not experience load-shedding ever again.

Eskom CEO Brian Molefe reiterated Zumas claim when he told Parliament in August 2016 that load-shedding was a thing of the past.

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan also said in April 2019 that there would be no more load-shedding in South Africa.

Load-shedding to last for years

While Eskom and energy minister Gwede Mantashe claim that load-shedding will last for between 18-24 months, energy experts disagree.

Energy advisor Ted Blom said an in-depth Eskom study showed that there will be at least five years of load-shedding. He added that this the best-case scenario.

Energy expert Mike Rossouw agreed. He said it will take at least five years for Eskoms network to be stabilised.

Rossouw explained that poor habits have become the norm at Eskom, and to change this will take time and resources.

The situation is aggravated by design faults at South Africas two largest power stations  Medupi and Kusile.

SABC News interview
Fresh off of a win in Nevadas Democratic primary caucuses, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders came to Houston prepared.

Speaking at the University of Houston, the presidential hopeful did not shy from a string of harrowing events still fresh in Texans minds, using the citys brush with devastating storms to shed light on climate change and the deadly shooting in El Paso to call for tougher gun control.

This state, maybe more than any other state, has the possibility of transforming this country, said Sanders, speaking Sunday to more than 6,600 rally-goers in the Fertitta Center

Sanders called on his signature campaign pitches, including a single-payer Medicare for All system, raising the U.S. minimum wage to $15 an hour and reforming a broken and racist criminal justice system.

His renewed attention toward snagging Texas support ahead of the March 3 primary appeared to energize prospective voters, who last saw him in Houston in April 2019. A University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll showed Sanders as a narrowing front-runner, polling at 24 percent among self-identified Democratic voters. He cinched a major victory in Nevada on Saturday with 46 percent of the Democratic vote.

Jamie Baccaro and her daughter, Maya, said they were pleased with Sanders efforts to appeal to Texans.

Were really happy to see him here in Texas since it is a controversial state, Maya Baccaro said. It feels nice that hes educated on everything happening here.

Over the ear-splitting roar of thousands of rally attendees, he also called for an overhaul of the countrys infrastructure, vowing to commit financial resources to rebuilding roads and water systems, along will building up to 10 million units of affordable and low-income housing.

He took swings at his Democratic opponent, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and President Donald Trump, calling out the commander-in-chief as a hoax for his disregard of climate change and tax cuts which Sanders said were aimed at benefiting corporations and billionaires.

We do not want a president who disrespects American democracy, he said.

Sanders blasted Bloomberg for pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into political advertising since joining the contested race.

Michael Bloomberg has the right to run for the presidency, but he does not have the right to buy the presidency, he said.

The primary will be University of Houston student Yahya Yahyas first time voting in a presidential race. He attended the rally already with plans to vote for Sanders but had hoped to hear the senator address issues affecting younger voters.

Student debt, its pretty important to students, Yahya said.

Another supporter, William Salazar, said he had been keeping tabs on Sanders voting record since the early 2000s, when he was a congressman opposing the authorization to enter the Iraq War.

Salazar, donning a leather bomber jacket and red Democratic Socialists for Bernie shirt, thought Sanders could clinch the Democratic presidential nomination.

This guy is the candidate for the people, he said.

Sanders was expected to speak again on Sunday in Austin. He made a campaign stop on Saturday in San Antonio, where more than 3,000 supporters came out to cheer the Vermont lawmaker. He vowed to win the Democratic primary.

The president gets very upset easily, so dont tell him that were going to beat him here in Texas, he told the crowd.

Staff writer Jeremy Wallace contributed to this story.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com
Passengers aboard the cruise ship Westerdam who have returned to the United States no longer need to isolate themselves and can resume normal activities, despite the fact that one passenger tested positive for the new coronavirus in Malaysia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised.

A spokesman for the agency said on Saturday that the passengers diagnosis, confirmed twice by health officials in Malaysia, was a false-positive and noted that no other infections among passengers aboard the ship had been reported.

But on Sunday, the agency said that it had no direct evidence that the test result was a false-positive. Malaysian health officials announced that the passenger, an 83-year-old American woman, now tests negative for the infection, but experts say that is to be expected in a patient recovering from the illness.

(The test looks for an active infection; it is not an antibody test, which can tell whether a patient has ever been infected.)
In New York, the idea of replacing the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway with a tunnel has been debated over the years and dismissed largely because of the enormous price tag  money that officials and transportation advocates say could instead be spent on fixing the subway and other mass transit.

Now Arup, a global engineering firm hired by the City Council to look at alternatives, said the tunnel option should be reconsidered because of advancements in technology like digging and ventilation.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and city transportation officials would have to embrace any plan for the highway, and the city has already reviewed  and rejected  the idea of a tunnel because of financial and logistical challenges, including digging in areas with subway lines and water tunnels and below residential neighborhoods with historic buildings.

Officials at City Hall said they would review the Councils report.

A 57-foot-wide tunnel could run underground from the Gowanus Canal to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, according to the 67-page report. The triple-cantilever structure that is part of the B.Q.E. would be torn down. The famed Brooklyn Heights Promenade that sits above it would be preserved. A four-lane boulevard would run from Atlantic Avenue to the Columbia Heights Bridge.

But Sam Schwartz, a transportation consultant, said that a tunnel might not be a realistic option  the existing highway is deteriorating and could be unsafe to traffic within five years. A tunnel could take many years.

It would set back the process, Mr. Schwartz said. Here we have a patient  the B.Q.E.  in the intensive care unit. It cannot wait 10 years for a tunnel to be built.
Ahead of the commencement of Maharashtra Legislature's budget session, BJP legislators staged a protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhawan on Monday, alleging that the government "failed" to address farmers' woes and curb crimes against women.

They demanded that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government write off farmers' debts completely and also provide them a financial assistance of Rs 25,000 per hectare for crop damage.

"There are nearly 34 lakh farmers (eligible for seeking loan waiver), but a list of potential beneficiaries of some 20,000 cultivators is put out today. We condemn this selectiveness of the state government," BJP state president Chandrakant Patil said.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said the MVA government has "failed" to protect women in the state.

"The rising number of assaults, in which some women even lost their lives, are serious and cannot be ignored," the former chief minister told reporters.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Pravin Darekar also criticised the government over the issues being faced by farmers and the rising crimes against women.

"We are going to corner the state government over the issues of farmers' plight and women's safety," he said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray earlier said the state government will on Monday release the first list of 20,000 farmers who have benefited under the state crop loan waiver scheme.

He said two villages from each district have been selected in the first list of the potential beneficiaries.

The chief minister in December last year announced the scheme writing off debts of farmers whose crop loan outstanding is up to Rs 2 lakh till September 30, 2019.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, on Sunday said the money will be transferred directly into the loan accounts of farmers.

He said the second list of beneficiaries will be out by February 28 and the entire scheme will conclude by April this year.

"We have so far prepared a list of 35 lakh bank accounts which are likely to become eligible for the loan waiver scheme. Once few details are available, those accounts will be filtered further and finalised for the transfer of money," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former PM Manmohan Singh to remain absent in Rajya Sabha for entire winter session on health grounds

Manmohan Singh to skip President's banquet in Trump's honour

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 24: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh will not attend the official banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind in honour of US President Donald Trump on February 25, sources said.

Singh had earlier accepted the invite but expressed his inability to attend the same on Monday.

He has conveyed his regret to the President's office for not being able to attend the banquet, sources close to Singh said.

The opposition Congress is peeved at the Modi government's move to not allow its top leaders a meeting with the visiting US president, as has been the tradition.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is also skipping the President's banquet in protest over the party's top leaders not being extended an invitation.
Representatives for Berkshire Kind go over plans for the company's marijuana cultivation facility at Tuesday's Community Development Board meeting.

Pittsfield Approves Industrial Park Pot Cultivator's Site Plan

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Community Development Board approved a site plan from Berkshire Kind, which plans to cultivate marijuana in the William Stanley Business Park.

The board was happy Tuesday with some of the changes Berkshire Kind made to its proposed 20,000 square foot indoor cultivation building and blessed the site plan.

"This is a big step forward because in the beginning it looked like a big garage," Chairwoman Sheila Irvin said. "We look forward to a little more detail."

Brothers Philip and Jeremy Silverman, owners of Berkshire Kind, executed an agreement with the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA) in the fall of 2019. They plan to occupy site 4 in the park, right across the street from the Berkshire Innovation Center.

The brothers plan to invest $2.8 million to $2.9 million in the 1.5 acre site that would accommodate 5,000 to 6,000 square feet of canopy in the 20,000 square-foot building that would double in later phases of the project.

The design that Darrin Harris of Hill Engineering presented to the board was altered from the original to make the building look less boxy.

"We submitted some plans and we got some feedback so we dressed up the building a little bit," Harris said. "We will say the site is very difficult to see ... but it was still a pretty plain building."

Harris said false windows, brick, and canopies were added.

The board felt the changes were a huge improvement.

There was some discussion over the color of the building with board members advocating for a darker tone that would help the building blend in  perhaps matching the Berkshire Innovation Center.

"It is much better than what was in the plan," board member Elizabeth Herland said. "It is a long building and I understand a lot won't be visible but you still will be able to see it. When you drive north on Woodlawn [Avenue] you are going to see this big long building."

Jeremy Silverman, who plans to move to the area to oversee the business, said they are willing to use any color the city wants as long as it complies with the William Stanley Park standards.

"We are open to whatever," he said. "Color to us is irrelevant."

Other than the aesthetics, Harris said they meet all other zoning standards and have met with the building department and Fire Department. Hill Engineer Jeff Randall added that there will be 12 parking spaces and the parking lot and facility entrance will be relined and cleaned up.

"We will do it because it is kind of all over the place with all of these lines that don't go anywhere," he said.
Northern Ireland health unions are to end their industrial action after voting in favour of the Department of Health's pay offer and commitment to safer staffing levels.

Unions staged unprecedented strike action which saw thousands of workers take to picket lines across Northern Ireland over recent weeks.

They called for pay to be introduced at the same level as their counterparts in the rest of the UK as well as increase recruitment in order to improve safety levels in the sector.

Health Minister Robin Swann - as one of his first acts - pledged to implement pay parity and consider staffing levels.

The unions tentatively accepted the resolution and paused their action in order to put the offer to its members.

NIPSA - which represents support staff in the health care system as well as health care professionals - however, recommended rejection of the pay offer as it continues its consultation. It is to ballot members on the pay offer which is to end this week with its health central panel to discuss the outcome next Tuesday.

It said the pay offer for the second year in the minister's offer was below inflation, which was the reason behind its rejection. On staffing it did not hold a ballot as, it said, it did not reflect its membership and is demanding more commitments from the Department of Health and is continuing its industrial action on that point.

Speaking in Belfast on Monday, Anne Speed from Unison, speaking on behalf of the trade unions, said: "Having separate consultations with our members, health trade unions have accepted the proposals on pay parity and safe staffing that have been endorsed by the Health Minister and the Executive in January.

"The trade unions have informed the minister and the department of health of our collective acceptance and the proposals and we will now work with the department of health to implement the agreement on pay and deliver all aspects of safe staffing agreed in the framework document.

"It has been a very difficult period of industrial action for our members and that has not been without hardship but they have given us the mandate to agree to these proposals by secret ballot.

"It is now the responsibility of the Department of Health to ensure that the pay agreement is implemented swiftly.

She added: "Leaders must also ensure pressure must be exerted to take forward proposals on safe staffing levels as quickly as possible to ease the significant pressure on staff, to fill those permanent vacancies that have occurred.

"We are trying our hardest to deliver with them and with the Department of Health so this will be the big programme of work in the coming months.

"This afternoon, we are starting that with a serious discussion on agency spend. We have a commitment from the department on principle on reducing agency spend and staffing so we will be looking into the detail around that this afternoon."

At the height of the strike action around 15,000 workers joined picket lines forcing the hospitals to reschedule thousands of procedures and appointments.

It was the first time in the 100-year history of the Royal College of Nurses that it took strike action.

The Royal College of Midwives celebrated a "significant victory".

Karen Murray, said: "We fought for this positive framework agreement for our members and negotiated hard for pay parity with our colleagues in England and we got it.

It is a testament to the commitment and combined strength of our members that we have been able to get this deal for them so quickly after the return of government in Northern Ireland.

"We will now be working with the Department of Health to get this well-deserved pay award into our members pay packets as soon as possible. This shows our politicians value midwives and are prepared to invest in them. Staff who are valued and supported deliver better care, which is ultimately what we are all here to do for women, babies and their families.

Health minister Robin Swann welcomed the move by the unions.

"My first objective on taking up the post of health minister was to secure a resolution to the industrial action and I am delighted that this has now been achieved," he said.

This was made possible through important pay and staffing commitments which I was able to make with Executive-wide backing and I am grateful to my colleagues around the Executive table for this vital support.

As I have repeatedly stated, our health service will need sustained investment year on year for the sake of patients and staff."
Sony has just announced its new flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 II (Xperia 1 Mark II). This handset is a direct successor to the Xperia 1 which arrived in the same time period last year.

The company announced this device via an online-only event today, following the cancelation of MWC 2020. Sony was supposed to host a press conference as part of MWC 2020 in Barcelona, but had to alter its plans, as MWC 2020 got canceled due to Coronavirus.

In terms of the design, the Sony Xperia 1 II is exactly what weve expected. The phone surfaced a while back, and it seems like that leak was spot on. The device is made out of metal and glass, and it does not include a display notch or hole. It does have really thin bezels above and below the display. This time around, those bezels are proportional, which makes the device more appealing to the eye.

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The Sony Xperia 1 II comes with a flat display, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner

The Xperia 1 II includes a flat display, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. That fingerprint scanner is placed on the right side, below the volume up and down buttons. Sony also retained a physical camera shutter key, which is also placed on the right.

The phones back side is flat, but the sides have chamfered edges. Its camera module is placed in the top-left corner of the phones back side, and the cameras are vertically-aligned. That camera module does protrude on the back, a bit. Both Sony and Xperia logos are placed on the back of this phone.

The device features a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with 21:9 aspect ratio. This display comes with Motion Blue Reduction, and Sony says this brings a 90Hz refresh rate equivalent benefit. So, this doesnt seem to be a 90Hz display, but it will seem like it. Thats a bit odd, but there you go.

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The Snapdragon 865 fuels this smartphone, and the device comes with 5G support. The Sony Xperia PRO is the companys second flagship of the day, which well talk about in a separate article, and that phone also supports 5G.

The Xperia 1 II includes 8GB of RAM and 2256GB of internal storage. A 4,000mAh battery is included inside of this phone, and it supports both fast wired charging, and fast wireless charging.

Front-facing speakers with Dolby Atmos support are also included

The device includes front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. IP65/68 certifications are included here, which will give you some peace of mind.

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The phone includes four cameras on the back. Youll find three 12-megapixel cameras on the back of this device, along with a 3D ToF (Time-of-Flight) sensor. ZEISS optics are included, as well as some tech from Sonys Alpha cameras. Such tech includes real-time eye tracking autofocus (up to 20fps). These cameras can also calculate AF/A at up to 60 times per second.

One of its 12-megapixel cameras comes with a 16mm lens, and this is a 1/2.6-inch sensor with Dual-PD AF. Its second 12-megapixel camera comes with a 24mm lens, and this is a 1/1.7-inch sensor with Dual-PD AF and OIS. The last camera supports PDAF and OIS, while it comes with a 70mm lens and a 1/3.4-inch sensor. The phones main camera actually includes the same sensor as the Galaxy S20.

A single 8-megapixel camera can be found on the front side of this smartphone. The device comes in two color variants, Black and Purple. It measures 166 x 72 x 7.9mm, and weighs 181 grams. Sony did not share any availability information just yet.
A swath of "hot spot" cities and towns across northern Italy were in lockdown Monday as authorities battled to contain a fast-spreading outbreak of the new coronavirus that has killed 2,600 people in China.

The unrelenting spread of the virus pushed global stocks sharply lower Monday amid fears that the outbreak could become a global pandemic  a worldwide outbreak of a serious new illness. The global death toll reached 2,699 on Monday night, with more than 80,000 confirmed cases.

The outbreak is not there yet, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization.

"For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale, severe disease or death," Tedros said Monday. "Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet."

Opinion: Coronavirus fear sickens stock market, spreads need to diversify manufacturing

Tedros said a WHO team that spent time in China has determined the outbreak there peaked in late January and early February and has been in decline since.

The U.S. total of confirmed cases rose from 35 to 53 on Monday night, hours after the White House requested $2.5 billion in new emergency funding to deal with the global outbreak. Congressional Democrats, however, Democrats quickly slammed the request as "woefully insufficient."

The new numbers of deaths continue to push the coronavirus well past that of the 2002-03 SARS outbreak. But the mortality rate, a statistic that measures the deadliness of the virus on infected persons, of SARS is still significantly higher. The latest figures show that coronavirus has a mortality rate of roughly 3.4%, compared to nearly 9.6% for SARS.

A boom in cases in Italy, South Korea and Iran, he said, was "certainly very concerning." But he said China has shown that the virus can be contained.

In Europe, "protecting our citizens is the main priority," said Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. "We are all taking this situation seriously, but without giving in to panic, disorder or disinformation."

Story continues

In Italy, the death toll reached seven Monday night. With 229 cases of the virus confirmed, Italy is easily the most involved European country. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has banned people from leaving infected areas, and police have been ordered to fine anyone caught entering or leaving certain towns.

Soldiers patrolled piazzas in Milan, and Venice shut down its iconic carnival three days early as Italy tightened restrictions on large public gatherings that could fan the spread of the virus.

Police roadblocks have been set up to stop people entering or leaving about a dozen towns. Several regions have closed schools, universities, museums, monuments and libraries and banned public events that attract crowds.

Basilicata Gov. Vito Bardi ordered 14-day quarantines for anyone entering his sprawling southern region from the northern part of the country.

Not in my backyard: Alabama balks at plan to house coronavirus patients

Virus investigators in Italy suffered a setback when a person who recently visited China and was thought to be the "patient zero" for the Italian outbreak tested negative for the virus. Kyriakides announced that a team of experts from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization was being sent to help Italy in its efforts to limit the transmission of the virus, known as COVID-19.

"We are following the situation in Italy very closely and commend the Italian authorities for their swift and efficient action," Kyriakides said.

Iran denies report of 50 virus deaths

Iran's death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 12, parliament spokesman Asadollah Abbasi said, giving the country the most fatalities from the outbreak outside China.

The government rejected a claim from a lawmaker, published in a reformist-leaning media outlet, that 50 people had died. Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said in a news conference on state TV that "this is not the time for political confrontations."

In China, the National People's Congress postponed the legislative session set to begin March 5, citing the nation's battle against the coronavirus. No new date was set. Also Monday, the virus epicenter city of Wuhan announced a plan to relax the month-long lockdown and allow small groups of nonresidents to leave for their homes. But a few hours later the plan was rescinded.

Government figures have shown a steady decline in the number of new cases, even as cases are sharply rising in Italy, South Korea and a few other countries.

Contributing: Steve Kiggins, Mike James and John Fritze, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Pandemic fears sweep Europe as Italy locks down towns
* Coronavirus cases spike in Italy, South Korea * Malaysia falls to over 8-year low * Vietnam shares fall as much as 3% By Soumyajit Saha Feb 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets tumbled on Monday as a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in South Korea and Italy stoked fears of a global pandemic, while Malaysia plunged to a more than eight-year low amid political turmoil. The selldown cut across currencies, bonds and equities as investors sought to isolate their assets from the gathering storm. Markets in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia posted their biggest intraday drops in a month. "Markets have been pretty spooked by the secondary infections that they've seen outside of China ... truly the notion of China sneezing and everyone catching a cold, that becomes a real fright for anyone watching this," said Vishnu Varathan, head of economics at Mizuho Bank in Singapore. "The sheer explosion of the rate in (South) Korea has been quite frightening ... there's a sobering realisation that this could really impact hard and fast". South Korea raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level as it reported the total number of infected patients hitting 763, while Italy sealed off some of its worst affected towns in its fight to contain what has become the biggest coronavirus outbreak in Europe. Indonesia stocks hit more than nine-month lows, while the rupiah, which had so far been relatively isolated from virus worries due to the country's economic independence from China, was hammered - dropping 1%. Thai shares fell to an over three-year low as losses in the banking and industrial sectors dragged on the benchmark index. Vietnam shares dropped over 3%, hurt by the banking and real estate sectors. Consumer and banking stocks weighed on the Malaysian index , with heavyweights Public Bank and Sime Darby Plantation Bhd dropping 3.3% and 2.6% respectively. On Sunday, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's party and other groups held surprise talks on forming a new government that would exclude his anointed successor Anwar Ibrahim. "There's some local drama on top of global fears (in Malaysia). There's every reason to sell and no reason to buy," Varathan added. Philippine stocks dropped over 2.4% on losses across all sectors, with real estate and banking stocks weighing the most on the benchmark. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS As at 0453 GMT Change on the day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 3150.93 3181.03 -0.95 Bangkok 1461.1 1495.09 -2.27 Manila 7185.67 7369.78 -2.50 Jakarta 5818.626 5882.255 -1.08 Kuala Lumpur 1492.26 1531.2 -2.54 Ho Chi Minh 908.36 933.09 -2.65 Change so far in 2020 Market Current End 2019 Pct Move Singapore 3150.93 3222.83 -2.23 Bangkok 1461.1 1579.84 -7.52 Manila 7185.67 7,815.26 -8.06 Jakarta 5818.626 6,299.54 -7.63 Kuala Lumpur 1492.26 1588.76 -6.07 Ho Chi Minh 908.36 960.99 -5.48 (Reporting by Soumyajit Saha in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
From 17 to 21 February 2020, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Cuban General Customs organized a National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Workshop. Twenty one Customs officers and representatives from the Cuban IP Office and the Ministry of External Trade & Investment participated in the Workshop, which took place in Havana, Cuba.

Various representatives of international and national brands provided training on how to recognize a genuine from a fake product. During the practical training in the port of Mariel, the importance of the cooperation between Customs and the IP Office was highlighted and a better access to information of registered brands in Cuba was established. WCO's tools like the Risk Management Compendium, the CLiKC! e-learning platform and the CEN were presented.

The main focus of the Workshop was awareness raising on the dangers counterfeit goods pose to the health and safety of citizens and their economic consequences. The training was well received and a discussion on the way forward and on how to implement the existing legislation and procedures. The Cuban IP Office will assist in future IPR trainings for Customs officers.
When opportunity meets with preparedness, the end result is always visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. In another language, one popular saying goes this way, proper planning prevents poor performance.

A gold fish have no hidden place. When you see a destined leader, you do not need a prophet to tell you that he or she is one. By their fruits, we shall know them.

We have come to realise that performance is enhanced, when responsibility is given. Life is a journey and in the journey of life, we learn one thing or another, almost on daily basis and all these lessons in life contributes in no small measure to our leadership abilities. No wonder why they say that experience is the best teacher.

Chief (Barr.) Felix Omi Imoisili as a well trained Psychologist and Lawyer, is a focused and visionary leader who have acquired requisite experiences needed for higher responsibilities at both State and National levels and the records are stirring us in the face.

For those who do not know, Barr. Felix, delivered his assignments diligently, when he was a staff of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), which resulted to almost restlessness as a result of more work, because, management believes that he can always deliver. A colleague of mine jokingly told me that, reward for good work is more work.

Furthermore, Barr Felix contested for Chairmanship of Igueben Local Government Council in 1999, and won in that election with wide margin. His records of achievements gave him the opportunity to win that same seat for the second time. It is on record today that he is a two-time elected Chairman of Igueben Local Government Council of Edo State.

Still talking about Barr Felix, as a Visionary Leader with Experience, he is the pioneer Secretary of Edo State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, (ALGON) and also served as Special Adviser on Special duties to the former Hon. Minister of Works, Arch. Mike Onolememen.

Some of his achievements as Chairman of Igueben Local Government Council include, grass root developments and lasting legacies. And while serving as Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister, he established an active link between the Minister and the Party Leadership, especially in Edo State.

From 2016 to date, Barr Felix remains the Secretary of PDP in Edo State and he is still the current Coordinating Secretary of all PDP Secretaries in Nigeria.

With all these high rising and intimidating profile of Chief Barr Felix Omi Imoisili, and his wealth of experience, it is an obvious fact that, if he is voted in as Edo State PDP Chairman in the forthcoming Party congress, the party will witness all round positive turnaround.

It is therefore, my humble opinion that the cap of Edo State Chairmanship of PDP fits Barr Felix Omi Imoisili, judging from his wealth of experience, Vision and Mission.

We also believe that a vote for Barr Felix is an investment into a brighter future for Edo State PDP because he knows the way and he has the capacity to take the party to higher levels in the State.

In the light of the above, we appeal to the leaders and delegates of PDP Edo State to vote for Chief (Barr.) Felix Omi Imoisili as Chairman of PDP Edo State at the next state congress.
[February 24, 2020] Americans Divided on Perceptions About Personal Data Privacy Control

RSA (News - Alert) Conference 2020 - A new study from nCipher Security, an Entrust Datacard company, suggests that 28% of American consumers think they have more control over their personal data than they did a year ago, while 26% feel that they have less control over personal data privacy and security - or no control at all. "The stakes are getting higher in cybersecurity and data privacy. The California Consumer Privacy Act went into effect in January, giving some people a greater sense of control over their personal data. However, privacy and cybersecurity concerns related to the 2020 election are growing as the primaries begin and November inches closer," said Peter Galvin, chief strategy officer at nCipher (News - Alert) Security. "Meanwhile, biometrics like fingerprints and facial recognition make data even more personal. These factors are sounding alarms for consumers, businesses and government over the state of cybersecurity and data privacy." Control beliefs and trust drivers are variable Forty-six percent of the more than 1,000 American adults surveyed said they believe they have the same level of control over their personal data as they did a year ago. But 15% said they have no control over what happens with their personal data. And the results of an nCipher survey early last year showed that a fifth of Americans said they don't trust anyone to protect their data. Forty percent of the new survey group said their trust is higher when they have the ability to delete their data, which is now an option under data privacy laws. Forty-one percent said that when they feel in control of their personal data, they have a greater sense of trust. Nearly half (49%) said they trust that a company is safeguarding their personal data when it uses encryption. Trust in government's ability to safeguard data appears to be on the decline Entities enabling online banking and digital payments have taken the lead in the race to build consumer trust. Twenty-seven percent of the survey group said they trust online banking more than they did a year ago. Nearly a quarter (24%) said their trust in digital payments has increased. A fifth of the survey group (20%) trusts online shopping more than they did a year ago. On the flip side, 30% of the survey group said they actually trust the ability of government to keep their personal data safe less than they did a year ago. And 17% went as far as to say they had no tust at all in government's capacity to safeguard their personal data privacy.



Americans are willing to accept some data risks for consumerism Previous survey findings suggest that Americans rank safeguarding their private data at about the same level as protecting their families. But Americans are fickle when it comes to just how much risk to their personal data they're willing to incur and for what purpose.

Sixty percent of those surveyed expressed a willingness to accept some risk to personal data security for the convenience of online shopping. More than half of the group said they would assume such risk to enjoy the benefits of online banking (55%) and/or digital payments (54%). But 47% of survey participants said that the benefits of making tax payments online is not worth putting their data security at risk. More than half (54%) said they are not willing to assume risk to their personal data privacy in exchange for the convenience of online voting. Voter registration tampering and election interference are concerns Concerns about election security remain high. One third (33%) of respondents said they are less confident about the state of election security in America this year than they were in 2016. Heading into a presidential election year, 41% of Americans said they are concerned about tampering with voter registration information. More than a third are worried about election interference from a U.S. government official or political parties (38%) or other countries (37%). Thirty-seven percent said that the systems used for voting are antiquated and not secure. When asked about their preference between paper ballots and electronic voting machines, 35% voted for paper ballots, and 30% selected electronic voting machines with paper backup records. Just 30% of Americans chose the electronic voting machine as their answer. Survey results indicate that 24% said they would trust duplicate electronic and paper ballots to keep voting secure. Twenty-seven percent said using security questions to verify voter identities would enhance security. A fair share picked biometric approaches like fingerprint voter verification (46%) and/or facial recognition voter verification (29%). About a third said encrypted ballots (31%) and/or encrypted voter registration data (33%) are the answer. Making the digital world more trustworthy is the better approach, but passwords are challenging "Strong data security in the form of encryption can help build - or rebuild - trust in businesses and in the technologies and services people use to access and share data and interact with one another," explained Galvin. "Citizens can play their part in cybersecurity and personal data privacy by keeping a lookout for scams such as phishing and practicing good password hygiene." However, 78% of the survey group said they have had to change their password because they forgot it on at least a few occasions. Only 9% said they had never changed a password for that reason. More than a quarter (28%) admitted to using the same passwords for work and personal logins, which increases risk. In addition, 74% of the survey group said it is somewhat, very or just plain frustrating when they have to log in to applications at work multiple times a day. About nCipher Security nCipher Security, an Entrust (News - Alert) Datacard company, is a leader in the general-purpose hardware security module (HSM) market, empowering world-leading organizations by delivering trust, integrity and control to their business-critical information and applications. Today's fast-moving digital environment enhances customer satisfaction, gives competitive advantage and improves operational efficiency - it also multiplies the security risks. Our cryptographic solutions secure emerging technologies such as cloud, IoT, blockchain, and digital payments and help meet new compliance mandates. We do this using our same proven technology that global organizations depend on today to protect against threats to their sensitive data, network communications and enterprise infrastructure. We deliver trust for your business-critical applications, ensure the integrity of your data and put you in complete control - today, tomorrow, always. www.ncipher.com Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - search nCipherSecurity. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005089/en/

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President Trumps newly appointed national homelessness czar, Robert Marbut, slipped into his boss enemy territory, otherwise known as the Bay Area, last week for a quiet visit. And in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, he laid out a surprising agenda  because in some ways, it sounded like what local program leaders are promoting.

Marbut said he likes supportive housing. Hes big on drug and mental health rehabilitation, streamlined rules for building shelters and housing, and tracking systems that help tailor services better to street people. All of these are core to homelessness strategies in San Francisco and around California. The fact that Marbut was propounding them was all the more striking for the tone he set. It didnt sound like Trumps.

The president has famously ripped into local and state leaders over Californias skyrocketing street population, spouting inflammatory tweets about how San Francisco has become worse than a slum with needles pouring into the ocean. Hes threatened to step in with heavy-handed federal action if they cant clean up the homelessness crisis.

None of that rhetoric came from Marbut on Wednesday in Oakland at the Marriott hotel restaurant against the backdrop of a national homelessness conference. And as he sat eating lunch, he went unnoticed and unheralded  he wasnt booked to speak, and few even knew he was in the building.

Look, I like California, and I think we have the same goal  we want to significantly reduce homelessness, he said, forking in a bite of rice with vegetables and looking around bemusedly at the homelessness experts and managers who appeared to be oblivious to his presence.

If the decidedly liberal crowd at the nonprofit National Alliance to End Homelessness conference  the most important West Coast gathering of the year in the homeless-aid world  had known Marbut was there, the boos would have shaken the ceiling.

Wed eat him alive if he was here, one program director cracked.

That hostility is rooted in history. Marbut, a longtime homelessness consultant based in Texas, has been accused in media coverage of not wanting to feed the homeless or readily house them. Hes been castigated for designing a shelter in San Antonio that makes some people sleep outside in a courtyard before they can move inside.

This is not a Republican thing, or a Democrat thing  its about giving people housing with services, addressing the problems that made you homeless so you dont become homeless again, Marbut, 59, told The Chronicle. Services are the secret sauce, not just the roof. They have to be tied together.

Theres a lot of common ground we can all find, and its unfortunate that some things Ive said before have been taken out of context or twisted around.

Marbut has repeatedly said he doesnt like the term housing first, which means placing chronically homeless people under roofs before they are enrolled in mental health or substance abuse programs. Quoted in 2015 by HuffPost as saying, I believe in housing fourth, with the implication that housing gets yanked if someone isnt participating, he said such statements are misinterpreted.

The services must absolutely be tied to the housing, yes, and they are paramount, he said. But if someone is failing with the services, not engaging, you dont just throw them out. You start at the beginning with them. Recovery doesnt work in a straight line  its oscillating.

The main sticking point for Marbut with many program providers is the tough-love approach he advocates. He has consulted for homelessness programs nationwide for more than a decade, and among his main messages are preventing panhandling and advising police to sweep encampments into shelters. He also suggests limiting soup kitchens to facilities with services and rewarding people who participate in services by giving them better shelter placements.

His enthusiasm for transitional housing  long-term shelter with services until someone gets a permanent home  gets particularly intensive resistance. That sort of housing has fallen out of favor because its usually at least 50% more expensive than placing someone in a permanent home right away.

But Marbut, in 2006, helped create one of the better-known models of transitional housing in America, the Haven for Hope shelter in San Antonio. As head of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Marbut doesnt allocate funding, but he does help shape policy and coordinate the efforts of 19 federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  and he holds the haven up as positive model.

Since HUD started emphasizing housing first over services and not requiring participation in programs, national homelessness has increased, he said. Street counts went up 3% last year in the U.S., and 16% in California. Its not working. Weve got to get back to addressing the root causes of homelessness, and engaging people in services  not enabling them.

Exactly how or whether to ramp up the programs he likes at a time when Trump is proposing major cuts in housing and aid programs remains uncertain.

His tough-love approaches brought immediate condemnation when he got his job in December. National Low Income Housing Coalition CEO Diane Yentel tweeted that Marbuts techniques were paternalistic, patronizing, filled with poverty blaming/shaming.

Others critics, such as National Alliance to End Homelessness CEO Nan Roman, are more measured.

I dont agree that we should be building more transitional housing, Roman told The Chronicle at the Oakland conference. Housing with services? Of course we need that. But there also needs to be a place for those who arent ready for services yet, because you cant just leave them on the street.

A 2020 report by her nonprofit shows that while every state has cut back on transitional housing beds since 2013, 32 states and territories reduced the number of unsheltered people on their streets. She attributed that to the rise in housing first programs.

He hasnt done anything yet in his new job, so I am reserving judgment for now, Roman said of Marbut. It would be great if we could work with him.

Her hope is echoed by the director of homelessness programs in one of Trumps favorite targets, San Francisco.

What I heard from him is a deep interest in recovery, service delivery and personal responsibility, and those are not bad things to be interested in, said Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing chief Jeff Kositsky, who chatted with Marbut at the end of that rice lunch Wednesday.

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.

He said he wants to come out and look at some of our programs in San Francisco, and despite whatever philosophical or political differences we might have, its important that we find common ground. Id welcome him.

Marbut had already spent several hours late Tuesday night walking around the Tenderloin talking to homeless people and police officers.

It was so very sad, he said of what he saw. People injecting drugs, so many outside. How did our country get to this place? These people need help.

Marbut has done homelessness consulting gigs in several California communities, with varied results. His techniques fell flat in 2014 when Fresno officials hired him to assess the citys homeless resources, and he suggested building a shelter similar to the Haven for Hope. Locals balked at the model.

But in Placer County, Marbuts consultations were a hit. Its opening of a 100-bed service-enriched shelter and expansion of drug, alcohol and mental health programs, following his suggestions, were largely responsible for the homeless count dipping from 663 in 2017 to 617 in 2019, said Brigit Barnes, a leader of the community homeless crisis effort.

We could not have done it without Robert, Barnes said.

At least one of Marbuts predecessors, Barbara Poppe, one of President Barack Obamas homelessness czars, did not share that sunny view of him. She was hired by Fresno as a consultant after Marbuts proposal was rejected.

Being homeless is tough enough  enacting more harsh requirements wont magically work to address homelessness, which is caused by an extreme shortage of affordable rental housing, Poppe told The Chronicle last week. Housing first provides a real solution and enables homeless people to exit the streets.

But Philip Mangano, another predecessor in the czar post  under Presidents Obama and George W. Bush  disagreed. He has long propounded the benefits of supportive housing and said Marbut is largely on the same page about that.

Marbut does say controversial things that get taken out of context, but if you have direct conversations with him and see what hes done, you will see that he does want to feed homeless people, and he does understand housing first to be one of the interventions that can resolve homelessness, said Mangano, now a member of Gov. Gavin Newsoms Council of Regional Homeless Advisors. I dont agree with him on everything.

But I will say this: Hes restored some energy to that position.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KevinChronSF
P ortsmouth to Bilbao

We all know youre mainly coming to see the the Bilbao Guggenheim, but time your trip right and you can fling some moves amid the masterpieces in the monthly Art After Dark parties laid on by local nightclub Fever. Crash at Hotel Lopez de Haro (hotellopezdeharo.com, doubles from 73). Next morning, sustenance is at hand with the sublime 10-course tasting menu of locally sourced delights such as saffron stewed lobster and rabbit at Mina (restaurantemina.es). And the surfing hotspots and vanilla coloured sands of Barinatxe are just half an hour away by metro  just be aware the beaches here are clothes optional.

How much? from 130 return.

How long? 23 hours.

Harwich to Hook of Holland

Hot wheels: funky Rotterdam / Iris Van den Broek/Rotterdam Tourism

As Amsterdams unruly, funkier and hugely cheaper sibling, a weekend in Rotterdam  reach via the Hook of Holland ferry  should include a stay aboard the SS Rotterdam (ssrotterdam.com, berths from 94), a former cruise liner moored on the south bank of the river. The Markthal (markthal.nl) is full of stands selling cheese, meat and tapas  ideal for lunch on the move. Then party like the Dutch do (that is, until really, really late) at Toffler (toffler.nl), in an underpass.

How much? from 79 return.

How long? 6 hours and 30 minutes.

Poole to Cherbourg

In 1944, Cherbourg was the busiest port on the planet, being the arrival point for Allied troops. These events are relived at the Liberation Museum, (cherbourg.fr), a 19th-century fortress at the summit of the Roule Hill. The Cite de la Mer (citedelamer.com) explores the fate of the Titanic and its pit stop in Cherbourg. Catch your breath with some outstanding value Michelin-starred cuisine at Le Pily (restaurant-le-pily.com), where a three-course set menu is just 40 before retiring to Hotel Regence (laregence.com, doubles from 80) .

How much? from 70 return.

How long? 4 hours and 15 minutes.

Newhaven to Dieppe

Soaring chalk cliffs mark Frances oldest seaside resort, which is at its best on a Saturday morning when the Marche de Dieppe is crammed with oyster and scallop stalls. A former Art Deco-styled hotel dating to 1928 is now home to art gallery Villa Perrotte (villaperrotte.fr). Dieppe is also home to a hearty fish stew called la Marmite Dieppoise, best supped at A La Marmite Dieppoise (lamarmitedieppoise.fr) on Rue St Jean. Sleep it off at Hotel de le Plage (plagehotel-dieppe.com, doubles from 72).

How much? from 30 return.

How long? 4 hours.

Portsmouth to Caen

Conquer Abbaye aux Hommes / Normandy Tourism

Visit Caen to get a glimpse of the tomb of William the Conqueror, resting inside the Abbaye aux Hommes which he had a hand in building himself. The ramparts of the medieval castle are now home to the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Caen. The old Vangueux area hosts a glut of homely bistros, none better than Le Bouchon du Vaugueux (bouchonduvaugueux.com) offering fillet of turbot and a house speciality of pork loin. Superior slumbers await at Le Dauphin (le-dauphin-normandie.fr, doubles from 74), a restored 12th-century priory with exposed beams and hearty breakfasts.

How much? from 70 return.
The concerns outlined in the recent article, West Perry worries over special education costs are indicative of anxieties that administrators and school board directors across the state are feeling this time of year.

Increases in mandated expenses for school districts are estimated to top $455 million this year alone, and special education costs are expected to continue to grow by more than $200 million per year, topping $6 billion in 2020-21. Other mandated costs for charter school enrollment  the amount school districts must pay charter schools  are estimated to grow by more than $175 million in the upcoming budget year. In the West Perry School District, the proposed $42 million budget included a tax increase of 9.15 percent.

In the article, the business manager at West Perry, Stevie Davis, channeled the struggles of administrators in districts across the state, We do what we can to control costs, Davis said, but the state doesnt pay its fair share of education costs.

Schools are struggling to keep up with rising costs and to head off program cuts. In order to help local districts hold down property taxes and improve outcomes for students, the General Assembly needs to do its part.

Governor Wolf included an increase in funding for Pennsylvania public schools of $405 million in his 2020-21 budget proposal. The General Assembly must step up by working with the governor to ensure public schools receive not a penny less than that proposed increase.

Karen Anderson, Tyrone Township, Perry County
CLEVELAND, Ohio  I no longer call the Silver State home, but it will forever hold a place of personal and professional significance in my life.

As I was just starting out my journalism career, I lucked into a fantastic opportunity as the lead political reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal in summer 2015. The presidential race was just beginning to take shape and Nevada (by the way, its pronounced Ne-VAD-uh, not Ne-VAH-duh) was a hotspot, with both a first-four presidential nominating contest and a reputation as a swing state.

After 2016, I traded in the Truckee River for the Cuyahoga. Instead of the Reno Aces, I now catch a couple of Cleveland Indians games a year. And I take trips to Columbus instead of Carson City.

Being a political reporter and analyst requires a certain amount of tea leaf reading.

As results rolled in (slowly) for the Nevada caucuses over the weekend, I started thinking about what I know about the Silver State and how it might apply here.

Bernie Sanders is dominant

Nevada was probably always going to be a strong state for Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He didnt win in 2016, but he did come close  even with some institutional apparatuses working against him.

This time around, he had much more help. Several members of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids team are top officials in Sanders campaign, including campaign manager Faiz Shakir, undoubtedly giving him an edge in organization this time around.

In the first round of voting, Sanders easily won the popular vote with 34%. On the final vote, which is tallied after candidates are removed from the ballot for not reaching the 15% viability threshold, Sanders garnered 40.4% of the vote. Projections right now have him walking out with 46.8% of the delegates.

And if Sanders supporters are so unwavering in Nevada, it stands to reason theyll only be more unshaken come Ohio, assuming a good showing in South Carolina and Super Tuesday.

Sanders won Clark and Washoe counties, home of Las Vegas and Reno, respectively. Those areas translate fairly well to Ohios large-and mid-sized cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown, with some demographic caveats (a smaller Hispanic voter population, most notably). But he also won in rural areas like Elko and Lyon counties.

Entrance polling  an imperfect, but useful measure  showed Sanders garnered a large plurality of 29% of white voters and a respectable 27% of black voters. Thats great news for him in Ohio, a state that is both whiter and has a significant black population.

According to the entrance polling, Sanders did well with some other key demographics  voters without college degrees, young and middle-aged voters, first-time voters, and voters who picked someone they thought could beat Republican President Donald Trump.

Joe Bidens hopes

Former Vice President Joe Biden has long been the presumptive front-runner in Ohio  as he was for much of the race nationally.

But after humiliating defeats in Iowa and New Hampshire, his viability is a real question. Especially since his campaign has largely focused on the argument of electability and his presumed ability to defeat Trump.

Let me be clear about something before going forward. This is not an apologist section about how Biden is definitely going to come back because he is the darling of a losing finish. Sanders is the clear and heavy favorite as of right now and, barring some serious fracturing of the vote, he will remain that way.

There were some positive signs for Biden out of Nevada regarding Ohio, however. Nearly 39% of black voters in the state backed Biden, per entrance polling. As did voters older than 65.

But probably the best signs for Biden from the Nevada vote is his 21% support among voters who would rather nominate a candidate they think can beat Trump and his 29% support among opponents of universal health care.

Elizabeth Warren might be cooked

The one thing that surprised me the most about the Nevada caucuses is just how poorly Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts performed. She has a smart campaign team on the ground in the state, including some Reid folks, and seemed to have soft backing from Reid himself.

Her politics fit the state incredibly well. In my experience, Nevada Democrats seemed to skew more liberal on the spectrum than Ohio Democrats. And Id argue the state is more receptive to women leaders than just about any other in the country. The legislature is majority-female  a first in the nation  as are the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, both of Nevadas senators, two of its four U.S. House representatives, and the mayors of its three largest cities.

Her debate performance in Las Vegas reinvigorated her campaign a bit, but the fact she wasnt able to get as strong a foothold in Nevada is telling. Warren campaign manager Roger Lau was apt to point out that by the time of the debate, many had already voted early. Any real bump would have to come from South Carolina or beyond.

We believe the Nevada debate will have more impact on the structure of the race than the Nevada result. Since a huge percentage of the votes were cast before the debate -- likely well more than half -- tonights results are a lagging indicator of the current state of the race.  Roger Lau (@RogerLau) February 23, 2020

But that she wasnt able to catch on in Nevada isnt a great sign for her chances in Ohio.

Its probably worth it to save your vote

Early voting has started in Ohio, and the campaigns are going to make an aggressive push for you to get your vote in. But the Nevada results show that it might be worth it to wait.

While Sanders is pretty clearly safely in the race through Ohio and to the convention, nothing from this weekends results give me any indication that any other candidate  save former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who was not on the ballot and is self-financing  will necessarily be in the race by March 17.

If you support someone other than Sanders or Bloomberg, theres a non-negligible chance that they wont even be in this race by the time of the Ohio primary.

Read more cleveland.com politics coverage:

Joe Bidens campaign names three Ohio elected officials as senior advisers

Meet Rep. Marcy Kaptur and the people who want to replace her in Congress

Poll shows mixed results for Donald Trump, Democrats in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania

As early voting starts, Ohio still isnt a main focus for most Democratic candidates

Ohio Attorney General tosses out GOP voting complaint against Democratic congressional candidate
Closing the Gap

More than rhetoric required

The governments annual Closing the Gap report was released on 12th February 2020. It provides alarming data on the failure of governments to meet targets set in 2008 to reduce inequality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and non-Indigenous Australians. The Coalition government is now using the outcomes as a reason to refresh the framework, in particular to abolish the use of targets towards achieving equality.

Closing the Gap was introduced by the Rudd Labor government with the ultimate aim of achieving equality by 2031 and meeting specific targets on a number of critical social indicators on the way. Five out of seven of the set targets have not been met or are not on track according to the report:

1. Close the life expectancy gap by 2031  not on track. In 2015-17 life expectancy gaps at birth were 8.6 years for males and 7.8 years for females.

2. Child mortality rate target 94 per 100,000 by 2018  not met. It was 141 per 100,000  twice the rate for non-Indigenous children at 67 per 100,000. In the Northern Territory it was a shocking and incredible 305 per 100,000 over the period 2014-18.

3. Ninety-five per cent of all Indigenous four-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education by 2025  on track except for Northern Territory.

4. Halve the gap for Indigenous children in school attendance by 2018  not met. A gap of ten per cent remains. The attendance rate has declined under the Coalition government.

5. Halve the gap in the share of Indigenous children at or above national minimum standards in reading and numeracy by 2018  not met although the gap has narrowed.

6. Halve the gap in employment outcomes by 2018  not met. The employment rate over the ten years has risen slightly by 0.9 per cent. It is around forty-nine per cent compared to around seventy-five per cent for non-Indigenous Australians.

7. Halve the gap in Year 12 or equivalent attainment rates by 2020  on track. The gap has narrowed by fifteen percentage points  from around forty per cent in 2008 to twenty-five per cent points in 201819.

There are huge differences in the progress or lack of between urban, remote, and very remote areas, where the gap is far wider for the latter two.

An Epiphany?

In his speech tabling the report in Parliament, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Closing the Gap as, A tale of good intentions. Indeed, good faith.

But the results are not good enough. The four expiring targets that were supposed to be met by 2018 were not met.

Over decades, our top-down, government knows best approach has not delivered the improvements we all need.

Today I make the final report of an old approach, as well as the first report of a new era, Morrison said.

He added that despite the best intentions Closing the Gap has never really been a partnership with Indigenous people.

We perpetuated an ingrained way of thinking passed down over two centuries and more. And it was the belief that we knew better than our Indigenous peoples. We dont, he said.

In his foreword to the government report, Morrison speaks of a new Closing the Gap framework, still to be put in place. A process that is truthful, strengths-based, community-led, and that puts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the centre.

Morrison was not short on rhetoric, but can he be believed? Will the new approach of partnership with Indigenous Australians be any different?

Together we are setting out towards a goal we all share: that is, for every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child to grow up with at least the same opportunities in life as every other Australian, Morrison said in his foreword to the report.

Refreshing the Gap

This Closing the Gap report points to the future, a new path where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people share ownership to improve life outcomes for current and future generations. It closes off on an era of reporting against targets set by governments, the report states.

The refusal to set targets has a familiar ring to it (remember climate change?).

I look forward to honouring our commitment to partnership. I want to make sure Indigenous Australians are genuinely positioned to make informed choices, forge their own pathways and reach their goals.

There is a significant difference between Morrisons same opportunities and equality as used in the aims of Closing the Gap.

There is no recognition of the cuts in funding to essential Indigenous services and other funding shortages. Instead the PMs speech gives the impression that more money is being poured into Indigenous programs.

So, it is no targets, no benchmark to measure any progress, opportunities replacing equality, and no doubt blame the victim if Indigenous Australians fail to lift themselves out of poverty and unemployment.

The report describes this as the Gap Refresh Process. Words that might unfortunately be the true agenda.

Hypocrisy

There has been a systematic defunding of Indigenous-controlled community organisations since the Abbott government.

In 2014 the Coalition axed the funding of the most democratically elected and representative peak body of Indigenous organisations  the National Congress of Australias First People. Last year it entered into voluntary administration due to lack of funds.

The Abbott government set up its own hand-picked Indigenous Advisory Council in 2014. If Morrison is serious about and community-led, approach that puts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the centre, then he should immediately restore funding to the National Congress of Australias First People; close his hand-picked outfit down; and restore funding to Indigenous-controlled community organisations.

The government would end the Intervention and abolish the cashless debit card, policies that have further impoverished and stigmatised those on the receiving end, let alone serving to close the gap.

The Coalition would also reopen the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme that it closed in 2015, driving thousands of people into unemployment and sending Indigenous businesses to the wall.

Dont hold your breath waiting for real change. Real change requires a real change in government  a government of a new type. One that puts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders first before the profits of the big mining corporations, and cattle and sheep station owners.
The salute of a real Ghanaian dictator, photo credit: Ghana media

A dictatorship is a political regime in which power is in the hands of a leader or by a group of people, for example, the military, who exercise it without control, in an authoritarian manner. Such regimes often close their relationships to avoid foreign influence and maintain a stronghold on the population, through intense propaganda and censorship of information.

In Africa, we have dictators, such as Obiang Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola, Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, etc, who have made themselves known to the world as pure dictators without any regrets, while other African leaders live in the shadow of democracy but pure dictators.

The Ghanaian leader, Akufo Addo is one of them. Akufo Addo is a paranoid dictator in disguise, who does everything clandestinely in the name of democracy. Even though not every president becomes a dictator through a coup, however, all of them have something in common, they organize elections which they win, with an overwhelming lead over their opponents.

Since remaining in power is the major priority of all dictators, many managed to build a family government through tribalism and nepotism, giving posts to family members which give them assurance against all possible threats. If Ghanaians are sincere enough, they will admit that Akufo Addo has given posts to a number of his relatives than any Ghanaian leader in the political history of Ghana.

Another fact about African dictators hiding in the shadow of democracy is they operate weak judiciary systems to protect them from most legal proceedings. The reason since the appointment of the Special Prosecutor, despite all the corruption scandals, Akufo Addo and some of his ministers are involved, no one has been accused of corruption to face prosecution.

It was one of the darkest eras in Ghanas political history when Rawlings through a coup became the countrys military leader. We can't forget the silence of fear that enveloped Ghana, following the brutalities the military junta unleashed on innocent Ghanaians.

The assassination of the abducted judges and the previous head of states, Rawlings claimed were guilty of corruption actually changed everything in Ghana for citizens to continue living in fear.

Yet, we are now in democratic rule, under the NPP, with Nana Akufo as the leader, but why then many now fear for their lives? This is a question every sensible Ghanaian need an answer.

In fact, the current political atmosphere in Ghana is so dangerous that suffering Ghanaians prefer to remain quiet instead of reacting and becoming targets for kidnapping or assassination.

If everything is normal, a Ghanaian wouldnt send me such a mail which reveals absolute fear:

Dear Sir, it is with great pleasure I write to you. I read your columns with a lot of joy. I want to draw your attention to an issue that I observe is going on in Ghana but has remained under the radar.

The Ghanaian government's intention of passing a cybersecurity law; under the guise of protecting children from harmful internet content (the words of the minister of communication). So far so good.

However, if we look Africa-wide, we see that these types of laws are being used to stifle opposition voices; for example in Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda.

I also observe that there is no debate on this issue in Ghana between government, civil society, and other stakeholders.

Moreover, the government members should also be reminded they may instigate these laws today and use them to intimidate and stifle others, but whatever happens, at some point they will also leave offers (no matter how long it takes) and these same laws will be used against them.

From an ex-journalist to a well-respected journalist, I hope that you can open the debate on this subject for broader consultation. Now I have the impression that it is being purposely kept under the radar, because of our President's reputation as a Human Rights Lawyer under whose watch such a law would be passed.

Please do not mention my name anywhere as nowadays, you might not know who is reading along. Thank you for your attention. Best wishes, xxxxxxxxxx

Akufo Addo, let me tell you the truth if people are quiet in Ghana doesnt always mean because Ghana is a peaceful country but the fact is, firstly, many are afraid of you and secondly, they dont have confidence in either the judiciary system or the police.

In Ghana, without a bribe, you can't get justice, the reason elites don't go to jail but only goat and chicken thieves. It is, therefore, true that Ghana is a miserable country in the hands of thieves.
Harvey Weinstein proclaimed his innocence even as he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault before being rushed to hospital as the landmark trial came to an end.

The former movie mogul was convicted on Monday of sexual assault and third-degree rape, but he was acquitted on more serious counts of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape.

Weinstein was convicted of forcibly performing oral sex on Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and of the third-degree rape of another woman in 2013. He now faces up to 29 years in jail.

The judge ordered him into custody immediately ahead of sentencing on 11 March. Court officers surrounded Weinstein, handcuffed him and led him out of the courtroom. He reportedly protested his innocence, demanding: 'How can this happen in America?'.

He was loaded into an ambulanace headed for notorious Rikers Island jail but the vehicle was rerouted - reportedly because Weinstein, who is in ill-health from back surgery, started having chest pains. His lawyer Donna Rotunno told NBCNews on Monday night that Weinstein was being monitored for chest pain and high blood pressure.

The seven men and five women tasked with ruling the studio giants fate had deliberated for five days before reaching a decision.

Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Show all 50 1 /50 Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Files arrive at the rape trial AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Louis R Aidala attends the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lance Maerov testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court AFP via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Kara Young exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Rosie Perez exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Photos are passed around to the jury Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein's rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges Elizabeth Williams via AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations Reuters

Meanwhile, many of the women who had accused the producer of sexual assault, only to have him try to smear their names, reacted to his conviction on two charges.

Among them was the actor Rose McGowan, who not only accused Weinstein of raping her, but of trying to stop the publication of a memoir, Brave.

Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing, she wrote on Twitter.

Ashley Judd, who was among the first women to go public with their claims, said: Thank you. I am thinking about how it took 90 women coming forward for two guilty convictions.

Ronan Farrow, one of the journalists who first covered the allegations against Weinstein, said: Todays outcome in Harvey Weinsteins New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today.

Cy Vance Jr, Manhattan district attorney, praised the women who came forward and changed the course of history by sharing their allegations that led to the conviction of Harvey Weinstein. The district attorney spoke outside the courthouse on Monday, shortly after news of the conviction broke.

This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe, and it is a new day. It is a new day because Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed, Mr Vance said. Weinstein is a vicious, serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault and trick, humiliate and silence his victims.

The defence team has said it will appeal the verdict. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala said: As sure as Im a bald man, we will be appealing.

According to Page Six, Weinsteins lawyer Donna Rotunno said of her client: He takes a list of different medications. Hes currently getting shots in the eyes so he does not go blind."

Recommended Follow live updates as Harvey Weinstein found guilty

The silence breakers, a group of women who have spoken out against Weinstein, said in a joint statement shortly after the verdict was announced: While it is disappointing that todays outcome does not deliver the true, full justice that so many women deserve, Harvey Weinstein will now forever be known as a convicted serial predator. This conviction would not be possible without the testimony of the courageous women and the many women who have spoken out.

Despite intimidation from Weinsteins legal team, they courageously shared their stories with the jury, the courtroom and the world. This has been a flawed process from the beginning but has further exposed the difficulties women face in coming forward to tell the truth about powerful abusers.

Their bravery will forever be remembered in history. Our fight is far from over. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office has brought charges against Weinstein and we hope he will be met with swift justice. As we have said from our very first statement together as silence breakers: we refuse to be silenced and will continue to speak out until this unrepentant abuser is brought to justice.

 New York District Attorney speaks after Weinstein sentencing

The case against Weinstein was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring female actor in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi, at his apartment in 2006, and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on Sopranos actor Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Jurors signalled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations.

Weinstein had pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

On Friday, after reviewing sections of Ms Sciorras testimony and related evidence, the jury sent a note to the judge indicating it was deadlocked on her case but had reached a unanimous verdict on the other counts. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

Additional reporting by agencies
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Heavy police force was deployed in parts of Delhi on Monday as the anti and pro-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters once again turned violent.

The police force has been deployed in sensitive areas including Maujpur, Jaffrabad, Seelampur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad and Shiv Vihar in the national capital. A civilian and a police constable were killed during the violent protests on Monday.
CPA message of solidarity with the PCV

The Communist Party of Australia expresses its working-class solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela (Partido Comunista de Venezuela, PCV) and its members particularly those in the oil industry organised in class-oriented unions.

It was with concern that the CPA received the PCV statement about police repression and intimidation of trade unionists and members of the PCV.

The CPA has clearly expressed support for President Nicolas Maduro and the Bolivarian government. The CPA campaigns against the US economic war on the people of Venezuela and the sanctions that directly affect workers and people in general.

We stand firm against the regime change practices by the Trump Administration which includes the recognition of self-proclaimed president which has proven to be a puppet of the US government.

At the same time the Communist Party of Australia expresses its concerns for the reported repression and intimidation of the Oil workers and members of the PCV who were detained and reportedly tortured while in custody on 13th February 2020.

We call on the Bolivarian government to investigate those actions and if found guilty the perpetrators must be punished.

Trying to find a revolutionary way out to the crisis is a demand from the Communist Party of Venezuela towards a working-class solution in the interest of all Venezuelans.

Communist Party of Australia

February 2020
US National Security Adviser: Russian Election Meddling a 'Non-story'

By Ken Bredemeier February 23, 2020

U.S. national security adviser Robert O'Brien said Sunday that he has not seen "any evidence" that Russia is doing anything to help President Donald Trump get re-elected, but acknowledged he has not sought out intelligence reports that allege Moscow is interfering in the 2020 election.

Reports surfaced last week that U.S. intelligence officials had told the Democratic-controlled House Intelligence Committee that Russia was working to help Trump win a second term in the White House after previously meddling to aid him in the 2016 election.

But O'Brien told ABC News' "This Week" show, "I would doubt it. It just doesn't make common sense. Why would they want him re-elected?" He contended that Trump had strengthened the NATO alliance against Russian military might by pushing European countries to boost their defense spending.

O'Brien called reports of the information passed on to the Intelligence panel "a non-story."

"I've seen zero intelligence that Russia is trying to help President Trump get re-elected," O'Brien said.

"I haven't seen the intel, and I haven't seen that analysis," he said.

"I want to get whatever analysis they've got, and I want to make sure that the analysis is solid," he said. "From what I've heard  again  this is only what I've seen in the press, it doesn't make any sense."

O'Brien concluded, "If there's someone from the intel community that has something different, I'd be happy to take a look at it. I just haven't seen it."

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, currently the leading contender to face Trump in November's national election, has been briefed by U.S. intelligence officials that Russia is also meddling to try to help him win the Democratic presidential nomination, possibly on the theory that as a self-declared democratic socialist Sanders would be Trump's weakest opponent.

"That's no surprise, he honeymooned in Moscow," O'Brien said of the Russian interest in Sanders's candidacy.

Trump and Sanders have reacted differently to reports of Russian interference on their behalf.

As he left for a trip to India, Trump blamed Congressman Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who led the prosecution of Trump at his Senate impeachment trial when he was acquitted, for leaking the information about Russian interference.

On board Air Force One, Trump said on Twitter, "Somebody please tell incompetent (thanks for my high poll numbers) & corrupt politician Adam 'Shifty' Schiff to stop leaking Classified information or, even worse, made up information, to the Fake News Media. Someday he will be caught, & that will be a very unpleasant experience!"

Trump mockingly said if any Democrats are "blaming Russia, Russia, Russia for the Bernie Sanders win in Nevada," they need to call for a new investigation by former special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mueller's lengthy review of the 2016 election concluded that Trump's campaign did not collude with Russia, but did not exonerate Trump on charges that he obstructed the investigation. Several prominent figures in Trump's orbit have been convicted and imprisoned on various charges that stemmed from Mueller's investigation.

At a campaign rally in Nevada on Friday, Trump said, "It's disinformation. That's the only thing they're good at, they're not good at anything else. They get nothing done. Do-nothing Democrats."

Sanders said, "The American people, whether you're Republican, Democrats, independents, are sick and tired of seeing Russia and other countries interfering in our election."

He told The Washington Post, "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."

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Gardai are investigating if a suspended prison officer has links to criminals within the jail system, the Herald can reveal.

The investigation centres around a bizarre incident last February when he was caught bringing an air gun and a smoke grenade into a jail.

The prison officer, who works at Dublin's Wheatfield Prison, was arrested by appointment last week by detectives from Lucan Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. After being questioned for a number of hours, he was released without charge and a file will now be prepared for the DPP.

Scanner

He has since been suspended from duty on full pay as gardai continue to carry out a major investigation.

The probe began almost exactly a year ago when he arrived for work at Wheatfield Prison and put a bag through an X-ray security scanner at the jail's screening area and the items showed up in his bag.

When he was asked why he had the items - which are not illegal to possess - he stated that he had them by mistake and that they were the property of a male relative of his.

He then left the prison and placed the items back in his car.

It is understood that the Dublin man then contacted prison authorities himself to explain what had happened.

Gardai in Ronanstown were immediately notified by prison authorities.

The officer's home was searched the same day and the items were seized by gardai.

A major investigation has been in place since then, which ultimately led to the prison officer's arrest last week.

He was suspended from duty within days of his arrest pending the results of the probe.

"The Irish Prison Service cannot comment on an ongoing investigation," a spokesman told the Herald last night.

Senior sources say that gardai have "serious concerns" about the bizarre incident last year.

"Yes, it is correct that these items which included an Airsoft pistol are not illegal to possess but these are items that could cause chaos in a prison environment.

"There are serious concerns about what happened last February and this man's arrest was no box-ticking exercise. This matter has been actively investigated for a year at this stage," a senior source explained.

The Irish Prison Service is currently in the final stages of completing a code of ethical behaviour for its staff.

Standards

In an interview with the Herald in December, the head of the Irish Prison Service director general Caron McCaffrey said: "The Code of Ethical Behaviour provides clarity around the values, professional practice and standards of behaviour which staff of the Irish Prison Service are expected to display on a daily basis.

"I do believe Irish Prison Service staff always adhere to the highest standards of behaviour and this was evident last October, when the CPT (Council of Europe anti-torture Committee) were fulsome in their praise and felt that there was a genuine concern in improving the lives of prisoners in our custody.

"This is a very positive endorsement on the work done by Irish Prison Service staff and is something we should be proud of."
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Actors are pushed into debt at alarming rates, and taxes have increased on average by $3,800 per person, according to research by the Enrolled Agents and accountants Bambridge Accountants New York.

 "Trump and taxes" blamed for surge in the number of actors facing massive tax increases

 Actors pushed into debt, living on credit cards after 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

 Taxes for actors have increase on average by $3,800 per person according to survey

 Although 65% of individuals are better off after the tax changes, actors are often in the 6% of people now paying more tax

The firm, which specializes in handling the tax affairs of actors in New York and California, has seen a spike in calls from actors unable to pay their taxes and unable to provide for their families. During 2019, it typically received just one such inquiry a week. Yet in January 2020 that rate rocketed to one a day, and as tax season continues it has increased even further.

After The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act came in to force in 2018, many actors have been unable to claim their work expenses, leading to tax bills thousands of dollars higher.

In 2017, President Trump announced "the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history" with "tremendous relief for the middle class and small business."

Although 65% of individuals have saved taxes after the changes, actors often fall into the smaller group of 6% now actually paying more tax.

In June 2019, a bill was placed before Congress for the problem to be corrected. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act would allow single actors earning up to $100,000 and married filing jointly up to $200,000 to claim expenses and reduce the additional taxes.

Alistair Bambridge, partner at Bambridge Accountants New York, explains: "Actors were already struggling to break even, taxes have now increased significantly and for many actors the future looks bleak.

"So the surge in actors in poverty speaks volumes about how strongly many of them are affected by two things  Trump and taxes.

"Donald Trump's election promised tax cuts and opportunities, but for actors, they have been left with unfair new tax rules. Expenses that they need to work as an actor like headshots, travel and agent fees are no longer deductible. These expenses can be up to 30% of their income and there is no relief.

"Actors have been marginalized by the tax changes and they are just looking for fairness and the playing field to be even.

"The Performing Artist tax Parity Act will bring much-needed relief to these hard-working families and it should be a priority to be passed in 2020."

Contact Alistair Bambridge, [email protected], 646 956 5566.

Bambridge Accountants New York is a New York-based firm specializing in actors.

www.bambridgeaccountants.com

SOURCE Bambridge Accountants New York

Related Links

http://www.bambridgeaccountants.com


Oak Brook, IL - The March edition of SLAS Discovery features the cover article, "CRISPR: A Screener's Guide," by Carlos le Sage, Ph.D., Steffen Lawo, Ph.D., and Benedict C.S. Cross, Ph.D., (Horizon Discovery, United Kingdom). In their review, the authors discuss how CRISPR-Cas9 systems are being used widely throughout the drug discovery process and the development of new precision medicines.

The discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 systems has helped ignite gene editing adoption and has greatly impacted pharmaceutical and biotechnology research. Because of the CRISPR-Cas9 discovery, gene editing can be used at an industrial scale to identify and validate new biological targets for precision medicines, with functional genomic screening also having an increasingly important role. CRISPR screens provide more robust data sets for target identification and validation, and identify potential mechanisms of drug resistance and sensitivity ahead of new drugs entering clinical trials.

The March cover article also examines the developing landscape for CRISPR screening technologies within the pharmaceutical industry and explores the next steps for this constantly evolving screening platform.

###

Access to "CRISPR: A Screener's Guide" is available indefinitely via SAGE Open Access at https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/jbxb/25/3. A bonus article also featured in this edition of SLAS Discovery, "Forced Self-Modification Assays as a Strategy to Screen MonoPARP Enzymes," is also available via SAGE Open Access at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2472555219883623.

For more information about SLAS and its journals, visit http://www.slas.org/journals.

SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international community of 16,000 professionals and students dedicated to life sciences discovery and technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

SLAS Discovery: Advancing the Science of Drug Discovery, 2018 Impact Factor 2.192. Editor-in-Chief Robert M. Campbell, Ph.D., Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN (USA).

SLAS Technology: Translating Life Sciences Innovation, 2018 Impact Factor 2.048. Editor-in-Chief Edward Kai-Hua Chow, Ph.D., National University of Singapore (Singapore).

Contact Information:

Jill Hronek, Director of Marketing Communications

Telephone: +1.630.256.7527, ext. 103

E-mail: jhronek@slas.org
This is the first in an occasional series on some of Pennsylvanias most perplexing cold cases.

Rezija Sabic survived the brutal, genocidal war in her native Bosnia.
(Newser)  It's shaping up to be a brutal day on the stock market thanks to rising coronavirus fears. The Dow plunged more than 900 points in the opening minutes on Monday, before recovering a bit. At 9:40am, the index was down 778 points, or 2.6%. That follows similar drops in markets in Asia and Europe, reports the Wall Street Journal. For example, the Stoxx Europe 600 fell 3.5%, its biggest decline in four years. And in Italy, which is coping with its own fast-spreading outbreak, the main index fell 4.7%. So what should investors do? The advice from someone who's done pretty well over the years is to ignore the panicked headlines.

story continues below

"The real question is: Has the 10-year or 20-year outlook for American businesses changed in the last 24 or 48 hours?" Warren Buffett said on CNBC, in comments MarketWatch is labeling its "call of the day." He added: "Youll notice many of the businesses we partially own, American Express, Coca-Colathose are businesses and you dont buy or sell your business based on todays headlines. If it gives you a chance to buy something you like and you can buy it even cheaper then its your good luck." (Read more stock market stories.)
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallagher is pleased to announce that 21 of its retail insurance brokers and benefits consultants have been recognized as 2020 Power Brokers by Risk & Insurance magazine. Winners are selected annually from hundreds of nominees based upon client recommendations, their "creativity and resourcefulness, their excellent customer service and their industry knowledge."

"Our clients are our top priority. Our purpose is to provide peace of mind and confidence that we will help them navigate risk," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "Identifying a client's unique challenges and delivering effective solutions requires creativity, trust and a deep knowledge of their industry. We are extremely proud of these talented professionals for the outstanding work that they are doing on behalf of our clients."

Twenty-one Gallagher professionals are honored as 2020 Power Brokers within 10 industry categories:

William Jackson (At-Large)

(At-Large) Justin Felker (Captives)

(Captives) David Brockmann (Construction)

(Construction) Keith Gilbertson and Joey Sylvester (Cyber)

and (Cyber) Teresa Koster , Michele Montgomery and Paul Pousson (Education)

, and (Education) Shannon Gilbert , Chris Herbruck and Emily Raaker (Employee Benefits)

, and (Employee Benefits) Larry Hansard and Chris Smith (Health Care)

and (Health Care) Chris Cyterski , Tim DePriest , Ryan Doyle , Matt Jakubowski and Mark Munroe (Nonprofit)

, , , and (Nonprofit) John Chino and Michael McHugh (Public Sector)

and (Public Sector) Michele Centeno (Transportation).

Twelve additional Gallagher professionals are recognized as Power Broker finalists within nine categories on the magazine's website: www.riskandinsurance.com. They are:

John Marchisi (At-Large)

(At-Large) Kevin Waters (Construction)

(Construction) Joan Rupar (Education)

(Education) Josh Anderson , Ron Novak and Scott Ripley (Employee Benefits)

, and (Employee Benefits) Neal Toffoli (Health Care)

(Health Care) Betsey Clement (Private Client)

(Private Client) Jeff Estes (Public Sector)

(Public Sector) Mike Gong and Alex Ranney (Real Estate)

and (Real Estate) Young Kim (Retail).

About Gallagher:

Gallagher (NYSE: AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 49 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

About Risk & Insurance Power Broker:

The Risk & Insurance Power Broker Awards are an annual selection of the most effective and influential commercial insurance brokers. The Power Broker designation is based on nominations provided by brokers and risk managers, and is judged based on the quality of the application and on references by risk managers in each industry sector. Hundreds of risk managers and risk executives are interviewed in the process of identifying and soliciting, evaluating and judging the nominees. Brokers are judged primarily on their creativity in solving risk-related problems during the previous year, their demonstrated industry knowledge and their high level of client service.

About the Publication:

Risk & Insurance strives to identify emerging risks and mitigation strategies, while covering the fascinating people who drive the industry forward. We also provide expert coverage of core topics such as property and liability as well as the many specialties that comprise the risk management and commercial insurance universe. In addition, we are well known for covering specialized risks faced by a multitude of industries such as Workers' Compensation, Energy, Transportation, Construction, Health Care, etc. Our goal is to not only inform and help our readers succeed in their careers but also to inspire and motivate.

Media: Linda J. Collins

VP  Corporate Communications

630-285-4009/ [email protected]

SOURCE Gallagher

Related Links

http://www.ajg.com


P ost-Brexit London is on the threshold of a new dawn. It needs a mayor who is an extraordinary human being and a visionary leader to take it forward. The successful candidate in Mays mayoral election needs a touch of magic dust about them if they are to make London sing and become the undisputed global capital in the 21st century.

Worthy though the incumbent Sadiq Khan is, and his Conservative challenger Shaun Bailey, neither of them have the verve or the brilliance to do the job that is now needed.

Rory Stewart is the only choice for London. He is not a machine career politician but someone who has excelled highly in every job that he has held, as a government minister, as a diplomat in Afghanistan and as a soldier.

But can he win? Conventional wisdom has it that independent candidates never win. Yet George Ferguson became mayor of Bristol in 2012 and Andy Preston mayor of Middlesbrough in 2019 as independent candidates.

The voting system will favour Stewart. Unlike other elections, the mayoral one is decided by the supplementary voting system in which second-preference choices are counted  so all Stewart must do is beat Bailey into second place. He will secure more second preference votes than either of the two frontrunners. What needs to happen in the next three weeks is for a poll to place Stewart second to Khan. The impact would be transformative, says Tony Travers, an authority on local government at the London School of Economics.

Stewart has laid out his platform to Make London Work. Londons crime figures are deplorable, which he will address by putting many more police officers on the streets. The crisis in affordable housing is a scandal, with only 12,500 houses built in the past four years: he will make a pledge to increase housebuilding. Traffic is gridlocked: Stewart says he will get it moving.

Why should we believe him? Pledges to win office are easy. But Stewarts track record suggests that this action man will deliver on his words. He offers an optimistic vision for how London can become the greatest city on Earth, made up of a collection of villages.

Happiness, community and local pride will be the key elements of the Stewart vision. As the pro-Remain candidate, he is uniquely well-placed to secure special terms for London from the EU in Brussels. London did not vote for Brexit: why should it be dragged down  if that is what happens  with the rest of the country? Stewart can deliver on making London the most EU-friendly part of the United Kingdom.

Rory might be a risk, and four more years of Khan might be more comfortable. But are comfort and predictability what we want, especially when second-term leaders often perform less well than in the first burst of energy? All Londoners should get behind Stewart.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:02:35|Editor: ZD

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A military police officer (L) directs traffic on a road in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 24, 2020. The Sri Lanka army on Monday said it had deployed the military police at all entry and exit points of capital Colombo, to assist the police in easing traffic congestion in the city. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lanka army on Monday said it had deployed the military police at all entry and exit points of capital Colombo, to assist the police in easing traffic congestion in the city.

In a statement, the army said that under the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, this project was expected to minimize wastage of valuable man hours on roads and help increase the national productivity through punctuality.

"The deployment of Military Police personnel, covering most congested points across the city limits is expected to closely liaise with City Traffic Policemen during peak hours on all seven days of the week," the army said.

In addition, military mobile cars and five motorbikes will continue to monitor congestion, coordinate communication and keep surveillance during peak hours with the objective of alerting the public and encouraging them to use alternative roads, if necessary, the army added.
[February 24, 2020] GlueX Returns to Phoenix with Brand Evangelist Guy Kawasaki as Headline Keynote Speaker

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IT Glue , a Kaseya company and the industry standard for IT documentation, today announced that Silicon Valley entrepreneur and former Apple marketing guru, Guy Kawasaki will be the keynote speaker at its annual user conference  GlueX . This year marks the third year for GlueX, which will once again take place in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference will be held at the Westin Kierland Scottsdale from September 27-29, 2020.

GlueX is a premier MSP channel event that brings together the industrys top thought leaders for three days of evolution, innovation and mastery. Headlining the event is brand evangelist pioneer, Guy Kawasaki. Attendees will get to hear first-hand Kawasakis insights from a career in marketing technology along with his work with Steve Jobs during Apples early days. Kawasakis career includes stints at Motorola, venture capital firms, and now Canva. He served on the Board of the Wikimedia Foundation, and today serves as brand ambassador for Mercedes Benz and chief evangelist for Canva. Our third annual user conference is shaping up to be our biggest, most encompassing event yet, said Holly Pateman, vice president marketing, IT Glue. With over 750 attendees expected from around the globe, we are thrilled to bring our comunity together again in Phoenix this September to treat them to three days of the industrys best business, technical, sales and marketing content to drive greater success for their businesses.



Additionally this year, attendees can take advantage of: A session with Gary Pica of TruMethods , the leader in MSP training and solutions

, the leader in MSP training and solutions An IT Glue Admin Level 2 certification course

A Security Xpro certification

A Windows hacking workshop September will be here before you know it. Early bird registration is still available through March 31. So register for GlueX today at https://www.gluex.co/ .

Event Information

GlueX

September 27-29, 2020

Westin Kierland Scottsdale Arizona

Register About IT Glue

IT Glue, a Kaseya company, is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company based in Vancouver, Canada that provides a simple and secure IT documentation platform for IT professionals around the globe. The solution allows IT professionals to document applications, devices, passwords and other IT assets centrally and in a standardized manner, enabling critical information to be stored securely yet easily accessible by those who need it, whenever they need it. IT Glue currently has over 8,500 partners in 50+ countries, serving over 150,000 users and 500,000 businesses globally. For more information, visit: https://itglue.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Kaseya

Kaseya is the leading provider of complete IT Infrastructure Management Solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) and internal IT organizations. Through its open platform and customer-centric approach, Kaseya delivers best in breed technologies that allow organizations to efficiently manage, secure, and backup IT. Kaseya IT Complete is the most comprehensive, integrated IT management platform comprised of industry-leading solutions from Kaseya, Unitrends, Rapidfire Tools, Spanning Cloud Apps, IT Glue and ID Agent. The platform empowers businesses to: command all of IT centrally; easily manage remote and distributed environments; simplify backup and disaster recovery; safeguard against cybersecurity attacks; effectively manage compliance and network assets; streamline IT documentation, and automate across IT management functions. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Kaseya is privately held with a presence in over 20 countries.

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A Syrian toddler has died after being refused treatment multiple times from Lebanese hospitals reports Zaman al-Wasl.

A Syrian refugee toddler has died after five hospitals in the Lebanese Hermel distrcit refused her admittance, her father told Zaman al-Wasl Friday.

The 14-month-old Fatima al-Bakkar suffered from high blood sugar and low blood pressure as well as other medical complications.

Fatimas father, Kheder al-Bakkar, said medics in the Governmental Hermel Hospital barely examined her and refused to take her in. Then, the family took Fatima to al-Asi Hospital, then to Dar al-Amal, al-Hikma Hospital and al-Murtadha, all of which refused to admit Fatima, saying that either there is no room or no blood plasma bags.

That went on until my child girl lost her life I begged them to give her a bed, but everyone refused, I went back to al-Asi and asked them to provide her with blood so I can take her to Syria, but they also refused. No-one has shown me any humanity, not even out of courtesy for my dead daughter. She died  with not even a bed to contain her pain, the father said.

The Mediterranean country of around 4.5 million people says it hosts some 1.5 million Syrians, of which nearly a million are UN-registered refugees.

Eight years of war in Syria has killed 560,000 people and driven half the pre-war population of 22 million from their homes, including more than 6 million as refugees to neighboring countries.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
By Stephen Kalin

RIYADH (Reuters) - France is ready to support Lebanon financially - bilaterally or multilaterally - its finance minister said on Sunday, warning against mixing economic recovery in the small Mediterranean state with U.S.-led efforts to counter Iran in the region.

"France always stands ready to help Lebanon. It has always been the case in the past and it will be the case in the future..." Bruno Le Maire told Reuters at the end of a meeting of finance officials from the Group of 20 (G20) major economies.

"If there is any help required from Lebanon, France will be there."

Lebanon's long-brewing economic crisis spiralled last year as the country's capital inflows slowed and protests erupted against the ruling elite.

As the crisis deepens, hitting ordinary Lebanese hard, there is no sign of foreign aid. Western and Sunni-led Gulf Arab states that helped in the past have made clear that any support hinges on Beirut implementing long-delayed reforms to address root causes such as state corruption and bad governance.

Saudi Arabia's finance minister said on Sunday the kingdom was in contact with allies and international bodies to coordinate any support for Lebanon on the basis of economic reforms proposed by Beirut.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Reuters in an interview that Washington was keeping a close eye on the situation. "Its something were monitoring  both the political and economic issues there," he said. "Our interest is in the people of Lebanon. We want there to be safe environment where they can succeed economically and live as they want to."

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has discussed all possible options in recent meetings with Lebanese officials, who are seeking technical advice for tackling the crisis as Beirut mulls a plan for dealing with fast-approaching debt payments.

Le Maire said decisions by Lebanon's government were urgently needed to improve the situation on the ground.

Story continues

"We want to move in the official fora and we think that the IMF might have a role to play at one stage, but it's up to the Lebanese government to decide," he said. "But if there is any need for help, either bilateral or multilateral, we stand ready to help."

Since protests erupted in October, Lebanon's currency has slumped by roughly 60% on a parallel market, dollars have become scarce, prices have been hiked and thousands of jobs have been shed.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab's government took office last month with the backing of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shi'ite group, and its allies, as Washington presses its policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran with wide-ranging sanctions.

"We know that there are ties between the two issues but we don't want to mix the issue of economic recovery in Lebanon, which is today the clear emergency, and the question of Iran," Le Maire added.

(Additional reporting by Francesco Canepa, Jan Strupczewski and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Jane Merriman, Alex Richardson and Daniel Wallis)
In a surprising development, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad have decided not to attend the dinner invitation extended by President Ram Nath Kovind in honour of visiting United States President Donald Trump. The dinner is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 8 pm on Rashtrapati Bhavan.

It is to be noted that Singh had earlier accepted the invite but on Monday he informed the government about his decision to skip the event. Congress sources said that Singh has conveyed his regret to the President's office.

Singh and Azad's decision to skip the event comes just two days after the Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said that he would skip the dinner called in honour of US President Trump as the government has not invited Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi for the same.

"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 the dinner with Trump? In `Howdy Modi` event, both the Republicans and the Democrats shared the stage but here only Modi will be with Trump. What kind of democracy is this," Chowdhury had said.

Sources close to Azad, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, said since President's Office has not extended invitation to Sonia Gandhi, it would not be appropriate for him to attend the dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

President Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump arrived in India on Monday on a two-day visit. After landing at Ahmedabad's airport, President Trump and US First Lady went to Sabarmati Ashram to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. After spending some moments at Sabarmati Ashram, President Trump went to Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad to attend the 'Namaste Trump' event hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his honour.

After remaining in Ahmedabad for around 3 hours, President Trump and First Lady Ivanka flew to Agra to watch the iconic Taj Mahal. The US President spent around an hour at Taj Mahal and then arrived in Delhi.
MONSON  A female was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and five people were displaced Saturday afternoon after a fire broke out in the basement of a Beebe Road home.

The fire was reported at 111 Beebe Road shortly after 4 p.m., interim Fire Chief Brian Harris said.

Two cats perished in the blaze, Harris said. The female, the sole occupant at the time, escaped the burning home.

The fire caused extensive damage to the basement and smoke damage to the first and second floors.

The Palmer, Brimfield and Wales fire departments provided mutual aid and the Stafford Fire Department provided station coverage. Firefighters cleared the scene shortly before 8 p.m.

The home remains uninhabitable pending inspections by the town building department and insurance company, Harris said.

Troopers attached to the state fire marshals office are investigating the cause of the fire.
Workers prepare a hoarding with the images of the U.S. President Donald Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Trump's visit, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad

By Sanjeev Miglani and Neha Dasgupta

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - 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.

"Following resolution of Westinghouse's bankruptcy issues, the two sides are in discussion regarding the division of responsibility of the work," he said.

Story continues

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 program.

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 channeled to the operator rather than the maker of a nuclear power station.

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.

LIABILITY LAW

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.

(Editing by David Evans)
CHOLERA

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In August 1854, many poor Londoners suddenly took sick and began dying. Their symptoms included upset stomach, vomiting, gut cramps, diarrhea and racking thirst. Whatever the cause, it was fast  fast to kill (sometimes within 12 hours of onset) and fast in spreading to new victims, David Quammen wrote in his review of this fascinating and detailed account of the citys worst cholera epidemic. Seventy fatalities occurred in a 24-hour period, most within five square blocks, and hundreds more people were in danger.

EBOLA

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The scenes in The Hot Zone, a riveting new nonfiction thriller by Richard Preston, will remind you of things youve seen in the movies, Michiko Kakutani wrote in her 1994 review. The scary part is that these scenes arent the invention of an imaginative screenwriter or novelist. Theyre the product of months of reporting by the New Yorker contributor Richard Preston, who set out to tell the story of the deadly new viruses that appear to be emerging from Africas rain forests, and the men and women who are trying to contain them before they can spread, like AIDS, into the human population at large.

INFLUENZA

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In the autumn of 1918, when the war in Europe was almost over, a terrible plague came upon the earth. People called it the Spanish flu, but its innocuous name did not stop it killing twice as many as the Great War itself, David Papineau wrote in his review of this book by Kolata, a medical reporter at The Times. In the United States alone, half a million perished that winter, gasping for breath as the infection squeezed life from their lungs. Could such a deadly influenza return in this day and age? Flu is about the scientists who worry about such a possibility, and as Kolata explains, they remain very nervous indeed.
Agra: US President Donald Trump will be welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his arrival at the airport in Agra where hundreds of artistes will perform, a top official said on Sunday.

The UP Governor and Chief Minister will welcome US President Trump at the Kheria airport. However, they will not accompany him to the Taj Mahal. The Governor and the Chief Minister would also be at the airport to send him off, Agra District Magistrate (DM) Prabhu N Singh said.
There are a few things that the Vietnamese do incredibly well and one of them is making beautifully elaborate works of ceramic.

Ceramics in Vietnam are part of a highly cultural tapestry of handicrafts which also includes embroidery, calligraphy, weaving and painting among many, many others.

Over the course of the countrys history, Vietnamese ceramics have improved to the point of reaching international standard, gracing rooms across Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond.

Follow Indochina Sails, one of the most trusted Halong Bay cruise companies, as we take a look at Vietnamese ceramics from their prehistoric beginnings to the present day.

A brief history of Vietnamese ceramics

Given that Vietnams infatuation with pottery began in the Bronze Age, it is no wonder than Vietnamese ceramics are now a huge part of the countrys identity. In some handicraft villages in present-day Vietnam, the techniques deployed in the Bronze Age (known as Dong Son in northern Vietnam) have changed little, and Vietnamese ceramics coming from here have a lot to thank their distant ancestors for.

Around the same time in south Vietnam and Borneo, Sa Huynh culture was developing its own pottery style for use in tombs and chests holding the possessions of the recently deceased. Both Sa Huynh and Dong Son cultures across modern-day Vietnam laid the foundations for the countrys deepening obsession with decorative pottery.

During the following ten centuries, the Vietnamese ceramics of the time took a much more Chinese approach. This ended in the 11th century when the Ly Dynasty vanquished China, made Thang Long (Hanoi) the capital and inspired a period of great national pride.

Jade-glazed ceramics coming from Hanoi reached international acclaim across East Asia for the next 200 years. The Ly Dynasty was followed by the Tran Dynasty, which continued a legacy of pottery making in northern Vietnam until 1400. The centre of production was moved from Hanoi to Thanh Hoa during this time, and the style of pottery was changed from green glaze to iron brown, but Vietnamese ceramics continued a glorious golden age across the country and the continent.

Vietnamese ambassadors to China brought Chinese techniques back to their homeland during this period, teaching them to villages that would go on to become powerhouses of ceramics in Vietnam. Bat Trang is now internationally famous in ceramic circles, but its history stretches far back to the early 15th century. The village perfected the art of white ceramic, while the nearby villages of Tho Ha and Phu Lang created beautiful red and yellow ceramic respectively.

During this time, Vietnam found a style that it would stick with to the present day. Blue colours on a white background became a style beloved of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnams final imperial family between 1802 and 1945.

White and blue ceramics taking on a royal tone are now referred to as Bleu de Hue, a highly sought-after style of ceramic that is produced widely today. Bat Trang is most famous for this style and it is hoped that an increase in production from this tiny village will one day be able to rival Chinese and French porcelain as the best ceramic in the world.

Where to buy Vietnamese ceramics?

Ceramics from Vietnam may be tough to transport home, but this does not stop many international tourists from loading any extra space in their suitcases with handcrafted ceramics from across the country. While ceramic can be bought in the major cities of Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, we recommend heading straight to the village source, where your unique souvenirs are more authentic and usually cheaper.

Bat Trang  The majority of people looking for where to buy ceramics in Vietnam will settle on Bat Trang, a tiny village with a big reputation. Bat Trang is located in the outskirts of Hanoi and is one of the biggest centres for ceramics in Vietnam, attracting both casual browsers and serious collectors. Many utensils and decorative ceramics have made it into many homes across Vietnam due to their cheap price and durable quality, found across the ceramic markets of the village and far beyond it.

Phu Lang  Along with Bat Trang, Phu Lang was founded under the Tran Dynasty and has been producing fabulous works of art to this day. The village is located in the province of Bac Ninh, which neighbours Hanoi to the northeast and provides easy access for tourists on a daytrip. Phu Lang established its reputation in the 15th century with yellow ceramics, but now focuses on large jars and pots for household use.

Thanh Ha  This highly picturesque village matches much of the beauty of neighbouring Hoi An and captures a part of the historic port towns enormous charm. Located on the banks of the Thu Bon River in central Vietnam, Thanh Ha produces red pottery from rustic-looking houses. The large pots and bowls created here are usually for domestic use, but smaller trinkets are also available for visitors looking to buy Vietnamese ceramics in the setting of a gorgeous red-brick village.

Bau Truc  The notable differences in ceramics from Bau Truc are a product of the alternative techniques used in the village. Bau Truc is located in Ninh Thuan province, near to the southern town of Dalat, and its beautiful works of art promote the history of the Cham people, a civilisation that succeeded the pottery-loving Sa Huynh during the Bronze and Iron ages. In Bau Truc, pottery is fired in an open space as opposed to a kiln; a truly ancient approach to Vietnamese ceramics that has yielded gorgeous results across brown jars with Cham motifs.

Bien Hoa  Another village inspired by ancient Cham traditions is Bien Hoa, located in Dong Nai on the fringes of Ho Chi Minh City. The village has since bloomed into a full city after reaching international acclaim from places such as Japan, France and Thailand. In many exhibitions throughout the 20th century, Bien Hoas terracotta products and copper-speckled glaze completely sold out and the city was inundated with requests for more. Visitors can see both ancient and modern methods in use when shopping for Vietnamese ceramics in Bien Hoa.

Vinh Long  Definitely a contender for the prettiest village to buy Vietnamese ceramics, Vinh Long lies on the banks of the Co Chien River in the expansive Mekong Delta. The ceramic-making part of this town may be hard to find, but those who manage it are rewarded with stunning views of gigantic red-brick kilns and perfectly rounded pottery. Vinh Long is set right into the lush nature of the Mekong Delta and this adds very much to its charm. It is also helped by the beautiful red ceramic that takes the form of many decorative items across the villages humble workshops.

The Gorgeous Ceramics of Indochine Cruise  The most luxurious cruise ship in Halong Bay and Lanha Bay

Vietnams incredible ceramic tradition finds a home at Indochine Cruise, the newest ship to introduce luxury cruising in Lanha Bay. Our marriage of ancient Vietnamese and colonial French styles naturally led to a focus on ceramics, which feature heavily in the cultural make-up of both countries.

In many communal areas across Indochine Cruise, including the restaurant and the lounge, visitors can find incredible works of Vietnamese ceramics proudly displayed as opulently decorative touches.

Our lounge, for example, features jars and pots handcrafted in Bat Trang across not just bleu de Hue style, but also more elaborate works of many vibrant colours. These are placed in a central display case to boost the luxury of the cruise as well as ground it in attractive Vietnamese tradition.

In the cabins, passengers will sleep under an eye-catching piece of art completely unique to Indochine Cruise. Each cabin is enhanced by the presence of an incredible lacquer artwork, starting at the head of the bed and spreading across the ceiling in beautiful fashion.

Each design is completely individual and created by the artisans of Ha Thai, a village 30km south of Hanoi. About 650 families here are professional lacquer painters and have been since the 17th century.

Indochine Cruise - Indochina Sails Hotline: +84982042426 Website: https://www.indochinasails.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indochinecruise/ Pier Address: N22, Port 2, Tuan Chau Island, Halong City, QuangNinh Province

Ngoc Minh
Nobody has been sanctioned in Tusla for serious data breaches being investigated by the Data Protection Commissioner, it has emerged.

Last year, the child and family agency detected and reported 137 data breaches to the commissioner, Helen Dixon, and that resulted in her office opening up three separate investigations.

Tusla chief executive Bernard Gloster said that while no Tusla worker had been held accountable for the breaches, an investigation was under way into how one occurred.

In one breach, Tusla accidentally disclosed the contact and location data of a mother and child victim to an alleged abuser.

The Irish Examiner reported that, in that case, the accused man simply asked the agency for the details and received them.

Mr Gloster said there was no indication that anyone either acted maliciously or malevolently in any way.

They are much more in the territory of human error, he said on RTE Radio.

However, staff who were found to have handled information in a deliberate or negligent manner could expect that the highest levels of accountability.

Mr Gloster said he wanted to make it clear that even one breach was one too many for the organisation, given the sensitive information that it deals with.

Asked if peoples safety was put at risk by the breaches, Mr Gloster said it certainly put the mother and child at an increased risk.

There is no point in saying anything different, he said.

Mr Gloster said the majority of the 137 breaches came into a lower-risk category. Nevertheless, where people were the subject of a data breach, they were notified about it and told of the efforts made to correct it.

Tuslas child protection and welfare service receive 60,000 referrals a year. Such a high volume of work added to the pressures that staff experienced, said Mr Gloster.

The work was very intensive and complex and that did add to the risk of error.

All referrals are now processed by Tuslas national childcare information system (NICCS) and Mr Gloster said it had reduced the risk of generating paper.

Tusla was also very attentive to the risk of sharing offices with HSE staff and had introduced several changes to secure information in those facilities.

Mr Gloster said they were about to carry out an audit of the NICCS system to identify any potential security risks.

He said the system that had 450,000 child protection and welfare cases logged onto it was continuously being upgraded.

His significant concern was about the volume of paper records that Tusla continued to hold.

He said almost half of the 200 breaches that Tusla notified to the commission last year and over the second half 2018 were due to postal and email errors.

It might appear shocking to the public but it is often as simple as the wrong letter going in the wrong envelope, said Mr Gloster.
This post is the first thread in Indivisible Michigans #FlipThisHouse2020 series. This one is on Representative Laurie Pohutsky (@lpohusky19), who is serving her first term representing HD-19 (Livonia). It was originally written for Medium and Twitter by Dave Wagner (@dbwagner104), who managed Representative Pohutskys 2018 campaign. The Medium post is HERE and the Twitter thread is HERE.

Laurie is a force of nature. In three years of friendship, Ive never seen anything be able to get between her and an objective for long  especially when that objective is helping someone who needs it.

During our 2018 campaign, I would tell everyone who would listen, Laurie doesnt know how to give up. She fights. All the time. It hasnt stopped being true. For the last year-plus, shes been fighting for all of us, with dedication and efficacy that is downright awe-inspiring.

Laurie Pohutsky was the ultimate political outsider. People forget this, but she wasnt supposed to be a factor in the 2018 election. She had no personal political background (shes a microbiologist), and the establishment wouldnt give her the time of day.

We all make mistakes.

Luckily, Laurie wasnt asking permission. She knew she was the right person for her district. She ignored expert advice by openly advocating for a platform including Medicare for All and strong protections for Michigans natural resources. She connected, one voter, one conversation at a time.

It worked. She, shockingly, won a primary on a shoestring budget. Then she flipped HD-19 blue in a general election for the first time in 40 years.

As this photo from Election Night conveys, it was the last thing we expected.

It shouldnt have surprised us, though, because no one works harder than Laurie. After all, she worked her day job as a microbiologist through Election Day. She worked with viruses that give me nightmares, got home, and knocked doors until she couldnt see 3 feet in front of her.

This commitment didnt stop when she got into office. Ive never seen a more productive first year that better reflected the priorities of the district who elected a politician. Laurie has fought back against polluters, against animal cruelty, against corruption.

Shes also fought for labor rights and better healthcare for all Michiganders, just like she promised. Dont believe me? Talk to Clean Water Action. Talk to the Sierra Club. Talk to the unions. Theyll tell you just how valuable Laurie is to the progressive cause.

Laurie Pohutsky is one of their most reliable and dynamic champions for these causes in the legislature because she never stops working to make our world better.

Of all her outstanding legislation, though, the bill that should make Michiganders sit up and take notice is HB-4942, which would close a legal loophole that allows spouses to drug and rape their partners.

(You can read about this bill HERE.)

A loophole surely NO ONE wanted to exist was allowed to do so simply because no one in power was paying attention.

Laurie paid attention, and she wrote the bill.

When shes reelected, expect more of this  Laurie listens, and she doesnt miss much.

Through it all, shes made herself ceaselessly available to her constituents, through constant town halls, coffee hours, and special events. I hope they know how lucky they are to have her, because we couldnt ask for better accessibility from a public servant.

And always, on top of everything else, Laurie never stops putting her district before herself: even when some of us wish she wouldnt. When Republicans voted to make abortion illegal in cases of rape and incest, Laurie didnt just vote against them and shut up. Not on your life.

Instead, she dragged herself through the wringer and told her own gut-wrenching story of how this vote could have destroyed her life a decade ago. It must have been agony. But she did it for all the women who would be facing literal hell under that bill, just like she would have.

There was nothing therapeutic in that speech. Nothing redemptive. She told us about the pain of a survivor of partner rape with no options, and she made us feel it. Again, it must have been torture for her in that session. But knowing Laurie, shed do it again in a heartbeat.

Laurie Pohutsky has faced everything this world can throw at her and come out on top. I cant imagine the hubris & ignorance it would take to bet against her now. When I managed her race, we won by a mere 224 votes. This time, she deserves better.

Lets make her margin of victory reflect the extent to which Laurie Pohutsky outclasses anyone the GOP can even hope to match her with.

Vote for and donate to this amazing woman. Help her stay where she belongs: fighting for us.

Lets Re-elect Laurie!

Join me and donate today by clicking HERE!

Indivisible Michigan will be featuring an essay on EVERY SINGLE Democratic nominee for the Michigan State House in 2020. Were taking this majority, and were taking it this year. Please follow our Twitter at @IndivisibleMich.




Vinamilk to export milk products to China

Vietnam's largest dairy producer will officially export its milk products to China, according to a report by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) via Xinhua.

Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Co. (Vinamilk) is the second Vietnamese dairy company after TH Milk Joint Stock Co. to export milk products to China.

As per report, Vinamilk will initially export the first batch of sweetened condensed milk and other condensed milk products to China.

Vietnam first announced the export of the country's milk products to China in October last year.

Meanwhile, Vinamilk's export turnover last year expanded 14.8% as compared with 2018, the VNA reported. Since 1997, its products have been shipped to more than 50 countries and territories, with total value surpassing US$2.2 billion.

The Middle East has become its most important overseas market, contributing more than 75% of the company's total export revenue, according to Vinamilk's executive director of international sales, Mai Hoai Anh.

However, the company has stepped up its operations in such markets as China, Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries, he said, adding that Vinamilk earned the Asian Export Awards 2019.
The SJ Park police forcibly detained a group of four students holding placards condemning police brutality in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh at Town Hall on Monday morning.

The incident happened around 11 am on Monday. Several of the students claimed that the police assaulted them and shared images with DH showing injuries.

Police inspector Tanveer Ahmed said the bruises happened while forcing the group into police vehicles.

We asked them to get into the vehicles peacefully as they did not have permission to conduct a protest there. When they refused, we had to force them into the vehicles, the inspector said, adding that he too had been bruised.

When a larger group of 10 activists sought to continue the protest in the afternoon, they were summoned to the SJ Park police station, where an argument ensued between the police and the activists. The students were later released around 4 pm.
A mother has praised an Aldi cashier for his random act of kindness extended to her autistic son.

Sydney woman Melissa posted in the Aldi Mums Facebook group to tell of her experience at the supermarket's Seven Hills store with her son, Henry.

The three-year-old's condition impairs his ability to communicate and can effect his behaviour in public places.

'Had to do a shop with my three-year-old autistic son the other day,' Melissa's post reads.

Sydney mother Melissa (pictured) posted in the Aldi Mums Facebook group to tell of her experience in Aldi's Seven Hills store with her autistic son Henry

Melissa's Facebook post highlighting the patience of a male cashier who made her shopping experience easy

'My kiddo was doing really well, but getting a bit to the end of his rope by the time we got to the checkout.'

Melissa said the cashier was patient and understanding, even when Henry ran off and she had to chase him around the store.

'He could see I was juggling my son, encouraging him: "Just stand right there buddy, we are almost finished",' her post continues.

'When I apologised he said Thats OK, I will pause as much as you need.'

Melissa praised the rest of the Aldi staff who helped and the customers waiting in line behind for for their patience in the queue.

'None of them were even aware of my sons challenges and how hard we were both working to get thru the shop,' she wrote.

'They were all just being kind and patient to a complete stranger.

'It made our experience so much easier and more relaxed than it potentially could have been.'

Melissa's post drew dozens of supportive comments, with many looking to find the helpful cashier to give him the acclaim he deserved.

'You should tell the store manager so this employee can get some praise,' one comment reads.

'Do you have time to send this to Aldi Head office? This young man needs to be recognised!' another post says.
The city hosted a special meeting Monday to explain the decision to house the patients elsewhere. City council members said after they heard that two federal agencies, including the Health and Human Services Department, had determined that a former Army base in the city would be used to house patients who had been evacuated from the Diamond Princess luxury liner in Japan, they immediately began having conversations with their local legislative and congressional delegations, as well as senior officials at HHS.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Any attempt to quell dissent would have a chilling effect on the democracy as "governments are not always right" and those opposing it couldn't be labelled anti-national, said Justice Deepak Gupta of the Supreme Court, here on Monday.

Speaking at a lecture on the democracy and dissent, hosted by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Justice Gupta said the majoritarianism was anti-thesis to democracy. "There have been recent incidents where people were called anti-national because they dissented from the government," he said.

"If some party gets 51 per cent vote, does that mean the other 49 per cent shouldn't speak for 5 years? Every citizen has a role to play in democracy. Governments are not always right," Justice Gupta said.

Stating that just because someone takes a contrarian view it doesn't mean disrespect to the country, he said, "Whenever there is a clash of ideas, there will be dissent. Right to question is an inherent part of democracy." Justice Gupta said the Opposition had the right to protest as long as peaceful means were used. He also cited excerpts from a lecture by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that said, "The blatant labelling of dissent as anti-national stops deliberative democracy." He said democracy was considered successful when it protected the citizens' rights. "Dissent has an important role, it should be encouraged. It leads to finding better ways to run the country," he remarked.

Justice Gupta also said he disapproved Bar associations passing resolutions refusing to represent certain persons accused of certain charges (especially, where the police had booked someone for anti-national activities). "It's against the legal ethics," he said.

On the dissent of judges on a Bench while passing judgement, Justice Gupta said there were some judgments where he would disagree as it was his opinion as an individual. "But when I am sitting in a Division Bench, I am bound by the judgment given by it," he said.

Recalling Justice H.R. Khanna's dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case, he termed it the "most important dissent" in the country. Justice Khanna told his sister he knew he would end up losing his job due to the judgement, the judge said and added, he was next in line to become the Chief Justice.

Stating that the judiciary should be fearless and independent, Justice Gupta said the right to dissent, also included the right to criticise and the judiciary too was not above criticism.

He also spoke about Justice D.Y. Chandrachud's dissent in the Aadhar case and Justice Indu Malhotra's dissent in the Sabarimala temple case, and termed them as two recent and very important dissents.

Justice Gupta, however, refrained from making a comment as the matter is under judicial scrutiny.
Danbury Fire Department

SOUTHBURY  State police are looking for the driver who sideswiped a semi-truck and fled on westbound Interstate 84 last week.

The incident happened around 10:20 p.m. Thursday near Exit 15.
West Bengal: A fish called hilsa

February 24,2020 | Source: The Times of India

Have you ever wondered exactly how many bones your favourite one-kilo hilsa has? Well, it has around 46-48 vertebrae, lots more than humans, and roughly 1,500 smaller bones. This includes the deadly-looking spear-shaped pin bone  freely lying floating bones within the fish muscles. Salt Lake-based ophthalmologist Arnab Biswass seven-year-old research on hilsa, arguably Bengalis favourite fish  had prompted him to first do a CT scan on the fish to understand its bone structure and, later, over several days, painstakingly count every bone it had. And this is just one aspect of Biswass hilsa research.



And to think he just wanted to write a cookbook. Starting from that, Biswas has now ended up digging up every possible detail about the hilsa, instead. For seven years, he has worked with a myriad people  fossil experts, fisheries experts, oceanographers, local fishermen, just to dig up unknown nuggets about the fish.



Biswas, whose work Way of the Hilsa, in which he collaborated with Thailand-based researcher Pratchaya Phinthong and Bangladeshi artist Md Sajedul Haque for display in the Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) in Dhakas Shilpakala Academy on February 8, now argues that the hilsas origin may be even older that what available research suggests. It is largely believed from the fossils found in Italy, Japan, Rajasthan and Mizoram that the hilsas ancestors, the Clupeidae family [a family of ray-finned fishes, comprising the herrings, shads, sardines, hilsa, and menhadens], can be traced back to 40-50 million years, Biswas argues. But symbols traced back to the Indus Valley Civilisation denote a fish closely resembling the hilsa, he says. I have superimposed the hilsa on these symbols, and it matches perfectly, he says.



And that is not all. If you know about Jhulelal  a 1000 AD saint, the most revered deity of the Sindhi Hindus and revered by Muslims as Zinda Pir, youll know that he travels on a fish on the Indus river. This was the palla, the local name of hilsa in Sindh. Even in the Ajanta caves, in the pictorial representation of the Monkey God in Bodhisattva, there are fish visible on the river. And they, too, have the same shape, he says. The palla fish were all believed to come from the Saraswati basin. Also consider the spread of the fossils from Italy to Mizoram, he says.



Biswas, who along with his wife and son, has been travelling to the coastal belts of India, Bangladesh and Myammar to dig more details, says too little is being done to save the fish. From my understanding the Hilsa will always come back to the place where it was born. In their life span of 4-5 years, they will make three to four attempts to swim upstream in the river to breed. This is essential for many reasons, he says. When the Hilsa swims against the tide on the river to find a breeding place, it eats very less. It also forms polyunsaturated fatty acid. It also urinates more leaving out the toxins from the body. And due to the swimming, the muscles are softer. So, the taste is basically a culmination of all these, he argues.



Another thing to consider is what hilsa feed on, Biswas says. I tried to collect plankton samples from a depth of 40 feet in the Ganges. This is what the hilsa feeds on, primarily. However, due to pollution, their natural food resource is now getting sparse, he adds. Historically, we know that hilsa swam upstream 1,500km in the Ganges, up to Allahabad. In the Sindh river, it travelled 750km upstream till Multan. Now, that is no longer the case. Instead, we are fishing them from the seas and have set up the Farakka barrage. And by artificial production of hilsa, we are playing havoc with their in-built GPS system, which allows them to swim thousands of kilometres to breed, he says. Its no wonder, he says, that people often complain that hilsa these days dont taste as good.



The changing patterns of hilsa migration  which has seen disruptions  is a large part of Biswass work, with Phinthong and Haque. I had been in Rangoon and up along the Iravati river, also to several places in Bangladesh, he says. Similarly, Phinthong and Haque have travelled to Farakka several times. Viewed in isolation, the Farakka barrage, built in 1975, may seem to be one issue. But this is symptomatic of a larger issue of creating man-made obstacles on their migratory paths, which has large-scale implications. The other factor, he adds, which may push hilsa to oblivion is the fishing of khoka-ilish or immature hilsa. The Bangladesh government has imposed a fortnight-long fishing ban immediately after Laxmi Puja, he informs, just to stop this.





Biswas says it is a rarity for a fish to be so fused with the socio-cultural ethos of Bengalis. Recently, in Bangladesh, they tried to start a tradition on Poila Baisakh  the Bengali New Year  to have Panta-Ilish. This became so popular that the government had to step in to remind people that this wasnt Bengali culture. But what the government was trying to do, and rightly so, was to stop fishing of khoka-ilish. In Bengal, too, we have witnessed similar efforts by the government, he says. Now, compare this with the much older ritual in Bangladeshs Faridpur  of having Hilsa roe with puffed rice on Dashami, after immersion. That was the last time they would eat hilsa, starting again only from Saraswati Puja. In Bengal, jora-Ilish or a pair of hilsa is offered in the Puja. Now we understand the reason why people stopped having hilsa in this period. This was breeding time. This window allowed newborn hilsa, called jhatka, to swim back to the seas, he says. He signs off with an interesting question: If people could do it then, why not now?
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Surf Air ( www.SurfAir.com ), the leader in shared private aviation, announced the acquisition today of fast-growing online aviation marketplace BlackBird ( www.flyBlackBird.com ). With this acquisition the company has created Surf Air Mobility Corporation, whose mission is to transform the 50-400 mile mobility market. Surf Air Mobility Corp aims to make flying a viable alternative to commercial airlines and driving on short routes.

"We're in the first phase of a massive industry shift where more flyers are choosing to access the time-savings and optimal experience that only general aviation can provide," said Surf Air CEO Sudhin Shahani. "Nowhere is this more evident than in BlackBird's 500% year-over-year growth in 2019. Similar to the way that three-sided marketplaces have transformed the home and ride-sharing economies, BlackBird has unlocked the potential of general aviation with a simple consumer experience and by tapping into an existing underutilized asset base to create affordable on-demand flying. Combining this with our scheduled membership platform will bring increased value and options to both of our customer bases and current and future operating partners."

Says Surf Air advisor Jonathan Mildenhall, CEO of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand and former CMO of Airbnb, "I am truly excited about how this acquisition will transform the trajectory of the Surf Air platform. This takes the benefits of private air travel to more people and to more destinations, which is great for both passengers and for the local economies that they fly into. Surf Air is truly committed to democratizing the skies."

In focusing on a network of short-haul flights, the company is best positioned to be a first mover toward electrification and the associated cost savings. Unlike eVTOL that requires building new infrastructure and new aircraft, Surf Air Mobility Corp is able to scale the business rapidly by capitalizing on existing and under-used airports and airplanes today. "There is a staggering amount of excess capacity in general aviation because historically the space has been fractured and inaccessible," said BlackBird founder and CEO Rudd Davis. "We founded BlackBird to change that, using technology to bring transparency and simplicity to customers while bringing more demand and utilization to operators. Fifty percent of all flights in the world are under 500 miles, which is a massive opportunity for us today. That opportunity will only grow as electric fixed wing aircraft come to market over the next 24 months, making flying cheaper than driving."

"I congratulate the management teams of Surf Air and BlackBird on this industry-transforming merger," said Dennis Phelps, general partner at Institutional Venture Partners, one of Surf Air's largest investors. "The two companies share a similar vision for making the convenience and comfort of short-haul private aviation more accessible and affordable to small businesses and families throughout North America and beyond. The combination of Surf Air's loyal subscriber base and reliable flight schedule, together with BlackBird's network of on-demand charter partners, has the potential to make the combined service offering a powerful new force in private aviation."

As part of the deal, Davis has been named Surf Air Mobility Corp's new COO. With traveler safety being the company's number one priority, Surf Air Mobility Corp also recently added Peter Evans, former head of operations for Virgin Atlantic Airways, as head of operations. Surf Air's operations will continue to exceed all safety requirements of the F.A.A., and continue the strict vetting and safety policies of all Part 135 operators on the network.

For more information on Surf Air, please visit: www.SurfAir.com .

For more information on BlackBird, please visit: www.flyBlackBird.com

About Surf Air

Surf Air is a tech-enabled membership-based air mobility platform that has raised more than $125 million to date in venture capital funding. Focusing on scheduled short-haul flights across California and Texas, the company offers frequent flight options similar to commercial airlines but with the premium experience of private travel. Surf Air saves fliers valuable time with every flight and gives them the flexibility they need to do more in their daily lives. Members are able to book trips at a moment's notice from an easy-to-use mobile app, arrive to the airport just 15 minutes before takeoff, and fly on executive aircraft with other like-minded travelers. With Surf Air, there are no more lines, crowds, or hidden fees. For more information, please visit: www.SurfAir.com.

About BlackBird

Based in San Francisco, BlackBird is the nation's first online aviation marketplace, connecting passengers, private plane owners, and charter operators. The company is dedicated to making flying as accessible to the everyday person as driving. Using the BlackBird iPhone or Android app, passengers have the option of joining an existing flight plan and purchasing open seats or chartering a plane to travel between destinations. All flights are operated by F.A.A. certified, Part 135 operators. For more information, please visit: www.flyBlackBird.com.

Media Contact

Marissa Hermo

[email protected]

201-962-5983

SOURCE Surf Air
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Vietnam's GDP can maintain an average growth rate of 6-6.2% per year until 2025. To add to this, more than 50% of Vietnam's population will join the global middle class category by 2035, compared to only 11% in 2015. In coming times, favorable economic conditions and a larger younger population with a fast-growing income will create a strong base for the insurance segment. The need to save, invest in, and own a car, will boost the demand for personal insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and car insurance.

Insurance companies have tried to grasp this trend by reaching out to customers through Bancassurance. Although there is no detailed data on non-life insurance, it is noticeable that the cost of non-life insurance through bank channels has grown significantly over the last few years, at an approximate annual rate of 84% from 2016-2018. The proportion of bank contribution to total life insurance premiums has continually been expanding from 5.9% in 2016 to 12% in 2018, and 15.8% in nine months of 2019. This channel also accounted for 29% of the total insurance fee for the first year, up from 21% in 2018 and a mere 10% in 2016.

In the first nine months of 2019, service income expanded most strongly at the Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) and Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank). These two banks showed Bancassurance income growth of more than 100% in first three quarters of 2019. Other banks that showed successful results were Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Tienphong Bank), Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank), and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB Bank). Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) and Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB) are also expected to have significant growth in annual income from insurance under the new Bancassurance agreement signed in 2019. There will be much more significant changes for VCB after it signed an exclusive contract with FWD-Vietnam last November. ACB too signed contracts with Manulife in September and FWD-Vietnam in December.

Since 2016, after VIB signed an exclusive life insurance distribution contract with Prudential, the Bancassurance income has grown very strongly in the past three years. In 2018 the number of life insurance contracts at VIB increased by more than 260% compared to 2016, and more than 200% compared to 2017. For VPB, service income at the parent bank in the first nine months of 2019 increased by 51.6%, of which Bancassurance income grew by 32.3%, accounting for 23% of total service income.

With several contracts signed by banks in 2019 for selling insurance, in particular life-insurance, the level of competition in this field is clearly expected to become more intense. Fierce competition in future could slow down income growth from insurance activities in banks, especially banks that have stepped up in this field in the last one or two years after exclusive distribution contracts were signed. For these banks, other service activities such as payment fees, card fees, guarantee fees or bond services should be promoted more, to keep overall service income growth at a steady or high level.

For example, in the case of ACB, income from insurance is affecting the growth of fee income in particular and operating income in general. In the first nine months of 2019, ACB was among the top seven banks with the highest fee income from Bancassurance, with a growth of 250% to touch VND 414 bn, which also accounted for 29.3% of operating income. This activity is expected to be promoted at ACB after the two co-operation contracts with Manulife and FWD-Vietnam have been signed, in addition to support from existing current partner AIA.

In the past, VCB did not promote Bancassurance in proportion to its level and scale. However, now with an exclusive contract with FWD-Vietnam, VCB can create a strong growth strategy by cross-selling to its existing large customer base. Income from insurance, along with increasing income from other service fees, is expected to increase the service income growth to 50% per year, from now until 2022.

Translated by Francis



Nguyen Thuy Anh, Viet Dragon Securities Company (VDSC)
Earlier this month, in the first Under Armour camp series event in Los Angeles, Oregon Ducks wide receiver pledge Keyon Ware-Hudson earned an invitation to the Under Armour All-American Game with a stellar showing.

During Sundays second Under Armour camp series regional event in Phoenix (Arizona), an Oregon pledge again earned high praise and an invitation.

This time it was three-star center Jackson Light, who was one of the camps top performers.

In fact, 247Sports named him the events Alpha Dog.

The 6-foot-2 1/2, 265-pound prospect from Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon had a stellar showing during one on one battles, displaying a strong initial punch and consistently stonewalling opponents in pass-rush drills. Hes got active feet, quick hands and does well to body up defenders to drive them back in protection. Light earned an invite to the Under Armour All-America Game with his performance.

Under Armour Phoenix camp was talented & competitive one led by strong group in trenches including Oregon C commit Jackson Light. Data/Video being posted to #UCReport @TomLuginbill @CraigHaubert @DemetricDWarren @HamiltonESPN @DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/GwTefUKbJu  The Underclassman Report (@TheUCReport) February 23, 2020

For Light, his selection to the all-star exhibition is validation of his hard work this offseason.

Honestly, it was such a great feeling being invited," he said. "It shows my hard work paying off. Just trying to make my family proud.

Light wasnt the only offensive lineman with Oregon ties who earned praise.

Four-star offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, a cousin of Noah and Penei Sewell, was the winner of the Big Man Challenge."

#ESPNJR300 OL Kingsley Suamataia has great frame & is agile OT w/ high ceiling for development. He won the Under Armour Phoenix camp Big Man Challenge award @DemetricDWarren @HamiltonESPN @UABIGE @UAFootball @KAhyouSuamataia pic.twitter.com/k8AaqKm6mG  Craig Haubert (@CraigHaubert) February 23, 2020

The 10-top Under Armour Camp Series continues with stop No. 3 on March 1 in Orlando, Florida.

-- Andrew Nemec | anemec@oregonian.com | @AndrewNemec
There are no cases of infection among the Ukrainians

Foreign Ministry of Ukraine knows about 15,632 citizens of Ukraine registered in Italy as of January 1, 2020. 9,158 of them are registered in Milan consulate. None of them is infected with coronavirus, as Ukrainian News reports.

Information about coronavirus cases among the citizens of Ukraine in Italy is not reported. As of January 1, 2020, 15,632 citizens of Ukraine stay in Italy, 9,158 people are registered in Milan consulate, the Foreign Ministry reported.

Moreover, the ministry urged the Ukrainians who planned to visit the northern regions of Italy to refrain from the travels to regions covered with an epidemic of coronavirus: Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont.

People who stay in the mentioned regions are advised to increase attention and caution and report their place of stay and contact details to the nearest consular offices of Ukraine or register on friend.mfa.gov.ua.

The Foreign Ministry did not comment on whether it is planned to evacuate the citizens of Ukraine from Italy.

Earlier it was reported that in Italy the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection has risen sharply and now exceeds 100. In this regard, the Italian government has imposed restrictions on freedom of movement in areas in the north of the country where cases of infection were especially prevalent. People are not allowed to leave their municipalities, and entry is also closed.

Besides, four people died from coronavirus in Italy.

As we reported, 23,290 people in the world have been cured of coronavirus, the number of infected has grown to 78,817.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has revealed shed been dreaming about writing a Bond film months before she was asked to work on No Time to Die.

The Fleabag star was interviewed by Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio breakfast show where she explained shed been thinking about the opportunity when producer Barbara Broccoli asked to meet her for a coffee.

I was in the edit for Fleabag, she said. It was an afternoon, and I had the call that Barbara wanted to meet me. The strangest thing is, is that Id really... I had been sort of dreaming about the idea of it only a few months beforehand. I was like, Oh, wouldnt it be cool to be involved in a Bond film to sort of just put that there in the ether. And then it just came around.

Waller-Bridge also elaborated on the process of sprucing up the screenplay after it had been completed.

[I was asked to do] dialogue polishes and to offer things really, she said, adding: Its about just offering different alternatives.

27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Show all 27 1 /27 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Alice in Wonderland (2010) Its only 108 minutes long, but Alice in Wonderland manages to feel longer than a Lord of the Rings extended cut. There are no laughs and theres no enjoyment factor beyond, Oh, look, its Johnny Depp being weird and quirky again! It might be a visual marvel, but Alice in Wonderland shouldnt have won an Oscar for Best Art Direction because anything that would encourage people to see this movie is wrong. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Beetlejuice (1988) Tim Burton's Beetlejuice won an Oscar for the only category it was nominated in  Best Make Up. While the film was deserving of far more recognition, its status as an Oscar-winner may come as a surprise to many. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Death Becomes Her Death Becomes Her might not have given Meryl Streep one of her 20 Oscar nominations, but it did win Best Visual Effects ahead of Alien 3 and Batman Returns. The award seems quite rogue given all we get is a stretchy neck and a woman with a hole in her body, but then it was the 1990s. For her part in the film, on-screen legend Streep described the shoot as tedious and like being at the dentist, and claimed it would be her first, last and only effects-driven movie. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Dick Tracy (1990) Warren Beatty spearheaded this live-action version of Dick Tracy, which featured an all-star cast including Al Pacino (pictured). Despite negative reviews, the film racked up an impressive seven nominations and won in three categories: Best Art Direction, Best Make Up and Best Original Song. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them JK Rowling's extension of the Harry Potter universe is a far cry from the adaptation of her original wizarding book series. However, Fantastic Beasts won an Oscar for Best Costume Design with its first film  a win made even more surprising by the fact that, despite being nominated for 12 Academy Awards across eight films, the Harry Potter series never won a single one. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Golden Compass This adaptation of Philip Pullmans Northern Lights might have a rating of 42 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but it still managed to win an Oscar for its visual effects. The Academy was impressed by the computer-generated animals and grand vistas of the Arctic. But the flashy CGI doesnt take away from the fact the film makes one of the most fantastical books ever published utterly dull. So unpopular, this box-office bomb caused its studio, New Line Cinema, to merge with Warner Brothers. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Grinch The Grinch might be the greatest Christmas film, but its still not a great film. Still, Jim Carreys furry green get-up did win it the Oscar for Best Makeup. Considering it took around eight hours to apply each day, you could say it was deserved. Jim Carrey told Graham Norton that a CIA operative had to be brought in to teach him specialist techniques for enduring torture and said the procedure was like being buried alive every day. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Exorcist When taking into account the Academy's inability to nominate horror films over the past few decades, it's increasingly impressive to learn the film considered one of the most shocking of all time won two back in 1974. The Exorcist is a terrific film that deserved its wins for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. It received a further eight nominations, including Best Picture. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Happy Feet Mumble the penguin might look more real than the animations that came before him, but he also looks more lifeless. Happy Feet was one of the first films to use motion capture technology instead of Walt Disney style hand-drawn animations. But who wants an exact replica when you can have big white eyes and toothy grins? Apparently the Oscars do, because they gave Happy Feet Best Animated Film. Granted, the scene where a baby Mumble raps Close to the Edge is cute. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Harry and the Hendersons (1987) It's doubtful that even the makers of Harry and the Hendersons expected their film about a family's encounter with the cryptozoological creature Bigfoot to win an Oscar. But it did (Best Makeup). Universal Pictures 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Imitation Game The Imitation Game is as difficult to decipher as a heap of unbroken code. It features a number of historical inaccuracies, which range from the benign to the outright offensive. One scene shows a detective using Tipp-Ex in a time period where it hadnt been invented yet. One plotline slanders Alan Turings memory by suggesting he covered up for a Soviet spy. But despite the film's confusing diversions and ridiculous accusations, Graham Moore won for his screenplay. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) While a far cry from the four Oscar wins awarded to Raiders of the Lost Ark, sequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom  considered to be the weakest of Steven Spielberg's original trilogy  took home the award for Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Innerspace (1987) Innerspace hasn't endured as a must-watch classic like similar films that were released in the 1980s, but it has an Oscar win to its name  the science-fiction adventure, starring Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan and Martin Short (pictured), won Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Men in Black It does seem weird that Men in Black won an Oscar for makeup considering the two main characters arent wearing any. But when you think of all the oozing purple aliens they shoot at, it starts to make more sense. The action film also won an Oscar for Best Musical Score thanks to contributions from Will Smith himself (though we all know the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme tune is his only award-winning sound). Sony Pictures Releasing 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Muppets The plot of The Muppets is essentially: One day a boy and girl fell in love and together they overcame an obstacle of some sort. While the old films featured big-name celebrities, in the reboot there is a feeling of will this do? Jack Black is paraded out like he were Hollywood royalty, even though at this point in his career, he was probably accepting offers to turn Christmas lights on. It managed to win an Oscar for the song 'Man or Muppet'. To be fair, there were only two others nominated in the category. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Pearl Harbor Theres nothing the Oscars loves more than a war film, so that explains why they would give a film as bad as Pearl Harbour three awards. Michael Bays movie manages to make his retelling of the Pearl Harbor disaster orientate around a self-indulgent love triangle. Bay has no excuse for the poor quality, the film cost more to make than the real Pearl Harbour cost the US government. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Back in 2007, we were all far too love-drunk on the image of Jonny Depp in eyeliner because somehow we convinced ourselves that Pirates of the Caribbean 2 was a good film. No one finds Johnny Depp in eyeliner attractive anymore so we can all be a bit more honest: its not good. The overly complicated, rambling sequel was nominated for four Oscars and ended up beating Superman Returns to win Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Rango (2011) Johnny Depp's reptilian underdog Rango beat out a boot-wearing pussycat as well as a panda with an affinity for kung fu to win Best Animated feature at the Oscars. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Song of the South (1946) Song of the South has long had controversy heaped upon it with many believing the film's African-American characters to be racist and offensive stereotypes. Because of this, it might come as a surprise to learn the film is an Oscar winner, taking home the Best Original Song trophy for "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah". Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Spider-Man 2 There havent been many Oscar nominations for superhero films, which makes sense because they often arent very good. Aside from Peter and Marys upside-down kiss in the pouring rain, Spiderman 2 is boring. Still, it managed to beat Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and I, Robot to win Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Suicide Squad After Suicide Squad won an Oscar Suicide Squad has more Oscars than became a meme. Twitter pointed out that the Marvel anti-hero team-up has won more gold men than Gary Oldman and Willem Dafoe combined. To be fair it didnt win Best Film, but Best Makeup. Regardless, that anyone managed to bear the unbearable Joker and the overly sexualised Harley for long enough to notice what anyone looked like is a miracle. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) Sweeney Todd took home the best Art Direction Oscar, an impressive feat considering other Tim Burton films have been far more deserving of the prize, but failed to even be nominated. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Tarzan Toy Story 2s 'When She Loved Me' is sad enough it could make Ross Kemp cry, but it didnt get the Oscar in 2000. Instead, Tarzan won Best Music for Phil Collins 'Youll Be In My Heart'  a song which lacks all the emotional resonance of drum hit 'In the Air Tonight'. In an extremely bizarre decision, Collins soundtrack was inserted in rather than sung by the characters, because co-director Kevin Lima thought a singing Tarzan would be ridiculous. Because a man swinging from trees like a monkey isnt ridiculous? Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar U-571 A French-American submarine films tarring Matthew McConaughey and Jon Bon Jovi isn't a film you'd ordinarily assume would win an Oscar, but U-571 proved an exception. It won Best Sound Editing. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Wolfman Rick Baker won Best Makeup and Hair for his work turning Benicio Del Toro into a ferocious wolf. After multiple director changes and other backstage drama, Joe Johnstons much-troubled production nearly didnt get made. Humankind would have been better off if they hadnt managed to resolve their issues. The Wolfman is poorly paced and divulges into CGI overload for an action-heavy climax that is too grizzly for its own good. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Young Victoria This film is about as passionless as the Victorian era itself. Watching it is to spend an hour and three-quarters waiting for it to start. The Young Victoria was meant to reimagine the Queen as a young woman full of life, but director Jean-Marc Vallee ends up replacing all of Emily Blunts smouldering mischievousness with drab reserve. Luckily, two-time Oscar winner Sally Potter saved the period drama by winning yet another costume design award. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Ex Machina (2015) Nobody expected the fantastic Ex Machina to win anything at the Oscars, but when it was named as the victor in the Best Visual Effects category, it went down as the best twists of the evening. It beat Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Martian, The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road

She continued: They did give me some scenes and then be like, can you write some alternatives for this or have another idea about where it could go in the middle or how it would end. And then I would just give them options and various scenes and then they would take what they want. But there was a lot people writing  the director [Cary Fukunaga] was a writer on it as well. And thered been a few writers before.

You know, Daniel [Craig] is really, really involved from the beginning. [I had] so many great conversations with him about it, constantly in touch with him about it. So its a big sort of melting pot of everybodys ideas the whole time.

No Time to Die will be released in cinemas on 1 April
The deadly coronavirus epidemic could put an already fragile global economy recovery at risk, the IMF warned, as G20 financial chiefs discussed ways to contain its economic ripple effects.

Global growth was poised for a modest rebound to 3.3 per cent this year, up from 2.9 per cent last year, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said after a two-day meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Riyadh.

"The projected recovery... is fragile," Georgieva said.

"The COVID-19 virus -- a global health emergency -- has disrupted economic activity in China and could put the recovery at risk," she said in a statement.

Alarm has been growing over the new virus as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to prevent its spread, with major knock-on effects economically.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The virus has now claimed 2,442 lives in China, cutting off transportation, disrupting trade and fanning investor alarm as businesses are forced to close their doors.

Georgieva told the Riyadh gathering that the outbreak would shave about 0.1 percentage points from global growth and constrain China's growth to 5.6 per cent this year.

"I reported to the G20 that even in the case of rapid containment of the virus, growth in China and the rest of the world would be impacted," she said.

The IMF projects a "V-shaped, rapid recovery" for the global economy, but given the uncertainty around the spread of the virus, Georgieva urged the financial leaders to "prepare for more adverse scenarios".

At the meeting in Saudi Arabia, the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency, financial leaders also discussed ways to achieve consensus on a global taxation system for the digital era by the end of 2020.

But at the core of the discussions was an action plan to shield the world economy -- already facing a slowdown -- from the impact of the outbreak.

The gathered financial leaders vowed to "enhance global risk monitoring" of the outbreak, according to the G20 final communique.

"We stand ready to take further action to address these risks," it said. Paris on Friday announced several measures to assist French companies affected by the fallout from the epidemic.

"We are ready to take any additional measures if necessary to cope with a possible worsening of the impact on the global economy," said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who attended the G20 talks.

"The risk is now confirmed, and so is the impact on the global economy, and it is a real concern for all G20 members." Georgieva warned the global economy faced other risks including rising debt levels in some countries as well as climate change, but in particular urged G20 nations to cooperate to contain the spread of the virus.

"COVID-19 is a stark reminder of our interconnections and the need to work together," Georgieva said. "In this regard, the G20 is an important forum to help put the global economy on a more sound footing.
BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday attacked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government over the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resolution passed in the state Assembly. Nadda was attending a programme organised by BJP party workers to welcome him in Rajasthan. This was the first visit of Nadda to the state after taking over as party president last month.

Addressing the BJP workers Nadda said, "Many CAA affected people came to Rajasthan. The culture of Rajasthan is 'Atithi Devo Bhav'. India is home to people who are religiously persecuted. A resolution against CAA was passed in Rajasthan Assembly. They don't know that it is a subject of Centre and the decision regarding the same is taken in Parliament."

READ | Puducherry Assembly Passes Resolution Against CAA, Despite Obligation From LG Kiran Bedi

Anti-CAA resolution passed

On January 25, Rajasthan Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), amid opposition by the BJP which accused the ruling Congress of pursuing appeasement politics. It is the second Congress-ruled state to pass such a resolution after Punjab. Earlier, Kerala Assembly too had passed a resolution against the CAA moved jointly by the ruling Left alliance and the opposition Congress-led UDF.

Besides Rajasthan, governments of Kerala, Punjab, West Bengal, and Rajasthan had already adopted resolutions against the CAA, which provides Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

READ | Congress Leader Pens Letter To Delhi CM Kejriwal, Urges Him To Pass Anti-CAA Resolution

The Rajasthan Assembly passed the resolution by voice vote which also asked the Centre to withdraw the new fields of information that have been sought for updation in National Population Register (NPR), 2020. "It is evident that the CAA violates the provisions of the Constitution. Therefore, the House resolves to urge upon the government of India to repeal the CAA to avoid any discrimination on the basis of religion in granting citizenship and to ensure equality before the law for all religious groups of India," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal said while moving the resolution in the House.

READ | Andhra Cabinet Clears Abolishing Of Legislative Council, Resolution Moved In Assembly

READ | West Bengal Becomes Fourth State To Pass Anti-CAA Resolution As Mamata Banerjee Ups Ante
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Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been convicted by a New York jury in the most prominent case sparked by the #MeToo movement. He was remanded into custody to await sentencing in March.

The jury found Weinstein guilty on two counts; a criminal sex act for assault on Miriam Haley and third-degree rape of Jessica Mann in 2013. The verdict came after the jury told the judge last week they couldn't reach a decision and were ordered to keep deliberating. The two charges carry possible sentences of five and four years, respectively.

Weinstein was found not guilty of the most serious charges -- two instances of predatory sexual assault. Those charges, which are based on a series of alleged incidents involving four other women who testified at the trial, would have carried a potential sentence of life in prison.

Weinstein, 67, who was once one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, has been named by scores of women who say he sexually assaulted them over the past 40 years. In the New York trial, the "Shakespeare in Love" producer faced five criminal charges: two counts of predatory sexual assault, two counts of rape (in the first and third degrees), and one count of criminal sexual assault in the third degree.

Here's a breakdown of the charges:

Rape: The trial's most recent alleged assault was a 2013 incident with Jessica Mann. The former actress accused Weinstein of raping her in a Midtown Manhattan hotel. The jury had the option of finding Weinstein guilty of rape in the first or third degree.

The trial's most recent alleged assault was a 2013 incident with Jessica Mann. The former actress accused Weinstein of raping her in a Midtown Manhattan hotel. The jury had the option of finding Weinstein guilty of rape in the first or third degree. Criminal sexual assault: Miriam Haley, who is a former production assistant, said Weinstein forced oral sex on her at his home in 2006. Mann and Haley both maintained contact and had sex with Weinstein after the alleged assaults, complicating the prosecution's case.

Miriam Haley, who is a former production assistant, said Weinstein forced oral sex on her at his home in 2006. Mann and Haley both maintained contact and had sex with Weinstein after the alleged assaults, complicating the prosecution's case. Predatory sexual assault: These two separate charges are tied to "prior bad acts" and involved the testimony of four other witnesses. Two of those four witnesses, "Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra and model Lauren Young -- testified they had no further contact with Weinstein after they were allegedly assaulted. Those incidents happened too far in the past to be covered directly by New York's statutes. The first charge of predatory sexual assault is tied to Haley and Sciorra; the second is tied to Mann and Sciorra.

Weinstein's defense in the month-long trial was that all of the sexual encounters were consensual. His lawyer, Donna Ruttono, also said they were transactional: "Every single one of these women reaches out and asks for things and he does anything he can," she told the jury.

Weinstein also faces criminal charges in California, where Young's alleged attack, unlike in New York, is still triable under state law. If convicted here, Weinstein could face as up to 28 years in state prison.

His movie company filed for bankruptcy protection and sold its operations two years ago.

REACTIONS

A group of Weinstein accusers known as the Silence Breakers reacted to the verdict during a call this morning with reporters.

"The era of impunity for powerful men who rape people is over," said actor Mira Sorvino, who's part of the group. She praised the other women who have come forward to report on Weinstein's behavior.

"I don't think you can understand if you haven't been through this and haven't gone public how immensely difficult and life-changing it is to bring out some of the worst memories in your life into the public eye and become the fodder for debate, for gossip, even for pity," Sorvino said.

Sorvino also praised the journalists who broke the story of Weinstein's abuse, including Ronan Farrow of The New Yorker and Megan Twohey of The New York Times.

Actor Caitlin Dulany said she was "incredibly grateful to the jury" for convicting Weinstein on two counts, although disappointed they didn't convict on the predatory sexual assault charges.

"What those women went through on the stand broke my heart," Dulany said, "and I'm so happy today that the jury believed them, and I have a renewed sense of faith that women will be believed when they come forward."

Speaking on KPCC's Take Two today, Melissa Silverstein, founder of the website Women and Hollywood, said she was "surprised and thrilled" by the jury's verdict.

"It's monumental," Silverstein said. "It's a moment where a person who held power over a lot of people was convicted. He will always be known as a rapist."

UPDATES:

1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with reactions from Weinstein accusers.

This article was originally published at 8:51 a.m.

-- Jill Replogle and Caroline Champlin contributed reporting.
It's possibly one of the most expensive 'Namastes' India could have ever given to a 'Athithi'.

As the preparation worth Rs 80-85 crore comes to a close for US President's three-hour visit, the picture of the wall built to cover a slum for 'aesthetic' purposes has left people on social media miffed.

Twitter

Even before Trump could set foot in India, a wall - which the President is obsessed with - made its way to Ahmedabad. The brick wall, which has been painted grey, has been erected across a 400-metre stretch, mainly to conceal the squalor of the slum settlement. The wall is set along the path where the 'iconic' Trump-Modi road show is scheduled to take place on February 24.

The move has been drawing flak from various sectors of social media, where people pointed out the 'reality' was being concealed. People on Twitter couldn't help but notice the government's desperate need to portray the country in a favourable light to a foreigner.

#1

#2

History will remember :



Game of thrones

China

Amitabh Bachchan

Donald Trump

&

Narendra Modi



" FOR THE WALL "#MannKiBaat#TrumpIndiaVisit pic.twitter.com/rdQrOxKguB  SHOAIB |  |  (@Jii_Bilkul) February 23, 2020

#3

This Wall reminds me of oscar winning Movie Parasite. 'Dont cross the line' #TrumpIndiaVisit #NamasteTrump pic.twitter.com/PDtOax2Ptk  Irfan (@Iam_SyedIrfan) February 23, 2020

#4

Hey @realDonaldTrump although they have erected a wall, I know you love to build the wall, to hide govt inefficiency from you. Thought I might help to see what's on the other side#TrumpIndiaVisit#USIndia#ModiTrumpSummit pic.twitter.com/hSnnLgTRzp  #CumChoTrump (@rajni_cant) February 23, 2020

#5

#6





Some slammed the 'Great Wall Of Ahmedabad' saying the money spent on the wall could have otherwise been put to use to better the state of the slum dwellers.

Defending the decision to build the wall, Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said, "The decision to build a 4 feet wall was taken 2 months ago to prevent encroachments on footpath & road."

"I had personally visited the slum & offered houses to the residents," he added.



Apart from wooing Trump with the wall, authorities have gone all out, launching a Swachh Bharat Mission at the very last minute in an effort to tidy up for him - something akin to what we might do at home for an unannounced guest!

US President Donald Trump and First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, are scheduled to arrive at the Sardar Vallabhai Airport in the home-state of PM Modi today. During his two-day visit, Trump will visit three Indian cities - Ahemdabad, Delhi and Agra. On Tuesday night, he will fly back to Washington.



A 12-member delegation, including the presidents daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, will be arriving in India.
California fire crews from Visalia, Tulare and other agencies remove debris from the Porterville City Library on Febr. 20. Two firefighters were killed when the building went up in flames.

VISALIA, Calif.  Charges have been filed against two 13-year-old boys linked to a California library fire that killed two local firefighters.

On Friday afternoon, Tulare County prosecutors filed two counts of murder with special circumstances of multiple murders and arson-related charges.

In California, children under 14 can't be tried as adults, even if they are charged with serious and violent felonies, such as murder.

The boys denied the charges and remain in jail. They are expected to return to juvenile court on March 11.

"By law, no further information can be provided at this time," said Stuart Anderson, spokesman for the Tulare County District Attorney's Office.

Fire Capt. Raymond Figueroa, 35, died Tuesday night. He started with the department in 2007. The body of firefighter Patrick Jones, 25, was found in the rubble Wednesday night, officials said. He had been with the department since 2017.

The historic Porterville City Library was destroyed by flames.

If the suspects were 17, they could be tried as adults, Police Chief Eric Kroutil said in a news conference Thursday.

"They would face a lengthy prison sentence," he said. "That's not going to happen in this case."

Many on social media have expressed their outrage at the state's criminal justice system.

"They are old enough to know right from wrong, therefore they need to be tried as adults," Kim Burkart stated in a Facebook post on the Times-Delta page.

"They MURDERED 2 people. They are old enough to be held accountable and charged as adults. Period," Rean Henderson Lackey wrote.

In California, juvenile offenders are widely protected, District Attorney Tim Ward said. Police are not even allowed to question suspects and must rely heavily on evidence and witness testimony. Juvenile records, including names, are sealed and unavailable for public view.

Kroutil said his officers are working closely with prosecutors to navigate the complex case.

Story continues

Ward asked the public for patience.

"Please bear with me as I navigate this in the best, most ethical way that I can," he said. "Always giving priority to preserving the integrity of the process and any potential prosecution of a case."

If convicted, the suspects legally can't serve a prison sentence after 25 years old. In some cases, that age is dropped to 23.

Follow Sheyanne Romero on Twitter: @sheyanne_VTD

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: California library fire: Boys, 13, charged with firefighters' murder
There are growing efforts to require the rest of the state of Illinois outside of Chicago and the collar counties to be considered when lawmakers pass bills.

During his budget speech last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said some in the state think splitting Chicago from Illinois will solve the economic challenges of downstate Illinois.

Quite the opposite, Pritzker said. So some of you need to stop pretending that one part of Illinois can exist without all of the others. We are one Illinois.

State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, last year filed the resolution to split Chicago from the rest of the state, saying in part the rest of the state shouldnt pay for Chicagos debt, or take its mandates.

He said Pritzkers comments were telling.

It kind of exposes their hand and tells us what theyre all about, that the small towns, central Illinois, southern Illinois, northern Illinois, doesnt really matter, Halbrook said.

Halbrooks House Resolution 101 only has six co-sponsors and was referred to the House Rules committee since last February.

Another central Illinois lawmaker is looking to legally define what downstate is and to have the economic differences between the Chicago area and the rest of the state given consideration in crafting statewide legislation.

State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, has House Bill 5030 to define downstate as anything outside of Cook and the so-called collar counties and to be given consideration in rule making after a law is passed. That has eleven co-sponsors.

Another bill, House Bill 5029, has 13 cosponsors and allows lawmakers to request a downstate impact report for proposed laws. Bourne said this is important as exemplified by the debate over the impacts of the two minimum wage increases this year heading to $15 an hour by 2025, or the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act impacts on small rural gun dealers.

You could look at those unique impacts in downstate of those bills rather than having these unintended consequences after the fact that we try to fix and we cant ultimately fix in many cases, Bourne said. We could hopefully avoid those unintended consequences in the front end.

She said its not an answer to a movement to split Chicago from the rest of the state, but its better than what she called the nuclear option.

Halbrook said Bournes ideas have merit.

Its another avenue to highlight this issue, this rural, urban divide and how the city [of Chicago] continues to drive legislation down and how it impacts the rest of us, Halbrook said. So Im encouraged by that.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was asked Tuesday when she was visiting with lawmakers at the capitol in Springfield what she thought of giving downstate consideration when crafting statewide legislation.

Theres nothing for me to do on that, Lightfoot said. I got a lot of things on my agenda. That issue isnt one of them.

Another of Bournes measures asks the governor to include in reports to lawmakers the number of downstate members appointed to boards and commissions. She said its important for diversity to include downstate members.
The Harvey Weinstein jury began their fifth day of deliberations on Monday after suggesting they were deadlocked on the most serious charges in the disgraced Hollywood's mogul's case.

Weinstein appeared to be in an upbeat mood as he arrived at court after breakfast at the Four Seasons New York Downtown hotel, wearing a navy blue suit and leaning on his walker.

'Good morning everyone,' he said as he passed journalists in the courthouse hallway and paused for photos.

It came after jurors sent a note late Friday asking if it was permissible for them to be hung on two counts of predatory sexual assault while reaching a unanimous verdict on the three other lesser charges.

The judge responded by ordering the jury to keep deliberating and try to reach a consensus, but the query still sparked speculation that the trial could end with a partial verdict by the end of Monday or else lurch forward with no clear end in sight.

Previous notes sent during last week's deliberations suggested the jury was focused on a key aspect of both predatory sexual assault counts: Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra's allegations that Weinstein raped her in the mid-1990s.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at court in New York on Monday as the jury is expected to continue day five of deliberations in his rape trial

The jury must factor in Sciorra's account, along with claims Weinstein raped aspiring actress Jesscia Mann in 2013 and sexually assaulted former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 to find him guilty of predatory sexual assault.

Weinstein is charged with five counts stemming from the allegations of Sciorra and the two other women.

While Sciorra's accusation is too old to be charged on its own because of the statute of limitations, it is a key component of the most serious charges that jurors are weighing in the closely watched #MeToo case.

Her rape allegation is the basis for the two counts of predatory sexual assault - a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

To convict Weinstein of that charge, jurors must agree on two things: that Weinstein raped Sciorra and that he committed one of the other charged offenses related to Mann or Haleyi.

He is also facing two rape charges for Mann's accusations and a criminal sexual assault charge for Haleyi's forced oral sex allegation.

Weinstein is pictured above reading papers in the courtroom as the jury continues day five of deliberations in his case

Weinstein arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court for his sexual assault trial on Monday. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and maintains any sexual encounter was consensual

Weinstein has maintained any sexual encounters were consensual.

The jury appeared to focus on Sciorra's allegations on Thursday and Friday by asking to review extensive evidence related to her.

Sciorra was the first accuser to testify and took to the witness stand nearly a month ago, telling jurors how the once-powerful movie mogul showed up unexpectedly at the door of her Manhattan apartment before barging in and raping and forcibly performing oral sex on her in late 1993 or early 1994.

During the weeks-long trial, Haleyi testified that Weinstein invited her to his Manhattan home in 2006 and then backed her into a bedroom and forcibly performed oral sex on her.

Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she began an 'extremely degrading' relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her in March 2013.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi (left) in 2006 and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann (right) in 2013
DHS Recruiters Forced out of University Career Fair After Student Protestors Block Booth

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recruiters were forced to leave a career fair at Kent State University in Ohio, after their booth was blocked by students protesting against the department.

A video recorded and published by Kent States student newspaper KentWired shows protesting students linking their arms to form a human wall around the DHS table at the Feb. 20 Spring Internship, Co-op and Career Fair. Protesters can be seen holding up flyers that read ABOLISH ICE and NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL.

The Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) is an agency under the DHS. Its main focuses include enforcing federal immigration laws, preventing terrorism, and investigating illegal movement of people and goods.

DHS representatives eventually left their table, after which a protestor covered it with flyers the group was holding in an apparent demonstration of victory. A campus police officer then arrived at the site and dispersed the protesters, according to KentWired.

They are targeting racial minorities. They are working both legally and illegally to deport people who should not be deported, a student told KentWired, adding that the DHS is blatantly racist.

It should not be allowed for Kent to sponsor such a blatantly violent racist organization. It should not be allowed that Kent sponsors anyone getting employment from them and we directly wanted to disrupt the economic benefits of them being at a job fair, the student added.

Another student compared the DHS table at the career fair with the National Guard being called to campus, referring to the May 4, 1970 tragedy that resulted in four deaths and nine wounded when Ohio National Guards opened fire on a crowd gathered to protest the Vietnam War. We want to get rid of any type of state law enforcement entity off of this campus that directly ties to our history, she said.

It is not the first time students have protested companies or agencies tied to ICE at university job fairs. Last September, students at Duke University tried to block recruiting efforts by Palantir, a data analytics company that secured a $49 million contract to provide ICE with software that could be used to track migrants at the border. Palantir also canceled an on-campus recruitment session at University of California at Berkeley, after 700 students and faculty members signed a petition calling for the company to be removed from the job fair. At Brown University, Amazon and Microsoft were targeted alongside Palantir because they sold tech to ICE.
Center Derek Grant (left) and Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad battled for the puck during a game last week. The Flyers acquired Grant on Monday. Read more

The Flyers improved their depth at forward on Monday ahead of the NHLs 3 p.m. trade deadline, adding center/winger Derek Grant and center/winger Nate Thompson in separate deals.

Will it be enough to offset major moves made by two teams chasing them, Carolina and the New York Islanders?

There are 20 regular-season games left to find out.

Anaheim sent the 6-foot-3, 206-pound Grant to the Flyers for a fourth-round draft pick and minor-league forward Kyle Criscuolo, a South Jersey product.

The Flyers also sent a 2021 fifth-round draft pick to Montreal for the 6-1, 207-pound Thompson, a hard-nosed player who had been centering former Flyers Jordan Weal and Nick Cousins on the Canadiens fourth line.

Both are expected to be in the lineup Tuesday against visiting San Jose, coach Alain Vigneault said.

These are two big bodies with pretty good experience and I think itll help us down the road, center Sean Couturier said.

Theyre veteran guys and heavy players, center Kevin Hayes said. ... Ive been in that situation before, and theyre probably both pretty excited to go from non-playoff teams -- no disrespect to those teams -- to a team that is battling to put itself in a good spot for the playoffs. Its exciting. Its never fun to leave your friends and memories, but once you get beyond that point, its exciting to be in a win-now mentality and not in a rebuild -- and I think thats what we have here."

Thompson (55.1% on draws) and Grant (51.4%) have been good in the faceoff circle and have been solid on the penalty kill this season.

Connor Bunnaman, the Flyers fourth-line center, and second-line left winger Joel Farabee were sent to the Phantoms. That makes them eligible to play in the AHL the rest of the season, though they can be recalled.

Vigneault, whose team is on a 13-5-2 run, said he was not concerned about the Flyers chemistry being altered by taking Farabee and Bunnaman out of the lineup and replacing them with Grant and Thompson.

I believe were helping the chemistry, Vigneault said, adding a lot of the veterans wanted the organization to step forward and make moves. Thats definitely what were doing.

Thompson will be the fourth-line center and be used on the penalty kill, Vigneault said. He was unsure about where Grant would slot in the lineup, but he expected to play him at wing.

Grant, 29, who was used on the power play and penalty kill in Anaheim, had a career-high 14 goals -- despite starting 70% of his shifts in the defensive zone -- and 20 points in 49 games with the Ducks this season. His cap hit is the minimum, $700,000, and he can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Ive always looked at my game from a defensive standpoint as being the most important, Grant said. But obviously when you get a chance to contribute offensively ... its something I take a lot of pride in as well.

Thompson called Grant hard to play against.

Thompson, 35, who has a $1 million cap hit and is a pending free agent in July, had four goals, 14 points, and a minus-2 rating with the Habs this season. He was also used as a penalty killer.

Its a hat trick, Thompson said, referring to the fact he has been dealt at the trade deadline the last three seasons.

Thompson is a 13-year NHL veteran.

Im just excited. Im going to relish this opportunity, said Thompson, who became friends with former Flyer Matt Carle while growing up in Alaska.

The Flyers division rivals also made moves Monday, some big, some minor. (Some rivals made moves before the deadline, like Pittsburgh getting left winger Jason Zucker, and Washington acquiring defenseman Brenden Dillon.)

The Islanders and Hurricanes, teams chasing the Flyers in the playoff race, added Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Vincent Trocheck, respectively. Both were major acquisitions.

The Isles paid a lot for Pageau. They sent a conditional first-round pick and a second-rounder, both in June, to Ottawa. They also would trade a conditional third-round pick in 2022, if the Isles win the Stanley Cup this season.

The Islanders then signed Pageau, who could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1, to a six-year contract extension that reportedly carries an annual $5 million salary-cap hit.

I dont really believe this was the best rental talent Ive ever seen, said Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher, who didnt have the cap space to acquire some of the marquee forwards unless he dealt an expensive player of his own.

Carolina acquired Trocheck for Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, Eetu Luostarinen, and Chase Priskie. The Canes later added defensemen Sami Vatanen (trade with New Jersey) and Brady Skjei (trade with Rangers).

The Penguins acquired veteran Patrick Marleau by sending a third-round pick to San Jose, and added forwards Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues as they dealt forward Dominik Kahun to Buffalo.

In another move involving a division rival, Chris Kreider surprisingly re-signed with the New York Rangers. He reportedly signed for seven years, with an average annual salary of $6.5 million.

Hayes liked the Flyers trades.

Were putting ourselves in a position to play for a long time come April, he said.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said that besides the experience, Grant and Thompson give the Flyers some size.

I call them playoff bodies, for sure. You look at the couple teams that won, they had some big bodies like that," he said, referring to Stanley Cup champions Washington in 2018 and St. Louis last year. So I think thats a huge positive for us.

We all want to play in the playoffs, and we all want to play for the Stanley Cup," Grant said. And when you get a chance to join a team that has been playing so well, its exciting for me. Im excited to get there and make a good push."
Show us the money. Its not just a slight adaptation of a famous line from the 1996 film Jerry Maguire. Its a chant that dozens of participants repeated Tuesday in a virtual rally as they called for action to address fair funding for education in Pennsylvania. Nearly 100 education officials, advocates, parents, and students across the state participated in the...
Chinas insurance regulator said Saturday it has ended its two-year takeover of Anbang Insurance Group Co. Ltd. after defusing financial risks at the fallen conglomerate, which struggled to pay back investors following a massive asset-buying spree.

The regulator took over Anbang in February 2018 after the companys founder and former chairman Wu Xiaohui was investigated by police. In May that year, Wu was sentenced to 18 years behind bars for fundraising fraud and embezzlement.

In a bid to restructure the company, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) transferred some assets from Anbang to newly created Dajia Insurance Group. Anbang retained control of toxic assets involved in Wus case as well as some other debts, sources with knowledge of the matter told Caixin.

On Saturday, the CBIRC said in a statement (link in Chinese) that it planned to place Dajia into private hands in the future.

After openly and transparently screening good-quality privately owned firms, designing an appropriate shareholding structure and going through multiple rounds of negotiations, investment banks and other intermediary institutions now have had an idea of who the new investors will be, the watchdog said in another statement (link in Chinese).

The CBIRC plans to choose a domestic privately held company, a state-owned company, and a foreign company with a view to transferring each of them a roughly 20% stake in Dajia, the sources said. China Insurance Security Fund Co. Ltd., a CBIRC-backed state-run bailout fund which now controls Dajia, will hold the remaining stake of around 33% and remain as the biggest shareholder during a temporary transition period, the people said.

The CBIRC also said that before January this year, some 1.5 trillion yuan ($213 billion) of risky short- and mid-term insurance products sold by Anbang were paid off on time without delays or defaults. The sources of the payout included an estimated 83 billion yuan of bank loans and an estimated 75 billion yuan in sales of assets previously held by Anbang, the sources said.

Founded in 2004, Anbang began making global headlines in 2014 with short-term, high risk insurance policies that allowed the company to pursue aggressive purchases at home and abroad. Over time, the conglomerates products created severe liquidity problems, while its rapid expansion ran up heavy debts.

Most of Anbangs non-core financial assets have been divested, including its stake in Century Securities Co. Ltd., the CBIRC said.

Contact reporter Tang Ziyi (ziyitang@caixin.com) and editor Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com)

Caixin Global has launched Caixin CEIC Mobile, the mobile-only version of its world-class macroeconomic data platform.

If youre using the Caixin app, please click here. If you havent downloaded the app, please click here.
Kuala Lampur:

Malaysian politics was in turmoil Monday after leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim denounced a betrayal by coalition partners he said were trying to bring down the government, two years after it stormed to victory.

Anwar's Pact of Hope alliance was thrown into crisis after his rivals within the coalition and opposition politicians met at the weekend reportedly to try to form a new government.

Speculation is mounting that Anwar, who had been the presumptive successor to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, and his lawmakers would be left out of any new coalition, ending his hopes of becoming premier any time soon.

According to reports, the proposed new government includes Mahathir's party, the United Malays National Organisation -- the party of scandal-tainted ex-leader Najib Razak, which was ousted at the 2018 polls -- and a hardline Islamist group.

However, it was still unclear Monday morning whether the push to form a new government would succeed and Mahathir is yet to comment publicly.

Anwar said late Sunday he was shocked at the bid to topple the ruling coalition, describing it as a betrayal, because there has been a promise (to hand over power to me).

Anwar -- a former oppositive icon who was jailed for years on widely-criticised sodomy charges -- was expected later Monday to meet the king, who must give his assent to the formation of a new government.

He had teamed up with former nemesis Mahathir ahead of the 2018 elections to oust the government of Najib, who had become embroiled in the massive 1MDB graft scandal.

They led an alliance to an unexpected victory against a coalition that had ruled Malaysia uninterrupted for over six decades, and 94-year-old Mahathir agreed to eventually hand power to Anwar.

But Mahathir, in his second stint as premier after first holding the role from 1981 to 2003, has repeatedly refused to say when he will transfer power, stoking tensions within the four-party coalition

Malay supremacy

The alliance's popularity had plummeted as it was accused of failing to raise living standards and protect the rights of the ethnic Malay Muslim majority, and it lost a string of local polls.

After the weekend meetings, analysts said the government stood little chance of surviving.

James Chin, a Malaysia expert at the University of Tasmania, said many Muslims were unhappy with the government and believed the argument put forward by opponents that it was being dominated by ethnic Chinese politicians.

They want Mahathir in power, and they want Malay supremacy, he told AFP.

Race is a highly sensitive issue in Malaysia. About 60 percent of the population is Muslim but it is also home to substantial ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

Many were angry, however, that the democratically elected government, which came to power partly on a pledge to push through much-needed reforms, could be replaced without an election.

The people will not agree to or cooperate with any 'backdoor' government formed out of the selfish, self-preservation agenda of certain MPs, said a statement from a group of leading activists and academics.

Some called for a snap poll, although politicians appeared to be trying to form a new government without holding an election.
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Linkedin Al Araf and Anton Aliabbas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 09:45 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20662b8ed 3 Opinion Islamic-State,IS-returnees,Indonesia,citizenship,terrorism,radical-ideologies,human-rights Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo finally decided not to repatriate the Islamic State (IS) sympathizers due to their potential security threat to the public. According to Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, the government has stripped them of their citizenship, rendering them stateless.

The fight against terrorism clearly may justify such a policy. Nevertheless, terrorism can only be prevented, tackled and narrowed in its movement and space through comprehensive state policies that promote democratic political life, social welfare and the upholding of justice.

In formulating a counterterrorism policy, the state must fulfill its obligations in upholding the liberty of the person in a permanent balance with the protection of his or her security.

In this regard, Jokowis revocation of the citizenship of Indonesians who have joined IS is neither reasonable nor justifiable for two reasons.

First, the revocation of citizenship does not solve terrorism; it instead legitimizes IS as a state. Based on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2249, IS is not a state, but a terrorist organization. Therefore the IS sympathizers are legally Indonesian citizens and the government cannot evade its constitutional mandate in dealing with them.

Second, the governments authority to rescind citizens citizenship has no legal grounds. Indeed, stripping people of citizenship is not outlawed but Citizenship Law No. 12/2006 does not recognize dual citizenship or statelessness.

As annulling ones citizenship could lead to statelessness, as in the case of the IS sympathizers, the policy potentially violates the law.

Leaving them stateless may breed new problems for global security. As we do not have any measure to closely monitor them, they still can reenter Indonesia through its porous borders.

Barring the IS supporters from returning home also breaches Law No. 12/2005 on the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 12 of the law guarantees that citizens can enter and leave their country.

One of the potential consequences for abandoning the IS sympathizers is they may recreate the movie Joker in the real world by inciting violent reprisals against the government, if not society. Statelessness, or abandonment, risks incubating a new wave of violent extremism. Essentially, efforts to deal with terrorism aim to maintain world peace, another constitutional obligation of the government. Indeed, the government needs to identify which IS sympathizers are in fact foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). The government should seek prosecution of citizens suspected of involvement in terrorism.

Similarly, the government needs to respect the legal mechanisms that apply in countries where Indonesian citizens face charges of joining IS as FTFs.

For those who do not face terrorism charges, particularly women and children, the government must repatriate them according to the law and prepare all the tools needed to deradicalize them as stipulated in the 2018 Terrorism Law.

Based on the law former FTFs can be charged under Article 12, which reads: Anyone who deliberately organizes, provides, or participates in military training, paramilitary training, or other training, both domestically and abroad, with the intention of planning, preparing, or committing a Terrorism Act, and/or participating in war outside the country for Criminal Acts of Terrorism may be sentenced to a minimum of four years in prison and a maximum of 15 years.

One of the pretexts of the revision of the old Terrorism Law was the governments difficulty in dealing with returning FTFs. Now that the new Terrorism Law will answer the governments concern, it has no reason not to use the 2018 Terrorism Law, especially Article 12.

Of course, enforcement of the article requires sufficient evidence. Therefore, Indonesia must work with the Syrian and Iraqi governments to identify active FTFs. The government can also use other legal instruments such as the 2011 Immigration Law to deal with IS supporters. Bringing the FTFs to justice is in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2170 (2014).

Specifically, for women and children who traveled to Iraq and Syria, the government should implement a comprehensive deradicalization program, rather than punishment. In particular, the government should design and develop a new approach to improve the existing deradicalization program.

Until the end of 2015, a further 90 of 600 former prisoners were suspected of returning to terrorism, including two who were involved in the Sarinah attack in Central Jakarta in 2016. Some factors such as poor evaluation of design and method and little involvement by other non-security actors contributed to the programs ineffectiveness.

Combining counterradicalization and deradicalization is one option the government can exercise. The objectives of the program include disengagement, reintegration, cessation of violence and rehabilitation.

Improvement in the deradicalization scheme is pressing, as the returnees may be exposed to radicalism and violent extremism for years. In addition, transparent and robust methods and techniques are needed to boost public confidence in the implementation of the program.

As terrorism expert Luke Bertram said, prior to understanding how terrorists may be deradicalized, the government should consider how terrorists are radicalized. Clear and measurable approaches such as how the program helps participants reintegrate and what roles community-based institutions can play to gather public support would

help the government set measures to reduce the potential risk of terrorism after we repatriate IS sympathizers.

Nevertheless, with or without repatriation, Indonesia remains vulnerable to terrorist threats. As long as politicians still employ political identity and hate speech as tools to gain popularity, radicalism may have a fertile ground in which to grow.

And politicization of the repatriation of IS sympathizers is only part of the attempt by politicians to stay relevant.

________

Both writers work at the Imparsial human rights monitor as executive director and senior fellow for security sector reform, respectively.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
The Baldwin County Sheriffs Office is currently investigating a shooting that occurred Friday, February 21 at the Boatyard Landing in Stockton.

Deputies believe that Sean Kelley, 43 of Bay Minette, and another man were at a bonfire when they into an argument as they were intoxicated. Kelley fired multiple shots at the victim as a result of the altercation and was tackled by the victim he shot as he wrestled the gun away from Kelley.

Kelly fled into the flooded areas near the Alabama river prior to deputies arriving. Deputies located Kelly shortly after and arrested him. Kelly was charged with first degree assault

Kelly was transported to North Baldwin Medical Center for minor injuries sustained during the initial altercation before being booked at the Baldwin County Sheriffs Corrections Center. The victim was transported by helicopter to University Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is recovering.

The Baldwin County Sheriffs Office will continue to investigate the shooting before turning the case over to the Baldwin County District Attorneys Office for review and prosecution.
It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference
Malaysian politics was in turmoil Monday after leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim denounced a "betrayal" by coalition partners he said were trying to bring down the government, two years after it stormed to victory.

Anwar's "Pact of Hope" alliance was thrown into crisis after his rivals within the coalition and opposition politicians met at the weekend reportedly to try to form a new government.

Speculation is mounting that Anwar, who had been the presumptive successor to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, and his lawmakers would be left out of any new coalition, ending his hopes of becoming premier any time soon.

According to reports, the proposed new government includes Mahathir's party, the United Malays National Organisation -- the party of scandal-tainted ex-leader Najib Razak, which was ousted at the 2018 polls -- and a hardline Islamist group.

However, it was still unclear Monday morning whether the push to form a new government would succeed and Mahathir is yet to comment publicly.

Anwar said late Sunday he was "shocked" at the bid to topple the ruling coalition, describing it as a "betrayal, because there has been a promise (to hand over power to me)".

Anwar -- a former opposition icon who was jailed for years on widely-criticised sodomy charges -- was expected later Monday to meet the king, who must give his assent to the formation of a new government.

He had teamed up with former nemesis Mahathir ahead of the 2018 elections to oust the government of Najib, who had become embroiled in the massive 1MDB graft scandal.

They led an alliance to an unexpected victory against a coalition that had ruled Malaysia uninterrupted for over six decades, and 94-year-old Mahathir agreed to eventually hand power to Anwar.

But Mahathir, in his second stint as premier after first holding the role from 1981 to 2003, has repeatedly refused to say when he will transfer power, stoking tensions within the four-party coalition.

Story continues

- 'Malay supremacy' -

The alliance's popularity had plummeted as it was accused of failing to raise living standards and protect the rights of the ethnic Malay Muslim majority, and it lost a string of local polls.

After the weekend meetings, analysts said the government stood little chance of surviving.

James Chin, a Malaysia expert at the University of Tasmania, said many Muslims were unhappy with the government and believed the argument put forward by opponents that it was being dominated by ethnic Chinese politicians.

"They want Mahathir in power, and they want Malay supremacy," he told AFP.

Race is a highly sensitive issue in Malaysia. About 60 percent of the population is Muslim but it is also home to substantial ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

Many were angry, however, that the democratically elected government, which came to power partly on a pledge to push through much-needed reforms, could be replaced without an election.

The people "will not agree to or cooperate with any 'backdoor' government formed out of the selfish, self-preservation agenda of certain MPs," said a statement from a group of leading activists and academics.

Some called for a snap poll, although politicians appeared to be trying to form a new government without holding an election.
Piers Morgan unleashed another scathing attack on Prince Harry and Meghan, calling the royal couple out for what he said was a blatant disrespect to the Queen.

Morgan, who was never a fan of the Sussexes, launched his latest criticism after Meghan and Harry released a lengthy "transition out of frontline royal life message" on their website. The said transition will start in the Spring of 2020 once they finally leave the monarchy.

One of the lines 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."

The part highlighted that Queen Elizabeth II does not have the power to prevent them from using the "Royal" word if they are staying overseas. Although it is worth noting that they emphasized they have no plans using the word in their branding anymore.

Because of this, Morgan criticized the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their "staggering disrespect" to Her Royal Highness.

Responding to the statement, the 54-year-old English Broadcaster retweeted a news clip regarding the Sussexes' complaint along with his opinion.

"The staggering disrespect these two keep showing to the Queen is outrageous. Who the hell do they think they are?" Morgan wrote.

Morgan has been known to be a loyal supporter of the Queen and the monarchy, and he has been "protecting" them from Prince Harry and Meghan who keep on shaming the royal family.

The staggering disrespect these two keep showing to the Queen is outrageous. Who the hell do they think they are? https://t.co/QUBSzQ2Fyq  Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 22, 2020

Aside from the journalist, royal author Richard Fitzwilliams talked to The Sun Online and shared that he also believed that that the Sussexes were unhappy with the decision and arrangement.

"It may lead to future trouble, they don't lie the arrangement that is forcing them to step down as working royals and not use their titles, even though they will have them," Fitzwilliams said.

The royal author added that it was senseless to mention that they want to continue using the Sussex Royal brand then give off a warning that the monarchy cannot stop them from doing what they want.

After the news stormed the internet, netizens also could not help but share their opinions, as well.

Fans React

After the tweet went viral, mixed comments appeared on Morgan's Twitter account -- with some royal watchers supporting Morgan and Queen Elizabeth II, and the others showing their approval for Meg and Harry.

One user wrote, "LEAVE THEM ALONE, FFS, Piers!!!!!! Seriously, just give it a rest mate!!!! And I don't want to hear from you again on this with any reason/excuse!!!! LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!!"

Morgan responded to the comment and called the user a "clueless, sycophantic clown" for not knowing how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex bravely challenged the authority of Queen Elizabeth II as the current reigning monarch.

Another user said, "They think they're special. It angers me more than anything to see what this marriage has clearly done to Harry's relationship with his brother."

"She's had the most devastating impact on a British institution since Yoko Ono," one fan added, referring to the former member of the Japanese royal family who married John Lennon and allegedly caused the breakup of "The Beatles."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may leave the monarchy soon. However, it sure seems they still cannot get an assurance that they will get the peaceful lives they want after.
Echo in the Canyon celebrates the music and performers who lived or worked in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood (in the Hollywood hills) of Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The documentarydirected by producer and former head of Capitol Records, Andrew Slater, and hosted by Jakob Dylan, son of Bob Dylanfeatures musicians from such famed groups as the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Beach Boys. The late Tom Petty, the Beatles Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, David Crosby, Michelle Phillips, Jackson Browne and producer Lou Adler are among those interviewed.

Beck, The Byrds, Jakob Dylan, Matt Tecu, Fernando Perdomo and Justine Bennett in Echo in the Canyon

The film concentrates on the years 1965-67 in a particular corner of the popular music world, when several musical traditions were joined to create a distinct sound, which became known as folk rock.

Slaters work is an amiable, moving and, at times, fascinating look at a group of talented musicians who are relatively honest and occasionally insightful about their experiences. The music of that time reflected social and cultural changes, including the unraveling of the cultural stagnation of the 1950s.

Echos inspiration was the 2015 concert at LAs Orpheum Theatre, where Jakob Dylan, along with younger artists Beck, Cat Power, Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple, performed songs by the Mamas and the Papas, the Beach Boys, the Association and Buffalo Springfield. The Beach Boys tune Just Wasnt Made for These Times is hauntingly memorable.

Brian Wilson in Echo in the Canyon

Both in performance and throughout the movie, Dylan is a little too self-consciously understated, but nonetheless affable in his interaction with the documentarys subjects.

It is more than half a century since some of these songs were initially played on the radio. It was the first time a song of poetic depth and grace had become a hit song and it inspired a whole generation of writers to write differently and to come to California, which gave birth to the Laurel Canyon scene, asserts one interviewee. This is an exaggeration, of course, considering the history and achievements of American popular music, but something new undoubtedly had emerged.

The Byrdswhose original 1964 lineup consisted of Jim (later Roger) McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarkewere at the center of this development. Their electrified and electrifying version of Bob Dylans Mr. Tambourine Man, released in April 1965, had a significant impact on the musical world, as did the release of their first album of the same name, in June 1965, and their second, Turn! Turn! Turn!, in December of that year. Along with original material, the albums treated a number of folk or popular songs in a fresh, melodic and driving fashion.

In fact, someone asserts, rather sweepingly, that if McGuinn had just played the opening notes to the Byrds debut album and dropped dead, he would have still exercised the most pronounced influence over the folk rock movement in 25 years. A good deal of attention is paid to McGuinns jangly, twelve-string Rickenbacker guitar playing.

Jakob Dylan and Tom Petty in Echo in the Canyon

Along with commentary about the music of the time, candid tales abound in Echo in the Canyon. Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas disarmingly recalls that then-husband and bandmate John Phillips wrote Go Where You Wanna Go in response to her marital infidelities. She also recounts a story about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys: They lived right down the street from us, Brian and Marilyn [Wilsons wife at the time]. And one day I went over there and the whole living room was full of sand. And there was nothing in the living room but a Steinway and a piano bench and just all sand. And I looked at her and I said what is going on? She said I know its crazy but hes writing some great songs.

In the course of the film, many of the musicians acknowledge Wilsons singular contribution: I was a sucker for Brians work right away, one notes. I was very close friends with [musician and producer] Felix Pappalardi and he was the guy who pointed out to me the Bach-like qualities. And he said listen to this chord sequence. Theyre using like Bach chordal movements in there.

Wilson himself movingly confesses that the Beatles were probably my favorite group, you know. I really liked them a lot. With Rubber Soul, one of my buddies brought it over and played it for me. I said I cant believe this album! You know? He kept playing it and playing it and I said wow! I couldnt believe it. That made me write the Pet Sounds album.

The Byrds Mr. Tamborine Man (1965)

Lou Adler describes the gestalt of the time: You just felt like you could do anything, you know. You just felt like there was nothing stopping you. Expressing the movies predominant sentiment, Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash asserted that the power of music is undeniable. I truly believe it can change the world.

Anecdotes are interspersed with archival material and clips from the 1969 film, Model Shop, directed by French filmmaker Jacques Demy. That movie, a drama about a soon-to-be-drafted architect (Gary Lockwood), provides the documentarys only reference, and an oblique one at that, to the Vietnam War.

Another musician suggests that the era begins with this collective idea of these musicians and this creative force coming together to make something bigger. And then the era ends when it becomes more about the individual, yeah, searching their own life and their own path and, ah, yeah, you get all these groups breaking up.

Crosby elaborates: Bands tend to devolve. They evolve up the point where theyre exciting and theyre new and theyre good, and then after that they work their way slowly downhill until its turn on the smoke machine and play your hits. And thats not good enough for me. Its just not.

Michelle Phillips in Echo in the Canyon

As charming as the documentary is, social events are almost entirely excluded from Echo in the Canyon. The musicians themselves seem essentially unaware of the social and cultural terrain in which their music germinated.

The musical cross pollination of the mid-1960s was made possible by various changes in American society. Economic processes, including the vast migration of both black and white Southerners to factories and cities in the North, and the ongoing Civil Rights movement, broke down barriers between races and ethnicities, helping to combine blues, country and other traditions. The anti-establishment atmosphere of the time, encouraged as well by the growing opposition to the expanding Vietnam War, made easier the rejection of musical conventions. Certain formalities and rigidities also tended to dissolve in Californiathe promised land, where anything seemed possiblea state to which great numbers of Americans were migrating in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The brief utopian musical interlude of the mid-1960s eventually collided with the realities of the urban riots, the mass death toll in Vietnam, the series of political assassinations (the Kennedy brothers, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr.) and the general shift to the right in official politics represented by the victory of Richard Nixon in 1968. The series of brutal murders committed by the Manson Family in Southern California in July and August of 1969, themselves the sign of a society in crisis, no doubt helped bring the idyll to an end.

Echo in the Canyon, however, reveals that the music still resonates.
The global community is turning a blind eye to the oil blockade in Libya to stop prices falling, claimed Mohammed Syala.

Geneva, Switzerland  Libyas foreign minister, Mohammed Syala, on Monday accused the international community of remaining silent over the countrys oil blockade in order to avoid a drop in oil prices, calling the move inhuman.

Libyas economy is on its knees after renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar blocked the countrys eastern oil ports and fields on January 18 in an attempt to cut financial revenues to the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) which sits in the capital, Tripoli.

We are astonished at the international communitys inaction with regard to the oil blockade. They have intervened before, why they dont do it now? said Syala, addressing media at the United Nations in Geneva.

They [the international community] dont want one million barrels of [Libyan] oil to bring down prices now that international demand is low. If this is the reason, its inhuman.

Libya relies on crude oil exports for 98 percent of its national income. But last month, militias loyal to the Benghazi-based Haftar blockaded the oil ports in an attempt to push the GNA  led by Fayez Serraj  to relinquish its power over Tripoli. The capital has been under siege by Haftars forces since April 2019.





Haftar tried to seize oil ports in 2018, but international condemnation was swift at the time, as Benghazis institutions have no legal authority according to UN Security Council resolutions. The result was an immediate shutdown of oil sales from eastern Libya.

Syala spoke on the sidelines of the opening session of the Human Rights Council, where the president of the GNA, Fayez al-Sarraj, delivered a speech on Monday accusing the international community of turning a blind eye to the human rights violations taking place in Libya at the hands of Haftars Libya National Army and allied militias.

Holding pictures of students and a parliamentarian killed in Benghazi, al-Sarraj said the population in the east of the country, controlled by Haftar, was hostage to a dictatorial regime.

Political, military talks in limbo

GNA representatives in Geneva last week abandoned military talks aimed at establishing a ceasefire between the two sides after forces loyal to Haftar bombed Tripolis port and Mitiga airport, killing three people and almost hitting a highly explosive gas tanker.

On Monday, the UN mission in Libya, UNSMIL, issued a statement saying that the two sides had reached a draft ceasefire agreement to facilitate the safe return of civilians to their areas with the implementation of a joint monitoring mechanism under the auspices of UNSMIL and the Joint Military Commission.

The two parties agreed to present the draft agreement to their respective leaderships for further consultations and to meet again next month.

It was not clear whether political talks slated to start in the Swiss city on Wednesday will take place  but Syala said the GNA had not yet received an invitation to participate.

Haftar is 15 kilometres (9 miles) away from the centre of the capital, and some neighbourhoods have already been completely destroyed Mohammed Syala, Libyan foreign minister

UN Special Envoy Ghassan Salame has renewed efforts to bring the two sides together for military, political and economic talks since the UN Security Council passed a resolution on February 12 asking for a lasting ceasefire.

The GNA is ready to continue talks in earnest under the UN resolutions, however, we appeal to the international community to do its part to address this proxy war, said al-Sarraj, addressing diplomats in Geneva on Monday.

Al-Sarraj criticised attempts to equate Haftar, who he called a war criminal, to the militias defending Tripoli in the siege.





We have asked for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, and to establish a mechanism to implement international humanitarian law, he said. This doesnt mean comparing the aggressors to those who defend themselves, their family and the democratic state.

A summit in Berlin in January called upon the two sides to withdraw from their positions in order to establish a permanent ceasefire that would allow the beginning of political talks.

However, Foreign Minister Syala said on Monday the GNA did not see the need for its forces to withdraw.

They are there to defend Tripoli, he said. Haftar is 15 kilometres (9 miles) away from the centre of the capital, and some neighbourhoods have already been completely destroyed.

Meanwhile, Haftar has declared he would be ready for a ceasefire  if Turkish and Syrian mercenaries left the country and Ankara stopped supplying weapons to Libyas GNA.

Syala said Tripoli was ready to abide by the arms embargo, but also admitted that the Turkish presence was restoring balance in the long-running battle with Haftar. Answering questions on the presence of Syrian fighters in Tripoli, Libyas foreign minister said forces on the ground carried Turkish passports.

Turkey backs the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, while Haftar is supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Russia and other countries.

A decision by Turkey last month to send troops and weapons to Tripoli has polarised positions in Libya as well as Europe, with the bloc divided over its support for the GNA and fears that Turkey may seek territorial and economic advantages in Libya.

Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011 when a NATO-backed uprising led to the ousting of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.
Bernie Sanders has always had a soft spot for Fidel Castro and the communist dictatorship the latter created. But instead of keeping it to himself and off the air, he went all out to praise Cuba's brutal regime for its phony "literacy" and "free" health care on 60 Minutes. Now Florida's Democrats are panicking.

According to the Miami Herald:

During that interview, a clip of which aired on CBS Sunday night, Sanders counted healthcare and education among the reasons that the Cuban people didn't rise up and overthrow Castro after his 1959 revolution. "You know, when Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program," Sanders told Cooper. "Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?" "There are a lot of dissidents imprisoned in Cuba," Cooper said to Sanders.

That's a big  real big  exploding cigar.

The only reason people didn't overthrow Castro was their great love of all his "free" health care? No, he tortured, killed, and imprisoned them first. Crap like that is likely to cost the Democrats Florida.

According to the Herald, here's what went down:

Video clips of Sanders' remarks on 60 Minutes were quickly shared on social media. Some Miami-based Democrats said Sanders' response is politically damaging in South Florida, home to more than 1 million Cuban-Americans. "Democrats, nominating this man will absolutely re-elect Donald Trump and end our Constitutional republic," tweeted Miami-based Democratic strategist and pollster Fernand Amandi. "You can practically hear Miami crack off Florida and go spinning into the ocean," Miami-based author Roben Farzad tweeted.

It's toxic, absolutely toxic, to be spewing false stories about the glories of Castro's regime, which, at last count, has driven approximately 20% of the population of the island to flee for their lives from it, often in leaky rafts.

That's because quite a few of the locals  those very important Latino-vote locals that Democrats covet  know firsthand about life in a socialist hellhole. For Bernie to praise this particular failed system to those who have fled it, instead of just claim that his socialism will be a really good socialism, is the height of stupidity, a mistake so bad that the Democrats recognize that it could take them all down with him.

According to Sundance at Conservative Treehouse:

Well, Bernie can write-off Florida; literally, write it off. This is such a mega-mistake, it's impossible to overestimate. Bernie Sanders doesn't even need to bother campaigning in Florida and I'll be surprised if he doesn't lose the Democrat primary to Bloomberg that's how big an effen' deal this is. The Latino, Cuba, Argentina and Venezuelan community in/around Miami-Dade is the central voting block for democrats; proud and loud. However, there is one issue, one central issue so encompassing they will walk away. The murderous bloodthirsty Cuban dictator Fidel Castro is hated with the blazing sun of a thousand supernovas. This is a non-optional outlook. Get on the wrong side of that position and there is NO recovery. He's done. Bernie Sanders looking for the not-so-bad side of Fidel Castro, or the current Castro regime, is a non-starter for Miami-Dade Latinos. Period. There is no national electoral issue equivalent for this position. It is intensely personal, and you can't throw a rock without finding a family with a first-hand victim account from Castro's brutality.

Sundance can throw in the Nicaraguans, too  tiny nation there, big nation here  with tens of thousands of their nationals now citizens here. Here's just one, describing what went down with all that vaunted "literacy." They too know what it's like to flee a socialist hellhole with all that free health care and literacy Bernie praises.

Here are some choice tweets:

florida dems are officially in panic mode after sanders praised fidel castro in his 60 minutes interview



heres gwen graham:https://t.co/MFPnEPbSZk https://t.co/Jkrop4JZEc  Thao Nguyen (@helloitsthao) February 24, 2020

I'm hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro. https://t.co/Iwvmay9LOH pic.twitter.com/KT9sQ0pfkh  Donna E. Shalala (@DonnaShalala) February 24, 2020

Sundance has more. And Fidel Castro is now trending on Twitter.

For Democrats, that's panic time.

The Latino refugees and now voters of Florida know. They really, really know. They know that Bernie's promise of a socialist paradise is false because they've heard it before. And they sure as heck aren't interested in getting fooled again.

This is a very important detail, because the press will soon be calling them "intransigent" and other crapola, subtly making Bernie the victim instead.

It's absolute garbage.

Number one, the first thing all these voters will remember is that all of these socialist hellholes began with pretty promises of free stuff for everyone, just as Bernie promises, everything democratically done, everything "for the people." All they saw, though, was an immensely empowered government with zero freedoms left for them, taking complete control over what they read, what kind of health care they get, and what they are allowed to think. Socialists such as Bernie claim it's a "tradeoff"  less freedom but more free stuff, daddy government taking care of your every need  but these voters know firsthand that that's a naked lie. Once the people lost their freedoms, they get nothing, not one thing. Cuban kids eat ice to stave off hunger. Today's "stat of the day" from Venezuela from Axios's Mike Allen is that one third of the people all these goodies were promised to ... are literally starving. It's billed as a "stat of the day." For Venezuelans involved in this, that's no bite-sized factlet to move on from, it's the ugly, ugly, ugly and ongoing reality and why they want that socialist hellhole regime gone.

Communism in fact is the vilest lying system ever devised, with millions of dead to its name. Babalu Blog's distinguished Yale professor contributor, Carlos Eire, has a superb list of just why Sanders might really be calling it appealing and none of his reasons are attractive reasons. Not one good thing can be given to it.

With all power in the hands of the state, citizens lose their power to make any choices in their lives. At the same time, central planning will ensure that only a nomenklatura party elite will ever be serviced by the all-powerful state, the locals will be left with no food, no health care, no libraries, and no right to complain about it, either, because the freedom's gone. At that point, they know the only thing they will ever be reliably fed by communists are lies.

Only someone who has lived through that can see through the false promises that Bernie's making. These voters have heard those phony promises before and the consequences for them were dire.

Democrats have every reason to be panicking, because this could not just put the state in Trump's column, it could make it red for years to come, taking down all the down-ballot political slots, too. That would explain why Shalala is panicking. Bernie's given them reason to be running scared.

As for the rest of us, thank God for Miami Cuban-Americans. America saved them from socialism by letting them in, and now they might just save America from socialism by voting these socialist Democrats out.

Image credit: Needpix, public domain.
UDC serves the District in the same way a land-grant university serves its state, Cooper said. Those schools, she said, were founded many, many years ago and they were created to serve a public mission to really help educate the citizens of the state and allow the institution to be a very viable economic engine to really help create opportunities for those graduates to then enter the workforce of that particular state.
LAKE CITY  Thursday night, the Minnesota Department of Transportation held what should be its final open house before construction starts on U.S. Highway 61 through Lake City's downtown.

Mike Dougherty, a spokesman for MnDOT District 6, said the meeting wasn't really about any changes to construction plans. The goal of the open house was to ensure residents, business owners and others know what the plans are and how to get updates as the construction season starts.

The contractor on the project and MnDOT will have weekly meetings each day at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays. There will be updates through MnDOT District 6 Facebook and Twitter and emails, and the city's Chamber of Commerce has its own list of businesses that it will push information to.

"There may be some redundancy, but that's OK," Dougherty said. "We'll give updates that say here's what's happening and here's the look ahead."

Bill Neja, an estimator with Rochester Sand and Gravel, said most people's biggest concerns have been the locations of detours and how construction affect where they need to go.

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Once the snow is gone and temperatures have risen to allow road work, Neja said, there will be a pair of work crews  one at the south end of town, a second at the north end of town  beginning the reconstruction and realignment project. The north section is key, he said, because finishing the section from Wabasha County Road 5 to north of Central Point Road will reduce the detour length going through town.

Shar Yorde, who works in downtown Lake City, said she came to see the detour routes, hear about the construction timeline and sign up for the emails from MnDOT.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," Yorde said. "Mainly I'm looking for improvements by Fiesta Foods and Snyder Drugs."

Carolyn Wenzel, who owns Lake Pepin Floral and Gifts on Lakeshore Drive, said she is concerned about pedestrian traffic and whether or not to invest time and money into regular promotional events if shoppers aren't going to bother braving construction.

City Council Member Russell Boe said, "We started talking about this three or four years ago, and 2020 seemed like a long ways off. Then, snap your fingers, and here we are."

Boe said the safety that the realignment will bring to downtown Lake City is one of the biggest benefits to the project. For example, he said there will be fewer conflict points, fewer lanes for pedestrians to cross, and slower traffic as it passes through the downtown area.

"Since it was four lanes, here, Lake City was seen as the passing zone for traffic between Wabasha and Red Wing," Boe said, adding that MnDOT plans to create a four-lane stretch near Frontenac to create a passing zone outside of town. "Our downtown shouldn't be a passing zone."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Congress can authorize the National Telecommunications Commission to grant ABS-CBN a temporary license to continue operating pending legislative action on the media giant's license renewal, Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra said Monday.

During the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing, Gueverra said the NTC can give provisional authority if the Senate and House of Representatives file a joint resolution prior to the expiration of ABS-CBN's 25-year franchise on May 4.

"The Congress, by a concurrent resolution, may authorize the National Telecommunications Commission to issue a provisional authority subject to such terms and conditions as the NTC may deem fit to ABS-CBN and other entities similarly situated, authorizing them to continue operating subject to Congress' eventual disposition of their renewal of the application," he said during the hearing of Senate Committee on Public Services.

Majority of senators have been pushing for the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, but bills seeking to renew ABS-CBNs legal mandate remain pending before the House committee level.

With this situation, Senator Migz Zubiri asked NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba if the Senate  minus the House  can submit a resolution to NTC.

The commissioner replied, "If the Senate gives the resolution, we can issue provisional authority to let them continue with their broadcast."

Guevarra also said that if the Congress does not pass a resolution to be submitted to NTC, ABS-CBN should be allowed to continue operation. He added some companies have been allowed to operate with expired licenses even in the absence of a resolution from the legislators.

"Kung ako ang tatanungin mo, the answer is continue the practice. Kung walang resolution, ganoon pa rin. Kasi kung hindi mo itutuloy, that will be discriminatory. May gap ang batas eh kaya we draw from equity considerations para fair. Walang agrabyado. Hindi naman kasalanan ng company na hindi pa naaprubahan ng Kongreso ang kanyang application," he said in an ambush interview.

[Translation: If you ask me, my answer is to let them continue practicing even without a resolution. If you stop them from operating, that will be discriminatory. There is a gap in the law so we draw from the equity considerations to be fair to all.

NTC has sought the legal opinion of the DOJ regarding the controversial franchise renewal case. But Guevarra said he will not release a legal opinion because it involves a private company.

Cordoba said the NTC has not found any violations committed by the media network. He added if a temporary license to operate will be given to ABS-CBN, the NTC can withdraw it anytime.

"If there are violations of those conditions, we should be able to withdraw the provisional authority," he said.

This was questioned by Senator Franklin Drilon, saying the possibility threatens freedom of the press if the NTC can quickly scrap the temporary franchise.
Highlights:

Acquisition of Almaden, a historic resource-stage gold project in west-central Idaho will further expand GoldMining's portfolio of gold projects located in mining friendly jurisdictions of the Americas;





will further expand GoldMining's portfolio of gold projects located in mining friendly jurisdictions of the Americas; 70,234 m of historic drilling (934 holes) completed on the Project, which hosts outcropping, low-sulphidation epithermal gold mineralization;





of historic drilling (934 holes) completed on the Project, which hosts outcropping, low-sulphidation epithermal gold mineralization; Projects with similar style of mineralization to Almaden include Hecla Mining's Hollister and Midas Mines in northern Nevada , and Integra Resources' Delamar and Florida Canyon projects in southwest Idaho ;





and Midas Mines in northern , and Integra Resources' Delamar and Florida Canyon projects in southwest ; The total purchase price will be $1,150,000 , comprised of common shares and cash; and





, comprised of common shares and cash; and GoldMining intends to engage an independent qualified person to complete a technical report including a current resource estimate upon closing.

VANCOUVER, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - GoldMining Inc. (the "Company" or "GoldMining") (TSX: GOLD;OTCQX: GLDLF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") with Sailfish Royalty Corp. and its subsidiary (collectively, "Sailfish"), to indirectly acquire a 100% interest in the Almaden Gold Project ("Almaden" or the "Project"), located in west-central Idaho.

Garnet Dawson, CEO of GoldMining, commented: "This acquisition continues our strategy of consolidating quality resource-stage projects in the Americas. The transaction is a win for both companies as it is accretive to GoldMining, while allowing Sailfish to focus on its royalty business. Our next step after completing this acquisition will be to complete a current resource estimate on the Project."

The Agreement

Pursuant to the Agreement, the total consideration payable by GoldMining on closing of the transaction will be $1,150,000, comprising of: (i) $575,000, payable in common shares of GoldMining (the "GOLD Shares"); and (ii) $575,000, payable in cash.

The issue price of the share consideration will be based on the volume-weighted average price of the GOLD Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five trading days prior to closing. Such shares will be subject to a four month and one day hold period and certain additional resale restrictions pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, amongst others, including receipt of requisite Toronto Stock Exchange approval. The parties currently expect closing to occur in March 2020.

Almaden Project

The Almaden Project is located approximately 140 road km north of Boise and approximately 24 km east of Weiser in Washington County, Idaho. Access to the project is by well-maintained paved and gravel roads, which exit east of U.S. Highway 95 at Weiser. The closest high-voltage power transmission line (230 kV) is located 10 km east of the Project. The Project is comprised of two lease holdings (12 patented mining claims and one mining lease) and 210 unpatented lode mining claims for a total area of approximately 1,724 Ha.

The Almaden Project is one of several low-sulphidation epithermal gold deposits related to the Northern Nevada Rift that includes Hecla Mining Company's Hollister and Midas Mines in northern Nevada, Integra Resources Corp.'s Delamar and Florida Canyon projects in southwest Idaho and Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.'s development-stage project across the border in Oregon.

The relatively flat lying, near surface, disseminated gold mineralization at Almaden is hosted in sinter and silicified (opal) sedimentary rocks of the Miocene Payette Formation that are underlain by chalcedonic veins and stockworks. Mineralization is interpreted to have formed in a hot-springs environment in the upper levels of an epithermal system. Gold mineralization is associated with intense silicification and argillic alteration that measures approximately 1,900 m long by 500 m wide by 150 m thick. The deposit was intermittently drilled from 1980 to 2012 by several companies including Homestake and Amax Gold Inc. Most of this drilling was by vertical holes within 100 m of surface with over 200 holes ending in mineralization.

The Project was the subject of a historic resource estimate completed by Western Standard Metals Ltd. ("Western Standard") in 2009. The historical resource estimate was based on 886 drill holes (61,980 m of drilling) that included both rotary and reverse circulation (87%) and diamond drilling (13%). The resource estimate is historical in nature and will not be treated as a current resource estimate by the Company as a qualified person has not done sufficient work on behalf of the Company to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Western Standard disclosed the historic estimate in a technical report completed for it by Paul Tietz, P.Geo. and Michael M. Gustin, P.Geo. of Mine Development Associates titled "Technical Report, Almaden Project, Washington County, Idaho", with an effective date of August 31, 2009, a copy of which is available under Western Standard's profile on SEDAR.

Subsequent to the historical resource estimate, Western Standard completed an additional 48 diamond drill holes (8,254 m of drilling) in 2011 and 2012 to test for high-grade feeder mineralization, provide sample material for metallurgical test work and confirm historic rotary and reverse circulation sampling results. Selected drill intercepts from the 2011 to 2012 drill program are shown in Table 1. GoldMining has not completed sufficient work to verify these exploration and drilling results, however the Company believes the historical exploration work is relevant to any future exploration and as an indication of the potential of the Project. GoldMining intends to engage an independent qualified person to, among other things, verify historic sampling and results, examine the cut-off grade with reference to today's metal prices, and complete a technical report, including a current resource estimate.

Table 1: Almaden Project  select drill hole intercepts from the 2011 and 2012 programs.

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) TAL-751C 0.0 53.3 53.3 1.083 Including 7.6 19.8 12.2 2.225 TAL-752C 9.1 94.5 85.4 0.840 MET-1 1.4 69.8 68.4 1.301 TAL-775C 0.0 61.6 61.6 1.223 Including 9.1 48.8 39.7 1.503 MET-2 0.0 76.2 76.2 1.195 Including 13.9 40.9 27.0 2.168 TAL-781C 0.0 61.6 61.6 1.100 Including 10.6 18.3 7.7 1.488 Including 21.3 39.6 18.3 1.408 TAL-785C 3.0 47.3 44.2 1.182 Including 10.7 29.0 18.3 2.032 MET-4 9.4 90.8 81.4 0.754 Including 26.2 52.9 26.7 1.020 TAL-787C 3.7 64.0 60.4 1.065 Including 16.8 38.1 21.3 1.881 TAL-792C 0 76.8 76.8 0.939 Including 4.6 16.8 12.2 1.435

Qualified Person

Paulo Pereira, President of GoldMining Inc. has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Pereira holds a Bachelors degree in Geology from Universidade do Amazonas in Brazil, is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.

About GoldMining Inc.

GoldMining is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold assets in the Americas. Through its disciplined acquisition strategy, GoldMining now controls a diversified portfolio of resource-stage gold and gold-copper projects in Canada, U.S.A., Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Additionally, GoldMining owns a 75% interest in the Rea Uranium Project, located in the Western Athabasca Basin of Alberta, Canada.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of GoldMining with respect to its business and future events, including expectations and future plans respecting the completion of the acquisition of the Project and any future exploration programs and other work on the Project. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which GoldMining operates, including that the acquisition of the Project will complete as contemplated and that the conditions under the Agreement will be satisfied. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: that the parties may not satisfy all of the conditions under the Agreement, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with GoldMinings expectations, accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on its projects, and that GoldMining may not be able to confirm historical exploration results. These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in GoldMinings filings with Canadian securities regulators, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward looking information, will prove to be accurate. GoldMining does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

SOURCE GoldMining Inc.

Related Links

www.goldmining.com


The St. Johns Bridge will close to nighttime users beginning 10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24.

The bridge will be closed to vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Crews will be doing annual maintenance and the biennial bridge inspection, 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. nightly through early Saturday, Feb. 29.

Emergency vehicles will be allowed over the bridge during the closure times. The last two scheduled TriMet buses of the night, 10:04 p.m. and 11:05 p.m., will also be allowed to cross each night.

Travelers will need to choose an alternate route.

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MULTNOMAH VILLAGE 8:49 a.m.: Injury crash on Southwest Multnomah Boulevard at 36th Avenue.

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POWELL BLVD 8:05 a.m.: Crash on Southeast 76th Avenue and Powell Boulevard.

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SOUTHEAST 8:02 a.m.: Injury crash on Southeast 60th Avenue just south of Duke Street.

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CLACKAMAS 7:50 a.m.: Crash on Southeast Sunnyside Road, just east of I-205.

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AURORA/CHARBONEAU 7:40 a.m.: OR 551 is closed in both directions due to a serious injury crash involving a semi near the airport. Choose an alternate route.

Update 8:37 a.m.: LifeFlight has been activated for this crash. Aurora Fire tweeted that the road will be closed for several hours.

Aurora Fire is on scene of a crash on Hubbard cutoff north of Keil rd. Hubbard cutoff will remain closed. We want to thank Canby Fire, TVF&R, Woodburn Ambulance, OSP, and Lifeflight for the assist. pic.twitter.com/fPCRzJbzHZ  Aurora Fire District (@aurorafire63) February 24, 2020

#pdxtraffic OR 551 near Aurora is CLOSED for a crash. Use an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/F1rrNFZVve  PDX Traffic Alerts (@TrafficPortland) February 24, 2020

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NORTH PORTLAND 6:45 a.m.: Injury crash on North Marine Drive just east of Leadbetter Road.

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Drivers should expect intermittent lane closures on Southwest Boones Ferry Road near Arnold Street beginning Monday.

Crews will be preparing for the building of a new bridge on Boones Ferry where it crosses Tryon Creek. Construction is expected to continue through March. Lane closures will occur intermittently during regular daytime work hours.

The construction of the new bridge will begin in April. The road will close at that time for up to seven months. The new bridge will replace a failing culvert that carries the creek under the road. Crews will also build a pedestrian and wildlife trail under the bridge that connects to the areas existing trail network.

Work zone map for bridge construction on SW Boones Ferry Rd.Portland Bureau of Environmental Services

Travelers should expect delays in the area and use extreme caution in the work zone. (see map).

Road crews have begun the construction phase of work to add safety features to the Germantown, Cornelius Pass and Old Cornelius Pass roads intersections. Drivers should expect lane closures 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. workdays through May.

Traffic may be stopped as long as 10 minutes at a time, or occasionally routed to a different road. The construction is part of a larger project that will include a traffic signal at the intersection.

Cornelius Pass and Germantown roads meet at an unsignalized "T" intersection in northern Washington County. The county believes traffic volumes, speed and unusual intersection geometry contribute to crashes in this area. Construction is scheduled through late May. Read more about the project here.

The Eagle Creek Fire shut down the Oneota Gorge Trail and damaged the historic Oneonta Tunnel. Sean Meagher/Staff Sean Meagher/Staff

The Oregon Department of Transportation has closed the Historic Columbia River Highway for the week to work on a rockfall the Oneonta Tunnel east of Multnomah Falls.

Crews will be scaling the hillsides near the tunnel and bringing down loose rocks. The project hopes to reduce the threat of rockfalls and help ensure the safety of workers involved later in the tunnel repair project.

The highway will be closed all hours and days to all users between Multnomah Falls and Interstate 84 exit 35 (Ainsworth State Park). The road will reopen by 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.

The hillside was burned during the 2017 Eagle Creek fire, destroying vegetation and increasing the threat of rockfall.

Check back throughout the morning for the latest commuting updates and follow us on Twitter: @trafficportland
Traffic in some parts of the national capital, mostly central Delhi, will be affected on Monday and Tuesday due to security measures put in place for US President Donald Trump's visit, officials said.

Trump, who is scheduled to arrive in the capital on Monday night, will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including his family members.

An advisory issued by the Delhi Police stated that owing to security reasons, traffic in areas of Delhi Cantonment, Delhi-Gurgaon Road (NH 48), Dhaula Kuan, Chanakyapuri, SP Marg, Ram Manohar Lohia hospital roundabout, and the adjoining areas is likely to remain heavy on Monday evening.

Necessary diversions as per the ground situation may also be put in place, it said.

According to the advisory, from forenoon till around 4 pm on Tuesday, traffic is likely to remain heavy in Moti Bagh, Chanakyapuri, India Gate, areas around ITO, Delhi Gate and the adjoining areas of central and New Delhi.

On Tuesday evening, traffic is likely to remain heavy in the areas of Chanakyapuri, RML hospital roundabout, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Cantonment, Delhi-Gurgaon Road (NH 48) and the adjoining areas.

The Delhi Traffic Police has urged motorists and commuters to plan their travel accordingly.

Commuters have also been asked to check the Delhi Traffic Police's website and Twitter handle for updates on traffic diversions.

Citizens may also contact the traffic police on its 24x7 helpline number -- 01125844444 -- in case of any inconvenience.

Trump, accompanied by US First Lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and high-level US officials arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday morning.

He will reach the national capital in the evening for the main leg of his visit. He will stay in Delhi till Tuesday night before leaving for the US.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi [India], Feb 24 (ANI): Former foreign secretary Salman Haider said that US President Donald Trump's two-day state visit to India can be "very meaningful" as strong effort is being made by the Indian government to create goodwill at an "unprecedented level".



"I think this can be a very meaningful visit because a great effort has been made by India to create goodwill. This is the most important aspect of it that I see. There have been ups and downs in our (India-US) relations. But now, a very strong effort is being made by the Indian government to create goodwill at an unprecedented level," Haider told ANI here.

Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, is set to arrive in Ahmedabad today. This is the US President's first visit to India.

The US President, along with his family and a ministerial delegation, will be in India for around 36 hours. They will visit Ahmedabad, Agra, and Delhi during their stay.

Meanwhile, Haider said that Pakistan has been "under pressure from America and under countries to mend its ways and to give up its terrorist practices, to abandon them, and develop a more equable and more reasonable way of dealing with our country".



He said that the defence relationship between India and the US has been developing over the last few years and it must be "expected that questions of arms supplies, of cooperation in a number of defence areas will be promoted by Trump's visit". (ANI)


CEDAR FALLS  A new exhibit at the University of Northern Iowa examines the millions of ordinary people who witnessed the Holocaust, challenging the commonly held notion that its tragedies were perpetrated far from the view of ordinary citizens.

The exhibit, Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration & Complicity in the Holocaust, will be on display now until March 8 in the Learning Commons Exhibition Wall on the main floor of Rod Library.

In contrast to most exhibits on the Holocaust, in which attention is primarily on the architects, perpetrators and victims of mass murder, the focus of Some Were Neighbors is on the millions of ordinary people who witnessed the crimes of the Holocaust.

One of the aims of the exhibit is to underscore, for our own times, each individuals responsibilities when our neighbors are threatened by neglect, animosity or imminent danger, said Stephen Gaies, director of the UNI Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education and professor emeritus in the department of languages and literature.

The exhibit, a collaboration between the Rod Library and the UNI Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education, explores how neighbors  workers, teenagers, policemen, religious leaders, business associates, teachers and friends  made individual choices that amounted to collaboration, complicity and, less frequently, resistance to Nazi Germanys persecution and murder of Jews.

The exhibit provides a different perspective by showing that the Holocaust was shaped by the individual decisions made by ordinary individuals, motivated by social pressure, self-interest, antisemitism or personal ethics.

This poster exhibit was developed from a large-scale exhibit that opened in April 2013 at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in conjunction with the Museums 20th anniversary and remained on display through 2018.

This event is free and open to the public.

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Sue Bradford writes:

Select Committee hearings are happening this week but Ive seen little media coverage  yet what this legislation proposes is an outrage.

What little coverage there has been includes lines such as this, from a Stuff article:

A section of the bill has proposed the Minister of Racing to be able to use money from the sale of small local racing clubs towards funding improvements in other venues.

Racing supporter Graham OBrien of Hawera, said the bill was the biggest land grab since early colonial days.

If passed, the Bill will in effect allow the closure and forced sale of the venues of a number of racing clubs, potentially including those at Avondale, Stratford, Central Otago, Kurow, Banks Peninsula and Wairoa.

Even if a club has stopped racing, or has already sold its venue, the legislation allows for its property to be compulsorily taken.

The purpose of this is to prop up other strategic venues that have the blessing of the powers that be, for example racecourses at Auckland, Wellington, Manawatu and Canterbury.

Meanwhile, these community hubs that have been built up over many years and decades, in some cases long before any such thing as the TAB or the racing industry existed, will be lost to the people of the local area, with no necessary say from the latter in their disposal.

Racing club venues are community assets often used by many other groups. The Avondale markets are just one example of this.

I am no right-winger, but I find myself unusually in the space occupied by the right  that is, I cannot fathom how property rights can be trampled on in this way, nor how Labour and the Greens can tolerate it.

It is a possibility that Winston Peters sought carte blanche on racing policy as part of the 2017 coalition deal with Labour, yet this week Jacinda Ardern has been quoted as saying, Racing policy, decisions, bills  go through considerable scrutiny  no one policy is ever decided by one party, they go through all of us.
With Windows 7's retirement from support now behind everyone, the next major marker for a Microsoft expiration arrives in a little less than 10 months, when Office 2010 falls off the servicing list.

Big yawn, right?

Not really. According to an admittedly past-sale-date survey of nearly 1,200 IT professionals in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada in September 2017, 68% of the respondents said that their companies were still running Office 2007.

Office 2007's end of support was Oct. 10, 2017, or less than a month after these IT people were polled.

There's little reason to think that the percentage of companies now running Office 2010 would be much less. (Nor, according to Spiceworks, will everyone ditch Office 2010 by the deadline; in the fall of 2017, 46% of those surveyed said their workplaces still had Office 2003 running; that version dead-ended in April 2014.)
A British gran who smuggled 1million of cocaine on to a cruise ship fears she will leave a foreign prison in a coffin after getting suspected breast cancer.

Susan Clarke, 71, has been in a maximum-security jail in Portugal since last September following her conviction for a drugs plot with husband Roger, 72.

The London pensioners, both jailed for eight years, claim they were conned by criminals into carrying suitcases with the drugs hidden in the lining.

Frail and gaunt, Susan has lost more than two and a half stone since she was locked up in a 10ft x 10ft cell she shares with three hardened criminals in Lisbons tough womens jail EP Tires.



She is living in fear of breast cancer after finding a lump and is awaiting the results of a painful double biopsy on her left breast.

Susan, whose appeal against conviction was rejected earlier this month, told the Sunday People from behind bars: My health is terrible.

I may never get out of here alive and theres no way I can reduce my sentence now. We were made an example of but Ive been handed a death sentence.

My worry is that Ill never be free and Ill be leaving here in a box.

The grandmother-of-eight who has one great-grandchild said the worst torture was being apart from Roger who is serving his sentence in a different jail in Lisbon.

She wept as she told reporter: We feel completely abandoned. The Foreign Office has ignored us, Boris Johnson has not helped and we have been completely cut adrift. No pensioner should be treated like this.

We found out our appeal had been dismissed. Im devastated and angry.

I want to go home, I want to go back to the UK. I want to be with Roger. Thats the worst thing, the worst torture, to be apart from him.

It is not the first time the couple, originally from Chatham, Kent, have found themselves behind bars.

They were arrested in Norway in 2010 as they tried to smuggle 240 kilos of cannabis into Oslo.

After serving their sentences Susan and former chef Roger moved to a villa in Guardamar on Spains Costa Blanca and enjoyed a comfortable life in the expat community.

Last year the couple went on a cruise from the Caribbean to Europe on the liner Marco Polo.

Officers raided their cabin following a tip-off from Britains National Crime Agency as the ship entered Lisbon.

Investigators found 20lbs of the Class A drugs in the lining of four suitcases which Roger had been handed on the island of St Lucia.

Susan said: I can understand why people might well believe that we are guilty but we are not.

Thats what hurts so much. We know that we are completely innocent.

Roger claimed he was taking the suitcases back to the UK for a businessman friend who said he could sell the fancy goods for a big profit at Harrods.

Roger, serving his sentence in Lisbons grim EP Lisboa said he had been asked to help negotiate the import of exotic fruit during cruise stopovers and he brought the suitcases for the friend as a sideline.

But prosecutors rejected his court claim that he had been betrayed by people he trusted in a business scheme.

The prosecution insisted the Brits were drug mules who used the four cruises they took in two years as a front for their crimes making up to 26,500 per cruise.

Prosecutors claim the drugs were destined for Britain.

Susan refuses to name the criminals, claiming their network extends to the jail she is incarcerated in. But she says she gave their names and pictures to Portuguese police.

Re-living the moment of arrest, Susan said: It was 3am and one of the ships officers knocked on the door and said they had a court warrant to search our cabin.

There were six officers and then I heard they had found drugs. Roger was as white as a ghost. You could see the shock and devastation in his face.

I know my husband inside out and I know that he had no idea the drugs were there.

I was in shock. It was just too much to comprehend. We were convinced we were set up because Roger had told his friends that this would be our last cruise.

In prison, Susan still wears her gold and diamond wedding band.

But despite her casual clothes and pearl earrings, she is showing the strain of 14 months spent sharing a squalid cell since her arrest.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
News Direct Flights Between Myanmar and Buddha's Birthplace in Nepal to Begin in May

A Buddhist pilgrimage site in Lumbini, Nepal / Holidify.com

MANDALAYTo boost tourism with Myanmar, Nepal has announced that direct charter flights connecting Lumbini with Mandalay and Yangon will begin in May. The move is part of the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign to boost tourism to the Himalayan country.

Lumbini, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site, is revered by Myanmars Buddhists as the birthplace in 563 BCE of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who achieved enlightenment about 35 years later and became Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

The Nepali ambassador to Myanmar said Gautama Buddha International Airport in Lumbini will open in May, in time for celebrations of the birthday of Buddha.

A charter flight, flying from Mandalay and Yangon international airports, will be able to fly to the new Gautama Buddha International Airport in May, as soon as the airport is operating, Nepali Ambassador Bhim K. Udas said at an event to promote tourism to Nepal, held in Mandalay on Saturday.

Gautama Buddha Airport has served domestic flights since 1958. The upgrade of the facility into an international airport began in 2015. It will be Nepals second airport accepting international flights.

The ambassador said the Visit Nepal 2020 tourism year coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Myanmar.

The new flight route will become a part of celebrations of the 60-year anniversary of our relationship with Myanmar, too. The direct flight route will save time for travelers and we hope there will be more Burmese and Nepali travelers [flying on] this route, he added.

According to the ambassador, the preliminary plan calls for direct charter flights on Myanmar Airways International aircraft from Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport to Gautama Buddha International Airport.

Myanmar Vice Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Tin Latt confirmed that initially only charter flights carrying groups of Myanmar Buddhist pilgrims will make the direct trips to Lumbini. Plans to introduce scheduled flights are still being discussed with the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Direct flights to Lumbini will save travelers time and boost tourism to both Myanmar and Nepal. We will begin with charter flights and, after agreements and arrangements are made with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, scheduled flights will follow, hopefully, U Tin Latt said.

According to the Nepal Embassy, around 500,000 to 600,000 Myanmar Buddhist pilgrims visited Nepalespecially Lumbini, Kathmandu and Pokharavia India in 2019.

According to figures from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, about 1,000 to 3,000 Nepali tourists visit Myanmar each year.

Currently, there are no direct flights from Myanmar to Nepal. Travelers must transit in Bangkok, Thailand, or in Gaya, New Delhi or Kolkata in India.

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Govt to Name Finalists For Yangon Elevated Expressway Project This Month

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The drama from Harvey Weinstein's rape trial spilled out onto the courthouse steps after he was convicted on Monday as his lawyers engaged in a standoff with victims' attorney Gloria Allred over who could speak first to the media.

Weinstein was convicted of third degree rape and criminal sexual act in the first degree on Monday.

He was put in handcuffs and will be taken to Rikes Island to await sentencing on March 11. The convicted sex offender faces up to 25 years in prison and prosecutors are hailing the verdict as a 'new day' for sexual assault cases.

Moments after the verdict, Weinstein's ruthless attorney Donna Rotunno and a team of other lawyers were preparing to speak to the media who had gathered outside when Gloria Allred, who represents some Weinstein's accusers, jumped in front of them.

With them towering behind her, she yelled: 'You won't silence me again!' and refused to move.

Rotunno and Weinstein's attorneys laughed it off and walked away. In the background, an unidentified man can be heard yelling: 'You've got to get down. It's not about you babe!'

Gloria Allred storms ahead of Weinstein's team of lawyers to get to the podium of microphones set up by the media after the verdict

Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's attorney, told the media they had to make a choice on who to listen to because they had to 'go and do some work'. Gloria yelled over him: 'You can't silence me again!'

Allred asked the media if they wanted to listen to her or them. She then carried on with her statement.

'This is a legal reckoning for Harvey Weinstein.

'The three witnesses whom I represent have been role models in courage.

'Without them and their willingness to testify and without their willingness to be subjected to an intense and brutal cross examination,' she said.

Allred represents Mimi Haleyi, one of the two women Weinstein was found guilty of attacking.

She also represents Annabella Sciorra and Lauren Marie Young.

Allred praised the women for their bravery. Lauren did not attend the New York trial but she is expected to testify in the case against Weinstein in Los Angeles.

Weinsteins attorneys turned and started walking away. Gloria stayed put to deliver her remarks

The veteran women's lawyer represents three of the women who spoke against Weinstein at the trial

Guilty: Weinstein, pictured arriving at court on Monday, was found guilty of third degree rape and criminal sexual act in the first degree. He faces up to 25 years in prison

Later, Rotunno said the verdict was 'bitter sweet' and that the fight 'was not over'.

They have already filed an appeal, and say Weinstein will 'continue to fight'.

THE WEINSTEIN VERDICT 1st degree rape : Innocent Weinstein was acquitted of first degree rape. The allegation was that he had physically held Jessica Mann down and raped her in 2013. 3rd degree rape: Guilty The same incident involving Jessica Mann but that she did not give consent - not that he physically held her down. Criminal sex act : Guilty Forcibly performed oral sex on Mimi Haleyi in 2006. Predatory sexual assault (x 2 counts): Innocent The two counts represented one for each of the incidents - Jessica's and Mimi's - and were to reiterated that Weinstein had a history and pattern of abusive behavior Advertisement

The disgraced movie mogul was found guilty of two of five counts.

The third degree rape applies to a sexual encounter with Jessica Mann in a hotel room in 2013.

The criminal sexual act in the first degree applies to him forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his home in 2006.

He was acquitted of two counts of predatory sexual assault, one for each crime, and one count of first degree rape which applied to Jessica's story that he had held her down and used force to have sex with her.

Third degree rape - which he was convicted of - means that he may not have used physical force but that she did not consent.

Four other women testified about other alleged incidents when Weinstein abused or raped them.

They have been lauded as 'heroic' for coming forward with their stories in the face of unimaginable public scrutiny and glare.

Weinstein's defense all along was that the women agreed to have sex with him then changed their minds afterwards.
Katherine Johnson , whose career making vital calculations for NASA was immortalized in the 2016 book and movie "Hidden Figures," has died at 101.

Johnson joined what was then called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1953 as a so-called human computer at the agency's Langley, Virginia, office. The office was still segregated when she joined, and she worked with other black mathematicians in the West Area Computing section . The agency became NASA in 1958, and Johnson remained at the agency until she retired, in 1986.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced her death today (Feb. 24) and said it occurred earlier in the morning. "Ms. Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space," he said in a statement. "Her dedication and skill as a mathematician helped put humans on the moon."

Video: NASA remembers icon Katherine Johnson

More: NASA's real 'Hidden Figures' of space history

Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Bob Nye/NASA) Mathematician Katherine Johnson at work at NASA's Langley Research Center in 1980. Image 2 of 5 (Image credit: NASA) Katherine Johnson and four colleagues review Langley's Affirmative Action Program in 1965. Image 3 of 5 (Image credit: Kevin Winter/Getty) Katherine Johnson appeared at the 2017 Oscars ceremony with three actresses from the film "Hidden Figures" (Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer) escorted by NASA astronaut Yvonne Cagle. Image 4 of 5 (Image credit: George Homich/NASA) Image 5 of 5 (Image credit: Bob Nye/NASA) Katherine Johnson, in a 1971 photo.

"At NASA, we will never forget her courage and leadership and the milestones we could not have reached without her," Bridenstine said. "We will continue building on her legacy."

When Johnson joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, her work focused on flight tests and plane crashes. When the agency shifted to focus on spaceflight, Johnson did too. Her calculations mapped the trajectory of Alan Shepard's historic 1961 flight, during which he became the first American to reach space. She also verified the trajectory for John Glenn's first orbital flight.

Johnson made similar trajectory calculations during the Apollo era. She also worked on emergency procedures, which were vital during the Apollo 13 mission of 1970, when an explosion on the main spacecraft required astronauts to use the lunar module as a lifeboat to return to Earth. Her math also supported the space shuttle and plans for Mars missions.

Johnson and her colleagues became famous with the publication of " Hidden Figures " (William Morrow and Co., 2016) by Margot Lee Shetterly and the release of the blockbuster movie of the same name, which starred Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae and Octavia Spencer as Johnson and her colleagues Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan.

As both the book and the movie showed, Johnson and her colleagues had to withstand discrimination based on their gender and skin color alike. One poignant scene in the movie was inspired by Johnson's time working away from the West Area Computing section, with white colleagues, when she has to explain to her white, male supervisor where she keeps disappearing to  the only restrooms she was allowed to use, half a mile away.

The release of "Hidden Figures" made Johnson one of the most celebrated black women in space science and a hero for those calling for action against sexism and racism in science and engineering.

Katherine Johnson, pictured here at NASA's Langley Research Center, where she worked as a computer and mathematician from 1953 to 1986. (Image credit: NASA)

In 2015, Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the most prestigious civilian awards in the U.S., from President Barack Obama. The NASA Langley facility at which Johnson worked renamed a building in her honor in 2016, and she received a standing ovation at the Oscars the next year , when "Hidden Figures" was nominated for best picture.

In 2019, Johnson told her own story for young readers in a book called " Reaching for the Moon " (Atheneum Books for Young Readers).

"Every time engineers would hand me their equations to evaluate, I would do more than what they'd asked. I'd try to think beyond their equations. To ensure that I'd get the answer right, I needed to understand the thinking behind their choices and decisions," she wrote.

"I didn't allow their side-eyes and annoyed looks to intimidate or stop me. I also would persist even if I thought I was being ignored. If I encountered something I didn't understand, I'd just ask.  I just ignored the social customs that told me to stay in my place."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
The Kerala High Court on Monday asked the state government as to why the sanction for prosecution against former Public Works Department (PWD) Minister VK Ebrahim Kunju was delayed in a Rs 4.2 crore scam case.

A bench of Justice Sunil Thomas directed the PWD to submit its report in a Muvattupuzha vigilance court before March 20.

The court issued the direction while considering a petition against delaying the sanction of prosecution against Kunju in a case relating to corruption in the construction of a foot overbridge over the Periyar at Aluva Manappuram.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A nations greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members, Mahatma Gandhi once said. Unless youre rich, youre at your weakest when youre sick and without health insurance.

In the United States today, access to healthcare for all Americans is still at risk. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed under the administration of President Barack Obama, reached out to the most vulnerable Americans to provide a lifeline when they are at their weakest.

In this March 23, 2010, file photo, President Barack Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington. A federal appeals court Tuesday, July 2, 2019, rejected a request to delay next weeks hearing on the constitutionality of the health care law following changes made to elements of the law by 2017 tax cut legislation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)AP

But the Trump Administration is still fighting to take away that lifeline without offering even a thread to replace it.

If the president succeeds, it will be devastating for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania residents. In fact, almost 900,000 Pennsylvanians would lose health coverage if the ACA is repealed, says Antoinette Kraus, director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN). That number includes 39,000 children who gained health coverage once the ACA became law. And 19 percent of those children, she says, have special needs.

The Commonwealth Fund, which supports research on health care options, contends the ACA has provided significant benefits to millions of Americans, including:

All of these benefits would go away without the ACA.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., flanked by Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., left, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., right, leads an event to announce legislation to lower health care costs and protect people with pre-existing medical conditions, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. The Democratic action comes after the Trump administration told a federal appeals court that the entire Affordable Care Act, known as "Obamacare," should be struck down as unconstitutional. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) APAP

For now, it looks like the courts wont render a decision until after the 2020 elections. But dont be fooled, the ACA could still be scrapped, and that would hurt Pennsylvania. The state would lose a lot of money, and its most vulnerable residents will suffer.

Priorities PA says the state stands to lose an estimated $5.1 billion in the first year, if the ACA is repealed.

The attacks on ACA already have resulted in higher health insurance premiums for low-income families throughout the state, the organizations contend.

This is to say nothing of the ways in which Pennsylvanians are already suffering because of the uncertainty of the ACA. PHAN and Priorities PA say employer-sponsored health care plans have gotten more expensive under President Trump, meaning half of Pennsylvanians now struggle with health care affordability.

This has brought real hardship for thousands of families who cant afford to pay their medical bills.

Many countries have found a way to ensure their citizens have health insurance. They include Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

If we accept Gandhis measure of greatness, its fair to ask: do their people have greater compassion for their friends and neighbors than we do?

Pete Martin holds a sign after the Save Health Care Rally to oppose the Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017.MLive file photo | Mike Clark

Are their leaders so much smarter they could design heath care systems to take care of all of their people without breaking the bank?

Priorities PA and PHAN believe Americans deserve the same protections people in these countries enjoy. And they are right to sound the alarm to defend the weakest among us.

In the upcoming elections, make sure you pay attention and investigate each candidates stand on the ACA. And if they want to do away with it, at the very least they should have a plan to replace it.

Everyone deserves access to quality health care when they are sick, but they wont get it in this country without health insurance. This is more than an issue of politics or right versus left. This is about common decency. This is about the true meaning of a great nation.

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HALIFAXThe Halifax police force says it has placed two officers on administrative duty after a Black teenagers recording of his own arrest was posted online.

The 15-year-olds mother is criticizing the force over the arrest Friday at a mall in Bedford, N.S., just north of Halifax, which she says left her son with a concussion, cuts and bruises.

It is the latest incident to place the Halifax police forces treatment of Black residents under scrutiny.

When is this going to stop, mother Troylena Dixon wrote in a Facebook post that included the video. This needs to stop!

At the beginning of the clip, the teen says to police officers, I can go outside if I want to. One officer responds, Youll get arrested.

Really, for what? says the teen. For speaking my mouth? For speaking?

Police begin to walk toward the teen, and he says, Dont you touch me, as one officer reaches out to him. At that point, the camera is jostled and then goes black as the officer says, Youre under arrest.

There are sounds of scuffling. Dont you touch me, the teen can be heard to say. Youre under arrest. Dont move, says an officer.

What are you doing? says the teen. Youre under arrest, says an officer again.

For what? asks the teen. For resisting, says an officer.

Dixon said in her Facebook post that her son suffered a concussion, a cut and bruises to an eye and finger, as well as bruises around his wrists in the incident.

He was later released without being charged, according to several media reports.

The Halifax Regional Police issued a brief statement.

"Police received a call to assist security at the Sunnyside Mall ... regarding an incident involving a male and female youth. Two officers responded to the incident and located the two youth. ... In the process of making an arrest, the male youth suffered an injury.

Police said Nova Scotias Serious Incident Response Team, a civilian watchdog agency, will be investigating the incident. In the meantime, both officers have been placed on administrative duty.

There have been long-running tensions between Halifax police and the citys Black community.

In late November, Police Chief Dan Kinsella formally apologized for street checks based on racial profiling.

In one of several subsequent incidents, Santina Rao suffered a broken wrist, a concussion and injuries to her neck and arms in January after being arrested in front of her children by police at a Walmart. That case, which has drawn protesters court proceedings, is also being investigated by the civilian police watchdog agency.

Read more about:
Philippine Marines disembark from an amphibious assault vehicle during a training exercise at the former U.S. Naval facility in Subic, Zambales province, west of Manila, Sept. 21, 2019.

Philippine troops killed two suspected Abu Sayyaf militants belonging to a faction allied with Islamic State extremists during a firefight in the southern Philippines over the weekend, the military said Monday.

Members of the 15th Scout Ranger Co. were patrolling Sunday afternoon in Sulu province when they clashed with dozens of Abu Sayyaf militants, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said. Two soldiers were wounded.

Pursuit and deliberate offensives continue to pressure and pound down Abu Sayyaf fighters, constricting their movement and preempting terror ploys in the region, Sobejana said. We are building up combat and intelligence operations to debilitate the militants in Sulu.

Those killed Sunday were identified as Taullah Abdurasa and Baby Ollah. Along with their bodies, troops recovered their weapons.

One day earlier, Abu Sayyaf members Suwaib Mungkay and Nakib Asmad surrendered to troops on nearby Basilan Island. Both were wanted for their alleged roles in a 2018 car bombing that killed 10 people.

The weekend violence occurred as troops intensified search operations for six captives  a local doctor and five Indonesians  believed to be held by Abu Sayyaf on Jolo island in Sulu province.

Sobejana said the militants were under the command of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, an Abu Sayyaf commander and the regions IS leader.

Sahiron is the only surviving member of the original Abu Sayyaf core group that launched cross-border kidnapping raids two decades ago. Known as the one-armed bandit, he carries a U.S. $1 million (51 million pesos) bounty offered by the U.S. government. A military assault last year killed his wife, Mingayan, but he slipped through the security cordon in Jolo.

Sahiron and Sawadjaan are believed to have planned the January 2019 Jolo church attack where Indonesian suicide bombers killed 23 people.

Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for a spate of kidnappings in recent years where Malaysian and Indonesian sailors and fishermen have been taken hostage and held for ransom.

Elsewhere in the south, troops operating in the province of Maguindanao killed two members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) during a Friday firefight, officials said.

The BIFF, which operates mostly in the central part of the Mindanao region, has pledged allegiance to the IS, but did not send fighters to participate when militants took over the city of Marawi in 2017.

That attack was led by Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who served as regional IS leader as well. Hapilon died as government troops regained control of Marawi in October 2017.

At least 1,200 militants, government troops and civilians were killed during the five-month battle.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato, Philippines, contributed to this report.
S Guruvanmikanathan By

Express News Service

NAMAKKAL: When14-year-old Abinaya informed her father P Venkatachalam, a plumber by profession, that she had qualified in a test to go to NASA to take part in the International Space Science Competition (ISSC), he couldnt completely understand or fathom her achievement. But he and his homemaker wife Sasikala were ready to extend every support possible to make their daughters dream come true.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami ensured that Abinaya would definitely go to NASA by providing a grant of Rs 2 lakh assistance from the Chief Ministers Public Relief Fund. I take great pleasure in receiving the assistance from the Chief Minister, said the space enthusiast, who is a student at the Dr M S Udayamurthy school in Namakkal.

Abinaya will be visiting America to take the three-day online test in May 2020. I have been very interested in learning about space, science and technology from my childhood. I came to know that, on behalf of Go4Guru, an online test would be conducted for school students to visit NASA. I wrote the test in September 2019 and qualified to visit NASA, she told Express.

Wishing her, the CM said, Taking part in a global space science symposium at NASA is a victory for her talent. Speaking of her financial position, the girl explained that as she came from a below the poverty line (BPL) family, she struggled to meet the expenses to fly to the US.

A month ago, she asked Namakkal collector K Megraj for help. As soon as I made the request, Minister P Thangamani provided me with Rs 2 lakh. Now, the CM has also granted Rs 2 lakh, she beamed.

Interested in space, science and tech

Abhinaya cleared the online test conducted by Go4Guru to qualify for the three-day event at NASA.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has reportedly resigned following a day of political turmoil in the country. Mahathir Mohamad is supposed to enter a wider coalition by replacing the current ruling pact with the support of a majority of lawmakers that includes opposition parties Umno and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).

While Mahathir has sent his resignation letter to Malaysia's king Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, Minister of Economic Affairs Mohamed Azmin Ali and Minister of Housing & Local Government Zuraida Kamaruddin have been expelled from the People's Justice Party (PKR) for acting against the party.

Read: Malaysia Faces Political Tremor Amid Bid To Form New Govt

Read: Meteor Momentarily Turns Malaysian And Singaporean Skies Green, Watch

Political realignment

The decision to expel the ministers comes amid the reports of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Wan Azizah Wan Ismail meeting the Malaysian King. Ibrahim, in a Facebook Live broadcast on February 23, had expressed shock on the political developments calling it a betrayal of the promises made during government formation.

The political realignment could see a new government without the PKR which was part of the current coalition government. The resignation of Mohamad was widely expected after a series of meeting were held on February 23 to plan the formation of a new federal government.

Read: Seven Infected With Coronavirus: Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad

Read: Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad Says, 'We Are Too Small To Take Action Against India'
Scientists at Newcastle University have revealed how a simple blood test could be used to help identify cardiovascular ageing and the risk of heart disease.

For the first time, experts led by Professor Konstantinos Stellos report that higher levels of amyloid-beta in the blood may be a key indicator of cardiovascular disease.

It is hoped that this research will one day lead to the development of a simple blood test that could be used as a clinical biomarker to identify patients who are most at risk, so that preventative measures can be put in place and death rates reduced.

Key role of amyloid-beta

Amyloid-beta is known to be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease, yet scientists have now concluded that it may have a key role to play in vascular stiffening, thickening of the arteries, heart failure and heart disease progression.

The work, published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, proposes the existence of a common link between both conditions, which has not been acknowledged before, and could lead to better patient care.

The findings suggest that the higher the level of amyloid-beta in the blood the higher the risk of developing serious heart complications.

Professor Stellos, from Newcastle University's Biosciences Institute, UK, who also works as a consultant cardiologist at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, led a series of international studies over the last few years, which involved experts from countries such as Greece, Germany, Switzerland and the USA.

He said: "Our work has created and put all the pieces of the puzzle together. For the first time, we have provided evidence of the involvement of amyloid-beta in early and later stages of cardiovascular disease.

"What is really exciting is that we were able to reproduce these unexpected, clinically meaningful findings in patients from around the world. In all cases, we observed that amyloid-beta is a biomarker of cardiovascular ageing and of cardiovascular disease prognosis."

Global health problem

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death around the world, taking almost 18 million lives each year. It includes coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure and other conditions.

Professor Stellos' Group, in collaboration with several international scientists, analysed blood samples from more than 6,600 patients from multiple cohort studies in nine countries, and found that patients could be divided into high and low risk categories of heart disease based on their amyloid-beta levels.

In the future, it is hoped that a simple blood test could be added to the current method of patient screening, known as the GRACE score, which assesses heart attack risk and guides patients' treatment plans.

Using the GRACE score, eight factors are used to predict the risk of heart attack, including age, blood pressure, kidney function and elevated biomarkers.

Further research at Newcastle University will focus on clinical trials to establish the use of a bedside blood test in predicting risk of heart attack and/or death and look at the most effective ways to reduce amyloid-beta in the blood.

Professor Stellos said: "I am interested in knowing which of my patients is at risk of death and/or recurrent heart attacks.

"Measuring amyloid-beta reclassified a large proportion of patients who had a heart attack in the correct risk categories over an established guideline-suggested risk score in independent clinical studies.

"If blood-based amyloid-beta predicts death in patients with heart disease, does it make a therapeutic target? Our next step is to investigate this."

###

Reference

The Alzheimer's disease amyloid-beta hypothesis in cardiovascular aging and disease. Dimitrios A. Stakos, Kimon Stamatelopoulos, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.12.033
VANCOUVER - Teck Resources Ltd. has withdrawn its application for a massive oilsands mining project just days ahead of an expected government decision, citing the political discourse over climate change.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The corporate logo of Teck Resources Limited is shown. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

VANCOUVER - Teck Resources Ltd. has withdrawn its application for a massive oilsands mining project just days ahead of an expected government decision, citing the political discourse over climate change.

The Vancouver-based company said it will take a $1.13-billion writedown on the Frontier project in Alberta, which was expected to create an estimated 7,000 construction jobs, 2,500 operating jobs and about $12 billion in federal income and capital taxes, but was also expected to produce about four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year over 40 years.

In a letter to the federal environment minister, Teck CEO and President Don Lindsay says investors and customers increasingly want jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change.

"This does not yet exist here today and, unfortunately, the growing debate around this issue has placed Frontier and our company squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved," Lindsay wrote. "In that context, it is now evident that there is no constructive path forward for the project."

He said Teck is not "merely shying away from controversy" and stands ready to face opposition from a vocal minority.

"Frontier, however, has surfaced a broader debate over climate change and Canada's role in addressing it. It is our hope that withdrawing from the process will allow Canadians to shift to a larger and more positive discussion about the path forward," he wrote.

"Ultimately, that should take place without a looming regulatory deadline."

Fourteen First Nations and Metis communities signed participation agreements with the company on the mine, and the project was awaiting approval from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which had been expected by the end of the month.

In a joint statement, Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Sunday night they had been informed by Teck that it was withdrawing its application for the mine.

"As a result, Cabinet will no longer be making a decision on this project," they said.

Cabinet was expected to discuss the project at its meeting on Tuesday. It had until the end of the week to make a decision, though it could have decided to push that deadline back.

Wilkinson has been signalling for weeks that cabinet's discussion would include the fact that Alberta has not set specific greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, and in recent days specifically asked the Alberta government to enforce its cap on emissions from the oilsands.

Kenney, in a statement, laid blame elsewhere.

"It is what happens when governments lack the courage to defend the interests of Canadians in the face of a militant minority," the premier said. "The timing of the decision is not a coincidence."

He pointed to blockades in opposition to RCMP presence on Wet'suwet'en territory, where hereditary chiefs oppose a natural-gas pipeline project. Those barricades have paralyzed rail traffic across swaths of Canada for upwards of two weeks.

"Teck's predicament shows that even when a company spends more than $1 billion over a decade to satisfy every regulatory requirement, a regulatory process that values politics over evidence and the erosion of the rule of law will be fatal to investor confidence," Kenney said.

In their statement Sunday, Wilkinson and O'Regan said they appreciate the decision Teck made was a difficult one and appeared to keep the door open to rejuvenate this project or others in the future.

"Important parts of Canada's economy have been built on our natural resource sector and the workers across the country who have powered it for generations. Our government is committed to developing our natural resources sustainably and to creating good, middle class jobs. A strong economy and clean environment must go hand in hand."

They also praised how Teck went about engaging with Indigenous communities during the project development and review period.

"Their model should be an example for all proponents of future projects," they said.

News of the cancellation shocked Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam, whose community was one of the 14 to sign agreements with Teck. The First Nation had also just struck a deal with the province to ensure the development would protect the environment and Indigenous culture.

"That's very astonishing news because we worked hard to get to what we wanted to get," he said. "I don't even feel like eating after that news."

But Frontier was not without its detractors.

On Friday, Canadian author Alice Munro, biologist Jack W. Szostak and 40 other Nobel Prize winners from around the world wrote an open letter to Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland urging them to deny the plan and all expansions of the fossil-fuel sector.

"The mere fact that they warrant debate in Canada should be seen as a disgrace," reads the letter, which appeared on the Guardian's website. "They are wholly incompatible with your government's recent commitment to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2020.
Paris, Feb 24 : Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has appeared in court for his role in a "fake jobs" scandal.

He is accused of paying his Welsh wife Penelope hundreds of thousands of euros for work she allegedly never did when employed as his assistant.

Both appeared on Monday, but made no statement, the BBC reported. They deny the allegations.

Though the trial was due to start on Monday, the court delayed it until Wednesday, as there is currently a lawyers' strike in France.

The scandal -- dubbed PenelopeGate -- began in 2017, when Fillon seemed favourite to win the presidency.

The centre-right candidate's ratings plummeted after the allegations. Centrist Emmanuel Macron eventually won the election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

Fillon could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The trial is scheduled to run until March 11.

Fillon has been in politics for decades. After serving as an MP, Senator, and in a number of ministerial roles, he became France's prime minister between 2007 and 2012 under former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Ahead of the 2017 presidential election, he won the centre-right Republican party's presidential primary, and in January 2017 was the clear frontrunner in the polls.

But his bid for the top job fell apart later that month.

Le Canard Enchaine, a satirical magazine, alleged that Penelope Fillon - formally employed as his parliamentary assistant for about six years in the 1990s and 2000s - never actually did her job. What's more, she was paid a831,400 (A697,000; $900,000) in the role.

Fillon denied the allegations. He said his opponents were trying to sabotage his campaign through his wife, and vowed to press on with the election.

As the scandal grew he apologised "profusely" for employing family members, saying that though legal the practice had caused "mistrust".

But his poll ratings dropped sharply. He came third in the first round of voting, missing out on the second-round run off.
For the third time this year, Ford Motor Company has announced plans to temporarily lay off workers at its stamping plant in suburban Chicago Heights. And once again, these layoffs are taking place in collaboration with the United Auto Workers.

Management announced the latest round in a memo posted February 13. The memo asked for volunteers to be part of a three-week temporary layoff from March 2 to March 23. The first round of temporary layoffs, affecting 270 workers, took place in January. Shortly afterward, UAW Local 588 representative George Pearson announced the second round of layoffs in a message on the unions mobile app, citing a loss in volume here at our facility.

One of Chicago Ford Stamping plant's exits

Earlier this month, a worker spoke on the boiling anger of plant workers in response to the layoffs, telling the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, Morale is at point of mutiny. Theyre checking bags on the way in and out.

It is unclear if the new layoffs are an attempt by Fords management to make up for the lack of volunteers for the previous layoffs. Whatever the case, the UAW has consistently worked with, not against, Fords management to make the layoffs as smooth as possible. To undermine the growing unrest against the layoffs, the UAW has kept workers for the most part in the dark.

A team from the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter visited the Ford stamping plant this weekend. Workers expressed shock and outrage at the new rounds of layoffs. Most stated they hadnt even heard about them. One worker said, I heard about them but I didnt know when they were going to take place. They didnt tell us anything. When asked about the role of the UAW, she said, Look, they keep us divided. One local is doing this, another that. We never know whats going on. They intentionally do that.

Last years sellout contract by the UAW with the Detroit Three has emboldened the company to continue their attacks on workers. At nearby Chicago Assembly Plant, UAW Local 551 colluded with the company to slash hours for workers under the bogus guise of avoiding layoffs. Local 551 Chairman Coby Millender patted himself on the back in a Facebook post for fighting behind the scenes to avoid layoffs, while admitting that layoffs were still on the table as early as March.

The carousel of layoffs at Ford Stamping are part of a wave of cuts throughout the industry. Seventy miles to the west, Fiat Chrysler announced buyout offers for 3,900 workers at Belvidere Assembly Plant, only a year after eliminating the third shift. This week, roughly 800 General Motors workers in Detroit will go on layoff for 18 months while the company re-tools Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly as an electric vehicle plant.

The memo, posted on February 13, informing workings of new rounds of layoffs.

Worldwide, over 100,000 layoffs are currently planned in the global auto industry. Together with General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, VW, Nissan and other global automakers, Ford is intent on making workers pay for an accelerating downturn in the auto industry.

Earlier this month, Ford announced a shakeup in its senior management team in the wake of a disastrous 2019 financial performance. Ford reported profits of $47 million for the previous year, a decline from $3.68 billion in 2018, a near 99 percent drop. Fords declining profits will lead to further cuts and layoffs.

The collusion of the UAW in enforcing layoffs and cutbacks exposes the claims of so-called dissidents within the union bureaucracy that the UAW can be reformed. This includes Scott Houldieson, former vice president of Local 551, who is a leading member of the Labor Notes organization and a founder of a group, Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD), which launched a failed bid to amend the unions constitution to allow for direct election of its top leadership.

Even though they have taken place in his own backyard, Houldieson has not said anything on his Facebook page about the layoffs at Chicago Stamping or the cuts to hours at Chicago Assembly, nor has Labor Notes published a single word about either. With the failure of UAWDs campaign, Houldieson is now counseling workers to wait another year before trying again. The companies and the union will continue to carry out massive cuts in the meantime.

To defeat the jobs massacre being planned by the global auto companies, the Socialist Equality Party and the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter fight for the formation of rank-and-file factory committees, independent of the bribed UAW. Based on what workers need, not what the corporations deem affordable, rank-and-file committees will draw up a list of demands in every workplace. A network of rank-and-file committees will form the basis for an internationally coordinated counter-offensive by autoworkers, linking up with workers in Mexico, China, Europe and throughout the world, who are facing the same attacks.
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:GWB), operating in the financial services industry based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$35.99 and falling to the lows of US$29.55. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Great Western Bancorp's current trading price of US$30.73 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Great Western Bancorps outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

View our latest analysis for Great Western Bancorp

What is Great Western Bancorp worth?

Good news, investors! Great Western Bancorp is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $51.00, but it is currently trading at US$30.73 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Great Western Bancorps beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

What kind of growth will Great Western Bancorp generate?

NYSE:GWB Past and Future Earnings, February 24th 2020

Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. Though in the case of Great Western Bancorp, it is expected to deliver a relatively unexciting earnings growth of 1.6%, which doesnt help build up its investment thesis. Growth doesnt appear to be a main reason for a buy decision for Great Western Bancorp, at least in the near term.

Story continues

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? Even though growth is relatively muted, since GWB is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on GWB for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy GWB. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on Great Western Bancorp. You can find everything you need to know about Great Western Bancorp in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Great Western Bancorp, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
At the same time, the anti-Sanders camp remains split: Mr. Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Mr. Buttigieg and Ms. Klobuchar are all insisting on staying in the race while Mr. Bloomberg is spending heavily on advertising in Super Tuesday states like Texas and California, where Mr. Sanders could build up a delegate lead if the remaining vote is divided.

In the aftermath of Mr. Sanderss triumph in Nevada, the question that increasingly looms over the race is whether Super Tuesday, when 16 contests are held on March 3, will be the day he puts himself on a glide path to the nomination.

On Sunday, his aides began taking steps toward trying to do just that.

After months of downplaying Mr. Sanderss prospects in South Carolina, where he lost badly in the 2016 primary because of his weakness with black voters then, his campaign was blunt about its objective in Saturdays vote.

Were fighting to win in South Carolina, said Jeff Weaver, a top Sanders strategist, noting that polls show them moving up considerably on the vice president.

Should Mr. Sanders defeat or even finish near Mr. Biden in South Carolina, a state the former vice president has long seen as his firewall, it could vault him into Super Tuesday three days later with such force that it may be difficult for any of his opponents to catch up with him.

Thats when Mr. Sanders is hoping to pile up delegates while also inflicting symbolic blows on his opponents by winning in some of their home states, including Ms. Warrens Massachusetts and Ms. Klobuchars Minnesota, both of which Mr. Sanders plans to visit before March 3, according to aides.

Yet it is Mr. Sanderss decision to compete aggressively in South Carolina, where he has long lowered expectations by vowing only to do well there, that illustrates how rapidly this race is moving to him. More than half of the states Democratic electorate is expected to be African-American, one of Mr. Bidens strongest blocs of support, and the former vice president has led in the polls there since the outset of the race.
After dominating the runway during Milan Fashion Week in multiple sensational ensembles, Kendall Jenner opted to dress down while arriving at the JFK in New York on Monday.

The 24-year-old supermodel kept a low profile while donning an over-sized green sweater with lettering on the back after closing the Versace show in the same vibrant shade three days prior.

Unlike her skin-baring looks on the catwalk, which highlighted her svelte frame, the reality star hid her statuesque physique under a pair of baggy black trousers while leaving the airport.

Keeping it causal: Kendall Jenner opted to dress down while arriving at JFK on Monday in an over-sized green sweater after closing the Versace show in the same vibrant shade two days prior

Jenner kept her raven tresses in a messy bun and gave her feet a break in a pair of white sneakers after flaunting her signature strut in sky-high heels for NY, London and Milan fashion week.

Before hopping into the backseat of a black SUV, Kenny showed off her flawless, makeup-free complexion under a pair of black shades.

On her shoulder, the cover girl carried a brown and yellow Louis Vuitton bag.

Despite fears over the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, which has killed six and infected 219, Kylie Jenner's big sister and pals Gigi Hadid, 24, Doutzen Kroes, 35, made their way to and from various runways and after parties on Friday night in the Italian city.

Showstopper: Unlike her skin baring looks on the catwalk, which highlighted her svelte frame, the reality star hid her statuesque physique under a pair of baggy black trousers while leaving the airport

Jenner remained a staple during several Fashion Week events, which also included walking Tom Ford's LA-based runway.

While taking the world's most important fashion capital by storm, the Moon ambassador stunned in two outfits.

In her most eye-catching look, the BFF of Bella Hadid wore a glitzy silver dress and rocking a sleek up-do earlier this month, before changing into a striped cardigan.

Kicking it: Jenner kept her raven tresses in a messy bun and gave her feet a break in a pair of white sneakers after flaunting her signature strut in sky-high heels for NY, London and Milan fashion week

Busy girl: Jenner remained a staple during several Fashion Week events, which also included walking Tom Ford's LA-based runway

Recently, the reality veteran sparked dating rumors with Luka Sabbat, which were shut down over the weekend.

Friends confirmed the pair were 'purely friends' to US Weekly, adding, 'Theres nothing romantic going on with Kendall and Luka.'

The siren, who is often linked to on-and-off-again boyfriend Ben Simmons, recently covered her breasts while appearing topless for GARAGE magazine.

The edgy shoot, which was the magazine's 18th issue, was shot by fashion photographer Campbell Addy and depicts her in in the image of Cattelans lifelike wax bust of American supermodel Stephanie Seymour.
Agra: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra: US President Donald Trump accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump signs the Visitors Book during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pose in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Agra, Feb 24 : US President Donald Trump on Monday described the Taj Mahal as a "testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture".

"Taj Mahal inspires awe, a timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture! Thank you, India," wrote Trump in the visitors book during his visit to the 17th century monument along with First Lady Melania Trump.

The visiting dignitaries were slated to spend over an hour at the historic monument, constructed by Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Trump also witnessed the sunset along with his wife at the Taj. He was accompanied by his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US officials.

The Taj Mahal was decked up in the last one week, with a fresh coat of mud pack applied for the first time after the construction of the symbol of love. Even the mausoleums in the complex were cleaned, in view of the high profile visit of the US President.

The Trumps arrived at the Taj at the head of a 70-vehicle cavalcade, including his luxurious 'Beast' after covering a 13-km stretch from Kheria airport here in about 25 minutes.

The US President was taken to the Taj Mahal complex in a battery-operated cart.

This is Trump's first state visit to India and also the first standalone visit by a US President to India.

Before Trump, US President Bill Clinton visited Agra in March 2000 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959.

In view of the ongoing visit, the historic city got a massive facelift. The administration has put up huge billboards, placards, cut-outs and posters welcoming the US President and his wife Melania.

The 13 km-long route from the airport to the Taj Mahal was spruced up and the US and Indian flags put up at roundabouts to give the area a festive look.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the US first family at the airport. However, they did not accompany the Trumps to the Taj Mahal and stayed put at the airport. They will see off the US dignitaries when they fly to Delhi.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors, announced Monday plans to expand the REACH Accelerator program to Canada.

The award-winning REACH accelerator aims to recruit and accelerate the most promising new technologies in the real estate industry and nurture their success around the world. Canada's long history as a birthplace of widely adopted real estate technologies across North America, its proximity to the U.S., similarity of market structure and relatively low cost of development make it ideally suited as the next region for expansion.

"With over 130,000 REALTORS in Canada and a number of shared interests within the Canadian and U.S. real estate markets, it was only natural for NAR's REACH accelerator program to expand into Canada," said Bob Goldberg, NAR CEO and President of Second Century Ventures. "We are excited to be able to add to the list of impressive companies that have graduated from the program, and we're eager to discover the mark they will leave on real estate throughout North America."

REACH Canada will be led by Lynette Keyowski, veteran real estate executive and avid proponent for innovation in the real estate industry. "I am thrilled to be joining the global REACH family under the exceptional leadership at Second Century Ventures. Building on the expertise and proven track record of the REACH Accelerator in the U.S. and now Australia, Canadian proptech companies will have an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate their growth and capitalize on the rapid revolution of the global proptech landscape, in close conjunction with the REALTOR community," Keyowski said. "Based in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, the REACH Canada team is eager to open applications in late May."

Canada represents the second region of global expansion for the award-winning REACH program, which launched the first REACH Australia class in December 2019.

"We are thrilled to continue expansion of the REACH program and have immense confidence in Lynette's leadership in the Canadian real estate marketplace and beyond," said Dave Garland, Managing Partner of Second Century Ventures. "On the heels of growth in the Commercial marketplace with REACH Commercial, and with the debut of REACH Australia, our continued expansion to Canada furthers our mission to increase the depth of our global network of industry professionals, strategic partners, investors, mentors and innovators responsible for delivering rapid and transformative change in all sectors of real estate."

Applications for REACH Canada will open in late May. For more information or to sign up to be notified when applications open, visit www.narreach.com.

About REACH

REACH is a unique real estate technology accelerator created by Second Century Ventures, a strategic technology investment fund backed by the National Association of Realtors, which leverages the association's more than 1.4 million members and an unparalleled network of executives within real estate and adjacent industries. The REACH Accelerator program helps technology companies launch into the real estate vertical and its adjacent markets. The program provides education, mentorship and market exposure to one of the world's largest industries. For more on REACH, visit www.narreach.com.

The National Association of Realtors is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

SOURCE National Association of Realtors

Related Links

http://www.realtor.org


Theres a reason that, in the past three years, much of the #MeToo reckoning took place in the court of public opinion rather than the court of law. In case after case, the victims who were coming forward did not have meticulously collected rape kits and DNA samples from their assaults. What they had were stories. Messy and complicated ones, the kinds we might have once ignored, or shrugged off as impossible to parse: He said, she said, what are you gonna do?
Both countries are closer than before due to these two leaders's public display of mutual connectivity and warm exchanges of words, but how it will help India to serve its interests will be known on Tuesday.

Sheela Bhatt reports from the Namaste, Trump event.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi welcomes United States President Donald J Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the Namaste, Trump event in Ahmedabad, February 24, 2020. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

It is an incredibly high level of risk investment that Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi has undertaken in President Donald J Trump's future. The American president is up for re-election this November.

Before a 120,000-strong audience at Monday afternoon's event in Motera, Modi and Trump praised each other and hugged each other six times within 90 minutes of the United States president's arrival in India, so nothing was left to the imagination.

Trump's selection of words and delivery led his Indian audience to believe that what he said were his own beliefs and not just customary diplomatic declarations. His opening lines gave the audience at the Motera stadium the idea that a lot will happen in the next 24 hours.

"Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to an exceptional leader, a great champion of India, a man who works night and day for his country, and a man I am proud to call my true friend, Prime Minister Modi," Trump declared. Earlier, Modi too didn't economise on adjectives to praise Trump in his speech.

"President Trump thinks big and what all he has done to fulfill American dreams is well known to the world," Modi said, taking special care to talk about the Trump family.

Twice in his speech, Trump dubbed Modi a "very tough negotiator".

On Tuesday, February 25, when the joint statements are issued after the delegation-level talks and when memoranda are signed, one will know if it was Trump's complaint about or compliment for Modi, the negotiator.

The much-watched event at the world's largest stadium was successful, but the severe heat somewhat dampened the audience's spirit. Temperatures hovered between 30 and 42 degrees at the newly built stadium between 9 am and 2 pm.

The Motera stadium is stupendous and will be a great national asset. Its 360 degree look and 100,000 plus people's presence has never been seen before in an Indian stadium.

Gujaratis gave Trump enough evidence that the ground beneath Modi's feet is solid. Trump received maximum applause when he spoke about ISIS and the American mission that executed its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Modi and Trump's Motera show, at another level, was also a subtle conduct of tough negotiation in public.

Trump remained restrained and made no surprise comments on Kashmir or the CAA or religious freedoms which could have embarrassed the Indian establishment. These comments are still expected by many before the American president leaves India.

IMAGE: One of 6 bear hugs exchanged between Modi and Trump at the Namaste, Trump event. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

Looking at Monday's show it seems clear that here are two business-like negotiators trying hard to bargain and unable to close a few deals as both have to keep their national interest in mind.

Their decisions worth billions of dollars on agriculture and military imports will touch millions of lives in both countries.

Trump provided many insights about his views on on terrorism and on defence ties. The audience at Motera, which was largely Bharatiya Janata Party voters, applauded only when Trump spoke on matters that concerned India's national interests.

"Every nation has the right to secure and control borders. The United States and India are committed to working together to stop terrorists and fight their ideology," Trump declared 48 hours before the first anniversary of the Balakot strike where Indian Air Force fighters decimated a Jaish e Mohammad terror camp in Pakistan.

Both countries are closer than before due to these two leaders's public display of mutual connectivity and warm exchanges of words, but how it will help India to serve its interests will be known on Tuesday.

A night is a long time in diplomacy, even when it is on the fast track.
Four Mali soldiers were killed and eight wounded Sunday in a suspected jihadist attack on an army camp in the far north of the country, the Malian military said.

"The provisional toll is four dead, eight injured and several vehicles taken," army colonel Boubacar Sanogoh, regional commander for the Timbuktu region, told AFP.

The outpost in Bambara Maoude, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Timbuktu city, "was the object at about 0500 GMT of a terrorist attack," the military had earlier tweeted alongside an initial toll of three dead and five wounded, plus "material damage".

Communications Minister Yaya Sangare confirmed a death toll of four and tweeted that, following "intervention by the Malian airforce, backed by (French-led force) Barkhane and (UN mission) MINUSMA, the post is under (army) control".

One local official said "the terrorists left, taking vehicles and military equipment with them... together with the bodies of two of their comrades".

Sanogoh said he could not give a toll for the jihadists.

The attack is the latest in a long series of deadly incidents in Mali's north, where French forces said Friday they had killed about 50 jihadists so far this month.

Earlier in February, 40 people, including nine soldiers, died in a spate of attacks in central Mali, with most of the deaths apparently caused by inter-ethnic violence, which also plagues the country.

France said recently it would bolster its contingent in Operation Barkhane from 4,500 to 5,100 by month's end.

Meanwhile, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has raised the prospect of opening a dialogue with some jihadists as a means of trying to find an exit from eight years of conflict.
SILVER SPRING, Md.--Researchers are proposing a new scientifically correct and medically actionable disease classification system for obesity, according to a paper published online in Obesity, the flagship journal of The Obesity Society.

The proposed disease classification system is based on the concept Adiposity-Based Chronic Disease (ABCD). The diagnostic term reflects both the pathophysiology and clinical impact of obesity as a chronic disease. The proposed coding system has four domains: pathophysiology, body mass index (BMI) classification, complications, and complication severity; and incorporates disease staging, specific complications that impact health, the basis for clinical intervention, individualized treatment goals and a personalized medicine approach.

"The coding reflects 'what we are treating' and 'why we are treating it', and, hopefully, will provide impetus for greater access of patients to evidence-based treatments," said W. Timothy Garvey, MD, Butterworth Professor in the Department of Nutrition Sciences and Director of the Diabetes Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Garvey is also a GRECC investigator and staff physician at the Birmingham Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Garvey is the corresponding author of the study.

The diagnosis of obesity is currently based only on BMI that conveys no indication of the impact of excess adiposity on a person's health. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code for obesity reads "obesity due to excess calories," which experts say is not medically meaningful and does not reflect obesity pathogenesis.

"These inadequacies contribute to lack of access of patients to evidence-based therapies and appreciation of obesity as a chronic disease," said Garvey.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) have both embraced the concept of ABCD.

"There is increasing recognition globally that BMI and other simple metrics of obesity do not accurately reflect the complexity of the disease or the circumstances of patients. The Garvey and Mechanick proposal for a scientifically accurate and medically actionable four domain classification system is most welcome, and builds on previous initiatives of the AACE and EASO, explaining obesity as an 'adiposity-based chronic disease.' It is time for obesity to enter the era of precision medicine, with novel classification systems based on functionally established endpoints," said Gema Fruhbeck, first author of the EASO paper on ABCD.

"AACE has historically supported efforts in advancing the clinical evaluation and therapy of obesity beyond just a disease of weight based upon BMI, including guidelines recommending more nuanced diagnosis based upon exam and clinical evaluation to classify and stage the severity of disease. It is critical to match the intensity of therapy to the severity of disease and pathophysiology of disease, thus AACE followed its guidelines with a position statement proposing ABCD as a new diagnostic term for obesity. This proposed ICD coding structure supports the clinical efforts of personalizing individual diagnoses with more precision and nuance, which will benefit customized therapeutic plans for patients with obesity," said Karl Nadolsky, DO, FACE, chair of the Nutrition and Obesity Disease State Network at AACE.

"The framework provides a well-organized way to help practitioners and payers conceptualize obesity beyond an erroneous framework of this patient eats too much and is not active enough," said Jamy Ard, MD, professor of epidemiology and prevention at Wake Forest School of Medicine and co-director of the Weight Management Center at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, NC. Ard was not associated with the research.

Ard added that the biggest challenge he foresees with this approach is that providers currently underdiagnose obesity using the simple BMI-based coding. "This more advanced approach will require a significant amount of education and outreach to change providers' behaviors. However, if better reimbursement is tied to this type of coding system as the authors aspire, it may help to drive broader adoption and implementation," said Ard.

###

Other authors of the study include Jeffrey Mechanick of the Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Center for Clinical Cardiovascular Health at Mount Sinai Heart in New York City and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Garvey has served on ad hoc advisory boards for Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Gilead, Amgen, BOYDSense and the American Medical Group Association. He has conducted research sponsored by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and funded by Sanofi, Merck/Pfizer, Novo Nordisk and Astra Zeneca. Mechanick has received honoraria for lectures and program development from Abbott Nutrition International.

The paper, titled "Proposal for a Scientifically Correct and Medically Actionable Disease Classification System (ICD) for Obesity" will be published in the March 2020 print issue.

The Obesity Society (TOS) is the leading organization of scientists and health professionals devoted to understanding and reversing the epidemic of obesity and its adverse health, economic and societal effects. Combining the perspective of researchers, clinicians, policymakers and patients, TOS promotes innovative research, education, and evidence-based clinical care to improve the health and well-being of all people with obesity. For more information, visit http://www.obesity.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Those looking for a cheap bite at Costco may soon be required to pay the $60 yearly membership fee in order to purchase a $1.50 hotdog/soda combo, or any other menu item at its food court. According to reports from multiple news outlets and social media, signs appeared last week announcing the change at some locations across the country.

A photo of a sign, posted on the Costco Deals Instagram account, supported the claim that food court rules may be changing. It read Effective March 16, 2020, an active Costco membership card will be required to purchase items from our food court. You can join today. Please see our membership counter for details.

Costco has provided no information about whether the change will become effective nationwide. Social media users shared images of similar signs found at other Costco locations. However, officials did not immediately respond to several national outlets request for comment, including USA Today.

A $1 churro, as well as hotdogs, pizza, ice cream and soda are some of the items on the Costco food court menu.

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The polygamous Brown family has been in a nonstop tug of war over living space, rentals, and real estate since the 2020 season of TLCs Sister Wives began.

The Browns moved from their four homes in Las Vegas to Flagstaff, Arizona, only to struggle with constant moves to various rentals, difficulty in selling their Vegas homes, and disagreements over building one home or several on Coyote Pass, their new land. They finally decided to build four separate homes, but their housing challenges werent over.

On the Feb. 23 episode, Doubting Polygamy, Kody Brown and his fourth wife Robyn Brown delivered bad news to Kodys other three wives, Meri, Janelle, and Christine Brown. The conversation that ensued around mobile homes and the possibility of temporary trailers left a bad taste in some Sister Wives fans mouths, leading them to call the family snobby and prissy.

Robyn, Janelle, Meri, and Christine Brown | Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic

Kody suggested building temporary trailers on the Browns land in Arizona

On the latest episode, Kodys fourth wife Robyn announced that, although her home in Las Vegas had finally been sold, she was going to have to move yet again into a new Flagstaff rental. The owners had decided to sell the house, leaving them high and dry.

Kody and Robyn said they were mentally and emotionally exhausted by the series of moves and the toll of multiple rent and mortgage bills each month. This is super, super bad news. I am beside myself and I dont really know what to do here, Robyn told TLC producers.

She added that the Sister Wives family had only thought theyd be separate in far-flung Arizona rentals for a year. But things werent working out that way, leaving them feeling hopeless. Were sitting here with all these mortgages and everything, and everything is just piling up all at once, she lamented, and its not happening, so I have to find another rental.

Kody encouraged his four wives to drive over to their sprawling land at Coyote Pass, which he regularly did himself to get out of his funk.

The Sister Wives patriarch even suggested they build a temporary trailer on the property, to live there while they build the new homes. Ill tell you what, ladies, Kody proposed. If they would let us, and I know this sounds gross to you guys, but if they would let us, Id put a double-wide out there.

Kodys second wife Janelle immediately broke into laughter, but Kody insisted, Just hear me out! Just while we build so we could live there.

Robyn joked that Kody could live in a trailer if he wanted to live without any of his wives. Well, if Kody wants to go live in a double-wide trailer out on the property, hes welcome to, she said. But hell be alone.

Robyns sister wives revealed they lived in a trailer together before

Kodys youngest wife suggested there was no way she would ever live in a trailer again, as she did in her first marriage to David Jessop. Sweetie, I have already lived in a trailer, she said to Kody. Do you know how cold it gets?

But Janelle pointed out that Robyn wasnt the only Brown family member to have lived in a mobile home. No, no, we all lived in trailers, she said.

I didnt know that you guys had all lived in trailers, Robyn said incredulously.

When we all were first married, we lived in a three-bedroom trailer, Kodys second wife told her. A single-wide trailer.

Janelle explained further to Sister Wives producers: Kody, Meri, myself, and Christine, we all lived in a three-bedroom, single-wide mobile home when we were all first together. She added sarcastically, That made for really great, fun times, let me tell you. Lots of growth.

Kodys first wife Meri also hinted that things hadnt exactly gone well for the Browns in the trailer. We were young in our family, in plural marriage, and just trying to figure it out, she said. There were a lot of good times and a lot ofinteresting times.

Weve all lived in trailers, third wife Christine said, agreeing that she wasnt about to do so again. Been there, done that.

Robyn couldnt believe Kody had lived with all three wives in such close living quarters. What were they thinking? What was he thinking? she mused to TLC producers. Id be like, Are you crazy? Id have been like, This is nuts. This doesnt work.

Some Sister Wives fans were offended by the Browns comments about trailers

Robyn tweeted about the scene during the episode, writing, I sold my house in Vegas and then I was told right afterwards that I was going to have move out of my rental. Seriously horrible news for us.

But not every fan was ready to extend sympathy to Robyns flight. In fact, many viewers flooded her comments to push back against all four sister wives negative remarks about trailers. Many Sister Wives viewers took offense to their laughter and jokes about mobile homes.

I am a loyal fan of Sister Wives, one Twitter user commented, but watching all of you tonight put down and degrade manufactured homes and those who live in them was disgusting. I happen to live in a beautiful manufactured home in a gorgeous country setting. I wont be watching again.

Another critic agreed, writing to Robyn, Im sorry you have to move, but saying awful things about double wides is not nice. You act like a Princess and thats not cool. Other fans called the wives comments spoiled and snobby.

Yet another Sister Wives viewer pointed out that many fans of the show likely lived in mobile homes and suggested that the Browns thought they were too good to stay in trailers anymore. To say the things you did about mobile homes was disgusting, the Twitter user wrote, and Im sure you offended so many who watch the show.
The foster care agency relied on the decision, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, in arguing that it too had been subjected to hostility based on anti-religious prejudice. It added that its free-speech rights would be violated were it forced to certify that same-sex couples are fit to be foster parents.

The city responded that the agency was not entitled to rewrite government contracts to eliminate anti-discrimination clauses.

It has never been the case that religious entities, or entities with deeply held secular views, are constitutionally entitled to enter into government contracts and then defy any terms to which they object, the citys brief said. If the agencys sweeping constitutional claims were accepted, the brief said, they would cause mayhem in government contracting.

The agency asked the court to use the case to reconsider an important precedent limiting First Amendment protections for religious practices. The precedent, Employment Division v. Smith in 1990, ruled that neutral laws of general applicability could not be challenged on the ground that they violated the First Amendments protection of the free exercise of religion.

The decision, arising from a case involving the use of peyote in Native American religious ceremonies, is unpopular among conservative Christians, who say it does not offer adequate protection to religion, and with some justices. Last year, the courts four most conservative members  Justices Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch  signaled that they were open to reconsidering the decision.

The court is likely to hear arguments in the case in the fall, after its next term starts in October.

In a second case concerning religion, the court turned down a request that it decide whether Walgreens was entitled to fire a worker who refused to attend a training session on his Sabbath.
A Head of State Gulfstream GV has arrived at AMAC for an annual inspection. In addition, a privately-owned Airbus ACJ 319 will arrive in April in Basel and will get installed a Ka-Band antenna.



AMAC Aerospace signed a new contract for a privately-owned Airbus ACJ 318. The ACJ 318 will arrive at AMAC in March and will undergo a 1A-, 2A-, 1C-, 2C- and 4C-check in Basel. An Airbus ACJ 319 will enter AMACs hangar beginning of March to undergo a 6-year-check. In conjunction AMAC Aerospace will install a Ka-Band with an already existing STC (Supplemental Type Certificate), which has already been used for many other Airbus ACJ 319 aircraft.

The Swiss company has also welcomed a Gulfstream GV mid-January. The Head of State Gulfstream GV has undergone an annual inspection. In addition to that, AMAC will welcome a privately-owned Airbus ACJ 319 in Basel in April. AMAC Aerospaces skilled technicians will install a Ka-Band antenna.

Three new projects on Boeing aircraft

AMAC Aerospace recently accomplished a six-month-check on a Boeing BBJ 737. The privately-owned aircraft arrived on short notice and has already been released on time last week. A Boeing BBJ 737 is currently in AMACs hangar in Basel to undergo a C2-check. In parallel, AMAC will perform a 96-month-check on the BBJ aircraft.

A privately-owned Boeing BBJ 737 is shortly expected at AMAC; a 1A- and 2A-check in conjunction with an OOP (Out Of Phase) task will be performed.

AMAC welcomes Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft in Basel

A contract for a 15-month- and a 750-hours-check with miscellaneous ADs (Airworthiness Directives) and SBs (Service Bulletins) on a Bombardier Global 5000 has been signed. AMAC will welcome the privately-owned aircraft by end of February. A privately-owned Bombardier Global 6000 will arrive in May at AMAC to undergo a cabin refurbishment and a reconfiguration. Another privately-owned Bombardier Global 6000 has already arrived in Basel. AMAC will carry out a 500-/1000-hours-check on the aircraft.

AMAC Aerospace was also awarded with a new maintenance project on a Gulfstream aircraft: A privately-owned G550 has entered AMACs hangar at the beginning of February. AMAC will carry out a 1C-, 2C-, 3C-, 6C- and 72-month-check on the aircraft.
By Philip Pullella

BARI, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday warned against "inequitable solutions" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying they would only be a prelude to new crises, in an apparent reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace proposal.

Francis made his comments in the southern Italian port city of Bari, where he traveled to conclude a meeting of bishops from all countries in the Mediterranean basin.

"The Mediterranean region is currently threatened by outbreaks of instability and conflict, both in the Middle East and different countries of North Africa, as well as between various ethnic, religious or confessional groups," Francis said.

"Nor can we overlook the still unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with the danger of inequitable solutions and, hence, a prelude to new crises," he said.

The participants included Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, whose jurisdiction includes Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan.

It was believed to be the first time the pope, who has often defended both Palestinian rights and Israel's need for security, has spoken in public about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Trump announced the plan on Jan. 28.

The plan would recognize Israel's authority over West Bank Jewish settlements and require Palestinians meet a series of conditions for a state, with its capital in a West Bank village east of Jerusalem.

Although Trump's stated aim was to end decades of conflict, his plan favored Israel, underlined by the Palestinians' absence from his White House announcement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side.

The Palestinians and Arab League foreign ministers have rejected the plan and the Palestinian Authority has cut all ties with the United States and Israel.

Palestinians, with broad international backing, want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, while Israel views the whole city its "united and eternal" capital.

Story continues

The pope expressed concern in 2018 when the United States announced the moving of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying the city's "status quo" should be respected. Francis has called for all to honor U.N. resolutions on the city.

"There is no reasonable alternative to peace, because every attempt at exploitation or supremacy demeans both its author and its target. It shows a myopic grasp of reality, since it can offer no future to either of the two," Francis said, speaking in general about the Middle East.

Francis again warned against populist politicians who he said used "demagogic terms" such as "invasion" when talking of migration.

"To be sure, acceptance and a dignified integration are stages in a process that is not easy. Yet it is unthinkable that we can address the problem by putting up walls," he said.

(Reporting By Philip Pullella. Editing by Jane Merriman)

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TROY, N.Y.  Hudson Valley Community College is now offering non-credit English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at Centro Civico in Albany.

These new offerings complement a wide array of ESL courses and programs already offered on campus and at the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center.

For 30 years, Centro Civico has provided adult literacy and language courses, health and education programs, employment services, low-income housing opportunities, small business development, consumer advocacy, and cultural and social activities for immigrant populations.

Although the non-profit was established to serve the Latino population, it now serves a wide range of immigrant Americans.

Last fall, leaders from Centro Civico and Hudson Valley began to discuss partnership opportunities and ideas for delivering new educational programs.

Those conversations led Hudson Valley to launch a beginner-level ESL course, as well as an intermediate level course at Centro Civicos Albany location, both of which began earlier this year. Instructors Elaine Friedman and Shauna Anderson are teaching both courses at Centro Civico, which will run through the spring.

We are always looking for creative solutions to meeting the needs of our local community organizations. This new partnership with Centro Civico is one example of how we are able to connect with students where they are and deliver specialized coursework in an environment thats right for them, Hudson Valley Community College President Roger Ramsammy said in a news release.

Its not a one-size-fits-all approach, so were open to new models that reach new students, Ramsammy added.

Since becoming Hudson Valleys president in July of 2018, Ramsammy has aimed particular focus toward developing new strategies and initiatives to reach underserved communities.

In December, the college hosted a community event that brought together more than 20 organizations in the Capital Region who work on language and literacy with new immigrant and refugee communities.

This meeting was the result of an earlier Interfaith Community Forum, where members of the regions religious communities suggested solutions to education and workforce challenges they see amongst their congregations and community members.

Associate Dean of Community and Educational Partnerships Deborah Shoemaker said the partnership between Hudson Valley and Centro Civico may expand later this summer, as the college and non-profit have been discussing the potential for offering citizenship preparation classes in addition to ESL classes.

The college also offers credit-bearing ESL courses through the Department of English, Foreign Languages and English as a Second Language.

In addition, the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center, a division of the college, offers three levels of instruction for ESL at no cost to those who qualify.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:52:14|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Around 10 Turkish soldiers were killed or wounded on Monday after Syrian and Russian warplanes targeted a Turkish observation point in northwestern Syria, a war monitor reported.

The Syrian and Russian warplanes targeted the Turkish observation point in the area of Kinsafra in the southern countryside of Idlib province, which also led to damage of a number of Turkish vehicles, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The airstrikes come as Turkey has been heavily shelling Syrian military points in the town of Nairab in the eastern countryside of Idlib, as part of Ankara's will to retake this area from the Syrian army.

It's the third attempt by Turkey and allied Syrian rebels to take Nairab following two failed attacks.

The observatory said that intense battles are taking place between the Turkish and Syrian soldiers in Nairab.

The Syrian army has been on a crushing offensive to eliminate the ultra-radical rebel groups in Idlib and nearby Aleppo province.

Turkey, which supports the rebels, wanted to bring the Syrian offensive to a halt in Idlib, leading to several confrontations between both sides.

However, the Russian airstrikes against the Turkish point are a new development in the tension between both powers on the heels of the battle of Idlib.
It hasn't been the best quarter for China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (HKG:291) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 14% in that time. But that doesn't change the fact that shareholders have received really good returns over the last five years. In fact, the share price is 135% higher today. So while it's never fun to see a share price fall, it's important to look at a longer time horizon. Only time will tell if there is still too much optimism currently reflected in the share price.

View our latest analysis for China Resources Beer (Holdings)

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Over half a decade, China Resources Beer (Holdings) managed to grow its earnings per share at 1.0% a year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 19% per year, over the same period. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. And that's hardly shocking given the track record of growth. This favorable sentiment is reflected in its (fairly optimistic) P/E ratio of 82.92.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

SEHK:291 Past and Future Earnings, February 24th 2020

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here..

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of China Resources Beer (Holdings), it has a TSR of 406% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

It's good to see that China Resources Beer (Holdings) has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 22% in the last twelve months. And that does include the dividend. However, that falls short of the 38% TSR per annum it has made for shareholders, each year, over five years. Potential buyers might understandably feel they've missed the opportunity, but it's always possible business is still firing on all cylinders. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand China Resources Beer (Holdings) better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with China Resources Beer (Holdings) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 20:00 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20664da4f 1 Business Airlangga-Hartarto,omnibus-law,job-creation,omnibus-bill,cipta-kerja,ciptaker,Jokowi,house-of-representatives,DPR Free

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto has asked protesters to direct their criticism of the controversial omnibus bill on job creation toward the House of Representatives rather than President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration.



The Houses task is to deliberate the bill and to have public participation, which will be held during the legislative hearing. Please, go to the House for any [revisions], Airlangga said during an interview with The Jakarta Post on Monday.



Airlangga said that almost all bills that went through the House were subject to changes, adding that the government hoped to accommodate public opinion.

There are always multiple interpretations during a bills deliberation. The most important thing is to find common ground.

The Jokowi administration submitted the highly anticipated draft to the House for deliberation on Feb. 12 after several postponements. It said it expected the House to pass the bill into law within 100 working days as the government strives to attract more investment to help boost the countrys sluggish economic growth.

Indonesias economy grew 5.02 percent last year, lower than the 5.17 percent growth of 2018, as investment and exports cooled. Investment  the second-largest contributor to gross domestic product (GDP) growth  expanded 4.45 percent last year, lower than the 6.67 percent growth in 2018.
Huawei's first smart speaker, the Sound X, was made in partnership with premium audio company Devialet.

Huawei is launching its first ever smart speaker outside China.

The Shenzhen-based firm created the new speaker, called the Huawei Sound X, in partnership with French audio specialists Devialet.

It's already available in Huawei's home market, but the company is now releasing it across some European countries  namely Germany, France, Italy and Spain  as well. A price and release date for the new device are yet to be announced.

While it doesn't yet include a digital assistant like Amazon's Alexa or the Google Assistant, Huawei said it's likely it will introduce one later down the line. In China, the speaker comes with Huawei's own voice assistant, called Xiaoyi.

Devialet is known for its premium Gold Phantom speaker, which packs a serious punch when it comes to bass. At a massive $3,000, though, the top of the range gadget doesn't come cheap.

The company is among France's fastest-growing tech firms and has won backing from the likes of U.S. rapper Jay-Z and LVMH's billionaire CEO Bernard Arnault. The firm recently partnered with France's Paris Opera to fill out the Palais Garnier with its Phantom speakers.

With Huawei, Devialet has built two subwoofers  loudspeakers which enable low-pitched audio frequencies  into the speaker which push against each other to cancel out any vibrations from the body of the device. The companies claim it is capable of creating 360-degree sound and will be able to reach a much louder maximum volume than competitors.

The Chinese tech giant, which faces intense political pressure from the United States, unveiled the speaker along with a new foldable phone and PCs during a pre-recorded broadcast.

Its initial aim was to launch the new products at Mobile World Congress, but Huawei was forced to make alternative arrangements as the event was canceled for the first time in its 33-year history due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In 2019, the global smart speaker market was dominated by obvious players like Amazon and Google, which held 26% and 20% of the market respectively, though their market share declined from the previous year.

But according to Strategy Analytics, which published those figures, Chinese vendors like Baidu, Alibaba and Xiaomi have been snatching market share from the U.S. giants, while Apple's HomePod still struggles at sixth place.
Im a fan of Victor Davis Hanson, as Im sure many of our readers are. Hansons latest article has much to recommend it. He argues persuasively that if Sanders is the Democratic nominee, the NeverSanders movement will be far larger, far wealthier, far more influentialeven as it is likely far quieterthan were the vociferous but anemic NeverTrumpers of 2016.

However, I want to take issue with some of Hansons statements about President Trump because I think they gloss over grievances that some conservatives  and not just the vociferous but anemic Never-Trumpers  have with the president.

First, Hanson writes:

Trumps agenda, for the most part, was Reaganesque, with a few important exceptionsclosing the border and enforcing immigration law, getting tough with Chinas unfair trade policies, restoring assembly and manufacturing jobs to the hollowed-out interior, avoiding optional wars abroad, and trying to drain the proverbial federal swamp of its careerist bureaucrats and revolving-door apparatchiks.

Trumps agenda is certainly more Reaganesque than non-Reaganesque. However, Hanson understates the exceptions, in my view.

For example, Trumps non-Reaganesque trade policy isnt limited to getting tough with China. Trump also got tough with our allies on trade. One can argue that he was right to do so, but this is an obvious and important departure from Reaganism.

Trump also supports leniency for felons. This support is the reason Congress passed jailbreak legislation that will cause many thousands of criminals who would otherwise be in prison to instead roam our streets.

Again, one can argue in favor of the leniency legislation. However, it is not Reaganesque. The Gipper was tough on crime and understood that this entailed being tough on criminals. Here, then, is another important departure by Trump.

Second, this statement by Hanson left me scratching my head:

Nor before or after the election could [the emasculated Never Trump Right] ever convince Republicans that Trumps crassness and uncouth tweets were quite unlike the White House crudity of past presidents (e.g., Kennedy, Johnson, Clinton) rather than in part attributable to the Internet/social media age and the new tabloid media.

How much convincing does it take to see the distinction between private White House crudity and the almost daily barrage of crass and uncouth published statements by Trump  statements that are intended for mass public consumption?

Nor is this obvious difference in any meaningful way attributable to the Internet, social media, and tabloids. Trump doesnt limit what Hanson calls his crassness to tweets. He employs it in public appearances, especially when speaking to the press. If Trump couldnt tweet, he would employ it in public even more.

Some of Trump supporters consider this a feature rather than a bug. But lets not confuse it with the behavior of JFK, LBJ, and Bill Clinton.

Hanson clearly hates the NeverTrump Right. Hence his use of words like emasculated and anemic.

Im not a fan of the NeverTrump Right either. I recall using words like pathetic and ridiculous to describe Max Boot and Jennifer Rubin.

My quarrel isnt with Hansons use of adjectives. Its with the way he glosses over some what I think are President Trumps shortcomings.
CHICAGO -- A study in the March issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that antibiotics and opioids are frequently prescribed during emergency department visits for dental conditions, further emphasizing the need for continued efforts to combat both opioid abuse and overuse of antibiotics.

The authors found that more than 50 percent of patients who visited the emergency department for a dental-related condition filled a prescription for antibiotics and approximately 40 percent filled a prescription for opioids, based on data from 2012-2014. Further, the authors found that more than 30 percent of patients filled prescriptions for both an antibiotic and an opioid as a result of their visit.

"Given previous findings that dental-related diagnoses are a common and potentially avoidable reason for [emergency department] visits, the prescribing of antibiotics and opioids for these conditions becomes even more concerning," wrote the study authors.

In 2019, as part of its longstanding antibiotic stewardship efforts, the American Dental Association (ADA) released a new guideline indicating that, in most cases, antibiotics are not recommended for toothaches, which are a common dental-related reason to visit an emergency department. The guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary panel, including an emergency medicine physician nominated by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

The ADA has also held a longstanding commitment to raising awareness and taking action on the opioid public health crisis. Since 2011, the ADA has advocated to keep opioid pain relievers from harming dental patients and their families and worked to raise professional awareness on medication alternatives to opioids. A growing body of research supports ADA policy that dentists should consider prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone or in combination with acetaminophen over opioids as first-line therapy for acute pain management. In March 2018, the organization adopted policy that indicates a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be just as effective as opioids for acute pain.

###

The ADA will continue to work together with physicians, pharmacies, policymakers and the public to address these issues that are critical to public health. For more information, visit MouthHealthy.org/opioids and MouthHealthy.org/antibiotics.
OFX Daily Market News





Posted by OFX



AUD  Australian Dollar

On Friday the Australian dollar fell to a multi-year low of 0.6585 before bouncing back above 0.6600 to close the session. The Australian dollar is down nearly 6.0 per cent since the start of the year and hitting decade lows against its US counterpart. Economists said the Aussie could fall even lower, particularly if the coronavirus took a long time to contain and Chinas economy was shut down for an extended period.

The AUD/USD pair fell sharply on Friday after the release of the Australian Commonwealth Bank Services PMI fell to 48.4 in February, while the Commonwealth Bank Manufacturing PMI climbed to 49.8 in the same month, according to preliminary estimates. Looking ahead today and there are no scheduled releases in Australia although China will see the release of January Industrial Production and Retail Sales. If Chinese data does not meet market expectations the AUD/USD pair could well fall to fresh multi-year lows.

From a technical perspective, the AUD/USD pair is currently trading at 0.6598. We continue to expect support to hold on moves approaching 0.6570 while now any upward push will likely meet resistance around 0.6650.

Key Movers

The Greenback fell across the board on Friday, with the various USD indices down in the order of 0.4-0.6%, after a survey of purchasing managers showed U.S. business activity in the manufacturing and services sectors stalled in February and as investors fretted over the fast-spreading coronavirus. Services output contracted to 49.4. The Composite PMI fell to 49.6, in contraction territory for the first time since October 2013. Manufacturing PMI came in at 50.8 the lowest since August. In the US tonight we will see the release of the Chicago Fed National Activity Index and the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Business Index.

Expected Ranges

AUD/USD: 0.6450  0.6650 

GBP/AUD: 1.9550  1.9750 

AUD/NZD: 1.0350  1.0550 

AUD/EUR: 0.6000  0.6200 

AUD/CAD: 0.8650  0.8850 





Posted by OFX

The post Australian dollar continues to slide appeared first on .
New Delhi: Agra in Uttar Pradesh is all set to welcome US President Donald Trump, who will visit the historic city later in the day. The Taj Mahal will, however, be closed for the general public on Monday (February 24) from the afternoon.

An ASI official here told IANS, "The Taj Mahal will remain closed for the general public from 12.30 p.m. onwards as Trump will visit the historical monument in the evening," adding that even the ticket windows for the Taj Mahal will close after 11.30 am.

The US President and his wife would fly to Agra before moving to Delhi for the official reception and bilateral talks.

Trump will arrive at the Kheria airport in Agra, where he will be received by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The two leaders will not accompany Trump to Taj Mahal and will wait at the airport to send them back to Delhi.

Ahead of Trump`s visit to the Taj city, the Yogi Adityanath government has mounted a massive image makeover of the city, that people have called "unprecedented".

More than 3,000 artistes from Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan will reportedly present cultural programmes on the way, including Ram Lila, Ras Lila, Panchkula, Nautanki. Over 20,000 school kids will also line up the route with flags to bring cheer and add to the festivities.

Earlier, half-a-dozen American teams have already checked and verified the data collected by the district administration.
Read more: Singlife receives licence to expand into Philippine market

Technology has underpinned the consistent, continuous growth of the insurance industry in the Philippines, Funa told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Singlifes philosophy  of making insurance customer-centric and efficient through technology  is a game changer for the evolving needs of a digital, progressive middle class who expect to be served real time and in a fair manner.

Im very grateful to Mr Funa and the people in the IC for the fast turnaround of our license application, Rien Hermans, president and chief executive officer of Singlife Philippines told the Inquirer. We submitted all the requirements for our license only last mid-December, and we actually have the license framed in our office barely two months after.
"Sheehan and John have distinguished themselves as rising attorneys early in their careers and the Pathfinder program is a great opportunity for them to learn from leaders in the legal profession," said Katten Chief Diversity Partner Leslie D. Minier. "Katten's participation in this valuable program affirms our commitment to nurturing the careers of talented diverse attorneys and empowering them with the skills required for future leadership opportunities."

As an associate in Katten's Financial Markets Litigation and Enforcement practice in Chicago, Band advises banks, brokers, traders and others who are facing complex class-action lawsuits or investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or the Department of Justice. In this role, he offers creative litigation strategies to address his clients' needs and concerns.

Sun, an associate in the Structured Finance and Securitization practice in Katten's Washington, DC office, represents a broad range of clients in securities and financing transactions, including asset-backed secured lending, purchase and sale of whole loans, warehouse facilities and public and private offerings of securities backed by residential mortgages and automobile receivables.

The Pathfinder program offers Band and Sun opportunities to participate in interactive workshops, online experiential learning sessions, small group discussions and peer networking.

Founded in 2009, LCLD is an organization of more than 300 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners committed to building a more open and diverse legal profession.

Katten is a full-service law firm with nearly 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include commercial finance, corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, and trusts and estates. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com .

SOURCE Katten

Related Links

http://www.katten.com


The President of the United Kingdom's Supreme Court, Lord Robert John Reed, witnessed the proceedings of the Supreme Court on Monday.

Justice Reed, who has come to India to take part in a two-day international judges' conference on "Judiciary and the Changing World", sat for around 15 minutes in a packed courtroom, along with Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde.

Minutes before the bench assembled, a court official announced that Lord Reed of the UK's Supreme Court would share the dais with the CJI and two other judges and the mentioning of matters for urgent hearing would be taken up at the end of the court proceedings.

Attorney General K K Venugopal greeted the head of the judiciary of the UK in the courtroom.

The bench then took up an arbitration matter, which was argued by former attorney general and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who also greeted Justice Reed.

After taking up a few matters, the bench rose to re-assemble after five minutes, sans Justice Reed, to deal with other listed cases.

Justice Reed, a Scottish judge, was appointed as the president of the UK's Supreme Court on January 11.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 Flash

South Korea raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level on Sunday as the number of COVID-19 infection cases soared to 602 in recent days with the death toll rising to five.



South Korean President Moon Jae-in chaired an emergency government meeting to tackle the virus spread, saying the infectious disease alert would be lifted to the highest level in order to strengthen the overall response system.

It marked the first time since the outbreak of the Influenza A (H1N1) in 2009 that the government issued the highest alert.

Under the red alert, the government is allowed to take tighter quarantine measures such as a ban on group activities and an order to temporarily close schools.

The education ministry ordered all preschools, primary and secondary schools nationwide to delay the opening day of the first semester by one week to March 9. It would consider further measures according to future situations.

President Moon said "a few days from now" would be a moment of great significance to combat the virus, ordering all government officials to take "unprecedented powerful" measures regardless of existing regulations.

As of 4:00 p.m. local time, the number of infected patients totaled 602, up 169 from the prior day. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has updated the data twice a day at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time.

The number of COVID-19 infections rose sharply in recent days, after 402 new cases were reported from Wednesday to Saturday.

Of the total patients, 494 were residents in Daegu, about 300 km southeast of the capital Seoul, and its surrounding North Gyeongsang province.

A total of 329 cases were linked to the church services of a minor religious group, called Sincheonji, in Daegu.



Among the 9,336 Sincheonji followers attending the church services, 1,276 showed symptoms of the virus infection, according to Yonhap news agency. The other 670 followers were not reached for contact.

Moon said the situations between "before and after" the group infections traced to Sincheonji were totally different, noting that if test for Sincheonji followers enters the final stage, the relevant figure would be reduced significantly.

The president stressed that it was unavoidable for local governments to temporarily close Sincheonji facilities across the country for the sake of public health and safety, asking the religious sect and its followers for cooperation.

He also asked other religious and general groups to refrain from crowded events both indoors and outdoors, saying trust and cooperation are the way to win the fight against virus.

Meanwhile, 111 cases were traced to Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo county, just south of Daegu. Test for all of 652 patients and medical staff was completed as almost all the patients at the hospital's psychiatric ward tested positive for the virus.

At the hospital, the first and second deaths from the COVID-19 virus were reported on Wednesday and Friday. The third death posthumously tested positive on Saturday.

Two more deaths were confirmed earlier in the day, raising the death toll to five.

The government designated Deagu and Cheongdo as a "special care zone" Friday, while protest rallies were banned in downtown areas of Seoul.

Since Jan. 3, the country has tested more than 25,000 people, among whom 17,520 tested negative for the COVID-19 virus and 8,057 were being checked.
Iran's confirmed death toll from the new coronavirus rose to eight on Sunday, the highest outside China, sending neighbouring countries scrambling to contain the outbreak. Four immediate neighbours of the Islamic republic -- Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Armenia -- said on Sunday they would close land borders, while three imposed restrictions on air traffic, amid growing regional concerns about the spread of the virus. Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities have already banned travel to and from Iran. Lebanon has confirmed its first case -- a 45-year-old Lebanese woman who had travelled from Qom in Iran -- and Israel on Sunday quarantined at home nearly 200 school pupils who came into contact with South Korean tourists who contracted the virus. Iran reported three more novel coronavirus deaths Sunday among 15 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total number of fatalities to eight and infections to 43. Four new COVID-19 cases surfaced in Tehran, seven in the holy city of Qom, two in Gilan and one each in Markazi and Tonekabon, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said. Authorities have ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres in 14 provinces across the country as a "preventive measure". Art events, concerts and film shows have been banned for a week. "We are on the frontlines, we need help," the head of Qom's medical sciences university, Mohammadreza Ghadir, said on state television. - 'Major implications' - "To prevent the spread of the novel #coronavirus and protect the public, Afghanistan suspends all passenger movement (air and ground) to and from Iran," the office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan tweeted. A provincial official in Pakistan and the nation's Frontier Corps, for their part, confirmed the country had sealed the land border with Iran. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan share long, porous borders with Iran that are often used by smugglers and human traffickers, while millions of Afghan refugees live in the Islamic republic -- raising fears that the virus could easily spread over the border. Turkey said it would "temporarily" close its land border with Iran, while air traffic from Iran would be halted but departures to the country continue. Late on Sunday, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian announced his country was both suspending flights and entry via the sole land border checkpoint with Iran. China -- the epicentre of the outbreak -- reported another 97 deaths in its daily update Sunday, taking its total to 2,442, plus 648 new infections. Nearly 80,000 people have been infected worldwide, the vast majority in China. But official figures indicate the death rate is proportionately much higher in Iran than China, standing at nearly one in five of the confirmed infections. Iran's Health Minister Saeed Namaki said the treatment of COVID-19 cases would be free. "In every city, one hospital will be dedicated to treating coronavirus cases," he said, adding that this number would be greater in bigger cities like Tehran. But academics expressed concern over the ability of Iran -- currently grappling with a major economic crisis and hit by swingeing US sanctions -- to contain the outbreak. "It is unlikely that Iran will have the resources and facilities to adequately identify cases and adequately manage them if case numbers are large," said Paul Hunter, a medical professor at Britain's University of East Anglia. He also noted that the region was already grappling with multiple conflicts. "During armed conflicts, borders between countries become porous... and health care facilities are often targeted and destroyed," he said. Other regional countries on Sunday also took major precautionary measures to counter the virus potentially spreading from Iran. Jordan said it would bar entry to citizens of China, Iran and South Korea and other foreigners travelling from those countries. The Kuwait Port Authority, meanwhile, announced a ban on the entry of all ships from the Islamic republic. burs-dwo/hc
Photo: The Canadian Press Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam

Canada's border measures to guard the country against incoming cases of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, will likely become less effective as transmission of the virus spreads to more countries outside of Canada, the country's chief medical officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday.

Canada has so far been able to detect and isolate cases of coronavirus as patients arrive in Canada thanks, in part, to passenger screening at international airports. So far Canada has confirmed 10 cases of the virus, and none was transmitted within the country.

But the virus has begun to spread from person to person in several countries outside China, where COVID-19 was first detected. The last few days have seen sudden increases of cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea.

"These signs are concerning, and they mean that the window of opportunity for containment, that is for stopping the global spread of the virus, is closing," Tam said. "It also tells countries like Canada, who have been able to detect and manage imported cases thus far, that we have to prepare."

The main concern is that people without symptoms, or with only very mild symptoms, could be spreading the virus in countries that don't have the means to detect cases, Tam said.

The government has also updated its advice to travellers returning from abroad and has asked them to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for two weeks after they return, no matter where they travelled.

"We can highlight countries that are currently impacted by the coronavirus, but it is important when you travel anywhere to take these general precautions," Tam said.

The most important action the government can take at airports is to educate people as they come into the country, Tam said, so they know what signs and symptoms to look for and what to do if they have concerns.

The World Health Organization says it's still too early to declare COVID-19 a pandemic  the definition requires that a disease be detected just about worldwide  but the spread of the bug in multiple countries is a major concern.

"This is not the time to focus on what word we use. That will not prevent a single infection today, or save a single life today," said WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a briefing. "This is a time for all countries, communities, families and individuals to focus on preparing."

Canada's priority wouldn't change even if a pandemic were declared, Tam said. The goal is still to hold the virus off for as long as possible before it starts spreading from person to person within the country.

"By delaying even a little bit we might be able to reduce the impact now, and making sure our health system has gone past influenza season is a very specific public-health objective," she said.
National security advisor Robert O'Bryan.

Via CBS News

Trump's national security advisor Robert O'Brien said during a CBS News interview that Russia would like to see Sanders become president, an assessment directly at odds with US intelligence assessments.

"They'd probably like him to be president, understandably, because he wants to spend money on social programs and probably would have to take it out of the military," O'Brien said.

CNN's Jake Tapper said on Twitter he had spoken to a national security official who was critical of the political nature of O'Brien's remarks, noting they mirrored Trump's and contradicted intelligence assessments.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that Russia is aiding Sanders to sow chaos in the Democratic primary.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

During an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, President Trump's national security advisor Robert O'Brien made a claim directly at odds with the American intelligence community, saying Russia would like to elect Sanders as the nation's next president because he'd cut military funding.

"What I've heard is Russia would like Bernie Sanders to win the Democratic nomination," O'Brien said. "They'd probably like him to be president, understandably, because he wants to spend money on social programs and probably would have to take it out of the military."

He continued: "The Russians have always tried to interfere with elections because they want to divide Americans, they want to undermine our democracy. But the idea they want to influence the election and somehow cause the president to win, I just don't see it."

O'Brien echoed those remarks in another interview with ABC News on Sunday, saying that Russia interfering to help Sanders was "no surprise" because he "honeymooned in Moscow."

Related: How Networks Treat the Democratic Debates

Shortly after O'Brien's claims, CNN's Jake Tapper said on Twitter he had spoken to a national security official who characterized the remarks as "more political than that of a national security professional," noting they mirrored Trump's criticisms and contradicted intelligence assessments.

Story continues

The Washington Post reported on Friday that Russia is boosting Sanders in an attempt to sow chaos in the Democratic primary. Previously, the US intelligence community concluded with high confidence in 2017 that Russia interfered in 2016 to propel Trump to the White House.

"My message to Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do," Sanders, in a statement to the Post.

The cost of the Sanders platform is over $50 trillion, given sweeping plans to enact a Green New Deal, wipe out student debt and create a government-run health insurance system that covers every American under Medicare for All.

While the Vermont senator has pledged to cut defense spending, he said in an interview set to air on 60 Minutes on Sunday night that there are situations where a military force would "absolutely" be warranted to defend US interests.

"Threats against the American people, to be sure. Threats against our allies. I believe in NATO," Sanders said. "I believe that the United States, everything being equal, should be working with other countries in alliance, not doing it alone."

Business Insider
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 01:48:48|Editor: yan

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GAZA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, announced on Monday that its militants have unilaterally ceased fire with Israel following two days of tension in the Gaza Strip.

The group said in a short press statement that "Saraya al-Quds announces that it finished its military response to the crimes of killing one of our militants in eastern Gaza and two others in Syria."

"We promise our people and our nations that our Jihad (Holy War) will go on and will respond to any violation of the occupation (Israel) against our lands and our people," said the statement.

Although the group had unilaterally announced that it stopped its retaliation to the killing of three of its militants in Gaza and Syria, Israeli warplanes continued striking the group's posts and positions.

Israeli media quoted an Israeli army spokesman as saying that Israeli Air Forces struck on Monday evening several military posts in response to rockets and mortar firing into Israel.

Local radio stations reported that at least one Palestinian militant was seriously injured after an Israeli missile hit him while driving his motorbike in eastern Gaza city, adding that he was taken to Shifa Hospital in the city.

Tension in the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave began early on Sunday when Israeli soldiers stationed on the borders between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel shot and killed a militant member in the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The scenes of pulling the body of the Islamic Jihad militant Mohammad Naem by an Israeli army bulldozer had sparked large outrage among the Palestinians.

In response, Saraya al-Quds fired barrages of rockets later on Sunday into southern Israel. Israeli war jets had in return struck with missiles military posts and locations that belong to the group.

Security sources in Gaza said that four Islamic Jihad militants were injured by the shrapnel of an Israeli missile while they were trying to launch rockets from eastern Gaza City into southern Israel on Sunday night.

Medics said that two more Palestinian pedestrians were injured in southern Gaza Strip when Israeli war jets struck with missiles a post that belongs to Islamic Jihad near the town of Rafah.

While Israeli war jets were striking Islamic Jihad posts in the Gaza Strip, other jets attacked a military base that belongs to the group south of Damascus in Syria. Six were killed, and two of them were members of the group.

On Monday, the group's militants fired more barrages of rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.

Israeli media reported that dozens of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip were intercepted by the Israeli defense system. Damage was caused to houses and cars in several towns in southern Israel.

Israeli war jets struck on Monday afternoon more sites and locations in the Gaza Strip that belong to the group, according to Palestinian security sources, which added that no injuries were reported.
China has decided to postpone its annual parliament session for the first time in decades as the country is battling the deadly coronavirus outbreak for weeks. According to the state media, the top officials supposed to attend the meeting are busy tackling the virus in their home region as the death toll continues to rise.

While Chinese President Xi Jinping has called the coronavirus outbreak as the 'largest public health emergency' since its Communist Chinas founding in 1949, Beijing has also provided slight relaxation in Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly outbreak. Authorities announced on February 24 to ease restrictions in the quarantined city and permit some people to leave Wuhan under certain conditions.

Non-residents of Wuhan are allowed to leave the city if they dont show any symptoms of coronavirus and have never contacted any infected person. People who need treatment for other medical issues and those who are working for epidemic prevention may also leave the city after seeking permission from the local authorities.

Read: Bahrain, Kuwait Confirm First Coronavirus COVID-19 Cases: Reports

According to the latest report, 150 new deaths in China due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to nearly 2,600. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including Italy, Japan and the Philippines, have also now reported deaths related to COVID-19.

Read: WHO Expert Team Visits Wuhan City In Hubei Province Amid Mounting Coronavirus Fears

Rising cases outside China

Kuwait and Bahrain have reportedly confirmed first cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and the one confirmed case in Bahrain had arrived from Iran, the country which has reported 12 deaths from coronavirus. Kuwaits state news agency, citing the Ministry of Health, reported that three persons, including a Saudi national, have been tested positive for coronavirus. Iraq has decided to shut its Safwan border crossing with Kuwait at the latters request.

South Korea has also reported major coronavirus outbreak with 763 confirmed cases, making it the largest number of cases in the world after China. Most numbers of cases in South Korea are related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu.

Read: New Zealand Extends Travel Ban On Arrivals From Mainland China Amidst Coronavirus Fears

Read: Afghanistan Announces First Confirmed Case Of Coronavirus In The Country

(With inputs from agencies)
Police have arrested Jose Manuel Guerrero-Reyes (pictured) in connection to the incident

Seven people were injured by a single bullet at a Texas flea market on Sunday when a gun accidentally discharged.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said that no one was 'critically wounded' in the incident that occurred inside the Mercado Sabadomingo flea market in Houston.

Gonzalez said the victims were taken to hospitals and some suffered injuries as a result of a bullet that then ricocheted.

Authorities said they arrested 25-year-old Jose Manuel Guerrero-Reyes.

Police said seven people were injured with just one bullet.

A 30-year-old victim was struck in the leg, but the bullet went straight through.

That same bullet then ricocheted, causing the injuries of six others who were struck by debris.

Those victims, a 26-year-old woman, 43-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 29-year-old man, and 33-year-old man, were all struck in their legs.

Reyes, who has been charged with one count of aggravated assault in connection to the incident, reportedly told deputies that he had the weapon in his pocket before it slipped, causing the discharge.

Police also said that Reyes admitted to being intoxicated at the time.

But no guns are allowed in the market, which was bustling with families, including young children, on Sunday around 7pm.

During a briefing following the incident, authorities said 'a live dance' was going on at the location at the time.

'A lot people including children were inside the location', Gonzalez said. 'It is a miracle nobody else was seriously hurt, especially the children,' he added.

Reyes' bond was set at $40,000. He will not be able to possess any firearms if he makes bond.

Reyes (pictured at the scene), who has been charged in connection to the incident, reportedly told deputies that he had the weapon in his pocket before it slipped, causing the discharge. Seven people were injured after the bullet ricocheted
WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, Julian Assange's father, John Shipton, and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood march on February 22, 2020 against the U.K. government's intention to extradite Julian Assange to the U.S.

Julian Assange should not be extradited to the United States as he would be a suicide risk, his lawyer argued, as a U.K. court began to consider whether the WikiLeaks founder should face extradition.

Assange, an Australian citizen who spent seven years in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid being extradited to Sweden on sex crime accusations, is wanted by U.S. authorities over 18 criminal counts, including violating espionage law.

In November, Swedish prosecutors dropped the nine-year investigation into a rape allegation made against Assange, eliminating the need for the U.K. to decide whether to extradite him to Sweden or the United States.

Lawyers for the U.S. argued in court Monday that Assange's publication of military secrets had risked the lives of people in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan who had assisted the West, Reuters reported. The United States' legal representative reportedly claimed some sources identified by WikiLeaks had subsequently disappeared, although it was noted that this could not be definitely linked to the leaked information.

Meanwhile, Assange's lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, claimed the case could lead to criminalizing activities that were essential to investigative journalism, according to the news agency. Reuters later reported that Fitzerald said Assange's mental health could be at risk if he was extradited to the U.S., adding that he would not get a fair trial.

Lawyers for Assange told the Wall Street Journal on Sunday that a verdict on his extradition could still be years away, as a decision was not expected until late summer and would be appealed if it went in the United States' favor.

Protesters from across Europe gathered in London on Saturday to demand Assange's release and rally against his potential extradition.

High-profile speakers addressed crowds during the march, including Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, who referred to Assange as "a courageous shiner of light into dark places from which the powers that be would dearly like to have us turn away."

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis also spoke at the protest, with Varoufakis describing WikiLeaks as "what every self-respecting news outlet ought to be."

He also announced that Euroleaks, a project he was launching with Assange, would "see the light of day" on March 10.

Tweet

WikiLeaks made headlines in 2010 after publishing classified U.S. military footage of Apache helicopters carrying out a 2007 attack that killed a dozen people in Baghdad. In the same year, the organization released more than 90,000 secret documents relating to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, as well as nearly 400,000 reports on America's military campaign in Iraq.

 Reuters contributed to this article
Patricia Swain, 30, had faced up to two years in prison after she careered down wrong side of a dual carriageway

A mother who was spared jail over a high-speed car chase because she has a young daughter has now been let off community service for the crime after she claimed she has a 'mood disorder' caused by debt.

Patricia Swain, 30, faced up to two years in prison after she careered down wrong side of a dual carriageway at 70mph during a police pursuit while a male passenger dangled from an open door.

Swain, from Sale, Greater Manchester, was arrested after the car hit a central reservation and she attempted to run off.

A judge told the mother, who is a full time carer for her 10-year-old daughter, that her young child 'saved her' from prison.

She admitted dangerous driving and having no driving licence, escaped with a four month jail term suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work.

But she only completed 35 hours of the unpaid work before failing to turn up for appointments with probation officials - and was arrested again six months later 230 miles away in Exeter.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Swain faced jail again after she admitted breaching the unpaid work order.

But the same judge ditched the penalty altogether after she claimed she had been suffering anxiety, depression and a 'mood disorder' after getting into debt following her conviction.

She will instead wear an electronic tag for two months as part of a 7pm-7am curfew.

Sentencing Judge Lever told Swain she had a 'lucky escape' from sentencing despite her 'playing fast and loose'.

Swain, from Sale, Greater Manchester, was arrested after the car hit a central reservation and she attempted to run off

He said: 'My recollection was that I gave this young lady a good talking to and made it quite clear she had to do this order and that her 10-year-old child wouldn't save her from jail if she didn't do it.

'I took an exceptional case not jailing her but she needs help. I am not amused by her driving but if she's a sensitive human she might need all the help she can get from the probation service.

'And I can't have a situation like this where she plays fast and loose. Although I am running out of road, the last thing I want to do if she is distressed is to take the ultimate sentence.'

He told Swain: 'I think you understand you had a lucky escape last time and that I understand that depression and anxiety are very debilitating. I don't want to see you again, please.'

Swain was arrested in October 2018 when officers noticed a black Vauxhall Astra travelling at speed in the Stretford area of Manchester at 4am.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Swain faced jail again after she admitted breaching the unpaid work order

Police chased the car at speeds of 70mph before seeing the passenger door open and a man trying to escape with his legs hanging out.

They drove down a very narrow road and were blocked in by police before the passenger climbed out of the vehicle while it was still moving and fell onto the pavement.

The car drove into the central reservation in order to avoid a collision with a HGV.

Prosecutor Alistair Reed said: 'Following her court appearance she failed to attend appointments in August and there was significant lack of communication with Miss Swain from then.

'A bench warrant was issued and she later appeared from a police station in Exeter after she being identified as being wanted.'

In mitigation defence lawyer Michael Lavery said Swain had been in Devon looking after a sick relative.

He added: 'She had lost her work and then spiralled into debt and has been affected by anxiety and depression.

'Everything has spiralled out of control and she's now on universal credit. The issue is she is unwell and not fit to work - although she doesn't appear suicidal.

'I ask the court to give her one more chance. She's desperate not to have to come back here and she's keen to express her remorse for being here. She has completed 35 hours out of the 80 so far. She has a mood disorder and anxiety and depression.'
The U.S. intelligence community is not a deep state conspiracy. It is a political faction, clad in official secrecy, and protected by general friendly media coverage.

The intelligence community, in general, loathes and fears President Trump for his ignorance and impulsiveness and now his desire to get control of U.S. intelligence agencies, starting with the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

One sign: an intelligence briefing in which a senior official from the Office of DIrector of National Intelligence exaggerated the threat posed by Russia in the 2020 election. Both Democrats and Republicans who heard the briefing thought it was overstated.

The intelligence community also sees the rise of Bernie Sanders and fears him for a different reason. Sanders rejects much the national security agenda that the intelligence community has pursued both in the Cold War and the war on terror. In the era of endless war, Sanders position is increasingly attractive and thus increasingly threatening.

The ICs hostility to Sanders was signaled by the leak to the Washington Post. On Friday, the Post reported that U.S. officials had briefed Sanders a month ago on alleged Russian efforts to help his campaign.

The leak about a supposedly confidential meeting on the eve of the Nevada caucus signaled hostility from official sources.

If you study the data on the Russian social media campaign in 2016, the IRA efforts on behalf of Sanders were little compared to their support for Trump. The leak generated the headlines that implied d Russias help for the Vermont senator was somehow comparable, which is false. The leaked story, in short, was a smear.

Sanders was rightly dismissive.

I dont care, frankly, who [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to be president, Sanders said in a statement. My message to Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do.

But the IC efforts to delegitimize Sanders are sure to continue.

Source: Russia trying to help Bernie Sanderss campaign, according to briefing from U.S. officials  The Washington Post

The post The U.S. Intelligence Community Intervenes in 2020 Election By Leaking on Sanders appeared first on The Deep State Blog.
President Donald Trump has made no secret of how he is willing to use federal power against his political enemies, both foreign and domestic. In New York, the Trump administration has taken steps to halt the Gateway Tunnel, hammer high-income New Yorkers on income taxes, and block the use of programs that ease travel across international borders.

Now, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is claiming that political retribution by the Trump administration is going to cost the state billions of dollars in health care spending in coming years.

The details of a state $8 billion request for a federal Medicaid waiver are complicated. The Cuomo administration learned on Friday that it would not be granted a federal waiver to spend more than $600 million in federal Medicaid funding beyond a March 31 deadline, nor would it get the billions more it wants in the upcoming years to reduce low-income residents reliance on hospitals for medical treatments.

Cuomo claims that the Trump administration is playing favorites with health care funding for millions of people by rejecting New Yorks application for a waiver, even though it approved one made by Texas in 2017. They have no limits, Cuomo said during a press conference on Monday. Its all politics.

Cuomo added that there is little that he can do to stop Trump beyond lamenting that politics should not affect federal decision-making on issues like health care, immigration and infrastructure. I have righteousness, the governor said. But (I have) no leverage. That much appeared certain following a recent White House meeting in which the governor tried in vain to get Trump to change his mind on freezing applications for the Trusted Traveler Programs.

The latest moves by the Trump adminstration suggest that a variety of state initiatives now depend on whether Trump will be reelected later this year, considering his administrations moves.

Here is a rundown of where Trump is using his leverage against the Cuomo administration.

Health care

The state Department of Health announced late last year that it was seeking $8 billion worth of federal support for Medicaid. A similar waiver granted by the Obama administration in 2014 allowed the state to redirect billions in federal funding to efforts aimed at reducing New Yorkers reliance on hospitals as a primary source for care. More than $600 million of that funding is left unspent, but the Cuomo administration would need another federal waiver to use it after March 31. Such a waiver would have also made billions more available to continue such efforts for another four years. The Trump administration has said it does not want to grant so-called Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment waivers moving forward, though it did grant one to Texas in 2017.

Drivers licenses

A state law passed last year allows undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses under the understanding that their personal information would never be shared with federal immigration officials. However, the Trump administration earlier this month froze New Yorkers applications for Trusted Traveler Programs, which allow people to cross the border with minimal security checks, and made no secret of its demand that the state allow federal officials to access the state database of drivers licenses before it would end the freeze. Administration officials have cited public safety concerns as well, which Cuomo has said he is willing to accommodate to some degree.

Cuomo first offered to do this on a case-by-case basis and now says he is willing to let the federal government access the database to check the security risks of Trusted Traveler applicants  without their social security numbers  so long as they were not used by immigration officials. But Matthew Albence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's acting director, rejected those proposals at a press conference in Troy last week. "In fact, short of taking our guns away, I can think of no law that would be more dangerous to our officers and our agents, he told reporters of the new law allowing the undocumented to get drivers licenses.

Congestion pricing

A key part of efforts to revitalize public transportation in the downstate area is through a congestion pricing plan that would charge drivers to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, however, needs a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration in order to implement the plan by its 2021 deadline. While similar requests for federal approval have been routine in past years, Politico and The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that the Trump administration has taken no action on the matter in recent months. While MTA Chairman Patrick Foye remains optimistic that approval will come sometime this year, worries have only increased that it will never happen so long as Trump is president.

Disaster relief

Upstate New York has been hit hard by flooding in recent months, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not given the help that state leaders say is needed for recovery efforts. Central New York residents suffered millions of dollars in damage due to an Oct. 31 storm, which the agency said in its rejection was not serious enough to warrant individual aid. The Cuomo administration appealed the decision, but there is no sign that the federal government will reverse the decision it made in early January.

Renewable energy

Cuomo has promoted off-shore wind development as a key part of state efforts against climate change, but any efforts to install the new technology face a variety of regulatory hurdles from the federal government. The Trump administrations withholding of approval of the first utility-scale off-shore wind project in the nation  which is off the coast of Rhode Island  suggests that New York may face rejection when it movse forward with its own efforts to generate electricity off the coast of Long Island. Only time will tell whether that will be the case, but Trumps long-running objections to wind power in general hardly give Cuomo a reason to be optimistic.

Infrastructure

After entering office, Trump upended a deal reached by New York, New Jersey and the Obama administration to fund the construction of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. While the proposed project has been called one of the most vital to the national economy, considering New York Citys role in it, it remains very much up in the air whether Trump is willing to cooperate with efforts to get the project moving. Beyond funding, the two states also need federal approval  and that is far from certain considering Trumps wavering on the issue. In recent weeks, the federal government approved funding for a bridge, but not a tunnel, and the future of the tunnel project remains in question.

Similar problems have afflicted Cuomos efforts to extend the Second Avenue Subway  despite Trumps stated interest in helping  and build an airtrain to LaGuardia Airport. "Will they hold approval on congestion pricing hostage? Yes. Will they hold the air train approval at LaGuardia Airport hostage? Yes. Will they hold the Gateway Tunnels hostage? Yes. Because that is how they do business," Cuomo said last week.

Income taxes

A 2017 federal tax law championed by Trump and other Republican leaders effectively raises income taxes on some New Yorkers because it capped how much they could deduct state and local taxes at $10,000. Cuomo has made the issue one of his top priorities in dealing with the Trump administration. However, there are no signs that Trump is willing to reconsider the issue despite his discussions with Cuomo on the topic.
President Moon Jae-in at a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 24, 2020 Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in ordered some bold fiscal measures Monday, including an extra budget, to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 virus on businesses.



His remark came a day after the government raised its health alert to the highest level during an emergency meeting presided over by the President following the snowballing number of new infections.



"In order to minimize damage to businesses, increase consumption and revive the sagging local economy, a bold fiscal injection is necessary. In addition to expediting the use of reserve funds, if necessary, we should also consider drawing up an extra budget with the help of the National Assembly," the President said during a weekly meeting with his senior aides, according to press pool reports.



"International organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other finance institutions have advised governments to act in order to respond to the pressing economic uncertainty from the COVID-19," Moon said. "Many countries, including China, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, are announcing measures to ease the economic impact. The voices of businesses, small business owners and business organization are desperate as things have gotten worse. The government should mobilize all possible policy measures to take immediate action."






By Tong Kim





We are going through an uneasy period of concern and uncertainty. We don't know when or how the coronavirus epidemic will end. However, we know that when the epidemic subsides, the North Korean issue will resurface. We don't know how the current flux in the security order in the region may evolve in the coming years.







Robert O'Brien, U.S. national security adviser, recently said Trump will not go to another summit with North Korea, unless a deal is assured beforehand. John Bolton, O'Brien's immediate predecessor, and Jim Kelly, Trump's former White House chief of staff, are saying that Trump's North Korea policy has failed.







There is no prospect for resuming the talks with Pyongyang at this point. Trump and Kim Jong-un may prefer the status quo to continue until after the U.S. elections in November.







North Korea is quiet nowadays. They are supposed to be busy building a self-reliant economy, probably exploring more ways to circumvent the restrictions of sanctions. In addition to ship-to-ship transfers of coal, they may be working on outright cyberattacks for financial gains.







In April, South Korea is holding elections for the National Assembly. And their outcome could be a new turning point for inter-Korean relations and the ROK-U.S. alliance.







If the ruling party wins the election, the government will likely be more aggressive in reaching out to the North. They may want to seek more independence from the U.S. in their pursuit of inter-Korean cooperation on joint projects.







They may want to return to a "balanced diplomacy" between China and the U.S. They will remember that the Philippines decided to end U.S. military presence in their country, a blow to the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.







If the opposition party wins, they will call on President Moon to adopt a hardline policy on North Korea with sanctions and pressure on human rights. They will call for a stronger alliance with the U.S. They may call for a regime change in the North.







South Korea is a vibrant democracy. Critics call the president a spokesman or a spy for the North. Anti-Moon rallies demand that he step down. A North Korean defector, critical of Moon's policy, is running for the national parliament. South Korea has impeached and removed one of its previous presidents.







In other parts of the world, China is going through an epidemic crisis. The U.S. is going through Democratic primaries to pick a presidential candidate who will compete against Donald Trump.







After the U.S. presidential election, Washington may consider a different approach to North Korea. The experience of the past 30 years shows there is one path, still worth to try toward denuclearization.







That should be a long-term, phased approach with "corresponding measures" built in each phase of a denuclearization process. The ultimate goal of the dismantlement and removal of the North's arsenal will have to come in the last phase of the process.







As military force is not a viable option, negotiations should resume, perhaps starting at the working level to agree on a formula or process from freeze, containment, and to eventual elimination of the nuclear arsenal in the North.







People are being haunted by the fear of the coronavirus epidemic. As of Feb. 24, in China there were 79,159 cases with total deaths of 2,470 and in South Korea 763 cases and 7 deaths. Its economic impact will be enormous.







In the midst of the scary news of the coronavirus, there was some good news for South Koreans: Their movie "Parasite" won four Oscars, including "Best motion picture of the year." It was the first time that a foreign-language film won the best movie award in the history of 92 years of the Academy Awards. President Moon celebrated by hosting a congratulatory luncheon with the director and his team who worked on the film.







President Trump was not happy about it. Speaking of the Oscar-winning Korean film, he questioned at a campaign rally in Colorado Springs Feb 20, "What the hell was that all about? We've got enough problems with South Korea, with trade. And after all that they gave them the best movie of the year?"







The next day in a Las Vegas rally, Trump was doubling down on his earlier comment, saying that he wants to see American movies honored. He said: "They used to call it the best foreign movie. Now we do it that way. I don't get it."







The American distributor of the film Neon tweeted: "Understandable, he can't read." South Koreans did not appreciate Trump's remark. Trump did not help build a friendship with South Korea.







A lot more will happen, and nothing is certain.







) is a visiting professor with the University of North Korean Studies, a visiting scholar with Korea University, a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies, and a columnist for The Korea Times.



Tong Kim ( tong.kim8@yahoo.com
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.
Afghanistan Detects 3 Suspected Coronavirus Cases Linked to Outbreak in Iran

By Ayaz Gul February 23, 2020

Health officials in Afghanistan reported three suspected cases of coronavirus Sunday in a western province next to the border with Iran, where the outbreak of the disease has killed at least eight people amid a rise in new cases.

The reported cases prompted the Afghan government to temporarily suspend air and land travel with Iran and halt the import of chicken and eggs from the neighboring country, said an official statement.

An Afghan health ministry spokesman in Kabul told VOA the three patients have been admitted to an isolated ward in the provincial center of Herat.

Waheedullah Mayar said blood samples of the three Afghans have been brought to a lab in the national capital for testing and results would be available soon. He stressed, however, it was too early to speculate on whether the persons were suffering from the disease, known as COVID-19.

Tehran has reported around two dozen cases, including at least eight deaths in the past few days. However, the Iranian cases still pale in comparison to those recorded in China, where the virus was first detected in late December.

Since then, Chinese have reported nearly 77,000 infections and 2,442 deaths.

Critics fear a coronavirus outbreak could pose a serious challenge for authorities in Afghanistan, where years of war and corruption have turned an already poor healthcare system, which many Afghans have limited or no access, into one of the world's worst.

The turmoil-hit country lacks quarantine facilities and protocols, trained health care personnel and medical supplies.

The suspected coronavirus cases emerged in Afghanistan on second day of a weeklong reduction in violence mutually agreed between Afghan and U.S.-led foreign troops and Taliban insurgents in their bid to end the 18-year-old war.

Pakistan closes Iran border

Meanwhile, officials in Pakistan said Sunday they have temporarily shut the country's border with Iran and deployed emergency preventive measures to screen people for coronavirus infections who have recently returned from the neighboring country.

Trade convoys and hundreds of Pakistanis, mostly Shi'ite Muslims, travel daily to visit holy sites in Iran using the Taftan border crossing in the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan.

Pakistan has not reported any confirmed cases of the coronavirus diseases. Authorities have installed tight monitoring mechanisms at airports, seaports and overland routes for travelers from with neighboring China which hosts around 30,000 Pakistanis, mostly students.

Moreover, some 10,000 Chinese nationals are also based in Pakistan, mostly working on infrastructure development and power plant construction projects that Beijing is funding and building under its global Belt and Road Initiative.

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Her daughter Kaya, five, lives with Klitschko in the Ukraine

Police said Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson struck her 'with a closed fist on the right side of her face' during an argument February 14

Brian was booked for domestic battery and interfering with a police office during the Valentine's Day arrest in Wyoming

He was released hours later on a $5,000 bond

In May 2019, Brian was arrested for domestic violence following a drunken argument with the actress in LA

Hayden Panettiere praised her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko as the 'best father ever' to their five-year-old daughter Kaya, who she called a 'stunner' in a pair of tweets Sunday.

In one shot, Klitschko, a 43-year-old boxer, is dancing with the child in front of a mirror-ball backdrop, decked out by balloons and confetti.

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In a separate shot, Kaya, who lives in the Ukraine with her father, had tiger-like features painted on her face as she smiled.

Too cute! Klitschko, a 43-year-old boxer, danced with the child in front of a mirror-ball backdrop, decked out with balloons and confetti

Roar: Kaya, who lives in the Ukraine with her father, had tiger-like features painted on her face as she smiled

Asked by a fan, 'how are you doing are you okay?' Hayden replied: 'Always good' and added a smiley emoji.

She also defended her ex, after a fan wrongly thought he was the one acused of domestic violence, or as he phrased it 'beat you'.

'Wrong guy,' she replied, calling Klitschko a 'legend'.

Click here to resize this module

Panettiere's upbeat messages came less than two weeks after her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 30, was arrested in connection with domestic violence following a Valentine's Day incident in Jackson, Wyoming.

Police said Hickerson punched the 30-year-old actress with 'a closed fist on the right side of her face' amid an argument, according to TMZ.

Asked by a fan, 'how are you doing, are you okay?' Hayden replied: 'Always good' and added a smiley emoji.

On his side: She also defended her ex, Klitschko, calling him 'my CHAMP' after a fan wrongly though he was the one arrested for domestic violence

The latest: Hayden Panettiere, 30, on Sunday praised her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, 43, as the 'best father ever' to their daughter Kaya, five, less than two weeks after her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 30, was arrested in connection with domestic violence

Hickerson was booked in connection with domestic battery and interfering with a police officer, and subsequently released on $5,000 bond, marking his second arrest in less than a year for a domestic offense.

In May 2019, he was arrested for domestic violence following a drunken argument with the actress.

Panettiere, who's been seen on shows such as Nashville and Heroes, is 'in danger with Brian' and has 'impairment issues from drinking too much,' which could lead to 'a tragic outcome' if she remains in the relationship, a source told Us Weekly last week.

Hayden 'believed he would never hit her again,' which is why she chose not to 'materialize as a witness against him' in the 2019 case, the source added, noting that Hickerson has 'isolated Hayden from friends and family' since their relationship started in the fall of 2018.

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'Don't blame the victim,' the source said. 'She sadly fell in love with a man that hits women. He is violent, but incredibly charming. It's unlikely this will be enough for Hayden to break it off, permanently.'

Mugshot: On Friday, her boyfriend Brian Hickerson was arrested after police say he 'punched her in the face' during an argument at a Wyoming residence

Hickerson was arrested February 14 at around 2.30am after allegedly punching her face with a closed fist during a fight on Valentine's Day.

The Nashville star's boyfriend was found by cops from the Teton County Sheriff's office on the driveway in Jackson Hole, Wyoming after someone called the police to report it. The caller was reported to have said that there was an 'intoxicated male' that was 'locked out of the home' because 'he punched his girlfriend in the face,' according to the outlet.

Police said Hickerson 'struck' the Hayden 'with a closed fist on the right side of her face' during their fight in their bedroom, where he also 'threw' her around.

Out and about: Panettiere was snapped last year in Hollywood

Throwback: Brian has 'isolated Hayden from friends and family' since their relationship started in fall 2018; pictured August 2, 2018, the first time they were seen together as they left Craig's restaurant in LA with Hayden barefoot

Police noted that she had a 'red and swollen face' and 'a scrape and swelling on her left hand' which she believed came from his watch during their fight.

When authorities arrived on the scene, Brian was in the driveway and he allegedly told them that Hayden was inside the home 'saying he beat the f**k out of me.'

He said that he hired a private chef to stay around that night so he 'wouldn't be accused of bulls**t' while avoiding their question on whether or not he punched the star.

The couple first began dating in August 2018 after she was spotted walking barefoot out of a restaurant with Brian by her side.

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Prior to their outing, it was believed that Hayden was still with her then-fiance Klitschko, who she shares Kaya with. The little one has been living with Wladimir, 43, in his home country of Ukraine.

Happier times: Brian was arrested on Friday around 2:30am after allegedly punching her face with a closed fist during a fight on Valentine's Day; pictured December 1, 2018 in LA

'She really hasn't had much time with her daughter,' a source told Us Weekly last year. 'She knows the child being with her is not best for [Kaya right now]. It's a sad situation.'

Hayden's mom Lesley Vogel said in 2018 that her daughter does visit Kaya in Europe while Wlad 'travels a great deal' to keep some normalcy for their little girl.

'It's heartbreaking and challenging,' an insider said. 'They didn't spend the holidays together. It's disturbing, and she'll have to figure out how to manage this. It's not an easy scenario.'

Hayden's lawyer revealed the actress still 'regularly' sees her daughter, People reported in July 2019.

Hayden and Wladimir were in a relationship from 2009 until they split in May 2011; they reunited in April 2013 and got engaged in October of that same year.

In December 2014, the duo welcomed daughter Kaya; she revealed on Live With Kelly and Michael in September 2015 that she experienced postpartum depression.

One month later, Hayden voluntarily checked herself into a facility for postpartum depression and for a second time in May 2016.

Soon after Hayden was seen leaving Craig's with Brian while barefoot, her mom confirmed she split from Wladimir, who is a Ukrainian former professional boxer.

Though their relationship was over, they remained friends.

'We're still respectful of each other, and we still have that friendship with each other,' Hayden told Us in February 2019. 'It's not a situation that you find yourself in all that often, so it's a new one. But I think we've done a really good job.'

In October 2018 - just two months after they were first seen together - Brian allegedly assaulted his father David with Hayden present, according to TMZ.

The incident occurred in South Carolina at a home; cops responded to a call for assault and battery.

Another domestic violence call was placed on May 2, 2019; He was arrested for domestic violence after a drunken argument with the actress turned physical at 2 a.m. in Los Angeles, TMZ reported.

The way they were: Hayden and Wladimir were in a relationship from 2009 until they split in May 2011; they reunited in April 2013 and got engaged in October of that same year; seen together on December 7, 2013

Police reportedly discovered 'redness and marks' on Hayden's body; after he was book for felony domestic violence, he was released after posting a $50,000 bond.

The felony complaint said that he 'willfully inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon Hayden P.'

He was later charged with one count of felony domestic violence on May 23, 2019 and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which could have seen up to four years in prison; the case was dismissed in September 2019.

'Our office was unable to proceed because we could not secure a material witness. The protective order also was dismissed,' a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

In a weird twist of events, Hayden was spotted holding hands with Brian's brother Zach in September while out and about in New York.

A source told People at the time that the display had nothing to do with affection: 'Hayden and Zach are friends and have been for a while.'

Hayden's family still doesn't 'approve of the relationship' due to his behavior, as 'they are not fans of Brian,' a source told People magazine. 'It's clear that he has issues of his own, not to mention the anger issues, which is obviously a big one.'

At the time, Hayden's attorney Andrew Brettler told the publication: 'Hayden is a strong, intelligent woman who is capable of making her own decisions.'

They were last seen together in November 2019 while walking through LAX airport together.

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'It's disturbing to family and friends that Hayden and Brian may not be following the court order. There is not one single person out there who isn't concerned about Hayden,' a source told Us Weekly. 'What Brian did to Hayden is unacceptable behavior, and it's not to be tolerated.'
FILE PHOTO: Rows of steam generators line a road at the Cenovus Energy Christina Lake SAGD project south of Fort McMurray

By Rod Nickel

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau considers whether to approve Teck Resources' Frontier oil sands project, roughly 20 others sit on the shelf as companies delay investment decisions hoping for new pipelines and higher prices.

These projects could bring a wave of some 2 million barrels per day (bpd) onto a market many view as already oversupplied. They also largely have approvals, underlining that Teck's <TECKb.TO> Frontier is far from the only expansion path for Canada's oil sands.

Trudeau's cabinet is expected to meet on Tuesday and decide on Frontier this week. Should Ottawa reject the project, Teck said on Friday it would write down Frontier by C$1.13 billion.

Others are edging forward. A government rejection of Frontier would increase risk to future applications, and could also boost the value of projects that have been approved, Eight Capital analyst Phil Skolnick wrote.

On Wednesday, Alberta approved Suncor Energy's <SU.TO> 40,000 bpd Meadow Creek West project. The company has not decided whether to proceed.

Cenovus Energy <CVE.TO> may make final investment decisions later this year on adding 40,000 bpd to its Foster Creek site and 65,000 bpd to Christina Lake.

Delayed pipeline expansions have already left Canada's main oil-producing province of Alberta with more crude than it can move. Lately, those plans have progressed.

"We need to see these proposed pipelines advance to a stage that it is absolutely clear that we can count on them," Cenovus Chief Executive Alex Pourbaix said in an interview. Opposition by indigenous groups and environmental activists have held up several pipeline projects.

"Welding up a couple joints of pipe in a right-of-way doesn't meet that standard," Pourbaix said. "But seeing these projects break the back of the opposition and move to a point where they are clearly going to proceed, thats what Im looking for."

Story continues

Alberta estimates the oil sands emit 67-68 megatonnes (MT) of greenhouse gases, although Ottawa uses a higher figure. The former Alberta government legislated a 100 MT cap but never implemented it.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson wrote to Alberta on Wednesday, warning that if all currently approved projects proceed, the oil sands could exceed that cap by 30%.

It is doubtful that many will be built and those that are face intense pressure over environmental concerns, said Jamie Bonham, director of corporate engagement at NEI Investments, a "responsible investment" firm.

"Any new project has to have some kind of step-change technology, otherwise it does seem super-risky to build a 30-year project based on technology that was piloted 10 years ago," Bonham said.

(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by David Gregorio)
The 3500 block of Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia, Pa., on Dec. 31, 2019. Mostly black areas of the city like Germantown are at risk of being undercounted during the 2020 Census, write Alyn E. Waller and Andrea Custis. Read more

Six months before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in South Philadelphia. He advised, Dont allow anybody to make you feel like you are nobody. Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance.

Under the spotlight of Black History Month, the upcoming election, and the recent conclusion of film and music awards season, a national discourse on black visibility and representation has resurfaced.

In just a few weeks, households across the city will begin receiving invitations in the mail to participate in the census, a nationwide survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau every 10 years.

Black people in the U.S. have been historically underrepresented in national population counts, beginning with the Three-Fifths Compromise dating back to 1787, when we were each deliberately counted as three-fifths of a person. Our erasure resulted in the advancement of a political system that was designed to oppress us and has continued to operate on an unequal distribution of political representation. The 2020 Census is an opportunity for us to reclaim some of the power that we have been and still are denied.

In addition to determining our representation in Congress, census data is used to guide the distribution of billions in federal funding to critical programs and services that directly benefit our communities, including Medicare and Medicaid, school lunch programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and transportation and infrastructure improvements.

 READ MORE: Census 2020: Phillys preparing, and we need your help

An undercount occurs when the U.S. Census Bureau reports a lower population count than lives in any given place. As a result of undercounting, communities  often communities of color  miss out on their fair share of essential resources, which further perpetuates their oppression.

An undercount can stunt the growth and development of the most vulnerable in our communities, from children and seniors to people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and those among us who rely on government-funded assistance.

Philadelphia is home to several areas with critically low census response rates. In the 2020 Census count, if just one person is missed, our city could lose $21,000 in federal funding over the next decade.

Imagine the impact on our community if you and your family were skipped over in the count, weakening the final tally. Now, imagine if your congregation, your class, your office, or your block werent fully counted. The losses add up. Our communities will feel it.

 READ MORE: Census 2020: The danger of undercounting Pennsylvanias Latino and immigrant communities | Opinion

From historic Lancaster Avenue to the heart of residential Germantown, Philadelphias black community has been and continues to be the foundation of many aspects of the distinct history, culture, and influence that keep our city on the map  not only in this nation but worldwide. The 2020 Census is about equity. Civic engagement is a powerful form of resistance in an environment that continues to suppress the voices of communities like ours. For an equitable future, we need every single member of the black community to be counted in the census.

One way individual Philadelphians can help make that happen: Join Philly Counts in their goal to reach over 200,000 households across the city, mostly in historically uncounted neighborhoods, in three days through informational door-to-door canvassing. The canvasses will take place on Census Action Days: March 21, March 28, and April 4. Theyre a good place to start.

Alyn E. Waller is the senior pastor of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia and a revivalist, vocalist, and lecturer. Andrea Custis is the president and CEO of the Urban League of Philadelphia and a corporate executive with 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, human capital, and operations with Fortune 50 companies.
VICTORIA - A seventh case of the novel coronavirus has been diagnosed in British Columbia, bringing to 11 the number of cases in Canada.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VICTORIA - A seventh case of the novel coronavirus has been diagnosed in British Columbia, bringing to 11 the number of cases in Canada.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday a man in his 40s who is a close contact of the sixth case in the province has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The man had symptoms before the woman's diagnosis, Henry said.

"There were a few additional close contacts that he had that have now been identified over the weekend and are also in isolation and being monitored carefully," she added.

The sixth case involves a woman in her 30s whose diagnosis was confirmed last week after she returned from Iran.

Cases of COVID-19 diagnosed at the BC Centre for Disease Control no longer require confirmation at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg because the province's testing has been validated, Henry said.

She said health officials are hoping the new coronavirus will be similar to influenza and other respiratory viruses that circulate during winter and typically wane in early spring.

"But we are not out of the woods yet, and really that buys us time," she said.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speak at press conference at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner

If the virus can't be contained and eradicated from human transmission, Henry said it might arise next influenza season, by which time anti-viral medications and a vaccine could be developed.

Screening people at airports is challenging and limited, so countries like Iran, which has an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, should not allow people with symptoms to fly elsewhere, Henry said.

"They've (Iran) been putting screening measures in place, I understand, and South Korea has actively been doing that," she said.

"We do ask everybody that's coming here to ensure that they monitor carefully for symptoms. We will be stepping up our advice on that."

Anyone with symptoms should limit their contact with others and contact their primary care provider, local public health office or call the 811 healthline to reduce the possibility of passing the virus on to others, Henry said.

Many more Canadians who were outside of the country have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

They include 129 people who were aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was docked in Yokohama, Japan, since early February, being repatriated to Cornwall, Ont., on Friday. They will be is isolation for 14 days.

"We are watching very carefully," Henry said. "Although there is widespread transmission of some areas of the world we are not in that position yet but we are preparing for that, we are preparing for all of the possibilities that we might see over the coming weeks."

Of the seven cases, the first has fully recovered, Henry said. The other six patients remain in self-isolation at home and under the care of public health teams.

A fourth case of the virus was confirmed in Ontario on Sunday, with the previous three cases cleared of the illness.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
THE NEWLY reformed TCI Labour Tribunal will dispense rulings over employment disputes in a "fair, just and timely manner in accordance with the law.





After several years out of action, the tribunal is again fully functioning with a new president, a full set of staff, offices in Grand Turk and Providenciales and regular opening hours.





"We express thanks to the general public for their unwavering support and to the clients for their patience and look forward to working to serve you, a press release said on February 14.





The Labour Tribunal was established under the Employment Ordinance Section 93 and was given jurisdiction to hear and determine any labour disputes or complaints.





It was expected to discharge its statutory functions in accordance with the Employment Ordinance.





However, the tribunal was without a president since August 2017 and without a legally constituted body since the law was amended in March 2018.





On January 2, this year, the tribunal welcomed its new president, attorney at law M Doreen Quelch-Missick.





The in-coming president, in an effort to get the tribunal back on track and fully functioning, has put plans in action for the review of the existing backlog of cases.





She undertook critical steps in assessing the backlog and made plans to move forward with new and pending cases at various stages of deliberation.





Since her appointment she has held introductory meetings where expectations have been outlined, the press release said.





An orientation meeting was held for all new members who received their appointments in August 2019 during which Deputy Governor Anya Williams gave congratulatory remarks.





On February 4, a full day of training for all members was conducted with a focus on the Employment Ordinance, discussing their individual role, duties and expectations.





The following members of the tribunal have been appointed for a period of two years:

-Vernon Alco Williams of Providenciales has served in the public and private sector as superintendent of police of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.





-Edward Hall of North Caicos has served as commissioner of police in the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.





-Bishop Samuel Williams of Providenciales has 30 years of service in the public and private sectors in various fields, particularly in electronics and communications.





-Michael Pereira of Providenciales, is a justice of the peace, notary public and retired clerk of courts and bailiff of the Supreme Court.





-Dr Beatrice Fulford of Grand Turk, an educator, has served in various positions in the public sector  chairman of the Public Service Commission, and former permanent secretary to the Ministry of Education.





-Noreane Williams-McKoy of South Caicos is an educator and a justice of the peace. She is a champion for those with special needs and is a member of the District Board, South Caicos and the Parole Board.





-Rosa Maria Clare of South Caicos is an educator who has served over 40 years in the public service. She presently serves on various coards and is active in community service.





-Irene Glinton of Providenciales has experience in the private sector, serving in various administrative roles.

She presently serves as secretary to the Turks and Caicos Islands Electricity Board.





-Judy Missick of Providenciales has worked over 30 years in the private sector in administrative fields and human resource management.

She is an ordained minister of the gospel and is a part of various social and community groups.





Staff members also include administrative officer Winifred Stubbs, secretary Lucille Campbell, officer Alice Williams, and clerical assistant Adriana Handfield.





Despite having been without a president since August 2017, staff under the leadership of the then vice president Vernon Alco Williams continued to perform its statutory functions.





"The president, staff and members look forward to serving the people throughout the country and is pleased to let the public know that all inhabited islands now have member representation on the Labour Tribunal, the press release said.





"We look forward to the return of the weekly radio programme via RTC in our efforts to reach out and inform the public, employees and employers of their rights under the Employment Ordinance, their rights under other International Workers Rights Instruments to include the International Labour Organisation and other international human rights conventions.





"We look forward to visiting North, Middle and South Caicos and to re-establish its presence in Grand Turk and for the re-opening of the Labour Tribunal Office by March 1.





"The tribunal looks forward to working internally with the commissioner of labour and his staff and labour inspectors, immigration and externally with the clients and attorneys in an effort to fulfil the statutory functions of the labour tribunal.





"We express thanks to the general public for their unwavering support and to the clients for their patience and look forward to working to serve you.





The office hours remain Monday to Thursday 8am to 4.30pm and 8am to 4pm on Fridays.





The Office in Grand Turk is located at 3 Degrees Building and in Providenciales in Butterfield Square, Downtown, Providenciales.




After finalizing her divorce with ex-husband Kevin Hunter, talk show host Wendy Williams is now officially and legally single.

That only means she is free to see whoever she wants and will have no problem sharing a glimpse of her dating life with fans.

Wendy has finally made her relationship Instagram official with jeweller William Selby, also known as Big Will and Willdaboss. On Friday, she posted a photo and captioned it, "He sent his car for me... dinner in pursuit. Happy Friday!"

The apparent couple was spotted out that night, Wendy walking arm-in-arm with her new beau.

In another photo, she shared what they had for dinner and lastly, a picture of the two getting close and cozy in their artist friend's studio.

Selby is a New York City-based jeweller who has worked with celebrity clients such as 50 Cent and Drake. He has previously posted about the host multiple times on his Instagram page, including one for Valentine's Day last week.

Last week, Wendy was spotted wearing a heart-shaped diamond necklace, which she revealed was from a mystery man.

That same day, Selby posted that specific clip to his Instagram and captioned it with, "V-Day Special for the incomparable @wendyshow."

Wendy previously referred to his new man as a "friend" and as her "jeweller" and nothing more.

Speaking to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Williams said she does not have a type when she dates, adding: "When you get grown you realize that within five minutes, even the worst guy, visually or size-wise or whatever, if he's got game, I'm in."

When asked if she had any other qualities that she was looking for in any future partner, Wendy answered that she just wanted to be "treated with respect."

"As long as he can pay his own bills, because those days are over," Williams added, referencing to her bitter split from her ex-husband.

Summer Wedding Bells?

In the same interview with Jimmy Fallon, Wendy opened up about her desire to get married in the near future.

"You can ever say never! As my marriage was crumbling, I knew in my mind, and now I'm finally divorced," Wendy said, per Hollywood Life. "I want to get married again - I do, I do. I don't know if it'll happen again, but you know, I'm dating."

While she kept her lips sealed in revealing the new man in her life, she said that there are some "qualified suitors" that met her standards.

Sure enough, that man is clearly Selby.

Splitting With Hunter

The 55-year-old finalized her divorce in January, and according to court documents, the cause of their split was irreconcilable differences.

The two agreed to forego alimony. However, the host decided to keep a $1 million life insurance policy on herself that will go to Hunter if she died, but she has the right to reduce the amount every year.

The document also said that Wendy is responsible for covering her ex-husband's health insurance under her current policy.

The two also agreed to split their proceeds from their New Jersey home when it is sold. Currently, it is listed for $1.7 million from its $1.9 million initial asking price.

Previously, Wendy has paid Hunter $250,000 to help him find new living arrangements.

Their joint bank account will go to Wendy, and all of Hunter's shares in the Wendy William Productions Inc. will be signed over to his ex-wife.

Wendy remains the sole owner of her production company.

Wendy Williams and Hunter were married for over 20 years before the show host filed for divorce in April 2019. Nonetheless, despite their split and rumors of his alleged infidelity, Wendy still wants to be friends with her ex-husband.

"Not because we have a son, but because that was real love. I still love him just not in that way," she spoke in "Sway in the Morning" in August 2019.

READ MORE: Ben Affleck Makes SURPISING Admission About Relationship With Jennifer Lopez
Prince Andrew could be questioned by the US Virgin Islands' chief legal adviser over his friend Jeffrey Epstein's crimes on his 'paedo island' in the Caribbean.

Attorney general Denise George, who is investigating Epstein's child sex trafficking to Little Saint James, has not ruled out speaking to the Duke of York.

Ms George told The Sun: 'We target evidence, the evidence may take us to people. But we target the evidence. We see where the evidence leads us'.

It came as a member of Jeffrey Epstein's staff claimed that he saw Prince Andrew groping Epstein's alleged sex slave Virginia Roberts at the paedophiles Caribbean island home.

And Scotland Yard is also under pressure to release key records relating to Prince Andrew after doubt was cast on his alibi on the night he is accused of having sex with a teenager in Britain.

Prince Andrew's friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has forced his retirement from royal duties and led to calls he should speak to the authorities in the US and the US Virgin Islands

Steve Scully, 70, said he saw the Duke of York grabbing, groping and grinding by the pool on Little St James (pictured) for several minutes with a bikini-clad blonde woman he insists was sex slave Ms Roberts

A retired royalty protection officer claims the Duke of York returned to Buckingham Palace in the early hours after he is alleged to have been with 17-year-old Virginia Roberts.

US Virgin Islands Attorney general Denise George (pictured), who is investigating Epstein's child sex trafficking to Little Saint James, has not ruled out speaking to the Duke of York

He said the prince hurled abuse at palace guards, shouting 'Open these bloody gates, you buffoons,' when he found them shut in the middle of the night.

The officer claims it could be March 11, 2001, when Miss Roberts says she slept with Andrew  an allegation he denies. The prince says he was at home after taking daughter Beatrice to Pizza Express.

Miss Roberts alleges she was ordered by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the duke after dancing with him at London nightclub Tramp.

Now the ex-officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, wants the Met to provide palace guard records to confirm his whereabouts on the night.

He intends to use freedom of information laws to access his rota.

The officer has pledged to speak to lawyers acting for Epstein's victims, saying he wants to 'see justice done'.

Yesterday the officer revealed women would arrive unannounced at Buckingham Palace to see Andrew, including Epstein's friend Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been accused of procuring young girls for the sex offender.

Other visitors included model Caprice Bourret.

The former PC, who retired from SO14, Scotland Yard's Royalty Protection Command in 2009, said Andrew resented police keeping records about his guests: 'He always feels the police are prying and we shouldn't know things.'

Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, aged 17, in London. A witness has now claimed he saw the couple getting intimate on Jeffrey Epstein's private island

Virginia Roberts holds a photo of herself at age 16, when she says Jeffrey Epstein began abusing her

The force has previously refused to discuss the duke's security, but yesterday a spokesman said: 'The ex-officer is entitled to submit his subject access request which will be then be considered.'

A spokesman for Prince Andrew declined to comment.

Yesterday an IT worker for Epstein  who killed himself in custody last year  claimed he saw Andrew groping Miss Roberts at the paedophile's Caribbean island home of Little St James.

Steve Scully, 70, told The Sun on Sunday: 'He was grabbing her a**. He was grinding against her and groping her.'

He worked for the tycoon as a phone and internet specialist between 1999 and 2006, said he recalled Andrew with a young bikini-clad blonde by a pool on Little St James.

Mr Scully is convinced the young woman was Virginia, who alleges she was forced by Epstein to take part in an orgy with the Duke of York on the tropical estate.

He is the first witness to come forward to say they saw Andrew with her on the island.

Prince Andrew has emphatically denied having a relationship with the 17-year-old, who claims she slept with the prince three times.

Lawyers for the victims of Epstein sent an American-style school bus to Buckingham Palace as part of their campaign to get Andrew to speak to the FBI

Mr Scully, 70, told The Sun on Sunday that he had been summoned to fix a phone jack when he saw the pair canoodling: 'He was grabbing her ass and stuff like that. They were kissing. He was grinding against her and groping her.

'They were initially lying on lounge chairs by the pool.

'When they stood up, they were in between the chairs.

'She wasn't resisting in any manner whatsoever. The look on Andrew's face was excitement.

'They were bumping and grinding and fooling around for five, six, seven minutes and they then laid back down on the lounge chairs and continued.' Mr Scully introduced himself later to the pair holding hands.

He recalled: '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.'.

Mr Scully added: 'It struck me as how young the girl was, because she stood like a kid would stand behind a parent.

'They walked off together and I went the other way.

'I thought she looked particularly young. It bothered me. I thought that it wasn't appropriate.'

A spokeswoman for Prince Andrew declined to comment yesterday.

In 2008, Epstein was jailed for procuring a child for prostitution and served 13 months in jail.

Last July he was arrested on child sex trafficking charges and committed suicide in jail.
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HONG KONG, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government is proactively taking actions to liaise with relevant mainland authorities to discuss on how to bring back Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei province in an orderly manner, said a spokesperson for HKSAR government on Sunday.

The SAR government attaches great importance to the situation of Hong Kong people in Hubei, and fully understands why they are keen to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible, the spokesperson said.

According to the spokesperson, as of Sunday morning, the SAR government had received more than 1,400 cases of request for assistance in Hubei, involving over 2,700 Hong Kong people there.

The spokesperson said that the SAR Wuhan Economic and Trade Office had been keeping close contact with the assistance seekers and making its utmost efforts in providing them with assistance, such as helping with their medical and daily needs.

"The HKSAR government is determined to overcome all difficulties with the aim to bringing back the Hong Kong people stranded in Hubei," the spokesperson stressed, adding "at the same time, there is a need for all relevant parties to come together to draw up a sound and safe plan in order to reduce the public health risks to a minimum."

According to the spokesperson, a 77-year-old Hong Kong man passed away in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, due to COVID-19. And 10 Hong Kong people from three families in Hubei were infected with COVID-19, nine were treated in local hospitals and one had been discharged.
After toppled Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of rape and committing a criminal sexual act Monday, celebrities sounded off about the verdict.

The allegations against Weinstein touched off a surge in the #MeToo movement in 2017.

Weinstein, 67, was remanded to jail and faces up to 29 years in prison. He will be sentenced on March 11.

The movie producer was convicted of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act. He was acquitted of two counts of predatory sexual assault.

Celebrities, including those who accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and sexual assault, those who had personal connections to the trial and others who had dealings with the Hollywood powerbroker, posted their reactions to the verdict on social media.

For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you, tweeted actress Ashley Judd, who was one of the first accusers to go on the record about Weinstein in a New York Times article.

Judd said she was thinking about how it took 90 women coming forward for two guilty convictions.

For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you.#ConvictWeinstein #Guilty  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) February 24, 2020

I am. Thank you. I am thinking about how it took 90 women coming forward for two guilty convictions.... https://t.co/S8NehU2Itv  ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) February 24, 2020

Judd spoke at length about her reaction to the verdict in The New York Times:

The story of #MeToo, of what the movement is about, is that men no longer have tacit permission to use their power or prestige to sexually access girls and womens bodies, Judd said, in part. "Their power and position cannot be used in secret or in the open to exploit asymmetry of power. There will be consequences in the courtroom, in employment and in society.

This is the way its supposed to be. This is the way its supposed to be.

And I think that Harveys guilty verdict demonstrates how overwhelmingly guilty he was. A perpetrator has to be overwhelmingly guilty for justice to be served at this time."

Actress Mira Sorvino, who grew up in Tenafly, was among several actresses who told The New Yorker that Weinstein likely tried to derail her career after she turned down his advances. Sorvino accused the mogul of sexual harassment.

The beginning of #justice, she tweeted. More to come, my sisters.

The beginning of #justice. More to come, my sisters. #weinsteinguilty  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) February 24, 2020

Harvey Weinstein has harmed many of our lives, even in our nightmares, long after he initially did what he did to each one of us, Sorvino said as part of a press conference conducted by phone with 17 of Weinsteins accusers known as the Silence Breakers. "We have finally taken that power back. And we have exposed his evil and others like him, the true ugliness. He will rot in jail as he deserves and we will begin to have some closure.

Actress Rose McGowan, who accused Weinstein of raping her, also reacted on Twitter and at the press conference.

Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing, she tweeted.

Im proud of the brave women who testified, they have taken out a monster on earth, McGowan later added. Thank you to the prosecutor & jury who said not one more. Thank you to the public for examining things more deeply. I can finally exhale."

Today is not a referendum on MeToo," she said at the conference. This is taking out the trash. But what I wanted to do was cause a massive cultural reset. We achieved that today with what happened. With today, the trashman came and he said to all of the little girls and the little boys who get hurt in this world, Some day, maybe you, too, can have a voice.'

Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing  rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) February 24, 2020

I'm proud of the brave women who testified, they have taken out a monster on earth. Thank you to the prosecutor & jury who said not one more. Thank you to the public for examining things more deeply. I can finally exhale  rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) February 24, 2020

Actress and director Asia Argento, who accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her, posted about the verdict on Instagram.

Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist," she said. "Two survivors cry and and celebrate. Thank you God. Thank you to all the brave women. Thank you judge and jury in NYC.

This one goes out to you Anthony, Argento said, referring to her former boyfriend Anthony Bourdain, the Parts Unknown host from Leonia who died in 2018. Bourdain had publicly expressed his support for Argento and other Weinstein accusers.

Gratitude to the brave women whove testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense, tweeted Rosanna Arquette, who was among the actresses alleging that Weinstein had worked to damage her career after she turned down his advances.

We will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that its easier for people to report their rapes," she said.

As we speak Weinsteins attorneys are filing to keep him out of jail," Arquette later added. No matter what happens he will always be a rapist. Next Los Angeles trial. More survivors on the stand.

Gratitude to the brave women whove testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense .we will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that its easier for people to report their rapes  Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) February 24, 2020

As we speak Weinsteins attorneys are filing to keep him out of jail .no matter what happens he will always be a rapist. next Los Angeles trial More survivors on the stand.  Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) February 24, 2020

Actress Rosie Perez, who testified in the trial that actress Annabella Sciorra (The Sopranos) told her that Weinstein had raped her in the 1990s, shared her thoughts after hearing the outcome of trial.

Perez also commented on the fact that the jury found Weinstein not guilty of predatory sexual assault in connection with Sciorras testimony during the trial.

Harvey Weinstein has been handcuffed & taken to jail! Perez tweeted. "Gutted for my dear friend #AnnabellaSciorra who told the truth! Yet I congratulate her & all who came forward for their bravery. This is not enough but survivors take courage! This is still a great win!

HARVEY WEINSTEIN HAS BEEN HANDCUFFED & TAKEN TO JAIL! GUTTED FOR MY DEAR FRIEND #ANNABELLASCIORRA WHO TOLD THE TRUTH! YET I CONGRATULATE HER & ALL WHO CAME FORWARD FOR THEIR BRAVERY. THIS IS NOT ENOUGH BUT SURVIVORS TAKE COURAGE! THIS IS STILL A GREAT WIN! CONGRATS JOAN ILLUZZI! https://t.co/LihJLiudNo  Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) February 24, 2020

Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a model who accused Weinstein of groping her and wore a wire to collect evidence against Weinstein in 2015, told The Hollywood Reporter she felt gratified by the outcome of the trial. The New Yorker published audio of Weinstein from the sting after the Manhattan district attorney decided not to prosecute the case. In the recording, Weinstein can be heard admitting that he groped Gutierrez.

I wanted to have a positive feeling about this situation, Gutierrez told the outlet after the verdict was announced. And Im super happy, because its like getting back all these years that I lost in the process of trying to get him to justice.

Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist.



If there's a man who doesn't deserve bail, it's him.  Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) February 24, 2020

Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist," tweeted Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi. "If theres a man who doesnt deserve bail, its him.

This case reminds us that sexual violence thrives on unchecked power and privilege, said Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, in a statement reacting to the verdict.

The implications reverberate far beyond Hollywood and into the daily lives of all of us in the rest of the world. Whether you are an office worker, a nanny, an assistant, a cook, a factory worker  we all have to deal with the spectre of sexual violence derailing our lives. And, though today a man has been found guilty, we have to wonder whether anyone will care about the rest of us tomorrow. This is why we say MeToo.

Actress Ellen Barkin, who said Weinstein verbally abused her:

Right now Harvey Weinstein is on his way to prison. These are the women who put him away ... Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Lauren Young, Tarale Wulff. Thank you all for your tremendous courage and strength. You have changed the future for all of us.

Thank you all for your tremendous courage and strength. You have changed the future for all of us.   Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) February 24, 2020

Right now convicted rapist harvey weinstein is sitting handcuffed in a car on his way to prison.  Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) February 24, 2020

Saturday Night Live writer Paula Pell:

Harvey wont need his walker anymore. He can hold onto the bars.

Harvey wont need his walker anymore. He can hold onto the bars.  Paula Pell (@perlapell) February 24, 2020

Reese Witherspoon:

Todays historic win in the Weinstein trial is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the #SilenceBreakers, and a victory for survivors everywhere.

Todays historic win in the Weinstein trial is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the #SilenceBreakers, and a victory for survivors everywhere. This is just the beginning. Join @TIMESUPNOWs fight for safety, equity & justice in every workplace: https://t.co/WotjoNnlA3  Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) February 24, 2020

Rosie ODonnell:

Off he goes to prison - where he belongs - over 80 women accused him of rape - imagine the total number?

off he goes to prison - where he belongs - over 80 women accused him of rape - imagine the total number? #HarveyWeinsteinGUILTY #RAPIST and lets not forget #trumpSEXcrimes #guilty  ROSIE (@Rosie) February 24, 2020

New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor, whose reporting with Megan Twohey exposed allegations against Weinstein:

'Im Harvey Weinstein-- you know what I can do.'

Weinstein, whose signature throughout forty years of allegations was lack of accountability, has been declared guilty on two counts."

"I'm Harvey Weinstein-- you know what I can do."



Weinstein, whose signature throughout forty years of allegations was lack of accountability, has been declared guilty on two counts.  jodikantor (@jodikantor) February 24, 2020

New Yorker reporter Ronan Farrow, whose reporting also brought allegations against Weinstein to light:

Todays outcome in Harvey Weinsteins New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today.

Todays outcome in Harvey Weinsteins New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today.  Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) February 24, 2020

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
The museum that guards the Auschwitz-Birkenau site in southern Poland, its historic facts and the memory of the victims tweeted about the scene in Amazon's series Hunters. It said inventing fake scenes is dangerous foolishness and caricature," encourages Holocaust deniers and is disrespectful of the camp's more than 1 million victims. Most of the victims were Europe's Jews. They died in the camp's gas chambers or from starvation, disease and forced labor.
Iran's confirmed death toll from the new coronavirus rose to eight on Sunday, the highest outside China, sending neighbouring countries scrambling to contain the outbreak. Four immediate neighbours of the Islamic republic -- Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Armenia -- said on Sunday they would close land borders, while three imposed restrictions on air traffic, amid growing regional concerns about the spread of the virus. Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities have already banned travel to and from Iran. Lebanon has confirmed its first case -- a 45-year-old Lebanese woman who had travelled from Qom in Iran -- and Israel on Sunday quarantined at home nearly 200 school pupils who came into contact with South Korean tourists who contracted the virus. Iran reported three more novel coronavirus deaths Sunday among 15 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total number of fatalities to eight and infections to 43. Four new COVID-19 cases surfaced in Tehran, seven in the holy city of Qom, two in Gilan and one each in Markazi and Tonekabon, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said. Authorities have ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres in 14 provinces across the country as a "preventive measure". Art events, concerts and film shows have been banned for a week. "We are on the frontlines, we need help," the head of Qom's medical sciences university, Mohammadreza Ghadir, said on state television. - 'Major implications' - "To prevent the spread of the novel #coronavirus and protect the public, Afghanistan suspends all passenger movement (air and ground) to and from Iran," the office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan tweeted. A provincial official in Pakistan and the nation's Frontier Corps, for their part, confirmed the country had sealed the land border with Iran. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan share long, porous borders with Iran that are often used by smugglers and human traffickers, while millions of Afghan refugees live in the Islamic republic -- raising fears that the virus could easily spread over the border. Turkey said it would "temporarily" close its land border with Iran, while air traffic from Iran would be halted but departures to the country continue. Late on Sunday, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian announced his country was both suspending flights and entry via the sole land border checkpoint with Iran. China -- the epicentre of the outbreak -- reported another 97 deaths in its daily update Sunday, taking its total to 2,442, plus 648 new infections. Nearly 80,000 people have been infected worldwide, the vast majority in China. But official figures indicate the death rate is proportionately much higher in Iran than China, standing at nearly one in five of the confirmed infections. Iran's Health Minister Saeed Namaki said the treatment of COVID-19 cases would be free. "In every city, one hospital will be dedicated to treating coronavirus cases," he said, adding that this number would be greater in bigger cities like Tehran. But academics expressed concern over the ability of Iran -- currently grappling with a major economic crisis and hit by swingeing US sanctions -- to contain the outbreak. "It is unlikely that Iran will have the resources and facilities to adequately identify cases and adequately manage them if case numbers are large," said Paul Hunter, a medical professor at Britain's University of East Anglia. He also noted that the region was already grappling with multiple conflicts. "During armed conflicts, borders between countries become porous... and health care facilities are often targeted and destroyed," he said. Other regional countries on Sunday also took major precautionary measures to counter the virus potentially spreading from Iran. Jordan said it would bar entry to citizens of China, Iran and South Korea and other foreigners travelling from those countries. The Kuwait Port Authority, meanwhile, announced a ban on the entry of all ships from the Islamic republic. burs-dwo/hc Iran's health minister, Saeed Namaki, said the treatment of COVID-19 cases would be free Lebanon has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus -- a 45-year-old woman who had travelled from Iran's holy city of Qom Kuwaiti health minister Sheikh Basel al-Sabah (R) speaks to the press at Sheikh Saad Airport on Sunday, as Kuwaitis returning from Iran wait before being taken to hospital to be tested for coronavirus
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu



on Monday urged the youth to shun negativism and not to encourage violence.

Addressing a gathering at the 32nd annual convocation ceremony of the Goa University here, Naidu said the youth should "academically study" all issues, like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), ban on triple talaq and others, before forming their opinion.

"I am happy that in recent times people are talking about the importance of the Constitution. It is, indeed, a positive sign and every citizen must follow the Constitution in letter and spirit," he said.

Also, everyone should follow constitutional methods to achieve their goals, the vice president said.

"We should not only be concerned about the fundamental rights, but also about duties. Rights and responsibilities must go together," he added.

Naidu said the need of the hour is to channelise the energies of youths in constructive, nation-building activities.

"My advice to youth is to shun negativism and not to encourage violence. There is no place for violence in a democracy," the vice president said, without referring to any specific instance.

Be constructive and not obstructive or disruptive. Develop a positive outlook, he added.

"Some of our troubling neighbours are trying to advice us. They should not meddle in the internal happenings of our country," he said, without specifying any country or issue.

"If you need to progress, then you need to have peace. We can't have outside interference in India's internal affairs. We are able to take of ourselves, thank you," the vice president said.

He also appealed to youth to academically study issues like the Article 370 (its abrogation in Jammu and Kashmir), ban on triple talaq and CAA before forming their opinion.

"Don't just rely on newspapers and headlines. Take good advantage of social media," he said.

Naidu also said that climate change and global warming are two of the biggest challenges being faced by the world today, and all nations have to step up their efforts to protect the environment and reduce carbon footprint.

"We need to ensure that man does not tamper with nature but learns to co-exist in harmony with nature for a greener, life-enhancing future," he said.

Illiteracy, diseases, challenges in farm sector and social evils like atrocities on women and weaker sections, child labour, terrorism, communalism and corruption have to be eradicated to build a new and resurgent India, Naidu said.

He said it is true that these challenges have to be fought in a concerted manner by all conscientious citizens, but he expects the youth of the country to be in the forefront of this noble mission.

"This is the time for all sections, particularly the youth, to be at the forefront of making India stronger on all fronts. Please remember that discipline, honesty and total commitment to hard work are essential prerequisites for success in any field, including public life," Naidu said.

He said people should always select and elect leaders on the basis of "four Cs good conduct, character, capacity and caliber", and not on the basis of the other four Cs



caste, community, cash and criminality.

Governor Satya Pal Malik, who is the chancellor of the Goa University, and state Chief Minister Pramod Sawant were also present at the convocation ceremony.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Angie Townsend spent 23 years in Georgias Bartow County School System as a teachers assistant, but many of her students knew her by another name.

To scores of children, she was affectionately called mom, the school system said. Others called her their special friend.

Townsend, 55, was killed Saturday morning when a Georgia State Patrol chase entered downtown Adairsville. A suspect in a Mini Cooper ran a red light at the intersection of Ga. 3 and Ga. 140 and slammed into the side of Townsends Buick, authorities said.

The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Christopher Tyler Parker of Blountsville, was arrested at the scene. The Mini Cooper he was driving was stolen from his grandmother, according to the GSP.

The chase began about 9:15 a.m. when troopers tried to stop the Mini Cooper, which they clocked going 95 mph on I-75 in Gordon County, the state agency said in a statement. Parker allegedly refused to stop and continued south.

He exited the interstate at Union Grove Road before continuing south on Ga. 3 at a high rate of speed, the GSP said. After the collision at Ga. 140, Townsends car was sent into the back of a Dodge pickup truck, causing minor injuries to the trucks driver.

Townsend spent all but two years of her decades-long career at White Elementary School as a paraprofessional in special needs and kindergarten classrooms, the Bartow County School System said. She was most recently a pre-K paraprofessional and an after-school teacher.

Mrs. Townsend was such an amazing part of the White Elementary family, Principal Amy Heater said in a statement. She was truly a devoted staff member who put the needs of our children before her very own. She always had an amazing smile, sense of humor, and a determined, unbreakable spirit. She is going to be missed dearly. We would like the community to keep our school and Mrs. Townsends family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

A school-led tribute is scheduled for Monday in Townsends honor.

Parker is facing a charge of vehicular homicide as well as charges of fleeing and attempting to elude, receiving stolen property and bringing stolen property across state lines.

RELATED: It rips your heart out: Woman hit, killed by suspect driving stolen car

Police chases have become a contentious issue in metro Atlanta, where the Atlanta Police Department announced earlier this year that it would reevaluate its pursuit policy. In the interim, Chief Erika Shields said that that officers would no longer chase vehicles and rely on the GSP to pursue in city limits.

The chief cited a string of crashes that left innocent motorists dead among her reasons for the decision.

ALSO: Atlanta police chief halts all vehicle chases

Her DeKalb County counterpart announced this week that the police department will also review its chase policy, though no decisions have been made yet.

2020 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.)

Visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) at www.ajc.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
[February 24, 2020]

DVCon U.S. 2020 - Don't Miss It!

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 32nd annual Design and Verification Conference and Exhibition U.S. (DVCon U.S.), sponsored by Accellera Systems Initiative, begins next week with an information-packed, comprehensive four-day technical program. DVCon U.S. will be held March 2-5 at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose, California.



Attendees can look forward to a wide variety of topics among the 40 technical papers, four tutorials, 20 posters, 10 short workshops and two panels. The keynote address will focus on artificial intelligence for design automation.

Accellera Day opens the conference on Monday with a full morning tutorial, Portable Stimulus: Whats Coming in 1.1 and What it Means for You presented by members of the Accellera Portable stimulus Working Group. An Accellera-sponsored luncheon will follow with updates on Accellera activities, the presentation of the 2020 Technical Excellence Award, an update from the new Functional Safety Working Group Chair, and a panel focused on Portable Stimulus. Monday afternoon will have six short workshops to choose from, followed by the opening of the exhibition and reception.

Tuesday begins with paper sessions on Formal Verification I, Portable Stimulus and Automating Verification Solutions, followed by the poster session. The keynote address, Artificial Intelligence for Design Automation, will be presented by Dr. Anirudh Devgan, president of Cadence Design Systems. Tuesday afternoon there will be sessions on UVM Strategies, Verification Potpourri and Power-Awre Design and Verification.







Wednesday will feature two panels: New Chip Designs Create a Tidal Wave of Change and Predicting the Verification Flow of the Future. Paper sessions include: Hybrid Verification, Verification Strategies, Formal Verification II, Verification Processes and Methodologies, SystemVerilog Solutions, and Reset Domain Challenges.

Thursday will have three sponsored morning tutorials followed by four afternoon short workshops. For a complete list of the topics and presenters on Thursday, visit the agenda.

In addition to the Accellera-sponsored luncheon on Monday, Cadence will host the luncheon on Tuesday, Towards Intelligent System Design with AI Enabled EDA. Wednesdays luncheon will be hosted by Synopsys, Industry Leaders Verify with Synopsys, and the luncheon on Thursday, Optimizing Time to Bug, Dont Panic!! will be hosted by Mentor, A Siemens Business.

The DVCon Expo will be open Monday evening from 5:00-7:00pm and Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:30-6:00pm. There will be a reception each evening during the Expo.

For the complete DVCon U.S. 2020 schedule, including more detailed information on each session, visit www.dvcon.org. To register, visit here.

About DVCon

DVCon is the premier conference for discussion of the functional design and verification of electronic systems. DVCon is sponsored by Accellera Systems Initiative, an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating design and verification standards required by systems, semiconductor, intellectual property (IP) and electronic design automation (EDA) companies. In response to global interest, in addition to DVCon U.S., Accellera also sponsors events in China, Europe and India. For more information about Accellera, please visit www.accellera.org. For more information about DVCon U.S., please visit www.dvcon.org. Follow DVCon on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DvCon or @dvcon_us on Twitter or to comment, please use #dvcon_us.

For more information, please contact: Nannette Jordan

MP Associates, Inc.

303-530-4562

[email protected] Barbara Benjamin

HighPointe Communications

503-209-2323

[email protected]
Technology is shattering legacy financial systems that can't keep pace with market demand  and Brex is at the forefront. It's one of fintechs buzziest startups, aiming to rebuild B2B financial products starting with corporate cards for technology companies.

Brex co-founders Pedro Franceschi and Henrique Dubugras

Brex

The company was quietly launched in 2017 by Henrique Dubugras and Pedro Franceschi, two 22-year-old engineers who previously founded Pagar.me, one of Brazil's largest payment processors.

Brex already has more than 1,000 customers signed up with the help of backing from investors including PayPal co-founders Peter Thiel and Max Levchin, early Facebook investor Yuri Milner, former Visa CEO Carl Pascarella, and esteemed startup incubator Y Combinator.

And we caught a glimpse of the Series B pitch deck Dubugras and Franceschi used to win them over.

In it, they lay out a clear problem: Technology startups often had trouble securing corporate credit cards  even if they had millions in the bank  because legacy banks and card issuers wanted to see company credit histories, which young institutions simply couldn't produce.

They had a simple solution: Remove the restrictions of legacy technology by giving instant approval to startups based on their available cash balance, including money raised through venture, rather than credit history.

In the deck, the founders outlined their plans to help startups of all sizes instantly get cards with higher limits, as well as automatic expense management and seamless integration with existing accounting systems.

As part of our coverage of the genesis of today's successful companies, BI Prime received Brex's permission to offer a look into the startup's full 19-slide pitch deck, which includes considerations such as:

The startup's mission

Key team members and previous backers

The size of the market opportunity

A step-by-step plan of how to solve credit cards for startups

Some of the card's coolest features

Data points showing how to scale the business

Story continues

BI Prime is publishing dozens of stories like this each and every day. Want to get started by reading the full pitch deck?

Read the original article on Business Insider
Domberger  pushing the boundaries of screenprinting to the absolute limit

For the past 65 years the German print workshop has worked with artists ranging from Agnes Martin to Keith Haring to Cy Twombly. An online auction of editions from the studios archive now offers collectors a chance to own a piece of history

Without Luitpold, Karin and Michael Domberger, the history of 20th-century printmaking would be very different, says Tim Schmelcher, International Prints specialist at Christies in London. Dombergers reputation for precision printing, technical innovation and electrifying colours remains unparalleled to this day. Over the past six decades, the Stuttgart-based printers and publishers have specialised in screenprinting, collaborating with some of the biggest names in modern and contemporary art, including Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana and Cy Twombly. Few artists eluded the Dombergers, although one notable exception was Andy Warhol. When asked if he would like to collaborate with them, Warhol replied, Michael, your printing is far too perfect for my work.

This month, Christies presents Domberger: 65 Years of Screen Printing, a dedicated online auction of editions from the studios own archive. The works showcase the astonishing variety of the German studios print production, from Pop art and Op art to Minimalism, Photorealism and Conceptual art. The business was established in the 1950s by Karin and Luitpold Domberger, and was later taken over by their son Michael. Luitpold, who trained as a graphic designer, made his first screenprint using a ladys silk stocking in 1948. Two years later, he started printing for the German modernist Willi Baumeister, opening his own studio shortly afterwards.

For the Dombergers, no image was too complex, no format too large, no idea too ambitious. They understood that artists used printmaking to experiment and to work within a community, explains Lindsay Griffith, International Head of Contemporary Editions at Christies in New York. They pushed screenprinting to the absolute limit of what can be done in terms of complexity and precision.

Michael Domberger and Richard Estes at work on D-Train at the companys Stuttgart workshop. Courtesy Domberger

D-Train (1988), above and below, by American artist Richard Estes (b. 1932), is one such example. From an edition of 125, this monumental screenprint of a New York subway carriage was printed from 112 different screens, meaning it has 112 different colourways and was passed through the printer 112 times. Estes is a photorealist, notes Griffith, so to achieve that level of precision and detail in a screenprint spanning almost two metres in width requires incredible technical mastery. Domberger became internationally renowned for its ability to find technical solutions for complicated ideas, printing in three dimensions, for example, and on a variety of different materials, such PVC surfaces, glass and wood.

Blue-chip artists like Estes tended to find their way to the Dombergers by word of mouth, and once there would often stay for weeks, hosted by Karin. Many artists visited the companys German HQ not only to push the boundaries of their practice, but also to understand how the printing process worked, explains Griffith. They would often get involved with the cutting of films and screens that would then be developed. The studios emphasis on collaboration is something that artists were drawn to, with a number of them returning repeatedly. According to Schmelcher, many even dedicated works and maquettes to Poldi  Luitpolds nickname  as a way of thanks.

Keith Haring (1958-1990), Pyramid. 1989. The complete set of four screenprints in gold and blue, on shaped anodized aluminium panels. Each panel: 40 x 56 in (1032 x 1442 mm). Estimate: $180,000-220,000. Offered in Domberger: 65 years of Screen Printing, 27 February to 6 March 2020, Online

In addition to such famous names as Sol LeWitt, Christo and Agnes Martin, the Dombergers also collaborated with emerging, international talent. They have a long history of working with women artists, among them German conceptualist Hanne Darboven and Anni Albers. They also had an instinct for cool Op artists, and, in particular, the hard-edge colour-field painters of the 1960s, says Schmelcher.

Robyn Denny, Allan DArcangelo, Charles Hinman and Julian Stanczak were among those they worked with. Prints offered by these artists offer tremendous value in todays market, affirms the specialist, especially given that they are now being rediscovered as painters.

Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe
Ukrainian film Stranger has got another award on its record: it has won in the nomination for Best Foreign Feature Film at the Monsters of Horror International Film Festival. It was reported by Ukraines State Film Agency on its Facebook page.

The film has already received a number of awards from international film festivals in Japan, Canada, the United States, and Colombia.

According to the films synopsis, the synchronized swimming team disappeared underwater during the performance in the pool, and the patient in the hospital disappeared while she taking a bath. How are these cases related and what does the doll with the living hair have to do with them? This has to be investigated by Inspector Hlukhivska, who has no undisclosed case in her career. And she has to find out who she really is.

It will be released in 2020.

As we reported earlier, Ukrainian student Valentyn Lavreniuk signed a contract with Stephen King and purchased the screen rights for the adaptation of his story "Stationary Bike" (2008) for only one dollar.

Screen rights are granted for a year. Under the contract's conditions, a short film cannot be uploaded or broadcasted on television. The wide release will only be possible with the personal permission of Stephen King himself.
Jennifer Busbey didnt call 911 when a friend fatally overdosed on the heroin she had bought for him.

Instead, she and her boyfriend abandoned the man to die a long and agonizing death while Busbey sold some of the remaining heroin to other addicts.

That hardness of heart justifies the 28-year-old Busbeys convictions on third-degree murder and drug delivery resulting in death charges and the 10- to 20-year prison term she is serving for the crimes, a state Superior Court panel has ruled.

In an opinion by Senior Judge James Gardner Colins, the state court also rejected Busbeys claims that she should have been allowed to introduce evidence during her 2018 York County trial that the victim, Aaron Lawrence, might actually have committed suicide.

The case simply didnt play out like that, Colins found.

Although he was a heroin user, Lawrence had not been taking the drug for some time because he was freed from prison just 10 days before his death. Busbey and her boyfriend, Justin Wentz, should have known Lawrence was narcotics naive  not acclimated to drug use - when they went to Baltimore to buy heroin for the three of them in July 2010.

Colins cited testimony from a friend of Busbey about what happened after the trio injected the heroin at Wentzs Hanover home. The friend said Busbey told her Lawrence prepared his own dose of heroin and that, after being injected by Wentz, he went into convulsions and his lips had started turning blue.

Instead of seeking help for Lawrence, Busbey, a Mont Alto resident, left the house, sold some of the heroin and hid the rest, Colins wrote. She and Wentz decided not to call 911. Instead, Wentz called and sent texts to Lawrences phone to make it appear he and Busbey had nothing to do with the overdose. Wentz and Busbey also called each other 12 times.

They waited hours before Wentz finally called 911 and reported someone had stopped breathing at his house, the state judge wrote. Rescuers found Lawrence already dead. His body was cool to the touch, Colins wrote.

Busbey and Wentz told investigators they didnt know why Lawrence died, even though Busbeys purse, which contained baggies with heroin and cocaine residue, was found at the death scene. The two werent arrested until April 2017.

On appeal, Busbey claimed, among other things, that the evidence didnt support her convictions.

Yes, it did, Colins countered.

The victim suffered from a slow, hours-long overdose death that could have been halted if medical personnel had been called, he wrote. Busbeys actions in injecting the victim with heroin, watching him begin to overdose and then doing nothing while concealing her involvement in his drug use showed the hardness of heart and disregard for social duty characteristic of the mental state of malice.

Colins backed the decision of County Judge Gregory M. Snyder, who presided over Busbeys trial, to bar her lawyer from trying to present evidence on the theory that Lawrence had committed suicide by heroin. That evidence which was kept from the jury involved two suicidal statements Lawrence supposedly made years before his death.

The medical evidence showed definitively that Lawrences death wasnt a suicide, Colins found.

Wentz, 30, also was prosecuted. He pleaded guilty to a drug delivery resulting in death charge and was sentenced to 8 to 16 years in prison.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 21

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

A meeting with the participation of Senior International Labour Standards and Labour Law Specialist of the International Labor Organization (ILO) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Lejo Sibbel, was held at Turkmenistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trend reports referring to the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan.

As a party to a number of fundamental ILO conventions, Turkmenistan is working hard to ensure decent work, while respecting the norms of gender equality and labor protection, the ministry said.

The parties noted that in the current period of globalization and economic integration, the issues of regulation of labor relations, both at the regional and global levels, are becoming especially relevant.

In September 2019, Geneva hosted a ceremony of awarding a document on Turkmenistans accession to the Convention concerning tripartite consultations to promote the implementation of international labor standards to Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Guy Ryder.

Turkmenistan has become the 149th country to ratify this Convention. Turkmenistan has been a member of the ILO since 1994 and has been working to implement international commitments in this area.
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAMThe Arishiyama Bamboo Forest, one of the most visited sites in Kyoto, Japan, was quiet enough to hear the bamboo creaking in the wind.

The Ngong Ping 360 cable cars in Hong Kong, which hover over Lantau Island and take passengers to a famous Buddha statue, hung motionless and empty.

The crush of flag-following tour groups that usually cram the Lantern Bridge in Hoi Ans ancient town in central Vietnam had disappeared.

And in Siem Reap, home to the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the usually busy Sala Lodges hadnt had a new booking in three weeks.

The coronavirus epidemic is taking its toll on global tourism, which according to the World Travel & Tourism Council contributed $8.8 trillion (U.S.) to the world economy in 2018. Some economists say the epidemic could be the biggest drag on global economic growth since the financial crisis, with airlines alone expected to lose some $29 billion in revenues this year.

The Asian countries closest to China, which is the epicentre of the outbreak and the worlds leading source of international travelers and tourism spending, are feeling the brunt of the crisis, but the effects are spreading. On Sunday, Venice canceled its famous carnival celebration and the Italian government shut down travel to 10 towns in the Lombardy region after a surge in new cases there.

In recent years, countries in Southeast Asia invested heavily in resorts and casinos to capture the swelling ranks of Chinese tourists. Now airlines, hotels and tour operators are suffering from a rush of cancellations and a drop in future bookings, primarily from mainland China, but also from Western travelers spooked by the spread of the virus in the region.

The economic toll is mounting: Countries that have relied heavily on Chinese tourism, including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore, are each expected to lose at least $3 billion in tourism-related revenues, according to an analysis by Animesh Kumar, a travel and tourism director at GlobalData, a research and consulting firm based in London.

Chinese travelers racked up an unprecedented 150 million trips abroad and spent more than $277 billion on international travel in 2018. But the juggernaut last year sputtered in the wake of slower economic growth and the trade war with the United States. It effectively came to a halt as the coronavirus epidemic led the government to bar groups of tourists from traveling abroad, and dozens of international carriers like American Airlines and United Airlines suspended flights to mainland China.

As the virus continues to spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday issued Level 2 alerts for Japan and South Korea, advising older adults and those with chronic conditions to consider postponing nonessential travel. On Wednesday, Hong Kong received a Level 1 watch advising travelers to take precautions like washing hands and avoiding sick people.

Jenni Honkanen and Tobias Solvefjord, both 39, of Skovde, Sweden, were on a half-full jet from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday morning, wondering if sites would be closed or travel restricted. Still, the couple were not overly concerned.

They were aware that Vietnam had reported only a small number of cases (16 compared with more than 77,000 in China) and joked that it wouldnt be bad being quarantined in the tropics instead of suffering through the bleak winter in Skovde.

Well be fine, Honkanen said. Vietnam should still be fine, hopefully.

In one of the countrys most popular destinations, Hoi An, the scene last weekend was as if the former port city had returned to the days before package tours and fleets of tour buses clogged the streets, said resident Patricia Clegg, 64, a native of France whose parents are from Vietnam.

China and South Korea have been the biggest sources of tourists for the town in the past few years as sprawling resorts filled the coast between the town and Danang, about 20 miles north.

All the Asian tourism has mostly disappeared, said Clegg, a consultant for the towns oldest tailor shop catering to tourists, Yaly. Its mostly Western tourists now.

At Reaching Out handicraft shop in Hoi Ans ancient town, business is down 65% since the coronavirus hit the news and by 45% at its teahouse, said the owner, Le Nguyen Binh, 56. One-third of the staff is on leave and collecting unemployment until sales pick up. The 40 remaining staff members have their temperatures taken when they arrive to work and don masks, which are also offered to customers, along with hand sanitizer, Binh said.

In the midst of Japans historic tourism boom, February in Kyoto would normally see streets and parks filled with tourists  largely Chinese nationals visiting as part of tour groups  taking in the first plum blossoms in the former ancient capital. Chinese visitors supplied one-quarter of Japans record 32 million arrivals in 2018. Instead, the popular Chion and Nison temples were nearly void of sightseers. Katsunobu Kato, Japans health minister, has urged the public to avoid nonurgent, nonessential gatherings.

In Hong Kong, the Tourism Board chief, Dane Cheng, said tourism would take a bigger hit than it did during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, that struck the territory and mainland China 17 years ago. In the first two weeks of February, only 3,000 tourists a day visited Hong Kong, he said. In January, the city averaged about 65,000 tourists a day, a number that was already down because of months of political protests and a shrinking economy.

Its a huge drop, Cheng said. This time its not just Hong Kong, but all or most parts of Asia.

Singapore, which has reported 89 coronavirus cases, announced a fiscal boost of several billion dollars to help households and sectors like aviation and tourism that are most affected by the outbreak.

Jewel, a nature-themed complex at the Changi Airport, reflected the malaise. At the Rain Vortex indoor waterfall, usually crowded with people jostling to take selfies, there was plenty of space to take a photograph alone. Apple Store employees in their dark blue T-shirts outnumbered shoppers 2-1.

In Cambodias usual tourist hot spot, Siem Reap, the airport was hauntingly empty and check-in and security lines were minimal.

Arne Lugeon, 56, the French-born owner and general manager of the Sala Lodges, said that as of mid-Feburary, its 11 traditional wooden houses had not had a new booking in three weeks, even though February is high season for tourism. I can only hope this virus is contained and then ends soon, he said.

Fabien Martial, 46, co-owner of the 35-room Viroths Hotel, said: During the Chinese New Year, 70% of our clients are from China, but this year they all canceled. The hotel was nearly completely empty for a few days.

Ive been a hotelier here through SARS, avian flu and political unrest, Martial added. Ive learned to be patient and to endure. Business and tourism will be back.

In Thailand, which receives, by far, the most Chinese tourists in Southeast Asia, with more than 10 million in 2018, the Platinum Mall in Bangkok is typically bustling this time of year, said Siriwan Saensuwan, 65, who has been selling clothes there for a decade. But for the past couple of weeks, she said, it has been quiet, like a cemetery.

Look for yourself, she said, no one is walking around.

Read more about:
Platon onstage delivering the ED (Filene) Talk on Sunday at #CUNAGAC 2020.

The 2020 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference is finally here! 5,000 credit union advocates from all over have once again arrived in Washington D.C., gathering together to celebrate credit unions at the industrys largest advocacy event.

This morning, CUNA president Jim Nussle will deliver a keynote address that will once again be available for live streaming on CUNAs Facebook page at 9:30 a.m. (ET).

After a message from Nussle, Mondays featured keynote will be delivered by author, consultant, and speaker, Marcus Buckingham. The former senior researcher with Gallup Organization will challenge credit unions to find the best ways to leverage their employees.

In the afternoon, numerous breakout sessions will be available to attendees, with topics including: the economy, litigation risk, the CU difference, diversity, regulations, and Google Pay.

On Sunday afternoon, the annual ED (Filene) Talk featured photographer Platon. The world-renowned artist regaled the captivated crowd with stories of encounters with photo subjects ranging from world leaders (both noble and corrupt) to celebrities (both famous and infamous).

With the crowd hanging on his every word, Platon spoke on the the power of storytelling and challenged credit unions to rise up and rekindle the spirit of optimism.

Be sure to follow the hashtag #CUNAGAC for all the latest from the Washington Convention Center!
In Quebec, gravestones did not come into common use until the second half of the 19th century, so historical cemeteries contain many unmarked graves. Inspired by colleagues at Barcelona's Pompeu Fabra University, a team of researchers in genetics, archaeology and demography from three Quebec universities (Universite de Montreal, Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi and Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres) conducted a study in which they combined genealogical information from BALSAC (a Quebec database that is the only one of its kind in the world) with genetic information from more than 960 modern Quebecers in order to access the genetic profile of Quebec's historical population. The results, published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, suggest the capabilities that this method may offer in the near future.

The BALSAC database contains the genealogical relationships linking five million individuals, the vast majority of whom married in Quebec, over the past four centuries. Work on developing this database began in 1972 at Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi under the direction of historian Gerard Bouchard.

The first author of this study is Tommy Harding, a postdoctoral researcher at Universite de Montreal who specializes in DNA sequencing. BALSAC, he said, "is a fabulous database for researchers, because both the quantity and the quality of the data that it contains are truly exceptional. The parish records meticulously kept by Catholic priests have been very well preserved so that today, thanks to advances in technology, it is possible to use this data to identify the bones from unmarked graves."

Using the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA

This study was directed by Damian Labuda, an expert in genetic structure and diversity who is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Universite de Montreal and its affiliated Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre. "Genetics," he said, "has of course been used many times to identify the remains of historical figures, such as the members of the Romanov Russian imperial family who were killed by the Bolsheviks and buried in a common grave, or the English king Richard III, who died in 1483 and whose remains were discovered in 2012.

"What is different about our research team's genetic method," Dr. Labuda added, "is that we use the information contained in two genetic markers that are transmitted to children by only one parent: the Y chromosome, which is passed from fathers to their sons, and mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from mothers both to their daughters and to their sons. These two genetic molecules are inherited with few modifications (that is, mutations), so that individuals today have the same, or almost the same, DNA sequence as their ancestors who lived more than 10 generations earlier."

Making old bones tell their tales

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Added Harding: "To empirically test our method's identification potential, we selected six unidentified male skeletons that had been exhumed over the years at four historical cemeteries in Quebec. Two of these cemeteries were in Montreal (Notre Dame cemetery, active from 1691 to 1791, and Saint Antoine cemetery, active from 1799 to 1855). The two others were those of the former municipality of Pointe-aux-Trembles (active from 1709 to 1843) and the city of Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce (active from 1748 to 1878). We sent these bones to the Genomics Core Facility, a laboratory at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona that specializes in analyzing historical DNA. This laboratory extracted DNA from these remains and analyzed them to reveal their mitochondrial and Y chromosome genetic markers."

The Quebec researchers then compared the genetic markers from these historical remains with the same genetic markers from over 960 modern Quebecers who had volunteered to be genotyped in an earlier research project and whose genealogy had been established using population data from the BALSAC database. Through this process, the researchers were able to deduce the genetic profiles of approximately 1.7 million individuals from historical Quebec.

"However," Dr. Harding acknowledged, "only 12 per cent of the men married before 1850 who are included in the BALSAC database shared a mitochondrial profile and a Y chromosome with the 960 Quebecers from the modern sample. Because of this limited genetic coverage, none of the men among these 12 per cent had the same genetic profile as any of the unidentified remains."

Some remains still cannot be identified

Harding continued: "Presumably, the individuals whose remains we analyzed were not related maternally or paternally to any of the individuals in the modern sample. But if we could increase the number of genotyped modern individuals considerably -- by hundreds of thousands -- then we could identify up to 87 per cent of the men married before 1850."

Harding sees two possible sources from which more genetic profiles of modern Quebecers could be obtained to compare with the BALSAC database. "Thousands of genetic profiles of Quebecers have already been gathered by certain population genetics research platforms as well as by "acts of citizen participation," meaning that many people who have their genetic profile drawn up for personal reasons agree to allow it to be used for research purposes."

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Other uses of this method

He added: "In addition to being used to identify historical remains here in Quebec so that they can be laid to rest again in marked graves, our method might be used to identify the remains of Canadian soldiers who died and were buried overseas during the two world wars."

He also believes that this method has potential applications in public health. "Studying the genetic baggage of the founders of the French-Canadian population can help us not only to calibrate other methods, such as the reconstruction of historical genomes using bioinformatic models, but also to advance knowledge of the epidemiology of genetic diseases by identifying the historical sources of their genetic determinants, thus opening the door to easier screening for some of these diseases."
Tensions over Indigenous rights, climate change and resource development that have escalated recently with the rail blockades helped push Teck Resources Ltd. to shelve its massive oilsands project, company CEO Don Lindsay said Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The corporate logo of Teck Resources Limited is shown. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Tensions over Indigenous rights, climate change and resource development that have escalated recently with the rail blockades helped push Teck Resources Ltd. to shelve its massive oilsands project, company CEO Don Lindsay said Monday.

"Literally over the past few days, it has become increasingly clear that there is no constructive path forward," he said, speaking at a mining conference in Florida about the company's decision to suspend its Frontier project in Alberta.

"The project has landed squarely at the nexus of a much broader national discussion on energy development, Indigenous reconciliation, and of course climate change, so we are stepping back to let Canada have this important discussion without a looming regulatory deadline for just one project."

The Vancouver-based company said it will take a $1.13-billion writedown on the Frontier project, which was expected to create an estimated 7,000 construction jobs, 2,500 operating jobs and about $12 billion in federal income and capital taxes, but was also expected to produce about four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year over 40 years.

Teck's decision comes only days before the federal government was expected to make a decision on the $20-billion project, though the future, and economic viability, of Frontier was still uncertain enough that analysts did not factor it into their valuation of the company.

Critics have pointed out that the mine, designed to produce 260,000 barrels of oil a day, wouldn't have been profitable unless North American oil prices were above US$75 a barrel, more than US$20 above where it currently trades.

Lindsay said Teck has no timeline for any potential resubmission for the project, and that it will focus on its priority projects.

Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer put the blame for the suspension squarely on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his inaction on the rail blockades.

"There's a direct link to Justin Trudeau's weak leadership on these illegal blockades and Teck's decision. Make no mistake, Justin Trudeau killed Teck Frontier."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney also pointed to the lack of action on the blockades as part of the reason for Teck's decision. The blockades east of Toronto, which police moved in on Monday to dismantle, were related to opposition to a natural-gas pipeline project planned to run through Wet'suwet'en territory that is opposed by hereditary chiefs.

Industry Minister Navdeep Bains said the decision underscores the importance of all levels of government to work together on ambitious climate targets, including net zero emissions by 2050.

"Canadians don't want finger pointing, they want us to work together, they want us to collaborate, they want us to have a concrete plan to address climate change, and I think we have a responsibility because it's important of course for the well being of Canadians, it's also important for businesses and investors as well."

Fourteen First Nations and Metis communities had signed participation agreements with the company on the mine, some of which expressed shock at the decision.

Ron Quintal, president of the Fort McKay Metis, said in a statement that the political treatment of the project had been "deplorable."

"This is a black eye for Canada. This is a blow to Canada's global investment competitiveness."

The group Indigenous Climate Action, however, said the decision is a win for Indigenous rights, sovereignty and the climate.

Chief Gerry Cheezie of Smith's Landing First Nation, a downstream community that opposed the project and didn't sign an agreement on it, welcomed the news.

"Our community's survival is at stake. We are already feeling the impacts of the changing climate and the environmental degradation caused by the historical industrialization of our lands and territories. We can't afford another tarsands project," he said in a statement.

Environmental groups also cheered the decision as reflecting the economic challenges of the project and the realities of climate change, while the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said the decision shows the urgent need to figure out how to balance climate change and resource development.

"The Teck Frontier Mine, a project 10 years in the making, joins the long list of resource projects let down by our regulatory system. Without serious improvement, it will not be the last," said president Perrin Beatty in a statement.

News of the withdrawal helped send the company's shares down almost eight per cent in early trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, though it closed down less than three per cent amid wider losses in the market. The impact was tempered because the overall uncertainty around the project had been priced into the stock already, analysts said.

National Bank analyst Shane Nagle said the decision was neutral for the stock, but that it should remove some uncertainty for the company and ultimately reduces its exposure to the oilsands.

"Like all companies in the resource sector, an increased focus from funds on reducing the impact of operations on climate change is becoming increasingly important," said Nagle in a note.

"As Frontier requires increased pipeline capacity, higher oil prices and a significant partner to advance development, Teck was not likely to advance development at the present time."

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BMO analyst Jackie Przybylowski, however, said the decision was negative as it removes a potential boost to the stock.

"The long list of initiatives that could provide positive catalysts has been cut, and we now ascribe a higher likelihood for negative headlines in the near term."

Teck CEO Lindsay said that the decision on the project was in the best interest of shareholders and all Canadians, and he hopes it helps provide space so that crucial questions that big resource projects have raised can be resolved.

"It is our hope that this withdrawal will help create both the space and the impetus for this critical national discussion to move forward."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:TECK.B)
Chennai, Feb 24 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the murder of Tamil Nadu Police Special Sub-Inspector Y.Wilson searched several locations in the state in connection with the case on Monday.

The search operations are being carried out at Thoothukudi, Cuddalore, Salem, Neyveli and Chennai, said police.

The police had earlier arrested A. Abdul Shameem and Thoufique who had allegedly murdered Wilson at the Tamil Nadu - Kerala border checkpost on Jan 8, 2020.

They were arrested in Udupi in Karnataka.

It is alleged that the duo killed Wilson as a revenge after the police had arrested C. Khaja Moideen, an ISIS operative in Delhi early this year.

The NIA is also searching the premises in connection with the supply of SIM cards to the alleged terror suspects based on fake documents.

Tamil Nadu police had transferred the case to NIA early this month.
The opposition Congress in Manipur has reacted sharply to questions in the Class 12 state board examination asking students to draw the poll symbol of the ruling BJP and analyse four negative traits of the approach of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the country, towards nation building.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said it had no role in selecting the questions in the political science paper of the board exam that was held on Saturday and the authorities concerned should be asked about it.

The two questions carrying four marks each, which had gone viral on the social media, asked the students to draw the poll symbol of the BJP and analyse four negative traits of Nehru's approach to nation building.

Taking strong objection to the questions, Congress leader Kh Joykishan had said on Sunday that the paper was an attempt to "instill certain kind of a political mindset" among students.

However, BJP spokesperson Chongtham Bijoy told PTI, "We do not have anything to do with the selection of the questions. The authorities concerned framed the questions and they should be asked about it."



Chairman of the Council of Higher Secondary Education (Schools) L Mahendra Singh told PTI that the questions were set by the controller of examination from the chapter on "Party System in India", which was part of the political science syllabus.

An official, who did not wish to be named, said similar questions were selected in the past as well, wherein the candidates were asked to draw the symbol of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the logo of the United Nations (UN).

State BJP general secretary N Nimbus Singh said there was nothing wrong in the question on Nehru.

Since the first prime minister of independent India had played a role in nation building, there might have been positives as well as negatives in the system under his leadership, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Authorities say a State Police officer fatally shot a man who led police on a chase and fired at a sheriffs deputy in southwestern New Mexico on Saturday.

According to a New Mexico State Police news release issued Sunday evening, police in Deming were pursuing a man in a red mini-van who was believed to have violated a protection order. The man led officers on a chase through the city and into the county, at which point Luna County sheriffs deputies took over. When the van got stuck, the man got out and fired a shotgun at a deputy, hitting the deputys vehicle, state police said.

State Police responded to help out, and officers ultimately found the man lying in a bush, still armed with the shotgun. Police surrounded him and told him to drop his weapon.

At some point during the encounter, a New Mexico State Police officer fired his department issued AR-15 at least once, striking the male suspect, NMSP Lt. Mark Soriano wrote in a news release.

The man, whose name has not been released, died at the scene. The officer involved has been placed on leave, as is standard.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg will throw at least one more bullpen session before taking the mound in a spring training game.

The World Series MVP opted out of his contract to become a free agent following last season, then re-signed with Washington for $245 million over seven years.

It's a combination of the workload last year but also just, it's a long season so you've got to build up gradually for it, Strasburg said of his measured pace.

Strasburg was 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA last season, topping 30 starts for the second time in his career and leading the NL with 209 innings. He went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in five postseason starts and one relief appearance, including wins in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series against Houston.

He is to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, then possibly pitch in a game this weekend.

Manager Dave Martinez expects left-hander Patrick Corbin to throw a batting practice session as early as Wednesday, then appear in a game a day or two after Strasburg. Corbin threw 23 1/3 innings during the postseason after going 14-8 with a 3.25 ERA in 202 innings.

Corbin threw a bullpen session on Saturday.

He talked about how he liked to work out soreness early in camp so it's something he doesn't have to think about later on or have pop up later on, Martinez said. But he's in a good spot right now..

Right-hander Righty Anibal Sanchez is to pitch in a game Tuesday, two days before his 36th birthday. He was 11-8 with a 3.85 ERA for the Nationals last season.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.comMLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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By Tim Brockwell

Feb. 24, 2020 | PADUCAH

By Tim Brockwell Feb. 24, 2020 | 11:46 AM | PADUCAH

Barkley Regional Airport will get $5 million from the state of Kentucky to help fund construction of a new terminal.



Governor Andy Beshear visited the airport Monday morning to announce the grant. He said the new terminal will improve access and customer service, as well as encourage future growth in the area.



"Our $5 million, combined with $20 million from the Federal Aviation Administration, will go toward the project of building a new 30,000 square foot terminal building to accommodate more modern and efficient utilities," Beshear said. "It will be ADA compliant, so every member of this community can use it and everyone coming in to this airport will be welcome. It will also provide security upgrades, and be the type of terminal that I know this entire region can be proud of."



The new terminal will be built to the south of the current terminal. A new airport entrance is also being built, along with additional parking and a new terminal apron. Right now Barkley provides twice daily service to Chicago O'Hare on United Express Airlines. The improvements will allow additional airlines to operate and will accommodate larger aircraft. There will also be space for additional retailers.



Airport Board Chairman George Bray applauded the announcement.



"We are extremely grateful and appreciative of Gov. Beshear and his administration for this strong level of support for our new terminal project, said Bray. It shows that he understands that Barkley Regional Airport is indeed the airport for our future as a region. We at the airport believe this new terminal will be the spark of many great things that lie ahead both on and around the airport, and throughout the region." Bray said.



McCracken County Judge-Executive Craig Clymer thanked Beshear for keeping his word to help get the project off the ground.



Gov. Beshear has pledged to be a strong partner with our community to enhance our airport and support our economic development efforts. Today he made good on his promise." Clymer said.



Construction of the new terminal is expected to begin the spring of 2021, and is set be completed by the end of 2023.
(Deletes extraneous word in paragraph 2)

VIENNA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Austria has stopped all train services with Italy to prevent a further spread of the coronavirus, tabloid OE24.at said on its website on Sunday.

Austria's interior ministry said earlier that Austria had denied entry to a train from Italy on suspicion that two travellers might be infected with the coronavirus. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle)
The intersection between race and the space race is the focus of a new documentary profiling the first African American astronauts.

" Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier ," which premieres on the Smithsonian Channel on Monday (Feb. 24), chronicles the historical efforts by the United States and the former Soviet Union to launch the first black astronaut into space.

"I was curious about the intersection of the civil rights movement, the space race and the Cold War," Laurens Grant, director and producer of "Black in Space," said in an interview. "In talking to scholars, a lot of them told me that, in a way, this was almost fresh research."

"We know so much about the civil rights movement, the space race and the Cold War, but not a lot of people concentrate and focus on all three in one," said Grant.

Related: Space race: Could the U.S. have beaten the Soviets into space?

KHOU anchor Mia Gradney, National Air and Space Museum curator Cathleen Lewis, director and producer Laurens Grant, U.S. Air Force aerospace research pilot Capt. Ed Dwight and Cheryl McNair, widow of Challenger STS-51L astronaut Ron McNair, at the premiere of the Smithsonian Channel documentary "Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier" on Feb. 4, 2020, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston. (Image credit: collectSPACE.com)

The Space Age began with the launch of the world's first satellite on Oct. 4, 1957, exactly one month to the day after classes were set to begin at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. That day, nine African American students were blocked by soldiers from entering the school on the order of the state's governor, who was opposed to desegregation.

"With the 'Little Rock Nine' trying to go to high school  just black kids trying to go to an all-white school  all of the vitriol and blowback happened at the same time that the Russians blasted off with Sputnik . And so they [the Soviets] intentionally made mention in their press that Sputnik was happening at the same time that the United States was going through Little Rock  sort of a thumb in the eye, if you will," said Grant.

"I wanted to set the clock and the tone of the film right there," she said. "So you think, 'Oh, that's interesting, all of those things are happening right at once,' and then hopefully take you on a ride through all of the firsts, when we finally get the first African American astronauts making history."

The hour-long documentary features archival footage and new interviews with the NASA and Interkosmos crewmembers whose trailblazing experiences first brought diversity into orbit. The film opens with the story of Edward Dwight, a U.S. Air Force test pilot who was the first African American to be eligible to become a NASA astronaut.

At the urging of the Kennedy administration , which saw the political benefits of a diversified astronaut corps, Dwight was assigned to the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where, in 1962, the press labeled him the country's "first black astronaut."

U.S. Air Force test pilot Edward Dwight became the first African American to graduate from the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California and become eligible for selection by NASA as an astronaut. Ultimately, he was not chosen and left the Air Force to become a celebrated sculptor. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force)

"I was swept off my feet, being a kind of introverted, apolitical personality," Dwight said in an interview with collectSPACE.com prior to a Feb. 4 screening of "Black in Space" at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. "The next thing you know, I'm on magazine covers all over the world and getting 1,500 letters a day from people congratulating me  and I hadn't done anything yet."

Despite the headlines, Dwight never flew in space, or became an astronaut.

"You can almost draw a graph of it," said Dwight, who today is a celebrated sculptor. "Everything was working and the graph was on an upward trajectory until Nov. 22, 1963, when the president [Kennedy] was killed. It changed the whole play. The whole thing was turned on his head and all of a sudden, I found myself without a sponsor and was lost in the hinterlands."

Four years later, after Dwight separated from the Air Force, Robert Lawrence became the first African American to be chosen for a space program, the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). Tragically, he died in a jet crash on Dec. 8, 1967, just six months after his selection.

Related: Manned Orbiting Laboratory declassified: Inside a US military space station

The first three African Americans to launch into space: Guion "Guy" Bluford (at center), Ron McNair (at left) and Fred Gregory. The three were chosen by NASA with the 1978 astronaut class. (Image credit: NASA)

As "Black in Space" explains, it then took another 11 years before the next black astronauts were in a position to finally leave Earth. In 1978, NASA recruited its first three African American trainees, including Guion "Guy" Bluford , who ultimately became the first black astronaut to lift off on a U.S. space shuttle in August 1983.

But he was not the first black person in space. As it had with the world's first man and first woman, the Soviet Union launched the first person of African heritage three years before Bluford's flight.

"The objective here wasn't to be the first black person in space, it was just a reality," Soyuz 38 cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez says in an interview filmed in his home country of Cuba in "Black in Space."

Grant concludes the documentary with a quick look at the African Americans who followed Tamayo and Bluford into space. Over the past 40 years, 17 more black astronauts have joined NASA, of which three women and 10 men have flown into space.

"I looked back at the black press way back in the '50s, and African Americans were very interested in wanting to participate. They wanted to be involved in the space race  and we should, as well as anyone who wants to, should be involved in space exploration," said Grant. "Hopefully, looking at the documentary, if you're a kid you can say that this is achievable."

" Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier " debuts on the Smithsonian Channel at 8 p.m. EST on Monday (Feb. 24), and then re-airs at 11 p.m. and at 10 a.m. on Thursday (Feb. 27). The full documentary is also available to stream on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Roku and on YouTube.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @ collectSPACE . Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
The government has asked telecom companies including Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices to submit supporting documents on AGR self-assessment that formed the basis of their statutory dues calculation, according to a DoT source.

The source, who did not wish to be named, said the exercise will help the Department of Telecom (DoT) examine the AGR calculations being made by the telecom players.

All three telecom companies Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices have been asked to provide substantiating documents to support their claims on AGR arithmetic, the DoT official added. However, no deadline has been given to companies to submit the supporting documents.

Once substantiating documents are filed by the companies, the telecom department will initiate random test checks on the AGR calculation in a time-bound manner. The 'test check' will be done for any one year (of telcos' dues) to examine the deviation between telecom companies' assessment and the government calculation of AGR liabilities.

Asked what prompted the department to seek supporting documents to verify AGR-math done by companies through self-assessment, the source equated the exercise to filing of income tax returns where the assessing authority examines the calculations/claims made.

Moreover, the DoT wants to ensure that the court-mandated criteria is being followed by companies in computing their AGR dues, the source added.

Also Read: Nobody wants to kill telecom sector: SBI chief on AGR

While the three operators - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices - are first off the block, the DoT will also follow the same procedure for all other AGR-hit companies including internet service providers.

"For those who are saying we are giving dues by self-assessment, we will seek supporting documents. If some companies say they are going by DoT's calculation, then we don't need to do it," the source added.

In all, 15 entities owe the government Rs 1.47 lakh crore in unpaid statutory dues -- Rs 92,642 crore in unpaid licence fee and another Rs 55,054 crore in outstanding spectrum usage charges. Of the estimated dues that include interest and penalty for late payments, Airtel and Vodafone Idea account for about 60 per cent.

Also Read: Decision to encash bank guarantees 'disastrous' for telecom industry: COAI

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.

The Supreme Court earlier this month rejected a plea by mobile carriers such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for extension in the payment schedule and asked companies to deposit their past dues for spectrum and licences.

Since the February 14 tongue-lashing Supreme Court gave telecom companies for missing its previous deadline of January 23 to pay past dues as well as the Department of Telecommunication for failing to enforce it, firms and Telecom Ministry are busy doing separate maths on the actual dues.

Vodafone Idea, which is confronted with Rs 53,000 crore in statutory dues as per DoT's calculation, has so far paid only seven per cent of those dues in two tranches.

Airtel has paid Rs 10,000 crore out of its DoT estimated liability of over Rs 35,000 crore.

Airtel on February 17 had said that the company "is in a process of completing the self-assessment exercise expeditiously and will make the balance payment upon completion of the same, before the next date of hearing in the Supreme Court".

Tata Teleservices has paid Rs 2,197 crore, the entire outstanding it believes to have arisen after the October ruling of the apex court for calculating dues.

Amid a deepening crisis in the telecom sector, the government is looking to strike a balance between complying with the Supreme Court order on AGR dues, ensuring the health of the sector and safeguarding consumer interest.

Both Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal and Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla continued to meet top government functionaries throughout last week to seek prompt measures that would offer a breather to the troubled sector.

Mittal has urged the government for reduction in levies and taxes, as he termed the AGR "an unprecedented crisis for industry".
Two notorious criminals, involved in dozens of criminal cases, including those of murders and attempts to murder, have been arrested from Sonipat, Haryana Police said on Monday.

Identified as Vikas alias Pahalwan and Yogesh alias Mohit, the two were arrested on in two different operations on Sunday night, they said.

Police also recovered a country-made pistol and two live cartridges from Yogesh, they said.

Vikas and Yogesh carried rewards of Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively over their arrests, they added.

Initial investigations revealed that more than a dozen of cases pertaining to murders, attempts to murder and thefts were registered against them in different police stations, including in Delhi, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We know how devoted Donald Trumps American supporters can be, but they have nothing on the US Presidents Indian devotee. Bussa Krishna literally worships Trump as a god, praying to a life-size statue of him every day, and making offerings of vermilion, turmeric and flowers to an altar that he built himself.

The 33-year-old from the remote village of Konne, in Indias Telangana state, first captured the medias attention a couple of years ago, when pictures of him praying to the altar of Donald Trump and carrying a large portrait of the US President with him went viral online. Now, with Trumps two-day visit to India being a major news topic, the Indian Trump devotee is once again newsworthy. A lot has happened in the last two years, But Krishnas devotion to Donald Trump is still unwavering. If anything, its stronger than before, as evidenced by the statue of Trump that the Indian farmer placed in his yard.

Photo: Bussa Krishna/Facebook

I want India-America relations to remain strong. Every Friday I fast for Trumps long life. I also carry his picture and pray to him before commencing any work. I wish to meet him, I request the government to make my dream come true, Krishna told Indian news agency ANI.

In fact, it was for the sake of India-America diplomatic relations that Bussa, aka Trump Krishna started worshiping Donald Trump, about three years ago, following the killing of a software engineer from Telangana by a US Navy veteran in an alleged hate crime. He hoped to win over the US President on behalf of all of India, by showering him with spiritual affection.

Photo: Bussa Krishna/Facebook

I was very much pained at the incident. I thought the only way the US president and his people could understand the greatness of Indians is to display our love and affection towards them. That is why I started worshiping Trump with a hope that the prayers would reach him one day, the Trump devotee said in an interview in 2018.

I believe Indians can win over anyone with their spiritual powers. When you cannot take on a mighty person directly, you can win over him with love and worship and that is what I am doing, he added.

Although he had boasted about planning to build a temple for Trump, two years ago, all he has managed since then has been the installation of a 6-foot Trump statue on his farm in Konne, to which he prays daily.

I also carry his (Trumps) picture and before any work, I pray to him. He is like a God to me that is the reason I had his statue built. It took almost a month and 15 laborers to build this statue, Krishna told ANI.



Fellow villagers and even Bussa Krishnas family thought he was crazy at first, but now they all support him in his spiritual support for Donald Trump. According to NDTV, village leaders urged the government to fulfill his dream of meeting the US President during his ongoing visit to India.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 22:18:17|Editor: zyl

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MANILA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- New Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa said on Monday that the bank is committed to helping the Philippines further cut poverty and create "high-quality jobs" for its people.

Asakawa, who assumed office as the 10th president of the Manila-based bank last month, met with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for the first time at the Department of Finance on Monday and pledged full support for the country's proactive development agenda.

In a statement, ADB said Asakawa also congratulated the Philippine government "for its remarkable success in bringing down the national poverty rate to 16.6 percent in 2018 from 23.3 percent in 2015, thanks to the country's high economic growth rates, job creation, and expanded social assistance programs."

The government aims to further reduce the national poverty rate to 14 percent by 2022.

Asakawa said ADB "is committed to supporting the government's effort to reduce poverty and create high quality jobs for Filipinos by building a competitive economy and caring society."

ADB said its lending to the Philippines is planned to reach a record high of 3.3 billion U.S. dollars this year, with about half supporting the government's infrastructure program.

According to ADB, this will likely include priority projects such as the South Commuter Railway, the EDSA Greenways Pedestrian Walkways, and the Angat Water Transmission Aqueduct 7, as well as initiatives to boost social protection, sustainable tourism, and capital market development.

Last year, ADB said its sovereign lending to the Philippines totaled 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, up from 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.

The 2.75-billion-U.S. dollar railway project that connects Clark in Pampanga province and Malolos town in Bulacan province, one of the government's major infrastructure investments, is ADB's largest project financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date. Construction work is expected to begin by the middle of this year.

ADB, established in 1966, has 68 members, 49 from the region.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cleveland man died early Sunday after his car crashed into a parked van in the Ohio City neighborhood, authorities said.

Francisco Juarez Jr., 27, died after the crash near the intersection of Bridge Avenue at West 44th Street, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office.

The crash happened about 2:30 a.m. as Juarez was westbound on Bridge Avenue in a 2003 Lexus sedan. The car went left of center and crashed into a parked and unoccupied 2004 Ford E-350 van, police said.

Cleveland firefighters extricated him from the car. An ambulance took him to MetroHealth, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Investigators believe speed was a factor in the crash, police said.

To comment on this story, visit Mondays crime and courts comments page.

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By Trend

Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hadjiyev met with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Director for Turkmenistan Ms. Giullia Vallese, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The effectiveness of Turkmenistans joint projects with UNFPA was emphasized.

The parties exchanged views on further steps aimed at improving measures in the field of reproductive health, family planning and child development, the ministry said.

The parties also discussed the activities of Turkmenistan in the field of ensuring human rights, in particular assistance to migrants and stateless persons, as well as issues related to social protection.

In 2019, Turkmenistan signed a number of documents with UNFPA.

Working plans for the projects Improvement of Quality of Integrated Services in the Field of Reproductive Health, Disaggregated Data for Sustainable National Development, Improvement of Access to Knowledge about Reproductive Health by Youth, and Use of Population Data for Development of National Strategies and Plans of Sustainable Development were signed.

In addition, an agreement on co-financing between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and UNFPA on the improvement of the service of mens reproductive health was also signed.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Katherine Johnson has died at the age of 101. (Photo by NASA/Donaldson Collection/Getty Images)

Nasa mathematician Katherine Johnson, who was the inspiration for film Hidden Figures, has died at the age of 101.

She was part of the team who helped launch the first American orbit around the Earth, and her pioneering contributions to the field were represented in the 2016 film.

The space agency tweeted the news of her passing as it said in a message: "We're saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson.

Read more: Katherine Johnson honoured in Barbie Inspiring Women series

"Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honour her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers."

We're saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson. Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers: https://t.co/Tl3tsHAfYB pic.twitter.com/dGiGmEVvAW  NASA (@NASA) February 24, 2020

Hidden Figures told the story of Johnson and other trailblazing African-American women whose maths skills played a key part in Nasa's space exploration work.

She was depicted by actor Taraji P. Henson in the picture, which also starred Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae as Johnson's fellow real-life colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.

She appeared at the 2017 Oscars ceremony alongside the three cast members to present the Documentary prize at the 89th Academy Awards.

Janelle Monae, from left, Taraji P. Henson, and Octavia Spencer pose with Katherine Johnson, seated, backstage at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Johnson, who was born in West Virginia in 1918, worked on astronaut Alan Shepard's journey into space as well as John Glenn's successful mission into orbit.

Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine described Johnson as an "American hero" as he paid tribute to her on Twitter.

He wrote: "Our @NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old.

Story continues

NASA space scientist, and mathematician Katherine Johnson poses for a portrait at her desk with an adding machine and a 'Celestial Training device' at NASA Langley Research Center in 1962 in Hampton, Virginia. (Photo by NASA/Donaldson Collection/Getty Images)

She was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten.

"The @NASA family will never forget Katherine Johnson's courage and the milestones we could not have reached without her. Her story and her grace continue to inspire the world," he added.




New Delhi: United States President Donald Trump on Monday tweeted in Hindi on his way to India, saying he is eager to visit the country and would be soon meeting all.

Trump, on board the special Air Force One aircraft along with his delegation, said in Hindi: Hum Bharat aane ke liye tatpar hain. Hum raste me hain, kuchh hi ghanton me hum sab milenge (We are eager to visit India. We are on our way and would be soon meeting all).
Japanese health officials and experts on a government panel acknowledged Monday that the quarantine of the virus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess was not perfect, but defended Japan's decision to release about 1,000 passengers after 14 days.

The officials said Japanese health authorities faced tough challenges in dealing with a foreign-operated ship that required international negotiations in the absence of established rules in such a crisis.

The ship was not designed to be a hospital. The ship was a ship," said Shigeru Omi, a former regional director for the World Health Organization. "Of course isolation was not ideal as would be expected from a hospital, so in my view although the isolation was somehow effective, to a large extent it was not perfect. More than 690 people were sickened on the ship and three died.

Omi, a public health expert who heads the Japan Community Health Care Organization, said it was the best they could do. While some people criticized Japan for confining more than 3,700 passengers and crew on the ship in what they called a botched quarantine, he said it was not feasible to test and relocate all of them for quarantine elsewhere.

Some medical experts who helped on the ship have said the quarantine was poorly managed.

On Monday, the health ministry said a quarantine official and a government employee who helped on the ship had tested positive and were hospitalized, bringing the number of confirmed infections among government officials to six.

Japanese passengers who did not share a room with patients, tested negative and had no symptoms at the end of the 14-day quarantine period were allowed to go home on public transportation.

The sight of them traveling on bullet trains and buses with other people was viewed as an alarming sign of a Japanese lack of a sense of crisis.

Omi, however, said the passengers who passed the criteria should be treated as anyone else, and those who frequent public places in the community should be deemed equally at risk. He said the ship was a condensed version of what is happening in Japanese communities.

The number of patients in the country continues to rise, and Japan is now at a critical juncture, experts say. It has about 150 cases outside the ship.

At least 18 American and several Australian former passengers have tested positive after returning home. Experts said infections are also difficult to discover because COVID-19 can be transmitted during its incubation period by asymptomatic patients.

In Japan, a 60-year-old former passenger who tested negative days before getting off the ship then tested positive after taking a train home. Experts said it was unfortunate but within their expectations.

There is a small possibility of scattered cases that will create small clusters in communities after passengers return, said Norio Ohmagari, an infectious diseases expert at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine.

"So I'd like to call upon all the travelers who disembarked from the ship ... to report to the authorities as soon as possible" if they develop any symptoms, he said. By doing that, we can prevent another cluster from happening.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RIYADH, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of 20 (G20) discussed issues of the coronavirus, taxation and global economy during a two-day meeting concluded on Sunday in Riyadh.

The G20 financial officials agreed to observe the risks of the coronavirus outbreak and adopt policies to limit its global implications, according to Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan.

Global growth would be about 0.1 percentage point lower because of the virus, Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, predicted in her opening speech.

"In January, we projected global growth to strengthen from 2.9 percent last year to 3.3 percent this year. Since then, the COVID-19, a global health emergency, has disrupted activity in China," she said, expecting China's economy to "return to normal in the second quarter of 2020."

"The Chinese authorities are working to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy," Georgieva said.

"With strong and coordinated measures, the spread of the virus in China and in the world can be contained," she noted, referring to the World Health Organization's assessment.

A day earlier, the financial ministers also discussed the issues regarding taxation and global economy during the G20 International Taxation Priorities Symposium.

"With the support of the G20 countries, the international community has achieved great successes in combating tax evasion and the transfer of profits," said Ahmed al-Kholifey, governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority.

The members of the Economic Cooperation Organization of the G20 and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes work together to implement internationally recognized standards of tax transparency, he noted.

More than 6,000 bilateral cooperation agreements were signed to help tax authorities around the world to take advantage of the automatic exchange of information mechanisms, said al-Jadaan.

Global economy has witnessed many challenges recently due to the uncertainty in world trade, geopolitical factors and social unrest in some parts of the world, including this region, al-Kholifey noted.

"This backdrop was definitely a challenging one for policymakers. But the Phase One trade agreement between the U.S. and China and a more orderly Brexit process helped stabilize business confidence," the Saudi official said.
Democratic presidential hopefuls Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (L) and former Vice President Joe Biden chat during a break in the fourth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by The New York Times and CNN at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio on October 15, 2019.

Billionaire liberal activist Tom Steyer, who spent heavily in South Carolina in the early stages of the primary, lags behind the pair with 15% of support. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg follows at 9%.

Biden gets 27% of support among likely Democratic voters in Saturday's presidential primary, while the Vermont senator garners 23%. The gap falls within the survey's plus-or-minus 6 percentage point margin of error.

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are locked in a tight South Carolina Democratic primary race as the former vice president tries to inject life into a struggling campaign, according to an NBC News/Marist poll released Monday.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., garner 8% and 5% of support, respectively. No other candidate tops 5%. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is not on the ballot in South Carolina.

The poll was conducted from Tuesday to Friday, meaning it was taken partly after the Nevada presidential debate but not after the results of Saturday's caucuses in the state. Sanders will win Nevada by a significant margin, while Biden and Buttigieg will come in distant second and third, respectively, according to NBC News.

Biden sees winning South Carolina as critical to reviving a flagging presidential campaign. After dismal showings in predominantly white Iowa and New Hampshire, the one-time front-runner argued his fortunes would improve once more diverse states had their say in the primary. As nominating contests started earlier this month, Biden led both Sanders and Steyer by more than 10 percentage points in a South Carolina polling average, according to RealClearPolitics.

In Saturday's Nevada caucuses, the first nominating contest where voters of color made up a major share of the electorate, Biden fared better. Still, he will finish in second place to Sanders with about 20% of county delegates in the state, according to NBC News.

"We're alive, and we're going to come back, and we're going to win," he told supporters Saturday.

Most polls throughout the primary have found black voters, who make up a majority of South Carolina's primary electorate, overwhelmingly favor Biden. But recent surveys indicate his support among black voters has waned.

Among black likely Democratic primary voters who responded to the NBC/Marist poll, Biden gets 35% of support. Sanders and Steyer follow at 20% and 19%, respectively.

A larger share of Steyer and Biden supporters said they might vote differently than Sanders backers. Among likely Democratic primary voters, 18% of those who picked Steyer said they might choose someone else, while 17% of Biden supporters said the same.

Only 7% of respondents who prefer Sanders said they might vote differently.
This image, the second selfie captured by NASA's InSight Mars lander, is a mosaic of 14 photos taken between March 15 and April 11, 2019.

Mars may be cold and dry, but it's far from dead.

The first official science results from NASA's quake-hunting InSight Mars lander just came out, and they reveal a regularly roiled world.

"We've finally, for the first time, established that Mars is a seismically active planet," InSight principal investigator Bruce Banerdt, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, said during a teleconference with reporters Thursday (Feb. 20).

Related: Mars InSight in photos: NASA's mission to probe Martian core

Martian seismicity falls between that of the moon and that of Earth, Banerdt added.

"In fact, it's probably close to the kind of seismic activity you would expect to find away from the [tectonic] plate boundaries on Earth and away from highly deformed areas," he said.

Probing the Martian subsurface

InSight touched down near the Martian equator in November 2018, kicking off a two-year, $850 million mission to probe the Red Planet's interior in unprecedented detail.

The stationary lander carries two main science instruments to do this work: a supersensitive suite of seismometers and a burrowing heat probe dubbed "the mole," which is designed to get at least 10 feet (3 meters) below the Red Planet's surface.

Analyses of marsquake and heat-transport measurements will allow the mission team to construct a detailed, 3D map of the Martian interior , NASA officials have said. In addition, InSight scientists are using radio signals beamed from the lander to track how much Mars wobbles on its axis over time. This information will help researchers determine how big and dense the planet's core is. (The mission's full name  Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport  references these various lines of investigation.)

Overall, InSight's observations will help scientists better understand how rocky planets such as Mars, Earth and Venus form and evolve, mission team members have said.

The mission's initial science returns, which were published today (Feb. 21) in six papers in the journals Nature Geoscience and Nature Communications , show that InSight is on track to meet that long-term goal, Banerdt said. (We have gotten a taste of these results over the past year or so, however, as mission team members have released some findings in dribs and drabs.)

Related: NASA's Mars InSight lander: 10 surprising facts

Lots of quakes

The new studies cover the first 10 months of InSight's tenure on Mars, during which the lander detected 174 seismic events.

These quakes came in two flavors. One hundred and fifty of them were shallow, small-magnitude tremors whose vibrations propagated through the Martian crust. The other 24 were a bit stronger and deeper, with origins at various locales in the mantle, InSight team members said. (But even those bigger quakes weren't that powerful; they landed in the magnitude 3 to 4 range. Here on Earth, quakes generally must be at least magnitude 5.5 to damage buildings .)

That was the tremor tally through September 2019. InSight has been busy since then as well; its total quake count now stands at about 450, Banerdt said. And all of this shaking does indeed originate from Mars itself, he added; as far as the team can tell, none of the vibrations were caused by meteorites hitting the Red Planet. So, there's a lot going on beneath the planet's surface.

But that activity is quite different from what we're used to on Earth, where most quakes are caused by tectonic plates sliding against, over or under each other. Mars doesn't have active plate tectonics, the researchers said, so both types of quakes are caused by the long-term cooling of the planet since its formation 4.5 billion years ago.

"As the planet cools, it contracts, and then the brittle outer layers then have to fracture in order to sort of maintain themselves on the surface," Banerdt said. "That's kind of the long-term source of stresses."

And some Martian locales are more stressed than others. One particularly active region is the Cerberus Fossae fracture system, which lies about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) east of InSight's Elysium Planitia landing site.

The mission team traced two of the largest detected marsquakes to Cerberus Fossae, which "contains faults, volcanic flows and liquid water outflow channels with ages as recent as 2-10 Ma [million years ago], and possibly younger from impact crater counts," Banerdt and his colleagues wrote in one of the new studies .

"So, it's possible that there's actual magma at depth that's cooling," InSight deputy principal investigator Sue Smrekar, also of JPL, said during Thursday's teleconference. That cooling would lead to the contraction of the magma chamber, causing deformation of the crust, she added.

But Smrekar stressed that this is a hypothesis, not a definitive determination of what's going on at Cerberus Fossae. Indeed, though mission team members think they understand Martian seismicity in broad strokes, they're still trying to nail down how it works in detail.

Related: 7 biggest mysteries of Mars

Many insights

A wealth of information can be gleaned from InSight's quake measurements. For example, analyses of how the seismic waves move through the Martian crust suggest there are small amounts of water mixed in with the rock, mission team members said.

"Our data is consistent with a crust which has some moisture in it, but we can't say one way or the other whether there [are] large underground reservoirs of water at this point," Banerdt said.

The new papers report a variety of other discoveries as well. For example, InSight is the first mission ever to tote a magnetometer to the Martian surface, and that instrument detected a local magnetic field about 10 times stronger than would be expected based on orbital measurements. (Mars lost its global magnetic field billions of years ago, however. This allowed solar particles to strip away the once-thick Martian atmosphere , which spurred the planet's transition from a relatively warm and wet world to the cold desert it is today.)

InSight is also taking a wealth of weather data, measuring pressure many times per second and temperature once every few seconds, Banerdt said. This information helps the mission team better understand environmental noise that could complicate interpretations of the seismic observations, but it also has considerable stand-alone value.

"This is really going to, I think, revolutionize our understanding of the interaction of the atmosphere with the surface of Mars," Banerdt said. "That's one of the things that's really going to open up a whole new window of research on Mars."

Not everything has gone smoothly for InSight, however. Notably, the mole has been unable to get down to its prescribed depth because the Martian dirt is proving more slippery than mission team members had anticipated. (The mole's self-hammering burrowing system requires a certain amount of friction to work.)

The mission team has tried several strategies to get the mole moving, including pressing on the side of the probe with InSight's robotic arm to generate the required friction. This latter tactic has generated some halting success, but the mole remains stranded too close to the surface.

So, in the next six to eight weeks, mission team members aim to try a modification of the arm-pressing strategy, in which they'll push on the mole's back rather than its side. The goal is to get the mole about 16 inches (40 centimeters) down, at which point it will hopefully be able to start digging on its own, Banerdt said.

The InSight team would also like a bit more cooperation from Mars on the seismic side of things, if possible. The lander has not yet spotted any truly big quakes, which have the potential to paint a clearer picture of the planet's deep interior for mission scientists.

The lack of powerful quakes is no surprise, Banerdt stressed; big tremors are much rarer than their smaller counterparts here on Earth, after all. So, the team may have to wait a while to get one.

But such issues aren't derailing the mission; the team is excited about how things have gone thus far, Banerdt said.

"I think we're well on our way to getting most, if not all, of the goals that we set for ourselves 10 years ago when we started this mission," he said.

Mike Wall is the author of " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
Farmers in Kano State have hailed the Central Bank of Nigerias (CBN) ongoing Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) but tasked government to increase funding for the agriculture sector.

They said this is to ensure increased productivity and galvanise the drive to make Nigeria food sufficient by 2030, in line with the 2030 zero-hunger agenda.

The chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Farouk Rabiu, and other farmers spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in Kano.

In 2015, the Nigeria government introduced the ABP through which loans and farm inputs are given to small and medium scale farmers in order to boost agricultural output.

Mr Rabiu said ABP has helped more farmers to go into agriculture as a business, and contribute to meeting up with the consumption need of the Nigerian populace.

He said the programme has also helped farmers to be more competitive, as their productivity is expected to increase greatly.

He said AFAN was enjoying the support of the federal government through the ABP.

He called on the government to ignore calls for stopping the programming, saying those making the calls are not aware of the progress being made by the farmers.

Many of the farmers who benefitted from the ABP across Nigeria have defaulted in the payment of their loans.

The AFAN boss, however, said it is not true that farmers had refused to pay back the loans. He said the ABP has helped farmers to increase farm yields, especially in rice farming where we now produce 95 per cent of rice eaten in the country and are creating more jobs in the country through its value chain.

Mr Rabiu said instead of spending one trillion naira annually on the importation of wheat from Russia and America, the government should grant the request of farmers to fund the Wheat Anchor Borrowers Programme.

He said with N20 billion, the programme would cultivate 100,000 hectares of land for wheat production, and create one million direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria.

We urge the government to fund the wheat farmers which is part of the commodity targeted by the programme.

Nigerians are impatient with farmers, expecting immediate success, which is not possible. It takes a process to achieve the expected success, he said.

Mr Rabiu said the support of the programme has enabled farmers to produce more. This has helped us to crash the price of some food commodities in Nigeria, he said.

Also speaking, the chairman of Apex Smallholder Farmers, Musa Kura, called on the government to increase its funding for the sector.

if inputs can get to farmers on time, farmers will be able to plan ahead of the planting season and also increase productivity all year round, he said

However, another farmer, Saadu Ali, said the issue of input has been a major challenge for him as a farmer. He said the government is yet to meet the need of farmers in that respect, as most times inputs arrive late, which has made him lose so much over the years.

Government should be proactive in its drive by ensuring that farmers get the best of inputs for planting at the right time, he said.
Egypt's Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki has left for the Pakistani acpital Islamabad, with a high-level military delegation on an official visit for a few days to enhance bilateral military ties.

The defence minister is scheduled to meet senior statesmen and officials of the Pakistani Defence Ministry during the visit to boost cooperation ties between the armed forces of both sides in many areas.

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Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott yesterday ruled out serving in the Shadow Cabinet of the next Labour leader.

She told Sky's Sophy Ridge: 'There's an awful lot to do on the back benches.'

It will come as a huge relief to Sir Keir Starmer, the current front runner in the party leadership race, that Abbott is resigned to life out of the spotlight.

My sources tell me that, as leader, he would have sacked her, no question.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott yesterday ruled out serving in the Shadow Cabinet of the next Labour leader

With more time on her hands, perhaps Abbott might now show more interest in her charity, the Diane Abbott Foundation, which focuses on advancing the cause of young black Britons in education and business.

In the three years up until 2016, she spent nearly 55,000 on lavish awards ceremonies at Westminster. Her sponsors included City law firm Linklaters and the Prudential.

What happened after that is a bit of a mystery. The 'Events' section on the charity's website doesn't appear to have been updated since June 2019; while on the home page there's a video link to a 2014 awards ceremony.

It will come as a huge relief to Sir Keir Starmer, the current front runner in the party leadership race, that Abbott is resigned to life out of the spotlight, writes Andrew Pierce

Abbott has just filed the papers at Companies House for the year ending 2018  and it does not make for pretty reading.

There were no donations, no sponsors and no awards ceremony that year. The charity reportedly lost 866 and was kept afloat by one of its directors.

'Abacus' Abbott  who has failed to return my calls on this subject  never was very good with numbers, was she?

Sacked Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith concedes politics has taken a toll on his barnet.

'I need to get the number of a good trichologist who can put back all the hairs I've pulled out in the past three years,' he sighs.

He should pass on any contact details to Boris, whose own thatch, I note, is showing alarming signs of thinning.

Why MP Rosena's on song

Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan pledges: 'If I become Deputy Leader, I'll host a karaoke night at Labour conference.'

According to Tom Hamilton, adviser to former deputy leader Tom Watson, it's the 'first deliverable pledge I've seen in the entire deputy leadership election'.

Which surely tells us all we need to know about the quality of the candidates.

Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan pledges: 'If I become Deputy Leader, I'll host a karaoke night at Labour conference'

Shadow Culture Secretary Tracy Brabin, she of that off-the-shoulder dress, was once best known as Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street.

But her range is broad, and she's also played posh  not least as the Duchess of York in 1992 U.S. TV turkey Charles And Diana: Unhappy Ever After.

The critics panned it but gave her a special mention: 'Tracy Brabin as Sarah Ferguson is an over-the-top party girl in this gloriously trashy endeavour.'

It's a wonder Tracy wasn't hired to star as Fergie in the new series of Channel 4's royal spoof The Windsors, which starts tomorrow.

Downing Street is gearing up for a third 'People's Prime Minister's Question Time' with Boris on No 10's Facebook page.

The last one lasted precisely 19 minutes after Boris declared there were no further questions to answer.

In fact, there were 4,624 more in the queue...

It came out only three weeks ago, but ex-Speaker John Bercow's memoir, Unspeakable, has slumped to No. 3,565 on Kindle's best-seller list despite aggressive publicity by the diminuitive one. Shame!

At last, a brilliant HS2 idea!

Robert Goodwill, the Tory MP for Scarborough and Whitby, has come up with a good wheeze for the high-speed rail link.

'HS2 will connect with the Elizabeth Line and Heathrow at Old Oak Common station  a station that will become every bit as famous as Victoria or Waterloo,' he says. 'But Old Oak Common will be neither old nor common, so it should have a name that is iconic and in keeping with its importance  maybe after our first woman Prime Minister?'

So, it is entirely appropriate that Margaret Thatcher  the Iron Lady  should have her name attached to a project set to consume two million tons of steel.
Evidence of a previously unknown ancient civilisation that existed for around 800 years has been found in Southern Turkey.

Archaeologists stumbled across an inscribed rock which reveals the existence of the long-lost civilisation after a farmer found it in an irrigation canal.

The stone was inscribed with hieroglyphs in the ancient Luwian dialect and experts translated the now extinct language.

This revealed the existence of a previously unknown people and their ruler, King Hartapu.

The hieroglyphic message regales readers with the heroic tale of how King Hartapu conquered Phrygiathe home of the legendary King Midas.

No name has yet been given to the civilisation or its capital city, which is thought to have spanned more than 300 acres in its prime.

It is believed the empire may have existed from between 1400BC to around 600BC.

Scroll down for video

Archaeologists in Turkey have stumbled across an ancient inscribed rock which may real the existence of a long-lost civilisation. The stone was found in an irrigation canal and is inscribed with hieroglyphs in the ancient Luwian language (pictured)

The hieroglyphs were written in Luwian, one of the oldest branches of the Indo-European languages. When translated, the rock spoke of King Hartapum. Pictured, previous examples of the hieroglyphs on another ancient rock

Pictured, artwork depicting King Midas with his daughter, who he touched and turned to gold

MIDAS: THE KING WITH THE GOLDEN TOUCH Midas is a prominent character in Greek and Roman mythology for his fabled ability to turn anything he touched into gold. According to the myth, Midas was given a wish from Silenus, the companion of the god Dionysus. The king made the ill-advised decision to ask for all he touched to turn to gold. However, as is told in endless tales, this included food and people. He eventually almost starved to death as a result of his greed. Dionysus gave him a reprieve by having him bathe in the Pactolus River. Midas is also famous for a more unfortunate trait, his donkey ears. He gained these after judging a competition between the gods Apollo and Pan. He adjudged Apollo to have inferior musical ability to Pan and Apollo punished him with donkey ears. Midas was ashamed of his ears and hid them underneath turban. He swore his barber to secrecy who eventually shouted the secret into a hole in the ground. He filled in the hole, but reeds grew from the spot and broadcast the sibilant secret'Midas has ass's ears'when the wind blew through them. It is possible that the mythical figure of Midas was based on a real king of Phrygia in the 8th century BCE known as Mita. A skeleton discovered in the tomb mounds outside Gordium, the Phrygian capital, has been tentatively attributed to Mita by some scholars. Advertisement

Researchers from University of Chicago were working on a site in southern Turkey called Turkmen-Karahoyuk last year when a local farmer mentioned the stone.

He had seen it the previous winter almost submerged in water and laden with bizarre and unfamiliar markings.

'We rushed straight there, and we could see it still sticking out of the water, so we jumped right down into the canalup to our waists wading around,' said assistant professor James Osborne of the university's Oriental Institute.

'Right away it was clear it was ancient, and we recognised the script it was written in: Luwian, the language used in the Bronze and Iron ages in the area.'

Translated by scholars at the Oriental Institute, it boats of defeating the legendary King Midas.

Midas may have been an enemy of the ancient and newly-discovered society, and is a prominent character in Greek and Roman mythology for his fabled ability to turn things to gold.

Dr Osborne said the city likely spanned as wide as 300 acres at its peak and would have been one of the largest ancient cities of Bronze and Iron Age Turkey.

They don't yet know what the kingdom was called, but its discovery is revolutionary news in the field.

'We had no idea about this kingdom. In a flash, we had profound new information on the Bronze Age Middle East,' said Dr Osborne.

The farmer guided the excited scientists to the site of the stele, an ancient tall and thin slab of stone with inscriptions, and helped extract it from the water.

The hieroglyphs were written in Luwian, one of the oldest branches of the Indo-European languages.

A unique language written in hieroglyphic signs native to the Turkish area, Luwian is read alternating between right to left and left to right.

Dr Osborne said the city likely spanned as wide as 300 acres at its peak and would have been one of the largest ancient cities of Bronze and Iron Age Turkey

Dr Osborne said the city likely spanned as wide as 300 acres at its peak and would have been one of the largest ancient cities of Bronze and Iron Age Turkey. They don't yet know what the kingdom was called, but its discovery is revolutionary news in the field. Pictured, the site of the find and where the ancient kingdom may have existed

The inscription, translated by Petra Goedegebuure and Theo P.J. van den Hout, features a special hieroglyphic marking that indicates a message from a monarch.

Further analysis revealed a specific mention of a king called Hartapum. Experts speculate that the site at Turkmen-Karahoyuk was probably his capital city.

The stone tells the tale of King Hartapu's conquest of the nearby kingdom of Muska, better known as Phrygiahome to King Midas.

'The storm gods delivered the [opposing] kings to his majesty,' the stone read.

It is thought, according to clues from how the prose was composed, the stone dates back to the 8th century BC, around the same time Midas is thought to have ruled.

The find sheds light on a long-standing mystery in Turkish ancient history.

Less than ten miles away from where the stone was found is a volcano with a well-known inscription in hieroglyphics.

It refers to a King Hartapu, but exactly who this was or what kingdom he presided over has been unknown, until now.

More excavations are planned at the site for this summer.

'Inside this mound are going to be palaces, monuments, houses. This stele was a marvellous, incredibly lucky findbut it's just the beginning,' Dr Osborne said.
MPOLONJENI  Pastor Ntfonjeni Dlamini, the man of the cloth whom Apostle Justice Dlamini made scathing accusations against when he left Worship Centre, has spoken.



Pastor Ntfonjeni said he was called to serve God from a young age and he was doing just that.

Bless the Lord God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings from heaven.



This was the gist of his sermon during a church service held at the Hidden in Christ Tabernacle at Mpolonjeni Plaza in Mbabane.

Pastor Ntfonjeni believes he was called by God at a tender age to serve Him and has followed his calling to open a church, the Hidden in Christ Tabernacle.



Leaving



This is the same pastor who Apostle Justice of the Worship Centre spoke strongly against for leaving his church in a voice clip that set social media abuzz last week.



The apostle claimed that the pastor and his wife lured his congregants to their church.

In the clip, the apostle was critical of the couples alleged action of not bidding him farewell when they decided to establish their own church yet he claimed that he assisted them with many things. In the clip, he said if the couple did not come to apologise to him and his church regarding their actions, they would die poor.

However, the apostles church, Worship Centre, later apologised to the couple and all concerned regarding the voice clip, stating that the church was disturbed how internal matters made their way to social media.



During yesterdays church service, Pastor Ntfonjenis sermon was centred on Gods blessings. The pastor said it was not just some or part blessings that the Lord had blessed them with but all blessings.



Impact



He said in order for people to influence, see changes and make an impact in the things that happened in their lives, they must be ready to bless. After God had created everything through the power of His word, He then blessed it.

According to Pastor Ntfonjeni, a person could not live outside the blessings of God because when the Lord created human kind, He also released a blessing upon them.



I do not care who says what but I declare that you are blessed going in and coming out, Pastor Ntfonjeni said.

Meanwhile, he said people were to function like God the Father as the Christian faith dictated, and as pastors, they had been called to bless. Pastor Ntfonjeni said it was wise, therefore, to speak the Word of God upon situations. He quoted the book of 1 Samuel 1:10 to 11 where Hannah, who was barren and in bitterness, prayed for a son after they made fun of her situation. He said in the scripture, it showed how Hannah did not just sit and fold her hands but prayed and her prayers were answered as God blessed her with a son.



Do not fear any opposition as we are on this earth to make changes and greater is He who is on our side than the devil who is in the world.

In an interview following the church service, Pastor Ntfonjeni said he was called to minister the Word in 2000 as a young boy while still at school.

However, he said he was only able to open a church in December 8, 2019.



Requesting not to dwell on the clip said to have been recorded by Apostle Justice, Pastor Ntfonjeni said he opened the church to fulfil Gods calling in his life.

According to Pastor Ntfonjeni, he believes that recruiting Christians from a former church is wrong and unacceptable.

He said if God called an individual, He believed that they could open a church of their own and anyone who felt the need would come and worship with them.

It is actually up to an individual where they feel their spiritual need shall be nourished, Pastor Ntfonjeni stated.



Apologised



In a statement that was issued last Thursday, the Worship Centres Operations Manager, Sipho Tsabedze, said they apologised to the members concerned for putting them in the spotlight in such a very negative and dehumanising manner.



Tsabedze also asked for forgiveness from the public for the confusion that the matter might have brought about.

He also said the members were free to engage the church leadership on the matter if need be.



He said it was unfortunate that internal matters of the church had filtered into the public domain of the social and print media.

According to Tsabedze, the policy of the church was not to discuss matters of present and departed members with members of the public because of the churchs commitment to maintain the confidentiality of members affairs.

The matter involving the apostle and the members in question has been resolved by the internal structures, said Tsabedze.






"Mad" Mike Hughes' rocket takes off, with what appears to be a parachute tearing off, during its launch Saturday near Barstow, Calif. / AP

BARSTOW, Calif.  A California man who said he wanted to fly to the edge of outer space to see if the world is round has died after his home-built rocket blasted off into the desert sky and plunged back to earth.

Mad" Mike Hughes was killed on Saturday afternoon after his rocket crashed on private property near Barstow, California.

Waldo Stakes, a colleague who was at the rocket launch, said Hughes, 64, was killed.

The Science Channel said on Twitter it had been chronicling Hughes' journey and that thoughts & prayers go out to his family & friends during this difficult time.

It was always his dream to do this launch, the Twitter message said.

Hughes also was a limousine driver, who held the Guinness world record for longest limousine ramp jump, for jumping 103 feet (31 meters) in a Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine, at a speedway in 2002.

A video on TMZ.com showed the rocket taking off, with what appears to be a parachute tearing off during the launch. The steam-powered rocket streaks upward, then takes around 10 seconds to fall straight back to earth. Shrieks can be heard as the rocket plows into the desert.

Freelance journalist Justin Chapman, who was at the scene, said the rocket appeared to rub against the launch apparatus, which might have caused the mishap with the parachute.

In March 2018, Hughes propelled himself about 1,875 feet (570 meters) into the air. He deployed one parachute and then a second one but still had a hard landing in the Mojave Desert in California, and injured his back.

This thing wants to kill you 10 different ways, Hughes said after that launch. This thing will kill you in a heartbeat."

He said in a video that his goal was to eventually fly to the edge of outer space to determine for himself whether the world is round.

Story continues

I don't want to take anyone else's word for it, he said in the video, posted on the BBC News website. I don't know if the world is flat or round.

In another video posted on his YouTube site, Hughes said he also wanted to convince people they can do things that are extraordinary with their lives.

My story really is incredible, Hughes once told The Associated Press. Its got a bunch of story lines  the garage-built thing. Im an older guy. Its out in the middle of nowhere, plus the Flat Earth. The problem is it brings out all the nuts also.

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One moment we wont forget: Boykins taxpayers-first comment as the County Board weighed a budget balanced not with the soda tax, but with spending cuts: At the end of the day, what you have here is, I think, a realization that ... we didnt need the sweetened beverage tax revenue. What you have here is a tightening of the belt and a scalpel approach that doesnt devastate our operations of county government, but instead allows us to maintain high-quality services as it relates to public health and public safety. And thats the mission of the county. Another moment we wont forget: Boykins cheeky suggestion in 2015 that Preckwinkle reduce her claimed need for more tax revenue by cutting employee raises in her office.






The Philippine unit of Honda 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 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.

"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.

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She is a cat-mum to two adorable felines named Clive and Willow.

And Kate Beckinsale looked sensational in a tiny white bandeau when she treated one of her fur-babies to a impromptu Bananarama performance in her Los Angeles home on Sunday evening.

The actress, 46, displayed her washboard abs in the matching crop top and pants in the kooky video posted to her Instagram page.

Cat's life: Kate Beckinsale treated one of her fur-babies to a impromptu Bananarama performance in her Los Angeles home on Sunday evening

The Underworld star danced to Love In The First Degree with a hilariously choreographed routine, while a very unamused Willow lay in her banana shaped bed on the marble kitchen counter.

Kate captioned the funny video: 'Willow fully getting sick of banana related teasing now. Sidebar: performed this in assembly aged 13 with eerily similar audience response.'

The British beauty wore her hair pulled back into a bouncy ponytail as she mouthed along to the throwback tune.

Last week, Kate shared another video of Clive curled up in what she described as 'the Birkin bag of this house.'

Work it: The actress, 46, displayed her washboard abs in a matching white crop top and pants in the kooky video posted to her Instagram page

So cute: The Underworld star danced to Love In The First Degree with a hilariously choreographed routine

Not impressed: All the while a very unamused Willow lay in her banana shaped bed on the marble kitchen counter

The banana-themed bed comes after many videos and photos have been shared of Willow laying down in her fruit bowl.

Kate often gives fans a hilarious insight into her Persian cats sleeping wherever they see fit in the house - and even discussed Willow's bowel issues on a recent episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden.

The actress told amused host James Corden that she had enlisted the help of a feline behavioural expert called The Cat Daddy.

She said: 'I inherited a cat from a friend of mine, didn't ask too many questions at the time about why she was giving it to me - now I know why!

Comfy? Last week, Kate shared another adorable video of Clive curled up in what she described as 'the Birkin bag of this house'

An apple a day: The banana-themed bed comes after she posted many videos and photos of Willow laying down in her fruit bowl

'You know when there's a dead body on the sidewalk and they spray around it... Sometimes when I'm asleep she does it to me... but with s**t.

'I woke up and there was a ring of fire. Like a sort of Harry Potter protective shield. So I called in an expert, The Cat Daddy.

'It turned out that it's because she likes me so much, we're not allowed to stroke her too much because she gets to excited that she s**ts. That happens to me with people too sometimes.'
Police will file the chargesheet



in the Hinganghat woman lecturer murder case in the next two-three days, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said here on Monday.

The 25-year-old Ankita Pisudde was set on fire by her stalker in Hinganghat in east Maharashtra while she was on her way to college on February 3. She succumbed to her injuries on February 10 at a hospital in Nagpur, causing a huge public outrage. The accused, Vikesh Nagrale (27), was arrested within hours of the incident.

Deshmukh had earlier announced that the trial will be fast-tracked. The state government later appointed noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as special public prosecutor in the case.

"The chargesheet in the case will be filed in the next two to three days. The investigation is underway under Wardha district superintendent of police," Deshmukh told reporters.

He said a five-member committee under special IG AswatiDorjewilllook into the prospect of implementing in the state a legislation like Andhra Pradesh's Disha Act, and submit a report by February 29.

The 'Andhra Pradesh Disha Act Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Act, 2019' was enacted as a tribute to the veterinary doctor brutally raped and murdered in neighbouring Telangana in November last year.

"We want totake inputs from a cross-section of the society, including woman ministers, legislators etc, and introduce the bill for a debate in the legislature," he said.

On the proposed measures to ensure safety of women, Deshmukh said the state government was planning to replicate the features of the emergency app introduced by the Andhra Pradesh governmentlike voice, a panic button and shaking of the mobile phone in times of emergency where the nearest police station will get information with a video recording.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RIL chief said the big change driving this transformation is the deepening of mobile networks which are working at a much faster pace than before.

Reliance Industries' partnership with Microsoft will be the defining partnership of the decade, said the company's Chairman, Mukesh Ambani said.

"I am very excited about the partnership that Jio and Microsoft will have and I think that, that will be, as we look at this decade, that will be a defining partnership," he told Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella in a conversation at the Future Decoded CEO Summit in Mumbai on Monday.

Consumption has gone up; 'Digital India' has become a people's movement now, Mukesh Ambani, CMD, Reliance Ind to @satyanadella of @Microsoft pic.twitter.com/HHc0TkA1IC  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 24, 2020

In August 2019, Reliance Jio had entered into a long-term alliance with Microsoft to accelerate digital transformation with the launch of new cloud data centres. On the Jio-Microsoft alliance, Ambani had said Jio would set up a network of large world-class data centres across India powered by Microsoft's Azure cloud platform.

Ambani said India that is at the cusp of becoming a premier digital society, and will be among the top three economies of the world.

The Reliance Industries (RIL) chief said the big change driving this transformation is the deepening of mobile networks which are working at a much faster pace than before, reported PTI.

Ambani said that about 380 million people have migrated to Jio's 4G technology and Jio has become people's movement.

He said that Jio helped the data charges reduce substantially. The cost of data has been lowered to Rs 12-14 per GB now from Rs 300-500 per GB in the pre-Jio days, Ambani added.

"It all kickstarted in 2014 when Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) gave us the vision of Digital India... 380 million people have migrated to Jio's 4g technology," he said.

Pre-Jio, the data speed was 256 kbps; and post-Jio, it is 21 mbps, he pointed out adding the cost of data before the launch of Jio was in the range of Rs 300 and 500 per GB.

Referring to US President Donald Trump's visit to the country, Ambani said India is much different than what it was during the visits of his predecessors Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton or Barack Obama, and pointed out that mobile connectivity was a key change.

I have no doubt in my mind that we will be among the top three economies in the world, Ambani said, adding that the only debate which can exist is whether it happens in five or in ten years. We in India have the opportunity to become the premier digital society," he said.

"The next generation will see a very different India than what you (Nadella) and I have grown up in," the RIL chairman said.

"Entrepreneurial power at grassroots in India is enormous and we have no doubt we will be among top three economies in the world," Ambani said.

Gaming doesn't exist in India, it will be bigger than music or movies put together, says Ambani.

"We in India have the opportunity to become the premier digital society," he told Nadella.

The Reliance Industries chief said that small medium and micro industry is critical to the GDP growth of India.

Ambani said that Reliance was founded as a startup.

"My father started it with a table and chair. Then it became a small industry, then a medium one, and today's it's a large enterprise," he told Nadella.

 With inputs from agencies

(Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Firstpost)
The Institutions of Eminence (IoEs) will invite nobel laureates to their campuses and develop model villages as part of the Unnat Bharat scheme for sustainable development in rural India, HRD Ministry officials said.

The decision was taken in a review meeting of the progress of the public and private institutions which were considered to be given the status of Institutions of Eminence on the advice of UGC and the Empowered Expert Committee.

"The institutions recognised under IoE Scheme are the foundation stones in making a new and better India and they have to lead the new generation towards excellence. The focus of our government is to provide quality education to the students of the country, especially in the areas of research and innovation," said HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', who chaired the meeting.

"The institutions have to work hard to improve their position in global rankings and to make these institutions, the centres of excellence at global level," he added.

According to HRD Ministry officials, it was decided that institutions will invite nobel laureates, academicians, professors and foreign faculty to visit their campuses to enlarge and deepen the interface of India's institutions of higher learning and globally recognised institutions of academic eminence.

"It was decided that all the balance amount for the year 2019-2020 and new amount/funds to be paid to these institutions may be paid in the current financial year. Entire architecture for giving access to research journals will be reviewed and open access may be provided to the institutions under IoE," the HRD Ministry said in a statement.

"One Project Monitoring Unit to be established to monitor the progress of these institutions and activities undertaken by them. These institutions may adopt and develop model villages as part of the Unnat Bharat scheme for sustainable development in rural India," it added.

Ten public IoEs will get Rs 1,000 crore each from the HRD Ministry to achieve world-class status but there will be no financial assistance to private IoEs.

The Institutions of Eminence scheme was launched in 2016 in order to empower the higher educational institutions and to put them on the world education map.

The private institutes, which have got the recognition are Shiv Nadar University (Uttar Pradesh), O P Jindal Global University (Haryana), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Tamil Nadu), VIT Vellore (Tami Nadu), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (Bhubaneswar), and Bharti of the Satya Bharti Foundation in Delhi.

IT-Madras, IIT-Kharagpur, Delhi University, University of Hyderabad, Banaras Hindu University, IT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi, IISC Bangalore were among the public institutions granted the IoE tag.

Reliance group's Jio Institute and Satya Bharti Foundation's Bharti University's were granted the status under the greenfield institution (yet-to-be established) category.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In just a matter of days, Italy has reported an increasing number of cases linked to the novel coronavirus that is spreading rapidly across the globe. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has emerged in China late in December 2019 and has so far reached 30 countries.

Italy has now reported 155 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, with three deaths. Meanwhile, other countries have issued travel warnings and stopped trains from Italy in fears of patients with the virus to enter their borders.

ITALY, BERGAMO- 22 February 2020: medical services at the airport Bergamo-Milano investigate aircraft passengers who have arrived in Italy to minimize the risk of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. Image Credit: Grabowski Foto / Shutterstock

The Italian government announced that neither entry not exit to the Veneto and Lombardy regions is allowed without having special permission. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government is working to control the situation and prevent a large-scale outbreak in the country.

Authorities have been ordered to strictly monitor the entrance and exit of residents, with fines imposed on violators. Further, the education sector of the country has said that classes and academic activities in the affected regions would be suspended between Feb. 24 and 29.

In abundance of precaution, Austria has stopped all trains from and to Italy after two passengers manifested coronavirus-like symptoms. At the border, officials denied entry to a train from Venice to Munich on Feb. 23 in fear that the two passengers may be infected with the deadly virus.

The country has placed about 50,000 people under quarantine in the affected regions.

Coronavirus is spreading

The World Health Organization (WHO) increases efforts to contain the virus and prevent its spread to other countries, fearing that if it infects people in a country with a poor healthcare system, it can cause devastating results.

As of writing, there are 79,152 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has spiraled into a global threat. Most of the cases were reported in mainland China, particularly in the ground zero of the outbreak, Hubei Province. There are 2,470 deaths linked to the coronavirus, prompting countries to impose travel bans, quarantine millions of people, and isolating ill patients in an attempt to stem the spread of the deadly virus.

On the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, where more than 3,000 people where quarantined, the last passenger has left, but the risk of infection still lingers as the ship crew, and health officials are still onboard. Also, raised fears of the possibility of the virus still spreading exist as a woman who tested negative days prior has now developed coronavirus-like symptoms. She has tested positive after returning home to Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo by train from the ship.

The health minister of Japan, Katsunobu Kato, has also apologized after 23 passengers were allowed to leave the ship without being adequately tested. He said they would trace the passengers and have them retested.

Meanwhile, four of the 32 passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship taken to Arrowe Park, Merseyside, UK, have tested positive for the coronavirus. The total number of passengers from Europe who tested positive is 13.

Hurtling into a pandemic

A pandemic, according to the WHO, a pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease.

Though the WHO has not declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, it had raised concern when a sudden spike in cases was reported in South Korea, Italy, and Iran.

The window of opportunity is still there, but the window of opportunity is narrowing. We need to act quickly before it closes completely, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said.

During the first weeks of the outbreak, health officials meticulously traced all the possible contacts of every person who becomes infected with the coronavirus. Everyone with close contact with the patient will be advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and will be closely monitored for any symptoms.

However, with the number of current infections reaching 80,000, contact tracing can become impractical. If the coronavirus becomes a pandemic, a large proportion of the population across the globe will become infected. Though the term pandemic sparks fear, it pertains to how wide is the spread of the outbreak, not how fatal it is.

If stopping the spread of the virus from spreading is increasingly out of reach, public health officials and health agencies will have to move on to a new stage  to prepare for a pandemic, by strengthening the healthcare system of countries, fast-tracking treatments and vaccines for the infection, and providing care for those who are already infected.
[February 24, 2020] RBC Ventures Eases the Pain for Physicians with Acquisition of Dr. Bill

Dr. Bill simplifies medical billing with a mobile-first platform that allows for on-the-go claims and direct payments. TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - RBC Ventures has acquired Dr. Bill, a premium billing solution that simplifies and streamlines the billing and payment process for Canada's medical community. Currently available in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, Dr. Bill provides doctors with a user-friendly mobile billing platform, as well as dedicated live agents, to deliver an industry-leading billing success rate. "Dr. Bill, a best-in-class physician billing platform, helps create a better experience for healthcare providers who are seeking an easier, more convenient billing system," says Alison Chick, Vice-President, B2B & Health Ventures at RBC Ventures. "Going beyond banking to provide value-added products, services and capabilities is at the core of RBC Ventures. The acquisition of Dr. Bill differentiates how RBC is supporting the medical community." Dr. Bill provides a modern-day solution that is ideal for physicians who are just getting started and for established physicians whose billing processes need to be modernized and streamlined. Dr. Bill refines an outdated process and saves time, ultimately allowing for a more efficient practice that enables physicians to spend more time on patient care. "Physician billing is often still paper-based and inefficient, which can lead to errors and unnecessary administrative overhead," says Steve Lionais, Dr. Bill's co-founder. "I saw this first-hand watching my wife do her billing in the evenings. Instead of enjoying her time away from work, she was spending hours sorting through stacks of paper. Dr. Bill was created with a mission to make meical billing simple and pain-free by helping physicians like my wife save time and spend it on what matters most."



Dr. Bill complements RBC Healthcare's current offering by providing a tailored solution to support physicians, targeting a major pain point: billing. Billing for patient care is a key function to running a practice and RBC Healthcare is committed to supporting physicians with the business aspects of their practices. "Doctors complete medical school and residency with little to no training on how to operate a business, so establishing their own practice and learning all of the nuances of running it can be a daunting experience," says Niranjan Vivekanandan, Vice-President, RBC Healthcare. "A critical focus of RBC Healthcare is providing exclusive offerings to support doctors in forming and building their practices. With innovative solutions  like Dr. Bill  RBC Healthcare is helping physicians to allow them to focus their time on their patients and their own families."

RBC Healthcare recently launched RBC Healthcare Advantage, a membership program designed to support healthcare professionals at all stages of their careers. RBC Healthcare Advantage plan members are eligible to receive an exclusive discount on Dr. Bill's services. For more information, visit: rbc.com/practicesolutions . About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 85,000+ employees who bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com .? We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact . About RBC Ventures

RBC Ventures is going beyond banking to create meaningful solutions that touch every Canadian. We are building new ventures, acquiring growing firms, making investments and partnering with organizations that share our vision. For more information, visit RBCVentures.ca . About RBC Healthcare

RBC Healthcare was created to address the needs of healthcare professionals throughout each of their life stages. RBC Healthcare's network of over 550 Healthcare Specialists are trained to understand the unique needs of Healthcare Professionals. RBC Healthcare Advantage is now available to eligible healthcare professionals who join or are already banking with RBC, including medical students and dentists. To learn more, visit rbc.com/healthcare .

SOURCE RBC Royal Bank

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Saudi Arabia has embarked on a major plan to develop main roads in the heart of capital Riyadh in order to upgrade the citys transportation system.



This comes following directives from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to launch new development projects aimed at transforming Riyadh into a major hub in providing sustainable transportation services as well as logistics services in the Middle East, reported the Saudi Press Agency.



Under this plan, Saudi authorities will develop 400 km of road network besides development of junctions between Riyadhs ring roads and main routes, it stated.



Among the main projects being implemented include:



*Improvement of the First Ring Road with an additional length of 80km and continued work on the Second Ring Road.

*Development of main junctions of the King Fahd Road to increase its capacity.

*Increasing the capacity of the Imam Saud bin Faisal Road from King Khalid Road until its junction with the second eastern ring road running 23 km long.

*Improvement of the Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz I Road and its extension to the south until its meeting point with the second southern ring road running 45 km long.

*Development of the extension of the Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Road to the south from Makkah Road to the Eastern Ring Road, and its extension south to the Dhahran Street to the Southern Ring Road running 17 km long.

*Development of the Othman Bin Affan Road from King Salman Road to Al-Urouba Road, and from Makkah Road to the the Southern Ring Road running 16 km long.
A photo of a terrifying golden orb spider nicknamed Martha hanging from a web in front of a bushland garage has gone viral online.

The giant golden orb spider was spotted by Patrick Berg as he enjoyed a family barbecue at his sister's house in Buderim, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Mr Berg, who took the picture in November 2016, told Daily Mail Australia: 'I've seen some big ones before but not like that. She was an absolute monster.'

'We were just going to have a barbecue and a couple of beers and I saw it as we pulled up in the driveway and just went "holy dooley".'

The terrifying giant golden orb spider named Martha found at a suburban home in Queensland

Mr Berg said it was his brother-in-law's tattooed hand pictured behind the enormous spider.

'He was holding his hand five to ten centimetres away from it. That was the closest he wanted to get to the beauty.'

Female golden orb spiders are typically larger than the male spiders and can grow to be well over five inches, or 12centimetres, in size.

'The actual length of the body in the photo was about 7cm and as thick as my thumb. With the leg span the spider was probably 17cm big,' Mr Berg said.

'I wasn't scared, I was amazed and struck by the beauty of it. I think they're a gorgeous creature.'

Golden orb spiders (pictured above in another Australian backyard) can grow the size of a dinner plate and have been known to eat birds and bats

Large huntsman spiders are also frequently seen around Buderim on the Sunshine Coast. Mr Berg shared the above photo of a huntsman eating an insect on his property

When asked if they did anything about the spider Mr Berg said: 'We just left it and took some pictures. They don't live very long and one day she was gone.'

'They're quite common, especially in Buderim, there's some big insects and lots of natural forests and rainforests,' Mr Berg said.

Golden orb spiders feed on smaller insects and their webs can even trap little birds and bats.

Their venom is highly effective on prey but poses no real threat to humans.

Mr Berg's friend shared the old photo to Reddit this week, sparking a huge reaction from hundreds of shocked viewers.

'I have a pic somewhere in the archive with my dad holding his hat directly behind one and it was no joke the same size as it,' wrote one person.

'The thought of that just makes my skin crawl,' added another.

'I know this species doesn't typically grow that large, but I've seen some yellow bum ones that easily had the leg span of a dinner plate,' wrote a third.

GOLDEN ORB SPIDERS Golden orb weaving spiders can vary from yellow to grey in appearance and be identified by their wheel-shaped orb webs that have a golden shine They can be found throughout Australia in forests and coastal shrub land The spiders typically reach sizes of 5cm for females and 2.5cm for males They feed on insects like flies, beetles and moths as well as small birds or bats Other names include: Northern golden orb weaver, Golden silk orb weaver, Giant wood spider, Banana spider and Nephila spider Advertisement
CARTHAGE, Mo., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt announced that Karl G. Glassman, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer, will speak to the investment community at the Raymond James 41st Annual Institutional Investors Conference on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 11:35 a.m. Eastern (10:35 a.m. Central), in Orlando, Florida.

The presentation will be webcast and can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of Leggett's website at www.leggett.com. Investors are encouraged to log on at least five minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit Leggett's website at www.leggett.com.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION: At Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG), we create innovative products that enhance people's lives, generate exceptional returns for our shareholders, and provide sought-after jobs in communities around the world. L&P is a 137-year-old diversified manufacturer that designs and produces engineered products found in most homes and automobiles. The Company is comprised of 15 business units, 22,000 employee-partners, and 140 manufacturing facilities located in 18 countries.

Leggett & Platt is the leading U.S.-based manufacturer of: a) bedding components; b) automotive seat support and lumbar systems; c) specialty bedding foams and private-label finished mattresses; d) components for home furniture and work furniture; e) flooring underlayment; f) adjustable beds; and g) bedding industry machinery.

CONTACT: Investor Relations, (417) 358-8131 or [email protected]

Susan R. McCoy, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

Wendy M. Watson, Vice President, Investor Relations

Cassie J. Branscum, Manager, Investor Relations

SOURCE Leggett & Platt

Related Links

http://www.leggett.com


US seeks whistle-blowers extradition but Assanges legal team say he is a symbol of all that Trump condemned.

A UK judge was given two conflicting portraits of Julian Assange as the WikiLeaks founders long-awaited extradition hearing began on Monday in a London court.

A lawyer for the US authorities, who want to try Assange on espionage charges, said the Australian computer expert was an ordinary criminal whose publication of hundreds of thousands of secret military documents a decade ago put many people at risk of torture and death.

Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a licence to break ordinary criminal laws, said James Lewis, a British lawyer representing the US government.

Assanges lawyer countered that the WikiLeaks publisher was being victimised by a lawless US government that wanted to make an example of him.

Lawyer Edward Fitzgerald also said the inhuman conditions Assange was likely to face in an American prison would put him at high risk of suicide.

Dozens of Assange supporters protested outside the high-security Woolwich Crown Court, chanting and setting off a horn as District Judge Vanessa Baraitser began hearing the case, which is due to last several months.

Assange, 48, watched proceedings from the dock in the courtroom  he was brought there from Belmarsh Prison next door.

He complained that he was having difficulty concentrating and called the noise from outside not helpful.

Assange has been indicted in the US on 18 charges over the publication of classified documents.

Prosecutors say he conspired with US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password, hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Assange argues he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection, and says the leaked documents exposed US military wrongdoing.

Among the files published by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.

But Lewis said Assange was guilty of straightforward criminal activity in trying to hack the computer.

He said WikiLeaks activities created a grave and imminent risk to US intelligence sources in Afghanistan and Iraq.

By disseminating the materials in an unredacted form, he likely put people  human rights activists, journalists, advocates, religious leaders, dissidents and their families  at risk of serious harm, torture or even death, the lawyer said.

Assanges lawyers argued that the charges  which carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison  are a politically motivated abuse of power.

Fitzgerald said Assange was suffering as a result of the declaration of war on leakers and journalists by President Donald Trump.

Julian Assange has been made an example of, Fitzgerald said. He was the obvious symbol of all that Trump condemned.

Assanges legal team also alleges that the Australian was offered a pardon by the administration of US President Donald Trump if he agreed to say Russia was not involved in leaking Democratic National Committee emails that were published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 US election campaign.

Assanges lawyers say the offer was made in August 2017 by then-Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who claimed to be acting with the approval of Trump.

The White House has called the claim a fabrication.

Assanges legal saga began in 2010, when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden, which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women. He refused to go to Stockholm, saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the United States or the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In 2012, Assange sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian embassy, where he was beyond the reach of UK and Swedish authorities.

The relationship between Assange and his hosts eventually soured and he was evicted in April 2019. British police immediately arrested him for jumping bail in 2012.

Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November, but Assange remains in prison as he awaits a decision on the US extradition request.

As the hearing got under way on Monday, Nils Melzer, UN special rapporteur on torture, tweeted: This is not just about Julian Assange. This is a battle over press freedom, the rule of law, and the future even of democracy. For democracy cannot co-exist with secrecy. When you deprive the public of their right to know, you deprive them of the tools to control their government.

After a week of opening arguments, the extradition case is due to break until May, when the two sides will lay out their evidence. The judge is not expected to rule until several months after that, with the losing side likely to appeal.
By Trend

Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences to Turkey over the death of nine people in Van province after an earthquake hit neighboring Iran, Trend reports citing MFA press service.

We express our deepest condolences to the relatives of those who were killed as a result of the earthquake in Van city and wish speedy recovery to the injured, reads the message.

Earlier in the day, the European Mediterranean Seismological Center registered a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in a Turkish-Iranian border region, affecting Turkey's province of Van.

The earthquake was registered at 05:52 GMT with its epicentre located 141 kilometres (87.6 miles) to the west of the Iranian city of Tabriz and 71 kilometres to the southeast of the Turkish city of Ozalp.

As a result of the earthquake nine people were killed, 50 people were injured.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
As reported earlier, Air Mobility Commands C-17A Globemaster III arrived at Incerlik AB, Turkey from Sicily, Italy on February, 20 as part of US-led exercise Defender Europe 2020, Air Mobility Command officials said.

Five more C-17A Globemasters III arrived to Incerlik AB from Ramstein Air Base on February, 21. Our sources at Incerlik AB confirm that the presence of five additional transport aircraft is a clear evidence of getting the whole bulk of nukes (that are currently stored at Incerlik AB amid tensions in Syria) out to Germany, Poland and one of the Baltic states. Five nuclear bombs are to be transported to Poland and one of the Baltic states accordingly with the rest of the stock to be delivered to Germany.

This goes in line with an observatory flight over Turkey that will be carried out by Russian inspectors on February 25-28 as a means to verify the withdrawal of nuclear weapons. The inspection was declared by Sergei Ryzhkov, head of Russias National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center.

Besides, theres a forward-deployed nuclear weapons storage depot for Defender Europe 2020 in Powidz.
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.
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As a rising number of patients infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have recovered and been discharged from hospitals in China, it is believed to be of great significance to scrutinize diagnosis and treatment plans, summarize experience in those cured cases, and share such information in a timely manner among various parties.

Xinhua journalists have interviewed 18 recovered patients in 13 provincial-level regions in China, summing up several commonalities from their diagnosis and treatment experiences.

BEIJING, February 23 (Xinhua)  Nearly 23,000 patients infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have so far recovered and been discharged from hospitals in China as the country makes progress in its fight against the epidemic.

It is believed to be of great significance to scrutinize diagnosis and treatment plans, summarize experience in those cured cases, and share such information in a timely manner among various parties, in an effort to intensify medical treatment capability and effectively assist in epidemic prevention and control across the country.

Xinhua journalists have interviewed 18 patients (some using only surnames for privacy) recovering from the coronavirus in 13 provincial-level regions in China, summing up several commonalities from their diagnosis and treatment experiences.

Early Diagnosis, Treatment

Early identification, reporting, isolation, diagnosis, and treatment is one of the best and most effective ways to contain pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus.

"I went to the hospital immediately after I had a fever, and was soon diagnosed with COVID-19," said a patient in north China's Tianjin Municipality.

With intensive media coverage of the situation, the public has been aware of the urgency. "Therefore, I went for an examination immediately after symptom onset," the patient added. "I did the right thing as it helped me win very precious time for timely treatment."

A patient receives a foot bath treatment in a bucket of decoction at an isolation ward of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, February 18, 2020. [Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan]

A 35-year-old resident surnamed Tang in east China's Shandong Province, returned to her hometown from Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, on January 22, one day before the megacity, with a population of over 10 million, decided to close all channels of leaving Wuhan to curb the spread of the deadly pathogen.

"I knew the situation in Wuhan would become worse," Tang recalled. "On February 23, I went to the hospital in my hometown and was confirmed to be infected with the virus."

"Thanks to the early diagnosis, my symptoms were eased a lot after four days of treatment in hospital, and I was finally cured," said Tang.

Combination of TCM, Western Medicine

Clinical experience has repeatedly proven that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with Western medicine plays an active and effective role in the treatment and recuperation of coronavirus patients.

TCM and Western medicine have their respective focuses and complementary strengths in treating the novel coronavirus, according to Zhang Boli, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Western medicine offers important life-supporting measures such as respiratory and circulatory assistance, while TCM focuses on improving patients' physical conditions and immune function, said Zhang.

Medical staff work at a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy in Weinan City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, February 20, 2020. [Xinhua/Tao Ming]

Hu Yaqi, a 26-year-old resident in Wuhan, was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on January 24 when she passed by north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region during her train trip. She received the integrated treatment of TCM and Western medicine during her 14-day hospital stay.

Ding, a university student, took two doses of TCM targeting fever, coughing and vomiting twice a day when receiving treatment at the Sixth People's Hospital of Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

"I felt better a couple of days later. The TCM prescription helped a lot in improving my physical conditions and immune function," said Ding, who was cured and discharged from hospital on February 9.

Among the 22 recovered patients in the hospital, over 80 percent received the combined treatment of TCM and Western medicine, according to Yu Hong, an attending doctor with the hospital.

Nationwide, over 75 percent of COVID-19 patients are receiving TCM treatment in Hubei and over 90 percent in other parts of China.

Strong Medical Support

Strong medical resource support, including excellent medical teams, specific treatment schemes, as well as timely psychological counseling, have been provided for these confirmed cases.

After Li, a 46-year-old teacher in north China's Shaanxi Province, was admitted to hospital on January 28, a medical team consisting of intensive care, infectious and TCM medicines was immediately set up, and a specific treatment plan was quickly formulated.

To quell her fear of the unknown, psychological health services were offered.

"Once we are emotionally unstable, psychological consultants and medics will come to talk with us and cheer us up," said Ma Lian, who was hospitalized with her three family members in northwest China's Qinghai Province in late January.

The patient recovered from COVID-19 poses for a photo with health workers before her discharge from a hospital in Erdos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, February 5, 2020. [Xinhua]

The emotional stability of patients helps in the fight. The psychological counseling offers comfort for those infected and reduces their spiritual burden, according to Drolma, deputy head of the Fourth People's Hospital of Qinghai.

To date, China has opened mental health hotlines for people who need help with psychological issues related to the epidemic. More such telephone  and internet-based counseling services have also been established across the country.

"Trying to stay strong in mind, only in this way can you win the fight against the 'epidemic demon,'" said the recovered patient from Tianjin.

Trust and Cooperation

"I almost had a nervous breakdown when I was diagnosed with the deadly COVID-19," said Su Ya, a university student who was cured at a designated hospital in southwest China's Guizhou Province. "Looking back, I was very grateful for those medical workers who helped me survive the hard time."

Su was the first confirmed case in the city of Zunyi in Guizhou. The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University quickly set up a medical team composed of critical care, respiratory, infectious, and TCM medicines to better provide medical treatment for her.

Health workers escort a recovered COVID-19 patient (2nd L) leave the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, February 8, 2020. [Xinhua/Wang Hong]

Seven doctors and dozens of nurses worked non-stop to take good care of Su. "She trusted us and was very cooperative with our treatment plan, which also gave us great confidence," said Ouyang Yao, a respiratory physician at the hospital.

"Those medical workers deserve our heartfelt gratitude. I felt at ease having them around in the hospital," smiled Hu, the cured patient in Inner Mongolia.

"Our common enemy is the novel coronavirus. The doctors and nurses fighting on the frontline risk their lives to help us. The least we can do is to give them trust and stand with them," said the 46-year-old teacher in Shaanxi.

Emotional Support of Family, Friends

Yang and her 22-year-old daughter were both confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on January 24 in Liaoning.

While many hospitalized patients were separated from their families to reduce the risk of infecting them, medics try to keep a family of patients staying together so that they can spiritually support each other during the treatment.

"The hospital arranged my daughter and me to stay in one ward so that we could accompany and encourage each other," said Yang. They were admitted to the Sixth People's Hospital of Shenyang, and both were discharged from the hospital on February 9.

A health worker (C) escorts two recoverd COVID-19 patients leave Tianjin Haihe Hospital in Tianjin, north China, February 8, 2020. [Xinhua/Li Ran]

"I love you. Do not be afraid and stay strong," Li, the teacher in Shannxi, cried when she received a WeChat message from her elderly teacher. Also, Li's students and their parents also texted messages and made phone calls to encourage her.

"My classmates donated money to me. Everyone cares about me," Li was very touched. "Their support motivated me to pull through."

At the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in east China's Zhejiang Province, Li also shared a ward with her husband. It only took her four days to recover.

"I have trust in the hospital, the doctors, and my beloved one. I am waiting for him to recover and come home soon," said Li.

(Source: Xinhua)
A community in Delta State, South-South Nigeria, has placed a ban on beef to protest attacks on their people by herders.

The people of Uwheru in Ughelli North, Delta State, have been forbidden from eating or selling cow meat because of repeated attacks by herdsmen against farmers and residents of the kingdom, the Punch newspaper reported, Monday.

The paper reported that the ban was imposed on Saturday at a meeting of Uwheru community. The paper said the meeting was attended by prominent indigenes of the area, including the Commissioner for Higher Education in the state, Patrick Muoboghare.

It quoted an unnamed source as saying, By this ban, nobody can bring cow meat to any of the communities that make up Uwheru Kingdom for any function, be it burial or any other celebration.

You cant kill our people and expect us to be eating cow meat when our people cant go to farm. The ban takes effect immediately.

The Punch reported that at least 86 farmers in Uwheru have been killed in herdsmen related attacks in the past 12 years.

Fourteen people were feared killed recently when some herdsmen invaded Uwheru, prompting the community leaders to accuse the Nigerian Army of complicity in the deadly attack.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the latest killings began when herdsmen arrived the community with a large number of cows and destroyed farms.

The youth mobilised and warded them off their farms, but the herdsmen regrouped, armed themselves and returned to the community and killed four persons at separate locations.

The Commissioner of Police in Delta state, Hafiz Inuwa, later admitted, according to a report in Vanguard newspaper, that the police have received six exhumed bodies of farmers killed in Uwheru by suspected herdsmen.

Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, condemned the attack and called on the police and military authorities to urgently restore peace in the affected communities.

Mr Okowa appealed to the Uwheru people to remain calm and show restraint.

Most of the beef consumed in Nigeria are from nomadic Fulani herdsmen. Nigeria is plagued by incessant deadly clashes between herders and farmers, which has spread from the countrys middle-belt region down to the south.

The 2019 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report said herders killed more Nigerians in 2018, compared to the number of deaths caused by Boko Haram in the country.

The GTI report ranked Nigeria, for the fifth consecutive time, since 2015, as the third country with the worst impact from terrorism, globally.
FUZHOU, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Clutching her mobile phone, Qi Gaohong tossed and turned in bed late at night while gazing at the pictures of her beloved pet cat Xiaomi, which was unexpectedly trapped in a dormitory thousands of miles away.

A 26-year-old teacher at a training school in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, Qi had returned to her hometown in north China's Hebei Province days before the Spring Festival to spend the holiday with her family.

She found two temporary adopters for her dog and cat, one of which is a friend with two cats, during her absence.

Everything seemed perfect until the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

On Jan. 23, two days before the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, China implemented traffic restrictions in Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, to curb the spread of the virus. Many places followed suit, including Dongzhai Village in Xiamen, where her cat was staying with the two others.

Qi's friend called her on Feb. 11, saying that the village was shut down and he was unable to get in as he lacked the special pass handed out to local residents.

His request to enter the village and bring out the cats was denied by the community workers who were already on the move to prevent the spread of the virus.

Qi was worried that her cat would die of thirst and hunger and couldn't help but keep imagining the cruel fate that may have befallen Xiaomi.

For Qi, the two-and-half-year-old Xiaomi is not only a pet cat, but also a companion that makes her feel at home and supports her as she pursues her career away from home.

Xiaomi has accompanied her day and night over the past year. "Every day after work, when I come home at around 10 p.m., I will always be greeted by my cat and dog," she recalled, adding that Xiaomi always sits on the shoe cabinet.

Qi has been devoted to rescuing more than 50 stray cats and dogs, and helped find them caring homes.

"I usually take my pets for beauty treatments at pet stores, and bring them with me on self-driving tours," she said.

When 10 p.m. rolled around a day later, Qi posted a notice online seeking help.

"More than 200 people reposted my notice, including my colleagues, students, relatives and even strangers. Some of them added me on WeChat," she said, "however, most of them couldn't offer more than words of comfort."

The helplessness of the situation came crashing down on her. Her pictures of Xiaomi helped ease her nervousness and anxiety.

"Some suggested that I should try to contact the owners of shops near the village, they may find a way to ask their acquaintances who can enter the village and bring Xiaomi out," she recalled, noting that although it seemed futile, she'd still give it a try.

At around 6 a.m. on Feb. 13, a female stranger called and told Qi that she had an acquaintance living in the village and was willing to help, Qi recollected.

Thanks to the timely help, her friend finally made it to the village, but was still blocked by the locked door to the dorm of the studio.

But thankfully, a villager managed to reach the landlord. The cats were saved before they ran out of food and water.

"Seeing Xiaomi safe and sound reassured me the most," she said, after receiving a video clip her friend took of Xiaomi after the cat was rescued.

The entire "adventure" took three days and two nights, a period in which she was unable to sleep.

"You never know which will come first, an accident or tomorrow," said Qi, adding that the experience of rescuing Xiaomi reassures her that kind-hearted people are always right there ready to give a hand.

She tried to thank those who helped her by offering them a cash reward, but all of them declined.

Qi got back to Xiamen on Sunday. She hopes that the epidemic will end as soon as possible so that she can bring her pets to the seashore and fly a kite, and most importantly, visit the warm-hearted people who saved the day.
The French company building the $80 billion future submarine project has recommitted to giving Australian firms more than half of the work on the major shipbuilding program, amid doubts from local industry over its rollout.

Relations between the Australian government and Naval Group hit boiling point last week after Naval Group Australia's chief executive John Davis reportedly suggested local firms might not get even half the submarine contracts.

Naval Group has committed to a 60 per cent local build of submarines for Australia. Credit:Naval Group

Defence officials and Naval Group were on Monday night questioned by a parliamentary inquiry over concerns the biggest military project in Australia's history was not meeting its local content requirements.

Naval Group's executive vice president of the Future Submarine program, Jean-Michel Billig, said the company was committed to "maximising industry opportunity at every phase of the program".
An artist's rendering of one of the Franklin County solar farms that will supply Penn State University with renewable energy when they come on line this year. Four other Pennsylvania schools  Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Muhlenberg College and Dickinson College  announced Monday they have teamed up to buy their power from a Texas solar project. Read more

Four Pennsylvania schools have teamed up to support a Texas solar farm that will supply them with virtual renewable energy, joining a trend among institutions of higher education to address climate change.

Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Muhlenberg College and Dickinson College announced the partnership Monday to collectively purchase solar power. They signed a virtual power-purchase agreement to support production from of a 45.9-megawatt share of a new 200-acre solar farm that will be built at an undisclosed location Texas.

Under a virtual power purchase agreement, the buyer does not buy the actual power generated from a project, but compensates the producer for the difference between the market price of the electricity and the value of the renewable energy certificates it produces. The payments provide the solar producer with a guaranteed income source that can help finance its project. The schools, meanwhile, will continue to buy their power from the regional grid at market rates.

The schools announced the agreement at Second Natures 2020 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit in Atlanta. They did not disclose the cost of the program.

This project is one opportunity for Lehigh to demonstrate climate leadership and to energize the campus and broader community," Lehighs president John D. Simon said in a statement.

Universities are under pressure from activists to take the lead in combating climate change by procuring their energy from carbon-neutral sources and by disinvesting in fossil-fuel producing companies. Penn State University last year announced a power-purchase agreement to support construction of 70 MW of solar power production at three Franklin County farms. The University of Pennsylvania buys about half its electricity from carbon-free energy sources.

The solar project, combined with other on-campus renewable energy projects and energy-efficiency efforts, will allow Muhlenberg, Lehigh, and Lafayette to offset 100% of their electricity load with renewable energy, spokeswomen for the universities said. At Dickinson, which already has a 3 MW solar array on campus that supplies 30% of its power, about 75% of its electricity-related carbon emissions will now be offset.

The schools engaged CustomerFirst Renewables, a Maryland renewable energy adviser, to arrange the deal. Lindsay Irving, a CustomerFirst spokeswoman, said the company had engineered similar agreements for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as a combined agreement for American and George Washington Universities, called the Capital Partners Solar Project.

Texas is awash in renewable wind and solar projects, which has driven down the cost to customers, Irving said. She said the agreement with the Pennsylvania schools is expected to be cost-neutral over the 15-year term.

The Pennsylvania schools said they were attracted to buying solar power from Texas because they were told that a Texas-based project would result in about 15% more avoided emissions because that states power grid is more carbon-intensive, said Lori Friedman, a spokeswoman for Lehigh University.

The Texas project will also be sited on barren land, avoiding the clearing of trees or displacing a farm, which is often required for mid-Atlantic-based projects.

While the out-of-state solar credits will help the schools to achieve their own carbon-neutral benchmarks, the credits will not qualify for the new solar photovoltaic requirements under Pennsylvanias Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act. The law was modified in 2017 to allow only new in-state solar projects to count toward a goal requiring 0.5 % of the electricity supplied in Pennsylvania by 2021 to come from solar resources.
The swearing of Arvind Kejriwal as the Cheif Minister of Delhi for the third term and his appeal to opposition politicians to forget the bitterness that clouded the election campaign has heralded the beginning of a new chapter in the politics of Delhi. The post-swearing in speech at the Ramlila grounds was converted by Kejriwal into a thanksgiving ceremony to the applause of thousands of Delhiites.

The transformation of Arvind Kejriwal from a firebrand speaker against the Congress and the BJP from the days he took a lead role in the Campaign Against Corruption in 2013 under the stewardship of Anna Hazare to the present with his appeal to the Modi government to bless his administration to cooperate with him in the governance of Delhi is a remarkable journey in the chief ministers political career.

Kejriwal is sending a clear message that he is no more a maverick politician and that he is going to be there for a long haul. All this merits an analysis of Kejriwal and his brand of politics.

Let us first take a look at Kejriwals priorities. During the last two years of his second term, Kejriwal gave up his confrontationist attitude towards the Centre and started focusing on the delivery of his promise of providing free water and power to the common man, improving the healthcare facilities through the inauguration of mohalla clinics, improving the quality of education in public schools and free bus ride to women.

Surveys of his governance show that the poor, the lower and middle income groups and even the upper middle class were impressed by his sincerity of purpose and delivery of services.

As for schools, studies have revealed that though the quality of school education has marginally gone up, the physical infrastructure has vastly improved along with changes in curriculum relating to imparting of skills and spoken English capabilities among the school-going children.

It was these aam aadmi-centric policies that helped Kejriwal to return to power by winning 62 of the 70 seats. The Delhi voters were also impressed with AAPs promise of taking up the issue of fighting pollution on a priority basis in the months to come.

It is a measure of political maturity of Delhi voters that they returned AAP to power though they had rejected it during the Lok Sabha elections.

Among the other significant factors which brought Arvind Kejriwal back to power was his conscious decision to refrain from taking any position on the controversial CAA, NRC, the Shaheen Bagh protest and finally not indulging in any anti-Modi tirade. More than all these, he cleverly strategised not to alienate the Hindu voters and recited Hanuman Chalisa and visited the Hanuman temple immediately after the end of the campaign and after the declaration of results.

Clearly, Kejriwal was driven by his single point agenda of coming back to power by keeping the Hindu voters on his side.

That AAPs Muslim candidates like Amanullah Khan won (all Muslim candidates won too) with a huge majority of over 71,000 votes, conveys the message that the Muslim voters too decided to support AAP, notwithstanding the fact that Kejriwal did not support the Shaheen Bagh protests.

Kejriwals victory at the polls is also an occasion to analyse the other related issues of the role of ideology in politics and his possible role in the Oppositions fight against Modi. As for ideology, Kejriwals strategy was to downplay its role and focus on issues which have a direct bearing on the lives of the people in Delhi.

Pursuit of politics

For him, the priority is taking head-on the problems of the voters and directly connect with their aspirations. Ideology and ideological pursuits, which is a doctrinaire sense, drive the pursuit of politics, did not resonate with Kejriwal.

In fact, in his post-swearing in speech, he spoke of the service of the common man as deshbhakthi. Whether we academic analysts approve it or not, this is what the ordinary aspirational voter expects from politicians. May be, Kejriwals brand of politics will appeal to younger politicians in their pursuit of power and office in the days to come.

As regards Kejriwal becoming the new nucleus of Opposition unity, such things do not seem to interest him. With the next round of Lok Sabha elections far away, Kejriwal may be in no hurry to involve himself in the project of Opposition unity. The realist in him has perhaps cautioned Kejriwal against any sense of exuberance in aspiring for a leadership role in the directionless Oppositions struggle against the Modi government.

Finally, that he talked about his willingness to cooperate with the Central government and even sought Modis blessings to make Delhi a world-class city, is a clear indication of Kejriwals priorities in the foreseeable future.

It remains to be seen how successful would he be in meeting the rising aspirations of Delhiites, before the media and peoples honeymoon with his government ends.

(The writer is former Professor of Political Science, Bangalore University and former Senior Fellow, ICSSR)
Actress Kiara Advani has recently made her debut in ace photographer Dabboo Ratnani's calendar 2020. But Kiara's photograph did not go down well with a section of social media users.

Kiara's picture from the calendar shows her standing topless behind a large leaf. Many social media users called it a copy of international photographer Marie Barsch's similar photoshoot.

Read: Dabboo Ratnani's Calendar Photo with Kiara Advani in Plagiarism Row

Now, Dabboo has come out on social media in an effort to shut down critics who are accusing him of plagiarism. He posted an image of actress Tabu from his 2001 calendar shoot on social media saying that the concept of a muse posing topless behind leaves was his and that he executed it way back before he re-did it with Kiara recently.

In his post he wrote, "Beautiful @tabutiful for #dabbooratnanicalendar 2002  #lovenature. This timeless & mesmerising shot of Tabu was taken in the year 2001 and it featured in my calendar in the year 2002. Theres been a lil noise about @kiaraaliaadvanis breathtaking 2020 calendar shot with leaf  ! Guess if I can reuse my camera, I can definitely repeat my own concept! & if at all that doesnt go well with trolls, then I admit to plagiarising MY OWN SELF #loveandpeace @dabbooratnani @manishadratnani Huge Thanks to my friends who trust me ! Thats all that matters."

The 25th edition of Dabboo's annual calendar, which came out this year, also featured actors like Hrithik Roshan, Bhumi Pednekar, Kriti Sanon, Vidya Balan, Vicky Kaushal, Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday and others.

(With inputs from IANS)

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The Maharashtra government on Mondayreleased the first list of 15,358 beneficiaries of the state farm loan waiver scheme.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his deputy Ajit Pawar interacted via video conferencing with some farmers whose bank accounts were credited withfunds.

"Under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule farm loan waiver scheme, 34,83,908 farmer accounts have been identified," said a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Thackeray saidimplementation of the scheme has been done within 60 days of its announcement and credited the state machinery for the speedy execution.

The scheme writing off the loans of farmers whose crop loan outstanding is up to Rs 2 lakh upto September 30, 2019, was announced by the chief minister in December last year, after taking charge of the coalition government.

During the video conferencing interaction from the Vidhan Bhawan, farmer VithalraoGarud from Parbhani told the CM that his debts have been cleared. He invited Thackeray for the wedding of his daughter.

Popat Mukte, a farmer from Ahmednagardistrict, expressed satisfaction over the simple procedure to claim the loan waiver, which he said saved him the ordeal of doing rounds of government offices.

Mukte said the new crop loan waiver scheme stood out from the earlier one launched by the then BJP government in the ease of procedure.

"Earlier, money was received after doing several rounds of government offices. Now, the work is swift," he said.

Earlier in the day as the budget session was about to begin, BJP legislators staged a protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhawan building demanding complete loan waiver for farmers.

They demanded that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government write off farmers' debts completely and also provide them a financial assistance of Rs 25,000 per hectare for crop damage.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BERLIN  A 29-year-old man drove his car into a carnival parade in a German town on Monday, according to the police and prosecutors, injuring about 30 people, including children, and shaking a country already on edge after a racist shooting that killed several people last week.

The state prosecutor in Frankfurt said the authorities suspect that the driver, a German from the region where the crash took place, had deliberately steered his vehicle into the crowd of families with young children who had packed the streets for an annual Shrove Monday parade.

Germanys top security official, Horst Seehofer, last week declared far-right extremism to be the biggest threat to our democracy right now and ordered an increased police presence at large public events.

Regional law-enforcement officials said, however, that they had no indication of a political motivation for the crash on Monday in the small town of Volkmarsen.
The on Monday said the "unilateral agenda" of US President Donald Trump's visit is to further prise open the to boost the US corporate interest and help his re-election bid.

The party also called upon the Narendra Modi government not to succumb to the US agenda.

"The Politburo of the calls upon the Modi government not to succumb to the unilateral agenda of US President on his visit to India. The singular intention of the US administration is to further prise open to boost the US corporate interest and thus help the reelection bid of Trump," it said.

Trump is on a two day visit to India.

It also said the US agenda will "adversely affect" the interests of the Indian farmers, agriculture, particularly the dairy and poultry sectors.

"USA allows its agribusiness to distort prices to outcompete local farmers in the developing countries with a subsidy of a whopping $ 867 billion.

"Trump wants India to now remove the tariff barrier which serves as a policy tool to protect the Indian farmers, food procurement for people's food security and minimum support price to our farmers. This will destroy Indian agriculture and the livelihood of crores of our people," the party said.

Accusing the US President of targeting India's health care sector, the party said its demands that India must remove the compulsory licensing for the benefit of mega US pharmaceutical corporations was "misplaced".

The US corporate agenda on e-commerce is equally invasive which is trying to cajole India to sign the digital trade regime at WTO which would allow US big-tech to increase their control over the economy and the political process and facilitate free cross border data flows without compensation, it said.

"At the same time, the Indian government must insist on US restrictive policy on visas which is adversely affecting Indian IT industry.

"Pressures are being exerted on export subsidy for small manufactures especially in fields like solar cell manufacturing," it said.

The Politburo of the party calls upon the BJP government to resist such US pressures which undermine India's economy and security concerns.

The party also hailed the protest against the visit of US President Trump.

"The BJP government must heed this voice of the people and not succumb to US pressures", it said.
Joe Biden, who in a few short weeks has seen Sen. Bernie Sanders overtake him as the national frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, is banking on a strong performance in Saturdays South Carolina primary to give his campaign a jumpstart.

The former vice president has consistently led the crowded Democratic field in support from African American voters, but has seen that support drop to 35% in South Carolina, a 19-point fall since November, according to CBS.

A key reason, Biden told CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday, is that billionaire and activist Tom Steyer is spending hundreds of millions, tens of thousands of dollars, millions of dollars, out campaigning there. And so I think a lot is happening in terms of the amount of money being spent by the billionaires to try to cut into the African-American vote. I think that has a lot to do with it.

Steyer has flooded South Carolina with spending the last several months, buying $14 million in TV and radio ads and $100,000 on ads in newspapers owned by African Americans, Politico reported earlier this month. Steyer has also hired 93 staffers and assembled the largest organization in South Carolina out of all the Democratic campaigns.

Steyer has consistently called for reparations for African Americans, saying they would help repair the damage from the legacy of slavery.

On Fox News Sunday, Steyer said his messaged had been well received by minorities.

I think I have done best with black people, I have done best with Latinos, he said. I think that when we get to the diverse Democratic electorate, when we get to the diversity that is America and the Democratic Party, I do a lot better."

He noted that in addition to reparations, his calls for environmental justice would help curb the threats of climate change from disproportionately impacting communities of color.

South Carolina happens to be a place that has a pretty high concentration of African Americans. And those happen to be people that I talked to a lot and have a lot of  a long history of working with, and, therefore, thats a population where I do really well," Steyer said.

Pressed by Fox News Chris Wallace on criticism Steyer received for putting black Democratic leaders on his payroll, Steyer said, What we found is, if you want to organize in a community, you have to work with people from the community, and thats exactly what were doing in South Carolina."
Authorities in South Florida have increased the reward being offered for information that leads them to a baby who disappeared three weeks ago.

Andrew Caballeiro has been missing since Jan. 28. The Miami Dade Police Department said it has increased the reward to $8,000 for tips that lead investigators to the boy.
Can't allow every person who thinks of some solution to COVID-19 to file petition: SC

Mediators put blame on cops for Shaheen Bagh mess

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 24: Former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has told the Supreme Court the protest at Shaheen Bagh here against the Citizenship Amendment law was peaceful and inconvenience being caused to commuters was due to barricades "unnecessarily" put by police on roads far away from the site.

The same stand has been taken by social activist Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad in their joint affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in the matter.

Habibullah, Azad and Naqvi have jointly filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court which is seized of the matter.

Habibullah had visited the protest site at Shaheen Bagh pursuant to the direction by a bench of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. The bench is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.

The top court is hearing pleas seeking removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh and ensuring smooth traffic flow in the area.

The Supreme Court had earlier said that though people have a fundamental right to protest "peacefully and lawfully", it was troubled by the blocking of a public road at Shaheen Bagh as it might lead to a "chaotic situation".

Shaheen Bagh protests peaceful, people facing difficulties due to block roads: Interlocutor tells SC

In his affidavit filed in the top court, Habibullah has contended that "Shaheen Bagh stands tall as a firm example of peaceful dignified dissent, more so in the face of various instances of state-sponsored violence on similar dissents across India."

"We have been sad and mute witnesses to police brutality and negative typecasting of a particular community across the country. Crushing dissent instead of entering into a dialogue is the new norm, but it is alien to our Constitution," he has claimed.

Naqvi and Azad, in their joint affidavit, have alleged that "the present ruling dispensation, at the behest of its political masters, had devised a strategy of extinguishing these protests by falsely attributing violence and acts of vandalism to peaceful protesters".

They have also said that police has "unnecessarily" barricaded numerous roads that "have no connection with the protest" and are at a great distance from the site, thereby, "abdicating their responsibilities and duties and wrongly laying the blame on the protest".

"It is these barricading of unconnected roads that has led to a chaotic situation," Habibullah has claimed and added that if the barricades are removed from the 10 points he has mentioned in the affidavit, "the chaos complained of in the petition would cease".

In a separate affidavit, Naqvi and Azad have claimed the issue of inconvenience to commuters has been "deliberately orchestrated by the police" by blocking all the surrounding roads as well as the arterial roads connecting Delhi, Noida and Faridabad.

They have further alleged that one of the petitions has been filed by lawyer Amit Shani, who is an active member and supporter of BJP posing as a concerned citizen, as his place of residence, office and direct route of daily commute are nowhere near Shaheen Bagh.

Habibullah, in his affidavit, has also stated that the protesters have asked him to convey to the Supreme Court that their dissent "was out of desperation and compulsion" as they see the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) as a "death knell" for their and future generations' survival and existence.

Road at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh opened by group of protesters, blocked again

The other concerns voiced by the protesters were that CAA and the intention behind it, as publicly voiced by those in power, "has struck a deep fear into the hearts of many poor and under-privileged citizens of India".

He has said, "The assembly is peaceful. The question of their security is also crucial. Any attempt to forcibly shift them from the present site would compromise their safety."

Restrictions have been imposed on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch and the Okhla underpass, which were closed on December 15 last year due to protests against CAA and NRC.

The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal filed by Sahni, who had first approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions to Delhi Police to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, which was blocked by anti-CAA protesters on December 15 last year.

Separately, former BJP MLA Nand Kishore Garg has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking directions to authorities to remove protesters from Shaheen Bagh.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 8:06 [IST]
More than 950,000 people with registration in ORDLO received biometric passports of Ukrainian citizens to travel abroad, Deutsche Welle Corporation reported on Monday referring to the State Migration Service of Ukraine.

According to the Service, received at the DW request, as of mid-February 2020, some 950,405 passports of a citizen of Ukraine were issued for travelling abroad to citizens of Ukraine who had registration in certain areas of Donetsk or Luhansk regions.

In addition, over the past year, more than 16,000 inhabitants of the occupied Crimea received such passports, DW reports.

According to it, as of February 12, some 150,466 passports were issued for travelling abroad for citizens of Ukraine who had registration in Crimea or the city of Sevastopol.

To obtain a citizen's passport for traveling abroad, it is necessary, in particular, to provide a passport of a citizen of Ukraine. Biometric passports for traveling abroad have been issued in Ukraine since 2015, DW reports.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) The House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Monday called for comments on the controversial franchise renewal issue of ABS-CBN, marking the much-anticipated start of the proceedings on the case.

Panel chair and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez said the group has tasked fellow lawmakers as well as other concerned stakeholders to submit their position papers which would contain both pro- and anti-stands on the media giant's case.

The committee will ask all sides (pro/anti) to submit their position papers so that we can start reviewing them before we hold our hearing proper, Alvarez said in a message to reporters.

He said the panel hopes to collate the documents in 30 to 60 days, adding the move will help lawmakers be more "organized" ahead of the planned hearing.

Despite this, Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano, vice chair of the committee, earlier told CNN Philippines the process may take longer with lawmakers still expected to vote on the bills in a few months time.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the House may only take up the bills a total of 11 pending before the lower chamber in May at the earliest, citing more urgent measures on deck for lawmakers.

We have to collate the pros and cons that will be submitted and taken by the committee itself formally. The time table is right possibly May, we will be able to calendar all these depending on how heavy our workload in Congress is, Albano said.

The development comes amid continued calls from fellow lawmakers to tackle the issue, with ABS-CBNs franchise set to expire on May 4.

The Senate today opened a separate inquiry into the media networks case.

Albano said the parallel discussions will not affect the Senates move, as the latters probe will focus on supposed anomalies and issues hounding the companys operations.

It is not a process wherein they're tackling the franchise itself because that starts in the House, he noted.
Sentiment among hoteliers has slumped to a decade low, particularly among those traditionally dependent on British visitors, according to a new survey.

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) said only a third of its members see a positive outlook for 2020. Thats down from 40pc positivity a year ago, 79pc two years ago and around 92pc five years ago, when US, UK and European visitor numbers all were growing by double digits.

This two-year slump in confidence - attributed mainly to fears that Brexit could weaken British trade - comes despite continued modest growth in the hospitality sector.

The number of visitors to Ireland rose last year by 1.8pc to a record 10.8 million, and Tourism Ireland has targeted 1pc growth in visitor numbers this year alongside a 3pc gain in revenue.

But IHF president Michael Lennon said most of the federations members - around 62pc - were reporting a drop in British trade this year with the economic reality of Brexit yet to bite.

This was being only partially offset in growth in domestic demand for rooms, with 46pc reporting increased Irish bookings so far this year. The US market appeared in flux, with 27pc experiencing higher American bookings than a year ago versus 33pc on the decline.

Mr Lennon called on the incoming Government to reverse recent excessive increases in some hotels rates bills and to protect the sector from potential 30pc hikes in their water charges, given the relatively high usage of water by hotels, particularly by those premises with leisure facilities.

The federation - which represents nearly 1,000 hotels and guesthouses offering nearly 63,000 rooms nationwide - published its quarterly outlook ahead of todays opening of its two-day annual conference in Galway.

Despite their relatively pessimistic mood, more than three in four hoteliers and guesthouse operators said they plan to refurbish or upgrade their premises this year - including 7pc who plan to build new leisure facilities.

The conference agenda highlighted the need for hotels to meet customers rising expectations and to compete with Airbnb and other online disruptors offering short-term lodging.
Radiohead fans will soon have a chance to delve deeper into the music mind of guitarist Ed OBrien. OBrien announced his first-ever full North American tour as a solo artist, which includes a stop at Union Transfer in Philadelphia on June 8. The tour is promoting OBriens upcoming album Earth, which will be released on April 17.

The Philadelphia show is the only one in Pennsylvania, with the next closest shows are June 5 at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn, New York and June 11 at The 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. Tickets for all the shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 and can be purchased at eobmusic.com. You can get access to a special presale on Feb. 27 by pre-ordering the Earth album.

The tour is going to be climate-positive too. OBrien has teamed up with environmental advocates REVERB.org to neutralize the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by the tour... and then neutralize even more. Itll do so by funding numerous projects across the world that will directly eliminate greenhouse gasses and help fight climate change.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A West Brighton felon, accused of firing a gun two years ago on a Port Richmond street, pleaded guilty Friday to a weapon charge that will put him behind bars for two years.

Naquan Young, 22, was charged in the April 8, 2018 episode along with Isaiah Kelson, who earlier this week was convicted of murder in the unrelated slaying of Frances Williams, an innocent bystander, in New Brighton three months later on July 10.

In the April incident, police said Young and Kelson, 23, fired several shots in the vicinity of Heberton and Post avenues at around 1 a.m.

Nobody was struck, but police recovered several shell casings from the scene, according to an NYPD spokeswoman.

The defendants fired loaded firearms in the direction of civilians in a residential neighborhood while other individuals were present at this location, an indictment said.

Young was charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal weapon possession, criminal firearm possession and reckless endangerment.

To resolve his case, he pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to a reduced count of attempted second-degree criminal weapon possession.

Besides two years prison time, Young will be sentenced on April 6 to 18 months post-release supervision.

Defense lawyer Michael Cirigliano declined to comment outside court.

On Tuesday, Kelson was convicted of murder and other charges stemming from the fatal shooting of Williams, 67, affectionately known as Miss Franny.

Kelson and another man, who cooperated with authorities, were firing at a fleeing gang rival they spotted on the street, said prosecutors.

One of Kelsons bullets struck Williams, who was standing at a Jersey Street bus stop, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Kelson, and others, including West Brighton residents and co-defendants Marquise Tart, 26, and Jaleel Hewitt, 27, sought to avenge their friend Robert Craigwell, 26, who was fatally mowed down by a van in St George less than an hour before Williams was slain.

Members of a rival New Brighton crew were in the van, said prosecutors.

Tart and Hewitt were convicted of conspiracy and criminal facilitation for aiding in the revenge plot. They were not charged with murder.

Craigwell was run down shortly after individuals in the two rival gangs had been fighting around the courthouse, said prosecutors.

Young had been embroiled in one of those altercations, prosecutors said.

In October 2018, Young pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of criminal contempt to resolve his case.

That charge accused him of disturbing a court proceeding.

As the brawls unfolded, court officers had put the courthouse on lockdown and raced into the street after the combatants.

In exchange for his top-count plea, Young was sentenced to a year behind bars.

That sentence ran concurrently to a similar jail term he received for criminal firearm possession, a felony, arising from a May 2016 incident in Port Richmond.
THE BATTLE over a coat share scheme used to provide clothes for homeless people and others in need is heating up between the founder and Limerick City and County Council

Audrey Ryan started the scheme after Limerick woman Louise Casey died on the city streets in 2016. She initially reported the coat rack, which was located in Arthurs Quay Park, as stolen after in went missing in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

However, it soon transpired that the council had moved the rack inside in preparation of Storm Dennis.

Now Audrey has been told she will need a license if she wished to continue to operate the coat rack, despite running it for the last four years.

She claims the council has moved the rail because it is an eyesore on the run-up to the St Patricks Day celebrations.

I think it was taken away because of the big wheel that is coming, and they dont want it to be an eyesore, said Audrey.

However, a spokesperson for the council denied this and said the coat rack had become a health and safety issue.

At the height of the stormy weather at the weekend, Limerick City and County Council removed the frame and tarpaulin as they had become a health and safety risk. The tarpaulin had blown off the frame and a decision was made to remove it from its location in case it toppled over causing injury to a member of the public, said a spokesperson.

Limerick City and County Council categorically denies that any of its staff said the frame was being removed because it was an eyesore. The frame was observed by council staff before Christmas and the owner of the frame was told that it would have to be removed as it didnt have a license. The owner promised to do this after Christmas but this did not happen.

The council claims that while the coat rack was in position, staff consistently cleaned the area around it.

Unfortunately the area had become a dumping ground for all sorts of clothing including underwear and other rubbish. It was also being used as a shelter by a number of people experiencing homelessness.

Above: A picture taken by a Council staff member of apparent disarray on the site

"Sadly, staff also noticed discarded drugs paraphernalia in the vicinity, items which could cause serious injury to children and adults if they tripped and fell. Im sure the owner of the coat rack would agree that its original purpose was not to attract other clothes and rubbish or to cause injury to others.

However, Audrey dismissed the councils claims.

It was never a dumping ground. I was in there every single day. The new rail was built with safety in mind.

I was there the night before handing out sleeping bags and coats and it was perfect, said Audrey, who has been operating the coat rail for the past four years.

Audrey also says that the council did, in fact, tell her the rack was an eyesore and says she is willing to take a lie detector test to prove it.

I promise you this man said it to my face and I said the homeless are more of an eyesore. He knows he said it. If he wants I will take a lie detector to prove he did, said Audrey, referring to a council employee.

I am disheartened because it was helping so many. In this weather, people need them more than ever. But hopefully, it will return with the correct permit as Cllr John Costello is helping me. I will do everything I can to get it up as it did help our vulnerable in our city.

Audrey says she has yet to receive the coats that were on the rack at the time it was taken and believes they may have been thrown away.

The council says they will look at the various options available which can best meet the objective of the coat initiative, which is the distribution of donated coats to those experiencing homelessness.

The council provided a photo of an overflowing facility, from December, however, Audrey pointed out that this overflow was a once-off as part of the Christmas drive and it was sorted by that evening.

Cllr Costelloe, who helped return the rack to Audrey, claims the council could do more.

I feel the council has been very disingenuous with their reasoning behind this. They are saying that it is because it is an unauthorised structure. But we have unauthorised structures across the city, in terms of derelict sites, and if we had been more proactive with those derelict sites, we wouldnt be having this problem, end of.
Caroline Flacks former flatmate has shared a lovely picture of the late star as a teenager, writing that she was full of happiness, energy and drive.

Bernadette Battom, now 42, went to theatre school with Caroline, who died a week last Saturday, aged 40, and wanted to share a moment of her in joyful times when they were aged 16.

She spoke to the Sunday People about their time at Cambridges Bodywork Company in 1996, where they shared a house with three other performers.

The 42-year-old explained: She was so full of happiness, energy and drive.



She said: She was a bundle of confidence and always got picked for everything. We were working so hard we were coming home exhausted, so we didnt go out loads or party.

Caroline knew where she wanted to go and she was focused on that. She wasnt the tidiest housemate but she was very popular. People were drawn to her.

Bernadette was understandably devastated to hear of Carolines death little more than a week ago.

She said: If you told me back then that this was going to happen, I would never have believed it.

Sadly, they lost touch after graduating in 1999.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
* European futures down 2% on virus pandemic worries

* Italy battles 'explosion' of coronavirus cases

* Gold surges as investors seek safety

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.

ON OUR RADAR: VIRUS-HIT ITALY, TRAVEL AND LUXURY STOCKS (0750 GMT)

Italian stocks are expected to lead a sell-off in European shares at the open after the

country took extraordinary measures to contain a sharp rise in coronavirus infections which

could have a big impact on business activity in Europe's No. 4 economy.

Bank of Italy governor Ignazio Visco reportedly said that virus damage could wipe off more

than 0.2% from economic growth.

Futures on Italy's main stock benchmark slid 4% to their lowest in nearly 3 weeks,

while other euro zone futures fell 2% and FTSE futures were down 1.3%.

Italy reported more than 150 coronavirus cases, leading authorities to seal off the worst

affected towns in the wealthy regions of Lombardy and Veneto, shut schools, museums and cinemas

and call off the Venice Carnival.

Worries over a global pandemic are set to hit travel, luxury and chip stocks sharply. Shares

in these sectors could fall around 2-3% at the open, say traders. RCB has estimated a 3-4%

earnings hit from the virus for Paris and Frankfurt airport operators.

In the UK, AB Foods warned there was a risk of supply shortages on some lines if

delays in factory production in China are prolonged due to coronavirus

In banks, UniCredit confirmed its CEO Mustier will remain at the bank following

reports that he was being considered for the top job at rival HBSC. Meanwhile the FT

reported that Barclays is gearing up to start the search for a new top boss to replace

CEO Staley.

Other stock movers: Bunzl posts higher profit as acquisitions pay off; UK's Countrywide in

talks with LSL Property for possible all-share merger; Italy positive on EU talks over Monte dei

Paschi clean-up plan

(Danilo Masoni)

*****

EUROPE SEEN DOWN SHARPLY ON VIRUS PANDEMIC FEARS (0640 GMT)

European shares are expected to open sharply lower this morning as worries over the economic

damage from coronavirus grew following sharp rises in infections outside China.

Italy, along with South Korea and Iran saw a sharp rise in infections, fuelling worries that

the outbreak will grow into a pandemic.

"The new fears are centred around South Korea and Northern Italy where virus outbreaks have

led to travel restrictions," says Chris Bailey, European Strategist at Raymond James.

In Italy, where over 150 cases were reported, authorities sealed off the worst affected

towns in the wealthy regions of Lombardy and Veneto ordered schools to close for at least a

week, shut museums and cinemas and called off the Venice Carnival.

Spreadbetters at IG expect London's FTSE to open 92 points lower at 7,312, Frankfurt's DAX

to open 257 points lower at 13,322, and Paris' CAC to open 106 points lower at 5,923.

EuroSTOXX 50 futures are down 2.1%.

Over in Asia, shares also fell sharply as investors sought refuge in safe haven assets such

as gold.

(Danilo Masoni)

*****

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
If you don't ask, the answer is always no. Premier Daniel Andrews is certainly taking this maxim to heart. After proposing to his federal colleagues that the compulsory superannuation levy should be lifted to 15 per cent (he got a very abrupt "no"), Mr Andrews is now floating the idea of a new national tax or an increase in the Medicare levy to boost funding for mental health services. It's an idea with merit.

Nobody is in doubt about the scale of the problem. An interim report by the Royal Commission into Victorias Mental Health System bluntly described the system as having "catastrophically failed to live up to expectations" and being "woefully unprepared" for future needs. In financial terms, the cost to Victoria is put at $14.2 billion a year.

Scott Morrison and Daniel Andres need to work together to raise money for mental health reforms. Credit:AAP

And a recent Productivity Commission draft report on mental health rang the same alarm bells at a national level. The report points to the need for generational change to a health system that is mostly focused on physical illness, with treatment for mental health "tacked on". It put the cost to the Australian economy at somewhere between $43 billon and $51 billion.

Both interim reports have put on the table some sensible suggestions for reform. The standout idea from Victoria's royal commission is the creation of a mental health collaborative centre, similar to the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, where researchers and experts in clinical and non-clinical areas would work under one roof.
I almost fell off from my sickbed, in that critical condition when I heard some political Gurus in our political circles has been sponsored by the scholarship Secretariat to further their Education. I stand to be corrected...

As the Akan will say, "how bad was it prepared for it not be cooked enough for human consumption in the end."I am not all that surprising because some have been diagnosed with "Congenital covetous." Not being sensational, but we have to speak the truth to power.

If my memory serves me right, Ghana Education Trust Fund Act 200, has started it clearly at Act 581 Part 1, objective 2b that, GETFUND is to provide supplementary funding to the scholarship Secretariat for the grant of scholarships to gifted but needy students for studies in the second-cycle and accredited tertiary institutions in Ghana.

The question am asking is, are the likes of Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh(Minister of Education) and Dr. Prince H. Armah gifted but needy Students...?

Spraying United States dollars on these grown-ups who double as government officials, totally befit purpose and it goes against the principles behind logical reasoning. Currently, I am in a confused state.....this is a total abuse of power and we shouldn't promote this as a state.

We should be bold enough, to discourage the act in which government officials will be running to government agencies to solicit funds to fund their education and other educational trips. These people are doing a total great disservice to the state and we should speak against it.

We were encouraged to be citizens but not spectators. Surely, I will remain so, without any fear or favour.

I stand to be corrected, GETFUND as a state agency is one of the main sources of funding to the Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF). For some time now, the Trust Fund has been forced to rely heavily on recovered loans to disburse to students. This is due to the delay in the release of funds from GETFUND and other stakeholders. This has affected thousands of students within the four walls of this country.

Who can convince me that, the likes of Adwoa Safo and the NACCA boss are gifted but needy Students....?

So these political kingpins can no longer fund their education;..then we have a long way to go as a country.

I am sad as a student, and also a student activist because most of my colleagues are in the house, some too have been sacked by school authorities, all in the name of fees and the delay in disbursement of funds from the outfit of SLTF which is being funded by GETFUND.

We should all speak the truth to power, irrespective of the political colours. These politicians should think about Ghanaian students and the youth at Large. We expect them to know better, so they should do the needful.

Thank you.

Adjei Boakye.

Student Activist.

Convener- Aggrieved Student Loan Beneficiaries.
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Nigerian Catholics to participate in Ash Wednesday procession against insecurity

By Benedict Mayaki

The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria are asking the faithful to wear black, or at least black armbands as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes.

In a statement, signed by the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, the faithful have been invited to join a Day of Prayer Procession to kick off the Lenten season, to protest the state of insecurity in the country.

The statement, signed by the president of the CBCN, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, to be read in all parishes on Ash Wednesday, described the procession as a part of the Churchs moral responsibility.

The march, scheduled for Ash Wednesday, is against the repeated barbaric executions of Christians by the Boko Haram insurgents and the incessant cases of kidnapping for ransom linked to the same group.

The statement decries the public show of impunity by the perpetrators of these crimes on social media, the constant threats to many communities, and the lack of arrests of the criminals by the government.

No peace/growth without Security

Emphasizing the importance of peace, the statement reads: May we, once again, remind all the arms of the government in Nigeria and all whose responsibility it is to protect Nigerians that without security there can be no peace, and without peace, there can be no development or national growth.

The CBCN also called on the international community to come to the aid of the Nigerian government in its fight to restore security and stability in the country.

Nigeria has been on a constant fight against the Boko Haram insurgents who in 2014 kidnapped girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Northern Nigeria. In recent times, there have been multiple instances of kidnappings and violence against local communities linked to the same group.
The proposal to build a futuristic high-rise business city in Malaga port, presented last week, has divided opinion considerably.

The project, commissioned by Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre, has been met with opposition from residents in the area as well as the president of the port authority, Carlos Rubio.

De la Torre this week has called for a meeting with Rubio, who is critical of the projects impact on the ports logistical activities, in order to discuss possible solutions, including the modification of the ports Special Plan.

The mayor argues that the project to build 15 towers would create much-needed office space and would boost the local economy significantly.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said the Centre's flagship scheme Rurban Mission, embodies the spirit of Indian culture and tradition which is that of community living.

The Mission which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 21 2016, with the vision to deliver catalytic interventions to rural areas on the threshold of growth.

The objective of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) is to develop the cluster of rural villages in a holistic manner by providing all the basic amenities, infrastructure as well as economic development opportunities in an integrated and time bound manner.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the mission, Tomar, the Union Minister for Rural Development, said the Rurban Mission embodies the spirit of the Indian culture and tradition which is that of community living.

The community perspective has to be kept in mind for holistic development of a region and cluster approach is very fruitful in that regard, Tomar said in an official statement.

He said when the community spirit and effort increases, the Centre and states will work together for development of clusters and all schemes will be made convergent towards that objective.

The Union Minister said that the amount of funding given to this scheme is mostly for gap funding but the central and state government funding together can have a good impact on development of clusters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian embassy in Tokyo said on Sunday that these new cases are being treated in hospital and all Indians are responding well.

New Delhi: Four more Indians onboard luxury ship Diamond Princess have tested positive to Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) taking the total number of infected Indians to 12. The Indian embassy in Tokyo said on Sunday that these new cases are being treated in hospital and all Indians are responding well.

@IndianEmbTokyo hoped that no additional Indian nationals onboard Diamond Princess would test positive for COVID19. Unfortunately, results received as of 1200 JST include four Indian crew members having tested positive. All 12 Indians are responding well to treatment, Indian officials tweeted.

Japanese authorities confirmed that samples from all onboard Diamond Princess collected for PCR test are being processed. All results expected by February 25-26. Indian nationals on the ship, who would not test positive, will be facilitated by Indian Embassy in Tokyo soon after, the Indian embassy in Tokyo said.

Passengers showing no signs of the virus started deboarding the ship after the quarantine period ended last week. The embassy had on Saturday said that all Indian nationals, amongst others, onboard Diamond Princess too will be tested by the Japanese authorities after they disembarked on Friday.

However, Japans chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said that over 1,000 passengers and crew will remain on board the ship after the disembarkations begin.

As of 1000 JST, no additional new cases in respect of Indian nationals testing positive for COVID19 since yesterday onboard Diamond Princess@IndianEmbTokyo sincerely hopes that none will show any sign of COVID19, enabling further facilitation, the embassy had said on Saturday.

The ship was kept for quarantine off coast Yokohoma. However, questions are now being raised over the effectiveness of quarantine measures after a woman, earlier tes-ted negative and allowed to disembark from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess, later tested positive.

The woman in her 60s returned to her home in Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo by train after disembarking the Diamond Princess on Wednesday, but later developed fever and tested positive on Saturday, new agencies reported. More than 20 foreigners evacuated from the ship have also tested positive after returning home.
Four more people have died of coronavirus in Iran, a spokesman for Parliament said on Monday, bringing the country's overall death toll to 12 -- by far the most outside China.

"The minister of health announced the deaths of 12 people and 47 cases of infection in the country," Assadollah Abbassi was quoted as saying by semi-official agency ISNA after a closed session of Parliament.

Abbassi gave the same death toll in reports by Fars agency and the Young Journalists Club, a branch of state television, but they quoted him as saying there were "around" 47 infections.

Quoting Abbassi, ISNA added that "according to the health minister... the cause of coronavirus infections in Iran are people who have entered the country illegally from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China".

On Sunday, Health Minister Said Namaki said one person who died of coronavirus in Qom, south of Tehran, was a businessman who had made several trips to China.

Namaki had unsuccessfully pleaded in January for Iran's government to order the suspension of all commercial flights between Iran and China.

In his remarks to state television on Sunday, the minister said direct flights between Iran and China were now suspended, but the Qom businessman had travelled there "on a connecting flight".

Iran has been scrambling to contain the COVID-19 outbreak since it announced the first two deaths in the holy city of Qom on Wednesday last week.

Authorities have since ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres across the country as a "preventive measure".

Since it emerged in December, the new coronavirus has killed more than 2,500 people in China.

Iran now accounts for nearly half of the deaths elsewhere in the world, which currently stand at 30.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.24

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakh citizens who were aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship where coronavirus was detected have returned to Kazakhstan, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Healthcare Ministry.

The ministry said that the flight carrying 20 Kazakh citizens including four (two women and two children aged 8 and 12) Diamond Princess passengers arrived from Tokyo in Kazakhstans Nur-Sultan at 02:30 (GMT +6) on Feb. 23, 2020.

On Feb. 21, the Kazakh citizens left the ship and were tested for coronavirus.

Everyone was hospitalized for medical surveillance. Their condition is satisfactory as for now, the ministry said.

The Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong was confirmed to have the disease. Based on the latest data, the total number of passengers infected with coronavirus is 691 people, making the ship second biggest cluster of cases outside mainland China.

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 2,600 people have died and over 79,300 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, Russia, Nepal, Cambodia, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Teck Resources sign is on display during the company's annual general meeting in Vancouver

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian miner Teck Resources Ltd has withdrawn an application to build its C$20.6 billion ($15.7 billion) Frontier oil sands mine in Alberta, days before the federal government was to decide on whether to approve a project opposed by environmentalists and indigenous groups.

Teck said on Sunday it would write down the C$1.13 billion ($852.12 million) carrying value of the project. The news was first reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper.

The company released a letter by Teck Chief Executive Don Lindsay to Canada's environment minister, stating Teck was "disappointed to have arrived at this point".

The fate of the mine, which was first proposed in 2011, was expected to be decided next week in what had become a test of Canada's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and repair relations with the country's indigenous people.

At full capacity, the mine would have produced 260,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the largest in Alberta's carbon-intensive oil sands.

"The growing debate around this issue has placed Frontier and our company squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved," Lindsay wrote in his letter. "In that context, it is now evident that there is no constructive path forward for the project."

On Friday, the Canadian miner floated a potential exit from the oil sands and warned of the possible C$1.13 billion hit should Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government reject the Frontier bitumen mine.

The decision was a complicated one for Trudeau who made a 2019 election pledge to put Canada on the path to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But unhappiness with the government's energy and pipeline policy cost Trudeau's Liberals all their seats in Alberta, where the project was considered essential for employment and growth.

"The withdrawal of Teck's Frontier Mine application is more devastating news for the Canadian economy, especially for Albertans and indigenous people," Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted on Sunday.

"This decision is clearly the result of federal regulatory uncertainty and the current lawless opposition to resource development."

Story continues

In recent weeks, protesters have blocked railway 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.

Trudeau's office said in a statement he spoke with Kenney on Sunday about Teck's decision, as well as the railway blockades, and "reaffirmed the government of Canada's commitment to working with Alberta and the resource sector" to create jobs.

Even if approved, the project would have still faced hurdles.

Teck had told the government that for it to build Frontier, it needed a pipeline to be built, a partner and favorable oil prices.

In addition, the company told regulators it expected long-term oil prices exceeding $95 per barrel during most of Frontier's operations from 2026-2066 - a level they have not reached since 2014.

(Reporting by Amran Abocar and Rama Venkat; Editing by Richard Chang and Jacqueline Wong)
Soldiers wait for trains at the Seoul Station's Transportation Movement Office for military service members, Friday. The Ministry of National Defense banned all members of the military from leaving their bases, including for vacations and meeting visitors, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 (2019-nCoV). Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



With the number of members who tested positive for the virus reaching 13, concerns are mounting that the COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) could spread fast in the military where service members share limited spaces.



As of Monday, 10 Army members and one each from the Navy, Air Force and Marines have been confirmed to have contracted the novel virus. Among them, three who were newly confirmed over Sunday night belong to an Army unit in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, and they are suspected of having been infected from another soldier there who had already been confirmed on Saturday after going on a leave to Daegu, the epicenter of the epidemic.



The spread of the virus in the country has faced a second wave after a "super-spreading event" took place at a branch of the Shincheonji Church in Daegu.



The military quarantined those infected service members, but they are believed to have contacted other members before being isolated, raising the possibility of more confirmed cases.



"As the government raised the COVID-19 alert level to the highest "red" on the four-tier system, the military has been actively supporting the whole governmental and regional support while strengthening measures to prevent the spread of the virus inside the military," said the Ministry of National Defense deputy spokesman Moon Hong-sik.



More than 7,800 service members and their family members have been quarantined due to their suspected contact with confirmed patients, according to the ministry.



The Military Manpower Administration has also suspended all physical examination for conscription of new draftees at all of its regional branches for two weeks starting Monday.



Meanwhile, the United States Forces Korea (USFK) is keeping strong preventative control measures in place, while a family member of a USFK service member in Daegu has been confirmed to have contracted the virus. The COVID-19 cases have occurred in 17 major provinces and cities including Seoul, Daegu, Busan and Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, those near USFK bases. The USFK has restricted its service members' non-essential travel to and from Daegu and banned their access to some locations in Daegu and Pyeongtaek.




PORT NECHES  Asbestos from the TPC Group explosions in Port Neches was found in debris blast recovered as far away as Bridge City. After company officials discovered that asbestos had been released from the Nov. 27 blast, they waited seven hours before informing county officials who were part of the joint command operation and responsible for alerting the public to potential hazards. Leaks of butadiene and other chemicals continued for more than a month afterward.

Such are the findings from a series of emails, text messages and other communications between TPC officials and Jefferson County staff members obtained by the Beaumont Enterprise. The newspaper requested the records from the county and followed up with TPC and with County Judge Jeff Branick to get a better understanding of the hectic days and weeks that followed the Thanksgiving Eve-explosions and fires.

The messages sent also show that in two instances, Branick insisted that officials use a stricter standard for determining air-quality levels for deciding on evacuations and shelter-in-place recommendations.

Also, TPC worked for three weeks after the explosions to clean up the shoreline of oil-slicked canals leading to the Neches River.

However, the lack of explicit communication from the company and other officials in real time  as residents were being told to evacuate, return home and then evacuate again, and as Port Neches-Groves schools canceled, resumed and then canceled classes  prompted numerous town hall-style meetings. Many residents said they were confused and frustrated by what appeared to be either a breakdown in communication or an intentional effort to withhold information.

The 2,000-plus pages of documents reviewed by The Enterprise begin with weather forecasts sent early on the morning of Nov. 27, just minutes after the initial blast, and end with the Jan. 5 daily summary. That is one of many documents that detailed daily happenings during the recovery process, such as leaks and shoreline cleanup, for local elected officials, company executives and other members of the Unified Command.

Here are the nine things the documents revealed:

1) Leaks continued to arise more than a month after the initial explosion

As of Jan. 5, 18 leaks of various chemicals had been found at the plant, according to a summary of recovery actions that was given daily to members of the Emergency Operations Center, the hub for communication and dispatch of first-responders and others involved in the response.

The Jan. 5 report was the last one given to The Enterprise based on the timeline of the newspapers records request.

Five of the 18 leaks were repaired between Dec. 13 and Jan. 1, but the rest were ongoing at the time of the report.

A variety of materials were being released through the leaks, but the majority were types of raffinate and butadiene. The Chemical Safety Board has concluded that a vapor cloud over a butadiene unit was the cause of the original catastrophic explosion and nearly week-long fire at the plant.

More Information By the numbers Some estimates on the TPC Group explosion cleanup: Amount of waste item 1,320 gallons foam 48,970 gallons combusted material 13,270 feet booms Amount of wildlife impacts animal 68 dead fish larger than 3 inches 1 dead alligator 2,000 dead fish 2-3 inches 18 dead blue crabs 2 dead pigs* 1 dead turtle** Amount of safety status item 5 first-responder injuries 43,500 butadiene air monitor readings 240 butadiene air detections above actionable level 43,800 VOC air monitor readings 11 VOC detections above actionable levels Amount of equipment resources item 121 MultiRAE and UltraRAE air monitors 2,001 booms 35 pumps 18 skimmers 8,400 sorbent booms 6 vacuum trucks 182 vehicles Amount of community assessments as of Dec. 16 item 2,724 curbside assessments completed 578 properties with observed damage 306 properties with observed debris 86 industrial debris claims sampled Source: Jefferson County internal documents obtained by the Beaumont Enterprise. * The documents show Unified Command representatives do not believe the pigs were harmed by the explosion or subsequent releases. ** When teams went to investigate the report of a turtle caught in a boom, generally used to clean up oil spills, it wasn't there. See More Collapse

Raffinate is an extremely flammable gas, according to a safety data sheet for the chemical.

When asked earlier this month how many leaks currently are ongoing and how many leaks TPC has had during the event, company spokeswoman Sara Cronin did not give any specific numbers.

She said occasional elevated air measurements onsite have been detected, but for more than 50 days, no actionable levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or 1,3 butadiene have been detected.

Response teams continue to closely monitor tanks, piping and equipment to detect, identify and repair any leaks, Cronin said in an email to The Enterprise. In our ongoing efforts to further secure the site, subsequent leaks may be detected onsite and mitigated in accordance to response plans.

The company is continuing to transfer material in the tanks, which will reduce the potential impact of further leaks, she said in the email.

2) Unified command established its own air monitoring action levels in addition to state and federal requirements

The normal 1,3 butadiene levels allowed for workers in plants is 5 parts per million, Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said.

For testing purposes, the unified command established its alarm level at one-tenth of that. Another, even smaller, level was established at Branicks request.

The other level that was created for me was the level where (the butadiene) would get to the point where it could cause temporary effects like burning eyes, scratchy throats and thats when we would recommend shelter-in-place and turning off HVAC units, he said.

According to an Environmental Protection Agency report from on-scene coordinator Adam Adams, a shelter-in-place or evacuation notice was ordered if readings were sustained at the lower level for 10 minutes or more.

3) TPC didnt discover harmful levels of airborne asbestos, but the substance was found in about half the suspected materials collected

Of 235 debris samples collected and analyzed for asbestos, 96 logged some level of asbestos. In some cases, the items were more than 50 percent asbestos. Detections ranged from 2 to 55 percent.

Cronin said despite those findings, fibers must be pulverized and airborne before they can be inhaled and become harmful.

More than 1,600 community air samples were collected and analyzed for airborne asbestos. No detectable air concentration were detected, she said.

Additionally, the documents show none of 184 wipe samples taken detected asbestos.

When asked if residents were made aware of the findings in the physical debris samples, Cronin referenced a news release that warned residents not to attempt to clean up debris and alerted them of the lack of measurable concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers.

The release does not mention the finding of asbestos in debris samples.

4) TPC Group did not inform Jefferson County officials immediately upon discovering asbestos

A text message thread from County Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Grimms phone showed he and another person expressing surprise that asbestos was found.

The person he was corresponding with asked if he was aware that TPC found asbestos, to which Grimm told the person to ask why he and Branick were not made aware of the discovery.

When asked by the other texter, Grimm reiterated that he and the judge had not yet been told about the discovery. The texts show Grimm was the informed that TPC had known about the asbestos since the morning.

Cronin did not directly answer a question about when TPC informed county officials about the possibility of asbestos and the actual discovery of it. In an email, she gave an explanation of who was included in Unified Command and a definition of its purpose.

The Unified Command structure ensures a unified approach to addressing the incident through a coordinated response structure, she wrote. Through the Unified Command structure, all parties are kept uniformly informed of response efforts.

Branick said he was informed of the discovery seven hours after it happened, which he didnt think was quickly enough.

He acknowledged, however, that it was a very small piece and a not-dangerous type, which is why they didnt let me know.

Debris collected for asbestos sampling was recovered as far as West Roundbunch Road in Bridge City, although it was mostly concentrated on Merriman Street and Twin City Highway in Port Neches.

5) Crews used booms, low-pressure flushing and other methods to clean shoreline of canals near TPC that lead to the Neches River

Water runoff from firefighting efforts resulted in the release of contaminants into two outfalls and a canal for about eight days. The first affected outfall is inside the TPC facility and the second largely discharges into the Neches River through another outfall or the Star Lake Canal.

A total of about 8.5 miles of shoreline was analyzed.

The release of oil and other contaminants into the outfall canal that goes into the Neches River happened as firefighting runoff kept the the water level was high. When the water level went down, it left behind a bathtub ring of oiling on the shore.

Outfall canals in five of the affected areas are manmade and a sixth is an engineered wetland water treatment system with wildlife including alligators, turtles and birds.

Crews initially deployed multiple boom lines across the canals in all six areas. Oil snares also were used to limit oil sheening.

Several areas also were flushed and raked, oily debris was collected and low-hanging vegetation was trimmed to remove accumulation points for oil and oily debris.

Crews switched to maintenance of the shoreline, as opposed to active cleanup, on Dec. 12.

6) TPC officials were listed as managers of the Emergency Operations Center

In the immediate aftermath, Houston-based TPC Health, Safety and Security Manager Mike Wright and Port Neches-based Health, Safety and Security Manager Troy Monk were listed in reports as the night and day managers of the Emergency Operations Center, respectively.

Branick said Texas state law mandates that the county judge is the sole commander.

After that, the managers are generally members of upper-level management at the involved company who have a familiarity with government officials as well as personnel at the company.

They have everyones phone number and can jump out into the field and then report back to TCEQ, me and the EPA, Branick said. If we had questions, he went out and got the answers.

Branick said TCEQ and EPA personnel also were in the field.

7) An after-report by the county detailed several demonstrated strengths

Disaster housing: Ford Park was set up as a shelter within 12 hours of notification for more than 100 people. Hotels and other accommodations were found for affected parties.

Evacuation plan: Officials coordinated resources within and outside the affected area, worked with industry to determine safety zones, and worked with ambulance companies to evacuate people with medical needs.

Coordination: Twice-daily briefings allowed various agencies to update others on response operations and gave Unified Command updated information to make decisions. A consistent EOC battle rhythm also allowed staff to prepare for meetings and briefings.

Branick said the county, through the Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association, had familiarity with emergency operations personnel at the plants, which helped hit the ground running when the emergency struck.

8) The report also found areas for improvement

Disaster housing: The county should identify shelter sites before a major event; consider shelter training for county and local officials; develop guidance for multi-agency shelters; and ensure local government have contact information for local hotels.

Evacuation planning: The county and individual cities need to develop an effective, urgent and accurate evacuation notification system, with backup plans, for high-risk areas. The county also needs to improve consistent and coordinated communication about health and safety messages after the evacuation order has been given, on systems used to provide emergency response and with all city and county governments impacted by evacuation decisions. The county also should identify processes for evacuees without transportation.

Coordination: Initial EOC staff included TPC employees who werent well-versed in roles and responsibilities in an EOC environment.

Branick said the county had a good working relationship with emergency operations personnel and other top officials at TPC. But the relationship with operations people was lacking.

I think there was a lack of familiarity and trust between us, he said. I think the company thought I was there as an enforcer or someone who was there to punish them.

It ended up taking 48 to 72 hours to establish that trust, which makes it more challenging for Branick to get the information required to make decisions to protect life and the environment and bring the fire under control.

Hes since recommended those staff members also come to Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association meetings and events to build up that familiarity before an emergency situation.

9) Cleanup and recovery is ongoing

Cronin said response efforts continue to focus on securing the site and minimizing the impact to the environment.

As of early February, nearly 50 percent of the materials in tanks and onsite equipment had been transferred to another location.

Moving forward, the company needs to complete the current de-inventory and transfer phase of low concentration butadiene material, raffinate, polyblend and other process materials to further secure the site and safely transfer all remaining materials.

It also is expected to re-establish capability of site utilities and complete evaluations and assessments of affected area to create strategies for preservation and restoration.

Jacob Dick contributed to this report.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com
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UN chief Antonio Guterres launched a "call to action" on Monday against rising attacks on human rights worldwide, highlighting the persecution of minorities and "alarming levels of femicide".

"Human rights are under assault," said the secretary general as he opened the UN Human Rights Council's main annual session in Geneva.

"People are being left behind. Fears are growing," he said, pointing to swelling divisions and political polarisation in many countries.

"A perverse political arithmetic has taken hold: divide people to multiply votes," he said, warning that "the rule of law is being eroded".

Guterres said civilians were being "trapped in war-torn enclaves, starved and bombarded in clear violation of international law" as well as "human trafficking, affecting every region in the world, preying on vulnerability and despair".

He also said women and girls were being "enslaved, exploited and abused", "activists tossed in jail, and religious and ethnic minorities groups persecuted" and "minorities, indigenous people, migrants, refugees, the LGBTI community vilified as the 'other' and tormented by acts of hate".

Guterres launched a "call to action" to the entire UN system, to governments, parliamentarians, the private sector, civil society and to "people everywhere".

He laid out seven areas where he said concrete action could "achieve a quantum leap in progress or avert the risk of backsliding", including boosting efforts to halt violence against women and girls -- "the world's most pervasive human rights abuse".

"We see a pushback against women's rights, alarming levels of femicide, attacks on women human rights defenders, and the persistence of laws and policies that perpetuate subjugation and exclusion," Guterres said.

"We also continue to see chronic stagnation in women's participation in political leadership roles, peace processes and economic inclusion," he said.

He stressed that work towards gender equality "starts within", pointing out that as of January 1 this year, the UN achieved "gender parity across our senior-most ranks".

"We pledge to reach gender parity throughout the UN system at all levels by 2028," he said, adding that the UN would apply "a gender perspective" to all its work.

Other areas of specific human rights focus, he said, included offering broader protections for people trapped in conflict situations, increased efforts to protect civic space, including free expression and assembly, and to recognise the rights challenges posed by the climate crisis and new technologies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In Quebec, gravestones did not come into common use until the second half of the 19th century, so historical cemeteries contain many unmarked graves. Inspired by colleagues at Barcelona's Pompeu Fabra University, a team of researchers in genetics, archaeology and demography from three Quebec universities (Universite de Montreal, Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi and Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres) conducted a study in which they combined genealogical information from BALSAC (a Quebec database that is the only one of its kind in the world) with genetic information from more than 960 modern Quebecers in order to access the genetic profile of Quebec's historical population. The results, published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, suggest the capabilities that this method may offer in the near future.

The BALSAC database contains the genealogical relationships linking five million individuals, the vast majority of whom married in Quebec, over the past four centuries. Work on developing this database began in 1972 at Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi under the direction of historian Gerard Bouchard.

The first author of this study is Tommy Harding, a postdoctoral researcher at Universite de Montreal who specializes in DNA sequencing. BALSAC, he said, "is a fabulous database for researchers, because both the quantity and the quality of the data that it contains are truly exceptional. The parish records meticulously kept by Catholic priests have been very well preserved so that today, thanks to advances in technology, it is possible to use this data to identify the bones from unmarked graves."

Using the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA

This study was directed by Damian Labuda, an expert in genetic structure and diversity who is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Universite de Montreal and its affiliated Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre. "Genetics," he said, "has of course been used many times to identify the remains of historical figures, such as the members of the Romanov Russian imperial family who were killed by the Bolsheviks and buried in a common grave, or the English king Richard III, who died in 1483 and whose remains were discovered in 2012.

"What is different about our research team's genetic method," Dr. Labuda added, "is that we use the information contained in two genetic markers that are transmitted to children by only one parent: the Y chromosome, which is passed from fathers to their sons, and mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from mothers both to their daughters and to their sons. These two genetic molecules are inherited with few modifications (that is, mutations), so that individuals today have the same, or almost the same, DNA sequence as their ancestors who lived more than 10 generations earlier."

Making old bones tell their tales

Added Harding: "To empirically test our method's identification potential, we selected six unidentified male skeletons that had been exhumed over the years at four historical cemeteries in Quebec. Two of these cemeteries were in Montreal (Notre Dame cemetery, active from 1691 to 1791, and Saint Antoine cemetery, active from 1799 to 1855). The two others were those of the former municipality of Pointe-aux-Trembles (active from 1709 to 1843) and the city of Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce (active from 1748 to 1878). We sent these bones to the Genomics Core Facility, a laboratory at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona that specializes in analyzing historical DNA. This laboratory extracted DNA from these remains and analyzed them to reveal their mitochondrial and Y chromosome genetic markers."

The Quebec researchers then compared the genetic markers from these historical remains with the same genetic markers from over 960 modern Quebecers who had volunteered to be genotyped in an earlier research project and whose genealogy had been established using population data from the BALSAC database. Through this process, the researchers were able to deduce the genetic profiles of approximately 1.7 million individuals from historical Quebec.

"However," Dr. Harding acknowledged, "only 12 per cent of the men married before 1850 who are included in the BALSAC database shared a mitochondrial profile and a Y chromosome with the 960 Quebecers from the modern sample. Because of this limited genetic coverage, none of the men among these 12 per cent had the same genetic profile as any of the unidentified remains."

Some remains still cannot be identified

Harding continued: "Presumably, the individuals whose remains we analyzed were not related maternally or paternally to any of the individuals in the modern sample. But if we could increase the number of genotyped modern individuals considerably - by hundreds of thousands - then we could identify up to 87 per cent of the men married before 1850."

Harding sees two possible sources from which more genetic profiles of modern Quebecers could be obtained to compare with the BALSAC database. "Thousands of genetic profiles of Quebecers have already been gathered by certain population genetics research platforms as well as by "acts of citizen participation", meaning that many people who have their genetic profile drawn up for personal reasons agree to allow it to be used for research purposes."

Other uses of this method

He added: "In addition to being used to identify historical remains here in Quebec so that they can be laid to rest again in marked graves, our method might be used to identify the remains of Canadian soldiers who died and were buried overseas during the two world wars."

He also believes that this method has potential applications in public health. "Studying the genetic baggage of the founders of the French-Canadian population can help us not only to calibrate other methods, such as the reconstruction of historical genomes using bioinformatic models, but also to advance knowledge of the epidemiology of genetic diseases by identifying the historical sources of their genetic determinants, thus opening the door to easier screening for some of these diseases."

###

About this study

Important: The six individuals whose bones were analyzed by the authors were not exhumed for the purposes of this study. They were exhumed inadvertently in a variety of situations, mainly in the course of major construction and restoration projects.

T. Harding, E. Milot, C. Moreau, J.-F. Lefebvre, J.-S. Bournival, H. Vezina, C. Laprise C. Lalueza-Fox, R. Anglada, B. Loewen, F. Casals, I. Ribot, and D. Labuda, "Historical human remains identification through maternal and paternal genetic signatures in a founder population with extensive genealogical record", American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 16 February 2020. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24024.

This study was funded by the Fonds de recherche du Quebec -- Sante (through its applied genetic medicine research network), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Fonds de recherche du Quebec -- Societe et Culture and the European Regional Development Fund--Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain).
michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily.

[music]

michael barbaro

Today: U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that the Russian government is supporting two very different candidates in the 2020 presidential race. David Sanger on why Russia is rooting for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. Its Wednesday, February 26. David, tell us about these intelligence briefings.

david sanger

Well, the first one, and in some ways the most interesting one, is shrouded in a lot of mystery. We know that about a month ago, the F.B.I. went to Bernie Sanders.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

david sanger

The F.B.I. frequently comes around to give general warnings to all the candidates, but thats not what this was all about. This was about a very specific finding. And their message was, we have reason to believe that the Russians, through their own calculus, have determined that youre their favorite candidate among the Democrats in the primary.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

david sanger

And that they may well already be intervening on your behalf.

michael barbaro

And David, what was Sanderss reaction, as both a senator and a presidential candidate, to this piece of information?

david sanger

The only reaction that we know about, Michael, is that he decided to keep it secret. He hasnt said very much about what he thought about it. He just decided to say nothing about it, which itself is a really interesting choice.

michael barbaro

What do you mean?

david sanger

Well, he said that because it was classified, and he doesnt talk about classified briefings, he just stayed silent. But there are lots of political reasons for him to stay silent as well.

michael barbaro

Like what?

david sanger

He doesnt want to appear or be portrayed by President Trump as Russias favorite or Russias dupe in the election. If youre Bernie Sanders and youre thinking ahead to the general election, you only want one Russian puppet to be in this election, and you want it to be Donald Trump. So he knew right away that Trump would use this as an effort to try to equalize what the Russians were doing on behalf of President Trump in 2016 

michael barbaro

Gotcha.

david sanger

 and what we think they will be doing with what theyre doing with Bernie Sanders. Because if the Russians are backing both of them, its like the Russians are backing neither of them.

michael barbaro

OK, so thats intelligence briefing number one. What about the second one?

david sanger

Well, the second one is bigger, a lot more formal, and we know a lot more about it. It was February 13.

archived recording (erin burnett) [MUSIC]: And good evening. Im Erin Burnett. We are live from Las Vegas where, in less than an hour, our Democratic presidential town halls will begin. And we have more on that in just a moment. But first, the breaking news.

david sanger

And the Director of National Intelligence Office, Shelby Pierson, has the unenviable job of being the mission manager for election interference for the Director of National Intelligence, goes in to brief the House Intelligence Committee.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

david sanger

And so the first thing she says is: There is Russian interference underway. The second thing she says is: The Russians had and still have a preference for Donald Trump as president. So unlike the Sanders briefing, this one does leak.

archived recording 1 This is not a four-year-ago flashback, folks. This is 2020. archived recording 2 Well, Democrats are rekindling an old flame  Russia collusion. Yes. archived recording 3 I mean, this is so idiotic. And you notice how when they win elections, the Russians didnt do anything? archived recording 4 Mm. archived recording 5 So 

david sanger

And a few days after that leaks out, we learn about the Sanders briefing a month before. And of course, as soon as these leak, everyones furious.

archived recording And if this came out a month ago, how do you think it came out now, if you had the briefing a month ago? archived recording (bernie sanders) Ill let you guess about one day before the Iowa  Nevada caucus. Why do you think it came out? It was The Washington Post? Good friends.

david sanger

Sanders is furious that the news of his briefing came out just before the Nevada caucuses.

michael barbaro

Right.

david sanger

And blames, among others, corporate media. Because The Washington Post had, I think, first broken this story. President Trump is furious that its back in the ether again that the Russians are involved in the election and behind him.

archived recording (donald trump) Here we go again. Did you see it? This story. Arent people bored?

david sanger

And so at a rally in Las Vegas, he says, this is all fabrication. Its all coming from the Democrats.

archived recording (donald trump) I was told that was happening. I was told a week ago. They said, you know, theyre trying to start a rumor. Its disinformation. Thats the only thing theyre good at. Theyre not good at anything else. They get nothing done  Do Nothing Democrats.

david sanger

No, actually, it was coming from his own Office of the Director of National Intelligence, all of whom work for him.

archived recording (donald trump) These people are crazy!

michael barbaro

So regardless of how this became public  and it seems like both Sanders and Trump are very unhappy that it did become public  it is public now that Russia is supportive of both President Trump and Bernie Sanders. So how did the intelligence community come to that conclusion? What are they seeing out there?

david sanger

Well, we dont know exactly how they came to it, because this is wrapped up in their sources and methods  the one thing that they protect more than anything.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

david sanger

We think they have humans sources inside Russia. They certainly did in 2016, a unique human source who had access to the Kremlin. They certainly have lines into Russian networks. Thats what the National Security Agency does. And finally, they get to see some of the product as it shows up on Facebook or Reddit or something like that.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

david sanger

And here, the differences from 2016 are really fascinating.

michael barbaro

Like what?

david sanger

Well, in 2016, youll remember that there were Russians who were posing as Americans and putting out Facebook ads or going into Facebook posts. They got booted off for inauthentic behavior  they werent really Americans. So what are they doing now? Theyre putting much of the same kind of propaganda and false charges on forums like Reddit, hoping that they will get picked up by real Facebook users, who are real Americans, and will be repeated on their posts. And of course, Facebook cant throw them off, because theyre real Americans expressing their political views. Theyre protected by First Amendment rights. And it would be pretty unseemly if Facebook began tossing off Americans saying, oh, you heard that from a Russian bot.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

david sanger

In the Cold War, the Soviets called these people useful idiots because they unintentionally picked up a Russian theme, a piece of disinformation, and repeated it until it became organic.

michael barbaro

Right.

david sanger

In the election, they might call them useful partisans, because theyre going to pluck this out of the political ether, repeat it on cable television, presumably in support of Senator Sanders or President Trump, or maybe someone else who emerges.

michael barbaro

So David, how do you make sense of the fact that Russia is trying to help the two candidates in the race who are about as ideologically far apart as imaginable  Trump, Sanders  at the same time?

david sanger

Well, Michael, Ive been trying to puzzle this out, because at first, it didnt seem to make any sense to me. And then, the more interviewing I did with more experts that I trust, they all said, you know, David, actually, it makes perfect sense.

[music]

And it makes perfect sense for three reasons. So the first one is that both these candidates are at the outer extremes of their own parties. Not the far extreme, but they attract really partisan supporters. And the best way to create chaos is to have two polarized groups of political supporters going after each other.

michael barbaro

Mm.

david sanger

You know, the Trump supporters and the Sanders supporters, they dont leave a whole lot of space in the middle. And if youre the Russians, thats perfect. Its the equivalent of creating a drought in the forest, just before you toss in the match. Remember, the Russians dont go out and create the conditions. All they do is go out and exploit the conditions.

michael barbaro

Help me understand what the exploitation of a polarized Sanders and Trump electorate looks like.

david sanger

Well, you could take any of a number of issues that are hot-button social issues and use that to further divide Americans.

archived recording (donald trump) We give hundreds of millions of dollars. You know what they give to us? Nothing. Nothing. They give us nothing. archived recording Criminals!

david sanger

You can use immigration, right? On which they differ dramatically.

archived recording (bernie sanders) Day one, we will rescind all of Trumps hateful and racist immigration executive orders. [APPLAUSE]

david sanger

You can use Medicare for All, on which they differ dramatically. You could use the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on which they differ dramatically. So 

michael barbaro

And just kind of pump up those issues on social media, on your Reddit page, and hope it gets picked up on Facebook. And just generally make Americans angry at each other over it?

david sanger

Have the country screaming at each other.

archived recording 1 Bottom line is Donald Trump is dangerous and toxic for this country. archived recording 2 For many reasons, I think Bernie Sanders is a dangerous man, but the thing that I thought  I do. I mean, I think hes a very dangerous man. archived recording 3 This is someone who is not stable. And Ive been saying it from the beginning, and I will continue to say it until somebody looks into his mental stability. archived recording 4 The socialist wing has completely taken over and is now in control, where the moderate voices no longer matter at this point in the race.

michael barbaro

And why is chaos good for Russia? I can tell why its bad for us.

david sanger

It makes the United States look like a place that cant get its act together. It helps lead to charges of election interference and election irregularities that bring American elections down to the level of Russian elections.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

david sanger

It makes democracy look like a chaotic form of governance that cant really be trusted to make progress.

[music]

Best of all, youre weakening the United States, keeping it consumed in some domestic furor, rather than thinking about pushing back against the Russians in Syria, or elsewhere in the Middle East, or in Crimea, or coming to the support of your allies in NATO.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. OK. So thats theory number one, which kind of seems to see both of these candidates as co-equals in the creation of a chaotic American political life.

david sanger

Thats right.

michael barbaro

What is theory number two for why Russia would be rooting for both Trump and Sanders?

david sanger

Well, theory number two is truly cynical, Michael. Its that the Russians really do favor Trump, and they think that Bernie Sanders is the most beatable Democrat.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

david sanger

Now, they may be wrong about that. Theres lots of polling that suggest he could win. But the Russianss calculus at this moment may be that if you want to keep Donald Trump in office, Bernie Sanders is the best candidate to go do that.

michael barbaro

Gotcha.

david sanger

Now, that then raises the question, why would they continue to support Trump? And I think the answer to that is that Donald Trump is the only member of the Trump administration who doesnt sign on to the anti-Russian cast of American policy.

[music]

Official policy is, we push back on the Russians from Ukraine to the Middle East and so forth. Donald Trump doesnt want to hear any of that.

archived recording (donald trump) I think that we would have a chance to have a very good relationship with Russia and a very good chance  a very good relationship with President Putin. I would hope 

michael barbaro

Putin, obviously, likes that.

david sanger

Thats right. Official policy is we continue sanctions on the Russians.

archived recording (donald trump) A lot of people say having Russia  which is a power  having them inside the room is better than having them outside the room. By the way, there were numerous people during the G7 that felt that way. And we didnt take a vote or anything, but we did discuss it. My inclination is to say, yes, they should be in.

david sanger

Donald Trumps been talking to the French about letting Russia back into the G8, the group of eight countries, and beginning to lift sanctions. Official policy is that we keep sanctions on as long as the Russians continue to annex Crimea.

archived recording (donald trump) You know, the people of Crimea, from what Ive heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were. And you have to look at that also.

david sanger

Donald Trumps view is, why do we care about Crimea anyway? Why dont the other neighbors care about that? So they have all kinds of reasons to believe that Donald Trump in the second term would be a continuation of the Donald Trump in the first term, who wasnt going to give them a hard time about their territorial or nuclear ambitions.

michael barbaro

OK, thats the Trump side of this. What makes the Russians convinced that Sanders is the most beatable Democrat? Because as you said, thats not exactly what the polling suggests.

david sanger

It isnt what the polling suggests, and its an interesting question why they believe that. Remember, the Russians didnt think Donald Trump was going to win early in the last presidential cycle and really only came to supporting him in an active way in the very last months of the campaign. So they may not know right now any more than we know. Why would they know?

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

archived recording (bernie sanders) You know, when Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing?

david sanger

But they look at Bernie Sanders, and they see somebody who talks in ways that other American politicians rarely do. How many other American politicians have come out and said admiring things about Fidel Castro?

michael barbaro Mm. archived recording (bernie sanders) You know what? I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing.

david sanger

How many other American candidates have proudly called themselves democratic socialists? So they think that all of these things make Sanders vulnerable to the charge from President Trump that Sanders is actually the Russian-loving socialist in the race.

michael barbaro

OK, so what is the third explanation for why Russia would support both candidates?

david sanger

Well, the third explanation is life is uncertain, and they could live with Bernie Sanders.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

david sanger

And why?

archived recording (bernie sanders) Today, we are preparing to send soldiers to Afghanistan who were not even born on September 11, 2001.

david sanger

Because, like Donald Trump, hes got a real aversion to interventions around the world.

archived recording (bernie sanders) We have got to stop endless wars. We have got to cut military spending.

david sanger

So that you can pay for Medicare for All and other social programs.

michael barbaro

So the thinking is that Russia would be quite happy, maybe even elated, with four more years of Donald Trump. But if theyre going to have to live with a Democratic president, theyre perfectly fine with Bernie Sanders.

david sanger

Especially because the Democrats have become the party of anti-Russia sentiment.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

david sanger

Right? Its almost a flip from what we thought about in the post-Cold War era where the Democrats were all about integrating Russia into the world community, making them part of the G8, coming up with economic packages, turning them into a European nation. Remember all that?

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

david sanger

You havent heard a word of that from any of the Democrats now except Sanders. And so youre now seeing Bernie Sanders just in the past few days 

archived recording (bernie sanders) And what I say to Mr. Putin  if elected president, trust me, you are not going to be interfering in American elections. archived recording Senator 

david sanger

 begin to try to sound a bit tougher in his international relations views, precisely because he recognizes this is a big vulnerability.

archived recording (bernie sanders) Mr. Putin is a thug. He is an autocrat. He may be a friend of Donald Trumps. Hes not a friend of mine. Let me tell you 

david sanger

So right now, we still dont have the evidence. Remember, in the 2016 election, it wasnt until 2017  really, after Donald Trump was about to be inaugurated  that we got a sense of the scope of the Russian effort.

michael barbaro

Mm.

david sanger

What we do know is that Bernie Sanders now has a Russia problem.

michael barbaro

Mm.

david sanger

And that problem, if anything, is probably going to drive him to sound more hostile to Moscow than he naturally would be or he has been in the past.

michael barbaro

And how does that serve Russia?

david sanger

Im not sure it does. Because once influence operations are exposed, it can drive the intended target  in this case, Bernie Sanders and his supporters  to the opposite corner.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

david sanger

So you know, Donald Trump today is the last politician in America who could actually get behind lifting sanctions against Russia, because everybody would say, youre in Putins pocket. And they run the risk of driving Bernie Sanders from the candidate who wanted to go talk to the Russians, to the candidate who could never talk to the Russians.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

[music]

Thank you, David.

david sanger

Thank you.

archived recording (bernie sanders) This is  archived recording Mayor Buttigieg, we want to bring you into this conversation. Why would the Russians want to be working on behalf of Bernie Sanders?

michael barbaro

During Tuesday nights Democratic debate in South Carolina, candidates repeatedly invoked Russias support for Trump and Sanders, with Mayor Pete Buttigieg saying that Russia favored them because they represent political extremes.

archived recording (pete buttigieg) Ill tell you what the Russians want. They dont have a political party. They want chaos. And chaos is what is coming our way. I mean, look, if you think the last four years has been chaotic, divisive, toxic, exhausting, imagine spending the better part of 2020 with Bernie Sanders versus Donald Trump. Think about what that will be like for this country.

michael barbaro

At one point, Mike Bloomberg turned to Sanders and declared that the reason Russia supported Sanders was because its government believed that Sanders would lose to Trump.

archived recording (michael bloomberg) Vladimir Putin thinks that Donald Trump should be president of the United States. And thats why Russia is helping you get elected, so youll lose to him. archived recording (bernie sanders) Oh, Mr. Bloomberg!

michael barbaro

Sanders, in response, denounced Russias efforts to meddle in the election.

archived recording (bernie sanders) And let me tell Mr. Putin, who interfered in the 2016 election, trying to bring Americans against Americans  hey, Mr. Putin, if Im president of the United States, trust me, youre not gonna interfere in any more American elections.

michael barbaro

For highlights and analysis of that debate, listen to this mornings episode of The Latest. You can find it on the Daily Feed or by searching for The Latest wherever you listen. Well be right back.

[music]

michael barbaro

Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording (anne schuchat) Now, its not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will become infected.

michael barbaro

On Tuesday, health officials warned that the coronavirus will almost certainly begin spreading across the United States and that Americans should begin preparations now. During a news conference, Doctor Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that an American outbreak might require a wide range of actions, from closing schools to asking employees to work from home.

archived recording (anne schuchat) We will be transparent with the public about these measures and the potential that these tools will be necessary. There is literally a playbook for the use of these tools.

michael barbaro
Between 1975 and 1977, the Emergency strengthened laws such as the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), which gave the State apparatus the right to arrest and detain a citizen for up to one year without due judicial process. These arrests were not for committing a crime, but because these persons were seen as risks to society. The Emergencys end led to scrapping MISA and limiting the use of this preventive detention (PD). But as India moved on and the spotlight of concern over personal liberty dimmed, the old habits of those in power slowly resurfaced to make PD popular again. Today, we are at a point when, as per government data, almost one lakh people were arrested and detained under PD laws (such as the National Security Act, 1980) in 2018. In this context, it is imperative to understand what the PD regime is, and the problems it presents.

In the regular criminal justice system, the law, sensibly, works to limit arrest and custody. The police need credible basis to arrest, and pre-trial detention isnt extended beyond 24 hours without some investigative purpose, and is also subject to periodic review. The law also carries safeguards for those arrested. These include a right to be informed of the grounds of arrest as soon as possible; to be presented before a judge within 24 hours; and, to be defended by a lawyer of ones choice.

However, when it comes to the PD regime, none of the above holds true. PD laws allow arrests if an executive officer is satisfied that a person is dangerous to society, where different laws deal with different dangers. It is all right for no grounds to be given up to five days, and in some cases even 15 days, after arrest. Detainees are not produced before a judge at any point, nor is there periodic review of the need for detention. And, perhaps worst of all, detainees do not have the right to a lawyer.

Ordinarily, allegations examined by the police must go to trial before a judge, where evidence is led to prove guilt. But under the PD regime, the executive determinations of whether a person poses a threat are not tested at a trial by leading evidence, or examined by legally-trained persons. Here, matters of liberty are restricted to paper-pushing in government files. A judicial tribunal only comes in if there is a demand for detaining someone beyond three months. But, even then, there is no trial, no periodic review, and no legal assistance for the detenu.

The need for pre-emptive measures to tackle situations where a grave risk of harm exists is rarely questioned. To the supporters of PD, it makes little sense to only let the police act after a crime happens. However, this purported need for preventive powers by no means justifies the PD regime itself. Two concerns must be kept in mind.

First, detaining someone without trial might seem justifiable when there are threats to national security. The same cannot be said when it is used to deal with issues such as video piracy, as done in Karnataka for instance. This problem of scope goes beyond determining categories of risks in which to allow PD, and extends to the definition of these risks. By using notions, like public order, PD laws become prone to abuse. For instance, the National Security Act is used to arrest journalists critical of public figures. No clear limits of scope also means that rather than being used for preventing harm, PD laws are instead used in tandem with the regular criminal law to keep persons in custody for longer, with fewer questions asked.

Second, the PD regimes sanction for arrest and detention for up to three months, without periodic review and no judicial oversight, is against the basic principles of our republic that is supposed to zealously guard liberty. What makes this issue worse is that this rights-denying process finds support through Article 22(3) of the Constitution, which expressly chose not to extend the minimal safeguards of the criminal justice system to PD laws. Whatever might have been the reasons that led the Constituent Assembly to make this choice for a fledgling nation reeling from the aftermath of Partition, those justifications cannot go unchallenged 70 years later in the worlds largest democracy. Especially, since Indian laws appreciation and of the right to life and personal liberty and the interpretation of the Constitution itself, have undergone tremendous transformation during this time.

The spontaneous protests over the past few months revealed, among other things, that there exists dissatisfaction in the public between the existing state of the law, and what we want it to be. This is an opportune moment to train our attention on the PD laws. Is it justifiable for India to allow the arrest and detention of one lakh people in a year without ever producing them before a judge, denying them a public trial, and not allowing them any legal assistance?

Abhinav Sekhri is a Delhi-based lawyer

The views expressed are personal

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President Klaus Iohannis has stated on Monday that the chances of organising early elections have just dropped below 50 percent.

The head of state was asked what are the odds for the organisation of early elections in the context of the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) decision, which established that there is a legal conflict between the President and Parliament regarding the designation of National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ludovic Orban as Prime Minister."They just went down. (...) below 50 percent," Iohannis told a news conference at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
Surely its time to recall how appeasing terrorism culminated in the horrific disaster of 2007. Thats when Islamabad became a battlefield above which thick smoke filled the sky for days. (Photo: ANI)

Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid fame is back on the scene. He is threatening a second round unless his demands are met. Negotiations are currently in process to placate him. One wonders if old memories have gotten lost. Or, instead, are they still so fresh that the authorities dare not refuse Azizs demands.

Surely its time to recall how appeasing terrorism culminated in the horrific disaster of 2007. Thats when Islamabad became a battlefield above which thick smoke filled the sky for days.

Led by Abdul Aziz and his brother Abdur Rashid Ghazi (later killed), Lal Masjid clerics had set out to create their version of an Islamic state in the city. On April 12, 2007, in an FM broadcast from an illegal transmitter on the mosques premises, they issued a chilling threat to the government: There will be suicide blasts in every nook and cranny of the country. We have weapons, grenades and we are experts in manufacturing bombs. We are not afraid of death. This was four months before the final showdown on July 4, 2007.

The mosques clerics had attracted around them a core of banned militant organisations including Al Qaeda and Jaish-i-Mohammad. A state within a state, Lal Masjid was a magnet for fighters from Central Asian Republics. Inside the mosques premises, Ghazi and Aziz ran their own Islamic court. Here they received the Saudi Arabian ambassador and negotiated with the Chinese ambassador for the release of his countrys kidnapped nationals.

For many months Gen. Musharrafs government looked the other way. Even as arms and fuel were being stockpiled inside the mosque and Jamia Hafsa students rampaged across Islamabad, the government rejected suggestions to cut off the mosque-madressah complexs electricity and gas supply, block its website, or shut down its illegal FM radio station. To this day, we do not know if this was cowardice or complicity.

The softness shown to the mullahs left Islamabads residents bewildered. Clearly, the state had a hard fist because just months earlier the 80-year-old Oxford-educated Nawab Akbar Bugti had been killed by aerial bombardment in Kohlu, Balochistan. But on the Lal Masjid matter Musharrafs chief negotiator, Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, flatly ruled out the use of force. Speaking to the press he described the Burqa Brigade militants as our daughters with whom negotiations would continue and against whom no operation could be contemplated.

The reader is asked to imagine the course of events had there been a similar uprising in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran or Egypt. If their capitals had been taken over, their response would have been immediate  and perhaps unforgivably brutal. On the other hand, Lal Masjid militants were needlessly pampered until the Chinese forced Musharraf to act.

The rest became history. Islamabad shook to the sound of rockets and bombs and carnage followed. Ten SSG crack commandos were killed by the heavily fortified defenders and scores wounded. In an earlier suicide attack on a checkpoint near the mosque, over a dozen policemen died. On the side of Lal Masjid defenders the death count ran into hundreds. A massive cache of weapons was seized after the defenders were eliminated and placed in police custody. Weeks later, it disappeared mysteriously.

It did not take long for the death of soldiers and policemen to be forgotten. No FIR was ever lodged by the authorities against Aziz and his companions. Sometime later, he walked out a free man and resumed his preaching. But many years later Khurram Zaki, a 40-year old civil rights activist from Karachi, decided to take on Azizs hate speech against Shias. He and his friends were to file an FIR but on May 7, 2016, just days after he declared his intent, he was gunned down by unknown assailants on a motorcycle.

No normal state rewards those who once stood up against it in violent, armed insurrection and now threaten it again. Normal states do not reward those who kill their own soldiers and policemen. Surely such abnormal behaviour must have a cause. Could it be because no other country is particularly interested in reining in the Lal Masjid clerics?

Let us note that last week the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafiz Saeed, was convicted by an anti-terrorism court to two prison terms each of five-and-a-half years. The openly whispered secret is that the punishment came not because he deserves it but because this helps avoid Pakistan being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force. Even if true, this does not explain everything. We know that FATF carries a big stick and so one can slightly understand why Hafiz Saeed must be jailed for now. But, after great cost, Azizs stick had been whittled down to size. Why fear it? Why agree to give, as reported, `35 million and 20 kanals of expensive urban land? Certainly, the authorities refuse to negotiate with either the PTM or Baloch nationalists and prefer crushing to talking. Is there something different here?

An answer of sorts could once be hazarded. Extra-state actors provided by Aziz and others were cheap, disposable tools for pursuing foreign policy objectives in Kashmir and Afghanistan. The strategy eventually backfired and Pakistan finally dumped it. Neighbouring countries now make fewer complaints compared to years ago.

Confirming the shift, and presumably with the backing of the current Army establishment, Prime Minister Imran Khan famously tweeted on October 5, 2019, that anyone crossing the LoC from AJK to provide humanitarian aid or support for Kashmiri struggle will play into the hands of the Indian narrative. One doesnt doubt the sincerity of his statement. Pakistan is far more peaceful now that the age of extra-state actors has passed. So why continue kowtowing to Aziz and his kind? I am totally stumped.

The authorities must explain why they are choosing to appease those who fought the state and killed its soldiers and policemen. They have to tell us why they are handling with velvet gloves those responsible for the tragic sufferings of 13 years ago. Else a second tragedy may not be far away.

By arrangement with Dawn
Hillary Clinton on Monday denounced President Donald Trump as a "danger to democracy" and defended her scathing comments about former rival and Democratic primary frontrunner Bernie Sanders.

Clinton also warned that Russia would once again try to influence the presidential election in 2020, and said she would back any candidate taking on Trump.

"I will support the nominee of our party because I think that our current president is a clear and present danger to democracy and to our future," she told journalists at the Berlin film festival, where a new documentary about her life was being screened.

Yet she refused to endorse any specific candidate, saying she would "leave that to the voters".

The documentary has grabbed headlines for caustic remarks Clinton makes about Sanders, who took pole position in this year's race with a key win in Nevada on Sunday.

"Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician," she says in the four-part film.

She defended the comments on Monday, saying: " is a contact sport, people say all sorts of things. They've certainly said all sorts of things about me."



Following revelations from US officials this week that Russia was once again meddling in the US election, Clinton called on voters to be "vigilant" against disinformation.

"We know disinformation is already a problem... the (US) intelligence community reported that the Russians are back in our cyber systems trying to influence the outcome of the primary and still trying to support Trump," she said.

"There is no debate. Anyone who tries to deny it is living in a dreamworld, and it's a sad dreamworld because we are letting our defences down." Foreign powers, she said, would try "more and more" to influence elections in the US and Europe.

"If we don't protect our democracy then we are slowly but steadily surrendering it and losing control of it." The former US secretary of state, who beat Sanders in the primaries but ultimately lost to Trump at the 2016 US presidential election, said the new documentary would tell "the real story" of her political career.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 19, 2020, the City Council of the City of Chicago approved a $10M settlement to compensate a man who was permanently paralyzed after being shot in the back by a Chicago Police Officer in 2012. The officer who fired the shots was one of several Chicago PD officers honored by the City of Chicago in 2013 for their heroic efforts related to the incident.

About the Case

The settlement stems from the case of Tarance Etheredge (Tarance T. Etheredge, III v. City of Chicago, Mark Heinzel, Robert McGee, and Joseph Perez; Cook County Law Division, 17 L 2841), a Chicago man who was rendered paraplegic after being struck in the back by a Chicago PD Officer's bullet.

According to case documents, Etheredge had been walking to work when two men in an unmarked vehicle abruptly stopped and ordered Etheredge to "come here." Fearing for his life, Etheredge fled from the men  later identified as on-duty Chicago Police Officers Pedro Guzman and Robert McGee. Both officers claimed Etheredge was acting suspiciously, and that he had adjusted his waistband, indicating possible possession of a weapon.

After Etheredge fled, Officer McGee pursued on foot while Officer Guzman pursued in the unmarked vehicle. Two additional on-duty Chicago PD officers  Mark Heinzel and Joseph Perez  also joined the pursuit.

Upon realizing the individuals chasing him were law enforcement officers, court records show, Etheredge stopped in a nearby yard at 1518 E 77th St. Officer Mark Heinzel ran down the alley toward Etheredge, and claimed he saw Etheredge point a gun in the direction of another officer who was also located in the alley at the time. Officer Heinzel testified he was frightened and concerned for his safety and the safety of his fellow officers.

Within 2 to 4 seconds of arriving at the scene, Officer Heinzel fired four shots at Etheredge from roughly 25 feet behind. One of the bullets struck Etheredge in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down.

In court proceedings, Etheredge testified he was in possession of a firearm at the time of the incident. However, he testified the firearm was in his jacket pocket, and that he never held or pointed the firearm at any officer during the encounter. An Illinois State Police Forensics examination of Etheredge's gun returned no fingerprints, and found no bullet in the chamber.

Officers Recognized Prior to Settlement

Five months after the incident, in May 2013, a Resolution for Gratitude Sponsored by Rahm Emmanuel was instituted by the City of Chicago. The resolution honored the officers involved in the Etheredge incident for a "heroic life-saving rescue," and for apprehension of an armed suspect without injury to "any innocent person."

On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, the City Council of the City of Chicago approved a $10,000,000.00 settlement to compensate Tarance Etheredge for the injuries he sustained as a result of the willful and wanton conduct of the City of Chicago's Police Department  specifically, the same officers who received awards for their conduct in 2013.

Tarance Etheredge was represented by Larry R. Rogers, Jr. and Jonathan M. Thomas of Power Rogers, LLP.

Larry R. Rogers Jr. and Jonathan M. Thomas are Partner and Associate at the Chicago-based law firm of Power Rogers, LLP. A nationally recognized Civil Trial practice, Power Rogers has secured over $4 billion compensation for clients in a range of complex, high-profile cases, including claims against the government. Visit www.prslaw.com.

SOURCE Power Rogers

Related Links

www.prslaw.com


Australia's biggest airports have managed to squeeze out record profits despite a dip in passenger growth, with the competition watchdog suggesting they could be benefiting from a monopoly.

Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane airports collectively earned $863 million in operating profit in the 2018/19 financial year, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Airport Monitoring Report.

And while the airports were able to maintain good customer service ratings, airlines have raised concerns over runway congestion and the adequacy of baggage facilities.

Australia's big four airports have recorded record profits despite a slump in passenger growth. Credit:Michael Bunn

Sydney Airport's profits rose 4 per cent to $404 million while Melbourne jumped by 11 per cent to $194 million. Sydney's return on aeronautical assets was the highest since monitoring began, rising to 12.5 per cent, while all three other airports fell.
The Appeal is a non-profit media organization that produces original journalism about criminal justice that is focused on the most significant drivers of mass incarceration, which occur at the state and local level.

On June 17, 2004, three police officers were shot dead at a drug house on the west side of Birmingham, Alabama. It was a ghastly scene. Officer Charles Bennett lay on his back near the front door with a bullet wound in his face; the semi-automatic rifle that had inflicted it lay strewn nearby. Inside, officers Carlos Curly Owen and Harley Chisholm III were sprawled out on the kitchen floor.

One officer, Michael Collins, had run away and survived. He told his colleagues at the Birmingham Police Department that Kerry Spencer and Nathaniel Woods, lifelong friends who had been dealing and using drugs at the pea green one-story house in the Ensley section of the city, were responsible for the killings. Spencer was the shooter but he had not acted alone, police alleged. Woods was charged as an accomplice; in Alabama thats a capital offense punishable by death.

Woods, Jefferson County prosecutors told the jury at his 2005 trial, hated law enforcement and had lured the officers into the house so Spencer could kill them. Though he did not fire the fatal shots, Woods had masterminded the plan, making his actions as equally significant as Spencers, argued assistant district attorney Mara Sirles. He wanted them to be fish in a barrel, she said during her closing argument.

Prosecutors called witnesses who testified theyd heard Woods talking about his disgust for the police. They called a so-called handwriting expert to tell the jury that Woods had written lyrics to a song by rapper Dr. Dre on a piece of paper in his county jail cell that referred to the police as pigs. They called Collins, who recounted the events that unfolded at the house on the day of the shooting. And they called the victims widows, who said they wanted Woods to be sentenced to die.

The defenses most valuable piece of evidence was Spencers testimony from his own trial earlier that year, in which he was sentenced to death for his role in the shootings. He testified that the officers had harassed the residents of the house that day. They were attacking Woods when he shot them, Spencer said, and he had feared for both of their lives.

At the end of the highly publicized trial, Woods was convicted of capital murder and the jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 102. The judge upheld the recommendation and Woods was sent to join Spencer on death row. Alabama is scheduled to execute Woods on March 5.

Over the past decade, Woodss attorneys have collected evidence that they say shows that neither Woods nor Spencer plotted to kill the officers. The shooting, they argue, had been brought on by years of police misconduct involving a bribery scheme. Theyve alleged that key witnesses falsely testified or didnt testify at all as part of undisclosed deals with the police. And theyve alleged that the performance of Woodss trial attorneysneither of whom had tried a capital murder case beforewas deficient.

None of this alleged evidence has ever been considered by Alabama courts because the first two appellate attorneys assigned to Woods, the last line of defense between him and the execution chamber, made strategic mistakes in raising issues with the case and missed crucial deadlines to file their appeals. These errors devastated his chances to win his appeals and have new evidence heard by the courts, J.D. Lloyd, Woodss third and final appellate attorney, told The Appeal. To date, Attorney General Steve Marshall has successfully cited these failures to block any further consideration of Woodss death sentence.

Its a travesty, said Lloyd, who was appointed to the case in 2017. His case has just been so mishandled and its just a shame that were at the point of executing a man who was not the triggerman, whose case has so many issues that no court has considered.

When asked if he would like to respond to a list of the allegations provided by The Appeal, a spokesperson for the Birmingham Police Department replied in an email, No thanks.

Barring any interventions from the courts or Governor Kay Ivey, Woods, 44, will be the first person Alabama executes this year and the 67th during the modern death penalty era. While judges, prosecutors, and the defense all acknowledge that Spencer was the triggerman, questions about Woodss culpability and the events leading up to the killings remain as his execution date approaches.

On the day of the shooting, police visited the house three times, according to testimony from Woodss trial. Spencer testified that the first time, Owen went to the house alone between 6 and 8 a.m. He showed up again later that morning, Spencer testified, looking for Bubba, otherwise known as Tyran Cooper, a drug dealer who ran his business from the house. Soon, Collins and Chisholm arrived for backup.

Collins testified that he arrived to find Woods yelling obscenities at the officers and telling them to get off the property. The officers did not make any arrests, but they were upset by his behavior so they ran Woodss name through a database in search of outstanding warrants, according to Collins. (Collins declined an interview with The Appeal through a Birmingham Police Department spokesperson.)

Collins said the search returned a misdemeanor arrest warrant but the officers didnt serve it right away because of administrative issues. Later that afternoon, Collins said they returned to the house with the warrant. That warrant was never recovered from the scene, according to trial testimony, and a bystander testified that he didnt see any of the officers holding the piece of paper. Chisholm went to talk to Woods through the back screen door, Collins said. Woods questioned the validity of the warrant, but relented after the officers entered.

Collins testified that he entered the house after Chisholm and Owen to find Woods telling them he gave up and asking not to be pepper sprayed. Woods had not been handcuffed and was upright, Collins said. He testified that seconds later, Spencer opened fire.

Spencer testified that he was napping on the couch after a long night of heavy drug use when he was awakened by the commotion and grabbed his SKS rifle. He walked out and saw Woods come out of the kitchen holding his face like he was in pain, he said. Spencer turned around and saw a gun pointed at him, he testified, and started shooting. I didnt mean to kill nobody, man, he said on the witness stand. You know, this was a decision I had to make to stay alive or be shot, and I did what I had to do.

Spencer also testified that he saw Woods had been sprayed with mace and had a knot on his forehead. As he left the house, Spencer testified that he took one of the officers guns because he wasnt sure if the officer was alive and didnt want to be shot in the back. He threw his rifle on the front lawn and went to a house across the street.

Asked whether he and Woods had conspired to kill Owen, Chisolm, and Bennett, Spencer told The Appeal in a telephone interview last week, There was no plan to kill the police.

Spencer said Woods was startled by the sudden shooting, escaped out the back bathroom window, and ran across the street to that same house, where police quickly found him sitting on the front steps. Spencer was in the attic.

We were scared, Spencer said in the call. It was the scariest moment of my life. We couldve died.

According to court documents, officers Chisholm and Owen had a long history of profiting off Ensleys booming drug trade. It was widely known that the officers had a reputation for corruption and violence and collected payments from drug dealers in the neighborhood in exchange for helping their businesses thrive, alleges a 2017 federal petition for habeas corpus filed on Woodss behalf. This claim was supported by a 2012 affidavit from Cooper stating that he started paying Chisholm and Owen between $300 and $400 per week in 2002 to protect my drug business and to make sure that no one else sold drugs in my area of Birmingham.

The payments dropped off after Cooper was charged with attempted murder in April 2004 and the officers raised their price. After that, Cooper said it became more difficult to meet each payment deadline and the two police officers got into arguments with Woods, who stayed at the house that Cooper operated out of, if they didnt receive their money. The affidavit also included claims that the police had threatened Cooper into silence. Following the shooting, Cooper said a Birmingham police detective told his ex-wife that he would bury Cooper if he cooperated with Spencers defense and testified about the payoffs, according to the filing.

Cooper did not testify at either Spencers or Woodss trials. Spencers attorneys relied on Coopers word that he would show up to testify, but when it became clear that he would not, they unsuccessfully tried to issue a last-minute subpoena, according to Spencers 2016 federal petition for habeas corpus. Last week, Cooper confirmed the contents of his 2012 affidavit in a telephone call with The Appeal and said he stayed away from the house while the officers were on duty because he had fallen behind on his payments in the week before the shooting. I feel like it couldve been avoided, he said. I feel like if I was there it wouldve never happened.

Spencer was the first to go to trial. Without Coopers testimony, his attorneys lost a key witness who could have testified to Chisholm and Owens alleged involvement in the bribery scheme and the power that gave them over the residents of the Ensley house. Spencers attorneys argued self-defense. On the morning of the shooting, Spencer testified that the two officers made death threats to him and Woods. Chisholm, he said, told them that he would be back with a body bag for each of them.

He told the jury that the officers were always fucking with us and had attempted to sneak into the house. On one occasion, Spencer testified that Woods caught Owen on a video camera trying to break in through the window.

The jury recommended that Spencer be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, but Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Tommy Nail overrode that recommendation and sentenced him to die. (Judges could override a jurys recommendation until the state abolished the practice in 2017.)

After Spencer was sentenced to death, then-Jefferson County District Attorney David Barber offered Woods a plea deal that would have resulted in a 20- to 25-year prison sentence. But Woods refused the deal because his attorneys told him the state had to prove he pulled the trigger for him to be convicted of capital murder. This was not true under Alabama law, but Woods trusted his attorneys word, according to his 2017 habeas petition. Mr. Woods did not accept this plea deal because he thoughtwith counsels encouragementthat he would be acquitted of these charges because the evidence would prove that he was not the shooter that day, reads the filing.

It would prove to be a disastrous mistake. Because Woods was not arguing self-defense, Nail refused to allow any evidence of police misconduct into the trial.

In the 137-page petition, Lloyd, Woodss current appellate attorney, outlined several other allegations he said proved his clients innocence. Among these, he charged that Nail was biased toward the prosecution, pointing out his statement during jury selection that, Youd have to be living on another planet not to think there might not be some culpability, according to the petition.

Lloyd also alleged that Woodss girlfriend who was staying with him at the Ensley house, Marquita McClure, was threatened into cooperating with the prosecution because she faced jail time for violating her probation. Her testimony during trial furthered the prosecutions theory that Woods hated the police and had planned the shooting with Spencer. She told the jury that Woods had made several incendiary comments about the police but conceded she didnt take them seriously. Her testimony was fraught with unreliability. At a 2004 hearing before the trial, she testified that she lied to investigators about Woodss comments that he wanted to kill the police. I made that up. I told yall what you wanted to hear, she said at the time, according to an article in the Gadsden Times. She also testified during that hearing that officers had ripped the screen door off the hinges when they entered the Ensley house with the alleged warrant.

Despite the evidence calling into question the reliability of Woodss conviction, his chances of winning relief have been haunted by the mistakes of his appellate attorneys. In Alabama, there is no statewide public defense system, so the quality of Woodss representation was determined by whoever was willing to take on his case.

First, he was appointed an attorney who represented his co-defendant, Spencer, up until the eve of his trial. He continued to represent Woods even though there was a conflict of interest, missed deadlines without telling him, and abandoned him, according to the 2017 petition. According to Lloyd, the biggest blow to Woodss case came when that attorney prematurely raised claims without sufficient evidence to support them, essentially blocking them from being heard in the future. Then, his next set of attorneys failed to challenge Woodss conviction in the state courts, all of which barred him from ever having his case seriously considered.

Woodss sister, Pamela Woods, told The Appeal that she has tried for years to retain private counsel for her brother but her family was never able to afford the fees, sometimes as high as $200,000. Now my brother is scheduled to be executed based on the negligence of an attorney, she said.

Last month, Woodss attorneys filed a federal civil rights complaint in a bid to delay his execution for 30 days. That lawsuit alleges that Alabama is discriminating against death row prisoners who did not choose death by nitrogen hypoxia, a new execution method that the state authorized in 2018 but has yet to implement. Executions are suspended for the people who chose that method because Alabama has not determined a way to carry them out. The state is targeting people who did not choose to die by nitrogen gas for speedier executions, argues the Jan. 23 complaint. Woodss defense team will argue their claims in court on Wednesday. If the courts do not rule in his favor, Woodss fate lies with Governor Ivey, who could commute his sentence. The odds are not good; only one Alabama death row prisoner has been granted clemency in the entirety of the modern death penalty era.

Ivey has yet to receive Woodss clemency petition to review. A spokesperson for Marshall, the attorney general, declined to comment on Woodss execution. Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr, who ran on a reformist platform, also declined to comment.

Speaking to The Appeal, Spencer was aghast that Woods is set to be executed before him. His representation has been slightly better over the years, so his appeals are still pending in federal court. Nate aint done nothing.  My n**** is actually 100 percent innocent, he said. "All he did that day was get beat up and he ran.
The timing is driven by the pending expiration of three investigative powers unrelated to the Page wiretap issues, including the F.B.I.s ability to collect business records for an espionage or terrorism case. The draft bill would extend those powers while ending legal authority for a defunct system that gave counterterrorism analysts with the National Security Agency access to logs of Americans phone calls.

But the bill, according to people familiar with negotiations over the draft, would make other adjustments that dovetail with the inspector general report  like expanding when FISA judges should appoint outsiders to critique the governments arguments. Lawmakers could also legally require the F.B.I. to be candid with the FISA court and to correct errors.

By contrast, Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and the close Trump ally who leads the Senate Judiciary Committee, is focused on further scrutinizing the Russia investigation. Recently, Mr. Graham requested interviews with 17 law-enforcement officials who were subjects of the inspector general investigation.

Somebody, Mr. Graham said in an interview, has to pay a price.

But similar flaws with surveillance have surfaced before, underscoring that the problems may be systemic rather than unique to the Page applications, current and former officials said.

At the F.B.I., nobody gets credit for investigations that go nowhere, said Robert S. Litt, a former national security prosecutor and general counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the Obama administration. That cultural reality creates the risk that investigators will slant FISA applications to more easily secure a judges approval.

The bureaucratic problem is not limited to the FISA process, Mr. Litt said, pointing to a scandal years ago over F.B.I. forensics experts overstating their findings in courtroom testimony.

Still, the extra secrecy surrounding surveillance shuts out potential checks. For example, defense lawyers get to scour criminal wiretap applications for problems, creating an incentive for investigators to be scrupulous. But defense lawyers do not get to see FISA applications.
The Northern Ireland Secretary has declined to say whether prosecutors in the region can be trusted not to take vexatious cases against military veterans.

On a visit to Londonderry, Brandon Lewis was pressed on the Governments pledge to legislate to end what it has characterised as unjustified prosecutions of former soldiers.

It comes as the Government faces pressure from backbenchers to halt re-investigations of security force actions during the Troubles, amid claims veterans are being subject to a witch hunt.

Over the weekend one retired soldier facing reinvestigation reportedly took his own life.

The Government has faced questions as to why a law is needed to prevent vexatious prosecutions, given there is already a legal framework that governs how prosecutorial decisions are made.

The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland applies tests on evidential threshold and public interest before proceeding with cases.

On his first trip to Derry since replacing the sacked Julian Smith as Secretary of State, Mr Lewis would not be drawn when asked if the Government believed prosecutors could be trusted not to mount vexatious claims.

Obviously prosecutions are an independent issue for the prosecutors in any given area, he added.

We have always said we want to make sure, the Prime Minister has been very clear, that there are no vexatious claims, thats very different from anything else.

Weve been very specific about that. We want to make sure there are no vexatious claims and we will be coming forward with some proposals for that in due course.

Asked if he believed prosecutors were currently responsible for pursing vexatious claims, he again declined to be drawn.

We are clear, the Prime Minister is clear  we want to make sure that there are no vexatious claims, thats what we will be coming forward with proposals on.

Mr Lewis was asked whether the Government would countenance a form of amnesty for former military personnel.

Story continues

I am not going into the detail at the moment, we will come forward as a government with an outline of what we want to do in due course, he replied.

Brandon Lewis with Tour Guide Colum Lynch during his visit to Londonderry (Darren Kidd/PressEye)

The Conservative MP said dealing with the legacy of the Troubles was a key issue.

We have seen tragic cases over the years and obviously there has been some publicity over cases just this weekend, he said.

We want to make sure that we come up with a system that makes sure that victims are well understood and looked after, as well as make sure there are no vexatious claims, the Prime Minister has been very clear about that, we are determined to deliver on that, we will do that.

The New Decade, New Approach deal to restore powersharing at Stormont includes a pledge from the Government to implement stalled legacy mechanisms that were first agreed by the UK and Irish governments and the main Northern Ireland parties in 2014.

The proposals include a new independent investigations unit to re-examine Troubles killings carried out by paramilitaries and security force members.

Mr Lewis indicated the Governments delivery on those proposals would come in conjunction with measures to protect veterans from vexatious actions.

We are very clear  we want to make sure that we are delivering on both the New Decade, New Approach agreement and making sure there are no vexatious claims for veterans, he said.
Attorney George Bochetto, second from left, in November announced a petition filed on behalf of Maureen Faulkner, seen in background, in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of the 1981 murder of Faulkner's husband, Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. At left was FOP President John McNesby; second from right was Jack O'Neill, another attorney who has been helping Faulkner; and at far right was Joseph McGill, the prosecutor who handled Abu-Jamal's trial. Read more

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday said it would appoint a special master to investigate whether the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office has a conflict in its continued handling of appeals in the case of convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.

The move follows a petition filed last year by the widow of slain Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, who asked the high court to exercise its Kings Bench power and take up a case that was before a lower court.

Were thrilled, attorney George Bochetto, who filed the petition on Maureen Faulkners behalf, said Monday. Theres going to be boots on the ground in Philadelphia to investigate whether the office has any conflicts.

Mondays order by the state Supreme Court invoking its Kings Bench authority is very significant and unusual, Bochetto said.

They want some fact-finding. They dont want to just hear from the parties, but from someone neutral, he said.

Bochetto said the special master likely will be appointed in the next few days and is expected to be someone with significant prosecutorial experience.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasners spokesperson, Jane Roh, declined to comment.

Faulkner, in her November petition, asked the court to disqualify Krasners office from further participation in appeals by Abu-Jamal, 65, outlining alleged conflicts of interest. She asked that the court direct the state Attorney Generals Office to handle the appeals instead.

The Supreme Court, in its order Monday, said a final ruling on the merits of Faulkners petition would be deferred. It said the special master would make recommendations to the court.

In addition to people associated with Krasner, Faulkners attorneys have alleged that Krasner himself has a personal conflict in the case. In a supplemental court filing last year, they wrote that Krasner was one of several movement attorneys who defended protesters arrested for assaults on police and vandalism during the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Protesters at the time also showed support for Abu-Jamal, calling for his freedom from prison, Faulkners attorneys wrote.

Abu-Jamal still is listed as a board member of the National Lawyers Guild, which organized the team including Krasner that represented the protesters, the court filing said. Krasner was an attorney and lead strategist on a legal team organized by a legal association on which Mumia Abu-Jamal is an active board member and which is dedicated to freeing Jamal, Faulkners attorneys wrote.

The District Attorneys Office under Krasner has said in court filings that its office has no conflicts of interest in prosecuting Abu-Jamals appeals.

In a Dec. 6 filing, Assistant District Attorney Grady Gervino wrote that the allegations contending that Krasner has a conflict make no sense. He wrote that Faulkners lawyers claim that Krasner supports Abu-Jamal because he had defended protesters at the convention has fallacies in ... logic. The District Attorneys Office under Krasner had opposed appellate relief for Abu-Jamal, he wrote.

However, the office in a September filing said it did not oppose a request in Superior Court by Abu-Jamals lawyers to send the case back to Philadelphia Common Pleas Court so the defense could present what it contends is newly discovered evidence significant to Abu-Jamals appeal. That lack of opposition prompted Faulkner to rally against Krasner and ask that his office be removed.

John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Philadelphia and a strong Faulkner supporter, said by email Monday that the police unions members stand shoulder to shoulder with Maureen.

We hope the PA Supreme Court will ultimately remove DA Krasner from the case, McNesby wrote.

Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther, taxi driver, and radio reporter, fatally shot Faulkner, 25, on Dec. 9, 1981, and was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. In 2011, then-District Attorney Seth Williams announced his office would no longer fight Abu-Jamals appeals of his death sentence and agreed to a life prison term.
Afghanistan has detected its first novel coronavirus case, the country's health minister said on Monday, a day after Kabul announced it would suspend air and ground travel to Iran, where 12 people have died from the outbreak.

"I announce the first positive coronavirus (case) in Herat," health minister Firozuddin Feroz told a press conference, calling on citizens to avoid travel to the western province which borders Iran.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Nirukt Sapru - CEO, Vietnam and ASEAN South Asia Cluster Markets Standard Chartered

Despite global economic uncertainties, the prospects for the ASEAN are bright with the regions GDP expected to surpass $4 trillion by 2023 and potentially become the worlds fourth-largest economy by 2030. Key to the blocs future prosperity is greater connectivity  both physical and digital  to pave the way to better integration and increased trade among the blocs economies.

The ASEANs continued success also relies on sustainable development. From green bonds to syndicated loans, innovative financial solutions are needed to promote sustainable business, employment, and further growth.

One way for the ASEAN to improve trade and connectivity is by working towards fostering the free-trade area that provides equal access to goods and services to the bloc.

The European Union  which is the worlds largest trading bloc and the top trading partner for 80 countries  shows how lower trade barriers, reducing paperwork, and harmonising standards can create benefits for its member countries.

A good starting point could be to harmonise foreign direct investment rules across ASEAN nations. By working towards more synchronised frameworks and regulations around investments, the region becomes more attractive for both ASEAN and foreign-based investors.

Free movement of goods and services will of course require effective physical connectivity. ASEAN governments have identified transport infrastructure as paramount for economic development and increasing trade competitiveness. When last-mile deliveries can efficiently reach every corner of the region, there exists potential for exponential growth in trade and commerce.

What is more, the bloc also needs effective digital connectivity. According to the World Economic Forum, the ASEAN is the worlds fastest-growing internet market, with the blocs digital economy projected to add an estimated $1 trillion to regional GDP over the next 10 years.

To facilitate this, ASEAN governments should look to create pan-regional guidelines for the telecom sector so the region can better capture the opportunities of the digital economy.

Notably, these ideas must be underpinned by sustainable development among ASEAN economies and businesses. To achieve this, companies should leverage innovative financial solutions to support their growth and expansion ambitions.

Take the example of Vietnam Electrical Equipment JSC (Gelex). In January, Standard Chartered placed a VND1.15 trillion ($50 million) fixed rate 10-year bond for the renewable energy pioneer to help fund its solar energy project.

As well as funding sustainable development, the bond was also an example of how ASEAN collaboration is helping companies in the region realise their aspirations. The issue was guaranteed by CGIF, a fund set up by the ASEAN and China, Japan, and South Korea, and the Asian Development Bank to support local currency bond issuance.

Strategically situated at the heart of the ASEAN, Vietnam is championing trade and sustainable development through its chairmanship.

With the theme of being Cohesive and Responsive, the emphasis is placed on promoting economic integration and connectivity, among others. Importantly, Vietnam is providing leadership in many of these areas.

For instance, according to the Standard Chartered Trade20 Index, Vietnam shows the strongest progress in trade growth potential driven by enhancements to infrastructure and greater ease in doing business.

Meanwhile, government initiatives to support trade and infrastructure include signing a free-trade agreement with the European Union and introducing a new law to encourage public-private partnerships. Vietnam has also set out a plan to transform the country into a leading digital economy in the region by 2030.

Importantly, the country is promoting sustainable growth. For example, the State Bank of Vietnam now requires commercial banks to promote green finance for projects with clear objectives on protecting the environment and encourage environmentally-friendly business activities.

For the ASEAN to truly reach its potential, member states need to continue efforts to enact regional policies that advance the blocs vision. It is equally important for governments and business to collaborate closely to leverage the regions opportunities.

As the only bank operating in all 10 ASEAN markets and with a history of over a century in Vietnam, Standard Chartered understands the role it can play in helping the government reach its chairmanship goals, and businesses to reach their growth potential. The bank continues to focus on innovative financial solutions to support the vision and goals of the regions businesses.

By improving integration through harmonised regulations on trade and infrastructure, and driving a sustainable approach to development, the ASEAN will create an environment in which people and businesses can thrive.
RXP now optimized for 7nm ASICs, latest FPGAs, Web Application Firewalls (WAF) and RISC-V Architecture

24th February 2020, Belfast, UK/ RSA Conference, North Expo, Booth 4415, San Francisco  Titan IC, the expert in accelerated search, will demo its latest RXP hardware search accelerator at the RSA Conference and Expo. The result of significant R&D effort, this latest generation brings major new enhancements in terms of efficiency and performance. It is has now been optimized to accelerate Web Application Firewalls (WAF) as well as SNORT or similar Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (IDS/IPS) architectures from 10 Gbps to over 100 Gbps and is also garnering attention for accelerating Big Data Analytics, Computational Storage, Database Search and Real-time Logfile Analysis.

Titan IC originally developed this ground-breaking RXP technology for the detection of cyber threats on high-speed networks and licenses this Intellectual Property (IP) to a number of tier-one cyber security companies in Silicon Valley and Israel for use in products such as Next Generation Firewalls. Most recently it has added Mellanox to its list of announced customers, with more to come in 2020. Mellanox is incorporating dual RXP engines in its Bluefield-2 line of processors and SmartNICs/Smart Controllers.

The new generation of RXP to be announced at RSA 2020 includes several key advancements including:

Expanded ASIC/SoC Performance and Power Optimization

Titan IC has further optimized its RXP engines and can now fit 100Gbps of hardware search acceleration in less than 5mm2 of die space at 7nm. As well as 28nm support, Titan IC now supports 16nm, 12nm and 7nm designs. A 100G RXP engine configuration can provide a significant increase in performance at less than 1/20th of the power of the best software solutions available.

Expanded ISA support  RISC-V

Titan IC has added RISC-V support to the development roadmap, so that future designs can take advantage of both Arm or RISC-V designs. Largely ISA-agnostic, other ISA can also be considered  contact us for further information.

Expanded FPGA support  new card and silicon choices

Titan IC has added RXP support for the latest Xilinx Alevo U50 Data Center Accelerator Cards which include a 16nm Xilinx UltraScale+ XCU50 FPGA with two 4GB integrated high-bandwidth memory (HBM) stacks. This single PCIe slot card represents one of the most cost and power efficient options while maintaining the flexibility of an FPGA solution.

The RXP IP is also available in FPGAs, PCIe Adapters and on the Amazon Elastic Cloud and can simultaneously search for simple patterns or complex regular expressions.

Live demos of RXPs 100Gbps Network Threat Detection and multi-Terabyte Big Data Analytic capabilities can be seen at the RSA Conference, 24-27th Feb, 2020 on Titan ICs booth 4415, North Expo, (this is actually in the new connector hall between the North and South Expos) Moscone Center, San Francisco.






[February 24, 2020] HITN TV Presents the Tu Cuentas! 2020 Census Essay Writing Contest

HITN-TV proudly announces the Tu Cuentas! 2020 Census Essay Writing Contest, a city-wide initiative designed to raise awareness of the need for children to be counted in the 2020 Census, with a specific focus on truly maximizing the participation of families in the city's hard-to-count communities. Fourth-grade students from schools located in those communities within the five boroughs of New York City have been invited to participate in the essay contest. Students will write about the importance of being counted and how it will directly impact them, and their communities. One winner from each school will be selected to represent their school, and the borough in which they live, in this citywide competition. The citywide winners will then compete online for the title of HITN NYC Student Census Ambassador. "We are pleased to partner with Schneps Media and CUNY to sponsor the Tu Cuentas! 2020 Census Essay Writing Contest," said Mike Nieves, President and CEO of HITN. "We hope that the contest will help these young students gain a greater understanding of the importance of being fairly and accurately counted." Silvana Diaz, Publisher of the Schneps Media newspaper El Correo, added that "El Correo NY is proud to join and sponsor the HITN Tu Cuentas! Essay Writing Contest, as we are committed to informing and educating the communities we serve of the importance of being counted in the 2020 Census. It's a big challenge ahead, but we are convinced that this interactive and multi-generational event will have a long-lasting impact." Colette Labrador, Director of the CUNY Census Project, said "We are proud to have students from CUNY's Census Corps serve as judges in this citywide writing contest, which gives public school students from hard-to-count communities a chance to express themselves, share their stories, and help all New Yorkers achieve te fair and accurate census count we need and deserve." She added, "This is yet another way in which the CUNY community has stepped up to ensure the success of the NYC 2020 Census effort, probably the most challenging and significant accounting that our city has ever undertaken."



The contest will consist of three phases. In Phase 1, the participating schools will be announced. Students will start writing their essays and will prepare to submit them. In Phase 2, the essays will be submitted to CUNY Census Corps students, who will read and evaluate them, picking one winner from each participating school. In Phase 3, the winners, along with parents and school administrators, will join their peers from neighboring boroughs for a citywide celebratory event at HITN-TV headquarters, in which the winners will be lauded for their amazing work. The event will culminate with the unveiling of the Tu Cuentas! online microsite, where guests will be invited to vote for their favorite essay, as part of the citywide competition. In June, the online winner will be announced and will be named HITN NYC's Student Census Ambassador. HITN-TV is a leading Spanish-language media company that offers educational and cultural programming for the whole family. It reaches more than 44 million viewers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico via DIRECTV, AT&T TV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse TV, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast, Charter Spectrum (News - Alert), Mediacom, CenturyLink Prism, and Altice. For more information, please visit www.hitn.org.

About Schneps Media: Schneps Media is a multi-platform media company. Our Hispanic Media Group includes the award-winning newspapers Noticia, El Correo NY, and noticiali.com, with a weekly reach of 70,000 readers. For over two decades, Noticia and El Correo's comprehensive coverage of local issues has earned the trust of our communities from Manhattan to Riverhead. About CUNY: The City University of New York is the nation's largest urban public university, a transformative engine of social mobility that is a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City. Founded in 1847 as the nation's first free public institution of higher education, CUNY today has seven community colleges, 11 senior colleges and seven graduate or professional institutions spread across New York City's five boroughs, serving 500,000 students of all ages and awarding 55,000 degrees each year. CUNY's mix of quality and affordability propels almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class and beyond as all the Ivy League colleges combined. More than 80 percent of the University's graduates stay in New York, contributing to all aspects of the city's economic, civic and cultural life and diversifying the city's workforce in every sector. CUNY's graduates and faculty have received many prestigious honors, including 13 Nobel (News - Alert) Prizes and 26 MacArthur "Genius" Grants. The University's historic mission continues to this day: provide a first-rate public education to all students, regardless of means or background. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005866/en/

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MANILA, Philippines  The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said it has deported nine Japanese nationals who are wanted by authorities in their country for telecommunication fraud.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the Japanese nationals as Irie Dai, Ishii Kyogo, Hamaoka Kantaro, Maeyama Takuto, Tanaka Kazuya, Yoshida Takeshi, Murata Seiichi, Kouki Shouji, and Imizumi Ryo.

They were flown to Narita Airport in Tokyo around 9:40 a.m. aboard a Japan Airlines flight from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

Morente said they are the first batch of deportees among the 36 Japanese nationals who were arrested by the bureaus fugitive search unit (FSU) in Makati City last November 13, 2019.

The BI-FSU operatives captured the foreigners in the act of operating several work stations they allegedly used to conduct voice phishing operations.

Japanese authorities earlier said that the arrested individuals are members of an organized crime group that engaged in voice phishing and telecom fraud that victimized many of their compatriots in Japan.

Authorities further alleged that combined losses incurred by the suspects victims already amounted to more than 2 billion yen or more than US$18 million.

Morente said the BI Board of Commissioners issued a summary deportation order against the group. They were also included in the bureaus blacklist of undesirable aliens to prevent them from re-entering the Philippines.

The remaining arrested Japanese nationals are still detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig pending the finalization of their deportation schedule.

The post PH Immigration deports 9 Japanese nationals wanted for telco fraud appeared first on UNTV News.
In an unprecedented move, China on Monday postponed the annual session of Parliament from March 5 due to the coronavirus outbreak, state media reported as the country grapples with the deadly virus that has claimed over 2,500 lives and infected more than 77,000 people.

The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) showcases its political clout in the annual Parliament session.

The country's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met here and approved a draft decision on postponing the NPC's annual session due to coronavirus, China Global Television Network TV reported.

The third annual session of the 13th NPC, one of China's biggest political events, was originally planned to open on March 5 in Beijing.

The death toll climbed to 2,592 with 150 new fatalities while the total number of confirmed cases increased to over 77,000, health officials said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the China-World Health Organisation (WHO) joint expert team visited Hubei Province, epicentre of the 'COVID-19' outbreak over the weekend to conduct field investigations, health officials said.

Every year, the NPC and the top advisory body Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which together have over 5,000 members in their ranks, meet during March to approve the government's annual agenda including the budget.

But the coronavirus outbreak continues to be a major concern.

The NPC and CPPCC together constitute the biggest political event in China.

Though Chinese officials claim that the intensity of the epidemic is coming down, the ruling CPC is averse to expose thousands of its top cadre to the virus which has not been brought under control.

The postponement of the NPC, which is often viewed as a rubber-stamp parliament for its routine approval of the CPC proposals, is regarded as an unprecedented move.

The CPC considers the two sessions as a significant political events to adopt its national agenda, including the annual budgets and formulate new laws.

Chinse analysts said the postponement of the two sessions is very unusual in the history of the Party, which has not been seen since the country's reform and opening-up, state run Global Times reported.

It's also unknown when the two sessions will be rescheduled as it depends on how the epidemic prevention and control work evolves, especially when there has been no inflection point of the epidemic in sight yet, Zhuang Deshui, deputy director of the Research Centre for Government Integrity-Building at Peking University, told the paper.

The proposal to delay the sessions indicates that the central government puts epidemic prevention and control work as its top priority, showing its highly responsible stance not only to the Chinese people but also to the world, Zhuang told the daily earlier.

According to the Constitution and relevant laws, the NPC meets once a year and is convened by the NPC Standing Committee. The decision to postpone the session is taken by the NPC Standing Committee.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 132-year-old heritage-listed Brisbane theatre is looking for a new owner. Princess Theatre at Woolloongabba, which was originally built for prominent Brisbane

solicitor Phillip Hardgrave in 1888, has been owned by a Christian church for the past 13 years. Princess Theatre at Woolloongabba is up for sale. The 500-seater theatre was first named the South Brisbane Public Hall and was designed to host balls, plays, musical performances and other public meetings. Over the years, it has been bought and sold several times and been used as a clothing factory, a movie house and also to host the rehearsals and administration for the US Entertainment Unit during World War II.

Lifecity Church has used the theatre for weddings, live music, school productions, trivia nights and church events but is selling to move to "a more suitable location". Church director Frances Koops said she hoped the theatre would be bought by someone who would open it up to the community. The theatre is such a valuable piece of history, with so many drawn in by its Old World charm and

beauty, she said. We are looking forward to seeing it sold to someone who can lovingly restore and rejuvenate it, so it can be brought back to life and continue to be used as a space for the community for events. Knight Frank realtor Adam Willmore said he expected "broad interest" from buyers before expressions of interest close next month.
Former state legal head arrested on embezzlement charges

Chetumal, Q.R.  The Specialized Prosecutors Office in the Fight against Corruption (FECC) says they have succeeded in arresting Raul N, a former public official of the State Quintana Roo, accused of embezzlement.

La Fiscalia Especializada en Combate a la Corrupcion (FECC) reports the arrest of the former state public servant. Raul N was sent to the Centro de Reinsercion Social (Cereso) in Chetumal while he waited for his hearing.

On Sunday, Judge Alex Ramon Buenfil Ayala analyzed the evidence presented and granted the request of la Fiscalia Especializada en Combate a la Corrupcion (FECC) for the seizure of his property which included a house, a Nissan Pathfinder and fixed capital shares of the company Industrializadora Maderera de Quintana Roo S.A. de C.V. The judge then ordered him released while the FECC completes their investigation.

Raul Labastida Mendoza, who was head of the State Legal Department during the Roberto Borge administration, was arrested for the alleged crime of embezzlement of more than 1.1 billion peso to the detriment of the public treasury.
Kathleen Bien is moved to tears when she recalls the moment in 2018 when local veterans who visited Washington, D.C., returned to the Bismarck airport and were greeted by a whooping crowd.

"The airport was filled, and the patriotism and the honor and respect they gave to veterans was just awesome," Bien told the Tribune. "The veterans came down the steps with tears ... rolling down their faces, saying 'We never got this before.'

"That is when I knew I had to do something to continue this," she said.

The group behind the effort two years ago was the North Dakota Native American chapter of the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit that arranges trips for veterans to visit memorials dedicated to them in Washington. The state's first Honor Flight for Native Americans also included non-Native veterans.

Now, there is an honor flight chapter dedicated to area veterans. Bien heads Western North Dakota Honor Flight, which announced its start a week ago with Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., in attendance. The local chapter is the first since the Rough Rider Honor Flight Network ceased in 2011 after operating for two years, said Janette Fetch, a group volunteer and board member.

The group hopes to raise $160,000 to send about 100 area veterans to the nation's capital on a private plane. The two-day trip, which would be free to the veterans, is planned for this fall.

Veterans have to apply to participate in the program. Bien said the group prioritizes selecting World War II veterans.

"We give them priority because of their age. We want to get as many World War II veterans out there as we can," she said.

The group would fly the veterans to D.C. on an early Sunday flight. After arriving, the group would attend a banquet in their honor, complete with World War II-era live music, Bien said.

The next morning, the veterans would go to the Korean War Veterans Memorial; the Marine Corps Memorial, commonly known as the Iwo Jima Memorial; and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"It's awesome seeing those veterans reflecting at their monuments, the smiles on their faces," Bien said. "There is maybe meditation if they know somebody, if some of their comrades passed away there."

Other notable sites that Honor Flight veterans visit include Arlington National Cemetery, where they watch the "Changing of the Guard" ceremony; the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial; the National Archives Building, where they view the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights; and the Lincoln Memorial.

The group would be back in Bismarck by Monday night, Bien said.

The Honor Flight Network was founded by physician and retired Air Force Capt. Earl Morse in 2004, according to the local chapter's website. He came up with the idea to fly veterans to visit memorials in Washington when he realized many were unable to visit the National World War II Memorial that was completed that year.

Rough Rider Honor Flight flew veterans out of Bismarck for the first time in 2009, Bien said. The group followed up with trips in 2010 and 2011. Fargo's Honor Flight Network chapter hosts trips two times a year. Bien said the new Western North Dakota Honor Flight group hopes to eventually make flights out of Bismarck biannually, too.

"But for now we are going to just do one now this fall, and then we will continue fundraising," she said. "We raise money through sponsorships, fundraisers, donations."

People interested in getting involved can contact Bien through the Western North Dakota Honor Flight website at www.westernndhf.org.

Reach Andy Tsubasa Field at 701-250-8264 or andy.field@bismarcktribune.com.

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Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar ended the fourth day of inaugural Khelo India University Games on top with 11 medals, including six gold, here on Monday.

Panjab University, Chandigarh gave a tough competition by winning 16 medals (5 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze) but with lesser number of gold.

Guru Nanak Dev University has also won 1 silver and 4 bronze.

GNDU's epee and sabre boys fencing teams cornered all six gold medals, with victories over Kolhapur's Shivaji University, to put their varsity ahead.

Panjab University were fired by their swimmers, led by Anurag Dagar who added a second gold to match team-mate Siddhant Sejwal.

Having led the 4x100m freestyle relay team's win, Anurag returned to claim the 200m backstroke crown.

Mihir Ambre (Savitribai Phule Pune University) and Damini Gowda (Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences) also secured a double gold each.

There was a major upset in the archery field at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences campus, with Priyanka Thakran (Maharashi Dayanand University, Rohtak) edging out world cadet recurve champion Komolika Bari (Kolhan University) in the semifinals.

On a breezy and over-cast morning, marked by some showers, Priyanka Thakran held her nerve through a gripping contest.

She stayed abreast of her opponent, splitting points in the first two sets (26-26 and 27-27) before forging ahead by winning the third 28-26.

Komolika Bari shot a 10 to open the fourth set with zest but an 8 with the third arrow let the consistent Priyanka Thakran split points. Komolika forced the single arrow shoot-off by winning the fifth set 28-26.

"I rushed through my shot in shoot-off and should have taken time. It is a lesson that I will carry with me now," Komolika said, moments after losing the shoot-off 8-9.

Priyanka, who had finished fourth in the ranking round, calmed herself before releasing the arrow that secured her a place in the final against Prarthana Solanki (Sant Gadge Baba Amaravati University).

The host Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology was delighted when Ranjit Naik made his way to the men's recurve final, stunning top-ranked Satyam Patil 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Ranjit Naik will meet Utkarsh (Punjabi University, Patiala) in the title round on Wednesday. Utkarsh surprised second-ranked Gaurav Lambe (Savitribai Phule Pune University) 6-2 in the semifinals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Billionaire Warren Buffett said Monday that while the U.S. economy still looks healthy, it isn't as robust as it was even half a year ago thanks to headwinds like the Trump administration's trade war and the burgeoning coronavirus.

"It's strong, but a little softer than it was six months ago, but that's over a broad range," Buffett told CNBC's Becky Quick in a "Squawk Box" interview. "You look at car holdings rail-car holdings, moving goods around. And there again, that was affected by the tariffs, too, because people front-ended purchases, all kinds of things."

"Business is down but it's down from a very good level," added the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, speaking from the conglomerate's headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.

The "Oracle of Omaha" said that the Trump administration's tit-for-tat trade war and, increasingly, the coronavirus threaten corporate America's bottom line.

"Tariffs  the tariff situation was a big question mark for all kinds of companies. And still is to some degree. But that was front and center for a while. Now, coronavirus is front and center," he said.

During the interview, Buffett pointed to several macroeconomic headwinds that when combined, appear to have weighed on U.S. growth over the last year.

Fourth-quarter GDP growth in the U.S. was 2.1% and 2.3% for 2019, the slowest year of growth in three. That number is expected to slump further in the first quarter of 2020 due to the impact of Boeing's 737 Max crisis and the impact of the novel coronavirus.

Buffett said several Berkshire businesses were feeling an impact from the deadly virus, which has now spread beyond China and threatens to disrupt the global economy.

"We have maybe 1,000 Dairy Queen franchises in China ... [and] a great number of them are closed. But the ones that are open aren't doing any business to speak of," Buffett said. "I'll guarantee you that a very significant percentage of our businesses one way are affected by it. But they're being affected by a lot of other things, too."

"I mean our much bigger holding is Apple. We own 5.6% of Apple and the company came out and said that [the virus is] affecting not only its stores but all kinds of things, supply chains," he added. "I find that a certain number of our companies have supply chain arrangements that are being affected by this."

Buffett's comments on Monday came amid reports that the coronavirus outbreak in countries outside China has worsened, especially South Korea and Italy, which reported a spike in the number of confirmed cases in recent days. South Korea raised its coronavirus alert to the "highest level" over the weekend, with the latest spike in numbers bringing the total infected there to more than 750.

Despite these worries, Buffett did say that he was a net buyer of stocks for the moment and that he still recommends buying equities over the long term.

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Indian Navy to soon have MH-60 multi-role Romeo Sikorsky helicopters, which will give a boost to its in expanding its role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This was a long-pending demand of the Indian Navy, which was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) a week ahead of US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India.

Trump had already arrived on a two-day visit to India, his first official state visit to India since taking office in 2017. The government-to-government deal, which was cleared on February 19, involves acquisition of 24 MH-60R 24 MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters from the US-based Lockheed Martin group. The MH-60Rs will be purchased directly from the US government under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US Department of Defence (DoD). The deal to acquire these choppers from the US comes at a cost of $2.6 billion.

The deal was approved by then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in August 2018. The United States Department of State gave its nod in April 2019.

Key features of MH-60 Sikorsky Romeo multi-role helicopter

The MH-60 is designed to hunt down submarines and will add to the strategic depth and combat capability of the Indian Navy.

The fleet will boost the Indian Navy's anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations. It is capable of conducting highly efficient reconnaissance missions.

The MH 60 multi-role Romeo Sikorsky helicopters will replace ageing British-made Sea King helicopters. The first batch of formidable MH-60 Romeo helicopters is scheduled to be delivered by the US manufacturer in two years' time.

The multi-role helicopters will be deployed on warships and will be very effective in keeping the submarine threat posed by the extra-regional Navies, including China and Pakistan, in the Indian Ocean Region.

The MH Romeo Seahawk helicopter is an advanced helicopter and a very potent Air ASW (AASW) platform.

These helicopters will be used in Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti Surface warfare (ASuW), Command and Control, ESM roles besides Search and Rescue (SAR), Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) roles, etc.

The MH-60 helicopters, which are currently deployed with the US Navy, are considered as the most capable naval helicopter available today.

Also read: Namaste Trump event Live Updates: Electric atmosphere at Motera, says PM Modi
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India is likely to send a military transport aircraft to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan on February 26 to deliver relief material and bring back more Indians following a clearance from China, Union Health Ministry officials said on Monday. "As informed by the Ministry of External Affairs, departure of the Air Force flight to Wuhan is being planned for February 26 and the evacuees will arrive on February 27," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, official sources had said that the neighbouring country was delaying clearance to the C-17 military transport aircraft which was to fly on February 20 to Wuhan, though Beijing had allowed fights from other countries to evacuate their nationals.

According to a health ministry official, China has now given clearance to the Indian military transport aircraft.

Official sources said Japan, Ukraine and France have been allowed to operate flights between February 16 and 20 but India's request had not been approved.

When contacted, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson had said there was no deliberate delay in grant of permission for the Indian flight to reach Wuhan.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The aircraft will carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan.

Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan, who undertook a review of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID19) management across the country with the senior officials of the Ministry, informed that at present the screening of passengers is being done in all 21 airports, 12 major and 65 non-major seaports and border crossings.

In all 4,48,449 passengers from 4,214 flights have been screened so far.

Also, as of now, 2,707 samples have been tested of which only three samples earlier had tested positive (Kerala) and all the three patients have been discharged from the hospitals. They are now in home isolation.

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.

Also flight passengers coming to India from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia are being screened at 21 designated airports in the country for a possible exposure to the novel coronavirus.

All Indian evacuees from Wuhan had tested negative for COVID19 and have gone back to their homes from the quarantine facilities. Also, 23,259 persons were brought under community surveillance in 34 states and UTs through the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network.

Regarding movement across Kartarpur border in Punjab, Vardhan was informed that in discussion with the Home Ministry, Health Ministry and Health Secretary, Punjab, special screening has been strengthened across the border and further necessary facilitation for masks to be worn by pilgrims is being initiated.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.24

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

France and Azerbaijan need to improve trade balance, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian told Trend in an interview.

"I believe the potential of trade between our two countries is not fully realized and we need to work towards an increase in our exports and imports. With a total of 750 million euros in 2019, of which 600 million of oil imports, our trade imbalance needs to be improved. This can be done by developing further a number of sectors in which French companies offer a real value added for Azerbaijan," he said.

In this regard, Jean-Yves Le Drian emphasized such spheres as energy, of course with the development of new oil and gas fields as well as renewable energy projects.

"I understand that your Ministry of Energy has ambitious plans for new wind and solar power stations. I am disappointed that French companies were not selected for the pilot projects despite being world leaders in this area. But I am sure that more will be done in the near future. Agriculture and environment are also sectors were our expertise can help boost our economic relations.As I just mentioned, energy is an important area of collaboration. Total is indeed present and will soon be in a position to participate in Azerbaijans gas exports. There is plenty more that they could do to benefit your industry and we hope new agreements can be signed," the minister added.

Talking about the results of cooperation between Azerbaijan and France last year, Jean-Yves Le Drian noted that 2019 was a fruitful year for the bilateral economic relations.

"Our embassy organized the visit of an important business delegation of Medef (the major national business organisation in France) led by its well-known President Monsieur Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux. A delegation of 43 French companies, both large and medium-sized. They met at the highest level of government and participated in a vast France-Azerbaijan Business Forum with Azpromo. Equally important, our Minister of Finance and Economy, Monsieur Bruno Le Maire, met with President Ilham Aliyev and with ministers in Baku last summer and discussed a number of issues relating to our economic partnership covering 5 priority sectors, i.e. environment, transport, energy, security and finance. Indeed a very active year which I hope will be followed by the implementation of many bilateral projects," he said.

As for the new partnership agreement, which is being negotiated between the European Union and Azerbaijan, Jean-Yves Le Drian pointed out that France and Azerbaijan will both benefit from the partnership agreement.

"I do hope Azerbaijan will soon be in a position to sign it. The trade section of this agreement will be an important step towards boosting trade and investment between our countries. Of that I am sure and hope for a quick resolution," he said.

The French minister also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"On this point, I would refer you to the 30 January 2020 Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group made in Geneva, in which the Co-Chairs reiterated notably the need for creativity and a spirit of compromise to achieve a fair and lasting peace," he concluded.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Long before live-streaming social media reports and crawling news tickers plastered on the bottom of 24-hour cable news channel feeds, the world got its news from newspapers. Today, Stackers taking a look at major newspaper headlines from the last 100 years spanning womens suffrage and world wars to President Trumps impeachment and COVID-19.

Greener's Law states, "Never pick a fight with a man who buys ink by the barrel," a sentiment designed to convey the sheer power of publishing. Newspapers have brought down corrupt presidents, exposed malfeasance during wartime, and crushed the presumption of benevolence associated with powerful religious institutions. They've also connected generations of average people to the larger world around them and provided critical information the public wouldn't have otherwise had.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:45:41|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes a possible peace deal between the United States and the Taliban, and stands ready to work with the international community for peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Monday.

China has been in close communication and coordination with relevant parties on the latest developments of the Afghan issue, Zhao told a press conference.

China firmly supports the broad and inclusive peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned, said Zhao, adding that China supports more dialogue between relevant parties.

China welcomes the possible deal between the United States and the Taliban, and hopes the deal will be smoothly implemented to create conditions for a final political solution of the Afghan issue.

Zhao said China believes that foreign troops in Afghanistan should be withdrawn in an orderly and responsible way to ensure a steady transition in the Afghan situation and avoid a security vacuum, which terrorist organizations may take advantage of.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 04:15 PM | PADUCAH





McGee will be joining two other full-time Assistant United States Attorneys, a paralegal, and a legal assistant in the Paducah office. Officials say adding McGee will strengthen the working relationships with state prosecutors and local law enforcement agencies throughout the region. He previously served the office in a joint compacity as a Special Assistant United States Attorney while prosecuting felony cases in state court as First Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for the 2nd Judicial Circuit in McCracken County.







Adding a prosecutor of Dykie McGees quality to the Paducah Office shows that our commitment to the Purchase is not mere happy talk; instead backed up with action said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman The feds will continue to collaborate with our state and local partners to better protect Western Kentucky families from drug trafficking, violent crime, and those that would prey on our kids and elderly Kentuckians.







According to officials, the allocation of prosecutorial resources to the Paducah Branch Office is closely tied to the full time federal law enforcement presence, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Adding Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resources in coming months will round out federal law enforcement presence in the region.







Dykie has been an invaluable asset to the Commonwealths Attorneys Office, and while were sad to see him go we know he will also be a tremendous asset to the United States Attorneys Office, said Commonwealths Attorney Dan Boaz.







McGee will be joining Assistant United States Attorney Seth Hancock, Branch Chief of the Paducah Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus in prosecuting federal cases in United States Courts in Paducah and Owensboro.

United States Attorney Russell Coleman announced the addition of Raymond Dykie McGee as the Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Paducah office.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump (Image: News18 Creative)

Donald Trump will be the sixth US president ever to travel to India and the first one to land in Ahmedabad, where he will be joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an unprecedented roadshow and a historic joint address before a record crowd of more than one lakh people.

Trump on Sunday left for his maiden visit to India for talks with the top Indian leadership during which the two countries are expected to significantly ramp up bilateral relations, especially in the defence and strategic ties.

When Air Force One touches down Ahmedabad on Monday, he will become the fourth consecutive American president to visit India, reflecting on the new phase of bonhomie in the 21st century between the two largest democracies of the world.

And he is only second White House occupant to travel to India in their first term. Barack Obama was the first US president to do so in 2010.

Obama visited India twice in 2010 and 2015.

Dwight D Eisenhower was the first US President to visit India in 1959. Richard Nixon travelled to India in 1969 and Jimmy Carter in 1978. Bill Clinton visited India in 2000 and George W Bush in 2006.

President Eisenhower's historic visit to India from December 9 to 15 launched the bilateral relationship at an important period just over a decade after India's own independence.

Through meetings with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the two sides affirmed the desire to foster a strong bilateral relationship and cooperate on shared values, including world peace, The Asia Group said.

"On this trip I have been talking a lot about America's deep desire for peace. [] As far as the longing and aspirations of peoples are involved, we know we are one. [] The people to people is what will save the world, Eisenhower then said.

Eisenhower addressed both houses of Parliament and delivered an address at the US Embassy in New Delhi. He received an Honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Delhi, participated in the inauguration of the World Agricultural Fair, and attended a civic reception hosted by the City of New Delhi.

Tensions over US tacit support for Pakistan and close ties with Pakistani General Yahya Khan loomed over President Richard Nixon's short visit to India from July 31 to August 1, 1969.

While President Nixon sought to build trust, the lack of personal chemistry with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi dampened progress. These tensions would only deepen as India and Pakistan progressed toward conflict, which escalated into the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971, The Asia Group said in a report released ahead of the visit.

In New Delhi for less than one day, Nixon met with Indira Gandhi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. No official statements or speeches were published from the visit.

President Carter visited India from January 1 to 3, 1978, soon after Janata Party leader Morarji Desai succeeded Indira Gandhi as the prime minister.

During his visit, Carter sought to ease tensions between the US and India, which had escalated during the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence and India's 1974 nuclear weapons tests.

However, Carter's attempt to urge India to sign the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty blunted significant progress, The Asia Group, a strategy and capital advisory group based in Washington DC, said.

Carter met Prime Minister Desai and addressed both houses of Parliament. He visited a village in Haryana, which soon after adopted the name Carterpuri. The two sides released a memorandum of conversation between the leaders, as well as President Carter's remarks before the Indian Parliament.

Following a period of intense diplomatic engagement with India and Pakistan to deescalate the 1999 Kargil War, Bill Clinton visited India from March 19 to 25, 2000.

"His watershed visit saw the two sides advance a higher level of ambition and outline new areas of bilateral cooperation across economic and strategic pillars. The diplomatic breakthrough also coincided with the rise of the Indian American diaspora in the United States, which strengthened the growing people-to-people ties between the two countries, The Asia Group said.

Traveling with his wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea, the Clintons visited New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

Clinton and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee issued an expansive joint statement, in which both sides pledged to enhance cooperation. Clinton also addressed both houses of Parliament and committed to strengthening ties as strategic partners.

During his visit from March 1 to 3, 2006, President George Bush's visit charted new opportunities for substantive bilateral cooperation.

"Notably, the two countries finalised the framework the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, which affirmed the US acceptance of India as a nuclear power. Progress during the visit also reflected growing bipartisan support for the relationship and view that supporting India's rise was in the US interest  particularly amid China's growing regional influence, The Asia Group said.

Bush gave remarks on the US-India relationship at Purana Qila in New Delhi.

Obama's first visit to India from November 6 to 9, 2010 elevated the country as a strategic partner and critical focus in the foreign policy pivot to Asia.

"The two sides made progress across the strategic and trade pillars of the relationship. Notably, President Obama backed India's bid to join the United Nations Security Council, The Asia Group said.

The two sides also agreed to USD 14.9 billion worth of trade deals and relaxed select trade restrictions and Obama addressed a joint session of the Parliament.

Obama created history when he visited India for the second time in 2015  the first by a sitting US president  from January 24 to 27.

"The visit solidified the strong relationship between the two leaders and enabled them to chart historic progress on defence, clean energy, and climate change, The Asia Group said.
Russian, Turkish defense ministers discuss situation in Syria's Idlib

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:23, February 23, 2020

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.

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Katherine Johnson, the black woman whose mathematical genius took her from a behind-the-scenes job in a segregated NASA as portrayed in the film "Hidden Figures" to a key role in sending humans to the moon, died on Monday at the age of 101, NASA said.

"Our NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine posted to Twitter. "She was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten."

Johnson was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in 2015 and in 2016 he cited her in his State of the Union Address as an example of America's spirit of discovery.

"She's one of the greatest minds ever to grace our agency or our country," then NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said when Johnson was presented the presidential medal.

In 2016 NASA named a research facility for Johnson in her hometown of Hampton, Virginia, and a year later her alma mater, West Virginia State, marked her 100th birthday in August 2018 by establishing a scholarship in her name and erecting a statue.

Johnson and her black colleagues at the fledgling NASA were known as "computers" when that term was used not for a programmed electronic device but for a person who did computations. They were little known to the public for decades but gained overdue notoriety when the book "Hidden Figures" was published and the 2016 Oscar-nominated movie hit the screens. Johnson attended the 2017 Oscars ceremony, joining the film's cast in presenting an award for documentaries, and was given a standing ovation.

Johnson had a groundbreaking career of 33 years with the U.S. space agency, working on the Mercury and Apollo missions, including the first moon landing in 1969, and the early years of the space shuttle program. Astronaut John Glenn thought so much of her that he insisted Johnson be consulted before his historic earth-orbiting flight in 1962.

"Get the girl to check the numbers," he said.

"He knew I had done (the calculations) before for him and they trusted my work," Johnson told the Washington Post in January 2017.

Ignored the racism

During the space race between the United States and the former Soviet Union that began in the late 1950s Johnson and her co-workers ran the numbers for unmanned rocket launches, test flights and airplane safety studies using pencils, slide rules and mechanical calculating machines. But they did their work in facilities separate from white workers and were required to use separate restrooms and dining facilities.

Johnson always said she was too busy with her work to be concerned with racism.

"She didn't close her eyes to the racism that existed," Margot Lee Shetterly wrote in "Hidden Figures." "She knew just as well as any other black person the tax levied upon them because of their color. But she didn't feel it in the same way. She wished it away, willed it out of existence inasmuch as her daily life was concerned."

As a girl, Johnson was fascinated by numbers and counted everything, even the steps she took while walking and the dishes she washed after dinner.

She grew up in West Virginia at a time when educational opportunities for blacks were limited because of segregation. But her mother, a former teacher, and her father, a farmer and handyman, stressed education and moved the family 120 miles to a town that had a high school for black children.

Johnson's preternatural math skills got her into West Virginia State College at age 15. She zipped through the school's math program, earning degrees in math and French before becoming one of the first black students in the graduate school at West Virginia University in 1938.

After teaching school for seven years, Johnson went to work for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, a forerunner of NASA, in Hampton in 1953 with dozens of other black women.

Johnson found herself in a realm made up almost exclusively of white men when she was chosen to be part of the team supporting the 1961 mission that made Alan Shepard the first American in space. She would go on to calculate crucial rocket trajectories, orbital paths and launch windows.

Johnson made the transition to the computer era and worked on the shuttle program while writing or co-writing 26 research reports before retiring in 1986, NASA said.

She said she was most proud of her contributions to the first moon mission, which included the calculations that synched the lunar lander craft and the orbiting command module.

Johnson and her first husband, James Goble, who died of a brain tumor in 1956, had three daughters. She married Lieutenant Colonel James Johnson in 1959.
The Iowa Department of Human Services failed miserably in preventing the murder of a West Des Moines teen despite numerous warnings, according to State Ombudsman Kristie Hirschman.

Natalie Finn, 16, died from starvation on Oct. 25, 2016, after being discovered by West Des Moines police lying on the floor of her room in her own waste with a diaper on.

After weighing 107.2 pounds during a Feb. 22, 2015, doctors visit, Natalie weighed 81 pounds while dying. Her siblings Jaden, 15, and Mikayla, 14, also were starving and took months to recover.

Hirschmans 160-page report last week on Natalies case is a searing indictment of the DHS and elected officials. She reviewed more than 3,000 pages of court transcripts and interviewed numerous witnesses, many ignored by DHS investigators.

A caseworker and her supervisor were fired following Natalies death, but systemic failures also were at fault in a department downsized from 4,998 workers in 2011 to 1,058, losing 558 field workers, including social workers.

Hirschman expanded upon a consultants December 2017 findings of high turnover and low morale; excessive caseloads; poor training; occasional indifferent responses to mandatory reporters; sloppy notetaking and recordkeeping, and prematurely expunging reports.

Also bearing blame is smaller, but not necessarily smarter, government with the Legislature lopping social service funding.

Following the 2000 death of 2-year-old Shelby Duis  found with massive bruises, burns, scars, starving and severe diaper rash  and her mothers conviction, the Legislature established the Child Fatality Review Committee, but never funded it.

No cases were ever reviewed. When Hirschman asked the Iowa medical examiner to finally convene the CFRC to probe Natalies death, he declined. Hirschman wants the Legislature to review its commitment.

She detailed numerous red flags in Natalies case.

Joseph and Nicole Finn adopted the siblings from foster care and received state subsidies. The couple divorced in 2011. The children primarily lived with their mother, who ran a pet rescue operation.

From 2005 or 2006  when Natalie was in day care  to her death, the DHS rejected 10 of 12 reports it received regarding the Finn children.

Hirschman found no written record existed of a day care workers report of ligature marks on the neck of a Finn child, consistent with a rope or cord in attempted strangulation. Nicole Finn promptly removed them.

On May 31, 2016  nearly five months preceding Natalies death  the DHS finally opened another case, but without the urgency necessary following two calls that day to the West Des Moines police.

One call was from a convenience store about the gaunt Finn sisters, seemingly homeless, panhandling for food and money with one limping. Five hours later, a neighbor called about Natalie, who daily had sought food and money for herself and sister, and was barefoot, limping badly, her feet covered with blisters.

Nicole Finn stonewalled the caseworker and her supervisor for months, claiming her iPhone was dead so she couldnt receive calls, that she was sick and simply not answering the door.

Meanwhile, Natalie and her two siblings were kept for months in a bedroom without furniture, sleeping on the floor with the carpeting removed, regularly deprived of food and use of a restroom.

School officials made three calls to the DHS because the children werent attending classes. Nicole used a home school ruse to avoid mandatory reporters. Sabrina Ray, 16, of Perry, who died under similar circumstances in May 2017, also was home schooled.

The Legislature passed a 2017 law precluding public school officials from checking on home-schooled students or monitoring their educational performance.

Nicole Finn was convicted in December 2018 of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping Natalies siblings by confining them to a room. In a March 2016 text message she had written, They are worthless. I cant stand them.  Im so done with this s-.

Joseph Finn got 30 years after pleading guilty to three counts of assault while participating in a felony causing serious injury.

The 2017 consultants report found Iowa child abuse investigations increased by 43% following Natalies death with more confirmed cases of sexual and physical abuse and neglect.

The ombudsman issued 14 recommendations for the DHS, which will implement 11, including improving its abysmal recordkeeping, a mindboggling failure of management to institute rudimentary practices.

What Hirschmans report also brought to light is that regular doctors visits should be required when the state is subsidizing children adopted from foster care. If those children are home-schooled, the DHS must be allowed to monitor their living conditions.

The Legislature has allocated more money to the DHS, but must heed Hirschmans advice about protecting vulnerable children: I am seriously concerned that the recent budget increase is insufficient, especially in light of the increasing numbers of abuse reports and investigations since Natalies death.

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IOTA BASH 2020

The IOTA Bash, an annual event to raise funds for the "Island Radio Expedition Foundation" (IREF) [www.irefradio.com], is scheduled this year, March 27-28th, at AD5As QTH in Boerne, TX, near San Antonio, TX.

The program schedule is listed below. There is also an XYL program that will visit the San Antonio Missions, a World Heritage Site.

You can register at (www.irefradio.com/iota-bash), 30 USDs for a single amateur and 45 USDs for a couple.

AGENDA --

Friday, March 27th, 2020 at 6:00 pm CDT Dinner provided at Mike, AD5As, QTH  307 Spanish Pass Road, Boerne TX 78006...

All XYLs welcome and encouraged to attend!

This a great chance to meet new friends and catch up with old buddies. Share a few beers with IOTA chasers and activators and hear about the great stories that you never read about unless youre there in person.

Its a unique opportunity to learn from passionate IOTA people, who knows, it might even be the catalyst to start planning your next or first IOTA activation.

-- Saturday March 28th, 2020

8:009:00 Coffee  307 Spanish Pass Road, Boerne TX 78006

9:004:00 IOTA program (includes lunch), guest speakers will include:

Featured Guest: Yuri Zaruba UA9OBA, President Russian Robinson Club

Presentations:

NA-210 Sledge Island  AD5A, N3QQ, UA9OBA

NA-211 Tillamook Island  N3QQ

NA-250 Khantaak Island  K9AJ

SA-101 Aljandro Selkirk Island K9AJ

NA-082,089 Cat and Pitre Island  AB5EB, W5GAI, AD5A

Special Video Presentation from UA9OBA

XYL Program  Depart AD5As QTH 9:00 am

Visit the Market in San Antonio

Lunch at Mi Tierras https://mitierracafe.com/

Tour as many of the San Antonio Missions as possible, there are five, including the Alamo. (If a formal tour is arranged there may be a fee).

Depart San Antonio ~ 4:00pm

Dinner: 6:30 pm PoPos Restaurant, Welfare, Texas (Not included in registration fee) https://popo-restaurant.com/


Businesses that failed to pay staff superannuation have been given a free pass after the government secured support for its amnesty plan following months of uncertainty.

Companies will be required to pay back unpaid super with interest under the reprieve but will avoid substantial penalties from the Australian Taxation Office.

Assistant Superannuation Minister Jane Hume expects another 7000 businesses to come forward under the super amnesty. Credit:Wayne Taylor

The decision will come as a relief to about 7000 employers who voluntarily reported historical unpaid super to the ATO after the amnesty was announced in May 2018. They were left in limbo when Labor and crossbenchers raised concerns and the bill was delayed.

The new rules apply retrospectively and the amnesty will expire six months after the bill gets royal assent. Businesses that fail to come forward during the amnesty will face the full penalty, typically at least the amount of the super guarantee owed and in serious cases double the unpaid funds.
By PTI

AURANGABAD: Latur city in Maharashtra is facing a water crisis despite a healthy monsoon in 2019 with officials admitting that supply to home taps was now once in 15 days, with the situation worsening because of disconnection of the civic body's power supply due to non-payment of bills.

Latur, some 290 kilometres from here, is part of the perennially parched Marathwada region and is Maharashtra's 16th largest city, often in the news for crippling shortage which require the running of 'jaldoot' or water wagon trains for its five lakh residents.

A senior Latur Municipal Corporation (LMC) official said there has been no supply of municipal water for the past six days.

He said the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited on February 20 disconnected power supply of LMC due to non payment of bills running to several crore rupees.

The Latur civic body pays around Rs 70 lakh for power supply every month.

"The electricity dues now stand at Rs 4.19 crore. We were supplying water to five lakh Latur residents once in six days but this frequency has now worsened to 15 days. Efforts are on to restore power supply and arrangements (to pay MSEDCL dues) are underway," LMC Executive Engineer Vijay Cholkhane told PTI on Monday.

Mayor Vikrant Gojamgunde, later in the evening, said power bills of one month would be paid to MSEDCL on Tuesday and water supply would normalise in the days to come.

"We had a meeting with MSEDCL officials. They too have not paid some of our bills raised for various civic works. We will pay MSEDCL Rs 70 lakh tomorrow. Water supply to areas under LMC will become routine soon," Gojamgunde told PTI.

The BJP is the largest party in the 70-member LMC though the mayor belongs to the Congress.
Learning that he hadnt slept the nights prior, Leslie worked hard to schedule all night visits for vitals, labs, medications, and treatments for just two times during the night. I cant even explain what a huge blessing this was.

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Every interaction with her was honestly enjoyable  even for my brother who is still in a great deal of pain. Today is our tenth day here and weve encountered many doctors, nurses and technicians. Leslie stands out as a gem among them.

We just want to say a huge thank you to Leslie  you made our night.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
MORE than a decade after they first came together as a group of artists, the Deel Art Group is still dreaming of a permanent home.

But now, as plans to reboot the town are being drawn up, at community and council level, the group is making its pitch again for a dedicated space which they believe would have a very positive impact in the community.

We are looking for a place we can call home, Martina McCarthy declared this week.

We have been promised three buildings in the last ten years, Anita Guinane, a leading member of the group explained. Happily, for them, over the past few years, the Askeaton Civic Trust has kindly made space for them in their building in the West Square, where the group meets and where it has developed an art and crafts room. But that arrangement is only temporary.

Back in 2011/2012, the group narrowly missed out on their original plan to restore the first floor of the Carnegie Library building and transform it into studio and work spaces. The project had been costed at 20,000 and the group had fund-raised 5,000 as their contribution to the project.

We missed the boat by the skin of our teeth, Anita said. If we had known, we would have done things differently. Unfortunately, the recession finished us off.

Now, to their dismay and astonishment, they have been told the same project could cost 150,000. They are understandably taken aback by the size of this figure and by the enormous jump and are anxious to establish how it has been arrived at.

But they are adamant it would provide a good focal point for local and visiting artists and craft workers and for community development through art.

We are very community minded, Anita stressed. In our own, small way we are trying to do our best. We want it to be a community based space.

It is all about social inclusion, added Trisha Power.

Having a dedicated space would mean everything, declared Martina McCarthy, who, like many of the group members, came to art later in life. Her art family has been a huge source of support for her over the past year, she explained, as she has been dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

An arts space, she enthused, would be a place to meet,, to do things or talk about ideas, and to get support.

That arts space, members are agreed, would also be of benefit to Askeaton Contemporary Art, the annual festival curated by Michele Horrigan which gets significant funding from the Arts Council and is supported by Limerick City and County Council,

While the groups aim of a dedicated arts space has been included in a new town plan being drafted by the Askeaton Community Council, group members have been concerned by recent reports about the condition of library building.

At a meeting of Limerick City and County Council last month, local councillor Kevin Sheahan called for an indepth investigation, including an engineers report, on the library building in Askeaton. He was, he told the meeting, shocked at the condition of the building, with slates missing from the roof and water coming down the walls. He had been told, he said, that there were first class libraries in Adare, Foynes, Rathkeale and Dooradoyle and there was no justification for extending Askeaton and recalled that a proposal to buy a site next door and extend the library had been turned down.

His concern was that this, coupled with the state of the building, would provide an excuse to close the library altogether.

The library is hugely important to the town, members of the Deel Art Group insist. They want to see it flourish, and believe an arts workspace upstairs would complement it.
As a teenager, my aunt bought me a copy of Tolstoy's War and Peace before I was about to leave the UK for a few months travelling alone. She herself had read it on a similar trip at the same age and suggested the length of the book would keep me occupied as well as the story. "It's fantastic, just like a really long episode of Eastenders", to which I replied I was sure Tolstoy would be ecstatic about having his characters compared to Danny Dyer. I haven't the heart to tell her I had too much fun on the trip to ever get round to reading it.

Richard Armitage and Aimee Lou Wood in Uncle Vanya

 Johan Persson

As funny as her analysis was at the time, that conversation had lain dormant in my memory for many years until I watched Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre last week. Having never read or seen any of Chekhov's plays before, I went into the theatre relatively blind and aware of what his name seemed to stand for, rather than any of his work. Pushkin, Gogol, Gorky, Chekhov  in my head at least these names, all synonymous with 'great' Russian drama (whatever that term means), conjure images of old, bearded, white men obsessed with their own artistic integrity. I expected a play woven with metaphor, symbolism, higher meaning  if not an impregnable evening then at least something taxing to keep up with.

The reality was markedly different. Uncle Vanya felt like an episode of Coronation Street or Eastenders played out on stage and suddenly my aunt's comments came flooding back to me. Aside from the pertinent allusions to climate change (I wonder how terrifying this play might be if still performed in another hundred years), this was an unexpectedly simple story about the dynamics of a given family unit. Grudges, love interests and failed ambitions are among the universal experiences that drive the narrative. It seems daft to say now but I left the theatre feeling completely unintimidated  perhaps the most surprising thing about the entire evening.

Sarah Niles, Racheal Ofori and Natalie Simpson in Three Sisters at the National Theatre

 The Other Richard

Along with Uncle Vanya, two of Chekhov's other classics have recently found homes on London's stage. Inua Ellams' (Barber Shop Chronicles) bold adaptation of Three Sisters at the National Theatre has just ended but earned fantastic reviews during its run. As well as further cementing his immense talent as a playwright, the fact that Ellams was able to transport the story from 19th century Russia to the Biafran civil war demonstrates the universal themes Chekhov expresses in his work.

Inua Ellams

 The Other Richard

The Seagull begins its run at the Playhouse next month, another modernisation this time penned by Anya Reiss. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, fresh from the success of Cyrano de Bergerac, the production is notable in that it will also feature Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) as she makes her West End debut. The combination of an exciting young director and a global acting star should hopefully entice a whole raft of younger audience members who might have ordinarily avoided Chekhov. The Jamie Lloyd Company's commitment to accessibility should not be overlooked here  free tickets for first-time theatregoers and 15 tickets for other specific groups are vital if Chekhov's plays are to be enjoyed by the entire public. And there is no reason they shouldn't  the stories are more relatable than you might think.
The New Zealand government announced on Monday that the ban on arrivals from China will be extended for eight more days to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The ban that initially began four weeks ago in New Zealand was set to expire at midnight on Feb. 24.

But the countrys Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said during a post-cabinet press conference that the restrictions should remain for eight more days with a regular review every 48 hours.

She said that New Zealand citizens and permanent residents coming from China are still allowed to enter the country but would have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Although sudden increases in infected people have been reported in South Korea, Italy, and Japan over the past few days, New Zealand continues to focus mainly on China as it is the epicenter of the outbreak.

Ardern said that the current restriction has bought time to understand the virus and prepare accordingly should the outbreak enter New Zealand.

We are ready and we are very well prepared, Ardern said. We have a national supply of critical clinical equipment that is ready to be deployed as needed, she said, which includes antivirals and 18 million masks.

Negative pressure rooms across 15 DHBs, are also available that would prevent room-to-room contamination, Ardern continued, referring to district health boards.

She said same-day testing facilities in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are available, as well as a quarantine facility that could host 150 people.

To the best of my knowledge, we may be one of the only countries in the world running a regime like that.

According to Reuters, the virus has so far affected people in 28 countries.

Recent major outbreaks have forced Italy and Iran to place internal quarantines, and South Korea is currently on red alert, the highest of four alert levels, as coronavirus cases reached over 600.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 20:50:02|Editor: huaxia

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NANJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Police in east China's Jiangsu Province said Monday they cracked a high-profile rape-murder case 28 years ago thanks to breakthroughs in DNA and big data technologies.

The public security bureau of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, said in a press conference that a 54-year-old driver surnamed Ma was arrested Sunday and has confessed to the crime.

On March 24, 1992, the body of a medical student surnamed Lin was found in a shaft of a university building in a case that convulsed the nation. The autopsy revealed she was raped and killed by being squashed into the shaft.

Police said following the murder, hundreds of police officers were mobilized in a sweeping investigation that involved 15,000 people, but the case remained unsolved due to limited means back then.

In February this year, police in the city resorted to big data and DNA technologies to track down a family from the city of Xuzhou. Ma, a member of the extended family who resided in Nanjing, was arrested after his DNA was found to match that of the suspect.

Anecdotes about the victim's alumni working together to identify the murderer have circulated on China's social media, but police discredited the rumor and said the case was uncovered thanks to the careful preservation of evidence, police perseverance and the use of new technologies.
By Express News Service

RAIPUR: Couples in live-in relationships will not be allowed to tie the knot under the Chhattisgarh government's flagship marriage assistance scheme, sources have said.

The Chhattisgarh Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Vivah Yojana, intended for helping poor families, will solemnise the marriage of over 550 couples at a mass function in Raipur on February 25.

However, at least four applications submitted by live-in couples have been rejected after scrutiny by officials of the women and child development department. The department also denied permission for an inter-faith marriage and asked the couple to first get a consent letter from their respective parents.

This is a mass welfare programme of the government. We would not like to invite any needless controversy. After careful examination of each application, the decision was taken to discard those who claimed to be in a 'live-in relationship' or 'Hindu-Muslim couple, said Ashok Pandey, Raipur district project officer of the department.

Another reason for rejecting the applications of live-in relationships' and Hindu-Muslim cases was that the couples were marrying without taking approval from their parents.

The government doesn't wish to be involved in any criticism or dispute. So a firm decision was taken to reject such cases at the first instance unless their parents give the consent in writing, the officer added.

Some of the cases were rejected after the applicants were found to be underage.

The state government, under the marriage assistance scheme, offers Rs 25,000 to girls coming from economically challenged backgrounds.


The magazine has published a list of the 25 most successful Ukraine-based brands, which includes companies from various economic sectors.

The rating includes such brands as ATB supermarket chain, Metinvest mining and metallurgical group, Darnitsa pharmaceutical company, Lvivske beer, Morshinskaya mineral water.

These are the brands of Ukrainian companies that managed to win top positions in their industries and gain popularity all over the country. Each of them was able to find the key to the consumer in their own way  product authenticity, excellent quality, affordable pricing policy or non-standard marketing moves  and due to this, their brands are now on everyones lips  magazines editorial staff explains.

Among the companies mentioned on the list there were some that went through a rebranding last year. For instance, Darnitsa introduced its new logo  the microscope-shaped letter d.

This is a reflection of our goals and growth vector. Last year, we began a large-scale transformation and defined several strategic areas: digitalization, leadership in complex generics and creating an international brand,  Andrei Obrizan, Darnitsa CEO, commented.

As reported, in November 2019 Korrespondent magazine ranked Darnitsa as the most expensive pharmaceutical brand in Ukraine, valuing it at $172.2 million
The Army Band describes Whalen's decision to cover this particular song, a minor hit single from the Hold Your Fire LP, in the Youtube video description, writing:

"When SFC Tim Whalen heard the news, he was shocked and saddened," the statement reads. "As a lifelong Rush fan, he felt compelled to do something to honour Neil and the band that has meant so much in his own life. He immediately knew the song 'Time Stand Still' would be the perfect choice,"

"The lyrics to this song have always resonated deeply with me, and they show Neil's heart," said Whalen.

"I wanted to showcase the deep humanity he had in his writing. The song is about life moving too fast, due to both things we can control and things we can't, and the desire to hold onto something just a little longer. This is such a universal message; whether it be children growing up too fast, a loved one dying, or a soldier leaving home wondering if they'll ever see their family again."

Neil Peart sadly passed away on January 7th after a three-and-a-half-year battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh has not denied being a beneficiary of the GETFund Scholarship but not as a Minister.

In a performance audit report from the Auditor-General, Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, the Procurement Minister; Sarah Adwoa Safo and the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; Prince Hamidu Armah were listed as scholarship beneficiaries of the scheme.

The Minister in a statement, however, described this claim as false and calculated to cause embarrassment and public ridicule.

He clarified that he was only a recipient of GETFund award in 2014 to participate in a 3-week certificate program at the Kennedy School of Govt, Harvard University.

He thus urged Ghanaians to disregard such claims.

The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment also came out with a statement noting that his studies at the Aberdeen University in Scotland predated his entry into public service by at least three years.

He applied for and won the scholarship in 2012 to study for a doctorate in Mathematics Education at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom in 2012.

The focus of GETFund performance audit

The Auditor-General ultimately indicted the GETFund for breaching its mandate and illegally funding foreign scholarships.

The performance audit report said the GETFund Secretariat breached the object of the fund and administered the scholarship themselves.

The report also said, GETFund did not establish any systems, policies and procedures to ensure the economic, efficient and effective use of public funds.

The Auditor-General concluded that the failings of the GETFund led to brilliant but needy students being deprived of scholarship in favour of politicians in some cases.

Below is the statement from the Minister

I have noted with dismay news carried by some media, that suggests that I have as a Minister, received a scholarship from the Ghana Education Trust Fund for studies at Harvard.

This impression is false and calculated to cause embarrassment and public ridicule. I have not received any form of sponsorship for any program or course of study from GETFund of scholarship secretariat since becoming a Minister.

However, I have been a recipient of GETFund award in 2014 to participa te in a 3-week certificate program at the Kennedy School of Govt, Harvard University.

I urge the public to disregard this story, borne out of mischief and lies, intended to cause disaffection.

BY Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh

---citinewsroom
Dog lover Melanee Lundquist will be leaving Chattanooga today and returning to her home in Arkansas.

And she wont be traveling alone.

Ms. Beasley, the Black Golden Doodle she raised from a puppy and lost more than a year ago, will be along for the ride.

I HAVE HER!!! a jubilant Ms. Lundquist revealed in a happy Facebook post during the middle of the night. I have her! I have her! Shes in my car! I have her!

It was a happy ending to a long, sad story that began on Jan. 1, 2019, when Ms. Lundquists cousin  Chickamauga resident Rachel Noble  brought Ms. Beasley to her home to take care of her while her cousin dealt with an emergency.

The very next day I took her out in the yard to go to the bathroom, Mrs. Noble recalled, and she jumped over the fence and ran away.

Had her cousin been here when the incident happened, she said, she could have called Ms. Beasley and the dog probably would have run right back to her. But Ms. Lundquist was on her way back to Arkansas; her frightened, disoriented dog ignored Mrs. Nobles calls and just kept running.

Eleven days ago, almost fourteen months later  despite the photos of her plastered to telephone poles throughout Chickamauga and numerous messages on Facebook asking whether anybody had seen her  Ms. Beasley was still missing.

Thats when a resident of Lookout Valley, more than 16 miles away, posted a photo on Facebook asking whether anybody knew anything about a frightened stray dog that had been roaming the streets there for about a year.

Does anyone know ANYTHING about this stray pup that is always on Browns Ferry? the woman wrote..

I see this poor thing every morning and tried to at-least give it some treats this morning. He/she wont even let me come near. Its so matted and it breaks my heart!

The post, accompanied by a photo of a dejected, badly matted black dog went viral. Last Wednesday, a friend familiar with Mrs. Nobles long search for her sisters dog, sent her a screen shot of it.

The dog looked like Ms. Beasley.

There is only about 30 to 45 minutes between Chickamauga and (Lookout Valley), Mrs. Noble mused. What if . . . ?

She forwarded the message on to her cousin in Arkansas, who looked at the photos and immediately began planning a trip to Chattanooga.

Five days later, she has her dog.

On Facebook, North Georgia and Chattanooga area supporters, who have been helping look for the dog since it disappeared on Jan. 1, 2019, from the home of Ms. Lundquists cousin in Chickamauga, soon filled in the details on how the rescue occurred.

Heres the gist of it, Jan Wright explained in a post early this morning.

(Melanee) got a call from a lady at Mapco, she . . . went there, acting like (she) didnt know (Beasley); bought beef jerky.

Keeping her back to the dog, Ms. Lundquist then kept crinkling the beef jerky bag, according to the Facebook post.

At that point somebody pulled up to the station to buy gas, it continued, and the driver started throwing bread to the dog.

Melanee said (without turning around) thats my dog, please keep feeding her, Ms. Wrights post continued.

She had the jerky behind her back. Beasley took it.

At that point Ms. Lundquist sat down, Ms. Wright wrote, and it clicked . . . Beasley knew! She went crazy all over Melanee, kissing her and jumping on her.

Soon the dog was in Ms. Lundquists vehicle, safe at last  and more than ready to go home.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Barnes & Noble in the Staten Island Mall, New Springville, was the setting Sunday for the signing of a new childrens book, Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue," written by Jeanne LaSala Taylor and illustrated by Ana Sebastian.

As a special surprise, the firefighter mentioned in the book, Capt. Anthony Matteo, made a guest appearance at the event, to the delight of the dozens of families in attendance.

This book was written as a thank you to the brave men and women of the FDNY, explained Taylor before reading her book. Its a thank you to all the firefighters across the country who put their lives on the line for the safety of others and the protection of their homes, churches, offices, and cherished belonging."

Members of the Fire Safety Education Unit were on-hand, handing out FDNY kid-friendly literature and interactive toys, teaching them about fire safety.

The South Shore YMCA hosted the event, which was part of the Barnes & Noble Bookfair program. As part of the program, when a customer mentioned the YMCA or Bookfair, a portion of the proceeds from the books sale were donated to support the South Shore YMCAs educational programs.

In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. Founded by firefighters in 1975, the foundation is dedicated to the advancement of burn care, research, prevention, education, and the proper treatment of burns.
Teresa Abreo Arrested View Photos

Sonora, CA  The Sonora Police Department reports that a 39-year-old Columbia woman was arrested for a variety of charges after being pulled over for having expired registration tags.

Since Teresa Abreo was on probation, the investigating officer decided to search her vehicle. The PD reports, The officer located a loaded .22 caliber Derringer pistol. Abreo had previous felony convictions that prohibited her from possessing firearms in California.

In addition,Abreo was subsequently arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm and was transported to Tuolumne County Jail for booking. Other charges against Abreo include having a loaded firearm in a public place and displaying false evidence of registration.

The arrest happened Saturday evening at around 9pm.
Vietnams prospects for growth remain positive despite record pessimism among chief executive officers (CEOs) about the global economy, said PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Vietnam in a statement.

Container barges dock at a port in the southern province of Dong Nai. Vietnams prospects for growth remain positive despite pessimism among CEOs about the global economy

CEOs are showing record levels of pessimism on the world economy, with 53% predicting a decline in the rate of economic growth this year. This is up from 29% in 2019 and just 5% in 2018, the highest level of pessimism since the London-headquartered firm started asking this question in 2012.

By contrast, the number of CEOs projecting a rise in the rate of economic growth dropped from 42% in 2019 to only 22% in 2020. These are some of the key findings of PwCs 23rd survey of almost 1,600 CEOs from 83 countries across the world.

CEO pessimism over global economic growth is particularly significant in North America, Western Europe and the Middle East, with 63%, 59% and 57% of CEOs from those regions, respectively, predicting lower global growth in the year ahead.

Meanwhile, there is optimism among CEOs in the Asia Pacific region, with 35% expecting improvement and 15% looking forward to great improvement in the next 12 months, the highest proportion among global regions.

This is consistent with results from its latest Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO survey in 2019, where 34% of business leaders in the region (and 49% of Vietnamese CEOs) share a positive outlook for business growth in the year ahead, despite the declining trend overall.

There is mutual optimism among Vietnamese and APEC CEOs for the year ahead, with Asia-Pacific remaining a significant destination and source of foreign direct investment fostered by resilient domestic growth in most of the region, noted PwC Vietnam General Director Dinh Thi Quynh Van.

However, she added, taking into account the global landscape of uncertainties, it is important for businesses to stay agile and cognizant of evolving factors to readily navigate and adapt to any challenges ahead. SGT

Lack of capital, human resources, land impedes rice production Vietnam is a major rice producer and exporter in the world, but Vietnamese farmers and companies cannot make fat profits.
A university in the American state of Utah made news recently when it changed the schools code of conduct. Brigham Young University amended its rules to remove a rule that banned any behavior that related to homosexual feelings.

LGBTQ students and their supporters claimed the rule was unfair since it was not required of heterosexual couples. The term LGBTQ is short for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender.

Brigham Young University (BYU) belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church teaches its members that being gay is not wrong, but having a sexual relationship with a person of the same sex is.

BYUs changes to what the university calls its honor code does not change the religious groups opposition to same-sex relationships or gay marriage.

A BYU official said an email that the new version of the code of conduct is very much like a new handbook of rules released by the church. She said the changes removed prescriptive language and kept the values of the Honor Code, which have not changed.

The church has tried to become more understanding in its relationship to LGBTQ people in recent years.

A part of the code that dealt with homosexual behavior has been removed. The language that angered people was the part that said any form of physical activity that gives expression to homosexual feelings were banned.

In the past, students criticized language that barred gay couples from holding hands, which is permitted for heterosexual couples. The university bans all sex before marriage for all students.

Former BYU student Addison Jenkins had asked for years for university officials to remove the language. He said he is pleased the words are removed.

Jenkins said he still has some worries about how officials will enforce the new code. BYU officials released several tweets about what they called some miscommunication about what the changes mean.

The Honor Code Office will (answer) questions that arise case by case, BYU tweeted.

The universitys Honor Code bans some things that are commonplace at other U.S. colleges. They include drinking alcohol, mens beards and any body piercings. Students who attend BYU, in Provo, Utah, agree to follow the code. Nearly all students are members of the Church.

Last year, several hundred students urged BYU officials to be more understanding in the way students were punished for breaking some of the rules.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

__________________________________

Words In This Story

code of conduct n.a set of rules that establishes what is and what is not acceptable behavior

homosexualn.someone who has a sexual desire for people of the same sex

heterosexual n.someone who has a sexual desire for people of the opposite sex

couple n.two people who are married or in a close relationship

lesbian n.a woman who has sexual desires only for women

gay  n. someone who has a sexual desire only for people of the same sex

transgender adj.of or related to a person whose gender differs from the sex the person had at birth

prescriptive adj.insulting, overly harsh

beard n.facial hair

pierce v.to cut a hole in the body to wear earrings or other jewelry
Senior leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ram Niwas Goel was on Monday unanimously re-elected as the Speaker of Delhi Assembly.

The proposal to elect the Speaker of the 7th Delhi Legislative Assembly was moved by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

"The proposal was supported by MLAs Kuldeep Kumar, Satyendra Jain, Praveen Kumar, Dinesh Mohania, SK Bagga, Vishesh Ravi, and Raghav Chaddha, after which the motion was passed by a voice vote," said a press note.

Goel is AAP MLA from Shahdara.

AAP MLA Shoaib Iqbal, who was elected as pro tem Speaker, administered the oath of office and secrecy to all the newly-elected MLAs.

The proceedings of the first three-day special session of the Assembly began at 11 am today.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that it is clear that both the party and the opposition have full confidence in him.

"In the last five years, we saw that Ram Niwas Ji was like Bhishma Pitamah of the House. He also did not give any opportunity to the opposition to complain," he said.

The Chief Minister hoped the coming five years under the chairmanship of Ram Niwas Goel will be fulfilling.

Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia also congratulated Goel on behalf of all the legislators on being elected unopposed. He said that under his guidance, a new story of development will be written in Delhi.

"Under your leadership, the Delhi government will work towards developing all the Delhi constituencies at a faster pace," said Sisodia.

L-G Anil Baijal will address the assembly tomorrow at 2 pm.

The AAP won 62 out of a total of 70 assembly seats in Delhi assembly elections. The BJP has 8 seats in its kitty. The Congress has not MLA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A key hurdle facing fusion devices called stellarators -- twisty facilities that seek to harness on Earth the fusion reactions that power the sun and stars -- has been their limited ability to maintain the heat and performance of the plasma that fuels those reactions. Now collaborative research by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany, have found that the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) facility in Greifswald, the largest and most advanced stellarator ever built, has demonstrated a key step in overcoming this problem.

Cutting-edge facility

The cutting-edge facility, built and housed at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics with PPPL as the leading U.S. collaborator, is designed to improve the performance and stability of the plasma -- the hot, charged state of matter composed of free electrons and atomic nuclei, or ions, that makes up 99 percent of the visible universe. Fusion reactions fuse ions to release massive amounts of energy -- the process that scientists are seeking to create and control on Earth to produce safe, clean and virtually limitless power to generate electricity for all humankind.

Recent research on the W7-X aimed to determine whether design of the advanced facility could temper the leakage of heat and particles from the core of the plasma that has long slowed the advancement of stellarators. "That is one of the most important questions in the development of stellarator fusion devices," said PPPL physicist Novimir Pablant, lead author of a paper describing the results in Nuclear Fusion.

His work validates an important aspect of the findings. The research, combined with the findings of an accepted paper by Max Planck physicist Sergey Bozhenkov and a paper under review by physicist Craig Beidler of the institute, demonstrates that the advanced design does in fact moderate the leakage. "Our results showed that we had a first glimpse of our targeted physics regimes much earlier than expected," said Max Planck physicist Andreas Dinklage. "I recall my excitement seeing Novi's raw data in the control room right after the shot. I immediately realized it was one of the rare moments in a scientist's life when the evidence you measure shows that you're following the right path. But even now there's still a long way to go."

Common problem

The leakage, called "transport," is a common problem for stellarators and more widely used fusion devices called tokamaks that have traditionally better coped with the problem. Two conditions give rise to transport in these facilities, which confine the plasma in magnetic fields that the particles orbit.

These conditions are:

Turbulence. The unruly swirling and eddies of plasma can trigger transport;

Collisions and orbits. The particles that orbit magnetic field lines can often collide, knocking them out of their orbits and causing what physicists call "neoclassical transport."

Designers of the W7-X stellarator sought to reduce neoclassical transport by carefully shaping the complex, three-dimensional magnetic coils that create the confining magnetic field. To test the effectiveness of the design, researchers investigated complementary aspects of it.

Pablant found that measurements of the behavior of plasma in previous W7-X experiments agreed well with the predictions of a code developed by Matt Landreman of the University of Maryland that parallels those the designers used to shape the twisting W7-X coils. Bozhenov took a detailed look at the experiments and Beidler traced control of the leakage to the advanced design of the stellarator.

"This research validates predictions for how well the optimized design of the W7-X reduces neoclassical transport," Pablant said. By comparison, he added, "Un-optimized stellarators have done very poorly" in controlling the problem.

Further benefit

A further benefit of the optimized design is that it reveals where most of the transport in the W7-X stellarator now comes from. "This allows us to determine how much turbulent transport is going on in the core of the plasma," Pablant said. "The research marks the first step in showing that high-performance stellarator designs such as W-7X are an attractive way to produce a clean and safe fusion reactor."

###

Pablant's work was done in collaboration with more than three dozen coauthors from seven national and international institutions. These centers include the University of Maryland and Auburn University in the United States and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and the Julich Supercomputing Centre in Germany; the National Fusion Laboratory in Spain; and the Laboratory for Plasma Physics in Belgium, representing the laboratories from the European Consortium of fusion laboratories (EUROfusion).

Support for this work comes from the DOE Office of Science and the Euratom research and training programme.

PPPL, on Princeton University's Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, N.J., is devoted to creating new knowledge about the physics of plasmas -- ultra-hot, charged gases -- and to developing practical solutions for the creation of fusion energy. The Laboratory is managed by the University for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, which is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit energy.gov/science (link is external).
Shocking footage has emerged of an 11-year-old boy armed with a knife storming a fish and chip shop in far north Queensland and demanding cash.

Max Kingsley, 67, was preparing to close his Sami's Place shop in Fulham Rd, Townsville on Sunday night when the small boy approached the counter.

CCTV footage captured the moment the barefoot child in a skull and crossbones singlet pulled a large knife from his pants and lunged at Mr Kingsley.

He allegedly yelled for the owner to open the till and hand over the cash.

Max Kingsley, 67, was preparing to close his shop, Sami's Place (pictured), in Fulham Rd, Townsville on Sunday night when the small boy walked in

When the owner refused, the boy then attempted to climb over the counter but fled as soon as he saw Mr Kingsley reach for a large stick.

'He done a beeline for the door, I've never seen a rabbit run as fast as him,' Mr Kingsley told 7news.

'I went out and I chased him, if I had been 10 years younger I would've caught him.'

Mr Kingsley said he believes the boy would've stabbed him had he not defended himself.

He said they have had similar incidents in the store previously, but the offender is usually much older and intoxicated.

The boy was allegedly out on bail for similar offences at the time of the attempted hold-up.

The barefoot child in a pirate singlet approached the counter before pulling the knife from his pants

The boy was found by the police dog squad at 3.50am on Monday after allegedly fleeing from a stolen Subaru Forrester on Thurringowa Drive.

He was arrested and taken to the Watchhouse.

He has been charged with one count each of attempted armed robbery, burglary and commit indictable offence and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
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 number of international visitors coming to the UAE capital in 2019 is estimated to have reached 11.35 million, according to figures collated by the Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).



This number includes 2.83 million overnight and 8.53 million same-day visitors, and is a 10.5 per cent increase over 2018.



The final figures include official international hotel guests, plus estimates for overnight visitors from overseas staying with friends or relatives and an estimate for the number of same-day international visitors.



DCT Abu Dhabis official 2019 hotel figures also reveal that Abu Dhabis 168 hotels and hotel apartments posted the highest number of guests - to date (5.1 million), with robust growth across key revenue metrics including total revenues, average room rate (ARR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR).



The hotel guest numbers represented an increase of 2.1 per cent over the previous year, whilst hotel occupancy was up 1.6 per cent (to a rate of 73 per cent), average length of stay (ALOS) for 2019 was up 1.8 per cent (to 2.6 nights) and total revenues were up an impressive 6.6 per cent (to Dh5.8 billion/$1.5 billion). ARR metrics were up 4.7 per cent and RevPAR also increased across the year by 6.4 per cent.



India, China, the UK and the US remained the top four non-UAE source markets for hotel guests, with Russia, Ukraine, South Korea and Bahrain the fastest growing markets between 2017 and 2019. The Indian market performed especially well, with an 8.2 per cent increase over 2018  with more than 450,000 hotel guests arriving - and the US posting a 5.1 per cent increase over the same time period.



The breakdown of figures between the different regions of the emirate show that hotels in Abu Dhabi performed well across every metric, posting positives for guests (1.5 per cent), occupancy (1.3 per cent), average length of stay (2.8 per cemt), revenues (7.3 per cent), ARR (5.3 per cent) and RevPAR (6.6 per cent). Hotels in Al Ain, meanwhile, posted robust increases for guest numbers (9.8 per cent) and occupancy (2.3 per cent), whilst establishments in Al Dhafra saw increases in occupancy (3.6 per cent), revenues (5 per cent), ARR (10.1 per cent) and RevPAR (14.1 per cent).



On Saadiyat Island, hotel guest numbers for 2019 saw an incredible 73.6 per cent increase, with 165,436 total visitors for the year. Revenues jumped by an impressive 50.3 per cent whilst occupancy went up by 14.7 per cent. Average length of stay for Saadiyat increased by 2.5 per cent, to 4.2 nights whilst RevPAR went up by 5.7 per cent.



Hotels in the ADNEC area posted an impressive increase in revenue of 22.7 per cent for 2019, whilst guest numbers increased by 9.4 per cent, with a total of 305,257 guests arriving. Occupancy went up by 9.9 per cent whilst average length of stay increased by 1.6 per cent. ARR went up by 10.4 per cent and RevPAR increased by 21.3 per cent.



These 2019 results reflect the hard work and dedication that DCT Abu Dhabi, its tourism stakeholders and its partners have put into offering a must-see, must-visit leisure and business destination to not only the international visitor but to domestic guests also, said Saood Al Hosani, acting undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi. These outstanding results were underpinned by some world-class, exceptional events presented in the UAE capital across 2019, including the inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week  which included the massively popular UFC 242 event  Abu Dhabi Family Week  which included the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards - and Summer In Abu Dhabi events as well as the Eid Al Adha celebrations. We also saw a fantastic edition of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Art, ADIPEC 2019 and concerts from global superstars such as Eminem, Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers."



These events helped elevate Abu Dhabis global standing and reputation and contributed massively to our guest metrics, resulting once more in a record breaking year in terms of visitation to the UAE capital, he said. - TradeArabia News Service
(Photo : KHAM on Reuters) COVID-19 Has Contaminated Earth Oxygen; Time to Get Breathable Oxygen Alternatives on Different Galaxy (Photo : Guillermo Ferla on Unsplash) COVID-19 Has Contaminated Earth Oxygen; Time to Get Breathable Oxygen Alternatives on Different Galaxy

For the first time in history, breathable oxygen from another galaxy -- aside from Milky Way that has our Solar System -- is now discovered by scientists.

It has the same structure and elements just like what we have here on our planet Earth and may help you to solve your inner thoughts of traveling to other planets-- just in case Earth did not stop from Coronavirus or any world issues existing today.

Scientists discover breathable oxygen! No need to worry, as so you can live outside Earth!

Oxygen is a living essential. Compared to other galaxies and planets, planet Earth has this element in order for living creatures to survive on this planet. Once it was abused and compromised, all living elements on this planet may die in an instant.

Since it is vital, scientists all over the world have been formulating studies on finding alternatives for this essential need. On Jan. 30, a new finding was discovered by the researchers from Shanghai Astronomical Observatory that explains how a human essential like oxygen can now be used and detected in a galaxy far far away from the Milky Way.

Want to live outside Earth? Breathable oxygen now discovered in another galaxy

According to the report on The Astrophysical Journal, the team found the "first detection of extragalactic molecular oxygen" found outside the Milky Way. But what is it?

The team led by Junzhi Wang has reported that the galaxy called Markarian 231-- located 581 million light-years from the Milky Way-- has been releasing the same breathable oxygen that Earth has.

Using radio telescopes, the team made progress on tracking oxygen on other galaxies with Markarian 231's radiation at a wavelength of 2.52 millimeters-- which identifies that the galaxy has an equal and the highest amount of oxygen besides Earth.

"O2 may be a significant coolant for molecular gas in such regions affected by AGN-driven outflows," the researchers noted. "New astrochemical models are needed to explain the implied high molecular oxygen abundance in such regions several kiloparsecs away from the center of galaxies."

False alert: You cannot live outside Earth even if there's alternative to oxygen

Though it was said that oxygen is an essential need for all living creatures and another galaxy has the same breathable oxygen with Earth, these facts do not imply that you can just go to Markarian 231 and breathe all your lungs out there.

The reason behind this is that oxygen is not the only thing that is needed by a living body to survive on the planet. Humans, specifically, need other elements mixed with oxygen, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, and all the different molecules that make Earth's air breathable to humans and other organisms.

So if you're thinking of flying outside the planet and look for another home, especially now that reports of Coronavirus or COVID-19 of being an 'airborne' disease are spreading worldwide, scientists clarified that you could not just do this and live in Markarian 231.

However, the fact that another galaxy has the same breathable oxygen as Earth is a massive discovery in space. And who knows in the next years, we can really live outside Earth.









 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A music critic once wrote about the Austro-American pianist Artur Schnabel that he was great because his motto seemed to be: "Safety last."

He was willing to take risks, particularly in live performances, that others did not, in pursuit of something transcendent.

That motto came back to me recently when yet another university figure announced that a conservative speaker had to be canceled because of threats of violence: "our first priority is to make sure that everyone on campus is safe."

What that means, of course, is threats to physical safety, when by any sane reckoning, an American college campus is already one of the safest places in the world.

And anyway, when did "safety" become the "first priority" in public?

If we were still a civilized people, we would recognize that, of course, physical safety matters, but there are other threats of equal or greater importance  primarily to our real "first priority," the obligation to live in the truth.

"Safety" has become an ideological construct now, and typically means that merely discussing illegal immigrants or some other subject might make certain people feel "unsafe." In this strange new etiquette, the argument applies to illegals, certain ethnic groups, Muslims, gays, "trans," and other specially protected classes  never to Christians, pro-lifers, advocates for real marriage, etc., who face sharp and growing threats.

Prior to this new social dispensation, proper authorities would have restrained the people threatening the speaker, not a speaker merely making an argument, however right or wrong.

There's an old saying: "A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."

A university in particular, but society at large as well, runs different but quite substantial risks to safety when it cannot properly pursue truth.

There's an old saying: "A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." The same is true of human beings. If mere physical safety is your "first priority," you may avoid certain dangers, in the short run. But there are long-term dangers, far more damaging, in that you are taking a risk of never living a fully human life.

Even Christians seem to be getting weak on this point. When C. S. Lewis wrote the first of the Narnia stories, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in 1950, that great Christian mind already had an intuition about where the desire for comfortableness and safety was leading:

"Aslan is a lion  the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion". . . "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. . ."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

Ultimately, our lives are in God's hands, which means far better hands than our own. But in the meantime, not only does that mean we may face all sorts of threats; we have a responsibility to do so in order to be what we were made to be.

At the beginning of the Divine Comedy, the character "Dante" gets cold feet about embarking on the great spiritual pilgrimage to the Beatific Vision. St. Paul was caught up to the "third heaven" (2 Cor. 12:2), Dante tells Virgil, and Aeneas went to the otherworld (Aeneid, Book VI). But who am I, he says, I'm not Aeneas or Paul. They were destined for great things: building the Church, founding Rome.

Virgil's (and "Dante" the author's) reply is short and perceptive: "If I have understood your words aright/. . .your spirit has been bruised by cowardice." (Inf. II Esolen) The journey out of the ordinary and comfortable and safe, including our everyday assumptions, is something we all must make, one way or another. It's the way that God made us and the world.

Dante reinforces the point a few lines later where he and Virgil meet a large band of condemned souls, so large that he remarks, "I had not thought death had undone so many." Their punishment, appropriate to their sin, is to be stung by wasps and flies into running after a blank flag.

These are the uncommitted souls and "neutral" angels who never ventured their lives to follow God or the devil:

These souls, immortal, have no hope for death,

and their blind lives crept groveling so low

they leer with envy at every other lot.

The world allows no rumor of them now.

Mercy and justice hold them in contempt.

Let's say no more about them. Look, and pass. (Inf. III 46-51)

In other words, these sad beings made themselves so negligible that Heaven (mercy) and Hell (justice) alike spurn them. They were never willing to make the effort of getting into the great game of the spiritual life. Playing it safe was the most disastrous decision of all.

"If I have understood your words aright/. . .your spirit has been bruised by cowardice."

We are entering into Lent in two days, a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving  all with an eye towards understanding better where we are in our spiritual lives as well as where we need to be.

I'm more and more convinced these days that where most of us fall down is not in our basic orientation towards goodness and holiness. It's in having the courage to do what needs doing in private but especially in public.

Christians in China, Africa, and the Middle East are being persecuted this very day  not a few suffering outright martyrdom  and they do so knowing full well that their faithfulness and death will change little. But they persist anyway.

There's a poignant scene in the recent film The Hidden Life. Franz Jagerstatter, an Austrian martyr under Nazism, is urged by his own parish priest to make the formal profession of loyalty to Hitler, which "everyone knows" is meaningless: "Your sacrifice would benefit no one." In prison, prosecutors tell him no one will ever know what he's done. Besides, the Allies are close to defeating Germany and Nazism will fall soon anyway. Sign the loyalty oath. It means nothing.

But that great soul knew what it meant. It meant giving up everything great and good for a paltry safety.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump, seeking re-election, on Monday criticised the Opposition Democratic Party, some 13,000 kilometres away from America in India, and suggested that Senator Bernie Sanders could be his likely rival in the presidential poll in November.

Trump also alleged that the Democratic Party leadership would prevent frontrunner Bernie Sanders from becoming its candidate in the election.

Trump, who is on a 36-hour visit to India commented on the ongoing Democratic Party nomination race and said, "It could go to the convention, it really could."

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"They are going to take it away from Crazy Bernie, they are not going to let him win. I actually think he would be tougher than most of the other candidates because he is like me but I have a much bigger base," Trump told reporters as he flew on Air Force One from Ahmedabad to Agra, according to CNN.

Trump's comments on the American political scene came a day after Sanders comfortably won the crucial Nevada Democratic Caucus, giving a big boost to his campaign for the 2020 White House bid.

Trump has nicknamed 78-year-old Sanders as "Crazy Bernie" for his socialist policies.

Earlier in the day, 73-year-old Trump, a Republican, tweeted that he has secured a record 95 per cent approval rating in the Republican Party.

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He also took a dig at Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and his Democratic Party rival in the 2016 presidential poll on the victory of Sanders in the Nevada Caucus.

"Are any Democrat operatives, the DNC, or Crooked Hillary Clinton, blaming Russia, Russia, Russia for the Bernie Sanders win in Nevada," Trump tweeted.

"If so I suggest calling Bob Mueller & the 13 Angry Democrats to do a new Mueller Report, Democrat Edition. Bob will get to the bottom of it!" The president was referring to Mueller, the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who investigated possible Russian ties to the Trump campaign in the 2016 elections.

Trump also attacked Adam Schiff, a Democratic politician serving in the House of Representatives, who took a leading role in impeaching the president by the House.

ALSO READ | PM Narendra Modi, Donald Trump to hold extensive talks on Tuesday to expand Indo-US global partnership

"Somebody please tell incompetent (thanks for my high poll numbers) & corrupt politician Adam Shifty Schiff to stop leaking Classified information or, even worse, made-up information, to the Fake News Media," Trump tweeted.

"Someday he will be caught, & that will be a very unpleasant experience!" he added.

Trump also announced that he would be with his friends and supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CAPC) on Saturday in Alexandria city in Virginia.

The CAPC is the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world, according to the CAPC website.

During his massive roadshow in Ahmedabad along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said that he and First Lady Melania have travelled 8,000 miles around the globe to deliver a message to every citizen across India that "America loves India. America respects India. And America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people."
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Market Outlook for Mafura Oil Market:

Mafura or trichilia emetica is a wild fruit which is native to South Africa and is a pear-shaped orange-brown fruit bearing shiny black seeds or kernel. The fruit itself is edible, and the kernel yields the oil which is rich in antioxidant content and traditionally used as a cooking oil in Mozambique. Mafura oil is native to Southern Africa in countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Sudan and Uganda Mafura oil is mostly used as a substitute to shea butter and palm oil. Mafura oil is solid at room temperature and is called as mafura butter. Commercially, the terms mafura oil and mafura butter are used interchangeably for the same product and application. Mafura oil is also known by the name of Cape Mahogany Oil. In recent times, the cosmetics and personal care market have felt a pull towards bioactive ingredients. Africas unexplored natural resources such as baobab oil, mafura oil, marula oil, etc. have gained considerable attention owing to this trend. Globally, mafura oil is mainly utilized as a personal care product by blending it with other essential oils. Niche ingredients like mafura oil are a staple for the trysumer demo graph (consumers who are always willing to try out something new). This demo graph is willing to spend a high price for premium products with niche ingredients such as mafura oil. The retail shelves in the European market have a major contribution to nursing the growth of the mafura oil market.

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Mafura Oil blends with the demand for bioactive ingredients in cosmetic and food industries

The growing demand for mafura oil is riposted with the growing production of mafura oil in the native regions. The expansions of production facility of mafura oil in these regions ensure a sustainable source of income for the local producers. Another factor fuelling the growth of the mafura oil market is sustainability. Mafura oil is often used as a substitute for palm oil and it is perceived as a more sustainable product, as mafura trees are wild harvested and evade the issue of cutting down rainforests which is mostly the case with other commercial plantations. Many manufacturers are launching new products containing mafura oil which cater to the consumer demand for niche ingredients. But major revolutionary changes are brought about through the initiatives taken up by the local mafura oil manufacturers and international organizations such as International Finance Corporation (IFC) which are focusing on enhancing the mafura oil supply chain and establish a firm linkage between local producers and large international markets. The focus is also with regard to the reestablishment of a market in Mozambique, which had severely become insubstantial after Mozambique independence and civil war. These efforts are in return expected to benefit the international bioactive cosmetics market.

Global Mafura Oil Market: Segmentation:

On the basis of source, the mafura oil market is segmented as-

Organic

Conventional

On the basis of type, the mafura oil market is segmented as-

Refined

Unrefined

On the basis of end use, the mafura oil market is segmented as-

Food & Beverages

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Pharmaceuticals

Others

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Global Mafura Oil Market: Examples of some of the market participants in the global mafura oil market identified across the value chain include PhytoTrade Africa, BZH Exporters & Importers, KAZA Natural Oils, Phytoafrica GmbH, DLG Naturals, Nautica Organic Trading and All Ingredients Plus + amongst others.

Global Mafura Oil Market: Key Takeaways

In August 2018, the company Sundial Brands, LLC, which is a manufacturer of skincare and hair care products launched a new product range under the brand Shea Moisture containing honey and mafura oil in U.K. in selected retail stores.

Opportunities for Mafura Oil Market Participants:

The market penetration level for mafura oil is relatively low in the food industries. Manufacturers must adopt educational strategies to target the health-conscious consumers, mafura oil is rich in anti-oxidants and other essential substances. Also, the manufacturers must aim at gaining scientific consensus for the benefits claims of mafura oil. This will ensure them in building consumer trust and strengthen consumer base.
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: After a year since he had quit the BJP, former Assam MP Ram Prasad Sarmah joined the Congress on Monday.

Accompanied by three-time former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Sarma met Congress leader KC Venugopal in New Delhi prior to joining the grand old party. He will formally join the Congress in Guwahati on March 1.

Cornered in the BJP after being caught in a conflict between old leaders and new leaders, he had resigned from the party. He was denied ticket to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from his constituency Tezpur where the BJP fielded Pallab Lochan Das who had defected from the Congress.

The BJP in Assam has been reduced to the B team of the Congress. So, I thought I should be with the Congresss A team, Sarmah told this newspaper from New Delhi.

He was confident that the Congress would return to power in Assam next year when the Assembly elections will be held.

We had built the BJP in Assam brick by brick. However, some people, who came from other parties and became ministers, destroyed it. They dont follow the ideals and philosophy of the RSS, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, Deendayal Upadhyaya, Atal Behari Vajpayee, LK Advani etc, Sarmah said without taking the name of any new BJP leader.

He lamented that the partys founder leaders in Assam such as former MPs Ramen Deka, Rajen Gohain, Bijoya Chakraborty and himself besides some six lakh old grassroots workers were ignored by the new leaders.


Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned from office on Monday as his party quit the ruling coalition - plunging the country into political crisis.

Mahathir, the world's oldest leader at 94, stunned observers when he won the election in 2018, ending two decades of rule by the Barisan Nasional coalition.

As part of his election strategy he had promised to eventually hand power to deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, though observers now speculate that he is reneging on that pledge.

While Mahathir has not revealed the reasons for his resignation, many believe he will try to form a new ruling coalition that excludes Anwar and hold on to power himself.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, travelled to the royal palace in the capital of Kuala Lumpur on Monday (pictured) to tender his resignation to the king

It is thought 94-year-old Mahathir (centre) will now try to form a new government cutting out successor Anwar Ibrahim (left), who he promised to hand power to after his 2018 win

The departure of his Bersatu party from the ruling coalition robs it of its parliamentary majority, effectively leaving the country without a government.

The prime minister's office said in a brief statement that Mahathir submitted his resignation to Malaysia's king at 1 p.m. but gave no further details.

He also quit as chairman of the Bersatu party.

Minutes before his resignation was offered, Bersatu said it would leave the four-party Alliance of Hope and support Mahathir as the prime minister.

Eleven other lawmakers, including several Cabinet ministers, also announced they are quitting Anwar's party to form an independent bloc.

The withdrawal of more than three dozen lawmakers means the ruling alliance has lost its majority in Parliament, throwing the country into an uncertain future and sparking fears of more turmoil over how the political drama will play out.

Opinions are divided on whether Mahathir is quitting for good or making a tactical move to buy time to cobble together a new majority to form a government.

King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who met Bersatu and several other leaders on Sunday, met Anwar on Monday afternoon and summoned Mahathir to the palace.

Mahathir shocked observers when he became the world's oldest leader with his 2018 election win, ending two decades of rule by the rival Barisan Nasional party

Analysts said the king could decide on which faction has the support or dissolve Parliament for snap elections.

The political drama unraveled Sunday with maneuvers aimed at keeping Mahathir in power and thwarting Anwar, replaying their decades-old feud.

Anwar was Mahathir's deputy during Mahathir's first stint as prime minister but fell out politically before reuniting in a pact that ousted a corruption-tainted government in the May 2018 election.

Mahathir has refused to set a date to relinquish power despite a pre-election agreement to hand over power to Anwar.

Anwar confirmed late Sunday there were attempts by some Bersatu members and 'traitors' to form a new government in a 'betrayal' of their political pact.

He said Monday after meeting Mahathir with other alliance leaders that Mahathir had quit as he didn't want to be associated with the former government that he worked so hard to oust in 2018 polls.

'His name was used, by those within my party and outside,' Anwar told reporters. Mahathir 'reiterated to me what he had said earlier, that he played no part in it and he made it very clear, that in no way will he ever work with those associated with the past regime,' he added.

Those close to Anwar (pictured) confirmed at the weekend that there was a plot to cut out his succession, leading many to believe that Monday's resignation was part of the scheme

Ironically, the maneuvers would restore to power the Malay party of disgraced former leader Najib Razak, who with several of his party leaders are standing trial for corruption.

It would also propel to national power a fundamentalist Islamic party that rules two states and champions Islamic laws.

The two Malay parties still have strong support from ethnic Malays, who account for 60 per cent of Malaysia's 32 million people.

Mahathir has remained silent, but many Malaysians reacted with dismay and shock on social media, saying moves to form a 'backdoor' government would be unethical and that a new election should be called if the ruling alliance collapses.

In a new twist, two other parties in Anwar's alliance said they would propose at an emergency meeting Monday night that Mahathir remain as prime minister to continue their reformist agenda.

Analysts warned that such a new government could give rise to Malay Islamic supremacy that would derail Malaysia's multi-ethnic society.

'If the new government goes through, Malaysia is heading toward a a very regressive stage whereby racial supremacy and religious extremism would become the rule of the day,' said Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
Is this piece of historic legislation perfect? No, but it is light-years ahead of the partisan gerrymandering going on for years and getting worse. This will continue if the House does not act by March 7, and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has promised to sign if it reaches his desk. For selfish reasons, some legislators want to renege on their promise to eliminate gerrymandering. House leadership should not put partisanship over statesmanship. They must do the right thing. Virginians must demand the Virginia House take public and open action on this historic constitutional amendment.
Tempe, Ariz. Two Arizona physicians are trying to improve care for patients with chronic kidney disease by pioneering a minimally invasive procedure that provides easier access to a patients bloodstream for life-saving dialysis treatments.

Kidney specialist Randy Cooper, MD, of SKI Vascular Center, presented his experience with the Ellipsys Vascular Access System at the meeting of the American Society for Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN), February 21-23, in Las Vegas.

His initial four-year follow-up data indicates this new type of dialysis access may last longer and require fewer interventions than the current standard of care, which requires an open surgical procedure. Dr. Cooper, a board member of the Phoenix chapter of the National Kidney Foundation, is also a co-author on a recent position paper from ASDIN regarding patient selection for this revolutionary approach to dialysis patient care.

In Arizona, more than 10,000 people are currently on dialysis as a result of kidney failure - an increase of nearly 50 percent in the last decade. For these patients, many of whom must visit a dialysis center several times a week for their life-saving treatments, any improvement in quality of life can have a significant impact.

The ability to create a minimally invasive dialysis access means no incisions, no scars and less trauma for the patient. Most people want to avoid surgery at all costs, but for patients with kidney failure who already spend so much of their life under a doctors care, this technology offers a considerable quality of life impact, said Dr. Cooper. As soon as we learned about this novel technology, we knew we wanted to be able to offer this to our patients.

Nearly 100 kidney patients have now undergone the Ellipsys procedure at SKI Vascular Center. In 2015, Dr. Cooper and his partner Umar Waheed, MD, were among the first physicians to participate in the U.S. clinical trial and later co-authored an article on the study results showing the safety and efficacy of the Ellipsys system. SKI was the first surgery center in the United States to offer the Ellipsys System following its FDA approval in 2018.

Using a minimally invasive approach, Ellipsys replaces surgery with a single needlestick in order to create a fistula (a type of vascular access for dialysis). For the past 50 years, the only way to create a fistula was with a complex surgery that subjects patients to discomfort and long recovery times. In contrast, the Ellipsys procedure can be done in an outpatient setting and requires little to no recovery time.

Chandler-based data analyst Alex Kaplan, a 32-year old father of one, had his fistula created with Ellipsys in September 2019 and has been successfully using the fistula for dialysis three times a week since December 2019.

Ellipsys just seemed like the better option in every way. It was a lot less invasive and I had virtually no recovery. With having a young child, I needed to be back in action as soon as possible for my family, he said. The procedure was quick, with no complications, and I returned to work the next day. My fistula has very little impact on my daily life.

In addition to being more patient-friendly, recently published two-year data has shown this type of access may function better and last longer than the surgical method. Dr. Coopers ASDIN presentation also suggests Ellipsys fistulas heal faster and can be ready to use for dialysis access sooner than surgical ones - potentially reducing the time from fistula creation to dialysis from six months to four to six weeks.

For patients with kidney failure, this innovative procedure eliminates a lot of the hurdles they face in getting a fistula and actually being able to use it for dialysis, said Dr. Waheed. Patients come in for a consultation and within a matter of days they are having the Ellipsys fistula created, and in some cases theyve begun dialysis with that fistula in about a month.

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About SKI Vascular Center

SKI Vascular Center is part of the Southwest Kidney Institute, an interconnected network of 47 offices and 70 providers in Arizona. Its staff of highly trained professionals offers an array of the most technologically advanced procedures for the prevention and treatment of dialysis access related complications and various vascular diseases.

The Ellipsys Vascular Access System is currently available at the SKI Vascular Center locations in Tempe and Peoria. Patients can call 480-610-6152 or visit www.skivascularcenter.com to request an appointment.
A man intentionally rammed a car into a crowd at a carnival procession in the German town of Volkmarsen, injuring dozens of people including children, police said.

The suspect, a 29-year-old German citizen, was arrested but could not be immediately questioned because he was injured in the incident and being treated by doctors.

He is being investigated on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Police spokesman Henning Hinn confirmed that Mondays crash was deliberate, adding: There were several dozen injured, among them some seriously and sadly also children.

Volkmarsen, a town of about 7,000 people, is in Hesse, a central German state; all carnival parades across the state were cancelled as a precaution.

However, state police said they had no indication of a threat anywhere else in Germany.

Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth said of the roughly 30 people injured, about 10 were children.

As far as I know, there are still no indications for the motive for the deed. This is also a subject of the investigations which are now being carried out with high pressure, said Beuth.

Seven victims were in serious condition, Frankfurt police chief Gerhard Bereswill told local media.

Forensic police officers are seen close to the site where a car drove into a carnival procession in Volkmarsen near Kassel, central Germany, on Rose Monday, February 24, 2020 [Uwe Zucchi/dpa/AFP]

The incident took place on the south side of Volkmarsen, outside a supermarket.

Video footage showed a silver Mercedes station wagon with local licence plates and its hazard lights blinking on the pavement while emergency crews walked by.

The carnival is popular in parts of Germany, especially in Rhineland cities such as Cologne and Duesseldorf, where festivities peaked on Rose Monday (February 24) with tens of thousands attending street parades featuring comical or satirical floats.

Mondays attack came less than a week after a far-right gunman killed at least nine people in a city called Hanau, which is also in Hesse  an assault which sent shock waves through Europe.
California police say a dispute over a rental agreement led a 20-year-old woman and her teenage boyfriend to kill three people.

This is a tragic, horrific incident, Hemet Police Chief Eddie Pust told a news conference Friday.

He said the murders happened Wednesday in a Hemet home belonging to one of the victims, Wendy Lopez-Araiza, 46.

Her daughter Genesis Lopez-Araiza, 21, was also murdered. The third victim was Trinity Clyde, 18.

BOYFRIEND OF MISSING GEORGIA STUDENT ANITRA GUNN CHARGED WITH MURDER DAYS AFTER REMAINS FOUND: OFFICIALS

They had been bludgeoned and strangled, Pust said.

Another member of the Lopez-Araiza family, the oldest son, was in another part of the house as the murders were taking place, but didn't know what was happening, he said.

The two charged with the murders were Jordan Guzman, 20, and Anthony McCloud, 18. They were accused after they were tracked down to Las Vegas and arrested, Pust said.

IOWA PROFESSOR ACCUSED OF MURDER IN HUSBAND'S BIZARRE DEATH

He said the rent dispute involved Guzman, who was a tenant in the house.

Police were called after Genesis was found covered in blood by her father when he came home from work, the chief said.

As he entered the house, Guzman and McCloud ran out and took off in Clydes car, Fox 11 Los Angeles reported.

Rodney Clyde told a local TV station his daughter, Trinity, had planned to rent a room in the Lopez-Araiza house, the Associated Press reported.
Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have reached an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dams operation and the distribution of Nile River water. A decade ago, Egyptian concern for its downstream water rights led to sharp diplomatic protests and saber-rattling. This new agreement addresses issues like filling the GERDs reservoir, policies regulating water release during droughts and procedures for handling emergencies related to the dam. The agreement was announced in Sudan on February 14. The United States, taking the role of external mediator, hosted a late January meeting in Washington that helped hammer out the joint responsibility for managing drought crises agreement. The U.S. has good relations with Egypt and Ethiopia while Sudan wants the U.S. to remove it from the Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list. Though the February 14 announcement described the deal as final, that wasnt quite accurate. A couple of thorny issues remain unsettled. Ethiopia claims Egypt has dropped its demand that Ethiopia guarantees Egypt 40 billion cubic meters of water annually. Egypt claims it has not dropped the demand. The GERD reservoirs fill rate is another issue. Egypt argues that if the GERDs reservoir fills too quickly it will reduce the Nile Rivers flow and thus limit the Aswan High Dams electrical generation capability. So Egypt wants seven years for the initial fill. Ethiopia, however, wants to fill it in four years. Nevertheless, the agreement is good news. Once it is filled, the GERDs reservoir will serve as a hedge against drought for all three nations. The GERD will also supply electrical power to a region running from Kenya and Uganda through both Sudans to Egypt. (Austin Bay)

February 22, 2020: Finally, a good sign in South Sudan that the six year-long civil war may end. Today in the capital, South Sudans senior rebel leader Riek Machar was sworn in as the nations first vice-president, which completes a key element of the peace agreement and forwards the establishment of what diplomats now call South Sudans Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU). Attempts to form the Transitional Government of National Unity failed so many times and got so far off schedule that mediators decided to add the qualifierRevitalized. Machars chief antagonist, South Sudanese president Salva Kiir, attended the ceremony. When Kiir spoke he urged forgiveness and conciliation. He specifically asked members of the Dinka and Nuer tribes to forgive one another. Kiir is Dinka, Machar is Nuer. They are the two largest and most powerful ethnic groups in South Sudan. Ethnic rivalry between the two groups sparked the civil war. Time will tell if Kiir and Machar can co-exist and cooperate. There is a lot to forgive and much to reconcile. The latest estimated death toll in the civil war is slightly over 400,000. (Austin Bay)

Meanwhile in Sudan, pro-democracy activists claim the RSF (Rapid Support Forces, militia, which is still commanded by accused war criminal Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo, controls several gold mines in the country. According to the accusers and an anti-corruption group, the RSF sells the gold without Sudanese government supervision. RSF-controlled gold sales are made without proper contracting and accounting procedures. It is a documented fact that in 2017 the RSF seized North Darfur states Jebel Amer gold mine. Critics claim the RSF and Dagalo exert significant control over three other goldmines in Sudan and illegal gold sales have made Dagalo a wealthy man. Reformers contend the outlaw gold mining operations are examples of how the RSF, and other security services, run a parallel economy. Dagalo continues to serve on Sudans governing Sovereign National Council (SNC). Reformers believe Dagalos economic and political power confirms the deep-seated corruption tolerated and encouraged by former dictator Omar al Bashir, has not been eliminated. (Austin Bay)

February 21, 2020: In Sudan, the government reported a spike in human and livestock deaths caused by Rift Valley fever. The Red Sea state city of Aryab appears to be a hotspot.

In South-Sudan the pro-Sudan Misseriya tribe has rejected the South Sudan government's decision to declare Abyei South Sudanese territory. So far Sudan has not reacted to that declaration. The Misseriya want Sudan to oppose the South Sudan decision. Interestingly enough, the Misseriya are also asking Sudan and the government of Sudans West Kordofan state to support a new round of peace negotiations between the Misseriya and the Ngok Dinka tribe in Abyei. The Misseriya are in a bind with both Sudan and South Sudan. On January 21 Misseriya militiamen killed 35 Ngok Dinka in Abyei while another 40 people were injured. Investigators serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) determined that Misseriya tribesmen had conducted the attack. The semi-nomadic Misseriya tribesmen entered Abyei from Sudans South Kordofan state. South Sudan contends that Abyei is a historically Dinka enclave. A referendum held in 2013 in Abyei, over 95 percent of the voters (99 percent according to some reports) favored joining South Sudan. Sudan rejected the referendum results, but that was when Basher was still in power. The Ngok Dinka tribe are the original inhabitants of Abyei, Christian, part of one of the largest tribes in South Sudan and, not-surprisingly, eager to be part of South Sudan.

February 20, 2020: The South Sudan government and the rebels announced they will form a coalition government on February 22 as required by the September 2018 peace agreement.

In Sudan, 53 demonstrators were injured in a clash with police. The SPA (Sudanese Professional Association), the leading pro-democracy group in Sudan, condemned the violence and demanded Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and the SNC (Sovereign National Council) fire the interior minister (who controls police forces).

February 19, 2020: In South Sudan, the president has agreed to rebel demands that South Sudan return to ten states. The current president wanted 32 but that was widely opposed. So now South Sudan will reinstitute the ten state organization is had at independence in 2011. The country will also have three special administrative areas. The concession by the president removes one of the biggest sticking points in forming a new transitional government in South Sudan.

February 17, 2020: In Sudan, it was agreed that the military and civilian members of the SNC would have to approve letting the ICC (International Criminal Court) try deposed dictator Omar al Bashir. The ICC meets in the Netherlands. The possibility of permitting an ICC trial of Bashir, and possibly three other members of his regime, was raised earlier this month.

February 15, 2020: In South Sudan, after a meeting between the president and the rebel leader the president said that he would agree to the rebel demand that the country return to its ten state pre-civil war state organization. The ten original states would be re-established, plus three "administrative areas": Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei. All three areas have border issues.

In western Sudan (Darfur), the local rebel groups are praising the Sudan governments decision to let the ICC try former dictator Omar al Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity. They believe an honest trial in the ICC will promote peace in Darfur.

February 13, 2020: In Sudan, the government south to get off the American SST (State Sponsors of Terrorism) list by agreeing to pay $30 million in damages to the survivors of 17 U.S. Navy sailors killed in the terror attack on the USS Cole in October 2000. In addition to the dead, the attack wounded 39 sailors. Sudan, however, denies participating (directly) in the bomb attack. Al Qaeda terrorists in a small boat pulled up beside the destroyer when it was refueling in Aden, Yemen and detonated a bomb in the boat. At the time Sudan was providing sanctuary for al Qaeda.

February 12, 2020: In Sudan, the SNC announced they will hand over former dictator Omar al Bashir to the ICC, where he will face war crimes and genocide charges. Bashir was toppled in April 2019 and Dufanese pro-democracy groups supported sending him to the ICC for trial. No date has been given for the transfer of Bashir to the ICC. There is speculation that the ICC may come to Sudan to conduct the trial. The ICC indicted Bashir in 2009 and in 2010. Bashir faces five counts of crimes against humanity, three counts of genocide and two counts of war crimes.

February 11, 2020: In Sudan, the SRF (rebel umbrella organization) came out in support of a recent request that the UN encourage international financial assistance to support Sudans internal peace process.

February 9, 2020: The UN asked the U.S. to remove Sudan from the U.S. SST. The UN believes that said removal will encourage international support for change in Sudan.

In South Sudan, the IGAD (East Africas Intergovernmental Authority on Development) mediation team gave the president five more days to reach a decision on South Sudans state boundaries issue. The president wants 32 federal regional states in South Sudan because it was his idea in the first place. The rebels insist South Sudan must have its original ten states and that has a lot more popular support.

February 8, 2020: Sudan reports that it is now hosting 283,895 registered South Sudanese refugees. Only 76,686 are registered with the UN. The others were counted by Sudanese authorities, including the Immigration and Passport Police (IPP).

February 6, 2020: Sudan announced that aircraft flying to Israel can cross Sudanese airspace. On February 4 the head of the SNC met in Uganda with the Israeli prime minister and discussed normalizing political relations.

February 4, 2020: In Sudan, the recent massive desert locust swarm has arrived and the government fears it faces an agricultural disaster. A new swarm is threatening the Red Sea state. The UN is calling for increased food aid to prevent starvation. The locusts are also plaguing Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. This swarm is one of the largest ever recorded.

February 3, 2020: In western Sudan (Darfur), UN peacekeepers are conducting a series of conferences with the Transitional Government and SRF rebel coalition. The conferences supplement on-going Darfur region peace negotiations being held in South Sudan. The first conference was held outside the capital of North Darfur state. One of the chief objectives was to address the problem of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the region and Darfur IDPs who are refugees in other countries.

February 1, 2020: In South Sudan, the president criticized the UN and its UNISFA Abyei peacekeeping operation for failing to protect the Ngok Dinka. South Sudan said the semi-nomadic Misseriya tribesmen entered Abyei from Sudan (South Kordofan state). South Sudan contends that Abyei is a historically Dinka enclave. A referendum held in 2013 in Abyei, nearly all the voters favored joining South Sudan. Sudan rejected the referendum. However, at the time Bashir was still in power.

January 30, 2020: In Sudan, the SNC is making another international push get off Washingtons State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Being on the list restricts U.S. government foreign assistance and forbids weapons and defense-related exports. A listed nation cannot import some agricultural goods. The most severe penalties involve bank access, banking procedures and investment restrictions. The U.S. can selectively lift some restrictions. For example, in 2017 to encourage moderation in Sudan, The U.S. lifted or reduced some of the economic sanctions.

January 27, 2020: In Sudan, the transitional government promised one of the main rebel groups (SPLM-N Agar) that it will create a new national military that reflects Sudans ethnic diversity. The pledge is included in a peace deal that SPLM-N Agar accepted on January 24. Mediators call the agreement a framework deal for other peace settlements within Sudan. SPLM-N-Agar members will be integrated into the new national army. Moreover, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states (which SPLM-N factions partially control) will receive a degree of political autonomy. Another rebel faction (SPLM-N-Alhilu) fields one of the two most powerful rebel armies in Sudan. The other is the Darfur based the SLM-AW. Alhilu favors establishing a secular state in Sudan. Diplomats say that the framework is a good one, but for the deal to secure peace in Blue Nile and South Kordofan Alhilus faction must also agree to it.

January 26, 2020: In Sudan, the transitional government has asked all international foreign aid groups to return to the country. The appeal includes NGOs' former dictator Omar al Bashir expelled. The government said aid organizations will be allowed to conduct aid operations without restrictions. In practical terms that means Sudanese security forces will not harass their operations and will not hinder their movement within Sudan. The NGOs will be able to operate throughout Sudan, including in rebel-controlled areas. This is particularly good news for the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

January 23, 2020: On the Sudan-South Sudan border a major tribal clash occurred in the disputed Abyei region. Oil-producing Abyei is claimed by Sudan and South Sudan. Initial reports are sketchy, but UNISFA sources report semi-nomadic Misseriya tribesmen attacked a Ngok Dinka village. The attackers killed at least 32 people and burned two-dozen houses. Authorities believe the Misseriya entered Abyei seeking grazing pasture for their cattle. Abyei is the most sensitive region on the contested border and has been since 2011.
Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have suspended flights to China and Hong Kong.

Domestic airlines will see a marginal impact on their revenue due to the coronavirus crisis because of limited presence in East Asia, but will gain from the drop in crude oil prices and possible reduction in aircraft lease rentals.

Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have suspended flights to China and Hong Kong.

Loads to Bangkok and Singapore have declined as customers cancel or postpone their trips.

Senior executives, however, say the outbreak will not negatively impact airlines in India.

Willy Boulter, chief commercial officer, IndiGo, said: The flights to China that we have suspended so far account for less than 1 per cent of our capacity.

"While we are seeing weaker demand to and from Southeast Asia, our flights are still operating as normal, except in Vietnam where we have reduced from two flights per day to one from March 1.

"The total impact will be around 2 per cent of capacity and part of that we are redeploying in the domestic market.

SpiceJet, too, does not see the crisis hurting its operations and, in fact, sees a prospect to lease more planes as airlines in East Asia have grounded planes and curtailed flights.

Brent crude oil price has declined 17 per cent in a month and was trading at $57 on February 14.

Fuel accounts for over 30 per cent of airline's expense and this would result in lower costs.

Kiran Koteshwar, chief financial officer, SpiceJet, said: Globally, aviation is impacted as Chinese are big travellers.

"But the impact on us is less as we have limited exposure to East Asia.

"There is no impact on travel demand to and from West Asia. On the positive side, there is an opportunity to lease planes at lower rates.

"We are looking to add two Boeing 737s.

While Indian carriers are relatively unscathed, their Asian peers are taking a hit.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has estimated that global airline revenue could fall by $4-5 billion in the first quarter.

The growing scale of the coronavirus outbreak poses significant challenges to Singapore Airlines, it said on Friday.

Vietnam Airlines has said it is losing $10 million in revenue per week due to flight cancellations.

Aviation consultancy CAPAs South Asia CEO Kapil Kaul said: On the cost side, Indian airlines can benefit due to the fall in crude oil price.

"Demand to East Asia and Southeast Asia will be impacted depending upon the severity of the situation in the next few weeks.

"There could be an impact on India's outbound travel from April if the situation remains risk driven.

"The outbreak is unlikely to impact Indian carriers significantly at this stage except Air India, which has significant operations to East Asia.

Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters
A nine-year-old schoolgirl was forced to hide in bushes after being stalked by a middle-aged man driving a van.

Kayra Oz said she was on her way to school at 7.50am on Friday in the Perth suburb of Atwell when the van pulled up beside her - just 700 metres from her house.

'My shoelace was untied, I went to go tie it up and there was this silver van in front of me and he asked me "do you want me to give you a ride?",' Kayra told 9 News.

Kayra Oz said she was on her way to school at 7.50am on Friday in the Perth suburb of Atwell when the van pulled up beside her - just 700 metres from her home

The girl's mother, Tulay Oz, said when her daughter told her about the incident she was shocked and her heart was racing

Kayra said she hid in bushes on Brenchly Drive.

'I was really scared - he got out of the car and started looking for me,' she said.

The girl's mother, Tulay Oz, said when her daughter told her about the incident she was shocked and her heart was racing.

She quickly sent out a warning to other parents on social media.

The man was driving a silver courier type van and is described as in his 50s, has olive skin, dark hair with grey flecks, stubble, and a foreign accent.

He was wearing grey shorts and black t-shirt.

It is not the first time Kayra has been targeted.

She said another incident happened on corner of Folland Parade and Jakovich Circuit in the same suburb a month ago.

On this occasion she was walking home from school at about 6pm when a different van stopped.

'There was this white van and [the driver] asked me if i wanted some lollies,' Kayra said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted WA Police and the Department of Education WA for comment.
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.
MBABANE - A major syndicate, involving con men purporting that Dvokolwako Diamond Mine has been reopened, has been intercepted.



In fact, the operations of the con men, through the syndicate, had some businesspeople asking themselves if indeed government had finally awarded someone the licence to reopen and operate the Dvokolwako Diamond Mine.



The answer to the above is no!



Instead, it appears there are con men who are going around claiming to have been granted the licence to reopen the mine.

They are luring unsuspecting businesspeople to supply them with equipment for the operation of the mine. This is despite the fact that government has not made any announcement to the effect that the mine is now operational.



Trap



Businessman Gordon Crawford, who is based in Big Bend, in the Lubombo Region, almost fell for the trap.

Crawford owns a company called African Connections, which supplies industrial and solar equipment and also offers procurement services.

Had Crawford not become suspicious of some of the documentation relating to the tender, he would be crying a bucketful of tears as the suspected con men would have got away with close to E1 million, which he would have paid for the supply of the items.



Crawford allegedly received a call through an MTN Eswatini cellphone number where the caller claimed that the mine was sending proposals inviting experienced suppliers to tender for the supply of equipment. The call was to inform the businessman that he would be receiving an email and that he had to act fast if he was interested in the tender.

After the call, Crawfords company received an email containing a document of the proposal.



Letterhead



According to the document, which Crawford shared with this publication, the suspected con men has a properly crafted letterhead of their own Dvokolwako Diamond Mine.



Among the details reflected on the letterhead is that the mines operations are stationed at the 3rd Floor, Lilunga House, Somhlolo Road in Mbabane. A postal address is also provided and a cellphone number, including a fax number.

Interestingly, there is no email address on the letterhead. According to Crawford, he received a request for a quote (RFQ) on his companys email address. Crawfords company was to supply four of what is known as Holtz heavy duty pumps and four Holtz hydraulic jack hammers, which are used for drilling purposes.



We received the email from these people and yes, we were aware that for years there had been talks to reopen the Dvokolwako Diamond Mine. I am an engineer by profession and I have never heard of such, Crawford said.

The businessman said he searched on the internet for the aforementioned equipment and that instead a name of a South African company came up.



Surprised



I was very surprised because almost within 10 minutes I received a purchase order back. Honestly, in my experience with various companies, you are lucky if you receive a quotation within 24 hours, he said.



For the four pumps, Crawford would have forked out E367 800 as the South African company would have charged him E91 950 for each.

To secure the four hammers, he would have paid the South African company E127 800 as each one costs E31 950.

Also, Crawford would have spent E17 342 for transport of the equipment from South Africa to Eswatini.



I looked at their quotation and merged it with my own company handling fees. I sent the quote to the people who claimed to be from Dvokolwako Diamond Mine. And again, I was very surprised because within half an hour, I got a reply. My experience in business is that after you send in your quotation; you are lucky if the people respond within a week to your quotation, he said.



Approved



The reply from the mine was nothing but good news for Crawford as it stated that his proposal had been approved.

He said in the reply, the so-called Dvokolwako Diamond Mine people stated that they were in a rush but that they liked his prices and that Crawford should go ahead and get the items.



In his quotation to the mine, Crawford was to charge them E459 748 for the pumps, E159 748 for the hammers and E21 342 for transport.

I made it clear that I was worried since I did not know them. I am only prepared to deal with people I know. This is because here we were talking about an order for expensive equipment, he said.



Elaborating, he said the mine operators kept calling him a couple of times, which made him worry even more.

That is not the way you do business. I have experienced a situation where people tried to con me before. I know that they keep on pushing you, saying they are in a rush so that you can become confused and make irrational decisions fast, he explained.

Crawford said he asked his son to check the supposed address of the mine on the RFQ papers and it reflected that it was situated at the Lilunga House in Mbabane.



My son went there and discovered that there was no such thing as the Dvokolwako Diamond Mine. Instead it was just the Department of Mines. My son said when he asked about the mine, he was informed that the office had received a number of calls from concerned businesspeople asking about the so-called people operating the mine, Crawford said.



He mentioned that he was of the view that the modus operandi used by the suspected con men was to get his company to place an order with the South African company.

Their plan must have been that we would pay for the equipment and then not have it delivered. I would have to pay so much money and sit here thinking the equipment would come within a few days yet there was nothing coming, he stated.

Crawford said he strongly believed that the suspected con men were in the Kingdom of Eswatini but operated in such a way that they had partners in South Africa.



It must be a cartel because when you go to the internet and search the company that sells the pumps, at first glance it looks authentic but you then see so many spelling mistakes. There is a lot that is spelt wrong. A professional company wouldnt do such.

At first glance, the website looks legitimate but then there are only three pages there.



Efforts by this publication to get hold of the owner of the cellphone number, which is reflected on the letterhead, were not successful as it rang unanswered.

The last call was made at 1pm yesterday. On another note, this reporter contacted the fax number reflected on the letterhead and it turned out that it was the landline for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy Minerals and Mines Department.



Confirmed



One of the officers who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that they had been receiving calls from concerned businesspeople asking about the same issue.

The South African company involved could not be traced on the internet. It should be noted that the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has for over 10 years been working around the clock to ensure that the mining sector realises its potential growth. At the Dvokolwako Mine, diamonds were mined until 1997 but could not proceed as the investor had to do underground mining.



Revoke



In 2008, there was another applicant who was given a licence and in 2012, the investor was supposed to bring forth capital but could not thus government decided to revoke the licence. Between 2012 and 2014, government worked on deregistering the potential investor who failed to abide by the requirements. In March 2015, it was announced that a new entrant into the mining sector was to be unveiled in about six months. The investor had been earmarked to mine diamonds at the mine.



At the time, it was said there were about six prospective applicants for the diamond mine at Dvokolwako, most of whom were from South Africa.

The investor was to be granted mining rights to be able to extract the diamond, contribute to the surrounding community and also invest in processing the mineral locally. The announcement came just after the country had finalised the procurement process for the Kimberly Process Certificates (KPCS). This meant that Eswatini was now legalised to operate in diamonds. The KPCS is the process designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of conflict, funded by diamond production.
The sixth administrative court of appeals has upheld reinstatement of Roman Nasirov as head of the State Fiscal Service (SFS), but Nasirov refused to be reinstated, the press service of the court has reported.

"The sixth administrative court of appeals on February 17, 2020 adopted the rejection of the claim for reinstatement as head of the SFS, and the decision of the district administrative court of Kyiv dated December 11, 2018 regarding the resumption of the latter as head of the SFS and regarding the appeal for the immediate implementation of the court decision for reinstatement of the head of the SFS was determined to be invalid and the proceedings under the said claims were closed," the court said on its website on Monday.

According to the document, the court dismissed the appeal of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the State Fiscal Service and ex-MP Andriy Zhurzhiy against the decision of Kyiv's district administrative court dated December 11, 2018, which invalidated the government order to dismiss Nasirov from the post of SFS head.

"The court's decision takes legal force from the date of its adoption and can be appealed by filing a cassation appeal directly to the Supreme Court within 30 days from the date when the full court decision is ready," the court said.

On March 3, 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dismissed SFS head of Nasirov, assigning the duties of the head of the department to Deputy Head of the service Myrosalv Prodan. Then, on January 31, 2018, the government dismissed Nasirov from his post.
United States President Donald Trump landed in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on a two-day visit to India on Monday (February 23) along with First Lady Melania Trump. President Trump and First Land went straight to Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram after arriving in Ahmedabad.

In the visitors book at Sabarmati Ashram, President Trump wrote, To my great friend Prime Minister Modi  thank you for this wonderful visit. But what grabbed everyone's attention was Trump's unique signature below his message.

President Trump and First Lady also visited Agra's iconic Taj Mahal and in the visitors' book at Taj Mahal wrote, ''Taj Mahal inspires awe, a timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture! Thank you, India.''

The signature of US president once again grabbed everyone's attention but his handwriting and signature are in the news due to a special reason. Actually, President Trump uses a special kind of pen for signing anything, The pen is called Sharpie and it is manufactured by a famous pen manufacturing company. According to sources, Trump has got a pen specially designed for him by this company.

The words written by this pen are very bold and they are readable from a distance. Trump uses this Sharpie pen to sign important deals and documents. The pen is also used to write Trump's speech and notes for him so that he can read the bold words easily.
THE DEPARTMENT of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) has tested the territorys emergency communication systems as part of a regional exercise.





The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) conducted its annual Exercise region rap with participating states and partners on Tuesday (February 18).





The exercise focused on establishing communications with participants via email, landline, satellite phone, broadband global area network, HF-VHF radio, WhatsApp chat, Google document, social media and Zoom meeting link.





These are the forms of communications used during the operations of the Regional Coordination Centre, a statement read.





The Canadian government-funded exercise is aimed at confirming connectivity among partners via the various available mediums.





This includes connectivity between the CDEMA sub-regional focal points, their sub-regional states and the wider system.





According to a statement from CDEMA, the exercise was dubbed a success with 14 participating states including the TCI and 16 regional and international partners taking part.





Caricom institutions and UN agencies also participated in the exercise.





The statement said: "In an effort to integrate youth participation and promote their involvement in comprehensive disaster management, the exercise was executed with the support of student volunteers from the Queens College in Barbados.





The regional telecommunications exercise conducted annually by the CDEMA Coordinating Unit and is designed to provide a platform for advancing telecommunications arrangements.





CDEMA executive director Ronald Jackson said: "Annually, CDEMA undertakes a series of exercises aimed at sharpening our response and coordination capabilities.





"The success of todays exercise is a testament to the joint efforts with our partners in ensuring emergency telecommunications capabilities are tested across the CDEMA system.





"Todays exercise demonstrates our commitment to strengthening emergency telecommunications systems at both national and regional levels.




JERSEYVILLE  A Jerseyville man faces felony charges after being found in possession of a firearm.

Preston M. Kirby, 36, was charged Feb. 20 with unlawful possession of weapon by felon, a Super Class 3 felony.

In addition, he was on parole for a 2015 felony theft conviction, according to Jersey County States Attorney Ben Goetten.

His parole has been revoked and hes back in DOC (Department of Corrections) custody, Goetten added.

According to court documents, on Feb. 19 Kirby was found in possession of an Iver Johnsons Arms & Cycle Works .38 caliber revolver.

Goetten said he had possession of the firearm prior to illegally selling it, and was subsequently arrested immediately after.

Because of his previous felony conviction Kirby is ineligible to possess a firearm.

Bail was set at $10,000.

Other recent felony filings by the Jersey County States Attorneys Office include:

 Kayce E. Whitlock, 35, of Jerseyville, was charged Feb 13 with unlawful possession of controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. According to court documents, on Feb. 12 Whitlock was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $5,000.

 Dennis J. Smith, 52, of Medora, was charged Feb . 13 with driving while drivers license is revoked, a Class 4 felony. According to court documents, on Feb. 13 Smith was driving a maroon 2004 Chevrolet Silverado on Illinois State Highway 109 at McClusky Road when he was found to be driving with a revoked license. Court records show numerous traffic-related offenses in Macoupin, Jersey and Madison counties. Bail was set at $10,000.
Regarding the article,  Census actually is a political survey, in the South Jersey Times Feb. 23 print edition:

It is horrible that local residents have received a political mailer with the label 2020 Congressional District Census as a ruse to obtain a political poll? Did the terrible Republican National Committee, which sent out the mailer, pull a scam based on confusion with this years official U.S. Census form?

The mailer raised legitimate issues because, in my view, Democratic candidates want everyone to be a voter regardless of citizenship or criminal status.

The official census is required by the Constitution. Congressional and state legislative districts are subject to change based on the results. Some changes are pure gerrymandering to create advantages for one political party or the other.

Your district might have had an increase in the number of total residents, which is what the U.S. Census counts. But changes should be made only if the population of U.S. citizens in a district changes.

In 2011, after the 2010 census, a single-term Republican state assemblyman named Dominick DiCicco was unseated because a Democrat-drafted redistricting map changed boundaries. DiCiccos town was moved from the 4th District into the 3rd District, which already had two popular Democrat incumbent Assembly members. (DiCicco ran as a Republican from his new district, but lost the fall election.)

DiCiccos most likely sin was sponsoring legislation restricting local property tax increases to 2% annually. Although the Democrat-majority Legislature adopted a similar plan, it allowed so many exceptions that peoples pocketbooks remained open to the money grabbers.

While the official census form will not ask a citizenship question, our nation deserves and needs to have only citizens vote  not everyone who has bought a drivers license.

Gerald Keer, Turnersville

Van Drew does a slew of good for constituents

Ever since Donald Trump was elected as president, a handful of Democrats were out to get him out of office by any means possible. Sadly, those few sore losers managed to drag with them the majority of their party to follow along with their charade.

I am thankful that U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jerseys 2nd District saw through the Democrats intent and changed parties from Democrat to Republican.

Van Drew recently resolved a huge dilemma I had with the Federal Government Retirement System, involving a refund I was due after I canceled an expensive medical plan. Van Drews interjection managed to get the head of the department to rectify the situation.

Van Drew is also looking into another issue I have regarding the failure of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) installed on newer vehicles to function as intended. It seems that TMPS is becoming a headache, from numerous false alarms to total failure. Often, this costs $100 to as much as $450 to repair.

Anyone who has had a similar problem with TPMS should contact their representative in Congress  or, preferably Rep. Van Drew  so some solution can be achieved. Possibly, a class-action lawsuit can be started.

Larry Lueder, Mantua Township

Homelessness spins out of control

The United States is considered the greatest country in the world. But there is a homelessness problem that is spiraling out of control.

A list of the cities around the world with the highest homeless population includes a few in the United States.

According to one recent list, Manila, Philippines, has by far the most with 3.1 million including 70,000 children, followed by New York City, 74,000; Mumbai, India, 60,000; and Los Angeles and Moscow, Russia, each with 58,000 homeless people.

It seems that the city governments of Los Angeles and New York are incapable of solving this horrific problem. The federal government must come into these cities and take whatever action is necessary to solve it.

David M. Levin, Vineland

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
When it comes to marketing the 2020 Civic Type R, Honda certainly isnt pulling any punches. After introducing the car at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January and bringing the car to the US early this month, the Japanese carmaker now announces a Sport Line and Limited Edition, with the former exclusive only to Europe.

Building on the dynamic performance of the standard Honda Civic Type R GT, the new variants are designed to expand the cars market and further broaden the appeal of Hondas high-speed hatchback.

The Limited Edition, which Honda calls the purest expression of Type R to date, features new lightweight components, a stripped-back interior, enhanced driving dynamics and distinct styling. Only 100 Limited Edition Type Rs will be made available to the European market.

Meanwhile, the Europe-exclusive Civic Type R Sport Line model combines outstanding performance with stealthier design. Designed to appeal to a customer who seeks a less flashy look from their performance hatchback, Sport Line features a low height rear spoiler, 19-inch alloys and black interior, and retains the outstanding performance that is a trademark of Type R models.

Beyond these distinct differences, the standard 2020 Civic Type R features remain.

For 2020, notable upgrades have been done to ride and handling, braking performance and engine cooling. And Hondas first-ever performance datalogging app Honda LogR, available exclusively for use with Civic Type R, analyses driving performance data and supports the development of driver skills.

Updates to the undercarriage include an Adaptive Damper System that can now assess road conditions 10 times faster than before, resulting in improved damper reactions for both better handling response and ride quality.

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.

Story continues

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.

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 315 hp and 400 Nmthats over 10 horses more powerful than the US-spec Type R.

The 2020 Civic Type R GT will be available in Germany in the middle of the year, with prices starting from EUR 41,990 (approx. PHP 2.3 million).

We hope that the Honda Cars Philippines Inc (HCPI), as well as their regional counterpart will consider bringing this, same with the 2020 Civic Type R in the US.

hondanews.eu

Also Read:

https://www.carmudi.com.ph/journal/2020-tech-heavy-honda-civic-type-r-to-arrive-in-us-february-28/

The post Honda Brings Civic Type R Sport Line and Limited Edition to EU Market appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.
The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) and the British Council have signed an agreement for AURAK to act as a center for the IELTS exam administered by the British Council.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200223005022/en/

President of AURAK, Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, and Mr. Deep Adhikari from the British Council sign the agreement (Photo: AETOSWire)

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers of English.

Under the agreement, AURAK will provide information to potential candidates about the IELTS, register candidates, and act as the venue for the test. According to the deal, the British Council will be responsible for administering the exams.

President of AURAK, Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, signed the deal on behalf of the University and Mr. Deep Adhikari did so for the British Council. The deal is due to run until the end of 2020 but can be extended by mutual agreement.

The British Council also agreed to cooperate in future with AURAK in liaising with British universities.

AURAKs agreement with the British Council fits in with the Universitys policy of expanding services and facilities for students. A bookshop and two cafes recently opened on the AURAK campus and further development is in progress.

The British Council is the United Kingdoms international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It teaches English and holds exams around the world.

AURAK is a nonprofit, government-owned institution of higher education which provides the local, regional and international communities with a North American-style education integrated with Arab customs and traditions. AURAK is licensed by the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates and has been accredited in the United States of America by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) since December 2018. AURAK offers a total of 22 accredited undergraduate and graduate programs across a wide range of disciplines.

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200223005022/en/
Maharashtra has unique vulnerabilities while dealing with climate change given its geographical expanse and hence, it is important to discuss the health challenges the state faces due to climate change, said experts at a conference held at Bal Shikshan Mandir on February 22.

Climate change has been declared as the biggest public health challenge of the century and Maharashtra has unique vulnerabilities, said Dr Abhay Shukla, public health physician and senior programme coordinator at Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives (SATHI) Pune. All the panellists reiterated the importance of active participation of the community, which is crucial in shaping sustained and locally relevant responses to the challenge. They emphasized that health impacts of climate change are an ill-understood subject, and there is a need for comprehensive multi-sectoral and urgent approach.

Shukla began the discussion along with Gufran Beig, meteorologist and scientist-G, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and Dr Anand Bang, health advisor, Tata Trusts, who together made an attempt to grasp the complexity of this challenge for Maharashtra and the kind of responses it would need.

Dr Anand Bang said, The agriculture losses due to climate change mean food insecurity and poverty, which are closely linked with malnutrition. Another dimension is mental health burden. Suicides of farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada is a glaring example of this. The climate change may revert back successes of controlling infectious diseases. Diseases like dengue and malaria, even cholera, are on rise.

While talking about climate change predictions in Maharashtra, Beig elaborated on the diverse vulnerabilities within the state, given its geographical expanse. He also drew upon the close connection of climate change and air pollution, another important public health hazard.

Climate change is likely to deepen the existing inequities in health outcomes. There are obvious inadequacies in the existing health systems. Talking of responses from the health sector, Dr Abhay Shukla said, We need more resources and capacity building to strengthen the primary healthcare component. The systems need to be flexible, responsive and resilient. It needs to adopt participatory approaches and have robust accountability mechanisms. The climate change crisis needs involvement of experts from multiple domains. Health sector can take a lead role in bringing out coordinated action. There is a lot to learn from states like Kerala and Tamilnadu.

The conference was organised by Prayas Energy on the occasion of Girish Sant memorial annual event 2020.
This partnership with Hope Floats Foundation provides us with a new opportunity to reach more children by offering scholarships in our local communities for swim lessons.

British Swim School is proud to announce it is the first franchise organization to partner with Hope Floats Foundation to provide local scholarships to low-income children and their families for life-saving water safety and swim lessons.

British Swim School is the leading provider of child survival, water safety and lifelong swim instruction through more than 100 franchise locations across the nation. Thanks to the new relationship with Hope Floats Foundation, a national nonprofit organization, children who might not have had access to swim lessons will now be safer in and around water.

Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States among children aged 14 or younger. Seventy-nine percent of children in households with incomes less than $50,000 have little-to-no swimming ability. However, studies from the National Institute of Health show that swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent.

British Swim School is already committed to saving the lives of children through our proven water survival lessons and ongoing water education. This partnership with Hope Floats Foundation provides us with a new opportunity to reach more children by offering scholarships in our local communities for swim lessons, says Brian Garrison, president of British Swim School. By combining our resources, we can connect underprivileged children with high-quality swim lessons while also helping educate families on how to keep their children safer. In just the first month of the partnership, one-third of our franchise owners have jumped on the opportunity to partner with Hope Floats Foundation, with many others planning to join later this year.

The Hope Floats Foundation scholarship program formally launched in September 2018. Utilizing funds raised by BSS franchisees, the foundation reviews applications and distributes scholarships to children in communities where BSS operates.

Partnering with an organization such as British Swim School makes sense. They are a leader in the swim school industry and will help us reach the kids that need the lessons the most, said Cindy Tonnesen, founder of the Hope Floats Foundation. We are excited to have British Swim School join us on our mission to turn the tide of childhood drownings in the United States.

About British Swim School  British Swim School's mission is teaching water safety and survival skills to children as young as 3 months old, using unique and highly effective teaching methods that are a recognized trademark of the brand today. Acquired by Buzz Franchise Brands in early 2019, British Swim School is the latest addition to the Buzz Franchise Brands family, which includes Pool Scouts and Home Clean Heroes. British Swim School currently operates in over 215 pools across the United States and Canada.

About Hope Floats Foundation  Hope Floats Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 2016 committed to impacting the statistic on worldwide drowning. The Hope Floats model is a simple, sustainable way for swim schools to provide scholarships for high-quality swim lessons in their community. To learn more about the Hope Floats Foundation and see a listing of swim school partners, please visit http://www.hopefloats.foundation.
The extractive gas industry in Mozambique has done more damage than good for Mozambicans.

When, in 2010, US energy company Anadarko found major gas reserves off the coast of Mozambiques Cabo Delgado province, many hoped that the discovery was going to bring prosperity to the impoverished region. The following year, Italys ENI also found a massive gas field in the area.

Since then Mozambique has seen an influx of foreign energy companies fishing for lucrative contracts: Anadarko, Total  which in 2019 bought Anadarkos assets in Mozambique  ENI, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and others.

Cabo Delgado is now home to Africas three largest liquid natural gas (LNG) projects: the Mozambique LNG Project (Total, formerly Anadarko) worth $20bn, Coral FLNG Project (ENI and ExxonMobil) worth $4.7bn, and Rovuma LNG Project (ExxonMobil, ENI and CNPC) worth $30bn.

But, despite the billions in investments these contracts have brought, the people of Cabo Delgado are yet to see any benefit from them. In fact, some have already suffered immensely from the arrival of the gas industry.

Soon after the discovery of gas in Cabo Delgado, it became clear that even though exploration and extraction will take place offshore, a number of communities will have to be evicted to make way for the support facilities onshore to be used by Anadarko/Total and ENIs projects. According to a 2016 report by Anadarko, over 550 families would have to be physically relocated and 952 would lose access to their cultivated land to make way for the facilities of the Mozambique LNG Project. In addition, over 3,000 individuals would lose access to their fishing grounds as a result of the projects operations.

Some of these families have already had to move. Although the foreign companies promised to carry out resettlement and provide compensation after a thorough consultation process with affected communities, villagers I and my colleagues at the enviromental NGO Justica Ambiental have spoken to told us that their concerns and objections have fallen on deaf ears.

Many of them complained that the compensation has been inadequate. In some instances, arable land they were allocated encroaches on the farmlands of another community, causing conflict; in others, the new plots they were given were too far away from their homes.

Families who used to live just a few hundred metres from the sea and relied on fishing for their livelihoods will be resettled more than 10km away from the shore. Fishermen have already reported that initial gas development operations and drilling are affecting fishing stocks.

At the same time, promised jobs in the gas industry have not materialised, leaving the communities facing displacement anxious about their ability to provide for themselves in the future.

Some of the villagers have told us they are afraid to speak out because they may not receive any compensation or because they have been threatened by local authorities. Over the past two years, a number of journalists who have tried to report on the situation in Cabo Delgado have been arrested.

Meanwhile, apart from forced displacement and the loss of livelihoods, local communities have faced increasing violence from a local armed insurgency.

Since 2017, men armed with guns and machetes have attacked communities across Cabo Delgado, killing some 700 people and injuring many. Beheadings, mass kidnappings and the razing of whole villages have sent some 100,000 people fleeing the province, according to the UN.

Various groups, including ISIL (ISIS) and Al Shabab  who are not affiliated with the Somali group by the same name  have supposedly claimed responsibility for some attacks, but for many, there has been no clear perpetrator.

Some have blamed impoverishment and local crime networks as the driving forces of the insurgency and dismissed theories about links to transnational terrorist organisations. But anger about the way foreign companies have dealt with local communities and a lack of transparency about their operations have also fuelled rumours that there is a link between the gas industry and the attacks.

Villagers we have spoken to have pointed out that while facilities of the gas companies have rarely been attacked, communities who have refused to move have been repeatedly raided by armed groups.

Regardless of who is behind these attacks, they have alarmed the Mozambican government and forced it to deploy the military to Cabo Delgado. Earlier this month, Total and ExxonMobil requested from the local authorities to send more troops to the region for their protection.

Foreign mercenaries have also made their way to Cabo Delgado. Last year, Russian private military company Wagner won a contract in Mozambique to provide security in the province and help fight the uprising. Some 200 of its fighters were deployed and already a number of them have been killed.

None of these measures has made the local communities any safer. Locals tell us they fear going to their fields. Those who have been displaced and are far away from their allocated plots face the prospect of starvation.

Residents are also concerned that the pressure to protect foreign investment in the gas industry will further militarise Cabo Delgado and they will bear the brunt of the fighting between the Mozambican military and the insurgents.

Apart from displacement and insurgency, Cabo Delgado residents face the danger of environmental disaster due to the gas drilling. According to Anadarkos 2014 environmental impact study, the project will produce a large amount of greenhouse gases and sulphur dioxide, introduce new species into the sea, and cause soil erosion.

There are growing fears that gas drilling will affect biodiversity in the area, especially the Quirimbas Archipelago, a UNESCO biosphere which is located just 8km from one of the gas fields off the coast of Cabo Delgado. The archipelago is home to 3,000 floral species, 447 bird species, eight species of marine mammals, as well as lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards.

The dredging, waste disposal and the physical construction of onshore and offshore facilities will significantly diminish much of this ecosystem. Many species will flee the area due to noise and habitat degradation, while the impact of a potential gas leak or spill will be disastrous.

After the first seismic survey that Anadarko did in 2008, reports emerged about mass deaths of marine animals.

Unfortunately, it seems Cabo Delgado is heading down the disastrous path of the province of Tete, where the government handed some 60 percent of local land in concessions to the coal industry. Exploration and mining in the province have resulted in the forceful displacement of over 1,300 families and led to major loss of livelihood for local communities and extensive pollution. Locals have reported deaths of people and animals due to polluted water.

Mozambique is already suffering from the devastating effects of climate change and its coal and LNG projects  which are more carbon-intensive than the regular extraction and processing of natural gas  will only further contribute to global warming. Both of these industries are export-oriented and there does not seem to be any comprehensive plan for putting into use these energy resources into the development of the Mozambican economy. And both of them have left devasted communities behind.

If the Mozambican government does not correct this exploitative relationship with foreign corporations and focus its efforts on improving the lives of its own people and making local communities climate-resilient, the country is headed for a disaster.

President Filipe Nyusi himself has admitted that poverty and unemployment are driving the insurgency in Cabo Delgado. Amid climate devastation, pollution and socioeconomic marginalisation due to the operations of foreign energy corporations, it is hard to see how public anger and violence will not escalate further.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
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Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 14:40 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20663d7b7 1 Business Indonesia,fintech,P2P-lending,Kredivo,loan-growth,Thailand,Philippines,PermataBank Free

Indonesian start-up FinAccel is planning this year to expand its digital credit service, which currently has 1.2 million users, to other ASEAN states to double its credit to Rp 4 trillion (US$291.7 million), one of its senior officials.

We decided to expand to Thailand and the Philippines because they are similar to Indonesia, Alie Tan, the CEO of Kredivo, the credit lending app operated by the Singapore-headquartered FinAccel, told the press at a public seminar on Feb. 20, adding that the three countries shared similar demographics and spending habits.

Alie said that FinAccel, one of the major peer-to-peer (P2P) lending companies in Indonesia, also planned to tap into healthcare and education loans, as the Financial Services Authority (OJK) mandated that the company allocate a minimum of 30 percent of its funds toward productive loans. He said the company was still looking for potential lenders in the two sectors.

In the long term, we are also studying Sharia lending options, since Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, said Alie.

FinAccel received Rp 1 trillion in funding from Permata Bank in 2019 which was said to be the biggest fund a national bank had channeled to a lending tech company.

Alie said the company was also in talks with several other banks on providing its P2P lending services to distribute funds.

According to OJK data, online lending companies disbursed funds totaling Rp 81.5 trillion through more than 81 million individual transactions in 2019.

The Indonesian Fintech Lenders Association (AFPI) has projected 50 percent growth in P2P lending for 2020.
(Alliance News) - Anglo Asian Mining PLC has "significant" potential to expand its current resources, the company said on Monday, after strong drilling results.

Anglo Asian has three main assets, all in Azerbaijan: Gedabek, Gosha, and Ordubad. Both Gedabek and Gosha are currently producing gold, with Ordubad in the exploration phase.

At Gedabek, Anglo Asian is currently working to further define mineable mineralisation at the Gadir mine, which is showing "good" results. Anglo Asian hopes to publish a new resource and reserve statement for the contract area's open pit in 2020.

Early state exploration at Gosha "fully" supports further work, the company continued, and it will be looking to look at the subsurface potential of the asset this year.

Results from Ordubad have been "extremely encouraging", and Anglo Asian is planning further surface geological mapping at three targets in 2020.

Stephen Westhead, the director of Geology & Mining at Anglo Asian, said: "I am delighted to provide both an overview of the progress of our exploration programme to date and the work planned for the rest of this year. Overall, the work that has been carried out at our three contract areas over the past year has been highly encouraging.

"In 2020, we will actively continue our exploration programmes to capitalise on the significant potential upside which we believe exists across our portfolio. We look forward to sharing with you the results of our 2020 work programmes and are confident that we will expand our resources and extend the footprint of our operations."

Shares were 1.6% higher on Monday shortly before midday in London at a price of 151.35 pence each.

By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Clashes break out between pro and anti-CAA protesters in Maujpur locality of Delhi

Vehicles set ablaze as protestors throw brickbats during clashes between a group of anti-CAA protestors and supporters of the new citizenship act at Jafrabad in north-east Delhi on February 24, 2020. (PTI)

New Delhi: The Delhi Police said that a head constable was killed during clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi today.

Tension escalated in northeast Delhi with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, where pro and anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters.

According to officials, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to a fire call in the area.

The Delhi Metro closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations as an uneasy calm prevailed in the area.

"Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a tweet.

Entry and exit were closed at the Jaffrabad metro station for over 24 hours.

Clashes broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad after a large number of people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) blocked a road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged lieutenant governor of Delhi and the Union home minister to restore order.

Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate violence, he said.
Condemning the violence in Delhi vis-a-vis the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday asserted that the Centre would take tough measures to ensure law and order.

Anti-social elements indulged in violent incidents in Delhi, in the name of agitation to oppose the CAA, the minister of state for Home told reporters here.

The perpetrators of violent incidents did so, as part of attempts to hurt the country's image, at a time when the US President is on a visit, he said.

A head constable and a civilian were killed and several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, including a DCP, injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law again in northeast Delhi on Monday.

The Centre has not stopped anyone in the country from protesting, including at Shaheen Bagh, as people have a right to protest peacefully in a democracy, he said.

The Centre has worked with great patience, he said.

"They tried to thrust the word intolerance on us if we did anything," he said.

He asked the leaders of the Congress, the parties opposing CAA and the "Majlis party" (AIMIM) as to who will take responsibility for the death of the head constable.

These leaders have to say how far it is justified to attempt to hurt the image of the country when the US President is on a visit, he said.

Condemning the violence in Delhi, he said the Centre has asked the Delhi police to conduct a comprehensive probe, identify the culprits and take tough steps.

Reddy also said police bandobast has been stepped up in areas where violent incidents are happening and that additional forces have been deployed.

"There is a right to oppose when a law is made, but indulging in violent actions in the guise of opposing the legislation, firing on policemen in Uttar Pradesh, burning assets, and blocking national highway for two months, it should not be seen as our weakness.

I warn that the Government of India will take tough steps to check violence and to protect law and order," he said.

He also asked Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to say for whom he is opposing the CAA.

He challenged the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi in the state, the parties and individuals to say if the amended law hurt anyone among the 130 crore population in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak says the Election Commission is being used as a conduit to suppress votes of his party in regions that are inclined with the opposition NDC.



He insisted that the nature of the Electoral Commission (EC) to go ahead with the new registration for the 2020 general elections against all odds is rather an agenda of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to use the Commission to suppress the votes of the NDC in their strongholds.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Ras Mubarak asserted that the country is already in flames of tension, making it unwise to carry out the compilation of a new voter register for the 2020 general elections.



We have seen that they are attempting to suppress the votes of the NDC in the Volta Region, Northern Region, Upper West, and Upper East, in parts of Brong Ahafo and Central Regions, and we have seen this with the NIA registration. Look at the machines that Ken Attefuah sent to Ashanti Region and compare that to the machines they sent to other regions, he asserted.



To him, even though the Electoral Commission (EC) is supposed to be an independent body mandated by law to compile a new register, it is an open secret to Ghanaians the person who calls the shot at the Electoral Commission.



He stressed that the removal of Charlotte Osei as EC Chairperson coupled with the happenings in the Akufo-Addo government clearly shows political interference.



We know who calls the shot at the Electoral Commission even though the Commission is supposed to be an independent body. If you look at the way Charlotte Osei was sacked from the EC and the things happening in Akufo-Addo's government, clearly, you can see that the removal of Charlotte Osei was political . . . there is an attempt to push everybody aside in state institutions and fix their people there in order to perpetuate their fraud in the general election," he alleged.





Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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By CorpGov Editorial Staff

Amid the recent coronavirus outbreak centralized in the Hubei province, Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, Inc. has committed itself to providing aid to those affected in multiple capacities. Known for carrying everything from groceries to apparel to electronics, in the short time since the coronavirus outbreak Chinas largest online retailer has already allocated upwards of RMB 200 million in support of the fight against the epidemic. However, as one of the most technologically advanced companies in the world, its true contribution has been made by utilizing such advancements for the greater good.

Beijing party chief Cai Qi recently toured the companys headquarters in Yizhuang, during which he heralded JDs active role in fighting the virus through its continuous delivery and smart technologies. He encouraged the company to continue applying its strength in technology and logistics toward coronavirus aid, and praised the protective measures taken for the headquarters employees. Directed by CEO and Chairman Liu Qiangdong, leadership at JD.com has quickly utilized the companys vast resources toward containment of the disease, dissemination of pertinent information, and minimizing the overall impact of the virus on peoples employment and livelihood.

JD.com has made considerable resource donations to various charities and hospitals, including 100 million masks and 60,000 units of medicine and medical supplies to the Hubei Charity Foundation. It has also donated an additional 80,000 masks to various hospitals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak that is currently under partial quarantine. Using its well-established supply chain network, JD.com subsidiary JD Logistics has also been providing delivery services to pharmaceutical companies in the Hubei province. To date, it has delivered over 1,600 tons of epidemic prevention materials to Wuhan and the surrounding areas from all over the country through the organization of a voluntary transportation channel. To ensure that the burden of these undertakings is not placed on the 250,000 merchants who use JDs warehouse services, JD.com has implemented subsidy support measures worth RMB 1 billion and intends to invest an additional RMB 100 million in expense reduction of logistics fees, traffic, advertisement, and promotion activity support.

Story continues

JD has also maintained a steady flow of consumer goods during the crisis. In anticipation of the Chinese New Year celebrations, JD.com made sure that its inventory was well stocked for the festivities, but the virus outbreak has rapidly changed Chinese consumers shopping habits. They are now avoiding grocery stores and supermarkets in favor of having their groceries and supplies delivered to avoid potential contamination, and with this shift JD has seen sales of common household staples such as rice and flour quadruple since the same time period last year. Well over the anticipated need, JD.com worked quickly and efficiently to ensure that its customers continued to have an open supply of daily food staples and everyday necessities. By collaborating with brand partners  sometimes even utilizing JD Logistics to pick up the necessary inventory directly from brand warehouses  JD has positioned itself as a reliable source for the needs of the public. Not wishing to infringe on consumer rights, JD.com has also committed itself to keeping the prices of its first-party products stable and is imposing penalties on third-party sellers that are found to have made unfair hikes.

JD.com has also created 35,000 jobs intended to minimize the impact of the virus on employment in the short term. These jobs include 20,000 positions at JD Logistics such as warehouse workers, pickers, couriers, and drivers. Per the partial quarantine, avoiding human-to-human contact is essential to prevent the spread of the virus, and as a result, there has been a marked increase in demand for online delivery services. Additionally, JD-backed Dada Group is working with restaurants and human resource organizations across the country to hire 10,000 additional couriers for its on-demand delivery company Dada Now.

Liu Qiangdong previously had experience operating a retail company during the 2003 SARS epidemic, so he knew the pressure that was being placed on businesses in Wuhan. As a result, JD Daojia, JD.coms branch for grocery delivery, is working to recruit upwards of 5,000 picking and packing positions, hiring employees from its supermarket partners that are temporarily closed or have had to reduce their workforce due to being out of stock. For those who are unable to leave their homes while caring for their family members, JD.com also has customer service positions available. A new onboarding process has been created for all of these positions to ensure a safe work environment, including being provided with necessary protective supplies such as masks and gloves, temperature checks at regular intervals, and disinfections. The new employees will also be provided with insurance specific to the coronavirus.

Similarly, JD Health is currently the largest pharmaceutical retailer in China, and it has been working in close collaboration with JD Logistics to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of medicines from its ecommerce site. During an epidemic crisis, focus is often drawn away from the treatment of other pre-existing diseases and illnesses, but JD Health has been working hard to ensure that those with chronic illnesses arent put at further risk by having to venture from their homes to infection hotspots like hospitals to get their medications. As with its produce, the company is also taking steps to ensure that there are no drug price hikes during this time.

Understanding quickly the mounting pressure that hospitals and physicians would face in the wake of the epidemic, in late January JD.coms healthcare subsidiary JD Health introduced a free online consultation platform on its app. Using the app, patients experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, fatigue, and diarrhea can speak directly with a physician at no charge. In early February JD Health expanded the scope of the app to include all diseases. The company now employs not only respiratory and infectious disease specialists, but also cardiologists, pediatricians, and other specialists ready to aid the public. JD has also organized several livestreams with some of Chinas top medical experts who had experience with the 2003 SARS epidemic. These livestreams will continue to cover a variety of coronavirus-related topics in an effort to further alleviate public anxiety.

In tandem with this release, JD Health has also begun offering a free psychological support hotline. This is a particularly valuable resource for medical professionals working around the clock at hospitals under increasingly intense conditions. These services work by reducing the risk of cross-contamination, providing timely consultations for patients who may not be able to leave their homes, and lessening the burden on hospitals. Panic can often cause the most minor symptoms to be blown out of proportion, and having convenient access to answers is imperative in preventing hysteria. During peak times, tens of thousands of patients have been served within an hour, and on average the app enables 100,000 consultations a day.

In addition to its consultation app, JD has worked with the local Wuhan government to integrate its smart assistant technology into the WeChat account of the mayors office. Via the account, citizens can get coronavirus-related information and services with immediacy and acuity. Based on JD Cloud and AIs universal smart conversion platform, it can understand semantics and analyze syntax to get a quick and accurate understanding of the users questions. JDs state of the art AI technology is equipped with question prediction, intent recognition, classification and identification, and similarity matching, making it an efficient solution to providing personalized epidemic information. Citizens now have quick access to answers on pertinent epidemic-related questions such as the proper way to wear a face mask, how to dispose of them once used, and how to proceed should they experience certain symptoms. Any question that the service is not able to answer is immediately transferred to a customer service representative. In addition to answering questions, the AI also provides services such as fever clinic inquiry, epidemic self-screening, medical guidance, and even a way to check if a users recent flight or train ride had a coronavirus patient on it. This service has also been expanded to many additional cities, including Beijing, Jiangxi, Anhui, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Sichuan.

Liu Qiangdong made the continual development of technology a key tenet to JD.com, and they have committed themselves to utilizing technology as a last-mile delivery solution during the epidemic. Understanding the necessity of reducing human-to-human contact as much as possible during an epidemic outbreak, the companys autonomous delivery robot recently made its first delivery of daily necessities and donated medical supplies to the Wuhan Ninth Hospital. Although it has been utilizing its autonomous delivery robots for small- and medium-sized products since January 2019, this marks the first large package delivery made in the final stretch without human assistance. Continuing its efforts to find fast solutions to issues raised by the epidemic, JD has also begun to employ drone technology. In the Baiyang Lake area JD would ordinarily courier goods from the Xidi dock to a village across the lake by boat, but the route was temporarily suspended due to the outbreak. This turned a trip that was typically two kilometers into one that required a detour of over 100 kilometers by land. Instead of proceeding with this inefficient detour, JD employed one of its many drones to fly the packages over the lake. In mere minutes, the parcels were delivered to a predetermined location in the village where customers could retrieve them without any human-to-human contact. JD intends to continue this route for the duration of the quarantine, having found a unique and innovative solution that protects both its couriers and customers.

JD has also been contributing its advanced technologies to the service of its communities. It has made its cloud video conferencing service free to the public for both private individuals and enterprises, encouraging people to employ the service in lieu of risking exposure with human-to-human contact. For the students and teachers of the Hubei province that have not been able to attend school in weeks, JD is providing a free online classroom service. The sense of normalcy that this service provides is sure to have a consequential impact on the lives of those affected.

Throughout his career, Liu Qiangdong has always stressed the importance of making a positive impact through business. This sentiment has been translated into action in a multitude of ways during the coronavirus outbreak by JD and its subsidiaries. Whether through monetary contributions, social services, or drone and AI technology, JD.com is utilizing its resources to serve the public during this difficult time.

CorpGov Contact:

John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief

www.CorpGov.com

Editor@CorpGov.com

Twitter: @CorpGovernor
United States President Donald Trump arrived in Ahmedabad India Today accompanied by wife Melania Trump for the maiden India trip Trump. He has also got his daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top of his administration for the trip.These people will get the taste of Indias culture during his visit to Gujarat.

ANI

1. Around 11:40 AM: US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad today for the first leg of his maiden India trip.

The US Presidents Daughter Ivanka and Son-in-law also arrived at the Ahmedabad Airport for the maiden India trip.

2. Around 11.50 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the US President and his family.

Reuters

3. Around 12:00 Noon: President Trump left the Airport to reach Sabarmati Ashram with his wife Melania trump.

4. Around 12:30 PM: The Prime Minister arrives at Sabarmati Ashram. US President Donald Trump to arrive at the Ashram after him.



#WATCH US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive at Sabarmati Ashram. They were received by PM Narendra Modi. #TrumpInIndia pic.twitter.com/pXasQxrrG0  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

5. Around 12:35 PM: The US President Donald Trump and the First lady Melania Trump arrive at Sabarmati Ashram. They were received by PM Modi.



US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump spin the Charkha at Sabarmati Ashram. PM Modi also present. pic.twitter.com/tn43byfBDB  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020





6. Around 12:50 PM: US President Trump and his wife Melania Trump en route to the Motera Stadium Ahmedabad accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

ANI

7. Around 1:25 PM: United States President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump arrive at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Vijay Rupnai and Governor Acharya Devvrat also present at the Stadium to welcome them.








Kabendera pleads guilty to counts of money laundering and failure to pay taxes.

A prominent Tanzanian journalist arrested in July 2019 has been released after pleading guilty of tax evasion and money laundering in a case seen by critics as politically motivated.

Finally, Ive got my freedom. Its quite unexpected that I would be out this soon. Im really grateful to everybody who played their role, the 39-year-old investigative reporter, Erick Kabendera, said outside the court on Monday.

In the charge sheet, prosecutors said Kabendera had registered two companies with his wife who was not arrested or charged. The companies were used as vehicles of money laundering without proper returns being filed.

Although his lawyers originally rejected the charges, they said in October he was pursuing a plea bargain.

After plea bargaining, the count of organised crime was dropped and Kabendera pleaded guilty to money laundering and agreed to pay 100 million shillings ($43,309) in fines for it. He also pleaded guilty for failing to pay 173 million shillings ($74,924) in taxes and agreed to pay a fine of 250,000 shillings ($108) for the crime in addition to the actual taxes.

A third charge, of assisting a criminal racket, was dropped.

The reporter has written for international publications, including Britains The Guardian and The Times, and was known for pursuing politically sensitive investigations.

An article last year, published by the East African newspaper, reported a rift in President John Magufulis government with the headline No end in sight as Tanzanias ruling party CCM goes for dissenters'.

After his arrest, the United States and the United Kingdom called the affair irregular and in violation of Tanzanias criminal procedures law.

Magufuli, nicknamed The Bulldozer, has shut down newspapers, banned opposition rallies, switched off live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions and used the cybercrimes law to jail critics.

Rights groups saw Kabenderas case as part of a pattern of tighter control on the media since the 2015 election of Magufuli.

International criticism

The UK-based rights group, Amnesty International, said Kabenderas plea came from desperation, possibly linked to poor health.

While it is welcome news that Kabendera is out of prison  it is outrageous that he had to pay such a hefty fine to gain his freedom after having been unjustly jailed for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

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Jehanne Henry, Human Rights Watchs East Africa director, told Al Jazeera last year: With elections around the corner, people dont feel that they can comment honestly.

Human rights activists are restrained from pushing for accountability for disappearances and other human rights abuses, she added, referring to Tanzanias polls scheduled for later in 2020.

Held at the Segerea maximum security prison on the outskirts of the capital Dar es Salaam, the journalist had appeared in court more than 10 times, sometimes appearing frail.

In September, Magufuli said people held on charges of tax evasion, money laundering and other financial crimes should be freed if they confess and return the cash.
Bernie was then overcome with a "transfixing, physical sense of righteousness. It wasn't about logistics; it was about justice". He did everything he could to find the journalist space  move some bags, sit on a case  and in his determination to put something right, he became clear to Giridharadas for the first time: Bernie isn't the man you want to sit next to on a long boat ride because he's got no chat. But he is "the person who will notice when you fall overboard and begin to drown".

A Bernie rally is like no other. He invites the audience to come up and speak, to talk about how they lost their house or their job. "It isn't about me," he insists, "it's about them." Unusually for a politician, this is probably true. If he gets the nomination, the 2020 race will be a battle between a business nationalist and an international socialist, but also between ego and anti-ego, between "This is my land" and "This is your land".

And yet, Trump and Sanders have so much in common. Both men are New Yorkers, shout a lot, compete for the affection of the working class and are accused of being backed by the Kremlin. Bernie Sanders isn't so much the American Jeremy Corbyn as he is the Left-wing Donald Trump, which begs the question - are the Democrats happy to be captured and converted in the same way that Trump took over the Republicans? If not, why haven't they put up a better fight?

I've seen this election compared to 1972, when the Democrats nominated George McGovern and McGovern  an ultraliberal tagged, unfairly, as the candidate of acid, amnesty and abortion  went down to a huge defeat in the autumn election. But there are two differences from 1972.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The issue related to coronavirus is on the international agenda, and in this regard, Azerbaijan is seriously studying WHO recommendations and taking the necessary measures, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev, told reporters in Baku, Trend reports Feb. 24.

Hajiyev was commenting on the possibility of closing the borders with Iran due to the threat of coronavirus.

The presidential assistant noted that discussions were held in the Cabinet of Ministers in connection with the coronavirus and an Action Plan was prepared.

Azerbaijan is taking the necessary measures in this direction, Hajiyev added. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has already warned citizens about the issue of trips to Iran.

Irans Ministry of Health and Medical Education has confirmed that 43 people have been infected with the new coronavirus and eight have died so far.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

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, Russia, Nepal, Cambodia, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain.
By PTI

MUMBAI: With gangster Ravi Pujari been extradited to India from Senegal, Mumbai Police are now keen to interrogate him for his alleged role in at least 50 cases, most of them of extortion, pending against him in police stations in the city and nearby Thane, police said on Monday.

Pujari, who had been wanted in many heinous crimes, was brought to Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday from the west African country.

Earlier in the day, the court of the first Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) in Bengaluru remanded Pujari to police custody till March 7.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told reporters on Monday night that the police will later seek custody of Pujari.

"Once the Karnataka Police completed their interrogation of Pujari, we will seek his custody. We are in touch with the Karnataka Police," he said.

According to Crime Branch sources, Mumbai Police had sent a letter in English to Senegal seeking custody of Pujari after his arrest.

"However, they demanded a letter in French and handed over Pujari's custody to Karnataka Police. We have sent the letter in French," an official said.

He said stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was slapped against Pujari in at least 25 cases.
Fancy a Fender Stratocaster delivered to your room?

How about a stack of vinyl curated by an in-house 'Vibe Manager'? Or a sneaky selfie taken beside one of Kurt Cobain's sweaters?

Irelands first ever Hard Rock Hotel opens in Dublin today, and guests checking in can expect all of the above... and a lot more besides.

The 52m development is a reimagining of two heritage buildings, with 120 rooms spread across the old Exchange Buildings on Lord Edward St. and, linked by glass walkway, Temple Bar's former Fashion House.

Stepping inside, the first tingle of A-list memorabilia strikes.

By reception, you'll find that Cobain sweater. In a triptych of cases across the lobby, there's David Bowie's boiler suit from Jazzin' For Blue Jean (1984), Janis Joplin's autoharp case and an electric guitar signed by The Cranberries.

Irish notes are struck throughout, from Phil Lynott's leather jacket to Bono's handwritten lyrics for 'Please' (from 1997's 'Pop') carefully framed in the Rock Star Suite.

As its name suggests, that fifth-floor penthouse is a headline act - boasting a four-poster bed, a handwritten letter by Van Morrison to guitarist Mick Cox and a private, rooftop terrace where you can barbecue for up to 40 buddies.

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But first things first. Those expecting epic burger menus and milkshakes with their memorabilia need to manage their expectations. Hard Rock Hotels are a very different brand experience to the group's mass-market cafes.

"There's going to be a serious education piece there," agrees Stephanie Hayes, Director of Sales & Marketing with the Dublin hotel, which is being operated in collaboration with Irish company, Tifco Ltd.

"Ask anybody in Ireland about the Hard Rock, and they immediately refer to the cafes," as she puts it.

The hotels are a different breed (30 worldwide include editions in Tenerife, London and Budapest), which she describes as "four-star or more", and "upscale" luxury operating "at a whole different level" to the cafes.

On a walkthrough, I sense similar notes to Press Up Group projects like The Mayson and The Devlin, particularly in its use of Irish art and the compact, high-end and urbane layouts of its restaurant and bar spaces, though the hotel has also benchmarked itself against five-stars like The Fitzwilliam and The Marker.

There is no Hard Rock Cafe on site and, despite their close proximity in the city centre, no links between the two Temple bar businesses.

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And the price?

Standard rooms lead in from 199; Silver Suites with super corner views of City Hall start from 549 per night; and the Rock Star Suite is currently available from 650 per night (expect that to head north fairly soon).

Style-wise, the hotel retains the red brick facades of its original buildings, but completely re-imagines the interiors, with other displays from Hard Rock International's legendary Florida 'Vault' including cymbals that once belonged to The Rolling Stone's Charlie Watts, and Hozier's first ever electric guitar.

"They're always on the lookout for artists who have a bit of a history, as opposed to the flash-in-the-pans whose value isn't really increasing," Hayes says of the brand's approach to its now 83,000-strong collection.

Though there's a heavy reliance on stalwarts like U2 and Phil Lynott in its Dublin collectibles, a more contemporary approach can be seen in the hotel's art, which features prints and other pieces by the likes of David Uda (Duda), Leah Hewson, Laura Buchanan and Helen O'Higgins.

Tempted to try a few tunes of your own? A 'Sound of Your Stay' music programme allows guests to order up complimentary guitars, amps and Crosley vinyl turntables to their rooms.

"You want to see the collection," says Vibe Manager Joe Ballance, showing me a menu that includes Fender Strats, Telecasters and Jaguars. "We've got six of these babies here, and they're all mint."

What exactly does a 'Vibe Manager' do?

Expand Expand Previous Next Close A Crosley vinyl player in Hard Rock Hotel A touring guitar case that once belonged to U2, at the Hard Rock Hotel in Dublin / Facebook

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"Basically, take care of all the fun things," he laughs. "It's kind of like a fancy concierge," with responsibilities like curating vinyl and tuning guitars, booking bands and generally "getting to know" the guests, Ballance says.

If you prefer to tune out, 'Rock Om' is an in-room wellness experience that fuses "the ancient serenity of yoga with musical beats".

The hotel expects to draw guests mainly in their mid-30s to late 50s, people "who want to be at the heart of the action" as Hayes puts it, but with pillow-topped mattresses, botanical wallpapers, bespoke Ulster carpets and other luxe touches to return to during a Dublin layover.

Rooms have been heavily soundproofed, she says (to block out traffic and Temple bar buzz, as well as any dodgy guitar playing).

Communal areas mix booth seating, bare brick walls and a slick, NYC loft-style cocktail bar, with an intimate corner stage set for live music.

Zampas Restaurant & Bar is the on-street food and drink offering, where walk-in guests can join residents in tucking into South American-inspired dishes with Irish ingredients - John Stone steaks from Longford included.

And of course, you can exit through a gift shop.

As well as its hotels, cafes and casinos, Hard Rock is known for its 'Rock Shops', selling everything from branded hoodies to shot glasses. Hanging behind the Dublin till is a guitar signed by members of The Script.

And the future? You may confuse hotel and cafe today, Hayes says, but the team are confident that won't be the case for long.

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"They want to be the No.1 lifestyle brand in the next five or six years."
Seven years ago, a six-person jury acquitted George Zimmerman of all charges related to the death of Trayvon Martin. Since then, Martin's death has become a symbol of racial injustice and a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter. Curiously, despite his death remaining in the public consciousness, few have bothered to revisit the details of the case.

One exception to this is filmmaker Joel Gilbert, who released a documentary on the case last September. When Gilbert sifted through the mountain of witness depositions, police reports, and evidence connected with the case, he made a shocking discovery: Rachel Jeantel was probably not the woman on the phone with Trayvon Martin the night he died.

At Zimmerman's trial, Rachel Jeantel testified that she had been on the phone the night George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin and had heard the beginning of the altercation. Jeantel told jurors that she heard Trayvon ask, "Why are you following me," and a hard-breathing Zimmerman reply, "What are you doing around here?"

She then told jurors that she heard Trayvon yell, "Get off, get off," and a scuffle ensue.

While the testimony of someone who claimed to hear the start of the altercation over her cell phone could never definitively tell us what happened, her testimony was the one piece of evidence that pointed to Zimmerman as the aggressor. The physical evidence and the testimony of Zimmerman's neighbors all supported Zimmerman's claim of self-defense.

Jeantel's testimony suggested that Zimmerman started the altercation.

In a documentary released last September, Joel Gilbert presents a compelling case that the woman on the phone with Trayvon Martin was not Rachel Jeantel, but her half-sister, Diamond Eugene.

Before his death, Trayvon Martin was on the phone with someone using a pre-paid phone with no name attached to it. This phone number was listed in Trayvon Martin's contacts as his "Bae," or girlfriend, along with a picture of a young woman who is definitely not Rachel Jeantel.

Gilbert pored over the 750 pages of phone records connected with Trayvon's phone and discovered a trove of text messages between Trayvon and his Bae. Often sexual, these texts strongly suggest an intimate relationship.

At the trial, Rachel Jeantel was asked about a letter that she had purportedly written and signed "Diamond Eugene." Jeantel testified that Diamond Eugene was a "nickname," and she had dictated the letter to someone else. The letter was handwritten in cursive, which Jeantel could not read.

Among the many text messages Trayvon received from his Bae were dozens of photographs, none of which resembles Rachel Jeantel. However, the pictures strongly resemble a Tallahassee woman who happens to be named Diamond Eugene, who Gilbert believes is the half-sister of Rachel Jeantel, based on DNA samples surreptitiously collected from both women.

When Benjamin Crump first announced that he had located the person on the phone with Trayvon before his death, he described her as sixteen years old. This was the precise age that Diamond Eugene would have been at the time, and two years younger than Rachel Jeantel.

It isn't absolutely certain, but the evidence strongly points to witness fraud. The phone and text records, the letter signed Diamond Eugene, Crump's initial description of the witness  all support Joel Gilbert's contention that it was Diamond Eugene on the phone with Trayvon Martin.

If we accept that Gilbert's contention is true, the prosecuting attorneys almost certainly would have known or suspected something suspicious. The disturbing implication is that a trio of corrupt prosecutors committed brazen witness fraud in one of the most high-profile murder trials in American history.
Using scientific reports, historical records, and news articles, Stacker compiled a list of 50 science firsts that influenced future scientists and the lives of future generations.

This article was first published on theStacker.com
Addressing his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address, Narendra Modi referred to Tamil poetess Avvaiyar to drive home his point.

New Delhi: The Prime Minister on Sunday urged upon people to preserve and conserve the nations rich biodiversity, as it was a unique treasure for the entire humankind.

Addressing his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address, Narendra Modi referred to Tamil poetess Avvaiyar to drive home his point.

He also narrated stories of courage and strength to convey that age and disability cannot be a hurdle in achieving goals.

What we know is just a handful of sand. What we do not know is like a universe in itself, he said quoting her.

Similar is the case with the biodiversity of this country, the Prime Minister pointed out.

The more you know, the more you realise the magnitude of what you do not know. Our biodiversity too is a unique treasure for the entire human kind. We have to preserve it, he said.

The Prime Minister said the traditions and the legacy we have inherited teaches us compassion toward all living beings and boundless love for nature.

Throughout the year, India is home to many migratory species. We are told that more than 500 varieties of birds fly in from varied regions, he pointed out.

He informed that recently, biologists discovered a new species of fish whose habitat is within the caves of Meghalaya. It is believed that this fish is the largest among aquatic species found under the surface of caves.

It a matter of joy that India, and especially Meghalaya, is home to a rare species. It lends a new facet to Indias biodiversity, he said.

He also gave an example of a 105-year old woman who cleared level 4 examination in Kerala recently, a 12-year-old girl who scaled Mount Aconcagua in South America and a young man from Uttar Pradesh with physical disability who opened his own slipper manufacturing unit, to drive home his point.

While narrating the story of 105-year-old Bhagirathi Amma, the prime minister said, If we wish to progress in life, we should develop ourselves, if we wish to achieve something in life, the first pre-condition for that is the student within us must never die.
A gunman opened fire in the flea market of Houston, Texas, on February 23, injuring as many as seven people before the suspect was taken into custody at the scene. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated that no one was critically injured in the shooting incident and some of them might have got injured due to bullet ricochet.

House of Representative Armando Walle also reached the scene and took to Twitter to express gratitude to the County Sheriff for always being on the scene and taking leadership in such situation.

Here with our @SheriffEd_HCSO @HCSOTexas to support their efforts in HD140 regarding shooting. Please follow @SheriffEd_HCSO for updates. No life threatening injuries and suspect in custody. All I can say. TY Sheriff Ed for always being on scene taking leadership. #txlege  Armando Walle (@RepWalle) February 24, 2020

Read: Joe Biden Recalls 2017 Mass Shooting Incident To Target Bernie Sanders

Read: 6 Wounded In Shooting At Chicago Apartment Complex

No one critically injured

Gonzalez said no one was critically wounded and some injuries may have been a result of a bullet ricochet. He also thanked Rep. Walle for stopping by at the scene to check on the people and the team present there.

.@RepWalle thanks for stopping by to check on our team and your constituents. Happy to see you. https://t.co/9b6p3x7LQT  Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) February 24, 2020

Read: Ex-deputy Indicted In Fatal Shooting Of Georgia Grad Student

Read: Thai Government Mourns Dead In Soldier's Shooting Rampage
Market benchmark Sensex plummeted over 450 points in opening session on Monday tracking intense selloff in global equities amid rising concerns over Chinese coronavirus epidemic.

After sinking 497 points in opening session, the 30-share barometer was trading 410.12 points, or 1 per cent, lower at 40,760.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty was trading down by 135.85 points, or 1.12 per cent, at 11,945.

Tata Steel was the top loser in the Sensex pack, cracking over 4 per cent, followed by HDFC, ITC, ICICI Bank, Maruti, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC and PowerGrid.

On the other hand, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS, Sun Pharm and HUL were trading with gains.

In the previous session on Thursday, the Sensex settled 152.88 points, or 0.37 per cent, lower at 41,170.12, and Nifty slipped 45.05 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 12,080.85.

Financial markets remained closed on Friday on account of 'Mahashivratri'.

Meanwhile, on a net basis, foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 1,495.25 crore, while domestic institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 699.62 crore on Thursday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

According to traders, spike in coronavirus cases outside China has spooked global investors.

South Korea went on high alert Sunday following a sharp jump in coronavirus cases, and Italy and Iran took their own drastic containment steps.

Further, IMF also warned that the deadly epidemic could put an already fragile global economy recovery at risk.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic is the country's "largest public health emergency". The death toll from the deadly virus climbed to 2,592 on Monday.

Bourses in Seoul plunged over 3 per cent after South Korea reported 161 more coronavirus cases Monday, taking the nationwide total to 763 and making it the world's largest total outside China.

Stock exchanges in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo were also trading significantly lower.

Brent crude oil futures fell 2.52 per cent to USD 56.48 per barrel.

The rupee depreciated 19 paise to 71.83 against the US dollar in morning session.

On the domestic front, traders said investors are likely to take cues from US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India. He will reach Ahmedabad later in the day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The US' First Family was served broccoli and corn samosa during his two-day state visit to India and netizens were shocked.

The picture of the menu was shared by a journalist with caption, "Hi tea menu for @realDonaldTrump at Sabarmati Ashram. Khaman, Samosa & Kaju Katli!!" The breakfast menu which was served for US President Donald Trump and his family at Gandhi Ashram went viral and has appeared to irk the netizens.

A user wrote, "So @realDonaldTrump will be fed broccoli samosas. I sympathise and lay the matter to rest." Another wrote, "I doubt this unappetizing menu will prompt anyone into giving any kind of deal to India. #broccolisamosa." A post read, "I like how everyone on Twitter is grossed out by broccoli samosas. At least there's one thing in the world we can finally all agree on. Nauseated face rolling on the floor laughing." "India! Broccoli Samosas??? What are you thinking???" asked one user.

The menu also included dishes like Khaman, apple pies, kaju katli, assorted cookies, a variety of tea, fruit juices and tender coconut water.

Trump is on a 36-hour visit to India which is his first state visit after taking the Oval Office in 2016.
Ex-movie producer Harvey Weinstein convicted of sexual assault, third-degree rape but acquitted on most serious charges.

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault by a New York jury on Monday but acquitted on the most serious charges that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life.

Once one of Hollywoods most powerful producers, Weinstein, 67, was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

He faces up to 25 years in prison on the sexual assault conviction. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for March 11. He was immediately put in handcuffs and taken into custody.

The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence, and first-degree rape.

The case was a milestone for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men, as well as support other survivors of sexual assault. Women and others called the conviction a landmark verdict online.

https://twitter.com/AdrienneLaw/status/1231995091742580737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a walker. He sometimes leaned on his lead lawyer, Donna Rotunno, for support.

Hes taken some good acting tips, actress Rose McGowan said at the start of the trial on January 6 while staging a protest near the courthouse along with actress Rosanna Arquette and other Weinstein accusers.

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual. His defence lawyers have said Weinstein will appeal the conviction.

Paul Callan, a former New York prosecutor who is not involved in the case, said Weinstein had strong grounds to argue the verdict should be overturned on appeal because of bias, noting that one of the jurors was the author of a forthcoming book on teenage girls and predatory older men.

Harvey Weinstein sits at the defence table reading papers during jury deliberations in his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York [Jane Rosenberg/Reuters]

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises to open doors in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said during opening arguments.

Seated at the defence table, Weinstein often appeared impassive, though at times he looked intently at his lawyers when they cross-examined his accusers.

Jekyll and Hyde

During the many weeks of trial, the prosecution methodically elicited graphic testimony from several accusers, including Haleyi, who said Weinstein invited her to his SoHo home after she had worked on one of his television productions.

After she arrived, Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally, yanking out her tampon, Haleyi told jurors.

Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she entered into an extremely degrading relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her.

She described Weinstein as a Jekyll and Hyde character: He was charming in public but often showed terrifying anger when they were alone, she said.

At one point, she started sobbing uncontrollably on the stand, prompting the judge to end testimony early for the day.

Prior bad acts

Weinstein was charged with assaulting Haleyi and the other woman, but prosecutors bolstered their case by calling several other accusers as witnesses.

One of these women, The Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors Weinstein came into her apartment one night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her.

Though the accusation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, prosecutors offered it to show Weinstein was a repeat sexual offender.

Actor Annabella Sciorra arriving at court to testify as a witness in the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein in New York City, New York, US [File: Lucas Jackson/Reuters]

Three other women  costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young  testified that they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped.

Testimony of prior bad acts is generally not allowed in criminal trials, but an exception to the law allowed prosecutors to call these women to show Weinstein had a particular intention or a signature pattern of behaviour.

Legal experts said the women provided powerful evidence that was difficult for the defence to overcome.

Dunning testified that the producer groped her in 2004 and offered her movie roles in exchange for three-way sex with him and his assistant, which she refused.

Young, a model and actress, testified that the producer trapped her in a hotel bathroom in 2013, masturbated in front of her while groping her breasts, and told her: This is what all the actresses do to make it.

Weinstein will have to answer

Following the accusations against Weinstein, women worldwide re-energised the MeToo movement under #MeToo, which was initially started by Tarana Burke more than a decade ago to support survivors of sexual violence.

The MeToo movement released a statement following Mondays verdict, saying the jury worked with an incredibly narrow and unjust set of laws governing sexual assault, and though he was not convicted on all counts, Harvey Weinstein will have to answer for his crimes.

The movement added: Though today a man has been found guilty, we have to wonder whether anyone will care about the rest of us tomorrow. This is why we say MeToo.

Others online thanked the women who came forward with their stories, as well as those who have suffered in silence.

To the brave women who stepped forward, spoke up, and stood strong  in the face of death by threat or simply career suicide  you have proven that abusive men, no matter how powerful, are not above the law and, for that, we owe you an undying debt of gratitude, tweeted Laura Gassner Otting.

To the brave women who stepped forward, spoke up, and stood strong  in the face of death by threat or simply career suicide  you have proven that abusive men, no matter how powerful, are not above the law and, for that, we owe you an undying debt of gratitude. #sheroes #metoo  Laura Gassner Otting (@heylgo) February 24, 2020

While only two counts feels like a travesty of justice, Weinstein could still face up to 25 years in prison. Hes also got additional charges pending in Los Angeles. Were not done yet giving victims their day in court, tweeted activist Kaz Weida.

While only two counts feels like a travesty of justice, Weinstein could still face up to 25 years in prison. Hes also got additional charges pending in Los Angeles. Were not done yet giving victims their day in court. #MeToo https://t.co/PnCg0RfOA8  Kaz Weida (@kazweida) February 24, 2020

Last line of defence

Throughout the case, Weinsteins defence said regret drove the accusers to take consensual incidents and reframe them as crimes.

Weinsteins lawyers zeroed in on friendly messages and ongoing contact between the women and Weinstein.

During cross-examination of Haleyi, for example, the defence showed her a message she sent Weinstein signed lots of love after her alleged attack.

Defence lawyers repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career.

Weinstein never testified in his defence, although he told reporters he had wanted to. One of his lawyers said the case was too weak to warrant putting him on the stand.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York State Supreme Court as the jury continues to deliberate in his sexual assault trial in New York, New York [File: Justin Lane/EPA-EFE]

Weinsteins lawyer Rotunno told jurors during closing arguments that they were the last line of defence against an overzealous prosecution and that women were responsible for the choices they make to further their own careers.

Prosecutors pushed back against claims that his accusers were not credible and the notion that they were responsible for the alleged attacks.

Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said it was irrelevant whether they had continuing contact with Weinstein after the alleged attacks.

Illuzzi rejected a defence claim that the aspiring actress had a loving relationship with Weinstein, but said it would not matter if she had been head over heels in love with him.

He still wouldnt be allowed to rape her on March 18 of 2013, she said.

Weinstein still faces sexual assault charges in California, which were announced just hours after his New York rape trial began, and dozens of women have filed civil lawsuits against him.
(Natural News) For the past almost 20 years, the United States government has been using your tax dollars (assuming youre an American taxpayer) to fund research and development into vaccines and other pharmaceuticals for the coronavirus family of pathogens. And if history is any indicator, the end result of this massive financial disbursement will be obscene profits for Big Pharma, and expensive drugs for you and your family.

A new report by Public Citizen explains that the race has been on to develop new drug-based treatments for coronaviruses ever since the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) crisis of 2002, followed by MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) in 2012, and now the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the report explains, has played a singular role in making sure that your hard-earned income makes it into the coffers of the pharmaceutical industry, which continues to argue that its monopoly-based patent system for synthetic treatments is the most effective tool to reward and incentivize innovation.

Big Pharma further argues that, despite having to rely upon the general public to fund its self-centered R&D efforts, this is all worthwhile because it fulfills the promise of breakthroughs in treatments and cures for  scores of debilitating or life-threatening illnesses around the world.

Keep in mind that unpatented natural remedies remain largely off-limits because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is bed-buddies with Big Pharma, prohibits their use under the guise that theyre unsubstantiated and unproven for medicinal use.

The only option, in other words, are patented synthetics, which wouldnt even exist were it not for back-door dealings that transfer the wealth of American taxpayers into the coffers of the pharmaceutical industry, which Public Citizen argues isnt even putting it to good use when it comes to the fight against infectious diseases.

 the monopoly model has not driven significant industry investment in infectious diseases, including coronaviruses, the report explains. Last year, there were only six active coronavirus clinical trials involving pharmaceutical companies. All of them depended crucially on public funding.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the release of the new Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) was an intentional deployment by communist China of a deadly bioweapon aimed at the destruction of America:

Big Pharma doesnt care about helping people, only about lining its pockets with cash

The problem with trying to fight infectious diseases using the typical pharmaceutical model is that theres much more profit to be had in developing blockbuster treatments for persistent illnesses as opposed to isolated outbreaks. Thus, Big Pharma is almost solely focused on the latter, public health be damned.

When it comes to the fundamentals of the pharmaceutical industry, in other words, its all about the money, baby. Big Pharma executives couldnt care less if millions or even billions of people die, just so long as the profits continue to flow from other lucrative drug offerings, including childhood vaccines that are now mandated in many areas with minimal exceptions.

Now, if Big Pharma can somehow be assured by Big Fed that people will be forced at gunpoint to receive a patented coronavirus vaccine at some point in the future, then thats a whole different story. If this were the case, every pharmaceutical company in America would be rushing to create their own varieties due to the surety of windfall profits.

The public sector has helped drive the CoVid-19 response, Public Citizen states. We cannot rely on industrys monopoly model to deliver the medicines we need.

Be sure to check out new podcasts each day from the H.R. Report by visiting the official H.R. Report channel at Brighteon.com.

There are also plenty more Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) stories being updated daily at the all-new Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

Citizen.org

NaturalNews.com
The Allahabad high court has directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, the state director general of police, the director general of the Central Reserve Police Force, the vice chancellor and the registrar of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to adhere to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommendations, including giving compensation to six students who were seriously hurt during lathi-charge by the police.

The high court also asked the authorities to take action against the policemen who had caned students during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (anti-CAA) protests in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on December 15 last year. In its report, the NHRC had said the students were caned unnecessarily.

The court directed the officers concerned to comply with the order and file a compliance report by the next hearing on March 25.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Samit Gopal passed the order on a petition filed by Mohd Aman Khan of Prayagraj, alleging police brutality on students.

The petitioner requested the high court to pass several directions, including setting up of a court monitored committee to conduct a judicial inquiry into acts of violence and arbitrary detention of students by the state police and para-military forces at AMU from December 12 to December 15, 2019.

Earlier, on January 8, 2020, the high court had asked NHRC to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Thereafter, a six-member team conducted a probe and the commission accepted the report. Later, a copy of the report was sent to the high court.

The recommendations made by the commission included giving compensation to six students, who were injured in a cane charge by police, and taking disciplinary action against policemen seen in CCTV footage as unnecessarily caning students and damaging motorcycles on AMU campus.

NHRC also recommended that the police force, CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF) should be sensitized and special training modules be carried out to inculcate professionalism in handling such situations.

The court also directed the UP DGP to ensure that the SIT set up vide its order of January 6 shall investigate all the related cases on merit and in a time bound manner.

The court had advised the UP DGP and senior officers to improve and set up a robust intelligence gathering system and to take steps to counter rumour mongering and circulation of distorted and false news, especially on social media.

The AMU vice chancellor and registrar were asked to establish a mechanism for better communication with the students fraternity so that they were not influenced by outsiders. They were also asked to take measures to rebuild the trust of students so that such incidents did not occur in future.

As per the averment contained in the writ petition, para-military forces and the state police, for no just and valid reason, on December 15, 2019 resorted to a lathi-charge with a massive amount of firing of teargas, rubber bullets and pellets. The forces also entered into Guest House No. 2-3, where the students were hiding, the petition said. The entire incident was recorded on CCTV cameras, the petition added.

The petition also said AMU students had been peacefully protesting against CAA after Parliament passed the new citizenship law.

According to the petitioner, students had gathered at the Maulana Azad Library and marched up to AMU gate on December 15, 2019.

On reaching the gate, police, who were deployed there, started provoking the students, but they did not respond, the petitioner said.

After sometime, the police started firing teargas shells on the students and also cane charged them, in which around 100 students were injured, the petitioner alleged.
Harvey Weinstein faces being stripped of his CBE by the Queen.

He was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for services to the film industry.

But MPs from all parties last night demanded that, in light of his conviction, it be revoked.

Dawn Butler, Labours equalities spokesman, said: Weinstein should have been stripped of his honours a long time ago, but now hes been found guilty theres no excuse.

Harvey Weinstein after he received his CBE at an investiture ceremony at the residence of the British Consul General in New York City, November 2004

Tory former minister George Freeman said: Let us take this moment to send a clear message that this sort of behaviour will not be condoned or tolerated any more in this country.

Honours can be forfeited when a person is considered to have brought the system into disrepute.

Criteria can include the holder being jailed for three months or more, or being struck off by a professional body.

Weinstein pictured entering a Manhattan court as a jurors deliberated in his trial on Monday

Queen Elizabeth II meets Harvey Weinstein during a Reception for the Dramatic Arts, at Buckingham Palace in London, on February 17, 2014

A recommendation is made by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to the Forfeiture Committee  made up of senior civil servants.

The final decision must be approved by the Queen.

Weinstein has already been kicked out of industry bodies including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which runs the Oscars, and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, which organises the Baftas.
Could these two still get the Austenian ending they (and we) deserve? Only if theres a season two. Photo: Simon Ridgway/PBS

The beautiful and well-wrought PBS Masterpiece miniseries Sanditon has an infuriating ending. Originally a production for the U.K.s iTV, Sanditon is an adaptation of Jane Austens last, unfinished novel. Its a story about a young woman named Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) who leaves her small, sheltered home to stay with friends in an up-and-coming seaside resort town. Sanditon introduces a delicious cast of supporting characters, including Miss Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke), the first significant person of color in an Austen work, and Miss Lambes incredibly hunky caretaker, Sidney Parker (Theo James).

By the end of Sanditon, Sidney and Charlotte are destined to fall in love and get married. Except in the final episode of the series  they do not. Sidneys brothers new building project burns down in a terrible fire, all of Sanditon becomes financially uncertain, and Sidney has to marry a rich heiress in order to save his family. It is not the ending any Austen fan wouldve expected and hoped for.

It was also not the ending Sanditons creators wanted for the show. In a conversation about the series, producer Belinda Campbell explains the original vision for Sanditon, and promises that if they ever have a chance to make a second series, the end will be very, very different.

Can you tell me a little about the extra challenge of adapting Sanditon? Unlike all the best-known Austen novels, this one was unfinished.

And lets be honest, it was a first draft as well. Shed been writing it for a matter of weeks before she became too ill to continue. The famous [novels] she took years to write and deliver to the world, and I think they were published quite a long time after she started them. This is a very raw form, so its a monumental challenge and [producer and writer] Andrew Davies is the only person that couldve got away with doing it.

Because the world was so fully realized, in spite of the fact that it was a first draft and shed only gotten 11 chapters in, it was such a delicious proposition. She wasnt writing about country gentry. She was writing about a new wave of entrepreneurs, so its like wow  this is Jane Austen, but not as you know it. Its an entirely fresh potential, and it felt too delicious to not give it a go.

Did you look at the way other authors have tried to finish Sanditon? Did the fact that it was unfinished give you a sense of flexibility you might not otherwise have in an adaptation?

Andrew [Davies] had said that he deliberately didnt read any of the other finished versions because he didnt want them to cloud what he wanted to do with it. But the characters were so boldly presented in that fragment [Austen] wrote, and all story is character. With the exception of Charlotte, who was a bit of a blank page  shes just sort of a nice girl whos coming to town, and its quite difficult to see what the potential of that character was. But we were very governed by what was in the book, while at the same time having the freedom to interpret it as well and to take it into new directions. For example, Clara [Lily Sacofsky], the fact that she appears to be so innocent is actually a cover for someone whos much more wily.

It seems like itd be a challenge to be caught between the version you want to finish and an imagined version of what Austen mightve written.

With Austen, its a monumental challenge. She is much loved and entirely unique. We tried our very best to be faithful to what an Austen novel was. What do all Austen books contain? They contain love stories, they contain stories about women who are put in challenging situations who find ways around them. Theyre about social commentary. Shes poking fun at various players. Normally its about landed gentry, but in this case its, what would she have to say about a bunch of entrepreneurs and hypochondriacs? We tried very hard and were very clear-sighted about the rules of Jane Austen and her main themes, and tried to make sure we delivered on that.

It was knowingly a fresh take. But Sanditon is a fresh world and written at such a different time in British society. You had Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein, you had Wollstonecrafts A Vindication of the Rights of Women. There were lots of ideas and scenes coming into the fore that hadnt previously been there. So why would [Austen] have stuck in the same mode she was in 20 years before? So we were loyal, but also trying to be bold.

I was surprised to learn that the Miss Lambe character, who is black in your adaptation, was also written as a person of color in Austens text  Austen describes her as mulatto. Shes the first person of color with any kind of significant role in an Austen novel.

Shes one of the first characters of her kind in any English literature. It was a departure, and you can sense the rebellious spirit in her writing.

How did you think about building Miss Lambes arc in the show? Shes introduced in the Austen text but not given much development.

Shes described as chilly and tender, which we think means that she was sick, so she was brought to the sea to take the airs. A lot of it is inference. If you look at Mansfield Park and the things Austen writes about the slave trade, a lot of it is between the lines, but clearly she was against the slave trade, clearly she was an abolitionist. Clearly she had things to say about roles and responsibilities. From that, we did a lot of research into Jane Austen herself. Some of the qualities of Charlotte were based on Jane Austen  somebody who didnt particularly want to get married, and who saw marriage as something that could limit her.

Similarly, we thought if Jane Austens position was anti-slavery, then this character could be feisty and independent and, without wanting to be too woke about it, we wanted Georgiana Lambe to be an interesting character in her own right. Given the fact that she was young, and rich, and everybody wanted her money, how could you do something interesting with all that? To make her Sidneys ward, to give him some responsibility, to make her a little bit tricky, it makes her into more than a token character. Shes three-dimensional, and she struggles with the position she has in life. She misses the freedom she has at home.

Given the fact that having a person of color is quite a rare thing in literature at this time, we wanted to give her agency, we wanted to give her power and strength. But we wanted to make her real as well.

Can we talk about the end?

Must we?

Yes.

Yes, there appears to be quite a lot of trauma! For which we feel, obviously, devastated  that people are devastated! Look, the truth is, very honestly and very simply, that we had an unfinished Austen and we wanted to continue the story. Its called Sanditon; its about the town. Our thought process was, lets tell this story, but lets tell the story of the town as well, so lets see if we can turn it into a returning Jane Austen series. So we dont necessarily have to finish everything in that [first season].

Its the only Jane Austen out there where you can take it beyond the one arc. It was designed to be the midpoint of Sidney and Charlottes story. That being said, the series is also designed so that it works as a self-contained story. Every story has an ending, some of them have an absolute ending, some have an ending that could be continued. It was the midpoint, and the next challenge was to come.

Could a second season still happen?

Weve always said, and iTV has also said that they would like to see it get picked up and carried on elsewhere. But the truth is, it just didnt get the numbers high enough. So were it to continue, we would need a new partner. Which is why the U.S. figures matter, because if it does well and people love it, then these things can happen.

Please just reassure me that if you ever did somehow get a second season, Charlotte and Sidney would get together.

Absolutely! Were not that perverse!

I know this wasnt the end that you were intending, but it occurred to me that it is really interesting to have a version of a Jane Austen story that ends with something so radically different than in a familiar Austen arc. Is there any version of you that is sort of happy this is the ending Sanditon got?

Another way to look at it is, both Charlotte and Sidney have very subtle arcs in this season where, over eight episodes, they change. Sidney comes to Sanditon where he sees all of his responsibilities as an infringement of his rights to live a life of variety. By the end of the series, he has absolutely acknowledged his role and his responsibility. And it is historically the case that people have to marry for money. That is something that happened. Whilst it might not be a Jane Austen ending, it is the reality of how many love stories wouldve ended. So there is a complete story arc there.

And likewise for Charlotte, who comes to Sanditon to get married, she has a coming-of-age story about growing up and seeing the world for what it is. Including that it involves pain, loss and sacrifice. So there is that ending.

But no, I take no satisfaction after the fact that a lot of people want that happily ever after. And we would love the opportunity to give it to them. Of course Sidney is going to find a way around it! Hes our hero!

Plus, he was naked, in the ocean! You cant give me a naked sea-bathing Austen hero and then not have that work out!

And you know what, [Theo James, who plays Sidney] did that in February.
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: India imposes restrictions on export of medical equipment to China

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

New Delhi, Feb 24: In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, India has imposed restrictions on export of certain medical equipment to China on Sunday. It is done in view of their short supply within the country and asserted that precautions taken by authorities were in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s advisory on coronavirus.

On Sunday, the comments by the Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs came after China raised the issue of India restricting export of certain medical supplies to it following the coronavirus epidemic in that country.

Earlier, the Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Rong had said, "It is hoped that the Indian side could review the epidemic situation in an objective, rational and calm manner, handle with China's much-needed items in a cooperative and constructive way, and resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between our two countries as soon as possible."

The Chinese Embassy spokesperson said that the WHO has repeatedly opposed any travel and trade restrictions on China following the coronavirus outbreak and that all parties should follow the recommendations by the global body.

Coronavirus: Death toll reaches 2,442 in China, infections in South Korea spike

MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, replying to the query on the issue said that the precautions have been taken by India are in accordance with the WHO advisory about the outbreak of coronavirus infection.

He said some restrictions have been imposed on the export of certain medical equipment to China in view of shortage of their supply in India too.

The MEA spokesperson further added, "Just like any other country, India with a billion plus population has the responsibility to take the necessary measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak which, if not properly managed, can become a global risk."

He also said that responding to the needs of China, India had allowed a one time exemption for the export of some items which had been restricted.

Kumar also mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, offering India''s assistance to China in the "hour of need".

He also referred to India's decision to send medical relief on board a special flight to China and hoped that the Chinese authorities will give permission for the aircraft to go to the country.

"In a humanitarian gesture of medical relief, a gift reflecting the solidarity of the people of India with the people of China, is expected to be delivered to Wuhan by a special flight," Kumar added.

On Saturday, government sources said that China was "deliberately delaying" permission for the Indian Air Force plane to coronavirus-hit Wuhan to supply relief materials and bring back more Indians from the city.

They said though flights from Japan, Ukraine and France were allowed to operate from Wuhan, Indian request was not heeded to so far.

Last week, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong urged India to review restrictions on trade and movement of people.

Coronavirus: Government asks citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore

According to the PTI report, almost all Indian airlines have stopped flights to China while the government has cancelled all e-visas as well as normal visas issued to Chinese citizens.

India has reportedly evacuated over 640 Indians from Wuhan, the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak, in two separate flights.

However, latest report estimates, over 100 Indians are still stuck in Wuhan.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 10:36 [IST]
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday handed over to the CISF the trophy for the ''best marching contingent'' amongst CAPFs and other auxiliary squads during the Republic Day parade this year.

An event was held in the South Block office of the defence ministry where CISF Director General (DG) Rajesh Ranjan, contingent commander Deputy Commandant Prabh Simran Singh and other officials of the force received the trophy from Singh, an official spokesperson said.

The CISF contingent is identified by its distinct yellow-coloured headgear and had 148-members when they marched this time at the Rajpath on January 26.

This is the sixth time that the force has won this award, the spokesperson said.

The around 1.70 lakh personnel strong Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is the national civil aviation security force that guards 61 airports at present apart from vital infrastructure in the nuclear and aerospace domain.

CISF is among the five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) that function under the Union Home ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that multiple Jewish community centers (JCC) across New York were emailed anonymous bomb threats, prompting an evacuation of an Albany location.

Cuomo, speaking to reporters outside of one of the targeted centers in the states capital, called the threats an act of terror.

You have your children in a class in the building and they say there is a bomb threat -- that is terror," Cuomo said.

Threats were made to approximately 18 JCCs throughout New York state, Cuomo said, but he did not specify which locations were targeted. A JCC spokeswoman said that Staten Island locations were not included within the series of threats.

Though our JCC was not specifically targeted in these threats, we are taking precautions and working with our partners in law enforcement to ensure the safety of all our members and participants," the spokeswoman said.

Earlier today, emails were sent to several groups of JCCs around the country which included indication of possible bomb threats. We are working with our partners at SCN (Secure Community Network) to coordinate with Federal, state and local authorities. At this time, it is the assessment of our security partners that there is no known credible threat related to the emails," said Doron Krakow, president and CEO of JCC Association of North America.

Our first priority is the safety of all JCCs and JCC program participants and visitors, Krakow said. "Having faced similar threats in 2017, our JCCs have protocols in place to respond to such scenarios. We are grateful for the immediate and ongoing response from law enforcement and we will continue to work with SCN and our JCCs to ensure participants safety as law enforcement continues its efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

There are no specific or credible threats to Jewish Community Centers in NYC at this time, an NYPD spokesperson said, adding, Members of the public are encouraged to help police in the shared responsibility of public safety. If you see something, say something by calling 911 or NYPDs terrorism hotline at 888-NYC-SAFE.

The Anti-Defamation League said on Twitter it was aware of the bomb threat and thanked authorities for their swift action.

We are aware of this mornings bomb threat to the @AlbanyJCC and thank @nyspolice @albanypolice @NYGovCuomo @NewYorkFBI for swift action to make sure everyone is safe. We continue to be in touch with our law enforcement partners.  ADL New York / New Jersey (@ADL_NYNJ) February 23, 2020

The threats were made via email, which Cuomo said are so hard to trace ... because they go through different routers."

The state Police Department aided the Albany City Police Department in scouring the evacuated JCC following the threat, Cuomo said, adding that an investigation is underway to determine where the emails originated.

Cuomo said there has been about 42 incidents of anti-Semitism in this state this past couple of months, adding that the recent bomb threats are not just an anti-Semitic attack.

You have children who go to the JCC, he said. You have gym facilities here. So, you are really threatening children.

It is one of the most heinous things you can do. And again, it is fear and it is terror. That is all it is -- terror, he said.

In 2017, an alleged anti-Semitic bomb threat was reported at the JCC in Sea View. No bomb was found during a search of the building in that instance.

At the beginning of the year, Cuomo, among 10,000 others, marched over the Brooklyn Bridge to show support to the Jewish Community.

In mid-January, elected officials, Jewish community leaders and members of the NYPD were joined by more than 150 borough residents at the same JCC to discuss ongoing security concerns amid a rise of anti-Semitic and hate crime attacks across New York City.

The meeting came in the wake of a pair anti-Semitic attacks separated by only three weeks in New York and New Jersey, which targeted Jewish civilians, and amid a 21% spike of anti-Semitic incidents overall in New York City, NYPD data showed at the time.

The NYPD previously announced that it would add hate crimes to its publicly-available crime database  CompStat  for the first time since the stat-tracking sites inception. Additionally, the NYPD unveiled the Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism  REME  unit, which is focused on any trends and any signs of racially and ethnically motivated extremism, Mayor Bill de Blasio said after the anti-Semitic shooting in Jersey City.

Sundays threats punctuated a tumultuous start of the year in regard to anti-Semitic acts of hatred throughout New York.

We take every threat seriously, Cuomo said on Sunday.

The Jewish culture is a big part of New York. New York would not be New York without our Jewish brothers and sisters, Cuomo added, So I just want to say on behalf of all the good people of New York, we are sorry for this unfortunate incident, and it in no way reflects how New Yorkers feel about the Jewish community.
The Met Police Commissioner has defended the use of facial recognition technology to catch criminals, claiming that privacy concerns are 'much smaller' than protecting the public from 'a knife through the chest'.

Dame Cressida Dick told a conference in Whitehall that 'ill-informed' critics would need to justify the use of the controversial cameras to victims of violent crime who have been caused 'real harm'.

The technology - which has been criticised by civil liberties and privacy campaigners - scan members of the public against a 'watchlist', said to contain suspects wanted by police.

The Met claims that the technology has a very low failure rate, with the system only creating a false alert one in every 1,000 times.

But the new police cameras have already been branded a failure after spotting no suspects despite scanning 4,600 shoppers in an east London mall.

Dame Cressida Dick told a conference in Whitehall that 'ill-informed' critics would need to justify the use of the controversial technology to victims of violent crime who have been caused 'real harm'

Ms Dick today said it was not the force's job to decide 'where the boundary lies between security and privacy', and argued that the threshold of privacy is likely to have been eroded in the age of social media.

She told delegates at the Royal United Services Institute: 'It is for critics to justify to the victims of those crimes why police should not use tech lawfully and proportionally to catch criminals who caused the victims real harm.

'It is not for me and the police to decide where the boundary lies between security and privacy, though I do think it is right for us to contribute to the debate.

'But speaking as a member of public, I will be frank. In an age of Twitter and Instagram and Facebook, concern about my image and that of my fellow law-abiding citizens passing through LFR (live facial recognition) and not being stored, feels much, much, much smaller than my and the public's vital expectation to be kept safe from a knife through the chest.'

the new police cameras have already been branded a failure after spotting no suspects despite scanning 4,600 shoppers in an east London mall (pictured signs about the cameras opposite the centre)

The police chief said that if artificial intelligence could help identify potential terrorists, rapists or killers, most members of the public would want them to use it.

Dame Cressida said: 'If, as seems likely, algorithms can assist in identifying patterns of behaviour by those under authorised surveillance, that would otherwise have been missed, patterns that indicate they are radicalising others or are likely to mount a terrorist attack.

'If an algorithm can help identify in our criminal systems material a potential serial rapist or killer that we could not have found by human endeavour alone.

The technology - which has been criticised by civil liberties and privacy campaigners - scan members of the public against a 'watchlist', said to contain suspects wanted by police (stock picture)

'If a machine can improve our ability to disclose fairly then I think almost all citizens would want us to use it.

'The only people who benefit from us not using lawfully and proportionately tech are the criminals, the rapists, the terrorists and all those who want to harm you, your family and friends.'

Met Police's first facial recognition cameras spot NO offenders New police face recognition cameras have been branded a failure after spotting no suspects in hours of surveillance. The UK's biggest force was accused of wasting taxpayer cash after the devices failed to find a single match despite scanning 4,600 shoppers in an east London mall. The Scotland Yard cameras record the faces of passers-by and send an alert to an officer's phone if they look like those on a 'most wanted' list. Human rights groups say they lead to 'false positives' which can mean innocent members of the public being stopped, searched and even arrested. Now it has emerged that the first time the cameras were put to use, at Stratford Centre on February 11, no alerts were sent out. This is despite the fact the devices were switched on for five and a half hours and given a list of 5,816 suspects likely to be in the area at that time. Advertisement

Recent Metropolitan Police use of facial recognition led to the arrest of eight criminals who would not otherwise have been caught, delegates heard.

But use of the technology has been criticised as a violation of privacy.

Human rights groups say they lead to 'false positives' which can mean innocent members of the public being stopped, searched and even arrested.

Silkie Carlo, from civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said the cameras 'erode the trust between the police and the public'.

He said: 'It is purely magical thinking to suggest facial recognition can solve London's problem with knife crime.

'It's a highly controversial mass surveillance tool. It seriously risks eroding trust between the police and the public.

'The commissioner is right that the loudest voices in this debate are the critics, it's just that she's not willing to listen to them.

'Her attempt to dismiss serious human rights concerns with life or death equations and to depict critics as ill-informed without basis only cheapens the debate.

The Met claims that the technology has a very low failure rate.

However, using a different metric, last year research from the University of Essex said the tech only achieved eight correct matches out of 42, across six trials it evaluated.

The latest algorithm used by the Met is said to show no bias on the base of ethnicity, although it is less accurate for women than men.

Hannah Couchman, policy and campaigns officer at Liberty, says personal data is captured 'without consent' and 'undermines our rights to privacy'.

She said: 'Anyone can be included on a facial recognition watch list - you do not have to be suspected of any wrongdoing, but could be put on a list for the ludicrously broad purpose of police 'intelligence interest'.

Scotland Yard deployed controversial live facial recognition technology at Oxford Circus

'Even if you're not on a watch list, your personal data is still being captured and processed without your consent - and often without you knowing it's happening.

'Facial recognition is a mass surveillance tool that undermines our rights to privacy and free expression. Any one of us might wish to go about our business anonymously and maintaining the right to do so does not make you worthy of police suspicion.

'The Met started using facial recognition after ignoring its own review of a two-year trial which found that its use of this technology had failed to meet human-rights requirements.

'By scaremongering and deriding criticisms rather than engaging with these concerns, Cressida Dick reveals how flimsy the basis for the Met's use of this oppressive tool really is.'

Facial recognition Q&A: How does it work, how much has it been used and why is it controversial? The Metropolitan Police is beginning operational use of facial recognition technology across London. It follows a number of trials of the cameras, which have been criticised by human rights campaigners as a risk to privacy. Here's how the technology works, and why it has proved so controversial. - How does it work? Live facial recognition (LFR) technology uses special cameras to scan the structure of faces in a crowd. The system then creates a digital image and compares the result against a 'watch list' made up of pictures of people who have been taken into police custody. Not everybody on police watch lists is wanted for the purposes of arrest - they can include missing people and other persons of interest. If a match is found, officers in the area of the cameras are alerted. - How much has it been used? The Met have used the technology multiple times since 2016, according to the force's website, including at Notting Hill Carnival in 2016 and 2017, Remembrance Day in 2017, and Port of Hull docks, assisting Humberside Police, in 2018. They have also undertaken several other trials in and around London since then. South Wales Police piloted the technology during the week of the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff, the first UK force to use it at a large sporting event. Facial recognition has also been used at a number of privately-owned UK sites, including in shopping centres, museums and conference centres, according to an investigation by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch. - Why is it controversial? Campaigners say facial recognition breaches citizens' human rights. Liberty has said scanning and storing biometric data 'as we go about our lives is a gross violation of privacy'. Big Brother Watch says 'the notion of live facial recognition turning citizens into walking ID cards is chilling'. Some campaigners claim the technology will deter people from expressing views in public or going to peaceful protests. It is also claimed that facial recognition can be unreliable, and is least accurate when it attempts to identify black people, and women. In its own investigation into the technology, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) concluded that a legal code of practice should be introduced to ensure its safe deployment. In September last year, a High Court ruling said the use of the technology by South Wales Police had not been unlawful after an activist argued that having his face scanned caused him 'distress' and violated his privacy and data protection rights by processing an image taken of him in public. Ed Bridges, 36, from Cardiff, brought the challenge after claiming his face was scanned while he was doing his Christmas shopping in 2017 and at a peaceful anti-arms protest in 2018. After the ruling, Mr Bridges said he would appeal against the decision, which is due to be heard in June. - What do the police say? Speaking at the Met's announcement last month about the technology being rolled out, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said the force is 'in the business of policing by consent' and thinks it is effectively balancing the right to privacy with crime prevention. He said: 'Everything we do in policing is a balance between common law powers to investigate and prevent crime, and Article 8 rights to privacy. 'It's not just in respect of live facial recognition, it's in respect of covert operations, stop and search - there's any number of examples where we have to balance individuals' right to privacy against our duty to prevent and deter crime.' Advertisement
In Paterson, the city government had to scrap plans to renovate a park and buy new vehicles for its public works department, because it had to pay $12 million in terminal leave  unused sick, vacation, or comp days  to retiring policemen and firefighters over the last two years.

In Jersey City, theyve floated $54 million in bonds over the last five years to cover retirement payouts for municipal employees. It cost the city $8.1 million last year and will likely be the same this year, when 95 firemen are eligible for fat parting bonuses.

This dubious arrangement isnt just happening in big towns with big budgets, such as Brick Township, which paid $6.6 million in terminal leave to 197 employees in the past decade. It happens in small boroughs such as Lodi, which allows its 50 cops to trade in unused sick time for cash every year  a practice that has cost its taxpayers $1.3 million since 2013.

If there was a taxpayer-soaking practice that screams for regulation, this is it.

And since some public employees need a reminder that sick pay is for when you are actually sick  and not for lump-sum bonuses  this would be a good time for our Legislature to issue that reminder.

Thats the conclusion reached by our State Commission of Investigation, which examined 50 municipalities recently and found fat targets almost everywhere it looked. Mostly, it found benefit programs for local government workers that are rife with abuse, with some workers getting five- and even six-figure boat checks for unused sick time.

And this comes two years after an NJ Spotlight report showed how sick day abuse has dropped a $1.9 billion liability on taxpayers throughout the state.

It is simply absurd, the SCI report seethed, that more than 20 years after the commission first sounded the alarm about excessive compensation and questionable perks for public employees, these practices remain the norm in many areas.

The report also looked at other costly perks, such as the remarkable Hoboken code that allows public employees to give blood and bank a paid workday.

It also issued a list of recommendations, starting with a statewide policy that eliminates terminal leave entirely and limits public employees at all levels of government to just 15 paid sick leave days and no more than $15,000 in retirement payouts.

This is not the first time theyve called for change at the state level.

In 2010, the Legislature and Gov. Christie agreed on a bill that made sense for the time, capping sick leave at $15,000 for new hires at every level of government and in school districts. But existing employees were allowed to continue to accrue bonus pay for unused absences.

By 2017, lawmakers drafted a bill that would cap payouts for all employees  including the pre-2010 group  at $15,000. But Christie wisely vetoed it, saying the accruals had to stop altogether.

And more recently, terminal-leave payments were addressed in the bipartisan pension overhaul directed by Senate President Steve Sweeney known as the Path to Progress, which proposed capping them at $7,500. That would cut the debt by $400 million and save local governments $65 million a year in future accumulated sick-leave debt.

Now, hopefully the SCI report jump-starts interest from legislative leadership, says Sen. Declan OScanlon (R-Monmouth), a budget hawk who has written sick-pay reform bills since 2012, and will introduce another this spring. It is outrageous that taxpayers wallets are still abused in this way.

New Jerseys greatest problems pertain to property tax and pensions, so call this a small fix for both of them. But neither is possible until we fix our political will.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
New York, Feb 24 : US President Donald Trump, who has said that he is looking forward to being with the people of India, is on the final leg of his journey to Ahmedabad after a short scheduled stopover at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, according to the pool reporter travelling with him.

Air Force One spent 80 minutes at the base for refuelling on Sunday and continued the journey at 11:30 p.m. local time (4 a.m. Monday in India) and is scheduled to reach Ahmedabad at 11:40 a.m.

Before leaving the White House, he told reporters, that he felt the two-day trip was not long enough, although it will be very exciting.

He said, "I'm going to be there one night. That's not too much." But "it's going to be very exciting," he said.

With the campaign for the November presidential election in full swing, he has a tight schedule.

A day after his return, Trump is to attend a campaign rally in South Carolina on Thursday before the state's primary election on Saturday.

He said, "I look forward to being with the people of India. We're going to have many millions and millions of people." He added, "I get along very well with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi. He's a friend of mine. I committed to this trip a long time ago, and I look forward to going." About the the "Namaste Modi!a programme at Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Stadium, he said, "I hear it's going to be a big event. Some people say the biggest event they've ever had in India. That's what the Prime Minister told me. This will be the biggest event they've ever had." He had earlier tweeted, "Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA!"

Trump who had last visited India in 2014 as a real estate businessman returns as President this time.

The visit 19 days after his "acquittal " and his first foray abroad - is an attempt to revalidate his standings as a statesman admired by millions.

Trump is probably more popular in India than in the US, if the Pew Research opinion poll that showed 56 per cent of Indians having confidence in him is to be taken as a measure of his popularity.

In the US, his approval ratings in recent polls range between 42 per cent and 49 per cent for an average of 46 per cent, according to the polls aggregator RealClear Politics.

The highlight of his visit is the "Namaste Trump!" event at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, where he is expected to address a crowd of about 120,000.

For him and First Lady Melania Trump, the next stop is to be Agra and the Taj Mahal.

They fly to Delhi Monday night for fully packed Tuesday, when he is to hold bilateral talks with Modi, meet Indian investors in the US manufacturing sector and attend a State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Trump, who is into superlatives and records, probably meant the crowds for a visiting leader when he claimed that Modi had told him he would have "the biggest event they've ever had." (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
A vast majority of Americans believe Donald Trump will win reelection in November, according to a poll taken before the Nevada caucuses.

Regardless of political preference and whether or not they are voting for him, 65 per cent of registered voters think Trump will definitely or probably emerge victorious, a CBS News/YouGov poll released Monday revealed.

Republicans are extremely optimistic about the incumbent presidents chances, with more than nine in 10 indicating they expect him to win.

Democrats are a bit more cautious, with more than one-third claiming they think Trump will serve another four years.

Whether or not they are voting for Donald Trump, two-thirds of registered voters believe he will win reelection in November

The results of the poll come as the president is visiting India with first lady Melania Trump

The new poll, however, was taken before Bernie Sanders' massive caucus win in Nevada

In head-to-head general election matchups, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, the top polling candidates, were shown edging the president by 1-3 per cent

The survey was conducted February 20-22, which means some were questioned before the Nevada caucuses, while others were done as the results were rolling in.

Bernie Sanders was declared the winner of the western state after only 3 per cent reporting when he took a massive lead right out the gate over the rest of the Democratic primary field.

Now, with more than 95 per cent of precincts reporting in, Sanders is shown the victor with more than 46 per cent and the next closest candidate is former Vice President Joe Biden, who is more than 26 per cent behind with 20.4 per cent.

Even though most voters believe Trumps reelection will become reality in November, potential head-to-head matchups of the president and other candidates still show all major Deocratic candidates in a tight race.

When told to select their preference between the top six top polling Democratic candidates and Trump, the results showed a 3 per cent or less margin between the two.

Sanders, a Vermont senator who won the New Hampshire primaries and Nevada caucuses  and who has also declared victory in the Iowa caucuses  is shown with 47 per cent support to Trumps 45.

But former Vice President Joe Biden, who has performed surprisingly poorly in the early primary contest states so far, is shown with the same exact results when put up against the incumbent president.

In Iowa, Biden came in fourth place, in New Hampshire fifth, and he finally came back up to the top when he came in second place in Nevada  but a distant second.

Two of the top remaining female candidates, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren, are shown within a 1 per cent margin of the president  but Warren has preference over the president wile Klobuchar is shown losing.

There is one more female candidate remaining in the field, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, but she has largely dropped off the map as she has failed to qualify for the last few Democratic primary debates and has not earned any delegates in the first three primary contest states.

Of the top candidates included in the poll, only Amy Klobuchar (left) and Mike Bloomberg (right) were shown losing against Trump in hypothetical head-to-head matchups

Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is tied with Trump in the new poll, both with 44 per cent.

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg has the same margin as Sanders and Biden, but is the only candidate among the top polling contenders that is shown losing against the president.

In the hypothetical matchup, Bloomberg earned 42 per cent and Trump earned 45 per cent.

Several of the Democratic candidates have likened Bloomberg to Trump, and during the ninth primary debate in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the former New York City mayor was excoriated by his fellow candidates.

Only 42 per cent of Democratic primary voters who participated in the poll say they have definitely made up their minds on who they are voting for.

The poll has a margin of error of 1.2 percentage points, and when only considering Democratic primary voters, that margin increased to 1.7 points.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 24

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hadjiyev met with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Director for Turkmenistan Ms. Giullia Vallese, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The effectiveness of Turkmenistans joint projects with UNFPA was emphasized.

The parties exchanged views on further steps aimed at improving measures in the field of reproductive health, family planning and child development, the ministry said.

The parties also discussed the activities of Turkmenistan in the field of ensuring human rights, in particular assistance to migrants and stateless persons, as well as issues related to social protection.

In 2019, Turkmenistan signed a number of documents with UNFPA.

Working plans for the projects Improvement of Quality of Integrated Services in the Field of Reproductive Health, Disaggregated Data for Sustainable National Development, Improvement of Access to Knowledge about Reproductive Health by Youth, and Use of Population Data for Development of National Strategies and Plans of Sustainable Development were signed.

In addition, an agreement on co-financing between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and UNFPA on the improvement of the service of mens reproductive health was also signed.
Donald Trump is the fourth consecutive US president to visit India since Bill Clinton's trip in 2000 and this demonstrates the broad continuity in the United States policy of bilateral ties between the two countries, according to foreign policy expert Dhruva Jaishankar.

"It is significant that the fourth US President in a row has seen the India relation important enough to take time to go to India. The fact that we have seen broad continuity on the India relationship is clearly a good sign for bilateral relations," Jaishankar, Director of the US Initiative at ORF told ANI in an interview hours before Donald Trump landed in India for a two-day visit beginning Monday.

India is looking forward to strengthen its strategic partnership with the US during Trump's visit with restricted and delegation-level talks likely to span bilateral, regional topics and global issues such as trade faciliation in the area of homeland security, intellectual property, counterterrorism and the India-Pacific region.

In recent years, India has increased purchases of military equipment from the US and forged closer defence cooperation with Washington.

In the light of this Jaishanker said "I think we can expect to see something on this visit on defence side."

"We have seen a large number of meetings at the working level and ministerial level. Over the last few months, there has been a substantive announcement at each of those meetings. Sometimes it is no longer at the summit level these meetings these big announcements take place."

Commenting on the stand-alone nature of Trump's visit, he said, "Earlier, India visit was always hyphenated with Pakistan. President Clinton went to both places and President Bush went to both places. We have seen a break in this pattern in the last ten years. Now India is treated on its own merit and Pakistan is treated on its merit."

On the significance of Trump's India visit in an election year, he said, "There is obviously domestic-political significance for President Trump to go. Clearly, he is hoping to appeal to his audience in the US. And possibly appeal to the Indian-American community who are not only voters but also donors in sizeable numbers."

Over the issue of a possible trade deal, Jaishankar said, "On the trade side, there is an expectation that there won't be trade agreement announced by looking at the people accompanying Trump. The absence of US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is a clear signal in that regard."

Twenty years ago US President Bill Clinton visited India in 2000. This was followed by the visit of George H W Bush in the year 2006 and then Barack Obama came to India two times once in the year 2010 and then again in the year 2015.

With this being the first official visit of Trump to India focus will be on the pomp and hospitality.

"Focus will, of course, be on optics of President Trump's visit, particularly the major rally event in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and bilateral meetings that will take place in Delhi," Jaishankar said.

Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, the US President will begin the nearly 36-hour-long trip with a visit to the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad followed by Trump's participation at the 'Namaste Trump' event where he will appear with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Motera Stadium in the city which has a capacity to seat over 100,000 people.

The Trumps will later visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal before departing for New Delhi. After a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Trumps will also pay a visit to Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Raj Ghat.

After talks between Trump and Modi at the Hyderabad House in the national capital on Tuesday afternoon, followed by an exchange of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries, the Trumps will depart for US post-meeting President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Central government has given in-principle approval to the construction of an elevated expressway between Dehradun and New Delhi which will reduce the distance between the two cities by 180 kilometers.

SS Sandhu, chairman of National Highway Authority of India, conveyed the progress of the project yo the state government on Monday.

Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand said, "I am thankful to the chairman of NHAI and the central government. The construction of the highway will be a catalyst for boosting economy, tourism and other areas of the hill state."

At present, the distance between Dehradun and Delhi is around 250 kms.

The state government officials said that the work on the project will start soon once the paperwork and other requisite formalities are done.

The road will be passing through the route adjacent to newly constructed tunnel near Mohand on the outskirts of Dehradun and through forest areas that come under the jurisdiction of Uttar Pradesh government, the NHAI officials have requested the state government to initiate process for seedy forest and environment clearances.
Sunny Leone sexy photo: One of the most popular actresses in the Hindi film industry, Sunny Leone, who is best known for her sexy dance number such as Baby Doll Main Sone Di, Pink Lips, Laila Main Laila, among several others has set social media on fire with her sexy Instagram photo!

Sunny Leone sexy photo: Bollywoods Babydoll and the sexiest dancers in the Indian film fraternity, Sunny Leones latest viral photo will surely set your screens on fire! In the picture, the Ragini MMS 2 star is seen in a sexy pink net monokini and the photo is looking too hot to handle! Sunny Leone, who is one of the most phenomenal dancers in the Hindi film industry, has a massive fan base on social media and her throwback photo which started surfacing on social media on Thursday morning has been breaking the Internet!

Sunny Leone, who is a former adult star is now a successful actress in the Indian film industry and also an item girl, television host, television show judge and a fashion icon as well. The way she carries herself is way too amazing and is also called the style icon in the Indian film industry! Sunny Leone, who bagged her first film during her Bigg Boss stint, has emerged as the sexiest dancers in Bollywood.

She made her Bollywood entry after participating in the 5th season of the popular reality television show back in 2011. The show, which is hosted by none other than Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, became a big stepping stone for Sunny Leone and she got her first Bollywood filmJism 2 which was a movie by ace filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and emerged as a hit. She then starred in several Bollywood films such as Kuch Kuch Locha Hai, Ek Paheli Leela, Ragini MMS 2, Jackpot, One Night Stand, Beiimaan Love, Tera Intezaar, among a few others and also played the main lead in her own biopic web-series titled Karenjit Kaur  The Untold Story of Sunny Leone which streams on Zee5 app.

Sunny Leone has hosted many popular reality television shows such as MTV Splitsvilla, Man vs. Wild with Sunny Leone, among a few others.

She is married to Daniel Weber and is a mother to three doting kids. Sunny Leone has a huge fan base across the globe and has millions of followers on social media platforms such as photo-sharing app Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and many others. Sunny Leone will soon be making her debut in the Tamil and Malayalam film industry as well.
Hunters spoilers follow.

This weekend, Amazon released the first season of Hunters, the networks new flagship show from producer Jordan Peele, in which Al Pacino leads an exploitation-movie-tinged band of Nazi hunters through the United States of the 1970s. On Sunday, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum harshly criticized the show for trafficking in dangerous foolishness and caricature, in a tweet that said Hunters welcomes future deniers. At issue was a flashback in the first episode in which a guard at Auschwitz forces prisoners to participate in a human chess game, something that didnt actually happen. Heres what the museum had to say:

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Auschwitz was full of horrible pain & suffering documented in the accounts of survivors. Inventing a fake game of human chess for @huntersonprime is not only dangerous foolishness & caricature. It also welcomes future deniers. We honor the victims by preserving factual accuracy. pic.twitter.com/UM2KYmA4cw  Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) February 23, 2020

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The museums Twitter account is dedicated to sharing the stories of those who died at Auschwitz and detailed accounts of the atrocities the Nazis committed there, so its not surprising that they didnt take the liberties Hunters took with the camps history lightly. (Theyre also not big fans of Amazon in general at the moment, and for good reason: The company has been unable to keep new editions of Nazi propaganda from the likes of Julius Streicher off its website.) Asked by other Twitter users to elaborate on their complaint with Hunters (and fiction about the Holocaust in general), the museum tweeted, one should not create a fake reality if the details about this reality are so well documented, and suggested that the show should have invented a fictional camp for its fictional horrors:

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Invent an non-existing camp and Nazi atrocities perpetrated there. If you however use a real place, respect it's history and suffering of its victims.  Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) February 23, 2020

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Series creator David Weil responded in a statement to Deadline, sharing his own personal relationship to Auschwitzhis grandmother survived itand wrote that he had tried to honor his responsibility to history by explicitly not recreating real events, since he did not want to misrepresent a real person or borrow from a specific moment in an actual persons life. To avoid that hazard, Weil took steps like giving his characters tattoos with numbers higher than any the Nazis ever actually assigned and using fictionalized atrocities. As for the chess scene, Weil explained why he wanted it in his show in the first place:

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In speaking to the chess match scene specifically this is a fictionalized event. Why did I feel this scene was important to script and place in series? To most powerfully counteract the revisionist narrative that whitewashes Nazi perpetration, by showcasing the most extremeand representationally truthfulsadism and violence that the Nazis perpetrated against the Jews and other victims. And why did I feel the need to create a fictional event when there were so many real horrors that existed? After all, it is true that Nazis perpetrated widespread and extreme acts of sadism and tortureand even incidents of cruel gamesagainst their victims. I simply did not want to depict those specific, real acts of trauma.

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That is a good argument for including representationally truthful sadism and violence in a fictionalized depiction of the Holocaust, but its not at all apparent that the shows project is counteracting revisionist narratives that whitewash Nazis. The first episode has an FBI agent investigating the death of a NASA chemist who has literally been gassed in a shower, and the Nazi connection is a secret she has to discoverby finding a photograph of the victim shaking hands with Adolf Hitler!as though NASAs Nazis werent common knowledge. They were giving Wernher von Braun guest spots on Disneyland! Its also not obvious that the human chess scene is designed to counteract any narratives at all; its more of a thematic curtain-raiser. Chess is a recurring image in the first episode: The shows credit sequence is built around a chessboard, and Al Pacino tells the human chess story to a would-be Nazi hunter played by Logan Lerman over a game of, well, you can probably guess. Heres how he tells it:

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You know, there was a very famous prisoner in Auschwitz named Markus Roth. He was the Bobby Fischer of Germany. And as fate would have it, one of the Nazi guards, a sadistic man named Heinz Richter, he had always aspired to be a great chess player too. But for years in tournaments, he was trounced by the chess-playing Jew. Who was now his prisoner. Now one morning, in the camps, Richter rounded up Markus and 32 others, marched them into the woods. Each day, more prisoners were led into those same woods. One morning, your saftas younger sister was taken. Your safta, foolish and fearless, was determined to rescue her dear Chava so we snuck into the dark woods after them. And in a small clearing, Richter had constructed a human chess board. On those squares stood the prisoners, each one with a blade. Richter commanded the black. He forced Marcus to play with the white. Chava didnt fare well. After seven days of this torture, Markus Roth grabbed a blade and tried to kill the barbarous Heinz Richter. Markus, of course, was shot dead, but not before he gave Richter a scar across his throat in the shape of an X. Markus never lost one match, however. Not one. Perhaps we can take some solace from that.

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Theres plenty of sadism and violence there, but at its core, this seems like a revenge story: Richter resents Roths skill at chess, so when the Holocaust gives him the opportunity, he constructs an ornate, Cask of Amontilladograde scheme to torture him for it. Thats certainly thematically appropriate for a show about revengeLiving well is not the best revenge. You know what the best revenge is? Revenge, Pacino remarks at one pointbut it might not be the best fictional stand-in for the things that people did to other people at Auschwitz. Heres a real example from the museum, one that happened 77 years ago on Sunday:

23 February 1943 | SS guards transferred 39 prisoners (13 to 17 years old) from Auschwitz II-Birkenau to #Auschwitz I and placed them in Block 20, one of the infirmary buildings. In the evening of this day, they were all killed with phenol injections. 1/2 #OnThisDay #history pic.twitter.com/qEcXgEbPbn  Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) February 23, 2020

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The man who gave those injections, Herbert Scherpe, wasnt settling an old score; he was just murdering children hed never met before, whose names we dont even know, as efficiently as possible. The biggest challenge in telling a story about the Holocaust is telling a story, extracting some kind of comprehensible narrative from industrialized slaughter. But flamboyant sadists make better villains than bureaucrats, so: human chess. The danger that comes from setting the bar for Nazism that high, though, if the goal is to counteract narratives that whitewash what the Nazis did, is that we dont see the bureaucrats coming.

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Heres Weils full statement:
More than 10 children, one aged 13, were stripped searched for drugs at a Sydney underage music festival, a year after police were criticised for doing the same thing to a 15-year-old boy.

Eleven children were searched by NSW police at the Lost City festival in Sydney on Saturday.

Officers say 44 revellers were searched by police, with 11 being strip searched, at the event for teenagers aged from 13 to 17.

More than 40 underage teenagers were searched by police at the Lost City music festival in Sydney (pictured) with 11 of them forced to strip down

In 2019 a 15-year-old boy was forced to expose his genitals during a police search causing a backlash from some community members.

Redfern Legal Centre's Samantha Lee said if a parent or guardian wasn't present then a child shouldn't be searched, unless under extreme circumstances.

'If they're not going to have a parent or guardian present, then they must have a very good reason as to why that person isn't going to be available,' Miss Lee told ABC News.

'So it is unclear what information was provided to the child that ensured they fully understood the testing they were being subjected to.'

Police also charged two teenagers, a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, with alleged drug supply at the festival.

Meanwhile a 15-year-old boy was charged with possess prohibited drug and breach of bail.

Another 14 teenagers were allegedly found with prohibited drugs and police said they will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

Officers also ejected 27 people from the premises for intoxication, drug-related matters and anti-social behaviour.

Despite conducting searches NSW police did not test for drugs or alcohol, instead a third party contractor was hired by festival organisers.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lost City organisers for comment.
Andy Adams said he was driving when he saw the beginning of what would become a wreck followed by a carjacking, chase and gun battle in the waters of Lake Lanier. The GBI has now identified the man who died after he drove his car into Lake Lanier as he opened fire on officers on Friday.
An open letter from 11 leading medical bodies is piling pressure on ministers to address the doctors' pensions crisis.

Representing tens of thousands of hospital doctors and GPs, the organisations say action is long overdue.

The letter, signed by the British Medical Association and Royal College of Surgeons, among others, comes as the Treasury continues to consider the tax dilemma, which principally affects doctors earning more than 110,000.

An open letter from 11 leading medical bodies is piling pressure on ministers to address the doctors' pensions crisis

Many are turning down overtime, including important clinic and theatre sessions at evenings and weekends, because they face a high tax bill.

Last month the Daily Mail revealed that patients are facing devastating waits for cancer treatment and hip surgery as doctors slash their hours.

The letter is addressed to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and urges him to use next month's Budget to solve the 'intolerable dilemma' for the medical profession.

The letter is addressed to Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) and urges him to use next month's Budget to solve the 'intolerable dilemma' for the medical profession

The 11 signatories, also including the Royal College of GPs and Royal College of Physicians, write: 'We are encouraged that the Government has committed to announcing a resolution to this issue in the Budget, but it must be the right one; one which will safeguard the NHS workforce for the long term.

'We are past the point when significant action should have been taken. The NHS is amid a workforce crisis, with rising waiting times for cancer and routine surgery. A&E performance is at its worst since records began and 11 million patients are experiencing unacceptable waiting times for GP appointments.'

The doctors' trade union, the BMA, says the rules are unfair because doctors cannot control the growth of their pensions, and some earning less than 110,000 are affected because of pensions growth.

A Mail investigation found that one in five hospitals admits waiting times are getting longer due to the dispute.
Interim Prime Minister Ludovic Orban on Monday stated that the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) decision according to which there is a legal conflict between the President and Parliament regarding his designation for the PM office will not generate effects until it is published in the Official Journal.

"I will comment on this after the ongoing procedure is done. Until its publication in the Official Journal, this decision does not generate effects. We will take decisions when we'll see all the details related to this decision of the Court," said Orban at the Palace of Parliament.The Constitutional Court of Romania established that there is a legal conflict between the President and Parliament regarding the designation of National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ludovic Orban as PM, CCR officials told AGERPRES.
The Philippines told the US on Tuesday it was quitting a pact key to their historical military alliance, triggering a six-month countdown to the deal's termination. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered his cabinet to give notice to quit the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) after voicing anger over Washington cancelling the visa of the official who led his internationally condemned drug war. The move also follows Duterte's repeated, unfulfilled threats to shrink or even sever the nation's ties with its former colonial master and most important military ally. The 1998 VFA is the legal framework for the presence of US troops on Philippine soil and is central to hundreds of annual, joint military exercises, which are a major component of their deep military ties. The pact requires a 180-day notice to quit, which will likely set off a period of negotiation between the two countries. "This is a serious step with significant implications for the US-Philippines alliance," the US embassy in Manila said in a statement. "We will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests." The VFA is divisive in the Philippines, with leftist and nationalist critics long arguing it guarantees special treatment for US service members accused of crimes. - 'Negative impact' - But defenders of the decades-old agreement say ending it could both degrade the Philippines' ability to defend itself and undermine Washington's moves against Beijing's rise, particularly in the disputed South China Sea. Philippine foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin, an advocate of the pact, told lawmakers last week it was fundamental to the US alliance, which had provided tens of millions of dollars in support, equipment and training for the Philippine armed forces. "Terminating the VFA will negatively impact its (the Philippines') defence and security," Locsin said. "Our contribution to regional defence is anchored on our military alliance with the world's last superpower," he added. Duterte first warned he would scrap the deal in 2016, and then repeated that threat in a speech in January. That came after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa without telling him why. Philippine officials view the cancellation as a sanction for Dela Rosa's leadership of the campaign in which police have killed thousands of alleged traffickers, dealers and users. Since the visa issue surfaced, Duterte has barred his cabinet from going to the US and has turned down President Donald Trump's invitation to a southeast Asian summit set for March in Las Vegas. Duterte bristles at any Western criticism of his signature policy, which public opinion surveys say is widely supported by Filipinos despite the killing.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Opposition Congress in Manipur fumed as students appearing in the Class 12 state board examination were asked to draw the election symbol of ruling BJP and analyse the negative traits of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus approach to nation-building in their exam held on Saturday.



The two questions, which carried four marks each and were set in the political science question paper, have since gone viral on social media, drawing criticism from some quarters.



The question on Nehru was: Examine any four negative traits of Nehrus approach to nation-building.



The BJP pleaded innocence saying it had no role in setting the questions and asked the critics to approach the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur which conducted the exam.

Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, a spokesman of the Congress, condemned the alleged negative portrayal of Nehru.

I condemn the mindset of the BJP government in Manipur under whose rule the questions of political science were set for Class 12 board examination. This is nothing but an attack on the first Prime Minister and architect of modern India, he said.



He also tweeted: The way the two questions were framed for board examination paper clearly shows the mindset of the BJP government in spewing venom and injecting poison in the young minds. The act, aimed at tarnishing Nehru, would only make Nehrus ideology stronger.

Express tried to contact the controller of examinations but he did not answer any calls. Further, the phone of the boards secretary was found switched off.


Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai said that at the end of President Muhammadu Buharis administration in 2023, power should return to the south.

El-Rufai said that it is a general understanding in the country that power should rotate between the north and the south in the interest of justice, equity and fair play.

The governor insisted that the North has no justification to remain in power after Buharis second tenure unless there is some extenuating circumstances.

Vanguard quoted him as saying: The general political consensus in Nigeria is that the Presidency should rotate between the North and the South. It is not written but everyone understands it.

In some of the parties, like the PDP, it is even written down in their constitution but it was breached in 2015. I think that every politician of honour should understand and abide by that consensus except there is an extenuating circumstance compelling it to be set aside. What could this be? President YarAdua died in office and it was compulsory for Jonathan to continue but when 2011 election came, there were many people who insisted that Jonathan should step aside for a northerner to complete the tenure of YarAdua but I opposed it because I didnt think it was proper for an incumbent that got there not by his own design should be stopped from contesting when the constitution has not barred him from running. In the APC, we deliberately omitted rotational Presidency in our constitution and the emergence of a presidential candidate does not take into account zoning and that was why in 2015, Rochas Okorocha from the East contested, Sam Nda-Isaiah contested, Buhari, Kwankwaso and others contested.

El-Rufai a chieftain of APC, added that presidential candidates are chosen on the basis of merit and general acceptance.

I can say that as distinct from the PDP, APC has no rotational Presidency but candidates are selected strictly on the basis of political merit and the general acceptability of the candidate. I want to say that those of us from Northern Nigeria honour agreements. We do not violate unwritten political agreements and I will be the last person to lead in violating that agreement. I may have a personal view but that should be the basis. I dont care where you come from but I look for merit. But as a group, the Northern APC will have to sit down and endorse someone, most likely someone from the South, because after eight years of Buhari, I dont think the Presidency should remain in the north unless there is some extenuating circumstances. But all things being equal, we will honour our agreement and we keep our words, he said.

Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Youths has assured Nigerians that the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will come to an end in the country, if all tribes adopt an Igbo Presidency in 2023 with a Northerner as Vice President.

The group urged other zones to throw their support towards realization of Igbo presidency as its the only way to fizzle out the activities of IPOB.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 18:39:38|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a meeting to advance the work on coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 and economic and social development, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

"I think for China's long-term economic development, the impact is only temporary and will not affect the main trend of China's economic development," said Japanese economist and writer Kiyoshi Wanaka.

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Scholars and observers around the world said Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech on Sunday has shown China's confidence in both winning the battle against COVID-19 and advancing economic and social development.

In his speech, Xi stressed unremitting efforts in the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus disease and coordination in advancing economic and social development.

Staff members work at a workshop of Skyworth in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

Egyptian columnist and writer Kamal Gaballa said the positive trend in China's prevention and control work is now expanding, and "we have seen China's strong capabilities in the fields of medical, infrastructure and social management," which have proven that the political and social systems that China operates have a high ability to mobilize the public and have an advantage in collective action.



Gaballa said the epidemic has affected the Chinese economy and even the world's economy, but in the long run, he believes that the Chinese economy will continue to improve and remain one of the engines of global economic development.

Head nurse Sun Chun (C) takes care of a COVID-19 patient at an ICU ward of the First Hospital of Wuhan City in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

William Jones, Washington bureau chief of the U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review, said Xi made "an extremely important speech" on combating COVID-19.



The tremendous efforts of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government, and the medical workers, have "succeeded in containing what could have been an even more serious situation," said Jones, adding that the "Chinese model" may provide other countries with some important experiences in dealing with such an unprecedented outbreak.

Fu Xiaolan, founding director of the Technology and Management Centre for Development at Oxford University, said it is "a good sign" that enterprises in China gradually resume operation while measures are taken to control the epidemic.

People work in a workshop of Harbin Boiler Company Limited in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Fu added that it is not only important for the growth of China's economy, people's lives and health, as well as the continuity of China's foreign trade and economic cooperation, but also vital for the stability of global value chains and markets.

Japanese economist and writer Kiyoshi Wanaka said the Chinese government has made resolute and vigorous efforts to combat COVID-19 and the number of new infections is decreasing.

In the short term the outbreak will bring certain impact on China's social and economic development, Wanaka said, "but I think for China's long-term economic development, the impact is only temporary and will not affect the main trend of China's economic development."

"By the time when the epidemic is over, the accumulated forces will contribute to a powerful economic rebound," Wanaka said. 
At least 18 Jewish Community Centers across the country received anonymous bomb threats on Sunday, forcing one in Albany to evacuate more than 100 people.

The first targeted threats were reported around 11am at The Albany Jewish Center in New York state after , and officers in Albany, with the help of the New York Police Department, quickly rushed to the scene with three K9s.

The center had more than 100 people inside, including children. They were safely evacuated as officers searched the premises.

The emailed threat was ultimately determined a hoax and the situation was declared safe.

Around 100 people were evacuated from The Albany Jewish Center in New York (pictured) after an anonymous bomb threat was email to them and 17 other centers

Each of the nearly 20 threats were emailed to members of Jewish Community Centers, but it's unclear if the specific recipients were the desired target.

Officials did not disclose the full list of threatened Jewish Community Centers.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited the center after the threat and publicly condemned what he described as anti-Semitic attacks by saying 'hate is spreading.'

Cuomo said: 'These types of situations are so ugly and so unfortunate. What's worse is we're seeing more and more of them.'

'We've had about 42 incidents of anti-Semitism in this state this past couple of months so it's not getting better. It's only getting worse.'

Cuomo (center): 'We've had about 42 incidents of anti-Semitism in this state this past couple of months so it's not getting better. It's only getting worse'

'There is a contagion of hate all across this country.'

The center is scheduled to reopen Monday and an investigation into the threats is ongoing.

In New York, hate crimes against Jews saw a new high in 2019 with 234 anti-Semitic incidents recorded by the NYPD. This is a staggering 26 percent increase from the previous year.

In December, several Jews reported being physically assaulted in Brooklyn on multiple, separate occasions and that same month a couple killed four innocent victims in a massacre in Jersey City.

David Anderson, 47, and his lover Francine Graham, 50, parked a van across the street from JC Kosher Supermarket and a yeshiva before opening fire inside the store.

At the time, there were around 50 children inside the yeshiva.

Officers would later reveal that the anti-Semitic couple brought an AR-15 style rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a 9 mm Ruger, 9 mm Glock, a .22 which had a homemade silencer attached to it, a pipe bomb and additional ammunition to the scene

In January, disturbing footage emerged of an Orthodox Jewish man being assaulted by a group of seven teenagers as he walked down a street in Brooklyn.

Startled, the man attempts to walk away from the group at speed but is chased by two of the teenagers, who run toward him and then take it in turns to punch him.

Meanwhile, a third member of the group can be seen picking up the folding chair from the ground and running back toward the victim, jumping up into the air and throwing the chair at him once again.

The man can be seen attempting to avoid their path, but as he begins to walk past them one of the teens throws a folding camping chair at his head, knocking him off balance

The group of teens then sprint away into in the opposite direction, venturing deeper into the Crown Heights area.

The same group of teenagers were also recorded on surveillance camera carrying out a second brutal attack on a 56-year-old Jewish man on Union Street moments later.

On this occasion, the victim was punched in the back of the head by one member of the group and then thrown to the ground.

Others group members were seen taking out their cell phones and recording the incident. Surveillance video also showed the teenagers laughing and cheering as the attack took place.

As the teens began fleeing down Union Street towards Albany Avenue, volunteers from the Crown Heights Shomrim gave chase to the group as they made their way down Albany to President Street.

A 911 call was made, but in the few minutes it took for the police to arrive, the group made their way across Eastern Parkway and then split up into the Albany Avenue projects.

A police report was filed over the incident, and the case has been referred to the Hate Crimes Task Force

On Capitol Hill, Attorney General William Barr said last month that the Department of Justice will get more involved in fighting anti-Semitic attacks as similar crimes have rose across the country.

Barr said: 'I'm extremely distressed by the upsurge in violence, hate crimes committed against the Jewish community.'
While the government says it cannot publicly open its doors to Hong Kong protesters, Wang said it is ensuring that those doors are not closed completely. "We have an obligation to help them," he said. "But we have our own way to help them."
About a year after Maggie Lockridges non-profit helped to reconstruct an Army privates eye that was injured during an ambush in Iraq, Lockridge got a special message from the young mans mother.

This woman had so many tears in her eyes, Lockridge, a veteran herself, recalled. And she looked at me and she said: I don't worry about my son committing suicide anymore.

Since 2007, Lockridges foundation  R.A.W., or Rebuilding Americas Warriors  pairs renowned plastic surgeons with military members disfigured in Iraq or Afghanistan to repair the damage in the most aesthetically pleasing way.

"I just wanted them to feel as good as possible...to help them get back into society as quickly as possible," Maggie Lockridge said about founding Rebuilding America's Warriors. (Photo: screenshot/Yahoo Finance)

Men are vain, too, and these are young boys mostly, a few young women, she said. They care about their appearance and I just wanted them to feel as good as possible... to help them get back into society as quickly as possible.

I was out that day

Lockridges own service and her journey to rebuilding soldiers may never have happened if she hadnt suffered a broken heart decades ago in New York.

After graduating from nurses training in Boston, she moved to the Big Apple where she fell madly in love with a young General Motors junior executive. Three days after he asked her to marry him, they broke it off.

I thought: If I'm not going to have the love of my life, I'm going to have a career, so I chose the Air Force, Lockridge recalled.

Maggie Lockridge's career in the Air Force Nurse Corps, was cut short when she became pregnant.

Even though Lockridge wanted to go to Vietnam, she had to spend a year stateside, stationed in Grand Forks, North Dakota, with 136 women and 6,000 men, which wasn't bad, she said with a laugh.

While there, she fell for an Air Force fighter pilot. They married and soon after she became pregnant  a major no-no in the Air Force. She hid it for seven and a half months before her commanding officer asked her to come in.

Lieutenant Lockridge, do you have something to tell me? she recalled her superior saying. I was out that day and I was so upset about that, and my [Air Force] career was done at that point.

Story continues

Ill open my own, so I did

Lockridge and her family eventually moved to Hawaii where her then-husband flew F-102s for the Hawaii Air National Guard. They lived there for 11 years until Lockridge and her husband split up. She then moved to Los Angeles.

Leveraging her nursing background, Lockridge was hired as a charge nurse to tend to patients recovering from plastic surgery. Even though her employer went bankrupt about two years later, a spark had been lit.

I thought, Ill open my own, she said. So I did.

Her company, Shanteque, was in business for 18 years and catered to the stars, the rich, and the powerful, many of which traveled from all over the globe to have facelifts, liposuction, breast implants, and more from world-renowned plastic surgeons.

Maggie Lockridge poses with the charge nurses of Shanteque, the aftercare service she provided for plastic surgery patients.

We had TV journalists. We had the movie stars. We had ambassadors, she said. I never knew who I was going to find in the room when I came in.

Her nurses operated out of luxury, five-star hotels where her company secured a private wing or an entire floor. The company had three town cars that would whisk patients to the surgery facility for their appointments and pick them up afterward. The nurses would help the patients during recovery that could last one to 10 days.

At the height of her businesses, Lockridge employed 38 nurses and operated out of 22 hotel rooms. In 2005, two women told Lockridge they wanted to buy her business.

I threw out a number and they said: Fine, she said. And I was out of a job in a month.

Let me take care of the aesthetic

Lockridge moved to her second house in Rancho Mirage in southern California permanently after that. She wrote a book, Facelift Hotel, recounting her experiences and advising people on plastic surgery recovery.

In 2007, she watched a special on VA hospitals by the TV journalist Bob Woodruff, who suffered a traumatic brain injury while field-reporting from Iraq. She was struck by how overwhelmed the hospitals were, especially Walter Reed, to meet the basic needs of the wounded soldiers returning from war.

If they're not able or equipped to handle all the structural and functional wounds, they're certainly not doing the aesthetic, Lockridge said. Let me take care of the aesthetic because it's the aesthetic that can be so depressing and hold someone back so much from stepping back into society.

Maggie Lockridge poses with veteran Neil Duncan, who was wounded overseas. (Photo: Courtesy of Rebuilding America's Warriors)

That was the beginning of Iraq Star, a play on the word rockstar, which later did business as Rebuilding Americas Warriors to better show what her mission was. She tapped her rolodex of Beverly Hills doctors to see if they would volunteer their services.

I wrote 30 letters to my 30 favorite surgeons in Los Angeles, and they all came on board, she said.

She soon realized that R.A.W. needed a wider network of surgeons who werent based in just Los Angeles. R.A.W.s medical director sent emails to members of different plastic surgery associations. The organizations surgeon network quickly grew from 30 to 150 to 420 board-certified reconstructive surgeons in all 50 states.

Never see a bill from a surgeon

R.A.W. advertises in Marine and Army base newspapers and distributes brochures at Fisher Houses, comfort homes where military families stay for free while a loved one receives treatment. Lockridge conducts phone interviews with each interested veteran.

Hopefully, within 20 to 30 days theyre at one of our doctors and having their corrective surgery, she said. I never see a bill from one of our surgeons.

Maggie Lockridge mans an event table for Iraq Star, later known as Rebuilding America's Warriors. The foundation relies on donations to keep operating. (Photo: Courtesy of Rebuilding America's Warriors)

The surgeons volunteer their services and if they have their own surgery center, they donate that, too, Lockridge said.

R.A.W. picks up the tab for travel and lodging expenses for the veteran and often a loved one, food, anesthesia, medical supplies, medications, and after-care if the veteran needs it. The costs can range from $900 to as much as $16,000. The foundation helps between 30 to 60 veterans a year.

Dont forget them

Lockridge depends on donations to keep R.A.W. in operation. Its gotten tougher in recent years as Iraq and Afghanistan have faded from the media limelight, but soldiers are still suffering from catastrophic injuries overseas.

A young man had his entire buttocks blown off and he had to carry a donut ring with him wherever he went, Lockridge said. R.A.W. stepped in and, after two, six-hour surgeries, new buttocks were reconstructed from fat from other parts of his body.

Maggie Lockridge poses with two veterans. Her foundation, Rebuilding America's Warriors, pairs wounded vets with plastic surgeons to repair their injuries in the most aesthetically pleasing way. (Photo: Courtesy of Rebuilding America's Warriors)

I mean we take our butt for granted, Lockridge said. Its very important to be able to have something to sit on and so it changed his life, just a little thing like that.

She hopes her message renews interest in not just R.A.W., but the suffering of wounded veterans.

We're still getting soldiers from Afghanistan. It's terrible... and it's not made an issue anymore, and I wish it was, she said. This will help to let the people know that our veterans are still in need and don't forget them.

Janna is an editor for Yahoo Finance and Cashay. Follow her on Twitter @JannaHerron.

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WhatsApp group chats can be easily found through Google and may not be as private as the people in them might think, it has emerged.

Chats could be found on the search engine and then joined, without people necessarily knowing they were part of a chat that was publicly accessible and could be easily found through Google.

Once someone is in a WhatsApp chat  even if they have found a link through a search engine, and haven't been explicitly invited  they can see all the messages shared in a group and all the numbers of those people who are in it.

WhatsApp says the feature is working as intended, and is not a bug. But it has led to warnings that people should be careful about what is being shared in ostensibly private groups, since they could be seen by people they don't know.

The issue has arisen because WhatsApp offers the ability to create an invite link for WhatsApp chats, in the hope of making it easier for people to join conversations. If someone in a group wants to add another user, they only need to share that link, and the person clicking on it will join the conversation.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

But if that link is then posted on a publicly accessible website, it will be spotted by Google, and added to its index. Once that happens, people can find the link through Google.

If they click that link, they will then be able to join the group, without needing permission from anyone inside it.

That means that a conversation may appear private, but could actually be discovered and seen by anyone looking for it on Google.

In a statement, WhatsApp said that the feature was working as expected  and that users could avoid the problems by avoiding posting links.

Recommended WhatsApp says it has two billion users

"Like all content that is shared in searchable, public channels, invite links that are posted publicly on the internet can be found by other WhatsApp users," a spokesperson said. "Links that users wish to share privately with people they know and trust should not be posted on a publicly accessible website.

When a WhatsApp user creates a group link, the app shows a message indicating that the link should only be shared with people they trust. They are also notified that once the link is created, it can be used by anyone to join the group.

WhatsApp also sends a notification to all users in a chat when someone new joins.
Donald Trump India Visit: US President Donald Trump has arrived in India with his wife and First Lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top officials of his administration. PM Narendra Modi hugged Donald Trump on touchdown in Ahmedabad.

Donald Trump India Visit: US President Donald Trump landed in Ahmedabad airport on Monday, February 24, on his maiden trip to India. The 45th US President is accompanied with First Lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged Trump on his alighting the ladder from Air Force 1. After their brief meeting at the airport, the two leaders headed to Sabarmati Ashram where they garlanded a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi and then to Motera Stadium where they are expected to address a crowd of more than 1 lakh people at the Namaste Trump event.

Before his arrival in India, Donald Trump had tweeted in Hindi to express his excitement on his maiden Indian visit. Responding to his tweet, PM Modi tweeted Atithi Devo Bhava. There is a lot of excitement around Donald Trumps visit to India as the top India trends on Twitter today include #NamasteyTrump, #TrumpInIndia and #India WelcomesTrump.

The 2-day maiden India trip of US President Donald Trump will include Namaste Trump event at the Motera Stadium, a roadshow, and a visit to Sabarmati Ashram. He will then head to Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal, which will be followed by a ceremonial welcome in New Delhi the next day. Tight security and beautification of the cities have been ensured for welcoming the US President.

#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs US President Donald Trump as he receives him at Ahmedabad Airport. pic.twitter.com/rcrklU0Jz8  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Gujarati folk dancers perform at the arrival of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Ahmedabad airport. https://t.co/YKWNGKOC4i pic.twitter.com/TfF7JgPdGO  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs US President Donald Trump upon his arrival in Ahmedabad. pic.twitter.com/MVeLHWt9jq  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Donald Trump is the 7th US President to visit India after Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. His visit to India is expected to give a boost to the bilateral relationship between both the countries, especially in areas of defence and trade. A major armaments deal is expected along with the demand for lifting trade restrictions imposed on products from both countries by their respective governments. The United States is heading into election year and Trump is seeking re-election.

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D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said the assailants and the man they had targeted were involved in a transaction, though it was not clear whether they knew each other. Police said the assailants exited a vehicle about 2:20 p.m. and approached the victim in an effort to take the victims property.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 14:40 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20663d3ee 1 Business industry-ministry,finance-ministry,Excise,sweet-drinks,obesity,analysis,industry,Indonesia Free

The Industry Ministry plans to analyze the impact of the imposition of new taxes on sweetened beverages, proposed by the Finance Ministry, on the beverage industry in Indonesia.

The ministrys acting director of beverages, tobacco and refreshments, Supriadi, said on Friday that it needed to have a quantitative impact analysis, which was currently being carried out by associations and industry players.

What is certain, qualitatively, is that the rise in taxes will lead to a decline in demand as prices rise, Supriadi said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

He added that production was projected to be lower, which would impact the growth of the beverage industry. However, the degree of its impact could only be understood after the calculations were made.

Referring to the proposed policy from the Finance Ministry, packaged sweetened tea will see an excise fee levied of Rp 1,500 (11 US cents), meanwhile carbonated beverages, energy drinks, concentrated coffee and similar beverages will see a levy of Rp 2,500.

The excise is lower for packaged tea because the amount of sugar within these beverages is lower than other sweetened beverages, according to survey results.

Read also: Indonesia revives excise plan on plastics, dirty vehicles and sweet drinks

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati explained that the rise in obesity and sugar-related diseases made it necessary for the excise fees on sweetened beverages to be imposed.

We know that there are several diseases caused by overconsumption of sugar, for example, diabetes mellitus, obesity and others. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and obesity rose almost twofold in the span of 11 years, the finance minister said during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission XI in Jakarta on Feb. 19, as quoted by kompas.com.

She added that the new taxes could raise revenue of up to Rp 6.25 trillion.

However, the policy does not apply to products that are made and packaged outside of non-manufacturing factories, exported goods or for honey products and vegetable juices without added sugar, Sri Mulyani said.

If imposed, Indonesia will not be the first country to enforce a special tax on sweetened beverages.

Read also: Opposition mounts on Vietnam's plan to impose tax on sweet drinks

According to a Vietnam News report, the Vietnamese Finance Ministry proposed a 10 percent special consumption tax on sweetened drinks for similar health reasons in 2018.

Meanwhile, other countries in Southeast Asia already have a head start. Nonalcoholic carbonated soft drinks are subject to a 20 to 25 percent tax rate in Thailand. Soft drinks in Laos and Cambodia are taxed at a 5 to 10 percent and 10 percent tax, respectively.

Singapore has gone a step further by banning advertisements for drinks with high sugar content as part of the countrys war on diabetes, the first country in the world to do so. (ydp)
As the new day broke, residents of the Italian town of Fombio, south of Milan, woke up to silence, closed bars  and quarantine.

Theres a lot of silence, you cant hear any cars outside. Everything has been closed since Saturday, says Omar Salvatori, a 29-year-old resident and steelworker. Its like going out on Christmas while everyone else is still eating.

Fombio is one of the 11 northern Italian towns in the red zone, the coronavirus outbreak area of northern Italy that has been under lockdown after the first cases of the illness were discovered last week.
Violence in Northeast Delhi: Tension erupted in Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas a day after the clash between pro and anti-CAA groups. Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal lost his life in the violence. At least two houses have been torched in Jaffrabad and Maujpur while a petrol pump was set on fire in Bhajanpura.

Following violence in Northeast Delhi district, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave, and Shiv Vihar metro stations. Metro services were terminated at the Welcome metro station.

Delhi Police has urged the citizens to maintain peace and not to believe in rumours in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi. Police forces have been deployed strategically at locations where there is possibility of disurbance, like Jafrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad and Shiv Vihar, Joint Police Commissioner (Eastern Range), Alok Kumar told reporters.

Sunday saw a violent clash between the pro and anti-CAA protestors in parts of Northeast Delhi, with stones being hurled from both the sides. Violence intensified on Monday with Sectioin 144 CrPC now being imposed in the region.

Videos from the scene of violence showed an unidentified man pointing a gun at police officials on the Jaffrabad-Maujpur road. The man fired eight rounds before being apprehended by the police.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad. Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters.

Newly re-elected Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet, "Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG and Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order and ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations."

Sources at Ministry of Home Affairs told news agency ANI that violence in Northeast Delhi was orchestrated most likely with an eye on US President Trump's visit to India. "Senior officers are in the field, sufficient forces have been deployed. Situation is under control," Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla told ANI.

(With agency inputs)

ALSO READ: Trump top trending topic among Indian Twitteratis; 'GoBackTrump' tweeted 83,000 times

ALSO READ: Trump in India: POTUS to meet India Inc CEOs on Tuesday
In the Polish city of Katowice, an accident with the participation of a Ukrainian occurred, as the RMF24 reported.

The culprit of the accident was a 52-year-old citizen of Ukraine. He was drunk and at high speed crashed into eight cars parked along the road. 2 ppm of alcohol were found in the blood of the man found.

It is reported that the occurrence caused no casualties.

According to the news agency, the man faces a fine and imprisonment for a drivers license or imprisonment for up to two years. He will also be required to pay for the repair of damaged cars.

As we reported before, in the south of the US state of California, not far from San Diego, a charter bus rolled over, killing three people.

Three people died at the scene, and another 18 were taken to hospitals.

Having rolled down the embankment by the highway, the charter bus rolled over, landed on the roof and crashed. The incident occurred at about 10:20 a.m. on state highway 76, 72 kilometers north of San Diego.
The decision to invite a drag queen to speak at a Scottish primary school caused an outcry from parents after sexually explicit social media posts were found on the performer's online profiles.

Drag queen FlowJob was invited into Glencoats Primary in Paisley, Renfrewshire, last week to speak to pupils about the notorious Section 28 Act, which was later repealed.

The Act was introduced by Margaret Thatcher to ban the 'promotion of homosexuality' in schools.

The decision to invite drag queen to speak at a Scottish primary school caused an outcry from parents after sexually explicit social media posts were found on the performer's online profiles

Drag queen FlowJob (pictured) was invited into Glencoats Primary in Paisley, Renfrewshire, last week to speak to pupils about the notorious Section 28 Act, which was later repealed

After parents voiced concern that sexually explicit images were on FlowJob's social media profile, including simulating a sex act with a dildo and simulating oral sex, Renfrewshire Council has said it would never have invited the performer had it been aware of the posts.

One parent told the Daily Star: 'While I don't agree with the abuse being given, my kids go to this school there was no information fed to parents about this happening. Surely that's a parents choice? I'm happy my child is learning about LGBT but it's overtaking the school now. Something every week.

'I'm not opposed to learning about LGBT, but my 7 year old doesn't need to know what a drag queen is and certainly not the one they had in. The headteacher is more concerned about furthering her career than tackling issuing that our school has.'

Another wrote on social media: 'Their username is 'flowjobqueen' and their timeline is full of explicit images of them simulating sexual acts. Of course they've just just done a drag queen story reading to primary school children.'

The drag queen replied: 'Don't bring your negativity to my profile. I am a drag queen yes who does adult jokes, but I also do under 18 Venus and cater around children.'

After parents voiced concern that sexually explicit images were on FlowJob's social media profile, including simulating a sex act with a dildo and simulating oral sex, Renfrewshire Council has said it would never have invited the performer had it been aware of the posts

A third added: 'Would be good to hear a response as to why an adult entertainer called Flowjob was deemed appropriate for kids? Were the vetted prior to the event? What was the content of these lessons? As a gay man with young nieces and nephews just starting school I am concerned.'

The event was also attended by Renfrewshire MSP Mhairi Black, a vocal activist for LGBTQ rights. She slated critics and accused them of homophobia.

Writing on Twitter, she said: 'You just know that the people pretending to be livid that a drag queen read a book in a school are also the people who run out to buy their kids the latest Grand Theft Auto on release day.

'Your homophobia is transparent.'

The event was also attended by Renfrewshire MSP Mhairi Black, a vocal activist for LGBTQ rights. She slated critics and accused them of homophobia

The drag queen replied to critics on Twitter: 'Don't bring your negativity to my profile. I am a drag queen yes who does adult jokes, but I also do under 18 Venus and cater around children'

And campaign group LGBT Youth Scotland wrote on Twitter: 'We're horrified to see the abusive messages and tweets targeting Glencoats Primary School for their bold and brilliant LGBT inclusive education practices.

'We are proud to work with their pioneering headteacher, and recognise the school as an example to others across the country.'

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: 'The school pupils at Glencoats Primary are currently organising a series of activities and events to mark LGBT history month. In discussion with pupils in their Rainbow Club, one of their requests was to invite people from the LGBT community to hear about their own experiences growing up and they wanted to invite a drag queen to talk to this group to hear about their own personal experience.

Flowjob responded to critics again today on Twitter, writing that she was being abused as a result of her appearance at the school

Flow. or Flowjob, was thanked online by staff at the school for 'sharing their experiences'

'Learning about values including equalities and diversity has an important role in the school curriculum.

'All school visits are arranged and managed with the wellbeing of pupils first and foremost however it is clear in this case, the social media content associated with the speaker's stage persona is not appropriate for children and had we been aware of this, the visit would not have been arranged.

'We are sorry for the concern this has caused and are investigating.'

FlowJob was introduced to pupils as 'Flow' at the event, hosted to mark LGBT History Month.

Glencoats headteacher Heather Watson told the Paisley Daily Express: 'Top of the list was to invite a drag queen into school to talk about her experiences growing up and her job.

Glencoats (shown) headteacher Heather Watson told the Paisley Daily Express: 'Top of the list was to invite a drag queen into school to talk about her experiences growing up and her job'

'Flow met with (pupils) and parent council members and Mhairi Black to discuss what it was like growing up during Section 28 when it was illegal for school staff to talk about anything LGBT.'

A spokesman for campaign group ForWomen.scot said: 'Sending abusive messages to a school is not OK, but questions about this are legitimate.

'A male who dresses as a sexualised parody of a women, goes by the name 'flowjob' is hardly a role model for primary aged children.

'Did no one check this?'.

Flowjob wrote on Twitter today, saying: 'Hello everyone, I woke up to over 1k notifications and over 30 DM's due to majority of it being abuse I have chosen not to go through the comments, there is to many small minded to people to try and justify what I have done, but thank you to everyone who has supported me.'
Meticulously constructed, Kraftwerk's synthesizer- and computer-fueled music influenced everyone from David Bowie and Kanye West to Depeche Mode and Daft Punk. Jay-Z and New Order are among the many artists who have sampled Kraftwerk's music for their own recordings, while the 2005 Coldplay song "Talk" was based on a motif from the German group's 1981 song "Computer World."
[February 24, 2020]

CSIOS Corporation Honored by Cyber Defense Magazine With Three 2020 InfoSec Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CSIOS Corporation was honored by Cyber Defense Magazine with three 2020 Cyber InfoSec Awards including: Most Innovative Cyberspace Operations Team of the Year, Best Defensive Cyberspace Operations Service Provider, and Next Gen Cybersecurity Service Provider Optimization Services.

This year, the InfoSec Awards ceremony took place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California during the RSA Conference 2020. This is Cyber Defense Magazine's eighth year honoring the most innovative and valuable cyber defense companies from around the globe.

"To be recognized by Cyber Defense Magazine with three 2020 InfoSec Awards is just remarkable," said Cesar Pie, President and CEO of CSIOS Corporation. Mr. Pie added, "Our cyber capabilities and services are unparalleled. Not oly is CSIOS the only cyber ?rm with a Cyberspace Operations Division appraised to operate under CMMI-DEV V2.0 and CMMI-SVC V2.0 Maturity Level 3 ratings, we are also the only cyber ?rm with cyberspace operations and cybersecurity services certi?ed under quadruple ISO standards. These achievements alone merit these top cyber awards."







Details about the InfoSec Awards and the list of 2020 winners are available at www.cyberdefenseawards.com.

Media Contact:

Josue Ayala

Phone: (732) 710-5854

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE CSIOS Corporation
BRISBANE (BCN)

A cooking mishap caused a fire that displaced two people and damaged apartments at a complex in Brisbane early Monday morning, according to the North County Fire Authority.

Firefighters responded at 2:37 a.m. to the blaze reported on the second floor of a third-story apartment building at 34 Visitacion Ave.

Crews arrived and found smoke and flames coming from the kitchen of a unit, with fire extending through the wall and into two apartments directly above it and onto the roof, according to the fire authority.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze without any injuries reported. The American Red Cross assisted the two displaced residents with housing assistance.

No other information about the fire was immediately available from the North County Fire Authority, which serves the cities of Brisbane, Daly City and Pacifica.

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.
Press Trust of India

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said yoga is not a religion or a political activity, but a science and should be practised for the betterment of an individual.

"The world needs more happiness and that is exactly what Lord Shiva teaches us. Adiyogi is the one who first transmitted the yogic science to humanity," he said, speaking at the Mahashivarathi festival organised at Isha Yoga Centre here, where the 112 feet tall statue of Adiyogi formed the background.

Adiyogi is an inspiration and representation of Yoga, which is not a belief, but a technology to transform oneself, the Vice-President said.

"Yoga is not a religion, it is a science. It is time we all now get back to Yoga. I am happy that Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi has taken the initiative to take Yoga to the United Nations. Now Yoga is catching up! Thanks to the initiative of the Prime Minister" he said.

"Yoga is not not for Modi, but for the body," he quipped and said Yoga was not a political activity. All of us must practise and promote yoga for our betterment. Yoga is the center of scientific basis. The U.N has included yoga to attain a development of sustainable growth," he said. "We also belong to a great culture, which believes the entire world is one family. The only culture, the only civilization which speaks in this language is Indian civilization. No other nation speaks like this. we want the well being of everybody. We don't want to discriminate people. We want everyone to live in peace and harmony."

Naidu said what was required today was the destroying of various evils.

We have to preserve this great culture of this great civilization. We have to pass it on to our future generations," he said.
A consortium of five premier management and engineering institutes has been set up to boost the Indian entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Called Innovation-Venturing and Entrepreneurship in India Network (iVEIN)', its founding members are faculty at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, IIT Bombay, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and IIM Kozhikode.

This is the first such joint initiative in India by the IITs and IIMs to promote startups.

This network of institutions will leverage strengths of its partners and would work with other stakeholders such as incubators, government and investors to generate and disseminate knowledge.

A Thillai Rajan, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras, said the iVEIN network will facilitate high-quality research in this field among the academic fraternity in India and create avenues for dissemination of relevant knowledge through conferences and journal publications.

The networks aim is to seed the creation of a society that will organise annual conferences, publish a journal, and architect a data repository in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship

iVEIN aims at playing a larger, strategic role in the startup ecosystem beyond incubating startups. The network, backed by academic rigour of premier institutions, would help formulate knowledge in the fast-evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country, said Keyoor Purani, Professor IIM Kozhikode.

The immediate activity that would be taken up by iVEIN would be to publish the India Innovation, Venture and Entrepreneurship Report.

Vidyanand Jha, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at IIM Calcutta, said the network would aid in creation of data-based knowledge and dissemination of such knowledge.

The iVEIN network aims to create an interdisciplinary body of knowledge synthesizing multiple perspectives. This is aimed at meeting the requirements of policy makers, academic researchers, students, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and all those interested in innovation and ventures.

Institutes, organisations and individuals, investment managers, practitioners and entrepreneurs can be part of the network to facilitate and promote collaborative research.
Two of Mondays bills were scaled back to help preserve support among more centrist members of the Democratic caucus, and another has already failed once on the floor of the Senate. But the Northam administration took the votes as a victory in the wake of last weeks disappointment.
Hayden Panettiere praised her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko as the 'best father ever' to their five-year-old daughter Kaya, who she called a 'stunner' in a pair of tweets Sunday.

In one shot, Klitschko, a 43-year-old boxer, is dancing with the child in front of a mirror-ball backdrop, decked out by balloons and confetti.

In a separate shot, Kaya, who lives in the Ukraine with her father, had tiger-like features painted on her face as she smiled.

The latest: Hayden Panettiere, 30, on Sunday praised her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, 43, as the 'best father ever' to their daughter Kaya, five, less than two weeks after her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 30, was arrested in connection with domestic violence

Roar: Kaya, who lives in the Ukraine with her father, had tiger-like features painted on her face as she smiled

Asked by a fan, 'how are you doing are you okay?' Hayden replied: 'Always good' and added a smiley emoji.

She also defended her ex, after a fan wrongly thought he was the one acused of domestic violence, or as he phrased it 'beat you'.

'Wrong guy,' she replied, calling Klitschko a 'legend'.

Panettiere's upbeat messages came less than two weeks after her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 30, was arrested in connection with domestic violence following a Valentine's Day incident in Jackson, Wyoming.

Police said Hickerson punched the 30-year-old actress with 'a closed fist on the right side of her face' amid an argument, according to TMZ.

Asked by a fan, 'how are you doing, are you okay?' Hayden replied: 'Always good' and added a smiley emoji.

On his side: She also defended her ex, Klitschko, calling him 'my CHAMP' after a fan wrongly though he was the one arrested for domestic violence

Drama: Panettiere's upbeat messages came less than two weeks after her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 30, was arrested in connection with domestic violence following a Valentine's Day incident in Jackson, Wyoming; pictured January 31, 2019 in Hollywood

Hickerson was booked in connection with domestic battery and interfering with a police officer, and subsequently released on $5,000 bond, marking his second arrest in less than a year for a domestic offense.

In May 2019, he was arrested for domestic violence following a drunken argument with the actress.

Panettiere, who's been seen on shows such as Nashville and Heroes, is 'in danger with Brian' and has 'impairment issues from drinking too much,' which could lead to 'a tragic outcome' if she remains in the relationship, a source told Us Weekly last week.

Hayden 'believed he would never hit her again,' which is why she chose not to 'materialize as a witness against him' in the 2019 case, the source added, noting that Hickerson has 'isolated Hayden from friends and family' since their relationship started in the fall of 2018.

'Don't blame the victim,' the source said. 'She sadly fell in love with a man that hits women. He is violent, but incredibly charming. It's unlikely this will be enough for Hayden to break it off, permanently.'

Mugshot: On Friday, her boyfriend Brian Hickerson was arrested after police say he 'punched her in the face' during an argument at a Wyoming residence

Hickerson was arrested February 14 at around 2.30am after allegedly punching her face with a closed fist during a fight on Valentine's Day.

The Nashville star's boyfriend was found by cops from the Teton County Sheriff's office on the driveway in Jackson Hole, Wyoming after someone called the police to report it. The caller was reported to have said that there was an 'intoxicated male' that was 'locked out of the home' because 'he punched his girlfriend in the face,' according to the outlet.

Police said Hickerson 'struck' the Hayden 'with a closed fist on the right side of her face' during their fight in their bedroom, where he also 'threw' her around.

Out and about: Panettiere was snapped last year in Hollywood

Throwback: Brian has 'isolated Hayden from friends and family' since their relationship started in fall 2018; pictured August 2, 2018, the first time they were seen together as they left Craig's restaurant in LA with Hayden barefoot

Police noted that she had a 'red and swollen face' and 'a scrape and swelling on her left hand' which she believed came from his watch during their fight.

When authorities arrived on the scene, Brian was in the driveway and he allegedly told them that Hayden was inside the home 'saying he beat the f**k out of me.'

He said that he hired a private chef to stay around that night so he 'wouldn't be accused of bulls**t' while avoiding their question on whether or not he punched the star.

The couple first began dating in August 2018 after she was spotted walking barefoot out of a restaurant with Brian by her side.

Prior to their outing, it was believed that Hayden was still with her then-fiance Klitschko, who she shares Kaya with. The little one has been living with Wladimir, 43, in his home country of Ukraine.

Happier times: Brian was arrested on Friday around 2:30am after allegedly punching her face with a closed fist during a fight on Valentine's Day; pictured December 1, 2018 in LA

'She really hasn't had much time with her daughter,' a source told Us Weekly last year. 'She knows the child being with her is not best for [Kaya right now]. It's a sad situation.'

Hayden's mom Lesley Vogel said in 2018 that her daughter does visit Kaya in Europe while Wlad 'travels a great deal' to keep some normalcy for their little girl.

'It's heartbreaking and challenging,' an insider said. 'They didn't spend the holidays together. It's disturbing, and she'll have to figure out how to manage this. It's not an easy scenario.'

Hayden's lawyer revealed the actress still 'regularly' sees her daughter, People reported in July 2019.

Hayden and Wladimir were in a relationship from 2009 until they split in May 2011; they reunited in April 2013 and got engaged in October of that same year.

In December 2014, the duo welcomed daughter Kaya; she revealed on Live With Kelly and Michael in September 2015 that she experienced postpartum depression.

One month later, Hayden voluntarily checked herself into a facility for postpartum depression and for a second time in May 2016.

Soon after Hayden was seen leaving Craig's with Brian while barefoot, her mom confirmed she split from Wladimir, who is a Ukrainian former professional boxer.

Though their relationship was over, they remained friends.

'We're still respectful of each other, and we still have that friendship with each other,' Hayden told Us in February 2019. 'It's not a situation that you find yourself in all that often, so it's a new one. But I think we've done a really good job.'

In October 2018 - just two months after they were first seen together - Brian allegedly assaulted his father David with Hayden present, according to TMZ.

The incident occurred in South Carolina at a home; cops responded to a call for assault and battery.

Another domestic violence call was placed on May 2, 2019; He was arrested for domestic violence after a drunken argument with the actress turned physical at 2 a.m. in Los Angeles, TMZ reported.

The way they were: Prior to their outing, it was believed that Hayden was still with her then-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, who she shares five-year-old daughter Kaya; seen together on December 7, 2013

Police reportedly discovered 'redness and marks' on Hayden's body; after he was book for felony domestic violence, he was released after posting a $50,000 bond.

The felony complaint said that he 'willfully inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon Hayden P.'

He was later charged with one count of felony domestic violence on May 23, 2019 and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which could have seen up to four years in prison; the case was dismissed in September 2019.

'Our office was unable to proceed because we could not secure a material witness. The protective order also was dismissed,' a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

In a weird twist of events, Hayden was spotted holding hands with Brian's brother Zach in September while out and about in New York.

A source told People at the time that the display had nothing to do with affection: 'Hayden and Zach are friends and have been for a while.'

Hayden's family still doesn't 'approve of the relationship' due to his behavior, as 'they are not fans of Brian,' a source told People magazine. 'It's clear that he has issues of his own, not to mention the anger issues, which is obviously a big one.'

At the time, Hayden's attorney Andrew Brettler told the publication: 'Hayden is a strong, intelligent woman who is capable of making her own decisions.'

They were last seen together in November 2019 while walking through LAX airport together.

'It's disturbing to family and friends that Hayden and Brian may not be following the court order. There is not one single person out there who isn't concerned about Hayden,' a source told Us Weekly. 'What Brian did to Hayden is unacceptable behavior, and it's not to be tolerated.'
Hours after the BJP criticised the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) dispensation over the law and order situation, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray hit back at the party saying that those targeting his government should first see what is happening under their watch.

He asked why no "terrorist" (assailant) involved in the attack on students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) last month has been arrested so far by the BJP-ruled Centre.

Thackeray was talking to reporters on the eve of the Budget session of the Maharashtra legislature.

Earlier in the day, the state BJP criticised his government over the recent incidents of crime against women in the state.

When asked about the BJP's allegations, Thackeray said, "Every crime against women is condemnable and not a single such incident should occur again."

"While targeting us, the BJP should also see what is happening in the states ruled by it. Especially in the centrally-ruled New Delhi, where terrorists stormed the JNU and beat the students," he said.

"I am going to call those assailants as terrorists. Despite so many days, not a single assailant has been arrested so far," he said.

"Those targeting us on unjustified grounds should first see what is happening under their watch and then comment about us," Thackeray added.

Thirty-four people, including students and faculty, were injured on January 5 when a masked mob entered the JNU campus and attacked them with rods and sledgehammers.

Thackeray also said the BJP does not have monopoly over Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter Veer Savarkar.

Earlier in the day, the BJP alleged that despite Congress's deliberate insult of Savarkar, the Shiv Sena was sticking to power like glue.

Replying to a query on it, Thackeray said, "BJP does not have monopoly over Savarkar. I will speak on the issue of Savarkar if it comes for discussion in the House during the budget session."

"When the then central government removed the name plaque of Savarkar (at Cellular Jail) in Andaman island, the BJP did not ask then Lt Governor Ram Kapse to step down in protest," he said.
Chelsea pensioner and Britain's Got Talent winner Colin Thackery

Chelsea pensioner and Britain's Got Talent winner Colin Thackery recalls his fondest travel memories.

The 89-year-old reveals where he went on his first foreign trip, why he loves Hong Kong and describes the trip of a lifetime he had with his late wife, Joan.

EARLIEST HOLIDAY MEMORY?

A day trip to Southend-on-Sea aged nine in 1939 with my aunt and uncle. I stuffed myself with fish and chips and cockles.

FIRST FOREIGN TRIP?

I joined the Army at 15 on 'boy service' and, two years later, headed to the Far East on a troopship with the Royal Artillery Band. I played to our troops wherever they were stationed, be it Malaya or Singapore.

ANY HIGHLIGHTS?

Our first stop was Hong Kong [then British], which our boat took a month to reach. I've loved Hong Kong ever since: there's something magical about the Far East and it's such a different way of life.

GO ELSEWHERE WITH THE ARMY?

Everywhere from Korea  I saw service in the Korean War  to Gibraltar, Malta and Germany. I really did get to see the world during my 25 years with the forces.

Colin said he went to Hong Kong with the Royal Artillery Band as a teenager and he's 'loved' the city ever since

TRIP OF A LIFETIME?

My wonderful wife, Joan, who passed away in 2016, and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with a holiday in Canada and the States.

ANYWHERE SPECIAL STILL TO GO?

I would have loved to take Joan to the French Riviera on one of those fancy trains. We would have checked into a luxury hotel with a sea view and had the time of our lives.
Southern Oregon Coast Range Resort Opens Early This Year

Published 02/21/2020 at 5:28 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Loon Lake, Oregon)  Near Reedsport, where the Coast Range borders the central and southern Oregon coast, Loon Lake Lodge and RV Resort sits in the middle of an idyllic forestland and lake, serving up an onsite marina, its own beach, a store, deli and various types of lodging possibilities. After last years attendance shot through the roof because of a nearby camping closure, the resort complex will be opening earlier than normal this year and providing discount vouchers for its kickoff.

This time around Loon Lake Lodge and RV Resort opens its doors on April 1. To celebrate, its offering discount vouchers for all lodging and camping facilities that are up to 30 percent off. They can be found at www.loonlakerv.com/vouchers. These rates can be locked in for the entire year, allowing for flexible reservations.

Loon Lake is a little more than 20 miles from the southern Oregon coast and the town of Reedsport, a place that was hopping after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) shut down its nearby campground last year. This year brings the same situation with no opening again for 2020 after damage from a snowstorm last year.

Managers at Loon Lake Lodge want to make it clear this will not affect its operations. Thus the extra promotions.

Included in the offers this year are the large Waterfront House, a vacation rental with full kitchen and indoor / outdoor living areas. It also includes its own private dock. The main house sleeps more than six people - up to 14 with the addition of the add-on dorm type room. The special also includes the Deluxe and Premium Cottages which can sleep up to eight people. All other types of RV sites and lodgings at the resort are a part of the discount features as well.

The resort offers Oregon coast cabins, yurts, motel, group camping sites, and RV or tent camping sites. Some of the cabins have full kitchens, and all lodging and RV sites have individual picnic tables and barbeque/firepits.

"We realize that confusion may still exist about the BLM announcing their closure for the 2020 season, so we want people to know that Loon Lake Lodge and RV Resort is not affected by the BLM closure and is planning a very busy 2020 season beginning April 1," said Loon Lake Lodge management in a press release. "There are many guests who have always stayed at the BLM campground or used their boat ramp that may not even know our Resort offers camping and lodging, boating access through our Marina, and a store with supplies these guests need during their vacation."

Although the boat dock and beach at the BLM property are shut down, the marine at the resort is not affected and managers expect a sizable increase in activity in the spring and summer. Boaters who have used the BLM boat ramp can arrange to put their boats in at the Loon Lake Marina for as little as $5 per day, or rent water ski and fishing boats, several high-performance Sea-Doos, pedal boats, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards.

A short drive from the lake are the scenic splendors of this part of the Oregon Coast Range through the Umpqua River State Scenic Corridor, or take a quick jaunt to the towns of Reedsport and Winchester Bay. To the north, lie Coos Bay, Florence, and the sprawling dunes area that goes on for 40 miles.

Reservations can be made directly by calling (541) 599-2244 or visiting www.loonlakerv.com for stays after April 1, 2020.















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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.
OMAHA  Billionaire Warren Buffett says the viral outbreak in China has slowed economic growth, but he remains confident in the long-term future of American business.

Buffett appeared on CNBC Monday after releasing his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders over the weekend.

Buffett said the reports he gets from Berkshire's assortment of more than 90 businesses and stock investments show that business is a little softer now than it was six months ago, but he remains optimistic.

Twenty or 30 years from now, American business  and probably all over the world  will be far better than it is today, Buffett said.

Many of Berkshire's roughly 1,000 Dairy Queen stores in China are closed and many of Berkshire's other companies are suffering supply chain problems.

The company remains a net buyer of stocks over time, and Buffett doesn't expect that to change because of the coronavirus outbreak.

This is scary stuff. I don't think it should affect what you do in stocks, Buffett said. In terms of the human race, it's scary stuff when you have a pandemic.
Nigeria, Africas largest economy, is currently experiencing an increase in partially or fully state-supported non-state armed group with Amotekun in the Southwest region, Shege Ka Fasa in the North, Ogbunigwe in the Southeast, while other regions such as the Niger Delta (South-South) are deliberating on forming their own security outfit. Typical of Nigerias political violence landscape, the vigilante groups are formed along regional and ethnic lines.

The rise of state-sponsored vigilante group comes against a background of heightened insecurity in the country marked by ten years of Boko Haram insurgency, Fulani militia rampage, frequent abduction and other high crimes across the country. To some extent, the establishment of the regional vigilante groups is justifiable considering the weakness of the Nigerian federated state especially the centralised Nigerian police force (NPF) with its inability to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

The Nigerian Police Force is underfunded, ill-equipped and incapable of executing its duty of law and order. The capacity of the NPF was undermined by the long years of military rule. Nigeria was governed by successive military leaders from 1983 to 1999, and previously (1966-1979). Although Nigeria has returned to democratic government since 1999 and has had successive democratic leaders since then, the impact of the military, including militarisation and psyche of violence remains.

Nigerias peculiar political structure also has an adverse impact on the effectiveness of the NPF. Nigeria is a highly centralised state with a central government based in the capital city of Abuja and 36 states, roughly divided evenly into six geopolitical zones- Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest, South-South and Middle Belt. Interestingly, the 36 states rely primarily on the oil-dependent federal government for its revenue as much as they do on the Nigeria Police Force for their security. Unsurprisingly, such arrangement creates tension between the states and the federally-controlled police force. To some degree, there is lack of accountability, unresponsiveness to crime, barring the technical inadequacies of the NPF.

Although valid, such explanation is inadequate and limited in explaining the rise of vigilante groups in Nigeria. There is a deep political explanation for the rise of state-sponsored and state-supported non-state armed groups in Nigeria. The Nigerian state with its pluralistic linguistic, ethnic and religious character, presents a dangerous site for contest of power, and therefore proclivity to conflict. It is not surprising that Nigeria is rife with conflicts which include ethno-religious, social and political violence. Nigerian elites have often manipulated the linguistic and ethno-religious differences for their own political gains. Hence, while Amotekun, Ogbunigwe, Shege Ka Fasa represent to some extent a genuine concern and response of the leaders and peoples of these regions to incessant attacks by bandits, militias, criminals and terrorists and the weak response (and, in some cases, indifference) of the federal government, they symbolize a much deeper geopolitical objectives.

Amotekun, Ogbunigwe, Shege Ka Fasa represent political tools to be used as bargaining chips by leaders of these regions to negotiate power in Nigerias current federal structure or any future restructuring. These newest vigilante groups form part of Nigerias history of regional activism, agitation and struggle for justice, fairness, and equality. They are a resurgence of state-supported armed militant groups such as OOdua Peoples Congress (OPC), Bakassi Boys, Mambilla Militia group and hisbah police. These non-state armed groups were formed shortly after 1999 following Nigerias return to democratic government.

The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) also falls under this category. CJTF is a non-state armed group comprising largely of northeastern Nigerian youth that are assisting the Nigerian military in its counterterrorism operations against Boko Haram and its splinter groups. However, CJTF was originally formed to counter Boko Harams terrorism as well as the collective punishment unlawfully meted on the northeastern Nigerian youth by the military who perceived the youth to be collaborators and supporters of the terrorist group. Although CJTF has been assimilated into the militarys counterterrorism operation, one should not forget that it suffered double jeopardy before then. CJTF has been instrumental in most of the successful counterterrorism operations carried out by the Nigerian military, although it has drawn backlash for its heavy-handedness and wanton display of extra-judicial power.

In similar vein, the vigilante groups (such as Bakassi Boys and OPC) set up in early 2000s helped in curbing crime as much as they encouraged extra-legal killings and abuse of power. The recent groups, especially Amotekun have garnered wide support from Yorubas from all walks of life including its religious, political, cultural and intellectual elite. Although it initially drew the ire of the federal government, the central government has conceded to it. The initiatives such as Ogbunigwe, Shege Ka Fasa from other regions have not received similar level of support from its elite. It is not far-fetched to claim that these latest state-supported vigilante groups are at best, the regions challenge of Nigerias centralized security structure, specifically the ineffective NPF, and at worst, attempt to strengthen their position in any negotiation about power sharing among its elites.

The Nigerian state has applied in the past the principle of consociation in managing the interests of its elites from multiple ethnic groups. This involved the use of constitutions and institutional arrangements as a political technology that accommodates the rights and concerns of the various ethnic compositions with the view of eliminating ethnic domination and determining patterns of authority. Some of the affirmative actions include removing institutionalised barriers against certain ethnic groups, non-institutionalised biases that deny access for certain groups into institutions, institutionalised systemic biases against some groups, quota system (usually non-elective) that guarantees appointment for certain number of an ethnic group, and proportional representation (usually elective) for ethnic groups.

The consociation efforts are guided by the principle of federal character that aims at ethnic balance in federal appointments. These efforts have been effective to some extent in limiting ethno-religious conflicts, but the politics of identity, largely primordial identity of ethnicity, has remained defiant to the consociation efforts by the Nigerian political elites, such that ethnicity and regionalism form the tool for mobilising, organising and contesting access to state power.

There is a genuine concern with insecurity and the vigilante groups such as Amotekun respond to this threat and the central governments (including the NPF) ineffective response. However, underlying such establishment is often a political strategy that each region with its elites employ for greater power and representation in Nigerias highly centralized government.
Huawei is preparing new devices for 2020. Google, however, is getting ahead of it, warning against sideloading Android apps on Huawei phones.

Google warns against sideloading Android apps on Huawei phones

Googles warning comes as a result of questions from the Android community about Google apps and upcoming Huawei phones. Google published a post in the Android Help Community titled Answering your questions on Huawei devices and Google services. In the post, the search engine giant says the following:

We have continued to receive a number of questions about Huawei devices (e.g., new models launching now, or earlier models launched after May 16, 2019 but now becoming available in new regions of the world) and whether Googles apps and services can be used on these devices. We wanted to provide clear guidance to those asking these important questions. Due to government restrictions, Googles apps and services are not available for preload or sideload on new Huawei devices.

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The last statement about preloading and sideloading Android on Huawei is bold in the company post. The bold font here matches the spirit of its original context.

Googles response is clear: government restriction forbids Google from allowing its apps and services on Huawei phones.

Why Android app sideloading is not allowed

Android app sideloading on Huawei phones is illegal because Huawei is on the US Entity List. As such, Google, as a federal company, cannot do business with Huawei. Huawei is no longer eligible for new Android system updates, nor can its 2020 devices use Googles Android apps. In fact, Google cannot allow its apps for preloading or sideloading on Huawei phones as a result. To allow Huawei phone users to easily sideload apps would see Google in trouble with the US and possibly in a ban of its own.

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The best evidence for Googles decision to restrict Android app access to Huawei phones comes by recalling an event from last Fall. Back in October, site LZPlay.net allowed app sideloading for Huawei phones. After the bootleg access was touted some days as the answer to Huawei users prayers, Google quickly removed Huawei phones from SafetyNet test approval. SafetyNet checks devices to see if they pass the safety test; if not, they are denied access to Android apps.

Huawei Ban: the context for governmental restriction on Huawei phones

On May 19, 2016, US President Donald Trump forbade Huawei from buying and selling in the US. Huaweis phones and mobile devices cannot update in the US without a special license from the Trump administration, or a reprieve of some sort. This is why Google responded just a few days later by revoking Huaweis Android license. The Android license revocation removed Huawei from Googles Android partners list and removed the companys devices from getting new Android system updates.

The first reprieve for Huawei from the Trump administration gave the company 90 days (3 months) to update its Android devices. With the Trump Ban instituted in May, Huawei was given a license to continue updating its devices through November 19th. A second 90-day reprieve just expired a few days ago. The US is giving Huawei an additional 45 days, half the time of the previous two extensions.

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As long as the ban remains in effect, Huawei devices are no longer eligible for Googles Android. Huawei still utilize the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), but it cannot preload or sideload Google apps on its phones.

The Trump administration isnt looking to tone down the Ban. This means that Huawei wont see political relief any time soon. Rather than let up on Huawei, the US is taking new measures to further restrict it. First, the US is removing Huawei telecom equipment from small carriers, subsidizing new equipment in place of Huawei gear. Next, the US is considering investments in two alternative telecom makers, Nokia and Ericsson. The US is pushing Samsung as the best Huawei alternative in Europe.
The Supreme Court, which heard arguments in October about the fate of one of the men who terrorized the Washington region in the fall of 2002 with deadly sniper attacks, has been asked not to decide the case after all.

Lawyers for the man, Lee Malvo, and prosecutors in Virginia submitted a letter to the court on Monday asking the justices to dismiss his case. A new Virginia law, they said, rendered the case effectively moot.

Mr. Malvo was 17 when he and John Allen Muhammad killed 10 people in sniper attacks in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Mr. Muhammad was sentenced to death, and he was executed in 2009.

Mr. Malvo was sentenced to life in prison by a judge in Virginia in 2004, before a series of Supreme Court decisions that limited harsh punishments for juvenile offenders. In his Supreme Court case, Mathena v. Malvo, No. 18-217, Mr. Malvo challenged his sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-east district of Delhi on Monday after a clash broke out between two groups in Maujpur area, the Delhi Police said.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad. Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters.

According to officials, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to a fire call in the area.

Earlier on Sunday stone pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur due to which the police resorted to firing tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob. Section 144 restricts the protesters from gathering in an area and is imposed to curb possible violence.

WATCH:

Meanwhile, in view of the ongoing protests in the Jaffrabad metro station area against CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday morning has closed the entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur metro stations citing security reasons. (ANI)
On February 21, Iran held its new legislative election on schedule, although it may be some months before the full results are available, as a number of the candidates must face a second round of competition.



Yet, it is almost certain it will turn out to be a robust comeback of the conservatives, mainly driven by an external factor, specifically the American hardline policy toward Iran in the last few years.

Iran's parliamentary elections take place every four years, one year ahead of presidential election, the last such vote being in 2016. It will produce a chamber of 290 members from 31 provinces, with five seats designated for minority religious groups.

The competition will be mainly between conservative bloc, which is also called the principalist camp, and reformists from the centrist and moderate camps.

Elections are always internal affairs in theory; however, the factional divisions in Iran actually derive from differences in foreign policy. Conservatives can be regarded as those who strongly oppose the U.S. and the West in general, while reformists want to improve relations in that direction.

This year's election, though the result remains to be seen, had been reasonably predicted to produce a big win for conservatives, a major reverse to the outcome of 2016 election. In 2016 election the reformists, conservatives and independents respectively won 41%, 29% and 28% of the vote.

The conservative turn has been widely attributed by Western media to the disqualifying mechanism of Iran's political system. According to reports, a total of 14,444 people applied to be candidates, but 7,296 (51%) were disqualified by the Guardian Council, reformist candidates being mainly those vetted out.

It is true that there exists a kind of institutional conservatism in Iran. As part of the Faqih system, the Guardian Council has the responsibility to decide on candidate eligibility. In some way, this mechanism ought to favor conservatism, but in general it has not done so.

The main criterion of the selection is supposed to be whether the candidates are loyal to the Islamic system, which is the most important element. Their political background is not necessarily the benchmark. In fact, both reformists and conservatives are part of the system.

For instance, former Iranian presidents, including Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami, and the incumbent president, Hassan Rouhani, all received education in religious seminaries, and have all been from the clerical community, thus eligible for the presidential elections.

And reformists are not always been eliminated for their political background and actually have provided the largest number of candidates in several previous elections.

The conservative turn of the Guardian Council is actually a part of the changing trend of the political thought in general, and it is a result itself rather than the cause. This should be natural consequence of the frustration of the latest efforts by Hassan Rouhani's government to become reintegrated with the international system.

When he was elected president for the first term in 2013, he was committed to leading Iran to improve its relations with the West. He received a phone call from the then U.S. President Barack Obama in September 2013 while travelling to New York for the U.N. Assembly, reached an interim agreement with the 6+1 grouping in November the same year, and reached the final nuclear deal with relevant parties in July 2015. He was inspired to do so by a desire to get international sanctions removed and put in order Iran's relations with the West.

Unfortunately, President Rouhani's initial successful move in this regard proved unsustainable. Since Donald Trump entered the White House in early 2017, the U.S. has taken steps, collectively known as "Maximum Pressure," against Iran, including withdrawing from the nuclear deal, resuming sanctions, and designating Iran's IRGC as terror organization.

These steps culminated in Trump ordering the assassination of Soleimani, the IRGC general highly respected by Iranians, on January 3, 2020.

As is obvious, these new developments have not only disrupted the interactions between Iran and the U.S. but also have produced, and will produce, various long-term negative implications in Iran's domestic politics.

Trump's reneging on the deal has proved to be extremely detrimental on the prestige of Rouhani and his government. Because of Trump's withdrawal, renegotiating a deal has been regarded as politically not right, and the killing of Soleimani has totally discredited Rouhani's approach to the U.S.

This kind of evolution of political atmosphere is also reflected in the debates before the parliamentary elections. When reformists were talking about the negotiation with the U.S., conservatives retorted that a deal had already been negotiated, so there was no need for another.

That is the widely accepted reasoning in Iran's political circle. Within this context, how can reformists bloc persuade their constituency and the political establishment to accept their arguments?

Ironically, the U.S. might hope the reformists stay at the helm of Iran's politics, but its own actions have made this impossible.

Jin Liangxiang is Senior Research Fellow with the Center for West Asian and African Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/jinliangxiang.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
Lenovo is looking to dramatically improve the performance of selfie cameras of its Moto G series devices in the near future, based on a newly filed patent filed in China, reported by Tiger Mobiles. The most obvious upgrade from current devices in that series is that there are two cameras in the front panel. Those are laid out in a horizontal configuration with an individual punch-hole housing each.

The camera details arent relayed in the patent, so it isnt immediately clear how the second sensor would be used. Traditionally, dual-forward cameras have been utilized to provide multiple lenses that better suit a variety of selfie circumstances. For instance, they typically a standard narrow-range camera and a secondary wide-angle lens. Conversely, companies also utilize the second snapper to assist the cameras depth-sensing capabilities in some cases.

Following the cues set by Moto G8?

The device design in Lenovos new patent isnt entirely unfamiliar and isnt too detailed. But it does follow the cues of previous Moto-branded devices, possibly hinting at the purpose of this device. Since the Moto G8 and its similarly-branded counterparts are still relatively new, this isnt likely directly related to that series. Because the patent is new, it doesnt likely point to another Moto G8 variant.

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That doesnt mean this gadget wont ultimately be branded as a Moto G series handset if or when Lenovo chooses to utilize it. To begin with, the design is exceptionally similar to the Moto G8 in terms of its general shape, curves, as well as the placement of the branding and cameras. The latter two placements are the most obvious suggestion of the probable model designation.

Lenovo has placed the cameras on the rear panel in a vertical orientation to the left of the back panel, with the Moto M placed near the top in the center. Three snappers are laid out in a separate partition below a primary camera that sits by itself at the top-left-hand side. That would leave the final cut-out, to the right of the primary snapper, for the LED flash.

The tentative Moto G series patent also showcases at least a couple of significant improvements beyond the cameras. For instance, the bezels on this device are significantly reduced compared to the Moto G8. Thats particularly true in terms of the edge bezels but the top and bottom bezels are also more unified. In the most recent G series devices from the Moto brand, the lower bezel is slightly more pronounced.

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What is Motorola doing in the mobile world this year?

Lenovo-owned Motorola may not launch this particular device within the next year. But it is widely held that the company will be launching new devices at some point within the next month. The announcement was expected to reveal new gadgets at this years MWC 2020 event in Barcelona.

The event has since been canceled over concerns related to the spread of the coronavirus. So the timeline for any Moto launches may also ultimately be postponed. The company is still expected to launch a flagship Android smartphone for 2020.
PUNE, India, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Small Drones Market size is projected to reach USD 22.55 billion by the end of 2026. The growing applications of small drones in military and defense will have a huge impact on market growth. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled "Small Drones Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, and Hybrid/Transitional), By Power Source (Lithium-ion cells, Hybrid Fuel cells, and Solar cells), By Size (Micro, and Mini & Nano), By Application (Civil & Commercial, Military, Homeland Security, and Consumer) and Regional Forecast, 2015-2026," the market was worth USD 6.46 billion in 2018 and will exhibit a CAGR of 15.92% during the forecast period, 2019-2026.

Small Drone Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026

Small drones are used in applications across diverse industry verticals. The ability of a small drone to examine and monitor activities in a short span of time will fuel the demand for the product across the world. Accounting to the widespread applications of the product, several companies are looking to invest more in the research and development of newer and advanced products. Increasing investments in product R&D will create several opportunities for market growth. The growing number of start-ups will bode well for the growth of the market in the coming years.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global Small Drones Market. Forecast values have been provided for the market for the period of 2019-2026. The factual figures have been obtained through trusted sources. Moreover, these predictions are made on the basis of extensive research analysis methods, coupled with the opinions of experienced market research professionals. It highlights the latest product launches and recent innovations in the market and states their impact on the growth of the market. The competitive landscape has been discussed in detail and predictions are made with respect to leading companies and products in the coming years.

Request a Sample Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/small-drones-market-102227

List of the leading companies that are operating in the global Small Drones Market are:

3D Robotics

DJI

Parrot Drones SAS

AeroVironment, Inc.

3DR

YUNEEC

EHANG

Kespry

INSITU

Delair

AguaDrone.com

Textron

Autel Robotics USA

Get Detailed Market Insights of Small Drones Market Research Report Enabled With Detailed Tables and Figures: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/small-drones-market-102227

Increasing Number of Military Defence Contract to Aid Growth

The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years. Among all factors, the increasing number of military contracts for small drones will have a positive impact on the growth of the market. The increasing investment in R&D of the product will yield better products. In a bid to establishing a stronghold in the market, several companies are looking to acquire long term military contracts to enhance their market share in the small drone market.

In August 2019, Aerovironment signed a contract with the United States Army for the supply of new drones. The contract is said to be worth USD 45 million, wherein Aerovironment will supply RQ-11B Raven drones to the US Army. US Army's collaboration with Aerovironment will not only help the company grow but will have a direct impact on the growth of the global market in the coming years.

North America Leads the Global Small Drones Market; Increasing Investments in Product R&D to Aid Growth

The market is segmented on the basis of regional demographics into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, the market in North America is projected to witness considerable growth in the coming years, driven by the high investments in the R&D of newer products. As of 2018, the market in North America was worth USD 3.16 billion and this value is projected to increase further in the coming years. Besides North America, Asia Pacific is projected to witness considerable growth, accounting to the high demand for small drones in emerging countries such as India and China.

Order a Complete Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102227

Further Report Findings:

The report includes ongoing Small Drones Market trends across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is projected to emerge leading (2017 value USD 2.67 billion : & 2018 value: USD 3.16 billion )

is projected to emerge leading (2017 value : & 2018 value: ) Asia Pacific to witness considerable growth

Besides regional demographics, the market is segmented on the basis of:

By Type

Fixed-Wing

Rotary-Wing

Hybrid/Transitional

By Power Source

Lithium-ion cells

Hybrid Fuel cells

Solar cells

By Size

Micro

Mini & Nano

By Application

Military

Civil & Commercial

Homeland Security

Consumer (23% market share)

Noteworthy Industry Developments:

In Nov-18, AeroVironment signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for the distribution of RQ-20B Puma AE II small unmanned aircraft systems. The contract is estimated to be worth USD 3.2 million .

Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/small-drones-market-102227

Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction

Research Scope



Market Segmentation



Research Methodology



Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers



Market Restraints



Market Opportunities

Key Insights

Key Industry Developments  Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships



Latest technological Advancements



Porters Five Forces Analysis



Value Chain Analysis

Global Small Drone Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026

Key Findings / Summary



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Type



Fixed-Wing





Rotary-Wing





Hybrid/Transitional



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Power Source



Lithium-ion cells





Hybrid Fuel cells





Solar cells



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Size



Micro





Mini & Nano



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application



Military





Civil & Commercial





Homeland Security





Consumer



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region



North America





Europe





Asia Pacific





Latin America





Middle East & Africa

TOC Continued!

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Have a Look at Related Market Insights:

Commercial Drone Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product (Fixed Wing Drone, Rotary Blade Drone, and Hybrid Drone), By Technology (Remotely Operated, Semi-Autonomous, and Autonomous), By System (UAV Structure, UAV Payloads, UAV Avionics, UAV Propulsion, and UAV Software), By Industry (Infrastructure, Transport & Delivery, Insurance, Media, Telecommunication, Agriculture, Security, and Mining) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Military Drone Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, and Hybrid/Transitional), By Range (VLOS, EVLOS, and BLOS), By Propulsion Type (Battery Powered, Fuel Cell, and Hybrid Cell), By Technology (Remotely Operated Drone, Semi-Autonomous Drone, and Autonomous drone), By Application (ISRT, Delivery and Transportation, Combat Operations, Battle Damage Management and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Share, Size & Industry Analysis, By Application (Military, Commercial & Civil, and Recreational), By System (Airframe, Payload, Avionics, Propulsion), By Technology (Remotely Operated, Semi-Autonomous, Fully-Autonomous), By Class (Small UAVs, Tactical UAVs, Strategic UAVs, Special Purpose UAVs), and Regional Forecast 2015-2026

Small Satellite Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Mini Satellite, Micro Satellite, and Nano Satellite), By Component (Structure, Payload, Electric Power System, Solar Panel and Antenna Systems, Propulsion Systems, and others), By Application (Communication, Earth Observation, Navigation, Technology Development, and Others), By End User (Commercial, Military, Civil, and Government) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Space Launch Services Market Share, Size & Industry Analysis, By Payload (Satellite, Stratollite, Cargo, Human Spacecraft, and Testing Probes) By Orbit (LEO, MEO, GEO, and Beyond GEO), By Launch Platform (Land, Air, and Sea), By Vehicle Type (Small Lift Launch Vehicle, Medium-to-Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles), By End User (Commercial, and Military & Government) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Avionics Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By System (Hardware Systems (Flight Management System (FMS), Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS), Electrical System, Emergency System, Health Monitoring System, Collision Avoidance System, Weather System) and Software Systems), Platform (Commercial, Military, Business Jets, General Aviation), End-Use (OEM and Aftermarket), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Military Antenna Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Frequency (High Frequency, Ultra-High Frequency, Super High Frequency, and Extremely High Frequency), By Type (Dipole Antennas, Aperture Antennas, Travelling Wave Antennas, Loop Antennas, and Array Antennas), By Platform (Airborne, Marine, and Ground), By Application (Communication, Surveillance, SATCOM, Electronic Warfare, and Telemetry), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

5G in Aviation Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Platform (5G Airport and 5G Aircraft), Technology (FWA, URLLC/MMTC, and eMBB), Communication Infrastructure (Small Cell, Radio Access Network (RAN) and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)), 5G Services (Airport Operations, and Aircraft Operations), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Helicopter Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Civil & Commercial and Military), By Application (Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Corporate Services, Search and Rescue Operation, Oil and Gas, Defense, Homeland Security), By System (Airframe, Engine, Avionics, Landing Gear System, and Cabin Interiors), By Weight (Light Weight, Medium Weight, and Heavy Weight), By Point of Sale (OEMs and Aftermarket), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Business Jet Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Aircraft Type (Light, Mid-sized, Large, and Airliner), Point of Sale (OEMs, and Aftermarket), Systems (Aerostructures, Avionics, Propulsion Systems, Aircraft Systems, Cabin Interiors, Landing Gears and others), By End User (Private and Operator), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Aerospace 3D Printing Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Vertical (Printers and Materials), By Industry Type (UAV, Aircraft, and Spacecraft), By Application Type (Engine Components, Space Components, and Structural Components), By Printer Technology Type (DMLS, FDM, CLIP, SLA, SLS and Others), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

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Read Press Release on Global Small Drones Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/press-release/small-drones-market-9611

SOURCE Fortune Business Insights
A father and son from Nyakiura village in Gaturi, Muranga County, Kenya have gone into hiding after allegedly killing one of their family members on Sunday morning

Elius Kamau, a retired Anglican evangelist, is said to have colluded with his son Lawrence Maina in committing the murder.

The two are said to have beaten to death Francis Karaya, 28.

According to Denis Kamau, a nephew of the deceased, Kamau and Maina called Karaya from his house and took him to a farm where they tied him to a tree.



The duo said they wanted to discipline him for allegedly misusing the familys resources.

The father said Karaya has been selling items from their home and using the money to buy alcohol, said the victims nephew.

The nephew said his uncle pleaded for mercy but his prayers fell on deaf ears as his father and brother beat him up with thick sticks.

They left him tied to the tree but the father came to untie him leaving him lying on the ground, said Kamau.

I tried approaching Karaya to help him out but I was told to keep off as he was being punished for misconduct, he added.

From a distance, Kamau said he noticed that his uncle had stopped making movements and he called out for help.

His father came in first and on realizing his son was dead, he looked confused and ran away together with his other son, he said.

Elias Ngariiyo, one of the neighbours, said he was attracted by the wails and when he went to the scene, he saw the two beating the man ruthlessly.

I could not stand the scene and I tried to stop them but they maintained on beating him, he said.

Police have taken up the matter and are hunting down the suspects.

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According to her, the DPP said the allegations against the defendant are very weighty, and that the exceptional circumstances for admitting such offenders to bail have not been complied with in line with section 174 of the state administration of justice law 2017.
Swimmers of Jain University from Bengaluru helped their varsity to take an early lead in the inaugural Khelo India University Games as they won four gold medals here on Sunday.

On the other hand, Guru Nanak Dev University's (Amritsar) fencing squad performed very well, clinching three gold to be on the second spot on a day when fencer Riya Bakshi of Cluster University, Jammu, won the first gold medal on offer.

SV Nikitha of Jain University won the women's 400m freestyle gold with nearly five minutes to spare and then anchoring the 4x200m freestyle relay team to a brilliant victory over Delhi University and the University of Mumbai.

Other gold medallists who won gold for Jain University were Siva Sridhar (men's 400m Freestyle) and SP Likith (men's 200m Breaststroke).

Fans of fencing witnessed gilt-edge contests in the men's Foil and women's Epee finals. Tushar Raosaheb Aheer (Dr BR Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad) rallied to beat Tariq Hussain (Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar) 15-14 after a duel in which it was apparent that his rival was hampered by a ligament tear suffered earlier.

Aheer also had a hand in the team's gold later in the day.

In the women's Epee bout, Jyotika Dutta of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, overpowered Manipur University's Linthoi Haobam.

There was heartbreak for the top-ranked women compound archer Muskan Kirar at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences. She was in top form through the ranking round on Saturday and in the first two rounds on Sunday, and looked good to win the quarterfinal against University of Rajasthan's Kritika Sharma before missing an arrow and lost 136-144.

Kritika Sharma made full use of the opportunity and went on to scalp Babita Kumari (Ranchi University) 144-140 in the semifinals. She will meet Muskan Kirar's Rani Durgawati Vishwavidyala's team-mate Raginee Marko for the gold medal on Tuesday.

Raginee managed to survive tense moments in the quarterfinal match against Sakshi Vaidwan of Lovely Professional University as she secured a 138-136 win.

Top-ranked Sangampreet Singh Bisla, cruised into the men's final, overcoming the first tough challenge by his Punjabi University team-mate Sukhminder Singh with a 147-145 win in the semifinals. In the final, he will meet second-ranked Mukul Sharma (University of Rajasthan). He is in line to win a triple gold, being part of the men's team and mixed teams too.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian equity market is likely to remain volatile this week as a host of factors will influence investor sentiment ahead of the expiry of February series futures & options contracts on Thursday. While investors will continue to monitor developments on the front, the release of India's December quarter GDP numbers on Friday will be another top trigger for the The Indian economy grew at the slowest pace of 4.5 per cent in more than six years in the July-September 2019 period.

Besides, market participants will also await any major outcome from US President Donald Trumps India visit although he has said that a trade deal with India is more likely after the US election.

These apart, the telecom AGR issue will continue to be a big focus. On Sunday, officials from the finance ministry, NITI Aayog, and discussed urgent relief measures that could be extended to the telecom industry on the AGR issue.

Oil prices, Rupee's trajectory, and stock-specific action will also influence investor sentiment.

Global shares extended losses on Monday as the spread of the outside China accelerated with infections jumping in South Korea, Italy and the Middle East, in a worrying new development in the outbreak. The virus has killed 2,442 people in China, which has reported 76,936 cases. It has spread to some 28 other countries and territories, with a death toll of around two dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

In early Asian trades, futures slipped more than 1 per cent. Australias benchmark index slid 1.6 per cent while New Zealand was down about 1 per cent. South Koreas KOSPI index fell 2.2 per cent. That left MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan off 0.7 per cent.

Oil prices also slid with Brent crude slumping 2.8 per cent to $56.87 a barrel

Last week, the declined 0.2 per cent to 41,170 and the Nifty50 fell 0.27 percent to 12,081. Going forward, analysts say that as long as the does not enter the zone of 12,030 to 12,040, it may advance to the next leg of the rally. Once the surpasses 12,160, we may see retesting of 12,220 levels. On the downside, 12,042- 12,000 remains a strong support zone.

And, in the end, here's a stock idea by which recommends buying for the target of Rs 468 over the next few days.

Read by: Kanishka Gupta
Iran has confirmed that the death toll from coronavirus outbreak has increased to 12 on February 24. Iran's health ministry on Sunday confirmed the death toll from the new virus to 8 which created fears in the middle east nations, as per reports. Kianoush Jahanpour, the health ministry spokesperson told the media that there were now 43 confirmed cases of the illness in Iran. The outbreak in Iran is believed to have emerged from the holy city of Qom, where the officials said that travellers from China brought the new coronavirus. Iran reported its first case of the virus last Wednesday.

READ: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey Close Borders With Iran Over Coronavirus Fear

Countries seal its borders

In a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus, Turkey on Sunday closed its borders with neighbouring Iran joining Pakistan and Jordan. Meanwhile, Afghanistan announced that it would suspend all its flight operations with Iran after the number of cases in the Shiite country surged recently. Turkeys Health Minister Fahrettin Koca while speaking to international media said that the country has decided to shut the land border temporarily after an increase in the number of cases in Iran. He added that the country was alarmed by growing numbers of cases and was forced to take the measures after speaking with Iranian authorities.

According to reports, the land and railways borders will be closed from 5 pm local time on Sunday. Air traffic from Iran into Turkey was halted from 8 pm local time on Sunday though departures could continue. Meanwhile, Turkeys Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan reportedly said exports from Turkey to Iran would continue in a controlled way.

READ: Coronavirus-hit Wuhan Partially Lifts Curbs On People's Movement; Death Toll Reaches 2,592

Jordan imposes temporary ban

Jordan has reportedly barred travellers to Tehran in a preemptive measure. The countrys Minister of State Affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of preemptive measures, following the risk in cases of Coronavirus in South Korea, Iran and China. He further told international media that the temporary ban would be imposed on all Non-Jordanian citizens coming from the three nations. The minister said that even citizens who come from those countries would be quarantined for two weeks to ensure that they havent contracted the virus on their trip abroad.

READ: 2,400 Monkeys Infected With Coronavirus By Scientists To Find A Cure

READ: China Calls Coronavirus Outbreak largest Public Health Crisis Since Its Founding


A nurse called the 24-hour hotline to complain about a constant headache. A doctor said he was feeling ostracized by the public, even as he worked to save patients from the epidemic. One caller said she was feeling suicidal.

The volunteers at Yong Xin Kang Yi (Use your heart to fight the virus), a crisis line established for the overworked, overstressed medical staff on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in China, listen to it all.

Our principle is just to be emotionally available for them, said Erjing Cui, 28, a psychotherapist who volunteers for the hotline from Seattle, where she lives. The most important thing that well try to do is to provide a space and listen and provide empathy to what they have to say.

Ms. Cui is one of many mental health professionals trying to address the emotional burden of the epidemic, which has subjected doctors and nurses to extreme hardships while rattling the nerves of ordinary people around the globe. In China alone, hundreds of hotlines have been set up by universities, local governments and mental health organizations to help people cope.
(Photo : Pixabay)

The world faces a bigger problem than coronavirus involving tech giants as an international tax fight between the United States, and Europe poses a new threat to the global economy.

Finance ministers and different senior officials from the world's 20 largest economies, the G20, who assembled in Riyadh, expressed alarm on an impasse over plans by worldwide governments to impose new taxes on American tech companies.

France's Finance Minister said on Sunday that failure to reach a worldwide deal on charging tech companies could set off retaliatory tariffs worldwide.

However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the move would trigger the establishment of U.S. Retaliatory tariffs. Mnuchin underscored Washington's determination to thwart tax guidelines planned by France and other international locations if no global deal is reached.





ALSO READ: Chicago's 'Cloud Tax' Makes Online Users Pay More To Use Netflix And Amazon





France insists on 'positive benefits' of digital tax collection





Bruno Le Maire told Reuters at the sidelines of an assembly of world financial leaders that the collection had been very beneficial in organizing consensus on global tax policies.

Mnuchin said the problem is being tackled in negotiations with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. He expected the issue could be resolved later this year.

However, Mnuchin said Washington could hit back the digital taxes handled by France and others if one's efforts failed.

According to Mnuchin, the U.S. had always been pointing out that digital services tax is "discriminatory" in nature against tech corporations and a handful of U.S. groups. "[President Trump] was clear that we intended with Reciprocal tariffs," Mnuchin added.





ALSO READ: The U.S. Senate Moved To Keep The Internet Tax-Free





France, America's talks on digital tax expected to conclude by the end of the year

France and America have declared a truce to permit the multilateral talks to conclude by year-end.

"For the primary time, there may be a wide consensus among the G20 members at the necessity of having a new international taxation system," Minister Le Maire said.

The French finance minister added they had to address the issue of digital organizations making income in many countries without any bodily presence due to the absence of the digital tax.

Le Maire said they also had to deal with the critical query of minimal taxation and the hazard of racing to the finish line on taxation issues.

The OECD desires to agree on technical details of any such tax via July. Le Maire said there is a consensus to build a solution by the end of the year.





ALSO READ: States Look Into Taxing Video Streaming And Cloud Computing Because Of Declining DVD And CD Sales





No agreements to cause proliferation of different tax systems, says France

The finance minister noted that no agreements would cause a proliferation of various tax systems making existence more challenging for corporations.

Le Maire said the countrywide taxes to enter into force regardless of whether or not the countries crafted a universal solution for every country and virtual groups by the end of 2020.

"Instead of getting one single, easy solution, we might have many different virtual taxes, all around the world," Le Maire said.

The United States has remained cautious of committing to a solution to taxing them before a presidential election later this year.





 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Emmerdale actor Liam Fox has married his former university friend Jo Hudson in front of a star-studded showbiz crowd in a stunning winter wedding.

The soap star, 49, and the actress, 44, tied the knot at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire 10 months after announcing their engagement.

The happy couple partied until 3am during the wild bash and were joined on their big day by TV presenter Denise Van Outen and her daughter Betsy, nine, as well as Liam's Emmerdale co-stars Fiona Wade, Chris Bisson, Chris Chittell and Lisa Riley.

Newlyweds! Emmerdale actor Liam Fox has married his former university friend Jo Hudson in front of a star-studded showbiz crowd in a stunning winter wedding (pictured in April 2019)

The pair have known each other for 27 years after first meeting when they were students at Salford University, but their friendship turned to romance in 2017 and Liam proposed in April 2019.

Sharing their memories of the nuptials with this week's OK! magazine, the actor - who plays Dan Spencer in the ITV1 soap - told how the couple let loose till the early hours, with the pair comparing the bash to 'Live Aid' as they got 'carried away' with the expenses.

Joanna's elated new husband shared: 'It was everything Id hoped for an more, so Im chuffed. Me and JoJo were the last ones on the dance floor at 2.50am.'

The ceremony was held five years after bass player Joanna battled a life-threatening tumour in 2015.

Going strong: The soap star, 49, and the actress, 44, tied the knot at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire 10 months after announcing their engagement (pictured in February 2018)

Wild time: Sharing their memories of the nuptials, the actor revealed the couple let loose until 3am (pictured earlier this year)

In good company: The happy couple were joined on their big day by the likes of TV presenter Denise Van Outen and her daughter Betsy, nine (pictured in December)

The blonde revealed she walked down the aisle to a 'cheesy' Neighbours song alongside her best friend Susannah, who cared for her while she was ill.

After overcoming her health scare, she was encouraged to hold her 'dream wedding' without any limits, after Liam's first wedding to ex Nicole Barber-Lane cost him a modest 850.

She explained: 'After nearly dying, I didnt care about the expense. I think the best thing about a big wedding is that you're bringing so many people together.'

The media personalities ensured the special event boasted aspects of their everyday life as their dogs Hope and Teddy acted as ring bearers, while a table covered in photos of Jo's late mother was also present.

'After nearly dying, I didnt care about the expense': The ceremony was held five years after bass player Joanna battled a life-threatening tumour in 2015 (pictured last year)

They go way back: The pair (pictured in 1994) have known each other for 27 years after first meeting when they were students at Salford University

Liam's stepdaughter Jemma also delivered a passionate rendition of Christina Perri's A Thousand Years, which left him overwhelmed with emotion.

The thespian - who also shares son Ben with Hollyoaks star Nicole - was joined by his former mother-in-law, and even admitted soap actress Nicole would have been on the invite list if she wasn't on her Menopause Musical UK tour.

Liam's Emmerdale co-star Bhasker Patel injected some humour to the ceremony as he raised his hand when the officiator asked whether any attendees had objections about their marriage.

Exciting times ahead: The pair will celebrate their new relationship status with a mini-moon to Lake District, before heading to an undecided location for their honeymoon in March

Past love: Their marriage comes five years after his divorce from Hollyoaks star Nicole Barber-Lane (pictured in 2014)

The bride and groom's lively party - which saw them let their hair down with 80 of their castmates - was complete with reindeer, drag cabaret and a three-tier lemon drizzle cake by Bake Off star's Phil Thorne.

The couple will celebrate their new relationship status with a mini-moon to Lake District, before heading to an undecided location for their honeymoon next month.

After meeting in 1993, the Manchester native confessed their marriage felt like 'a long time coming', before joking the couple 'could have had 15 children' if they embarked on a relationship earlier.

The newlyweds also said they're open to expanding their family, with Liam sharing: 'anything is possible', while Joanna added: 'If we have them naturally then that's great.'
Congress leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, will not attend the official banquet being hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind in honour of United States President Donald Trump on February 25, sources said.

Singh had earlier accepted the invite but expressed his inability to attend the same on Monday.

He has conveyed his regret to the President's office for not being able to attend the banquet, sources close to Singh said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, will also not attend the official banquet as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has not been invited.

She is also the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

The opposition Congress is peeved at the Modi government's move to not allow its top leaders a meeting with the visiting US President, as has been the tradition.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has said he will not attend the President's banquet as a mark of protest over the party's top leaders not being extended an invitation.

This will probably be the first time that leaders of the principal opposition will miss the official banquet in honour of a visiting head of state and will not hold separate discussions, Congress leaders said.
: Cilpku (Cil), : Computation

 : DMBD'2020: Final Call for Papers

: BBS  (Sun Feb 23 22:50:45 2020, )





Name: The Fifth International Conference of Data Mining and Big Data (DMBD'

2020)

Theme: SERVING LIFE WITH Data Science

URL: http://dmbd2020.ic-si.org/

Dates: July 14-19, 2020

Location: Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia



Important Date: Feburary 29, 2020: Final Deadline for Paper Submission.



Submission Details: Prospective authors are invited to contribute their

original and high-quality papers to DMBD'2020 through the online submission

page at https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=dmbd2020.



DMBD2020 serves as an international forum for researchers and

practitioners to exchange latest advantages in theories, algorithms, models,

and applications of data mining and big data as well as artificial

intelligence techniques. Data mining refers to the activity of going through

big data sets to look for relevant or pertinent information. Big data

contains huge amount of data and information. DMBD2020 is the fifth

event after Chiang Mai event (DMBD'2019), Shanghai event (DMBD'2018),

Fukuoka event (DMBD'2017) and Bali event (DMBD'2016) where more than

hundreds of delegates from all over the world to attend and share their

latest achievements, innovative ideas, marvelous designs and excel

implementations.



Prospective authors are invited to contribute high-quality papers (8-12

pages) to DMBD2020 through Online Submission System. Papers

presented at DMBD'2020 will be published in Springer (indexed by EI, ISTP,

DBLP, SCOPUS, Web of Knowledge ISI Thomson, etc.), some high-quality papers

will be selected for SCI-indexed International Journals.



Sponsored and Co-sponsored by Internatonal Association of Swarm and

Evolutionary Intelligences, Singidunum University, Peking University and

Southern University of Science and Technology, etc.



The DMBD2020 will be held in Singidunum University at Belgrade,

Serbia, which is the capital and the largest city of Serbia. Belgrade is a

vibrant city, surprising in its diversity and rich in its history and

culture.



We look forward to welcoming you at Belgrade in 2020!





DMBD'2020 Secretariat

Email: [email protected]

WWW: http://dmbd2020.ic-si.org



--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 153.]


The delegation representing Khalifa Haftar says it is suspending its participation and the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli is also expressing doubts.

The United Nations-sponsored talks on Libyas conflict are under pressure in Geneva.

A delegation representing renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar says it is suspending its participation.

The internationally recognised government based in Tripoli is also expressing doubts.

Al Jazeeras James Bays reports from Geneva.
By Gu Mengyan, China Daily | Feb. 22, 2020

A veteran British aviation expert has praised China's efforts to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak as "right and effective", especially its use of drones and robotic technology to fight the pathogen.

Michael Walsh, chief executive of Pacific Basin Economic Council, a nonprofit organization that advocates responsible tech progress to fuel economic growth, said the massive suspension of economic and social activities, as well as the lockdown of some cities on the Chinese mainland, at the expense of economic growth and personal convenience, has shown the resolve of Beijing.

"The numbers speak for themselves -- they've made the right decision," he said, citing noticeable declines in the numbers of new infections outside Hubei province in the past few days.

In a video interview with China Daily on Friday, Walsh, who is also a former chief commercial officer with Hong Kong Jet, a local private charter airline, pointed out it's not easy to make timely decisions in such a public health crisis.

The deployment of cutting-edge technologies, including drones and robotics, in the battle against the epidemic has been very opportune, he said.

The "contactless deliveries" by drones and robots have helped immensely in distributing urgent medical supplies and daily necessities in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei -- the epicenter of the outbreak -- where stringent road traffic restrictions have been enforced to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

Wuhan's first designated hospital for COVID-19 patients, Jinyintan Hospital, welcomed its first drone on Feb 12 that carried anti-epidemic resources to front-line medical workers. The drone made 20 trips, distributing 70 kg of medical supplies on that day.

Besides logistics, medical robots, empowered by 5G technology and big data, are also being used in some hospitals in Wuhan for distant diagnosis and disinfecting facilities.

The aim is to protect front-line doctors and nurses, who Walsh described as "true heroes serving their profession and country in the face of adversity", from being infected and to reduce their workload.

Such a public health emergency has taught the world how effective technologies can be in offering humanitarian relief, he said.

Walsh cited China's home-grown brands, including SF Express, JD and DJI, which have deployed their latest technologies to ensure prompt deliveries of medical supplies and protect residents in Hubei from the contagion.

Even before the outbreak, China has been actively relying on its own smart technologies in various fields, said Walsh.

He also highlighted the use of drones in providing crucial data and aerial surveillance in the lockdown areas for emergency response teams on the ground. But, users of drones, including governments or companies, should comply with a set of conduct codes to avoid intruding into the privacy of others even during a crisis.

The epidemic clearly has taken a toll on many industries, including aviation.

"For the aviation sector, it's the busiest season for maintenance work. The suspensions will have a knock-on effect on the supply chain of receiving and delivering spare parts," said Walsh.

He noted that some of his friends and colleagues working on the mainland had to postpone scheduled aircraft maintenance work as workers are unable to report for duty due to the current travel restrictions.

Walsh, who has been living in Hong Kong for 13 years, returned to the SAR earlier this month from a business trip to Europe, with loads of masks and sanitizers, and found the city in a state of panic amid the outbreak.

The growing number of infections in Hong Kong has triggered citywide hoarding of surgical masks, but he said people's adaptability has improved compared with the SARS epidemic in 2003 because technology has offered them more options in their daily lives.

But, one thing that technology can't solve is the mental strain.

"My life has been greatly affected. The epidemic is putting a major strain on family life and marriage as the novelty of having time together wears off. Stress levels are being heightened with economic pressures to come still," said Walsh, who works from home frequently and teaches his two children extra-circular activities at home.

As a business leader, he deplored any xenophobic act or sentiment against Chinese arising from the epidemic that originated in Wuhan in December.
(Natural News) The Trump administration is considering implementing new trade restrictions on China, particularly the telecom giant Huawei, to limit their use of American chip-making equipment. This comes as the administration seeks to cut China off from accessing key semiconductor technology. President Trump is yet to review the proposed changes, according to people familiar with the proposal.

The Department of Commerce is leading the drafting of the proposed changes. Their main goal is to implement changes on the foreign direct product rule, which can restrict the ownership and access that foreign companies have over American products and technology, particularly if the product or tech must be kept hidden for military or national security purposes. One of the proposed changes would require chip factories all over the world to obtain a license if they intend to use American equipment to produce chips for the Chinese telecom conglomerate Huawei Technologies Co.

The proposed changes to the foreign direct product rule aim to slow down the rapid advancement of Chinas technologies. However, according to people invested in United States industries, the Trump administrations move risks disrupting the global supply chain for semiconductors, which can also affect the growth of many American companies. (Related: 97% of antibiotics are made in China; supply chain Armageddon will see U.S. pharmacy supplies wiped out.)

According to the insiders, the rule changes have been under discussion for weeks now. However, they were only recently proposed and are supposed to be bundled together with a different set of rule changes that would limit the ability of American companies to use their overseas facilities to supply Huawei. While President Trump still hasnt weighed in on the proposals, some people within his administration are already skeptical of the changes. Previously, President Trump has stated that he wants to allow American companies to supply Huawei with equipment as long as the products theyre providing arent deemed sensitive from a national security perspective.

The Department of Commerce is also expected to push for even more rule changes, such as a limit on the export of chips with sensitive American technology and rules that target chip-production equipment.

Proposed changes seen as another way to cut China off from semiconductor trade

Semiconductors are among Chinas largest imports from the United States. China has also struggled despite years of effort to cut itself off from its reliance on foreign suppliers. They dont want any fab in the world to produce anything for Huawei  thats the goal, said one person, speaking of the chip factories that will likely be affected by the proposed rule changes.

Many officials, both in the United States and in the rest of the Western world, see Huawei as a huge liability. For starters, its seen as a serious espionage risk because its a Chinese company  meaning it will not be able to resist if the Chinese Communist Party wants access to any of its data and equipment. Officials are still skeptical despite Huaweis statements that they have never spied on anyone on behalf of the Chinese government.

Trump administration officials are set to meet on February 28 to discuss these proposed rule changes, as well as another proposal that would limit the ability of companies to make license-free sales to Huawei if their products are at least 10 percent American-made. The previous threshold allowed license-free sales for anything that was less than 25 percent American-made. They are also expected to discuss wider restrictions on the manufacturing of chips for Chinese consumers, as well as potentially banning even more Chinese companies from accessing American tech.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

CNBC.com
The Joint Police Commissioner (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar on Monday informed that police personnel have been stationed at places in Delhi where there is a "potential of disturbance."

"Police personnel have been stationed at strategically located areas where there is a potential of disturbance like Jafrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad, Shiv Vihar," Kumar told the reporters here.

Besides, a total of eight CRPF companies have also been deployed in North-East Delhi area including two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and one company of women security personnel, according to CRPF Sources.

Meanwhile, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at 10 locations in the North-east district of the capital after the clash. Delhi Police also asked citizens to maintain peace and harmony in the city.

On Sunday, stone-pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur due to which the police resorted to firing tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob. Maujpur area is close to Jaffrabad metro station area, where women are holding a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump received some of the loudest cheers during his speech at the Namaste Trump rally here on Monday when he referred to the joint commitment of the US and India to protect their citizens from radical Islamic terrorism and said his administration was working with Pakistan to root out terror in that country.

In an apparent acknowledgment of Washingtons dependence on Islamabad for swinging a peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan, Trump hastened to add that the US has a very good relationship with Pakistan and was beginning to see signs of big progress in the efforts to crackdown on terror groups and militants based on the Pakistani soil.

He also emphasised what he described as his administrations efforts to kill Islamic State founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and destroy the group in Iraq and Syria, though experts now believe the organisation has started regrouping in these countries.

Also read: Trumps trip to India a message for Pakistan?

Counterterror cooperation between India and the US has increased under the leadership of Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The US offered unstinted support to India after the 2019 terror attack in Pulwama by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) that killed 40 troopers and in the subsequent listing of JeM chief Masood Azhar by the UN Security Council as a global terrorist.

The US and India are also firmly united in the ironclad resolve to defend [their] citizens from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. Both of our countries have been hurt by the pain and turmoil of terrorism, and that terrorism brings, Trump said.

The US and India are committed to working together to stop terrorists and to fight their ideology. With this reason...my administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crackdown on the terrorist organisations and militants that operate on the Pakistani border.

Without making any pitch to help mediate between India and Pakistan, as he has in recent months, Trump said the US hoped all of the steps it has taken will reduce tensions and lead to more stability in South Asia.

Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one and thanks to these efforts, we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan. And we are hopeful of reduced tension and greater stability and future harmony for all the nations of South Asia, he said.

Though a Pakistani court recently gave a five-and-a-half year jail term to Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed in two terror financing cases, the Indian government has remained sceptical as the ruling came four days ahead of a key meeting of the Financial Action Task Force that assessed Pakistans steps to counter fund-raising by terrorist groups. Trump had suspended security aid worth more than $2 billion for Pakistan in 2018 after accusing the country of giving nothing but lies and deceit for such assistance. But the US recently resumed a key military training programme for Pakistan.

Also read: US President Donald Trump unveils $3billion military copter pact

Without referring to Afghanistan, Trump spoke of India having an important leadership role to play as it takes on the responsibility of solving problems and promoting peace in the region.

He also explained his administrations travel ban and efforts to secure US borders as part of measures to counter terrorism. The US, he said, will always welcome newcomers who share our values and love our people while the borders will always be closed to terrorists...and any form of extremism.

Trump said this is why the US is screening and vetting applications for entry and ensuring that anyone who threatens American citizens is denied admission and will pay a very, very big costly price.

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At least half a dozen leaders are in the race for the post of president for the Bharatiya Janata Partys Telangana unit as the BJP started the exercise to choose one on Monday.

A team of observers led by BJP national general secretary Anil Jain came to Hyderabad on Monday to seek the opinion of senior party leaders, including core committee members of the party on the appointment of a suitable candidate for the post.

A party leader familiar with the development said Jain and others spoke to around 30 leaders, including Telangana BJP president Dr K Laxman, Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy, Adilabad lawmaker Soyam Bapu Rao and others.

At least half a dozen aspirants, who staked claims for the Telangana BJP chief post, presented their strengths to the party observers. Everything went on smoothly and there were no issues from anybody, the party leader said, adding that the BJPs central leadership would take a call most probably by this weekend.

While Laxman is looking for retaining the BJP presidents post for a second term, other leaders like Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay, Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind, former MP from Mahbubnagar AP Jitender Reddy, former MP from Nalgonda N Indrasena Reddy and former minister from Gadwal DK Aruna are in the race for the post.

The name of BJP national secretary P Muralidhar Rao is also said to be under consideration for the Telangana unit president post, the leader quoted above said.

The BJP is looking at Telangana as a potential state where it has chances of emerging as a strong alternative to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the next assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2023.

While the Congress party is still facing a leadership crisis, the BJP, which had surprisingly won four parliamentary seats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, sees an opportunity to grow in strength.

In the recent municipal elections, the BJP performed well and stood second in the total number of divisions won in as many as nine corporations, while the Congress party has been unseated from the second position. The BJP will rise as a clear alternative to TRS in Telangana, BJP spokesperson K Krishnasagar Rao said.

In an attempt to step up its efforts to gain ground in the state, the BJP is planning to hold a massive rally in Hyderabad in the second week of March in support the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The rally will be addressed by former BJP national president and present Union home minister Amit Shah, besides top leaders from the Centre including party president JP Nadda.

This will rejuvenate the party in the coming days. Our focus first is to capture as many divisions as possible in the forthcoming elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and then expand our network to rest of the state, the party leader quoted above said.

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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
Mumbai airport operator MIAL on Monday said three new airlines, including Russia's Aeroflot and Ural Air, are expected to commence services to the financial capital in the coming months.

While the two carriers would connect Mumbai with Moscow, Kazakhstan's Air Astana would start services from Almaty.

"The introduction of new services to the the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region will see an increase in flights from three times a week to 18 a week in Summer 2020," the Mumbai International Airport Limited said in a statement.

Currently, the Mumbai airport connects to the CIS state of Uzbekistan through Tashkent the capital and the largest city in the country with three flights per week, it said.

Moscow-based Ural Air will be connecting Mumbai with the Russian capital from next month and will be operating four weekly flights on the route.

It will be followed by Kazakhstan's carrier Air Astana, which plans to launch four-times weekly services to the financial capital from capital airport Almaty, while Aeroflot is set to resume operations to the city with a daily flight, starting July 1, as per MIAL.

The second busiest airport in the country, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) caters to over 48.8 million passengers and connects to 50 domestic and international destinations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Karan Singh Grover turned a year older on Sunday, wishing the actor on his birthday, his friend Arti Singh shared a heartwarming post for him.

Taking to Instagram to wish him, she called Karan her Jigar Ka Tudka and said, love u so so much. May God give u everything u want and deserve. U are one f the nicest person I hv met and I'm blessed tht I met u .... I love u forever and ever ..(sic)

Karan and Arti are known to share a close bond as friends. It was during Artis stint inside the Bigg Boss house when Karan had come as a celebrity guest on the show to extend her support to her. Arti had become emotional on seeing Karan after being locked in the months for nearly 4 months. She had broken down and hugged the Kausatii Zindagii Kay actor.

After their reunion post Bigg Boss 13, Karan had said, "It felt really good to see Arti after so long yesterday! It felt like I haven't met Arti in 5 years, even though its just been 4 months! Arti and I have never not met each other for this long of a time span! And I definitely needed that hug from her, and she needed it from me too, so achha laga."

During the initial episodes of the reality show too, Arti was seen talking to Tehseen Poonawalla about Karan and how he had gifted his jacket to her to give her positive vibes and asked her to wear it whenever she felt low.

During her stint in the show, Karan's actress wife Bipasha Basu too had extended her support to Arti and wished for her win.

Meanwhile, Karan and Bipasha are currently enjoying the former's birthday in the Maldives. Giving a sneak peek of their celebration, Bipasha shared some pictures from their vacation too.

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A bus that arrived in the French city of Lyon from Milan in Italy was sealed off for several hours Monday after the driver showed symptoms of possible coronavirus infection, security sources said.

Health authorities isolated the bus in Lyon Perrache station early Monday and ordered the passengers to remain onboard for tests. The LyonMag site reported that a driver, who is Italian, was taken to hospital for tests because he had a bad cough.

"A bus is undergoing an inspection. Our teams are at the scene and an assessment is underway," a spokeswoman for the regional health agency told AFP.

Low-cost operator FlixBus said the bus, destined for the central city of Clermont-Ferrand, had stopped off in the Italian city of Turin and Grenoble in France on the way to Lyon.

A couple that boarded the bus in Lyon told AFP they were kept inside for over two hours before being allowed disembark after they were checked by doctors.

They said they were told they would be contacted again if the driver, who was taken to hospital for tests, turned out to be carrying the virus.

By around 1:00 pm (1200 GMT), all passengers -- who were issued with face masks -- had been allowed off the bus, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Milan is the capital of the Lombardy region at the centre of Europe's biggest outbreak of the coronavirus that has killed nearly 2,600 people worldwide.

Five people have died from the disease in Italy, where several northern villages are under lockdown.

In a sign of the nervousness triggered by the global spread of the virus, a Paris police station was closed to the public for several hours Monday after a Chinese woman became unwell on the premises. The station in the 13th district, home to the French capital's Asian quarter, reopened after the woman tested negative for the COVID-19 virus, a police source told AFP.

In France, one person -- an elderly Chinese tourist -- has died from the virus.

Eleven have been hospitalised, of whom 10 have recovered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bravo TV fans will recognize the name Stassi Schroeder from Vanderpump Rules. For those who dont know what the show is about: its definitely not about the pasta!

As only true fans will know what that means, a crash course: Vanderpump Rules began following the lives of the glamorous wait staff at Real Housewife Lisa Vanderpumps Hollywood restaurants in 2013. Schroeder has been a cast member since season one.

Today, Schroeder has created an empire of sorts. She wrote a New York Times best-selling book, created an official holiday, OOTD (Outfit of the Day) Day and has a podcast called Straight Up With Stassi for which she is embarking on her second national tour of live performances. Schroeders personal life has been busy as well. She recently got engaged and purchased an antique Hollywood Hills mansion.

She heads to Connecticut for the first time this year with a tour stop at Foxwoods casino on March 13.

Hearst's Sunday Magazine caught up with the reality star to talk about her upcoming show and her first time in Connecticut.

Read some of the interview below and click here for the full Q&A.

Q. Have you ever been to Connecticut?

A. I dont know that I have. All I know about Connecticut is like what I have seen from Sex and the City  that its like where Charlotte used to go.

Q. Well that was my next question. Whats the first thing you think of Connecticut?

A. Literally, I think of Charlotte and like, bougieness, the woods and just like really giant, cool, old expensive old homes.

Q. Can you give us a next level basic tip for people in Connecticut?

A. Thats so funny because I know nothing. My tip for people in Connecticut is: Make sure you own a polo shirt because youre going to need it at the country club.

Q. Would you ever consider becoming a Real Housewife?

A. Oh my God, I could never. People ask me this question often actually, and Im like I truly dont think I have what it takes to go up against those housewives. I cant imagine coming into a group of women who are just so fierce. What makes Vanderpump Rules so fun and easy is that its just my best friends, my normal life. My brain would short circuit if I was a real housewife.

Q. Whats your fav Bravo show other than Vanderpump?

A. Housewives of NYC. Beverly Hills is too close to home. NYC is so extra and its a life that I dont know or understand. And you have Ramona and Sonja...its like woah! that is an amazing cast.

Visit CT Insider for the full interview




Israel and Palestine end five-month agriculture trade dispute



The Israeli Ministry of Defense said the calf boycott has been lifted and trade with the Palestinian Authority (PA) will be reinstated, reported Reuters.

In a statement, the PA Prime Minister's office said the agreement between both parties would mean Israel will allow the PA to import livestock, inclusive of calves, directly from all nations around the world without barriers.

The trade dispute started in September 2019 after the PA imposed a boycott on calves from Israel. In response, Naftali Bennett, the Israeli Defense Minister announced a ban on all agriculture imports from the PA in January 2020. This led the PA to announce a ban on all agricultural imports from Israel in retaliation.

The Israel Defense Ministry subsequently banned all exports from Palestine through Jordan in a move said to tempt the PA to lift the ban on Israeli calves.

The Israel Agriculture Ministry said the calves boycott has cost US$70 million in losses to Israeli cattle breeders since October last year.

The latest trade dispute had affected the trade links between Israel and the PA, which began when interim peace records was signed by both parties in the 1990s. The trade links were not affected during the peace talks breakdown in 2014.

- Reuters
A South African inquiry into the forced sterilisation of dozens of HIV-positive pregnant women said on Monday that their rights had been breached and called for government action.

The investigation was launched in 2015, when two women's rights organisations approached South Africa's Gender Equality Commission (CGE) with 48 documented cases of coerced sterilisation.

CGE obtained sworn affidavits from the complainants on the alleged procedures.

"All the women who had lodged the complaint were black women who were mostly HIV positive," CGE head Keketso Maema said in the report released on Monday.

"Just before giving birth... they were coerced or forced to sign forms that they later learnt through various means were consent forms allegedly permitting the hospital to sterilise them."



Investigators found that hospital staff threatened to deny women medical attention if they did not sign the paperwork.

Some of the complainants said they were given the forms in moments of "extreme pain" during which they could not fully grasp the content, the report said.

The commission concluded that the women suffered several rights violations and were subjected to "degrading treatment".

It also accused medical staff of breaching their "duty of care".

The report, which has been sent to the health ministry, advises the government to review sterilisation paperwork.

A cooling-off period between the signing of consent forms and the operation itself was also recommended.

The health ministry's spokesman did not immediately respond to requests to comment.

The total number of people living with HIV in South Africa increased to 7.97 million in 2019 from around 4.64 million in 2002, according to government statistics.

Around 13.5 per cent of the total population was found to be HIV positive last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 02:02:49|Editor: yhy

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Demonstrators stand outside Woolwich Crown Court demanding the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, in London, Britain, on Feb. 26, 2020. A court in London started Monday a legal hearing to decide whether the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

LONDON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A court in London started Monday a legal hearing to decide whether the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States.

Facing up to 18 charges of attempted hacking and breaches of the Espionage Act, the 48-year-old Australian could face as many as 175 years in prison if found guilty on all charges in the United States.

Assange was in the Woolwich Crown Court Monday to listen to the hearing, which will last for about a week with proceedings expected to resume on May 18 for an additional three weeks.

The secret documents that Assange published on WikiLeaks were provided by former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

Assange was jailed for 50 weeks in May 2019 for breaching his bail conditions after going into hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for nearly seven years.

He was granted asylum by Ecuador in 2012 as part of a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden on a rape allegation that he denied before the investigation was subsequently dropped.
Luxembourg's Ministry of Health hosted a press conference at 4.30 pm to discuss the potential risks and current state of coronavirus in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg's chief medical officer Jean-Claude Schmit met with journalists to answer questions about the current state and potential risks of coronavirus in Luxembourg.

He began the press conference by stressing that the Grand Duchy is closely observing the situation in Luxembourg and abroad. Officials in Luxembourg are joining efforts with other countries and international associations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Schmit stressed that it was normal for Europe to be concerned but specified that it would be counterproductive to spread fear and panic. Officials are keeping a watchful eye on the situation and would react accordingly if there were confirmed cases in Luxembourg, he said.

The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question.

The chief medical officer also explained that Luxembourg is well-prepared to deal with (potential) cases of coronavirus. Schmit for example mentioned six quarantine rooms at CHL and stressed that the national laboratories can provide quick testing if an individual exhibits clear symptoms. However, he urged individuals only to get tested if there is a tangible reason for it - laboratories should not be flooded unnecessarily.

The Ministry of Health already published a list of recommendations on 4 February. These recommendations have not been changed since. Individuals that travelled to high-risk countries or regions (China, Macau, Singapore, Italy) should consult a doctor or go to a hospital if they display flu-like symptoms. If in doubt, people can also contact the health inspectorate by phone or dial 112.

Schmit emphasised that Luxembourg was adhering to international recommendations. When asked by journalists about air traffic to and from Luxembourg airport, Schmit explained that health officials were working with Findel airport but currently not planning on cancelling flights to certain regions in Italy or increasing screening. This could change if coronavirus cases were confirmed in Luxembourg, Schmit explained. A Luxairport representative also confirmed no special procedures were being enforced at the present time.

Officials are currently not recommending that schools or local companies urge pupils or employees to stay at home. Schmit said that these measures were not justified even if it was understandable that individuals are worried. This would change if there were confirmed cases in the Grand Duchy.

Around 20 people displayed symptoms commonly linked to coronavirus in Luxembourg over the last weeks but none of them tested positive. Luxembourg has not yet had a confirmed case, Schmit stressed.

Schmit confirmed that two people who recently returned to the Grand Duchy from China are still in quarantine, awaiting test results.
The army of the Democratic Republic of Congo killed Sunday in two operation six elements of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), held responsible for the massacre of nearly 400 civilians since November 2019 in the Beni region in the east of the country.

A first offensive was launched on the Kikingi axis and the second offensive on the north-central axis in Vemba.

An ADF member was captured, the army said in a statement.

The captured terrorist will be interrogated to reveal the true identity of his companions, labeled by the army as butchers, armed with rifles and machetes.

A cabinet meeting on Thursday accused the Mai-Mai of having constituted ADF auxiliaries in the Beni region. Mai-Mai is a generic term, which designates militiamen constituted on a community basis and whose actions range from the defense of community interests to serious crime.
NASA is partnering with the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand Space Agency, Air New Zealand and the University of Auckland to install next-generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry receivers on passenger aircraft to collect environmental science data over New Zealand.The program is part of NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission, a constellation of eight small satellites, launched in 2016, that use signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites that reflect off Earth's surface to collect science data.

The CYGNSS satellites orbit above the tropics and their primary mission is to use GPS signals to measure wind speed over the ocean by examining GPS signal reflections off choppy versus calm water. This allows researchers to gain new insight into wind speed over the ocean and will allow them to better understand hurricanes and tropical cyclones.

In addition to its primary over-water research capabilities, scientists have discovered that the CYGNSS technology is also capable of collecting valuable measurements over land, including of soil moisture, flooding, and wetland and coastal environments.

"Partnering with New Zealand offers NASA and the CYGNSS team a unique opportunity to develop these secondary capabilities over land. Taken together over time, they'll also have an important story to tell about the long-term impacts of climate change to these landscapes," said Gail Skofronick-Jackson, CYGNSS program scientist at NASA Headquarters, Washington.

The CYGNSS team, led by principal investigator Chris Ruf at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, has developed a next-generation GNSS reflectivity receiver with support from NASA's Earth Science Technology Office. These receivers will be installed in late 2020 on one of Air New Zealand's Q300 domestic aircraft.

As the aircraft traverses New Zealand, it will collect data from the land below, some of which will overlap with the flight paths of the CYGNSS satellites. This overlap, which will have frequent data observations from regular commercial flights, will provide the CYGNSS team a wealth of data to use to validate and improve the CYNGSS satellite observations, said Ruf. In addition, the varied New Zealand terrain will provide comparison points with data collected in similar terrains in other parts of the world.

"As a result of this partnership, both Air New Zealand engineers and researchers across New Zealand will now have the opportunity to work with NASA on a world-leading environmental science mission," said Peter Crabtree, General Manager of Science, Innovation and International at New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The University of Auckland will host the Science Payload Operation Centre, which will begin operations and data collection in late 2020.

"Over time, the data that will be collected by these receivers could form one of New Zealand's largest bodies of long-term environmental data, and as such it represents a wide range of research opportunities," said radar systems engineer and project lead Delwyn Moller of the University of Auckland.

Air New Zealand will be the first passenger airline to partner with NASA to collect data for a science mission. Air New Zealand has 23 Q300s in its fleet, and if the approach is successful, the airline will explore introducing the technology more widely.

"As an airline, we're already seeing the impact of climate change, with flights impacted by volatile weather and storms. Climate change is our biggest sustainability challenge, so it's incredible we can use our daily operations to enable this world-leading science," said Air New Zealand Chief Operational Integrity and Standards Officer Captain David Morgan.

NASA uses the unique vantage point of space to better understand Earth as an interconnected system. The agency also uses airborne and ground-based monitoring and develops new ways to observe and study Earth with long-term data records and computer analysis tools to better see how our planet is changing. NASA shares this knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and protecting our home planet.

###

For more information about NASA's Earth science missions, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/earth
DALLAS, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint Capital, Inc. (the "Company"), a non-traded publicly registered business development company sponsored and managed by NexPoint Advisors, L.P., today announced that it will commence a voluntary tender offer on or about February 24, 2020 (the "Tender Offer") for up to 2.5% of its outstanding common stock ("Shares").

The purchase price of each Share will be (i) not less than the net asset value ("NAV") per Share of the Company's common stock ("NAV Per Share") (as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company or a committee thereof, in its sole discretion) next calculated following the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) (the date of repurchase) and (ii) not more than 2.5% greater than the NAV Per Share as of such date, plus any unpaid dividends accrued through the expiration date of the Tender Offer.

This announcement is not a recommendation, an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell Shares of the Company. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a tender offer statement on Schedule TO and related exhibits, including an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal, and other related documents (the "Tender Offer Documents"). The Tender Offer Documents will be sent by mail to holders of the Shares. Shareholders of the Company may obtain additional copies of the Tender Offer Documents for the Company, without charge, by contacting the Tender Agent for the Tender Offer, DST Systems, Inc., at 1-844-485-9167. Shareholders can also obtain the Tender Offer Documents free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Shareholders should read these documents and related exhibits, as the documents contain important information about the Company's Tender Offer.

Tender Offer Questions and Additional Information

Any questions regarding the Tender Offer can be directed to the Company's Tender Agent, DST Systems, Inc., at 1-844-485-9167. The Company's NAV Per Share, $8.58 as of January 29, 2020 (the last Board-approved NAV), as well as other information, including information about management and the healthcare-focused investment strategy, are available at www.nexpointcapital.com. The information on or accessible through www.nexpointcapital.com is not incorporated by reference herein.

About NexPoint Capital, Inc.

NexPoint Capital, Inc. is a non-traded, publicly registered business development company sponsored and managed by NexPoint Advisors, L.P.

About NexPoint Advisors, L.P.

NexPoint Advisors, L.P. ("NexPoint Advisors") is an SEC-registered adviser on the NexPoint alternative investment platform ("NexPoint"). NexPoint Advisors serves as the adviser to a suite of funds and investment vehicles, including a closed-end fund, interval fund, business development company ("BDC"), and various real estate vehicles. For more information visit www.nexpointadvisors.com.

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements may involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of NexPoint Advisors' sponsored investment products, general economic conditions, future acquisitions, competitive conditions, and government regulations, including changes in tax laws. Readers should carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only on the date at which such statements are made. NexPoint Advisors undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Neither the Company, nor the Company's Board of Directors, nor NexPoint Advisors makes any recommendation as to whether to tender or not to tender any Shares in the Tender Offer. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission.

Media Contact:

Lucy Bannon

(972) 419-6272

[email protected]

Contact Information for Tender Offer:

Financial Advisors: (855) 498-1580

Shareholders: (844) 485-9167

Media Relations: (972) 419-6272

SOURCE NexPoint Capital, Inc.
Honcharuk on coronavirus threats for Ukraine: No reasons for panic! Do not be fooled by provocations!

Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk claims that the government has been mobilized as much as possible to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

"The government has been mobilized as much as possible to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. The work of all services is coordinated," he wrote on Facebook.

The premier noted that the authorities discovered a group of countries with infection risks, therefore, there is an additional procedure for controlling flights from these countries: the body temperature of passengers is checked at Ukrainian airports.

"If a person has symptoms of the disease, we prepared each region for this: there are teams of infectious disease doctors who know the whole procedure for providing medical care," Honcharuk added.

According to him, hospitals are also identified that are ready to host people. "There are no reasons for panic! Do not be fooled by provocations!" the prime minister urged.
A Tesla Model 3 vehicle set to be delivered to a company employee moves off an assembly line during a ceremony at the company's Gigafactory in Shanghai, China, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019. Tesla spent over $1 billion in the most recent quarter on factories, including one in Germany, and Elon Musk has hinted that India could be the next target.

Tesla shares tumbled on Monday amid a broader market sell-off driven by investors' coronavirus concerns. The COVID-19 epidemic in China could turn into a pandemic, with infections on the rise in Iran, Italy and South Korea.

Tesla, which recently began manufacturing operations in Shanghai, saw its shares close down 7.5%, ending the day at $833.79. Tesla also relies on many Chinese suppliers to make its electric cars, and is hoping to sell more cars to Chinese consumers.

By way of comparison, the S&P 500 lost 3.35%, and most large-cap tech stocks with limited exposure to China dropped around 4%.

As the outbreak emerged, Tesla CFO Zachary Kirkhorn said on a 2019 fourth-quarter earnings call that the coronavirus outbreak would only cause the business a week-and-a-half production delay in China.

By Feburary 13, 2020, the company changed its tone and said in an annual financial filing that the coronavirus outbreak may have a material adverse impact on its business.

Tesla Investors have also been concerned about the final results of an Autopilot-related crash investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB plans to deliver that report on Tuesday afternoon in Washington D.C. (It originally planned to reveal its findings in the morning, but postponed the report.)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk frequently claims that Autopilot saves lives. However, the safety of this automated driver assistance system, which is standard in newer Tesla vehicles, is still being evaluated by third party researchers.

The NTSB previously recommended that all automakers with automated driver assist systems on the market -- including Tesla Autopilot, Cadillac Super Cruise, Nissan ProPilot or Volvo Pilot Assist-- implement changes to keep drivers attentive while using them, and to prevent abuse or mis-use of the technology.

Tesla drivers often boast online about using Autopilot features such as Autosteer to drive without touching the steering wheel, and others fall asleep behind the wheel. They do this, even though the fine print of Tesla's vehicle owners manual cautions drivers: "Autosteer is a BETA feature," and "Warning: Autosteer is a hands-on feature. You must keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times."

Tesla's own marketing videos previously depicted drivers with their hands off the wheel.
The naming of a lackey as acting director of national intelligence, and of an even bigger lackey as his deputy, signifies President Donald Trumps deep insecurity but also his growing confidence: He cant bear to hear views that differ from his own, but he now makes no effort to disguise his shutdown of dissent. He knows that no one will stop him.

There are two dangers to the blatant politicization of intelligence: first, the looming specter of authoritarianism, second, the clear danger to national security.

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We have seen bits of this in the past. When President George W. Bush was looking for an excuse to invade Iraq in the fall of 2002, Vice President Dick Cheney prodded the CIA to cherry-pick raw intelligence suggesting that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction. Dissenting views, from other agencies, were cited in footnotes to the National Intelligence Estimate, but no footnotes were cited in the reports executive summary, which is all that most presidents and legislators bother to read. And so we plunged into a warwhich killed 4,400 U.S. troops, wounded 34,000 more, and destabilized the entire Middle Easton false and contested pretenses.

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With lackeys now in charge of all the intelligence agencies, future reports might not have any dissents, even in the fine print.

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The new lackey in chief is Richard Grenell, a former political operative who currently serves as U.S. ambassador to Germany, where he has aroused contempt and distrust for dissing the top NATO ally in a head-spinningly clueless manner. Recently, for instance, Grenell said that reports by embassy staffsthe professional diplomats who have built up years of experience and wisdom about the host countriesarent needed because we can get that information off the internet.

Grenell was brought in just days after the previous acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told House members that Russian President Vladimir Putin had begun interfering in the 2020 elections with the aim of getting Trump reelected.

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Trump has gathered a tight group of lightweights who, whether out of cravenness or misplaced loyalty, will do his every bidding and bow to his every utterance.

As his first move in his new post, Grenell hired as his deputy Kashyap Patel, whoas a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes, ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committeewove elaborate conspiracy theories depicting special counsel Robert Muellers investigation as a deep state plot to overthrow Trump.* CBS News has reported that Patels main job as Grenells deputy will be to clean housethat is, to turn the vast cadre of intelligence analysts into pliant parrots of Trump or to get rid of them. Grenell hired Patel after firing Andrew Hallman, a career intelligence officer of three decades standing, who had been Maguires deputy.

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Its not hard to imagine the consequences. The intel agencies, which report above all to the president, began caving under pressure even before these personnel shuffles. In January, the heads of these agencies wriggled out of their annual briefing to Congress on worldwide threatsat least the portion of the briefing thats open to the publicso that they wouldnt have to appear on TV disagreeing with Trump. In the January 2019 briefing, the intel chiefs testified that Iran was abiding by the nuclear deal signed by former President Barack Obama, that North Korea had no intention to give up its nuclear weapons, that ISIS continued to stoke violence in Iraq and Syria, and that Russian cyberoperations still posed a threat to Americas elections and infrastructure. All of these pointswhich reflected the unanimous view of the intelligence agenciescontradicted Trumps beliefs and repeated statements. Dan Coats, the national intelligence director at the time, was dismissed not long after.

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When the agencies next compile their reports on worldwide threats, it is possible that Iran will suddenly be seen as a perennial violator of treaties, that North Korea will be depicted as harmless, that the defeat of ISIS will be hailed as all but total, and that the intel on Russias cyberoperations will take on a distinct aura of ambiguity. Or, if the agency chiefs cant bring themselves to compromise their principles so abjectly, acting Director Richard Grenell can be counted on to rewrite the presidents daily briefing in a manner that pleases the boss.

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And so Trump and his staff may well miss the warning signs of aggression, the furtive openings for a possible peace, or the subtle shifts of something in between, in all the worlds hot spots.

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Intelligence agencies are supposed to be independent, in order to keep the president apprised of what they see as facts and warnings. The agencies arent always right. And the president is well within his rights to reject their findings. But it serves even this president badlyand the nation even worseto twist intelligence from the get-go, simply in order to keep the president from getting angry.

We are already seeing this in the broader makings of national security policy. According to the New York Times, when Trumps national security adviser, Robert OBrien, convenes interagency meetings of the National Security Council, he sometimes opens by distributing printouts of Mr. Trumps latest tweets on the subject at hand.

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The whole point of the NSC is to inform and advise the president on matters of foreign and military policy. Yet OBrien has twisted things around: The councils purpose now is to justify and implement what Trump has already decidedsometimes impulsively, never on the basis of analysis, often after listening to some favored pundit on Fox News.

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This is exactly as Trump wants it. Just over three years into his presidency, he is on his fourth national security adviser, his third secretary of defense (including one acting secretary who washed out), his second secretary of state, his fifth secretary of homeland security (three of them acting), and his fourth national intelligence director (three of them acting).

In the spring of 2018, shortly after firing Rex Tillerson as secretary of state and replacing him with the more amenable (and still-kowtowing) Mike Pompeo, Trump said, Im really at a point where were getting very close to having the Cabinet, and other things, that I want. Soon after came the ouster of H.R. McMaster as national security adviser and the resignation-in-protest of Jim Mattis as secretary of defense, followed by further waves of firings and hirings.

We have now reached the point where Trump isnt merely getting very close to the Cabinet he wants; hes reached the destination. Hes gathered a tight group of lightweights who, whether out of cravenness or misplaced loyalty, will do his every bidding and bow to his every utterance. Just as the Republican Party is now the party of Trump, the executive branch is now his fiefdom.
[February 24, 2020] CRN Recognizes Claroty on 2020 Security 100 List

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Claroty, the global leader in industrial cybersecurity, announced today that CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company, has named Claroty to its annual Security 100 list. This list identifies the top security vendors in the IT channel. Honorees are chosen based on their impact in each of these categories: Identity Management and Data Protection; Endpoint Security; Network Security; Web, Email and Application Security; and SIEM, Risk and Threat Intelligence. These leading Security 100 companies push the limits, bringing innovative and outstanding products and services to solution providers. Additionally, the list helps solution providers identify the best security vendors to team with as they guide customers through the dense IT security market. Claroty offers partners and customers an integrated suite of cybersecurity products to address the unique challenges of Industrial Control Systems. The Claroty platform protects the safety of people, assets, and critical processes from cyber attacks by providing security teams with extreme visibility into industrial control networks, real-time monitoring, network segmentation, control over employee and 3rd party remote access and integration with existing SOC, cybersecurity and network infrastructure. "CRN's Security 100 list distinguishes the most elite vendors in the IT security landscape", said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. "These innovative companies provide the IT channel with advancements in data security that stand upto the wide range of threats and risks. We congratulate each of this year's honorees for their dedication to progress in cybertechnology security solutions."



"Claroty was conceived to secure the safety and reliability of industrial control networks that run the world from cyber-attacks, and we are proud to have developed a robust ecosystem of respected and capable partners to help serve the spectrum of our customer's needs during their industrial cybersecurity journey," said Emanuel Salmona, Claroty VP of Partnerships. "Being named to CRN's 2020 Security 100 list is not only validation that our partner strategy works, but it also proves that what we're doing is making an impact in the industry. We look forward to continuing along our path of growth and success with our partners in 2020 and beyond." The 2020 Security 100 list will be featured in the February 2020 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/security100 .

For more information about Claroty and its products, please visit: https://www.claroty.com. For more information on Claroty's partner program, please visit: https://www.claroty.com/partners. About Claroty

Claroty bridges the industrial cybersecurity gap between information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) environments. Organizations with highly automated production sites and factories that face significant security and financial risk especially need to bridge this gap. Armed with Claroty's converged IT/OT solutions, these enterprises and critical infrastructure operators can leverage their existing IT security processes and technologies to improve the availability, safety, and reliability of their OT assets and networks seamlessly and without requiring downtime or dedicated teams. The result is more uptime and greater efficiency across business and production operations. Backed and adopted by leading industrial automation vendors, Claroty is deployed on all seven continents globally. The company is headquartered in New York City and has received $100 million in funding since being launched by the famed Team8 foundry in 2015. For more information, visit www.claroty.com. About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com 2020 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. The Channel Company Contact:

Jennifer Hogan

The Channel Company

[email protected] Press Contact:

Jenna West

SHIFT Communications for Claroty

(617) 779-1875

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crn-recognizes-claroty-on-2020-security-100-list-301009007.html SOURCE Claroty

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When Tuplin joined AXA XL three years ago, the business did not have an international cyber practice, he said, and his role was to build this new division by implementing a new P&L, a new strategy, new guidelines, new ratings, new wordings, new claims handlings and a new team. The division is now well-established with operations in 15 countries, and Tuplin outlined how his global portfolio has given him a clear view of how the cyber insurance sector has developed internationally in recent years.

You have to think of sector as a moving feast, he said. Every market across the world is in a slightly different stage when it comes to purchasing cyber and its a peculiar and particular mix between the law, claims and buying habits.

There are several stages to the cyber insurance sector following the implementation of new laws, Tuplin said, and the first of these is what he refers to as the lets talk stage, where the client has been hearing about cyber and wants to know what it does and what it covers. In this stage, the client receives an indicator for the price, he said, and generally comes back saying they are not interested at that time, if they come back at all.

A period later, often between 12 and 36 months, he said, the client will come back with a renewed understanding of the importance of the cover often due to a problem at their own or a peers organization, or board pressure.

That is three or four years after the law, he said. It takes a little bit of time for people to learn, for the brokers to learn, for the clients to learn, and then to find and get the sign off for the budget which can often be a difficult thing to do.

The next step is the first purchaser stage, where those who are at high risk of exposure and with big enough budgets are buying the product. Finally, the flush stage is reached, he said, where the market knows what cyber is and how it works and has a fundamental grasp on what is and is not covered. In this stage, he said, those who are at high and medium-risk are buying the product and the focus moves on to those with smaller risks or less understanding of the sector, who are either less worried about their exposure or who simply do not have the available budget.

America had the first data breach laws which really focused the mind back in 2004, Tuplin stated, and, as these laws are now 16 years old, they have proliferated and progressed, being amended and adapted over the years, thus giving this market a lot of time to consider the necessity of these products. The US has been through each of the stages outlined above and is now firmly in the flush stage, he said, with cyber insurance uptake estimated at being somewhere between 40% and 60%, depending on which report you read.

GDPR came into Europe in 2018, Tuplin added, and up until then, it was very hard to sell cyber insurance in this market. It was a misnomer that there were no claims in Europe prior to the introduction of GDPR, he said, but these claims were not publicized and did not have the same level of impact on operations as they do now in the climate of instant delivery.

Weve come a long way when even just two or three years ago I would walk around Europe and people would say I dont have exposure to this, I dont need cyber insurance, he said. For most of us, if you werent US-focused you were a tech PI underwriter who also did cyber. Then NotPetya and WannaCry happened as well as other claims. And then in 2018, GDPR turned up and Europe took notice.

Most of western Europe is now in the first purchaser stage, he said, though it is not a flush market by any means. In the UK, France and Germany, however, the move to the next stage has started, he said, with medium-sized accounts now increasing uptake but this growth has been significantly slower in eastern Europe. In Australia, the market is similar to western Europe and is very viable, he said, operating firmly in the first purchaser stage while in Asia-Pacific it is very much still in the initial stage, though change is slowly taking root.

The LATAM region is somewhere between the talking and the first purchaser stage as pushed by American law, Tuplin said, and he outlined the ability of all markets to change very quickly once the right laws are implemented which highlight the value of the product. All this growth occurs on a tiering, he said, and the US is the only market really in the flush stage while everywhere else is very much still growing.

Though global uptake of the product is still low, Tuplin fully expects it to reach 50% to 60% in the jurisdictions where laws have been instigated, due to the strict liabilities which come with these regulations. The mandatory nature of these laws is similar to GL and property, he said, and he believes that everybody will start treating cyber in a similar way to those lines.

Though the market is still small-to-medium-sized, Tuplin said, it is going to become very large as, eventually, businesses will not be able to operate without having their IT covered in a global environment where your systems are everybodys business.
Manitobas police watchdog is investigating Brandon police after a woman alleged she was assaulted by officers who were arresting her.

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Manitobas police watchdog is investigating Brandon police after a woman alleged she was assaulted by officers who were arresting her.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) received a complaint regarding an incident that occurred on Feb. 5, the IIU said in a media release, when police responded to a call regarding a domestic disturbance.

Upon arriving on scene, officers tried taking a 31-year-old woman into custody when she became uncooperative and force was used to arrest her.

The woman has since filed a complaint that the officers assaulted her during the arrest.

While the allegation of injuries does not meet the definition of "serious injury," the IIU civilian director has determined it is in the public interest for the IIU to investigate.

The investigation is ongoing and no further details will be provided at this time.

Any witnesses or other individuals who have information or video footage that may assist this investigation are asked to contact the IIU toll free at 1-844-667-6060.

 The Brandon Sun
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An Orthodox Jewish man credited as a hero for attacking a knife-wielding man who stabbed five people during a Hanukkah celebration north of New York City is refusing to take a $20,000 reward from established Jewish groups because he considers them Zionists, according to a rabbi who knows him.

Josef Gluck threw himself in front of the machete-wielding man and used a wooden table to try and stop the December 28 assault in Monsey, before luring the attacker outside, documenting the license plate number and alerting police.

Rabbi Dovid Feldman of Monsey said Gluck's decision to refuse the reward stems from the discomfort he and some other Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox Jews have with organizations like the Jewish Federation and Anti-Defamation League.

Rabbi Feldman is a leader of Neturei Karta International and Orthodox Jewish members believe 'the entire concept of a sovereign Jewish state is contrary to Jewish Law'.

Josef Gluck (left) is refusing to take a $20,000 reward from established Jewish groups because he considers them Zionists, according to a rabbi who knows him. Gluck is credited with throwing his body in front of the machete-wielding man on the December 28 assault in Monsey. Grafton Thomas (pictured right) has pleaded not guilty on multiple hate crime charges

The very small splinter group on the margins of ultra-Orthodox Jewry opposes the existence of a Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah.

They had previously met with former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who became notorious for his verbal diatribes against Israel.

The reward presentation event was scheduled for February 6, but Gluck said he had a family emergency, Miriam Allenson, spokesperson for the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County, said.

Gluck has received several honors for his heroism, including a congressional certificate presented by U.S. Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey, of Harrison, the Town of Ramapo's Freedom Award and a New York State Senate Liberty Medal.

Feldman said Gluck was preparing to notify the groups in writing to explain in more detail his reasons for declining the reward.

Who hands out recognition comes amid tensions between the Jewish groups following the attacks. Neturei Karta have held a few quiet demonstrations locally since December.

'People are scared and that's a true issue and a true problem,' Feldman said. 'The question is who should do it and how should it be done.'

Gluck is also credited with using a wooden table to try and stop the attacker last year. He has received several honors for his heroism, including a congressional certificate presented by U.S. Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey, of Harrison, the Town of Ramapo's Freedom Award and a New York State Senate Liberty Medal

The attack left five men wounded, including a 72-year-old who remains in a coma with a fractured skull and other injuries. Rabbi Chaim Leib Rottenberg is pictured

The Jewish Federation - which is headquartered on Jewish Community Campus in West Nyack - and the Anti-Defamation League, told The Journal News that they were caught off guard by Gluck's decision to turn down the reward.

'The reward would have been for anybody who offered information that would lead to an arrest,' Allenson said. 'That was what was on our minds.'

Allenson said that there were no strings with the money and that the groups had 'no idea' regarding Gluck's decision to turn away the funds.

'It was his choice not to accept,' Allenson said Monday. 'We're letting it go. There's nothing else to say.'

Evan Bernstein, an Anti-Defamation League vice president, said that while the group is disappointed Gluck decided not to accept the award, it will continue to work closely with the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey and elsewhere and offer rewards when merited to assist law enforcement in the investigation of hate crimes.

Grafton Thomas, the man accused in the stabbing, pleaded not guilty on multiple hate crime charges. Investigators found anti-Semitic writings in Thomas's journals and articles on Jews and Nazis on his cell phone, according to a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Thomas' defense attorney said last month that a psychiatrist found Thomas incompetent to stand trial.

The attack left five men wounded, including a 72-year-old who remains in a coma with a fractured skull and other injuries.

The Anti-Defamation League is one of the donors. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO & National Director, is pictured speaking at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Leadership Summit in Washington, DC

Gluck's decision to refuse the reward stems from the discomfort he and some other Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox Jews have with organizations like the Jewish Federation, Rabbi Feldman (pictured) said. Feldman is a leader of Neturei Karta International and Orthodox Jewish members believe 'the entire concept of a sovereign Jewish state is contrary to Jewish Law'
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has had a change of heart on the bidding mechanism for solar power tariffs in Vietnam.

Viet Nam has been licensing a number of solar plants to deal with grid capacity shortage.  Photo ndh.vn

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has called for more solar power producers in Viet Nam to enjoy fixed feed-in-tariffs (FIT) instead of a bidding mechanism.

Earlier this month, the ministry was still considering a bidding plan for all solar projects without power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed before November 23 last year in the country. However, it now thinks that could have a negative impact.

The ministry sent a report to the government on Tuesday, suggesting that solar power projects approved before November 23, 2019, that begin operating before January 1, 2021, should enjoy fixed feed-in-tariffs (FIT) of 7.09 cents a kWh for plants on land and 7.69 cents for floating plants.

In the previous proposal, MoIT suggested fixed rates would have applied only to projects that had begun construction before November 2019, operated this year; and signed power purchase agreements (PPAs).

In the letter sent on Tuesday, it said: Investors of the projects that have been granted investment certificates have spent a lot of time and money on planning, site clearance, preparations for construction and technical design evaluation. Not getting a PPA is an unwanted issue, adding the previous regulation would slow down projects of those without a PPA.

MoIT thought using a bidding mechanism could waste more time, money and resources for investors.

Instead, it wanted to apply fixed feed-in-tariffs (FIT) for 36 projects nationwide, with a total capacity of 2,989 MW. Those projects received investment certificates before November 23, 2019 without PPAs.

Together with seven projects with a total capacity of 517 MW and signed PPA contracts, there will be 43 solar projects to enjoy the fixed prices.

Earlier on February 12, the World Bank released a new report recommending Viet Nam adopt two new deployment schemes for projects: competitive bidding for solar parks and substation-based bidding as they will help to address curtailment  or underuse of solar generation capacity  as well as improve risk allocation between public and private investors.

The report recommends setting yearly and medium-term solar deployment targets and revisions to the legal framework covering the competitive selection of independent power producers.

Facing a grid capacity shortage, Viet Nam has been licensing a number of solar plants. So far, solar plants with a total capacity of 25,000 MW have been licensed, far exceeding the governments target of 4,000 MW by 2025.  VNS

VN Industry Ministry no longer keen on bidding mechanism for solar power price The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has had a change of heart on the bidding mechanism for solar power tariffs in Vietnam.
A San Rafael man has been jailed without bail on suspicion of attempted murder following an attack at an American Canyon home early Sunday morning, according to police.

At about 4:45 a.m., American Canyon police and fire department paramedics were called to the 100 block of Via Pescara after a report of a "person down" at the home, according to a police news release. Several family members told police of a party that had taken place there earlier in the night, and officers were told to provide security for paramedics because a dispatcher taking the initial call had heard loud voices in the background, police said.

A woman at the home was taken by ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center with what officers originally were told was a "ground-level" fall. However, a hospital examination revealed several major injuries inconsistent with a fall, and police began an investigation after hospital staff informed them of the injuries, according to the police statement.

The press release from American Canyon Police did not specify the nature or the extent of the injuries.

With assistance from San Rafael Police, American Canyon Police located and detained 54-year-old Fakaofilani Tangitau Akaoula, an uncle of the injured woman, who was interviewed by Napa County sheriff's detectives, police reported. The suspect was booked into the Napa County jail.

Akaoula's niece remained hospitalized at the Queen on Sunday night, according to police.

You can reach Howard Yune at 707-256-2214 or hyune@napanews.com

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For the Capital Region, it appears to be the best of both worlds: We've seen wage growth that has pushed us ahead of other upstate cities and we're "among the least unequal places in the country," according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York titled, "Why Are Some Places So Much More Unequal Than Others?

Growing income inequality has become "a critically important economic and social issue," said the report, authored by Jaison R. Abel and Richard Deitz. Wage growth patterns, they said, result predominantly from the growing demand for skilled workers driven by technological changes.

Meanwhile, the erosion of labor unions has weakened their ability to deliver higher wages for their members.

The Capital Region has benefited from its large public workforce -- Albany is, after all, the state capital -- and those government jobs "tend to be relatively stable and provide steady wage increases," the study said. And while manufacturing jobs here overall have declined, "the region's burgeoning nanotechnology cluster has helped the region add skilled manufacturing jobs."

The authors use what they call the "90/10" ratio, representing the wages earned by someone in the 90th percentile of the wage distribution divided by those earned by someone in the 10th percentile.

The larger the ratio, the wider the inequality.

Fairfield, Conn. - consisting of wealthy suburbs surrounding poor inner cities  had the highest ratio in 1980, at 5.6. From there, inequality only grew, and Fairfield, still at the top of the list, had a ratio of 8.7 in 2015, according to the study.

Cities in the bottom 15 include Utica-Rome, with a ratio of 4.2. Johnstown, Pa., was at the bottom in 2015, with a ratio of 3.9.

Albany and Glens Falls are at 4.7. New York City is a 7.

At first glance, it would appear that a larger share of the Capital Region population shares in the income gains, especially because the growth was relatively muted once you were above the 90th percentile.

"The Capital District as a whole does better than its peer regions upstate and many across the country," observed Mark Castiglione, executive director of the Capital District Regional Planning Commission. "We have a large, stable workforce in the public sector, and burgeoning clusters in technology and health care."

In addition, the Capital Region is highly educated, Castiglione points out.

But a commission study issued last year found racial disparities in household incomes: While white households saw median income rise from $63,586 in 1990 to $67,749 in the 2012-2016 period, African-American households saw their incomes decline over the same period, to $37,906 from $39,594. Hispanic households saw a sharp drop between 1990 ($56,757) and 2000 ($44,374), before rising slightly to $46,686 in 2012-2016. And while Asian median household incomes were the highest in the group, at $72,369 in 1990, they declined to $68,030 by 2012-2016.

Digging deeper, only one of the four counties the planning commission covers saw income increasing among black households, while Hispanic households saw "significant" decreases, also in three of the four counties. And Asian household incomes fell in Saratoga and Schenectady counties, but rose in Albany and Rensselaer counties.

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"We are seeing increasing disparities in races" and their incomes, Castiglione said.

Local officials have highlighted the fact that not everyone is sharing in what appears to be a prospering Capital Region.

Education is seen as key to narrowing the disparities. "Generally, higher levels of education correspond to higher incomes," the study concluded.

The Fed study found that skills and education also played a role in rewarding those at the upper end of the income distribution. Those individuals, in turn, flocked to larger urban areas that subsequently saw growing inequality.

The Capital Region continues to be attractive to many of those individuals.

Companies such as Regeneron Pharmaceuticals continue to add jobs. Employment at Regeneron in Rensselaer County is approaching 4,000 people.

Castiglione called Regeneron "an incredible employment generator for the region," and suggested that the nearby city of Rensselaer could capitalize on that for its residents.

But the challenge will be to spread such growth to other upstate cities.

While he said the Capital Region's per capita income  the highest upstate  illustrated its strength, Capital Region Chamber CEO Mark Eagan said in an interview last week that it would do even better if the rest of upstate shared that prosperity.
(Alliance News) - Craven House Capital PLC said Monday it has signed non-binding option agreements with five private companies for the acquisition of a 30% stake in each firm for USD1.6 million.

The companies in which the London-based investment firm holds options in are: Garimon Ltd, the owner of online media magazine Magazinos.com, Onebas.com Ltd - owner of a music-focused search engine and Swedish music services provider IZYRadio Ltd.

The other two companies are Rosedog Ltd - owner of vitamins marketer Pro Vitos and YRRO Ltd, the owner of primary care services provider North Doctor.

Each option must be exercised before May 20, and the consideration paid through the issue of new Craven House shares to the sellers for USD10.00 each.

Should Craven House exercise option for all five companies, it will pay USD8.0 million through the issue of 800,000 shares in total.

"We are pleased to announce this agreement, which provides the company with the opportunity to acquire meaningful shareholdings in five exciting e-commerce businesses benefitting from excellent platforms, strategies and management teams based in Sweden. We look forward to reporting further news regarding these prospective acquisitions in due course," said Non-Executive Director Mark Pajak.

Shares in Craven House Capital were untraded on Monday, last quoted at USD4.41 in London.

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Uneasy calm prevailed in localities under the old city's Kotwali and Delhi Gate police stations here on Monday, a day after arson and group clashes.

Most shops remained closed in violence-hit areas but there were no fresh clashes on Monday. District authorities were seen persuading traders to open for business, and the situation improved by the evening.

"No untoward incident has been reported from any place since Sunday evening," Agra zone Additional Director General Police (ADGP) Ajay Anand told PTI.

On Sunday, over a dozen people needed medical treatment after stone-pelting between groups of protesters and clashes with police.

Two policemen were among those injured.

The ADGP said Mohamad Tariq Munawwar (22), who suffered gunshot injuries on Sunday, is now stable after emergency surgery and has been shifted to the ICU at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital's trauma centre.

"If necessary, we will shift him to AIIMS, New Delhi. Currently, however, doctors are satisfied with his progress," Anand said.

He said police are in the process of identifying those involved in Sunday's violence.

"At the same time, we are initiating confidence-building measures with the help of community leaders to restore normalcy in all affected areas," he added.

District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh warned that any attempt to spread rumours would be dealt with strongly and the stringent National Security Act invoked.

Singh said internet services will continue to remain suspended till midnight Monday.

Trouble began Sunday evening in Upper Kot locality when police tried to remove women squatting on Mohamed Ali Road near the Kotwali police station since Saturday morning. They were demanding the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Some people protested, leading to a scuffle and within minutes, stone-pelting started from neighbouring areas. Police lobbed tear gas shells and used rubber bullets to contain the violence.

However, the violence spilled over to neighbouring localities, including Babri Mandi, where according to police sources, members of the two communities pelted stones at each other and shots were fired.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the police action.

"The police lathi-charge on women protestors is condemnable. The BJP government has crossed all limits of cruelty, he said in a statement released in Lucknow.

Wielding lathis on women who are staging a non-violent and peaceful dharna is immoral, said.

He criticised the BJP government for its handling of protests by women against the CAA, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens. Dissent is allowed in a democracy, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump announced the United States would sign a $3 billion defence deal with India on Tuesday. Equity market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty extended losses in the afternoon session, logging the second-worst single-day fall of this year as the spread of Coronavirus infections outside China roiled global markets. The board of Bharti Infratel extended the deadline for the conclusion of the company's merger with Indus Towers to April 24. Read for more top stories from the world of business and economy:

1. Donald Trump announces mega $3 billion defence deal with India

India-US defence deal: As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best & most feared military equipment on the planet, said Donald Trump.

2. Sensex logs second-worst single-day fall in 2020 as Coronavirus fear roils global markets

BSE 30-share S&P Sensex ended 806 points lower at 40,363 and NSE 50-share index Nifty50 closed 242 points lower at 11,838.

3. Gold crosses Rs 44,000 per 10 gm in retail market on coronavirus fears

Spike in new coronavirus cases in China and elsewhere sent investors scrambling for safer assets such as gold and government bonds, traders said.

4. Namaste Trump event: Highlights from US President's speech at Motera Stadium

Speaking on the issue of terrorism in Pakistan, US President Trump said his administration is working with Islamabad to crack down on terror groups operating from that country's borders.

5. Bharti Infratel extends merger deadline with Indus Towers

This is Bharti Infratel's third deadline extension for the merger with Indus Towers despite the government's approval for FDI enhancement last Friday.
A day after Karnataka minister B C Patil felt the need for a law to shoot people who raise pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans, another BJP MLA on Monday said such people should be shot at sight or exiled to the neighbouring country.

Appachu Ranjan, MLA from Madikeri, said a woman named Amulya had raised Pakistan Zindabad slogan at Bengaluru during a CAA-related meeting.

"People saying Pakistan Zindabad, despite living in our country- eating food and drinking water available here- they should be shot at sight.

Or else such people should be exiled to Pakistan, and no one should should show softness towards them and fight cases in their favour," he said at Somwarpet in Kodagu.

AmulyaLeona, a woman who raised pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally here on Thursday, has been booked for sedition and remanded to judicial custody.

She had raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans thrice after the organisers, under the banner of "Save the Constitution", invited her to address the gathering in the presence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Agriculture minister Patil on Sunday had expressed the need for a legislation to shoot such people, and said he would make a request to Prime Minister in this regard.

"A law should be brought in the country that whoever raises slogans against India and in favour of Pakistan, they should be shot at sight.

Bringing such a law is important," Patil had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ted Schaer and Jay Leffler, two lawyers from the dedicated and knowledgeable Zarwin Baum legal team with over sixty years experience between the two of them, share their thoughts on cybersecurity.

PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Zarwin Baum's Cyber Liability Practice has a proactive approach and focuses on the growing risks and rapidly evolving liability exposures associated with the security and storage of information. Due to its knowledgeable lawyers and representatives on the topic of Cyber

Security and Data Privacy, Zarwin Baum has developed an excellent reputation among the region's business, political, and legal communities. Cyber liability and Data protection are critically important in this modern era, as data breaches can affect anyone from the largest company to the individual. Cybersecurity is continually evolving to keep up with the adaptation of security risks and advanced persistent threats (APTs). Having strong cybersecurity policies, such as the right security technology or network protection, to the proper training for employees, can prevent essential or critical data from falling into malicious hands.

Jay Leffler graduated from Rutgers University Law School in 1988, completing his undergraduate work at Temple University. He then graduated cum laude with a degree in Political Science. Jay Leffler began his career as a law clerk for the honorable Paul Ribner in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Theodore (Ted) M. Schaer graduated from American University in 1982 with a bachelor of science degree in Government and Public Administration. After working in Washington DC Capitol Hill, he returned to Philadelphia and attended Temple University School of Law, where he graduated in 1987. Ted Schaer serves as Chairman of the Firms Insurance Defense Department. Ted Schaer is hired by some of the nation's largest insurers, third party administrators, motor carriers, and businesses to defend lawsuits. Theodore M. Schaer is board certified in privacy and US Data Protection, and Schaer serves as National and Regional Counsel to several national accounts.

Cybersecurity is the prevention of unauthorized access to your information. Cybersecurity policies can prevent essential or critical data from falling into malicious hands. Cybersecurity varies from the right security technology or network protection to the proper training for employees.

Ted Schaer from Zarwin Baum calls your personal information the "crown jewel." The crown jewel that criminals wish to access with cyber attacks. From your bank account to your health insurance information, this information is highly valuable. Ted Schaer goes on to say that, on average, each record lost costs a consumer or business around two hundred dollars. So the price of a data breach or an invasion of your cybersecurity can be immense. While it can be easy to place the blame on malicious attacks, Theodore M Schaer goes on to say that "thirty-five percent of data breaches come from human negligence." He says that one of the most significant precautions a company can take for their data security is to make sure employees are appropriately trained and always to be safe.

Jay Leffler from Zarwin Baum goes on to say that data privacy and cybersecurity are all part of professional liability. Jay Leffler mentions that a proper precaution for a business, large or small, is the appropriate insurance towards data breach protection. There are two significant forms of insurance regarding cybersecurity: technology errors and omissions and cyber liability insurance. Cyber liability insurance is for protection against data breaches at your own company. At the same time, technology errors and omissions insurance is to protect your company in the event of a client being harmed. Jay Leffler says that it is essential to know which type of insurance you must require and to compare the two types of coverage.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577572/Ted-Schaer-and-Jay-Leffler-from-Zarwin-Baum-Legal-On-Cyber-Security
Punjab Chief Minister Singh on Monday expressed deep anguish over the crash of a micro-light aircraft in the Army Cantonment Area here, which left an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot dead.

One NCC aircraft crashed today in Punjab's Patiala after take-off. The aircraft was being flown by a Group Captain-rank officer along with an NCC cadet.

While Group Captain GS Cheema died in the tragic accident, an NCC trainee from local Government Mohindra College, Vipin Kumar Yadav, was injured.

The Chief Minister mourned the demise of Group Captain Cheema, and prayed to the almighty to give courage to the bereaved family, said an official spokesperson.

The Chief Minister also wished a speedy recovery to the injured undergoing treatment at the Command Hospital in Chandigarh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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San Francisco, 24 February 2020: The Report Trocars Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Disposable, Reusable), By Tip (Bladeless, Optical, Blunt, Bladed), By Application, By Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2018  2026

The global trocars market size is estimated to reach USD 991.1 million by 2026, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., progressing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. Rising geriatric population, increasing reliance on laparoscopic surgeries, and favorable reimbursement policies in developed countries are some of the primary growth stimulants for the market.

Favorable reimbursement policies by governments and key players for surgical devices and instruments are projected to boost the growth of the market over the forecast period. Key players are providing favorable reimbursement policies in order to promote minimally invasive surgeries, laparoscopic surgeries, and bariatric surgeries. For instance, Ethicon (subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) conducts Reimbursement Support Program to help healthcare providers with reimbursement related to laparoscopic surgeries and minimally invasive surgeries. These initiatives are most likely to help healthcare providers to take up these procedures instead of traditional ones. Thus, these factors are likely to drive the market over the forecast period.

In addition, the volume of surgeries has increased manifolds due to increasing geriatric population worldwide. Geriatric population are prone to various diseases, which require various surgical interventions for treatment. According to estimates published by WHO, the global elderly population is likely to increase from 841.0 million in 2014 to more than 2.0 billion by 2050.

Access Research Report of Trocars Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/trocars-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

The global disposable trocars market is expected to dominate the market in 2017. Disposable trocars deliver high quality medical output and the chance of post-operative infection is low.

Optical trocars are anticipated to be the fastest growing segment with a CAGR of over 4.5% owing to increasing demand for technologically advanced devices for surgeries

Gynaecological surgery represented the largest share in 2017, with a valuation of USD 174.64 million, owing to increasing prevalence of gynaecological disorders across the globe.

North America dominated the market in 2017 and accounted for approximately half of market revenue. Rising number of surgeries, advancements in healthcare infrastructure, and increasing demand for technologically advanced surgical procedures are contributing to the growth of the region

Asia Pacific is poised to witness the highest growth in the market due to high population, rising geriatric population, and expanding base of patients with unmet needs

Some of the key companies present in the market are CONMED Corporation; The Cooper Companies Inc.; Teleflex Incorporated; GENICON, Inc.; Medtronic; B.Braun Medical Inc.; and Johnson & Johnson.

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/medical-devices

Grand View Research has segmented the global trocars market on the basis of product, tip, application, and region:

Trocars Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

Disposable Trocars

Reusable Trocars

Trocars Tip Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

Bladeless Trocars

Optical Trocars

Blunt Trocars

Bladed Trocars

Trocars Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

General Surgery

Gynecological Surgery

Urological Surgery

Pediatric Surgery

Other Surgeries

Trocars Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

MEA

Access Press Release of Trocars Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-trocars-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com
Cooperation Minister S T Somashekar on Monday said he would push for higher compensation for farmers whose lands have been acquired for the NICE Township in the Yeshwanthpur constituency that he represents.

Somashekar said Rs 40 lakh as compensation was not enough, and that he would discuss this in the Cabinet sub-committee.

During a meeting with special land acquisition officers of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) and Public Works Department, Somashekar was informed that 1,322 acres had been identified for the NICE Township-1 project in Gonipura, Tippur and Lingapura villages of the Bengaluru South taluk.

Of this, 142 acres have been acquired for which Rs 58.29 crore compensation had been paid. For every acre, farmers have been paid Rs 40-41 lakh, officials said.

Somashekar directed officials to look into 2.33 acres of land that is being used as a cemetery whereas records showed otherwise.

This land is part of a 28.33-acre parcel on survey number 168 in Kengeri that was leased to the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP) for 30 years. The 2.33 acres earmarked for a cemetery has not been used by NICE to build a road, officials pointed out.

Government records do not show that this land is a cemetery. This needs to be examined, Somashekar said.

The minister also asked officials why farmers were being given low compensation for their land acquired for the Metro phase-2.

In the UM Kaval forest area, the metro had decided to pay Rs 5,000 per sqm. Farmers moved the High Court of Karnataka following which it was revised to Rs 10,000 per sqm. Again, farmers have sought revision and this is being discussed, officials informed Somashekar.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

Trend:

FINCA Azerbaijan, a non-bank credit organization, held ceremonies marking the official opening of new branches in Balaken and Tovuz, bringing the overall number of FINCA Azerbaijan branches to 16.

The first official opening ceremony took place at the Balaken branch and was attended by the Country Director of FINCA Azerbaijan, Timothy Tarrant, along with staff members from the organization and several clients.

In his speech, Mr. Tarrant noted that FINCA Azerbaijan is expanding its operations into the regions to better serve small businesses and entrepreneurs and to increase access to financial services. The new branch enables customers from Azerbaijans northwest regions to take advantage of FINCAs various loan products. The new office will serve customers from the Balaken, Zaqtala, Qax, and Shaki regions.

We think that it is very important to make finance accessible to the people in the regions so they can develop sustainably. As such, FINCA Azerbaijan is offering a range of loan products to those clients who want to improve their business. Our goal is to provide financial services to people so they can achieve financial sustainability, Tarrant noted.

FINCA also launched the opening of another branch in the Tovuz region. This branch will be accessible to small entrepreneurs living in the Tovuz, Agstafa and Qazax regions. FINCA Azerbaijan offers a range of loan products targeting the trade, production, service and agriculture sectors. Loan applications can be submitted via landline, mobile phone or by visiting the FINCA Azerbaijan wesbite.

Phone: 055 455 29 29

Mobile App: WhatsApp (055 455 29 29)

Online: www.finca.az

About FINCA Azerbaijan

Launched in 1998, FINCA Azerbaijan is part of FINCA Impact Finances global network of 20 banks and microfinance institutions that profitably and responsibly provide impactful financial services to low-income individuals and communities, enabling them to invest in their futures. As a leading microfinance institution in Azerbaijan, FINCA serves small businesses across the country with various loan products intended to promote profitable business activity. The company places an emphasis on agricultural lending. For more information about FINCA Azerbaijan and the products they offer, visit their website at www.finca.az.
History doesnt repeat itself verbatim, though. The dynamic looks similar: Sanders reliably turns out his enthusiastic base, while the others split the somewhat larger please-not-Bernie vote. But it is not at all clear that rank-and-file Democrats see the race as neatly divided into progressive and moderate lanes, the way so many analysts describe it. A recent Morning Consult poll, for example, found that when supporters of former vice president Joe Biden were asked their second choice, more of them named Sanders than any of the moderates who share Bidens supposed lane. The same was true of supporters of lane-straddling Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 02:20:51|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Monday said violence has continued in the West Bank, as seven Palestinians, including one child, were recently killed by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) and another 206 were injured in various incidents.

And 16 Israeli security personnel and seven civilians were injured by Palestinians, Mladenov said while briefing the Security Council at a meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

"On Feb. 5, a Palestinian teenager was killed by ISF after he reportedly threw a Molotov cocktail during clashes in Hebron," he said. "The following day, a Palestinian man was shot during clashes in Jenin, while in a separate incident, a Palestinian Authority policeman died after reportedly being hit by a live bullet while he was inside a police station."

Mladenov reiterated that violence against civilians, and particularly against children, is unacceptable, and must be condemned by all.

He added that Israeli security forces must exercise maximum restraint and only use lethal force when strictly necessary. "All incidents must be thoroughly investigated."

Meanwhile, the situation around the Holy Sites in Jerusalem remained tense, Mladenov said. "Amidst calls by religious and political leaders for Palestinians to pray en masse at the Muslim sites, there were limited clashes and arrests reported, including after Friday prayers."

"The Israeli police also issued orders temporarily restricting access to the site for several Palestinians, including a religious leader and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, citing incitement and disturbance of the peace," said the envoy.
February 24 : Sobthia Dhulipala has wrapped the shooting of Kurup, her first outing with Dulquer Salmaan and calls it an eccentric and endearing film.

The Malayalam movie Kurup, based on some real-life incidents, has been in the making for quite a while now. The final schedule of began in Mangaluru and now the shooting of the film is complete.

Actress Sobhita took to her social media and wrote a note about working on the film and her co-actors. The note read, Its a wrap on #Kurup, my first full-fledged Malayalam film that is eccentric and endearing at once. As I type this, it occurs to me that this is the first wrap post Im documenting so Ill just do it here online

This film is special for its obvious reasons like the astute direction by happy hippie @brownachilles aided by prodigies @nimishravi @benglann , #Praveen, the most wonderful, buoyant co-actor @dqsalmaan and the rest of the lovely team (love you most Sweety Chechi). What makes my experience intimate is that it caused/coincided with - perhaps unknowingly, a growth spurt in me as much emotionally as creatively. I have had distinct landmark moments in my life that have been character building. This is one such affair.Immense beauty, learning and joy in my heart as we call it a wrap on #Kurup

Cheers to cultural diversity, cheers to the truth of imagination, Cheers to courage that stays consistent. Bear hugs to @anupamaparameswaran96 and @gauthami.nair who I got to befriend along the way...Also, shout out to Chetta extraordinaire #Sami #ratheesh @bibinperumbilli

The film is helmed by Anoop Sathyan and is scripted by Daniell Sayooj Nair and K S Aravind while Jithin K Jose has penned the story.

The film revolves round the most wanted criminal in the history of India, Sukumara Kurup, accused of murdering a film representative named Chacko. It was a sensational case; more so because the police could not arrest the main accused and it is one of the longest unsolved cases in Kerala till date.
Stringer/Reuters

A 20-year-old woman from Wuhan, China, transmitted the coronavirus to her family members without ever showing any symptoms, a new study found.

The woman tested positive for the virus, but her CT scans were clear and she never became physically ill.

Five of her family members, however, came down with a fever. Two developed severe pneumonia.

The case is evidence that the coronavirus can be transmitted when someone is asymptomatic.

For the latest case total and death toll, see Business Insider's live updates here.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Chinese researchers have confirmed a case of asymptomatic transmission of the new coronavirus: A 20-year-old woman from Wuhan passed it to five of her family members but never got physically sick herself.

The case study is the first concrete evidence that a person showing no symptoms can pass the coronavirus to others  a fact that could make curbing the outbreak even more challenging.

The researchers behind the finding said the 20-year-old woman was isolated and closely observed at the Fifth People's Hospital of Anyang. She never become physically ill, even after her family members developed fevers. Two of them got severe pneumonia.

A woman dons a makeshift protective face shield at a residential compound in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

For now, the woman's asymptomatic transmission appears to be an anomaly, but health experts have documented other instances in which people tested positive for the virus without showing symptoms.

A report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed records of all of China's reported cases of the virus from December 8 to February 11 and found that 1.2% of patients confirmed to be infected showed no symptoms. A far higher portion of asymptomatic cases was found on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where 322 of 621 people tested positive but showed no symptoms.

"It's very clear that the people who are getting caught in that umbrella of reporting are the people that present themselves to a hospital," Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at a briefing on February 6. "There's another whole cohort that is either asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic."

Story continues

The Chinese woman tested positive for the virus, but never got sick

Nurses in protective gear talk to people in the reception area of the First People's Hospital in Yueyang, Hunan Province, China, January 28, 2020.

Reuters/Thomas Peter

The 20-year-old woman in the new case study lives in Wuhan  the city where the outbreak started  but traveled to Anyang on January 10. Three days later, she went with five family members to visit a sick patient (who did not have the coronavirus) at the Anyang District Hospital.

On January 17, one of the woman's family members came down with a fever and sore throat. The following week, the other four relatives developed a fever and respiratory symptoms. Those relatives were admitted to the Fifth People's Hospital on January 26.

All of the family members tested positive for the coronavirus. The only person they'd had contact with who had been in Wuhan was their 20-year-old relative.

When doctors initially tested the young woman for the coronavirus, the results came back negative. Her CT scan was normal, too. But a day later, she tested positive for the virus even though she wasn't showing any symptoms. By February 11, the woman still had no fever, cough, sore throat, or gastrointestinal issues.

coronavirus asymptomatic transmission

Yan Bai, Lingsheng Yao, Tao Wei, et al.

Doctors concluded that the woman's incubation period  the time during which she was infectious  was 19 days. Chinese health officials previously estimated that the incubation period for the virus ranged from one to 14 days, but recent research suggests it could be as long as 24 days.

The US and many other countries have established quarantine rules for travelers from Wuhan based on that 14-day window.

Asymptomatic transmission in Germany?

Most of the coronavirus cases so far have been mild, but the virus has killed more than 2,200 people and infected more than 76,000. Though the majority of cases are on the Chinese mainland, the virus has spread to 29 other countries.

A case of asymptomatic transmission similar to the one described in the new case study was previously identified in Germany. But that research turned out to be flawed.

According to a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a woman from Shanghai transmitted the virus to a 33-year-old German businessman in January. Three days later, he felt better and went back to work, then infected at least two of his colleagues. But the researchers had not spoken with the woman, who had in fact experienced mild symptoms at the time of transmission.

That left scientists unsure as to whether people who never experience any symptoms can transmit the disease  until today.

Read more about the coronavirus:

Business Insider
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) today announced it is withdrawing the Frontier Project from the regulatory review process.



Teck CEO and President Don Lindsay has written to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change outlining the reasons for the withdrawal. The letter is available here and included below.

As a result of this decision Teck will write down the $1.13 billion carrying value of the Frontier Project.

About Teck

Teck is a diversified resource company committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck at www.teck.com or follow @TeckResources.

Media Contact:

Chris Stannell

Public Relations Manager

604.699.4368

chris.stannell@teck.com

Investor Contact:

Fraser Phillips

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis

604.699.4621

fraser.phillips@teck.com

Letter to Minister Wilkinson

Dear Minister:

I am writing to advise that after careful consideration Teck has made the difficult decision to formally withdraw our regulatory application for the Frontier oil sands project from the federal environmental assessment process.

We are disappointed to have arrived at this point. Teck put forward a socially and environmentally responsible project that was industry leading and had the potential to create significant economic benefits for Canadians. Frontier has unprecedented support from Indigenous communities and was deemed to be in the public interest by a joint federal-provincial review panel following weeks of public hearings and a lengthy regulatory process. Since the original application in 2011 we have, as others in the industry have done, continued to optimize the project to further confirm it is commercially viable.

Teck is extremely proud of the work done on this project and the strong relationships that we have formed with local governments, labour organizations, scientists, researchers and many other stakeholders, as well as with affected Indigenous communities. We believe that our agreements with Indigenous communities on Frontier, and very recently the work undertaken by the Alberta government with Indigenous communities in the region, form an important foundation for the future, and we applaud them for this milestone achievement.

However, global capital markets are changing rapidly and investors and customers are increasingly looking for jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change, in order to produce the cleanest possible products. This does not yet exist here today and, unfortunately, the growing debate around this issue has placed Frontier and our company squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved. In that context, it is now evident that there is no constructive path forward for the project. Questions about the societal implications of energy development, climate change and Indigenous rights are critically important ones for Canada, its provinces and Indigenous governments to work through.

I want to make clear that we are not merely shying away from controversy. The nature of our business dictates that a vocal minority will almost inevitably oppose specific developments. We are prepared to face that sort of opposition. Frontier, however, has surfaced a broader debate over climate change and Canadas role in addressing it. It is our hope that withdrawing from the process will allow Canadians to shift to a larger and more positive discussion about the path forward. Ultimately, that should take place without a looming regulatory deadline.

Resource development has been at the heart of the Canadian economy for generations. Resource sectors including the Alberta oil sands create jobs; build roads, schools and hospitals; and contribute to a better standard of living for all Canadians. At the same time, there is an urgent need to reduce global carbon emissions and support action on climate change.

As a proudly Canadian company for over 100 years, we know these two priorities do not have to be in conflict. Our nation is uniquely positioned with abundant natural resources coupled with strong environmental regulations and a deeply engrained culture of social responsibility. We can build on that foundation and be a global provider of sustainable, climate-smart resources to support the worlds transition to a low carbon future. And yes, that can include low-carbon energy produced from the Alberta oil sands from projects like Frontier, using best-in-class technology, which would displace less environmentally and ethically sound oil sources.

At Teck, we believe deeply in the need to address climate change and believe that Canada has an important role to play globally as a responsible supplier of natural resources. We support strong actions to enable the transition to a low carbon future. We are also strong supporters of Canadas action on carbon pricing and other climate policies such as legislated caps for oil sands emissions.

The promise of Canadas potential will not be realized until governments can reach agreement around how climate policy considerations will be addressed in the context of future responsible energy sector development. Without clarity on this critical question, the situation that has faced Frontier will be faced by future projects and it will be very difficult to attract future investment, either domestic or foreign.

Teck has not taken this decision lightly. It is our hope that the decision to withdraw will help to create both the space and impetus needed for this critical discussion to take place for the benefit of all Canadians.

Sincerely,

Don Lindsay

President and Chief Executive Officer

Teck Resources Limited
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers said he was on his way to Atlanta Saturday morning for a staffers wedding when he heard of a plan to bring Americans infected with the coronavirus to a federal installation in Calhoun County.

Rogers said it wasnt long before he was on the phone to President Donald Trump, who was on his way to India and was unaware of the plan, he said.

I am convinced this was a low-level manager that made this decision and it really wasnt thought through, and I think somebody may lose their job over this, based on what the president told me, Rogers said.

According to Rogers, Gov. Kay Iveys office told him what they had learned the previous night from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: That evacuees from the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship docked in Japan during an outbreak of coronavirus would be coming to Annistons Center for Domestic Preparedness.

The evacuees had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, but were either asymptomatic or have mild flu-like symptoms.

Didnt ask...just informed them, Rogers recounted at a press conference this morning in Anniston. Didnt ask the local leaders. Didnt make sure the local hospitals were prepared. It was really poorly handled.

At the same time, other members of Alabamas congressional delegation, along with Calhoun Countys state and local officials, were on the phone trying to learn what they could to prepare. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, for example, said in a statement that he and his staff were briefed on the plan.

We were advised that the announcement on Saturday regarding the CDP was premature, and although the CDP is one of a number of contingency sites, at this time, the multi-agency plan anticipates using other sites first," Jones said.

The CDP regularly sees hundreds of first responders from around the country who undergo emergency training for response in the event of terrorism or natural disasters.

The announcement made residents uneasy, who began focusing on helicopters seen at the former Fort McClellan site where the CDP is located. Stories began circulating on social media that the patients had already arrived, which authorities said were untrue.

And authorities had many questions, since the CDP is a training facility and not a quarantine site. There was no word on how many patients might be coming, nor how many might follow. The initial reports were that they would be staying at least 60 days, Rogers said. All were over the age of 65.

Immediately, officials had questions. Trainees at the CDP stay in barracks where they sleep and are fed. What precautions were there for staff, who prepared meals and made beds? What might happen if staff got infected? What training might be needed?

It is in no way equipped to handle infectious diseases, Rogers said. These are people who would be housed in barracks out there near individuals that would be housed to train. This is an airborne contagion. Nobody could assure us that these (first responders) would not be contaminated before they went back to their respective communities.

City and county leaders began gathering what information they could, and preparing legal challenges.

We wanted to help, but it would not have been the right venue, Im convinced of that, State Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said.

By Sunday afternoon, Gov. Kay Ivey, Sen. Richard Shelby and Rogers were letting residents know the plans had been scuttled. Rogers said he spoke with President Trump, who was not happy that the patients had been brought back to the continental U.S.

I wont use the colorful language he conveyed to me, but he was furious that they had even been brought back to the country while they were still infected, Rogers said.

At Mondays media event, officials said they want those infected to receive care and treatment. But they thought the plan to bring them to Anniston was ill-conceived.

We are all patriotic Americans, Rogers said. We want these individuals who are contaminated with this virus to be treated like we would want to be treated. And thats not to be brought to a facility thats not prepared to take care of them.

Marsh said it was quick action by all levels of government that made the difference.

Theres no doubt in my mind had this group not gotten together and gotten attention, this would be happening...these people would be coming, Marsh said. Its going to be important to continue to communicate.
Ferrari's 2020 rivals are "faster", according to team boss Mattia Binotto.

It is a vastly different story compared to a year ago, when Ferrari dominated the winter tests. Then in Australia, it emerged that the Maranello team was not setting the pace.

Now, Binotto said after Ferrari's inauspicious first week of testing last week: "I am not as optimistic as last year. I think the others are faster than us at the moment."

Ferrari sources had already flagged the Italian team's potential problems, with well-known insider Leo Turrini now saying: "I appreciate Mattia's language of truth.

"Let's put it this way: the first aerodynamic package of the SF1000 does not work," he wrote on his Quotidiano blog.

Not just that, Sebastian Vettel suffered an engine failure as the first Barcelona test wrapped up last week.

That is despite the fact that many rivals, including Mercedes, suspect Ferrari is not currently running at full power.

"We don't have a winning car for Melbourne," Binotto is quoted by the Italian media. "I don't think we'll beat Mercedes there."

Also having a low-profile winter so far is Red Bull-Honda, but Max Verstappen - although quiet - also seems bullish.

The Dutchman said he is not even alarmed about Mercedes' new steering system.

"I am neither confident nor worried," Verstappen said. "We are working through our program."

As for Ferrari, he added: "I don't think they have done a race simulation yet so it's hard to tell. But they seem to have problems."

(GMM)
Actor Hrithik Roshan, who struggled with stammering as a child, has lashed out at a professor who shamed a student for having a stutter. He was responding to a Twitter user, Marium Zulfiqar, who claimed that her cousin was bullied by a lecturer in front of the entire class for his speech impediment.

Please tell your cousin that that professor and his judgement both are irrelevant. Stuttering should never hold him back from dreaming BIG ! Tell him its NOT his fault and its NOT something he needs to be ashamed of. People who shame him are no better than brainless monkeys, an angry Hrithik wrote.

Please tell your cousin that that professor and his judgement both are irrelevant. Stuttering should never hold him back from dreaming BIG ! Tell him its NOT his fault and its NOT something he needs to be ashamed of. People who shame him are no better than brainless monkeys. https://t.co/BDQp9PArag  Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) February 23, 2020

Marium claimed that her cousin was giving a presentation in class when the Head of the Department told him that he should not study if he could not speak properly. In a series of tweets, she wrote, He hasnt come out of his room since this incident. He now refuses to go back to his university and face anyone in the classroom or study, his confidence is shattered.

According to Marium, the professor in question is the head of the Bachelor of Business Administration department in National University Of Modern Languages, Pakistan. She claimed that after being humiliated publicly, her cousin went back to the professor the next day and said that he would repeat the course if his performance was unsatisfactory. He was then allegedly advised to leave studies by his teacher.

Hrithik has been extremely vocal about his struggle with stammering and has said that he practised for hours to overcome it. In an interview with The Quint in 2016, he called it a lonely battle. He also said that his school and college days were hell for him because of his speech impediment.

Also read | Dabboo Ratnani says Kiara Advanis shot was inspired by Tabus picture from 2002: I admit to plagiarising my own self

Back then I used to think of myself as weak. Not capable. Not equal, not normal. School and college was hell. And children as sweet as they are, can be quite mean unintentionally. Not having enough information or education was the problem. Not the stutter itself. Awareness is what we need, he told the website.

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Some 12,000 emergency dispatchers, social workers, health and hospital workers, nurses, park workers, janitors, clerks and roads and maintenance workers - among others - represented by Service Employees International Union Local 521 plan to go on strike Friday unless the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors intervenes, the union said in a statement Sunday.

The supervisors are set to meet Monday, at 2 p.m. for open session and public comment, with closed session to follow.

This newest strike announcement comes nine months after the last contract covering "frontline" employees - those who routinely work directly with the public - expired July 17. The possible strike Friday would come after a 10-day strike in October, which was followed by voluntary mediation in November. In August, 97 percent of Local 521's members voted to authorize October's unfair labor practices strike; that vote also serves as authorization for this Friday's strike, if it happens, a union spokesman said Sunday night

Key issues, Local 521 leaders said, are short staffing and turnover resulting from low pay.

One 18-year-old woman is dead and another is in the hospital with serious injuries Sunday and facing a DUI charge after a high-speed solo accident early Sunday morning on U.S. Highway 101 near Whipple Avenue in Redwood City, the California Highway Patrol said.

At 3:18 a.m. Sunday, the CHP got the call of a solo vehicle, headed south on 101, having flown off the road "at freeway speed" into a utility pole. The car, an Audi sedan, rolled over, said CHP Officer Dave Morey.

The passenger in the Audi, a San Jose resident, was pronounced dead at the scene, Morey said. The 18-year-old driver, also from San Jose, remained hospitali8zed Sunday afternoon with serious injuries, and will later be booked into the San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of felony DUI, he said.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, the suspect in a vehicle-vs.-pedestrian collision that left a 2-year-old boy - the suspect's nephew - dead, police said.

Police had been looking for Cirilo Martinez Tellez of Fairfield since3 shortly after the 2 p.m. accident in the 1400 block of West Texas Street. The toddler was taken to a local hospital, and died there from his injuries.

Police had Tellez's vehicle, but Tellez had left the scene immediately after the accident. Tellez returned to the scene about an hour after the accident, police said, and he was arrested.

Based on witness statements and evidence collected at the collision scene, police believe alcohol impairment was a factor in the accident.

A 33-year-old Salinas man died early Sunday morning when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving, hit a concrete wall and was thrown about 100 feet to the ground, the California Highway Patrol said.

CHP Officer Ross Lee said that at about 3:05 a.m. Sunday, a Yamaha motorcycle driven by the Salinas man was on the connector from southbound state Route 87 to southbound Route 85 when the cycle veered to the right and into a concrete wall. That, Lee said, resulted in the motorcyclist being thrown over that wall and falling about 100 feet onto a field adjacent to Santa Teresa Boulevard.

The motorcyclist, whose name was not released Sunday by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's office, was pronounced dead at the scene.

It isn't known why the motorcyclist lost control, Lee said.

Regular Caltrain weekday service is set to resume Monday morning, as weekend work to prepare the route for electrified trains is scheduled to wrap up by 3:30 a.m. Monday.

Starting Saturday, Feb. 22 and running through March 29, Caltrain is planning for weekend work on the four train tunnels in San Francisco to pave the way for Caltrain's electrification, as well as to perform standard track repairs. To accommodate the new electric trains by 2022, Caltrain crews will install the "catenary" system, the overhead wires from which the electric locomotives will draw power. During work weekends, SamTrans will provide free bus service to connect Caltrain riders traveling between the San Francisco downtown station, the 22nd Street station and the Bayshore station.

The Caltrain electrification project is a key component of the overall Caltrain Modernization Program to electrify the corridor from the San Francisco Caltrain Station at Fourth and King Streets downtown to approximately the Tamien Station in San Jose, and replace diesel-hauled trains with electric trains. Electrification will improve Caltrain's system performance, enable more frequent and/or faster train service and reduce long-term environmental impact.

Pleasanton police are searching for three suspects connected to a home invasion robbery in Pleasanton early Sunday morning, as well as the driver of a vehicle that picked up the three suspects after the robbery.

Police said that at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, two men smashed the glass of a rear sliding door and entered a house in the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on the city's south edge. The suspects confronted a woman resident there, brandishing a handgun, police said. The men demanded cash and then ransacked the house.

The woman was not injured.

Police detectives retrieved surveillance camera footage, which revealed three suspects exiting the front door of the house, carrying items from the house. The footage also shows an unknown make and color SUV driving in front of the residence and picking up all three suspects. The suspects and their SUV are still outstanding as of Sunday night.

The two suspects who confronted the woman are described as black males between 18 and 25 years old.

A 31-year-old man was shot and killed Sunday in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood, and police officers said Sunday night that no arrests have yet been made.

Police responded at 12:22 p.m. Sunday to the 1500 block of 35th Avenue, about three blocks from the Fruitvale BART station, and found a 31-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said he was treated at the scene, but was pronounced dead, police said.

It doesn't appear there were any other injuries, police said.

The man's name was not provided Sunday night, and no motive for the shooting had been established.

North County Fire Authority crews are at the scene of an apartment fire in Brisbane early Monday morning.

The blaze was first reported at 2:37 a.m. at the building located at 34 Visitacion Ave., fire dispatch said.

Fire officials at the scene said the blaze was located at an apartment on the second floor and residents had been evacuated.

No further information is immediately available.

San Francisco police officers are working to identify participants in at least four separate "sideshows" featuring large crowds and people driving cars in sometimes dangerous ways, police said Sunday.

Police said they received information late Saturday night of a number of vehicles headed into the city for a "sideshow meetup." At approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday, the vehicles initially met in the Candlestick Park area and then proceeded across the city.

Officers reported sideshows place in the areas of 23rd and Dolores streets in Noe Valley; Geary Boulevard and 30th Avenue in the Outer Richmond; Market and Clayton streets in Eureka Valley; and Loomis Street and Barneveld Avenue in Bernal Heights. Each sideshow attracted 50 to 100 vehicles, along with numerous spectators and bystanders, police said; no citations, arrests, injuries or collisions were reported.

Anyone with information including vehicle license plates or video is asked to call the SFPD.

Monday will be partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming sunny. Highs will be in the 50s to mid 60s. West winds will be 5 to 15 mph.

Monday night will be clear. Lows will be near 50. Northwest winds will be 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday will be sunny. Highs will be in the 50s to upper 60s. North winds of up to 5 mph will become west winds in the afternoon.

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.
Syracuse, NY -- Teon Jacobs Jr. lied to police in claiming that a 2-year-old girl badly burned her leg by falling into a space heater.

In fact, Jacobs admitted, he burned the little girl. But he wont say how.

On Monday, Jacobs, 19, began his seven-year prison sentence for the February 2019 assault of the girl in his care. She suffered a serious burn to her leg that required hospitalization.

Jacobs also will spend an additional 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for assaulting a Black Lives Matter advocate during an unprovoked attack at Destiny USA in February 2018.

Hed originally gotten a sealed record and no jail for that case. But the assault of the young girl nullified his plea agreement, leading to the extra prison time.

Jacobs lawyer, Nicholas DeMartino, advised his client Monday not to say anything in court. Jacobs did exactly that, telling the judge, No, thank you when asked if he wanted to speak.

So what happened to the little girl will go down as an official mystery.

Prosecutor Anthony Copani has suggested that Jacobs intentionally burned the little girl with boiling water. But experts could not identify the exact liquid or its temperature.

All told, Jacobs will spend 8 1/3 to 11 years in prison.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 470-6070.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a dispute over a Philadelphia Catholic agency that won't place foster children with same-sex couples. The justices will review an appeals court ruling that upheld the city's decision to stop placing children with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's agency because it would not permit same-sex couples to serve as foster parents. Read more

The latest religious freedom battle to make its way to the Supreme Court of the United States originated in Philadelphia. After the Supreme Court ruled in 2018 in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding because of his religious beliefs, this fall, the court will hear the case of a Philadelphia faith-based foster care agency that refused to place children with otherwise eligible same-sex couples.

The ruling could have implications that would reach far beyond the foster system.

At the heart of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia is whether Catholic Social Services discriminated against same-sex couples. In 2018, The Inquirers Julia Terruso reported that the agency refused to work with same-sex couples  in violation of the citys nondiscrimination ordinance that covers city contractors. Following the reporting, the city froze Catholic Social Services contract. The agency sued, claiming Philadelphia violated its religious freedom. A federal court sided with the city, and a federal appeals court affirmed the decision.

On Monday morning, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear arguments in the case. The case is the latest of cultural-wedge issues that the Supreme Court with a Trump-appointed conservative majority has decided to weigh in on.

 READ MORE: LGBTQ rights, abortion, immigration, guns: Supreme Courts term could reshape life in Philadelphia | Editorial

Catholic Social Services contends that the city violated its religious freedom and targeted the agency when it froze its contracts. If the Catholic Social Services argument prevails  the same one that two lower courts rejected  the court could give faith-based agencies the right to impose religious tests and requirements of prospective foster parents  or participants in any taxpayer-funded program rolled out by a faith-based agency. Why stop at same-sex and unmarried couples? Faith-based agencies could refuse to place children with couples who dont attend church weekly, werent confirmed in their faith, or  God forbid  are of different faiths.

Philadelphia is right to fight this case. By refusing to work with same-sex couples, Catholic Social Services is implying that such placement would harm children. That is not only false but a bigoted view that should not be rewarded with public funds.

 READ MORE: We should do a better job supporting families, not separating them | Editorial

Catholic Social Services is not the only agency nationwide that discriminates against same-sex couples. In Michigan, for example, the ACLU sued both a Catholic charity and the state to bar foster agencies that discriminate against same-sex couples from receiving public funds. Philadelphians should be proud that, in this case, the city is the one fighting against discrimination and not standing shoulder to shoulder with those who discriminate. Thats consistent for the city that went to court against then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to protect its sanctuary status (and won), supports the effort to open a supervised injection site, and is fighting in state court for the citys right to enforce its own gun laws.

Philadelphians of all sexual identities and faiths have the right to live according to their own values. No one has the right to impose their own religion on anyone else  especially those receiving public funds and claiming to act on behalf of the citys most vulnerable children.
Mumbai: As U.S. president Donald Trump began his visit to India today, Mukesh Ambani made an assertive case for India at the Future Decoded CEO Summit in Mumbai.

In conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, the Reliance Industries chairman said the India of 2020 is a very different country to what previous visiting presidents may have seen. What previous presidents, dating back to Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W Bush may have seen, India is a transformed country and well on its way to becoming a digital society.

Even the India of 2015, the year Barack Obama visited, was nothing like what it is today, he said.

And what is driving this deep and transformative change?

Ambani said it is the deepening of mobile networks that is giving real momentum to change.

It all kickstarted in 2014 when the PM (Narendra Modi) gave us the vision of Digital India... 380 million people have migrated to Jio's 4G technology, he said.

Pre-Jio, the data speed in India used to be 256 kbps. Post-Jio, it is 21 mbps, he pointed out.

I have no doubt in my mind that we will be among the top three economies in the world, Ambani said, adding that the only point to debate is whether it happens in five or in ten years.

We in India have the opportunity to become the premier digital society, he stated.

The next generation will see a very different India than what you (Nadella) and I have grown up in, he said.
This is the alarming moment a wild cat causes panic in a Russian travelling circus as it leaps in the air to claw its trainers chest, neck and head in front of screaming children.

The lynx went on the attack after the male handler cruelly tugged the animals leash tied around its neck after it performed on a high chair.

In the clip, the chair rocks and tips over, leaving the animal scared.

A wild lynx was cruelly tugged by the leash tied around its neck as it performed on a high chair as part of a travelling circus at Tskhinval, South Ossetia

It slams on to the floor and the wild animal pounces at the middle aged trainer.

The animal leaped high in the air to claw his chest, neck and and head at the performance by a travelling circus at Tskhinval in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia which borders Russia.

It desperately swings its paws at the trainer who tries to shield his face and break away.

Its chair starts to rock and tips towards the ground before the animal pounces at its trainer

Children were heard screaming as the performance turned into mayhem.

A mother said: 'It was scary - there was no protective fence around the stage where he was performing.'

The touring circus from Sochi has not commented on injuries to the trainer or the safety concerns.

In a dramatic turn of events, the animal leaps high in the air to claw its trainer's chest, neck and and head during the performance. Children were heard screaming as the performance turns into mayhem

The man, who is pictured partially hidden by a curtain, desperately tries to shield his face and pull away from the lynx

The circus - which also features acrobats, figure skaters and an array of animals including crocodiles, pythons, monkeys, and porcupines - is on tour around Russia and neighbouring regions.

And the clip has sent the internet into meltdown as people slam the circus.

One said 'this is not an attack, it is a necessary self-defense' while others hoped the wild animal 'bit the throat of the moron'.

Recently animal rights campaigners have expressed concern over a series of incidents involving circus animals.

Irina Novozhilova, of animal rights group VITA, said: 'No circus conditions will be humane for one simple reason.

'Training goes hand in hand with cruelty

'Circuses are always cruel beyond limits. And circuses with animals should be banned.'
A 40-year-old man has died after taking sex enhancement drugs in Anambra State, police have said.

The incident happened on Monday morning, around 3.am in an Onitsha hotel.

Police said the man died after having sex with a woman in the hotel.

Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.

He gave the mans name as Paul Okwudili.

The incident, Mr Mohammed said, happened at Plus View Hotel, Onitsha.

According to the spokesperson, Mr Okwudili had lodged in the hotel with the lady, whose identity was not revealed in the statement.

But, later that night, the lady raised an alarm that the man had collapsed. This attracted the attention of the hotels management.

The management was said to have rushed the man to a hospital where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

He was later pronounced dead by doctors on duty at the hospital.

The spokesperson noted that investigation so far suggests that the man might have taken some sex performance enhancing drugs, which may have contributed to his death.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the man has been deposited in the morgue while the police have continued investigation to find out the remote and immediate causes of his death.

Mr Mohammeds statement reads: On February 24 at about 03.am, the manager of Plus View Hotel in Onitsha reported at Central Police Station, Onitsha that one Paul Okwudili m aged about 40 years, of Ogboliolosi, off Awka Road, Inland town, Onitsha allegedly took a lady to the hotel and lodged.

Minutes later, the lady came out shouting for help and the hotel management went to the room and discovered the man gasping for breath and rushed him to St Charles Boromeo Hospital Onitsha for medical attention, where the victim was later confirmed dead by a medical Doctor on duty.

Meanwhile, scene was visited by Police detectives attached to CPS Onitsha and photograph of the victim obtained.

No marks of violence on the deceased body but some drugs were discovered in the hotel room, reasonably suspected to be enhancement drugs.

Corpse deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy. The lady was arrested while investigation is ongoing to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident, please.

The spokesperson added that the lady has been arrested and is helping the police in their investigations. He, however, did not disclose the ladys name.

The lady is 30 years old. She alleged that the man promised to marry her when she takes in. She also claimed that the victims organ refused to stand initially, so he took drugs in her presence and that after sometime, the male organ got erected and they started.

But, while having the intercourse, she noticed that the man was behaving strange(ly), hence she ran out and shouted for help, Mr Mohammed added.
Doradal, Colombia: Maria Jaramilla awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of her panicked mule. When she looked out across her small yard, her confusion turned to shock: A hippopotamus had wandered down her driveway and was inspecting her house.

"It was a big fright for all of us," said Jaramilla, 41.

Since that night in 2018, the hippos have kept coming - wandering down the back streets of rural Doradal, a small Colombian town a four-hour drive from Medellin. Occasionally a hippopotamus will appear on the local soccer pitch to graze.

An estimated 80 hippopotamuses, perhaps more, live in the area around the Rio Magdalena, Colombia's principal river, which runs through the centre of the country. They're descendants of four hippos that were brought to the country by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar for his personal collection.
HONG KONG, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- (ISC)  the world's largest nonprofit membership association of certified cybersecurity professionals  today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL) that will strive for the advancement of the information security profession in Australia.

In addition to promoting the importance of having qualified and certified physical security and information security professionals, both organisations agree that physical and electronic security systems and information security systems are converging, and both these aspects of security are vital to the other. As part of the agreement, ASIAL recognises (ISC)2 certifications including the SSCP, CISSP and CSSLP as being measures of experience and knowledge related to information security. In turn, (ISC)2 will promote ASIAL as a peak body for physical and electronic security in Australia and will support ASIAL in promoting the message of a safer and more secure cyber world.

The recently published 2019 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study indicates that the current cybersecurity workforce shortage in Australia requires an increase of approximately 45,000 skilled staff. In order to advance the cause of the cybersecurity profession and attract more talent, (ISC)2 and ASIAL will help facilitate access to each other's initiatives to provide additional insights and value to members of both organisations.

"Increasingly, electronic security measures are reliant on effective cybersecurity controls to protect people, business and society," said Clayton Jones, managing director for Asia-Pacific, (ISC). "Our agreement with ASIAL recognises and reinforces the enormous risk that both physical and virtual threats pose and seeks to address them in order to promote a safer and more secure world."

Recognising the committed efforts ASIAL has put forward to improve cybersecurity awareness across Australia, (ISC)2 will promote the availability of ASIAL digital content and studies to its Australian members.

"The convergence of physical, electronic and cybersecurity brings with it huge challenges and opportunities," said Bryan de Caires, CEO, ASIAL. "Succeeding in this new environment requires new skills and mindsets. ASIAL's partnership with (ISC) seeks to ensure that members have access to the professional skills needed to thrive in the digital age."

About (ISC)

(ISC) is an international nonprofit membership association focused on inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. Best known for the acclaimed Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, (ISC) offers a portfolio of credentials that are part of a holistic, pragmatic approach to security. Our membership, more than 150,000 strong, is made up of certified cyber, information, software and infrastructure security professionals who are making a difference and helping to advance the industry. Our vision is supported by our commitment to educate and reach the general public through our charitable foundation  The Center for Cyber Safety and Education. For more information on (ISC), visit www.isc2.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About ASIAL

As the peak body for security professionals in Australia, ASIAL is committed to supporting members, promoting standards and safeguarding public interests (www.asial.com.au). ASIAL's membership of 2,600 organisations comprises large corporate providers of security services through to small and medium sized enterprises.

 2020 (ISC) Inc., (ISC), CISSP, SSCP, CCSP, CAP, CSSLP, HCISPP, CCFP, CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP, CISSP-ISSMP and CBK are registered marks of (ISC), Inc.

Media Contact:

Brian Alberti

Corporate Public Relations Manager

(ISC)

[email protected]

(617) 510-1540

SOURCE (ISC)2

Related Links

http://www.isc2.org


Anu Kuruvilla By

Express News Service

KOCHI: On Monday, when the Class X CBSE students all over the country wrote the first paper of the board examinations, 29 students of Arooja Little Star School at Mattancherry were left gazing vacantly at the walls of their classrooms, as their school was not recognised by the board.

These students fell prey to the deviousness of the management of their own school. Their applications were rejected by the CBSE since the school didn't have the recognition to conduct Classes IX and X.

According to Antony M K, a parent, the children are very dejected. "Just try to put yourselves in their shoes. Imagine the heartburn they are feeling when all the other children of their age are appearing for the exams while their future has been jeopardized," he said. The children all are suffering, he added.

"We all came to school. What else can we do? How do we console our children? We don't know what to do?" he rued. According to Mary Grace, another parent, three students have been hospitalised!

ALSO READ: CBSE school lies about affiliation, leaves students in a fix

"The children were all ready to write the exams and nearly a good number were expecting to get A+ grades. But now all that lies in shambles," she said. According to her, the students are being given counselling by the Childline officials. "The officials have been at the school and have assured to take up the issue. Do you know all these children are very good in their studies?" she said.

"The children had prepared well for the exams. They had even gotten their uniforms and other stationary ready. But alas, the school authorities' deviousness spelt doom for the students," she said. According to her, the Childline officials will be registering a case against the school for harming the future of the students. "If only the school had notified us about the issue at least two weeks prior," said Mary.

Parents protest outside Arooja Little Star School at Mattancherry

Mary said, "Though the Childline officials will be counselling the students so as to prevent the children from taking any extreme steps, the parents too are mulling getting their kids to receive help from the psychologists." These are tough times for our kids, she added. The Childline will also be investigating whether the students will be able to write exams next year without having to repeat both IX and X, said Mary.

Childline moves court for re-examination

Meanwhile, the Childline officials have approached the High Court through District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and have also sought the help of Kerala Legal Service Authority (KeLSA) seeking a directive to conduct reexamination for the 29 students. "The aim is to save their one year. Only the High Court can help the kids. This is not the case of a single child, the future of 29 students are at stake," said Reshmi Mampillu, Childline coordinator.

According to her, the parents are demanding the closure of the school. "They are also filing a mass petition before the HC. We have also notified the Child Rights Commission and the Child Welfare Committee," she said.
Press Release

24 February 2020

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee - The Canadian hotel industry recorded positive year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 9-15 February 2020, according to data from STR.

Advertisements

In comparison with the week of 10-16 February 2019, the industry reported the following:

Occupancy: +0.4% to 59.6%

Average daily rate (ADR): +0.5% to CAD151.23

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +0.9% to CAD90.17

Among the provinces and territories, Saskatchewan saw the largest jump in RevPAR (+9.1% to CAD59.75), due primarily to the highest rise in occupancy (+5.7% to 51.1%).

Quebec posted the largest lift in ADR (+3.4% to CAD165.11) and the second-largest increase in RevPAR (+4.8% to CAD111.04).

Prince Edward Island experienced the steepest decrease in occupancy (-3.7% to 36.5%), which resulted in the largest decline in RevPAR (-4.4% to CAD43.72).

Newfoundland and Labrador registered the steepest drop in ADR (-5.7% to CAD116.39).

Alberta reported the only other decline in occupancy (-3.5% to 50.7%) and the second-largest decrease in RevPAR (-3.7% to CAD69.03).
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday pinpointed the "alarming levels of femicide" while issuing a "Call to action for human rights" at the 43rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Lamenting rising attacks on human rights Guterres said that "violence against women and girls is the world's most pervasive human rights abuse."

"We are seeing a pushback against women's rights, alarming levels of femicide, attacks on women human rights defenders, and the persistence of laws and policies that perpetuate subjugation and exclusion," said Guterres.

Emphasising on the importance of rights in gender equality and equal rights for women, the UN Secretary-General also raked up the issue of women's participation in political leadership.

"We also continue to see chronic stagnation in women's participation in political leadership roles, peace processes and economic inclusion."

"The gaps may vary but the roots and reasons are the same: power. For millennia, women have been systematically silenced, marginalized and ignored," he added.

He further pledged to reach gender parity throughout the UN system by the year 2028: "We pledge to reach gender parity throughout the UN system at all levels by 2028, apply a gender perspective to everything the United Nations does."

Lastly, he called on the international community to support policies and legislation that promote gender parity.

"Today, I call on every country to support policies and legislation that promote gender equality, repeal discriminatory laws, end violence against women and girls, ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights, and strive for women's equal representation and participation in all spheres," he said.

Guterres' call to action for human rights singles out seven areas where concerted efforts could achieve a quantum leap in progress or avert the risk of backsliding. The UN secretary spoke out against rising racism, white supremacy and extremism.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following the Minority's theatrical show last week when they walked out of Parliament at a time when the President was there to perform one of his duties, a question has been triggered as to whether or not their action did not breach the Constitution.

The President shall give a State of the Nation Address at the beginning and close of every parliamentary session, as contained in the Constitution is sacrosanct. It also behoves the members of the House as representatives of the people to sit and listen.

Treating this important feature of the parliamentary calendar as the MPs on the minority side did was as irresponsible as it was comical. Personalities of their standing should as much as possible steer away from the boyish exuberance of a boarding house in senior high schools.

Some of the theatricals of the Minority could be allowed as comical reliefs of sorts, not when a constitutional obligation is breached in the name of a protest over MPs Common Fund, Voters' Register and a so-called tyranny. Sounds surreal and to think that the potpourri of confused stuff is originating from Parliament is hurting.

We long for somebody to test the law regarding the constitutionality or otherwise of the action taken by the NDC MPs. Such judicial action is necessary to obviate future recurrence because the NDC, from intelligence, plans conducting more rough tactics even in Parliament.

The NDC's jokes and pedantic conduct are becoming one too many. For a party which has never liked anything which did not originate from them, there would be more of such crude shows from the Minority.

Will the MPs debate the President's address given the fact that they boycotted the SONA? They deserve hooting should they return to Parliament to do so. Exactly, what would they be debating?

In their weak argument about the NPP then the Minority side boycotting Parliament in 2013, the reason is not far-fetched. The validity of the election was the subject matter of a petition being adjudicated by the Supreme Court. It would have been morally outrageous for the petitioners to go and give credence to a system whose legality they had questioned and, therefore, awaiting its judicial outcome.

Opposition MPs who rely on ruses in their agenda cannot be trusted with the fate of this country.

Even a piece of humour from the President about seats being taken over by the Majority when the next Parliament is constituted has been deliberately presented as a yearning by him for a one-party state.

For anybody to even think that a one-party system is being envisaged in modern Ghana is the apex of mischief.

Those who represent the people should not engage in such pedantic pranks in the name of protest. We want the judicial interpretation of the place of SONA vis a vis the representation of the people by elected MPs.
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "France Telecom Operators - Country Intelligence Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



France: Country Intelligence Report provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in France today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2024.



Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile, and pay-TV segments, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.



Total telecom and pay-TV service revenues in France have reached US$38.9 billion in 2019 and will grow to US$47 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 3.8%, mainly driven by growth in the mobile data and fixed broadband segments.



Mobile data revenue will increase at a CAGR of 8.6% over 2019-2024, rising from US$11.2 billion in 2019 to US$16.9 billion by 2024, driven by rising consumption of mobile data services as well as continuously increasing smartphone subscriptions over the forecast period.



Pay-TV service revenues will drop from US$3.1 billion in 2019 to US$3 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 0.7%. The decline in pay-TV revenues in France is due to a decline in DTH subscriptions and total pay-TV ARPUs.



The report provides in-depth analysis of the following:

Demographic and macroeconomic context in France.

The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, tariff regulation, and more.

Telecom and pay-TV services market outlook: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, mobile data, and pay-TV markets.

The competitive landscape: an examination of the positioning of leading players in the telecom and pay-TV services market as well as subscription market shares across segments.

Company snapshots: analysis of the financial position of leading service providers in the telecommunications and pay-TV markets.

Underlying assumptions behind our published base-case forecasts, as well as potential market developments that would alter, either positively or negatively, our base-case outlook.

Key Highlights



The overall telecom and pay-TV services revenue in France will grow at a CAGR of 3.8% during 2019-2024.

Mobile revenue will account for 53% of the total telecom and pay-TV services revenue in 2024, driven by growing data ARPU, rising consumption of mobile data services as well as continuously increasing smartphone subscriptions over the forecast period.

4G will be the leading technology throughout the forecast period, however, its subscriptions share will decline from 58.6% in 2019 to 55.9% by 2024 due to subscriber migration from 4G to 5G services. We expect 5G to be commercially available in 2020.

Key Topics Covered



1. Market Highlights



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Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D., Fla.) called comments made by Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) about Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in an 60 Minutes interview absolutely unacceptable.

The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families, Mucarsel-Powell tweeted Monday. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society.

The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society.  Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@DebbieforFL) February 24, 2020

Sanders spoke positively of Castros regime under questioning from host Anderson Cooper in an interview that aired Sunday, but also did not condone Cubas jailing of political prisoners.

Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, its unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know? Sanders said. When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?

Mucarsel-Powell, a first-term Democrat, was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States when she was 14. She unseated Republican Carlos Curbelo in Floridas 26 Congressional district by 4,000 votes after a tight race. Her district is listed as likely Democratic in her upcoming reelection contest by the Cook Political Report.

The Congresswoman joins fellow Democrat Donna Shalala, who runs the neighboring 27th district, in criticizing Sanders. Im hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro, Shalala said.

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Police in Vermonts largest city have arrested a man accused of setting a series of fires that caused about $74,000 in damage.

Robert Barbin, 57, is facing charges of arson and reckless endangerment. Burlington police say he ignited a fire in a trash can early Thursday that damaged Ahli Babas Kabab Shop. They say he then set additional fires in trash cans downtown.

Police used surveillance video to track the suspect. When they found Barbin leaving his home, he was carrying shopping bags containing wads of paper, ignitable liquid and a lighter, police said.

It was not immediately known if he is being represented by an attorney.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Arson
A flight attendant who served passengers for 25 years was reportedly fired for being just one pound over an airlines required weight guidelines.

Ina Meliesa Hassim tipped the scales when she weighed in at 133lbs, one pound heavier than the Malaysia Airlines cut off weight of 132lbs.

At 5ft 2in Ms Hassim weighed 9st 7lbs and her contract with the airline was terminated in 2017.

On February 12 the Industrial Court of Malaysia ruled in favour of the airline and Ms Hassim lost her case for unfair dismissal under Malaysian unemployment law.

Ina Meliesa Hassim tipped the scales when she weighed in at 133lbs, one pound heavier than the Malaysia Airlines cut off weight of 132lbs (stock image above shows an Malaysia Airlines stewardess)

The Independent reported that the air hostess was fired because she wasn't in the 'healthy' weight range on the Body Mass Index Chart.

Malaysia Airlines claimed the weight of cabin crew was imperative in order to keep passengers safe.

In order to maintain its image as a premium airline, Malaysia Airlines put in place weight management rules for crew members back in 2015.

It was reported that Ms Hassim had been given 18 months to lose the weight in order to get her down to the airline's goal.

In order to maintain its image as a premium airline, Malaysia Airlines (stock image of plane below) put in place weight management rules for crew members back in 2015

As part of this Ms Hassim was expected to attend regular weight checks with a health professional, the airline however, claims she failed to attend several of these checks.

Ms Hassim's lawyers claimed that such weight requirements were unjust and were not regulated by other competitors such as British Airways and Lufthansa.

It was also claimed there had been no safety issues at various other airlines.

They also disputed that Ms Hassim being one pound over the target would not prevent her from carrying out her duties to her best ability.

In the ruling court chairman Syed Noh Said Nazir said: 'The court is convinced that the company had provided the claimant with ample opportunities and chances to comply with the company's policy and that despite the many opportunities however, the claimant had consistently failed to achieve her optimal weight.'

In 2015 when Malaysia Airlines announced its weight policy is said: 'As cabin crew, apart from maintaining the appearance as set by the company, you are also responsible to ensure the safety of our passengers while in flights. Being front liners in uniform, cabin crew cast an unforgettable image in the minds of our valued guests.'

'With this policy in place, the airline will see healthier cabin crew who will project an image befitting that of the world's best cabin staff as well as for ensuring the passengers' safety when the necessity arises'.

MailOnline contacted Malaysia Airlines.
Drew Carey paid a heartbreaking tribute Friday to his ex-fiance Amie Harwick, who died when she was allegedly strangled and thrown off a third-story balcony by former boyfriend.

Gareth Pursehouse, 41, has since been arrested, charged with murder and accused of strangling her before the fall.

Carey began tearing up during his Sirius XM show, 'Drew Carey's Friday Night Freak-Out,' as he spoke about being 'so in love' with Harwick.

'Back in September 2018, I was in a beautiful, great, best relationship of my life with a woman named Amie Harwick,' Carey, 61, said according to People.

'She was a sex therapist and mental health advocate. She had a PhD and a masters degree, and she was beautiful and fun, and cared deeply about people and improving their lives and was just a joy to be around. I was so in love with her,' he added.

Carey, who often sent his show set lists to Harwick, 38, throughout their two-year relationship, explained that he once crafted a special set list dedicated to her.

Drew Carey (left) paid a touching tribute to ex-fiance Amie Harwick (right) during a Friday night episode of his Sirius XM show, 'Drew Carey's Friday Night Freak-Out'

He said: 'This one week I said, "Hey I made a set for you." And she said, "Oh really?" and I said, "Yeah." I played it for her and she teared up.'

The Price is Right host added that the couple played 'this set of music all the time for each other.'

'We would sing the words in each others ears. We would hold each other and dance in the kitchen to it and slow dance in the bathroom to it, and the office, living room or where we were,' said Carey.

'I would hold her and we would hold hands in the car and listen to it. We would sing to each other.

'All these songs were so important to us and I want to play them for you, so you can hear how much we loved each other through these songs.'

Carey told listeners that he once created a special set list for Harwick (pictured) during their engagement that had several of the pair's favorite songs

Before playing the touching songs for his listeners, Carey expressed the continual love he has for Harwick despite ending their engagement in November 2018.

Carey said: 'I just want to say, Im so broken up. Even after we broke up, we still loved each other very much.

'Even though we broke up the engagement, I was still so in love with her. And she loved me back.

'I could never hear these songs again without thinking of her so this next set is for Amie Harwick, a beautiful person who didnt deserve to die like she did. I loved her very much.'

He then revealed that he may be taking time off from his weekly radio show as he grieves. Similarly, taping for The Price is Right have also been postponed following Harwick's death.

'I might take a couple weeks off because Im in really no position to work or entertain anybody right now but I wanted to get this set out there for her and just put it out there how I loved her,' Carey said.

Amie Harwick, 38, died February 15 and the LA coroner says she was manually strangled in an altercation and then thrown from a third-floor balcony

People reports that the set list included Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons Cant Take My Eyes Off You, The 5 Royales Dedicated to the One I Love, Rascals A Girl Like You, Hermans Hermits Im Into Something Good, Three Dog Nights Old Fashioned Love Song, and The Damneds New Rose.

Since her untimely death, Carey has shared tributes and statements honoring Harwick.

In a statement to People, Carey said his and Harwick's love was the kind 'people are lucky to have once in a lifetime.'

'He added: 'She was positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist. I am overcome with grief.'

'I would like to thank you in advance for giving myself and everyone who loved Amie privacy while we try to work through this tragic situation.'

On Twitter, Carey posted a Christmas-themed video of them from when they were together.

'I hope youre lucky enough to have someone in your life that loves as much as she did,' he wrote.

I hope youre lucky enough to have someone in your life that loves as much as she did. pic.twitter.com/xMkQIwR6d6    (@DrewFromTV) February 17, 2020

Authorities say Harwick died on February 15 and her body was discovered on the ground in front of Hollywood Hills home.

The LA coroner ruled Tuesday that the former Playboy model died from blunt-force injuries to her head and torso, though they also noted 'evidence of manual strangulation'.

Harwick and Pursehouse dated 10 years ago, but the relationship apparently turned violent and the two split. He allegedly became obsessed with her and harassed her.

Friends say the two saw each other at the XBiz Awards on January 16 and this reignited his obsession with her.

She previously had a restraining order set against Pursehouse, but it recently expired.

Harwick was found unconscious after falling from a third-floor balcony in her home, pictured

Pursehouse, a computer programmer, was arrested at his Playa Del Rey home on Monday, released on a $2 million bail, but was re-arrested on Wednesday and formally charged with murder and burglary.

According to the LA District Attorney's office, his charges include the special circumstance allegation of 'lying in wait', making him eligible for the death penalty.

Court documents reviewed by DailyMail.com catalog years of alleged abuse in documents for two restraining orders against Pursehouse in 2011 and 2012.

On January 11, 2012, Harwick and Pursehouse got into an argument in the car and he aggressively tried to pull her out of the vehicle.

Pursehouse then allegedly took her suitcases from the car and threw them out.

Harwick suffered a bloody nose and scratches from his roughness, she reported in her court order filed on April 12, 2012.

Harwick and Pursehouse dated 10 years ago, but the relationship apparently turned violent and the two split

On March 18, 2012 Pursehouse allegedly broke into her apartment complex and smashed 10 pictured frames on her front door. Then he texted her a chilling warning saying, 'Things will get worse.'

The next day he allegedly broke into the apartment building and left about four dozen flowers taped to her door. The following day he returned yet again, this time to wait outside her door playing music.

The orders say the next day he proceeded to send threatening e-mails to her friends.

Harwick's landlord was listed as a witness to his stalking incidents in March.

In May 2011 Harwick claimed that Pursehouse suffocated her, punched her and slammed her head onto the ground during a fight. He allegedly covered her mouth to keep her from yelling.

He then kicked her leaving her covered in bruises and unable to walk. She said she suffered broken blood vessels around her face and her back and neck suffered from whiplash.

'There were multiple arguments in which Gareth Pursehouse choked me, suffocated me, pushed me against walls, kicked me, dropped me to the ground with force, force-restrained me, slammed my head into the ground and punched me with a closed fist,' she wrote in court paperwork dated June 22, 2011.

'He has told me he hit me "because I made him so mad!" He refused to get help while in [the] relationship.'

On June 18, 2011 Pursehouse is said to have pushed her out of a car and left her on the freeway late at night. In the incident she suffered bruises.

In both restraining orders she requested that the court order Pursehouse to enter a 52-week batterer intervention program.

Harwick obtained a temporary restraining order against Pursehouse in 2011, but she did not attend a follow-up hearing and the order was dismissed, according to court records.

Less than a year later she was granted another temporary restraining order. A judge extended that order in April 2012, which expired in April 2015.

In California the maximum length of a restraining order is five years.
The Republican candidates in the March primary for Texass 36th Congressional District are two-term incumbent Brian Babin and challenger RJ Boatman.

The 36th Congressional Distrct covers all of Hardin, Jasper, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, and Tyler counties, as well as portions of Harris and Chambers county.

Democratic candidate Rashad Lewis is running unopposed in the primary and will face the winner of the GOP primary.

Early voting began on Feb. 18. Election Day is March 3.

Brian Babin

Q: What do you consider some of your biggest accomplishments in this current legislative session?

A:

Working to secure the funding necessary to help President Trump finish the border wall.

Worked with the President and my colleagues to pass the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This historic agreement will create 176,000 new American jobs and generate $68 billion in economic growth.

Worked to get the funding to rebuild our military after 8 years of decline the previous administration.

Helped secure over $1.1 million for the Houston Ship Channel-Expansion Channel Improvement Project (HSC-ECIP) for pre-construction and engineering and design.

Helped secure additional $70 million for the Port of Houston to go toward the total maintenance dredging allocation for the Houston Ship Channel.

Helped secure over $32 million for the Cedar Bayou Navigation Districts Channel Improvement Project to complete the dredging of Cedar Bayou in order to aid in flood mitigation and enhance the mobility of commerce along the federal channel.

Q: What are some of your top priorities for this next congressional session?

A:

Continue to secure our southern border and help President Trump complete construction of the border wall.

Continue fighting for flood control and storm recovery.

Proactively working to protect our 2nd Amendment rights from government overreach.

Continue to strengthen NASA and our space program.

Working to strengthen the Sabine Pass LNG export facility which provides energy security and stability for our county and our friends around the world.

Sabine-Neches Navigation District channel widening and deepening. This will be a big priority as we continue our work to grow our local economy.

Q: What are your plans with respect to flood control/management?

A: We will continue to work towards more funding for vital projects. However, the focus will also remain on ensuring these projects get underway or are on a course for completion. Its important that we continue to hold the Army Corps of Engineers accountable. Through our efforts to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) weve seen some essential projects being address like the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration project. The Corps is now also authorized to build the system of over 26 miles of levees and floodwalls around the Sabine and Neches River floodplains. These infrastructures are not only important, but time sensitive to protecting the families of our region. Weve also sent letters to the White House, HUD, and FEMA to encourage officials to expedite the delivery of disaster relief money, waive overly burdensome regulations that have tied up mitigation projects, and demand that our schools are rebuilt and replaced.

Q: How has your experience these past two congressional sessions help you going forward?

A: Ive had the unique opportunity of working closely with President Trump to make real changes that put our families and America first. In Congress, I fought to help the President get the funding needed to finish the border wall. I fought to uphold our gun rights and pass the Trump tax cuts that allow hard working Americans to keep more of their money and Im fighting to restore healthcare freedom when it comes to finding affordable health insurance.

As a veteran and father of a Navy SEAL, I saw the dismantling of our Armed Forces under the previous administration put our national security at risk. Last year alone, we passed legislation that increased defense spending by $22 billion- funding needed to upgrade Americas air and sea fleet and provide long overdue pay increases to our brave soldiers.

Finally, my experience as chairman of the House Space Subcommittee has given me the ability to work to reestablish Americas space program as the global leader in space exploration. Through these experiences and the support of the good people I represent, weve able to help make America great again. But theres more work to do. Lets finish what we started.

RJ Boatman

Q: Why are you running for this office?

A: Because I absolutely know that I can stand taller, speak louder, and fight harder for TX36. Todays political landscape needs tough and resolute leaders with new ideas and proven experience to get the job done. Unlike my opponent, I will fight with every breath and step to secure the border, protect the unborn and defend the 2nd Amendment.

Q: What experience do you have that will benefit you if you are elected?

A: Former Judge, Organized Crime Taskforce Director, and Chief of Police. I can dodge the liberal bullets, fight harder on the Hill, and make sure that TX36 is, and remains safe, strong, prosperous, and free.

Q: What would be some of your top goals/priorities if you are elected?

A: Finish the wall, abolish abortion, work to reduce big bureaucracy and excessive regulation, and be a stalwart defender of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Q: Our area has been hit hard by multiple floods recently. What would you do with respect to flood management/control?

A: Cow and Adams Bayous are responsible for over half of the drainage for Orange County. These waterways are fed by smaller bodies like Terry Gulley and Cole Creek. Up until the late '60s, the Corps of Engineers assisted with dredging to improve drainage in the Orange County area. I still believe that the federal government, and the resources there, provided by your tax dollars, must still play a vital role in helping to make the drainage by these bodies more efficient and even take some of the strain off of them through the use of detention ponds.

November 2015 report has recommended eleven detention ponds to take the pressure off of some of these waterways and help prevent flooding by controlling the water before, during, and after a potential flooding event. The estimated cost of this project, (approximately $1.14 billion) is very close to the estimated flooding damages caused by some of the recent catastrophes. In my way of thinking, if we can allocate dollars to prevent or mitigate a disaster, rather than use those same dollars to repeatedly clean up the wreckage from a disaster, we could get these projects in motion. If we concentrate on prevention, fewer people will lose their homes and businesses.

I realize nothing created by man is perfect or can fully guarantee that Orange County will never flood again. However, my opponent has been in office through several flooding disasters  through three terms  and nothing substantial has been done. Southeast Texas needs leaders with the drive and work ethic to safeguard our communities and our economy. When elected, I pledge to be that leader.

elliott.lapin@hearst.com
It feels perfectly, improbably f itting to be taking a phone call from Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the middle of a skiing holiday in Austria. Her new film - Downhill - is set in the snowy mountains near Ischgl - and it perfectly captures the feeling that the dangers of winter sports are a stress test like no other for a relationship.

In my case it's my boyfriend teaching me how to ski - while he displays superhuman patience, I drag him backwards down an alp with me, cursing all the way. In Julia's case it was Will Ferrell, who, as her on-screen husband, temporarily abandons her character as an avalanche threatens to engulf the balcony where they sit with their children.

"(A winter holiday) looks so relaxing but the danger, the snow, it all adds to the stress," she says. "The crisis is so disturbing to her in and of itself but much worse is that he gaslights her after the fact," she explains.

"He tries to tell her it didn't happen the way she perceived. She's worried about his instincts and the fact that he denies it. There is a lack of truth telling, a rewriting of history, and that's more disturbing to her than the original danger."

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Downhill is a re-make of a 2014 Swedish film, Force Majeure, which takes its name from a contractual clause which frees both parties from liability in the event of unexpected disasters. Like the original, this American re-imagining - directed by Nat Foxon and Jim Nash - leavens its portrayal of a couple on the brink of break-up with moments of comedy and has at its heart the same moral dilemma.

What begins as kind of trial of the husband for putting himself first, eventually becomes a more nuanced examination of the universality of instinctively self-interested behaviour in a moment of crisis; given a split second to react, the wife later behaves selfishly herself.

Louis-Dreyfus says that, while she has never dealt with any avalanches in real life, the central conflict of the film still brought her back. "I've been married for 32 years and thus far in my marriage I've never wondered about my husband's allegiance. But I definitely have had boyfriends where I wondered that. I think when you don't feel on a firm footing, so to speak, everything can seem like a metaphor."

The film was a passion project for Louis-Dreyfus and represents a further foray into drama for a woman who has become something of a comedy icon. Her brilliant portrayal of a fictional scheming American vice president in Veep has won her six Emmy awards and the series has been hailed by current Democratic front runner, Pete Buttigieg, as "more realistic than most Americans would care to imagine". (She says she still hasn't decided if she would vote for him yet).

As Elaine on Seinfeld she all but stole the show and gave depth and nuance to a character, who was a condition for it being commissioned in the first place - NBC worried it would appear sexist without a leading female character (Seinfeld itself wasn't sexist, she insists, but rather a "very equal opportunity situation for all genders to behave badly".)

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She was the first woman ever to host Saturday Night Live; a fitting honour for a performer who, in 2016, was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time.

That year also marked the beginning of a rough period in her life. Her father died in September 2016. The following year, doctors diagnosed her with stage II breast cancer; she underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.

Expand Close Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus, winner of the award for Outstanding Comedy Actress for 'Veep,' poses in the press room during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) / Facebook

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Then, just as Veep was ending its final season, her 44-year-old half sister died of an accidental drug overdose.

The cancer changed her perspective on life, she says. "At the risk of sounding cliched, everything came into sharp focus in my life in terms of my priorities. Of course you already know that the people in your life are the most important thing but just living every day to the fullest became more important to me.

"At the beginning it was like 'let's beat this thing' but as time went on I became, I don't know, just very aware of mortality, I was grateful to just still be alive." She says that while doctors treat the physical illness, the psychological affects of cancer tend to be underestimated. "It really does a number on your mental health, I certainly found that," she says.

"It's very destabilising in many ways - its an ongoing onslaught and that takes it's own toll. I took up meditation and I went to therapy. That was very important in terms of getting through it all."

Humour was also a cornerstone of Louis-Dreyfus' strategy for getting through the illness - her cancer treatment is now behind her and she has recovered - and her wit was apparent from her earliest days, growing up in Washington DC, where her mother moved after she and Julia's father divorced.

"When I was very little, I was about three-years-old, I put two razors up my nose to make my mom laugh and they had to take me to the emergency room in the hospital and that was tough but the upside was that I had made someone laugh. That's my earliest memory of knowing I had that ability." She went to college in Chicago (it was here that she met her husband and future SNL comedian Brad Hall) and became immersed in the Windy City's theatre scene. It was this that brought her into contact with the legendary improv group, Second City, whose alumni would include Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and Bill Murray.

"I have no idea how I had the confidence to do that," she recalls. "I'd heard that they were having auditions and I thought, f**k it I'm going to go along. Maybe I wasn't thinking too deeply or clearly about it, I just did it. There was no big masterplan. I had been doing theatre in Chicago so I was very familiar with the theatre scene there already. I thought I'll give this a shot."

It was her performance with another group - The Practical Theatre Company - which led to her being invited to join the cast of Saturday Night Live. She looks back on that period with mixed feelings.

"I look back on it fondly but it was also a difficult time. It was very sexist, there was a lot of drugs. It was a steep learning curve, in how to do live television, which was always nerve-wracking.

"Later I was the first female cast member ever to come back to host. It wasn't foreign to me because, while it had changed, it was still very much the same kind of schedule. I loved it because it was kind of like being able to go back in time and re-do things, which was super exciting."

Her run on SNL put her in the running for Seinfeld - which she describes as "life changing" - but the generation-defining success of the series cast a long shadow and she struggled for a while afterward.

It was The New Adventures Of Old Christine - a sitcom about a divorced mother - which kick-started her career again and set her way again. A few years ago, in the midst of her Veep success, she starred in an Amy Schumer skit entitled "Last F**kable Day" in which she, Patricia Arquette and Tina Fey 'educate' Schumer on how male movie producers dismiss older women.

Given that she will next year turn 60, and seems to be going from strength to strength, I wonder if her continued success is a two fingers to these same men.

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"Yes it is, why not? I'm still here, still working hard, and those people haven't held me back. Things are going well, and for that I am very grateful."

'Downhill' is in cinemas nationwide now
COLONIE  A funeral for 17-year-old Brandon Sylvester, the Green Island student who was killed while crossing Route 787 this month, will be held Monday in Loudonville.

The service is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 411 Loudon Rd. Sylvester belonged to the church and was a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, according to his obituary.

The Heatly School, where Sylvester was a junior, will close at 10:30 a.m. Monday to allow students and staff to attend the service should they wish to do so, the school announced Friday on Facebook. An interment will follow in St. Marys Cemetery in Waterford.

A wake held Sunday attracted scores of students, friends and family who were seen lining the block outside the Parker Bros. Memorial Funeral Home in Watervliet.

At a vigil held earlier this month, Green Island School Superintendent Kimberly Ross said Sylvesters death had affected everyone in the small 280-student school district.

We are a family here, she said.

Sylvester died suddenly the night of Feb. 8 when he and three of his friends tried to cross Route 787 and were struck by a car. A witness said the teens were near the intersection with Tibbits Avenue and were running to get across the busy road when they were struck at approximately 11 p.m.

The car that struck them had a green light.

According to authorities, the 22-year-old driver had a suspended license owing to a drunk driving charge from last June. But Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple stressed there was no reason to believe he was under the influence at the time of the crash.

The driver, whose name has not been released, remained at the scene and submitted his blood for testing. His car was impounded and its computer was being analyzed to determine whether speed was a factor. Apple said investigators were also planning to go through his cell phone activity to see whether that may have been a distraction.

Apple did not respond to a request for an update Sunday.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Three other teens were seriously injured in the crash, including Sylvesters 15-year-old sister Jenna, 16-year-old Tyler VanDeWal and 17-year-old Joshua LaPlante.

LaPlante was critically injured and underwent surgery at Albany Medical Center. VanDeWal broke several bones and suffered neck and back injuries. His grandmother said he will be able to walk eventually. The younger Sylvester suffered a fractured leg and underwent surgery as well.

Their conditions as of Sunday were not known.

Staff writer Cayla Harris contributed to this report
Following the recent withdrawal of standardized assessments, children with intellectual disabilities at special schools in the UK are again being treated differently to children at mainstream schools, says a new study from researchers at The Open University.

Published in Disability & Society, the peer-reviewed research shows there is currently no national progress levels for children with severe or profound intellectual disabilities - meaning teachers have no standardized way of tracking the development of students in both academic and non-academic learning areas.

As in many countries, the intellectual and academic progress of pupils at UK schools is assessed using standardized, nationwide tests given at specific ages (for primary school pupils in the UK, these tests are given at age seven and 11). But these tests are not suitable for pupils with severe intellectual disabilities being taught in special schools, as these pupils will be operating far below the levels being tested.

Because pupils with severe intellectual disabilities should still make progress over time, their progress needs to be assessed just like pupils in mainstream schools, both to determine what kind of continuing support they need and to show at what level a pupil is working if they change schools. Until recently, the progress of children with severe intellectual disabilities was determined via standardized assessments known as Pre-National Curriculum Performance Levels, or P-levels, which were specially designed for pupils working below the level of the standard tests and assessments.

In 2016, however, a review of P-levels concluded they were no longer fit for purpose, because they were too restricted and limited to assess the complex difficulties associated with many children in special schools. This caused the UK government to discontinue P-levels for all but pupils with the most profound intellectual disabilities and instead ask special schools to develop their own assessment programmes.

According to lead researcher Elizabeth Smith, although this move did allow schools to tailor their assessments to the specific needs and abilities of their pupils, it has also created lots of problems and placed extra burdens on the schools. She and her colleagues argue that these downsides have not been properly considered.

"While some teachers welcome the chance to re-organise or design a new curriculum and associated assessments, many teachers are left perplexed and exasperated by the fact that they have no statutory guidelines or framework to work with and are expected to create their own," says Smith.

"And if schools are creating their own assessments, how can they ensure these systems are not just viewpoints or opinions but are valid assessment frameworks grounded in theory? With each school creating their own assessments, it will also be difficult for them to know at what level a pupil joining from a different school is working at."

Smith and her colleagues further argue that the abandonment of P-levels shows that special schools and their pupils are still viewed and treated very differently.

"This would never happen in mainstream schools, so why are special schoolteachers being left to cope with all this extra work without the time and resources to do so?" she says.

"Despite governments' policies promoting equality amongst all children and the need for inclusion of all, children in special schools are again being treated as 'other'."

###
The National Weather Service on Monday firmed up its forecast for a winter storm headed into the area, saying most of northern Illinois will be under a winter storm watch starting Tuesday morning. Four to 7 inches of snow will be possible between Tuesday and Wednesday, with the highest accumulations along and south of Interstate 80 and possibly along the lakefront, a change from earlier forecasts, said Brett Borchardt, a meteorologist for the weather service.
The viral infections of the upper respiratory tract are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and, among them, influenza is one of the most important ones, with severe cases ranging from three and five million cases, and between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths per year. This is why a proper supervision of the disease is crucial. Two studies led by the UB analyzed several aspects involved in the detection of the disease: the utility of the definition of the illness considering clinical manifestation and complementarity of supervision systems based on severe ambulatory cases that require hospitalization in Catalonia. Moreover, they also studied the features of the cases that were detected in Catalonia among children and teenagers who are under eighteen years old.

Experts from the Research Group on Epidemiology, Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases of the UB, from the Institute of Biomedical Research of Lleida, the Public Health Agency of Catalonia and the Barcelona Public Health Agency, led by Professor Angela Dominguez, from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the UB and the Epidemiology and Public Health Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERESP, Carlos III Health Institute), took part in the three studies.

In the study published in the journal Viruses the researchers analyze in a retrospective way the behavior in different definitions of case and different symptoms for the flu to identify properly the cases of laboratory-confirmed-influenza between 2008 and 2018 in Catalonia. Researchers analyzed the case definitions of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as well as different symptoms that can appear. "Clinical definitions for influenza are important because they can have a more homogeneous recount of the impact caused by the virus in the community and make comparisons within the same community to see variations that occur over time, as well between seasons and even between communities and countries that use similar surveillance systems", notes Professor Angela Dominguez.

Results show the WHO definition (based on temperature and cough) is the most sensitive one to predict cases that are really caused by influenza virus instead of other respiratory viruses. "The definition of the case that predicted best the laboratory-confirmed-influenza was the WHO definition of influenza syndrome, both considering every week of the year and considering only epidemic weeks. The symptoms that behaved as predictors of confirmed-influenza were temperature, cough, myalgia, headache, general discomfort and symptoms that emerged of a sudden. Temperature was the most predicting symptom for confirmed influenza", note the authors.

All the case definitions predicted best the confirmed influenza when the patients presented comorbidity. The ability of different symptoms to predict confirmed-influenza varied depending on the age groups: temperature got the highest value in people aged over 65 and cough got the highest value in children aged from 5 to 14. In patients with comorbidity, the temperature showed its highest ability to predict confirmed influenza. According to the authors of the study, these results can confirm that the case definition used in Catalonia to analyze clinical samples from certain patients could be affected by the influenza virus and not other viruses is accurate.

Complementary epidemiologic supervision systems for influenza

The second study carried out by the research team, published in the journal BMC Public Health, assessed two complementary surveillance systems for the flu. The objective was to analyze the cases of laboratory-confirmed-influenza syndrome in primary care and hospitalized cases of laboratory-confirmed-influenza. The study was carried out during seven influenza seasons (2010-2017) in Catalonia, with different series of data. On the one hand, data from primary care doctors informing about treated influenza syndrome and laboratory-confirmed-influenza cases. On the other hand, data obtained by twelve hospitals on the severe cases of laboratory-confirmed-influenza that were hospitalized.

Results show the information coming from primary care doctors predicts an average of 1.6 weeks before the rest of the sources, but researchers defend to keep the current supervision structure: "We have to continue with the supervision that combines data from primary care in people who do not need hospitalization together with data from severe cases that require hospitalization. According to what the article suggests, it is important for the surveillance system to include data from hospitalization cases despite not presenting a severe influenza, which was already done in the 2017-2018 season", researchers say.

Higher risk for children under two

Researchers also analyzed the clinical and epidemiological features of patients aged from zero to seventeen that were hospitalized in Catalonia for presenting severe forms of influenza during the 2010-2016 period. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, concluded confirming that children under two years old are those with a higher risk of showing severe forms of influenza which can even lead to death.

Out of the 291 registered cases, 79.4% of them were caused by the type A influenza virus and the 20.6% by the virus of type B influenza. Most of the studied cases (56.7%) corresponded to patients under two years old, and 24.4% of them were children aged less than one. The most common complication (62%) was pneumonia. The 21.3% of patients required hospitalization in the intensive care unit, most of them (54.8%) being children under two years old. Three detected deaths during these period were caused by the type A influenza virus.

Regarding the results, the authors recommend to "strengthen the supervision in children population to better know the real impact of the illness and vaccine those kids with risk conditions for they present certain diseases that show predisposition to complications".

###
No further improvement to council settlements expected from Cardiff  Wrexhams budget set for final debate this week

This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 24th, 2020

An increase in Council Tax and the 250m council budget for the next 12 months is set to be given the go ahead this week.

All 52 councillors will have the chance to vote on the proposed budget and Council Tax increase of nearly seven per cent at the full council meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

In the document due to be debated by councillors it is stated that the budget delivers cuts of 1.636m and that shortfall of around 6m is projected for the two year period from 2021/22 to 2022/23.

The proposed budget also includes an increase of just over four per cent to the schools budget, a 1 million extra investment into the councils highways service and 1.5 million for childrens services. We have documented how the new spending has been described as being carefully allocated via ring fenced budgets.

Council Tax is also set to increase by 6.95%, which Leader of Wrexham Council, councillor Mark Pritchard said last month will help address the pressures the council has, and take the council forward.

Speaking at the time Cllr Pritchard said: It is important that we understand the constituents and residents Wrexham, and take a council tax forward that people can afford and as less hardship for individuals.

We have had a difficult ten years or more on settlements (from Welsh Government) and we have had a little bit more, and I obviously welcome the extra money.

What were hearing on the ground, but its not always factual, that theres going to be more money from both governments. If thats the case, we will make a decision where to continue to invest that in services.

The increase is expected to raise 65,949,113 from Council Tax which, equates to an increase of 1,233.27 for Band D properties in the area.

The report documents that have been public for a few days states: The Local Government final settlement was published on 25 February 2020 which indicated an increase in the Councils grant support of 3.5% compared to the Wales average increase of 4.3%, as we reported that is the third lowest settlement in Wales. As today is the 24th that document is not yet published, however we understand that a further increase has not emanated from Cardiff Bay, nor has the funding floor been reinstated (more here on that and the budget process).

The Chief Finance Officer for Wrexham Council concluded in his report to councillors, A much improved financial settlement for 2020/21 has allowed the Council to make modest re-investment in some service areas which have been cut over the last ten years as well as prioritise schools and the most vulnerable.

Previous years have seen alternative budgets put forward by opposition parties, however this year not the case at last years full council meeting.

The revenue budget and council tax setting will be voted on by councillors on Wednesday 26th February at 4pm. The meeting will also be available to watch on the councils webcast system.

(Up the road in Flintshire the rise is 4.75% however with warnings if a 8m dividend from the Clwyd Pension Fund did not happen they would be looking at 8-9%! More here via Deeside.com )
A company planning to build a 22-turbine windfarm on a site once earmarked for a 48m municipal landfill has received a setback.

Cork county councillors yesterday voted against allowing a portion of local authority-owned land at Bottlehill, 19km north of Cork city, to be used to build some of the turbines proposed by Brookfield Renewable Ireland.

More than 80 people held a protest outside Cork County Hall to highlight their concerns about plans to build the windfarm, which they say will affect rural communities including Whitechurch, Carrignavar, Glenville, Killavullen, and Mourneabbey. Members of the Nagle View Turbine Awareness (NVTA) group say they are particularly concerned about the potential of excessive noise emitting from the turbines which will be 169m high, 2.5 times the height of County Hall.

Fianna Fail councillor William OLeary proposed that councillors vote against the project.

No further development of windfarms should take place until new national guidelines on windfarms are published, he said. The concerns of the residents are genuine.

His party colleague, Gearoid Murphy, wanted a deferral of the vote, saying it is premature to make a decision until the guidelines are published, which is expected to happen in the next couple of months.

Independent councillor Frank Roche said he has spoken to many of the protestors in their own homes and seen some crying at the prospect of having a major windfarm on their doorsteps.

Fellow Independent Marcia DAlton said there needs to be more discussion between councillors and officials over the future of the landfill site, in which they have already invested a huge amount of taxpayers money.

Fine Gael councillor Sinead Sheppard said residents are genuinely fearful and they have to be supported by councillors.

Council chief executive Tim Lucey said the council is hoping to utilise the Bottlehill site and the Brookfield project would generate significant revenue for the council. He said the developers will probably end up paying the council 7.5m over the next 30 years for using the site.

Councillors voted down the plan by 44 votes to three, with six abstentions.

After the meeting, NVTA spokeswoman Amy Connolly said the decision is welcome but acknowledged that isnt the end of the matter. She pointed out the final decision on the overall Brookfield plan will be up to Bord Pleanala, rather than the county council as the project has strategic infrastructure designation.

Ms Connolly said NVTA has more than 600 members and they intend to fight against the project, including seeking a judicial review in the High Court.

We can fund that kind of challenge. We have already started fundraising and will continue with it, she said.

Ms Connolly also maintained that no decision on such plans should be made until the new national wind energy guidelines are published.
Genealogical Society To Meet March 2 Locally



The program will focus on the History of the Celebration of Texas Independence Day, and guests are welcome to attend.



HCGS is open to the public and publishes Hill County Crossroads.



HCGS also provides volunteer docents for the Genealogy & Local History Collection at the Hillsboro City Library, located at 118 South Waco Street.



In addition, the society worked to publish Volumes I and II of The Heritage of Hill County, and a few copies of Volume II are still available for purchase.



Dues for HCGS are $18 for individual and $25 for family. Mail dues to: Hill County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 636, Hillsboro, TX 76645



For additional information or to purchase Volume II of The Heritage of Hill County, contact Joyce Reid at Hill County Genealogical Society (HCGS) will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, March 2, in the AgriLife Extension room of the Hill County Covington Street Annex, located at 126 South Covington Street in Hillsboro.The program will focus on the History of the Celebration of Texas Independence Day, and guests are welcome to attend.HCGS is open to the public and publishes Hill County Crossroads.HCGS also provides volunteer docents for the Genealogy & Local History Collection at the Hillsboro City Library, located at 118 South Waco Street.In addition, the society worked to publish Volumes I and II of The Heritage of Hill County, and a few copies of Volume II are still available for purchase.Dues for HCGS are $18 for individual and $25 for family. Mail dues to: Hill County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 636, Hillsboro, TX 76645For additional information or to purchase Volume II of The Heritage of Hill County, contact Joyce Reid at [email protected]


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Syrian air defenses confront Israeli missile attack

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 February 2020 12:50 AM

Syrian air defenses have intercepted Israeli missiles targeting the capital city of Damascus.

Syria's official news agency SANA reported that Israeli warplanes launched the attack from above the occupied Golan Heights shortly before midnight on Sunday.

"Most of the enemy missiles were shot down before reaching their targets," SANA quoted a military source as saying.

The report added that the military was still verifying possible outcomes of the Israeli attacks.

The Israeli military also released a statement claiming that its fighter jets struck targets belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement south of Damascus.

"In the Adeliyah region, outside of Damascus, an Islamic Jihad compound was struck, used as a hub of Islamic Jihad's activity in Syria," it said.

A few hours later, Islamic Jihad released a statement saying that two of its members had been killed in the airstrikes.

Israel has frequently launched airstrikes against Syria while the country has been preoccupied with fighting a nearly nine-year foreign-backed militancy which had once swept over large parts of the country.

Tel Aviv has long despised the Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, for its support for Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups countering Israel.

The missile attacks against Damascus come as Israel also launched multiple airstrikes against what it claimed were Islamic Jihad positions in Gaza early on Monday.

At least half a dozen Palestinians were reportedly injured in the attacks.

The bombings took place after Palestinian resistance groups launched multiple rocket strikes against Israel in retaliation for the brutal killing of a Palestinian man east of Khan Yunis earlier on Sunday.

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Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU will choose a new leader at a special congress in April or May, sources said on Monday, as the party scrambles to prepare for the veteran German chancellor's departure.

Merkel's initial heir apparent, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, resigned as party leader this month over a scandal involving apparent cooperation with the far right.

The surprise move threw open the race to succeed Merkel, who has been in power for more than 14 years and plans to bow out at the next general elections in 2021.

The Christian Democratic Union's extraordinary party congress in spring should anoint a new chairman, who would then be almost sure to become the party's candidate for chancellor.

Kramp-Karrenbauer -- widely known as "AKK" -- held talks with party grandees on Monday with the CDU still in crisis mode.

On Sunday, the party suffered its second-worst result ever in a regional election, coming third in Hamburg with just 11.5 per cent of the vote.

It is also engulfed in an internal debate as to how it should position itself against the extremes of right and left that have reshaped the nation's political landscape.

After barely a year as head of the party, AKK announced her resignation on February 10.

It came after regional lawmakers in the eastern state of Thuringia defied an edict from Berlin not to ally with the extremes, by voting with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

It was the latest sign that the defence minister had failed to stamp her authority on the CDU and become a credible candidate to succeed Merkel.

AKK initially planned a quick departure, hoping to elevate a successor who would also lead the party into the 2021 election.

But her experience lays bare the challenge for her successor -- how to make their mark while the phenomenally popular Merkel remains in office as chancellor.

In the starting blocks are two politicians who promise to break with Merkel's centrist course and lead the CDU rightwards, in a bid to win back voters from AfD.

While Friedrich Merz recently described her fourth government as "abysmal", young Health Minister Jens Spahn is a rising party star.

Facing them are two more moderate candidates: North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Armin Laschet and Norbert Roettgen, a former environment minister dismissed by Merkel in 2012.

The choice of leader will set the tone for the future of a party that has dominated German since the federal republic was founded in 1949.

Polls highlight the urgent need for action, as only 27 per cent say they would back the CDU, ahead of 23 per cent for the Greens and 14 percent for the far right.

Beyond the high-profile personalities, the conservatives also need to clarify what they stand for in an increasingly splintered political landscape that hinders stable majorities, be it in Berlin or the 16 state parliaments.

Top of the list is whether the CDU will stick to its rigid policy of refusing to cooperate with either the far right or the far left, an increasingly difficult position to maintain.

Thuringia is a textbook case, as last year's regional elections produced no clear governing majority following a surge by the AfD.

CDU state lawmakers voted with the far right, breaching a historic political taboo, to install a liberal state premier.

But after a nationwide outcry, the regional CDU retreated -- only to be publicly rebuked by Berlin chiefs for its plan to "tolerate" a minority government led by radical-left successors of the one-party state in communist East Germany.

Der Spiegel magazine labelled the CDU's zig-zagging "self-destruction" by "a party without direction or a strategic centre".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
24.02.2020 LISTEN

A former Deputy General Secretary of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) has taken a sharp but opposite position of President Akufo-Addos claim that 67,000 teachers have been recruited since he came into office in 2017.

The President, in his 2020 State of the Nation Address, said on the floor of Ghanas Parliament that he has been able to employ 67,000 teachers into the Ghana Education Service, but, reacting to this claim, the former TTAG Leader said,  it is not true that President Akufo-Addo has recruited 67,000 teachers into GES. In fact this is the first time Trained teachers from colleges of education have been denied direct employment.

Mr. Ekow Djan added, 16000 trained teachers were denied employment in 2018. They were due for employment in September 2018 but the government through the Ministry of Education introduced the unnecessary Licensure Examination and National Service just to frustrate the processes leading to their employment.

Mr. Ekow Djan argued that the Ghana Education Service has only been able to recruit only 37, 375 teachers since 2017. The breakdown is as follows;

2017: Trained Teachers from CoE  14,000

2018: No trained teacher from CoE was employed. 16000 Trained Teachers were thus denied employment.

Graduate/Double Track Teachers 8875

Making a total of 37,375 teachers.

Mr. Djan further added that over 1000 Qualified Trained Teachers are staying at home unemployed. He said, these are teachers who have passed their licensure examination and have undertaken their one year mandatory national service; conditions set by the Ghana Education Service In 2018.

He therefore called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to as a matter of urgency ensure the postings of these Qualified Trained Teachers who have been denied employment.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 05:07:38|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- A new round of rockets was fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel on Sunday night, the Israeli military said, amid an abrupt escalation in the region.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that the rockets were launched by militants in Gaza at Ashkelon city in southern Israel. At least two of them were intercepted.

No casualties were reported, according to the Israeli medical emergency service.

Local Israeli media reported that some rockets hit open fields, causing no damage.

Earlier on Sunday evening, 21 rockets were fired toward southern Israel, with the army's Iron Dome anti-rocket system intercepting 13 of them.

The rockets triggered sirens but caused no injuries. In Ashkelon, Mayor Tomer Glam ordered the opening of public shelters and announced that schools were canceled for Monday.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an Islamist group in Gaza, issued a statement, saying the rockets were a retaliation for the killing of a senior group member earlier on Sunday.

Video footage surfaced on social networks, showing an Israeli bulldozer lifting and dragging a body from the scene, while Palestinians were trying to carry the body, apparently for burial.

The Israeli army confirmed that it had shot and killed a Palestinian suspected of attempting to plant an explosive near the fence separating Israel and the besieged Palestinian enclave. The military added that the body was removed in order to prevent further danger.
People everywhere are fascinated by the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but its often difficult to decipher fact from fiction when it comes to reports regarding how they spend their wealth. A prime example is the recent slew of news outlets reporting a $644 million yacht purchase by billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates  followed almost immediately by reports disputing the same claim.

The flurry of print and online fodder came almost immediately after the story was leaked. Although its unclear who was the first to put it out, UK paper The Telegraph was early to announce that Gates had made a deal to purchase the yacht from Dutch company Sinot. Soon after that, every worthy (and questionably worthy) news source around did their part to get the story trending within hours.

The following day, however, the real story started surfacing, with Sinot adamantly denying any relationship with Gates or deal to sell him their Aqua superyacht. Aqua isnt actually even a yacht yet, but rather an impressive design concept the company released at the most recent Monaco Yacht Show.

The Aqua sustainable super yacht's onboard fitness area.

A luxurious bedroom inside the Aqua superyacht.

The Aqua's rear deck features a stunning infinity pool that overlooks the ocean.

Its not surprising nobody thought to question whether or not Gates actually commissioned the futuristic ride, considering his well-known (and arguably obscene) amount of wealth. Plus, Gates is also outspoken about his environmental passions, so a vessel like the Aqua would be a perfect fit for him. Thats because even though Aqua features all the luxury anyone could hope for, its true coolness factor comes from the hydrogen fuel cell technology that powers it. Widely considered the greenest fuel option around, the superyacht would be powered for up to 3,750 nautical miles by liquid nitrogen stored in two tanks at -423 degrees Fahrenheit. The only by-product of the process is water, which can go directly back into the ocean without polluting it. And while the yacht could easily travel across the Atlantic, longer trips would require a back-up diesel engine to complete the route (mostly because there arent many dockside hydrogen refill stations just hanging around).

Story continues

What luxury superyacht would be complete without its very own helipad?

The design concept for Aqua is noteworthy for the hydrogen fuel alone, but considering the opulent touches, anyone who coughs up the estimated $644 million to own it likely wouldnt even care what powered it.

The 370-foot Aqua really does look like something out of a sci-fi movie. Sinot explains that its exterior inspired by ocean swells, the movement of the tides, and weather out on the open seas. Its five decks are equipped to comfortably accommodate 14 guests and 31 crew members, though they also feature a gym, yoga studio, beauty room, massage parlor, and cascading infinity pool on the rear deck. Best of all, passengers can enjoy the ocean air on cool nights while keeping warm next to eco-friendly gel-fuelled fire bowls.

The Aqua sustainable superyacht at sunset.

The goal, according to Sinot, is for the Aqua to show the potential for the future of the superyacht industry. So while the company continues to deny any contract with Bill Gates, they are encouraging other, similarly wealthy individuals to invest in the idea. Regardless of who ends up writing the check, the earliest estimated sail date wouldnt be until sometime in 2024.

All images courtesy of Sinot.
By Alex Ho

Investing.com - Oil prices slid on Monday in Asia amid signs that the global coronavirus outbreak has worsened.

U.S. Crude Oil WTI Futures fell 2.4% to $52.11 by 12:13 AM ET (04:13 GMT). International Brent Oil Futures dropped 2.5% to $56.50.

In South Korea, 763 cases of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus have been confirmed. President Moon Jae-in on Sunday put the country on the highest possible alert in its fight against the coronavirus, which have killed seven people so far.

Meanwhile, Irans government confirmed 43 cases and 8 deaths caused by the illness since last Tuesday, the highest death toll outside of China. The number of confirmed cases Italy also surged over the weekend to 152, constituting the largest outbreak in Europe.

The news sent Asian equities lower today, with South Korean stocks down more than 3%.

On Friday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, warned about the chances of containing the global spread of the novel coronavirus outside of China. The window of opportunity is still there, but our window of opportunity is narrowing, he said.

The only real support for oil since the coronavirus broke is the threat of supply outages - either from strife in LIbya or the Trump administrations newest sanctions aimed at the Rosneft-Venezuela pact or OPECs desperate attempts to manufacture a shortage with Russian collusion, said Barani Krishnan, commodity analyst at Investing.com.

Oil prices recorded a second straight week of gains, but Krishnan cautioned that the rebound barely looks like it has legs.

If theres one thing to be expected of the coronavirus, it is to expect the unexpected - and that applies to traders of all sizes and stripes, he added.

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Harvey Weinstein has been convicted at his sexual assault trial, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

He was found guilty of criminal sex act for assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006 and third-degree rape of a woman in 2013.

A judge has ordered Harvey Weinstein to be jailed immediately after his sexual assault conviction.

The jury found him not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

Mimi Haleyi, right (Mark Lennihan/AP)

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behaviour turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.

Three allegations

The case against the producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on Ms Haleyi and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behaviour on his part.

Jurors signalled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations.

On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others.

After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual.

The defence seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails  and had sex with him  well after he allegedly attacked them.

Charges in Los Angeles

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles.

In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on January 6, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013.

If he heard the word no, it was like a trigger for him...

One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.

During the trial, Weinstein regularly trudged into the courthouse stooped and unshaven, using a walker after recently undergoing back surgery.

'Jekyll and Hyde'

Many of Weinsteins accusers described him as a Jekyll and Hyde character who could be incredibly charming at first, making jokes and showing interest in using his immense power to help their careers.

But that was an act, they said, meant to gain their trust and get them to a place  often a hotel room or an apartment  where he could violate them.

If he heard the word no, it was like a trigger for him, his rape accuser testified.

Several women testified that Weinstein excused his behaviour as the price for getting ahead in Hollywood.

'This is how this industry works'

One said that when she laughed off his advances, he sneered, Youll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works.

The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured, that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises and that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.

The prosecutions task was made more complicated because two of the women at the very centre of the case did not just abandon Weinstein after the alleged encounters: Ms Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks later, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterwards.

Like Ms Haleyi, she sent Weinstein friendly emails, such as Miss you big guy and I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call.

During a cross-examination from Weinsteins lawyers so exhaustive that she broke down in tears on the stand, the woman said she sent him flattering emails and kept seeing him because she was afraid of his unpredictable anger and I wanted him to believe I wasnt a threat.

To blunt that line of questioning, prosecutors called to the witness stand a forensic psychiatrist who said that most sexual assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers and that they hope what happened to them is just an aberration.

During closing arguments, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno charged that Weinstein had become the target of a cause and a movement  #MeToo  and asked the jury to ignore outside forces.

This is not a popularity contest, she said.

Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon told the jury that Weinstein considered himself such a big shot in Hollywood that he thought he could get away with treating women as complete disposables.

The universe is run by me and they dont get to complain when they get stepped on, spit on, demoralised and, yes, raped and abused by me  the king, she said, mimicking Weinstein.

Rumours about Weinsteins behaviour swirled in Hollywood circles for a long time.

Weinstein was arrested and led away in handcuffs in May 2018, seven months after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed his alleged misconduct in stories that would win the Pulitzer Prize.
A Fort Carson soldier was arrested early Sunday morning in Texas on suspicion of shooting and injuring a Fountain man Saturday night.
Bangkok: A banned opposition party has accused the former Thai military junta of helping cover up Malaysia's multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal, urging Thais to demand the truth ahead of a censure debate against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The Future Forward Party, the third-largest party in parliament, was dissolved on Friday by Thailand's Constitutional Court over a loan it took from its billionaire founder.

The dissolution was decried by democracy advocates as a means of weakening opposition to the government of Prayuth, who first came to power in a 2014 military coup and led a military junta until after elections last year that his pro-army party won.

A supporter of Thailand's Future Forward Party cries as they watch a live television broadcast of a court verdict at their party's headquarters in Bangkok on Friday. Credit:AP

Future Forward's spokeswoman, Pannika Wanich, told a news conference on Sunday that the junta had worked with Malaysia's former government to arrest a whistleblower in the 1MDB case in 2015 and had allowed financial criminals to operate in Thailand, risking the country's international ties.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 20:48:01|Editor: zyl

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SUVA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived here on Monday night to begin a four-day visit, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties with Fiji.

During her first official visit to the island nation, Ardern will meet with Fijian President Jioji Konrote and hold talks with her Fijian counterpart Voreqe Bainimarama.

The two prime ministers' meeting is expected to focus on climate change in the Pacific region, improvement of trade balance and development of cooperation.

Ardern will also deliver a speech at the University of the South Pacific (USP).

In recent years, trade relations between Fiji and New Zealand have strengthened with Fiji being New Zealand's largest trading partner in the Pacific and New Zealand being one of Fiji's top five import markets.

The two countries have set a target to achieve a 2-billion-U.S. dollar trade relationship in the years to come.

New Zealand is also Fiji's second largest tourism source market with increases in visitor arrivals from New Zealand reaching a record high in 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 01:13:44|Editor: yan

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NAIROBI, Feb.24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's leather industry is seeking joint ventures with Chinese firms in order to boost local value addition, the umbrella association said on Monday.

Beatrice Mwasi, secretary-general of Leather Apex Society of Kenya told Xinhua in Nairobi that currently over 95 percent of leather is exported before being fully processed due to lack of capacity.

"We are seeking to partner with Chinese firms so that we can wean ourselves from exporting semi-processed leather products," Mwasi said on the sidelines of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Conference and Expo.

The two-day event brought together policymakers and small entrepreneurs to develop measures to boost the SME sector.

Mwasi urged the government to prioritize the development of the leather industry because it helps to create sustainable jobs through forwarding and backward linkages.

According to the leather lobby, Kenya is a net importer of finished leather goods despite having adequate raw materials in the form of livestock to be self-sufficient.

Mwasi observed that Kenya's key export market for semi-processed leather is China and India.

She said that some of the key interventions required to develop a vibrant finished leather goods industry including the provision of financial support as well as technology transfer to the few leather manufacturers in the country.

Mwasi noted that the local leather processing industry still requires additional support despite the duty imposed on unprocessed leather exports. Meanwhile, the leather sector also faces stiff competition from imports of second-hand leather products.
Prime ministers move follows a weekend of political turmoil amid bid by his party to form new government without Anwar.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced his resignation but was asked to stay on as interim leader by the countrys monarch.

Mahathir said in a two-line statement that he had informed the countrys king of his resignation at 1pm Kuala Lumpur time (05:00 GMT) on Monday.

Mahathir also reportedly resigned from his own party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, according to Reuters news agency, citing three sources. Mahathirs party also announced that it was quitting the ruling government coalition, Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), casting doubt on the future of the partnership.

Mahathirs decision follows a weekend of political wrangling, after it was reported on Sunday night that his party was planning to form a new government that would exclude his expected successor, Anwar Ibrahim.

The king accepted Mahathirs resignation after meeting with him later on Monday, Chief Secretary Mohd Zuki Ali said in a statement.

However, His Highness has given his assent to appoint Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister, while waiting for the appointment of the new prime minister. Hence until then, (Mahathir) will manage the countrys affairs until a new prime minister and cabinet are appointed, Mohd Zuki said.





Earlier, Anwar said that Mahathir has no plans to join with anyone from the previous ruling coalition he defeated to try to form a new government.

When asked if Mahathir was responsible for the current political turmoil, Anwar blamed those within my party and outside using his name.

And he [Mahathir] reiterated what he had said to me earlier, he played no part in it. He made it very clear, that in no way would he work with those associated with the previous regime.

Collapse of coalition

On Sunday night, allies of Mahathir, some renegade members of Anwars Peoples Justice Party (PKR), and a slew of other Parliament members, including those from the opposition, UMNO, held talks in the outskirts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

The meeting fuelled speculation of an impending collapse of the coalition government, and a political realignment in Malaysia.

As part of their agreement to form a coalition, Mahathir has agreed to hand over the prime ministers post to Anwar [Ahmad Yusni/EPA]

The intrigue hanging over Mahathir, 94, and Anwar, 72, is the latest chapter in a long-running political saga between two of the countrys most prominent political figures.

Anwar and Mahathir united ahead of the 2018 election to drive out the UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional coalition that had ruled the Southeast Asian country for six decades in a surprise victory that led to the removal of then-Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Mahathir has also repeatedly promised to hand over power to his former foe.

But tensions between the two in their Pakatan Harapan alliance had been growing, as Mahathir resisted setting a specific timetable for keeping his promise to hand power to Anwar.

"I was with him, I was informed but I could not tell until he released publicly (his decision). I did appeal to him on behalf of PKR and Pakatan to stay.  @anwaribrahim Video BenarNews pic.twitter.com/5GC2oYV09n  TheMalaysianInsight (@msianinsight) February 24, 2020

The coalitions political fortunes have been waning with defeat in five recent by-elections.

In a side development, Anwar also had a split with party mate, Mohamed Azmin Ali, the econonic affairs minister, who was among those who joined the meeting on Sunday night. On Monday, Anwars PKR announced the expulsion of Azmin as a member.

For his part, Azmin announced that he had quit Anwars party, taking with him 10 renegade members of PKR, which until Monday was the dominant partner of the ruling coaltion.

At least 112 votes from members of the 222-seat parliament are necessary to form a new government.

Anwar was Mahathirs deputy when the latter was prime minister during his first stint from 1981 to 2003. But Mahathir sacked him in 1998 after they disagreed on how to handle the countrys financial crisis.

Soon afterwards, Anwar was jailed for sodomy, charges he says were trumped up.

They later reunited in 2018 in a political alliance that ousted Najib.
The grieving brother of murdered mum Hannah Clarke has recalled the harrowing moment his wife called him to break the news about his sister's horrific death.

Nat Clarke was five hours into his shift in Moranbah, in Central Queensland last Wednesday when he received an earth-shattering phone call that changed his life.

His sister Hannah, 31, was fighting for her life more than 1,000km south in Camp Hill, in Brisbane, after her husband Rowan, 42, doused her with petrol and set her alight.

'At the time I didn't know how big all this was. I had been working, I wasn't on social media or anything,' Nat told Triple M's Big Breakfast on Monday.

'I sort of knew what happened - there had been an accident. My wife had called me to say, look, just come home, I knew sort of what happened, I just didn't know the whole world knew.'

Hannah Clarke's brother, Nat (far right) was five hours into his shift in Moranbah, in far north Queensland when he received an earth-shattering phone call that changed his life

Mr Clarke (pictured with his family during a vigil for his slain sister) said his wife called him to tell him he had to come home

Nat said he informed his bosses who immediately told him he should leave work and head home.

At the time, he admitted, he found their reactions a 'bit weird', and said it wasn't until he got back to Brisbane that he realised the gravity of the situation.

'They [employer] were just like, "mate, you're on a plane straightaway. No if, buts, or maybes, we're getting you home even if we have to charter a plane for you."'

My wife had called me to say, look, just come home, I knew sort of what happened, I just didn't know the whole world knew.'

Ms Clarke died in hospital later that day after suffering burns to more than 90 per cent of her body.

Her injuries were so severe, the only part that wasn't horrifically burnt was the sole of her foot.

Her three children Laianah, aged four, Aaliyah, six, and Trey, three, all died at the scene, while their father Rowan took his own life by stabbing himself in the chest.

Nat admitted there had been times the family had sensed something was off about Baxter's behaviour, but didn't think much of it.

Ms Clarke and her children, Laianah (bottom) Aaliyah (top) and Trey (held by his mother) were killed at the hands of their father

Ms Clarke, 31, died in hospital later that day after suffering more than 90 per cent burns to her body. Her husband Rowan then took his own life by stabbing himself in the chest

'There were certain things he did that you sort of question...but you sort of let it slide,' he said.

'I think that's the worse thing about this sort of domestic violence; they sort of make the other half play their part. My sister would always play it [his behaviour] down.

'The worst part of this type of abuse is that you can't see it. You get those feelings, but because you can't see it, you don't know.

'We look back now and we're like, "well what about this or that" and there were signs everywhere.'

Authorities revealed the couple were known to police over domestic violence issues in the past, but Nat said he doesn't think the system failed his sister.

'At the end of the day domestic violence [order] is just a bit of paper, if they want to break it, they will. We definitely got to look into being able to change that to some degree.

'I think with someone like that, they're just such a selfish and sadistic person that they've got win it, it's gotta be theirs....he thought he was better than the police, I think.'

Nat was among the thousands who packed a vigil for the murdered family on Sunday evening at Hannah's old school.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left), parents to Hannah Clarke Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke (centre), and Police commissioner Katarina Carroll (right) at the vigil

A police officer speaks during a vigil to remember murdered mother. Thousands of mourners attended the event

Dressed in pink - Hannah's favourite colour - Nat and his father Lloyd Clarke, thanked the crowd for their support.

'We would have felt lost without all your support. I don't know how we can repay such kindness,' the distraught father said.

He described the past week as the 'hardest of their life'.

'We may not know you all, but you embraced our family when our whole world collapsed and for that we are genuinely grateful,' he said.

'While dealing with this truly difficult time, my family and I are forever thankful to our neighbours and those who were first on the scene who tried to desperately help Hannah and the children.

'You selflessly and without hesitation did what you could to save them. I don't know how we can repay such kindness, other than to say we will be eternally grateful.

'You have restored out faith that there are many good and decent people in the world.'

Hannah's injuries were so severe, the only part that wasn't horrifically burnt was the sole of her foot

Community members laid flowers by crosses bearing the names of Hannah and her children at the vigil

Mr Clarke spoke about his pride over everything his daughter managed to achieve before her life was cut short.

He also reflected on the joy his three grandchildren brought to his life.

The family's charity is named Small Steps for Hannah as the only part of her body that wasn't horrifically burned was the sole of her foot.

Sergeant David Beard shared her dreams of becoming a police officer at the vigil at Whites Hill State College in Camp Hill - just blocks away from the murder scene.

Hannah spoke about her plans at a Police Citizens Youth Club while visiting a friend the day before she burned to death.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said Hannah's courage and heroism were the makings of an excellent officer.

'Right through to her passing, Hannah showed amazing courage and heroism, ensuring that she gave our police and emergency services at the scene a detailed statement of the horrific events that unfolded, leading to the death of her three children and ultimately herself,' she said.

For 24/7 confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
The Allentown Neighborhood Arts Program has expanded considerably during its 30-year partnership with The Baum School of Art. A new grant will encourage the program keep growing.

The school sent out a press release Monday morning announcing that the PPL Foundation has awarded the program a $5,000 grant for the afterschool program. The program provides Allentown School District elementary students with exposure to all sorts of artistic mediums, from charcoal drawing and acrylic painting to paper mosaics and ceramic sculpture.

The grant will help the program continue its rapid expansion. In its 30 years, the program has impacted nearly 4,500 Allentown students, according to the release. About 1,700 of those students have come in the last six years as the Baum School has been able to include every Allentown School District elementary school. Last year 210 students attended the program.

The program is possible thanks to philanthropic efforts such as this one from the PPL Foundation, which chose the Baum School after a selective application and review process.

PPL is committed to supporting organizations such as Baum School of Art that are instrumental in fostering creativity among youth, said Carol Obando-Derstine in the press release. Shes the regional affairs director for PPL Electric Utilities.

The Baum School has benefitted from additional support from organizations like The Charles H. Hoch Foundation, Crayola and Lehigh Valley Community Foundation Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorLagore. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
And, like so many women, my purse keeps me running. The IDs, the credit cards, the Altoids, the tissues, the cash I owe the band teacher for a thing she bought for my kid, the paperwork for his medical records, my paperwork for a medical referral, the little gold statue of the Infant of Prague Ive carried around for 20 years, my favorite lipstick, gift cards, my eyeglasses, my house keys, the little worry rock my son gave me when he was 3.
Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday charged the Punjab government with "intentionally delaying" the central government funded projects.

Badal said her ministry has already imposed a penalty of Rs 2.5 crore on the Punjab government for delaying the completion of the Mega Food Park project at Ladhowal village in Ludhiana district.

"The Punjab government is not serious towards the central government funded projects and it is intentionally delaying their completion," she said while inaugurating two food processing units Godrej Tyson Foods Ltd and Iscon Balaji Foods Pvt Ltd located in Gur Kirpa Mega Food Park at Ladhowal.

She was accompanied by Rameswar Teli, the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries.

Badal said the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Bathinda and now the Mega Food Park at Ladhowalare examplesof the "indifferent attitude"of the Punjab government towards Centre sponsored projects.

Once completed, the Mega Food Park would not only provide employment to more than 50,000 youths of the state but also give a big boost to the state's farm economy, she said.

The progress on the development of the food park was "very poor" despite Rs 400 crore being sanctioned by the Centre for the project, Badal said.

She also showed copies of letters written by her to the chief minister of Punjab for expeditious completion of the project.

"Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is not serious about the development of the state and its people. He does not attend the office and also does not meet people, she alleged.

Badal said the Gur Kirpa Mega Food Park and its food processing units will benefit the people of Ludhiana district and the people of neighbouring districts of Jalandhar, Moga, Amritsar and Fatehgarh Sahib.

The units, set up with a cost of Rs 95.31 crore, will leverage an investment of about Rs 85 crore and will provide direct and indirect employment to about 950 people, she said.

She said the central government is focusing on boosting the food processing industry so that agriculture sector grows exponentially and becomes a major contributor to doubling the farmers' income and the 'Make In India' initiative of the government.

To give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC) scheme in the country, Badal said.

The processing activities to be undertaken by the individual units will cover a wide range of post-harvest processes resulting in value addition and/or enhancing shelf life with specialised facilities required for preservation of perishables, she said, adding that under the scheme, the central government provides financial assistance up to Rs 5 crore per unit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Guardicore , a leader in internal data center and cloud security, received multiple awards for innovation in cybersecurity from industry media at the 2020 RSA Conference. Cyber Defense Magazine named Guardicore the Market Leader in Cloud Security. The 16th Annual 2020 Info Security PG's Global Excellence Awards also named Guardicore as the Gold award for the Most Innovative Security Software of the Year and the Bronze award for the Most Innovative Cloud Security. These awards follow Guardicore's recent recognition by CRN as one of the 100 Coolest Cloud Companies for 2020, acknowledging the executive leadership team and the innovative Guardicore Centra Security Platform , and Guardicore's subsequent recognition by Forbes as the Best Cloud Computing Company to work for in 2020 based on an analysis of CRN and Glassdoor rankings.

"Modern businesses want to utilize the benefits of cloud services, and understandably are concerned about how to maintain security for their IT assets in native cloud, hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments. Our distributed, software-defined segmentation solution is the simplest way to secure these assets and makes it possible to oversee the security of all data center and cloud workloads. This recognition by Cyber Defense Magazine, Info Security Products Guide, and CRN validates our team's dedication to keeping up with the pace of IT innovation and success with our channel partners by providing security simply wherever the enterprise needs it," stated Pavel Gurvich, CEO and co-founder at Guardicore.

Guardicore Centra is a comprehensive data center and cloud security solution that delivers the simplest and most intuitive way to apply micro-segmentation controls to reduce attack surface and detect and control breaches within east-west traffic. It provides deep visibility into application dependencies and flows and enforcement of network and individual process level policies to isolate and segment critical applications and infrastructure. Guardicore Centra's AI-powered segmentation makes asset classification even easier and reduces the time and effort needed to apply a segmentation policy to new or existing applications.

About Cyber Defense InfoSec Awards

This is Cyber Defense Magazine's eighth year of honoring InfoSec innovators from around the globe. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early-stage, later stage or public companies in the INFORMATION SECURITY (INFOSEC) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. In this program, we are particularly interested in highlighting cybersecurity companies who have a presence outside of the USA and/or a more global focus. Learn more at www.cyberdefenseawards.com

About Info Security PG's Global Excellence Awards

Info Security Products Guide sponsors the Global Excellence Awards and plays a vital role in keeping end-users informed of the choices they can make when it comes to protecting their digital resources and assets. It is written expressly for those who are adamant on staying informed of security threats and the preventive measure they can take. You will discover a wealth of information in this guide including tomorrow's technology today, best deployment scenarios, people and technologies shaping cyber security and industry predictions & directions that facilitate in making the most pertinent security decisions. Visit http://www.infosecurityproductsguide.com for the complete list of winners.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

About Guardicore

Guardicore is a data center and cloud security company that protects your organization's core assets using flexible, quickly deployed, and easy to understand micro-segmentation controls. Our solutions provide a simpler, faster way to guarantee persistent and consistent security  for any application, in any IT environment. For more information, visit www.guardicore.com .

Media Contact:

Alana Suko, Guyer Group

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CHICAGO - Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Monday to restored charges that accuse him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year in Chicago and falsely reporting to police that the phoney attack was real.

His lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf to six counts of felony disorderly conduct. She also told Judge James B. Linn that she has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to halt the case.

A sombre looking Smollett, 37, entered the Cook County courthouse wearing sunglasses and sporting a beard, flanked by his legal team and surrounded by reporters.

Hes obviously frustrated to be dragged through this process again, Glandian told reporters after the hearing.

She called the revived prosecution an ordeal for Smollett and said he has the support of relatives, some of whom flew out from California to be with him.

Hes strong, hes resilient, hell get through this, but hes frustrated, she added.

Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of the charge in the same courthouse last year, just weeks before the Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs office abruptly announced it was dismissing the case, angering police and City Hall.

Smolletts attorneys also have filed a motion in Cook County court arguing that the refiling of charges violated protections against being charged twice for the same crime, known as double jeopardy. Prosecutors have said double jeopardy does not apply because Smollett was not prosecuted last year.

Linn on Monday set a $20,000 personal recognizance bond, which means Smollett does not have to pay any of it. He was not taken into custody. His next court date is March 18.

Special Prosecutor Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney who was appointed to examine the states attorneys offices handling of the case, represented the state. Foxxs office is not involved in the new case against Smollett.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the defence motion filed with Illinois high court argues that the appointment of the special prosecutor was legally flawed.

Smollett has repeatedly denied police allegations that he staged the attack to get attention and further his career.

Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home in the early hours of Jan. 29, 2019. He said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in MAGA country, a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.

Weeks later, police alleged that Smollett had paid two black friends to help stage the attack because he was was unhappy with his salary as an actor on Empire, a Fox series filmed in Chicago that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry.

The friends, brothers Abimbola Abel Osundairo and Olabinjo Ola Osundairo, were among those who attended Mondays proceedings. If Smolletts case makes it to trial, they would be the states star witnesses. The brothers are bodybuilders and aspiring actors whom Smollett knew from the Empire set and the gym.

Their attorney, Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, told reporters after the hearing that the brothers were there to support the process.

They are here because they want the truth to be told. ... The brothers are sorry for their involvement and they will do everything they can this right, she said.

Glandian, Smolletts lawyer, said she was surprised the brothers showed up.

There was no reason for them to appear in court, she said.

Glandian has questioned the integrity of special prosecutors investigation, pointing out that Webbs probe relied on the same detectives who were part of the original investigation despite pending civil claims that Smollett is pursuing against the city and police for malicious prosecution.

Foxxs handling of the case has become a key issue in her bid for re-election, with her opponents accusing her of having acted haphazardly and indecisively.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Tarm contributed to this report.
Press Release

24 February 2020

Patron Capital sells Dublin Hostel to Blackrock

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The 412-bed Jacobs Inn Hostel in Dublin has been acquired by North American asset manager Blackrock for a reported 30 million (79,000 per bed), from private equity firm Patron Capital. The sale comes 16 months after Patron's acquisition of the property together with its joint-venture partner Code Pod Hostels, who have been operating the property and overseeing its recent renovation. Post-acquisition the hostel will be managed by Amistat, a specialist hostel operator acquired by Blackrock mid-2019.

AJ Capital acquires the Marine Hotel & Spa in North Berwick, Scotland

The 83-room Marine Hotel & Spa in North Berwick, Scotland, has been sold by UK hotel owner and operator Macdonald Hotels to North American private equity firm Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (AJ Capital) that specializes in owning and operating lodging accommodations. This transaction marks the third hotel AJ Capital has acquired from Macdonald Hotels within twelve months. Situated 40 km from Edinburgh, the property will undergo extensive renovations, adding six rooms, two new F&B venues, and additional meeting space.

Meet us at IHIF in Berlin from March 2-4

Russell Kett, Charles Human, Chris Martin, Sophie Perret, Arlett Hoff, Peter Szabo and Nicolas Auer are attending, with Russell Kett and Sophie Perret hosting panel discussions. Reach out to set up a meeting, or stop by stand 44 in the Potsdam Foyer at the conference - we look forward to seeing you there!
Several states this year are on the brink of overhauling their school funding formulas, the result of a thriving economy, single-party control of state legislatures, middling academic outcomes, and growing disparities between district spending.

But whats happening in Maryland is pretty unique: The states legislature is attempting to pay for a massive funding increase with an unusally new revenue stream, and wants to add another layer of government to oversee district spending.

The Kirwan Commission, led by former University of Maryland chancellor William English Brit Kirwan, has recommended that the state spend $2.3 billion more each year by 2030 on its K-12 school system, which currently gets around $7 billion a year. But in order to get that amount of money past fiscally conservative Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, leaders of the states Democratically controlled legislature have promised not to raise property, sales, or income taxes.

Last month, legislators introduced a novel idea: tax online ad sales. The legislature predicts that they would be able to bring in more than $100 million a year. Marylands proposal has drawn a significant amount of attention from other states looking for new ways to tap into new industries to fund fiscally-strapped public schools.

I figure its better the Russian trolls help fund education than property tax, or income tax, or sales tax, former state Senate President Thomas Mike Miller Jr., a Democrat, told the Washington Post last month.

The state also plans under the Kirwan legislation to beef up its school spending oversight. The last time Maryland overhauled its funding formula, in 2002, it boosted spending to more than $15,000 a student, making it the 14th-highest spending amount in the nation. Most of that was targeted toward districts with high numbers of low-income students and English-language learners and yet, the states scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress barely budged. Thats enraged state politicians who have accused district administrators of not spending state money on the students it was intended for.

If the Kirwan Commission recommendation is enacted, Maryland would create a board of seven appointed K-12 experts with a staff of 15 to assure that state money is spent as intended. This proposal has drawn deep opposition from many local school board members who argue district administrators already have to navigate a web of oversight and that another state body overseeing school finance would only confuse the public.

MABE strongly opposes the adoption of the recommendation for a new governance and compliance body to oversee implementation of the Commissions recommendations and subsequent legislation, the states school board association said in a statement. Such an independent oversight body is neither necessary nor appropriate to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate implementation of the Commissions recommendations as these functions are already are within the purview of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the State Board.

Hogan recently appointed Richard Henry as the states first inspector general for education. Henry currently heads up another state program that assures that local school districts comply with state regulations. State inspectors general rarely get to have any say on how billions of state K-12 dollars are spent, something thats frustrated other state officials as they pour more and more money into district coffers. West Virginias state auditor has launched a campaign for that states department of education to open its fiscal books.

For five years, our administration has been working hard to root out corruption, wrongdoing, and the mismanagement of state tax dollars by local school systems, Hogan said in a statement announcing Henrys appointment. With the appointment of the first inspector general for education in state history, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing more accountability for parents, teachers, and taxpayers and better results for our children.

The states Democrats have veto-proof control of the state legislature but the Kirwan legislation faces several hurdles, namely finding enough tax revenue to pay for its cost.

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
Whos in the basket? By Dr. Robert Owens

Saul of Tarsus was the first great persecutor of the church. In a blaze of glory, he met the resurrected Jesus while on his way to Damascus to attack the church there. Then, instead of attacking the Church Paul started preaching fearlessly about this Jesus who rose from the grave. The Jews sought to kill Paul because he was preaching Jesus as the Messiah who bore our sins on the cross, died in our place, and rose from the dead to bring us life. As the enraged Jews looked everywhere in Damascus for Paul, he was lowered in a basket from the walls to make his escape. When we share the Gospel with even just one person, and they receive the message and are born again we never know who mightve just climbed in the basket. Long long ago and far far away back in the dream time before Facebook, Amazon, and streaming, my wife and I felt the call to hold church services on the campus of a state university. Everyone told us that would be impossible what with the judiciously manufactured liberal imposed mythical Constitutional separation of church and state doctrine. I questioned God, Are you sure? My wife and I questioned each other, Are you sure? But try to resist as much as we could the calling wouldnt leave us alone. I traipsed from office to office asking one bureaucrat after another for permission to hold church services in a public building on the campus of a state university. Discouragement stalked me as I scuttled from No, to No, to No way! In the natural I was skeptical when I started and after a month or two of pushing that big rock up that steep hill all I could do was encourage myself in the Lord to keep plodding on. All we had was prayer. Happily, that was all we needed. I finally located the right bureaucrat. He was the one in charge of renting space to outside groups. After a diligent search and several misdirected wrong turns, I located his office buried deep beneath a massive pile of bricks and steel. Then I learned he was never in his office. Whenever I showed up his secretary would tell me, He just left, Hes off for the day, or You just missed him. I tried coming at every hour of the day on every day of the week. After a month or so it got to be a running joke between me and the secretary. Id pop in and shed laugh, He just left, or one of her other variations of Youre wasting your time. Then one day I walked in and there was the invisible bureaucrat standing in the middle of the room. Before the Secretary could laugh or say anything I blurted out, I want to rent a room to hold church services. To my surprise he said, No problem. Then as he vanished into his inner sanctum he tossed, Becky draw up a contract for the second-floor meeting room in the Student Union at the regular rate. Within a week we were singing praises to God and preaching the Gospel on the campus of that state university. Everyone said it couldnt be done. I didnt think it was possible. But God did it. For the next six months every Sunday we carried our keyboard, guitar, and a box of Bibles into the upper room. Every Wednesday, as part of our rental agreement, we had an informational booth in the Student Union inviting people to the service. The response was underwhelming but as church planters and domestic missionaries we were used to empty seats. We had some students who came. We had a few who came more than once. And we had one who came faithfully time after time. This one student eventually confessed Jesus as his personal Lord and confessed that God had raised Jesus from the dead. He stepped from the darkness into the light, from death into life and now twenty-five years later hes still praising God and trying his best to share the life, the light, and the joy he found with others. As a couple of believers whove devoted most of our lives to preaching the Gospel, if this one born again believer is the totality of all weve done and all we will do before the curtain comes down  thats more than enough. Thank you, Father, for allowing us to see the fruit from Your vine. As slim as the attendance was, we praised God every day for the opportunity and gave him glory for opening a door everyone thought could not be opened. Then they shut us down. They cancelled our contract and slammed the door shut. I went to see the long elusive bureaucrat to find out why. He told me a delegation of local pastors came to the school to complain because we were holding service on campus and they werent. The religious spirit did its best to stop the Spirit. But we know He opens doors, and no one can shut what Hes opened until the appointed time. The anointing moved on and we knew God had accomplished what hed sent us there to do. Someone had climbed into the basket. This reminds me of another time God called me to do something. He called me to stand in front of an abortion mill. I am the ever-remorseful father of four aborted babies. Forgiven but ashamed of what I did, but not too ashamed to confess my sin publicly if theres even the slightest chance doing so might save a life and save someone else from living with the pain and emptiness I feel. For about six months several days a week I stood a lonely vigil in all types of weather with a handmade sign reading, I repent for aborting my children on one side and God Forgave me on the other. People would drive by and honk. Some would give me the thumbs up. Others would use another digit to send a different message. The police came and told me I had to leave. But I was on public property and I refused. The people from the abortion mill tried several tactics to chase me away. Some people on their way in to end the lives of their children stopped to berate me and call me everything except a child of God. No matter what the weather, no matter how vile the abuse I stayed there because I felt God called me to bear witness, so I stood my ground. Then one day a couple stopped by on their way into the abortion mill and read me the riot act. They told me what a terrible person I was. They told me it was their choice. They yelled and gestured as loudly as any one ever did. Then about a half hour later they came back and in tears told me God had convicted them and theyd changed their mind. They were going to keep their baby. Immediately I felt released from that call. Someone had climbed into the basket. You might not know whos in the basket. You may never know. All we need to know is that when God says stand there and hold the rope, we need to do our part and leave the results up to Him because its not about who we are and what we do. Its all about who He is and what Hes done. Dr. Robert Owens teaches History, Political Science, Global Studies, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com  2020 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens Home
Srinagar, Feb 24 : After a gap of one day, Pakistan on Monday once again resorted to unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ceasefire violations were reported in the Qasba and Kerni sectors of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to details, firing which started on Monday afternoon is still going on from both sides.

Sources said Indian army is giving a befitting response to Pakistani aggression.

On Saturday, Pakistan had resorted to ceasefire violation in the same sectors.

Earlier this month, a 60-year-old civilian was killed and three others were injured in Pakistani firing at the LoC in the Shahpur sector of Poonch.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:22:29|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Political party leaders from around the world have spoken positively of China's progress in combating the novel coronavirus in messages sent to the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Mongolian Prime Minister and chairman of the ruling Mongolian People's Party Ukhnaa Khurelsukh said China's strong measures against the virus has won praise globally, which fully reflects China's role as a responsible major country and its tremendous overall strength.

At this moment, Mongolia, as a neighboring country and China's comprehensive strategic partner, is offering firm support to China, said Khurelsukh.

He voiced confidence in China defeating the epidemic at an early date under the strong leadership of the CPC and with the united efforts of the Chinese people, hoping bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges will return to normal as the situation improves.

Suchart Tancharoen of Thailand's Palang Pracharath Party and first deputy House speaker noted in his message that according to recent statistics, the recovery rate of the disease in China has considerably exceeded its case fatality rate, and the speed of patients' recovery also improved dramatically.

Such uplifting progress is strong testimony to the effectiveness of the prevention and control measures taken by the Chinese government, he said, adding that his party believes China will soon win the battle against the epidemic and be able to help other countries prevent and control the spread of the virus.

General Secretary of the Party of Independence and Labour in Senegal Samba Sy said he highly appreciates Chinese President Xi Jinping's swift decision-making and the great courage shown by the CPC in leading the Chinese people to bravely combat the virus.

He expressed his belief that the CPC could draw strength from China's thousands of years of civilization and lead the Chinese people to a final victory in fighting the epidemic.

He called on countries to provide China with all the necessary support to tackle this public health emergency.

Noting that China has the capacity to get through the current crisis and protect the safety and health of the Chinese people, Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani, also leader of the Justice and Development Party, said China will soon resume its economic and social development.

Mohamed Diane, executive secretary of RPG (Guinean People's Assembly)-Rainbow alliance, said the Guinean people have gone through the Ebola epidemic and have empathy for the current situation in China.

Noting that the Guinean people will always keep in mind the valuable support and generous help China offered in the fight against the Ebola disease, Diane said he believes the Chinese people will no doubt win the fight against the epidemic.

Rached Ghannouchi, president of Tunisia's Ennahdha party and the Tunisian parliament, applauded the rapid and effective measures that China has taken to control the spread of the epidemic.

He also expressed his firm belief that under the leadership of Xi, the CPC and the Chinese government will emerge victoriously and the Chinese economy and society will continue to develop.

Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, chairman of Mexico's Labor Party, said that the actions taken by the Chinese government to protect its people have not only set a model for fighting against epidemics but also illustrate a sense of responsibility for other nations.

Therefore, all disparaging remarks and discriminative actions against China are unacceptable, he said, adding that various countries should join hands to face the public health crisis together.
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Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  Beset by continuing Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province terrorists attacks in northeast Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has given the assurance that in the coming weeks, there will be an aggressive military crackdown to rout the insurgents once and for all
On February 11, the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave official notice to the US Embassy in Manila of its intention to terminate the countrys two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Washington. The move is the most serious rupture in relations between Manila and its former colonial master since the granting of formal independence on July 4, 1946. If not retracted, the termination will go into effect 180 days after the official notice.

The VFA was concluded as an executive agreement between the two countries in 1999 to allow the rotational presence of US military forces in the Philippines. It was seen as a means of reversing the impact of the 1991 decision of the Philippine Senate, by a one-vote majority, to refuse to extend Washingtons lease on its military bases in the country.

US and Filipino soldiers at 2019 joint live fire exercise [Credit: Wikimedia/John Etheridge]

Under the terms of the VFA, the US military has staged thousands of joint war games in the Philippines, including the annual Balikatan, or shoulder-to-shoulder, exercises. Each year Washington has deployed increasing numbers of troops and military equipment to these exercises, which have shifted in focus from counter-terrorism activities to so-called maritime security, an expression of the Pentagons open warmongering against China in the South China Sea. At present about 300 such exercises are conducted every year.

Duterte is a right-wing populist whose fascistic war on drugs has led to the extrajudicial killing of tens of thousands of poor Filipinos over the past three years. He represents the interests of layers of Filipino capitalists engaged in real estate development and those based in regions of the country at some remove from Manila. These layers are seeking a vast infrastructural investment to enhance their business positions and Duterte articulates these concerns in his signature Build, Build, Build program, which proposes to invest billions in roads, bridges, dams, and new airports. The money for this, Duterte claims, will come above all from investment from China.

Washington has sought to shore up its economic decline by thwarting the rise of China, by all means including military. By asserting its national interest in the South China Sea, the United States has brought tensions throughout the Asia Pacific region to the brink of war. Courting Beijings investment, Duterte has sought to distance Manila from this war drive, ignoring the ruling against China secured by the Aquino administration from the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.

Washington will happily fund and prop up tyrants and thugs around the globe until they cross US imperialist interests. As Duterte moved increasingly toward Beijing, Washington began to denounce him for human rights violations in his war on drugs despite the fact that the Obama administration initially provided millions of dollars in funding to Dutertes murderous crusade before his geopolitical realignment became sharply defined.

Part of the human rights pressure on the Duterte administration was a bill that passed the US Senate in January, which imposed economic sanctions under the Magnitsky Act on Philippine political figures tied to the extrajudicial killings under Duterte and denied them admission to the United States. When Philippine Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa, a key Duterte ally and former head of police, who has been closely tied to extrajudicial murders for decades, was denied admission to the United States, Duterte responded by announcing that he was tearing up the VFA.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper clearly articulated the perspective of US imperialism on this matter: the VFA was a critical aspect of Washingtons great power conflict with China. He told the press, As we try and bolster our presence and compete with [China] in this era of great power competition, I think its a move in the wrong direction for the longstanding relationship weve had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries.

Beijing responded on February 17 when Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a press briefing that the Philippines has the right to uphold an independent foreign policy. He continued, It is also Chinas belief that exchange and cooperation between countries should not only benefit those involved, but also advance regional and global peace and stability. The military ties between Washington and Manila, Beijing argued, were not advancing global peace.

US President Donald Trump seemed to approach the matter as a business negotiation, responding in a press conference, If they would like to do that, that's fine. Well save a lot of money. My relationship, as you know, is a very good one with their leader [Duterte]. And well see what happens.

Dutertes decision has sent shockwaves through the Philippine ruling elite, the older, more established layers that are intimately tied to Washington. They express their interests through the Makati Business Club (MBC), which stated that the military alliance with the United States was critical to reserving peace and rule of law in the region.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is heavily dependent on money from Washington. Between 2016 and 2019, the US supplied the Philippine military with $US550 million. The primary function of the AFP is as a domestic police force: dealing with insurgencies, suppressing dissent among the working class and peasant population, and arresting political activists. When Trump speaks of saving money it raises the specter of cuts to military aid, and Filipino capitalists see the menacing threat of social unrest. This is the perspective of the Makati Business Club when it speaks of preserving peace and rule of law.

In the days immediately following Dutertes announcement, both Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, spoke in favor of retaining the Visiting Forces Agreement. The opposition, organized in the Liberal Party, expressed the need for Senatorial review of Dutertes decision to end the VFA. Their protest is hobbled, however, by the fact that in the main these are the same political figures who argued in the late 1990s that the VFA was an agreement, not a treaty, and as such did not require senatorial approval to be enacted.

The Liberal Party opposition remains a minority in the legislature and many of its leaders have sought to destabilize the Duterte administration by channeling social unrest behind anti-Chinese chauvinism as a means of targeting the president and his ties with Beijing. The opposition has capitalized on fears of the spread of the novel coronavirus to cultivate an ugly racism in the press and social media. No Chinese Allowed signs are cropping up on businesses and demands for the deportation of Chinese workers are being openly expressed by mayors.

The majority of Filipino politicians have, for the time being, allied themselves with Duterte. Philippine history demonstrates just how quickly such loyalties can be abandoned, particularly in the face of a possible military coup. The top brass of the AFP were trained in the United States, many are graduates of West Point and Annapolis, and their loyalty has always been more with Washington than with the occupant of the presidential palace of Malacanang.

With the termination of the VFA pending in the next six months, there will be high-level discussions between Washington and Manila and between the Pentagon and the AFP. US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper told the press that there would be ongoing talks about the VFA leading up to a US-Philippines Strategic Dialogue in March to discuss the issue.

The scrapping of the VFA threatens to end the immensely lucrative war games and possibly cut US funding, which represents a significant chunk of the AFP budget. There are without doubt ongoing talks of another sort being conducted in backrooms to plot extraconstitutional means of resolving the termination of the VFA.
Stop saying that Bernie Sanders cant win.

Stop saying that he cant defeat President Trump. That is by now a given. In fact, in head-to-head national polls, Sanders consistently outperforms Trump.

Sanders is, for the moment, the clear front-runner to win the Democratic nomination. And he has a national infrastructure and a committed band of supporters and donors that make it clear that he could go the distance.

Furthermore, Sanderss impressive win in Nevada proves that he can attract a broad range of support, at least in one part of the country. This in particular is an significant feat. When Sanders ran four years ago, the breadth of his appeal was indeed an issue, which was an issue similar to the one Pete Buttigieg faces during this election. Since then, Sanders has recognized that shortcoming, and has worked hard to address it.

If Sanders can sustain this momentum, he will be the nominee. And then it will be on to a matchup with Trump. Now, trying to predict what voters will do in November is dicey business, but I am by no means counting Sanders out.
In October 2019, the central government approved for BSNL and MTNL a Rs 68,751-crore revival package, which included allocation of 4G spectrum to the state-run firms, voluntary retirement scheme for employees, as well as their merger

New Delhi: Employee unions of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. have called for a nationwide hunger strike on Monday to protest the delay in execution of the Rs 69,000-crore revival package announced by the government last year.

"The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) is organising a countrywide hunger strike on Feb. 24, 2020. This hunger strike is being organised to demand expeditious implementation of the Union Cabinet's revival package in respect of BSNL, as well as to demand settlement of the grievances of the employees," AUAB said in a statement.

In October 2019, the central government approved for BSNL and MTNL a Rs 68,751-crore revival package, which included allocation of 4G spectrum to the state-run firms, voluntary retirement scheme for employees, as well as their merger.

AUAB, said the salient feature of the revival package is the allotment of 4G spectrum, the issuing of sovereign guarantee for raising funds to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore, with share of BSNL at Rs 8,500 crore and Rs 6,500 crore for MTNL, by way of issuing long-term bonds, monetisation of assets and implementation of a VRS.

"Out of these, only the VRS has been implemented, through which 78,569 BSNL employees have been sent home. It is extremely disturbing to note that, even after the lapse of nearly 4 months, 4G spectrum has not been allotted to BSNL," statement said.

It added that the government has not yet issued the sovereign guarantee to BSNL, to enable it to raise Rs 8,500 crore, by way of issuing long-term bonds.

"The process of monetisation of BSNL's assets is also moving at snail's pace. The Supreme Court of India's judgment, with regards to the calculation of the AGR, has caused uncertainties in the telecom sector, due to which banks are also unwilling to extend the much-needed loans to BSNL," the statement said.

The BSNL employees' body said that due to the delay in the allotment of 4G spectrum and also due to the non-availability of funds, it is understood that BSNL's 4G service is not likely to be launched before the end of 2020.

"This delay is much against the spirit of the Union Cabinet, in approving the revival package for BSNL. The attention of the Minister of Communications (Ravi Shankar Prasad) has already been drawn to the need to provide BSNL with the much-needed working capital. However, nothing has happened," the statement said.

AUAB said that despite the relief package, employees are not getting salary on time and the wages of the contract workers have not been paid for the past 10 months.

"Under these circumstances, the AUAB has already organised country-wide lunch-hour demonstrations on February 11, 2020. In continuation of this, hunger strikes are being organised throughout the country on February 24 to urge the Department of Telecommunications and the BSNL management to take expeditious actions," AUAB said.
PHOENIX  Pastor Antonio Velasquez says that before the Trump administration announced a crackdown on immigrants using government social services, people lined up before sunrise outside a state office in a largely Latino Phoenix neighborhood to sign up for food stamps and Medicaid.

No more.

You had to arrive at 3 in the morning, and it might take you until the end of the day, he said, pointing behind the office in the Maryvale neighborhood to show how long the lines got.

But no one lined up one recent weekday morning, and there were just a handful of people inside.

With new rules taking effect Monday that disqualify more people from green cards if they use government benefits, droves of immigrants, including citizens and legal residents, have dropped social services they or their children may be entitled to out of fear they will be kicked out of the U.S., said Velazquez and other advocates.

This will bring more poverty, more homeless, more illness, said Velasquez, a well-known leader among Spanish-speaking immigrants in the Phoenix area.

Advocates around the U.S. gathered Monday to discuss and criticize the policy.

Participants at a New York City roundtable said that in anticipation of the change, neighborhoods with higher immigrant populations had seen enrollment declines in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. They also urged immigrants to get legal advice on how they may be affected.

In Boston, the Rev. Dieufort Fleurissaint said some Haitian immigrants worry that accepting benefits could keep their relatives from coming to the U.S.

Bethany Li, of Greater Boston Legal Services, said Chinese families are passing on WIC benefits not covered by the new rules.

The guidelines that aim to determine whether immigrants seeking legal residency may become a government burden are part of the Trump administrations broader effort to reduce immigration, particularly among poorer people.

The rules that critics say amount to a wealth test were set to take effect in October but were delayed by legal challenges alleging a violation of due process under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court last month cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward while the rules were litigated in the courts.

A 5-4 vote Friday by the high court sided with the Trump administration by lifting a last injunction covering just Illinois, giving White House adviser Stephen Miller and other hardliners a resounding win in one of their boldest attempts to limit legal immigration.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a blistering dissent, criticizing the administration for quickly turning to the Supreme Court after facing losses in lower courts and suggesting that her conservative colleagues handled the litigation inconsistently in their desire to give Trump a victory.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Saturday that the change will reestablish the fundamental legal principle that newcomers to our society should be financially self-reliant and not dependent on the largess of United States taxpayers.

Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy Homeland Security secretary, said Monday on Fox News Channels Fox & Friends that the change is not a moral judgment on individuals, it is an economic one.

He said the government expects people seeking to be long-term immigrants here, and maybe join us as citizens, will be able to stand on their own two feet. He said the rules were a major priority for the president.

Federal law already requires those seeking permanent residency or legal status to prove they will not be a burden to the U.S.  a public charge, in government lingo. But the new rules include a wider range of programs that could disqualify them, including using Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers.

The chilling effect spreading through immigrant communities recalls how millions of refugees dumped social services during the welfare changes of the 1990s, even though the legislation that prompted the cuts explicitly exempted them.

Nazanin Ash, Washington-based vice president for global policy and advocacy for the nonprofit International Rescue Committee, pointed to research showing some 37 percent of refugees exempted from the Clinton-era changes in welfare benefits dropped food stamps they were entitled to.

Ash said the Trump administration rules would likely cause similar hardships for immigrants who contribute to the American economy.

To call them a burden on society is factually incorrect, she said.

The nonprofit Migration Policy Institute in Washington said in an August policy paper that it expects a significant share of the nearly 23 million noncitizens and U.S. citizens in immigrant families who use public benefits will drop them.

Julia Gelatt, a senior policy analyst with the institute, said the guidelines are so complicated that there have even been reports of parents dropping their kids free school lunches, which are not affected.

Gelatt noted that the rules apply only to social services used after Monday and do not affect citizens or most green card holders. Refugees vetted by federal agencies before their arrival, as well as people who obtain asylum, are not affected.

The guidelines dont apply to many programs for children and pregnant and postnatal women, including Head Start early childhood education and WIC.

Nevertheless, Stephanie Santiago, who manages two Phoenix-area clinics for the nonprofit Mountain Park Health Center, said during the last three months of 2019 she suddenly saw scores of immigrants drop those and other benefits.

People are very scared about the rules, Santiago said. The sad thing is that they even drop the services their U.S. citizen kids qualify for. A lot of these kids are going to school sick or their parents are paying out of pocket for services they should get for free.

Cynthia Aragon, outreach coordinator for the nonprofit Helping Families in Need in Phoenix, said that because of the confusion, she is steering people to private sources of aid, like food banks and church-run clinics.

I think people will start applying for government services again after it becomes clearer how things are going to work, Aragon said. In the meantime, we tell immigrants to look for some of the other resources out there and dont feel like a victim.

___

Associated Press writers Philip Marcelo in Boston, Deepti Hajela in New York and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.

___

Follow Anita Snow: http://twitter.com/asnowreports
Drones have a 'critical role' to play in tackling climate change but need better battery life and the ability to stay in the air longer, an expert claims.

Researchers at the University of Southampton are working with technology entrepreneur Ewan Kirk to develop cheaper, longer lasting batteries and drones.

The unmanned flying vehicles can be used to monitor large areas of land for changes but need to be airborne for a long time to collect the necessary data.

While longer-range drones are available already, they are much more expensive and difficult to deploy at a scale required for climate monitoring.

Improved battery life will mean drones can be deployed to monitor climate degradation in difficult-to-reach and hostile environments, Kirk said.

Drones have a `critical role to play in response to climate change according to Dr Ewan Kirk, who is working with the University of Southampton to develop longer range drones

Dr Kirk, who is the director of the Turner-Kirk Charitable Trust, said improving the range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is critical to their use in helping the planet.

He has donated 15,000 to the University of Southampton engineering department as part of a project to create new types of drones with better batteries.

He says as well as climate change, the technology can help in stopping or reducing instances of poaching and help first responders in natural disasters.

Drones should be an essential tool at the fingertips of of those environment agencies already helping in the fight against climate change, he said.

'The Kruger National Park in Africa is almost the same size as Wales and poaching can happen anywhere and at any time of the day or night,' said Kirk.

'To effectively patrol this area, anti-poaching agencies need UAVs with long flight times and they need them to be cheap enough that they can have many of them flying simultaneously.

'They will help them gather data much more quickly and fundamentally I believe technology enables world-leading experts to do their jobs even better.

Ewan Kirk is here with one of three teams of students from the University of Southampton working on new types of longer-range monitoring drones

One of the key areas they can be useful is the continuous monitoring of endangered animals - particularly over large and hostile areas.

'In the area of conservation, continuous monitoring of endangered animals by UAVs will enable authorities to identify potential threats and increase the response times for wardens to intercept and prevent any illegal activity,' Kirk said.

He said they can also be used to monitor vegetation and land use over large parts of the Earth to create data sets that help scientists understand how climate change is impacting some of the world's most critical resources.

When the drones are complete and teams have finished building them they will be tested over a live volcano in Guatemala to try out their range and monitoring ability

The programme will see three groups of fourth-year students in the universitys engineering department work to create better long-range drones.

They will look at developing new ways to adapt existing drones on an inexpensive basis as well as studying novel aircraft configurations designed.

When they have finished building their new devices, the three groups of students will test the drones to monitor a live volcano in Guatemala.

The university says the new drones will monitor more remote environments than currently available and improve data collection for climate change.
Ohiopyle State Park is known for its raging whitewater rushing over huge boulders. But now some of that wild beauty has been badly marred.

As KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports, someone has vandalized the park in Fayette County, Pa., by spray-painting some of those beautiful boulders with graffiti over the weekend.

Ohiopyle officials, who posted about the ugly incident on Facebook, tell KDKA the graffiti was found Ferncliff side of the Main Falls Area, right across the river from the observation deck of the falls.

This means anyone standing on the deck can very clearly see the yellow and red spray paint covering the landscape, KDKA reports, adding:

Park manager Ken Bisbee said that the graffiti was not there on Saturday and that a ranger supervisor discovered it when he opened the gate Sunday morning.

Bisbee told KDKA that in his 6 years at the park, he has never seen anything like this, and many residents in Ohiopyle had never seen anything like this happen either in their time living in the area.

Anyone with any information about the vandalism is asked to call 724-329-8591.

Here is the Facebook post from Ohiopyle:

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The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles have 75 parole hearing scheduled for this week, including hearings for nine Wiregrass inmates.

James Boggs, 51, of Geneva County, has a parole hearing scheduled for Feb. 25.

According to court records, Boggs was convicted in 2008 on charges of possession of a controlled substance, manslaughter, and theft by deception. He was sentenced to a 20-year prison term. Boggs has served 13 years of his sentence.

Boggs was also convicted in 2002 on a charge of first-degree theft of property, possession of a controlled substance, and criminal possession of forged instrument. In 2001 he was convicted on charges of first-degree theft of property, and two counts of forgery.

According to the Alabama Department of Corrections, Boggs has been classified as a violent offender.

January Shrea Corbitt, 41, of Houston County, has a parole hearing for Feb. 25.

Corbitt was convicted in 2018 on two counts of possession/receiving a controlled substance. She was sentenced to a five-year prison term. She has served one year of her sentence.
Allegedly corrupt planner John Woodman and one of his close associates were involved in the approval of almost 1000 houses in the council area adjacent to the sacked City of Casey.

Kingston Council has completed an initial probe into the potential for corruption on any of the projects where Mr Woodman, legal consultant and close associate Megan Schutz, and his lobbyist, former Liberal MP Lorraine Wreford, were involved.

Planner and developer John Woodman late last year, after spending a day on the stand at the anti-corruption commission. Credit:Justin McManus

The report, which the council considered on Monday night, makes no findings against any of those involved, instead setting out a plan for a more detailed investigation of projects Mr Woodman and his associates were involved in.

Mr Woodman, Ms Schutz and Ms Wreford, along with two sacked Casey councillors, are at the centre of hearings being staged by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission into allegations of corrupt land deals in Melbournes south-east.
Android 11 Developer Preview 1 is currently live. The Pixel Launcher is expected to come with at least three new features.

Now that the first Developer Preview of the next version of Android has gone live, we can expect to see more and more reports of upcoming features pop up online. Though they may not all make it to the production version of Android 11, they give us an idea of what to expect from Googles popular mobile operating system this year. After a root-about in the Pixel Launchers code, XDA Developers reports that there are three new features currently being tested in the famous launcher, each as useful as the next.

The first feature is a set of three new action buttons at the bottom of the recent apps screen: Select, Screenshot, and Share. According to the report, the Select button does absolutely nothing at the moment but is expected to highlight all the text and images within the app in focus. The Screenshot button reportedly takes a screenshot of the app in focus and then saves it to disk, while the Share button goes one step further by bringing up the share screen for sharing the screenshot with a contact.

The second feature is an option to hide a particular suggestion in the suggested apps section of the launchers app drawer. For example, you can long-press a suggested app such as Google Photos and tap Dont suggest app to remove it from the top row of the app drawer. At least this appears to be the function of this feature because XDA Developers reports it doesnt do anything for the moment. If Google indeed enables this feature in Android 11, users should be able to get a slightly tighter control over their suggested apps.

The third and final feature comes in the form of home screen folders that name themselves automatically when icons of a similar category are grouped together. For example, grouping Facebook and Twitter icons together reportedly creates a new folder called Social. The newly created folder can of course be renamed but this automatic suggestion can prove to be a huge time-saver for users who just want to keep their home screen icons organised by category. Whether Google decides to bring all three features to the final release version of Android 11 is something only time will tell. In the meantime, you can check out the Pixel Launcher here.
Supreme Court appointed interlocutors Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran on Monday submitted their report on the ongoing protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Southeast Delhis Shaheen Bagh to the top court.

The report was submitted in sealed cover before the bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph.

The court said that it will examine the report but refused to give a copy of it to the petitioners stating that the report will not be put in record

The case will now be heard on February 26.

The protest at Shaheen Bagh began on December 15 last year and has continued since then, blocking a major road.

The top court had appointed the interlocutors last Monday to speak to the protesters to find ways to end a roadblock at the protest site. Among other demands, protesters in Shaheen Bagh have told them that they want the apex court to guarantee their safety before one carriageway on Road 13A is opened up. They also asked that the police withdraw cases filed against residents of Jamia Nagar for protests against the CAA on December 15 last year.

Former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah had earlier told the Supreme Court that the protest was peaceful and inconvenience being caused to commuters was due to barricades unnecessarily put by police on roads around Shaheen Bagh away from the protest site.

The Supreme Court had earlier said that while people have a fundamental right to protest peacefully and lawfully, the blocking of a public road at Shaheen Bagh as it might lead to a chaotic situation.

Habibullah, in his affidavit, has also stated that the protestors have asked him to convey to the apex court that their dissent was out of desperation and compulsion as they see the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) as a death knell for their and future generations survival and existence.

The Delhi Police have imposed restrictions on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch of the road and the Okhla underpass, which were closed on December 15 last year after the protests against CAA and the NRC began.

Former BJP MLA Nand Kishore Garg has filed a plea in the apex court seeking directions to authorities to remove protestors from Shaheen Bagh and reopen the road.
Hours before landing in Ahmedabad, US President Donald Trump tweeted in Hindi he was excited to visit India. The US President and the First Lady Melania Trump will visit India along with a US delegation comprising Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

, ! - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020

The Prime Minister responded to Trump's tweet in Hindi by tweeting "Atithi Devi Bhava".

Earlier, Ivanka Trump also tweeted she was honoured to return to India after two years. She also said, "The grand friendship between the world's two largest democracies has never been stronger!"

Two years after joining @narendramodi at the Global Entrepreneurial Summit in Hyderabad, I am honored to return to India with @POTUS and @FLOTUS to celebrate that the grand friendship between the world's two largest democracies has never been stronger! pic.twitter.com/r1d5fl9mtq - Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 23, 2020

Donald Trump will arrive at around 11:30 am today. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Ahmedabad to welcome the POTUS and his family. Upon his arrival, PM Modi was welcomed by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani and the Deputy CM of Gujarat, Nitin Patel.

PM @narendramodi landed in Ahmedabad. In a short while from now, @POTUS will be landing in Ahmedabad. India looks forward to welcoming him and other distinguished guests from USA. @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/D5izAgpOdd - PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 24, 2020

The American delegation that will accompany Trump on his first visit to India includes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Trump, who is the first serving US President to ever visit Gujarat, will visit three Indian cities as a part of this tour- Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi.

Also read: Donald Trump visit Live Updates: Hum Bharat ane k lie tatpar hai, POTUS tweets event in Hindi before landing

Also read: Visiting Taj, India Inc roundtable: Trump's got two busy days in India

Also read: Donald Trump to arrive in India shortly: what's on the agenda

Also read: Honoured to return to India, says Ivanka Trump
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has revealed she dreamt she would be involved in a Bond film just months before being approached to help write the script.

The 34-year-old Fleabag writer revealed the 'strange' coincidence while being interviewed on Chris Evan's Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio, set to air on Monday.

Actress Phoebe said she believes she put the idea of her involvement 'out into the ether', causing her to be asked to meet with film producer Barbara Broccoli.

A premonition: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 34, (right) has revealed she dreamt she would be involved in a Bond film just months before being approached, interviewed by Chris Evans (left)

The star also revealed that she intends to get dressed up in a tuxedo like 007 himself at the film's premiere in April.

Speaking to the radio presenter about the moment she got the call from the Bond film writers Phoebe said: 'I was in the edit for Fleabag. It was an afternoon, and I had the call that Barbara wanted to meet me.

'That Barbra Broccoli wants to meet me for a coffee. And I was like, all right. But the strangest thing is, is that I'd really I had been sort of dreaming about the idea of it only a couple a few months beforehand.

Suave: Phoebe made the surprise revelation that she would be involved as the first official trailer for No Time To Die was released in April, and was showered with praise by fans

Sensational: The first trailer for No Time To Die offered a glimpse at Bond's return to life as an agent, after previously retiring in Jamaica

'I was like, "Oh, wouldn't it be cool to be involved in a Bond film to sort of just put that there in the ether?" And then it just came around.'

The acclaimed writer - who saw her annual salary jump from 82,000 in 2018 to 518,000 this year after the success of Fleabag and Killing Eve - was drafted in to help 'polish' the partially written Bond script.

Phoebe has now released a tell-all book on the writing of her hit series, Fleabag: The Scriptures.

Explaining her role on the upcoming film Phoebe said: 'I just sort of do dialogue polishes and offer things really, it's about just offering different alternatives.

Villainous: Oscar winner Rami Malek is taking the role as lead villain Safin in the movie

A vision: Ana de Armas also makes her debut as a Bond girl in sensational style, and she makes a glamorous impact in the trailer

'They did give me some scenes and then be like, can you write some alternatives for this or have another idea about where it could go in the middle or how it would end. And then I would just give them options and various scenes and then they would take what they want.

'But there was a lot people writing Carey and the director was a writer on it as well. And there'd been a few writers before.'

The actress and screenwriter also explained how James Bond actor Daniel Craig has also been heavily involved in the script writing - the actor claims this film No Time To Die will be his last in the 007 role.

Phoebe told Chris Evans: 'Daniel is really, really involved from the beginning of yet so many great conversations with him about it, constantly in touch with him about it. So it's a big sort of melting pot of everybody's ideas the whole time.'

Important: In April 2019 it was announced that Phoebe had offered a re-write of the No Time To Die script, in a bid to add more humour to the story

At the film's premiere Phoebe plans to wear a tux like the Bond character often does, telling the presenter: 'I think I want to wear like a tux. I want to go as Bond.'

The star will also prepare for the premiere with her long-term hair dresser Armenio.

Talking about her beloved hairdresser Phoebe said: 'I met him when I was at drama school and he was a friend of a friend.

'And he gave me a free haircut, which was massive because, you know, you're a student and youre doing it yourself. Hacking it to pieces yourself in your bathroom. And I had long curly hair.

'And he said, "I'll give you a free haircut, but you need to have short hair that had that you're supposed to have." And he cut it all off. And just after I left drama school and he cut it all off and I started getting work. So he was right.'

No Time To Die is released in UK cinemas on April 2 and in the US on April 8.
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded 1% lower each on Monday tracking heavy sell-off in global equities amid rising concerns over Chinese coronavirus epidemic.

Here's a look at ten factors that led to the fall in Indian stock market today:

-Sensex lost 496 points to 40,673 and NSE 50-share index Nifty50 fell 157 points to 11,923. Of 30 Sensex stocks, 23 were trading in red. On Nifty, 41 out of 50 scrips were trading lower.

- Tata Steel, HDFC, ITC, ICICI Bank, Maruti, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC and PowerGrid were among the top losers today. On the other hand, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS, Sun Pharma and HUL were the top gainers.

- Sectorally, all indices except IT were trading in losses, with over 3% decline in metal, followed by 1.75% fall in auto and pharma stocks, and over 1% decline in all other indices.

- Metal stocks were top losers in Monday's session, with Nifty metal index declining over 3% amid global sell-off as investors worldwide continued to be spooked by the impact of Coronavirus. Brent crude prices too felt the heat of dampening sentiment in global markets. The commodity traded at $56.91 per barrel, down 2.72% today. Information technology index on BSE rose 110 points to 16,457 as rupee weakened to a two-month low.

- Market breadth was negative with 821 stocks rising against 1,375 falling on BSE. 151 stocks were unchanged. On BSE, 54 stocks hit their 52-week highs compared to 126 hitting their 52 week lows. 143 securities hit their upper circuits compared to 187 touching their lower circuits on the first trading day of this week.

- Contrary to the bearish trend in the equity market, gold price rose 2% globally to a seven-year high of $1,678.58 per ounce. In India, Gold 05 Feb 2020 Futures on MCX rose by another Rs 433 or 1% to a record high of 43,099 per 10 gm today. The yellow metal jumped today as investors turned to safe-haven assets due to rising concerns over the economic impact from coronavirus cases.

- Amid coronavirus fears, the Indian rupee opened weak at 71.94 at the interbank forex market, down by 30 paise against the US dollar in opening trade on Monday. The local currency, however, pared some initial losses and was trading at 71.83 against the US dollar. The rupee had settled at 71.64 against the US dollar on Friday.

- Overseas markets extended last week's fall amid a surge in the number of new coronavirus cases reported outside China and on worries over its impact on the global economy. The sharp spike in infections in Italy and Iran, with South Korea raising its infectious disease alert to its highest level has made investors jittery as whether the virus can be successfully contained. South Korea put the country on high alert after the number of infections surged to over 600 with six deaths, making it the world's largest total outside China. Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo were also trading majorly bearish. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.7% to 541.48.

- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Sunday that the deadly coronavirus epidemic could put an already fragile global economic recovery at risk, as G20 financial chiefs discussed ways to contain its economic ripple effects.

- The World Health Organization has also warned about the growing number of cases without any clear link to China.

Share Market LIVE: Sensex down 500 points, Nifty below 12K; metal stocks decline

Stocks in news: YES Bank, Cipla, Tech Mahindra, Escorts and more
Border authorities in the southern region are strictly controlling all travel through border gates as part of an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

The body temperature of people passing through the My Quy Tay Border Gate in Long An Province is checked to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The southern province of Tay Ninh, which has a 240km border with Cambodia, is at high risk of COVID-19 infections.

About 10,000 people travel between Vietnam and Cambodia every day through Moc Bai and Xa Mat international border gates, national border gates, sub-border gates, and many trails.

Colonel Nguyen Tai Son of the provinces Border Guard Force said it had set up a committee for COVID-19 prevention and control. Each border guard station has set up a steering committee and a special task force to work on the prevention and control of the epidemic."

Strict controls on entry and exit have been conducted to detect possible cases of suspected infections as early as possible.

Provincial border guards have increased communication activities to raise people's awareness about prevention measures against the virus.

The border guards are working closely with police, customs and quarantine officers to check the body temperature of passengers arriving at the border gates.

This has not posed any difficulty for passengers, Nguyen Thanh Ngoc of Moc Bai International Quarantine Station said.

Suspected cases will be sent to the districts medical centre for treatment and isolation, while passengers from China passing through the border gates must fill out health declaration forms.

Nguyen Van Cuong, deputy director of the provincial Department of Health, said there were 19 suspected cases of Vietnamese and Chinese returning from China crossing the Moc Bai International Border Gate.

They have been isolated and monitored in the province. Their health is in stable condition, he said.

As of February 18, the province had not recorded any suspected case of COVID-19.

The Mekong (Cuu Long) Delta province of Long An shares a 133km-long border route with Cambodian provinces of Svay Rieng and Prey Veng.

The provinces border guards are strictly monitoring the border, including Binh Hiep International Border Gate, My Quy Tay Economic Area Border Gate, and small border gates and border crossings.

Body temperature checks are conducted on all people before they enter or exit the border gates.

If any of them show signs of the disease, they will be examined and monitored quickly, Lieutenant Colonel Le Trong Tinh, head of the My Quy Tay Border Guard Station in Duc Hue District, said.

About 1,000 people cross through the My Quy Tay Economic Area Border Gate every day, he said. The number of people passing through the border gate has decreased by 15-20 per cent compared to other days due to the impact of the epidemic, he added.

Strict controls over cross-border activities are being carried out, but we are still creating convenient conditions for people who are travelling or doing business at the border.

The border guard station has four body temperature machines as well as hand sanitisers. More than 1,000 face masks have been given to people crossing the border gate.

Local border guards have been working closely with their Cambodian counterparts to prevent and control the infectious disease. They are also working with local authorities to classify and quarantine those returning from epidemic-hit areas.

The provinces health sector is currently monitoring 18 people quarantined with symptoms of the disease in My Quy Tay and My Quy Dong communes.

Disease prevention measures are also being conducted at Binh Hiep International Border Gate in Kien Tuong Town.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Nam of the Binh Hiep Border Guard Station said about 2,000 turns of people pass through the station every day, and their body temperature is checked.

All agencies are working more closely to strengthen inspections, and carry out prevention measures, he said.

Border guard force and preventive health centres in localities are also strictly controlling cross-border activities via trails or rivers, and preventing illegal wildlife trade, as well as illegal exit and entry.

Chemical spraying, environmental sanitation, food safety and personal hygiene are being implemented to ensure the safety of all officers and border soldiers on duty at border areas. In addition, local residents have been provided information about COVID-19 and preventive measures.

Disease control and prevention measures have been also strengthened at border areas between the Mekong Delta province of An Giang and Cambodia's Kandal and Takeo provinces.

An Giang Province shares a border of nearly 100km with Cambodia, and has two international border gates, two national and many auxiliary border gates, and multiple cross-border trails.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, has asked local functional forces to implement disease-prevention measures and maintain good conditions for cross-border travel, transport and trade at the Khanh Binh Border Gate in An Phu District.

There is still a high risk of the disease spreading to the country due to the huge number of people crossing the border daily, Binh said.

The provincial health sector, in collaboration with local authorities, has asked for equipment to monitor arriving passengers' body temperatures at Tinh Bien, Khanh Binh and Vinh Xuong border gates.

The border gates have also installed more hand-washing areas, and medical equipment and other supplies have been provided.

Human resources from district-level hospitals and healthcare centres have been assigned to work the entire day at border areas to assist border guard forces.

The functional forces are strictly controlling cross-border activities of border residents via trails, and all exit and entry through border gates, Binh said.

He has asked the provincial Department of Education and Training to instruct all schools to clean and disinfect classrooms and other spaces before reopening.

All schools must have more sites for washing hands with antiseptic solutions, and must be equipped with body temperature machines, face masks and hand sanitisers, he asked.

Nearly 1,100 Vietnamese-Cambodians study at schools in the province.  VNS

Vietnam sees positive signs in fight against COVID-19 Vietnam has seen positive signs in the fight against the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), heard a meeting of the national steering committee for prevention and control of the disease on February 17.
Political leaders on Monday condemned the violence that spiralled in parts of Delhi over the citizenship act and appealed to people to maintain peace, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that violence will not be tolerated.

IMAGE: A protester brandishes a pistol during violent clashes at Jaffrabad in Northeast Delhi. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

I just spoke to the LG (Lieutenant Governor). He has assured that more police forces are being sent. Violence will not be tolerated by anyone. I request people to maintain peace. No solution will come out of violence.

-- Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi chief minister

Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony.

-- Anil Baijal, Delhi Lt Governor

Never felt so scared in my own city.

-- Manish Sisodia, Delhi deputy CM

There can be no space for violence in the land of Mahatma Gandhi, nor can there be any place in the country for forces that seek to impose their communal and divisive ideology on the people.

-- Congress president Sonia Gandhi

Anti-social elements indulged in violent incidents in Delhi, in the name of agitation to oppose the CAA.

-- G Kishan Reddy, minister of state for home

The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation.

-- Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader

I appeal to Delhiites to maintain peace. Violence only causes harm to the common people and the country.

-- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary

I request people to exercise restraint in view of the disturbance in Jafrabad, Yamuna Vihar, Karawal Nagar and surrounding areas of northeast Delhi.

-- Manoj Tiwari, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief

With folded hands, I request people in Babarpur Assembly to maintain peace. Some people are purposely trying to spoil the atmosphere. I have spoken to Delhi LG and he has assured me that more policemen will be deployed to bring the situation under control.

-- Gopal Rai, Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA
Iran's government said Monday that 12 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the epicenter of the virus in the country.

The conflicting reports raised questions about the Iranian government's transparency concerning the scale of the outbreak.

Five neighboring countries reported their first cases of the virus, with those infected all having links to Iran, including direct travel from a city where authorities have not even reported a confirmed case.

Iran's Health Ministry said the total number of infections have risen to 61 while deaths stood at 12. But a lawmaker from Qom, Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, was quoted by the semi-official ILNA agency as saying that the death toll was 50.

Even with the lower toll of 12, the number of deaths compared to the number of confirmed infections from the virus is higher in Iran than in any other country, including China and South Korea, where the outbreak is far more widespread.

The World Health Organization said last week that in 2% of infected cases, the virus has been fatal. In Iran, according to the Health Ministry's figures, the death toll represents nearly 20 per cent of total infections.

There are concerns that clusters of the new coronavirus in Iran, as well as in Italy and South Korea, could signal a serious new stage in its global spread.

Authorities in Iraq and Afghanistan, which closed their borders with Iran, announced their first confirmed coronavirus cases on Monday. Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman also announced their first cases. In all five countries, the infected patients had links with Iran.

Farahani, the lawmaker, said the 50 deaths in Qom date back to Feb. 13. Iran first officially reported cases of the virus and its first deaths on Feb. 19.

He did not provide supporting evidence but said more than 250 people are quarantined in Qom, which is known for its Shiite seminaries that attract students from across Iran and other countries. Schools there have been closed.

I think the performance of the administration in controlling the virus has not been successful, Farahani said, referring to the government of President Hassan Rouhani.

His comments represent the most public criticism levied yet against the government for its handling of the virus, which originated in China in December. None of the nurses have access to proper protective gear, Farahani said, adding that some health care specialists had left the city.

So far, I have not seen any particular action to confront corona by the administration." He spoke following a session in parliament in Tehran. His comments, first published by ILNA, were later carried by other agencies in Iran.

While such harsh criticism is rare in the country, it reflects deep-seated public mistrust of the government, particularly since a Ukrainian passenger jet was shot down by Iran on Jan. 8, killing 176 on board amid heightened tensions with the U.S. Iranian government officials at first tried to conceal the cause of the crash before acknowledging that Revolutionary Guard forces had shot it down, mistaking it for an enemy target.

Health Ministry spokesman Iraj Harirchi rejected the lawmaker's comments, but said about 900 other suspected cases are being tested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Despite his federal counterpart's message of calm, Victoria's chief medical officer is bracing for a 'very likely, if not inevitable' COVID-19 world pandemic.

Dr Brett Sutton took to Twitter on Sunday to say the state had been working on its pandemic preparedness for weeks.

Australia's chief medical officer Dr Brendan Murphy has waved off the nation's concerns over the China-based outbreak, asking people not to wear masks and to go about their normal business.

Mr Sutton has pushed a more urgent line.

Victoria's chief medical officer said the state was preparing for a coronavirus pandemic after the federal government waved off concerns and urged people not to wear protective masks. Pictured: People wearing masks at Brisbane airport

Dr Brett Sutton took to Twitter to say a pandemic is 'very likely, if not inevitable'

Saying he was 'hoping for the best and planning for the worst,' Mr Sutton on Sunday put out a message to remain alert.

'Australia absolutely has world-class health care but even the best health care in the world is challenged during pandemics,' he wrote.

'So everyone will need to work together to ensure that should a pandemic eventuate, our services can function as effectively as possible.'

After outbreaks in Japan and South Korea raised the alarm on whether the World Health Organisation can declare a global pandemic, Dr Sutton wanted to reassure Victorians.

Australia's chief medical officer Dr Brendan Murphy (far right) waved off the nation's concerns over the China -based outbreak, asking people not to wear masks and to go about their normal business

'Victoria and Australia nonetheless remain completely in containment mode - identifying any possible case; isolating those who are infectious, and quarantining contacts,' he said.

'Regardless of developments internationally, this gives all of us time and space to plan and prepare.'

Globally, nearly 78,000 people have been infected in 29 countries.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia is 23, after the confirmation of seven positive cases among the group of 164 evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

This includes 10 people who have recovered from the illness.
California authorities tranquilized a 400-pound bear on Friday, after the creature was spotted taking a leisurely stroll through a residential neighborhood.

The bear decided to take a day trip to Monrovia, California -- just outside of Los Angeles -- on Friday morning, according to CNN affiliate KCAL. Undoubtedly, she was bored of her forest living and wanted a change of pace.

As news vans, paparazzi and curious residents followed her around, she didn't seem to mind the fame -- ambling along the sidewalks and visiting the local sites, like homes and schools.

"It's nice to be able to get this close," resident Elizabeth Riteholz told KCAL.

And residents were indeed able to get quite close to the bear, who, like any vacationer, seemed rather languid during her stay. She didn't really show any aggression toward the locals, KCAL reported.

Eventually, officers from California Fish and Wildlife tranquilized the bear, moving her to the Angeles National Forest.

The agency told KCAL that the bear was probably just hungry, and that bears will often visit neighborhoods on trash day in search of food, the agency said.

It was, in fact, trash day in Monrovia when the bear decided to visit, KCAL said. And who among us hasn't traveled great distances for a tasty snack?

Live your best life, bear.
CAA-NRC-NPR chronology and methods, all endanger the very status of the majority of our people, Sitaram Yechury said. (Photo | Twitter)

New Delhi: Appealing for peace as protests in northeast Delhi turned violent with clashes between anti-CAA and pro-CAA groups claiming the life of a police head constable and injuring a DCP, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday held the Centre responsible for the violence.

Protesters torched houses, shops and vehicles, and hurled stones at each other in Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Chand Bagh localities, a day ahead of the visit of US President Donald Trump to Delhi on Tuesday.

"There is utmost need to maintain peace and calm. We appeal to everyone to not fall prey to rumours or incitements - Peace must be kept. The responsibility however, lies with the Union govt which has not made any attempt to address grievances of a large section of Indians," Yechury tweeted.

CAA-NRC-NPR chronology and methods, all endanger the very status of the majority of our people. Instead of securing their lives, they will spend a lifetime securing papers. Modi govt must stop NPR and repeal CAA, Yechury recently said on Twitter.

On Friday, the Left leader spoke about the difficulties a large population would face if the government pushed ahead with the NRC and NPR. He referred to a study conducted by Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerji and Esther Duflos institute J-PAL, which established that there are very high risks of harassment of genuine poor and marginalised sections by terming their papers false and their documents dubious.

J-PAL surveyed over 3,900 households in Jharkhand found that a significant number of ration cards cancelled during a filtering process three years ago were genuine. The CAA-NRC-NPR is devised for this harassment, Yechury said, quoting the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:21:46|Editor: huaxia

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Deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) queue to enter the Great Hall of the People for the opening meeting of the second session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, March 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)



BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Monday voted to adopt a decision to postpone this year's NPC annual session.

The decision was approved at a bimonthly session of the NPC Standing Committee held Monday.

The third annual session of the 13th NPC will be postponed in an appropriate manner, so as to implement the arrangements made by the Communist Party of China Central Committee on coordinating the control work against the novel coronavirus outbreak and economic and social development, continue the efforts to win the battle against the epidemic and protect people's lives, health and safety, according to the decision.

The specific opening time of the third annual session of the 13th NPC will be decided by the NPC Standing Committee at a later date, said the decision. 
ATLANTA, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council hosted the first organizational session of its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Adoption Committee as part of the Council's 2020 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.

"TMC will support the U.S. DOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Tech-Celerate Now Program by developing recommended practices, videos and other technical materials that support the implementation of ADAS technologies in commercial vehicle fleets," said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. "We are very pleased to join this industry coalition to help improve vehicle safety and equipment operation and maintenance."

Tech-Celerate Now is part of a new government-industry initiative lead by the FMCSA to accelerate ADAS adoption. In January 2020, FMCSA announced the official launch of Tech-Celerate Now, the first program of its kind bringing together government agencies and trucking industry organizations, including TMC, ATA, the American Transportation Research Institute and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

As part of this first organizational meeting, industry stakeholders will begin plans to develop technical materials and outreach programs aimed at educating trucking industry professionals on the merits of early adoption of ADAS technologies.

Tech-Celerate Now is focused on specific ADAS technology performance categories including monitoring, warning, braking and steering systems. Among other key tasks, the cooperative will work together to determine appropriate levels of ADAS deployment, serve as a resource on available ADAS technology, and provide technical information and video content. The Tech-Celerate Now Program will promote the FMCSA goals of accelerating ADAS adoption to reduce crashes  saving lives  and realizing substantial return-on-investment through initial safety values and long-term benefits.

For more information and to get involved, visit the Tech-Celerate Now website.

By providing leadership support and opportunities to collaborate, TMC helps members develop the industry's best practices that address the critical truck technology and maintenance issues that have the greatest impact on truck fleets. For more than 60 years, TMC's member-driven Recommended Maintenance and Engineering Practices have been setting the standards that help trucking companies specify and maintain their fleets more effectively. Follow TMC on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook . Trucking Moves America Forward

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump was infuriated that 14 U.S. citizens who had tested positive for coronavirus were permitted to return this week to the United States, said two senior administration officials. The decision took the president, a self-declared germophobe, by surprise.

Officials at the State Department decided to bring back the citizens, who had been quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, after consulting with a senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services. But officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention objected, concerned that the passengers, among hundreds of Americans being evacuated from the ship, could spread the virus. News organizations reported on the decision on Monday, and the passengers arrived in the United States that day.

Trump, furious at not having been briefed on the Americans who had tested positive, relayed his anger to Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, and other top officials. They then alerted the White House interagency task force on the coronavirus, which Azar oversees. One official said Trump views shutting the borders to infected people as critical to keeping the country safe and wants to be seen as managing a proper response.

The top State Department official on the task force is Stephen Biegun, the deputy secretary of state.

During the early legs of a four-day trip to the West Coast meant to bolster his reelection effort, Trump paid close attention to Fox News coverage of the Diamond Princess that played aboard Air Force One.

Word of Trumps anger had already begun circulating among officials on Tuesday morning. The Washington Post first reported on it on Friday.

In 2014, during an Ebola crisis in Africa, Trump, who was then a private citizen, angrily demanded that the Obama administration cancel flights and bar anyone infected with the virus from entering the country  including American medical workers who had gone to Africa to help. KEEP THEM OUT OF HERE! he wrote in a July 31 tweet after learning that one American medical worker would be evacuated to Atlanta from Liberia.

The U.S. cannot allow EBOLA infected people back, Trump wrote on Twitter the next day, adding: People that go to far away places to help out are great  but must suffer the consequences!

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 virus 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.

U.S. officials began a complex evacuation procedure for 328 passengers aboard the Diamond Princess on Sunday night. 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, Walters said. The tests had been conducted two to three days earlier, but U.S. 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, Walters said.

After they learned that 14 passengers had tested positive, U.S. officials decided that the entire group set to leave Japan should be treated according to protocols the officials had developed for evacuees, 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.

Walters said on Monday that he and Kadlec reviewed the possible options after learning of the test results.

Then the question was simply this: Are these evacuees? Walters said. And do we follow our protocol? And the answer to that was yes on both accounts.

Kadlec added, We had additional expertise and experienced eyes on these people and monitoring through the flight.

The planes landed at Travis Air Force Base in California and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Most of the 14 passengers who had tested positive were then flown to Omaha, Nebraska for treatment and monitoring by experts at the University of Nebraska.

Since then, Japanese officials have informed U.S. officials that several other passengers among the 328 brought back had also tested positive for coronavirus. On Friday, U.S. officials said at least 34 people inside the United States have the virus  18 of them from the Diamond Princess. All of the 34 cases have been linked to overseas travel. There has been no sign yet of the virus spreading among communities in the United States.

The State Department is closely monitoring U.S. citizens on board another cruise ship in Cambodia, the Westerdam, as well as Americans who have disembarked and are in hotels in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Those Americans are expected to travel onward at some point. One 83-year-old American woman from the ship traveled to Malaysia and tested positive for coronavirus.

Walters said Monday that 92 U.S. citizens were still on board the Westerdam, while another 260 were in hotels in the Cambodian capital. About 300 U.S. citizens had left the country, but only after testing by the government of Cambodias Ministry of Health, he said.

When asked whether the United States was thinking about arranging evacuation flights for the hundreds of Americans in Cambodia or elsewhere, Walters did not offer a direct answer. He said the State Department was following very closely the situation of U.S. citizens in places where coronavirus is prevalent and of citizens who are having difficulty in returning to the United States because of the disruptions in the international airline industry, and flights, and so forth.

Separately, State Department officials say that thousands of Russia-linked social media accounts are spreading disinformation about the coronavirus, including a conspiracy theory that the United States is behind the outbreak.

American monitors first identified the campaign in mid-January. Agence France-Presse reported the assessment on Saturday.

Russias intent is to sow discord and undermine U.S. institutions and alliances from within, including through covert and coercive malign influence campaigns, said Philip T. 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.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
This is the moment Priti Patel rowed with rude Jeremy Corbyn after he heckled her in the House of Commons.

The home secretary was accused by the Labour leader of putting down shadow immigration minister Bell Ribeiro-Addy during a statement about the governments planned new immigration system on Monday.

Ribeiro-Addy had raised Labours concerns about workers and citizens rights, saying the new system would create conditions where the threat of dismissal implies the threat of deportation for migrant workers.

Patel accused Ribeiro-Addy of not reading the governments policy statement and using her remarks to conflate this.

Patel and Corbyn clashed in the Commons on Monday (Parliamentlive.tv)

Corbyn, sat next to Ribeiro-Addy, then heckled Patel, saying: Just answer the question.

Patel fired back: If the honourable gentleman allows me, without being rude and interrupting, I will come onto the point specifically.

Read more: This is what British people really think about immigration

Perhaps he should have the courtesy and patience to listen up.

Corbyn shot back: Dont put her down.

The row continued as Patel denied this, with Corbyn then saying: You were.

Patel responded: Actually, no I wasnt putting her down.

Under the new points-based system, announced last week, Patel said the government is looking to welcome people with the right talent.

Overseas citizens will need to accrue 70 points to work in the UK, based on passing thresholds such as a minimum 25,600 salary, having qualifications and the ability to speak English.

It feeds into Boris Johnsons general election narrative of reducing unskilled immigration. Labour has labelled it a hostile environment, with the Lib Dems saying it is xenophobic.

Brexit briefing: 311 days until the end of the transition period
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 02:06:50|Editor: yan

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BAGHDAD, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least three Islamic State (IS) militants were killed and seven others captured on Monday in an operation by the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Services (CTS) in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said.

Based on intelligence reports, commandos of the CTS, backed by international coalition aircraft, carried out an airdrop operation on IS positions in a rural area in Kirkuk province, a media office affiliated with the Joint Operations Command said in a statement.

The operation resulted in the killing of three IS militants and the capturing of seven others, the statement said.

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.
Monday, February 24, 2020 at 7:38AM

Jordan Wildon, a journalist from the German publication DW News, has discovered that Google was indexing approximately 470,000 WhatsApp group invites. These invites would allow anyone to enter a private chat group. WhatsApp has already fixed the flaw by removing the listings from Google as well as by adjusting the code related to chat invitation links. While most of the chats didn't have sensitive information, it was discovered that one of them was for NGOs accredited by the United Nations. Motherboard was able to enter the chat group and see all the 48 participants as well as their phone numbers.

According to WhatsApp, the links that showed up on Google search were those that were shared in searchable public channels. The Facebook-owned app wants to remind its users that they shouldn't share invitation links on publicly searchable sites. If you're going to keep your chat group private, make sure the participants won't share these invites in public spaces.
A worker hangs drywall in in Hamden, Conn., on Aug. 2, 2017. In a controversial decision Judge Carlos Murguia threw out the convictions of two illegal aliens from Mexico, whom a jury found guilty of conspiring to encourage illegal aliens to remain in the United States through employment at a drywall company. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Federal Judge in Kansas Resigns After Sexual Harassment Reprimand

A federal judge in Kansas who struck down a law that prevents people from encouraging or inducing illegal immigration has resigned after being reprimanded for sexual harassment.

The jurist is Judge Carlos Murguia of the U.S. District Court of Kansas, who was appointed to the bench by former President Bill Clinton in 1999. Oral arguments will take place at the Supreme Court on Feb. 25 in an appeals court ruling now under appeal that was a factor in the judges controversial ruling.

As The Epoch Times reported last year, Murguia previously worked for El Centro Inc., a left-wing nonprofit based in Kansas City, Kansas, that is an affiliate of UnidosUS. UnidosUS is the new name for the National Council of La Raza (La Raza is Spanish for the race), a large open-borders group headed by the judges sister, Janet Murguia.

Another sister, Mary Murguia, is a judge in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, who, at one time, recused herself from a trial involving then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, who was strongly pro-enforcement, because her sister was president of La Raza.

On Feb. 18, Judge Carlos Murguia tendered his resignation, effective April 1, in a letter to President Donald Trump, writing it had become clear that I can no longer effectively serve the court in this capacity.

I therefore tender my resignation with a heavy heart and profound apologies, out of respect for the federal judiciary, my colleagues, my community andmost importantlymy family, Murguia wrote, The New York Times reported.

Murguia resigned without eligibility for pension or any retirement benefits, Chief Judge Julie A. Robinson of the U.S. District Court in Kansas City told the newspaper.

Murguia will reportedly be the third federal judge to exit the judiciary in four years after being accused of harassment or misconduct. In 2017, Alex Kozinski, a judge on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, resigned after several women claimed he sexually harassed them. In 2016, a U.S. District judge in Texas, Walter S. Smith Jr., left his post after similar accusations.

Harassment and discrimination in the federal courts is not an issue of one bad apple; it is a systemic problem, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Feb. 19.

The resignation comes as the Supreme Court prepares to take up U.S. v. Sineneng-Smith on Feb. 25.

Citing that ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, on Aug. 21, 2019, Murguia threw out the convictions of two illegal aliens from Mexico, Jose Felipe Hernandez-Calvillo and Mauro Papalotzi, whom a jury found guilty of conspiring to encourage illegal aliens to remain in the U.S. through employment at a drywall company.

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides for as much as five years in prison for anyone who encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law. Another five years imprisonment may be added to the sentence if the defendant acted for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain.

Murguia ruled the statute runs afoul of the First Amendment because it has the effect of criminalizing protected speech.

Finding no basis to distinguish or criticize Sinening-Smiths analysis from the governments arguments or its own review of the relevant law, the court adopts that analysis in full, and agrees that on its face, Subsection A 4 is overbroad under the First Amendment, the judge said, according to a transcript of his ruling on a motion to dismiss that was obtained by The Epoch Times.

At Conservative Review, Daniel Horowitz criticized Murguias decision, writing that the ruling was ridiculous because the law clearly refers to engaging in subversive and fraudulent activities to encourage or enable actual individual aliens to remain in the country, not mere political advocacy for liberal immigration policies in the abstract.
HAMPTON, Va., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Media are invited to a 20th anniversary celebration for two satellite instruments that ushered in a new era for scientists who study climate and weather.

On Feb. 25, 2000, the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments (Flight Model [FM] 1 and FM2) on the Terra satellite successfully opened their contamination cover doors and captured their first global images of Earth's reflected solar and emitted thermal infrared radiation. This marked the start of a remarkable era in Earth radiation budget observation.

An event to mark the anniversary will take place 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. In addition to short talks, there will be displays of photographs and memorabilia from the past 20 years. Media who would like to attend should contact Joe Atkinson at [email protected] no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26.

CERES instruments on Terra were soon joined by two CERES instruments aboard NASA's Aqua satellite (operational 2002 to present) and two other CERES instruments aboard the joint NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (operational 2011 to present) and NOAA-20 (operational 2017 to present) satellites.

CERES measurements give researchers continuous, invaluable data on mechanisms driving Earth's climate and future weather  a record that goes back two decades and that scientists hope will continue long into the future. One of the most significant CERES findings is an increase in the rate at which Earth is taking up heat.

For more information on CERES, visit:

https://ceres.larc.nasa.gov/

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


Rohitha Rajapaksa, son of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Monday apologised for making distressing remarks on social media while responding to a person's "offensive comment" about his family.

Rohitha said he made the remarks as a result of a "targeted offensive comment" and had no intention to deliberately cause distress to any individual and or community.

"I recently made a statement as a result of a targeted offensive comment. It was not my intention to deliberately cause distress to any individual and/or community. Therefore, I sincerely apologise," he said in a tweet.

The apology came after an individual wrote to him in a tweet that "all what we have achieved is to see you three brothers get married in the same year with nine ceremonies and your in-laws become most eligible for state positions and you live out of public money..."



Rohitha responded to the tweet saying, "There is no clause I have to declare my private assets and show off. But trust me no public fund is used for our personal benefits. Why don't you get ur self a proper job and an education so you won't be jealous of another persons success. Get a wife and make children."



To another tweet he responded saying: "You seem to know a lot more than the CID, please join and make them finish these cases soon so you can find ur self a boyfriend who can keep you company."Rohita faced flak online for his tweets.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump heaped praises on the Indian cinema industry - Bollywood at the Namaste Trump event. He gave a special shout out to all-time classic films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Sholay whilst addressing the gathering crowd.

Trump said, "All over the planet, people take great joy in scenes of Bhanga, music, dance, romance and drama... and classic Indian films like DDLJ and Sholay." He then went on to praise the Indian film industry for producing over 2000 movies in a year. He added, "This is the country that produces nearly 2000 movies a year from the hub of genius and creativity known as Bollywood."

For the uninitiated, a few days ago, as everyone awaited the arrival of the US President for the Namaste Trump event, there were many memes created to welcome the guest. This one particular meme caught Trump's eye and he shared the video clip - an edited video from the movie Baahubali 2: The Conclusion which shows his own face morphed over the face of superstar Prabhas.

Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA! https://t.co/1jdk3AW6fG  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2020

Donald Trump took to his Twitter and wrote, "Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA!" as he re-tweeted the video by an unverified account where he can be seen fighting with swords, riding a chariot and participating in warfare on horses in true Prabhas' style.

The video also features First Lady Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr with the song 'Jiyo Re Baahubali' playing in the background. Melania's face is morphed on that of actor Ramya Krishnan's who plays the role of Sivagami, the foster mother of the protagonist played by actor Prabhas.

ALSO READ: Donald Trump Reacts To Ayushmann Khurrana's Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Lego minifigure creator Jens Nygaard Knudsen, who designed the iconic yellow characters that have brought joy to millions around the world, has died aged 78.

The former designer passed away at a hospice in Anker Fjord, Denmark, on Wednesday while receiving treatment for motor neuron disease.

Fans across the world have paid tribute to the Lego genius and thanked him for his 'life-changing' invention, which hit the shelves in 1978.

Jens Nygaard Knudsen, died in a hospice in Anker Fjord, Denmark, aged 78, friends have said

Fans have paid tribute to the genius, heralding him as a 'hero' and thanking him for the figures

Lego designer Niels Milan Pedersen, a former colleague, paid tribute to the creator after announcing his death over the weekend.

'His imagination was so fantastic. If we had a brainstorm it was more like a brain hurricane, because he had so many ideas,' Milan said.

A message posted by LEGO today said: 'We're very sad to hear that Jens Nygaard Knudsen, the creator of the LEGO Minifigure, has passed away. Thank you Jens, for your ideas, imagination and inspiring generations of builders.'

In a statement, they added: 'Jens spent 32 years with the LEGO Group and made an impact few can match.

'He was a true visionary whose ideas brought joy and inspiration to millions of builders around the world and we thank him for helping to create some of our most loved play themes such as LEGO Castle, LEGO Space and of course, the iconic LEGO minifigure.'

His widow, Marianne Nygaard Knudsen, told TV2 that her late husband was 'a man of ideas'.

'The figure was created so that there would be life in the houses,' she said. 'At the time Lego's houses were empty, but then he drew this man.'

Mr Knudsen developed the iconic yellow figures which were released in 1978

LEGO enthusiast and LEGO films producer Matthew Ashton thanked Mr Knudsen for his creation in an emotional tribute on social media.

'While I never met Jens, what he created played such a huge part of my childhood as well as for many other millions of kids around the world,' he said.

'Without him, I would never have been inspired to do the things I do today, without him I wouldn't even have my job today! What an amazing man, and what an incredible legacy he leaves behind.'

Heartbroken fans heralded the inventor as a 'hero' who had 'changed all of our lives'.

One uploaded a picture of their Lego set and figures with the caption: 'Just a few of our large collection of minifigures. Such a big part of my life growing up. Now part of my daughter's life too. RIP and thank you.'

Another wrote, 'an actual unspoken hero of our childhoods', and a third said, 'so sad! My kids and I loved these. Still do. Jens has given so much to so many'.

Other fans tweeted an image of Lego figures through the ages, thanking him for turning the tall brick-built figures into short ones that could have their torso's and legs swapped.

'This is such sad news! RIP Mister Knudsen and thank you for all you have given to all of us in the world,' tweeted a heartbroken Lego-lover in tribute.

'Thank you for inventing the Lego guy,' said another. Others said, 'rest in peace king!', and, 'miss you!'

This image shows the evolution of Lego figures from a brick-built individual, to a miniature released in 1975 (centre) and the figure we know today, released in 1978

Mr Knudsen was a designer at the Danish toy brick maker from 1968 to 2000. He started working on the legendary yellow Lego figure eight years before it was released.

The first figure, in 1974, was built out of bricks and had a yellow head. Although popular, it was felt that they needed a new figure on the same scale as the bricks.

When the new minifigure, with movable arms, legs and exchangeable parts, was launched it proved an immediate. By 2018 an astonishing 7.8billion had been built by Lego, as many as there are people in the world today.

Lego writes on its website that the figure was designed to have 'no obvious ethnicity' and to have all determination, including its gender, achieved through clothing and accessories.

'The idea is to make the minifigure as broadly generic as possible,' they said.

In addition to the Lego figure, Nygaard Knudsen was also responsible for developing some of Lego's classic themes, such as Space and Pirates.

Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen, Lego employed over 17,000 people at the end of 2018.

The iconic Lego brick was first manufactured in the 1940s, but was not changed into its modern form until 1958.
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced this beautiful image of the unbarred spiral galaxy NGC 691.

NGC 691 lies approximately 125 million light-years from Earth in the constellation of Aries.

Otherwise known as LEDA 6793, UGC 1305 and TC 448, this galaxy is about 130,000 light-years across.

It is the foremost member of the NGC 691 group, a gathering of five galaxies of varied shapes and colors.

NGC 691 was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on November 13, 1786.

NGC 691 was one of thousands of objects discovered by William Herschel during his prolific decades-long career spent hunting for, characterizing, and cataloguing a wide array of the galaxies and nebulae visible throughout the night sky  almost 200 years before the Hubble telescope was even launched, the Hubble astronomers said.

The intricate detail visible in this picture would likely be extraordinary to Herschel, they noted.

Hubble was able to capture an impressive level of structure within NGC 691s layers of stars and spiraling arms  all courtesy of the telescopes high-resolution Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 /PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC. (TSXV:PLAN) ("PLAN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed an option agreement with Jeremy Marlow on a natural pozzolan property in Heffley Creek, BC.To maintain and exercise the option granted, the Company will pay Mr. Marlow a total amount of $55,000 over a period of 48 months and incur a total of $275,000 in exploration expenditures on the property over a period of 48 months, commencing on the date that the Company receives all necessary prior approvals from the TSXV. Additionally, Mr. Marlow will retain a royalty of $8.00 per tonne of industrial mineral products produced from the property, subject to a 75% buyback right in consideration of $150,000. Mr. Marlow will also retain a 3% NSR Precious Metals Royalty subject to a 50% buyback right in consideration of $1,500,000. No shares will be issued under the option agreement.PLAN optioned this property after conducting surface sampling which confirmed the presence of alumino-silicates (natural pozzolans), magnesium, and anomalous gold and silver. Five rock samples were taken and one soil sample. PLAN's original interest in the property was for its potential as a further source of natural pozzolans near Kamloops, BC. When surface sampling was done to confirm the presence of natural pozzolans, it revealed the presence of anomalous gold and silver in the soil (0.28 g/tonne gold and 1.6 g/tonne silver). PLAN thus requested the precious metal rights to the property in addition to the industrial mineral rights originally sought. The vendor agreed to option the precious metals rights.All testing was completed by the Kamloops office of the Metallurgy Division of ALS Global. Whole Rock Analysis was completed on four samples using borate fusion. The Precious Metals Analysis was completed on five samples using fire assay to measure gold, platinum, and palladium. Silver was measured using aqua regia digestion.All samples were grab samples and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property. PLAN intends to complete more comprehensive soil sampling on the property in the second quarter of 2020 once the snow in the area is melted.Dwayne Melrose, P. GEO, a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.In conjunction with the option agreement, PLAN also signed a consulting agreement with Mr. Marlow whereby Mr. Marlow will assist with exploration work conducted on the property in the first two years of the option agreement. Terms of the consulting agreement including paying Mr. Marlow a minimum of $9,800 in 2020 and an additional $9,800 in 2021 to assist with exploring the Heffley Creek property. In addition, the Consultant will receive 50,000 stock options of PLAN in 2020 and an additional 50,000 stock options in 2021, subject to PLAN's stock option plan and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.Mr. Marlow is an arm's length party to the Company.The option agreement remains subject to the Company receiving all necessary prior approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange.PLAN is currently seeking to increase its natural pozzolan assets in the Kamloops area of BC. Pozzolans are receiving more interest from the cement industry as the commercial supply of fly ash is diminishing with the continued closure of coal fired power plants in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Our permitted mine, the Z1 Zeolite Quarry, is located within a one-hour drive of Kamloops and the Z2 Natural Pozzolan Property near Falkland, BC is also approximately a one-hour drive from Kamloops. Kamloops offer railway access and the ability to serve both the local market, the Lower Mainland of BC and the Calgary to Lethbridge corridor of Alberta."I am keen to see this Heffley Creek Property systematically explored. We are excited about its proximity and easy access. It is approximately a 25-minute drive from Kamloops, BC. This property was explored by LaFarge Canada in 1999 where they drilled an alumino-silicate rich area (natural pozzolan) of the property. While our primary interest is the natural pozzolans, we intend to conduct further soil sampling at the property in the Spring of 2020 in search of gold and silver," stated Steve Harpur, CEO."It was a pleasure to work again with Steve and the team at PLAN while they did due diligence on the Heffley Creek Property before signing the option agreement. I am excited to see this property further explored for both its industrial mineral content as well as for gold and silver. I am also pleased to be part of the team which will conduct exploration on the property over the next two years," stated Jeremy Marlow.Progressive Planet is a Canadian based mineral exploration company with its flagship Z1 Zeolite Quarry in Cache Creek, British Columbia. Progressive Planet is committed to using mineral resources to provide solutions for a livable planet.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDSigned "Stephen Harpur"Stephen Harpur, CPA, CGA, CEOFor further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact us:1-800-910-3072Investors@ progressiveplanet.ca Forward-Looking Statements:Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Progressive Planet Solutions Inc.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Guangdong provincial government will push eligible regions to launch the subsidy policies for promoting the scrapping and replacement of old and used motor vehicles, according to a governmental file issued on Feb. 21.

Meanwhile, local governments of Guangzhou and Shenzhen will be encouraged to further increase the quotas of public lottery and auction for consumers to get new car-license plates.

The issuance came after China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) revealed one day earlier that it will make joint efforts with relevant authorities to draw up and promulgate the policies that help stabilize automobile consumption, so as to mitigate the impact from coronavirus outbreak.

Due to the Spring Festival holiday and the coronavirus outbreak, Chinas auto market was hit by an estimated sales drop of 18% compared to the year-ago period. As the fight against the epidemic still continues, the auto spending will be temporarily curbed on account of the extended shutdown of auto sales outlets and suppressed car-shopping desire for consumers.

To promptly help the market get recovery, both central and local governments are hampering out plans to boost vehicle transaction. Foshan, a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province, leads country in launching substantial policies and incentives to encourage people to buy more cars. Local government announced that a consumer who buys vehicles that meet the China  emission standard will be granted subsidy of RMB2,000-5,000 per vehicle.

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, some cities have rolled out similar policies to unleash the pent-up consumer demands. On September 12, municipal government of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province, announced the decision about abolishing the provisional regulations on administration of passenger car license plates, which came into effect on September 10.

The issuance of the decision indicates that consumers in Guiyang can buy cars without being hampered by a license-plate lottery.

Moreover, Guiyang government also determined to significantly increase the 2019 quota of license plates by over 30,000 units from the full-year volume of 2018.
Portland police Officer Justin Raphael said he recognized the troubled man walking with two knives in his hands from an encounter three weeks earlier, but this time the man was more threatening and combative.

When Raphael arrived at the scene near Mall 205 in Southeast Portland on Dec. 8, he said he took out his AR-15 and pointed it at Koben Henriksen.

Raphael has special training in enhanced crisis intervention but also is a certified rifle operator. He said he decided to provide cover and a new officer there would lead communication with Henriksen.

Officer Shawn Schroeder, hired in July 2018 and still on probation, ordered Henriksen to drop his knives. Raphael slightly lowered his AR-15 to also talk to Henriksen and remind him when they met the month before.

But Henriksen just advanced toward them, Raphael said.

The bottom line was with the weapons that he had, the distance he was at and the pace that he was moving, he was going to physically be on me within a second or two, you know, Raphael said in testimony before a grand jury.

The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office on Monday released the transcript from the grand jury review of the fatal shooting. The grand jury determined that Raphael, an officer for seven years in Portland, acted in self-defense or in the defense of others when he shot and killed Henriksen, 51.

Raphaels testimony is his first public account of what happened that day.

The transcript can be read here.

Police had been called to Southeast 103rd Drive and Stark Street at 2:39 p.m. after dispatchers received several 911 calls reporting a man holding knives in traffic.

Raphael fired his AR-15 rifle at the same time as another officer at the scene, Dan Leonard, fired a single 40 mm sponge-tipped less-lethal round, according to police. Raphael fired three shots and hit Henriksen in the head, chest and abdomen, records show.

Henriksens father, Rick Henriksen, has said he believes officers used excessive force and werent acting in self-defense. He said the family has retained a lawyer to investigate further. He has said his son has a mental illness on a spectrum between a bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Raphael described an earlier encounter he and another officer, Ben Davidson, had with Henriksen on Nov. 14 at the same location.

The two officers were leaving the nearby Starbucks when Raphael said he heard someone across 103rd Drive yell out, Hey officer, and he responded, asking a man draped in a blanket, later identified as Henriksen, what he could help him with.

The man stared blankly back at the officer and then, according to Raphael, stepped into traffic and told him, Im going to (expletive) kill you! Davidson began to calmly talk to Henriksen, telling him the officers were there to help him, as Raphael put away his handgun and grabbed his AR-15 rifle from his car.

Within two to three minutes, Henriksen calmed down, dropped the knives and sat on a bench, apologetic and crying, according to Raphael. Henriksen told him, I really wanted you to kill me before police took him to a hospital for a mental health hold, Raphael recalled.

On Dec. 8, Raphael was at a police contact office at Southeast 117 Avenue and Market Street when he heard at least seven or eight calls come in regarding a man threatening motorists with knives in his hands at the 103rd intersection with Stark Street. Raphael wasnt dispatched but responded to the call on his own.

Raphael said he didnt register right away that the man in the road with knives could be the same one he had encountered just weeks earlier until Officer Leonard messaged him, "Hey, this sounds an awful lot like the guy from November 14th."

When he arrived, Raphael noticed Henriksen on the east side of 103rd. Raphael said he radioed to other officers it was the same man he had confronted in November, that the man was armed with knives and blocking traffic.

He testified that Henriksen was much more agitated and aggressive than in November. He saw Henriksen yelling at a driver in a truck, a knife in each hand.

I decided in that moment, the best situation -- the best way I could assist the situation was to deploy my rifle, Raphael said.

He unlocked it from a rack inside his police car and held it in a high-ready position, looking through the optic, he testified.

The truck sped off and Raphael said Henriksen was right in front of him.

Raphael said he heard Schroeder ordering Henriksen, "Drop the knives! but Henriksen became more agitated, yelling something like, Im going to (expletive) kill you guys.

Raphael said he tried to talk to Henriksen, with his rifle lowered a bit.

Hey, we did this three weeks ago. Do you remember me? Its Officer Raphael, he said he told Henriksen. And he shifts his attention now to me directly, and hes looking right at me. ... Lets do it like we did three weeks ago. Lets get you some help. And Im -- Im not screaming and Im not commanding. Im just trying to use a little bit of softness in this moment.

Henriksen turned his attention to Raphael and said something like, I dont (expletive) care. Im going to (expletive) kill you, Raphael testified. Henriksen walked toward him, southbound in traffic.

Officers ordered Henriksen to stop, drop his knives or hed get shot. Raphael said he was standing by the end of his open drivers door and Schroeder had moved to the passenger side of his car, with no cover, as Henriksen picked up his pace, knives out, headed toward him.

Theres a thousand Portland police officers and he -- I happened to encounter him twice in these three weeks, Raphael testified. But as he was advancing upon us and saying the things he was saying and doing the things he was doing, I -- I did not want to shoot this guy.

And all of me just wanted him to stop, stop what he was doing. And he reached a threshold in my head where I felt deadly force was appropriate.

Raphael fired what he called a purposeful burst.

There was no doubt in my mind that Mr. Henriksen was -- he was -- he was going to hurt Officer Schroeder, Raphael testified. He was going to hurt me. He was going to try to kill one of us.

Raphael estimated that Henriksen was "just off of the hood'' of his police car, about 12 to 15 feet away from him, and about 8 to 10 feet from Schroeder, when he fired his rifle.

Raphael told grand jurors that the stress of the situation could have altered some of his senses.

A grand juror asked Raphael if he thought it was possible that the stress of the police confrontation could also have altered Henriksen's response?

Raphael said he didn't believe that played a factor for Henriksen, noting that Henriksen had complied in November, though there were only two officers involved then. In December, there were at least three officers out on the street confronting Henriksen, as well as other officers arriving.

"The one thing I could say about his mental state with certainty was when I personally addressed him and I reminded him of our prior interaction, Raphael said. And this is in the middle of this event. The police are there. Our lights are on. He's being shouted at. There's cars honking. There's chaos. There's a lot of things going on. And I'm trying to talk to him and implore him to listen and do the -- do the right thing.

"He says, 'I don't (expletive) care. I'm going to (expletive) kill you. And so that to me meant that he understood what he was doing. He could see me, Raphael said. He could hear me. He knew what was going on. And he chose to not listen. ''

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

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Supreme Court Agrees to Review Faith-Based Foster Care Agencys Fight Against Philadelphia

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case to review whether the City of Philadelphia can exclude a charitable organization from a foster care program because of its religious-based objection to same-sex marriage.

The top court on Feb. 24 granted a petition (pdf) to review the case, cited as Sharonell Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which would clarify the role of faith-based agencies in the foster care system. The court didnt give reasons for its decision.

Catholic Social Services (CSS) and two of its certified foster parentsSharonell Fulton and Toni Simms-Buschasked the high court last year to review the citys decision to block the agency from taking on new foster care cases unless they endorse same-sex couples as part of the foster parent certification process.

The case, which dates to March 2018, came at a time when Philadelphia put out an urgent call for 300 more foster families to deal with an influx of children entering the system fueled partly by the opioid epidemic. Days after the citys call, officials abruptly blocked CSS and another religious foster care agency from placing children into homes, alleging the agencies had contravened the citys Fair Practices Ordinance.

The policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of a variety of factors, including race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

The city also informed CSS, which had served the city for over 100 years, that it would not renew contracts with the agency unless it changes its religious practices.

CSS and the two parents subsequently sued Philadelphia, seeking an injunction to stop the citys actions. The district court denied the request for an injunction and its decision was upheld by the 3rd Circuit Court in April 2019. The appeals court found, citing the Supreme Court precedent from Employment Division v. Smith, that the citys non-discrimination policy is a neutral, generally applicable law.

CSSs lawsuit is claiming that the citys policy is discriminating against it based on the agencys religious beliefs and violates the agencys free exercise rights under the First Amendment. It is asking the court to revisit the precedent in Employment Division v. Smith, a case that found an individuals religious beliefs cannot excuse him or her from complying with a valid law.

The agency said in its petition (pdf) to the top court that as a Catholic agency, CSS cannot provide written endorsements for same-sex couples which contradict its religious teachings on marriage.

It added that the city was acting against them even though the agencys beliefs about marriage havent prevented anyone from fostering. CSS also said that, since its opening in 1917 until the start of the case in 2018, they have not been approached by a single same-sex couple about being foster parents, and therefore, no same-sex couple has been prevented from fostering or adopting a child by CSS.

Im relieved to hear that the Supreme Court will weigh in on faith-based adoption and foster care, Lori Windham, senior counsel at the religious rights law firm Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said in a statement. Becket is representing the agency and foster parents in the case.

Over the last few years, agencies have been closing their doors across the country, and all the while children are pouring into the system. We are confident that the Court will realize that the best solution is the one that has worked in Philadelphia for a centuryall hands on deck for foster kids.

The City of Philadelphia didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

CSS describes itself as one of the largest private non-profit charitable providers of social services in the state. Before Philadelphia took action against CSS in 2017, the group had between 100 to 150 children in its foster care system at any given time, but the number of children in its system has slowly declined since March 2018, a Becket spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

There were an estimated 687,000 children who spent time in foster homes across the United States in the 2018 fiscal year, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Faith-based agencies place over 57,000 children into foster homes nationwide each year, according to Becket.
Israel refused to let Korean travelers disembark and Bahrain banned all visitors from Korea, while other from the U.K. to Kazakhstan imposed visa restrictions and arrivals.

Some 14 countries have restricted or closed their doors to Korean travelers since the explosive increase of coronavirus infections here.

Koreans are now being shunned around the world, partly because their country continues to allow Chinese visitors to enter at will except from the original epicenter of the outbreak in Hubei Province.

The Israeli government allowed only 11 Israeli passengers to disembark from Korean Air flight 957 on arrival in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, and sent back 130 Koreans and other passengers from elsewhere. Israeli authorities suddenly imposed the entry ban after learning about the surge here.

The Korean government lodged a protest, but to no avail. Bahrain banned all foreigners who have visited Korea within the last 14 days.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department raised a travel warning to Korea to "strengthened caution." The next step is to advise Americans to "refrain" from traveling to Korea, while the highest level is a ban, which is already in place for Wuhan, China.

The Foreign Ministry has assured the U.S. State Department of the low risk posed by Korean visitors, but jitters continue to rise.

Taiwan and Japan both raised their travel advisory to Korea from caution to warning, while the U.K. and Australia urged their citizens to avoid visiting Daegu and Cheongdo.
The article, penned by Patrick Kingsley, contains numerous statements that have been proven to be false, including the MEKs supposed stand-off with the US army during the 2003 Iraq War, something that the MEK, the State Department, and senior commanders of the Coalition Forces in Iraq have all denied. These lies come straight from the regime and its agents.

Kingsley also tried to pretend that people arent allowed to visit the MEK headquarters, despite numerous publically accessible accounts of visits by politicians and journalists, including The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Euro News, the President of Albania, and some 350 political personalities and parliamentarians from 47 countries in July 2019 alone. Does he think the people who read his article are stupid?

And why would anyone take the regimes word on the MEK? The MEK has been the primary victim of the MEK with over 100,000 of its members and supporters murdered by the regime since 1979 and the regime planning terrorist attacks against them in Albania.

In their response, the MEK wrote: The truth is that MEK members are highly educated and have consciously and voluntarily decided to sacrifice everything, to establish democracy and human rights in Iran. This is a source of honor and pride, which cannot be tarnished by the slanders and lies spread by the mullahs or repeated by some western media outlets. This honor underpins the MEKs widespread support among the Iranian people because they see that MEK members do not want anything for themselves.

Kingsley contacted the media spokesman of the MEK, Shahin Gobadi, on January 13 to arrange a visit to the MEK headquarters of Ashraf-3 in Albania for interviews with MEK members. He noted that his visit was scheduled for January 20, which was granted.

However, he turned up on January 18. Now, many politicians, businesses, or other organizations the world over would have turned him away, saying that this wasnt the time hed scheduled. Kingsley himself would have done this to anyone who wanted a meeting with him. But the MEK let him in after he said that hed already been in Albania for three days and planned to leave the next day.

He spent a total of nine hours in Ashraf-3, from 5 pm until 2 am, where he was allowed to walk about freely and speak privately to whoever he wanted. He refused to come back the next day or on a subsequent trip despite the offer by the MEK, but a Times photojournalist came several days later and spent the day taking photographs with no restrictions.

Yet, in the article, Kingsley describes a shadowy and tightly guarded camp, where he saw at most 200 residents, while the others were sequestered away or have left the group altogether.

It is laughable that a man who shows up two days early, during what would be most peoples dinner time and stayed only until the early hours should expect to be greeted by all of Ashraf-3s 3000+ residents. Did he not imagine that they were having dinner or working or trying to sleep or just inside out of the cold January weather? Maybe, of course, he thinks himself so important that people should have come out to stand in the cold to watch him arrive as if he is a famous rockstar.

The MEK joked in their response to the article, that one could no more claim the residents of Berlin have been sequestered away or have left altogether.

Kingsley claimed that his meetings with Resistance officials and private interviews with residents were propaganda sessions, but still in his 1,693-word article, the MEK is directly quoted with just 38 words. So, who is doing the censorship?

The MEK wrote: This is a development that should be censured, especially in circumstances where the Iranian people have risen to overthrow the mullahs and establish democracy. It is no coincidence that as soon as the article was published, media outlets belonging to the various factions of the religious fascism ruling Iran jubilantly took turns to relay this piece. They portrayed the article as verification of the claims they have been making all along against the main opposition. Coincidences are rare in politics.

Read More:

Ashraf3, MEK New Installation in Albania, Hosts Iranian Resistances Annual Meeting

Senator Lieberman: The New Dawn for Iran With MEK at Ashraf 3

Mayor Rudy Giuliani Addresses Residents of Ashraf 3 in Albania
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A team of researchers led by a physician at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has developed new guidelines that the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs will use to treat chronic insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea.

The physician, Dr. Vincent Mysliwiec, called adoption of the guidelines a major step for these two organizations in recognizing the importance of appropriately diagnosing and treating sleep disorders in these unique populations.

Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea are the two most common sleep disorders in military personnel and veterans as well as the civilian population, he said in an interview last week as the guidelines were released. And a lot of the literature we used to develop it was based on civilian studies, so its relevant to all providers.

A retired Army colonel, Mysliwiec was the lead Defense Department researcher for the project, which included physicians, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists and a patient panel in San Antonio. He also is lead author of a synopsis of the guidelines written for the March issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Military service is an established risk factor for sleep disorders, which are considerably more prevalent in uniformed personnel and veterans than civilians. Those groups also have high rates of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues, which combined with insomnia and/or sleep apnea complicate treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when an airway blockage interferes with breathing while a person sleeps. It involves a partial or complete cessation of breathing that runs 10 seconds or more and is often, though not always, associated with snoring. Those having severe apnea are at greatest risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as vehicle crashes as drivers.

A person who has trouble falling asleep three or more times a week, or problems staying asleep or waking up too early, has chronic insomnia. It can cause daytime sleepiness and cognitive impairment, and can adversely affect mental and physical health.

Nearly half of U.S. military personnel have reported poor sleep quality, including insomnia symptoms. Insomnia affects up to 41 percent of active-duty military personnel deployed to combat zones, 25 percent of noncombatants and 20 percent of those getting ready to deploy.

One study of veterans found a six-fold increase in sleep disorders from 2003-10. That was during a time when large numbers of American troops went to Iraq and Afghanistan, many of them for multiple tours.

The study reported 4.5 percent of veterans were diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing, including sleep apnea, and that 2.5 percent of veterans were diagnosed with insomnia. Mysliwiecs group concluded in the Annals of Military Medicine that the actual prevalence of chronic insomnia among veterans is probably a good deal higher.

That, they say, is because it often isnt documented in the medical record. Veterans have reported insomnia rates as high as 50 percent in other research.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio said to likely avoid looming cuts to military medicine

The new guidelines include 41 clinical practice recommendations. In treating sleep apnea, they included:

Use of positive airway pressure therapy, often called CPAP, for the entirety of a patients sleep period. Some people call the devices breathing machines but Mysliwiec likened it to airing up a flat tire, saying, We would call it a device that provides a constant level of pressure to allow breathing, to keep your airways open.

Continuation of CPAP with patients who dont use the machine for at least four hours a night, the common insurance provider standard, while addressing barriers that keep them from using it longer. Research shows that four or more hours per night of the therapy reduces the risk for new-onset hypertension or cardiovascular events, but even less than four hours can help patients feel better, said Mysliwiec, a professor in the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.

For chronic insomnia, recommendations included:

Allowing the use of a shortened version of cognitive behavioral therapy, the recommended treatment. The shorter version  brief behavioral therapy  is acceptable for some patients.

Some medications may be used as a second-line treatment for chronic insomnia, but anti-psychotic drugs and over-the-counter agents like antihistamines and melatonin arent helpful in treating it.

Sleep hygiene, which consists of habits that promote better nighttime sleeping, is not sufficient as a stand-alone therapy for chronic insomnia disorder. (Those habits include limiting the length of daytime naps, avoiding stimulants close to bedtime, and going to bed only when a person is ready to sleep.)

Typically, people that have good sleep habits don't tend to have insomnia. People that don't have good sleep habits are more likely to have insomnia, Mysliwiec said. But telling someone with insomnia to improve their sleep habits is not going to cure their disease.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio part of study finding speedier PTSD therapy works

Mysliwiec cautioned that anyone having trouble falling asleep once every three months or even once every three weeks does not have chronic insomnia.

But anyone having trouble getting a good nights sleep needs to start with the fundamentals  exposing themselves to morning sunlight to align their biological clock, stop drinking coffee by 2 p.m., winding down one hour prior to turning in and shutting off all electronic devices when in the bedroom, he said.

I firmly believe that you have to both get outside every day and utilize your energy. By utilizing your energy, I mean doing something physical, whether it's walking, whether it's exercising, riding your bike. Part of it is just being outside and doing healthy activities, Mysliwiec said.

The next step, too, is having a regular sleep practice. And regular sleep practice means I tend to go to bed at the same time every day and wake up the same time every day. But  it can't be inflexible, he added. Theres always some flexibility to that.

Breathing machines arent the only approach to helping people breathe while asleep. Oral appliance therapy is also an option. Mandibular advancement devices, obtained through a dentist, can help patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Mysliwiec said CPAP is better in terms of eliminating apneas and hypopnea  limited breathing  but patients might get a better outcome by using mandibular advancement devices for eight hours rather than the breathing machine for four hours.

The research group hopes the guidelines will lead to clinical practice changes while helping providers learn what clinical and research questions need to be addressed in military personnel and veterans, said Mysliwiec, who spent 23 years in the Army. In the past, problems with sleep disorders have been discounted, he said, but there is a growing awareness of the role sleep plays in maintaining in good health.

Ultimately, thats our hope, that these guidelines are both far-reaching and have a great impact in terms of clinical care because they are evidence-based and they appropriately address the unique aspects of our population and they also provide some insight into what needs to happen in the future, Mysliwiec said.

sigc@express-news.net
Fine Gael has dismissed as very arrogant Fianna Fail claims that only Micheal Martin can be taoiseach in the next government.

Party sources warned that such language places in jeopardy the prospects of meaningful talks between the two parties this week. Mr Martin and acting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are due to meet tomorrow.

Senior Fine Gael figures close to Mr Varadkar have hit out at public comments yesterday by Fianna Fail spokespeople, who said a proposal of rotating the position of taoiseach between the two leaders was not possible.

The Fianna Fail speakers on Radio 1 this weekend, including Deputy Robert Troy, were very arrogant, a source told the Irish Examiner.

Fianna Fail is behaving like it won the election, planning for a government led by Micheal Martin, while demanding that Fine Gael must change its policies. Its hard to see any basis for meaningful talks this week if Micheal Martin takes a similar approach when he meets the taoiseach.

Speaking on RTEs This Week, Mr Troy said: I dont think it comes down to personalities. But we had Richard Bruton saying that Fine Gael did not win the election and were not in a position to lead a government. Leading a government usually comes with the responsibility of a taoiseach and Micheal Martin is offering himself to lead an alternative government.

Several senior figures on both sides said talk of coalition personnel or positions is highly premature but warned that, if a second election is to be avoided, relations between the parties will have to improve.

Mr Varadkar spoke with Mr Martin last Thursday and they agreed to meet. The acting Taoiseach will then report back to the Fine Gael parliamentary party to assess whether there is any basis to pursue matters further.

The Irish Examiner confirmed it was Mr Martin who called Mr Varadkar to seek to begin talks, and the latter is seeking parity of esteem if talks are to succeed.

Fine Gael could only participate on the basis that there is respect for the 450,000 votes that Fine Gael received and the policies they voted for, a Fine Gael spokesman said.

That would have to be recognised in the composition of any programme for government and the composition of the government. We won 35 seats and are one of three roughly equal medium-sized parties in the Dail. Our mandate is as valid as anyone elses.

Mr Troy conceded that Mr Varadkar, and not his party leader, is likely to be the Taoiseach to travel to Washington to meet US president Donald Trump as part of St Patricks Day celebrations next month.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has defended its decision to hold a number of public meetings around the country in the coming days in a bid to build momentum towards a left-wing coalition.

Donegal TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn said the rallies will reinforce the partys argument that its participation in government was part of the mandate for change demanded by voters.

It is important to report back to the people and get their feedback, he said.

Right now we are clearly moving towards another arrangement with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. We are not the one putting exclusionary obstacles in place. 700,000 voters are not to be respected. To say we are not fit for government is not respecting our mandate.

That is absolutely laughable if they mean that is change. These two parties coming together, determined to coalesce, is an insult to the vote that just took place and I think particularly for Fianna Fail, who claim to be a social democratic party, it is laughable the direction they are going.

Mr Mac Lochlainn also denied that the Provisional IRA retains influence over the party.

The IRA has gone and they are not coming back. Thats the reality, Mr Mac Lochlainn said,
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, announces a Two-Week Sale on select 2020 and 2021 Tahiti, French Polynesia, and South Pacific voyages.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering savings of up to $3,400* per person off select luxury voyages aboard The Gauguin when booked between February 24 and March 7, 2020. Roundtrip airfare between Los Angeles and Papeete, Tahiti, is also included. On board, guests will enjoy the highest standards of luxury, quality, and all-inclusive value sailing to South Pacific destinations that are the cruise line's specialty. Qualifying voyages are:

Tahiti & the Society Islands (7 nights):

August 8 , 2020now from only $5,295 per person

, 2020now from only per person September 19 , 2020now from only $5,495 per person

, 2020now from only per person October 31 , 2020now from only $5,395 per person

Society Islands & Tahiti Iti (7 nights):

August 22 , 2020now from only $5,295 per person

, 2020now from only per person September 26 , 2020now from only $5,295 per person

, 2020now from only per person October 24 , 2020now from only $5,295 per person

, 2020now from only per person January 2 , 2021now from only $4,295 per person

Society Islands & Tuamotus (10 nights):

November 11 , 2020now from only $5,695 per person

On The Gauguin, nearly 70% of suites and staterooms offer balconies. Dining experiences include L'Etoile, which showcases an array of culinary creations expertly prepared each evening. The ship's other two dining venues, La Veranda and Le Grill, serve breakfast and lunch. At night, signature dishes designed by French celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato are offered in La Veranda, and Polynesian specialties are served poolside at Le Grill.

Les Gauguines and Les Gauguinsthe ship's exclusive troupe of Tahitian entertainersprovide enriching experiences of the destinations throughout each voyage. The Gauguin features expert lecturers on each voyage, and special guests on select sailings conduct presentations on topics ranging from the history of the South Pacific to conservation, culture, marine life, and the wonders of coral reefs. A luxurious spa, fitness center, watersports marina, and expansive outdoor decks with chaise lounges and a pool are also available aboard The Gauguin.

One of the highlights of each sailing is exclusive access to Motu Mahana, the cruise line's private islet off the coast of Taha'a, where guests can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, Polynesian activities, a full-service bar, a floating lagoon bar, and a delicious barbecue. In Bora Bora, guests can enjoy complimentary access to a private, white-sand beach with beach volleyball, sunbathing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and refreshments.

For more information or reservations, contact a professional travel advisor, call 1-800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.

*All fares are in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy in lowest stateroom category, and reflect promotional savings, are for new bookings only, are subject to availability, and must be booked by March 7, 2020. Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles applies to first and second guest in a stateroom only. Offer may be combined with applicable 3rd guest in stateroom offer but may not be combined with other offers. Port, security, and handling charges of $159-$215 per person are additional. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Call for details. For full terms and conditions, visit www.pgcruises.com.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the luxury cruise ship, the m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. Paul Gauguin Cruises has been recognized by notable publications in travel and lifestyle and was voted "#1 Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line" by readers in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2019**. The line was recognized as one of the "Top Small Cruise Lines" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2019 Readers' Choice Awards and is honored on the publication's 2018 "Gold List." Paul Gauguin Cruises was selected as "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in Global Traveler's Leisure Lifestyle Awards from 2016 to 2019, and has received top honors in BRIDES Magazine's Honeymoon Awards for the past three years. And recently the line was recognized for the third time for having the "Best French Polynesia Cruises" in the AFAR Travelers' Choice Awards. In September 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT's family, the world leader of small ship cruising.

Media Contact:

Vanessa Bloy

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Director of Public Relations

(425) 440-6255

[email protected]

**From Travel + Leisure Magazine, August 2019  Time Inc. Affluent Media Group. Used under license. Travel + Leisure and Time Inc. Affluent Media Group are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Paul Gauguin Cruises.

SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises

Related Links

https://www.pgcruises.com


By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan has thwarted Armenian attack in the Qazax districts Ayrimli village, the State Border Service reported in its official website on February 24.

Azerbaijani border soldier Alamshah Valiyev lost his life while thwarting the sabotage attempt. The diversion group used grenade launchers and other large-caliber weapons from the Armenian units located near the Koti village in Noyabmeryan district.

One saboteur was killed and another was wounded during the operation to stop the diversion at 07:00 on February 24.

It should be noted that the border point in Qazakh was not the only place where the diversion attempt took place. Armenia violated ceasefire 24 times throughout the day in various direction of the front, using sniper rifles, the Defence Ministry reported.

Armenian armed forces, located in Shavarshavan, Voskevan villages and on nameless hills in Noyemberyan region, in Berkaber village and on nameless hills in Ijevan region, in Chinari village of Berd region subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijan Army located in Ferehli, Gushchu Ayrim, Gizilhajili villages and on nameless hills in Gazakh region, in Aghbulag, Munjuglu villages of Tovuz region.

The positions of Azerbaijan Army were also fired from the positions of Armenian military units located near the occupied Chilaburt village of Terter region, Bash Garvand, Abdinli, Saryjaly villages of Aghdam region, Kuropatkino village of Khojavend region, Garvand, Garakhanbayli, Gorgan, Horadiz villages of Fuzuli region, as well as from the positions located on nameless hills in Goranboy, Terter and Aghdam regions.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
OTTAWA - The NDP have tabled a new bill that calls for a universal pharmacare plan in Canada.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh talks to reports on Parliament Hill following a caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The NDP have tabled a new bill that calls for a universal pharmacare plan in Canada.

The party, which has been promising the legislation for some time, says its proposal is based on the principles of the Canada Health Act.

"Millions of Canadians can't afford the medication that they desperately need, and they are forced to make an impossible choice between paying for their necessities like their rent or buying lifesaving medication," NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Monday.

"These principles lay out a path for having a universal pharmacare system that is universal, that is comprehensive, accessible, portable and publicly administered."

The bill would make provincial and territorial funding for pharmacare contingent on the lower-level governments' adherence to those principles.

It doesn't specify a particular arrangement for funding provincial and territorial governments that would have to administer the drug plan, but instead would give the federal government authority to negotiate with them.

Singh said the bill will result in significant health-care cost savings because Canadians will be taking the medication they need to stay healthy, and will also save on the rising cost of drugs.

"With a national drug agency able to negotiate prices, it will keep those prices down," he said.

The Liberal government also promised a pharmacare plan in the last election, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau included the initiative in Health Minister Patty Hajdu's mandate letter in December.

Singh has criticized the Liberals for dragging their feet on pharmacare and encouraged them to sign on to his bill to make it happen by 2022.

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"This is so achievable," he said. "It's frankly unexplainable why we haven't done it to this point."

Health Minister Patty Hajdu was asked in question period whether the Liberal government plans to support the NDP bill.

"I'm very excited to be part of a government that is committed to making sure that people don't have to choose between medication and food,"Hajdu said in response.

"We've taken important steps toward that goal. We'll continue to work with all Canadians, and provinces and territories, to ensure that people have access to the medications they need."

Singh said a tangible commitment to pharmacare and appropriate funding will be a priority for the NDP in deciding whether to support the Liberals' upcoming budget.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
A masked assailant shot dead Indian national Maninder Singh Sahi at a grocery store in Los Angeles in the early hours of Saturday, local police said.

Maninder, who had turned 31 last month, was married and father of two.

Hailing from Karnal, Sahi had arrived in the US less than six months ago and had sought political asylum.

He was working at a 7-Eleven grocery store in the Whittier City in Los Angeles County of California.

The only earning member of his family, Sahi used to send money to his wife and two children back home, his relatives in the US said.

According to the Whittier Police Department, the incident occurred at 5.43 am on Saturday.

Preliminarily it appears the suspect entered the store with a semi-automatic handgun with the intent to commit a robbery.

For unknown reasons the suspect fired the handgun killing the clerk, the police said releasing a picture of the suspect.

The suspect fled the location and is outstanding at this time. There were two customers inside the store, both were uninjured. The suspect is described as a male black adult approximately 506-507. Suspect had his face partially covered and was wearing a dark hoody with a gray hoody underneath, police said.

The victim's brother here has set up a GoFund Page to raise money so that the body of deceased Maninder could be taken back to India.

"He left behind, his parents, his wife and 2 small children, ages 5 and 9. I am seeking assistance to help send his body back to India so his wife and kids can view him one last time, his brother wrote in Go Fund Me page on Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The medical examination boards report of the 23-year-old Dalit youth, who was allegedly tortured by seven people in Nagaur district on February 16, revealed that the victim sustained multiple injuries on his thorax, back, buttock and thighs because he was bludgeoned with a blunt weapon.

A copy of the medical report is in possession of Hindustan Times.

Earlier, additional director general of police, civil rights, Ravi Prakash Meharda, had directed Nagaur superintendent of police (SP) to set up a board for the medical examination of the victim .

The report by the medical board, headed by Dr Mahaveer Choyal of Pt JLN Government hospital, Nagaur, revealed that multiple bruises were found on the victims body.

The board has reserved its final opinion till the FSL [Forensic Science Laboratory] report is handed over to the police, Dr Choyal said in the report.

At about 2 p.m. on February 16, an agricultural labourer, 24, and his cousin, 18, had gone to Om Automobile in Karnu Village, about 60 kilometres away from Nagaur town, to get their motorcycle serviced. The main victim went inside the service station while his cousin waited outside the shop.

As I was coming out of the shop, I was pushed towards the billing counter by Bhim Singh, who is an employee at the service station. They accused me of stealing money kept in the locker. Though I denied the allegation, they started beating me black and blue, said the main victim.

First, they tied my hands with ropes and then they beat me with rubber belts for the next 15-20 minutes, said the FIR.

Hanuman Singh, the service station manager, was the alleged perpetrator-in-chief. He violated me with a petrol-laced screwdriver. I cried out in terrible pain and was lying helplessly on the ground for almost an hour, the main victim alleged.

Hanuman Singh reportedly called the elder brother of the main victim and demanded 5,100 for his release for the theft. I was released only after my elder brother paid up Rs 5,100, said the 24-year-old.

Meanwhile, two more incidents of violence against the Dalits have come to light in the past five days. Last Saturday, a video showing a group of people thrashing three Dalit men, who allegedly stole five donkeys in Jaisalmers Rama village, was widely shared on social media. And, last Friday, a video from Barmer district surfaced on social media, in which a 22-year-old Dalit was seen to be beaten up by three men, who suspected that the victim had stolen a mobile phone.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:30:40|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines, the country's largest air carrier, has resumed over 2,100 domestic flights amid the epidemic, according to the company.

The flights were mainly from southwest, central and southern China to first-tier cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and east China.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,079 international flights had been carried out from Feb. 1 to 23, the airline said.

The airline has made proper arrangements for flights, crews and other resources to ensure transport capacity while keeping a close eye on the changes of various countries' entry policies for international flights.

The company has also set up "green channels" for medical personnel and epidemic control supplies, as well as bringing back passengers stranded overseas amid the battle against the novel coronavirus.

By Sunday, the company, including Xiamen Airlines, had transported 12,519 medical workers and about 615 tonnes of anti-epidemic supplies through 113 fights, and brought 2,696 stranded passengers back home with 15 chartered flights.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine Whether the proposed plan and resolution by the House of Representatives to buy 400 exotic cars for principal officers and members amounting to over Five Billion Naira in total, is not in breach of Section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the oath of office, and Paragraph 1 of Code of Conduct for Public Officers [Fifth Schedule Part 1] of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended].
Sofia Richie continued to paint the town red on Sunday night as she met with friends for dinner in New York

The 21-year-old beauty looked perfectly stylish in a grey turtleneck and tight jeans as she headed to Nobu 57 in New York.

Sofia met up with pal Vas Morgan who she also partied with the night before sharing fun snaps to her Instagram.

City chic: Sofia Richie looked super stylish as she headed to dinner at Nobu 57 in New York

Sofia looked like she was ready for the runway in a long evergreen satin coat.

She elevated her slender frame in some ruched ankle boots and carried a black pouch bag.

Meanwhile it's been revealed that Sofia and Scott 'bicker' at times but 'always end up fine'.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is so 'comfortable' with the model that they make up pretty quickly after arguing with one another as they would 'rather be together than apart'.

A source told E! News: 'They bicker at times but things are ok with them. They make empty threats that it's over and then they get back together. They are comfortable together, so it's easy to say things that you don't mean. They have drama but always end up fine.

Fashionista: The 21-year-old wore a grey turtleneck and black pants under a dark green satin coat

Going solo: The star is in New York without her boyfriend Scott Disick, 36

'They spend a lot of time together and can sometimes push each other's buttons. Sofia will take her stuff and leave for a day or two. They know they would rather be together than apart.'

Meanwhile, it was previously claimed that Scott and Sofia are 'so committed to one another'.

A source said of the couple: 'Right now, Scott and Sofia aren't thinking about marriage or getting engaged and it's not a big topic of conversation. They are so committed to one another and neither of them are going anywhere.

Escapades: Saturday night Sofia partied with pals including Vas Morgan and Kathleen Riley

'Scott has done a complete 180 from when he was younger and with Kourtney, and has grown up a lot.'

The reality star - who has Mason, 10, Penelope, seven, and Reign, five, with his ex-girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian - is also looking to form a 'close bond' with Sofia's famous father Lionel Richie, because he 'recognizes the importance' of family.

A separate source added: 'Since Scott is a father himself, he recognizes the importance of a close bond with his children and would never want to harm the relationship between Lionel and Sofia, especially because Scott's parents have both passed away.

'He values family above all else and will always look to build a bond with Sofia and her family, and would never want to detract from it.'
The nearly $1 billion Constitution Pipeline project, which had been designed to take natural gas from Pennsylvanias shale gas fields to metropolitan New York and New England, has been abandoned, a spokeswoman for project partner Duke Energy said Monday. Since it was proposed in 2013 at a projected cost of less than $700 million, delays and legal challenges have driven the costs up by nearly 40 percent. After the project won Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval in 2014, New York regulators refused to issue critical water quality permits, citing concerns about danger to wetlands and stream crossings.
The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and DGP, the CRPF DG, the VC and registrar of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to adhere to the recommendations of the NHRC, including paying compensation to six students who were grievously hurt in police action and acting against the policemen who lathicharged students during an anti-CAA protest on the university campus on December 15 last year.

The court directed the officers concerned to comply with the order and file a compliance report by March 25, the next date of hearing.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Samit Gopal passed the order on a petition filed by Mohammad Aman Khan of Prayagraj, alleging police brutality on students.

The petition urged the court to pass several directions, including one to set up a court-monitored committee for a judicial inquiry into acts of violence and arbitrary detention of students by the Uttar Pradesh police and paramilitary forces on the AMU campus from December 12 to December 15 last year.

On January 8, the high court had asked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to conduct an inquiry into the matter and the same was done by a six-member team of the rights body.

The report submitted by the team was accepted by the NHRC. Subsequently, a copy of the report, along with the order of the proceedings, was sent to the court.

The NHRC recommendations include paying compensation to six students who were grievously injured in the police lathicharge and disciplinary action against the policemen seen in CCTV footage indulging in caning students and damaging two-wheelers on the university campus.

The commission also recommended that the police force, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) should be sensitised and there should be special training modules to inculcate professionalism in handling such situations.

The court also directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure that the special investigation team (SIT) set up vide its order of January 6 investigated all the related cases on merit and in a time-bound manner.

The court advised the DGP and senior police officers to set up a robust intelligence gathering system and take steps to counter rumour-mongering and circulation of distorted and false news, especially on the social media.

The AMU vice chancellor and registrar were asked to establish a mechanism of better communication with students so that they were not influenced by outsiders, rusticate unruly students and take up confidence-building measures to rebuild the trust of students so that such incidents did not occur in the future.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For Yasser Rafsanjani, the son of a former president, Iranian society is physically and politically sick, castrated" by forces outside parliament. Turnout in last weeks election hits low point at 42 per cent with right-wing hardliners as the clear winners. Eight deaths and 43 cases have been reported so far in connection with the coronavirus outbreak.

Tehran (AsiaNews)  Iranian society is physically and politically sick and the countrys democracy has been "castrated" by forces outside Parliament, including various armed militias, said Yasser Rafsanjani in an interview with the British daily The Guardian.

This follows last Fridays parliamentary election that saw a turnout of only 42 per cent. Irans right-wing is expected to win big, especially after thousands of moderate and reformist candidates were barred from running.

Yasser Rafsanjani is the youngest son of the late Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the architects of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and a powerful figure in the early years of the Islamic republic, including as president (1989-1997).

During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Akbar Rafsanjani was commander-in-chief and in 1989 he was instrumental in the rise of Ali Khamenei as the supreme leader of Iran.

As a member of one of the most powerful and respected families, Yasser Rafsanjanis comments highlight the deep and simmering divisions within the Islamic Republic.

For him, right-wing hardliners are as bad as Trump supporters. Only through talks can the nuclear standoff (and more) between Iran and the United States be settled.

In Iran, Democracy has become a eunuch, he said. It has been castrated. Our society is somehow sick. We are infected by viruses . . . such as coronavirus but also a societal virus where people do not respect others.

Irans military and religious leaders blame the low turnout on the new Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, which has now spread in many parts of the world, including Iran. Irans supreme leader also criticised negative propaganda by Irans enemies.

The latest reports from Iranian authorities about the coronavirus outbreak indicate eight deaths and 43 cases, mostly in the holy city of Qom.

According to the Interior Ministry, the nation-wide turnout was around 42.5 per cent, down sharply from 62 per cent in 2016 and 66 per cent in 2012. In Tehran, only 25 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballot. In total, more than 24 million Iranians out of 58 million bothered to vote.

As for the countrys current situation, Yasser Rafsanjani remembers his father and the current president, moderate Hassan Rouhani, in the days of the nuclear deal, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), scrapped by President Trump in May 2018.

My father said to President Hassan Rouhani when he signed the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA), or the Iranian nuclear deal, this agreement has four main enemies: the Arab countries that have enough money to spend, Israel lobbying in the US, Republican hardliners in the US and hardliners in Iran.

The hardliners in the US and Iran have in effect been cooperating with one another. Now with these elections it shows the Iranian hardliners are getting stronger.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking framing of guidelines to ensure an expeditious grant of sanction to prosecute the accused in serious offences like the sedition case against former JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar.

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde, justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant said such an order could be passed only in a specific case and directions of generic nature could not be issued.

"The law should be followed in a particular case," the bench told lawyer Shashank Deo Sudhi, who was appearing for former BJP MLA Nand Kishor Garg.

The top court was hearing Garg's appeal against a Delhi High Court order refusing to frame guidelines on grant of sanction to prosecute an accused.

The high court had also refused to direct the AAP government in the national capital to grant sanction to prosecute Kumar in the sedition case.

It had said it could not pass a direction in this regard and it was for the Delhi government to decide in accordance with the existing rules, policy, law and facts of the case on whether to grant an approval for prosecution.

The plea has sought issuance of guidelines "for expeditious disposal of criminal cases of serious nature where there is involvement of influential persons as accused".

The petition alleged that Kumar's case highlighted the lackadaisical approach of the government as it had "failed" to grant the sanction letter, which was required prior to taking cognisance of the chargesheet.

On January 14, 2019, the Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet in the trial court against Kumar and others, including former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, saying they were leading a procession and had supported the seditious slogans raised on the university campus during an event on February 9, 2016.

The trial has not started as the sanction to prosecute Kumar and others for the offence of sedition is yet to be accorded by the Delhi government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centre on Monday warned of stern action against those involved in the violence in Northeast Delhi that led to the killing of a policeman in stone pelting.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said non-violent protests in a democratic country are acceptable but not violence which, he termed, was an attempt to dent India's image during the visit of US President Donald Trump.

"My deepest condolences to the family of the Delhi Police Head Constable who lost his life amidst the protests in Delhi. Our @narendramodi government condemns all forms of violence and we assure a stern action against the culprits," Reddy tweeted.

Later talking to reporters, the minister said the central government has directed the police to take action against those involved in the violence and central forces were deployed in different parts of the national capital.

"This has been done in the wake of President Trump's visit to India. This is an attempt to dent the image of India and Government of India. I, on behalf of Government of India, condemn the killing of the policeman in the stone-pelting incident," he told reporters.

Reddy said the government has not taken any action against the protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh despite a national highway being blocked for two months.

"We are taking measures in a considerate manner. We have not used any police force (to vacate the area) because it is a democratic country and peaceful protests are allowed. We will take serious step if there is any violence," he said.

The minister also slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi for their support to the people who have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"Will Rahul Ganhdi or Owaisi take the responsibility for the killing of the policeman. We are trying to resolve the issue amicably for the last two months. We are using democratic norms," he said.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured as clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) broke out again in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

Violence between groups supporting and opposing the CAA was also reported in the Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas.

This is the second day of clashes in the city where US President Trump arrived on Monday evening.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jessica Mann, Harvey Weinstein, and Annabella Sciorra. Photo: Getty Images

After nearly 30 hours of jury deliberations, Harvey Weinstein was taken into custody today after being found guilty of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape. He was found not guilty of predatory sexual assault, the more serious charge. He now faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 29.

Prosecutors charged Weinstein with a total of five counts involving ex-Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haleyi, former actress Jessica Mann, and Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra. From day one, Weinsteins Manhattan rape and sexual-assault trial has featured unexpected twists and turns, from a supermodels surprise appearance to his own friend admitting that the disgraced producer has a sex addiction. The bombshell developments dropped at every step of the trial: when lawyers were choosing jurors, presenting arguments, calling witnesses, and showing numerous documents. Here are the craziest things that happened over the two-month-long trial.

Gigi Hadid showed up to court.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid appeared in the courtroom at 100 Centre Streeet on January 13 as a potential juror for Weinsteins trial. Shortly after she walked in with a pool of some 120 possible jurors, Justice James Burke asked whether the group knew anyone in the courtroom. Hadid was among several people who raised their hands. I have met the defendant, Hadid told the judge. She answered yes when Burke asked whether she could remain impartial. After names of people who might be mentioned or appear as witnesses were read  a list including Salma Hayek, Charlize Theron, and Rosie Perez  Hadid stood once more and said she had met Hayek. Hadid was dismissed as a juror several days later.

Mine was like 2nd or 3rd to last of 120(?) juror ID cards pulled out of the wheel.. or would have been picked for whatever the next case was, I guess!  Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) January 16, 2020

A prospective juror joked about the case on Twitter.

Despite the fact that Burke repeatedly told prospective jurors not to talk about Weinsteins case in public, one guy took to Twitter anyway and joked about using the trial to promote his new novel. If anyone knows how a person might hypothetically leverage serving on the jury of a high-profile case to promote their new novel, [REDACTED], which [REDACTED] called a darkly funny book and a witty black comedy, dm me, please, the juror tweeted on January 7, according to court documents. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala claimed in court documents that this juror is already prepared to find Mr. Weinstein guilty, has tweeted about the case, and is considering how to profit from it. Burke ultimately called out the juror, telling him to return to court in March and explain why he shouldnt spend one month in jail for contempt. The prospective juror was dismissed from serving on Weinsteins case.

Weinstein didnt want to be associated with Bill Clinton.

Weinsteins lawyers cried foul in court when prosecutors brought up his longtime friendship with former President Bill Clinton on January 22, the day President Donald Trumps impeachment trial started in earnest. The defense teams complaints about Clinton began during prosecutor Meghan Hasts opening argument earlier in the day, when she showed a photo of Weinstein and Clinton together and argued that the disgraced producers powerful connections were among the ways he bullied victims. Aidala complained to Burke that showing a photo of Weinstein and Clinton together, along with using the former presidents name over and over again, wasnt okay because of Clintons own impeachment  which related to his sexual relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky. On the day when the impeachment trial is going on, the jury is not allowed to read about this case, yet they can read about the impeachment, and the impeachment of Mr. Clinton, Aidala complained.

An accuser claimed that Weinstein offered work in exchange for a threesome.

Former actress Dawn Dunning testified that Weinstein touched her genitals without consent during what was supposed to be a business meeting. She also alleged that he offered her work in exchange for a threesome about one month later. She asked me to come to a hotel to meet him, Dunning said of a Weinstein assistant. When Dunning arrived, this assistant suggested they go upstairs. [Weinstein] opened the door, and he was wearing an open, white hotel bathrobe, said Dunning, who was one of three women testifying about alleged prior bad acts. So he kind of just cut to the chase and said, Heres contracts for my next three films. Ill sign them today if you have a threesome with me and my assistant. Dunning said she laughed, thinking Weinstein was making a crass joke. He said, Youll never make it in this business; this is how this industry works. Dunning said he named-dropped Theron and Hayek in this failed threesome attempt.

An accuser claimed that Weinstein doesnt have testicles.

Jessica Mann, who accused Weinstein of several sexual assaults, gave a graphic description of his anatomy while detailing their twisted relationship. Not long after Weinstein allegedly forced oral sex on her  an allegation he is not charged for  Mann said she had a consensual relationship with him. She said, The first time I saw him fully naked  I thought he was deformed and intersex. He has an extreme scarring that I didnt know, maybe [he] was a burn victim  Mann also claimed He does not have testicles, and it appears that he has a vagina. Mann recalled Weinstein urinating on her once, and described a shocking discovery she made in the bathroom after the first alleged rape. Im just trying to collect myself for a minute, and I see a needle in the trash can, and I flip out, and I grab it, and I look at it, and I remember the name, because I wanted to Google it  I do not remember the medical term, but when I Googled it, it basically implied dead-penis-type thing.

Jurors saw a photo of Weinsteins naked body.

On February 4, prosecutors showed five photos of Weinstein to the five women and seven men of the jury; at least one was a nude. The possibility that jurors might see this type of photo came up earlier in the month. Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi said on January 6 that it is not the practice of the District Attorneys Office to ever  humiliate [a] defendant. But, she added, we do think they [the photographs] are very, very important for the jury to see. The photos were not entered into evidence, so the public didnt see them, but their content was recorded by two eagle-eyed courtroom sketch artists who both caught glimpses as the jurors passed the photos from one to another. The sketches depicted one male jurors widening his eyes as he saw the photos, so that his eyebrows went up slightly, while two women appeared to slightly grimace.

An accuser once drew Weinsteins genitals for the cops.

Lauren Young, one of the women who testified about an alleged prior bad act committed by Weinstein, told jurors that she drew him naked for investigators. Like Mann, Young testified that Weinsteins genitals seemed off. She said he had a disgusting-looking penis and that it looked like it had been cut  not a normal-looking scar from circumcision. She also claimed not to have seen balls in the sack. Weinstein attorney Damon Cheronis tried to establish through questioning that Youngs description of Weinsteins testicles varied too much to be credible. Cheronis also asked her about the picture of Weinstein she drew for the cops. You drew a picture of a man holding his penis in the picture? I drew that, she responded. Young, a model-actress, accused Weinstein of grabbing her breast while masturbating after trapping her in a Beverly Hills hotel suite bathroom seven years ago. Weinstein is charged in Los Angeles for this alleged assault on Young, as well as for raping another woman.

Weinsteins own friend told jurors that Weinstein is a sex addict.

Not long after Weinsteins lawyers called their first witness, producer Paul Feldsher  whose testimony was intended to help their case  he wound up saying the fallen film producer had a sex addiction. Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi got the chance to cross-examine Feldsher, and she brought up cringeworthy text messages he had swapped with Weinstein. You say, There is likely a bunch of truth to the claims that you behaved like a cad and more, Illuzzi said, reading one text. Your appetite and ambition for the things you want  a script, a movie, and yes, a girl  are, to put it mildly, voracious. When asked what he meant, Feldsher said, It was my understanding, for a very long time, that Harvey had a sex addiction and that he dated a lot of women. Illuzzi also brought up Feldshers text to Weinstein that read, If a lot of these girls had been my daughter, I would have wanted to beat the shit out of you. Feldsher later said, I am not a clinician  I should have not said sex addict. But jurors, like everyone else, cant unhear things.

Weinsteins memory expert had trouble explaining the human brain.

The Weinstein defenses second witness  a memory expert who worked on the O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Ted Bundy, and Menendez brothers cases  had some trouble explaining the human brain during her testimony. When questioned by defense lawyer Diana Fabi Samson, Professor Elizabeth Loftus said that post-event information, such as media exposure, can corrupt peoples memories. Illuzzi, during her cross-examination of Loftus, asked her to discuss a diagram of the brain. Burke asked Loftus whether it fell into her area of expertise. I would defer to the neuroscientists who study the brain, Loftus said. I am not an expert in brain regions.

Weinsteins lawyer forgot about her cringey podcast interview.

Rotunnos comments on a recent episode of New York Times The Daily podcast  which included We have created a society of celebrity victimhood status  drew the ire of prosecutors. Prosecutors claimed that Rotunno also talked about several of Weinsteins accusers in the case  in violation of Burkes past warning not to do so. (For example, in the podcast Rotunno said, The actions of women after the fact prove they were consensual, a reference to some accusers continued contact with Weinstein after alleged assaults.) Rotunno insisted that was taped a long time ago and that she had no idea it was going live that morning. However, a Times spokesperson said in an email to Vulture that the interview was taped on January 28 and aired on Feb. 7. Donna Rotunno was made aware of the air date. When asked for comment on the misstatement, a rep for Rotunno said she notified the court of her mix-up. Ms. Rotunno had no intention to misrepresent the date, as lately the days bleed together. It happened on a day when the judge ended very early, the rep said.

Rotunno and Gloria Allred had a showdown in the courtroom.

On the fourth day of jury deliberations, Rotunno confronted Allred, a famed womens rights attorney representing three of the six accusers who testified at the trial. Allred was seated in the audience, as she had been on most trial days, when Rotunno walked over. (The judge wasnt in the courtroom when this drama started.) Rotunno confronted Allred, apparently thinking Allred told reporters that court was ending early Friday because Rotunno had a funeral to attend. Allred was overheard responding, You are out of control, I did not say that  Once again, you are distorting the facts. After Burke entered the courtroom, Rotunno complained about Allred, saying, I think its out of line and unprofessional  Several hours later, Allred held a scathing presser, saying Rotunno wasnt even a blip on my screen until somebody told me shes the anti-Gloria Allred. I never heard of Donna Rotunno before this trial, Im sorry to say, Allred further commented outside the courthouse during the lunch break. She also said Rotunno needs to get a little control over herself and her temper, because controlling your temper is always a good thing. And not to be triggered. Allred denied discussing the funeral with the media.
It's a big day for Agra, said BJP lawmaker Rajkumar Chahar on Monday, ahead of Donald Trump's visit to the historic city.

Chahar, who is Lok Sabha MP from Fatehpur Sikri, added that proper arrangements have been made in the city of Taj Mahal for the visit of the US President and his delegation.

Later today, Trump will visit the Taj Mahal in Agra along with First Lady Melania Trump.

"Agra has done a lot of preparations to welcome US President Donald Trump, his wife and other delegates. This is a celebration just like Diwali and Holi. The President will also be visiting Taj Mahal," Chahar told ANI.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th Century as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The structure with white marble domes and minarets, became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1983.

Regarded as the monument to love, the Taj Mahal attracts millions of visitors every year. Chahar said the its importance will increase worldwide after the US President visit.

"As the leader is visiting Taj Mahal, the value of the monument will increase and will be known worldwide," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day welcomed the US President as he arrived at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on his first official visit to India in a bid to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Both the leaders along with the First Lady visited Sabarmati Ashram for a brief stopover on their way to Motera Stadium.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The case fatality rate is between 2% and 4% inside the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and 0.7% outside of Wuhan, Tedros said, citing the team's findings. For people with mild diseases, recovery time is two weeks, while people with severe or critical diseases recover in three to six weeks, he said.

A WHO-led team of scientists that just returned from China found that the epidemic in that country peaked and plateaued between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2 and has been declining steadily since then, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said at a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Geneva.

The COVID-19 outbreak in China appears to have peaked and leveled off earlier this month even as the deadly coronavirus spreads to other parts of the world, World Health Organization officials said Monday.

While cases in China have slowed, the "sudden increase in new cases" outside of the country is "deeply concerning," Tedros said. Outside of China, there are 2,074 cases across 28 countries, including 23 deaths, he said.

"What we see is epidemics in different parts of the world, affecting countries in different ways and requiring a tailored response," Tedros said.

The exact timing of when cases in China peaked is unclear. While WHO said cases in China peaked and plateaued mostly in late January, the organization's own data appears to show that cases leveled off sometime during the week of Feb. 14.

The reason for the apparent discrepancy could be because China changed the way it classifies cases three times, said Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the University of Toronto.

"It's hard to look at the data and derive definitive conclusions, given the definition of cases has been changed several times," he said. "Whether or not it peaked at that time or another time, the key point is that it does appear to be peaking and plateauing now."

Localized outbreaks of the virus in Iran and Italy are fueling concerns among infectious disease experts and scientists that the virus is spreading too quickly and may be past the point of containment.

Earlier in the day, health officials reported a seventh death in northern Italy, while the number of confirmed cases rose to more than 220 in the country. In Iran, officials confirmed 61 total cases in the country as of Monday, with 12 deaths nationwide.

On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the outbreak a major public health emergency with "the fastest spread, the widest range of infections, and the most difficult prevention and control in China" since the founding of the People's Republic of China, according to state media.

WHO officials on Monday declined to declare the virus a pandemic, saying now is the time to focus on containment, not language.

"This is the time for all countries, communities, families and individuals to focus on preparing," Tedros said.

U.S. health officials said they are preparing for the coronavirus to become a pandemic.

"We're not seeing community spread here in the United States, yet, but it's very possible, even likely, that it may eventually happen," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call Friday. "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."

There are currently no proven therapies for the virus and a vaccine will take at least a year to develop, health officials say.

Tedros said last week that preliminary results from two clinical trials testing potential treatments for COVID-19 are expected in three weeks.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Sangaree Elementary second-graders work in the kitchen as part of a focus on nutrition.
Robert T. Lenahan somehow got his hands on a hack-saw blade after being transferred from the state penitentiary to Portlands Multnomah County courthouse jail.

Sixty years ago this week, the career criminal decided he didnt want to go through the bother of sitting through his latest trial. So he attached the double-edged blade to a long pole and managed to saw his way to freedom. No one at the jail could say how Lenahan, who had been involved with Portland vice lord Jim Elkins gang before ratting out Elkins to save himself, obtained the hack-saw blades.

But in spite of his ingenious escape from the courthouse jails seventh floor, Lenahan apparently didnt know what to do once he was back out in the world.

Six days after Lenahans disappearance, workers at the Multnomah County Poor Farm, now McMenamins Edgefield, spotted a bedraggled man wandering across a field. They offered him a cup of coffee. Sitting in the farms boiler room, shivering, Lenahan admitted he was an escaped convict.

Sheriffs officers picked up the 33-year-old about an hour later and sent him to Rocky Butte Jail.

But the Butte, The Oregonian pointed out at the time, also was far from escape-proof. More than two-dozen inmates had taken unofficial leave in the five years before Lenahans arrival.

Rocky Butte Jail in 1957. (The Oregonian)Oregonian

Another breakout attempt, in fact, would soon follow -- one of the facilitys most brazen and violent ever.

On a Thursday evening in August of 1960, inmate Elmer Merrill, who was being held on armed-robbery charges, approached a guard with a letter and asked him to put it in the mail for him. When the guard reached for it, Merrill punched him in the mouth. Merrill and four other prisoners -- Lenahan was not one of them -- beat the jailer and locked him in a cell.

Guards at Rocky Butte Jail, which would be torn down in 1983, had been hearing rumors of an escape plan for about a week. The talk now had been proven true.

The five prisoners trying to escape made for the officers lounge and locker room, expecting to find guns there. Guards knocked out a window and hit the inmates with tear gas.

The escape attempt quickly degenerated into a riot in Cell Block A: Other prisoners, deputies later told reporters, seemed to go wild. ... They ripped up benches for clubs, started fires, tore fire hoses off the walls, broke out windows and literally demolished the officers ready room.

One of the prisoners trying to escape, Edwin Paquin, ended up with a gunshot wound before guards regained control of the jail.

At a court arraignment two days later, another of the wannabe escapees insisted he shouldnt be returned to Rocky Butte Jail because guards were going to attack him.

Theres guys had the whey beat out of them last night, and Im scheduled for a head-beating tonight, James H. Bello told the judge.

He said someone should be sent out to the Butte to check the conditions there.

There are prisoners lying in the hole, with broken ribs and bleeding all over the floor of the cell, he claimed.

Elmer A. Merrill became a "jailhouse lawyer." (The Oregonian)Oregonian

Jail superintendent Jake Mathews acknowledged that one of prisoners who attempted to escape, Darwin Wilson, was being held in solitary and did have broken ribs.

I got nothing to hide, Mathews said. Some of those boys got roughed up. There is no question about it. One of the fellows was knocked out twice. You take men like [Bello and Wilson], they attack you. You got to defend yourself.

As it turned out, while the riot was going on, two Rocky Butte inmates who had earlier walked away from a prisoner-work detail passed by the jail as they made their way toward a rail terminal where they hoped to jump on a freight train. The men, Bonnie Joseph Thideauz and Eugene Tatum, wondered why all of the lights were burning on the jail premises at that hour, but they marched on as quickly as they could. They were apprehended early the next day.

As for the five men who tried to break out of Rocky Butte Jail that August day: they all faced added charges because of the escape attempt. The ringleader, Merrill, would later gain some fame in the Oregon prison community by becoming a jailhouse lawyer, winning a new trial for himself in 1963 -- right around the time he originally would have been released if not for the jail-break attempt.

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Congress has alleged that the BJP leaders are giving hate speeches in Delhi and the Delhi police are taking no action due to which there is a complete breakdown of law and order.

The statement was given after violence broke out in north east Delhi between pro and anti-CAA protesters in which one Delhi Police head constable lost his life.

The Congress said, "Delhi Police, under Home Ministry, has completely failed to control law and order. BJP leaders have been openly giving hate speeches and threats but no action is being taken." The Congress alleged that the speeches made by its leader Kapil Mishra are in complicity with the senior leaders. "Such comments can only be made with complicity of senior party leaders and the police." tweeted INC, the official Twitter handle of the the Congress.

Tension prevailed in north east area of Delhi after a head constable was killed as pro and anti-CAA groups battled each other.

A bullet fired by unruly protesters injured a youth, while several vehicles and a house in the vicinity were also set ablaze.

The head constable who lost his life has been identified as Ratan Lal.

Delhi Metro, meanwhile, has announced the closure of entrance and exit gates of Maujpur-Babarpur metro station.

Protests and rallies by anti and pro-CAA groups rocked the area on Sunday also, with pro-CAA groups rallying at Maujpur-Babarpur metro station, and Maujpur chowk while the anti-CAA protesters held forth in Kabir Nagar and Jaffarabad areas.
Panaji, Feb 24 (UNI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday urged world community to come together to take strong action against the countries which were aiding and abetting terrorism.

Addressing the 32nd Annual Convocation of Goa University in the city, the Vice President said that terrorism was enemy of humanity and denounced the actions of one of the neighbours in promoting cross-border terrorism.

While reiterating that India wanted peaceful coexistence with all its neighbours, the Vice President referred to the decision of global watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to keep a neighbouring country in the grey list and said it was a grim reminder to the global community to exert greater pressure and hold that country to account on terrorism.

UNI AKM 1708
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has officially complained that the results of the Nevada caucuses may not have been accurately counted and reported.

In a letter to the Nevada Democratic Party, Mr Buttigiegs campaign urged it to release data on early voting results, fix errors that might have arisen when counting absentee ballots and explain discrepancies the campaign found before any final tally is announced.

However, a representative for the state party said the campaigns understood how the reporting process would work before Saturday.

We are continuing to verify and to report results, the representative said in a statement.

We never indicated we would release a separate breakdown of early vote and in-person attendees by precinct and will not change our reporting process now.

Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters

Mr Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who won in Iowa and finished second in New Hampshire, appeared to secure third place in Nevada with 13.6 per cent. If the final results keep Mr Buttigieg below 15 per cent, he may fail to win delegates, the key to securing the nomination.

Mr Sanders latest victory is sure to stoke more concern among establishment Democrats who see him as too liberal to defeat Donald Trump in November. Now they have an additional worry that he may soon be unstoppable in his quest to win the nomination.

But the results in Nevada and the outlook for coming contests are doing little to push the rest of the field to drop out, leaving a cluster of more centrist candidates to divide the anti-Sanders vote and unable to build their own momentum.

Mr Buttigieg has lately turned his fire on Mr Sanders, saying that Democrats should take a sober look at whats at stake before nominating him.

The next nominating contest of the primary is in South Carolina on 29 February. Mr Biden has long led the field in the state thanks to his support among black voters, but has seen his lead shrink as Mr Sanders has surged.

South Carolina will then be followed by Super Tuesday, where 14 states hold their primaries at the same time.

This will see the debut of former New York mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who is ploughing hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money into the contest but was sent reeling by a disastrous performance in his first appearance in a televised debate.
HMS Vigilant, one of the UK's four nuclear warhead-carrying submarines. (PA)

The government is planning to replace the UKs controversial Trident missiles with nuclear warheads supplied by the US, Pentagon officials have revealed.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed over the weekend that officials were looking at options to replace the current Trident warheads.

It followed an announcement by US Strategic Command commander Admiral Charles Richard, who wrote in a statement that the US was developing a replacement warhead called W93 or Mk7 for its own military.

This effort will also support a parallel replacement warhead programme in the United Kingdom whose nuclear deterrent plays an absolutely vital role in Natos overall defence posture, he said.

Admiral Charles Richard revealed a replacement for Trident is being developed. (AP)

It is understood that the Government has been unable to find the time to inform Parliament, which is in recess, but an official announcement will be made shortly.

Several MPs hit out at the planned deal shortly after it was revealed in The Observer, with Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, calling it totally unacceptable.

Britain under Johnson increasingly looks like putty in Trumps hands, he told the newspaper.

That Britains major defence decisions are being debated in the United States, but not in the UK, is a scandal. Under Johnson, it seems that where Trump leads, we must follow.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK:

The MoDs update to Parliament published shortly before Christmas did not confirm the upgrade.

Work also continues to develop the evidence to support a Government decision when replacing the warhead, it said.

The plans were also referenced by a Pentagon under secretary of defence, Alan Shaffer, who said its wonderful that the UK is working on a new warhead at the same time, according to US publication Defense Daily last week.

Story continues

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has long backed the proposed replacement and the Conservatives committed to renewing the deterrent ahead of the election.

The cost has been estimated at 31 billion.

An MoD spokeswoman said: As previously stated in the 2015 defence review, we can confirm that we are working towards replacing the warhead.

We have a strong defence relationship with the US and will continue to remain compatible with the US Trident missile.

An announcement about the UKs replacement warhead programme will be made in due course.
A 23-year-old Pakistani national is facing a trial in a Dubai court for his alleged attempt to snatch a gold necklace off an Indian woman, according to a media report.

The Court of First Instance will pronounce the verdict on March 8, the Khaleej Times reported on Sunday.

The incident was reported on November 30 last year at the Bur Dubai police station.

The accused tried to snatch the gold necklace of the complainant, a 32-year-old Indian homemaker, while she was walking home from a clinic after 10 pm, the court was told.

The man "got close to me from behind and tried to snatch my gold necklace", the woman was quoted as saying by the report.

However, the Pakistani man's bid was foiled after the woman screamed for help and two passersby rushed to assist her and caught the accused.

The woman was left with some lacerations on her neck.

The two passersby who came to the woman's aid were also Pakistani nationals -- a 41-year-old businessman and a 21-year-old cab driver, the report said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Caroline Laws, the wife of broadcasting veteran John Laws, has died after suffering from cancer for several years.

The death of Mrs Laws was announced on Monday morning in a statement during the 2SM radio show usually presented by her husband.

Caroline Laws in 1997. Credit:SMH

"We announce this morning the sad passing of Caroline Laws, beloved wife of legendary Australian broadcaster John Laws. 'The Princess', as she was lovingly referred to by John, had bravely fought cancer for a number of years," the statement on behalf of Laws' team said.
They've been Hollywood fixtures for decades.

Lisa Rinna, 56, looked cool and collected on Sunday as she attended a screening of the highly anticipated Netflix miniseries Hollywood with her husband Harry Hamlin, 68.

The loved-up couple cut casual figures at the screening in LA at the San Vicente Bungalows with Rumer Willis, 31.

Ageless: Lisa Rinna, 56, looked cool and collected on Sunday as she attended a screening of the highly anticipated Netflix miniseries Hollywood with her husband Harry Hamlin, 68 and Rumer Willis, 31

Lisa was ready for business in a sleek gray blazer, which she wore over a shallow V-neck top.

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star paired her top with simple black slacks and lustrous black boots.

Harry affected a more casual look with a black wool sweater, black jeans and rugged hiking boots.

Rumer was there representing Hollywood royalty, and she shared a lovely smile while draped in an eye-catching burgundy overcoat with red and blue floral stitching and a lustrous green dress underneath.

Contrasts: Lisa stood out in a gray blazer, while Harry wore a black wool sweater and Rumer had on a lovely burgundy overcoat with floral stitching

Stunning styles: Rumer shared a lovely smile while draped in an eye-catching burgundy overcoat with red and blue floral stitching and a green dress underneath. Her friend Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams, wore a tan overcoat and a playful beige and white outfit

Back in black: Mira Sorvino, one of the stars of Hollywood, looked effortlessly elegant in a low-cut black dress that highlighted her cleavage

Sultry: She covered up with a stylish black overcoat with peaked lapels and rows of rhinestones running down her sleeves, while her blonde tresses rested gently over her shoulders in loose curls

Mira Sorvino, one of the stars of Hollywood, looked effortlessly elegant in a low-cut black dress that highlighted her cleavage.

She covered up with a stylish black overcoat with peaked lapels and rows of rhinestones running down her sleeves, while her blonde tresses rested gently over her shoulders in loose curls.

Hollywood was only recently announced, and it's not set to premiere on Netflix until May 1.

According to Netflix, the Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennancreated miniseries will follow 'a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood as they try to make it in Tinseltown.'

The characters will explore the way people of different races, genders and sexual orientations made their way in the WWII-era movie industry, while also focusing on the kinds of discrimination they faced.

Coming soon: Hollywood, produced by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, will premiere May 1 and focus on rising stars of various races, genders and sexual orientations as they navigate WWII-era Hollywood

Stand out: Adding a splash of color to the event was one of Hollywood's stars, Laura Harrier. The 29-year-old BlacKkKlansman actress looked resplendent in a patterned blazer with gorgeous blue and white designs are thick orange floral patterns

Towering beauty: She matched the look with a set of white slacks with hypnotizing red and blue patterns, as well as black open-toe heels that elevated her 5ft9in stature

Adding a splash of color to the event was one of Hollywood's stars, Laura Harrier.

The 29-year-old BlacKkKlansman actress looked resplendent in a patterned blazer with gorgeous blue and white designs are thick orange floral patterns.

She matched the look with an eye-catching set of white slacks with hypnotizing red and blue patterns, as well as black open-toe heels that elevated her 5ft9in stature.

TV host and transgender rights activist Janet Mock stunned in a low-cut figure-hugging burgundy dress.

The look featured a tightly pleated skirt, and she had her dark locks pulled back in a loose ponytail.

Elegant: TV host and transgender rights activist Janet Mock stunned in a low-cut figure-hugging burgundy dress

Hip hugger: Her outfit featured a tightly pleated skirt that covered up her footwear

Long hair, don't care: She had her dark locks pulled back in a loose ponytail

Fierce: Orange Is The New Black's Laverne Cox wore a low-cut brown top with sharp black stripes over her midriff and a pair of black vinyl pants

Orange Is The New Black's Laverne Cox looked fierce in a low-cut brown top with sharp black stripes over her midriff and a pair of black vinyl pants.

Comedian, writer and director Judd Apatow looked every inch the proud papa as he arrived at the event with his daughter Maude Apatow, one of the stars of the show.

He had on a plaid charcoal blazer with a lustrous grayblue shirt and dark jeans with black sneakers.

Maude stunned in a pale pink blazer atop a sheer pink dress with a red and white short skirt with leaf patterns.

She matched her red heels to her lipstick and carried along a golden clutch.

Family outing: Comedian, writer and director Judd Apatow looked every inch the proud papa as he arrived at the event with his daughter Maude Apatow, one of the stars of the show

Light and dark: He had on a plaid charcoal blazer with a grayblue shirt and dark jeans. Maude stunned in a pale pink blazer atop a sheer pink dress with a red and white short skirt

On point: She matched her red heels to her lipstick and carried along a golden clutch

Too cool for school: Ryan Murphy regular Dylan McDermott, who's also featured in the show, rocked some bad boy style with a black leather biker jacket over a black shirt

Pals: He posed with actor David Corenswet, looking dapper in a gray suit

Mix and match: The young actor also had on a stylish black turtleneck and posed with Laverne Cox

Ryan Murphy regular Dylan McDermott, who's also featured in the show, rocked some bad boy style with a black leather biker jacket over a black shirt.

He posed with actor David Corenswet, looking dapper in a black turtleneck and a gray suit.

Michelle Krusiec had on a lacy black top that covered one shoulder and reached down to the ground, as well as black pants and studded black heels.

EJ Johnson stood out in a satin cream blazer with a tied-off blouse and a short black skirt with pointy black boots.

Musician Margie Plus put on a colorful display in a purple suit with peaked lapels, matching thin purple sunglasses, a bright green fedora and highlighter yellow hair.

Michelle Krusiec had on a lacy black top that covered one shoulder and reached down to the ground, as well as black pants and studded black heels

All eyes on him: EJ Johnson stood out in a satin cream blazer with a tied-off blouse and a short black skirt with pointy black boots

Colorful display: Musician Margie Plus wore a purple suit with peaked lapels, matching thin purple sunglasses, a bright green fedora and highlighter yellow hair

The cast: Jeremy Pope looked cool in a burnt sienna suit paired with a white tank top. Jake PIcking matched Dylan with his black leather jacket

The attending castmembers assembled for a group photo on the red carpet before the screening.

Jeremy Pope looked cool in a burnt sienna suit paired with a white tank top.

Jake PIcking matched Dylan with his black leather jacket.

Alexis Martin Woodall flashed an infectious smile while draped in a maroon dress.

Series co-creator Ian Brennan rocked a 1970s-inspired brown patterned shirt with white jeans.

The whole gang: Alexis Martin Woodall flashed a winning smile and wore a maroon dress. Series co-creator Ian Brennan rocked a 1970s-inspired brown patterned shirt with white jeans

Beaming: Jeremy Pope, Alexis Martin Woodall and EJ Johnson showed off their winning smiles
As part of its continuing pressure campaign on the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela, the United States has imposed sanctions on Rosneft Trading, SA and its Chairman Didier Casimiro.

Designated by Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, the Swiss incorporated, Russian-controlled brokerage firm is a subsidiary of Russias energy giant Rosneft.

Calling Rosneft Trading, SA the primary broker of global deals for the sale and transport of Venezuelas crude oil, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement that the company has propped up the dictatorial Maduro, enabling his repression of the Venezuelan people. Maduro has destroyed Venezuelas institutions, economy, and infrastructure, while enriching himself and his cronies, through his abuse of state power and his welcoming of malign support from Russia, as well as from Cuba, Iran, and China.

The sanctions mean that all property and interest in property of Rosneft Trading and its chairman that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked or must be reported to OFAC.

At a press briefing, U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams called the new sanctions very significant and predicted that companies all over the world in the oil sector [will] now move away from dealing with Rosneft Trading.

Special Representative Abrams noted that the new sanctions are part of a campaign of pressure to bring democracy back to Venezuela. In recent years, the United States has ratcheted up financial and economic sanctions against the Maduro regime, targeting Venezuelas energy, banking, and transportation sectors. Earlier in February, the United States added the state-owned airline CONVIASA and its fleet to OFACs Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List to further prevent the Maduro regime from profiting from its usurpation of state enterprises.

Special Representative Abrams said that the sanctions against Rosneft Trading are another step in the policy of pressuring the Maduro regime to allow Venezuela to escape from its terrible crisis through free and fair presidential elections. There will be more steps and further pressure in the coming weeks and months, he added. The United States remains firmly committed to the people of Venezuela and to the cause of freedom there.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Media giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation has more time to operate as it awaits the renewal of its broadcast franchise.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday said the franchise will lapse on May 4, 2020  not March 30 as widely reported.

During the Senate Committee on Public Services inquiry into ABS-CBN's franchise, he said the 25-year franchise was granted on March 30, 1995, but it becomes effective 15 days after it is published in newspapers. He added this is an "undisputed fact."

"Based on facts available to us, the franchise was published on April 19, 1995. For that reason, the franchise will expire on May 4, 2020," he said.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the House may be able to tackle the bills in May at the earliest, citing more urgent" measures on deck for lawmakers.

A total of eleven bills seeking to renew ABS-CBNs legal mandate are languishing before the lower chamber.
A man in his early 20s arrested after shots were fired at Gardai in Donegal over the weekend is due in court later this morning.

Two other men arrested in connection with the attack in the early hours of Saturday morning have been released without charge.
The government, which was contemplating the imposition of export restrictions on certain essential medicines to avoid shortages, has now asked the industry instead to self-regulate its drug exports and avoid hoarding, at least two people who are part of government's consultation process said.

The government was planning to restrict the export of 12 formulations that included the restriction of Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, the antiviral Aclycovir, the hormone drug Progesterone, and antibiotics such as Ornidazole, Clindamycin, Erythromycin, and Neomycin among others.

While the industry has assured that it has sufficient inventory for 2-3 months in view of the holiday period in China, and expectations of supplies from China resuming by end of February, the government had a rethink.

The government hasnt banned any drugs. It is a restriction and an exercise in self-regulation as far as the export of drugs are concerned so that we dont go out of stock, said Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), the industry body that represents large domestic pharmaceutical companies.

The Coronavirus Disease  2019 (COVID-19), was first reported in Wuhan city, Hubei Province in China on New Years Eve in 2020.

According to official estimates, the number of confirmed cases in China stands at 75,777, with 2,130 deaths as of February 20, 2020.

Till date, there is no known cure for COVID-19, though some countries are known to be using a mixture of anti-HIV drugs to treat coronavirus infected patients. The disease outbreak however had caused disruption of supply chain.

India is a net importer of bulk drugs, intermediates and key starting materials (KSMs) from China. The imports from China valued at $4.5 billion in FY19, which constituted more than two-thirds of its imports.

A few pharma companies have seen price escalation off late in some imported bulk drugs and in intermediates such as paracetamol.

Another pharma company executive, who didnt want to be named, called the proposal of export ban as an overreaction at this stage.

As per our information, our Chinese suppliers havent gone back on their supply commitments, though there is a problem in Hubei region. The factories in other parts of China have commenced operations, the normalcy of the supply will be restored soon, the above executive said.

The executive also said the time is also ripe to take concrete steps on how can we minimize our dependence on Chinese raw materials.

Currently, India doesnt have the capability to produce the key starting material and intermediates that are manufactured by China.

The impact is expected to be moderate this quarter, said Crisil Ratings in its latest report.

But, a delay beyond 2-3 months due to continued low production or an extended lockdown would impact Indian corporates much more severely, the report added.

Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) said the exports are stable till January. Pharmexcil expects Indian drug exports to cross $22 billion in FY20 with growth of 15 percent.
The head of the nation's domestic spy agency has sounded the alarm on foreign states interfering in Australia's political affairs, revealing a "sleeper" agent was secretly operating in the country for years before being caught.

Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation boss Mike Burgess warned foreign spies were intimidating Australians within the country, while there was one case of a group of agents who threatened the physical safety of someone in Australia as part of a foreign interference plot.

ASIO boss Mike Burgess has sounded the alarm about foreign interference. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In an unprecedented public address about the extent of ASIO's operations, Mr Burgess said visiting scientists and academics were ingratiating themselves into Australian universities with the aim of conducting clandestine intelligence collection, striking "at the very heart of our notions of free and fair academic exchange".

With ASIO investigating twice as many terrorism threats than this time last year, Mr Burgess also raised concern about the growing threat of right-wing extremism, saying small cells were regularly meeting in suburbs across Australia to salute Nazi flags, inspect weapons and train in combat.
A neighbour of Boris Johnson's parents has been shot dead and her husband is fighting for his life in a suspected murder and attempted suicide in the sleepy Somerset village where the Prime Minister grew up.

Debbie Zurick was named locally as the victim and her husband John Zurick, 67, is in hospital with gunshot wounds following the shooting.

Neighbours of the couple, who lived in Nethercote Cottage, Winsford, Somerset, next to the Johnson family's 500-acre estate, say the couple's marriage was in crisis and Mrs Zurick had asked her husband for a divorce.

They were both well-known locally as a gun-dog breeders and trainers and Mr Zurick once trained Princess Anne's dog Sparkle.

Debbie Zurick (pictured) was named locally as the victim and her husband John Zurick, 67, is in hospital with gunshot wounds following the shooting

Pictured: Debbie Zurick and John Zurick. Neighbours of the couple, who lived in Nethercote Cottage, Winsford, Somerset, next to the Johnson family's 500-acre estate, say the couple's marriage was in crisis and Mrs Zurick had asked her husband for a divorce

Officers were called to the property after reports of a hearing a gunshot in Winsford, Somerset

Mrs Zurick's half-brother Phillip Townsend told MailOnline: 'I've been told that Debbie is dead and John is in a bad way in hospital.

'The police haven't told us anything. We are just in shock, it's terrible.'

A neighbour added: 'We've been told Debbie has died of her wounds. It is so shocking.

'There have been whispers that she wanted to separate from him.'

Police have described the incident as 'self-contained', indicating they are not looking for anyone else.

The Zuricks are well known among Clumber working spaniel owners and breeders.

A picture posted on the couple's social media showing Boris Johnson meeting their dog, also called Boris

Neighbours of the couple, who lived in Nethercote Cottage, Winsford, Somerset, next to the Johnson family's 500-acre estate, say the couple's marriage was in crisis and Mrs Zurick had asked her husband for a divorce

In an interview for the Clumber Working Spaniels Society website six months ago Mr Zurick told how he trained Princess Anne's bitch Sparkle.

It is understood he and his wife bought their property from the PM's father around five years ago. Boris's parents, Stanley and Jennifer Johnson, live next door.

Avon and Somerset Police has confirmed that the shooting incident at Nethercote, near Winsford on Exmoor, was being treated as a murder enquiry.

In a statement on its website the Force also confirmed that officers had had 'prior contact with those involved' and had therefore referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Winsford borders Exmoor National Park and is home to a 12th century pub, The Royal Oak Exmoor

Pictured: Debbie and John Zurick with their dogs. Police have opened a murder probe

The statement added: 'Officers were called to a property in the village at around 2.30pm on Saturday 22 February after a member of the public called to raise concerns over the welfare of a woman.

'Firearms officers were among those to attend the scene and a woman in her 50s was found outside the property with severe injuries.

'Although officers carried out CPR, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A second woman, who is being treated as a key witness, was located nearby and taken to a place of safety. She was uninjured.

'A further search of the premises located a 67-year-old man in an outbuilding. He'd suffered serious injuries caused by a shotgun. He's in police custody but was taken to a hospital in Devon for emergency treatment, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

The property where the incident happened is near to a 500-acre farm in Nethercote, which is owned by Stanley Johnson (pictured with Boris Johnson)

'A post-mortem examination has been carried out on the woman and the cause of death has been confirmed as shotgun injuries. Formal identification has not yet taken place.'

Det. Supt. Julie Mackay, of the Major Crime Investigation Team said: 'This is a very serious incident in which a woman has lost her life and we are deploying family liaison officers to support the next of kin.

'The scene remains cordoned off so further forensic enquiries and searches can take place over the next few days.

'We're grateful to the local community for their support and understanding, and I'd urge anyone with concerns or questions to speak to a member of the local neighbourhood team who'll be carrying out extra patrols over the coming days.

'Due to prior police contact with those involved, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. It would be inappropriate for us to go into further details while the referral is being considered.'

The property where the incident happened is near to a 500-acre farm in Nethercote, which is owned by Stanley Johnson.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson grew up on the farm near Winsford, Somerset, from the age of five when the family moved back to England from Connecticut.

It was at the rural estate that Mr Johnson first gained experience with fox hunting, according to his biography Just Boris.

Winsford borders Exmoor National Park and is home to a 12th century pub, The Royal Oak Exmoor.

The village is home to an ancient moorland which is famed for its charming cottages and ford along with eight bridges spanning the River Exe and the Winn brook.

An Avon and Somerset police statement reads: 'We have launched a murder investigation after a woman was shot in a property near Minehead.

Woman died after being shot at home in Winsford, Somerset, while a man is in police custody with life-changing injuries. Pictured: The village of Winsford

'We were called to reports of what appeared to be the noise of a gunshot at a property in Winsford at about 2.30pm on Saturday.

'A woman was seriously injured by a gunshot wound. Despite receiving treatment at the scene, she sadly died shortly afterwards.

'A man is in police custody. He was also injured, suffering life threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital. He remains in a critical but stable condition.

'The area remains cordoned off by police officers, who are providing reassurance and support to people in the area.

'Crime scene investigators are carrying out a detailed examination of the scene.

'Enquiries into the incident - which is believed to be self-contained - are continuing as officers' piece together exactly what happened.'
Woman embroider teaches skills through online courses. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wu Xuefeng]

Han Fenglian, who lives in Daquan Village of Horseshoe Township of Sunan County, told journalists that in the past winters, people just hang around or spent time in the sun.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, the loudspeakers in the village, WeChat groups, and text messages remind them every day that they should stay at home, do not have party, and do not walk around in groups.

Therefore, they have time to stay at home to do embroideries, insoles and other crafts, and earn money through selling them.

She said these handicrafts were taught by Han Xueqin, head of the Horseshoe Feitian Farmer Embroidery Professional Cooperative, through WeChat. Selling handmade products can also subsidize their daily expenses.

Woman embroider teaches skills through online courses. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wu Xuefeng]

Han Xueqin said they have received more than 30,000 orders viainternet since the outbreak of the virus, and most of the orders are from Tibet. She allows employees complete orders in their own homes. If they want to clarify something, they can communicate via WeChat any time. By staying at home everyone can not only prevent the spread of the epidemic but also finish the work.

Pan Xiaohong, who works in Sunan County Arts and Crafts Studio, teaches staff members how to make handicrafts such as handmade beaded jewelry, folk embroidery, and wire flower weaving through online videos.

She said women staying at home can learn to make handmade products because most of them are familiar with the skills of needle and thread sewing. They can use their free time to make handicrafts at home, plus also generate income.

In order to ensure the stable employment and skilled training and the needs of job-seeking workers after the Spring Festival, Sunan County held an "Online Training Course for National Costume Cutting and Embroidery Workforce Skills" through Ding Talk live video and participate in "one-to-many" teaching and "one-to-one" answering to let women staying at home utilize their time better.

La Yanxia, chairman of the Sunan County Women's Federation, said ethnic handicrafts, as a traditional industry, have advantages such as large market demand, low input costs, low employment thresholds, and broad prospects for income growth.

Woman embroider teaches skills through online courses. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wu Xuefeng]

It is an effective way to help poor women get flexible employment and get rid of poverty.

In recent years, Zhangye city has taken "Longyuan Skilled Hands" training as a powerful starting point for implementing women's precision poverty alleviation, established seven women hand-knitting associations, organized expert training teams for hand towels, and built eight city and county-level demonstration bases, trained 13,000 skilled hands, cultivated 21 hand-knitted enterprises (professional cooperatives), established 67 family workshops and 42 micro online shops, created more than 50 hand-knitted brands.

With annual sales of tens of millions of yuan, hand-knitting has become a new industry that absorbs surplus labor and women's entrepreneurship.

Woman embroider teaches skills through online courses. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wu Xuefeng]

On February 16, Sunan County Human Resources and Social Security Bureau of Zhangye City started the 2020 Online Labor Skills Training Course. Unlike in the past, this training course is online.

At the training course, Pan Xiaohong, the lecturer of the course of "Cutting and Embroidery of National Costumes," placed the mobile phone and picked up the needle and thread to start live webcasting hand-knitted crafts.

Recently, the Sunan County Human Resources and Social Security Bureau changed its service mode and adjusted the original on-site skills training to online training and recruitment, making it convenient for local farmers and herdsmen to train and apply for jobs.

At the same time, the bureau has issued three recruitment notices via the internet, with 35 positions posted.

Woman embroider teaches skills through online courses. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wu Xuefeng]

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
Truth-telling journalist or reckless criminal: A British judge was given two conflicting portraits of Julian Assange as the WikiLeaks founder's long-awaited extradition hearing began Monday in a London court.

A lawyer for the US authorities, who want to try Assange on espionage charges, said the Australian computer expert was an ordinary criminal whose publication of hundreds of thousands of secret military documents put many people at risk of torture and death.

Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a license to break ordinary criminal laws," said James Lewis, a British lawyer representing the US government.

Assange's lawyer countered that the WikiLeaks publisher was being victimized by a lawless American government that wanted to make an example of him.

Attorney Edward Fitzgerald also said the inhuman conditions Assange would face in an American prison put him at high risk of suicide.

Dozens of Assange supporters protested outside the high-security Woolwich Crown Court, chanting and setting off a horn as District Judge Vanessa Baraitser began hearing the case, which is due to last several months.

Assange, 48, watched proceedings from the dock in the courtroom he was brought there from Belmarsh Prison next door. He complained that he was having difficulty concentrating and called the noise from outside not helpful.

Assange has been indicted in the US on 18 charges over the publication of classified documents. Prosecutors say he conspired with U.S. army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password and hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Assange argues he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection, and says the leaked documents exposed U.S. military wrongdoing.

Among the files published by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.

But Lewis said Assange was guilty of straightforward" criminal activity in trying to hack the computer. And he said WikiLeaks' activities created a grave and imminent risk to U.S. intelligence sources in Afghanistan and Iraq.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Robert Funaro as "Johnny" in "The Irishman. " (Courtesy/Robert Funaro)

Robert Funaro, the Staten Island son known primarily for his roles as Eugene Pontecorvo, a crime family soldier in The Sopranos, and Tony Del Greco, a chief enforcer for a New York mob boss in Martin Scorseses HBO drama series, Vinyl,  and Johnny in Martin Scorseses star-studded Netflix film, The Irishman,  can also now be seen as Det. Bricker in Season 7 of Ray Donovan.

In fact, in the Showtime hit drama TV series, Funaro has a recurring role and completed five episodes where he played Lieutenant Bricker, a commander who turns bad.

I was introduced in the first episode, Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck, said Funaro when he was cast opposite the talented Quincy Tyler Bernstine who portrays Detective Perry.

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On the set of "The Irishman," are from left, Paul Herman, who plays the character, "Whispers" and Robert Funaro, who portray "Johnny." (Courtesy/Robert Funaro)

The New Dorp resident explained it involved three decapitated heads that popped up in the Long Island sound  well actually one  and Detective Perry is suspicious and wants to dredge the ocean where one was found.

I try to dissuade her but in the end agree. Later its found out that I'm working with Mayor Ferrati in all this bad doing. Perry brings Donovan in and Im OK with that. But she cuts a deal with Donovan if he gives up the mayor. Hence, you'll have to watch what happens.

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On the set of "The Irishman," is Robert Funaro at an editing session with Academy Award winning editor, Thelma Schoonmaker. (Courtesy/Robert Funaro)

"THE IRISHMAN"

In speaking of his role in The Irishman, where his character's name is Johnny, a trucker teamster friend of Frank Sheeran whos played by Robert DeNiro, Funaro is the guy who introduces him to the key players at the Friendly Lounge  a hangout in Philadelphia, says he.

Honestly, I thought casting for Irishman was complete when I was working on The Sinner with Chris Abott (Catch 22 HULU) where I played his dad Ron Tanetti also with Jessica Biel, Funaro added. On set we have a lot of time between set ups and I asked Chris if he had auditioned for The Irishman. He shook his head no. We both didn't get in. But my manager Eric Faber informed me I had a read with an Ellen Lewis and they had begun the initial filming.

Funaro says he considered himself fortunate to just get in the door, but was aware that Martin Scorsese liked to use the same actors in his films.

You see I was cast in the HBO series Vinyl. There is a trust factor between both parties who produce the truth on set . So I landed the role of Johnny who introduces Robert Deniro The Irishman to Skinny Razor, Bobby Carnevale. It was a breakthrough and a dream come true to work on a masterpiece of cinema with Marty in this film and alongside Robert Deniro. And it was a great reunion for Ray, Bobby and me.

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Actor Robert Funaro cast as Lt. Bricker in "Ray Donovan." (Courtesy/Robert Funaro)

"RAY DONOVAN"

And when queried about Ray Donovan, Funaro described it as another surprise because they were well into filming when his manager called and informed him that he was to go in and see casting director Meredith Tucker with whom he worked on The Sopranos.

I had a good feeling about it and was told the role of Lieutenant Bricker could possibly recur. There's a comfortability factor in doing good work and I felt my chances were good because I knew Meredith for some time. It proved itself correct at the audition where I took her direction and landed the role without a callback. In fact, Joshua Marston, whos hit film Maria Full of Grace, was directing."

Funaro further explained: "To work opposite Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Perry), a new main character on the show was a real pleasure. I think they were looking for someone to antagonize her and not make putting together the strings of an investigation into Ray Donovan so easy. Easy PZ lemon squezzee for me.

And he said it was pretty cool to be associated with the last season and to be given full credit.

So, Im killed just in time.

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Robert Funaro on the set of "Ray Donovan." (Courtesy/Robert Funaro)

UPCOMING PROJECTS

Funaro reveals Jerry Seinfield is doing a Netflix special called 23 Hours to Kill.... a promo he taped up at the Beacon Theatre and confided he was a super person to meet.

Hes very cordial and professional. And Im headed to Buffalo to shoot a TV pilot called For Nothing written by Nick Denmon and Sean Gloria and directed by Steven Quach that also stars Michael Madson of 'Donnie Brasco' fame and Quentin Tarantinos 'Reservoir Dogs.'"

Funaro continues: It seems certain like Staten Island American cities are giving out incentives to film in their towns and Buffalo is a rising star. Not the temperature though. Ill be playing Don Leo Ciancetta Sr. Not a far stretch given my apprenticeship on The Sopranos.

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Actor Robert Funaro and the late James Gandolfini. (Courtesy/Robert Funaro)

HIS BIG BREAK

FYI: Funaro got his break working with James Gandolfini in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire that toured Scandinavia. Funaro played Stanley Kowalski and Gandolfini played Mitch.

Several years later when Funaro was working as a manager of Carolines Comedy Club, Manhattan, Gandolfini suddenly walked in looking for him.

He said there was a role available and that he could get me in the door for the auditions  the rest, he said, was up to me.

Hes was a great guy  a terrific man. For him to come back and look for me  Im really blessed by that.

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"The Sopranos," 2002: Joe Gannascoli, Steven R. Schirripa, Joe Pantoliano, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Dan Grimaldi, Federico Castelluccio, Michael Imperioli, Robert Funaro. (Photo by Barry Wetcher bn)

Funaro, whos been acting professionally for two decades, also appeared in episodes of Law and Order and was featured in Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

He also appeared in the 2007 film American Gangster as Detective McCann and in 2012 in Whistle Blower, in an episode in the second season of the CBS show Blue Bloods as NYPD Capt. Browne.
The claim: "We are a poor city  We have the lowest per capita income of any major Texas city."  Henry Cisneros, former San Antonio mayor who served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton.

Cisneros made the statement during a meeting with the San Antonio City Council as he made a pitch for a new transportation plan that emphasizes roads over public mass transit.

PolitiFact ruling: Mostly True. San Antonio has a lower per capita income than some, but not all, of the states most populous cities.

Discussion: There is no universal definition of a major city, so PolitiFact Texas looked at cities with a population estimate of at least 500,000 in 2018.

In 2018, the per capita income in Texas was $30,641. In the United States, it was $33,831.

Looking at individual Texas cities reveals a wide range of values, from $65,743 in The Woodlands north of Houston to $15,369 in Pharr, a border city east of McAllen.

In San Antonio, per capita income in 2018 was $24,684.

More Information About PolitiFact PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse

San Antonio is the second most populous city in the state (1.5 million), second to Houston (2.3 million) and followed in order by Dallas (1.3 million), Austin (964,254), Fort Worth (895,008) and El Paso (840,758), according to 2018 population figures.

Heres the per capita income in 2018 in these cities, from highest to lowest:

1. Austin: $42,923

2. Houston: $31,162

3. Fort Worth: $29,010

4. Dallas: $27,729

5. San Antonio: $24,684

6. El Paso: $22,777

Another way to assess income in a community is to look at median household income or median family income. Median household income includes the income of the householder and anyone else over 15 years old living in the home.

This figure is different than median family income, according to the Census Bureau: "Because many households consist of only one person, average household income is usually less than average family income."

In 2018, the median household income in San Antonio was $49,024, lower than all of the six most populous Texas cities besides El Paso ($45,031).

San Antonios median family income was $60,689 in 2018, a higher figure than Dallas ($58,835), Houston ($56,693) and El Paso ($50,245).

Cisneros made this claim after stating that San Antonio is "a poor city," so PolitiFact also looked at poverty data available from the Census Bureau for the 10 most populous cities in the state.

In 2018 in San Antonio, about 19 percent of its population was living below the poverty line  more than any of the other cities with populations over 500,000.
GRANTS PASS, Ore.  The investigation into a Douglas County kidnapping case sparked a car chase that ended in the Applegate Valley on Saturday, Oregon State Police reports.

Officers with the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS) had found a gray pickup truck that was tied to a suspected kidnapping out of Douglas County in the early hours of Saturday morning. As the officers closed in, the driver tried to get away  quickly leading to a chase.

Grants Pass officers eventually had to give up on the pursuit as the suspect driver continued down Highway 238 eastbound, into the Applegate Valley. There, OSP troopers took up the chase.

Police were able to spike the gray pickup's tires near the Applegate bridge, causing the driver to stop along the highway just short of the town of Applegate.

29-year-old Freddy Ayala was arrested at the scene without any further trouble, OSP said.

Ayala is a registered sex offender from central Oregon and is on conditional release for reckless driving and driving while suspended charges in Crook County, Oregon. He's currently being held in the Josephine County Jail on charges for attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, a parole violation for his previous rape charge, and multiple out of county warrants.

A report from OSP and jail logs did not provide any further information about Ayala's possible involvement in the kidnapping case out of Douglas County.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Food trucks have become a common sight around Albuquerque in the past decade, popping up everywhere from breweries to city parks.

But for some food truckers, the mobile eatery isnt the final destination for their business, but rather a jumping-off point on the journey to a more permanent home.

Starting off on wheels allows aspiring restaurateurs to establish a brand, tinker with menu options and build a following, all with less financial risk than if they had started in a brick-and-mortar location.

Sarah Ciccotello, who co-owns The Burque Bakehouse with husband Chris McQuary, said the couple planned from the outset to open a full bakery. But committing to a permanent facility seemed financially risky, and Ciccotello worried that her pastries  which are browned much more than a typical grocery store croissant  wouldnt appeal to burquenos, because she hadnt seen anything like that for sale in the city.

So the pair started out selling their baked goods at farmers markets, which Ciccotello said felt like the much safer way to do it.

Instead of launching so big with a permanent place with all of that risk, we could sort of test and see if there was a want for what we had to offer, Ciccotello said.

Ciccotello and McQuary arent alone. Nationwide, many aspiring food sellers are choosing to take advantage of the lower risk and overhead associated with food trucks before trying a permanent location, according to Brett Lindenberg, founder of foodtruckempire.com.

If you are able to prove the profitably of your brand on a food truck, youre much more likely to get  a loan to start a restaurant or coffee shop down the line, Lindenberg said.

Lindenberg said startup costs for food trucks can range from $20,000 to $150,000 depending on the type of vehicle.

By contrast, expenses of opening a traditional restaurant start around $750,000, according to Carol Wight, CEO of the New Mexico Restaurant Association. Liquor licenses can cost an additional $300,000 to $800,000 in New Mexico, Wight said.

The costs can add up.

Testing wares at Downtown market

Despite Ciccotellos initial concerns, the response to her pastries was overwhelming, Ciccotello said.

Since then, The Burque Bakehouse and its unique selection of pastries has become a Downtown Growers Market fixture.

Ciccotello and McQuary quickly realized they would need to look beyond the small industrial kitchen they had rented in the Northeast Heights.

Thats when we realized maybe we had maximized our amount of space and needed to figure out another way to do it, McQuary said.

The couple began seriously looking for a permanent location, and eventually purchased their soon-to-be permanent location at Broadway and Hazeldine.

The storefront will keep them close to their Downtown roots and bring some life to a building that has been empty for many years.

We really liked the idea of a neighborhood bakery  living there, working there and helping turn around that vacant building, McQuary said.

McQuary said the couple have tentative plans to open the shop to the public midyear.

From side hustle to Central location

What started as a series of ramen pop-ups at Marble Brewery in 2017 will turn into a permanent restaurant with the opening of Oni later this spring in Downtown Albuquerque.

The pop-ups started primarily as a side business for co-owners Daniel Linver and David Gaspar.

Linver said the concept for Oni, originally Oni Noodles, started with head chef Gaspar. Gaspar had previously had experience cooking Japanese-inspired food and wanted to bring that to the pop-ups.

The idea is that were doing seasonal, local, Japanese-inspired food through a New Mexican lens, Linver said.

Last year, Linver and Gaspar were doing well enough to leave their jobs and pursue their business full time  and search for a permanent location.

We saw it as a potential success in the following we had built up from doing those pop-ups those first years, Linver said.

Linver and Gaspar have since found a space at Central and Sixth and plan to open a nonmobile Oni this spring. They are planning to take the rollout slowly and will focus solely on the storefront location.

Its really exciting to move on to this next level, Linver said.

Leaving customers wanting more

It was customer support and encouragement that led the husband-and-wife team behind Ihatov Bread & Coffee to take their bakery from farmers markets to storefront.

After moving from New York to New Mexico, Nobutoshi Mizushima and Yuko Kawashiwo learned to bake at a Santa Fe bakery. Later, the couple began baking on their own and traveling to Albuquerque to sell their goods at area farmers markets. They found customers wanting more.

Every week, customers (asked) Where is the location? Mizushima said. I had to say, I bake in Santa Fe.'

Mizushima said that when he and Kawashiwo began selling at the markets, they didnt have a plan to open a full bakery.

We kind of stuck to the farmers market so we could sell straight to the customers and see the customers reaction, he said.

The couple began scoping out locations for a bakery two years ago and settled on the abandoned Starbucks building at Central and Tulane in Nob Hill. It will open in early spring.

Kawashiwo said she hopes the bakery will inspire customers and be a place for people to relax.

She and Mizushima said they plan to expand the menu to include more pastries, and eventually even some light lunch options.

Mizushima said the bakery will continue to source many ingredients locally, drawing on the connections made at the markets.

Realizing a storefront dream

Moving from a food truck to a storefront address was a natural progression for Soo Bak Seoul Bowl owner John Katrinak.

Katrinak said he has been driven by a love of food since his childhood, when he learned to cook Korean food alongside his grandmother.

Growing up, he wanted to cook only straight Korean food, not Korean fusion, but he realized a fusion approach might work in Albuquerque, where Korean food is uncommon.

I knew Albuquerque didnt have a Korean fusion place to call their own, he said.

The food truck incarnation of Soo Bak launched seven years ago, but Katrinak said he knew he would eventually want a more permanent location.

The whole dream was to always own a restaurant, Katrinak said. The food truck was kind of like the steppingstone, he said.

After several years of searching and some construction, Katrinaks storefront address opened last summer on Hermosa near Central  a fitting location, as thats where the food truck also got its start, offering food outside Tractor Brewing Co. Katrinak said that moving to Nob Hill also allowed him to be a part of a revitalization of an area that has lost many tenants in recent years.

He said he continues to support other local businesses by purchasing many ingredients from grocers in the International District.

I love this neighborhood, Katrinak said. Weve always been a part of this neighborhood.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : US Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, who is part of President Donald Trump's delegation to India, on Monday met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash and Trai Chairman R.S. Sharma and discussed information technology and telecom matters common to both countries.

Pai retweeted photos of his meeting with the Trai Chairman, tweeted by the telecom regulator.

Although the subjects of the discussions are not disclosed, sources said it touched upon 5G services and technology, and Internet of Things (IoT) which could bring high tech to agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and education.

The Indian side said the government policies are currently aimed at bridging the digital divide, said sources.

India is set to hold auction for 5G spectrum for the first time later this year.

Two years ago, Pai's controversial decision to revoke net neutrality in the US triggered a massive backlash. India has taken the opposite position on this issue.

on Sunday, Pai had tweeted: "Almost fifty years after my parents came to the U.S. from India, I'm looking forward to traveling to India along with @POTUS and other U.S. government officials, and participating in bilateral meetings aimed at deepening the friendship between our two nations."
Former Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has endorsed frontrunner Bernie Sanders  having previously taken a swipe at one of his rivals, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Speaking at a Sanders rally in Austin, Texas, Ms Williamson drove home that she sees todays fight for progressive causes as part of a grand American tradition.

There were other generations just like this one for whom it was time to take a stand.

And it was the people in those cases  not the governments, not the elites, not the status quo  it was the people who rose up and the people who woke up and the people who stepped in.

And now it is our turn.

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

Ms Williamson, a left-wing progressive and bestselling spiritual teacher and author, was initially dismissed as a joke candidate when she entered the race, but received a boost after a strong debate performance in July 2019.

However, she soon faced condemnation from her past comments on health and illness  in particular vaccination  and never built up a large following or rose up the polls.

She was never again included in another televised debate, and ultimately suspended her campaign a month before the Iowa caucuses citing a lack of funds.

Ms Williamsons endorsement comes days after Mr Sanders won the Nevada caucuses with a commanding margin. Having also won the New Hampshire primary and performed strongly in the chaotic Iowa caucuses, he is now recognised as the clear frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination.

However, Mr Buttigieg also claimed victory in Iowa. Shortly afterwards, Ms Williamson tweeted: I havent endorsed anyone because theres more than one good progressive and everyone has to vote their conscience.

But I submit to my supporters that someone with no real agenda and no real vision for our country beyond a vague notion of inclusion is nothing but a corporate tool.

Mr Buttigieg went on to narrowly lose the New Hampshire primary to Sanders. His performance in the Nevada caucuses was far weaker: he placed third, behind Mr Sanders and former vice president Joe Biden.
Investors in the United States have mostly shrugged off the impact of the coronavirus ravaging China. That changed on Monday, when news of the outbreaks spread drove them to sell stocks  at a furious pace.

The S&P 500 index, which had reached a record high as recently as Wednesday, fell 3.4 percent, its worst single-day performance since February 2018. As analysts issued new warnings that the outbreak could drag down economies around the globe, stocks fell enough to wipe out all of the indexs gains for 2020.

It was a turbulent day for stocks worldwide: European markets recorded their worst session since 2016, and major benchmarks in Asia also closed down.

There was a cavalier attitude about the virus, said Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at Baird, an investment banking and money-management firm. With the threats appearing to increase, he added, you have to think about the global economy slipping enough to cause a shortfall in earnings.
Customers of defunct microfinance, savings and loans and finance houses will from today, Monday February 24, begin to access their full locked-up funds, the receiver Eric Nana Nipah has confirmed to Citi News.

The customers of the 347 microfinance companies, 23 savings and loans and finance houses, as well as 39 micro-credit institutions with outstanding obligations, will be paid in either cash or bonds.

According to a release issued by the Consolidated Bank, Ghana, the bank has chosen to payout customers' funds, and will open new accounts for affected customers whose claims have been validated and accepted for payment.

It added that the GHS5 billion the government has earmarked to settle all outstanding payments in full is a combination of cash and bonds.

The bank adds that customers whose locked-up funds exceed the GHS20,000 cap will have another investment account created on their behalf where they will be paid using the bond which will mature later.

The Bank adds that the affected customers are to wait for an SMS from the receiver confirming the acceptance of their claims before turning up at any CBG Branch for payments.

The customers will be required to present any national identification card in order to access their funds.

Corporate and SME customers of defunct financial institutions are also not left out in this bout of fresh payments.

The bank says such customers will receive a default savings account that will be opened and communicated to them by the Receiver.

They will then go through the normal KYC to open their current accounts where funds in the savings account will be transferred into, the statement said.

citinewsroom
In 2017, there was military standoff between the Chinese and Indian troops over Doklam Plateau, a disputed patch of land at the junction of Tibet, Sikkim (India), and Bhutan. The standoff began when the Chinese attempted to construct a road in the area which is also claimed by Bhutan. The Bhutanese protested the construction project, forcing India to increase its troops in the area. The reason for Chinas construction of the road in the area is still not clear but Indians think it was a strategy to take over the area. However, the dispute over Doklam Plateau dates back to the 1960s and is yet to be resolved despite the several rounds of negotiations between China and Bhutan.

Where Is The Doklam Plateau?

The Doklam, also known as Donglang or Zhoglam, is an area characterized by a plateau and a valley, located between Chumbi Valley (Tibet), Ha Valley (Bhutan), and Sikkim (India). It lies on the China-Bhutan border near India. The Chumbi Valley is on the north, Sikkim on the west, and Ha Valley in the east. The geographical position of Doklam makes it of great significance to the three countries. Both China and Bhutan claim that the area is within their respective territories. Despite many years of border negotiations, the matter is still far from being resolved.

Significance Of Doklam

The area of Doklam is of great strategic significance to India, China, and Bhutan. The Chumbi Valley and Siliguri Corridor to the north and south of Doklam are important mountain chokepoints that would give due advantage to any country in global power competition. Bhutan and India believe that if the area falls under the control of the Chinese then their securities will be compromised. Thus, Chinas desire for heights is considered the main motivation to take control of Doklam. Taking control of the area will benefit the Chinese in three main ways; they will have a proper view of the Chumbi Valley, outflank the Indian troops in Sikkim, and completely crush Bhutan in case of a war. Also, the Chinese would easily transport war machinery to the border with India, giving them an upper hand over the Siliguri Corridor.

The Border Dispute

For about 1800 years, from around the 2nd century BC, the historical Chinese maps showed Bhutan and Sikkim as parts of Tibet. From 1958, the maps started showing that large parts of Bhutan were part of Chinas territory. Two years later, China claimed that Bhutan, Ladhak, and Sikkim have always been a part of it. Alarmed by such claims, Bhutan closed its border with China and stopped all its diplomatic contacts. It also signed a Friendship Treaty with India. In 1965, China accused Indian troops of crossing into Doklam and threatening their herders, triggering a dispute between China and Bhutan. Each country claimed that Doklam was under its sovereignty.

Border Negotiations And Current Status

The negotiations to resolve the border dispute between China and Bhutan started in 1972. At the time, India was playing a supporting role, a role that was contested by China. In 1984, Bhutan and China began the negotiations without India, with Bhutan accepting to cede part of its territories to China. In 1996, China offered a deal to Bhutan by offering to give up the central region for the northwest region of the disputed area. However, after over 20 rounds of border negotiations, the two countries are yet to find a solution.
Police have launched an investigation after a man's body was found on the shoreline at Larne in Co Antrim

Police have launched an investigation after a man's body was found on the shoreline at Larne in Co Antrim.

A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesman said a crew had been summoned to the grim scene - but there was nothing they could do, as the man had died before his body was discovered.

The deceased is thought to be from the Larne area, Councillor Paul Reid told the Belfast Telegraph last night.

"It's horrendous news. Absolutely horrendous," the DUP representative said.

"A poor family is grieving the loss of a loved one tonight."

Larne Lough Alliance councillor Danny Donnelly added: "This is very sad news, very concerning.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to the man's family as they come to terms with this dreadful news."

It's understood that a post-mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of the man's death.
Ms. Ismayilova was released in 2016 after a year and a half in jail, where she had been unjustly incarcerated to silence her investigations of high-level corruption and cronyism. As we have noted before, she exposed hidden financial links in the telecommunications, construction, gold mining, hotel, media and airline services held by Mr. Aliyev and his family. More detail about the way Mr. Aliyevs elite has plundered the country was revealed in September 2017 in The Azerbaijani Laundromat, an expose by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which reported on a complex money-laundering operation and slush fund that handled $2.9 billion over a two-year period through four shell companies registered in the United Kingdom. The report showed that at least three European politicians, a journalist who wrote stories friendly to the regime and businessmen who praised the government were among the recipients of the money. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani government threw more than 90 human rights activists, opposition politicians and journalists, including Ms. Ismayilova, into prison.
Office buildings amid the heavy haze at Beijing's business district, in a photo from 2017. Zhang Peng | Contributor

All eyes are on China's progress in getting its factories to crank up again, after the country extended this year's Lunar New Year holiday and shut down major growth regions in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Many of its provinces started gradually limping back to some form of production last week, about two weeks later than previous years. The Chinese government has also been giving regular updates, reporting last Wednesday that work resumption rate has topped 50% for some industrial companies in key economic regions such as Guangdong and Shanghai.

Chinese state media also reported Tuesday that more than 80% of its central state-owned companies' roughly 20,000 manufacturing subsidiaries have resumed work. But here's how some economists and analysts are tracking the story of China's progress in returning to work  as the world's second largest economy gears up to return to full production.

Air pollution levels, coal consumption

Analysts are using pollution levels as a gauge of industrial activity. Major cities in China are well known for being choked by smog, due to the extensive burning of coal by factories. So far this year, pollution levels have been between 20% and 25% lower compared to the same period last year, Tapas Strickland of National Australia Bank (NAB) said in a note earlier last week, suggesting there was a substantial decline in industrial activity in the first quarter. Referring to the official update that more than 80% of China's 20,000 manufacturing subsidies have resumed work, Rodrigo Catril, senior foreign exchange strategist at NAB, cast doubt on the actual progress. "This news should have been embraced warmly by the market, however high frequency data such as pollution levels and traffic congestion gauges in Beijing do not at this stage corroborate the upbeat official message, keeping investors wary," he said in a note Wednesday. On Feb. 20 (Thursday), daily coal consumption of six major power plants was 42.5% less than the same time last year, according to Nomura, which has been tracking such metrics daily. The Japanese bank has also been following data on traffic congestion, passenger flows and new home sales in a bid to track the progress of China's work resumption.

"The pace was slow due to a lack of workers and strict reopening criteria, and it varied across cities, industries, and firms," J.P. Morgan's Sin Beng Ong wrote in a note last week. "The weak resumption of production is reinforced by a set of high-frequency indicators in the areas of energy consumption, real estate transactions, passenger traffic, and air quality," he said.

Passenger migration across China
KALAMAZOO, MI  A mother and her boyfriend who were sentenced in 2018 on charges of involuntary manslaughter, felony murder and first-degree child abuse in the 2017 death of a 4-year-old child both lost appeals this past week.

Kalamazoo residents Kelly Ballinger and Matthew Longenecker, both 36, were found guilty in the death of Ballingers daughter, Desaray Thompson, who died by asphyxiation after being entirely wrapped in blankets and bound with duct tape on July 9, 2017.

Each had their sentences upheld in the State of Michigan Court of Appeals on Feb. 18.

Longenecker had been sentenced by Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Paul Bridenstine in May 2018 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was also sentenced to a minimum of 23 years, 9 months in prison on the child abuse conviction.

Ballinger was sentenced in April 2018 by Bridenstine to between 5 and 15 years for the involuntary manslaughter of her daughter. She was also sentenced to a minimum of 23 years, 9 months in prison on the child abuse conviction.

Both Longenecker and Ballinger also were found guilty of possession of methamphetamine.

The couple both argued in their appeals that there was insufficient evidence to establish the intent element of first-degree child abuse, according to the courts ruling.

Longenecker additionally argued that the trial court and prosecutor made errors that deprived him of a fair trial and that he could not constitutionally be convicted of both felony murder and first-degree child abuse.

The appeals court; however, concluded there were no errors made, finding that both knowingly and willingly participated in the acts that led to the childs death.

In Longeneckers case, the appeals court ruled that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence that a jury could reasonably infer he knew his actions were likely to cause the child serious harm, the ruling states

When he wrapped her tightly in tape, left her immobilized on her back in bed while suffering from nausea, and then covered her airways ... indeed, a reasonable jury could infer that he intended to kill her or acted with such contempt for the likelihood that she would die that it amounted to the malice necessary to prove murder, the ruling states.

Per Ballingers case, the appeals court pointed out that the jury heard and saw evidence that Ballinger refused to get medical attention for a gaping wound that had been inflicted on the child and took steps to prevent others from discovering that the child was being physically abused.

Ballinger acknowledged in text messages that she knew that Longenecker had been injuring (the child) and did not take any steps to stop him, the ruling states. "Ballinger even stated that she had been violent with (the child). She admitted to grabbing the child by her hair with both hands and swinging her to the ground where (the child) may have hit a rock or other hard surface.

During the 2018 trials, which were done concurrently in front of two separate juries, several text messages between Ballinger and Longenecker were entered into evidence in which the couple discussed both of them hitting Desaray.

In one message, three days before Desaray was found dead, Longenecker acknowledged he wrapped the girl. The way I did it is genius, Longenecker wrote. The more she struggles the tighter it gets. Lol.

In another exchange, Ballinger said, I wish I never had her. Longenecker replied Me, too.

Dr. Joseph Prahlow, a forensic pathologist at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine who performed the childs autopsy, testified during the couples trials that Desaray had multiple blunt force injuries on her head, injuries on her torso, arms and back, black eyes and a gash on her forehead that should have had medical attention.

Also on MLive:

Man who abused, murdered 4-year-old gets life in prison

Mom guilty of manslaughter, boyfriend guilty of murder in girls death
US Cannabis Testing Services Market, by Test Type (Potency Testing, Terpene Profiling, Cannabinoid Profiling, (CBD Testing and THC Testing) Pesticide Screening, Residual Solvent Testing, Microbiological Screening and Other Tests), by End User (Cannabis Firms, Homecare Settings, and Research Institutes), and by States (Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Other States) was valued at US$ 127.7 million in 2019 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 15.7% over the forecast period (2019-2027), as highlighted in a new report published by .

Key players in the market are focused on establishment of state-of-art cannabis testing laboratories in key regions to provide a wide range of services in cannabis testing. For instance, in April 2018, Gala Pharmaceutical, Inc. announced plans to build its first state-of-the-art testing laboratory that will meet the new ISO requirements set by the City of Long Beach and the State of California, U.S. in accordance with the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. In December 2018, Gala Pharmaceutical California Inc., a subsidiary of Gala Pharmaceutical, Inc. received a temporary license from the State of California to construct its flagship cannabis testing facility in Long Beach, California, U.S. In June 2019, Gala Pharmaceutical, Inc. completed construction of its cannabis testing facility.

Request Free PDF Research Report Brochure

In March 2019, Steep Hill, cannabis science and technology company signed a licensing agreement with Green Analytics East to open a new cannabis testing laboratory in New Jersey (Steep Hill New Jersey). Steep Hill New Jersey is currently working to obtain local permits and is expected to commence the regulatory testing services in the third quarter of 2019.

In August 2019, Botanacor Laboratories, a hemp biomass and hemp-derived CBD products testing laboratory in Denver, Colorado, started offering industrial hemp and CBD testing throughout North America.

Thus, such initiatives by new cannabis testing service providers in key regions are expected to increase access to cannabis testing services in the region and drive market growth over the forecast period.

Browse 26 Market Data Tables and 27 Figures spread through 151 Pages and in-depth TOC on US Cannabis Testing Services Market, by Test Type (Potency Testing, Terpene Profiling, Cannabinoid Profiling, (CBD Testing and THC Testing) Pesticide Screening, Residual Solvent Testing, Microbiological Screening and Other Tests), by End User (Cannabis Firms, Homecare Settings and Research Institutes), and by States (Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Other States)  US Forecast to 2027

To know the latest trends and insights related to US Cannabis Testing Services Market Press Release, click the link below: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/press-release/us-cannabis-testing-service-market-2562

Fundraising activities by key companies engaged in cannabis testing are supporting the establishment and expansion of cannabis testing labs in U.S. states. For instance, Cannalysis, a cannabis testing lab based in Santa Ana, California, received funding of US$ 22 million from CanLab, a cannabis, hemp and CBD testing laboratory network. This fund raising will allow Cannalysis to increase its operations and expand its presence to more states in the U.S.

Key Takeaways of the US Cannabis Testing Services Market:

The US Cannabis Testing Services Market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 15.7% over the forecast period (20192027) owing to establishment of new cannabis testing labs in the U.S.

Among test type, the potency testing segment is expected to account for a major revenue share by 2027, owing to increasing collaborations by key players in the U.S., which, in turn, is expected to drive demand for potency testing to determine safety and effectiveness of cannabis. For instance, in 2016, AB SCIEX LLC (U.S.) entered a collaboration agreement with CW analytical, a leading cannabis testing laboratory, to develop a cannabis quality and potency testing standard.

Major players operating in the US Cannabis Testing Services Market include SC Laboratories Inc., Eurofins Scientific, EVIO Labs, Praxis Laboratory, Agricore Laboratories, Steep Hill Labs, Inc., Digipath, Inc., Sequoia Analytical Labs, Fairbanks Analytical Testing LLC, Aurum Laboratories, LLC, Pure Analytics LLC, Gobi Labs, Cascadia Labs, Encore labs, PharmLabs LLC and Cann-a-Lab.

Detailed Segmentation:

US Cannabis Testing Services Market, by Test Type: Potency Testing Terpene Profiling Cannabinoid Profiling CBD Testing THC Testing Pesticide Screening Residual Solvent Testing Microbiological Screening Other Tests

US Cannabis Testing Services Market, by End User: Cannabis Firms Homecare Settings Research Institutes

US Cannabis Testing Services Market, by States: Florida By Test Type: Potency Testing Terpene Profiling Cannabinoid Profiling CBD Testing THC Testing Pesticide Screening Residual Solvent Testing Microbiological Screening Other Tests Michigan Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Other States

Company Profiles SC Laboratories Inc.* Company Overview Product Portfolio Financial Performance Recent Highlights Strategies Eurofins Scientific EVIO Labs Praxis Laboratory Agricore Laboratories Steep Hill Labs, Inc. Digipath, Inc. Sequoia Analytical Labs Fairbanks Analytical Testing LLC Aurum Laboratories, LLC Pure Analytics LLC Gobi Labs Cascadia Labs Encore labs PharmLabs LLC Cann-a-Lab



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People who have recovered from the COVID-19 coronavirus infection leave a hospital by bus in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province. AFP Photo

Beijing: Chinese authorities on Monday slightly relaxed the quarantine measure in Wuhan, to allow healthy non-residents to leave the epicentre of the country's virus epidemic.

The decision comes as the official number of new cases has been in the hundreds for the past five days, after being in quadruple digits every day for weeks.

Non-residents may leave the central city of 11 million people if they show no symptoms of the new coronavirus and have never had contact with patients, the city said in a statement.

The city of 11 million has been under lockdown since January 23 after authorities shut down transport links into and out of the city in an effort to contain the new coronavirus outbreak.

People with special reasons to leave the city including those who need treatment for other medical conditions and those doing epidemic prevention work may also leave Wuhan, the statement said.

Departures must be staggered and people must apply for permission from local authorities before leaving.

Cars leaving the city must not carry more than two people, including the driver, at a time, the city said, without mentioning whether air and rail transport would be resumed.

Once travellers have reached their destinations outside of Wuhan, they must report themselves to local authorities and monitor their health for 14 days, the city said.

Hundreds of foreign nationals have been airlifted from Wuhan back to their countries by several governments including the United States, France and Britain.

The COVID-19 disease has killed nearly 2,600 people and infected some 77,000 in China.

The epidemic's spread has slowed down in China outside of Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, while multiple other provinces have reported zero new infections for several days in a row.
It was an immediate hit with fans when it debuted on Netflix in December.

And The Witcher is back in production as filming has begun for season two with members of the cast and crew recently seen filming in Surrey.

Henry Cavill, who plays lead character Geralt of Rivia, was not seen, however a body double sporting the monster-hunter's blonde main was on hand.

Production: The Witcher is back in production as filming has begun for season two with members of the cast and crew recently seen filming in Surrey

The actor, a stand-in for Henry, was dressed in the character's familiar costume as the crew filmed a scene in a wooded area.

A large blue tent was pitched nearby while several extras could be seen sporting medieval-style clothing.

A large wooden cart was also seen at the location with members of the crew removing items from inside as an extra stood wrapped in a blanket nearby.

A group of cast members were gathered in an open area with a flag erected nearby as they prepared to film a scene.

Location: A large wooden cart was also seen at the location with members of the crew removing items from inside as an extra stood wrapped in a blanket nearby

Double: Henry Cavill, who plays lead character Geralt of Rivia, was not seen, however a body double sporting the monster-hunter's blonde main was on hand

Filming: A man, dressed as a soldier stood alongside a woman wrapped in a blanket in the wooded area

The series is based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy novels, and focuses on Geralt of Rivia (Cavill), a 'solitary monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts'.

Netflix recently revealed the show was on track to be the platform's biggest season one TV series ever' with a massive 76million viewers tuning in.

In a letter to shareholders pertaining to the company's Q4 2019 earnings, the streaming giant states that the show, which premiered on December 20th of last year, 'is tracking to be our biggest season one TV series ever.'

Shoot: A group of cast members were gathered in an open area with a flag erected nearby as they prepared to film a scene

Preparations: Several extras stood in an open area as the crew prepared to film a large group scene

Plot: The series is based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy novels, and focuses on Geralt of Rivia (Cavill)

Character: Geralt is 'solitary monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts'

Success: The Witcher was an immediate hit with fans when it debuted on Netflix in December

'Through its first four weeks of release, 76m member households chose to watch this action-packed fantasy,' the streamer continued in the letter.

However, the use of the phrase 'chose to watch,' along with a footnote stipulating a change in how they report their metrics, points to another instance of Netflix being vague about its market performance.

The footnote explains that a 'view' now constitutes a member choosing to watch a piece of content 'for at least 2 minutes -- long enough to indicate the choice was intentional.'

Setting: The show is set in the fictional medieval-inspired landmass known as 'The Continent'

Hit: Netflix recently revealed the show was on track to be the platform's biggest season one TV series ever' with a massive 76million viewers tuning in

Impact: In a letter to shareholders pertaining to the company's Q4 2019 earnings, the streaming giant states that the show 'is tracking to be our biggest season one TV series ever'

They added: 'Through its first four weeks of release, 76m member households chose to watch this action-packed fantasy'

Measure: A footnote explains that a 'view' now constitutes a member choosing to watch a piece of content 'for at least 2 minutes -- long enough to indicate the choice was intentional'

Franchise: As a further testament to the series' success, the letter continued, 'the shows launch drove up sales of The Witcher books and games around the world'

The letter goes on to state that 'the new metric is about 35% higher on average than the prior metric,' which only counted views of at least 70 percent of a given episode or film on the service, thereby further beefing up Netflix's numbers.

Meaning, that if a viewer decided to watch even just 3-5 minuted of the show before switching to something else, that would still count as a full-on view for The Witcher.

As a further testament to the series' success, the letter continued, 'the shows launch drove up sales of The Witcher books and games around the world, and spawned a viral musical hit.'

Henry had confirmed The Witcher would be returning for another season in a video he uploaded to his Instagram in January.

Back in action: Henry Cavill had confirmed The Witcher would be returning for another season in a video he uploaded to his Instagram in January.

Video: The actor told his followers: 'Hello everybody, Im back. I have been enjoying my Christmas break, perhaps a little too much at some points, but now it is back to work'

Grateful: The actor expressed his gratitude towards viewers as he elaborated: 'Pre-production will be starting very shortly on Witcher season two

He added: 'I see that youve all enjoyed Witcher season one, thank you very much for that, and Im glad you enjoyed it. Ill be giving you updates on here as time goes on'

Walking down the streets of London, the actor told his followers: 'Hello everybody, Im back. I have been enjoying my Christmas break, perhaps a little too much at some points, but now it is back to work.'

The actor expressed his gratitude towards viewers as he elaborated: 'Pre-production will be starting very shortly on Witcher season two.

'I see that youve all enjoyed Witcher season one, thank you very much for that, and Im glad you enjoyed it. Ill be giving you updates on here as time goes on.

Henry said: 'Of course you ought to expect many more of my thrilling and exciting cardio videos! See you then, have fun, thank you very much', a beaming Henry ended the clip'

Future: Created for TV by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the showrunner recently revealed she plans to create seven seasons of The Witcher

Plans: When asked about the future of the show, she told SFX Magazine : 'Oh hell, yeah! Second season? Ive done it for seven seasons!'

Cast: The show also stars Freya Allan, Eamon Farren and Anya Chalotra

'Of course you ought to expect many more of my thrilling and exciting cardio videos! See you then, have fun, thank you very much', a beaming Henry ended the clip.

Created for TV by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the showrunner recently revealed she plans to create seven seasons of The Witcher.

When asked about the future of the show, she told SFX Magazine: 'Oh hell, yeah! Second season? Ive done it for seven seasons!'
A Philadelphia man is in prison in lieu of $1 million bail on charges he participated in the theft of $187,000 worth of jewelry from a Lancaster County store on Jan. 1.

Duanne Pierce, 56, faces charges including involvement with corrupt organizations, organized retail theft, burglary and theft by unlawful taking and criminal conspiracy.

The theft took place Kay Jewelry in Park City Center in Lancaster.

Police allege Pierce got into an off-limits area at the store and also got a key he used to open a case where diamonds were stored.

He allegedly had two accomplices who distracted store employees. Police are still trying to figure out the identities of the accomplices, according to a news release on Monday morning.

A detective use video surveillance images and a Virginia arrest warrant for Pierce to connect him to the Lancaster theft, police said. He was was first arrested by Philadelphia police.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 09:00 AM | BALLARD COUNTY

A traffic stop Friday in Ballard County led to the arrest of a convicted felon on drug and gun charges.

The Ballard County Sheriff's Office says deputies stopped a pickup truck driven by Lance Dakin. Deputies said Dakin, a convicted felon, was said to be in possession of a handgun, and was reportedly acting very upset.

Deputies detected an odor of marijuana that seemed to be coming from the truck. Deputies found suspected marijuana, a handgun and ammunition during a search of the truck.

Dakin was arrested and charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana (firearm enhanced) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was lodged in the Ballard County Jail.
Women who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment celebrated on Monday after a jury in New York found him guilty of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and rape in the third degree.

For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you, the actress Ashley Judd wrote on Twitter, shortly after the verdict was announced. Ms. Judd was among the first to go on the record for The New York Timess 2017 investigation of Mr. Weinsteins behavior with women.

Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist, the Italian actress and director Asia Argento posted on Instagram under a photo of herself with another woman. Ms. Argento was also among the first to publicly accuse Mr. Weinstein. Two survivors cry and celebrate. Thank you God, she wrote.
(Bloomberg) -- 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.

(Updates with details of conference in third paragraph. An earlier version corrected a misspelling of Huawei in the first paragraph.)

Story continues

--With assistance from Jennifer Jacobs.

To contact the reporter on this story: Josh Wingrove in Washington at jwingrove4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, John Harney, Virginia Van Natta

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

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Julian Assange's father has said it is 'simply untrue' that his son's Wikileaks revelations put sources' lives in danger - as his US extradition battle yesterday was told he would be at a 'high risk' of suicide if he was sent to an American prison.

Opening the case against the 48-year-old on Monday, James Lewis QC said some sources 'disappeared' after he put them at risk of 'serious harm, torture or even death'.

He told District Judge Vanessa Baraitser that information published by WikiLeaks was 'useful to an enemy' of the US - with material found at al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan when he was killed in a 2011 raid.

Responding after the hearing, Assange's father John Shipton said that 'do damage was done.'

He said: 'The essential element of the prosecution case was that the sources were endangered, that their sources were endangered, this is simply not true.

'In Chelsea Manning's trial the Pentagon spokesman under oath at the trial said that nobody was hurt. Robert Gates testimony before congress, Robert Gates is ex-secretary of defence, he said that yes it's embarrassing, yes it's awkward, but that no damage was done.'

Assange, who is being held in Belmarsh Prison after being dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy last year, appeared in the dock at the London court next door today for the first day of his extraordinary British legal face-off with Donald Trump's Government.

He is battling to avoid extradition to Virginia where he faces 18 charges and a jail term of up to 175 years for leaking state secrets in 250,000 classified documents published by WikiLeaks online in 2010.

But Assange's QC Edward Fitzgerald said extradition to an American prison extradition would be the 'height of inhumanity', exposing him to inhumane conditions in an American prison, leading to a high risk of suicide.

Julian Assange, who needed two pairs of glasses in the dock at Woolwich today, where he was accused of exposing informants helping American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan to the risk of 'torture and murder'

Opening his extradition case for the US Government today, British QC James Lewis (pictured centre), said Julian Assange (seen watching behind) is guilty of 'ordinary criminality' by stealing from and hacking into US government computers - and must face trial in the US

James Lewis QC, representing the US Government, said Assange had conspired with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack Department of Defense computers and share its secrets.

Mr Lewis said documents that could only have been sourced from WikiLeaks were found in Osama Bin Laden's Pakistani compound after US Navy SEALs raided it and shot him dead in 2011. This, argued Mr Lewis, is clear evidence that the information from the leaks was 'useful to the enemies of the United States of America'.

The British QC added: 'The US is aware of sources, whose redacted names and other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by WikiLeaks, who subsequently disappeared'.

Mr Fitzgerald outlined the 48-year-old's defence claiming he is an innocent man whose extradition is 'politically-motivated' by the Trump administration who want his 'head on a pike' to scare off potential leakers and whistleblowers.

Julian Assange (pictured in a prison van in April last year) has started his legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States where he faces 17 espionage charges and one computer hacking charges that could see him given a 175 year jail term

British fashion designer and activist Vivienne Westwood arrives to join the hundreds of supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange outside Woolwich Crown Court today

Assange's father John Shipton (centre) arrives at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in London with supporters and family today

A supporter dressed as Jesus Christ carries a wooden cross which reads 'The truth will win' as he protests against the extradition of Wikileaks founder Assange

Police arrested an Assange fan for pouring red paint on the floor outside court and later the man they are supporting stood up in the dock to complain about the noise

What is Julian Assange charged with in the US? The US Department of Justice has charged Wikileaks founder Julian Assange with 18 crimes - 17 under the Espionage Act and one under computer hacking legislation. Officials say Assange, as founder of WikiLeaks, endangered US informants in Iran, Syria, China, Iraq and Afghanistan by publishing unredacted documents that identified them. The 18 charges against Assange, filed in Virginia last year, are: Count 1: Conspiracy to receive national defense information Counts 2-4: Obtaining National Defense Information Counts 5-8: Obtaining National Defense Information Counts 9-11: Disclosure of National Defense Information Counts 12-14: Disclosure of National Defense Information Counts 15-17: Disclosure of National Defense Information Count 18: Conspiracy to Commit Computer Intrusion (Hacking) Advertisement

He said: 'Prosecution is not motivated by genuine concern for criminal justice but by politics. This extradition should be barred because the prosecution is being pursued for political motives and not in good faith'.

He added the extradition attempt was directed at Assange 'because of the political opinions he holds', and said he would be denied a fair trial in the United States.

On the first day of Assange's extradition case, which will end in May, it has emerged:

US Army sources in Iraq and Afghanistan had 'subsequently disappeared' after WikiLeaks dumped 250,000 documents online;

Papers from the leaks were found in Osama Bin Laden's bunker by the Navy SEALs who shot him dead in 2011;

Defence claims that the extradition of Julian Assange is an extension of Donald Trump's ' declaration of war on leaders and journalists' - and President wants his 'head on a pike';

Assange's team says Trump offered a pardon to Mr Assange and his QC said: 'Mr Trump denies everything. We say, well he would wouldn't he?'

Up to 500 supporters including fashion designer Vivienne Westwood were camped outside and District Judge Vanessa Baraitser was forced to send a message out to the crowd asking them to reduce the volume of their 'Free Julian Assange' chanting because it was disrupting proceedings.

Assange later stood up in the dock and said: 'I am very appreciative of the public support and understand they must be disgusted..'

But the judge stopped him from speaking, instead asking his lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC, to address her.

He said: 'What Mr Assange is saying is he can't hear and can't concentrate because of the noise outside.'

Julian Assange would be 'at risk of suicide' in an 'inhuman and degrading' US jail, says his QC Julian Assange would be a suicide risk of extradited to the US, his legal team has said. Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing Assange (together right today), outlined the 48-year-old's defence and called Trump's pursuit of his client 'political'. Mr Fitzgerald said: 'Prosecution is not motivated by genuine concern for criminal justice but by politics. 'This extradition should be barred because the prosecution is being pursued for political motives and not in good faith.' Mr Fitzgerald continued that Assange would be at risk of inhuman and degrading conditions in an American prison, and would be at risk of suicide. He added the extradition attempt was directed at Assange 'because of the political opinions he holds', and said he would be denied a fair trial in the United States. Mr Fitzgerald continued: 'It would involve a fundamental denial of his right to a fair trial. It would expose him to inhuman and degrading treatment.' He added that Assange had not assisted whistleblower Chelsea Manning in accessing the documents, as has been claimed. Mr Fitzgerald also said the delay in making the extradition request showed the political nature of the case. He continued: 'President Trump came into power with a new approach for freedom of the press... amounting effectively to declaring war on investigative journalists. 'It's against that background Julian Assange has been made an example of. 'It's against that background the Trump administration decided to make an example of Julian Assange, he was the obvious sign of everything Trump condemned.' Advertisement

Assange's legal team argue his case could lead to criminalising activities crucial to investigative journalists - but Mr Lewis said being a journalist 'does not excuse criminality' and 'it is inconceivable any responsible publication would knowingly publish information that puts people's lives at risk'.

He added: 'The defence wish to paint Mr Assange as a defender of liberty but that is not for this court to decide'.

Mr Lewis said the majority of the charges relate to 'straightforward criminal' activity, which he described as a 'conspiracy to steal from and hack into' the department of defence computer system along with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

'These are ordinary criminal charges and any person, journalist or source who hacks or attempts to gain unauthorised access to a secure system or aids and abets others to do so is guilty of computer misuse,' Mr Lewis said.

'Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a licence to break ordinary criminal laws.

'This is true in the UK as it is in the USA, and indeed in any civilised country in the world.'

He added the defence claim that Assange might receive a jail term of 170 years was hyperbole.

But Mr Lewis said that under the UK Official Secrets Act any person who 'obtained or communicated' information which is useful to an enemy of the state commits an offence.

'[The allegation says] that Chelsea Manning was a US citizen and serving solider who obtained and communicated to Mr Assange information which may have been of use to an enemy,' he said.

In leaking documents that he knew would be of use to enemies of the US, Assange caused 'serious damage to national security', the court heard.

The fact that he solicited the classified material by itself is enough to prove Assange committed 'aiding and abetting' under US law, said Mr Lewis.

Edward Fitzerald QC, for Assange, told the court that journalistic work is protected as 'freedom of expression' under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act.

But Mr Lewis said that the 1989 Official Secrets Act removed the 'public interest' defence when it came to revealing security matters.

The court heard that Assange soliciting the classified intelligence from Manning would also be an offence under the act if it took place in the UK.

'It is in relation to a a person who is or has been a Crown servant or government contractor is guilty if without lawful authority makes a damaging disclosure of any information relating to defence,' said Mr Lewis.

'If a journalist or newspaper published secret information which is likely to cause harm within the category, it commits an offence.'

A clean-shaven Assange entered the dock at Woolwich Crown Court's court number 2, which is sitting as Belmarsh magistrates' court in front of District Judge Vanessa Baraitser.

Wearing a grey suit, and grey sweater over a white shirt, he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth.

Assange's supporters have held a 24/7 vigil outside the top security jail since last September - and up to 500 were outside court for the case, with their chanting clearly heard in the courtroom.

The 48-year-old is wanted in America on 18 charges over the publication of US cables a decade ago and if found guilty could face a 175-year prison sentence.

Julian Assange's father, John Shipton, speaks to crowds outside Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in London during the lunch break today

Julian Assange's legal team, Doughty Street barrister Jennifer Robinson and Spanish former judge Baltasar Garzon, arrive at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court for day one of the extradition hearing today

Two young protesters wearing '#FREEASSANGE' face masks pose for pictures outside court today

The judge hearing the extradition case had to send security out to speak to activists about noise disrupting proceedings

His supporters were out in large numbers outside Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in London today

Up to 500 demonstrators have set up camp outside Belmarsh Magistrates' Court, which is connected to Belmarsh Jail

A camp has been outside Belmarsh Jail in Woolwich since Assange was sent there last year after leaving the Ecuadorian embassy after seven years

A supporter wears a mask depicting Julian Assange and holds a sign which reads 'Bush and Blair should be in Belmarsh' as he protests against the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange

There were huge queues outside court today as journalists and supporters entered Woolwich Crown Court

A van with an advert supporting Julian Assange circled Parliament Square in Westminster, London as the Wikileaks founder's extradition hearing started today

Vivienne Westwood calls herself 'the angel of democracy' as she defends friend Assange Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood was outside the court to give her support for Assange, wearing a headband reading 'angel'. She told PA: 'I am Vivienne. I'm the angel of democracy. Nobody knows more about democracies than Julian Assange. 'It is not a crime to publish American war crimes. It's in the public interest, it is democracy, that he is allowed to do this. 'I feel really worried and frightened actually, really frightened.' She added: 'I feel that I live in this surreal world that is so evil and orchestrated to collapse, and nobody really gets it. 'We've got no chance unless we break this wall of government corruption global, and I think Julian's a Trojan horse and if we can get him free, then we've got this rock of democracy.' Advertisement

The Australian is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak classified documents breaking the country's espionage and hacking laws.

Mr Lewis said that the charges against Assange did not arising out of him 'embarrassing the US government' or 'free speech'.

'Julian Assange is no journalist. This is made plain by the totality of his behaviour set out in the indictment.

'No responsible actor, journalist or otherwise would purposefully publish the names of individuals he knew where confidential sources, exposing them to the gravest of danger.'

As a result of exposing the names of sources and insurgents in Iraq, Assange exposed those people to risk of 'torture and murder', the court heard.

Classified documents published by WikiLeaks were found in Osama Bin Laden's safe house during the US raid that executed the al-Qaida leader in 2011.

A 2010 New York Times article titled 'Taliban study WikiLeaks to hunt informants' outlined how the organisation was explicitly using WikiLeaks to find sources.

The court heard that some of the informants whose identity Assange exposed have since disappeared.

In past interviews, Assange had called the risk he exposed the sources to 'regrettable' but said it was not his job to protect other people's sources.

A sallow skinned and bearded Julian Assange was carried down the steps of London's Ecuadorian embassy last year after seven years inside, and was carrying a copy of 'Gore Vidal: History of The National Security State'

US agents 'disappeared' after WikiLeaks published 250,000 documents Sources revealed by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange 'disappeared' after he put them at risk of torture and murder, the court has heard Opening his extradition hearing on Monday, James Lewis QC, said the 48-year-old is guilty of 'ordinary criminality' by stealing from and hacking into US government computers. He told District Judge Vanessa Baraitser that Assange, 48, is not charged with publishing 'embarrassing' information the US would rather was not disclosed. The lawyer said the dissemination of specific classified unredacted documents put dissidents in Afghanistan and Iraq at 'risk of serious harm, torture or even death'. He told Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates' court, that the US identified hundreds of 'at-risk and potentially at-risk people' around the world and made efforts to warn them. Mr Lewis said: 'The US is aware of sources, whose redacted names and other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by WikiLeaks, who subsequently disappeared, although the US can't prove at this point that their disappearance was the result of being outed by WikiLeaks.' Advertisement

Mr Lewis said that Assange lawyers would no doubt treat this hearing as a trial and paint him in a 'glowing coat of liberty'.

'This is an extradition hearing, it is a preliminary hearing.

'The guilt or innocence will be determined in a US court,' said Mr X

'The sole questions are whether the statutory requirements of the Extradition Act of 2003 are satisfied.'

Assange was charged following an FBI investigation on a 'conspiracy to commit computer hacking as well as unlawfully obtaining and disclosing classified information, endangering human sources'.

The court heard that Assange had a 'thermonuclear option' he intended to use if it looked as though he was in danger of being arrested or WikiLeaks shut down.

In 2010, he released more than 250,000 unredacted State Department diplomatic cables.

The indictment said these 'included names of persons throughout the world who provided information to the US government in circumstances in which they could reasonably expect that their identities would be kept confidential.

'These sources included journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates and political dissidents who were living in repressive regimes and reported to the United States the abuses of their own government and the political conditions within their own countries at great risk to their own safety.'

Barry Pollack, US lawyer for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, speaks to media at Woolwich Crown Court in London

Spies 'considered kidnapping or poisoning Assange while he was inside embassy', court hears Spies considered kidnapping or poisoning WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange while he was inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, his extradition hearing has been told. His barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC said private security agents from a Spanish company, acting on behalf of the US, were involved in 'intrusive and sophisticated' surveillance. The covert monitoring allegedly began after UC Global's David Morales returned from a Las Vegas security trade fair in around July 2016 with a contract purportedly for a yacht belonging to Sheldon Adelson, a financial backer of Donald Trump. 'But in fact, Mr Morales had indeed made a side agreement to provide information gathered about Mr Assange to the dark side - in other words, US intelligence agencies,' said Mr Fitzgerald. Visitors, including lawyers for the 48-year-old, who is facing extradition to America, are said to have been targeted by live-stream audio and video devices placed inside the embassy and laser microphones from outside. A whistleblower, known as 'witness two' in the extradition proceedings, has already provided evidence in relation to a criminal case in Spain. Referring to witness two's evidence, Mr Fitzgerald said: 'There were conversations about whether there should be more extreme measures contemplated, such as kidnapping or poisoning Julian Assange in the embassy.' Reading from a witness statement, Mr Fitzgerald continued: 'David (Morales) said the Americans were desperate and had even suggested more extreme measures could be applied against the guest to put an end to the situation.' He said there was a suggestion the embassy door could be left open to make a kidnapping look like it could have been 'an accident', adding 'even the possibility of poisoning had been discussed'. The extradition hearing is being held at Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates' court. Advertisement

Mr Lewis argued that Assange would have been aware that Manning was a member of the US armed forces, and therefore forbidden by army regulation from disclosing the information.

Not only did Assange 'explicitly solicit restricted and confidential material' but he actively encourage Manning to hack a State Department server.

Edward Fitzgerald, QC, representing Assange, has said he would rely on Manning's case to argue for Assange to stay in the UK.

Manning is a former US soldier who was court-martialed after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly 750,000 military and diplomatic documents.

She was imprisoned from 2010 until 2017 when her sentence was commuted, but Manning is currently in jail for her continued refusal to testify before a grand jury against Assange.

Assange's extradition hearing will sit for one week this month and three weeks from 18 May because the case is not completely ready.

The decision, which is expected months later, is likely to be appealed against by the losing side, whatever the outcome.

Jennifer Robinson, Assange's lawyer, says his work has shed an unprecedented light on how the United States conducted its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

'We are talking about collateral murder, evidence of war crimes,' she said. 'They are a remarkable resource for those of us seeking to hold governments to account for abuses.'

In the lead-up to the hearing, Assange has received high-profile support including from Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.

He has also been supported at previous court timetabling hearings by Rapper M.I.A. and filmmaker John Pilger.

A day before his appearance at the nearby Woolwich Crown Court, Assange's father John Shipton claimed his son had been 'harassed' by a prison cell search.

After a visit to the prison on Sunday, Mr Shipton criticised the 'plague of malice' which he said 'emanates from the Crown Prosecution Service' towards Assange.

He urged that his son be allowed bail, telling reporters: 'For the life of me I can't understand why Julian Assange is in jail having committed no crime, with family here that he can come and live with.'

He added: 'Bail ought to be given immediately if the extradition order isn't dropped'.

Mr Varoufakis said Assange was in a 'very dark place' due to spending more than 20 hours a day in solitary confinement and called for the extradition to be stopped 'in the interests of 300 years of modernity, 300 years of trying to establish human rights and civil liberties in the west and around the world'.

More than 40 international legal experts have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding the 'rule of law be upheld', 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 Assange's release.

Assange has been held on remand in Belmarsh prison since last September after serving a 50-week jail sentence for breaching his bail conditions while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

In 2012, Assange went into Ecuador's London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden where he was accused of sex crimes, which he denied and which were later dropped, saying he feared he would ultimately be sent on to the United States.

After seven years, he finally left and then jailed for 50 weeks for skipping bail. He has remained in prison ever since, after the United States launched its extradition request.

If the judge decides Assange should be extradited, the decision needs to be rubber-stamped by Home Secretary Priti Patel.

He would also have the right to appeal to London's High Court and then possibly to the Supreme Court, Britain's top court.

Assange's father John Shipton and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis leave Belmarsh Prison after visiting him yesterday

Free speech martyr... or dangerous criminal? As Julian Assange's extradition is set to begin, GUY ADAMS examines the potential outcomes that may have huge implications for democracy

During his decade in the public eye, Julian Assange has shown himself to be an appalling egotist with an ugly sense of entitlement who falls out with almost everyone he meets.

At times he has reportedly displayed borderline sociopathic behaviour, made allegedly anti-Semitic statements and, it is claimed, has questionable personal habits.

But is the WikiLeaks founder also a dangerous criminal who deserves to be banged up in an American prison for the rest of his natural life? Well, the answer to that is rather more complex.

Assange, a 48-year-old Australian national, is wanted by the US Department of Justice on 18 criminal charges: 17 counts of espionage and one of computer hacking. If found guilty of them all, he could be jailed for 175 years.

In London at the weekend, in advance of Assange's extradition hearing, around 500 of his supporters gathered to protest. Others have argued he should be used as a 'pawn' in the diplomatic row over the death of teenager Harry Dunn in a road accident.

Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, in a prison van, as he leaves Southwark Crown Court in London in May last year

The US last month refused a UK extradition request for Anne Sacoolas, the CIA agent who accepted responsibility for the teenager's death but who then fled the country.

That is an unlikely development, but the Assange extradition hearing, which begins today at Woolwich Crown Court is a serious undertaking which raises important questions about free speech and human rights.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who visited Assange at HMP Belmarsh last weekend and thinks he's a heroic whistleblower, has declared it 'one of the most important and significant political trials of this generation, if not longer'.

And there are many British pundits and free speech campaigners who, largely for solid reasons, believe his extradition could have a chilling effect on democracy, possibly leading to the criminalisation of newspapers that publish leaked government documents.

So what is the truth? To explore it, first a brief history of this high-profile case. It dates back to 2010, when Assange became an overnight celebrity after his obscure website WikiLeaks released a video titled 'Collateral Murder'.

It showed a US Apache helicopter in Baghdad repeatedly firing on a group of men, including a Reuters photographer and his driver, killing 12.

Shortly afterwards, a US intelligence analyst called Chelsea Manning (then known as Bradley) with access to classified government databases contacted him.

Assange then published almost 490,000 US intelligence files Manning had passed to him related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and information on Guantanamo Bay detainees. He also made public a tranche of 250,000 US Department of State cables.

Julian Assange's father John Shipton and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis visit the Wikileaks founder at HMP Belmarsh in London today

Many helped expose illegal or questionable behaviour by the US, including its role in kidnapping, torture and illegal spying.

Assange's supporters, many virulently opposed to the War on Terror, argue that disseminating the information was an act of public service, allowing citizens of the US and its allies to see what governments were doing in their name.

In Left-wing circles, he duly became an instant hero. Riding a wave of publicity, Assange  who is believed to have four children by various women  embarked on an international speaking tour.

Then, following a visit to Stockholm in August 2010, local police were contacted by two women who claimed Assange had recently slept with them.

Both said their encounters had started on a consensual basis but later turned darker. One claimed he'd intentionally 'damaged' a condom before pinning her down during sex. The other accused him of having unprotected sex with her while she was asleep.

With Assange out of the country, Sweden obtained an international arrest warrant. Assange claimed his accusers were part of an international conspiracy to silence him.

With the help of wealthy benefactors including Jemima Goldsmith and filmmaker Ken Loach, he was bailed and instructed lawyers to fight the charge.

It would prove a losing battle. So on the night of June 19, 2012, he claimed asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London's Knightsbridge. He was in residence until last April when he was booted out and jailed for jumping bail.

Fast forward to today: Swedish prosecutors no longer wish to pursue rape charges, but their US counterparts want Assange extradited for his role in leaking and publishing the classified material.

Assange is, of course, horrified at the prospect. His legal team, headed by famous human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce, who represented the Guildford Four, will argue the move would, for one, be unlawful under the terms of Britain's 2007 extradition treaty with the US, which contains an exemption for 'political offences'.

Julian Assange's father John Shipton gives thumbs up after visiting Julian Assange at HMP Belmarsh in London today

They also plan to use 'public denunciations' by senior members of the Trump administration to argue it's impossible for Assange to receive a fair trial.

Perhaps awkwardly, on this front, the US is very pointedly choosing not to prosecute Assange for a second leak of hacked documents: a tranche of emails stolen (almost certainly by Russian agents) from Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and put on WikiLeaks.

Donald Trump found this aspect of Assange's work very useful indeed, declaring 'I love WikiLeaks' at rallies. Some have seen this as evidence of Trump colluding with Moscow. Last week, Assange's lawyers even claimed former Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher offered him clemency in return for publicly denying Russia was involved in the leak (though Mr Rohrabacher and Washington dispute this).

Elsewhere in the extradition case is an intriguing sub-plot involving allegations a private security firm, Undercover Global SL, installed secret recording devices at the Ecuadorean Embassy and passed footage on to the CIA.

Assange claims this not only breached his human rights, but means the US authorities possess recordings of conversations he had with his lawyers, again making it impossible for him to receive a fair trial.

The central thrust of his lawyers' extradition challenge, however, revolves around the argument that to criminalise Assange would make it unlawful for news outlets to publish stories based on leaked government documents.

As The New York Times puts it: 'Though he is not a conventional journalist, much of what Mr Assange does at WikiLeaks is difficult to distinguish in a legally meaningful way from what traditional news organisations do...'

This argument holds some water. But it is at odds with an important fact: Assange has also been charged with helping carry out the hacking that obtained the leaked material in the first place.

The US government claims that in March 2010 he helped Chelsea Manning crack a password stored on its computers. As recent history has shown, journalists who carry out hacking tend to be vigorously pursued by the law.

Then there's the issue of how Assange handled material passed to him. Unlike a responsible journalist, he did nothing to check, analyse, or redact the information he obtained before publication.

The upshot? The US criminal indictment describes how Assange's un-redacted documents identified and endangered the lives of US intelligence sources in Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Iran, Syria and several other countries.

Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange hold placards outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London

If Assange seeks to liken himself to a journalist, he will doubtless be asked to justify this conduct. The other hole in his defence is the apparent conviction he will not receive a fair trial in the US. America has some of the strongest free speech laws in the world thanks to the First Amendment.

This explains why Barack Obama decided against seeking Assange's extradition, fearing any defence based on the First Amendment would vastly complicate efforts to convict him.

There is a high-profile precedent: in 1971, the Washington Post newspaper published articles based on the leak of the so-called Pentagon Papers. Though much of the material in the Papers was classified and had been stolen, the Supreme Court ruled they were entitled to print it.

Should the US extradition request be successful, no doubt after endless appeals, many observers think it highly likely Assange will end up being acquitted on 17 of the 18 charges he faces.

That is an outcome that would strengthen rather than weaken Western democracy and empower journalists and others who seek to hold our ruling class to account.

The computer hacking charge is, of course, another matter.
[February 24, 2020] Huawei Announces a Range of New 5G Products, Accelerates All-Scenario Seamless AI Life Strategy BARCELONA, Feb. 24, 2020 /CNW/ -- Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) today hosted a virtual launch in Barcelona, Spain, during which it announced a series of new 5G products and strategy that demonstrate the full capabilities of its all-scenario ecosystem. The key products announced include: HUAWEI Mate Xs, an evolution of the foldable device featuring cutting-edge hardware and software; HUAWEI MatePad Pro 5G, a flagship 5G tablet that offers a premium all-scenario experience; and HUAWEI WiFi AX3 and HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro 2, two Wi-Fi 6+ enabled connectivity solutions; new additions to the HUAWEI MateBook flagship laptop series; and HUAWEI AppGallery, Huawei's official Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) based app marketplace. "Huawei is fully committed to the All-scenario Seamless AI Life strategy. We will continue investing into our edge technologies including chipsets, 5G communications, mobile AI, operating systems, cameras and audio-visual solutions so as to build out our long-term competitive advantages. We are also eager to work with developers globally to catalyse the growth of the all-scenario ecosystem," said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group. "The '1+8+N' all-scenario hardware ecosystem and the all-scenario service ecosyste not only established a standard for user privacy and security, but also delivers a high-quality experience to consumers around the world." "To cultivate a fully-fledged ecosystem that will support Huawei devices moving forward, we are gradually opening up our chip-device-cloud capabilities to global developers through HMS. Encompassing all-scenario features, global distribution and lifecycle management capabilities, the HMS ecosystem we envisioned will be a powerful pillar supporting our devices," added Yu. Huawei Consumer BG had a strong 2019 with several product categories having significant growth in market share. Among them, Huawei's smartphone business surpassed 240 million unit shipments, securing Huawei's position as the world's second largest handset manufacturer. The PC and wireless audio product businesses both grew by more than 200 per cent and wearables saw growth upwards of 170 per cent. As of January 2020, Huawei has shipped more than 10 million units of 5G smartphones. About Huawei Consumer BG

Huawei's products and services are available in more than 170 countries and are used by a third of the world's population. Fourteen R&D centres have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei's three business units and covers smartphones, PC and tablets, wearables and cloud services, etc. Huawei's global network is built on over 32 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world. For more information please visit: http://consumer.huawei.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094331/Huawei_AI_Life.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094332/Huawei.jpg View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huawei-announces-a-range-of-new-5g-products-accelerates-all-scenario-seamless-ai-life-strategy-301009981.html SOURCE Huawei

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Theres a new push to close a wide gap in state funding for universities. Oakland University says no school should get less than $4,500 per student.

As part of the weekly series MichMash, MLives Cheyna Roth and WDETs Jake Neher unpack what increased funding for higher education could mean for the state.

Click on the audio player above to hear Neher and Roths full conversation with Gardner.

Oakland unveiled the campaign on Feb. 19.

Instead of considering funding to higher education as an expenditure, we need to recognize that higher education is an investment in our students  an investment that pays dividends as measured by the health of our citizens and the health of our economy, said Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz.

To put this request for $4,500 per student into perspective, Grand Valley State University currently receives the second lowest amount of per student funding at $3,263 per student. They get $194 more per student than Oakland  the university that receives the least in per student funding.

Five universities in all receive less than the proposed $4,500 per student  GVSU, UM-Flint, UM-Dearborn, Oakland, and Saginaw Valley State University.

Higher Education is directly correlated with the health of our citizens, and very importantly, the health of our economy and economic prosperity," said Hirsch Pescovitz.

"And so it is critical that we understand that this is part of our value system, that when we say that we are not investing in higher education, it means that we are making a decision to not care about this important factor.

The argument for investing more for higher education ranges from increasing the states population because more students will come and settle in Michigan if there are desirable universities. To how the state spends its money being representative of its value system.

Hirsch Pescovitz pointed out that the state spends more on its prisons than it does on higher education.

At the top of the funding list of the states 15 public universities, is Wayne State with $8,999 per student. Thats a difference of $5,736 per student between Wayne and Grand Valley.

Its not always necessarily apples to apples. Wayne State has more expensive graduate programs, and there are factors like whether students are full time or part time and how many years theyre taking to finish their degree. Those things factor into to that number and make it a little more complex.

But at the same time, it is a huge gap between that $9,000 per student at Wayne State and around $3,000 per student, at places like Grand Valley and Oakland.

Grand Valley was fourth in 2019 for its fall headcount with a population of 24,033 students. While Wayne State was third with 26,844 students.

The funding for public universities from the state isnt based on enrollment. Instead, its a funding plan developed in the 1970s that when divided by the number of students gives a per student funding amount thats commonly used.

The number to pay most close attention to is the fact that Michigans total budget, 4 percent of it goes to higher education. Most states in the country are more than twice that, and the average in the United States is 10 percent.

Possibly increasing higher education funding is something that lawmakers have been debating for years.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has called for increased funding at public universities across the board. Her current budget plan calls for 2.5 percent increases for universities and community college budgets. But the schools would have to hold tuition increases below 4.25 percent.

Whitmers budget recommendation last fiscal year called for a 3 percent increase, but by that was eventually cut by the Legislature until public universities ended up with a .9 percent increase overall and a .5 percent increase in university operations.

GVSU has been in the bottom for years and at times the amount of per student funding it receives has gone down. Like for several years after the 2007-2008 budget. Its now getting only a little more per student than it did in 2007-2008 where state aid was at $3,172 per student.

Grand Valley fully agrees that higher education is an investment that pays dividends to everyone in Michigan, and we have always been an active voice in urging more funding for higher education, said Matt McLogan, Vice President for University Relations at Grand Valley State University.

"For years we have also emphasized the fairness to students that would -- and should -- come with a more equitable funding model."

But McLogan wouldnt say if the university is fully on board with Oaklands campaign just yet. Rather, he said they would like to know more about the plan and strategy as funding discussions begin in the state Legislature.

More From MichMash:

MichMash: How houses falling into the Great Lakes impacts all of Michigan

MichMash: You might be wrong about Michigans economy

MichMash: How an alleged boys club culture at the state Capitol impacts everyone
- MP Raphael Wanjala said politics was not a marriage where an elected leader must have a deputy of the opposite gender

- The MP argued that the suggestion was undemocratic and one imposed on Africans by the western world

- According to him, even those countries forcing Africa to adopt such policies don't practice them

- He wants people allowed to vote for whoever they want in whatever fashion that they desire

- His speech was cut short by heckles from the crowd and among those who dismissed him are governors Anne Waiguru and Charity Ngilu

Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala had a hard time addressing attendees during the Narok Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) consultative meeting after he poked holes into a recent gender proposal heavily backed by a section of the political class.

Speaking on Saturday, February 22, Wanjala took issue with the proposal seeking to have the law direct that the office of governor and deputy governor be occupied by leaders of different gender.

READ ALSO: Embu MCA asks assembly to introduce alcoblow to tame drunk ward reps

Wanjala said politics was not a marriage where an elected leader must have a deputy of the opposite gender. Photo: Raphael Wanjala.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Moses Kuria awasuta Waiguru na Sabina Chege kwa kuhudhuria mkutano wa BBI, Narok

The lawmaker said elective positions were not a marriage and as such, it was unfair to compel one to choose a person of the opposite gender to deputise them.

"This is not marriage where you must have a man and a woman working together. People should be allowed to elect their leaders in whatever formula they want," Wanjala said amid surging heckles from the audience.

READ ALSO: Kenyan woman narrates how husband kicked her out, married their daughter

READ ALSO: BBI Narok: Wakazi washinikiza hutubiwa na mbunge Babu Owino

The MP argued that the suggestion was undemocratic and one imposed on Africans by the western world. Photo: Raphael Wanjala.

Source: Facebook

He termed the suggestion as retrogressive and one meant to clawback on the gains of democracy in the country.

In his defence, the MP explained that alongside four other lawmakers, they travelled to Germany for a benchmarking mission on gender issues.

READ ALSO: Francis Atwoli calls for arrest, jailing of William Ruto over KSh 39.5B military arms scandal

According to him, even those countries forcing Africa to adopt such policies don't practice them. Photo: Raphael Wanjala.

Source: Facebook

While in Europe, he said political pundits adviced that gender issues should never be legislated in a democratic state.

"The government recently sent me with four other colleagues in Germany. I have learnt that we are unable to implement the 2010 Constitution because of populism. The Germans said that we Africans are being forced to adopt some policies from western nations.

The irony, however, is that these western countries don't even implement what they tell us. They said gender issues are never legislated in a democratic society," Wanjala concluded his speech in a huff as the crowd continued to boo him.

He wants people allowed to vote for whoever they want in whatever fashion that they desire. Photo: Raphael Wanjala.

Source: Facebook

Among those who dismissed Wanjala are governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Charity Ngilu (Kitui) and Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga.

This comes even as pressure continues to mount for male governors to select female running mates in a bid to achieve the two thirds gender rule.

The two thirds gender bill has, however, failed to get approval of the National Assembly despite President Uhuru Kenyatta pleading with legislators to give it a nod.

New Kiambu Governor James Nyoro is among those who were challenged to select a female deputy as a way of entrenching gender inclusivity.

Nyoro named Joyce Ngugi for the position.

Nairobi Governor Miko Sonko in January 2020 nominated Ann Kananu Mwenda for the position of deputy but her vetting by the Nairobi County Assembly is yet to commence.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok, however, failed to bow to the pressure and selected Shadrack Rotich as deputy.

Kirinyaga county has Anne Waiguru as the governor. The Mount Kenya political firebrand is deputised by Peter Ndambiri.

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S now falls are expected to cause problems across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England as warnings were issued about further flooding.

Even lower regions in Scotland are expected to get a covering of snow on Monday  with traffic disruption predicted for the morning commute  as the new working week begins with more stormy weather.

Further south, a fresh severe flood warning  meaning an imminent danger to life  has been issued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury, as the Environment Agency warned of ongoing flooding dangers across England.

A yellow weather warning has been issued for snow across all but the most northern areas of Scotland and Aberdeen from 3am on Monday. Higher ground is expected to see significant accumulations but commuters in the Central Belt have been warned to take care.

Whilst the forecast is for more settled weather during the week, there may be another deluge of rain on Friday.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: It could be a pretty tricky commute first thing [on Monday] for a lot of people.

Its certainly turning more wintry.

Mr Partridge said Northern Ireland and parts of northern England are also expected to see snow, especially on higher ground where yellow weather warnings have been issued for snow and rain.

Areas of the north that dodge the snow are still likely to see large amounts of rain and gale force winds, the forecaster added.

As well as the severe flood warning for Shrewsbury, the Environment Agency had issued 92 flood warnings and 182 flood alerts as at 5.30am on Monday.

Communities devastated by flooding have faced a third consecutive weekend of miserable weather.

Warnings and alerts were in place from Cornwall to the Norfolk coast and from Dorset to the Scottish border.

An Environment Agency spokesman said ongoing flooding is possible for parts of the West Midlands, along the Severn and Wye and also in parts of the north of England, including in the lower River Aire in Yorkshire.

He said: This rain is falling on saturated catchments where river levels are already high.

England has already received over 141 per cent of its average February rainfall so far but the spokesman said it was too early to comment on reports that it may be the wettest February for 30 years.

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

Scotland saw further flooding on Saturday, with a number reports of vehicles becoming stranded in various towns and villages west of Glasgow.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency said three flood warnings were in force on Monday morning with four further flood alerts.

And, in Wales, there were nine flood warnings in force and 19 alerts.

While the extreme weather should settle down over Tuesday and Wednesday  accompanied with a notable dip in temperatures  the Met Office said further heavy rain is expected on Friday.

The bleak outlook follows more than a fortnight of downpours and flooding that started with Storm Ciara, continued with Storm Dennis and kept going with the weekends storms, which  contrary to some reports  have not been named by the Met Office.
An Asian woman was left a vile racist note criticising the way that she parked her car outside her house.

Prue, who wished to withhold her surname, parked her car on the footpath in Queenstown, New Zealand, on Saturday before finding the handwritten letter.

'Stop parking on the footpath. Only an Asian woman would be so stupid. You live in New Zealand. Act like a Kiwi. We have children who use the footpath,' it read.

The 26-year-old was born in China but has been living in New Zealand for four years and had only moved into the housing estate in Frankton a week ago.

An Asian woman received this note criticising the way that she parked her car outside her house in Queenstown, NZ

Prue told Stuff there aren't many car spaces on the dead-end road, meaning there are often cars parked on the grass and the footpath at the end of the street.

The racist note shocked Prue, who said whoever wrote it should have approached her in a more mature manner.

'There could be a nicer way to let me know it's not allowed,' she said. 'I thought, "shame on them". They talk about children ... their behaviour isn't a good example for children,' she said.

'They identified me as an Asian woman. They may know where I live. I am afraid they may hit my car. I really don't feel safe now because of this paper.'

Prue reported the letter to police and noted that this behaviour is not what she expected when she came to New Zealand.

'When I first came to New Zealand I thought Kiwis were really nice and friendly and smiley. I don't think whoever wrote that note was acting very "Kiwi",' she said.
For anyone who paid attention to ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller's investigation into what he called a sweeping and systematic campaign of interference meant to influence the 2016 election, recent reports that Russia is trying to boost Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' candidacy should come as no surprise.

After all, it was Mueller and his team who, in February 2018, secured an indictment against a slew of Russian nationals and companies for creating and using a network of fictitious online personae to flood social media platforms with content meant to boost the chances of Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump.

Four years later, Russia's preferences for Sanders and Trump appear to be unchanged. The same could be said for the nonchalant attitude of Sanders, who has spent most of those years ignoring or dodging questions about Russia's prior efforts to use him to elect Trump.

In a statement issued Friday in response to the reports that Russia was once again acting to boost his candidacy, Sanders accused Russia of wanting to undermine American democracy by dividing us up, and said he stands firmly against their efforts, as well as those of any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election.

But the septuagenarian Vermonter also seized on last week's bombshell report as an opportunity to accuse The Washington Post of deliberately choosing to report the story on the day before the Nevada caucus in order to damage his candidacy. He also used the news to cast doubt on suggestions that his aggressive online fan base had made a mess for him after Nevada's largest and most powerful labor union incurred its wrath by reporting to the more than 60,000 restaurant, hotel, and laundry workers it represents that Sanders' Medicare-for-All would eliminate their union-backed private health insurance plan.

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, he said. In comments to reporters, he explained that he'd been briefed on the matter roughly a month ago, and when asked why he thought the reports were emerging then, said sarcastically that it was because the Post was a good friend.

Sanders' statement echoed comments he made at last week's Democratic primary debate after former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg said that Sanders was "at war" with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, citing reports of threatening emails, phone calls, and tweets being made in his name against union officials. It seems the so-called Bernie Bros were angered after the union released a scorecard showing that the single-payer plan backed by Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren would bring an end to the union-run healthcare trust which covers 130,000 union members and their families. The union had refused to publicly back any one candidate, but had effectively anti-endorsed Sanders. Sanders, of course, won out in the Nevada caucus over the weekend anyway  but failing to secure the biggest union in the state's support had nevertheless been a blow.

 Pete Buttigieg warns against Bernie Sanders nomination

"You're the one who is at war with the Culinary Union right here in Las Vegas," said Buttigieg, who offered himself up as the candidate who could "build a movement without having legions of our supporters online and in person attacking Democratic figures and union leaders alike."

When given a chance to respond, Sanders defended "99.9 per cent" of his supporters as "decent human beings" and "working people who believe in justice, compassion, and love."

"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," he said. He also suggested that the people making threats in his name were Russian trolls or bots rather than authentic supporters of his campaign, but offered no evidence to support such an assertion.

Sanders' claim to "disown" supporters whose behavior crosses the line was far stronger a denunciation than what he'd offered days before, when his campaign responded to reports of the threats against Culinary officials with a statement urging "supporters of all campaigns" to refrain from "bullying or ugly personal attacks. He appeared to excuse such conduct by his supporters in his next breath when he added that some of the "African-American women on [his] campaign"  including former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, his national co-chair  had been subject to "disgusting" attacks as well.

But a number of Democratic activists, strategists, and campaign insiders who know how Sanders operates say his protestations ring more than a bit hollow.

Instead, these insiders describe a campaign that has dispensed with the largely positive tone which characterized Sanders' 2016 presidential run in favor of a combative, grievance-driven one. They say it is led by a team of "true believers" who have little experience with presidential campaigns, are too enthralled by Sanders to question or challenge him, and who knowingly wield swarms of angry, harassment-happy pro-Sanders social media users like any other tool in the campaign toolbox for a candidate who, despite claims to the contrary, is perfectly fine with it.

"That's the tone that has been set by campaign leadership," said one Democratic strategist, a Bernieworld veteran. He pointed to the campaign's frequent use of email fundraising solicitations which warn supporters that the "establishment" is trying to keep a rigged system in place by stopping Sanders' candidacy.

He noted that the rhetoric coming from the top of Sanders' campaign had taken a more combative turn since October, when Elizabeth Warren's slide in the polls, Sanders' heart attack, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement began to propel him back into the top echelons of the Democratic race.

"Clearly, they think it's a winning strategy. Beforehand, people just looked at the campaign as being kind of a little bit mean and nasty, but it's gone up a notch and I think they probably feel justified [by polling results]."

But it's not just bombastic fundraising emails that are driving some Sanders supporters to attack, threaten, and harass those deemed to have maligned the Senator in one way or another.

In many cases, the victims of what online disinformation experts call "swarms" or "dogpiles" have found themselves singled out for abuse by those who take their cues from campaign staff and prominent surrogates.

Fred Guttenberg, who has become a prominent gun control activist in the two years since his daughter Jaime was murdered during the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, said he has found himself on the receiving end of pro-Sanders mobs since he began to criticize Sanders for his often-friendly relationship with the National Rifle Association.

"There are people in this campaign who operate in a very uncivil way they're relentless," he said. In particular, he said three of the most frequent ringleaders from whom Sanders' online mobs take their cues are national campaign co-chair and former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, national press secretary Briahna Gray, and speechwriter David Sirota.

Guttenberg noted that he has also frequently been targeted by President Trump's supporters in retaliation for criticizing Trump's lack of interest in helping to pass any legislation that might be opposed by the NRA. But he said being the target of Sanders' supporters is worse because they have far longer attention spans than the "MAGA" crowd.

"I used to say the Bernie supporters were just like Trump's supporters, but I was wrong  they're worse," he said. They're more confrontational and they're more aggressive."

Shireen Mitchell, an author, technology analyst, and diversity strategist whose Stop Online Violence Against Women project tracks online disinformation, voter suppression, and targeted harassment campaigns, said Sanders' debate night suggestion that Russian internet trolls or bots were framing his real supporters was "a slap in the face" given his previous denials that anything had happened during the 2016 cycle. She went on to say that the tactics used by Russia in 2016 have been adopted by two 2020 campaigns: Sanders' and Trump's.

"He denied everything in 2016, and then all of a sudden he wants to save 2020 when it's actually his staff who are participating in these activities? Right," she said, with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Everybody's not doing it. They [the Sanders campaign] are doing it and they think it's acceptable, and so they project it onto everybody else's campaign."

Like Guttenberg, Mitchell singled out Gray and Turner as frequent ringleaders in disinformation campaigns, and slammed Sanders for invoking their skin color as an excuse or defense for his supporters' behavior.

"He got up on stage and used two black women as shields for him. That is a smack in the face to me because I have been working on this since 2013, and with the ways in which black women are being targeted online, it really doesn't matter whose campaign they're on," she said. "But these two black women are participating in these tactics."

One frequent disinformation tactic, Mitchell explained, is to discredit "fact producers" by finding reasons the Sanders campaign can use to say that any information they're providing is false, even if they're telling the truth.

"They'll use something else to discredit the point, whatever the point is, or whatever the issue is," she said, offering up the example of a Monday morning tweet by Gray, in which she claimed that any discussion of abusive or malign behavior by Sanders supporters  what she called "The Bernie Bro smear"  is "racist erasure."

"Use it, and youre complicit. Its that simple," Gray added.

Such statements, Mitchell said, start "misinformation conversations."

"'Bernie Bros exist," she added. "What we're trying to debate is how much of his following is white males versus everybody else, and so when the 'Bernie Bros' argument gets used, it's not just being used because it's some random narrative. It's the people who actually come after others, and a his majority of following is quote-unquote white working class white men," she continued.

"For her to say, Well, everyone else who is supporting Bernie and all the support he's getting from all the brown community is being erased by saying 'Bernie Bros' is absurd it's like arguing about the 30 per cent of the white supremacists that are supporting Trump. This is stupid."

But what's worse, Mitchell said, is the way Gray and Turner use appearances in the mainstream media to inject disinformation into the discourse, such as when Gray falsely claimed that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg had suffered a heart attack because he had two stents inserted to prevent artery blockage years ago.

"What Briahna does [is use] a lot of using certain statements out of context as evidence, like when on TV she was basically saying that Bloomberg had a heart attack when he did not, then she tried to 'correct' herself with a tweet," she said. "The damage is done, it's on TV, and the problem with them is that this is not just happening on social media, it's that it's also happening on mainstream media and not being corrected in real time."

Mitchell also noted that Turner had used a similar tactic against Bloomberg some days before.

"I'm watching terminology being used right now because Nina Turner started the whole 'oligarchy' thing [on MSNBC] and now everybody's using oligarchy," she said. "But we don't have f**king oligarchs!"

Although Guttenberg and Mitchell are continuing to sound the alarm about Sanders supporters' malign behavior and online disinformation, a Democratic activist who speaks regularly with Sanders campaign staff says it's unlikely that Sanders will make any effort to rein in his staff or change their behavior, or that of his supporters, because he approves of it.

"Bernie knows exactly what's happening," the activist said. "And his campaign is in the loop about this coordinated viciousness."

The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony. She has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty

One top Democratic operative with ties to Bernieworld and a deep knowledge of how his campaigns tend to operate said Sanders 2020 campaign appears to be consciously crossing lines that his 2016 operation would not.

"I don't remember in 2016 there being any kind of really out-of-bounds stuff  not at the candidate level, or the principal surrogate level, or at the staff level. It got tough, but nobody was really over-the-top, the strategist said.

Another veteran Sanders operative attributed the 2020 campaign's apparent lack of political and messaging inhibitions to the relative inexperience of the campaign's top leadership.

While much of Sanders' 2016 campaign was shaped by consultants and advisors from the firm of Devine Mulvey Longabaugh, with whom Sanders has had an on-again/off-again relationship for decades, the only veteran of his 2016 campaign to return is Jeff Weaver, Sanders longtime strategist and adviser.

Instead, Sanders' 2020 staff is being run by newcomers to presidential politics like Faiz Shakir, a former editor of the defunct progressive news site ThinkProgress and ex-aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ex-Nevada Senator Harry Reid, and Gray, who is a former senior politics editor for the pro-Sanders news site The Intercept, but had never worked as a press secretary at a national level.

Weaver, the operative said, is often a moderating force on Sanders, but said that most of the senior staff are devotees who lack the relative stature to stand up to the Senator, and instead end up mirroring his disdainful attitude towards those who disagree with him.

"This year, you're just getting Bernie, totally unvarnished Bernie," he said. "There's no one in the room who could possibly stand up to the guy."

That, he added, is why the abusive behavior and disinformation coming from the Sanders campaign and his supporters won't be letting up anytime soon.

"That's been the tone that is set by the campaign leadership. And broadly speaking, I don't think the Senator has a problem with that."
Hunters like myself are deeply disappointed by State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richards decision to close to the public a small but important waterfowl hunting area along the Rio Grande in Albuquerques South Valley. Sadly, she failed to seek public opinion before announcing the closure of these state trust lands  not from neighbors, not from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, not even from the committee she appointed specifically to advise her on hunting matters.

Our disappointment, however, turned to anger and bewilderment when Garcia Richard subsequently issued a statement that was irresponsible, inflammatory and factually incorrect.

In the first sentence, the commissioner said the closure aimed to shield family homes from stray bullets. She apparently doesnt know that waterfowl hunters are only allowed to use shotguns, which shoot BB-size pellets with a range of no more than about 300 yards, not rifles with bullets. The nearest homes and outbuildings are located nearly twice the maximum range of shotgun pellets. Had the commissioner asked for hunters input before closing the area, she would have learned the difference.

She also would have learned that waterfowl hunters aim at ducks and geese, not at houses and barns. We shoot from the waters edge, at waterfowl landing on or flying over water. In this case, hunters were shooting more than a safe distance away from the neighborhood in question.

The New Mexico chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers submitted several proposals to the commissioner we feel would reduce concern from the non-hunting public and allow hunting to continue. We suggested limiting the types of hunting allowed and limiting the days and hours during which it can occur, giving other users the vast majority of the year to have the place to themselves. We wanted to be part of the solution. But in the commissioners haste to make a decision after a handful of neighbors complained, our ideas were dismissed.

Garcia Richard states the 212-acre tract has historically not been used for hunting. Had she sought public input before closing the area, she would have heard stories about families hunting waterfowl and even pheasants in that area decades ago. She mentioned a surge in hunting activity in recent weeks but offered no evidence.

The commissioner notes the rural neighborhood adjacent to the state trust lands is in the heart of Albuquerque but does not mention it is also in the flight approach to the Sunport and Kirtland Air Force Base, half a mile from I-25 and less than a mile from a private shooting range operated by the Albuquerque Trap Club.

And she ends the release by saying hunting on the site would be the equivalent of allowing hunting next to the Albuquerque BioPark.

These are scare tactics meant to inflame the public and suggest hunting in this area is a threat to life and property. Had the commissioner taken the time to talk with responsible hunters, to understand the methods used to harvest waterfowl along the Rio Grande, to consider the physical layout of the site, and to consult with groups like BHA and the Department of Game and Fish, the state trust lands in the South Valley could have become a gem of public waterfowl hunting on the Rio Grande.

Garcia Richard could have taken this opportunity to show leadership and advocate for the states growing outdoor recreation economy rather than look like a frightened bureaucrat responding to an imagined danger. If a crisis is a test of leadership, she failed.
The family members of Anup Sai, a former BJD leader expelled from the party, have demanded a CBI probe into the 2016 double murder case in connection with which, the former Odisha MLA has been arrested by the Chhattisgarh police.

A police team from the neighbouring state had arrested Sai on February 13 as the prime suspect in the killing of a woman, Kalpana Das, and her minor daughter in 2016, an official said.

The duo was killed and then run over by a four-wheeler to disfigure the bodies to make it difficult for the police to ascertain their identity, he said.

Sai's driver Vardhan Toppo has also been arrested.

Alleging harassment by the Chhattisgarh police, Sai's family members including his mother, wife, children, elder brother, sister-in-law and nephew staged a dharna in front of the Jharsuguda district collector's office on Sunday.

They, however, called off the sit-in after Jharsuguda Collector S K Samal assured them to take up their grievances with the state Home department.

Sai's family members alleged that the Chhattisgarh police had conducted a biased investigation into the case.

"My brother was forced to confess to the crime because of the threats issued to us. Hence, we demand a CBI probe into the incident," said Sai's elder brother Pramod.

Sai's family has also sought protection.

Pramod said they fear that Chhattisgarh police might forcibly pick them up in the name of interrogation.

Raigarh police, however, has dismissed the allegation.

"This is not true that Sai has been forced to confess to the crime. We did not harass anyone, but have issued a notice to the family members and expect that they will cooperate with the investigation," Raigarh district ASP Avishek Verma told channels.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Poco has said that the Poco X2 smartphone will get the Android 11 update. This confirmation about the future update roadmap for the companys newest Android phone is surely great news for anyone who has already brought one or intends to buy a Poco X2 anytime soon. Poco says they are an independent brand born out of Xiaomi in India. Google is expected to release the final version of Android 11 later this year. However, it is not clear yet exactly when Poco will roll out Android 11 for the X2 though and we would expect more clarity on that in the coming months. The Poco X2 is priced at Rs 15,999 for the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, Rs 16,999 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB variant as well as Rs 1,999 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

The Poco X2 is powered by the Snapdragon 730G SoC, which makes it a direct competitor to the Realme X2. It features a 6.7-inch Full-HD+ (2400x1080 pixels) hole-punch LCD display with 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The reason for not choosing an AMOLED panel was because it would have bumped up the cost. Also, this is the second phone in India to offer 120Hz refresh rate apart from the Asus ROG Phone II. The smartphone will be offered in three variants with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, 6GB RAM and 128GB storage and a top of the line 8GB RAM with 256GB storage variant. All variants come with microSD card expandability. The phone will be offering three colour options- Matrix Purple, Pheonix Red and Atlantis Blue.

At the back, there is a quad-camera setup including a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 1/1.7-inch sensor, with a 6P lens system offering an f/1.89 aperture. This is paired to a 5-megapixel macro lens, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and an 8-megapixel sensor with 120-degree wide-angle lens. At the front, there is a dual selfie camera setup with a 20-megapixel main sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Just like the Redmi K30, there is a 4,500mAh battery with support for 27W fast charge support. The company is bundling the high-capacity charger in the box, and it is the same as the company previously launched alongside the Redmi K20 and K20 pro. Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual-SIM slots, IR blaster, P2i water repellant coating, USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack and runs on MIUI 11 based on Android 10.
Delhi police security wing to work closely with US Secret Service.

India and US flags near Rashtrapati Bhavan at Raisina Hill ahead of the US President Donald Trump's visit, in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: An unprecedented security cover with anti-sabotage teams involving the Army and paramilitary has been put up at the ITC Maurya, the hotel where US President Donald Trump will check-in on Monday. The forces, along with close coordination with the US Secret Service, are conducting checks on the routes to be taken by the visiting dignitary.

Anti-drone detachment of NSG, snipers, elite SWAT commandos, kite catchers, canine units, sharp shooters on high-rise buildings, and Parakram vans have also been deployed along the routes and areas in and around the hotel where Mr Trump will be staying.

Police personnel from six districts have been deployed for the security arrangements and nearly 40 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been pressed into action.

Hundreds of high-definition CCTV cameras with night vision have been installed across the Sardar Patel Marg where hotel ITC Maurya is located to monitor the situation round-the-clock, the officials said.

Five years ago, when Mr Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, visited the national capital, the Delhi police had rented 605 CCTV cameras and spent more than `1 crore in hiring, installing, and later removing them.

In view of the spiralling tensions between Iran and the US, there is a higher security threat this time and the agencies are more cautious and alert than ever.

A senior police officer said: We have also requested anti-sabotage checking teams from the paramilitary and the Army. They have been regularly conducting anti-sabotage checks along every route to be taken by the US President during his visit here.

Besides the multi-layer security cover, elaborate arrangements have been made by the Delhi police, including placement of double barricading on all the roads where Mr Trumps convoy is likely to pass, officials said, adding that aerial surveillance of the route will also be conducted as part of the security measures.

Jersey barriers (modular concrete or plastic barriers placed to organise traffic into lanes) will also be put up on the route. The Delhi police is also working in close coordination with the civic bodies.

According to officials, the route leading to a Delhi government school, where US First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to pay a visit, will also be under a high security cover. Trees have been trimmed according to the directions of the security agencies as part of the protocol.

Meetings have also been held with US security agents on the elaborate security arrangements in place.

At the ITC Maurya, a three-layer security will be in place. The hotel, located in Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri, will have police personnel in plain clothes patrolling every floor.

The Delhi polices security wing personnel will form part of the inner cordon that will work in close coordination with the United States Secret Service.

The floor, where the grand presidential suite is located at the ITC Maurya, is out of bounds for most hotel staff owing to the elaborate security arrangements. Sources said that security arrangements at the hotel have been underway for the last two weeks with NSG commandos and Delhi police personnel surveying every floor on a daily basis.
The Obuasi Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region has inaugurated an eight-member Municipal Census Implementation Committee to oversee the implementation of the 2020 Population and Housing Census (PHC) in the Municipality.

The Committee has been tasked to oversee the successful conduct of the census in the Municipality.

Honorable Elijah Adansi-Bonah, the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) who inaugurated the committee touched on the importance of the Census. He said, " the census serves as an interactive dialogue between users and producers of official statistics".

He said the United Nations is particularly concerned about having accurate data of countries hence it has recommended that every country should endeavor to undertake the population Census every 10 years.

Again, Hon. Adansi-Bonah said Population and Housing Census is an indispensable governance tool required to ensure that good governance and democracy work for all. He said " it is equally essential in development planning and monitoring of policies and programmes.

He assured the members of the Committee of his unflinching support during the exercise and encouraged them to work hard to ensure that the 2020 Population and Housing Census becomes a success.

The Chairman of the Committee who doubles as the Municipal Coordinating Director for Obuasi, Mr. Francis Dwira Darko said this year's Population and Housing Census will be different from the previous years because of the introduction of technology in the whole exercise.

He said the committee he leads is poised to deliver accurate data after the exercise. This he said is premised on the fact that all the enumerators will be recruited locally and the data collected will be validated.

On his part, the Director of Administration, Ghana Statistical Service, Mr. Kwadwo Asante Mensah commended the Municipal Chief Executive for leading the charge to make the exercise successful. He said the exercise once has been successfully done will help the Assemblies to determine how to allocate resources.

He also mentioned the introduction of technology in this year's exercise which he said has been termed E- Census will have results readily available.

The committee has Mr. Francis Dwira Darko, Municipal Coordinating Director as chairman with Mr. Samuel Owusu Agyeman, Municipal Officer Ghana Statistical Service, Mr. Sampson Manu, Municipal Information Officer and Madam Regina Teni Mumuni, Municipal Education Director as members.

The rest are Dr. David Akwasi Amankwaa, Municipal Health Director, Nana Appiah Kubi, Traditional Council Representative, Mr. Sylvester Yaw Asamoah, Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Mr. Joseph Asibi Bashir, Municipal Planning Officer.

Over 200 field workers would be engaged for the exercise in the Municipality, which will begin on June 28, 2020, with the slogan; "2020 PHC: You Count, Get Counted."
Grandfather Accused of Dropping Toddler to Death From Cruise Ship to Face Judge

An Indiana man accused of dropping his granddaughter from an 11th floor window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico last year declined his right to a jury trial on Feb. 24.

Salvatore Anello, who is charged with negligent homicide in the death of 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand, will instead face a judge. The case is expected to be heard in April.

The death occurred in July 2019 as the girl from Granger, Indiana, vacationed with her family aboard the Freedom of the Seas of Royal Caribbean Cruises. Anello has said he did not know the window was open when he lifted Chloe to it so she could bang on the glass.

18-month-old Chloe Wiegand. (Courtesy of Wiegand Family)

Wiegands family has sued the cruise ship company, accusing it of negligence by allowing the window in the ships childrens play area to be open.

As part of a wrongful death suit, the Wiegand family filed against Royal Caribbean in December, their attorney released reenactment photos in January, saying they are evidence the grandfather couldnt physically lean out of the window from which the toddler fell, as the company has alleged.

A reenactment of the tragic scene on another ship with the same design. (Courtesy of Michael Winklema/Wiegand family attorney)

The familys latest legal claim is in response to the Royal Caribbeans motion to dismiss the December lawsuit.

The photos were taken this month on the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship from which Chloe fell. In a legal filing, the family accuses Royal Caribbean of creating a false narrative of the incident and providing footage of only two of the 13 available cameras in the area.

We went to re-enact what happened on the same ship, same window where Mr. Anello stood with Chloe. What we found completely backs up his story. Pictures of the reconstruction are included in our filing, family attorney Michael Winkleman said.

18-month-old Chloe Wiegand. (Courtesy of Wiegand Family)

The CNN Wire and The Associated Press contributed to this report
Angus Thirlwell is the CEO of Hotel Chocolat Group Plc (LON:HOTC). First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels.

See our latest analysis for Hotel Chocolat Group

How Does Angus Thirlwell's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

At the time of writing, our data says that Hotel Chocolat Group Plc has a market cap of UK474m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK243k for the year to June 2019. Notably, the salary of UK235k is the vast majority of the CEO compensation. We examined companies with market caps from UK309m to UK1.2b, and discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was UK914k.

Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Angus Thirlwell takes less total compensation than the CEOs of most similar size companies, leaving more for shareholders. While this is a good thing, you'll need to understand the business better before you can form an opinion.

You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Hotel Chocolat Group has changed over time.

AIM:HOTC CEO Compensation, February 24th 2020

Is Hotel Chocolat Group Plc Growing?

Over the last three years Hotel Chocolat Group Plc has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 24% per year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 14% over last year.

Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's a real positive to see this sort of growth in a single year. That suggests a healthy and growing business. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.

Has Hotel Chocolat Group Plc Been A Good Investment?

Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Hotel Chocolat Group Plc for providing a total return of 45% over three years. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size.

Story continues

In Summary...

Hotel Chocolat Group Plc is currently paying its CEO below what is normal for companies of its size.

Considering the underlying business is growing earnings, this would suggest the pay is modest. And given most shareholders are probably very happy with recent returns, you might even think that Angus Thirlwell deserves a raise! It is relatively rare to see a modestly paid CEO when performance is so impressive. The cherry on top would be if company insiders are buying shares with their own money. If you think CEO compensation levels are interesting you will probably really like this free visualization of insider trading at Hotel Chocolat Group.

Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Gordon Brown endorses Jackie Baillie for Scottish Labour deputy leader

The former Prime Minister said that Baillie has proven that she is Labour to the core and has a plan to get Scottish Labour into power in 2021

Gordon Brown has endorsed Jackie Baillie to become Scottish Labours deputy leader as voting opens in the contest.

The former Prime Minister said that Baillie has proven that she is Labour to the core and has a plan to get Scottish Labour into power in 2021.

Baillie welcomed Browns backing and said that the party cannot carry on with business as usual if it hopes to succeed in future.

Brown said: I have supported Jackie Baillie on the five occasions she has been elected and served the people with great distinction as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumbarton.

As the one MSP standing for deputy leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, Jackie has a positive plan for getting Scottish Labour back into power in 2021 that focuses on the NHS, schools and quality jobs and she supports the Scottish and UK constitutional changes we want to see.

Baillie is seen as the clear favourite as ballots open for the deputy leadership contest, having received support from a majority of local parties, councillors, affiliated organisations and MSPs.

Glasgow councillor Matt Kerr is also running for the position but attracted criticism in the days before the ballot for walking out of the Glasgow City Council budget vote on Thursday, refusing to vote for his own partys proposals.

He now faces disciplinary action for breaking the party whip.

Kerr is regarded as being on the left of the party and is an ally of Corbyn and Richard Leonard, while Baillie has clashed in the past with the Scottish Labour leader and was dropped from his shadow cabinet in 2018.

Baillie is the longest-serving Scottish Labour MSP and has previously said that the contest is a choice between continuity and change - more of the same wont do.

She said: Gordon knows better than anyone what Labour can achieve when it rebuilds and wins power, and Im honoured to have his support.

We need to change to win. Thats why I have put myself forward to be deputy leader: to help unite the party and make the changes we need.

We cannot carry on with business as usual  we need change now.

As Scottish Labour members across Scotland receive their ballots, Im asking to serve as deputy leader so I can work with everyone in our movement to rebuild and fight our way back to power. It is only in power that we can deliver our Labour values.

The winner of the election will be announced on 3 April.
Perth, Feb 24 : Rachael Haynes turned out to be the unlikely hero for Australia as she struck a classy half-century to help the hosts overcome a mighty scare against Sri Lanka in their Group A game at the WACA on Monday.

Earlier, Chamari Athapaththu's half-century set Sri Lanka on their way but two wickets apiece from Nicola Carey and Molly Strano held them at 122 for six.

Australian hearts were racing when Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney all fell within the first four overs of the chase.

But a stunning 60 from Haynes in a solid partnership with captain Meg Lanning ensured their tournament hopes stayed alive with a five-wicket victory at the WACA.

Australia did not hesitate in showing their intent as Megan Schutt struck early with her third ball to remove Hasini Perera for a duck.

It took until the end of the powerplay for Athapaththu to see her next partner fall as Umesha Thimeshani was removed by Carey for 20.

It was yet another impressive outing for Athapaththu against the Australians, her 38-ball half-century taking Sri Lanka to 91 but the hosts finally took their third wicket when the captain blasted the ball straight to her opposite number.

Anushka Sanjeewani's 25 helped Sri Lanka edge to three figures but the number four was caught by Delissa Kimmince off Strano's bowling before Ama Kanchana perished for a duck two balls later.

Two boundaries from Nilakshi de Silva in her late cameo helped Sri Lanka get to 120 but she was stumped by Healy in Jonassen's final over.

Australia had a nightmare start to their chase as Udeshika Prabodani bowled Healy for a duck.

And Prabodani's second over started just as brightly as her first as she produced another stunning in-swing delivery to remove Gardner for two.

The hosts, who knew the importance of a win at the WACA after losing to India in Sydney, soon found themselves in deep trouble when Sanjeewani stumped Mooney to leave them 10 for three after 20 balls.

Australian breaths were held when Kavisha Dilhari thought she'd trapped Haynes lbw, but the review showed the number five had got an inside edge.

And Haynes' survival proved crucial in saving the hosts' tournament hopes, the left-hander steering a 95-run partnership with Lanning (41) for the fourth wicket to lower the required rate.

Two successive sixes in the 15th over put the hosts firmly back in control and even when Haynes was stumped by Sanjeewani in the 17th, Australia were almost home.

And with Carey bowled by Athapaththu at the death, it was captain Lanning who saw her side home in her 100th T20I appearance with three balls to spare.

Australia will next face Bangladesh on Thursday while Sri Lanka will lock horns with India on Saturday.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 122/6 (Chamari Athapaththu 50, Nicola Carey 2/18); Australia 123/5 (Rachael Haynes 60 Udeshika Prabodani 2/17)
A fearless campaigner for democratic openness, or a criminal trying to avoid justice: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a highly polarising figure who finds himself once again at the centre of global attention. The 48-year-old Australian is the figurehead of the whistleblowing website that exposed government secrets worldwide, notably the explosive leak of US military and diplomatic files. But he has spent most of the past decade either in custody or holed up in Ecuador's London embassy as he has tried to avoid extradition -- first to Sweden and then to the United States. Now, he will finally get his day in court as a British judge will this week hear the case for sending him to the US to face charges relating to his WikiLeaks work. If found guilty of the espionage charges filed there, Assange could be jailed for 175 years. Transparency and anti-war campaigners have hailed him for revealing the deaths of civilians, torture and clandestine military operations with the release of 500,000 US documents on the Iraq and Afghan wars. But Washington and its allies have accused him of risking lives by sharing information on sources, intelligence techniques and key infrastructure sites. He has been held at the high-security Belmarsh prison in southeast London since he was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy ten months ago. His team have repeatedly warned about his health and an independent UN rights expert said in November that his continued detention was putting his life at risk. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe rights group was last week the latest such organisation to warn that Assange's extradition would have a "chilling effect" on press freedoms. - Space station life - The saga began in 2010 when Assange faced allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden, which he always denied, saying they were a pretext and the ultimate goal was to transfer him to the US. He was in Britain at the time but dodged an attempted to extradite him to Sweden by claiming political asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London. For seven years he lived in the small apartment in the embassy, exercising on a treadmill and using a sun lamp to make up for the lack of natural light in a situation he compared to living in a space station. But after a change of government in Quito, Ecuador lost patience with its guest and turned him over to British police in April. He was arrested for jumping bail and jailed. After his arrest it was revealed that the US were charging him with violating the US Espionage Act with the 2010 leaks, and he is now fighting extradition. However, Swedish prosecutors confirmed last year they had dropped the rape investigation, saying that despite a "credible" account from the alleged victim there was insufficient evidence to proceed. - Ties with Russia? - Assange was initially supported by human rights groups and newspapers that once worked with him to edit and publish the war logs. But many were horrified when WikiLeaks dumped unredacted documents online, including the names of informants. When a UN panel declared in 2016 that Assange had been detained arbitrarily, one of his previous media partners, the Guardian, dismissed the idea and said he should face justice. There have since been questions about his relationship with Russia. Robert Mueller's probe into interference in the 2016 US presidential election found that Russian government actors hacked candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign "and publicly disseminated those materials through various intermediaries, including WikiLeaks". In a preliminary court hearing in London last week, Assange's lawyer alleged US President Donald Trump had promised a pardon if he denied that Russia leaked the emails that damaged his rival, Clinton. The White House denied the claim. - War logs exposed - Born in Townsville, Queensland, in 1971, Assange has described a nomadic childhood and claims to have attended 37 schools before settling in Melbourne. As a teenager, he discovered a talent for computer hacking and although he has since pleaded guilty to 25 such offences he has never been jailed. He has only ever walked away with fines. He created WikiLeaks in 2006 with a group of like-minded activists and IT experts to provide a secure way for whistleblowers to leak information. A confident speaker, he became its figurehead and a lightning rod for criticism. The most damaging leaks emerged in 2010, beginning with a video showing a US military Apache helicopter firing on and killing two journalists and several Iraqi civilians on a Baghdad street in 2007. It was followed by more than 90,000 classified US military files from the Afghan war, 400,000 from Iraq, and in November that year, around 250,000 US diplomatic cables covering almost every country in the world.
The hit BBC television crime drama series 'Line of Duty' crew were filming in Belfast city centre.

The filming involved in a scene set on the doorstep of the fictional police station.

Stars of Line of Duty have been seen filming for the sixth series of the hit drama in Belfast city centre.

Adrian Dunbar was seen in character as Superintendent Ted Hastings outside Belfast Central Library on Royal Avenue.

The city centre location is used as fictional police station Pelbury House in the drama, the finale of which drew nine million viewers in May last year.

Mr Dunbar was joined by show creator Jed Mercurio on Sunday, as well as Martin Compston, who plays Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott, also a member of AC-12 - a special unit charged with investigating police force corruption.

Expand Close The hit BBC television crime drama series 'Line of Duty' crew were filming in Belfast city centre. Photopress Belfast / Facebook

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The actors and crew appeared to be filming a scene set on the doorstep of the police station, with an 18-month-jump between series five and series six set to take place.

The stars will be joined by new recruit Kelly McDonald for the series, which will focus on an enigmatic detective chief inspector played by Ms McDonald.

She will take on the role of Joanne Davidson, a senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case.

Speaking to the Sunday Business Post, Adrian Dunbar said the landscape of the drama will have shifted when viewers sit down to series six.

Expand Close The filming involved in a scene set on the doorstep of the fictional police station. Photopress Belfast / Facebook

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"There are a lot of similar tropes . . . were still after bent coppers, organised crime groups and so forth, but there are other things that are different.

"Its been a long time since weve been back to AC12, so things have changed there. In essence, were lucky that in Jed Mercurio we have a writer who is not lazy. He has set the bar very high and kept it there, so I dont think were going to disappoint our audience at all."

The new series will premiere on BBC One later this year.
A Collingswood Police car stands outside a house on Crestmont Terrace in Collingswood on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. Authorities said a man broke into the house, attacked one person and tied another up, then set the house on fire. Read more

A man broke into a Collingswood home Sunday afternoon, attacked one occupant, and tied up another, then set the house on fire, Camden County authorities said.

Firefighters went to the home in the 200 block of Crestmont Terrace about 2:30 p.m. After putting out the fire, they found one victim with injuries not caused by the fire, according to acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Collingswood Police Chief Kevin Carey.

Detectives were told that a man broke in and demanded money. One of the victims described him as thin and darker-skinned with a short beard and dark hair, wearing a yellow winter hat and a yellow-and-black zip-up sweatshirt.

No additional information was available Sunday night.

Authorities ask that anyone with information contact Detective Mike Batista at the Camden County Prosecutors Office, at 856-676-8175, or Collingswood Police Sgt. William Lyons at 609-868-0266, or email ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
GUEST OBSERVATION

On the night of January 9 2020, my wife and I secured our Kangaroo Island home and anxiously monitored the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) website for bushfire advice.

After many horrific weeks of bushfires, the winds had again shifted, and the fire front began a slow, nightmarish march eastward into the islands central farmlands. Official warnings advised that the entire island was potentially under threat.

Landsat-8, Author provided

As my good neighbours and volunteer firefighters headed off to battle the flames elsewhere on the island, I desperately wanted to find a way to help. With no firefighting training, I felt I physically had little to offer. But I reasoned that my skills and training in remote sensing and spatial science could potentially turn satellite information into useful maps to track the fires, in more detail than those provided by the Country Fire Service and Geoscience Australia.

While I was ultimately successful, it wasnt quite as straightforward as I thought. And what I learned about access to good-quality and up-to-date satellite bushfire information surprised me.

Free satellite imagery is abundant; useful information is not

In principle, there are many good sources of free satellite imagery. But selecting, sourcing, understanding and processing a multilayered satellite image into an accurate burnt area map takes technical know-how that is beyond the reach of the people who need it the most.

We are fortunate to live in a time where satellite images are constantly uploaded to the web, often within hours of acquisition. There are many reputable sources for this information, including NASA Worldview, USGS Earth Explorer, USGS LandLook Viewer, and the Sentinel EO Browser.

These websites are gateways to the world of big satellite data, and I quickly found myself on a steep learning curve to efficiently navigate them and find recent imagery.

Once downloaded, the next hurdle I faced was how to process a data-rich satellite image into a meaningful and accurate map of the bushfire area. I scoured the internet for how to blogs, academic articles, spatial algorithms, and processing codes; these too are the products of much intellectual investment by global scientists, openly and freely available.

As a spatial scientist, I naturally found all this fascinating. But as a resident of an island under assault from bushfires, I also found it frustratingly time-consuming. I crashed my computer testing algorithms. I maxed out my hard drive. I spent hours on possibilities that turned out to be dead ends.

Sentinel-2, Author provided

Maps help to fight fires and recover from them

In the end, I produced burnt area maps from Sentinel and Landsat satellite images captured during the fires. I learned that this kind of information can indeed help firefighting and ecological recovery efforts, both during and after bushfires.

Initially I gave the maps to a group of farming friends who had been fighting fires around their properties for weeks. They told me the maps helped save time in assessing which areas had already burned, allowing them to focus on defending unburnt areas, and to make decisions on where to move livestock and install firebreaks.

The positive feedback inspired me to customise my processing techniques, so I could provide updates more quickly when new satellite images became available.

I embedded appropriate safety disclaimers into the maps and released them on Twitter and Spatial Points, a blog site managed by my research group at the University of Adelaide.

Within hours, I received messages that the maps were being used for ecological recovery efforts. The maps successfully highlighted remaining patches of habitat where endangered and vulnerable species had found refuge. Several government agencies even contacted me for burnt area information, which Im told was used to assess infrastructure damage and habitat loss.

Sentinel-2/W. Boone Law, Author provided

National knowledge gap

My experience shows there is a swag of free and regularly updated satellite imagery available, which when interpreted and presented appropriately can potentially be hugely helpful to firefighting and recovery efforts.

However, I am concerned that neither the general public nor decision-makers seem fully aware of the range of satellite information on offer. Nor is there a good understanding of the advanced technical skills needed to access and process imagery into useful map data.

This leads me to wonder whether I have stumbled upon a glaring knowledge gap in Australias bushfire preparedness.

How can we overcome this technological and information bottleneck? I dont propose to have all the answers, but I do believe it would be sensible for governments, industry and research agencies to invest in the kind of capabilities that I developed while trying to protect my own local community.

As Australia faces a future of more frequent and extreme bushfires, there will doubtless be many people who would be glad of this kind of information when they need it most.

Wallace Boone Law, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
For the past month, the centrist Democrats running against Sen. Bernie Sanders have begged Democratic voters not to nominate him. Former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar have argued that putting a socialist atop the ticket would help President Donald Trump and hurt Democratic candidates down the ballot. These warnings are well-founded, but they havent worked. Sanders has won the popular vote in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.

Why, despite the warnings, is Sanders still winning? One reason is that a lot of people like him and what he stands for. Another reason is that other candidates are splitting the votes of moderate Democrats, leaving him with a plurality on the left. But theres a third reason: Socialism doesnt freak out Democratic voters the way it freaks out other Americans. On this subject, Democrats are very different not just from Republicans, but also from independents, who represent about 40 percent of Americans and about 30 percent of the electorate. Socialism is a loser among independents, and this makes it a liability in a general election. But Democrats dont feel an aversion to socialism. So perhaps they dont see the extent of the political danger.

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The detachment starts with Sanders voters. In a September poll taken by Data for Progress, 37 percent of them identified themselves not as progressives or liberals, but as socialists, democratic socialists, or communists. Nearly all of them endorsed democratic socialism. In a January NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, most Sanders voters endorsed socialism even without the word democratic in front of it. Only 4 percent of them opposed it. These people arent likely to buy the argument that nominating a socialist is an unnecessary risk. For them, electing a socialist is the ballgame.

But the problem goes beyond Sanders supporters. Rank-and-file Democrats, as a whole, are significantly more pro-socialist than independents are. And while Republicans, conversely, are more anti-socialist than independents are, the gap between Democrats and independents, on average, is about 10 points bigger than the gap between Republicans and independents.

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Over the past year, numerous national polls have asked Americans whether they view socialism positively or negatively. In every poll, Democrats lean in favor of socialism, and independents dont. In every poll, the opinions of voters or of Americans in the aggregateDemocrats, independents, and Republicans combinedadd up to a net rejection of socialism.

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When pollsters raise specific objections to socialism, independents tend to agree with those objections. Democrats dont. In a Monmouth poll taken last spring, most Democrats said socialism wouldnt take away too many individual rights. But most independents (and therefore most voters, when the answers of Democrats, independents, and Republicans were combined) said it would. A plurality of Democrats, 50 percent to 32 percent, said socialism was compatible with American values. But most independents and voters as a whole said it wasnt.

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It wont surprise you to hear that Democrats are far more willing than independents to support a socialist candidate. But you might be surprised by how much bigger the partisan gap is for a socialist than for other kinds of candidates. In a Gallup poll taken last month, Democrats didnt differ much from independents in their stated willingness to vote for a black, female, gay, or atheist presidential nominee. For a Muslim nominee, the gap was more then 30 net percentage points. For a socialist, it was more than 60 points. Three-quarters of Democrats were willing to vote for a socialist. Most independentsand, consequently, most of the Gallup respondentswerent.

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Why are Americans more likely to refuse (or, at least, to tell pollsters that they refuse) to vote for a socialist than for a woman or a Muslim? Probably because socialism isnt an innate characteristic or a matter of personal faith. Its a doctrine about how government should intervene in the lives of other people. That makes it a legitimate reason to vote against a candidate and thereforeunlike race, sex, or religiona legitimate factor when youre considering whether to nominate a candidate other voters wont support.

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This chasm endangers Sanders in a general election against Trump. In an ABC/Washington Post poll taken last summer, Biden led Trump in a hypothetical matchup by 10 points. Other potential Democratic nominees tied Trump or barely led him. Sanders held a one-point lead among independents and among voters as a whole. But when respondents were asked to choose between Trump and a Democratic candidate who you regard as a socialist, the numbers shifted. Democrats, by a margin of 82 percent to 8 percent, said theyd support the socialist. Independents, given the same choice, went for Trump, 50 percent to 42 percent. With their support, Trump beat the hypothetical socialist, 49 percent to 43 percent.

You could argue, based on this survey, that people who say theyd never vote for a socialist would, in fact, vote for Sanders anyway. He polls fairly well against Trump, and he claims that if Trump attacks him as a socialist, voters will ignore the attacks, because Trump lies all the time. But Sanders isnt an accused socialist. Hes a self-identified socialist. A follow-up survey, taken a week ago by ABC and the Post, shows that this label would hurt him. The pollsters told half their sample that Sanders identifies himself as a socialist, and they asked whether his being a socialist made respondents more or less likely to support him against Trump. For Democrats, that information was a wash or a net plus. But for independents, it was a loser. Six percent of independents said it made them more likely to support Sanders. Thirty-seven percent said it made them less likely.*

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Sanders stipulates that hes a democratic socialist. That distinction helps him, but mostly among Democrats. In a Yahoo News/YouGov poll taken two weeks ago, Democrats agreed that democratic socialism was different from socialism. But a plurality of independents saw no difference. (Voters as a whole were evenly divided.) Only 45 percent of Democrats conceded that Sanders was a socialist; 30 percent said he wasnt. But more than 60 percent of independents and voters as a whole said Sanders was a socialist. Fewer than 20 percent said he wasnt.

Running as a democratic socialist isnt as lethal as running as a socialist. But its still pretty bad. In an Emerson poll taken last summer, a plurality of independents (42 percent to 26 percent) said they wouldnt vote for a self-described democratic socialist. In a November HarrisX poll, 64 percent of independents said theyd never vote for a democratic socialist. In this months Yahoo News poll, a 47 percent plurality of independents said they wouldnt consider voting for a presidential candidate who called himself a democratic socialist. And in the new Post/ABC poll, 33 percent of independents said they were less likely to support Sanders after hearing that he identifies himself as a democratic socialist.*

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Some advocates of a Sanders nomination believe that independents arent really in play. They argue that independents lean toward one party or the other and will vote that way, so its more important to turn out the Democratic base than to fuss over voters in the middle. That belief is mistaken. In 2016, independents voted for Trump against Hillary Clinton, 46 percent to 42 percent. In 2018, independents voted for Democratic House candidates against Republican House candidates, 54 percent to 42 percent. In both cases, independents made the difference.

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Most Americans dont like the idea of moving toward socialism, regardless of how you qualify it. In a Suffolk poll taken last spring, a slight plurality of Democrats said theyd be satisfied with a presidential candidate who thinks the United States should be more socialist. But steep majorities of independents (72 percent to 18 percent) and voters in the aggregate (67 percent to 22 percent) said they wouldnt. Most Republicans wouldnt vote for the Democratic nominee regardless. But these grim numbers go much further.

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Democrats, perhaps because they differ from the rest of the electorate in their feelings about socialism, are bad at estimating how socialism would play in a general election. Two weeks ago, in the Yahoo News poll, a 49 percent plurality of Democrats said most, nearly all, or about half of Americans would consider voting for a presidential candidate who called himself a democratic socialist. The guess was incorrect. According to the same poll, only 35 percent of voters said theyd consider voting for such a candidate. Democrats got it wrong.

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Yes, Sanders could try to duck the word socialism and just talk about health care and education. But even if he focuses on specific proposalsleaving labels asidehell still face a big divide between Democrats and independents. In the Yahoo News poll, only 39 percent of Democrats opposed eliminating private health insurance. Fifty-seven percent of independents opposed that idea. Democrats overwhelmingly favored a guaranteed annual income and forgiveness of all student loan debt. Independents opposed both policies.

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These numbers explain why its so hard to stop Sanders in the primary, even though his opponents are correct that in a general election, his socialism would alienate independents and hurt him. The audience to whom these opponents are speakingthe Democratic primary electoratedoesnt seem to want to hear it. If Sanders wins the nomination and loses the election, it wont be because Republicans, on this question, falsely accused Democrats of being out of touch with America. It will be because that accusation was true.
A prisoner who apologised unreservedly for spitting blood and saliva into the eyes and mouth of a prison officer later complained that it was a disgrace and a joke for him to get a five-month jail sentence for the assault.

Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said Colm Murdock, 39, apologised unreservedly to the prison officer for the assault.

Mr Cuddigan said while Murdock was disgusted with what happened to the prison officer, he had already been disciplined in prison, effectively having 21 days added to his time in custody.

The solicitor urged the sentencing judge to impose a fully suspended sentence. He said that when the accused was arrested he was covered in blood from an injury he had sustained and was not conscious of what he was doing as a result of whatever he had taken.

Judge Olann Kelleher said the assault was a frightening experience for the prison officer who would not have expected that kind of treatment in the course of his work  to have blood and saliva spat into his face. The judge said the officer would have had the worry of having to wait for various tests to be done, given the nature of the assault.

Judge Kelleher said that, like nurses and gardai, prison officers were in a position of danger and needed to be protected. He imposed the five-month sentence on the accused.

Before Murdock was taken into custody he said to Judge Kelleher: That is a disgrace, your honour. A joke.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the assault was committed when Murdock was being admitted to Cork prison on July 23 2018.

He spat directly into the prison officers face  blood and saliva entered the prison officers mouth and eyes and he had to be taken to the Accident and Emergency unit, Sgt. Kelleher said.
French former prime minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope appeared in court on Monday over claims they embezzled over one million euros in an alleged fake-jobs fraud. The couple made no statement as they entered the Paris courthouse under police escort, as dozens of lawyers massed outside in the latest protest over plans to merge their pension scheme into a single system. The eagerly-awaited trial of the former presidential hopeful and his wife had been due to start Monday but the court granted their request to delay the opening until Wednesday in solidarity with the lawyers' strike. Investigators suspect that Fillon, 65, hired his Welsh-born wife Penelope as his parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2013, without having her do any actual work. The allegations that Penelope, who is also charged in the case, was paid up to 10,000 euros ($10,800) a month for little to no work emerged in January 2017 and quickly snowballed into a scandal that cost Fillon his shot at the presidency just a few months later. They also contributed to the implosion of his rightwing Republicains party, pushing many voters toward Macron's centrist party. Fillon has denied the allegations and insisted that Penelope -- who is charged with complicity in misuse of public funds -- did real work for him in his rural constituency of Sarthe. But investigators say they have found little documentary evidence of her efforts. They have also seized on a 2016 newspaper interview in which Penelope declares that "Until now, I have never got involved in my husband's political life" -- echoing a statement she made to Britain's Sunday Telegraph in 2007. The Fillons and a third defendant, Marc Joulaud, who stood in for Fillon in parliament when he was a cabinet minister and also hired Penelope as an assistant, face up to 10 years in prison. If found guilty, they may also face a hefty bill -- France's National Assembly has joined the case as a civil party, and said it could seek over one million euros in compensation. - 'Penelopegate' - Fillon has already ruled out any return to politics, saying in a prime-time TV interview last month that his priority is to defend his family's honour. The allegations were first published in January 2017 by the Canard Enchaine, a satirical and investigative weekly newspaper, a few weeks after Fillon won his party's primary contest. The paper detailed the amounts paid to Penelope, as well as thousands of euros paid to two of his children as parliamentary assistants when he was senator. In addition to the parliamentary jobs, Fillon has been charged over payments to Penelope from a magazine owned by a billionaire friend of his, Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere. Ladreit de Lacharriere avoided a trial by pleading guilty in December 2018 to paying her 135,000 euros for a job that was largely fake. He was given an eight-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay 375,000 euros in fines. "Penelopegate" was all the more damaging for the French right given that Fillon had campaigned for president as a man of integrity and financial rectitude, boasting of his scandal-free past over his former boss and rival Nicolas Sarkozy. "There have been a lot of scandals in French political life, but in general they had to do with party financing," political historian Jean Garrigues told AFP, citing as an example the 2011 corruption conviction of former president Jacques Chirac. The Fillon affair -- like the tax fraud scandal that brought down Socialist budget minister Jerome Cahuzac in 2013 -- deeply shocked the French because it allegedly exposed a grubbier instinct, that of using elected office for personal enrichment. After his election, Macron moved to prohibit lawmakers and government ministers from employing their family members and also scrapped cash handouts for lawmakers to bestow on projects and NGOs of their choice. burs-js/cb/txw Former French prime minister Francois Fillon and his wife, Penelope, leaving their Paris home on Monday to appear in court on fake-job charges. Police escorted Francois and Penelope Fillon at the Paris courthouse.
In brief: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has become the latest government agency to ban the use of Chinese-owned video sharing platform TikTok.

On Sunday, US Senator Charles Schumer called out the TSA on its continued use of the controversial app. In it, he said the risks to American and federal agency security via the platform remains very real and urged the TSA to stop using the app.

These videos sure do make you chuckle; theyre creative, Schumer said. But China might be laughing at these TSA postings for very different reasons, and that should concern us and its why I am urging the TSA to find a different platform, and cease its use of TikTok now.

TikTok has been under the security microscope for over a year now after American think tank Peterson Institute for International Economics described it as a Huawei-sized problem in terms of the access to the West potentially afforded to Chinese security services.

US regulators launched a national security review last November and shortly after, several government agencies including the US Navy and Department of Homeland Security banned its use on government-issued devices.

It didnt take long for the TSA to respond.

In a statement issued Sunday, the agency admitted that a small number of TSA employees have previously used TikTok on their personal devices to create videos for use in TSAs social media outreach but added that the practice has since been discontinued.

It may not seem like all that big of a deal, but surprisingly enough, the TSA is quite popular on social media. On Twitter alone, the official TSA account has over 234,000 followers and frequently posts videos that go viral.

Masthead credit: TikTok app by BigTunaOnline. TSA by EQRoy.
24.02.2020 LISTEN

It is yet another 'Cocoa Season' for electoral delegates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and as expected within the dying embers of the NPP Primaries, sitting MPs mostly are panicking.

From all indications, there is a great deal of fear and panic amongst the incumbent members of parliament as to whether they will be given another mandate by delegates or not.

It is against this background, I write to urge all NPP delegates in the impending contest on April 25th to be more discerning and punish those politicians who took them for a ride four years ago and are back to seek their endorsement for another term.

This cycle of neglect of the people and coming back to buy them when it matters most should this time around be changed.

For all these years, when the delegates have been ignored it is time to show that Lazy MP that he or she doesn't deserve any renewal of his or her mandate.

Let's give true meaning to the fear delegates mantra and show these MPs who always come every four years and do not add any value to surviving lives.

A couple of inducements are already flying around; what a good time to be a delegate to benefit from looted goodies. It is high time the status quo is changed such that elections will produce more responsible honourable men.

Vote out these lazy MPs.

God bless our Homeland Ghana.
The government is working on the return of migrant Kashmiri pandits to the Valley soon with honour and dignity in a secured environment, said a senior BJP leader.

BJP general secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul also asked the displaced community to get ready for the return for which they have been waiting for the last three decades.

"It should be clear to all that the migrant Pandits have to return to the Valley. The government is going to take a call on it very soon," said Koul.

He was speaking at an annual award distribution function organized by Harmukh Ganga (Gangbal) Trust (HGGT) in association with All Parties Migrants Co-ordination Committee (APMCC) here on Sunday evening.

The HGGT annually honours prominent personalities among Kashmiri pandits and their organizations in recognition of their contribution to the community.

"The situation in the Valley has improved, especially after the abrogation of Article 370 last year. The Kashmiri pandits have to go back with honour and dignity," said Koul, himself a Kashmiri pandit.

Lauding the efforts of APMCC for the reopening and upkeep of temples in the Valley, the BJP leader told the audience that the government would support reconstruction and renovation of important temples and shrines in the Valley.

APMCC also launched a campaign for the reconstruction of ancient Sun temple Martand in South Kashmir, said APMCC spokesperson King C Bharati, adding that the organisation will conduct 'Maha Yagya' and exhibitions in Kashmir at the 'Martand' Temple and will organise conferences across the country to fulfil this mission.

The BJP leader along with former minister Priya Sethi, Deputy Mayor Purnima Sharma of Jammu Municipal Corporation, Board of School Education's Chairperson Veena Pandita and Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner T K Bhat released APMCC's documentary on 'Sharada Peeth', an ancient temple of the goddess of learning Saraswati in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

An impressive slideshow and Gangbal Song on activities of APMCC and HGGT was also displayed on the occasion, depicting the APMCC's struggle since its inception.

APMCC chairman Vinod Pandit spoke about plans of his group, particularly its movement to rebuild ancient Martand Surya Temple at Kehribal in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

Prominent personalities who were honoured with various awards on the occasion included J N Sagar (Pandit Kalhan Award), Prof B L Zutshi (Lalitaditya Muktapida Award), Sunil Raina Rajanak (Abhinav Gupt Award), Core Sharada Group (Laleshwari Award), Dr Neeru Kharu (Kota Rani Award) etc.

The other awardees were Sharika Diagnostic Centre Ptv Ltd (Shriya Bhat Award), businessman Ajay Takoo (Harmukh Gangabal Award), government officer Rakesh Bhat (Pt Kashyap Bandhu Award) and Rinkoo Raj (posthumously) (Martyr Principal Ashok Raina Award).

An employee of J&K Tourism department, Rinkoo had saved two people from drowning in Kashmir, but lost his life.

The awards are given away annually in recognition of the contribution of prominent community members towards upliftment of the community and their contribution to the nation as a whole, said King Bharati.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The South Sydney industrial property market is undergoing an internal makeover, as warehouses are being converted throughout the Alexandria region to higher end functional buildings.

According to Edward Washer, Director, Head of South Sydney, Industrial and Logistics at Savills Australia, given its prime location to the CBD, airport, Eastern Suburbs and Inner west, South Sydneys typical industrial buildings/sites are being adaptively converted into commercial, retail and residential.

Mr Washer said, recent examples include 29-31 ORiordan Street, Alexandria  an industrial building which has undergone a full refurbishment into a retail/commercial precinct and is home to Meat Emporium, Liquor Emporium, and more uniquely, Notaras Seafood restaurant."

Its not often a restaurant is built inside a warehouse, but if you look at what The Grounds of Alexandria did to their fit out space, its no surprise this is the way of the future for city fringe industrial warehouses, he added"

Another example includes 37-41 ORiordan Street, Alexandria (City Close)  a traditional modern industrial estate going through adaptive refurb for commercial style tenants due to the demand, with the head offices of Koala Mattresses signing a 5 year lease and Dimeo Cleaning signing a 1 year.

Hayesbury, at 5 Hayes Road, Rosebery, is a traditional older style industrial site that Goodman are refurbishing into a high-end commercial space. Under construction at the moment however no tenants yet to commit.

The first property in 2020 to hit the market for sale is 1 Gillespie Avenue, Alexandria, a circa 20 year old industrial warehouse with a portion refurbished to a creative office, done so by the current tenant and fit out company, Intermain.

According to exclusive sales agents, Edward Washer and Sam Wallace of Savills Australia, the freestanding warehouse is a rarity in this market and is likely to be snapped up by either high net worth privates, property funds or institutions.

Edward Washer, Director, Head of South Sydney, Industrial and Logistics at Savills Australia said, this is an extremely unique, flagship property and is on trend with what we have seen over recent years; warehouse conversions to office, retail, showroom or higher and better uses/occupiers."

The strong tenant covenant adds further depth to the propertys appeal, given the reputation of Intermain and quality of the fit out he said.

The holding, 1 Gillespie Avenue, Alexandria, is for sale via expressions of interest closing April 1 2019.
Australia has raised its travel advice for South Korea and Japan as the coronavirus spreads from China to its neighbours, fuelling concerns the flu-like disease will become a global pandemic.

Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said Australia did not want "to rule out anything" in dealing with the crisis, including a potential travel ban on South Korea, but noted Seoul had "very strong measures in place to isolate the centre of that outbreak".

A man wears a mask to prevent the coronavirus in the Myungdong shopping district in Seoul. Credit:Getty

Qantas Airways does not fly to South Korea but runs a code-share service with Asiana Airlines. It would be up to the Australian government to impose travel restrictions on foreign airlines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Monday upgraded the travel advice for Australians travelling to South Korea, urging them to "exercise a high degree of caution due to the heightened risk of sustained local transmission of coronavirus".
Amul, which is famous for its creative doodles, has released its 'Namaske President Trump' doodle to commemorate the arrival of US President Donald Trump on his visit to India.

President Trump landed in Ahmedabad today and was greeted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The doodle, which was shared across all social media handles of the company, features PM Modi offering President Trump a slice of bread layered with Amul butter, while the iconic Amul girl stands beside them with a plate of bread and butter in her hand. The Amul girl is in traditional Gujarati attire.

The phrase 'Namaske President Trump' is a play on the word 'maska', which means butter in some parts of the country. The Motera stadium is depicted in the background, where the 'Namaste Trump' event was held.

The doodle was shared with the caption "Hon. President of USA visits Ahmedabad!" After the 'Namaste Trump' event, President Trump is expected to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra before leaving for New Delhi. This is the first time President Trump is visiting India after being elected in 2016.

Also read: Donald Trump announces mega $3 billion defence deal with India
CHICAGO  Almost a year after he walked out of court seemingly a free man, the actor Jussie Smollett returned to court on Monday to again face charges that he had lied to the police about a hate crime attack that detectives said he had staged.

Mr. Smollett, 37, appeared in court two weeks after a special prosecutor, Dan K. Webb, announced that a grand jury had indicted Mr. Smollett on nearly identical charges that the Cook County States Attorneys Office dropped 11 months ago.

Mr. Smolletts lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered a plea of not guilty as her client stood before the judge, hands clasped and with his black overcoat still on. The judge, James B. Linn of Cook County Circuit Court, allowed the actor to remain free, saying he was not a flight risk and rejecting prosecutors request for $10,000 bail. Mr. Smollett walked out without comment, his departure captured by a line of television cameras in the hallways outside the courtroom.

[A timeline of the case|What we know about the evidence]

The case has spellbound the city ever since Mr. Smollett, who played a son of a hip-hop mogul on the Fox drama Empire, reported on Jan. 29, 2019, that he had been attacked by two men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs, placed a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him. Mr. Smollett, who is gay, told the police that the attackers also yelled, This is MAGA country, a reference to President Trumps 2016 campaign slogan.
Perhaps it was an early sign of cash-flow problems that Nashville-based Jackson Masonry put the land up for sale in the first place. It soon found a buyer. A development company, Ritzen Group, signed a contract to purchase. Buyer and seller set a closing date.

But then everything fell apart. The deal never closed. Ritzen sued in Tennessee state court, seeking to enforce the contract (specific performance, in legalese). But just days before the trial was scheduled to start, Jackson Masonry declared bankruptcy.

One immediate effect of a petition for bankruptcy is what is known as the automatic stay. By operation of federal law, all efforts to collect any debt owed by the party declaring bankruptcy must cease as soon as the petition is filed.

As stated by the U.S. Supreme Court, Among other things, the stay bars commencement or continuation of lawsuits to recover from the debtor, enforcement of liens or judgments against the debtor, and exercise of control over the debtors property. That pretty much covers the waterfront, so far as debt collection goes.

Bankruptcy Courts aggressively enforce the automatic stay, which they regard as sacrosanct. The creditors only option is to follow the debtor into Bankruptcy Court.

Ordinary people who dont think of themselves as moneylenders can find themselves in the position of a creditor in Bankruptcy Court: for example, if they advance money to a contractor who declares bankruptcy before performing the work.

If anything like that happens to you, you need to decide, very quickly, whether the amount of money at issue justifies hiring a lawyer with specialized experience in bankruptcy. If not, its time to walk away. Dont bother trying to represent yourself. Experienced bankruptcy attorneys will gang up on you and you wont even know whats happening until its past remedying.

Ritzen, which had been all ready to go to trial on the contract claim, chased Jackson Masonry into Bankruptcy Court and immediately filed a motion to lift the automatic stay. If the bankruptcy judge had granted the motion, the state court trial could have started as scheduled. But the bankruptcy judge denied the motion, ruling that the contract dispute would be tried in Bankruptcy Court instead. That way all claims against Jackson Masonry would be heard and decided in the same courtroom.

Ritzen was then faced with a decision. Should it appeal the bankruptcy judges decision? If so, should it file its notice of appeal now or after the case was over? In normal litigation, appeals cant be filed until an entire case is closed. But bankruptcy isnt normal litigation. The Bankruptcy Code doesnt say whether a party in Ritzens position has the right to an immediate appeal. It does, however, say that if the right exists, it must be exercised within 14 days. Ritzen chose to wait. In the meantime, it litigated its contract claim in Bankruptcy Court.

The bankruptcy judge held a trial  called an adversary proceeding in Bankruptcy Court  and concluded that Ritzen, not Jackson Masonry, had breached the contract. It seems that Ritzen struggled to find financing, in the words of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. At the time of closing, it could provide only a two-sentence letter from the bank stating that the funds were available' upon satisfaction of unspecified conditions  hardly cash on the barrelhead. Jackson Masonry, the court concluded, was justified in calling off the deal.

Ritzen appealed that ruling, but also separately appealed the denial of the motion to lift the stay, even though many months had passed. By appealing the denial of the motion, Ritzen sought to return to square one, as the Supreme Court put it in a January decision. Reversing the Bankruptcy Courts decision would put all of Jacksons other creditors back at square one, too, basically restarting the whole bankruptcy case for everybody.

To avoid such a chaotic unraveling, the Supreme Court ruled that a motion to lift the automatic stay must be appealed immediately, without waiting for the rest of the case to be resolved. Its a classic example of a holding that sounds impressively technical but is really just the only practical way to avoid a big mess.

The lesson for creditors unlucky enough to be caught up in a debtors bankruptcy is straightforward: dont delay. Every issue needs to be dealt with as it arises. Complaining after the fact will get you nowhere.

The 6th Circuit opinion in the case used a favorite lawyers expression when it chided Ritzen for improperly seeking a second bite at the apple. The metaphorical world inhabited by lawyers is littered with apples that have one, and only one, full and fair bite taken out of them.

Joel Jacobsen is an author and has recently retired from a 29-year legal career. If there are topics you would like to see covered in future columns, please write him at legal.column.tips@gmail.com.
Agra, Feb 24 : The Taj Mahal will be closed for the general public on Monday from afternoon following the visit of US President Donald Trump in the historic city later in the day, which is all set to welcome them, officials said.

An ASI official here told IANS, "The Taj Mahal will remain closed for the general public from 12.30 p.m. onwards as Trump will visit the historical monument in the evening." He said even the ticket windows for the Taj Mahal will close after 11.30 a.m.

Trump is scheduled to visit India on February 24 and 25 along with wife Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US officials.

The couple will spend the first day of the visit in Gujarat's Ahmedabad and then they would fly to Agra before moving to Delhi for the official reception and bilateral talks.

Trump will arrive at the Kheria airport here, where he will be received by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The two leaders, however, will not accompany Trump to Taj Mahal and will wait at the airport to send them back to Delhi.

This is Donald Trump's first State Visit to India and also the first standalone visit by a US President to India.

Image Source: IANS News

Before Trump, US President Bill Clinton visited Agra in March 2000 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959.

Following the visit of the US First family here, the city has got a massive facelift.

The administration has put huge billboards, placards, cutouts and several posters welcoming the US President and his wife Melania.

The 13 km-long route from airport to Taj Mahal has been spruced up aesthetically and the US and Indian flags have been put up at roundabouts to give the area a festive look.

At many places on the route, the administration has made several statues of animals with flowers.

The walls have been adorned with paintings reflecting the Brij culture and architectural heritage of Agra, Victorian-style lamp posts have been installed and the lawns of the iconic Taj Mahal bedecked with colourful blooms as the historic city gears up to welcome the US President.

According to the administration, over 3,000 artists at 21 different locations will perform for the US President to welcome him in the city of love and at the airport over 250 artists will give special performance highlighting the culture of Uttar Pradesh like Brij, Awadh, special performance on Lord Krishna, dance-themed on Radha and many others.

The US President will arrive in Agra at 4.45 p.m. and reach the Taj Mahal by 5.15 p.m. Trump will then spend an hour at the Taj Mahal and then emplane for Delhi for his final leg of journey.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
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.
This we know: $300 million worth of TV and digital media ads, gushing into our homes and across our news screens, can rocket even a late-starting presidential candidate into the top tier of the White House wannabes.

As New York Citys ex-Mayor Mike Bloomberg has just shown us.

But this we also know: Ultimately, even a billion-dollar blizzard of TV and digital ads can only work wonders when their creative messages and images of presidential decisiveness and leadership are reinforcing positive presidential messages and images we voters are also viewing each day on our free media TV and digital news screens.

This is a rock-solid reality about video ads that I discovered, proved and reported about years ago, in a book titled, The Great American Video Game: Presidential Politics in the Television Age.

Wednesday night, its validity was verified for us yet again by Bloombergs surprisingly underwhelming and even inept performance in the first hour of the Democratic presidential candidates debate in Las Vegas, a prelude to Saturdays Nevada caucus.

Bloomberg started off Wednesday night with a definite video head start.

In the run-up to the debate we all saw a rerun of his now familiar TV ad featuring a very presidential-looking Bloomberg being warmly praised by President Barack Obama.

It sure looked and sounded like Obama was endorsing Bloomberg for 2020, but it was just a snippet from a day when then-President Obama was praising Bloombergs support of a gun-control initiative.

Still, it seemed like a bigtime bonding of Obama and Bloomberg, who desperately needs to increase his support among black and Hispanic voters. (No doubt millions who see the ad wont recall that Bloomberg never endorsed Obama in 2008 and, in 2012, delayed endorsing Obamas reelection until a mere five days before the election.)

For weeks, Bloomberg had been prepping and rehearsing for the debate with his top staff.

Surely they had to have anticipated Bloomberg would be asked about two major recent reports of controversies from his days as mayor: Bloombergs huge expansion of a stop-and-frisk program in which he had been recorded saying police should concentrate on high-crime areas, stop young minority youths, throw them up against a wall and frisk them to see if they were carrying weapons.

And Bloombergs reported settlements of workplace complaints with women who complained of sexual comments and workplace discrimination (and signed nondisclosure agreements as part of their settlements).

Sure enough, in the debate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren quickly challenged Bloomberg on the latter  the secrecy surrounding his harassment and discrimination case settlements with complaining women. Id like to talk about who were running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians,  Warren began. And no, Im not talking about Donald Trump. Im talking about Mayor Bloomberg.

Surely, Team Bloomberg must have anticipated this obvious challenge. Warren asked if he would release the women from their nondisclosure agreements so they could tell us all what had really happened. Stunningly, Bloomberg just stared blankly, stammered, rambled and appeared to have no idea what he should say or how he should say it.

Maybe they didnt like a joke I told, he said at one point. He said there were some women who had complained; later he said it was a few; and he wouldnt be pinned down on how many women were involved.

When Warren pressed him to release the women from their nondisclosure agreements, he said, unclearly, that since the women had signed the agreements, its up to them. Whatever that means. Joe Biden added his support for Warrens point. And then she pressed once more: Youre releasing them tonight, is that right?

But Bloomberg seemed to be tap-dancing on quicksand: Im not going to end the agreements because they were made consensually.

Unfortunately, the NBC moderators moved to a different topic. An hour later, Bloomberg indeed had a presidential moment  as he showed impressive command of the issues and details about the urgent need to solve the mega-crisis of global climate change.

But by then, the presidential debate had degenerated into an unpresidential night of the mondo bizarro. The Democrats began mindlessly attacking each other  and everyone seemed to forget about attacking the incumbent they all have insisted must be prevented from being elected to serve four more years.

It was a night in which the Democratic presidential hopefuls seemed mainly determined to settle campaign scores by trumping one another.

And it produced just one clear winner: the tenant who resides as our guest in D.C.s finest public housing facility, at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Martin Schram, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, is a veteran Washington journalist, author and TV documentary executive. Readers may send him email at martin.schram@gmail.com.

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SPRINGFIELD  Under other circumstances, Ralph Goodridge would probably be planning his retirement.

But the 66-year-old will now look at beginning a new life after walking free on Monday following more than two decades in the nations grittiest high-security federal penitentiaries.

The onetime Waltham resident and convicted bank robber was among the first defendants in Western Massachusetts to be sentenced under the federal three strikes" laws of the 1990s  the peak of the tough-on-crime era.

Goodridge now is among the beneficiaries of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2015 decision to hem in congressional language defining certain repeat offenders as armed career criminals."

A federal judge in Springfield in 1997 sentenced Goodridge to two life terms after he robbed a West Springfield bank with a sawed-off shotgun a year earlier. It was not Goodridges first brush with the law, according to prosecutors. Since he was a teen, he amassed arrests and convictions for assaults, gun charges and a prior bank robbery, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches.

The underlying armed robbery was quite scary, he told U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni of the holdup Goodridge pulled off with an accomplice while both wore masks. One of the tellers was so overcome with fear that she lost control of her bladder.

When a customer took off on foot, Goodridge and his co-defendant agreed they should have shot him and threw a hammer through a plate-glass window as they fled the bank, according to published reports at the time. He was arrested at his home in Greater Boston three hours after the robbery.

Desroches said the shotgun he used in the robbery was stolen from a home in Westfield just days after Goodridge was released from state prison following a lengthy sentence for a previous armed bank robbery.

Federal public defender Judith Mizner on Monday acknowledged her client had a troubling disciplinary record while in prison  including a string of attacks on guards  but reined himself in after he saw an opportunity to get out from under a life behind bars.

His last assaultive conduct was in 2016, when he realized he had some hope, Mizner told Mastroianni.

Since the Supreme Courts decision five years ago, hundreds of defendants in Massachusetts have appealed their prior sentences under the old definition of an armed career criminal. Goodridge filed his own, handwritten appeal in 2016, according to court records. The federal public defenders office took on his case in 2018.

Under the new interpretation of the congressional act, Goodridges federal sentencing guidelines plummeted from life in prison to roughly 13 to 15 years behind bars, which he has far exceeded. Consequently, his resentencing Monday was largely a formality.

Mizner said her client cut ties with his family years ago when his appeals were exhausted and he thought he had no hope of getting out of prison.

He didnt want to become a burden, she said in court.

However, he reconnected with his two children once he realized he had a chance to be released. His daughter was in court, readying to drive her father to a prerelease center in Boston, where he must stay for the next six months.

Goodridge said little to Mastroianni, but nodded silently as the judge made his release official.

Youve had an awful long time to consider the decisions youve made in the past. Youve had enough time in the system to have been rehabilitated, and I certainly hope it has worked, Mastroianni said.

Mizner declined to comment after the hearing.
India has over 5,000 years of history, can't consider Gandhi as father of nation: Savarkar's grandson

Kangana now targets Mahatma Gandhi, says 'offering another cheek' gets 'bheek' not freedom

We want Mahatma Gandhi's India, people of Kashmir cannot live with Godse's India: Mehbooba Mufti

Namaste Trump: Five things you need to know about Sabarmati Ashram

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Ahmedabad, Feb 24: While Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa, he built his first ashram at the Kocharab Bungalow which was then known as the Satyagraha Ashram.

It is a known fact that this ashram was the centre of many activities from animal husbandry to farming. Later, this place became the epicentre of all the activities related to the Indian Freedom Struggle.

Apart from this, Sabarmati Ashram was Charles Correa's first important work that reflected Gandhi Ji's simple life. There are many other historical site that holds significant structures within its bound. Let's take a look.

a. Magan Niwas:

Named after Mahatma Gandhi's nephew, this was the soul of the Ashram. Maganlal Gandhi was the one who introduced various upgraded versions of the spinning wheel which gave birth to Khadi.

b. Hriday Kunj:

This was the residence of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi in the Sabarmati Ashram. Hriday Kunj includes six rooms that includes secretariat, kitchen, guest room, and store room. Kunj was also a venue for several meetings held by Gandhi Ji.

c. Gandhi Memorial Museum:

One of the most popular site in the ashram is this museum that exhibits articles related to Gandhi's life. In 1953, this museum was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.

d. Udyog Mandir:

This place was developed in 1918 during the strike of the mill workers in Ahmedabad. This place is also known as the 'temple of industry' that played a vital role in spreading the message of 'Swaraj through Khadi'.

e. Upasana Mandir:

In Upasana Mandir, Gandhi Ji held prayers for the people living in the ashram. Various sermons based on Bhagavad Geeta were delivered to provide spiritual support to people.

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 10:50 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:55:42|Editor: ZD

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People gather at the site where a car crashed into a crowd in Volkmarsen, Germany, on Feb. 24, 2020. A car crashed into a carnival crowd in the western German town of Volkmarsen on Monday afternoon, leaving around 30 people injured, including children, local authorities said. (Photo by Elmar Schulten/Xinhua)

FRANKFURT, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A car crashed into a carnival crowd in the western German town of Volkmarsen on Monday afternoon, causing several injuries, including children, local police said on twitter.

The driver, a 29-year-old German citizen, deliberately drove into the crowd, German media quoted the police as saying. The driver was arrested, but his motives were unclear at this stage, the police said.

Monday marks the highlight of Germany's carnival season, known as the Rose Monday. Local police from the state of Hesse announced on Twitter that all carnival parades in the state have been canceled as a precautionary measure.

Volkmarsen is a small town with a population of about 6,800.
Furthermore, Sanders impressive win in Nevada proves that he can attract a broad range of support, at least in one part of the country. This in particular is a significant feat. When Sanders ran four years ago, the breadth of his appeal was indeed an issue, which was an issue similar to the one Pete Buttigieg faces during this election. Since then, Sanders has recognized that shortcoming and has worked hard to address it.
The old town area of Hoi An, lit with glowing lanterns (Source: CNN)

With its values, Hoi An has been recognised by the UNESCO as a worlds cultural legacy and honoured by many famous travel magazines. It is also the first tourist site in Vietnam honoured by Google Doodles.

The sum will be allocated to protect the heritages integrity, authentication and global outstanding values. Of which, 200 billion VND will be spent on the reparation of constructions, especially special relic sites, religious establishments, ancient houses and public places.

Hoi An has been known internationally with various names like Lam Ap, Faifo and Hoai Pho. 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.
The museum of the Nazi German Auschwitz death camp is objecting to a scene in a new Amazon TV series that shows a murderous game of human chess being played there, insisting that no such thing took place at the camp.

The museum that guards the Auschwitz-Birkenau site in southern Poland, its historic facts and the memory of the victims tweeted about the scene in Amazon's series "Hunters."



It said inventing fake scenes is "dangerous foolishness and caricature," encourages Holocaust deniers and is disrespectful of the camp's more than 1 million victims. Most of the victims were Europe's Jews. They died in the camp's gas chambers or from starvation, disease and forced labor.

Museum spokesman Pawel Sawicki said Monday that authors and artists have a special obligation to tell the truth about Auschwitz, and that the Hunters authors did not contact the museum for facts.

"If anyone wants to show human tragedy in Auschwitz it is enough to reach for the thousands of sources (survivors' testimonies) that are deeply shocking, but creating fiction that distorts the history of this real place is disrespectful of the people who suffered here," Sawicki told The Associated Press.

He said the museum is always willing to provide factual advice to anyone studying or working on Auschwitz history.

"Hunters" is about a postwar hunt in New York for Nazi war criminals. It includes a scene where inmates are figures in a chess game and are killed when they are taken off the chessboard.

"This is false. There was no such thing," Sawicki said.

Nazi Germans operated Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1940-45 when they occupied Poland. Emotional, international observances with the participation of survivors were held last month in Oswiecim to mark 75 years since the Soviet army liberated the camp.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Red Cross said on Monday it had obtained an exemption to United Nations sanctions against North Korea to provide testing kits and medical equipment against a possible coronavirus outbreak.

"The potential for an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea poses a threat to millions of people who are already in need of humanitarian assistance," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said in a statement.

IFRC's Asia Pacific chief Xavier Castellanos was quoted as saying that the sanctions exemption was "a life-saving intervention and an important measure to ensure that sanctions do not bear a negative impact on the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."



"We know that there is urgent need of personal protective gear and testing kits, items vital to prepare for a possible outbreak," he said in the statement.

The exemption was granted by the United Nations Sanctions Committee after the US said last week that it would look positively at requests for sending assistance.

Analysts say North Korea's self-imposed isolation in the face of the coronavirus epidemic raging in neighbouring China is its only method of protection from an outbreak that would wreak havoc given its crumbling health system.

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.

The Red Cross, which has had a permanent presence in North Korea since 1995, said it had already sent volunteers to the country's public health ministry "to support COVID-19 screening and to promote effective hygiene practices".

The Geneva-based organisation said they would work with health staff and government departments "to engage with communities and visit remote households that are hard to reach".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
France lashed out at Boris Johnson's 'blackmail' tactics today as it warned the EU will not be bounced into a bad trade deal.

As the two sides gear up for a bitter battle over post-Brexit terms, the French minister for Europe, Amelie de Montchalin, said the PM could not force the bloc to accept an agreement 'at any cost' by imposing a hard deadline for the talks to be completed.

But Mr Johnson reiterated his determination to be free of Brussels' control by the end of the year, saying 'the UK will not extend the transition period or accept any arrangements which subordinate us to EU rules'.

The clashes came ahead of ministers from the remaining 27 EU states meeting in Brussels tomorrow to agree the negotiating mandate for Michel Barnier.

They are preparing to take a tough line, with fears that opening up a debate on Gibraltar's sovereignty and the return of the Elgin Marbles could be among the demands.

Ms de Montchalin insisted that her country's farmers, fishermen and businesses would not pay the price for a trade deal to be in place by the end of the year.

The French minister for Europe Amelie de Montchalin (pictured) said the PM could not force the bloc to accept an agreement 'at any cost'

Tweeting a video of an interview on France 2, she said: 'Just because Boris Johnson wants an agreement at any cost doesn't mean we will sign a bad deal for the French, under pressure of blackmail or the timetable'

Boris Johnson met Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic (right) for talks in Downing Street today

What happens next in Brexit trade talks? February 2020: Having left the EU on January 31, the UK is now free to pursue trade deals with whoever it wants. Japan and the US are expected to be Britain's top targets with initial talks likely to start in March. The UK will publish its negotiating mandate for trade talks with the EU on Thursday this week. The EU is expected to publish its own mandate tomorrow. Early March 2020: With the EU's and UK's respective mandates finalised, the two sides should begin trade talks. Britain will also publish a mandate for trade talks with the US in the week beginning March 2. Downing Street hopes this will put the pressure on the EU and force Brussels to work quickly. March 2020: A group of 40 officials called 'Taskforce Europe' and based out of the Cabinet Office will lead negotiations for the UK. The taskforce will be headed up by David Frost, a diplomat and one-time business lobbyist who was appointed Mr Johnson's Europe adviser last year. Mr Frost is expected to negotiate directly with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. April/May 2020: Trade talks between the UK and EU - as well as talks with other nations - will intensify. If major progress has not been made with Brussels then there is likely to be increasing pressure on Mr Johnson to agree to extend the transition period. The terms of Britain's divorce from the bloc state that the standstill will finish on December 31 and the PM has been adamant he will not agree to an extension. But the Withdrawal Agreement does include a pressure valve mechanism which states that the transition can be prolonged by one or two years if both sides agree. The EU has already said it does not believe the transition period is long enough to finalise a comprehensive agreement. June/July 2020: The Withdrawal Agreement states that a decision to extend the transition period must be agreed by both sides before July 1, 2020 if it is to go ahead. The PM is expected to stick to his guns and refuse to agree to a delay, setting the stage for transition to end in December - with or without a full deal in place. July to November 2020: Assuming no transition extension has been agreed, the second half of the year will be fraught with activity as the UK and EU rush to get everything decided. The UK will also be hoping that by this time agreements with Japan and the US will be taking shape. September/October 2020: Downing Street is thought to want to have a trade deal with Japan in the books. November 3, 2020: The date of the US presidential election. The White House has said it wants a trade agreement with the UK in place before the end of the year and will not want talks to clash with Donald Trump's bid for re-election. That means a US-UK trade deal could be done and dusted before November. December 2020: The UK and EU will either be on course to end the transition period with a full agreement in place or just a partial agreement. EU bosses have suggested that a lack of time will mean having to prioritise certain issues during talks, potentially leaving others to be resolved at a later date. The UK believes it is possible to get everything done. If no extension has been agreed then the two sides will be going their separate ways regardless. December 31, 2020: The point at which the Brexit transition period will come to an end and EU rules will cease to apply to the UK. January 1, 2021: EU freedom of movement will be brought to an end and the UK's new post-Brexit immigration system will be rolled out. Advertisement

Tweeting a video of an interview on France 2, she said: 'Just because Boris Johnson wants an agreement at any cost doesn't mean we will sign a bad deal for the French, under pressure of blackmail or the timetable.'

Downing Street dismissed the claim that the end of 2020 deadline was an attempt to 'blackmail' the EU and force the bloc to do a deal quickly.

Number 10 also repeated that there will 'absolutely' not be any extension of the 'standstill' transition period beyond the current expiry date of the end of December.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The UK's primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on January 1 2021.'

That comment will be seen as a clear message to the EU that the UK views splitting from Brussels rules as more important than striking a trade deal.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic - who currently holds the rolling EU presidency - this afternoon, Mr Johnson 'set out the UK's vision based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals and centred on free trade'.

'The Prime Minister highlighted that we are not seeking a special or bespoke agreement, but rather one like those the EU has already struck with other friendly countries like Canada,' Downing Street said.

'He emphasised that the UK will not extend the transition period or accept any arrangements which subordinate us to EU rules.'

Unless a deal is agreed, the UK will do business with the EU on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms from January 1 2021.

In a further indication that access to UK fishing grounds will be one of the main flashpoints in the talks, the French minister said: 'The fishermen have the right to be protected, they know very well that if we sign a bad deal they will lose enormously.'

The UK government is expected to commit to seeking a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs when its negotiating mandate is published on Thursday.

But that could set up a clash with the EU after its chief negotiator Mr Barnier ruled out the possibility that the UK can have the same sort of deal as the North American nation.

The Brexit inner cabinet will meet tomorrow morning to sign off on the UK's mandate before it is then published online and laid before Parliament on Thursday.

The PM's Europe adviser David Frost and his team are then expected to head to Brussels for the first round of negotiations on March 2.

Downing Street insiders have accused the EU of being 'hamstrung by indecision and delay due to the competing interests of different member states' ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

The Government is expected to up the pressure on Brussels by publishing its negotiating mandate for a free trade agreement with the US the following week.

Environment Secretary George Eustice drew criticism on Sunday after repeatedly refusing to rule out chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef being imported from the States in the deal.

Access to the UK market for US agriculture is likely to be one of the White House's key demands during talks.

Mr Johnson has ruled out extending the post-Brexit transition period beyond December 31

EU warns UK not to 'backslide' over NI border pledges Ireland and Brussels have warned Boris Johnson not to attempt to dodge the terms of the Brexit divorce deal. There are claims that the PM has ordered his team to find ways to 'get around' the provisions in the Northern Ireland protocol that could mean checks on trade with the mainland UK. No10 insisted today that the government will 'comply with our obligations' under the deal struck with Brussels. Speaking in Dublin, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Withdrawal Agreement was an international treaty and he expected the UK to 'honour that in full'. He said there can be 'no backsliding'. Advertisement

Businesses have urged Mr Johnson to drive down post-Brexit red tape in a trade deal with the EU as the UK prepares to sign off on its own negotiating demands.

A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report on Monday called on the Prime Minister to ensure a deal with Brussels minimises bureaucracy to ensure a strong economy.

CBI director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said: 'With talks now in touching distance, the CBI has asked employers across the country what practical outcomes they need from the future EU relationship so they can concentrate on what they do best: investing, innovating, creating jobs and supporting a strong economy.

'The message is clear: keep trade easy and minimise red tape.

'For this reason, British firms back many of the Government's objectives set out in the negotiating mandate, such as on zero tariffs and data.'
Pushed Into Position: Processed for Kingdom Purpose: a highly relatable and though-provoking book about the potential for human flourishing and the lessons contained in all of lifes trials and struggles. Pushed Into Position is the creation of published author, Karen Bolden, a nurse, Kingdom Servant of Christ, entrepreneur, and CEO and founder of KDCB (Kingdom Dominion Cycle Breakers).

Bolden writes: It is very important that, as people of God, we position ourselves to hear and receive the things that the Lord has set for us. I pray that this book encourages and inspires you to do great things in God. I share my deep personal experiences and encounters with you, not for pity but in hope that you, your loved ones, or someone you know can find themselves in my story and know that true deliverance can be our portion and that you do not have to remain in a position beneath what God has ordained. May you encounter a life-changing experience as I walk you through my life and share my story with you.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Karen Boldens new book is a heartfelt and highly relatable memoir that uses the most meaningful and momentous events and periods in the authors life as examples that might engender an awareness in every reader of the potential for personal realization possessed by each and all of Gods children.

Eminently wise and instructive from start to finish, this is a tale that not only entertains but provides a wealth of insights and practical guidance on how its readers might live and fulfill Gods divine plan.

View a synopsis of Pushed Into Position: Processed for Kingdom Purpose on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Pushed Into Position: Processed for Kingdom Purpose at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Pushed Into Position: Processed for Kingdom Purpose, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MedaRed, Inc., a vascular biology company focused initially on discovering and developing new therapeutics targeting fibrin today announced it has changed its name to Therini Bio, Inc.

Therini Bio was founded upon the pioneering work of Dr. Katerina Akassoglou, PhD, Senior Investigator at Gladstone Institutes and Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Akassoglou and colleagues discovered that fibrin, a blood-clotting factor, is implicated in the toxic inflammation that activates the brain's immune response and damages neurons in neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as in a variety of peripheral indications where destructive inflammation plays a role in the disease process. Therini is currently optimizing humanized antibodies that bind the cryptic epitope on fibrin that drives these inflammatory signals without affecting critical clotting functions. An initial development candidate is expected to be selected in 2020.

Therini also announced that it has been selected to participate in the Lilly Gateway Labs, a new Eli Lilly shared innovation laboratory in South San Francisco, and has moved its corporate offices and lab operations to this new facility.

Therini is funded by a $9.35 million seed round led by the Dementia Discovery Fund, Dolby Family Ventures and Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. The Company has also received funding from the FastForward program of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Contact:

Therini Bio, Inc.

Daniel Burgess, Therini Bio, Inc. President & CEO

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Therini Bio, Inc.
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani in conversation with Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella on Monday spoke about how Jio helped the data cost come down significantly.

Speaking at the Future Decoded CEO Summit in Mumbai, Ambani told Nadella during their dialogue that the data cost has been reduced to Rs 12-14 per GB now from Rs 300-500 per GB in the pre-Jio days.

He added that the data consumption has increased and Digital India has become a people's movement now.

The RIL chairman highlighted that India is at the cusp of becoming a premier digital society, and will be among the top three economies of the world. He stated the big change driving this transformation is the deepening of mobile networks which are working at a much faster pace than before.

Also Read: Reliance AGM: Mukesh Ambani announces partnership with Microsoft; to open cloud data centres

"It all kickstarted in 2014 when PM gave us the vision of Digital India... 380 million people have migrated to Jio's 4G technology," said Ambani.

Pre-Jio, the data speed was 256 kbps; and post-Jio, it is 21 Mbps, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Nadella also encouraged Indian business entrepreneurs to develop all-inclusive technological capacities. "Indian CEOs need to build own tech capability and ensure that the solutions are inclusive," he said adding that 72% of jobs for Indian software engineers are based outside of the technology industry.

Also Read: Mukesh Ambani is restructuring Reliance Industries-little by little

The Microsoft CEO is on a three-day visit to India during which he will go to Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi between February 24-26.

"Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will share his vision for the future of technology and how Indian organisations can lead in an era of digital transformation," Microsoft website said.

Also Read: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to visit India around February 24: report

Also Read:This is the worst advice Satya Nadella has ever received
Assange's legal saga began in 2010, when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden, which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women. He refused to go to Stockholm, saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the United States or the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The Supreme Court has fixed February 26 to hear an application filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC), asking it to reverse a judgement that sacked David Lyon as governor-elect of Bayelsa State.

One of the lawyers representing the APC, Lateef Fagbemi told PREMIUM TIMES, It is true that the Supreme Court has fixed Wednesday 26 February for our application.

There has been no response yet from the respondents, he added.

A five-member panel of the apex court led by Mary Odili, had on February 13, nullified the election of Mr Lyon on the grounds that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in aid of his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in the state.

The apex court, in the judgement delivered by Ejembi Eko, consequently ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Messrs Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.

The court also ordered that INEC should immediately declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner of the election.

The PDP and its governorship candidate, Mr Diri, had filed a suit against Messrs Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo, and INEC, seeking the disqualification of the APC deputy governorship candidate.

They had claimed that Mr Degi-Eremienyo gave false information in his CF 0001 form submitted to INEC.

Not satisfied with the apex courts judgement, APC, through their lawyers, Wole Olanipekun and Lateef Fagbemi, respectively, on February 20, filed their application.

In the application, the lawyers claimed that the judgment of the Federal High Court was misinterpreted by the apex court and thus disqualified Mr Lyon wrongly.

They further argued that the trial court, in its judgement delivered on November 12, 2019, found out that Mr Degi-Eremienyo was guilty of submitting forged certificates but that the judge, Inyang Ekwo, refused to grant the PDPs request, which asked for Mr Lyons disqualification.

Lawyer condemns attack on judges

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) condemned the recent attack on Justice Odili, describing it as unwarranted, as it is dangerous for the independence of the court.

Justice Odili had led the five-member panel of the apex court that sacked Mr Lyon.

After the judgement, Bayelsa State has experienced violence, due to the rejection of the judgement by the APC through its national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, prompting the police to declare dusk to dawn curfew.

There have also been allegations that some sponsored protesters besieged the home of the judge, condemning her role in the delivery of the judgment.

In a statement, Mr Ozekhome said the attacks on Justice Odili was 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.

The lawyer lamented that Justice Odili was singled out and attacked by hired political hoodlums, miscreants and thugs, noting that she did not even write or deliver the lead judgement.

Mr Ozekhome said, The lead judgment was written and delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko.

More significant is the fact that the entire judgment was a 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? Mr Ozekhome questioned.

He further said that the attack on the apex court judge was not an ordinary one and thus, should not be ignored and swept under the carpet.

The lawyer urged the police and authorities to investigate the attack and bring anyone found culpable to book.

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.

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They must be singled out and prosecuted immediately and were found guilty, be given adequate punishment that they richly deserve.

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 the executive or political fiat, Mr Ozekhome added.
US embassy stressed that it was not a political event and the intention was to focus on education and students

New Delhi: The US embassy on Sunday said it did not have any objection to the presence of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia during US First Lady Melania Trump's visit to a Delhi government school, but stressed that it was not a political event and the intention was to focus on education and students.

The clarification came after Delhi government sources had said on Saturday Kejriwal and Sisodia will not attend the event as their names were dropped from the guest list. Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party blamed the BJP-led central government for it.

After the US embassy's reaction, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that they respected the concerns raised by the US Embassy and the First Lady's visit is a matter of pride for his government.

Melania, wife of US President Donald Trump, is scheduled to visit the school on Monday to watch "happiness classes" and interact with the students.

According to the original schedule, Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about 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 had said.

"While US Embassy had no objection to the presence of chief minister and deputy chief minister, we appreciate their recognition that this isn't a political event and that it's best to ensure focus is on education, school, and students," a spokesperson in the US embassy said following a media query on the issue.

Sisodia, who is also Delhi's education minister, said they would have loved to receive the US First Lady Melania Trump ad brief her about the concept of happiness classes.

"Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and I would have loved to personally receive the First Lady in the Delhi Govt school and brief her about the concept of Happiness Classes and the positive impact that it has had on students, during her visit to the classrooms," he said in an official statement.

"However, certain concerns were expressed by US embassy regarding chief minister and deputy chief minister accompanying first lady during the school visit. We respect the same. We welcome first lady wholeheartedly and will do our best to facilitate the tour," he added.

Sources in the Delhi government said the US embassy communicated to the city administration on Saturday morning that the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.

"It is a matter of great pride for Delhi Government, Delhi government teachers and students that First Lady Melania Trump is visiting a Delhi Govt school. It is a big appreciation for us that the work of AAP government in education sector, especially Happiness Classes, is being recognised in the world," Sisodia said.

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 state leaders are present when any foreign leader 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.

When asked about the issue of 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 politics or petty politics" on issues which are of national interest.

The Delhi government introduced the happiness curriculum in July, 2018.

As per the curriculum, students studying in classes I-VIII 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.
Approximately 50 officers at the Fort Totten Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) metro station in Washington, D.C., engaged in a contest over who could carry out the highest number of arrests, citations, and other enforcement actions last summer.

The competition, which reportedly occurred in July and August of 2019, came to light in a hearing held after Metro Transit Police arrested a 13-year-old boy for engaging in horseplay with a friend on February 6 this year. The incident was videotaped, and bystanders reported that the police used excessive force.

The hearing prompted a whistleblower to send an internal police email promoting the contest to D.C. legislative council members Robert C. White Jr. (D-At Large) and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who convened the hearing.

[Credit: Wikimedia- G0T0]

According to the Washington Post, competing officers were to be rewarded 20 points for an arrest; one point for 10 tickets; four points for a citation; a point for every three bus contact sheets turned in; two points for filling out contact cards; three points for each report filed; and one point for work during pop-up events.

Officials are trying to paint the competition as isolated and pin the blame on the lieutenant who organized it and offered a bounty to each weeks winner. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said that the competition was held without the knowledge or approval of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) command but would not reveal if anyone had been disciplined for the incident. Stessel further claimed the intent of the competition was to encourage more community engagement, despite the contest rewarding the most points for arrests and tickets.

Metro Transit Police Chief Ronald A. Pavlik Jr. only responded to requests for information on the competition after reporters for the Post began to investigate. Pavlik expressed concern that the arrest competition had given the MTPD a bad name, stating obviously the perception of that is a little out of context and shouldnt have been done, while nonetheless applauding the station chief for trying to think outside the box and motivate young officers to work.

The whistleblowers statements challenged the metro police chiefs assertion that the department did not have arrest quotas, stating [w]e are constantly counseled daily about necessary paperwork, arrests, and citations that need to be brought in to be considered a productive officer [Metro police need] to unnecessarily stop and harass citizens just to refrain from getting in any trouble from Leadership/Management.

When more former transit officers testified that there was systematic pressure from leadership to make arrests, Pavlik accused them of lying. Pavlik further said there was no need to question the charges brought or tickets and citations issued during the competition period. WMATA Board Chair Paul Smedberg said that Pavlik has his full confidence.

Local officials have sought to feign outrage at the incident in an effort to head off any potential for real outrage to the systemic abuses of metro police. Allen said, This shouldnt ever happen and I hope we learn through oversight this is an isolated incident. At a public hearing Wednesday, at-large council member Robert C. White added calls for a toothless civilian review board to restore community trust.

Such gestures and gimmicks are the stock and trade of the Democratic Party, aimed at containing popular frustrations and outrage at the ongoing wave of police brutality and killings through empty bureaucratic maneuvers.

The contest encouraging the harassment of Metro riders by police comes to light in the immediate aftermath of WMATA announcing that it would cut bus routes and increase fares, and the end of the longest strike in the transit systems 53-year history. While the working population is increasingly forced to endure the impact of budget cutting and loss of services, governments at the local and national level increasingly empower the police and law enforcement to confront the population.

This is a pattern repeated across the United States and, indeed, internationally: In New York City, hundreds of new police are being hired while the train system crumbles. Washington, D.C., metro police have routinely received funding increases far outstripping the amounts given to WMATA transit workers in their most recent contracts.

According to a 2018 D.C. Council report, the current Collective Bargaining Agreement for the MTPD allows for substantial yearly fund increases to the 3,500 transit patrol officers, despite a 78 percent increase in complaints about police harassment during the previous contract and MTPD officers having killed five people in the same time period.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:35:11|Editor: huaxia

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A friend in need is a friend indeed. More than half of China's provincial-level regions are lending a helping hand to cities in Hubei, the province hit hardest by #coronavirus. #StayStrongChina
Harry and Meghan will likely lose the royal part of their branding. (Getty Images)

As professionals, businesses and celebrities alike will know, getting your branding right is crucial to success.

With that in mind, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle suffered a blow this week when it emerged they will be unable to continue using the moniker Sussex Royal as they step back from senior duties.

The Queen reportedly banned the duo from using their Sussex Royal brand after the couple stepped down as working royals.

The couple announced in January that they wanted to carve out their own path, and hoped to be able to carry on serving the Queen but also gain financial independence.

The couple will still have a huge amount of personal brand power. (Getty Images)

That meant giving up royal duties for which they receive payment from the Crown.

But, after intense talks between Buckingham Palace and the couples team, it became clear they would not be able to have a half-in, half-out lifestyle.

According to the Daily Mail, the 93-year-old Queen and palace aides have decided that due to the Sussexes no longer residing in the UK or taking part in official royal duties, it no longer makes sense for them to keep using the word royal in their brand.

Its been all over their website and their Instagram account, but now it seems they wont be able to use it, with the palace likely to rule against the word.

A brand overhaul in order

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been living in Canada with their son Archie. (Getty Images)

Thomas Coop, a trademark attorney said the Queen is within her rights to remove the use of the royal title, but it seems the monarch is backpedalling on a previous promise.

Trade Mark applications... can be refused if the products or services covered by the application would lead people to believe that there is an association with the Queen or the Royal Family, he explained.

It is interesting to see that Harry and Meghan's UK trademark application for SUSSEX ROYAL was published.

Therefore, it is possible that the Queen consented to the initial application and has, therefore, now withdrawn this consent.

He says in the UK the pair will need to carefully consider their next step and may need a brand overhaul.

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Overall, as the UK is likely to be an important market for Harry and Meghan, they will probably need to consider rebranding or come to some new arrangement with the Queen so they can

gain the benefits of having registered protection for their brand name, such as making it much simpler to enforce against other parties, he said.

Royal title not of huge importance

Prince Harry and Meghan will be able to make their own money from April. (Getty Images)

Brand expert Deborah Ogden told Yahoo UK the loss will have a minimal impact.

They will lose some value from the Sussex Royal brand but my belief is that Prince Harry will always be Prince Harry therefore in the UK market, the American market, and the global markets that recognise the British Royal Family, Im not sure taking it away will have a huge impact, she said.

Zoe Middleton-Lyons, senior account manager for branding agency Underscore, agreed it may not be all bad news for the young royals.

Change is beneficial for brands whether it is a new tone of voice, brand name or internal business changes, she says.

This is especially true for Meghan and Harry at such a crucial stage in their lives, as they can begin to create their own legacy.

Coop said the Sussexes might be able to get some temporary protection from EU law, because those provisions of the use of the word royal are not the same as in the UK.

But this wouldnt last past the end of the transition period, which finishes on 31 December 2020.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the Sussexes would end their royal duties from 31 March, meaning from 1 April onwards they can make their own money.
A few months ago, when Comrade Oshiomhole caused tension in the state due to the same behavior, we had reported formally to the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services about the avoidable carnage, destruction of property and severe injuries to many persons as well as general unrest which resulted from Comrade Oshiomholes abuse of protocol and his penchant for crisis and violence.
With the help of sophisticated hand-held devices, the entire route has been scanned several times by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad.

A screenshot of the Baahubali video retweeted by US President Donald Trump ahead of his maiden visit to India on Sunday.

Ahmedabad: Over 10,000 policemen from different parts of Gujarat have been deployed at strategic locations in Ahmedabad as part of the elaborate security arrangements for US President Donald Trumps visit here on Monday, officials said.

The massive police deployment is in addition to officials of the United States Secret Service, and Indias elite National Security Guards (NSG) and Special Protection Group who would also be guarding the US presidents visit.

The Secret Service agents along with other US security personnel have already arrived with their equipment and vehicles in at least four cargo planes during the last one week.

Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in a 22-km roadshow from the Ahmedabad international airport and then proceed for the Namaste Trump event at the newly- built Sardar Patel Stadium in the citys Motera area, where over one lakh people are expected to be present.

Police will be using the anti-drone technology to neutralise any suspicious drone on the route, officials said, adding that an anti-sniper team of the NSG will also be stationed along the roadshow route, starting from the airport till the Motera stadium via Indira bridge.

With the help of sophisticated hand-held devices, the entire route has been scanned several times by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad. Police and other security agencies have also conducted a rehearsal on the entire roadshow route using over 100 vehicles, they said.

Along with police personnel, who will be led by 25 IPS officers, teams of the Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police, Chetak Commando and Anti-Terrorist Squad are also deployed at strategic locations.

Before the US presidents arrival, at least four C17 Globemaster cargo planes of the US Air Force have landed at the Ahmedabad international airport with security and communication equipment, Trumps official helicopter Marine One and a mammoth SUV-like vehicle. The giant SUV, which would be part of Trumps cavalcade during his 22-km long roadshow on February 24, is known as WHCA Roadrunner. WHCA stands for White House Communications Agency.
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia took to Twitter and made an appeal to Delhiites to maintain peace after fresh clashes erupted between two groups of protestors in the city's Maujpur area on Monday.

"Appeal to all Delhiites to maintain peace. Violence results in loss to everyone. The flames of violence hurt everyone in a way that it can never be compensated," read the tweet by Sisodia.

Meanwhile, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at 10 locations in the North-east district of the capital after the clash.

On Sunday, stone-pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur due to which the police resorted to firing tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob. Maujpur area is close to Jaffrabad metro station area, where women are holding a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) amid heavy security.

The entry and exit gates at Jaffrabad Metro Station had also been closed on Sunday morning due to the anti-CAA protest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Kildare between Tuesday, March 3 and Thursday, March 5, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The visit, which will see Their Royal Highnesses William and Kate spend time in Kildare as well as Dublin, County Meath, and Galway, will help highlight the many strong links between the UK and Ireland.

Following Her Majesty The Queens historic visit in 2011 to Kildare , the visit will also focus on the relationship between the two countries, and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation.

During the three-day tour, The Duke and Duchess will learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide opportunities to help them develop important life skills. Their Royal Highnesses will also hear more about Irelands conservation initiatives and efforts to protect its environment, with a particular focus on sustainable farming and marine conservation.

Throughout the visit, Their Royal Highness will meet a broad range of people, including the President, the Taoiseach and senior political leaders, children and young people, and those working in the creative arts, business and charity sectors.
Centrally located among Waco, Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, property owners can experience the best in small-town country living on their private 10 to 30 acre ranchette at Mulberry Creek; yet will still be close to all the big city conveniences and modern amenities most families crave. This community offers spectacular Hill Country views, grassy open pastureland, heavily wooded areas, ample privacy, and tons of wildlife plus , the added benefits of low ag exempt taxes and fiber optic high speed internet.

Property Highlights:

-Beautiful 10 to 30 acre Ranchettes

-Spectacular Hill Country views

-Heavily wooded areas

-Open pastureland

-Ample privacy

-Tons of wildlife

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-Creekfront homesites available

-Charming location in Evant, Texas

-Centrally located among Waco, Austin, Fort Worth, & San Antonio

-Low ag exempt taxes

-Build now or later & choose your own builder

The best part about purchasing property at Mulberry Creek is the peace of mind customers will experience from working with Lone Star Land Partners - a company backed by over 50 years of experience in the land development business. Property owners can choose to build now or build later and enjoy the freedom to choose their own builder to create the country home of their dreams. Another added benefit is the excellent land financing available. To schedule a personalized tour of the community, call (877) 333-8780 or visit www.MulberryCreekTX.com.

*Cottage shell offer exclusive to Lone Star Land Partners customers only through builder selected by Lone Star. Price is for a 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,200 sf cottage with porch - to be constructed on a lot at Mulberry Creek. Optional carport shown not included in price. Optional full frontal decorative stonework shown included in price carried up to three feet tall. Cottage price subject to change without notice. An Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Third Avenue Management (Trades, Portfolio) recently disclosed its portfolio updates for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Founded in 1986 by Martin J. Whitman, Third Avenue pursues a deep-value investing strategy based on the prices, balance sheets and assets of businesses. It aims to follow the crowd as little as possible, focusing on the long-term values of investments rather than the short-term effects of news reports or investor sentiment.





Based on the above criteria, Third Avenue Management established a new position in The Howard Hughes Corp. (NYSE:HHC) during the quarter and sold out of its positions in Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE:LOW) and Tejon Ranch Co. (NYSE:TRC). It also bought shares of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY).

The Howard Hughes Corp.

After selling out of a previous position in Howard Hughes in the second quarter of 2016, the firm established a new holding in the company of 112,780 shares. The trade had a 1.41% impact on the equity portfolio. Shares traded at an average price of $116.27 during the quarter.

Howard Hughes is a Texas-based real estate development and management company that has its origins in the oil drilling tool business in Dallas. Soon after its founding, the company diversified into real estate, which now accounts for the majority of operations.

On Feb. 24, Howard Hughes shares traded around $126.05 for a market cap of $5.44 billion and a price-earnings ratio of 48.43. The company has a GuruFocus financial strength rating of 4 out of 10 and a profitability rating of 6 out of 10.

The interest coverage of 1.78% and Altman Z-score of 1.12 indicate that the company may encounter difficulty in meeting its long-term financial obligations. On the other hand, the cash-debt ratio of 0.19 and current ratio of 2.24 suggest it can easily pay off short-term creditors.

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The return on capital of 484.72% and three-year revenue growth rate of 9.7% are outperforming 61.67% of competitors. However, net income has declined in recent years.

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In October of 2019, Howard Hughes completed a comprehensive review of its assets and decided to enact a transformation plan. It aims to sell approximately $2 billion in non-core assets and cut costs by $50 million. Effective as of the announcement, Paul Layne became the new CEO, and both David Weinreb (former CEO) and Grant Herlitz (former company president) stepped down from the company. These changes may be able to provide the company a profitability boost until income from its MPC (master planned communities) town centers can build up.

Lowe's Companies Inc.

Third Avenue Management sold out of its 217,258-share holding in Lowe's, impacting the equity portfolio by -2.16%. Shares of the company were trading at an average price of $114.57 during the quarter. GuruFocus calculations indicate that the investment returned a total estimated gain of 174.37% to the firm.

Lowe's is a home improvement retailer based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It sells various products for do-it-yourself home improvement, such as appliances, windows, countertops and flooring.

On Feb. 24, shares of Lowe's traded around $122.81 for a market cap of $93.85 billion and a price-earnings ratio of 32.33. GuruFocus has assigned the company a financial strength rating of 5 out of 10 and a profitability rating of 9 out of 10.

Lowe's has a cash-debt ratio of 0.04, which is lower than 89.69% of competitors. The current ratio of 1.04 also indicates that the company may have trouble with its short-term financial obligations, though the Altman Z-score of 3.84 suggests more stability for repaying long-term creditors.

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The company has a return on capital of 22.55% and an operating margin of 6.67%. Revenue has seen steady growth, though net income has remained low.

bf15db3871d0f7b8de87eb1f37deacfe.png

Compared to its main rival Home Depot (HD), Lowe's has managed to keep pace in terms of overall growth. While Lowe's has seen continued success with its professional contractor niche, its online sales are lagging Home Depot's significantly, growing only 11% year over year in 2019 compared to Home Depot's 24%. The retailer will need to improve its omnichannel offerings, including online, delivery and logistics, if it doesn't want to fall behind its chief rival.

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Tejon Ranch Co.

The firm also sold its remaining 686,108 shares of Tejon Ranch, impacting the equity portfolio by -1.05%. During the quarter, shares of the company traded at an average price of $16.32. According to GuruFocus calculations, the investment returned a total estimated gain of approximately 14.86% to the firm.

Tejon Ranch is one of the largest owners of private land in the state of California. Its holdings include planned communities, commercial real estate and land used for agricultural or mining purposes.

On Feb. 24, Tejon Ranch shares traded around $16.24 apiece for a market cap of $423.81 million and a price-earnings ratio of 325.4. The company has a GuruFocus financial strength rating of 5 out of 10 and a profitability rating of 4 out of 10.

The cash-debt ratio of 0.83 and Altman Z-score of 2.99 indicate long-term financial stability, while the current ratio of 3.63 indicates short-term financial stability. However, the per-share ratio of debt to revenue is 1.65, which is a bit high.

a69ae4e15ea85c83d189a5ef26b1f999.png

The return on capital of -12.15% is underperforming 78.76% of competitors. Revenue and net income have been in decline for the past few years, though 2019 was a better year.

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In addition to real estate and agriculture, Tejon Ranch also leases its land to operators for exploration and production of oil, natural gas and limestone. The company may thus see headwinds in the future as the energy sector struggles with low oil and gas prices. Its consideration of possibly scaling up the solar facilities on its properties may pose a capital expenditure headwind in the early stages.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

The firm bought 3,365 shares of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which had a 0.11% impact on the equity portfolio. Shares of the exchange-traded fund sold at an average price of $308.48 apiece for the quarter.

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Portfolio overview

As of the quarter's end, Third Avenue Management's equity portfolio consisted of 57 stocks valued at $1.01 billion. Its top holdings were Five Point Holdings LLC (FPH) with 8.05% of the equity portfolio, Weyerhaeuser Co. (WY) with 7.9% and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (BAM) with 6.15%.

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The turnover rate was 3%. In terms of sector weighting, the firm was most invested in real estate (43.07%), followed by financial services (16.19%) and consumer cyclical (14.27%).

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Disclosure: Author owns no shares in any of the stocks mentioned. The mention of stocks in this article does not at any point constitute an investment recommendation. Investors should always conduct their own careful research and/or consult registered investment advisors before taking action in the stock market.

Read more here:

Mairs and Power: Top 4th-Quarter Trades

Mason Hawkins' Southeastern Buys 4 in 4th Quarter

Chris Davis' Firm Buys Intel, Sells Microsoft







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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






After immigrating to the United States at age 15, Ms. Mueller spent some eight decades in the Midwest, where she lived for many years in a rural stretch of Chicagos North Shore suburbs. Awakened in the morning by the moos of Holstein cows from a neighboring farm, she set to work from her second-floor study writing free-verse poetry that often reflected the beauty of the natural world and what she called the indifference of nature in the face of human suffering.
Any worries that sadistic killer Graham Dwyer will taste freedom in the near future have abated for now.

The Supreme Court's referral of its judgment on his phone data retention case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has kicked that can down the road.

Some Irish lawyers believe it could be anywhere between 12 months and two years before a decision is made. Official figures put the average waiting time for processing such referrals at 15 months in 2016.

This means Dwyer's separate criminal appeal, which was already on hold pending the outcome of his challenge to Ireland's data retention laws, will be delayed further.

Dwyer wants to be able to dispute the admissibility of the call data records that were crucial to proving he murdered childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. His cause was helped by a declaration by the High Court in December 2018 that the 2011 Communications Act, the legislation under which gardai accessed the data, contravened EU law.

Expand Close Elaine OHara was murdered. Photo: PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Elaine OHara was murdered. Photo: PA

The State appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing personal protection and national security considerations outweighed Dwyer's privacy and data protection rights.

The Supreme Court has now ruled but will not finalise its judgment until it receives clarity from the CJEU on three areas where the court says EU law is unclear.

Dwyer will not have taken much comfort from the preliminary views expressed on behalf of the court by Chief Justice Frank Clarke.

Although Mr Justice Clarke found the regime under which gardai access retained phone data was not of a standard which conforms with EU law, there was a sting in the tail for Dwyer.

Expand Close Mr Justice Frank Clarke Photo: Colin ORiordan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mr Justice Frank Clarke Photo: Colin ORiordan

The Chief Justice was also of the opinion the court may well have the jurisdiction to determine that any finding of invalidity should not apply to events which occurred prior to that finding being made.

One of the questions the CJEU will be asked to answer is whether it agrees with the Chief Justice on this.

If it does, that would mean any cases where data was obtained under the 2011 Act prior to December 2018 could remain safe from challenge.

In all of the focus on the implications for Dwyer's criminal appeal, it can easily be forgotten his proceedings have much wider implications.

As Mr Justice Clarke pointed out in his judgment, the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, not least those against women, children and vulnerable persons, would, in many cases, be impossible without access to such data.

But since the 2018 High Court ruling, gardai have largely had to do without it due to fears subsequent prosecutions would be open to challenge in the courts.

It is understood access requests are now only being pursued in cases where there is an imminent risk to life.

In the meantime, hundreds of investigations into serious crimes have been stifled.

During the Supreme Court appeal barrister Sean Guerin, for the State, summed up the situation.

He said the consequences of not having data for the investigation and prosecution of serious crime, including child sex abuse, were "stark" and there was "no alternative" for accessing retained data.

It now seems the referral to the CJEU will act as a double-edged sword.

While it will assist the Supreme Court in finalising its judgment, the introduction of new legislation to bring Irish laws into compliance with Europe will be delayed until after the CJEU clarification comes, whenever that will be.

Ultimately, there could be a gap of three years or more where investigators lack the necessary legislation to safely obtain phone data.

The outgoing Government's response to the crisis has been somewhat lethargic. Back in December 2018, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan admitted it was clear the current legal framework needed to be modernised.

He said a new Data Retention Bill was at an advanced stage of being drafted and was on a priority legislation list.

Some 14 months on, the bill has yet to be published.

The Department of Justice now says it is "well advanced" and that officials are "working closely" with the Attorney General on it.

But the opportunity to swiftly solve the problem was missed as any new legislation will now need to take account of the outcome of the CJEU referral.
By Jack Ciattarelli

In 2018, I wrote in my Star-Ledger Op-Ed: Mark my words, if Governor Murphy does not change course, by the end of his four-year term, . . . New Jersey will still be plagued by property tax, school funding and pension crises and ranked dead last in business climate.

Im no fortune teller. I wanted then, as I want now, to be wrong. But here we are. Two-plus years into Gov. Phil Murphys administration, just as he introduces his third budget, and still plagued by property tax, school funding and pension crises and ranked dead last in business climate.

If the governors recent State of the State is any indication, nothing will change. He refuses to do the heavy lifting. Why? Maybe its because he doesnt get it. Maybe its because he doesnt want to address hard realities or gore anyones ox, least of all the special interests to whom he is beholden. Maybe its because he thinks he can continue letting a 50-year low in the nations unemployment rate  one that he has nothing to do with  mask New Jerseys brokenness.

Make no mistake, New Jersey is broken. Companies and jobs are leaving because of our business climate. Year over year, our state economy lags the national economy. Were dead last or next to last in job growth, wage growth and fiscal health. Our soaring state debt has been repeatedly downgraded and is getting perilously close to junk bond status. Our unfunded public employee pension liabilities are the worst in the nation on a per capita basis. And as were all painfully aware, our property taxes are the highest in the nation, as are our income, sales and gas taxes. New Jersey & You, TAXES FOREVER?!

For these reasons and more, New Jersey has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in outmigration  people leaving. Of those who remain, nearly one-half want to leave, and not because of the weather. Its taxes and cost of living (i.e., affordability).

Tomorrow, Governor Murphy will get another chance to turn things around with his budget address. Will it be another opportunity forgone? Another tone-deaf public statement along the lines of his now infamous Rowan University proclamation (i.e., If youre a one-issue voter and tax rate is your issue, . . . were probably not your state).

Where should the governor focus his attention? There are two crises that surpass all others. Two crises that, if solved, would go a long way toward addressing all other crises. We desperately need to fix property taxes and our business climate.

Speaking to these crises isnt hard, not if our leadership is honest. Identifying solutions for these crises isnt hard, not if were diligent. Solving the crises isnt hard, not if our leadership does what it is elected to do.

To solve the property tax crisis, we need to, among other things, reform the states school funding formula, with the state taking over special education funding; cap per student school instructional expenses; cap binding arbitration awards; stop re-assessing properties because of home improvements; freeze property taxes at age 70 for all homeowners; and reform affordable housing through legislation so that the bulk of affordable housing units are in urban areas near adequate road and mass transit systems.

To solve our business climate crisis, we need to, among other things, adopt Delaware bylaws for corporate/business governance; lower corporate business taxes; levy no income tax on any newly formed company, including small businesses and proprietorships; for corporate start-ups, make IPO stock sales tax free if certain New Jersey employee-based requirements are met; levy no income tax on the sale of a family-owned business; and supersize payroll deduction for small employers with minimum wage workers.

Revolutionary? Not really. Other states have adopted similar policies with success. REAL reforms? You bet. And thats exactly what New Jersey needs.

Governor Murphy is fond of referencing the Kennedys. Well, theres a quote from John F. Kennedy thats a favorite of mine. There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risk and costs of comfortable inaction.

Perhaps, the governor can make the quote a favorite of his and, in embracing its wisdom, boldly fix New Jersey.

Jack Ciattarelli is a former gubernatorial candidate and former state Assemblyman from Somerset County. He is also a 2021 Republican candidate for governor.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
A picture of a twin room which was circulated on social media over the weekend

Students at one of the countrys top universities are up in arms as hundreds face sharing cramped twin rooms after the university revealed it is doubling up on beds due to a lack of accommodation.

The University of Limerick has told students entering second and third year that they will only be able to apply for a twin room for the 2020/2021 academic year.

Final year students can apply for single bedrooms but only if they have lived in UL accommodation for the last three years.

In a statement, the university said the introduction of twin rooms will add 630 beds to its existing offering of 2,850.

So the University of Limerick has decided to hike rent rates by 3.5% and force any 2nd & 3rd years who want to live on-campus into really cramped potential unsafe accommodation designed for only one person



Thanks for exploiting students guys!

No plans to build any new rooms pic.twitter.com/gpS2uGsgVM  Daniel O'Reilly (@dan0rei) February 21, 2020

However, the news has been met with outrage by students who have described the rooms as prison cell-like.

Imagine paying thousands to have less room than a prison cell and no personal space, one student said.

UL Student Life, the colleges students union, described the accommodation situation as appalling.

This policy is in no way cognisant of the needs of second, third and fourth year students who require single semester housing, said UL Student Life president Jack Scanlan.

It is very clear that there is not enough accommodation for students at the University of Limerick, with solutions such as the doubling up of rooms being proposed.

These rooms were never designed for two students.

We are demanding that the university stops all plans to increase the student population until adequate infrastructure and services are in place to cater for the 16,300 students.

Students cannot be the revenue generator for higher universities. Education is a right, not a privilege.

Daniel OReilly (19), a first year architect student, said the twin rooms deny basic privacy.

The rooms will be so cramped you can basically kick someone in their sleep.

A lot of students are in limbo now as the announcement has come too late in the year and people have to try and find other options.

Twin room costs will range from 2,800 to 4,250 per person.

Hundreds of students have signed a petition demanding that second and third year students not be limited to shared bedrooms.

In response to queries, the University of Limerick said shared rooms are being introduced in an attempt to meet unprecedented demand in the shortest possible timeframe amid a national housing crisis.

"The option for twin (sharing) will be significantly cheaper  in some cases up to 45pc cheaper - and offer a reduced price point for on-campus accommodation that has not previously existed," the spokesperson said.

"A maximum of two bedrooms within an existing six-bedroom apartment in four of the villages will be retrofit for the shared accommodation (twin room) option. These will all be en-suite.

"Some students have requested the twin room option, either because they want to room with a relative or friend, or because it is the most affordable option. A pilot programme has also run successfully.

"In a student accommodation survey completed in 2019, 76pc of students who responded (1,323 in total) said that they were willing to share a room on campus at a cost of between 3,500 and 3,750.

"Single semester accommodation for second and third year students will be available as a twin room option."
One day after Qom University of Medical Sciences President Mohammad Reza Qadir described the coronavirus outbreak in Qom as critical in a live television program and revealed that the decision to censor the statistics and information about the outbreak had been issued by senior government officials, state-run media IRNA news agency reported that he was quarantined.

IRNA reported: Dr. Mohammad Reza Qadir, head of Qom University of Medical Sciences, has been in frequent contact with coronary patients for the past few days, and by the advice of doctors he should be kept in quarantine for some time.

It is unclear whether the quarantine of the Qom University of Medical Sciences chief will be along with his possible removal from the post of head of the medical university, but by applying quarantine conditions to him, in practice, his responsibility of dealing with Corona in the city and province of Qom which is the work area of Mohammad Reza Qadir is denied to him.

Of course, he has appointed Dr. Ali Abrazeh as vice-president of the university during an order.

The head of Qom University of Medical Sciences mentioned in a live television program four important points about the critical situation of Qom and the emancipation of patients infected with the coronavirus in the city.

He spoke about the critical situation of Qom and the wandering of patients infected with the coronavirus in the city, the censorship of information and statistics on the extent of coronary outbreaks by senior government officials, the monopoly of Tehran in the examination of the coronavirus under the supervision of the Ministry of Healths central headquarters, as well as a number of cases of nurses and doctors infected with the coronavirus.

Mohammad Reza Ghadir said in the interview, referring to the dire situation of the coronary virus in Qom: I am used to speaking honestly. We should have to look at Qom differently. Qoms situation is inadequate and therefore I ask the Ministry of Health and government delegation for help, and to have a different view on Qom so that we do not see a coronavirus outbreak in Qom.

He said people from the medical and nursing staff have been infected or suspected of having the coronavirus, and in some cases, the results of their tests should be determined.

Qadir also described the situation of the Coronavirus outbreak in Qom as worsening, citing a censorship order for statistics and information related to Corona that was ordered by the Ministry of Health not to disclose statistics.

Read More about the Iranian governments secrecy:

Iran Covered Up Coronavirus to Boost Election Turnout

Dont Believe Iran Regimes lies
David Lloyd Leisure is to be prosecuted over alleged health and safety breaches following the death of a three-year-old boy in one of the firm's pools.

Leeds City Council made the announcement on Monday after an inquest jury returned a conclusion of accident at a hearing in Wakefield.

The jury heard how Rocco Wright died after he was pulled from the water by his father at the David Lloyd centre in Leeds on April 21 2018.

Rocco Wright, three, died after he was found face down at the bottom of a David Lloyd Leisure swimming pool in Leeds

The hearing has been told that there was only one 17-year-old lifeguard on duty at the time of the incident.

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: 'The death of a child in any circumstances is tragic, and we continue to offer the Wright family our sincerest sympathy.

'Leeds City Council's Health and Safety Inspectors have investigated the circumstances of Rocco's death and believe that David Lloyd Leisure Ltd have committed offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which we intend to prosecute in the near future.

'We will keep in regular contact with the family and ensure they are informed and supported throughout this next stage.'

Speaking outside Wakefield Coroner's Court, Natalie Marrison - representing Rocco's parents, Catharine and Steven Wright - said they continued to have concerns about safety at the swimming pool at the time and supported Leeds City Council's investigation and planned prosecution.

David Lloyd Leisure is to be prosecuted over alleged health and safety breaches following the death of a three-year-old boy in one of the firm's pools (pictured)

Ms Marrison said: 'At the heart of this is a three-year-old boy who has lost his life.

'The family remain devastated by the loss.

'The inquest has heard evidence which raises serious concerns surrounding health and safety at the swimming pool at the David Lloyd club in Leeds in April 2018.'

Ms Marrison said the 'serious concerns' related to the visibility available to the lifeguards in the pool and the number of lifeguards on duty.

She said: 'The Wright family are keen for the investigation to continue and they will support Leeds City Council in any prosecution of the David Lloyd club.'

Last week, Rocco's father told the jury his son's death 'could and should have been prevented'.

Rocco Wright (pictured) was just three years old when he died at the David Lloyd leisure centre in Leeds

Mr Wright described how his panic grew as he searched for Rocco before he spotted him at the bottom of the main pool. The jury found that the youngster had probably been under the 1.2m (4ft) deep water for more than two minutes.

He explained how he was with Rocco and his daughter at the poolside and was planning to take his son swimming as his daughter had her regular lesson, but this class was cancelled.

He explained how he searched for his son before spotting him under the water, puling him to the side.

Mr Wright said his son had never got into the pool by himself and the inquest heard there were no witnesses or CCTV evidence that could explain how the little boy ended up in the water.

The inquest heard how David Lloyd Leisure operated a policy that the maximum number of people in a pool that could be supervised by a single lifeguard was 50 people.

David Lloyd Leisure operations director Stephen Brown stressed that this was a 'ceiling' figure.

Rocco Wright, three, went swimming with his four-year-old sister and father Steven at the David Lloyd club in Moortown, Leeds, (pictured, police at the scene) on April 21 2018

Mr Brown also denied that David Lloyd Leisure had a policy of employing young life guards because they were cheaper and said life guard staffing levels were for local managers to decide.

The jury returned its conclusion after coroner Jonathan Leach told jurors that accident was the only one available to them.

In a statement after the inquest conclusion, Rocco's heartbroken family said: 'We are extremely shocked to hear that David Lloyd Leisure chose to appoint only one lifeguard to supervise their 25-metre pool on that Saturday morning, when it was known to them that a large number of young children would be swimming.

'We were devastated to hear the facilities manager give testimony that lifeguard numbers had been cut at the pool due to what he stated was ''staff optimisation'' in line with budget cuts, despite numerous lifeguards stating they had raised concerns about lifeguard numbers and general safety at the pool.

'This, in our opinion, proves David Lloyd Leisure put profit before safety.

Loved ones and well-wishers are pictured at the funeral for little Rocco Wright, who drowned in a swimming pool

'We will never get over our loss and continue to grieve daily for the life Rocco never got to live. '

The head office at David Lloyd Leisure had set a ratio of one lifeguard to 50 pool users across their 100 clubs nationally.

The inquest previously heard this was set by the club at least 18 years ago with no review since.

The Health and Safety Executive provide guidance for swimming pool safety which recommends two lifeguards for a pool of the size at the Leeds club.

A spokesman for David Lloyd Leisure said: 'David Lloyd Leisure never places profit above safety.

'Subsequent evidence given by David Lloyd Leisure at the inquest showed no evidence of budget cuts to lifeguarding at the Leeds Club at the time of the accident, on the contrary lifeguarding had in fact received increased investment.'
By Express News Service

American President Donald Trump has cheered Ayushmann Khurranas new film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, which is being hailed as Indias first mainstream gay romance. British LGBTQ rights activist Peter Tatchell tweeted about the film starring Ayushmann and Jitendra Kumar.

India: A new #Bollywood rom-com featuring a gay romance is hoping to win over older people, following the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Hurrah, Peter tweeted. Trump, who is set to visit India for the first time next week, replied to the tweet saying, Great! Peter later tweeted back saying he hopes the American President has genuinely embraced gay rights, and that this is not a publicity stunt ahead of his India visit. I hope this is the beginning of President Trumps genuine embrace of LGBT+ rights & not just a PR stunt, he wrote.

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is written and directed by Hitesh Kewalya. Set in Allahabad, the romantic-comedy tells the story of a gay couple fighting prejudice and homophobia. The film was released in theatres on February 21.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Faced with skyrocketing costs for insulin to treat his type 1 diabetes and limited insurance options, earlier this month James Jay Fortin, of York, Maine, had to get creative. He and his partner turned to the online fundraising platform GoFundMe to ask friends and strangers for donations.

In less than 48 hours, they had exceeded their modest goal of $1,300, ultimately raising $8,910. Jay needs insulin to survive, plain and simple, says Joanne Muckenhoupt, Fortins partner, who sponsored his GoFundMe campaign. Yet, as costs go up, and our income stays the same, what can we do?

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 7 million people in the U.S. depend on insulin, which regulates blood sugar. But the cost of this life-saving drug has shot up in the last five years.

Some commonly prescribed types have experienced the biggest price hikes since 2014, including Novalin (up 51 percent), Humalog (up 63 percent), and Novolog (up 72 percent), according to figures from GoodRx, which tracks drug prices, provided exclusively to Consumer Reports. Another common type of insulin, Alfrezza, has skyrocketed 90 percent since 2015.

Because of rising costs, 1 in 4 people who rely on insulin say they cut back on the amount they use to save money, according to a 2018 survey in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Rationing insulin can have very serious and sometimes deadly consequences, says LaShawn McIver, senior vice president of government affairs and advocacy at the American Diabetic Association.

There are several reasons why consumers are facing such high insulin costs, including drug companies charging more for newly developed forms of the drug and a lack of low-cost generic options.

While solutions to those and other underlying problems could still be a way off, pressure to ease the insulin affordability crisis is growingand beginning to have results. New programs from pharmaceutical companies and insurers, and some new federal and state government rules, are being put in place to help the many people like James Jay Fortin right now.

Story continues

How Did Insulin Get So Expensive?

Insulin price increases of the last few years caught the attention of Congress, which in 2018 and 2019 held multiple hearings with CEOs of the three companies that make insulin in the U.S.Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi. They wanted an explanation.

One reason the manufacturers gave is innovation. Regular insulinwhich has been available for nearly 100 yearshas long been so cheap that no company bothered to make a generic version of it. But it was also inconvenient, requiring people to give themselves multiple shots a day. So drug manufacturers developed new types of insulin: long-acting, medium-acting, and rapid-acting, as well as various hybrids, which only had to be used once or twice a day and offered more consistent glucose control.

Companies say these new versions give people with diabetes better options. But by developing them, they were also able to create expensive, branded products.

And because many people with diabetes need the drugs to survive, companies could charge almost whatever price they wantedand increase those prices repeatedly, says Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who has studied and written on this topic. We have a vulnerable population of millions willing to pay anything to have access to lifesaving drugs, he says.

Theres another force at work that causes the price of insulin and other drugs to risethe complex drug rebate system.

A rebate is money a drug manufacturer pays middlemen in the insurance industrycalled pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMsto get their drugs covered by insurance companies. As those rebate payments have increased, so has the cost of insulin, according to research by Adam Fein, an industry consultant and drug pricing expert at the Drug Channels Institute, a research firm.

For example, between 2014 and 2018, Fein notes that Eli Lillys insulin drug Humalog went up by 52 percent, from $391 per patient, per month to $594. During the same time period, the amount Eli Lilly paid PBMs and other middlemen in rebates jumped 88 percent, from $244 per patient, per month to $459.

Getting Costs Under Control

The Trump administration and Congress have recently proposed some ways to rein in insulin prices.

For example, the Trump administration, Health and Human Services, and the Food and Drug Administration have proposed letting retail pharmacies, drug wholesalers, states, and even drug manufacturers purchase expensive drugs, including insulin, from Canada, at cheaper prices. The FDA has also crafted a plan to develop a quicker pathway to approve less-expensive generic versions of the newer insulin drugs.

And bills introduced last year in both the House (H.R. 4906) and Senate (S. 2199) would incentivize drug companies to roll back insulin prices to 2006 levels and prohibit insurance companies from forcing patients who need insulin to first meet a deductible before their insurance kicks in.



While passage of those measures could still be a long way off, the big three insulin manufacturers have recently rolled out programs that could provide relief to consumers more quickly. Additionally, some insurance companies and PBMs have started to offer programs to help contain what consumers must pay.

Heres how you can take advantage of these new options, as well as some older ones, to lower insulin costs.

Check Your Out-of-Pocket Limit

Federal guidelines issued last year made it possible for health plans to cover insulin costs before consumers meet their deductibles, in the same way a doctors visit for an annual checkup is covered, says Brian Marcotte, CEO of Business Group on Health, an organization that represents large employers to address the healthcare needs of their employees. That change prompted some PBMs and insurance companies to offer other programs that limit consumer copays and other out-of-pocket expenses for insulin, Marcotte says.

For example, the PBM Express Scripts now offers plans through Cigna insurance that have copays of $25 or less for a 30-day supply of insulin, says company spokesperson Jennifer Luddy. Plans representing more than 6 million people across the country have enrolled so far, she says.

Oscar Health in New York announced this month that some of its plans would limit insulin copays to just $3.

CVS Health, another PBM, will offer a plan with zero-dollar copays for insulin starting in 2021, says Trey Hollern, spokesperson for CVS Health. He notes the company already offers that to its own 300,000 employees.

Marcotte expects more insurers and employers will offer these plans in 2021. But, he says, check your health plan now to see if theyre already available.

Some states are also limiting the out-of-pocket for insulin that an insurer can charge. Colorado and Illinois have already passed laws that require employers to limit an employees out-of-pocket insulin costs to no more than $100 per month. Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have introduced, but not yet passed, similar legislation.

Consider a Low-Cost Authorized Generic

These can be especially good options if your insurance plan has not yet set low or zero copays for insulin, or if you dont have insurance.

Authorized genericswhich insulin drug manufacturers began introducing last yearare essentially low-cost versions of a companys branded drug. And because they are chemically identical, pharmacists in most states can fill your prescription with one even if your doctor prescribed the branded version.

For someone with insurance, a copay could be lower with these authorized generics than the are with branded versions. And if you dont have insurance, or cant use it for some reason, they typically cost only about half as much.

For example, Eli Lillys authorized generic version of Humalog, called Insulin Lispro, is half the cost of the branded version, says company spokesman Greg Kueterman. Without insurance, that would cost a consumer about $150 for a 30-day supply. The company will have discounted generic versions of Humalog 75/25 and Humalog Junior Kwikpen in April, Kueterman says.

In January, Novo Nordisk began offering generic versions of two of its popular insulins, Novolog and Novolog Mix, at a 50 percent discount.

If your pharmacy doesnt carry the low-cost insulin youre looking for, ask a pharmacist to order it, says Vic Curtis, vice president of pharmacy at Costco. Expect delivery to take one to two business days.

Sanofi doesnt have an authorized generic insulin, but does have other low-cost options for its branded drugs (see below).

Look for Inexpensive Branded Drugs

There are some lower-cost options now available for people who want to or have to stick with a branded insulin.

Sanofi, for example, now has a program for people who buy their own insurance or get it through their employer that eliminates or sharply reduces copays for five of its branded drugs: Adlyxin, Apidra, Lantus, Soliqua 100/33, and Toujeo. For people without insurance, it sets a $99 limit per month for four of its drugs: Admelog, Apidra, Lantus, and Toujeo, says Nicholas Kressmann, spokesperson for Sanofi.

Eli Lilly has set a similar cap$95 per monthfor Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, KwikPen, and Humalog Junior KwikPen. The discounted price should be automatically available when you fill your prescription, says Eli Lilly spokesperson Kueterman. People without insurance can use a discount card to get the same low price (call 833-808-1234 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m ET), says Kueterman.

Last month, Novo Nordisk announced it would offer a months supply of any of its branded insulins, including Fiasp, Levemir, Novolin, Novolog, Novolog Mix 70/30, and Tresiba for $99 for anyone with or without insurance, says Ken Inchausti, spokesperson for Novo Nordisk.

See If You Qualify for Free Insulin

Drug companies offer free insulin to people below certain income thresholds, says Rich Sagall, M.D., president of Needymeds, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers find discounts and savings programs on thousands of medications.

The problem of finding affordable insulin is so widespread that its the second-most common reason patients contact his group, Sagall says. (The blood thinner Eliquis is the top reason.)

In mid-2019, these programscalled patient assistance programsraised that cutoff to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $50,000 for a single person or $103,000 for a family of four, Sagall says. That means more people may be able to qualify.

Still, there are some caveats. One is that these programs can be discontinued or change their income or other qualifications at any time.

Plus, Sagall says, dont expect to receive the medications right away. It often takes up to two weeks from the time you fill out the forms till you receive the insulin. While some companies have made it easier to submit applications, it will still take several working days before a decision is made.

Another caveat is that these programs apply only to people who dont have insurance or those whose insurance doesnt cover a companys drug. And you likely wont qualify if you have Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance from a federal source such as the Veterans Administration, Sagall says. Though do check back periodically, he says, because the qualification requirements can change.

For more about these programs from the three insulin makers:

Eli Lillys LillyCares (800-545-6962). In emergencies, you may be able to get a free, limited supply by calling customer service at 833-808-1234.

Novo Nordisks NovoCare program (844-668-6463). In emergencies, you may be able to get a free, one-time limited months supply by going to NovoCare.com or calling 844-668-6463.

Sanofis Patient Connection program (888-847-4877)

In addition to drug company programs, Sagall suggests consumers look into diabetes clinics and diabetes-specific organizations within their state or counties. Those may also offer low or no-cost insulin. To find one near you, contact a customer service specialist at Needymeds.com or 800-503-6897 for free help.

Consider an Older Version of Insulin

Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone, and for decades, insulin used by humans was derived from pigs or cattle. Today, insulin is cultivated in a lab, with the most common type called human analog. It's designed to be more quickly and consistently metabolized by the body, and consequently, it's more expensive.



But an older type of insulin, simply called "human insulin," is still sold today, and may work for some people, says Novo Nordisk's Inchausti. He says half a million people rely on the companys Novo Nordisk Human Insulin, which is available for about $25 per vial at Walmart or CVS pharmacies. Eli Lillys, called Humalin, cost $148 per vial. Your insurance may cover some or all of that cost.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
The coronavirus has hit markets hard and the NZ Dollar is back under pressure as fears of economic ties with China weigh.

Shorts have piled on and NZD is once again the most shorted currency of the G10.

However, this could bring stability as many sellers have already sold. NZD could actually be bullish against the AUD.

The coronavirus is starting to have a significant effect on a number of markets.

The obvious winner is gold while stock markets and oil are under heavy selling pressure.

Currencies have been more stable, with the Japanese Yen pulled between two opposing forces; on one hand it is the traditional risk-off currency safe haven and often travels higher with gold, but on the other hand it is weighed down by coronavirus fears and the economic effects that are likely to be felt across Asia.

Japan is already very near a technical recession and the slowdown caused by the virus is likely to tip it officially into contraction when the next GDP figures are released.

Other currencies in the area are also under pressure with the Australian dollar and the New Zealand dollar in the firing line due to economic links with China. 2020 has already been a troubling year for the AUD and the NZD but it could get worse and speculators are betting that the NZD falls further.

NZD a Favourite Short

The New Zealand Dollar has been one of the most pressured currencies in the G10 space for some time. As ING report, it was one of the favourite shorts of last year,

For most of 2H19, the New Zealand dollar was the biggest short (positioning peaked at -57% of open interest in October) within the G10 space as US-China trade tensions posed a big risk to the New Zealand economic outlook and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand pioneered the global easing cycle.

This changed in Q4 and especially in December as the trade deal between China and the US was all but signed and a large risk-on rally in many assets got underway. This led to a short squeeze which helped propel NZDUSD to 0.675. However it has been downhill from there and NZDUSD currently sits at 0.64, near the lows of 2019 of 0.62. This has emboldened short sellers and as ING reported this week, NZD is again the most shorted currency in the G10.

During the week of 12-18 February, markets took aim at the Kiwi dollar amid rising virus-related concerns. NZD is now the biggest G10 speculative short.

However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The British Pound was heavily shorted in H2 last year and the short squeeze on these shorts helped fuel the rally higher. ING make the point that it may slow the decline.

We suspect the drop in NZD net positioning is overdone and may actually signal a relatively more stable environment ahead for the currency. While we acknowledge that the prospect of a Chinese slowdown doesn't bode well for the New Zealand economy, we also highlight that the fundamentals hardly warrant a more optimistic outlook for AUD than NZD, as shown in the positioning data.

The RBNZ also signaled it is on hold. Its last statement was on the whole quite positive and it expects fiscal policies to filter through to the economy which should lessen the need for any monetary action.

Yet it did still leave the door open for cuts should the coronavirus have a significant impact on data. Unfortunately, this looks quite likely now.

Will NZD Win out vs the AUD?

This likelihood could keep NZD weak against the likes of the USD, but there could be some upwards movement in pairs such as AUDNZD.

Australia is more of a commodity currency and as such could be weighed down more by the current market environment than the NZD.

Additionally, the impact of the bushfires this summer could drag down some of the data and pressure will mount on the RBA to cut again.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 18:04:32|Editor: Xiaoxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad handed in his resignation letter on Monday.

Mahathir has also offered to resign as the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), which was previously one of the four component parties of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

"Mahathir Mohamad had sent a letter of resignation as Prime Minister of Malaysia today," the Prime Minister's Office said in a brief statement, adding that the letter had been given to the Malaysian King or Agong.

Earlier PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin announced leaving the coalition with the party's supreme council making the decision after a meeting on Feb. 23.

"All members of the House of Representatives of the party are also out of Pakatan Harapan. All of them have signed the oath to continue to support and trust Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister of Malaysia," the PPBM president said.

"This decision is made taking into account the current and future political developments of the country," he said.

Mahathir himself has neither spoken publicly since announcing his resignation nor provided any reason or explanation for doing so.

The developments come amid the intense speculation that a possible political realignment was being planned, with several political parties, including the opposition, holding meetings on Sunday.

After a Pakatan Harapan Supreme Council meeting on Friday, Mahathir insisted that he would step down after the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit at the end of year but the exact timing will be decided by himself.

Anwar Ibrahim, Mahathir's one-time deputy, who had met with Mahathir earlier on Monday, said after the meeting that he is satisfied with the outcome of the meeting during which they discussed several issues.

"It was a very good meeting. I am satisfied with his stance that we must prioritize our principles and the reform agenda must continue. That is all I can say for now," he said.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also the secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party, said the party would stand by Mahathir, and that the 94-year-old had resigned due to his principles, refusing to work with the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) or form a "back-door" government through undemocratic means.

"This is the first time that a Malaysian prime minister is prepared to resign on principle to uphold integrity and combat corruption," he said, blaming "renegade and theaceous" elements for attempting to form a government through the back door.

The PH coalition comprising Mahathir's PPBM, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara, took power during the national polls in May 2018, defeating the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which ruled the country since 1957.
For Presidents Day, there were a few radio and television programs on about the presidency and the role of or nations various presidents. One program I happened upon was National Public Radios On the Media, and a specific segment focused on the norms in the institutions of our government.

Norms, in this case, are not part of any laws or rules that have been adopted in an official way. What were talking about are customs, practices and the traditions that have been observed for a long, long time. We generally take such norms for granted because its always been done that way.

One example from our nations history is the idea that a president is allowed two terms in office. From our first president, George Washington, up to our 31st, Herbert Hoover, no president served more than two terms. office. This was not written in the Constitution, and it wasnt part of any law at the time. It was simply the custom set down by Washington, and it was observed by all who came after him until Franklin Delano Roosevelt decided to run for a third term in 1940, and then a fourth term in 1944.

FDR felt like he had good reason for breaking with the two-term precedent, including the lingering effects of the Great Depression and the outbreak of war in Europe. Despite this, once he finally made his intentions known about a third term in 1940, there was much pushback and outright anger from various quarters. Keep in mind that FDR wasnt breaking any law at the time, just a historical norm.

In response, Congress in 1947 approved the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which formally limits a president to two elected terms. It was ratified in 1951.

In this case, a constitutional amendment was needed because a norm was disregarded or set aside. But there are just as many instances in todays world where we think that customs and norms will serve as an effective check and balance on power  only to find out that these informal precedents are not up to the job.

For example, there is this idea that the U.S. Justice Department, headed by the attorney general, is above partisan politics and independent from the White House. There is no law stating this, and there is nothing codified anywhere to enforce such independence. However, over the last several decades  at least since the Watergate scandal in the 1970s  the perceived separateness and independence of Justice was the norm.

That norm was shattered very recently when President Donald Trump voiced his criticisms at the allegedly harsh 7-9-year sentence recommended by career Justice Department prosecutors for Roger Stone, a longtime friend of the president who was convicted of lying and witness intimidation in the Russia election interference probe. At roughly the same time that the president made his objections public, senior Justice Department officials overruled the career prosecutors and recommended a lighter sentence for Stone. (Stone was subsequently sentenced to 40 months in prison.)

The reality is, that as distasteful and potentially conflict-ridden as some may find it, this presidential intervention didnt violate any statutes, only a custom. The same holds true about a presidential candidate releasing his or her tax income returns. For many years, it was always done, and it was expected  but there is no law requiring a candidate to make tax forms public.

Norms and customs also say that presidents issue pardons to correct miscarriages of justice, not just to shield cronies from the effects of prosecution  but nothing requires this.

We are a nation of laws, but were equally a nation of norms, customs, and precedents. As long as everyone agrees to follow the unwritten stuff, the thing we call our democracy works well. But, when the unwritten stuff is disregarded, for whatever reason, we find out just how vulnerable and fragile that democracy can be.

Many would argue that were already overregulated, with far too much government. But, I fear that regulation is all thats left for us if we reach the point where were unwilling to submit to the norms and practices developed and handed down over the generations of the republic.

Maybe thats what this next election is about: not so much about where one candidate or another stands on a particular issue, but whether a given candidate possesses an adequate appreciation of how fragile the institutions of our government can be when historical norms are disregarded for short-term considerations.

Albert B. Kelly is mayor of Bridgeton. Contact him by phone at 856-455-3230 Ext. 200.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
President Klaus Iohannis has announced his decision to hold a meeting of Romania's Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) on Wednesday on the coronavirus topic.

"We have no registered case of coronavirus so far, but we must be prepared. I have decided to call a CSAT meeting on Wednesday, 2.00 pm," said Iohannis, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
Renault looks set to introduce only one development step on its engine in 2020.

The French team has made no secret of its intention to focus most intently on preparations for the sweeping new 2021 regulations this year.

That will also apply to the engine.

"This (2020) engine is an evolution of all the work we did in 2019," engine boss Remi Taffin told AS newspaper.

"There will not be many evolutions during the year, because we soon want to be focused on the 2021 power unit," he added, revealing that a 'Spec 2' engine will be introduced during the forthcoming season.

(GMM)
Andrew is on The Daily today discussing recent sustainability efforts by the likes of Jeff Bezos, Microsoft and Delta. Are the carbon-reduction programs genuine or simply marketing? Take a listen. (Want this in your inbox each morning? Sign up here.)

Buffetts big idea for better M&A advice

Berkshire Hathaway hasnt done a big deal in years, as Warren Buffett explains in his latest annual letter to shareholders. Even so, hes happy with his track record. Likening mergers to marriages, the legendary investor writes, I would say that our marital record remains largely acceptable, with all parties happy with the decisions they made long ago.

He thinks others could do better. There is the ever-present risk of succumbing to Wall Streeters bearing fees, as he describes deal-hungry investment bankers. At many companies, these super-salesmen might win, he notes. I do not, however, expect that to happen at Berkshire.

Independent directors, in particular, arent serving companies well, he says.

 When it comes to acquisitions that C.E.O.s want to make, independent directors are supposed to check their impulses. But corporate chiefs rarely bring in outside advisers who provide dissenting opinions, so the deals usually happen. When seeking directors, C.E.O.s dont look for pit bulls, Mr. Buffett writes. Its the cocker spaniel that gets taken home.
Following the careless act of Spanish Secretary of state in charge of social affairs Nacho Alvarez who hosted in his office a Polisario delegation, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not take long to admonish the minister of the leftist Podemos party and clarify again Spains position on the Sahara issue.

The Spanish Foreign Minister, Arancha Gonzalez, actually had a phone talk with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, about the meeting of a pseudo- Sahrawi minister with Alvarez, during which she reiterated Spains position on the Sahara issue.

I had a phone call with my Moroccan counterpart on the meeting of the secretary of state for social affairs with the alleged Sahrawi minister for social affairs. I clarified that the meeting and the communication around it does not reflect the position of the Spanish government on the Sahara, stated the head of Spanish diplomacy, Arancha Gonzalez, on her twitter account.

She further made it clear that The position of Spain on the Sahara has not changed. It is a state policy. Spain does not recognize the SADR (Sahrawi Republic self-proclaimed by the Polisario) and supports the efforts of the UN SG for a peaceful solution within the framework of the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Leader of the leftist Podemos party Pablo Iglesias also commented on the controversial meeting of members of his party, part of the government coalition, with a polisario delegation, saying that the Spanish Foreign Ministry is the sole party responsible for Spains position on the Sahara issue and relations between Madrid and Rabat.

Pablo Iglesias, who is also the vice president of the Spanish government, made his remarks in a televised interview with RTVE.

Following the remarks of the Foreign Minister and of the Leader of Podemos, Nacho Alvarez deleted his tweet in which he committed to continue to cooperate with the Sahrawi separatists in matters of relief aid for the disabled.

It is therefore crystal clear that the act of the Podemos Minister only reflects his own stand, which is contrary to the official stand of Spain, a state policy, as recalled by Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez.
Presidential campaigns can get pretty intense, so its not that surprising that top Democratic contenders are throwing some sharp zingers at their competitors. But whats strange about the current turmoil is that both sides are saying the same thing  that the other candidate would guarantee a loss to Donald Trump.

One of them is right, but Democratic voters still havent figured out which one. If they guess wrong, Trump will indeed be inaugurated for a second term, and Democratic despair would be unimaginable.

Most of this is happening because of the new kid on the block, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who just so happens to the be the ninth-richest man in the world with a personal fortune north of $60 billion. Hes been unloading more than $350 million of that on a series of television commercials, newspaper ads and billboards to support his late entry into the race.

For a while, it seemed to be working, and in fact it may still work. Bloomberg jumped up impressively in national polls, in no small part because none of the other candidates seemed to have what it takes to face one of the nastiest campaigners in American politics and emerge victorious.

But in Wednesday nights debate in Nevada, Sen. Elizabeth Warren tore into Bloomberg like a hurricane hitting a row of beachfront condos. She noted that he had settled several allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination against female employees with non-disclosure agreements, which usually involve large amounts of money. For good measure, she noted that he had referred to some women as fat broads and horse-faced lesbians.

You can bet that wont help Bloomberg, should he get the nomination, carry the suburban women who are supposed to be so crucial to a Democratic victory in the fall. And Bloomberg also made some rich-guy clueless remarks, like snapping that he couldnt just go to Turbo Tax for his tax returns because he is so opulent.

This is why many Democrats fear that he cant beat Trump. They believe he would be viewed as a Johnny-come-lately to their party who is not that different from Trump  and thus doesnt give enough voters enough reasons to switch presidents.

And those concerns could indeed be valid  unless Bloomberg is enough of a wild card to defeat the ultimate wild card in Trump. Bloomberg, for all his faults, might be just the kind of unconventional candidate who could get under Trumps skin and rattle him in a debate, attracting a broad enough coalition in the right states to win.

Those possibilities are valid because, again, no other Democrat looks like he or she could fill that role now. If democratic socialist Bernie Sanders becomes the front-runner and gets the nomination, Trump would probably win the popular vote as well as the Electoral College. Arguing for socialism when the stock market is setting new highs and unemployment is setting new lows is simply foolish.

Warren is not a socialist, but shes very liberal, probably too liberal to win. The plain fact is that even Democrats have rejected her, with her approval down to single digits in some polls. She did rip the bark off Bloomberg in that debate, but lets see if her poll numbers improve.

That leaves Sen. Amy Klobuchar and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who are nice enough but who also have not really caught on yet, and were past the early stages. If one of them is going to make a move, it needs to happen soon.

All of which gets back to the argument that Bloomberg, of all people, might be the best bet after all. But with his late entry into the race, he needs to start winning a lot of delegates quickly, or he just wont have a majority at the convention in Milwaukee. Which leads to the next possibility, a brokered convention where a new round of arguments erupt and the chaos deepens.

Yikes. Its still possible that a Democrat beats Trump in November, but its also looking kind of dicey. If youre a Democrat, feel free to reach for the Pepto Bismol and wonder if Ruth Bader Ginsburg can hang on four more years.

Thomas Taschinger, TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com, is the editorial page editor of The Beaumont Enterprise. Follow him on Twitter at @PoliticalTom
At least 16 Turkish soldiers killed in fighting in Libya: Haftar forces

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 7:25 PM

Forces loyal to Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar say they have killed 16 Turkish soldiers in recent weeks amid ongoing violence in the North African country.

A spokesman for Haftar's self-styled Libya National Army (LNA) said Sunday the Turkish soldiers were killed in the battle for Tripoli in the port city of Misrata, as well as the town of al-Falah south of the capital.

The announcement came a day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged some Turkish losses in Libya's "struggle".

"We are there (in Libya) with our (Turkish) soldiers and our teams from the Syrian National Army. We continue the struggle there. We have several martyrs. In return, however, we neutralized nearly a hundred (of Haftar's) legionaries," Erdogan said.

On Friday, Erdogan 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," he told reporters in Istanbul, 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 militants under the command of Khalifa Haftar, who receive support from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Haftar's rebels launched an offensive in April to wrest control of Triploi.

The offensive has so far killed 1000 people and displaced some 146,000 people, according to United Nations figures.

Back in November, Serraj signed a military cooperation deal with Erdogan, under which Ankara agreed to send troops to support GNA forces.

Libya has since 2014 been divided between two rival camps, the Tripoli-based government of Sarraj, and a camp in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by rebel forces under the command of Khalifa Haftar.

Numerous attempts to broker peace between the two sides of the conflict have failed.

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 leader Muammar Gaddafi and his execution by unruly fighters.

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Passengers wearing protective masks walk at the arrival hall of Ben Gurion International Airport. AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP

"Another passenger who returned from the cruise ship in Japan has tested positive," a health ministry statement said.

"The patient is in isolation and under supervision and was not infected in Israel," it said.

The first case was announced on Friday.

The two were among 11 Israelis allowed off the ship in Yokohama, Japan and flown home after initially testing negative. All were placed in isolation for a 14 day period at the Sheba Medical Centre near Tel Aviv.

Earlier on Sunday Israeli authorities ordered nearly 200 pupils into home quarantine after they were in proximity to South Korean tourists carrying the coronavirus.

The move came after the South Korean visitors, members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, toured Israeli sites between Feb 8-15 and upon their return home 18 of them were discovered to be infected with the virus.

Israel's health ministry urged people who might have encountered these tourists to self-quarantine, including 180 pupils and 19 staff from three separate schools who it said had close contact.

The pupils and staff, including 18 teachers and a guard, were instructed "to remain home" for 14 days, the education ministry said.

The health ministry also published a detailed list of the sites visited by the South Korean tourists, ordering "anyone who has been in touch with the pilgrims" to "home-quarantine until 14 days from the encounter with the group have passed".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a high-level special meeting on the COVID-19 virus and announced a taskforce to manage the threat.

"Today, I will appoint a ministerial team to convene on a daily basis in order to deal with this major challenge," he said in remarks after the meeting, which included senior security officials.

On Saturday Israel refused to allow some 200 non-Israelis to disembark from a plane which arrived from South Korea, as part of measures against the new coronavirus.

The health ministry has also ordered its citizens to observe an obligatory 14-day home-quarantine if they have recently visited Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore or Thailand.

"In addition, anyone who has been in Taiwan, Italy or Australia in the past 14 days and is developing the disease's symptoms should be examined," the ministry said in a statement.

ELECTION WARNING

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who attended Sunday's situation assessment, warned that law enforcement would act against those found to be disobeying the self-quarantine order.

"The Israeli police have prepared all the necessary enforcement teams in the event that there may be citizens who do not obey the instructions," he told journalists, without elaborating.

He also warned those who might consider exploiting the scare to disrupt a hotly-contested Mar 2 general election.

He said that concerns included the spreading of fake news in order to affect voter turnout.

"This is a criminal offence," he said. "There is special readiness by the police to prevent abuse.

Meanwhile, Palestinian health minister Mai al-Kaila said there were no confirmed cases in the West Bank, but that to manage the threat her office was coordinating with Egypt, Jordan and Israel.

Cooperation with Israel "is only in the matter of coronavirus," she said.
La compagnie qui gere le Metro Express a Maurice a publie un communique de presse a la suite de laccident fatal impliquant un de ses vehicules a Barkly.

Metro Express Ltd (MEL) regrets that an accident involving a motorcyclist and a Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) occurred at 18:57 hours this evening, at Pope Hennessy junction in Beau-Bassin. As per established protocols, the Emergency Services comprising of Police, Mauritius Fire & Rescue Services, SAMU were informed immediately and our Operations and Safety staff were present on site for assistance and co-ordination. The metro service was stopped.

On arrival of the SAMU, the latter confirmed that the person involved in the accident had unfortunately passed away.

MEL is collaborating fully with the Police, which is investigating into the causes of the accident. Our staff at the Operating Control Centre (OCC) were instantly aware of the accident through the CCTV system, present along the whole alignment and at the junctions. Preliminary observations from the OCC have confirmed that all traffic lights at the junction were red for all road users and the LRV had priority to proceed. MEL will provide all the evidences necessary, including the footage to the Police and all other concerned Authorities.

Furthermore, we wish to highlight that at all junctions, the LRVs run at reduced speed at less than 20 Km/h and the train captains strictly follow established safety protocols. Such was the case before the accident took place.

We reiterate our appeal to the public and road users to adhere to traffic signs and traffic lights when approaching junctions and intersections.

More information will be provided to the Public in due course. We greatly appreciate the understanding of the public in general and request everybody to act responsibly.

MEL requests everybody to be conscious of the sensitivity of the matter and expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 18:04:31|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's BeiDou navigation satellites are helping the country fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic with high precision from space.

When China was building the two makeshift hospitals - Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain) and Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) in Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, equipment based on the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) provided high precision positioning service and accelerated the construction.

Drones based on the BDS have been utilized to spray disinfectant. Police in Ruichang, east China's Jiangxi Province, used BDS-based drones to patrol crowded places to prevent intensive contact between people.

China's Ministry of Transport sent epidemic prevention and transportation service information to more than 6 million vehicles via the BDS terminals, and provided services for the transportation of emergency materials to the areas most affected by the epidemic.

China Post Group Co., Ltd. has installed 5,000 BDS terminals on its trunk line vehicles, and used the vehicle positioning information to conduct real-time supervision and allocation, so as to ensure timely delivery of epidemic prevention materials.

In Wuhan, the BDS-based robots of the e-commerce and logistics company JD.com delivered medical materials to hospital isolation areas with high speed.

China began to construct its navigation system, named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper constellation, in the 1990s and started serving the Asia-Pacific Region in 2012.

Over the past two years, China has successfully sent 28 BDS-3 satellites and two BDS-2 satellites into orbit.

With the system's upgraded intelligent operation and maintenance capabilities, the BDS-3 has provided stable and accurate services, boasting a positioning accuracy of better than five meters.

China plans to launch more BDS satellites in March and May to complete the global network.
Press Release

24 February 2020

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee - The U.S. hotel industry reported positive year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 9-15 February 2020, according to data from STR.

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In comparison with the week of 10-16 February 2019, the industry recorded the following:

Occupancy: +0.2% to 63.6%

Average daily rate (ADR): +0.9% to US$133.55

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +1.2% to US$85.00

Among the Top 25 Markets, Chicago, Illinois, registered the largest increase in RevPAR (+31.5% to US$81.60), driven by the highest lift in ADR (+19.2% to US$130.42).

Anaheim/Santa Ana, California, experienced the highest rise in occupancy (+11.8% to 85.1%) and the second-largest increases in ADR (+11.7% to US$177.28) and RevPAR (+24.8% to US$150.81).

Denver, Colorado, saw the third-largest jump in RevPAR (+19.9% to US$93.73).

Overall, 17 of the Top 25 Markets recorded a RevPAR increase.

San Francisco/San Mateo, California, reported the steepest declines in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (-5.5% to 80.9%), ADR (-26.9% to US$228.51) and RevPAR (-30.9% to US$184.89).

Download STR's weekly U.S. hotel review.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  The number of Filipinos on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship who have tested positive for coronavirus has risen to 59, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosairo Vergeire confirmed Monday.

Last week, 47 out of 538 Filipino passengers and crew members on board the ship were confirmed to have contracted the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

Of the 59, two have already been discharged from the hospital while five more are expected to be released with the week, officials said.

PH gov't all set for tomorrow's repatriation

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Eduardo Menez said the test results of all Filipinos on board the virus-hit ship will be released tomorrow, February 25. They will be taken back to the Philippines on the same day.

Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla earlier bared that two special flights are expected to arrive in a two-hour interval tomorrow evening carrying Filipinos who will be subjected to the 14-day quarantine period at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Philippine Airlines will be operating these two flights from Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

Vergeire refused to give further details about this but confirmed that arrangements were already finalized to smoothen out the transport process.

Over 400 Filipinos aboard the cruise ship initially expressed interest to go back to the country, but they will still be subject to further testing, Vergeire reminded. This means that this is not yet the total number of those who will return to the Philippines.

The 59 who tested positive for the virus will not be among those to be flown home tomorrow.

"Sa lahat po ng magiging positibo, iiwan po natin sa Japan para magamot o ma-quarantine (those who will test positive will be left in Japan to get treatment or undergo quarantine)," she said.

Another set of testing procedures will also be done before landing. Those who will manifest signs of respiratory illness will be isolated in one area of the aircraft and will be taken to a government-identified hospital for further treatment upon disembarkation.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin who earlier said that the evacuation is scheduled for February 25, after it was delayed for two days.

"We did want to send them home [last] Sunday but due to the lack of full testing results, [we] decided to postpone the repatriation," Menez said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Health will provide nine doctors and two embassy personnel to accompany the Filipino evacuees. Twenty medical teams from DOH hospitals will also be in charge of manning the quarantine facility.

Meanwhile, a total of 132 patients in the Philippines who are "under investigation" remain in hospitals while 474 others have already been discharged after yielding negative results in consecutive tests, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said earlier in the day.
US President on Monday asserted that relations with India hold a special place for his country, saying that America "loves" and is "loyal" to India.

Addressing the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera Stadium here, Trump also announced that the US will seal defence deals worth USD 3 billion on Tuesday. Trump and Prime Minister will be holding delegation-level official talks on Tuesday in New Delhi.

The US president also heaped praises on Modi as he described him as an "exceptional leader" who works day and night for India.

Modi is a "living proof" of what an Indian can achieve with hard work as Trump referred to his humble background as a tea-seller, who had a landslide win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

As the world's largest economy, India gives hope to all humanity and has become an economic giant, Trump said.

"Namaste, it is a great honour for me to be here," the US president said, describing India as an amazing nation.

"There is a difference between a nation that rises by coercion and one that rises by setting its people free -- that is India. India and the US have natural and enduring friendship," he said.

Trump also touched on India's cultural diversity and riches as he highlighted the success of its blockbuster movies like DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) and Sholay, and its sporting icons like Sachin Tedulkar and Virat Kohli.

He highlighted the boom in the US economy under his presidency and added that India will soon be home to the biggest middle class as it will eliminate extreme poverty in in next 10 years.
Selbyville, Delaware, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Global Market Insights, Inc. has recently added a new report on airport moving walkways market which estimates the global market valuation for airport moving walkways will cross US$ 2.7 billion by 2026. Rising number of air travel passengers coupled with increase in number of tourists around the globe will propel travelators demand in near future.

Growing investment for construction of new airports and airport improvement projects will be major driving factor for airport moving walkways market by 2026. Major countries including China, Japan, India, etc. will be investing significant amount for development of airport infrastructure by 2022.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4566

For instance, Airports Corp. of Vietnam (ACV) has intended to invest around USD 14.7 billion for construction of passenger terminal, runways, etc. in upcoming years. Similarly, China has proposed to increase its number of commercial airports to around 260 by 2020, which will further be going to increase by 2040. Such developments will be further driving airport moving walkways market demand in next few years.

Pallet type airport moving walkways will reach to a value of USD 2.3 billion by 2026 due to its rising usage as a transportation medium at airports. Unlike belt-type products, these walkways do not require whole system to be replaced in case of breakage of pallets. Further, growing necessity for reducing passenger travel time between terminals at the airports will drive segments growth rate in future.

Some major findings of the airport moving walkways market report include:

Increasing need for new airport construction & expansion activities will drive sales of moving walkways in coming decades.

Industry is still at a nascent stage in developing nations, which may pave way for the autowalk manufacturers in near future.

Technological advancements such as ACCEL will further assist in minimizing passenger congestion at busy airports.

Middle East & Africa will expect an increase in number of autowalk installation owing to growing investment for developing airport infrastructure.

Horizontal travelators will account for substantial share of airport moving walkways industry over coming decades. Rising demand for transferring people from one place to another at airports along the same plane, will be propelling autowalks market demand in near future.

Browse key industry insights spread across 139 pages with 125 market data tables & 20 figures & charts from the report, Airport Moving Walkways Market Share & Forecast, 2020 - 2026 in detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/airport-moving-walkways-market

Accelerating moving walkways will be increasing at a CAGR of 3.5% throughout study timeframe due to its key benefit of higher speed than constant autowalks. These products help in achieving shorter passenger transfer time at terminals in airports and allows huge amount of flexibility during transit at travelators.

Europe will be a key region in airport moving walkways market owing to increasing number of foreign tourists along with rising air passenger traffic in the region. Europe has reported more than 80 million tourists in 2016, which will further grow in upcoming years. Increasing investment from the government to construct new airports as well as expansion of existing airports will further provide key opportunity to product manufacturers over coming decades.

The key participants involved in the industry includes, Hitachi, Kone Corporation, Schindler Group, Otis Elevator and Thyssenkrupp AG.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/4566

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Airport moving walkways industry 360 synopsis, 2016 - 2026

2.1.1 Business trends

2.1.2 Type trends

2.1.3 Product trends

2.1.4 Speed trends

2.1.5 Regional trends

Chapter 3 Airport Moving Walkways Industry Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Industry size, and forecast, 2016 - 2026

3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.3.1 Component analysis

3.3.2 Manufacturing trends

3.3.3 Profit margin

3.3.4 Value addition

3.3.5 Distribution channel analysis

3.3.6 Aftersales service

3.3.7 Vendor matrix

3.4 Innovation & sustainability

3.4.1 Patent analysis

3.4.2 Technology landscape

3.4.3 Future trends

3.5 Industry impact forces

3.5.1 Growth drivers

3.5.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.6 Regulatory landscape

3.6.1 U.S.

3.6.2 Europe

3.7 Industry megatrends

3.8 Installed moving walkways at airports, by region, 2018

3.9 Passengers using airport moving walkways, by region, 2018

3.10 Pricing analysis

3.10.1 Cost structure analysis

3.10.1.2 Manufacturing and Equipment cost

3.10.1.3 Raw Material Cost

3.10.1.4 Distribution Cost

3.10.1.5 Operating Cost

3.10.1.6 Miscellaneous Cost

3.11 Competitive landscape, 2018

3.11.1 Company market share analysis, 2018

3.11.2 Strategic dashboard

3.12 Porters analysis

3.12.1 Supplier power

3.12.2 Buyer power

3.12.3 Threat of new entrants

3.12.4 Threat of substitutes

3.12.5 Industry rivalry

3.13 PESTEL analysis

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making.
The deadly coronavirus epidemic could put an already fragile global economic recovery at risk, the IMF warned Sunday, as G20 financial chiefs voiced "real concern" over its economic ripple effects. Global growth was poised for a modest rebound to 3.3 percent this year, up from 2.9 percent last year, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said after a two-day meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Riyadh. But the projected recovery was "fragile", she warned, amid global alarm over rising Coronavirus cases in multiple countries even as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to prevent its spread, with major knock-on effects for the world economy. "The COVID-19 virus -- a global health emergency -- has disrupted economic activity in China and could put the recovery at risk," Georgieva said in a statement. The virus has now claimed more than 2,400 lives in China, cutting off transportation, disrupting supply chains and fanning investor alarm as businesses are forced to close their doors. Paris on Friday announced a host of measures to assist French companies affected by the fallout from the epidemic. "We are ready to take any additional measures if necessary to cope with a possible worsening of the impact on the global economy," said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who attended the G20 talks. "The risk is now confirmed, and so is the impact on the global economy, and it is a real concern for all G20 members." EU economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said the G20 was ready to react with "pro-growth policies" to alleviate the downside risks. "The main risk is the outbreak of the coronavirus and the consequences that this outbreak" could have are tied to the duration of the epidemic, Gentiloni told reporters in Riyadh. - 'Stark reminder' - At the meeting in Saudi Arabia, the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency, financial leaders also discussed ways to achieve consensus on a global taxation system for the digital era. Several leaders including Le Maire voiced hope for a "technical agreement" to tax digital giants -- a key bone of contention between the US and several European nations -- by July and a broader global deal by the end of 2020. Le Maire said climate change was also part of the G20 discussion for the first time in three years. But the impact from the new coronavirus outbreak formed the core of the discussions, along with an action plan to shield the world economy -- already facing a slowdown. The gathered financial leaders vowed to "enhance global risk monitoring" of the outbreak, according to the G20 final communique. "We stand ready to take further action to address these risks," it said. Georgieva told the Riyadh gathering that the outbreak would shave about 0.1 percentage points from global growth and constrain China's growth to 5.6 percent this year, in a baseline scenario. "I reported to the G20 that even in the case of rapid containment of the virus, growth in China and the rest of the world would be impacted," she said. The IMF projects a "V-shaped, rapid recovery" for the global economy, but given the uncertainty around the spread of the virus, Georgieva urged the financial leaders to prepare for "more adverse scenarios". She warned the global economy faced other risks including rising debt levels in some countries, but in particular urged G20 nations to cooperate to contain the spread of the virus. "COVID-19 is a stark reminder of our interconnections and the need to work together," Georgieva said. "In this regard, the G20 is an important forum to help put the global economy on a more sound footing."
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it completely lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses.

If, on the other hand, you like companies that have revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS). While profit is not necessarily a social good, it's easy to admire a business that can consistently produce it. Conversely, a loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the sweet milk of external capital may run sour.

Check out our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands

How Fast Is Las Vegas Sands Growing?

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so share price follows earnings per share (EPS) eventually. Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. Impressively, Las Vegas Sands has grown EPS by 18% per year, compound, in the last three years. As a general rule, we'd say that if a company can keep up that sort of growth, shareholders will be smiling.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. Las Vegas Sands reported flat revenue and EBIT margins over the last year. That's not a major concern but nor does it point to the long term growth we like to see.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.

NYSE:LVS Income Statement, February 24th 2020

Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of Las Vegas Sands's future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting.

Are Las Vegas Sands Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Story continues

Personally, I like to see high insider ownership of a company, since it suggests that it will be managed in the interests of shareholders. So as you can imagine, the fact that Las Vegas Sands insiders own a significant number of shares certainly appeals to me. Actually, with 50% of the company to their names, insiders are profoundly invested in the business. I'm reassured by this kind of alignment, as it suggests the business will be run for the benefit of shareholders. At the current share price, that insider holding is worth a whopping US$25b. That means they have plenty of their own capital riding on the performance of the business!

Does Las Vegas Sands Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

You can't deny that Las Vegas Sands has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Further, the high level of insider ownership impresses me, and suggests that I'm not the only one who appreciates the EPS growth. So this is very likely the kind of business that I like to spend time researching, with a view to discerning its true value. If you think Las Vegas Sands might suit your style as an investor, you could go straight to its annual report, or you could first check our discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation for the company.

You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Dr.Mark Assibey Yeboah has donated hundred pieces of bedspread with pillows and hundred pieces of durable plastic Chairs to the Female Surgical Ward of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua.



Receiving the items, the In-Charge of the Female Ward -Deputy Director Nursing Service (DDNS) Dorothy Takyi commended the MP for the swift response to their request.



She urged philanthropist to come to the aid of the facility particularly by supporting patients struggling to foot their medical bills after surgery.



The Chairman of the Campaign team of the Legislator, Michael Oteng Adu, a former Constituency Chairman said the donation is just a microcosm of investments made in healthcare to improve quality healthcare delivery in the Municipality through the Lawmakers share of the MPs Common fund adding that,alot of Kindergarten infrastructure have been completed whilst others ongoing in his determination to enhance early childhood education.



Responding to allegations of incompetence and selfishness levelled against Dr.Assibey Yeboah, the Campaign Manager said party internal election is not about noise making rather direct engagement with the delegates therefore all the funfair by his contender is needless.



According to him, the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Mr. Mark Assibey-Yeboahs competence is evident by his immense contributions to parliamentary business and that of economy of the country.



He said Dr. Assibey Yeboah is one the best Parliamentarians Ghana has ever produced bearing in mind his maturity in debate on the floor of parliament and also having worked hard and served as chairman for the finance committee in parliament and also on Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee.



He described the upcoming parliamentary contest as easiest,since most delegates have reaffirmed their trust in the competence and leadership qualities of the MP.



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.



Dr.Mark Assibey Yeboah seeking for a third term parliamentary tenure is keenly being challenged for the second time by the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Free Zones Authority,Micheal Okyere Baafi.



Out of a total of 582 qualified delegates in the constituency, 569 are expected to partake in the parliamentary primary .

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.

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LAS VEGAS - By the time results began rolling in from Saturday's Nevada caucuses, Sen. Amy Klobuchar was back in Minneapolis for a fundraiser. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was on her way to Seattle. Sen. Bernie Sanders was addressing supporters in El Paso, Texas. A charter jet was ready on the McCarran airport tarmac to carry Pete Buttigieg to Denver for a late-night rally.

After weeks of trailing each other from Iowa to New Hampshire and on to Nevada, the Democratic presidential candidates are facing a race that transforms from a state-by-state march after South Carolina's primary Saturday into a broad national sprint for the 14 states that vote on Super Tuesday on March 3, three days later.

The shift exponentially escalates the costs for advertising and campaign travel and already is forcing campaigns struggling for resources to craft divergent strategies to accumulate enough delegates to survive.

Adding to the urgency for many candidates is the rise of Sanders, I-Vt., who has both the resources to blanket key states with events and advertising and unalloyed control of the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party. His early state success - wins in New Hampshire and Nevada and a narrow delegate loss in Iowa - has left former vice president Joe Biden, Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Warren, D-Mass., and Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, fighting for a pool of more moderate voters just as former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg wades into the race with his gigantic budget.

For Sanders, Super Tuesday represents an opportunity to bury the rest of the field with a nearly unsurmountable pile of delegates. His strong start and sprawling campaign organization in states voting soon has forced all the other candidates to try to prove to voters they can still compete - even if their best shot may be second. For Warren and Klobuchar, there is an added imperative: to avoid losing their home states on March 3.

Sanders' money and organization have allowed him to spend weeks punctuating visits to early-voting states with trips to Super Tuesday states - most notably delegate-heavy California, where rival campaigns believe he will be difficult to beat.

Sanders on Saturday held rallies in El Paso and San Antonio, and he campaigned in Texas again Sunday. Campaign officials are now hoping for a strong finish in South Carolina in addition to a trio of delegate-rich states in Super Tuesday: Texas, North Carolina and California.

"This state, maybe more than any other state, has the possibility of transforming this country," he said in Houston on Sunday.

The goal for Buttigieg's campaign on Super Tuesday is to accumulate enough delegates to stay within striking distance of Sanders. Campaign advisers say that if he is close Super Tuesday, states voting March 10 and 17 - including Michigan, Ohio, Arizona and Illinois - are favorable enough to Buttigieg to allow him to make up ground. His campaign has already spent money on digital ads in some of those states, and it sent a paid organizer to Ohio last week.

His hunt for delegates already has led him to different places than Sanders.

Last week, Buttigieg squeezed in a trip to Salt Lake City, where his campaign has made a major organizing push and earned endorsements from several local officials. His campaign also is counting on delegate-rich areas in some of the lower-profile Super Tuesday states - Little Rock, Arkansas, for one. He campaigned in Virginia on Sunday and has stops scheduled for Raleigh, North Carolina, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, before Super Tuesday. VoteVets, a super PAC supporting Buttigieg, announced Sunday that it will make a seven-figure ad buy in various Super Tuesday states.

One difficulty with that strategy, even if it does yield as many delegates as his campaign hopes, is that it defers winning - and without victories, money and momentum will be harder to come by.

Buttigieg acknowledged Saturday that he has something to prove in South Carolina, too, given his struggles to accumulate support from nonwhite voters and the more diverse electorates heading to the polls on Super Tuesday.

"Obviously South Carolina is an opportunity to demonstrate that our coalition is broader than people thought," Buttigieg told reporters on his charter flight Saturday. ". . . And then we've got to have a good showing in Super Tuesday - it's why we're pushing so hard to make sure we have the resources to win."

Warren, meanwhile, went straight to Seattle on Saturday for the kind of rally that can double as a fundraising opportunity by fostering enthusiasm. She hasn't won a delegate since the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses, and polling in South Carolina suggests she won't collect any there either. But Warren is banking her candidacy on the idea that she can begin accumulating delegates on March 3 by doing well in liberal pockets such as Denver, San Antonio and the Los Angeles area.

"We have a lot of states to go," Warren told supporters in Seattle.

Over the next few days, Warren will campaign in South Carolina, but she also plans a Thursday evening rally in San Antonio with Julian Castro, the former mayor of that city who dropped out of the presidential race in early January, and a stop in the Los Angeles area. Warren's campaign has bought TV ad time in Colorado and Maine.

The campaign also will air ads starting Tuesday in Austin, Texas, San Antonio and Oklahoma City - all population-rich areas in Super Tuesday states. The campaign also paid for some ads in Seattle, where early voting has begun.

Warren's campaign manager, Roger Lau, said in a memo distributed this month that she would be able to pick up delegates in 108 of the roughly 150 congressional or other districts that award delegates on Super Tuesday, meaning the campaign believes she'd garner support from more than the minimum threshold of 15% in those areas. "If you broaden that to districts where we're within reach of the threshold . . . we're playing in 149 districts, or 88% of the map," Lau wrote.

Klobuchar had to ramp up her national operation more hurriedly than her competitors; it was not until her third-place finish in New Hampshire on Feb. 11 that she had the momentum and money to start hiring staffers in Super Tuesday states. She stopped by Colorado last week and headed back home, to Massachusetts, to raise money Saturday - followed by a Sunday three-state tour via charter plane: Fargo, North Dakota, to Oklahoma City to Little Rock. (North Dakota votes a week after Oklahoma and Arkansas, Super Tuesday states.)

While Buttigieg, Warren and Klobuchar have begun paying attention to Super Tuesday states, Biden remains focused on South Carolina, where he will spend the next week in hopes of resurrecting his campaign with a win there that propels him into similar Super Tuesday states.

"The African American community in South Carolina can make a judgment about who the next president of the United States is going to be. Literally," Biden told the congregation at the Royal Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston Sunday.

"When the African American community decides, we're going to move on to Super Tuesday, as they call it, where there's a significant African American vote."

Several Super Tuesday states, including Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Alabama, have substantial numbers of black voters. But Biden has not been advertising in those states, and, while he is already well known, the lack of visibility could be problematic at a time when Bloomberg is flooding the airwaves.

His campaign has been trying to pinpoint individual congressional districts across the Super Tuesday states, a strategy that is complicated this year by the size of the remaining field, which conjures a number of possibilities.

Several weeks ago, Biden's campaign hired Dave Huynh, a delegate specialist who had worked for the presidential campaign of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.

"March is really going to matter in the nomination process," Huynh said. "It's going to be an important month, and it will play a very important role in determining who the nominee is. As they say, March matters."

As the campaign broadens to a much more nationalized race, Biden's campaign also has a legal team monitoring the rules in each state, which could come into play in an extremely tight race where every delegate matters.

"The rules have changed dramatically," said Dana Remus, the general counsel for the Biden campaign. "One of the tasks at hand is to understand what the new rules look like now."

- - -

The Washington Post's Jenna Johnson and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.
When a group of politicians in Prague decided to honor the murdered Russian dissident Boris Nemtsov by naming a square after him, there was just one location they had in mind: The plaza in front of the Russian embassy.

Prague City Council voted on Monday in favor of renaming what was known for decades as "Under the Chestnuts Square" to "Boris Nemtsov Square," according to the city's mayor, Zdenek Hrib.

The official renaming will take place on February 27, the fifth anniversary of the opposition leader's killing, CNN reports.

This will be the fourth Russian embassy to suddenly find itself based at or near an address commemorating Nemtsov, one of the most vocal critics of President Vladimir Putin.

To mark the third anniversary of Nemtsov's death, the section of Wisconsin Avenue in front of the Russian embassy in Washington was renamed "Boris Nemtsov Plaza," much to the anger of the Russian government.

A few months later, the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius followed with a similar move. Last year, a "Boris Nemtsov Park" popped up in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, near the Russian embassy there.

Read alsoRFE/RL: U.S. sanctions Chechen officials allegedly linked to 'gay purge,' killing of Nemtsov

It might sound like political trolling, but for Nemtsov's family, the renaming is a powerful gesture.

The Russian opposition leader was shot in the back while walking with his Ukrainian girlfriend in central Moscow in 2015, two days before he was due to attend a large opposition rally in the Russian capital. Five Chechen men were convicted for the murder and are serving prison terms, but Nemtsov's family and colleagues have expressed concern that those who ordered the killing might never be brought to justice.

"It's very, very important to keep the name in the public domain, for the next political leadership of Russia to have the responsibility to investigate this murder, to have it on the agenda," Nemtsov's daughter Zhanna Nemtsova told CNN.

She said the newly named square will also empower those Russians who oppose the current political leadership there. "Pro-democracy people, they have no representation in the Russian system of power, their ideas are not represented by any politicians, they are out of the political system," she said. "This is a very symbolic move, these people want their voice to be heard."
David Tennant's son has shared his hopes of becoming the third Doctor Who star in his family, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather Peter Davison, who played the fifth incarnation of the character between 1982 and 1984.

Actor Ty Tennant, 17, from London, has already starred on Casualty, in 2019's Tolkien and in the upcoming TV adaptation of The War Of The Worlds, and has garnered an impressive online following as he steps out of his parents' shadow.

And acting clearly runs in his blood, as his mother Georgia Tennant, 35, daughter of Peter Davison, 68, has starred in various TV series, as well as playing The Doctor's clone daughter Jenny in the Doctor Who episode 'The Doctor's Daughter'.

Speaking to the Sunday Post this week, Ty said of playing the iconic role: 'I don't think I would ever decline the offer. Doctor Who is such a massive thing to take on.'

David Tennant's actor som Ty Tennant, 17, from London has shared his hopes of becoming the third Doctor Who star in his family, following in the footsteps of his father (both seen together)

Ty has already starred on Casualty, in 2019's Tolkien and in the upcoming TV adaptation of The War Of The Worlds and has garnered an impressive online following as he steps out of his parents' shadow

A snap sees him on set as he teases his upcoming role in War Of The Worlds, where he plays Tom Gresham opposite Downton Abbey actress Elizabeth McGovern

He added: 'Whoever is truly right for it will get the role. If I am granted that, I will certainly do my best.'

Ty was born in 2003 to actress Georgia, who met David Tennant, who played the tenth Time Lord in the series, on set while he was playing the coveted role between 2005 to 2010.

Georgia subsequently married David, now 48, in 2011, the same year he adopted Ty, and the couple went on to have four more children.

David previously revealed he had become a 'double dad' after adopting his wife Georgia's son Tyler.

He told Absolute Radio in 2012: 'My baby is almost a year old and I adopted my wife's boy last year as well so I became a father twice in six months - that's got to be something of a record hasn't it?'

Ty's grandfather Peter Davison, his mother's father, played the fifth incarnation of the character between 1982 and 1984 (pictured above)

David previously revealed he had become a 'double dad' after adopting his wife Georgia's son Tyler in 2011. They are seen at the Tolkien film premiere in London last April

And he appears to be multi-talented, with one post showing him singing with a band at home

David Tennant is seen in 2010 as he played Doctor Who for the last time in 'The End Of Time Part Two

And a glimpse at his Instagram shows Ty has already built up his own impressive following, boasting a fanbase of almost 19,000.

The teen actor shares frequent selfies with his parents and four siblings, showing a family oriented environment.

And he appears to be multi-talented, with one post showing him singing with a band at home, and another snap sees him posing at Abbey Road Studios.

Another snap sees him on set with actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, as he teases his upcoming role in War Of The Worlds, where he plays Tom Gresham opposite Downton Abbey actress Elizabeth McGovern.

Ty made his film debut playing a young Christopher Wiseman in the Tolkien biopic, alongside big-name actors Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins.

Georgia, right, married David, centre, now 48, in 2011, after they met on set of Doctor Who, the same year he adopted Ty, left, and the couple went on to have four more children

And a glimpse at his Instagram shows Ty has already built up his own impressive following, boasting a fanbase of almost 19,000

Ty appears to be multi-talented, with one post showing him singing with a band at home, and another snap sees him posing at Abbey Road Studios

Georgia gave birth to Tyler in 2002, when she was just 17. She brought him up alone and has never publicly revealed who the father is.

David and Georgia married in a romantic ceremony on New Year's Eve in 2011 after meeting when Georgia played the actor's daughter in Doctor Who.

David played the role of The Doctor in the hit series from 2005 to 2010, while Georgia's dad Peter Davison played the titular Time Lord between 1981 and 1984.

Ty has siblings Olive, eight, Wilfred, six, and Doris, four- and his father David recently admitted that while raising five children is 'quite a lot', his finds parenthood 'great'.

Appearing on Jonathan Ross in December, David revealed Ty had been giving him lectures about birth control, joking: 'Five is a lot. What's really weird about it is we're now getting lectures on birth control from our 17-year-old son. And that's definitely meant to be the other way around.

'He's like "Come on, do I need to teach you the basics?" It's mental. It's a lot.'
Sea freight transport, the lifeblood of trade and a bellwether of the global economy, has been blown off course by the new coronavirus, sparking general alarm. As analysts pore over charts to gauge just how badly Chinese mega-factories have been hit, figures provided by cargo ship traffic paint a gloomy picture. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) reflects the daily price of moving goods such as coal, rice and wheat along routes deemed representative of the global market. Some call it the canary in the coal mine for the economic world. The BDI has now reached lows last seen in early 2016, when the shipping sector was suffering a supply and demand imbalance in the wake of the 2008-09 global economic crisis. Its "capesize" index for the largest category of ships -- ones that cannot even squeeze through the Suez or Panama Canals -- is at historic lows. "The latest slump is directly related to the coronavirus epidemic in China and the subsequent restrictions on activity," London's Capital Economics consultancy said in a research note. "Given that China accounts for about 40 percent of global seaborne trade, it is not so surprising that freight rates have tanked." Lars Bastian Ostereng, an analyst with Norway's Arctic Securities, said the outbreak "basically led to full stops in many ports in China". - 'Free fall' - Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, a global merchant based in France, is one of many shipping giants approaching China with caution. The 169-year-old company has banned its sailors from going on shore and stopped relieving its crews at Chinese ports, resulting in considerable disruptions. "The coronavirus epidemic is a very serious event for the market," Antoine Person, a top executive at the firm, told AFP. China does not just produce goods but is also a major consumer with a booming middle class and the world's largest population. It accounts for "about 35 percent of all seaborne dry bulk imports in the world," Ostereng of Arctic Securities said. With the number of reported deaths from COVID-19 now above 2,400 and swathes of the country under effective lockdown for a second month, Chinese demand might suffer for months to come, Ostereng said. This would impact exports to China from around the world, including the United States and Europe, with accompanying political repercussions. "Power generation in China has dropped and steel mills are reportedly cutting capacity utilisation which, respectively, point to lower demand for coal and iron ore," Capital Economics wrote. That in turn reduces Chinese imports of coal and steel produced in places such as Australia and Brazil, impacting their economies. The price of shipping both commodities is reflected in the BDI index, which is in "free fall", Capital Economics said. In addition to importing raw materials -- Chinese factories consume nearly 40 percent of metals produced in the world -- the factory slowdown has forced the world's largest shipper to brace for the year ahead. Denmark's AP Moller-Maersk said Thursday that the outbreak has "significantly lowered visibility on what to expect in 2020". "We expect a weak start to the year," it warned. - Seasonal swings - Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, the international business editor of The Daily Telegraph, wrote on Thursday that the shipping collapse was "threatening weeks of chaos for manufacturing supply lines and the broader structure of global trade". He conceded that optimists expect Chinese demand and factory output to explode once the restrictions end and businesses try to make up for lost ground. But no one can be sure when that will be -- or if the world has avoided another viral wave that reaches pandemic proportions. Some shipowners, intermediaries and other market actors said factors such as which way the unpredictable Sino-US trade war goes would weigh as well. Person, the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs executive, said that "new shipping standards and weather events are also behind the fall in the BDI." The weather, for one, will certainly improve, and the extended Lunar New Year festivities in China have ended, raising some hopes. But Chinese factories are still experiencing severe worker shortages and Evans-Pritchard is unconvinced. "Fiscal stimulus is coming but the transmission channels will remain blocked as long as the lockdown measures stay in place," he wrote. "But to lift the curfew risks losing control of the virus." The Baltic Dry Index, which reflects the daily price of moving goods such as coal, rice and wheat, has reached lows last seen in early 2016 Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk said the coronavirus outbreak has "significantly lowered visibility on what to expect in 2020" before adding: "We expect a weak start to the year" Chinese factories still face severe worker shortages and a business editor notes that "fiscal stimulus is coming but the transmissionchannels will remain blocked as long as the lockdown measures stay in place"
EBRD and donors boost green financing in the region

The Western Balkans is a key region for, and partner in, the EBRDs green work. South-eastern Europe has huge potential for developing green energy, with its rivers providing hydroelectric power, its mountains and plains enabling wind power, its underdeveloped solar energy, and the inhabitants of its many cities keen for sustainable development.

Yet a lot remains to be done: the Western Balkans countries are still heavily dependent on ageing coal-fired thermal power plants and suffer from high levels of air pollution. Carbon intensity in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia is more than six times higher than the European Union (EU) average. Achieving energy efficiency remains a key challenge in a region where energy usage is up to 2.5 times higher than the average for OECD countries in Europe.

So much for the bad news. Because there is also some good news and hard work from the EBRD  and increasingly so.

The EBRD Western Balkans Investment Summit today will highlight successful examples of how countries across the Western Balkans region are embracing the concept of transitioning towards a green economy.

Since 2006, the EBRD has invested more than 3 billion in the greening of the region. Together with providing funding, the Bank is also very active in engaging with national governments to reform legal and policy frameworks to create an environment in which individual projects can succeed and wider impact is possible. For instance, in North Macedonia, an energy efficiency law drafted with EBRD support and approved by the government has recently passed its first reading in parliament; meanwhile on the renewable side, the EBRD support was crucial in launching and awarding the first private solar photovoltaic competitive auction in the country.

Large-scale investments in renewable energy projects are providing alternative power sources to traditional coal, and work is being carried out to modernise the district heating networks across the region.

In Albania, the EBRD financed the modernisation of Korporata Elektroenergjitike Shqiptare (KESH), the largest generator of electricity in the country, supporting the company with a restructuring and reform package.

The Bank financed the first two large-scale wind farms in Kosovo: Kitka and Bajgora wind farms, providing a concrete way forward to address the challenge of power cuts and pollution caused by the lignite coal powering Kosovos two main electricity plants.

In Montenegro, following a long policy dialogue on the bankability of the power purchase agreement, the EBRD was the first financial institution to structure a project finance loan for the Krnovo wind farm, the first private wind farm in the country and at the time of financial close also the first private wind farm in the Western Balkans region.

In North Macedonia, the EBRD financed ESM, the first large-scale solar power plant on the site of an exhausted lignite coal mine, representing a tangible example of how to implement some of the solutions of the EU Just Transition policy for coal mine regions in the Western Balkans.

In Serbia, the Bank backed the construction of the countrys two largest wind farms: the 158MW Cibuk wind farm in Dolovo; and the Kovacica wind farm with a capacity of 104 MW.

Ten cities around the region have joined EBRD Green Cities, the Banks successful urban sustainability programme. The 1 billion programme with currently 39 participant cities recognises that 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from cities and are therefore a key location for addressing climate change.

In the Western Balkans currently Banja Luka, Belgrade, Kumanovo, Novi Sad, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tirana and Zenica have joined the initiative.

Concrete action has followed swiftly: in Banja Luka, the Bank provided a loan for the reconstruction of the heat distribution network, helping to improve the energy efficiency of the system by reducing leakages of hot water and cutting heat loss. In Zenica, the Bank teamed up with the EU and the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) to help the cantonal hospital save energy. The refurbishment will result in energy savings of more than 60 per cent and the reduction of CO 2 emissions by up to 80 per cent.

Supporting residential energy efficiency, the Bank has reached more than 3,500 families across the six countries of the Western Balkans through the Banks Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF). The programme provides financing to local banks for on-lending to households to invest in green technologies and solutions such as improving home insulation and installing efficient boilers.

Improving energy efficiency for business and municipalities, in North Macedonia, the Bank financed the refurbishment of a student dormitory, improving living conditions in 168 student rooms. Since 2013, this was one of the 332 successful projects carried out across the region under the GEFFs sister programme, the Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (WeBSEFF).

Sometimes the different elements of the EBRD programmes are combined as in the Renewable District Energy in the Western Balkans (ReDEWeB) programme which supports solar district heating across the region. The regions large district heating networks are often run at return temperatures as low as 45C, making them well suited for solar and geothermal energy rather than coal or fuel oil. The 4 million programme, run under EBRD auspices and funded by the Austrian government, offers technical assistance and small investment grants for insulation of solar systems.

With much already done, a panel at the event at the EBRD on Monday about Green Energy Transition in the Western Balkans will unite ministers, advisers to prime ministers, EU representatives, investors and financiers to discuss how countries across the region are embracing the concept of transitioning to a green economy. The aim will be to identify the next steps in creating a more sustainable future and to do more in the region  working with governments, foreign and local investors to help create the conditions for successful investments which will help turn the Western Balkans green.
Prime Minister-Designate Ludovic Orban told private TV broadcaster Digi 24 on Sunday, that parliamentarians are required to be present at the government's investiture vote, and "by no means skip this for reasons that are questionable".

"Regardless of what the PSD [Social Democratic Party] wants, whether it wants the government's rejection or investiture, they must come to Parliament and fulfill the mandate entrusted to them by Romanian citizens," said Prime Minister Orban.Orban said that "the obligation of the parliamentarians is to be present, the obligation of the parliamentarians is to come to work and not to skip for reasons that are questionable".The prime minister said that all PNL [National Liberal Party] parliamentarians will be mobilized and said that negotiations with all parliamentary groups, except the PSD, have been held in order to convince the senators and the deputies to participate in the Government's investiture procedure."If the quorum is not met tomorrow, the full responsibility will be of those who will not be present. If they do not show up, it means that they are those who want to perpetuate the current state. We want Romania's good governing and we believe that it can only be assured by early elections, giving again the power to the Romanian citizens to choose a representative Parliament, which will be a solid basis for the investiture of a government to carry out the reforms Romania needs," said Ludovic Orban.Parliament meets in a joint sitting, at 04:00 hrs on Monday, for the investiture of the new Orban Government.According to the common regulation of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, in order for the sitting in which the Orban II Government's investiture vote will be held, it is necessary to have at least 233 parliamentarians in the hall, so as to ensure the necessary quorum for the joint sittings. AGERPRES
Feb. 10

At 10:05 p.m., Officer Bailey was dispatched to the Walgreens Pharmacy at 5002 Bellaire Blvd. in reference to a shoplifting call. Officer Bailey was able to locate the Suspect just outside of the store with the stolen items. The Suspect was arrested for theft and fail to ID. Officers Younger and Vorhees assisted in this case.

Feb. 11

At 12:30 p.m., Officer H. Lopez was dispatched to the Bellaire Police Lobby in reference to a harassment call in the 4300 block of Wendell Street. Ofc. Lopez met with the victim who stated she has been receiving harassing emails from her ex-husband regarding custody of their child.

At 3:25 p.m., Officer Andrade was dispatched to the 4500 block of Bissonnet Street in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, Officer Andrade met with the victim who between 1:27 and 3 p.m. an unknown suspect attempted to steal his vehicle. The victim stated the suspect also took some items from his vehicle.

Feb. 12

At 8:37 p.m., Officer Bellard was dispatched to a shoplifting call at 5002 Bellaire Blvd. Officer Bellard arrived on scene and observed two subjects exit the store passing all points of sale without paying for multiple items. One subject was arrested for shoplifting and one subject was issued a citation and released. Officer Andrade assisted in this case.

Feb. 13

At 4:40 p.m., Officer Marcotte stopped a 2009 Cadillac for expired registration in the 6700 block of IH 610 West Service Road. Officer Marcotte detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and approximately 9 grams of marijuana were located in the driver's purse. She was arrested for possession of marijuana and later released under the Harris County Marijuana diversion program.

At 8:17 p.m., Officer Marcotte was dispatched to an intoxicated driver who had left the Chevron gas station at 5020 Bellaire Blvd. The driver was located and stopped and showed several signs of intoxication. He was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated as a 2nd offense.

At 8:19 p.m., an unknown suspect attempted to open an Ace Cash Express in the 4500 block of Medinah Place using the victims personal identifying information including name, date of birth, address, and social security number.

Feb. 14

At 9:15 a.m., Officer Jenkins and Corporal Clawson were dispatched to a minor accident fail to stop and give information at 7400 IH610 northbound. One of the subjects involved in the accident refused to stop and give information. The suspect vehicle fled the location and the complainant gave chase. After gathering information from the witnesses, the fleeing vehicle was located in Houston.

At 10:57 a.m., Officer Rocha, was dispatched to the Bellaire Police Department to meet with reportee (victim) in reference to his identity getting stolen in the 10200 block of Beechnut Street. Suspect was able to retrieve a cash loan using this information.

At 12:16 a.m., Officer Schwausch was on routine patrol when he observed a white Ford sedan fail to dim its high beams for traffic ahead of it, driving with its hazard lights flashing, run a red light, and stop in a moving lane impeding traffic on the 4600 block of Fournace Place. Officer Schwausch initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and found the driver was driving while intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

At 1:58 p.m., Officer Trujillo was dispatched to 5501 Bissonnet St., Prosperity Bank, in reference to an assisting agency call. Upon arrival the suspect had walked to the above location, broke out the glass front door and entered the establishment while bleeding. The responding officers were able to locate the suspect and place him in custody. The suspect was transported to a nearby local hospital for his injuries and to evaluate his mental state.

At 1:49 p.m., Officer Liccketto met with the victim of a burglary of a motor vehicle in the 500 block of Cascade Street. The victim stated an unknown suspect went into his unlocked truck and took his wallet. The victim then got alerts on his phone about fraudulent charges on his bank account. The victim was given an identity theft packet. Officer Jenkins assisted with the case.

Feb. 15

At 7:06 p.m., Officers were dispatched to a burglary alarm in the 5400 block of Pine Street. Upon arrival at 7:08 p.m., Officers set up a perimeter in the area and arrested two suspects without incident. Officer Baylis completed this report. Officers Schwausch, Liccketto, Trujillo, and Sergeant Kerr assisted. West University Place Police Officers Salinas, Acevedo, and Velasquez assisted with capture and identifying suspects. Houston Police K-9 Officers assisted with the perimeter.

Feb. 16

At 2:20 a.m., Officer Schwausch was patrolling the 5100 block of Bellaire Boulevard when he observed a white Honda travelling in front him fail to dim its headlights. Officer Schwausch initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and found the driver was driving while intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated and booked in the Bellaire Jail without incident.
Taiwan confirms two more cases of COVID-19 of unknown source

ROC Central News Agency

02/23/2020 07:31 PM

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Two men in Taiwan with no recent history of overseas travel have contracted the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 28, with one death, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Sunday.

The two new patients are a father and son in their 80s and 50s, respectively, who live in northern Taiwan, CECC Deputy Commander Chuang Jen-hsiang () said at a press conference.

The father, who suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney problems, developed a cough and a runny nose on Feb. 6, according to Chuang.

Three days later, the man was admitted to a private room at a hospital after he came down with a fever and was diagnosed with pneumonia, Chuang said.

The patient was transferred to an intensive care unit on Feb. 16 and to a negative-pressure isolation room on Feb. 20, as doctors suspected that he had tuberculosis, Chuang said.

He was tested on Feb. 21 for COVID-19 and was confirmed Sunday as the 27th case in Taiwan, Chuang said.

Health authorities have been testing people who had come in contact with the man and were showing symptoms of COVID-19, including his son, who was also found to be infected with the disease, according to Chuang.

The son, now listed as Taiwan's 28th case, had visited a doctor on Feb. 4, complaining of a fever, cough and runny nose, Chuang said.

When the symptoms did not abate, the son went to the emergency room on Feb. 8 and was diagnosed with pneumonia. He visited the doctor two more times, on Feb. 11 and Feb. 18, was tested for COVID-19 on Feb. 21, and was confirmed on Sunday to be infected, Chuang said.

While the two men had no recent history of overseas travel, the CECC learned that the father has another son whose job takes him to China frequently and who had shared a meal during the Lunar New Year holidays with a friend who had recently returned from China, according to Chuang.

That son developed respiratory symptoms on Jan. 29 and was recently tested for COVID-19, but the results have not yet been released, Chuang said.

Although that son returned from his last trip to China on Dec. 2, 2019, it is highly likely that he was the source of the infection of his father and older brother, particularly as the father was staying with both sons, alternating between the two residences, according to Chuang.

Meanwhile, the CECC has so far identified 115 medical personnel who came in contact with the father when he was in hospital, and 40 of them have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting the results.

With the confirmation of the two new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the total number in Taiwan has climbed to 28, three of which have not been traced to a source of infection.

Apart from the father and son, the 24th case is a woman in her 60s, who was diagnosed on Feb. 19 and had no history of overseas travel in the past two years.

The CECC has since tracked down 533 people who had come in contact the woman, and two of them -- her daughter and granddaughter -- have tested positive for the disease.

Another 192 of that number have been tested and 173 have been cleared, while 19 are still awaiting their test results, according to the CECC.

CECC advisor Chang Shan-chwen () said the three cases of unknown sources indicated sporadic community-level transmission of the coronavirus in Taiwan.



(By Chen Wei-ting and Chiang Yi-ching)

Enditem/pc

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HERZLIYA, Israel, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Upstream Security , a leader in cloud-based automotive cybersecurity detection and response, announced today that it has joined the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association, which establishes an ecosystem of leading software vendors that have integrated their solutions to better defend against a world of increasing threats. Upstream Security also announced a new integration between the Upstream C4 platform and Microsoft Azure Sentinel enabling detection, investigation and remediation for threats targeting connected vehicles and smart mobility services.

Upstream C4 is one of the first cloud-based automotive cybersecurity platforms to offer in-depth integration with Azure Sentinel. Through this integration, contextually rich and automotive fluent alerts from Upstream C4 can be used to automate responses based on an OEM vehicle manufacturer's or connected fleet's unique security policies. Security analysts within vehicle operations centers (VSOCs) can use the integrated solution to develop and enforce customized playbooks as well as perform domain specific threat hunting activities using Upstream's automotive data platform. Customers will also benefit from integrative dashboards and reports within Azure Sentinel for unified access to real-time threat analysis and contextually rich mobility focused investigation timelines.

"Connected vehicles require a purpose built approach that utilize the data produced by the vehicles, telematics and automotive applications," said Yoav Levy, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder at Upstream Security. "Through the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association and by integrating with solutions like Upstream C4, Microsoft is enabling the next frontier of cybersecurity."

Scott Woodgate, senior director, Azure Security at Microsoft Corp. said, "Upstream Security's integration with Azure Sentinel enables automotive customers to have a best-in-class solution for their vehicle security operations. By connecting normalized automotive data and real-time detection alerts from Upstream Security's C4 platform with Azure Sentinel customers benefit from extended visibility across their automotive cloud and connected vehicle assets."

Upstream Security will be exhibiting the joint solution at RSA San Francisco on February 24-28th.

About Upstream Security

Upstream Security is the first cloud-based cybersecurity solution purpose-built for protecting connected vehicles and smart mobility services from cyber-threats and misuse. Upstream's C4 platform leverages existing automotive data feeds to detect threats in real time and delivers cybersecurity insights supported by AutoThreat() Intelligence, the first automotive cybersecurity threat intelligence in the industry. Upstream Security is privately funded by Renault Venture Capital, Volvo Group, Hyundai, Nationwide Insurance, CRV, Glilot Capital Partners and Maniv Mobility.

Find Upstream's solutions on Microsoft Azure Marketplace: Upstream C4, Upstream AutoThreat Intelligence

For more information go to www.upstream.auto

Follow Upstream on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube

SOURCE Upstream Security

Related Links

https://www.upstream.auto


SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, announced today financial results for its fiscal second quarter 2020, ended January 31, 2020.

Total revenue for the fiscal second quarter 2020 grew 15% year over year to $816.7 million, compared with total revenue of $711.2 million for the fiscal second quarter 2019. GAAP net loss for the fiscal second quarter 2020 was $73.7 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared with GAAP net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the fiscal second quarter 2019.

Non-GAAP net income for the fiscal second quarter 2020 was $120.3 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, compared with non-GAAP net income of $147.0 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, for the fiscal second quarter 2019. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP information is contained in the tables below.

"Our fiscal second quarter displayed many signs of positive momentum; notably billings for our Next-Generation Security offerings continued to perform very well. As customers progress on their journey to the cloud and elevate cybersecurity as an integral part of network transformations, Palo Alto Networks remains a trusted partner to organizations worldwide," said Nikesh Arora, chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks. "Fiscal second quarter revenue was below our expectations primarily as a result of continued impact of sales incentives related to our Next-Generation Security products from our prior fiscal year. We have made progress to address this and have implemented several go-to-market programs to reignite our firewall sales growth."

Accelerated Share Repurchase

The Company's board of directors authorized the Company to enter into a $1 billion accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") transaction. The Company intends to enter into an ASR transaction with a financial institution during its fiscal third quarter 2020, subject to market conditions. The ASR transaction is in addition to the Company's $1 billion share repurchase program that was announced in February 2019. As of January 31, 2020, $801.9 million remained available for future share repurchases under this program.

Financial Outlook

Palo Alto Networks provides guidance based on current market conditions and expectations.

For the fiscal third quarter 2020, we expect:

Total revenue in the range of $835 to $850 million , representing year-over-year growth between 15% and 17%.

to , representing year-over-year growth between 15% and 17%. Total billings in the range of $980 million to $1.000 billion , representing year-over-year growth between 19% and 22%.

to , representing year-over-year growth between 19% and 22%. Diluted non-GAAP net income per share in the range of $0.96 to $0.98 , using 99.5 to 101.5 million shares.

For the fiscal year 2020, we expect:

Total revenue in the range of $3.350 to $3.390 billion , representing year-over-year growth between 16% and 17%.

to , representing year-over-year growth between 16% and 17%. Total billings in the range of $4.075 to $4.125 billion , representing year-over-year growth between 17% and 18%.

to , representing year-over-year growth between 17% and 18%. Diluted non-GAAP net income per share in the range of $4.55 to $4.65 , using 99 to 101 million shares.

to , using 99 to 101 million shares. Adjusted free cash flow margin of approximately 28%, which excludes cash flow associated with the additional investment in its headquarters in Santa Clara and a cash payment associated with a litigation-related settlement.

Guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes share-based compensation-related charges, including share-based payroll tax expense, acquisition-related costs, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, litigation-related charges, including legal settlements, gains (losses) related to facility exit, non-cash charges related to convertible notes, foreign currency gains (losses), and income and other tax effects associated with these items, along with certain non-recurring expenses. We have not reconciled diluted non-GAAP net income per share guidance to GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share because we do not provide guidance on GAAP net income (loss) and would not be able to present the various reconciling cash and non-cash items between GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP net income, including share-based compensation expense, without unreasonable effort. Share-based compensation expense is impacted by the company's future hiring and retention needs and, to a lesser extent, the future fair market value of the company's common stock, all of which is difficult to predict and subject to constant change. The actual amounts of such reconciling items will have a significant impact on the company's GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share.

Conference Call Information

Palo Alto Networks will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its fiscal second quarter 2020 results and outlook for its fiscal third quarter and full fiscal year 2020 today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time/1:30 p.m. Pacific time. Open to the public, investors may access the call by dialing 1-888-254-3590 or 1-720-543-0214 and using conference ID 2494262. A live audio webcast of the conference call, along with supplemental financial information, will also be accessible from the "Investors" section of our website at investors.paloaltonetworks.com. Following the webcast, an archived version will be available on our website for one year. A telephonic replay of the call will be available three hours after the call, will run for ten days, and may be accessed by dialing 1-888-203-1112 or 1-719-457-0820 and entering the passcode 2494262.

Investor Briefing at RSA

Palo Alto Networks announced today that members of its management team will host an investor briefing during the RSA Conference 2020 in San Francisco, California, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time/1:00 p.m. Pacific time. The in-person event is by invitation only; however, it will be simultaneously accessible via phone and webcast. Investors may access the session by dialing +1 323-794-2442 and using conference ID 408471. A live audio webcast of the session will be accessible from the "Investors" section of the Palo Alto Networks website at investors.paloaltonetworks.com. Space for the event is limited, and preregistration is required.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding (1) our proposed ASR transaction, and (2) our financial outlook for the fiscal third quarter and full fiscal year 2020. With respect to our proposed ASR transaction, our ability to execute such a transaction is subject to risks and uncertainties including, (1) developments or changes in economic or market conditions, (2) developments or changes in the securities markets, and (3) fluctuations in the trading volume and market price of our common stock. With respect to our financial outlook for the fiscal third quarter and full fiscal year 2020, there are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including: our ability as an organization to acquire and integrate other companies, products or technologies in a successful manner; risks associated with managing our growth; the risks associated with new products and subscription and support offerings, including the discovery of software bugs; our competitive position; our ability to attract and retain new customers; delays in the development or release of new subscription offerings, or the failure to timely develop and achieve market acceptance of new products and subscriptions as well as existing products and subscription and support offerings; rapidly evolving technological developments in the market for security products and subscription and support offerings; length of sales cycles; the coronavirus's effect on our supply chain and our ability to ship products; and general market, political, economic, and business conditions.

Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results are included under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 26, 2019, which is available on our website at investors.paloaltonetworks.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Key Metrics

Palo Alto Networks has provided in this press release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures and other key metrics internally in analyzing its financial results and believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures and key metrics are useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends, and in comparing the company's financial results with other companies in its industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures or key metrics.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures and key metrics are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with the company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the company's historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review these reconciliations.

Non-GAAP net income and net income per share, diluted. Palo Alto Networks defines non-GAAP net income as net income (loss) plus share-based compensation-related charges, including share-based payroll tax expense, acquisition-related costs, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, litigation-related charges, including legal settlements, gains (losses) related to facility exit, non-cash charges related to convertible notes, and intellectual property restructuring-related charges. The company also excludes from non-GAAP net income the foreign currency gains (losses) and tax effects associated with these items in order to provide a complete picture of the company's recurring core business operating results. The company defines non-GAAP net income per share, diluted, as non-GAAP net income divided by the weighted-average diluted shares outstanding, which includes the potentially dilutive effect of the company's employee equity incentive plan awards and the company's convertible senior notes outstanding and related warrants, after giving effect to the anti-dilutive impact of the company's note hedge agreements, which reduces the potential economic dilution that otherwise would occur upon conversion of the company's convertible senior notes. Under GAAP, the anti-dilutive impact of the note hedge is not reflected in diluted shares outstanding. The company believes that excluding these items from non-GAAP net income and net income per share, diluted, provides management and investors with greater visibility into the underlying performance of the company's core business operating results, meaning its operating performance excluding these items and, from time to time, other discrete charges that are infrequent in nature, over multiple periods.

Billings. Palo Alto Networks defines billings as total revenue plus the change in total deferred revenue, net of acquired deferred revenue, during the period. The company considers billings to be a key metric used by management to manage the company's business given the company's hybrid-SaaS revenue model, and believes billings provides investors with an important indicator of the health and visibility of the company's business because it includes subscription and support revenue, which is recognized ratably over the contractual service period, and product revenue, which is recognized at the time of shipment, provided that all other conditions for revenue recognition have been met. The company considers billings to be a useful metric for management and investors, particularly if sales of subscriptions continue to increase and the company experiences strong renewal rates for subscriptions and support.

Investors are cautioned that there are a number of limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures and key metrics as analytical tools. In particular, the billings metric reported by the company includes amounts that have not yet been recognized as revenue. Additionally, many of the adjustments to the company's GAAP financial measures reflect the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in the company's financial results for the foreseeable future, such as share-based compensation, which is an important part of Palo Alto Networks employees' compensation and impacts their performance. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP, and the components that Palo Alto Networks excludes in its calculation of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the components that its peer companies exclude when they report their non-GAAP results of operations. Palo Alto Networks compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures. In the future, the company may also exclude non-recurring expenses and other expenses that do not reflect the company's core business operating results.

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, is shaping the cloud-centric future with technology that is transforming the way people and organizations operate. Our mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. We help address the world's greatest security challenges with continuous innovation that seizes the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, analytics, automation, and orchestration. By delivering an integrated platform and empowering a growing ecosystem of partners, we are at the forefront of protecting tens of thousands of organizations across clouds, networks, and mobile devices. Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. For more information, visit www.paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks and the Palo Alto Networks logo are trademarks of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other trademarks, trade names, or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited)

















Three Months Ended January 31,

Six Months Ended January 31,

2020

2019

2020

2019 Revenue:













Product $ 246.5



$ 271.6



$ 477.7



$ 512.1

Subscription and support 570.2



439.6



1,110.9



855.1

Total revenue 816.7



711.2



1,588.6



1,367.2

Cost of revenue:













Product 68.7



82.5



133.8



155.7

Subscription and support 164.4



120.1



317.0



230.4

Total cost of revenue 233.1



202.6



450.8



386.1

Total gross profit 583.6



508.6



1,137.8



981.1

Operating expenses:













Research and development 185.4



128.3



355.9



241.7

Sales and marketing 374.9



320.0



740.6



634.6

General and administrative 76.2



53.7



146.0



130.3

Total operating expenses 636.5



502.0



1,242.5



1,006.6

Operating income (loss) (52.9)



6.6



(104.7)



(25.5)

Interest expense (19.0)



(20.6)



(37.9)



(43.3)

Other income, net 10.8



16.0



27.0



29.0

Income (loss) before income taxes (61.1)



2.0



(115.6)



(39.8)

Provision for income taxes 12.6



4.6



17.7



1.1

Net loss $ (73.7)



$ (2.6)



$ (133.3)



$ (40.9)

Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.75)



$ (0.03)



$ (1.37)



$ (0.44)

Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted 98.3



94.0



97.5



93.9



Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)

















Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

January 31,

January 31,

2020

2019

2020

2019 GAAP net loss $ (73.7)



$ (2.6)



$ (133.3)



$ (40.9)

Share-based compensation-related charges 177.0



149.5



330.7



290.2

Acquisition-related costs(1) 7.0



1.6



10.4



17.1

Amortization expense of acquired intangible assets 17.8



14.1



34.5



23.4

Litigation-related charges(2) 



3.0







6.1

Gain related to facility exit (3) (3.1)







(3.1)





Non-cash charges related to convertible notes(4) 15.7



17.5



31.2



39.1

Foreign currency loss associated with non-GAAP adjustments 1.0



0.6



0.5



0.1

Income tax and other tax adjustments related to the above (21.4)



(36.7)



(45.8)



(72.7)

Non-GAAP net income $ 120.3



$ 147.0



$ 225.1



$ 262.4

















GAAP net loss per share, diluted $ (0.75)



$ (0.03)



$ (1.37)



$ (0.44)

Share-based compensation-related charges 1.77



1.53



3.32



2.97

Acquisition-related costs(1) 0.07



0.02



0.11



0.18

Amortization expense of acquired intangible assets 0.18



0.15



0.35



0.25

Litigation-related charges(2) 0.00



0.03



0.00



0.06

Gain related to facility exit (3) (0.03)



0.00



(0.03)



0.00

Non-cash charges related to convertible notes(4) 0.16



0.19



0.32



0.42

Foreign currency loss associated with non-GAAP adjustments 0.01



0.01



0.01



0.00

Income tax and other tax adjustments related to the above (0.22)



(0.39)



(0.47)



(0.77)

Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted $ 1.19



$ 1.51



$ 2.24



$ 2.67

















GAAP weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share, diluted 98.3



94.0



97.5



93.9

Weighted-average effect of potentially dilutive securities(5) 2.8



3.6



3.1



4.4

Non-GAAP weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share, diluted 101.1



97.6



100.6



98.3







(1) Consists of acquisition transaction costs, share-based compensation related to the cash settlement of certain equity awards, and costs to terminate certain employment and operating lease contracts of the acquired company.



(2) Consists of the amortization of intellectual property licenses.



(3) Consists of a gain related to the early termination of our previous headquarters leases.



(4) Consists primarily of non-cash interest expense related to the company's convertible senior notes. Also includes non-cash losses of $0.4 million and $2.6 million during the three and six months ended January 31, 2019, respectively, related to early conversions of the convertible notes during those periods.



(5) Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted, includes the potentially dilutive effect of employee equity incentive plan awards and convertible senior notes outstanding and related warrants. In addition, non-GAAP net income per share, diluted, includes the anti-dilutive impact of the company's note hedge agreements, which reduced the potentially dilutive effect of the convertible notes by 0.6 million shares and 0.8 million shares for the three and six months ended January 31, 2019, respectively.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Calculation of Billings (In millions) (Unaudited)

















Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

January 31,

January 31,

2020

2019

2020

2019 Total revenue $ 816.7



$ 711.2



$ 1,588.6



$ 1,367.2

Add: change in total deferred revenue, net of acquired deferred revenue 182.2



141.3



307.7



243.8

Billings $ 998.9



$ 852.5



$ 1,896.3



$ 1,611.0



Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In millions) (Unaudited)









January 31, 2020

July 31, 2019 Assets





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,000.0



$ 961.4

Short-term investments 1,133.9



1,841.7

Accounts receivable, net 540.3



582.4

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 304.0



279.3

Total current assets 3,978.2



3,664.8

Property and equipment, net 311.4



296.0

Operating lease right-of-use assets 270.0





Long-term investments 317.9



575.4

Goodwill 1,511.7



1,352.3

Intangible assets, net 290.0



280.6

Other assets 504.9



423.1

Total assets $ 7,184.1



$ 6,592.2

Liabilities and stockholders' equity





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 55.4



$ 73.3

Accrued compensation 175.2



235.5

Accrued and other liabilities 251.2



162.4

Deferred revenue 1,757.7



1,582.1

Total current liabilities 2,239.5



2,053.3

Convertible senior notes, net 1,461.2



1,430.0

Long-term deferred revenue 1,440.8



1,306.6

Long-term operating lease liabilities 353.5





Other long-term liabilities 80.6



216.0

Stockholders' equity:





Preferred stock 





Common stock and additional paid-in capital 2,644.5



2,490.9

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1.8)



(3.7)

Accumulated deficit (1,034.2)



(900.9)

Total stockholders' equity 1,608.5



1,586.3

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 7,184.1



$ 6,592.2



SOURCE Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

Related Links

www.paloaltonetworks.com


Facebook is looking to ramp up its investment programme in India after its two fundings in Meesho and Unacademy, its Vice President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan said on Monday. These two investments have given us the conviction that we are on to something good.

Therefore, the idea will be to ramp up this programme and accelerate it over the next few weeks and months, said Mohan. Unacademy, an online learning platform, said last week that it raised a round of funding of $110 million with investors, including Facebook and General Atlantic, along with Sequoia India, ...
ENTEBBE  Uganda is spearheading East African Member states in developing harmonized cancer registration guidelines for East Africa.

The 3-day discussion (24th  26th February 2020) of the second draft of harmonized cancer registration guidelines is on-going at K-Hotels, Entebbe- Uganda.

According to the statement by the Uganda Cancer Institute, the discussion aims at establishing a coherent framework for enhancing cancer registration and surveillance in East Africa to control the impact of cancer on the general population.

The member states are expected to discuss the second draft of the harmonized guidelines on cancer registration. This follows the first draft which was discussed in December 2019 in Nairobi- Kenya, reads the statement in part.

The first conference was held in Arusha, Tanzania at East African Community headquarters in August 2019, the second was hosted at Airport hotel, Nairobi Kenya in December 2019.

It should be noted that for a very long time, Uganda has been Africas research powerhouse having worldwide groundbreaking discoveries in cancer research and care. Therefore, Uganda taking lead in this initiative indicates that East Africa recognizes the potential and contribution of Uganda towards cancer research through her implementing arm the Uganda Cancer Institute.

Cancer registration and its subsequent development of harmonized guidelines will standardize the process of establishment and operation of cancer registries in East African region; it will enhance high quality and comparable information on cancer burden in East Africa Community member states; will increase the cancer registry coverage in the region by involving various teams or authorities on the requirements and process of establishment of a population-based cancer registry and also enhance collaboration and networking among cancer registries in the region, reads the statement.

Related
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 13:05:50|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Three suspected cases of the novel coronavirus in Afghanistan have tested negative for the virus, Afghan authorities said Monday.

"Three Afghan citizens with flu symptoms, who were admitted to a regional hospital in western Herat province, were regarded free from coronavirus after their samples tested negative," Wahidullah Mayar, spokesman for Ministry of Public Health, told local media.

The trio recently returned to Herat, bordering Iran, from Qom city of Iran where several positive cases were reported.

On Sunday, Afghanistan temporarily closed all its land border crossings with Iran over the COVID-19 cases in the neighboring country.
Felicity Huffman was all smiles while heading to perform community service at The Teen Project on Sunday afternoon.

The 57-year-old actress was seen heading to the facility in Sun Valley, California, rocking a casual look.

She was sentenced to perform 250 hours of community service as part of her sentence for her involvement in the college admissions scandal.

All smiles: Felicity Huffman was all smiles while heading to perform community service at The Teen Project on Sunday afternoon

Huffman was wearing a grey hoodie under a grey long-sleeved shirt with black stretch pants.

She also wore a large brown hat with black sunglasses and gold hoop earrings for her community service outing.

She completed her look with grey and blue Asics sneakers with neon green laces.

Felicity's look: Huffman was wearing a grey hoodie under a grey long-sleeved shirt with black stretch pants

Huffman chose The Teen Project because she wants to use her court-ordered community service hours to help young women.

The Teen Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving at risk homeless and sex trafficked young women (18-25 years old) many from foster care.

A source told Pop Culture in November that Huffman has taken a 'genuine interest in the young women' at the facility.

Help: Huffman chose The Teen Project because she wants to use her court-ordered community service hours to help young women

'There was definitely apprehension that Felicity felt from the staff, because no one knew how seriously Felicity was going to take this,' the source said.

'Most people just show, do the hours, and leave. They arent engaged and fully present. Felicity is the opposite,' the source added.

Huffman plead guilty to honest services fraud charges after paying $15,000 to have her daughter's college admission scores altered.

Apprehension: 'There was definitely apprehension that Felicity felt from the staff, because no one knew how seriously Felicity was going to take this,' the source said

She was sentenced to serve 14 days in jail with one year of supervised release and she was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine in addition to her community service.

The actress most recently starred in Tammy's Always Dying, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.

She also recently starred in Otherhood, which hit theaters in August, and Netflix's When They See Us, which debuted in May.
The Coalition of Northern Youths has revealed that the Operation Shege Ka Fasa recently set up in the region is a direct reaction to A...





The Coalition of Northern Youths has revealed that the Operation Shege Ka Fasa recently set up in the region is a direct reaction to Amotekun.





Alhaji Abdul Aziz Suleiman, spokesman of the Coalition made up of over 19 groups in North, blamed the government for the security outfits springing up from the regions. He said the government had failed to do what it was supposed to do.





Suleiman said the government had been foot dragging on the issues of community policing and it had politicized state police, adding that the regional securities were children of necessity.





Nobody can say that there is no relation between Amotekun and our initiative. You see Amotekun came up as a necessity in order to protect the Southwest against killings, he told the Sun.





The reality is that when they [Amotekun] are able to flush out the hoodlums they [hoodlums] are going to come to the North.





So Shege Ka Fasa is literally a direct reaction to Amotekun, but not a negative one. We welcome it.





Suleiman explained further that the North formed their security outfit so that while Amotekun work in the Southwest Shege Ka Fasa also work in the North to block the entry and exit routes of the hoodlums.





What we are saying about state police and community policing is the sincerity of government, he added.





Everybody wants security, peace and order. If the government had done what it is supposed to do nobody will think of floating regional security outfit, he said.





According to him, the North is bedeviled with poverty and yet the region experience daily killings and attacks.





He maintained that the new regional approach to fighting insecurity in the country may force the agenda of state police up to the nations political agenda.





Suleiman said the development will force people to speak up.




LAS VEGAS - Iowa was a historic debacle. New Hampshire was a little too close. Nevada was something else for Sen. Bernie Sanders: a blowout that revealed both the scale of his new coalition and the crabs-in-a-barrel inability of other Democratic candidates to catch him.

The Nevada results have not reset the race, but they've clarified it, revealing the strengths of some candidates, the shrinking opportunities of most others and how one good debate performance can rattle everything.

- - -

"Tio Bernie!"

That was the nickname Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., bestowed on Sanders, I-Vt., at his post-heart-attack comeback rally in Queens. It appeared on T-shirts and got chanted at rallies - all the way through the raucous downtown party that Sanders volunteers held in Las Vegas after the vote. Sanders earned it, dominating with Latino voters in a way that could ripple through the next month's primaries.

There has been a lot of attention paid to constituencies that Sanders has lost ground with. Latinos aren't one of them. The 2016 entrance poll of Nevada found Sanders winning 53% of Latino voters in a two-way race; this year's entrance poll, in a six-way contest, found Sanders with 51% of the Latino vote. While he once edged out Hillary Clinton for Latino voters, in Nevada he tripled the support of his nearest rival, former vice president Joe Biden, who pulled 17% of Latinos. Sanders had spent years appealing to Latino voters, organizers had spent months canvassing them in neighborhoods other candidates ignored, and it paid off.

The Latino vote is not a monolith; Sanders polls notably behind his national averages in Florida, where Cuban immigration has created a more conservative Latino electorate. But in Nevada, Sanders' Latino advantage was the biggest any candidate had with any demographic.

- - -

Biden's black voter advantage keeps shrinking

If the former vice president's campaign had a theme in Nevada, it was that nonwhite voters deserved a louder voice in the nomination process and that if they got one he would win. "Until now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency of the Democratic Party," Biden argued on the night of the New Hampshire primary.

But that constituency is not rallying around Biden like it used to, or like he needs it to. According to the entrance poll, Biden won 39% of black voters in Nevada, a clear plurality and 12 points better than Sanders. But four years ago, Hillary Clinton won 76% of the black vote in Nevada, compared with 22% for Sanders. The senator from Vermont actually increased his share of black support this year despite the divided field, to 27%.

Biden's coalition will struggle to win, or to put up big margins, without winning more black voters. In 2008, 78% of black South Carolina primary voters went for then-Sen. Barack Obama, and in 2016, 86% of them went for Clinton. Talk of a Biden "firewall" in the South is based, in part, on comparisons to candidates with much broader black support. (Biden has also dismissed "firewall" talk, telling CBS News on Sunday that it was the media, not him, setting expectations.)

Biden needs it because he's struggling with white voters in this primary more than either of those eventual nominees. Biden won 14% of Nevada's white voters, running behind former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and tying Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Diverse Clark County was the only part of Nevada where Biden ran second; outside the mega-county, he ran fifth behind the field, according to exit polling and early results.

- - -

The path for the other white moderates is vanishing

Klobuchar and Buttigieg arrived in Nevada with momentum they got from New Hampshire, and converted into a few more points in the polls, mostly with white voters. Together, they won 33% of white voters and 12% of nonwhite voters. White liberals and moderates are paying close attention to Klobuchar and Buttigieg. Other Democrats aren't.

Buttigieg came out of Nevada with a new theme, that the party can pick him as an alternative in a slog between Sanders and former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, attacking "Sanders' vision of capitalism as the root of all evil that would go beyond reform and reorder the economy." Klobuchar came out with a perfunctory speech, reminiscing to voters in Minnesota last night, again, about the snowstorm that nearly ruined her campaign launch 378 days ago.

She had a mixed week in Nevada, drawing some decent crowds but getting just as much attention for blanking on the name of Mexico's president during a Telemundo interview and spending two days off the trail for fundraisers. Warren's breakthrough debate performance sliced right through Klobuchar's gains; while the Minnesotan beat Warren by 12 points with voters who made their minds up "in the last month," she lost to Warren by 13 points among voters who made up their minds after the debate. Before the debate, as the early vote totals revealed, Warren was on track for a collapse in Nevada. The debate pushed her back ahead of Klobuchar, just as the New Hampshire debate pushed Klobuchar ahead of Warren.

- - -

Adios, caucuses

The same restructuring process that required caucus states to record their popular vote encouraged states to drop caucuses altogether. Most states did so - North Dakota, Wyoming and three territories (American Samoa, Guam and the Virgin Islands) will hold caucuses that resemble Iowa's and Nevada's.

On the margins, that's not good for Sanders, even if he wins former caucus states such as Minnesota and Colorado next month. In Nevada, with 60% of precincts reporting, Sanders has carried about 33% of first-preference votes. But the Sanders turnout operation helped him dominate the county convention delegate count. A precinct with seven Sanders voters, one Biden voter, one Buttigieg voter and one Warren voter, for example, would have delivered every county convention delegate (CCD) to Sanders, as only he had crossed the 15% viability threshold.

That meant, for Sanders, that winning a third of the vote (so far) has been worth nearly half the CCDs. In 2016, when caucuses picked hundreds of delegates, these rules were fantastic for Sanders. The upside for Sanders' opponents now is that the popular vote is more competitive, drawing out more unlikely voters.

- - -

Tom Steyer is still here

That same caucus math, which pushed Steyer far out of contention for delegates, made it look like the investor-turned-candidate had imploded. His support was actually more solid than it had been in either previous contest: Steyer is on track to win about 8% of all first-preference votes and 16% of the black vote. That's close to what the sparse public polling projected.

At one level, it's an indictment of Steyer's massive spending, which swamped every other Democrat in Nevada. But it suggests that Steyer really has made few inroads with black voters, enough to remain a factor in South Carolina, where he just qualified for Tuesday's debate. There were eight candidates for this nomination before Nevada, and there are eight candidates for the nomination today. The field is simply not shrinking, which is the biggest gift to Sanders of them all.
Supreme Court Judge Justice Deepak Gupta said on Monday that right to dissent is essential for democracy and criticism of the executive, judiciary, bureaucracy and the Armed Forces cannot be termed "anti-national".

The right to dissent is the "biggest" and "most important right" granted by the Constitution and it includes the right to criticise, he said. "There can be no democracy without dissent."



Justice Gupta said that as long as a person does not break the law or encourage strife, he has a right to differ from every other citizen as also those in power, and propagate his belief.

Justice Gupta, while giving a lecture at an event- "Democracy and Dissent" -- organised by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) -- said everyone must be open to criticism, and the judiciary is not above criticism.

"If Judges of the superior courts were to take note of all the contemptuous communications received by them, there would be no work other than the contempt proceedings. In fact, I welcome criticism of the judiciary because only if there is criticism, will there be improvement," he said.

Justice Gupta said there must be also introspection as "when we introspect, we will find that many decisions taken by us need to be corrected".

"Criticism of the executive, the judiciary, the bureaucracy or the Armed Forces cannot be termed "anti-national". In case we attempt to stifle criticism of the institutions whether it be the legislature, the executive or the judiciary or other bodies of the State, we shall become a police State instead of a democracy and this the founding fathers never expected this country to be", he said.

Justice Gupta, who is set to retire on May 6, said: "To question, to challenge, to verify, to ask for accountability from the government is the right of every citizen under the Constitution.

"These rights should never be taken away otherwise. We will become an unquestioning moribund society, which will not be able to develop any further".

He disapproved of calls often made by various bar associations refusing to represent accused in various cases and said it is against legal ethics and an obstruction of justice.

"I chose this topic because I am troubled with certain recent events especially concerning lawyers and Bar Associations where forgetting the duty cast upon the lawyers under the Advocates Act, 1961 and the right of every person to have free legal aid, some Bar Associations in different parts of the country are passing resolutions that none of their members will appear in certain causes. This is something which worries me immensely," he said.

Highlighting the importance of dissent in a democracy, he said, "If a country has to grow in a holistic manner where not only the economic rights but also the civil rights of the citizen are to be protected, dissent and disagreement have to be permitted, and in fact, should be encouraged".

He said that rule of majority is an integral part of democracy but "majoritarianism is the antithesis of democracy" and in a democracy like India, the government in most cases does not represent the majority of the population, and often not even the voting electorate.

"Therefore, when those in power claim that they represent the will of all the people that is more often than not a totally baseless claim. They may be the elected government voted on the first past the post system by a large number of voters, but it cannot be said that they represent the entire will of the people," he said.

Justice Gupta, however, said that dissenting views must be expressed in a "peaceful manner" and citizens have a right to get together and protest when they feel that actions taken by the government are not proper.

"Their cause may not always be right. At the same time, the Government may also not be right. Merely because certain groups oppose those in power cannot take away their right to oppose what is proposed by the Government or to oppose any actions of the Government as long as the protest is peaceful. The Government has no right to stifle or quell protest as long as the protests are peaceful," he pointed out.

Justice Gupta said that the bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law and this necessitates that there must be an independent fearless judiciary.

"There can be rule of law only when we have judges who can take decisions independent of political influence, totally uninfluenced by media or any other extraneous considerations," he added.

He referred to several historic dissenting judgements including the famous opinion penned by Justice H R Khanna in the ADM Jabalpur case and said that Justice Khanna knew that he was putting his future as Chief Justice of India at stake.

In the ADM Jabalpur case of 1976, the five-judge bench by a majority verdict 4:1 had arrived at the conclusion that Article 21 is the sole repository of all rights to life and personal liberty, and, when suspended, takes away those rights altogether.

Emergency was imposed in the country for a period of 21 months - from 1975 to 1977. Justice HR Khanna was lone dissenting judge who had held that "the suspension of the right to move any Court for the enforcement of the right under Article 21, upon a proclamation of emergency, would not affect the enforcement of the basic right to life and liberty".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday said it is an honour to welcome the visiting dignitary on his maiden visit to the state.

"On behalf of 65 million Gujaratis, it's an honour to welcome the President of the USA, Mr @realDonaldTrump, on his maiden visit to Gujarat," Rupani said in a series of tweets.

"It is an absolute privilege to witness the coming together of the two largest democracies when President of the USA Mr Trump and PM of India Shri Modi ji would do a historic roadshow in Ahmedabad later during the day followed by their address to a huge gathering at Motera Stadium," said the Gujarat Chief Minister said.

Rupani informed that the US President, his wife Melania Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the Sabarmati Ashram as well.

"President @realDonaldTrump and First Lady @FLOTUS of the USA will also be visiting Sabarmati Ashram with PM Shri @NarendraModi and pay homage to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi," he said.

The Gujarat Chief Minister expressed confidence that the visit will "give a new dimension and boost to our relationship."

The US President, along with his family and a ministerial delegation will be in India for around 36 hours. He along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing a huge gathering at the Motera stadium later today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ghana and Norway have pledged to deepen ties of mutual co-operation that exist between them, following the holding of bilateral talks between President Akufo-Addo and Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Monday, 24th February.

At a joint press conference addressed by the two leaders, as part of President Akufo-Addo's official visit to Norway, President Akufo-Addo stated that the purpose of the visit is aimed at reinforcing the strong ties of friendship and co-operation that already exist between the two countries.

The President expressed the appreciation of the Ghanaian people to the Norwegian Prime Minister, her government and people for the considerable support they have offered Ghana through various interventions, such as the Oil for Development Programme, which has been running successfully for more than a decade, and has enhanced Ghanas capacity to manage her petroleum resources.

He also indicated that the Fish for Development initiative signed by the two countries in May 2019 is having a positive impact on the management of Ghana's marine resources for the creation of wealth and jobs, particularly in fishing communities, in line with the realisation of SDG No. 14.

Encouraged by the fact that more Norwegian companies are looking to invest in Ghana, symbolized by the presence of oil and gas giant, Aker Energy, President Akufo-Addo stressed that I wish to assure the more than fifty (50) Norwegian companies operating in our country that my government will continue to try and maintain a conducive investment atmosphere that would not only guarantee the safety of their investments but also good returns on investments as well.

The President urged more Norwegian companies to invest in Ghana, and was hopeful that more Ghanaian companies will also take up the offer to invest in Norway.

On her part, the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, commended President Akufo-Addo on the work he has undertaken, so far, as co-Chair of Eminent Advocates of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Describing Ghana as one of our closest partners in Africa, Prime Minister Solberg indicated that Norway is determined to deepen her bilateral relations with Ghana, and, thereby, help improve the living standards of their respective populations.

Earlier in the day, President Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on Tone Wilhelmsen Tren, the current President of the Storting, the supreme legislature of Norway.

The Crown Prince of Norway, Haakon, who has assumed the role of Regent, also hosted the President to an official lunch at the Royal Palace.

---citinewsroom
Postmasters fear the closure of hundreds of post offices and the withdrawal of services will cost local economies billions.

They warn that this will have a devastating impact in rural areas and on local economies.

More than 7.6bn in social welfare payments are made through post offices. However, An Post's contract with the Department of Social Protection to provide the service is up for renewal next year.

There are a total of 952 post offices nationwide. However, only one third of these are viewed as commercially viable. Another third are seen as unsustainable and a further 300 post offices are hovering between viable and unviable, according to the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU).

It fears that between 300 and 400 post offices are at risk of closure.

The IPU has called for the introduction of a public service obligation for the post office network, saying it needs State support to survive. It has also called for the network to become a focal point for all State business, such as applying for services, identification cards and issuing driving licences. An Post says the network is well positioned to deliver such services.

IPU general secretary Ned O'Hara said post offices losing the social welfare payments contract would devastate small urban and rural economies.

"The multiplier effect from the social welfare payments being paid at post offices is crucial. Losing that is a death knell for small local traders because much of that money is often spent locally," he said.

Others, such as the Public Banking Forum of Ireland, have called for the sector to be reformed by expanding services and adapting the post office model to incorporate not-for-profit community banking. Similar models have proven to be a success in New Zealand and Germany.

Postmaster Sean Fogarty, who has run a post office in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare, for more than two decades, is worried about his future because of declining footfall. His post office is incorporated with a small convenience store. Six months ago he built on a cafe and before that he tried other innovative methods to boost business. He knows further change is needed.

A crucial portion of his business comes from issuing social welfare payments. Mr Fogarty said he would have to consider shutting his post office if An Post loses the social welfare contract when it is put up for tender next year.

"If the rest of the shop and the cafe is going to do more to sustain my business then I am not going to have a post office that is costing me money to keep it. I will have to weigh up if we can afford to keep it," he said.
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Former Vice President Joe Biden refused to play the medias stop Bernie game, but he did say that the Russians arent trying to help him win the nomination.

Transcript via Face The Nation:

MARGARET BRENNAN: Bernie Sanders. Can you stop him, in terms of the momentum he has? The Bloomberg campaign, as you know, is out saying that for moderates like yourselves, hes going to basically end up with an insurmountable delegate lead because of his early success.

BIDEN: I told you, Im not going to play this game with you. I dont know. Its not about who I stop. Its why Im running, why Im telling the people that I should be the next president and why Im the best guy to beat Trump. All those other polls you all cite also show Im the most person- Im the- the person most likely to be Trump. Im the person that, in fact, in- in those polls in addition to that, Im the only one, in terms of the Russians and all these stuff youve all been reporting. The Russians dont want me to be the nominee. They spent a lot of money on bots on Facebook and theyve been taken down saying Biden is a bad guy. They dont want Biden running. Theyre not- no ones helping me to try to get the nomination. They have good reason.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Who informed you of that? Was it Facebook or have U.S. intelligence officials told you about some kind of meddling with the campaign?

BIDEN: I have not spoken to the intelligence community, but I think the intelligence community should inform the rest of us who are running what they told Senator Sanders.

Video:

Can Biden halt @BernieSanders' surge? "I don't know, he tells @margbrennan. It's not about who I stop. It's why I'm running, why I'm telling the people that I should be the next president and why I'm the best guy to beat Trump. WATCH > pic.twitter.com/TwsxfWyh0v  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 23, 2020

Bidens right on both counts. The primary isnt about stopping Sanders, which is a media and Sanders campaign narrative. Biden has spent much of his campaign talking about the past instead of explaining why people should vote for him in 2020.

The former vice president was also correct. Bernie Sanders is the candidate who the Russians want to see win the Democratic nomination. It doesnt matter if Sen. Sanders doesnt want their help. They are helping him out of the belief that helping Sanders helps Trump.

Biden may have been one of the first candidates to take a Russia jab at Bernie Sanders, but with another debate coming up this week, he wont be the last.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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A man has been found guilty of murder after he shot dead a pensioner with a crossbow in a a barbaric, medieval-style execution.

Terence Whall was convicted of killing retired lecturer Gerald Corrigan, 74, outside his home in Anglesey, north Wales, in the early hours of 19 April last year.

Whall and co-defendant, Gavin Jones, were also convicted by a jury at Mold Crown Court on Monday of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Jurors were told they may never know why Mr Corrigan was murdered but heard that the pensioner and his partner, Marie Bailey, had previously handed over 250,000 to convicted fraudster Richard Wyn Lewis.

On 31 May, Whall and Jones were arrested at the Anglesey home of Mr Lewis, who remains under investigation, following an incident that the jury heard was a dispute over money.

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Peter Rouch QC, prosecuting, said Whalls association with Mr Lewis may be of significance, but David Elias QC, defending Whall, said there was no evidence linking the two before the shooting.

Whall, a tai chi instructor from east London, denied ever meeting Mr Corrigan, who died in hospital on 11 May.

However, the court heard that he hid outside Mr Corrigans home until he came outside to look at his satellite dish, which had been tampered with.

The crossbow bolt that Whall fired went through the pensioners body, resulting in serious internal injuries and bruising to the heart.

It also shattered a bone in the victims arm.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Kearney said: Gerald Corrigan was the victim of a barbaric, medieval-style execution in one of the safest parts of the UK.

Gerald, a pensioner, lived in a tranquil and remote location, with his disabled partner Marie. He was entirely innocent.

Whalls movements on the night of the shooting were given away by the GPS system in his Jaguar Land Rover, which was discovered burnt-out in an abandoned quarry on 3 June.

Information recovered from the vehicle proved that it had been in the vicinity of Mr Corrigans residence that night and on the previous night, when Whall was said to have been scoping out the home.

Whall initially claimed to police that he had been at home on the evening Mr Corrigan was shot.

When the GPS disproved this version of events, Whall said he had been in the area having a sexual encounter with friend Barry Williams. Mr Williams denied this.

Mr Kearney said: Terence Whall believed he had planned and committed the perfect murder. There was no forensic evidence, no direct eye witness evidence to the shooting and in fact no-one saw him going to and from the scene.

During the trial, which lasted more than four weeks, Joness brother, Darren, and his friend, Martin Roberts, pleaded guilty to the arson of Whalls car.

Although Whall admitted owning a crossbow, he told police that he had sold it by the time of the killing.

He also claimed that a new one he had ordered online had not been delivered by 19 April.

The jury heard that he had previously ordered identical bolts and broadheads for his crossbow to the ones used to shoot Mr Corrigan.

Whalls punchbag was found to have holes in it, suggesting it was used for target practice.

Mr Corrigan moved to Anglesey 20 years ago after retiring from his post as a lecturer in photography and video in Lancashire.

He cared for his partner, Ms Bailey, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

Additional reporting from PA
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:33:07|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Classes in schools and universities across Egypt will be suspended on Tuesday due to heavy rain that have been showering the country since the wee hours of Monday morning, the Ahram Online news website reported.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the decision was taken to enable people to weather off the rain that is expected to fall in several areas in Egypt on Tuesday, according to the report.

The prime minister requested the activation of the cabinet's crisis chamber that will be in touch with concerned bodies to deal with the expected weather conditions in the coming few hours.

Various parts in Egypt saw a spell of unstable weather, including heavy rain since Monday morning which affected traffic.

Earlier this week, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecasted that several parts of the country will see a three-day wave of unstable weather starting Sunday.

Rain would be accompanied by a drop in temperatures of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, the authority added.
Anniston city officials on Monday said they have received further assurances from federal officials that a plan to bring Americans infected with the coronavirus to a federal facility in the city has been abandoned.

Mayor Jack Draper said that moves over the weekend to prevent the plan by local officials were motivated by concerns about inadequate preparation for such a move, not fear.

Here is AL.coms complete coverage of the plan to bring coronavirus patients to Alabama

These are our fellow citizens, he said. We have concern for these evacuees. It had more to do with a lack of any concrete plan.

City and state officials held an 11 a.m. joint news conference on the situation.

Joint press conference on coronavirus plan in Calhoun County. Posted by al.com on Monday, February 24, 2020

The Anniston City Council had planned to meet this morning to approve potential legal action to block a plan local officials learned about on Saturday to bring evacuees to the Center for Domestic Preparedness, a federal installation at the old Fort McClellan. However, assurances from federal officials, the Department of Health and Human Services and Gov. Kay Ivey were that no evacuees would be coming. So the council took no action.

The CDP trains first responders from around the country in dealing with chemical, biological and natural disasters. As Draper noted, more than 300 people are expected today on the CDP campus to train. However, local officials were concerned when they first heard about the plan abruptly Saturday with little preparation for how to deal with any needs locally. On Sunday, the Calhoun County Commission approved a plan to seek legal action to halt evacuation until receiving more guidance from federal officials.

Draper said officials were told the evacuees were from the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship docked in Japan during an outbreak of coronavirus. The evacuees tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, but are either asymptomatic or have mild flu-like symptoms. They would be coming from facilities in California and Texas, Draper said, though officials were never given an idea of how many might be coming.

Despite rumors, Draper said there are no patients in Calhoun County.

What concerned local officials was what steps might be taken once evacuees arrived. For example, if an evacuee, or CDP worker, needed medical care, would they be taken to one of Annistons two local hospitals? Draper said neither had been consulted before the announcement.

Officials also said the CDP offers training for dealing with pathogens but is not a quarantine facility.

Its a unique training facility, and were thankful that its there, he said.
Asia-Pacific countries are introducing restrictive cyber security rules that threaten Australia's technology exports, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has warned, suggesting trade terms could be used to bolster the fledgling fintech industry.

In a submission to a Senate inquiry into the fintech and regulatory technology sectors, DFAT said global governments were working to balance international trade with adequate protections for consumers and businesses.

Afterpay has been one of Australia's most successful fintech startups.

"Faced with these policy choices, some governments in our region are putting in place measures that have the potential to significantly dampen international digital trade, such as restrictive cyber security measures, onerous privacy requirements, data localisation requirements and censorship," its submission says.

The joint committee is looking into restrictions on the fintech and regtech sectors, which include businesses such as Afterpay, Zip and Commonwealth Bank's Klarna, as well as opportunities for it to grow.
Currently, Kanagana Ranaut is pretty occupied with the shooting of her next project Thalaivi. The film has a lot of hype surrounding it and we hope that it does justice to the great personality that Jayalalithaa was. The actress recently took out some time from her busy schedule and went on a little tour around Tamil Nadu.

Kangana first went to seek blessings from Lord Shiva at the popular Rameshwaram temple. Kangana took a bath in the holy water there and was also seen praying at the holy place where Lord Rama had established a Shivlingam to absolve himself of his sins after killed the great Shiva devotee Ravana in order to bring Sita back from Lanka. Post that she went on to pay her respects to Indias former Prime Minister APJ Abdul Kalam at his memorial site in Tamil Nadu. Check out the pictures below.

On the work front, Kangana will next be seen in the film Tejas. The actress will play the role of an air force pilot in the film.
New Delhi: Karnataka's Agriculture Minister BC Patil on Monday (February 24) sought a shoot at sight law in India for those who speak ill of India or raise pro-Pakistan slogans. Citing China's example, he requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with traitors.

BC Patil told ANI in Chitradurga, "In my opinion there is need for a law that has to be brought in India - Shoot at Sight law has to brought in India for those who speak ill of India or raise pro-Pakistan slogans. It is very much needed."

Patil further said, "They're enjoying food, water and air of India. Why should they be here if they raise 'Pakistan zindabad' slogan? In China, people are scared to talk against their country. I request PM Modi to bring in a tough law to deal with traitors."

Meanwhile, Karnataka Police has booked All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan for allegedly making a hate speech at an anti-CAA rally in Kalaburagi recently. Kalaburagi is about 580 kms north of Bengaluru in the southern state.

Kalaburagi police commissioner MN Nagaraj told IANS on phone, "We have booked a case against Pathan for reportedly making a hate speech at an anti-CAA rally in the city on February 15 and summoned him to appear before us for interrogation by February 29."

The case has been lodged against the Mumbai-based Pathan under sections 153A and 117 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on a complaint by a local lawyer - Shwetha Omprakash Rathod that the former made provocative statements against the Hindu community.

Pathan is a former legislator of the AIMIM from Mumbai`s Byculla Assembly segment and a practicing lawyer in Maharashtra.

On receiving police summons for questioning at Kalaburagi, Pathan told reporters in Mumbai on Saturday that he had no intention to hurt the sentiments of any community and blamed the media for twisting his speech to defame him, his party and the minority community.

"I take back my words if they hurt anyone and apologise for the same," said Pathan, adding in a tweet that he was a proud Indian and respects the plurality of the country but was angry like many others who believe in the Constitution, with the government for imposing the CAA on the people.

Criticising Pathan for his hate speech, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi advised the former to refrain from making such provocative remarks in public.

Disowning Pathan`s speech and conduct, party`s Maharashtra unit president and Aurangabad Lok Sabha member Imtiyaz Jaleel said, "We will seek explanation from him (Pathan) on his remarks." Jaleel added that the party would give guidelines to its members on making public speeches.
A French-Rwandan former hotel driver is to go on trial in Paris from September for crimes linked to the Rwandan genocide, a judicial source told AFP on Monday.

Claude Muhayimana, previously a driver at a hotel on Lake Kivu in western Rwanda, is accused of transporting Hutu militiamen to sites where massacres were carried out.

His trial  the third in France to be connected to the genocide  is scheduled to run from September 29 to October 23.

Muhayimana faces charges of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity through aiding and assisting such acts.

The massacres were carried out at a local school and in nearby hills where members of the Tutsi minority had taken refuge.

Muhayimana fled to France after the genocide and obtained French nationality in 2010.

In 2014, he was arrested in the northern city of Rouen after a year-long investigation triggered by a complaint by the Collective of Civilian Parties for Rwanda (CPCR), which represents victims.

His lawyer, Philippe Meilhac, told AFP that Muhayimana should be viewed in a historical context.

He is neither a political nor a military leader, but an ordinary citizen who was caught up in the middle of chaos, he said.

I am convinced that the court will recognise his innocence.

CPCRs president, Alain Gauthier, said: We are delighted that this trial is going ahead, but we look forward to seeing many others, with senior figures.

In the two other Rwandan genocide trials that have concluded in France, a former officer in the presidential guard, Pascal Simbikangwa, was given a 25-year sentence in 2014.

In 2016, Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira, two former mayors in eastern Rwanda, were given life sentences.

Twenty-nine investigations into genocide suspects were underway in early December, conducted by a special judicial unit based in Paris, which is empowered by law to carry out prosecutions of any individuals on French soil.

Around 800,000 people  Tutsis but also moderate Hutus  were slaughtered over 100 days by ethnic Hutu extremists during the 1994 genocide.
By Julia Cheever

Bay City News Service

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A U.S. appeals court in San Francisco on Monday upheld a revised rule by President Donald Trump's administration that bars federally funded family planning clinics from providing abortion referrals.

The decision was made by a 7-4 vote of an 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel overturned preliminary injunctions issued by federal judges in San Francisco, Oregon and Washington in lawsuits filed by a total of 22 states and several doctors and health organizations.

The revised rule allows doctors in family planning clinics to mention abortion, but it prohibits them from encouraging abortion or providing an abortion referral. Instead, it requires doctors to refer pregnant patients to prenatal services.

The previous version of the rule by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services allowed doctors to give neutral, "non-directive" counseling and to provide abortion referrals.

Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta wrote in the majority opinion that the revised rule was "a reasonable interpretation" of the federal law that authorizes family planning grants, known as Title X.

California Attorney GeneraL Xavier Becerra, who led one of the lawsuits, called the rule "reckless" and said it "obstructs access to care by gagging medical professionals from discussing all available options with their patients."

Another of the lawsuits before the appeals court was filed in federal court in San Francisco by Equal Access Health, California's largest Title X grantee, which distributes funds to clinics.

Equal Access Health President Julie Rabinovitz stated, "This is a devastating decision for the millions of low-income patients who rely on the Title X program for comprehensive, quality sexual and reproductive health care nationwide."

Rabinovitz said the organization is reviewing the decision and discussing next steps with its lawyers and litigation partners.

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.
In 2010, he paid the Chinese government to gather weather data on a small area in the Himalayas where French missionaries had planted grapes in the 19th century, and where the Chinese government itself had established a few vineyards in the 1980s and 1990s to provide the local Tibetan peasants with another source of income beyond yak products and barley. The place Jordan had found was nearly impossible to reach except by ancient tea trading roads, dusty slivers that ran between what was then known as Zhongdian and Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
There has been further fallout relating to the unpaid duties demanded of telecommunications companies in last Octobers Indian Supreme Court judgement  for both Vodafone Idea and Hughes India.

It now seems that Hughes India, a division of US-headquartered satellite broadband provider Hughes Network Systems, is worried about the future of its operations.

Hughes' India unit provides services to defence, education and banking sectors in the country. It also owes some $84 million in duties, which, according to a letter apparently written by Hughes' India President Partho Banerjee, it cannot pay.

The upshot of Hughes being forced to close operations in India would not just be a hit to the jobs market. It could mean disruption to tens of thousands of banking locations and a number of satellite networks used by the army, navy and railways.

The dues, interest and penalties owed by Indian operator Vodafone Idea are even higher  around $3.9 billion  and a Vodafone Idea exit could put some 13,000 employees out of work and endanger billions of dollars in bank loans.

However, the prospects for Vodafone Idea have just got slightly worse. According to recent news reports from India, any chances that Vodafone Idea might be able to monetise its stake in infrastructure company Indus Towers after the much-delayed Bharti Infratel-Indus Towers merger in time to pay part of its AGR dues by the 17 March deadline set by the Supreme Court, are dwindling.

It seems that the merger needs to be cleared by the National Company Law Tribunal-Chandigarh and then taken on record by Indias Registrar of Companies, a process that could take a few more months.
Member of Parliament(MP) for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has chided those comparing the 2012 new voter registration, especially the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) with the 2020 new compilation as same exercise.



According to him, the excuse given by those calling for the compilation of a new register with reference to the 2012 new voter register failed to mention that the processes for the procurement of the equipment was done in 2011 and not the same year of the election as it is happening now.



He said prior to the 2012 new registration, there had been a census in 2010 to rely on a data for the new voters register but the situation is different in 2020 as the EC is yet to procure the equipment for the registration exercise and also without a data as there has not been any census yet in 2020.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Ras Mubarak, however, described it as ridiculous the attempt by people to equate the new registration in 2012 to the 2020 new registration that the current Electoral Commission (EC) wants to embark on.



It is ridiculous to compare the 2012 registration with the 2020 registration . . . we had done a national population census in 2010 and so there was a data to lean on for the 2012 registration, but with this, we are now going to do the census, he argued.



He feared that instances, where people are unable to register due to the Electoral Commissions own lapses, incompetence and sheer refusal to listen to some section of Ghanaians, will bring chaos in the election.



He, however, gave a classic example that the month of April earmarked for the new register will not be favorable for Ghanaian farmers as it is the month that farmers in the country do farm work.



He again mentioned that the country is likely to experience rainfall in the month of April, making the new registration exercise difficult to execute.



It is a national exercise and it should be done in a manner that eases the burden of everybody, Ras Mubarak lamented on Okay FM.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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AHMEDABAD, India  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered on his promised spectacle to welcome President Donald Trump, who kicked off his 36-hour trip to India on Monday with a colorful road tour that culminated in a rally that drew tens of thousands to the world's largest cricket stadium.

The stadium in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Modi's home state of Gujarat, was nearly at capacity as the president touched down late Monday morning. Outside the airport, dancers clad in vibrant-colored clothing performed as the president's motorcade made its way to Sabarmati Ashram, one of Mahatma Gandhis residences that hosts a museum.

More than 100,000 people poured into the brand new stadium for Namaste Trump," an event designed to reciprocate last falls Texas Howdy Modi rally that drew 50,000 Indian Americans to greet the prime minister. The president and first lady Melania Trump are to be feted in a whirlwind, two-day diplomatic display aimed at highlighting U.S.-Indian relations amid escalating trade frictions between the two countries.

Trump praised Modi for the "stunning display of India's culture and kindness," noting that he traveled 8,000 miles with the first lady to deliver a message to the people of India.

"America loves India, America respects India and America will always be faithful and loyal to the Indian people," he said as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Inside the stadium, a sea of white hats emblazoned with the U.S. and Indian flags and the Namaste Trump logo replaced the trademark red caps typically seen at Trump rallies. Signs highlighting friendship ringed the stadium: "One momentous occasion. Two dynamic leaders," one read.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One in Ahmedabad, India, on Feb. 24.

Rishi Sharma, 20, a university student from Ahmedabad, said she follows Trump on Twitter, but to see him speak in person was a "great honor."

"People over here think that he's really powerful," Sharma said. "In India, there's a culture where like everyone wants to go to the U.S. for career or for higher studies."

Story continues

The president and first lady flew to Agra for a sunset tour of the Taj Mahal, the white marble mausoleum built in the 17th century by an emperor as a shrine of eternal love for his favorite wife.

"Its incredible, truly incredible," said the president, who named an Atlantic City hotel and casino after the mausoleum.

Melania Trump added, "Lovely, beautiful."

During the trip to the Taj Mahal, Trump said the reception at the cricket stadium "was fantastic," and "they worked really hard."

The president used most of his welcome rally not to boast about his own economic record but to tout Modi's. He praised his Indian counterpart as an "exceptional leader." Modi's rise from a chaiwalla, or tea seller, to the leader of the country "underscores the limitless promise of this nation," Trump said.

The United States has sought to strengthen strategic ties with India as it looks to counter Chinas rise, and Trumps trip is the latest signal in a greater strategic convergence, according to Milan Vaishnav, the head of the South Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"Despite all the differences, the ratcheting up of diplomatic and military attention to strategies that could counter Chinese expansionism is something thats been pretty consistent," he said.

Our two national constitutions both begin with the same three beautiful words: We the people. That means that in America and India alike, we honor, respect, trust, empower, and fight for the citizens we proudly serve!  pic.twitter.com/hfKKSqlVfe  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020

The trip comes amid a tit-for-tat trade dispute between India and the United States. Negotiators tried to secure a deal before Trump's visit, but talks fizzled over Indias protectionist policies and a scope of differences including e-commerce and digital trade, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters before the trip.

The United States wants more access to Indian markets for agricultural products and medical devices while India aims to restore its preferential status in a trade program for developing countries.

Trump said he planned to continue trade discussions with Modi during his visit, calling the prime minister a "tough" negotiator.

"I am in no rush," Trump said after the rally. "We are doing well with India, we are making deals."

Trump confirmed an arms deal worth more than $3.5 billion for six Apache helicopters and 24 anti-submarine helicopters. He declared he wanted the United States to be "India's premier defense partner" and the deal was a step toward that goal.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit a Gandhi museum in Ahmedabad, India, on Feb. 24.

The Trump-Modi bromance: What sparked it and what do each of them stand to gain?

Modi promised Trump grandeur and adulation that the president boasted about.

"Were not treated very well by India, but I happen to like Prime Minister Modi a lot," Trump said last Tuesday when asked whether a trade deal might emerge. "And he told me well have 7 million people between the airport and the event."

That number jumped to 10 million by Thursday, when Trump again mentioned the upcoming Namaste Trump event at a rally in Colorado. Though Trumps estimate is millions more than that citys population, tens of thousands of people turned out for the president's colorful welcome. City officials erected 28 stages along the 14-mile route stretching from the airport to the stadium, featuring performances by artists to showcase different regions around India.

In New Delhi on Tuesday, Trump will participate in ceremonial events, hold a meet-and-greet with U.S. Embassy staffers and attend an event with Indian investors focused on companies that invest in manufacturing in the USA, according to a senior administration official.

President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk around NRG Stadium waving to the crowd during the "Howdy Modi: Shared Dreams, Bright Futures" event, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Houston.

2020 race: India-bound Donald Trump takes poke at Bernie Sanders and Democrats  over Russia

Though Monday marks the presidents first official visit, Trump has maintained strong business ties to India through several luxury properties owned by the Trump Organization. Outside North America, the Trump Organization holds the largest portfolio of real estate projects in India, according to Donald Trump Jr. That could be part of the reason for the presidents popularity in India compared with his divided approval ratings back home. About 56% of Indians approve of Trumps foreign policies, according to the Pew Research Center, a figure that has quadrupled since he took office.

The high-profile trip gives Trump a chance to look presidential on the world stage as he ramps up his reelection campaign. With an eye on Novembers election, Trump called out the 4 million Indian Americans in the USA who "enrich every aspect of our national life." The group is historically a reliable Democratic constituency.

Modi faces mounting pressure over an economic slowdown, a security crackdown in Kashmir and protests over his Bharatiya Janata Partys Hindu-nationalist agenda, including a controversial new citizenship law that excludes Muslims.

During his remarks, Trump described India as a place "where millions upon millions of Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs and Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Jews worship side by side in harmony."

"India is a country that proudly embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights, the rule of law and the dignity of every human being," he said.

Indian folk dancers rehearse their performance next to a billboard featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the airport in Agra, India, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020.

Trump will join Modi and other Indian officials for a state dinner Tuesday night at the presidential palace before returning to Washington on an overnight flight. The nearly 36-hour trip is the shortest a U.S. president has taken to India since President Richard Nixons 22-hour stay in 1969.

Trump is the seventh president to make the trip to India but the first to enjoy an arena full of support.

Contributing: David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump India visit: President gives speech for 'Namaste Trump'
Sri Lanka will deploy troops to help police control worsening traffic congestion in the capital, the army said on Monday.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a retired army officer, ordered the military to assist traffic officers at the main entry and exit points to Colombo, a city which nearly a million people enter or leave daily, a spokesman said.

The military police will also lend support "in any other area where their services are required", spokesman Chandana Wickremasinghe added.

Traffic slows to a snail's space in Colombo during the morning and evening rush hours making it one of the slowest road systems in South Asia.

Recent studies have shown average speeds drop below seven kilometres (4.3 miles) an hour in the morning and the evening.

The capital does not have a mass transit system, forcing many to use their own transport that chokes the narrow streets.

But Sri Lanka began work on its first light rail transit system last year at an estimated cost of USD 1.5 billion. The Japanese-funded project is expected to be operational within about five years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Discovery CEO Adrian Gore said they are very happy with Discovery Banks numbers despite missing their own client acquisition target.

Discovery Bank officially launched in November 2018 with products designed to improve the money management of clients.

After a testing phase, Discovery Bank opened its platform for new sign-ups on 1 July 2019 with a target of signing up 1,000 new customers every day by the end of August 2019.

This sign-up rate was part of the banks strategy to reach the banks break-even point of 500,000 to 600,000 clients.

Based on Discoverys August 2019 target, it should have reached over 200,000 clients by now. This did not happen.

Discovery revealed in its interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2019 that Discovery Bank had 78,000 clients as of 18 February 2020.

This means that Discovery missed its own target of signing up 1,000 clients per day by a large margin.

Problems with Discovery Bank

Discovery Bank launched during a challenging time in South Africa, with a tough economy and increased competition in the banking market.

Business Day TVs Giulietta Talevi further highlighted that many potential Discovery Bank clients  including high net-worth individuals  are leaving the country.

Another potential issue was trade union Solidaritys campaign against Discovery Banks share plan where black clients received 10% of the shares in the bank.

Solidarity said Discovery Bank doesnt want to reward people according to their behaviour alone, but also according to their race.

Gore admitted there was some political risk as the plan excludes white customers, but said they were convinced it is a good thing to do.

There were also a few technical issues and security problems with Discovery Bank over the past few months.

In October, Discovery Bank credit cards were affected by a security vulnerability that allowed you to make online purchases without knowing a specific bank cards CVV number.

One month later, Discovery Bank clients have had the full outstanding balances on their credit cards taken from their bank accounts via debit order by mistake.

There were also problems migrating from their Discovery Gold credit card  issued under licence from FNB  to their Discovery Bank credit card.

It is not clear what impact these technical issues or Solidaritys campaign had on Discovery Bank sign-ups.

Discovery very happy with the numbers

While one may have expected concern from Discovery about missing its client acquisition target by such a large margin, this is not the case.

Gore told MyBroadband that when they launched the bank, they were aiming to bring on 1,000 clients a day at an expected level of one account per client, i.e. 1,000 accounts per day.

As we have grown, weve seen that the client engagement levels have far exceeded expectations in all key areas, in particular the number of accounts per client, said Gore.

We have now exceeded 180,000 accounts which reflects the target run rate of approximately 1,000 per day since July.

He explained that account numbers, along with deposits, spend and credit extension, are the most accurate metric of Discovery Banks footprint.

While absolute growth is obviously important, we are focused on attracting quality customers who engage with the bank and its incentives to improve financial behaviour, said Gore.

He added that they have seen positive early engagement and that their clients spend, credit, arrears, and deposits were better than the market.

Gore said they are anticipating accelerated growth with over 200,000 accounts planned to migrate from FNB in the coming months, over and above the current run rate.

We therefore remain markedly ahead of our targets and pleased with the performance and progress, said Gore.

Discovery CEO Adrian Gore interview
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-24 18:15:08

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An aspiring entrepreneur and social media influencer from San Francisco, with an inspiring life story 'from washing cars in the streets to a millionaire in less time than it takes to receive a bachelor's degree', has created an initiative called the ATM Movement, to help people with digital marketing using their smartphones.SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Experts tend to suggest that the most successful people are those who have businesses based on their own interests. Most entrepreneurs find that fulfillment is at its peak when one has their own business which aligns with their own values and interests. Ricardo Cucalon, better known as Ricky Cucalon, has one of the largest Bitcoin wallets in Latin-america. Being an influencer on social platforms, he has Created a revolutionary initiative called the ATM Movement, with the goal to assist people, primarily from Latin-america to pursue their entrepreneurial journey using technology."Being someone who's originally from Peru, I know the struggle one has to go through to make ends meet and the lack of resources we are provided with. I wanted everyone to have an opportunity to succeed in life. So I created the 'ATM Movement' with the intention to help start people make a livelihood putting their smartphones to work. We live in a time where we can not only use these devices to share photos with friends but also generate an income with a device we walk around with in our pocket. I started feeling the true freedom when I became able to do what I want, wherever, whenever, and however I want. I want to pass that on to others" explains Ricky.To avoid the many risks and heavy outlays of being one's own boss, many people are now turning to digital marketing as the way to become an entrepreneur. Starting a business using modern technologies, mostly involves investment in time and can be done in as little as an hour a day. Comparing this to a traditional business is a no brainer. Most traditional businesses force you to invest at least 100K and spend 80+ hours a week to generate income, with the technology we have today primarily all we need is our smartphones and a will to succeed. Ricky wants to provide them with an opportunity to use their mobile devices to get started. "I was fortunate to have met Sylvester Stallone and I asked him what would be the biggest advice he would give the young rockys. He explained that his world was much different than the one we are living in currently. Ours has become more competitive now and we need to go out there with a winning mindset ready to get hit, and it's okay if you fall, but it's important to continue to get up". Ricky recalls his meeting with Rocky himself.Ricky was an early adopter of blockchain technology and invested in it 2016, selling his Honda Accord to buy 18 bitcoins at $800. He started his own business in May 2018 after bitcoin went to its peak, with a vision of helping people to generate a livelihood using their smartphone. By adopting an approach of working smart instead of working hard, his business expanded very quickly all over Latin America, Hong Kong, Europe and in the US. More details about Ricky Cucalon can be found on his YouTube channel ATM Movement and on his Instagram @ricky_cucalon.Media Contact Information:Name: Ricky CucalonCompany: ATM MovementEmail: info@ atmmovement.com Website: https://atmmovement.com SOURCE: Ricky Cucalon
Judith Williams is leading the way in a new era of diversity and inclusion. After years of trailblazing efforts for diversity and inclusion, often shortened to D&I, at tech giants including Google and Dropbox, Williams joined enterprise software company SAP as head of people sustainability and chief D&I officer in 2018. SAP, which has been acknowledged for its efforts to recruit and promote a diverse workforce, was recently named by Forbes as the best employer for diversity in 2020. For Williams, the recognition comes at a critical time when the tide is turning in the world of D&I. First, there was a need for access to data in order to show a lack of diverse representation in the work force, particularly in the tech industry. "When I think about starting at Google, a lot of what we were doing was getting the attention of leaders," Williams tells CNBC Make It about her time as Google's global D&I program manager from 2011 to 2015. "We used to have to say to leaders, 'Hey, can we show you diversity data? Can we have a conversation about what's going on in the organization and outside Google?' "Now, we find the conversation has gone beyond that," Williams says. "If you're not considering some questions about diversity and inclusion in your organization, some folks on your team will ask about it, the marketers will ask about it, the analysts will ask about it. It's become a different kind of conversation."

The turning point in diversity and inclusion

Today, the conversation is less about proving that lack of representation at work is a concern  more often, the public is holding companies accountable for remedying it. For example, a 2018 study by the National Urban League found that fewer than 3% of tech workers identify as black at companies such as Uber, Twitter, Google and Facebook. Meanwhile, a majority of today's young workers say they place great importance on gender and ethnic diversity when considering a potential employer, according to Deloitte's 2019 Millennial Survey. Williams's work involves shifting that conversation from awareness to action. Action doesn't necessarily mean more programming, however. "We often get fixated on: Are you launching an unconscious bias training? Are you launching a mentorship program? Are there employee network groups having events celebrating Black History Month?" Williams says. "And all that stuff brings the attention of workers. But once you have that attention, it's the hard work of having to change culture." Changing the culture at a company with 100,330 global employees, just a quarter of whom are based in North America, is no easy feat. For Williams's part, she tackles the issue like any business problem. And like in other parts of her job, it starts and ends with data. The numbers inform her strategy, set expectations, establish accountability and, ultimately, measure results. "At the end of the day, I know having a more diverse and inclusive workforce is going to lead to some financial outcomes. So you want to be consistently driving toward those outcomes. Focus on outcomes, not activity," Williams says.

What an outcomes-based strategy looks like

Williams admits that when joined SAP, the culture was still very much focused on programming. It's been her job for the last year and a half to shift that conversation to an outcomes-based strategy. That goes for every stage of the talent pipeline, from recruiting to rewarding and promoting. For example, SAP's Project Propel is a partnership where the company teaches its software to undergraduate and MBA students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, who can use these learned skills to leverage career opportunities with the company or one of its partners after graduation. Women hold roughly 26% of management positions at SAP, and the company aims to reach 30% by 2022. To get there, the company is using data to determine where workers, especially women, might be experiencing progression gaps and career stalls. More transparent discussions between workers and leaders can help under-recognized top performers advance more quickly. Ultimately, SAP hopes to achieve the same promotion ratio for men and women. Williams is especially proud of the work she's done with SAP's Autism at Work program, which launched in 2013 and aims to recruit and train workers on the autism spectrum. About half of professionals who take part in SAP's six-week pre-employment training program end up with with a paid position at the company. In 2019, the program made the most number of hires from the program in a single year, bringing SAP's global workforce of employees with autism to more than 175 workers. "How we think about our Autism at Work program is that there isn't any specific job that people who come into the program are expected to take on," Williams says, "but we remove the barrier so they can show their true capabilities to shine in any job."

Harnessing data to change the world
SOCORRO  The New Mexico Tech Miners eSports league, currently in its second season, hosts a variety of options for both casual and serious gamers throughout the school year.

One of the fastest-growing sports, which includes a 14-year-old US Fortnite player winning $3,000,000 earlier this year, eSports is quickly becoming one of the most popular competitions around the globe.

Located on the top floor of the Gold building at the school, New Mexico Techs eSports room is a separate subnetwork of 13 custom-built computers, one of which is deemed the master and livestreams competitive gaming to the website www.twitch.tv. Every week, competitions for Rocket League, Rainbow Six, League of Legends, and Overwatch take place depending on student availability.

New Mexico Tech President Stephen Wells approached current eSports president Damien Banks, a junior studying mechanical engineering, with the idea of creating a league before the 2018-19 school year because of growing interest among students. The initial budget was $60,000.

We try to organize times with other universities to figure out when and what our players can compete in and at what times, Banks said. This is possibly the largest club we have here at Tech, with more than 200 members and more than 40 competitive team contenders.

The gaming network is not connected to the main Tech network and is available for students to use throughout the year. The 16GB custom PCs run off of military grade fiber optics. Logitec webcams and headsets are used with Razor brand keyboards, Acer monitors and iBUYPOWER mouses and computer systems. Ergonomic chairs from GTRACING are stationed at each gaming port, which helps to provide back support for gamers during longer stretches of play.

One of the main focuses of the school in creating this program was to provide an outlet for incoming students to create a social group while managing a rigorous academic schedule.

A large TV monitor and surround sound system is set up in the center of the room for visitors to watch livestreams of other competitive gamers and can also be used for games on an Xbox One. The group plans to expand into more console gaming with the addition of a Playstation 4 as well as a Nintendo Switch system.
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- African Gold Group, Inc. (TSX-V: AGG) (AGG or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the comprehensive metallurgical testwork program undertaken as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the Kobada Gold Project in Southern Mali.



Results of the optimized testwork show significantly improved gold recovery, low operating costs based on a simple process flowsheet, an oxide only process plant and low reagent and power consumption.

Completion of the metallurgical testwork and optimized flowsheet are crucial milestones in delivering the updated DFS, which builds on the 2016 feasibility study.

A focused drilling campaign of 11,000m has been completed and results are being updated into the new geological resource model. Depending on the outcome of these better than expected results, the company will make a decision on upgrading the project to a 100,000oz per year operation.

Process plant design is modular to enable flexibility between a 50,000oz and 100,000oz project with no difference to project delivery date.

The Company is targeting to deliver the DFS in Q2 2020.

The conclusion of the bulk of the detailed metallurgical testwork, and updated process plant design is a major step forward in finalizing the DFS, says Danny Callow, Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The optimized plant shows a huge improvement in gold recovery, a simple process technology requirement and a very flexible design. Coupled with this, all equipment is sized to be off-the-shelf with minimal lead times to enable an expedited construction process through to delivery of first gold, whilst minimizing capital and operating costs.

The Kobada Gold Project is a fully licensed and permitted advanced development project located in the prolific Birimian Greenstone belt in Southern Mali. The Company is working towards delivering the DFS in Q2 2020 as a part of the final process before commencement of construction.

As part of the DFS, SENET has overseen a detailed testwork campaign with a strong focus on the following:

Comminution testwork to determine the front-end crushing and milling requirements;

Gravity gold recovery optimization;

Reagent consumption;

Leach recovery;

Leach residence time; and

Cyanide detoxification.

Based on the metallurgical test results, an upgraded and optimized circuit has been designed, which includes:

A significant improvement in process gold recovery as part of the optimization process;

An oxide only process due to the large oxide orebody available for exploitation and further significant exploration upside in oxide mineralization;

A simplified front-end crushing and milling design with minimal power requirement;

Zero deleterious elements in the ore; and

Very low cyanide and lime consumption.

Based on the testwork to date, the Company is running a parallel design processes for a 50,000oz process plant and a 100,00oz process plan, both of which would be scalable. The Company will make a final decision on the scale of the process plant depending on the outcome of the updated resource-reserve model. The process plant will utilize proven, efficient technology already operating effectively at many West African gold mines.

SENET has been involved in many design, construction, commissioning and ramp-up projects of identical technology process plants in West Africa over the past 25 years, states SENET Process Director, Philemon Bundo. Based upon our comprehensive testwork program we are very confident that the Kobada plant will be a very straightforward, efficient and low-cost process plant able to comfortably produce nameplate gold per annum. The process plant is being designed in a modular fashion to allow future expansion without any process disruptions to the phase 1 plant, and minimal upgrades required to increase production.

Metallurgical testwork to further optimize the process efficiency and to focus on minimizing capital and operating costs is ongoing and expected to be complete by February 2020.

About African Gold Group

African Gold Group is a Canadian listed exploration and development company on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: AGG) with its focus on developing a gold platform in West Africa. Its principal asset is the Kobada Project in southern Mali. For more information regarding African Gold Group visit our website at www.africangoldgroup.com .

For further information please contact:

Stan Bharti

President and Chief Executive Officer

(416) 861 2267

Daniyal Baizak

VP Corporate Development

(416) 861 2966

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, managements, the Companys development and exploration plans for the Kobada Gold Project, expectation of grade and resources at the Kobada Gold Project, the timeline for delivery of the DFS , completion of metallurgical testwork and the updated resource-reserve model, expectations for mineralization and location of extensions at the Kobada Gold Project and expected mining methods at the Kobada Gold Project, and other statements with respect to the future plans or intentions of the Company. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", aims, "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration activities; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations; and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
With Pakistan foreign minister Makdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi dropping out of the event at the last minute, Shireen Mazari, the countrys human rights minister, is expected to speak at the UN Human Rights Council session at Geneva on Tuesday, and accuse India of human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mazari, who has previously accused the European Union of adopting discriminatory approach by not mentioning human rights violations by India in Kashmir and against its minorities, is expected to obliquely raise the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by talking about religious persecution. The act fast-tracks Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Indian representative Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West), will address the UNHRC on February 26 and is expected to give a firm riposte to the Pakistani allegations. Unlike the Financial Action Task Force, Pakistan does not have support of its close allies Malaysia and Turkey in the 47 member UNHRC. Even its all-weather ally China isnt a member.

Pakistan minister Shireen Mazari did not find any traction to her charges against India in the EU, with Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meeting all EU Foreign Ministers at Brussels last week and explaining Indias position on both the nullification of Article 370 as well as the CAA.

However, Pakistan is waiting for China to assume presidentship of the UNSC in March for a month to make its next move against India, people familiar with the matter said.

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If youre a regular reader of this newspaper, youve seen the Methodist Hospital ads: UnitedHealthcare forced us out. But our ERs are here for you  members can still access our facilities and doctors with out-of-network benefits. If you have UHC health coverage, look carefully at your benefits booklet before you follow that advice.

Most employer-sponsored insurance is relatively generous, but primarily for in-network care. For non-network care, the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum can be several thousand dollars higher. And heaven forbid that your injury or illness is severe enough that your emergency room visit requires a hospital admission, because then you would be forced to pay an out-of-network hospital bill as well.

The Houston Methodist-UHC and Memorial Hermann-Cigna disputes represent a fight for dollars that has become an increasing burden on workers wallets in the last decade. Between 2010 and 2019, the average annual premium for employer-sponsored coverage rose 42 percent. In that same time frame, the consumer price index (CPI) for all items for urban consumers rose just 16 percent.

The rising premiums do not mean higher profit per customer to insurers, because the Affordable Care Act caps insurers profits. Instead, premiums have risen because insurers must pass on rising health care costs to consumers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CPI for hospital services rose 49 percent, whereas the CPI for physicians services has risen only 17 percent. Prescription drug prices rose 31 percent, but that increase has influenced insurance premiums less. Hospital expenditures account for 33 percent of national health expenditures, while prescription drugs account for less than 10 percent.

Employers have dealt with rising premiums by passing costs on to the worker. The average workers contribution toward family coverage rose 25 percent in the past five years to $6,015, and the total premium paid by firms and workers for family coverage now tops $20,000. Additionally, more workers have been pushed into high-deductible and/or narrow-network plans. Employers view these increases as unsustainable, and they need insurers to drive harder bargains with hospitals to rein in costs.

Insurers are finding it harder to control hospital price growth, because the local insurance market has become more competitive. Economists regularly gauge market competition using the Herfindahl Index, which equals the sum of competing firms squared market shares. A monopoly controls 100 percent of the market, implying an index value of 10,000. Thus, lower values of the Herfindahl imply higher competition. Between 2013 and 2018, the Herfindahl Index for the Houston-Woodlands-Sugar Land insurance market fell 19 percent, from 2,389 to 1,929. Generous insurance subsidies from the Affordable Care Act likely attracted more insurers to the Houston market. but with more insurers needing hospital contracts, hospitals could play insurers off of each other to negotiate higher rates. Employers who are unhappy with the premiums they are paying now have more alternative insurers they can approach to find a better deal.

At the same time, hospital closures have made the Houston hospital market more concentrated. Between 2012 and 2016, the Herfindahl Index for the Houston hospital market increased 54 percent, from 1,691 to 2,605. Hospitals have stronger bargaining power to demand higher prices from insurers.

Insurers and their customers are in a bad spot, because research finds that when hospitals enjoy more bargaining power vis-a-vis insurers, hospitals force insurers to pay higher prices. insurers then pass these costs on to consumers as higher premiums.

In other words, while health care costs are complex and there is plenty of blame to spread around, the massive hospital systems hold much of the power.

Scores of Houstonians have likely already suffered disruptions to their hospital care due to the disputes. Ultimately insurers and hospitals will reach new agreements, because these parties are too large to completely avoid doing business with each other.

In the meantime, policymakers in other states are taking actions to blunt the ability of powerful hospital systems to charge high prices. Texas should follow suit. Laws should be introduced preventing hospital systems from requiring insurers to include all hospitals in their system as in-network, even if they are high-cost facilities. Contract clauses that prevent insurers from using copays, coinsurance or ratings to steer patients away from higher-cost or lower-quality hospitals should also be prohibited. Meanwhile, insurers should consider introducing tiered hospital networks into their insurance plans, where insurers would charge higher copayments for the most expensive hospitals in their network. Tiered networks have been shown to reduce spending by 5 percent.

New agreements should not be inked on the backs of employers and their workers, who have already paid more than is reasonable to obtain high-quality hospital care.

Ho is the Baker Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice University and professor at Baylor College of Medicine
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:56:34|Editor: yan

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BANGKOK, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two school children were among eight people injured by shrapnel from a roadside bomb near a park in Thailand's restive southern province of Songkhla on Monday.

Among the injured were a district assistant chief, a defense volunteer and villagers.

The Thai Army's Region 4 Forward Command said it believed that southern insurgents detonated the device when a converted pickup truck passed the spot. The explosion blew the vehicle off the road.

The explosion came after Sunday night's clash between the Thai Army and a group of insurgents. Five suspected southern insurgents were shot dead by security forces on a mountain in Narathiwat Province.

After the clash, Col. Pramote Prom-in, spokesman of the army's southern command, warned of possible imminent retaliation from insurgent groups.

The separatist insurgency in Thailand's largely ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has killed nearly 7,000 people since 2004.

The Thai government is in negotiation with several insurgent groups for peace talks.
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Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, today announces the appointment of Kathy Parker as Chief Marketing Officer for PATRON tequila and GREY GOOSE vodka. Parker will be joining Bacardi after a stand-out career at Diageo and Unilever where she served in a number of senior marketing, brand and innovation roles. In her new position, she will drive global strategy including brand equity, architecture, positioning, integrated marketing across creative, media and experiential, plus new product development and innovation for PATRON and GREY GOOSE, which stand together at the super-premium end of the enviable portfolio of Bacardi brands. Parker will report to Mahesh Madhavan, Chief Executive Officer, Bacardi Limited, and join the company's Global Leadership Team.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005529/en/

Kathy Parker to join Bacardi as CMO for PATRON tequila and GREY GOOSE vodka (Photo: Business Wire)

Most recently, Parker was Senior Vice President for Global Premium Rums, Gins and Portfolio Scotch Whiskey brands at Diageo, where she drove transformational growth across her portfolio and completely revitalized several brands. During her tenure, she also served as Senior Vice President Marketing Innovation and led global marketing and innovation for Guinness. Prior to Diageo, Kathy spent nearly 15 years at Unilever PLC working in a variety of marketing and innovation roles in global, regional and local assignments.

"Kathy's track record for delivering transformational growth on the brands she leads is truly impressive, and we are delighted to have her at the helm of GREY GOOSE and PATRON, two brands that continue to captivate consumers and are critical to our long-term success," said Madhavan. "With her entrepreneurial spirit, appetite for disruption, collaborative approach and results-driven leadership, she embodies the best of our culture and is a fantastic addition to our global leadership team at Bacardi."

"Leading these two iconic brands which truly define their respective categories is a marketer's dream," said Parker. "I am thrilled to join the Bacardi extended family. I look forward to immersing myself in the vibrant culture and helping fuel the ambitious growth strategy. It's an exciting time to be joining the Bacardi team."

In her new role, Kathy will work closely with John Burke, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Bacardi Limited. Martin de Dreuille, Vice President Global Marketing, GREY GOOSE vodka, and Adrian Parker, Vice President, Global Marketing, PATRON tequila, will report to Kathy when she joins later this year.

Parker will relocate to Bermuda with her family in August pending authorization by the Bermuda Immigration Authority.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 158 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 7,000, operates more than 20 production facilities in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on Twitter @BacardiLimited or Instagram @BacardiLimited1862. Enjoy Responsibly.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005529/en/

Contacts:

Jessica Merz

jmerz@bacardi.com



Lisa Jedan

ljedan@bacardi.com
SPRINGFIELD - Police in Bloomfield, Connecticut, are searching for a man with ties to this area in connection with an alleged double-homicide at a bar over the weekend.

Two brothers, Aaron Walker, 43, of Windsor and Franklin Spencer, 42, of East Hartford, were fatally shot on Saturday at Elizabeths Bar and Restaurant in Bloomfield, according to police.

Investigators announced they are looking for Russell Smith, whose last known address was in Windsor but previously lived in Springfield. They cautioned the public should consider Smith armed and dangerous.

Police have secured an arrest warrant charging two counts of murder and have set bail at $5 million.

They said a 2000 white Subaru Outback with Massachusetts registration 7DW565 is wanted in connection with the incident.

The suspect may also be driving a 2014 white Acura RLX with Massachusetts registration 5ZN395.

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Quarantine officials disinfect a branch of the minor religious sect Shincheonji in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, Monday. /Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has been linked to more than half of Korea's COVID-19 cases, is facing mounting criticism for the claim that Shincheonji members were the "biggest victims of the coronavirus," according to critics Monday.



Since posting a video clip on YouTube Sunday, the veiled homegrown religious group has been the target of public anger because its churches turned out to be hotbeds for the recent surge in coronavirus infections in the southeastern regions of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.



In the video clip, a representative of the church said they will fight against the media's "groundless" reports and rumors about them. The church also claimed they were "the biggest victims of a virus that came from China," and they were deeply concerned about media claims that the church has been hiding something about the virus infection.



"We are urging you to stop the baseless hatred against our Shincheonji followers," he said in the video clip.






Hungarys number one tourism fair awaits the professional and public audience until 1 March 2020 for the 43th occasion at HUungexpo Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center, together with Budapest Boat Show.

Italy is the foreign guest of honour this year.



As a country popular amongst Hungarian tourists, Italy is more than pleased to be the Foreign Guest of Honour at the Travel exhibition. Apart from the beauty of our landscape, coastlines and sunny climate, our characteristic Italian cuisine, superb ski resorts and mountainous hotels, the highlighted theme of the 2020 Travel exhibition, cultural and religious tourism, allows us to present even more attractions in our country. Wed like to bring our visitors attention to our historical cities, monuments and pilgrimage sites. - Mr. Mate TERJEK, Ufficio Rappresentanza Enit Budapest



From the management of Hungexpo Ltd.:

"Organisers are constantly monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus and has contacted the competent authorities. According to the current information, there is no reason to restrict the holding of exhibitions or events in Hungary, nor are there any restrictions on entry to any country that appears at the Travel exhibition.



Of course, the safety and health of participants of the event is top priority for us, whatever changes are happening in the epidemiological situation, we will follow the guidelines of the relevant state and central authorities and follow any measures they propose.



At the exhibition, we introduce enhanced hygiene and cleaning measures, as well as hand sanitizer machines are installed in the exhibition and reception halls."



Hungexpo expects Travel Expo 2020 to draw as many as 40,000 visitors.



Tickets:

from HUF 2,400



Opening hours:

Saturday: 10 a.m. 6 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. 5 p.m.



Venue:

Hungexpo

1101 Budapest, Albertirsai ut 10.



Photo courtesy of the organisers
By Saurabh Sharma

LUCKNOW, India, Feb 22 (Reuters) - India, the world's second-biggest gold consumer, has discovered gold fields with reserves of over 3,000 tonnes in its most populous northern state, a government official said on Saturday.

India mines between 2 to 3 tonnes of gold annually, relying on expensive imports to fulfil nearly all of its demand, which averaged 843 tonnes per year over the past 10 years.

Its hunger for gold - used extensively in jewellery, as offerings to Gods and in lavish weddings - cost India more than $31 billion on imports last year, making the metal its second-biggest import item after crude oil.

Federal and state departments have discovered traces of gold in northern Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district after surveying the area for more than 10 years, said Roshan Jacob, the head of the mining department in Uttar Pradesh state.

"In Son Pahadi we have found 2,940 tonne... in the Hardi Pahadi area 646 kilogram of ore has been traced," Jacob told Reuters, referring to the two areas where gold ore had been discovered.

The state is now seeking forest and environment clearances after which it will open up the reserves for bidding, Jacob said.

The concentration level of gold in the area is about 3 grams per tonne of ore and the state is working with the Geological Survey of India to determine how much gold can be extracted from the fields, she added.

India has time and again considered a plan to revive a cluster of colonial-era gold mines in southern Karnataka state but the project has failed to take off due to predictions of low output and high costs involved. (Writing by Sankalp Phartiyal Editing by Ros Russell)
ANDREA PATTARO

ROMEThe sharp jump in the number of coronavirus cases outside China has caused panic attacks around the world. The Dow plummeted nearly 1,000 points on Monday, countries are slamming borders shut and quarantining people based on racial profiling, and hand sanitizer and face masks are impossible to find.

But authorities have something far more worrying on their minds. They are increasingly focused on clusters of coronavirus with untraceable, or at least so far untraced, beginnings.

Coronavirus Explodes in Italy, Threatening Europe. Can It Be Contained?

Thats the case in Italy, where infections shot from four on Friday to 230 and climbing fast on Monday, including at least six fatalities. In the north of the country, where all of the current cases are concentrated at the moment, authorities still have not identified patient zero, the first carrier of the virus who sparked the outbreak.

That is also the case in South Korea, where infections rocketed past the 800 mark on Monday with seven confirmed deaths, and where the outbreak is closely tied to members of the Shincheonji religious sect in the city of Daegu. There, too, officials have not identified what they are calling the index case, or the first church member to introduce the virus to the rest of the flock.

What makes these clusters so worrisome is that without identifying the primary source who set off the contagion in a cluster, authorities say they cannot effectively predict the trajectory of the spread or, more importantly, stop it. If they dont know where it started, they dont know how it got there, and theoretically at least the carrier could still be spreading the disease and could even set off another cluster.

In Italy, two major clusters are miles apart, and health officials have no idea if they are related. We don't have primary contagion, Luca Zaia, head of the Veneto region, site of the smaller of two major clusters. Veneto also is home to Venice, which has just canceled Carnival celebrations set for Tuesday night.

Story continues

We are faced with secondary infections in people who have not had relationships with citizens from infected areas or who have been to infected areas, said Zaia.

But there is an upside to the cluster outbreaks, too. In Italy, the civil protection authorities have locked down the infected areas entirely as armed guards try to contain the outbreak.

Anyone defying the order to stay indoors until every single person in the area is tested risks jail time and fines. The same is true in South Korea, where containment has meant infected people are prohibited from leaving large metropolitan areas and carrying the virus farther afield.

Attempts to control the outbreak nodes within countries dealing with the crisis have done little to calm nerves.

Japan Shows Coronavirus May Be a Giftfor Would-Be Dictators

Austrian authorities stopped a train leaving Italy through the Brenner pass Sunday while they tested a passenger with a fever. Italians on an Alitalia flight to Mauritius were also turned back to Rome on Monday after being told those from Milan onboard would face quarantine.

The French Health Ministry also added Italys Lombardy and Veneto regions to the list of high-risk coronavirus areas, now requiring all people who visit there to stay quarantined at home for at least two weeks upon entering France, according to a spokesperson for the General Health Directorate.

Israel has acted similarly, refusing admittance to 180 non-Israeli passengers on a Korean Air flight to Tel Aviv. Jordan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bahrain, and Samoa soon followed suit, banning all air traffic from Korea.

There is also a growing concern that some countries are underreporting, or not even testing for the virus at all. Iran has reported 61 cases and 12 deaths, a much higher percentage of death to infection than seen elsewhere, meaning infections are not being recorded. And there is speculation that the true death toll could be much closer to 50. The outbreak started in the city of Qom, the most important religious center in the country, filled with students and pilgrims. There, too, authorities have not identified who introduced it.

The World Health Organization has warned that as these clusters emerge, they will soon force it to declare a global pandemic, defined as a disease spreading on two continents. What we see is a very different phase of this outbreak depending where you look, Dr. Sylvie Briand of WHO said at a press conference Monday. We see different patterns of transmission in different places.

But what is most troubling of all is the situationor curious lack thereofin Africa, where just one case has been confirmed in Egypt, and in North Korea, where no cases have been announced.

China has a robust relationship with several African nations, which makes the lack of cases very hard to understand.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, said Saturday that in other places the number of cases with no clear epidemiological link, such as travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case, is worrying.

But the opposite is even more so, and the prevailing theory about Africa is that a lack of medical facilities and testing capacity may mean the virus is spreading silently. The WHO has been working to get testing kits and other preparedness measures in place in Africa for when, not if, the virus takes hold.

Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weak health systems, said Tedros. We know a little bit more about this virus and the disease it causes. We know that more than 80 percent of patients have mild disease and will recover, but the other 20 percent of patients have severe or critical disease, ranging from shortness of breath to septic shock and multi-organ failure. These patients require intensive care, using equipment such as respiratory support machines that are, as you know, in short supply in many African countries.

With additional reporting from Donald Kirk in Seoul.

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Turkish shelling killed nine regime fighters in northwest Syria Monday, a day when almost 100 were killed on both sides as Damascus attacks the country's last major rebel bastion, a monitor said.

Of those killed in the Turkish shelling, four lost their lives near the village of Nayrab while another five died near the town of Saraqeb, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israel has banned all visitors from Korea, turning back some 130 passengers aboard a Korean Air flight two hours after it landed in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Only the Israelis on board were allowed to disembark. Bahrain also banned all travelers from Korea. On the same day, the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Korea by a notch to "strengthened caution," and Taiwan and Vietnam took similar steps. A growing number of countries are either bolstering screening of visitors from Korea or restricting their entry.

Koreans have become global pariahs because their government dragged its heels over banning visitors from China, and continues to drag them even now on the bizarre reasoning that it is too late anyway. China has ordered half of its 1.4 billion population to stay home, while many cities have been locked down. People there cannot leave their homes without government approval, and only one person per household is allowed out every two or three days to buy provisions. People caught walking the streets without a permit are subject to stiff punishment. The government there knows that the most effective deterrent to an epidemic is to limit the movement of humans, yet it lets its citizens freely visit Korea and other countries, and Korea has obligingly left the doors wide open, to the point where Chinese people are having an easier time coming here than visiting some cities in their own country.

The Korean government has also offloaded the responsibility for quarantining Chinese students onto universities. One mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party in a recent article warned the epidemic is "serious" in Korea. The country left its doors open to Chinese visitors, and now they are pointing their finger at Korea. It is a scandal that Chinese visitors can still come here freely while Koreans are being denied entry in other countries.


Chandigarh On the second day of the budget session in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, ruling Congress party MLAs targeted the Opposition  Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  during the debate on governors address.

The Congress raked up the issue of Akali Dal leaders alleged links with some people who were suspects in a drug trafficking racket.

Speaking on the occasion, Patti MLA Harminder Singh Gill lashed out at SAD leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, citing his alleged proximity to a man from whose house a haul of heroin was seized recently. Recently, two quintal heroin was seized from one Anwar Masih who was appointed a member of the subordinate staff selection board during the previous SAD-BJP government, said Gill. He also cited how the Congress after coming to power opened 193 clinics in which 27,000 drug addicts were taking treatment.

He also lauded the CM for the promptness he showed in removing statues of dancers from the Heritage Street in Amritsar following protests. The entire Panth has slipped out of the Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dals hands as those running it dont know ethos and traditions of the party, said Gill, highlighting the exit of Dhindsas and Brahmpura.

He said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal whom Punjab AAP leaders admire doesnt care about the leaders from the state. AAP has only two Sikh MLAs in Delhi and none is in the cabinet. The cabinet of the Congress government in Punjab is inclusive of faiths, he added.

Congress Gill MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid also took a dig at the AAP MLAs as they were raising slogans against the government. It was Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh who got the ideal CM award and not Kejriwal. You should go through governors address to know the achievements of Punjab government.

Akali Dal MLAs Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Harinder Singh Chandumajra and Manpreet Singh Ayali chose not to speak in the debate when their names were called by the speaker as they were busy sloganeering.

Ruling partys MLA from Chabbewal Raj Kumar also targeted SAD, saying Dhindsas have joined Taksalis, leaving behind khali (hollow) Akali Dal.

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Cu Da Village in Hanoi is known for its many old houses and pagodas built in the 17th century but many of the houses in the village are deteriorating.



From 1890 to 1945, Cu Da Village became the area's commercial centre. Many large houses with intricate carvings were built. There are also many houses built with western architecture or the mix of the east and west.



Cu Da Village is previously known as Ngo Khe Village, in Ha Thanh Oai Commune. The remaining old houses are varied. Some have three rooms while others have five rooms. The village has three main gates and the formation of the village looks like a fishbone. There are one main road and dozens of alleyways leading to 12 clusters. Each cluster has its own entrance gate with a couplet.



Pagodas or temples in the village are all national heritages. The villagers also still keep many traditional practices. In 1929, a villager donated money to build a flag pole for the village and since then, many important ceremonies have been held there.



The village is also famous for its soy sauce and vermicelli made from galangal powder. Thanks to technology and new machines, the production process has become easier.



However, many old houses in the village have deteriorated and in bad shape. Many have been replaced by modern houses. Even the gates to the clusters have also deteriorated.



Some photos of the village:



A house built in 1929









Dtinews

My Nghiep ancient weaving village in Ninh Thuan As the cradle of brocade weaving of the Cham ethnic people, My Nghiep craft village is currently one of the two most famous traditional craft villages of Ninh Thuan Province.
[February 24, 2020] NHB, AFD and EU Expand Competitive Funding to Green Housing

MUMBAI, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- India's apex housing finance institution National Housing Bank (NHB), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union (EU) today reiterated their common commitment to allocation of resources for promotion of green and affordable housing projects through the 'SUNREF India Housing Programme'. The programme, backed by a credit line of 100 million from AFD, allows banks, housing finance companies and home buyers to fund green and affordable housing projects and investments therein. Mr. Kulasekhara Chakravarthy, General Manager, NHB highlighted, "The SUNREF India program carries a subsidy of 12 million granted by the EU (Asia Investment Facility, or AIF) - including a technical assistance grant of 3 million for promotion of the programme in India. Further up to 1 million is available to support the cost of green label certifications incurred by the project developer." "SUNREF India Housing Programme is in line with India's commitment under the Paris agreement as well as EU's global priorities to work towards a low carbon-emission pathway. Affordable green housing not only adds on to sustainable infrastructure but also ensures that they are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout their life-cycle. Certified green buildings ensure as much as 40-50% energy savings and 20-30% water savings compared with conventional buildings in India," said Ms. Smita Singh - Senior Project Manager for the Delegation of the European Union to India at the regional promotional event in Mumbai. At today's event, which was attended by representatives of housing finance companies, real estate developers and government agencies, as well as green-building experts, officials of NHB, AFD and EU underlined the many benefits  environmental, economic and social  of green housing for promoters, users and other stake holders. For one, compared with other major emitting sectors such as energy, agriculture and transpor, the housing sector has a huge potential for significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.



"By 2025, SUNREF India Housing Programme would have benefited 12,000 households, of which at least half would be from economically weaker sections and Maharashtra, which already houses around 40% of green-rated residential buildings, emerges as a front runner in this important agenda," said Mr. Augustin DELISLE, Investment Officer - Energy & Financial Sector at the French Development Agency (AFD) . About AFD

AFD is an inclusive public financial institution and the main actor in France's development policy. It makes commitments to projects that genuinely improve the everyday lives of people, in developing and emerging countries and in the French overseas territories. AFD works in many sectors  energy, health, biodiversity, water, digital technologies, training  and supports the transition to a safer, more equitable and more sustainable world: a world in common. Its action is fully in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More information at: https://www.afd.fr/en. Through its network of 85 agencies, AFD operates in 115 countries and is currently supporting over 4,000 development projects. In 2018, it earmarked EUR 11.4bn to finance these projects. About SUNREF SUNREF is one of the innovative tools developed by AFD to promote the emergence of "green" finance tailored to the needs of economic actors in countries in transition. It aims to allow local financial institutions to take action to fight against climate change. SUNREF helps develop the practices of financial actors via financial support and technical assistance to facilitate access to green energy and promote the sustainable management of natural resources. The ultimate goal: ensure the development of a low-carbon economy and allow economic actors to adapt to this transformation. More information at: https://www.sunref.org/en/ About the European Union (EU): The EU, which consists of 27 countries, has the world's largest economy and its third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its 'Member States') are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. They have set up common institutions so that decisions on matters of joint interest can be made democratically at the European level. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro) which has been adopted by 19 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment. It is also at the forefront of policies on sustainability. EU-India relations: For over 50 years, the EU and India have worked together to reduce poverty, prevent disasters, expand trade, and promote joint research in energy, health, agriculture and many other fields of mutual interest. More information at: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/india About NHB National Housing Bank (NHB) was set up on 9 July 1988 under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987. NHB has been established with an objective to operate as a principal agency to promote housing finance institutions both at local and regional levels and to provide financial and other support incidental to such institutions and for matters connected therewith. More information at: https://nhb.org.in/

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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 18:33 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20664af59 1 World coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,Japan,Diamond-Princess,Indonesian-citizen,Terawan-Agus-Putranto Free

Another five Indonesian crew members of the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, bringing the total number of Indonesians infected on board the cruise ship in Japan to nine as of Monday, the government has confirmed

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said the infected Indonesian patients  who are among hundreds of people tested positive on the cruise ship  were currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital in Japan.

The infected Indonesian citizens are now being treated by the Japanese government, all nine of them, Terawan told journalists in Jakarta on Monday.

Foreign Ministry acting spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah also confirmed on Monday that nine of the 78 Indonesian crew members on the cruise ship had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Although the number of infected continued to grow, Terawan said the government did not want to act without due consideration in regard to the evacuation of the remaining 69 Indonesian crew members of the Diamond Princess who were still reported healthy.

He said the government wanted to ensure that the pick-up process would not cause the spread of the coronavirus to the archipelago since Indonesia still claimed zero cases of COVID-19.

We, the government, prioritize 260 million people [in Indonesia] surviving while we take action to save our citizens in Japan, Terawan said.

Read also: Coronavirus: Indonesian citizens aboard Diamond Princess to be put in 28-day quarantine after returning home

We cant just take a rash decision, we cant. The stakes are huge. I also want to ask the media to help us in this, so that we can remain in the green zone.

Terawan said the government was currently negotiating with Japan on options to evacuate the healthy Indonesian crew members whether by sea or air.

At the same time, he said, the government was still mulling over the necessary measures after they arrived home.

The ministry's Disease Control and Environmental Health Directorate General secretary, Achmad Yurianto, previously said that the government planned to put the remaining crew members into a 28-day quarantine, or twice the incubation period of the coronavirus.

The decision was made after at least 634 of the 3,711 people on board the British-American-owned Diamond Princess  which ended its two-week quarantine period on Feb. 19 in Yokohama tested positive for the virus.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Doni Monardo has stated his willingness to help the evacuation process of healthy Indonesian crew members of the ship.

The BNPB has made preparations for the later technical steps, Doni told Kompas on Monday. All information must be through one door. We are waiting for direction from the health minister.
A doctor looks at a lung CT image at a hospital in Yunmeng county, Xiaogan city, in China's central Hubei province, on Feb. 20, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Coronavirus Outbreak 5 to 10 Times Worse Than China Admits: Study

The deadly coronavirus that is morphing into a global threat could have infected five to 10 times more people than Chinese officials have acknowledged, a group of U.S. researchers said.

The Feb. 18 study, which has not been peer-reviewed, was co-led by Lucia Dunn, economics professor at Ohio State University, and Mai He, pathology professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis.

Drawing from both official and unofficial data sources, the study suggested the cumulative infections and deaths could be substantially higher than officially statedby a factor of 5 to 10.

So many people are doubting the numbers in China  that we think we should look at alternative numbers, Dunn said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

The data was pulled from official figures; a mobile mapping site from Chinese tech giant Tencent; and reported cremations at funeral homes in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.

Anomalous infection numbers appeared briefly on at least two separate occasions on Tencent News, an online news portal that provides real-time tracking of official outbreak data. On Jan. 27 and Feb. 1, the platform reported a cumulative infection (including both confirmed and suspected cases) of more than 213,000 and 233,000 each. In contrast, Wuhan authorities on Feb. 2 reported 14,380 confirmed infections and less than 20,000 suspected casesonly a tenth of the Tencent figure.

The numbers on Tencent were gone in a few hours, although not before Chinese netizens snapped screenshots and circulated them around the internet.

Rather than dismissing these figures as a technical glitch, Dunn said the Tencent data may be an unintentional leak that offers a clue at the outbreaks true scale.

The Epoch Times and other media outlets interviewed staff at several major Wuhan crematoriums, who said they have been operating 24 hours per day since late January, which is five timesor 20 more hours per dayhigher than their regular workload. According to the researchers calculations of an annual case fatality rate of 0.551 percent, the additional operating hours at the funeral homes implied an additional 680 deaths than normal on a daily average, according to the study. The researchers suspect the spike to be a direct result of the outbreak.

Based on a Lancet study which projected that infection numbers could double every 6.4 days, the researchers came up with death rates for different scenarios, ranging from 2.8 percent to as high as 32.8 percent.

Dunn said they then estimated from those numbers the outbreaks starting time, which they found to be between Sept. 25 and Nov. 5.

Wuhan authorities first announced the existence of a mysterious pneumonia on Dec. 31 involving dozens of cases, and claimed that the first patient exhibited symptoms in early December.

But based on the findings, Dunn said Chinese officials would have known it a lot earlier.

Due to the lack of transparency in China, the researchers were not able to independently verify numbers from Chinese sources firsthand, and therefore the estimates can only serve as an approximate.

Theres a sense that the [Chinese] government numbers are definitely too low, and off by orders of a magnitude, Dunn said.

A recent report (pdf) by the Imperial College London also suggested a case fatality rate of 18 percent in Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital.

We are beginning to feel really confident that we have no confidence in the government numbers, Dunn said.

Cover-Up

Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist and one of the eight medical professionals who tried to warn fellow medics about the virus the day before the official announcement, was reprimanded by local police for spreading rumors. He later died from the virus after treating an infected person.

The government covered it up, Dunn said, noting that Chinese authorities fired the Wuhan and Hubei Party chiefs amid growing public anger of how they handled the outbreak.

Zhou Xiangyang, mayor of Wuhan, later admitted to the city governments failure to make timely disclosures about the outbreak, but said he could only publish information after clearing it with central authorities.

You see why nobody wants to put it [information] out there  These guys lose their job when its known that they have some big catastrophe brewing, so nobody wants to come forward with that kind of bad news, Dunn said.

Communist governments always suppress information, keep information from their citizensespecially when its bad news. And this is what we have to show for it, she added.

Crematoriums

The Epoch Times has spoken with dozens of Wuhan residents who were denied treatment at hospitals due to the overwhelming number of infected coronavirus patients.

In a Feb. 4 undercover investigation, a senior official at a Wuhan funeral home told The Epoch Times that the facilitys daily intake has drastically increased since Jan. 22, the day before the city issued an unprecedented lockdown to quarantine residents in an effort to contain the outbreak. Chinese health officials have required people who die from the virus to be cremated.

The official said the funeral homes workload was around four to five times more than normal. On Feb. 3, it peaked at processing 127 bodies. Under pressure to keep up with the demand, the facilitys workers have been working round the clock even through the Lunar New Year, Chinas biggest public holiday. He said two other major crematoriums in Wuhan were also on overdrive.

I count myself as blessed if I can sleep for two or three hours a day, he said in the interview, adding that they would need at least 40 to 50 more workers to cope with the need.
Equity market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty extended losses in the afternoon session, logging the second-worst single-day fall of this year as spread of Coronavirus infections outside China roiled global markets. On February 1 this year, Sensex had closed 987 points lower with Nifty losing 318 points after Union Budget failed to enthuse Dalal Street.

Sensex opened 133 points lower at 41,037 compared to the previous close of Rs 41,170. Nifty too started on a weak note at 12,012, down 68 points compared to the previous close of Rs 12,010. However, domestic market came under pressure from global markets as Coronavirus claimed more lives outside China.

This dampened sentiments at home with India VIX soaring 25.63% signalling heightened volatility. BSE 30-share S&P Sensex ended 806 points lower at 40,363 and NSE 50-share index Nifty50 closed 242 points lower at 11,838. All Sensex stocks ended in the red. Tata Steel (6.39%), ONGC (4.72%), Maruti (4.24%) and HDFC 3.29% were the top Sensex losers.

Meanwhile, BSE mid cap and small cap indices lost 250 points and 233 points to 15,444 and 14,513 in trade today. Market breadth was negative with 726 stocks closing higher compared to 1,796 falling on BSE. 176 stocks remained unchanged. Consumer durables, banking, auto and metal stocks led the losses with their BSE indices falling 643 points, 561 points, 589 points and 550 points respectively.

BSE IT index which was trading in the green earlier on weaker rupee also ended in the red losing 169 points to 16,176. While realty and media scrips ended 2% lower, all the other sector-based indices fell 1% by Monday's closing bell. On Thursday, S&P Sensex ended 152 points lower at 41,170 and NSE 50-share index Nifty50 closed 45 points lower at 12,080.

"We expect the markets to be choppy in the near term as global sentiments continue to remain muted," said Ajit Mishra, VP from Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

"Market breadth was sharply negative. Near term, markets have strong momentum on the downside and recoveries are unlikely to sustain as and when they come. Traders should look to have a sell on rise approach, said Manav Chopra, CMT, Head Research - Equity, Indiabulls Ventures Ltd.

In terms of Bank Nifty, that closed 1.5% lower, he further added," Index is trading below all near term key averages which suggest upward momentum is fractured.

Shares of metal companies such as JSW Steel, Hindalco Industries, Vedanta and Tata Steel ended in red amid a surge in the number of new coronavirus cases reported outside China and on worries over its impact on global economic growth.

"Despite domestic prices remaining relatively resilient, we see risk in the near term, primarily from higher export volumes from China," said Edelweiss in its report and maintained 'BUY' on JSPL and Tata Steel, 'HOLD' on JSW Steel, and 'REDUCE' on SAIL.

F&O expiry on February 27 could also induce some volatility during the week. Moreover, investors also await any positive outcome from the US President's India visit in terms of strategic partnership/trade deal, experts said.

"The Trump-Modi meet is not providing clues to the market regarding trade deal but market is hoping for some hint in the future," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

In technical terms, Nifty failed to consolidate between range and broke its support of 11,950 level and fell further to trade at day low near 11,821 level. Future downside level can be seen towards 11,750-11,630, traders said.

With global markets taking a hit, gold prices crossed Rs 44,000 per 10 gm for the first time ever. Yellow metal soared Rs 953 to Rs 44,472 per 10 gram in the national capital on weaker rupee and rise in global prices, according to HDFC Securities.

Silver prices also rose by Rs 586 to Rs 49,990 per kg from Rs 49,404 per kg.

Global markets

International markets extended fall in the afternoon session after Reuters reported that Afghanistan has announced the first confirmed case of coronavirus.

Additionally, Wuhan's local government later in the day revoked its earlier announcement over easing lockdown and relaxing some of its travel restrictions in order to allow some people to leave, which further led to jittery global markets. Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated, has been under lockdown for a month.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Sunday that the deadly coronavirus epidemic could put an already fragile global economic recovery at risk, as G20 financial chiefs discussed ways to contain its economic ripple effects.

The World Health Organization has also warned about the growing number of cases without any clear link to China.

Britain's FTSE 100 sank 3.5% to 7,147, while the CAC 40 in Paris lost 3.7% to 5,806. Germany's DAX fell 3.6% to 13,086. The FTSE MIB in Italy, which has seen a surge in new cases that lead to the lockdown of towns and businesses, dropped 4.6% to 23,620.

South Korea reported another large leap in new cases on Monday. The 70 latest new cases raised South Korea's total to 833, and two more deaths raised its toll to seven. The latest updates sparked selling of shares, pulling the benchmark Kospi 3.9% lower to 2,079.04.

Brent crude oil prices gave up $2.86, or 5%, to $55.64 per barrel.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The suggestion of the Centre-constituted high-level committee on the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to make 1951 as the base year for defining Assams indigenous people has met with opposition.

After minority-based party, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU), the All Assam Bengali Youth Students Federation (AABYSF) now raised an objection.

The AABYSF fears if the indigenous people of Assam are defined based on the 1951 cut-off, many Bengali Hindus will suffer.

We dont know what exactly is there in the report of the Clause 6 committee. Media reports suggested people who have been settled in Assam from before 1951 and their descendants will be viewed as indigenous people. If that is the case, the Bengalis in the state will lose all rights as their migration to the state took place after 1951. They will be reduced to mere voters. This will be an injustice to them, AABYSF founder president Sahadev Das said.

He said according to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, people who migrated to Assam before March 24, 1971, are Indian citizens. The NRC of 1951 was also updated based on the March 24, 1971, cutoff, he pointed out.

There is no clarity in the report. We want the committee to invite us and convince. As there was not a single representative from the Bengali community in the committee, we had urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to look into the aspect but it was not heeded to, Das lamented.

Earlier, AIUDF and AAMSU were critical of Clause 6 panels suggestion.

AIUDF spokesman Aminul Islam had wondered about the fate of people, who entered Assam between 1951 and 1971 and are enjoying benefits and privileges as citizens of the country.

Advisor to AAMSU, Azizur Rahman, thought the panels suggestion on the 1951 base year to determine the states indigenous people would further complicate the issue of immigrants.

The panel will submit its report to the CM on Tuesday. Subsequently, it will be forwarded to the Central government.
It was a shocking news for the entire nation when Sridevi passed away unexpectedly in Dubai on February 2018. Her untimely demise left a huge void in the film industry. Her daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor have often expressed that they miss their mother in various interviews.

Jhanvi Kapoor always follow mother Sridevi's this advise ;Watch video | FilmiBeat

Today on the occasion of Sridevi's second death anniversary, her daughter Janhvi got emotional and remembered her mom with a moving note. The Dhadak actress shared a black and white picture on her Instagram page where the mother-daughter duo is all smiles for the camera as they lie on a sofa.

The picture features a young Janhvi holding her mother in a tight hug with a caption that reads, "Miss you everyday."

Many Bollywood celebrities like Karan Johar, Anaita Shroff Adajania and Sanjay Kapoor's wife Maheep Kapoor dropped heart emojis on Janhvi's post.

After Sridevi passed away, a few days later, Janhvi took to her Instagram post to pen a heart-wrenching note and wrote, "There's a gnawing hollowness in my chest that I know I'll have to learn to live with. Even with all this emptiness, I still feel your love. I feel you protecting me from sadness and pain. Every time I close my eyes, I only have good things to remember. I know it's you doing that. You were a blessing in all our lives, we were blessed to have had you for as long as we did. But, you were for this world. You were too good, too pure, too full of love. That's why he took you back. But at least we had you."

Sridevi was found dead on February 24, 2018 when she was in Dubai for the wedding of her husband's nephew Mohit Marwah. Later, it was reported that she died due to accidental drowning in the bathtub.

Speaking about Janhvi Kapoor, the actress will be next seen in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Roohi Afzana, Takht, and Mr. Lele.

Sridevi's Death Anniversary: Let's Revisit Her Last Post On Instagram - A Beautiful Family Picture

Boney, Janhvi And Khushi Kapoor To Mark Sridevi's Second Death Anniversary With A Puja
A case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been registered against Sharjeel Imam in Assam

Guwahati: A local court on Monday extended by four days the police remand of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam who was arrested on charges of sedition and brought to the state last week.

Imam was brought to Assam from New Delhi on 20 February and produced in court which had initially sent him to four days' police remand, they said. Upon the expiry of his police remand, he was on Monday produced before the Kamrup (Metro) Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The student, who came into the limelight during the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on 28 January for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University and in Aligarh.

Imam was slapped with a sedition case after his speeches went viral on social media wherein he was heard allegedly speaking about Assam's possible secession from the country in the wake of the CAA. A case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been registered against him in Assam.

On 18 February, the Delhi Police had named Imam as an "instigator" in its charge sheet filed against 17 people in a case related to violence during protests against the CAA at New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia last year.

Meanwhile, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government is keeping a tab on the developments related to Imam's interrogation. On reports claiming that Imam had contact with AIUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal for some years, Sarma told reporters, "I have seen it in the media only.... If there is any connection found between them for unlawful activities, we will take necessary action."
4:50 p.m.

Another American

is being taken to the Nebraska Medical Center for coronavirus monitoring, officials said Monday.

The person tested positive for the disease but was previously being monitored at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. They are expected to arrive later today at Eppley Airfield.

They are the spouse of one of

for monitoring. They will be taken directly to the National Quarantine Unit at the Nebraska Medical Center campus.

The landing at Eppley will be similar to previous coronavirus patients - the plane will remain in an isolated area on the tarmac away from the main passenger terminal.

2:20 p.m.

The 13 people evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship for the coronavirus are still being monitored by Nebraska Medicine, while one of the 13 has been transferred from biocontainment to the quarantine unit.

Officials said Monday a total of 11 people are being held in the National Quarantine Unit while two others are still being monitored in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit.

Currently, 11 have tested positive for

. The two who remain negative and could leave quarantine as early as March 2.

Nebraska Medicine said they continue to care for the group's personal needs along with having behavioral health experts on-site. They are also launching an internal virtual town hall, so evacuees can talk to each other.

There are 35 cases of coronavirus nationally. Internationally, there have been

.

Italy has canceled public events in efforts to limit the virus spread.
Pennridge to vote on one textbook; further review on other one
A little girl colors a painting on the protective suit of a medical staff at the isolation ward of children infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan Children's Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on Feb. 20, 2020. At the isolation ward of children infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan Children's Hospital, many children were afraid of seeing the medical staff wrapped in protective suits. Wang Jia, a nurse in the hospital who likes drawing, came up with the idea of drawing cartoons on the protective suits and invite children to color them, a way to make these children relaxed. Gradually, many medical staffs are used to take time to draw some cartoon characters on their protective suits before seeing the children. Consequently, children became more cooperative with the treatment through this way. (Wuhan Children's Hospital/Handout via Xinhua)

5

1

[ Editor: WPY ]
Council Renews Juvenile Curfew After City Review The Hillsboro City Council met in a regular session Tuesday, February 18, and approved the renewal of the citys juvenile curfew ordinance, which is reviewed by the council every three years as required by Texas Local Government Code.



Hillsboro Police Department completed the most recent review by researching other cities' ordinances, including those adopted by Corsicana, Granbury, Waxahachie, Cleburne and Crowley.



The department also completed an internal survey to determine whether there continues to be a need for an ordinance, and the staff recommended the curfew's continuation without modifications.



The curfew hours are 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight until 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. From June 1 until August 15, curfew hours are midnight until 6 a.m. every night.



There are several exceptions to the requirement, the most common of which include minors who are accompanied by a parent or guardian, completing a task related to an emergency, engaged in employment activity, or those who are attending an official school, religious or recreational activity.



Police Chief Tony Cain explained that the department is realistic with its curfew enforcement and provided figures for warnings and citations issued over the past several years. In 2019, there were 50 warnings or citations issued, and there were 11 in 2018, 32 in 2017 and 17 in 2016.



With no public comment received, the council approved the renewal of the ordinance.



City Manager Frank Johnson reported that Hillsboro Main Street had another successful Fire & Ice event, with over 100 people in attendance.



Johnson said that the city will be talking to architects regarding the construction of the planned building for the housing of antique fire engines.



The city manager stressed the importance of the community's response to the 2020 Census, and said that households will begin receiving census forms in March.



"We want to get a good, complete count for Hillsboro," Johnson said. He added that the city has likely been undercounted, possibly substantially, in the previous census.



City officials gathered with representatives from Hillsboro Independent School District, Hill College and the community to coordinate outreach plans to encourage residents to respond, Johnson said.


Graham Dwyer is seeking to appeal his 2015 conviction for the murder of Elaine O'Hara

A European court will ultimately decide key issues which will have a bearing on notorious killer Graham Dwyers appeal against his conviction for murder.

A seven-judge Supreme Court today made a ruling which in one part helped Dwyers appeal, but in another part undermined it significantly.

The court upheld a 2018 High Court ruling that the manner in which gardai accessed retained phone data did not meet European standards.

But delivering its decision in Waterford, Chief Justice Frank Clarke also signalled its view that the High Court finding should not be considered to be retrospective.

In other words, even though the law was struck down, the Supreme Courts view is that it would be appropriate to consider it valid up until the date of the High Court judgment.

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The opinion is a significant blow to Dwyers bid to overturn his conviction as one of his main grounds of appeal is that the judge in his trial made an error by allowing phone data be used in evidence against him.

The phone data evidence was a crucial part of the prosecutions case that Dwyer murdered childcare worker Elaine OHara in 2012.

Mr Justice Clarke said the Supreme Courts decision was a preliminary one and would be referred to the Court of Justice for the EU (CJEU) due to the difficult issues of European law involved.

The Supreme Court will finalise its ruling after the CJEU has considered the referral.

Todays decision came after the State appealed a December 2018 High Court ruling that certain provisions of the 2011 Communications Act contravened EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Under the Act, gardai obtained phone data evidence for Dwyers phone and others attributed to him and his victim.

Dwyer successfully challenged the legality of these provisions in the High Court and planned to use that ruling to bolster his separate challenge to his conviction in the Court of Appeal.

The main issue highlighted by the High Court was a provision which allowed gardai of chief superintendent rank and above to request user data from providers.

Mr Justice Tony OConnor found the data retention regime was general and indiscriminate, with no prior review by a court or an independent body and no adequate legislative guarantees against abuse of such data.

At the outset of todays ruling, Mr Justice Clarke said it was important to emphasise the case before it was not about Dwyers criminal appeal, but whether aspects of the Act were valid as a matter of European law.

He said a system of universal but limited retention of phone data was not, in and of itself, incompatible with EU law.

The Chief Justice said the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, not least those against women, children and vulnerable persons, would, in many cases, be impossible without access to such data.

However, upholding the High Court ruling, he said there must be a particularly robust access system in place which conforms with EU case law.

There must be independent prior permission given for such access. I express the view that the Irish access regime does not meet that standard, not least because of the fact that, albeit access permission is granted by a separate unit within the force, such permission is nonetheless granted from within An Garda Siochana so that there is insufficient independent review in advance of the need for access, he said.

The Chief Justice said the Supreme Court had also considered the question of whether, having found an Irish law was inconsistent with EU law, the court concerned has the power to also decide that any such invalidity should only be prospective from the date of its judgment.

I express the view that national courts do have such power. I also express the view that, in the event that a national court has such power, it would be appropriate to exercise it in this case in favour of not regarding the relevant aspects of the 2011 Act as having been invalid until the date of this judgment, he said.

I do so principally because the 2011 Act was actually enacted by the Oireachtas precisely because it was required by European Union law as it appeared at the time, the Chief Justice said.

He also noted that Ireland had come under pressure to introduce the law in the first place due to successful infringement proceedings brought by the European Commission.

The Supreme Court will not finalise its ruling until its referral has been considered by the CJEU.

Mr Justice Clarke said the court was obliged under EU treaties and case law to make a referral to the CJEU on an issue of EU law unless there was already a clear answer to the issue.

In addition to the Chief Justice, the seven-judge panel was also made up of Supreme Court judges Donal ODonnell, William McKechnie, John MacMenamin, Peter Charleton, Iseult OMalley and Mary Irvine.

Mr Justice Charleton was the only judge who felt the courts findings should not be referred to the CJEU.

Dwyer (47) was jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Ms OHara (36), who was last known to be alive on August 22, 2012.

Her remains were discovered at Killakee in the Dublin Mountains 13 months after her disappearance. Dental records had to be used to identify her.

The Central Criminal Court heard they met online on a website for people with alternative sexual tastes and that Dwyer later stabbed her to death for his own sexual gratification. He has always denied killing her.

His appeal against his conviction had been on hold pending the outcome of the Supreme Court case. This will now be further delayed due to the referral to the CJEU.
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged California-based Wells Fargo & Co. for misleading investors about the success of its core business strategy at a time when it was opening fake accounts for unknowing customers and selling unnecessary products that went unused. Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $500 million to settle the charges, which will be returned to investors. The $500 million payment is part of a combined $3 billion settlement with the SEC and the Department of Justice.

According to the SECs order, between 2012 and 2016, Wells Fargo publicly touted to investors the success of its Community Banks cross-sell strategy  selling additional financial products to its existing customers  which it characterized as a key component of its financial success. The order finds that Wells Fargo sought to induce investors continued reliance on the cross-sell metric even though it was inflated by accounts and services that were unused, unneeded, or unauthorized. According to the order, from 2002 to 2016, Wells Fargo opened millions of accounts of financial products that were unauthorized or fraudulent. Wells Fargos Community Bank also pressured customers to buy products they did not need and would not use. The order finds that these accounts were opened through sales practices inconsistent with Wells Fargos investor disclosures regarding its purported needs-based selling model.

Wells Fargo repeatedly misled investors, including through a misleading performance metric, about what it claimed to be the cornerstone of its Community Bank business model and its ability to grow revenue and earnings, said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SECs Division of Enforcement. This settlement holds Wells Fargo responsible for its fraud and furthers the SECs goal of returning funds to harmed investors.

The SECs order finds that Wells Fargo violated the antifraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Wells Fargo has agreed to cease and desist from committing or causing any future violations of these provisions and to pay a civil penalty of $500 million. The SEC will distribute this money to harmed investors.
Several major smartphone manufacturers are reportedly planning to launch new fast chargers with support for up to 65W charging.

This is according to a report from Chinese tech site IT Home, which stated that Apple, Samsung, and Huawei are planning to unveil chargers based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology in 2020.

Xiaomi released its GaN-based charger last week. The charger employs a USB-C interface and is capable of delivering a 50W wired fast charge to the Xiaomi M10 Pros 4,780mAh battery, filling it to 100% in 45 minutes.

Currently, the fastest smartphone charger available from Apple can provide 18W wired charging, while Samsung offers 45W Adaptive Fast Charging and Huaweis SuperCharge supports 40W charging.

The benefits of Gallium Nitride

According to GaN Systems, Gallium Nitride is a semiconductor that is commonly used in LEDs and Blu-ray disc readers.

Other components which employ the material include power devices, RF parts, lasers, and photonics.

What makes GaN ideal for battery chargers is its wider bandgap of 3.4 eV, compared to the 1.12 eV bandgap of silicon.

The bandgap is the energy range in a solid in which no electrons can exist. The wider the energy range, the better a solid material is capable of conducting electricity.

Since GaN can conduct higher voltages over time than silicon, it can deliver a faster charge.

The chargers are also lighter and around half the size of conventional silicone chargers, as they require fewer components for cooling and operation.

This is becauses GaNs higher switching frequencies and operational temperatures means it can make use of smaller heat sinks and fewer fans for cooling.

Additionally, the higher switching frequencies allows for smaller inductors and capacitors to be used in power circuits.

Increased adoption

Although GaN semiconductors are generally more expensive than silicon, these costs can be offset by the fact that smaller and fewer additional components are needed.

These savings could be further supplemented by GaNs inherent higher efficiency. With the use of GaN semiconductors, less energy is expended as heat.

IT Home did not indicate when we can expect manufacturers to release their GaN chargers.

Although devices would have to support 65W charging in order to fully benefit from the technology, consumers can still charge devices without this support much faster than normal.

For example, Xiaomi claims that iPhone 11 users will see up to 50% faster charging with its GaN charger.

Now read: Samsung patent details smartphone hologram projector
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation on Monday, a shock move that could plunge the country into political crisis.

The letter has been sent to His Royal Highness the King at 1 p.m., Mahathirs office said in a statement.The surprise announcement comes amid speculation that 94-year-old Mahathir was attempting to form a new ruling coalition that would exclude his promised successor, Anwar Ibrahim who accused the party of plotting to form a new government with the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the former ruling party ousted in 2018. Mahathirs party, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu) announced Monday it would be dropping out of the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan in support of the prime minister. All members of the House of Representatives of the party are also out of Pakatan Harapan. All of them have signed the Oath to continue to support and trust Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, according to a statement from BERSATU President Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.

Its yet unclear if Mahathir could form another government with the support of other parties.

On Sunday night allies of Mahathir and some members of Anwars Peoples Justice Party (PKR), as well as other Parliament members and those from the opposition, UMNO reportedly held talks in Kuala Lumpur, fuelling speculation of a new governing coalition.

Mahathir Mohamad, who was appointed prime minister in 1981, retired in 2003, and returned to the office in 2018.
Mumbai: After actress Sonam Kapoor, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for helming the iconic film "Mr India", has expressed his disappointment over the news of a remake of the movie by director Ali Abbas Zafar.

Shekhar also hinted that he may take legal action against the makers of the remake.

Director Kunal Kohli on Saturday took to Twitter and wrote: "Javed Akhtar won a hard-fought battle for the rights of lyricists and writers. Its time we did the same?"

Responding to Kohli's tweet, Shekhar tweeted: "Yes. It's time to test this legally... Let's do it."

Not only this, Shekhar on Sunday took to social media and posted late actor Amrish Puri's still from "Mr India", in which Puri played the popular villain Mogambo.

Reacting on how Mogambo would have reacted to the news of the film's remake if he was alive, Shekhar tweeted: "Kya Kaha? Mr India 2 ? Is duniya mein koi aur Mogambo bhi hai?"

Shekhar also found it disrespectful for the new makers for not given him the "creative rights" for the remake.

"We sit with writers from day one, but are not the writers. Help actors hone performances but are not actors. Develop and create visual language of film. Slave hours over editing consoles. Directors lead and inspire every aspect of a film and have no creative rights? #MrIndia," Shekhar added.

Earlier this week Ali Abbas Zafar had announced the remake of the iconic Hindi film.

Zafar had tweeted: "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!"

Released in 1987, "Mr India" featured Anil Kapoor and late Sridevi in the lead roles.
An attack by Turkish forces in the Tel Tamr countryside has been repulsed by Syrian army and Syrian Democratic Forces writes Al-Masdar.

A group of Turkish-backed militants attempted to infiltrate the defenses of the Syrian Arab Army and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Tel Tamr countryside on Saturday, resulting in heavy clashes between the warring parties.

According to reports from Hassakeh, the Turkish-backed militants attacked the defenses of the SDF and Syrian army near the town of Dardara; however, they were unsuccessful in infiltrating their positions.

At the same time, the Turkish-backed militants continued their attacks against the SDF and the Syrian armys defenses in northern Syria, striking a number of sites in the Manbij, Ayn Issa, and Tel Tamr areas.

These attacks by the Turkish-backed militants have become more prevalent over the past few weeks, as they respond to the Syrian armys offensives Idleb and Aleppo by launching their own operations in northeast Syria.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Following their visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called Prime Minister Modi a "great friend" in their note on the visitor book. Both the POTUS and the First Lady also thanked PM Modi for the wonderful welcome.

Gujarat: US President Donald Trump writes a message in the visitors' book at the Sabarmati Ashram, 'To my great friend Prime Minister Modi...Thank You, Wonderful Visit!' pic.twitter.com/mxpJbSMg4W a ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

The US President and the First Lady arrived at the Sabarmati Ashram after landing at the Ahmedabad airport. The workers gave the Trumps a demonstration of the spinning wheel- the Charkha and how Gandhiji used it to weave.

PM Modi also gave the President a tour of the ashram and showed him 'Hriday Kunj'- the room where Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba Gandhi lived during the freedom struggle. PM Modi also explained the significance of the place. Prime Minister presented the US President with the "Three Wise Monkeys". He was presented with a larger version of the one that Gandhiji owned.

POTUS is on a two-day official visit to India and will cover 3 Indian cities- Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi as a part of his tour. Accompanied by PM Modi, the POTUS also addressed the mega-event at the Motera stadium.

After the event at the Motera stadium PM Modi, the US President and the First Lady will leave for Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Trump will fly back to Washington on February 25.

Also read: Namaste Trump Live Updates: PM Modi receives POTUS, Melania with a hug

Also read: Visiting Taj, India Inc roundtable: Trump's got two busy days in India

Also read: Donald Trump India visit: Gujarati khaman, masala chai; what's on POTUS' plate
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The former U.S. Attorney General under President Barack Obama has been hired to review the Syracuse University police department amid a sit-in protest that has roiled the campus since last week.

SU Chancellor Kent Syverud sent an all-campus message early Monday, apologizing for how the university has responded to the sit-in at the administration building, especially students who were suspended after being identified as protesters when they were not, he said.

He said the university would hire Loretta Lynch, Obamas former attorney general, to do an independent, expedited review of the universitys Department of Public Safety.

I believe this review is necessary given that concerns have been raised through several channels about how DPS engages with our community and how it has managed various interactions with students, including protestors, Syverud said in his message. Our DPS officers work very hard every day and night to protect our students and our community. Our community expectations and our needs have evolved, and this review will result in recommendations on how DPS can best meet todays communitys needs going forward.

Lynch now works for the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison law firm. Syverud said she is widely respected for bringing voice to all sides" and is respected for her work on police-community relations.

The #NotAgainSU protesters, sitting in at the Crouse-Hinds Hall on campus since last week, have called for the resignation of Assistant DPS Chief John Sardino, in addition to other demands, in the wake of alleged, unsolved hate crimes on campus.

Syveruds full statement

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

It has been a tough week on campus, including for the students who are protesting in Crouse-Hinds Hall. Last Wednesday, at the University Senate, I said we needed to step back from the edge so we can continue productive ongoing work to address issues of diversity, inclusion and safety that have caused significant concern across our campus since November. We have done that. Operations have resumed in Crouse-Hinds Hall, and all suspensions have been revoked.

I am not proud of how last weeks events involving student protesters in Crouse-Hinds Hall were handled. I take responsibility and apologize to the studentsespecially those misidentified in suspension letters sent out. I apologize also to our broader community for how this has distracted from the good work that has been done since November on our Campus Commitments, including engagement by a Board of Trustees Special Committee and a separate Independent Advisory Panel of experts.

Over the last week, I have had the opportunity to speak with many students, deans and faculty, and to get feedback from early engagement sessions conducted by the Special Committee and Independent Panel. While the work of those two groups continues, I have directed that we take immediate action in three specific areas.

First, in the future, faculty and deans must have greater involvement, oversight and authority around how we handle protests. I have assigned this to Interim Provost John Liu and asked him to work with the deans, faculty and administrators to develop protocols to achieve this mandate.

Second, we have engaged former United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch from the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison law firm to lead an independent, expedited review of our Department of Public Safety (DPS). Ms. Lynch served under President Barack Obama and has been known throughout her career for her work in the area of police-community relations and is widely respected for bringing voice to all sides. I believe this review is necessary given that concerns have been raised through several channels about how DPS engages with our community and how it has managed various interactions with students, including protestors. Our DPS officers work very hard every day and night to protect our students and our community. Our community expectations and our needs have evolved, and this review will result in recommendations on how DPS can best meet todays communitys needs going forward.

Finally, I have directed an independent review of our Student Experience function. Here also, our staff are dedicated to our students and work hard each day in service to them. I am concerned that our students needs have evolved and changed, and that our team must be able to effectively execute on these needs, even in rapidly developing circumstances like the protests this week. We will announce the leader of this effort soon.

I believe these three steps are needed now for the sake of our students and university. There will be more steps to come, including from the continuing work of the Special Committee and Independent Panel. Our university is making progress on many frontsincluding on the many Campus Commitments, and in identifying, and holding responsible, three students for hateful acts so far.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Kent Syverud

15 Syracuse University protesters hunker down in admin building despite suspensions

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Moscow has ordered police to raid hotels, dorms, apartment buildings and businesses in search of Chinese people as Russia attempts to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Bus, underground and tram drivers have also been told to report if a Chinese person boards their vehicle before handing them a questionnaire asking why they are in the country and whether they quarantined themselves after arrival.

An email that leaked over the weekend suggested that police would also be alerted to Chinese nationals on public transport, though authorities claimed it was a fake.

Moscow's mayor has also announced that the city will use facial recognition technology to ensure arrivals from China observe a two-week home quarantine.

Since the outbreak of the new virus that has infected more than 76,000 people and killed more than 2,300 in mainland China, Russia has reported two cases. Both patients, Chinese nationals hospitalized in Siberia, recovered quickly.

Russian authorities nevertheless are going to significant - some argue discriminatory - lengths to keep the virus from resurfacing and spreading.

Russia is going to extreme lengths to prevent a coronavirus outbreak - including instructing police in Moscow to raid homes and businesses in search of Chinese people (file image, a Chinese employee of a street cafe in the Urals)

Train, bus and tram drivers in Moscow were also instructed to inform authorities if a Chinese person boards their vehicle (pictured, medics prepare to check passengers arriving in Moscow on a train from Beijing)

Russia has so-far had two confirmed cases of coronavirus, both of whom have recovered, but is taking no chances of the virus spreading further (pictured, workers disinfect a sanatorium after patients in quarantine over coronavirus were allowed to leave)

Bus drivers in Moscow kept their WhatsApp group chat buzzing with questions this week about what to do if they spotted passengers who might be from China riding with them in the Russian capital.

'Some Asian-looking (people) have just got on. Probably Chinese. Should I call (the police)?' one driver messaged his peers. 'How do I figure out if theyre Chinese? Should I ask them?' a colleague wondered.

The befuddlement reflected in screenshots of the group exchanges seen by The Associated Press had a common source - instructions from Moscow's public transit operator Wednesday for drivers to call a dispatcher if Chinese nationals boarded their buses, Russian media reported.

A leaked email that the media reports said was sent by the state-owned transportation company Mosgortrans told dispatchers who took such calls to notify the police. The email, which the company immediately described on Twitter as fake, carried a one-word subject line: coronavirus.

Moscow officials ordered police raids of hotels, dormitories, apartment buildings and businesses to track down the shrinking number of Chinese people remaining in the city.

They also authorized the use of facial recognition technology to find those suspected of evading a 14-day self-quarantine period upon their arrival in Russia.

'Conducting raids is an unpleasant task, but it is necessary, for the potential carriers of the virus as well,' Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a statement outlining various methods to find and track Chinese people the city approved as a virus prevention strategy.

The effort to identify Chinese citizens on public transportation applies not only to buses, but underground trains and street trams in Moscow, Russian media reported Wednesday.

Moscow has also announced that it will use facial recognition technology to ensure that everybody placed in two-week home quarantine over the virus stays there (file)

Medical workers leave Kievsky rail station in Moscow after checking passengers arriving from Ukraine for coronavirus

Medical workers disinfect rooms in a sanatorium in Bogandinsky, the Tyumen region, after a quarantine period for suspected coronavirus patients ended

Metro workers were instructed to stop riders from China and ask them to fill out questionnaires asking why they were in Russia and whether they observed the two-week quarantine, the reports said.

The forms also ask respondents for their health condition and the address of where they are were staying.

In Yekaterinburg, a city located 1,790 kilometers (1,112 miles) away from Moscow in the Urals Mountains, members of the local Chinese community also are under watch.

Self-styled Cossack patrols in the city hand out medical masks along with strong recommendations to visit a health clinic to Chinese residents.

Human rights advocates have condemned the targeting of Chinese nationals as racial profiling, not an effective epidemic control strategy.

'Prevention of any serious virus, be it a flu or the new coronavirus, should involve a proper information campaign and not discrimination of other people,' said Alyona Popova, an activist engaged in a year-long court challenge of Moscow's use of facial recognition technology.

The containment measures in the capital came as the Russian government instituted an indefinite ban on Chinese nationals entering the country that could block up to 90% of travelers coming to Russia from China.

Weeks before, Russia shut down the country's long land border with China, suspended all trains and most flights between the two countries.

An employee of a Moscow-based company that employs Chinese nationals told the AP on condition of anonymity that police officers came to their office on Thursday and asked a dozen Chinese staffers to stay home for two weeks.

The visit took place a little more than two weeks after these staffers returned from China and went through health checks at the airport, the employee said.

The employee spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about what had happened.

The Moscow Metro confirmed to The Associated Press that the underground system was 'actively monitoring the stations' and has a protocol in place for dealing with people who 'have recently returned from the Peoples Republic of China.'

'We ask to see their documents and to show us documents (proving) that if they have recently returned from the Peoples Republic of China, they have undergone a two-week quarantine period,' Yulia Temnikova, Moscow Metros deputy chief of client and passenger services, said.

Metro workers in Moscow were told to stop passengers from China and ask them to fill out a questionnaire about the purpose of their visit to Russia, address of residence, health condition and whether they underwent quarantine upon arrival

An email leaked at the weekend also suggested the police would be informed about any Chinese people on public transport, though officials branded it 'fake' (file image)

If an individual does not show proof of completing the quarantine, Metro workers ask the person to fill out the form and call an ambulance, Temnikova said.

Bus and tram drivers contacted their labor union about the instructions to look for Chinese nationals and report them to the dispatch center. The drivers were outraged and didnt know what to do, Public Transport Workers Union chairman Yuri Dashkov said.

'So he saw a Chinese national, and then what?' Dashkov said. 'How can he ascertain that he saw a Chinese national, or a Vietnamese national, or a Japanese, or (someone from the Russian region of) Yakutia?'

Dashkov showed the AP a photo of the email that officials at Mosgortrans were said to have sent out. He also showed three photos of on-bus electronic displays reading, 'If Chinese nationals are discovered in the carriage, inform the dispatcher.'

The AP was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the email and the photos. Dashkov shared screenshots of what appeared to be a genuine bus drivers' group chat in WhatsApp.

While Moscow public transit operator Mosgortrans dismissed the email as phony on its official Twitter account Wednesday, the company told the AP in a statement two days later that it does 'conduct monitoring' and 'sends data to the medics when necessary.'

Mosgortrans referred additional questions to the detailed statement from Moscow's mayor, who on Friday acknowledged the sharp focus on Chinese people in the city's virus-control plan.

Officials ordered everyone arriving from China to isolate themselves for two weeks, and those who skip the quarantine step will be identified through video surveillance and facial recognition technology, Sobyanin said. The systems give authorities the ability to 'constantly control compliance with the protocol,' he said in the statement.

Ambulances stopped outside Moscow's main metro station as medical workers check passengers for symptoms of coronavirus

The mayors office did not respond to a request for comment on the city's containment approach and the accusation that it's discriminatory. But rights activist Popova insists the facial recognition program is unlawful whether the searches are seeking Russian or Chinese faces.

'We have a constitutional right to privacy, and citizens of (other countries) have it according to foreign and international legal norms,' she said.

Temnikova from the Moscow Metro rejected accusations of racial profiling. Subway workers 'mainly look at the passengers (health) condition,' she said, and approach 'people who need help.'

Addressing identification questions like the ones that worried the bus drivers, Temnikova said it should be 'clear who could have arrived from China' because 'it is obvious.'

The Cossacks of Yekaterinburg - men in conservative, often pro-Kremlin groups claiming to be successors of the proud guards who policed the Russian Empire's frontiers - took fighting the virus into their own hands three weeks ago. They also have a system of sorts for deciding who needs a face mask and advice to see a medical professional.

'Mainly (we approach) people from China because it is from them that the coronavirus came. They are the main source,' Igor Gorbunov, elder of the Ural Volunteer Cossack Corps, told the AP during one such patrol Friday.

'But not only them,' Gorbunov continued. 'There are different nationalities, there are many people of Asian appearance, and they seem to be vulnerable to this disease, the coronavirus, because it is them who are most often affected. Europeans are not yet affected much.'
Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson have reportedly split up after two years of dating. Cara and Ashley always had their ups and down before, but its over now, a source told People magazine in May 2020. Their relationship just ran its course.

Its been a long road for the two, who met on the set of the 2018 film Her Smell. Were sad to see this relationship end, but lets take a look back on how it started. Heres a complete timeline of Ash and Caras romance:

May 2018: The relationship rumors kicks off when Delevingne and Benson are seen out and about together. Someone saw them at a bowling alley, and another fan noticed them near a parking meter in Hollywood.

Benson posts her first photo with Delevingne, but doesnt say anything that implies a relationship.

August 2018: Things heat up when a photo circulates of the couple kissing at Londons Heathrow Airport. Benson also hung out at Delevingnes 26th birthday party alongside Margot Robbie and Sienna Miller. That month, Benson also took a selfie wearing necklaces with the letters A and C, which many people thought referred to her and Cara.

September 2018: Delevingne and Benson both go to the Toronto International Film Festival to premiere Her Smell, which they appeared in together. Although they posed on the red carpet separately, photographers captured them hanging out with some of their costars at a cocktail party later.

RBC Hosted "Her Smell" Cocktail Party At RBC House Toronto Film Festival 2018 Sonia Recchia/Getty Images

That month they also attended Paris Fashion week together.

Street Style : Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2019 : Day Five Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images

December 2018: Delevingne reportedly rents out the Natural History Museum in London for Bensons birthday. The news was never directly confirmed, but Delevingne did post a shot on Instagram later and wrote that she had a whale of a time @natural_history_museum... it was over-whale-ming.

March 2019: Stylist Jami Mizrahi shares one of the most public photos seen of the couple, apart from paparazzi snaps. The shot sees them cuddling in the back of a career after Karl Lagerfelds final Chanel show during Paris Fashion week.

Story continues

That same day Benson posted a picture with Mizrahi and Delevingnes sister Poppy.

April 2019: Despite still not speaking directly about the dating rumors, both Delevingne and Benson stand up against trolls on Instagram. Two people suggested that they shouldnt be together, and Benson chimed in by saying, You need to mind your own business. Stop making things up.

Delevingne had a lengthier comment and said the commenters had a problem with true love.

You are fucking disgusting! she wrote. If you have a problem with true love then come and say this shit to my face instead [of] pathetically hating through Instagram. I genuinely feel sorry for you both, you are clearly not happy with your lives and have far too much time on your hands. Maybe get a hobby that doesnt involve being homophobic and hating others for being happy.

May 2019: The tabloids swarm the couple after pictures emerge of the two of them hauling a sex bench into their L.A. home.

June 2019: The rumors finally get a confirmation. Delevingne shared a clip of the two of them kissing on Instagram and wrote in the caption, #PRIDE. Later she explained why she wanted to address the relationship.

I dont know because it is Pride, its been 50 years since Stonewall happened and I dont know, she told E! News while accepting an award at the TrevorLIVE gala. Its been just about our one-year anniversary so, why not?

I also have another very special woman in this room to thank and you know who you are, Delevingne said. Shes one of the people who help me love myself when I needed it most and I really needed it. She showed me what real love is and how to accept it, which is a lot harder than I thought.

Later they attended Zoe Kravitzs wedding in Paris together. The paparazzi got a few shots of the couple heading into Kravitzs rehearsal dinner.

Celebrity Sightings In New York - June 17, 2019 gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

July 2019: Fans collectively freak out as the two are spotted vacationing in Saint Tropez with identical gold bands on their fingers. Some immediately think this is a sign that the couple are engaged and/or planning a secret wedding.

The rumors intensify when it appears Benson has gotten the letters C.D. tattooed to her side.

August 2019: The Sun reports that Delevingne and Benson tied the knot during a ceremony in Las Vegas. A source shuts that down and tells E! News, Delevingne and Benson are not legally married but did have a fun friendship ceremony about a year ago.

September 2019: The couple exchange PDA while watching the U.S. Open.

Celebrities Attend The 2019 US Open Tennis Championships - Day 13 Gotham/Getty Images

Delevingne also talks to Elle U.K. about why her relationship is sacred: People make their own assumptions, and thats what worried me. Because if it is something that is so good, you dont ever want anyone to ever change it, even though people shouldnt have that power.

December 2019: Delevingne proves the relationship is going strong with a sweet and heartfelt tribute to Benson on her birthday. She wrote a long message that came with a bit of good-natured teasing over a photo that shows Benson wearing a crown with the words birthday girl on it.

There is so much I could say but something I love and cherish most about us is that I dont need to because YOU KNOW and thats all that matters, Delevingne wrote, echoing feelings shes expressed in the past. Its you and me which is my favourite. My safe place. You let me be silly, you let me be wild, you keep me free, secure and curious. I feel like Ive known you my entire life and I am so proud of watching you grow into the woman that you always dreamt of being. I love you beyond words my sprinkles, choonchi, angel face, grumpy ass, sweet cheeks, never boring, buttmunch, Benson.

But that wasnt the only way Delevingne commemorated Bensons big day. She also surprised her girlfriend with a trip to Morocco. On December 21, the Pretty Little Liars alum revealed the big gift in a sweet social media note, thanking Delevingne.

I was surprised on my 30th birthday, Benson penned alongside a gallery of photos, including one of the couple enjoying a hot-air balloon ride and another of Delevingne kissing Bensons motorcycle helmet.

Morocco has always been a place Ive wanted to visit, the actor continued in the caption. I faced so many fears and took on new adventures with my best friend by my side. I couldnt have asked for anything better. I love you @caradelevingne. Thank you for making my birthday the best yet.

February 2020: Benson shares the sweetest photo of herself and Delevingne kissing. There was a charitable reason she posted the snap. A kiss with a cause. This Valentines Day when you share a photo of you and a loved onea significant other, a friend, a petyou can also raise awareness and help create a future with more survivors thanks to @su2c #KissCancerGoodbye campaign, Benson wrote.

On February 23, the couple made a rare public appearance together at Milan Fashion Week for the Boss show. They sat front row, natch, and looked incredibly chic.

Boss - Front Row - Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2020-2021 Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty Images

May 2020: After nearly two years together, People reports, Benson and Delevingne have split. According to at least one source, the breakup occurred in early April, and Delevingne has since been spending time with friends Margaret Qualley, Rainey Qualley, and Kaia Gerber while self-quarantining.

Neither Delevingne nor Benson initially confirmed the news, but on May 5, Benson shared a couple of selfies with the caption Bored in the house.

On May 14, Delevingne posted a statement to her Instagram Stories, seemingly in response to photos of Benson hanging out with G-Eazy. A fan account also posted a video that appeared to show Benson and the singer kissing. This sparked a major backlash among fans online. Its more important than ever to spread love, not hate, Delevingne wrote. To everyone hating on @ashleybenson please stop. You dont know the truth, only her and I do, and thats exactly how it should be.

Instagram/@CaraDelevingne

Originally Appeared on Glamour
" " A reconstructed Neanderthal man is located in the the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, Germany, where the first-ever Neanderthal was discovered in 1856. Markus Matzel/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Ask someone to describe what "ancient man" looked like, and most people will probably come up with something that looks like that Geico caveman. Of course, the timeline of human evolution is much more complicated, and includes many twisting and turning branches that still have scientists stumped.

To really understand how man evolved, we'd have to go back in time a few million years and explore the lengthy line in human evolution. Put simply, though, we're really just tracing modern humanity to three sources: Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and the relatively recently discovered Denisovans. But what about other ancient cousins of man? We also carry traces of their DNA. Stuff They Don't Want You to Know hosts Matt Frederick and Ben Bowlin dig into man's family tree to see if there's truth to the legends of giants and gnomes in the podcast episode "Were There Really Lost Races of Man?"

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Homo sapiens is the species in which all humans today belong. Neanderthals, which were first discovered in the Neander valley in Germany, belong to the Homo genus. They are thought to have died out 40,000 years ago. When our modern human ancestors migrated from Africa across Eurasia, they met and interbred with Neanderthals, who evolved outside of Africa, completely separated from our direct predecessors. Most people living outside Africa today, including our hosts Matt and Ben, have a small percentage of Neanderthal in their DNA.

Evidence of Denisovans was uncovered in 2008, in a Siberian cave called Denisova. Very little has been determined about the Denisovans, but what we do know is they lived around the same time as the Neanderthals and humans, and were physically larger than both. The teeth found in the cave were mistaken for bear teeth until testing revealed them for what they were: another species of human never before seen.

That much the scientific community can agree on, but there are other discoveries that are highly contested. For example, the Red Deer Cave people in China. This is the most recently discovered extinct prehistoric humans found, and scientists believe they died out around 11,000 years ago. Despite their relatively modern dating, they have certain archaic features, leading some scientists to believe that they represent a different species of ancient man. However, others are skeptical, arguing that the physical features could just be evidence of interbreeding between modern humans and Denisovans, or that the features are well within variations expected in our species.

Scientists clash, too, on the Homo floresiensis, nicknamed "hobbit." The skull of a female found on the Flores island is less than one-third the size of the skull of modern humans. She also existed thousands of years after Neanderthals died out, and the paleoanthropologists who found her think she's from a different species of archaic humans. But it's been argued that these remains are from Homo sapiens, who, after becoming stuck on the island, underwent "insular dwarfism" over hundreds of thousands of years, growing smaller to help them survive. Since then, however, the hobbit team has found fragments from nine different people on the island of Flores, leading them to believe even more strongly in their theory of insular dwarfism.

The more we discover about ourselves and our ancient predecessors, the more there is to know. To hear more about these fascinating discoveries, press play on the podcast player and let Matt and Ben be your guides through the stories of these ancient peoples.

Now That's Interesting According to twostudies published in the June 2017 journal Nature, fossilized remains of a Homo sapiens found in Morocco 50 years ago are now estimated to be 315,000 years old. That's about 100,000 years older than the oldest human fossils ever found to date.
bill gates warren buffett friendship

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Coronavirus is likely to affect Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting in May, Warren Buffett warned in a CNBC interview on Monday.

The 89-year-old Berkshire CEO joked that he and his 96-year-old partner, Charlie Munger, could be at risk as the deadly illness is "particularly tough on old people."

"You're gonna have two guys on the stage whose combined age is 185," Buffett quipped.

The billionaire investor revealed that he discusses coronavirus with Bill Gates, his "science adviser."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Warren Buffett warned coronavirus is likely to affect Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting in May, and revealed that he discusses the potential pandemic with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, in a CNBC interview on Monday.

The yearly gathering in Omaha attracts a large Chinese contingent that "certainly will be affected" by the flu-like illness, the billionaire investor and Berkshire CEO said.

Coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected more than 77,000 people, killed about 2,400, and spread to more than 25 countries.

The virus  which causes a disease known as COVID-19  is "particularly tough on old people," Buffett said. Between 89-year-old Buffett and his 96-year-old partner, Charlie Munger, "You're gonna have two guys on the stage whose combined age is 185," he added.

"We won't be looking for people that are showing any signs of contagion," he joked.

Buffett asks a close friend and public-health expert about coronavirus, he revealed in the CNBC interview.

"My own science adviser is Bill Gates," he said, adding that the billionaire philanthropist is "bullish" on scientists eventually finding a solution for universal protection from the virus.

"We've got terrific resources in this country, but a pandemic is a pandemic," Buffett added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TWO men who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges relating to the cashing of a stolen cheque worth almost 50,000 have avoided prison sentences.

Ademola Olaitan, 50, who has an address at Curragh Birin, Castletroy, and Olaleken Ojekunle, 37, of Wood Park, Castleconnell, were prosecuted in relation to transactions which occurred in late 2014.

Detective Sergeant Sean McCafferty of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau told Limerick Circuit Court that a cheque which was made out to Fingal County Council was intercepted and altered and subsequently lodged into a bank account held by Mr Olaitan who admitted transferring the money to another account he held at AIB OConnell Street after it was initially lodged.

Mr Ojekunle has admitted receiving and transferring 15,000 which was lodged into his account by Mr Olaitan.

An investigation was launched in March 2015 after a complaint was received from Ulster Bank who had reimbursed the local authority. It was subsequently established the 47,109 was lodged into an account held by Mr Olaitan on October 2, 2014, and that the monies were dispatched at great speed out of the account the following day.

Det Sgt McCafferty said various amounts of money were transferred to a number of different accounts including one in the name of Mr Ojekunle.

By the time gardai were alerted there was no money left in either account. Both defendants are originally from Nigeria and both co-operated when arrested and questioned.

Mr Olaitan claimed he had facilitated a property deal in London and believed he had been overpaid. He told gardai he was then instructed by another man  Mr X  to transfer the extra monies to several other accounts.

He said he did not know the identity of the account holders and did not know the 47,109 had been obtained fraudulently.

Mr Ojekunle told gardai he was contacted by his ex-wife who informed him 15,000 would be lodged to his account and was to be used to pay debts relating to a small business she operated in the Bruff area.

Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell commented that the amount of money which was lodged and transferred was an aggravating factor - particularly as there is no chance of full compensation being paid.

He said each of the defendants should have suspected something was not right and that they had displayed a high level of recklessness or sheer stupidity.

He noted the garda investigation was complex and that the defendants guilty pleas had prevented the need for a long and complicated trial.

In each case, the judge imposed a two and-a-half year prison sentence which was fully suspended.

Mr Olaitan, has paid 3,000 in compensation while Mr Ojekunle was given 18 months to pay 1,500 to Ulster Bank.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- Underground work will shut down a lane of Catherine Street near the University of Michigan hospital for several months starting Thursday.

Construction crews will close the northern westbound lane of Catherine Street, from Zina Pitcher Place to Glen Avenue, at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27 to reconstruct university-owned underground facilities, according to a city news release. Work is expected to be completed by Thursday, Oct. 1.

Two lanes of westbound traffic will be maintained, along with pedestrian traffic on the south side of Catherine Street. The crosswalk on Catherine Street at Zina Pitcher Place will be open to access the Buhl Research Center and the Taubman Health Sciences Library, according to the news release.

The city urges drivers to reduce speeds through the construction area.

Barton Drive sidewalk improvement to cost nearly $150K in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor finally kicks off pedestrian, stormwater tunnels at railroad tracks

Ann Arbor Holiday Inn rebrands as DoubleTree hotel
The Communist Party of India has opposed the visit of the United States President Donald Trump calling his government's policies "imperialist" and "hegemonic".

"The Left parties are opposed to Donald Trump's imperialist and hegemonic policies towards other countries," D Raja CPI General Secretary told ANI on Monday.

On February 20, D Raja had urged all Left parties "to protest against the visit of American President Donald Trump" to India.

"It is a matter of serious concern that the government of India instead of pursuing an independent foreign policy is succumbing to the pressures of the US imperialist power while the US is continuing to imposing its hegemonic policies on the world along with its brazen hostilities towards Cuba, Palestine, Iran and others," he said.

The CPI General Secretary further said that the Secretariat of CPI has called upon all party units to organize protests all over the country.

Trump, along with his family and a ministerial delegation will be in India for around 36 hours. He along with the Prime Minister will be participating in a roadshow and address a huge gathering at the Motera Stadium, besides visiting the Sabarmati Ashram.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Catherine Caley, a foreign tourist who visited the Taj Mahal on the day US President Donald Trump visited the 17th century monument. Image Source: IANS News

Catherine Caley, a foreign tourist who visited the Taj Mahal on the day US President Donald Trump visited the 17th century monument. Image Source: IANS News

Catherine Caley, a foreign tourist who visited the Taj Mahal on the day US President Donald Trump visited the 17th century monument. Image Source: IANS News

Agra, Feb 24 : The foreign tourists who arrived in this historic city on Monday to see Taj Mahal said they were "lucky" and "felt blessed" to visit the 17th century monument on the day of US President Donald Trump's visit.

The US President, who earlier in the day arrived at Ahmedabad and was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also announced a $3 billion chopper deal.

He landed here around 4.20 p.m. He was received by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Kheria airport.

Keith Clarke, a tourist from England, told IANS, "It's my first visit to Agra, and India." After reaching New Delhi three days ago, he arrived at Agra on Sunday night. When asked if he saw Taj Mahal, Clarke said, "Of course, I visited Taj in the morning before the US President's arrival." Another foreign tourists, Sua Clarke said she was amazed as the US President was coming the same day to see Taj Mahal. Sua, in her late 50's, said it was her first visit to India and was stunned by the cleanliness of the city.

On folk artists' performance in the city, she said, "We loved the performance. And they too were enjoying while performing." Artists' performance was part of programme to welcome the First US Couple.

Alan, who also arrived here from the UK, said it was a lovely experience to find the Taj Mahal cleaned properly. "I heard that the Taj's mausoleum were cleaned and the fresh mud wrapping were put on the graves of emperor (Shahjahan) and empress (Mumtaz)," he said.

Catherine Caley, also among the group, said her first visit to India had become memorable. "My trip to Agra and the Taj is one of the best moments of my life as before getting married I saw the monument on the day when the US President visited the historic site on same day along with his family." To welcome the US First Family here, the city was given a massive facelift. The administration put up huge billboards, placards, cut-outs and posters welcoming Trump and Melania.

The 13-km route from the airport to Taj Mahal had been spruced up aesthetically. The Indian and the US flags had been put up at round-abouts to give the area a festive look.

At many places on the route, the administration had made several statues of animals with flowers.

The walls were adorned with paintings reflecting the Brij culture and architectural heritage of Agra, Victorian-style lamp posts installed and the lawns of the Taj bedecked with colourful blooms.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Adding to the urgency for many candidates is the rise of Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.), who has both the resources to blanket key states with events and advertising and unalloyed control of the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party. His early state success  wins in New Hampshire and Nevada and a narrow delegate loss in Iowa  has left former vice president Joe Biden, Sens. Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Warren (D-Mass.), and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Buttigieg fighting for a pool of more moderate voters just as former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg wades into the race with his unlimited budget.
An elderly woman is escorted by a carer as firms warn about migration reforms. (REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett)

Small business leaders are warning of a 15-year shortfall in social care staffing unless the government introduces a special visa for carers.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said firms cannot wait for British nationals to fill social care jobs, after the government confirmed plans to curb low-paid and low-skilled migration last week.

It warned Britains ageing population means demand is expected to keep growing. It said it would take an estimated 15 years before Britain had enough workers of its own to fill all posts in the sector.

A special category for qualified care workers who speak English would recognise the unique role they have, according to the FSB. The social care sector should not be deemed as low-skilled, it said in a new report.

Home secretary Priti Patel outlined plans last week for Britains immigration rules after the Brexit transition period ends from 2021.

Read more: UK to end reliance on cheap labour with new immigration system

The government decided against creating a general visa for low-skilled workers after the free movement of EU workers comes to an end.

Many migrant workers will now need to meet new points criteria for entry, and have a job offer in a role classed as skilled and paid at least 25,600.

The reforms are designed to move Britain away from a reliance on cheap labour from Europe, and may prove popular with Leave voters.

Patel argued last week it was about time firms began recruiting and training more UK workers. She said eight million working-age Brits were currently classed as economically inactive.

But the announcement triggered a significant backlash from business groups and union leaders. The social care, hospitality, construction and food and drink industries are among the most likely to be affected by shortfalls of EU workers.

Read more: UK firms fear staff shortages and red tape from immigration plans

The public sector union Unisons general secretary Christina McAnea warned at the time the reforms spelled absolute disaster for the care industry.

Story continues

MacMillan Cancer Support has also backed calls for a special migration route for carers, warning of the risks to support provided to three million cancer patients.

Mike Cherry, national chairman of the FSB, said on Monday: A points-based model can work, provided costs are kept down and systems are easy to navigate for small firms  the overwhelming majority of which have no experience of hiring a non-EU worker.

But he noted the governments announcement includes no mention of the social care sector. He also warned Britain risks business closures if the new system is not right and firms cannot get the staff they need.

A spokesperson for the Home Office told Yahoo Finance UK: Were ending free movement, taking back control of our borders and delivering on the peoples priorities by introducing a new UK points-based immigration system.

Employers will need to join our mission to level-up skills and economic growth across the whole UK so that we deliver a high-skill, high-wage and highly productive economy.
The Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors filed their report in a sealed cover in the apex court on Monday following their talks with protestors at Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for over two months.

The court had on February 17 asked senior advocate Sanjay Hegde to "play a constructive role as an interlocutor" and talk to the protestors to move to an alternative site where no public place would be blocked.

It had said that Hegde along with advocate Sadhana Ramachandran or any other person of his choice may talk to the protestors.

The interlocutors placed the report before a bench of justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph which said it would peruse the report and hear the matter on February 26.

The bench made it clear that the report will not be shared with the petitioners or the lawyers representing the Centre and Delhi Police at this stage.

When the counsel representing one of the petitioners requested the court that report be shared with them, the bench said: "We are here. Everyone is here. Let us have the benefit of the report first. The copy of the report is for the court only."



At the outset, Ramachandran told the court that they are grateful for the opportunity given to them by the court and they had a learning experience, which was positive also.

"Let us examine it (report). We will hear the matter day after tomorrow," the bench said.

The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by advocate Amit Sahni, who had approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions to Delhi Police to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, which was blocked by anti-CAA protesters on December 15 last year.

While dealing with Sahni's plea, the high court had asked local authorities to deal with the situation keeping in mind law and order.

Separately, former BJP MLA Nand Kishore Garg has filed a plea in the apex court seeking directions to authorities to remove protestors from Shaheen Bagh.

An intervention application has also been jointly filed by Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad, former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and social activist Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi in the matter.

Restrictions have been imposed on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch and the Okhla underpass, which were closed on December 15 last year due to against CAA and Register of Citizens (NRC).

Habibullah has recently filed an affidavit in the court and said that the protest at Shaheen Bagh was peaceful and inconvenience being caused to commuters was due to barricades "unnecessarily" put by police on roads far away from the site.

The same stand has been taken by Naqvi and Azad in their joint affidavit filed in the court in the matter.

The apex court had earlier said that though people have a fundamental right to protest "peacefully and lawfully", it was troubled by the blocking of a public road at Shaheen Bagh as it might lead to a "chaotic situation".

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi government and Delhi Police, had told the court that the solution is to remove these protestors from the site.

Naqvi and Azad, in their joint affidavit, have alleged that "the present ruling dispensation, at the behest of its political masters, had devised a strategy of extinguishing these by falsely attributing violence and acts of vandalism to peaceful protestors".

Habibullah, in his affidavit, has also stated that the protestors have asked him to convey to the apex court that their dissent "was out of desperation and compulsion" as they see the CAA, Population Register (NPR) and as a "death knell" for their and future generations' survival and existence.
Photo: iStock

Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Stockton.

17-year-old killed in Stockton shooting

Stockton police said the shooting happened in the area of Rose Street and Queen Avenue.

Read the full story on ABC10.

Gunman opens fire on car on Wilson Way, killing man and injuring woman

A man was killed and a woman was injured after both were shot while driving Saturday morning in the area of Wilson Way and Church Street

Read the full story on Recordnet.com.

5 arrested after a dozen illegal guns found during probation search in stockton

Five people were arrested after a probation search uncovered a dozen illegal firearms inside of a Stockton residence, authorities said.

Read the full story on CBS Sacramento.

Mural of Kobe Bryant, daughter, Gianna, put up in Stockton

A memorial mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, has been put up in Stockton.

Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento.

New trade school will train Stockton's homeless for jobs at McDonald's

The Gospel Center Rescue Mission and the Golden State Restaurant Group have partnered up in a program that'll get the homeless off the streets and into a new career.

Read the full story on ABC10.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Shut Down Canada

On 6th February in British Colombia, Canada, Wetsuweten land defenders were arrested in the middle of the night and their Unistoten camp raided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) while defending their own land and sovereignty. RCMP was looking to remove sovereign land defenders from their traditional land so that the construction of a proposed natural pipeline would go ahead.

These arrests led to protests and blockades nationwide to Shut Down Canada and to demand that RCMP stand down and leave sovereign Wetsuweten territory. These blockades and protests have been ongoing since the arrests took place. Blockades are occurring at the BC Legislature building, on railways and on Wetsuweten land threatened by the pipeline. The railway blockade successfully shut down most of Canadas railway system on 14th February. Prime Minister Trudeau claims to support the right to protest, but says he draws the line on protests that dont follow the rule of law. It is clear, however, that the Canadian government is an exception to its own rules of law.

Like First Nations peoples in Australia, Wetsuweten people have never sold their land or signed a treaty with the Canadian government. Wetsuweten people continue to practice their own traditions, their own systems of governance, their own language, and economic way of life, and so are undoubtedly a colonised nation. Canada, the illegal settler state, is simply occupying territory with the goal of stealing resources, without permission from the sovereign nation of the land.

The Wetsuweten verses Coastal GasLink pipeline is an example of the links between First Nations justice and climate justice. First Nations sovereignty and the political action undertaken by themselves and their allies, are a massive barrier for imperial governments to overcome in order to exploit the land.

It also shows that colonisation is ongoing through the removal of native people from their lands, and the destruction and theft of the natural resources that First Nations peoples rely on for their economic life. This applies to Wetsuweten territory as this $6.6 billion project, says Communist Party of Canada (CPC) in their statement, threatens the lands and rivers which are crucial to the traditional way of life of the Wetsuweten people, especially the viability of their salmon fisheries. The Youth Communist League, the CPCs youth organisation, has also been present in the blockades to Shut Down Canada.

RCMPs role in the ongoing colonisation of Canada is shown in the removal of Wetsuweten land defenders  simply just another chapter in this colonial relationship. For example, in 1873 Canadas mounted police were instrumental in the invasion and theft of Indigenous land that has now become Western Canada. The false mythology of the Mounties has been disrupted and their true and historical nature has been revealed in the present.

Unions in Canada such as British Columbia Federation of Teachers, the BC Government and Service Employees Union, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have announced solidarity with Wetsuweten land defenders. However, the Canadian government has been attempting to cause friction between unions and First nations people by insisting that the natural gas pipeline is in the interest of unions to support since it would create jobs. This is a lie orchestrated by the government to split the most potentially revolutionary groups from a unified front. A lie that is all too familiar for us in so-called Australia.

The current situation in Canada echoes the experience of First Nations peoples here. From the Western Highway extension in Djab Wurrung country from Buangor to Ararat, Victoria to the construction of Adani mine in Wangan Jagalingou country in Queensland, the links between colonial removal of traditional owners, exploitation of natural resources, and climate justice are just as evident here as it is for the Wetsuweten-Coastal GasLink pipeline dispute.
Graham Dwyer's trial for the murder of Elaine O'Hara stands out in the history of our criminal justice system as probably the most harrowing and grotesque drama ever to unfold in an Irish courtroom.

In the words of Sean Guerin SC, who prosecuted the case against Dwyer, it was "almost the perfect murder" and she was "almost the perfect victim".

And were it not for an extraordinary series of coincidences involving a long hot summer, a curious angler, an inquisitive dog and a diligent garda we would never have known about the monster that lay hidden in what Elaine O'Hara's father described as Dwyer's "depraved and diseased mind".

Analysis of how Dwyer manipulated, exploited and groomed his victim for murder exhibits the classic characteristics of a serial killer, yet all the evidence shows that Ms O'Hara was his first victim.

Expand Close Guilty: Graham Dwyer murdered childcare worker Elaine O'Hara in 2012. Photo: Collins / Facebook

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Whatsapp Guilty: Graham Dwyer murdered childcare worker Elaine O'Hara in 2012. Photo: Collins

However, had he managed to get away with his horrific crime there is every good reason to believe that he would have killed again. Gardai conducted exhaustive enquiries both here and abroad and were satisfied that this was his first murder.

To the casual observer Dwyer was the quintessential Mr Average: a successful architect and family man who lived a comfortable life in upmarket suburbia.

He was like the proverbial twig in the forest.

But on the other side of his dual existence, and well hidden from view, was a cold-blooded predator who his 'slave' - Ms O'Hara - called the 'Master'.

Ms O'Hara was ideal for his nefarious purpose: a vulnerable, fragile woman who had been blighted by depression, anxiety and a chronic lack of self-esteem since childhood.

Her mental health issues first manifested as self-harm, which escalated to a number of suicide attempts followed by long periods in a psychiatric hospital.

The absent sense of self-worth and a personality disorder were reflected in her interpersonal relationships which made her socially withdrawn and untrusting: she had few close friends and no boyfriends. She tended to keep her worried family at a distance.

Her medical records noted that she was "sad and angry" and finding it "difficult to control her impulses". When she was 24 she was diagnosed with "recurrent depressive disorder with a strong possibility of emotionally unstable personality disorder".

Her grim situation was compounded by asthma and diabetes and the fact that she smoked heavily. Dyslexia, which affected her writing and verbal abilities, added to her sense of insecurity and low self-esteem.

Life had dealt Ms O'Hara a raw deal.

Somewhere along the way she was drawn into the twilight world of sexual fetishism. Her sexual preference was for restraint; being dominated, tied up, controlled and punished.

The troubled woman joined BDSM websites where she interacted with others who were interested in bondage and domination. That was where Dwyer found her around 2008.

On her profile Ms O'Hara said she wanted someone who could train her "to be the best submissive slave" she could be. And there the dysfunctional relationship began.

Dwyer took full advantage of her willingness to serve him. Like a parasite he nourished himself feeding on her insecurity and helplessness. He played with her like a cat with a mouse.

Dwyer's predilection was more extreme than BDSM - he derived sexual gratification by stabbing a woman during sex and drawing blood.

Psychologists refer to it as "piquerism", which was defined by one academic at Nottingham Trent University as "paraphilic sexual arousal which hinges on the sadistic piercing and stabbing of another person, especially in the breast, buttocks and groin which may cause enough bleeding to be fatal".

A paraphilic disorder is a sexual desire to cause an unwilling victim psychological distress, injury or death. The distinctive signature of the murders carried out by Jack the Ripper involved piquerism.

Dwyer's macabre perversions first emerged in his late teens.

A girlfriend recalled how he told her his fantasy was to stab a woman during sex. During their relationship he brought a kitchen knife into the bed, which he found arousing, and then pretended to carry out his frightening fantasy on her.

But somehow he managed to contain his pernicious side behind a wall of strict secrecy where only his slave was allowed access.

He hid all trace of his other self from closest friends and family, including his wife and mother of their two children.

She only discovered his monstrous secret on the morning that gardai arrived at their home in the Dublin suburb of Foxrock to arrest her husband of 15 years.

When Ms O'Hara disappeared on August 22, 2012 it was the culmination of several months of careful planning by Dwyer.

Earlier that day she had discharged herself from a psychiatric hospital where she had been a regular patient, and the indicators were that she had turned the corner in her struggle with depression.

She had planned to work as a volunteer at the Tall Ships Festival in Dublin the following day, news that was greeted as a very encouraging development by her loving family and therapists. One of them described how she "almost seemed happy" for the first time.

Ms O'Hara was also hoping to complete her studies as a Montessori teacher.

But behind the scenes Dwyer, the master, was in full control of his 'slave' and the hundreds of texts that were at the centre of his Supreme Court appeal provided the script for this horrific story.

When she was last seen alive Ms O'Hara was walking towards the seashore beside Shanganagh Park in Shankhill in south-east Co Dublin.

She had parked her car nearby and left her precious iPhone, cigarettes and inhaler behind, things that she carried everywhere.

Inevitably, Ms O'Hara's long history of mental health problems worked in Dwyer's favour, as the gardai and her family began to believe that despite the signs of hope she had finally succumbed to the suicide ideation which had haunted her sad life.

But then a year later, in the late summer of 2013, coincidence and fate colluded to expose the shocking truth.

A dog being walked in the Killakee woods in the Dublin Mountains led his owner to the skeletal remains of Elaine O'Hara.

At the same time an angler who was looking into Vartry Reservoir, which had dropped to just a few feet deep following the summer heat wave, noticed shiny objects that turned out to be BDSM paraphernalia dumped by Dwyer after he had murdered his slave.

The fisherman brought the strange items to a local garda in Roundwood station, who kept going back to the spot until he found Ms O'Hara's keys - at the same time that a pathologist confirmed that the remains found in the mountains were those of a missing woman called Elaine O'Hara.

Further searches by gardai located two discarded telephones and when they were analysed hundreds of vile, disgusting texts were retrieved which in turn identified the author.
British tourists last night attacked the Government's 'pitiful' response to Italy's coronavirus crisis.

Furious passengers set to travel to Italian cities hit by the outbreak said they had been left in the lurch with no official safety advice.

As other countries ramped up advice not to travel to the Italy crisis zone, Downing Street insisted Britain is 'well prepared' for an outbreak.

Italy has dramatically stepped up its fight to contain the virus after a huge spike in cases, with 229 diagnoses confirmed and seven dead.

The country has effectively placed 50,000 citizens in lockdown by shutting off more than a dozen towns and cancelling public events.

Britons returning from the worst-affected northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto are expected to be told to self-quarantine at home.

A tourist wears a face mask in Venice, where the annual Carnival has been scrapped for fear of spreading coronavirus

Mask: Soldier on patrol outside Milan's Duomo yesterday after a spike in coronavirus cases

Taking no chances: Passengers wear masks and overalls on the Milan metro following the coronavirus outbreak

TERRIFIED I'LL BE STUCK IN VENICE Philippa Rose, 26, from Leicester, is due to fly to Venice next Saturday with her partner for their anniversary. 'As two young and fit individuals we aren't so worried about catching the virus itself, but more about delays in getting home and the possibility of being quarantined over there,' she said. 'Our main worry is getting stuck. 'It's despicable that in the wake of this outbreak, there has been radio silence from the officials we rely on for advice. 'Everything online is for those travelling to China/Asia and nothing for Italy.' Advertisement

The chief medical officer will today add these virus hotbeds to a list of places where a visit warrants isolation once back on UK soil, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Currently, Britons returning from these affected areas are being told to 'continue as normal' after calling 111 for advice.

Italy's outbreak sparked panic across Europe, with buses and trains carrying Italian passengers across borders halted after those on board reported symptoms.

It comes as experts have branded the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus a pandemic 'in all but name'.

In Europe, Austria threatened to close its borders if suspected carriers tried to enter from Italy, while Ireland and Serbia advised citizens not to travel to the affected areas in the north of the country.

The EU insisted it has no plans to close the Schengen travel zone to stop the spread but announced a 195million rescue plan.

The Italian government has launched a series of draconian measures to stop the spread, while desperately trying to trace 'patient zero'  the unknown carrier at the centre of the spike of cases.

More than two dozen flights are expected to leave the UK for northern Italy today.

British passengers yesterday told how they had cancelled trips over fears they could be trapped in Italy if the situation worsens.

In the first signs of strain, a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Milan was delayed by 20 minutes yesterday morning when a passenger asked to get off the flight over coronavirus fears.

A 67-year-old passenger who gave her name as Lea criticised the Government's response as she cancelled a trip from Stansted to Venice yesterday.

An ambulance in a deserted Codogno, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown

Tourists wear protective facemasks as they visit Venice, where the Venice Carnival festivities have been axed for fear of compounding the country's coronavirus woes

Carabinieri block the road in Zovon near Venice to limit the spread of coronavirus. Six deaths and 229 infections in Italy has fanned panic in neighbouring countries and sparked a clamour for governments to clamp down on border checks

Infection worries shake world markets Italy's coronavirus epidemic has pounded the country's economy, which slumped after seven people died and 229 fell ill. It came as more than a $1 trillion was wiped off the value of the world's stock markets over fears about the virus outbreak. Infection fears from investors shaved 5.4 per cent off the Milan stock exchange after the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto - the industrial and financial heartlands - went into lockdown. Today's market slide could just be the start of Italy's woes, with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warning the economic hit could be 'very strong'. He said: 'The economic impact could be very strong. 'At this moment we can calculate that there will be a negative economic impact, we are not yet in a position to forecast what will happen.' Advertisement

She said: 'The Government advice is not relevant to the situation. It's pitiful and no help whatsoever to anybody.'

Diego Gullo, who flew from Milan to Gatwick on Thursday, told how he had placed himself and his family in quarantine after returning from Codogno, the town at the centre of Italy's outbreak.

Speaking from his home in north London, he told Sky News: 'I haven't had any specific advice, there is no check in the UK.

We did call 111 and we were not told anything in particular... they suggested to just continue as usual.'

Airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair last night said flights would go ahead pending any official advice and that travellers were not entitled to refunds.

Italy has shut down at least 35 roads surrounding a cluster of towns in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, where the virus began to spread.

Those who attempted to leave were threatened with three-month prison sentences.

There have also been confirmed cases in the Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Piemonte and Emilia-Romagna regions.

Professor John Ashton, a former regional director of public health in north-west England, criticised Boris Johnson for not spelling out how Britain would respond to any eventual outbreak.

He said: 'At the moment a lot of information is based on rumour.' The virus has a 0.7 per cent mortality rate, WHO said yesterday.

Coronavirus epidemic 'has PEAKED in China' says World Health Organisation - but warn the rest of the world to prepare for a 'potential pandemic'

By Jack Elsom for MailOnline

Coronavirus has now 'peaked' in China, according to the World Health Organisation which praised Beijing's robust measures to insulate the outbreak.

While the number of cases continues to rise - surpassing 77,000 - the rate at which new infections are sprouting up has started decelerating.

But while officials firefighting the epidemic in China can take solace in the slow-down, other countries have been warned to brace for a 'potential pandemic' as the virus continues to spill out across the globe.

WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom said the peak in China occurred between January 23 and February 2, with the amount of fresh diagnoses 'declining steadily since then'.

'This virus can be contained,' he told reporters in Geneva, praising China for helping to prevent an even bigger spread of the disease through unprecedented lockdowns and quarantines around the outbreak's epicentre.

To quell the outbreak, Beijing has imposed drastic travel bans and quarantined entire cities - while also accused of scrubbing the internet of supposed scare stories.

But since coronavirus spawned in Wuhan late last year, it has spread to infect over 79,000 people globally and killing more than 2,600.

Dr Tedros Adhanom said coronavirus has now 'peaked' in China as the rate of new infections is slowly decelerating

Volunteer barbers cut the hair for medical workers at the residence of medical team for Hankou Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province

The WHO said the current crisis, which has infected almost 80,000 people and killed 2,600, is a cluster of cases in 36 countries and territories

Italian tourist tests positive on Tenerife Italy's spiralling coronavirus outbreak has started to spill across the continent, with a tourist from the infection-plagued Lombardy region testing positive on Tenerife. The patient, understood to be a doctor, had travelled to the Spanish holiday island from the Italian region, which has been locked down following a cluster of cases. Seven people have died and 229 have been infected in Italy, which is firefighting Europe's first major outbreak. The Italian was tested for the killer virus after going to a private clinic in Adeje in the south of Tenerife after falling ill. Canary Islands president Angel Victor Torres confirmed: 'This afternoon the coronavirus protocol has been activated for an Italian tourist in the south of Tenerife. 'The result from the first test carried out in the Canaries is positive. Tomorrow new tests will take place in Madrid. The patient has been quarantined.' A spokesman for the regional health authority added: 'The protocol states that a second test must take place at the National Microbiology Centre at the Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid. 'The patient has been quarantined and is under the care of health workers.' Advertisement

The highly contagious bug has manifested itself in every continent except South America and Antarctica.

An acceleration of cases in other parts of the world has prompted similar drastic action to prevent the spread.

Italy has locked down 11 towns and South Korea ordered the entire 2.5 million residents of the city of Daegu to remain indoors.

The spread of the disease - officially known as COVID-19 - continued unabated with Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman announcing their first cases on Monday.

Iran has reported 12 deaths, but Tehran MP Ahmad Amiriabadi Farahani suggested the regime was suppressing the true figure.

Yet Dr Adhanom today refused to confirm the coronavirus crisis was yet to reach at pandemic levels.

After a spike in diagnoses, he said: 'The sudden increase in new cases is certainly very concerning.

'There is lots of speculation about whether this outbreak has now become a pandemic.

'For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus and we're not witnessing large scale disease or deaths.'

His comments came after the WHO admitted the killer outbreak will never be officially declared a pandemic.

Instead, the UN-body said the crisis has already been a public health emergency of international concern  the highest warning level  for a month.

But fears of a pandemic are mounting, with a surge in cases taking the world close to the 'tipping point' with 80,000 confirmed cases and 2,600 deaths.

The body, headquartered in Geneva in Switzerland, argues a pathogen must spread easily between humans across the world before it is called a pandemic.

The WHO said the current crisis is a cluster of cases in 36 countries and territories, which can be traced back to Asia.
MIAMI, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE:TIUM.U) (OTCQB: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated cannabis company with operations in Florida, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania, today announced that Neal Hochberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Special Committee of the Board that was formed in 2019, has been appointed Executive Chairman, effective immediately, following the resignation of co-founder and CEO Jose Hidalgo.

"The board appreciates Jose's vision as co-founder and his leadership during the company's formative years, during which it has grown to be the fifth largest medical cannabis provider in Florida, with 19 dispensaries in key markets across the state. We wish him well in all of his future endeavors," said Mr. Hochberg. "I look forward to working more closely with management to continue to create value for all stakeholders by capitalizing on growth opportunities in Florida, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Over the past six months, the company has taken significant steps to improve its balance sheet flexibility, increase liquidity, and focus its operations on the most actionable near-term opportunities, while limiting dilution to existing shareholders."

Mr. Hidalgo commented, "As co-founder, I am grateful for the opportunity to have led the company during its first four years, and to have built an operational team that will continue to drive value for all stakeholders. I remain very optimistic about the long-term potential of the cannabis industry and wish Neal and the entire Cansortium team great success."

Mr. Hochberg is a vice president at Charles River Associates (CRA) in New York and has decades of consulting experience advising outside counsel, board and senior management on accounting and forensic investigations. He was the global leader of the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment at FTI Consulting from 2008 until 2017 and served on the firm's executive committee. His career also includes service as a forensic and litigation partner at two of the Big Four global accounting firms, and as an executive vice president, chief financial officer, and member of the board of a diverse manufacturing company.

About Cansortium Inc.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, and operating under the Fluent brand, Cansortium is focused on being the highest quality cannabis company in the State of Florida where it operates 18 dispensaries and two cultivation facilities, including an indoor facility in Tampa. driven by unrelenting commitment to operational excellence from seed to sale. Cansortium has developed strong proficiencies in each of cultivation, processing, retail, and distribution activities, the result of successfully operating in the highly regulated cannabis industry. In addition to Florida, Cansortium is seeking to create significant shareholder value in the attractive markets of Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania, where the Company has secured licenses and established operations.

Cansortium Inc.'s common shares and warrants trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and "TIUM.WT.U", respectively, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol (OTCQB: CNTMF). Investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release, may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in the public documents of the Company available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For further information:

www.getfluent.com

SOURCE Cansortium Inc

Related Links

www.cansortium.com


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The insights below  gathered from a variety of people who think a lot about what it means to be good  are far-reaching. Some suggestions are small, others audacious. Make them your own. Allow them to spark a bit more goodness in you.

9 ways to be good

Be kind.

Harriet Lerner, psychologist and author

Kindness is at the center of what it means to be good. It may require very little from us, or the opposite. It may require words and action, or restraint and silence. Everything that can be said can be said with kindness. Every tough position we have to take can be taken with kindness. No exceptions. Being a good person requires that we work toward that unrealized world where the dignity and integrity of all human beings, all life, are honored and respected.

Pay attention.

Brother Chan Phap Dung, senior monk, Plum Village

In the Buddhist tradition, the training starts with learning how to stop and come back to the present moment and enjoy our breathing. We stop to recognize what is happening within us and around us: our feelings, our thinking, whether our body is relaxed or in tension, who is there in front of us or what are we doing. With repetition, we begin to see and understand ourselves better  and choose to do one thing rather than another.

Ask hard questions.

The Rev. William J. Barber II, civil rights activist

As a public theologian, I tend to look at what has lifted us when we found ourselves at our lowest  what has called us to a better place. How are we, as a nation and as a people, using life itself to create good for the poor and broken and captive and for those who are made to feel unaccepted? We must constantly raise that question as we live life  seeking to answer it not only individually, but together. We need to embrace those deepest moral values that call us to, first and foremost, seek love, truth, justice and concern for others.

Put challenges in perspective.

Dan Ariely, behavioral economist, Duke University

In Judaism, it says that if you save one person, you can look at yourself as somebody who has saved the whole world. In that regard, what goodness means is to scale the problem down to the size where we can have an impact  and then have the impact. If you think about global warming or poverty, you say to yourself, I cant; I cant solve it. But if you think about one ton of CO2 or one person in poverty, then we can have an effect.

Hold yourself accountable.

Rachana Kamtekar, professor of philosophy, Cornell University

You have to know what your different motivations are, know how strong they are and if you can get some of them to pull against the others. I was a smoker in my 20s and 30s. Like many smokers, I resolved to quit on multiple occasions. When I was 40, I told my son and his buddies that I had been a smoker and had quit. I knew if I ever smoked again, I was going to have to tell them. My aversion to those kids thinking of me as a smoker swamped any desire I had to smoke. When I added to my rational resolution this prospect of something like shame  that I was going to have to face these kids and say, I am a smoker  it changed.

Buy with intention.

Rose Marcario, C.E.O., Patagonia

Were facing an existential climate crisis, intractable social issues and unprecedented income inequality. Think of yourself as a citizen instead of a consumer and vote with your dollars. Buy organic because, with chemical agriculture, we are doing irrevocable damage to topsoil, pollinators, oceans and rivers due to chemical runoff. And buy quality. Make sure that whoever you buy from takes responsibility for the entire life cycle of their product. Most importantly, buy only what you need. Keep your stuff longer and keep it in use longer.
The mother of two Dreamworld disaster victims says she is still haunted by her life-saving decision to skip her family's trip to the theme park which ended in the horrific deaths of her children.

Kate Goodchild, 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, his partner Roozi Araghi, 38, and Cindy Low, 42, died in October 2016 when a water pump on the Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioned.

The four victims were instantly killed when their raft collided with another and partially flipped, flinging them into a mechanised conveyor.

Kate and Luke's mother Kim Dorsett spoke of her grief on Monday, saying her greatest regret was not being there for her children on the day they needed her most.

Kim Dorsett, mother of victims Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett, leaves the Magistrates Court in Brisbane on Monday. The grieving mother wiped away tears as she said her great regret was that she wasn't there for them that day

Ms Dorsett's two kids, Kate Goodchild (left) 32, her brother Luke Dorsett (right) 35, were among the four victims of the tragic accident at Dreamworld in the Gold Coast, in October 2016

'I wasn't there,' she said while wiping tears from her face. 'The easier part was burying them, the harrowing part is living without them.'

An inquest into the tragedy revealed the series of sliding door moments that led to the four tragic deaths - while uncovering the theme park's 'systemic failures.'

Ms Dorsett and her family had been visiting from Canberra for a wedding when they decided to extend their holiday and take a trip to the amusement park.

The decision to go to Dreamworld in Coomera, she said, was made at the 'toss of a coin'.

'I remember waking up and just had an uneasy feeling, but never in my wildest dreams was [something] going to happen to the kids or anybody,' she said.

In the first of several fateful moments that day, Ms Dorsett would make a decision she would later realise saved her from death, skipping out on the park to go shopping instead.

Meanwhile, Kate, her partner Dave, their daughter Ebony, 12, Luke and Roozi went on to spend a day the theme park, arriving at the Thunder River Rapids ride around 1pm.

The raft (pictured) carrying six people overturned after a malfunction on the Thunder Rapids ride at Dreamworld in 2016. Four people were crushed and drowned

The raft containing the victims collided with the other raft and flipped into a vertical position, causing at least two of the victims to be flung into the machinery

The Thunder River Rapids Ride in action at Dreamworld some time before the accident

At this time, the ride was temporarily out of order, having suffered its second water pump malfunction in less than two hours, The Courier-Mail reported.

Theme park operators had been forced to suspend the ride earlier at 11.50am, calling a 'code six', for maintenance staff to reset the pump.

Rather than write the ride off, the group of five decided to come back when it was up running again.

They returned to Thunder River Rapids around 2pm, with Kate, Ebony, Luke and Roozi lining up behind Cindy Low and her son Kieran, 10, and embarking the same raft.

The pump then broke down for a third time, this time sparking a series of fatal chain reactions.

The failure had caused water levels to drastically drop, causing the raft ahead of them to become stuck on the conveyor as they headed in toward's their direction.

Operators' attempts to push the emergency stop button proved futile, leading to a collision between both rafts.

A Queensland coroner has referred Dreamworld's owner Ardent Leisure to the Office of Industrial Relations for possible prosecution over the 2016 tragedy

Police at Dreamworld, Gold Coast, on October 25 after the tragedy

Michael Cooke holds a picture of his sister Cindy Low, killed at Dreamworld, as he leaves Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday after the Queensland Coroner delivered his findings

The raft carrying the group of six flipped, throwing all but Ebony and Kieran into the machinery, killing them.

A horrified Ms Dorsett would later tell reporters: 'I have three children and have lost two of them today  my whole family has been wiped out.'

The pair's father, John Goodchild, said his grief was exacerbated by learning the malfunction could have been identified before the accident happened.

In delivering his inquest findings on Monday, Coroner James McDougall said Dreamworld presented itself as a modern, world-class theme park but its safety procedures were rudimentary at best.

The investigation revealed park operators should have shut down the ride for a proper inspection the second time it malfunctioned, as per park policy.

Instead, an engineer reset the pump after being taught by an electrician, and they proceeded to keep the ride open.

Ms Low's husband Mathew unleashed a scathing attack towards the theme park operators in a statement on Monday.

'Today's findings have proven what was glaringly obvious. Dreamworld was a catastrophe waiting to happen because of their barefaced disregard for safety and maintenance,' he said in a statement.

Families at the Brisbane Magistrate's Court on Monday. Far left: Matthew Low, husband of Cindy Low. Centre right: Shane Goodchild, father of Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett

Tributes were left for the victims at Dreamworld in October 2016 at the time of the tragedy

'It is clear that ride maintenance, safety and emergency procedures, and a general negligent corporate culture toward training and safety caused the death of our loved ones.'

Ms Low's brother Michael Cooke spoke bitterly about the day his sister died saying his family had struggled to cope.

'I arrived to a nightmare, my mother was hysterical,' he said.

'Dreamworld cares about saving face and the bottom dollar.'

Inquest found the ride had two water pumps to simulate a white water rafting experience, but there was no emergency stop for the south pump.

Coroner revealed water levels were tracked by a 'scum mark' on the wall as opposed to a formal marker.

'It remains unknown and impossible to understand why the conveyor kept going if the water level dropped on the ride,' Mr McDougall said.

Mr McDougall referred Ardent Leisure to the Office of Industrial Relations to consider whether the company may have committed an offence under workplace laws.

DREAMWORLD'S THUNDER RIVER RAPIDS RIDE Thunder River Rapids opened in 1986 and remains one of Dreamworld's oldest rides

Ride located in the Gold Rush section of Gold Coast's biggest theme park and considered one of Dreamworld's most 'family friendly'

Riders board six-person circular rafts which follow initial path through a cave before experiencing the rapids section of the ride

Thunder River Rapids lasts four minutes in total and hits top speed of 45km/h

Riders are usually splashed with water as rafts spin through the rapids and hit walls

Conveyor belt takes rafts back to start of the ride for passengers to hop in and out Source: AAP Advertisement

In handing down his findings, he said there was a 'systemic failure' by Dreamworld in all aspects of safety.

He described the systems that were in place as 'frighteningly unsophisticated'.

Mr McDougall said he also found no evidence Dreamworld conducted a thorough engineering risk assessment of the ride in the three decades it was open to the public.

'I find that shoddy record-keeping was a significant contributor to this incident ... (and) contributed to the masking of the real risk of the (ride),' he said.

An external engineer, Tom Polley, who was engaged by Dreamworld to inspect the ride, has been referred to the Board of Professional Engineers in relation to his conduct.

Mr McDougall said his failure to properly inspect the ride fell below industry standards.

More than a hundred people packed the Brisbane Coroners Court to hear the long-awaited findings.

The wide-ranging inquest, which opened in June, has unveiled a 'litany of problems' with some experts declaring the tragedy was an accident waiting to happen.

The malfunction was the third that day and the fifth in a week.

Police uncovered multiple incidents involving the ride in the past, with two rafts colliding in 2004, throwing a guest into the trough.

Ardent Leisure CEO John Osborne (left) and Chairman Gary Weiss (right) leave Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. The Queensland Coroner said criminal charges may be laid against Ardent Leisure

Despite recommendations for a single emergency stop, no single shutdown function was installed.

Queensland introduced new safety regulations for amusement rides, including mandatory major inspections of rides by qualified engineers every 10 years and improved training for ride operators.

The state also tightened workplace health and safety prosecution laws.

Dreamworld's owner, Ardent Leisure, has issued a statement extending its sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy.

The company said it would review the report and comment further on Tuesday.

Ardent Leisure was among the worst performers on the ASX/300 index on Monday, its shares plunging by as much as 18.1 per cent to a near two-month low of $1.155 in morning trade.

The company was still trading 15.6 per cent lower at $1.19 at 1pm.
Differences seem to have cropped up in negotiations between cash-strapped Vodafone Idea and the Bharti group, regarding the sale of Vodafone Ideas 11.15 per cent stake in Indus Towers. The all-cash deal could take place after the merger between Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers gets all clearances.

Last week, the deal received clearance from the Department of Telecommunications. Sources close to Bharti said that though talks were on, no agreement had been signed. However, those close to Vodafone Idea said that an agreement had been signed in April 2018, and an National ...
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Linkedin A. Ananthalakshmi and Joseph Sipalan (Reuters) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Mon, February 24, 2020 19:45 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20664c8c8 2 SE Asia #Malaysia,#politics,Prime-Minister,Mahathir-Mohamad,resignation Free

Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad unexpectedly resigned as prime minister on Monday, leaving the Southeast Asian nation in political turmoil, but the country's monarch asked him to stay on as interim premier until a successor is appointed.

The resignation of Mahathir, 94, broke apart a coalition with old rival Anwar Ibrahim, 72, that had scored a surprise election victory in 2018 and was not part of a pre-election promise that Mahathir would one day cede power to Anwar.

But it immediately drew calls from some quarters for the world's oldest government leader to return.

The decision, which Mahathir did not explain, followed surprise talks at the weekend between members of his coalition and the opposition on forming a new government.

The king accepted Mahathir's resignation after meeting Mahathir, Chief Secretary Mohd Zuki Ali said in a statement.

"However, His Highness has given his assent to appoint Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister, while waiting for the appointment of the new prime minister. Hence until then, (Mahathir) will manage the country's affairs until a new prime minister and cabinet are appointed," Mohd Zuki said.

Anwar and people close to Mahathir said he had quit after accusations that he would form some sort of partnership with opposition parties he defeated less than two years ago on an anti-corruption platform.

"He thought that he shouldn't be treated in that manner, to associate him in working with those we believe are blatantly corrupt," Anwar told reporters after meeting Mahathir on Monday morning. "He made it very clear that in no way would he work with those associated with the previous regime."

But it is unclear whether the resignation marks the end of the road for Mahathir as a full-term premier, since at least three parties in his coalition called for him to stay on in office. Some in the opposition have also agreed to support him.

"The field is wide open for him," said Ibrahim Suffian, director of pollster Merdeka. "If he considers coming back as PM, he has the freedom to choose his partners or who he would like to be part of his cabinet."

Mahathir, who came out of retirement to run in the 2018 national election, also quit the Bersatu party he had formed shortly before the polls, three sources familiar with the matter said.

'UP FOR GRABS'

Mahathir's resignation capped over 24 hours of speculation about the fate of the coalition after lawmakers from his coalition held meetings on Sunday with the opposition United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Islamist party PAS.

It is unclear what the political leaders of the country are planning next or who could form the next government.

Sources say there could be a showdown between Anwar and an alliance between Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin and Azmin Ali, who on Monday was sacked from Anwar's party.

Constitutionally, any lawmaker who can command a majority in parliament can stake a claim to form the government. The king has to provide his assent before a prime minister can be sworn in.

If no one has simple majority of 112 in parliament, a fresh election id an option, a person close to Mahathir's party said.

In public comments on Monday, Anwar did not say if he would stake a claim to form a new government. He said he had met the king to express his views and seek his advice in the interest of the country.

"Seems like it will be up for grabs now," a second source said about the possibility of who will form the next government. "Who can pull in a majority."

Pro-democracy organisation Bersih said attempts to form a "backdoor government" were undemocratic and a betrayal of voters' trust.

The political turmoil, together with region-wide alarm over the spread of the coronavirus, sent Malaysia's currency, bonds and stock market lower.

The ringgit fell 0.9% on the day - its steepest slide in three years - to its lowest level in almost six months.

The main stock market index slid to an eight-year low and bonds fell, forcing yields on 10-year government bonds up 5 basis points, their biggest jump since October.

Mahathir had been scheduled to announce a stimulus package to deal with the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday.

"It becomes quite hard for Malaysia to bring foreign investors back," Jolynn Kek, head of equity at BOS Wealth Management Malaysia, said, pointing to more political stability and economic growth among its neighbours.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, whose DAP party is the second biggest in Mahathir's coalition, said "political manipulation" has affected the government's efforts to address the economy.

Lim's party said it would re-nominate Mahathir to be the prime minister.
SEYMOUR  A Seymour Middle School seventh-grader is hoping to give peace a chance as he competes with thousands of other budding young artists in the Lions Club International Peace Poster contest.

Michael Azzarone, 13, recently was selected the grand prize winner of the local poster contest, sponsored by the Seymour Lions Club. His poster, depicting a dove in flight flanked by a giant, colorful peace sign with trailing ribbons, represents this years poster theme, Journey of Peace.

Michaels poster was drawn so well, it really stood out among the other entries, said Seymour Lions Club Treasurer Melissa Smith, who also serves as global membership team leader for District 23A.

Smith said 75 Seymour Middle School students entered the poster contest, which is open to children ages 11-13, through the schools art department, under the direction of teacher Amanda Dingle.

For over three decades, Lions Clubs around the globe have been sponsoring a very special art contest in schools and youth groups, Smith said. Creating peace posters gives children everywhere the chance to express their visions of peace and inspire the world through art and creativity.

Smith said by Michael landing first place with his poster at the local level, he has taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist. The first, second and third place runner-ups from SMS were Chloe Pernaselci, Gianna Moramaco and Jenna Smith, respectively.

Michaels poster now goes up against some 450,000 entries worldwide for a chance to win the 2020 Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest. The contest is geared to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere, according to Smith.

For Michael, peace means this: Peace is the freedom and the love in the world that we share.

The poster was selected by a panel of judges for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme.

Seymour Lions Club President Jovanii Ortiz said she was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at Seymour Middle School.

It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them, she said. Im so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions.

One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected, Ortiz said. The grand prize includes a cash award of $5,000, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to a special award ceremony. The 23 merit award winners each will receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.

Our club is cheering for Michael as his poster advances in the competition, and we hope that his vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world, Ortiz added.

jean.sos@snet.net
Kuwait and Bahrain have reportedly confirmed first cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as the death toll due to the deadly virus continues to rise. According to Bahrains state news agency, the one confirmed case had arrived from Iran, the country which has reported 12 deaths from coronavirus so far.

Kuwaits state news agency, citing the Ministry of Health, reported that three persons, including a Saudi national, have been tested positive for coronavirus. Iraq has decided to shut its Safwan border crossing with Kuwait at the latters request.

According to the latest report, 150 new deaths in China due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to nearly 2,600. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including Italy, Japan and the Philippines, have also now reported deaths related to COVID-19.

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Four Chinese Provinces Lower Emergency Response

Coronavirus cases soar

The number of confirmed cases in Italy soared to 152 which forced the authorities to step up measures against the spread of coronavirus and call off the Venice Carnival. In Venice, three people, all in their late 80s, tested positive for COVID-19 and were hospitalised in critical condition. Authorities have not been able to identify the patient zero, the source of coronavirus in northern Italy after an Italian man in Codogno was tested positive and became critically ill.

Read: Afghanistan Announces First Confirmed Case Of Coronavirus In The Country

South Korea has also reported major coronavirus outbreak with 763 confirmed cases, making it the largest number of cases in the world after China. Most numbers of cases in South Korea are related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu.

Japan has also confirmed third death from coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship, docked off the Japanese coast of Yokohama. There has been a total of four deaths in Japan but one of the deaths was unrelated to the quarantined cruise.

Read: China Relaxes Restrictions In Wuhan City As Coronavirus Cases Decline

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Death Toll In Iran Rises To 12 Amid Surge In Cases

(With inputs from agencies)
He lauded Takebe, in his capacity as Secretary General of Japans Liberal Democratic Party and JVFPA President in the past and JVFPA Special Advisor at present, for his contributions to boosting relations between the two countries.

The Vietnamese Party and State always regard Japan as Vietnams leading, long-term partner, Politburo member Vuong said, expressing his hope that Takebe and the alliance will contribute more to bilateral cooperation areas such as personnel development.

He called on Japan to help Vietnam develop energy, support industry, manufacturing and high technology, while strengthening collaboration in agriculture, labour and tourism, people-to-people exchange and partnerships between localities.

For his part, Takebe spoke highly of the development of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership across spheres, and appreciated Vietnams performance in fighting COVID-19.

He briefed the host on the construction of the Vietnam-Japan University, which is expected to open in September.

Takebe pledged to make more contributions to the relationship between the two countries.
Logan ratepayers will be faced with a major decision on March 28: the election of an entirely new council.

In May 2019, all Logan councillors were sacked by Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe after eight councillors, including the mayor, were charged by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Former Logan City Council mayor Luke Smith. Credit:AAP/Darren England

The charges were over an alleged plot to force chief executive Sharon Kelsey out of her job, and left just four remaining councillors who had blown the whistle to the CCC.

Those four councillors also lost their jobs in the fallout, as without a full quorum of councillors they could make no decisions, effectively leaving the council paralysed.
Bengaluru: Fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, who is wanted in numerous crimes including murder and extortion, was brought to Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday from Senegal via France, the police said.

"Yes, we have brought him," a police officer told PTI requesting anonymity.

The gangster was nabbed in South Africa in a joint operation by the SA police and Senegal security agencies and was later extradited to Senegal, said police sources.

On learning about his arrest in Senegal, a team of police officers, including additional director general of police Amar Kumar Pandey and Bengaluru joint police commissioner Sandeep Patil went to Senegal to bring him.

The team completed the extradition process and finally brought him to Bengaluru by an Air France flight.

Ravi Poojari is wanted in as many as 70 criminal cases in Karnataka alone. He is wanted in cases of extortion and murder and was active in the Mumbai underworld. He was part of the Dawood gang and later is said to have worked with Chota Rajan for some time. Claiming to be an enemy of Dawood, Poojari reportedly finished off all his associates and anti-India elements in the country. His men were involved in a shootout on the Shabanam Developers office in Bengaluru in which a woman staffer was killed.

He is also said have been involved in the shootout case of Shahid Azmi, an advocate from Mumbai. There are cases against him in Kerala, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

The don was arrested by the Senegal authorities last year and the India police tried their best to catch hold of him but failed as a local court there granted him bail.

The gangster then jumped bail and fled Senegal and holed up in South Africa, said police sources.

The gangster was allegedly involved in many heinous crimes and had set up his network in Karnataka.
24.02.2020 LISTEN

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LAS VEGAS  A paramedic was treating Ryan Newman inside his car 35 seconds after the ruined and flaming vehicle came to rest after a crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500.

NASCAR gave a brief timeline Saturday of the response to Monday night's airborne accident that was so startling many drivers feared him dead. Newman hit the wall and his car went airborne, was hit by another car to send it airborne a second time, rolled upside down and landed on its roof in flames.

Youve heard us say this many times, that safety is our primary responsibility, said Steve ODonnell, NASCARs executive vice president and chief racing development officer.

Everything that goes on at the R&D Center on a daily basis is put in place for a reason. This is our job. This is what we do, and youve got the 40 drivers in the garage area who expect us to do this every day.

NASCAR said the first fire responder arrived 19 seconds after Newman's car stopped. A trauma doctor was at the car 33 seconds later and a paramedic entered 2 seconds after that.

Newman was then treated for more than three minutes, NASCAR said. It took roughly two minutes to overturn the car, during which time Newman was still being assisted and the treatment continued as the roof was cut away. The 42-year-old driver was removed from the car 15 minutes, 40 seconds after it halted.

NASCAR revealed its findings from a review that began Tuesday when the cars of Newman and Corey LaJoie, the driver who hit Newman's car on the driver's side, arrived at the North Carolina Research and Development Center.

NASCAR said it could not discuss Newman's health, citing federal privacy laws.

Despite the violence of the crash, the Indiana native nicknamed Rocketman walked out of a Florida hospital holding the hands of his two young daughters some 42 hours later.

"During this entire time, doctors and paramedics were attending to Ryan, except for during the car rollover, ODonnell said. The first responders performed their jobs as they were trained. The training systems all worked as were designed.

Story continues

We are never satisfied with what took place and we will learn as much as possible and implement those changes, if there are any, as soon as possible.

Ross Chastain is scheduled to drive Newman's No. 6 Ford on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Newman's 649-consecutive races streak dating to the 2002 Daytona 500 will end.

Newman has yet to speak publicly and his team has said nothing about his injuries or his status. Roush said he was in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries late Monday night, but Newman progressed so quickly he left the hospital faster than the team could post updates.

NASCAR said the sanctioning body and Newman's medical team will have to clear him before he can return to race, but good friend Martin Truex Jr. said Saturday to expect Newman back in his race car soon.

I feel like he'll be back before anyone thinks he could. He's a tough son of a gun," Truex said. It was good to see how good a shape he was in, and it was a little surprising as well. He's got no neck and a big hard head, so that helped for sure.

Several competitors have talked or texted with Newman and said his wit remained intact, with many making lighthearted jokes at his expense. Many marveled how one of the toughest guys in the garage seemingly walked away unscathed, needing nothing more than his daily fix of Krispy Kreme doughnuts to get out of the hospital.

NASCAR also wants to speak to Newman. Its crash report was limited because it wants feedback from the driver, an engineering graduate from Purdue University.

Newman, the 2008 Daytona 500 winner, has has been involved in several rolls at superspeedways. He has been outspoken about safety and has been fined by NASCAR for criticism it deemed excessive.

Newman also advocated for more support in the cockpit for protection during rollovers. A device now referred to as the Newman bar is standard.

"Ryans feedback in this will be key," O'Donnell said. "I think thatll be a key component as its always been throughout the process when hes been racing.

O'Donnell also said changes wont be made to overtime rules as a result of the accident, but work continues dissecting Newman's crash and ongoing safety efforts.

Our job now is to have continued dialogue with the drivers, see what happens in terms of this race package," O'Donnell said. "Were there any changes from Talladega to Daytona in terms of how they raced? How that may have contributed or not to this incident and if we can make some changes we will.

NASCAR also must balance the fan appreciation of the dangers of Daytona and Talladega with the safety of the show.

Our job is to get the races in, make them exciting for the fans and not have those kinds of incidents," O'Donnell said. "So, if we can improve on that, well do that.

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Former governor of Zamfara state and three-term Senator, Ahmed Sani Yarima has tipped himself as an aspirant for Nigerias presidency ...





Former governor of Zamfara state and three-term Senator, Ahmed Sani Yarima has tipped himself as an aspirant for Nigerias presidency in 2023 and has declared as unworkable any power transfer understanding or agreement Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have contrived with President Muhammadu Buhari.





Yarima, who is from the north west region like Buhari and was a founding member of the All Progressives Congress in 2014, even disputed the existence of any agreement between Buhari and Tinubu.





Yarima spoke in an interview published by Daily Trust on Monday and cited Buharis recent statement that he doesnt have a candidate and that nobody should even use his name, as indications of the non-existence of any MoU.





I dont think Nigeria belongs to any of them and I dont think anyone in any position can determine what Nigeria should have. Politics is about election  for people to decide what they want. So it is the majority of the people that will determine who they want.

If he(Buhari) signed an agreement with Asiwaju, that agreement cannot be implemented even in getting the ticket. It cannot guarantee Asiwaju a ticket. For example, the president has announced and the party has decided that our primary is going to be direct  just like we elected Mr. President during the primaries of the last general elections. Will he direct everybody to go and vote for Asiwaju?





Because, I believe it is going to be a free and fair election, agreement or no agreement is a political statement, but I dont think that is possible because I dont think that the Buhari that I know will sign any (such) agreement. He knows that he doesnt have the powers and the authority to hand over power to whomever he so wishes. He said it is going to be free and fair; in fact, he even said it in the open that he doesnt have any candidate. So, these are just speculations.





Senator Yarima said nothing in the constitution forbids him from seeking the presidency, even though he comes from the North west region like Buhari.





I am a Nigerian. I dont believe in regionalism, saying that this man is from this side or that. Lets have the best people who have much more better things to offer to Nigerians. Everybody should come up with what they want to do for Nigerians and how they want to move Nigeria forward. The contributions you want to make and such a person should be assessed by Nigerians whether he or she should be elected or not. It is not from where you come from and not your religion. As far as I am concerned, you should look at individuals as Nigerians otherwise we should ask for rotation of presidency in the constitution. If we are looking at regions, North-West has done, lets go to South-South; which means anybody whether he is good or not but once determined by that zone should be elected. If it is not determined by constitutional arrangement, every Nigerian should aspire to be in elective position of government.





On capacity, I believe that I have the energy, I have the knowledge and I have the experience. And as for resources, you dont look at the resources for going for a position. Once I have something to move around for the campaigns, I think I can do it. The resources that are required are contributions from every citizen of Nigeria (who are in the party) because it is the party that will sponsor a candidate. It is not the candidate that will sponsor a party. So you dont need so much resource to contest. I was governor, I had no N20million when I started campaigning for governor. And I became governor by the grace of God. It is God himself that will decide. What you need is to have good intentions. I am not going for president to be rich. I am not going for the presidency to be in a position of superiority. It is a matter of service.




Islamabad, Feb 24 : Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pakistan either in May or June to further expand strategic partnership and trade ties between the two neighbouring countries, acording to informed sources.

The dates for the visit were being finalised, The Express Tribune quoted the sources as saying on Sunday.

However, there was no official confirmation either from Pakistan or China.

The sources said the main purpose of the Chinese leadership's visit is to renew his country's ties with Pakistan at a time when it is facing host of internal and external challenges.

During the visit, the two sides will discuss the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), they added.

President Xi launched the multibillion-dollar project when he last visited Islamabad in April 2015. He was to originally travelled to Pakistan in mid 2014 but had to delay his visit after Imran Khan, who was in opposition, refused to call off his 126-day-long sit-in in the federal capital.

One of the key projects that may be launched is the railways Main Line 1 - the project under CPEC, The Express Tribune reported citing the sources as saying.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed believes that only ML-1 could revive the railways and pull the state-owned entity out of deficit.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Monday blasted Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) over the senators claim that the pro-Israel group gives a platform to bigotry.

Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment, read a statement from AIPAC. By engaging in such an odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event, Senator Sanders is insulting his very own colleagues and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel. Truly shameful.

Sanders announced on Sunday he would not attend the annual AIPAC Policy Conference.

The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights, Sanders wrote on Twitter. For that reason I will not attend their conference. The statement seems to be a reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Sanders has referred to as a racist in the past.

The conference will be held at the beginning of March. Confirmed speakers include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), Senator Bob Menendez (D., N.J.), and a bipartisan roster of U.S. representatives.

Sanders has himself received endorsements for his presidential campaign from Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), both of whom have drawn accusations of anti-Semitism. Omar has written on Twitter that American support for Israel is all about the Benjamins, and wrote in 2012 that Israel had hypnotized the world. Both representatives planned a visit to Israel with Palestinian group Miftah, which has a history of promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and once republished an article from a neo-Nazi website.

Sanders has also named activist Linda Sarsour, who has similarly been accused of anti-Semitism, as a campaign surrogate.

More from National Review
WikiLeaks founder faces up to 175 years in US jail over publication of military whistleblower revelations.

London, United Kingdom  A London court is due on Monday to start hearing arguments on the extradition to the United States of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The hearing will last for about a week, with proceedings expected to resume on May 18 for an additional three weeks.

A US grand jury indicted Assange last May with 17 counts under the US Espionage Act and one count of computer hacking. As each of the 17 counts carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, he could face a total of 175 years jail should he be brought to stand trial across the Atlantic.

The espionage charges refer to Assanges activities with WikiLeaks in 2010-11, when the website published classified diplomatic and military documents exposing alleged war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as more than 700 secret reports that revealed the ill-treatment and torture of detainees at the US military detention camp in Guantanamo Bay. The information was made public in collaboration with selected media outlets including The Guardian, Le Monde and The New York Times.

Assange is accused of conspiring with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to obtain and disclose information with reason to believe that [it] was to be used to the injury of the United States or the advantage of a foreign nation, according to a Department of Justice (DoJ) press release.

190602111110429

One of Assanges long-time lawyers, Jennifer Robinson, said at a press conference last week that his legal team was preparing arguments about the political nature of the offence with which Assange is charged. Under the UK-US extradition treaty, extradition cannot be granted for political offences, and it is the competent authorities in the UK who are tasked with determining whether the extradition request is politically motivated.

Assanges defence lawyers are also expected to raise questions about free speech, claiming the charges against Assange amount to the criminalisation of typical journalism activities. Another line of argument will be the unbalanced nature of the US-UK treaty.

With the losing side expected to appeal, proceedings could take years and are likely to be mired in controversies. Last week, Assanges lawyers claimed during a prehearing that Assange was offered a pardon in 2017 if he would deny Russian involvement in leaking emails from the Democratic party ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.

The principle is that in British law, for example, you are allowed to do dodgy things in the name of public interest, Charlie Beckett, the director of Polis, the London School of Economics international journalism think tank, told Al Jazeera.

For example, when the Telegraph [newspaper] published their stories about MPs expenses back in 2009, it was hinged on stolen data. They paid for stolen data. Its clearly in the public interest, and no one even bothered to even try to pursue them. I think this comes under a similar rubric, he explained. On principle, it would be a blow to media freedom if hes extradited.

Among WikiLeaks most prominent releases is a video known as Collateral Murder, which showed US soldiers shooting and killing 18 civilians  among them two Reuters journalists  from a helicopter in Iraq.

Assange is currently held in the high-security Belmarsh prison in south-east London. Supporters have expressed concern about his physical and mental health, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, said earlier this year that Assange exhibited signs of psychological torture.

The 48-year-old has been in custody since last April, when Ecuadors President Lenin Moreno withdrew his asylum status. He was issued a 50-week jail sentence for breaching bail conditions back in 2012, when he sought refuge inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London following Swedens issuing of an international arrest warrant over rape allegations. The Swedish authorities dropped that investigation in November 2019.

Chelsea Manning, who provided the documents that WikiLeaks published, was arrested and for the first eleven months of her arrest was held in solitary confinement for 23 days at a time, which amounts to torture, Marjorie Cohn, a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in California, told Al Jazeera.

Assanges extradition, she added, would be against international law according to the principle of non-refoulement contained in the UN Convention Against Torture.

A country has a duty to refuse extradition when it would violate a fundamental right. The right to be free from torture and inhuman treatment is a fundamental right, Cohn added.
Harvey Weinstein's bulldog lead defence lawyer Donna Rotunno, who loathes the #MeToo movement, was considered to be the movie mogul's best weapon prior to his rape trial.

During the New York trial, Rotunno - dubbed an 'anti-Me Too lawyer' and a 'bulldog in the courtroom' - took aim at the credibility of the women accusing Weinstein of assaulting them.

While she could not spare him a conviction - Weinstein was found guilty of third degree rape and a criminal sex act on Monday February 24 - he was acquitted of the most serious charges; two counts of predatory sexual assault and first degree rape.

Rotunno has also repeatedly courted controversy since taking on Weinstein's case as she was accused of blaming the victims and saying women should take responsibility for their actions.

An interview she gave for a New York Times podcast was brought up during the trial after it emerged Rotunno had said she'd never been assaulted because she wouldn't 'put herself in that position'.

Donna Rotunno, Weinstein's 'secret weapon', is shown with him in July before the trial began. Her defense strategy was to attack the accusers' credibility and force the jury to hold them accountable for 'choosing' to have sexual contact with the movie mogul

Responding to a question about whether she had ever been sexually assaulted, Rotunno said: 'I have not, I have not. Because I would never put myself in that position'.

'I've always made choices from college age on where I never drank too much, I never went home with someone I didn't know. I just never put myself in any vulnerable circumstance ever.'

In an ABC interview earlier this year, Rotunno said of the victims: 'If you don't want to be a victim, don't go to the hotel room.'

In a separate interview with Vanity Fair, Rotunno said: 'If women want equal rights and equal pay and equal opportunity, then you have to also take equal responsibility.

'I think it's easy to look back and say, 'Oh, you know, maybe I didn't love that experience'. Well, okay. Regret sex is not rape.'

Rotunno, who is not married and lives alone, has previously said she does not support the #MeToo movement because it can unfairly sway public opinion against defendants.

She routinely represents accused rapists.

Rotunno said her belief that unproven allegations and media scrutiny had eroded Weinstein's right to a fair trial motivated her to take the case.

Rotunno took on Weinstein's case in June 2019 - two years after dozens of allegations against Weinstein fueled the #MeToo movement.

During his trial, Rotunno appeared each day at Weinstein's side, unflinching in the face of flashing cameras.

Rotunno, who comes from a large Italian-American family and has 14 godchildren, has made a career out of representing men accused of sexual assault.

A former Chicago prosecutor, Rotunno has represented some 40 defendants accused of sexual assault since she opened her own firm in Chicago in 2005.

Rotunno has also repeatedly courted controversy since taking on Weinstein's case as she was accused of blaming the victims and saying women should take responsibility for their actions

Rotunno has appeared each day at Weinstein's side, unflinching in the face of flashing cameras

Weinstein had cycled through several high-profile lawyers since his indictment in 2018, including Jose Baez and Benjamin Brafman. He nixed Brafman over differences in legal strategy and Baez quit claiming Weinstein's behavior made the job 'unreasonably difficult'.

But Rotunno - the first woman to lead his defense - said she found Weinstein 'very easy to work with'.

Her clients have included Senegalese fashion designer Elhadji Gueye and Stanley Stallworth, a former partner at Chicago law firm Sidley Austin, who were both accused of rape and acquitted.

Taking on Weinstein's case catapulted Rotunno into the spotlight as she geared up to defend the Hollywood producer against allegations he raped onetime aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed oral sex on film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

In addition to the two main accusers, four additional women - including Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, were called to testify as witnesses to bolster the case against him.

During Weinstein's trial, Rotunno assailed her client's accusers and said it was 'disingenuous' for 'overzealous' prosecutors to argue that the six women who testified had acted independently.

She also urged jurors to use common sense in evaluating the evidence after Weinstein pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013.

'In October 2017, the biggest story in the world was about Harvey Weinstein,' she said, referring to the first news reports about allegations against Weinstein. 'They all knew that story.'

Haleyi testified at trial that Weinstein forced oral sex on her in his home in 2006. Some time later, she said, she went to see him in a hotel in an effort to 'regain some sort of power'. She testified that Weinstein pulled her onto a bed and had sex with her.

Haleyi said she 'went numb' during the encounter and did not want to have sex with Weinstein. Under cross-examination, she said she had not been forced. She acknowledged sending several friendly emails to Weinstein after the encounter.

Rotunno said in her closing arguments that Haleyi and Weinstein had 'more of a relationship than she wants you to believe,' pointing to Haleyi's emails and her decision to accept plane tickets from Weinstein to Los Angeles and London after the alleged assault.

In an interview with nightline, Rotunno said: 'If you don't want to be a victim, don't go to the hotel room. And if you don't want to be a victim, don't sign an NDA. Go out onto 5th Avenue, take a megaphone and talk about what you want to talk about'

In yet another interview, Rotunno spoke of Weinstein's innocence

Rotunno said the opinion piece, published on Saturday and titled 'Jurors in my client Harvey Weinstein's case must look past the headlines', was not intended to address the jury directly

WEINSTEIN LAWYER ADMONISHED BY JUDGE FOR OP-ED TO JURORS: The United States justice system has proven fair and effective throughout the history of our nation. But not always. The Constitution guarantees certain rights to defendants that juries have an obligation to uphold. I believe most jurors respect their duty to remain fair and impartial. Every so often though, a case comes along that dominates the headlines and pushes the limits of the system to a breaking point. For the process to work as intended and to operate in good faith, jurors must accept the responsibility of not just considering the facts, testimony and evidence, but cutting through the noise of a media and public intent on injecting their narratives into the courtroom, twisting those facts to fit their point of view. The burden of proof is on the prosecution; the media and public have no such burden. Judges instruct jurors to avoid all media coverage and outside influences in making their decision. But in a high-profile case like Harvey Weinstein's, does anyone think that's realistically possible? The mocking of Mr. Weinstein's walker, the unflattering courtroom-artist sketches of his body, the countless critical op-eds and biased stories, and the convenient timing of the politically-motivated charges in Los Angeles were all designed to pre-determine his guilt. However, Mr. Weinstein's jurors have an obligation to themselves and their country, to base their verdict solely on the facts, testimony and evidence presented to them in the courtroom. I expect a fair and impartial jury for Mr. Weinstein and every other American. I implore the members of this jury to do what they know is right and was expected of them from the moment they were called upon to serve their civic duty in a court of law. The facts are the facts. Harvey Weinstein is innocent. His fate hangs in the balance, and the world is watching. Advertisement

Rotunno said the 'real time communication' between Haleyi and Weinstein would lead 'any reasonable person' to conclude they had a good relationship.

Rotunno then turned to Mann's testimony.

Mann had testified that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room early in what she called an 'extremely degrading' relationship with him. That relationship continued for years and included consensual sex, Mann said.

Rotunno said Mann's emails with Weinstein, as well as trial testimony from two of her friends at the time, indicated that she did not appear distressed after the alleged rape, undermining her story.

She said Mann 'couldn't keep anything straight' under cross-examination.

Prior to Weinstein's trial, Rotunno had said in an interview with Reuters that she believed that her gender could prove to be an asset in the courtroom.

'In a case where multiple women will be taking the stand to testify, it's a different dynamic when you have a female involved in the defense,' Rotunno said.

Rotunno said she could be tougher in cross-examination than a male attorney without coming across as a 'bully,' and that factor could be an advantage.

She said, however, her tactic was not to intimidate, and her gender was just one strength she brings to the defense.

'I don't raise my voice,' she said. 'I'm not there to embarrass anyone, I'm not there to shame anyone.'

Prior to jurors being sent out for deliberations on Tuesday, Judge James Burke slammed Rotunno for an op-ed she wrote that was published by Newsweek on Saturday.

In his sharpest rebuke to date, the judge said: 'I want to caution you about the tentacles of your public relations juggernaut'.

He has now banned Weinstein's defense team from speaking to the media until after the trial ends.

Rotunno told Burke that the opinion piece, titled 'Jurors in my client Harvey Weinstein's case must look past the headlines', was not intended to address the jury directly.

'This is an op-ed about the jury system as a whole, about the criminal justice system as a whole,' she said.

Prosecutors said the article was 'akin to jury tampering' and demanded that Weinstein be remanded in custody because he must have directed it. The judge did not act on the request.

In the op-ed, Rotunno said jurors were asked to avoid all media coverage and outside influences but questioned whether anyone thought it was 'realistically possible' in a 'high-profile case like Harvey Weinstein's'.

'The mocking of Mr Weinstein's walker, the unflattering courtroom-artist sketches of his body, the countless critical op-eds and biased stories, and the convenient timing of the politically-motivated charges in Los Angeles were all designed to pre-determine his guilt,' she wrote.

'However, Mr Weinstein's jurors have an obligation to themselves and their country, to base their verdict solely on the facts, testimony and evidence presented to them in the courtroom.

'I implore the members of this jury to do what they know is right and was expected of them from the moment they were called upon to serve their civic duty in a court of law. The facts are the facts. Harvey Weinstein is innocent. His fate hangs in the balance, and the world is watching.'

Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon argued the op-ed was 'completely 100 per cent inappropriate behavior'.

'This is a direct violation of the court's orders... if this is the conduct which is allowed in this court then we are all lost. There is no way the sanctity of a jury can ever exist and continue if every party is permitted to say something that would not be able to say in court.'

Illuzzi-Orbon demanded that the jury be instructed to ignore the Newsweek op-ed.
Right to protest: Cannot be anywhere, everywhere says SC

Shaheen Bagh interlocutors submit report: SC to hear matter on Feb 26

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Shaheen Bagh interlocutors submitted their report on the ongoing protests against the newly amended citizenship law. The report was submitted to the Supreme Court which had appointed the interlocutors last week to negotiate with the protesters at Shaheen Bagh, here.

The report was submitted in a sealed cover and the court said that it would examine the report. The Bench comprising Justices K M Joseph and Sanjay Kishan Kaul however refused to give a copy of the report to the petitioners. The case will be heard next on February 26.

Among the various demands made by the protesters was a guarantee by the Supreme Court to protect them. They also sought that the cases filed against the residents of Jamia Nagar be withdrawn.

Earlier former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah told the Supreme Court the protest at Shaheen Bagh here against the Citizenship Amendment law was peaceful and inconvenience being caused to commuters was due to barricades "unnecessarily" put by police on roads far away from the site.

Mediators put blame on cops for Shaheen Bagh mess

The same stand has been taken by social activist Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad in their joint affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in the matter.

Habibullah, Azad and Naqvi have jointly filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court which is seized of the matter.

Habibullah had visited the protest site at Shaheen Bagh pursuant to the direction by a bench of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. The bench is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.

The top court is hearing pleas seeking removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh and ensuring smooth traffic flow in the area.

The Supreme Court had earlier said that though people have a fundamental right to protest "peacefully and lawfully", it was troubled by the blocking of a public road at Shaheen Bagh as it might lead to a "chaotic situation".

In his affidavit filed in the top court, Habibullah has contended that "Shaheen Bagh stands tall as a firm example of peaceful dignified dissent, more so in the face of various instances of state-sponsored violence on similar dissents across India."

"We have been sad and mute witnesses to police brutality and negative typecasting of a particular community across the country. Crushing dissent instead of entering into a dialogue is the new norm, but it is alien to our Constitution," he has claimed.

Naqvi and Azad, in their joint affidavit, have alleged that "the present ruling dispensation, at the behest of its political masters, had devised a strategy of extinguishing these protests by falsely attributing violence and acts of vandalism to peaceful protesters".

They have also said that police has "unnecessarily" barricaded numerous roads that "have no connection with the protest" and are at a great distance from the site, thereby, "abdicating their responsibilities and duties and wrongly laying the blame on the protest".

Shaheen Bagh protests peaceful, people facing difficulties due to block roads: Interlocutor tells SC

"It is these barricading of unconnected roads that has led to a chaotic situation," Habibullah has claimed and added that if the barricades are removed from the 10 points he has mentioned in the affidavit, "the chaos complained of in the petition would cease".

In a separate affidavit, Naqvi and Azad have claimed the issue of inconvenience to commuters has been "deliberately orchestrated by the police" by blocking all the surrounding roads as well as the arterial roads connecting Delhi, Noida and Faridabad.

They have further alleged that one of the petitions has been filed by lawyer Amit Shani, who is an active member and supporter of BJP posing as a concerned citizen, as his place of residence, office and direct route of daily commute are nowhere near Shaheen Bagh.

Habibullah, in his affidavit, has also stated that the protesters have asked him to convey to the Supreme Court that their dissent "was out of desperation and compulsion" as they see the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) as a "death knell" for their and future generations' survival and existence.

The other concerns voiced by the protesters were that CAA and the intention behind it, as publicly voiced by those in power, "has struck a deep fear into the hearts of many poor and under-privileged citizens of India".

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 14:19 [IST]
Schenectady

Scott T. tried to get sober many times in the decade he was addicted to heroin, but it wasn't easy.

There were waiting lists for treatment programs and waiting lists to see the few doctors willing to prescribe medicine to quiet his cravings. There were battles with insurance companies, and the perpetual conundrum of finding transportation to and from appointments.

This spring, ashamed of buying addiction medication on the street  but too exhausted to keep fighting his doctor and insurance company for it  Scott called the number for a local program his friend had recently told him about. It was called the COTI Project, and a man by the name of Chad Putman answered.

"He met me at Ellis Hospital the next day and sat with me for several hours to make sure I got properly dosed," Scott recalled. "Three days later I had a doctor's appointment and a script."

Over the next four months, Putman and his colleagues brought Scott to and from his doctor's appointments, helped him sort out insurance issues, sat with him through a court hearing for a drug-related crime, and are now working to find him permanent housing, which they believe will help with his long-term recovery.

Whenever he encountered a problem, he said, they were there to help.

"You can get kind of hopeless when it feels like there are so many barriers to getting better, but they've made it very easy for me this time," he said. "It's amazing."

This is, of course, the primary goal of the COTI Project  to remove barriers for people struggling to recover from the vice-like grip of addiction. The state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services launched the project in 2017, selecting treatment providers from around the state to serve as so-called Centers of Treatment Innovation, or COTIs, whose job would be to bring services into under-served, high-risk communities with few services of their own.

The state distributed more than $30 million in federal grant funds to providers to buy vehicles with tele-health technology suitable for servicing remote areas, as well as hiring certified recovery peers  individuals who've recovered from addiction themselves.

"We couldn't use any of the federal money to build brick-and-mortar clinics for these places that have no services of their own. The volume just wouldn't sustain it," said Rob Kent, general counsel for OASAS. "So we said, 'Let's put it on wheels."

Right now, more than 11,000 residents from 35 counties have received services through the COTI Project. There are plans in the works to roll out services to all counties in the state by the end of 2020, officials said.

Capital Region effort

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko stopped by New Choices Recovery Center in Schenectady to see how the program is being carried out on a local level and take suggestions for federal reform back to Congress.

New Choices is one of 20 COTI providers statewide and one of two in the Capital Region. It services Montgomery, Saratoga and Schenectady counties, and has completed clinical assessments of more than 216 people through the program so far. Most have an opioid addiction, but others are battling alcohol and other addictions.

More than half of their clients have begun medication-assisted treatment, and 97 keep up with those appointments using the program's mobile tele-health technology  a major convenience for residents in remote areas of the state who are unable to find transportation to a doctor's office, officials said.

But perhaps most critical to the program, they contend, are the peers.

"There's a rapport there, a level of trust they just can't get from a clinician, who may be very compassionate but just hasn't lived it, you know?" explained Stuart Rosenblatt, executive director of New Choices.

Associate Executive Director Laura Combs shared the story of a woman who had overdosed not far from the clinic's headquarters on State Street. New Choices staff saw her and called 911, and then sent a peer to follow her to the hospital and make contact.

"She wasn't ready to get help," Combs said. "But the peers kept her engaged."

They talked to her about harm reduction  ways to avoid infection and overdose while using drugs  and gave her Narcan, an overdose-reversal drug, to keep on hand just in case. They also let her know they'd be there whenever she was ready to get help.

The other day, Combs said, the woman showed up to the clinic for a support group with her boyfriend.

"It's about keeping people alive," Rosenblatt said. "When you make that your priority, it changes everything."

New Choices currently employs three clinicians and three peers for its COTI project, which is led by Putman  the man who accompanied Scott to the hospital this spring and is in long-term recovery himself.

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Putman said a big area of work has been helping inmates re-enter society after a stint in prison or jail. Such individuals have higher rates of substance use disorders than the general population, and are particularly susceptible to overdose when they get out because their bodies are not used to the level of drugs they had been using prior to incarceration.

This past week, program officials drove three inmates who had just been released from Saratoga County Jail to treatment programs downstate, he said.

"Oftentimes what happens is people get admitted to a treatment program but have no way of getting there," he said. "That's where we come in."

Little hurdles, big effects

The COTI initiative recognizes that it's not the big things that trip people up on their path to sobriety, Putman said, but the little things.

That's why New Choices uses some of its COTI funds to cover the cost of medication or co-pays for clients who are uninsured or underinsured, or who encounter an insurance hiccup that may take time to sort out.

In the first seven months of the year, it has covered the cost of prescriptions or co-pays for nine clients in Montgomery County and 13 clients in Saratoga County.

An insurance "hiccup" is what led Scott to start chasing addiction medicine on the street. He had left a treatment program earlier this year with a prescription for methadone  a drug that treats opioid cravings and withdrawal  but said his insurer refused to pay for more than 10 days of the medicine at a time.

In order to get more, he had to call his doctor to rewrite the prescription every 10 days, and he could never seem to get her on the phone, he said.

"It would take her days to write it and send it in," he said. "It felt like she just didn't really want to be bothered with it. And I started to dread those times when I would be cut off as a result."

Restrictions on who can prescribe addiction medicine like methadone and buprenorphine (which goes by the brand name Suboxone) and how much of it they can prescribe are major barriers to recovery, experts say. It's why there's a large black market for the drugs, and why stigma even among medical professionals remains.

Tonko is sponsoring a bill called the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act that would lift many of these restrictions, including a current rule that says only clinicians who undergo training and receive a federal waiver can prescribe buprenorphine for addiction.

"This outdated waiver requirement has stuck around, even though medical professionals can prescribe the same drug for pain without jumping through bureaucratic hoops," a one-page summary of the bill reads.

Supporters of the bill point to the 79 percent drop in heroin overdoses France saw in a four-year period after it lifted restrictions on buprenorphine prescribing in 1995. As a result, primary care doctors began writing prescriptions and waiting lists for addiction specialists shrunk dramatically.

"Substance use disorder is a devastating illness in great need of immediate response," Tonko said, noting that only 1 in 5 individuals currently receive treatment for addiction.

"This program delivers on a real need that exists here and everywhere to build networks and create dialogue with individuals suffering from this terrible illness," he said of the COTI Project. "That is the only way we can move forward and start to resolve this epidemic. This is about saving lives."
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

A former Bernalillo County firefighter is yet again facing criminal charges after a woman told police that he handcuffed and attacked her, according to court documents.

Celso Montano, 45, made headlines in October when authorities said they had used DNA evidence to link him to a 2009 rape case. That case was dismissed, however, when prosecutors discovered the alleged victim had died not long before the case was filed against Montano.

According to a criminal complaint filed Saturday, Montano had been hanging out at his Northeast Albuquerque apartment with a woman hed met on an online dating website. The woman told police she was smoking in his bathroom when he handcuffed her and then tried to pull off her pants, police said.

He was unable to lower her pants due to her physically and actively resisting against him, an Albuquerque Police Department officer wrote in a criminal complaint.

Montano then choked her and tried to put a rag in her mouth, leaving her unable to breathe, according to the complaint. The woman said she screamed at Montano asking him to remove the handcuffs. He told her he would have to go buy a key, and then left with her purse and cellphone, police said. His 2- or 3-year-old child was home the entire time, and the woman said that she stayed at the apartment because she didnt want the child to be left alone. She left and called for help  still handcuffed  after Montano returned about 10 minutes later without a key, the complaint states.

Montano is facing multiple charges including abandonment of a child, aggravated battery and false imprisonment.

In 2012, he was charged with multiple counts of kidnapping, rape and assault in separate attacks on four women within a three-month period. The women told police they were either sex workers or had accepted a ride from Montano before he raped them. Montano pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts each of patronizing prostitution and criminal sexual contact in that case.
BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Can a tofu factory produce masks? Even the owner of the factory would never have imagined such a thing before the novel coronavirus swept China.

"When our factory resumed operation after the Spring Festival holiday, to address the shortage of masks for our employees, we decided to produce them ourselves," said Shen Jianhua, chairman of the Shanghai Tramy Green Food Co., Ltd., a leading soybean food producer in Shanghai.

The food company, with a total of more than 7,000 employees, including production line workers, delivery drivers and marketing staff, would consume at least 10,000 disposable masks per day amid the virus outbreak.

Despite the difficulties, Tramy went all out to speed up its production of masks, not only for its employees but also for meeting the surging demands from across China.

As the mask production project was launched on Feb. 1, the company rented a plant and production facilities from a bankrupt medical equipment company. Thanks to the local government's support, they completed the registration and obtained the license in just three days.

Less than 10 days later, two production lines for masks went into production, with all the workers, equipment and materials in place. The first batch of masks rolled off the production line on Valentine's Day.

Now, the two production lines are operating around the clock, with an initial capacity of 100,000 masks per day.

"We aim to expand the daily capacity to 200,000 by the end of this month and 800,000 by the middle of March," Shen said.

Besides the disposable masks, the company is planning to produce other medical supplies, including disinfection products such as medical alcohol.

Tramy is not alone. More and more enterprises have turned to produce medical supplies in shortage at "China speed" with the aid of governments at all levels across the nation.

It took only one day for the Dishang Group, a manufacturer of apparel and textiles headquartered in Weihai, east China's Shandong Province, to set up a new company to make protective suits.

The group made the decision on Feb. 9 and did not expect that local authorities gave them a vacant 1,500-square-meter plant, which had been carefully selected and cleaned up that afternoon.

Moreover, the local administrative department handed over the new company's business license to them within half an hour and the market regulator also opened up a green channel for the company's registration for medical equipment.

Tang Hongjie, a worker with over 10 years of experience in sewing, came to the workshop immediately after receiving an urgent notice from the company on the morning of Feb. 10, when the construction of the factory was basically completed.

"I'm very proud of my contribution to the prevention and control of the epidemic," she said.

In the following hours, Tang practiced the operation of the hot air seam sealing machine, an important equipment for protective clothing production, together with her colleagues who returned to work as soon as possible. In the afternoon, they finished the first samples of protective suits.

Meanwhile, more machines were urgently brought in from factories all over the country, and the company also recruited some 400 skilled sewing workers, said Zhang Chengyu, deputy general manager of the Dishang Group.

The Weihai municipal bureau of industry and information technology coordinated with the local authorities to provide 15,000 masks and one ton of disinfectant for the company and help the employees return to work amid widespread traffic controls.

"We will produce protective clothing in full gear, regardless of cost," Zhang said.

At present, Dishang produces 10,000 productive suites per day, with eight production lines operating and about 1,000 employees working round the clock. A total of 4,000 protective suits had been sent to the virus-hit Hubei Province.

In a guideline jointly issued by several ministries early this month, Chinese authorities told producers of key medical supplies not to worry about the sale of their products, as any surplus at the end of the epidemic would be purchased by the government as reserves.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday urged related departments to offer coordinated services to encourage further expansion of production capacity of key epidemic-control materials and ensure the orderly resumption of production.

The daily production capacity of masks nationwide may exceed 100 million as additional production lines will become operational soon, according to authorities.

As of Wednesday, over 60 percent of 3,081 industrial enterprises above designated size in Beijing, as well as all the companies producing epidemic-control materials, had resumed operation.

Shanghai rolled out 28 measures on Feb. 7 to cushion companies against the impact of the epidemic. The operation resumption rate of industrial and commercial companies above designated size in Shanghai has exceeded 70 percent.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Admission to the hospital and being seen by a neurologist are factors associated with better quality care for people with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as mini-stroke, according to new research led by scientists from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regenstrief Institute, Purdue University, and Indiana University. The study looked at patients treated in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

"There has been a movement to avoid hospital admission for patients with TIAs and instead create observation units to allow patients to get care quickly and be sent home," said Dawn Bravata, M.D., senior author of the paper and a research scientist at the VA and Regenstrief. "However, this study supports the idea that admission may still lead to improved care."

Patients with TIA are at high risk of more vascular events, including repeated TIAs, stroke and death. Timely care has been shown to substantially reduce those risks. However, because TIAs are considered less serious than strokes and there is often uncertainty about diagnosis, patients with TIA are less likely to be admitted to the hospital for treatment than patients with stroke.

The researchers undertook this study to understand both the patient and facility factors that influence care quality, which includes characteristics such as a patient's health history, date and time of the visit to the emergency department, and staffing at the VA facility.

The research team, which also included scientists from Yale School of Medicine and Michigan State University, analyzed data from 3,052 VHA patients with a TIA treated between October 2010 and September 2011. They looked at four indicators to measure care quality: brain imaging, carotid artery imaging, statin therapy and antithrombotic therapy. Then they developed a multilevel, structural equation model that allowed them to evaluate the complex relationship between both patient and facility characteristics and the association with composite quality of care measure.

Findings showed:

Care quality was most strongly affected by admission to the hospital,

Patients who received a neurological consultation had overall higher care quality,

Speech impairment was associated with higher hospital admittance,

Weekend arrivals lowered the likelihood of neurological consultation but increased the likelihood of inpatient admission,

Fewer neurologists on staff was associated with fewer consultations and admissions,

And a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (higher burden of comorbid diseases such as cancer or heart disease) was associated with higher hospital admittance but lower neurological consultation.

"The patients who are admitted to the hospital have the highest quality of care, and are more likely to have a neurological consultation, which is also a strong driver of care quality," said Dr. Bravata. "The next steps are to determine the best approach to ensuring that all TIA patients get access to the necessary neurological treatment, regardless of the facility where they receive care. The VA recently instituted a teleneurology program to expand access to neurology across facilities, but it is too soon to tell its effect on care."

Study authors say an alternative to hospital admission could be comprehensive follow-up TIA care in the outpatient setting, however these care models have not been widely adopted in the U.S.

###

"Modelling care quality for patients after a transient ischaemic attack within the US Veterans Health Administration" was published in BMJ Open Quality. The project was supported by funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development Service, Stroke Quality Enhancement Research Initiative Service Directed Project (SDP 12-178). Support for VA/Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) data is provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Health Services Research and Development Service, VA Information Resource Center (SDR 02-237 and 98-004).

Greg Arling, PhD from the Purdue University School of Nursing and the VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Precision Monitoring to Transform Care (PRIS-M) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI), Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center is the first author on the paper.

Other authors are Jason J. Sico, M.D. from Yale School of Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology Research Center, VA Connecticut Health System West Haven Campus; Matthew J. Reeves, PhD from VA HSR&D PRIS-M QUERI, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center and Michigan State University; Laura Myers, PhD from the VA HSR&D PRIS-M QUERI and Center for Health Information and Communication, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center; and Fitsum Baye, M.S., from VA HSR&D PRIS-M QUERI, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center and Indiana University School of Medicine.

About Regenstrief Institute

Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief and its researchers are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe.

Regenstrief Institute is celebrating 50 years of healthcare innovation. Sam Regenstrief, a successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institute's research mission.

More about Dawn Bravata, M.D.

In addition to her role as a research scientist at Regenstrief, Dawn M. Bravata, M.D., is a professor of clinical medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She also serves as a core investigator for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center for Health Information and Communication at Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center and is a co-principal investigator for VA HRS&D PRIS-M QUERI.
YEREVAN/BAKU -- Azerbaijan and Armenia have accused each other of violating the fragile cease-fire along their border.

The State Border Service of Azerbaijan said on February 24 that one Azerbaijani soldier was killed by Armenian fire in the Gazakh district.

A spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry said that one Armenian serviceman was slightly wounded in the fighting.

Baku and Yerevan have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years.

Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people.

Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict have brought little progress.
At a Glance Experts Rating Pros Very well priced

Works with U.S. and UK Netflix Cons Not a lot of extra features

Speeds could be better Our Verdict VPNCity is a new VPN thats off to a good start. It offers a good country count with a solid number of servers. The speeds are fine, and the privacy policy says all the right things. It also works with U.S. and UK Netflix, which makes it a good choice for overseas travelers or those who use Netflix on open Wi-Fi networks.

Best Prices Today

Retailer Price Delivery VPNCity $48 View

Its not unusual for a VPN service to initially start out with a basic feature set. The company shoots for solid speeds, a good country count, and a growing number of servers, adding extra features and services over time.

VPNCity is one such service that fits this profile. Think Huge Ltd.a technology company that specializes in online services for foreign exchange marketsbegan VPNCity around a year ago with enough of the basics to appeal to most users: It offers Netflix compatibility, a no-logs policy, and enough bandwidth and DDos protection for gamers.

Note: This review is part of our best VPNs roundup. Go there for details about competing products and how we tested them.

Security, software, servers, and speed

VPNCity with an active connection.

VPNCity uses the OpenVPN protocol, with data encryption handled by AES-256-CBC, data authentication is SHA512, and the handshake is over TLSv1.2.

VPNCity is officially based in Hong Kong, as is Think Huge. At least thats where the companys offices are located. As usual the team works remotely in countries around the world. The founder and director of Think Huge is Nick McDonald who is based in Australia.

If you want to watch U.S. Netflix from overseas or when youre hooked up to open Wi-Fi, VPNCity can help you do that. It will also work with other streaming services that arent actively trying to stymie VPN users such as Disney Plus.

VPNCity allows up to 12 simultaneous connections, which is very good considering most services set the limit at 10.

When you launch the services macOS app you get a single pane interface that parallels the mobile app. It has a simple connect button taking up a good chunk of the window, and a location button below that.

Theres also a mobile-style tab bar at the bottom for switching between the home screen, the full location list, a favorites screen, and settings. When youre connected to a VPN server the app turns green, and a timer shows how long youve been connected. In addition to the app, a VPNCity icon in the status menu area hosts options to disconnect, choose a different location, or quit the app.

In our time with VPNCity the Mac app was serviceable, but there was one weird glitch. Whenever we used the search bar to find a country location, the app immediately went blank, and the list wouldnt return unless we rebooted. We asked the company about this, and a representative said this was a bug unique to macOS Catalina, which has since been fixed.

VPNCitys location list.

VPNCity covers 33 country locations listed alphabetically, and it has more than 3,000 servers, which is a generous number to cover those 33 countries.

The services privacy policy promises it wont keep any logs, including connection time stamps, session information, bandwidth usage, traffic logs, and IP addresses. VPNCity says it does keep some minimal information, however, such as server load information.

In our tests, VPNCity maintained about 27 percent of the base speed using five different global locations. Thats an acceptable result but nothing to get excited about. Speeds were good enough in the U.S., UK, and Germany for most uses, including gaming and video streaming.

Pricing

One year of VPNCity costs $48, or you can get two years for $71.76. Those are both excellent prices and a fair value proposition, especially with Netflix support thrown in. In addition to the two yearly packages, theres a six-month package for $35.94definitely not worth it since you can get two years for about double the price. Then theres the usual month-to-month subscription at $10.

VPNCity acccepts credit cards, PayPal, AliPay, and cryptocurrencies via Coingate. To sign up for VPNCity you need to supply an email address.

Conclusion

VPNCity is off to a nice start. It has acceptable speeds for most uses, it already works with Netflix out of the box, and theres a good country and server count. On top of that, the privacy policy makes the right promises, and the price is very good. Anyone looking for a well-priced option should give VPNCity a look.

Editors Note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article.
A crafty woman was praised online for creating a 'beautiful' vase out of a spare KFC bucket - with fans admitting they couldn't wait to make their own.

Elaina Sanches, 48, from Maesteg, Wales, shared photographs of her thrifty design - which saw the tub painted white and adorned with paper cut-outs and lace trim - to the Facebook group DIY On A Budget UK this weekend.

Her post was quickly inundated with hundreds of likes and many comments complimenting Elaina for her crafting skills.

Elaina Sanches, 48, from Maesteg, Wales, was praised online for creating a 'beautiful' vase (pictured left) out of a spare KFC bucket (right)

Elaina (pictured) shared photographs of her thrifty design (pictured) - which saw the tub painted white and adorned with paper cut-outs and lace trim - to the Facebook group DIY On A Budget UK this weekend

Her post was quickly inundated with hundreds of likes and many comments (above) complimenting Elaina for her crafting skills

Sharing snaps of her work, she explained that she'd ended up with three buckets with her KFC order and two were clean.

She explained: 'Just thought, "Im going to craft it". Im a crafter ladies, I craft everything. It's my own idea, this one.'

Having realised she had two clean, spare buckets to use, Elaina, who has her own Facebook page dedicated to her crafty designs, soon set about making them into fashionable containers.

She covered the exterior with white paint and glued on paper floral cut-outs, before adding a crochet lace trim on the edges.

Sharing snaps of her work, Elaina explained in post (above): 'Well I had KFC chicken last night, three basket come up, and two were clean'

Reaction: Members of the group were impressed and shared their enthusiasm for the designs

Elaina completed her flower pot with pink bows and captured how it could be filled with faux flowers - or even chocolate treats to make it the perfect gift.

Members of the group were impressed and shared their enthusiasm for the designs, with one person writing: 'Love that, next time I get KFC I might craft the box.'

Another said: 'You would never know. Looks good,' before joking: 'The sales of KFC are going up now.'

'This is absolutely beautiful and very creative,' a third said. 'You could eat KFC every night and next morning craft buckets and sell.'

Elaina completed her flower pot with pink bows and captured how it could be filled with faux flowers - or even chocolate treats (pictured) to make it the perfect gift

Elaina also shared how she renovated her second KFC bucket (pictured), keeping to a Peter Rabbit theme so it would be perfect for Easter
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Linkedin Brendan Pierson (Reuters) New York, United States  Tue, February 25, 2020 04:54 687 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206650f81 2 World #USA,#rape,Harvey-Weinstein,convicted,MeToo Free

Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault and rape in a New York court on Monday and taken away in handcuffs, a turning point for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to publicly accuse powerful men of misconduct.

Once one of Hollywood's most influential producers, Weinstein, 67, was found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013.

The jury of seven men and five women acquitted Weinstein on the most serious charges. Those carried a potential life sentence.

Justice James Burke ordered Weinstein to be held in custody. Officers helped Weinstein unsteadily to his feet before leading him away in handcuffs.

Actress Rose McGowan, who had accused Weinstein of rape, wrote on Twitter: "Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing."

He faces up to 25 years in prison on the sexual assault conviction. He was also convicted of third degree rape - sexual intercourse without consent - which carries a prison sentence of up to four years.

His sentencing hearing was set for March 11.

Weinstein's lawyer Arthur Aidala quoted Weinstein as saying to him after the verdict, "Im innocent. Im innocent. How can this happen in America?"

Weinstein was being taken to a medical facility at Rikers Island jail, Aidala said outside the courtroom. "We will have a very professional appeal done by the best and the brightest in the business," he said.

A long legal battle in the appeals courts is likely to ensue. At the start of the trial, defense lawyers accused the judge of bias, the prosecutors of withholding evidence, and the media of turning the trial into a circus.

Weinstein still faces sexual assault charges in California, which were announced just hours after his New York trial began on Jan. 6. Dozens of women have also filed civil lawsuits against him.

"We will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that its easier for people to report their rapes," actress Rosanna Arquette, who has said she resisted unwanted sexual advances by Weinstein, wrote on Twitter.

ACCOUNTABILITY

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the accusations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said at a news conference: "Its a new day because Weinstein has finally been held accountable." He praised the jurors. "Your verdict turned a page in our criminal justice system.

"To the survivors: I owe and we owe an immense debt of courage to you," Vance said.

The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault and first degree rape - forcible sexual intercourse - of Mann.

A conviction on predatory sexual assault would have required the jury to find that Weinstein also sexually assaulted actress Annabella Sciorra in 1993 or 1994.

Sciorra, best known from the television show "The Sopranos," testified that Weinstein forced his way into her home one winter night, raped her and forced oral sex on her. By law the accusation is too old to be charged as a separate crime.

Weinstein made his mark with critically acclaimed films such as "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love."

"The jury worked with an incredibly narrow and unjust set of laws governing sexual assault, and though he was not convicted on all counts, HarveyWeinstein will have to answer for his crimes," according to a statement released on behalf of the #MeToo movement.

Asked by reporters outside court how the jury service experience was for him personally, jury foreman Bernard Cody said: "Devastating," but declined to elaborate.

During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a walker. He sometimes leaned on lead defense lawyer Donna Rotunno for support. Critics had accused Weinstein of playing up medical problems to win sympathy. Weinstein said he had back injuries.

Prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises to open doors in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

During the trial, the prosecution methodically elicited graphic testimony from several accusers, including Haleyi, who said Weinstein invited her to his SoHo home after she had worked on one of his television productions.

After she arrived, Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally, yanking out her tampon, Haleyi told jurors.

Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she entered into an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her in 2013.

She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character: He was charming in public but often showed terrifying anger when they were alone, Mann said.

Legal experts said three women who testified for the prosecution to recount sexual abuse by Weinstein provided powerful evidence that was difficult for the defense to overcome.

Throughout the case, the defense said regret drove the accusers to take consensual incidents and reframe them as crimes.

Weinstein's lawyers zeroed in on friendly messages and ongoing contact between the women and Weinstein.

During cross-examination of Haleyi, for example, the defense showed her a message she sent Weinstein signed "lots of love" after her alleged attack.

Defense lawyers repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career.

Weinstein never testified in his defense.

Prosecutors pushed back against defense assertions that his accusers were not credible and the notion that they were responsible for the alleged attacks.
People wear masks to prevent the novel coronavirus walks along the street in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

CDC Confirms 53 Cases of Coronavirus in the US

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 53 cases of the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, with the bulk of infections originating from the quarantined Japanese cruise ship.

Thirty-six of those people were on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was held in medical isolation for two weeks off the coast of Japan, and three cases were confirmed among people who were evacuated from China. Fourteen U.S. cases were also confirmed, according to the latest count.

The CDC told CNN that additional passengers who had tested for COVID-19 in Japan would likely be added to the U.S. case number count after more verification efforts.

COVID-19 victims from the Diamond Princess cruise ship wont be brought to Alabama, said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) on Sunday. I just got off the phone with the President, Shelby wrote on Twitter. He told me that his administration will not be sending any victims of the Coronavirus from the Diamond Princess cruise ship to Anniston, Alabama. Thank you, @POTUS, for working with us to ensure the safety of all Alabamians.

People wearing face masks sit in front of Dongdaegu railway station in the southeastern city of Daegu, South Korea, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

Of the 14 other cases, eight have been reported in California, one in Massachusetts, one in Washington state, two in Illinois, one in Wisconsin, and one in Arizona. The CDC confirmed that two instances of person-to-person transmission occurred in California and Illinois.

Several states, including Washington and Michigan, have confirmed they are monitoring hundreds of people for the virus.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters last week that federal officials are preparing for the virus outbreak morph into a pandemic.

Were not seeing community spread here in the United States yet, but its very possible, even likely, that it may eventually happen, she said. 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.

The United States, meanwhile, may have to close down schools and businesses like other hard-hit countries have done, she said.

But World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stopped short of calling the outbreak a pandemic.

Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear, he said in a Monday news conference. We must focus on containment, while doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic, he added.
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Alpine 4 Technologies, Ltd. (OTCQB: ALPP) ("the Company"), a publicly-traded conglomerate that is acquiring businesses that fit into its disruptive DSF business model of Drivers, Stabilizers, and Facilitators. President and CEO of the Company, Kent Wilson, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's accomplishments in 2019. "2019 was a fantastic year for Alpine 4," said Wilson. "We did grow at about 96%," he added. "In 2019, Alpine 4 focused on acquiring companies that we classify as a Stabilizer," said Wilson

He then elaborated on the potential revenue of their recent acquisitions, including Deluxe Sheet Metal, Inc. Wilson explained that Deluxe Sheet Metal offers facility services to the University of Notre Dame. "That is steady work. The university does not stop repairing things if there is a recession," said Wilson. "On the new growth side, doing new buildings and new constructions or retro-fits, their projects are funded about five years in advance and are fully funded by the endowment," shared Wilson, adding that Deluxe Sheet Metal's stability and strong customer base represents reliable revenue for the Company.

Jolly then asked whether or not the Company will be able to sustain its 2019 growth throughout 2020. "If you took our current subsidiaries and current operations, we should hit forty-one to forty-three million," replied Wilson. "We should be able to acquire two, possibly three, more subsidiaries, which should add anywhere from twenty-one to forty million in additional revenue," said Wilson. "2020 is going to be our year."

The conversation then turned to the Company's plans to uplist to the NYSE. "If we're going to deliver on the value of what Alpine 4 is and what it can be, we need to be on the New York Stock Exchange," said Wilson. "Sellers of driver type companies typically don't want to take stock traded on the OTC company," he said, noting that uplisting to the NYSE will improve the Company's strategy to acquire Driver companies in the future. "We think we're best suited to be on the New York Stock Exchange based on some of their market criteria."

Jolly then asked about the possibility of a dividend in 2020. "That's a key part of our uplisting strategy," said Wilson. "We want to reward our shareholders that have been with us the longest, and even new shareholders," he said. "We haven't determined what that dividend value would be," said Wilson, noting that the dividend would be post uplisting. "We want our shareholders to know that we value them."

To close the interview, Wilson expressed his excitement for the potential of 2020 and what it means for the Company's future. "I want our shareholders and our employees and anyone who is a stakeholder in Alpine 4, to know that you are a part of something special, something unique. We are not your everyday company," said Wilson. "We are super excited about what 2020 has to offer us collectively."

To hear Kent Wilson's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7512876-alpine-4-technologies-discusses-its-2020-potential-with-the-stock-day-podcast

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/

About Alpine 4 Technologies:

Alpine 4 Technologies, Ltd (ALPP) is a publicly-traded conglomerate that is acquiring businesses that fit into its disruptive DSF business model of Drivers, Stabilizers, and Facilitators. At Alpine 4 we understand the nature of how technology and innovation can accentuate a business. Our focus is on how the adaptation of new technologies even in brick and mortar businesses can drive innovation. We also believe that our holdings should benefit synergistically from each other and that the ability to have collaboration across varying industries can spawn new ideas and create fertile ground for competitive advantages. This unique perspective has culminated in the development of our Blockchain enabled Enterprise Business Operating System called SPECTRUMebos.

Four principles at the core of our business are Synergy. Innovation. Drive. Excellence. At Alpine 4, we believe synergistic innovation drives excellence. By anchoring these words to our combined experience and capabilities, we can aggressively pursue opportunities within and across vertical markets. We deliver solutions that not only drive industry standards but also increase value for our shareholders.

Contact:

Investor Relations: investorrelations@alpine4.com

www.alpine4.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

The information disclosed in this press release is made as of the date hereof and reflects Alpine 4 most current assessment of its historical financial performance. Actual financial results filed with the SEC may differ from those contained herein due to timing delays between the date of this release and confirmation of final audit results. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties, including the uncertainties surrounding the current market volatility, and other factors the Company identifies from time to time in its filings with the SEC. Although Alpine 4 believes that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and, as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions also could be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof, and Alpine 4 disclaims any intention or obligation to update the forward-looking statements for subsequent events.

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

SOURCE:

Stock Day Media

602-441-3474

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52708
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 20:01:54|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday expressed appreciation for several ASEAN foreign ministers' supporting remarks on fighting the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on COVID-19 held in Laos last week has caused a strong international response. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin tweeted that the meeting was "so enlightening, science and fact-based" and "we owe China for COVID-19 containment on a continental scale." He also quoted Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan as saying "that which does not kill us can only make us stronger."

When asked for comments, newly-appointed spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a news briefing that China appreciated those remarks by the foreign ministers of the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

The meeting was the first multilateral foreign ministers' meeting focusing on public health security in regional countries since the outbreak of the epidemic, which set an example for regional countries to jointly handle public health emergencies, Zhao said, adding it also sent a strong message of strengthening coordination for joint disease prevention and control between China and ASEAN countries.

China has adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures since the outbreak of the epidemic, and achieved significant results. The country has the capability and confidence to overcome the crisis at an early date, the spokesperson said.

"Viruses know no borders," Zhao said, in the face of the virus, no country can manage alone by resorting to beggar-thy-neighbor practices, only mutual assistance could solve the problem.

He said China would continue to enhance communication and cooperation with relevant parties, including the ASEAN in an open, transparent and responsible manner, to make due contributions to the regional and global public health security.
RCMP began enforcing an injunction earlier this month that prevents interference with construction of a $6.6-billion natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RCMP began enforcing an injunction earlier this month that prevents interference with construction of a $6.6-billion natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia.

Here is a timeline of the dispute, along with rail disruptions by people showing solidarity with the hereditary Wet'suwet'en chiefs opposing the Coastal GasLink project:

Dec. 31, 2019  The B.C. Supreme Court grants Coastal GasLink an injunction calling for the removal of any obstructions including cabins and gates on any roads, bridges or work sites the company has been authorized to use.

Jan. 1, 2020  The Wet'suwet'en First Nation serves Coastal GasLink with an eviction notice, telling the company workers are ``currently trespassing'' on their unceded territory.

Jan. 27  The British Columbia government appoints former New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen as a provincial liaison with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in the LNG pipeline dispute.

Jan. 30  The hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en agree to seven days of meetings with the province.

Feb. 5  The talks that were intended to de-escalate the dispute fail after just two days.

Feb. 6  The RCMP move in to Wet'suwet'en territory to enforce the court injunction that would have allowed construction work to resume. A handful of pipeline opponents are arrested. Hours later, outside of Belleville, Ont., east of Toronto, protesters start holding up railway traffic in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.

Feb. 7  Via Rail halts service along one of its busiest routes because of the Belleville-area blockade. All travel between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal is cancelled. Canadian National Railway obtains a court injunction to end a demonstration by members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville. Protesters also begin disruptions at ports in Vancouver and Delta, B.C.

Feb. 8  Protesters in Toronto disrupt Canadian Pacific Railway traffic moving through the downtown area.

Feb. 9  Kahnawake Mohawk community members south of Montreal erect a blockade on a CP rail line.

Feb. 10  Demonstrators in the Montreal area disrupt commuter train service on the Exo Candiac line. A shuttle bus service is in effect for affected rail stations.

Feb. 11  CN stops transport between Prince George, B.C., and Prince Rupert, B.C., because of a blockade near Hazelton, B.C. The company says it has halted more than 150 freight trains since blockades started on Feb. 6.

Feb. 12  The Manitoba government says it may seek a court injunction to end a blockade on a rail line west of Winnipeg, but CN obtains its own court order. Two hereditary Wet'suwet'en chiefs start a constitutional challenge of fossil fuel projects, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls for demonstrators across the country to observe the rule of law.

Feb. 13  CN shuts down its operations in Eastern Canada. The railway says blockades have ended in Manitoba and may come down soon in British Columbia, but the orders of a court in Ontario have yet to be enforced and continue to be ignored.

Feb. 14  A rail blockade that halted train traffic to and from the Port of Prince Rupert is lifted as First Nations leaders agree to meet with federal and provincial politicians.

Feb. 15  Federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller travels to meet with protesters in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near the site of the Belleville blockade. He says "modest progress'' was made during nine hours of talks, but declines to share details on what was discussed.

Feb. 16  Trudeau cancels his planned trip to Barbados, less than 24 hours before his scheduled departure, so he can handle the protests in Canada. Meanwhile, protesters briefly shut down a busy Ontario border crossing.

Feb. 17  Trudeau convenes the Incident Response Group, an emergency committee that meets in the event of a national crisis.

Feb. 18  An emergency debate is held in the House of Commons, where the Opposition Conservatives advocate for forceful action and the governing Liberals push for ongoing dialog with backing from other political parties. Meanwhile, CN issues temporary layoff notices for 450 employees, citing the ongoing protests as the reason for the move.

Feb. 19  Protesters erect a blockade along a stretch of CN rail line in Edmonton, but are soon faced with counter-protesters who begin forcibly dismantling the barricade. The blockade is taken down later in the day. Via Rail announces nearly 1,000 temporary layoffs in light of ongoing service suspensions across much of Canada. The rail provider also cancels plans to resume a route between Ottawa and Quebec City as a new blockade is erected near Montreal.

Feb. 20  Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the RCMP has offered to move its officers from Wet'suwet'en territory to a nearby town. He says this concession meets a key condition from the hereditary chiefs and calls for all rail blockades to be dismantled. Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs travel to Quebec and Ontario to thank supporters who have maintained the blockades.

Feb. 21  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the barricades must come down and the injunctions to clear the rail lines must be enforced, calling the situation "unacceptable and untenable." He points the finger at Indigenous leadership, who he says have not been receptive to his government's attempts at negotiation. Protesters who'd been blockading a CN Rail line near Montreal clear out shortly after riot police arrive on scene ready to enforce an injunction to clear the tracks.

Feb. 22  Anti-pipeline demonstrations spring up, including a protest along the railway tracks in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says a train was allowed to pass through the protest area as scheduled, warning that the protest must remain lawful and that transport routes cannot be disrupted by illegal blockades.

Feb. 23 Ontario Provincial Police give protesters until midnight Sunday to clear the blockade near Belleville on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory or face an investigation and possible criminal charges.

Feb. 24  Ontario Provincial Police move to enforce injunction aimed at clearing Belleville-area rail blockade. Police make several arrests and officers line up in front of the remaining protesters at the encampment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2020.
When children pick what they want to be when theyre older, they often follow in their parents footsteps. Colin Hanks grew up and got into acting just like his father, Tom. Jaden and Willow Smith became entertainers just like their mom and dad The list goes on and on.

With that in mind, its no surprise that Steven Spielbergs daughter Mikaela is getting into film. But theres a bit of a difference between their career paths.

(L-R) Steven Spielberg and his daughter Mikaela Spielberg | Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Donato Sardella/Getty Images North America

Mikaela Spielberg has launched a career in the adult film industry

Mikaela, 23, made the revelation in a recent interview with The Sun. She told the outlet that shes already started to create adult videos and wants to try her hand at stripping once she acquires her sex worker license.

Explaining her decision, Mikaela told The Sun: I got really tired of not being able to capitalize on my body and frankly, I got really tired of being told to hate my body. And I also just got tired of working day-to-day in a way that wasnt satisfying my soul.

I feel like doing this kind of work, Im able to satisfy other people, but that feels good because its not in a way that makes me feel violated, she continued.

Kate Capshaw and daughters Mikaela George Spielberg and Destry Allyn Spielberg at an event in 2013 | Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for EIF

Mikaela  whom Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, adopted as a baby  said she hopes her new career path will help her become more financially independent from her famous parents.

This isnt like an end of the road or Ive hit bottom choice, she added. This is a positive, empowering choice, I realized there is no shame in having a fascination with this industry and wanting to do something that is safe, sane, consensual.

How Steven Spielberg feels about Mikaelas decision

As of writing, the legendary filmmaker has not publicly shared his thoughts on Mikaelas new career. But she said in the interview that Spielberg and her mother were intrigued when she broke the news and not upset. Mikaela also suggested that they have a great relationship, noting that she talks to them regularly.

A source backed Mikaelas claims, telling The New York Post on Feb. 22: As Mikaela said, Steven and Kate are nothing but supportive of her, as they are with all their children.

But a supposed family friend offered conflicting comments

Another source told the outlet that Spielberg and Capshaw were kind of taken aback by the news.

Outwardly, Steven and Kate  who are the most evolved parents in the world and love their kids beyond all measure  have always been supportive of Mikaela and try to understand her, the family friend began. Obviously, though, theyre embarrassed by her sudden public admission of entry into the sex worker world.

Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg on the red carpet | Rob Kim/Getty Images

The friend said there are concerns about how Mikaelas decision will affect the couples other children: Sasha, 29, Destry, 23 and Sawyer, 27. They also have kids from previous relationships. Capshaw has an adopted son, Theo, 31, and a daughter, Jessica Capshaw, 43, from her previous marriage to Robert Capshaw. Spielberg has a son Max, 34, with his ex-wife, Amy Irving.

Nothing can hurt Steven Spielbergs immaculate reputation, nor Kates, but theyre worried about how [Mikaelas revelation] looks for their other kids, who are trying to be supportive but who are also embarrassed, the friend continued. This certainly isnt how they were raised.

Oof. Well, Mikaelas mind seems made up. So hopefully, this family can keep the peace.
KYIV. Feb 24 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Ukraine in 2019 exported 55,600 tonnes of honey worth more than $100 million, which is 12.7% more than in 2018, Valeriy Kureiko, the co-founder of the Medovy Bdzholiar apiary (the Znatny Med brand), has said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

"In 2006-2010, honey export was small: from 3,000 to 7,000 tonnes per year. Since 2011, it began to grow: for example, in 2014-2015 it already amounted to more than 36,000 tonnes, and exceeded 56,000 tonnes in 2016. The most successful year for exporters was 2017, when 67,800 tonnes of honey was exported," he said.

According to Kureiko, the number of exporters themselves has also grown significantly: if in 2010 two or three companies were engaged in this, today there are more than 70 companies. He noted that in other countries there are not as many companies involved in export of honey as in Ukraine.

"For example, in Argentina, which is in the top three of the world's honey exporters, there are only 15 exporting firms," he said.

"It's significant how we instantly use quotas for duty-free supply of Ukrainian honey to the EU: in 2018 the quota was 7,900 tonnes and was used in the first 11 days of January. In 2019, the quota was 6,000 tonnes, and was used by January 10, 2019," he said.

The domestic market of Ukraine consumes a little less than half of the production volume: on average, about 1-1.1 kg of honey is consumed per capita.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  In need of a serious boost from Midwestern states, former Vice President Joe Biden announced three Ohio elected officials would serve as senior advisers to his Democratic campaign.

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde and state Rep. Tavia Galonski of Akron are tasked with creating a landing pad for the Biden campaign in the run-up to the March 17 primary.

Were not just talking to other elected officials, Klein said. Were growing a broad base of support of faith leaders, African American leaders, blue collar leaders and union leaders, which I think is indicative of the vice presidents electability.

The campaign said all three, who endorsed Biden early, will not be paid and will have responsibilities beyond being top surrogates.

That includes lobbying other politically influential groups to support Bidens struggling candidacy, diagnosing and laying out the potential issues Democratic voters in the state are most concerned with and rapid response. Klein described the duties as being a state liaison of sorts.

Klein, Clyde and Galonski are all younger members of the party seen with some potential. Kleins name is often mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate and Clyde, a former state representative, built a statewide network during an unsuccessful run for secretary of state in 2018.

The campaign is hoping to tap into some of those connections, including Galonskis background as a past Teamster member.

As a former Teamster and as the proud daughter of a UAW worker, I know Joe always has and always will fight successfully for the respect working people deserve, Galonski said. I cant wait to roll up my sleeves to build out the strong support Joe already enjoys across Ohio because he has the empathy and experience that blue collar-strong towns like Akron need in the White House.

The announcement comes at a precarious time for the former vice president, who is one of eight Democrats left vying for the chance to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in November.

Once the odds-on favorite for both the state and the nomination, Bidens flailed in recent weeks after significant losses in Iowa and New Hampshire. As results rolled in from this weekends Nevada caucuses, Biden was sitting at a distant second place to frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont with more than 70% of the vote tallied.

Given the still-packed field that still has the South Carolina primary on Saturday and Super Tuesday next week, Bidens viability to last until Ohio votes is a serious question.

Biden has polled well in Ohio since announcing his candidacy last year. A Baldwin Wallace University poll from January showed him leading the field with 32% of Democrats listing him as their first choice, 12 percentage points ahead of Sanders at 20%.

The vice president is going to win South Carolina and do great on Super Tuesday, Klein said. When you look at South Carolina and Super Tuesday, those are states that are reflective of America. The vice presidents appeal is that he can represent union workers, blue collar workers, everyday hardworking Americans.

Biden is the latest candidate to announce an official staff in the state. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has had people on the ground since September, which now number more than 20 paid staff. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg hired nearly 100 staffers as part of his abstract play to focus on Super Tuesday and Midwestern constituencies. The campaign for former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg also recently hired a state director.

Read more cleveland.com politics coverage:

Ohio Attorney General tosses out GOP voting complaint against Democratic congressional candidate

Mike Bloomberg wants you to text him back

Poll shows mixed results for Donald Trump, Democrats in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania

Early voting historically is used little in Ohio primaries
Sagar (MP): Two MLAs of the BJP from Madhya Pradesh complained to the police on Monday that a caller claiming to be the states governor no less asked them individually to transfer Rs 7 lakh each to a bank account.

MLAs Pradeep Laria and Mahesh Rai, who hail from Sagar district, represent Naryaoli and Bina assembly constituencies. The mobile number from which they had received separate calls was found to be registered in Odisha, a police officer said.

Laria claimed that he received a phone call from unknown number at around 11 am on Monday.

The caller claimed to be the governor of Madhya Pradesh and asked me to transfer Rs 7 lakh in a bank account. The caller also asked for the mobile number of MLA Mahesh Rai, Laria told PTI.

Rai told reporters that he also received a similar call asking him to deposit Rs 7 lakh in a bank account, and that he immediately alerted the OSD to the governor.

Superintendent of Police Amit Sanghi said he was informed by Laria about the phone call. Rai has also submitted a complaint to Bina Police station, he said.

The cyber cell of the state police has launched a probe. As per preliminary investigation, the phone number is found to be registered in Odisha, the SP added.
(Bloomberg) -- HP Inc. announced it will return $16 billion to shareholders, primarily through buybacks, and boost cost cuts, trying to rally investors against Xerox Holdings Corp. for control of the worlds second-largest personal computer maker.

HP will increase share repurchases to $15 billion from a $5 billion program announced in October. This will result in adjusted profit of $3.25 to $3.65 per share in fiscal 2022, which is about $1 more per share than analysts projections. HP executives also said they have engaged Xerox to discuss a potential combination on their terms, rather than succumbing to the printer makers hostile takeover effort.

The hardware giant raised its profit forecast for fiscal 2020 to as much as $2.43 a share, excluding some expenses, bolstered by the surge of share repurchases scheduled after the companys annual meeting. For the current period, profit will be 49 cents a share to 53 cents a share, the Palo Alto, California-based company said Monday in a statement. The forecast fell short of Wall Streets estimate of 54 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

HP executives said supply-chain disruptions related to the coronavirus outbreak will cost the company about 8 cents a share in adjusted profit in the current quarter. HP doesnt expect the virus known as COVID-19 to affect performance in the second half of 2020.

The company also said it would raise its cost-cutting program to $1.2 billion by 2022. HP, which had 56,000 workers as of October, is in the midst of a restructuring that could result in as many as 9,000 employee dismissals.

HPs shares gained about 4% in extended trading after closing at $22.10 in New York. The stock has declined about 7% in the past 12 months.

HP has repeatedly rejected Xeroxs effort to secure a $35 billion acquisition, saying it significantly undervalues the company. A deal would unify two icons of the technology industry that pioneered innovations consumers and office workers still use today, but have faded in an industry increasingly driven by software. Xerox has said it will launch a tender offer on or around March 2 for HP shares valued at $24 in cash and stock. For each HP share, a holder would get $18.40 in cash and 0.149 Xerox shares. Norwalk, Connecticut-based Xerox has also started a proxy fight, nominating 11 candidates for HPs board to help close the deal.

Story continues

We had a very strong first quarter, are putting in place a very aggressive plan and we are confident we can deliver on it, as we have in the past, HP Chief Executive Officer Enrique Lores said in an interview. We are open to explore a combination. Any combination needs to address three issues: it needs to reflect the right value exchange, needs to have the right capital structure and needs to have the right assessment of synergy.

HP believes a deal with Xerox would only unlock $1 billion in cost savings, not the $2 billion Xerox executives have promised, because only 10% of their businesses overlap, Lores said. HP will use a combination of cash on hand and debt to fund the buybacks. Chief Financial Officer Steve Fieler said he expects to take out a few billion dollars of debt. The company is committed to retaining a debt ratio of 1.5 times to 2 times profit, from 1.1 times currently.

Xeroxs largest investor, activist Carl Icahn, has pushed for a tie-up in any form, so long as Xerox CEO John Visentin leads the combined company.

HP structured the buybacks as an incentive for investors to reject Xeroxs director candidates. If shareholders vote against the challengers, theyll start to see a benefit from $8 billion in buybacks over the next year, according to HP. The company said it would issue a proxy statement in the next week to announce the date of its annual meeting, which is usually in April.

Fiscal first-quarter profit was 65 cents a share, excluding some expenses. That surged past HPs previous projection of as much as 56 cents for the quarter. Analysts estimated 54 cents.

For a year, HP has sought to stabilize its profitable printing division, which started stumbling in February 2019 due to lower customer demand for ink and toner. Revenue declined less than 1% to $14.6 billion in the period ended Jan. 31. Sales in the printing division fell 7% to $4.7 billion, with ink supplies dropping 7% in the period ended Jan. 31. Consumer hardware revenue declined 13% and commercial devices decreased 1%.

In response to the falling ink sales, HP plans to change its business model starting late this year to make some printers profitable upfront, rather than heavily discounting them and making up the difference with ink sales. The companys cheap printers will now be incompatible with generic or counterfeit ink cartridges.

HP is the leader in the printing industry, with 20.6% of the market by revenue, according to research firm Gartner Inc. Xerox is fourth, with 10% of the industry.

Revenue from personal computers increased 2.4% to $9.9 billion in the quarter, despite disruptions from the coronavirus outbreak. There were sales increases across laptops, desktops and workstations. Corporate clients are upgrading their computers to adopt Microsoft Corp.s Windows 10 operating system.

(Updates with talks about a potential deal in the second paragraph.)

--With assistance from Scott Deveau.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nico Grant in San Francisco at ngrant20@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Molly Schuetz

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

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As coronavirus outbreaks outside China continued to raise concerns Monday, global health officials urged caution on labeling it a pandemic.

World Health Organization Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in WHOs media briefing that the strain of the virus, which officials have labeled COVID-2019, has not yet reached pandemic levels, but that countries should prepare for it to potentially do so.

Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear, he said. We do not live in a binary, black-and-white world. Its not either-or. We must focus on containment, while doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic.

According to WHOs latest numbers, 79,339 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed as of Monday, and 2,619 people died as a result of disease caused by the virus. The vast majority of cases and deaths have occurred in China.

Stocks in the U.S. fell Monday morning after cases increased across the globe, particularly in Iran, Italy and South Korea. Those countries and neighbors in their respective regions have all put precautions in place to limit the virus spread, including regional lockdowns and travel restrictions.

The most recent information available from the Centers for Disease Control show that, as of Friday, 14 cases had been confirmed in the U.S. of the 414 people who had been tested.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said Friday that the nations current goal is limiting the spread of the virus as no vaccine or specific treatment yet exist.

This new virus represents a tremendous public health threat, she said. 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.

No cases have been confirmed in New York City following the testing of six residents and one non-resident, according to the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

New York City is on high alert and prepared to handle any confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said earlier this month. "My message to New Yorkers remains the same: if you have the travel history and are exhibiting symptoms, please see your health provider immediately.

Those symptoms caused by the virus, which affects the respiratory system, include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. The COVID-2019 strain comes from the same group of viruses that cause anything from the common cold to SARS.

WHO officials have identified older persons, and those with pre-existing conditions, like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, as the most at-risk of developing severe symptoms from the virus.

Preventative measures include people thoroughly washing their hands, avoiding close contact with others who are sick, and staying home when sick, according to the CDC.
Details added (first version posted at 10:57)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Khojaly genocide is a crime against humanity, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said at the event titled "Refugee Women's Call for Justice: Ensuring Their Needs on the Agenda for Peace and Security", Trend reports Feb. 24.

Hajiyev stressed that as a result of the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, one fifth of Azerbaijan's territory was occupied, more than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons, and more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis died during military operations.

"Today's event takes place on the eve of the next anniversary of the Khojaly genocide. Four UN Security Council resolutions condemn the Armenian occupation, reflecting support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within internationally recognized borders. These resolutions also reflect the humanitarian challenges that Azerbaijan has faced. The resolutions require the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories. They remain valid until executed," Hikmet Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev stressed that the representatives of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh play an important role in bringing the voice of fairness of Azerbaijan to the world.

"Azerbaijan is a supporter of the settlement of the conflict in accordance with international law and within the framework of its territorial integrity," Hajiyev added.

Hajiyev noted that during the Khojaly genocide, 613 people were killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly.

"During the events in Khojaly, 1,275 people were captured, 787 became crippled, 150 people went missing. Over 16 countries recognized the Khojaly tragedy as genocide. The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which sharply condemns the use of force by Armenia against Azerbaijan, emphasizes the inadmissibility of the appropriation of land through military aggression, and once again confirmed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within internationally recognized borders. These resolutions also enshrined the humanitarian aspects and factors of the humanitarian catastrophe that Azerbaijan faced," Hikmet Hajiyev said. "The most important point in these documents is related to the demand for the unconditional and complete withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories."

"Azerbaijan takes all necessary measures to ensure the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, including women, in their integration and strengthening their role in society. A draft National Plan of Action for 2020-2023 has been prepared taking into account obligations undertaken at the international level, in particular, related to the implementation of UN Security Council resolution No. 1325. In this context, I would like to note the special role of the relevant state bodies, in particular, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs. A draft National Action Plan has been developed with the involvement of representatives of civil society and NGOs involved in this process, and measures are currently being taken with the participation of government agencies to complete work in this direction," Hikmet Hajiyev added.

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, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

During the Karabakh war, on Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
A gunman opened fire at a flea market in Houston on Sunday, wounding seven people in an area known for its Hispanic community, with a suspect being taken into custody at the scene.

"No one is critically wounded," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said, adding that the victims were being taken to hospitals and that some injuries may have been a result of a bullet ricochet.

"We believe at this point those are all minor, superficial type of wounds", Gonzalez said. "A male is detained at the scene."

The shooting occurred as the Sunday market was taking place in the busy area.

"This evening there was a live dance going on here at this location. A lot people including children were inside the location", the Harris County Sheriff said in a briefing.

The investigation was going on and there was no immediate information on the motive of the shooter, according to the sheriff, who said the shooting happened at around 7:00 p.m.

A witness had reported seeing somebody with a gun in the area where weapons are not allowed, the sheriff said.

"It is a miracle nobody else was seriously hurt, especially the children," he said.
A carnival float depicts Brazilian President Bolsonaro with chainsaw arms during the traditional carnival parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. The foolish street spectacles in the carnival centers of Duesseldorf, Mainz and Cologne, watched by hundreds of thousands of people, are the highlights in Germany's carnival season on Rosemonday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Several people have been injured after a car drove into a crowd at a carnival procession in Germany, police said.

The driver was arrested, but police have not disclosed a cause for the crash.

Police told the dpa news agency that no deaths have been reported in the crash in Volkmarsen, about 175 miles south-west of Berlin.

Police said they do not have a specific number of injuries yet and they refused to release any details on the driver.

Police told dpa it was not yet clear whether the driver had suffered some sort of a medical issue, if there was a mechanical problem with the car or whether the vehicle was intentionally driven into the crowd.

Local media reported at least a dozen injuries, including children, but police could not immediately confirm the information.

Video from the scene showed a silver Mercedes with local licence plates and its hazard lights blinking on a pavement, while emergency crews walked by. The crash occurred on the south side of the town, outside a supermarket.

The crash came amid the height of Germany's celebration of carnival, with the biggest parades in Cologne, Duesseldorf and Mainz.

Volkmarsen, which has a population of 7,000, is east of Duesseldorf, near Kassel.

Police in Western Hesse state tweeted that all other carnival parades in the state on Monday were ended after the crash as a precaution.

Police shut down the area to allow emergency crews to deal with the crash.

Police said they could not immediately provide further details and urged people not to spread "unconfirmed reports" about the crash.

The regional Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper reported that witnesses said the driver drove around a barrier blocking off traffic from the parade, but that it was not yet clear whether the car intentionally headed towards the crowd.
Microsoft pulled back the curtain on more Xbox Series X specs this morning, and well, it looks like a beast. Clocking in at a whopping 12 teraflops, the integrated Radeon graphics inside Microsofts next-gen console packs more raw compute power than AMDs current discrete graphics card champion, as the Radeon RX 5700 XT tops out just shy of 10 TFLOPS. Thats damned impressive.

This aint ConsoleWorld though, so we arent going to dive that deeply into the latest tease. But theres a juicy nugget for us PC gamers in Microsofts reveal, too: Xbox chief Phil Spencer confirmed that the AMD chip powering the new console will deploy AMDs RDNA2 graphics architecture. RDNA2 is the successor to the first-gen Navi RDNA GPUs inside the current Radeon RX 5500 XT, Radeon RX 5600 XT, and Radeon RX 5700 XT graphics cards, and AMD CEO Lisa Su has already said that RDNA2-based GPUs will hit the streets later this year.

The bespoke RDNA2 graphics chip inside the Xbox Series X probably wont fully align with what well find in the discrete graphics cards, but the underlying capabilities are likely to make it in.

Gordon Mah Ung/IDG The Radeon RX 5700s first-gen RDNA Navi GPU.

Here are some new features wed expect to see in AMDs next-gen Radeon graphics cards, courtesy of Microsofts reveal:

Real-time ray tracing: No surprise here. While real-time ray tracing is currently only supported by Nvidias GeForce RTX 20-series graphics cards, which pack dedicated hardware for the task, both Microsoft and Sony have promised to support the cutting-edge lighting technology. The Xbox Series X announcement reiterates the fact, and at CES, Lisa Su confirmed that AMD will release graphics cards with ray tracing sometime in 2020.

DirectX Raytracing: Heres another no-brainer. The latest Xbox Series X tease confirmed that the consoles ray tracing will use Microsofts DirectX Raytracing API, which builds atop DirectX 12 in Windows 10. In other words, ray-traced games created for the Xbox Series X should easily support the technology on Windows as well. Yay!

Variable Rate Shading: This is cool and key to potentially unlocking much faster gaming performance with little or no impact on image quality. Nvidia introduced Variable Rate Shading in its latest GeForce GPUs, and the technology has since been enshrined in DirectX itself, similar to ray tracing. Its great to see the technology coming to Radeon graphics chips as well.

Nvidia

Heres how we described Variable Rate Shading in our Nvidia Turing GPU deep dive:

Variable rate shading is sort of like a supercharged version of the multi-resolution shading that Nvidias supported for years now. Human eyes only see the focal points of whats in their vision at full detail; objects at the periphery or in motion arent as sharp. Variable rate shading takes advantage of that to shade primary objects at full resolution, but secondary objects at a lower rate, which can improve performance.

HDMI 2.1: People were surprised when AMDs Radeon RX 5700 XT and its siblings launched with HDMI 2.0b rather than full-fledged HDMI 2.1. The RDNA2 display engine will upgrade to the latest version, assuming the Xbox Series Xs GPU uses the same one. Microsofts console will also support Auto Low Latency Mode to automatically switch to your displays most responsive setting, as well as Variable Refresh Ratesthe technology that AMDs FreeSync and Nvidias G-Sync technologies are based on. VRR support in the consoles could provide a big boost for the FreeSync monitors ecosystem, and wind up pushing the technology into more televisions.

Stay tuned

While these tantalizing glimpses of whats to come for Radeon graphics cards may spark curiosity, the rest of whats inside the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 may have even bigger knock-on effects for the PC gaming ecosystem. The next-gen consoles will pack hugely improved AMD Ryzen CPUs and fast solid-state storage, finally bringing living room gaming on par with what weve been enjoying at our desks for years now. That means developers can target more powerful hardware as the lowest common denominator, and a rising tide floats all boats.

Theres no question about it: 2020 is shaping up to be a banner year for gamers of all sorts.
From left, Alessandra Manon, Michelle Magallon, Gerardo Velasquez, Justin Rodriguez, and Naome Antoinette star in "Rich Kids" Photo: ITN Distribution Photo: ITN Distribution

There are two indie movies with southeast Texas ties that have been making noise on the national festival circuit over the last few months. Now it's time for local audiences to show them as much recognition as others have.

One is Annie Silverstein's "Bull," a well-wrought contemporary character sketch about an aging rodeo rider filmed in Houston and Angleton set for theatrical release March 20. It was an Un Certain Regard nominee at Cannes and won the Houston Film Critics Society's Texas Independent Film Award in January.

Up first though is Laura Somers' impressive troubled-youth tragedy, "Rich Kids," shot around Houston and Pasadena, that was named best film at the New York Latino Film Festival and the Women Texas Film Festival in Dallas. It's available for streaming now on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Being released at a time when Parasite, the Oscar-winning South Korean film about class conflict, is on everybody's lips -- including the president's -- might make for some uncomfortable comparisons for the much lower-budget "Rich Kids," a film that bears some similarities in terms of broad outline: poor people invading the home of an unsuspecting rich family. But if such hubbub gets more people to check out Rich Kids, all the better.

More Information 'Rich Kids' Unrated (strong language, sex, drug use) Running time: 97 minutes Where: Streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime ***1/2 (out of 5)

Instead of a nuclear family breaking into upper-class lives, this time it's a group of alienated, working-class Latino and black teens, feeling trapped in a nameless, desolate neighborhood. So, on a sauna-hot Texas day, they scale the fence of the home of a nearby moneyed family that happens to be out of town -- "Los Ricos" (the rich ones) the friends call them -- to experience how the other half lives.

It's all fun and games at first for Matias (Gerardo Velasquez), whose own family has just been evicted from their crummy apartment, his brainy girlfriend Vanessa (Michelle Magalon), his nerdy pal Steve (Justin Rodriguez), Steve's bullying, wanna-be gangsta cousin Carlos (Ulysses Montoya), shy Isabel (Naome Antoinette) and flirty Jasmin (Alessandra Manon).

At first, their crimes are more aspirational than acquisitive. Their initial inclination isn't to rob Los Ricos blind but to be them. To slip into their lives as easily as Matias slides into a soft, blue shirt he finds in Mr. Rico's expansive closet. It's swimming in the pool. Its playing the piano. It's making a luxuriant meal of truffle-parmesan mac-and-cheese, basmati rice, beef vindaloo and whatever other upscale items they forage from the fridge. Theyre living the Whole Foods dream instead of their usual bargain-bin reality.

Notably, Los Ricos dont seem all that rich. Their house isnt a palace, the pool isnt infinity. They appear comfortably upper-middle-class, more Brady Bunch than Jeff Bezos. But for Matias, who has to use a plunger at home every time he flushes the toilet, it might as well be Mar-a-Lago.

Hanging over them like a phantom though is the dread that Los Ricos will come back early. But it's not only the return of the family  who is never actually named  they should fear but each other. As the hours wear on and the fantasy wears off, the sharp differences on their side of the class divide begin to puncture their reverie.

Based on a script by David Saldana and Somers, "Rich Kids" makes up in authenticity and heart what it lacks in budget. The young actors are all terrific and Somers keeps things moving swiftly enough that you don't wonder too long over such nagging thoughts as why Los Ricos either don't have or didn't arm their alarm system.

Things get a bit preachy and speechy near the end but, by that time, Somers and the cast have built up such goodwill that it doesn't matter as much as it might have otherwise. "Rich Kids" is the kind of cinematic calling card that makes you intrigued to see what any of those involved will do next.

cary.darling@chron.com
USS Ross en route to the Black Sea

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200223-01

Release Date: 2/23/2020 7:29:00 AM

From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) began its north-bound international strait transit en route to the Black Sea Feb. 23, 2020, to conduct maritime security operations and enhance regional maritime stability, combined readiness, and naval capability with our NATO allies and partners in the region.

This is the first time a U.S. Navy ship has visited the Black Sea since the beginning of 2020. Ross was the last ship to visit in the Black Sea, 2019, marking the 8th by a U.S Navy ship last year.

"With this visit, we are consistently strengthening our relationships with our Black Sea partners," said Cmdr. John D. John, commanding officer of Ross. "Steady operations in the Black Sea are crucial to building a secure maritime environment and ensuring freedom of navigation."

Ross recently operated with the French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) and as part of Combined Task Force 473 in the Mediterranean during FOCH, a major French navy deployment. Ross provided defensive capabilities for the strike group. In addition to the Ross, this French led deployment brought together, one after the other, forces from Greece, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, providing a training opportunity for all participants to improve combat readiness.

The ship's operations in the Black Sea will strengthen interoperability with NATO allies and partners and demonstrate collective resolve to Black Sea security under Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Ross, forward-deployed at Naval Station Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea consistent with international law, including the Montreux Convention.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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By PTI

NEW DELHI: A fringe Hindu outfit on Monday organised a 'yagna' ahead of talks between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 'yagna' was organised by Hindu Sena at Jantar Mantar.

"We performed the rituals to seek God's blessings for PM Narendra Modi and Trump as they begin their talks and to pray that they can work together to eradicate terrorism," Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta said.

Meanwhile, members of various Left outfits and women's groups protested a few metres away at the same venue against Trump's visit, saying it does not augur well for India.
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Bharat Book Bureau Provides the Trending Market Research Report onVietnam Coffee Market Standard Report Q4/2019under Beverages Category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and Market reports.

Vietnam Coffee Market

The world coffee export volume has continuously changed over the years. The world coffee export volume in the 2017/2018 crop was estimated to decrease by xx% compared to the previous crop and increase again in the 2018/2019e crop, reaching xx%. Meanwhile, the demand for coffee in the world increased, the world coffee consumption in the 2018/2019 crop was estimated at xx million bags.

According to USDA's report, in the 2018/19 crop, Vietnam's coffee production was expected to continue to grow because in the previous crop, the weather was relatively stable, the rainfall was enough to supply the crop, helping the coffee production increase strongly again. The domestic coffee consumption during 2012/2013 - 2018/2019e grew with a CAGR of xx%.

Request a free sample copy of Vietnam Coffee Market Report @ https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/sample/reports/1994201

The total volume of Vietnam imported coffee in 2017/18 was estimated at about xx million bags. Vietnam is currently importing a small amount of fresh coffee beans and roasted coffee beans, brewed coffee from China, Laos, Indonesia, Brazil, America ...

In Q4/2019, it was estimated that the coffee exports declined by xx% in volume and xx% in value compared to the same period last year. Vietnam is the largest Robusta coffee exporter in the world but mainly in raw form, which does not bring high added value.

Abbreviations

Executive Summary

1. Business environment

1.1 Macroeconomic situation

1.2 Legal framework

2. World coffee market

2.1 Production

2.2 Consumption

3. Vietnam coffee market

3.1 Types of coffee produced in Vietnam

3.2 Process and production technology

3.3 Production

3.4 Consumption

3.5 Export and Import

3.6 Price

4. Industry planning

5. Enterprise Analysis

5.1 Profitability

5.2 Operation capability

5.3 Operation efficiency

5.4 Profit margin

6. Appendex

List of Figures

Figure 1: GDP growth rate, by quarter, 2016  2019

Figure 2: Output value of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the first 9 months (at constant prices in 2010), 2016 - 2019

Figure 3: Monthly CPI fluctuation, 1/2015 -9/2019

Figure 4: VND/USD exchange rate, 1/2013 - 9/2019

Figure 5: Main agricultural products export of Vietnam, 9M/2019

Figure 6: Value and share of coffee in main agricultural products, 2010- 9M/2019

Figure 7: World coffee output by season, 2008/2009 - 2019/2020f

Figure 8: Structure of coffee production by type, 2018/2019e

Figure 9: Structure of Arabica production, 2017/2018e

Figure 10: Structure of coffee production by region, 2018/2019e

Figure 11: Structure of coffee production by country, 2018/2019e

Figure 12: Coffee consumption in the world, 2012/2013 - 2018/2019e

Figure 13: Structure of world coffee consumption by region, 2018/2019e

Figure 14: Structure of coffee consumption by country, territory, 2018/2019e

Figure 15: Structure of coffee growing area in Vietnam, 2018/19e

Figure 16: Planting area of coffee in some provinces, 2014/15 - 2017/18

Figure 17: Number of ground roasted coffee processing plants and capacity, 2017

Figure 18: Instant coffee processing plants and capacity, 2017

Figure 19: Coffee production output of Vietnam, 2012/2013 - 2019/2020f

Figure 20: Coffee production structure of Vietnam, 2018/2019e

Figure 21: Vietnam coffee consumption, 2012/13 - 2018/2019e

Figure 22: Coffee retail sales in Vietnam, 2011 - 2018e

Figure 23: Value of coffee retail sales, 2011 - 2018

Figure 24: Instant coffee consumption habits, 2016

Figure 25: Types of coffee used in households, 2016

Figure 26: Roasted coffee consumption habits, 2016

Figure 27: Vietnam coffee import, 2012/13 - 2018/19e

Figure 28: Vietnam coffee import markets by value, 2018/2019

Figure 29: Structure of Vietnam coffee import, 2018/2019e

Figure 30: Top 10 coffee import firms in Vietnam, 2018

Figure 31: Vietnam's export volume and value, 2013  9M/2019

Figure 32: Structure of export output of coffee by main category, 7M/2019

Figure 33: Coffee export value by month, 2016 - 2019

Figure 34: Average export price and export volume of coffee by month, 2017  9/2019

Figure 35: Structure of coffee export markets, 9M/2019

Figure 36: Top coffee export firms in Vietnam, 5M/2019

Figure 37: Price of raw coffee beans, 10/2016 - 9/2019

Figure 38: FOB export price of coffee in Ho Chi Minh City, 10/2016 - 9/2019

Figure 39: Profit index, 2017 - 2018

Figure 40: Profit margin, 2017 - 2018

Figure 41: Solvency, 2017 - 2018

Figure 42: Selling expenses, 2017 - 2018

Figure 43: Management expense, 2017 - 2018

Figure 44: Self-financing rate,, 2017 - 2018

Browse our full report with Table of Content : https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/vietnam-coffee-market-standard-report-q4-2019/1994201

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Pitkin County Manager Jon Peacock and the ASE Vision Committee are discussing potentially changing the proposal for an expanded runway at the Aspen airport. As contemplated to date, a widened runway would shift to the west. However, the committee is now considering keeping the runway aligned as is, while still widening it, and pushing the new terminal building to the east.
Joe Biden at a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 20, 2020.

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Former Vice President Joe Biden is telling a story on the campaign trail about being arrested in South Africa, but there's no record of him mentioning the arrest before now.

The 77-year-old has told three campaign events about being arrested while trying to visit Nelson Mandela in the 1970s.

The New York Times looked into his past mentions of South Africa and reported that Biden has never before publicly talked about an arrest.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has told a story about being arrested in South Africa during several presidential campaign events in February, but there's no evidence he's ever mentioned the incident ever before.

Biden has told the story  in which he says he was arrested while trying to visit Nelson Mandela in the 1970s  at two events in Nevada and one in South Carolina, according to the New York Times.

But the New York Times reported that after a deep dive into Biden's memoir, past speaking events, and interviews, they found that he had never spoken about the arrest until the 2020 presidential race.

"This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid," Biden said at a South Carolina event on February 11. "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."

The New York Times reported that Biden mentioned the 1970s South Africa trip in his 2007 memoir, but made no mention of an arrest.

According to HuffPost, Biden spoke about a 1977 visit to the South African Embassy in Washington in 2013 but did not reference being arrested. Biden said at the time that he met with anti-apartheid leaders, though Mandela was still in prison and they did not have a chance to meet.

The Biden campaign has not yet responded to Insider's request for comment.

Story continues

Former civil rights activist and Georgia congressman Andrew Young, who was a US ambassador to the United Nations from 1977 to 1979 told The New York Times that he traveled to South Africa with Biden and did not recall an arrest.

"No, I was never arrested and I don't think he was, either," the 87-year-old said. "Now, people were being arrested in Washington. I don't think there was ever a situation where congressmen were arrested in South Africa."

He said he respects Biden but supports Michael Bloomberg in the 2020 presidential race.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Warren Buffett said Monday morning that he would 'certainly' vote for fellow billionaire Mike Bloomberg for president when asked if he was his preferred candidate.

The investor, who has a net worth of nearly 89 billion, joked with CNBC's Squawk Box that he didn't think an endorsement from him would help the former New York City mayor's chances in the presidential race.

'I would certainly vote for him. I don't think another billionaire supporting him would be the best thing to announce,' he said, laughing. 'Sure, I would have no trouble voting for Mike Bloomberg.'

In adding to his near endorsement of Bloomberg, Warren also said he preferred him to current frontrunner Bernie Sanders.

Investor Warren Buffett said Monday that he would 'certainly' vote for fellow billionaire Mike Bloomberg and said he preferred the former New York City mayor over frontrunner Bernie Sanders

'I don't think another billionaire supporting him would be the best thing to announce,' Buffett admitted in an interview Monday morning, laughing

Buffett said he didn't prefer Bernie Sanders because he felt he wanted to 'kill' the capitalist system. 'If given the choice, I would certainly vote for Mike Bloomberg as opposed to Sanders,' Buffett said

'I don't want to get into handicapping the race. I would say this in terms of Sanders: I actually agree with him in terms of certain things he would like to accomplish. I don't agree with him in many ways. In terms of the fact that we ought to do better by the people that get left behind by our capitalist system. I don't think we should kill the capitalist system in the process,' Warren, who has been very successful in the capitalist system, said of the Democratic socialist.

'It doesn't work as well for people whose talents aren't geared toward a market economy and I don't think anyone should be left behind,' Warren continued of the Vermont senator. 'I'm a big fan of increasing the earned income tax credit. I think there should be some changes made. But if given the choice, I would certainly vote for Mike Bloomberg as opposed to Sanders.'

Buffett, who chairs Berkshire Hathaway, prides himself on being a 'Democrat, but not a card-carrying Democrat,' and has voted for and contributed to Republican candidates.

Both Bloomberg and Buffett are among the top 10 richest men in the world  and Bloomberg is a former Republican-turned-independent mayor.

Bloomberg, who launched his bid for president in mid-November, rose the ranks and for the first time made the Democratic debate stage in Las Vegas, Nevada last Wednesday.

He has also far out-spent the rest of the 2020 contenders, pumping hundreds of millions of his own money into his campaign, mainly on TV and social media advertising.

Bloomberg News announced when their owner began running for president that it would not investigate him or his political rivals  and the billionaire pledge to sell the media company if he becomes president.

Both Buffett and Bloomberg are among the top 10 richest men in the world

Buffett ruled out Monday the possibility that he would be a potential buyer of Bloomberg LLP should it go up for sale.

'If Michael Bloomberg becomes the Democratic candidate would you consider buying his company?' Buffett was asked by CNBC.

'No,' he chuckled. 'I can give you a categorical answer to that.'

'There'd be somebody who'd pay more,' Buffett added.

Bloomberg is focusing much of his effort on Super Tuesday, largely ignoring the first four early primary contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and upcoming primary election in South Carolina on Saturday.

In an average of national polls, however, Bloomberg has captured more than 15 per cent support of the eight candidates still in the running, and falls in third place behind Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, during their visit to Sabarmati Ashram on Monday, were seen spinning the Charkha, which is closely associated with India's freedom struggle and Mahatma Gandhi.

With Mahatma Gandhi's famous hymn "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" playing in the backdrop, the US first couple were seen sitting beside each other, being assisted to operate the "Charkha".

Upon arrival at the Ashram, the US President and the First Lady Melania Trump were welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump along with Prime Minister Modi also garlanded a photo of Mahatma Gandhi.

The dignitaries also had a look at the three monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi depicting moral gestures -- see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil -- at the ashram.

Trump, who arrived here a short while ago, was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Ahmedabad Airport with a hug.

The two leaders will also address the "Namaste Trump" event at the Motera Stadium in a short while from now before the US President departs for Agra where he along with his wife will visit the Taj Mahal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to Rotunno, Weinstein was taken to Bellevue Hospital on Monday because of high blood pressure, but is scheduled to end up at Rikers Island, the notorious New York jail complex that is slated to be shuttered following years of scandals and reports of abuse and mismanagement. Rotunno asked for him to be placed in a medical unit, and Justice James Burke agreed to recommend it. Hes under the care of five doctors currently. Hes dealing with the remnants of his back operation, which was not successful. Hes in need of the walker. He takes a list of different medicines, Rottuno said. Hes currently receiving shots in his eyes so he does not go blind.
Actress Nana Ama McBrown surprised her husband during their baby Maxins first birthday celebration.



The screen diva who celebrated her daughter Maxins first birthday in Kumasi over the weekend, was full of praise to God for the gift of a baby, also decided to use the opportunity to thank her husband Maxwell Mensah.



Nana Ama presented a fully furnished canteen for the Ashan Childrens Home as Maxins gift to the orphanage, and during her speech she surprised her husband.



She went down on her knees and asked everyone present to join her to thank her husband Maxwell who was standing right by her with their baby Maxin, for his support and patience throughout the years.



Baby Maxin turned one-year-old on Friday, February 21, 2020. McBrown, in the company of family and friends headed out to Ashan Childrens Village in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to commission a 100 seater canteen, she built for the orphanage. The canteen which will also serve as an assembly hall has a fixed television set and a stocked refrigerator.



Several celebrities including Kwaisey Pee, Nana Noroo, Akatakyie, Mercy Asiedu, Wayoosi, Kontihene, Matilda Asare, Akwasi Nyamekye, among others were present to support Nana Ama and her family.



Watch the video below:





Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com









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To address the supply crunch, CII has suggested leveraging the existing excess capacity in the Indian industry; rolling back import duty hike to look for alternative sources of imports; expanding credit to manufacturing units with quick loan sanctions, and one-time emergency waiver of non-performing asset regulations for three months.

IMAGE: Shared bicycles and barricades block the way in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Reuters

India could run out of supplies in mobile phones, auto parts, insecticides and pharmaceuticals within a fortnight as the China shutdown intensifies due to coronavirus, according to government officials.

Describing the concern as grave, an official pointed out, we do not have enough time to arrange supplies from other countries.

While the crisis situation has prompted the government to rework the supply chains, theres no clear road map yet on how the supply shortfall can be met in the near term at least.

Officials have indicated that its an opportunity for India to scale up its manufacturing capabilities, but that will take time.

Besides the shortage in supplies, the government is also fire-fighting on bureaucratic procedures related to imports.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday that steps were likely to be taken to exempt imports of certain items from documentation, so that consignments from China get cleared fast.

The emergency measure is being considered as Chinese officials, caught in tackling the deadly virus, are not able to provide the necessary paperwork for cross-border trade.

We are studying the sectors and ports where to provide this relief on a temporary basis, Sitharaman said, while admitting that shes worried about the fallout of the virus on the economy.

An analysis by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has estimated that China supplies 43 per cent of Indias imports of the top 20 goods.

This includes mobile handsets ($7.2-billion import from China), computers ($3 billion), integrated circuits, and other inputs ($7.5 billion), fertilisers ($1.5 billion), pharma ingredient API ($1.4 billion), and antibiotics ($1.1 billion).

With over 90 per cent of solar power equipment being sourced from China, 2-4 gigawatts of upcoming projects are likely to be affected, according to CII.

Officials believe Customs duty would take a hit in February and March as a direct result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Sources in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs said they feared that plenty of consignments from China and even Southeast Asia were languishing in ports because of delay in clearances.

These are imports for which papers are not arriving from China, an official said.

The importers are also paying demurrage charges at the ports which raise the costs for them. These charges are likely to be waived.

Demurrage charges are levied by shipping lines on importers when they do not take delivery of the full container and move it out of the port or the terminal area within the permissible number of free days.

Opportunity for India

However, with China on shutdown mode, many companies are looking at India as an alternative destination.

Some 10-12 companies, among those searching for alternatives to China, have spoken to us, and I feel their expectations from us are quite realistic and reasonable, said Sitharaman.

The finance minister is scheduled to meet industry bodies and trade leaders, including those from the tourism sector, about the coronavirus threat on Tuesday.

She decided on these interactions after a recent meeting in Chennai, where importers flagged their concerns.

The government expects to earn Rs 1.25 trillion from Customs duty in 2019-20, according to Revised Estimates, down 19 per cent from last years Budget numbers.

Ajay Sahai, director general and chief executive officer, Federation of Indian Export Organisations, said any relaxation in submission of documents for imports purpose would be highly beneficial as statutory agencies have not yet commenced their full operation.

Scaling up domestic production

Meanwhile, officials from finance, commerce and other ministries are also expected to meet stakeholders to find ways on managing the coronavirus fallout.

For instance, Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal said he would hold meetings with industry segments over the next week to strategise on overcoming the supply shortage by scaling up domestic production.

We are going to look at ways where we can rework the global supply chain with the help of domestic manufacturers We are also talking to other countries. It is a big opportunity for us, Sanyal told Business Standard.

To address the supply crunch, CII has suggested leveraging the existing excess capacity in the Indian industry; rolling back import duty hike to look for alternative sources of imports; expanding credit to manufacturing units with quick loan sanctions, and one-time emergency waiver of non-performing asset regulations for three months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his official Twitter handle to say that the country awaits the arrival of the US President. PM Modi further stated that this visit will "strengthen the friendship between our nations."

India awaits your arrival @POTUS @realDonaldTrump! Your visit is definitely going to further strengthen the friendship between our nations. See you very soon in Ahmedabad. https://t.co/dNPInPg03i - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2020

On Sunday, PM Modi tweeted that India looked forward to welcoming President Trump. Modi wrote on Twitter, "India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad." PM replied to a tweet by the Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. Rupani tweeted, "Entire Gujarat speaks in one voice- Namaste Trump."

India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad! https://t.co/fAVx9OUu1j - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 23, 2020

Before leaving for India, Trump tweeted about his excitement about his maiden India visit. He said he was looking forward to being in company of his "great friends" in the country.

Trump retweeted a morphed video wherein the POTUS' face was superimposed on 'Baahubali'- the character played by the South Indian actor Prabhas in the chart buster. This clip also featured members of the Trump family- the First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka and son Trump Jr.

Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA! https://t.co/1jdk3AW6fG - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2020

Also read: Donald Trump visit Live Updates: India all set to welcome POTUS

Also read: Donald Trump to arrive in India shortly: what's on the agenda

Also read: Visiting Taj, India Inc roundtable: Trump's got two busy days in India
By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices slumped by nearly 4% on Monday as the rapid spread of the coronavirus in countries outside China added to investor concerns over the effect on demand for crude.

Global equities also extended losses as worries about the impact of the virus grew, with the number of cases jumping in Iran, Italy and South Korea.

Brent crude <LCOc1> futures fell $2.20, or 3.8%, to settle at $56.30 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude <CLc1> futures fell $1.95, or 3.7%, to settle at $51.43 a barrel.

"The reports of the coronavirus spreading is raising more fears of demand destruction," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. "When we saw the big move down in the stock market, oil traders were selling first and asking questions later."

The coronavirus has infected nearly 77,000 people and killed more than 2,500 in China, most of them in Hubei.

South Korea's fourth-largest city, Daegu, was increasingly isolated as the number of infections there rose rapidly.

Europe's biggest outbreak is in Italy, which reported a seventh death from the flu-like virus and 220 infections.

Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq on Monday recorded their first new coronavirus cases, all involving people who had been in Iran, which raised its toll from the disease to 12 dead and 61 infected.

Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey imposed travel and immigration curbs on Iran.

Still, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that using the word "pandemic" did not fit the facts.

"We must focus on containment while preparing for a potential pandemic," he told reporters in Geneva, adding that the world was not witnessing an uncontained spread or large-scale deaths.

Saudi Aramco expects the coronavirus impact on oil demand to be short-lived and for consumption to rise in the second half of the year, Chief Executive Amin Nasser told Reuters.

Story continues

On Monday, local health officials in China said that four provinces had lowered their virus emergency response measures.

Goldman Sachs said commodity prices could fall sharply before any rebound on the back of Chinese stimulus efforts.

"The promise of stimulus has made commodity markets act like equity markets, building up risks of a sharp correction," the bank said in a note.

Bank of America Global Research kept its 2020 forecast for the price of Brent crude steady at $62 a barrel, citing voluntary and involuntary declines in OPEC supply and the resilience of markets to geopolitical shocks.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to step up a sanctions campaign on Venezuela's oil sector and will be more aggressive in punishing people and companies that violate them, the top U.S. envoy to the Latin American country said.

(Additional reporting by Noah Browning in London and Jessica Jaganathan in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Jason Neely)
Rebecca Judd has blasted Internet trolls peddling a false conspiracy theory that bullied nine-year-old schoolboy Quaden Bayles is actually 18.

The footy WAG, 36, said on The 3pm Pick-Up on Monday that fake news surrounding Quaden's age was a symptom of 'cancel culture'.

'Cancel culture really is an epidemic. Something bad happens to you, so you're the victim and then you get all this money raised and all this attention, and then it's almost like the Internet turns on you and you become a villain again,' she said.

Scroll down for video

Taking a stand: Rebecca Judd (pictured) has blasted Internet trolls peddling a false conspiracy theory that bullied nine-year-old schoolboy Quaden Bayles is actually 18

'They [the Bayles family] have been criticised for faking his age, saying he's 18. He's not 18! He's nine.'

Rebecca's co-host Katie 'Monty' Dimond added that Hayden's mother, Yarraka, has been forced to delete photos of her son from Instagram and turn off comments because of the 'brutal' backlash.

'When I saw all of these negative stories start to come out, I just thought, "Far out, people are cruel." Get off the Internet!' Rebecca concluded.

In the past week, false rumours have spread online that Quaden is actually an adult.

Backlash: Rebecca said on The 3pm Pick-Up on Monday that fake news surrounding Quaden's age was a symptom of 'cancel culture'. Pictured: nine-year-old Quaden Bayles

Trolls: In the past week, false rumours have spread online that Quaden is actually an adult. Pictured: Quaden with the Indigenous All-Stars NRL team on the Gold Coast on Saturday

One post circulating on Twitter claimed his high-profile Instagram page and modelling career were proof he'd 'scammed everybody'.

The accuser also pointed to a photo of Quaden at a friend's 18th birthday party in January, saying the celebrations were for him. (They weren't.)

Yarraka Bayles hit out at the claims as they gathered pace on social media, sharing a post from someone who knew Quaden from before his viral video.

Why Quaden IS a nine-year-old 1. He was at his friend's 18th birthday - not his own - in January 2. His modelling profile, which may not have been updated, says he is eight years old 3. He appeared on TV toothless and playing with toys as a four year old 4. A photo of him purportedly drinking alcohol has been cropped to remove the Appletiser beside him 5. A baby photo from 2010 shows him at 16 days old Advertisement

'He's nine! Dwarfism is not a joke, is he a model or actor?' the Facebook post read. 'So are a lot of kids That doesn't mean s**t!'

Others have also jumped to Quaden's defence over the birthday post, saying he was actually attending an older friend's party.

Meanwhile, one Instagram photo of the Brisbane boy had been subtly cropped by his accusers to make it appear he was drinking wine with his mother.

In fact, a bottle of Appletiser was sitting on a table next to him, proving his beverage was non-alcoholic sparkling apple juice.

Quaden has also appeared on television as a four-year-old, sitting on his mother's lap playing with toys in an interview with Studio 10 in 2015.

Looking further back, Ms Bayles shared a picture of her son's sixth birthday cake in December 2016, and in 2010 celebrated Quaden turning 16 days old.

The rumours about his age have been accompanied in recent days by trolls creating social media accounts in an attempt to profit from his bullying.

Last week, Quaden's mother shared a distressing viral video of her son - who has achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism - saying he'd rather kill himself than face school bullies again.

Debunked: This post circulating on Twitter claimed Quaden's high-profile Instagram page and modelling career were proof he'd 'scammed everybody

Fake news! The accuser also pointed to this photo of Quaden at a friend's 18th birthday party in January, saying the celebrations were for him. They weren't

Proof: Meanwhile, one Instagram photo of the Brisbane boy had been subtly cropped to make it appear he was drinking wine with his mother. In fact, a bottle of Appletiser was sitting on a table next to him, proving his beverage was non-alcoholic sparkling apple juice

He pleaded: 'Give me a rope, I want to kill myself. I just want to stab myself in the heart... I want someone to kill me. I want to die... I want to scratch myself.'

Ms Bayles shared the video publicly on Facebook in a bid to raise awareness of the consequences of bullying. It has since been shared millions of times.

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.

Evidence: Quaden has also appeared on television as a four-year-old, sitting on his mother's lap playing with toys in an interview with Studio 10 in 2015

Looking further back, Yarraka Bayles celebrated her son turning 16 days old in December 2010

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.'

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14

Heartbreaking: Last week, Quaden's mother shared a distressing viral video of her son - who has achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism - saying he'd rather kill himself than face school bullies again
An attorney representing an inmate at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center who claims he was assaulted by prison staff last month is now asking the U.S. Attorneys office to investigate the alleged attack.

Robert Silva-Prentice, who is serving time at the maximum-security prison in Lancaster for his involvement in a 2017 murder, alleged that on Jan. 22 he was brutally assaulted" by armed members of a tactical team stationed at the prison. He accused them of coming into his cell, kicking him in the head, tasing him while he was handcuffed on the floor and pulling a clump of dreadlocks out of his head, according to a letter Patricia DeJuneas, the prisoners lawyer, sent to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling.

Souza-Baranowski Superintendent Stephen Kenneway alleged it was Silva-Prentice who attacked staff first when they entered his cell. A disciplinary report is being processed against the inmate, and the case may be referred to the Worcester District Attorneys office, Kenneway said last week while testifying at a hearing regarding allegations from three prisoners, including Silva-Prentice, that they were denied access to their attorneys and had their legal materials taken away from them.

I 100% believe my client. He has told me what happened numerous times. Every single time, its consistent," DeJuneas said after the hearing Wednesday "Hes terrified. Hes been terrorized, and now theyre going to terrorize him some more by making up trumped-up charges and trying to get him convicted him for it.

The prison was locked down on Jan. 10 for roughly three weeks after more than a dozen inmates attacked four correction officers, hospitalizing each of them. The assault led to a shake-up at Souza-Baranowski, where inmates were either moved within the prison or transferred to other facilities. Twenty-three prisoners were identified as combatants in the attack, according to Kenneway, and 16 prisoners were indicted by Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

Several prisoners alleged that during a search for contraband they were assaulted by tactical team members in retaliation for the attack on the prison guards, though the inmates claimed they had no involvement in the Jan. 10 assault.

Testifying before a Suffolk Superior Court judge in Boston last week, Silva-Prentice claimed he did not know why prison staff entered his room on Jan. 22 and that when he asked for help from mental health professionals after the incident, he was never given their services.

DeJuneas claimed in her letter that the Massachusetts Department of Correction policies were violated during and after the alleged attack. Video was not recorded of tactical team members entering individual cells, Silva-Prentice was not interviewed, medical staff was not present and no photographs were taken of the inmates alleged injuries, she claimed.

Photographs the attorney sent to MassLive show what she alleged are two sets of stun gun burns on Silva-Prentices body. Prison staff were supposed to take pictures of the prisoners injuries, but they never did, DeJuneas said, and by the time she was able to photograph him, the injuries were faded but still visible. The pictures also show the five dreadlocks that were allegedly ripped out of Silva-Prentices head.

Robert Silva-Prentice, an inmate at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, alleged tactical team members at the facility tased him multiple times on Jan. 22. (Patricia DeJuneas)

Robert Silva-Prentice, an inmate at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, alleged tactical team members at the ripped out several of his dreadlocks on Jan. 22. (Patricia DeJuneas)

The inmate remains in non-restrictive housing and is let out of his cell every day for roughly two hours and fifteen minutes, Kenneway confirmed during the hearing last week. DeJuneas said there is no chance that Silva-Prentice would be living among the general population at the facility and be allowed to leave his cell had he assaulted a correction officer.

She also raised questions about how long it has taken the prison to process a disciplinary report.

Theres no way that my client credibly assaulted any staff member and has not been punished for it yet," DeJuneas said after Wednesdays hearing.

The disciplinary action against Silva-Prentice came after the prisoner filed formal grievances and a civil lawsuit naming Kenneway as well as other high-ranking DOC officials as defendants, according to the attorney. Prior to the inmate testifying last week about the alleged assault, nobody even hinted at allegations he may have attacked prison staff first, she said.

In her letter to Lelling, DeJuneas wrote that it is ludicrous for Kenneway to try to justify the alleged brutality against Silva-Prentice by accusing him of attacking correction officers. She added that the superintendents actions amounted to witness intimidation and retaliation.

A DOC spokesperson said officials are unable to discuss the specifics of an inmates incarceration.

Its outrageous. Its beyond outrageous whats happening, DeJuneas said. Hes not the only one that its happening to, so well take whatever steps we have to take to protect these men.

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.

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SALEM  Republicans in the Oregon Senate fled the Capitol on Monday to stop Democrats bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions after the plan cleared a legislative budget committee earlier in the day.

At Mondays 11 a.m. Senate floor session, just one Republican showed up: Sen. Tim Knopp of Bend. Democrats waited as sergeants at arms searched Capitol offices to see if they could round up any other Republicans. But they were unable to find any, so Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, adjourned the chamber until Tuesday.

Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. of Grants Pass has been talking with Courtney on a daily basis and did leave the door open that maybe theyd come back, Courtney told reporters. But he conceded its unclear whether Republicans would return for any deal short of referring the climate bill to voters.

Under the state Constitution, a two-thirds majority of the Senate must be present to conduct business including voting on bills. That means Democrats, despite their supermajority, need at least two Republicans to be present. Courtney said he does not plan to ask the governor to send the state police looking for the Republicans, and Brown said without a request from Courtney she lacks the authority to do so.

Senate Republicans shut down business twice last year by walking out, first to stall a business tax and kill vaccine and gun control bills, then to help kill the 2019 version of cap-and-trade. Earlier this month, House Republicans boycotted an evening floor session to pressure Democrats to slow down the pace of lawmaking.

The earliest the cap-and-trade bill could come up for a Senate floor vote is Wednesday, according to Senate Democrats.

Democratic lawmakers have taken a measured, deferential tone in recent weeks, in an apparent attempt to control tensions at the Capitol. But that ended when Republicans followed through on their widely anticipated walkout Monday.

If (Senate Republicans) dont like a bill, they need to show up and change it or show up and vote no, Gov. Kate Brown said in a during a briefing with reporters. Instead, the senators have chosen to take a taxpayer funded vacation  Oregonians should be outraged and I am, too.

Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, issued a statement saying Walking out on the job is a dereliction of duty and also describing Republicans boycott as dishonorable and disrespectful.

House Speaker Tina Kotek, also a Portland Democrat, called the walkout a crisis for our democracy. This is not a game. Voters elected us to do our job. The members who refuse to show up and do their jobs are saying to a large majority of Oregonians: your vote doesnt matter.

According to the most current available estimates from the Census Bureau, for 2014 through 2019, the 11 Republicans who walked out represent just 36% of Oregons population.

In a statement, Baertschiger blamed the GOPs boycott in part on a parliamentary move by Courtney. With the climate bill before the Legislatures Joint Committee on Ways and Means early Monday, Courtney joined the committee to provide a crucial vote to pass it out, because one of its Democratic co-chairs, Sen. Betsy Johnson, voted with Republicans first to refer the measure to voters, then to kill it. Courtney knew his vote would be needed to make both of those votes go Democrats way.

Republicans took Democrats to task for the move, but it was clearly allowed under the Senates adopted rules and longstanding precedent, Secretary of the Senate Lori Brocker testified.

Senator Courtneys actions leave no other option for Senate Republicans but to boycott and deny quorum because cap and trade is on the way to the Senate floor," Baertschiger said in the written statement. Democrats refused to work with Republicans and denied every amendment that was presented. Pay attention Oregon  this is a true example of partisan politics.

The GOP had anticipated Courtney might replace Johnson of Scappoose, a cap-and-trade opponent, for the vote, as he did last year on a similar climate plan. Instead Courtney left Johnson on the committee and added his own vote.

Senate Bill 1530 would set a gradually more stringent cap on statewide carbon dioxide emissions and require polluters from the transportation fuels, utility and industrial sectors to acquire emissions allowances to cover every metric ton of their emissions.

Democrats have made concessions to Republicans and other opponents of the bill, including exempting a geographically large portion of the state from fees on gas and diesel indefinitely. But Democrats, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, have also voted down numerous amendments proposed by Republicans.

Other Senate Republicans also issued statements explaining their decision to leave and stop business in the Senate. Sen. Lynn Findley, of Vale, said he was following his constituents wishes by fleeing Salem.

It is my job to represent themnot special interests or out-of-state deep pocket donorsand thats what I am doing, Findley said. If my colleagues will not allow for a fair process in the building, then I will represent my constituents from outside the building.

Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Keizer Republican who is also running for Secretary of State, said in a press release that lawmakers should refer the cap-and-trade plan to voters. The vast majority of people who have contacted Thatcher told her cap-and-trade will do more harm than good, she said. Sometimes a boycott is the best way to stop bad laws from happening to good people.

Amid news of the walkout, public employee unions and other groups including the pro-cap-and-trade organization Renew Oregon suggested in a press release that they might target Republicans in swing districts who left the Capitol. It named Thatcher and Salem Sen. Denyc Boles and quoted Allison Seymour, a nurse in Boles district. Sen. Boles and her fellow absent senators should come back to work and fulfill their duty to Oregonians, Seymour said in the press release.

In Boles district, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a very narrow margin and there are more unaffiliated voters than members of either party. Republicans hold a tiny edge in Thatchers district, with unaffiliated voters similarly outnumbering voters registered with either party.

As for Tim Knopp, the lone Senate Republican who showed up for the floor session Monday, there are several thousand more registered Democrats than Republican voters in his district and also a large share of unaffiliated voters. Knopp remains opposed to the climate change bill but stayed at the Capitol to push for some of his own priorities including changes to a business tax Democrats passed last year and a bill to freeze property taxes for older Oregonians.

I think Im representing my district, that they feel like they need to have somebody here to work on those issues and those issues are important to me, Knopp said, adding that my decision is day to day as to whether or not Ill be here.

Factors Knopp is weighing include how are the Democrats treating the minority, how are they treating our constituents, are they listening. And right now, I think theyre trying to listen.

With two weeks left in the short 35-day session, many significant policy bills such as plans to trim a tax break for wealthy investors, ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos, outlaw discrimination based on hairstyles historically associated with race and require safe storage of firearms have yet to pass the Legislature.

Lawmakers plan to provide $45 million to open homeless shelters and to allow them to be located regardless of zoning, planning and design rules has bipartisan support, but it has yet to receive a floor vote in either chamber. A bill to permanently increase the statewide tourism lodging tax, in part to raise $20 million for the 2021 world track championships in Eugene, passed the House but still needs approval in the Senate.

The governors nearly $12 million long-term relief package for eastern Oregon communities hit hard by flooding wont pass unless senators return to pass this and other budget priorities, and neither will legislation thats part of a logging practices deal announced earlier this month between timber companies and conservation groups.

And although legislative leaders want to allocate roughly $500 million to address needs in the state child welfare program, forestry department, local corrections agencies and state hospital, they can only do so with quorums in both chambers. Ditto for issuing around $300 million in bond-backed debt sought by universities for building projects.

Brown left open the possibility she might call lawmakers back in a special session, and Courtney said hes holding out hope Republicans will return before the March 8 deadline in the current session and take up those important bills, as they did in 2019 during a marathon final weekend of the session. I want to continue to work very hard on all these other things so that if we ever did come back, we could really run the budgets and run everything as fast as we could the way we did on that famous Sunday in the general session when we passed I dont know how many bills in two hours.

Editor Betsy Hammond contributed to this report.

 Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud

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ALBANY  It is amazing how much and how quickly our politics have changed.

Five years ago at this time, it looked as if the 2016 presidential election was set to be a snoozer between Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush  a battle of two dynastic, establishment technocrats operating within a narrow ideological range.

Donald Trump upended everything, of course, batting aside Jeb! and the other Republicans before squeaking by a Clinton who had survived a much tougher primary than anyone expected.

You remember Clinton's 2016 challenger: Bernie Sanders, the septuagenarian now poised to win the Democratic nomination.

Sanders is doing to the Democrats what Trump did to the Republicans, upending the old guard and assumptions. The Vermont senator also is proving the country remains in a populist mood that rejects milquetoast politicians. He is showing just how many Americans believe the status quo is failing while the establishment is out of touch.

Upstate voters seem to agree. A poll released Monday by the Siena Research Institute in Loudonville showed that 35 percent of upstate Democrats favored Sanders in New York's upcoming primary. That's a remarkable, 23-point lead over second-place finisher Pete Buttigieg, the bland Indianian, who had 13 percent.

Siena asked about the general election, too, and found that upstate voters preferred Sanders over Trump 50 to 42 percent. The poll makes this much clear: Upstate is Sanders country.

New York elections are rarely won on the preferences of upstate voters, as those of us who live here sadly know. And while Sanders is also ahead among Democratic voters statewide, his lead is narrow  25 percent for Bernie versus 21 percent for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

As part of his novel effort at explicitly purchasing the presidency, Bloomberg argues that Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist, is too far left on economic issues to win the general election  but that's poppycock. Of course, Sanders can win. See: President Trump. If Trump can win, a bag of coffee grinds could.

Meanwhile, you could reasonably argue, given the populist mood we've discussed, that a centrist, neoliberal defender of Wall Street is exactly the wrong person for Democrats to nominate. The oligarch is the perfect Sanders foil, and a good one for Trump, too.

But given the freakout over Sanders' early success, it increasingly seems as though the Democratic establishment, in its venality and narcissism, is more afraid of a Bernie presidency than four more years of Trump. That makes sense: Sanders is a bigger threat to its power. If he wins, the establishment loses control.

So the party establishment, putting its own class interests above the half of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck, will do whatever it can to stop Sanders, even if means alienating the younger, working-class voters the party so desperately needs.

But Sanders is likely to last. And given the divided vote and dwindling resources of other Democrats who aren't billionaires, it increasingly looks as though the nomination will come down to a race between the Vermonter who still sounds like he's from Brooklyn and the New Yorker who still sounds like he's from New England.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

What's especially intriguing, from an upstate perspective, is that New York's primary is likely to play a key role in the nomination. Folks! Our opinion might really matter! This is no small thing in a New York where statewide elections are rarely close and our blueness is a given on presidential-election maps.

New York votes April 28 as part of the so-called "Acela primary" of Northeastern states that includes Pennsylvania, Connecticut and three other states. New York is the biggest prize of the bunch, which means we can expect whatever candidates still remain will try to convince us of their wonderfulness.

It's already starting. The Buffalo News reports the Bloomberg campaign is planning 18 offices around the state and a mega-dose of TV spending. The Bloomberg big-money push will be good for the television industry, if bad for our sanity.

To Bloomberg's credit, the Democrats who know him best  the ones living in New York City  seem enthusiastic about his campaign. The Siena poll found that 42 percent of Democratic voters in the boroughs prefer Bloomberg, compared to 16 percent for Sanders, who finished second.

The poll was conducted mostly before Bloomberg's grim debate performance last week and Sanders' big weekend win in Nevada. Still, if the oligarch's popularity in New York City sticks, it'll be a formidable hurdle for Sanders to overcome, despite his popularity upstate.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
Agricultural experts predicted that Mexico's cradle of corn will be affected by climate change compared to many countries, according to a published report in Reuters.

Corn is very essential in human lives every day because it is not only used as one of the consumptions of humans but also as a livestock feed, as a biofuel, and as part of the raw materials in many industries. Indian corn, colorful variegated strains, are traditionally used in autumn harvest decorations in the United States.

Planting and producing corn is one of the biggest contributions of Mexicans in the world. Around 10,000 years ago, corn was first domesticated in Mexico by its native people. Since then, the planting of corn did not stop even during the time that the country was colonized. Besides, they taught the European colonizers and explorers how to plant corn and they were able to spread it in all areas of the globe that are suitable for corn cultivation.

However, agricultural experts are worried about the effects of climate change on Mexico's cradle of corn compared to other countries. In the past few years, the country has experienced longer droughts brought by climate change and this forced many farmers to give up planting corns and cereals and shift to other agricultural products like pistachio nuts and cactus that require less water.

The location of the country is not the only concern of the agricultural experts, but they are much worried about the soil quality. Sol Ortiz, General Director to Climate Change in Agriculture Sector and Agriculture Ministry of the country, revealed that 75 percent of the country's soil is not suitable anymore in cultivating crops because it is too dry most especially in regions where the temperature is higher compared to the global average like Tehuacan.

In a statement released by Ortiz, the minister said: "We know there are areas where the increase is going to be greater. That will obviously affect rain patterns, and in turn, agriculture and food security."

This is also echoed by some farmers in Mexico. Porfirio Garcia, one of the farmers in Tehuacan, told the reporter of Yahoo News that the rain that would help their crop is supposed to fall in June, July, August, and September. However, it did not come and they are very worried because corn is becoming smaller due to lack of water.

Garcia is only one of the affected farmers in the country. He said that in the past few years he could yield four tonnes of maize just in one hectare but in recent years he is already lucky if he could yield around 700 kilograms of maize in one hectare. This forced him to shift to other products that require less water.

Overall, corn production in the area of Tehuacan has plummeted to 18 percent between 2015 and 2019 to about 40,000 hectares which is faster than the nationwide decline.

In some areas in Tehuacan, it was also found out that aside from shifting to other agricultural products that require less water, they decided to sell their lands to real estate developers and leaving the corn production behind.
AMRITSAR Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has said that Pakistan is a safe country and maximum Sikhs from India should visit all historic gurdwaras there.

In a video shared by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Satwant Singh, the jathedar can be heard saying: Historic gurdwaras hold big importance for SIkhs. Darshan-didar of these gurdwaras has given me immense pleasure and peace of mind. I have no word to recognise the love shown by Pakistans sangat and common people towards me. Not only me, locals also share warm vibes with every person coming from India here.

People of both India and Pakistan dont need to fear visiting each others country. Pakistanis are loved by people in India, Giani Harpreet Singh said.

He further said, I would like to give a message to Sikhs living across India that they should come here in maximum numbers to have darshan of historic gurdwaras. By doing so, they will not only get the blessings of the Guru, but also get rid of illusions about the atmosphere in Pakistan. They will come to know that peace prevails in this country. So, Indian Sikhs should visit here.

We want historic gurdwaras, many of which are in a state of neglect, to be reopened. Footfall of Sikhs at these gurdwaras will help them getting restored, said the jathedar.

Speaking on low footfall at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, which was the last resting place of Sikhisms founder Guru Nanak, the jathedar said, Complicated procedure of getting permission for the pilgrimage and condition of passport are the main hurdles. Governments of both the countries should sit together to find out a solution.

He appreciated the PSGPCs efforts for the betterment of the gurdwaras and welfare of the Sikhs living in Pakistan.
Newburgh Councilman Omari Shakur was caught on police body camera footage Tuesday launching a heated 20-minute tirade at officers in which he said, 'Get the f**k out of my face then! I'm your f**king boss'

This is the shocking moment a New York city councilman berated two police officers in a foul-mouthed tirade where he declared, 'I'm your f**king boss!'

Newburgh Councilman Omari Shakur launched his heated 20-minute rant after a police officer honked at him and ordered him to move his car as he was sitting in the opposite lane of traffic on a street.

The confrontation on Tuesday was caught on a police body camera and shows the moment Shakur explodes at the officers saying, 'Then get the f**k out of my face then! I'm your f**king boss!'

Now Shakur, who was elected in November, is being accused by police unions of making threats and using 'abusive' language toward a police detective and another officer.

However, Shakur says that the detective threatened him and told him to be careful or he'd 'end up like your son'.

Shakur's 23-year-old son Antonio 'Tony' Bryant was shot and killed by police in 2006.

The confrontation on Tuesday was caught on police body cameras and shows the moment Shakur explodes at the officers saying, 'Then get the f**k out of my face then! I'm your f**king boss!'

Officers approached him because he was sitting in his car in the opposite lane of traffic and refused to move when cops beeped at him and flashed their lights

When asked to show his ID to the cops, he refused saying, 'I'm not giving you nothing'

In the incident on Tuesday, Shakur's car was sitting in the middle of Carpenter Avenue in Newburgh in the opposite lane of traffic when a police car stopped behind him and the two cops inside honked at him and flashed their lights.

Video captured on a cop's body camera shows an officer approach Shakur's car, where he's seated in the driver's seat talking to another officer.

'Just give me your license and registration so we can be on our way,' the officer wearing the body camera said.

'I'm not giving you nothing... f**king arrest me cause I'm sitting here taking care of business,' Shakur responded.

'I'm your f***ing boss. Get the f**k out of here,' he repeated.

At one point in the 20-minute video a cop forces the door open and demands his license

'Arrest me or get the f**k out of me face. I'm not giving it to you, I'm not giving it to you,' Shakur repeats

In the end the cops walk away from his car and he starts to blast music and bop to it, refusing to move his vehicle

'Arrest me or get the f**k out of my face. I'm not giving it to you, I'm not giving it to you,' he repeats, refusing to provide his driver's license.

He refused to show his ID because he claimed he didn't do anything to warrant showing it to officers.

A cop then forces the car door open and the officers repeat: 'Mr. Shakur, Mr. Shakur, can you please show us your ID'.

In the end the cops walk away from his car and he starts to blast music and bop to it, refusing to move his vehicle.

Shakur was elected in November, and the incident will be reviewed during a city council meeting on Monday

Shakur issued a statement apologizing for his conduct in the video on Saturday saying: 'I want to apologize to the residents of our city for the way I responded in a recent police police encounter'

The alleged threat about Shakur's son wasn't caught on the police bodycam footage. He claimed the first officer who approached him made a threat about his son.

The shocking video has been viewed tens of thousands of times.

Shakur said a cop threatened him and told him to be careful or he'd 'end up like your son'. Shakur's 23-year-old son Antonio 'Tony' Bryant (above) was shot and killed by police in 2006

Shakur issued a statement apologizing for his conduct in the video on Saturday, saying: 'I want to apologize to the residents of our city for the way I responded in a recent police police encounter.

'The reaction displayed is not who I am and I fell short of the love that I feel amongst my constituents in Newburgh and of the leadership I want to represent,' he added.

'Before the video footage there were approximately 15 minutes of unrecorded interaction with an undercover officer during which I was subjected to direct and personal harassment that were deeply disrespectful to me, my deceased son and family,' he said.

City Mayor Torrance Harvey condemned the tirade, saying: 'Unprofessional, unacceptable... an no one, whether you're an elected official or not, should speak to any law enforcement officer in that regard'.

A city council meeting is scheduled for Monday night where the video will be addressed.

The confrontation is currently under investigation by an outside agency.
OLYMPIA, Wash., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- QCash Financial announces the signing of our newest client, Tropical Financial Credit Union (TFCU), headquartered in Miramar, Florida, with $700 million in assets. TFCU has retained QCash Financial to help them launch a small dollar, personal lending program for their more than 65,000 members. This product is designed to help their members deal with unexpected cash needs with a mobile-friendly and instantaneous application process.

The QCash Financial small dollar lending platform helps credit unions retain members and provides affordable loans without using a credit report.

"We know when our members need a personal loan they don't expect the process to take very long. The member experience is paramount in everything we do and the employee experience is just as important," said Keith Troup, TFCU Chief Lending Officer.

"Our partnership with QCash Financial will help satisfy the quick turnaround time needs of our members on their personal loan request. Furthermore, we're creating back office efficiencies for the staff given it's a completely automated, digital solution. We're really looking forward to being able to serve more members in a shorter period of time with this partnership," Troup added.

In 2019, the Federal Reserve released a study reporting roughly 40 percent of Americans are unable to cover a $400 emergency expense. The majority of these people have nowhere to turn.

Using QCash Financial's white-label, digital, small dollar lending platform, Tropical FCU will combine components of the member's financial history to underwrite, approve, and fund a personal loan in under one minute. The fees and rates are configurable by each financial institution and are substantially lower than today's on-line and store front short-term lenders.

"The Tropical FCU team understands part of fulfilling the demands of today's credit union members includes offering a product that meets the 'in the moment' request for funds," said Ben Morales, CEO of QCash Financial.

"The bottom line is if credit unions don't offer this service, their members will turn to alternatives where the annual percentage rates on these personal loans are anywhere from 120% to more than 600% in certain states. In Florida, the APRs are as high as 419%. We applaud Keith and his team for taking this important step towards helping their members avoid these outrageous fees," Morales added.

About Tropical Financial Credit Union

Based in Miramar, Florida, Tropical Financial Credit Union is a not-for-profit institution whose deposits are federally insured. Anyone who lives or works in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Lee, Collier, Hendry and Sarasota Counties is eligible to join. Tropical Financial Credit Union was formed in 1935 by employees of the former Southern Bell with just a few hundred dollars and has grown to $700 million in assets. For more information, visit www.tropicalfcu.com.

About QCash Financial

QCash Financial, headquartered in Olympia, WA, is a purpose driven Fintech firm with a mission of empowering credit unions in their quest to improve the financial wellness of their communities. QCash Financial offers an automated, cloud-based, short-term lending technology and has recently launched a financial wellness app designed to build financial capacity, stability and resilience.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Misty Ford

QCash Financial

253-363-1317

[email protected]

SOURCE QCash Financial

Related Links

https://qcashfinancial.com/


Vanessa Bryant is reportedly filing a lawsuit against the company that owned the helicopter on which her husband died. (Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/AFP via Getty Images)

On the morning of Kobe and Gianna Bryants memorial service, news broke that his widow has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the company that owned the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter on which the Los Angeles Lakers legend, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others died in a Calabasas, California, hillside crash last month.

TMZ first reported the lawsuit on Monday. Multiple news outlets have since confirmed it.

Vanessa Bryants lawyers are seeking unspecified damages from Island Express, arguing that fog conditions on Jan. 26 should have prevented the company from putting lives at unnecessary risk, according to TMZ. The lawsuit also alleges that Kobe Bryants longtime pilot, Ara George Zobayan, who died in the crash, was previously disciplined for violating visual flight rules in 2015.

More from TMZ:

The lawsuit also says the pilot was going 180 miles per hour in the heavy fog in a steep decline. The lawsuit claims the pilot failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff, failed to obtain proper weather data prior to the flight, failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy condition, failed to maintain control of the helicopter and failed to avoid "natural obstacles" in the flight path.

The lawsuit also alleges that the helicopter was unsafe, per TMZ. The New York Times reported earlier this month that while Zobayan was certified to use the helicopters sophisticated navigation system, Island Express was not, calling into question the legality of flying in the foggy condition. National Transportation Safety Board officials also announced that the helicopter was not equipped with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System that could have alerted Zobayan prior to the crash.

Defendant Island Express Helicopters breach of its duty and negligence caused the injuries and damages complained of herein and Plaintiffs deceased, Kobe Bryant, was killed as a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects, Mondays lawsuit read, according to L.A. Times reporter Nathan Fenno.

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Island Express, which has reportedly experienced three other helicopter crashes since 1985, temporarily suspended operations in the week following the latest crash, according to ABC News.

      

Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach

More from Yahoo Sports:
Jamie Grill | Getty Images

If you don't contribute to your 401(k) plan, you may be missing out on a big wad of cash from your employer. Most companies that offer these workplace retirement plans will match your contributions up to a certain amount. Depending on your salary and the matching formula used, that could translate into thousands of extra dollars going toward your nest egg every year. And after leaving it there to grow? Your future self would probably thank you. "It's so important to take every bit of money your company wants to give you," said Kathryn Hauer, a certified financial planner with Wilson David Investment Advisors in Aiken, South Carolina. "Your employer is saying they'll give you money, and to get it, you just need to set aside savings for yourself every year."

About two-thirds (60%) of all workers had access to a 401(k) plan last year, and 72% of those eligible employees participated, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While there are many reasons for not participating, a number of experts say that passing on a company's match is basically giving up part of your compensation. And, they compare the match to getting an immediate  and big  return on your contributions. "If you have an employer that in essence is giving you a rate of return of 100% or 50% on your contribution, regardless of whether you're 18 or 65, you really have to take the money," said CFP Glen Smith, managing partner of Glen D. Smith and Associates at Raymond James in Flower Mound, Texas. And, of course, if you are able to contribute more than just enough to get the match, that can only help your nest egg grow. The 2020 contribution limit for 401(k) plans is $19,500, with people age 50 and older allowed an extra $6,500 as a "catch-up" contribution for a total of $26,000. More from Invest in You:

How this couple paid off their $300,000 mortgage in 5 years

Here's the secret to multiplying your savings

Save $1,000 without sacrificing anything you really love Remember, too, that if you have a traditional 401(k), your contributions are made pretax, which reduces your taxable income (and, in turn, how much you pay in taxes). If it's a Roth, your contributions are made after-tax. And, whether you contribute to a traditional or Roth 401(k), the company's match always goes into the former and is not taxable compensation. Also, employer contributions do not count toward the contribution maximums. The most common matching formula, according to Fidelity Investments, is a 100% match for the first 3% you contribute with a 50% match for the next 2%. Some companies also make contributions that aren't based on a matching formula.

Even if you don't think you'll be there long enough to be fully vested, even a 20% or 40% vested match is free money. Glen Smith managing partner of Glen D. Smith and Associates at Raymond James

While any contributions you make are always yours, the employer contributions typically are on a vesting schedule  that is, you must work at that company for a certain amount of time before the match is 100% yours. Often, vesting happens gradually  i.e., 20% of the match is vested after one year, 40% after two years, and so on. "Even if you don't think you'll be there long enough to be fully vested, even a 20% or 40% vested match is free money," Smith said. As for what the savings would look like down the road: For illustration purposes, assume your annual salary is $50,000. If you were just to contribute enough to get the employer match, the most common matching formula would mean you contribute 5%, or $2,500, in a year, and your company would put in another $2,000  totaling $4,500 a year. If you did that for only one year, the money would be worth about $26,200 in 30 years, based on a 6% annual return, according to data provided by Fidelity Investments.

If you were to do that five years in a row, with your salary increasing 2% yearly, your account would be worth roughly $69,000 in 30 years. Ten years in a row? The account would hit $202,300 in three decades. And the amount that came from the employer match would be $89,900  44%  of it. Generally speaking, workers can use all the help they can get in saving for retirement. While there are now a record number of 401(k) accounts at Fidelity worth at least $1 million, they represent a sliver of the retirement accounts managed by the company. The median account balance  half are above, half are below  among pre-retirees is far from the $1 million mark, according to Vanguard's How America Saves Report. For people ages 55 to 64, the median account balance in 2018 was about $61,700. For those ages 45 to 54, it was $40,200. If you're already feeling financially squeezed, experts say, it may be hard to imagine parting with any more of your paycheck even when it would be money waiting for you when you retire. "I'm sympathetic to how hard it can be to make ends meet," Hauer said. "But even if you can't contribute enough to get all of the match, it's worth at least getting some of it."
By Olivia Rose

PREMIER Sharlene Cartwright Robinson discussed regional crime and security with fellow heads of government at a high level meeting this week.





She led a small delegation to the 31st Inter-Sessional Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) meeting on Tuesday (February 18) in Bridgetown, Barbados.





The TCI delegation included Ronlee James, executive director of the Office of the Premier, Local Government and Community Affairs, and executive administrator Lareesa Robinson.





During the summit attendees discussed regional crime and security, Caricoms advocacy against blacklisting, de-risking and the withdrawal of correspondent banking services.





High on the agenda was the issue of security. More specifically, the priority actions to strengthen regional law enforcement cooperation and coordination among Caricom member states.





A statement from Caricom said citizens security is at the heart of its security agenda.





"Interventions, among other outcomes, seek to establish, strengthen and protect democratic civic order, as well as to eliminate violence and threats of violence among citizens to allow for safe and peaceful co-existence.





"Strengthening regional law enforcement cooperation and collaboration for effective outcomes is one such intervention.





"The Caribbean communitys complex security landscape and the ever-changing regional and international realities necessitate robust and comprehensive cooperation and collaboration.





A brief snapshot of crime and security as articulated in the Caribbean Community Security Strategy, shows high rates of homicide and violent crimes; trafficking in guns, ammunition and illegal narcotics; organised crime; rising cybercrime; and the growing power of transnational and organised crime networks.





Caricom said: "The upshot of this includes youth violence, gangs and gender-based violence, especially domestic and sexual violence against women and girls, among other ills.





"Increased cyber and financial crimes on an international scale mainly due to technological advancements.





Heads also examined the status of implementation of the requirements of the Caricom Single Market and Economy and are expected to have an engagement with representatives of the Regions Private Sector, Labour and Civil Society.





A statement from the Office of the Premier on Tuesday (February 18) said that the premier participated in discussions about digital transformation in Caricom.





She said she will work with other regional leaders on an action plan for the elimination of regional roaming charges.





Caricom has 15 member states  Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.





Its five associate members are the Turks and Caicos Islands along with Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands.




London, Feb 24 : At least 10 people, including children, were injured when a car crashed into a carnival procession in a town in Germany's Hesse state on Monday, reports said.

The incident was reported from the town of Volksmarsen, the BBC reported. Local media put the number of injured at between 10 to 15.

Police have taken the driver of the car into custody and investigations are on as to the motive, it added. However, local German media cited eyewitnesses as claiming that the driver of the car, a silver Mercedes, had deliberately speeded up as he approached the procession and seemed to target the children.

The procession was being taken out on 'Rosenmontag' (Rose Monday), a carnival day celebrated in some parts of Germany, as well as parts of Austria, Belgium and Switzerland.

As a precaution, all parades in Hesse have been cancelled.
To the Editor:

Re An Unsettling Practice (Science Times, Feb. 18):

As obstetrician-gynecologists, we believe that it is our duty to serve and respect our patients. As physicians, we are dedicated to caring for women. As medical educators, we teach and model professionalism to our learners.

At our academic medical center, Yale New Haven Hospital, we have worked to educate faculty and trainees to ensure that patients are counseled about the care they receive and the team involved. We have established a process to guide physicians to obtain specific informed consent from a patient that discusses the role of learners.

Additionally, the consent process involves an explanation of the components of each procedure, including the role of pelvic examination under anesthesia (E.U.A.) as related to gynecological care. Consequently, the pelvic E.U.A. and its consent process educate students how transparent communication illustrates the respect and shared decision-making critical for the patient-physician relationship.

We are concerned that legislation under discussion in Connecticut regarding pelvic E.U.A. is an example of interference with the patient-physician relationship, and may stigmatize the female anatomy.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (the Company or Pacific Rim Cobalt) (CSE:BOLT) (PCRCF) (NXFE.F) is pleased to announce that it has changed its name to Bolt Metals Corp. The name change will be effective on or about February 26, 2020. Trading in the Companys shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) will continue under the stock symbol, "BOLT". Similarly, there will be no change to the Companys trading symbol on the Frankfurt Exchange or the OTCQB.



The Company is not subdividing, consolidating or otherwise altering its share capital in association with the name change. The name change does not affect the rights of the Company's shareholders and no further action is required by existing shareholders. Certificates representing common shares of Pacific Rim Cobalt will not need to be exchanged as a result of the name change.

Ranjeet Sundher, CEO of the Company, remarks Rebranding the Company is an important step in our emergence as a resource developer in Asias expanding Electric Vehicle supply chain. The Company remains focused on acquiring and developing production grade battery metal projects within the Asia-Pacific region, while employing a vertically integrated mineral-to-market strategy to leverage these assets to their fullest.

The continuation of a number of exciting trends and developments lay the foundation for future growth in every vertical of the EV supply chain, with China leading the way. Nearly every major automotive company is actively shifting focus away from carbon-based cars & trucks while deploying billions of dollars toward battery powered electric vehicle R&D.

Indonesias world-leading nickel reserves, proximity to China, and its recent strategic moves to become a dominant player in the EV supply chain, has positioned the country as a primary global supplier of critical EV battery cathode material, specifically nickel.

The Companys flagship Cyclops laterite nickel-cobalt property features environmental and mining permits, comprehensive infrastructure including year-round sealed road access, close proximity to air and sea transport links, gentle topography and an experienced local workforce.

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During 2019 the Company carried out an extensive exploration and development program at Cyclops, located in Papua Province, Indonesia and achieved successful results outlining significant nickel mineralization in drilling and mini bulk sampling.

This project development success has made it possible for the Company to attract the capital necessary to pursue ambitious milestones in 2020, which include preparations to commission and operate a pilot process test plant in Canada, which will contain an integrated circuit to produce high purity nickel and cobalt strip solutions, required to develop battery-grade material. The results of the pilot plant testing will then be used to establish the design criteria for the subsequent demonstration plant in Indonesia, which will produce nickel and cobalt products suitable to meet market specifications and to establish the design criteria for a commercial scale plant.

The Companys strategy of actively engaging market players in China, Indonesia and Korea continues with ongoing dialogue with a focus on downstream users and commodity suppliers to the EV battery space. The Company looks forward to updating shareholders on its progress in the near future.

The developments are supported by the Companys expanding international presence. This includes an operations office in Sentani, located 15km from the Cyclops Project, as well as offices in Jakarta, Shanghai and Vancouver which together, provide a full suite of human capital and expertise to ensure the Companys continued growth.

About Pacific Rim Cobalt

Pacific Rim Cobalt is a Canadianbased exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of production grade cobalt and nickel deposits, key raw material inputs for the growing lithiumion battery industry. Visit www.boltmetals.com to find out more.

Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp.

Ranjeet Sundher  President and CEO

(604) 922-8272

rsundher@pacificrimcobalt.com

Steve Vanry  CFO & Director

(604) 922-8272

steve@vanrycap.com

Sean Bromley  Director & Investor Contact

(778) 985-8934

sean@theparmargroup.com

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute forward-looking information that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company and with respect to the results of exploration and prospective plans in regards to the Cyclops project. The words may, would, could, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Although Pacific Rim Cobalt has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, success of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
A Kiwi surfer has found himself with a yarn for the ages after fighting off a great white shark that attacked him.

Auckland man Nick Minogue's surf board was bitten by the shark on Saturday out at Pauanui beach in the Coromandel, so he decided to throw hands in defence.

He told the NZ Herald: "I was just paddling along and got hit on the side of my elbow and forearm.

"By the time I realised what was going on, its teeth were definitely latched on to the front section of the board."

The 60 year old Minogue said that he had heard the age-old tale about how Sharks don't like being punched in the eye or nose.

"So I actually shouted at it 'f***off!' and went to punch it in the eye and missed," he said.

"Then I pulled my fist back and shouted 'f*** off!' again and got it right smack bang in the eye. It's quite a big eye, about three knuckles across, and its eye kind of looked up and rolled up.

"In between the two punches it crunched down a bit more on the board and then disengaged its teeth, got its jaws off and then I got brushed by the dorsal fin and the tail fin and swam off."

Pauanui surf life-saving club captain Stuart Upjohn had also been on the beach and told Radio NZ: "It turned out he was actually fine but just a bit shaken. [We] had a good look at his surfboard and it had a good bite mark in it."

Mr Minogue was left with a cut on his arm but said his full-length wetsuit saved him from further injury.

"There was blood dripping out the sleeve of my wetsuit. Thankfully it wasn't too deep. Two teeth put holes in my wetsuit but only one punctured the skin," Mr Minogue said.

"I've still got an arm and fingers, it could have been a lot worse."

Hell yeah it could've been worse, what a yarn!
Video PlayerClose

HANGZHOU, February 23 (Xinhua)  The school closure amid the epidemic outbreak has not stopped Chinese students from learning as they turn to the Internet to attend classes, bolstering the rise of e-learning.

Shen Xiang, a six-grader in east China's Zhejiang Province, now uses Alibaba's communication app DingTalk proficiently to clock in and take classes.

"School notices, homework, daily health checks and videos sent by teachers are all available on the platform," Shen said.

DingTalk, originally a mobile office tool for white collars, has been adapted to offer online services for schools amid the virus outbreak, welcoming classes of nearly 600,000 teachers in hundreds of cities on February 10, the first day of online schooling in many parts of China.

Even in Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, more than 700,000 stuck-at-home students ushered their new semester that day on DingTalk.

With the help of booming virtual platforms, eye-catching and innovative live stream classes are launched across the country. A popular online video shows a teacher using green onions to help teach and his high school counterpart in the southwestern Chinese city of Nanchong even went into the field to teach geography remotely.

Downloads of DingTalk rank high in the Apple App Store due to the wide application of online classes in China, coupled with the work-from-home policies of many firms.

"We deployed more than 10,000 new cloud servers within just two hours, a new record for the rapid capacity expansion," said Zhu Hong, CTO of DingTalk. "The epidemic further prompted the demand for online education."

Despite being a leader in the category, the heated app gets a surprisingly poor grade, registering a score of 2.6 out of 5 stars by nearly 1.21 million people in the Apple App Store, and was once at risk of being removed.

Negative comments mainly come from house-bound students who had to start school in the virtual world instead of spending a protracted holiday as they hoped.

"Thank you for letting me see my teacher every day during the holiday!" read a one-star review.

In response to the negative feedback, the DingTalk team posted a music video with cartoons on China's social media platform Weibo and a Chinese online video sharing platform Bilibili, "begging" the students to stop giving bad ratings, which has garnered nearly 25 million views.

So far, schools in more than 300 cities in provinces including Hubei, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Jiangsu have launched online teaching through DingTalk, covering tens of millions of students.

"The epidemic is like a catalyst for many enterprises and schools to adopt digital technology platforms and products," Zhu said.

(Source: Xinhua)
Recently, a report by Ookla revealed that Indias fixed broadband lines rank 66 in the whole world with average data speeds of 41.8 Mbps on average -- which is nothing compared to what countries around the globe are offering.



And while you recover from this sadness, youll be truly shocked with what telecom company NTT in Japan has in store for its users.

Reuters/ Virgin Media

Japans NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) just boosted the data speeds for its existing users to a whopping 10Gbps (gigabits per second).



Whats even more astonishing is that the Japanese telecom brand is charging just $55 (which is approximately Rs 4000) per month for this insane connection speed. However, whats crazy is that this speed limit is applicable for both uploads and downloads, which will be a boon for people who upload and share large files on cloud drives daily.

The authorities, however, caution that the advertised 10Gbps is the maximum speeds in theory and one might not get that level of speed all the time.

These speeds, however, will only be available if the customers have NTTs proprietary hardware at their homes -- the FLETs Hikari Cross-Compatible routers. The telecom brand is providing the router as a part of the connection for around 500 Yens or around Rs 321 per month. The router also comes with support for high-speed Wi-Fi 6.

Representative Image: Reuters

As of now, this high-speed connectivity is available in parts of Tokyo's 23 wards, including parts of Adachi, Suginami, Edogawa, Nerima, Setagaya, Katsushika, Ota, and Itabashi for NTT East with NTT West providing coverage for Osaka and Nagoya.



People signing up will also be charged an installation charge of 18000 Yen, which is approximately Rs 11,500 during the initial setup of the connection.

We can only hope when such speeds will be readily accessible to consumers in India at such reasonable pricing.
We forgot the struggle continues. We thought that we had democracy once Mandela was free, but there was no democracy, and it is far from existing because the poor are still poor today and will continue being poor.Nomawethu C., apartheid survivor.

Despite its lauded political transition in 1994, South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. Members of Khulumani Support Group, the national social movement for survivors of apartheid violations, argue that democracy cannot be fully realized until the country addresses its inequality. Connecting activism for redress for past abuses with activism for social change in the present, survivors model an inclusive and transformative approach to dealing with the past that goes well beyond current transitional justice practice in the country. This approach, which has not received sufficient attention to date, seeks to address the socioeconomic oppression that underpinned apartheid and the racialized marginalization of the post-apartheid period. Survivors demonstrate the need for transitional justice efforts that acknowledge the long-term nature of transition, continually engage with issues of transition as they emerge over time, and respond to the needs and demands of those most affected by them.

The evolution of apartheid survivor activism

For the past five years, I collaborated on participatory action research with Khulumani members in Western Cape Province. We looked at apartheid survivors understandings of inequality and violence in the context of South Africas transition. Our study shows that, since the early 2000s, the movement has increasingly focused on socioeconomic issues, noting the continuities between the colonial and apartheid past and the democratic present. In 2010, Khulumani adopted socioeconomic transformation as a strategic focus. Members in provincial branches across the country have established community-based income-generation projects and social enterprises, engaged in protests and advocacy regarding access to clean water and sanitation, and offered local trainings in subjects ranging from literacy to information technology. They have analyzed socioeconomic challenges in partnership with young people through citizen journalism, youth dialogues, school workshops, and the performing arts.

Despite these developments, the literature on apartheid survivors and Khulumani as a movement continues to focus on their activism concerning mainstream transitional justice issues as articulated by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC, 19962002). These center on reparations, prosecutions, truth recovery, and institutional reforms relating to violations of civil-political rights and bodily integrity committed under apartheid. In so doing, the literature tends to restrict Khulumani members to their positionality as victim-survivors of events in the past, emphasizing how they relate to their pain and victimhood, to other survivors, and to dominant transitional justice and human rights norms and institutions. While this positionality is key to Khulumanis activism, the movements aims have evolved as the South African context has changed. While members continue to engage with mainstream transitional justice issues, they have expanded their activism in response to the lived experiences of members living in marginalized communities, especially older women, who make up the majority of the membership and are disproportionately affected by socioeconomic exclusion.

Identifying inequality as an issue of transition

The Khulumani members we worked with say that their households continue to be subject to spatial apartheid despite democratization. Most live far from economic centers and face restricted access to information, quality education, and skill-building programs, as well as employment opportunities and social networks tapped into mainstream economic life. Inadequate social facilities in their neighborhoods do not help address these consequences of apartheid, while the availability of land for subsistence farming is quickly shrinking. Moreover, survivors argue that economic liberalization, which accelerated South Africas shift away from labor-intensive industries post-apartheid, has resulted in economic policies that undermine self-sufficiency and promote wage labor at the same time that they inhibit access to wage labor by privileging educated and skilled workers in capital-intensive industries. Despite the promises of transition, these developmentsamong others that emerge in the studyhave reinforced racialized inequality and the intergenerational transmission of poverty in Khulumani families.

Khulumani members identify inequality as an issue of transition linked to failures of democratization. In working toward a just transition, they advocate for people-driven transformation through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mutual training. They highlight the value of interventions that build on community-based knowledge, tactics, and relationships, which are often formidable given that they have been tested by local challenges. While privileging the experience and knowledge of Khulumani members, they also stress the need for engagement and solidarity with broader communities of marginalized South Africans from different backgrounds and generations in dealing with apartheid legacies and contemporary problems. Whether the interventions are small- or large-scale, survivors recommend that they be co-designed with those most affected, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders. In this, they both model and call for participatory governance.

Going beyond the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Importantly, these Khulumani members do not view the TRC as the only or even the main mechanism that could have made a just transition possible in South Africa. They call for ongoing and continual engagement with issues of transition, in the form of accountability, reparations, truth recovery, and institutional reform via mainstream transitional justice measures, and in the form of socioeconomic transformation via participatory democracy, redistributive measures, and inclusive economic development. Instead of making a distinction between these two forms of engagement, they indicate that both are necessary. While building on the work of the Commission, survivors go beyond it to adopt broad strategies for dealing with the past. They convey an ambivalent attitude toward the state, asserting that it has the power and obligation to address the shortcomings of its transitional arrangements in collaboration with those most affected by them, while also taking a practical approach in looking to community-based interventions and partnerships with other stakeholders for opportunities for collective action.

Today, civil society efforts around transitional justice in South Africa do not reflect the approach articulated by Khulumani members. Our research indicates that these efforts tend to portray the TRC not as one of many measures for addressing past abuses but as the transitional justice mechanism in the country, into which other efforts feed. Taking a cue from the TRC, they focus on mainstream transitional justice issues related to civil-political rights violations, and continue to side-line socioeconomic abuses and inequality. They also focus almost exclusively on the state as the driver of transitional justice, ignoring other stakeholders working on dealing with the past. These are strategic choices that acknowledge the democratic governments resistance to mainstream transitional justice and maintain the TRCs recommendations as a concrete starting point for further activism. Yet, they serve to constrain imaginings of what transitional justice could mean.

Our research with Khulumani members suggests an updated and expanded vision of transitional justice in South Africa. Like elsewhere on the continent, the design and implementation of transitional justice measures in the country has been dominated by state actors and a small set of formal human rights organizations. A more inclusive and participatory approach that recognizes a wider range of civil society initiatives as transitional justice would bring a different set of actorssuch as student groups, womens groups, social movements, faith-based organizations, and other collectives, including successors of those that contributed to the liberation struggleinto agenda setting and strategy development. It would also highlight that transitional justice is both backward- and forward-facing, bringing the socioeconomic to the forefront along with the civil-political and linking redress more explicitly to social transformation. Given that South Africa is considered a model of transitional justice, rethinking measures from the perspective of apartheid survivors continuing activism presents a new opportunity for innovation, much like the TRC did in the 1990s.

The writing of this piece was supported by Heinrich Boll Foundation Southern Africa. The author was a participant in Robert Bosch Stiftungs 2019 Berlin Seminar: Truth, Justice & Remembrance.
Former French prime minister and presidential candidate is facing trial for paying his wife a million euros from public funds.

The trial of former French presidential candidate Francois Fillon is set to begin in Paris.

He is accused of paying his wife more than a million euros in public funds for a fake job.

The scandal, which came to be known as Penelopegate, emerged during the 2017 election campaign and ruined Fillons political career.

Al Jazeeras Natacha Butler reports from Paris, France.
COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders emerging as the frontrunner for the Democratic Presidential Nomination before African Americans, and other communities of color, have substantially weighed in on the nominating process, the next few weeks are critical for minority voters to learn about policy proposals from the contenders. Who are the best candidates to expand economic, housing, healthcare, and voting opportunities in communities of color? What candidates will combat the attack upon poor people and people of color and provide access to capital and economic opportunity. Will they fight against public and private policies that are turning back the clock on the progress made since the civil rights movement?

Over two days, February 26 and 27, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) will provide a tremendous platform for the candidates, their surrogates and public policy experts to make a pitch to voters in South Carolina before Saturday's primary, and to disenfranchised people nationwide via our stream SCLC FACEBOOK PAGE.

The SCLC Public Policy Conference and Presidential Candidate Forum will begin Wednesday, February 26, at 9 am at the Tin Roof Event Center in Columbia, S.C. After opening ceremonies and a welcome address by Columbia At-Large Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed, Director of the Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students at the University of South Carolina (USC), will moderate panels of experts on Healthcare policy (9:15 am) and jobs and economic development policy (10:40 am). From 1 pm to 4:15 pm, presidential candidates and their surrogates will discuss how their policy proposals will impact African Americans and other communities of color. The Forum is open to the public.

Each presidential candidate or their surrogate will have one hour to make their presentation, which includes 20-minute segments of remarks, questions from SCLC, and audience questions.

"African Americans and other minority voters are facing a crucial situation," said Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. SCLC's President and CEO. "In what may be the most important election of our lifetime, it's critical that a viable candidate be an advocate for fairness and equality in all communities. We must know where the candidates stand on our issues, how strong they will advocate for them and how they will put together a winning coalition. The SCLC forum provides opportunities for the candidates to make presentations to South Carolina voters, Super Tuesday voters, and people of color across the country. I am imploring the candidates to make presentations and not deprive African American voters of an opportunity to judge their thoughtfulness and commitment to issues that will shape our future, and our nation."

On Wednesday, Dr. Steele will open the forum at 11:45 am, and Jamie Harrison, a U.S. Senate Candidate in South Carolina, will be the lunchtime speaker. At 12:45, Antoine Thompson, Executive Director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, will moderate a panel of housing experts, and Dr. Steele will moderate a panel on voting rights with celebrity and voting rights advocate Sheryl Underwood. (2 pm). The schedule will be flexible throughout the two days to accommodate the presidential candidates. The event is open to the media, and journalists and technicians can contact Jerry Thomas at 312-414-4016 for logistical needs. Campaigns can call DeMark Liggins at 334-467-1273 for more information.

Media Contact:

Michael K. Frisby

202-625-4328/[email protected]

SOURCE Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday central bankers will look at options for responding to the fast-spreading coronavirus as needed. Mnuchin told reporters after a meeting of finance officials from the world's 20 largest economies that it was too early to speculate about the longer-term impact of the deadly outbreak, but more would be known in three to four weeks.

RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday central bankers will look at options for responding to the fast-spreading coronavirus as needed.

Mnuchin told reporters after a meeting of finance officials from the world's 20 largest economies that it was too early to speculate about the longer-term impact of the deadly outbreak, but more would be known in three to four weeks.

"Im not going to comment on monetary policy, but obviously central bankers will look at various different options as this has an impact on the economy," Mnuchin said.

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Frances Kerry)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Gangster Ejaz Lakdawala has told



Mumbai Police that close aides of Chhota Rajan had planned to kill fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in 1998, but the operation failed.

Lakdawala, 50, who was on the run for two decades and was once a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, made this revelation during interrogation by the Mumbai Crime Branch following his arrest last month in connection with cases of extortion and attempt to murder against him.

He told the police that aides of Chhota Shakeel attacked him and gangster Chhota Rajan after their unsuccessful bid to kill Dawood Ibrahim.

A source in the Crime Branch said some close aides of Chhota Rajan along with Indian agencies planned to eliminate Dawood Ibrahim in Karachi in 1998.

A team, comprising Vicky Malhotra, Farid Tanasha, Balu Dokre, Lakdawala, Vinod Matkar, Sanjay Ghate and Baba Reddy, went to Karachi in 1998 to kill him, but the operation failed.

Dawood Ibrahim was supposed to come to a 'dargah' (shrine) after his daughter Maria's death in Karachi.

"Vicky Malhotra and others were waiting for him, but they had to abort the operation as Dawood Ibrahim came to the dargah with huge security after getting a tip-off about it by a Nepal parliamentarian," the source said.

When the team later reached the flat where they were staying, Chhota Rajan asked them to leave immediately, saying the operation was leaked to Dawood Ibrahim.

Lakdawala also told the police that the Pakistan Police probably raided their flat in next two days and seized all the weapons they had got to eliminate Dawood Ibrahim.

Later, Malhotra killed the Nepal parliamentarian while Chhota Rajan was attacked in 2000 by Munna Jhingada alias Sayyed Muddassar Hussain, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, who is presently in Pakistan.

Lakdawala was attacked in Bangkok's busy Bobae Market area in 2002.

He claimed that a 'tabeez' (amulet) saved him from the six bullets fired by Chhota Shakeel's aides on his chest, hands and neck from point-blank range.

Elaborating more on the amulet claim, Lakdawala told the police that his aide Salim Penwala, who was also arrested last month, was the one who had come to Bangkok to give the amulet to him, the source said.

"However, Lakdawala was suspicious and did not want to go himself to meet Penwala. Instead, he sent his wife to collect the amulet and specifically asked her not to come home directly after meeting Penwala. But, she defied his order and came home directly," said the source.

After two days, Lakdawala was attacked.

"He told the police that the amulet kept in his pocket during the time of attack saved his life," the source said.

Also, as he was shot near a hospital, he got medical help immediately and later fled to Canada.

Chhota Shakeel subsequently informed newspapers and TV channels that Lakdawala was dead.

However, some people later confirmed to Shakeel that Lakdawala survived the attack, which the former could not believe, the source said.

For a few days, people believed Lakdawala was dead, the source said, adding that after his activities again started, the underworld came to know he was alive.

But after the attack on him, Lakdawala became very religious, the source said.

Lakdawala also told the police he is not sure whether Penwala was behind the attack on him. But, as he had no other men left to work for him, he had to work with Penwala and carry out his extortion racket.

The police believed that Lakdawala was staying in Nepal for the past few years on a fake visa.

After he survived the attack on him, Lakdawala visited Pakistan to collect more information about Dawood Ibrahim, the source added.

He was arrested by the Mumbai police's Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) on January 9 as he wanted in several cases of extortion and attempt to murder in Maharashtra.

After falling out with Dawood Ibrahim, Lakdawala started operating with Dawood's aide-turned-foe Chhota Rajan.

In 2008, he parted ways with Rajan and started operating independently, a police official earlier said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
IT company on Monday said it has signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent stake in US-based Zen3 Infosolutions for $64 million (Rs 460 crore) in an all-cash deal.

Headquartered in Seattle, Zen 3 has over 1,300 employees spread across offices in Seattle, Dublin, Hyderabad, Vishakhapatnam and Bengaluru.

"The acquisition of Zen3 Infosolutions is in line with our strategy to build new capabilities. It has expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, annotations, cloud engineering etc which are high growth area," Vivek Agrawal- Global Head, Enterprise Business and Portfolio Companies, told PTI.

will acquire 100 per cent stake in the company for $64 million or about Rs 460 crore out of which $42 million or about Rs 300 crore will be paid at closing and the remaining is linked to the financial performance of the Microsoft customer account for the upcoming three years, Agrawal said.

Zen3 revenue for six month period ended June 30, 2019, was $25 million (about Rs 180 crore). Tech Mahindra expects the deal to close by April 1, 2020

Agrawal said that Zen3 capabilities can be leveraged by Tech Mahindra in developing various voice-based applications, autonomous car projects etc.

In a separate filing, Tech Mahindra announced a dividend of Rs 10 per equity share for 2019-20.

"It has been a quarter of strong growth with substantial operational and financial metrics improvement. This quarter also witnessed healthy cash flow generation, and with a view to returning enhanced value to our shareholders, we are announcing an interim dividend of Rs 10/- per equity share i.e. 200 per cent," CP Gurnani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra said.




A rescue worker, wearing a protective suit, checks the medical conditions of a man who tried to reach a hospital driving his own car but was eventually stopped by Italian Guardia di Finanza (Custom Police) officers at a road block in Casalpusterlengo, Italy, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images)

Sixth Coronavirus Patient Dies in Italy as Cases Rise to 220

The sixth person to test positive for the new coronavirus died in Italy, authorities said on Monday.

The 80-year-old man lived in Milan, state broadcaster RAI reported.

Other deaths were also confirmed on Monday, including an 88-year-old man in Caselle Landi in northern Italy, Angelo Borrelli, the chief of the Protezione Civile, announced at a press conference, The Local reported.

The fourth death was an 84-year-old man in the town of Bergamo, which is also located in Italys Lombardy region.

All six patients who died were older than 75.

There are now 220 confirmed cases in Italy.

Patient zero has not yet been found. It is difficult to predict the spread, Borrelli told reporters over the weekend, RAI reported.

The number of cases in Italy is one of the highest in the world, behind only South Korea, China, and the cluster from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan. Most of the patients have no history of travel to China, where the new virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, emerged in December 2019.

A woman wearing a sanitary mask talks on the phone as she walks in the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery shopping arcade, in downtown Milan, Italy on Feb. 24, 2020. (Claudio Furlan/Lapresse via AP)

Most other countries in Europe have few cases. Only Germany (16), France (12), and the United Kingdom (9) have more than two confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organizations Feb. 23 situation report.

Russia, Spain, Belgium, Finland, and Sweden have reported one or two cases each.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in a statement Sunday that officials expect more cases in Europe in the coming days.

As the situation is rapidly evolving, more cases are expected in Italy, and possibly in the EU, in the coming days, ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said in a statement.

She said that the Italian authorities are identifying all contacts of the confirmed cases and have announced public health measures for containment, including suspension of mass gatherings, suspension of childcare and schools, and access to essential public services conditioned to the use of personal protective equipment.

The center is closely monitoring the situation in Italy and has been in contact with authorities there to provide assistance.

An Italian Guardia di Finanza (Custom Police) officer, wearing a respiratory mask, talks to a driver at a roadblock in Casalpusterlengo, south-west Milan, Italy, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images)

Two coronavirus cases were confirmed in Italy late January and another in early February before the rash of new cases began cropping up late last week. Authorities began shutting down bars, schools, and offices in towns after cases were confirmed in Codogno and other locales.

Authorities havent pinpointed the origin of the cluster but said a man in intensive care in Codogno shared a meal with another man who visited China last month, though the second man later tested negative for the new virus.

Much remains unknown about COVID-19 or the virus that causes it, including the source of the virus, the range of its transmissibility, and its severity index. The World Health Organizations team of experts in China was heading to Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, over the weekend and is attempting to find answers to some of the lingering questions.

Coronaviruses are usually found in animals but can, in rare cases, infect humans before beginning to pass from person-to-person. Experts say the new virus is being passed by people and that it can spread through close contact, through the air, and from touching contaminated surfaces.

Ways to avoid being infected include avoiding sick people, washing hands frequently, and not touching ones nose, hands, or mouth with unwashed hands. There is no vaccine for the virus and no specifically known treatment. Clinical trials, primarily in China, are focusing on trying out treatments for other illnesses on virus patients, but none so far have been identified as being able to treat the disease.
BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on China's economic and social development is temporary and generally manageable, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Sunday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when delivering an important speech at a meeting in Beijing to advance the work on coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 and economic and social development.

Xi said the COVID-19 epidemic will inevitably deal a relatively big blow to China's economic and social development. However, at such a time it is even more important to view China's development in a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective, and to strengthen and firm up confidence.

In general, the fundamentals of China's long-term sound economic growth remain unchanged, Xi added.
PHOENIX  An Arizona man was released from isolation 26 days after he tested positive for a deadly virus that originated in China, county health officials said.

The patient, who has ties to Arizona State University in Tempe, is no longer being infected by the new coronavirus, the Maricopa County Department of Health confirmed Friday.

The male patient is in his 20s and has been in isolation since January after returning from Wuhan, the central Chinese city thats the epicenter of the epidemic, the Arizona Republic reported.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted multiple tests on the man before his release, which all came out negative.

We would like to thank this individual for his patience and commitment to public health during his prolonged isolation with very mild illness, county health officials said in a statement. There is no risk of COVID-19 to the community from this individual, and we encourage his friends, family and the community to support him as he transitions back to his everyday activities.

People who have had close contact with the patient have not shown any signs to date of the illness known as COVID-19. Most of them have passed the 14-day monitoring period without displaying any symptoms.

The virus has sickened more than 78,000 in 29 countries worldwide. More than 2,300 people have died.
[February 24, 2020] Catella Advisor to Skanska on the Divestment of Solna United

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Catella Corporate Finance Stockholm AB acted as advisor to Skanska Fastigheter on the divestment of the Solna United office property in Arenastaden. The transaction volume amounts to just over SEK 3.3 billion and the buyer is a fund managed by German DWS. Solna United comprises a lettable area of approximately 34,000 square metres, which results in a record price for a property located outside Stockholm's inner city, corresponding to just under SEK 100,000 per square metre. The property is under completion and will be taken over by the buyer in connection with this in June 2020. The office premises are fully let and will house new head offices for, for example, Fortum, Arla and Randstad. The property, which will be powered by solar energy, will be environmentally certified according to LEED Platinum. "It has been a pleasure to work with these two very professional parties, Skanska and DWS, who contributed to a smooth transaction process that lead to a very positive outcome for everyone.", says Carl Wingmark, Head of Property advisory at Catella Corporate Finance. For more information, please contact:

Carl Wingmark

Head of Property advisory

+46-8 463 33 07

c[email protected] Press contact:

Jonas Burvall

Group Head of Communications

+46-8-463-033-05, +46-76-627-97-55

[email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/catella---corporate-finance/r/catella-advisor-to-skanska-on-the-divestment-of-solna-united,c3042835 The following files are available for download:







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Mayors in several of the state's small cities -- 30,000 inhabitants or less -- canceled 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 city's streets.

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.

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.

"Of course, police strikes could spread," said lawmaker Guilherme da Cunha of the state of Minas Gerais, where police obtained a 42 percent 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."

The strike by military police demanding higher salaries in the state of Ceara, 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.

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.

 Illegal Police Strikes

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 aren't new, according to Ilona Szabo, co-founder of a security research center, 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.

 States out of Money

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 didn't 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 governor's 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 state's legislative assembly. The news of a 42 percent 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, coordinator 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.
US First Lady Melania Trump will interact with students at a Delhi government school and witness various activities conducted as part of the 'happiness curriculum' on Tuesday, sources said.

All roads leading to the school have been fortified, with trees being pruned according to the directions of the security agencies.

According to the sources, Melania Trump will reach the school in south Delhi around noon and spend over an hour there.

During the visit, she is likely to undertake a tour of the school, go to different classes, interact with the students and witness different activities being conducted as part of the 'happiness curriculum', they said.

Civic body officials said roads have been repaired, sidewalks freshly painted and saplings planted in the vicinity of the school.

Trees along the route which will be taken by the US First Lady to reach the school have been trimmed according to the directions issued by the security agencies, they said.

Melania Trump arrived in India on Monday with US President Donald Trump, who is on a two-day visit to the country.

The US First Lady will visit the school solo.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were earlier scheduled to welcome her at the school and brief her about the 'happiness class'.

However, the US Embassy communicated to the city administration on Saturday that names of Kejriwal and Sisodia do not figure in the list of invitees for the event.

Expressing anguish over the exclusion of the names of the two leaders from the list, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said it is a "protocol" and "convention" that state leaders are present when any foreign leader attends events in their states.

The party alleged that the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia were dropped at the behest of the BJP-led central government.

The US Embassy on Sunday clarified that it did not have any objection to the presence of Kejriwal and Sisodia during Melania Trump's school visit.

Sisodia, who is also Delhi's minister, has said he would have loved to receive the US First Lady at the school but respected the concerns raised by the US Embassy over it.

"It is a matter of great pride for Delhi government, Delhi government teachers and students that First Lady Melania Trump is visiting a Delhi government school," he said in a statement.

"It is a big appreciation for us that the work of AAP government in sector, especially Happiness Classes, is being recognised in the world," he said.

The Delhi government introduced the 'happiness curriculum' in July 2018.

As part of the curriculum, students studying in classes I-VIII in Delhi government schools attend a 45-minute 'happiness class' every day, participating in activities like storytelling, meditation and question and answer sessions.

For nursery and kindergarten students, the classes are held twice a week.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Boxer Sergey Kovalev has had another run-in with the law, as the former light heavyweight champion was arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles over the weekend.

He was released on his own recognizance around 7:35am local time about five hours after being pulled over by California Highway Patrol, according to TMZ.

Los Angeles Police and local courts did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment, and not much is currently known about the incident. Kovalev spokesman Ed Keenan declined to comment when asked to confirm or deny the TMZ report.

Boxer Sergey Kovalev was reportedly arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles

Kovalev's mounting legal problems began in 2018, he was accused of beating a woman in Big Bear, California.

He's currently being sued by the woman, Jamie Frontz, because, she claims, he failed to pay the full $650,000 settlement they agreed upon in exchange for her decision to drop the initial $8 million lawsuit.

According to TMZ, Frontz and Kovalev agreed to the $650,000 amount in 2018 after he and a friend allegedly assaulted her and her dog in Big Bear. After paying one $250,000 installment, Kovalev has allegedly neglected to follow through on the final two payments.

Kovalev, 36, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in June of 2018 after reportedly leaving Frontz with a broken nose, a concussion, and displaced disc in her neck. He has since denied the accusations on Instagram, warning his followers 'not to make hasty conclusions on the situation.'

Following his arrest, the former unified light heavyweight champion pleaded innocent to the charges. The case is still pending and he faces up to four years in prison if convicted. Kovalev recently switched attorneys, and on January 7, the upcoming trial was postponed. The next pre-trial hearing is on April 8.

Frontz reportedly rejected the married Kovalev's sexual advances at a party before he and a friend followed her to her cabin, where she was allegedly assaulted.

She filed a notice of rescission earlier this month, the Daily Mail has learned, ostensibly to void their prior settlement agreement. In July, a San Bernardino (California) judge ordered both parties to begin mediation.

Jamie Frontz (right) and Sergey Kovalev (left) agreed to the $650,000 amount in 2018 after he and a friend allegedly assaulted her and her dog in Big Bear, California . After paying one $250,000 installment, Kovalev has allegedly refused to follow through on the final two payments. She identified herself publicly in an Instagram post in which she detailed some of the alleged assault. According to her Instagram profile, Frontz is a model and influencer

Kovalev was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after reportedly leaving Frontz with a broken nose, a concussion, and displaced disc in her neck. He has since denied the accusations, warning his fans 'not to make hasty conclusions on the situation'

Kovalev's lawyer did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

'At one point, Kovalev pinned Jamie to the couch, leaning over her with his hands on either side of her shoulders, such that she could not move away,' read court papers obtained by TMZ.

According to the court filing, the dog attempted to intervene but Kovalev shoved and kicked it before punching Frontz in the face with a closed fist.

He and his friend then allegedly left, at which point she called the police. Kovalev was arrested later that night.

Frontz claims she was treated in the emergency room for a broken nose, a concussion, and severe back and neck injuries.

Frontz attended a local 'Casino Night' in Big Bear (pictured) the night of the alleged attack

According to Frontz, there were several witnesses to the attack on her and her dog (right)

Kovalev's accuser, Jamie Frontz, identified herself on Instagram and described the attack

She identified herself publicly in an Instagram post in which she detailed some of the alleged assault, which took place after a local 'Casino Night.' According to her Instagram profile, Frontz is a model, blogger and influencer.

According to TMZ, Frontz's lawsuit references the $10 million purse Kovalev received for fighting and losing Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez last November.

Frontz is reportedly seeking more than the $650,000 settlement they allegedly agreed to in 2018.

Like former middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, Kovalev frequently trains in Big Bear, which hosts many boxers throughout the year.

Kovalev (34-4-1) reached the pinnacle of his career when he earned a pair of fights against American light heavyweight champion Andre Ward, but he ultimately lost a controversial decision to Ward in 2016 before falling by TKO in 2017.

During the lead-up to the rematch, Kovalev drew criticism for making tweets that included racist and homophobic slurs.

The Russian former champion is known for his power as a remarkable 29 of Kovalev's 34 wins have come by knockout.

Kovalev has a wife, Natalya, and a young son, Aleksandr.

It is unclear exactly how much the former champion is worth, but he previously was paid over $1 million for his two fights against Ward, not to mention a pair of high-profile bouts with Eleider Alvarez.

Kovalev earned $3 million for his recent loss to middleweight Canelo Alvarez, according to multiple reports.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 13:05:50|Editor: mingmei

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- It's 34 minutes after midnight on Feb. 14. With 446 samples from suspected COVID-19 patients arriving, the busy hour at the 24-hour Huoyan (Fire Eye) lab has begun.

In Chinese folklore, piercing fire eyes enable Monkey King to see through all deceits of monsters. In Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, a testing lab has taken the name and geared up in the race against the virus.

From Feb. 5 to 15, the Huoyan laboratory tested almost 20,000 samples, according to a report by Science and Technology Daily.

The laboratory, operated by the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), was built in just five days to provide testing support for Wuhan and surrounding cities, speeding up the screening and diagnosis of COVID-19 patients.

Lab director Tian Zhijian said rapid and effective screening of nucleic acid samples can win precious time for the treatment of patients and quarantine of close contacts, and protect medical workers.

The lab can also carry out large-scale screening for factories and enterprises so they can resume work. It is designed to test up to 10,000 samples a day, Tian said.

Samples usually arrive at night, mostly from midnight until around 4 a.m. It takes six to seven hours on average for lab staff to deliver results. They work in three shifts around the clock.

Results of samples from the previous day are usually delivered before 8 a.m., enabling doctors to adjust treatment plans promptly, said Zhu Shida, who is in charge of BGI's central China business.

Zhu said extracting nucleic acid sample from a patient's mucus taken from the nose, throat or phlegm puts lab workers at high risk of infection, so the extraction is conducted in biological safety cabinets and the testing in a negative pressure lab.

Lab procedures require precision, but it can be tricky to handle small tubes while wearing thick protective suits in a small space, said lab worker Hao Yingge.

Advanced technology has been applied to ensure the accuracy of testing and streamline the process.

An automatic sample preparation system developed by BGI can extract nucleic acid and process hundreds of samples at the same time without manual intervention, said Zhu.

The 2,000-square-meter laboratory includes 1,000 square meters of testing area strictly designed as a P2 laboratory (Second Level of Biosafety) and equipped with high-throughput sequencing equipment.

It also has 30 biological safety cabinets, a series of 12 automated nucleic acid extraction platforms, separate sample preparation rooms, reagent storage rooms and office areas.

The lab is cold and many workers wear down coats inside protective suits, making everyone looks bulky.

"We tease each other that we look like Baymax in the movie Big Hero 6 and we are devoted to hunting down the virus," said Tian.
A New York jury on Monday convicted former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of criminal sex act and rape, US media reported.

Weinstein has been convicted of criminal sexual assault in the first degree, based on the testimony of Miriam Haley, and rape in the third degree, based on the testimony of one-time aspiring actress Jessica Mann, Hollywood Reporter reported.

He was, however, found not guilty of the more serious charges of predatory sexual assault and of rape in the first degree.

More details to follow.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Quentin Tarantino mightve already won a few awards this year but he just earned the ultimate honor...becoming a first-time dad.

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director and his wife Daniella Pick welcomed their first child together on Saturday. A rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Pick gave birth to a baby boy.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Pick gave birth in Tel Aviv, Israel, at the Ichilov hospital. The actress and model is originally from Israel and met Tarantino while he was promoting Inglorious Basterds in the country. They wed in a private ceremony in Los Angeles in 2018 before announcing the pregnancy news in August the following year.

In an interview with Yediot Aharonot, the new dad spoke about his experience in Israel and how he plans to incorporate both American and Israeli culture in his child's upbringing, including teaching him Hebrew (which he showed after his Golden Globe win for Best Screenplay).

The Pulp Fiction director confirmed hell step away from directing after his 10th film to spend more time with his family. "I kind of like that now it's time for this third act to just lean a little bit more into the literary, lean a little bit more into the writing, which would be good as a new father, as a new husband," he said in a Popcorn with Peter Travers interview. "I wouldn't be grabbing my family and yanking them to Germany or Sri Lanka or wherever the next story takes place. I can be a little bit more of a homebody, and become a little bit more of a man of letters."

No more details have been provided about the new member of the Tarantino family, but congrats to the new parents!

RELATED: Jenna Dewans Baby Shower Was Full of Friends, Flowers & a Surprise Proposal (and We Have Pics)
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the teleconference__Photo: VNA



, ,

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested ministries, localities and businesses strengthen cooperation to develop agricultural mechanization and processing of agricultural products.Speaking at a teleconference with ministries, sectors and localities on promoting the development of the agricultural product processing industry and mechanization in Hanoi on February 21, the PM said Vietnam has not yet focused on developing those fields.Vietnam aims to rank among the worlds top 15 most developed agricultural countries and become a global hub for agricultural logistics and processing.Meanwhile, at present, agriculture has used a large labor force, mainly unskilled labor and has a low level of mechanization, leading to low productivity.Therefore, the State will develop policies to remove difficulties and promote the development of those fields, he said.The Prime Minister urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to him a strategy on developing mechanization and processing in the agricultural sector by 2030.This ministry must also submit to the PM plans on developing the processing industry for vegetables, fruits, seafood, timber and wood products. Those plans will help Vietnam become one of the five leading producers of those products globally, he said.Meanwhile, the Government will amend existing decrees to promote mechanization in agriculture.The Ministry of Industry and Trade must also implement a strategy to develop Vietnam's mechanical engineering industry, including tractors and machines for cultivation, preservation and processing of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.The Prime Minister also asked credit institutions to have more funding sources for rural and agricultural development, especially for enterprises and projects in the fields of agricultural mechanization and farming, forestry and fishery product processing.PM Phuc said localities must find measures to develop organic agriculture using high technology.At the conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said Vietnam must enhance agricultural product processing and agricultural mechanization to increase added value and competitiveness of farming products.The application of science and technology for agricultural production and quality management will ensure control of quality, food safety and traceability for farming products, Cuong said.The quality of human resources for the agricultural product processing industry and agricultural mechanization should be improved, he said.According to the minister, the sector also needs to focus on developing clusters for production and processing of agricultural products in localities, especially regions with large agricultural output.At present, the rate of mechanization has reached 94 percent in the stage of preparing land for production, 42 percent in the sowing and planting stage, 77 percent in the stage of breeding animals and planting trees and 65 per cent in the harvest stage.Many localities have formed and developed agricultural production and processing chains. Now, Vietnam has about 7,500 enterprises of processing agricultural products with medium- and large-scales.- (
Mauritius authorities gave passengers choice of quarantine or return to Italy.

An Alitalia flight which departed Rome with 300 people on board was grounded this morning at the airport on Mauritius, the island in the Indian Ocean, according to Italian newspaper of record Corriere della Sera.

Amid fears of contagion from the Coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, local authorities reportedly told passengers that they had two choices: either be placed in quarantine at one of two hospitals in the island's capital Port Louis, or return immediately to Italy, without disembarking.

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Corriere della Sera reported that - after carrying out medical screening - Mauritius authorities eventually allowed passengers who were not from the Coronavirus-hit regions of Lombardy and Veneto to disembark, without being required to go into quarantine.

Italy's foreign ministry is reportedly in talks with Mauritius authorities to resolve the situation and allow the remaining 70 passengers from Lombardy and Veneto to disembark.

Photo Corriere della Sera
Mohammed bin Salman has put all his eggs in Trumps basket, but what happens if the US leadership changes?

Picture for a moment Senator Bernie Sanders winning the US presidential election this November and then heading to a scheduled meeting next year with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (known as MBS).

In a clash of persona and style, President Sanders would most likely make a lengthy statement about his political revolution, while sitting next to MBS, and the White House press corps crowded into the Oval Office would awkwardly ask him how he was going to manage a meeting with rulers he once called murderous thugs.

Would that be the Saudi leaderships nightmare scenario for a post-Donald Trump presidency?

Sanders, who is currently the frontrunner in the Democratic primaries, made this bold statement about the Saudi leadership during a town hall meeting in Nevada on February 18, just as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was stepping on to a flight for a three-day visit to Riyadh.

There is a great deal at stake when it comes to US policy towards Saudi Arabia if Sanders or any other Democratic candidate ends up beating Trump in November. A Democrat back in the White House would bring back bad memories for Riyadh.

President Barack Obama approved the push to oust Egypts Hosni Mubarak after the January 25 Revolution, reduced US dependence on Middle Eastern oil, engaged Tehran in a nuclear deal and stated that Washington would no longer battle Iran on behalf of Saudi Arabia.

All hell broke loose in Riyadh during the Obama administration, leading to a gradual power grab by MBS at home. The emerging Saudi leadership reacted to Obama with two major policy shifts. First, it adopted a rather atypical hawkish foreign policy to challenge what it had perceived as two primary foes: the Iranian regime and the Islamists.

The Saudi leadership briefly supported the Syrian opposition in Syria from 2011 to 2013 against the Iranian-backed Syrian regime. It helped Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi overthrow the ruling Muslim Brotherhood in July 2013, and entered the civil war in Yemen in March 2015 to confront the Iranian-backed Houthis, among other regional policies.

Second, it recognised that the traditional approach to influencing US policy via Congress and other mainstream institutions was no longer paying dividends. The alternative was to try to influence presidential hopefuls and this opportunity presented itself in the 2016 US election.

The Saudi bet on Trump yielded tremendous results as the incumbent American president realigned US interests with Saudi Arabia while attempting to deter, rather than engage, the Iranian regime, by withdrawing the US from Irans nuclear deal.

MBS has a direct line to Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, which has helped the Saudi leadership weather several political storms, most notably the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul in October 2018.

The deadly shooting by a Saudi military serviceman that killed three US sailors at a Naval air station in Florida last December did not trigger a Twitter tirade from Trump.

Trump would almost certainly never grant any other foreign leader the same sort of free passes he has given to MBS.

While indeed he is the best White House ally the Saudi leadership could have hoped for, the Saudi infatuation with Trump carries immense risk if the incumbent president comes up short in the elections this autumn. Even if Trump wins, the risk will be there after the end of his second term in 2024.

Whether deliberately or unintentionally, MBS has gotten under the skin of the Washington establishment because he has often bypassed its institutions. Trump also improved MBSs chances of ultimately taking the throne in Riyadh at the expense of maintaining US relations with other factions within the Saudi royal family.

Trump and MBS have personalised US-Saudi relations through transactional rather than institutional routes. Which brings us to the big question: What might happen if Trump loses the election?

All leading centrist and leftist presidential candidates, except Michael Bloomberg, tend to project negative views of the Saudi leadership. This reflects the general mood among liberals in primaries influenced by a left-leaning Democratic base. A Democratic president would most likely mean a return to the Obama approach, which would include a complex re-engagement with the Iranian regime on the nuclear deal and an inclination to no longer give the Saudi leadership an easy pass.

A Sanders presidency would go further than the Washington establishment in keeping a check and balance on Saudi policy, which might create friction between the White House and key national security agencies.

Sanders, who has advocated against the interests of the US defence industry and corporate America, could use foreign policy towards Saudi Arabia as a way to demonstrate how his call for wealth distribution at home might impact US policy abroad. Hence, a Sanders presidency will make the case that the less the US defence industry has control of the US economy, the less its impact will be on US foreign policy.

If Sanders, or another Democratic president, were to challenge the Saudi leadership, Riyadh would most likely leverage its strongest pressure tool, its wealth, in retaliation.

Saudi Arabia spent $18bn on US weapons in 2017, has nearly doubled its ownership of US government debt under Trump to just under $180bn, and is now the biggest source of capital for US startups. It could threaten to shift its resources to China and Russia, among other places.

Any Democratic president would have to make these calculations before deciding on an approach towards Saudi Arabia.

A centrist Democrat could seek to contain any bilateral crisis to mitigate the economic impact, but it might still be hard to close the trust gap between the two sides.

The US could, for example, take measures to significantly impact Saudi Arabia, which might range from reopening questions about the Khashoggi case to rescinding the security umbrella it provides to Riyadh.

However, while the US has the upper hand in this increasingly complex relationship, it does not necessarily have the political will to set the limits of US-Saudi relations because of the fatigue felt by policymakers and the general public with Middle East conflicts. The challenge has been, and will most likely remain, that Washington has no Middle East strategy and is not ready to get militarily entangled once again in this region.

The US is now competing with Saudi Arabia as a top oil exporter and is looking forward to shifting its economic focus to the Asian markets alongside its strategic focus on deterring China and Russia. Trump has delayed this strategic shift because of the renewed push inside his administration to prioritise the deterrence of Iran and to reinforce US military presence in the region. Any Democratic president would most likely want to expedite this shift away from the Middle East.

Meanwhile, MBS is making the same mistake with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; putting all his eggs in one basket without contemplating a world after Trump. Most significantly, he has turned the US support for Saudi Arabia from a bipartisan issue in Washington to an increasingly partisan one.

The Washington establishment is taking notes and the Democratic candidates statements on Saudi Arabia might be the tip of the iceberg if Trump vacates the White House.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Over the last few years, agencies have been closing their doors across the country, and all the while children are pouring into the system, Windham said in a statement. We are confident that the court will realize that the best solution is the one that has worked in Philadelphia for a century  all hands on deck for foster kids.
The Canadian government warned Sunday that indigenous protests that have blocked rail lines for more than two weeks could cripple the economy, and urged a swift resumption of dialogue to end the crisis. The main blockades -- which were set up around the country 18 days ago to protest a natural gas pipeline being built across indigenous lands in British Columbia -- were still in place Sunday, two days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for their immediate lift. What had started as a localized protest by members of the Wet'suwet'en tribe opposed to the pipeline quickly spread across the country as others joined efforts to "shut down Canada." On Saturday, leaders of that tribe reiterated their conditions for restarting talks: complete withdrawal of federal police from their ancestral lands and suspension of work on the pipeline by the company Coastal GasLink. "We are working at the federal level to try to resume dialogue, for hereditary leaders to accept the fact that we agree to their demand for the withdrawal of the GRC from their territory," Transport Minister Marc Garneau told Radio-Canada, referring to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He said tribal leaders "should immediately put out the message that while this dialogue is under way, the barricades should be lifted." "This could go on for a long time" because it has a huge impact on the Canadian economy, Garneau said. "It could even affect our GDP if it continues." The rail blockades, especially on an important east-west line, have forced the Canadian National Railway to suspend much of its freight traffic and lay off 1,000 people temporarily. This is a delicate issue for Trudeau, who has made reconciliation with Canada's indigenous peoples a top priority of his second term in office. Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and community members address a press conference at the Mohawk Community Centre in Tyendinaga, Ontario, on February 21, 2020 as protests rage against a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia
Published on 2020/02/24 | Source

Israeli residents protest against the entry of Korean tourists in Jerusalem on Sunday. /Reuters-Yonhap

Some 14 countries have restricted or closed their doors to Korean travelers since the explosive increase of coronavirus infections here.

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Israel refused to let Korean travelers disembark and Bahrain banned all visitors from Korea, while other from the U.K. to Kazakhstan imposed visa restrictions and arrivals.

Koreans are now being shunned around the world, partly because their country continues to allow Chinese visitors to enter at will except from the original epicenter of the outbreak in Hubei Province.

Korean travelers denied entry in Israel return to Incheon International Airport on Sunday. /Yonhap

The Israeli government allowed only 11 Israeli passengers to disembark from Korean Air flight 957 on arrival in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, and sent back 130 Koreans and other passengers from elsewhere. Israeli authorities suddenly imposed the entry ban after learning about the surge here.

The Korean government lodged a protest, but to no avail. Bahrain banned all foreigners who have visited Korea within the last 14 days.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department raised a travel warning to Korea to "strengthened caution". The next step is to advise Americans to "refrain" from traveling to Korea, while the highest level is a ban, which is already in place for Wuhan, China.

The Foreign Ministry has assured the U.S. State Department of the low risk posed by Korean visitors, but jitters continue to rise.

Taiwan and Japan both raised their travel advisory to Korea from caution to warning, while the U.K. and Australia urged their citizens to avoid visiting Daegu and Cheongdo.
Billionaire Mike Bloomberg has begun pushing out his trove of opposition research on rival Bernie Sanders, unleashing a scathing ad taking on the taking him on for his opposition to some gun control measures

Bloomberg on Monday launched a new online ad that blasts Sanders for multiple votes against the Brady Bill, a key handgun control measure, and for accepting support from the National Rifle Association.

Sanders has cited the views of gun owners in his rural state, as he did in a presidential debate  only to have Bloomberg use his defense in the ad. A Bloomberg release quotes a surrogate, former Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, saying Sanders is not fighting for urban Americans at all.

Billionaire Michael Bloombergs is using its nearly unlimited resources to take on frontrunner Bernie Sanders  launching a scathing online attack Monday on Sanders for opposing gun control measures, and pouring more resources into its multi-million TV ad blitz.

The effort was a signal that Bloomberg intends to use his 2,000-plus campaign staff and massive TV spending blitz  at $400 million and counting  to try to take on Sanders, who has mostly avoided getting hammered by rivals despite strong and consistent performance in the polls.

Mike Bloomberg's campaign unloaded on Berne Sander Monday for opposition to a key gun control measure

Bloomberg is dispatching surrogates, digging up opposition research, and launching attack ads on the Internet and the TV airwaves, amid mounting pressure on the billionaire to take on the left-leaning frontrunner. He posted the ad on his Twitter account.

CNBC reported that senior Bloomberg aides are planning a broad effort against Sanders beyond the gun control attack.

After getting pummeled himself by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others on the debate stage in Las Vegas, Bloomberg took aim at a Sanders vulnerability  his past opposition to some gun control measures as well as support he garnered from the National Rifle Association.

Bloomberg has faced public pressure from political operatives to go after Sanders

Bloomberg and Sanders clashed in last week's presidential debate in Las Vegas

Bloomberg's new web ad and social media campaign savages Sanders for opposing gun control legislation

Bloomberg has footed a national campaign to combat the NRA

The scathing ad could represent the tip of the spear of an opposition research dump on Sanders, who won in Nevada Saturday

Sanders explained that many rural Vermont voters support gun rights

Sanders tried to brush off the criticism during an earlier debate, noting he represents a rural state where gun owners hold sway  and Bloombergs team used video of his defense in their own ad.

In 2005, I signed a local law allowing New Yorkers to sue gun manufacturers for criminal negligence. That same year, Bernie voted to give gun manufacturers IMMUNITY  overriding my efforts to make NYers safer. Care to explain, Bernie? Bloomberg tweeted Monday  kicking off a series of attacks.

Then he went after Sanders integrity. The NRA paved the road to Washington for Bernie Sanders. He spent the next three decades making sure they got a return on their investment. We deserve a president who is not beholden to the gun lobby, Bloomberg wrote.

The attack comes as leading Democrats urged party power players to take on Sanders aggressively during the remaining window before Super Tuesday  after other candidates mostly trained fire on each other in candidate debates.

With several center lane candidates already out of the race, and more centrist support split among Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Elizabeth Warren, there is a chance Sanders could march to the nomination with a strong showing in South Carolina and Super Tuesday states, where there is a massive delegate haul at stake.

The urgency is apparent in the tone of Bloombergs new attack.

The NRA spent thousands of dollars to get Bernie Sanders elected to Congress and despite national efforts to end gun violence he continued to vote with them, said Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey in a statement. He voted five times against the Brady Bill, which established background checks on firearm sales. He voted for an NRA-backed law that gave gunmakers sweeping immunity from legal action. Hes voted to allow guns on Amtrak, planes and in national parks. With gun violence becoming a regular part of American life Bernie Sanders stood on the sidelines. Thats why we need Mike Bloomberg who has shown time and time again hes not afraid of taking on the NRA, he added.

Bloomberg made confronting the NRA a top cause during his three terms as New York mayor, and has funded a nationwide push for gun control measures. He touts that record in his own multi-million TV ad campaign.

The campaign also released statements from surrogates attacking Sanders. There's nothing from Sanders record that indicates he's going to do anything to make gun violence a priority. Hes not fighting for urban Americans at all. It doesn't make sense to vote for him, said former Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, who is backing Bloomberg.

The ad quotes NRA executive Wayne LaPierre calling Sanders a more honorable choice for Vermont sportsmen than his 1990 opponent, Republican Peter Smith.

Smith had switched positions and signed onto a bill to ban certain assault weapons. The gun vote brought us down, Judy Shailor, Smiths then-campaign manager, told the Washington Post years later.

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-nra-helped-put-bernie-sanders-in-congress/2015/07/19/ed1be26c-2bfe-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html

The move comes after Sanders dominated the field in the Nevada caucuses, and continues to enjoy loyal support from his followers even as a handful of centrist Democrats split votes.

The gun issue puts Sanders  who blasted Bloombergs own support for stop-and-frisk policing as racist in a 60 Minutes interview Sunday  on the defensive, after Bloomberg spent last weeks debate getting pummeled for past statements about women and for being a billionaire.
A Moroccan MP delegation took part in the 19th Winter Meeting of Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) held in Vienna Feb.20-21.

During the gathering, the Moroccan MPs discussed with OSCE members and partners several issues related to migration & security, the fight against terrorism & extremism, human rights, gender equality and the strategic partnership between Morocco and Europe.

The OSCE-PA winter meeting debates focused on combating anti-Semitism, discrimination and intolerance in the OSCE region. Several speakers underlined the importance of multilateral co-operation and inter-parliamentary dialogue in tackling common problems facing the region.

Hatred and intolerance pose threats to democracy, they said, voicing concern over troubling trends of discrimination against minorities and migrants.

The OSCE PAs committees discussed issues such as how to efficiently leverage OSCE to resolve protracted conflicts, the security implications of climate change and multilateral human rights co-operation.
DOVER, Del.  A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Delawares largest city involving deaths and injuries of firefighters who responded to an arson.

The lawsuit sought to hold Wilmington officials liable for the deaths of three firefighters and serious injuries suffered by three others in the 2016 fire. It specifically argued that a policy of rolling bypasses that took fire engines out of service in an effort to save costs led to staffing shortages and increased the risk that firefighterswould be hurt or killed.

The judge noted in Fridays ruling that the risk of injury or death is inherent in a firefighters job.

Even if the underlying risk is increased by violations of legislative mandates or standards of practice, it does not rise to the level of violating an employees constitutional due process rights if it isnot so elevated that employees will almost certainly and immediately be injured if they carry out their duties, the judge explained.

The judge noted that the policies questioned by the plaintiffs were well known and had been in place for many years before any firefighters were allegedly injured as a result.

Citing federal circuit rulings, the judge said that whilethe defendants may have a duty under state law to provide a working environment free from unreasonable risks of harm, they have no duty to do so under the Constitution.

Thomas Neuberger, an attorney for the plaintiffs, indicated that he plans to appeal the ruling.

Meanwhile, Beatriz Fana-Ruiz, 31, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in December after pleading guilty to one count each of second-degree murder, arson and assault.

Fana-Ruiz had been charged with six counts of first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence, as well as assault, three counts of arson, and nine counts of reckless endangering.

Authorities have said Fana-Ruiz was angry about her living situation and unhappy with her life when she set a fire in the basement of the row house where she was staying.

Lt. Christopher Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes died at the scene after the first floor of the home collapsed. Senior Firefighter Ardythe Hope was hospitalized in critical condition for several weeks before she died.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cyber Defence Magazine recognizes Onfido for InfoSec innovation in 8th annual awards

Onfido, the global identity verification provider, today announced it has won Best Product for Next Gen Fraud Prevention from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industry's leading electronic information security magazine.

"We recognized Onfido out of 3,000 applicants as an award-winning innovator because it is leading the industry in identity verification, offering a new and unique approach to defeating bad actors and preventing fraud," said Pierlugi Paganini, editor-in-chief, Cyber Defense Magazine.

Now in its eighth year, the InfoSec Awards, created by CDM, are an annual review of the market-leading, next-generation and cutting-edge InfoSec companies offering innovative cybersecurity products and services. Onfido was singled out from over 3,000 companies for this award, judged by CISSP, FMDHS and CEH certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company's data sheets, white papers, product literature and other market variables.

"With the UN estimating that up to 5% of the world's GDP is made up of laundered money (used in terrorist financing, human/drug trafficking, etc.), the imperative to stop bad actors has never been greater," said Husayn Kassai, CEO and co-founder of Onfido. "We feel privileged that our AI-based approach is being recognized as a key tool in this fight against fraudsters, especially from one of the most prestigious cybersecurity awards in the industry."

This recognition comes in the wake of Onfido's strong 130% year-over-year growth in 2019, rapid US expansion and string of other recent accolades, including being ranked 1st on the FinTech50, 10th on Deloitte's Fast 50 and 18th on Business Insider's Tech 100.

With just a photo of an identity document and a selfie video, anyone can access a host of digital services in a matter of seconds from some of the biggest names in financial services, transportation, online marketplaces communities, gambling and other industries-all fueled by Onfido's AI-powered identity verification and authentication.

Request a meeting with Onfido at RSA Conference 2020, or to see its award-winning product in action, register for the next live demo.

For a full list of companies honored by the Cyber Defense Magazine InfoSec Awards, visit: www.cyberdefenseawards.com

About Onfido

Onfido is building the new identity standard for the internet. Our AI-based technology assesses whether a user's government-issued ID is genuine or fraudulent, and then compares it against their facial biometrics. That's how we give companies like Revolut, Zipcar and Orange the assurance they need to onboard customers remotely and securely. Our mission is to create a more open world, where identity is the key to access.

Recognized as a global leader in artificial intelligence for identity verification and ongoing authentication, we're backed by Salesforce Ventures, SBI Investment, M12 (Microsoft) Ventures, and others. With 340 team members spread across 6 countries, we've raised $100m in funding and power 1,500 organizations globally.

For more information, visit: onfido.com or follow Onfido on social media: Facebook Onfido |Twitter @Onfido LinkedIn Onfido

About Cyber Defense InfoSec Awards

This is Cyber Defense Magazine's eighth year of honoring InfoSec innovators from around the globe. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early-stage, later stage or public companies in the INFORMATION SECURITY (INFOSEC) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. In this program, we are particularly interested in highlighting cybersecurity companies who have a presence outside of the USA and/or a more global focus. Learn more at www.cyberdefenseawards.com

About Cyber Defense Magazine

With over 2 Million annual readers and growing, and over 8,000 pages of searchable online infosec content, Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of IT Security information. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products, and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and limited special editions exclusively for the RSA Conference USA, Black Hat the USA, and IP EXPO Europe. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at http://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit http://www.cyberdefensetv.com and http://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005670/en/

Contacts:

Onfido:

Paul Jarratt

press@onfido.com
What Is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?

The term Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) refers to a group of 13 of the worlds major oil-exporting nations. OPEC was founded in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum policies of its members and to provide member states with technical and economic aid. OPEC is a cartel that aims to manage the supply of oil in an effort to set the price of oil on the world market, in order to avoid fluctuations that might affect the economies of both producing and purchasing countries.

Countries that belong to OPEC include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela (the five founders), plus Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates.

Key Takeaways The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is a cartel consisting of 13 of the worlds major oil-exporting nations.

OPEC aims to regulate the supply of oil in order to set the price on the world market.

The arrival of fracking technology for natural gas in the U.S. has reduced OPECs ability to control the world market.

The organization was established in 1960 by its founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

While OPEC does ensure that there is a steady supply of oil in the global market, it has come under fire for holding considerable power in the industry, which allows it to keep prices as high as possible.

1:03 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Understanding the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

OPEC, which describes itself as a permanent intergovernmental organization, was created in Baghdad in September 1960 by founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The headquarters of the organization are in Vienna, Austria, where the OPEC Secretariat, the executive organ, carries out OPECs day-to-day business

The chief executive officer of OPEC is its secretary-general. His Excellency Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo of Nigeria was appointed to the position for a three-year term of office on Aug. 1, 2016, and was re-elected to another three-year term on July 2, 2019.

According to its statutes, OPEC membership is open to any country that is a substantial exporter of oil and shares the ideals of the organization. After the five founding members, OPEC added 11 additional member countries as of 2019. They are, in order of joining, as follows:

Qatar (1961)

Indonesia (1962)

Libya (1962)

United Arab Emirates (1967)

Algeria (1969)

Nigeria (1971)

Ecuador (1973)

Gabon (1975)

Angola (2007)

Equatorial Guinea (2017)

Congo (2018)

Ecuador withdrew from the organization on Jan. 1, 2020. Qatar terminated its membership on Jan. 1, 2019, and Indonesia suspended its membership on Nov. 30, 2016, so as of 2020 the organization consists of 13 states.

It is notable that some of the worlds largest oil producers, including Russia, China, and the United States, are not members of OPEC, which leaves them free to pursue their own objectives.

Some of the worlds greatest oil-producing countries, such as Russia, China, and the U.S., do not belong to OPEC.

OPEC's Mission

According to the OPEC website, the group's mission is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic, and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.

The organization is committed to finding ways to ensure that oil prices are stabilized in the international market without any major fluctuations. Doing this helps keep the interests of member nations while ensuring they receive a regular stream of income from an uninterrupted supply of crude oil to other countries.

OPEC recognizes the founding nations as full members. Any country that wishes to join and whose application is accepted by the organization is also considered a full member. These countries must have significant crude petroleum exports. Membership to OPEC is only granted after receiving a vote from at least three-quarters of its full members. Associate memberships are also granted to countries under special conditions.

74.9% The percentage of crude oil reserves held by OPEC countries in 2019.

Special Considerations

Oil prices and OPEC's role in the international petroleum market are subject to a number of different factors. The advent of new technology, especially fracking in the United States, has had a major effect on worldwide oil prices and has lessened OPECs influence on the markets. As a result, worldwide oil production increased and prices dropped significantly, leaving OPEC in a delicate position.

OPEC decided to maintain high production levels and consequently low prices as of mid-2016, in an attempt to push higher-cost producers out of the market and regain market share. However, starting in January 2019, OPEC reduced output by 1.2 million barrels a day for six months due to a concern that an economic slowdown would create a supply glut, extending the agreement for an additional nine months in July 2019.

Demand for oil dropped during the global crisis, which began in 2020. Producers had an overabundance in supply with no place to store it, as the world experienced lockdowns cutting down demand. This, along with a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, led to a drop in oil prices. As a result, the organization decided to cut production by 9.7 million barrels per day between May and July 2020. Oil prices continued to experience volatility, leading OPEC to adjust production levels to 7.2 million barrels per day as of January 2021.

OPEC faces considerable challenges from innovation and new, green technology. High oil prices are causing some oil-importing countries to look to unconventionaland cleanersources of energy. These alternatives, such as shale production as an alternative energy source, and hybrid and electric cars that reduce the dependence on petroleum products, continue to put pressure on the organization.

Advantages and Disadvantages of OPEC

There are several advantages of having a cartel like OPEC operating in the crude oil industry. First, it promotes cooperation among member nations, helping them achieve some degree of political hostilities. And because the organization's main goal is to stabilize oil production and prices, it is able to exert some influence over production from other nations.

OPECs influence on the market has been widely criticized. Because its member countries hold the vast majority of crude oil reserves (79.4%, according to the OPEC website), the organization has considerable power in these markets. As a cartel, OPEC members have a strong incentive to keep oil prices as high as possible while maintaining their shares of the global market.

OPEC FAQs

What does OPEC do exactly?

OPEC coordinates and consolidates the policies about petroleum production and output involving its member nations. It promises a stable oil market that offers petroleum supplies that are both efficient and economic.

What are the main goals of OPEC?

OPEC's main goal is to maintain oil prices at a profitable level for its members while keeping the market as free as possible from restrictions. The organization ensures its members receive a steady stream of income from an uninterrupted supply of oil.

What countries are in OPEC?

OPEC is made up of 13 member nations. The five founding members are Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, while the other full members include Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, and United Arab Emirates.

Is the U.S. part of OPEC?

The United States is not part of OPEC. This means that the country has control over its own production and supply without any interference from the organization.

Who left OPEC?

Countries that left OPEC include Ecuador, which withdrew from the organization in 2020, Qatar, which terminated its membership in 2019, and Indonesia, which suspended its membership in 2016.

The Bottom Line

OPEC is an organization that controls petroleum production, supplies, and prices in the global market. The group was established in 1960 and is made up of 13 different oil-producing companies. It holds considerable influence in the marketplace and is often criticized for inflating oil prices to the benefit of its members. But it isn't immune to challenges, notably geopolitical tensions, oversupply and drops in demand, and the adoption of new, green technologies.
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt seem to be the favorite target of gossip this year. From their SAG Awards reunion to attending the same Oscars after-party. Now, there have been rumors that Aniston is having a drinking problem and that Pitt is making her choose between him and booze.

According to Gossip Cop, the rumor started after Globe magazine published an article about this. In the magazine article it was stated that an insider claimed that Aniston enjoys drinking a few most of the time which does not suit well with the "Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood" actor who was trying to get sober after facing alcohol problems himself.

Globe's unnamed source also said that the "Friends" star is excited about having a new connection with Pitt. However, the latter does not like being around people who drink. The source also added that Pitt does not want to be tempted to go back into the lifestyle he decided to give up.

The magazine also stated that the two stars seemingly rekindled their romance and had a few low-key dates in their homes. However, they said that everything is not official yet and that may be because of Aniston's drinking

The magazine's tipster said that the ex-couple has so much love for each other and that they are still figuring things out romantically. He further added that the booze situation is one of the biggest problems because Pitt cannot be with someone who is a regular drinker.

Read also: Ben Affleck Regrets Divorce with Jennifer Garner

Furthermore, the magazine stated that Aniston is reluctant in letting go of her drinking since it helps her relax at the end of the day and if she chooses Pitt over alcohol, she needs to find another outlet to unwind.

However, Gossip Cop, which is known for busting untrue gossips about celebrities debunked this as well. According to the website, they were able to contact Aniston's camp who said nothing in that article is true and that she is not rekindling her romance with Pitt. In addition, Aniston's representatives said that she does not have any drinking problem as what the magazine is claiming. Representatives from Pitt's camp have also denied the allegations saying that the story is nothing but nonsense.

Seeing that the whole story is predicated on the idea that Aniston and Pitt are reconnecting in a romantic way makes it more unreliable since both actors have repeatedly said that they are not planning on getting back together, at least not in a romantic way.

Earlier this year, People reported that the exes are just happy to be back in each others lives as friends and nothing more. This was proven in their previous sightings in Awards nights, which includes the backstage arm grab at the SAG Awards.

Gossip Cop also busted the same magazine, Globe last year after creating rumors that Pitt and Aniston eloped in Mexico and had a secret Mexican wedding.

Related article: Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt Getting Back Together? Recent Reunion Sparks Dating Rumors

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Donald Trump is a "macho man". At least that's what his followers in India seem to perceive him as.

As the United States President reached Ahmedabad along with First Lady Melania Trump for his maiden Indian visit, the country was more more than ready to welcome the delegation for the two-day visit.

During the first leg of the visit, the POTUS along with his family including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, attended the "Namastey Trump" event in Motera Stadium. And while several colourful, even bizarre, displays of cultural wealth were only to be expected as part of the welcome, a certain song seemed to have caught observers by surprise.

As the Republican made his way to the Motera stadium for the inaugural event, a curious song rang out across the stadium - "Macho Man" by the 70s American band "Village People". The song, which was released in 1978, is presumably about a "macho man" who everyone to "feel" and "check out" his "body".

Now playing - Macho Man by @WeVillagePeople pic.twitter.com/zillX7mxBB Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) February 24, 2020

Here are some choice lyrics from the song:

"Every man wants to be a macho macho man

To have the kind of body, always in demand

Jogging in the mornings, go man go

Works out in the health spa, muscles glow

You can best believe that, he's a macho man

Ready to get down with, anyone he can"

The next verses are even more sophisticated:

"Body, its so hot, my body,

Body, love to pop my body,

Body, love to please my body,

Body, don't you tease my body,

Body, you'll adore my body,

Body, come explore my body,

Body, made by God, my body,

Body, it's so good, my body"

And it goes on...

For those unaware of Trump's whereabouts in America, "Macho Man" by the Village People is a common fixture in his own campaign rallies even as the POTUS gears for a second Presidential election campaign in 2020. The US goes to elections in November this year with Trump trying to retain Presidency for a second term.

Many have previously been critical of the the use of the song, which seems to project a hyper-masculine and toxic image of men, as part of his election rallies. When it rang out in Gujarat on Monday afternoon in welcome of Trump, many on social media couldn't help but comment.

I never thought Id be listening to Macho Macho man in Gujarat, let alone with a crowd of 120,000 people anywhere in this world. But this was the song that Trump walked out to, for Namaste Trump #modi #namastetrump Maria Abi-Habib (@Abihabib) February 24, 2020

Waiting for Pres Trump and PM Modi, they're playing the same music mix tape as at Trump Campaign rallies, including Village People's "Macho Man." pic.twitter.com/q4Qh23rUbf Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 24, 2020

@CharlesPPierce Charles, combining your love of music and knowledge of politics, youll be interested in hearing that the song playing as Trump entered the stadium in India was Macho Man by Village People! Enda Cullen (@deannullec) February 24, 2020

Namaste #TRUMP. One of the songs they played before he entered the stage was "Macho Macho Man"  FalconCrest (@TheTheGrinch7) February 24, 2020

"Macho Man', said to be a song that fits in with the Trump election campaign playlist, played at #MoteraStadium Anita Joshua (@anitajoshua) February 24, 2020

The Trump rally playlist is in full effect in Ahmedabad, where "Namaste Trump" attendees are currently dancing to "Macho Man" pic.twitter.com/9CXFJR7sVQ Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) February 24, 2020

"Macho man" is probably the image of himself that Trump wants to project in the US. The phrase may also be in keeping with India's own Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is often projected by his followers as a hyper-masculine leader with a 56-inch chest.

Apart from "Macho Man", the event at Motera Stadium also saw several Bollywood songs being played before Modi and Trump took to stage.

Heaping praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump says, "India now holds a special place in our hearts. PM Modi started as a 'Chaiwala', but he won a big election with a landslide. PM Modi is a hardworking man and he has shown that anything is possible. He is friendly, but is tough."

After attending "Namastey Modi", the Trumps would be heading to Agra for a visit to Taj Mahal following wchich the team will head to NEw Delhi for the second and main leg of the trip.
One woman has tested positive for the new coronavirus in Toronto, the provinces chief medical officer confirmed Sunday night.

The woman was cared for at North York General Hospital for an intermittent cough that was improving and was isolated while being tested for COVID-19, the statement read. Being mildly ill, she was then discharged and sent home and, per protocols, went into self-isolation.

The Public Health Ontario Laboratory confirmed Sunday that the laboratory testing for COVID-19 is presumptive positive, with the sample now being sent over to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg for confirmation.

On Friday, the woman arrived on a flight in Toronto from China and wore a mask throughout her travels back to the city and, since landing, had very little exposure to other people, according to the release.

According to Dr. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer, there is a low chance that she was infectious. Still, the province is working with local public health units to ensure that passengers seated next to the woman on the plane are contacted and looked after.

Because of all the proper protocols and procedures that are in place to contain this virus and exposure to others was limited, I want to assure the public that the risk to Ontarians remains low, said David Williams, the provinces chief medical officer. Protecting the health and well-being of individuals and families across the province remains our top priority and we continue to vigilantly monitor for and contain any and all new cases.

This is the citys third case and provinces fourth. Ontarios first three cases were resolved as each patient has now tested negative for the virus.

Our health officials are clear that the risk to residents continues to remain low, Mayor John Tory said.

Tory said Toronto Public Health is continuing to work closely with provincial and federal health colleagues to monitor the situation and respond as appropriate.

Elsewhere in Canada, there are currently six known cases of the illness in B.C., most recently a woman in her 30s who returned to the province last week from travelling to Iran.

Provincial health officials say the womans presumptive case was relatively mild, and a number of her close contacts were already in isolation.

Far more Canadians are affected by the virus outside of this country. An outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship saw 47 Canadians infected.

The cruise ship was docked in Yokohama, Japan, and placed under quarantine. People who were diagnosed with the illness are being treated at hospitals there, while those without symptoms were flown back to Ontario on Friday, where theyre going through another 14 days of isolation.

With files from The Canadian Press

Osobe Waberi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @OsobeWaberi

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Florida Senator Rick Scott has blasted Amsterdam & Partners law firm for representing Reinaldo Munoz Pedroza, the inspector general of Venezuela.

Rick Scott

A&P began working for Venezuela after Foley & Lardner resigned the account due to criticism that it received from the Florida Republican.

The US does not recognize the government of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro.

In his Jan. 28 letter to F&L, Scott wrote that he was disgusted to learn that F&L was representing an agent of Nicolas Maduros brutal regime.

He referred to the leader of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as a thug and a dictator who is murdering children and starving his people. No business in the US should have any contact with Maduros government, let alone willingly take money to lobby on its behalf.

Scott promised that as long as F&L represents a dangerous dictator who is against everything this country was built on, I refuse to meet with anyone in your firm, or anyone that contracts on this matter with your firm, regardless of the many clients you represent.

F&L filed a termination of engagement letter agreement document with the Dept. of Justice on Feb. 7.

That filing noted that all funds ($1,449,848) that it received from Pedroza have been transferred to his new counsel, A&P.

On Feb. 20, Scott announced that he is now boycotting A&P for its willingness to work for a dangerous dictator.

Robert Amsterdam told the Associated Press that he rejected Scotts call for a boycott and that his firm isnt going to bend to the political dictates of Florida.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 07:52:52|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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People take part in a parade marking the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 23, 2020. The Defender of the Fatherland Day is a Russian national holiday which honors people who serve in the armed forces. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)
US President Donald Trumps daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner took a tour of the Taj Mahal today. Ivanka also handed her cell phone to a photographer for a photo.

President Trump is on a two day visit to India, accompanied by First Lady Melania and daughter Ivanka. The aim of the visit is to revitalise ties between India and U.S.

US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner at Taj Mahal. (ANI)

The Taj Mahal was the second stop in Trumps 36 hour long trip, his first official visit to India. Diplomatic talks are supposed to take place on Tuesday, which are expected to deepen ties between both the democracies.

ALSO WATCH | What Ivanka Trump said about Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad

Trump and wife Melania walked hand-in-hand into the mausoleum, which had been built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner at Taj Mahal in Agra. (ANI)

U.S. President Donald Trump, and first lady Melania Trump visit the Taj Mahal. (AP)

U.S. President Donald Trump greets U.S. White House senior advisor Ivanka Trump next to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. (REUTERS)

The Taj Mahal inspires awe. A timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture. Thank you India, President Trump wrote in the visitors book. President Trump and First lady Melania were taken on a guided tour of the Taj Mahal by a guide who had been screened for the job by American security.

In the speech he gave at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as an exceptional leader who works day and night for India. Trump also mentioned Bollywood blockbusters such as DDLJ and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar. He affirmed that relations with India held a special place for the US.
Ten years ago, Bellaire City Council was in a jam. The recession had diminished home values, leaving less property tax revenue to pay for the citys ballooning debt service  a result of its voter-approved street and drainage bond program.

To avoid dipping into their reserves, city officials, including then-mayor Cindy Siegel, trimmed spending and raised the property tax rate by about 6 percent. It cost the average Bellaire homeowner some $78 a year.

That decade-old rate increase has become an issue in Siegels bid for the Republican nomination in Texas 7th Congressional District, one of several matters to generate strife between the former mayor and her main rival, Army veteran Wesley Hunt.

The two candidates are running arguably the most visible campaigns in the six-person GOP primary to decide who will face rookie U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher. Hunt has amassed a major fundraising advantage  thanks in part to a boost from House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy  while Siegel is touting grassroots support from her years in local Republican groups.

The contest has seen its fair share of negative ads and political attacks, many of which take aim at Hunt, who has outraised and outspent the other five candidates combined and recently received President Trumps endorsement.

Hunt and Siegel have cast each others jabs as duplicitous. In response to a digital ad run by Hunts campaign labeling her not conservative due to her votes for higher property taxes and wasteful spending, Siegel said the ad is disingenuous, its misleading, its everything that people hate about the swamp.

During Siegels 14-year tenure on city council, she noted, Bellaires tax rate decreased from 51 cents to 40 cents per $100 in taxable value. The only annual rate hike, in fiscal 2011, was needed to service debt approved overwhelmingly by voters after Tropical Storm Allison, Siegel argued.

Still, it is Siegel who has thrown the vast majority of the punches in this primary, starting late last year when she laid into Hunt for missing a handful of candidate forums. Then, after Hunt revealed at a January forum that he last voted in the 2008 Democratic primary, Siegel began hammering Hunt over his voting history.

Hunt has said he is a lifelong Republican, explaining his vote in the Democratic primary as being part of a strategy devised by conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who told Republican voters to support Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama that year to lengthen the primary season for Democrats. Siegel has questioned why Hunt did not vote in subsequent Republican primaries.

One of Siegels latest broadsides on Hunt is over a lawsuit against his employer and campaign donor, homebuilding firm Perry Homes, which is accused of making a Kingwood subdivision more susceptible to flooding through its development of an adjacent property. Siegel panned Hunt over the lawsuit and was joined in her critique by Republican candidate Maria Espinoza, who said Hunt cares more about campaign funds than he does about doing the right thing and preventing a recurrence of devastating floods.

Hunt, who works in human resources at Perry Homes, said he is not at all involved in the issue at work.

Any attention that we are putting on something else is not attention on defeating Lizzie Fletcher, Hunt said. Thats the kind of infighting that is kind of absurd. Lets focus on Lizzie and not our fellow Republicans.

Siegel said Hunt nonetheless bears some responsibility for the company that pays his paycheck.

I just dont see how Wes Hunt can say that he doesnt have a conflict of interest in Perry Homes, she said.

The other Republican candidates are former Houston housing director Jim Noteware, energy consultant Kyle Preston and Laique Rehman, a commodities trader in the oil and gas industry. Preston and Rehman have not filed any campaign finance reports.

Distinct backgrounds

Lacking many discernible policy disputes, Hunt and Siegel also have drawn contrasts over their sharply differing backgrounds. Hunt served as a helicopter pilot and liaison officer in the Army, with deployments to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, while Siegel is emphasizing her experience as an accountant and in local government to underline her desire to reduce federal spending.

Espinoza has focused her campaign on supporting hard-line immigration stances. She often touts Trumps support for the group she co-founded with her husband, called the Remembrance Project, which amplifies the stories of families with relatives killed by undocumented immigrants. Espinoza won nearly 18 percent of the vote in her bid for the Republican nomination in 2016.

Siegel, who has filled leadership roles in the county Republican Party and other local groups, is framing the race as a battle between her grassroots support and Hunts fundraising might, which has been aided by his connection to McCarthy. The majority leader has connected Hunt to his extensive donor network and through his political action committee contributed $10,000 to Hunts campaign.

Hunt has emphasized his own grassroots support, sending out an email to supporters Sunday in which he said his volunteer army knocked on more than 5,000 doors Saturday, while about 300 people attended his rally the day after with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Hunt, who is African American, has also received backing from a PAC formed by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, who is the only black Republican in the House and is not seeking re-election.

According to Federal Election Commission data, Hunt has raised almost $165,000 from donors who list addresses outside Texas, though he has also vastly outraised Siegel from those with in-state addresses, $932,000 to $190,000. Siegel has received just $2,100 from outside the state, while loaning her campaign nearly $359,000.

Though Hunt has drawn the endorsement of popular conservative radio host Michael Berry, he recently lost the support of conservative firebrand Steven Hotze, who also holds sway with a swath of the socially conservative primary electorate.

Jared Woodfill, president of Hotzes Conservative Republicans of Harris County organization, said Hotze initially supported Hunt but switched his endorsement to Siegel after hearing about Hunts primary voting history.

Hotze also was concerned about contributions Hunt received from Republicans who supported Houstons equal rights ordinance in 2015, Woodfill said, adding that Siegel was with us on the ordinance and other social issues. Hotzes group sent out an initial mailer touting the Hunt endorsement, but sent out a revised endorsement over the weekend and plans to back Siegel if there is a runoff.

Hunt, for his part, said he intends to win the election outright on March 3  an outcome that would give him more time to fundraise against Fletcher without spending against a fellow Republican. (About $152,000 of the funds Hunt has raised may only be spent in the event of a runoff.)

There may very well be a runoff, and we are going to prepare for that accordingly, but I feel like we are running to win, Hunt said after a recent candidate forum. We have made the phone calls, weve done the block walking, weve put the work in. We are prepared for it, but our goal is to end this.

Fletcher, who defeated GOP incumbent John Culberson in 2018, is a top target this November for local and national Republicans. She won the suburban west Houston district  which contains a mix of minority communities and affluent residents who are mostly white  during the same cycle in which Democratic Senate candidate Beto ORourke carried 53 percent of the vote in her district.

Siegel cited that result in dismissing Cruzs decision to endorse Hunt  a move that Democrats hope will aid their chances during the general election.

Yes, Ted Cruz endorsed him, but Ted Cruz lost the district in 2018, Siegel said. The president, I have to believe if he knew Mr. Hunt didnt bother to vote in 2016, I have to believe he wouldnt have endorsed him.

Through Feb. 12, Fletcher had $1.9 million cash on hand. Hunt had $821,000, Espinoza $179,000 and Siegel $120,000, though she had outspent Espinoza nearly 9-to-1.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
After addressing a mammoth crowd at Motera Stadium in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump flew down to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, along with his ministerial delegation and daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The US President was received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Agra airport.

Trump was wearing a black suit with a yellow collar, and his wife was in a white jumpsuit.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th Century as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The structure with white marble domes and minarets became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1983. Regarded as the monument to love, the Taj Mahal attracts millions of visitors every year.

The US President, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shared the same stage to address nearly one lakh people at the 'Namaste Trump' mega event at Motera Stadium.

The two world leaders also hailed the strategic partnership shared between India and the United States during the address. The bonhomie between Modi and Trump was repeatedly visible during various engagements in Ahmedabad as the two hugged each other six times during the three hours of the show earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have also been made in the city in view of Trump's visit. As many as 10 paramilitary companies and 5,000 security personnel have been deployed.

At least 3,000 artistes, wearing traditional costumes, are seen performing Ramlila, Raslila, Kala Alha and Nautanki of Bundelkhand in around 21 places on way from the Kheria airport and the East Gate of the Taj.

The US and Indian intelligence agencies have also coordinated for the security of the American leader.

Speaking to ANI, SP City Agra, Rohan P Botre said: "Forces have been deployed in the route as well as on roof-tops. There is proper coordination between the US and Indian security agencies."

"The Taj Mahal area has been secured properly. The paramilitary forces will be deployed in the Taj Mahal area and inside the monument. There is a deployment of civil force and CISF. Even NSG and ATS have also come here. So, proper arrangements have been made," the SP said.

After completing his engagements within a short span of time today evening, the US President will leave for Delhi.

According to his packed schedule, the dignitary will receive a ceremonial welcome in New Delhi on Tuesday and visit the Rajghat thereafter. In the afternoon, Trump will participate in delegation-level talks and is expected to sign agreements in the defence sector.

In the evening, the US President will further meet Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the capital's Hyderabad House.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Tabu has established her name in the Indian film industry with her stellar performances over the years. She has also worked with several Bollywood superstars and developed friendships with several other high profile actors. The actor has worked in several films with one such superstar -- Salman Khan. Here's taking a look at the list of the movies featuring Tabu and Salman Khan together:

Hum Saath-Saath Hain

Hum Saath-Saath Hain is a drama flick helmed by Sooraj R. Barjatya and produced under the banner name Rajshri Productions. Apart from Tabu and Salman Khan, the film also features Saif Ali Khan, Monish Behl, Sonali Bendre and Karishma Kapoor in pivotal roles. The movie revolves around the story of parents Ramkishen and Mamta, who have three sons and a daughter. They are a part of a joint family whose bonds are challenged due to some misunderstandings.

This is considered one of the best movies of Tabu and Salman Khan that bagged many awards. Fans loved the outstanding performance of Salman Khan in the movie. It is also remade in Telugu and that is released with the title Premaanuraagam.

ALSO READ | Tabu-inspired Hairstyles To Try For Your Upcoming Parties

Jai Ho

Jai Ho is an action-drama flick helmed by Sohail Khan and produced under the banner name Sohail Khan Films. Along with Tabu and Salman Khan, the movie features Daisy Shah, Aditya Pancholi and Danny Denzongpa in the lead roles. Apart from these actors, the flick also has Sunil Shetty and Genelia D'Souza's cameo appearances.

The movie revolves around the story of a military officer who plans to encourage social responsibility amongst civilians who are less enthusiastic. The movie received mixed reactions from the fans. However, the film performed well at the box-office.

ALSO READ | Tabu's Best Scenes As Aditi Pandit In 'Astitva' That Made The Film An Unforgettable One

Bharat

The drama flick was penned and helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar. Produced under the banner name Reel Life Productions, Salman Khan Films, and T-Series, the movie features Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Tabu, Sunil Grover, Disha Patani and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles. The plot revolves around the story of a child named Bharat who is left behind to take care of his family after getting torn apart during the India-Pakistan war. The flick shows how he tries to stay true to the promises he made to his father.

ALSO READ | Best Telugu Films Of Tabu You Must Add To Your Watchlist Right Now

ALSO READ | 'Tabu Is Mesmerizing': Ishaan Khatter On Why Their Onscreen Romance Was Easy For Him

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.
Mumbai, Feb 24 : Indian stock markets alongside global equities markets tumbled and prices of safe haven assets such as gold logged a record high over fears of further disruption in economic activity owing to the jump in coronavirus-related deaths, particularly outside China.

Growth worries owing to the deadly virus outbreak knocked down the global oil prices by over 3 per cent and caused a sell-off in manufacturing sector stocks.

Nifty metal index crashed 5.36 per cent as investors distanced themselves from companies such as Jindal Steel & Power Limited, JSW Steel Limited, SAIL and Tata Steel Limited.

Meanwhile, gold's record breaking run continued on Monday as investors sought more and more safe haven assets over increased uncertainty due to soaring coronavirus cases. Gold futures for April delivery topped the Rs 43,000 per 10 gm mark for the first time.

"Demand for safe-haven assets spiked as fresh coronavirus cases in South Korea and Italy indicated that business impact could be higher than thought earlier. The Trump-Modi meet is not providing clues to the market regarding trade deals, but the market is hoping for some hints in the future," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

After the volatility index or the India 'VIX' climbed over 25 per cent, the Sensex closed 806.89 points lower at 40,363.23. The broader Nifty settled at 242.25 points lower at 11,838.60. The BSE mid-cap index closed 1.60 per cent lower while the small caps index closed lower by 1.58 per cent.

Risky asset classes such as equities bore the brunt of coronavirus spread outside China. South Korea reported its seventh coronavirus death and 161 new confirmed cases on Monday, bringing the total number to 763.

Italy saw virus cases jumping exponentially from three on Friday morning to more than 150 by Sunday. Italy's spike now marks the biggest outbreak outside of Asia.

In China, the epicentre of the outbreak, coronavirus-related death jumped past 2,600. The deadly virus has infected more than 77,000 people in China and was described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as the "largest public health emergency since the founding of the country".

Asian share indexes were a sea of red. Korea's KOSPI Index slipped nearly 4 per cent, Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.28 per cent. Besides, Australia's benchmark index slid 2.2 per cent while New Zealand was about 1.3 per cent lower.

"Seoul led a sharp drop across Asian and European equity markets Monday as South Korea announced a surge in COVID-19 infections, while oil plunged and safe-haven assets rallied on growing concerns about a possible pandemic," said Deepak Jasani of HDFC Securities.
BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA CONFERENCE (Booth #1167) BitSight , the Standard in Security Ratings, today announced BitSight Attack Surface Analytics, a new Security Performance Management solution, at RSA Conference 2020 San Francisco. With BitSight Attack Surface Analytics, security and risk leaders can quickly validate their organizations' digital footprint, assess security posture and cyber risk reputation, and take steps to reduce their cyber risk exposure. In addition to this new innovation, BitSight is moderating a panel at the conference with thought leaders from Goldman Sachs, Moody's and Rain Capital about the impact of cyber risk on financial investment decisions.

BitSight Attack Surface Analytics: Mitigating Risk in an Expanding Digital Ecosystem

As organizations' digital ecosystems continue to expand , security and risk leaders are challenged with managing risk across an increasingly complex attack surface. Organizations commonly suffer from limited cyber risk visibility across deployed assets, including the cloud, and existing tools offer limited ability for asset discovery, management and risk reduction.

BitSight Attack Surface Analytics enables organizations to continuously discover and segment the assets, applications and devices that comprise their growing digital footprint, assess current risk exposure, and take action to reduce risk.

"With the acceleration of digital transformation, including moving to the cloud, many organizations lack visibility into the assets that comprise their digital ecosystem, as well as the security posture of those assets," said Dave Fachetti, executive vice president of Strategy at BitSight. "BitSight Attack Surface Analytics helps leaders confidently grow and scale their businesses by providing continuous visibility into assets and risk, along with a way to prioritize actions that lead to measurable risk reduction."

With BitSight Attack Surface Analytics, customers can:

Gain a view of organizational digital assets  including cloud assets  that highlights the areas of greatest cyber risk;

Easily identify, filter and organize assets by subsidiary, geography, hosting and asset type to quickly identify previously unknown outliers and assets that require further investigation;

Overlay asset views with objective, quantifiable security insights based on the BitSight Platform to better understand which groups and types of assets present the greatest areas of cyber risk; and

Leverage insights to more effectively justify actions or investments to improve current security posture and communicate security performance.

To learn more about BitSight Attack Surface Analytics, visit: https://www.bitsight.com/security-performance-management

BitSight's RSA Session on Investors and Cyber Risk

The new Attack Surface Analytics offering is one initiative highlighting BitSight's presence at RSA Conference. In addition to demonstrations at BitSight's booth (#1167), BitSight will moderate a panel on February 27 during the show, featuring senior leaders from Goldman Sachs, Moody's, and Rain Capital that aims to answer critical questions on the role of cybersecurity in investment decisions. Attendees will walk away from the session with better insight into investor perspectives on cyber risk and how it factors into financial valuation. Full session details are as follows:

Session Title: Do Investors Care about Cyber-Risk?

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020

Time: 2:50PM - 3:40PM

Location: RMG2-R09

Moderator: Jacob Olcott, Vice President, Communications & Government Affairs, BitSight

Participants:

Derek Bingham , Vice President, Global Investment Research, Goldman Sachs

, Vice President, Global Investment Research, Goldman Sachs Derek Vadala , CEO, Moody's Cyber Risk Assessments

, CEO, Moody's Cyber Risk Assessments Dr. Chenxi Wang , General Partner, Rain Capital

About BitSight

BitSight transforms how organizations manage cyber risk. The BitSight Security Ratings Platform applies sophisticated algorithms, producing daily security ratings that range from 250 to 900, to help organizations manage their own security performance; mitigate third party risk; underwrite cyber insurance policies; conduct financial diligence; and assess aggregate risk. With over 2,100 global customers and the largest ecosystem of users and information, BitSight is the Standard in Security Ratings. For more information, please visit www.bitsight.com , read our blog or follow @BitSight on Twitter.

SOURCE BitSight

Related Links

http://www.bitsighttech.com


As you may have come to know, the situation on the ground in Garkida on 21 February 2020 was extremely chaotic with significant movement in the general area that were indistinguishable from the air. The situation was worsened by the fact that the attack mostly took place at night. In such situations, the rules of engagement, as internationally known, is not to attack unless it is clear that no civilians are in harms way. The essence is to avoid the inadvertent killing of the people that the aircraft were dispatched to protect.
By Trend

The issue related to coronavirus is on the international agenda, and in this regard, Azerbaijan is seriously studying WHO recommendations and taking the necessary measures, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev, told reporters in Baku, Trend reports Feb. 24.

Hajiyev was commenting on the possibility of closing the borders with Iran due to the threat of coronavirus.

The presidential assistant noted that discussions were held in the Cabinet of Ministers in connection with the coronavirus and an Action Plan was prepared.

Azerbaijan is taking the necessary measures in this direction, Hajiyev added. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has already warned citizens about the issue of trips to Iran.

Irans Ministry of Health and Medical Education has confirmed that 43 people have been infected with the new coronavirus and eight have died so far.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

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, Russia, Nepal, Cambodia, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Daali Dhananjay is currently basking in the massive success of his latest film, Popcorn Monkey Tiger directed by Suri. The talented actor has become a favourite of Sandalwood producers who have been lining up to cast him in their movies.

Just last week it was announced that the Tagaru fame actor is set to star in the biopic of Bengalurus first underworld don MP Jayaraj. And now, it has been revealed that Dhananjay is also set to collaborate with writer-director D Satya Prakash after having starred in his acclaimed short film, Jayanagar 4th block.

The yet untitled project will be jointly produced by Dhananjays Daali Pictures and Satya Prakash and will be helmed by a new director. The film will see Dhananjay portray a challenging character with two contrasting shades. The screenplay of the commercial entertainer has also been penned by Prakash.

The team is currently busy with the pre-production of the movie. The makers are also busy casting fresh faces for the film and will be announcing the official cast and crew towards the commencement of the shoot. The movie, in all likelihood, will go on floors in March after leading man Dhananjay wraps up the shoot of Badava Rascal.

In the meantime, Dhananjay is busy with a number of big-ticket movies including Badava Rascal, Daali, Yuvarathnaa, and Pogaru to name a few. On the other hand, Satya Prakash is gearing up to start his next venture starring Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar.

ALSO READ: Dhananjay To Play Bengalurus First Underworld Don MP Jayaraj In His Next Film

ALSO READ: Director Suri Opens Up About His Highly Anticipated Next Popcorn Monkey Tiger
All units were informed of the current situation in Italy, as the local authorities closed schools and other public places over the raging epidemic; over 150 cases of infection with coronavirus

Ukrainian border guards started visual monitoring of passengers that arrive in Ukraine from Italy. Andriy Demchenko, the spokesman of the authority said so as quoted by Interfax agency.

"We only have the reinforced visual monitoring of passengers in the aviation checkpoints, as well as car and railroad checkpoints. All of our units were informed about the situation in Italy", he said.

He added that in case border guards have any suspicions about health conditions of passengers, they will immediately inform the medical staff in airports or other kinds of checkpoints. If passengers, in turn, claim any health problems, medics will be called immediately.

Previously, Italian media claimed at least four fatalities due to the spread of the Chinese coronavirus, also known as Covid-2019. Over 150 cases of infection have been confirmed so far.

The Ukrainian government has introduced an extra safety measure in terms of the prevention of coronavirus spread. From now on, passengers from countries with a high risk of virus spread to get body temperature checked upon arrival in Ukraine. Oleksiy Honcharuk, the Prime Minister posted that on Facebook.

"We found a group of countries with risks of contamination, so the extra procedure of flight control from these countries: passengers' body temperature is checked in Ukrainian airports", the Premier claimed.

According to him, all regions of Ukraine are ready to react if anyone shows symptoms of coronavirus. Besides, the hospitals are ready to take the patients in, if necessary.
Newark, NJ, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by Fior Markets, the global IGBT and super junction MOSFET market is expected to grow from USD 8.67 billion in 2017 to USD 23.67 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 13.4% during the forecast period from 2018-2025. IGBT and super junction MOSFET market has been witnessing the rapid growth from the past few years. IGBTs and super junction MOSFETs are used in switching applications in different end-user applications, including wind turbines, PV inverters, electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, rail tractions, uninterrupted power supplies (UPS), and other industrial applications. Rising use of IGBTs and super junction MOSFETs in hybrid and electric vehicles and the rising focus on greater energy efficiency are some of the factors propelling the global IGBT and super junction MOSFET market.

Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and small junction metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) are the semiconductors switching devices commonly used in high power circuit electronics such as invertors, converters, power supplies etc. IGBT and super junction MOSFET provide fast switching of current and incur low power losses. In recent years, energy efficiency, cost reduction, flexibility, and environment compatibility have emerged as critical global issues across the semiconductor industry. It offers many benefits including faster switching and higher efficiency as well as it competes against other devices and technologies such as Gallium Nitride (GaN), MOSFETs, and Silicon Carbide (SiC).

Global IGBT and super junction MOSFET market is expected to witness rapid growth over the forecast period, owing to rising demand for energy efficiency and high focus on renewable energy. Also, the growing renewable energy sector, heavy investment in high-speed rail and rising demand for electric vehicles are the key factors propelling growth of market size. But availability of alternatives including compound semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide and Gallium-Nitride (GaN) may restrain the growth of the market. However, high replacement demand and positive developments in the data center market is expected to propel IGBT & super junction MOSFET market demand in coming years.

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT AT https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/386056/request-sample

Key players operating in the global IGBT and super junction MOSFET market are Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc., Toshiba Corporation, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., Infineon Technologies AG, STMicroelectronics N.V., ABB Ltd., Hitachi Power Semiconductor Device, Ltd., and Semikron, Inc. among others. To enhance their market position in the global IGBT and super junction MOSFET market, the key players are now focusing on adopting the strategies such as product innovation, recent developments, mergers & acquisitions, joint venture, collaborations, and partnership.

For instance, in April 2018, Fort Campbell was installed with IGBT and Super Junction MOSFET mechanisms to check driving licenses as well as military IDs.

In August 2018, Infineon Technologies AG announced the launch of the 950 V CoolMOS P7 Super junction MOSFET in the CoolMOS P7 family to meet most rigorous design requirements: for smart meter, mobile charger, notebook adapter, lighting, AUX power supply and industrial SMPS applications.

In November 2015, STMicroelectronics announced the introduction of product portfolio of TO-220 FullPAK (TO-220FP) wide creepage power transistors, including the worlds first 1500V super-junction MOSFET in this new important arcing-resistant package.

The discrete segment dominated the market and valued around USD 5.51 billion in 2017

The product segment is classified into modules and discrete. The discrete segment dominated the market and valued around USD 5.51 billion in 2017. Discrete IGBT is used widely in high-power application areas as well as in consumer electronics. IGBT is expected to continue witnessing popularity in the applications such as general-purpose inverters, wind and solar power generation, and high-frequency applications. In addition to this, miniaturization of power adaptor is expected to drive the super junction MOSFET market.

Adapter/Charger/Converter segment dominated the market with the highest share of 23.10% in 2017

The application segment is segmented into UPS, EV/HEV, consumer electronics, industrial, adapter/charger/converter, motor drives, wind turbines, rail traction, PV inverters, lighting and others. Adapter/Charger/Converter segment dominated the market with the highest share of 23.10% in 2017. Charger or adopter demand can be credited to the growing number of tablet, smartphones, PCs and related devices.

Browse full report with TOC at https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/igbt-and-super-junction-mosfet-market-by-product-386056.html

Regional Segment Analysis of the IGBT and Super Junction MOSFET Market

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan India, Rest of APAC)

South America (Brazil and Rest of South America)

Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)

The regions analysed for the market include North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa. The Asia Pacific region is dominating the market with the highest share of 41.30% in 2017. Asia Pacific is dominating the market due to the presence of large plants in countries such as Japan, India and China which is expected to be favorable for the solar sector. Developments in PV inverter and automotive production in Asia Pacific are also expected to fuel adoption over the forecast period. In addition to this, increasing focus on energy efficiency in the Asia Pacific region, positively influencing the growth of market. The North America region is anticipated to grow rapidly in the global IGBT and super junction MOSFET market. This is mainly attributed to increased wind turbine installation in the U.S. and Canada, which is expected to positively impact the North American market. Motor drives, HEV, and industrial applications are expected to be the key segments in the North America IGBT and super junction MOSFET market.

About the report:

The global IGBT and super junction MOSFET market is analysed on the basis of value (USD Billion), volume (Thousand Units), export (Thousand Units), and import (Thousand Units). All the segments have been analyzed on global, regional and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insight of the market. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, supply, demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution and marketing channels analysis.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  A Senate panel holds a hearing on Monday to look into the issues surrounding the franchise renewal of media giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.

The Senate Committee on Public Services will investigate the alleged violations of the company and its compliance with the terms and conditions stated under Republic Act No. 7966.

ABS-CBN top officials are present at the hearing.

The media company has since denied allegations, maintaining it did not violate the law and had no unsettled taxes. But ABS-CBN CEO and president Carlo Katigbak admitted the company has shortcomings and vowed to correct them.

The Senate hearing comes amid the government's move to void ABS-CBN's franchise, which is expiring on March 30.

Related: TIMELINE: ABS-CBN franchise

Solicitor General Jose Calida told the Supreme Court the network committed "highly abusive practices" in violation of terms set by Congress when it approved ABS-CBN's franchise in 1995. These include setting up of the KBO channel without a permit from the National Telecommunications Commission, and when it supposedly allowed foreign investors to control the company.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has yet to set a hearing that will tackle the long pending measures  a total of eleven pending before the committee level  on ABS-CBNs franchise renewal.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises is set to tackle the long-pending bills on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal on Monday where lawmakers will deliberate both the merits and complaints concerning the media giants case. However, no hearing is scheduled as of yet.

Related: House panel to tackle ABS-CBN franchise renewal bid

A total of eleven bills seeking to renew ABS-CBNs legal mandate remain pending before the lower chamber. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the House may only be able to tackle the bills in May at the earliest, citing more urgent" measures on deck for lawmakers.
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.
Stones motion regarding the juror remains sealed, but the record indicates it is his second attempt to argue for a new trial on grounds that jurors were biased against him. Berman Jackson already has denied his first such motion, saying there was no evidence a juror was biased merely because she was a lawyer with the Internal Revenue Service. President Trump has repeatedly attacked the forewoman of the jury, who ran for Congress as a Democrat. The second motion, Berman Jackson said, specifically raised questions about a jurors written questionnaire and sworn answers during individual voir dire.
A Queensland coroner says criminal charges could be laid against Dreamworld's owner Ardent Leisure following the 2016 tragedy that claimed the lives of four holidaymakers.

Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi died in October 2016 when a water pump on the Gold Coast theme park's Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioned.

Coroner James McDougall says Dreamworld presented itself as a modern, world-class theme park but its safety procedures were rudimentary at best.

Michael Cooke holds a picture of his sister Cindy Low, killed at Dreamworld, as he leaves Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday after the Queensland Coroner delivered his findings

Tributes were left for the victims at Dreamworld in October 2016 at the time of the tragedy

Cindy Low (top right), Kate Goodchild (bottom left), her brother Luke Dorsett (bottom right) and his partner Roozi Araghi (top left) tragically lost their lives in the incident

On Monday, he referred Ardent Leisure to the Office of Industrial Relations to consider whether the company may have committed an offence under workplace laws.

In handing down his findings, he said there was a 'systemic failure' by Dreamworld in all aspects of safety.

He described the systems that were in place as 'frighteningly unsophisticated'.

Mr McDougall said he also found no evidence Dreamworld conducted a thorough engineering risk assessment of the ride in the three decades it was open to the public.

The raft (pictured) carrying six people overturned after a malfunction on the Thunder Rapids ride at Dreamworld in 2016. Four people were crushed and drowned

The Thunder River Rapids Ride in action at Dreamworld some time before the accident

Kim Dorsett, mother of victims Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett, leaves the Magistrates Court in Brisbane on Monday. The grieving mother wiped away tears as she said her great regret was that she wasn't there for them that day. 'The harrowing part is living without them,' she said

'I find that shoddy record-keeping was a significant contributor to this incident ... (and) contributed to the masking of the real risk of the (ride),' he said.

An external engineer, Tom Polley, who was engaged by Dreamworld to inspect the ride, has been referred to the Board of Professional Engineers in relation to his conduct.

Mr McDougall said his failure to properly inspect the ride fell below industry standards.

More than a hundred people packed the Brisbane Coroners Court to hear the long-awaited findings.

Ardent Leisure CEO John Osborne (left) and Chairman Gary Weiss (right) leave Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. The Queensland Coroner said criminal charges may be laid against Ardent Leisure

Ms Low, Ms Goodchild, Mr Dorsett and Mr Araghi died after being flung into a mechanised conveyor when their raft collided with another and partially flipped.

Ms Goodchild's 12-year-old daughter and Ms Low's 10-year-old son survived the incident.

On Monday morning, Ms Goodchild and Mr Dorsett's mother Kim Dorsett spoke of her grief, saying her greatest regret was not being there for her children on the day they needed her most.

'I wasn't there,' she said while wiping tears from her face.

'The easier part was burying them, the harrowing part is living without them.'

The pair's father, John Goodchild, said his grief was exacerbated by learning the malfunction could have been identified before the accident happened.

Families at the Brisbane Magistrate's Court on Monday. Far left: Matthew Low, husband of Cindy Low. Centre right: Shane Goodchild, father of Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett

Police at Dreamworld, Gold Coast, on October 25 after the tragedy

WHAT IS THE THUNDER RIVER RAPIDS RIDE? Thunder River Rapids opened in 1986 and remains one of Dreamworld's oldest rides

Ride located in the Gold Rush section of Gold Coast's biggest theme park and considered one of Dreamworld's most 'family friendly'

Riders board six-person circular rafts which follow initial path through a cave before experiencing the rapids section of the ride

Thunder River Rapids lasts four minutes in total and hits top speed of 45km/h

Riders are usually splashed with water as rafts spin through the rapids and hit walls

Conveyor belt takes rafts back to start of the ride for passengers to hop in and out Source: AAP Advertisement

The wide-ranging inquest, which opened in June, has unveiled a 'litany of problems' with some experts declaring the tragedy was an accident waiting to happen.

The malfunction was the third that day and the fifth in a week.

Police uncovered multiple incidents involving the ride in the past, with two rafts colliding in 2004, throwing a guest into the trough.

Despite recommendations for a single emergency stop, no single shutdown function was installed.

Queensland introduced new safety regulations for amusement rides, including mandatory major inspections of rides by qualified engineers every 10 years and improved training for ride operators.

The state also tightened workplace health and safety prosecution laws.

Dreamworld's owner, Ardent Leisure, has issued a statement extending its sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy.

The company said it would review the report and comment further on Tuesday.

Ardent Leisure was among the worst performers on the ASX/300 index on Monday, its shares plunging by as much as 18.1 per cent to a near two-month low of $1.155 in morning trade.

The company was still trading 15.6 per cent lower at $1.19 at 1pm.
So that's clear: it is absolutely unacceptable for anyone with eugenicist views to have a position of the slightest influence within British politics.

Last week, a 27-year-old Downing Street adviser, Andrew Sabisky, was forced out when it emerged that six years earlier he had advocated, among other disturbing proposals, various forms of genetic selection based on predicted IQ.

'Eugenics are about selecting 'for' good things. Intelligence is largely inherited and it correlates with better outcomes  income, lower mental illness,' he wrote.

But the furore was really directed at the Prime Minister's chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, and not just because Sabisky was one of the 'geeks and weirdos' he had sought to bring into the policy-making nexus.

Last week, a 27-year-old Downing Street adviser, Andrew Sabisky (pictured), was forced out when it emerged that six years earlier he had advocated, among other disturbing proposals, various forms of genetic selection based on predicted IQ

Thus, last Thursday, the Guardian ran a front page 'exclusive' headlined: 'Cummings supported selecting embryos for IQ'. The message was clear: if Sabisky was regarded as beyond the pale, so should the man who took him on at No 10, especially as, according to the paper, they have similar views.

Fanatical

Of course, the Guardian (and the Left in general) has the mother of all grudges against Cummings, since he was the ferociously focused strategist behind the Conservatives' election triumph.

Hidden in plain sight, however, is the most astounding hypocrisy. Eugenics is practised in this country, funded by the taxpayer, and supported  though by no means only so  by those who would regard themselves as being on the Left.

I am referring to the law governing the termination of pregnancy, and the fact it actively discriminates against those unborn children who are likely to have subnormal IQs or physical disabilities.

In so-called 'healthy' pregnancies, abortion is legal only up to 24 weeks. But if the unborn child is thought to be at 'substantial risk of having a disability', then termination is legal right up to the moment of natural birth at 40 weeks.

And the NHS has a vast screening programme designed to discover such disabilities. It is principally designed to detect those with Down's syndrome, far and away the commonest form of chromosomal abnormality (and not a disease, however much this is ignorantly repeated).

I take a particular interest in this because my younger daughter Domenica, now 24, has Down's syndrome. She is (I admit to being biased) a wonderful young woman: kind, thoughtful, incessantly cheerful  and often hilariously funny.

Yet when she was born, we were all but told to write her off.

The furore was really directed at the Prime Minister's chief adviser, Dominic Cummings (pictured), and not just because Sabisky was one of the 'geeks and weirdos' he had sought to bring into the policy-making nexus

We had chosen not to have 'the tests', but when, shortly after her birth, I revealed that, the nation's favourite ex-nurse, the late agony aunt and broadcaster Claire Rayner, wrote an article attacking 'The Lawsons' for behaving 'selfishly' because of the 'cost to society' of people such as Domenica: 'People who are not yet parents should ask if they have the right to inflict such burdens on others.'

There you have the classic eugenicist argument, from a greatly admired public figure who was frank enough to blurt out what is normally covered up.

Amazingly, Rayner was a patron of the Down's Syndrome Association. Even more amazingly, she was surprised when the Association asked her to resign.

Or perhaps it was not so amazing.

Some years later  in 2008  the Royal Mail produced a 50p stamp honouring Marie Stopes. This was to recognise her role in opening Britain's first family planning clinic in 1921: the venture bearing her name now calls itself 'the UK's leading provider of reproductive health services'.

Yet Stopes  as the Royal Mail must have been aware, assuming they had conducted a modicum of research  was a fanatical, self-proclaimed eugenicist.

She left the bulk of her fortune to the Eugenics Society, a body that campaigned for 'racial purity'. She attended the Nazi-organised Berlin congress on 'population science' in 1935 and subsequently sent a volume of love poems to Adolf Hitler.

Stopes applied her eugenic beliefs to her own family. She cut her son Harry out of her will for marrying a woman, Mary, who was short-sighted.

Stopes wrote: 'She has an inherited disease of the eyes which not only makes her wear hideous glasses so that it is horrid to look at her, but the awful cost will carry on and I have the horror of our line being so contaminated and little children with the misery of glasses . . . Mary and Harry are quite callous about both the wrong to their children, the wrong to my family and the eugenic crime.'

I take a particular interest in this because my younger daughter Domenica (left), now 24, has Down's syndrome. She is (I admit to being biased) a wonderful young woman: kind, thoughtful, incessantly cheerful  and often hilariously funny

Callous

It is clear which member of the family was truly callous.

Stopes would have been delighted by the news that the Department of Health is planning to introduce a new form of 'non-invasive' pre-natal testing which is thought to be more accurate than previous methods of maternal blood-testing to detect Down's syndrome.

When this was announced, a respectable newspaper declared enthusiastically that this would lead to 'the elimination' of Down's syndrome.

The Dutch geneticist Hans Galjaard, who has written papers on this new form of screening, was asked: 'If it were made possible, do you think Down's syndrome should disappear from society?'

He replied: 'Yes, that was one of my motivations.'

That this is thought unexceptionable in a political culture that simultaneously declares 'eugenics' to be beyond the pale reveals cognitive dissonance on a breath-taking scale.

There are campaigners who are trying to expose this.

Yesterday's Sunday Times reported that lawyers acting for two families, and backed by the group Don't Screen Us Out and the actress Sally Phillips (whose son Olly has Down's), had written to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, seeking a change in the abortion law, to limit termination at 24 weeks for all non-fatal disabilities.

The report made clear how the medical profession regularly puts pressure on mothers to take advantage of the law to abort unborn babies with Down's right up to 40 weeks.

The nation's favourite ex-nurse, the late agony aunt and broadcaster Claire Rayner (pictured), wrote an article attacking 'The Lawsons' for behaving 'selfishly' because of the 'cost to society' of people such as Domenica

Horror

Cheryl Bilsborrow, from Preston, whose two-year-old son Hector has Down's, told the paper she was 'pressured' by a nurse to have an abortion days before she gave birth to Hector. 'I just said to her: 'I'll pretend I didn't hear that.' '

And where does the alleged eugenicist at the heart of No 10 stand on this?

Dominic Cummings has on several occasions given donations to a charity set up by my wife and named after my daughter: Team Domenica, which aims to get young adults with conditions such as Down's and autism into paid employment.

Cheryl Bilsborrow, from Preston, whose two-year-old son Hector has Down's, told The Sunday Times she was 'pressured' by a nurse to have an abortion days before she gave birth to Hector

In fact, Cummings' mother was for many years a special needs teacher. When I asked his wife, Mary, whether he was influenced by his mother's work, she replied: 'No, not necessarily, but they are similar characters: they are compassionate.'

This, I realise, will be hard for the Guardian to believe.

But it's worth looking at the words the newspaper quoted to justify its headline that Cummings 'supported selecting embryos for IQ'.

He had written of his concern that if the myriad genes for intelligence could be identified, 'there is no reason why rich people will not select the egg that has the higher prediction for IQ. If the poor cannot do the same, then the rich could quickly embed advantages and society could become not only more unequal but also based on biological classes.

In 2008 the Royal Mail produced a 50p stamp honouring Marie Stopes (pictured). Yet Stopes  as the Royal Mail must have been aware, assuming they had conducted a modicum of research  was a fanatical, self-proclaimed eugenicist

'One response is that if this sort of thing does become possible, then a national health system should fund everybody to do this.'

In other words, Cummings' fear was that the super-rich would use genetics to gain a biological advantage over the poor. His motive  though I think the whole business is borderline bonkers  was actually to prevent the emergence of some sort of eugenic elite.

And I know he shares the view of the Don't Screen Us Out campaigners: that the discriminatory abortion of allegedly 'unhealthy' unborn babies up to the moment of natural birth is not based on a genuine care for those with 'handicaps', but the opposite  horror.

I don't mourn the exit of Andrew Sabisky from Downing Street. But how bizarre that this junior backroom boffin is regarded as a dangerous eugenicist, when Marie Stopes is honoured on our stamps and the NHS has an officially sanctioned policy to accelerate the weeding-out of those deemed biologically unfit.
Euphoria star Zendaya and her Aussie co-star Jacob Elordi have been rumoured to be dating since the HBO series began airing last year.

And on Saturday, both Zendaya, 23, and Jacob, 22, looked cosy together as they arrived at Sydney airport.

In a potential attempt to fly under the radar during their arrival, the rumoured couple covered up their faces with hats, sunglasses and a raised hooded sweatshirt.

Suddenly shy? Zendaya (right) and rumoured Aussie boyfriend Jacob Elordi (left) attempted to go incognito on Saturday as they arrived in Sydney following their New York kiss

While the pair clearly intended for a low-key arrival, it wasn't long until fans spotted the well-known stars within the terminal.

Zendaya and Jacob both starred on HBO's hit series Euphoria, with Zendaya playing the recovering drug addict Rue and Jacob playing conceited jock Nate.

Eager travellers may have also recognised Zendaya from The Greatest Showman, while Jacob appeared on Netflix teen flick The Kissing Booth.

Spot the stars: In a potential attempt to fly under the radar during their arrival, the rumoured couple covered up their faces with hats, sunglasses and a raised hooded sweatshirt

Low-key stunner: Zendaya rocked a makeup-free complexion and kept things casual in an orange sweatshirt and black trackpants

Zendaya - full name Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman - rocked a makeup-free complexion and kept things casual in an orange sweatshirt and black trackpants.

Meanwhile, her rumoured boyfriend Jacob kept his head towards the ground as he wore noise-cancelling headphones, a cap and sunglasses.

While Jacob appeared less approachable with his accessories, Zendaya happily posed for a selfie with an excited male fan.

She placed her hands up in the peace sign for a quick snap, before a member of airport security escorted her away from the man.

Say cheese! While Jacob appeared less approachable with his headphone, cap and sunglasses, Zendaya happily posed for a selfie with an excited male fan

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! After posing for the quick snap, a member of airport security reached for the star and escorted her away from the man

Are they together? Dating rumours began last summer after fans spotted the pair catching a train together in Sydney and then holding hands together weeks later in Noosa

Dating rumours began last summer after fans spotted the pair catching a train together in Sydney and then holding hands together weeks later in Noosa.

Months earlier, in September 2019, Zendaya and Jacob were also seen vacationing together in Greece. He also attended her 23rd birthday party in August.

Jacob rejected the dating rumours in early December during an interview with GQ Australia. He insisted that they were just friends, adding: 'She's like my sister.'

However, they seemed to confirm their relationship had progressed earlier this month when they shared a kiss while out and about in New York City.

Interestingly, the pair appeared to give each other some distance as they left Sydney airport on Saturday a few paces behind each other.

Neither star has posted on their social media about their time in Australia thus far.

What changed? While Jacob rejected the dating rumours in early December to GQ Australia, the pair were spotted locking lips while out and about in New York City earlier this month
The parents of a 6-year-old southern Illinois girl are suing local school officials, alleging that their daughter was sexually assaulted by another kindergartner during recess.

The lawsuit names the Edwardsville School District 7 as the defendant and alleges that the school district was negligent in its supervision of students during recess periods.

The Glen Carbon girls parents contend in their suit that she told them in February 2019 that a male student in her kindergarten class had forcibly kissed her and touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions during recess at an unspecified district school.

The suit, which was filed Feb. 7 in Madison County Court, contends that the girl told a playground monitor about the incidents, but that no actions were taken to stop the abuse. She told her parents the incidents were a daily occurrence during recess, when about 90 children are supervised by two adults.

The parents allege in their complaint that their daughter has been waking up often in the night crying, and has also experienced bed-wetting, which is abnormal for the child, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.

The parents have been paying for counseling for the girl and have incurred other medical bills, according to the complaint. Their suit seeks $50,000, legal costs and other damages as determined by the court.

District 7 Superintendent Jason Henderson said he could not speak to the specifics of the lawsuit, but said in a statement that student safety and security is our highest priority and that the alleged incident was fully investigated.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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United States President Donald Trump has accused Adam Schiff of leaking classified intelligence documents on Russian interference in US presidential elections of 2020. As Trump readied for his maiden trip to India, he talked to reporters in the White House on February 23. The US President said that Schiff and his group leaked the documents to hurt the reputation of Democratic front runner Bernie Sanders. He further called for an investigation against Schiff.

According to an international news agency, three intelligence officials who are familiar with the closed-door briefing have cautioned lawmakers. This comes as the 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 the presidential campaign for Trump and whether officials are taking essential steps to combat the kind of Russian interference that was seen in the US elections of 2016.

However, Trump said on Sunday that he was not briefed about the intelligence that Kremlin was aiming to meddle in the November elections. The US President said, they leaked it, Adam Schiff and his group. Even though the Democratic lawmaker has denied the allegation, Trump has called for an investigation without any evidence to back his claims.

Read - Donald Trump Lauds PM Modi, Says 'We Will Always Remember This Remarkable Hospitality'

Read - Donald Trump In India: After 'Baahubali', US Prez Welcomed 'Malhari' Style By Adnan Sami

'Hoax number 7'

With increasing allegations over Russia's interference in the United States elections in 2020 after similar reports surfaced back in the 2016 elections, Trump had dismissed them. On February 20, reports suggested that intelligence officials cautioned 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.

Intelligence officials had asked for anonymity as it was the matter of sensitive intelligence. They 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 they get closer to elections. However, according to Peskov, they have nothing to do with the truth.

Read - As Donald Trump Lands In India, Here Are Highlights Of His Previous Meetings With PM Modi

Read - From Eisenhower To Obama; Donald Trump Latest In Long Line Of US Presidents To Visit India

(With agency inputs)
- Five civilians were killed in Russian air strikes backing Syrian regime forces as they chipped away at the country's last major rebel bastion in fighting that cost dozens of lives Monday, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air raids hit the Jabal al-Zawiya area on the edge of the jihadist-dominated northwestern province of Idlib.

In fighting on the ground, regime forces gained ground in the southern part of Idlib, the Britain-based monitor said.

They seized 10 towns and villages south of the M4 highway linking the coastal regime stronghold of Latakia to government-held second city Aleppo since Sunday, it said.

Nearly 50 fighters were killed on several fronts in the Idlib region, according to the Observatory, including 21 pro-regime fighters, as well as 27 jihadists and allied Turkey-backed rebels.

State agency SANA, for its part, said "units of the Syrian army continued to progress in the south of Idlib" province.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said the regime's aim was to wrest back control of stretches of the M4 still under the control of jihadists and allied rebels.

That would require operations against the towns of Ariha and Jisr al-Shughur, both along the M4.

Analysts expect a tough battle for Jisr al-Shughur, held by the jihadist Turkestan Islamic Party whose fighters mainly hail from China's Uighur Muslim minority.

They are allied to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate which dominates the Idlib region.

Loyalist forces have already taken back control of another key commercial artery running through northwest Syria -- the M5 that connects the capital with Aleppo.

They have also secured the region around the northern city, a major pre-war industrial hub.

Regime forces have since December clawed back chunks of the Idlib region, forcing close to a million people to flee their homes and shelters amid bitter cold.

The United Nations said Monday that the latest fighting was coming "dangerously close" to encampments of the displaced, risking an imminent "bloodbath".

Mark Cutts, a UN's humanitarian coordinator, also told reporters in Geneva that the world body was trying to double aid deliveries across a border crossing with Turkey from 50 to 100 trucks a day.

Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Most of the Pakistani media on Monday avoided mentioning US President Donald Trump's remarks on his administration working in a "very positive way" with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups operating from the country's soil.

Instead the websites of the Pakistani media highlighted Trump's comment that the US and Pakistan have a "good relationship" and their efforts to reduce tension in the region.

While the Dawn newspaper website gave the full quotes of the US president on the issue of terrorism, the websites of media outlets like The Express Tribune, Geo News, The and Daily Times avoided any mention of it when this report was filed.

"The United States and India are committed to working together to stop terrorists and to fight their ideology. For this reason, since taking office, my administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on the terrorist organisations and militants that operate on the Pakistani border," Trump said in his address at the mammoth 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On US-Pakistan relations, the president described it as "a very good one".

"Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one. Thanks to these efforts, we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan. And we are hopeful for reduced tensions, greater stability, and the future of harmony for all of the nations of South Asia.

"India has an important leadership role to play in shaping a better future as you take on greater responsibility for solving problems and promoting peace throughout this incredible region," Trump said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. India's decision evoked strong reaction from Pakistan, which downgraded its diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian envoy.

Although President 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.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The bill is so necessary, so logical, so urgent that it is certain to be suffocated to death before it gets a chance at a fair hearing. That is, unless enough St. Louisans speak up loudly in defense of Ingrassias bill  just as Missouri voters spoke out overwhelmingly in support of the Clean Missouri reform measure to de-politicize redistricting at the state level.

When incumbent politicians control the process, its a virtual certainty they will bend it to serve their own political interests first and foremost. Clean Missouri requires the redistricting process to be carried out by a non-partisan state demographer based on partisan balance and demographic diversity.

Currently incumbents and their parties carve up districts in ways that ensure majority-party dominance regardless of whether an individual candidate is the best person for the job. Thats why Republican state lawmakers are working so hard to reverse Clean Missouri: Its their political turf thats most threatened.
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. announce Mark Cunningham has been elected to serve as president and managing shareholder of the firm. Mr. Cunningham has served in numerous leadership roles at Chambliss, including executive committee member and chair of the health care section.

Recognized for his results and client service, he has received regional and national accolades for his work in health care law.

Mr. Cunningham will work closely with Tony Young, the firm's executive director, to oversee the firm's professional services and overall operations to ensure that efficient and effective client service remains the top objective of the firm, said officials. He will continue to actively represent clients in his health care practice, which serves numerous health care professionals and companies at local, regional, and national levels.

"I am privileged to lead Chambliss in this capacity," said Mr. Cunningham. "During my 23 years with the firm, we have grown and, under Mike St. Charles' leadership, prospered by putting our clients and people first. Our clients and employees are instrumental to our success, and I will do my best to support them in reaching their goals."

Mr. Cunningham will succeed Mr. St. Charles who served as the firm's managing shareholder for many years.

"Mark has all the attributes of an effective leader," said Mr. St. Charles. "He has vision, a strong work ethic, is a motivator, and understands people. He is a tremendous asset to our firm, as an individual, an excellent attorney, and as our newly-elected leader. I see nothing but great things ahead for our clients and employees."

Mr. Cunningham is a native Chattanoogan who has served Chambliss' clients for over 20 years and has worked with a wide variety of health care industry leaders across the country. He serves as outside general counsel for leading revenue cycle providers throughout the U.S. and regularly advises innovative health care providers throughout the Southeast. He has a wide variety of health care, general corporate, acquisition, and commercial transactions experience.

He's been recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Mid-South Super Lawyers, and Who's Who in American Law. He previously served as chair of the Tennessee Bar Association's Health Law Section and is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga (2003). Mr. Cunningham graduated Order of the Coif at Tulane University School of Law and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was inducted into the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
A woman is dead and two others are injured after a stabbing in Downsview, Toronto police say.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Monday, police and paramedics were called to the area of Dufferin Street and Wilson Avenue for reports of a stabbing.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Paramedics transported two people to hospital, including a man in life-threatening condition. Police say he was found lying on the street and is possibly the suspect.

A woman was also rushed to hospital with serious injuries, paramedics confirmed.

Police say they located a weapon at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.
Actors perform during an acrobatic show in Houston of Texas, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2020. Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Presented by the Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. (Photo by Lao Chengyue/Xinhua)

HOUSTON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States.

Presented by The Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. The performance received cheers and acclamation from the audience.

According to head of the acrobatic troupe Li Yufei, there are around 20 artists in the troupe which brought 15 performances to Houston this time. They have been performing in various cities in the United States since last November.

The Houston show was brought by the Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), a nonprofit presenting internationally acclaimed artists from the entire performing arts spectrum.

General Manager of the SPA Lee Strickland told Xinhua that the organization has brought some Chinese art performing groups in Houston in the past 20 years and this was the fourth time that The Peking Acrobats had performed here.

"Traditionally it's been great. People actually love this company," he said. "They are the fans' favorite."

Strickland said the novel coronavirus disease in China should not stop people from celebrating the culture.

"Especially at a time like this, it's best to celebrate the Chinese people and their arts that they provide. The richness of their culture should be celebrated, not feared," he said.

Since its founding in 1986, The Peking Acrobats have achieved international acclaim, dazzling audiences around the world.

Actresses perform during an acrobatic show in Houston of Texas, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2020. Hundreds of Americans marveled at an acrobatic performance Saturday evening in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Presented by the Peking Acrobats, the show featured award-winning programs. (Photo by Lao Chengyue/Xinhua)
High winds wreaked havoc on the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, closing a stretch of an interstate freeway in Oregon and toppling a large tree that crushed a man sleeping in an apartment complex in Washington state.

The man was critically injured in Renton, Washington, after a tree fell on a six-unit apartment building during a morning of high winds and heavy rain.

Firefighters from the Puget Sound Fire said the man in his 60s was sleeping on a couch in the living room of one of the units when the 200-foot tree came crashing down.

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The man was critically injured in Renton, Washington, after a tree fell on a six-unit apartment building during a morning of high winds and heavy rain

Firefighters from the Puget Sound Fire said the man in his 60s was sleeping on a couch in the living room of one of the units when the 200-foot tree came crashing down

'The patient was conscious and pinned across the torso area,' firefighters said.

First responders said they then treated the man while the structure was stabilized.

'Due to the complex nature of the entrapment, the need to stabilize the structure and the tree, and the need to protect the patient from further injury, the extrication took an extended period of time,' firefighters said.

It took about an hour and 40 minutes for first responders to extricate the man from underneath the tree. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, but he has since stabilized.

Authorities said none of the other residents were injured during the incident, but they were temporarily displaced.

Photos of the incident showed the aftermath as firefighters were forced to work around debris.

The tree is seen lodged into one side of the apartment complex after it tore through the roof.

Elsewhere, Interstate 84 was closed in both directions between Pendleton and La Grande in northeast Oregon, about 200 miles east of Portland, because of a downer power line.

It took about an hour and 40 minutes for first responders to extricate the man from underneath the tree (pictured). He was taken to a local hospital in critical but stable condition

Authorities said none of the other residents were injured during the incident, but they were temporarily displaced

Several other smaller state highways in Oregon were closed because of windy conditions and blowing debris in lanes.

A cold front that moved through western Washington on Sunday brought wind gusts up to 40mph, knocking out power for nearly 20,000 customers in the Puget Sound.

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma also closed Sunday due to a power outage.

Oregon and southwest Washington also saw high winds, with gusts of up to 55mph along the Oregon coast. Winds gusted at 20mph or more in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

A high surf advisory was in effect Sunday along the Oregon coast, and the National Weather Service warned beachgoers to be wary of sleeper waves.
The narrative that Trump built during his speech at Ahmedabad was in line with the long-term outlook of the US that the largest democracy in Asia is required to contain China, which the US deems as a threat

US president Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modis summit in Ahmedabad marks a major shift not just in the history of the bilateral relationship between the two countries but also in the geo-politics of Asia.

The symbolism of the two leaders coming together in Ahmedabad was unmistakable. The worlds largest and oldest democracies are philosophically, ideologically and strategically aligned in a world that faces the threat of multi-polarity from non-democratic states.

Trump, in Modis home state on Monday, without naming China and Russia, rebuked powerful states that exercise coercion, intimidation and threats. At the same time, he commended India for accomplishing growth in every sphere from science and technology to cultural influence through the soft power of Bollywood.

The narrative that Trump built was in line with the long-term outlook of the US that the largest democracy in Asia is required to contain China, which the US deems as a threat. Since Indias Independence in 1947 till Al-Qaedas 9/11 terror attacks against the US, America considered Pakistan its greatest ally in South Asia while New Delhi shared a close relationship with Russia. However, the exceptional and rapid rise of China and impressive economic growth in India in the preceding decade along with the terror strikes, led to reconfiguration in the US foreign policy in the region.

In the last two decades, India always got hyphenated with Pakistan in almost all equations and decision-making following the US war on terror in Afghanistan. In its war on terror against global Islamist terror outfits, the US needed Pakistan to capture Osama bin Laden, and defeat Al-Qaeda, which required Pakistan's participation in its war. Washington didnt have much use for India since New Delhi persistently sought a role for itself only in the peace-building and development efforts in Afghanistan.

Until Trump came to power, America remained reluctant to unsettle the Beijing-Washington cart due to Chinas incredible hold over the US economy. China is the biggest trading partner of the US and also has the largest reserves of US currency. It is only due to Trumps persistent arm-twisting in the last three years that a resultant trade war led to renewed negotiations over business deals between the two countries. Yet, the Trump administration has made it clear that it does not see China as an ideological ally.

In Trump's scheme of things, the threat posed to his 'Make America Great Again' by China is bigger than Islamist terrorism - the common enemy of India and the US. After the first round of trade deal (negotiations?) with Beijing, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo made a similar pitch against Chinas communist regime. In other words, Trump sees a uni-polar world headed by the US as a safer and better place.

The US presidents Ahmedabad declaration of securing the Indo-Pacific region, in partnership with India, was thus in accordance with his world view. It was therefore not surprising to hear him say that the US shares a good relationship with Pakistan and was working closely with Indias hostile neighbor to curb terrorism.

The 18-year-long war on terror, which lasted longer than the Vietnam war, has added $2.4 trillion to US's debt. While over 2,400 US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq led to the killing of over 4,400 soldiers. The Trump doctrine is that the US cant aspire to retain its hegemony in the world while being economically drained by China on one front and by war on terror on the other.

Clearly, for this twin-objective, Trump needs Modis support both with respect to Pakistan and China. In exchange, the prime minister on Monday seemed to have secured support from Trump on all his major decisions that have drawn tremendous criticism from the opposition in India and abroad. Trump refrained from mentioning the nullification of Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which fast-tracks citizenship of persecuted religious minorities from three neighboring Islamic theocracies.

If the optics Trumps stand-alone state visit to India, a first for any American president  are any indicator, the two leaders have already had a deal. Thats probably why Trump repeatedly called Modi a "tough negotiator".
The enemy is known for attempts to escalate the situation in Donbas on red-letter days.

The Ukrainian army's command has reported a new round of escalation in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, as Russia-led troops fired 20 heavy artillery rounds on Monday midnight.

"The Russian occupying forces have attacked positions of the Joint Forces with the use of weapons that are banned under the Minsk agreements. The invaders opened fire from 122mm artillery systems. The enemy fired 20 rounds to shell the defenders of Kindrashivka Nova," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters said on Facebook in the early hours of Monday, February 24.

Read alsoDonbas war update: 11 enemy attacks, one soldier injured in booby-trap blast on Feb 22

Ukrainian soldiers were ready for provocation as Russia marked Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23, which focuses on the achievements of its military forces. The enemy is known for attempts to escalate the situation in Donbas on red-letter days.

"To discredit Joint Forces' units, the Russian invaders committed armed provocations just before the attack, by shelling their own positions close to civilians' houses in the occupied village of Veselenke," the JFO said.

The Ukrainian army's command has reiterated that Ukrainian troops never fire at civilian homes.

"Such crimes are typical for Russia-controlled occupation forces," the Ukrainian military said.

Now the Joint Forces continue carrying out their combat missions in an enhanced mode and are ready for armed provocations by the enemy.

As was reported, Russia-led forces twice tried to attack Ukrainian positions in Donbas in recent days. One Ukrainian soldier died, another five were wounded in a morning battle on February 18.
Laredo police and U.S. Border Patrol rescued 37 immigrants who were held against their will in a stash house located about a block away from Memorial Middle School, authorities said.

READ MORE: Customs and Border agent kills wife and two sons before taking his own life
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.24

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

A meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will take place in Vienna on 26 February, Trend reports citing the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The Joint Commission will be chaired on behalf of the EU High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles by EEAS Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid and will be attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and Iran, reads the message.

In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions against Iran in November of the same year.

In order to preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal stated in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories having not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

On Sept. 5, Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA.

On Nov. 5, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

Recently, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA. Iran no longer faces any restrictions on its nuclear program.

Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Irans last which is fifth step in reducing its commitments in (JCPOA doesnt mean withdrawal from the agreement.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister added that the nuclear deal can be continued and this depends on the willingness of other parties.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn
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Unichem Laboratories share price rallied 11.7 percent intraday on February 24 after its Roha unit did not get any observation from the US health regulator.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) inspected the company's active pharmaceutical ingredients (APls) manufacturing unit at Roha in Maharashtra from February 17 to February 21, 2020.

"The inspection was a routine current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) surveillance," Unichem said in its BSE filing.

It successfully concluded without any FDA form 483 issued, it added.

The stock was quoting at Rs 147.25, up Rs 10.60, or 7.76 percent, amid high volumes on the BSE at 1507 hours.
As India awaits eagerly for United States President Donald Trump, Jitendra Kumar Tripathi and Ashok Sajjanhar, two former Ambassadors, said on Sunday that this visit will have a good impact on India and US strategic partnership.

"India's relationship with the US has seen many ups and downs during the last century but since 2002 the relations are on a steady path of development. This visit has added advantage for India as the US President will not be visiting Pakistan," Jitendra Kumar Tripathi told ANI.

He said that it is usual practise of a high dignitary from the US visiting Pakistan either before or after visiting India.

"This is a matter of great discomfiture for Pakistani establishment and they had on record expressed their disappointment," he added.

On the topics that might be taken up for discussion during the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump in Delhi, Tripathi said that there might be talks on defence production, energy procurement, H1B1 visa, anti-terrorism and trade, though not much.

Ashok Sajjanhar said, "I think the topics on top of their agenda will be strategic partnership, terrorism, defence nuclear energy co-operation, growing convergence, congruence of views of Indo-Pacific - how to constraint, how to counter the rapid rise of China and its assertive and aggressive role as far as the South China Sea is concerned."

"Also, issues like how to undertake different projects together which would help counter the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative of China and also how to operationalise the quad grouping of four countries - US, India, Japan, Australia, will be discussed in the meeting," he told ANI.

He added that there might be discussions on plans of the US withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan is one issue where we do not see eye to eye with the US as we feel that if the US forces leave Afghanistan then that would embolden the Taliban and Pakistan. This would harm the peace and security in the region and the USD 3 billion investments that India has made in that country. We have to apprise rump about our views," he added.

In terms of trade, Ashok Sajjanhar, like Jitendra Kumar Tripathi, said that some forward movement will be in this aspect.

Tripathi said that the US President has to tell his countrymen the concrete deals he has made, besides the issue of Afghanistan. "He has till now not been able to fulfill the promises he made in his manifesto. He tried to build a good relation with North Korea but it backfired. So, now he wants to show the world community that he is a big politician, big statesman who can change the course of history," he added.

Tripathi also said that while several people are criticising the amount of money being spent on the two-day visit by the US President, "it is important to understand that it is not Donald Trump who is visiting but a US President and we will gain a lot from this visit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New York: Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault by a New York jury on Monday, a victory for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men.

Once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers, the 67-year-old was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013. He faces up to 25 years in prison. He was acquitted on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence.

The judge ordered Weinstein to remain in custody until his sentencing, scheduled for March 11. Judge James Burke denied a defence request that the disgraced film producer remain out on bail for health reasons, but said he would ask that Weinstein be held in an infirmary unit.

During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a walker. He sometimes leaned on his lead attorney, Donna Rotunno, for support.

"He's taken some good acting tips," actress Rose McGowan said at the start of the trial on January 6 while staging a protest near the courthouse along with actress Rosanna Arquette and other Weinstein accusers.

Weinstein's partial conviction "marks a new era of justice", said the Time's Up foundation that formed in the aftermath of his downfall.

"The jury's verdict sends a powerful message to the world," the foundation said in a statement. "While we celebrate this historic moment, our fight to fix the broken system that has allowed serial abusers like Harvey Weinstein to abuse women in the first place continues. Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: There's no going back."

Weinstein made his mark with critically acclaimed films such as "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love".

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.

Paul Callan, a former New York prosecutor who is not involved in the case, said Weinstein had strong grounds to argue the verdict should be overturned on appeal because of bias, noting that one of the jurors was the author of a forthcoming book on teenage girls and "predatory" older men.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises to open doors in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

"The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said during opening arguments.

Seated at the defence table, Weinstein often appeared impassive, though at times he looked intently at his attorneys when they cross-examined his accusers.

Jekyll and Hyde

During the many weeks of trial, the prosecution methodically elicited graphic testimony from several accusers, including Haleyi, who said Weinstein invited her to his SoHo home after she had worked on one of his television productions.

After she arrived, Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally, yanking out her tampon, Haleyi told jurors.

A onetime aspiring actress, Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she entered into an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her in 2013.

She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character: He was charming in public but often showed terrifying anger when they were alone, Mann said.

At one point, she started sobbing uncontrollably on the stand, prompting the judge to end testimony early for the day.

Weinstein was charged with assaulting Haleyi and Mann, but prosecutors bolstered their case by calling several other accusers as witnesses.

One of these women, "Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors Weinstein came into her apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her.

Though the accusation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, prosecutors offered it to show Weinstein was a repeat sexual offender.

Three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young - testified that they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped.

Testimony of "prior bad acts" is generally not allowed in criminal trials, but an exception to the law allowed prosecutors to call these women to show Weinstein had a particular intention or a signature pattern of behavior.

Legal experts said the women provided powerful evidence that was difficult for the defence to overcome.

Dunning testified that the producer groped her in 2004 and offered her movie roles in exchange for three-way sex with him and his assistant, which she refused.

Young, a model and actress, testified that the producer trapped her in a hotel bathroom in 2013, masturbated in front of her while groping her breasts, and told her: "This is what all the actresses do to make it."

Last line of defence

Throughout the case, the defence said regret drove the accusers to take consensual incidents and reframe them as crimes.

Weinstein's lawyers zeroed in on friendly messages and ongoing contact between the women and Weinstein.

During cross-examination of Haleyi, for example, the defence showed her a message she sent Weinstein signed "lots of love" after her alleged attack.

Defence lawyers repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career.

Weinstein never testified in his defence, although he told reporters he had wanted to. One of his lawyers said the case was too weak to warrant putting him on the stand.

Weinstein's lawyer Rotunno told jurors during closing arguments that they were "the last line of defence" against an "overzealous" prosecution and that women were "responsible" for the "choices they make to further their own careers."

Prosecutors pushed back against claims that his accusers were not credible and the notion that they were responsible for the alleged attacks.

Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said it was irrelevant whether they had ongoing contact with Weinstein after the alleged attacks.

Illuzzi rejected a defence claim that Mann had a loving relationship with Weinstein, but said it would not matter if she had been "head over heels in love with him."

"He still wouldn't be allowed to rape her on March 18 of 2013," she said.

Weinstein still faces sexual assault charges in California, which were announced just hours after his New York rape trial began, and dozens of women have filed civil lawsuits against him.

(With inputs from AFP)
A lawyer for Julian Assange on Monday claimed the United States' bid to extradite him is part of President Donald Trump's "war on leakers and journalists", as the WikiLeaks founder's full extradition hearing opened in Britain. Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release by his anti-secrecy website of a trove of files detailing the realities of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. He spent much of the past decade holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but Washington is now seeking his transfer to stand trial. His lawyer Edward Fitzgerald argued the charges were "politically motivated" and that the US had reversed a 2013 decision not to charge Assange because Trump wanted "to make an example" of him. "President Trump came into power with a new approach to the freedom of the press... amounting effectively to declaring war on investigative journalists," he told a packed courtroom in southeast London. Fitzgerald said his client was "the obvious symbol of all that Trump condemned" and that charging him for publishing state secrets was "unprecedented". "The prosecution is being pursued for ulterior political motives and not in good faith," he added. "It is directed at him because of the political opinions he holds and that have guided his actions." Assange sat impassively inside Woolwich Crown Court as a lawyer for the United States accused him of risking the lives of intelligence sources by publishing classified US government documents. Making the US government case, James Lewis denied it was motivated by embarrassment over the WikiLeaks releases and wanted him over the "harm" caused by his disclosures. "The United States is aware of sources whose unredacted names and/or other identifying information was contained in classified documents published by Wikileaks who subsequently disappeared," he said. However, he noted the United States could not prove that their disappearances were directly linked to WikiLeaks. "Julian Assange is no journalist," Lewis added. - Protesters - Dozens of protesters gathered throughout the day outside the court, next to the high-security Belmarsh prison where Assange is being held, holding up banners and chanting loudly. At one point during the proceedings Assange, wearing a dark grey blazer and sweater over a white shirt and flanked by two security personnel, complained he was having "difficulty concentrating" due to the demonstrators' noise. "I'm very appreciative of the public support," he said. "I do understand that they must be disgusted by these proceedings." WikiLeaks initially worked with a string of high-profile newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation -- and outrage in Washington. One video from 2007 showed an Apache helicopter attack in which US soldiers gunned down two Reuters reporters and nine Iraqi civilians in broad daylight in Baghdad. But after falling out with their editors, WikiLeaks released hundreds of thousands of documents in their original form -- including the secret identities of diplomats and local sources. Assange, 48, could be jailed for 175 years if convicted on all 17 Espionage Act charges and one count of computer hacking that he faces. It is the most serious phase of a long-running legal saga. In 2010, Assange was accused of sexual assault and rape in Sweden, allegations he consistently denied. After a legal battle, was ordered by a British judge to be extradited there. To avoid extradition, he claimed asylum in Ecuador's London embassy, where he spent seven years until Quito gave him up last year following a change of government. The Swedish investigation has since been dropped. Assange has since served a jail term for breaching his UK police bail but remains in Belmarsh prison awaiting the US extradition case. - Trump claim - In a new twist last week, Assange's defence team claimed Trump promised to issue a pardon if Assange denied Russia leaked the emails of his 2016 election rival's campaign -- although Assange has always denied that Russia had any part in the affair. The White House called the claim "another never-ending hoax and total lie" but a judge agreed to add it to the case file. In his courtroom remarks Monday, Fitzgerald said the US had used "the threat of prosecution as extortion". Noting Trump's denial of a pre-emptive pardon offer, he added: "Well he would, wouldn't he?" Fitzgerald also detailed the testimony of a whistleblower -- "witness two" -- in Spain who worked at the company providing private security at the Ecuadoran embassy in London and allegedly set up a spying operation on Assange for the United States. The lawyer said he plans to apply for the whistleblower's evidence to be heard.
The ongoing protests at Delhis Shaheen Bagh and continued agitations elsewhere in the city and the country over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or the CAA have brought to the fore the debate over the impact of agitations and the resultant disruption to normal life. While agitators point to their fundamental right to protest, the plight of the people affected by agitations and their right to continue with normal activity often get ignored.

Last month the Uttar Pradesh police penalised 450 people accused of vandalising public and private property and causing inconvenience to the public. The politics of the issue notwithstanding, this is one of the few cases of punitive action. This issue has long been brushed under the carpet and organisers and participants of protests and bandhs mostly get off scot-free, sometimes getting away with a few hours of detention and having minor charges slapped on them.

The only other instance of strong punitive action for vandalising public property was against the Dera Sacha Sauda, whose followers went on a rampage and destroyed properties across Haryana and Punjab in 2017, following the arrest of the head of the cult, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ruled that all losses caused to property be recovered from the Dera. To date, though, no recovery has been made.

India has no central legislation governing recovery of damages, except for the 2009 Supreme Court (SC) guidelines asking respective high courts to appoint a sitting/retired judge as claims commissioner to adjudicate on damages. Then in October 2018, the SC took cognisance of incidents of vandalism and rampage carried out by violent mobs in the name of protests, pronouncing that individuals and organisers will be held accountable for criminal and civil liability for creating such nuisance.

The court said individuals who are responsible for initiating, promoting, instigating an act of violence, which results in loss of life or damage to public or private property, will be held accountable and these individuals will have to compensate the victims. The court also laid down the procedure for recovery of damages and it hoped that a bill, regarding the recovery of damages pending since 2015, will be taken to its logical end.

At present, action against rioters is limited to the toothless Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, which prescribes a jail term and fine for convicts but has no provision for recovery for damages. The UP administration, in its recent action, is relying on a 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment that empowered the government to set up a competent authority to accept damage claims, hear all concerned, and pass orders within 30 days.

Indias history of public protests derives its legitimacy from the Mahatmas path of civil disobedience and non-violent protests, that were an integral part of our freedom struggle. This legacy, continued and intensified over the year and the acceptance of bandhs, and hartals, often as unplanned public holidays, became part of peoples lives in many parts of the country. In fact agitations and disruptions are so steeped into our culture that we often make a virtue of it.

Scores of agitations in the recent past have caused damage to public property but states have made little or no attempt at recovery. Assocham estimated damage to public and private property worth ~1,800-~2,000 crore, during the Jat stir in Haryana in 2016. The Patidar agitation in Gujarat in 2015 took its toll as vandals torched 660 government vehicles and 1,822 public buildings. Kerala was the epicentre of the Sabarimala protests in 2018, when 49 State-owned buses were damaged.

Rajasthan witnessed many incidents of vandalism and arson around the release of the movie, Padmavat, in 2017, and then again during the Gujjar communitys quota stir, early last year. The 2016 Cauvery riots in Karnataka saw more than 30 state transport buses being damaged. Last month, even as the government introduced the CAA in Parliament, West Bengal erupted, and the Indian Railways lost an estimated ~80 crore worth of property in four days. Of course, this cost does not account for the disruption and inconvenience to citizens, not directly involved in these agitations.

Clearly it is time for harsher measures with punitive consequences where both protesters and their leaders  one could call them instigators  are held accountable. The United States has state-wise laws with heightened penalties for protesters who block traffic and authorises law enforcement agencies to recover costs from protesters who damage or obstruct critical infrastructure. The public utilities that come under the classification of critical infrastructure include oil and gas pipelines; electricity transmission towers, railways and public transport vehicles.

It is about time India modified its 36-year-old Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act to reflect the new reality. Every organiser of a protest must make a clear declaration ensuring his followers will not damage public property and if they do, must be held financially liable.

Facial recognition technology and the databases (of chronic troublemakers) that power them can help the police nail down vandals in a manner that can stand court scrutiny. With the increased deployment of surveillance cameras, protest organisers and frontline leaders could be monitored, subject to privacy laws. It is about time India upgrades the Mahatmas satyagraha to a better version. We cannot afford unhindered damage to public property with no accountability.

Lloyd Mathias is an angel investor, business and marketing strategist

The views expressed are personal
The following are some key points for those who do business with the EU to adopt a comprehensive view on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Vietnam has to comply with three additional conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) related to workers rights

Arguably, the most widespread information going viral on traditional social mediafor instance evfta.moit.gov.vn, a reliable source of referencerelates to tax holiday. The EU is to wipe out 85.6% of the tax lines immediately upon EVFTAs validity and 99.2% after seven years. In return, Vietnam will abolish 48.5% and 91.8% of the tax lines, respectively, and 98.3% after 10 years.

Technical barriers

However, in concrete terms, what are the relevant effective goods, the industries and the conditions? Local enterprises still need to seek necessary information via those above-mentioned websites, business associations and customs agencies.

Notably, information must also be acquired from European business partners so that any important changes could be aware of because they may involve either advantage or disadvantage depending upon position, product quality, competitive advantage or distribution channels of the enterprise in question. In other words, effects may come in various forms, not necessarily only tax reduction. A case in point is the textile and garment industry. It may enjoy the fabric-forward tax rate which concerns local enterprises input structure which traditionally depends on supplies from China, the Republic of Korea and India.

Although it is better than the yarn-forward rules stipulated in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership or the World Trade Organization, the fabric-forward regulations retain technical barriers that are in fact formidable obstacles in product export to the EU. Unconditional tax exemption and uncontrolled goods distribution are thus out of the question. Furthermore, those technical barriers are being raised ever higher.

A shopper at an EU supermarket may notice that anti-bacteria paper or water-absorbing paper is being preferred for packaging, and the ink in use must be children-friendly, meaning it must be harmless even if it touches the mouth. In another example, plastic products must not contain BPA (Bisphenol A), which is utilized to produce polycarbonate.

The garment industry is exemplified here because this industry deals mostly with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and consists of some 4,000 companies employing 2.5 million workers. This sector of Vietnam ranks fifth in the world and is also the fifth exporter to the EU grossing revenue of US$4 billion in 2019.

The local steel industry is in the same boat as the garment industry. Meanwhile, the fisheries sector has to confront the chronic problems of environment, green production, origin and fishing coordinate axes. Furthermore, European importers may set other standards of their own.

On the EU part, the superior standards and quality of its products which may have helped them cross technical barriers, if any, will be more favorable in their way to Vietnam.

The current tax rates (before the validity of the EVFTA)78% for automobiles, 50% for wine and 35% for machinery, for instancewill be cut down to 50% for automobiles, 8% for pharmaceuticals and 30% for chocolate. Their competitiveness after the tax reduction will be much stronger. However, please bear in mind that many ASEAN goods are enjoying a zero tax rate.

Its hard anyway for Vietnamese agricultural products to make their way to the EU because of strict standards relevant to organic compounds, environment, hygiene, quarantine and food safety. However, if the foreign investment sector is taken into account accompanied by appropriate incentives, this industry may move forward rapidly propelled by favorable tax policies and cultivation methods.

It is expected that Vietnams imports from the EU will increase sharply. Last year, Vietnams exports to this economic bloc amounted to US$41.49 billion and her imports were US$14.91 billion. A number of Vietnams imports from the EU, which have not gained remarkable value previously, may see upsurges in no time.

Some of the most potential products are Italian fabric; Polish powder milk; French medicines; Dutch agriculral products; chocolate from Belgium and Switzerland; pork from Denmark and Germany; and machinery from Czech, Slovakia, Italy and Spain.

There are still quotas for some other goods, including tuna (11,500 tons); rice (80,000 tons); sugar products (20,400 tons); cassava (30,000 tons); sugary corn (500 tons); surimi (500 tons); garlic (400 tons); mushroom (350 tons), etc. Interested companies should take these into account.

Foreign direct investment and services

Statistics released by the General Statistics Office show that as of end-2018, the EU had been Vietnams fourth largest trading partner (behind China, the United States and South Korea) and Vietnams second largest export market (behind the U.S). The EU was also Vietnams fourth largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) (behind ASEAN, South Korea and Japan). Reversely, Vietnam was the EUs second largest ASEAN trading partner behind only Singapore.

According to data obtained from Eurostat and ASEANstats, FDI made by the EU in 2017 was principally intra-bloc (accounting for more than 61%), and FDI in the U.S. (29.35%). The EUs FDI in ASEAN made up 5.7%, or US$175.2 billion, during 2010-2017. Vietnam has not been one of the major countries attracting FDI from the EU, accounting for 3% of the EUs FDI in ASEAN, trailing behind Singapore (85%) and Malaysia (10%).

Therefore, the possibility that the EU will enlarge the volume and scale of its FDI in Vietnam is extremely high because there is still much room left and the EVFTA has also mentioned relevant industries, such as insurance, banking, M&A, R&D, AI, blockchain and Fintech.

Vietnams FDI sector grossed exports of US$181.35 billion (including crude oil) in 2019, making up 68.8% of the countrys total foreign trade value. This may be a mixed feeling as the dependence upon foreign-invested enterprises, or symbiosis if you will, is on the rise.

Some other aspects

The following issues should also be carefully scrutinized:

1. Economic-political philosophy: After Singapore, Vietnam is the second ASEAN nation to sign an FTA with the EU. The blocs economic-political philosophy regards FTAs as an effective tool for implementing its globalization strategy which is based on geostrategic positions, such as ASEAN, especially when the East Sea is a hot region for free maritime navigation and other aspects.

EVFTA, the most comprehensive FTA signed by the EU compared with its predecessors, was concluded after nine years and four months of intensive negotiation. Talks for FTAs with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are under way.

It would be very unilateral if the two agreements are viewed from the political standpoint, or if they are politicalized. The EU highly regards the popularization of European values which prioritize environmental protection, in particular, sustainable development. The EU considers it the primary mission to be fulfilled, which embraces the political aspect, too.

2. Workers rights: Vietnam has to comply with three additional conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) related to workers rights so that the EVFTA could be signed. This obligation represents a progress made by both sides. Conventions 87, 98 and 105 will contribute to the institutional perfection and reforms in Vietnam.

3. Environmental protection and sustainable development: The EUs green parties voted against the EVFTA. However, this move should be seen as a necessary warning which draws more attention to environmental protection and human rights protection that have been stipulated by the Vietnamese Constitution and the European Convention.

Sustainable development is understood in line with the highest standard of humanity, which needs appropriate mechanisms for gradual implementation for the sake of Vietnams institutional reform and perfection, as well as EU-Vietnam relations.

To sum up, an enterprise should carefully study the EVFTA and EVIPA in line with the core of its products or services.

In such a process, care must be taken to thoroughly master bottlenecks, development trends, competitive advantage in the backdrop of the market, both now and in 10 years time, to seize opportunities and surpass challenges. VIR

Rules of origin trip up garment and textile opportunities from EVFTA Garment and textile firms are aware of the opportunities to expand their export markets arising from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) but are facing difficulties in complying with the rules of origin.
Baiting deer remains illegal in most of Michigan after a bill to end the existing ban was vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Now, Republican lawmakers are taking another shot at the current rules, introducing legislation that would reduce the penalty for baiting to $1.

Its the latest twist in an ongoing debate over whether Michigan hunters should be able to bait deer with salt, corn, apples, vegetables or other products meant to lure the animals within hunting distance.

Baiting is currently illegal in the entire Lower Peninsula and a 660-square mile range in the Upper Peninsula. Michigans Natural Resources Commission, which regulates hunting and fishing rules in the state, began instituting baiting bans as a response to chronic wasting disease, a contagious and fatal neurological disease found in deer, elk and moose.

Supporters of overturning the ban argue banning baiting and feeding deer is an overreach that hurts the states hunting industry and doesnt do much to stop chronic wasting disease.

Unlawful baiting is currently a misdemeanor offense subject to fines, up to 90 days in jail and the possible loss of a hunting license. Under Senate Bill 800, violators would be subject to a state civil fine of $1.

Bill sponsor Jim Stamas, R-Midland, said in a statement his intent is to reduce the size of Michigans deer herd, which he believes would do more to curb the spread of chronic wasting disease and bovine TB than banning baiting.

If we cannot end the baiting ban, then we should take steps to make it obsolete," he said. This is a serious issue, and the status quo isnt working.

The bill was referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

Stamas proposal is unlikely to see much support from the administration. Last December, Whitmer vetoed legislation that would have lifted the existing ban, siding with the Department of Natural Resources position that removing the ban could increase the spread of chronic wasting disease.

In a statement announcing her veto, Whitmer said the bill would have increased the chance of spreading disease both within wildlife populations and domestic livestock and would have interfered with the Natural Resources Commissions authority to set rules for hunting.

Bowhunting season in Michigan runs from Oct. 1-Nov. 14 and Dec. 1-Jan. 1. Regular firearm season runs from Nov. 15-30.

Related coverage:

Gov. Whitmer vetoes deer baiting bill

Whitmer promises to veto bill allowing deer baiting and feeding in Michigan

Michigan House votes to OK deer baiting during hunting season

Deer baiting ban extended to parts of UP in effort to stop spread of chronic wasting disease

Ted Nugent speaks at the Michigan State Capitol

Ted Nugent tells lawmakers deer baiting ban will hurt Michigans hunting industry

Why Ted Nugent will keep fighting to reverse deer baiting ban in Michigans Lower Peninsula

Michigan deer baiting ban would be lifted during hunting season under Senate bill
Regina Holland is a mother, grandmother, and elementary school teacher with twenty-five years of experience who lives in Florida with her husband and close to her two grown children and her grandson. She has published her latest book The Guardian Angel of Schooley Pond: a poignant story of determination, family, and friendship.

One evening in early spring, a woeful cry lifts across Schooley Pond. It is the lament of a lonely Canadian goose, Sonny.

Drake, a mallard duck, cringes at the cry of his best friend, and tells Sonnys story.

Drake loves Sonny and sees him as a brave goose, who tries hard to be normal, despite the visible wounds that Sonny bears since he was a tiny gosling.

Sonny judges himself as a worthless, cowardly cripple; a goose without purpose in the world. But Sonnys true character surfaces when he is faced with a decision involving life and death.

Published by Page Publishing, Regina Hollands lovely book offers a sweet story with beautiful photos inspired by the everyday wonders of nature.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase The Guardian Angel of Schooley Pond at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

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At National Foods facilities ion Harare and Bulawayo the situation was different, the company had 1 800 tonnes of mealie meal at ASpindale Depot, 600 tonnes at Bak Storage, 500 tonnes of mealie meal at their head office, 500-tonnes in Bulawayo, 1 000 tonnes in Mutare, 500 tonnes in Masvingo all which was ready for distribution to the market, however, the company indicated that they were waiting for payment form government under the subsidy programme, read the statement.
A three-year-old British boy drowned in front of his horrified parents at a water park in Thailand.

Bobby Watson slipped and fell at the Blue Tree water park in Phuket yesterday afternoon.

Lifeguards dragged the unconscious toddler from the water and performed CPR at the poolside but he was pronounced dead in hospital.

William Watson, a British national, and his Thai wife Sumitra, both 35, were at the water park with Bobby and his elder brother Billy, seven.

Police received a call at about 4.30pm yesterday and paramedics took Bobby to Thalang Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police captain Yanpatr Malai from the Thalang district station said: The boys mother and father were very upset, they could not believe their son was gone.

There were also many tourists gathered around the pool who were shocked by the incident.

The staff said that the boy had been brought from the bottom of the pool in an unconscious state. He was given treatment at the scene and taken to hospital but died later.

Bobbys mother told police he had been running around by the water when he slipped and fell into the landing area of a flume.

Witnesses said Bobbys parents, who run a diving company in Phuket, were crying uncontrollably after the incident.

The couple, who live in Patong, are understood to have set up their dive school in 2017, organising scuba diving and snorkelling tours around the Thai islands.

In a statement, the Blue Tree Water Park said it was deeply distressed by the incident.

It said: A three-year-old boy wandered into the landing pool area of the busy slide area this afternoon.

He stumbled and fell under water after which he was spotted by one of the lifeguards on duty who came to his immediate assistance. He was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and rushed to Talang Hospital by an ambulance that arrived promptly after being called.

Sadly he could not be revived. The landing pool area is strictly for those coming down the slides.

Sunday is a very busy day. There are highly trained life guards positioned at the bottom of the slides to watch people coming down for the purpose of ensuring their safety.

His parents are understandably devastated and we continue to offer our support in any way possible. We are all deeply upset by this extremely sad incident.
Gov. Phil Murphy, so far unsuccessful but undeterred in his persistent campaign to raise taxes on New Jerseys well-to-do, will unveil his third state budget Tuesday, with renewed hope to make good on his progressive vision.

The Democratic governor is expected to once again propose a higher tax rate on those with income over $1 million, and he may have an unlikely supporter. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, told NJ Advance Media this weekend he would consider supporting the tax in exchange for an extra $1 billion payment to the states public-worker pension fund.

Sweeneys olive branch proposal after two years of opposing Murphys plan sets the stage for what could be the duos most amicable budget talks yet. But even if the millionaires tax is the defining issue of the budget, there are plenty of other needs for Murphy to address.

I think you should expect more of a continuation of a lot of what youve seen in our first two budgets: big investments in the middle class, education, transportation, Murphy said last week. Youll see commuters wont be paying more to ride NJ Transit. Youll see more fiscal responsibility.

Murphy has set an ambitious progressive agenda and will be challenged to please everyone. The public employee pension system remains underfunded, just like the states public schools, and Murphy has clashed with his own party over how to raise more tax revenue.

The governor has made strides, however, in his past budgets, sending more money to K-12 schools, boosting pension contributions, offering tuition-free community college and bringing in more tax revenue through a tax hike on the highest earners, a temporary increase in a tax on corporate profits and new taxes on internet commerce, Airbnb stays and ride-hailing apps.

Hell likely make more deposits on his agenda, proposing new funding for pensions, schools and transit, while trying to sock away more cash in a rainy-day fund to gird against an economic downturn.

He made clear in remarks last week he intends to revive the millionaires tax, as well as a tax on opioid manufacturers and a per-head fee corporations must pay if their employees are enrolled in Medicaid.

The Democratic-controlled state Legislature snubbed all three of those tax changes in Murphys budget proposal last year, as well as increased fees for gun owners and bear hunters.

His administration projected the corporate responsibility fee, the penalty on businesses that dont offer health benefits and whose employees are on Medicaid, would bring in $30 million and the opioid manufacturer fee would raise $21.5 million.

If youre a big company and you refuse to offer health care for your employees and you give them no choice other than to go on Medicaid, we want that corporation to help us foot  the bill, Murphy said last week, in telegraphing his budget.

Likewise, he said opioid manufacturers should contribute to the states $100 million fight to break the back of the opioid scourge.

Those are two areas where I think its only fair that we get help from the corporate community, he said.

Just days before the governors address, Sweeney also proposed extending a 2.5 percent surtax on corporate income that is scheduled to drop to 1.5 percent this year as part of a gradual phase out. He announced Friday he wants to constitutionally dedicate $500 million in state support to NJ Transit that would be partially funded through the 1 percent corporate business tax surtax.

Murphy initially opposed the 2.5 percentage point hike on corporate income over $1 million, which lifted the tax rate to 11.5 percent  one of the highest rates in the nation. And he signaled this week he may not favor efforts to extend the higher rate.

For the most part, he said, New Jerseys corporations are paying their fair share.

I want to make sure that we remain competitive, particularly given all the craziness of tax incentives that weve lived through over the past, now, over a year, he said.

According to the state Treasury Department, the drop in the rate from 11.5 percent to 10.5 percent will cost the state $145 million in the next fiscal year.

Whether or not Murphy agrees to Sweeneys plan, hell have to come up with cash to close a projected $138 million deficit in NJ Transits operating budget. And hes already promised not to raise fares next fiscal year.

On the other hand, the millionaires tax  an increase in the top marginal tax rate from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent on income between $1 million and $5 million  would generate about half a billion dollars for his spending plan. As part of a deal struck on his first budget, income over $5 million is already taxed at 10.75 percent.

He proposed the tax hike in his first two budgets but Democratic lawmakers  who voted in favor of its five times under former Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican  blocked it.

Its the right thing to do. Its the smart thing to do, particularly, who knows where the economy in our country or the world is headed over the next couple of years, that will give us a reliable, sustainable source of revenue. For all those reasons it makes sense, Murphy said.

The offer I make is a combination of continuing to invest in what is now the No. 1-rated public education system in America, to continue to invest in fixing NJ Transit, to continue to invest in workforce development apprenticeship programs, to continue to invest in health care affordability, quality of life, infrastructure, he said. Thats what I offer in return. Because a millionaires tax funds all of the above.

Perhaps because of future economic uncertainty or evolving political dynamics, Sweeney, D-Gloucester, has moved off his two-year, steadfast opposition to the tax hike.

NJ Advance Media reported Sunday that Sweeney is offering the governor a deal: He will sign off on a millionaires tax if Murphy pumps an extra $1 billion to the public-employee pension fund  a feat that would require big spending cuts elsewhere.

Thats $1 billion beyond what will already be the largest-single payment in state history and an amount that likely exceeds $5.6 billion.

Even without that deal, the governor, in keeping with a plan to raise the annual contribution by one-tenth of whats recommended by actuaries until its making a full payment, is expected to propose a contribution of at least $4.6 billion.

Murphy is also working toward fully funding the formula that determines how much state aid each school district needs. A law passed early in his tenure requires the gradual redistribution of state aid, shifting money away from districts considered to be getting too much state funding. So even though Murphy is almost certain to boost overall K-12 school funding, some districts will get less, setting the stage for another year of controversy.

Each of his first two budgets kicked in hundreds of millions more in education aid, and his third budget proposal likely will continue that course.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus.

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Press Release

February 23, 2020 Revilla seeks to increase deposit insurance from 500K to P1M A measure seeking to increase the maximum deposit insurance coverage for bank depositors from P500,000 to P1 million has been filed in the Senate. Sen. Bong Revilla has filed Senate Bill No. 1260 amending the insurance coverage for the depositing public. "This will help invite the public to deposit their money in banks and encourage the existing bank clients to increase their deposits," Revilla said. "Apart from the benefits that individual depositors will enjoy, it will also redound to advantages in the macro level by invigorating our financial system and the economy as a whole," he added. Revilla said SBN 1260, also known as An Act Further Increasing the Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage, Amending For This Purpose Republic Act No. 3591, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) Charter, also seeks to increase the present P500,000 maximum insured deposits on joint accounts to P1 million. Under current laws, joint account shall be insured separately from any individually-owned deposit account. PDIC, an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF), is mandated to insure the deposits of all banks to protect the depositing public from illegal schemes and promote financial stability. A 2019 PDIC and Kantar Philippines Inc. survey showed that 51 percent of 1,500 respondents, aged 18 and above, had experienced maintaining deposits in bank but only half of them or 24.5 percent continued to maintain bank deposits, Revilla said. Revilla said the bill is in line with the policy of the State to strengthen the deposit insurance coverage system and encourage the public to save and deposit in the formal banking system. He cited a 2015 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data which showed that four out of 10 Filipino adults or 43 percent had savings, 32.3 percent used to save in the past but have stopped saving money while 24.5 percent never experienced saving money. The same data showed that seven out of 10 adults or 68 percent who saved money kept their savings at home while 32.7 percent of adults with savings placed their money in banks while others saved through cooperatives (7.5 percent), non-stock savings and loans associations (0.8 percent) and informal savings groups (2.6 percent). BSP record also showed that six out of the 10 adults or 62.8 percent with bank account indicated that the bank's reputation is their number one consideration in opening a deposit account. A 2017 survey conducted by Financial Inclusion showed the percentage of adults with savings increased to 48 percent from 43 percent in 2015.
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) on Monday said it will set up a new step-down subsidiary with an authorised share capital of Rs 2,000 crore.

The company's board has approved a proposal to set up the subsidiary, it said in a statement.

"This company will be incorporated with an authorised share capital of Rs 2,000 crore," HUL said.

"This new subsidiary has been formed to leverage the growth opportunities in a fast-changing business environment and will help HUL in becoming more agile and customer-focused," it added.

In 2018-19, HUL reported a revenue of Rs 38,224 crore.

Shares of HUL on Monday settled at Rs 2,216 apiece, down 1.42 per cent, on the BSE.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Startups endure like Alibaba during SARS

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2020-02-21

Pedestrians walk past a Xibei northwestern cuisine restaurant in Shanghai on Feb 12. [Photo/China Daily]

The novel coronavirus epidemic broke out unexpectedly, but the ones hit the hardest should be entrepreneurs who cannot leave their homes.

"We hope the epidemic will pass quickly, but we are especially worried about the reality."

In a dialogue with iAsk Media and Capital, quite a number of entrepreneurs echoed those concerns.

Jia Guolong, the chairman of Xibei Group which operates more than 400 restaurants in over 60 cities across the country, is one of them.

In an interview, he said that almost all Xibei restaurants had been closed. Some 100 places and several takeaway businesses are still running. During this year's Spring Festival, which ran from Jan 24 to Feb 2, the estimated revenue loss of the company stood between 700 million yuan ($100 million) and 800 million yuan.

What worries Jia the most is the future.

"More than 20,000 employees are standing by and the monthly expenditure is 150 million yuan. If the epidemic is not effectively controlled within a short period of time, the cash flow will not last for three months," the Xibei Group chairman said.

The case for one of China's top catering giants is severe. The challenges for the majority of small-and medium-sized enterprises are just as evident.

Some media stories have reported that since the third quarter of 2019, the "cash crunch" for these firms has been aggravated in the primary market.

The date showed that in 2019,China's new economy sector had a total of 3,802 fund-raising cases, with a year-on-year decline of 46 percent which is greater than in previous years. The volume is less than 40 percent of that in 2015.

The primary market is short of cash. There are many reasons behind this, but the startups immediately felt the pressure and responded. Given the "cash crunch", the shadow of "layoffs" has always been there.

The arrival of the "black swan" in the novel coronavirus outbreak became the last straw that crushed many startups. The entrepreneurs were trapped and could do almost nothing.

In their conversations with iAsk, anxiety can be felt from virtually every owner.

Manufacturers worry about the labor shortage and export crisis, the catering industry has not recovered from the Spring Festival season, the transportation and tourism industry is stagnating. Everyone is worried about the loss of confidence in capital.

"How to feed the team?"

"How to keep the business?"

"How to survive?"

Chinese entrepreneurs who had previously operated smoothly have to rethink the basics of their company in 2020. They are just like the entrepreneurs who encountered the 2003 SARS crisis.

Dangers and opportunities co-existed for Chinese entrepreneurs in 2003. But there is a difference in recalling that year. China has undergone tremendous change compared to 17 years ago.

The internet is ubiquitous and deeply affects all aspects of the economy and life. There is close intersection between online and offline, and the circle effect is obvious. The information is extremely developed and complex, with useful or useless information abundant all around.

But the contemporary Chinese in 2020 should give thanks to 2003.The outbreak of SARS cost China dearly, but it has also brought the country valuable experience and gains from modern public health methodologies. The economic trends in 2003 can also inspire people to a certain extent.

When we analyze the future of 2020 with the experience gained in 2003, we come to two conclusions.

First, the epidemic will definitely impact China's economy, which may last for a long period of time. Second, in the long run, it is not necessarily a bad thing.

In 2003, China's GDP was at 13.74 trillion yuan, of which the contribution rate of primary industry was 3.1 percent, the secondary industry 57.9 percent and the tertiary industry 39 percent. China at that time was a newly industrialized and emerging country.

When SARS struck, the most impacted industries were manufacturing-based industrial companies, State-owned enterprises, foreign corporates and private companies. They suffered from labor shortages, pending export orders and serious damage to their benefits.

The fragility of the tertiary industry was also revealed under the emergency. In 2003, the direct loss to the domestic and foreign tourism industry was as high as 140 billion yuan. Aggravated by various indirect effects on the economy of tourism, catering, retail, and logistics, the total losses reached about 300 billion yuan.

After the financial crisis in 2008,China started the transformation from industrial to service industries, and made industrial adjustments by learning from the experience of developed economies such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea to avoid the middle-income trap. In 2014, it launched the "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" projects, followed by an acceleration in its transformation.

Data released at the end of 2019 showed that the current proportion of China's tertiary industry's added value is 53.3 percent of GDP, surpassing the level of 17 years ago.

Without a doubt, the impact of the epidemic on the economy will far exceed that of SARS. The GDP growth rate this year will be lower than expected, which is basically a foregone conclusion. But is this a definitely bad thing?

In its past economic transformation, China's economy developed like it was walking on thin ice. It must maintain growth while poking holes in asset bubbles. In the past few years, the bubbles have mainly come from real estate, and now the internet bubble has weighed even more.

In the internet environment, entrepreneurship seemed so easy. Three or five people come up with an idea and can start a company immediately. The sharing economy has reduced the cost of trial and error to a minimum. Entrepreneurship has quickly become a routine gamble.

The reason for the bubble is simple: people swarm into a field, use similar technology, copy ideas from each other, compete for traffic until they get the favor of capital, and then start a new round of cash burning.

In the view of iAsk, it is a huge waste of resources. The winner who takes all is often the one with the most solid foundation, but it may not meet the real needs of a society. This is also the underlying logic of "giving on a needed basis", raised by iAsk.

At the beginning of 2020, as soon as enthusiastic entrepreneurs set sail, they encountered the headwinds of a black swan event.

It is similar to the scenario in 2003, when Chen Tianqiao's Shengda Game company slumped because the internet cafe lost traffic, Liang Jianzhang's Ctrip was on the edge of bankruptcy because of the sharp decline in orders, and Yu Minhong's New Oriental took loans from friends because their cash flow completely dried up.

Of course, the best entrepreneurs persisted and got mature, such as Jack Ma and his Alibaba Group. On May 6, 2003, a SARS case was confirmed at Alibaba. Subsequently, the entire company was put in quarantine. Ma had no choice but to organize the "online office".

"Almost all conditions pointed to a disastrous end for Alibaba. Missing the peak of business development is a disaster. Employees had problems at work, which interrupted business processes. Most employees complained, which is a distraction. Jack Ma, the leader, was also frustrated," a financial writer said in documenting that time.

However, Ma and Alibaba survived, stabilizing the morale of people through care and motivation. It also discovered the real needs of society in online shopping. Taobao was born in the quarantine period, and Alibaba was reborn. Since then, the interior underpinning of the firm is solidarity, which formed Alibaba's most powerful weapon.

The real needs of a society are always changing. When everyone thinks that internet innovation is coming to an end, spending five years nurturing the group buying app Buy Together showed that new needs and opportunities can emerge because of this crisis.

Of course, not everyone who sees the trend can succeed.

At least in recent years, there will be continued caution from capital, which also means that after the epidemic, the "cash crunch" will still exist.

Instead of blindly pursuing traffic and capital, startups must discover the real needs of a society, find the diamond in the ashes, and more importantly, persist. This is the ingredient for mankind's eventual victory over the epidemic, and the essence of success.
It was recently announced that Hugh Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness would be returning to Neighbours as a director- 35 years after making her acting debut on the soap as Linda Fielding.

The 63-year-old actress will step behind the lens for three episodes, in a bid to raise awareness to an issue very close to her heart - displaced children..

Deborra told TV Tonight in a statement she was 'thrilled' to be given the opportunity to tell a story 'not often represented in mainstream media.'

'Close to her heart': Hugh Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness is 'thrilled' to shine light on the sensitive issue of displaced children as it's announced she will direct three episodes of Neighbours. She is pictured here with Hugh in 2018

The mother-of-two admitted the move by Channel Seven was 'extremely powerful,' adding that visibility is the most important factor in realising change.

'To have an iconic television institution like Neighbours join the conversation and reflect the lives of so many Australian children is extremely powerful,' she said.

'Awareness is the essential first step in creating a positive shift in both culture and policy towards permanent solutions.'

'Thrilled: L In a statement released on Monday, Deborra told TV Tonight she was 'thrilled' to be given the opportunity to tell a story 'not often represented in mainstream media

'There are almost 50,000 Australian children currently in temporary out-of-home care. We only get glimpses into their reality, and unfortunately that is usually when there are catastrophic outcomes,' she added.

Executive producer Jason Herbison echoed Deborra's sentiments, saying: 'To have a director who is so personally committed and emotionally invested in telling such an important story, it lifts the bar for all us.'

Producers have worked closely with the wife of Wolverine and her non-profit Adopt Change foundation to develop a story that will see two Ramsay Street favourites become permanent carers of displaced children.

'We have nuanced the storyline so it has integrity,' Deborra told the Herald Sun on Sunday.

Loving family: The Australian-born star has spoken openly about her experience of adopting the couple's children: Oscar, 18, and Ava, 13. Pictured in 2012

'People know and love these characters, they know these character's lives and the storyline will be representing real life. '[It shows] what really happens to people in Australia when they try to adopt,' she told the newspaper.

Deborra-Lee has previously spoken about her own adoption journey with husband Hugh Jackman and their two children, Oscar, 18, and Ava, 13.

Speaking to Stellar magazine in April of last year, she said the 'universe had a plan in place' for her family.

Despite initially starting the adoption process in Australia, she was forced to continue the process in the US, where laws are less draconian.

What a throwback! Her return to Ramsay Street comes 35 years after she played Linda Fielding on the iconic Channel Seven soap. Pictured on Neighbours in 1985

'Those who knew that Hugh and I had adopted our children Oscar and Ava in the US would come up to me in the street and ask: 'Why is it so hard to adopt in Australia?'

Deborra-Lee has previously urged Australians to do their part to support children who have 'aged out' of foster care: 'You don't have to adopt a child to be involved. Reach out to a kid transitioning from foster care [to] going to college, hopefully,' she said.

She added: 'Give them a computer, ring them up to see how their grades are, just to let them know someone cares. It's important.'
Joshua Mankini (pictured) was arrested on Friday after chasing after two teenage girls completely naked

A completely naked man chased after three teenage girls, even managing to grab one girl and throw her to the ground, while they were walking to their California high school, authorities said.

Police said Joshua Mankini, 28, chased three school girls down a suburban Fresno street on Friday after he escaped from a nearby group home.

It is unclear why or how long Mankini has been a resident at the group home.

Mankini admitted to escaping through a window, setting off an alarm in the process and sprinting across a park to the neighborhood where the girls were walking to Central High School.

Surveillance footage obtained by KFSN from a neighbor's home captured the moment Mankini ran behind one of the unsuspecting girls as she walked by a parked van.

Although the moment of the alleged assault is obscured by the van, the girl's scream can be heard and authorities say Mankini threw her to the ground.

At this moment a parent driving by in her vehicle sees the assault and honks her horn, allowing the girl to escape just seconds after Mankini made contact.

Mankini appeared to further pursue the victim, but two of the children managed to reach the concerned parent's vehicle and safely get inside.

Surveillance footage captured the moment Mankini (right) chased after a teenage girl in a Fresno, California, street on Friday morning

Authorities say Mankini grabbed the girl and pushed her to the ground before a parent driving by honked her horn

Even after the girls were safe inside the parent's vehicle, authorities say Mankini charged at the car and began banging on the windows.

After the incident, Mankini returned to his group home as the parent and victims followed him in the vehicle. He was soon arrested by local authorities.

Mankini faces several charges, including indecent exposure and assault with the intent to commit a felony. His bail is set at $86,000.

Mankini (pictured) admitted to escaping from a nearby group home and running across a park to reach the suburban neighborhood

Steve Alarcon, a neighbor who witnessed the footage, was shocked by the disturbing footage.

He told KFSN: 'That's your biggest fear as a parent right there, that's your biggest fear. That's scary. I have older boys, but I feel for that little girl.'

Central High school released a statement after the incident, reminding students to stay in groups and only stay in well-lit, well-traveled areas.
Photo for illustration (Source: VNA)

The meeting, which took place on February 19th, 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./.
NEW YORK  A sharply divided federal appeals court on Monday said the Trump administration may enforce a controversial rule, which critics label a gag rule, that could deprive abortion providers of federal funding for family planning.

In a 7-4 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling last June by a unanimous three-judge panel to lift injunctions won by California, Oregon and Washington against enforcing the rule, which deprives clinics of Title X family planning funds if they provide abortion referrals.

The rule, announced last February, was meant to help President Donald Trump fulfill a 2016 campaign pledge to end federal support for Planned Parenthood, which received about $60 million annually, or one-fifth, of all Title X funds.

Planned Parenthood left the program last August, rather than comply with the rule, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services enforces.

In a statement, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra called the decision troubling, and the rule a reckless means for Trump to curb access to abortions.

He did not say whether the state will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority.
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If there were ever two nations diametrically opposed in this world, it would have to be Vietnam and Japan. Theyre like night and day - all the way, from soup to nuts.

Its no secret that Japan is my favorite all-time vacation destination, to which Ive made dozens of trips over the years. I recently returned for the first time in three and a half years, during which time I have been living practically full-time in Vietnam, except for a couple of brief trips abroad each year.

One of the reasons I wanted to return to Japan for a few weeks recently was to absorb it all again - the perfection, organization, comfort, and formality that goes into everything, and as soon as I walked into a cafe I got it right between the eyes.

Thats right - even going for a coffee in Japan is a complex experience, pretty much the opposite of Vietnam.

The Japanese queue up in front of the cashiers counter - stoic, silent until their turn comes, then they announce their desire with the utmost formality. Out comes a tray, the cashier positions it squarely in front of the customer, adds a napkin and a wet towel encased in a plastic sheath, puts down a saucer, all symmetrically aligned, and slides the tray toward the next colleague, who serves up the coffee.

Inside Saint Marc Cafe in Nagasaki, Japan. Photo: Rick Ellis

The customer places the money on a rubber coaster, the cashier takes it with a deliberate yet deferential move and a slight bow, then counts the change out loud while returning it, and places it on the rubber mat.

All the while the cashier endlessly clucks and chirps one expression of gratitude after another until the cup of coffee is placed on the saucer.

The server dabs the bottom of the cup on a damp towel to ensure no errant drops of coffee escape onto the saucer, and perfection is complete.

In the typical local cafes I frequent in Vietnam there is no greeting, no queue, nor formalities of any kind. The customer walks in, usually ordering the desired drink, often before taking two steps beyond the threshold to choose a seat:

Em oi!!! Ca phe sua da! (Miss! Ice coffee with condensed milk!)

If the servers are chatting to another customer, theyre interrupted by the new arrival, which is no issue because things change in a flash and the staff roll with the punches.

Instead of tackling one customer at a time, each server must shift attention between multiple clients who all expect to be served promptly, a masterful example of real-time processing and prioritizing.

A request for that forgotten piece of lime or a couple of cigarettes derails the flow of events, but only for a fleeting moment, and adds efficiency to the experience because it all happens so quickly.

A cup of coffee served at Saint Marc Cafe in Nagasaki, Japan. Photo: Rick Ellis

The response from the server is usually the same single word: Roi, literally meaning already, but idiomatically translates to right away."

Thats it, thats all - a few words back and forth and the deal is sealed, order placed and acknowledged, so simple and informal, no idle pleasantries exchanged.

When the Japanese customer is finished, the tray goes in the 'Tray Return' shelf, placed perfectly alongside all the others returned by departed customers, which is invariably followed by a shout of thanks from several staff members, including a request for the client to return soon.

I nearly want to pinch the employees to find out if there is a real person behind all that pomp and ritual, and Im reminded why AI (artificial intelligence) is such a hit in Japan. After all, the staff are one step removed from robots - every motion and word is orchestrated precisely per the staff training program.

When the Vietnamese customer is finished, he calls out Tinh tien! requesting the bill, and the server hustles over to collect the money, then provide change.

In Vietnam I usually have to unravel some bills from the little clumps Im handed, iron them out with my hand, then stow them in my pocket.

Used cups, utensils, ashtrays, and garbage are left for the server to collect. End of story, unless one or both say thanks or goodbye, neither of which is expected.

From start to finish, the Japanese experience is formal, assurance followed by reassurance, and confirmation by reconfirmation, while the Vietnamese transaction consists of the minimum dialogue, no time wasted, no beating around the bush.

Despite the seemingly terse exchange between customers and servers in Vietnam, there is usually certain warmth that seeps through - a bit of personality, thats because people are pleasant and uninhibited, so a dash of warmth is often injected into the exchanges, such as a hint of recognition or a smile.

As a neutral Westerner in all this, I would say both the Vietnamese and Japanese service staff are equally thorough in their approaches, but its not easy to gauge because the experiences appear quite different to the casual observer.

Regular cafes in Vietnam dont have napkins, trays, and wet towels, no cash register, receipt, nor counting of change, but the staffs attention to detail is on a par with their Japanese equivalents.

I can say without hesitation that upon my second visit (or third at the most) in Vietnam, my drink preference and the way I like it served are indelibly etched on the server's mind.

I swear I get exactly the same small ca phe nong (hot black coffee) with half a glass of ice cubes on the side every damn time in my favorite cafes in Da Lat no matter who prepares it - not even the tiniest variation, irrespective of the frequency of my visits.

In Japan, I bet if a customer walked into the same cafe hundreds of times, the rigmarole would be identical - the same greetings without a hint of amiability on the part of the server. The same formalities and farewells are repeated as if recorded, the only difference being the server will recognize a customer, remember a preference, fulfill it, but without remark.

That said, I went into a cafe in Japan for the third day running and the server remembered me, offering one of those loyalty cards that they stamp each time, which after a certain number of visits is redeemed for a free drink. (Worthy of note is how deftly the server dabbed away the excess ink with a tissue after stamping my card, thus ensuring that other items in my wallet wouldnt be stained. I dont have a wallet, just a clump of bills in my pocket, but I was impressed nonetheless.)

If that doesnt cement my point, this will: I recently walked into my favorite tachinomi (standing bar) for the first time in three and a half years, and the mother/son team that runs it greeted me and started pouring my favorite beer as if Id just been in the joint the day before.

Coffee is prepared using cloth socks on a stove at a coffee shop in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: Rick Ellis

Admittedly, a white guy in the boonies of Japan in the dead of winter sticks out like a sore thumb, but we could say the same about Da Lat, where I live in Vietnam, so its level ground between the countries when it comes to the high degree of customer focus.

While hygiene, process, and automated tools cant possibly be compared between the two countries, both zero in equally on the quality of service and products, so the big difference is the steps to preparation and the dialogue - standardized to the lowest common denominator and replicated by the Japanese staff hundreds of times daily.

Im sure if the staff said You stink! We hope you never come back! Good riddance! You suck! many customers wouldnt even notice, so ingrained is the habit of exchanging banalities.

Although I love the efficiency of the Japanese and the predictability of the whole experience, I definitely prefer the role of a visitor as opposed to a resident. I think living there would drive me nuts because the emphasis on process and perfection leaves no room for a personal touch.

It really is a great place to visit, but Id rather live in Vietnam, where things are just a bit more real, natural, even though there are a few warts and imperfections around the edges from time to time.
Green Party candidate Katharina Fegebank and the SPD candidate and Hamburg mayor Peter Tschentscher. (Christian Charisius/Picture alliance via Getty)

Citizens of the city-state of Hamburg went to the polls on Sunday to deliver a victory for Germanys struggling Social Democrats, who scooped 39% of the vote. The Greens surged to second place with just over 24%.

The election in the northern city marked another disaster for chancellor Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which scraped just over 11%  its worst-ever result in Hamburg.

The party has been badly bruised this year, with its leader resigning in the wake of a political scandal in which the regional CDU in Thuringia broke the party rule and teamed up with the far-fight Alternative for Germany (AfD) to elect a state premier.

The AfD fared even worse in Hamburg on Sunday. The party, which is present in all 16 states parliaments and the biggest opposition party in the national government, barely scraped over the 5% needed to re-enter parliament.

Hamburg may be small, with about 1.3 million voters, but the state with the famous port city has one of the highest GDPs in the country. Since it is the only state election in Germany this year, Sundays results were closely watched for implications for the national government in Berlin.

The Greens look set to challenge the CDUs number 1 spot at the national level, benefiting from strong support in at least urban areas in the west, ING Germanys chief economist Carsten Brzeski said in a note.

The Christian Democrats were plunged into chaos after chairwoman Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer suddenly quit earlier this month. The party will meet in Berlin today to discuss finding a new leader, and a new candidate for the chancellors role before the end of this year.

With the CDU struggling to enter a smooth transition into the post-Merkel era, a political landscape in which the centre now has three parties (CDU, SPD and Greens)... German politics is likely to become more inward-looking than it already is until the next national elections, Brzeski wrote. He noted that this does not bode well for new significant steps towards more Eurozone integration and additional fiscal stimulus.

Story continues

READ MORE: Whats next for Germany now Merkel's succession plan has shattered?

The AfD has lost support last week after a 43-year-old German man shot and killed nine people, including five Turkish nationals, in two hookah bars in the town of Hanau, near Frankfurt, before returning home and killing his mother and himself.

READ MORE: Gunman who killed nine in Germany allegedly held far-right views

A majority of Germans (60%) surveyed the day after the attack by the Kantar Institute considered the AfD to be partly responsible for right-wing extremist violence because of its racist, hate-filled rhetoric.

The murderer, identified as Tobias Rathjen, had posted a xenophobic video message online not long before he carried out his attacks.

Interior minister Horst Seehofer told the press on Friday that the threats from rightwing extremism, racism and antisemitism were very high in Germany.

"Racism is poison. Hate is poison, said Merkel last week. And this poison occurs in our society and is already responsible for too many crimes."
Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's birthday celebrations were marred by controversy after pictures of him cutting a 15-kg-cake with the country's map drawn on it went viral, according to media reports on Monday.

Oli's wife Radhika Shakya, along with a large number of people, including school children, and his close aides attended the 69th birthday celebrations of the premier on Sunday at his birthplace in east Nepal's Terhathum district.

The cake, with a replica of the country's map drawn on it, was taken in a helicopter from Kathmandu to the venue.

In the pictures circulated online, Oli is seen cutting the cake and distributing it to the children present at the occasion, Annapurna Post daily reported.

Social media users expressed anger at the use of the country's map on the cake.

"According to Article 151 of Criminal Code 2017, denigrating glory of the national anthem, flag and coat of arms is restricted.

"The Code prohibits the use of national emblems in inappropriate places and situations. Anyone found to have been involved in such an act can face legal action," said one of the social media users online.

Cutting Nepal's map in the form of the cake is inappropriate as it indicates motive to disintegrate the country, senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi was quoted as saying by online portal Hamrakur.com.

This may invite legal action, he said, demanding apology from the prime minister.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MONROE, La., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As businesses move enterprise workloads to the Edge and increasingly use multi-cloud environments, seamless integration of networking and cloud is paramount to optimize performance. To help customers better connect, migrate, manage and optimize their Microsoft Azure environments, CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) has joined the Networking Managed Service Provider (MSP) Program for Microsoft Azure. CenturyLink can now provide comprehensive network and consultation services around Azure services to make it easier for customers to connect and build cloud solutions.

Azure customers can now look to CenturyLink to build cloud solutions with high performance and predictable networking and security. CenturyLink now provides comprehensive network and consultation services around Azure services to make it easier to connect and build cloud solutions.

"Our customers need comprehensive support as they deploy an increasing array of applications in cloud environments like Microsoft Azure," stated Paul Savill, senior vice president, enterprise product and services, CenturyLink. "As an Azure Networking MSP partner with a global fiber footprint, we have the scale, reach and expertise to deliver integrated Azure cloud and hybrid networking solutions across the world and at the Edge."

With these consultation services, CenturyLink is leveraging its combined expertise as a networking provider and IT services consultant to offer the enterprise a tailored and seamless customer experience around Azure's network products and services. CenturyLink's expansive global fiber network and service capabilities can help customers optimize application performance, lower cost and ensure security. CenturyLink and Microsoft also recently reached an agreement for CenturyLink to provide high performance network connections to Azure locations.

"We welcome CenturyLink to our Networking Managed Service Provider Program," said Ross Ortega, partner program manager, Microsoft Azure Networking at Microsoft Corp. "Azure customers can now look to CenturyLink to build cloud solutions with high performance and predictable networking and security."

Key Facts:

CenturyLink is a Microsoft Gold Partner.

CenturyLink enables real-time creation and deletion of network connections to Azure and Azure Government via its Cloud Connect Dynamic Connections service.

CenturyLink's network capabilities include approximately 450,000 route miles of fiber, with approximately 170,000 on-net buildings and connectivity to more than 2,200 public and private data centers across the globe.

Additional Resources

For more information on CenturyLink's hybrid cloud and IT solutions, visit: https://www.centurylink.com/business/hybrid-it-cloud.html

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity, and security solutions to customers around the world. Through its extensive global fiber network, CenturyLink provides secure and reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses and consumers. CenturyLink strives to be the trusted connection to the networked world and is focused on delivering technology that enhances the customer experience. Learn more at https://news.centurylink.com/.

SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.

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Photo: Teck

Teck Resources Ltd. says it's withdrawing its application for a massive oilsands mining project just days ahead of an expected government decision, citing the political discourse over climate change.

The company says it will take a $1.13-billion writedown on the Frontier project in Alberta.

In a letter to the federal environment minister, Teck CEO and President Don Lindsay says investors and customers increasingly want jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change.

He says that "does not yet exist here today," and that the growing debate around the issue has placed Frontier and the company "squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved."

The proposed $20.6-billion project was expected to create an estimated 7,000 construction jobs, 2,500 operating jobs and about $12 billion in federal income and capital taxes, but was also expected to produce about four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year over 40 years.

Fourteen First Nations and Metis communities signed participation agreements with the company on the Teck mine, and the project was awaiting approval from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.

In a joint statement, Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Sunday night they had been informed by Teck that it was withdrawing its application for the mine.

"As a result, Cabinet will no longer be making a decision on this project," they said.

Cabinet was expected to discuss the project at its meeting on Tuesday. It had until the end of the week to make a decision, though it could have decided to push that deadline back.

Wilkinson has been signalling for weeks that cabinet's discussion would include the fact that Alberta has not set specific greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, and in recent days specifically asked the Alberta government to enforce its cap on emissions from the oilsands.

In their statement Sunday, Wilkinson and O'Regan said they appreciate the decision Teck made was a difficult one and appeared to keep the door open to rejuvenate this project or others in the future.

"Important parts of Canada's economy have been built on our natural resource sector and the workers across the country who have powered it for generations. Our government is committed to developing our natural resources sustainably and to creating good, middle class jobs. A strong economy and clean environment must go hand in hand."

They also praised how Teck went about engaging with Indigenous communities during the project development and review period.

"Their model should be an example for all proponents of future projects," they said.
PORTERVILLE, Calif. - Murder charges have been filed against two 13-year-old boys suspected of starting a blaze that killed two firefighters at a central California library.

Police said the boys were arrested after they were seen running from Porterville City Library shortly after flames erupted on the afternoon of Feb. 18.

The Tulare County District Attorneys Office on Friday filed two counts of murder with special circumstances of multiple murders and arson, the Visalia Times Delta reported.

The boys denied the charges and remain in jail, the newspaper said. Their names were not released because they are minors. They are scheduled to return to juvenile court on March 11.

Firefighters Patrick Jones, 25, and Raymond Figueroa, 35, were killed as they battled the flames that gutted the library in the town about 50 miles (79 kilometres) north of Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley.

The library was built in 1953 and did not have sprinklers, said Fire Capt. Joanne Bear.

It was not immediately known if the boys have attorneys who can speak on their behalf.

In California, children under 14 cant be tried as adults, even if they are charged with serious and violent felonies, such as murder.
Karnataka imposes weekend curfew to contain the surge in Covid-19 cases; details here

Fugitive underworld operative Ravi Pujari reaches Bengaluru from Senegal

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, Feb 24: Fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari who is wanted in many heinous crimes, including extortion and murder and been on the run for over 20 years, was brought in the early hours of today from Senegal via France to Bengaluru, police said.

"Yes, we have brought him," a police officer told PTI requesting anonymity.

The gangster was nabbed in South Africa in a joint operation by the SA police and Senegal security agencies and was later extradited to Senegal, said police sources.

Gangster Ravi Pujari arrested in South Africa, extradited

On learning about his arrest in Senegal, a team of police officers, including Additional Director General of Police Amar Kumar Pandey and Bengaluru Joint Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil went to Senegal to bring him.

The team completed the extradition process and finally brought him to Bengaluru by an Air France flight.

The police had issued several red corner notices against him, following which he was arrested in Senegal last year. But owing to a technical problem, the court granted him bail.

The don was again arrested by the Senegal authorities last year and the India police tried it's best to catch hold of him but failed as a local court there granted him bail. The gangster then jumped the bail and fled Senegal and had holed up in South Africa, said police sources.

The gangster, who was earlier working with Chhota Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim, split up and started his own gang.

The gang, which operated in Bengaluru and Mangaluru, would gather information about wealthy people and hand it over to Pujari. He would then call the businessmen demanding protection money by dropping details of their property, business, and family members. He would also threaten them by opening fire.

Who is Ravi Pujari

According to reports, the accused has over 200 cases against him in India, including murder, attempt to murder and extortion. Ninety of those cases are in Karnataka, including 39 in Bengaluru and 36 in Mangaluru.

The most well known of them include the murder of builder Om Prakash Kukreja and an attempt on the life of advocate and MP Majeed Memon.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 9:03 [IST]
SALISBURY, Md. - Authoritieshave identified a suspect in connection to racist graffiti that was found scrawled in academic buildings at a Maryland university last week.

Salisbury University President Charles A. Wight announced the development in a message to the campus community Friday, news outlets reported.

Classes had been cancelled Thursday after the graffiti, including a message threatening black students with lynching, was found written across a wall and a door the day before.

Authorities told news outlets they dont believe the suspect is immediately connected to the campus. A university spokesman declined to identify the suspect or detail further how they were identified, citing pending charges.

The FBI joined the investigation by university police, Maryland State Police, the Wicomico County Sheriffs Office and the Salisbury Police Department, news outlets said last week. The case was then referred to the Wicomico County States Attorneys Office but no arrests have been made yet, said Carsten Wendlandt, States Attorney Public Information Officer.

The most recent occurrence was at least the second instance of such graffiti being found on campus. In November, Salisbury University police were called to investigate messages written inside two stairwells that included racial slurs and references to the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 26 people were killed by a gunman at an elementary school.

Police havent said if the suspect is linked to both occurrences.
The Uttarakhand High Court gave a week's time to the state government on Monday to file a reply on a petition seeking a ban on the import of live animals and birds into the state for their meat as there were no slaughterhouses in the state.

The public interest litigation (PIL) petition has prayed for a ban on the import of live animals and birds for the purpose of meat in Uttarakhand as there are no slaughterhouses in the state.

ChiefJustice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice R C Khulbe heard the matter and gave the state time till next Monday for filing a reply, the petitioner's counsel, Karitikeya Hari Gupta, said.

The government had already admitted that there was no legal slaughterhouse in the state, he added.

"When there is no slaughterhouse in the state, why are live animals and birds being brought into the state for their meat meant for human consumption?," Gupta asked.

The high court had, in September 2018, banned slaughter of all animals in the open in Uttarakhand.

It had asked the authorities to ensure that all animals were slaughtered only in legal slaughterhouses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A mob set a tyre market on fire at Gokulpuri area on Monday night during violence over amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi, an official said.

A call about the massive blaze was received around 8.30 pm, following which 15 fire tenders were sent, the fire department official said.

Several shops were gutted in the fire, the official said, adding that it was brought under control by 11.40 pm and the cooling process was underway.

A head constable was among the four people killed and at least 50 were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi, turning it into a battlefield on Monday with frenzied protesters torching houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, and hurling stones.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
3 1 of 3 Woodbridge Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Woodbridge Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3





WOODBRIDGE  Police are seeking help finding a suspect after the TD Bank branch on Amity Road was robbed Monday afternoon.

Sgt. A.J. Cappiello said in a release that the robbery at 128 Amity Road occured at roughly 1:05 p.m.
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A successful career in medicine means learning how to forge ahead with feedback and not allow it to stop you in your tracks. For some doctors, this is a challenge. Feedback feels bad. Its perceived as negative, not being good enough. Were exposed to it and its negative impact quite early on the journey as medical students. Medical school rankings are feedback that begs the question, Am I doing as well as my peers? This breeds comparison and competition.

In the medical profession, feedback has a bad reputation. Preceptors and mentors agonize over giving feedback. The medical student dreads having his or her performance evaluated by the residents and attending physician. The resident becomes resentful after working diligently on the overnight shift only to discover that their presentation at morning report was deemed substandard. And attending physicians who have successfully navigated and endured the early years of evaluation and feedback are less receptive to it once they arrive at the top.

Learning how to actively seek feedback is one of the tasks of a mindful and successful physician. The physician who is in learning mode understands feedback reveals the next avenue of growth personally and professionally. When early career experiences have shaken your confidence in seeking feedback without the right support systems can be disastrous.

Maybe you can relate?

Typically instead of focusing on what can be learned from feedback, we get bogged down with the mental and emotional clutter that feedback elicits.

It triggers the old stories. Doctors use it as more evidence that contributes to the Imposter Syndrome.

Feedback triggers the limiting beliefs that you are telling yourself every time you see a new patient and are unsure of the diagnosis. Its when you shy away from calling a consult because you dont want a colleague to think you dont know the answer. Its when you beat yourself up because you think you should know it, but instead, you have to look it up.

Your heart and mind are cluttered with the negative feedback, criticism, and judgment you received years ago from attending physicians and preceptors. Instead of focusing on the learning and getting excited about whats ahead, youre defensive and stuck, and its reflected in your energy most days.

It blocks the ability to step into the right opportunity to move to your next level because you doubt yourself. You use the misinformation from feedback to keep from forging ahead.

Putting it into practice: an approach to feedback

1. Identity the preceptor or supervisor who will give you constructive feedback.

2. Set clear expectations with an initial 5-minute discussion about your role and responsibilities on the team.

3. Consider adding your own milestones to track as well. What areas can you develop that will boost your confidence and increase your level of expertise?

4. Set regular intervals to track your progress.

5. Create a corrective action plan.

6. Take the new action.

7. Track your progress.

With this system, physicians position themselves as proactive leaders. The energy shifts, as doctors feel empowered to invest in their professional development.

Feedback from a physician who used this system was, My supervisor was impressed with the initiative I took.

Stephanie Wellington is a physician and can be reached at Nurturing MDs.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Latest News Sydney property prices might not drop yet, as planning problems persist NSW planning approvals have fallen off a cliff since October, showing that the supply crisis might yet continue

The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed, with rentvesting and borderless investing likely to surge

Commonwealth Bank yesterday launched a new initiative for its home loan customers, a move the institution has dubbed a first for Australians.

Home Loan Compassionate Care provides complimentary protection to owner-occupied homeowners if they, their spouse or a dependant passes away or is diagnosed with a terminal illness, through covering their repayments for around 12 months.

New research from CBA revealed a third of Australians would only be able to cover repayments for up to six months if they, their spouse or dependant passed away or was diagnosed with a terminal illness; one in 10 would only be able to cover repayments for one month or less based on current income and savings.

We know that mortgage repayments are the single biggest financial commitment for Australian homeowners, so when the unthinkable happens well support our customers by making their home loan repayments for around 12 months at no cost, said Angus Sullivan, group executive of retail banking services.

Were proud that together with AIA we have been able to deliver this Australian-first for new home loan customers and will be making it available to our existing customers at no cost to thank them for their loyalty.

According to the research, over half of Australian homeowners havent had a conversation with their spouse or dependants around how theyd meet ongoing home loan repayments if they were unable to continue contributing.

If something were to happen, the last thing you should have to worry about is your home loan. In designing this protection, weve made sure theres no need to sign up or to activate it, said Sullivan.

Weve also consulted with our own employees who have gone through similar, difficult experiences to ensure the end-to-end claims process is as easy and stress-free as possible, and a dedicated team has undergone specialised training to handle these sensitive matters.

Home Loan Compassionate Care is available for eligible owner-occupied home loan customers aged between 18 and 59 years.
The BBC was today accused of violating its own editorial guidelines after a Question Time audience member was named online as an alleged far-right activist who may even have stood in a general election for the National Front.

The corporation faces another vetting row after viewers claimed that the woman who said the UK must close its borders was named online as Sherri Peach, allegedly a supporter of fascist group Britain First.

Images and video of what is claimed to be the same woman at Free Tommy Robinson rallies after the former English Defence League leader was jailed for contempt of court last year also emerged today.

The latest claims come after the broadcaster was accused of letting hard-left activitsts infiltrate the show's audience to heckle guests, and filling seats with left-leaning voters.

The BBC has been plunged into a racism row after this Question Time audience member was unmasked as an alleged far-right Tommy Robinson supporter (pictured at a #FreeTommy' protest after the former EDL leader was jailed for contempt of court)

John O'Connell, a senior member of Far-Right Watch, said he believes the Question Time audience member appears to be a supporter of fascist organisations such as Britain First and before that the National Front

Thursday's Question Time was broadcast from Weymouth saw the audience member claim the UK has 'had enough' of immigration, adding Britain is 'sinking' because of immigrants and 'we should completely close our borders'.

She went on to complain about the cost of translating NHS resources into different languages and foreign nationals 'getting it all for free' before having a slanging match with left-wing commentator Ash Sarkar, who was on the panel.

Has BBC audience vetting failed again? Broadcaster has faced claims of bias on Question Time before The BBC has faced allegations of Question Time bias before with hard-left activists infiltrating the audience to heckle panelists. In June 2017, the Conservative Party went to war with the BBC over left-wing bias after a debate between then Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Labour's Jeremy Corbyn. Miss Rudd was heckled and subjected to mocking laughter for defending government policy while Mr Corbyn was repeatedly cheered during the debate, which was watched by 3.6million viewers. The audience was described by then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson as probably the most left-wing the BBC has ever brought together with Labour supporters joined by all the supporters of Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats and the Scots Nats  when you put them together you had this incredible echo chamber for all sorts of Left-wing nonsense. In May the following year, the BBC again came under fire after a Question Time audience member was seen wearing a hard-left T-shirt emblazoned with the anarchy symbol and a picture of a rat. The woman was filmed in the audience wearing a T-shirt that read: 'You're never more than 10 feet away from a Tory'. Her slogan is a play on the expression 'you're never more than 10 feet away from a rat', which points to the age-old fear of disease in urban areas. In 2019 - ahead of the general election - Mr Johnson faced a hostile audience in a Question Time election special. In his half an hour session, the Prime Minister faced unremittingly hostile questions and struggled to get answers in as he was repeatedly heckled. At one point host Fiona Bruce had to repeatedly intervene to stop an audience member who refused to stop shouting at Mr Johnson. An exasperated Miss Bruce shouted: Can you hold on a minute I am in charge of this thing. It also emerged that one of the questioners was an actress from I, Daniel Blake, a film by left-wing director Ken Loach. Advertisement

But today questions have been raised over whether the woman should have been allowed on the show at all because of her apparent links to Britain's far-right.

The BBC and Mentorn, who help choose Question Time audiences, have been approached by MailOnline but refused to comment on the woman's identity or if she hid her political affiliations when applying for the show.

A BBC spokesman said: 'Last week's Question Time included a debate about immigration which featured a broad range of views from the audience members and panellists. We posted five clips of people expressing their different views on the issue, including a panellist responding directly to the views of an audience member'.

John O'Connell, a senior member of Far-Right Watch, tweeted a picture of what appeared to be the same woman at a Free Tommy Robinson rally after the former EDL leader was jailed for contempt of court for protesting outside the trial of an Asian sex gang.

Mr O'Connell said: 'If the woman on the left is the woman on the right, FRW can assist. Left is Sherri Peach, nee Bothwell, mostly connected with Britain First, married to former National Front Election Candidate, Roy Peach'.

He added that he had 'confirmation from multiple sources' that it was her.

Others shared the results from the 1974 general election, which named Sherri Bothwell as the National Front's candidate for Leyton in east London.

Footage of her at at a London Tommy Robinson protest, shared by the anti-Fascist Zelo Street blog, shows her draped in a Union Jack flag and screaming at the camera: 'Tommy was locked up for nothing - for exposing Muslim groups. Free Tommy.'

Speaking on the show the woman, who claims to live in London despite being in Weymouth for the show, said: 'Sixty-eight million people now live in England and it's going up. At what stage does the panel think this country has had enough.

'We should close the borders, completely close the borders.

'Because it's got to the stage now where there's no education, no schooling, no infrastructure. It's enough.

'We are sinking. Surely someone's got to see common sense and say enough is enough.'

She continued her furious rant by saying: 'You've got people flooding into this country who cannot speak English.'

The woman, who drew gasps from the crowd, said she had been in hospital in London recently and 'everything was written in a different language'.

She asked furiously: 'How much is that costing? How much is it for an interpreter?

Thursday's edition of the programme was broadcast from Weymouth and saw a woman in the audience claim the UK has 'had enough' of immigration

The woman's intervention sparked angry comments online

'What sort of country is allowing this? You can arrive on a plane, you get free service, you can just carry it on getting it all for free.

'Why haven't they got points set up in the hospital and you pay - like you do in every other country you go to?'

When panel member Ash Sarkar began to respond by saying immigrants pump more into the economy than they take out, the guest shouted: 'Rubbish!'

Ms Sarkar hit back saying: 'It's true. Facts don't care about your feelings it's true.'

The journalist then told of how her grandmother was allowed to settle in the UK from abroad because of a labour shortage in the social care sector.

The woman's intervention sparked angry comments online, with one person posting on Twitter: 'The BBC has the cheek to dig a rapid Tommy Robinson supporter out of her hole and sell it as providing a 'balanced view'.'

Another person wrote: 'There was a time when audience members like this would be cut off very quickly. Now you give them a platform to spout racism. Why?'

Some else commented: 'What a hateful woman - we need immigrant workers to do the jobs no-one else is prepared to do...'

Another Twitter user branded the Corporation an 'irresponsible broadcaster'.

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
These are heady times at MBS International Airport. MBS has been recognized by the MDOT Office of Aeronautics as the 2019 Airport of the Year, in the air carrier airport category. MBS Airport Manager Jeff Nagel shared the news at the airport commission's February meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20--the same day MBS' award was announced at an awards luncheon in Lansing in conjunction with the annual Michigan Airport Conference.

This prestigious honor comes on the heels of MBS being named a 2019 Award of Merit Airport Projects recipient for its $8 million runway rehabilitation project. Presented by the Asphalt Association of Michigan and MDOT, MBS' new runway--which saw about 4 inches of new asphalt installed--was cited for providing Michigan residents the highest quality asphalt pavement.

Nagel and Airport Commission Vice Chairman John Milne joined several members of the airport staff and airport consultants for the awards luncheon in Lansing.

"We closed our office, which we never do, so staff could attend the event," Nagel said. "The award recognizes the runway upgrades and overall airport operation. I've been a member (Michigan Airport Executives) for a long time. It's great to be recognized."

Milne accepted the award on behalf of MBS and said: "This was my first time attending this event. I called MBS the premier transportation asset in the Great Lakes Bay Region and no one corrected me. MBS is often the first place travelers to our area see and it makes a great impression."

Nagel said all hands are on deck in an effort to put MBS' best foot forward.

"We are honored to receive this award from the Office of Aeronautics," he said. "Everyone at MBS works hard to make us the preferred choice for travelers in the Great Lakes Bay Region."

And the numbers are reflecting this. In 2019, MBS served just over 266,000 passengers, about a 5.2 percent increase over 2018.

Mark Noel, manager of the Planning and Development section at Aeronautics, said, "The recipient of the MDOT Office of Aeronautics Airport of the Year Award is determined by consensus of our project managers, and it is these very individuals who work most directly with airports on a day-to-day basis. I don't think there is a more special honor than recognition that comes from one's peers."

"I would like to thank the MDOT Office of Aeronautics for recognizing the excellent work in keeping MBS the premier transportation asset of the Great Lakes Bay Region," Milne added.
Saudi budget carrier flynas has officially announced joining the International Air Transport Association (Iata), which culminates its remarkable journey of developing services and internal operations and achieving top security and safety standards.



In this regard, the chief operating officer at flynas, Captain Mansoor Al-Harbi, expressed his delight with the airlines acquisition of the Iata membership, stating that it will enable greater cooperation with other member aviation companies through codeshare agreements and internal connectivity, and will consequently contribute towards enhancing services that enrich guests experiences with flynas and provide them with a seamless travel experience to and from Saudi Arabia.



Additionally, Captain Al-Harbi highlighted new opportunities to be presented by the Iata membership enabling flynas to share expertise with its counterparts around the world, further strengthening its position within the global air transport industry, and facilitating its access to global knowledge and best practices. He also stressed that the membership would enable flynas to participate alongside specialised work groups to review and develop aviation policies and procedures.



Notably, flynas had acquired Iata membership after it had accomplished the IOSA Program registration, which is an internationally accepted evaluation process of an airlines operational and safety management and control systems. IOSA is the main benchmark in operational safety for all airlines around the world, and earning it is a prerequisite for obtaining an Iata membership. - TradeArabia News Service
Over 42% of eligible voters took part in parliamentary elections: Interior minister

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 3:34 PM

Iran's interior minister says over 24 million Iranians, out of a total of about 58 million eligible voters, took part in the recent parliamentary elections, putting the overall voter turnout at 42.57 percent.

Speaking to reporters after the termination of vote counting on Sunday, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said, "There were more than 57.918 million eligible voters in the country," according to figures provided by the Statistical Center of Iran and the National Organization for Civil Registration.

"Some 24.512 million people, including 48 percent of woman and 52 percent of men took part in these elections," Rahmani Fazsli said, adding that the figures amount to an overall turnout rate of 42.57 percent.

Iranians went to the polls on Friday in the first general elections since the United States imposed sanctions following its pullout from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal.

Rahmani Fazli said the turnout was "quite acceptable" given the outbreak of the new coronavirus in the country in addition to the political circumstances such as the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in Tehran, which killed all the 176 people on board, and violent riots following protests in several cities prompted by gasoline rationing and price hikes.

Iran's Health Ministry on Sunday raised the death toll from the disease to eight and the number of people who had tested positive to 43. The epicenter of the outbreak is the central city of Qom.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the interior minister expressed hope that the new lawmakers would be able to fulfill their promises to the people at a time that the country is in need of hard work, unity, coherence and resistance against foreign powers.

Rahmani Fazli added that those who reject the election results can lodge a complaint today and the Guardian Council would examine the matter within seven days.

During his regular seminary lectures on Sunday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei thanked the Iranian nation for its "satisfactory shining in the great election test," saying the country has yet to remain alert against plots by the enemy to harm Iran.

"In the face of the enemy's conspiracy to hit various pillars of the country, we all need to be vigilant in defense and ready for attack and counterattack," the Leader said.

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Despite near-term challenges, equities are expected to deliver a return of 10-12 percent CAGR over the next 5-10 years, according to Srinivas Rao Ravuri, Chief Investment Officer- Equity, PGIM India Mutual Fund.

In a freewheeling chat with Moneycontrol, Ravuri said: Equities have a risk premium of about 4-6 percent over risk-free options. As risk-free G-Sec yields are in 6-7 percent band, equities should generate 10-12 percent.

The market risk premium is the difference between the expected return on a market portfolio and the risk-free rate.

He further said that assuming a nominal GDP growth rate of about 8 percent, India's top companies can report 10-12 percent revenue growth and profit growth.

However, he feels the near-term can be challenging as economic growth could remain muted, impacting topline growth of corporate India.

But, weaker crude and continuous inflows from both domestic and foreign investors are providing good support to equity markets.

Speaking about the biggest concern in the market Ravuri said, The economy is the most critical factor and corporate India is facing twin challenges of weak demand due to which there is lower revenue growth and tight liquidity.

He feels, revival of economic growth is essential for top line growth.

Virus impact

When asked about the impact of Coronavirus outbreak on Indian economy, Ravuri believes there could some temporary disruptions in the supply chain of manufacturers depending on imports from China, but he does not see this as a 'severe problem'.

He feels, it is an opportunity for Indian exporters as many MNCs source a significant share of their requirement from China, and the crisis has highlighted the need for having credible alternatives and India should take advantage of it.

On the question of investments in consumption stocks despite the slowdown in consumer demand, Ravuri said, Our investment style is a mix of a top-down and bottom-up approach.

While it is true that consumer demand has been weak, certain companies continue to do well for reasons like gain in market share, shift to organized sector, launch new products and so we would like to participate in such growth stories, he added.

Sector bets

In terms of sectors, the fund house is deploying assets in chemicals, pharma and utilities shares.

"We prefer chemicals as they are beneficiary of increasing sourcing from India. In case of pharma, valuations have corrected, and outlook both domestic and exports is improving. We like utilities as valuations are compelling," Ravuri said.

PGIM MF is underweight on consumer staples, auto and NBFCs.

"In the case of consumer staples and autos, we find valuations demanding and growth rates are muted," Ravuri said.

Ravuri believes there is still some pain left for NBFC's with exposure to the real estate sector.

However, he said it is important to recognise that NBFCs have a crucial role in meeting the funding requirements of segments that banks are not able to cater to. So, he expects a few large NBFCs with healthy balance sheets to become even stronger.

On telecom sector, Ravuri still feels the sector is going through a painful period. Telecom sector was already facing an existential challenge due to competition, and AGR burden is added to their troubles.

Though the government has made it clear that they want to see at least three private players, markets are still worried. One needs to be careful, Ravuri cautioned.

For higher exposure to mid-caps, he said there are investment opportunities across market capitalizations - large, mid and small-cap.

We continuously evaluate relative risk-adjusted returns for each stock and category. Also, our exposure to mid-caps is a function of a specific scheme mandate, Ravuri said.

As the economic growth revives, he expects broad-based recovery across large, mid and small caps.
By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The Armenian authorities pose a serious threat to Europes security and have grossly violated the International law, US-based expert Peter M. Tase said in an interview with Azernews.

"The Armenian government continues to undermine the regional security in the Caucasus and is a serious threat to European economic progress. OSCE must leave aside the double standards approach - that has been going on for decades - and work proactively towards ensuring full territorial sovereignty of Azerbaijan, Tase said.

Tase noted that the Munich Security Conference 2020 debate between the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Armenian PM was a great platform where Armenian government's crimes against Azerbaijani ethnic civilians were exposed.

During the debate, Pashinyan came across as a weak politician, a corrupt head of state and as a warmongering head of government, Tase said

"While speaking in Munich, Pashinyan's mercenaries were opening fire in the line of contact against border patrol posts of Azerbaijan. Is this the Prime Minister of Armenia who has been entrusted to accomplish a peaceful solution of the Armenia Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? The answer is utterly, absolutely - a clear NO," he stressed.

Touching upon the 28th anniversary of Khojaly massacre, a genocide organized by Armenian army and USSR troops, against civilian population of Azerbaijan, Tase called on NATO, OSCE, European Council, Int'l Community to urgently tackle the fundamental obstacle to European Security and Transatlantic Defense Cooperation, that is the ongoing Armed Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, orchestrated by Pashinyan and his predecessors.

The expert considers that the current status quo around the conflict must change.

"European countries and the U.S. must come up with a plan that encompasses the following: international political pressure on Yerevan; convincing Armenian politicians that the ongoing war with Azerbaijan is self-destructive to the Armenian economy and industry; revising the role of the OSCE Minsk Group, Tasse said.

He also noted that the Europe and the world powers must not underestimate Azerbaijans military power.

Comparing the performance of the President of Azerbaijan the Armenian PM, Tase noted that Aliyev Aliyev was far more convincing and persuasive than his Armenian counterpart.

"In Munich, the President of Azerbaijan in his discourse possessed rare values of leadership, charisma, a visionary roadmap for a thriving Europe and embraced all pillars of statecraft," he listed.

"Rampant Corruption and economic stagnation in Armenia make it impossible, really hard for Nikol Pashinyan to be a successful, attractive public speaker in front of international audiences," Tase concluded.

Note that the panel discussions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan have been held as part of the Munich Security Conference on February 15.

---

Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 08:19:03|Editor: huaxia

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Dancers with Unidos de Vila Maria samba school take part in a China-inspired samba show in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Rahel Patrasso/Xinhua)

SAO PAULO, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of spectators danced and sang along to the music as a China-inspired samba show took center stage during the second and final night of Carnival celebrations in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.

The crowd cheered wildly as the city's 2,600-member Unidos de Vila Maria samba school paraded through the sambadrome -- the bleacher-flanked avenue where competing samba schools perform.

Carnival-goers marveled at the elaborate floats paying tribute to Chinese civilization and cultural icons, from Confucian wisdom and key inventions to giant pandas, bright red lanterns and fierce dragons.

Six other samba schools took part in Saturday night's parade, presenting a multicultural celebration of dance, music and traditions well into the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Leading the Chinese-themed parade was a theatrical staging of the Monkey King, known as Sun Wukong in Chinese, a central character in the 16th-century novel "Journey to the West."

The initial float featured a giant dragon and recreations of the Summer Palace, as samba dancers shimmied to the beat of Brazilian batucada and whirled traditional Chinese fans.

Drummers were dressed as Xi'an terra cotta warriors in shiny golden costumes that were brought all the way from China by Cristiano Bara, the school's artistic director and creator of the theme, and Adilson Jose Souza, president of Unidos de Vila Maria.

Modern China was also showcased, with a green float illuminated to evoke the high-rises and smart buildings of Shenzhen.

"I'm proud to have a samba school feature China," Liao Si, a Chinese teacher living in Brazil who took part in a Carnival parade for the first time, told Xinhua.

Yang Xiang, a Chinese participant from Hunan province, said, "We are in a section representing the 56 ethnic groups to demonstrate the unity of China."

Yang got involved in the show after "the association of the Hunan community in Sao Paulo notified us that the Unidos de Vila Maria school was going to have a Chinese-themed carnival, so many of our compatriots came to take part," he said.

Brazilian Fabiana Flanato, who also participated in the parade, said it was a learning experience, since it takes some 10 months to prepare a show of this kind.

"For me it was an opportunity to find out more about China," she said.

Thomas Law, president of the Brazil-China Sociocultural Institute (IBrachina), took part in the last float, which was dedicated to the future of China, including its role in spearheading space exploration.

"This makes me very happy and excited. The parade depicted traditional China and modern China. I think everyone enjoyed seeing something so well done and so full of joy," said Law.

In addition to the revelers at the sambadrome, people around the world got the chance to enjoy the show, which was broadcast to some 70 countries.
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (TSX: GCM, OTCQX: TPRFF) announced today the final assay results from the last 61 diamond drill holes (7,229 meters) of the 2019 in-mine drilling programs at its high-grade Segovia Operations, and also the assay results from 6 additional kick-off diamond drill holes (2,842 meters) from the ongoing directional drilling at the El Silencio Deep Zone.



These drill results will be included in the updated mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for the Segovia Operation that the Company expects to announce at the end of March 2020.

Serafino Iacono, Executive Chairman of Gran Colombia, commented, "Our Segovia Operation continue to demonstrate its prowess as a rare world-class system, both in terms of its size and high grades. The team's exploration model and understanding of the local vein system have led to significant new discoveries which have the potential to add substantial resource growth at the El Silencio mine. As these new discoveries continue to suggest that our mines currently in production remain under-explored and have the potential to be much larger than what we understand today, we remain committed to an acceleration of our drilling campaign at Segovia in the coming year."

The 2019 in-mine and near mine drilling campaign was completed in late December with four diamond drill rigs operating from purpose-built underground and surface drill stations. The drilling campaign comprised a total of 219 drill holes totaling approximately 27,205 meters.

The Company has already commenced its in-mine and near mine 2020 drilling campaign that is expected to comprise up to 30,000 meters of drilling. In addition, the Company will be launching a regional drilling program of approximately 15,000 meters in 2020 focused on high priority targets within the other 24 known veins with historical mining data that are not currently being mined.

Key Highlights and Intercepts

Story continues

El Silencio

In-fill drilling on the Manto and 1040 veins from underground station ES6180, installed off the North ramp, has led to the discovery of a new high-grade vein called the 1180 Vein, which is a shallow-dipping structure located between the Manto and 1040 veins. Multiple high gold grades were intersected from 12 drill holes (1,837 meters) drilled from the same underground station (ES6180) on the main vein system with maximum intersection grades of 29.47 g/t Au and 50.1 g/t Ag over 0.45 meters on the Manto Vein (ES-IU-099), 48.39 g/t Au and 55.5 g/t Ag over 0.95 meters on the 1180 Vein (ES-IU-104), and 28.36 g/t Au and 27.4 g/t Ag over 0.38 meters on the 1040 Vein (ES-IU-105). High-grade mineralization associated with the 1180 Vein remains open down-plunge and will be targeted by infill drilling in the first quarter of 2020. As the 1180 Vein is in proximity of the North ramp, it will be incorporated into the El Silencio mine plan and the Company expects that it will be able to potentially begin mining the vein as early as Q3 2020.

The ongoing directional drilling program on the El Silencio Deep Zone is targeted to extend the central and southern ore-shoots down-plunge below Level 38. Drilling on the southern ore-shoot was successful in extending the continuity of the Nacional Vein down-dip by over 100 meters and confirmed the extension of the Manto Vein down-dip by over 1,000 m relative to Level 38, the deepest level of mining on the Manto Vein by Frontino Gold Mining. Drill hole ES-MH05-02 returned 88.81 g/t Au and 30.2 g/t Ag over 0.45 meters on the Nacional Vein and 10.76 g/t Au and 9.4 g/t Ag over 0.92 meters on the Manto Vein. All the drill holes completed so far on the central ore shoot have intercepted broad zones with multiple intervals of veins with maximum intersection grades of 12.13 g/t Au and 13.6 g/t Ag over 5.62 meters on the Manto Vein (ES-MH06-03).

There is still about 3,300 m to be drilled to complete the planned directional drilling program, which is scheduled to be completed by the middle of the year.

Sandra K

In-fill drilling from underground stations installed on levels 3 and 4 has continued to delineate and further extend down-plunge, to approximately Level 8, the main ore-shoots outlined by mining in the upper levels of the existing operation and by past drilling. All of these orebodies remain open at depth and offer the potential for additional resource growth and extension of the mine life. Multiple high gold grades were intersected from 31 drill holes (3,256 meters) drilled from three underground stations (SK5320, SK5475 and SK5675) on the main vein system with maximum intersection grades of 101.21 g/t Au with 188.5 g/t Ag over 0.69 meters on the Sandra K Techo Vein (SK-IU-128). As a result, Gran Colombia will carry out an additional approximately 9,600 meters of in-fill drilling at Sandra K in 2020, to be completed by the end of the year, to extend all of the main ore-shoots further down plunge

Providencia

In-mine exploration drilling from station PV5700, located at the westernmost end of level 14 at Providencia, successfully intercepted the faulted block of the Providencia vein which is offset by the WNW trending 14 Fault to the west by more than 100 meters vertically up. The same fault also offsets the orebody currently in production on Level 14. Drill holes PV-EU-015 and PV-EU-016 intercepted mineralization in the faulted block with maximum grades of 11.46 g/t Au and 20.9 g/t Ag over 1.25 meters on the Providencia Vein (PV-EU-016). A phase of in-fill drilling is underway from the faulted block to better delineate the outlined mineralization.

The table below lists the key intercepts from the last phase of the 2019 drilling campaign since the press release issued on October 21, 2019:

Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Vein PROVIDENCIA MINE U-G Drilling station PV5880 PV-IU-231* 117.20 118.10 0.90 12.71 6.9 PRO U-G Drilling station PV5700 PV-EU-015* 137.70 138.95 1.25 11.46 20.9 PRO PV-EU-016* 124.32 126.10 1.78 5.47 6.5 PRO Including 124.32 125.20 0.88 10.45 11.3 PRO SANDRA K MINE U-G Drilling station SK5320 SK-IU-099* 17.39 17.73 0.34 20.41 63.8 SNO SK-IU-100* 17.00 17.30 0.30 57.70 80.2 SNO SK-IU-100* 111.60 113.21 1.61 8.70 59.9 SKT Including 111.60 111.91 0.31 41.23 21.9 SKT U-G Drilling station SK5475 SK-IU-101* 49.90 51.30 1.40 3.70 26.7 SKT Including 49.90 50.50 0.60 8.26 52.0 SKT SK-IU-103* 53.95 55.90 1.95 3.91 21.2 SKT Including 53.95 54.85 0.90 7.01 17.2 SKT SK-IU-104* 72.40 73.00 0.60 74.21 166.5 SKT SK-IU-105* 69.45 71.80 2.35 4.35 29.7 SKT Including 69.45 70.05 0.60 8.37 73.6 SKT SK-IU-109* 49.70 50.95 1.25 17.50 37.5 SKT Including 50.40 50.95 0.55 39.56 71.2 SKT SK-IU-115* 77.90 81.46 3.56 5.48 160.5 SKT SK-IU-115* 80.50 81.46 0.96 18.95 494.0 SKT SK-IU-118* 103.89 109.63 5.74 1.64 2.5 SKT SK-IU-118* 108.59 109.63 1.04 8.51 5.3 SKT SK-IU-119* 34.25 34.61 0.36 8.51 22.4 6640 SK-IU-122* 128.12 133.63 5.51 2.02 40.9 SKT SK-IU-122* 133.20 133.63 0.43 24.56 489.2 SKT SK-IU-123* 86.40 89.40 3.00 3.48 18.1 SKT Including 87.40 88.40 1.00 8.39 43.0 SKT SK-IU-124* 113.00 116.70 3.70 4.53 11.3 SKT Including 113.00 113.90 0.90 17.75 40.5 SKT SK-IU-128* 81.90 83.70 1.80 43.54 130.5 SKT Including 81.90 82.59 0.69 101.21 188.5 SKT U-G Drilling station SK5675 SK-IU-129* 136.90 138.85 1.95 23.13 54.1 SKT Including 136.90 137.68 0.78 57.07 127.7 SKT EL SILENCIO MINE U-G Drilling station ES6180 ES-IU-097* 96.15 99.00 2.85 11.95 15.7 1180 Including 96.65 98.00 1.35 22.43 26.9 1180 ES-IU-098* 130.00 130.55 0.55 10.15 18.6 1180 ES-IU-099* 62.00 62.45 0.45 29.47 50.1 VEM ES-IU-099* 137.28 137.65 0.37 37.11 69.6 1180 ES-IU-100* 56.61 56.98 0.37 11.20 23.0 VEM ES-IU-102* 160.63 161.33 0.70 7.12 17.1 1040 ES-IU-103* 175.95 177.85 1.90 11.56 67.6 1040 ES-IU-104* 45.94 46.31 0.37 14.66 8.9 VEM ES-IU-104* 81.10 83.65 2.55 18.32 34.2 1180 Including 81.45 82.40 0.95 48.39 55.5 1180 ES-IU-105* 208.00 209.00 1.00 18.32 59.6 1040 Including 208.62 209.00 0.38 28.36 27.4 1040 El SILENCIO DEEP - DIRECTIONAL DRILLING U-G Drilling station ES5690 ES-MH05-01** 903.43 903.90 0.47 6.07 3.2 SNO ES-MH05-01** 949.80 950.46 0.66 8.50 9.2 VEM ES-MH05-02** 905.40 905.85 0.45 88.81 30.2 NAL ES-MH05-02** 932.85 933.77 0.92 10.76 9.4 VEM ES-MH05-02** 938.05 938.37 0.32 89.48 111.6 VEM-FW Surface Drilling station ES6160 ES-MH06-01** 747.18 747.52 0.34 7.87 18.2 SNO ES-MH06-01** 1013.36 1014.50 1.14 10.81 12.3 NAL ES-MH06-01** 1030.43 1036.05 5.62 12.13 13.6 VEM Including 1033.55 1036.05 2.50 21.61 23.0 VEM ES-MH06-03** 754.90 755.25 0.35 9.99 10.8 SNO ES-MH06-03** 1024.62 1034.45 9.83 2.90 9.0 VEM Including 1027.64 1029.45 1.81 9.97 16.9 VEM

* Denotes underground drill holes. The underground in-fill holes were drilled at +6 to -82 degrees from the horizontal. Sample interval grades over 7.0 g/t Au are reported. Grades are for quartz vein intersections and are length-weighted composites. The width is the sample length and is not necessarily the true width of the vein. All gold and silver grades are uncut and are not diluted to a minimum mining width.



** Denotes directional drilling mother and kick-off holes. The directional drilling kick-off holes were drilled at -46 to -66 degrees from the horizontal. Sample interval grades over 7.0 g/t Au are reported.

Results from in-mine in-fill drilling are reported for 59 holes (6,935 m) including 16 holes (1,842 m) at Providencia (PV-IU-225 to PV-IU-240), 31 holes (3,256 m) at Sandra K (SK-IU-099 to SK-IU-129) and 12 holes (1,837 m) at El Silencio (ES-IU-094 to ES-IU-105). There are no results above cut-off grade for 15 holes at Providencia, 16 holes at Sandra K and 4 holes at El Silencio and so these holes are not listed in the table.



Results from in-mine exploration drilling are reported for 2 holes (294 m) in the faulted block at Providencia (PV-EU-015 and PV-EU-016).

Results from directional drilling from surface and underground at El Silencio are reported from 6 kick-off holes (ES-MH05-01 to ES-MH05-03 and ES-MH06-01 to ES-MH06-03) totaling 2,842 m which include 3 kick-off holes (1,326 m) on the southern ore-shoot and 3 kick-off holes (1,516 m) on the central ore-shoot. Kick-off hole ES-MH05-03 was lost when intersecting the reverse fault that offsets the southern ore-shoot. In addition, 550.20 meters were drilled in one mother hole (ES-MH-006). There are no results above cut-off grade for 1 kick-off hole at El Silencio and it is not listed in the table.

Please refer also to the attached illustrative maps showing the Sandra K, Providencia and El Silencio drilling programs.

Gran Colombia currently has five diamond drill rigs in operation at Segovia, with three rigs carrying out resource definition within the underground developments of the Providencia, Sandra K and El Silencio mines, one rig operating from Level 3 at Sandra K targeting the down-plunge extension of the central and south ore-shoots of the El Silencio mine, and one rig carrying out resource definition from surface at the Carla mine.

Qualified Person

Dr. Stewart D. Redwood, PhD, FIMMM, FGS, Senior Consulting Geologist to the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure or Mineral Projects and prepared or reviewed the preparation of the scientific and technical information in this press release. Verification included a review of the quality assurance and quality control samples, and review of the applicable assay databases and assay certificates.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

The Segovia samples were prepared by SGS Laboratories Ltd (ISO 9001:2008) at their laboratory in Medellin, and assayed in their laboratory in Segovia, Colombia. Gold was assayed by 30 g fire assay with atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) finish. Samples above the upper detection limit of 10.0 g/t gold were re-assayed by 30 g fire assay with gravimetric finish. Silver was assayed by aqua regia digestion and AAS finish. Silver samples above 500 g/t were re-assayed by aqua regia or multiacid digestion with AAS finish for ore grades. Blank, standard and duplicate samples were routinely inserted and monitored for quality assurance and quality control.

About Gran Colombia Gold Corp.

Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based mid-tier gold producer with its primary focus in Colombia where it is currently the largest underground gold and silver producer with several mines in operation at its Segovia and Marmato Operations. Gran Colombia is continuing to focus on exploration, expansion and modernization activities at its high-grade Segovia Operations and, through a spin out transaction with Bluenose Gold Corp. announced on October 7, 2019, Gran Colombia is progressing toward a major expansion and modernization of its underground mining operations at the Marmato Project.

Additional information on Gran Colombia can be found on its website at www.grancolombiagold.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to anticipated business plans or strategies, including exploration programs and mineral resources and reserves. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 27, 2019 which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Gran Colombia disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For Further Information, Contact:

Mike Davies

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 360-4653

investorrelations@grancolombiagold.com

Attachment 1  Sandra K Mine In-fill Drilling Grade Intercepts:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ceff13dc-8a00-44c3-baf0-29de0c094bde

Attachment 2  Providencia Faulted Block Drilling Grade Intercepts:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91cc4b80-1c1f-4a7e-be56-448d3994e0d7

Attachment 3  El Silencio Mine 1180 Vein Drilling Grade Intercepts:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f2edf48-1b84-49a3-a9c4-46fbb4fae655

Attachment 4  El Silencio 1180 x-section:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/33580c78-315c-4ffe-88c5-40b79e4b68cd
File Photo

A Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has sentenced four persons including a woman to 160 years imprisonment on a multiple-count charge of conspiracy and possession of counterfeit bank notes.

Hon. Justice Abdulazeez Anka, who handed down the sentences to the convicts in the case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), ruled that they will spend 10 years in prison on each of the four counts preferred against them.

According to ICPC officers who handled the matter, three of the convicts, Hadiza Adamu Bello, Mohammed Dauda and Bello Salisu had in March 2017, left Kaduna and were joined by the fourth convict, Ali Adamu, from Kano, to meet a native doctor, Hassan Bello, who was a counterfeiter at Wamdeo Uba, Borno State, with the intention to procure about N5 million counterfeit bank notes to exchange for about N1 million genuine bank notes from a Customs officer.

The deal with the Customs officer did not go through for undisclosed reasons. However, as they made their way back, they were caught at a checkpoint on Girei,Yola Road, with counterfeit N1000 bank notes to the value of N5, 504, 000 by soldiers on duty and subsequently handed over to ICPC. a statement from ICPC states

Investigation launched by ICPC operatives led them to the residence of the counterfeiter at Wamdeo Uba, where he was arrested. A search conducted within the premises revealed more counterfeit N1000 bank notes reading the same serial number to the value of N26, 000.

ICPC says at the conclusion of investigations, except for Bello Salisu, who was charged with abetment to commit an offence of possession of counterfeit bank notes, the other four suspects, including the native doctor counterfeiter, were arraigned on a 4-count charge of being in possession of counterfeit bank notes which is an offence contrary to Sections 5(1) (b) and 6(2) (b), and punishable under Section 5(1) (c) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, cap. C35, LFN 2004.

All the accused persons were also charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of possession of counterfeit bank notes which is contrary to Section 6(2) (b) and punishable under Section 5 (1) (c) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act CAP C35, LFN 2004. the statement added

In his ruling, Justice Anka found the accused persons guilty on each of the four counts and sentenced them to a cumulative 40 years imprisonment each, although the sentences will run concurrently.

However, Hassan Bello, the native doctor counterfeiter, could not be sentenced due to his death shortly before the judgement was delivered, thus his name was struck out.
Defence Expert PK Sehgal has said that US President Donald Trump's visit in India is exceedingly important for both countries to counter Asia Pacific Axis of China.

Speaking to ANI, Sehgal said, "This visit is exceedingly important from both US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and for both the countries economically, politically, diplomatically and strategically."

"There are very many takeoffs that are going to take place, one of the major points of agenda would be mega defense deals, second is counter-terrorism and security and the third aspect would be Indo-Pacific, countering the Asia Pacific Axis of China, and fourthly is trade and energy security," he said.

Sehgal further said, "Each of these is very critically vital to us. As far as the US is concerned it wants us to open our market to certain American goods which we are resisting because it will make almost 100 thousand people unemployable. They will lose their businesses."

"Strategically, it is absolutely important both for India and US, as China is becoming increasingly aggressive and muscular both in the Indo-Pacific area, Asia Pacific area as well as the Indian Ocean region and it is very important to send a strong message to China that India is joining hands with the USA to ensure freedom of navigation, and to ensure rule of law prevails and China abides by international norms and rules. To an extent, it will also be countering the China-Russia axis," he said.

"As far as energy is concerned, we want to diversify from Gulf to America as America has now become the sixth-largest exporter to India in terms of oil and gas they want to strengthen this further," he said.

"Diplomatically it will send a very strong message to both Pakistan and China for the obvious reason that the world's most powerful democracy is standing with India shoulder to shoulder and would go flat out to ensure that terrorism comes to an end," he said.

"As far as political aspect is concerned, it is more important for Donald Trump, being an election year in the US, that he wants to carry conviction to the people of America that he is very popular in India and the Indians love him, hoping that the Indian diaspora votes for him and they could also contribute towards his election funds," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Veteran Hollywood actor Harrison Ford says the team of his iconic franchise "Indiana Jones", will not start working on the much-awaited installment unless they have something new to offer.

The 77-year-old actor, who will reprise his role as the iconic adventurer in the new movie, said the team is currently facing some scheduling conflicts and is also finalising the script.

"We've got some scheduling issues, a few script things still to do but we're determined to get it right before we get it made. I don't really want to give them what they wanna see, I want to give them something they didn't anticipate seeing.

"The Marvel movies are a spectacular example of a success that worked the other way round - they killed it. We're not going to make another Indiana Jones unless we're in a position to kill it. We want it to be the best," Ford told HeyUGuys.com.

"Indiana Jones 5" to be directed by Steven Spielberg, was originally announced three years ago and has gone through various delays since then.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", released in 2008, was the last film from the beloved franchise.

Ford first played the part in 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark", which he followed up with "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984) and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Under this program, 100 companies from across the country will commit $100K each for enterprise-ready solutions from 100 B2B SaaS startups

Following the first day of the Microsoft CEO Summit in Mumbai at the three-day-long Microsoft Future Decoded event in India, the company announced the launch of a new program dubbed '100X100X100' which aims to accelerate the startup ecosystem in India on February 24. The initiative brings together 100 established companies as well as 100 early growth startups or SMBs. Each of these B2B SaaS startups has enterprise-ready solutions to offer and the participating enterprise companies will pledge to spend $100K over the course of 18 months on these solutions. At the launch of this program, over 50 startups were already part of it.

The program has been launched under the Microsoft for Startups initiative and it will help enterprises digitally transform rapidly by fast-tracking the adoption of SaaS solutions. Reportedly, startups with a proven track record have been inducted into this program and they will be able to provide enterprises with a wide variety of curated, ready-to-launch solutions. This will also aid in creating a profitable domestic market for Indian B2B SaaS startups. The initiative, however, is only open to startups associated with Microsoft India for Startups.

As part of the program, these early-stage startups will gain access to timely speed-contracting sessions with prospective customers at Microsoft and other customer events. The program will be conducted in conjunction with Microsoft's ecosystem partners and industry associations such as the Delhi and Mumbai Chapters of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE).



Satya Nadella addresses the crowd at Microsoft Future Decoded, Mumbai

Nadella, while speaking at the Microsoft Future Decoded event today, strongly emphasized, "Enterprises must start building their own tech intensity and capability". He believes that enterprises, of any size, must begin to gear towards the technology-aided future and they must "build a consistent edge and cloud model". Nadella continued to emphasize on the importance of cloud, edge computing and AI processing in the future and how most of the working force today will need to reskill or upskill in the future.

Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India stated, "India has one of the largest B2B SaaS startup ecosystems in the world, and it's growing exponentially. This initiative will help build scale and create amazing opportunities of startups. Businesses can now fast-track their digital journeys through easy adoption of enterprise-grade solutions. We're excited to see the outcomes of these partnerships."
The Navy and Marine Corps will prohibit foreign troops from buying and carrying personal weapons as the military continues rolling out new restrictions after a Saudi officer carried out a terrorist attack on a U.S. military base.

International service members training with sailors and Marines at bases in the U.S. or its territories face a host of new rules on personally owned firearms and ammunition, the services announced last week. The restrictions also apply to foreign troops' family members accompanying them.

Foreign troops assigned to Navy and Marine Corps bases, regardless of their country of origin, will be prohibited from possessing, storing, using, transporting, carrying, purchasing, selling or transferring personally owned firearms, weapon components or ammunition, the new policies state.

All international military students will have to sign agreements on the new rules or risk getting booted out of the U.S. Those training with the Navy must do so by April 15 and those training with Marines by May 1.

Related: Marine Corps Limits Foreign Troops' Base Access After Pensacola Attack

International troops' family members over the age of 18 must also sign the agreements.

"Failure to do so will result in immediate expulsion from training or school, and orders generated for immediate transfer back to their home country, to include accompanying family members," the Marine Corps' message states.

Foreign service members and their families will have no access to personally owned weapons or ammunition "until after returning to their home country," according to the Navy's policy.

The new restrictions are part of a Pentagon-wide review of security measures following a Dec. 6 shooting on a Navy base in Pensacola, Florida. A Saudi officer training there lawfully purchased a semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine through a hunting-license loophole.

The exception allows non-immigrant visa holders who otherwise are not permitted to buy firearms or ammunition to purchase them if they have a valid state-issued hunting license permit or other required documentation, David Bowdich, deputy director of the FBI, said last month.

The Saudi lieutenant used the weapon he bought to open fire on a classroom, killing three sailors and injuring several more.

International students who were previously given permission to carry their own weapons and ammunition will have to transfer them to a base armory or other authorized officials for the duration of their assignment, ship them to someone outside the U.S., or dispose of them in accordance with local policies and laws.

The new rules won't apply to government-issued firearms and ammunition foreign troops use while under the supervision of the Navy or Marine Corps as they train, the messages add.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly on Jan. 31 instructed the Navy and Marine Corps to update their policies prohibiting foreign troops from carrying their own weapons.

This is the third update the Marine Corps has made to base security in the wake of the Pensacola shooting. Earlier this month, the Marine Corps announced that foreign troops will be allowed to access only the base to which they are assigned. Previous policy allowed international military students to move between bases more freely.

The Marine Corps also recently announced it would allow about 3,000 law enforcement personnel to carry concealed weapons on base, even when off duty.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: Some Marines Get OK to Carry Concealed Firearms After Deadly Shootings
Imexpharm has strived for world-class standards for decades

According to research by the United Nations Population Fund, Vietnams golden population is estimated to last about 30 years from 2010 to 2040. But due to a lower birthrate and longer life expectancy, Vietnam is aging rapidly and the working-age population is shrinking. The country is also faced with rapid environmental degradation, which contributes to the rise of respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

With the rapidly aging population and environmental degradation, cancer and chronic medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes will be areas of high unmet medical needs in Vietnam, and new and better medicines are urgently needed to address these difficult-to-treat medical conditions. This will also lead to rising healthcare spending in the country.

According to the London-based market research firm Business Monitor International, healthcare expenditure in Vietnam in 2017 reached $16.1 billion, accounting for 7.5 per cent of GDP. Healthcare spending is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5 per cent between 2017 and 2021.

In light of these indicators, Vietnam has become a potential market for pharmaceutical firms to expand operations and tap into the markets growth. Indeed, Vietnam is restructuring the pharma distribution market to keep up with the changes.

Specifically, there is a shift in revenue from over-the-counter drugs to ethical drugs. The usage of domestic medicine instead of imported ones is growing quickly thanks to the governments support.

In this context, pharmaceutical players are making investments to upgrade state-of-art assembly lines, strictly following and testing their periodic quality under EU-GMP and WHO-GMP standards.

With the top quality, European standard orientation, Imexpharm aims to bring high-quality medicine meeting international standards for both physicians and patients.

Over the past 40 years, Imexpharm has always followed the motto of Vietnamese use made-in-Vietnam medicine meeting European standards. The company has become a pioneer in innovation and investment in high-tech management system. It is also the first Vietnamese pharmaceutical corporation to gain an ASEAN-GMP certificate since 1997. Imexpharm is also proud of itself as being the first local pharmaceutical company manufacturing drugs for well-known multinational groups.

In 2013, Imexpharm is the foremost pharmaceutical business in Vietnam applying SAP-ERP management with eight modules to automate quality management processes from materials to products.

2016 marked an important milestone of Imexpharm when the firm became the first Vietnam pharmaceutical corporation with three EU-GMP assembly lines. The achievement laid the foundation for the company to successfully export the injection powder Imetoxim 1g to Europe.

Imexpharm received EU-GMP certificates for Vinh Loc High-tech Antibiotic Factory in 2019, increasing the EU-GMP standard lines to eight. The Binh Duong-based high-tech pharmaceutical factory was approved WHO-GMP by the Ministry of Health in 2019, and is expected to be certified EU-GMP in the second quarter of 2020. The factory is equipped with cutting-edge technology to produce the most effective products for the community.

Since the recent approval by European Parliament of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, the company is well-placed to take full advantage of the trade agreement.

After 1,000 years, lotus still blossoms is Imexpharms business philosophy and operation principle through its foundation and development. In the early years when the term sustainable development was new to domestic businesses, Imexpharm pioneered in conducting strict commitments to meet strict criteria of a sustainable business.

Last but not least, Imexpharm always creates an ideal environment for the excellent pharmaceutical undergraduates to show their work and shine. With all of these efforts, Imexpharm continues to reinforce its position to become the leading industry player in the pharmaceutical sector in Vietnam and the region.
At least 30 people were injured on Monday (February 24) in a head-on collision between a passenger train and a cargo train. The two vehicles smashed into each other at around 6:40pm local time in Ratchaburi, central Thailand. Initial reports from the scene suggested a signal error for the crash. Officials said there were 258 passengers onboard the diesel train when it hit the cargo train travelling from Bangkok to Hat Yai in the south of the country. Deputy Governor of Ratchaburi Kiatisak Trongsiri said at least ten people were rushed immediately to hospital. He said: ''The freight train has derailed and we are working to clear the tracks. A signal fault is the most probable cause of accident but we need to investigate more.'' The conductor of one of the trains, Pakorn Mananan, 37, was identified one of those seriously injured. Traffic Police radio and Jor Sor 100 radio reported the crash between express train No. 37/45 bound for Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat and Padang Besar in Songkhla, and freight train No. 722 from Hat Yai to Bankok.
The governments plans to stop low-skilled migration and end reliance on cheap foreign labour has come under criticism, particularly from the farming and food industries.

Mark Jones, partner at law firm Gordons and an expert in the food and drink supply chain, examines the potential impact.

You have to wonder whether the government has given any thought to the food industrys needs and the likely outcomes given the recent announcement by Home Secretary Priti Patel that it intends to reduce the levels of people coming to the UK with low skills".

The Meat Processors Association members will tell you 63 percent of their workers are not from the United Kingdom.

In agriculture, 20% of workers come from abroad according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and the British Growers Association estimated in 2016 that 75,000 non-UK seasonal workers were deployed in their sector.

In addition, the NFU estimates that 99% of seasonal labour is provided by EU nationals and the ONS also believes as many as 25,000 EU workers are employed in the agricultural sector on a full-time basis.

Whilst not all of the workers in the sector will be classed as low skill, the bottom line is that immigration in the food sector is essential if the UKs farming sector is to continue to operate at its current levels, delivering excellent food at affordable prices.

Without allowing seasonal labour via recruitment from the EU, there is a good chance that the UK will be unable to produce as much food as it currently does, nor produce food at the low costs that UK consumers currently enjoy.

We already import around half of the food consumed in the UK so creating a shortfall in labour is likely to result in an increase in the amount of food we have to buy from EU and, possibly, the USA; which of course has different food standards to the EU.

What is most bizarre about the idea is where the government thinks low skilled workers are going to come from if the UKs food sector cannot tap into migrant labour.

At the moment, we have record low unemployment at 3.8%; it has never been lower.

Many economists believe you cannot have full employment, which means we are more or less at full employment now.

So, as it stands, there are no workers in the UK who can replace the reliance we have on migrant workers, particularly seasonal migrant workers.

It seems to me there are only two solutions. Firstly, the food sector pays higher wages to attract staff from other industries.

That may sound like a viable solution, but that cost has to be borne by somebody and margins can be thin, particularly in the fresh produce and meat sectors.

Inevitably, the cost will eventually be borne by the consumer but bear in mind that a six per cent increase in food prices in the UK translates to an increased spend for the average household of around 1,648.40 every year.

At the moment, UK food is 8% cheaper than the European average food price and, according to Euromonitor International, second best only to the USA in terms of the amount of household income consumers spend on their food.

Add to that, according to the ONS, the fact that 4.7 million people in the UK live in persistent poverty, the idea of increasing consumer food prices by so much is unthinkable.

That leaves the second option; increased automation. The idea sounds good. It would bring greater productivity, something which the UK is struggling with, and it would take us closer to our global peers (the UK is 22nd on the list of robot density in the world), but the development and adoption of technology to fill the skills gap is not going to happen overnight. It will cost a lot of money and take a lot of time.

A sensible solution would be introduce a system which allows food businesses to access the labour they need and keeps UK food affordable.

If the government wants to move away from allowing low skilled labour into the UK, it needs to do that progressively.

Telling the food sector that in ten months it cannot access the labour markets it has had access to for the last 50 years will place a huge burden on the UKs food industry and push thousands more into poverty.
TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY, Ont. - A police operation that saw officers descend on a rail blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in central Ontario and arrest several protesters Monday seemed to stoke tensions even as it paved the way for train service to resume.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY, Ont. - A police operation that saw officers descend on a rail blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in central Ontario and arrest several protesters Monday seemed to stoke tensions even as it paved the way for train service to resume.

Ontario's provincial police said officers moved in after efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the protesters were exhausted and a midnight deadline to clear the rail blockade, which has brought freight and passenger rail traffic in much of Eastern Canada to a virtual standstill, was ignored.

Politicians hailed the police raid on the blockade near Belleville, Ont., but the use of force angered Indigenous leaders, community members and advocacy groups who had hoped for a peaceful resolution.

"Today's arrests of First Nations activists at Tyendinaga shows once again that we will never achieve reconciliation through force," said Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, in a statement. "The Crown is removing people from their lands but is not removing the central barrier to progress  action on long-standing issues of First Nations title and rights."

The Mohawk people of Tyendinaga also condemned the use of force by police, saying the protesters were "standing up for human rights and the land and water."

Protesters speak to Ontario Provincial Police officers at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday Feb. 24, 2020, as they protest in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en Nation hereditary chiefs attempting to halt construction of a natural gas pipeline on their traditional territories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

"The rule of law includes human rights and Indigenous rights," they said.

The raid started at 8:30 a.m. when a column of police vehicles drove up the dirt road toward the blockade. Dozens of police officers then lined up in front of the protesters at the encampment, which has been in place since Feb. 6.

Officers detained a few demonstrators, wrestling one to the ground before taking the group away. The officers held the line near the tracks until about 9:15 a.m. when they moved in again to arrest more men and take control of the area around the tracks.

Police later said 10 people were arrested and are facing multiple charges. They said all 10 have been released with conditions but provided no further details.

The protesters had set up the blockade in support of the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, who oppose the development of a natural gas pipeline project that crosses their traditional territory in northwestern British Columbia. The Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline, however, has the support of elected band councils along the pipeline route.

Numerous similar rail and road blockades have sprung up in multiple provinces throughout the month, halting freight and passenger train service for much of the country.

Ontario Provincial Police liaison officers speak with protesters on the closed train tracks at a second rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Ontario Provincial Police said it had tried to negotiate peacefully with the protesters.

"We have remained respectful of the ongoing dialogue, including issues of sovereignty between our Indigenous communities and various federal ministers," spokesman Bill Dickson said. "... Unfortunately, all avenues to successfully negotiate a peaceful resolution have been exhausted."

A second encampment set up nearby remained in place, Dickson said. Tires were seen burning at that location Monday morning.

By midday, the main encampment remained and some demonstrators banged drums and chanted while workers from rail owner Canadian National Railway Co. arrived on site and started inspecting the tracks.

CN issued a brief statement saying the company was please the "illegal blockade" had come to an end, but offered no indication when service would resume.

Via Rail announced its route between Montreal and Halifax will resume service on Friday.

Protesters wave away a member of the media from the rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday Feb. 24, 2020, during a protest in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en Nation hereditary chiefs attempting to halt construction of a natural gas pipeline on their traditional territories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

One of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, Na'moks, offered words of encouragement for the Ontario protesters.

"They're doing the right thing for the right reasons," said the chief, who also goes by John Ridsdale.

He later said those who visited Mohawk supporters in Ontario have returned to British Columbia, and that while he previously believed the RCMP was removing its mobile detachment from the First Nation's territory, he now believes it has simply been shut down because there is a new gate blocking a turnoff towards it.

The Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs have called for the removal of the RCMP mobile unit, the end of foot patrols and the removal of Coastal GasLink workers from the territory as conditions for meeting with the federal government.

Further support came from the Kahnawake Mohawk Council in Quebec, which issued a statement expressing "outrage and disgust" over the Ontario police actions.

Meanwhile, about 200 protesters marched through downtown Ottawa in support with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary leaders.

Ontario Provincial Police officers lead away a man after making an arrest at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday Feb. 24, 2020, as they protest in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en Nation hereditary chiefs attempting to halt construction of a natural gas pipeline on their traditional territories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

And in British Columbia, members of the Gitxsan First Nation erected a new blockade on a rail line outside of New Hazelton.

The blockade was temporarily taken down Feb. 13 pending a meeting between the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and federal government that has yet to materialize.

Gitxsan Chief Spookwx, who also goes by Norm Stephens, accused the RCMP of "dragging their feet" on demands from the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.

Protesters also returned to the Port of Vancouver and the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Monday afternoon.

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Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the federal government remained committed to the reconciliation agenda.

"But at the same time, the impact of these rail disruptions is untenable. It can't continue," he said.

Ontario Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford praised the provincial force's handling of the rail disruptions including the Monday morning operation, saying it was clear officers had learned lessons from the violent 1995 clash in Ipperwash Provincial Park that resulted in the death of an Indigenous activist.

"I think any other approach, frankly, would have been unreasonable and disrespected the fact that, in a major conflict a number of years ago, a life was lost," he said. "Ontario turned the page on that approach today."

 with files from Liam Casey and Allison Jones in Toronto, Sidartha Banerjee in Montreal, Dirk Meissner in Victoria, and Amy Smart in Vancouver

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:15:27|Editor: yan

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GENEVA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday urged states to harness solutions and the power of cooperative action to ensure a more equitable and sustainable world.

Delivering a keynote speech at the opening of the 43rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council here, Bachelet stressed that the "human rights agenda offers guidance to resolve grievances and conflicts, improve lives and create greater justice, more peace and more sustainable development."

"Many world events call for the attention of this high-level session of the Council. Some are emergencies that demand rapid and decisive action. Others, such as the climate crisis, are longer-term issues that require equally decisive measures," she said.

Arguing that "threats to human rights, to development and peace may be rising," she said that multilateral agreements of recent years have brought many solutions to the challenges, such as the 2030 Agenda, and the Global Compact on Migration.

"Inventive and resourceful young people must also be seen as part of the solution to the crises we face," she said.

Bachelet highlighted measures that "advance access to education, healthcare, universal social protection, and a life of dignity" in the process of providing wider social, economic and individual benefit.

The 43rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to last until March 20.
An Odessa woman sentenced to 19 years for conspiracy charges related to marijuana was granted clemency from President Trump last week.

Trump commuted the sentences of Crystal Munoz and three others, including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and issued seven pardons last Tuesday. Munoz was released from Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth the day she received clemency.

I had overwhelming emotions to where I couldnt think, Munoz said of the shock she felt when she learned she was being released. Its like being in a dream.

She was found guilty in 2008 of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms, despite none being seized from her personally. Her conviction was based on a map she drew that showed checkpoints along the Mexican border, as well as the testimonies of some members of a drug organization who cooperated with the government.

Munoz said her release meant a fresh start for herself and her daughters.

RELATED: Odessan asks Trump for sentence reduction

More Information The family of Crystal Munoz is accepting donations to assist with her re-entry. That fundraiser can be found at gofundme.com/crystal-munoz. See More Collapse

It means the world. It changed everything, she said in a phone interview as she and her husband drove from Fort Worth to Odessa. It changed today. It changed my daughters tomorrow.

She was pregnant at the time of her conviction and was forced to give birth shackled to a hospital bed, according to her petition for clemency. Her daughters are now 11 and 12.

Her husband, Ricky, said they dont have plans for the immediate future other than to spend time with family. He said Trump called him before Munoz was released to say he was granting her clemency.

He said Hey Ricky, I just want to call you and congratulate you and tell you personally Im commuting your wifes sentence, Ricky said.

Amy Povah, founder of CAN-DO Justice Through Clemency, said it was an absolute rollercoaster to find out Munozs sentence was commuted. Povah has worked with and advocated on behalf of Munoz.

Its the big payday after years of advocating for someone, she said.

Povah has worked with Munoz since she first applied for clemency under President Barack Obama in 2013. She said she cried when that petition was denied in 2016.

Munozs case is an example of everything thats wrong with the drug war, Povah said. She said theres prevalent misconceptions about individuals given extended sentences for drug charges, and theyre often given long sentences because they opt not to take plea deals.

Most people who get long sentences are people who exercise their Sixth Amendment right to go to trial, Povah said.

Amber Baylor, director of the Texas A&M University Defense Clinic that filed Munozs petition, said the news of her release was unbelievable. Her students worked on Munozs petition for clemency, and although most of them have now graduated, she said they were excited to learn Munoz was released.

Baylor said she hopes Munozs sentence commutation points to clemency being utilized more frequently as an option for similar cases.

The discussion about clemency gives me hope clemency will be used more to address people serving long sentences, she said.

Povah said three women she has advocated for received clemency last Tuesday. Shes confident more will follow.

We need more Crystals coming out of prison, she said.
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 11:00 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20662f918 1 Business Philippines,tourism,Southeast-Asia,ASEAN,Indonesia,travel,airfare Free

The Philippines has set its sights on Indonesian travelers as part of the countrys efforts to increase its foreign tourist arrivals this year.

Despite the two countries geographical proximity, which can be covered by a four-hour flight, the number of Indonesian tourists visiting the Philippines remains relatively low compared to that of other countries such as China, South Korea, the United States and other ASEAN countries, according to the Philippines Department of Tourism.

Indonesia ranked 14th in the Philippines foreign tourist visits, with 70,819 Indonesians visiting the Southeast Asian neighbor in 2019. The figure was also lower than the 76,000 booked in 2018. In contrast, 261,000 tourists from the Philippines visited Indonesia in 2019, a 20 percent increase from 217,000 in the year before.

Carla Zaldiva, the Philippines Department of Tourisms market development head for Indonesia, said the Philippines aims to welcome more than 80,000 Indonesian tourists in 2020.

For this year, we want to be more aggressive in our marketing campaign, Zaldiva said on Thursday.

To introduce the Philippines to Indonesians, the Department of Tourism and travel agents will participate in Indonesian travel fairs such as the Astindo Travel Fair, which took place from Feb. 21 to 23 in Jakarta.

The growing middle-class segment in Indonesia and its growing desire to travel to nearby countries is seen as a huge potential that the Philippines needs to tap more, Carla said.

The Philippines wants to offer Indonesia its diving tourism outside of what Indonesians can find in their home country. Pilgrimage tourism is also something the Philippines can offer as a Catholic-majority country with many historical churches.

Because the Catholic population in Indonesia is also one of the highest after the Muslim population, we want to tap a percentage of that [for pilgrimage tourism], Carla said.

The Philippines is eyeing tourists from the working population, aged 35 to 40, the millennial market and family travelers.

The reasons why we are promoting in Indonesia are because of its general population and there are a lot of similarities between the two countries. Statistics show that a lot of Indonesians visiting the Philippines are traveling for the first time [abroad], she added.

So, I think it is about the shared culture, the ability to communicate easily, the similarity in geography and it is about the feeling of you are still at home while in a different [environment].

Carla said the biggest challenge of attracting more Indonesian to visit the Philippine was solely the cost of travel. The airfare from Indonesia to the Philippines is higher than from the Philippines to Indonesia.

We are working on [exploring] discount deals for airfares and whole travel packages.

The Philippines Department of Tourism is working with airline operators to explore better promotional deals. It is also partnering with online travel agents and travel agent consortiums to come up with affordable vacation packages.

Caecilia Angela, the manager of Indonesian travel agency Sirius Tour, agreed that high travel costs made many Indonesians think twice about visiting the Philippines. Instead, they prefer to travel to cheaper Southeast Asian destinations, such as Bangkok, Singapore or Malaysia, she added.

[Affordable] airfare is important. The average round-trip ticket to the Philippines currently costs Rp 4 million [US$291.10]. If that was Rp 2.5 million less, Im sure a lot more Indonesians would be visiting the Philippines.

The connectivity between Indonesia and the Philippines has been improving in recent years. with several direct flights connecting the countries, including Manila-Jakarta, Denpasar-Manila, Denpasar-Cebu and Manado-Davao, served by flag carriers Garuda Indonesia and Philippines Airlines.

The latter will launch a Manado-Davao route on May 17, with three flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Basically, this aims to drive tourism and business between the two countries and also connect the southern Philippines and eastern Indonesia, said Philippine Airlines area manager for Indonesia, Bryan Sansolis.
Syria: US dismayed at Aleppo liberation due to terrorist plot failure

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 8:35 AM

Syria says the US is "dismayed" to see the return of normal life to the northern Aleppo province because of the "humiliating defeats" suffered by Washington-sponsored terrorists at the hands of pro-Damascus forces.

In a statement carried by the official SANA news agency on Saturday, a source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the US is "frustrated" with the failure of its project in the Arab country which involved spreading chaos and terrorism.

"It isn't surprising that the US administration is expressing dismay over the return of normal life in Aleppo and the opening of roads and resuming flights at Aleppo International Airports, as these achievements came following the humiliating defeats of their terrorist pawns at the hands of the Syrian Arab Army which secured Aleppo city completely," he added.

Over the past few days, Syrian army troops have assumed control over most of Aleppo, liberating about 30 villages in just a single day.

They have further managed to completely secure Aleppo city from militant shelling.

For first time since 2012, Syrian troops recaptured the strategic M5 highway that connects the capital, Damascus, to the major cities of Hama, Homs and Aleppo.

A Syrian passenger jet also landed in Aleppo airport from Damascus as domestic flights resumed between the country's two largest cities.

In an televised address on Monday, President Bashar al-Assad congratulated the Syrian nation and armed forces over major territorial gains in Aleppo, saying the city will "return stronger than ever."

The fight to liberate all of Aleppo along with neighboring terrorist-controlled Idlib province will continue, he noted, stressing that the Syrian army will not give up until it achieves total victory "sooner or later."

US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus reacted angrily to what he called "shameless" announcements on advances by Syrian forces against Takfiri elements, claiming, "This is no dream of the Syrian people."

The Syrian Foreign Ministry source said recent US statements show that the administration of President Donald Trump is "unbalanced and lacks the most basic forms of communication etiquette."

"The dismay of the US over the failure of its project in Syria is motivation for Syrians to continue confronting terrorists and their supporters until every inch of Syrian soil is free of terrorism and illegitimate foreign presence," he said.

The US administration's "audacity" and "hypocrisy" is characterized by its policies of "attacking others, interfering in their affairs, and employing terrorists to serve its agendas at the expense of people's lives and suffering, all while claiming to champion human rights," the source added.

Turkey says lost soldier

On Saturday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said one of its soldiers, who was a tank mechanic, was killed in Idlib in a bomb attack by Syrian forces..

Turkish forces , it claimed, retaliated and destroyed 21 targets belonging to the Syrian government.

It was reported to be Turkey's 16th military death in Idlib in the past month.

Latest Syrian gains in Idlib have coincided with a massive deployment of troops and military equipment by Turkey which is evidently upset by changing conditions on the ground.

Ankara has threatened to use military power to drive back the Syrian forces unless they withdraw by the end of February.

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[February 24, 2020] CSIOS Corporation's President Honored by Cyber Defense Magazine With Two 2020 InfoSec Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CSIOS Corporation announced today that President and CEO, Mr. Cesar Pie, was honored by Cyber Defense Magazine with two 2020 Cyber InfoSec Awards including: Most Innovative Chief Executive Officer of the Year and Next Gen Cyber Strategist of the Year. This year, the InfoSec Awards ceremony took place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California during the RSA Conference 2020. This is Cyber Defense Magazine's eighth year honoring the most innovative and valuable cyber defense companies from around the globe. "With over 3,200 cyber defense companies boasting their best executives, teams, and InfoSec products and services, we are pleased to be recognized as one of the winners of the coveted InfoSec Award for 2020," said Cesar Pie, President and CEO of CSIOS Corporation. Mr. Pie added, "I am deeply honored tobe recognized with two of the most prestigious and prized cybersecurity awards in the world from Cyber Defense Magazine. I would like to congratulate all winners, finalists, and everyone who participated, mentored, judged, and supported this event."



Details about the InfoSec Awards and the list of 2020 winners are available at www.cyberdefenseawards.com. Media Contact:

Josue Ayala

Phone: (732) 710-5854

Email: [email protected]

Related Images mr-cesar-pie-president-and-ceo.jpg

Mr. Cesar Pie, President and CEO, CSIOS Corporation

Mr. Cesar Pie, President and CEO, CSIOS Corporation View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/csios-corporations-president-honored-by-cyber-defense-magazine-with-two-2020-infosec-awards-301009560.html SOURCE CSIOS Corporation

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Reflections on the meaning of life and other puzzles, Part IV Truth and Reality: Universally understood or emotionally altered perceptions? By Charlotte B. Cerminaro

Having just uprooted our family from Seattle where we lived for nearly 25 years I'm willing to admit that how I'm feeling, emotionally and physically, can affect how I interpret my environment. Being overwhelmed, exhausted, chronically stressed or injured and sick, can color our opinion of events, people, places---but can these variables, including strong emotions---be put in subjection to a moment of disciplined reason and a basic understanding of human nature? Having a terrible day, being angry with someone, these are part of the human condition and it is human nature to react to a strong feeling by turning it on the nearest and/or easiest target, whether or not this target is in any way responsible for, or able to change, our state of mind. More to the point, a person's past experiences may predispose them to react in a negative way, to any perceived slight or stereotyped appearance or actions. Obviously such things alter perception. But if no such slight has actually occurred: No crime, no unkindness or discrimination, are we not ultimately responsible for our opinions and behavior, on a case-by-case basis? Having politicians and politics once again at the forefront because election cycles and the media make them ubiquitous, the concepts of truth and reality weigh heavily on my conscience. I hear a lot of people voice legitimate complaints. Many of the problems they speak of are problems with which I can identify, or at the very least, their issues are clearly being compounded by policies that have absolutely no known benefit. Then the counterargument comes---a group of people even more vociferous, angry, with just as many complaints---but instead of policies and laws, and the politicians who are promoting them, a string of ad hominem attacks, strawman arguments and personal grievances, having nothing to do with government or elections, are screamed at any microphone and camera in proximity. The screaming is often accompanied by anecdotes most personal, lifestyle choices and baseless accusations that cannot be proved or disproved and third-hand accounts of remarks supposedly made 20 years ago during privileged conversations, that should therefore render a person's entire life (and political career) null and void. It's abundantly clear that these screaming dissenters have grievances. They are angry and they want justice. They want the truth to be heard. But what truth? That someone hurt them? Someone hurt their feelings? They are being held back from personal excellence by someone? By one (or all) of the candidates of a certain gender, or race, or perhaps only candidates identifying as capitalists? When we're angry is one of the most difficult times to admit that our perception might be affected by our emotions or experiences. This, of course, begs the question: If someone is unable to see anything beyond their feelings, does this mean their feelings are their truth? Should this in any way affect how we think? Are we to give equal weight to the subjective feelings of a thousand people, as we would to an objective truth that stands outside ourselves and our feelings? When I understand something to be absolutely true, common sense tells me to follow the truth even if it directly contradicts my feelings. Even if it's of no personal benefit, or worse, if I actually stand to lose by holding to the truth. So this conundrum is more than just an abstract idea. When Albert Einstein was asked how we can know if something is true he said, "Truth is that which conforms to reality." If reality is seen and confirmed by empirical evidence, deductive reasoning and proven, repeatable occurrences, can we equate common sense, direct observation and analytical thinking with truth? If this is the case, what purpose do emotions have in human experience? Are our emotions designed to corroborate what we know to be true, if we are emotionally healthy? Or are they something entirely different? Are they actually supposed to inform us of that which is unseen and intangible, but still an essential part of our existence? And more importantly, are we to ideally follow reason and common sense, with emotions being an aid to understanding the full spectrum of communication and empathy? These are difficult questions that have plagued great thinkers and writers for many centuries. Pascal, Tolstoy and Kierkegaard devoted volumes of work to such ideas and if they had simple answers, we would not have a pandemic of disparate thinking. Answers will not be found by seeking our own counsel or appointing a bigger government; but the search for truth is far too important to delegate the responsibility to others. A true paradox that has vexed scientists, philosophers, theologians and the wisest of the wise, since the beginning of time. Charlotte B. Cerminaro is a Juilliard-trained classical musician who, in addition to being a studio and orchestral musician, enjoys writing.  2020 Home
Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Anil Kapoor And Other Celebs Remember Sridevi On Her Death Anniversary
US President Donald Trump tweeted in Hindi shortly before his arrival in Ahmedabad for his first official visit to India. We are eager to visit India. We are on our way, will see you all in a few hours, said the tweet in Hindi.

Soon after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reciprocated the gesture, tweeting the Sanskrit phrase: Atithi Devo Bhava (guest is god).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier tweeted that India is waiting for Trumps arrival.

India awaits your arrival @POTUS @realDonaldTrump! Your visit is definitely going to further strengthen the friendship between our nations. See you very soon in Ahmedabad, Modi tweeted Monday morning in response to one by Trump when he left for India.

In Ahmedabad, where Trump is scheduled to address the Namaste Trump event, people have already started filling up the Motera Stadium.

A grand welcome by the Indian government has also been planned for the American president whose visit is expected to boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi will receive Trump at the airport and then drive along a route with stages featuring artistes from across India. The two leaders will then participate in the Namaste Trump rally at the Motera Stadium.

Click here for full coverage on Donald Trumps India visit.
Watching the election results is ultimately the most gripping part of any election.

Come April, when Pennsylvania voters cast votes in the states pivotal primary, the official tally may not be known on Election Night, some officials said. Some election officials said theyre concerned it may take days for the count to be complete.
Ahmedabad: US President Donald Trump signs the Visitors Book of the Sabarmati Ashram as US First Lady Melania Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi look on, in Ahmedabad on Feb 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 24 : Congress on Monday criticised US President Donald Trump for not mentioning Mahatma Gandhi in the visitor book of Sabarmati Ashram and instead praising Modi and called him "great friend" (PM Modi) and called his tour a "wonderful visit" "This is a snapshot of the note that someone sent. It ostensibly is @realDonaldTrumps note at Sabarmati. No mention of the Great Mahatma. Does he even know who Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was?" Manish Tewari wrote while tweeting the pictures of the visitor book.

Tewari also shared the picturess of Barack Obama who praised Gandhi during his visit. "And this is what @barackobama had to say about the Great Mahatma possibly at Rajghat or Sabarmati.

"The distinction cannot be more stark...The visiting US president Barack Obama wrote about Gandhi in 2010 that 'a hero just not to... India but for the whole world'." "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth. Messrs Modi and Trump doing their best to prove Einstein right in a way he didn't intend -- by erasing the Mahatma from his abode!" tweeted Tharoor
In celebration of Black History month, Traders Village hosted the Rhythm and Soul Fest this weekend, making history as the only one of its kind thus far.

Houston-born actor Davi Jay of "The Walking Dead" and "Day 5" kicked off the festival with his band The Bourbon Street Experience. Bands Klockwork and Level One also performed.
In Canadian lore, the raconteurs of old spoke of La Chasse Galerie (the flying canoe) and among the Mohawk, the Raksothas (grandpas), told scary stories about the Flying Heads that roamed deep in the forests, but one of the most disturbing myths is the one in which Indian Act band councils are labelled as First Nations.

They are not.

Band councils were created from the 1876 Indian Act and designed to undermine and replace centuries of traditional governments across Canada. They were, and are extremely limited in their authority and entirely subject to officials in the federal government.

Band councils are not sovereign, do not abide by ancestral law, have no definitive connection with traditional culture and govern nothing outside of their respective reserves. If they do have police services the laws that are imposed and enforced come from federal regulations and provincial statutes.

Under international law a band council has no substance, no meaning, no standing. They cannot enter into treaty or trade compacts with a nation, they cannot abide by a distinct Native justice system, they cannot create their own banking system, they cannot design their own homes, they cannot buck the social service apparatus which has strangled any attempt by Indigenous people to rise above their oppressive circumstances.

No law can be passed, enacted or enforce by the band councils without the express consent of the federal government. They are colonial entities imposed upon native peoples, whose only source of support is the money channelled to them from the provinces and Ottawa.

The band councils have been effective in one instance: they have served the federal government by eclipsing the Indigenous entities that once exercised active jurisdiction across Canada and for generations prior to contact.

Why call them first nation at all?

This term began in 1980 when the former National Indian Brotherhood was looking for a more jazzy name, one that would better reflect the political and social activism of that time. Rather than, rightfully, call itself the National Association of Indian Act Band Councils, the NIB went for First Nations when it knew this was inaccurate and misleading. But it was trendy and, they thought, would give them a sense of empowerment outside of Ottawa.

It did not.

The crippling dependency of the newly minted AFN upon federal dollars simply affirmed its status as an extension of the agents of suppression.

Among the Iroquois, the experience with the band councils was harsh and deadly. At Akwesasne, my home community, the Mohawk Nation Council oversaw the needs of the people with perfect adequacy. But when Canadian officials stole 7,240 hectares of land from the Mohawk territory (the Dundee tract) the traditional leaders protested.

Further insult came about in May, 1899 when a contingent of RCMP invaded Akwesasne to impose the band council by force. When Jake Ice-Saiowisakeron came to the defence of the true chiefs he was shot and killed by Lt. Col. Sherwood, the commander of the Mountie platoon. The chiefs were taken to jail in Valleyfield, Que., where they were held without charge for a year while the federal government firmly placed the band council in control.

In a gross breach of law and custom, the federal government then empowered the band council (formerly the St. Regis Band Council but now the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne) to hold a referendum to have the stolen Dundee lands compensated for  but not returned  with the money to go to the band council and not the Mohawk Nation from whom it was taken.

So it was at the Six Nations Grand River territory (Ohsweken) when, in 1924, federal officials ordered the Mounties to invade their lands to replace the chiefs and clan mothers with a band council.

Chief Levi General-Deskaheh went to the League of Nations in 1923 asking for its members to compel Canada and Britain to abide by their treaties with native nations and refrain from their efforts to eradicate Indigenous governance using the band councils. The result was the expulsion of the traditional government, the confiscations of invaluable cultural patrimony and the threat that opposition to the band council would be met with overwhelming force.

To this day, the Iroquois have repeated our aspirations to return to the traditional systems. In every election for the band councils a very low percentage of potentials voters bother to turn out and if the band councils did not have federal monetary support, they would be ejected.

What is needed to resolve the situation at Wetsuweten is the acknowledgment that they have a right to determine for themselves how they will be governed, along with the active exercise of unilateral jurisdiction over their ancestral lands.

In accordance with Articles 26 and 27 of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, they can then begin to work out a resolution with the federal government based on mutual respect.

But let us begin by acknowledging the fact that band councils are not First Nations, while beginning the process of restoring our peoples to true national status. Repeal the Indian Act, reorganize the Assembly of First Nations, empower a restoration of ancestral government.

The Canadian people should rally for a return to Indigenous governments that reflect the will of the people, the true First Nations of this continent.
Married At First Sight is meant to be a program about regular people finding love.

But in reality almost half of this year's participants are hired actors with experience in television, modelling or stage performance.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that 10 cast members tried to make it in showbusiness before signing up for Nine's social experiment.

Are you surprised? Ten MAFS participants tried to make it in showbusiness before being cast on Nine's social experiment. Pictured: Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz

In 2014, Cathy Evans graduated from Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland with a degree in performing arts and moved to Sydney to launch an acting career.

'These are the best acting headshots ever. Time to take over Australia,' she wrote on Instagram in August 2015, after having professional photos taken for her portfolio.

Cathy launched her own YouTube channel in March 2016, but it's unclear what roles, if any, she landed before appearing on MAFS.

The 26-year-old is described as a 'logistics investigator' on the show and her acting qualification is not mentioned.

Trained actress: In 2014, Cathy Evans graduated from Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland with a degree in performing arts and moved to Sydney to launch an acting career

Poser: 'These are the best acting headshots ever. Time to take over Australia,' Cathy wrote on Instagram in August 2015, after having professional photos taken for her portfolio

Actress and influencer? Cathy launched her own YouTube channel in March 2016, but it's unclear what acting roles, if any, she landed before appearing on MAFS

Meanwhile, operations manager Mikey Pembroke has been on television in the past.

In 2017, he made his acting debut in Friday on My Mind, an ABC miniseries about Australian rock band The Easybeats, in which he played a background character.

He appeared in five or six scenes across two episodes.

Mikey, 29, was also a contestant on Channel Seven's Deal or No Deal in 2015.

Surprise! Mikey Pembroke has been on television in the past, having been a contestant on Channel Seven's Deal or No Deal in 2015 (pictured)

Did you spot him? In 2017, he made his acting debut in Friday on My Mind, an ABC miniseries about Australian rock band The Easybeats, in which he played a background character

Sixties style! Mikey posed for this selfie during a costume fitting for Friday on My Mind

Vanessa Romito has experience in front of the camera, too.

Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of the Perth-based pharmacy manager, 31, filming a project with GrindFilms in February 2019.

In one scene, Vanessa plays a character at a party with several other women.

Her old MySpace profile is also full of professional photo shoots, which were taken more than a decade ago.

She's an actress too! Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of Vanessa Romito (second from left) filming a project with GrindFilms in February 2019

Model: Her old MySpace profile is also full of professional photo shoots, which were taken more than a decade ago

Meanwhile, Amanda Micallef has a StarNow profile where she advertises herself as an 'actor, extra, model and TV/radio presenter' looking for work.

She boasts of being able to 'transform into characters naturally' and has been doing so for 'her whole life', despite having 'no formal acting training'.

The 34-year-old personal trainer briefly appeared as an extra in the 2009 film Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage.

Hire me! Amanda Micallef has a StarNow profile (pictured) where she advertises herself as an 'actor, extra, model and TV/radio presenter' looking for work

Born performer: She boasts of being able to 'transform into characters naturally' and has been doing so for 'her whole life', despite having 'no formal acting training'. Pictured in 2005

Actor's life: She briefly appeared as an extra in the 2009 film Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage

Sebastian Guilhaus, who will join the cast as an 'intruder' in the coming weeks alongside Elizabeth Sobinoff, has made no secret of his desire to be a performer.

In 2018, he told Adelaide Now: 'The only thing that's been consistent [in my life] has been my love of entertaining people and making people smile. I thought, "What encompasses all of that?" and I came up with acting.

'I'm a massive movie buff and initially I had film in my mind, but now that I'm enjoying the rawness of stage theatre I'm open to anything. I have no doubt that this is the path I want to follow for the rest of my life - I've finally found my passion.'

In 2013, Seb appeared on current affairs show Today Tonight as a model in a segment about 'Adelaide Party Girls'.

'I'm open to anything': Sebastian Guilhaus (pictured), who will join the cast as an 'intruder' in the coming weeks alongside Lizzie Sobinoff, has made no secret of his desire to be a performer

Experienced! In 2018, Seb told Adelaide Now that acting was his 'passion' in life. Five years earlier, he'd appeared on Today Tonight as a model in a segment about 'Adelaide Party Girls'

Josh Pihlak writes and performs his own viral comedy skits, and already has a cult following on social media.

The Newcastle-based truck driver, 28, has been creating multi-angle short films for TikTok and Instagram for the past year.

In one video, Josh plays a tradesman father who disapproves of his son's metrosexual lifestyle.

Star in the making: Josh Pihlak writes and performs his own viral comedy skits, and already has a cult following on social media

Creative: The Newcastle-based truck driver, 28, has been creating multi-angle short films for TikTok and Instagram for the past year. In one video, Josh plays a tradesman father who disapproves of his son's metrosexual lifestyle

Two other Married At First Sight stars, Steve Burley and Aleksandra Markovic, have previously appeared on dating shows.

In 2018, barbershop owner Steve, 51, starred on Channel Seven's First Dates.

Real estate agent Aleks, 27, was a contestant on Take Me Out that same year. She joked around with host Joel Creasey, but didn't manage to secure a date.

Not his first rodeo: Steve Burley starred on Channel Seven's First Dates in 2018

Hayley Vernon and Tash Herz are both experienced live performers.

While she has no formal acting experience, Tash, 31, used to work as a burlesque dancer and striptease artist.

'I have absolutely no shame about my work as a dancer,' the bartender recently told Daily Mail Australia.

'I fully support all women working in the sex industry and I don't have time for anyone who judges that. I embrace my sexuality and I am proud of my past.'

Throwback! Aleksandra Markovic was a contestant on Take Me Out in 2018. She joked around with host Joel Creasey (left), but didn't manage to secure a date

Hayley, 32, is also proud of her former career as a topless waitress, which involved hosting bucks parties and corporate events in Melbourne under the alias 'Lee'.

'It was no secret to her friends and she never tried to hide it. She made great money, had fun and never did anything that made her feel uncomfortable,' a source said earlier this month.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine

'I have absolutely no shame': Tash Herz (left) has no formal acting experience but previously worked as a burlesque dancer and striptease artist
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Karo, North Sumatra  Mon, February 24, 2020

Green hills and cool air make Lake Lau Kawar in Karo, North Sumatra, a popular tourist destination despite the fact it is located near the rumbling Mount Sinabung volcano.

The 200-hectare lake, with its calm, clear blue waters, is located around 70 kilometers from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra.

The trip from Medan to the lake usually takes around three hours. The lake is located at the foot of Mount Sinabung, a volcano in Namanteran district in Karo regency.
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders said if he was elected president he would 'absolutely' use the military if China attacked Taiwan.

The presidential 2020 hopeful said if he were in the White House he would authorize military force if warranted, both to protect US interests and to support its allies.

He also denied being a pacifist, declared his support for NATO and added he would be willing to meet with the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, as President Donald Trump has done on three occasions.

Sanders has emerged with an early lead in the Democratic nominating process, and as a self-declared democratic socialist his foreign and security policies are starting to draw closer scrutiny. But he has denied being a pacifist.

In the interview that aired on Sunday on CBS's '60 Minutes', the Vermont senator was asked in what circumstances he, as commander-in-chief, would deploy US military forces.

Sen. Bernie Sanders tells 60 Minutes he would use military force under certain conditions if he were elected president, and tells @andersoncooper he would be willing to sit down with Kim Jong Un. See more of the interview, tonight. https://t.co/GOjDwDPS2r pic.twitter.com/g2MvoU4WEt  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) February 23, 2020

Senator Bernie Sanders told Anderson Cooper in an interview that aired on Sunday on CBS's '60 Minutes', he would use military force if elected president

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaking during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California, on Friday

He listed these criteria: 'Threats against the American people, to be sure. Threats against our allies. I believe in NATO.

'I believe that the United States, everything being equal, should be working with other countries in alliance, not doing it alone.'

When interviewer, Anderson Cooper, asked whether he would order military action if Taiwan came under attack from China, Sanders replied: 'Yeah. I mean, I think we have got to make it clear to countries around the world that we will not sit by and allow invasions to take place, absolutely.'

The senator, who scored a resounding victory Saturday in the Nevada presidential caucuses, was asked if he would follow Trump's example and meet with the North Korean leader.

'Yeah, I mean I've criticized Trump for everything...' he said. 'But meeting with people who are antagonistic is, to me, not a bad thing.'

Sanders added that he believed Trump was 'unprepared' when he met with Kim - their meeting last year in Hanoi collapsed in disagreement.

'But I do not have a problem with sitting down with adversaries all over the world.'

Bernie Sanders said he would use military force if warranted, both to protect US interests and to support its allies

Anderson Cooper asked Sanders, if the Vermont senator were elected president, whether he would use military force in the event China attacked Taiwan

Sanders also declared 'we have the best military in the world', as Cooper began his line of questioning.

During the same interview, Sanders also defended his previous praise of Fidel Castro's rule of Cuba.

He told Cooper the communist dictator's regime was 'not all bad' and praised his 'massive literacy program' and health care system during the 1980s.

In a recent New York Times survey of the Democratic candidates, Sanders and fellow Senator Elizabeth Warren said they would continue Trump's personal diplomacy with Kim, but former vice president Joe Biden, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Amy Klobuchar said they would not.

Sanders, along with Biden and Bloomberg, also said he would consider using force to pre-empt an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test.

Sanders is known best for his positions on economic justice - particularly the yawning gap in the US between the wealthiest Americans and those much less well-to-do.

Bernie Sanders greeting supporters as he arrived at a campaign rally in Santa Ana ahead of Super Tuesday and the California Democratic primary

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a meeting with Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization last month. Sanders was asked whether he would order military action if Taiwan came under attack from China

But as his chances of winning the Democratic nomination rise, scrutiny is bound to intensify on other issues.

As a student at the University of Chicago during the turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, Sanders belonged to several leftist and anti-war groups, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

In 2015, when a Politico interviewer questioned him about his decision to register as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, he replied: 'I am not a pacifist.'

'I supported the war in Afghanistan,' in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, he noted.

In 1991, however, he had opposed the first Gulf War.

Sanders told Politico that he had backed the Clinton administration's military actions in Kosovo and President Barack Obama's air strikes in Syria.

But he then added, 'I happen to believe from the bottom of my heart that war should be the last resort'.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Three units of Goldman Sachs <GS.N> pleaded not guilty to charges of misleading investors regarding $6.5 billion in bond sales that the U.S. investment bank helped raise for state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Bernama state news agency reported on Monday.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates $4.5 billion was misappropriated from Malaysia's 1MDB between 2009 and 2014, including some of the funds that Goldman Sachs helped raise.

Malaysian prosecutors filed charges in December 2018 against the units, based in London, Hong Kong and Singapore, for misleading investors by making untrue statements and omitting key facts in relation to the 1MDB bond issues.

A representative for Goldman Sachs pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday, Bernama reported.

The court set the trial for November, with hearings scheduled until April 2021, Bernama reported.

Goldman Sachs has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying that certain members of the former Malaysian government and 1MDB lied to it about how proceeds from the bond sales would be used.

Malaysia has said it was seeking up to $7.5 billion in reparations from Goldman over its dealings with 1MDB, which was set up in 2009 by then prime minister Najib Razak.

Najib, who lost a general election in May 2018, is facing 42 criminal charges related to losses at 1MDB and other state entities. He has pleaded not guilty.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; editing by Jason Neely)
Additionally, the new policy expands the definition of public charge to include anyone who has used noncash public benefits  like nonemergency Medicaid, public housing assistance, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance  for more than a year over a three-year period.

The wealth test targets immigrants seeking permanent resident status based on a petition filed by an American citizen or a permanent resident family member. This may sound like a narrow sliver of the population. In fact, the wealth tests impact will be felt by many. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that the new rule could prompt some 23 million noncitizens and their U.S. citizen family members not to apply for or to withdraw from public benefit programs. This figure includes 4.7 million adults and 7.6 million children, all of whom are citizens.

By setting its sights on petitions filed by family members of prospective permanent residents, the wealth test attacks a core principle of our immigration law: family reunification. Such reunification has long been a bete noire of opponents of immigration and white supremacists who fulminate about reclaiming America. Two years ago the White House issued a statement calling for an end to family reunification on the spurious grounds that it attracts unskilled immigrants, lowers wages, increases the deficit and undermines national security. Weeks later, President Trump complained to senators about too much immigration from what he called shithole countries, like El Salvador and Haiti, and not enough from places like Norway.

The wealth test is but another attempt by the Trump administration to revamp the immigration system so that its based on merit (money and education, in other words), rather than family ties or humanitarianism. While a merit-based immigration system may appear fair and practical, it is humiliating in its utilitarianism. It reduces people to economic resources, and legal permanent residency and citizenship to transactions.

Proponents of the wealth test often say their immigrant forebears didnt depend on cash assistance for needy families, rental assistance or food stamps. These programs are part of the safety net built in the 20th century. Before the welfare state existed, poor immigrants had to give up their children when their husbands died or disappeared. Along with the G.I. Bill, federal housing loans, workers compensation and Pell Grants, the safety net protects and enriches our country. Indeed, those who say their ancestors didnt get government help as newly arrived immigrants would have to admit that their ancestors also never enjoyed the government benefits, like Medicare and Social Security, that now make these critics comfortable.
The OpenSSL project is struggling with FIPS, and their new FIPS certificate is not expected until 2022. The version of OpenSSL that supports FIPS is End Of Life and is no longer supported as of December 2019. The 4.3.0 release of wolfSSL brings significant expansions in the OpenSSL Compatibility Layer to help people migrate from OpenSSL to wolfSSL.

As many people know, the OpenSSL project is struggling with FIPS, and their new FIPS certificate will not be available until 2022. The version of OpenSSL that supports FIPS is now in End Of Life and is no longer supported, states wolfSSL CTO & Co-Founder, Todd Ouska. This means that OpenSSL users will not have a supported FIPS Object Module for over a year. This is a big issue for companies that rely on security! If there is a bug in the OpenSSL FIPS Object Module, your government business will be at risk.

To fill the OpenSSL FIPS breach, wolfSSL has integrated their FIPS certified crypto module with the OpenSSL Compatibility Layer. This means that OpenSSL users can get a supported FIPS with 247 commercial support. The wolfSSL FIPS solution also supports the TLS 1.3 algorithms, so your package can support TLS 1.3. Support for hardware encryption with FIPS is included in the package. Additionally, should you be using one of the OpenSSL derivatives like BoringSSL, wolfSSL can also support you.

Additionally, your investment in the future of FIPS is assured, as wolfSSL will be among the first FIPS 140-3 certified software crypto library.

We are confident that wolfSSL will be the first FIPS 140-3 certified TLS, proclaims Larry Stefonic, wolfSSL CEO & Co-Founder. We will be submitting our FIPS 140-3 module to NIST in September 2020, which is the earliest available date for submissions.

There are several key differentiators between wolfSSL and OpenSSL. These include the following:



Build size (up to 20x smaller than OpenSSL)

Hardware acceleration

Team of security experts on call

Ease of Use designed for developers

Portability: a long list of supported platforms

24/7 Support

wolfSSL contains out of the box plug-ins including FIPS support for Nginx, Apache, OpenSSH, curl, OpenVPN, strongSwan, wpa_supplicant, Qt, and many more.

For more information on the advantages of using wolfSSL contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com, or visit

https://www.wolfssl.com/docs/wolfssl-openssl/

Download wolfSSL under the GPLv2 license at http://www.wolfssl.com/wolfSSL/download/downloadForm.php

For licensing questions, contact licensing(at)wolfssl.com

About wolfSSL

wolfSSL focuses on providing lightweight and embedded security solutions with an emphasis on speed, size, portability, features, and standards compliance. With its SSL and TLS products and crypto library, wolfSSL is supporting high security designs in the automotive (MISRA-C capabilities), avionics (complete RTCA DO-178C level A certification), and other industries. For government consumers, wolfSSL has a strong history in FIPS 140-2, with upcoming Common Criteria support. wolfSSL supports industry standards up to the current TLS 1.3 and DTLS 1.2, is up to 20 times smaller than OpenSSL, offers a simple API, an OpenSSL compatibility layer, is backed by the robust wolfCrypt cryptography library, and much more.

Reference

wolfSSL GitHub repository: https://github.com/wolfssl/wolfssl.git
Senegal officials caught him after India issued a Red Corner notice against him in January 2019.

BENGALURU: The stage is all set to bring back dreaded und-erworld don Ravi Poojari to India, anno-unced Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bo-mmai on Sunday.

All legal hurdles have been cleared to bring back Poojari. A court in Senegal had cleared his handing over process. There are some formalities pending at the international level. As soon as they are completed, we will bring him back, Bommai stated.

International agencies are in touch with us and our officers are stationed there. They will bring him back soon, he added.

International don Ravi Poojari is wanted in as many as 70 criminal cases in Karnataka alone. He is wanted in cases of extortion and murder and was active in the Mumbai underworld. He was part of the Dawood gang and later, is said to have worked with another don, Chota Rajan for some time. Claiming to be an enemy of Dawood, Poojari reportedly finished off all his associates and anti-India elements in the country. His men were involved in a shootout on the Shabanam Developers office in Bengaluru in which a lady staffer was killed in the firing. He is also said have been involved in the shootout case of Shahid Azmi, an advocate from Mumbai. There are cases against him in Kerala, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Senegal officials caught him after India issued a Red Corner notice against him in January 2019.
Watching Priti Patel, it is impossible not to discern that shes a bit of a prickly cactus.

Her manner is cold, her visage somewhat pinched, while her resting expression tends towards, yes, Im sorry, a smirk.

When pressed on a matter, her lower jaw has a habit of jutting out confrontationally towards the person she is addressing, as if to say: Dya want some?

Were Priti ever to tread the boards, shed be ideal as a menacing chorus girl in a Stephen Sondheim musical.

The Home Secretary could at least rely on total support from her own benches, not something that could be said before the election. A couple of old timers were gushing. Iain Duncan Smith congratulated her on her job which she is doing brilliantly

Some Whitehall officials have recently claimed that shes a bully  but to me this sounds suspiciously like the moans of an recalcitrant Civil Service.

No doubt Ms Patel is what you might call a bit of a bruiser. But as Home Secretary she is responsible for, among other things, crime and counter terrorism. It is not a job for those with skin as thin as rice paper.

Take her appearance yesterday afternoon in the Commons, where she arrived to deliver a statement on the Governments new points-based immigration system  which, supposedly, will close the door on the number of low-skilled migrants coming to the UK.

It was clear from the reaction around the House when she entered that opposition MPs do not care for the Home Secretary one jot.

Ms Ribeiro-Addy, a proud socialist, made a nervy, slightly scratchy speech. At one point she appeared to imply there was no such thing as highly-skilled work. A work is skilled when it is well done, she said. Hmm. Brain surgeons might have a thing or two to say about that

They dislike her almost as much as her new immigration policy. No sooner had she stood to speak than the chamber took on a leery, pool hall-like atmosphere.

Interjection flew across the dispatch box. The SNP were particularly rowdy, mooing like a herd of milch cows.

The Home Secretary soldiered on regardless, a casual wave of her talons here, a scathing shake of her head there.

On Labours front bench, Jeremy Corbyn suddenly appeared, just as the partys new immigration minister Bell Ribeiro-Addy was responding to Ms Patels statement.

What he was doing there wasnt clear. He looked to be at a loose end, like a teacher hanging around on school grounds not knowing what to do with his afternoon off.

Some Whitehall officials have recently claimed that shes a bully  but to me this sounds suspiciously like the moans of an recalcitrant Civil Service. No doubt Ms Patel is what you might call a bit of a bruiser. But as Home Secretary she is responsible for, among other things, crime and counter terrorism

Ms Ribeiro-Addy, a proud socialist, made a nervy, slightly scratchy speech. At one point she appeared to imply there was no such thing as highly-skilled work.

A work is skilled when it is well done, she said. Hmm. Brain surgeons might have a thing or two to say about that.

Ms Patel offered her opponent an icy welcome to her new job.

Im sure she will do very well, she smiled thinly, her voice dripping with, well with something less than friendly.

There then came an interruption. Corbyn unsheathed his scabbard and came to his mentees aid. Stop putting her down, Jezza said.

Priti Patels eyebrows did a double hop and she fixed Corbyn with a Medusa glare.

Perhaps the Honourable Gentleman would like to actually wait and listen to what I would like to say, she scolded.

By now even Diane Abbott had jolted from her reveries.

The atmosphere grew ever more ill-tempered. Kevin Brennan (Lab, Cardiff West) slid from side to side impatiently, concerned by how long each question was taking.

Get on with it! he hollered, earning a rebuke from the Speakers chair. Kick him out! came a cry from the government benches.

The Home Secretary could at least rely on total support from her own benches, not something that could be said before the election.

A couple of old timers were gushing. Iain Duncan Smith congratulated her on her job which she is doing brilliantly.

Interjection flew across the dispatch box. The SNP were particularly rowdy, mooing like a herd of milch cows. The Home Secretary soldiered on regardless, a casual wave of her talons here, a scathing shake of her head there

Owen Paterson (Con, N Shropshire) reminded Ms Patel how they had discussed a points-based immigration system when they had first met back when she was a thrusting backbencher. Priti smiled coquettishly.

After 45 minutes, deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing decided to move on to other business.

Angus MacNeil (SNP, Na h-Eileanan an Iar) who had spent the session puffing and waving his arms in an attempt to be called, wailed in exasperation.

There is no point in the honourable gentleman making gestures at me! the usually mild mannered Laing screamed.

MacNeil cowered like a smacked puppy. Across from him, the Home Secretary turned to her underling Kevin Foster and shot him a conspiratorial wink.
A Melbourne high school principal fears parents may view a government travel ban exemption for Chinese year 12 students as an economic decision, rather than in the best interests of student health.

Victorian high schools are preparing to reintegrate 389 Chinese senior high school students, after the federal government announced on Saturday that up to 760 students stuck in China would be allowed to return to Australia despite the ongoing coronavirus travel ban.

Brighton Secondary College principal Richard Minack said schools would need to be vigilant against any discrimination aimed at returning Chinese students. Credit:Jason South

Brighton Secondary College, a state school in Melbourne's southeast, hosts 40 to 45 Chinese students each year, with about 14 currently stuck in China.

Principal Richard Minack praised the Victorian Education Department's handling of the coronavirus outbreak so far, but flagged possible concern from parents over the federal government's travel exemption.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Twitterati criticised US President Donald Trump for not mentioning Mahatma Gandhi in the visitor book of Sabarmati Ashram and instead praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump also called him a "great friend" (PM Modi) and called his tour a "wonderful visit". "To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - Thank you for this wonderful visit," wrote Trump and signed the message.

It was also signed by First Lady Melania Trump. This act drew a lot of eyeballs on social media as President Trump left a message in the visitors book without any mention of Mahatma Gandhi.

A user wrote, "Clearly u, @realDonaldTrump, have no idea about the Sabarmati Ashram, the great #MahatmaGandhi and the visitors book in the Ashram. No mention of Mahatma Gandhi by President Trump in his comments in the visitors book at Sabarmati ashram #GoBackTrump." Another wrote, "This Is D Insult Of #MahatmaGandhi AOn His 150th Birth Anniversary Year...Mr @narendramodi Must Apologize To Nation On Behalf Of @realDonaldTrump @POTUS and Mr @realDonaldTrump himself should also apologize unconditionally for his ignorant behavior towards our #fatherofthenation." A post read, "Respected @realDonaldTrump @POTUS...You need to write your experience about Your visit to Sabarmati Ashram.... You can say thanks to @PMOIndia @narendramodi later... don't insult #MahatmaGandhi ji...it's an insult to the nation." "@realDonaldTrump, it's really unfortunate if you visited Sabarmati Ashram and didn't speak a word about #MahatmaGandhi ji. May be your friend from India might have insisted you to do so !" a user remarked.

Tweeple were quick to take screenshots of what the then US President Barack Obama had written when he visited Rajghat on January 25, 2015: "What Dr Martin Luther King Jr said then remains true today: The spirit of Gandhi is very much alive today. And it remains a great gift to the world. May we always live in his spirit of love and peace - among all people and nations."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday threatened Gaza's Hamas rulers saying they "were the next in line" if the new round of rocket fire continued.

Since he spoke, the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip announced a unilateral cease-fire Monday evening to end two days of heavy fighting with Israel.

In a short statement, the Iranian-backed group said it had completed its "retaliation" for Israel's killing of three members.

But it said it would respond to any further Israeli "aggression".

Earlier on Monday, Gaza militants had been resuming their intense bombardment of southern Israel, with some rockets slipping through Israel's Iron Dome defence system and one landing in the yard of a kindergarten.

Netanyahu talked in front of one of the Iron Domes in Southern Israel.

There was no word of casualties, but the second day of violence threatened to unleash a new round of hostilities just a week before Israel heads to elections.
SANAA, Yemen  When Yemen's warring sides signed an agreement Feb. 16 in Jordan to swap more than 1,400 detainees under the auspices of the United Nations, questions arose about the parties commitment to its implementation. The agreement was seen as a major confidence-building step between the two sides.

The agreement comes in light of a military escalation in the northern al-Jawf province between the Saudi-backed forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis, raising concerns over the implementation of this long-delayed prisoner swap.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea announced in a Feb. 14 tweet the downing of a Tornado jet on a hostile mission using advanced surface-to-air missiles. In another tweet, Sarea said footage of the downing would be released.

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki confirmed in a statement run by the Saudi state news agency Feb. 15 that a jet crashed while on a mission to support government forces.

The statement followed reports about several airstrikes targeting civilian houses in al-Masloub district of al-Jawf province, where the jet crashed, killing dozens of people.

The Houthis blamed the coalition for the airstrikes at the site of the jet crash. The rebel-run Ministry of Health said 35 civilians were killed, including 26 children, and 23 others wounded, including 18 children.

The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA in Yemen confirmed the casualties, saying preliminary field reports indicate that as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit al-Hayjah area of Ala-Maslub district.

UN groups in Yemen, UNICEF and Save the Children, condemned the attack without naming the perpetrator.

My thoughts are with the children and their families impacted by the attack in Al-Jawf," tweeted Sara Nyanti, UNICEF representative in Yemen. This is a shocking reminder that children in Yemen carry the heaviest burden of the conflict.

Following the airstrikes, the coalition said in a statement that a combat search and rescue mission was conducted in the area of the [Tornado jet] crash, adding, Possibility of collateral damage during the search and rescue operation was reported.

Meanwhile, the coalition claimed Feb. 16 that the crew ejected before the warplane crashed, but that Houthis opened fire on them. Their fate remains unknown. The coalition said in a statement it holds the terrorist al-Houthi militia responsible for the lives and well-being of the Tornado aircrew.

Local news outlets published images shared by Houthi activists on social media of one of the pilots with blood on his face. Al-Monitor couldnt verify the image independently.

Houthi official spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam tweeted Feb. 15: As usual, when the reckless Saudi-American aggression fails and receives painful strikes in the fields of military confrontation, it takes a very heavy and foolish approach to target civilians, in reference to the airstrikes in al-Masloub district.

He warned in another tweet, Our Yemeni people will not leave the criminal to continue his aggression, and God willing will not let him sleep soundly.

This threat came before the reports about reaching a prisoner swap deal. In a Feb. 16 tweet, Abdul Salam said, 1,400 prisoners will be released, including Saudis and Sudanese.

According to Al Jazeera, the consultations between the government and rebels were co-chaired by the office of the UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the past seven days. Representatives from the Saudi-UAE-led coalition also attended the talks, the UN said.

Al-Masdar Online cited an unnamed UN source as saying that among the detainees to be exchanged are four senior government officials, including former Defense Minister Gen. Mahmoud al-Subaihi. A UN Security Council resolution issued in April 2015 had demanded Houthis to release Subaihi.

For his part, Abdul Qader al-Murtada, head of the Houthis' National Committee for Prisoners' Affairs, said that this deal, according to which 900 Houthi detainees and 520 government detainees will be released  is based on four pillars.

In a Feb. 17 interview with the Houthi-run al-Thawrah newspaper, Murtada said the first phase of the deal requires that all sides approve that there should be a solution to the conflict. The second phase, according to him, consists of implementing the prisoner swap.

Murtada added that the third phase will include the formation of field committees to recover the bodies of victims from all fronts and regions, and the last phase calls for an agreement for holding a new round of consultations on March 23 in Amman, Jordan.

Al-Monitor reached out to ICRC spokesman Fareed Alhomaid on Feb. 19 to comment on whether the parties will exchange final lists of prisoners on Feb. 20, according to the phased release of all conflict-related detainees. Alhomaid declined to comment if there is progress in this regard.

Due to the sensitive nature of this issue and the ongoing work being done, Alhomaid told Al-Monitor via WhatsApp. Further details about the upcoming exchange will not be disclosed at the moment.

Feb. 20 passed with no reports of exchanging the lists or reports of making any move forward amid a media blackout by both parties.

Al-Monitor reached out to the Houthis representative office late Feb. 20 via WhatsApp for a comment on exchanging lists of prisoners for the upcoming release. The office did not respond.

Apparently, the parties are trying to sustain the seriousness and momentum they have gained to release their detainees, a move that hailed by Griffiths Feb. 16, following the signing of the detailed plan.

Today the parties showed us that even with the growing challenges on the ground, the confidence they have been building can still yield positive results, Griffiths said in a statement.

In December 2018, Yemen's warring sides agreed to swap 16,000 detainees. The first meeting for the agreements implementation was held in Amman Jan. 16-19, 2019. But both sides failed to reach an agreement, as they traded accusations over withholding information and providing fake names of detainees.

Like any other agreement signed between Yemens warring sides since the war erupted in 2015, more important than the signing is the implementation on the ground.

Its no different with the most recent swap deal, as the latest military developments threaten its implementation. Hope for its success remains scarce, while the traditional war of words between the warring sides is slowly turning into a war of agreements.
Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools Executive Director Ana Meyers speaks at the Capitol in Harrisburg for National School Choice week in 2019. Read more

Earlier this month, Governor Tom Wolf delivered his annual budget address, which included a slash-and-burn reform plan to cut $280 million from charter school students. This cut is a direct hit to Pennsylvanias public schools, urban and rural, that are desperate for increased funding.

Governor Wolfs budget calls for an additional $100 million in funding for K-12, $25 million for special education, full day kindergarten, a pledge to increase minimum teacher salary and suggests a $200 million investment in scholarships for Pennsylvanians attending state system universities.

But it also includes a devastating hit to the nearly 143,000 charter school students across the state.

Governor Wolf included a hat-tip to charter schools during his address. He noted the importance of their role in providing all parents a choice and boosting competition and innovation within public education. But his proposed changes imply he is more focused on punishing public charter schools rather than ensuring the states neediest students and their families have high-quality, well-funded public school options to choose from.

If Governor Wolfs proposed charter school funding cut is enacted, there is no one who will suffer more than Pennsylvanias most vulnerable students who have been systematically trapped in failing school districts and without the means to move to a better school district or pay for private school tuition.

Charter school advocates and Governor Wolf agree that Pennsylvanias Charter School Law needs an update. The law can be strengthened in several areas, especially as it relates to governance, authorizing and accountability, and, most importantly, equitable student funding.

 READ MORE: Cyber charters transformed my struggling kids. Why do Pa. politicians want to change my choice? | Opinion

In Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Public Charter School Laws, Eleventh Edition, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked the Keystone State 35th out of 45 state charter school laws. This ranking is further evidence of the need for improvements to support increased accountability and equitable funding. When compared to the National Alliances gold standard charter school law, based on 21 critical benchmarks such as accountability, flexibility, and funding equity, we have opportunity for growth if we want to honor Pennsylvania students by having a charter law that leads the nation.

But the truth is that Governor Wolf is not interested in collaborating on meaningful charter school reform that works for both school districts and charter schools. If he were, his administration would have engaged with the public charter school community over the last five years to assist in our efforts to pass bipartisan charter school reforms through the General Assembly.

The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, which I lead, is focused on elevating four bills that passed the PA House in June (House Bills (HB) 355, 356, 357 and 358). These bills cover a wide range of critical improvements, including increasing transparency and accountability, allowing for dual-credit higher education enrollment programs, providing charter schools greater access to school facilities, and streamlining the charter school application and renewal process.

 READ MORE: Which are the best, most improved Philly schools? District reveals them.

All Pennsylvanians must work together to improve the quality of our public education system and a crucial step is to strengthen Pennsylvanias Charter School Law. Updates to this law should promote high-quality public school options for students and accountability for taxpayers. For example, our HB 355 proposes codifying ethics and transparency requirements for charter schools, their administrators, and board of trustees by making all parties subject to the Pennsylvania Ethics Act.

Though the Governor often touts his willingness to bring stakeholders together to collaborate, it seems that invitation only applies to individuals who share his political ideologies. By making draconian cuts to charter school funding, Governor Wolf is proposing a public education system that discriminates against children based on what public school choices their families make, and that is something our Commonwealth cannot stand for.

Charter school students and their families are not second-class citizens. We need Governor Wolf to work with both Democrats and Republicans to reform our Charter School Law and champion equitable funding for all public school students.

Ana Meyers is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS), the states largest and most active organization advocating for brick-and-mortar and cyber charter schools.
Nissan has given the starkest warning yet on the future of the Japanese groups car factories in western Europe, with a plant in the UK threatened by Brexit and another in Spain suffering from a slump in demand.

The Sunderland site in England, which makes models that account for the bulk of European sales, remains under a cloud of uncertainty, Gianluca de Ficchy, chairman of Nissan Europe, said.

Should Britain fail to reach a free-trade agreement with the EU, a resulting 10% tariff on cars and parts could not only spell the demise of the plant, which sends about three-quarters of its output to the continent, but also of Nissans entire European strategy, the executive said.

We would not be viable, he said. We just wouldnt be able to sell our cars.

Nissans latest warning on Sunderland, the UKs biggest car plant, comes after Boris Johnson began talks aimed at hammering out a trade deal with the EU before the end of the year. Adding to the pressure on the Asian manufacturer are declining sales and profitability.

Nissan cut its full-year profit outlook this month and scrapped its year-end dividend payout, with the carmakers stock down about 21% since the start of 2020. A turnaround plan isnt due for another three months.

Sunderland makes the Qashqai, Nissans European best-seller, along with the Juke and the electric Leaf. Mr de Ficchy raised the possibility that the models could be made at partner Renaults plants, but such a production upheaval would be costly and take years to put in place at a time when the car market is becoming increasingly competitive and undergoing a technological shift.

My working hypothesis is to stay in Europe with a factory in England, Mr de Ficchy said. Nissan, nevertheless, sees lower European sales in 2020, mostly due to its model range, and last year opted not to make the X-Trail SUV in Britain.

To encourage a revival, Nissan unveiled a new version of its Juke crossover, aimed at the European market, earlier this month. The same platform is being used by Renault to assemble the latest versions of the Clio supermini and Captur crossover, built across the Channel in France.

In Spain, Nissans Barcelona plant is experiencing a drop in volumes and is a subject that we are examining, Mr de Ficchy said.

Nissan has met Spanish unions to explain a need to review our strategy in Europe including in Barcelona.

- Tara Patel, Bloomberg
File image

United States President Donald Trump will begin his maiden visit to India on February 24.

POTUS (President of the United States), who will be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and a delegation of officials, is scheduled to spend two days in India.

Trump is expected to land in India at around 11.40 am on February 24 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport in Ahmedabad, where he will be greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Your visit is definitely going to further strengthen the friendship between our nations. See you very soon in Ahmedabad, PM Modi tweeted ahead of Trumps arrival.

As per the plan announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Trump will first visit the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad at around 12.15 pm. This will be followed by a Namaste Trump event at 1.05 pm, where the US President will address a mammoth crowd of over one lakh people at the newly-reconstructed Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Next stop will be Agra, Uttar Pradesh where Trump and the First Lady will visit the Taj Mahal at 5.15 pm. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is scheduled to receive Trump at the Agra airport at 4.45 pm.

Soon after his brief visit to the Taj Mahal, Trump will leave for Delhi at 6.45 pm. He is expected to arrive at the capital at 7.30 pm on February 24.

On February 25, the US President will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10.00 am as per protocol. The ceremony will be followed by a visit to Rajghat at 10.30 am, where Trump will pay homage at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

At 11.00 am, there will be a delegation-level meeting between Trump and Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The talks will then be followed by an Exchange of Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the USA and India. MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had previously informed that the two countries plan to have talks around five areas, including trade facilitation, homeland security.

Trump and the First Lady will leave for the United States in the evening of February 25.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 01:04:43|Editor: yan

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TAIPEI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two relatives of the 27th COVID-19 patient in Taiwan were confirmed to be infected Monday, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases to 30, according to the island's epidemic monitoring agency.

The two new cases are the younger son and the wife of the elderly man who was confirmed to be infected with the virus on Sunday, the agency said in a press release.

The younger son of the family, in his 40s, had symptoms of throat irritation on Jan. 29 but did not see the doctor. He was put in quarantine and took the infection test for being in close contact with his father and older brother.

The man had returned from south China's Guangzhou city on Dec. 2 and dined with people having traveled to the mainland during the Spring Festival, the agency said.

The other patient, the wife in her 70s, was diagnosed as acute pharyngitis on Feb. 6 and later visited the hospital several times for respiratory symptoms. She was also put for the COVID-19 test for having close contacts with her husband and son.

The other two members of the family, the father and the elderly son were found to have COVID-19 infection on Sunday, despite neither having recently left Taiwan.

Authorities are still investigating the infection source of this case. A total of 143 people were identified to have had close contacts with the four people, 50 of whom have been cleared.

Also on Monday, the agency announced that the travel alert to the Republic of Korea will be raised from Tuesday and warned the public against traveling there unless absolutely necessary.
Professor Rob Hale of William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science is lead author of a new "Grand Challenges" paper commissioned to mark the 100th anniversary of the American Geophysical Union, the world's largest association of Earth and space scientists with more than 60,000 members in 137 countries.

The paper, "A Global Perspective on Microplastics," is co-authored by VIMS doctoral student Meredith Seeley and senior research scientist Dr. Mark LaGuardia, along with Drs. Lei Mai and Eddy Zeng of Jinan University in Guangzhou, China.

"Microplastics" are microscopic particles fabricated for products like facial scrubs, or produced when physical, chemical, and biological forces break down larger pieces of plastic debris. There has been widespread concern among scientists and the public that these minute synthetic fragments are impacting marine ecosystems.

AGU Executive Director/CEO Chris McEntee says the Grand Challenges "represent a special collection of open-access review papers with the shared goal of transforming Earth and space science to meet the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow. They explore where major research and discovery are needed to address fundamental questions in our understanding of Earth and the solar system."

Not just an ocean problem

The team's paper appears in the January issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, but Hale is quick to stress that microplastics are a concern outside the marine environment as well.

"It's not just an ocean problem," says Hale. "There's growing evidence that microplastics are distributed across the land surface and in the air. We're finally opening up the other boxes and discovering a pretty substantial footprint."

Indeed, the broad nature of the microplastic threat is a main focus of the authors' manuscript. "We stress that microplastics are a global phenomenon that can't be adequately understood or addressed in the context of the marine environment alone," says Hale. "Plastics are produced, used, and discarded on land, and disperse through soils, rivers, and the atmosphere. The cat's already out of the bag if you're talking about dealing with these materials after they've reached the ocean."

The researchers note that the global scope of the issue extends to the social sphere as well. "We have to recognize that microplastic pollution is an international problem that doesn't respect political boundaries," says Seeley. "As with climate change and species management, developed and emerging nations will have to cooperate to find equitable solutions."

Not all plastic is the same

A second goal of the article is to gain broader recognition that "plastic" is a catch-all term for a complex array of materials that vary in chemical composition, size, texture, and shape--including pellets, fragments, and fibers. Adding further complexity is that plastics are often infused with additives, including flame retardants and UV inhibitors, which may themselves have environmental and health impacts.

"People often assume that all plastics are the same and behave identically in the environment," says Hale, "but that isn't the case at all. To resolve key questions and mitigate possible impacts, everyone--manufacturers, scientists, health-care specialists, engineers, economists, policymakers, and others--must collaborate to better understand the composition and nature of plastic products and their additives."

The researchers also stress that the characteristics of microplastics can and do change during and after use. "The complexity of microplastics becomes even more convoluted once they enter the environment and begin to intermingle and weather," says LaGuardia. "We have to better understand these complexities, especially in transition zones such as estuaries."

To gain that understanding, the authors recommend the research community move beyond studies of individual habitats, size ranges, polymer types, or forms; and into more holistic studies of the changing characteristics of microplastics and their impacts on ecosystem health and processes.

A need for better tools

The researchers' third main message is that comprehensive understanding of the microplastics issue, and the most effective responses, will require better analytical tools.

"To understand the real impacts of microplastics," says Hale, "we've got to improve our sampling and analytical capabilities, including the ability to study nanoplastics and weathered materials." Nanoplastics are particles even smaller than microplastics, with sizes ranging from 1 nanometer to 1,000 nanometers or a micron. A strand of DNA is about 2.5 nanometers across.

Hale says current state-of-the-art instruments, such as FTIR and Raman microscopes, "provide really great information when you zero in on a single microplastic particle." The problem, he says, is that many samples contain thousands of different particles, and many of these particles are really, really small.

"There's a disconnect," says Hale. "A lot of our technology can't get down to stuff below 10 microns, and in terms of effects on organisms, we think that smaller particles may be more toxic." Trying to bridge this gap, VIMS recently received funding from the NOAA Marine Debris program to investigate interactions between particles smaller than 10 microns and infectious disease in fish.

Effects on human health?

The authors' concerns regarding microplastics extend to potential impacts on human health.

"There have been concerns about ingesting microplastics from seafood, but the indoor environment is our biggest direct threat," says Hale. "Many people in developed countries spend almost all their time indoors, in spaces that are increasingly air-tight and insulated with things like polystyrene foam. Our exposure to microplastics from breathing and ingesting indoor dust may have toxicological consequences, but there's been very little research."

To address these concerns, Hale and colleagues at VIMS are acquiring a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, which will hopefully allow them to better analyze chemical contaminants associated with microplastics, as well as those found in other environmental samples.

"This will help us start going after all these unknown additives in plastics and open up that Pandora's Box a little better," says Hale. "I think that's where the action really is in terms of human health."

###
By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2020 | 06:27 AM | CALLOWAY COUNTY

A single vehicle crash Saturday in Calloway County left the driver facing charges.

The Calloway County Sheriff's Office says the wreck happened near the 3000 block of Radio Road. The driver, Luis Lemus Ramirez, told deputies that he swerved to miss a deer and lost control of his vehicle.

Ramirez told deputies his vehicle left the road and flipped over onto it's side. Ramirez was able to free himself from the vehicle. He was taken by ambulance to Murray-Calloway County Hospital.

After further investigation, Ramirez was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, operating on a suspended license, failure of non-owner to maintain required insurance and failure to wear a seat belt.
US president Donald Trump, who will reach India on a two-day visit on Monday , is the seventh US president to travel to the country and the first one to land in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. Dwight D Eisenhower, the famous World War general who became president, was the first US President to visit India in 1959.

When Trump arrives in Ahmedabad on Monday, he will become the fourth consecutive American president to visit India, signalling a new bond between two of the largest democracies. Donald Trump, who has visited 20 countries since taking office in 2017, is the only second White House occupant to travel to India in the first term. Barack Obama, who visited India twice, was the first US president to do so in 2010.

The 36-hour long trip of Trump and first lady Melania will start from Ahmedabad where he will be joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an unprecedented roadshow and a historic joint address at mega event "Namaste Trump" in front of a record crowd of more than one lakh people. The visit is likely to significantly ramp up bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the defence and strategic sectors.

Here's a look back at all US presidents who visited India:

1. Dwight D Eisenhower, who served as the US president from 1953 to 1961, was the first US President to visit India in 1959. President Eisenhower's historic visit to India from December 9 to 15 launched the bilateral relationship at an important period just over a decade after India's own independence.

2. Richard Nixon, who resigned due to the Watergate scandal and in the face of impending impeachment, was the second US president to travel to India in 1969 -- almost a decade after Eisenhower. Tensions over US' tacit support for Pakistan and close ties with Pakistani General Yahya Khan loomed over President Richard Nixon's short visit to India from July 31 to August 1, 1969.

3. Jimmy Carter, who served the United States between 1977 to 1981, was the third US president to visit India in January 1978. He was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. President Carter visited India from January 1 to 3, 1978, soon after Janata Party leader Morarji Desai succeeded Indira Gandhi as the prime minister. During his visit, Carter sought to ease tensions between the US and India, which had escalated during the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence and India's 1974 nuclear weapons tests.

4. Bill Clinton, who played an important role in forcing Pakistan to withdraw troops during Kargil war in 1999, was the fourth US president to travel to India in March 2000. Following a period of intense diplomatic engagement with India and Pakistan to deescalate the 1999 Kargil War, Bill Clinton visited India from March 19 to 25, 2000.

5. George W Bush, whose administration helped in finalising civil nuclear deal with India, was the fifth US president to travel to India in 2006. During his visit lasting about two-and-a-half days, Bush and then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh put the finishing touches to the civil nuclear deal.

6. Barack Obama, who shares a good relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was the sixth US president to travel to India and the only one to visit twice, in 2010 and 2015. Obama's first visit to India from November 6 to 9, 2010 elevated the country as a strategic partner and critical focus in the foreign policy pivot to Asia. Obama created history when he visited India for the second time in 2015 the first by a sitting US president from January 24 to 27.

By Chitranjan Kumar with PTI inputs

Also read: India looks forward to welcoming POTUS: PM Modi ahead of Trump's visit

Also read: Donald Trump visit Live Updates: 'See you very soon in Ahmedabad,' PM Modi to POTUS
Pedestrians wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus, in downtown Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

Tehran: Four more people have died of coronavirus in Iran, a spokesman for parliament said on Monday, bringing to 12 the country's overall death toll from the outbreak.

The minister of health announced the deaths of 12 people and 47 cases of infection in the country, Assadollah Abbassi was quoted as saying by semi-official news agency ISNA after a closed session of parliament.

Earlier on Sunday, Irans health minister acknowledged that travel from China brought the new virus to the country.

Saeed Namaki told state TV that the virus came from China to the holy city of Qom in central Iran. He said that one the Iranian dead from the virus was a merchant who regularly shuttled between the two countries using indirect flights in recent weeks, after Iran stopped direct passenger flights to China.

Namaki also defended the governments handling of the outbreak, saying it was being transparent. He said it would help make face-masks and sanitizers available for Iranians, amid concerns that stocks were running low in the capitals pharmacies.

Iran is also producing kits for diagnosis of the infection, he added.
Authorities have identified the man who was killed Sunday in a rollover crash on the far East Side near Interstate 10 and Loop 1604 as 19-year-old Aldo Ray Flores Jr.

Flores was in the back seat of a 2011 GMC Sierra when the crash happened just before 2:30 a.m., according to San Antonio police.

Police are accusing the driver of being intoxicated and said he drove into sand barrels while trying to exit from Loop 1604 to I-10. The vehicle then went over a barrier and fell 25 feet onto the lower level of the highway and rolled several times.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

Police said Flores was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the back window of the Sierra. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver may have gone against the directions his passenger was giving when he decided to exit Loop 1604, according to police.

The front-seat passenger and the driver were taken to University Hospital. Authorities did not provide information on their conditions.

The driver will be booked by proxy for intoxication manslaughter, police said.

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Kuwait Portland Cement records 26% decline in profit

24 February 2020

Kuwait Portland Cement has announced a 26.4 per cent YoY decrease in 2019 profit to KWD7.59m (US$24.88m), compared with KWD10.32m a year earlier. Operating revenue also declined 19.5 per cent to KWD85.23m from KWD105.94m in 2018.

In the 4Q19, the company saw net profit dip 43.6 per cent YoY to KWD1.41m from KWD2.5m in the year-ago period.

Published under
For 29 years Johnstech has been a dedicated financial sponsor of the semiconductor industry supporting international conferences. We value our partnerships and decided to limit our participation in this years events. Our employees are our greatest resource, and due to the coronavirus travel restrictions, as well as the lack of regulations by the American government, we feel that attending these events could put our employees, community of semiconductor test companies, and customers at risk.

Throughout the travel ban, Johnstech Internationals global network has been poised to leverage our local support to customers across Asia while taking precautions to protect the health of our employees and customers. Our offices, distributors, and representatives are strategically placed to partner with you and provide excellent service and support in every country in Asia, Europe, and North America. Please contact your local Johnstech sales representative for additional questions and support.

JOHNSTECH INTERNATIONAL is a global R&D leader in the field of microcircuit testing, providing reliable, cost-effective testing solutions for automotive, commercial, and industrial applications. Founded in 1991 by David Johnson, Johnstech works together with the worlds most respected OSATs, foundries, and EDA companies to develop the most precise and dependable test contactors and test sockets on the marketplace today. For more info, visit http://www.johnstech.com.
SHEBOYGAN, Wis., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dear Members of Congress, FDA Commissioner, and HHS Secretary,

I received the following email from FDA Ombudsman Desta on Feb. 20:

Photo credit Chris Laskey

My Response is An Open Letter to the FDA/HHS/Congress Regarding Faulty Heart Devices

"Your email to FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn dated January 27, 2020, and your email to HHS Secretary Dr. Alex Azar dated February 6, 2020, were forwarded to me for review and response in my capacity as Ombudsman for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. The Agency has reviewed the material you provided, and it does not appear that you have provided new information, which was not previously provided to FDA. I respectfully request that you provide any new information relevant to the safety or efficacy of the dETlogix annuloplasty ring, IMR ETlogix annuloplasty ring, or an Atricure device to me in writing at [email protected] so FDA may properly evaluate the information and make a determination on what action, if any, is warranted."

Below is the information you requested regarding Edwards Lifesciences' McCarthy Myxo ETlogix Ring Model 5100 (Myxo Ring), including a chronology and links to the evidence submitted to the FDA District office in Minneapolis, MN.

I request help for nearly 700 patients who received the device without their consent, prior to FDA registration, clearance and recall. Some have suffered heart attacks, deaths and re-operations to remove the faulty device. Others are still at risk.

The new evidence is a public email from device manufacturer Edwards Lifesciences from 2007 that indicates the device didn't need approval, when, in fact, it did:

"It appears you are looking for information about authority to market the product. It has been marketed in the US since March 2006 pursuant to the FDA's 510k clearance process. That process does not involve issuance of documentation by the FDA."

On June 13, 2019, Edwards Lifesciences testified to the First District Appellate Court of Illinois that the Myxo Ring was FDA approved for use in humans as of 2006, due to the "Justification to File" process  meaning the device had minor changes from an older version and didn't need regulatory approval.

This case involved a patient who suffered a heart attack when the experimental Myxo Ring was implanted. The surgeon had invented the device and didn't tell about the heart attack until years later.

On December 6, 2019, Northwestern University attorneys testified to the Illinois Supreme Court's Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission that the device was approved as of March 2006, based on that three-line email from 2007.

On December 20, 2018, I presented evidence of the Myxo Ring's harm to Minneapolis FDA district office investigators. For 3 1/2 hours, victims and their families testified to the injuries during the safety and efficacy testing. I also presented evidence of 122 safety defects discovered by the company in 2006. The defects required significant device modifications, before the company could announce the official launch onto the US market as disclosed in 2007 to the Security Exchange Commission.

On March 12, 2019, the FDA Media Affairs office confirmed that the investigation was closed. "The FDA has looked into this matter recently and previously, and did not identify issues of concern, and the matter is closed," Deborah Kotz Press Officer. FDA Freedom of Information requests regarding why the investigation was closed were refused by the Chicago FDA district office a few days later.

The Myxo Ring was tested in humans during open heart surgery as reported by the Daily Northwestern in 2019 and published in the Journal of Thoracic Surgeons for the American Society of Thoracic Surgery.

https://www.jtcvs.org/article/S0022-5223(08)00278-X/fulltext

The FDA congressional Office confirmed in 2009, to the Senate Finance Committee, that the Myxo Ring was never FDA approved or cleared for use in humans prior to the date of the letter. In fact, it had been pulled off the shelves.

In 2009, the FDA congressional office wrote to patient Antonitsa Vlahoulis confirming the investigational status of the device, with a promise that Sen. Richard Durbin would be contacting her. That still has not happened.

In 2009, a soon to be FDA employee, Dr. William Maisel testified to the Energy and Commerce Committee, the facts surrounding the testing of the Myxo Ring without Consent and without FDA registration or clearance.

In 2017, the FDA Congressional office confirmed that they were not going to report to the patients the changes in the FDA status of the Myxo ETlogix device, which went on recall and was never formally approved for use in humans for the branding and indications used at the time of the clinical trial. These patients have a fundamental right to know, under the Federal Laws 45CFR46 and 21CFR820.30, and the Federal Wide Assurance signed by Northwestern University FWA 1549, that the device, the Myxo ETlogix Ring Model 5100, for myxomatous disease, implanted in their hearts was classified as investigational by the FDA as of March 2009 and on recall.

https://www.scribd.com/document/442173802/FDA-July-2017

As a former investigator and an ARRA awardee, I hold a life-long reporting responsibility under Federal HHS reporting laws. The hospital, university, device manufacturer and FDA have a federal responsibility to review the evidence and inform the nearly 700 patients about this device's experimental status and any ongoing risks and harm as recently published in 2019 by the student newspaper the Daily Northwestern.

Thank you for your hard work on behalf of the citizens of the United States of America.

Respectfully,

Nalini M. Rajamannan, MD

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Cardiology and Valvular Institute.

Adjunct Visiting Scientist Mayo Clinic Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Dr. Nalini Rajamannan is a heart valve expert in the field of cardiovascular medicine. She earned her undergraduate science pre-professional degree from the University of Notre Dame, her Medical Doctorate from Mayo Medical School and her post-graduate training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the Mayo Clinic and Research Fellowship on the NIH training Grant. She also worked at the Mayo Clinic as a staff consultant in Internal Medicine and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University and the Lakeside and Westside VA. Currently, she practices consultative valvular medicine and Osteocardiology at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Cardiology and Valvular Institute, WI.

Press Contact

Oscar Delgado

Press Officer for Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Cardiology and Valvular Institute

Former NBC Bureau Chief Latin America

773-573-6890

[email protected]

Related Files

+IHS_Senator Grassley-2-24-2020_Final.pdf

+Page 5_Testimony_Maisel_Energy_Commerce_2009.pdf

Related Images

dr-rajamannan-goes-to-washington.jpg

Dr. Rajamannan goes to Washington DC to present Evidence to FDA/HHS/Congress

Photo credit Chris Laskey

Related Links

Senate Finance Committee Investigation

NBC26 Interviews patients

SOURCE Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Cardiology and Valvular Institute
NORTHAMPTON  A Northampton father, convicted of poisoning his 7-year-old daughter with a drain cleaner, was sentenced on Monday to serve between 16 and 18 years in prison.

Judge Richard Carey handed down the sentence for Christopher Conley, 37, after a jury on Friday found Conley guilty of attempted murder, assault and battery on a child by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a child causing substantial bodily injury.

The jury found him guilty of the April 2015 assault in which he injected Liquid-Plumr into his daughters cecostomy tube, and then gave her an overdose of pain medication. A cecostomy tube is a type of catheter that is used to flush out the intestines.

Two days after she was administered the Liquid-Plumr, doctors at the hospital performed surgery on the girl for seven hours, removing two-thirds of her small bowel. She then underwent a second surgery in which a third of her bladder was removed.

Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Linda Pisano recommended that Conley be sentenced to 16-18 years for the attempted murder charge, to be followed by consecutive sentences of eight to 10 years on the other charges. She called Conleys actions barbaric and said the daughter would have a lifetime of health issues as a result of the attempt to kill her.

Conleys attorneys asked for a 7-year sentence.

Carey rejected the defenses request, saying that Conleys actions required a drastic upward departure from Massachusetts sentencing guidelines.

Noting Conleys lack of a prior criminal record, Carey said he would request the state Department of Correction allow Conley to serve his sentence at the Hampshire County House of Corrections rather than at a state prison.

He was given credit for 891 days  nearly 2 years  which he has spent in custody awaiting trial.

The trial lasted 11 days and the jury deliberated for about a day before issuing a verdict Friday.

Conleys ex-wife, Julie Conley of Northampton, who was also charged, is scheduled to go on trial March 9.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 18:39:38|Editor: huaxia

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Forced cancellation of offline events, stagnation of market sales, disruption of supply chains, and delayed return of tens of thousands of workers -- the challenges posed by the coronavirus epidemic on Chinese enterprises are unprecedented. Chinese tech firms have taken decisive and speedy measures with strong resolution to cope with the sudden changes in the production and market environment, demonstrating their resilience in the face of the difficulties and uncertainties.



by Xinhua writers Wang Pan, Ma Xiaocheng, Zhou Qiang and Chen Yuxuan

GUANGZHOU, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Forced cancellation of offline events, stagnation of market sales, disruption of supply chains, and delayed return of tens of thousands of workers, the challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus epidemic on Chinese tech firms are unprecedented.

Taking decisive and speedy measures with strong resolution to cope with the sudden changes in the production and market environment, Chinese tech firms have demonstrated their resilience in the face of the difficulties and uncertainties.

FACING CHALLENGES

Wearing a face mask and jeans, China's tech giant Xiaomi's founder and CEO Lei Jun stood in front of a large screen and launched the smartphone maker's flagship product MI 10 via an online-only event on Feb. 13.

It was an unexpected move and also marked the company's first time to unveil its flagship smartphone online. The company had planned to hold an offline event attended by 3,000 people in Beijing, but was forced to cancel it due to the growing concern over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

With a rapid response, Xiaomi managed to move the event from offline to online. Within one minute of the online event, the sales of the new product hit 200 million yuan (28.4 million U.S. dollars).

"This is a special launch at a special time," said Lei. "Our lives can be affected by the epidemic, but never be defeated."

Like Xiaomi, many smartphone makers in China have switched to "crisis mode" soon after the coronavirus outbreak. OPPO, one of the world's top five smartphone makers by sales volume last year, also planned to launch its new products online.

Chen Mingyong, founder and CEO of OPPO, said although the outbreak resulted in the cancellation of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) which had been scheduled to be held on Feb. 24 in Barcelona of Spain, the company would unveil its 5G flagship smartphone Find X2 and its first smart watch product online in early March.

Staff wearing masks work at the factory of OPPO in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 13, 2020.(Xinhua)

"Although our business has been affected by the outbreak in 2020, we will still gain more shares in markets that we have already entered, further explore the markets in Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Belgium and Romania, and enter the Latin American market with a foothold in Mexico. We are confident of maintaining the steady operation of our global business," said Chen.

Vivo, another major smartphone maker headquartered in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan, Guangdong Province, like OPPO, will unveil its 5G flagship phone iQOO online. After the outbreak, the firm initiated an emergency response and updated its employees on prevention measures in the fight against the virus. For customers who have ordered phones online, it disinfected the phones before delivering them by mail.

Telecom giant Huawei told Xinhua that it has provided 5G platforms and aided the construction of Huoshenshan and Leishenshan, two newly built major makeshift hospitals in Wuhan, epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. As of Saturday, Huawei has resumed 90 percent of its production capacity.

A Huawei engineer assists setting monitors for hospital wards in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2020.(Xinhua)

EXPLORING NEW OPPORTUNITIES

While the coronavirus outbreak poses challenges to supply chains, sales, and employees' safety, Chinese tech companies are striving to turn challenges into opportunities.

Gree Electric Appliances, a leading home appliance manufacturer in China, suffered a great hit from the epidemic. Its factory in Wuhan was closed, stores were frozen, and even online sales were stalled as delivery and installation services were disrupted. However, the company sees opportunities in the surging demand for thermometers, air purifiers and face masks, and accelerates the R&D and production of those products.

"The difficulties are here. Instead of sitting and watching revenue slide, we are doing whatever we can," said Dong Mingzhu, Gree's chairwoman.

Thanks to the accumulation of core technologies, the company was able to react quickly to consumers' demands. For example, it developed 60 moulds for thermometers within 10 days to meet the market demand. Based on its previously developed anti-virus air purifier, it is developing an air purifier that can kill coronavirus. The product is under testing in some hospitals in Wuhan, and will soon be put into large production.

Ping An Insurance Group, a leading financial firm that witnessed its emerging technology business grows 27.1 percent year on year to about 82.1 billion yuan in 2019, is another firm that sees opportunities over challenges.

Du Peng, deputy Party secretary of the group, said that the company has been trying to use technology to tackle social management challenges in recent years. He said that though the epidemic has posed challenges to city management, it has spurred the demand for online government and medical services. After the outbreak of the epidemic, the Smart City Business Department of Ping An developed an online AI system that can help doctors diagnose coronavirus infected patients faster.

"The outbreak further demonstrates the scarcity of medical resources in China, but we can alleviate the problem by using technology," said Du. "Although the shock is grave, it also presses the fast-track button of building smart cities in China, and boosts the wider applications of smart technologies."

Employees of OPPO line up for temperature tests before getting on a chartered bus transfering them from Yulin of south China's Guangxi to their factory location in Guangdong, south China, Feb. 21, 2020.(Xinhua)

CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE

Business executives and academics of the high-tech field in China have reached a consensus that the epidemic cannot change the long-term development trend of China's economy.

Wu Xiaobo, professor of innovation and strategic management with Zhejiang University, called on people to have a rational understanding of the aftershock of the outbreak, which is an economy difficulty caused by a sudden non-economic event, different from the regular economic crisis.

"Thus, it has not, and will not disrupt the industrial chain and demand supply chain. From a mid- and long-term perspective, China's economy will be undoubtedly back on track, and the trend of consumption upgrade will not cease," Wu said.

Li Yunfei, deputy general manager of the new energy automobile manufacturer BYD, said that in the long run, China's economy is strong and resilient, the short-term impact of the epidemic will wane, and China's share of the world economy will rise steadily.

"If we look back to 2003, the automobile consumption reached a small peak after the SARS epidemic had ended. We are confident in the sales bounce after this epidemic, and are carrying out our plans orderly," Li said.

The company is set to launch a series of innovative products, including a new kind of automobile battery that can achieve a great leap in safety, performance and lifespan, and a new mode of car called Han based on this battery.

Zeng Qinghong, chairman of Guangzhou Automobile Group, another major automobile manufacturer headquartered in the Pearl River Delta, said the company suffered a sales decline of 15 percent year-on-year in January, but that could be largely explained by the one-week reduction of workdays last month as this year's Spring Festival holiday falls in the month. He said the domestic demand for automobiles is still robust.

"The impact of the epidemic is real, but we could offset the impact by working around the clock," said Zeng. "The difficulties are temporary, we have strong confidence that we can achieve high-quality development."

(Xinhua reporters Jing Huaiqiao, Qiang Lijing also contributed to the story; Video reporters: Wang Ruiping, Huang Guobao; Video editor: Peng Ying)
The Minority in Parliament has explained their reason for walking out of Parliament when President Akufo-Addo was about to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.



At a press conference, they outlined reasons for their action which include the fact that Akufo-Addo is a tyrant.



The Progressive People's Party (PPP) Director of Operations, Nana Ofori Owusu is asking whether the Minority achieved their aim.



After walking out did you get what you want?, he asked.



Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show, 'Kokrokoo' Nana Ofori Owusu said since there were invited dignitaries in the Chamber, the minority should have chosen another forum to express their grievance instead of walking out and bring shame to the country.



"The issues raised for their walkout keeps changing . . . I dont think that was the right forum to do what they did," he indicated.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
JUBA  South Sudans President Salva Kiir appointed former rebel leader Riek Machar as the countrys first vice president on Friday, a day after the two men agreed to form a government of national unity.

Oil-rich South Sudan secured independence from its northern neighbor Sudan in 2011 but plunged into civil war two years later. The fighting claimed an estimated 400,000 lives and sparked the biggest refugee crisis since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

The conflict was triggered by Kiirs sacking of his then-deputy Machar, who proceeded to form a rebel faction against the government.

I President Salva Kiir Mayardit, president of South Sudan, do hereby issue a decree for the appointment of Dr. Riek Machar Teny as first vice president of South Sudan with immediate effect, said a statement read on state television.

On Thursday, the former rivals agreed to create a unity government before a February 22 deadline, paving the way for todays appointment.

A previous November 12 deadline was pushed back as key aspects of a 2018 peace agreement, including agreements on the number of states and unification of the army, had not been met.

This led the United States to impose sanctions on some political leaders.

But last Saturday, Kiir agreed to reduce the number of states to 10 from 32, a crucial opposition demand.

Other components of the peace agreements remain outstanding. Kiir said on Thursday that they would be finalised in the coming days.

Machar is due to be sworn into office on Saturday, alongside three other vice presidents appointed to their roles on Friday.

Kiir also dissolved the countrys cabinet. He appointed a new minister of presidential affairs and a national security advisor. The rest of the cabinet is expected to be named on Saturday.

This story is courtesy of Reuters

Related
China has warned its citizens not to travel to the United States due to the 'excessive measures' Washington has taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Chinese tourists have received unfair treatment repeatedly in America as a result, Beijing claimed today.

The coronavirus epidemic has killed at least 2,628 people, infected more than 79,700 and spread to at least two dozen countries.

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism also cited the 'domestic security situation' in the US as a reason for the travel warning today. The picture shows passengers wear face masks arriving on a flight from Asia at Los Angeles International Airport, California, on February 2

Chinese health officials have said the virus likely emerged from a market in the central city of Wuhan that sold wild animals as food. The disease has killed at least 2,628 people globally

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism also cited the 'domestic security situation' in the US as a reason for the travel warning.

'The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reminds Chinese tourists to effectively raise safety awareness and be sure not to travel to the United States,' the Ministry said in a statement.

The authority did not explain what kind of treatment Chinese tourists were given.

The US has temporarily barred entry to foreign nationals, other than the immediate family of US citizens and permanent residents, who have travelled in China within the last 14 days.

'The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reminds Chinese tourists to effectively raise safety awareness and be sure not to travel to the United States,' the Ministry said in a statement. Pictured, a security guard wearing a mask and protective gear measures a visitor's body temperature at the entrance to a bank in Guangzhou, China, on February 24

A man gets his temperature checked outside a barricade where community members control who comes in and out of a residential street on February 24 in Beijing, China

A woman wearing protective gear picks up mail outside of an apartment compound in Beijing

Originating in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the new coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - has infected more than 77,340 people inside China and 79,700 globally.

The public panic surrounding the virus has led to several attacks on those who look East Asian in the United States.

Earlier this month, a man was filmed attacking a woman wearing a face mask on the New York City subway and calling her a 'diseased b****'. Police were treating the case as a possible hate crime motivated by coronavirus fears.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese-American beauty blogger Michelle Phan had to remind her followers 'I'm American' as she hit back at the racist comments she had received.

Phan, 32, tweeted her disgust at the messages which accused Asian people of 'starting all sorts of diseases' because they 'eat creatures left, right and center'.

So far, 35 people in the United States have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. No deaths have been reported.

The news comes as Moscow ordered police to raid hotels, dorms, apartment buildings and businesses in search of Chinese people as Russia attempts to stem the spread of coronavirus.

It also comes as 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'.

An Italian soldier with a gun stands guard today outside the Duomo cathedral in Milan, which has been shut to tourists over coronavirus fears - as Italy confirmed its fourth death today

Masked Italian soldiers stand outside the Duomo cathedral amid a growing virus outbreak

Italian armed personnel talk to drivers near Casalpusterlengo where one of the patients died

Tourists wearing masks walk across St Mark's Square in Venice with the city's carnival derailed

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 The University of Queensland in Australia.

Workers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at a market in Bupyeong, South Korea

South Korean tourists leaving Israel are pictured at a pavillon separated from the main terminal of Ben Gurion International Airport

Viruses vary in how they infect. Unlike its cousins SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), the new coronavirus 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.'
Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov has visited the Ukrainian Secondary School in Riga as part of his visit to Latvia, the Ukrainian parliament's press service has reported.

"I have absolutely no feeling that I am on a business trip outside Ukraine because a very good, pure Ukrainian language is heard everywhere. I visited many educational institutions in our country and abroad, but this is the first time that I visit a Ukrainian school that is successfully developing abroad. This is a great achievement, and I understand that the road to creating such a school was definitely not easy," Razumkov said.

The speaker also thanked the institution's management and teaching staff for their effective work over many years.

He also noted the school's important role in the upbringing of children.

"It depends on today's schoolchildren what Ukraine and Europe will be like in the future. Therefore, it is very important for children to be able to live and learn at the crossroads of several cultures, to learn their parents' language on a par with Latvian. It broadens the outlook and at the same time fosters love and respect for the native state," Razumkov said.

Razumkov is on an official visit to Latvia and Estonia on February 24-26.

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This spring, Michelle Cahill brings her solo performance Thirteen Steps to the Attic to Backstage Theatre.

Exploring intimacy between Him and Her, connected by words on a page; interspersed with moments of tenderness and humour, Thirteen Steps to the Attic is a multi-layered montage of movement and text performed with a live sound-score and recorded tracks from the eclectic band Thieves of Silence.

In an attic, in a house, with only letters for company, a woman takes a precarious step into the vibrancy of her imagination.

Based on a true story, the show is a dynamic meditation on the body as the conduit of memory and how we feel our past, rather than just remember it, according to An Ait Eile.

In 2015, Michelle returned to Yorkshire after a break of 14 years. She found herself standing in the house in which shed once lived.

In an instant, a life flashed before her eyes, momentarily situated in the past and present, memories of Him and Her, secrets, a box of letters.

This experience was the impulse to create her first solo show with director Rowan Tolley. Thirteen Steps to the Attic premiered in Cork 2018, then went on to Galway Theatre Festival (May 2018) and Smock Alley Theatre, (Dublin 2019).

Performer Michelle Cahill studied dance-theatre and performance in Yorkshire, London and Limerick. She was awarded an Arts Council bursary and a scholarship to study at Trinity LABAN, London, graduating in 1999.

She worked in the UK and Spain before returning to Ireland in 2001. Her performance work over the past 20 years spans theatre, dance and film.

Thirteen Steps to the Attic is her first full-length solo show. Michelle is also the programme coordinator at Shawbrook, Longford since 2012.

Thirteen Steps to the Attic comes to Backstage on Wednesday, Feb 26 at 8pm. Tickets 16/14 available on 043 33 47888, from Farrell Coy or online on backstage.ie
London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is not a free-speech champion but an ordinary criminal whose publication of secret documents put many people at risk of torture and death, a lawyer for the US government said on Monday as Assange's extradition hearing opened in a London court.

Assange's lawyer countered that the Australian computer expert was being victimised as a result of the "declaration of war on leakers and journalists" by the administration of President Donald Trump.

US authorities want to try Assange on espionage charges over the 2010 publication of hundreds of thousands of secret military documents and diplomatic cables. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

Lawyer James Lewis, representing the US government, called WikiLeaks' 2010 document deluge "one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States."
Shares of GMR Infrastructure on Monday surged over 12 per cent after the CCI gave approval for the GMR group's proposed 49 per cent stake sale in its airport business to France's Groupe ADP.

The stock hit a high of Rs 26.55, up 12.5 per cent, on the BSE. Later, it shed some gains to trade higher by 10.81 per cent at Rs 26.15.

On the NSE, the scrip was trading at Rs 26.30, up 11.21 per cent.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Friday gave approval for GMR group's proposed 49 per cent stake sale in its airport business to France's Groupe ADP.

The regulator's clearance is through the green channel, which allows for an automatic system for speedy approval of combinations, subject to certain conditions.

On Thursday, GMR Infrastructure had said the French group would acquire 49 per cent stake in its airport business for Rs 10,780 crore, a deal that will help the domestic entity reduce its debt burden.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The anti-CAA protests have gained huge attention from domestic and foreign media alike. Several major international publications have featured featuring reports on the ongoing protests and resultant police action on their front pages.

On Sunday, hundreds of anti-CAA protesters, who according to several reports, were mostly women, blocked a road near the Jaffrabad metro station, which connects Seelampur with Maujpur and Yamuna Vihar. This was when the Supreme Court-mandated team of interlocutors were in talks with organisers of the Shaheen Bagh protest to amicably resolve the issue, the most pressing concern being that the two-month agitation has impeded traffic in the area.

On Sunday anti-CAA protesters blocked a new road which was confronted by the group opposing such blockades. As reported by the Business Standard, Tension simmered in the area after hundreds of anti-CAA protesters, mostly women, blocked a road near the Jaffrabad metro station, which connects Seelampur with Maujpur and Yamuna Vihar.

The report also quoted a woman, who identified herself as Bushra, saying that till the time the CAA was not revoked, the protesters would not leave the site.

Perhaps the answer can be found in US president Donald Trumps maiden visit to India.

It was a clear attempt to gain President Trumps attention. And, what added to this ploy was the fact that a loudmouth political leader decided to confront these protesters with a counter-protest.

On Sunday following the anti-CAA protesters that blocked the road near the Jaffrabad metro station, BJP leader Kapil Mishra reached Jaffrabad with his supporters after which clashes erupted between pro and anti-CAA protesters in the area.

Mishra later tweeted, We have given a three-day ultimatum to the Delhi Police to get the road cleared. Get the Jaffrabad and Chandbagh (where another sit-in protest is underway) road cleared. In his speech, Mishra said, They (referring to protesters) want to create trouble in Delhi. Thats why they have closed the roads. Thats why they have created a riot-like situation here. We have not pelted any stones. Till the US president is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully. After that we wont listen to you (referring to police) if the roads are not vacated.

While Mishra acknowledged the fact that any violence during the visit of the American president would not be in the best interest of his government, however, at the same time, he fell in the trap laid by the protesters.

Gaining headlines in international media is an efficient means of internationalising domestic issues and thereby exerting pressure on the government.

In August 2018, following the arrest of Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, and P Varavara Rao for allegedly inciting violence in the Bhima Koregaon early that year, author Arundhati Roy marked the arrest as preparation for the coming elections and declaration of emergency a comment that was hugely reported in international media.

Similarly, following the abrogation of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, journalist Rana Ayyub made several comments targeting India government which garnered much international attention, including from the Pakistani government

In an interview given to Time, Ayyub had remarked, Kashmiri voices have been silenced, democratic leaders have been censored. Its the first time since the Emergency that two democratic leaders from mainstream parties have been placed under house arrest.

In the weeks following abrogation of Article 370 and then after the passage of Citizenship Amendment Act, a host of Indian activists selectively spoke and wrote for international media in an attempt to internationalise these issues.
A N3.6 billion contract awarded to Adda Nigeria Limited to supply official vehicles to Bauchi government officials included vehicles already purchased and paid for by the government.

PREMIUM TIMES has investigated how the Bauchi governor, Bala Mohammed, awarded the contract to a company in which he is a director, in clear violation of federal code of conduct laws and the states procurement law.

In addition to being a director in the company, Adda Nigeria Limited is also being controlled by Mr Mohammeds close ally, Abdullahi Yari.

In September, the governor approved the contract for the supply of 105 vehicles for top government officials, legislators and judges. Officials familiar with the deal and documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES indicate that the contract was actually awarded earlier than September.

The government did not fully account for how the 105 vehicles would be shared and who benefit from them.

A document obtained by PREMIUM TIMES show that under the contract the governor will get two Land Cruiser V8 jeep with a contract value of N49 million each.

The deputy governor will also get a Prado jeep V8 at N49 million.

For the secretary to the state government (SSG), a Prado jeep V6 valued at N39 million was ordered. In addition to the SAG, the party chairman, who holds no official government position was scheduled to receive a similar car.

A similar vehicle is also slated for use as convoy lead car and one other for use as Convoy H.Es guest.

The bill of quantity also shows a purchase of 31 Prado jeep V6 for the 31 members of the states House of Assembly.

Twenty commissioners were also billed to get black Toyota Camry, without giving further specifics. Deputy chairman of the states ruling party, according to the document, will also get a similar vehicle.

Chevrolet 2018 vehicles were also ordered for 27 judges in the state, costing tax payers N1.02 billion.

Dubious duplication

Evidence found by PREMIUM TIMES show that prior to the award of the procurement, the state government had bought at least four sets of the same vehicles.

Records of the state governments contracts for 2019 obtained by this newspaper show at least four instances of the purchase of exotic vehicles between May and and September, 2019.

In the runoff to the handover, the outgoing government on May 9, 2019 issued contract for the supply of vehicles at the sum of N75,757,000 to Westwood Motors Limited. The purpose of the vehicles were not stated.

In a May 20 contract to the same company, the outgoing administration ordered for new vehicles for use of the incoming governor and his deputy. The vehicles cost N419,055,000.

On July 10, at the heat of crisis in the states House of Assembly, Mr Mohammeds government awarded two contracts for the supply of vehicles for use of members of the state House of Assembly.

One of the contracts was awarded to Web-Mag Services Ltd at N238,300,000.

The other one, awarded Bagah International Limited at the cost of N75,870,000, was for the supply of Toyota Land Cruiser V8 and one 2018 Toyota Hilux van.

Adda Nigeria Limited was also awarded a separate contract in September of that year to supply two Toyota Camry V6 at the cost of N72,555,000.

Curiously, the N3.6 billion vehicle supply contract for Adda Nigeria Limited is omitted from the awarded contracts for the year.

A spokesperson of the governor, Mukhtar Gidado said he was unaware of the earlier purchase.

You know I didnt join the government from May (2019) so I wouldnt know, he told PREMIUM TIMES through telephone on Wednesday.

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But a staff working at the Bauchi Government House who is not authorised to speak confirmed the delivery of the new vehicles for the governor, his deputy and a few officials immediately Mr Mohammed came to office.
In an unprecedented move, China on Monday postponed the annual session of Parliament from March 5 due to the coronavirus outbreak, state media reported as the country grapples with the deadly virus that has claimed over 2,500 lives and infected more than 77,000 people.

IMAGE: Experts from China and the World Health Organization joint visit the Wuhan Tongji Hospital in Wuhan in Hubei province. Photograph: Reuters

The ruling Communist Party of China showcases its political clout in the annual Parliament session.

The country's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met here and approved a draft decision on postponing the NPC's annual session due to coronavirus, China Global Television Network TV reported.

The third annual session of the 13th NPC, one of China's biggest political events, was originally planned to open on March 5 in Beijing.

The death toll climbed to 2,592 with 150 new fatalities while the total number of confirmed cases increased to over 77,000, health officials said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the China-World Health Organisation joint expert team visited Hubei Province, epicentre of the 'COVID-19' outbreak over the weekend to conduct field investigations, health officials said.

Every year, the NPC and the top advisory body Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which together have over 5,000 members in their ranks, meet during March to approve the government's annual agenda including the budget.

But the coronavirus outbreak continues to be a major concern.

The NPC and CPPCC together constitute the biggest political event in China.

IMAGE: Shared bicycles and barricades block the way in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Reuters

Though Chinese officials claim that the intensity of the epidemic is coming down, the ruling CPC is averse to expose thousands of its top cadre to the virus which has not been brought under control.

The postponement of the NPC, which is often viewed as a rubber-stamp parliament for its routine approval of the CPC proposals, is regarded as an unprecedented move.

The CPC considers the two sessions as a significant political events to adopt its national agenda, including the annual budgets and formulate new laws.

Chinse analysts said the postponement of the two sessions is very unusual in the history of the Party, which has not been seen since the country's reform and opening-up, state run Global Times reported.

It's also unknown when the two sessions will be rescheduled as it depends on how the epidemic prevention and control work evolves, especially when there has been no inflection point of the epidemic in sight yet, Zhuang Deshui, deputy director of the Research Centre for Government Integrity-Building at Peking University, told the paper.

The proposal to delay the sessions indicates that the central government puts epidemic prevention and control work as its top priority, showing its highly responsible stance not only to the Chinese people but also to the world, Zhuang told the daily earlier.

According to the Constitution and relevant laws, the NPC meets once a year and is convened by the NPC Standing Committee. The decision to postpone the session is taken by the NPC Standing Committee.
WINDHOEK, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Some Namibian experts say that the Chinese government has been doing well in controlling the spread of the coronavirus while at the same time promoting social and economy development.

The Chinese government's control of the virus not to spread to African countries is fruitful, said clinical psychologist Shaun Whittaker.

"So far we have not recorded any deaths due to the virus in the Southern African Development Community(SADC) countries. That is a sign that the Chinese government has informed and educated us on time and with right message about the virus. I am pleased to say that the government did exceptionally well. On the other hand we also need to congratulate the African governments for supporting each other to fight the further spread of the virus especially if it comes to border controls," he said.

Whittaker added that running a government effectively amid the disease outbreak is not easy but the Chinese government did not back down for constantly promoting economic growth and social development.

Political commentator in the University of Namibia, Ndumba Kamanya, has said that Chinese government has managed to stay focus beside challenges it faces.

"We need to be mindful about the fact that we are lucky to have the Chinese as our bilateral partners in some sectors such as the health sector. We should thank them for even informing the rest of the world about the outbreak on time. " he said.
Locals, foreigners upset as Raj Ghat memorial closes for visitors ahead of Trump's visit

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 24: The entry of local and foreign visitors to Rajghat was prohibited on Monday ahead of the scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, officials said.

Trump would visit Rajghat on Tuesday to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Those turned away from the memorial included a group of 18 tourists from Ireland, who arrived on a bus as part of a guided tour of the national capital.

Visitors said they were "disappointed" because of the "unannounced" closure of the memorial. "I was hoping to spend some time here. I had come here after checking on Google, which showed Rajghat is open today till 6 pm," said Manish, a local, who first dropped his younger sister at her examination centre in Chandni Chowk.

Terror sanctuaries along Durand Line must be closed: Modi to tell Trump

"I thought while my sister took her board exam, I'll stay here till 1 pm and then return home with her. On my way to Rajghat, I had also checked spending time at the Red Fort but that too appeared was locked down for visitors. It's disappointing," said Manish, who works for a private company in Gurgaon but had taken a day off.

Mohammad Taufeeq, a native of Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh, had arrived at the site with his daughter Alizah and nephew Adnan but the trio, like several others, was unaware of the entry restrictions. "I have come to Delhi to stay for a few days for treatment of my daughter's tumour at AIIMS. It's a nice, sunny morning so I thought maybe the kids can spend some time playing and I'll visit the memorial. But that's not happening now," he told PTI.

Several others, including women and college-going youth, arrived at Rajghat, on the banks of River Yamuna, but only to get turned away by security officials, who informed them about the closure. "Visitors are not allowed today and tomorrow.

Only officials working at Rajghat are being allowed," a security official deployed at the entry gate told PTI, adding the press was also barred entry. Heavy security was in place around Rajghat on Monday, even as dog squads and a bomb disposal squad remained at work inside the premises along with other personnel.

The municipal corporation was also leaving no stone unturned in preparation for Trump's visit. The service lane outside the Rajghat was being cleaned by tankers of the municipal corporation while labourers were busy clearing stones, pebbles and even heaps of dust along the road.

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Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 12:42 [IST]
Global tech giant Microsoft's chief executive Satya Nadella on Monday urged Indian businessmen to keep inclusivity at the centre of their digital technology pursuits

Mumbai: Global tech giant Microsoft's chief executive Satya Nadella on Monday urged Indian businessmen to keep inclusivity at the centre of their digital technology pursuits.

Nadella said the last decade has seen the advent of connected technologies through mobile but rued that only aggregators have made the most out of the opportunity, and underlined that there is a case for broadening of the productivity gains.

The India-born Nadella made the remarks while addressing a CEO summit organised by his company as part of a three-day visit to the country. The speech, which came in the backdrop of Nadella's disappointment with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), did not have any political overtones.

The 30-minute speech focused heavily on the way forward on technology and was peppered with real-life examples of Microsoft's work with Indian companies.

Addressing the CEOs, Nadella said, "When you build tech intensity, you also got to consider how is what you are doing with digital technology driving more inclusive economic growth?"

He added that "stakeholder capitalism" is very important in a multi-constituent world.

Leaders need to be ready to adapt to technological changes as quickly as possible, while they build the tech capabilities, Nadella said.

In the decade gone by, we understood the importance of consumer economy, he said, wondering if it is the "only economy".

"The business model which was most successful during that period (last decade) was the aggregator business model or the market places. Is that enough? clearly not!" he said, making a case for a cross-sectoral impact of technology which will broaden the productivity gains.

"To me, it boils down to how every organisation in India can ride this wave, build their own tech intensity," he said.

While giving the example of an artificial intelligence powered safety system being implemented by online cab aggregator Ola, Nadella said "driver safety and road safety in India is going to be a massive issue".

He said all the companies that are deploying technology in their processes need to create trust among stakeholders in aspects such as maintaining privacy or using artificial intelligence only for ethical purposes.

The nature of tech jobs is changing, making re-skilling an important aspect, he said.

Stating that tech is getting used more broadly by all companies now, Nadella cited data from its professionals' networking site, Linkedin, which says 72 percent of the jobs available for software engineers were in non-technology companies.

Nadella asked companies to be wary of cyber security risks, adding that compromises have resulted in losses of $1 trillion on this account.

He also cited a focused attack on 11,000 devices in north India carried out to do blockhain mining while citing a domestic instance.

The companies whose case studies got cited by Nadella included Piramal Glass, Ola, Narayana Health and also Reliance Industries.

He said the partnership with Reliance will be a "defining" one for the next decade.
AUSTIN  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive New York congresswoman, is wading into the Texas Senate race, backing longtime labor organizer Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez  and bucking the Washington, D.C., establishment thats supporting decorated Air Force pilot MJ Hegar.

Its the latest endorsement for Tzintzun Ramirez, who has sought to stand out as an unapologetic progressive in the crowded Democratic race to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. The Austin-based advocate for the rights of workers and immigrants who supports Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and wants to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement, received the support of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, earlier this week.

Know the candidates: Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide; San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide

Its not the first Texas race Ocasio-Cortez has waded into. Shes also backing Jessica Cisneros, a 26-year-old immigration attorney trying to tackle U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar from the left. Cisneros is supported by Justice Democrats, a progressive group that backed Ocasio-Cortezs insurgent run in 2018.

Tzintzun Ramirez and Cisneros are part of a new brand of Texas Democrat more closely aligned with Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren than Joe Biden, who argue that a key to turning the state blue will be reaching voters who have not made a habit of voting in the past, especially young and minority voters who they believe can be energized by an unflinching progressive message.

The endorsements are part of a new effort by Ocasio-Cortez to support female progressives through a political action committee shes creating to act as a counter to the Democratic establishment in Washington, which she announced on Friday.

Its important for us to create mechanisms of support because so much of what is happening in Washington is driven by fear of loss, she said in an interview with the New York Times. We can really create an ecosystem that makes people more comfortable into making the leap to make politically courageous choices.

I have spent my career fighting against corporations with powerful lobbyists by mobilizing working people, and I believe in the power of us to create change, Tzintzun Ramirez said in a statement. When I am in the Senate, I will fight for the bold, progressive change that Texans deserve, including securing an economy with living wages, high-quality healthcare for all, and real action on climate change.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Polling suggests most voters are still too unfamiliar with the dozen Democrats in the Senate primary to have a pick, even as early voting is underway. But Tzintzun Ramirez has landed in second place in several polls, behind Hegar, who has raised the most money and has the backing of Senate Democrats campaign arm.

Texans are going to vote for someone who is outside the political system and embodies Texans values of strength, courage and independence, said Amanda Sherman, a spokeswoman for the Hegar campaign. Thats why as a combat veteran and working mom MJ is gathering support from voters across the state as she travels tens of thousands of miles to build a Texas grassroots powered campaign.

The stamp of approval from Ocasio-Cortez drew immediate fire from the Cornyn campaign, which had already been calling Tzintzun Ramirez AOCristina for weeks.

AOCs endorsement of AOCristina proves that radical Liberals are coming for Texas with all theyve got, Cornyn campaign manager John Jackson said in a statement. Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez's policies are out of step with Texas voters and we look forward to educating Texans on her disastrous Green New Deal, Medicare-for-None, and gun seizure program this Fall.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Today, more baby boomers are divorced and live alone than did their parents, which puts even a greater care-giving pressure on Millennials

Technology has made it possible for baby boomers, those born between 1946-1964, to live longer. Currently, their average life expectancy in the US is 78.9 years. (2) Yet, the age they require care is getting younger set at 66 years. As senior care progresses, the age of their caregivers is also proportionally decreasing. In 2018, survey results showed that the average age of a caregiver has dropped to 47 years. (2) Typically, the responsibility of care falls on the children of seniors, known today, as millennials, those born between 1980 to 2000. The relationship between these two generations, however, can substantially impact the care seniors receive from their children. With recent accounts of a dismissive phrase, OK Boomer, going viral on media outlets globally, the cultural gap between these two generations are straying. When it comes to caring for seniors, John Clifford, COO, Ensurem LLC, urges millennials to view their senior counterparts as more than just Boomers, but as parents whose lives will depend on the quality of care they receive from their children. Millennials, however, are encouraged to arrange for care if they are unable to fulfill the caregiver role by becoming educated on Medicare and Medicare Advantage systems. (3)

Why Baby Boomers Need More Care

Baby boomers are hitting the age of 65 at an average of 10,000 per day. Of those, according to a PWC survey, only one third have savings just shy of $50,000 or less. Factors that contributed to these low saving accounts, include baby boomers working for employers that did not offer a standard 401k or becoming bankrupt and losing ones home during the financial crisis of 2008.(4) Along with not being financially equipped to care for themselves, one significant reason care for seniors needing care sooner is because of tech advancements including, earlier detection of conditions such as Alzheimers disease. (3)

How to Avoid Medicare Confusion

Whether millennials plan on taking on the caregiver role or notthey need to stay informed about what Medicare and Medicare supplemental plans can provide. For example, the millennials who cannot commit to becoming full-time caretakers, should investigate whether their loved one qualifies for at-home health services through Medicare since these types of benefits are only provided if the beneficiary meets certain conditions. Medicare Supplement insurance however, depending on the plan, may also cover a portion of the coinsurance for certain supplies required for at-home health care, including, but not limited to aids like walkers and wheelchairs. In addition, some Medicare Supplement plans may provide coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care.

Another important thing for caregivers to take into consideration is preexisting conditions. Insurance companies cannot deny your application for Medicare Supplement insurance due to preexisting conditions as long as the beneficiary enrolls during their initial enrollment period. While, with Medicare Advantage, ESRD is the only preexisting condition for which a Medicare Advantage carrier can decline your application.

Medicare can be confusing and difficult to understand, says Clifford. Ensurem however, has created a user-friendly technology that deletes this confusion. It provides a platform for consumers to compare and understand all working parts of the Medicare system, especially because two-thirds of people who file for bankruptcy cite medical issues as a key contributor to their financial downfall. (4)

Today, more baby boomers are divorced and live alone than did their parents, which puts even a greater caregiving pressure on millennialspressure that baby boomers didnt experience when their parents were seniors. Now, with a streamlined Medicare platform, neither boomers nor their millennial children, will have to suffer any financial losses due to medical or caregiving expenses in advance to head off any potential disasters. (1)

About Ensurem

Ensurem, headquartered in Clearwater, FL, is a leading technology and product distribution company serving carriers and consumers within the massive U.S. senior market. The company provides end-to-end solutions for carriers, including product development, digital marketing, and consumer-centric front ends and back ends. For more information, please visit http://www.Ensurem.com

1. Ensurem. Why Millennials Need to Know More About Medicare. Why Millennials Need to Know More About Medicare, 2019, blog.ensurem.com/millennials-need-know-medicare-compare-medicare-supplement-plans.

2. U.S. Life Expectancy 1950-2020. MacroTrends, 2018, macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/life-expectancy.

3. Rohrich, Zoe. Why More Millennials Are Becoming Caregivers. PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 16 Jan. 2019, pbs.org/newshour/health/why-more-millennials-are-becoming-caregivers

4. Campbell, Todd. Baby Boomers' Average Savings for Retirement. The Motley Fool, The Motley Fool, 17 Dec. 2016, fool.com/retirement/2016/12/17/baby-boomers-average-savings-for-retirement.aspx.
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Malibu, CA, Feb 24, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with David Cole, The President and CEO of EMX Royalty Corp ( NYSE:EMX ) ( CVE:EMX ). EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company, whose investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to the risks inherent to operating companies. EMX has a sizable global portfolio of assets and has currently over $70 million in the treasury and no debt.In this segment, Mr. Cole discusses EMX's strategic investment in Ensero Solutions and its execution of an agreement to sell three Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Projects in Norway to Pursuit Minerals.To view the interview, please visit:About EMX Royalty Corp

EMX Royalty Corp (NYSE:EMX) (CVE:EMX) (FRA:6E9) is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to the risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American Exchange under the symbol EMX.

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Saturdays demonstration in London by the Dont Extradite Assange (DEA) campaign was attended by some 1,500 people. The march and rally marked the first such event organised by the official WikiLeaks-endorsed campaign group.

It is fronted by the founder of the pseudo-left Counterfire group, John Rees, a leading figure in the Stop the War Coalition.

The rally assembled at Australia House in the Aldwych district of the city before marching to Parliament Square. Speaking at the rally were Assanges father, John Shipton; the former finance minister of the Greek Syriza government, Yanis Varoufakis; WikiLeaks Editor-in Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, the former Pabloite Tariq Ali, and leading Counterfire member and convenor of Britains Stop the War coalition, Lindsey German. Also speaking were musicians Roger Waters, Lowkey and Brian Eno, the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and former diplomat Craig Murray.

Yanis Varoufakis (left) WikiLeaks ambassador Joseph Farrell, WikiLeaks Editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson and John Shipton and Roger Waters at the head of the demonstration

While those who attended showed their determination to fight for Assange, the DEA, established only last autumn after Assange had already suffered nearly a decade under arbitrary detention, has focused for weeks on an attempt to rehabilitate the Labour Party and the trade unions, their left representatives in particular, and to corral the movement in defence of Assange under their control.

In recent weeks, the DEA has joined with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell in urging a focus on appeals to the Conservative government, pleading with Boris Johnson to oppose an unequal extradition treaty with the US.

In his speech, Hrafnsson stated that dark forces were seeking to silence Assange forever and destroy WikiLeaks.  It is a dark force that now wants Julian extradited to the United States and thrown in a cell to spend the rest of his days there. We must stop it. We must stop this force.

In line with the new focus on appeals to Johnson, he added, This is not about left or right in politics. We can unite on this. Its a dark force versus us who want justice, transparency, accountability and truth.

Tariq Ali at the rally

Such a statement can only disarm those seeking to free Assange, an effort that requires an implacable struggle by the working class against the Johnson and Trump governments now conspiring to silence him forever.

Other speakers made clear that their appeal was directly to Johnson.

This is the same man who was London mayor when Assange was first arrested in the capital in 2010 and who authorised a Metropolitan Police operation to surround the Ecuadorian Embassy to arrest Assange at a moments notice.

As foreign minister in Theresa Mays government, when Assange was illegally arrested last April and dragged out of the embassy by the Metropolitan Police, Johnson gloated in a tweet that declared: Its only right that Julian Assange finally faces justice. Credit to @foreignoffice officials who have worked tirelessly to secure this outcome.

That Johnson, who now heads the most right-wing government in living memory, is considered a potential ally by the DEA was summed up by Tariq Ali, who said of the prime minister: You actually have been a journalist yourself. We may not agree with what you wrote and I never did. You know what it is to publish a piece which annoys people, which irritates people. And are you prepared to sit silently and acquiesce in this judicial farce that is to begin in a few hours time? Are you going to do that? Because if you do, effectively you are opening the door to the United States being able to pick any foreign journalist from anywhere and demand his or her extradition.

As editor of the pro-Tory Spectator, Johnson specialised in churning out anti-working class statements and racist bile, which was also the staple of his output as a Telegraph columnist, for which he was paid 250,000 a year. To speak of Johnsons journalism in the same breath as Julians Assanges pioneering and brave contributions, which earned him the enmity of the worlds ruling elite, is obscene.

The comments of Varoufakis to the rally summed up the opposition of the DEA to the mobilization of the working class.

Yanis Varoufakis speaking at the rally

The fact that the London demonstration was attended by only hundreds of people rather than many thousands is due to the opposition for an entire decade of the Labour Party and the unions to any mass mobilization in Assanges defence.

Corbyn and his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, have led the party, with a membership of over 500,000, since 2015. Over that entire period they did not lift a finger to mobilise the membership in support of Assange. Instead, they kept silent in order to appease the warmongering Blairites in the Parliamentary Labour Party, who insisted that Assange be extradited to Sweden to answer concocted allegations of sexual misconduct. Sweden, as was well known, would have simply been a stopping point in Assanges extradition to the US.

But Varoufakis claimed that the workers themselves were responsible for the relatively low numbers turning out to defend Assange. He said, You know Julians worst enemy, freedoms worst enemy, are not even people in smoke filled rooms plotting against good people. No, Julians worst enemy, freedoms worst enemy, is apathy, it is fatigue. It is good people too tired, too exhausted, too disheartened by working zero hour contracts or whatever to be able to expend the energy that you and I have the privilege of expending today.

It is people who are neither good nor bad working in these offices in Whitehall. You know, they are not evil. They are just banal. Too banal to care. We have to make them care.

Such comments could be uttered only by someone who speaks for smug and self-satisfied social layers that are remote from any of the concerns of the working class. Varoufakis is a millionaire many times over, along with his wife, Danae Stratou, an artist from a family of wealthy capitalists.

After signing an extension to the European Union and International Monetary Fund austerity programme in Greece, Varoufakis claimed that an agreement could be reached with the EU to end the austerity drive. When the population voted against the austerity demands of the EU in the June 2015 referendumconfounding the calculations of Varoufakis and Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, who had assumed that the people would not defy the EUVaroufakis promptly resigned. He then established the Diem25 political movement, whose declared aim is reforming the EU!

Lindsey German speaking at the rally

Aware that such a naked right-wing stance can only discredit the DEA, Counterfires Lindsey German sought to make a few criticisms of the Johnson government, while reassuring everyone that the task was above all To keep telling these MPs in Parliament we are not going to give up. We do not want to see Julian Assange extradited.
The commission recommended that the city assess most homes, including co-ops and condominiums, at full market value, and remove a cap on how much the value of a property can increase each year. Under that plan, many property owners can expect to pay less in taxes, but hundreds of thousands of homeowners may pay more.

Changing the citys property tax formula would first require approvals from the mayor and the City Council, and ultimately the State Legislature and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Although many of those lawmakers have said that they generally support the notion of a more equitable property tax system, few seem eager to deal with the potential fallout of imposing the changes.

The forces behind the 2017 lawsuit, which is still ongoing, say that political realities suggest that the report will not directly lead to changes in the property tax system; they believe that the only way to force change is through their lawsuit.

The reason for the litigation is that the political will to do this does not exist, said John Gallagher, a spokesman for the group, known as Tax Equity Now New York.

It would not be the first time that a lawsuit paved the way for meaningful change in New York City policy: A court battle ended the overuse of stop-and-frisk tactics by the New York Police Department; a lawsuit also brought about the end of the citys Board of Estimate.

Indeed, the property tax issue barely registered in Albany earlier this month, even for Mayor de Blasio, who has vowed to get property tax changes done before his term ends on Dec. 31, 2021.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:51:41|Editor: huaxia

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A press conference of the China-WHO joint expert team is held in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2020. China's unprecedented public health responses to the COVID-19 outbreak have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmission of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases, said a joint expert team consisting of experts from China and the World Health Organization. The assessment was given at a press conference on Monday in Beijing after the 25-member team conducted a nine-day field study trip in China's Beijing, Guangdong, Sichuan and Hubei. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's unprecedented public health responses to the COVID-19 outbreak have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmission of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases, said a joint expert team consisting of experts from China and the World Health Organization.

The assessment was given at a press conference on Monday in Beijing after the 25-member team conducted a nine-day field study trip in China's Beijing, Guangdong, Sichuan and Hubei.

China has also played a critical role in protecting the international community, buying precious time for countries to adopt active prevention and control measures and providing them with worthwhile experience, the team said.

China is taking prudent, phased and orderly steps to gradually restore order in social, economic, education and healthcare sectors, it said, adding that other countries should swiftly reassess the measures taken toward China.

Noting that the novel coronavirus is a new pathogen, the team said more information is needed to better understand the transmission dynamics and the severity of the disease, adding that global prevention and control work still faces severe challenges.

The team advised countries to take active monitoring measures, strive for early detection, diagnosis, quarantine and treatment, and closely trace and quarantine close contacts.

Countries with imported cases or seeing a surge of cases are advised to immediately activate national emergency plans to ensure governments at every level take necessary intervention measures to block the spread.

Countries should be prepared and make emergency response plans and adopt stricter measures if necessary, the team said.

It also called on countries to strengthen exchange of information on the outbreak and stay united to jointly deal with the challenges brought by the COVID-19.
CONCORD, N.H. - A New Hampshire senator is sponsoring a bill to ban visas and freeze assets of Lebanese officials involved in the detention of an American citizen since September.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, is expected to introduce the bill Monday, along with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. It would sanction current or former Lebanese government officials, including members of the judiciary system, involved in the unlawful detainment, arrest or abuse of any United States citizen in Lebanon. Sanctions also could apply to family members and associates of the officials.

Amer Fakhoury, 57, a restaurant owner in Dover, New Hampshire, who became a U.S. citizen last year, has been jailed since Sept. 12 in his native country. He went on vacation to visit family he hadnt seen in nearly two decades.

Fakhoury was once a member of the former Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army and worked at a former prison described by human rights groups as a centre for torture. His lawyer and family say he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States, because of death threats he and many other South Lebanon Army members received after Israel ended its occupation of Lebanon in 2000.

Earlier this month, Fakhoury, who has been hospitalized with stage 4 lymphoma, was charged by a military investigative judge with the murder and torture of inmates at the former Khiam Prison. Lebanons intelligence service said he confessed during questioning to being a warden there. But Fakhourys family and lawyer say that he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture.

A news release from Shaheens office said Fakhourys cancer symptoms are exacerbated by the beating he received at the hands of Lebanese security officials looking to extract a false confession from him.

The U.S. government has provided ample opportunity for Lebanese officials to free Amer Fakhoury, Shaheen said. However, Amer is fighting for his life and time is running out. ... There must be consequences for this flagrant disregard of international norms and human rights.

The bill does not specifically name Fakhoury, although Shaheens staff said they are not aware of any other U.S. citizens being held in Lebanon.

Whats happening right now with Amer Fakhoury is truly a criminal act, said Naz Durakoglu, Shaheens senior foreign policy adviser. To just take someone, and then to make up allegations and then just hold them while theyre gravely ill is not something that we want to encourage around the world, especially with U.S. citizens.

Durakoglu said it is their understanding that Fakhourys detention has been led by the militant Hezbollah organization, which the South Lebanon Army opposed.

The news release said Fakhourys case has been exploited by Hezbollah in order to exacerbate ethnic and political tensions in Lebanon during this critical time in the countrys history.

Lebanon has been in the middle of an unprecedented economic and political crisis amid nationwide protests since October, leading to the prime ministers resignation. A new government has been formed. It was unclear who could address Fakhourys case.

Understanding the urgency of the situation, we hope this bill moves quickly through Congress before its too late, Fakhourys family said in a statement.
Protesters gathered outside Woolwich Crown Court in London on February 24 on the first day of Wikileaks founder Julian Assanges extradition hearing.

Assange, who has been remanded to Belmarsh prison since May 2019 after being found guilty of breaching the Bail Act, is fighting extradition to the US.

Assange is accused by US authorities of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified military documents relating to the US involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also accused of conspiring with former army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning hack into government computers.

If convicted in the US, he faces up to 175 years in prison.

This video shows crowds of protesters gathered behind police barricades outside the court chanting, Free free Julian Assange in support of the 48-year-old Australian. Credit: Taylor Hudak via Storyful
Gardai are appealing for help to find a 17-year-old girl who has been missing for four days.

Shania Barrett is missing from her home in Glenroe, Co. Limerick. She was last seen on O'Connell Street in Dublin on Thursday.
Chalk piece writings like



"Pakistan Zindabad" and "Tipu Sultan Shale" (Tipu Sultan School) on the wall and door of a government school at a village in Hubballi in North Karnataka created a flutter on Monday, with locals staging a protest against it.

As teachers and students came to the school at Budarsingi village on Monday morning, they noticed the chalk-piece writings following which the Head Teacher reported the matter to police.

Locals staged a protest, expressing their anger against those involved and demanded their arrest.

Senior police and government officials visited the school and held discussions with teachers and village leaders, after which they dispersed.

Police have registered the complaint and are investigating the incident.

Recently, three students from Kashmir, studying at a private engineering college in Hubballi, were arrested on sedition charges for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans and posting a video of it on a messaging platform.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Firefighters battled a huge fire that engulfed an under-construction condo complex in Rocky River, Ohio, on February 23.

The major structural fire consumed the building on Hilliard Blvd, forcing the closure of the I-90 highway outside Cleveland. Motorists were asked to avoid the area.

Local media reported that the building was unoccupied and the fire was causing debris to rain down on nearby roads amid high winds. Credit: Darrin Gaking via Storyful
Around five decades after his parents landed in the United States, Indian American Ajit Pai is travelling to India on board the Air Force One along with President Donald Trump.

IMAGE: Pai shared the passport of his maternal grandfather which was issued in 1937 to work as a clerk in Bahrain, where his mother was born in 1945. Photograph: @AjitPaiFCC/Twitter

Pai, 47, who is the first ever Indian American Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, wonders how his parents would have reacted years ago had they been told that their son would one day accompany the US president to India.

He is among the two Indian Americans travelling to India along with Trump, the other being Kesh Patel, special assistant to the president and senior director for counter-terrorism.

"If I could go back in time to 1971, just after my parents' weddings, I wonder what those two young adults would say if you told them that just one generation later their son would be representing the top levels of the United States government visiting the country in which they had grown up,"said Pai.

"I have a feeling that they would say what they often do now and a belief I carry in my bones, only in America," Pai said in a video posted on Twitter.

Pai said during his India trip, they we will be discussing issues of mutual interest like 5G and bridging the digital divide.

WATCH: Ajit Pai strikes an emotional note before coming to India with Trump

"We will aim to deepen the friendship between the worlds oldest democracy and its largest," he added.

Looking forward to this trip not just professionally but personally, Pai said his mother grew up in Bengaluru while his father was raised in Hyderabad.

Shortly after their wedding in 1971, they came to America with just $8, a transistor radio and the "faith that the American dream would be within reach", he said.

"Like so many immigrants, they sacrificed to give me opportunities they did not have. And it was my grandparents who instilled in us the value of hard work and the vision to dream big," he said.

"As the first Indian American to serve as the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, I feel a responsibility to them and other immigrants like them to be worthy of their sacrifices," Pai said.

In another tweet, that he had posted in 2019, Pai shared the passport of his maternal grandfather which was issued in 1937 to work as a clerk in Bahrain, where his mother was born in 1945.
While leaving for India, Donald Trump said he is going to discuss business with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which makes it clear that his trip is aimed at boosting US trade, the Sena said.

Mumbai: Panning Donald Trump's visit to India, the Shiv Sena on Monday said the 36-hour-long sojourn of the US president in the country won't make 'an iota of difference' in the lives of poor and middle-class Indians.

While leaving for India, Trump has said he is going to discuss business with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which makes it clear that his trip is aimed at boosting US trade, the Sena said.

"There won't be an iota of difference in the lives of the poor and middle-class people in India due to Trump's visit. Then where is the question of people being appreciative or enthusiastic of his tour," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

"If there is any eagerness about Trump's visit, it may be in Ahmedabad, where he lands first," the Sena said.

More than the Trump visit the talk is about how walls were built to hide slums along the road he will traverse, the editorial said.

"It is reported that Trump will touch upon the issue of curbs on religious freedom in India. These are our internal issues. This country is run by people elected democratically and they don't need guidance from any outsider on this," it said.

Trump should instead indulge in 'tourism' of Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi, the editorial said.

"When Trump leaves India 36 hours after his arrival, there will be no signs of his visit on the soil of India," the Sena said.
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
The phrase "right-wing extremist" has become part of the national lexicon, yet for some strange reason, we never hear "left-wing extremist" to describe the liberal crazies in Antifa and BAMN, just two examples of what liberal extremism looks like  bloody. Why is that? Why do the media pretend the lunatics on the left don't exist?

Remember back in 1998, when Hillary Clinton went on the Today show and defended Bill to Matt Lauer against accusations of infidelity and impropriety as the result of the efforts of a "vast ring-wing conspiracy" that spawned when Bill first announced his candidacy for president? I sure do. It's been Hillary's go-to excuse for every exposed legal and ethical problem that she and Bill have experienced since they first came to occupy the White House. She was still using that same old tired excuse in 2016, while at the same time having the unmitigated gall to claim that "there was nothing to Benghazi"  except four dead Americans, correct?

But the internet video excuse conspiracy to hide the real reason for the Benghazi attack and the shameful lack of response to send help pales in comparison to the effort to execute a bloodless coup on President Donald Trump. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this scandal is worse than Watergate by orders of magnitude. People active on the federal payroll conspired to attempt the overthrow of the Trump administration before Trump had even taken office.

The infamous "Steele dossier" was commissioned by a company called Fusion GPS, hired by the Hillary Clinton campaign to dig up dirt on Donald Trump and call it opposition research. Literally, a couple of guys getting drunk in a bar made up a bunch of absurd, salacious nonsense about hookers and golden showers that only a mindless twit would ever believe. Fortunately, the conspirators could count on John McCain to get a copy of this farcical "research" document and pass it along to James Comey at the FBI, who was more than happy to knowingly receive utter garbage in the form of uncorroborated opposition research from a political campaign and then turn around and use it as the foundation to spy on President-Elect Donald Trump.

Folks, it doesn't get any worse than this.

Members of the conspiracy met in FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe's office and worked out the "insurance plan" called Crossfire Hurricane to use as their excuse to surveil Trump Tower in the event Hillary Clinton lost the election. James Comey took advantage of the hectic transition period to immediately target Michael Flynn and even had the chutzpah to brag about it.

Look up the word "despicable" in the dictionary, and you just might find a picture of James Comey wearing a pink pussy hat. That would be apropos. If the concept of equal justice under the law still exists in America, Comey will be wearing an orange jumpsuit in the near future.

James Comey is only one member of the vast left-wing Deep State conspiracy against Donald Trump. Here is only part of this cast of most disreputable characters: James Clapper, John Brennan, Andrew McCabe, Rod Rosenstein, Bruce Ohr, Bill Priestap, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Dana Boente, Kevin Clinesmith, Stefan Halper, Joseph Mifsud, Azra Turk, Susan Rice, Samantha Power, and Barack Obama  just to name a few of the conspirators. The plot was so intricate, and so many actors played a significant role, that it would take an entire book to fully explain all the details of the plot, but here is a brief synopsis: bogus opposition research was converted into "intelligence" and used to justify illegal spying on President Trump. Members of the new administration were fed information and then encouraged to repeat it in order to entrap them with "process" crimes. Documents were deliberately altered in order to completely change their meaning. Exculpatory evidence was withheld. And they did some really bad stuff, too.

If you want to know exactly how bad the Mueller investigation was, just read this article about the unbelievable persecution of K.T. McFarland. The strategy seems relatively clear: harass, intimidate, and bankrupt anyone brave enough to work for Donald Trump. Destroy such people's reputations and throw them in prison. How did a guy with a reputation as an overzealous prosecutor like Andrew Weissmann ever get hired to lead the "Mueller" investigation in the first place? Rod Rosenstein probably knew that Robert Mueller had basically become senile in retirement and would only serve as a figurehead, not an active and engaged special counsel. Rod ought to be sharing a cell with Comey before Trump's next inauguration.

Some conservatives have expressed concerns over recent media reports that General William Barr is not really willing to clean out the Augean stables of his Department of (In)Justice because he has complained about some of Trump's tweets and said they have made it difficult to do his job, but I still have confidence in our brave attorney general. Barr's critics may not have heard this hour-long speech he gave to the Federalist Society last November, but it's well worth the listen. Among many other eloquent and astute observations, Barr said this:

Immediately after President Trump won election, opponents inaugurated what they called "The Resistance," and they rallied around an explicit strategy of using every tool and maneuver to sabotage the functioning of the Executive Branch and his Administration. Now, "resistance" is the language used to describe insurgency against rule imposed by an occupying military power. It obviously connotes that the government is not legitimate. This is a very dangerous, and indeed incendiary notion, to import into the politics of a democratic republic. (applause) What it means is that, instead of viewing themselves as the "loyal opposition," as opposing parties have done in this country for over two hundred years, they essentially see themselves as engaged in a war to cripple, by any means necessary, a duly elected government.

I enjoy Barr's wry sense of humor, exhibited when he joked about being the first attorney general threatened with contempt of Congress within his first 100 days in office, asking Nancy Pelosi if she'd brought her handcuffs to arrest him. Barr explained that he was opposed to President Trump tweeting about Roger Stone's court case because the tweets made it more difficult to intervene in the case without creating the appearance that he was acting in response to the tweets instead of the unfair treatment of Stone by the judicial process. Seems reasonable.

Therefore, I remain hopeful that William Barr will continue to faithfully execute the duties of his job in spite of the fact that Andrew McCabe escaped prosecution for lacking candor, the FBI way of saying he lied  the very same reason Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, and George Papadopoulos got in trouble with the FBI and the Mueller investigation. If John Durham doesn't indict anybody, then we'll have ample reason to be upset. Until we hear otherwise from Durham, we should continue to cautiously keep our faith in the judicial system.

Hillary Clinton's "vast right-wing conspiracy" is nothing but a figment of her imagination. The left-wing conspiracy to overthrow the government led by Donald Trump is very real.

John Leonard writes novels, books, and articles/blogs for American Thinker. You may find him on Facebook or his website at southernprose.com. His books are available here.

Image: Office of Public Affairs via Flickr.
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US goes past China in becoming Indias top trading partner

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 24: The US has surpassed China to become India's top trading partner, showing greater economic ties between the two countries.

According to the data of the commerce ministry, in 2018-19, the bilateral trade between the US and India stood at USD 87.95 billion.

During the period, India's two-way commerce with China aggregated at USD 87.07 billion.

Similarly, during April-December 2019-20, the bilateral trade between the US and India stood at USD 68 billion. It stood at USD 64.96 billion with China in the same period.

Namaste Trump LIVE: Delhi on state of very high alert

Trade experts believe that the trend will continue in the coming years also as New Delhi and Washington are engaged in further deepening the economic ties.

An expert said that if the countries will finalise a free trade agreement (FTA), then the bilateral trade would reach at different levels.

"FTA with US will be very beneficial for India as the US is the biggest market for domestic goods and services," Federation of Indian Export organisations Director General Ajay Sahai said.

He said that India's exports, as well as imports, are increasing with the US, while with China both are declining.

America is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus. On the other hand, India has a huge trade deficit with China.

In 2018-19, India has a trade surplus of USD 16.85 billion with America, while it has a deficit of USD 53.56 billion with the neighbouring country.

The data showed that China was India's top trading partner since 2013-14 till 2017-18. Before China, UAE was the country's largest trading nation.

A top American business advocacy group has said that a free trade agreement between India and the US is a key to resolving their trade disputes as it will cover biggest irritants in ties, including tariffs and mobility of Indian professionals.

Anti drone mechanism, kite catchers on guard ahead of Donald Trumps India visit

Professor at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Rakesh Mohan Joshi said that India should be a bit cautious while negotiating a trade pact with the US in areas, including agriculture and food products, as America is the world's largest producer and exporter of certain commodities like maize and soybean.

"A trade deal between the US and India would further increase the trade between the two countries easing tariff restriction and opening up of bigger market for products. India is a major exporter of steel, steel products and aluminium products with combined exports of USD 22.7 billion last year.

"Steel exports to the US have continued to decline and it went down from USD 372 million in 2017-18 to USD 247 million last year. This is only 2.5 per cent of our overall USD 9.74 billion steel export to the world," Pawan Gupta, the Founder and CEO of online trade platform Connect2India observed.

Commenting on trade with China, Gupta said despite the fall in volume exports to the Asian neighbour increased 25 per cent last year to USD 16.7 billion while imports decreased by around 8 per cent to USD 70.3 billion last year.

The major reduction in imports from India has been on electrical machinery, equipment and apparatus category, the CEO said.

India and the US were negotiating a limited trade pact, which now has a bleak chance to be signed during the two-day visit of US President Donald Trump, beginning February 24.

India is demanding cut in visa fees, exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, and greater market access for its products from sectors such as agriculture, automobile, automobile components and engineering.

On the other hand, the US wants greater market access for its farm and manufacturing products, dairy items, medical devices, and data localisation, apart from cut on import duties on some information and communication technology products. The US has also raised concerns over high trade deficit with India.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 7:54 [IST]
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy on Monday said the violence that took place in North-East Delhi was orchestrated with an eye on US President Donald Trump's visit to India.

"Violence in North-East Delhi was orchestrated with an eye on US President Donald Trump's visit to India. I condemn it. A Head Constable also lost his life in the violence. The Government of India will never tolerate violence. We will take strict action against those responsible. Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation," Reddy told ANI.

"I also want to ask the Congress and other political parties that who will take the responsibility of the killing of one police personnel in the violence. This has clearly been done to malign India's image when the head of the state of the US is visiting the country," he said.

He further warned that those responsible for the violence in the capital will be dealt with an iron hand and no guilty person will be spared.

"In India, people have the right to protest in a peaceful manner. In Shaheen Bagh, there have been protests for the last two months. The Government of India did not stop them even though they were blocking an arterial road in the capital," he said.

"I give a clear warning to the people who take the violent route of protest that strict action will be taken against them. I have instructed the Delhi Police to catch hold of those responsible for the Head Constable's death. There will be an investigation into the issue and the guilty will be punished severely," he added.

Reddy further said that additional forces have been deployed in Delhi to maintain the law and order situation.

One Delhi Police Head Constable on Monday lost his life and one DCP got injured during clashes between two groups that took place in Delhi's Gokalpuri.

Earlier today, a clash broke out between two groups in Maujpur area. Meanwhile, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at ten locations in North-East district of Delhi, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Donald Trump India Visit Updates: US president Donald Trump arrived in Delhi, after visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra and addressing a huge crowd at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.

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By 3.30 pm, Trump will leave for Agra and at 5.15 pm, he is scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal. He will leave for Delhi by 5.45 pm and arrive in the National Capital's Palam Air force Station by 7.30 pm.

Later, he will reach the Motera Stadium to inaugurate it and be a part of the Namaste Trump event.

US President Donald Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump and a high-level delegation, are scheduled to land in Ahmedabad at 11.40 am on Monday. He will then pay a visit to the Sabarmati Ashram past noon.

"You have encroached upon a plot of land belonging to the AMC. Evict the plot in another seven days with your household chattels, otherwise, a departmental action will be taken to evict the land. If you have to make any representation, you can do so on 19 February at 3 pm," read the notice. The slum, which reportedly houses families of more than 200 registered construction workers, is located alongside a road connecting Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, around one-and-a-half kilometres away from the Motera stadium.

Days before Trump's visit, at least 45 families living in a slum near the newly-built Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, were served eviction notices by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The development comes days after the AMC allegedly began building a wall to hide a slum along the route the US president is likely to take.

Before leaving from the White House for the Andrew Air Force Base, from where he was scheduled to depart for India, US President Donald Trump said that he is excited about the visit. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told him that this will be the "biggest event India has ever seen".

He said that it is a matter of pride for AAP that the happiness classes are being recognised globally.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia are unlikely to accompany US First Lady Melania Trump during her visit to a government school in Delhi on Tuesday. She is slated to be briefed on the 'happiness curriculum' introduced in the schools by the AAP government. Responding to the same, Sisodia told ANI, "Certain concerns were expressed by US embassy regarding CM and Deputy CM accompanying the First Lady during the school visit. We respect the same. We welcome the First Lady wholeheartedly and will do our best to facilitate the tour."

The arts and culture of 28 Indian states will be showcased along the 22-kilometre-long route from Sabarmati Ashram to Motera Stadium. Huge billboards of the two leaders and replicas of historic places in Gujarat, Modi's native state, have also been placed along the roads where people will greet the two leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Ahmedabad around 9 am. He will be welcoming US President Donald Trump in the city, where the two will visit the Sabarmati Ashram and then the world's largest cricket stadium in Motera.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will welcome the US president on his arrival at the airport. Over 15,000 school students will line up the streets on the convoy route holding American and Indian flags to welcome Trump as his motorcade passes through the city, Singh said.

Agra's Divisional Commissioner Anil Kumar said Trump is slated to arrive at Kheria airbase in the evening where he will be treated to a variety of dances by a group of about 350 artistes from Uttar Pradesh to the accompaniment of traditional instruments. "Along the route, 21 designated areas have been marked, where a total of 3,000 artistes will be showcasing different art and cultural forms of the regions, like Brij region," Kumar said.

From massive billboards bearing greeting messages to street roundabouts decked with American and Indian flags, Agra is waiting to welcome President Donald Trump on Monday amid a huge security deployment across the city.

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 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.

At the newly built 'worlds largest cricket stadium'  Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, there will be a three-hour programme, including public interaction and cultural programmes, before and after Donald Trump and Narendra Modi's speeches. The cultural programmes will include music performances by singer Kailash Kher and other leading Gujarati singers and performers.

The prime minister will receive Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump upon their arrival aboard the Air Force One flight, scheduled to land here at around 11.40 am, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad at 10.25 am, almost an hour and half before Donald Trump's arrival along with his delegation.

"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 at the White House told reporters in a conference call on Friday.

Ahead of Trump's first visit to India, The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan American federal entity, published a 'factsheet', claiming that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) represents a significant downturn in religious freedom in India.

US President Donald Trump will raise the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House said, noting that the US has great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions and will continue to encourage it to uphold those values.

"The red sandstones of the Taj complex are being cleaned of stains, fountains have been spruced up and extra stock of shimmering flowers added in gardens to enhance the glory of the monument," ASI Agra Circle's Superintending Archaeologist Vasant Swarnkar said.

Hours before the visit of US President Donald Trump to Agra on Monday, the entry to the Taj Mahal will be closed to visitors. "People can visit the Taj in the morning but tickets will be issued till 11:30 am, and by noon or so the premises will be cleared of visitors in view of the high security arrangements for President Trump's visit," an official told PTI.

"The Government of India is going to waste hundreds of crores of rupees of the public on the visit of US President Donald Trump to India. Lakhs of people are being arranged to say 'Namaste' to Trump ji. But, despite all the efforts, truth cannot be hidden. The entire world knows that slowdown has gripped the Indian economy. The Indian farmer has been pushed to darkness," he said.

In a statement issued here by the Samajwadi Party on Sunday, party chief Akhilesh Yadav also said it is ironical that Gujarat, the birthplace of Gandhiji who was an epitome of simplicity, is indulging in extravagance.

They will soon make way to the Sabarmati Ashram, after which they will go to the Motera cricket stadium.

Air Force One, the aircraft carrying US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and his high-level delegation, has landed at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Ahmedabad airport. They will now visit the Sabarmati Ashram. Modi also welcomed Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

Hriday Kunj is a room on the Ashram premises where Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba Gandhi had lived for 12 years between 1918 and 1930.

Sabarmati Ashram secretary Amrut Modi said that Trump will spend 15 minutes at the place. "Trump will visit the 'Hriday Kunj'. If he wishes, he will spin a charkha. We will also gift him a coffee-table book, and a book containing 150 quotations of Gandhi," the Ashram official said.

Sabarmati Ashram was not a part of the Trump's itinerary but was added at the last moment.

Narendra Modi and Donald trump arrived at the Sabarmati Ashram. The US President is scheduled to spend 15 minutes at the ashram and will see the room where Mahatma Gandhi lived for 12 years.

In his 15-minute visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, the Trumps paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. They also tried their hand at spinning the yarn. The US President and Melania signed the guestbook.

In the message he penned in the guestbook at Sabarmati Ashram during his 15-minute visit, US President Donald Trump thanked his "great friend" Narendra Modi for the "wonderful visit" to India. The message did not make any mention of Mahatma Gandhi.

During their visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, the Trumps spun the yarn before making an entry in the guestbook.

At the end of the 22-km-long roadshow, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach the Motera cricket stadium. During the Namaste Trump event top be held at the stadium, the two leaders will address a crowd of over 1 lakh people.

Those turned away from the memorial included a group of 18 tourists from Ireland. "Visitors are not allowed today and tomorrow. Only officials working at Rajghat are being allowed," a security official deployed at the entry gate told PTI, adding the press was also barred entry.

The entry of local and foreign visitors to Delhi's Rajghat was prohibited ahead of the scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump. Trump would visit Rajghat on Tuesday to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.

Arriving at the Motera stadium for the Namaste Trump event, Donald Trump and Narendra Modi get set to address a crowd of over 1 lakh people. Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani received the leaders.

"India-US relations are no longer just another partnership. It is a far greater and closer relationship. One is 'land of the free' the other believes the world is one family. One feels proud of 'statue of liberty' the other feels proud of 'statue of unity'," he further said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi starts his address to a packed Motera Stadium. "I had started my America visit with the Howdy Modi event and today, Trump has started his historic India visit with Namaste Trump."

Speaking at the Motera stadium, Narendra Modi welcomed Donald Trump to the "largest democracy of the world". "This is Gujarat but the entire country is enthusiastic in welcoming you. India-US relations are far greater and closer today," he said.

Expressing the crowd at the Motera stadium, US President Donald Trump said that he is proud to call Narendra Modi "my friend, he works tirelessly for India". "America loves India, America respects India and America will always be a faithful and loyal friend to the Indian people," he said.

He said that he will remember India for its "remarkable hospitality". "India will hold a special place in our hearts. PM Modi started out as 'tea wallah', he worked as a tea seller. Everybody loves him but I will tell you this, he is very tough," Trump said.

Continuing his address at Motera stadium, Donald Trump said, "Five months ago, the United States welcomed your great Prime Minister at a giant football stadium in Texas and today India welcomes us at the world's largest cricket stadium right here in Ahmedabad."

Calling Narendra Modi the pride of Gujarat, Trump said while addressing the jam-packed Motera stadium, "You are living proof that with hard work and devotion, Indians can accomplish anything at all, anything they want. The Prime Minister is a moving story of an incredible rise," he said.

During his address at the Namaste trump event, the US President said, "India gives hope to humanity. In just 70 years, India has become the largest democracy and has become one of the greatest nations in the world. Under PM Modi, villages in India have access to electricity. Over 300 million more have got internet connection. India will soon become the home to the world's largest middle class. What is impressive is that India has achieved all this as a democracy and as a tolerant country. India's achievement is unrivaled."

"All over the planet people take great joy in watching Bollywood films, bhangra, and classic films like DDLJ and Sholay. You cheer on great cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli," he added.

India is a creative hub that creates over 2,000 movies from Bollywood, Donald trump said at the Motera stadium. "India embraces liberty, rule of law and freedom. Even though there are so many communities and languages, you all unite as one great Indian nation," he said.

Trump also said that both India and US are united in defending citizens from threat of "radical Islamic terrorism". "Under my administration we unleashed full power of American military on bloodthirsty killers of ISIS. Today, ISIS territorial caliphate is 100 percent destroyed. Al Baghdadi is dead," he said.

Donald Trump promised to settle a three billion dollar defence deal with India during his India visit. "I thank you for the contribution that you have made to my beloved country. USA's economy is booming. I have come to India to expand our relations. PM and I will continue our dialogue to deepen the relation between our countries. Our relations took a new turn when the Indian and US military has a joint exercise - Tiger Triumph. We make the best military hardware and we now deal with India. Tomorrow we will sign a three billion dollar defence deal. We want India to become our premier defence partner," he added.

Donald Trump said his administration is working in a positive way with Pakistan to crackdown on terror groups. "Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one and there are signs of progress with Pakistan. We are hopeful for reduced tensions in South Asia, he said.

Amid questions raised regarding trade tensions between India and US, Donald Trump said at the Motera stadium, "PM Modi and I will be making some very big trade deal to boost our countries economy. I am sure that we can reach a good trade. But PM Modi is a tough negotiator. A booming America is great for India and the world. PM Modi has made some significant reforms in India. The world wants to see more reforms."

Concluding his speech, he said, "Today, I say to all Indians to take pride in the glories of the past. Unite for the future and let our nations come together for freedom and its values. God bless America, God bless India. We love India very much."

Continuing is address at Motera stadium, Donald Trump said, "The US and India are working closely in space exploration. Chandrayaan II is a great program. The US is looking forward to cooperating with you. US and India will be partners in our journey to the stars. What India has done under PM Modi is tremendous and I congratulate PM Modi for this. India has been a wellspring of great wisdom. True strength is not in its books and nature, but in the hearts of the millions of people of this nation."

"US is India's largest export partner. We have the most number of military exercise with US. US is India's biggest partner in R&D. India's digital economy will provide good space for US to invest in India. India and US are natural partners. We are together in our fight against terror. We are inspired by a long term vision. Our cooperation will grow and we will fulfill the dreams of our nations. We are glad that we could have you and your family President Trump," he further said.

Modi said, Today India is not just creating a world record of sending the most satellites at once, but also the world record of the quickest financial inclusion.

Thanking Donald Trump, Narendra Modi said, "What you have said about India and its history and culture. I thank you for your acknowledgment. President Trump has not just honored Indians in India but also Indians in US. Trust between nations is important. In India, we say trust is where friendship is unshakable. I have seen how relations between India and US have grown. When I had visited US, Trump told me that India has a true friend in the White House. I am happy that US is a partner in India's progress."

The official said additional personnel from the police and paramilitary forces have been deployed here and elsewhere in the Kashmir Valley to ensure that militants are not able to carry out any attacks. Mobile vehicle check points have been set up at several places for curbing the movement of people who provide logistical support to militants, the official said.

In March 2000, Lashkar-e-Taiba militants killed 35 Sikhs in Chatisinghpora village in Anantnag district during the visit of former US president Bill Clinton to India.

Security has been increased across Kashmir as a precautionary measure in view of US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India. "In view of the incidents that have taken place in Kashmir ahead of high profile visits to the country, security has been strengthened in the Valley," a senior police officer told PTI.

The report quoted a senior state government official as saying, "Over 25,000 students from government, as well as private schools, will welcome President Trump. 500 women associated with self help groups will also welcome Trump in the historic city."

Around 25,000 students are likely to welcome US president Donald and Melania Trump in Uttar Pradesh's Agra, News18 reported. The students will greet Trump along the 13-kilometre route planned ahead of his visit to the Taj Mahal.

Attendees of the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium also clicked selfies with Ivanka Trump, the US president's daughter. Donald and Melania Trump will be heading to Agra in Uttar Pradesh to visit the Taj Mahal soon.

US president Donald Trump is scheduled to reach the Taj Mahal at 5.15 pm and spend an hour at the site. The iconic monument is close to visitors in light of the Trumps' visit and the high security arrangements, News18 reported.

Earlier on Monday, Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. The Sabarmati Ashram visit came ahead of the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera stadium that was also addessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Krishna was referring to the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad, which was also addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bussa Krishna, who installed a 6-feet statue of US president Donald Trump last year and worships him on Monday said, "I'm feeling proud as my God has come to India. I worship Trump as God and believe that I shall meet him soon. He has played a major role in fight against terrorism."

News18 reported that the iconic monument, considered one of the seven-wonders-of-the-world, stands on the bank of the Yamuna, and is always high on the itinerary of visiting heads of state.

Donald and Melania Trump have reached Agra for their visit to the Taj Mahal, after the US president addressed a mega event named 'Namaste Trump' at the Motera stadium in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the crowd of more than one lakh attendees.

US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were received by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and state governor Anandiben Patel at the airport ahead on arriving in Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal.

Ahead of their visit to the Taj Mahal, Donald and Melania Trump were greeted with performances by hundreds of artists displaying the culture of Uttar Pradesh after they landed in Agra, News18 reported. The US president and the First Lady were received at the airport by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state governor Anandiben Patel.

US president Donald Trump has arrived at the Taj Mahal. The 17th centruy monument has been refurbished to welcome Trump and his family. They will spend about an hour to catch the sunset from the famed mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631.

In 1959, then US president David Dwight Eisenhower had visited Taj along with then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru

The last US president to visit the the Mughal-era wonder was Bill Clinton who had come to India in 2000. He had seen the Taj along with daughter Chelsea Clinton.

An extensive three-layered security is in place for Donald Trump's Agra visit, and authorities had got the Taj Mahal premises cleared of visitors by noon, hours ahead of Trump's visit to the celebrated architectural landmark.

"America and India will make their countries strong, work for the prosperity of their people, help those who dream big and make the future brighter than ever before...and this is just the beginning," he said in another tweet.

"First lady and I have travelled 8,000 miles around the world to give a message to each citizen of this country  America loves India, America respects India, and the people of America will always be true and committed friends of the people of India," the American leader tweeted in Hindi.

Earlier, US president Donald Trump took to Twitter to express his sentiments about his first official visit to India, which began with a visit to Ahmedabad.

After a guided tour of the Taj Mahal, the Trumps have left for the Agra airport. They will soon leave for New Delhi, where they are scheduled to arrive at 7.30 pm.

People of Uttar Pradesh wholeheartedly welcome Hon. President Mr. @realDonaldTrump & Mrs. @MELANIATRUMP on the land of Ganga, Jamuna & Saraswati. Your visit to the monument of love @TajMahal will further boost friendship between the people of the two great democracies. pic.twitter.com/we6NOj6EUf

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Trumps to the "land of Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati". "Your visit to the monument of love Taj Mahal will further boost friendship between the people of the two great democracie," he said.

A trustee of the Sabarmati Ashram, Kartikeya Sarabhai, said the ashram also gifted America's first couple Gandhi's engraved Talisman, which he wrote in August 1947, guiding people in public life to make a decision while recalling the face of the poorest of the poor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted the iconic statue of "three wise monkeys", representing the message "see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil," to the Trumpson behalf of the Indian government. The sculpture was a replica of the statue that was gifted to Gandhi by a Japanese monk way back in 1933, a trustee of the Sabarmati Ashram said.

autobiography were among the items gifted to US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania during their visit to the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.

A marble replica of Mahatma Gandhi's "three wise monkeys" statue, a copy of his Talisman or a piece of wisdom as well as a special edition of his

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad won't attend the presidential banquet which will be hosted for the Trumps in Delhi, reported India Today . Earlier, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had said that he won't attend the banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as party chief Sonia Gandhi had not been invited.

US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Delhi, after visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra and addressing a huge crowd at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad. The US president and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to hold talks on a wide range of issues including trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism, energy security, proposed peace deal with Taliban in Afghanistan and situation in the Indo-Pacific at Hyderabad House at 11 am on Tuesday.

"They (the Trumps) were really touched after listening to Mumtaz Mahal and Shahjahan's love story. They were also sad after learning that Shahjahan spent the last years of his life at the Agra fort," he said.

Singh, who had also taken Jair Bolsanaro, the President of Brazil, on a guided our, said: "They asked about the history of the Taj Mahal, the gardens, the double dome structure of the Taj Mahal, about the mosque. They had a lo of questions."

Nitin Kumar Singh, the tour guide who showed the Trump around the Taj Mahal premises, said that they had a lot of questions about the monument and were affected the most after listening to Shahjahan and Mumtaz's love story.

"The grandeur and beauty of the Taj Mahal is awe inspiring!" said Ivanka Trump, after visiting the Taj Mahal with her husband Jared Kushner.

In the afternoon, Trump is expected to attend certain private events at the US Embassy, including a roundtable with industry representatives. In the evening, the US president will attend a banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, following which he will depart at 10 pm

US president Donald Trump arrived in Delhi for the main leg of his India visit. He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday morning. Trump will also pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Modi and Trump will later hold restricted and delegation level talks at the Hyderabad House. He will be staying at ITC Maurya hotel.

Donald Trump India Visit Updates: US president Donald Trump arrived in Delhi, after visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra and addressing a huge crowd at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to hold talks n a wide range of issues including trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism, energy security, proposed peace deal with Taliban in Afghanistan and situation in the Indo-Pacific at Hyderabad House at 11 am on Tuesday.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad won't attend the presidential banquet which will be hosted for the Trumps in Delhi, reported India Today. Earlier, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had said that he won't attend the banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as party chief Sonia Gandhi had not been invited.

Donald Trump and Melania have left for the Agra airport, from where they will board a flight to Delhi. They are expected to arrive in the National Capital at 7.30 pm.

"The Taj Mahal inspires awe. A timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture! Thank you India," the US president and First Lady wrote in the visitor's book at the monument.

US president Donald Trump has arrived at the Taj Mahal. The 17th centruy monument has been refurbished to welcome Trump and his family. They will spend about an hour to catch the sunset from the famed mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631.

Donald and Melania Trump have reached Agra for their visit to the Taj Mahal. The city has been spruced up for their visit, with massive billboards bearing greeting messages dotted the nearly 13-km route of his convoy. Along the route, over 3,000 artistes spread over 21 designated designated areas will also present dance forms of Brij, Awadh and other regions, like Krishna Lila.

The US president addressed a mega event named 'Namaste Trump' at the Motera stadium in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the crowd of more than one lakh attendees.

News18 reported that the iconic monument, considered one of the seven-wonders-of-the-world, stands on the bank of the Yamuna, and is always high on the itinerary of visiting heads of state.

Around 25,000 students are likely to welcome US president Donald and Melania Trump in Uttar Pradesh's Agra, News18 reported. The students will greet Trump along the 13-kilometre route planned ahead of his visit to the Taj Mahal.

The report quoted a senior state government official as saying, "Over 25,000 students from government, as well as private schools, will welcome President Trump. 500 women associated with self help groups will also welcome Trump in the historic city."

Even though Donald Trump arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday morning in a Boeing 747 Jumbo aircraft, a smaller Air Force One will fly him to Agra, India Today reported. The aircraft in which he will travel from Ahmedabad to Agra is a C-32A (Boeing 757). However, he will return to US from Delhi in a Boeing 747 Jumbo.

Amid questions raised regarding trade tensions between India and US, Donald Trump said at the Motera stadium that he and Modi will be making 'some very big trade deal' to boost the countries' economy.

Donald Trump promised to settle a three billion dollar defence deal with India during his India visit. Trump also said that both India and US are united in defending citizens from threat of "radical Islamic terrorism".

Donald Trump said, "Five months ago, the United States welcomed your great Prime Minister at a giant football stadium in Texas and today India welcomes us at the world's largest cricket stadium right here in Ahmedabad." He said that he will remember India for its "remarkable hospitality". "India will hold a special place in our hearts. PM Modi started out as 'tea wallah', he worked as a tea seller. Everybody loves him but I will tell you this, he is very tough," Trump said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi starts his address to a packed Motera Stadium. "I had started my America visit with the Howdy Modi event and today, Trump has started his historic India visit with Namaste Trump."

Arriving at the Motera stadium for the Namaste Trump event, Donald Trump and Narendra Modi get set to address a crowd of over 1 lakh people. Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani received the leaders.

In the message he penned in the guestbook at Sabarmati Ashram during his 15-minute visit, US President Donald Trump thanked his "great friend" Narendra Modi for the "wonderful visit" to India. The message did not make any mention of Mahatma Gandhi.

In his 15-minute visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, the Trumps paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. They also tried their hand at spinning the yarn. The US President and Melania signed the guestbook.

Narendra Modi and Donald trump arrived at the Sabarmati Ashram. The US President is scheduled to spend 15 minutes at the ashram and will see the room where Mahatma Gandhi lived for 12 years.

Donald Trump and his high-level delegation will visit Mahatma Gandhi's residence of 12 years at Sabarmati Ashram soon, following which he will kick off the 22-km-long roadshow to Motera cricket stadium.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Ahmedabad airport. They will now visit the Sabarmati Ashram. Modi also welcomed Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

Air Force One, the aircraft carrying US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and his high-level delegation, has landed at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport. They will soon make way to the Sabarmati Ashram, after which they will go to the Motera cricket stadium.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that the government is doing everything to make "Mogambo" happy. "What is the need to spend crores of rupees from the government's treasury? People living in slums are being forced to hide or move to make Trump happy," he said. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also said it is ironical that Gujarat, the birthplace of Gandhiji who was an epitome of simplicity, is indulging in extravagance, while the Shiv Sena said the 36-hour-long sojourn of the US president in the country won't make 'an iota of difference' in the lives of poor and middle-class Indians.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad at 10.25 am, almost an hour and half before Donald Trump's arrival along with his delegation.

The prime minister will receive Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump upon their arrival aboard the Air Force One flight, scheduled to land here at around 11.40 am, officials said.

Before his arrival at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to attend the mega event at the Motera cricket stadium, Donald Trump tweeted in Hindi for the first time saying he is "looking forward to land in India in a few hours".

"We look forward to coming to India. We are on the way, we will meet everyone in a few hours!" Trump tweeted.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia are unlikely to accompany US First Lady Melania Trump during her visit to a government school in Delhi on Tuesday. Responding to the same, Sisodia told ANI, "Certain concerns were expressed by US embassy regarding CM and Deputy CM accompanying the First Lady during the school visit. We respect the same. We welcome the First Lady wholeheartedly and will do our best to facilitate the tour." He said that it is a matter of pride for AAP that the happiness classes are being recognised globally.

US president Donald Trump will arrive in India on Monday for his highly-anticipated visit to the country, during which he will attend a grand event in Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium and visit the Sabarmati Ashram. He is expected to proceed to Delhi after a 15-minute visit to the Taj Mahal at Agra, where he will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friend of mine. I had committed to this trip a long time back. I will be addressing a big rally," Trump said at the White House on Sunday before boarding Air Force one for his journey to India.

The US president, who is scheduled to arrive at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport at around 11.40 am on Monday, will participate along with Modi in roadshows on his way from the airport to Sabarmti Ashram and from there to the newly-built Sardar Patel cricket stadium, where over one lakh people are expected to be present for the 'Namaste Trump' event.

Trump, who is also accompanied by the First Lady Melania, his daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration, will get a taste of India's cultural potpourri during the first leg of his visit.

In Ahmedabad, preparations are in the final stages for the song and dance performance that will take place along the 22-kilometre route of the 'India roadshow'. Huge billboards of the two leaders and replicas of historic places in Gujarat have also been placed along the roads where people will greet the two leaders.

Billboard with slogans hailing Indo-US relations like 'the world's oldest democracy meets the world's largest democracy' and 'stronger friendship for a brighter future', and pictures of Trump and Modi walking together, shaking hands, and waving at the crowd during the 'Howdy Modi' event in the US last year have come up at prominent places. A cut-out of the 12th century 'Kirti Toran' (a pair of columns supporting an arch), from Modi's hometown Vadnagar in Gujarat's Mehsana district, has also been put up outside the Ahmedabad airport to welcome Trump.

Even as preparations were being given the final touches, two makeshift VVIP entry gates erected outside the newly-built cricket stadium in Motera collapsed due to gusty winds on Sunday morning. However, no one was injured in either of the incidents, officials said.

Tight security arrangements are in place with the deployment of over 10,000 police personnel, besides officials of the United States Secret Service, personnel of the National Security Guards (NSG) and the Special Protection Group (SPG).

Earlier in the day, Modi took to Twitter to extend his welcome to Trump.

India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad! https://t.co/fAVx9OUu1j  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 23, 2020

He will accompany Trump to the Sabarmati Ashram, which was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917-1930 during India's freedom struggle. Several world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had visited Sabarmati Ashram in recent years. Ashram secretary Amrut Modi said that Trump will spend 15 minutes at the place, where he would be told about the the importance of charkha (spinning wheel) as a symbol of self-reliance.

"Trump will visit the 'Hriday Kunj'. If he wishes, he will spin a charkha (spinning wheel). We will also gift him a coffee-table book, and a book containing 150 quotations of Gandhi," the Ashram official said. Hriday Kunj is a room on the Ashram premises where Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba Gandhi had lived for 12 years between 1918 and 1930.

The US president will spend the rest of his time in Ahmedabad at the Namaste Trump extravaganza, where Bollywood singers Kailash Kher and Parthiv Gohil, and Gujarati folk singers like Kirtidan Gadhvi, Gita Rabari, Purushottam Upadhyay and Sairam Dave will perform. Students of various government and private schools have also been roped in to perform at cultural events and they have been practicing for days, an official said. Modi and Trump will also address the gathering. Trump is expected to reach the venue by 1.o5 pm.

Trump and his entourage will fly to Agra, which has been spruced up for the visit with massive billboards and American and Indian flags displayed on all major roads. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will welcome the US president on his arrival at the Kheria airport at 4.30 pm on Monday where a group of about 350 artistes will be performing.

A large number of security personnel have been deployed across the city, especially along the nearly 13-km route to be taken by Trump's convoy from the airport to the Amarvilas hotel, and in and around the Taj. In the main city, old roads were repaired, road-dividers painted afresh, illegal hoardings and posters removed, and walls along the route that President Trump will take decorated with painting reflecting the Brij culture and architectural heritage of Agra. Water was being sprayed regularly to ensure there is no dust.

According to the official schedule, the US president will arrive with his family at the Taj Mahal complex at 5:15 pm on Monday and spend about an hour at the famed 17th century mausoleum, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

He will leave for Delhi at 6.15 pm for the main leg of the visit during which restricted and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi will be at Hyderabad House on Tuesday. The eagerly awaited tour of India is expected to significantly ramp up bilateral defence and strategic ties but unlikely to produce tangible outcome in resolving thorny issues like trade tariffs.

The nearly 36-hour-long visit by Trump is also set to send across a clear message of growing congruence of interests on major geopolitical developments in the region and beyond, particularly when China has been expanding its military and economic clout.

On Tuesday, Travel restrictions will come into place at the Taj Mahal, the floors and arches of which were cleaned and polished by workers ahead of the high profile visit. Water has been continuously discharged into the polluted Yamuna in the last few days to improve its environmental condition and get rid of the foul smell emanating from it, and its banks have been cleaned of plastic and other waste.

In Taj Ganj, the area neighbouring the mausoleum, uniorm billboards have been installed in many shops. "About a week ago, the boards were changed to a uniform look for all shops to present a beautiful look. We are very excited about President Trump's visit," said Pawan Kumar, who runs a sweet shop.

The president and the First Lady would be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, on the morning of 25 February. Before the wide-ranging talks between Modi and Trump at the Hyderabad House at 11 am, the couple will visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Following the meeting, Modi will host a lunch for the US president.

In their talks on Tuesday, Trump and Modi are expected to touch on a gamut of bilateral and regional issues including trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism, energy security, proposed peace deal with Taliban in Afghanistan and situation in the Indo-Pacific, according to Indian and US officials. Trump is also likely to raise the issue of religious freedom and discuss the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National register of Citizens (NRC), protests against which have convulsed the country for over two months.

Trump is accompanied by a high-powered delegation comprising Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien and Energy Secretary Dan Broulliette.

In the afternoon, Trump is expected to attend certain private events at the US Embassy, including a roundtable with industry representatives. In the evening, the US president will attend a banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, following which he will depart at 10 pm.

With inputs from PTI
24.02.2020 LISTEN

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has threatened to sue the Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, if he fails to retract his name from the list of beneficiaries of the GETFund scholarship.

A performance audit report from the Auditor- General listed Mr. Nyarko as a scholarship beneficiary of the scheme.

Mr. Nyarko on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News, however, denied this claim, insisting he never benefitted from a GETFund scholarship to study abroad.

He asked the Auditor General to retract what he had published or risk a lawsuit.

I want to state categorically that I have not benefitted from any GETFund scholarship to study abroad. And I do not intend applying for any scholarship from the GETFund administrator to pursue my education. I am capable of financing my own education to whatever level I want to go -whether being locally or abroad so I do not see why the Auditor General will just put my name in the list of people who have benefitted from some form of a scholarship to study abroad.

My focus is why does the Auditor put my name on the list when I have not benefitted? What is his motivation? What is he trying to achieve? We need to ask the Auditor General what his motivation is. As a responsible citizen, I am going to give the Auditor General an option. Either to retract what he has published and if he fails to do that then my lawyers will proceed to court.

MPs also entitled to GETFund scholarships

Mr. Nyarko also defended the decision to grant some Members of Parliament a scholarship under GETFund, saying they were entitled to such benefits given that they pay taxes just like other citizens do.

Assuming that he has been given a scholarship to some Members of Parliament. Dont they pay taxes to the state? They are equally qualified.

Auditor Generals report

The Auditor-General indicted the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for breaching its mandate and illegally funding foreign scholarships.

A performance audit report from the Auditor-General sighted by Citi News said the GETFund Secretariat breached the object of the fund and administered the scholarship themselves.

According to the GETFund's Annual Reports from 2012 to 2018, the secretariat spent GHS 425,698,937 on scholarships on 3,112 beneficiaries out of which 2,217 persons were unlawfully granted scholarships to study abroad.

It also said GETFund's selection process was not robust enough, describing it as unfair, dominated by one person and porous.

This allowed unqualified applicants to benefit rather than brilliant but needy Ghanaians as contemplated by Act 581, the report stated.

Some politicians, for example, are listed as beneficiaries of GETFund scholarships.

The report noted that the current Education Minister, Matthew Opoku-Prempeh and the current Procurement Minister and Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo benefitted from the scheme in the past.

This was however before they became government appointees.

The Procurement Minister is listed as having studied at the Harvard Kennedy School, benefiting from US$12,800 in allowances with US$17,004 in tuition fees.

Education Minister, Dr. Opoku Prempeh is noted to have participated in a course on National and International Security at Harvard University, where he received US$12,800 for living expenses and US$11,200 as tuition fees.

The Minister, in a statement, noted that he was the recipient of a GETFund award in 2014.

citinewsroom
The ousted chief executive of Danske Bank A/S, Thomas Borgen, has been personally targeted in an investor lawsuit arguing he withheld information about potential money laundering that subsequently destroyed the lenders market value.

Deminor, a Brussels-based law firm, said on Friday it has filed a legal complaint against Borgen on behalf of 155 institutional investors seeking damages of 358 million euros ($387 million).

The case is the latest in a string of legal proceedings against Denmarks biggest bank, after it failed to properly screen about 200 billion euros in non-resident flows through its Estonian operations, much of which was subsequently deemed suspicious. Prosecutors in Europe and the U.S. are now looking into the case, and the bank may be facing hefty fines.

Danskes market value has halved since the beginning of 2018, leaving investors furious. Borgen, 55, was fired in late 2018 and has since had preliminary criminal charges brought against him by police in Denmark. He had been in charge of the banks international operations when the Estonian scandal was developing.

Deminor said it believes that investors were misled as to the true situation of the bank as from February 2014. A report published four years later showed that the former CEO and other members of the senior management were briefed in detail by the internal audit team about the illegal activities in Estonia and the substantial risks the bank was facing at the group level.

Edouard Fremault, a partner at Deminor, said that as a former senior collaborator of the bank, the expectation is that Borgen would benefit from an indemnity clause issued by the bank, as it is standard practice, in an emailed response to questions.

Danske Bank said it is defending itself against these claims, in an emailed response to a request for comment. The timing and completion of any such lawsuit is uncertain, and we consider any development together with our external counsel. At this stage, we have no further comments.

Norways sovereign wealth fund, the worlds biggest with about $1.2 trillion in assets, said in an email its one of the investors in the suit.

In a statement published on Friday ahead of Danskes annual general meeting, the bank addressed the issue of liability coverage.

The Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance taken out by Danske Bank for 2020 has a total coverage amount of EUR 85 million. In the view of the Board of Directors, this coverage amount is far from sufficient considering the size of Danske Banks business and the risks associated with this business, including a significantly increased risk exposure under Danish and international laws and regulations and the enforcement thereof by relevant authorities. Danske Bank has tried to take out insurance at a higher level, but this has not been possible due to limited capacity in the liability insurance market. It may not be possible to obtain such coverage in the years to come.

It went on to note that its current liability insurance for directors and officers excludes coverage for claims which are in any way related to or arising out of the Estonia matter.

Since the money-laundering case erupted, Danske has replaced a number of executives and board members to bring in people who arent tainted by the scandal.

On Friday, Danske said Martin Blessing, a 56-year-old German, and Raija-Leena Hankonen, a 59-year-old Finn, will join its supervisory board next month. Until 2016, Blessing was the CEO of Commerzbank where he also worked with Stephan Engels, whos joining Danske as chief financial officer in April. Blessing joined UBS in 2016 as co-head of the wealth management division, but left at the end of last year.

Danske also said it plans to increase the base pay for its board members by at least 23% after the laundering scandal added to their work load.. Danskes board members face increasing requirements and expectations from regulators and other stakeholders and spend more time both during and in between meetings, the bank said in a statement.

With assistance from Marion Halftermeyer, Steven Arons and Mikael Holter.

Photograph: Photograph: A stack of 20 euro banknotes are arranged for a photograph inside a Travelex store, operated by Travelex Holdings Ltd., in London, U.K., on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
Gillian Millane, mother of murdered British backpacker Grace, holds up a photo during her victim impact statement via video link from England, at the sentencing of the man found guilty of her murder at the Auckland High Court in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (Dean Purcel/New Zealand Herald via AP)

New Zealand Killer of British Backpacker Sentenced to Life

WELLINGTON, New ZealandA New Zealand man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for murdering a young British backpacker, whose mother told the court the stealing of her daughters life had ripped a hole in her heart.

Grace Millane was strangled to death on her 22nd birthday in December 2018 by a man she met through the dating app Tinder.

She went out for drinks with him before returning to his hotel apartment in central Auckland, where he killed her. He stuffed her body into a suitcase, drove to a forest, and buried it in a shallow grave, where police found it a week later.

People lay flowers and light candles during a candlelight vigil for the murdered British tourist Grace Millane at Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand on Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker/AP Photo, File)

The 28-year-old mans name is being kept secret for now by court order, a restriction thats sometimes imposed in the New Zealand judicial system for reasons such as another pending trial.

Defense lawyers had claimed the death was accidental after the pair engaged in consensual erotic choking that went too far. A jury in November rejected that argument and found the man guilty.

Murder typically comes with a life sentence in New Zealand, so at stake at Fridays sentencing at the Auckland High Court was the number of years the killer would serve in jail before becoming eligible for parole. The judge set the minimum non-parole period at 17 years after the defense had argued for 12.

Judge Simon Moore ended up agreeing with prosecutors, saying the naked photos the man took of Millane after her death were correctly described as depraved and underscored his total lack of empathy toward her. Moore said callousness was shown by a hardened mind and a numbness of the soul.

Grace was vulnerable. She was a young woman in a strange country, and you were a stranger who she trusted, the judge said, according to news organization Stuff.

Earlier, the victims mother, Gillian Millane, told the court via video link that the killer had ripped a hole in her heart by stealing her daughters life.

Parents of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, Dave and Gillian speak to the media outside the High Court, in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Jason Oxenham/New Zealand Herald via AP, File)

She died terrified and alone in a room with you, Gillian Millane said, according to the New Zealand Herald. The man in the dock kept his head bowed, rubbed his face, and had his eyes closed, the newspaper reported.

The lead detective on the case, Detective Inspector Scott Beard, told reporters afterward that the defense argument that it was rough sex gone wrong had re-victimized Millane and her family.

Strangling someone for five to 10 minutes till they die is not rough sex, the detective said. Jurors had heard during the trial that the man must have continued strangling Millane for some time after she had passed out.

Grace Millanes death shocked many in New Zealand, which prides itself on welcoming tourists and where many people travel abroad themselves. Hundreds of people attended candlelight vigils after she died, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke about New Zealanders feeling hurt and shame that she was killed in their country.

Tourism is one of New Zealands largest industries, accounting for more than 20 percent of foreign exchange earnings and about 6 percent of the overall economy.

The case has been closely followed in Britain as well.

By Nick Perry
China reports another fall in coronavirus infections outside epicenter

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 8:06 AM

China has reported another decrease in the number of new coronavirus infections outside its epicenter in Hubei Province, but world health officials have cautioned that it is still too early to make predictions about the outbreak as the flue-like disease continues to afflict other countries and regions.

China's health commission confirmed 648 new infections on Sunday, with only 18 of them being outside Hubei, the lowest number since Chinese authorities started publishing data on the deadly virus last month.

China has so for reported a total of 76,936 confirmed cases and 2,442 deaths due to the coronavirus, known as COVID-19. More than 1,150 people have also been infected outside China.

The virus has been fatal in two percent of reported cases, with a risk of death higher for older patients and relatively few cases among children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Italy, South Korea report new fatalities

The contagion is reported to have reached some 26 countries and territories outside China, with new deaths in Italy and South Korea.

Seoul confirmed 123 more cases, bringing the total number of those infected in South Korea to 556, with five fatalities.

The new infections in South Korea center in two places, Daegu, a city of about 2.5 million in North Gyeongsang Province, and a hospital in Cheongdo, a county in the same province with about 43,000 people.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that Seoul was raising its alert level for the new coronavirus to the "highest" as a result of a sudden spike in the number of infections.

"The COVID-19 incident faces a grave turning point," Moon said following a government meeting on the matter. "The government will raise the alert level to the highest level."

Cases in Italy  Europe's worst hit country  exceeded 100 on Sunday, with the majority reported in the northern Lombardy region.

Veneto also in northern Italy is another region hard-hit by the outbreak.

Two people died from the infection, prompting Italian officials to impose travel restrictions as well as school and university closures in about a dozen towns.

'A looming threat' to Africa

Meanwhile, the WHO says it is channeling efforts into helping prepare vulnerable countries, including 13 in Africa.

The Geneva-based organization warned that African health systems were ill-equipped to respond to the deadly coronavirus outbreak should cases start to proliferate in the continent.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, called on African Union (AU) member states "to come together to be more aggressive in attacking" the virus.

"Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems," Tedros said during a meeting of 36 African health ministers at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. "We are facing a looming threat, a serious threat for the continent."

Japanese ministry apologizes over mishandling outbreak

The Health Ministry in Japan issued an apology on Saturday after a 64-year-old woman, who had been granted permission to leave a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship docked near Tokyo tested positive for the deadly virus.

Following a two-week quarantine on board, the woman disembarked the Diamond Princess on Wednesday but tested positive after she underwent another test in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

"We deeply apologize for the situation caused by our oversight," Japan's Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told a news conference. "We will take all necessary measures, like double checks, to prevent a recurrence."

Kato added that the Health Ministry would retest 23 passengers released from the ship.

The coronavirus can cause various symptoms, ranging from those of the common cold to more severe diseases such as pneumonia. Common signs include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other respiratory complications.

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American law enforcement is at a crossroads. Most people either support the police or see them as a primary source of injustice against people of color. Even the local city of West Linn is not immune. What the West Linn Police Department, with the assistance of other agencies, did to Michael Fesser is anything but just (Old-boy style racism by small-town cops leads to $600,000 payout to Portland man, Feb. 10). Former West Linn Police Chief Timeus demonstrated that his agency could call upon others to carry out an agenda of vengeance against an African American man, who he perceived as harmful to his friend, Eric Benson. That an innocent man was unlawfully recorded, arrested and charged simply due to a personal vendetta is horrifying. It is even more horrific that Lt. Mike Stradley, who engaged in unethical conduct toward Fesser is now an instructor at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, which trains incoming police officers. Stradley should no longer be certified, let alone training future police officers at DPSST. The corruption of all of the agencies involved in this farce is baffling, absurd and embarrassing. The justice system that so many Americans are proud of is unlawfully targeting and prosecuting people of color simply because of their authority. Local, state, and federal governments need to carefully consider this situation and prosecute those involved in the racial profiling of Michael Fesser.

Hannah Eaton, Gladstone
Mr. Sanders doubled down on his comments in a CNN town hall on Monday night, arguing that many people in Cuba were illiterate when Mr. Castro came to power.

I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing, he said, adding that he has been critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world, including Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia.

Sensing an opening to remind voters about Mr. Sanderss more left-wing views, three of his opponents pounced on the Castro clip from 60 Minutes.

Fidel Castro left a dark legacy of forced labor camps, religious repression, widespread poverty, firing squads, and the murder of thousands of his own people, Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York mayor whose campaign ads have flooded the Florida television airwaves, wrote on Twitter. But sure, Bernie, lets talk about his literacy program.

Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., tweeted: After four years of looking on in horror as Trump cozied up to dictators, we need a president who will be extremely clear in standing against regimes that violate human rights abroad. We cant risk nominating someone who doesnt recognize this.

Cristobal Alex, a senior adviser to former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., called Mr. Sanderss comments dangerous and deeply offensive to the many people in Florida, New Jersey and across the country that have fled political persecution and sought refuge in the United States.

Mr. Sanders might have little to worry about in the Democratic race: Florida does not hold its primary until March 17, after bigger states such as California and Texas.
by Ariane Koek

The architect Sou Fujimoto thinks of space as densities and says architecture is like handling the densities of the air

An endless sea of possibilitiesof particles jumping in and out of existence  thats the description of space by the physicist Bilge Demirkoz, who helped build the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) detector on the International Space Station, thinks of space.

Matter is creation, its evolution, its nature, its us  thats how Fashion designer Iris van Herpen describes matter. The physicist Michael Doser describes matter, the subject of his lifes work, as massive, compace, heaty, light, transparent, filmy, an illusion.

Different ways of looking at the same phenomena, revealing different ways of knowing and experiencing it through the mind or body or both. Laid out side by side in my book Entangle: Physics and the Artistic Imagination, seven physicists and seven artists individually explore what seven different phenomena mean to them. Their interviews reveal the differences as well as connections of seeing the same phenomena through different eyes. It is my belief that it is in the connections, the differences, and the gaps in between, that the two most unique aspects of being human thrive and grow  the sacred space of the imagination and creativity.

Thanks to these connections, differences and gaps we are forced to think and imagine beyond our own parameters, particularly by not knowing and by our failure to fully understand. After all, we only learn to walk as a child by falling down and picking ourselves up, time and time again, until we know our own limits and once we have tested gravity, like amateur physicists, to our utmost capability. Knowledge is built on the unknown and failure, with imagination daring to take us beyond our habitual physical and conceptual limits, as the first Arts at CERN Collide artist in residence, German artist Julius von Bismarck shows in his video piece Escape Shapes (2016) which is composed of a multiplicity of different clips of failed rocket launches.

Julius himself says: What makes it [physics] so inspiring for me is that you can always discover something that you couldnt understand or even imagine before and that you maybe still cant imagine. This boundary of my imagination is where I get a lot of inspiration. Every new weird fact that is funny to imagine or hard to imagine is for me an inspiration to go into a corner of my brain that I havent used before or that is not existing yet. I have to kind of extend my imagination to understand it. Then, Im failing in that. I like that failure. Thats actually an inspiration for a couple of works I made.

Or as the physicist Albert Einstein famously said in a renowned newspaper interview published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1929: Knowledge is limited. Imagination embraces the whole world.1

It is this space of the imagination which different ways of knowing create when they encounter each other, which inspired me to initiate, create and direct for five years the Arts at CERN programme at the worlds largest particle physics laboratory outside Geneva. From the moment I began building Arts at CERN in 2010  now 10 years ago  I talked about the beauty of what I called creative collisions  and how they open up a space for both artists and the scientists alike to smash through paradigms and fixed ways of thinking. The programme concentrated in its first five years when I was directing it, on the magic of the process of imagination, different ways of knowing and looking at the world colliding with each other, with no expected outcomes.

But the imagination is not just the exclusive domain of artists: it is fundamental to both experimental and theoretical physicists and the actual process of discovery as the science writer Philip Ball lays out in his important and ground-breaking essay in my book. The role of the imagination in discovery was also considered when the best-selling physicist Carlo Rovelli, was drawing on one of the blackboards that form part of the Polish artist Goshka Macugas new commission for the exhibition I curated on physics and art at Bildmuseet, Sweden. It is a composite installation comprising black- boards drawn on by nine contemporary physicists, the German artist Joseph Beuys, Albert Einstein, and the founder of biodynamics and educationalist Rudolf Steiner. When Rovelli wrote an equation using the Penrose system for describing his theory of the white hole, the theoretical opposite counterpart to the black hole, he said that just because white holes in the universe havent been seen yet doesnt mean that they dont exist. You just have to imagine them. He added that when black holes were first predicted by Einstein in 1916 with his general theory of relativity, people said they did not exist. Fifty-five years later, the first one was observed and now they are commonly accepted as real.

Thus, the notion of science as being purely objective and logical is a myth. Imagination and intuition are entangled in the process of scientific discovery, just as they are in the artistic process. Our perception of science as the ultimate objective truth, which precludes the imagination, dates from the Enlightenment  the so-called Age of Reason, in the seventeenth century. This false separation may be due to a fear of sciences origins when it was closely associated with alchemy  which is often characterized as the search for the philosophers stone  the key to the material world and the transformation of matter, including base metals to gold. Science, in particular chemistry and the natural sciences, became detached from the perceived magic of alchemy by creating scientific methodology, factual proof, and analysis. But the imagination is very closely connected to magic. As Philip Ball also points out in his essay in my book, imagination shares the same etymological root as magic  which, in the age just before the time of Isaac Newton, did not necessarily mean superstitious agency but the hidden forces by which natural magicians comprehended and claimed to manipulate nature.

However, there may be a more complex reason for the separation of the imagination from science. It may relate to power and social control. The Italian philosopher Federico Campagna in his book Technic and Magic: The Reconstruction of Reality starts on the premise that reality is always a reconstruction.2 Reality is never real per se. In fact, this is certainly what science says. We dont ever actually see an object in the real world: we only see the light bouncing off it, which is reflected in our eyes, and then our brains create an impression of the object which we then see. He charts from the Age of Enlightenment the rise of Techne  logic, form, and order with its language of absolutism  as a way of controlling human beings and thus their behavior. Magic or the imagination poses a threat to Technes social and political control of the masses because it centers its reconstruction of the world around the notion of the ineffable, the unnamable and inexplicable which cannot be put into words or ever be pinned down, yet lies at the very heart of existence. This idea is not far away from the writings of the Romantic poets, such as Percy Bysshe Shelley, who wrote about the radical ability of the imagination to challenge all borders and to create revolution. He also went so far as to claim that the imagination is the great instrument of the moral good.

I would go so far as to also say that this is why today contemporary art is becoming persistently driven to become utilitarian and more useful. Art is increasingly in danger of becoming a direct tool to describe, illustrate, and/or co-create solutions for political and social issues  what I would call art by design. There is increasing pressure for contemporary art to have a purpose, system, and logic, which bleeds it of its mystery and ineffability  and thus also dissolves its imaginative and experiential powers as well as aesthetics. These powers also can transform lives, change attitudes, ways of looking at and experiencing the world  but they are not directly applied or measurable. Couple this with the rise of science and technology as dominant cultural and economic forces, and there is also the danger that science and technology together may swallow contemporary art whole  and become the more dominant part  to the detriment of art and ultimately of society.

All of these different factors create an urgent need to investigate and revise the way in which we understand the relationship between science and the arts, their histories, and how they intra-relate. One important step in this direction is a new book called The Experimental Imagination by the academic Tita Chico.3 She shows that the arts and sciences in fact borrowed from each other in order to argue their legitimacy as modes of knowledge-making in Britain during the eighteenth-century Enlightenment. Literature used the tropes of science to legitimize its own claims to objectivity, whilst science used metaphors from literature as a way of explaining the imagination of science, giving it status by laying claim to be communicating to the popular realm. As her work shows, it is too simplistic to suggest that the Enlightenment heralded the division between objectivity and rationalism in science, and ego and experience in the humanities. The intra-connectiveness is far more complex than that. And we are only just beginning to unravel this entanglement.

Furthermore, Linda Dalrymple Henderson, the primary academic in the field of physics and art, based at the University of Texas at Austin, sheds new light on the relationship with the arts from the scientific point of view. She points out that ideas about space and time in fiction predated those of Einstein, which led to the general theory of relativity. Works of fiction may have opened up scientists minds to exploring these possibilities in the first place.4 This hints at what the eminent biologist Edward O. Wilson calls the extra dimension of the humanities, which science doesnt have: the infinity of fantasy worlds.5

What is increasingly emerging in the fashion for art science or sci art is growing anecdotal evidence of how in fact the arts are influencing the work of the scientists themselves. For example, the theoretical physicist James Wells, who amongst other areas, looks at extra dimensions and new worlds, participated in the Arts at CERN program. He talked about how the experience of working with Julius von Bismarck made him look at his own theoretical work differently and would no doubt affect his findings in the future. The experimentalist and antimatter expert Michael Doser, one of the founding members of the CERN Cultural Board for the Arts program, similarly talked about how working with artists taught him how the artists enjoyment of detours in making work caused him to look at alternative ways of problem solving his scientific experiments.6 However, there is no proof that these interactions have led to big discoveries  yet. Much more academic investigation and extensive long-term tracking are required into how the arts have impacted upon science, and scholarship is only at the beginning. But what can be said without doubt, according to the former physicist and Director of FACT, Liverpool, UK, Nicola Triscott, is that the culture of physics as a whole is benefiting through what the philosopher John Dewey calls the experiential possibilities of art and its humanizing effect.

All of these factors point to the histories of arts and science being much more entangled than has been appreciated. There may very well be an intra-action between the arts and science  very much as there is in tangential realism  the approach created by the physicist turned philosopher Karen Barad. In her influential book Meeting the Universe Halfway from 2007, she talks about how everything is entangled  subject and object, inanimate and animate, sentient and non-sentient beings, stressing that

To be entangled is not simply to be intertwined with another, as in the joining of separate entities, but to lack an independent, self-contained existence. Existence is not an individual affair.7

This is what Barad calls intra- action, where the existence of one thing affects the existence and composition of another entity, whether sentient or not, across time and space. Its always changing, and always in the process of being. This is the entanglement described in the introductory essay by Carlo Rovelli, which also contains an honest and forthright con- fession: that we dont know how entanglement works the way it does. We just know what it does. As physics itself admits, we only know 6 percent of the universe. We have another 94 percent learn more about, which apparently comprises the mysterious Dark Matter and Dark Energy which theoretically make up the rest of the universe.

For the next steps in scientific discovery, just as in art, what we need more of is greater curiosity, and above all our imagination and creativity, to drive knowledge and our different ways of knowing forward.8 And perhaps that indicates what is really at the heart of all our existences: not only the intra-action between the visible and invisible, the material and immaterial, but also, crucially, the ineffable. This cannot be contained/explained/reduced to a formula however hard we try in our rational and technological age. Like the American artist, Sarah Szes piece Dark Matter, which was in the exhibition at Bildmuseet and is seemingly made up of random detritus  photographs, postcards, glass tumblers, a reading lamp  what is entangled is that indefinable and illusive space on the borders of consciousness and unconsciousness, where imagination and knowledge meet. In that space, as in Sarahs work, we are in a constant state of entangled be-(com)ing  together (a)part.

***

This is an adapted edition of my introductory essay in Entangle: Physics and the Artistic Imagination (Hatje Cantz/Bildmuseet 2019) Editor Ariane Koek. With essays by Carlo Rovelli, Philip Ball, Nicola Triscott, Ariane Koek and Gavin Parkinson. Featuring the work of 14 contemporary artists who are inspired by physics in different ways including the fashion designer Iris van Herpen, the architect Sou Fujimoto and artists William Kentridge, Jorinde Voigt and musician Ryoji Ikeda. https://www.hatjecantz.de/entangle-7394-1.html

Link to the exhibition curated by Ariane Koek Entangle: Physics and the Artistic Imagination at Bildmuseet, Umea, Sweden (October 2018-April 2019): http://www.bildmuseet.umu.se/en/exhibition/entangle/31713

Link to a short film showing the exhibition Entangle: Physics and the Artistic Imagination at Bildmuseet, Umea, Sweden (October 2018-April 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDygWkzOXgw

FOOTNOTES

1 What Life Means to Einstein: An Interview by George Sylvester Viereck, The Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929, http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/wp-content/uploads/ satevepost/what_life_means_to_einstein.pdf.

2 Federico Campagna, Technic and Magic: The Reconstruction of Reality (London: Bloomsbury, 2018).

3 Tita Chico, The Experimental Imagination: Literary Knowledge and Science in the British Enlightenment (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2018).

4 Peter L. Galison, Gerald Holton, and Silvan S. Schweber, eds., Einstein for the 21st Century: His Legacy in Science, Art, and Modern Culture (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2008), p. xiii.

5 Edward O. Wilson, The Origins of Creativity (London: Penguin, 2018), p. 187. If science is the bedrock of the humanities, the humanities have further reach. Where scientific observation addresses all phenomena existing in the real world, scientific experimentation addresses all possible real worlds, and scientific theory addresses all conceivable worlds, the humanities encompass all three of these levels and one more, the infinity of all fantasy worlds.

6 Quotes taken from notes on conversations with the author in 201214.

7 Karen Barad, in her influential book Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning from 2007, published by Duke University Press.

8 In 2011, the National Science Foundation in the USA, in collaboration with The Exploratorium, San Francisco, held a conference called Art as a Way of Knowing. This landmark con- ference with over 125 international artists, scientists, and transdisciplinary thinkers posited that the arts are a legitimate way of inquiry, research, and knowing as much as the sciences. See Marina McDougall, Bronwyn Bevan, and Robert Semper, Art as a Way of Knowing Conference Report, 2012, https://www.exploratorium.edu/files/pdf/cils/Art_as_a_Way_of_Know- ing_report.pdf.

Short Biography

Ariane Koek is an independent arts/science consultant, artistic director, producer and writer. She is also a specialist in artists residency programmes. She initiated and founded Arts at CERN in 2010, designing and directing the 3 strands  Collide international and swiss residencies, Accelerate and Visiting Artists programmes until 2015. Today she is a recognized world leader in the field of science and art(Andrea Bandelli, Director of Science Gallery International.

She is Senior Arts Advisor to the Exploratorium, San Francisco, USA, Founder and Producer of Earth Water Sky environmental arts and science residencies at Science Gallery Venice, Italy, and Creative Partner on the new Cavendish Arts Science programme, University of Cambridge, UK.

In 2020 she is co-curator of Real Feelings: Emotion and Technology at HEK, Basel, Switzerland which opens Mays 27th, and Backlight  the Nordic Photography Triennale held in Tampere, Finland September 2020. Her book Entangle: Physics and the Artistic Imagination featuring essays by Philip Ball, Gavin Parkinson, Carlo Rovelli and Nicola Triscott was published by Hatje Cantz/Bildmuseet Autumn 2019

Website: https://www.arianekoek.com Twitter: Beauty Quark

Linked In : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariane-koek-243241b/
Asia Malaysian PM Mahathir Sends Resignation Letter to King

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is interviewed in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Dec. 10, 2019. / REUTERS

KUALA LUMPURPrime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has submitted a letter of resignation to Malaysias king, his office said on Monday, amid talk of forming a new governing coalition.

The fate of Malaysias ruling coalition had been in doubt after surprise weekend talks between it and opposition groups on forming a new government that would exclude Mahathirs anointed successor Anwar Ibrahim.

The letter has been sent to His Royal Highness the King at 1 p.m., Mahathirs office said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear if Mahathir could form another government with the support of other parties, but his party, Bersatu, has also quit the ruling coalition, its president, Malaysian Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Facebook.

On Sunday, Anwar had accused Mahathirs party and traitors in his own party of plotting to form a new government with the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the former ruling party ousted in 2018 amid graft accusations.

Sources said Mahathirs party and a faction in Anwars party met officials from UMNO and Islamist party PAS in efforts to form a new coalition and possibly back Mahathir to serve out a full five-year term as prime minister.

The turmoil, which comes amid growing concerns about the spread of coronavirus, spooked investors, driving Kuala Lumpurs benchmark to a 10-year low, while the ringgit currency slid 0.7 percent to an almost six-month low, its sharpest drop in over three years.

The tussle between old rivals Mahathir, 94, and Anwar, 72, has shaped Malaysian politics for decades and tension has persisted, despite their alliance to win 2018 elections based on a promise that Mahathir would one day cede power to Anwar.

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OTTAWA - Canada's border measures to guard the country against incoming cases of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, will likely become less effective as the virus spreads, the country's chief medical officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus on a street in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. Iran's health ministry raised Sunday the death toll from the new virus to 8 people in the country, amid concerns that clusters there, as well as in Italy and South Korea, could signal a serious new stage in its global spread. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

OTTAWA - Canada's border measures to guard the country against incoming cases of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, will likely become less effective as the virus spreads, the country's chief medical officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday.

Canada has so far been able to detect and isolate cases of coronavirus as patients arrive in Canada thanks, in part, to passenger screening at international airports. So far Canada has confirmed 11 cases of the virus.

The most recent patient, a British Columbia man in his 40s, contracted the virus after coming into close contact with a woman who was infected on a recent trip to Iran. He showed symptoms before the woman was diagnosed.

The virus has also begun to spread from person to person in several countries outside China, where COVID-19 was first detected. The last few days have seen sudden increases of cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea.

"These signs are concerning, and they mean that the window of opportunity for containment, that is for stopping the global spread of the virus, is closing," Tam said. "It also tells countries like Canada, who have been able to detect and manage imported cases thus far, that we have to prepare."

The main concern is that people without symptoms, or with only very mild symptoms, could be spreading the virus in countries that don't have the means to detect cases, Tam said.

The government has also updated its advice to travellers returning from abroad and has asked them to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for two weeks after they return, no matter where they travelled. Those are similar to the symptoms of influenza: a cough, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, fatigue and aches.

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks at a press conference in Ottawa, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Canada's chief public health officer Theresa Tam says the window of opportunity to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus is closing as the virus begins to spread in more and more countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

"We can highlight countries that are currently impacted by the coronavirus, but it is important when you travel anywhere to take these general precautions," Tam said.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the public-health agency will be tracking other close contacts of the two most recent cases in B.C. to check on their health.

She said this situation is indicative of the global crisis, especially in countries like Iran where the virus spread initially without the government's knowledge.

"It is very important that we shift our focus to our domestic situation," Hajdu said.

The most important action the government can take at airports is to educate people as they come into the country, Tam said, so they know what signs and symptoms to look for and what to do if they have concerns.

The World Health Organization says it's still too early to declare COVID-19 a pandemic  the definition requires that a disease be detected just about worldwide  but the spread of the bug in multiple countries is a major concern.

"This is not the time to focus on what word we use. That will not prevent a single infection today, or save a single life today," said WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a briefing. "This is a time for all countries, communities, families and individuals to focus on preparing."

Canada's priority wouldn't change even if a pandemic were declared, Tam said. The goal is still to hold the virus off for as long as possible before it starts spreading from person to person within the country.

"By delaying even a little bit we might be able to reduce the impact now, and making sure our health system has gone past influenza season is a very specific public-health objective," she said.

Getting past the flu season without a major outbreak would seriously ease the burden on hospitals, she said.

It's not just up to the health system to get ready for a possible outbreak in Canada, Tam said. Workplaces also need to prepare. Part of that preparation will include encouraging people who are sick to stay home, despite the tendancy for Canadians to show to up work even when they're not feeling well, Tam said.

Another case of the virus has also been confirmed by health officials in Toronto, who said a woman in her 20s contracted a mild case while travelling in China. The woman had been in China since late last year, had travelled to Wuhan  the centre of the outbreak  before it was quarantined, then went elsewhere in the country before returning to Canada on Feb. 21.

"Given the fact that she actually is resolving and is quite well, the patient was discharged, was told to self-isolate and I'm pleased to say is presently recovering well at home and in isolation," said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's top public-health officer.

The woman wore a mask while travelling back to Canada, and a family member who picked her up from the airport also wore a mask, de Villa said.

Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health, said given the limited contact with others and the woman's mild illness, she likely presents a low risk.

Meanwhile hundreds of Canadians remain in mandatory quarantine after they were repatriated from Wuhan, China, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was stricken with the virus earlier this month.

All of the evacuees are in good health and show no signs of the virus, Tam said. Those from Wuhan who have been isolated in the Canadian Forces Base Trenton for two weeks are expected to be released tomorrow, the second large group of evacuees to be allowed to go home.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.

With files from Allison Jones in Toronto
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkmenistan increased import of leather goods from Turkey in January 2020, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on Feb. 24.

According to the ministry, Turkmenistans import of leather goods from Turkey amounted to $250,000, which is 40.8 percent more compared to January 2019.

In 2019, Turkmenistan imported leather goods from Turkey worth $4 million, which is 31.89 percent more compared to 2018.

In January 2020, Turkeys export of leather goods to world markets amounted to $133.4 million, showing an increase of 14.22 percent compared to the same month of 2019.

In 2019, Turkeys foreign trade turnover exceeded $374.2 billion.

Turkey's export increased by 2.1 percent in 2019 and amounted to $171.5 billion compared to 2018. In the meantime, Turkey's import dropped by 9.1 percent and amounted to $202.7 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Bernie Sanders has stirred controversy after seemingly defending certain aspects of Fidel Castros Cuban revolution, saying he opposed the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad".

Speaking to CBS 60 Minutes, the Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate addressed past comments he made in apparent support of Cubas literacy programme, saying: We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know?"

He added: When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy programme. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?"

Republicans quickly slammed Mr Sanders comments, calling the partial defence un-American as a clip of the interview went viral and Castro began trending across social media.

Carlos Lopez-Cantera, the former Cuban-American lieutenant governor of Florida, wrote on Twitter: Hey @BernieSanders, FYI everything is, was and will be bad about the Cuban revolution. Saying anything else, is un-American.

Ana Navarro-Cardenas, a Republican strategist and political commentator, recalled how the Sandinistas adopted Cubas education model when she was a young girl in Nicaragua after the interview aired on Sunday night.

The books/curriculum taught ideological indoctrination, she wrote in a tweet. Children had to recite communist, revolutionary, anti-American slogans. Thats how communist teach people to read and write.

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

Throughout the 60 Minutes interview, Mr Sanders said he condemned Cubas government for imprisoning political dissidents, while adding that he strongly rejected despots.

Unlike Donald Trump  I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend," he said. "I don't trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine."

He also defended his brand of democratic socialism from Donald Trumps frequent attacks labelling Mr Sanders  who has gained a clear frontrunner status in the Democratic primaries  a communist.

What democratic socialism is about is saying, Lets use the federal government to protect the interests of working families, Mr Sanders said.

But Republicans latched onto the senators comments about Cubas literacy programme, with Marco Rubio, the Republican senator from Florida, writing in a tweet: Likely Dem nominee praised the supposed 'achievements' Castro regime.

And he's wrong about why people didn't overthrow Castro, Mr Rubio, a Cuban American, wrote. Its not because he educated their kids, gave them health care its because his opponents were jailed, murdered or exiled.

The comments were not likely to play well for Mr Sanders in places like Miami, the liberal news blog Palmer Report suggested, where a large demographic of Cuban American voters largely oppose Castros revolution.

The prominent: blog tweeted: Wait, does he understand how badly this plays with Cuban-American voters? Is he trying to LOSE Florida? Who's Bernie going to praise next, Jack the Ripper?"
Students Report Will Shock

HEROIC STORY OF FREEDOM RIDE

When the full story is told of the Sydney students Freedom Ride against race discrimination in New South Wales country towns it will shake a lot of people.

A group of typical Aboriginal school children at Moree sharply refutes such slander.

It will reveal shameful treatment of Aborigines by local RSL leaders and other upper crust groups, police, health authorities and government administrators.

It will also arouse widespread pride in the courage and dignity with which the young students and the local Aboriginal people, young and old, have joined hands to expose racial oppression and hysteria.

I met the students in Moree when they had already become a national and international news-sensation, after the attempt by a young hooligan to wreck their bus at night on the Walgett to Moree road.

I learned some of the things that have not always come out clearly in the daily press.

For example, when the thirty students set out from Sydney at midnight on February 12th, Negro folk song and dance performers of the Go Tell It on the Mountain stage company farewelled them, leading the singing of We Shall Overcome  an anthem of the Negro civil rights movement in the United States.

One of the main things about the students expedition has been that their visits have encouraged many of the Aboriginal people to stand up for their rights.

They have also encouraged many among the white population who want to get rid of discrimination and have won more over to this viewpoint.

This was demonstrated in the experiences in both Walgett and Moree.

In Walgett, where 900 of the 3,000 inhabitants are Aborigines, hundreds of people, white and Aborigine, joined in discussion of the discrimination issue, during the seven-hour demonstration by the students outside the Returned Servicemens Club (which refuses membership to Aborigines).

In Moree, the students played an important part in a combined operation that has thrown a clear spotlight on the activities of a powerful, bigoted minority in this town.

Cover-Up

Events of the last few days have shown that this minority, like their counterparts in Walgett, have worked hard to cover up their own racism and dodge the publicity.

For example, they have tried to soft pedal the exclusion of Aboriginal children from the Moree swimming pool, as laid down in a Moree Council Ordinance dated June 6, 1955.

What is not public knowledge is that this offending colour-bar Ordinance, which the student demonstrations challenged, was REAFFIRMED by the Council at its meeting last week, February 18. It is reported that the only member to oppose it was the Mayor, Alderman W Lloyd.

The Ordinance which applies also to the Councils Memorial Hall is worth quoting from the 1955 minutes:

3. Patronage of Baths and Memorial Hall.

that no person, being a full-blooded or half-caste aboriginal native of Australia, or being a person apparently having an admixture of aboriginal blood, shall use or occupy, or be present in or upon, or be allowed or permitted or invited to use or occupy or be present in or upon the premises of the Council known as the Memorial Hall, or in or upon any of the buildings or places ancillary there-to, including the supper-room, kitchen servery, toilets and passages.

AND THAT no such person as afore-said shall use or occupy, or be present in or upon or be allowed or permitted to use or occupy or be present in or upon the premises of the Council known as the Bore Baths, or in or upon any of the buildings or places enclosed therewith. That Ordinance was originally recommended by the 1955 Council Works Committee; and moved by Alderman Col Robinson, seconded by Ald T Doyle (deceased) and carried unanimously by: the Mayor (Ald A Sadlier) and Ald W T Tait, J Hawkins, A D Gildersleeve, A Bulluss and J K Boland (deceased).

Last, week, when the students arrived in Moree, they investigated conditions of Aborigines at the segregated State Government reserve as they had done at other places of call  Wellington, Dubbo, Gulargambone and Walgett.

Facts gained in these surveys, including very bad housing, police brutality and ill-treatment of Aboriginal children, will bear a lot of looking into.

They made a check of the council regulations and had an interview with the Mayor, W Lloyd, Alderman Jones and a council staff man, and learned of the ten-year-old Ordinance.

During that day, the students demonstrated at the Council Chamber, then at the baths and were able to secure the entry of 31 Aboriginal children into the baths.

That night came a most important development for Moree. Several-hundred Moree citizens, with ex-alderman R Brown prominent among them, held a public meeting which, after some disruption by a segregationist minority, overwhelmingly carried a motion calling for an end to the bath ban.

Mr Brown has consistently opposed the Councils policy on this issue. The students were present at the meeting, and their capable and courageous leader, Mr Charles Perkins, was a speaker there, but basically it was a public meeting of Moree people.

Students demonstrate outside Moree Council Chambers against ordinance barring Aborigines use of its swimming pool and memorial hall. Later the students demonstrated outside the pool. Moree authorities claimed the law was to maintain hygiene.

Violence

Such developments far outweighed the disgraceful attempts of a frenzied minority to copy the violence of the US Southern States so as to terrorise the students and local citizens, particularly the Aborigines.

This was seen in Moree, last Saturday, when the students were pelted with rubbish and some suffered physical violence, from the mobsters during the final demonstration at the swimming pool. But the demonstrators won the day when they extracted the pledge from Mayor Lloyd to move to rescind the colour-bar Ordinance. More serious was the attempted murder on the Walgett-Moree road which the chartered bus driver, Bill Pakenham, described to me this way:

We left Walgett at approximately 10 pm for Moree. About 3-4 miles out, we were overtaken by a truck travelling at high speed. It swung in front braking, causing me to swerve the bus to the left to avoid a collision.

This was repeated twice more. On the third time, I was unable to avoid a collision and the bus and truck collided.

The bus was forced over the embankment. This was 3 to 4 feet high on an angle of about 45 degrees. The bus could quite easily have rolled, and I had to steer down the embankment to prevent that happening. The bus stopped about 100 yards further on and about 30 yards off the road.

Packenham said that they could quite easily have been killed and was surprised at the way the local newspapers played the whole thing down.

He might well have added surprise that most people feel that the police, after getting the full facts of the attack, did not press charges against the culprit.

This article appeared in the Tribune, February 1965.
Hours after one of Indias most wanted criminals was brought back to the country, a police officer who was instrumental in tracking and dragging back Ravi Pujari divulged crucial details about the days and months leading up to his arrest and consequent extradition.

Karnataka State police Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Amar Kumar Pandey, on Monday, stated that the Supreme Court of Senegal, on February 19, rejected the last legal option available for Ravi Pujari under their law and ordered for his immediate extradition.

"Pujari had acquired citizenship in Burkina Faso where he stayed for 12 years as a businessman (textile and restaurant business). Later on, he moved to Senegal and started a restaurant by the name of 'Maharaja'. He continued with his business of giving threats to people from the film industry, businessmen, builders, developers, doctors, and other professionals", he said.

READ | Fugitive Gangster Ravi Pujari Sent To 7-day Police Custody By Bengaluru Court

Ravi Pujari's escape

Ravi Pujari has been missing since 1994 after he was accused of several high profile murders in Mumbai. He was untraceable and then escaped to Nepal, to Bangkok, then from there to Uganda, Burkina Faso and then finally Senegal.

"After his escape to Nepal, he got a fake Indian passport, created with the help of passport brokers, where he has shown his home address as in Mysore. By using this fake passport he traveled to Burkina Faso. He was a very influential person in Burkina Faso. After he got a Burkina Faso passport, he discarded the Indian passport. He even traveled to the USA by using the Burkina Faso passport. His age is 59 years as per the passport (Burkina Faso), with his date of birth mentioned being: 25 January 1961", Amar Kumar Pandey divulged.

Pujaris annual income was reportedly 25 to 30 Lakhs, according to police sources.

READ | Karnataka DGP Congratulates Team That Brought Back Gangster Ravi Pujari To India

Ravi Pujari's arrest

The underworld gangster was first identified on 18th Dec 2018 and this identification was beyond reasonable doubts, although reconfirmation happened on 1st Jan 2019. He was living in Senegal under the name of Anthony Fernandes.

Debunking theories that Pujari had skipped bail and fled from Senegal, Pandey said, He was arrested on 19th, January 2019 and was sent to prison until he was arrested on 22 February 2020. The extradition process took two days to complete.

READ | MASSIVE: Don Ravi Pujari Arrested In Senegal, To Be Extradited To India By Monday

On Monday, after a brief medical examination, he was produced before 1st ACMM and will remain in police custody till March 7. Once the Karnataka police complete the process of filing the supplementary charge sheet, other agencies concerned who would like to investigate would be given an opportunity to them.

Pujari has 97 cases in Karnataka alone of which appropriately 47 cases were filed in Bengaluru. Several other cases have been filed in Mumbai (Thane) and certain districts of Gujarat too.

READ | Fugitive Gangster Ravi Pujari Brought To India, Will Be Produced Before Court On Monday
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has explained the reasons behind the ongoing review of some of the policies initiated by his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Mr Oyetola said his administrations desire to position the state for the benefit of the citizens and residents alike, and the demand by residents for the review, informed his decision.

The governor stated this while receiving the report of the committee set up to appraise the various issues including the school uniform, merger, abolition of single sex schools, among others.

This is contained in a statement issued by the chief press secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, shortly after the submission of the report by the committee.

The statement quoted the governor to have said: As a government, our policies and programmes are driven by citizens needs. These needs which were further validated by the United Kingdom Department for International Developments (DFID)- funded Citizens Needs Assessment exercise in Osun, were harvested during the Thank You Tour/Town Hall Meetings, where the people told us in plain language that they wanted some aspects of our educational policies removed, adjusted or improved upon.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported the decision of the state to reverse some of the policies found to be controversial and ineffective.

The chairman of the committee, Olu Aina, said 11 recommendations were made by the members during a two-day roundtable summit held in the state between Thursday and Friday, last week.

He said the merger of primary 5 and 6 pupils and the idea of middle school were alien to the national policy on education.

Mr Aina said; Even though education is on the concurrent legislative list of the Constitution of Nigeria, a state policy should be closely aligned to, and flow from the National Policy so that products of our education policy and practice are not disadvantaged.

The statement is reproduced below:

Education Policy: Were committed to securing our childrens future Oyetola

Receives Panels report

The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said his administration is resolved to repositioning the State for the betterment of all the citizens, saying that it is committed to securing future of the children and those unborn.

He said government remains committed to improving every sector as its policies and programmes are driven by citizens needs.

Governor Oyetola stated these on Monday while receiving the report of the panel of the Education Policy Review Roundtable Summit at the Governors Office, Abere, Osogbo.

The Governor had earlier constituted the Panel led by a renowned educationist, Professor Olu Aina, to look at some extant education policies in the State, with a mandate to review and come up with workable recommendations that could further improve the States education system.

Quoting a renowned American author, John C. Maxwell, who has written many books on leadership, Oyetola, who noted a man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them, further said every responsible and responsive government must make peoples demands the basis of its policies and implementation.

He added that the need to review the education policy was informed by the peoples demand, saying the government would ensure full implementation of whatever that will improve the lots of the people and protect the future of its children.

It was our desire to hearken to the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry that necessitated this review in the first instance.

As a government, our policies and programmes are driven by citizens needs. These needs which were further validated by the United Kingdom Department for International Developments (DFID)- funded Citizens Needs Assessment exercise in Osun, were harvested during the Thank You Tour/Town Hall Meetings, where the people told us in plain language that they wanted some aspects of our educational policies removed, adjusted or improved upon.

That was what led to the Policy Review Roundtable Summit, the report of which we are receiving today. We are prepared to do what will improve the lots of our people and protect the future of our children.

As a leader therefore, I am conscious of the need to be just and fair to all manner of people regardless of their leanings in the discharge of my duties. This I will always uphold.

Finally, let me once again thank the Chairman and members of the Policy Review Panel for investing their time in the future of our children and those unborn.

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Rest assured that your efforts will not be in vain. We will be swift and proactive in debating it at our level with a view to implementing the recommendations without any further delay, Oyetola added.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the panel, Professor Olu Aina, said the panel had painstakingly reviewed and addressed all education-related issues with a view to strengthening the delivery of quality and affordable education in response to the wishes and yearnings of the people of the State.

He noted that the panel proposed 11 recommendations within the context of the national education policy and global best practices, saying for instance that the merging of Primary 5 and 6, though laudable for reason of school feeding initiative, violated the 6-3-3-4 structure.

Prof. Aina added that the creation of the 4-5-3-4 and the Middle School are unknown to the National Policy on Education (NPE). 

While recommending the retaining of Opon Imo, with some medications, other issues X-rayed by the panel are: policy of mixing male and female pupils in schools established for single sex students and desirability of retaining the posts of Head Masters General and Tutors General in the rank of Permanent Secretary among others.

The issues were subjected to comprehensive and critical review; they were individually discussed in consideration of situating the education policies of the State of Osun within the context of the overall national education policy and global best practices, and especially considering the interest of students and their parents.

Even though education is on the concurrent legislative list of the Constitution of Nigeria, a state policy should be closely aligned to, and flow from the National Policy so that products of our education policy and practice are not disadvantaged, Prof. Aina added.
Fire has destroyed 10 houses harbouring silos in Dirani village, Jigawa state.

The Suletankarkar Local Government council Information Officer, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the silos contained grains worth over N5 million.

Abubakar said the silos contained sorghum, beans and guinea corn, among others.

Abubakar said the fire, which occurred late on Sunday, was believed to have started from a kitchen in one of the houses.



According to him, the occupants of the building might have failed to put out the fire used in cooking.

We are suspecting that the fence of the house caught fire from the cooking spot and spread to other houses in the neighbourhood, he said.

The spokesman said the councils Chairman, Alhaji Jaafaru Mohammad, had visited the village for on-the-spot assessment of the incident.

He called on the State Emergency Management Agency to assist the affected persons with relief materials.

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Ciscos network certification lineup is set for a major overhaul. The company is adding a new coding-focused track to its offerings, and it's continuing to streamline its core designations: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), and Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE).

Gaps in the companys certification curriculum became clear more than a year ago, according to Derek Winchester, CEO of consultancy Gotcha 6 Technologies and a member of Ciscos CCIE Advisory Council. Job descriptions that hiring managers were posting to attract network professionals increasingly included many more skills than the CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE were providing.

Hiring managers had so much packed in there, including awareness of cloud and Amazon Web Services as well as Python [scripting language], Winchester says. He felt Cisco was falling short on its promise to position CCIEs as leaders in technology. All senior-level CCIEs are expected to be able to design the worlds most complex networks, and, according to Winchester, their training was no longer supporting that.

Even CCNAs, who were being funneled into specific tracks such as security or wireless, could no longer speak the same language, Winchester says. They came out knowing security and wireless well, but they couldnt communicate the fundamentals of networking infrastructure, and that became very noticeable.

Along with his fellow council members, Winchester began to push Cisco for more substantial change than the incremental steps it had taken thus far, such as adding a few emerging technologies track questions to certifications tests.

Meanwhile, Cisco was hearing not only from network professionals who need to learn how to support software-focused initiatives  including programmability, multi-cloud, machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation, the Internet of Things, SD-WAN  but also from developers who want to learn networking fundamentals to be able to interact with IT teams and to perform simple enterprise tasks.

Cisco responded with sweeping changes set to take effect on Feb. 24, 2020. The updates were first announced in June at Cisco Live!, the companys global conference.

Cisco certification executives hope the streamlined tracks and new certifications will fill the skills gap that hiring managers and individuals are experiencing. Infrastructure is now a big software system, and we are inviting network engineers and developers to build these skills into their tool bags and expand their career paths, says Susie Wee, senior vice president and CTO of Cisco DevNet.

At a high level, Cisco has streamlined the way the tracks work within its four main certification levels: associate, specialist, professional, and expert levels. You can pursue an engineering and/or software track for each level. At this time, the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician, Cisco Certified Design Expert, and Cisco Certified Architect certifications will remain as they are today.

Digging into the changes, here are 10 important things to note:

1. DevNet track

The company introduced the Cisco DevNet track, which focuses on coding, automation, application development on Cisco platforms, and what developers need to know about network fundamentals. For instance, the DevNet Associate covers the understanding and use of APIs, software development and design, application deployment and security, infrastructure and automation, and network fundamentals.

2. Consolidating associate-level training and certification

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification no longer has different tracks. Multiple elements  wireless, security, routing and switching, and concepts of network automation  are covered broadly within a single exam. The consolidated and updated CCNA covers entry-level networking skills across technologies, such as basic IP fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, security fundamental skills and the basics of automation and network programmability.

3. CCNP options include concentration exams

The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is comprised of two exams. There's a core exam in one of five technology tracks  enterprise, security, service provider, collaboration, or data center  plus one concentration exam of the candidates choosing in the same technology track. Technology core exams cover the foundational and common concepts that are required for a candidate to be proficient in a technology architecture. Concentration exams take a deeper dive into a relevant and related technology to the core, allowing the candidate to choose a topic that is either of interest or related to his or her chosen technology area of focus.

4. DevNet options include concentration exams

Cisco Certified DevNet Professionals take the DevNet core exam and one concentration exam of their choosing
Healthcare RFID Market Overview

The healthcare radiofrequency identification (RFID) market was evaluated at USD 1,154 million in 2017 and can achieve a CAGR of 23.37% during the forecast period (2018-2023), states Market Research Future (MRFR).

Growth Boosters and Top Barriers

The fundamental reasons backing market growth could be the increasing focus on the reduction of operational costs and streamlining the workflow. Other than this, rising demand for an organized supply chain management and the need for enhancing the quality and efficiency of care also favor the market.

Get Sample Copy Of Healthcare RFID @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7580

High operational costs in the healthcare industry boost the adoption of RFID technology within healthcare organizations. Medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and various other healthcare organizations extensively use this technology to curb inventory costs. RFID technology allows organizations to efficiently manage inventory and also helps prevent stock out and overstock situations. RFID tags aid the surgical staff to easily track medical devices used in operation theatres, which enhances patient safety. Growing need to reduce operating costs fuel the adoption rate of RFID. This technology also finds use in blood banks, pathology labs and laboratories for better workflow management and efficient product tracking.

RFID technology gives rise to sufficient patient monitoring, better communication, patient identification, as well as patient tracking. This helps in bringing down medication errors and elevate safety. Thus, the growing need for patient monitoring and mandates to elevate safety contribute to market growth.

Healthcare RFID Market Segmentation

The global market for healthcare RFID has been segmented on the basis of components, applications, and end-user.

Components-based segments in the market are tags, readers, middleware, printers, and others.

The applications of healthcare RFID are people identification and tracking, equipment tracking, medicine tracking, medical report and blood samples tracking, and others.

The end-users covered in the report include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals, research institutes, and others. The tags segment expects to cover the maximum share in the market, based on its wide application in pharmaceutical tracking and asset tracking. Meanwhile, the growth of the user research institutes segment could be the highest in the market, on account of the surge in research and development by significant vendors in the upcoming years.

Healthcare RFID Market Regional Analysis

The primary markets for healthcare RFID are Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and the Americas.

Americas could expect to reign over other regions in the global healthcare RFID market, due to increasing strategic alliance by well-established companies and the rising number of non-profit organizations giving a hand in research & development. On top of this, highly developed healthcare infrastructure in the region further stimulates the market growth. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that in 2018, at least 1,735,350 cases of cancer were diagnosed in the country, which could lead to around 609,640 deaths.

Europe can expect to be the second-most lucrative healthcare RFID market. The regional market profits from favorable government support in the form of funding as well as the support of the healthcare sector. Furthermore, increasing research and development in the region paves the way for further market expansion in the near future.

Expanding at the fastest rate in the healthcare RFID market, Asia Pacific can expect strong growth backed by rising investments in healthcare and improving healthcare infrastructure. The market growth in India and China is believed to be the fastest, based on the rising focus on adopting new technology by the government, along with the availability of advanced treatment options. The World Health Organization noted that in 2010, Indias healthcare expenditure was about 3.27% of GDP, which increased to 3.89% in 2015.

Middle East & Africa could be the smallest healthcare RFID market in the coming years, owing to the substandard healthcare sector, dearth in technical knowledge, and poor medical facilities.

Healthcare RFID Market Studied by Key Companies

The companies currently leading the worldwide healthcare RFID market include Mobile Aspects, Inc., CAEN RFID S.r.l., Gao RFID, Inc., Honeywell International Inc., RF Technologies, Invengo Information Technology Ltd. Co., STiD RFID, Applied Wireless Identifications Group, Inc., Motorola Solutions, Inc., Radianse, Impinj Inc., Stanley Healthcare, Alien Technology Corporation, to name a few.

Industry Update

June 2019

Reports suggest that after the use of an RFID-backed cabinet system that manages catheter labs as well as medical supplies, Sheba Medical Center has managed to cut costs. With RFID, the hospital gets real-time data regarding which medical supplies are in stock and which are being used for procedures, among other things.

Read Complete Report with Toc @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/healthcare-rfid-market-7580

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

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Market Research Future

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Indian equity benchmark Sensex on Monday plunged about 807 points in line with massive sell-offs in global equities as spike in new coronavirus cases beyond China spooked investors

Mumbai: Indian stock benchmark Sensex on Monday sank nearly 807 points, the second biggest single-day fall this year, tracking sell-offs in global markets as coronavirus cases rose exponentially outside China.

Starting off on a weaker note, the BSE gauge plunged to a day's low of 40,306.36 after being caught in a panic selling as investors kept fretting over reporting of a large number of new virus cases in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

The 30-share index finally settled at 40,363.23, dropping 806.89 points or 1.96 percent -- the second biggest one-day fall in 2020. The Sensex had plunged over 987 points on 1 February this year -- the day the Union Budget was presented.

#MarketAtClose | #Market sells off sharply today; #Sensex & #Nifty end at over 2-week low. Nifty Bank & Midcap Index give up all gains notched in last 2 sessions pic.twitter.com/edWfcdaFRp  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 24, 2020

While, the broader NSE Nifty sank 251.45 points or 2.08 percent to 11,829.40.

All Sensex components ended in the red, with Tata Steel cracking 6.39 percent, followed by ONGC, Maruti, HDFC, Titan and ICICI Bank.

Sectorally, BSE metal index tumbled nearly 6 percent, auto 3.39 percent and telecom 3.33 percent. All sectoral indices closed in the red.

In the broader market, BSE midcap and smallcap indices sank up to 1.60 percent.

Globally, equities bore the brunt of worsening trading sentiment in the wake of rising virus cases on new regions other than China.

South Korea went on high alert on Sunday following a sharp jump in coronavirus cases, and Italy and Iran took their own drastic containment steps.

"Demand for safe-haven assets spiked as fresh coronavirus cases in South Korea and Italy indicated that business impact could be higher than thought earlier. The Trump-Modi meet is not providing clues to the market regarding trade deal but market is hoping for some hint in the future," Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said.

Further, the IMF also warned that the deadly epidemic could put an already fragile global economy recovery at risk.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic is the country's "largest public health emergency". The death toll from the deadly virus climbed to 2,592 in China on Monday.

Seoul stocks ended in deep red after South Korea reported 161 more coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the overall virus cases to 763 and making it the world's largest total outside China.

Bourses in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong also closed with significant losses.

Stock exchanges in Europe sank in opening trade with Milan's FTSE MIB plunging over 4 percent after Italy reported its fourth death from the virus as the number of people contracting the virus continued to mount.

Brent crude oil futures dropped over 4 percent to $56.10 per barrel.

On the domestic front, investors were eyeing US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India for further cues on trade front. He reached Ahmedabad earlier in the day.

On the currency front, the Indian rupee was down 30 paise to 71.94 per US dollar.

Indian markets, which were relatively resilient till now have also started pricing in the impact of economic loss due to the spread of coronavirus with a steep fall in equity markets, experts said.

Indian corporates are expected to witness a disruption in supply chain as the manufacturing activities in China slows down considerably, they added.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Mon, February 24, 2020 20:09 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20664e1ce 1 National coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-Indonesia-zero-case,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,outbreak,hospital,hospitals Free

Three patients suspected of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Hasan Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) in Bandung have tested negative.

The three patients had been treated at the hospital since Feb. 20 and had their swab samples sent to the Health Ministry laboratory in Jakarta for testing. All three of the patients samples have come back negative.

The first patient, a 58-year-old man, has been sent home. Nina said the patient, who lives and works in Perth, Australia, had come to Bandung after visiting Bali and Surabaya. When he arrived in Indonesia, the patient exhibited flu-like symptoms, including a cough, difficulty breathing and high fever.

The patient was monitored in a special isolation room. After two days of monitoring, the lab results came back negative, so we sent him home on Feb. 23, RSHS president director Nina Susana Dewi said in Bandung on Monday.

The second patient, a 55 year-old woman from Majalaya, Bandung regency, had visited Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand from Feb. 11 to 15.

RSHS special infection team head Yovita Hartantri said the patient had suffered from cold symptoms during her travels abroad. She was caught in the rain, Yovita said.

Upon her return to Indonesia, the patient suffered from breathing difficulty. She also had a fever for four days and sought treatment at the Majalaya State Hospital, which then referred her to the RSHS.

During her time at the RSHS, she did not have any fever, difficulty breathing or coughing. Her test result was also negative, so she is allowed to go home, Yovita said.

Yovita said that the third patient, a 45-year-old man, had visited Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, from Feb. 9 to 13, and then Pattaya, Thailand, from Feb. 13 to 15.

He visited the RSHS on Feb. 21 to seek treatment because he had suffered from a fever, runny nose and muscle pain since Feb. 20.

RSHS special infection team deputy chief Anggraeni Alam said the public should postpone traveling abroad, especially to countries that had reported confirmed COVID-19 cases, such as China, South Korea, Japan and the United States.

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia to date. (gis)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 19:19:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Nine projects recommended by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on modernizing TCM have received official approval, with 95 million yuan (13.5 million U.S. dollars) in support from the central government.

They are part of the 43 special projects on TCM modernization research that have been approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, according to the administration.

The central government will fund these projects with a total of 427 million yuan.

The projects will make integrated design for the TCM modernization in basic research, clinical and industrial levels.

During the 13th Five-year Plan period (2016-2020), the central government has invested 1.45 billion yuan in 126 major projects studying the modernization of TCM.

The major tasks of these projects involve the theoretical inheritance and innovation of TCM, the prevention and treatment of serious diseases by TCM, TCM resources guarantee, the development of pilot healthcare industries involving TCM, the internationalization of TCM, as well as the inheritance and innovation of traditional medicine of ethnic minorities.

From 2017 to 2019, the ministry had issued three sets of guidelines about applying for projects on TCM modernization research.

The goal of the projects is to work out a set of clinic protocols in preventing and treating serious and difficult diseases with TCM, develop TCM products, improve related international cooperation level, upgrade TCM services, and speed up the development of TCM healthcare industries.
In todays context, this is an invitation to purchase defence systems more widely and deeply from the US.

Its not clear what effect, if any, the visit to Mahatma Gandhis Sabarmati Ashram on Monday had on US President Donald Trump as he kicked off his 36-hour India visit, but only minutes later at Ahmedabads Motera Stadium, in a speech that broached a spectrum of issues, the US leader sounded the perfect military salesman as he practically insisted India bolster its defence purchases from America.

The visiting dignitary was hardly coy when he declared: Our military has been completely rebuilt and we have completely revised our alliances around the world. We are producing the best and most feared weapons on the planet  aeroplanes, ships, guns, missiles, helicopters, etc. We make the best and are now dealing with India. The US should be Indias premier defence partner.

In todays context, this is an invitation to purchase defence systems more widely and deeply from the US, especially after America cleared India for the Strategic Trade Authorisation Tier 1 category in 2018, and to step up work to conclude the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), the last of the three foundational agreements Washington insists on with its most important military partners.

With trade talks between the two countries not satisfactorily concluding even after two years of negotiations, Mr Trump hinted at the signing of an important agreement at a subsequent point, allowing speculation about military hardware being a key element on the US export list to India.

While the US Presidents address to tens of thousands of Indians at a major public event emphasised a tighter alliance framework with India, leaving few doubts about where US priorities lie, Mr Trumps Ahmedabad speech appeared to have a bipartisan aspect as well. It was not aimed at exalting the present Indian government alone, or its ideological orientation, though Mr Trump heaped profuse personal praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Trump spoke about Indias progress over 70 years in which it had grown into an economic powerhouse and had done so while being a democratic, peaceful, and tolerant country. Without naming China, he said Indias growth story had been unlike a country which may rise through coercion. The US leader also alluded to India pulling 216 million people out of poverty in the past decade, thus not confining himself to the Modi years which might have pleased his hosts more.

Mr Trump also alluded in positive terms to the diversity of faiths in India and its many treasures, such as the sacred banks of the Ganges, the Golden Temple and Jama Masjid. In todays fragile communal atmosphere in the country, this was a good message to leave.

While speaking forcefully to ally with India to root out radical Islamic terror, the US leader noted his administration had been working successfully with Pakistan in fighting terrorism, taking care not to box Pakistan in, even as he said India had a leadership role in promoting peace in the region. It remains to be seen if this has any implications for India in the current context of Afghanistan, where a peace process with the Taliban is underway.
School of Education and Social Policy Professors Cynthia Coburn and Kirabo Jackson

Northwestern University Professors Cynthia Coburn and Kirabo Jackson were among fifteen exceptional scholars elected to the esteemed National Academy of Education (NAEd) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education research. Northwestern was the only institution to have two inductees this year.

Overall, the School of Education and Social Policy now has 12 National Academy members. (See the complete list below.)

Coburn, professor of human development and social policy and of learning sciences, examines the complicated factors and relationships that affect how educational policy is implemented in urban school systems. She is a faculty associate at Northwestern's Institute for Policy Research (IPR).

Jackson, the Abram Harris Professor of Education and Social Policy, is a labor economist who studies education and social policy issues. He has analyzed everything from the importance of public school funding on a students future success to the effects of college-prep programs on college attendance and employment. Jackson is a faculty fellow at IPR.

Founded in 1965, the Academy seeks to advance high-quality education research and its use in policy and practice. A highly selective organization, its 200-plus members are elected on the basis of their scholarship in the field of education and help to train the next generation of education scholars.

An induction ceremony for new members will take place during the 2020 NAEd Annual Meeting in November.

Cynthia Coburn:

A world-renowned expert on partnerships between educational researchers and practitioners such as teachers, principals and district leaders, Coburn has helped spark a renaissance in the field of educational research.

Ultimately, our goal is to understand what helps and hinders how we use research in policymaking, and importantly, to create tools and resources so practitioners can use this evidence in their classrooms and schools, Coburn has said.

Passionate about teaching and social justice, she is particularly interested in how new practices, rules, and roles promoted by policies weave through the system and make their way into classrooms. She also studies how teachers and others respond to these policies in ways that transform, disrupt, or even reproduce the status quo that the policies were designed to change.

In several studies, shes shown that teachers who had the chance to discuss policy ideas with colleagues of differing backgrounds were more likely to rethink their existing approaches to instruction rather than implement ideas by layering them on top or rejecting them, she said.

Between January 2016 and December 2018, Coburn launched and supervised four major research studies, while finishing up two others. This period of exceptional growth was reflected not only in the grant dollars she brought to Northwestern, but also in the burgeoning staff of undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and full-time research professionals who she supervised and mentored.

Over the last three years, 27 undergraduates have worked on Coburns research projects, and she actively recruits and retains underrepresented students. Coburn uses an apprenticeship model that not only exposes students to the research process but also supports their analysis, synthesis, and interpretation skills.

Kirabo Jackson

Jackson is known for creative, thorough, and convincing research on important education policy topics, including teacher quality and the relationship between school funding and student success.

Some of Jacksons most original and influential work explores which skills teachers need to be good at their jobs. Jackson also challenged a decades-old idea that the amount of money a school spends per student doesnt matter. His research -- which helped re-ignite a national debate on the topic -- suggests that a 10 percent increase in school funding leads to increased high school graduation rates and higher wages as an adult.

Born in a Chicago suburb, Jackson was raised in the Caribbean and Africa  including Sierra Leone and Tanzania -- and attended boarding school in England before earning his bachelor's degree from Yale and doctorate in economics from Harvard.

His interest in the economics of education stems from his international upbringing and belief that education can lead to breaking out of negative cycles of poverty, at both the national and individual level. It's one of the few things people can do to really improve their lives, he said. If you have skills you can go and get a job and improve your life. It's a mechanism for social justice.

Northwestern National Academy of Education Members
BSNL revival plans fail to move beyond VRS; employees plan hunger strike

Employees of state-run telecom firm Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd are planning a nationwide hunger strike demanding speedy implementation of rescue plan for the ailing telco, including allocation of fourth generation or 4G radio spectrum, sovereign guarantee for market access and disbursal of January wages to employees.

We are asking the government to fast track the revival package, including sovereign guarantee, 4G spectrum allocation and disbursal of January salary, reports quoted Aftab Ahmad Khan, president, Sanchar Nigam Executives' Association (SNEA), as saying.

Nearly 50 per cent or as many as 78,569 employees of the telecom firm accepted the terms of a voluntary retirement package offered by the government as part of a revival package.

With the first payout under the VRS package expected by March end, the telco is expected to save as much as Rs7,000 crore annually.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) has organised a country-wide hunger strike for early implementation of the cabinet decisions on BSNLs revival, including expeditious settlement of employees' grievances, according to an AUAB statement on Saturday.

The union cabinet last year approved a Rs69,000-crore revival package for both BSNL and MTNL, which included allotment of 4G spectrum, issuing sovereign guarantee for raising Rs15,000 crore (Rs8,500 for BSNL and Rs6,500 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. BSNL has not been allotted 4G spectrum. Similarly, sovereign guarantee for bond issue is also yet to come. 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 are unwilling to extend loans to BSNL, the AUAB said.

Due to the delay in the 4G spectrum allotment and non-availability of funds, BSNL is unlikely to launch 4G services by the end of 2020, it said and added it was quite a grim situation for employees.

BSNL, according to sources, have to invest in everything, including equipment, and is in a talks with vendors such as Nokia and ZTE, before getting spectrum.

Two of the BSNLs equipment suppliers- Chinas ZTE and Finlands Nokia, according to BSNL officials were reluctant to partner for next-generation network rollouts as the state-run firm is yet to clear outstanding dues.

BSNL board has, however, approved the new tender to procure 4G equipment, which is likely to be put up in the public domain to attract prospective bidders.

In the absence of sovereign guarantee, the telco is finding it difficult to raise money while

Despite the Rs70,000-cr revival package announced by union cabinet in October 2019, the financially stressed state-run telecom companies- BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)  are under extreme stress on account of the Supreme Court ruling on Adjusted Gross revenue as also lack of funds and the unwillingness of banks to extend credit to BSNL.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police say a man in his 30s was shot multiple times in a parking lot outside Parkside Commons apartment complex.

Someone called 911 at 9:03 p.m. to report the shooting at East Fayette and Croly streets, dispatchers said.

When officers arrived, they found the man with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of 2121 E. Fayette St., Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said.

American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance and the Syracuse Fire Department also responded.

AMR ambulance took the man to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where he was in serious condition an hour after the shooting, Malinowski said.

Syracuse police are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information about the shooting to call them at (315) 442-5222.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

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Regulators approved a plan for a Sacramento utility to build its own large-scale solar site that homeowners can tap into.



By CUNEYT DIL

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  Over the objections of environmentalists, California regulators approved a proposal Thursday to allow builders to construct homes without solar panels, a decision critics said undercuts Californias seven-week-old law that all new houses have their own solar power.

At a passionate hearing, the California Energy Commission unanimously approved the Sacramento Municipal Utility Districts plan to build its own large-scale solar site that homeowners can tap into, forgoing the need for solar on each new home.





. . .
A former McDonald's employee has revealed just what it's really like to work for the fast-food giant, and exposed some confidential information, including a secret menu item and the meal he never orders.

Bruno Bouchet worked as a crew trainer at a McDonald's Brisbane outlet while in high school from 2000 to 2003 between the ages of 14 and 17.

For three years, the then-teenager worked in every area of the store, from the kitchen, to the drive-thru, the front counter, McCafe and even kids' birthday parties.

The now-34-year-old shared his insider knowledge with Daily Mail Australia, including the one meal he refuses to order, and the age-old myth of workers allegedly spitting in burgers.

The Sydney managing director and former Kyle & Jackie O radio show producer said he also learned some valuable life lessons that he carries with him to this day.

Ex-McDonald's employee Bruno Bouchet (pictured at the age of 14 in 2000) has dished out the things you didn't know existed about the fast food chain, including the secret menu item

The secret menu item

Bruno - who's known on Instagram for his controversial lists where he ranks items from best to worst - said biggest secret item on the menu when he was working was the Bacon McFlurry.

'You'd mix in bacon bits and caramel sauce into a McFlurry - it was incredible. Think of it as the McFlurry version of Canadian Pancakes,' Bruno told Daily Mail Australia.

'This was such a highly guarded secret that even some managers had never heard of it before. The secret was only ever circulated amongst back area staff who had worked there for ages.

'To order it at a McDonald's you didn't have a hook up at, you'd ask to speak to the oldest looking guy in the kitchen and pray to god he knew what you were talking about when you mentioned the "Bacon McFlurry".'

The item he refuses to order

How McDonald's has changed since introducing 'made-to-order' Under strict food safety and quality requirements, McDonald's serve customers fresh meals once they take their order at any restaurant. The fast food chain's products all have different holding times. The menu items such as its breakfast meals, chicken, fish and vegetables are put together when an order is placed. Beef products are held in a transfer bin for up to 10 minutes and fries are kept for up to five minutes. Advertisement

Chicken nuggets have long been a crowd favourite among diners but Bruno insisted it's the one item he still refuses to order today.

'The one item that freaked me out were the chicken nuggets... I've never, ever ordered or eaten nuggets since working there,' he said.

He said while working there 20 years ago, he allegedly found 'little feathers' on the chicken nuggets.

'On a number of occasions, I'd seen little feathers on them when I pulled them out of the freezer. The main reason I wouldn't order them, though, comes down to how long they'd sit around in the heated shelf for,' he claimed.

'We always wanted to have enough cooked nuggets in case someone ordered a 24-pack. So you'd have a minimum of 24 nuggets just waiting there sometimes for up to an hour. Sure, someone might order a three or a six-pack, but you still had a mountain of nuggets getting as hard as rocks.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted McDonald's for comment. However this circumstance with the nuggets is not likely to happen in 2020, with the restaurant's 'made-to-order' system now in place.

For three years, the then-teenager worked in every area of the store, from the kitchen, drive-thru and front counter to McCafe and even kids' birthday parties

Bruno said he worked as a crew trainer at a McDonald's Brisbane outlet while in high school from 2000 to 2003 between the ages of 14 and 17 (file image)

Would you like to add an extra...?

Bruno claimed there's a reason employees are required to ask customers whether they'd like to add an extra item to their order.

'Whenever you get asked whether you'd like an extra item with your order like an Apple Pie, there's a good chance it's old or about to expire,' he claimed.

'McDonald's track wastage down to the smallest item such as a slice of cheese or a bread bun, so managers push staff to sell off the soon-to-be-expired items so it doesn't reflect badly on their waste report.'

The pickle juice 'hack'

During his time there, Bruno claimed the 'back area staff' had a pickle juice bowl which was used for employees to immediately treat cuts and burns.

'When I started at McDonald's, an older guy taught me this "life hack" that involved the giant pickle buckets we'd have in the kitchen,' he said.

'He explained that if you ever cut or burnt yourself, you simply dip your hand into the pickle brine for 30 seconds and everything would be fine. I tried it a few times and was blown away by how the bleeding would stop almost immediately.'

Employees 'spitting' in burgers

'I've heard a lot of myths about back area staff doing gross things with people's food, but in all my years, I never saw anything worse than the odd burger being dropped on the kitchen floor then hastily picked up and reassembled,' Bruno claimed.

'Customers can look into the kitchen, so it's not like you can just spit in someone's food without being noticed.'

The now-34-year-old father (pictured now) has shared his insider's knowledge, including the one meal he refuses to order, the life lessons he learned and the secret item menu

In October last year, Bruno - who's known on Instagram as the 'list king' - shared his 'definitive' rankings of McDonald's burgers

The secret 'cool stacks and relax' in the back area

When he was working as a crew trainer, Bruno said he 'implemented an unofficial strategy for the back-area workers called 'Cook Stacks and Relax'.

'We'd basically cook as much food as we could for 20 to 30 minutes - then we'd go hang out in the walk-in fridge and chat with the drive-thru chicks,' he claimed.

'We'd often have enough food to last us an hour and a half. Nowadays, though, everything's cooked to order. Great for the customer, but gone are the days of "Cook Stacks and Relax".'

The bread steamer 'hack' for unclogging pores

Bruno said another life lesson he discovered was using the bread steamer for unclogging pores.

'A cool life hack that the front counter girls would do every few hours is put their faces really close to the bread steamers so they could clean out their pores,' he said.

'We were all pimply teenagers and obsessed with trying to look as normal as possible, so unclogging pores with a bread steamer sounded like a good idea. In hindsight, it was actually quite a genius thing to do.'

Coca-Cola syrup an alternative for caffeine

To power through a long shift, Bruno claimed he would drink Coca-Cola syrup.

'If someone called in sick and you were already working, you'd sometimes have to do a 14-hour shift. To push through, many of us would go to the storeroom and chug straight Coke syrup,' he claimed.

'I'm still not quite sure what how much sugar was in the syrup, but it was enough to make you feel like you were operating at double speed.

'I've never felt the same rush as I did from Coke syrup.'
A day after the Congress



criticised some questions in the political science paper of class 12 state board examinations in Manipur for trying to "instil certain kind of political mindset" among students, the BJP on Monday said it had no role in it and the authorities concerned should be asked about it.

The two questions, carrying four marks each, had asked the students to draw the election symbol of the BJP and examine four negative traits of Nehru's approach to nation- building.

Congress leader Kh Joykishan had said on Sunday that the question paper for the examination on February 22 were an attempt to "instil certain kind of political mindset" among the students.

The questions had gone viral on social media drawing flak from the netizens.

BJP spokesperson Chongtham Bijoy told PTI, "We do not have anything to do with the setting of questions.

"The authorities concerned frame the questions and they should be asked about it."



Chairman of the Council of Higher Secondary (Schools) L Mahendra Singh told PTI, "The questions were set by the controller of examination from the chapter on 'Party System in India' which is part of the political science syllabus of the board"An official who did not want to be named said that similar questions had been asked in the past such as drawing the symbol of CPI, and the logo of United Nations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Although opinion polls currently put President Donald Trumps approval among black voters at between 20 and 30%, most experts doubt that anything like that proportion of the black vote will go to Trump on Election Day. Yes, strange things happen in politics  remember the blue wall?  but the black wall of overwhelming support of black voters for Democratic candidates seems impermeable.

Everyone knows the wall exists. Everyone takes it for granted. Yet on issues from school vouchers to abortion, significant numbers of black voters are closer to the Republican than the Democratic point of view. Yet they still vote Democratic. Why?

Most answers verge toward the condescending and simplistic  Oh, all Republicans are racist  as though the black monolith could not possibly comprise a politically diverse community whose members might judge for themselves the salience of various issues.(1)

Whats needed is a thoughtful, scholarly treatment of exactly why black voters remain with a Democratic party that, for many, has moved a good distance from what they most deeply value. Happily, that gap has been filled by a new book, Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior, by political scientists Ismail K. White and Chryl N. Laird  a volume that everyone interested in American politics should be reading.

White and Laird treat the propensity of black voters to support Democratic candidates not as an eternal verity but as a puzzle to be solved. They point out that although in other ethnic groups  whites, Asian-Americans, Hispanics  conservative views are a good predictor of voting Republican, among black Americans they arent.

The authors acknowledge that the pattern cant be explained by Democratic support of civil rights laws, because the tendency significantly predates those laws. In fact, as Ive shown elsewhere, during the 1940s the Republicans were the more progressive party on civil rights. Black voters left anyway. A month before the 1944 election, Republican presidential nominee Thomas Dewey gave a speech about racial equality. A furious John W. McCormack, the House majority leader and the second-most-powerful Democrat, responded by calling him reprehensible for injecting racial issues into this campaign. Dewey built much of his campaign around civil rights laws, but black voters continued to flock to the Democrats.

Story continues

Whatever the historical cause, White and Laird posit as an explanation for todays puzzle what they call a racialized social constraint  pressure on black voters from black peer networks to adopt a partisan Democratic outlook.

During the 2012 campaign, for example, black voters were four times as likely as white voters to report that they expected sharp criticism from friends and family if they voted Republican. This phenomenon was not attributable to the fact that Barack Obama, the nations first black president, was on the ballot: In 2016, black voters expected disapproval at about the same rate as in 2012.

Heres another striking result: The larger the proportion of a black persons friends who are also black  whats known as high racial homophily  the more likely he or she is to vote Democratic. For black voters who have a majority of non-black friends, however, the chance that he or she will vote Democratic drops to a coin flip.(2) Among white voters, on the other hand, the link between racial homophily and voting behavior is essentially zero.

Small wonder, then, that during the 2012 campaign, when Obama ran for reelection against Mitt Romney, about 45% of white Democrats reported being urged by friends or family to vote for Obama (as opposed to a general exaltation to vote). Among black Democrats, the figure was just shy of 74%.

White and Laird conducted several experiments that provide striking support for their thesis. In a particularly telling 2012 study, the authors discovered that black college students given a sum of money and offered the chance to contribute some of it to the Obama campaign gave nearly twice as much as the black control group when they knew that other black students would know how much they gave. On the other hand, when the only observers were white students, the difference with the control group was not statistically significant.

As the authors explain, social pressure isnt everything, and black voters are no less rational in pursuing their electoral interests than anyone else. They simply calculate their interests differently, responding not only to the policy positions of candidates but also to their concerns about what other black people will think of them. The judgment of your social network matters a lot more when youre part of the out-group.

White and Laird seem not entirely disheartened by their findings. They argue that a groups ability to define its boundaries is essential to its existence and its ability to mobilize. Yet their research suggests a contradiction. What they really show is the existence of more than one black group, bound together by a political solidarity that would not exist were it not enforced by racialized constraints. As the authors concede, its not clear whether the constraints can long survive the decline in influence of the institutions that once ruled the black community  the churches, the social clubs, the colleges  a decline that itself stems in part from integration.

This concession matters. I doubt that Trump will be the Republican who breaches the black wall, but theres no reason to imagine that it will stand forever. Thats why Democrats, if theyre smart, will set about building a bigger tent on such issues as school vouchers. Because if they wait until the wall crumbles  and it will crumble  theyll be too late.

(1) Its true that Republicans rather than Democrats are the ones who these days seem to be placing obstacles in the path of black voting rights, but its easy to see the tautology in suggesting that black voters should vote Democratic because Democrats want their votes.

(2) The authors concede that they cannot always tell which is cause and which is effect.But the consistency of the data remains striking.

To contact the author of this story: Stephen L. Carter at scarter01@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Sarah Green Carmichael at sgreencarmic@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Stephen L. Carter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His novels include The Emperor of Ocean Park, and his latest nonfiction book is Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America's Most Powerful Mobster.

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

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Korean Reinsurance Co. obtained approval on Feb. 18, 2020 to open a representative office in Bogota, Colombia. This move is in line with its corporate strategy to further diversify into the Latin American markets, the company said in a statement.

The Bogota office will be open for business during the first half of 2020, covering the Latin America and the Caribbean region. With the new operation, Korean Re plans to start underwriting businesses in property, casualty and bouquet treaty lines, and will expand later into life, facultative, and other lines.

CEO Jong-Gyu Won said this further step into the region will help the company expand into new markets beyond the saturated domestic Korean market. Jong-Gyu Won has been leading the companys global expansion strategy since taking the helm of Korean Re in 2013.

Korean Re has completed the establishment of a branch office in Shanghai as the company received final approval from the authorities of the Peoples Republic of China on Dec. 27, 2019.

The new office in Shanghai will be Korean Res second representation in China, after its Beijing liaison office, which was launched in 1997. While the office in Beijing has been focused on market research and support functions, the office in Shanghai will be the center for real business activities in the country, said Korean Re in a statement.

The companys Bogota business move, comes on the heels of a January announcement that it had completed the launch of a branch office in Shanghai.

Source: Korean Reinsurance Co.
Jordan and Jessa Anderson have released their brand new worship album. 'Glorious', a 10 song labor of love, is officially available today everywhere music is sold!

The Andersons write: "This album is special to us for many reasons. It's the first time we've collaborated on a recording. It's the result of a dark, but spiritually fruitful season in our personal life. It's filled with the truth of God's Word, which we found to truly be living and active in us during that darkness and difficulty.

We can't express how grateful we are to share this music with you. Our deep desire is that it would feel like a fresh wave of truth, and an old friend, all at once."

Jordan and Jessa Anderson are songwriters and worship leaders residing in Nashville, TN. They are the busy and joyful parents to Lorelei, Jagger, and Sylvie. Their experience over the past decade of leading others in song and performing their original music, combined with their time in ministry to the local church, has given them a unique love for church music and encouraging others in the gospel through song.

With their upcoming release, Glorious, their desire is that their gospel-centered music will provide deep encouragement to the church body in our daily pursuit of Christ.

Track List:

I Cannot Outrun Your Grace

All That is Needed

Refuge

Glorious

You Never Change

All My Hope

One Thing We Ask

Your Love is Better

Loved as Jesus

Only On Grace I Stand

Tags : jordan and jessa anderson Jessa Anderson jessa anderson news jordan and jessa glorious jordan and jessa anderson new album
Kolkata, Feb 24 : An alleged brothel running in the guise of a spa in south Kolkata's Short Street has been busted and five persons including the owner and two pimps arrested, while three girls were rescued, a senior police officer said on Monday.

Acting on source's information, a team of the anti-human trafficking unit of the city police's Detective Department raided the "Chandan N Sylvia by Ahmed Salon and Spa" and found the brothel purportedly being operated there.

Five persons - the manager-cum-owner, two pimps and two customers - were arrested during Saturday's raid. Three girls were rescued, said city police's Joint Commissioner, Crime, Murlidhar Sharma.

The manager-cum-owner and the two pimps have been sent to police custody till March 6.

A case of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code and under various sections of the Immoral Trafficking Act has been filed against the accused.
Harvey Weinstein was rushed to hospital by ambulance on Monday, shortly after being found guilty of raping and sexual assaulting two women.

The disgraced Hollywood producer was said to have been redirected to Bellevue Hospital Center after suffering chest pains while on the way to Rikers Island prison.

A rep later confirmed he was suffering from high blood pressure and having heart palpitations.

It is thought the 67-year-old was still in hospital this morning as he had not been seen leaving the medical facility.

Although Weinstein has a history of diabetes and back problems, a source told the New York Post he was 'faking it a little bit'.

The movie mogul is reportedly being held in the hospital's prison ward under close watch by corrections officers, but is not handcuffed to his bed.

Donna Rotunno, Weinstein's attorney, told Fox News her client was being examined for heart palpitations, adding, 'he is OK'.

Judge James Burke had initially ordered Weinstein to be taken to Rikers Island prison immediately, until his sentencing on March 11.

Weinstein was convicted by a New York jury of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his apartment in 2006 and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a hotel room in 2013.

He was acquitted of the two most serious counts of predatory sexual assault, which each carried a potential life sentence. He was also found not guilty of first degree rape in relation to Mann.

Weinstein, who arrived at court using a walker for much of the trial, now faces a 29-year prison sentence, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

When the jury of seven men and five women handed down their verdict after five days of deliberations, Weinstein told his lawyer: 'I'm innocent. I'm innocent. How can this happen in America?'

Scroll down to read testimony from Harvey Weinstein's accusers

An ambulance carrying Harvey Weinstein is escorted from a Manhattan courthouse Monday

A courtroom sketch of Harvey Weinstein (center) being led out of Manhattan Supreme Court by court officers after a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault on Monday

Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of raping and sexual assaulting two women by a New York jury on Monday - sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement. He is pictured arriving at court Monday with the aid of his walker

Weinstein was convicted by a jury of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 (left) and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 (right)

Weinstein and his lead defense lawyer Donna Rotunno listen as the jury foreman reads out the guilty verdict on Monday

The disgraced Hollywood producer was handcuffed in court before being led away. He has been remanded in custody until his March 11 sentencing and will likely be held at the grim Rikers Island prison in New York City

Harvey Weinstein: The verdict Third degree rape - Jessica Mann: Guilty. Facing four years in prison Criminal sexual act - Mimi Haleyi: Guilty. Facing 25 years in prison Predatory sexual assault - Jessica Mann and Annabella Sciorra: Not guilty. Carried a life sentence Predatory sexual assault - Mimi Haleyi and Annabella Sciorra: Not guilty. Carried a life sentence First degree rape - Jessica Mann: Not guilty. Carried a sentence of 25 years Advertisement

Weinstein said to have appeared stunned in the immediate aftermath of the verdict and did not move when approached by court officers.

He was then handcuffed before being led out of the courtroom via a side door without the use of the walker he relied on for much for much of the trial.

Weinstein was then taken away from the courthouse by an ambulance with its emergency lights and sirens on.

The disgraced movie mogul had been seen using a variety of walkers, or sometimes no walker at all, at court.

He had surgery on his back in December after being injured in a car crash in August 2019.

The judge said he will ask that Weinstein, who has been free on bail since his arrest nearly two years ago, be held in the prison infirmary after his lawyers said he needs medical attention following unsuccessful back surgery.

Bellevue hospital looks after for jail inmates and is also known for its psychiatric ward.

Outside court, Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno said he took the verdict 'like a man' and that they were 'absolutely appealing' the conviction.

'Harvey is very strong. Harvey is unbelievably strong. He took it like a man. He knows that we will continue to fight for him and knows that this is not over,' she said.

'It is absolutely horrible for me to watch my client be taken into custody. We don't feel good about that at all. Obviously, this is a bittersweet day. We are disappointed.

'We knew we came in and we were down 35-0 on the day that we started this trial.

'The jurors came in knowing everything they could know about this case. We couldn't find a juror who had never heard of Harvey Weinstein.'

The ambulance carrying Harvey Weinstein is escorted from a Manhattan courthouse, Monday

A member of Weinstein's publicity team was seen pushing his walker out of the courthouse following his verdict. Weinstein had been using the walker to help him get in and out of the courtroom each day during his trial. He was taken to Rikers Island prison by ambulance

Meanwhile, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance praised jurors for their verdict and said Weinstein was finally being held accountable.

He praised the six accusers and the female prosecutor in the case as women who 'pulled our justice system into the 21st century by declaring that rape is rape and sexual assault is sexual assault no matter what'.

'Rape is rape whether it's committed by a stranger in a dark alley or by an intimate partner in a working relationship. It's rape whether it's committed by an indigent person or by a man of power, prestige, and privilege,' he said.

'Rape is rape whether the survivor report within an hour, year or perhaps never. It's rape despite the complicated dynamics of power and consent after an assault. It's rape even if there is no physical evidence and even if it happened a long time ago.

'This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America I believe and this is a new day.'

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance praised jurors for their verdict and said Weinstein was finally being held accountable. He is pictured leaving court with lead prosecutor Joan Illuzzi

His lawyer Donna Rutonno (center outside court) said Weinstein took the verdict 'like a man' and that they were 'absolutely appealing' the conviction

The drama from the courtroom spilled out onto the courthouse steps following Weinstein's conviction with his lawyer Donna Rotunno engaged in a standoff with victims' attorney Gloria Allred over who could speak first to the media

The district attorney abhorred Weinstein as a 'vicious, serial sexual predator' who 'used his power to threaten, rape, assault, trick, humiliate and silence' victims.

Vance said the DA's office wasn't disappointed that Weinstein was acquitted of three of the charges he faced.

'I am certainly not dissatisfied by the verdict. I think this was a very difficult case, a very challenging case and a case that really moved our understanding of what sexual assault is, where it can occur' he said.

'By no means am I disappointed with the jury's unanimous statement that Harvey Weinstein is guilty of sexual assault and rape.'

After the verdict, jury foreman Bernard Cody told DailyMail.com outside court that the deliberations were 'devastating' for him and that he now just wanted to 'go home'.

He added to the New York Post: 'It was stressful. The whole thing, it was long, long. I've been away from my family a long time.'

The drama from the courtroom spilled out onto the courthouse steps following Weinstein's conviction with his lawyer engaged in a standoff with victims' attorney Gloria Allred over who could speak first to the media.

Weinstein's attorney and a team of other lawyers were preparing to speak to the media who had gathered outside when Gloria Allred, who represents some Weinstein's accusers, jumped in front of them.

With them towering behind her, she yelled: 'You won't silence me again!' and refused to move. Rotunno and Weinstein's attorneys laughed it off and walked away.

Weinstein is pictured above reading what appeared to be a script in the courtroom prior to the jury handing down their verdict

After the verdict, jury foreman Bernard Cody told DailyMail.com outside court that the deliberations were 'devastating' for him and that he now just wanted to 'go home'

THE CHARGES AGAINST WEINSTEIN EXPLAINED What was Weinstein accused of: Harvey Weinstein was accused of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his apartment in 2006. What are the FIVE charges he faced: Jessica Mann: First degree rape and third degree rape The first degree charge alleges Weinstein used physical force or an implied or expressed threat that led the alleged victim to fear immediate death or injury. The third degree charge alleges only that there was a lack of consent. Mimi Haleyi: Criminal sexual act for her forced oral sex allegation. Two counts of predatory sexual assault, one for each of the charged acts. How the predatory sexual assault charges works: Under New York law, one way a person can be found guilty of predatory sexual assault is if he or she committed certain sex offenses in the past, even if that conduct didn't result in criminal charges. In Weinstein's case, prosecutors alleged that he raped Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in late 1993 or early 1994 - an accusation that is too old to be the basis for criminal charges on its own because of the statute of limitations. The verdict: The jury convicted Weinstein of third degree rape for Mann. He was found guilty of a criminal sexual act for Haleyi. Weinstein was found not guilty of the two counts of predatory sexual assault and first degree rape for Mann. To find him guilty of predatory sexual assault, the jury had to believe Sciorra's allegations and that he committed one of the other charged offenses related to Mann or Haleyi. How much time could he face? The criminal sex act charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Third degree rape carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison. Why did three other accusers testify at trial: Three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Marie Young - testified they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped. Their accusations were not the basis of any charges but they were brought in to help prosecutors show Weinstein showed a signature behavior pattern. Under New York state law, they are known as 'Molineux' witnesses. Advertisement

In total, Weinstein was charged with five counts including first and third degree rape for Mann and a criminal sexual act for Haleyi's forcibly oral sex allegation. He was also charged with predatory sexual assault for both women.

The predatory sexual assault charge, which is the most serious, incorporated Sopranos actress Anabella Sciorra's allegation that she was raped by Weinstein in the mid-1990s.

Sciorra's allegation was too old to be charged on its own because of the statute of limitations, but jurors had to consider it as the basis of the two counts of predatory sexual assault.

To convict Weinstein of that charge, jurors had to agree on two things: That Weinstein raped Sciorra and that he committed one of the other charged offenses related to Mann or Haleyi.

The verdict means that the jury did not believe Sciorra's testimony.

In a statement after the verdict, Sciorra said: 'My testimony was painful but necessary. I spoke for myself and with the strength of the eighty plus victims of Harvey Weinstein in my heart.

'While we hope for continued righteous outcomes that bring absolute justice, we can never regret breaking the silence. For in speaking truth to power we pave the way for a more just culture, free of the scourge of violence against women.'

The jury signaled its struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, the jurors sent the judge a note indicating they were deadlocked on those counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. The judge told them to keep on deliberating.

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation and lewd propositions.

Three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Marie Young - were also called to testify during the trial that Weinstein allegedly groped and sexually assaulted them.

Their accusations were not the basis of any charges but they were brought in to help prosecutors show Weinstein had a particular intention or showed a signature behavior pattern when he invited women to meet with him.

During the trial, prosecutors argued he was turned on by the fear in his accusers' eyes, while his defense team painted the case against him as a 'sinister tale' and claimed the allegations were 'regret renamed as rape'.

Weinstein did not testify during his trial but his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to get ahead in Hollywood.

The defense seized on the fact that the two women he was convicted of attacking stayed in contact with him through warm and even flirty emails - and had sex with him - well after he supposedly attacked them.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo - the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

Since 2017, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

Weinstein now still faces charges in Los Angeles. In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on January 6, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013.

Jessica Mann gave vivid description of Weinstein's 'deformed' naked body and told of how he bellowed 'you owe me!' before dragging her into a bedroom

GUILTY: Third degree rape. NOT GUILTY: First degree rape, predatory sexual assault

Jessica Mann, one of the two key accusers in Harvey Weinstein's case, testified that he raped her twice - in New York and Los Angeles - during an 'extremely degrading' relationship with the producer that lasted for years.

Mann told the court that she first met Weinstein at a party in late 2012 or early 2013 after she moved from Washington state to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career but said she didn't know who he was when he introduced himself.

When he pulled her aside later, he told her he was interested in her as an actress but not her Brazilian roommate Talita Maia who she came to the party with. Mann said she felt 'guilty' but gave Weinstein her number.

When she met Weinstein at a bookstore to learn about movie-business history, Weinstein told her that she 'looked prettier than Natalie Portman' and that he wanted her to read for a top role in a vampire film.

Jessica Mann, one of two key accusers in Weinstein's case, testified that he raped her one morning in March 2013 in a New York hotel room. She is pictured left in court and right in a 2013 film

Weinstein still faces sex crime charges in Los Angeles and civil lawsuits from dozens of women Separate from the New York trial, Weinstein has also been charged in Los Angeles with sexually assault of two women in 2013. He is charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting the other on consecutive nights. The charges were announced the night before his New York rape trial started. Weinstein is expected to appear in a Los Angeles court to hear the charges regardless of the New York trial's outcome. Los Angeles prosecutors said Weinstein and his unidentified accuser attended a Hollywood film festival on February 17, 2013. After the woman returned to her hotel room, Weinstein knocked at her door and she let him in. They spoke briefly before she alleged he attacked and raped her. Prosecutors said the woman delayed disclosing the alleged assault because, in part, Weinstein threatened her life. The next evening, the second accuser - model and actress Lauren Marie Young who testified in New York - said she went to Weinstein's hotel room with an acquaintance of hers following a business meeting. The court documents say she unwittingly followed Weinstein into the bathroom and the acquaintance shut the door behind her. Weinstein stripped naked, took a brief shower, stripped the alleged victim naked and then masturbated before releasing her. He faces up to 28 years in California prison if convicted on the charges. In addition to the criminal cases, Weinstein is facing civil lawsuits filed by dozens of women for various allegations of sexual harassment or assault. Advertisement

A casting director later testified that, despite Weinstein's promises, Mann was too old and tall to fit the role and that it had already been cast at the time.

She later ended up in his suite at a Los Angeles hotel after what she thought was a professional dinner where she said Weinstein pressured her into giving him a back massage on the bed with his shirt off.

Mann said Weinstein started offering her invitations to events and, on one occasion, asked her and her roommate to his hotel suite to give them the vampire script he had been talking about - even though it had already been cast.

She said Weinstein started undressing before going into the bedroom and calling her name. When she went to the bedroom, she said he grabbed her arm, closed the door and started 'trying to kiss me like crazy'.

Mann said she tussled with him and he grew increasingly angry before saying: 'I'm not letting you leave until I do something for you'. Mann told jurors that Weinstein then performed oral sex on her. She said she feigned orgasm to get herself out of the encounter.

'I sort of locked up and got really quiet. I was worried about my friend out there by herself. I faked an orgasm to get out of it. He asked me how it was, if I liked it. I was nervous, so I told him it was the best I ever had,' she testified.

Mann said she then started having a twisted relationship with the mogul in which they had multiple consensual sexual encounters, including a failed threesome.

'I was confused after what happened and I made a decision to be in a relationship with him,' she said. Mann said that while she wasn't sexually attracted to Weinstein, she felt compassion for him and wanted his approval.

The failed threesome occurred in February 2013 when Weinstein had Mann meet him and actress Emanuela Postacchini at a Los Angeles hotel and he tried to persuade the women to have sex with him.

Postacchini, who was called as a prosecution witness, later told jurors that Mann went into the bathroom and was 'crying in the fetal position on the ground'.

Mann testified that the rape occurred a month later when she was staying at the Doubletree Metropolitan hotel in Manhattan with friends ahead of a breakfast meeting with Weinstein.

She said she panicked when she saw Weinstein checking in early. Mann claims that Weinstein told her to not embarrass him and ordered her to go upstairs to his hotel room.

She claimed she tried to get out of the room twice but Weinstein blocked her and ordered her to undress. Mann said he emerged from the bathroom naked and then raped her on the bed.

Mann sobbed on the witness stand as she told jurors that she was forced to strip off her clothing in a New York City hotel room one morning in March 2013. Mann, whose allegations led to charges being brought against Weinstein, claimed the heavyset Hollywood tycoon trapped her in the room and then raped her

Mann testified for three days, more than any other accuser, and broke down during an intense cross-examination. After losing her composure at one point, Mann could be heard screaming in a side room of the court

Mann said during her testimony that she found a needle in a trash can after and believed, after some research, that he had injected himself with an erection-inducing drug.

She admitted that she continued to see Weinstein after this incident but tried to avoid physical contact.

Mann accused Weinstein of raping her again eight months later when she was working as a hairdresser at a Los Angeles hotel after she told him she was dating an actor.

He flew into a rage and screamed 'You owe me one more time!'. He told her 'I don't have time for games' before attacking her, she said.

'Okay, now go have your relationship,' he told her, according to her testimony. His apology: 'I just find you so attractive, I couldn't resist.'

During her testimony, Mann was asked by a prosecutor to describe Weinstein's body. She said she didn't believe he had testicles and his penis looked like a vagina. She also said that when she first saw him naked she thought Weinstein was 'physically deformed or intersex' and may have been a burn victim due to 'extreme scarring' on his stomach.

The jury were shown naked photos of Weinstein to corroborate Mann's description of his body. The photos, which were only shown to jurors, were taken by a Manhattan District Attorney's office photographer on June 18, 2018.

As he left the court that day, Weinstein was asked by a journalist: 'Were those nude photos of you that the jury looked at?' Weinstein laughed and turned to one of his lawyers and said: 'No, it was Playboy'.

Mann testified for three days, more than any other accuser, and broke down during an intense cross-examination. After losing her composure at one point, Mann could be heard screaming in a side room of the court.

Mann admitted during her testimony that she had kept in touch with Weinstein by sending him flattering emails because 'his ego was so fragile'. She said it 'made me feel safe, worshipping him in this sense I wanted to be perceived as innocent and naive.'

During her testimony, Mann was asked by a prosecutor to describe Weinstein's body. She said she didn't believe he had testicles and his penis looked like a vagina. The jury were also shown naked photos of Weinstein to corroborate Mann's description of his body

The defense said Mann sent Weinstein warm emails that said things like 'Miss you, big guy.' Not once, in more than 400 messages between the two, did the woman accuse Weinstein of harming her, his lawyers said.

Asked why she didn't break off contact with Weinstein at the first sign of trouble, Mann said she didn't want to offend him. But defense lawyer Donna Rotunno asked whether it was really because the woman 'wanted to benefit from the power he had.'

She said her relationship with the then-married Weinstein was more complicated than that but defiantly declared: 'He is my rapist.'

The defense later called her friend and former roommate, Talita Maia, who claimed Mann didn't show any signs of distress on the day Weinstein allegedly raped her in New York.

Maia was with Mann in New York and said nothing seemed amiss when they met Weinstein for breakfast after the alleged rape, she testified. She told the jury she spent the rest of that day with Mann and she never mentioned the alleged attack.

Maia said Mann 'spoke highly' of Weinstein during her relationship with him, even calling him her 'spiritual soulmate' at one point.

'She seemed to really like him as a person,' Maia said.

'I told him I'm on my period': Project Runway assistant Mimi Haleyi told the jury that Weinstein pulled out her tampon and forcibly gave her oral sex in his apartment

GUILTY: Criminal sexual act. NOT GUILTY: Predatory sexual assault

Former Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haleyi, the woman Harvey Weinstein went on trial on charges of sexually assaulting her, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.

'I was kicking, I was pushing, I was trying to get away from his grip,' the now 42-year-old testified. 'He held me down and kept pushing me down to the bed.'

She told jurors she thought she was being raped and wondered: 'If I scream rape, will someone hear me?'

Former 'Project Runway' production assistant Mimi Haleyi, the woman Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting in 2006, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his SoHo apartment

Haleyi broke down in tears describing the alleged attack, saying 'I did reject him, but he insisted. Every time I tried to get off the bed, he would push me back and hold me down'

'I did reject him, but he insisted. Every time I tried to get off the bed, he would push me back and hold me down'.

'I was crying no, no. I told him I'm on my period. It was as if he didn't believe me. I said something like where is it then? He literally pulled my tampon out.

'I checked out and decided to endure it. That was the safest thing I could do.'

Haleyi said she and Weinstein, who had gotten her the job at Project Runway, had sex at a Tribeca hotel two weeks later.

Haleyi, above in 2017, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his SoHo apartment

She said she 'just felt like an idiot' for letting Weinstein convince her to meet again, but thought seeing him could help her regain power as she tried to make sense of the alleged assault.

She said she didn't want to be intimate that time but didn't think Weinstein forced her to have sex.

Weinstein's lawyers suggested that episode was evidence he didn't coerce her during the first encounter either.

Haleyi's former roommate, Elizabeth Entin, later took to the stand to corroborate her testimony about the alleged sexual assault.

Entin said Haleyi had told her about the encounter a short time after it happened. She said Haleyi was anxious and pacing as she recounted telling Weinstein: 'No. No.'

She said she told Haleyi: 'That sounds like rape. I said why don't we call a lawyer. She still seemed very distraught and was shaking and walked away and didn't want to talk about it. She felt like she couldn't talk and wasn't very present.'

Entin testified that her friend changed after the alleged assault. Haleyi, whose given name is Miriam Haley, changed her name due to public scrutiny she faced after coming forward in October 2017 with the Weinstein allegations.

On cross-examination by Weinstein's lawyer, Donna Rotunno, Entin recalled thinking at first that it was just 'stupid' that Weinstein kept showing up unannounced at their apartment in the East Village.

'Because this older guy was trying to get your friend? Correct?' Rotunno asked.

'Correct,' Entin said.

'And you thought it funny?' Rotnunno asked.

'We did, at the time,' Entin said, recalling how her pet Chihuahua, Peanut, once chased Weinstein around the apartment after he barged in and demanded Haleyi go to Paris with him.

Entin said they viewed Weinstein 'as a pathetic older man trying really hard to hit on' Haleyi.

As Weinstein left the courtroom that day, a reporter in the hall asked: 'Mr Weinstein, are you afraid of Chihuahuas?' Weinstein smiled and said: 'Do I look like I'm afraid of Chihuahuas?'.

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra accused Weinstein of raping her, sending her chocolate penises and Valium - and turned up at her Cannes hotel room with baby oil

NOT GUILTY: Predatory sexual assault for Mann and Haleyi

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who was the first accuser to take the stand, was brought in to testify about Weinstein allegedly raping her in her Manhattan apartment in the mid-1990s.

Weinstein is not charged with attacking Sciorra but her testimony is a crucial part of the predatory sexual assault charges, which require prosecutors to establish a pattern of serious sex crimes against multiple women. Her accusation is too old to be the basis for criminal charges on its own due to the statute of limitations.

Sciorra said she first met Weinstein at an industry event in Los Angeles in 1990 or 1991. By 1993, she had starred in one of his company's movies, the romantic comedy The Night We Never Met.

Sciorra told the jury that the burly Weinstein barged uninvited into her apartment in the winter of 1993 or 1994 and raped her after dropping her off from a movie-business dinner with actress Uma Thurman and other industry figures.

He threw her on a bed and forced himself on her as she tried to fight him off by kicking and punching him, she said. Sciorra told the jury that eventually she 'couldn't fight anymore because he had my hands locked' and that Weinstein told her he had 'perfect timing' after ejaculating on her nightgown.

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who was the first accuser to testify, told the jury that the burly Weinstein barged into her Manhattan apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and violently raped her. She is pictured left in court and right in January 1994

Recounting an accusation she said she kept largely secret for decades, Sciorra testified that after raping her, Weinstein went on to try to perform oral sex on her, saying: 'This is for you' as her body 'shut down'.

'It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was very unusual. I didn't even really know what was happening. It was like a seizure or something,' she said. 'I'm not sure if I fainted or fell asleep or blacked out, but I woke up on the floor with my nightgown kind of up and I didn't know if something else had happened.'

At other points in the 1990s, Sciorra said that Weinstein sent her packages with Valium and a box of chocolate penises and turned up early one morning at her Cannes Film Festival hotel room in his underwear with the body oil and the videotape.

She said he left after she frantically pushed buttons on the room phone to summon help.

Sciorra said that roughly a month later, she ran into him and confronted him about what happened and he replied: 'That's what all the nice Catholic girls say.'

She claimed Weinstein then leaned toward her and added menacingly: 'This remains between you and I.'

'His eyes went black and I thought he was going to hit me right there,' Sciorra testified.

Afterwards, she spiraled into cutting herself and drinking heavily, she told the jury.

She said she didn't tell anyone at first about the alleged rape, not even her brothers, saying: 'I wanted to pretend it never happened... I wanted to get back to my life.'

Her friend and fashion model Kara Young testified that a fidgety Sciorra 'seemed a mess' with long cuts on her legs when the two watched the Academy Awards together in 1994.

Do the Right Thing actress Rosie Perez also testified during the trial that her friend Sciorra told her in the mid-1990s that Weinstein had raped her but that she couldn't go to the police because 'he'd destroy me'.

The Sopranos actress (above) confronted Weinstein from the witness standing during her testimony, saying that he overpowered and raped her and made other crude overtures that included sending her x-rated chocolates and showing up uninvited in his underwear

Annabella Sciorra is cross-examined by Weinstein's defense lawyer Donna Rotunno. Sciorra, who was the first accuser to testify, was brought in to testify that she was allegedly raped by Weinstein in 1993 or 1994 in her Manhattan apartment

Perez said her friend Sciorra had told at some point in 1993, her voice shaking on the phone, that something had happened to her: 'I think it was rape.'

Perez said she asked if Sciorra knew who had attacked her, but Sciorra wouldn't say at the time. But months later, on another phone call from London, she said Weinstein was harassing her and she was scared.

She testified that they both started crying after she said to Sciorra: 'He's the one that raped you'.

Sciorra later acted in another Weinstein-produced picture, 1997s Cop Land but she said she didn't realize when auditioning that his studio was involved.

Weinstein's lawyers sought to sow doubts about Sciorra's story, raising questions about her actions after the alleged rape and asking whether she had once described the encounter as 'awkward sex', which she denied.

During cross-examination, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno noted that Sciorra never went to police or a doctor about the alleged rape.

'At the time, I didn't understand that that was rape,' Sciorra said. She testified earlier that she once thought rape was a crime of strangers. 'I thought he was an okay guy. I felt confused. I felt like I wished I never opened the door,' she said.

Rotunno also suggested that Sciorra's judgment and recollection were clouded by drinking but the actress replied that she remembered having only a glass of wine with dinner.

Weinstein's defense played a 1997 clip of Sciorra playfully telling late-night host David Letterman that she sometimes had fun with the media by making up stories such as her father raising iguanas for circuses. Sciorra said she would never lie about something as serious as sexual assault.

The defense also highlighted an August 2017 text message in which Sciorra told a friend she was broke and was 'hoping Harvey has a job for me'.

The actress said she was just 'fishing' to try to find out through the friend whether Weinstein knew that a reporter had gotten wind of her accusations, which were first published in The New Yorker two months later.

Cocktail waitress Tarale Wulff claimed Weinstein masturbated in front of her at a New York club - then raped her in his apartment

Former cocktail waitress and aspiring actress Tarale Wulff testified that Harvey Weinstein masturbated in front of her while she was working at the upscale New York club Cipriani and later raped her at his New York City apartment in 2005.

She was one of three women brought in to testify about encounters separate from the crimes Weinstein was accused of committing to try to establish his motive and a signature pattern of behavior that could bolster the main accusers' claims.

Tarale Wulff, a former cocktail waitress and aspiring actress, testified that Weinstein preyed on her vulnerabilities while pushing the notion that sex could lead to film roles. She is pictured left in court and right in 2009

She testified that Weinstein masturbated in front of her while she was working as a cocktail waitress at the upscale New York club Cipriani and later raped her at his New York City apartment in 2005

Wulff claimed Weinstein, who she met at the members-only club where she worked, raped her at his New York City apartment after luring her there in 2005 with promises of an audition for a film role.

She described the much larger Weinstein grabbing her by the arm, pushing her onto a bed and spurning her pleas to stop with reassurances that she shouldn't worry because he'd had a vasectomy.

Wulff, now 43 and a model, said she froze as he continued, thinking that would make it 'easier to get through, to get past it'.

She testified that on an occasion before the alleged rape, Weinstein grabbed her arm as she served cocktails at one of his usual Manhattan haunts, led her toward a darkened terrace and started masturbating.

Wulff said she froze and scooted around him to go back to the bar.

Weinstein's lawyers raised doubts about Wulff's recollection after she disclosed that she had worked with a therapist for a year to fill gaps in her memory.

Speaking to reporters later, Wulff's lawyer called that line of questioning a 'red herring' and said her memory of being raped has never altered.

Weinstein put his hand up my skirt and tried trading movie roles for threesomes by claiming Salma Hayek and Charlize Theron had done the same, aspiring actress Dawn Dunning told the jury

Dawn Dunning, an aspiring actress, told jurors that Harvey Weinstein put his hand up her skirt and fondled her genitals during what was supposed to be a 2004 meeting about her fledgling career and later tried trading movie roles for three-way sex with him and his assistant.

Dunning told jurors she met Weinstein while waiting tables at a Manhattan night spot where bottle service was a trendy indulgence for the rich and famous.

Weinstein immediately appeared to take an interest in her acting career, she said, and invited her to a lunch meeting where, noting his infamous temper, she said he was 'on the phone a lot yelling at people'.

Dunning said several meetings followed, including one at a hotel where Weinstein was using a suite as a temporary office when she was 24.

Weinstein led her into a bedroom at one point and put his hand up her skirt, she said.

'He just started talking really fast. He said, 'Don't make a big deal about this. It will never happen again,' she told the jury.

Dawn Dunning, also an aspiring actress, (left in 2019 and right in 2011) told jurors that Weinstein put his hand up her skirt and fondled her genitals during what was supposed to be a 2004 meeting about her fledgling career and later tried trading movie roles for three-way sex with him and his assistant

Dunning told jurors she met Weinstein while waiting tables at a different Manhattan night spot - one where bottle service was a trendy indulgence for the rich and famous

Dunning said she 'just kind of gave him the benefit of the doubt' and didn't scream or tell anyone because she was embarrassed and didn't want to be a victim.

She said she later agreed to meet Weinstein at a cigar bar but that an assistant took her to a suite where the producer was standing in a bathrobe.

She said Weinstein showed her a contract for three movie roles she would get on the condition she had 'a threesome with his assistant'.

Dunning laughed thinking he was kidding and had a 'crass sense of humor.'

'But when I started laughing, he got really angry and started screaming at me,' Dunning testified. 'He said, 'you'll never make it in this business, this is how this industry works.'

She said Weinstein claimed the lewd offer was the kind of thing that happened all the time in the film business and that he mentioned the names of several big stars in hopes of convincing her to do it.

Dunning, now 40, said Weinstein went on to namedrop actresses Salma Hayek and Charlize Theron, implying they had done similar things to achieve success - something both women have strongly denied.

Hayek has said she had to fight off Weinstein's constant harassment and bullying. Theron was upset when some accusers said he implied they had slept together.

Dunning said she didn't know what Weinstein would do after she laughed off the offer, so she ran for the door and down the hall to the elevator.

'He was a big guy. He was towering over me,' she testified. 'I was really scared.'

Weinstein's lawyers questioned why Dunning waited until last summer to tell prosecutors that he had had fondled her after she had gone public with the jobs-for-sex allegation, which was first published in a New York Times article in October 2017.

'His penis looked like it had been cut and sewn back on': Lauren Marie Young told the jury Weinstein groped and masturbated in front of her in a hotel bathroom and said he had a 'disgusting looking penis'

Lauren Marie Young, the final accuser at Harvey Weinstein's trial, told jurors he groped her in a Beverly Hills hotel bathroom just days before the Oscars in February 2013.

Young said she first met Weinstein a year earlier in February 2012 when she was invited by a friend to an Oscars party for the producer.

She testified that she met Mexican model Claudia Salinas there and told her about a script she was working on based on her life. Salinas gave her her e-mail address and then a year later asked her to bring her script for a meeting with Weinstein at the hotel where the alleged groping occurred.

'I was excited. I got ready. I put on my best dress,' the 30-year-old testified about first connecting with Weinstein at the hotel. 'I was excited to network and pitch my ideas.'

At some point Weinstein said 'let's finish this conversation upstairs' and she went with him and Salinas, according to her testimony.

Once in the hotel room, Young claimed Salinas closed the bathroom door behind them and that she did nothing to stop her alleged assault.

Lauren Marie Young, the final accuser at Weinstein's trial, told jurors he groped her in a Beverly Hills hotel bathroom just days before the Oscars in February 2013

Young described in explicit detail how Weinstein had a 'disgusting'-looking penis that appeared to be 'cut and sewn back on' and that he appeared to have no testicles

Young alleged that Weinstein stripped naked, groped her breast and then masturbated in front of her.

Young said Salinas 'was standing right there' when Weinstein was finished and she managed to get out.

Young told the jury that shot Salinas 'an evil look and I left as quick as I could without saying anything'.

Young described in explicit detail how Weinstein had a 'disgusting'-looking penis that appeared to be 'cut and sewn back on' and that he appeared to have no testicles.

'His body was hairy, it had moles on his rolls, a disgusting looking penis,' she told jurors. 'It had looked like it had been cut and sewn back on, not a normal looking scar from circumcision. Something didn't look normal and I remember noticing that and I didn't notice balls in the sack. I just saw a penis.'

In a dramatic moment, the court was shown the lace dress Young claimed she wore the night of that alleged assault.

The dress could potentially be sent for DNA testing for evidence in a separate case against Weinstein in Los Angeles where the incident took place.

Salinas was later called as a defense witness and denied ever locking Young in the bathroom with Weinstein.

'That never happened,' Salinas told jurors.

'Did you ever close that door while Lauren Young was in the bathroom with Mr Weinstein?' Weinstein's lawyer Damon Charonis asked.

Salinas said: 'If I'd done that I'd remember it. I'd never close the door on anybody ever'.

Salinas, who is now 38 and working as a social media influencer, disputed other parts of Young's account, saying that while they did meet up at the hotel bar the night of the alleged assault, it wasn't because Weinstein wanted to see her.

She also said she didn't recognize the hotel suite and didn't remember following along as Weinstein sought to continue the conversation in his room while he got ready for an awards presentation, as Young had alleged.

Asked on cross-examination if she told investigators last year that it was possible Weinstein took Young to the room, Salinas replied: 'What's true is that I wasn't there in a bathroom scenario. It could have happened but it didn't mean I was there.'

From the most powerful man in Hollywood to convict: Weinstein's downfall and his deteriorating health Harvey Weinstein was once considered the most powerful man in Hollywood who made hits like Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love with his film companies Miramax and The Weinstein Co. He dominated Hollywood in the 1990s and won 81 Oscars as he became part of the world elite and grew especially close to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Now, The Weinstein Co. is bankrupt, his wife Georgina Chapman has divorced him and his empire is in ruins with his accusers demanding tens of millions in separate civil claims. Weinstein has said that if he was cleared he would make a comeback but he still faces separate rape charges in Los Angeles. Prosecutors claimed during the trial that Weinstein's walker was a 'prop' that was designed to elicit sympathy from the jury and make it look like he was a 'harmless old man' During the trial, Weinstein's health deteriorated with him losing an estimated 50lbs. After back surgery, he had to use a walker with tennis balls on two legs before later switching to one with wheels to help him in and out of court Many who have been following the New York trial were struck by the decline in Weinstein's appearance. Images of Weinstein's feeble entrances into court rocketed around social media: a disheveled man slouched over a walker and trailed by his female attorney. Weinstein, pictured with his now ex-wife Georgina Chapman in 2017, has experienced a decline in his appearance since being charged At the height of his powers Weinstein weighed 300lbs and his physical stature mirrored his standing in the movie business. During the trial, Weinstein's health deteriorated with him losing an estimated 50lbs. After back surgery, he had to use a walker with tennis balls on two legs before later switching to one with wheels to help him in and out of court. Prosecutors claimed the walker was a 'prop' that was designed to elicit sympathy from the jury and make it look like he was a 'harmless old man'. In court, Weinstein mostly stared ahead and chewed gum, though the day after hosting a Super Bowl party he repeatedly fell asleep in court. During Jessica Mann's testimony about his body, Weinstein put his head in his hands. Weinstein did muster the gall to wave at Rosie Perez when she gave her evidence. Weinstein would often smiling as he left court each day. When asked about the jury being shown naked pictures of him, Weinstein joked that they were looking at Playboy magazine. Advertisement

Donna Rotunno vs Joan Illuzzi: The Bulldog defense lawyer vs the 'soldier' of justice prosecutor

Harvey Weinstein's case pitted career prosecutor Joan Illuzi against the Hollwyood producer's lead defense lawyer Donna Rotunno who has been dubbed an 'anti-Me Too lawyer' and a 'bulldog in the courtroom'.

Donna Rotunno:

During the trial, Rotunno took aim at the credibility of the women accusing Weinstein of assaulting them.

She had also repeatedly courted controversy since taking on Weinstein's case as she was accused of blaming the victims and saying women should take responsibility for their actions.

An interview she gave for a New York Times podcast was brought up during the trial after it emerged Rotunno had said she'd never been assaulted because she wouldn't 'put herself in that position'.

In an ABC interview earlier this year, Rotunno said of the victims: 'If you don't want to be a victim, don't go to the hotel room.'

Defense lawyer Donna Rotunno has been dubbed an 'anti-Me Too lawyer' and a 'bulldog in the courtroom'

In a separate interview with Vanity Fair, Rotunno said: 'If women want equal rights and equal pay and equal opportunity, then you have to also take equal responsibility.

'I think it's easy to look back and say, 'Oh, you know, maybe I didn't love that experience'. Well, okay. Regret sex is not rape.'

Rotunno, who is not married and lives alone, has previously said she does not support the #MeToo movement because it can unfairly sway public opinion against defendants. She said her belief that unproven allegations and media scrutiny had eroded Weinstein's right to a fair trial motivated her to take the case.

Rotunno took on Weinstein's case in June 2019 - two years after dozens of allegations against Weinstein fueled the #MeToo movement.

During his trial, Rotunno appeared each day at Weinstein's side, unflinching in the face of flashing cameras.

She has made a career out of representing men accused of sexual assault. A former Chicago prosecutor, Rotunno has represented some 40 defendants accused of sexual assault since she opened her own firm in Chicago back in 2005.

During Weinstein's trial, Rotunno said assailed her client's accusers and said it was 'disingenuous' for 'overzealous' prosecutors to argue that the six women who testified had acted independently.

She also urged jurors to use common sense in evaluating the evidence after Weinstein pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013.

'In October 2017, the biggest story in the world was about Harvey Weinstein,' she said, referring to the first news reports about allegations against Weinstein. 'They all knew that story.'

Joan Illuzi:

The prosecutor who took on Harvey Weinstein at trial is a no-nonsense mother-of-two who is known for resolving cold cases and keeping her cool when facing off against high profile defendants.

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, 57, had already worked for the Manhattan Assistant District Attorney's office for 30 years when she became the lead prosecutor in Weinstein's case in 2018.

Dubbed the 'soldier' because of her team-player attitude to the District Attorney's office, she has worked on several major cases throughout her career.

Prosector Joan Illuzi is a no-nonsense mother-of-two who is known for resolving cold cases and keeping her cool when facing off against high profile defendants

The Harvey Weinstein timeline: From studio to courtroom in 40 years 1979 - Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob found independent film distribution and production company Miramax, naming it after their parents, Miriam and Max. June 1993 - The Walt Disney Company buys Miramax for $80 million but the brothers stay on until 2005. May 1994 - Director Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction' starring Uma Thurman and John Travolta and backed by Miramax, wins the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. 1997 - Miramax wins its first Academy Award for best picture with 'The English Patient.' 1999 - Miramax's 'Shakespeare in Love' wins seven Oscars - including best picture and best actress for Gwyneth Paltrow. 2004 - Weinstein divorces his first wife Eve Chilton, with whom he has three daughters. 2005 - The Weinstein brothers leave Miramax to set up their own production company, The Weinstein Company. 2007 - Weinstein marries English fashion director Georgina Chapman. Oct 5, 2017 - The New York Times reports Weinstein settled with eight women who accused him of unwanted physical contact and sexual harassment over three decades. Weinstein in a statement apologized for causing pain to colleagues and said he was taking a leave of absence and entering therapy. Oct 6, 2017 - Weinstein takes indefinite leave of absence from The Weinstein Co. The company later says he is fired. Oct 10, 2017 - The New Yorker reports allegations by 13 women who said Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them, including three who said he raped them. Weinstein again denies non-consensual sex. Oct 10, 2017 - Chapman, Weinstein's wife, says she is leaving him. Oct 14, 2017 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that selects the Oscar winners, expels Weinstein. October 2017 - Actress Alyssa Milano fuels the expansion of the #MeToo movement, founded by Tarana Burke, by writing on Twitter: 'If you've ever been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet.' In the following weeks, #MeToo would be used by millions of women. Jan 1, 2018 - Hollywood celebrities launch the Time's Up campaign to fight sexual harassment in the workplace. May 25, 2018 - Weinstein surrenders to New York police on charges of rape and a criminal sex act involving alleged assaults against two women, in 2004 and 2013. June 5, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to the charges. June 9, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new charges of sexually assaulting a third woman in 2006. Oct 11, 2018 - Weinstein wins dismissal of the charges over the alleged 2004 assault. Charges involving the other two women remain pending. Jan 17, 2019 - Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein's defense attorney, issues statement saying he is quitting. Jan 25, 2019 - Weinstein appears in court to announce new defense team. April 26, 2019 - Weinstein's trial is delayed until Sep 9 to allow defense more time to gather evidence. July 11, 2019 - Weinstein hires third legal team after second team of defense attorneys exits the case. Aug 26, 2019 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new indictment involving the same two women accusing him of two counts of predatory sexual assault, in 2006 and 2013. His trial is pushed back to Jan 6, 2020. Dec 11, 2019 - Weinstein and his bankrupt studio reach tentative $25 million settlement with dozens of women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Jan 6, 2020 - Los Angeles prosecutors announce sexual assault charges against Weinstein just hours after he appeared in a New York court for the start of his trial on rape charge. Jan 7, 2020 - Jury selection at Weinstein's trial begins in New York. Feb 18, 2020 - Jury begins deliberations. Feb 24, 2020: Jury find Weinstein guilty on two of five counts. March 11, 2020: Weinstein sentenced to 23 years. Advertisement

Among her other notable cases is that of Etan Patz, a six-year-old who was murdered in 1979 after being kidnapped from a Soho bus stop. Iluzzi-Orbon convicted his killer, Pedro Hernandez, in 2017.

She also prosecuted Lil Wayne and Ja Rule in 2007 on weapons charges and the duo ended up taking plea deals which put them behind bars for one and two years respectively.

Iluzzi-Orbon seldom speaks to the media and has kept a low profile throughout the media circus that has been Weinstein's case.

Such is her passion for the law that the defense attorney in the Lil Wayne an Ja Rule case called her a 'soldier' of what she believes to be justice.

She was brought into replace the lead prosecutor overseeing the Weinstein rape investigation nearly half a year into the probe.

Rather than speaking out publicly, Illuzzi-Orbon reserved all her punches for the courtroom.

She set an immediately combative tone, painting Weinstein as a 'predator' and the 'master of his own universe' where he crushed actresses and models 'like ants' if they did not do as he wished.

In her closing arguments, Illuzzi said Weinstein was turned on by the 'fear' in his accusers' eyes and thought he was a 'master of the universe'.

She went on to say that his isolation of his alleged victims was the 'hallmark of a predator'.

Courtroom showdown: Prosecutors say Weinstein was turned on by fear in his accusers' eyes while defense claim allegations are 'regret renamed as rape'

Prosecutors in Harvey Weinstein's trial argued he was turned on by the fear in his accusers' eyes while his defense team painted the case against him as a 'sinister tale' and claimed the allegations were 'regret renamed as rape'.

The statements came as each side summed up their respective cases at the end of six weeks of harrowing testimony and evidence during the trial.

Weinstein's defense lawyer Donna Rotunno told jurors to use their common sense in evaluating the evidence. She said prosecutors had painted a 'sinister' picture of Weinstein because they didn't have the evidence to prove the charges.

Rotunno hit out at the inclusion of Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in the case, claiming it was just 'star power' and that she only spoke out to further her career.

She also argued accuser Mimi Haleyi and her attorney Gloria Allred were only in it for the money and that they could see a 'pot of gold at the end of this trial'.

Weinstein's lawyer told jurors that her client is 'just another human being' and said prosecutors had created a universe where women were not responsible for choices they make to further their careers.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzi told jurors that Weinstein believed he was a 'master of the universe' and that his accusers were 'complete disposables'.

'He was a master of his universe and the witnesses were merely ants he could step on without consequence,' Illuzi said of Weinstein. 'He felt like he had a surefire insurance policy that the witnesses were standing in line to get into his universe.'

'The universe is run by me and they don't get to complain when they get stepped on, spit on, demoralized and, yes, raped and abused by me - the king,' Illuzzi said, mimicking Weinstein.

Using a TV monitor next to the jury box, the prosecutor displayed photos of Sciorra - accused Weinstein of raping her in her apartment in the early 1990s - and the five other accusers who also testified.

Illuzzi told jurors that aside from the more successful Sciorra who Weinstein considered a threat, the others were 'complete disposables'.

'These other woman, they were never going to be in his world,' she said.

'All of these women on the screen, it's as if they are there together but they're not. When you consider why they didn't tell, why they had future contact with him, why they continued to speak nicely to him.

'Remember that none of these women knew about each other.

'That's the hallmark of a predator; isolate, isolate, isolate because then they feel like they are the only one.

The defense: Weinstein's lawyers sought to undermine accusers via their ex-friends and a psychologist who said memories can be distorted

Writer Paul Feldsher, who was first defense witness in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial, acknowledged sending messages to the former producer in which he disparaged the 'dog pile of actresses' who had accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

'I think the dog pile of actresses who are suddenly brave and recalling repressed memories is hideous,' Feldsher wrote in one text to Weinstein. Dog pile is a slang term sometimes used to describe mass bullying of one person by a large group.

'I stand by the description,' he said of the text when he took the stand.

Feldsher testified that his friend, actress Annabella Sciorra, told him in the early 1990s that she had a sexual encounter with Weinstein but did not say she had been raped.

He said Sciorra told him she had 'done this crazy thing with Harvey' and that he understood her to mean that she had 'fooled around with him'. Feldsher said that they did not discuss it further and that he had no indication it was a negative experience.

Writer Paul Feldsher, who was first defense witness in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial, acknowledged sending messages to the former producer in which he disparaged the 'dog pile of actresses' who had accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct

Under cross-examination, Feldsher acknowledged that he had been in regular contact with Weinstein since allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against the former producer.

He said he had stayed in touch with Weinstein because he 'felt badly that he was completely abandoned'. He acknowledged sending Weinstein text messages disparaging Sciorra in harsh language, calling her 'full of s**t' and 'an a**hole.'

'Well the rape version got her an agent at (Creative Artists Agency), so there's that,' he said in one text.

Feldsher also sent Weinstein texts criticizing his behavior with women, telling him, 'If a lot of these girls had been my daughter I would have wanted to beat the shit out of you'.

He said he thought Weinstein was a sex addict but did not believe the former producer was capable of committing the crimes of which he has been accused.

Elizabeth Loftus, a psychology professor at the University of California, Irvine, was called by the defense as an expert witness to testify that people's memories can become distorted.

The professor told jurors that receiving misinformation about an event, trying to remember it in therapy and discussing it with law enforcement can all distort memory.

'I've seen a situation where people are motivated to want to try to remember more,' Loftus said, leading them to fill in 'details that feel like memories.'

Although Loftus did not testify about specifics in Weinstein's case, she told jurors that strong emotions around a memory were no guarantee of its accuracy.

Talita Maia, a former friend of Jessica Mann, one of the two main accusers, testified that Mann did not seem in distress on the day of the alleged rape and described Weinstein as a 'soulmate'

Maia (above in court with Weinstein) said her former friend Mann 'spoke highly' of Weinstein during her relationship with him, even calling him her 'spiritual soulmate' at one point

'There are several studies that show false memories can be expressed with a great deal of emotion,' she said. An event 'can be remembered as being more upsetting or traumatic than it was at the time,' she said.

Under cross-examination, Loftus said that people are likely to remember the core of a traumatic memory correctly, even when details surrounding it become distorted.

Weinstein's defense team also sought to undermine the accusers by calling on their former friends to testify.

A former friend of Jessica Mann, one of the two main accusers, testified that Mann did not seem in distress on the day of the alleged rape and described Weinstein as a 'soulmate.'

Mann testified earlier in the trial that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room one morning in March 2013. Talita Maia, her former roommate, told jurors that she spent the rest of that day with Mann and she never mentioned the alleged attack or showed any sign of distress.

Maia told jurors that Mann 'spoke highly' of Weinstein during her relationship with him, even calling him her 'spiritual soulmate' at one point.

'She seemed to really like him as a person,' Maia said.

Maia was also asked about the night she and Mann first met Weinstein, which she said was at an engagement party in the Hollywood Hills in early 2013.

Later that night, Maia testified that she saw Mann and Weinstein emerging from a 'secluded area' of the party. 'She told me she had given her number (to him). I think she was impressed,' she said.

Asked by the defense if Mann began a relationship with Weinstein at that point, Maia said: 'Yes'. Maia said that she and Mann attended two Oscars parties at Weinstein's invitation and Mann had another meeting with him in a hotel.

Maia testified that Mann had asked her to drive her to the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills where the second alleged attack occurred. She said she knew that Mann was seeing Weinstein at that point.

Jurors also heard from Mexican model Claudia Salinas as a defense witness after being accused by alleged victim Lauren Marie Young of doing nothing to stop her assault

'They asked me to go upstairs with them. They were very clear there was nothing to worry about, it was a suite, it wasn't a room. I was like OK I'll go. I was uncomfortable with the situation. I didn't want to go to a room with them. I didn't know what they were going to do,' Maia said.

She said she sat on the couch while Mann and Weinstein went into the bedroom.

When questioned by Weinstein's lawyer, Maia denied hearing an argument or her friend asking for help. Maia said they were in there for about '10 minutes' and they left together with Mann seeming 'normal'.

Under cross-examination, Maia admitted she had a falling out with Mann some time before January 2017 and stopped speaking to her but said she did not dislike her. Maia said she was testifying in response to a defense subpoena, telling jurors: 'I don't want to be here at all.'

Jurors also heard from Mexican model Claudia Salinas as a defense witness after being accused by alleged victim Lauren Marie Young of doing nothing to stop her assault.

Young testified that Salinas closed the door behind her and Weinstein as they went into the bathroom of a Beverly Hills hotel back in 2013.

'That never happened,' Salinas told jurors.

Salinas denied locking Young in the bathroom with Weinstein and said she didn't stand outside the door while they were inside.

'Did you ever close that door while Lauren Young was in the bathroom with Mr Weinstein?' Weinstein's lawyer Damon Charonis asked.

Salinas said: 'If I'd done that I'd remember it. I'd never close the door on anybody ever'.

Young had said in earlier testimony that Salinas closed the bathroom door behind her and Weinstein before he stripped off his clothes, grabbed her breast and masturbated.

Young said Salinas 'was standing right there' when Weinstein was finished and she managed to get out. Young told the jury that she shot Salinas 'an evil look and I left as quick as I could without saying anything'.
The tourism in the Dominican Republic is booming and its history had significantly made a huge contribution. The Dominican Republic was once known as 'Quisqueya' by the tribe Tainoso who called the nation as their home for years. It had faced multiple changes when a ship called Santa Maria tried to sail to Europe and India, according to an article from Belatina.

The Columbus Expedition

Columbus and his men had first reached the Bahamas, Cuba, then La Isla Espanola, also known as Hispanola. Columbus was captivated by the beauty of the environment where he visited. Despite his failure to complete find a spice trail, he changed his plans of finding gold and other forms of treasure to bring back to his home country.

The other crew members of Columbus were left behind while Columbus went on a short trip back to Spain to report his suggested plans. However, when he returned to Hispanola, all of his crew were nowhere to be found.

His second expedition was bigger than the previous one. He was accompanied by 17 ships and a huge number of crew members.

In1494, Columbus and his men took control of the island and eventually wiping the Tainos out of existence.

Spain's Control over the Dominican Republic

For almost a century, the Spaniards ruled the Dominican Republic. It was made a home base where other expeditions were started. The other expeditions include journeys to the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Since the rule of Spain in the Dominican Republic, it had transformed into a location of slave trade routes and an abundant source of valuable resources.

In honor of the patron queen, the brother Columbus declared a city on the island as 'La Isabela.' Currently, the city is now known as Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo is the first city of Europe in the Latin American region. Also, it is the oldest colonial city in the entire South American continent. Additionally, it remains the center of the Dominican Republic government.

After the declaration of independence from the Spanish rule, the Dominican Republic had struggled to stabilize. Also, it had issues with its temporary dependence on the United States of America who helped the country build needed infrastructure and a government body. However, the help was only made to meet its capitalistic needs.

Why Visit the Dominican Republic?

Over the years, the large quantity of arable land in the country had resulted in a booming agricultural industry. The Dominican Republic had been known to export various goods such as sugar, coffee, and tobacco.

There are still a huge number of undeveloped land areas such as mountains and forests that had helped increase tourism in the Dominican Republic.

The preserved state of nature in the Dominican Republic combined with the inviting climate and the warmth of the people makes it an ideal location for tourists.

The majority of the visitors of the Dominican Republic are trying out ecological adventures that had become famous to international travelers. This had improved tourism in the Dominican Republic.

Other tourists' attractions in the country are zipline adventures that allow a traveler to appreciate the view of unspoiled lands. Also, it allows tourists to appreciate nature with numerous bodies of water found in the mountains of the area.
Large parts of China ease coronavirus curbs, many report no new cases Workers wearing face masks work next to a furnace at a steel plant in Hangzhou, Zhejiang

BEIJING (Reuters) - Urged to restore economic activity by President Xi Jinping, large parts of China relaxed curbs on transport and travel on Monday as reported new cases of coronavirus outside the worst-hit province fell to the lowest in a month.

Twenty-four of China's 31 provinces and regions - including Beijing and Shanghai - reported zero new infections on Feb. 23, the best showing since the national health authority began publishing daily nationwide figures on Jan. 20.

There were just 11 new cases in six other provincial-level jurisdictions, while in Hubei province, the center of the epidemic, the number of new cases fell to 398 from 630 a day earlier.

On Sunday, President Xi hailed the trend and urged businesses to resume work and safeguard jobs. He also told low-risk provinces to restore economic output while high-risk regions focused on controlling the epidemic.

Yunnan, Guangdong, Shanxi and Guizhou on Monday lowered their emergency response measures from the most serious level, joining the provinces of Gansu and Liaoning in relaxing restrictions on transport and travel.

The new coronavirus has infected nearly 77,000 people and killed more than 2,500 in China, and spread to numerous other countries.

Outside Hubei, factories, businesses and construction sites have already gradually restarted, though operations are still fitful.

Many front-line workers have yet to return home from specially extended Lunar New Year holidays, supply chains have not fully recovered, and raw material and component shortages still exist, a government official from Zhejiang, one of China's biggest provinces by economic output, told a news briefing.

GROWTH SLOWING AGAIN

Some economists estimate China's gross domestic product growth will slow in the first quarter, possibly to 3% or even lower, from 6% in the last quarter of 2019 - which was already the slowest in nearly 30 years.

"The risk is that, with the emphasis on the economy and a differentiation of regions based on the number of new infection cases, the quality of new infection data reported by local governments could be compromised again," Nomura wrote in a research note.

Story continues

Hubei remains virtually cut off.

The provincial capital Wuhan, ground zero of the outbreak, said on Monday it would allow people in good health to leave the city if their reason was urgent, but then revoked the announcement.

Beijing, which has reported two straight days of zero new infections, is not letting down its guard.

Over 100 hair salons re-opened in the Chinese capital on Monday, traditionally an auspicious day on the lunar calendar to get a haircut. But no walk-in customers were allowed and hairdressers had to wear masks while working.

Authorities said people not wearing masks in public would be warned, and that office buildings must set daily limits on people coming and going.

At the offices of Yanfeng Adient, a Shanghai maker of car seats and automobile parts, posters reminding workers to wash their hands and wear masks covered the walls.

Employees were typing away in some cubicles, using chat software to communicate, but most desks were empty, with top management encouraging white-collar staff to work from home.

(Additional reporting by Judy Hua, Huizhong Wu, Yawen Chen, Roxanne Liu, Josh Horwitz and David Kirton; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Kevin Liffey)
Prince Pipes and Fittings announced that CARE Ratings had revised the rating for the company's long term bank facilities worth a total of Rs 239.24 crore to CARE A- from CARE BBB+.

The ratings agency has also revised its rating on the short term bank facilities worth Rs 252 crore from CARE A3+ to CARE A2+.

CARE Ratings said that the revision in ratings assigned to the bank facilities of Prince Pipes Fittings (PPFL) factors in the improvement in its leverage indicators post conclusion of initial public offer (IPO).

The rating also factors in the fact that going forward the debt requirement would be to the extent of working capital only as the IPO proceeds would also be utilized towards the envisaged capex.

Thus, the leverage and debt coverage indicators are expected to remain comfortable going forward. The liquidity witnessed improvement during 9MFY20 marked by elevation in gross cash accruals with expansion in operating profit margins coupled with reduction in long term debt (through scheduled repayment and prepayments).

The rating continues to favorably factor in the diversified product portfolio with strategically located manufacturing units, wide distribution network with nationwide presence, and improved brand recall post elevated advertisement efforts witnessed during FY19 and 9MFY20. The ratings also factor in experience of the promoters and professional management team with long track record of the company's operations.

The above rating strengths are, however, tempered by project risks arising from large size planned capex, susceptibility of its operating profit margin to fluctuation associated with key raw materials and foreign exchange as the key raw materials are derivatives of crude oil and import dependency on raw material is to extent of 40% of total raw material consumption. Ratings also continue to factor in the PPFL's presence in highly competitive industry setup with intense competition being faced from both organized and unorganized sector.

The polymer pipes and fittings manufacturer reported 40.8% jump in net profit to Rs 24.28 crore on a 9.7% rise in net sales to Rs 395.90 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018.

Prince Pipes and Fittings is recognized as one of the leading polymer pipes and fittings manufacturers in India in terms of number of distributors. The company markets its products under two brand names: Prince Piping Systems and Trubore. The company has more than 30 years experience in the polymer pipes segment.

Shares of PPFL were currently down 1.62% at Rs 178.75. It traded in the range of Rs 175.75 and Rs 179.95 so far during the day.

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Photo: screengrabs

Top Chinese leaders held an unprecedented mass meeting on Sunday. Officials top down from political Bureau of CPC Central Committee to county-level Party officials and military officials of corresponding level attended the meeting via videophone.

President Xi Jinping arranged and coordinated epidemic prevention and social and economic development during the meeting.

Some 170,000 officials took part in the meeting, attendees said.

Analysts said such a massive, top-down official Party meeting was unusual, underscoring its great significance.

Xi stressed that the Chinese nation has experienced many ordeals in history, but has never been crushed. Instead, China has become more and more courageous, and has continued to grow and rise from ordeals.

The current epidemic situation is still grim and complex, and prevention and control work is at the most critical stage, he noted.

Party committees and governments at all levels must hold firm to their belief in victory, continuing working on various prevention and control tasks, Xi said.

Xi vowed to correct behaviors of formalism and bureaucratism. He also called for mobilizing the whole of society to participate in virus containment work.

The shortcomings exposed in the epidemic-response work should be taken as lessons for the future, Xi noted, and should be drawn upon to help improve the country's ability to cope with public health emergency.

The president urged pressure be turned into motivation and crisis into opportunity towards an orderly restoration of production and order of people's life.

Besides epidemic and control work, Xi remarked on social and development issues including ensuring agricultural activities and the stabilization of trade and foreign investment, as well as expanding opening up of financial service sector as part of reform and opening-up efforts.

Great significance

This was truly a historic and remarkable event of political governance not only for China but also for the world, said Lu Keli, associate professor of the school of Marxism studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing.

There has never been a country or political party with the capability and motivation to hold such a massive meeting to discuss and deliver instructions from the top leader to more than 170,000 officials, Lu said.

"This showed that the CPC holds a unique advantage to mobilize a great country with 1.4 billion people to counter the massive emergency," Lu said, noting that is a giant Party with powerful leadership that also has its branches to reach every corner of the country.

"It also shows that the CPC is very clear that its top priority and duty is to protect Chinese people's health and safety," the expert said.

As of Sunday, China reported 76,936 infections in total, with 4,148 suspected cases.

Some 21 regions outside Hubei reported zero new cases on Sunday while all provinces and municipalities outside Hubei have 18 new infections in total, official data showed.

A Party secretary of a county in Central China's Hubei Province who also attended the meeting, told the Global Times Sunday night that he was highly motivated by Xi's speech that boosted his confidence in fighting the epidemic.

"President Xi understands very well the frontline situation, which is also impressive," he said. The official asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Chinese analysts noted the video channel targeted county-level government: the country's grass-roots level of governance.

The grass-roots level of government is directly linked to people's life, work and production, while the execution of central government's policies and instructions is carried out by the grass-roots governments, the analysts said.

County-level government largely manages village affairs, which is the weakest and most important section of the battle against the virus spreading, said Wang Hongwei, a professor at Renmin University's school of public administration and policy.

If both virus containment and the work of resuming economic and social development can't be handled properly in rural areas, Wang said, previous efforts to realize the goal of completely eradicating poverty by the end of this year would be wasted.

A worker pushes a trolley full of infectious medical waste in Tongji Hospital of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak on February 18. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Importance of grass-root work

Rural areas have seen an improving situation in combating the coronavirus, Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Most villages have reported zero new infections in recent days, reflecting visible progress in COVID-19 prevention and control work, Zeng said.

The epidemic has spread mainly in urban areas, with fewer cases reported in villages and counties across the country, he said.

However, caution should be retained in prevention and control in those areas due to a lack of health awareness and medical resources, Zeng noted.

Infection clusters in some rural areas showed that villagers have not fully taken the deadly virus into account, Zeng believed.

Some had attended family reunions or had meals with their relatives and it required more efforts by local authorities to educate residents on the importance of prevention and control.

Identification and confirmation of infection cases should be conducted "as early as possible," he said, especially in rural areas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) "highly appreciates the tremendous efforts China has made to contain the epidemic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted as saying in a Xinhua News Agency report on February 16.

Ghebreyesus noted that China protects not only its own people but also people from other countries in the world, and WHO will continue to uphold the truth, adhere to the principles, stand firmly with China and provide all possible help, the report said.

Chinese analysts said the unprecedented meeting showed China's great capacity for social mobilization, with the central government paying great attention not only to its own people but also to the international community amid the outbreak, now a global challenge.
Although one judge expressed concerns, a Commonwealth Court panel Monday rejected a bid to overturn a zoning approval for a development of micro homes to house homeless military veterans.

The courts majority ruling penned by Judge Anne E. Covey upholds decisions by an Allegheny County judge and the Penn Hills Zoning Hearing Board that sanctioned the project planned by Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard.

The charitable association wants to build a group care home and 14 micro homes for vets on a 3.7-acre triangular lot that once housed a sewage treatment plant. Veterans Place sought a variance to develop the oddly-shaped site in the R1 residential district.

Robert and Trona Paganico appealed to the state court after county Judge Joseph M. James rejected their contention that the variance wasnt warranted. The couple insisted the lot could be developed as a single-family home in accord with its zoning.

Veterans Place countered that, due to the uneven topography of the site and the fact that much of it consists of fill, it would cost too much to make it feasible for a single-family home.

In seconding James decision, Covey agreed with the Veterans Place assessment and concluded the variance the zoners granted was the minimum leeway needed to allow for the project.

Judge Ellen Ceisler filed a concurring and dissenting opinion. She agreed the site cannot be economically used for a single-family home but disagreed with Coveys conclusion that Veterans Place proved the variance was the minimum needed to clear the way for the project.
The parents of a 12-year-old girl set up CCTV cameras in her bedroom in a bid to catch their relative abusing her.

The girl's parents alleged their daughter was being abused and decided to set up a sting at their home in Moron in Buenos Aires province, Argentina.

Footage taken from the cameras allegedly showed the man, identified as Leandro Sebastian Martinez, enter the girl's bedroom and touch her.

She then pointed to the newly installed cameras and the 41-year-old looked right at the lens.

According to local media, the family were suspicious their daughter was being sexually assaulted by her relative after seeing a WhatsApp message from her in August 2018 that was sent to a school friend.

Leandro Sebastian Martinez is the husband of one of her father's cousins who is very close to the family

But they were unsure whether the message shown to them by the school friend's mother was true or not as it detailed how her relative had touched her bottom and private parts.

The girl was reportedly referring to Sebastian Martinez, who is the husband of one of her father's cousins who is very close to the family.

They had decided to discuss the case with the school psychologists but they did not take legal action against the suspect as Sebastian Martinez's wife was going through a pregnancy at the time and they were not sure if the daughter was serious in the note.

But they decided to install a CCTV camera in their home including in the child's bedroom in a bid to keep an eye on her.

Martinez was caught on camera looking right into the lens after the girl's parents set up CCTV

It was these images that were then used to prove that the relative was trying to abuse her when he followed her into the bedroom and she deliberately stood still right in front of the camera when he assaulted her, she then pointed out that he was being filmed.

It was later revealed the girl had even invited the relative into the home on the pretext of showing him some renovation work, aware that he might attempt to try and assault her again.

The girl's father, Pablo, told local media: 'There was a family reunion in my parents' house next to ours.'

He said the girl had insisted on showing Sebastian Martinez some improvements in the house and added she wanted to take the risk because she could not put up with what was going on any longer.

When he allegedly assaulted her, the girl told him: 'Did you notice that my parents installed security cameras?'

When Sebastian Martinez allegedly assault the 12-year-old she reportedly told him, 'did you notice that my parents installed security cameras?'

At this point the man reportedly grabbed the girl around her neck before going on the run.

Pablo told local media: 'When we saw that the videos proved what our daughter told us was true, we went crazy.'

The girl's mother Patricia said: 'My daughter was a flower girl at his wedding. We look after our children but our worst enemy was there half a meter from us.'

Reports said that local authorities have issued an arrest warrant last month, although the suspect has not been located yet.

Pablo told local media: 'When the police broke into his house supposedly Leandro and his wife had gone on holiday to Mar del Plat, but they left the back door unlocked.

'Who goes on holidays and does that? They had been warned about the arrest, obviously.'

The investigation is still ongoing.
Some 46,000 individuals were physically injured during the Troubles, with thousands more psychologically traumatised by its consequences.

One of Julian Smith's last pieces of official business as Secretary of State was to sign-off on the regulations on a pension payment scheme for seriously injured victims of the Troubles.

This payment scheme has been advocated by the Wave Trauma Centre and the Commission for Victims and Survivors since 2013 as a means to provide financial security for many victims who were left disabled and inadequately compensated in the past.

The passage of time compounded their harm; many of those injured have found their disability worsen in older age as their health deteriorates and their financial security becomes more precarious, especially in the past few years of austerity.

Despite the victim pension regulation coming into legal effect, Secretary of State Smith's departure and local political parties highlighting that the Executive budget cannot afford to pay for all victims places the delivery of the victim payments in jeopardy.

The Executive Office has stated that the scheme, in its first year, will cost roughly between 25m and 60m, with the first three years amounting to 109m.

This will take a substantial chunk of the financial commitment made in the recent agreement around increased funding for legacy of 250m, which is also supposed to cover the establishment of the legacy institutions under the Stormont House Agreement.

It is worth outlining the nature of the scheme to provide some insight into how it will operate in practice and why it will cost this much.

The scheme's official title, under the Victims' Payments Regulations 2020, is the 'Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme' and will officially operate from May 29, 2020, when the first applications will begin to be processed.

A board will be established before the end of May and will be responsible for the running and management of the payments scheme.

The board will be presided over by a judge and will be guided by principles on the need to be responsive to and to prioritise victims' needs, to be transparent and communicate effectively, the scheme to be simple to navigate, applications to be determined without delay and for personal data to be handled sensitively.

Those who will be eligible include anyone who has suffered a permanent disablement of more than 14% in a Troubles-related incident in the UK, in Europe, where the person is a British citizen born in Northern Ireland, was outside the UK in service of the Crown, or an accompanying close relative of the person serving outside the UK in service of the Crown.

The time period for such an injury is between January 1, 1966 and April 12, 2010, though the panel can overlook this time period if it undermines the purposes of the scheme.

Given the extent of injuries, which could include hearing loss, loss of a thumb and PTSD, it is likely to include thousands of victims. Added to this is the inclusion of victims not only in Northern Ireland, but also those in the rest of the UK.

Both these factors increase the scope and cost of the scheme, perhaps moving it beyond an Executive matter to one for the Government at Westminster.

In terms of injury amounting to disablement, this is defined in the regulations as "damage, disfigurement and loss of physical or mental capacity resulting from injury". This will be assessed by a health professional through an applicant's paperwork, where available, through the VSS, or medical records, rather than requiring each individual to be medically assessed in person.

The level of disablement will also determine the monthly payment amount, or lump sum, of the claimant, which is likely to range from 2,000 to 10,000 per year.

There are also provisions for those over the age of 60 to choose a lump sum and elderly, or terminally ill, applicants will be prioritised for assessment.

Support will also be provided to family members who had to give up careers and education opportunities to become full-time carers through a 10-year pension on the death of the injured victim.

Under the regulations, a carer is someone who "regularly and substantially" engages in caring for the injured victim, such as being entitled to a carer's allowance.

The pension for injured victims and carers is likely to operate for around 30 years, creating a substantial expense that would go beyond the current budget of the Executive.

One contentious issue, which has dogged the pension for injured victims for many years, has been whether or not those who were injured by their own hand would be eligible. Under the regulations, they are explicitly excluded. In addition, individuals who have convictions longer than two-and-a-half years, or life sentences, can also be ruled ineligible by the board, where it is considered a payment would be inappropriate.

As the scope of injury is quite broad, including physical and psychological injury amounting to permanent disablement, this is likely to exclude a number of individuals with convictions, but who were also unlawfully harmed. This may be difficult to square with the scheme's purpose of acknowledgement and reconciliation.

Despite the complexity of the regulations and their scope, it is likely to incur a substantial financial commitment.

Seriously injured victims cannot wait any longer. Already some of the initial campaigners for the pension have passed away. As the scheme covers the whole of the UK, it only makes sense that the budget for the payments should be covered by Westminster to ensure that it is promptly, adequately and effectively delivered to all victims who deserve this acknowledgment and redress.

For too long, injured victims have shouldered the burden of the Troubles and, rightly, the Government should act in good faith to ensure these victims' financial security and dignity in later years.

Dr Luke Moffett is a senior lecturer at the School of Law, Queen's University Belfast


Jordan said on Sunday it would bar entry to citizens of China, Iran and South Korea and other foreigners travelling from those countries in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.



The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of "preemptive measures... following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran" and China.



Adayleh said the ban would be "temporary" and imposed on all non-Jordanians coming from the three nations among the worst affected by the illness.



"Jordanians who come from those countries will be placed in quarantine for two weeks to ensure they have not contracted the coronavirus," he said.






Somrita Ghosh By

Express News Service

It was the beginning of a new life with a fresh identity. I felt like I was reborn. Aisa laga, koi bojh thaa jo utar gaya (It felt as if a burden was lifted), said 26-year-old Neeti Wadhwa. Born as Nitish, Neeti felt that her female identity was trapped in a male body. At 20 years of age, she could bear no more. Thats when she decided to come out as a transgender and embrace her real identity.

Gender dysphoria or distress caused by not having your body match your gender identity is central to the struggles faced by the transgender community. While changes in gender expression  mannerisms and clothing  can help an individual deal with gender dysphoria to an extent, these steps are often accompanied by social stigma which adds to the mental agony of the person.I had to change multiple schools because I was constantly bullied. I also suffer from dyslexia and was not able to perform well academically. I had sensed very early that I was not a man and my male organs did not make me one. I have always thought like a woman. I was living a claustrophobic life, she said.

Nothing is harsher than pretending to be the person you are not, Neeti said. I had to put in so much effort to pretend I am like one of them (men). Be it in school, or at family gatherings, my mother would never allow me to wear womens clothes, she added. Deciding to put an end to her pain, Neeti opted for sex-reassignment in 2017 by taking hormone pills. After six months of hormone pills and clinical psychology and psychiatry sessions, she underwent the sex reassignment surgery in 2019. Hailing from an upper-middle-class family, Neeti claimed that she had the privilege of being able to afford the cost of the whole treatment at a private hospital.

Costs discourage many



While the cost of undergoing sex reassignment surgeries (SRS) at private hospitals or clinics can range between Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh for a male to female (MTF) transition, for a female to male (FTM) is anywhere between Rs 4 to Rs 8 lakh. While the costly surgery is the final step in the transition process, the medication and therapy are added expenses. A year of therapy with a psychologist is compulsory before undergoing physical transition. This includes two to four sessions a month which can cost Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per session, bringing the total cost to Rs 48,000 to Rs 72,000.

In Delhi, several private hospitals, including Fortis, Shalimar Bagh and OLMEC are considered leaders in conducting SRS. However, the sheer cost of the process forces a vast majority to reluctantly opt for the procedure at government hospitals (both central and state-run) which offer the service for free but fail to draw many patients.

Stigma at government hospitals



I can never think of going to a government hospital and talk about such a sensitive issue. I tried once, but the environment made me extremely uncomfortable, Neeti noted. Another member of the transgender community, who did not wish to reveal their identity, said that while affording the cost of surgeries is often beyond the financial capability of many, government hospitals fail to offer a sensitive approach to the process. Many of my fellow transgenders have visited government hospitals to enquire about SRS but there are a lot of missing links. Most of the staff there are not aware of how to behave in a situation like this.

I saw several of them smirking while looking at me. Apart from this, getting an appointment in a short span is not possible, they said. Dr Aqsa Shaikh, a Community Medicine Specialist teaching at Jamia Hamdard and a transwoman, noted that having trained and sensitised staff and more manpower is an important need at government hospitals.Because of the social stigma attached to the transgender community, there is a fear of not feeling comfortable in crowded places. Hence, it is not surprising that many of them prefer to go to clinics which provide privacy and prioritise their needs. This kind of environment is lacking in government hospitals, she said, adding that SRS should be included under the provision of Ayushman Bharat. Currently, the criteria set for drawing benefit under the scheme is not suitable, she said.

Not an emergency



According to Dr PS Bhandari, consultant plastic surgeon at LNJP hospital, due to the huge turnout of patients and long-pending dates given to them, many of the transgenders leave the treatment procedure in the middle and shift to private clinics. There is no fixed number of surgeries that happen in a year. Sometimes, five surgeries are conducted in a year, while another year there may be only one. Conducting such complex surgeries need trained professionals as they cannot be performed by every surgeon. So, SRS cannot be performed on the scale that it is at designated private hospitals or clinics, he said, adding, that recently such surgeries have gone down.

In any government hospital, the priority is first given to cases such as cancer, which are malignant. This is not to say that SRS is not an important procedure but usually the approach at government-run hospitals is to slate these surgeries for later as they cannot be termed emergency cases which are related to life and death. Hence, they often area treated as low priority, he stated. Dr Bhandari also noted that many patients opt out of surgery at the final stage when the doctors discuss about the complications of SRS. This is no easy surgery. After undergoing SRS, the organs are replaced but proper sexual health may not be possible. Since the genitals are created unnaturally, there is no chance of conceiving. Hence, many individual opt-out of, he added.

Most of the patients come in before the surgery but they are supposed to be in regularly in touch with the psychiatrist. A few studies have suggested that not all who undergo the surgery are happy about it but most of them think these surgeries work a miracle, said Dr Om Prakash, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS)Bhandari further noted that most of those who come in for consultations are accompanied by their partners. Family acceptance is still low in India. Families do not readily accept that their child will undergo sex change and often come into the picture much later after the surgery is completed. But once it is done, all patients get a boost to their mental health, he added.

A more inclusive future



Dr Nimmi Rastogi, Coordinator of Health, Dialogue and Development Commission of the Delhi government, said that the state is mulling a special cell for transgenders with members from both the social fraternity and medical sector. We will make sure that their problems are addressed. The cell is being constituted under the social welfare department and the preliminary draft has already been completed. Because these surgeries are prolonged and complicated, a super-specialty cell is required, which currently does not exist. We will have well-designed plan for gender reassignment surgeries. Once the cell is formed, this particular issue will certainly be addressed, she added.

Despite the several roadblocks in the sex reassignment journey, it remains an important step for self actualisation for many transgenders like Neeti. Last year I attended my friends wedding and wore a lehenga-choli. I cannot explain how happy and proud I felt with my decision of having the surgery, she said. It is the transformation of a soul and not just the body. It is about finally being who I am.

What is SRS?

Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) is a sex affirmation procedure which involves genital reconstruction surgery to change the genitalia from one gender to another

Two types of SRS

Male-to-Female (MTF)

Female-to-Male (FTM)

MTF



Converting male anatomy to female anatomy involves removal of the penis, reshaping genital tissue and constructing a vagina. Following the surgery, female hormones will re-shape the body parts and stimulate the growth of satisfactory benefits.

FTM



Female to male surgery, on the other hand, usually achieve lesser success due to the difficulty of creating a functioning penis from the much smaller clitoral tissue available in the female genitals. Apart from the genital organs, breasts also need to be surgically altered.

The process

Approval from two psychiatrists and psychologist certificate from a gynaecologist and endocrinologist

Hormone tablets may also be advised by the doctor Q.

Opposition to the Trans Rights Bill



Activists have criticised the Trans Bill for its potential to contribute to discrimination, stigma and further transphobia. They say the Bill directly violates the NALSA judgement of 2014 that advocates for self- identification. It requires trans people to be certified by the district magistrate to have their identity recognised.
If the argument put forward by Graham Dwyer holds, then many serious crimes against women and children, and other vulnerable people, could not be investigated or prosecuted.

This is because, in many such cases, gardai need access to telephone data records of suspects in order to gather evidence  particularly where they would have no reason to suspect certain people of crimes.

This is how the country's top judge spelled out the implications behind the case made by convicted murderer Dwyer and his legal team.

In his Supreme Court judgement, Mr Justice Frank Clarke said the detection and prosecution of serious crime would be severely hampered if there was not a regime of general retention of communication data.

While recognising the rights to privacy of individuals laid down in European law, Mr Justice Clarke stressed that there were competing human and constitutional rights  including the rights of victims and of vulnerable people - and that the courts had to balance these rights.

Not only that, but the chief justice suggested that the final judgement of the Supreme Court may not apply retrospectively  ie not to convictions before that, including Dwyer's.

The judgement will await the rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which the Supreme Court, in a majority of six to one, has referred key questions in order to get legal clarity.

In giving his initial judgement today, Mr Justice Clarke has truly set the cat among the pigeons.

Dywer's argument is that universal data retention was illegal according to European law. The High Court ruled in December 2018 that Irish laws - which allowed mobile phone data to be retained and accessed in the investigation of serious crime  was general and indiscriminate and breached fundamental rights to privacy under EU law.

The State appealed the decision, claiming the consequences of not having access to retained data for the investigation and prosecution of serious crime was stark and that there was no alternative.

The High Court judgement followed a succession of European court rulings and domestic inquiries (namely the Government-ordered review conducted by Mr Justice John Murray) over the years which undermined the legal foundation of data retention powers.

This was in addition to the views of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties and Digital Rights Ireland, whose legal action led to a landmark 2014 ruling of the ECJ.

That ruling found that the EU Data Retention Directive, upon which the Irish Communication (Retention of Data) Act 2011 was based, was incompatible with the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights and was invalid.

In December 2016, a second landmark ECJ case (Tele2) found that EU law did apply to domestic legislation in this area and prohibited general and indiscriminate data retention.

The High Court ruled that the 2011 act was general and indiscriminate and breached the fundamental right to privacy under EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Justice Tony O'Connor said the act also contravened EU law by not requiring judicial approval for accessing communication data (with the legislation only requiring internal approval) and that there was no legislative guarantee against abuse.

In his 'Observations on and Findings of Fact' Mr Justice Clarke said the detection and prosecution of certain serious crimes are increasingly influenced by data retention evidence, like in Dwyer's trial.

He said that while gardai investigating terrorism or serious crime may have suspicions in relation to people before they commit a crime, cases like that of Dwyer rarely involve situations that will enable prior suspicion.

The chief justice said: It is, in my view, the experience of the members of the Irish courts dealing with criminal matters that some such cases have only been solved because of the availability of the type of data involved in these proceedings.

He emphasised repeatedly how many of the cases, including that of Dwyer's, frequently involve serious offences against women, children and other vulnerable persons.

He said cases involving the grooming of children can often require similar methods for investigation and prosecution.

He said:

As already noted, in a significant number of cases, it would not be possible to detect, let alone adequately prosecute, the perpetrator without access to telephony data of the type with which this case is concerned.

"In other cases, the ability to mount a successful prosecution would be severely impaired," he said.

In making findings of fact, he said that alternative forms of data retention  such as targeted by categories or by geography - would be ineffective in investigating serious crime.

He added: The objective of the retention of data by any lesser means than that of a general data retention regime, subject to necessary safeguards, is unworkable.

He said the investigation and prosecution of serious crime would be significantly compromised in the absence of a general data retention regime.

Mr Justice Clarke said there were questions of European Union law which remain unclear and which require to be clarified.

He said the Irish Constitution, along with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter, recognised significant privacy rights including the right of privacy to personal data.

The Irish courts had very considerable experience in balancing important privacy rights with the requirement for investigation and prosecution of criminal offences.

He said the rights of victims of crime form an important part of any overall assessment and referred to the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The chief justice said the State had an obligation to vindicate, in the case of injustice done, the life, person and good name of a victim.

He said there was a positive obligation under the ECtHR for certain procedural obligations to victims of crime as well as an obligation to conduct an effective investigation into alleged wrongdoing committed against a victim.

In balancing rights of victims and a right to privacy, he said: If, therefore, I were called on to resolve the issue of Union law concerning whether a universal system of retention is, at least at the level of principle, permissible, I would hold that it is.

In a further blow to Dwyer, he said he was inclined to the view, in light of the ECJ rulings, that the Supreme Court may determine that any finding that data retention laws were invalid should not apply to events which occurred prior to that declaration  thought to mean the High Court ruling of December 2018.

This would exclude Dwyer, who was convicted in April 2015, and any other cases before December 2018.

But the chief justice did favour Dwyer in his very clear finding that the Irish regime does not provide adequate safeguards to meet EU requirements  namely prior approval to access data from a court or independent body and proper oversight of the regime.

Stating that Dwyer was in prison and that his appeal was now on hold, Mr Justice Clarke asked for an expedited hearing by the ECJ on his referral.

When that might be is not clear.

What will be particularly interesting is what the ECJ makes of the Supreme Court findings and observations in relation to privacy, given the strong, and consistent, stance it has taken on it.

In the words of Mr Justice Frank Clarke:

While organised crime and terrorism may in some cases give rise to prior suspicion in advance of the commission of any particular specific crime, the type of serious crime with which these proceedings are concerned rarely involves any circumstances which could reasonably be known to investigating authorities in advance and which could lead to prior suspicion. It is, in my view, the experience of the members of the Irish courts dealing with criminal matters that some such cases have only been solved because of the availability of the type of data involved in these proceedings.

It seems to me that cases of the type described, of which this case is a particular example, frequently involve serious offences against women, children and other vulnerable persons. In addition to the charge of murder of a vulnerable person, which is the subject of the underlying criminal proceedings involving Mr Dwyer, cases involving the grooming of children can often require similar methods for investigation and prosecution. As already noted, in a significant number of such cases, it would not be possible to detect, let alone adequately prosecute, the perpetrator without access to telephony data of the type with which this case is concerned. In other cases, the ability to mount a successful prosecution would be severely impaired.

It seems particularly important to emphasise, therefore, that it is not possible to access that which has not been retained. If, on the basis of the argument put forward on behalf of Mr Dwyer, it is not permissible to have universal retention of data, notwithstanding the robustness of any access regime, then it follows that many of these serious crimes against women, children and other vulnerable persons will not be capable of detection or successful prosecution.

In the light of the evidence tendered in these proceedings and of the findings of fact which I propose that this court should make, it seems to me that significant regard would have to be attributed to the fact that many serious crimes against vulnerable people are most unlikely, on the undisputed evidence, to be capable of successful prosecution in the absence of a system of universal retention. In that context, I would consider that considerable weight must be attached to the undoubted rights of the victims of such crime, which rights will be impaired to a very significant degree indeed if it should prove impossible to detect or successfully prosecute the perpetrators of crimes against them.

If, therefore, I were called on to resolve the issue of union law concerning whether a universal system of retention is, at least at the level of principle, permissible, I would hold that it is. To consider otherwise is to say that the very significant rights of the victims of serious crime, including many vulnerable victims, have to be set at nought.

Compiled by Cormac OKeeffe
Irans Interior Minister Abdulreza Rahmanifazli said that the coronavirus outbreak may have contributed to record low participation rates in Irans Feb. 21 parliamentary elections. It was one of the first official acknowledgements that the virus, which originated in China, is impacting the country.

During the Feb. 21 press conference, Rahmanifazli was asked why there was no quarantine, particularly in Qom, where the virus seems to have first popped up in Iran. Rahmanifazli said that the decision was the Health Ministry's purview. When asked why the Interior Ministry did not postpone the elections when the outbreak of the highly infectious virus was first announced, he said that such a move would have delayed the formation of the new cabinet.

Rahmanifazli added that Qoms voter participation rate was 43%.

According to Irans Health Ministry, 12 people have died so far from the coronavirus and a total of 61 have been infected. Those figures have been contested, however, with Qom parliamentarian Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani claiming that 50 people in Qom have died from the virus. Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi denied the claim, saying, According to the directives of the administration and the Supreme National Security Council, no other individual has the qualifications to announce this news. He added, The information is with us and we do the testing.

Harirchi explained that its possible some officials are confusing influenza deaths with coronavirus deaths. He added that some people might feel that exaggerating the death toll could force the administration to take action, but warned against making the outbreak a partisan issue. Harirchi said that the situation in Qom is almost stable but a number of residents have already left the city.

The governor of Gilan said there has been a 20% increase in travel to the northern province, where people frequently vacation, likely due to the schools and universities being closed. The province is the second hardest hit after Qom.

A number of officials and agencies have expressed offers of support. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei did not address the outbreak during his speech yesterday in which he thanked the public for turning out to vote. President Hassan Rouhani said that every effort is being made to control the outbreak. The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, and the head of the judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, have also offered their help.

Iranian officials have remained outwardly calm. An official with the Health Ministry told Javan newspaper that the majority of those who have been infected with the coronavirus do not need special care and will recover, adding that only 3% of those infected are likely to die from the virus.
Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), the countrys leading manufacturer and distributor of brand-new trucks is powering the governments efforts anew with its initial delivery of 74 units of firetrucks to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

In a formal ceremony held on February 11 at the grounds of Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, BFP Chief Jose Embang Jr. and its officers led the presentation of the brand-new fire trucks to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The delivery of the units will be utilized as part of the thrust of the governments Fire Prevention Modernization Program.

In his speech, Duterte said, I hope that with these fire trucks, the BFP will be more capable and effective in ensuring the safety of our community and industry. I am confident that with the BFPs leadership, we can further boost peoples confidence in their government and create an environment where our people can live and work in peace.

Present during the event, were IPC President Hajime Koso and Isuzu Motors Limited, Japan (IML) General Manager Koichi Ito to personally deliver the units.

IPC, and the Isuzu brand in general, has always been on a mission to contribute to the society by providing the most durable, reliable trucksmay it be for building bridges, airports, and this time in protecting the community against fire. With the recent country situationthe big fire in the metro, ashfall and cleaning operations in CALABARZON and of course the upcoming Fire Prevention Month, we feel that these trucks may be in the right timing, as BFP now more than ever needs to continue to protect and serve the country against fire and other calamities, Koso said.

Ito, for his part, said, Isuzu has always been supportive of providing the best vehicles to the society. In Japan in particular, you will see a lot of private and government trucks produced by Isuzu, like these fire trucks and just recently high-performance ambulances for the recent virus prevention, which is why we are very happy that the Philippines is doing the same.

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It is very humbling that the BFP has put in their confidence in our brand and in return we promise to never let them down. As our client, we will provide to bureau not just quality product but full customer service, Ito added.

The initial 74 Isuzu fire trucks are part of the 250 units in total of brand-new trucks that the BFP procured and will be distributed to different regions nationwide.

This will bolster the governments Fire Protection Modernization Program, which aims to hire more firefighters, provide intensive trainings, and acquire modern fire truck and equipment to upkeep their operations.

SSUPT Jerry Candido, BFP Director for Logistics, expressed pride in the bureaus acquisition of brand-new units.

Basically, there are three main components we look for in a fire truck; its platform  engine & chassis, water tank, and fire pump. When we saw that the engine & chassis brand of this truck was Isuzu, our first comment was Wow, thats a quality truck!

The first batch of delivery includes, 54 units of Isuzu FVR34 trucks with body and equipment built by Hanseo, which is a 16-ton truck that has a capacity to carry 1,000 gallons perfect for medium to heavy operations, powered by the 6HK1TCL engine that can produce around 237 horsepower and 706 Nm torque.

While the remaining 20 units of Isuzu CYZ52 trucks, were installed with body and equipment by Nanomedics, that can carry a total 2,500 gallons, powered by 6WG1TCN direct injection common rail engine that can deliver maximum 414 hp, 1,863 Nm, and is EURO-V compliant.

As the number truck brand in country, IPC gave assurance that the BFP will have full support wherever the trucks may be deployed in the country. Present in 43 locations nationwide, IPC offers excellent after sales support and guaranteed parts availability.

IPC also extends its service via its Mobile Medic which are built on light-duty trucks fully equipped to provide complete service that the company dispatches for PMS, rescue or repowering services specially to far-flung areas.

Also read:

The post Isuzu PH Powers BFP Modernization program appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.
Rajya Sabha MP KTS Tulsi on Monday said that US President Donald Trump is visiting India to apparently show off to his people that as many as three million people welcomed him in India, in a mark of his global popularity.

"This all has been done so that Donald Trump can tell back home that more than three million people welcomed him in India," Tulsi told ANI.

Around one lakh people gathered for the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera stadium in Ahmedabad. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, Governor Acharya Devvrat and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly were also present at the stadium.

Later in the day, President Trump along with his family visited Agra to see the Taj Mahal, a 17th century mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

On the violence during anti-CAA protests in east Delhi, Tulsi said: "There is much misinformation on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC. Until the government clarifies this to the general public and wins over their confidence, these types of skirmishes will continue to happen.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja met behind closed doors with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting was attended by all the four service chiefs namely Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was also in attendance.

However, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, was absent from the meeting.

The meeting came barely 24 hours after the president vowed to launch aggressive campaigns against insurgents operating in the country.

Mr Buhari had on Sunday, while reacting to the attack on Garkida in Adamawa State, assured Nigerians that in the coming weeks they would witness an aggressive campaign to rout Boko Haram once and for all.

The president had said security agencies would continue to be well-funded and appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the security personnel in their gallant efforts to protect the citizens and secure the country.

Some Nigerians have repeatedly asked Mr Buhari to sack the service chiefs because of the increasing security challenges confronting the country.

Few weeks ago, the National Assembly also advised the president to sack them.

Last week, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the government was not ready to fire service chiefs who have been in office since 2015.

(NAN)
The Government of Georgia has made a decision to suspend direct flights with Iran amid the recent coronavirus outbreak, Trend reports citing Agenda.ge.

The Foreign Ministry announced today that this aims to prevent the possibility of the spread of the China-born virus to Georgia and to protect its citizens.

The government of Georgia is in constant communication with the Iranian authorities in order to receive the updates about the situation on the ground and the current preventive measures there, the Foreign Ministry said.

It also stated that the government of Iran is making preventive measures, including the screening of outbound passengers. Nevertheless, the Georgian authorities made a decision to temporarily restrict travel to and from Iran for now.

Iranian tourists, currently staying in Georgia will be delivered home by empty planes that will be allowed to enter the Georgian air space. No restrictions will be imposed on movement by land. However land borders will be under strict control.

The Government of Georgia follows the developments and continues to work with its neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan. We do not exclude to impose restriction on the land border in future as well, if necessary, the Foreign Ministry said.

Calling on Georgian citizens to refrain from travelling to Iran in near future, it announced as well that those currently staying in Iran can contact the Georgian Embassy in Tehran.

Meanwhile, four Iranian citizens, who were recently taken to the Tbilisi infectious disease hospital with high temperature, tested negative for coronavirus.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Azerbaijani citizens, the entire world community witnessed the unmasking of Armenia in particular, how Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan got into a difficult situation within the live debates, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters, Trend reports Feb. 24.

Hajiyev was commenting on the recent debates organized at the Munich Security Conference between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Hajiyev stressed that everyone witnessed the full revealing of lies and unfounded allegations made by Armenia in connection with the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

After returning to Armenia, following his shameful performance, Pashinyan is trying to justify himself with various absurd ideas, said Hajiyev. However, the Armenian public, politicians expressed attitude to this issue, saying that they were ashamed of Pashinyan."

Hajiyev said this once again showed that Azerbaijans fair, decisive and unequivocal position on resolving the conflict was conveyed by President Aliyev to the world community from the rostrum of such an important event as the Munich Security Conference.

The world community once again witnessed that Armenias views on the conflict are absolutely destructive, its goal is to maintain the status quo, head of the department said. Armenias theses are a lie and now it is trying to somehow justify this absurdity.
KANSAS CITY, MO GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS TRANSCENDS ANY OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER INCLUDING PREZ TRUMP!!!

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS & SOCIALISM LEAD 2020!!!

Bernie Sanders Is The Front-Runner With 60 percent of precincts reporting in Nevada, it's time for us to turn our 2020 primary forecast back on, as we think the results we have are pretty representative and the topline picture appears set. Sen. Bernie Sanders won, and he won big.

Bernie Bros Flex On Pundit

MSNBC's Chris Matthews faces calls to resign after comparing Sanders' Nevada victory to Nazi Germany's defeat of France MSNBC's Chris Matthews is facing calls to resign after he compared Bernie Sanders' victory in the Nevada caucus to the Nazi invasion of France. Sanders won the Nevada Democratic caucuses with 47 percent of the vote, the Associated Press reported.

Senator Bernie Destiny

What if Bernie has already won this thing? Virtually all of the political oxygen in the room over the past two weeks has been consumed by former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg's recent rise in the polls. After skipping almost an entire year of campaigning, more than half a dozen debates, and the first four caucuses and primaries, suddenly Bloomberg is finding himself taken seriously.

Veep Talks Putin

'They like Bernie': Biden says Russia working to prevent him from getting nomination Former Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday that Russians have worked to block him from winning the Democratic nomination while favoring Sen. Bernie Sanders, though he admitted his claims were not based on anything he had been told by intelligence officials.

Socialism Moment Of Doubt

No, Bernie Sanders, most voters aren't comfortable with socialism This is the moment for the ultimate question of the Bernie Sanders movement: is the United States ready for a socialist President?

Bernie Con Castro???

Bernie Sanders defends Fidel Castro's socialist Cuba: 'Unfair to simply say everything is bad' Sen. Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner for the Democrats' presidential nomination, doubled down on his support for some of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's policies, saying in an interview that aired Sunday, "it's unfair to simply say everything is bad."

Voters Prep For 2020 Punchline

How 'The Onion' Went Full-On Bernie Bro Readers delighted in it. Mainstream hard-news media outlets gave adoring coverage to the Onion's "Biden." The site's writers penned a satirical 2013 "Biden" autobiography, " The President of Vice." The caricature of the vice president was so ubiquitous that " Joe Biden (The Onion) " has its own Wikipedia entry.

Campaign season in now underway and here's a fun fact that offers us a sense of "place" on this soggy morning . . .Don't believe it? Check local Bernie Bros hitting the streets this week as their campaign reaches across demographic lines in order to galvanize the entire progressive community in support of the Democratic Socialist.Even more interestingly and apropos for this morning serving of news . . . The KCMO epicenter of the Bernie Bro movement is a small coffee shop tucked away in the last urban middle-class enclave. And so the Roasterie earns a shot of local relevance in the midst of 2020 campaign season despitebuying slightly cheaper fancy java at Starbucks or a gas station.Accordingly, here's a bevy of news onDeveloping . . .
He wowed audiences with a surprise appearance at the very end of the first film, and now he is set to headline the highly anticipated sequel, which is now filming.

Woody Harrelson was seen on the set of Venom 2 in West Oakland, near San Francisco, California on Sunday, dressed in a red Hawaiian shirt and rocking a wild hairstyle in the role of Cletus Kasady.

In the post-credits scene at the end of 2018's Venom starring Tom Hardy, Harrelson had a cameo appearance as the insane and imprisoned serial killer Kasady, and even uttered the word that will eventually become his moniker as Venom's arch-nemesis: Carnage.

Carnage awaits: Woody Harrelson was seen on the set of Venom 2 in West Oakland, near San Francisco on Sunday, dressed in a red Hawaiian shirt and rocking a wild haircut

Harrelson, 58, looked a lot less foreboding on Sunday however, dressed in a red and yellow short-sleeved shirt layered over a long-sleeved white top.

His hairdo was of a strange slicked style akin to those of the T-Birds in Grease, and he was standing next to a retro-style red Mustang for the scene at a gas station  suggesting that the scene takes place at some point in the past.

One clue to Harrelson's character's villainous ways was the large silver skull necklace he was wearing around his neck.

Woody was also seen taking direction from legendary character actor Andy Serkis, who famously played Cesar in the Planet Of The Apes reboots and Gollum in the Lord Of The Rings films, who here steps into the director's role for the third time.

Actors and director: Woody was seen taking direction from legendary character actor Andy Serkis (left), who here steps into the director's role for the third time

Villain in the making: In the post-credits scene at the end of 2018's Venom starring Tom Hardy, Harrelson had a cameo appearance as the insane and imprisoned serial killer Cletus Kasady

Harrelson himself is a gifted character actor, no stranger to playing psychos  his performance as the deranged yet charismatic Mickey Knox opposite Juliette Lewis in 1994's Natural Born Killers is still one of the best bad guys in cinema history.

Venom, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe belonging to Sony Pictures, was a runaway hit in 2018, earning a staggering $855 million worldwide.

The film featured Tom Hardy as an impassioned news reporter who becomes bonded to an alien entity known as a symbiote, who takes a liking to him and helps him save the world.

Pushing on: Serkis, who famously played Cesar in the Planet Of The Apes reboots and Gollum in the Lord Of The Rings films, recently suffered a ski injury but did not let that stop him from doing his job on set

Both Hardy as well as Michelle Williams, who played his onscreen love interest in the first film, are back for Venom 2.

In the second film, Harrelson's character will also bond with an alien symbiote, thereby producing the malevolent Carnage opposite Hardy's (slightly) more sympathetic Venom.

Another notable actor set to appear in the sequel, slated for release this October, is Moonlight's Naomie Harris.

He's a great bad guy: Harrelson is no stranger to playing psychos  he will portray serial killer Kasady in Venom 2, and his performance as the deranged yet charismatic Mickey Knox in Natural Born Killers is still one of the best bad guys in cinema history
The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) are advising Irish holiday makers traveling to or from the Canary Islands in the next 48 hours to check flight details with their travel agent, tour operator or airline.

A Saharan sandstorm from North Africa has caused mass flight cancellations to and from the Canary Islands.

Also read: Longford farmer offering reward of 1,000 for return of twenty-two stolen ewes

It is understood that a number of families from Longford who had travelled to Lanzarote during the mid-term holiday have been caught up in the cancellations.

Storm Calima has reduced visibility to zero at times this weekend preventing aircraft from leaving major airports on the islands. A significant number of Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights have been cancelled.

John Spollen, President of the ITAA, said: These flight cancellations are causing major disruption to Irish holiday makers on what is a busy travel period with the school mid term break coming to a close.

Also read: Longford Tidy Towns plead with general election candidates to remove eyesore poster cable ties

"Irish holidaymakers will be faced with the possibility of incurred additional accommodation costs. We have been assured that these costs will be covered by the airlines, within reason, and are advising all customers to claim under EU261.

He continued: The ITAA advise all passengers to check with their travel agent, online, or with airlines for the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.

"We have been advised that this weather disruption should not continue for more than a day or so. However, there will be a backlog to flying holiday makers back home.

Also read: Met Eireann warns of snow and hazardous driving conditions this evening
NASA InSight spacecraft proves Mars experiences earthquakes just like Earth and discovers 450 quivers in a year - suggesting there may be life on the Red Planet.

Researchers from around the world have published six papers examining the findings of the 633 million InSight lander's first 10 months on Mars.

The regular seismic events mean there could be active volcanoes with liquid magma and even water under the planet - creating an environment for organisms to thrive.

Dr Nicholas Schmerr from Maryland University says life exists at the very edge and if there is liquid magma on Mars it might suggest current and active life.

Scientists say understanding more about the seismic activity of planets other than Earth could reveal clues about how the Solar System formed.

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NASA's InSight lander deployed its seismometer on the Martian surface on Dec. 19, 2018. This image, captured on Feb. 2, 2019 (Martian Sol 66) by the deployment camera on the lander's robotic arm shows the protective wind and thermal shield which covers the seismometer

InSight was sent to study the deep interior of the Red Planet and touched down in November 2018 - it's due to operate for another year.

It carries a range of instruments to examine Mars in detail including seismic activity, the atmosphere, wind and temperature fluctuations.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF MARS INSIGHT? To understand how rocky planets formed and evolved, InSight will study the interior structure and processes of Mars by determining: The size of the core, what it is made of, and whether it is liquid or solid

The thickness and structure of the crust

The structure of the mantle and what it is made of

How warm the interior is and how much heat is still flowing through InSight will figure out just how tectonically active Mars is today, and how often meteorites impact it. For this, it will measure: How powerful and frequent internal seismic activity is on Mars, and where it is located within the structure of the planet

How often meteorites impact the surface of Mars SOURCE: NASA Advertisement

The seismic vibrations were detected on Mars thanks to a set of British built silicon sensors in the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) equipment.

Dr Bruce Barnerdt, InSight principal investigator said: 'We finally have, for the first time, established that Mars is a seismically active planet.'

The first so-called 'Marsquake' was recorded in April 2019. Since then, it has detected more than 450 quivers - tiny quakes much smaller than anything on Earth.

Two of the 'quivers' were big enough for scientists to be able to trace them back to their source and wer found in a geologically active area called Cerberus Fossae.

This is about 1,000 miles east of Elysium Planitia where InSight was based.

Researchers say this provides strong evidence that seismic activity on Mars is not only a consequence of the cooling and shrinking of the planet but also caused by tectonic plates running into each other or moving apart.

While InSight hasn't detected life on the Red Planet, experts including the author of one of the research papers, Dr Schmerr, says future missions could find life.

'Think of areas on Earth such as the thermal vents at the deep ocean ridges where chemistry provides the energy for life rather than the sun.

'If it turns out there is liquid magma on Mars - and if we can pinpoint where the planet is most geologically active - it might guide future missions searching for the potential for life.'

The InSight lander, a Nasa spacecraft was sent to study the deep interior of Mars and has confirmed the planet to be seismically active

The heat could melt pockets of the planet's subterranean ice - perhaps forming reservoirs of water where there is life as we know it, he said.

Marsquakes are similar to quakes observed on the Moon during the Apollo era, said Dr Domenico Giardini, of ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

WHAT ARE THE KEY FINDINGS ON THE MARSQUAKES? A number of papers have been published into the findings of InSight. Each covers a different area including magnetic field, atmosphere, seismicity and the geology of Mars. The magnetic field at the landing site is 10 times stronger than expected

More than 20 quakes with a 3 to 4 magnitude were detected

In total 174 seismic events were found of relatively large magnitude from distant sources

The location of two of the larger quakes could be pinpointed to the Cerberus Fossae region

This shows evidence of recent volcanic and tectonic activity Advertisement

'[They have] a long signal duration (10 to 20 minutes) due to the scattering properties of the Martian crust,' he said.

The scientists hope reading the seismic waves on Mars will reveal information about what the planet's interior looks like and how it is changing.

Of the quakes measured on Mars two dozen had a magnitude of 3 to 4 - and came from distant sources.

Three showed two distinct wave patterns similar to quakes on Earth caused by the movement of tectonic plates.

The location of two were pinpointed to the Cerberus Fossae area - which shows evidence of 'recent volcanic and tectonic activity', say the researchers.

On Earth this would be unlikely to damage buildings - but be enough to feel the ground shake and even topple things off cupboards.

'These low-frequency events were really exciting, because we know how to analyse them and extract information about sub-surface structure,' said Vedran Lekic.

'Based on how the different waves propagate through the crust, we can identify geologic layers within the planet and determine the distance and location to the source of the quakes,' the Maryland astronomer confirmed.

The rest of the quakes produced smaller ground shaking similar to that recorded on the Moon by the Apollo program in the late 1960s and 70s.

'This is the first mission focused on taking direct geophysical measurements of any planet besides Earth, and it's given us our first real understanding of Mars' interior structure and geological processes,' said Schmerr.

'These data are helping us understand how the planet works, its rate of seismicity, how active it is and where it's active.'

Researchers also found Martian weather to be similar to that of Earth but with stronger daily atmospheric pressure and temperature fluctuations.

Dr Don Banfield from Cornell University in the US said the atmosphere is so thin it can heat and cool quicker than Earth's atmosphere.

This image shows the surface of Mars - the InSight lander, a Nasa spacecraft has confirmed the planet is seismically active which some scientists say suggests there may be life on Mars

At night Mars cools to as low as about -139 degrees Fahrenheit, while in daytime, it reaches temperatures near 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Evidence of dust devils, which are whirls of Martian soil whipped up by the wind that spin like a tornado at nearly 60mph, were observed a month after InSight landed.

The team also detected a phenomenon known as 'gravity waves', which Dr Banfield described as 'buoyancy oscillations of air parcels also observed regularly on Earth'.

'We are working to understand what these waves can teach us about Mars,' he said.

'This will likely receive lots of attention over the coming years.'

Mars experiences quakes more often, but also more mildly than expected with the largest measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale.

Schmerr said understanding these processes is part of a bigger question about the planet itself. Can it support life, does it support life now or did it ever support life?

HOW OFTEN DO DUST STORMS HAPPEN ON MARS AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SEE THEM? Dust storms occur frequently on Mars, but global events that circle the entire planet appear every six to eight Earth years, which equates to three to four years on the red planet. MailOnline spoke to Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, for his advice on witnessing this extra-terrestrial weather event. He said: 'Observing Mars is always challenging, as it's small, about half the size of the Earth, and at its closest is still around 34 million miles (55 million km) away. 'It is easily visible to the eye as a bright red object in the sky, but seeing any detail requires a reasonable telescope and binoculars won't show much. 'Even with that, details are fleeting, and depend on a steady terrestrial atmosphere as otherwise turbulence blurs out the view. 'This is why early Martian observers spent a lot of time making many sketches to try to map the planet's surface. 'A good time to look is when Mars is near its opposition, the point when the planet is opposite the sun in the sky and near its minimum distance from the Earth. 'Opposition in 2018 is on July 27, and Mars' closest approach is on 30 July. 'As it gets dark in the evening, you should look for a bright red object in the southeastern sky. 'With a decent telescope, observers can see the polar caps growing and shrinking and the dust storms described above. These can rapidly change from being local features to planetwide events.' Advertisement

Detecting signs of life was the primary mission of the earlier Mars probes, Viking 1 and Viking 2 - each carrying seismometers that provided no useful data.

The Viking 1 instrument did not unlock properly, and Viking 2 only picked up noise from wind buffeting the lander but no convincing marsquake signals.

The InSight mission is dedicated specifically to geophysical exploration, so engineers worked to solve previous noise problems.

A robotic arm on the lander placed the SEIS seismometer directly on the Martian ground some distance away to isolate it from the lander.

The SEIS seismometer is sensitive enough to discern very faint ground vibrations, which on Mars are 500 times quieter than ground vibrations found in quietest locations on Earth.

High winds flowing across the surface of the ground also create a distinct seismic signature, researchers discovered when examining the data.

Combined with information from meteorological instruments, SEIS data help paint a picture of the daily cycles of surface activity near the InSight lander.

The researchers found the winds pick up from about midnight through early morning, as cooler air rolls down from highlands in the Southern Hemisphere onto the Elysium Planitia plains where the lander is located.

During the day, heating from the sun causes convective winds to build.

Winds reach their peak in late afternoon when atmospheric pressure drops and dust devil activity occurs.

By evening, the winds die down, and conditions around the lander become quiet.

From late evening until about midnight, atmospheric conditions are so quiet, the seismometer is able to detect the rumblings from deeper inside the planet.

The NASA InSight lander discovered seismic activity on Mars which helps deepens our understanding of the seismic activity of other planets and details on how they were formed

All of the 'marsquakes' have been detected during these quiet periods at night, but the geologic activity likely persists throughout the day.

'What is so spectacular about this data is that it gives us this beautifully poetic picture of what a day is actually like on another planet,' said Lekic.

Imperial College London, Oxford University and STFC RAL Space worked in partnership on creating the UK silicon sensors.

They had a 4 million grant from the UK Space Agency to develop the sensors - which had to be sensitive enough to detect motion at sub-atomic scales.

'Detecting hundreds of marsquakes on a planet 140 million miles from Earth ... is an important achievement,' said UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway.

By the end of last year InSight was detecting an average of two quakes every day.

Preliminary findings from InSight's first 10 months on Mars are published in a series of papers in Nature research journals.

The 633 million NASA mission is expected to continue for another year.

A number of missions are heading to Mars in 2020 to search for life including landers from the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA and the Chinese space agency.

They will primarily be searching for ancient signs of life rather than active life or flows of magma - which could be the subject of a future mission to the Red Planet.
Gun rights advocates boast that more than two dozen New Jersey municipalities and at least three counties have declared themselves a sanctuary from supposedly unconstitutional firearms regulations. In Pennsylvania and other states, similar efforts led by organizations such as 2A Sanctuary, a reference to the Second Amendment, are underway, with some advocates urging local jurisdictions not to enforce so-called red flag or other recently enacted laws. This self-styled nationwide grassroots movement gained traction in 2019, supposedly without any direct support from the National Rifle Association.

The sanctuary measures some local governments seem all too eager to adopt are often described as nonbinding or symbolic, but outrageous is a better word. So is dangerous. The use of the term sanctuary is a gratuitous slap at efforts to protect the rights of undocumented immigrants. Firearms sanctuary declarations embody a willful misunderstanding of the Second Amendment; advocates are overreacting to the passage of commonsense gun regulations. And the emergence of a campaign that paints firearms owners as victims, if not martyrs, while thousands of actual victims of Americas lethal gun violence plague can no longer speak  much less, lobby their local township council  verges on cruel.

When West Milford Township in Passaic County pioneered the effort in the Garden State last December, it declared itself gun-friendly  as if that were a promotional slogan. Cape May County passed its sanctuary resolution two weeks ahead of the Jan. 28 visit of President Donald Trump, who has entertained the NRAs Wayne LaPierre at the White House. The NRA has long been implacably opposed to even the most modest gun regulations.

New Jersey sanctuary advocates seem particularly up in arms about the states September enactment of one of a number of gun regulations signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. This red flag measure enables law enforcement to keep firearms away from a person whom a state Superior Court judge has determined poses a danger to themselves or others. State officials said Thursday that 198 temporary orders and 100 final orders had been granted as of Feb. 4 under the states Extreme Risk Protective Order Act. How many firearms actually have been confiscated temporarily or permanently as a result of those orders is unclear, but its safe to assume that virtually all of the estimated one million owners of legal guns in New Jersey still have their weapons.

Nonetheless, lamentations about the threat of confiscation of all civilian firearms by a government supposedly bent on leaving families defenseless help fuel local sanctuary campaigns.

This sanctuary movement urges municipalities to opt out of laws governing guns. Maybe Philadelphia, which has long argued for the ability to make its own gun laws, could turn this movement on its head and opt out of state laws that restrict the city from making its own laws.

Not everyone who is against regulating firearms supports sanctuaries. In January, the PA Post quoted Kim Stolfer, president of the Pennsylvania organization Firearms Owners Against Crime, calling such efforts misguided. Stolfer is right. The sanctuary campaign is not only misguided. Its an empty exercise exploiting the time and fears of ordinary Americans. Little if any good can come of it.
Chase Carey appears to be putting the idea of a Miami GP on the back burner.

F1 owner Liberty Media, which is headed by CEO Carey, has been championing the idea of a second US grand prix at Miami's Hard Rock stadium.

But local opposition groups are fighting hard against the idea, with the latest news being the launching of legal action.

Carey admitted to the German-language motorsport-total.com that he is "frustrated" by the situation.

"We knew that it would take time in the US," he said. "On the other hand, it has to be said that it will take longer than expected.

"It's frustrating because we have invested a lot of time, but I think we have to get to terms with the reality that it is a timeframe of more than five years.

"The goal now is a race in the next five to ten years from today," Carey added.

He might now turn his attention to the former US GP venue at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Recent reports suggested new owner Roger Penske may be interested in F1.

"I know the Penskes and had contact with them before they bought Indianapolis," said Carey. "But I don't want to comment on our conversations.

"We know about their interest. We are talking about an iconic circuit that is part of the 'triple crown with Monaco and Le Mans. That says everything about the importance of this circuit in motorsport."

(GMM)
Undaunted by the inability of the US and India to hammer out a limited trade package before his visit to the country, President Donald Trump said on Monday that the two sides were working on one of the biggest ever trade deals that he hoped would remove barriers to investments and drive growth.

The two countries engaged in intense negotiations for more than a year on the trade package centred round greater market access for American medical devices and agricultural and dairy products and the restoration of benefits under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for India.

However, the two sides were unable to bridge their gaps before Trumps arrival, with India signalling that it was in no rush to finalise a deal that compromised national interests and had long-term consequences for millions of people.

Also read: At banquet dinner for Donald Trump, salmon tikka, raan ali-shan to mark cultural fusion

Trump made no mention of these differences in his speech at the Namaste Trump rally here and instead highlighted the potential for trade to further drive the strategic partnership between the two sides, especially at a time when the US economy is booming like never before and unemployment has hit historic lows.

Noting that his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will focus on expanding economic ties, Trump said: We will be making a very, very major, among the biggest ever made trade deals.

The US and India, he added, are in the early stages of negotiating an incredible deal to reduce barriers of investments.

He added he was optimistic that he and Modi, who is a very tough negotiator, could reach a fantastic deal that is good, and even great, for both of our countries.

However, he did not give any time frame for a trade deal, perhaps underlining the complex issues involved in the negotiations.

Also read: Vedas to Vivekananda, DDLJ to Sachin: Donald Trump goes full desi

Trump noted that trade between the two sides had increased by more than 40% since he assumed office in 2017 and the US is now Indias largest export market.

A booming America is a great thing for India and its great for the world..., the US President added.

In an apparent reference to the US call for India to do more to improve market access for American goods, Trump said: In America, we have proven that the best way to attract jobs and opportunity is to reduce burdens on business, knock down barriers to new investment and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, red tape, regulation and taxes.

He lauded Modi for significant reforms in India and said: The world looks forward to even more rapid improvement to Indias business climate under his leadership. He wants to do it and he is doing it at a record pace.

Trump also recalled his daughter Ivankas visit to India in 2018 to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad and noted the role played by Indian women entrepreneurs, saying the men have to be very careful as they are really good.

Also read: Taj a timeless testament to diverse Indian culture, says Donald Trump

The president also noted the work being done together by the two countries for space exploration and praised Indias impressive strides in its Chandrayaan programme to send a probe to the moon.

The United States, he said, looks forward to expanding space cooperation and the two sides will be friends and partners in our voyage into the stars and into space.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged this and pointed to emerging opportunities.

The US is the largest trading partner of India... The increase of manufacturing and infrastructure in India will bring new possibilities for the US. The increase of digital economy in the country will create many opportunities of investment for the US.
As gold prices rise, miners have been boosting shareholder payouts in the face of a decline in global output. Thats worrying some investors concerned about the long-term growth prospects of an industry built on a depleting resource.

The value of gold, a haven commodity, is driven more by global economics than supply and demand. Its soaring toward $1,700 an ounce now on fear the coronavirus will harm growth. Any unexpected event  from a surprising cure for the virus to a positive trade deal  could drop the value significantly. High prices put more gold scrap on the market, low ones boost hoarding and, if miner output remains static, so should profits.

Increasingly, investors are split between their wish for higher dividends in the short run and the need to assure company stability over the long term. Finding the best of both worlds in allocating the rising cash pile is key for the future of the industry, according to Josh Wolfson, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

Miners in general are exposed to significant external factors that are out of their control, said Simon Jaeger, a portfolio manager at Flossbach von Storch AG, a top-10 investor in both Newmont Corp. and Barrick Gold Corp. Its certainly a reason for not paying too much in dividends, he said. You want to have the cash buffer on your balance sheet in order to be financially flexible when prices get worse.

Gold prices are currently at a seven-year high as concerns mount that the coronavirus outbreak in Asia will derail global growth. In a sign that the virus is already starting to dent the worlds largest economy, business activity in the U.S. shrank in February for the first time since 2013.

On Monday, spot gold was up 2.3 per cent to $1,680.38 an ounce at 7:25 a.m. in New York.

Gold producers are gushing cash, said John Hathaway, senior portfolio manager at Sprott Asset Management, in support of the higher dividends. They are in a position to raise their dividend, he said. And there will be boardroom pressure and shareholder pressure to do that.

The industry has been blasted in the past for underspending on production, overspending on acquisitions and piling up debt. Now, though, after years of fat-trimming, miners and their investors are well-positioned to gain from the higher prices. Thats allowed companies including Barrick and Newmont to boost free-cash flow and, to varying degrees, reward shareholders.

Earlier this month, though, Mark Bristow, Barricks chief executive officer, sent a warning shot across the bow of the industry. Even if all current projects work out, he said, gold supply will still fall 30 per cent globally by 2029. While sinking supply would be bullish for bullion prices, margins and revenues could be hit if companies are forced to mine lower-grade or hard-to-access deposits.

The divide between whether to push profits or new production has become more focused this year.

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. offers a case in point of how closely investors are watching the issue. Despite boosting its dividend 14 per cent and forecasting rising production through 2022, Agnicos shares were punished after it cut its 2020 output guidance earlier this month. In an interview after the results, CEO Sean Boyd argued that dividend increases are important not just as a way of sharing the benefits of higher gold prices, but also because it demonstrates a companys ability to maintain capital discipline.

Success in the changing shareholder landscape is going to be from the better gold-mining businesses being able to attract new generalist money, Boyd said by telephone.

Endless Pit

Steve Land, portfolio manager for the Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund, believes the next step for miners is to show the sector is not just this endless pit of having to pour more and more money in all the time. The trend toward higher dividends is a way of rebuilding trust and confidence, according to Land. These companies can also take the time to assess future projects, he said, but should be in no rush to push things forward.

Newmont, meanwhile, seems to be seeking to meet a best of both worlds scenario.

In January, Newmont said it planned to hike its dividend by 79 per cent to $1 per share annually, effective in April, while maintaining production for the next five years. On Thursday, chief financial officer Nancy Buese said the U.S.-based miner was considering other shareholder friendly actions it might take.

One key consideration will be to determine our appropriate level of dividend on a go-forward and sustainable basis, she said.

Barrick, meanwhile, announced a 40 per cent dividend hike to seven cents a share earlier this month. As it sells assets and tackles its debt, the Canada-based miner is hoping to attract generalist investors to its stock. But it also lowered its five-year production guidance and is re-evaluating its portfolio mix.

Generally, it appears the high-dividend strategy is helping lift gold equities. A Bloomberg Intelligence index of senior gold producers lagged the performance of gold futures for most of the past decade. But in the past 12 months, the gold group is killing it, rising 57 per cent compared with 24 per cent for gold.

If a company has genuine productive opportunities to invest capital in their business at high return, that is always going to be preferable versus paying a dividend, said RBCs Wolfson by phone. But companies which can demonstrate overall discipline by allocating capital effectively  plus paying out cash flow to shareholders  I think will ultimately accomplish the best of both worlds.

-With assistance from Maria Elena Vizcaino and Yvonne Yue Li.

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On February 7, Trump stated that the American military eliminated al-Rimi during the anti-terrorist operation in Yemen

Leader of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula Qasim al-Rimi Voice of America

Al-Qaida terrorist organization confirmed the accuracy of information about the death of its leader in the Arabian Peninsula Qasim al-Rimi, as The Voice of America reported citing Site Intelligence Group.

On February 7, the U.S. authorities stated on successful special operation on the elimination of leader of terrorist organization al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula Qasim al-Rimi.

At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation in Yemen that successfully eliminated Qasim al-Rimi, a founder and the leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and a deputy to al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, the message reads.

Earlier the number of American mass media reported about the elimination of al-Baghdadi. It was known that he detonated the vest with explosives to avoid the detention. However, the DNA test and biometric test should be held to prove it.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that leader of the terrorist organization ISIS Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed during the special operation held by the American military in the north-east of Syria.






Beau-Bassin, Mauritius (PANA)  A 28-year-old motorcyclist was killed instantly at a tramway junction as he ignored the red light warning of an on coming Metro Express train at Beau-Bassin, in the centre of the island
EU envoys meet on Monday to finalise a negotiating mandate for Brexit trade talks with Britain, with France insisting on strict red lines to uphold European standards. Establishing the foundation for new ties with Britain is the next chapter in the Brexit saga, with signs pointing to several months of acrimonious talks between London and Brussels with the outcome highly uncertain. Britain left the European Union on January 31, but entered a transition phase until the end of the year to give time to hammer out a new basis for relations on trade, security and defence. But there are doubts the two sides will bridge their differences in that time, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning at the weekend he was "not sure" a deal would be struck by the end of December. Trade will be the biggest flashpoint, with the remaining 27 EU countries especially nervous that Britain will backslide on standards to win a competitive edge against European businesses. Fishing is also a hot-button issue, with France leading a small group of countries demanding that European vessels maintain open access to British waters that are particularly rich in fish stocks. The EU envoys meet at around 1400 GMT and if they find common ground, the matter will then go to a meeting of European affairs ministers on Tuesday, whose final green light would open the way for talks with the UK to start on March 2. - 'The whole point' - Recent days have shown that tetchy talks lie ahead, with Britain insisting it is no longer chasing a deep partnership with Europe that would require matching EU rules on health, labour standards, environment and other matters. Instead, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is asking for a simplified deal similar to those the EU has struck with Canada, Japan and South Korea that reduce tariff barriers to near zero, but which have less strict controls on standards. Bringing that point home to Europe, in a speech in Brussels last week, Britain's chief Brexit negotiator David Frost said his government's desire to throw off EU regulations was not just a negotiating position but "the point of the whole (Brexit) project". "We must have the ability to set laws that suit us -- to claim the right that every other non-EU country in the world has," Frost said. Even a "no deal", with its heavy implications for the economy, does not seem to frighten London, casting deep uncertainty in the forthcoming negotiations of barely 10 three-week rounds of talks. The European side is annoyed and to some measure suspicious of the change of heart, especially since British Prime Minister signed a political declaration in October that called for an ambitious partnership. The negotiating mandate under consideration was first proposed by the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier with bloc member states inserting their changes over the past few weeks. In drafts seen by AFP, language on fishing and on upholding norms -- known as maintaining the "level playing field" -- have been toughened up, which EU sources said came at the insistence of Paris. Some member states have added language on issues close to them, including a call that Britain must "return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their country of origin", a problem dear to Greece, Italy and Cyprus. Stefaan de Rynck, a senior adviser to Barnier, warned last week that the next few months of talks could be even tougher than the divorce negotiations that formally ended Britain's 47-year membership of the EU. "We expect some of the negotiations to be rather difficult, perhaps more difficult than during the withdrawal," de Rynck told an audience at the London School of Economics. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian put it even more vivdly, predicting the two sides would "rip each other apart". London has until the end of June to ask for a deadline extension should the talks fail to make any headway in the coming months. But Johnson has ruled out asking for more time, a stance that raises the prospects of a "no deal" or only a bare-bones deal which could also bring major disruption. France is leading a small group of countries demanding that European vessels maintain open access to British waters that are particularly rich in fish stocks
A 52-year-old Cork woman has been charged with murdering her own brother at his home in the city last September.

The womans partner was also charged with murder.

Helen Jones, 52, of 27 Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield, Cork, made no reply when she was charged with murdering her brother, Paul Jones, on September 4 at 108 Bandon Road, Cork.

Co-accused, Keith OHara, formerly of 27 Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield, Cork, also made no reply when he was charged with carrying out the murder of Paul Jones.

Sergeant John Kelleher applied for a one-week adjournment with both defendants remanded in custody to allow time for preparation and service of a book of evidence.

Judge Olann Kelleher acceded to that application and adjourned the cases until March 3. On that date both defendants will appear in Cork District Court by video link from prison.

Detective Garda Myles Moran formally arrested Helen Jones for the purpose of charging her with murder and he then cautioned her about any reply that she might make and she made none.

Detective Garda Maurice OConnor also said Mr OHara made no reply when the same charge was put to him after caution.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said previously that the file in the case had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions on December 10 and that it was a very extensive investigation, with more than 100 lines of inquiry.

Eddie Burke, solicitor for Helen Jones, said he would expect that the book of evidence would be ready for service next week as his client had been in custody since September. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, represented Keith OHara.

Helen Jones was previously charged with an aggravated burglary charge arising out of the investigation into her brothers murder last September. OHara was charged with trespass to commit an assault causing harm.
MADRID  Winds from the Sahara continued to send streams of sand drifting over the Canary Islands on Monday, creating chaos as the swirling sands forced planes to be grounded, disrupted traffic and exacerbated wildfires.

Angel Victor Torres, the regional president of the islands, a Spanish archipelago, told Spanish national television that it was the worst such storm to hit the islands in 40 years. He described its arrival as a nightmare weekend.

He said on Monday that the situation remained worrying on at least four islands, including Gran Canaria, which faces the greatest threat of wildfires.

The Spanish airport operator, Aena, reopened the archipelagos airports on Monday, although it said that traffic would resume gradually and advised passengers to check with the airlines before heading to the airport. All of the islands airports were shut on Saturday because of strong winds and low visibility, leaving thousands of tourists stranded.
He was also said to be responsible for accompanying the minister to his constituency, taking care of his belongings, coordinating with his aides and doing some of his errands.
Raven Goodwine  a 25-year-old employee at a D.C. attorney generals anti-violence program called Cure the Streets  told students about an abusive relationship that began when she was a teen. She said her boyfriend controlled her, at one point pushing her out of a moving vehicle after he grew suspicious when he saw her reject a phone call from a friend.
Rebel leader sworn in as first vice president in South Sudan

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 8:40 AM

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar has been sworn in for the third time as first vice president of the country.

Machar on Saturday formally rejoined the government in the latest bid to bring peace to the country ravaged by war.

President Salva Kiir hailed the "official ending of war" with the swearing-in of Machar. He said peace was now "irreversible" as the new unity government was formed after more than a year of delays following a September 2018 peace deal.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after years of civil war.

In July 2011, Machar was appointed first vice president of the new republic led by President Kiir. In February 2013, Machar publicly announced his intention to challenge President Kiir, and in July that year, he and his entire cabinet were dismissed from office. In late August 2015, Machar became vice president again after the two sides made peace.

However, after renewed fighting broke out the next year between Kiir's and Machar's loyalists, he was forced to flee the country.

A new power-sharing agreement was reached between the two sides in September 2018.



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Donald Trump addressed a massive crowd at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram and later visited the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Donald Trump, on the first day of his maiden visit to India as the President of the United States, heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made several glowing references to popular Indian icons, made a thinly-veiled remark on China, referred to terrorism and Pakistan and said that India and the US will sign a $3 billion defence deal on Tuesday.

Thousands of people waving flags of India and the US greeted Trump on his arrival in Ahmedabad. Artists from various states performed from about 30 stages and greeted Trump and Modi as they passed the route to address the "Namaste Trump" event.

The US president addressed a crowd of about 1.25 lakh people at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram and later visited the Taj Mahal in Agra. Interestingly, Trump did not make any mention of Mahatma Gandhi in his remarks in the visitors book. He wrote, "To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - thank you for this wonderful visit."

The fact that Trump failed to even mention Mahatma Gandhi was questioned by several on social media.

Both @POTUS and @FLOTUS spinned the iconic charkha at the Sabarmati Ashram. But NO mention of Mahatma Gandhi in this note. #TrumpInIndia https://t.co/NsUNdyIykp  Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) February 24, 2020

US is faithful friend of India, says Trump

During his address at Ahmedabad, Trump said his country will remain a "loyal" friend of India and called Modi an "exceptional leader" who works day and night for the country.

India and the US are committed to defend their people from radical Islamic terrorism, added the US president.

"India and the US are committed to fight terrorists and their ideology; that is why my government is working with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups," Trump said in the presence of his family  First Lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner  and top brass of his administration.

"The US will always be faithful and loyal friend of India. Thank you for the spectacular welcome," he added. He also announced that the two countries will firm up defence deals worth USD 3 billion on Tuesday and that the US will become India's premier defence partner.

Trump said both countries are working on a "fantastic trade" deal, and observed that Modi is a "tough negotiator".

While the US president did not make any specific commitment on trade during his speech, it is important to note, as this article points out, that the visit is aimed at showcasing India as an emerging force to a powerful leader.

During his speech, the US president also heaped praises on Modi, saying the Prime Minister is a "living proof" of what an Indian can achieve with hard work as Trump referred to his humble background as a tea-seller, who had a landslide win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Trump said as the world's largest economy, India gives hope to all humanity and has become an economic giant. "There is a difference between a nation that rises by coercion and one that rises by setting its people free  that is India. India and the US have natural and enduring friendship," he said.

Some analysts said that the reference to "coercion" was an allusion to China, and pointed out that previous US presidents have also praised India's rise as a democratic nation.

He also touched on India's cultural diversity and riches as he highlighted the success of its blockbuster movies like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Sholay, and its sporting icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

He highlighted the boom in the US economy under his presidency and added that India will soon be home to the biggest middle class as it will eliminate extreme poverty in in next 10 years.

On his part, Modi said Trump's visit is a new chapter in the relations between India and America. "A chapter that will become a new document of progress and prosperity of the people of America and India," he added.

Modi said the two countries also share spirit of enterprise and innovation, shared opportunities and challenges and shared hopes and aspirations. The prime minister also appreciated Trump administration's efforts in the field of health.

The biggest strength between two people or nations is trust, Modi said, while quoting an old adage that "friendship is where trust is unshakable". In the last few years, trust between the US and India has strengthened further and has reached historic levels, the prime minister said.

"What you have done for healthy and happy America is getting good results. What you are doing for children in society is admirable," Modi said.

Trump visits Sabarmati Ashram, Taj Mahal

From colour and pageantry to quieter and reflective, the mood shifted somewhat at the Sabarmati Ashram where the US president and the First Lady spent about 15 minutes.

Modi, who reached the Ashram a few minutes before the visiting dignitaries, showed the Trumps 'Hriday Kunj', a room inside the Ashram where Gandhi and his wife Kasturba lived.

Modi explained the importance of the place in India's freedom struggle. Trump and Melania tried their hands on the khadi spinning wheel, also known as the 'charkha'. "To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - Thank you for this wonderful visit," Trump wrote in the visitors book. It was also signed by Melania.

Modi presented the "Three Wise Monkeys", signifying Gandhi's three maxims of 'see no evil', 'hear no evil' and 'speak no evil', as a memento to the US president.

At Agra, a giant billboard featuring the US president, Melania and Modi greeted the couple with a message  'Grand welcome of India's best friend to the City of Love Agra'.

Massive billboards bearing greeting messages dotted the nearly 13-km route of his convoy while major street roundabouts were decked up with US and India flags. Along the route, over 3,000 artistes spread over 21 designated designated areas presented dance forms of Brij, Awadh and other regions, like Krishna Lila.

Later, Donald and Melania Trump visited the iconic Taj Mahal as they marvelled at the famed 17th century Mughal-era mausoleum.

The Taj Mahal, which was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631, has been refurbished for the visit.

President Trump and the First Lady held hands as they strolled at the Taj complex and later wrote in the visitors' book. They were also briefed about the history and importance of the monument.

Trump also took to Twitter to express his sentiments about his first official visit to India, which began with a visit to Ahmedabad.

"First lady and I have travelled 8,000 miles around the world to give a message to each citizen of this country  America loves India, America respects India, and the people of America will always be true and committed friends of the people of India," the American leader tweeted in Hindi.

                 8000         l       -       - 

             l https://t.co/1yOmQOEnXE  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020

With inputs from PTI
The dispatch of Turkish troops to Libya, the bitter dispute between France and Italy over military policy at Decembers NATO summit in London, and the formation of a French-Greek military alliance against Turkey indicate the extent to which oil and gas have become the source of ever widening conflicts.

While it was popularly understood that the US/UK-led invasion of Iraq was a war for oil, this is less well understood in the case of Libya, which contains the largest deposits of oil in Africa and in 2010 was one of the 10 largest oil producers in the world. The struggle for Libya and its oil has now, moreover, become embroiled in the escalating conflict over the newly discovered gas fields in the Levantine Basin.

A new scramble for Africa is being tied into a new scramble for the eastern Mediterranean, as Turkey, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon and the European powers compete over gas exploration, production licenses and pipelines.

Gas fields

According to a US Geological Survey report published in 2010, the Levantine Basin, which straddles the maritime borders of Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, contains an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil and 122 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas. It estimates that eventually there will be enough gas to meet regional and European power demand for decades.

In 2009 and 2010, Israel discovered gas reserves of 11 trillion cubic feet in the Tamar field, and 22 tcf in the Leviathan field, ensuring sufficient capacity for both its domestic needs and exports, although some of these fields lie in waters claimed by Lebanon and Gaza.

In 2011, Cyprus discovered an estimated 8 tcf of gas reserves in the Aphrodite field. With Turkey claiming ownership of the natural resources around Cyprus, divided between Turkish and Greek zones since the 1974 war, this heightened tensions in the region, leading to violent ship collisions and even the suspension of drilling in 2016.

By far the largest field in the region is Egypts Zohr field, discovered in 2015, with an estimated 30 tcf. Located north of the Suez Canal, it is owned jointly by Italys Eni (50 percent), Russias Rosneft (30 percent), the Anglo-American BP (10 percent) and Egypts Mubadala Petroleum (10 percent). Last week, Egypt signed a $43 million oil and gas exploration deal with the German company Wintershall DEA to explore oil and gas in the East Damanhour Bloc in the Nile Delta.

In 2019, Egypt produced a record 2.52 tcf of gasup by more than 30 percent since 2016making it one of the biggest producers in North Africa and the Middle East. It exported 172.8 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas.

Egypt is seeking to become a vital link for energy trading between the Mideast, Africa and Europe. It has two large-scale gas export terminals at Iduku and Damietta, the only ones in the eastern Mediterranean, which cool gas into liquids for export by tankers. Owners Royal Dutch Shell intend to use them to re-export gas produced by neighboring countries that do not have such terminals, strengthening Egypts economic ties with Israel and Jordan as it becomes a crucial partner to Europe.

Last month, Israel, which has no liquefaction terminals, began exporting gas to Egypt. The smaller Karish field will go online next year with its own pipeline to Egypt. While some of the gas will be sent back to fuel Israels power and manufacturing plants, most will be exported.

Israel had previously imported up to 40 percent of its gas from Egypt. The new arrangements followed the signing in 2018 of a deal to pipe $19.5 billion of offshore gas to the Egyptian export terminals by Israeli oil company Delek Drilling and Noble Energy of Houston, which together own Israels Leviathan and Tamar gas fields.

The terms of the deal, beneficial to Israel and brokered by the US, enabled Egypt to reduce the cost by $1.3 billion of the $1.76 billion it was legally required to pay Israel in compensation following the disruption to its contracted gas delivery after multiple insurgent attacks on its pipelines in 2011-12 by militant Islamists in the Sinai Peninsula. The deal involves a raft of shadow companies, registered in tax havens and linked to Egypts military.

Last year, Egypt signed a deal with Jordan to provide half its gas needs via the 1,200-kilometre-long Arab Gas Pipeline. Built in 2003, the overland pipeline has been extended to Israel via a 100-kilometre-long subsea section connecting Arish in Egypt to Ashkelon in Israel.

There are also small gas reserves off Gazas territorial waters. But it became impossible to carry out any exploration after Israels blockade of Gaza following Hamas success in the 2006 elections and its standoff with the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Administration in the West Bank. In 2015, the license holders, which included BP and Shell, transferred their stakes to Palestinian state companies.

Lebanon is believed to hold gas reserves of 96 tcf and oil reserves of 865 million barrels, but has been slow to explore its offshore resources, in part because of the great depth of its waters, the high cost, unresolved maritime border disputes with Israel, Syria and Cyprus and the countrys political instability. However, a consortium made up of Frances Total, Italys Eni and Russias Novatek is expected to start drilling in the Block 9 concession by the middle of this year, with next January set as the closing date for five more offshore blocks.

Syria is thought to have substantial energy resources in the Levantine basin, but it suspended exploration after the outbreak of the US-orchestrated proxy war for regime change in 2011. Russia, in the absence of any other bidders, took all the oil and gas contracts as its quid pro quo for supporting the Syrian regime, signing long-term agreements in return for 25 percent of total production. With the upgrading of its air and naval bases at Khmeimim and Tartus on Syrias coast, Russias entry into the Levantine Basin adds another player into a region of competition and conflict.

Competing pipelines and alliances

Gas pipelines, owned by two competing geostrategic alliances, have caused tensions to rise markedly. Each seeks to secure a dominant position in European energy markets that are trying to eliminate their dependence on coal and oil by turning to gas.

The first is a new Russian-Turkish pipeline aimed at increasing Russias natural gas exports and raising Turkeys status as an energy transit hub to Europe. Last month saw the inauguration of the first leg of TurkStream, an undersea pipeline running 930 kilometres (578 miles) from the Russian Black Sea coast to Kiyikoy, northwest of Istanbul, that will carry 15.75 billion cubic metres of Russian gas a year to Turkey for domestic consumption.

Another proposed pipeline, announced last July, will carry a similar amount via Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary, not through Greece as originally planned, further cementing Europes dependence on Russian gas. Together with the nearly completed Nord Stream 2, which carries gas via the Baltic Sea to Germany, they enable Russias Gazprom to send gas to Europe, bypassing Ukraine.

The second pipeline is one linking Israel and Cyprus gas fields to Greece that would transport the eastern Mediterraneans rising liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union (EU) and is backed by the US.

On January 3, Greece, Israel and Cyprus agreed to build a 1,900-kilometer (1,200 mile) EastMed pipeline through deep waters, at a cost of around 6-7 billion, to transport gas to Europe via Greece and Italy. The pipeline will run from Israels Leviathan gas field via Cyprus, Crete and the Greek mainland and is due for completion in the mid-2020s. Conceived in 2015, it is aimed at limiting Turkeys influence in the region.

The three countries, part of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, established by Cairo last July that includes Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Italy, are seeking to establish a regional gas market and an exporting hub to Europe. This would cut across Egypts ambitions to establish itself as an export hub, with an agreement in 2018 to construct a pipeline to Cyprus Aphrodite field.

In addition, DEFSA, Greeces gas transmission system operator, having completed the expansion of its LNG terminal, the only one in southeast Europe, is now building compressors that will enable it to pump gas north into Bulgaria via the Trans-Balkan Pipeline and export US LNG to the Balkans. Exports are set to expand when the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) project starts next year, in competition with TurkStream 2. It will avoid dependency on the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which will start sending natural gas from Azerbaijan to Italy via Turkey and Greece.

These plans also clash with Turkeys plans to extend its control over energy resources in the region through its drilling for gas off the far west coast of Cyprus toward the southeast of the Greek island of Crete, Israel and Libyas offshore waters. Ankaras drilling operations are expected to be accompanied by a naval task force comprised of at least one frigate, two or three gunboats, and a submarine, as it seeks to acquire another drilling ship.

Russia, with its large oil and gas reserves, is Europes main energy provider, supplying 41 percent of its overall consumption. Hence its concern over gas exports from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe, because of the potential impact on its market share and energy prices. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to oppose such a project unless Russia is involved.

The EU, for its part, lacking its own energy resources and anxious to avoid dependency on Russia, has fast tracked its approval process for the pipeline.

The agreement to build the EastMed pipeline came just weeks after Turkey signed two agreements in November with Fayez al-Sarrajs Government of National Accord (GNA), the internationally recognized government of Libya that is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Italy.

The GNA has little popular support and controls the capital Tripoli that has been surrounded by former CIA asset and warlord General Khalifa Hiftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA), backed by France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Russia, controls eastern Libya and its oil fields.

Under the first Turkey/GNA agreement, Ankara pledged military support for Sarrajs beleaguered government. A second agreement in return delimited maritime zones between the two countries, vastly expanding Turkeys territorial waters, which Greece and Cyprus also claim, denying the claims of Crete, Rhodes and other islands, and blocking the route of the proposed pipeline.

Since then, Ankara has expanded its gas exploration efforts and sent forces to Tripoli, including Islamist militiamen from Idlib province in Syria, where they were deployed as part of the NATO proxy war but are now surrounded by Syrian and Russian troops.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters, Turkey and Libya will be working jointly at present, but we could take a third, a fourth and perhaps a fifth partner on board. We are in agreement with Sarraj on this.

He indicated that Somalia had offered Turkey joint oil exploration in its waters. Erdogan has also sought to enlist support from Tunisia and Algeria, as part of his declaration that 2020 is Africa year, offering help with offshore gas exploration as bait.

At the end of last month, Turkeys Defence Ministry reported that two of its frigates off Tripoli had rescued 30 migrants from a dinghy in high seas and handed them over to the Libyan coast guard during NATOs Operation Sea Guardian in the region. This was a message to European countries, particularly Germany, that the GNA and Turkeywith their supportwould be an effective means of curbing the flow of migrants from Libya to Europe. It may indicate Ankaras willingness to mend its relations with Europe in the wake of its rift with Moscow over Syrias defeat of Turkey-backed Islamists in Idlib province.

Ever widening conflicts

These developments have largely taken place outside the control of Washington. The US views with mounting concern Russias expanding influence in a region it once controlled, especially following its disastrous wars of aggression in Iraq, Libya and Syria, and with Turkeys closer relations with Russia and Iran, to the extent that it supported the 2016 coup against Erdogan. Embroiled in economic and trade disputes with the EU, it is trying to push the sale of its own LNG to Europe as an alternative to Russia.

The Trump administration is working through its local attack dogs and proxies, particularly Israel and latterly Greece. It is actively supporting its allies access to the regions gas and Israels key role in exporting gas to its local clients Jordan and Egyptacting as the chief broker in Israels gas agreements.

US corporations are engaged in some of the consortia directly involved in exploration, production and transportation and insuring the contracts. The Trump administration helped broker the original agreement to sell gas to Jordan and agreed to compensate Jordan through US aid money should popular opposition disrupt the deal.

In December, President Donald Trump approved the East Med Security and Energy Partnership Act that allows the US to support the Israel-Greece-Cyprus partnership through defence initiatives and lift the longstanding arms embargo on Cyprus, antagonizing Turkey, a key NATO-ally.

Energy minister Yuval Steinitz explained in welcoming Israels export of gas to Egypt, Egypt is just the beginning. The plan is that much of the gas will be exported via Egypt to Europe, too.

The EastMed pipeline serves to wean Europe off its dependency on Russia for its energy needs, as well as limiting Greece and Cyprus trade and investment deals with Moscow. In December, Trump signed into law a defence bill that includes sanctions, imposed by the US Congress, on the construction of both the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines. These are part of a raft of measures aimed at choking Russias economy which is largely dependent upon the sale of arms and energy. As a result, construction on the nearly completed Nord Stream 2 has come to a halt, infuriating Germany and exacerbating tensions between Washington and Berlin visibly on show at the NATO Security Conference in Munich.

Greece violently objected to the Turkish-Libyan deal signed last year, expelling the Libyan ambassador to Greece in protest. Kathimerini wrote that the Greek and Greek Cypriot governments hurried to finalize the EastMed deal in order to counter any attempt by the Turkish neighbour to stop the project.

According to Greek reports, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of violations of its airspace by Turkish fighter jets. Turkish hackers paralysed the websites of the Greek Foreign Ministry and secret service, prompting Greek retaliation.

Such are the tensions between the two NATO members, which were on the verge of war in the 1990s, that the White House called on Greece and Turkey to resolve their differences. Despite this show of impartiality, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed deals last October to build major new US military bases in Greece, saying Washington needs them to help secure the eastern Mediterranean.

It was the fear that Russia and Turkey would gain influence in Libya that led Germany to assemble the European powers in a conference in Berlin last month, ostensibly aimed at bringing peace to the civil-war torn country. The Berlin conference agreed to extend the ceasefire, established earlier through the mediation of Russia and Turkey, permanently and to the demobilization and disarming of the militias and monitoring of an arms embargo violated by everyone.

This cynical gathering can only be the prelude to a military occupation of the country to assert the European powers predatory interests. EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell, declared a priori, If there is a cease-fire in Libya, then the EU must be prepared to help implement and monitor this cease-firepossibly also with soldiers, for example as part of an EU mission.

We Europeans, since we dont want to participate in a military solution, we barricade ourselves in the belief there is no military solution, he told the European Parliament. Nobody will be very happy if, on the Libyan coast, there is a ring of military bases from the Russian and Turkish navies in front of the Italian coast.

Days later, France stepped in to assert its interests, dispatching French warships to the Aegean Sea and announcing the formation of a French-Greek military alliance.

It too has supported Hiftar and his LNA in eastern Libya against the Tripoli-based GNA, where the French oil giant Total has important oil interests, bringing it into conflict with Italy, whose oil company Eni is the largest oil and gas producer in Libya. France, which is dependent upon Hiftars support for its colonial wars in the Sahel, denounced Turkish policy in Libya, threatening to support Greece in a war with Turkey.

President Emmanuel Macron accused the Turkish president of not respecting his promises in Berlin, saying that at this very moment Turkish ships are taking Syrian Islamist mercenaries to Libya in violation of explicit engagements taken by President Erdogan at the Berlin conference. He added, This threatens the security of all residents of Europe and the Sahel.

After discussion with Macron, Egypt, which supports Hiftar, denounced the Turkey-GNA accords as illegal foreign intervention in Libya. On Monday, just weeks after the Berlin conference, the EU agreed to launch a new naval and air mission in the eastern Mediterranean, in international not Libyan waters, to stop arms reaching both factions in the Libya, re-establishing the arms embargo first imposed in 2011.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, whose government opposes any immigration from Libya to Europe, insisted that the mission would not support or help migrants seeking to enter Europe. He said, There is a basic consensus that we now want a military operation and not a humanitarian mission.

The eastern Mediterranean, including North Africa, has become the focus of ever widening conflicts, with all the imperialist and regional powers determined to pursue their own rapacious demands for control over the regions wealth and resources.

As US Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned at the Munich Security Conference, We are now in an era of Great Power Competition, meaning that we must move away from low intensity conflict and prepare once again for high-intensity warfare.

The stage is being set for explosive conflicts, potentially encompassing three continents, over the domination of North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. But the eastern Mediterranean is only one of a number of potential flashpointsthe Horn of Africa, South China Sea or the Arctic to name but a fewwhere these competing strategic interests could lead to an all-out confrontation between major military powers, including nuclear-armed imperialist states. As far as the major powers are concerned, the entire world is in play, with devastating consequences for humanity.
President Akufo-Addo has backed the Electoral Commission's (EC) decision to compile a new voters' register ahead of the 2020 general elections.

According to the President, the decision makes a lot of sense.

The President said it is prudent for the Electoral Commission to compile a new register every eight years as it has been doing in the past.

The issue of a new electoral roll has divided political parties in the country with the opposition National Democratic Congress staging a walkout during the President's State of the Nation Address last week.

Speaking at a meeting with the Ghanaian community in Oslo, Norway, President Akufo-Addo said the electoral management body should be allowed to do its work.

We are getting ourselves ready for December 7. The Electoral Commission is going to compile a new register. It appears there is now an eight-year cycle for the EC to compile a register. They did so in 2012 and 2004. So with these last three including this one are all in the eight-year cycle. I think it makes a lot of sense. The national census itself is done on a ten-year basis.

So it makes sense that we keep up the EC to admit new people, take out all those who have died, etc. Their intention is to begin in April. We want everybody in Ghana who can vote to register. Its important that we all exercise our civic duty to go and vote in December and choose the government that we want, he noted.

Ghana to save money by compiling register  EC

Data from the Electoral Commission (EC) shows that the country stands to save an amount of GHS173.07 million should a new voters' register be compiled ahead of the 2020 general elections.

This means that procuring a fresh Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS) is less costly than upgrading the current register as many have called for, the EC claims.

IT consultant to the EC, Dr. Yaw Ofori-Adjei who made this known at a media encounter last Thursday said the commission will incur a cost of approximately GHS107.25 million to furnish the existing data centre but will only need about GHS39.51 million for both the construction and maintenance of a new data centre.

He added that keeping the old biometric system will cost US$74.36 million as compared to the US$56 million needed to acquire a new system which includes Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits and the Biometric Verification Devices (BVD).

Groups against decision

The plan to compile a new register ahead of the general elections in December has over time sparked up a lot of controversies, with many parties and groups disagreeing to the move.

The Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register, a group made up of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), People's National Convention (PNC), Eagle Party, All People's Party (APC), Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have on several occasions demonstrated to express their disappointment against the ECs decision.

Eighteen Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have also rejected the Electoral Commission's proposal to compile a new electoral roll ahead of the 2020 elections.

The CSOs are Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), IMANI Africa, SEND Ghana, Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), Financial Accountability and Transparency  Africa (FAT-Africa), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Youth Bridge Foundation, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Citizens Movement against Corruption (CMaC) and Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC).

These groups have cited the reason for their rejection as among other things, a waste of the taxpayers money. They rather want the EC to update the current software rather than procuring a new one.

Meanwhile, efforts to settle the differences including resorting to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and the Electoral Commission's Eminent Advisory Committee have proved futile.

---citinewsroom
The body of a teenage boy has been found in the River Wear in county Durham. (Getty)

The body of a teenage boy has been pulled out of the River Wear, county Durham.

Fire officers and police joined Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue and the police helicopter in the search for a missing 13-year-old, which was launched on Sunday night.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the persons death.

Formal identification of the body is yet to take place.

A Durham Police spokesperson told Yahoo News UK: We are sorry to report a body has been found in the River Wear near Bishop Auckland.

A multi-agency search operation was launched last night (Sunday) following reports that a person had gone into the river near Toronto Bridge.

Sadly, the body of a teenager was found in the river this morning. Formal identification has yet to take place, but it is believed to be the body of a 13-year-old boy.

His family have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this tragic time.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
Vitamins company Blackmores will substantially lift investment in China in a bid to better appeal to the modern career woman in the worlds most populous nation, the group's number one customer around the globe.

The company is also considering exporting pet supplements and products to China, a market segment tipped to more than double to $US260 million by 2024.

New Blackmores boss Alastair Symington hopes investors recognise that the company is more consumer focussed than ever before. Credit:

It also plans to enter the Indian market within a year and boost its presence in Indonesia.

The moves are part of an overhaul of Blackmores strategy unveiled on Tuesday, as the group seeks to address its ailing profit performance. Blackmores also confirmed that its first-half net profit had fallen 47 per cent to $18.2 million.
Mary Jackson was one of the "human computers" portrayed in the film "Hidden Figures."

In the 1960s, Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn and others absorbed the accolades of being the first men in space. Behind the scenes, they were supported by hundreds of unheralded NASA workers, including "human computers" who did the calculations for their orbital trajectories. "Hidden Figures," a 2016 book by Margot Lee Shetterly and a movie based on the book, celebrates the contributions of some of those workers.

Beginning in 1935, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), a precursor of NASA, hired hundreds of women as computers. The job title described someone who performed mathematical equations and calculations by hand, according to a NASA history. The computers worked at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Virginia.

Human computers were not a new concept. In the late 19th and early 20th century, computers at Harvard University analyzed star photos to learn more about their basic properties. Those computers were women who made discoveries still fundamental to astronomy today. For example, Williamina Fleming is best known for classifying stars based on their temperature, and Annie Jump Cannon developed a stellar classification system still used today (from hottest to coolest stars: O, B, A, F, G, K, M.)

During World War II, the computer pool was expanded. Langley began recruiting African-American women with college degrees to work as computers, according to NASA. However, segregation policies required that these women work in a separate section, called the West Area Computers  although computing sections became more integrated after the first several years.

As the years passed and the center evolved, the West Computers became engineers and electronic computer programmers. The women were the first black managers at Langley and it was their brilliant work that propelled the first American, John Glenn, into orbit in 1962.

"Hidden Figures" focuses on three computers: Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan. Here are brief biographies of these women.

Mary Jackson was a successful NASA engineer and advocate for women and minorities in the field. (Image credit: NASA/LRC)

Mary Jackson (1921-2005)

Jackson hailed from Hampton, Virginia. She graduated with high marks from high school and received a bachelor of science degree from the Hampton Institute in Mathematics and Physical Science, according to a biography written by Gloria R. Champine for NASA. Jackson began her career as a schoolteacher, and had several other jobs before joining NACA.

As a computer with the all-black West Area Computing section, she was involved with wind tunnels and flight experiments. Her job was to extract the relevant data from experiments and flight tests. She also tried to help other women advance in their career, according to the biography, by advising them on what educational opportunities to pursue.

"She discovered that occasionally it was something as simple as a lack of a couple of courses, or perhaps the location of the individual, or perhaps the assignments given them, and of course, the ever present glass ceiling that most women seemed to encounter," Champine wrote.

After 30 years with NACA and NASA (at which point she was an engineer), Jackson decided to become an equal opportunity specialist to help women and minorities. Although described as a behind-the-scenes sort of worker, she helped many people get promoted or become supervisors. She retired from NASA in 1985. Jackson died on Feb. 11, 2005 at the age of 83.

Katherine Johnson did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard's mission in 1961 and John Glenn's mission in 1962. (Image credit: NASA)

Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)

Johnson showed early brilliance in West Virginia schools by being promoted several years ahead of her age, according to NASA. She attended a high school on the campus of West Virginia State College by age 13, and began attending the college at age 18. After graduating with highest honors, she started work as a schoolteacher in 1937.

Two years later, when the college chose to integrate its graduate schools, Johnson and two male students were offered spots. She quickly enrolled, but left to have children. In 1953, when she was back in the workforce, Johnson joined the West Area Computing section at Langley.

She began her career working with data from flight tests, but her life quickly changed after the Soviet Union launched the first satellite in 1957. For example, some of her math equations were used in a lecture series compendium called Notes on Space Technology. These lectures were given by engineers that later formed the Space Task Group, NACA's section on space travel.

For the Mercury missions, Johnson did trajectory analysis for Shepard's Freedom 7 mission in 1961, and (at John Glenn's request) did the same job for his orbital mission in 1962. Despite Glenn's trajectory being planned by computers, Glenn reportedly wanted Johnson herself to run through the equations to make sure they were safe.

"When asked to name her greatest contribution to space exploration, Katherine Johnson talks about the calculations that helped synch Project Apollo's Lunar Lander with the moon-orbiting Command and Service Module," NASA wrote. "She also worked on the space shuttle and the Earth Resources Satellite, and authored or coauthored 26 research reports."

Johnson retired from NASA In 1986. At age 97, in 2015, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Johnson died on Feb. 24, 2020 at age 101.

Dorothy Vaughan became the first black supervisor at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), a precursor of NASA, in 1949. (Image credit: NASA)

Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008)

Vaughan joined the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in 1943 after beginning her career as a math teacher in Farmville, Virginia. Her job during World War II was a temporary position, but thanks in part to a new executive order prohibiting discrimination in the defense industry, she was hired on permanently because the laboratory had a wealth of data to process.

Still, the law required that she and her black colleagues needed to work separately from white female computers, and the first supervisors were white. Vaughan became the first black NACA supervisor in 1949 and made sure that her employees received promotions or pay raises if merited.

Segregation was ended in 1958 when NACA became NASA, at which point NASA created an analysis and computation division. Vaughan was an expert programmer in FORTRAN, a prominent computer language of the day, and also contributed to a satellite-launching rocket called Scout (Solid Controlled Orbital Utility Test). She retired from NASA in 1971. Vaughan died on Nov. 10, 2008 at the age of 98.

Additional resources:

This article was updated on Feb. 24, 2020 by Space.com reference editor Kimberly Hickok.
Friends and family of late rapper Pop Smoke were set to remember his life at a prayer and grief service at a church in his native Brooklyn Sunday.

The rapper, 20, was fatally shot in the torso Wednesday in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles in an incident investigators continue to probe with help from the rapper's relatives.

Insiders told TMZ Sunday that the rapper's body was set to be flown back to New York for a burial later on.

RIP: Friends and family of late rapper Pop Smoke, 20, were set to remember his life at a prayer and grief service at a church in his native Brooklyn Sunday. He was snapped in NYC earlier this month

Relatives of the late rap artist, whose full name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, have been taking care of his business arrangements in California, sources told the outlet.

No arrests have been made in the shooting, authorities told the outlet, as surveillance video culled from the scene indicate the rapper was likely targeted in the shooting.

The video showed four masked men heading toward the house the rapper was in at about 4:30 a.m., sources told the outlet Thursday.

The men first went around the back of the home, then three were seen heading around the home's side, en route to the front of the abode.

Investigation: Police cordoned off the area near the Hollywood Hills home where the fatal shooting occurred Wednesday

Probe: Relatives of the late rap artist, whose full name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, have been working with authorities in the investigation

The fourth man was later seen heading out of the front of the home, but did not appear to be taking anything with him.

Some had suspected that the incident was a premeditated robbery after the rapper left identifying information in a series of social media posts in which he was seen with large amounts of cash and other valuables.

Following the shooting, the Welcome to the Party artist was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors would pronounce him dead.

Following his death, stars including Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Chance the Rapper, 50 Cent and Kylie Jenner paid tribute to him on social media.

Closer look: Surveillance footage has been key in the ongoing investigation

Out and about: Pop Smoke was snapped at a Super Bowl party in Miami earlier this month
Have you seen Jordan Rae Lampus? Authorities in Wyoming are looking for the missing 22-year-old woman after her van was found abandoned along a highway near Cheyenne. The details are slim in this developing case, but the few that are making it to the public imply that this woman could possibly be in serious danger.

Cheyenne Police call disappearance 'suspicious'

Police in Cheyenne, Wyoming took to social media to alert the public of this woman's disappearance, according to Oil City News. On a Facebook post, authorities have referred to the disappearance of Jordan Rae Lampus as suspicious.

This is due to the fact that the young woman was reported missing in the state of Pennsylvania, so it is a surprise that her van was found abandoned all the way in Wyoming -- approximately 1700 miles away.

Any time that a disappearance crosses state lines, investigating authorities make appeals to all surrounding states. And, that is what police in Pennsylvania and Wyoming have done. Anyone from Nebraska and Colorado as well as Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas, are encouraged to contact police with any information they may have on this missing woman.

Unanswered questions in the disappearance of Jordan Rae Lampus

So far, all the public knows, is that this young woman was reported missing recently out of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Since her van has been located all the way in Wyoming, her disappearance has attracted social media attention, which means there are a lot of questions being asked. Right now, authorities have their work cut out for them in locating a woman whose case now potentially spans 2,000 or more square miles.

Was this woman the victim of foul play?

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Did she leave on her own free will to start a life somewhere else? Was she carjacked? Who was the last person to see Jordan Rae Lampus? All these questions, and others, will hopefully be answered as time goes by. But most importantly, it's urgent that this missing woman is located safely.

Jordan Rae Lampus is described as having blonde hair and blue eyes, with an average to petite build.

Her photo is being circulated in reports and by police in hopes of anyone coming forward with information about her. Police in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Erie, Pennsylvania can be contacted with any information or sightings. But you can also call your local authorities in case she is spotted in your area or you believe someone in your area may have knowledge of her whereabouts.

Missing women in America

At any given time in the United States, more than 200,000 women go missing, according to Statistca.com. Many of those disappearances are quickly solved thanks to fast police action and other factors, but many women go missing never to be found. This is a harsh reality that is faced by numerous families across the nation.
The weather forecast for Ireland for the coming week is for it to be very cold and unsettled for the rest of the week, with occasional showers or longer spells of rain and some wintry precipitation of sleet and snow at times, especially in Ulster and Connacht. Some dry, bright intervals also. Frost at night.

The weather forecast for Ireland for Monday from Met Eireann is for outbreaks of rain and any lingering sleet or snow in Ulster to clear in the morning. It will brighten up in the afternoon with sunny spells developing along with scattered showers in the west and north. Maximum afternoon temperatures of just 5 to 8 degrees. A blustery day, with fresh to strong and gusty southwest to west winds, veering west to northwest with gales at times along coasts.

Very cold on Monday night with clear spells and scattered showers, the showers most frequent across the western half of the country, with some hail, sleet and snow showers, especially in Ulster and Connacht. Minimum temperatures 0 to 2 degrees, with a risk of frost, especially in places sheltered from a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

The weather forecast for Ireland for Tuesday from Met Eireann is for it to be very cold, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, some of them falling as hail, sleet and snow, especially in the north and west. There is also a risk of thunder, particularly in Atlantic coastal counties. Maximum temperatures just 4 to 7 or 8 degrees, in mostly moderate to fresh westerly winds, strong along west and southwest coasts. Tuesday night will be windy, with further wintry showers, most of them in the western half of the country. Minimum temperatures minus 1 to plus 2 degrees, in moderate to fresh west to northwest winds. Risk of frost and icy patches.

Our Atlantic chart shows precipitation and pressure forecast in 6 hour intervals for the next 7 days.https://t.co/9Giuj4CR5m

The national forecast and the national outlook for the coming days are available here.https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/3hfREPEmS4  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 23, 2020

The weather forecast for Ireland for Wednesday from Met Eireann is for it to remain very cold, with below normal temperatures. Maximum values only 4 to 8 degrees, A bright day, with sunny spells, but scattered showers also, some of sleet, with a continuing risk of snow showers, mainly over high ground. Winds mostly moderate to fresh, west to northwest, decreasing light by Wednesday night. Very cold overnight, with sharp or severe frost. Dry in many areas, but some wintry showers will occur in the west and northwest and more persistent rain will develop in southern coastal areas. Minimum minus 2 to plus 2 degrees.

According to Met Eireann, current indications suggest that it will remain very cold and unsettled for the end of the week and the weekend, with a risk of further wintry precipitation.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/24/2020



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Zach Justice has denied wife Mindy Shiben 's belief Zach didn't want to be married to her.Zach, who's currently starring on Season 10 of the Lifetime reality series, watched back a clip on : Unfiltered of Mindy talking to Pastor Calvin Roberson about how Zach had allegedly mentioned several times after their wedding he wasn't attracted to her and so she felt alone in her marriage."She is right. We had discussions a few times on my lack of chemistry, lack of attraction that was just not there from the start," Zach admitted to host Jamie Otis on Unfiltered."Regardless of the context of it, someone telling you they're not attracted to you is kind of what sticks in that context that comes with it, right? And I think that's what she's hurt by and that's what she feels."Zach, however, insisted his candid and honest conversations with Mindy weren't supposed to imply he had already given up on their relationship and couldn't see things changing in the near future."It wasn't meant to be like, 'Sorry, I'm not attracted to you. This is over,'" Zach said.Jamie pointed out how Mindy also expressed to Pastor Cal in the clip how she didn't believe Zach wanted to be in their marriage."Is that true?" Jamie asked."No, that's not the case," Zach confirmed."I mean, yeah, I've been in situations where you've had nothing from the beginning and then attraction evolved if you get to know somebody.""And again, I've been on the opposite side of the spectrum where I've been blinded by chemistry and it just never would have worked at all," the personal trainer added.Zach noted he at least tried to "stay open-minded" about his relationship with Mindy, even though their honeymoon in Panama was a little strained and uncomfortable.However, once Mindy and Zach returned home to Washington, D.C. and were supposed to move into a neutral apartment together the show had provided for them, Zach chose to sleep alone at his own place.When asked how he could see the marriage working out, Zach replied on Unfiltered, "From a couple points, me not moving in kind of damages my credibility for my commitment, you know, in anybody's eyes for sure."Jamie agreed, "Yeah," and then Zach continued, "We don't have a lot of attraction or chemistry going [for] us, so I think you have to zoom out a little bit and say, from a friendship standpoint, 'What can I do?'"Zach said he figured the answer was to "spend valuable time" with Mindy "at every chance."Two of Zach and Mindy's co-stars on Season 10, Taylor Dunklin and Michael Watson , joined Zach on the Unfiltered broadcast and provided their thoughts on Mindy's clip with Pastor Cal."It's hard as a woman -- or anyone, honestly -- just to hear somebody say [there's no attraction] and then take that with, like, 'This is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with,' who says that to you," Taylor explained."I can understand how she took it really hard. But in another way, I can understand how you [Zach] can be in a situation and not know how to go about it."Zach said he never anticipated Mindy would take his feelings so personally and straight to her heart."I can't assume everyone has a thick skin and can handle that crucial conversation so easily," Zach said."And obviously Mindy is the complete opposite of that when it comes to these type of interpretations for sure."In the latest tenth-season episode of , Zach was shown making an effort by meeting Mindy and her friends at a game bar.He also showed up for a wine night at what was supposed to be his new, shared apartment with Mindy.Zach claimed he was hoping he would miss Mindy and want to spend more time with her if they were living apart. He basically viewed the idea of distance making the heart grow fonder as a potential way to build attraction to his wife.'s tenth season also stars Taylor's husband Brandon Reid , Michael's wife Meka Jones Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BJs Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) announced the opening of its restaurant in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. The new BJs Restaurant & Brewhouse opened today on a free standing pad on Washington Street at the Shops at Emerald. The restaurant is approximately 7,500 square feet, seats approximately 230 guests and features BJs extensive menu, including BJs signature deep-dish pizza, award-winning handcrafted beer and famous Pizookie dessert. BJs unique, contemporary decor provides the perfect environment for all dining occasions. Hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.



We are excited to open our first restaurant of the year in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, commented Greg Trojan, Chief Executive Officer. Our North Attleboro restaurant is also our first restaurant in the state of Massachusetts. We look forward to opening more restaurants in the northeast, as we continue our national expansion. Our 2020 new restaurant openings pipeline is in excellent shape and we remain on target to open eight to ten restaurants.

As with all of our new restaurant openings, BJs invited members of the North Attleboro community to attend a soft opening event prior to our grand opening. As our team members put the final touches on the restaurant, invited guests were treated to complimentary food and had the opportunity to make a voluntary donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a very important charity to BJs. Additionally, BJs donated the proceeds of all alcohol purchases during the soft opening event to the BJs Restaurants Foundation.

About BJs Restaurants, Inc.

BJs Restaurants, Inc. (BJs) is a national brand with brewhouse roots and a menu where craft matters. BJs broad menu with over 140 offerings has something for everyone: slow-roasted entrees, like prime rib, BJs EnLIGHTened Entrees including Cherry Chipotle Glazed Salmon, signature deep dish pizza and the often imitated, but never replicated world-famous Pizookie dessert. BJs has been a pioneer in the craft brewing world since 1996, and takes pride in serving BJs award-winning proprietary handcrafted beers, brewed at its brewing operations in five states and by independent third-party craft brewers. The BJs experience offers high-quality ingredients, bold flavors, moderate prices, sincere service and a cool, contemporary atmosphere. Founded in 1978, BJs owns and operates 209 casual dining restaurants in 29 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. All restaurants offer dine-in, take-out, delivery and large party catering. For more BJs information, visit http://www.bjsrestaurants.com .

Story continues

About BJs Restaurants Foundation

BJs Restaurants Foundation (the Foundation) is a registered 501(c)(3) qualified non-profit charitable organization principally dedicated to supporting charities that benefit childrens healthcare and education, with a primary focus on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition, the Foundation supports volunteer efforts of BJs team members across the country as they help give back to the communities in which our restaurants do business.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

Certain statements in the preceding paragraphs and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding expected comparable restaurant sales and margin growth in future periods, total potential domestic capacity, the success of various sales-building and productivity initiatives, future guest traffic trends, construction cost savings initiatives and the number and timing of new restaurants expected to be opened in future periods. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those projected or anticipated. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) our ability to manage new restaurant openings, (ii) construction delays, (iii) labor shortages, (iv) increases in minimum wage and other employment related costs, including compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and minimum salary requirements for exempt team members, (v) the effect of credit and equity market disruptions on our ability to finance our continued expansion on acceptable terms, (vi) food quality and health concerns and the effect of negative publicity about us, our restaurants, other restaurants, or others across the food supply chain, due to food borne illness or other reasons, whether or not accurate, (vii) factors that impact California, Texas and Florida, where a substantial number of our restaurants are located, (viii) restaurant and brewery industry competition, (ix) impact of certain brewing business considerations, including without limitation, dependence upon suppliers, third party contractors and distributors, and related hazards, (x) consumer spending trends in general for casual dining occasions, (xi) potential uninsured losses and liabilities due to limitations on insurance coverage, (xii) fluctuating commodity costs and availability of food in general and certain raw materials related to the brewing of our craft beers and energy requirements, (xiii) trademark and service-mark risks, (xiv) government regulations and licensing costs, (xv) beer and liquor regulations, (xvi) loss of key personnel, (xvii) inability to secure acceptable sites, (xviii) legal proceedings, (xix) other general economic and regulatory conditions and requirements, (xx) the success of our key sales-building and related operational initiatives, (xxi) any failure of our information technology or security breaches with respect to our electronic systems and data, and (xxii) numerous other matters discussed in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on current assumptions and expectations, and BJs Restaurants, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact Greg Levin of BJs Restaurants, Inc. at (714) 500-2400 or JCIR at (212) 835-8500 or at bjri@jcir.com.
The Mankhurd police on February 20 received an email stating that seven people are going to Pakistan via Dubai to get training from a Pakistani intelligence agency to carry out a terror attack in India, however, investigations revealed that the email was a hoax, sent by a travel agent, part of a human trafficking racket, to cheat his customers of over ~ 1.75 crore.

The seven people included six men from Thane and a woman from Karachi, Pakistan. They wanted to go to the United States (US) as their relatives lived there. As visas were difficult to get, their relatives contacted an agent, Ramish Sultan Dava, who charged ~25 lakh to ~30 lakh each for the visas. But after receiving the money, he sent an email to Mankhurd police to push the customers into a fake case of terrorism, said Datta Nalawande, deputy commissioner of police, crime branch. On February 20, police received an email, in which the sender identified himself as Ramish. I have big information of the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) group working in Mumbai read the email. He also mentioned a mobile number, which was of a Pakistani tourist agent Rizwan Syed.

Mumbai Police along with central agencies then interrogated the six people from Thane. Inquiries revealed that their relatives had contacted Dava and given him over ~ 25 lakh for each person. Dava also allegedly had an affair with a Pakisani woman, Kiran Shaukat Ali, and also wanted to bring her to the US, added the officer. Dava then contacted Syed who assured to bring all seven to the US via Dubai.

The plan was to get them Canadian visas in Dubai and then take them to the US from Canada, added Nalawade.
Opinions are divided on whether Mahathir is quitting for good or making a tactical move to buy time to cobble together a new majority to form a government.

Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad tendered his resignation to Malaysia's king on Monday while his political party quit the ruling alliance in a shocking political upheaval, less than two years after his election victory.

The prime minister's office said in a brief statement that Mahathir, 94, submitted his resignation to the palace at 1 pm, but gave no further details.

The stunning turn of events come amid plans by Mahathir's supporters to team with Opposition parties to form a new government and thwart the transition of power to his named successor Anwar Ibrahim.

Minutes before his resignation was offered, Bersatu said it would leave the four-party Alliance of Hope and support Mahathir as the premier. Shortly after in another surprising announcement, Bersatu said it also received Mahathir's letter to resign as party chairman. Eleven other lawmakers, including several Cabinet ministers, also announced they are quitting Anwar's party to form an independent bloc.

The withdrawal of more than three dozen lawmakers means the ruling alliance has lost its majority in Parliament, throwing the country into an uncertain future and sparking fears of more turmoil over how the political drama will play out.

Opinions are divided on whether Mahathir is quitting for good or making a tactical move to buy time to cobble together a new majority to form a government.

Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who met Bersatu and several other leaders on Sunday, met Anwar on Monday afternoon and has summoned Mahathir to the palace. Analysts said the king could decide on which faction has the support or dissolve Parliament for snap elections.

The political drama unraveled Sunday with maneuvers aimed at keeping Mahathir in power and thwarting Anwar, replaying their decades-old feud. Anwar was Mahathir's deputy during Mahathir's first stint as premier but fell out politically before reuniting in the political pact that ousted a corruption-tainted government in the May 2018 election. Mahathir has refused to set a date to relinquish power despite a preelection agreement to hand over power to Anwar.

Anwar confirmed late Sunday there were attempts by some Bersatu members and "traitors" from his party to form a new government in a betrayal" of their political pact. But he was calm and called it a a small trial, saying he has overcome harder times. He even joked that while he may not be Malaysia's eighth prime minister, he could be the ninth.

Anwar and several alliance leaders met Mahathir at the premier's residence on Monday. Anwar later told reporters that he was satisfied with the meeting where Mahathir insisted the reform agenda must continue and indicated he wouldn't bow down to those attempting to grab power.

Ironically, the maneuvers would restore to power the Malay party of disgraced former leader Najib Razak, who with several of his party leaders are standing trial for corruption. It would also propel to national power a fundamentalist Islamic party that rules two states and champions Islamic laws. The two Malay parties still have strong support from ethnic Malays, who account for 60 percent of Malysia's 32 million people.

Mahathir has remained silent as many Malaysians reacted with dismay and shock on social media, saying moves to form a backdoor" government would be unethical and that a new election should be called if the ruling alliance collapses.

Analysts warned that such a new government could give rise to Malay Islamic supremacy that will derail Malaysia's multiethnic society.

If the new government goes through, Malaysia is heading toward a a very regressive stage whereby racial supremacy and religious extremism would become the rule of the day," said Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
"The loss of Luke, Kate and Roozi has absolutely devastated our family. We will never be whole again," the statement read. "It has now been three years since they were  taken from us. "There is not a moment that we do not wish they had never set foot on that ride. "Their deaths have left a gaping hole in our hearts. We hope Kate, Luke and Roozi did not die in vain." Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi

Luke and Roozi had been together for almost a decade, and tragically died a year before same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia. "[Roozi] would have loved the debate on marriage equality and being proud that the ACT had the biggest 'yes' vote," Ms Dorsett said. Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozbeh Araghi Credit:Melissa Adams "Luke was with the love of his life, Roozi, for over nine years so you can imagine Roozi too was a treasured family member." She said Roozi "was a loving, compassionate soul who loved his mum Gay and his dad Behrooz with all his heart, and then some".

"Since his death, they have told many a story of Roozi growing up and I understated it was never uninteresting in the Araghi house with Roozi in it," Ms Dorsett said. "Roozi had an amazing ability to recall facts, places and events. He was an avid reader and collector of books. "As I was going through them there was a theme to most of them that followed a lot of what Roozi lived and believed. "His books were mostly about minority people and their passion to right wrongs. He believed strongly in equity. Equity and acceptance in the workplace and the community." She said he had a flair for the arts, drama and dance and dabbled in journalism at university before working in the federal public service in several departments, leaving a mark on each one of them.

"His colleagues speak highly of his diligence, leadership but most of all his friendship," Ms Dorsett told the court. "How lucky we are that he chose us to love him." Mother Kim Dorsett says her final goodbye at Luke and Kate's funeral. Credit:Karleen Minney Ms Dorsett said her son and Roozi both shared a love for music, although their tastes were very different. "Luke and Roozi attended many concerts and musicals in their time together, always taking their niece or nephew with them," she said.

"Luke was generally a homebody preferring a quiet weekend at home with his niece building cities on Sims, which Ebony [his niece] still continues to do today. "Luke began life's journey as a chilled out happy baby always waking with a smile. [He] had a compassionate and loving nature, and if you were loved by Luke, he loved you 100 per cent." She said Luke loved to play board games with his family. "When Luke partied, he partied hard. First to arrive and last to leave, and guaranteed a big sleep-in the next day. "Its almost as if he knew that his life would be short."

Like Roozi, Luke also worked in the public service, working on the organ donation register. "As I collected his personal items from his workplace, his boss passed onto me emails that they had received after Luke's death," Ms Dorsett said. "They described him as efficient, friendly and a professional voice on the end of the phone. His death had a big impact on his work colleagues. "To me, he was just my son and I miss him every day." Shayne Goodfield described his son Luke as "adventurous" and said he and Roozi were family orientated.

"If someone needed help Luke and Roozi provided it," Mr Goodchild wrote. "To say we miss them every day does not begin to encompass our grief and loss." Kate Goodchild Kate Goodchild was happiest when she was holding or playing with her two daughters. Her eldest, Ebony, boarded the raft with her mother two uncles, but survived the horrific accident having been thrown from the raft alongside the 10-year-old son of another ride victim, Cindy Low.

"My Katie was the baby of the three and was also the love of many people's lives," her mother Kim Dorsett told the court. Kate Goodchild and husband David Turner with children Ebony and Evie. "She was the best mummy to her two girls, ensuring Ebony had the best experiences in life that she could give; holidays, concerts, sport, a love of reading and never a doubt that she was loved. "Sadly Evie will never remember mummy, or her two uncles, nor will she know the love that they had for her," she said. "She will get to know her mum, Luke and Roozi through stories we share, pictures and trips to heaven, which is what she calls the cemetery."

Siblings Luke Dorsett and Kate Goodchild at their mum Kim's 50th brithday. Ms Dorsett recalled a time she told Kate to put Evie down, as she was constantly holding her. "She replied 'she is only little for a short time and time is going fast'," Ms Dorsett recalled. "She had a kind heart, especially for those in need, the young and the older members of the community. "I was blessed to be with her through many major happenings in her life. She wanted her mum with her when she had her babies, she had surgery or a shopping excursion that Luke was unavailable for.

"Luke did have a keen eye for a bargain and when brand names were on special." Ms Dorsett said she was close with her daughter who would be "first through the door when mum needed her help". "My huge regret is that the day she needed me most, I wasn't there," she said. "She loved life, her two daughters and her family and friends. Kate had the best laugh and laughed often." Mr Goodchild sais his daughter "was the lifeblood of the family unit".

"She had a wonderful sense of humour that was enjoyed by the whole family," he said in a statement. Kate was taken so dramatically, so publicly. Not a day goes by that she is not spoken about and missed dearly. Like Roozi and Luke, Kate too worked in the public service in Canberra, as a Medicare customer service officer. "There were those who would wait in line and request to be served by Katie because she was kind and helpful - this is a testament to her personable nature," Ms Dorsett said. "She fancied herself as a bit of a masterchef, having a repertoire of just four dishes she had mastered, but most of them contained chicken.

"Kate played netball from the age of seven until her death, it was a game she enjoyed and she was good at." Loading She said her family, and Roozi's parents now "exist in a world full of grief and shattered family and friends". "Three mothers who have lost their children living with broken hearts and souls and let us not forget those four beautiful children who will now grow up without a mum and that is what this is really about," she said. "I don't know if these words really convey a real snapshot of the lives lived with gusto and purpose."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 14:43:06|Editor: zyl

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File photo taken on May 12, 2018 shows Mahathir Mohamad attending a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has submitted the letter to resign as Prime Minister, his office said Monday. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has submitted the letter to resign as Prime Minister, his office said Monday.

The resignation letter was submitted to Malaysia's King around noon, said a statement released by the PM office.

The announcement comes amid reports that Mahathir, 94, will break up the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, which has been in power since winning the general election in May 2018, to form a new government with other parties.
US President Donald Trump has started his two-day India visit on Monday, February 24, with Ahmedabad as his first stop. To mark his arrival, Indian dairy brand Amul has shared a doodle captioning it, #Amul Topical: Hon. President of USA visits Ahmedabad!

The doodle shows President Donald Trump with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the famous Amul girl, writing, Namaske President Trump! Traditional Indian Welcome.

Twitter appreciated the creativity calling it amazing.

Good one as always @RahuldaCunha Paras Bagchi (@bagchi_p) February 24, 2020

Adorable as always!!! Monica Waldia (@monicawaldia) February 24, 2020

The dairy brand is known for its doodle on several trending socio-economic and political issues.

On his maiden trip to India, Donald Trump is accompanied with his wife Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The President along with First Lady paid a visit to Sabarmati Ashram before heading for his road-show, followed by the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium.

Addressing the event, the US President heaped praised on PM Modi. He also announced that the US will seal defence deals worth $3 billion on Tuesday.

He will be visiting the iconic monument of love Taj Mahal in Agra, along with Melania.

On Tuesday, Trump will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and he will hold talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:37:11|Editor: zyl

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KAMPALA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Water and sanitation experts from Africa on Monday started a four-day conference here to share experiences on how to accelerate access to water and sanitation, a key challenge on the continent.

The meeting, dubbed the 20th African Water Association (AfWA) conference is the largest water and sanitation sector gathering in Africa. The AfWA is a professional association of establishments, enterprises and utilities operating in the areas of drinking water, sanitation and environment in Africa. It has more than 100 utilities members from over 40 countries across Africa.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni while opening the meeting urged the experts to tackle water issues holistically.

Museveni said there is need to address electrification because people cut down trees for firewood which interferes with the water cycle.

"Water experts should be discussing how to encourage peasants to substitute firewood with electricity," the president said.

He said there is need to protect the boundaries of water bodies in a bid to reduce siltation.

"River Kagera's water is all brown because of too much agriculture which is not well organized. You cannot talk about clean water without talking about the threats," Museveni said.

He proposed that for lakes, 500 meters of the shore should be covered with vegetation, while for rivers, all farming activities should start from at least 50 meters away from the banks.

"We must protect the wetlands and recover those that have been encroached on. If we interfere with the water bodies, we shall be endangering the rain we get," he said.

During the meeting, the experts will discuss new innovations, cooperation between nations among others in a bid to address the water and sanitation challenge in Africa.

The meeting is convened under the theme -- Breaking new grounds to accelerate access to water and sanitation for all in Africa.
Steinem, a pioneer of the second-wave feminism movement which blossomed in the 1960s and '70s, has long been an advocate for victims of sexual harassment, and has stood up for labor justice and reproductive rights. Currently 85, she sat in on the earliest meetings of Times Up, a legal defense fund and lobby for women's equity. The group itself was formed as a result of the #MeToo movement, which began with the accusers of Weinstein.
Any violation of Syrian airspace will be dealt as foreign aggression: General Command

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 4:33 PM

Syria has warned against any violation of its airspace, emphasizing that such an encroachment will be treated as a "foreign act of aggression" and duly confronted.

Syria's official news agency SANA, citing a statement released by the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces, says the country's air defense units have been ordered to open fire on any foreign aircraft violating the Syrian airspace.

"Any warplane that will infiltrate the Syrian airspace will be dealt with as a hostile target. It will be hunted down and destroyed once discovered," warned the statement.

Late on February 13, Syria's air defenses intercepted an Israeli missile attack shortly after launch from over the occupied Golan Heights.

"Our air defenses confronted an Israeli attack" west of Damascus, SANA reported at the time, adding that they "were able to shoot down most of the enemy missiles before they reached their targets."

Syrian army targets Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terrorists in Idlib

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces pounded the positions of members of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, Takfiri terrorist group in a number of areas in the southern countryside of the northwestern city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man, located 33 kilometers south of Idlib.

SANA reported that Syrian soldiers monitored the movement of the extremists on the outskirts of Kafr Nabl town in addition to Maarzita and Ftireh villages on Sunday.

The strikes resulted in cutting off the supply routes of the militants, and destruction of their fortified positions.

'Turkey refuses to provide own mercenaries with refuge in Hasakah'

Separately, Turkey reportedly refused to offer its own Syrian proxies refuge in the wake of advances by Syrian government forces in the northeastern province of Hasakah.

SANA reported that Turkish-backed Takfiri militants fled the strategic town of Ra's al-Ayn toward the border as Syrian army soldiers were scoring territorial gains.

Turkish border guards, however, closed the border to them, and even arrested scores of them because they had purportedly refused to fight in Idlib.

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The entry of local and foreign visitors to Raj Ghat was prohibited on Monday ahead of the scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, officials said.

Trump would visit Raj Ghat on Tuesday to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.

"Tomorrow in Delhi, we will lay a wreath, plant a tree at Raj Ghat in honor of this leader (Mahatma Gandhi) who is revered all around the world," Trump said on Monday at a public event in Ahmedabad's Motera stadium.

Those turned away from the memorial included visitors from Canada, the US, France, El Salvador, the UK and a group of 18 tourists from Ireland, who arrived on a bus as part of a guided tour of the national capital, among others.

A tourist from El Salvadore who was accompanied by a man from the US told PTI, "I was not aware that the site would remain closed today. Now we are planning what to do next. The cab we had hired just left us here and it turns out nobody is allowed."



Local visitors also said they were "disappointed" because of the "unannounced" closure of the memorial.

"I was hoping to spend some time here. I had come here after checking on Google, which showed Raj Ghat is open today till 6 pm," said Manish, a local, who first dropped his younger sister at her examination centre in Chandni Chowk.

"I thought while my sister took her board exam, I will stay here till 1 pm and then return home with her. On my way to Raj Ghat, I had also checked spending time at the Red Fort but that too appeared was locked down for visitors. It is disappointing," said Manish, who works for a private company in Gurgaon, but took a day off.

Mohammad Taufeeq, a native of Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh, had arrived at the site with his daughter Alizah and nephew Adnan but the trio, like several others, was unaware of the entry restrictions.

"I have come to Delhi to stay for a few days for treatment of my daughter's tumour at AIIMS. It is a nice, sunny morning so I thought maybe the kids can spend some time playing and I will visit the memorial. But that is not happening now," he told PTI.

Several others, including women and college-going youths, arrived at Raj Ghat on the banks of river Yamuna, only to get turned away by security officials who informed them about the closure.

"Visitors are not allowed today and tomorrow. Only officials working at Raj Ghat are being allowed," a security official deployed at the entry gate told PTI, adding the press was also barred entry.

Heavy security was in place around Raj Ghat on Monday, even as dog squads and a bomb disposal squad remained at work inside the premises along with other personnel.

The municipal corporation is also leaving no stone unturned in preparation for Trump's visit. The service lane outside the Raj Ghat was sprinkled multiple times with water by tankers of the municipal corporation, while labourers were busy clearing stones, pebbles and heaps of dust along the road.

Sikandar, a coconut slice vendor working in the area for years, said generally there is not as much security for visitors, except for the frisking at the entry gate.

"But this time it seems there is heavy security," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
She began by paying tribute to the martyrs of the fight for freedom in Iran now we will look at how regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini stole the revolution.

Maryam Rajavi explained that there is no doubt that Khomeini stole the anti-monarchic revolution from the people, taking their passion and hope too, but how, she asks, was he able to?

Well for that we will have to journey back through the multiple revolutions led by the Iranian people since the beginning of the 20th century. You see, the 1979 revolution was the result of numerous sacrifices made by the Iranian people and their resistance over the last 120 years; including:

the Constitutional Revolution of 1906

the Jungle Movement and the uprisings led by Shiekh Mohammad Khiabani , Colonel Mohammad Taqi -Khan Persian , Tangestanis , Chakoutahis

Mohammad Mossadeqs nationalist movement

the sacrifices by the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) and the Fadaees in the 1970s

Maryam Rajavi said: The imposter Khomeini emerged from a sordid ancestry that included Sheikh Fazlollah Nouri and mullah Abolqassem Kashani, who was doggedly allied with and aided the ruling tyranny. Khomeini and his circle of mullahs, who began to dominate the Iranian peoples destiny, had nothing to do with this struggle and the suffering associated with it; they had neither endured any pain or suffering for the achievement of freedom for the Iranian people nor had they any fundamental belief in freedom or democracy.

She further explained that the Shahs tyranny, including the suppression of nationalist parties and revolutionary movements, and help from Western governments helped Khomeini seize power in Iran. She noted that, if Khomeini, had sympathized in any way with the revolution, he would have instituted democracy, rather than destroying any hope for it under his rule as soon as he took control.

Maryam Rajavi said: Had Khomeini allowed the revolution to progress on its natural trajectory, had he allowed the people the opportunity to make their natural choice and had he refrained [from suppressing] the MEK through en masse executions, brutal torture, and a notorious machinery of espionage and terrorism, Iran would have obtained sustainable freedom and democracy despite all the ebbs and flows.

She advised that the majority of those executed by the clerical regime in the 1980s, especially during the 1988 massacre, were the same people who organized that protests that led to the revolution. This is no surprise. The regime wanted to destroy anyone who would overthrow them.

Maryam Rajavi said: We must underscore the fact that the usurpation of the revolutions leadership was also an outcome of the reactionary thought and class dispositions within Iranian society. Khomeini and his demagogy did not descend from the heavens. Rather, he reflected the blemishes and sediments hidden in the depths of society.

She then quoted her husband, and fellow resistance leader, Massoud Rajavi as saying that the social foundations of the Khomeini regime represent all of the historical weaknesses, disorganization, ignorance, and backwardness of our society. Beyond all this, he contaminated and violated the word revolution.'

In our next piece, we will look at the hidden collaboration between the Shah and the mullahs.

Read More:

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, February 24, 2020 10:11 688 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20662cf7c 1 Business Indonesia,coal,exports,shipment,Indonesian-Coal-Mining-Association,cabotage Free

Indonesian coal miners may lose buyers because of a regulation that requires coal exporters to only use domestic shipping companies and insurance services, experts have warned.

The head of the marketing and logistics department at the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) Hendri Tan said that many overseas buyers would choose to import coal from other countries because of the shipping policy, which will take effect in May, this year.

Some of our buyers told us they would buy coal from other countries, Hendri said in Jakarta on Feb. 20.

Most of Indonesias coal exports are based on Free on Board (FoB), in which the buyers are responsible for shipping and insurance costs. According to Hendri, many importers feared the lack of Indonesian ships would hamper the transportation of coal to their countries.

In addition, Indonesia has few ships that meet international shipping standards to ship coal overseas, he said.

If the regulation is enforced without any exceptions, then our exports could fall 99 or even 100 percent, Hendri told The Jakarta Post.

The absence of technical instructions for the regulation and a lack of clarity about how the regulation is to implemented has created more uncertainty for both coal producers and importers, the APBI argued.

The regulation, which requires coal exporters to transport coal using Indonesian flagged ships, was initially set to take effect in April 2018 but Energy and Mineral Resources Ministerial Regulation No.80/2018 delayed the implementation until May 2020.

According to data compiled by the APBI, the total deadweight tonnage (DWT) of all national-flagged bulk carriers is only 3.5 million metric tons. Meanwhile, Indonesias exports reach between 35 and 38 million tons of t coal per month.

A total of 78 out of 109 locally owned bulk carriers are also more than 15 years old, meaning they are unable to dock in countries that have strict standards on the age of vessels, the APBIs document reads.

Importers such as Japan will not accept our ships because they are too old and unsafe. We also usually use Panamax (mid-sized cargo ships) for long hauls, and only 18 Panamax are owned by local companies, said APBI member Tulus Sebastian Situmeang.

The associations secretary-general Hendra Sinadia said he hoped the government would withhold the regulations implementation, as stakeholders were wary of the uncertainty. (mpr)
A man wears a protective face mask in St. Mark's Square after the last days of Venice Carnival were cancelled due to coronavirus, in Venice, Italy February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

Canadian stocks are getting caught up in a sell-off that started overseas, as fears of the spread of coronavirus beyond China increase.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rose in South Korea, Iran and Italy. The outbreak has spread to more than 30 countries and there are concerns the virus will take a toll on the global economy.

The S&P/TSX composite index (^GSPTSE) was down 375.42 points, or 2.1 per cent at the open. The drop is relatively broad-based across sectors. The prospects of reduced air travel led to an 8 per cent drop for Air Canada (AC.TO).

Oil (CL=F) also fell, taking the shares of Canadian producers down with it.

Benj Gallander, president of Contra The Heard Investment Letter, says theres nothing surprising about the sell-off but wonders how far it will go.

There is no question that many companies results will be hurt badly both this quarter and next, Gallander told Yahoo Finance Canada.

At some point, buy on the dip will not work.

Gallander preaches patience to investors before jumping in.

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater

Even companies with little or no connection to China, or affected by the virus sold off today.

The buying opportunities will be as always in the babies thrown out with the bathwater that is to say, good businesses that have little if any connection to China or the coronavirus and whose share prices are dragged down below their fair values, Brian Madden senior VP and portfolio manager at Goodreid Investment Counsel, told Yahoo Finance Canada.

Wed be looking at high-quality cyclicals here as an example like CN Rail (CN.TO), TFI International (TFII.TO), Suncor (SU.TO), Methanex (MX.TO), etc.

Madden expects the virus to be contained eventually, but any companies reporting weak earnings right now will be punished harshly by investors.

Seeking safety

The gold (GC=F) miners are an outlier today, as the metals lustre attracts investors seeking a safe haven.

Money is also flowing into U.S. Treasuries in a flight to safety.

Story continues

Things could get worse from here and getting a little more defensive can make sense but if things were set up in an appropriate manner before, we do not view this as a scenario where a portfolio needs to be turned upside down, Ryan Modesto, CEO at 5i Research, told Yahoo Finance Canada.

Modesto expects tech companies with recent big gains to be hit hard, and present buying opportunities.

The three main U.S. indices each opened down more than 3 per cent, only days after hitting fresh record highs.

On the other hand, drugmaker Gilead Sciences (GILD) shares surged around 5 per cent after a WHO official said the companys experimental drug could be the best way to contain coronavirus.

Jessy Bains is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jessysbains.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Is the 28-seat Japanese restaurant that has Perth foodies abuzz deserving of the hype?

So popular is Marumo's seven-course chef's selection degustation, or Omakase, patrons are waiting months just to join the fight to secure a seat. Desperate for a chance to indulge for the bargain of $75.

Marumo in Nedlands offers seven courses for just $75.

Marumo is booked out until May.

The restaurant employs a quarterly booking release for patrons eager for a taste; the problem is head chef and owner Moe Oo has to deal with the hangry hordes who miss out on a booking and must wait three months for another crack.
AMHERST  Amherst School Committee member Eric Nakajima is resigning because a job he has accepted with the Massachusetts Teachers Association would pose a conflict of interest.

Nakajima will also depart from Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, which he chairs.

He begins his new job as director of government relations for the statewide teachers union on March 2. His resignation from the school boards takes effect March 1, according to an email he sent to Amherst town clerks office last week.

He wrote that his new role would present a conflict with my duties on the school committee, adding: I am proud of the work the school committee and school districts have accomplished over the past three years and look forward to following town issues and supporting our schools as a resident.

The vacancy may be filled in April during a joint meeting of Amherst Town Council and the school board, which would appoint a replacement until the next townwide election, according to a draft letter the council has released to the public. The next election is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2021.

The draft letter says those seeking the office must submit a statement of interest by March 31 to be considered during a meeting on April 14.

Nakajima was appointed to the Amherst School Committee to fill a vacancy in 2016, and won reelection in 2017 and 2019.

A Democrat, Nakajima ran unsuccessfully for state representative in 2016 and 2018.

He campaigned on behalf of former Gov. Deval Patrick during his brief presidential bid. Nakajima served in the Patrick administration as assistant secretary for innovation policy.

Nakajima has been principal consultant at Nakajima Economic Consulting since 2018. He was director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute from 2015-16.

He earned a masters degree in city planning at University of California, Berkeley, in 2002, and a bachelors degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1999.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a big hug to U.S. president Donald Trump as first lady smiles. (PTI)

Ahmedabad: U.S. president Donald Trump kicked off his state visit to India to a breathless start, with a speech at the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad with a series of statements giving an inkling into the real hard purpose of the talks Americans will have with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi tomorrow.

We will seal defence deals worth USD 3 billion on Tuesday, the U.S. president revealed in his speech at the Motera stadium. The defence deals, which he pushed through to the U.S. Congress before announcing his visit to India, are related to purchases by India of advanced helicopters and air-defence systems.

The speech also underlined the strategic purpose of the Indo-U.S. ties at this juncture. We are quickly revitalising our alliances all around world, said Trump.

While praising India for embracing individual freedom, rule of law, dignity of every human being he also worked in the religious freedom bit, saying India is where people worship side-by-side in harmony.

Prior to his departure to India, White House officials indicated that the status of religious freedom in India would definitely come up in the talks, if not substantively but certainly as leverage.

The U.S. president also made a forecast for India, that extreme poverty in your country will be eliminated in the next 10 years.

The speech was delivered against the backdrop of a rather delirious crowd assembled by Narendra Modis backroom staff as a return favour to Trump for his effusive praise of the Indian prime minister at the Howdy Modi fest held by friends of Modi in Houston, Texas last year.

As a statement of policy nuances, it would have limited use but it was an attempt to go with feelgood sense both sides want to impart to this visit.

Accordingly, Trump praised Modi as an exceptional leader; works day and night for India.
By Express News Service

MADIKERI: Shoot down the people who raise pro-Pakistan slogans, echoed MLA Appachu Ranjan at an event in Somwarpet.

He was speaking after inaugurating a new classroom building at Somwarpet Government Primary School.

Following the inauguration, MLA Ranjan addressed the student gathering and spoke, Every citizen must protect and preserve the nations rich culture.

ALSO READ: SIT scowls Amulya Leonas social media accounts

"However, many are involved in anti-national activities. Recently, in a protest against CAA in Bengaluru, a young girl named Amulya raised pro-Pakistan slogan. These people are using resources including food and water provided by our country and then they raise slogans against the nation. Such people must be shot down immediately. They must be exiled and happily sent to Pakistan. No advocate must fight their cases in the court.

ALSO READ: D K Shivakumar extends support to Amulya as Karnataka government mulls tightening screws

He later condemned Pakistan and said, There are no proper facilities in Pakistan. The country is poverty-stricken and residents do not have proper food. Terrorism is at its peak in Pakistan and PM Modi is striving hard to fight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

The BJP members of the state government have been criticized for their fascist statements and Ranjan seems to have joined the list after he declared to shoot down citizens raising anti-national statements.

The twitter handle of BJP Karnataka has also invited massive criticism following anti-Muslim tweets.

Recently, BJP member Renukacharya and Ananth Kumar Hegde were in limelight following fascist statements.


VICTORIA - Overdose deaths linked to illicit drugs dropped by 36 per cent last year in British Columbia compared with 2018 but the death toll remains almost as high as when the province declared a public health emergency over the crisis.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe looks on during a press conference at the Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, February 7, 2019. Overdose deaths linked to illicit drugs dropped by 36 per cent last year in British Columbia compared with a year earlier, but the number of fatalities is about the same as when the province declared a provincial health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA - Overdose deaths linked to illicit drugs dropped by 36 per cent last year in British Columbia compared with 2018 but the death toll remains almost as high as when the province declared a public health emergency over the crisis.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said 981 people died of suspected overdoses in 2019, which represents an average of nearly three deaths a day, with the number is likely to increase as investigations of the deaths conclude.

Of those who fatally overdosed, 747 were men and 234 were women, and they ranged in age from 13 to 76, Lapointe told a news conference Monday.

"The majority of those who died were men in their 30s, 40s and 50s," she said, adding the deaths are taking a toll on grieving families.

Lapointe highlighted the individual cases of four people who died of toxic-drug overdoses, including a 42-year-old woman who died in her home. She'd been diagnosed with mental health and substance use issues.

"She was found deceased in the living room of her home by her child," said Lapointe, adding the woman leaves behind two children and a husband.

Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Lapointe said a 27-year-old man diagnosed with anxiety and substance use issues was found dead in his bedroom by his father.

"He is survived and missed terribly by his parents and siblings," she said.

Lapointe said every death represents a personal tragedy and a reminder of the impact of the opioid crisis.

"Those who died of drug toxicity this year are more than statistics, they're people," she said. "They were loved. They had hopes, dreams and challenges just like the rest of us. We need to keep focused on the terrible losses we're experiencing in our communities."

The coroners service recorded 991 deaths in 2016, the year the province declared a public health emergency. In 2018, the fatalities climbed to a record annual high of 1,543, with the opioid fentanyl detected in the vast majority of illicit drugs.

Lapointe said more than 5,000 people have died in B.C. since 2016.

She said the BC Coroners Service is joining health officials in renewing calls for improved access to a regulated, safer drug supply.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the reduction in fatalities last year indicates harm-reduction measures are making a difference.

"The work we are doing around keeping people alive is working," she said. "But this remains a crisis at hand."

Henry released a report last April urging the B.C. government to consider steps toward decriminalization of people for personal use of drugs. She said that could help turn the tide in the epidemic by removing the stigma associated with substance use.

Judy Darcy, the province's minister of mental health and addictions, said that while decriminalization is a federal responsibility, the province has been at the forefront of overdose prevention initiatives.

Those include pilot projects that provide safe drug supplies to substance users, expansion of supervised consumption sites and prevention programs administered by police forces, she told a news conference.

"Our response is bold and pushing the envelope."

Statistics from the ministry show the number of people receiving prescribed opioid substitute treatment increased from 3,500 in July 2017 to 22,872 in December 2019.

The ministry says the distribution of take-home kits of naloxone, a medication to reverse overdoses, increased from 195,696 in 2018 to 232,312 last year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
Security has been tightened outside the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, where he is scheduled to address the "Namaste Trump" event later today.

The US President will arrive in Ahmedabad for a two-day India visit later today. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Unprecedented security personnel deployed not only in the stadium but also along the entire route from where the convoy of President Trump and Narendra Modi is scheduled to pass.

Barricades have also been put up. Cumulatively, a total of 108 senior police officers, including 33 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 75 Assistant Commissioners of Police besides thousands of junior officers and jawans are part of the security arrangements during Trump's visit to the city.

A total of 16 spots for drinking water have been set up outside the Motera Stadium. Every spot has at least three staff of Amdavad Municipal Corporation to make drinking water arrangements for the people coming for 'Namaste Trump' event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for Ahmedabad shortly, where he will hold a roadshow along with US President Donald Trump and participate in the event at the Motera stadium.

Tight security has been put in place outside Sabarmati Ashram too with sniffer dog of the US security also present.

Meanwhile, all passengers travelling by the Ahmedabad Airport on February 24 have been advised to arrive three hours before their scheduled departure time."All flights to operate on schedule on February 24. Passengers advised arriving 3 hours ahead of scheduled departure. Passengers to carry hard copies of their flight itinerary based on which police authorities to facilitate their journey to the airport," Ahmedabad Airport Director Manoj Gangal told ANI.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Brisbane's housing market and economy are showing signs of improvement from a period of lull in the past decade; however, several risks could derail the projected growth in the city, according to the latest market review by Herron Todd White (HTW) Residential.

After suffering from plummeting net interstate migration, Brisbane managed to attract more Australians over the past few years.

"It's a combination of affordability or southern retirees seeking lifestyle to date, although further improvement in job numbers would help fill out the demographics of new Queensland residents arriving from over the border," HTW Residential said.

Upcoming infrastructure developments, such as the Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro, are also expected to set a solid foundation for the housing market for the next decade.

Also read: What Brisbane's bayside holds for investors

Another good sign is the absorption of the unit oversupply during the 2015-2017 period.

"Things have been looking up of late and with substance. This solid groundwork for a positive 2020, HTW Residential said.

A separate market forecast by Domain said Brisbane house prices are likely to rise over the $600,000-mark by the end of the year. Median prices for units are also expected to increase by 6% this year.

Downside risks in Brisbane

However, there are several factors that could dampen any prospects of a price increase, including the uncertainty surrounding the financial landscape. However, if more credit is freed up this year, demand for home loans could actually increase.

The tenancy regulations will also impact the prices in the city.

"We'll avoid taking a political position on this for now, but if the proposed laws make it through parliament, it appears landlord's property rights will be diminished. Our mathematical mind does compel us to think removing some of an owner's control over their investment property will affect the values," HTW Residential said.

One potential change is the abolishment of landlords' right not to renew a tenancy agreement at the end of the deal's term. This would allow tenants to remain in the property indefinitely unless the landlord can establish a legal reason to end the agreement as prescribed by the law.

Other proposed measures include nixing landlords' rights to refuse pets and allowing tenants to modify the property without the consent from the owners.

Despite these downside risks, HTW Residential said "sustained gains" are expected this year.

Where to invest?

HTW Residential said the best places to invest in are the areas close to CBD. In terms of property type, detached housing is the way to go.

"The basics indicate that buying a detached home within reasonable proximity of the city as best you can afford will be the surest approach this year. The flex points are you can travel further out but be nearby to public transport options, major services, and employment centres," HTW Residential said.

For more affordable homes, buyers should consider the likes of Carseldine, Fitzgibbon, Taigum, Acacia Ridge, Runcorn, and Banyo. These areas offer traditional homes with lots of spaces.

"These suburbs may not be for everyone, but they do offer reasonable housing with some long-term upside potential," HTW Residential said.

Investors and buyers with deeper pockets should continue looking at suburbs like Chapel Hill, Kenmore, Stafford Heights, Chermside, Holland Park, Carina Heights, and Moorooka.
A federal judge has ordered the state to hold a release hearing for Sterling Ray Cunio, who at 16 was sentenced to consecutive life sentences for two killings, plus another 23 years for kidnapping and robbery convictions.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai found the states sentencing of Cunio amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and denied his due process rights under the 14th Amendment by failing to give him a meaningful opportunity for release based on a showing of maturity and rehabilitation.

As sentenced, Cunio, now 42, would not be eligible for release until he was 88 years old in April 2065.

Neither the judge who sentenced Cunio nor the parole board concluded that he was  irreparably corrupted or incapable of rehabilitation, Kasubhai wrote in his 20-page ruling.

The ruling allows Cunio a chance to argue in a hearing before the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision that his prison term should be shortened. The board, though, could still deny his request for release if he fails to show hes capable of rehabilitation.

Aliza B. Kaplan, director of the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, said the ruling affect other juveniles who were sentenced to life in Oregon.

This ruling not only will allow Mr. Cunio to have a hearing but it opens the door for other juvenile youth offenders with life sentences to argue the same,'' Kaplan said.

Cunio was 16 when he and an 18-year-old accomplice, Wilford Hill, kidnapped Ian Dahl and Bridget Camber in 1994. Dahl, 21, and Camber, 18 were newly engaged.

Cunio and Hill abducted the couple at gunpoint as Dahl was kissing Camber good night in front of a Salem apartment. The two gunmen forced Camber into the passenger seat of her car and Dahl into the back seat. With Cunio driving, they headed to a rural area outside Albany.

On the drive, they ordered Camber and Dahl to give up their wallets, jewelry and other personal items. When they arrived near Hyak Park, they tied them up and forced them into a ditch. Cunio shot and killed Dahl, while Hill shot and killed Camber.

Cunios lawyer, Ryan T. OConnor, had argued that Oregons sentencing scheme for children tried as adults has failed to acknowledge current scientific analysis about adolescent brain development.

He noted that the Oregon Legislature last year passed Senate Bill 1008, which requires a so-called Miller hearing before the parole board for any person convicted of committing a crime as a juvenile who has served 15 years in prison, regardless of the crime or whether the sentencing judge imposed consecutive sentences.

In the 2012 landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Miller v. Alabama, the high court said mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole were unconstitutional for those under 18. It further said that sentencing a child to life without parole is excessive for all but the rare juvenile offender whose crime reflects irreparable corruption.

The central truth driving Miller and SB 1008 is that people convicted of crimes as children, even murder, are very likely to be rehabilitated and are entitled to a hearing where a trier of fact determines whether to release them from prison with a meaningful chance to reintegrate into the community, OConnor argued.

The state argued that Senate Bill 1008 applies to juveniles sentenced after Jan. 1, 2020.

Although the director of Oregons Department of Corrections and the director of the states parole board testified in support of Senate Bill 1008 and agree as a matter of policy that juvenile sentencing should be significantly reformed going forward, that "says little about whether the existing scheme and the sentences imposed under it are constitutional,'' Oregon Assistant Attorney General Andrew Hallman countered in court filings.

Hallman argued that the Miller case doesnt apply to Cunio since he didnt receive a sentence of life without parole, was sentenced for multiple crimes, including two homicides, and his sentence wasnt mandatory. The state also argued that Cunios claims werent timely and the state was immune from such a suit, arguments the judge dismissed.

Cunio lives in the honors housing unit at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. He cares for inmates in the prisons hospice program.

Cunio also received an Oregon Literary Fellowship last year, maintains a literary website and has won multiple awards from PEN America for his fiction and nonfiction writing. He is enrolled in the undergraduate program at the University of Oregon.

Mr. Cunio has been asking for a hearing since the Supreme Court decided Miller v. Alabama in 2012, OConnor said in a prepared statement. The decision in this case is correct and just, even if it took nearly eight years to achieve. Mr. Cunio has turned his life around as he matured. He looks forward to presenting evidence of his rehabilitation at the parole board hearing.

On his blog, Cunio wrote about how he had little empathy at first for his victims: Their murder had a devastating impact on numerous lives, yet, it took over a decade before I even began to sincerely comprehend the magnitude of the harms I inflicted.

It took many years for his apathy to turn into empathy, he wrote.

I have found meaning in life through an appreciation of life itself, and whereas I am fully aware that I can never repair or restore the lives lost, I work diligently and daily to help make a difference for others.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

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Omans Public Authority for Mining (PAM) plans to tender out 15 to 20 preapproved mining blocks for exploration and commercial development during the course of 2020, a media report said.



An award for the first of these keenly anticipated blocks is likely by around the middle of this year, Dr Salim Ali Al Mahrouqi, director general of Mineral Investments Affairs, was quoted as saying in an Oman Observer report.



Public bids will open this week for a block in Muscat Governorate and another in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, according to the report.



Successful bidders can expect exploration licenses for these blocks within 14 to 20 weeks of the receipt of competitive offers  in a far cry from the current norm of around two years, Al Mahrouqi.



Speaking at a press conference to announce the launch of the preapproved mining blocks programme, he said the new scheme has been fashioned to allow for the speedy award of mineral sites for exploration and commercial development. Mining sites identified by the Authority for private investment under the scheme are being prepped and rolled out conveyor-belt style to be marketed in a competitive tendering process.



Of the estimated 110 mineral sites proposed to be offered as preapproved blocks over the coming years, at least 15  20 will be tendered out this year, said Dr Al Mahrouqi.



Bidders making a stronger commitment to downstream processing and value addition in-country stand a better chance of winning the blocks for exploration and commercial development, he added.
Julian Assange appeared before a London court on Monday (February 24) to fight an extradition request from the United States.

Almost a decade since the WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking secret U.S. documents,

he is wanted by the United States on 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law.

He could spend decades in prison if convicted.

One of the most polarizing figures of the last decade, Assange is both lauded and loathed.

A hero to admirers who say he has exposed abuses of power, Assange is seen by critics as a dangerous enemy of the state who has undermined Western security.

A lawyer for the United States told the court Monday that Assange put lives at risk with his crimes,

and that journalism is no excuse for criminality.

Outside Woolwich Crown Court court, Assange's father, John Shipton, defended his son.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER OF WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE, JOHN SHIPTON, SAYING:

"The oppression of journalism, the ceaseless malice directed against Julian Assange by the authorities, the 10 year long arbitrary detention of Julian as witnessed by the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention, the torture of Julian as witnessed by Nils Melzer, the United Nations rapporteur on torture - all of those reports are available. That is what will happen to journalists, publishers and publications if this extradition, this political extradition of Julian Assange is successful."

The hearing will not decide if Assange is guilty of any wrongdoing, but whether the extradition request meets the requirements set out under a 2003 UK-U.S. treaty, which critics say is stacked in favor of the United States.

His lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, says the case could lead to criminalizing activities crucial to investigative journalists.
As the coronavirus continues to sweep across the globe with China confirming 150 new deaths on Sunday and with the virus spreading to Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iraq and Oman, Pastor, Bible teacher, New York Times bestselling author and nationally syndicated TV and radio host, Dr. David Jeremiah has this to say about the growing coronavirus epidemic:

"The headlines seem to be growing more frightening by the day, as we awake to news of additional outbreaks of the deadly coronavirus around the world. The death toll is rising, and the list of countries it has plagued is expanding-not to mention the devastating impact it's having on economies big and small.

Many are in quarantine, in their homes, at hospitals, on cruise ships; still others with no signs of illness are urged or even forced to stay home. Others are canceling plans, worried they may contract a deadly disease if they leave their residence. People are living in fear. And while the danger of this pandemic should not be discounted, I know many around the world are crippled by anxiety, desperately searching for hope, wondering if life will ever return to normal.

I hate to see anyone, anywhere, living in such fear-no matter the circumstances. It's moments like these that cause people to question their purpose here on earth, and wonder if there's any hope to cling to beyond their pain. Yet, in the many tragedies and disasters I've observed throughout my lifetime, I am as certain as the sun rising in the east that there is always hope. Our Creator is fully aware of the troubles we face in this present world. He sees each tear that falls. But his plan for our lives isn't perpetual fear and anxiety. His plan is for us to lean on him, to trust him with our time on this earth, and believe that he is a good father who loves his children.

I also know that I serve a God of miracles, and I am confident in his ability to do mighty things and calm raging seas. So today I'm praying for everyone around the globe who's been affected by this crisis. I'm praying for healing, for restoration, and for people to experience a hope that conquers all fear."

Dr. David Jeremiah is among the best known Christian leaders in the world. He serves as senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California and is the founder and host of Turning Point. Turning Point's 30-minute radio program is heard on more than 2,200 radio stations daily. A New York Times bestselling author and Gold Medallion winner, he has written more than fifty books.

Tags : Dr. David Jeremiah david jeremiah david jeremiah news Global Coronavirus Epidemic:
LONDON (AP)  The U.S. government began outlining its extradition case against Julian Assange in a London court on Monday, arguing that the WikiLeaks founder is not a free-speech champion but an ordinary criminal who put many lives at risk with his secret-spilling.

U.S. authorities want to try Assange on espionage charges that carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison over the 2010 publication of hundreds of thousands of secret military documents and diplomatic cables. Assange argues he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection,

Lawyer James Lewis, representing the U.S. government, called WikiLeaks' 2010 document deluge one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.

Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a license to break ordinary criminal laws," he said.

Dozens of Assange supporters protested noisily outside the high-security courthouse as District Judge Vanessa Baraitser began hearing the case.

Assange, 48, watched from the dock at Woolwich Crown Court's court number 2  brought there from Belmarsh Prison next door, where he has been imprisoned for 10 months. He spoke to confirm his name and date ofbirth. He nodded towards reporters before taking his seat.

The extradition hearing follows years of subterfuge, diplomatic dispute and legal drama that have led the Australian computer expert from fame as an international secret-spiller through self-imposed exile inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to incarceration in a maximum-security British prison.

Assange has been indicted in the U.S. on 18 charges over the publication of classified documents. Prosecutors say he conspired with U.S. army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning tocrack a password and hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Assange says the leaked documents exposed U.S. military wrongdoing. Among the files published by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.

But Lewis said Assange was guilty of straightforward" criminal activity. in trying to hack the computer. And he said WikiLeaks' activities created a grave and imminent risk to U.S. intelligence sources in war zones, who were named in the documents.

"What Mr. Assange seeks to defend by free speech is not the publication of the classified materials, but he seeks to defend the publication of sources  the names of people who put themselves at risk to assist the U.S. and its allies," the lawyer said.

Lewis said some informants who had been assisting the Americans had to be relocated after the leak, and others subsequently disappeared.

He said it was not the role of the British court to determine whether Assange was guilty.

This is an extradition hearing, not a trial," he said. The guilt or innocence of Mr. Assange will be determined at trial in the United States, not in this court.

Journalism organizations and civil liberties groups including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders say the charges against Assange set a chilling precedent for freedom of the press.

Among the supporters outside court was fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, who wore a headband with the word angel on it and said she was the angel of democracy.

It is not a crime to publish American war crimes," she said. It's in the public interest, it is democracy, that he is allowed to do this."

Assange's legal saga began in 2010, when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden, which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women. He refused to go to Stockholm, saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the United States or the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In 2012, Assange sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he was beyond the reach of U.K. and Swedish authorities.

For seven years Assange led an isolated and increasingly surreal existence in the tiny embassy, which occupies an apartment in an upscale block near the ritzy Harrods department store. The relationship between Assange and his hosts eventually soured, and he was evicted in April 2019. British police immediately arrested him for jumping bail in 2012.

Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November because so much time had elapsed, but Assange remains in Londons Belmarsh Prison as he awaits a decision on the U.S. extradition request.

For his supporters around the world, Assange remains a hero. But many others are critical of the way WikiLeaks has published classified documents without redacting details that could endanger individuals. WikiLeaks has also been accused of serving as a conduit for Russian misinformation, and Assange has alienated some supporters by dallying with populist politicians including Brexit-promoter Nigel Farage.

An end to the saga could still be years away. After a week of opening arguments, the extradition case is due to break until May, when the two sides will lay out their evidence. The judge is not expected to rule until several months after that, with the losing side likely to appeal.

If the courts approve extradition, the British government will have the final say.

The case comes at delicate time for transatlantic relations. The U.K. has left the European Union and is keen to strike a trade deal with the U.S.
The outgoing Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Kevin Boxer Moran has said there needs to be an emergency scheme for farmers following recent flooding along the river Shannon.

The former Independent TD for Westmeath-Longford, who narrowly lost his seat in the recent election, told RTE radios Morning Ireland that in his lifetime he had never seen the Shannon at the levels it reached at the weekend.

More than eight inches of rain had fallen in the past few weeks, he said. That is an enormous amount of rainfall.

Sunday night had been a very difficult night in the Athlone area, he added with gulleys at saturation point and people further threatened by rising levels of water and high winds.

Mr Moran defended the outgoing governments efforts in relation to flooding.

Look where we came from. There have been 98 schemes.

He said that work on a weir outside Carrick-on-Shannon would go ahead as promised under a 10m scheme, but there was criticism in the area at the weekend that the work had not already been carried out which led to extensive flooding.

Governments in the past had not done anything, he said, while the outgoing government had allocated 1bn in flooding relief and relocation schemes.

However, there was a problem as some people did not want to move away. They want to stay where they are.

A status yellow rainfall warning was in place for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary last night.

The warning is due to end at 8am.

Met Eireann said the rain "will lead to accumulations of between 20 to 25mm, with higher totals possible in upland areas."

They added that "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."
Families gathered along San Bernardo Avenue and downtown Laredo for the most anticipated event of the year: The Anheuser-Busch Washingtons Birthday Parade.

READ MORE: Locals thrilled by WBCA Stars & Stripes Air Show

People crowded the sidewalks to catch a glimpse of local law enforcement showcasing their equipment, dance studios dazzling with their moves and school bands showing their pride among numerous other participants.

But nothing beats the moment when Laredoans do the classic chant to the Society of Martha Washington debutantes, Show me your shoes.

This year, WBCA officials honored the Sisters of Mercy as the 2020 Parade Marshals.

Sister Maria Luisa Vera said she felt a deep sense of gratitude for the generosity of the people of Laredo. She pointed out Sisters of Mercy has been here for 125 years.

Weve always felt the support from the community to this day. Today is an honor for the Sisters of Mercy, not necessarily the two of us individually, but those women of Mercy that went before us, Vera said.

Sister Rosemary Welsh echoed the thought, adding that they do feel the support from the people.

People know that we love this community very much, she said.

Mayor Pete Saenz said the vibe from the parade-goers is encouraging and positive.

This is what brings our people together. We invite other people to share our celebration  We show our kindness, respect to each other, unity and conformity to the values that we manifest in our city, Saenz said.

Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina said this is one of his favorite parts of the year.

Im very proud of Webb County. Im very proud of Laredoans. They all came out and celebrated the WBCA. Its an honor to be able to be part of this lifelong tradition, Tijerina said.

Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs partook in the parade. She said she enjoyed the welcoming crowds.

Im very honored to be here today and celebrate the union and the things that bring us together between Texas and Mexico, Hughs said. Its lots of love and warmth. Im really grateful to have been able to be a part of it.

READ MORE: Winners of WBCA Pipes and Stripes car show announced

The winners for the event included:
Appointment

24 February 2020

Hilton has announced the appointment of Ahmad Kasdi Mohd Dahari as executive chef at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Spa.

In his position, the chef will be responsible for the daily operations of all the resort's F&B venues, including Lebanese restaurant Al Maeda, Italian restaurant Piaceri da Gustare, Latin/Caribe Pura Vida restaurant and the Mediterranean Sol Bar on the beach.

As executive chef, he will also be asked to aid in the development of new menus and ensure items are created using sustainable and local ingredients.

A culinary veteran, Dahari brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, having worked for the World Expo in Malan presenting Malaysia, as well as previously being a business partner of Royal Brunei Catering.
London, Feb 25 : At least 30 people, including children, were injured, some of them seriously, when a car drove into a carnival procession in a town in Germany's Hesse state on Monday, police said.

The incident was reported at around 2.30 a.m. from the town of Volksmarsen, the BBC reported.

Police have taken the driver of the car - a 29-year-old German citizen - into custody and investigations are on, it added. Local media reported police as saying it was an attack but did not seem to be politically motivated. The prosecutor's office in Frankfurt said that the suspect was receiving medical attention and would be brought before an investigating judge soon.

German media also cited eyewitnesses as claiming that the driver of the silver Mercedes, had deliberately speeded up as he approached the procession and seemed to target the children. He had also broken through barricades.

The procession was being taken out on 'Rosenmontag' (Rose Monday), a carnival day celebrated in some parts of Germany, as well as parts of Austria, Belgium and Switzerland.

As a precaution, all parades in Hesse have been cancelled.

Hesse state leader Volker Bouffier said he was "shocked" by the incident, which had left "many innocent people seriously injured". Sharing his condolences with the victims and their families, he, however, urged people not to speculate about possible motives.
More than 130 people have contracted the coronavirus in Italy, the majority in the north of the country. Italy, which has confirmed at least two coronavirus deaths, has the highest number of cases in Europe. With an emergency decree, the Italian government has adopted special powers to deal with the situation. Strict measures have been adopted in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

Military police wearing surgical masks are guarding the nearly a dozen northern Italian towns that are on lockdown following an outbreak of coronavirus. The towns have a combined population of about 50,000. The police were deployed to ensure no one enters or leaves the towns that have been sealed and placed under quarantine.

Most of Italy's coronavirus cases are in the wealthy industrial north of the country, in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. To deal with this emergency, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte explained the government's decisions.

He said an emergency decree was approved immediately that gives special powers to the government in order to be able to safeguard in the best possible way the health of Italians.
China will speed up the resumption of delivery services to aid the nation's epidemic control and prevention efforts and make sure people can get deliveries of daily necessities amid the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior transport official said.



Wu Chungeng, director of the Ministry of Transport's policy research office, told a news conference on Saturday that the country has given priority to the resumption of postal and express delivery services as many people staying at home during the epidemic are relying on such services for daily necessities.

China Post, SF Express and JD have almost resumed full operations, while other major courier companies have resumed 66.7 percent of work capacity, he said.

The country's major courier firms began to resume services as early as Feb 7 after an extended Spring Festival holiday due to the outbreak, the State Post Bureau said.

Measures have been taken to facilitate the uninterrupted passage of delivery vehicles, which would allow them to bypass inspections, as well as toll fees. The vehicles and drivers should be given priority to pass through after the drivers take a quick temperature check and the vehicles are disinfected, he said.

Wu also urged local governments to avoid one-size-fits-all measures that ban courier services regardless of local epidemic situations.

For low-risk regions, normal delivery services should be restored. In regions with moderate risks, couriers and postal workers should be allowed to enter residential communities after strengthened protection measures. In high-risk areas, measures should be provided to enable couriers to pick up and deliver items, Wu said.

Protective equipment, including masks and gloves, should be given to couriers in all areas as well as drivers and stevedores working in high-risk areas to ensure their safety, he added.

According to a notice issued by the State Post Bureau on Friday, the country aims to recover more than 60 percent of the courier sector's normal delivery capacity by the end of this month.

Couriers collected 120 million parcels between Feb 7 and 18, with about 80 million delivered, the bureau said.

Supply of daily necessities has been stable in China, including Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, even though the epidemic has heavily impacted daily life and factory operations, Wang Bin, an official with the Ministry of Commerce, told the news conference.

More than 95 percent of chain supermarkets, 90 percent of large fast-food chains, 80 percent of chain convenience stores and 80 percent of large wholesale farm produce markets nationwide have opened to customers, Wang said.

Local authorities in Wuhan have ordered e-commerce, group buying and direct delivery services to provide daily necessities to residents kept indoors by the epidemic, he said.
A red carpet welcome was given to US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Monday amid sounds of conch shells after their Air Force One landed at Ahmedabad Airport. Trump is accompanied by his daughter Ivanka and a 12-member delegation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Donald Trump with a hug and shook hands with the First lady.

Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner came out of the Air Force One first. After some time, President Trump and the First Lady came out of the aircraft, waving at the waiting crowd below.

The Trumps got into the US President's black car, the 'Beast'

This is Trump's first visit to India since he assumed office.

Trump's first stop in India is the Sabarmati Ashram where he will spend some time.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) hosted its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. This year, however, there was a new agenda: build a sustainability strategy for the future of business that implements the long-standing "stakeholder capitalism" missions of the World Business Academy and JUST Capital.

Following Business Roundtable's 2019 announcement outlining a new statement of purpose for corporations to serve all stakeholders, this meeting aimed to define stakeholder capitalism.

What makes this idea so radical? It's the biggest shift in business thinking since 1970 and poses revolutionary corollaries yet to be fully understood.

In the early 70s, Milton Friedman of the Chicago School of Economics famously stated that the sole purpose of business was to earn profits for shareholders on an accelerating quarterly basis, ignoring other stakeholders. This deeply flawed concept became the "conventional wisdom" that the majority of businesses followed.

By re-asserting the primacy of stakeholder capitalism, Business Roundtable finally turned this dictum on its head by observing the proper role of a corporation in modern society: to serve all stakeholders, including employees, customers, vendors, and communities. We will see business begin to act as a servant of society rather than a predator on the hunt for profits.

As Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, observed, "With the world at such critical crossroads we must develop a 'Davos Manifesto 2020' to reimagine the purpose and scorecards for companies and governments. It is why the WEF was founded 50 years ago, and it is what we want to contribute to for the next 50 years."

Responding to an invitation from Schwab, JUST Capital participated at Davos this year to assist in fleshing out the positive aspects that flow from adoption of a stakeholder capitalism model.

JUST Capital, an independent nonprofit originally incubated by the World Business Academy, ranks companies based on their level of stakeholder capitalism by analyzing the behavior of the 1,000 largest US public companies and reporting how well they are listening to what the public desires of "JUST" companies.

"Now is the moment to move from aspiration to action in implementing stakeholder capitalism," JUST Capital writes online. "We believe that the American people must have a voice at the table."

Rinaldo Brutoco, Founding President and CEO of the World Business Academy and Co-Founder of JUST Capital, has been working tirelessly for the adoption of stakeholder capitalism for 35 years.

As Brutoco explains, "It is a ridiculous notion that somehow an economy can flourish when the society from which it arises is suffering major dislocations. Business must be a reflection of the needs and desires of the larger society of which it is part in order to succeed."

The Academy celebrates the WEF for finally adopting the standards which they admit are truer to their founding principles than the Friedman aberration they adopted decades ago. This is a huge win for stakeholders and everyone who participates in the global economy.

Media Contact:

Lauren Goodman

[email protected]

805.892.4600

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SOURCE World Business Academy

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to be cautious when taking cup of tea popularly known as `Maishayi from Hausa tea vendors.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja today Monday February 24th. The NAFDAC boss said the agency received information that the Hausa tea vendors now mix intoxicating drugs in the tea prepared for customers.

According to her, the intoxicating drugs include Tramadol, Vieteling, Marijuana and others, could lead to loss of life after consumption.
Vermonts attorney general announced a settlement with three of the states nursing homes over allegations of neglect that resulted in serious injuries to three residents and the death of a fourth.

The settlement with the three Genesis Healthcare subsidiary-operated nursing homes requires the centers to pay more than $740,000 in damages and penalties to the state, according to a release Thursday from the Office of Attorney General T.J. Donovan.

The centers also have to create a new Patient Care Coordinator position and engage the services of an independent monitor to review each facilitys quality of care as part of the settlement.

Donovan attributes the injuries and death to inadequate staff training and orientation, the use of visiting or third-party contractors, and the failure to adequately document and monitor the delivery of resident care services.

Officials said the complaints first surfaced in December 2018 when investigators found residents who had received the wrong meals, which resulted in hospitalizations, and in one case, death. In another case, officials found lower leg ulcers of a patient were not properly treated.

The incidents took place at Burlington Health and Rehab, St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab and Berlin Health and Rehab.

Genesis operates six other Vermont facilities that were not the subject of any complaints, officials said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Homeowners
After years of setbacks, medical marijuana advocates cleared a historic hurdle Thursday when the Kentucky House voted to legalize the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The measure won House passage on a 65-30 vote after an emotional debate, sending the proposal to the Senate. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans. The House vote marked the first time a medical marijuana bill passed either legislative chamber in Kentucky, supporters said.

We have momentum but were not there yet, Republican Rep. Jason Nemes, the bills lead sponsor, told reporters after the vote.

Senate President Robert Stivers told reporters Thursday that he believes the measure has a narrow path to Senate passage, the Courier Journal reported. But he raised concerns about the lack of conclusive studies by federal entities such as the Food and Drug Administration.

Nemes said he assumes the Senate will consider some changes to the bill. Revisions will be acceptable, he said, as long as the bills core goal is preserved: And that is to provide medical marijuana for as many Kentuckians in need whose physician thinks it will help them.

During the long House debate, Nemes reassured his House colleagues that the measure would create the countrys tightest medical marijuana program if it becomes law.

Supporters said medical cannabis would ease the suffering of many Kentuckians.

The legislation would allow doctors to prescribe cannabis and set up a regulatory framework for patients to obtain it at approved dispensaries. Smoking medical cannabis would not be permitted under the bill. It could be consumed in forms such as pills and oils.

Under the bill, a regulatory board would determine what conditions would qualify for doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients. The House amended the bill Thursday to guarantee that the approved conditions for a marijuana prescription would include chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and nausea or vomiting.

Supporters said the time had come for Kentucky to join 33 other states where medical marijuana is already legal.

Like any medicine, it works for some; for some others, it may not be the best thing, Democratic Rep. Al Gentry said. But lets let the patient and their caregiver make that decision. I think theyre capable of doing that.

Supporters have pointed to medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids in a state that has been ravaged by opioid-related addictions. Gentry emotionally recounted how he lost friends to opioids.

In opposing the bill, Republican Rep. Stan Lee warned that legalizing medical cannabis would be the start of efforts by marijuana advocates to further relax marijuana restrictions. He warned those efforts would culminate in a push to someday allow recreational use of marijuana.

Were being asked to pass something that I fear will not be the end of it, he said.

Lee said its gut wrenching to hear from medical marijuana advocates who believe that cannabis will ease their suffering. But he called it a balancing test and said there are tears on the other side  from families whose lives were shattered by drug addictions that started with marijuana.

Marijuana isnt just a carefree, happy-go-lucky kind of thing you just do on a whim, Lee said. Its a drug. And I dont think its good for our society. I dont think its good for our people. And I fear thats where were going  step by step.

Supporters were mindful of those concerns when drafting the bills strict conditions, Nemes said.

This is not about fun, he told reporters. This is about healing. This is about health.

After the House vote, a steadfast medical marijuana advocate in Kentucky, Eric Crawford, celebrated the vote but was mindful of an even bigger hurdle to overcome in the Senate.

During committee hearings, Crawford has told lawmakers he already uses medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids to deal with pain and muscle spasms. He suffered spinal cord injuries in a vehicle crash more than two decades ago.

Were one more step closer, Crawford told reporters after the House vote. This is a big day. This is history.  Onward to the Senate.

___

The legislation is House Bill 136.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Cannabis Kentucky Drugs
[ This book was one of our most anticipated titles of February. See the full list. ]

These stories are so powerful, and so excruciating, that a reader might wonder what more a writer can do beyond reporting them. Do we need to hear anything else? What can the 450 surrounding pages possibly contain? Do those pages draw attention from the source material, dilute its power  or, worse, stylize its tragedy, as often happens when an artist tries to capture a conflict outside of his own experience?

In fact, they do the opposite. McCanns brilliant act of novel-making builds a wholly believable and infinitely faceted reality around Ramis and Bassams first-person accounts, a rich and comprehensive context that allows us into the fathers experiences, their histories, their minds. Intricate reconstructions of the girls deaths are broken up by stories of what it feels like to inhabit the Israel of recent decades  what it was like for Bassam to be imprisoned for seven years beginning at age 17, for example, after he tossed a broken hand grenade at an Israeli jeep; what it was like to be beaten daily in jail, and then to learn his captors history and lose his ability to see them as his sworn enemies. We learn about Ramis time in the Israeli Army, about his experience in a tank repair unit during the Yom Kippur War, fighting and killing an enemy he couldnt see. We learn about his early relationship with Smadars mother, Nurit; about his successes as a graphic designer; about his desire for a spectacularly banal life: A good job, a mortgage, a safe street, leafy, no knock on the door, no midnight phone calls. We learn, in essence, who Bassam and Rami were before their daughters deaths, and who they became after.

Interspersed with these narratives are fragments that might at first glance seem merely tangential: lists of migratory bird species, ballistics facts, quotes from Borges and Darwish, Israeli/Palestinian bumper-sticker mottoes (It will not be over until we talk), excerpts from school reports, a photograph of a defunct waterpark, stories of musical performances in Theresienstadt, an account of Philippe Petits high-wire walk over the Hinnom Valley (yes, fans of Let the Great World Spin, hes here too), and the detailed, moment-by-moment mechanics of Christs crucifixion, among other things. These pieces, too, quickly argue their own relevance and necessity. When we learn, for example, the names of 36 species of migratory birds that traverse an ancient and perilous flight path over Israel every year, then study the design of the slingshots boys used thousands of years ago to bring those birds down  and then learn that Bassam was in the habit of slinging stones in protest before he threw the grenade that landed him in prison, and finally that the shooter who killed Abir thought he was under attack by protesters throwing stones  we understand that the earlier sections werent really about birds or slingshots, but about the millions of factors  geographic, historical, political  that lead to a senseless death. Throughout the novel, McCann deftly connects these micro-narratives to Smadar and Abirs stories, and to their fathers; they are the complex stuff of life in Israel.

Amid this marvelous complexity I found myself listening hard for womens voices, especially those of the girls mothers. Ramis wife, Nurit Peled-Elhanan, is an award-winning philologist, academic and peace activist; Salwa Aramin, mother of six, is a mystery, though when she appears in this book, shes fascinating: possessed of a teasing sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, fierce purpose, deep grief. McCann interprets Salwas silence as a choice: If the journalists could have understood her anger, if they could somehow have captured it without making a spectacle of it, she would have talked with them, but she knew, she just knew: a Muslim woman, a Palestinian, the crime of her geography. She supported what Bassam did, Rami too, Nurit as well, but she wanted only to pursue the ordinary. She would find blessing there. In these pages, though, her silence isnt necessary. And, as Salwa notes, Nurit Peled-Elhanan isnt interested in remaining silent at all. In the weeks following her daughters death, she spoke to the press about her belief that Israeli government policies were responsible for the suicide bombers act. The book includes this information, but might have allowed us more access to Peled-Elhanans consciousness, or perhaps to Ramis imagining of his wifes feelings.

Even so, the novel succeeds brilliantly at its larger project. If we grasp the minute reality of Smadar and Abirs deaths  if we know how a suicide belt detonates and how shrapnel flies, if we understand how a rubber bullet compresses upon impact, and how it fragments a skull  then were forced to understand that history happens to actual human beings, to our children, to us. And if, as we read, we experience the fugue-like recurrence of those details and hundreds of others, we begin to understand what it might be like for the girls fathers to have to relive the minutiae of their daughters deaths, day after day, forever. Reading Apeirogon, we move beyond an understanding of Rami and Bassams grief from the outside; we begin to share it. And this, in fact, is what Rami and Bassam want in real life: for as many of us as possible to feel what they felt, through an accurate retelling of their story. This is why they told it to McCann and others, in a scene detailed in Chapter 1,001; its why they travel the world together, retelling it every day. McCanns book is a sensitive response to their work. It carries the story forward, and leads us to experience the urgency of finding a solution to the underlying problem. Once I thought we could never solve our conflict, Bassam tells us; we would continue hating each other forever, but it is not written anywhere that we have to go on killing each other. The hero makes a friend of his enemy.  When they killed my daughter they killed my fear. I have no fear. I can do anything now.
Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg is blaming primary opponent Bernie Sanders for inspiring a string of vandalism at Bloombergs campaign offices in Michigan and other states.

The Bloomberg campaign shared images showing graffiti spraypainted on the window of its Ann Arbor field office and a sign placed on another office in Flint this month. Bloomberg Campaign Manager Kevin Sheekey said its not clear who is responsible for the vandalism, but each incident echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters.

Fortunately, no one has been injured. But this needs to end before someone gets hurt, Sheekey said in a statement. 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.

Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, is a billionaire who spent more than $509 million on advertising since entering the Democratic race in late November, according to the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics. Bloomberg is self-funding his campaign through his vast fortune, estimated to reach $62 billion.

The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The Vermont senator is the likely Democratic front-runner, holding the most delegates after winning the Nevada caucus during the weekend.

Bloombergs campaign released a statement after its field office in Knoxville, Tenn. was spraypainted with phrases like oligarch," resist and f*** Boomberg. The campaign also described similar acts in Ohio, while local news agencies reported vandalism in Chicago and Utah.

Bloombergs Ann Arbor office was tagged with corporate pig" on Feb. 13, while a sign reading eat the rich was placed on the window of the campaigns Flint office on Feb. 16.

The Ann Arbor office of Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg was vandalized on Feb. 13, 2020 with graffiti reading "corporate pig." (Image provided to MLive by Mike Bloomberg 2020)

A spokesperson for Bloombergs Michigan team said police reports have been filed with local police in Ann Arbor and Flint. The campaign did not provide any evidence that Sanders supporters were responsible but pointed to several instances where Sanders spokespeople called Bloomberg an oligarch.

Sanders also used the term to describe Bloomberg at a Feb. 17 campaign event in Washington. Hes been outspoken about wresting power from a small group of rich Americans throughout the campaign, condemning the influence oligarchs before Bloomberg entered the race.

Today we say to Mayor Bloomberg: we are a democracy, not an oligarchy, youre not gonna buy this election," Sanders said.

Other Democrats also criticized Bloomberg of leveraging his wealth to have an unfair advantage in the presidential primary.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, said Bloombergs candidacy threatens to turn the democratic process into a choice between which billionaire you can stomach. Former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg said Bloomberg thinks he can buy this election during the Nevada Democratic debate last week.

Sanders was asked to answer for alleged supporters accused of bullying union leaders and attacking other Democrats at the same debate.

We have over 10.6 million people on Twitter, and 99.9% of them are decent human beings, are working people, are people who believe in justice, compassion, and love, Sanders said. 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.

Bloombergs campaign has made multiple attempts to draw a parallel between Sanders and Trump. One video Bloombergs campaign posted to Twitter during the weekend claimed Sanders inspires vitriolic behavior that is indistinguishable from threatening tweets made by alleged Trump supporters.

Another video, posted earlier this month, featured threatening tweets attributed to alleged Sanders supporters paired with ominous tones. The video concluded with a clip of Sanders calling for civil discourse, followed by the question Really?

Read more on MLive:

Bloomberg expands Michigan campaign while opponents focus on early-voting states

2020 Democratic presidential candidates build up Michigan campaign presence before March primary

Warren calls Bloomberg an arrogant billionaire,' criticizes sexist comments at Nevada Democratic debate

Bernie Sanders opens Michigan campaign offices weeks before Democratic presidential primary

What happens if I voted for someone who dropped out of Michigans presidential primary?
[February 24, 2020] The Global Business Accounting Software Market is expected to grow by USD 1.64 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Business Accounting Software Market 2020-2024

The analyst has been monitoring the global business accounting software market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.64 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. Our reports on global business accounting software market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04793514/?utm_source=PRN The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by growing demand for modernization of finance operations.In addition, emergence of business accounting mobile applications is anticipated to boost the growth of the global business accounting software market as well.



Market Segmentation

The global business accounting software market is segmented as below:



Deployment:

Cloud-based

On-premises



Geographic Segentation:







Europe

MEA

North America

South America



Key Trends for global business accounting software market growth

This study identifies emergence of business accounting mobile applications as the prime reasons driving the global business accounting software market growth during the next few years.





Prominent vendors in global business accounting software market

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global business accounting software market, including some of the vendors such as 2NDSITE Inc. (FreshBooks), Deltek Inc., Expensify Inc., FinancialForce.com Inc., FreeAgent Central Ltd., Intuit Inc., Kashoo Cloud Accounting Inc., Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp., Phlo Inc. (ZipBooks), Priority Software Ltd., Red Wing Software Inc., Rydoo NV and SAP SE .

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04793514/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

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Intl: +1 339-368-6001 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-global-business-accounting-software-market-is-expected-to-grow-by-usd-1-64-bn-during-2020-2024--progressing-at-a-cagr-of-6-during-the-forecast-period-301009701.html SOURCE Reportlinker

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Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday said insurgency, corruption and protected road blockades in the Northeastern region are things of past ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power over five years ago.

Singh, Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), said the prime minister, through some revolutionary decisions, accomplished several achievements like the Indo-Bangladesh land agreement for exchange of enclaves, Bodo peace accord and pact for the permanent settlement of the Bru refugees.

"Revolutionary transformation has been witnessed in the Northeast over the last five years. Insurgency related violence, protracted road blockades and of corruption are virtually things of the past now," he said addressing the North East Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Conclave 2020 here.

Singh said the region is fast emerging as favourite destination for the start-ups from across India.

The minister said the focus of the prime minister is, on the one hand to develop the Northeast and bring it at par with the more developed states of the country, and at the same time, also address the "Act East" policy of the government.

He said, to a great extent, the "Act East" policy will be accomplished essentially through Northeast because of the common priorities, common requirements, common trade preferences and common culture.

Singh referred to incredible initiatives of the last over five years under the directions of Modi which not only put the development activity on fast track, but also bridged the psychological gap existing between the people of the Northeast and the rest of India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Officials say the White House is considering asking Congress for emergency funding to ramp up response.

The Trump administration is considering asking legislators for emergency funding to ramp up its response to the fast-spreading coronavirus, a White House spokesman and an administration source said on Monday, though they did not say how much money was needed.

We need some funding here to make sure that we  protect all Americans, that we keep us safe, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said on Fox News Channel.

Asked how much funding the administration may ask Congress to approve, Gidley later told reporters at the White House that there was no announcement yet on the amount.

Politico and the Washington Post, citing unnamed individuals familiar with the planning, had reported the administration may request one billion dollars in funding from the US Congress. An administration official told Reuters News Agency the amount was still being finalised, and the request could go to legislators this week. The New York Times, citing an unnamed congressional aide, said the request could come as soon as Monday.

The official said US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was seeking an amount that some within the administration viewed as out of proportion, given the limited number of US cases and other HHS funding that has not yet been used.

The outbreak has spread beyond central China to South Korea, Iran and Italy, rattling global markets.

Trump at odds with advisers

The United States has not seen the kind of community spread that has hit China, but health officials are preparing for such a possibility even as those Americans affected so far have been quarantined.

There have been 13 cases of people diagnosed with the virus in the US and 21 cases among Americans repatriated on evacuation flights from the virus epicentre of Wuhan, China, as well as from a cruise ship in Japan, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Representatives for the US Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment on the funding requests.

US President Donald Trump has tapped Azar to lead a taskforce coordinating the response to the outbreak that the department has declared a public health emergency.

Democrats, who control the US House of Representatives, have urged the administration to seek emergency funds after it notified Congress in recent weeks that it had already spent millions of dollars for its virus response, according to the Washington Post.

Trump has been at odds with his own White House advisers over Chinas coronavirus response and has sought to downplay the effects of the virus, saying it could fade in April with warmer spring weather  something health experts said is unknown.

We have aggressively worked to combat the spread of this virus, tried to prevent it as best we could from coming into this country, Gidley told reporters.

The administration is also grappling with where to send Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who tested positive for the virus after backing off plans to quarantine them in a federal facility in Alabama.

In a statement on Monday, HHS cited a rapidly evolving situation, but said the Alabama centre was not needed at this time and that it was looking for alternatives.

Any action that HHS takes, working with our federal, state and local partners, to address this public health emergency will be done in a way that protects both those infected with the virus and other citizens, as well, HHS said.
With the global death toll heading towards 3,000 and almost 80,000 people infected, how can we protect ourselves from the spread of the virus known as Covid-19?

The World Health Organisation and other medical experts have issued guidelines for members of the public.

Keep at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and have a fever. When someone who is infected with a respiratory disease like Covid-19 coughs or sneezes they project small droplets containing the virus. One virologist in the UK Professor John Oxford even warns people to avoid kissing and hugging.

Choose a window seat

Plane passengers are advised to take precautions to avoid infections when flying.

Citing a study in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, an article in National Geographic warns that passengers in aisle seats have a greater likelihood of coming into contact with viruses due to the proximity of other passengers.

Window seat passengers had far fewer close encounters than people in other seats, averaging 12 contacts compared to the 58 and 64 respective contacts for passengers in middle and aisle seats.

Read More

Clean the tray table and avoid seat pockets

Passengers are warned that the infectious zones on aircraft include tray tables, air vents, seatbelt buckles and seat-back pockets. With the fast turnaround of aircraft nowadays, airlines have little time to clean every surface. Use disinfectant wipes and hand sanitisers.

Be careful where you travel

The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid travel to China and to parts of Italy. Dr Graham Fry of Dublin's Tropical Medical Bureau in Dublin is advising travellers to avoid non-essential travel to certain Asian countries. Apart from China, the countries with the highest number of infections are Japan, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia. Dr Fry said: "The risk of infection is still low, but there is a risk of being quarantined. Don't go to the cinema or get on a crowded bus."

How to use a mask

Dr Fry said: "Unless it is a proper filter mask, the standard masks that you see people wearing are of very little value in protecting you from someone else spreading the virus. If you use a mask it should be sealed and tight to the face."

The WHO warns passengers using a mask to make sure they cover the nose and mouth. Avoid touching the mask once it's on. Discard each single-use mask after use and wash your hands.

Avoid touching your face

Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Practise respiratory hygiene

When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue - discard the tissue immediately in a closed bin and clean your hands. Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevents the spread of germs.

Seek medical care early

Tony Holohan, chief medical Officer in the Department of Health, said: "Anyone who may have been in contact with a person who has COVID-19, or who has been to mainland China in the last 14 days, is advised to contact HSE Live. If they are unwell with a cough, especially with respiratory symptoms (cough, high temperature, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever) they should isolate themselves and phone their GP immediately."
With gangster Ravi Pujari been



extradited to India from Senegal, Mumbai Police are now keen to interrogate him for his alleged role in at least 50 cases, most of them of extortion, pending against him in police stations in the city and nearby Thane, police said on Monday.

Pujari, who had been wanted in many heinous crimes, was brought to Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday from the west African country.

Earlier in the day, the court of the first Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) in Bengaluru remanded Pujari to police custody till March 7.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told reporters on Monday night that the police will later seek custody of Pujari.

"Once the Karnataka Police completed their interrogation of Pujari, we will seek his custody. We are in touch with the Karnataka Police," he said.

According to Crime Branch sources, Mumbai Police had sent a letter in English to Senegal seeking custody of Pujari after his arrest.

"However, they demanded a letter in French and handed over Pujari's custody to Karnataka Police. We have sent the letter in French," an official said.

He said stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was slapped against Pujari in at least 25 cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A racially discriminatory article published by the Wall Street Journal has recently triggered a battle against xenophobia and discrimination. (Screenshot of the WSJ website)

A racially discriminatory article published by the Wall Street Journal has recently triggered a battle against xenophobia and discrimination amid Chinas ongoing efforts to fight against the virus.

Many Chinese nationals abroad, who felt insulted by the WSJ article "China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia" written by Walter Russell Mead, launched an online petition on the White Houses website on Feb. 7, demanding a formal apology from WSJ to the Chinese community and either a retraction of the article or a rectification of the title. As of press time, the petition had solicited 115,543 signatures, reaching the 100,000-signature threshold required to receive an official response from the White House.

Such reckless comments against innocent Chinese citizens will only encourage racism and incur repercussions against Chinese or other Asian ethnicities, the petition read, stressing that racism cannot be tolerated.

Chinese nationals have launched an online petition on the White Houses website on Feb. 7. (Screenshot of the White House website)

I'm all for freedom of speech, but not for fake news or smears with political purposes, Chinese American Wang Tian, a Chinese community leader, told Peoples Daily Online.

The offensive op-ed has also caused a public uproar in China, with Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding an apology from WSJ on several occasions. Regrettably, what the WSJ has done so far is nothing but parrying and dodging its responsibility, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing on Feb. 19, followed by the revocation of the press credentials of three WSJ correspondents.

The Foreign Ministrys decision was applauded by many netizens on Chinese social media, with waves of supportive comments filling the comment sections on Sina Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like platform.

China is open to the media and institutions that abide by Chinese laws and respect national sentiments, but not those who smear and throw mud at China, one comment on Sina Weibo read. So far, WSJ-related hashtags on Sina Weibo have garnered over 67 million views.

On the same day, an op-ed article entitled Banished in Beijing published by the WSJ justified the usage of the headline and described the expulsion as bullying for the purpose of changing the subject from the Chinese publics anger about the governments management of the coronavirus scourge. The governments default defense is to play the nationalist card and blame foreigners for its home-grown troubles, the article read.

The day after Chinas announcement, dozens of journalists at the WSJ criticized the newspapers response to the fallout from the headline in a letter that was sent to top executives, urging the leaders to consider correcting the headline and apologizing to our readers, sources, colleagues and anyone else who was offended by it. Currently, 53 of the papers China team have signed the letter.

The consequences of publishing an opinion like this by mainstream media include stoking more fear and anxiety, and increasing hostility against Chinese and other Asians throughout the world, Catherine Ceniza Choy, a professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said in an interview with NBC News, adding that it was extremely harmful and wrong.

I hope China and the US can be mutually beneficial in a peaceful manner. We should respect each other's differences and learn from each other's strengths so as to solve problems from a positive perspective, Wang said.

As of press time, the White House had yet to offer a formal response and the WSJ has not apologised or rectified the title.
During his five years of service, Hondo helped with over 100 felony arrests

A police dog who was fatally shot while responding to a call out has been honoured with a custom painted casket.

The K-9 named Hondo, of Herriman police department, was involved in an operation to apprehend a fugitive in Utah earlier this month when he was shot and killed.

The 7-year-old, front-line service dog had been a member of the Herriman City Police Department for five years, after joining in 2015.

The K-9 named Hondo (pictured), of Herriman police department, was involved in an operation to apprehend a fugitive in Utah earlier this month when he was shot and killed

The service dog has been honoured with a custom painted casket (pictured)

Prior to joining the force, the Belgian Malinois had received training in Europe.

Paint shop Rawtin Garage, who decorated Hondo's casket, paid tribute to the K-9 on Facebook.

'What an honor it was to paint a hero's casket,' they wrote.

'The passing of Herriman Police K9 HONDO, who was killed in the line of duty while assisting the U.S Marshal's Office in apprehending a dangerous fugitive.'

They wrote the post alongside the hashtag '#alldogsgotoheaven'.

The casket was complete with a handmade drawing of Hondo, who Sgt. Ben Ricks described as a 'true warrior'

The 7-year-old, front-line dog had been a member of the Herriman City Police Department for five years, after joining in 2015

The shop, which usually has a waiting time of up to two months, was able to complete the casket within 24 hours without charge. It was complete with a handmade drawing of Hondo, who Sgt. Ben Ricks described as a 'true warrior'.

Herriman police department made a touching statement confirming the death of Hondo.

'It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Herriman Police K9 Hondo, who was killed in the line of duty last night while assisting the U.S. Marshal's Office in apprehending a dangerous fugitive,' a spokesperson said.

During his five years of service, Hondo helped with over 100 felony arrests and was ranked one of the best K-9's in the state of Utah.
Nigerian Catholics will wear black attires on Ash Wednesday as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country.

A statement of the Catholics Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), read at masses across Catholic churches yesterday Sunday, said the church is aware of its moral responsibility. It called on the government to live up to its responsibility of protecting Nigerians.

As a mark of mourning for all our brothers and sisters who have been victims of the most recent wave of violence against Christians, we are all dressed in black today and offer our prayers and penance for their repose, read the statement.

It was signed by Augustine Akubeze and Camillus Umoh, president and secretary of CBCN respectively.

We invite the universal church and all Christians to join us in prayers for our dead brothers and sisters and for peace and security in Nigeria, the statement continued.

We equally appeal to the international community to come to the aid of the Nigerian government in the fight against these daredevil terrorists, who want to destabilise our country.

The consequences, should they succeed, will be grave not only for the West African sub-region but also for Africa as a whole.

The directive to Catholics is coming weeks after the Christian Association of Nigeria held prayer protests across Nigeria to call the governments attention to the rising spate of killings in the country.

At least, 199 deaths were caused by insurgent groups, herdsmen, and others in January 2020, according to a research by Lagos-based Civic Media Laboratory.

Twenty-four persons were kidnapped by bandits in the same period, including four Catholic seminarians in Kaduna. One of the seminarians was later killed by the abductors.

The repeated barbaric executions of Christians by the Boko Haram insurgents and the incessant cases of kidnapping for ransom linked to the same group and other terrorists have traumatised many citizens, the Catholic Bishops statement continued.

That the perpetrators of these heinous crimes make public shows off them on social media and Nigerians do not hear of any arrests or prosecution of the criminals raises very serious questions about the ability and willingness of the government to protect the lives of ordinary Nigerians. (Agency report)
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has said that if elected president he would "absolutely" use the military if warranted, both to protect US interests and to support its allies.



He also said he would be willing to meet with the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, as President Donald Trump has done. Sanders has emerged with an early lead in the Democratic nominating process, and as a self-declared democratic socialist his foreign and security policies are starting to draw closer scrutiny. But he has denied being a pacifist.



In an interview airing Sunday on CBS's "60 Minutes," the Vermont senator was asked in what circumstances he, as commander-in-chief, would deploy US military forces. He listed these criteria: "Threats against the American people, to be sure. Threats against our allies. I believe in NATO.



"I believe that the United States, everything being equal, should be working with other countries in alliance, not doing it alone." - 'We will not sit by'



When the interviewer asked whether he would order military action if Taiwan came under attack from China, Sanders replied: "Yeah. I mean, I think we have got to make it clear to countries around the world that we will not sit by and allow invasions to take place, absolutely."



The senator, who scored a resounding victory Saturday in the Nevada presidential caucuses, was asked if he would follow Trump's example and meet with the North Korean leader.



"Yeah, I mean I've criticised Trump for everything..." he said. "But meeting with people who are antagonistic is, to me, not a bad thing." Sanders added that he believed Trump was "unprepared" when he met with Kim -- their meeting last year in Hanoi collapsed in disagreement.



"But I do not have a problem with sitting down with adversaries all over the world." In a recent New York Times survey of the Democratic candidates, Sanders and fellow Senator Elizabeth Warren said they would continue Trump's personal diplomacy with Kim, but former vice president Joe Biden, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Amy Klobuchar said they would not.



Sanders, along with Biden and Bloomberg, also said he would consider using force to pre-empt an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test. Sanders is known best for his positions on economic justice -- particularly the yawning gap in the US between the wealthiest Americans and those much less well-to-do.



But as his chances of winning the Democratic nomination rise, scrutiny is bound to intensify on other issues. As a student at the University of Chicago during the turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, Sanders belonged to several leftist and anti-war groups, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.



In 2015, when a Politico interviewer questioned him about his decision to register as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, he replied: "I am not a pacifist." "I supported the war in Afghanistan," in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, he noted.



In 1991, however, he had opposed the first Gulf War. Sanders told Politico that he had backed the Clinton administration's military actions in Kosovo and President Barack Obama's airstrikes in Syria. But he then added, "I happen to believe from the bottom of my heart that war should be the last resort.

(Image source - AP)
Court records indicate federal authorities deported a man accused of forcing two unwilling teens to have sex with each other nearly two weeks after police identified him as a suspect, although Houston police now say they did not know the suspect's identity until after he was deported.

In two sworn charging documents, a Houston Police Department investigator said police received a report last Aug. 13 contending that DNA evidence from the victim's body was linked to Evelio Espinoza-Erazo, 32, in a nationwide database. The detective later stated that Espinoza-Erazo was deported to Honduras on Aug. 30, more than two weeks after the initial report.

ACEVEDO BLASTS SANDERS: Houston police chief criticizes Bernie Sanders' defense of comments on Fidel Castro

Charges against Espinoza-Erazo were not filed until mid-December, raising questions about whether officials tasked with deporting him knew he was suspected in the case.

A spokesperson for U.S. immigration sand Customs Enforcement in Houston on Monday stated Espinoza-Erazo was in custody in Wichita, Kansas, and then deported from Louisiana. The spokesperson referred further comment to another official, who did not immediately respond.

Kese Smith, spokesperson for HPD, said Monday that police did not know Espinoza-Erazo's DNA was reportedly linked until after he was deported. Smith did not know why there was a discrepancy between what detectives told him and the court.

He said the detective on the case, who Smith said was able to independently corroborate the DNA hit "through other investigative means," worked dilligently until charges were filed Dec. 13.

"As a department, we want to see suspects brought to justice," Smith said. "The first step is getting charges accepted following a thorough investigation. The person I feel the most for is the victim, first and foremost in our minds."

In the charging document, the detective stated the victim idenfitied Espinoza-Erazo as her attacker during a photo lineup in November.

EXPLOSION: Details emerge regarding asbestos discovery after Port Neches explosions

Prior to his deportation, however, Espinoza-Erazo had an unrelated felony warrant out for his arrest stemming from a December 2018 police chase, records show.

Espinoza-Erazo is accused of kidnapping the teens in June 2018 while they were eating in a pickup outside a north Houston fast-food restaurant. He allegedly forced the two to sit in the backseat of the truck while he drove them to a wooded area along the White Oak Bayou trail near White Oak Drive and Taylor Street, police allege in court records.

There, he held a gun to the teens and forced them to have sex with each other before he sexually assaulted one of them, one of the victims told police. During the assault, Espinoza-Erazo put the gun on the ground, allowing the victim to grab it herself and point it at her attacker, police said.

He fled the woods, police said. He was not immediately found.

Charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery were filed Dec. 13.

It is unclear if Espinoza-Erazo will be extradited to face the charges.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the incidents of violence between two groups of protesters in North-East Delhi and urged the people to show "restraint, compassion, and understanding" in the face of provocation.

"The violence today in Delhi is disturbing and must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion and understanding no matter what the provocation," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Earlier in the day, anti-CAA and pro-CAA groups clashed and indulge din stone-pelting and arson in Maujpur, Kardam Puri, Chand Bagh and Dayalpur areas of East Delhi.

One Head Constable has died in the violence while the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara district got injured and was hospitalised.

Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in various areas in the North- East district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Irelands tourism industry is under considerable pressure, with costs, Brexit uncertainty, and the coronavirus all potential headwinds this year, a leading economist has warned.

A survey by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), coinciding with the start of its two-day annual conference in Galway, found that the mixed performance in 2019 is likely to be repeated this year and only a third of hoteliers are optimistic about trading conditions over the next 12 months.

Economist Jim Power, who is addressing this years IHF event, said while the domestic economy  with rising incomes and lowering unemployment  is broadly supportive of the industry, huge challenges loom.

He said rising business costs, particularly insurance costs, must be tackled and that recruitment and retention of staff is an even bigger challenge.

He said the cost-competitiveness of Irelands tourism product is under serious pressure and reiterated his stance that last years hike in the Vat rate for the hospitality sector was ill-conceived. Brexit, he said, is likely to return as a serious threat in the next 12 months.

Tourism Ireland is targeting a 3% increase in revenue, to 5.3bn, from overseas visitors to the Republic this year, and a 1% increase in visitors, to just over 9.7m people.

However, director Shane Clarke, also addressing the conference, said trade war effects, competitiveness, Brexit, and air access  due to a slowdown in the global economy and the coronavirus  are all key risks to achieving that growth.

IHF president Michael Lennon echoed the need for lower insurance costs, urging the legal profession to adopt a more reasonable approach to personal injury cases.

Excessive insurance premiums are continuing to hurt many businesses, with a significant number of hotels this year paying over 1,000 per room. For an industry that is so price-sensitive, this level of cost is completely unsustainable, he said.

Failte Ireland chief executive Paul Kelly said while the threats are real, so are the opportunities. A 10m investment by Failte Ireland will open 25 visitor attractions this year.
Chevron Corp.s future growth prospects may be dimming after the oil explorer pumped more crude than it discovered or bought last year, eroding its portfolio of untapped fields.

New finds, acquisitions and expansions of existing oil and natural gas holdings were equivalent to just 44% of the companys 2019 production, according to a regulatory filing on Friday. That was Chevrons poorest performance in that important metric since 2010.

The measure, known as the reserves-replacement ratio, is key for investors because it helps them gauge whether an oil driller is doing enough to sustain future production that underpins everything from dividends to buybacks to acquisitions.

READ: Facing tumbling profits, Exxon, Chevron focus on Permian

For Chevron, whose stock outperformed all other supermajor oil producers last year, the reserves data signals the company may be struggling to locate untouched caches of oil and gas as investors turn increasingly skeptical of the industrys sustainability.

Chevron also wrote down the value of U.S. gas assets last year as prices for the fuel collapsed.

Shell, Exxon

Royal Dutch Shell Plc said last month that it replaced just 65% of its 2019 output with new discoveries and purchases. And some analysts expect Exxon Mobil Corp. to take a writedown on some fields when it discloses reserves data in coming weeks.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth made financial discipline his mantra upon taking the top job two years ago. But analysts have questioned whether the company has sufficient projects-in-waiting to increase production through the late 2020s.

Like his predecessors at the California crude giant, Wirth has been reluctant to invest in renewable energy sources that typically generate thinner profits and are unfamiliar to Chevrons engineers and geologists.

Subscribe to the FuelFix Newsletter: Get energy, oil, and gas news updates each weekday.

Even within the fossil-fuel arena, Chevron has few major investments planned beyond the middle of the decade. Chevron is not nearly as reliant on large-scale oil and gas projects to generate cash in the future, preferring low-risk shale drilling, Wirth said last month. He is due to update investors on the companys strategy and goals on March 3.

Chevron noted that 70% of its worldwide reserves are concentrated in three countries: the U.S., Australia and Kazakhstan. That level of geographic concentration may give rise to concern among investors because it signals increased vulnerability to legislative changes or regional conflict.

--With assistance from Joe Carroll.
The worlds largest annual single-entry chef competition, the 23nd Emirates International Salon Culinaire, will return from March 3 to 5 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) will inaugurate the event.

The Emirates International Salon Culinaire is an annual event endorsed by Worldchefs and has strong support from many sponsors including Nestle and IFFCO for the 30 different categories (increased from 29 last year) which are judged and awarded according to the global standards of experienced master chefs. Competitors are awarded with Gold, Silver or Bronze accreditation after detailed judging and feedback.

Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, said: Expo Culinaire is being hosted at Expo Centre Sharjah for the second year in a row; which reflects the great confidence that organisers have in the services that we offer. We are very keen to provide all facilities that would retain the status of this exhibition, which is a qualitative addition to the events hosted and organised by the centre.

This comes in line with the centres efforts being made to host different types of events and continue its upward trend to further advance the emirates growth and development, stimulate economic activities and enhance Sharjahs positon as a regional and international hub for leading exhibitions, Al Midfa added.

He stressed the importance Expo Culinaire 2020, which will witness a wide range of training and educational activities and showcase all equipment and services related to the food supply sector. It would be an ideal opportunity for businessmen and investors to view the latest developments, conclude partnerships and contracts in the field of food and beverages, Al Midfa further said.

Abdelaziz Mohamed Shattaf, Assistant Director General for Members Services Sector at SCCI, Director of Sharjah Exports Development Center (SEDC), said: This years edition, the SCCI will provide greater support for the success of this event as part of the Chambers keenness to support all efforts in the hospitality industry, which is one of Sharjahs main qualities as a perfect destination for investment in this vital sector. To that end, the SCCI will further highlight the importance of this event and enhance its status by providing all forms of support to the participating and organised bodies.

This would help boost the commercial movement, promote economic development in the Emirate of Sharjah, and strengthen its position on the map of the regional and global exhibition industry.

He shed light on the success of the previous edition of the ExpoCulinaire 2019 through hosting the worlds largest cooking competition Emirates Salon Culinaire for the first time in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Once again, the Expo Centre Sharjah is hosting this mega event for the second consecutive year, something which underlines the Expo Centres status and eminent role in getting the public acquainted with cooking arts and upgrading quality standards in the hospitality and food industry, which is a dynamic sector in the UAE,  he concluded.

Fresh off the plane from Stuttgart Germany, Chef Uwe Micheel, President of Emirates Culinary Guild, Assistant Vice President of Worldchefs and Director of Kitchens at Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira

Creek has just returned from the Culinary Olympics where the UAE Team impressively won 21 Gold, 16 Silver, 8 Bronze medals and 1 Diploma. The UAE has shown that our talents can challenge the

best in the culinary world. The Olympics runs every 4 years and this was the 100th anniversary of this incredible gathering. To lead such a young team and be rewarded with so much recognition from the international culinary community, is very rewarding personally and professionally, I have dreamed of this moment for many years as President of the Guild for the past 20 years. It was with pride to fly the UAE flag high, said Chef Uwe.

Now we turn to ensuring that global benchmarks continue to be passed on to our own Emirates International Salon Culinaire competitors in ExpoCulinaire 2020. This helps to underpin the strength and variety of talent in the UAE HoReCa and Hospitality sectors he continued.

The team has made us proud as a country and Culinary association for showing the quality the Emirates can do said Guild Chairman Andy Cuthbert General Manager Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Madinat Conference Centre, when asked about how he felt the competition contributed to the emirates Hospitality landscape. The young chefs can be very proud of their achievement in Germany he added.

The tourism and hospitality industry has established itself as a major amplifier of economic diversity in the UAE. It has been projected that the travel and tourism industry and according to government

projections will contribute approximately Dhs312.4 billion to the UAEs GDP by 2027.

A reflection of the above is the incredible 70 per cent growth in size and company participation on only its 2nd year. Sharjah continues to support the HoReCa sector and this year we welcome a pavilion powered by the SSCI. The Chamber and Expo Centre Sharjah clearly want to see businesses grow and these active steps mean that Sharjah based companies will be sure to benefit directly, commented Joanne Cook, CEO of Purple Kitchen Events and Organiser of ExpoCulinare. All things kitchen - competition, art, education, demonstrations, products and services under one roof is the combination our attendees want to experience. ExpoCulinaire is already proving itself as the first choice for companies who want to meet their end users she added.

Education and Training will also expand, reflecting the countrys commitment to creating and developing the field of gastronomy. Free certificated Training and Education sessions will run again with even more classes on offer than 2019 and the expansion to 5 official education partners (Chef International Centre, Dubai College of Tourism, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, International Centre for Culinary Arts and Richmonte Masterbaker) will be accompanied by 3 other culinary schools so that a widest ever range of available courses can be explored by visitors.

Another new development is the Philippines pavilion organiser Filfood brining their specialised event alongside ExpoCulinaire. The third Annual Filipino Food Industry Conference will focus on the theme

Grow Exponentially in the run up to the Dubai Expo 2020, and attracts F& B operators and restaurant owners as they explore the exciting opportunities presented by the Greatest Show on Earth this October. -- Tradearabia News Service
Looks like China and Russia have been working diligently on a vaccine for the coronavirus and they just about got it done

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Chinese authorities are confident that the novel coronavirus outbreak will be defeated soon and a normal life will resume in most regions across the country by the end of February.

A supposedly effective vaccine has been developed that helps mount an immune response against the infection, and it needs to be fine-tuned and tested, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui told reporters on Monday.

There is confidence in China that soon we will finally defeat this outbreak, the ambassador said. Besides the epidemic center [in Wuhan] a normal life will be restored in most provinces and cities by the end of this month. Certainly, I believe this moment will happen later in the center of the outbreak, somewhere in March, he noted.

According to the diplomat, the vaccine developed in China has proven to be effective, but more tests need to be carried out. China has developed a vaccine that shows immunity. But these are preliminary results and time is needed for further tests and fine-tuning [the vaccine], he explained.

China has enhanced cooperation with the international community to fight the coronavirus spread. The World Health Organization has sent a delegation to the country to conduct a study on the novel coronavirus. This delegation includes two specialists from Russia. Earlier, Russia sent a delegation of medical specialists and our specialists exchanged views. This is a very good start of cooperation between China and Russia in healthcare sector, he said.

China is ready to step up cooperation with Russia in this field, the envoy noted. We are very thankful for the support of the Russian leadership and Russian citizens. We see a sign of a good will, the ambassador said.

On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan  a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 12 million people. The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus. Besides China, the cases of COVID-19 have been detected in 30 countries, including Russia. The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.

Currently, the total number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has exceeded 77,000 in China, with nearly 2,600 deaths. Some 25,000 people have recovered to date.
Kathmandu, February 24

The Decision Implementation Committee of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has approved the proposal to adopt the public-private partnership (PPP) company model and required structural changes.

According to Achyuta Raj Pahadi, a member of the NAC board of directors, the board had decided in the past week that 25 per cent shares of the NAC would be owned by the Nepal Government while 25 per cent shares would be sold to other governmental financial institutions and employees of the government.

According to Pahadi, the decision passed by the Committee would be now presented to the Ministry of Finance through the informed to the Ministry of Finance as well as the concerned bodies through the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The proposal would then be forwarded to the Cabinet for approval.

The proposed model has been approved for the NAC to get revenue and operate on its own, without the governments autonomy.

The debate about privatising the NAC was discussed first and approved in 2002/3, but due to the lack of a political commitment, the decision was put on hold. Recently, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai had formed a committee led by former secretary Sushil Ghimire for a further study on the issue.

According to the proposed model, the government will own 75 per cent of the shares with autonomy on 25 per cent of shares, but it can also sell a few of them to the public.
The last date to raise additional queries regarding Air India disinvestment has been extended till March 6. Interested bidders will now be able to seek clarifications on government selling its 100 per cent stake in the national carrier.

Government has already issued the first set of clarifications for Air India bidders on the 'confidentiality undertaking' listed out in the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) issued on January 27. The deadline for submitting written queries on PIM and Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) was originally set at February 11, following which the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) issued a set of 20 clarifications on February 21.

The additional time period for submission of written queries on PIM and SPA is till March 6, 2020, the DIPAM said.

ALSO READ:Air India employees need not worry about their jobs, at least not for a year

After a failed attempt to sell Air India in 2018, government renewed its efforts to in January this year. This time, it has decided to offload its entire stake in the debt-laden airline. The stake sale includes Air India's 100 per cent shareholding in AI Express Limited and 50 per cent in Air India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd, Air India's ground services arm. The government has asked interested bidders with net worth of RS 3,500 crore or more to submit their bids for Air India till March 17.

Of the total debt of Rs 60,074 crore as of March 31, 2019, the buyer would be required to absorb Rs 23,286.5 crore, while the rest would be transferred to Air India Assets Holding Ltd (AIAHL), the special purpose vehicle (SPV).

ALSO READ:Rajiv Bansal takes charge as Air India Chairman for second time

As a precursor to Air India sale, the Cabinet in February 2019 approved setting up AIAHL to transfer Rs 29,464 crore worth loans of the national carrier and its four subsidiaries - Air India Air Transport Services (AIATSL), Airline Allied Services (AASL), Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) and Hotel Corporation of India (HCI).

Also non-core assets - painting and artefacts - as well as other non-operational assets of the national carrier too will be transferred to the SPV.

(With PTI inputs)

WATCH THIS:Air India pilot recounts evacuation from Coronavirus-hit Wuhan
Shocked customers watched on as the animal strolled past row of petrol pumps

A curious hippo stunned drivers when it turned up for a late night visit to a petrol station in South Africa in astonishing footage.

In a clip captured on Sunday, the animal can be seen approaching the busy forecourt of an Engen service station in Saint Lucia.

Shocked customers watch on as the hippo strolls past a row of petrol pumps before making its way into the centre of the station and glancing at approaching headlights.

A curious hippo stunned drivers when it turned up for a late night visit to a petrol station in South Africa in astonishing footage

Garage owner Anel Snyman said, despite it seeming like an unusual sight, the local area is a popular spot for visiting hippos.

Saint Lucia is on the coast of north east South Africa and is famed for its beaches and turtle watching, as well as hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Mr Snyman said: 'This is quite normal in St. Lucia, especially in the streets further from the main road. The hippos really just roam around and mind their own business.

'St. Lucia is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and the town is surrounded by a large lake, beaches and forestry.

In a clip captured on Sunday, the animal can be seen approaching the busy forecourt of an OK Express in Saint Lucia

Shocked customers watch on as the hippo strolls past a row of petrol pumps before making its way into the centre of the station and glancing at approaching headlights

'Hippos are dangerous, and we do warn guests not to get too close to them or to shine bright lights in their eyes.

'This one might have been hungry for snacks, but they are herbivores, so they really just want to graze and mind their own business.'

Hippos can run at nearly 20mph on land but are often most dangerous in the water where they have been known to aggressively charge boats.

The huge animals are herbivores but can use their huge mouths and tusks to fight, even crushing crocodiles.
GREENWICH  Deadlines for scholarship applications are looming, but students still have time to write essays and fill out forms to receive money toward their post-high school education costs.

The Greenwich Scholarship Association compiled a list of open scholarship contests as part of its mission to help high school seniors attend the college or university of their choice.

The University of Connecticuts Womens Center: Established in 1992, this scholarship honors a high school senior planning to enroll at the University of Connecticut who, as a role model or advocate, has advanced the role and contributions of women in society. This award ranges from $750 up to $1,000. For more information, visit womenscenter.uconn.edu/programs-services/signature-programs/scholarship/. The deadline is Feb. 28.

Connecticut PTA Scholarship is in memory of Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space who was killed in the Challenger explosion in 1986. To be considered, a student must be attending a four-year college or university to pursue a career in teaching and submit a one page essay on The reason I am entering the teaching profession is The amount of this scholarship is $1,000. Deadline is Feb. 28.

Carol P Duggan Nutmeg PTA Scholarship is presented to a student planning on attending a four-year college to pursue a career in service to children other than teaching. The applicant must submit a one-page essay on I expect to be serving children 10 years after college graduation by The amount of this scholarship is $1,500. Deadline is Feb. 28.

Joseph G. Pearson Scholarship is presented in memory of a longtime supporter of Nutmeg PTA to a student who has been identified with special needs and will be attending a post-secondary education or training. The applicant is required to write a one-page essay on I expect to overcome challenges in the future by The amount of this award is $1,000. The deadline is Feb. 28.

Applications for the previous three scholarships are available in the Greenwich High School Career Center.

The Gary DeSalvo Memorial Scholarship  Applicants must be graduating seniors from Fairfield or New Haven counties and an active bowler currently in a bowling league, school bowling team or a school bowling club. The applicant must be entering an accredited university, college or vocational school. The deadline is March 1 and applications are available in the Career Center. The fund has at least two scholarships available at a minimum of $1,000 each.

Greenwich Scholarship Association  GSA awards need-based scholarships to students who live in Greenwich or attend Greenwich High School who have demonstrated financial need. Awards range from $500 to multiple combined awards up to $10,000, and are paid directly to the college or university for tuition, room, board and mandatory fees. The deadline to submit all materials is March 10. The application includes: the online application found at www.greenwichscholarship.org, as well as the Student Aid Report (SAR), which is generated when the FAFSA is completed. Applicants who do not meet the financial criteria will be notified in early April. All accepted applicants must attend an interview with GSA at GHS on May 1. Students also must submit financial aid packages from their intended school before matching with scholarship funds can be completed. Visit www.greenwichscholarship.org for more information, and email studentgsa@gmail.com with questions.

PWC  CT Chapter  This scholarship awards students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in construction, construction management, interior design, architecture, landscape design or civil, mechanical, structural and electrical engineering. The application and all required documents must be completed and uploaded no later than March 25 at 5 p.m. to www.pwcusa.org/chapters/about-connecticut/connecticut-scholarship/ . Scholarships will be awarded based on the academic achievements. Call 860-558-0292 or email rpaolillo@draws.com with questions.

The Student-View Scholarship Program is offering $12,000 worth of scholarships to high school seniors who plan to attend a four-year college, community or junior college or career school. The program includes: a $5,000 scholarship, two $1,000 scholarships and a total of 10 scholarships of $500. Go to www.student-view.com and complete a 20-minute application survey. Deadline is April 22.

The Middlesex County Blue Star Mothers-CT Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America is offering a $750 scholarship to be awarded to a CT high school student who will attend a four-year college and who has a parent (or legal guardian) actively serving in the military or who is an honorably discharged veteran. Completed applications must be postmarked by April 4. Applications are available in the Career Center.

The Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity provides scholarships to high school and college students who have demonstrated they are innovative and creative problem-solvers. This is a scholarship of up to $20,000, or $5,000 per year for four years. It is open to high school juniors and seniors, and college freshmen in Connecticut and New York. Application available at rbffoundation.org/ and it must be completed before May 1.

PB&J Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship for students who have experienced challenges in their life and have the drive to succeed. It is open to all college-bound seniors who will be attending an accredited two- or four-year college in the fall. Application available at scholarsapp.com/scholarship/pbj-scholarship?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pbj. Deadline is May 31.

More Information Dates to remember in Greenwich High School March 25: CT School Day SAT March 31: 3rd Marking Period Ends April 3: Registration Deadline for May 2 SAT April 7: 12th Grade Parent Meeting - 7 pm See More Collapse

The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund offers renewable four-year scholarships to students with financial need who display academic achievement, a commitment to serving others, a consistent history of part-time work, grit and passion for overcoming obstacles and/or achieving goals and leadership qualities. Application available at www.phillips-scholarship.org

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Testing: GHS is offering students in Grades 10, 11 & 12 the opportunity to take the ASVAB Test on April 30 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Seminar Room 2 of the GHS Media Center. GHS graduates are also welcome to take the test. Registration and parent permission form available in the Career Center.

The UConns Natural Resources Conservation Academy connects high school students with adult volunteers with the environment through hands-on activities and experiences. The programs begin in the summer and can continue into the school year. They are perfect for any students who enjoy getting outdoors and exploring nature and showcasing their creativity. The Stamford workshop will be held on June 13 and June 14. Contact Nicole Freidenfelds by emailing Nicole.freidenfelds@uconn.edu, calling 860-486-6933 or texting 860-468-5359. Visit nrca.uconn.edu for more information.
Israeli forces struck Islamic Jihad targets in Syria and the Gaza Strip late Sunday and Monday after the militant organization fired dozens of rockets into Israel and militants attempted to plant a device next to the fence with Gaza, the military said.

Around 40 rockets had been fired at Israel from Gaza in 24 hours, the military said on Monday. One rocket hit a children's playground in the town of Sderot, the military said, though there were no reports of injuries.

Two militants from Islamic Jihad were killed in Sunday's strikes on a compound outside Damascus, Syria, Islamic Jihad said in a tweet. The Israeli military described the site in a statement as a hub of Islamic Jihad's activity in Syria that included a weapons research and development hub where rocket fuel was developed, as well as a training center.

Image: A Palestinian surveys an Islamic Jihad site in Gaza that was targeted in an Israeli air strike.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket fire in a statement and said it was in response to the deaths of its militants in Syria.

"We confirm that we are ready to confront any aggression and let the occupation know that if it continues, we will respond with full force and competence, the group said in the statement.

In Gaza, Israeli fighter jets targeted dozens of Islamic Jihad targets in the north and south on Sunday and Monday, including underground weapons storage and training compounds, the statement said.

Israel's defense minister said Monday that the military had "eliminated" six militants in the last day.

"We are preparing a plan to fundamentally change the situation in the Gaza Strip," said Naftali Bennett at a conference in Jerusalem on Monday. He didn't elaborate further, though military and political leaders have increasingly said that an all-out war with Gaza is only a matter of time.

"I really understand the situation of the people of the South. They deserve peace and security," he added.

This latest round of hostilities began on Sunday when Israel said its troops killed an Islamic Jihad member who was trying to plant explosives near Israel's border fence with the Gaza Strip.

Story continues

Islamic Jihad then fired dozens of rockets into Israel, setting off air raid sirens and forcing Israelis in the areas surrounding Gaza to run for shelters. Some of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, the military said.

Schools in the region were closed, affecting around 65,000 children, and there was also a ban on public gatherings of more than 300 people.

The IDF views the rocket attack towards Israeli territory with great severity, is prepared and will continue operating as necessary against attempts to harm Israeli civilians, the statement concluded.

Islamic Jihad is the second-largest militant group in Gaza and is supported by Iran. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has yet to make a statement on the strikes. Both groups vow to destroy Israel and are considered terrorist groups by the United States.

In November, hundreds of rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip after an Israeli airstrike targeted and killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza.
Religious pilgrims, migrant workers, businessmen, soldiers and clerics all flow constantly across Irans frontiers, often crossing into countries with few border controls, weak and ineffective governments and fragile health systems.

Now, as it struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Iran is also emerging as the second focal point after China for the spread of the disease. Cases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates  even one in Canada  have all been traced to Iran, sending tremors of fear rippling out from Kabul to Beirut.

The Middle East is in many ways the perfect place to spawn a pandemic, experts say, with the constant circulation of both Muslim pilgrims and itinerant workers who might carry the virus. Irans economy has been strangled by sanctions, its people have lost trust in their government and its leaders are isolated from much of the world, providing little clarity about the extent of the epidemic.

Civil wars or years of unrest have shattered the health systems of several neighboring countries, like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen. And most of the region is governed largely by authoritarians with poor track records at providing public transparency, accountability and health services.
With the buzz of Paris Fashion Week in the air, I am feeling nostalgic for the days when buying an outfit was something done with care. Fashion has become more affordable, and we have more of it. But the actual costs are much higher, and much more devastating than we realize.

The increased production of clothes requires more natural resources to grow crops like cotton or for livestock to produce wool, cashmere or leather. This puts more stress on our forest, land and water resources. Chemicals used in dyes and processing are polluting rivers and harming ecosystems and peoples health. Despite fashion being a trillion dollar industry, workers still face low wages and unsafe working conditions. On the opposite side of production is waste. We are wearing clothes for a shorter time, resulting in millions of tons of cast-offs going to landfills each year.

The good news is that things werent always like this. Its only over the last 30 years or so that weve seen this shift towards increased volume. This gives me assurance that we are not so stuck in our ways. We can change. But how?

We can check labels. We can do a bit of research before buying. We can ask questions about the material and labour that went into a garment, in the same way that we assess its quality or fit. We want to feel good in our clothes. And we want to feel good about our clothes.

Demanding more

People all over the world have started demanding more of fashion. In recent years, unsafe working conditions in factories around the globe have provoked outrage and Fashion Revolution has us asking #WhoMadeMyClothes? Greta Thunberg has brought our attention to the urgency of climate change, the fragility of our natural resources and the dangers of complacency. She's demanding action from the worlds political and business leaders. In support of this wave of activism, author Naomi Klein has said, A fresh generation are marching for revolution and they want to wear clothes that tell a new story. Lets give it to them.

And brands have started to respond with corporate responsibility strategies and international commitments. In 2018, more than 90 brands signed the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. In 2019, 32 companies representing 150 brands, signed the Fashion Pact, which includes commitments on climate, biodiversity and oceans. The pact recognizes that our living natural capital is in danger and that this needs to be remedied to have a foundation for a thriving society and business.

A sustainable fashion industry would benefit all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed by world leaders as the best way to end poverty and protect the planet by year 2030.

Making fashion fairer

Through my work with UNDP, its been wonderful to learn about related work. In Mongolia, where the drying effects of climate change and overgrazing are contributing to land degradation, UNDP is supporting climate-informed management of natural resources and sustainable livestock methods. Blockchain technology for traceability is being tested, which can help herders get premium prices for sustainably sourced cashmere.

In Timor-Leste, where conflict has disrupted a long tradition of weaving, UNDP is helping communities to both preserve this important piece of cultural heritage, as well as to build business skills towards economic empowerment. In Indonesia, through the GEF GOLD Program, UNDP is helping to make jewellery more sustainable by reducing the use of mercury in small scale gold mining.

The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion was established to support coordination between UN agencies, promoting projects and policies that ensure that the fashion value chain contributes to the SDGs.

Being an informed consumer is about being part of something bigger. Ask questions about material and labour before buying. If youre not getting the responses you want from environmental, social and ethical perspectives, then demand better, and look for alternatives. Or maybe youll decide to mend an old favourite instead. Let your fashion choice be your expression, your voice, and your vote for a sustainable future.

This article was originally published here.
BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's government has announced a decision to cancel a $275 million Chinese investment project in the eastern part of the country following mass protests against it.

The government's press service said on February 24 that the decision to halt the plans to build a major logistics center was made due to protests "by some local residents of the At-Bashi district" in the Naryn region.

According to the press service, steps related to the cancellation of the agreement, which was signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Kyrgyzstan in June 2019, are being taken. This includes annulling a decision to provide 200 hectares of land for the project. The government will return 45 million soms ($645,000) to investors to compensate them for preliminary work, it added.

On February 17, the Kyrgyz-Chinese Ata-Bashi Free Economic Zone Joint Venture said the contract was annulled because "it is not possible to work on a large, long-term project amid circumstances" where part of the local population opposes the construction of the logistics center.

Local residents have held several protests against the project since January.
President Rouhani orders national HQ to control coronavirus outbreak in Iran

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 3:04 PM

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has officially instructed the Health Ministry to form a national headquarters tasked with containing the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Citing a report by the president's information center on Sunday, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said Rouhani had assigned the Iranian health minister to hold regular sessions at the headquarters and employ the entire potential of the ministry's affiliates to help preclude further spread of the deadly virus in a bid to eradicate the disease.

"Since all state bodies must strive toward prevention of the coronavirus disease, hereby, you are tasked with forming a headquarters called the 'National Headquarters for the Management of Coronavirus Disease'," Rouhani said in his edict to Health Minister Saeed Namaki.

Iran's president stipulated that the new organ must work under command of the health minister and should also include the ministers of interior; road and urban development; education; science, research and technology; cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts; culture and Islamic guidance; as well as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Iran's armed forces, the office of the attorney general, head of Plan and Budget Organization, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, head of Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, the administration's spokesman, and Iran's police chief.

The Iranian president also underlined that in addition to holding regular sessions to make way for field study and precise data assessment and to facilitate decision-making processes concerning the outbreak, the ministry was obliged to utilize all the capacity of related divisions to help fight and uproot the deadly virus as soon as possible and report the results on a regular basis.

Rouhani had earlier ordered the formation of a special task force aimed at taking necessary preventative measures and confronting further spread of the coronvirus, known as COVID-19, which emerged in China late last year and has claimed several lives in the Islamic Republic so far.

Iran on Sunday put in place a set of contingency plans, including the temporary shutdown of schools, universities and cultural centers, in an effort to curb the outbreak that has already claimed eight lives in the country.

The Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced that the number of people who had tested positive for the virus had risen to 43, with the epicenter of the outbreak being in the central city of Qom.

As a preventive measure, Iranian authorities ordered a week-long closure of educational and cultural institutions across 14 provinces, including Qom, Markazi, Gilan, Ardabil, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Zanjan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Hamadan, Alborz, Semnan, Kordestan, and the capital city, Tehran.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran first surfaced on Wednesday, when authorities said it had claimed the lives of two elderly people in Qom.

More than 2,400 people have died of coronavirus since its outbreak more than a month ago in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Countries such as South Korea and Iran are reporting a growing number of infections despite a fall in cases in China in recent days.

The coronavirus can cause various illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as pneumonia. Common signs of the infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughing, shortness of breath, and other breathing difficulties.

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In a statement on Instagram, Mr. Farmer said he was committed to learning from the situation. It was never our intent for the shows styling to be interpreted as racist or to make people feel uncomfortable, but I now fully understand why this has happened, he said.

Ms. Davis said she didnt even know of the existence of the accessories until I saw them presented at the show. She met with students after the show, she said, to discuss their concerns.

I have always taken full responsibility for those matters that are my responsibility, however, I should not be held accountable or blamed for not stopping actions/activity that I did not know existed, she wrote in a statement.

The controversy began when Amy Lefevre, a 25-year-old model, refused to wear the accessories, which she said had been given to the models just as they were about to walk out for the show. I let the staff know that I did not want to wear these pieces as they were clearly racist and made me incredibly uncomfortable, she said in an interview on Sunday. Other models wore the pieces.

Mr. Huang would have let her walk without them, she said, but the director of the show, Richard Thornn, a creative director of NAMESldn, a London-based fashion agency, yelled at student designers to move away and pressured her to wear the accessories.

She said Mr. Thornn told her that shed only be uncomfortable for 45 seconds. But she refused. I was visibly shaken, she said.
Kirubhakar Purushothaman By

Express News Service

Prasanna answers straight from the shoulder and without much unease even when you ask him if acting in supporting roles has affected his prospects of playing the lead. Though actors playing supporting roles and villains are getting recognised and have their own set of fans, being a hero has its own charm. Thats what I was after when I came into the cinema industry. So, in my journey, these roles are like a small detour, which should eventually lead to the road which I wanted to travel. And I believe it will, he says.



In Mafia, Prasanna appears in the role of a gangster, and he is all praise for director Karthick Naren. He is clear about what he wants.

Even before approaching me, he had everything ready in terms of the script including the films logo. Also, he has a sweet way of demanding more from the actors. For his age and experience, he is amazing. Karthick will go a long way.



Though Prasanna loved playing the villain in Mafia, the actor stresses once again that he is looking forward to making a comeback as a hero. He also reveals that he has plans of starting his own production house. I will be making the announcement soon. It will happen in a year. It is the need of the hour that all the actors have their own banner.



He adds, Like all the industry bigwigs are saying... the industry is struggling. Only a few films break even. It is tough to be an actor in such a scenario. The competition is high. Yet, we cannot stop making films. Not just because its our bread and butter; this is what we do.Prasanna, who is one of the few actors from Tamil cinema to venture into digital content, with a series called Thiravam, feels OTT platforms might hold the answer for struggling creators. Good films and stories which are not deemed viable for theatrical release now have another medium to reach the audience. But that doesnt mean that cinema will die out, he says.



After Muran, Thiruttu Payale 2, and now, Mafia, Prasanna is becoming the go-to suave villain in Tamil cinema, and he is aware of it too. I started doing such grey roles to escape being typecast as the chocolate boy and a romantic hero. Now, I am ironically getting a lot of one particular kind of villain roles. I would be happy if I am approached to do a villain in a rural setting.

Thats why I did a small role in Baana Kaathadi as a North Madras guy to prove that I am not just a guy with roses. Azhagiya Theeyae was one Prasannas career-defining films and it put him in the mould of a charming person. When asked if that charm has stopped him from becoming a versatile actor, Prassana says, Its funny, because if Azhagiya Theeyae had been a hit, and then this happened to me, I would have at least cherished the commercial success. But the film got its due only much later. Still, I am glad I did that film.

Prasanna admits that he has often wondered what would have happened if he had made his debut in this age of social media with a film like Azhagiya Theeyae or Kanda Naal Mudhal.



They would have blown up instantly perhaps. But again, if those films had not happened back then I wouldnt be here now. These films at least gave me a pathway into the industry. If I had not done Azhagiya Theeyae and not met Radha Mohan, Viji, and Prakash Raj, I dont know what I would have become. Its scary to think about.



So how does he view his evolution from an engineering student from Trichy to the actor he is now? I have always believed in my intuition, and thankfully it has worked. I never thought I would end up as an engineer. Like Bhagavad Gita and the book The Secret tell us, you end up becoming what you want. That said, I am happy with what I am doing now, though this is not exactly what I wanted to do.
Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday at his sexual assault trial, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and that's-Hollywood excuses from Weinstein about how the casting couch works.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.

The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on another woman, production assistant Mimi Haleyi, at his apartment in 2006, and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on "Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.

Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails  and had sex with him  well after he supposedly attacked them.
By a remarkable coincidence, the main opposition parties in Britain and the US find themselves trapped in extraordinarily similar dilemmas. In America, the Democratic Party is now running through the ritual slaughter known as the "primaries", in which prospective candidates do their best to undermine each other irreparably. Mike Bloomberg, who has been doing a plausible impersonation of Donald Trump as the billionaire outsider, crashed spectacularly in his first public debate last week when faced with a professional hit squad of experienced politicians. Meanwhile, in the quieter backwaters of British political life, the candidates for Labour Party leader determinedly discredit each other, and contradict themselves, on the irrelevant margins of public consciousness.

Lily Barbour, 5, holds up a campaign sign for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Credit:AP

The Democrats in the US, and Labour in Britain, both appear to be adrift in an alien political landscape, utterly at a loss as to how to respond to what they see as an incomprehensible change in the electorate. In their desperate confusion, they veer between condemning the voters, and trying to lure them with offers that totally miss the point. Most often they end up with a mix of the two that is both incoherent and insulting, because the one thing they absolutely will not accept is that people might have had perfectly rational reasons for making the political choices that they made. But for the social democratic Left (which now includes the leading Democratic contender), there can be only one definition of rationality and only one morally acceptable way for society to go forward.

That is why they call themselves "progressive": implying that any remedies or programs or inclinations which countermand their own must be steps backwards to a time when social attitudes and living conditions for everyone except a privileged few were worse, and thus such inclinations are inherently immoral or benighted. Policies that do not involve, for example, state-enforced equality of outcomes and redistribution of wealth are simply not a matter for ethical debate.

So what happens when the opinions and proposals that you regard as beneath contempt become not just debatable, but electable? Answer: you are left with nothing to say. Or you try to say too many things, but nothing that would count as actual argument against the new popular political wave, because you are still compelled to dismiss it as unfit for discussion.
They made the move from Hollywood to Byron Bay back in 2014.

And Chis Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky looked every inch the bohemian glamour couple as they stepped out in the trendy coastal town, last Wednesday.

The Thor actor, 36, and his Spanish wife, 43, were joined by a male and female friend as they enjoyed a leisurely stroll.

Byron Bay royalty coming through! Muscle-bound Chris Hemsworth, 36, and wife Elsa Pataky, 43, stepped out with friends in Byron Bay last Wednesday

Elsa and Chris were all smiles as they enjoyed separate conversations with their friends while strolling through a park together.

Chris looked typically buff in a bicep-hugging white T-shirt and a pair of black shorts.

He hid his famous face behind a pair of aviator sunglasses and finished his casual ensemble with a silver watch and a chain necklace.

Carefree: Elsa and Chris were all smiles as they enjoyed separate conversations with their friends as they strolled through a park together

Down to earth: Elsa went barefoot for the occasion, and wore a striking blue kaftan dress with dramatic fringe detailing

Elsa went barefoot for the occasion, and wore a striking blue kaftan dress with dramatic fringe detailing from Spell and the Gypsy Collective.

She accessorised her boho look with a leather satchel bag, and layers of gold bracelets, necklaces and rings.

The age-defying stunner appeared to go makeup free, and threw her flaxen locks into a no-fuss ponytail.

Thor blimey! Chris looked typically buff in a bicep-hugging white T-shirt and a pair of black shorts

Earthy: She accessorised her boho look with a leather satchel bag, and layers of gold bracelets, necklaces and rings

Chris and Elsa recently moved into their $20million Byron Bay mega-mansion with their children, five-year-old twin boys Sasha and Tristan and daughter India Rose, seven.

Chris spent two years renovating the property, which he had previously bought for $7million back in 2014.

In June last year, Chris spoke about his decision to move to Byron Bay with his family in 2014, after they had spent several years living in LA.

The father-of-three told OK! magazine the seachange had been a 'good decision' overall for his family, before adding: 'Living in Australia allows me to be away from a world where you can lose touch with reality sometimes.'
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

About 50 people have recently died in Irans Qom city as a result of coronavirus, MP from Qum province Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani told reporters.

Some 10 people die daily in Qom city as a result of the virus, the MP added, Trend reports referring to ILNA.

Presently, more than 250 people are in quarantine in Qum, Farahani added. The preventive measures have not yet been taken in Qum as there are not enough opportunities.

A decision was made at a plenary session of the parliament to announce quarantine in Qom city because the situation there is deplorable, the MP said.

Iran is one of the recent countries, affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 60 people have been infected, 12 people have already died.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread.

Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

Following the reports of coronavirus spread in the Islamic Republic, several countries have taken measures, including closing borders and banning flights.

Meanwhile, the WHO (World Health Organization) has offered its help to Iran, providing certain medicine to the infected.

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 2,360 people have died and over 79,000 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 South Korea, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran, Thailand, the US, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam, the UAE, the UK, France, Macau, Canada, Philippines, India, Russia, Spain, Lebanon, Nepal, Cambodia, Israel, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Egypt and Sri Lanka.
(Newser)  It was a middle-of-the-night "good deed" that FedEx driver Jeremiah Cribb was trying to do, per CNNbut it turned out to be one that landed him in the hospital after he plunged 75 feet over a North Carolina bridge. The Salisbury Post and WSOC report that Cribb, 24, was driving on Interstate 85 through Rowan County, toward Greensboro, around 2am Wednesday when he came across two motorists on the Yadkin River Bridge who'd struck a concrete divider. Cribb pulled over to clear debris from the accident off the road and divert traffic away from the disabled car, which was jutting out into the road. Suddenly, however, Cribb saw an 18-wheel tractor-trailer hurtling toward him. He tells the Post he leaped over the side of the bridge in the darkness, thinking there was grass at the same level on the other side. But there wasn't grassonly a 75-foot fall onto a hard sandbar below.

story continues below

"I just started free-falling," he says. Once rescuers arrived on the scene, firefighter Jacob Vodochodsky rappelled over the bridge to get to Cribb, and when he saw how Cribb was positioned, motionless and in a fetal position, he worried about his condition. "I gave him a little pinch on the leg, because the way he was laying there, [it] looked like he may have been paralyzed," Vodochodsky tells WSOC. "He felt it." A tweet from the Salisbury Fire Department noted it took 45 minutes to rescue Cribb, who was conscious but with serious injurieshe had a collapsed lung and three broken ribs. Still, they don't appear to be life threatening, which Salisbury FD Battalion Chief Nick Martin calls "miraculous." "I just thank God I'm alive," Cribb tells WSOC. The two motorists Cribb was helping didn't appear to be injured, per a State Highway Patrol report. (Read more FedEx stories.)
South Korea, the worlds fifth largest crude oil importer, is set to purchase growing volumes of U.S. oil this year to the point of overtaking Canada as the top destination for American crude in 2020, Reuters estimates, as South Korea takes advantage of cheaper U.S. oil compared to Middle Eastern supplies.

Last year, South Korea bought 13 percent of its crude oil supply from the

United States, importing on average 375,000 barrels per day (bpd) from America, according to Reuters estimates.

According to the latest EIA data for November 2019, U.S. crude exports to South Korea averaged 439,000 bpd, while exports to Canada were 482,000 bpd. In June, July, and September 2019, South Korea was the top destination of U.S. crude on a monthly basis, ahead of Canada.

Based on Reuters calculations of data from Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), South Korean refiners paid on average $1.70 a barrel less for U.S. oil compared to the oil they imported from their top supplier Saudi Arabia. To compare, refiners in South Korea were paying $0.97 a barrel more for U.S. oil compared to Saudi oil in 2018.

In 2019, cheaper WTI Crude, pricier grades from the Middle East because of the OPEC+ cuts, and the higher demand for light sweet U.S. crude with the IMO shipping fuel regulations, played in favor of increased American oil sales in South Korea.

The U.S. WTI crude discount against Dubai crude was steep last year, Cho Sang-bum, an official at the Korea Petroleum Association representing local refiners, told Reuters. Related: Oil Prices Tumble 4% As Coronavirus Demand Shock Spreads

This year, the trend of rising U.S. oil exports to South Korea is expected to continue, as more expensive Dubai benchmarks make Middle Eastern oil more expensive compared to American barrels. Refiners in South Korea also benefit from freight rebates from the government aimed at diversifying supplies away from the Middle East, and from a free trade agreement between the U.S. and South Korea, Cho told Reuters.

South Koreas diversification from oil supplies from the Middle East intensified as the U.S. slapped sanctions on Iranian oil exports and South Korea stopped importing oil from Iran, IHS Markit said in an analysis last month.

South Koreas plan to diversify its oil supplies and to reduce its reliance on the oil flows in the Strait of Hormuz has started to take shape faster than previously expected, Fotios Katsoulas, Liquid Buohlk Principal Analyst, Maritime & Trade, IHS Markit, said in the analysis.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
UN assures talks would continue after both sides announce end of their participation.

Representatives from Libyas warring sides have suspended their participation in United Nations-sponsored peace talks aimed at bringing an end to more than 10 months of fighting.

The move came despite assurances by a spokesperson for the world governing body that negotiations would still go ahead.

Ahmaida Erouhma, who leads the eastern sides Geneva committee, said on Monday his factions refusal to take part in the negotiations is due to the UNs approval of only eight of 13 names his side put forward for the delegation.

Later, the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli said it would not take part in the negotiations until progress was made on military negotiations.

It is in light of conclusions [from military discussions] that the high council would decide to take part or not in political dialogue, the Tripoli governments high state council said.

The development came just hours after the UN Libya mission said in a statement that senior military figures from both sides agreed to submit a draft ceasefire agreement to their leaderships before meeting again next month.

The UN had planned to bring together legislators from both sides of Libyas conflict on Wednesday to end the fighting over Tripoli as part of a dialogue that encompasses military, political and economic strands.

A spokesman for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Monday that the political dialogue would still take place.

The Libyan political dialogue will go ahead as previously scheduled, on 26 February, Jean El Alam told reporters.

Many participants have already arrived in Geneva and we hope all invited participants follow suit, he said.

Khaled el-Mechri, a member of the GNA-affiliated High State Council, said authorities in Tripoli would not be bound by the outcome of political talks if they went ahead before knowing the military dialogues conclusions.

Separately, GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj slammed renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, who heads the self-styled Libyan National Army, as a war criminal and demanded that he withdraw his forces threatening the capital.

The entire world has been able to see the escalation in hostilities and attacks against the capital Tripoli since April 4, 2019, GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

We have repeatedly asked that commissions of inquiry be established to investigate the violations, the forced displacements, the arbitrary detentions, the extrajudicial killings, al-Serraj said.

This is inhuman

The government, which nearly walked out of the Geneva talks last week, blamed Haftars forces for shelling Tripolis port shortly after the negotiations got under way.

Al Jazeeras Charles Stratford, reporting from Tripoli, said the UNs mediation efforts had failed to win the buy-in of either side.

All evidence would suggest they have come to very little, if anything, he said. The UN said it handed what they described as a draft agreement to both sides.

200224064415462

The UN-recognised government said it wasnt happy at all, regretting there was nothing concrete enough for them to want to participate on Wednesday for talks scheduled in the political track.

An hour or so later, Haftars side in Benghazi said they were not going to participate in those talks.

Several rounds of talks focused on economic issues, including fairer distribution of Libyas oil wealth, have also taken place in Egypt and Tunisia.

UN envoy Ghassan Salame, who was scheduled to meet al-Sarraj later on Monday, has said the political discussions would go ahead despite the hostilities on the ground.

But Libyas Foreign Minister Mohammed Syala said the GNA had yet to receive an invitation to attend and that it remains to be seen whether the talks would go ahead.

Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, with rival armed factions still vying for power.

200221134924154

In the latest outbreak of fighting, Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli last April. But after rapid advances, his forces stalled on the edges of the capital.

The fighting has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced some 140,000, according to the UN.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - Intuit Inc. (INTU) Monday announced that it agreed to buy personal-finance portal Credit Karma Inc. for about $7 billion in cash and stock. The maker of TurboTax and QuickBooks expects the cash consideration to be financed through cash and its existing unsecured line of credit. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2020. The acquisition is expected to be neutral to accretive to Intuit's adjusted earnings in the first full fiscal year after the transaction closes. Credit Karma is a consumer technology platform with more than 100 million members in the U.S., Canada and U.K. The company has nearly $1 billion in unaudited revenue in calendar year 2019, up 20% from the previous year. 'Our mission is to power prosperity around the world with a bold goal of doubling the household savings rate for customers on our platform,' said Sasan Goodarzi, CEO of Intuit. 'We wake up every day trying to help consumers make ends meet. By joining forces with Credit Karma, we can create a personalized financial assistant that will help consumers find the right financial products, put more money in their pockets and provide insights and advice, enabling them to buy the home they've always dreamed about, pay for education and take the vacation they've always wanted.' 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.
Dear Prudence is online weekly to chat live with readers. Heres an edited transcript of this weeks chat.

Danny Lavery: Hello, everybody! I hope youve got your most interesting problems and your most practical advice with you. Lets get started.

Q. Cant support a pagan friend: Im a thirtysomething who lives in a midsize West Coast city with very liberal sensibilities that I share. Theres a reason I moved here! I am also a Christian who goes to a mainstream Protestant church. Ive never seen much disconnect between the two and I have many friends of other faiths, primarily Muslim and Jewish, whose religious functions I sometimes attend, like a wedding or a childs entry into life or their religion. I value getting to experience these things with my friends and learning more about them, their religions, and the world. I grew up poor in the South but was lucky that we were always clean, well-fed, and warm. A good friend who lived in my neighborhood could not say the same and her unfortunate start in life has affected her ability to thrive as an adult. She is divorced from an abusive husband, in recovery for alcoholism, and trying to support two children with little help from her ex and often active hindrance from her dysfunctional family. Health issues make it hard for her to work, and poverty gets in the way of her work as well, as she sometimes cant afford a uniform she needs or fix her car to get to work, and has been fired from one position because of her bad teeth that are a result of years of not having money to care for them. I have a lot of sympathy for her and her children.

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She has written a few childrens books about her faith and has set up a small independent internet business to offer services connected with her belief system. I would love to support her, but she is pagan/Wiccan. This isnt exactly a problem, as I dont think its immoral. I just dont want a childrens book on spells or to spend money on a tarot reading. My old friend spends a lot of time online talking about things like her marriage to a Norse deity that just make me roll my eyes in a way I know I should be ashamed about. I could probably get over my aversion to this and at least donate to her nonreligious crowdsourcing page that is just asking for money for utilities and food for her kids, but she also spends a lot of time online talking about how awful Christians are. Just Christians. While I know Im not fully supportive of her faith, at least I know its bad of me to judge her on hers. I would never publicly demean her or her religion, much less do it several times a week. I feel so bad for her and would like to help, but every time I get close to donating, I just think about how much she hates people of my faith. Should I donate anyway?

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A: I imagine at least part of the reason youd never speak angrily or demeaningly about Wiccans or pagans in public is because Wiccans and pagans, as a group, do not wield a disproportionate amount of social or political power in the United States, whereas non-Christians in this country (particularly people who were raised Christian) dont always get to choose how or when or on what grounds they experience Christianity. That doesnt mean youre obligated to listen to her vent or that you should apologize for your own faith, but it might prove a helpful corrective when youre tempted to compare your respective situations. It doesnt sound like shes trying to strong-arm you into debating when you get together in person, so if your main problem is how she conducts herself online, Id encourage you to mute her posts on social media so you dont have to read them. And you certainly dont have to buy books you wont read or tarot readings that dont interest you! She sounds like a person whos speaking from a great deal of pain. That doesnt mean shes perfect or justified in everything she says or does; if she speaks rudely to you or youd like to register an objection to something she says, you are absolutely within your rights to do so as a friend. But it is a useful and important context, I think. Look for opportunities to be gracious and patient with her.

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As to whether you should donate, you are of course free to spend money and choose friends as you like. But if youre looking for guidance in keeping with your own religious tradition, Id encourage you to meditate on Matthew 5:44 (I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you and persecute you), Proverbs 3:27 (Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so), Proverbs 11:25 (The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will be watered himself), Luke 6:3238 (If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.  If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?  Give and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you), Matthew 6:34 (When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly), and Matthew 19:21 (Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me ). Theres also the option of occasionally offering to babysit or take the kids to the dentist, shop at the grocery store, or help run errands if you dont have the funds but want to give her a hand. Build up for yourself a treasure in heaven where thieves cannot get in and steal, where moths and rust cannot destroy; give gratuitously and without expectation of reciprocation or praise, and you will be acting in accordance with your religion.

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How to Get Advice From Prudie:

 Send questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. (Questions may be edited.)

 Join the live chat Mondays at noon. Submit your questions and comments here before or during the discussion.

 Call the voicemail of the Dear Prudence podcast at 401-371-DEAR (3327) to hear your question answered on a future episode of the show.

Q. Adventure or settle? Four months ago, I was in a pretty bad car accident. I have an unidentified illness that had been causing me increasing exhaustion for several years, so normal treatments werent working. A specialist was called in and I underwent an experimental treatment. Im happy to say that after two months of extremely hard work, Im back to new. Its even helped my exhaustion. I feel like a new person.

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The problem is, I met a guy shortly before the accident. Dave is wonderful and nice and I saw myself settling down with him. That was until the accident. Being exhausted for years meant I put most of my dreams on hold. Before that, I was working a ton and really didnt have much of a social life after college. Im set to get a lot of money from the accident in the coming months and want to travel and make up for my 20s. I dont think this is the kind of life Dave wants. Im 30, which is still pretty young, but over the last couple years, I had gotten used to the idea that it was time for me to settle down. I feel really torn between my desire to settle down and my desire to travel and party. Im not sure Dave will be around in a year or two when Im all adventured out. But I think I will be unfulfilled if I decide to settle down now. My friends are all really supportive of me finally getting to travel and let my hair down. How do I figure out what to do?

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A: Talk to Dave! You say you dont think this is the kind of life Dave wants, which means you have not got a straight answer out of him, which means you have not asked him! I cant tell you the number of times Ive acted as if I had already had a serious, thorough conversation with a partner because I convinced myself that I knew their mind and didnt need to bother running the risk of being honest about what I wanted. Those times did not work out great for me; those relationships did not work out! Not necessarily as a direct result of me treating my own assumptions as gospel, but that certainly didnt help. It may very well be that Dave is into the idea of traveling, or is comfortable with the idea of you traveling and periodically meeting up and dating long-distance for a while, or is ready to try being friends and revisit the question of a relationship a few years down the road, or  you get the idea. He may say, Im happy for you and I want you to get to travel, but thats not what I want so I think its better for us to break up now. That might be sad, especially in the immediate aftermath, but surely its a good thing for Dave to be able to make an informed decision about his own future happiness, even if that means you two break up.

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On the one hand, you have a concrete desire to travel and the money and means to do so, and on the other hand, you have a vague sense that its time to settle down and that Dave, who is nice and wonderful, wants something else. I dont think making decisions out of a vague sense of obligation and its time is especially worthwhile. I think your best bet is to be honest with Dave about what youre contemplating, ask if hes at all interested in joining you, and wish him well if the answer is No. Have fun!

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Q. Is it a job or an access point? A few years ago, I had an abrupt and bizarre falling-out with my beloved but severely mentally ill friend, Jessie, that cut off my contact with her young daughter Kayla, my honorary niece. I later learned that Jessies parental rights were terminated soon thereafter and her brother and sister-in-law adopted Kayla. Based on the circumstances, I have not spoken to Jessie since and think its unlikely I will ever resume our friendship. Kaylas adoptive parents informed a mutual friend they will not allow any of Jessies friends or their kids to have contact with her. My husband and I have deeply grieved for both these relationships and have resigned ourselves to sporadic social media updates on Kayla from Jessies sister. Now, for today: Im in the job market and recently came across a listing thats a perfect fit for me. When I looked up the address of the office to get a sense of the commute, I realized that Jessies sister-in-lawKaylas adoptive motheris on the leadership team at the company. And its a very small company. She wouldnt affect the hiring decision and, although we have met a few times, probably could not pick me out of a police lineup in the first place. (I do suspect she thinks all of Jessies friends are bad by association.) But the idea of being close to this situation again horrifies me. Im eager in what is likely an unhealthy way to be in the same building as my sweet little Kaylas adoptive mother. Im upset by the notion of finding myself in Jessies orbit again. Im wondering how awkward this all could end up being. I thought I was in a better place than this mentally. Am I overreacting to the idea of just submitting a resume to this place? Or should I stay away from this opportunity to keep my distance?

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A: If you worry about your ability to do your job so close to Kaylas adoptive mother, and fear that you wouldnt be able to resist the temptation to use that proximity to try to force something that Kaylas mother doesnt want, then I think it might be wise to look elsewhere. But its perfectly understandable that you miss Kayla and that the thought of being near someone whos still in touch with her fills you with hope and longing. I dont think that feeling is, in itself, a sign that you shouldnt apply. But if you do apply, I think you should do so with the expectation that this will be a purely professional relationship. Happy to hear other perspectives on this one, if anyone has been in a similar situation.

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Q. Doctor-patient friendship: Im about to complete a course of physical therapy for pelvic pain. When I began treatment I was worried that it would be awkward and uncomfortableafter all, it does involve a stranger touching some very intimate parts of myselfbut my physical therapist was so funny and personable that I felt totally at ease. I find myself sad at the thought of not seeing her regularly anymore, and Id like to ask her about being friends outside of physical therapy. Is there a polite, no-pressure way I can invite her out for coffee or a drink while acknowledging that she may not wish to for a variety of personal and/or professional reasons? (Ive always struggled to make friends, so please tell me if Im being inappropriate or overthinking this.)

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A: I dont think youre overthinking anything; you seem to have thought about this both thoroughly and appropriately. Waiting until your treatment is finished is the right idea. Just wait until your last session and then say: Ive really enjoyed getting to talk to you. I was so nervous about physical therapy but youve totally put me at ease. Now that were done working together, Id love to get coffee or meet up as friends if youre interested. If not, I totally understand. Thanks for everything. As long as you clarify that its a friend date and not a date-date, and emphasize your flexibility about the fact that she may as a policy not hang out with former patients, I dont think theres anything wrong in simply asking her if shed ever like to hang out.

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Q. Secret girlfriend  ? Ive been with my boyfriend for over a year. (Were both in our late 20s.) Ive never been happier in a relationship, but something peculiar has been thrown into the mix, and its seriously throwing me. I thought wed been very open about our past relationships. He had a short marriage in his early 20s as well as another yearlong relationship afterward that he was very transparent about. He also said he had been single for about a year before we met. At the beginning of our relationship, Id see this girls name pop up often: on his Netflix account, in old cellphone bills, and in his texts. When I asked, he told me it was just an old college friend and they split some services to save money for a while. I thought this was a little odd, but it was early on and not a big deal. A couple of months later, he helped a buddy move and would go feed their cat when they were out of town, no big deal. Recently, we began the process of looking for a place together and he gave me access to his email to search for some information we needed to pull for rental applications. In searching for info related to housing, I found exchanges between him and this woman dating back a couple of years. Turns out, they had moved to our current city together, lived together for at least a year and a half, owned pets together, and had only stopped living together three months before I met him. I confronted him, and he said they had lived together for convenience, as they were both moving to the same city for work and the pets were just hers. I asked if it was her cat wed been feeding intermittently and her hed helped move (this was months ago now) and he admitted to that and apologized for the deception. He promises it was over when he met me, and I have no reason to believe that part isnt true, but I dont know what to do about this bizarre lie! When pushed a little further, he admitted he was in a low place when they were together and said she wanted more and thought it was more serious than he did. But they were also living togetherthats pretty serious to me! He said he just wanted to forget about that time in his life and didnt want it to bleed into his relationship with me. What should I do? On the one hand, I do believe this is all in the past, and I believe theyve had no contact now for more than six months. Hes long since separated their mutual accounts, and I havent heard her name in months. It seems pretty clear to me that the contact in the beginning of our relationship was them unraveling threads of a serious relationship that had recently ended. But he still denies it was ever serious. Thats weird! Should I believe him that this is all in the past and chalk this up to a bizarre rationalization on his part? His past is his past, but I dont want to ignore red flags, and Im too close to the situation.

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A: You do kind of have reason to believe that part isnt true, inasmuch as he has never once voluntarily been honest with you about this relationship for as long as youve known him. I think its important to take his answers with a grain of salt! Im not going to make a ruling on whether he cheated on you with her, or her with you, or both, or whether you ought to leave him. But I do think its safe to assume that you dont have the full story and hes been trickle-truthing you, as the kids say: Youve lied to me about this relationship constantly, and over seemingly small-stakes things, like whose cat you were feeding, or why the two of you shared bills. Why is that? If hes able to speak honestly and compellingly about the reasons he chose to lie to you, and you feel reasonably sure that hes going to address whatever those reasons are in future, you might decide its possible to move on from this. But if he just sticks to I was in a low place and we dont talk anymore, Id be pretty skeptical that the future is going to look any different from the past.

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Q. Uncomfortable bachelorette party: I recently learned Im going to be asked to be a bridesmaid in my partners sisters wedding. Im honored, and I love that she goes out of her way to make me feel loved and included. The problem is I know her bachelorette party will be an all-weekend thing that will require a plane ticket and possible paid time off. That would be fine, except I dont know any of her other bridesmaids and Im a socially anxious introvert. Is there a way to say Yes to being a bridesmaid but politely decline the weekend trip?

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A: Thank you so much for asking me. Im honored! Im afraid a destination bachelorette party isnt in my budget, so I wont be able to join for that, but I hope you have a fantastic time. Multiday bachelor and bachelorette trips arent inherently bad things, but the bride or groom in question needs to understand, at the very least, that these are pretty big requests to make of their friends, and that saying No has to be an option. A polite bride will say: Of course, that makes so much sense. Thanks for letting me know. If she tries to argue or push back, then thats the opportunity to save yourself months of headaches and say: I dont think this is going to work out, and it would be better if I attended as a guest. Thanks for thinking of me.

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Q. Need some adult time! My wife and I have two kids, one in middle school and one in elementary school, whom we love dearly. We both have full-time jobs and keep very busy with kid activities. I enjoy traveling, and before we had children, we agreed we would travel on kid-free trips after the kids were born, with my wifes parents babysitting. Her parents are not elderly and can handle the kids. Since our second child was born, though, my wife has refused to be away from the kids, even for a single night. She will only agree to vacations with our kids to theme parks, water parks, and the beach. I am totally burned out and desperately need a relaxing trip that does not include chasing the kids around. What can I do?

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A: Has your wife been able to talk openly about her reasons for not wanting to leave the kids overnight? Is she anxious about their ability to function? Is she in the habit of demanding perfection from herself as a parent? Is she trying to avoid spending time with you because theres something shes afraid to talk about? You dont mention how much you two have talked about this or whether youve had a more in-depth conversation beyond Want to take a trip, just the two of us? and No, we cant, lets go to a water park. Certainly I dont think youre asking for the moon; trying to schedule your first adults-only vacation in at least five years is a reasonable request. Tell your wife that this is important to you and that youre genuinely curious and prepared to listen to whatever has been going on that makes her anxious or afraid to take a trip together. And good luck! I hope you get that vacation soon.

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Q. Re: Is it a job or an access point? Taking you at your word that this is a coincidence, the primary question you need to ask yourself is this: If you were to get this position in this company, would you be able to do your job and honor the very clear boundaries that Kaylas adoptive parents have established (leaving aside to what degree you may feel those boundaries were fair or reasonable to begin with)? Even if you feel like you could do it in the short term, do you think its something that you could keep up in the long term? And lastly, even if you feel that you would not cross boundaries, also reflect on what having to work in such close proximity to this woman and having to honor these boundaries would do to your own mental health over the long term. In your own words, you dont seem to have completely come to some sort of peace with the situation with Kayla and Im afraid being so close to establishing contact again but forcing yourself to not do so would put an undue burden on yourself over time. If possible, seek job opportunities elsewhere and pass on this. If the job is just too good to pass up, then (again, if you get it in the first place) you probably want to consider therapy at least at first to help you cope with your grief over your relationship (or rather lack thereof) with Kayla.

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A: This is an extremely thorough and very helpful set of questions to consider before submitting an application. Thank you for this. Respecting the limits this woman has set as a parent, even if you think theyre unreasonable, might be a tall order; I think many people are tempted to dismiss limits they personally disagree with (which is part of why limits can be so difficult to set and why I have a job in the first place). Id certainly be tempted in the letter writers position, so I have a lot of sympathy here.

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Q. Re: Cant support a pagan friend: The best example you can ever set for how to be a Christian is to love your friend even though she bashes Christianity. The whole point of following Christ is loving and showing love to everyoneeven when its difficult. You state shes a good friend. Then show her love. Donate, ask her if she needs groceries, get those groceries, buy her a gas card, see if she needs some help around her house, and do things that show the love. Were called to love our neighbors.

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A: I do want to add the qualifier that I dont think the letter writer should turn this particular friend into her spiritual growth project, bombarding her with love and affection and gift cards to local restaurants on a daily basis. Just leave open the possibility to offer her help when you can, even if it never changes her perspective on Christianity.

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Q. Re: Is it a job or an access point? The letter writer hasnt actually even tried to initiate a conversation with Jessies brother and sister-in-law. Shes operating entirely on secondhand information. Why not just try to reach out in a noninvasive way, explain that she is NOT in touch with Jessie and is unlikely to be in touch in the future, and say that the relationship with their honorary niece has been very important to them in the past. As long as the attempt is made in a nonintrusive manner (e.g., email or letter) that explains that they will only make this request once and respect the decision, what do they have to lose?

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A: I agree that would be a possibility (I dont think Id strongly encourage it, but Id allow for it as a possibility) if the letter writer werent considering applying for this job, but I think the combination of sending that email and an application would be too much at once. It would at the very least create the impression that the letter writer was applying for this job in order to reestablish contact, which would be pretty counterproductive.

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Classic Prudie

Q. My husband secretly corresponded with prison inmates for years: Years ago, before we were married, my husband suggested we write to prisoners all over the country to get their thoughts about life. I was dismissive of it for all the reasons someone might be wary of writing to prisoners. Over the years, whenever we got in fights about my not paying enough attention to his creative endeavors, I would think back to this idea and recognize that it was interesting. Well, it turns out hed gone ahead and sent out his survey to prisoners. He rented a post office box and the ensuing correspondence has continued for seven years. I only recently learned of it because some of these men are starting to be released. I am sympathetic to those recently released from prison and the challenges they face. But my husband is not prepared for the role he has come to play in these mens lives. Several have shown up at our house wanting to speak to my husband. It is unsettling, and I am afraid to disappoint them. My husband cant say no to these mens repeated, insistent requests to visit our house, borrow the car, get help finding work. I feel terrible cutting these people off after they evidently know so much about us and have considerable emotional investment in our family, but I do not want them in my life or my young childrens lives. I feel like everything I dont like about my husband is part of this predicament: carelessness with others feelings and time, inability to finish projects, poor planning, and general lack of awareness about social justice issues. What should I do about these men when they show up or contact me, and what on earth do I do about my idiot husband? Read what Prudie had to say.

Danny M. Laverys new book, Something That May Shock and Discredit You, is out now.
Celebrities including Harvey Weinstein accusers Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd are praising the 'brave' women who testified against the movie mogul as he was convicted of rape and sexual assault in a stunning end to his trial.

The Hollywood giant was found guilty on two counts on Monday afternoon after days of jury deliberation in the high-profile rape case that helped spark the #MeToo movement.

The disgraced movie mogul could see 29 years behind bars on those counts.

While the tone in the court room was reportedly somber, celebrities and journalists celebrated on social media.

Actress Judd, who accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, praised the women who testified saying they 'walked through traumatic hell'.

'You did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you,' she added.

McGowan, who was one of Weinstein's earlier accusers and claimed he assaulted her in the 1990s, praised the conviction, saying Weinstein will finally know how it feels to have 'power wrapped around his neck'.

Celebrities including Harvey Weinstein accuser Ashley Judd, former Fox host Gretchen Carlson and journalist Ronan Farrow are praising the women who testified against the movie mogul as he was was convicted of rape in a stunning end to his trial on Monday (above)

Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd, both actresses who accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, commended his conviction on Monday

Rose McGowan, one of Weinstein's earliest accusers, said Monday: 'Because of the brave women, he's in Rikers Island'. She tweeted: 'Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing'

Actress Ashley Judd, who accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, praised the women who testified saying they 'walked through traumatic hell'

Former Fox host Gretchen Carlson, who accused Fox boss Roger Ailes of sexual harassment which led to his firing, quipped: 'I hope those handcuffs are tight'

Fellow Weinstein accuser Rosanna Arquette said: 'Gratitude to the brave women whove testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense'

'Today is a powerful day,' McGowan said. 'And a huge step forward in collective healing. 20 years ago I decided to come after Weinstein because Id heard about him doing this to someone else, and then I heard him doing it to someone else, and someone else.'

'Today, because of the brave women, who bared their deepest hurt for the world to see, hes in Rikers Island.

'For once he wont be sitting comfortably. For once he will know what its like to have power wrapped around his neck. Today is not a referendum on #MeToo, this is taking out the trash,' she added.

Former Fox host Gretchen Carlson, who accused Fox boss Roger Ailes of sexual harassment which led to his firing, quipped: 'I hope those handcuffs are tight.'

Fellow Weinstein accuser Rosanna Arquette, who is one of the more than 80 women who have accused the producer of sexual misconduct, also voiced her praise for the women who brought their allegations to court.

Former Fox host Gretchen Carlson (left), who accused Fox boss Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, quipped: 'I hope those handcuffs are tight.' Ronan Farrow (right) who published a bombshell report exposing Weinstein's history of alleged assault, also praised the women who testified against him saying, 'Please keep these women in your thoughts today'

'Todays outcome in Harvey Weinsteins New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today,' Farrow tweeted after the verdict.

Rosie Perez, an actress who testified at the trial as a secondary witness, tweeted support for her friend, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra. 'Harvey Weinstein has been handcuffed & taken to jail!

Actress Alyssa Milano also tweeted in support of Sciorra, who testified at the trial and accused Weinstein of rape, saying: '#IbelieveAnnabellaSciorra'.

Weinstein accuser Mira Sorvino also tweeted following his conviction saying: 'The beginning of #justice. More to come, my sister'

Actress Amber Tamblyn also threw her support behind accuser Annabella Sciorra

Actress Reese Witherspoon called Monday's verdict a 'historic win'

Filmmaker Judd Apatow pointed out that while Weinstein was found guilty on two counts in New York, he faces even more charges in Los Angeles.

Actress Ellen Barkin listed the names of Weinstein's six accusers who testified at his trial

Social activist Naomi Klein praised Weinstein's accusers as 'heroes'

'Gratitude to the brave women whove testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense,' she said.

'We will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that its easier for people to report their rapes,' she added.

Ronan Farrow, whose investigative reporting brought to public light allegations against the film producer for the first time, commended the filmmaker's accusers.

'Todays outcome in Harvey Weinsteins New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today,' Farrow tweeted after the verdict.

Rosie Perez, an actress who testified at the trial as a secondary witness, tweeted support for her friend, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra.

'Harvey Weinstein has been handcuffed & taken to jail! Gutted for my dear friend #annabellasciorra who told the truth! Yet i congratulate her & all who came forward for their bravery. This is not enough but survivors take courage! This is still a great win! Congrats Joan Illuzzi!, Perez tweeted.

Film producer Harvey Weinstein is handcuffed after his guilty verdict in his sexual assault trial at the New York Criminal Court on Monday

Sciorra testified at the trial but Weinstein didn't face charges in connection to her rape accusation.

Actress Alyssa Milano also tweeted in support of Sciorra saying: '#IbelieveAnnabellaSciorra'.

Tarana Burke, the social justice advocate who coined the #MeToo hashtag and founded the organization with the same name also commended the verdict, but said it took far too long.

'Harvey Weinstein operated with impunity and without remorse for decades in Hollywood. Yet, it still took years, and millions of voices raised, for one man to be held accountable by the justice system,' Burke said.

Celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi also noted how Weinstein was allowed to continue his behavior for decades.

'Weinstein terrorized and attacked women for decades. Now he will sit in a prison cell where he belongs,' she said.

Filmmaker Judd Apatow pointed out that while Weinstein was found guilty on two counts in New York, he faces even more charges in Los Angeles.

'Don't forget- Harvey Weinstein faces four more charges in Los Angeles,' he said. 'This is just the beginning of holding him accountable'.

Weinstein faces between five and 25 years in prison, the Manhattan District Attorney said, with sentencing on March 11.
It is important to always drive safely and be prepared to deal with dangerous situations, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Car accidents are very common in the United States and most of them are caused by human error. Although most of the accidents are minor, tens of thousands of lives are lost each year in fatal car crashes. It is important to drive carefully and follow all the traffic laws, in order to avoid being involved in a car accident. The most common causes of accidents in the United States are:



Distracted driving. This is the leading cause of car accidents. In recent times, more and more drivers get distracted and stop paying attention to the road. Texting on the smartphone, or applying makeup while driving, are common sightings nowadays. All it takes are just a few moments of distraction to cause an accident.

Drunk driving. Driving while being drunk is one of the leading causes of accidents in the US. If a driver plans on drinking, he should expect until the drinking effects disappear before he starts driving.

Breaking the speed limits. Speeding is the second most common cause of accidents. Many drivers ignore the speed limits, especially on the highways. The faster someone drives, the slower is his reaction time.

Reckless driving. Drivers that are speeding well over the limit, changing lanes too quickly, or driving aggressively.

Driving in bad weather conditions. Drivers that are driving in dense fog, excessive rain, high winds, slick roads can cause accidents, especially if they are inexperienced or unprepared for the road conditions.

Not stopping while the red light is running. Drivers can cause a serious accident by running a red light. Drivers that are caught running red light say stuff like they were in a hurry reaching to their workplace, or to an important meeting. It is important to remember, that no issue is more important than your own life.

Driving during nighttime. Reduced visibility during nighttime can make obstacles and hazards harder to spot. Drivers should make sure they use the full lights when they are on a road without streetlights and raise their alertness levels.

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, free quotes and money-saving tips, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/
Coronavirus China's 'largest health emergency': President Xi

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 3:50 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping says the coronavirus epidemic is China's "largest public health emergency," warning that the country is still at a "crucial stage" of its battle despite Beijing's "effective measures" to deal with the outbreak.

Speaking at an official meeting to coordinate the virus fight on Sunday, Xi said "the situation is showing a positive trend after arduous efforts, but remains serious and complex".

He also acknowledged "obvious shortcomings in the response to the epidemic," adding that officials should "learn lessons" and improve the country's ability to respond to public health emergencies.

The epidemic "has the fastest transmission, widest range of infection and has been the most difficult to prevent and control".

"This is a crisis for us and it is a big test," Xi said.

China has so far reported a total of 76,936 confirmed cases and 2,442 deaths due to the coronavirus, known as COVID-19. More than 1,150 people have also been infected outside China.

The virus has been fatal in two percent of reported cases, with a risk of death higher for older patients and relatively few cases among children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The outbreak is reminiscent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a virus from the same family that emerged in China in 2002 and killed almost 800 people around the world out of the 8,000 or so who were infected.

Recent figures have shown a slowdown in the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, prompting praise for China for its efforts to contain the epidemic.

Xi further said the outbreak will "inevitably have a large impact on the economy and society". However, he stressed the effects will be "short-term" and controllable.

The Chinese president pledged to step up policy support to help achieve economic and social development targets for 2020.

He also called for new fiscal measures including tax cuts to help smaller businesses that have been hit hard by the outbreak.

Third passenger from Japanese cruise ship dies

Meanwhile, a third passenger has died after contracting coronavirus on British cruise ship Diamond Princess which remains quarantined at the dockside of the Japanese port of Yokohama.

Japan's health ministry said in a statement on Sunday the victim was a Japanese man in his 80s who was also suffering from other illnesses.

The statement said the man was removed from the Diamond Princess and taken to a local hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, without giving any further details.

The cause of death was given as pneumonia, the statement added.

The incident came after two passengers of the ship  a man and a woman in their 80s died of the infection on Thursday.

More than 540 people have been infected on cruise ship Diamond Princess, which originally carried some 3,700 passengers and crew, most of whom have been transferred to hospitals.

Nearly 500 passengers are due to disembark the virus-hit Diamond Princess, docked at Yokohama near Tokyo, ending an ordeal that started on February 3.

Despite a quarantine imposed on the Diamond Princess, 621 of about 3,700 people on board  one sixth of the total  have tested positive for the virus.

In total, Japan has so far recorded four deaths linked to the new coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 130 people excluding those linked to the Diamond Princess.

The coronavirus can cause various symptoms, ranging from those of the common cold to more severe diseases such as pneumonia. Common signs include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other respiratory complications.

France prepares in case of coronavirus epidemic

Separately on Sunday, French health Minister Olivier Veran said new cases of coronavirus were "very likely" in France, adding that health authorities were ready in case of an epidemic.

"Today, there is only one infected patient in France, who is hospitalized in Lyon. His health condition is not worrying. All the others, apart from an 80-year old man who died, were released cured and are not contagious," Veran said in an interview with Le Parisien/Aujourdhui en France-Dimanche newspaper.

"Other cases, it is very likely. An epidemic? We are getting ready for it," he said, adding that he was "particularly watchful" of the situation in Italy.

In Italy, cases of the new coronavirus have risen to more than 100 on Saturday, killing two people and prompting the government to close off the worst hit areas in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto.

Over 50,000 people have been asked to stay at home in the areas concerned, while all public activities such as carnival celebrations, church masses and sporting events have been banned for up to a week.

Veran further said that the number of laboratories in France equipped with diagnostic tests would be increased to reach a capacity of "several thousands" of tests a day, against 400 now.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has called up a meeting at 5:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) to review the coronavirus situation, his office also said in a statement.

Since December, the SARS-like virus has killed more than 2,200 people in China, the epidemic's epicenter.

Elsewhere in the world, it has killed over a dozen people and spread across some 27 countries and regions.

China has reported another decrease in the number of new coronavirus infections outside its epicenter in Hubei Province on Sunday, but world health officials have cautioned that it is still too early to make predictions about the outbreak as the flue-like disease continues to afflict other countries and regions.

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In wake of ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Northeast Delhi, the Delhi Metro on Monday closed five stations - Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar - on its Pink Line route. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), in its official release, said that trains will terminate at Welcome metro station.

"Entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar are closed. Trains will terminate at Welcome metro station," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.

Earlier on Sunday, the DMRC had closed the entry and exit gates of the Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur metro stations due to the ongoing protests against the amended citizenship law.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured during the clashes over CAA in Maujpur in Delhi on Monday. Head Constable Ratan Lal was posted in the ACP Gokalpuri office in Delhi.

Also Read: Delhi Violence: One head constable killed; forces deployed to stop clashes

Stone-pelting between pro and anti-CAA demonstrations was reported in Delhi's Gokalpuri area on Monday where an anti-CAA rally was going on. Tension escalated in Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Chand Bagh earlier today, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

Given the tense situation in the area, Section 144 has been imposed in Northeast Delhi, but protesters from both the sides are still out in the streets. The police are trying to pacify the protesters.

Also Read: Anti-CAA protest: Stone hurled at Kapil Mishra's rally in Maujpur, police lob tear gas

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has urged the citizens to maintain peace and not to believe in rumours in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi. Police forces have been deployed strategically at locations where there is possibility of disurbance, like Jafrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad and Shiv Vihar, Joint Police Commissioner (Eastern Range), Alok Kumar told reporters.
Amid the royal rifts and the Queen's order with regards to the Sussex Royal branding, Prince Harry and Meghan Meghan sure looked like they are "unhappy" with the aftermath of Megxit.

The couple recently released a statement on the Sussex Royal website revealing their current plans after they stepped down from their royal duties. They also addressed their concern over Queen Elizabeth II's announcement about the use of the word "royal in their brand."

"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 statement read.

Now, speaking to The Sun, royal expert and commentator Richard Fitzwilliams expressed his belief that the Sussexes are bitter with the restrictions imposed by the Queen.

"This points out that they could not legally be stopped from using the word 'Royal' overseas but that they will not be using it," Fitzwilliams said. "It underlines how unhappy they are with the arrangement and for not being allowed to use it."

The royal expert also pointed out that changing their trademark to "Sussex" alone will not have a negative effect on their branding given that both of them are well known globally.

Moreover, the expert noted that the birth of their son, Archie might have escalated Prince Harry and Meghan's decision to live a private life and away from media scrutiny.

Queen Elizabeth II's Decision

It was January of this year when the Sussexes dropped their bombshell news announcing that they are resigning as working senior members of the royal family. After which, the Queen banned the couple from using the term "Royal" outside the palace's engagement.

Aside from their website, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has already used the "royal" brand in their Instagram account @sussexroyal, which has 11.2 million followers as of this time of writing.

The couple also spent tens of thousands of pounds for the application of trademark around the brand -- including for items like stationery and clothing.

Financially Independent

With the decision of the couple to leave the royal family also comes their revelation that they want to be financially independent -- menaing they will no longer rely on the support from the Sovereign Grant.

But how can the Duke and Duchess of Sussex finance themselves and sustain their lifestyle?

According to royal finances expert David McClure, given that the two are famous personalities, they might as well earn from it.

"I suppose they could get money from writing books, a more likely source is from television. There has been talk about Harry and Meghan doing a deal with Oprah Winfrey," he told BBC.

Since the Sussex are planning to launch a charitable organization aiming to achieve "progressive change" through "local and global community action," it is believed that any commercial partnerships that would be tied to their organization will help them raise their personal income.

The former "Suits" star also [reviously launched a clothing line for a British charity that helps unemployed women find work. Apart from this, it has also been reported that Markle has already signed a voiceover deal with Disney.
Panning Donald Trumps visit to India, the Shiv Sena on Monday said the 36-hour-long sojourn of the US president in the country wont make an iota of difference in the lives of poor and middle-class Indians.

While leaving for India, Trump has said he is going to discuss business with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which makes it clear that his trip is aimed at boosting US trade, the Sena said.

There wont be an iota of difference in the lives of the poor and middle-class people in India due to Trumps visit. Then where is the question of people being appreciative or enthusiastic of his tour, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

If there is any eagerness about Trumps visit, it may be in Ahmedabad, where he lands first, the Sena said.

More than the Trump visit the talk is about how walls were built to hide slums along the road he will traverse, the editorial said.

It is reported that Trump will touch upon the issue of curbs on religious freedom in India. These are our internal issues. This country is run by people elected democratically and they dont need guidance from any outsider on this, it said.

Trump should instead indulge in tourism of Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi, the editorial said.

When Trump leaves India 36 hours after his arrival, there will be no signs of his visit on the soil of India, the Sena said.
A t a secretive press conference in Milan on Sunday, it was announced that the Belgian designer Raf Simons will become co-creative director of Prada alongside Miuccia Prada, who has been at the head of the family-owned brand since 1978.

The news confirms months of rumours, sparked by a now-deleted tweet by Wall Street Journalist Jacob Gallagher, as well as dozens of tweets from leak accounts.

In an interview with the two designers for System magazine three years ago, Miuccia Prada said, One thing that I would really love to do is to work with Raf, and maybe with other people  it would be so much fun. If I could do a show with him, imagine how much fun we would have.

Why is it a big deal?

Simons will be the first person outside the Prada family to hold a major position since the houses inception, while fashion nerds are salivating over the potential this meeting of two of the most cerebral designers in the industry might create.

Why is Simons so special?

Hailed for his subversive aesthetic, the 52-year-old is considered one of the industrys most inventive designers and has previously tenured as head of design at Calvin Klein, Jil Sander and, perhaps most famously, Dior, becoming the subject of the documentary Dior and I.

His time at Calvin Klein was not without drama, however, ending in him exiting the business nine months before his contract ended. At the press conference Simons said, Mr Bertelli [CEO of Prada group and husband of Miuccia Prada] approached me right after my exit from Calvin Klein. Miuccia and I had a conversation about creativity in todays fashion system. And it brought me to open dialogue with many designers, not just Mrs Prada. Alongside his new role, Simons will continue to design for his namesake menswear label in Antwerp.

What is a co-creative director anyway?

There will be equal responsibilities for creative decision-making between the two designers. Prada said Simonss contract could last forever, which suggests that at some point down the line Simons could succeed Prada and be passed full creative control of the brand.

What will this mean for Miuccia Prada?

Is retirement in the pipeline? Absolutely not, Prada, who is 71, said at the press conference. I like working, and Im very excited and this will bring new wind.

What are people saying about it?

Fashion critic and editor-at-large of Business of Fashion Tim Blanks posted on Instagram, I cant think of anything like this in the history of fashion, while Hamish Bowles wrote for Vogue.com that the collaboration seems like a masterstroke of innovative thinking.

What can we expect?

The union will likely fire up a shift in aesthetic. Both designers share a passion for art  Prada has set up galleries in Milan, Shanghai and Venice and Simonss collaborators include the artist Sterling Ruby  and ideas.

What matters for me is ideas, and the aesthetics are totally secondary, Prada has said in an interview, while Simonss website reads, I dont want to show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future.

When can we start shopping?
The second National Bank of the United States was created by the Federal Government in 1816. Many state governments resented the bank for calling in loans it had made to them. Consequently, some states passed laws designed to hinder the bank's operation.

Others simply tried to tax it. Maryland imposed an annual levy of $15,000 on the bank, hoping to tax it out of existence. When the challenge to the tax reached the Supreme Court, a unanimous Court speaking through Chief Justice Marshall held that the tax was invalid. The Court also used a phrase that has come to be ...

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
The violence in North-East Delhi has been orchestrated most likely with an eye on US President Trump's visit to India, Home Ministry sources said on Monday.

The MHA is in touch with Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik who is monitoring the situation from the Police Control Room, sources said.

The Delhi Police reports to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Earlier today, one Delhi Police Head Constable lost his life and a DCP got injured during clashes between two groups that took place in Delhi's Gokulpuri.

Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi and asked people to maintain peace.

"Have instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for the maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed at 10 locations in the North-east district of the capital after the clash. Delhi Police also asked citizens to maintain peace and harmony in the city.

On Sunday, stone-pelting took place between two groups in Maujpur due to which the police resorted to firing tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob.

Maujpur is close to Jaffarabad metro station area, where women are holding a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Recently, it was announced that last year's Tamil blockbuster Kaithi will be remade in Hindi. This led to various reports claiming that Salman Khan or Hrithik Roshan are being considered to play actor Karthi's role in the Bollywood remake. However, according to sources, Tanhaji actor Ajay Devgn has been considered to play the role and reportedly he has also shown interest in the film.

Read: 'Kaithi' Hindi Remake in the Works

Pinkvilla quoted a source saying in the matter, "Ajay Devgn is being considered to play Karthi's role in the remake. He has watched the Tamil film and narration of the Hindi adaptation has also happened. He's very keen to do the film and has expressed his interest in the same. The deal is almost locked and the final modalities are being worked out currently before the team makes the official announcement."

Ajay is currently busy with multiple films in the pipeline. While he is currently shooting for Amit Sharma's Maidaan, Ajay will also be making his debut in the Telugu film industry with SS Rajamouli's RRR. The actor also has Chanakya and Bhuj: The Pride of India on his plate.

Talking about Ajay's busy schedule, the source said, "The makers are chalking out a schedule, keeping Ajay's timelines in mind. They haven't locked the dates but that will also happen in the coming two weeks time."

Kaithi is a story of Dilli, an ex-convict who plans to meet his daughter for the first time after being released from prison. But, he is interrupted when a police officer performs a drug-raid that injures many officers. Kaithi made Rs 105 crore at the box-office in 2019.

Follow @News18Movies for more
After his visit to the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo said on Monday that he doesnt see a connection between the 2018 criminal justice reform law and the Jan. 10 attack on a corrections officer.

DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat, joined lawmakers on a visit to the Lancaster prison on Tuesday, following the attack and a series of allegations of misconduct against inmates. He said he spoke with correction officers, prisoners and the medical staff during a three-hour visit.

I would say it was a very enlightening meeting to hear from all sides, DeLeo said, noting that he was speaking with Rep. Claire Cronin, who heads the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and members of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus.

DeLeo said he drew no conclusions following his visit and wanted to hear more opinions from those at the prison so that we can try our best to see that something like this doesnt occur again.

Cronins office said she joined DeLeo on his visit to the prison and that she will continue to work with the speaker on this moving forward.

One position DeLeo has maintained was that the 2018 criminal justice reform law is not to blame for the Jan. 10 attack. The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union attributed the attack to relaxed rules and regulations promoted by prisoners rights groups.

I feel that, and I think most people feel that, in terms of what we had done in that legislation, really, I could not see the nexus between the law that we had passed with what had occurred there, he said.

Gov. Charlie Baker signed the criminal justice reform bill in April 2018, ratifying a law that diverts people to treatment and special programs and eliminates some mandatory minimum sentences for drug dealing. It also created a process for juveniles and young adults to have their convictions expunged for outdated offenses, such as marijuana possession and decriminalized some minor offenses for juveniles.

Baker, a Republican, said at the time that he had concerns with the bill but that the very positive elements of the bill far outweigh some of the concerns we have.

Souza-Baranowski has come under a spotlight since a Jan. 10 attack where a correction officer was surrounded and attacked by inmates in the general population housing unit, according to a Department of Correction spokesperson.

The officer suffered a head injury and underwent surgery at a local hospital. Two guards who responded also were injured.

In the weeks following the attack, the prison went on lockdown. Attorneys and advocates say inmates were tased, bitten by K9 dogs, punched and otherwise attacked by a special operations tactical team, prompting visits from state lawmakers.

Three prisoners filed a lawsuit against the Department of Correction in late January, accusing the prison staff of physical attacks, taking legal paperwork and restricting access to attorneys. One of the plaintiffs, Robert Silva-Prentice, was accused of attacking the prison staff when they entered his cell. Silva-Prentice, who is serving a sentence for a 2017 murder, said he was not allowed access to mental health professionals following the attack.

Baker previously told reporters that he has faith in the Department of Correction to properly investigate the allegations and the culture of the prison.

The bottom line is everything gets investigated," he said at the time, and the primary goal and objective of folks in the department of corrections is to keep inmates and to keep inmates and to keep correctional officers safe.

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The official media outlet of the Turkmenistan's government, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper, has published a draft constitutional law "On Amendments and Additions to the Constitution of Turkmenistan," proposing creation of a bicameral parliament in the country, for public discussion

ASHGABAT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2020) The official media outlet of the Turkmenistan's government, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper, has published a draft constitutional law "On Amendments and Additions to the Constitution of Turkmenistan," proposing creation of a bicameral parliament in the country, for public discussion.

The new parliament will be called the National Council of Turkmenistan. The draft defines it as a representative body that exercises legislative power and consists of two chambers  the Halk Maslahaty, or the People's Council, and Mejilis, or the Assembly of Turkmenistan.

The Halk Maslahaty will consist of 56 people  eight members from five regions of the country and the city of Ashgabat, elected by secret ballot at the body's meetings in the regions and the capital city. Eight more members will be appointed by the president of Turkmenistan. Any citizen of the country who has reached the age of 30, holds a university degree and has been permanently residing in Turkmenistan for the previous ten years can be elected and appointed to the Halk Maslahaty.

Mejilis, in turn, will comprise 125 lawmakers elected in Constituencies with approximately equal numbers of voters. A citizen of Turkmenistan who has reached the age of 25 and has been permanently residing in Turkmenistan for the last ten years can be elected to Mejilis.

The duration of the term of the National Council's lawmakers is five years.

The Halk Maslahaty will deal with referendum issues, as well as matters related to the appointment and dismissal of a Supreme Court chairman, prosecutor general, justice and interior ministers, assigning military titles and state awards to the president, changing the country's borders, etc. Mejilis will approve the state budget, call presidential election, appoint members of both chambers and elect an ombudsman at the president's proposal.

The draft law is expected to be approved be lawmakers in fall and come into force on January 1, 2021.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Monday (February 24) called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his "true friend" saying "America loves India, America respects India." Addressing thousands of people at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad with a 'namaste', the US President said that the two countries will seal defence deals worth $3 billion on Tuesday.

Trump said, "I'm pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over US$ 3 Billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces."

The US President further said, "As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India."

Trump also spoke out against terrorism in his address and said, "Both our countries are hurt by the turmoil of terrorism... Today the ISIS caliphate has been 100% destroyed and al-Baghdadi is dead."

Praising Indias remarkable hospitality, Trump said, "PM Modi started out as 'tea wallah', he worked as a tea seller. Everybody loves him but I will tell you this, he is very tough.

In the closing speech, Trump said, "Today I say to all Indians to take pride in the glories of the past. Unite for the future and let our nations come together for freedom and its values. God bless America, God bless India. We love India very much."

Earlier in his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "India-US ties are no longer just another partnership, it's a far greater closer relationship."

Modi said, "New history is being created," adding "Welcome to world's biggest democracy."

The Prime Minister said, "Ties between India and US no longer just another partnership; it is far greater and closer relationship."

Earlier, US President Trump and PM Modi were welcomed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani at the Motera stadium.
CLEMSON, South Carolina -- In the quest to develop more effective treatments for parasitic diseases like African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, scientists look for weaknesses in the organisms' molecular machinery. These weaknesses can then be targeted with drug therapies designed to kill the parasites.

While they've made significant strides in recent years, scientists are still trying to unravel how the parasites' complex molecular systems work.

A team of Clemson University College of Science researchers recently contributed to that understanding by discovering the function of a specific protein in the three related parasites -- Trypanosama brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania -- which afflict millions worldwide with diseases that are sometimes fatal.

According to genetics and biochemistry associate professor Meredith Morris, the parasites share some of the same molecular makeup as humans, so drugs that can kill the parasites often do harm or have adverse side effects to the human hosts.

"We are always looking for ways that the parasites differ from us," Morris said. "One of the main differences is that the parasites have a specialized cellular compartment or organelle that is absolutely essential to their survival."

Morris and her team reported their results in mSphere on Feb. 19, 2020. The title of their paper is "Trypanosoma brucei Pex13.2 is an accessory peroxin that functions in the import of PTS2 proteins and localizes to subdomains of the glycosome."

That parasite-specific organelle is called the glycosome, which plays a crucial role in cell processes, particularly energy metabolism. The glycosome organelle is surrounded by a single membrane, where several proteins reside. These proteins (Pex13.1, 13.2 and 14) import other proteins required for normal cell functioning.

In their study, Morris and her students used biochemical approaches to partially resolve the composition of those three glycosome proteins. In the process, they demonstrated that Pex13.2 is an integral glycosome membrane protein that interacts with Pex13.1 and Pex14, which was previously not known.

Utilizing the advanced microscopy technology in Clemson's Light Imaging Facility, they also obtained very high-resolution images, and found that Pex13.2 exhibits a unique localization pattern that may be critical to its function.

"No one knew what Pex13.2 was doing, but our study adds to that understanding," said Morris, a member of Clemson's Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC). "Now we know that it plays a role in import of proteins and the division of the organelles."

The team also silenced Pex13.2, which resulted in parasites with fewer, larger glycosomes. Without 13.2, the parasite couldn't import glycosome proteins, resulting in the parasite's death.

"Others have shown that when 13.2 is knocked out, the cell dies," said Morris, noting that by fully understanding the organelle's parts and functions, drug companies could someday design rational approaches to disrupting the system and killing the parasite.

###

In addition to Morris, the research team included lead author Logan Crowe (Ph.D. 2019), now a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Georgia; graduate student Christina Wilkinson; and Kathleen Nicholson (B.S. 2017), now a doctoral student at the University of Notre Dame.
WASHINGTON  President Trumps immigration policies  from travel bans and visa restrictions to refugee caps and asylum changes  have begun to deliver on a longstanding goal: Legal immigration has fallen more than 11 percent and a steeper drop is looming.

While Mr. Trump highlights the construction of a border wall to stress his war on illegal immigration, it is through policy changes, not physical barriers, that his administration has been able to diminish the flow of migrants into the United States. Two more measures took effect Friday and Monday, an expansion of his travel ban and strict wealth tests on green card applicants.

Hes really ticking off all the boxes. Its kind of amazing, said Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research group. In an administration thats been perceived to be haphazard, on immigration theyve been extremely consistent and barreling forward.

The number of people who obtained lawful permanent residence, besides refugees who entered the United States in previous years, declined to 940,877 in the 2018 fiscal year from 1,063,289 in the 2016 fiscal year, according to an analysis of government data by the National Foundation for American Policy. Four years ago, legal immigration was at its highest level since 2006, when 1,266,129 people obtained lawful permanent residence in the United States.
Despite securing a win over Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain's manager Thomas Tuchel termed it a 'bizarre match'.

In the previous clashes, PSG witnessed a 4-4 draw against Amiens SC and a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Dortmund.

"It was another bizarre match after the Amiens game, but after the defeat in Dortmund, the most important thing was to win again. It's clear there are things to improve, but winning was the best thing to do," the club's official website quoted Tuchel as saying.

Marquinhos scored twice in the match while Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe netted one goal each to hand PSG a 4-3 victory in the Ligue 1 match today.

Tuchel is still looking for improvement, especially in the team's intensity.

"It was spectacular going forward, but I get the impression we're still lacking a little intensity, and defensively it was difficult for us to defend set-pieces, an area in which they were very dangerous," he said.

PSG top the Ligue 1 table with 65 points and will take on Dijon FCO in their next clash on February 29.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Appointment

24 February 2020

Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, part of InterContinental Hotels Group has recently announced the appointment of Mukta Khanna as the Executive Assistant Manager. She comes with an illustrious 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry. With her approachable persona and extensive knowledge of the sector, she is set to lead the team to superlative success. With a sharp industry acumen, Mukta has been duly acknowledged for her leadership skills, innovative strategies, and pursuit to persistently achieve goals for the organization's developments.

Prior to this, she has worked with reputed brands such as Crowne Plaza New Delhi, Radisson Blu Hotel New Delhi, Svelte Personal Suites, Intercontinental The Grand, Uppal's Orchid- An Ecotel Hotel and Intercontinental Park Royal. Mukta is a strategic-thinker who has accomplished herself in excelling guest satisfaction, revenue growth, brand compliance, and directing sales & distribution teams to success and profitability for hotels.

Armed with an extensive understanding and knowledge of managerial experience in operations, guest relations, and revenue optimisation, Mukta will play an integral role in the positioning of the hotel by performing diverse responsibilities. This includes strategic initiatives to boost market profile, align cost heads, staff engagement and overall management of the hotel to secure its leadership position.

A seasoned hotelier, Mukta has a proven record of being quick to embrace change and exudes qualities of an ideal mentor by managing her associates with compassion. She has led a customer centric culture, while keeping a keen eye on guest demands and requirements. Apart from her expertise in this field, she loves spending time with her family and rejuvenate.
BJP's Badarpur MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri was on Monday unanimously appointed by the party as the Leader of Opposition in the 7th Delhi Assembly.

While congratulating Speaker Ram Niwas Goel in the House on the first day of the assembly session, Bidhuri expressed hoped that Goel would protect the rights of opposition members to raise people's matters.

Bidhuri's name was announced at the Delhi BJP office in presence of city unit president Manoj Tiwari.

The BJP won 8 seats in the polls held earlier this month for the 70-member Delhi Assembly, while the Congress drew a blank.

In the House, Bidhuri assured Goel that the BJP legislators would give their support for the smooth functioning of the House.

"We at least represent 40 per cent of Delhi population. I request you (Ram Niwas Goel) to also give us sufficient time to raise public matters in the House," Bidhuri said in the Assembly.

As the Leader of Opposition concluded his speech, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj supported the demand of opposition members to provide them with equal time to speak in the assembly during discussions.

Bharadwaj said that in Lok Sabha dominated by BJP MPs, the ruling party members should also ensure equal time to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs for discussions.

The Greater Kailash MLA said the relation between the AAP and the BJP is like "saas-bahu".

He said there are three AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha while one in Lok Sabha, adding that they should also be given sufficient time during discussions.

Bidhuri started his political journey as student activist with RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Delhi University in the 1970s.

He was elected MLA from Badarpur on Janta Dal ticket in the first Legislative Assembly of Delhi in 1993. He was the leader of Janta Dal legislative party, that had four MLAs, from 1993 to 1998.

He was again elected to the Delhi Assembly from Badarpur in 2003 on an NCP ticket. Bidhuri joined the BJP in 2013 and was again elected from Badarpur seat on the party ticket in the Assembly elections that year.

Sixty-nine newly elected MLAs, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, took oath as members of the Delhi Assembly as its three-day session began on Monday.

Janakpuri MLA Rajesh Rishi could not take oath on Monday because he was not in town and he will now take oath as the member of newly-constituted Delhi Assembly on Tuesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Students had the opportunity to tour the plant and meet in person with company management, as well as interact with students from the opposite campus while visiting Ventra. The project was split into Bowling Green campus students and Firelands campus students working on different issues for Ventra.



The first project focused on defect analysis on anti-haze and anti-reflection coatings for headlamps, where the coating line at some point in the process was introducing contaminants that were causing headlamp failures, Furgal said. The second project focused on making thermal imaging diagram correlations to determine the optimal adhesive thickness needed from a robot system to prevent product failure while also not using an excess of adhesive, which raises costs.



Brodke said that the Firelands students helped document work station set-up issues and how defects contributed to problems in the work environment.



After the completion of the project, students presented their findings to their professors and managers from Ventra. They learned how to work in groups, make professional connections outside of the University scope and how important an outside opinion is to organization solving plant issues.



The project provided a unique opportunity I was excited to have, Sims said. Initially, I was nervous about the accuracy of our results and recommendations we would make as an entity of BGSU, but as the term progressed my group and I gained the confidence we needed.



It was important for the students to understand when one problem-solving technique has gone as far as it can.



It also teaches them how to work with experts in a different field, Brodke said. A hallmark of the modern workforce is the need for experts in different disciplines to work together.



Feedback from Ventra has been positive, and the company is thankful for the students being available and observant of their issues. Students faced challenges when management changed within Ventra and keeping everyone well informed, but this only helped them learn about effective communication.



Our clients are always willing to do a project with us again. To me, this is the best endorsement you can have, Brodke said. Workers are happy to help students and are happy to see that someone cares about what they are doing.



Thanks to a Ventures grant from BGSUs Project Sea Change, an institutional change initiative funded by the National Science Foundations Division of Undergraduate Education, this program will expand in the coming year to purchase supplies and help students with travel to the industrial sites.



I know this has opened up my willingness to be collaborative and these collaborations dont necessarily need to be between just the Bowling Green and Huron campuses, other area colleges could also be involved, Furgal said. Anytime people with different experiences and backgrounds can be put together, new and creative things will always happen.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday closed five stations in northeast Delhi after fresh clashes broke out between those protesting for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA in northeast Delhis Jaffrabad and Maujpur.

Entry & exit gates of Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar are closed. Trains will terminate at Welcome metro station, DMRC said on Twitter.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed in the clashes and a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank official injured.

WATCH | Delhi violence: Cop killed, houses & cars set on fire as protestors clash

The police issued a statement in the afternoon announcing prohibitory orders (under Section 144 of CrPC) and appealing to people in the area to maintain peace and harmony and not to believe in any false rumours.

The affected areas are Maujpur, Kardampuri, Chand Bagh and Dayalpur, the police said.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi and asked people to maintain peace.

Have instructed Delhi Police and Commissioner of Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for the maintenance of peace and harmony, Baijal tweeted.

Tension escalated with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, where pro- and anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.

At Jaffrabad, arsonists targeted vehicles, burning a few of them and forcing other drivers to rush to safety.

The protest against the CAA in Jaffrabad began on Saturday night after about 500 women staged a sit-in and blocked a road.

Police also used tear gas Sunday evening in Maujpur after pro-CAA supporters and anti-CAA protesters attacked each other with stones soon after a gathering, called by BJP leader Kapil Mishra, demanded that the police remove the protestors within three days
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday urged the world community to come together to take strong action against the countries, which are aiding and abetting terrorism.

Addressing the 32nd Annual Convocation of Goa University here, the Vice President said that terrorism is the enemy of humanity and denounced the actions of one of our neighbours in promoting cross-border terrorism.

While reiterating that India wanted peaceful coexistence with all its neighbours, the Vice President referred to the decision of global watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to keep a neighbouring country in the grey list and said that it was a grim reminder to the global community to exert greater pressure and hold that country to account on terrorism.

Naidu said that there is no place for violence in a democracy and asked the youths to shun negativism and join the forces of growth.

Stating that dissent was an essential feature of democracy, the Vice President, however, cautioned that nobody has a right to speak against the nation.

Naidu expressed happiness that in recent times people are talking about the importance of the Constitution. Calling it a positive sign, he said that every citizen must follow the Constitution in letter and spirit and adopt constitutional methods to achieve his or her goals.

Stating that rights and responsibilities go together, he also reminded the people the need to perform their duties.

Asking youth to be at the forefront of making India stronger the Vice President advised them to select and elect leaders on the basis of 4 Cs--Good Conduct, Character, Capacity and Calibre and not on the basis of other 4Cs--Caste, Community, Cash and Criminality.

The Vice President said that Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG) have opened up innumerable opportunities and our universities should educate and skill Indian youth to meet these 21st century requirements.

Stating that India was known as Vishwa Guru in ancient times, Shri Naidu exhorted Indian universities to again strive to make India knowledge hub of the world.

He also stressed the need for a multidisciplinary approach to research and development (R & D) and said that working in silos will not yield the desired results.

Stating that this convocation was not the end of your education, Naidu told the graduating students that learning is a life-long process and they should keep learning new things in life.

Maintaining that no nation can progress until its women are educated, the Vice President expressed happiness over the fact that out of 30,000 students enrolled in the Goa University, 60 per cent are women. Every woman should be given opportunities on par with that of men, he stressed.

He cited the examples great women scholars of ancient India such as Gargi and Maitreyi and said that respect for women is at the core of Indian culture.

He expressed happiness that India is now the fifth largest economy of the world, and "we are on the path to becoming five trillion-dollar economy." However, calling for a sustainable path for development, the Vice President appealed to everyone to respect and live in harmony with nature.

Climate change and global warming are two of the biggest challenges the world is facing today, he said and asked all nations have to step up their efforts to protect the environment and reduce carbon footprint.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four more people have died of novel coronavirus in Iran, spokesman for parliament Assadollah Abbassi said, bringing the country's overall death toll to 12.

"The minister of health announced the deaths of 12 people and 47 cases of infection in the country," ISNA cited him as saying.

At the same time, the countrys deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi said that 12 people had died from the coronavirus and 66 had been infected.

Iran has been scrambling to contain the COVID-19 outbreak since it announced the first two deaths in Qom on Wednesday last week. Authorities have since ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres across the country as a "preventive measure".

According to the latest reports, China has confirmed over 77,000 cases of patients infected with the novel coronavirus. The virus death toll has hit 2,592, yet more than 24,700 patients have recovered from the disease.
Odishas aqua culture potential to be tapped

February 24,2020 | Source: Daily Pioneer

There is an ample of potential for growth of aqua culture in Odisha as well as in the district of Baleswar which lies still untapped. The young mass should come forward for self employment and better profitability in the sector, observed the Union Minister MSME , Fisheries , Animal Husbandry and Dairying Pratap Chandra Sarangi in the inaugural meeting  Aqua Expo Odisha-2020 that kicked off here on Saturday.



He said that in order to achieve the target of the 5-trillion economy of the Narendra Modi Government in next five years, efforts should be made and every sector should contribute. The need of hour is to boost the confidence level of farmers by imparting technology, knowledge, training and extending financial help to the fish farmers, said Sarangi. He further stressed on the organic feeds which would keep the fish free from diseases. Sarangi also said several plans and proposals were in the pipeline which would be implemented phase-wise and he had a discussion with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.



The three-day fair is organised here after a gap of two years jointly by the Aqua feed Dealers Association, the Seafood Export Association of India and the Odisha Shrimp Farmers Association. Attending the function as guest, Balasore Chamber of Industries and Commerce (BCIC) Himansu Das said that in Baleswar and Bhadrak while there were about 8,000 shrimp farmers, 10 had become exporters which was a big achievement for the district as well as Odisha.



OSFA president Sanjay Mohanty observed that the sea food export had a special demand in overseas market, especially for shrimp and crabs in Malaysia. More encouragements to the sector could enhance the growth of the sector, he added. District Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy, OSFA senior member Kamlesh Mishra , president FDA Pravat Ranjan Patnaik and organising secretary of the event Sangram Das among others spoke. The fair while would culminate on Monday, about 120 stalls of various companies from India and abroad pertaining to aqua farming, including machineries, feeds and medicines were put up.
Disbanding Future Forward Party, Banning Leaders a Blow to Democracy

BANGKOK: Thailands Constitutional Court decision to dissolve the opposition Future Forward Party (FFP) on Friday (Feb 21) on politically motivated allegations, seriously damages the countrys return to genuine democratic rule.

politics

By Human Rights Watch

Monday 24 February 2020, 12:20PM

The censure debate against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and five cabinet ministers kicks off today (Feb 24) without key speakers from the now-dissolved Future Forward Party. Photo: Bangkok Post

The court ruled that the party took an illegal loan from its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, and imposed 10-year political bans on 16 of its executive members.

The Constitutional Courts ruling to dissolve the FFP is a knockout blow for Thailands teetering efforts to restore democratic rule after a military dictatorship, said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. This decision seriously weakens the political opposition for the benefit of the military-backed ruling party and unjustly cancels the votes of over six million FFP supporters.

The court stated that the Election Commission of Thailand, which brought a complaint in this case, could proceed with criminal action against Thanathorn and 15 other party executives. If convicted, Thanathorn faces up to five years in prison, and other party executives face up to three years.

The court also ordered confiscation from the party of 181.3 million baht (US$5.8 million), the amount of the loan considered to exceed legal limits.

Since its founding in 2018, the FFP has faced an onslaught of arbitrary legal actions and military intimidation that has raised serious doubts about the governments commitment to the democratic process.

The dissolution verdict came just three days ahead of a no-confidence debate scheduled for Feb 24 to 26 against the government of Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

The case, brought by the Election Commission of Thailand, contended that the funds Thanathorn loaned to the party fell under other benefits in section 66 of the Political Parties Act, which limits donations to 10 million baht per donor per year.

The commission determined that the loan could give him undue influence on the party. After considering that the party and its executives violated the donation limits, the court concluded the money was from an illegitimate source as defined under section 94 of the law, thus invoking the penalty of dissolving the party.

The court proceedings raise serious fair trial concerns, highlighted by the courts refusal to allow the FFP to present its case. The party had made a request to present evidence to counter the accusations against it, but the court ruled that it already had sufficient evidence to reach a verdict.

The ruling violates the rights of FFP members to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and democratic participation guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Thailand has ratified.

Despite Thailands lack of significant progress toward respecting human rights since the March 24, 2019 general elections, there has been little concerted public criticism of the government from the United States, the European Union, and other countries.

Thailands friends abroad should denounce this jarring setback to a return to political pluralism and democratic rule, Adams said.

When an up-and-coming political party that calls for reforms and represents dissenting voices can be dissolved on specious grounds, the democratic rights of all Thais are at risk.
The Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad has written a letter to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Bailjal after violent clashes between the pro and anti-CAA groups erupted in parts of the national capital. According to media reports, Chandra Shekhar Azad in his letter to Anil Baijal expressed concern for the 'safety and security of people belonging to the Muslim and Schedule Caste communities' living in the areas affected by violence.

Read: Congress Attacks Delhi Police, MHA Over Violent Clashes Between Pro & Anti-CAA Protesters

As per reports, Chandra Shekhar Azad in his letter to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi also requested that he be provided adequate security for his visit to Delhi. The letter to the LG stated, "You are requested to kindly direct Delhi Police to provide adequate security for the visit. I would be grateful if you could direct concerned police officials to inform me time and date preferably tomorrow itself when I can undertake the visit.

Read: Internet Services Suspended In Aligarh Amid Clashes Between Anti-CAA Protesters & Police

Bhim Army Chief, Chandra Shekhar Azad has written a letter to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi saying 'I'm extremely concerned for safety&security of people belonging to Muslim&Scheduled Caste community in many parts of North East Delhi & wish to visit the areas affected by violence'  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Delhi violence

A day after the violence escalated in Northeast Delhi, the protesters resorted to violence, torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, as per reports. Stone-pelting was witnessed for the second consecutive day between pro and anti-CAA groups, while heavy police security was deployed to the areas.

Read: SHOCKING: Stone Pelting Allegedly Between CAA, Anti-CAA Protestors In Delhi's Maujpur

India has been gripped by various protests for the past two months over the Citizenship Amendment Act. Demonstrations by both pro and anti-CAA groups in the national capital have been continuing since early December after the bill was passed by both houses of parliament. The central government has made it clear on multiple occasions that it has no intention of withdrawing the controversial bill that allows minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh to seek Indian citizenship.

Read: BJP's Kapil Mishra Declares 'won't Allow Second Shaheen Bagh' Amid Pro & Anti-CAA Protests


This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the US Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

A US federal grand jury charged Paul Marshall Bodner, 64, of San Francisco, California, with repeatedly traveling to Vietnam in order to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Illustrative image

The indictment was filed on January 30 following an investigation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in partnership with Vietnams Ministry of Public Security, the US embassy in Hanoi has said.

According to the indictment unsealed on February 13, Bodner allegedly traveled to Vietnam multiple times during the period from July 2015 through August 2016 for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

US law enforcement agencies, in collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners around the world, work tirelessly to protect children and to bring their abusers to justice. In this instance, strong collaboration between the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnams Ministry of Public Security have brought multiple child victims one step nearer to finding closure, said US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink.

This arrest also underscores how the United States and Vietnam can work together effectively to combat child exploitation.

Anyone with information about Bodner or his alleged sexual interest in children should contact the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE and ask to be directed to the case agent. Tips may also be submitted online.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the US Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

HSI is a critical investigative arm of the US Department of Homeland Security and is a vital US asset in combating criminal organizations illegally exploiting America's travel, trade, financial and immigration systems.

HSI is also a worldwide leader in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children. With over 200 US offices and more than 70 offices overseas, HSI has the ability to follow a case  to rescue a victim or arrest a predator  wherever in the world it may lead. Hanoitimes

Minh An

Vietnam seeks ways to combat child abuse Officials have proposed stricter punishment on those charged with child abuse at a meeting with the government, supervision delegation of the National Assembly and other agencies on January 15.
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Judge Amy Berman Jackson blasted Roger Stone while rejected a defense request that she step down from the case due to bias.

Stone is trying to get rid of the judge and get a new trial with claims of bias, but Judge Berman Jackson wrote in response to his motion:

At bottom, given the absence of any factual or legal support for the motion for disqualification, the pleading appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use the Courts docket to disseminate a statement for public consumption that has the words judge and biased in it.

..

Judges cannot be biased and need not be disqualified if the views they express are based on what they learned while doing the job they were appointed to do.

.

The defendant has not suggested that the Court said one word about him outside of the courtroom, or to anyone other than the parties, at any time. Its characterization of the jurors service was voiced on the record, and it was entirely and fairly based on the Courts observations of the jurors in the courthouse; through the nine days of voir dire and trial, when they were uniformly punctual and attentive, and through their thoughtful communications with the Court during deliberation  and the delivery of the verdict.

Roger Stones motion was all about laying the groundwork for Trump to claim judicial bias as his reason for pardoning him. The judge has not been biased against Stone. She has been fair to a defendant who violated or skirted her orders numerous times during the case.

Stone and Trump cant bully the judge, but they are laying a bogus pardon pretext that is visible from a mile away.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Ranchi: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi was elected as the Legislative party leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Monday.

He was elected unanimously as the leader after BJP Legislator Anant Ojha proposed his name, which was supported by other Legislators of the party. After getting elected to the Legislative party, Marandi has also become the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

"I was struggling outside and so returned home. Your cooperation will be my strength" said Marandi to the BJP workers after getting elected.

The election took place in presence of central BJP leaders P. Murlidhar Rao, BJP national vice president Om Mathur and others.

After the elections, the BJP had not elected its Legislative party head as it was kept vacant for Marandi. The Assembly polls concluded in December 2019 and post of Legislative party leader remained vacant for two months.

Marandi returned to the BJP after 14 years in presence of Home Minister Amit Shah on February 17. The BJP made his joining a grant event.

When Jharkhand was carved out from Bihar in 2000, Marandi became the first Chief Minister of the state. He had clean image and started a fight against the Maoists.

In retaliation, the Maoists killed his son in 2007 in Giridih district. Marandi, during his tenure as the Chief Minister, worked in the transport sector and road network connected each village of the state.

Marandi, however, failed to keep the allies together during his rule. The allies revolted against him and forced him to resign in March 2003 leading to the elevation of Arjun Munda as the Chief Minister.

Marandi quit the BJP just after fall of the Arjun Munda government in 2006, and later floated the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P).

After the poll debacle in the recently concluded Assembly polls, Marandi merged his party with the BJP.


[February 24, 2020] Devolutions Arms SMBs with Privileged Access Management to Protect Sensitive Data

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Booth #6381 -- This week at RSA Conference 2020 , software developer Devolutions is on mission to ensure small and midsized businesses (SMBs) have the tools they need to safeguard data. Leading the way is a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution called Devolutions Password Server , which provides enterprise-grade PAM features that offer SMBs a level of protection usually only afforded to large organizations.

It is well known that data breaches can cause devastating financial losses and immeasurable damage to a companys brand and reputation. While every business is a potential target, SMBs face unique challenges from their enterprise counterparts  yet the majority of IT software solutions currently available are complex and go well beyond what most SMBs require. With the introduction of Password Server late last year , Devolutions is out to change that. Most PAM solutions on the market are designed for large enterprises, then scaled back or restructured in an attempt to meet the needs of smaller businesses. Knowing that this approach leaves much to be desired, Devolutions created Password Server specifically for the needs of SMBs. Described by industry analyst Martin Kuppinger as providing a good baseline set of PAM capabilities and being easy to deploy and operate, Password Server allows users to control access to privileged accounts and manage remote sessions through a secure solution that can be deployed on-premises. With Password Server, SMBs can reduce the risks from insider threats and data breaches that often originate from credential misuse or compromise. When used in combination with Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager, Password Server becomes the single pane of glass of any IT department, integrating passwords and credentials with a robust, efficient remote connection management solution. In additio to Password Server, Devolutions will showcase the following software solutions at RSA:



Remote Desktop Manager (RDM) is recognized throughout the industry for its ability to centralize all remote connections on a single platform that is securely shared between users and across the entire team. It supports hundreds of integrated technologies  including multiple protocols and VPNs  along with built-in enterprise-grade password management tools, global and granular-level access controls, and mobile apps to complement desktop clients for Windows and Mac. RDM empowers IT departments to drive security, speed and productivity throughout an organization while reducing inefficiency, cost and risk.

(RDM) is recognized throughout the industry for its ability to centralize all remote connections on a single platform that is securely shared between users and across the entire team. It supports hundreds of integrated technologies  including multiple protocols and VPNs  along with built-in enterprise-grade password management tools, global and granular-level access controls, and mobile apps to complement desktop clients for Windows and Mac. RDM empowers IT departments to drive security, speed and productivity throughout an organization while reducing inefficiency, cost and risk. Password Hub is a flexible, cloud-based password management solution for team environments. It empowers organizations to simply and securely vault and manage business-user passwords and other sensitive information through a user-friendly web interface, which can be accessed via any browser. Password Hub was tailor-made to reduce SMB vulnerabilities to data theft. While our solutions can be used independently, many of our customers find that combining them together can be even more powerful, said Martin Lemay, CISO of Devolutions. For instance, one of our customers recently paired our Remote Desktop Manager with our PAM solution, which enabled their IT department to manage servers and network devices, integrating with password and credential management. This provided them with the utmost level of security across their organization that was not previously possible at the SMB level. At RSA, Devolutions will showcase these solutions in booth #6381 in the North Expo hall. For more information about Devolutions, please visit devolutions.net .

About Devolutions

Established in 2010, Devolutions is a Canadian-based company located near Montreal, Quebec. With more than 400,000 users in over 140 countries, Devolutions is on a mission to develop innovative enterprise software that helps users cost-effectively, simply and effectively achieve their remote desktop management, password management, privileged access management, and cyber security goals. The company is also committed to providing exceptional technical support, ensuring an excellent user experience that exceeds expectations, and delivering high performance with superior quality. For more information about Devolutions and its solutions, visit devolutions.net , follow the company on LinkedIn , Twitter and Instagram , like on Facebook or subscribe on YouTube . Media Contact:

Stephanie Olsen

Lages & Associates

(949) 453-8080

[email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46419e1c-4bf2-4550-b325-06a5a3e8a09f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a97aa7aa-ae3c-4e4f-b52e-4b2db0b23355

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Boris Johnson voiced 'full confidence' in Priti Patel today as her allies launched a furious counter-offensive at a wave of hostile briefing.

The PM strongly backed the Home Secretary in the wake of claims that security chiefs do not trust her with some intelligence, and that she has created an 'atmosphere of fear' among officials.

Tories also praised Ms Patel for doing a 'brilliant job' as she came to the Commons to spell out the government's post-Brexit immigration plans. She defiantly insisted her focus was to 'deliver on the people's priorities'.

Meanwhile, the UK's most senior civil servant, Sir Mark Sedwill, has read the riot act to those attacking the minister anonymously. He warned that the briefings 'besmirch this countrys hard-won reputation for good governance'.

Ms Patel has been facing a backlash after allegations emerged that she tried to oust her department's most senior civil servant, permanent secretary, Sir Philip Rutnam.

No10 said Ms Patel's relationship with MI5 - which has dismissed the rumours - was 'strong and close' and 'baseless claims to the contrary are wrong' - although it does not appear there will be a leak inquiry.

'The Prime Minister has full confidence in the Home Secretary and the vital work she is doing,' the spokesman added.

Asked if Mr Johnson had confidence in Sir Philip, the spokesman said: The Prime Minister has full confidence in the civil service which is working very hard to deliver on the governments priorities.

The Home Office tried to defuse the row yesterday by issuing a joint statement from Ms Patel and Sir Philip.

It said: 'The Home Secretary and permanent secretary are deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media.

'They are focused on delivering on the Home Office's hugely important agenda, which includes creating an immigration system that works for the UK, putting more police on the streets and keeping the public safe from terrorism.'

In a highly unusual move, spy chiefs rebutted allegations made over the weekend that they do not trust Home Secretary Priti Patel (pictured in the Commons today)

The minister has faced a wave of negative briefings after allegations that she had tried to remove her most senior civil servant  permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam (pictured)  following a series of rows

Cabinet Secretary's letter to civil servants Dear Colleagues, You will have seen recent stories of tensions within Whitehall, sparked by unattributable briefings and leaks to the media. This besmirches this countrys hard-won reputation for good governance and is a distraction from the vital work of the thousands of civil servants delivering the Governments agenda and the public services on which our citizens rely. Candour, confidentiality and courtesy between Ministers, special advisers and civil servants are crucial to the trust and confidence on which good governance depends. Civil servants should at all times be confident they can give honest, impartial and objective advice on which Ministers can rely. Both should be confident that this advice, and any debate that surrounds it, will remain private and that everyone will at all times adhere to the high standards set out in the Civil Service, Special Adviser and Ministerial Codes. I know that the whole Civil Service is committed to delivering the Governments agenda and to our enduring work to protect and promote the interests of our citizens, communities and country. Mark Sedwill Advertisement

In the Commons this evening, Ms Patel updated MPs on the immigration proposals, which were formally published during the parliamentary recess.

Without referring to the ongoing row, she said: 'We are a government that will deliver on the people's priorities.'

Former Cabinet ministers David David and Iain Duncan Smith heaped praise on her in the chamber. Mr Davis said she was 'excellent', while Mr Duncan Smith said she was performing 'brilliantly'.

In a letter circulated to all civil servants today, Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark said: 'You will have seen recent stories of tensions within Whitehall, sparked by unattributable briefings and leaks to the media.

'This besmirches this countrys hard-won reputation for good governance and is a distraction from the vital work of the thousands of civil servants delivering the Governments agenda and the public services on which our citizens rely.

'Candour, confidentiality and courtesy between Ministers, special advisers and civil servants are crucial to the trust and confidence on which good governance depends.

'Civil servants should at all times be confident they can give honest, impartial and objective advice on which Ministers can rely.

'Both should be confident that this advice, and any debate that surrounds it, will remain private and that everyone will at all times adhere to the high standards set out in the Civil Service, Special Adviser and Ministerial Codes.'

Earlier, a series of Ms Patel's supporters took to the airwaves to deny the stinging claims. Former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers said she believed Ms Patel was the victim of 'misogyny'.

'I'm sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office. It happens again and again,' she said.

Home Office minister James Brokenshire said Ms Patel is 'demanding' but dismissed the idea she was a bully.

The UK's most senior civil servant, Sir Mark Sedwill, has read the riot act to those attacking the minister anonymously

'Yes, she is demanding, but in that role you have to be because you are dealing with some of the most sensitive, some of the most challenging things that you have to deal with across Government,' he told Sky News.

The latest escalation in briefings yesterday prompted the security services to take the highly unusual move of denying that it was freezing out Ms Patel.

Despite this public show of support, sources close to the furious Cabinet minister said she had instructed the Cabinet Office to launch a leak probe to unearth the sources.

Civil service recruits for a new 60,000-a-year HR boss 'to protect ministers' advisers' amid backlash at maverick No10 aide Dominic Cummings' treatment of staff The Cabinet Office is seeking a new civil servant to oversee human resources policy for ministerial special advisers. A job advert placed on the Government's website calls for an 'HR policy lead' who will play a 'key role in establishing the cross-government special adviser HR function'. The 'high-profile and stretching role' - with a salary of up to 60,635 - would see the successful candidate being asked to 'revise and embed a full suite of HR policies, processes and principles ensuring they are fit for purpose'. It follows a series of concerns about the treatment of special advisers - known as spads - after an adviser to former chancellor Sajid Javid, Sonia Khan, was escorted out of Downing Street by police officers after being sacked by Dominic Cummings. The PM's chief adviser was challenged at an internal meeting of aides in No10 earlier this month, with one Spad saying it was 'unkind' of him to say half of them would be fired. Advertisement

According to The Times, Helen MacNamara, the government's director of propriety and ethics, rejected the request.

However, in a fresh sign of tensions, Cabinet Office sources were adamant that a request had not been received either formally or informally.

Ms Patel has faced a wave of negative briefings after allegations that she had tried to remove her most senior civil servant  permanent secretary Sir Philip  following a series of rows.

Allies of the Home Secretary were forced to deny claims that she had 'bullied and belittled' officials, made unreasonable demands or created an 'atmosphere of fear'.

According to The Times, Sir Philip has raised concerns with the Cabinet Office about the minister.

But friends of Ms Patel are thought to have regarded the clashes as about nothing out of the ordinary.

Ms Villiers told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I don't believe these allegations against Priti Patel. I think she is a highly effective Home Secretary.

'I think whoever is making these briefings should stop it.'

Asked if she thought the attacks were based on misogyny, Ms Villiers said: 'Yes I do. I think that there are clearly people who are out to damage the Home Secretary.

'I think that is unjustified. I'm absolutely certain she is probably tough and demanding on her civil servants, but I don't believe for a moment that anything inappropriate or anything resembling bullying would have taken place.'

Mr Brokenshire told Sky News' Kay Burley show: 'I think the Home Secretary is absolutely focused on the public good, the agenda that we've set around policing, on immigration and indeed around counter-terrorism and security.'

He described the reports as 'absolute nonsense', but conceded that there is 'huge frustration' across the Home Office around some of the 'false assertions that have been made publicly'.

Another ally said: 'Priti is absolutely livid. The blob is trying to kill her. She's determined to get to the bottom of it.'

Spy chiefs rebutted allegations made over the weekend that they do not trust the Home Secretary.

The whispering campaign against Ms Patel stepped up a gear at the weekend as anonymous sources reportedly claimed she was being kept out of the loop by intelligence officials.

In a poisonous briefing, one official claimed: 'The spooks find her extremely difficult to deal with. She doesn't grasp the subtleties of intelligence.

'It's not black and white. They don't have confidence in her abilities.'

Who is Sir Philip Rutnam, the Whitehall mandarin who Priti Patel 'wants to get rid of?' Sir Philip Rutnam is one of the most senior civil servants in Whitehall. He joined the Home Office as permanent secretary - the top civil servant role in each department - in April 2017 having previously done the same job at the Department for Transport for five years. However, his time at the Home Office has proved to be controversial because he was in post during the Windrush scandal. He faced calls in November 2018 to resign over it with Tory London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey claiming the mandarin needed to step down to 'restore confidence' in the Home Office. Amber Rudd resigned as home secretary in April 2018 because of the controversy which saw some migrants from Commonwealth countries who came to the UK from the late 1970s to 1973 being wrongly declared illegal immigrants. An official report examining what went wrong found that Ms Rudd had been let down by her officials. However, it stopped short of criticising Sir Philip. Advertisement

A second source told The Sunday Times that the senior Cabinet minister receives less classified information than her predecessors. 'They [the intelligence services] have to decide how much to share, and they share less.

The source added: 'She is also informed about things later in the decision-making process than before. Some things the security services do have legal implications, but she tends not to want to hear that.'

But MI5 last night moved to quash the claims, as it warned that the 'untrue' accusations do 'not serve the public interest'.

A security source said: 'Reports suggesting that the Home Secretary and MI5 do not have a strong working relationship are simply untrue.

The Home Secretary is briefed daily on intelligence matters in exactly the same way as any previous post holder. No information is being withheld.

'Any report suggesting otherwise is simply wrong and does not serve the public interest.'

An ally of Ms Patel last night said: 'Someone is clearly out to get Priti. The made-up briefing about our intelligence services has crossed the line.'

A source said they 'strongly refute' accusations of bullying or belittling and had never seen any evidence of this, instead describing her as 'demanding but kind', adding: 'But it is a demanding job, that's the nature of the job.'

The Home Office said 'no formal complaints' had been made.

The Daily Mail revealed last week how Ms Patel fell out with Home Office officials after she accused them of dragging their feet over tougher action against eco-warriors.

She wanted them to look into ways to change police powers to stop protesters bringing cities to a standstill, a Government source said.

But the Home Secretary felt they were raising objections to reforms which could have helped the police tackle organisations such as Extinction Rebellion.

It is thought that Ms Patel wants to include the new measures in the Police Powers and Protection Bill expected to be submitted in the summer.

Measures would not include the use of force but would be designed to ensure individuals can get to work or avoid seeing their businesses forced to shut.
German technology company Bosch has opened its new Olaya showroom located at Olaya St. Al Aam, in Riyadh, with an event celebrating not only the second Bosch brand store in Saudi Arabia but also the biggest.



Featuring a vast display of their diverse home appliance portfolio, guests are invited to witness the brands design excellence and innovations, while experiencing a display of technologies that crowned Bosch as Europes Number One brand in home appliances and distinguished them with the award for the Worlds Number One dishwasher.



The Olaya showroom is set to become a complete home solution hub, with a display of products ranging from cooking and baking appliances, to washers and dryers, dishwashers, fridges and freezers, coffee machines, kettles and toasters, kitchen machines, food preparation, irons, vacuum cleaners and home comfort products.



Many of these categories appear on the long list of award-winning technologies that Bosch has been distinguished for throughout the years. Boschs ActiveWater dishwasher scored twice with the Red Dot and IF design awards, while its SmartCool fridge freezer stands apart for being more economical than an energy-saving bulb.



The brands washers are being distinguished for their ActiveOxygen technologies that rid garments of 99.9% of bacteria and germs.



Hisham Hamza, chief executive officer of Bosch-affiliated Abdul Latif Jameel Distributors, said: Bosch products are invented for life, with the goal of making life noticeably easier, healthier, and more balanced. We are proud to be exclusive partners and distributors of Bosch in The Kingdom, and are delighted to be able to welcome customers to a new, easily accessible location.  TradeArabia News Service


24.02.2020 LISTEN

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice Chairman for Denmark branch, Ahmed Antwi-Boampong is calling on all political parties to provide a level playing field as they prepare to organise internal primaries to elect parliamentary candidates.

According to him, political parties are formed on three main principles, thus rules of law, respect of human rights and freedom of speech.

He underlined the need for political parties to stop resisting the emergence of personality cult in the party and abide by the constitution of the party.

Our internal elections and processes leave so much to be desired. The hustle some aspirants go through to pick up ordinary forms is needless to say the least, he stated.

He continued, Is our party not supposed to be a democracy? Is not so ironic we are who championing paperless and digitization at the National governance are religiously adhering to paper-based systems when it comes to picking up forms for elections?

It's strange that ordinary forms cannot be made available online for download. Its is a testament to how far we still have to go. Lets not create enemies from within when it can be avoided because the reconciliation afterward can be very expensive.

Ahmed Antwi-Boampong chastised those acting ultra vires the partys constitution and stated that anyone going against the constitution and democratic principles of the party are rather destructive elements who should not be in the party.
On his first oficial state visit to India, US President Donald Trump on February 24 said that his administration is working closely with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups.

While reiterating his loyalty towards India and Indians, he said: "Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one and there are signs of progress with Pakistan on action to stop terror organisations and militants that operate on the Pakistani border. We are hopeful for reduced tensions, greater stability and the future of harmony for all of the nations of South Asia."

Donald Trump's India visit: Get all the updates here

Among a host of topics including Indo-US ties, the US President also touched upon the issue of terrorism.

Trump also spoke about Indo-US efforts to deal with the same threat.

"The US and India are committed to stop terrorists and fight their ideology," he said.
Youve head the statement before. Someone, maybe even you, claiming: I love Jesus Christ. However, I cant stand Christians! It has almost become a cliche at this point, especially among younger Christians. They see the New Testament and are attracted towards Jesus because of His love, selfless acts of generosity, and service. When they look around at the current Christian climate, though, they dont see churches, faith leaders, or Christian communities that reflect those values in the way they think they should.

Modern faith is incredibly complex, but is it really possible to be a follower of Christ while hating the organized church and other Christians? Does God really require us to attend church or stay involved in the community? In short, the answer is no. Jesus wants us to be unified in our faith through love, forgiveness and understanding. There are a few misconceptions about the current Christian climate that will help change the way you think about loving Jesus and the church.

The problem with Christian culture.

In the Bible, Jesus was portrayed as an extraordinary man that was wise, compassionate, and caring. He promoted love without judgement, advocated for the poor, and was a strong agent of social justice. He treated women with respect way before the idea of equal rights was ever conceived, and even befriended those who were cast out by society. Because of His actions, Jesus is looked at today as being a great man and teacher similar to the likes of the Buddha and Gandhi.

Christians, on the other hand, are not perfect and seem quite the opposite of Jesus Christ. Christians are confrontational, judgmental, intolerant and hypocritical. They commit sins that they denounce weekly in church, like adultery, deceit and abuse. When looking at it this way, its no surprise that some people cannot reconcile their idea of Jesus with their experience with Christians.

Christians are tired of having Jesus defined and judged by the political views, denominational affiliations, legalistic theological beliefs, strict traditions, social networks, and attitudes of others. Theyre sick of the hypocrisy, judgment, fear, and shame associated with institutionalized Christianity. It doesnt take much to get burned out on the Christian faith when churches are filled with stern rules, authoritarian doctrines, and manipulative propaganda  promoting a wide variety of agendas that have nothing to do with Jesus. This doesnt equate to the Jesus and Christianity you understand, and thats because many times  its not real Christianity.

How to start changing your mindset.

If you are facing discontentment with the Christians you see around you, it's important to realize that you are not alone. All believers at one point or another struggle with seeing others who aren't living out the real values laid out for us in the Bible. It can be a very frustrating experience. There are people out there that arent preaching the way God intended, however there still may people that are. We tend to forget that Christians are not Jesus and are just humans  ones who are bound to make plenty of mistakes.

As frustrating as Christian culture can be, dont withdraw from community. Surround yourself with supportive believers who can empathize, pray, comfort, and uplift you  and do the same for them. Attend new churches to find new Christians that inspire you to build up your faith and be a part of the larger community.

Understand you also live in sin.

When you have crossed over into being cynical, though, you become the type of Christian you supposedly hate. You also do not display the love and respect for those who act differently than you, but Jesus Christ would. Jesus would see these Christians and want to keep an open mind and heart, so that He could do what He could so put them back on the right path.

There will be times in your life where you do not represent Jesus well. You dont love the way He loved and allow sin to jump into your heart. This is okay, though, as Jesus never expected you to be perfect. You wont be able to achieve the same level of brilliance He did, but you will be able to ask for forgiveness. Just as those Christian you supposedly hate can do too.

The gospel speaks of good news, proclaiming that Jesus Christ came to fill our needs. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him (John 3:17). Jesus came to save us, His followers, from ourselves. We have a way out of our sin through Jesus sacrifice for us.

Furthermore, when you tell others that you love Jesus but not His followers, you are pushing others away from the faith.

There are atheists out there that also see the hypocrisy of Christian life. When they hear that Christian themselves arent even happy being a part of the faith, it only further solidifies their beliefs. While we do not ever have to defend the sins of others, we should feel confident in testifying that forgiveness and rehabilitation are possible.

Being a Christian in todays society can feel hard. We see so much sin in the world and misinterpretation of God Word that we want to isolate ourselves from other Christians. This only makes matters worse, and is not what God wants for our faith. Loving Jesus fully means that you will make an effort to love all of His other children too  even if they do things that you may not agree with. Keep your heart open to new experiences, and youll start to realize you have friends in this faith.
Conduent recently announced a version of its disease surveillance and outbreak management platform, Maven, to securely track, manage and report on cases of the coronavirus, COVID-19, previously known as 2019-nCoV.

Maven is a software platform developed for organizations, including government agencies, to manage cases of more than 90 communicable diseases. Its flexible design gives organizations the capability to customize disease tracking most prevalent in specific geographies or communities.

Conduent will host the platforms coronavirus-enabled version of Maven in the companys secure cloud so public health agencies and other organizations can get immediate access to use it. Conduent expects its coronavirus module to be available within the month. Additionally, those with advanced training also can leverage the solutions flexibility to customize the Maven platform on their own to track coronavirus.

Based on an organizations need, Maven has the capability to track diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis and Ebola. More than 40 organizations are currently using Maven, and some have already taken advantage of the platforms flexibility by configuring it to track the coronaviruss spread within their respective locations. Conduent is also actively facilitating sharing of best practices between clients as they configure their systems to track the outbreak.

Maven is a valuable tool that organizations can use to identify and follow up on people who may have come into contact with a person infected with a communicable or infectious disease, said Mark Brewer, President, Global Public Sector Solutions, Conduent. In the absence of a vaccine, tracking and analyzing who is at risk from contact with an infected person is one of the most important methods available to contain diseases like the coronavirus and prevent widespread outbreaks.

Mavens technology is scalable and can be quickly and easily configured to changing technologies, protocols and geographic locations  all of which are keys to effective disease outbreak response. It is also designed to allow for easier data sharing and integration among health agencies on the front lines of battling the disease.

Designed with rich contact tracing, outbreak management and detection, state and local health organizations can collaborate to quickly and effectively contain public health crises  a much-needed technology for countries such as the Philippines, which as of February 15, has reported three confirmed COVID-related cases and 487 persons under investigation.

Epidemiologists can use Mavens reporting capability to search and analyze the centralized data collected to discover trends and patterns. Maven can also be used to report externally, supporting the need for automatic case reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, the World Health Organization, or local authorities.
Local News, Crime, Health & Wellness

By Brooke Hein Published: February 24 2020

The newest member of the Suffolk County Legislature, Anthony A. Piccirillo has been a vocal opponent to a newly proposed law that he claims Is a broad overreach of basic government function.

The newest member of the Suffolk County Legislature, Anthony A. Piccirillo has been a vocal opponent to a newly proposed law that he claims Is a broad overreach of basic government function.

Resolution No. 1015-2020, if adopted, will ban smoking within multiple dwelling units. This includes apartments, townhouses, condos, co-ops and other multifamily dwelling units in Suffolk County. The bill does not distinguish between renting and owning a dwelling; forcing people who own their own home to comply with this law if it is passed.

Legislator Piccirillo voiced his concerns with this proposed law at the public hearing before the Legislative body at the general meeting on February 11th; questioning how the government would enforce this law. Asking Is there going to be a hotline, will the cops be kicking down doors? No sufficient enforcement mechanism was provided.

The Government has no right to infringe on the rights of using a legal substance in the privacy of our own homes stated Legislator Piccirillo. This law is looking to regulate the behavior of Suffolk County residents within their own homes, including dwellings residents own. This is a slippery slope we are heading down. Regulating legal conduct within a persons own premises where there is a reasonable and legitimate expectation of privacy is generally frowned upon by the United States Supreme Court.

This is one of two bills being heard before the Legislature regarding smoking in or near multifamily dwellings.

This bill is radical and over the top the youngest member of the Suffolk County Legislature said. These decisions should be made by the landlord and tenant or by an H.O.A. Board; not by an unfunded government mandate added Legislator Piccirillo.

Legislator Anthony A. Piccirillo said that he vows to fight against this bill after an outpour of concern from his constituents.

Ive received many phone calls, emails and messages over the past few days; and an overwhelming majority of residents stand in opposition to this radical intrusion of government in our private dwellings stated Legislator Piccirillo.

The Legislator vows to continue to be a vocal opponent of this law.
A challenge from environmental groups to an $8 billion natural gas pipeline that would cross the Appalachian Trail seemed to falter at the Supreme Court on Monday, with even some of the courts more liberal members expressing skepticism about the breadth of the groups legal theory.

The case concerns the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would deliver gas from West Virginia through Virginia, where it crosses the famous hiking trail, to North Carolina.

The legal question for the justices is whether the U.S. Forest Service was entitled to grant a right of way to the pipeline. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in Richmond, Va., said no, citing a federal law that bars agencies from authorizing pipelines in lands in the National Park System.

Mondays argument was by turns metaphysical and practical.

Anthony A. Yang, a lawyer for the federal government, arguing in support of the pipelines developers, said the trail, administered by the National Park Service, was distinct from the land underneath it.
Exactly one week before upcoming legislative elections set for March 2, there are fears in Israel that the coronavirus scare could disrupt voting.

Contrary to prior reassuring assessments that diagnoses in the country were limited to Israeli nationals returning from a cruise, it now seems that the virus may also have been spread by Korean pilgrims who crisscrossed the country some two weeks ago. Authorities in Seoul reported on Feb. 22 that nine South Korean tourists who had recently returned from Israel tested positive for the virus. The group visited hotels, churches and numerous tourist attractions.

Following these revelations, Israeli health authorities entered into emergency mode. The Ministry of Health issued warnings and banned foreign travelers coming from South Korea and Japan. Some 200 nationals who returned from Asian countries such as China, Japan, Thailand and South Korea are currently under quarantine, and the Israeli public has started to panic.

Why it matters: There is concern that fake news about the virus may spread to lower voting rates in specific areas and thus impact the election. Also, quarantined citizens would be unable to reach polling locations. Authorities are now considering different options to enable them to vote, including putting up quarantined voting stations.

Fake news, real problems: Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan emphasized yesterday at an emergency meeting that spreading fake news constitutes a criminal offense, and he instructed the police to prepare for such eventualities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Shin Bet to thwart any attempts by foreign agents to interfere with the elections by spreading fake news about the virus. Speaking to the press, Netanyahu insisted that the situation is under control and the elections should not be canceled.

Whats next: While the Ministry of Health is constantly updating assessments and has prepared for mass hospitalization of people diagnosed with the virus, the spread of fake news conspiracy theories is more difficult to confront.

Professor Leonid Edelman (Avigdor Libermans candidate for health minister after the elections) has already accused Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox Health Minister Yaakov Litzman of generating public panic in order to lower voting rates, a situation that should benefit the right-wing camp.

Could fake news really disrupt elections? Yes. With the third elections in a year and the continued political deadlock, Israel is facing a crucial vote. Thus, voter turnout rates will likely determine this elections outcome.

Know more: Read Ben Caspits piece on Netanyahus three options ahead of the elections, and see Hassan Ali Ahmeds story on how the virus is prompting fears in Iraq.
Jaipur, Feb 24 : The Jaipur Jazz and Blues Festival, a world-class music festival, will be held here from February 28 to March 1. The three-day festival will be organised by Seher India in association with Unesco and Rajasthan Tourism.

The audience would be able to enjoy the performances by artistes free of cost at the iconic Central Park in Jaipur -- a nominated World Heritage City by Unesco, Founder Director, Seher India, Sanjeev Bhargava said on Monday at a press conference.

The event would see performances by 55 musicians from five countries including the US, Canada, Cuba, Germany and India.

Bhargava said that Jazz has its genesis as the music of the oppressed and expression of slavery in the US and came to be known as the voice of resilience and defiance against the oppressors.

"Today, this genre has far greater relevance with tremendous resonance with the youth of our country. Music and culture are not the prerogative of the elite or any one section of the society. The festival has thus been kept open and free for all to attend," he added.

On the occasion, Additional Director, Rajasthan Tourism, Sanjay Pande said that with the Jaipur Jazz & Blues Festival, Rajasthan Tourism is bringing to the state a new genre of music.

Seher India has curated an assorted mix of contemporary, fusion, Latin and mainstream Jazz as well as electric, punk and soul-blues on a single platform, making it a destination festival for music lovers.

Among the notable musicians participating in the festival are Sungazer (USA), Kirk MacDonald (Canada), Joao Bittencourt (Brazil), Bianca Gismonti Trio (Brazil), Nikhita Gandhi (India), Dhruv Visvanath (India) among others. Seher has also partnered with ShareChat as its social media partner of the festival.

Seher, India's premier cultural organization was the one to conceptualize and start the first-ever major scale jazz festival in India, the Delhi Jazz Festival, in 2011.
The Bachelor is scheduled to head into fantasy suite territory on Monday nights episode, and while we dont know what will happen, airline pilot Peter Weber is likely to find more tears and trauma as he continues his so-far, so-baffling search for love. After all, last weeks hometown dates were a mixed bag at best, and an outright mess, where Victoria F. was concerned.

But when it was time to hand out the roses, guess who got one, anyway? Yep.

Peters decision to give Victoria a rose even after one of his exes pulled him aside in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to warn Peter about Victoria -- gosh, how convenient that the cameras were there, ready to catch the action! -- came off as either some weird kind of self-destructive act, or a desperate attempt to jazz up the show, which, frankly, has been seriously lacking in the romance department.

(How to watch The Bachelor": The Bachelor airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC. No cable or antenna? Live stream The Bachelor on Hulu + Live TV. You can also catch up on episodes you may have missed via Hulu + Live TV.)

Really, this batch of bachelorettes all act like theyre mildly bored, and Peters lack of chemistry with any of them has made this season of The Bachelor feel about as sexy as an episode of Meet the Press.

Adding to last weeks what-is-Peter-thinking? mystery was the fact that his hometown dates with Kelsey, Hannah Ann and Madison went fairly well, despite the two youthful brunettes appearing to be the same person (I know, I just cant let that go) and Madison confiding to the camera that shes saving herself for marriage.

Has Madison confided that little detail to Peter? Nope, net yet. But it sure looks like the subject is about to come up once the fantasy suite comes into play in the Monday, Feb. 24 episode.

Even after hearing warnings about Victoria, Peter went ahead and gave her a rose at the end of last weeks show, which meant Kelsey was sent off, to await her all-but-guaranteed casting on Bachelor in Paradise.

So, whats in store for tonights episode? Peter and the last three bachelorettes standing -- Hannah Ann, Madison and Victoria -- are heading to Australia. Its fantasy suite week! But Madison appears to be handing Peter an ultimatum regarding whether he has sex with the other bachelorettes. Nobody mention windmills, OK?

The Bachelor airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC; stream episodes via Hulu + Live TV.)

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Can you imagine if we have one singlet and briefs factory in Nigeria? Do you know the market it would have? We import everything. Whereas if most of our politicians who are stealing money can set up singlet and pants factories in every geo-political zone, the market is there, but we all just believe in stealing.
Obi Primary School located in Uzebba Ihuleha community in the Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State like many schools resumed for academic activities after the first-term holiday which ushered in Christmas and New Year holidays.

The school founded in 1958 had eight teachers residing in Obi camp in the area. Its sited in a border forest between Edo and Kogi states.

But the schools Headmaster who is also the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Owan West LGA chapter, Mr Okun Dada, and other teachers, have abandoned the school despite their contributions to its development. An abduction case they witnessed last month made them to take the decision.



Dada told Sunday Punch, Nothing can take me back to that place. If the government cannot transfer me, then they should pay me my entitlements and I will retire.

On January 13, 2020, Fulani gunmen invaded the school when the teachers just ended the first meeting for the year. Dada said five of them were in the staff room while three were around his office that day.

He said, There was no pupil in the school that day being the first day of resumption. Usually, it used to take one to two weeks before pupils start coming because of the distance of the school to the communities. One of the three teachers sitting outside my office was Mrs Esther Alabi. She was kidnapped by the gunmen.

It was around 10:30am and suddenly I saw one of my teachers running. He ran across where I was sitting. Then I looked up and saw one of the gunmen shooting and everybody ran for safety. I managed to jump the window and fell into the bush not knowing that they had already surrounded the bush. They attacked me with a matchet and while I was still struggling to escape from them, I fell.

One of them pointed a gun at me and I begged, Please dont kill me but the gun refused to fire. When they noticed that the gun didnt fire, the man who held the gun tried to remove the bayonet. While he was struggling to do that, I ran towards my car. Others ran after me but I had already entered the vehicle and zoomed off to a nearby police station.

But Alabi was not lucky even though she jumped through the window, she fell into the hands of the gunmen who took her away with them. Punch gathered that the teacher was the only one seized by the gunmen and was with them for three nights moving round the bush.

She was released on the third day after a payment of N1.7m ransom and purchase of items like cigarettes, malts and soft drinks, among other things.

Alabi, a mother of two, had been teaching in the school for five years. Before the incident, the woman enjoyed good health but now on drugs for insomnia which became worse especially in the night arising from nightmare of the incident.

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CITY HALL -- Minority Leader Steven Matteo has decided to join a growing number of elected officials who plan to sit out the boroughs March 1 St. Patricks Parade to stand in solidarity with the Pride Center of Staten Island.

The announcement from the Republican Mid-Island councilman on Monday, who is running for borough president, comes after he had been undecided for nearly a week about whether he would march in the parade.

For the last several years, the Pride Center has consistently been denied from marching in the parade with its banner, a decision that comes from the Richmond County St. Patricks Day Parade Committee.

Matteos office said it is the first time the councilman has decided to not march in the parade and that he will not attend the pre-party event at Jodys Club Forest in West Brighton either where the whos who in politics gather every year before the parade starts.

Last year, I articulated my firm belief that the Pride Center, an organization I have long supported, should be able to openly participate in the Staten Island St. Patrick's Day Parade, Matteo said. Still, I marched last year with the hope that the parade organizers would take the overwhelming feedback for inclusion that they received from across the borough into consideration for this years parade. Obviously, they did not.

Matteo said he met with Pride Center Executive Director Carol Bullock on Monday to inform her of his decision and hopes that next year the center will be able to march with its banner in the parade in a more inclusive event.

The councilmans decision comes as the Archdiocese of New York and the national Ancient Order of Hibernians have avoided getting involved with who gets invited to march in the parade nor have condemned the Richmond County St. Patricks Day Parade Committee for barring the Pride Center from marching with its banner.

Instead, the Archdiocese of New York and national AOH have said it's the role of separate parade committees to decide who can and cannot attend a parade and not up to them.

But Bullock has said she wants the Archdiocese to step in and get the Irish Catholic organization to be more inclusive.

Parade organizer Larry Cummings previously told the Irish Voice the parade was meant to celebrate Irish heritage. However, Bullock said Cummings has emphasized to her in the past the parade is put on by a Catholic organization.

I believe if thats the stance  some dialogue could at least happen, Bullock said previously, referring to talks between the Archdiocese and AOH.

The Archdiocese would not say whether it considers the parade a Catholic event, only saying St. Patricks parades are not organized or sponsored by the church.

In addition to Matteo, the group of protesting politicians includes Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) and Republican Borough President James Oddo and Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid Island).

However, none of them, except for Oddo, the mayor, Cusick, and now Matteo, would say whether or not they plan to go to the pre-party at Jodys.

Cusick, an Irish American lawmaker, and 25-year AOH member, initially could not be reached for comment about whether he would attend the annual parade. But after several days of consideration, he announced at the end of the week he would not be marching.

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 District Attorney Michael McMahon all plan to attend the parade.

Assemblymen 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.
A paramedic tends to Alan Mauricio Huerta Cortes following Sunday's crash in Naucalpan, Mexico. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead

This is the shocking moment a man crashed his vehicle into a highway barrier wall in Mexico and was ejected before dying at a local hospital hours later.

The accident occurred Sunday afternoon in Naucalpan, a city northwest of Mexico City, when Alan Mauricio Huerta Cortes, 25, lost control of his Mazda and collided against the concrete divider.

A surveillance camera captured the horrifying moment the car hit the side of the wall and then took off in the air as Huerta Cortes simultaneously flew out of the vehicle.

Huerta Cortes' vehicle did not collide with other cars on the highway.

Alan Mauricio Huerta Cortes died Sunday night due to head and abdominal injuries he suffered as a result of being ejected from his vehicle (top left) after crashing into a concrete highway divider wall in Mexico

In the video, Huerta Cortes' body is lying and is narrowly run over by at least two cars while his mangled vehicle rests in the middle of the highway.

His body landed about 65 feet from where the wrecked vehicle landed sideways.

Several bystanders rushed to Huerta Cortes' side before paramedics arrived and placed him on a stretcher about five minutes after the accident.

Huerta Cortes' Mazda flew over lanes of traffic after hitting the highway divider wall

Alan Mauricio Huerta Cortes' wrecked Mazda landed sideways in one of the two highway lanes

Paramedic stabilizes Alan Mauricio Huerta Cortes' neck moments after he was ejected from his car after crashing into a highway wall in Naucalpan, a city northwest of Mexico City. He was under observation in the intensive care unit before he was declared dead

According to Mexican newspaper El Universal, the head of the National Institute of Health Care, Dr. Eduardo Vazquez Celis, said Huerta Cortes suffered head and abdominal injuries as a result of not having his seat belt on at the time of the accident.

Huerta Cortes was under observation in the intensive care unit before he was declared dead.

Authorities did not report any other injuries.

Police in Naucalpan, Mexico, clear traffic following Sunday's horrifying accident that was recorded by a surveillance camera. The 25-year-old driver of a Mazda was ejected from the vehicle after it crashed into a concrete wall
Many traditions and cultures across the world shine a spotlight on diverse form of leadership styles, mainly positive varieties for which a society can development and elevate itself economically among other contemporaries. Far away in sands of time, renowned leaders like Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Mobutu Sese Seko, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, and Muammar Gaddafi, vehemently upheld and elaborated on the fundamental principles of extreme autocratic and undemocratic leadership styles, for which they all fell short from their untouchable glory and ultimately suffered the consequences thereof through failure and or termination of office. Learning from precedence of yesterdays histories, several parts of the world mainly the West, have learnt to adopt and adapt new genre of leadership which is more liberal, transparent and tolerant, devoid of any form of corruption, nepotism and leadership inconsistency, unlike Africa.

Africa has over the years experienced hundreds of major civil and ethnic wars all on the altar of bad leadership. Corruption has become order of the African day. Leaders having usurped office on the ticket of party politics pays more allegiance to their identical political mammoths than the electorates for whose thumb-power crowned such leaders with their self-acclaim untouchable glory. They tend to embezzlement of states funds and hoard unfathomable amount of wealth in Western banks as a form of provision to finance subsequent elections to stay longer in power, mercy! Their families become classic class of godlike nobles riding in finest saloon cars and V8s to the taunt of poor citizens. If this is our perception of success as leaders by engaging incorruptible acts to enrich families, friends and political allies, why will Africa not be Underdeveloped?

These same leaders, due to the glory they clad themselves in and their unholy wealth thereof, tend to be power-drunk with their term of office so much that, even when they have to successfully step down after losing elections, they tend to manipulate the constitutions in their favour or resolve to the barrel of the gun just to prolong their forceful leadership in satisfying their parochial interest. This happened in many Africa countries such in the case of Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, Blaise Campoare of Burkina Faso, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Maummar Gaddafi of Libya, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Charles Taylor of Liberia, all of whom were either forcibly ousted from office, or had to tragically end their terms to the detriment of they and their families. Some even go as far as emptying the national coffers in acts of corruption before exiting.

Strategically in the name of party politics, a country whose leader take shade in a particular political party, having contested and decide to accept the result of a lost election, most often end up borrowing billions of loans from Western Banks and International Monetary Fund (IMF) which will then be paid by the upcoming governments. This ultimately becomes burden on any new government since the newly sworn in leaders will have to spend almost all their term of office paying loans treacherously procured by their predecessors which unabatedly indebt the country. Africa, how then do we aspire to progress as a continent while our political leaders are so corrupt and obviously stand for nothing but re-election and satisfying their parochial interest? Mercy!

The infamous Chinese warrior, Sun Tsu, in his book The Art of War, said If orders of Generals are clear, then the blame of a defeated army should not be put on the warriors, but rather, the Generals (Sun Tsu, Art of War). This means that, leadership and for that matter leaders of every society has the willpower to lead a society in the right direction towards achievement of collective goal, regardless of whatever. In any situation, where society does not perform to expectation, the leaders are to be blamed and hanged on the gallows of societal criticism. In any case, without whatever shade of excuse, leaders in Africa are to be blamed for the continental underdevelopment. If Africa so aspire to rise above its contemporary state of affairs and nonetheless predicament, then we must strengthen and correct all the erroneous perception of the African way of leadership. Leaders must know unequivocally that they are in power to serve and not to be served. That, it is not about satisfying parochial interest through corruption and nepotism, but striving for shared interest where countries within the continent are ruled on fairgrounds towards achievement of common good attestable by all citizens.

The most devastating aspect of African leadership is party politics. How I wish African countries will adopt the tenets of monarchical government just like the United Kingdom, even though in my subtle opinion, Americas democracy vehemently rooted in party politics should not be the rationale, and for that matter, be blamed for Africas underdevelopment. To justify my claim, I will set a typical example of such scenario in my very own country Ghana where projects are executed on party basis and most projects are terminated and left to their fate of destruction upon exit of a leader associated to a notable political party.

The two major political parties in Ghana will have to play this political game to the detriment of poor citizens whose standard of living is declining day by day. Once a government leave office through lost at the polls, its ongoing projects are abandoned by the new government with the aged-old rhetoric of who will take the credit? This newly sworn in government will terminate old and ongoing projects of her predecessor and embark on entirely new projects, living such previous projects to devastate dramatically. Somebody should remind African leaders that the iconic Burj khalifa and other much venerated developments in Dubai was not built in the rot of a day, but by dedication, commitment and hard work of visionary leaders who has the country at heart, and are willing to do whatever they have to, to make their country attain the highest height of enviable success. What should then prevent African leaders from doing same?

In Africa, getting jobs are always on party basis. One will have to adorn himself in an identical political cloak or associate himself to a particular political party in government before job applications are accepted. One will have to be connected to the political mammoths of the day to keep his job, with fear of transfer or losing job entirely. This is Africa where favours are rendered to persons of similar political identity and jobs given to friends and family without any foreseeable knowledge and skill relating to the field of job offer; where farmers become bank managers and street hawkers become international business tycoons all in the name of mere change of government, mercy.

To the best of my knowledge, the major premise for Africas underdevelopment can be attributed to no other reason than inappropriate governance and bad leadership style in the respective countries across the continent. That, if we as a nation, vehemently uphold that conviction to prosper beyond our curse, then we must endeavour to change our understanding, perception and approach towards leadership. Like Paul Kagame of Rwanda, leaders of all other African countries can also embark on positive leadership tour today to lead the continent into future enviable developments. Ubuntu; Africa is, because we are.

RICHARD ASUMAH KWAKU TETTEH

YOUTH AND PAN-AFRICAN ACTIVIST

[email protected]
The original site was designed by S. Abbas Raza in 2004 but soon completely redesigned by Mikko Hypponen and deployed by Henrik Rydberg. It was later upgraded extensively by Dan Balis in 2006. The next major revision was designed by S. Abbas Raza, building upon the earlier look, and coded by Dumky de Wilde in 2013. And this current version 5.0 has been designed and deployed by Dumky de Wilde in collaboration with S. Abbas Raza.
Iran expects EU to stand against Washington's illegal measures: President Rouhani

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 February 2020 5:05 PM

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic expects the European Union to object to the illegal measures taken by the United States against Iran and ignore Washington's pressure policy in order to boost Europe's ties with Tehran.

"The EU is expected to stand firm in the face of the illegal measures taken by the US," Rouhani said in a Sunday meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Tehran.

"Like the coronavirus, the fear inspired by the US sanctions is more than what their real nature deserves," the Iranian president said.

Pointing to the US economic sanctions against the Iranian nation, which also include medicine and food, Rouhani added, "Imposing such sanctions is an act of terror and we expect the European Union to fulfill its humanitarian duty in this regard."

He said Iran's initiative for regional security, known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), is aimed at establishing peace in the region, adding, "All the problems in our region are rooted in Washington's inappropriate and illegal interference in regional issues."

In an address to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, Rouhani invited all countries that are affected by developments in the Persian Gulf to join the country's initiative for the security of the strategic region.

He said that the 'Coalition of HOPE' aims to promote peace, stability, progress and prosperity of littoral states and help achieve mutual understanding and establish peaceful and friendly relations among them.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani emphasized that the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), does not only belong to Iran, Europe or the P5+1 group of countries (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany) with whom Iran clinched the deal, because it can play a determining role in improving peace and security on a global scale.

"We still believe that we can preserve the JCPOA," the Iranian president stated.

US President Donald Trump, a stern critic of the historic deal, unilaterally pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018, and unleashed the "toughest ever" sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism in an attempt to strangle the Iranian oil trade.

In response to the unilateral move, Tehran has so far rowed back on its nuclear commitments four times in compliance with Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA, but stressed that its retaliatory measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the mutual trade from the US sanctions.

Tehran has particularly been disappointed with failure of the three European signatories to the JCPOA (Britain, France and Germany) to protect its business interests under the deal after the withdrawal.

'Keeping JCPOA in place main policy of Austria, EU'

The Austrian foreign minister, for his part, said preserving the nuclear deal is a main policy for his country and the EU, vowing to make utmost efforts in this regard.

He added that Vienna welcomes the HOPE initiative as a road map to creation of peace and stability in the region, saying that "Vienna hails the initiative whose aims is to build confidence [with the world].".

Schallenberg, who arrived in Tehran at the head of a delegation on Sunday, held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier in the day.

The top Iranian and Austrian diplomats discussed the latest developments related to the JCPOA and the Europeans' obligations under the deal, stressing the importance of further expansion of mutual relations in various fields.

During the second round of their talks, Zarif and Schallenberg exchanged views about leading regional and international developments.

In the presence of the two foreign ministers, Iranian and Austrian officials signed an agreement to boost cultural and artistic cooperation.

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Former French prime minister Francois Fillon is going on trial to face fraud charges.

The trial beginning on Monday is scheduled to last until March 11, but it may be quickly suspended until Wednesday on request from Fillon's defence team out of solidarity with a lawyers' strike against French president Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform.

Fillon is suspected of having given jobs as parliamentary aides, involving no sustained work, to his wife and two of their children from 1998 to 2013.

Once the front-runner in the 2017 presidential election, Fillon, 65, has denied wrongdoing.

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The scandal, which made headlines in the French media just three months before the 2017 vote, crushed the conservative candidate's campaign and allowed centrist candidate Mr Macron to gain momentum.

Fillon has been charged with the misuse of public funds, receiving money from the misuse of public funds and the misappropriation of company assets. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a one million euro fine if convicted.

His wife, Welsh-born Penelope Fillon, has been charged mostly as an accomplice.

A former politician, Marc Joulaud, also goes on trial for misuse of public funds after he allegedly gave her a fake job as an aide from 2002 to 2007, while her husband was minister.

Fillon and Joulaud both had other parliamentary assistants.

In addition, charges also cover a contract that allowed Penelope Fillon to earn 135,000 in 2012-2013 as a consultant for a literary magazine owned by a friend of her husband - also an alleged fake job.

The magazine owner, Marc de Lacharriere, pleaded guilty and was given a suspended eight-month prison sentence and fined 375,000 euros in 2018.

Fillon said last month on France 2 television that his wife's job was not fake. "She was my first and most important aide," he said. "Evidence will be produced during the trial."

In a 151-page document seen by The Associated Press ordering the case to trial, investigative judges said the probe showed that Penelope Fillon's activities were in line with the traditional role of an elected official's partner - but in no way equivalent to the tasks of a parliamentary assistant.

Defence lawyers provided about 500 documents they say are related to Penelope Fillon's work.

"These documents did not show anything, or only confirmed a misleading interpretation consisting in calling parliamentary work the most trivial of her activities," investigative judges wrote.

The investigation also showed that the wages of the children's alleged jobs were paid to the joint banking account of Francois and Penelope Fillon.

The lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, joined the proceedings as a civil plaintiff to request reimbursement.

Fillon denounced the case as a "political assassination" after it was revealed in January 2017, when French investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine first reported Penelope Fillon's alleged fake job.

He continued his presidential campaign despite the judicial investigation, but Fillon was eliminated from the race after finishing third in the first round, behind Mr Macron and far-right leader Marine le Pen.

Fillon served as prime minister under president Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012. He was also a government official under two previous presidents, Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.

Fillon now works for an asset management company. He said last month that he will not attempt a political comeback.
Its an idea so intuitive that its a wonder it isnt more widespread: If you want to better align school with the jobs of the future, why not teach some K-12 classes partly on the same sites as the businesses that are on the cutting edge?

Over the past six years, a regional educational collaborative serving three upstate New York counties has developed a unique set of these embedded career-technical education programs, bringing them close to the model of a teaching hospital.

Students can work on brand-new makes and models of cars at Drivers Village, a huge car dealership and service center in Cicero, N.Y., or on multimedia broadcast programs run by WCNY-TV, a state PBS affiliate. The collaborative opened an engineering program this past September with none other than defense giant Lockheed Martin. And this coming fall, it will open up a heavy equipment operation and repair and diesel-technology program with Tracey Road Equipment, a supplier of road-construction machines.

The programs are designed so that students get the most realistic apprenticeship possible. But more than that, they also provide a glimpse into industries that are now rapidly transforming, like automotive technology, media and communications, and health care, among others.

We wanted the most authentic learning environment for studentsthat was the driving force, said Colleen Viggiano, the deputy superintendent of the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Collective Educational Services, or BOCES, that runs the programs. The thought is that the more authentic the learning environment, the greater students ability to truly experience the career field and determine if thats what they want to do.

The OCM BOCES is one of 37 regional collaboratives in New York that provide educational programming to small districts that couldnt otherwise afford special programs on their own.

It was already a pioneer in certain CTE best practiceslike using national and local labor-market data to help determine which CTE programs to open.

But as of about a decade ago, most of the programs still were held in traditional classrooms at BOCES centers rather than at actual businesses. As the skilled trades grew increasingly sophisticated, it became difficult and costly to obtain the most up-to-date equipment for students to tinker with.

Viggiano, along with the then-superintendent of the BOCES, Jody Manning, and its CTE director, Phil Grome, started reaching out to major businesses in the counties with an unusual proposition: If the businesses could supply a classroom, dedicate some staff time, and help develop the curriculum, the BOCES would take care of hiring a teacher, providing bus transportation, and handling all of the other details so the programs could be taught on site.

The first partnership, with Drivers Village, began in 2013 as Syracuse car dealers were fretting over a shortage of skilled automotive technicians, which they anticipated would triple in size over the next few years.

Automotive technology still inevitably conjures up pictures of grease and spark plugs, but the cars of today, with autonomous steering, integrated electronics systems, and back-up cameras demand a much different, and more sophisticated, kind of training.

One of the perks of having the classrooms here is they have an endless supply of used cars they can look at. Its not an old clunker 20 other classrooms have used, said David Hall, the fixed-operations director at Drivers Village, who manages its repairs division. Itll be a 2016 Ford Explorer with real-life-scenario issues, and they can work on that car for a week or a month. If theyre done with that car, they can pull in a Toyota.

Power of Partnerships

The bulk of the hard work of developing these pathways actually happens on the front end. OCM BOCES leaders spend a lot of time ironing out the details of the partnership, from professional expectations for students while theyre on site to liability insurance. Much of that work means assuring employers that theres a net benefit to the partnership.

Some of the first concerns that we get from businesses is: Is this going to be taxing for my employees? How much time is it going to take away from them? Is it going to be a burden or not allow them to do their work as efficiently as possible? Viggiano said. What we found out is that the employees have ended up loving it, and they feel like theyre making a legacy, leaving an impact on the next generation, and sharing the love of their craftand its actually helped with their workload.

If wary at first, most businesses quickly come around. David Hall calls the program his secret weapon; he gets an in-depth look at the students work skills and professionalism and the first crack at hiring the best when theyve wrapped up their senior years. About 35 people now employed there formerly participated in the program. For WCNY, the program offers a constant supply of young peoplea coveted market legacy news organizations have struggled to engagewhose generational insights they can tap as they design content and programming.

Generally speaking, students are on site either in the mornings or afternoons, and they have both regular classes and twice-a-week, hands-on experiences, which require a particular flexibility among the BOCES teachers. Kathleen Labulis, who teaches the media and communications class at WCNY, specializes in preparing students in the Adobe suite of instruments for print layout, radio editing, and video production, all skills students may encounter at the station. During their internships, for example, students can contribute columns to the stations magazine, which have to meet the same editorial standards as other articles. They hone their radio voices on ReadOut, a radio program in which they read out selected news stories on a program for the visually impaired. That means theres no typical day on site.

It absolutely depends on what is happening in the studios here, said Labulis, who teaches the on-site classes. We will compare and contrast what were learning in the classroom to what theyre actually doing. ... I try to be flexible with my curriculum as far as whats going on in the classroom: Is the magazine going out? Are there any deadlines that we have to meet?

All of the programs also award some college credits as well, as students get some introductory English and other typical college prerequisites taught by visiting faculty from nearby colleges.

Over the course of his time at WCNY, Alex Ladstatter helped plan a fundraiser, was an on-air host of a pledge drive, and got tips about how to project confidence on air from a local anchor hed long looked up to, Liz Ayers. One of the projects that his cohort of students collectively spearheaded was a promotional spot for the Regents Review, a public television program featuring educators who help high school students get ready for the states all-important Regents Examinations, a graduation requirement.

He credits Labulis for having coaxed some of the shyer students out of their shells and steering them to opportunities she knew would stretch them.

A student who never even thought hed be on-air talent was sort of our actor for the shoot. People who had never stepped into a position of authority were directing and producing this. And some without experience editing went into that position for that project, said Ladstatter, now a broadcast journalism major at SUNY Plattsburgh with several other news station internships under his belt. We all were able to find these talents that we never really knew we had.

44 percent of educators say their districts offer academic credit for internships, but most students dont do them. Source: EdWeek Research Center survey, 2019

The embedded programs are available to students in 23 area districts served by the BOCES. Theyre generally open to all students, though students do have to meet minimum academic requirements and submit an application and references so that the BOCES can select the most interested students.

For students, there are incentives to work hard while on site, too. While all students in the embedded automotive-technology pathway will get to do some job-shadowing, the best students will get longer, more in-depth experiencesfor example, on German cars or Audis or some other specialty.

Dreams and Aspirations

Communication is the key to establishing good programs, the BOCES officials said. Only one of the embedded programs hasnt worked out so far, Viggiano says, and thats because that partner treated the BOCES as a tenant, rather than a true co-developer of the educational programming.

Where it works, though, the program not only serves local needs, but has promise for overcoming some of the lingering stigma casting CTE programs as designed for less academically strong students or those who arent college material. Telling family members that you work part-time at Lockheed Martin helps dispel some of those ideas. So, too, does informing parents of the high salaries, in the mid-$50,000 range, that automotive technicians can be making within a few years, sans college debt.

We actually ask the parents to come to shadow and have Day One orientation, and they will come to see it and get a view of the shop and see what theyre putting their child into, Hall said. And we start telling the kids what type of salary they can make and every parent in the audience lifts their head up and says, What!? 

The specific high school-to-jobs pipeline is a little less clear for WCNY, because nearly all of the students in that pathway end up going to college first. But for the students, its a welcomed and unvarnished view into the industry at a difficult time in its history.

With younger people, when they get out of programs, where do they want to go? Big cities. That can be a challenge for us, said Debbie Stack, the vice president of education and community engagement for WCNY-TV. If it were only our personal business pipeline, we wouldnt succeed all that well at it.

But are we launching their careers, their dreams and aspirations? Absolutely.
(Natural News) This tells you everything you need to know about how U.S. states plan to handle the coronavirus outbreak: Refrain from testing anyone and then report zero community outbreaks.

Last week, the State of Washington was monitoring 794 people for coronavirus symptoms. Yet by Friday of last week, the state had only tested a grand total of 28 people for the virus.

Today, the 794 number has fallen to 582, according to the Washington Dept. of Health website.

This means over 200 people have been released from public health supervision, yet the total number of people tested for the coronavirus in Washington remains at 28.

In other words, zero new people were tested.

So we now have states that are releasing hundreds of people from supervision without testing any of them.

People with no symptoms arent being tested, but the virus spreads in people who show no symptoms

This is all taking place in an environment when we already know:

The virus can be carried by people who show no symptoms.

The incubation period of the virus is up to 27 days, not merely 14.

The symptoms of the virus can be easily confused with pneumonia, the common cold or other mild infections.

South Korea has managed to test thousands of people for the virus, which is how theyve now discovered over 842 infections there, a number that has truly exploded over the last five days.

The State of Washington knows about 794 people who might be infected, yet theyve only tested 28?

If South Korea had taken the same approach, they could be reporting only 30 infections today instead of 842. If you dont test people, you dont confirm infections.

The question is not how many people have been confirmed infected, the question is how many infected people have NOT been tested.

Does Washington State already have more infections than South Korea?

My best guess is that the State of Washington has more infections than South Korea. We wont know for sure until the state decides to start testing people, and they apparently have no desire to conduct such tests in the first place.

Whats truly astonishing here is that every U.S. state has law enforcement crime labs with PCR / genetic analysis equipment for solving crimes. Yet none of them are using that technology to screen people for coronavirus infections.

Why not?

The answer, of course, is because they dont want to find any infections in the first place.

It brings up an even bigger question: Is the CDC ordering U.S. states to halt all testing? Where are the CDCs replacement test kits that were supposed to fix the broken diagnostic kits shipped out on Feb. 5th?

Why arent U.S. states using crime lab equipment to run coronavirus tests?

Why are states like Hawaii reporting that theyve tested ZERO people for coronavirus?

Why are 47 U.S. states conducting no tests at all?

Why does Google keep linking to the WHO, which is run by communist China and is known to be a criminally negligent propaganda hub of disinformation and pro-China lies?

And why does a U.S. State Dept. employee in Japan think that infections can be blocked on airplanes by using plastic sheeting and duct tape, which is what allowed him to shove infected passengers on the same plane as non-infected passengers, resulting in at least 25 new infections.

Finally, will the United States be any more honest than China when it comes to reporting the truth about the coronavirus?

So far, the answer seems to be a definite no.

Theres a lot of breaking news coming this week. Stay informed. Read Pandemic.news for daily updates.

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On the 75th anniversary of the horrific battle of Iwo Jima, Rene Gagnon, Jr., is still coming to terms with the fact that his father was not among the six Marines in one of the most iconic photos of the 20th Century: the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi.

"To me, this was like a total surprise, total shock," he said, when the Marine Corps last October confirmed the initial findings of amateur researchers on one of history's most extraordinary cases of mistaken identity.

It was Cpl. Harold "Pie" Keller, 23, of Brooklyn, Iowa and not his father, then 19-year-old Pfc. Rene Gagnon, of Manchester, New Hampshire, in the snapshot of the group taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, the Corps announced at the time. The image has come to define the elan of the Marine Corps.

Gagnon, 72, of Concord, New Hampshire, said Feb. 20 phone interview last Thursday that he grew up firm in the belief that his father, who died in 1979 of a heart attack, was part of the legend.

At age two, his father brought him to the movie set where John Wayne was making "Sands of Iwo Jima," Gagnon said. Rene Gagnon Sr. had a cameo role in the movie, handing the flag to Wayne's fictional "Sgt. Stryker."

Related: Marines: Identities of Two Iwo Jima Flag-Raisers Were Mistaken

In 1954, he went with his father to the dedication of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, Felix De Weldon's massive sculpture of the figures in Rosenthal's photograph, Gagnon said.

Growing up, he would occasionally watch the TV sign off at night with the playing of the national anthem over a screen showing the Rosenthal photo, thinking "Oh my God, that's my Dad."

"For 70-plus years, that was my legacy, more or less. I looked up to my Dad for that," Gagnon said. And so the announcement that it was Keller and not his father in the photo hit him hard.

"His comments were always, "I am not a hero. I happened to be in a photograph that represents everyone that fought and died on that island,'" he said.

Gagnon could only speculate on why his father maintained the fiction through the successful nationwide war bond drive after the battle, through a bit part in the John Wayne movie and through speaking engagements after the war.

There was enormous pressure to identify the flag raisers once Rosenthal's photo hit the front pages worldwide, and his father may have been ordered to claim he was one of them.

President Franklin Roosevelt had directed the Marines to put names to the flag-raisers and get them home immediately for the 7th War Loan campaign to sell bonds, and the Marines may have acted in haste, Gagnon said.

Three of the six flag raisers had been killed in the fighting, which continued after the flag was unfurled atop 550-foot Mount Suribachi on the afternoon of Feb. 23, 1945.

That left three thought at the time to be part of the group of six: Gagnon, Navy Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class John "Doc" Bradley, 21, of Antigo, Wisconsin, and Pfc. Ira Hayes, 22, of the Gila River Pima Indian Reservation in Arizona.

In another stunning revelation in 2016, the Marines ruled that Bradley was not among the six in the Rosenthal photo. Instead, the figure thought to be Bradley was actually Cpl. Harold Schultz, 20, of Detroit.

Confusion Surrounding Suribachi

Coming up with an accurate list was complicated by the fact that there were two flag-raisings on Suribachi on Feb. 23, four days after the invasion landings. In addition, Rosenthal had not taken the names of those in his photo.

A controversy arose shortly after the end of the war on the identities of the six in the second flag-raising. The family of Cpl. Harlon Block, 20, of Yorktown, Texas, argued that he had been one of the six, and they were supported by Ira Hayes.

In 1947, the Marines ruled that Block had been one of the six in the second flag-raising, and not Sgt. Henry O. Hansen, 26, of Boston. Nearly 70 years later, Hansen was officially found to be one of the six in the first flag-raising.

There have been several different accounts over the years on what took place, but there is agreement that, on order of his battalion commander, 1st Lt. Harold G. Shrier had been given a flag to take with him on a patrol to the top of Suribachi with 30-40 Marines from Easy Co., 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division.

The raising of the first flag in the late morning of Feb. 23 set off a celebration among the Marines across the pork chop-shaped island. Navy ships offshore blasted their horns. The Marines have since stated that John Bradley took part in that first-flag-raising.

Several accounts stated that Navy Secretary James Forrestal was set to come ashore on a landing craft that morning.

He witnessed the celebration and said he wanted the flag to take back to the states. The Marines brought a second, larger flag up Suribachi -- one that could be seen better across the island. It was that flag that Rosenthal photographed.

At the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia, docents Nayla Mengel and Howard Knight added details.

The first flag had come from the Navy's attack transport Missoula, they said, and the second from tank landing ship LST-779.

The first flag flew for about three hours, and the second for three weeks, she said. Both flags are now on display at the museum.

The second flag has a slight rectangular discoloration near the center. Somebody at some time apparently had cut out a piece of fabric for a souvenir. The culprit is unknown, Mengel said.

Although two of them had not been in the Rosenthal photo, Gagnon, John Bradley and Ira Hayes set off with the second flag on the wildly successful war bond drive. They were treated as rock stars.

In Times Square, Mayor Fiorello Laguardia hosted them before a crowd estimated at 1.4 million. The city had set up a 55-foot plaster depiction of the flag raising and the crowd roared as Ira Hayes hauled on a rope to run the flag to the top.

In all, the three went to about 50 cities over six weeks and raised more than $26 billion, Knight said.

"If you bought a bond, you could touch the flag," Mengel said.

Still a Legend

In a statement accompanying the announcement that he had not been part of the second flag raising, the Marines said that Rene Gagnon, as the battalion runner that day, had been instrumental in bringing the second flag up and preserving the first.

"He was directly responsible for getting the larger second flag to the top and returning the first flag for safekeeping. Without his efforts, this historical event might not have been captured, let alone even occurred," Marine Corps officials said.

Gradually, Rene Gagnon, Jr., has also come to see it that way. He said that he was attending events in Newington, Conn., over the weekend to mark the 75th anniversary of Iwo Jima.

"He had a good part" in both flag raisings, the son said. "He survived, and he went on the war bond [tour]. And he was following orders."

Gagnon's contribution was also noted by Dustin Spence, one of the researchers whose work led to the findings that Gagnon and Bradley were not in the Rosenthal photo.

"Gagnon's still a hero. Being on Iwo Jima, he's a hero. Being a runner, he's a hero," said Spence, who teaches high school in Sacramento, California. "He's right there doing exactly what he's supposed to do."

"I don't think we're ever going to really know exactly what happened [...] why different names got attached to that photograph," Spence said in a phone interview.

Spence also said he was "extremely confident" that the controversies over the identities of the six who raised the first flag, and the six who raised the second, have now been settled.

"After 75 years, finally we have the names," he said.

There also had been confusion over the years over who had raised the first flag, but the Marine Corps in 2016 gave an official list of the six:

Navy Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class John Bradley, 21, of Antigo, Wisconsin; 1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier, 28, of Bradenton, Florida; Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas Jr., 21, of Tampa, Florida; Sgt. Henry O. Hansen, 26, of Boston; Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg, 24, of Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Pvt. Philip L. Ward, 19, of Crawfordsville, Indiana.

The list for the second flag-raising is also now final:

Sgt. Michael Strank, 26, born in what was then Czechoslovakia and raised in Franklin Borough, Pennsylvania.; Cpl. Harlon Block, of Yorktown, Texas; Pfc. Franklin Sousley, 19, of Hill Top, Kentucky; Pfc. Ira Hayes, 22, of the Gila River Pima Indian Reservation in Arizona; Cpl. Harold Schultz, 20 of Detroit; and Cpl. Harold Keller, 23, of Brooklyn, Iowa.

Rene Gagnon, Jr., said he's reconciled to the identities, and has determined this is how he'll think about Rosenthal's black-and-white photo from now on:

"That's a picture of the flag my father fought his way up that mountain to bring up there so that somebody could raise it."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read More: Test Pilots Sound Off on Futuristic Helicopter Vying to Replace Armys Black Hawk
FE Credit is preparing for its IPO

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has just approved FE Credit's application to the joint-stock company format. This change is a legal requirement for an IPO.

The SBV also approved raising FE Credit's charter capital by VND5 billion ($217,400) to VND7.3 trillion ($317.4 million). In 2019, FE Credit recorded a pre-tax profit of VND4.5 trillion ($195.65 million), contributing more than 43 per cent to VPBank's profit.

The company has been reporting falling profit figures in the last three years. However, sharing with shareholders in the 2019 shareholders' meeting, Nguyen Duc Vinh, VPBank general director, affirmed that FE Credit is still an "important and effective business" of the bank. Although facing many difficulties as credit growth in this segment decelerated, FE Credit still increased its market share from 53 to 55 per cent.

As of the end of 2019, FE Credit reported a loan balance of VND60.6 trillion ($2.63 billion), an increase of 14 per cent. The non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio was 6 per cent, the same as at the end of 2018. The capital structure of the company includes equity (18 per cent), foreign debts (23 per cent), domestic debts (8 per cent), term deposits (4 per cent), promissory notes, treasury bills, deposit certificates, and bonds issued by credit institutions (43 per cent), and other debts (5 per cent).

In 2014, VPBank fully acquired Vinacomin Finance Company from Vinacomin and renamed it to FE Credit.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Mobile Imaging Services Market 2020-2024

The analyst has been monitoring the global mobile imaging services market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.04 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 3% during the forecast period. Our reports on global mobile imaging services market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05866824/?utm_source=PRN

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by benefits of mobile imaging services for healthcare providers.In addition, innovations impacting mobile diagnostic imaging is anticipated to boost the growth of the global mobile imaging services market as well.



Market Segmentation

The global mobile imaging services market is segmented as below:



End-user:

Hospitals And Clinics

Home Healthcare

Others



Geographic Segmentation:

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America



Key Trends for global mobile imaging services market growth

This study identifies innovations impacting mobile diagnostic imaging as the prime reasons driving the global mobile imaging services market growth during the next few years.



Prominent vendors in global mobile imaging services market

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global mobile imaging services market, including some of the vendors such as Accurate Imaging Inc., Alliance HealthCare Services, Digirad Corp., Imaging On Site Inc., InHealth Ltd., Insight Imaging Mobile Solutions, Life Healthcare Group, Shared Imaging LLC, Shared Medical Services Inc. and TridentCare LLC .

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.





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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 03:12:55|Editor: yan

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RAMALLAH, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A group of young Palestinians on Monday rallied in front of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine in the West Bank city of Ramallah to express solidarity with China in fighting the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Gathering in silence, they held supportive slogan signs and placed candles around.

Mohammad Hamad, head of the Ramallah Youth Club, highlighted his full faith in China's ability to overcome the virus outbreak and protect the world from it.

"We decided to come here to send our message to ... China which we consider a supporter of the Palestinian cause," he said.

"This symbolic move is to tell the people of China that the Palestinian people are standing with you," Hamad added.

Guo Wei, director of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, briefed the crowd on the latest developments on China's fight against the virus.

"Today, the Palestinian youth stand by us and express their support and solidarity with the Chinese people, which we value during this critical phase," Guo said.

"In fact, for more than two months, China has done all it can to fight the epidemic," he added.
Actress Kriti Kharbanda recently had an unpleasant experience with Indian airline Air India when she flew to Goa from Mumbai. The Bollywood actress took to her Twitter handle to express her anger twice about the journey with Air India. Kriti also shared that this is the second time she has lost her luggage while travelling with the airline.

The Housefull 4 actress was also miffed at the staffs rude behaviour and tweeted Dear @airindiain , thank u for losing my luggage, yet again. And maybe u need to teach your staff a thing or two about basic manners.

Dear @airindiain , thank u for losing my luggage, yet again. And maybe u need to teach your staff a thing or two about basic manners.  kriti kharbanda (@kriti_official) February 21, 2020

The Airline was quick to offer tender apology for the inconvenience caused to Kriti but she was in no mood to spare them. She said, I would love to accept your apologies, but unfortunately theres still no sign of my luggage. Also, your teams at the Mumbai or Goa airport, havent had the decency to even get back to me and share the whereabouts of my luggage.

Kindly accept our sincere apologies ma'am. Please DM your file reference no. and baggage tag no. along with flight details for us to check with our baggage team.  Air India (@airindiain) February 21, 2020

Air India then replied with the solution and notified that her luggage was reaching her soon.

Ms Kharbanda the baggage is reaching GOA Airport from Mumbai by 2330 today. Kindly help us with your contact details for us to deliver your bag.  Air India (@airindiain) February 21, 2020

In 2014 too, Kriti had faced a bad situation where she was not spoken to properly by a man at the check-in counter at the airport. Kriti was travelling back to Hyderbad in an Air India flight and the incident occurred when she asked to pay extra money while checking in her luggage at the Kempe Gowda International Airport. She had then written an open letter on her Facebook in an effort to bring the incident with the airline to light.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 21:09:05|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- In a craft studio overlooking a vast plain, Lebanese artist Aref Abu Latif spends hours working with clay to create masterpieces that imitate well-known international religious, political, military and artistic figures.

Abu Latif, whose professional and creative work revives Lebanese folklore, is the only artist in Lebanon who uses clay in his sculptures.

The 70-year-old artist, who has devoted himself in work for more than half a century, has created hundreds of sculptures that have reached other countries.

Abu Latif told Xinhua that he obtained in 1975 a higher degree in arts from a university in Brazil and started his artistic career by drawing on paper and then he worked on clay sculpting.

"Sculpting is a creative art that can be performed on rocks, minerals, ceramics, wood, eggs and rice grains, but I was mostly attracted by using clay in my work," Abu Latif told Xinhua.

The artist said that he collects white and brown clay from a lake near his home after it dries and from the nearby towns of Rachaya al Fakhar and Dahr el Ahmar where the clay is characterized for its high quality.

He pointed out that what distinguishes sculpting on clay is the ease of adapting it with equipment that facilitates the process of trimming and removing appendages, in addition to iron bars that contribute to the consistency and fixation of the sculpture.

Abu Latif explained that clay sculpting is a complicated kind of art that requires great craftsmanship and a lot of patience.

"The art of sculpting with clay is an innovation that allows us to use the bounties of nature to turn them into sculptures," he said.

Abu Latif collects his works of about 250 sculptures in a small exhibition room in his house, indicating that he sold hundreds of them in Lebanon and abroad with prices ranging between 200 U.S. dollars and 5,000 U.S. dollars.

He explained that the subjects of his sculptures and statues represent traditional Lebanese countryside figures, including the guard, farmer, baker, old Lebanese princes from the 18th and 19th centuries, philosophers, writers, and poets.

Painter Chawki Dalal told Xinhua that Abu Latif's sculpting formula combines meditation and inspiration linked to cultural heritage.

"Sculpting on clay is considered one of the ancient fine arts, which ancient civilizations used for social, religious and cultural purposes," he said.

Dalal added that Abu Latif preserves the natural color of the raw material of the clay without any artificial decorations, while working with it in a professional and meticulous manner in a way that reflects reality, symbol and history.

It is worth noting that the Syndicate of Painters and Sculptors, which was founded in Lebanon in 1962, contains about 43 sculptors who are distinguished by their diversity in plastic arts, which gives sculptures in Lebanon a distinctive and special feature.
LONDON  In Iran, a spike in coronavirus infections has prompted fears of a contagion throughout the Middle East. In Italy, one of Europes largest economies, officials are struggling frantically to prevent the epidemic from paralyzing the commercial center of Milan. And in New York, London, and Tokyo, financial markets plummeted on fears that the virus will cripple the global economy.

From Asia to Europe to North America, the lethal spread of the coronavirus accelerated on Monday, putting a heavy strain on a world already fractured by trade wars, populist politics and sectarian conflict.

An equal-opportunity epidemic, the virus is afflicting open and closed societies, autocracies and democracies, developed countries and war zones alike. That makes the task of containing it even more daunting.

The emergence of Italy, Iran, and South Korea as new hubs of the outbreak underscored the lack of a coordinated global strategy to combat the coronavirus, which has infected nearly 80,000 people in 37 countries, causing at least 2,600 deaths. The number of infected people in the United States reached 53 on Monday, up from 34 on Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Consumers are less likely to go to a dermatologist for product recommendations than they are to turn to their favorite YouTubers and Instagram influencers with gorgeous skin. This has given rise to the skin-care stans: people who will go to bat for certain brands (Glossier is a great example of this) and judge others for using products they see as subpar. And with the rise of clean beauty, the products that tend to come under fire are those that are seen as overly produced or unclean  like petroleum jelly and moisturizers with parabens.
Amotekun: Governors of the South West at the launch of the Western Nigeria Security Network, WNSN in Ibadan, Oyo State on Thursday, January 8, 2019

The Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, the national body of Fulani herdsmen in Oyo state is seeking inclusion of its members in operation Amotekun, a security outfit.

Speaking at a public hearing on the Oyo state security network agency bill 2020, also known as Amotekun bill, on Monday, February 24, 2020 Yaqub Bello, a former chairman of MACBAN in the state, said incorporation of Miyetti Allah members will be beneficial for the development of peace in the state.

At the event presided by Abiodun Fadeyi, the deputy speaker of the state house of assembly, Bello expressed the support of Miyetti Allah to the Amotekun initiative, saying only haters of truth would oppose such a move.

The Miyetti Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Executive Members, comprising: Alh. Muhammadu Kiruwa(Ardo Zuru) -National President , Alh Baba Othman Ngelzarma (National Secretary) and Alh Yahaya Mohammed (Member) recently paid a courtesy visit to President, Muhammadu Buhari(GCON) at the Aso Villa. President Muhammadu Buhari pictured with the MACBAN officials. | MACBAN

Some of us have been in Oyo state for over 40 years, cohabiting with the natives, married Yoruba women and have children. So, our request is to include Myetti Allah as members of Operation Amotekun to enhance the job of the outfit, since we know the terrain of where we rear our cattle, he said.

Having Fulani among the outfit will make it easier for Amotekun men to distinguish between genuine herdsmen and the criminals while on patrol. A Fulani man can also serve as an interpreter while interrogating any suspected herdsman.

In his remark, Gboyega Adejumo, representative of Gani Adams, aare ona kakanfo of Yorubaland, said issuance of licence for firearms is vital for the operations of the security outfit.

He said that the use of dane guns will be ineffective for their operations, adding that hoodlums and criminal-minded persons may attack the operatives once observed that they have no arms.

Oyelowo Oyewo, the state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, said part of the objectives of the Amotekun is to share intelligence report about crime, suspicious activities and other criminal activities.

Others include collaboration with similar security agency, particularly in Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states to deter kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, cultism, highway robbery and other offences, and also to assist the police in apprehending such criminals, he said.

It is also meant to protect lives and property within the state and ensure that people travelling on the highways, major roads, remote areas, hinterland, forest and inland waterways carry out their normal socio-economic activities without fear or hindrance.

Amotekun, which was earlier declared as a joint security outfit in the south-west region, became a state effort after the governors met with Mohammed Adamu, the inspector general of police.

Credit: The Trent
Though a New York State jury convicted Harvey Weinstein on two felony sexual-assault charges Monday, it acquitted him of three allegations of aggravated sexual assault, including the two most serious charges he faced. Still, the counts of conviction are likely to result in a severe prison sentence for the 67-year-old former Hollywood producer.

Weinstein was charged with five offenses, all arising out of two coercive sexual encounters: a 2013 rape of then-aspiring actress Jessica Mann, and forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Miriam Haley (professionally known as Mimi Haleyi) in 2006. Before we describe the five counts with more specificity, lets turn to the two controversial elements of the case, which will make the charges easier to understand:

1. Predatory-sexual-assault charges

Annabella Sciorra, the most famous actress involved in the case, testified that Weinstein raped her about 27 years ago. State prosecutors could not base charges solely on this accusation because it is time-barred under the statute of limitations. Yet they used the Sciorra incident to exacerbate the Mann and Haley encounters into charges of predatory sexual assault (PSA).

Under New York state law, PSA may be charged if a serious sex crime is committed by a defendant who has previously committed first-degree rape (among other aggravated sexual assaults). There is no requirement that the prior rape have been prosecuted, though it must be proved at the trial. PSA carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment, with a mandatory-minimum prison term between ten and 20 years, depending on the defendants criminal history.

2. Similar act evidence

Beside Sciorras testimony, the trial judge permitted the district attorney to call as witnesses three other women who provided what the law terms similar act evidence. Lauren Young, a model and aspiring screenplay writer, and Dawn Dunning, a waitress hoping for an acting career, testified about being groped by Weinstein, while another waitress and aspiring actress, Tarale Wulff, described how he masturbated in front of her after pulling her into a secluded staircase.

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This kind of testimony is called similar act evidence because, though the acts it describes are not charged in the indictment, they involve conduct similar to the behavior that is charged. Such evidence is controversial. It is not admissible to show that the defendant has a propensity to act criminally and, therefore, must be guilty of the charged crimes, but only to show some common plan or scheme, some pattern of behavior. That distinction can be blurry. Particularly in a violent-crime case, there is always the danger that the jury could convict on the charged offenses because it has been inflamed by testimony about the uncharged offenses.

The indictment

With that as background, lets turn to the five charges in the indictment.

Weinstein was charged with two PSA counts, one each for the Mann and Haley incidents, with the alleged rape of Sciorra as their basis. The other three counts of the indictment stemmed from the same two incidents.

In addition to the PSA charge it generated, the Mann assault was charged as two separate counts: first-degree rape and third-degree rape. The latter is a lesser-included offense of the former, meaning that under double-jeopardy principles, a defendant may be convicted only of the greater or lesser offense, not both. First-degree rape requires proof of physical force or the threat of imminent harm and is punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. Third-degree rape essentially means nonconsensual sex without the aggravating factors that create first-degree rape, and carries a potential sentence of four years incarceration.

Finally, the Haley incident (forcible oral sex), in addition to the PSA charge it generated, was charged as a first-degree criminal sexual act, which carries the same sentencing range as first-degree rape (from five to 25 years imprisonment).

The verdict

The jury acquitted Weinstein of the two most serious charges  the PSA counts  and of first-degree rape in the Mann incident. It convicted him of third-degree rape in the Mann incident and a first-degree criminal sexual act in the Haley incident.

Although they may have been disturbed by Sciorras testimony, the PSA acquittals indicate that jurors found her story  of an uncorroborated assault said to have occurred nearly three decades ago  insufficient to prove first-degree rape beyond a reasonable doubt. To be sure, the jurys failure to find first-degree rape in the Mann assault would have doomed the Mann PSA charge, regardless of the jurys assessment of Sciorras testimony. But the jury did convict Weinstein of committing a first-degree criminal sexual act against Haley; consequently, we have to assume the jury would have convicted on the Haley PSA charge if it had believed Sciorras testimony established aggravated rape.

Unless the verdict is reversed on appeal, Weinstein is looking at a minimum of five years in custody (the mandatory minimum on the Haley sexual assault) and as much as 29 years (the 25-year max on the Haley assault plus the four-year max on the Mann rape). And no matter what happens in the appellate process, Weinstein still faces at least one more trial in Los Angeles, where a grand jury has indicted him on charges of raping one woman and groping another on back-to-back nights during the festivities leading up to the 2013 Oscars.

Appellate issues

The main appellate issues arising out of the trial will likely involve the similar-act evidence and the courts refusal to excuse one juror for cause. Ironically, the three acquittals should be of great help to the state on appeal.

As noted above, similar-act evidence always creates thorny legal issues. Here, the court permitted testimony from victims of four similar acts to bolster proof of just two indicted acts. It is unusual for proof of uncharged crimes to be more extensive than that of charged crimes. Clearly, the defense will claim on appeal that the similar-act evidence inflamed the jury into convicting because Weinstein is a sociopath, rather than on the strength of the proof of the two sex acts actually charged. Moreover, Weinsteins lawyers will contend that Sciorras testimony and the two PSA counts were a pretext for making an end run around the statute of limitations.

The verdict will help the state rebut such claims. The fact that a jury of seven men and five women did not convict on the most serious charges, and that it convicted only on third-degree rather than first-degree rape (in the Mann incident), indicates that it was sober and discriminating in doing its job  it was not so distracted or prejudiced by the similar-act evidence that it could not carefully weigh the evidence in the Mann and Haley cases. (Indeed, it appears that jurors largely discounted Sciorras accusation of rape.)

The judge also made a decision, hotly disputed by the defense, to permit a novelist to sit on the jury. The author revealed that she had written a novel about three women who had sexual relationships with older men. During the voir dire examination, she denied that the book was about predatory older men. The defense claims that this was a lie, reporting that the jurors website described her book as being about young women and predatory older men. Weinsteins lawyers had run out of peremptory challenges (i.e., jurors who are stricken at the discretion of the two legal teams, rather than for cause) by the time the juror in question was examined. The trial judge denied the defenses motion to remove her for cause (i.e., for implicitly being too biased to decide the case fairly and impartially).

Getting a case overturned because the court permitted the seating of a juror who should arguably have been excused is a very uphill battle on appeal. It is exceedingly rare for a conviction to be reversed due to alleged juror bias, particularly absent some evidence that the juror disregarded the courts instructions and/or decided the case based on outside influences. But the defense claim that the juror lied during voir dire may disturb the appellate court.

Weinsteins bail was revoked and he was remanded into state custody immediately upon being convicted by the jury. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11. Today was not as bad a day for him as it couldve been, but it wasnt a good day, either  and his legal troubles arent over yet.

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The resting place of ancient armadillos that roamed the earth some 20,000 years ago has been discovered in Argentina.

A farmer stumbled upon the graveyard containing fossilized shells of four massive Glyptodonts, with the largest being the size of a Volkswagen Beetle.

The remains were discovered in a dried-out riverbed near the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires - at first only two were spotted, but two more were found while paleontologists excavated the site.

Researchers believe the group consist of two adults and two young animals, but further testing will determine cause of death, sex and weight of the remains.

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The resting place of ancient armadillos that roamed the earth some 20,000 years ago has been discovered in Argentina. A farmer stumbled upon the graveyard containing fossilized shells of four massive Glyptodonts, with the largest being the size of a Volkswagen Beetle

Juan de Dios Sota made the discovery while taking his cows out to graze near a river, Metro reported.

He noticed two strange formations in a dried-out river bed and after taking a closer look, he knew he had stumbled upon something amazing and notified officials.

Pablo Messineo, one of the archaeologists at the scene, said: 'We went there expecting to find two glyptodonts when the excavation started and then two more were found!'

'It is the first time there have been four animals like this in the same site.'

'Most of them were facing the same direction, like they were walking towards something.'

Glyptodonts are the early ancestors of our modern armadillos that lived mostly across North and South America during the Pleistocene epoch.

The shells were discovered in a dried-out riverbed near the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires - at first only two were spotted, but two more were found while paleontologists excavated the site. Researchers believe the group consist of two adults and two young animals, but further testing will determine cause of death, sex and weight of the remains

Pablo Messineo, one of the archaeologists at the scene, said: 'We went there expecting to find two glyptodonts when the excavation started and then two more were found!' 'It is the first time there have been four animals like this in the same site.' 'Most of them were facing the same direction, like they were walking towards something'

The creatures were encased from head to tail in thick, protective armour resembling in shape the shell of a turtle but composed of bony plates much like the covering of an armadillo.

The body shell alone was as long as 5 feet and as thick as two inches.

It used its tail as a weapon  like a club  as the tip had a bony knob at the end that was sometimes spiked.

The group discovered in Argentina are believed to be two adults and two young animals, but experts are set to conduct further testing to determine the age, sex and cause of death for each of the fossilized Glyptodonts.

The group discovered in Argentina are believed to be two adults and two young animals, but experts are set to conduct further testing to determine the age, sex and cause of death for each of the fossilized Glyptodonts

The fossils were discovered in a riverbed by a farmer who was simply taking his cows out to graze

The body shell alone was as long as 5 feet and as thick as two inches. It used its tail as a weapon  like a club  as the tip had a bony knob at the end that was sometimes spiked (pictured)

A separate fossilized shell was discovered in 2015 by another farmer in Argentina.

After popping out for some fresh air, farmer Jose Antonio Nievas stumbled across what experts said are the remains of a prehistoric giant.

The 3 feet long shell discovered on a riverbank near a local farm may be from a glyptodont  a prehistoric kind of giant armadillo.

While there is a chance the shell is a hoax because it hasn't been studied directly by experts, Adrian Lister of the Natural History Museum, London, told MailOnline: 'I think it is quite likely this is genuine.'

'The shell looks like a genuine glyptodont shell, and the hole is 'wear and tear', not where the head or tail went,' he explained.

Glyptodonts are the early ancestors of our modern armadillos that lived mostly across North and South America during the Pleistocene epoch

At first, Mr Nievas thought the black scaly shell was a dinosaur egg when he saw it in the mud, his wife Reina Coronel said.

But a paleontologist who studied the pictures later said it belonged to an ancient ancestor of the armadillo.

Alejandro Kramarz of the Bernadino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum exclaimed: 'There is no doubt that it looks like a glyptodont.'

Nievas told television channel Todo Noticias he found the shell partly covered in mud and started to dig around it.

Various experts who saw television pictures of the object also said it is likely to be a glyptodont shell.

Professor Lister explained it's common to find fossils buried in the bank of streams and rivers, because flowing water gradually erodes the bank to expose ancient shells and bones.

'The finder would first have spotted a small area of the shell exposed in the stream bank and then by digging, exposed the whole thing,' he said.

'This scenario is supported by the green staining on the shell, just in the area where it might first have been exposed to the stream, even with a kind of 'tide mark' on it.

'It would be an ingenious hoaxer who would construct such a thing.'

A separate fossilized shell was discovered in 2015 by another farmer in Argentina (pictured). The 3 feet long shell discovered on a riverbank near a local farm may be from a glyptodont  a prehistoric kind of giant armadillo
"Guests are like god," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday in response to US President Donald Trump's tweet in Hindi from on board Air Force One where he expressed his eagerness to visit India.

Trump is on a two-day visit to India.

"Atithi Devo Bhava," Modi said on Twitter.

"We are eager to visit India. We are on our way and will soon be meeting all," Trump, on board the special Air Force One aircraft along with his delegation, tweeted in Hindi earlier in the morning.

The US president is accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration.

Just before his departure, Trump said he had committed to visit India a long time ago and is looking forward to be with the people of India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Raymond McCord outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Three senior unionist politicians have sought details on legal aid allocated for cases taken by victims campaigner Raymond McCord, the High Court heard today.

TUV leader Jim Allister and DUP MPs Gregory Campbell and Carla Lockhart have all submitted Freedom of Information (FoI) requests about the level of assistance he has received.

Their involvement emerged as Mr McCord was granted permission to challenge a decision to release the funding details.

Mrs Justice Keegan ruled he has established an arguable case his personal data would not be disclosed while a complaint process is underway.

Mr McCord has been a high-profile and outspoken campaigner since his 22-year-old son was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in November 1997.

Raymond McCord Jr, was beaten to death before his body was dumped at a quarry outside north Belfast.

The killing was carried out by a UVF unit based in the Mount Vernon area of the city.

One of Mr McCord's legal actions centres on the ongoing failure to hold an inquest into his son's murder.

He has also taken other cases against the British Government over any no-deal Brexit, and the criteria for calling a border poll on Irish unification.

The Belfast man issued judicial review proceedings after the Legal Services Agency decided to release details on his legal aid payments.

In court today it was confirmed that the FoI requests were made by Mr Allister, Mr Campbell and Ms Lockhart.

Applications for reporting restrictions and anonymity in the case were rejected.

Mrs Justice Keegan held that the public interest outweighed any distressed caused.

Ruling on the merits of the challenge, she granted leave on a point about Mr McCord's legitimate expectation his data would not be disclosed at this stage.

The judge pointed out that the issue may become academic, based on the outcome of a separate analysis by the Information Commissioner.

However, she confirmed that the campaigner should be able to "prevent the damage he alleges from occurring while his complaint is processed".

With the case due to be reviewed again next month, undertakings have been given that no data will be released in the meantime.
New Delhi: Schools in Kashmir reopened on Monday (February 24, 2020) after being shut for 7 months since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The government had tried to reopen all the schools in November 2019 but only a few of them could be reopened.

Usually, the winter vacation in Kashmir is for three months, but the students have been away from schools since August 2019.

Students and teachers in the schools are excited to start the new session after the winter holidays. They had been preparing to attend the schools for a very long time as they have lost a lot of time due to the closure since August 2019. The students do not want to lose any more time by missing their schools.

"We are extremely excited as we have lost a lot of time. We are in class 11 and had been preparing for the reopening of schools," said, Nida Tariq, a student of class 11. Her sentiments were echoed by another student Gazan Manir. "I can't believe that we are going to school, we had forgotten about schools in last 7 months and I have been preparing for this for more than a month. What we learn in school, we cannot learn anywhere else."

A few more students, too, shared their plans. "I'm very happy that we are in school today, school is a different environment and is a unique experience. If the situation remains normal, the schools will remain open," asserted Tehra.

"We are scared when the situation is tense. But the schools have reopened now, " stated another student Hadika.

Not just the students, but the teachers were also prepared for the schools. Many teachers had been coming to the schools for the last one week to ensure that everything was ready for the students.

"Every child wants to study and we have very talented students. Our students are ready and we are also prepared," opined Rabiya Rehman, a school teacher.

Dilbar Singh, another teacher, said, "We are very happy to see our students back. The schools were deserted for the last seven months. We want more and more students to attend schools and ensure a better future."

The government announced that the timings for schools falling within the Srinagar municipal corporation will be from 10 am to 3 pm. Whereas, schools in the rest of Kashmir Valley will be from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, who wields enormous influence in his home state of South Carolina, is planning to endorse Joe Biden on Wednesday, multiple sources with knowledge of the Democrats plans told POLITICO.

The planned endorsement is expected three days ahead of the state's Saturday primary, giving Biden an important boost in a state that will likely determine the fate of his candidacy. Clyburn, the highest ranking African American in Congress, has long been close with Biden and has been open about his affinity for the former vice president during the Democratic primary.

Several panicked Democrats, including one with direct knowledge of the planned endorsement, said they see it as a last-ditch effort to blunt Bernie Sanders momentum before he runs away with the nomination. But even among those Democratic lawmakers and aides, some are skeptical it will work, given the several other moderates still in the race who are splitting the anti-Sanders vote.

Clyburn was already considering formally backing Biden but the pressure intensified after Sanders landslide win in Nevada on Saturday night, according to two people familiar with the endorsement discussions.

I will endorse Wednesday morning, Clyburn said Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. Im going to tell everybody who Im going to vote for. Im just not going to do it today.

The Biden pitch for the endorsement is as much personal as it is practical. The two men have a friendship born of years working closely together, and Biden has let Clyburn know how badly he needs the endorsement, according to three top campaign sources.

"Hes going to wait until after the debate to give the endorsement. He promised the DNC it wouldnt be before the debate," a Biden campaign adviser said of Clyburn.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Jill Biden, right, and granddaughter Finnegan Biden, second from right, speaks during a caucus night event Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Clyburns help is crucial, given his stature in the state. The power of Clyburns endorsement isnt lost on the local elected officials in his state, who have said that primary voters  two-thirds of the partys electorate is African American  pay close attention to his lead.

Story continues

Biden has publicly acknowledged South Carolina is a must-win state for him. Prevailing there would back up his oft-repeated message that he has strong support among African Americans, a base of the Democratic Party that swings elections, particularly in the Southeast.

A big South Carolina win, Bidens campaign hopes, would provide a springboard into the run of states with influential black electorates, starting with Super Tuesday three days after the Palmetto States Feb. 29 primary.

Nothing is certain until the big man says yes, said another Biden advisor with knowledge of the discussions. Clyburn is a kingmaker and hes going to do this his way.

The conversations with Clyburn centered on his ability to consolidate the African American electorate behind Biden, especially at a time when Sanders was closing the gap with black voters and Tom Steyer was already eating into Bidens black support. The discussions also raised fears about Sanders influence on down ballot races, something Clyburn discussed in cable TV interviews Sunday morning.

Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), Biden's campaign co-chair, said he's optimistic but not certain that Clyburn will endorse the former vice president.

"Congressman Clyburn is my mentor and one of my closest friends," Richmond said in a statement. "He has not indicated to me who he is going to endorse. I hope it's Joe Biden and know they have a relationship. He has said to me the future of the country is at stake, and if we lose to Donald Trump, it would be devastating for generations of African-Americans to come. And I know that's what he's thinking about when making this important decision."

In January, Clyburn made a sudden stop at a Biden surrogate event in Columbia, South Carolina, swinging by his local barbershop after hours as the campaign held a conversation with black men in the community.

We have to think of this election in more than presidential terms, Clyburn said to more than a dozen black men at Tolivers Mane Event barbershop, which Clyburn frequents. Because when you go to the polls in November ... my name is going to be on the ballot. So when you tell me, you got such a big problem with who the Democratic nominee is for president that you aren't going to vote that means you ain't voting for me  that's what that means.

For weeks Clyburn would not say definitively whether he planned to publicly back a specific candidate ahead of his state's primary, only saying if he did so it would be after Tuesdays debate. Clyburns office did not return a request for comment.

Some senior Democrats said privately it wasnt guaranteed Clyburn would endorse Biden, given his poor showing in Iowa and New Hampshire and the criticism Clyburn would surely face for doing so.

I do know, in my heart and in my head, who Im for, Clyburn said two weeks ago. If I believe my constituents need to hear my vision, as to what candidate will be best to vote for on Feb. 29, I will do that, I will let that be known."

But in recent weeks, senior congressional Democrats and moderates representing Republican-leaning districts have watched with alarm as Sanders cemented his frontrunner status.

That alarm reached a crescendo after Sanders trounced the field in Nevada, with Biden placing in a distant second.

Democratic lawmakers who believe nominating Sanders would guarantee defeat in November have been privately discussing ways to stop the self-avowed democratic socialist.

I do believe it will be an extra burden for us to have to carry. This is South Carolina, and South Carolinians are pretty leery about that title socialist, Clyburn said Sunday on ABCs This Week.


Colombo crime family underboss John 'Sonny' Franzese Sr has passed away at the age of 103.

Franzese passed away due to natural causes on February 20 in a nursing home in upstate New York with one of his daughters by his side, according to TMZ.

The once-feared mobster, who was born in Napes, Italy and moved to New York as a young boy, spent over eight decades of his life working with the notorious crime family.

Franzese was known as the group's longtime underboss, meaning he was second in command and was slated to take over the family, but he was jailed multiple times in his criminal career for racketeering, fraud, loansharking and assault.

In his downtime the crime boss hung out at the legendary Copacabana night club, rubbed shoulders with stars like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr, and even claimed to have a fling with Marilyn Monroe.

He was dubbed 'The Nodfather' for falling asleep during his 2011 trial.

Franzese had interests in restaurants, clubs, record labels and even dabbled in the movie business where he helped finance the 1972 pornographic movie Deep Throat and helped finance the 1974 horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The infamous mobster started his career in organized crime in the 1930s.

Colombo crime family underboss John 'Sonny' Franzese Sr. died Thursday of natural causes at the age of 103 at a nursing home in upstate New York. Pictured center in 1967

The once-feared mobster, who was born in Napes, Italy, and moved to New York as a young boy, spent over eight decades of his life working with the notorious crime family. Pictured above in March 1966 after he was arrested on a 43-count gambling indictment

Franzese Sr pictured arriving to federal court in Brooklyn in June 2010 when he was 93

Gangster Franzese pictured in 1990 mugshot

He worked under Joseph Profaci, the underboss of the Profaci crime family which was later named the Colombo crime family and still operates today.

He rose up the ranks in the mafia, becoming a caporegime or captain in the Colombo family by the mid 1950s.

By 1963 he was promoted to underboss by boss Joseph Colombo.

In 1966, he avoided a murder charge for killing a rival and dumping their body into a bay.

In 1967, Franzese entered the music business and gained a financial interest in recording company Buddah Records, which recorded singles for Bill Withers and the Isley Brothers.

He later used the company to launder illegal mob earnings and bribe industry heads through payola.

That same year he was sentenced to 50 years behind bars for bank robbery charges. Though he was paroled in 1978, he returned to prison at least six times on parole violations.

Franzese's son Michael shared this picture of his father on Facebook in January

Michael Franzese with his father John 'Sonny' Franzese in December 2017 after the mobster's release from prison

Michael and his father pictured together in March 2019. Michael initially followed his father's footsteps and became a caporegime in the Colombo crime family. He was jailed in 1986, when he became a born-again Christian, publicly denounced organized crime and became a motivational speaker

'Sonny Franzese back in 1966 was one of the pre-eminent organized crime figures in New York, if not the United States. And everybody wanted to get glory,' said Ed McDonald, the former chief of federal Organized Crime Strike Force in Brooklyn, in a 2019 interview.

Late Gambino boss John Gotti once praised Franzese for his refusal to rat out his accomplices, saying in a federal wiretap, 'Sonny Franzese, he's one tough f**king guy, one tough f**king guy.'

He became the Colombo family underboss again in 2004 but his reign was cut short in May 2007 when he was jailed over a parole violation.

While in jail in June 2008 he was indicted for a slew of murders during the Colombo wars in the early 1990s and stealing fur coats in New York City, and participating in home invasions while impersonating police in Los Angeles in 2006.

He was released from jail in December of that same year.

Prosecutors believed Franzese personally killed or ordered the murders of 30 to 50 people.

In 2006, he let slip to a Colombo associate-turned-FBI informant how he committed mob murders in a taped conversation.

He told informant Garetano 'Guy' Fatato: 'I killed a lot of guys - you're not talking about four, five, six, ten.'

Franzese pictured left with boxer Rocky Graziano in the 1940s

Franzese pictured with his wife Tina leaving court on December 23, 1985

He told Fatato that he put nail polish on his fingertips before committing a murder to avoid leaving fingerprints at the scene.

In 2011, the mobster was sentenced to jail yet again, in a high-profile trial, where his own son John Franzese Jr, who became a government informant, testified against him.

That trial was a shocking moment in mafia history and marked the first time the son of a New York mobster turned state's evidence against his own father.

This time he was sentenced to eight years in prison for extorting two Manhattan strip clubs, running a loanshark operation and extorting a Long Island pizzeria.

Franzese Sr. was released from jail on June 23, 2017, at the age of 100. He was the oldest federal inmate in the United States and the only centenarian in federal custody.

Prosecutors believed Franzese personally killed or ordered the murders of 50 people. He was arrested dozens of times for a slew of charges including assault, racketeering and loan sharking. Pictured in January 1966

Despite spending years in and out of prison, Franzese always maintained his innocence.

'They wanted me to roll all the time,' he said in a 2019 interview with Newsday. 'I couldn't do that. Because it's my principle'.

When asked about the prosecutors and judge who sent him to prison and have since passed away, Franzese said, 'I'll meet them in hell.'

In his prime, Franzese boasted that he had relationships with Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield.

When asked if he knew Frank Sinatra he said, 'You asked the question the wrong way. You should have asked, "Did Frank Sinatra know Sonny Franzese?"'

Franzese Sr. has eight children and 18 grandchildren.

His sons followed his footsteps in crime but have since turned away from the mafia.

His son Michael Franzese became a caporegime in the Colombo crime family and at the peak of his mob career he was making up to $8million a week. He was jailed in 1986 and became a born-again Christian behind bars. From then on he publicly denounced the life of organized crime and became a motivational speaker.

Franzese Sr. said he told his younger relatives to stay away from the streets saying, 'There's no money in crime no more'.
The cabinet secretary has rebuked civil servants and ministers for unattributable briefings and leaks, in a bid to settle the feuding surrounding Priti Patel.

In a highly unusual email to all staff, Sir Mark Sedwill said good government depended on politicians, their aides and officials being able to operate with candour, confidentiality and courtesy.

He wrote: Civil servants should at all times be confident that they can give the honest, impartial and objective advice on which ministers can rely.

Both should be confident that this advice, and any debate that surrounds it, will remain private.

The intervention  which follows a claim, fiercely denied, that MI5 withholds intelligence from the home secretary because it does not trust her  was a clear reprimand to leaking civil servants.

Ms Patel is said to be absolutely livid about recent allegations, including that she is a bully who is trying to oust the permanent secretary at the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam.

However, Sir Marks message could also be read as a ticking off for ministers and their aides, after a report that Boris Johnson has drawn up a hitlist of three permanent secretaries.

Earlier, the prime ministers official spokesperson insisted he had full confidence in the home secretary and the vital work she is doing to make our streets safer and to take back control of the UKs borders.

However, asked if the PM had similar faith in Sir Philip, the spokesperson said only: The prime minister has full confidence in the civil service which is working very hard to deliver on the governments priorities.

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

Ms Patel was said to be demanding a leak inquiry into the claims against her, although Cabinet Office sources said no request had been received.

James Brokenshire, the security minister, backed his boss, telling Sky News: I dont accept those assertions that have been seen in the press about the home secretary.

Yes, she is demanding, but in that role you have to be because you are dealing with some of the most sensitive, some of the most challenging things that you have to deal with across government.

And Theresa Villiers, the former environment secretary, pointed to misogyny, telling BBC Radio 4: Im sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office.

It happens again and again and I dont believe these allegations against Priti Patel. I think shes a highly effective home secretary.

The bullying allegations surfaced after a senior Home Office official collapsed following what was described as a heated meeting with Ms Patel.

Following the MI5 claim, a security service source took the almost-unprecedented step of insisting it was wrong to say information was being withheld from her.

Reports suggesting that the home secretary and MI5 do not have a strong working relationship are simply untrue, the source said.

The home secretary is briefed daily on intelligence matters in exactly the same way as any previous post holder. No information is being withheld.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 16:33:17|Editor: zyl

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A military officer poses for photos with his military working dog in front of a new memorial dedicated to military working dogs and their handlers at Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra, Australia, Feb. 24, 2020. AWM on Monday unveiled a new memorial dedicated to military working dogs and their handlers. Monday is the National Day for War Animals in Australia. (Photo by Liu Changchang/Xinhua)

CANBERRA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian War Memorial (AWM) on Monday unveiled a new memorial dedicated to military working dogs and their handlers.

Monday is the National Day for War Animals in Australia.

Brian Dawson, acting director of the AWM, said the new memorial serves as a reminder of the invaluable contribution of military working dogs, as well as the special bond between dogs and their handlers.

"The memorial is dedicated to all of the dogs that have worked for the Australian defence force since the First World War," said Steven Holland, the artist who created the memorial, in an interview with Xinhua.

"It is low to the ground and humble," he said. "The memorial features a paw print path that goes to the center of the memorial. And in the center is the ashes of a dog called Aussie."

Aussie, known as military working dog 426, served in Australian domestic and international operations including deployments to Afghanistan. It died in 2017 aged 16. The ashes were interred within the memorial on Dec. 4, 2019.

Creation of the memorial cost five months, with the help from an explosive detection dog named Billie and its handler Shane Kerswell. Billie was trained to walk in a tight circle on a bed of soft clay to create the paw-print track with spirals into the memorial, representing the steps of a dog as it circles into sleep.

In the center of the memorial is a piece of stone in the shape of a teardrop. "That piece of stone is special because it comes from the base of the Animals in War Memorial," said Holland.

When that memorial was completed in 2009, there was a slab of stone left. "The stone comes from China. It's Chinese granite," Holland said.

"The tear stone and the paw prints symbolize the remembrance of military dogs," he said. "Through their playfulness and curiosity, their intelligence and insight, their bravery and their faithfulness, they made a profound impact."

He welcomes visitors to walk on the paw print path, "so that they can walk in the steps of a military working dog on their path as they circle into sleep."

Holland said that in Australia, dogs work for different military branches, such as the Royal Australian Air Force and special forces. There are also explosive detection dogs and military police dogs.

In fact, working dogs were first used by the Royal Australian Engineers in 1918 when British dogs worked as messengers for Australian sappers in the trenches on the Western Front. The use of search dogs began during World War II.

"Dogs... have detected explosives, searched for and attacked the enemy, provided base security, and laid their lives on the line to save others," said Dawson. "The memorial is a fitting tribute to their loyalty, bravery and sacrifice."

The unveiling ceremony was participated by Darren Chester, the Australian Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Najat Maalla Mjid, and the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, deplore the continued reports of human rights abuses committed against civilians including women and children in the South-West and North-West regions of Cameroon.

We are deeply concerned about reports of violence, including the 14 February attack on Ngarbuh village in the Northwest region that left 23 civilians dead, including 15 children. The four officials deplored continued reports of attacks against civilians including extra-judicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and property destruction, as well as retaliatory attacks, abductions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, disproportionately affecting women and children in the south-west and north-west regions of Cameroon and forcing many to flee their homes. Children continue to be particularly affected by the crisis with reports of attacks on schools, extensive school closures in the affected regions and thousands of children out of school. Information received on the recruitment and use of children by armed actors and the detention of children for their actual or alleged association with armed actors raise further protection concerns.

Hundreds of thousands of people are reported to be displaced in the affected regions and the lack of security has further exacerbated the plight of marginalized and vulnerable groups. It is urgent to prevent further violence and to protect all women, girls, boys and men from grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Severely constrained humanitarian access and limited resources for service-providers has reduced the availability of sexual and reproductive healthcare for women, including urgent treatment for survivors of sexual violence, they said.

The four senior officials called on the Cameroonian Government to discharge its primary responsibility to protect its population by addressing the root causes of violence and ensuring that victims of the attacks, are provided with the appropriate protection and assistance. They further called on the authorities to fully investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the serious violations and abuses that have been committed. We urge the Government of Cameroon to ensure full respect for human rights, including the rights of women and children, and to ensure that the humanitarian needs of civilians are met. Furthermore, we remind the Government that children associated with armed groups should be considered primarily as victims and their detention used only as a last resort and for the shortest period of time. We also emphasize that all forms of sexual violence are categorically prohibited under international humanitarian and human rights law.

The United Nations offers its support and assistance to the authorities in Cameroon to address this situation and improve protection and service-delivery for civilians in affected areas, and for those who have been forcibly displaced.
Two 13-year-old boys have been charged with murder after they were spotted fleeing a burning public library in California that claimed the lives of two firefighters

The blaze at the Porterville City Library Tuesday claimed the lives of Fire Captain Raymond Figueroa, 35, and firefighter Patrick Jones, 25.

The Tulare County District Attorney's Office on Friday filed two counts of murder with special circumstances of multiple murders and arson against the youths.

Two boys, ages 13, were charged with murder after a blaze (pictured) burned the public library in Porterville, California, leaving two firefighters dead on Tuesday

The youths were arrested after they were seen fleeing the seen of the fire, which started in a children's section of the Porterville Public Library around 4:15pm on Tuesday

The blaze that burned the Porterville City Library Tuesday was blamed for the deaths of Fire Captain Raymond Figueroa (right), 35, and firefighter Patrick Jones (left), 25

Both teenagers have denied the charges and are jailed.

The names of the youths were not released because they are minors. They are scheduled to return to juvenile court on March 11.

Figueroa and Jones were killed as they battled the flames that gutted the library in Porterville, which is about 50 miles north of Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley.

Fire crews arrived about 4:15pm, shortly after the fire was called in by library staff who had noticed flames in the children's section.

More than 50 firefighters from Cal Fire, Tulare County and Fresno County helped Porterville city fire crews control the deadly blaze.

The library, built in 1953, did not have sprinklers, said Fire Capt. Joanne Bear.

Porterville Police Chief Eric Kroutil said Wednesday the teenagers were arrested within hours after they were seen running away from the burning library.

More than 50 firefighters responded to the blaze that burned the public library in Porterville, California, on Tuesday. The library, built in 1953, did not have sprinklers

'Our investigation led us to two 13-year-old Porterville residents who have been determined to have started this fire,' Kroutil said.

Capt. Figueroa, who started his career with the department in 2007, was killed as he tackled the blaze on Tuesday and Firefighter Jones was missing until his body was located late Wednesday night.

Porterville Captain Raymond Figueroa, 35, who died in the fire that burned the city library on Tuesday had been with the fire department since 2007

Firefighter Patrick Jones, 25, went missing while fighting the massive blaze that burned the Porterville Library on Tuesday. His remains were found the next day

'I'm not familiar with the building, but a library of this size and magnitude, there's a significant fuel load in that building,' said Tulare Co. Fire Chief Charlie Norman.

It was not immediately known if the boys have attorneys who can speak on their behalf.

Under California law, children under 14 cannot be tried as adults, even if they are charged with serious and violent felonies, such as murder.

'There are significant limitarion to what we can reveal when it comes to juveniles and juvenile justice system, yet you deserve answers,' Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward said, in response to not disclosing more information about the youths after they were arrested in the deadly fire.

He asked members of the community mourning the loss of Figueroa and Jones, which he referred to as 'Porterville's finest, to bare with him as the case against the youths unfolds without more disclosure.
A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday on Hettlemans bill, which would prohibit the state from registering a farm to grow industrial hemp if it is within two miles of a residential community with 10 or more residences. Hettleman said the bill is intended to mean a cluster or neighborhood of 10 or more homes, and that she would be open to clarifying the language in the legislation.
Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of rape and sexual assault against two women and was immediately handcuffed and led off to jail, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

The 67-year-old Weinstein had a look of resignation on his face as he heard the verdict that could send him to prison for up to 29 years.

"This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe, and it is a new day. It is a new day because Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed," District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said. Weinstein is a vicious, serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault and trick, humiliate and silence his victims."

Weinstein's lawyers said they will appeal.

Harvey is very strong. Harvey is unbelievably strong. He took it like a man," defense attorney Donna Rotunno said. " He knows that we will continue to fight for him, and we know that this is not over.

Weinstein was found guilty of criminal sex act for assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006 and third-degree rape of a woman in 2013. The jury found him not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and that's-Hollywood excuses from Weinstein about how the casting couch works.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.

The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on Haleyi and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on "Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.

Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails  and had sex with him  well after he supposedly attacked them.

The hard-charging and phenomenally successful movie executive helped bring to the screen such Oscar winners as "Good Will Hunting," "Pulp Fiction," "The King's Speech" and "Shakespeare in Love" and nurtured the careers of celebrated filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith.

Weinstein now faces charges in Los Angeles. In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on Jan. 6, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013. One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.

The trial was the first criminal case to arise from a barrage of allegations against Weinstein from more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman. Most of those cases were too old to prosecute.

During the trial, Weinstein regularly trudged into the courthouse stooped and unshaven, using a walker after recently undergoing back surgery  a far cry from the way he was depicted in court as a burly, intimidating figure whose eyes seemed to turn black with menace when his anger flared.

The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured, that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises and that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.

The prosecution's task was made more complicated because two of the women at the very center of the case didn't just abandon Weinstein after the alleged encounters: Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks later, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterward.

During a cross-examination from Weinstein's lawyers so exhaustive that she broke down in tears on the stand, the woman said she sent him flattering emails and kept seeing him because she was afraid of his unpredictable anger and "I wanted him to believe I wasn't a threat."

To blunt that line of questioning, prosecutors called to the witness stand a forensic psychiatrist who said that most sexual assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers and that they hope what happened to them "is just an aberration."

Rumors about Weinstein's behavior swirled in Hollywood circles for a long time, but he managed to silence many accusers with payoffs, nondisclosure agreements and the constant fear that he could crush their careers if they spoke out.

Among other men taken down by the #MeToo movement since the scandal broke: news anchors Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, actor Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.

Weinstein, the product of a working-class family from Queens, achieved success at two movie studios he created with his brother Bob: Miramax  named for their parents, Miriam and Max  and then the Weinstein Co. The Weinstein Co. went bankrupt after his disgrace.

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On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays

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For more background, select any of these previous stories below -- and view our original 2017 roundup of stars' reactions to revelations about Weinstein.

Look back at scenes from the rape trial of Harvey Weinstein

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Rio de Janeiro kicked off its annual carnival parades over the weekend in a swirl of glitter, sequins and spectacular outfits.

The Brazilian city's 13 top samba schools were competing for the title of carnival champions and each had around one hour to wow spectators in the Sambadrome with elaborate shows and scantily clad dancers.

Thousands flocked to see the parades and competitions for the five-day celebration to mark the start of lent.

Members of multiple parades represent different parts of the annual extravaganza, while men and women partake in an array of fascinating dances and performances.

The Rio Carnival typically starts a week before Ash Wednesday with parties beginning in December, despite being heavily influenced by European and African traditions today.

The first one was held in the 1640s in honour of the Greek wine gods and saw the Romans organise events to celebrate Saturnalia and Bacchus.

The first masquerade carnival took place in 1840 and saw influence from Italy's carnivals - with revellers dancing to the polka and waltz. Samba was then incorporated in 1917.

Dazzling: A samba dancer covered in sequins and feathers takes part in the traditional Rio Carnival parade at Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Spectacular: A dancer from the Estacio de Sa samba school competes in the Rio Carnival parades in the Sambadrome

Members of Estacio de Sa samba school parade in the Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai during Carnival 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Grande Rio samba school put on a spectacular display in the Sambadrome at the Rio carnival

Thousands flocked to see the parades and competitions for the five-day Rio carnival to mark the start of lent. Dancers like these from 13 samba schools were competing in spectacular outfits

A member of the Viradouro samba school strikes a pose during the Rio carnival parade in the Sambadrome

Spectacular: This dancer is from the Estacio de Sa samba school and was competing at the Rio carnival in Brazxil

A dancer from the Grande Rio samba school strikes a pose during the Rio carnival parades in the Sambadrome

Members of the Grande Rio samba school parade in the Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai during Carnival 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The annual Rio Carnival sees samba schools compete in a dazzling competition as thousands watch

Golden: The Paraiso do Tuiuti samba school had gold-coloured statues of warriors in their spectacular parade

Joyful: A member of the Colorado do Bras Special Group samba school grins with joy during the parade

A dancer strikes a pose in front of a giant golden skull during the Rio Carnival samba contest in the Sambadrome

Members of the Mangueira samba school parade wear skeleton face masks during their parade in the Sambadrome

A dancer strikes a pose as she competes with the Perola Negra Special Group samba school at the Rio Carnival

A dancer spreads her wings during the Rio Carnival parades in Brazil as samba schools competed in the Sambadrome

Members of Uniao da Ilha samba school parade in the Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai during Carnival 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A dancer performs amid jets of water during the Rio Carnival as the Mocidade Alegre Special Group samba school join the carnival parades in Rio

The Mocidade Alegre Special Group samba school show off their spectacular float during the Rio Carnival parade

Scantily-clad dancers put on an incredible show at the Rio Carnival that saw thousands watch the samba schools compete

Members of Perola Negra Special Group samba school take part in the traditional carnival parade at Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil,
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have been dating for more than a year now but many believed that to be just rumours until Ranbir confirmed it later. During one of the interviews, Kapoor confirmed that he is dating Alia, he also spoke of how fresh it is for them and it is very new and that he would not want to say much on it yet.

The couple made their first appearance at Sonam Kapoor's wedding with Ranbir in a blue suit and Alia rocking a neon green lehenga. People believe that Ranbir and Alia may have dropped the news recently but have been seeing each other for quite some time now. Listed below is an in-depth relationship timeline of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor.

READ: Alia Bhatt Visits Katrina Kaif As Their Recent Bonding Continues, Priyanka Chopra Joins In

Alia-Ranbir: The entire relationship timeline

Alia Bhatt first spoke of Ranbir Kapoor on Koffee with Karan in 2014. She openly spoke of her love for Ranbir. Alia also laughed and spoke of her desire to marry Ranbir Kapoor. The two were acquaintances at that time and became friends over the period. Many pictures were also taken of the couple but all believed them to be normal as they were co-stars and will soon be seen in Ayan Mukherji's film, Brahmastra.

READ: When Katrina Kaif Talked About Her Relationship With Ranbir Kapoor Post Their Breakup

On the other hand, Alia Bhatt has also posted pictures of them together while Ranbir is not active on social media. Alia Bhatt also spoke on the matter when she came on another episode of Koffee with Karan along with Deepika Padukone.

The couple have also taken a trip together for an African safari to Kenya and have been spending quite some time together now. The couple also got close to each other's family and Alia even took trips with Ranbir to the U.S when his father was hospitalised. Later, Ranbir's mother, Neetu Singh also posted a picture of the family and Alia there.

Rumours of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's wedding have been going around but the couple have not spoken anything on the matter.

READ: Karishma Tanna's Memorable Throwback Picture With Ranbir Kapoor That You Must Check Out

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.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : A Delhi Police head constable was killed on Monday as pro-and anti-CAA groups battled each other even as Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.

Taking to Twitter, the LG wrote: "Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony." Delhi CM Kejriwal, Deputy CM Sisodia and several other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders also appealed to the people to maintain peace.

Expressing concern over the violence, Kejriwal had written: "Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations." The LG's assurance came soon after Kejriwal's earlier tweet to which Delhi CM said: "I just had a word with Hon'ble LG. He has assured that more police force is being sent to the spot. Violence will not be tolerated. I request everyone to maintain peace and harmony. Nothing can be solved through violence." A head constable, Ratan Lal, lost his life while a youth was injured in the clashes. The youth was injured by a bullet fired by unruly protesters, while several vehicles and a house in the vicinity were set ablaze.

Shahadara DCP Amit Sharma also suffered injuries in stone pelting and was rushed to a hospital.

Soon after the news about the death of the head constable spread the crowd became more unruly after which Section 144 was imposed in the area.

A police official on condition of anonymity told IANS: "The condition was worst near a petrol pump at Bhajanpura. Many vehicles near the petrol pump were set ablaze by the crowd." Localities in this part of the national capital have been witnessing violent clashes between the anti-CAA and pro-CAA groups since Sunday afternoon. The pro-CAA groups assembled at Maujpur metro station while the anti-CAA protesters settled down about a kilometre away, at Jaffrabad metro station.

However, by Monday noon, things turned ugly between the two groups leading to several vehicles being set ablaze while a house near Maujpur metro station was also set on fire. Heavy stone pelting was reported from both sides.

Efforts to bring normalcy in the area have been in vain, despite the presence of senior Delhi police officers on the spot. Security forces have also used tear gas shells to scatter the protesters, but the situation remained tense.

Meanwhile, sources say that paramilitary forces have been called in to assist the police.

Journalists covering the spot were also targeted by the protesters as they were stopped from recording videos of the clashes and some of the media personnel were even beaten up.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Bono East regional minister, Kofi Amoakohene has cut sod for work to begin on Islamic Nursing training college at New Konkrompe in Atebubu-Amantin constituency.



The project is expected to be completed in 2022 after which, admit over two thousand students who want to offer various nursing courses.



The Minister commended the philanthropists for his initiative and advised the youth in the community to support the project in other to help the contractor finish on time.



He also used the occasion to commission one thousand five hundred capacity mosque which was also built by Alhazi Dr. Zakaria Nuur at Konkrompe.



Speaking to the Muslims youth, the minister urged them to be ambassadors of peace in this years election.



He admonished Muslims to be guided by the Bono East regional minister, Kofi Amoakohene as he cut sod for work to begin on Islamic Nursing training college at New Konkrompe in Atebubu-Amantin constituency.



Every Muslim should remain a crusader in his or her family and also a peace ambassador. If Ghanaians do not dedicate themselves and sacrifice their time, peace cannot be achieved, he said.



He appealed to Muslim youth to uphold the values of Islam urging them refuse to be used as instruments of violence to destabilize the prevailing peace in the country.



Hon Kofi Amoakohene said peace was a necessary condition for development and prosperity and urged the electorate to take a cue from neighbouring African countries to conduct a violent free and transparent election.



He said stakeholders must campaign against electoral violence, adding that ensuring a peaceful election in a country was a huge responsibility which could not be put on the door steps of a single institution.



He called on Muslims to see themselves as brothers and sisters, "avoid acts of violence."



He advised them not to avail themselves for politicians to use to foment trouble in society adding that Islam is a religion of peace.



The Chiefs and the people of Konkrompe also commended Alhaji Dr. Zakaria Nuur for his immense contribution towards development in the area.





Source: Kwabena Manu/Peace FM/Bono East correspondent.









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.

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Sundays are a day to recharge and reset. Its a day where you can put your mental health first, hang with a few friends, or turn off your phone and bath for hours on end. Thats why we choose to celebrate this holy day by showcasing people who love Sundays just as much as we do. Tying it with our Instagram Self-Care Sunday series, we ask the hard-hitting questions that embody what a perfect self-care Sunday means, whether its about mental health, physical health, community, and personal joys. We want to know why Sundays are important and how people enjoy them, from morning to night.

When it comes to self-care habits, some people assume that they can be selfish acts to engage in. Jenna Brillhart, a Sr. Art Director for HelloGiggles (and InStyle, MSW, Allrecipes, EatingWell, and MyRecipes) briefly believed in that assumption.Self-care was definitely an enigma to me growing up and continued to be well into my mid-20s, she says. Brillhart comes from a family who tends to put others first and is very good at taking care of people/thingswhich is why she says she is awful on focusing any energy on myself.

I definitely thought [Self-care] is not for me for a long time, she says. But it wasnt until two years ago when her perception of self-care started to change. Her roommate and close friend made her realize that maybe, theres nothing selfish about putting yourself first.

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While Brillhart claims shes still a novice when it comes to self-care, she isnt giving up on it anytime soon. Ive found extreme importance in taking time for myself which is what has ultimately lead me here to this job, she says.

For our first installment of Self-Care Sundays, we asked Brillhart a few questions based on four categories that embody a perfect Self-Care Sunday: Mental health, physical practices, community care, and personal joys. Plus, we couldnt help but ask some life advice on how she believes designers can engage in better self-care practices. So without further ado, heres Jenna Brillhart, a badass Sr. Art Director who you need in your life.

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Mental Health:

Her journey with mental health

The first time I realized something was wrong was in college. My life was pretty put together: I had a boyfriend, I had been accepted into my design program, I had a really solid group of friends, and I was still close enough to my family that I could drive home if I needed a break. Things were definitely stressful but not in a way that I couldnt handle.

Still, there were days where I couldnt get out of bed. I wouldnt be able to move and my mind was foggy. I was getting migraines all of the timesometimes to the point where Id get really sick. Our design program was rough and we were all going through it. When you stick 17 crumbling personalities into one space for months at a time, it can really result in some awful outcomes. I felt isolated and it impacted relationships with people I had to be around every day.

After college, I spent about three years feeling broken. I have such a hard time talking about mental health; I re-read that sentence and think God, Jenna, stop being so dramatic, but its the only word to describe it. The disconnect with others in college made me believe that no one wanted to deal with my shit. However, the friends that I kept proved me wrong in the most spectacular way. They stood by me and let me be grumpy and sad but they also emphasized my importance in the world.

The internet came through in an even more powerful way. Designers who Ive admired for years started to share their stories and over time, the stigma behind my mental health slowly started to shift to a mark of pride and accomplishment. Thats really when I began to realize that I could get through it and most importantly, it taught me the patience to be a friend to someone else who is also suffering. I sometimes still cant get out of bed in the morning and my anxiety controls about 90% of all of my decisions but Im learning new ways to deal with it as each day goes by.

Go-to best practices for mental health

Staying off my phone for the day (Im a responsive texter, so I make sure to text people who I talk to every day something like, Im having a busy day if they reach out so I dont worry anyone).

Creating easily achievable tasks for myself (i.e. drink a glass of water, read five pages of a book, go get the mail, etc). Workdays are actually easier for me because I work off of a queue and have a set list of tasks I need to accomplish.

If its not too bad of a day, Ill go see a movie by myself so that Im around people but I dont have to interact with them.

On really bad days, Ill turn on some background noise (TV or music) and just try to get through some breathing exercises.

Wind-down practices

At the end of the week, Ill extend my commute by getting off a stop early so that I can walk home. Even in the winter. Ill put on some music and just walk for a bit. That extra 15-20 minutes makes a huge difference [for me] by the time I get in my apartment. This is also another time where Ill go to the movies by myself to unwind. Im a huge fan of eat-in movie theaters and luckily, theres a bunch in Brooklyn to go to. My close friend and I also typically FaceTime at the end of every week to catch up and talk through anything super stressful. I always feel 10x lighter after talking through things with her.

Work balance

Im a big fan of bullet journaling. Its so incredibly helpful for me to see what I need to get done and be able to cross those items out when I finish them. Its also such a great way to step back and say, Wow, I did a lot this week or Okay, despite it being a rough week, I was able to at least accomplish this one thing. Plus, Im a huge scatterbrain, but Im also very process-oriented, so it helps keep myself in-line.

Amazon

Shop it! $18.42, amazon.com.

Physical Practices:

Exercise routine

Ive been doing Pilates ever since I was in middle school. Back then it was just a fun thing to do while my mom was working but now its one of the only forms of exercising that makes me feel really good.

Sunday activities

I clean my entire apartment every Sunday morning. Having a scattered brain and mental fogginess results in a lot of things ending up where they shouldnt be during the week so its nice to restart every Sunday morning. I also get my groceries delivered on Sunday mornings. Grocery delivery is a HUGE step forward for me in terms of anxiety. I get to avoid crowded store aisles and navigating the somehow always complicated bagging situation.

Body image

I have a difficult time talking about body image with almost anyone except for maybe my parents. From an outside perspective, I am a small person, both in weight and stature. Despite all of the things that people in my life have told me and the literal numbers nutritionists and doctors have provided, it has done little to change my perception of myself.

Jen Gotch, Founder and CCO of ban.do and my personal hero, has written a lot about this. You can carry your emotional baggage physically, which results in you feeling like a stranger in your own skin.

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Im thankful for my genetics that have kept me in relatively good shape despite how badly Ive treated my body over the years, but there is another level to it that often impacts my confidence and how I depict myself to others. Ive gotten really good at hiding parts of my body that I dislike through clothing choices. Ive slowly started to replace baggier items in my closet with more slim-fitting ones. Its a work in progress.

Go-to solutions to not get a cold

Everything I know about avoiding illnesses or how to not be sick comes from my parents. My moms solution to everything is boiling water with ginger in it. Like a TON of ginger. Tickle in your throat? Ginger tea. Your stomach is bothering you? Ginger tea. Stress? Ginger tea. Her new favorite things that she swears by are Vicks vapor rub and Fishermens Friend lozenges. If you even cough once during a conversation with her, she asks where your Fishermans Friend is. I can vouch for them because they are super effective when you have a cold. I cant really explain the Vicks vapor rub. It can only be equivocated to Gus Portokalos relationship with Windex in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Walmart

Community Care:

Boundaries

Dont underestimate the power of muting someone. Sometimes you just need to do it. Especially if its a close friend or family member who says or does things that you disagree with. In a way, unfollowing someone is the new way of saying, Im no longer interested you being in my life, whether they change or not. Muting is accepting that one of you needs to go through some change, and when youre ready, you can unmute them and continue forward.

Connecting with others

Im an INFJ. Which means Im an extroverted introvert. So I can show up and be social but desperately need alone time to recharge. My old job required me to be in front of people all day and it really wore me down. I barely had a social life on weeknights or weekends because Id need that alone time to regroup. I think I also sometimes came off as annoyed with people after a long day because Id be so mentally exhausted. I wasnt! I was just spent.

In terms of people connecting with me, I feel like Im so much better in-person than I am via text, social, dating apps, etc. The world can be a scary and judgmental place. It makes you feel a lot of feelings about yourself. Even as an introvert, I feel like theres way less pressure out in the real world than there is online to be yourself.

Social media

I really wish I was better at social media; I see importance in it, especially as a designer. My anxiety usually kicks in, though, and it leads to me not posting a photo of my work or of my time with friends for no reason other than Im worried about what people will think. But Im working on it. Feel free to follow along as I attempt to navigate those waters: @jennabril.

Me-time

I tend to follow the Liz Lemon philosophy when it comes to Sundays: Yes to life, yes to love, yes to staying in more!

Im usually pretty annoyed when someone asks to hang out on a Sunday. Not because I dont want to, but because of the immense guilt that comes with turning someone down when you have the time to see them. Its not to say that I wont hang out with a friend if its an early morning thing but I really like having some me time before I have to go back to being a human on Monday morning. Sunday Scaries are real and they are awful.

Personal Joys

Skin-care routine

Remember when I said I parrot others routines? This really applies to beauty. I dont think Ive ever had a family member sit me down and say, This is what you do. My mom was born and raised in Singapore and her approach has always been very simple: Put on a lot of moisturizer, focus on one feature, and youre done. Her skin is incredible and mine is not. Maybe its the Vicks vapor rub?

I dont typically wash my face in the morning because I really go after it at night but Ill splash my face with water or if I have some time, Ill do a mask, like Tata Harpers Resurfacing mask. Its great for the morning because it makes your skin all glowy (and was a Jonathan Van Ness recommendation). And if you like to work out in the morning, you can leave this on while you do your workout because your body heat helps activate the enzymes in the mask.

Then I follow-up with Hyaluronic Acid (Ive used both First Aid and the Ordinary), a moisturizing cream (CeraVe, which my dermatologist recommended) and then I put on a couple of drops of Kiehls SPF 50 tinted BB Cream. I wait a bit between putting on my lotion and SPF so that my face doesnt get clumpy. I tend to be brand loyal when it comes to skincare and make-up. Kiehls is a big part of my routine. I use its avocado eye treatment every morning and its Clearly Corrective Brightening & Exfoliating Daily Cleanser at night. Im also a big fan of their Midnight Recovery Oil which I put on before I go to bed.

Tata Harper

Acne woes

Ive had really bad acne for, well, forever. A combo of birth control and Vitamin D3 helps keeps my hormonal acne under control and my skin really reacts well to Vitamin D. Im also a big fan of the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mask. I mix it with apple cider vinegar and use it about two to three times a week. I always follow-up with a hydrating mask because it dries up my skin.

Sleep routine

Every Sunday night, I get ready for bed super early and read until I fall asleep. It helps counteract Sunday Scaries. I try to do this every night but sometimes, Im so tired that I just go to bed right away.

Video games

Video games have been a big part of my life ever since I was young. Im not ashamed to admit that I still play the Sims. Its a huge stress reliever for me. Sometimes I just build houses for an entire afternoon or evening. Theyve also created a lot of fun new worlds for gameplay that are super entertaining.

Life Advice

When self-care Sundays dont go according to plan

I try to set limits for myself so that if I have plans on a Sunday, Im still getting some me time. This is really where bullet journaling works best. If I can see that I was able to complete some tasks that were important to me, I feel less stressed about losing time to just chill and relax.

Advice for designers who want to practice better self-care

Designers, in my experience, are awful at taking breaks. Were moving around constantly and always working or re-doing something. Even when we have full-time jobs were taking on freelance work to hone other skills.

Since most of us operate the same way, it can lead to poor navigation of self-care and mental health practices. My close group of design friends and I are all over the country now but we all make time at least once a year to get together and talk about life and projects and its a great support system to have.

My advice is to find a design-based support system so that you can complain about work and life. Not only do you feel better getting it out in the open but theres also helpful feedback on the other end since theyve most likely experienced or are currently experiencing the same thing. It really helps you avoid the you dont understand conversation with other friends and family.

If she had an extra Sunday

An extra Sunday?! Probably just sit on my couch and binge-watch shows or play games that people keep recommending to me but that I never have the time for.
(@FahadShabbir)

Bahrain's Health Ministry announced Monday the first recorded case of coronavirus infection in the country

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2020) Bahrain's Health Ministry announced Monday the first recorded case of coronavirus infection in the country.

The patient is a Bahraini citizen who had recently arrived from Iran, the Ministry said in a tweet, adding that he was suspected of having the virus after displaying symptoms. He was transported to the Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Medical Center, the ministry said.

Iran has been experiencing an upsurge in cases in recent days with eight deaths reported so far. Infected travelers from the country also caused Lebanon to announce its first case last week.

The new coronavirus was first detected in China in late December and has since spread to more than 25 other countries, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. The outbreak has already left over 77,000 people infected worldwide and resulted in more than 2,600 deaths in mainland China.
(Newser)  He should've stuck to his praise-winning honey. An Irish former beekeeper-turned-drug dealer is ruing the day he came up with the bright idea to stash the codes to accounts harboring close to $60 million in bitcoin in the aluminum cap of a fishing rod casewhich, per the Guardian, vanished after Clifton Collins ended up getting arrested and sentenced to prison. The 49-year-old's descent into a life of crime and an ill-begotten fortune began around 2005, when he abandoned work as a security guard and beekeeperthe latter of which had earned him awards for his honeyto start growing pot full time. He rented a home in Galway, where he grew and harvested his crops, and from the ample cash he made selling the cannabis in Dublin, he decided in late 2011 and early 2012 to invest in bitcoin, which at the time was valued at $5 per coin (it's today worth more than $9,700).

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The Irish Times notes that by 2017, Collins had accrued 6,000 bitcoins, all in one account, but as the price of bitcoin rose, he feared one hack job could wipe him out, so he created 12 accounts and placed 500 bitcoins in each. He was arrested later that year after cops found more than $2,100 worth of cannabis in his car and sent to prison for five years. His landlord had the home cleared out, and the fishing rod case disappeared; workers at a local dump say they remember seeing thrown-out fishing gear, which has likely been incinerated. Who may be lamenting the bitcoin loss even more than Collins: the Irish government, which can't confiscate the funds without the codes. About $1.6 million in bitcoin held in other accounts (which Collins did have the codes for) has already been seized, as has more than $100,000 in cash. (Read more bitcoin stories.)
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.
Tension escalated in northeast Delhi with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas.

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore law and order in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi during protests for and against the new citizenship law.

"Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in.

"I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic)," he tweeted.

Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in.

I sincerely urge Honble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 24, 2020

Tension escalated in northeast Delhi with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, where pro and anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.
The Permanent Style pop-up shop is coming back to 37 Savile Row, in the second half of March.

Those following PS on Instagram stories might have seen the gradual announcements, but we have just confirmed the final two brands this week: Scott Fraser Collection and Lafayette Saltiel.

So, the pop-up will be in its usual space on the Row, for two weeks. The first week will run from Tuesday March 17 to Saturday March 21, and the second from March 24 to 28.

As per usual, each week will feature a different set of brands. Those brands are:

Week 1: March 17-21

Berg & Berg

Scott Fraser Collection

Acate Bags

Sartoria Melina

Lafayette Saltiel Drapiers

Week 2: March 24-28

Rubato

The Armoury / Dayware

Lutays

Marrkt / Reader sales

Lafayette Saltiel Drapiers

Weve put Lafayette in both weeks because their cloth will be available throughout - unless it all sells. And it will be managed by myself and James Girdwood, rather than having the Lafayette team here.

As well as these brands, all Permanent Style products will be available to buy and try (including one new launch) and so will J.Girdwood (with a running discount).

Im really excited about both weeks, because again the brands are largely new - and each time this creates a very particular atmosphere.

There will also be an opening party on the Wednesday of the first week, March 18, which all readers are welcome to come along to.

Heres a quick run-down on each brand and what theyre bringing to the pop-up.

Berg & Berg

https://bergbergstore.com/

Readers will doubtless be familiar with the Swedish brand Berg & Berg, which has a full range of great menswear, often at slightly cheaper levels than other classic menswear brands.

This will be a great one for coming in and trying your size, as there is the range there to build out a full wardrobe of shirts or trousers. The team will have the full Spring/Summer season to show, including pieces like the Folke shirt and Alfons trousers above - which typify Berg & Berg in many ways, combining great materials and classic cuts, in a fun and modern way.

Scott Fraser Collection

https://scottfrasercollection.com/

Im equally sure some readers will know the Scott Fraser Collection, which is inspired by vintage eras of fashion to create knitwear, tailoring and shirts. Scott operates out of a studio in East London, but as with all these brands has no store, so were bringing him to the full glare of retail for the first time.

Scotts elegant, wide-leg trousers are all made in London, and the knitwear in Italy - where the 50s-feel designs and manufacturing originated. Most of it is made to order, but Scott will also bring some ready-made pieces for those that want to walk away with something - and a small collection of vintage.

As with all these brands, you can see more about Scotts work, and prices, on his website listed above.

Acate Bags

https://acate-borsa.com/

I covered Acate back in summer last year, on this post. They're a Japanese brand making very high-quality, simply designed leather accessories in Italy.

I particularly like the real shrunken leather for its soft and flexible feel, and the Hermes-like clay grey. I pictured the Ostro bag then, but I also like the new tote they have this year, the Kaus (shown above).

Sartoria Melina

https://www.permanentstyle.com/?p=50928

Sartoria Melina you should know - Ive covered their bespoke leather jackets from Naples a few times. My most recent commission was a dark-olive blazer, which Ive much improved on the first by lengthening it, broadening the shoulders and lowering the gorge.

Melina have also been at the pop-up before. However, the difference this time is that they will have a small collection of ready-made blazers available.

I know some will still want their leather made, and for that Melina do trunk shows in London. But others will find they fit one of the sized blazers well, and enjoy picking one up without appointments and fittings.

Lafayette Saltiel Drapiers

Lafayette is the French agent for many cloth mills, but has become known recently for its collection of vintage bolts from the past few decades.

When I was in Paris recently, I picked out 10 cloths I particularly liked, and they will be available to buy as cut lengths in the pop-up. They include an airforce flannel that is heavier than any other Ive seen; a check with load of primary colours; and a mohair mix thats the older piece they have.

There are also two bedford cords (navy and olive) which I liked, surprisingly for me, and a flannel that the darkest brown Ive ever seen. None of them are for everyone - but then, thats not what you want with vintage cloth.

Rubato

https://www.atemporubato.com/

Rubato are Oliver and Carl from Stockholm, and were covered on PS previously here. Their knitwear has been extremely popular - particularly among those that wear high-waisted trousers.

Its short in the body, generous in the chest, and made to be practical - in good lambswool at good prices. The guys also say they are going to bring along some previews of new things in the collection

The Armoury / Dayware

https://thearmoury.com/collections/dayware

The Armoury have been at the pop-up before as well, when they were introducing their shoes. This time theyre here to focus on their casual Dayware collection - as well as bringing the new tailoring model, 101.

Dayware is interesting because it brings together a very functional set of casual clothes from The Armoury. There are T-shirts and denim made in collaboration with Nigel Cabourn, as well as The Armourys three-pocket blouson, with the focus at the pop-up being the cotton-drill version, which is heavy enough to be an effective layer in colder weather.

There's also the new David tote bag from The Armoury (above), made in a heavy duty Japanese takeyari canvas.

Lutays

https://lutays.com/

Lutays is a start-up by Jean-Baptiste Rosseeuw, who some might remember from his previous job at Lavabre Cadet. He has launched a project to recreate and reinterpret French workwear jackets, using a couture maker in Paris.

All the jackets are made to order at the moment, but the designs you can see on the Lutays site will be on display at the pop-up to see and try. Although inspired by French working pieces, the make and cloths are rather more luxurious, and worth seeing first-hand.

Marrkt

https://www.marrkt.com/

Now this is interesting. Marrkt is an online shop selling second-hand and ex-season clothes, from brands like The Real McCoys and from contributors such as myself.

For the pop-up shop, however, Marrkt is intending to offer clothes sent by readers as well. Anyone that is interested should contact them on [email protected]. Theyre looking for the kind of classic, crafted clothes we discuss on Permanent Style, as well as great vintage pieces.

Do talk to them and send in advance though, rather than turning up to the shop with contributions.

Thats it. Im so excited about hanging out in the shop again, chatting to you all, and probably buying too many things from the brands myself.

James Girdwoods discount on current RTW items, by the way, is live on his shop now and will run until the end of the pop-up.

And we were going to host Rowing Blazers from New York in week 1, but they unfortunately had to pull out.

Opening times on the shop are:

Tuesday to Friday: 11am to 7pm

Saturday: 10am to 6pm

Monday and Sunday: Closed

Do let me know if Ive forgotten anything else.

Simon
Two people riding an ATV on an ice-covered reservoir plunged through the thawing ice. One person didnt make it out alive.

As WNEP-TV reports, Steven Kenzakoski, 47, of Jenkins Township, Luzerne County, has been identified as the person who died when his ATV broke through the ice at Mill Creek Reservoir on Saturday.

FOX56 reports the official cause of death has been listed as cardiac arrest due to drowning.

Fellow rider Megan Squires, 45, was able to make it to shore, WNEP reports, adding:

Rescue crews were called to Mill Creek Reservoir off Bald Mountain Road in Jenkins Township just before 2 p.m. Saturday for reports of two people through the ice and in the water.

Crews had a difficult time getting to the victims because of how remote the area is.

The police chief warns residents that the ice is not safe to be walking on, let alone driving an ATV.

The ice is extremely dangerous at this point in time, Germania Hose Company Assistant Chief John Amico said. We only had about three inches of ice, which makes it extremely difficult for us to get to the victims.

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New Delhi, Feb 24 : After all, the sudden quiet at Shaheen Bagh, on the boil for over two months, was deeply deceptive, if you look at the way how the protest -- for and against the new citizenship law -- spilled out to north-east of Delhi, with the police yet again failing to read the situation.

Many locals say the violence at Maujpur-Jafrabad in north-east Delhi erupted soon after BJP leader Kapil Mishra took out a march on Sunday in support of the Controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as well as against the anti-CAA women protesters who had blocked the road at Jafrabad metro station.

The police stepped in when Kapil Mishra addressed the crowd, sources said. He was flanked by the Deputy Commissioner of Police clad in full riot gear. Some people cite a video clip that shows the BJP leader giving an "ultimatum" to the police, saying "he will come back after the visiting US President leaves India".

"But the DCP did not act," said a local resident.

Stone-pelting soon started on the crowd protesting against CAA at Jafrabad.

But how does Kapil Mishra get into the picture? The Karawal Nagar (another north-east Delhi locality) politician was in the AAm AAdmi Party and had switched to the BJP just days before the Delhi polls. He contested from Karawal Nagar, but lost.

A few days back, scores of Jafrabad residents had let it be known that on Saturday (February 22), they would start a march to Rajghat. They were responding to an appeal by Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad who had called for 'Bharat bandh' on Sunday. On saturday, the women protesters were stopped midway, but soon they were at Jafrabad Metro station, blocking the road and the metro station.

Eyewitness say when the pro and anti-CAA protesters clashed, the police remained a mute spectator.

The situation turned uglier: On Monday the violence reached the lanes and by-lanes of some localities where passers-by were beaten up if they did not tell their names to aggressive groups of men.

Many pictures and videos of violence have gone viral where unidentified people have been seen brandishing guns as policemen look on. A head constable, Ratan Lal, lost his life on Monday after being hit by rioters.

The violence has spread to Chand Bagh, Khureji in east Delhi and Hauz Rani in south Delhi and fear stalks the roads. Yet no one knows how it all started and when and how it will end.
Security has been increased across Kashmir as a precautionary measure in view of US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India, which began on Monday, officials said.

"In view of the incidents that have taken place in Kashmir ahead of high profile visits to the country, security has been strengthened in the Valley," a senior police officer said.

In March 2000, Lashkar-e-Taiba militants killed 35 Sikhs in Chatisinghpora village in Anantnag district during the visit of former US president Bill Clinton to India.

The official said additional personnel from the police and paramilitary forces have been deployed here and elsewhere in the Kashmir Valley to ensure that militants are not able to carry out any attacks.

Surveillance and area domination exercises have been intensified in some areas, he said.

Mobile vehicle check points have been set up at several places for curbing the movement of people who provide logistical support to militants, the official said.

He said security arrangements have been beefed up as a precautionary measure.

The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has appealed to the community members to maintain vigil.

"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 Kashmir Valley. The Sikhs are feeling insecure and they fear that something untoward might happen," APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said in a statement on Saturday, while referring to the 2000 incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GOP Campaign Experts Say Sanderss Castro Praise His First Big Mistake

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made his first major goof of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary campaign by praising Cuban dictator Fidel Castros literacy programs, according to Republican campaign pros interviewed by The Epoch Times.

Sanders said in an interview aired Feb. 23 on CBS News 60 Minutes that were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but, you know, its very unfair to say everything was bad. When Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program.

Castro imposed a totalitarian Soviet-style communist regime on the Caribbean nation in 1959 and killed thousands of political opponents in the decades following. He gave up power in 2011 to his brother, Raul, and died in 2016.

Sanderss praise of Castro caused an immediate uproar among Republicans, led by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who tweeted that the likely Dem nominee praised the supposed achievements of Castro regime. And hes wrong about why people didnt overthrow Castro. Its not because he educated their kids, gave them health care, its because his opponents were jailed, murdered or exiled.

Florida Democrats were similarly outraged, with, for example, Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell writing that Sanderss comments were completely unacceptable.

The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society, she wrote in a Feb. 24 tweet.

Sanders did only a little better among Democratic campaign strategists interviewed Monday by The Epoch Times.

It doesnt matter who the Democrats put up as the nominee. The GOP will paint them as socialists no matter what, said Jimmy Williams, former senior economic adviser to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). The only problem is Sanders is an actual Socialist, an admitted anti-capitalist and, if hes the nominee, the ads will be true.

At the risk of stating the obvious, this is not going to help him, or other Democrats, in the crucial battleground state of Florida, acknowledged Jim Manley, former communications director for then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Christy Setzer, founder and president of New Heights Communications, was more optimistic, noting: Theres no reason to do Republicans opposition work for them. That said, you dont need to do a terribly intense Google search to find all the times [President Donald] Trump praised and continues to praise a variety of dictators. So, I feel pretty confident this is recoverable.

Others werent so sure. Christian Hanley of Defiance Strategies and the Keep It In Perspective podcast, warned that Sanders would do well to explain his comments and put them in context immediately. The attack ads write themselves, he said.

Similarly, Robin Biro, a regional director for President Barack Obamas 2008 campaign who frequently appears on Fox News, said he expects to be hearing about this comment throughout the lead-up to the election.

[I] am bracing myself for the inevitability that GOP pundits will use this against me during our debates. I would do the same if the shoe was on the other foot, he said.

A former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, Biro served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

A Washington, D.C.-based Democratic strategist agreed that Sanderss comment will especially hurt his prospects in Florida.

This will no doubt alienate Latino voters in Florida, a state that will be crucial to his election chances. These are the types of comments that will continue to give more moderate Dems anxiety about Bernie winning the nomination, said strategist and attorney Kevin Chavous.

On the other side of the aisle, District Media Group President Beverly Halberg said Sanders is being closely examined now not just by Republicans but by Democrats who are terrified that hell be the nominee. He can either apologize for past comments or embrace them. Hes chosen the latter, which is true to his brand that oozes authenticity, she said.

Sanderss comments will have impact in Florida, where many people know firsthand the brutality of the Castro regime, she said. But Bernie is strong with millennials, many who have not researched the extent of the abuses that are still taking place in Cuba.

Americans for Limited Government President Richard Manning agreed, saying, Unlike many younger Americans, the people of South Florida do not need to be educated about the horrors of socialism/communism, as either they or their immediate relatives lived and escaped it.

Brian Darling, former counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and founder of Liberty Government Affairs, predicted that vetting for Sanders has just begun, and by the end, I cant imagine middle America, let alone Democrats, voting for an aging, out-of-the-mainstream socialist from liberal Vermont who honeymooned in the old Soviet Union.

Kevin Sheridan, president of the Sheridan Media Group, doubts the Castro flap will hurt Sanders in the Democratic primary but sees little hope of avoiding continuing damage afterward.

Bernies fondness for Castro will be noxious to suburban swing voters in November. Every member of Congress who holds one of those seats knows it.

Within the Democratic primary electorate, however, where no single alternative to Bernie has emerged, it wont register.

If the current trajectory holds, I wouldnt be surprised to see a couple dozen House members completely skip the Milwaukee convention and withhold a presidential endorsement.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
A surfer fought off a Great White Shark by repeatedly punching it in the face after it bit his arm and sunk its teeth into his surfboard.

Nick Minogue, 60, from Auckland, New Zealand, was trying to catch some waves at Pauanui Beach on Saturday when his morning was interrupted by a three-metre long visitor with a fin.

"I was quite a long way out, there was quite a solid swell running, I was just paddling along and got hit on the side of my elbow and forearm," Mr Minogue told the New Zealand Herald.

By the time I realised what was going on its teeth were definitely latched on to the front section of the board."

Mr Minogue was quite a long way out to sea when the attack occurred / Google Maps

The brave surfer said during the attack he suddenly remembered that sharks dont like to be punched in the eyes and nose.

He swore at the animal and asked it to back off before aiming a blow at its face.

So I actually shouted at it 'f***off!' and went to punch it in the eye and missed," he added

"Then I pulled my fist back and shouted 'f*** off!' again and got it right smack bang in the eye. It's quite a big eye, about three knuckles across, and it's eye kind of looked up and rolled up.

"In between the two punches, it crunched down a bit more on the board and then disengaged its teeth, got its jaws off and then I got brushed by the dorsal fin and the tail fin and swam off."

Mr Minogue said he was paddling in a isolated location when he was attacked and there was only one other surfer in the vicinity about 50 metres nearer to the shore.

"He heard me screaming, it was just the two of us out there at this stage, and we just started paddling in as fast as we could. The German guy was kind of screaming the whole way which probably made me paddle even faster."

Mr Minogue was left with a cut on his arm and credited his clothing from saving him from more serious injuries.

He said he still had his limbs and the incident could have been a lot worse.

The attack hasnt put him off getting back into the water and he has a boys surfing tripped planned for next week  though he will have to replace his board.
Authorities will try to prevent the import of coronavirus from Italy

Open source

The Ministry of Health has decided to start temperature screening at Ukrainian border posts where passengers from Italy arrive. Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko said this during a briefing in Kyiv.

We are ready to receive patients with coronavirus and provide them with quality medical care. Today we have about 12,000 beds in infectious hospitals, about 2,000 doctors and about 5,000 paramedical personnel. We also have infectious boxes with the understanding that they are used only at the initial stages of an outbreak or an epidemic. In the future, the use and maintenance of patients in infectious boxes are inappropriate, for this, other departments of healthcare institutions will be reprofiled medical assistance is provided as usual," the official noted.

According to him, infectious resuscitation departments are equipped with devices for artificial ventilation of the lungs, since there is no specific therapy for coronavirus-infected.

Today, Ukraine has an opportunity and ability to provide medical care in intensive care units and resuscitation departments, - Viktor Lyashko said

As we reported before, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine knows about 15,632 citizens of Ukraine registered in Italy as of January 1, 2020. 9,158 of them are registered in Milan consulate. None of them is infected with coronavirus
The new case is even more flimsy than the first. Prosecutors claim Mr. Kavala was part of a CIA team that oversaw the 2016 attempted coup  a conspiracy they portray as led by a U.S. college professor, Henri Barkey. Mr. Barkey happened to be conducting an academic seminar on an island off the coast of Istanbul when the failed military uprising took place. The charge that he led the coup is manifestly ludicrous  and, in any case, Mr. Kavala was not present at the seminar. The charge is based on a passing encounter the two men had at an Istanbul restaurant several days later.
A Delhi court on Monday sought response from the city police on a plea of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor seeking preservation of his deceased wife's Twitter account and tweets made by her prior to her death in 2014.

Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar directed the investigating officer (IO) in the case to file his reply on Tharoor's plea by March 20, when the court will next hear the matter.

The court had last month dismissed Tharoor's plea seeking to place before it certain tweets of his wife, saying he will have the liberty to produce them at an appropriate stage.

The former union minister who had got pre-arrest bail, which was later converted to regular bail, was charged by the Delhi Police under Sections 498-A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

In the plea filed on Monday, senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Tharoor, said Twitter may delete her entire account since she expired in 2014 and that poses a threat of loss of evidence in this case.

When an individual dies, "Twitter may delete the entire account, until and unless an order is passed in this regard. That poses a threat of loss of the evidence in this case," Pahwa said



"Since 2014 her (Pushkar's) account is inactive. Give a direction to IO to write to Twitter India to preserve her account and tweets," he requested the court.

Police claimed that Tharoor, the sole accused in the case, had abetted his wife's suicide as he had tortured her.

The maximum punishment for the offence listed in the charge sheet is 10 years of imprisonment.

Pushkar's death had created a sensation as it came shortly after a bitter spat between the couple on Twitter over his alleged affair with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar.

Pushkar, 51, was found dead in a suite of luxury hotel Leela in Delhi's Chanakyapuri on the night of January 17, 2014.

The couple was staying at the hotel as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Steven Nichtberger's Cabaletta Bio office. The former Merck executive ran biotech pioneer Tengion until its clinical trials failed, and now heads Cabaletta Bio, one of a string of University City biotech companies that has already gone public as it moves therapies towards clinical trials. His annual Wharton School course attracts early-stage investors who seek to meet Penn and CHOP gene therapy leaders and make their ideas profitable Read more

Smart, small biotech companies -- dozens in the U.S. over the last two years, including several in the Philadelphia area -- have gone public before theyve made a profit, a sale, or even a product.

Is too much money chasing too few winners? Will this end like the dot.com blowup of 2001?

This is not a bubble," insists Steven Nichtberger, serial start-up CEO. Its Philadelphias moment.

He would say that: Nichtberger is boss at one of those newly public, pre-profitable University City companies, Cabaletta Bio, with Penn doctors Aimee Payne and Michael Milone. The firm was backed by biotech investors from Boston, New York and California, before its initial public stock offering last fall.

But consider where hes been: He previously headed Tengion Inc., which had 100 employees and a state-of-the-art East Norriton factory. It was worth more than $400 million at its peak during another biotech build-up 10 years ago, only to fade, with many peers, when its technology failed to produce cures.

Times have changed, Nichtberger said in his Cira Center office, a seven-block walk from Penns medical school: The science at Tengion was very new. There were no contract-manufacturing organizations in those days. We had to take a lot of risk and build out our own manufacturing up front. But the science did not bear out. It went sideways."

But that was yesterdays biotech ecosystem. Science has advanced in Philadelphia, in gene therapy and cell therapy, unleashing what is a much more modular, predictable path for product development.

When Nichtberger graduated from Penn in 1983, he went to work for Merck. Corporate drug development followed a slow, risky, chemical course: You would ask, What are the sequences in a living being that lead to a disease? And youd find the rate-limiting step, say, in the creation of cholesterol in the body. And ultimately discovered, for example, statins, and a billion-dollar platform."

And then it was back to the drawing board. Discoveries werent cumulative; the next insight might take years to prove. Or disprove. Chemical projects are very difficult to predict, whether you have efficacy, and safety."

Nichtberger says the government-backed Human Genome Project, which substantially completed the mapping of human genes in the early 2000s, marked not just new access for medical science, but the basis for a compression of cure technology.

Instead of finding insights and trying to prove them over many years, we can now treat many diseases and conditions as genetic engineering problems" whose treatments can be tested and proven rapidly, by medical standards. Its huge, its exciting, and its compelling, medically.

These processes, he says, are place-based: Gene and cell therapies are not widgets you can make in Kansas and ship around the country. Manufacturing is central to success in gene and cell therapy, and Philadelphia is where the people who [developed] the manufacturing are. Here is where the future economy is coming together. Philadelphia is not going to lose this one." Real-estate developers are rushing to finance clean-room labs and offices to house "the talent we are all competing for. "

Just at Penn, doctors who pioneered the use of genetic data include James Wilson, whose labs developed adeno-associated vectors -- "like trucks, Nichtberger says, that deliver altered genes to patients; Jean Bennett and a team who partnered with CHOP to develop the first FDA-approved corrective gene injections to fix a genetic eye disease; Carl June, a leader in the group that signaled human T-cells to attack potentially cancerous B-cells, the basis for another groundbreaking treatment, Novartis Kymriah, and more recently the founder of Tmunity Therapeutics, which occupies Tengions old site in East Norriton.

It is an expansive community, with branches at CHOP, Jefferson and other medical centers. "And that is why money has been flowing here from everywhere on Earth, from Boston and California and China, into Philadelphia. Not just to those other biotech centers, Boston and San Francisco.

Is there really room for the billions that investors are pumping into cell and gene therapy developers? Some investments will succeed. Some will fail. The money will advance to the very best. The money is flowing to biotech because the timeline has been compressed, the returns are increased, and there is evidence to substantiate that.

Nichtberger has made the most of his Penn ties. After Tengion and before Cabaletta, he was recruited to teach a class. Since 2012 he has presented the Life Sciences and Management program, where he showcases discoveries of University City gene therapy leaders, and draws blue-chip venture capitalists and pharma bosses.

In 2011 Nichtberger presented T-cell data from Junes lab to his inaugural class. The next year Bennett showed a grainy video of a student struggling through a maze before her blindness treatment, and then rushing through it, blind no longer.

Partners at Bain Capital and Deerfield Management Co. were among the visitors to the class that second year. By 2015, Deerfield and Bain were among the early investors in Bennetts company, Spark, which Roche bought for $4.3 billion in December. They stood to make hundreds of millions, because they had an advance view of whats coming, said Nichtberger.

"So now I can do any project I want to do. Because this ecosystem is centered right here at Penn.

Even good science can bring in dumb money, I remind him. The biotech community has way too much money available, for way too many investments, he says. "Many are going to fall by the wayside.

The Penn-trained scientists at Nichtbergers company, Cabaletta Bio, are developing T-cells that dont kill human B-cells indiscriminately but target destructive ones. In 2018 he raised $38 million from three out-of-town firms, then $50 million three months later, before going public in October. He has raised enough money to run the 25-employee company for the next couple of years as it ramps up clinical trials.

We are building an important business discovering and developing therapies that we manufacture, using cell therapy, in Philadelphia.
By Olivia Rose

ALLURING tourist attraction and environmental hazard, the Mega One Triton shipwreck, is finally being removed from Governors Beach in Grand Turk.





The momentous task, which is costing the Government $1.7 million and will take about a month to complete, began on Monday (February 17).





Consultants CWaves are overseeing the removal of the vessel, which is being carried out by Koole Contractors with strict adherence to international safety standards.





In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Tourism urged beachgoers to take caution in the area while the ship is removed.





"Residents and visitors alike are being urged to obey signs which will be placed around the area for their safety, it read.





"Due caution should be taken to avoid any injury or damage to self or property.





"The beach will remain open for access, however; we do request that barrier lines are not traversed for safety reasons.





In September 2019, the Government tendered the project for the removal of the Mega One Triton shipwreck.





This followed with the award of a contract to the international company, Koole Contractors.





The technical operation required several safeguards to be put in place prior to the vessels removal to protect the local environment.





These include the removal of several thousand gallons of contaminated water and fuel that if released into the environment, would pose a significant environmental threat.





Specialised equipment must be employed to skim the petroleum-based contaminants from the surface of the water in an effort to remove the most hazardous of materials.





The remainder of the water must then be pumped and transported to an upland location for safe disposal.





At the same time that toxic fluids are removed, oil booms and turbidity curtains must be deployed to contain any potential spills.





Many residents and tourists shared their thoughts about the ships removal on social media.





While some were elated about the news, others were sad the ghost ship experience would no longer be an item on their bucket list





One tourist said: "It was an eyesore but cool to see.





Another person said: "It had become iconic. Why couldnt they find a way to leave it? Glad we got multiple pics of this before it was removed.





"I understand its removal but it was cool to see and it brought lots of mental and visual thoughts of how it came to be there...in all our visits we never found out the history, interesting to finally know.





Another visitor said: "That spectacular beach is not a dump. Where is the owner of the vessel? I am sure they were paid insurance money to remove it.





"Yet there it sits, rusting away, waiting for the toxic sludge to begin its march to that beautiful turquoise sea and muck up the powdery white sand.





The vessel started life as a tender vessel supplying offshore oil rigs.





After it was decommissioned and sold to a retired captain, the ship supplied the Turks and Caicos Islands with building materials from the Dominican Republic for more than 20 years.





During the passage of hurricane Sandy in October 22, 2002, it disabled and anchored off Government Dock in the capital and was eventually grounded at Governors Beach.





There were about 190 litres of fuel on board and about 150 litres of motor oil.





In 2019, the Government allocated some $3.2 million for the removal of the ship. However, that figure was later slashed to about $1.7 million.




Colombo, Feb 24 : The Sri Lankan government has set up a Task Force to expedite the ongoing probe into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks on churches and hotels that claimed over lives.

The six-member Task Force, established by the Ministry of Defence and headed by the Chief of National Intelligence Major General Jagath Alwis, has been instructed to submit weekly reports to the Defence Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, the Colombo Page newspaper said in a report on Sunday.

The Task Force was set up following a directive by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to ensure speedy investigations into the attacks that took place in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, Major General Gunaratne said.

"The CID investigation into these attacks was not conducted in an effective way during the last regime. If we fail to conduct a proper investigation, we are not doing justice to those innocent people who died and over 500 victims who are living with life-long serious scars and injuries due to the deadly bomb explosions," the Colombo Page quoted the Defence Secretary as saying on Sunday.

"President Rajapaksa had instructed us to secure the contribution of all intelligence agencies which come under the Defence Ministry to identify, collect authentic information related to the attacks, and gather new information and evidence to take legal action against all those involved in supporting the extremists who carried out the attacks." The development came after the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, said last week that the island nation's Catholic community was dissatisfied with the investigations being carried out.

"The attacks need to be investigated thoroughly. We want to know the truth about the persons behind the attacks, who funded them and who inspired them," the Cardinal told the media.

A local extremist group named the National Tawheed Jammaat were identified to be responsible for the April 21, 2019 suicide attacks.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 20:34:59|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or China's top legislature, during a session Monday adopted a decision on thoroughly banning the illegal trading of wildlife and eliminating the consumption of wild animals to safeguard people's lives and health.

The move aims to safeguard biological and ecological security and effectively prevent major public health risks, among other purposes.

The consumption of terrestrial wild animals "of important ecological, scientific and social value" that are under state protection, as well as other terrestrial wild animals, including those that are bred or reared in captivity, shall be thoroughly prohibited, according to the decision.

The hunting, trading and transportation of terrestrial wild animals that naturally grow and breed in the wild for the purpose of consumption shall also be completely prohibited.

The decision stipulates that illegal consumption and trade of wildlife shall be severely punished.

Those who, in violation of the law on the protection of wildlife and other relevant laws and regulations, hunt, trade, transport or eat wild animals shall be given heavier penalties on the basis of existing laws and regulations, according to the decision.

Acts of consuming wild animals illegally and of hunting, trading or transporting wild animals for the purpose of consumption, which are newly covered by the decision, shall entail punishment applicable to similar acts covered by China's existing laws, including the law on the protection of wildlife.

The decision also stipulates that the use of wild animals for non-edible purposes, including scientific research, medical use and display, shall be subject to strict examination, approval and quarantine inspection procedures in accordance with relevant regulations.

The decision demands governments of various levels strengthen supervision and inspection, and strictly investigate and punish violations of this decision and relevant laws and regulations.

Illegal business sites and illegal business operators shall be banned or shut down in accordance with laws, according to the decision.

The decision takes effect on the day of its promulgation.
The Senate will Tuesday receive for first reading a State Police Bill, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The bill, sponsored by a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu), seeks to establish the Federal Police, State Police, National Police Service Commission, National Police Council, and State Police Service Commission for the states.

The bill, after deliberation, is expected to be sent to the Constitution Review Committee.

It was first introduced to the eighth Senate on June 12, 2018 but did not scale through. Mr Ekweremadu was the chairman of the constitution review committee at the time.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how he and other lawmakers spent N8 billion in a failed constitution amendment.

Details of the proposed legislation seen by this paper, shows that the bill will allow an independent state police for which the governors would be empowered to appoint commissioners of police in their states.

According to the bill, the existing federal police will be restructured and be responsible for the maintenance of public security, preservation of public order and security of persons and property throughout the federation to the extent provided for under the constitution or by an Act of the National Assembly.

The South-west recently set up a regional security outfit network, Amotekun, to address rising insecurity in the area. This set it on a collision course with the federal government, which accused it of illegality.

The states have soft-pedalled and since gone back to their state assemblies to give the idea a legal backing.

Details

The bill further states that the State Police shall be organised and administered in accordance with such provisions as may be prescribed by a Law of the House of Assembly of a State subject to the framework and guidelines established by an Act of the National Assembly.

The commissioner of police:

*Shall be appointed by the governor of the state on the advice of the National Police Service Commission, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the House of Assembly of the State.

* Shall be in office for a period of five years only or until he attains a retirement age prescribed by law, whichever is earlier.

* Shall be given lawful directives with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary by the governor and the Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directives.

* Where the Commissioner of Police feels that any order given is unlawful or contradicts general policing standards or practice, he may request that the matter be referred to the State Police Service Commission for review.

* The decision of the State Police Service Commission shall be final and shall not be inquired into by any court.

Others

The document further reveals that an Act of the National Assembly may prescribe a bi-annual certification review of the activities of State Police by the National Police Service Commission.

This, it said, is to ensure they meet up with approved national standards and guidelines of policing and their operations do not undermine national integrity, promote ethnic, tribal or sectional agenda or marginalise any segment of the society within the state.
A warning has been issued to Australians travelling to Japan and South Korea after a rise in the number of cases of coronavirus in the region.

Travellers are being told to exercise a high degree of caution in both countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) urged travellers to both Japan and South Korea to: 'Monitor your health closely and follow the advice of local authorities'.

There are 47 Australians receiving medical treatment in Japan after testing positive to coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19.

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A couple wear protective masks while walking through Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan. Currently 47 Australians are receiving medical treatment for coronavirus in Japan

Another 170 have been flown back to Australia after evacuating the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama last week.

Seven evacuees have tested positive to COVID-19 since their arrival in Darwin, with six sent back to their home states for treatment and the seventh being transferred on Monday.

The remaining cruise ship passengers will be quarantined at Howard Springs for at least two weeks.

There have been 22 cases of coronavirus in Australia.

Ten people have recovered and the others are in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, 266 people who arrived on a flight from Wuhan on February 9 are on their way home from Darwin on Monday following 14 days of isolation.

None tested positive for the disease.

The federal government last week evacuated 170 Australians off the Diamond Princess cruise ship (pictured) and flew them home. Four were confirmed to have coronavirus

Australia has imposed a travel entry ban for Chinese passengers, but relaxed the rules for Year 11 and 12 students, apart from anyone who remains in the Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak.

There have been 78,973 cases worldwide and 2466 deaths.

Air New Zealand has suspended flights to South Korea after the country experienced a surge in reported cases of the virus.

Australia does not have a local carrier that flies into South Korea, meaning the government would have to advise airlines about their travel routes.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said the government updated advice about flight paths and travel warnings every day.
An engineering firm has been fined 160,000 after a 12-year-old schoolboy was crushed to death by a 275kg telegraph pole.

Keiran Esquierdo was playing with friends in Kelloholm, Dumfries and Galloway, when the 32-foot long pole he was standing started rolling down a grass embankment.

The youngster was sent toppling down with it and ended up pinned against a concrete fence that had been delivered to the wrong location by SPIE Limited in October 2017.

A delivery firm has been fined 160,000 after 12-year-old schoolboy Keiran Esquierdo was crushed to death by a 275kg telegraph pole in Kelloholm, Dumfries and Galloway

His friends ran to get help and fire crews used specialist equipment to lift the pole at the scene near the Mill Hill Medical Centre.

Tragically, Keiran could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene, with a post-mortem examination later confirming asphyxia as the cause of death.

SPIE Limited admitted breaching health and safety laws at Dumfries Sheriff Court on Monday.

The company was fined 160,000, lawyers representing Keiran's family said.

Keiran's family paid tribute to him in a statement released through Digby Brown Solicitors and said they hope lessons can be learned from the tragedy.

They said: 'Every day we feel Keiran's absence and our lives will never be the same.

'He was a beautiful, fun and popular boy, and we will continue to remember him, his laugh and the good times.

'For the last two years we've waited for answers and justice as we couldn't heal and start to think of the future without a conclusion to the past.

Kieran was pinned against a concrete fence by the pole that had been delivered to the wrong location by SPIE Limited in October 2017. Pictured: The pole at the scene in 2017

'Now that it's resolved we hope companies learn from our loss so other families - and also their employees - are spared the pain of having to cope with a death like this.

'We'd finally like to thank our friends, family and our community who have been there for us through thick and thin for the last two years - your support means more than we could describe.'

Keiran was a pupil at Sanquhar Academy and was also a member of his local army cadets.

Damian White, partner at Digby Brown's Ayr office, said: 'What makes Keiran's passing all the more tragic is just how avoidable it was and I commend his family for the strength, unity and composure they've shown through the criminal process.

SPIE Limited admitted breaching health and safety laws at Dumfries Sheriff Court on Monday. The incident happened on Glenaylmer Road in Kirkconnel, Scotland

'Safe practices in any workplace setting are not designed to impede duties - they are designed to minimise risk, avoid accidents, in particular fatal accidents, and the needless loss of life.

'I know it's of little comfort to Keiran's loved ones but at the very least I hope today's outcome leads to improved workplace and public safety so repeat incidents do not occur.'

A SPIE spokeswoman said: 'Firstly, as was stated in the court hearing, SPIE's thoughts and sincere condolences go out to all the family and Kelloholm community at this difficult time.'

She added: 'SPIE provided full co-operation to the HSE throughout the investigation. SPIE also undertook a detailed investigation of its own.

'SPIE's safety policies are a top priority and ensuring the safety of the public, employees, customers and suppliers is of prime importance at all times.

'New processes were immediately put in place to ensure such an incident could not happen again.'
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Banking Sector in Nigeria" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report on Nigeria's banking industry covers financial institutions which include banks, other credit granting, lease financing, and loyalty and reward programmes, as well as central banking. The report includes comprehensive information on the state and size of the sector and factors that influence it.

There are profiles of 34 companies including major banks First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, and Zenith Bank. TAJ Bank, which was licensed in 2019, is also profiled, as is Unity Bank, which has been trying to raise funds from foreign investors to recapitalise.



The Banking Sector in Nigeria

Nigeria's banking sector is the second-largest in sub-Saharan Africa behind South Africa. Total assets were worth N39.6-trillion (naira) in August 2019. Some small- and mid-sized Nigerian banks are battling to rebuild capital levels after a slump in oil prices triggered a foreign-currency shortage, and a recession in 2016 made it difficult for businesses to repay loans.

Some commentators said the large banks were guilty of reckless lending to the oil sector while oil prices were high. After the slump, oil prices have recovered and banks have once again extended credit to the sector. High unemployment, subdued economic growth and vulnerability to oil prices are still causes for concern.



Investment Deterrents

Corporate governance is viewed as one of the biggest challenges faced by Nigerian banks, and financial mismanagement or misconduct by executive management has hampered their performance and sustainability. No foreign banks have entered the sector in the last 10 years. Central bank regulations stipulate that the aggregate investment of foreign banks in any of the top 10 local banks must not be more than 10% of their total capital. The United Kingdom's HSBC and Swiss UBS left Nigeria in June 2018.

Story continues

Key Topics Covered



1. Introduction



2. Country Information



3. Description of the Industry

3.1. Industry Value Chain

3.2. Geographic Position



4. Size of the Industry



5. State of the Industry

5.1. Local

5.1.1. Corporate Actions

5.1.2. Regulations

5.1.3. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development

5.2. Continental

5.3. International



6. Influencing Factors

6.1. Economic Environment

6.2. Government Initiatives

6.3. Financial Inclusion

6.4. Operating Costs

6.5. Information Technology (IT), Research & Development and Innovation

6.6. Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Factors

6.7. Terrorism and Security

6.8. Labour

6.9. Cybercrime and Fraud



7. Competition

7.1. Barriers to Entry



8. SWOT Analysis



9. Outlook



10. Industry Associations



Companies Mentioned



Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc

Access Bank Plc

Aso Savings & Loans Plc

Bank Of Agriculture Ltd

Bank Of Industry Ltd

Central Bank Of Nigeria

Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd

Deap Capital Management & Trust Plc

Ecobank Nigeria Ltd

FCMB Group Plc

Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria

Fidelity Bank Plc

First Bank Of Nigeria Ltd

FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc

Infrastructure Bank Plc (The)

Jaiz Bank Plc

Letshego Mfb Nigeria Ltd

Multivest Microfinance Bank Ltd

National Economic Reconstruction Fund (The)

Nigerian Export-Import Bank

Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc

Polaris Bank Ltd

Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Ltd

Stanbic Ibtc Bank Plc

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd

Sterling Bank Plc

Taj Bank Ltd

Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc

United Bank For Africa Plc

Unity Bank Plc

Wema Bank Plc

Zenith Bank Plc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6q74i5

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

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A soldier helped foil a burglary attempt at his Illinois home  all the way from Iraq, police say.

The soldier saw two men walking toward his Park Ridge home early Friday thanks to his doorbell camera which he accessed on his smartphone, WMAQ reported.

Andres Gutierrez, 23, and Brandon Shaw, 24, were arrested after police say a soldier in Iraq caught them burglarizing his Illinois home on his doorbell camera.

After watching the men walk away from his garage with power tools, the soldier called police, according to the outlet.

Officials say they found the two men walking on a nearby road with items from the garage along with a number of other items believed to be connected to car burglaries in the area, WLS reported.

Andres Gutierrez, 23, and Brandon Shaw, 24, were both arrested and charged with three counts of burglary, the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate reported. They were scheduled to appear in court on Saturday.
A man who broke apprehended violence order to stop him contacting his ex-wife and daughter 21 times says the system designed to stop domestic violence is broken.

Chris, last name withheld, appeared on Triple M Sydney's Moonman In The Morning on Monday to discuss the Brisbane murder-suicide tragedy.

Chris said he was devastated by news that Rowan Charles Baxter, 42, had fatally set his three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, and estranged partner Hannah Clarke, 31, on fire.

Baxter had reportedly hatched his plan after his estranged wife took out a restraining order against him.

Hannah Clarke and her three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, were murdered by her estranged husband Rowan Charles Baxter

'I broke the AVO 21 times but the thing I want to talk to you about is the piece of paper that the actual AVO is written on, I'm sorry to say, but it isn't worth anything,' he told hosts Lawrence Mooney and Jess Eva.

'It doesn't actually stop you from getting in the car or whatever it is and going to that person's house and doing something.'

He said he had done some 'really silly' things such as intimidate his former partner.

'Men around Australia and the world need to really look at what is going on, and we as other men have to help these guys,' he said.

Chris said he was jailed after breaking the AVO repeatedly, including sending letters to his daughter.

He said his legal team helped him beat a few breaches before being imprisoned.

'They'd had a gutful, the police put me through the court and the judge said to me "Chris what you've done this is not right, I'm basically going to give you something to think about" and that was six months in jail,' he said.

Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, parents to Hannah, mourned her on Sunday at a vigil

Chris said there were moments he was afraid he would hurt his ex-wife and partner - but insisted those dark thoughts were never enacted.

'Mine was more to get back at her, I was never going to psychically harm her and go to that extent. Theres certainly some crazy stuff that goes through your mind,' he said.

Chris said he sought help through support services to help deal with his vengeance plans.

He said his ex-wife opted for the jail option to get him out of her life and return to normalcy.

But he insisted prison is not right for everyone in that situation.

Left: Hannah Clarke pictured with her 'main man', son Trey in a beach snap. Right: The couple on their wedding day

Hundreds turned out at a vigil for Ms Clarke and her children - however a man has claimed AVOs do little to protect people

'Going to jail is not the right thing, they vent, they think of crazy ways to get back at the person, and you can actually see some worse off,' he said.

'It would be better to have a rehabilitation place where they can put these people and they can be looked after but theyre not able to get out until they are assessed, or something along those lines.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police for comment.

Baxter killed his wife and their three children by setting their family car alight in Camp Hill, Brisbane. He stabbed himself beside the car

Hannah survived the attack but succumbed to her injuries hours later.

It has since emerged that he subject Hannah to years of domestic violence, prompting the brave mum to finally leave him last November.

There was a domestic violence order (DVO) in place, but she expressed frustration that the conditions wouldn't be enough to keep her family safe.

Despite being stalked every day by her monstrous ex, the DVO was watered down to allow her husband to be a close as 100 metres from her.

In a text to friends sent on January 30 (pictured), Hannah expressed concerns about changes to the domestic violence protection order out on her estranged husband

What to do if you're at risk of domestic violence There are a number of services across Australia you can contact for help. The National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732, available 24/7

Call 000 if you're in immediate danger

Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277

Lifeline: 13 11 11 Advertisement

Just days later, Baxter approached the family car as his wife prepared to make the school run, poured petrol on her and the children and set them alight.

He then stabbed himself to death beside the car.

'I have to go back to court and had to drop off an application today to get the DVO conditions changed as he keeps turning up where I am,' the mother-of-three said in text message to a friend, sent on January 30.

'He got the DVO adjourned and when they did that they took off the no contact and made it just 100m from my home so technically he's not doing anything wrong  hence why we need it changed!'

Even the female police officer who helped Hannah lodge her DVO last year told her it would do little to protect her from her evil husband.
Ahmedabad: Donald Trump was in great form on the first day of his visit to his friend Narendra Modis country on Monday. At every opportunityin his eve-of-visit tweets, and during his speech at the Motera Stadiumhe never failed to mention his host, whose punishing work ethic he praised ad nauseum.

Taken to the Gandhi Ashram, it came time to write a nice message in the record book they have there. To my great friend Prime Minister Modi, he wrote. Thank you for this wonderful visit."

Wait, wheres Gandhi? Not long later, a lot of eyebrows were raised on Twitter that the American president made no mention of Mahatma Gandhi.

Inevitably, comparisons were made to Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, who too was taken to a Gandhi place of pilgrimage when he visited in 2010.

Obama visited Mani Bhavan, where Gandhi used to stay while in Mumbai. The then president wrote in the visitors' book: "I am filled with hope and inspiration as I have the privilege to view this testament to Gandhi's life. He is a hero not just to India but to the world."

Five years later, in January 2015, after visiting Raj Ghat in Delhi, Obama wrote, "What Dr Martin Luther King Jr said then remains true today. The spirit of Gandhi is very much alive in India today. And it remains a great gift to the world. May we always live in the spirit of love and peaceamong all people and nations."

The distinction cannot be more stark, tweeted the Congress leader Manish Tewari.

A former Tripura MLA, Tapas Dey tweeted, instead Mr. President @realDonaldTrump expressed his love to @narendramodi."

Not all tweets were about Trumps Gandhi gaffe. On Twitter user Martin Joseph (@martinjmsw1) noticed his handwriting.

"President Trumps comments in the visitor book of Sabarmati Ashram. The letters must be either in uppercase or lowercase but he used randomly mixed capitalization in writing. Its known StudlyCaps. He must repeat his High school Grammar classes."

So in an unwitting riposte, Trump was gifted a number of Gandhi memorabilia as a token of his visit to Ahmedabad. Heres what Trump was given:

1. Three monkeys statuette

A marble replica of the three wise monkeys sculpture gifted to the Father of the Nation by Japanese monk way back in 1933. Giving it to him, prime minister Narendra Modi took pains to explain to Trump what the "three wise monkeys" represented.

2. Gandhis engraved Talisman

A trustee of the Sabarmati Ashram gifted Gandhi's engraved Talisman, which the Father of the Nation wrote in August 1947, urging people in public life to always recall the face of the poorest of the poor

The message of the Talisman is: "Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much, recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man/woman whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him/her.

"Will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then your self will melt away."

3. Gandhis autobiography

A special edition of Gandhis autobiography detailing his journey to the essence of truth. Its titled 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth'.

4. A pencil sketch

A pencil drawing of a rare photograph of the Mahatma when he was coming out of 10, Downing Street. Encased in a frame, the exclusive pencil sketch is recreated from a rare studio photograph of Gandhi that was taken in London at the request of Lord Irwin in 1931.

5. A charkha

The presidential couple were charmed by Gandhis 'charkha', which is the central attraction of the Sabarmati Ashram. A replica of it was gifted to them by the Ashram. An ashram inmate explained to the visiting dignitaries how the charkha works.The couple were wonderstruck to be told that the thread woven on the charkha gets stronger with each spin of it.

6. Handspun khesh

The Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust gifted Trump and Melania three handspun khesh (a form of fabric) made up of khadi that was inspired by a sari of Gandhi's wife Kasturba Gandhi.

7. A khadi booklet

It contains 150 quotes by the Mahatma
Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon was due in a Paris court on Monday to face trial over claims that he embezzled more than a million euros in public funds by creating fake jobs family members, a scandal that ruined his bid for the French presidency in 2017. Judges delayed the opening of the trial until Wednesday.

Fillon and his Welsh-born wife Penelope appeared in court briefly on Monday, only to hear judged granted their defence team's request to postpone the proceedings until Wednesday, in solidarity with striking lawyers.

Investigators believe Fillon, 65, hired Welsh-born Penelope as his parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2013 without her having done any actual work.

Fillon was polling as frontrunner in France's 2017 presidential race after winning the primary of right-wing party Les Republicains when allegations of embezzlement began to surface in satirical and investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine.

Over several weeks, the paper detailed claims that Penelope received up to 10,000 euros per month for negligible work, and that Fillon also allegedly paid to two of his children as parliamentary assistants when he was a senator.

Fillon refused to step down as candidate and insisted Penelope, who is also charged in the case as an accomplice, worked in his parliamentary consistency in the rural Sarthe department.

But scant evidence emerged of what work Penelope actually did, and Fillon came in third in the first round of the election, behind centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Fillon, who served as prime minister under former president Nicolas Sarkozy between 2007 and 2012, retired from a nearly four-decade career in French politics.

He now works for an asset management company and said last month he would not attempt a comeback in politics.

Little evidence of real work

Ahead of the trial, investigators said they had found little documentary evidence of what Penelope did as a taxpayer-funded parliamentary assistant.

They also seized on media interviews in 2007 and 2016 in which Penelope asserted she had never become involved in her husband's political life.

The Fillons face up to 10 years in prison and potentially large fines. France's National Assembly has joined the case as a civil party and could seek over a million euros in compensation.

In December 2018, Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere, a billionaire friend of Fillon's, plead guilty to charges he paid Penelope 135,000 euros for a mostly fake job with a literary magazine.

Ladreit de Lacharriere plead guilty in December 2018 to paying He was handed an eight-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay 375,000 euros in fines.

The Fillons' trial was scheduled to last until 11 March. The Fillon defence team requested the delayed opening out of solidarity with lawyers striking against Macron's reform of the pension system.
Two men have been arrested after 220,000 worth of drugs was seized in Dublin.

Around 6,400 in cash was also seized after a van was searched at Rosslare Europort in Wexford.
KAMPALA  The outgoing Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala, The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali has said that he is well prepared to retire from daily office work.

Retirement is healthy. It starts from the mind and as for me, I am well prepared to go home and stop being a visitor in my own family. My wife, Maama Beatrice Ntagali is the happiest person for my retirement because she knows I will have enough time for her and the entire family, he said.

Archbishop Ntagali said this on Sunday, February 23, 2020, while finishing his farewell journey to the whole Province of Uganda which he has ended at his Cathedral- All Saints Cathedral, Kampala.

It is better to retire when youre still strong and energetic, thats when you can become relevant for your family. For over forty years I have been moving all over the world on evangelical mission and I have given very little time to my family and relatives whom I must compensate, he said.

Preaching on the topic, Gods grace has led us this far, Archbishop Ntagali said that he has gone through many challenges but God has been faithful. Challenges of today are testimonies of tomorrow, he added.

In his sermon, he implored Christians not to hold onto anger by forgiving those that have wronged them.

When you know your enemy; those who wish you bad or persecute you, dont revenge. God says vengeance is mine. Pray from them, smile at them and wish them well, Archbishop Ntagali said.

He encouraged Christians to trust in God because he is able to remove all obstacles and hindrances from their lives. He further cautioned people of God to be wise and desist from selfishness which bleeds greed resulting into corruption.

Corruption has eaten our beautiful nation, youth are being trafficked, there are no jobs and liberalism is on increase- now homosexuals are bribing people to be accepted. We shall continue to confirm the only biblical marriage of man and woman until the end

As we near 2021 the year of elections, Archbishop Ntagali advised politicians not to borrow money from banks and money lenders just because of politics.

Remain focused on God, leadership comes from God not from bribing people to vote for you. And to you electorates, use your constitutional rights to choose the people of your choice

Next Sunday March 1, 2020, having attained the retirement age of 65 years, archbishop Ntagali will hand over the Province to the Archbishop-Elect Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, who was elected on 28 August 2019, as the 9th Archbishop of Uganda at St. Paul Cathedral Namirembe and on 8th March, will then relinquishing the Episcopal and Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of Kampala to his successor at All Saints Cathedral, Kampala.

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Two officials of a city school have



been arrested after Class X students could not write their Board exams on Monday since the institution allegedly lacked CBSE affiliation.

Police said the manager of Arooja Little Star School at Thoppumpady area and her husband have been arrested and booked under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and launched an investigation.

They said 29 class X students came to know only last week that they could not write the exam as their school was not affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary

The school officials allegedly did not inform the students and parents about the non-recognition.

Police said the school in earlier years used to register class X students in other CBSE-recognised schools in the neighbourhood, but it did not materalise this year due to some reasons.

Anxious parents then approached the authorities, seeking their help in getting their children registered for the Class X examinations, but they were helpless, sources said.

This morning, the parents reached the school, hoping that some arrangements would have been made for their wards to write the exam, but were left disappointed.

Following this, they filed a complaint with police.

Student and youth outfits of the CPI(M) and Youth Congress held a protest march to the school, demanding action against the school management.

Ernakulam District Collector S Suhas urged parents to check the background of educational institutions, particularly schools which claimed to be affiliated with CBSE, before enrolling their children in them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during a campaign rally at the University of Houston on Feb. 23, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

AIPAC Responds After Sanders Says Hes Skipping Pro-Israel Event

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) launched an odious attack against the groups upcoming conference after Sanders said he wouldnt attend the event.

Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment, AIPAC, which says it is Americas pro-Israel lobby, said in a statement on Feb. 23.

The annual conference features more than 18,000 Americans from a wide variety of backgrounds and includes both Senate and House Democratic speakers.

By engaging in such an odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event, Senator Sanders is insulting his very own colleagues and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel. Truly shameful, AIPAC said.

The statement was in response to Sanderss announcement over the weekend that he wouldnt attend AIPACs conference, which is being held March 1-2 in Washington.

Sanders wrote on Twitter: The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights.

As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region.

Sanders, 78, who is Jewish and has been a federal lawmaker for decades, has never attended the AIPAC conference but did offer to speak at the conference via video in 2016.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) speaks during the AIPAC annual meeting in Washington on March 26, 2019. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Sanders cited a busy campaign schedule as the reason he couldnt speak at the conference in person. His offer to speak via video was reportedly rejected by AIPAC.

AIPAC later shared dozens of social media posts praising its annual event, some of which attacked Sanders.

In one, New York Rabbi Jason Nevarez wrote: Unlike Bernie Sanders, I will be @AIPAC Policy Conf. I am a proud Jew and progressive Zionist who believes in a safe and secure Israel alongside a future Palestinian State. We need to show up and be a part of the discussion. Each voice matters.

International human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky wrote: Having attended @AIPAC many times, I can unequivocally say @SenSanders could not be further from truth. AIPAC is unabashedly pro-Israel. But also support Palestinian rights & 2 SS. They have people from Right to Left and in between. It is about dialogue & engagement!

Scheduled speakers at the AIPAC conference include Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Last week, AIPAC distanced itself from a political action committee that ran ads against Sanders. The Intercept website accused AIPAC of helping the committee, but AIPAC said in a statement that it is not and has not been involved in the ad campaigns of any political action committee.

The accusation that AIPAC is providing benefits to members for donating to fund these political ads or this political action committee is completely false and has no basis in fact, it stated.

Sanders has been criticized for some of his surrogates positions on Israel, including Linda Sarsour, an activist who calls for the elimination of Israel as a state, and Amer Zahr, a law professor who supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.

Sanders has said he supports Israel, writing in Jewish Currents last year that it is very important for everyone, but particularly for progressives, to acknowledge the enormous achievement of establishing a democratic homeland for the Jewish people after centuries of displacement and persecution.

It is true that some criticism of Israel can cross the line into anti-Semitism, especially when it denies the right of self-determination to Jews, or when it plays into conspiracy theories about outsized Jewish power. I will always call out anti-Semitism when I see it, he said.
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Students attend a celebration activity at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, October 1, 2019. [Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng]

"I believe you will follow their example and strive to become good doctors trusted by the Party and the people," said Xi in the reply letter.

BEIJING, February 23 (Xinhua)  President Xi Jinping has encouraged medical students of Tibet University to develop strong skills and serve the people at the primary level ahead of the Tibetan New Year.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Friday when answering a letter from 17 students who are interning at Peking University Shougang Hospital in Beijing.

He also extended festive greetings and best wishes to the students as well as the people of all ethnic groups living in Tibetan areas.

Xi said that he was very gratified to learn that the 17 students have not only improved their basic clinical skills but also strengthened their belief in devoting themselves to Tibet's medical and health undertakings during their internship in Beijing.

In the ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus, medical workers from military and local hospitals are fighting fearlessly on the frontline and have exemplified angels in white's lofty spirit of healing the wounded and rescuing the dying with their actions.

"I believe you will follow their example and strive to become good doctors trusted by the Party and the people," said Xi in the reply letter, expressing the hope that the students will cherish their study time, sharpen their ability, go to places where they are most needed after graduation and work for the wellbeing of the people, particularly those at the primary level.

The 17 students enrolled in clinical medicine at the School of Medicine of Tibet University in 2015 began their 11-month internship at the Peking University Shougang Hospital in June 2019 under a university aid project.

In a recent letter to Xi, the students reported on their attainments during the internship and expressed their gratitude to the Party and the country, and their resolution to serve the motherland and contribute to their hometown.

(Source: Xinhua)
Drug smugglers are using Australia Post to distribute meth in Australia.

From July to December 2019, in NSW alone, the AFP recorded approximately 143.52kgs of methamphetamine seizures in the mail.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Eastern Command Robert Jenner said the operation and discoveries had put crime syndicates 'on notice'.

The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force (pictured) seized 143kg of meth from parcels sent through Australia Post and the second half of 2019 alone

'The results also show that as long as the demand for ice remains strong in Australian communities, criminal syndicates will go to any lengths to try to meet that,' she said.

The seizures were a part of Operation Syndal which saw more than 10,000 pieces of mail scanned for drugs and other illicit items.

Larger discoveries included a 4.7kg bulk seizure of methamphetamine during the execution of a Victorian search warrant.

As well as another one kilogram seizure in the lining of a mail item sent from Mexico and destined for a Sydney address.

Police also completed a large number of small seizures from mail packages which could have resulted in more than 1000 individual street deals.

Australian Border Force Regional Commander for NSW Danielle Yannopoulos had words of warning for crime syndicates, saying they will be caught.

The seizures were part of Operation Syndal which saw officers scan more than 10,000 pieces of mail (pictured) to search for drugs and other illicit items

One of the seizures was 4.7kg of methamphetamine along with a large number of smaller seizures which officials say could've resulted in more than 1000 individual street deals

'No matter how criminals attempt to conceal and move their drugs, ABF officers have the skills, technology and the resources to find the substances and track down the people who are attempting to bring them in,' she said.

ACIC Executive Director Capability Mark Harrison MBE cited recent wastewater analysis, showing problem areas for drug use, indicated a growing problem.

'Understanding these preferences is important to develop and deliver tailored responses to target and disrupt the supply chain,' he said.

Operation Syndal included a total of 26 search warrants Australia-wide over the week beginning Monday, February 17, 2020.

It is part of a larger operation, Taskforce Vitreus, a working group under the National Law Enforcement Methylamphetamine Strategy (NLEMS).
Jussie Smollett returned to a Chicago courtroom on Monday to plead not guilty to felony charges that he lied to police over a 'hoax' attack he was accused of making up last January.

Smollett, 37, has been charged with six counts of felony disorderly conduct during Monday's hearing.

Moments after he arrived, Abel and Ola Osundairo - the two Nigerian brothers who say he paid them to attack him - showed up at the courthouse with their attorney.

She told DailyMail.com last week that the pair were prepared to testify for either side in the case and that they want Smollett to 'tell the truth'.

Immediately on Monday morning, Smollett's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the charges.

He then pleaded not guilty across the board.

Last March, Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of the charge in the same courthouse last year, just weeks before the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office abruptly announced it was dismissing the case, angering police and City Hall.

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Jussie Smollett arrives at Cook County courthouse on Monday with his brother, Jocqui (left), Jojo (far left) and Jake (right) to face six felony counts of lying to police

The actor was flanked by members of his family including his sister-in-law Lala (front) and lawyers. He said nothing as hecklers called for 'justice' on his way into the building

The 37-year-old pleaded not guilty across the board

Brothers Abel (left) and Ola (right) Osundairo arrive at court. They say they are prepared to testify for either side

The two brothers told police that Smollett paid them $3,500 to attack him. Smollett's attorneys called them liars afterwards

Smollett told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home in the early hours of Jan. 29, 2019.

He said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in 'MAGA country,' a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign slogan, 'Make America Great Again.'

He also said they called him the N-word.

Nigerian brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo were then identified by police as the people he'd said attacked him. The pair knew Smollett and told the authorities he paid them to attack him in a staged incident to allegedly boost his celebrity profile and salary.

Smollett was then hit with a 16-count grand jury indictment and faced more than 50 years behind bars  until State's Attorney Kim Foxx suddenly dropped all the charges last March in exchange for him doing community service.

It was a decision that blindsided and outraged Chicago's former mayor Rahm Emanuel and former Chief of Police Eddie Johnson.

Smollett walked into the courthouse in the middle of a huddle of his relatives and lawyers

Smollett' sisters, Jurnee (left) and Jazz (right) also accompanied him to court

Smollett, who has all along insisted he is innocent, then sued the city for malicious prosecution.

His attorney Tina Glandian issued a statement Tuesday saying: 'The attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State's Attorney election is clearly all about politics not justice.'

There have been various rounds of civil litigation, but the cases have been delayed because it has been so difficult to identify an impartial prosecutor.

Webb was eventually brought in to examine the case.

The saga began on January 30 last year when it emerged that Smollett claimed he had been the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack.

At the time, it seemed he had been walking home from Subway in the middle of the night after returning home late on a delayed flight when he was approached.

He told police afterwards his attackers identified him from the show he was on, Empire, and called him both the N-word and 'f****t'.

He said they beat him, poured bleach on him then put a noose around his neck.

Smollett went back to his apartment where his friend, Frank Gaston, was. It was Gaston who insisted they call police.

Smollet pictured suffering injuries to his face in the hospital after the alleged attack

When officers arrived, the actor refused to hand over his phone.

He went to the hospital to be checked over but had no major injuries.

The Chicago Police Department vowed to investigate the incident with all its might, and celebrities around the world rushed to share their support of Smollett.

Special Prosecutor Dan Webb was appointed in August to examine what occurred in the case

He became a household name almost overnight.

But as the police investigation progressed, leaks began from within the police department that all may not have been as it seemed.

As the controversy grew, Smollett - determined to make his case - went on Good Morning America where he cried and insisted he was telling the truth.

By then, Chicago PD had released grainy surveillance camera footage of two men walking near the scene of the incident itself which was among the only part of his journey not captured on Chicago's vast network of security cameras that night.

Smollett unequivocally identified the two men in the grainy footage as his attackers.

Neither their faces nor skin color could be made out in it.

Unbeknownst to him while he was conducting his GMA interview, the Chicago PD was building a case against him.

They had identified the people in the video as the Osundairo brothers and had backed-up their belief by tracking the pair's movements in the days and hours both before and after the incident.

Smollett was eventually arrested and charged with suspicion of lying to police.

The brothers flew to Nigeria within hours of the January 29 incident and missed the media storm which followed

When they landed back in the US, police investigators were waiting to question them.

After hours of secret interviews, they told cops that Smollett had paid them to carry out the attack as part of an elaborate hoax.

Smollett was then arrested.

In an extraordinary press conference afterwards, then police chief Eddie Gallagher accused him of inflaming race relations in Chicago and of wasting police time.

He bellowed that Smollett had tried to leverage the 'attack' to get his bosses at Empire to pay him more.

JUSSIE SMOLLETT TIMELINE January 29: The 'hoax' attack outside Smollett's apartment in Chicago occurs. January 30: A wave of public sympathy rushes over Smollett, until then a relatively unknown actor February 14: After a series of unfavorable leaks from the Chicago PD, Smollett goes on Good Morning America to plead his case. Unbeknownst to him, brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo are being interviewed by police after returning from Nigeria. February 20: Smollett is arrested and accused of lying to police. He is bailed out on a $10,000 cash bond. March 7: Grand jury indicted Smollett March 26: Charges dropped April 11: Chicago sues Smollett for $130,000 - the cost of the investigation August: Dan Webb is appointed special prosecutor November: Smollett counter-sues, alleging malicious prosecution February 11, 2020: Reports emerge that Dan Webb has charged Smollett Advertisement

Despite police outrage, prosecutor Kim Foxx was quiet.

The case then went to a grand jury which returned a stunning, 16-felony indictment that would have put Smollett behind bars for more than 50 years if he had been convicted.

By then, Foxx had informally recused herself from the case.

Her conflict of interest was that in the early days of the police investigation, she intervened at the request of Smollett's family and their friend - Time's Up CEO Tina Tchen - who wanted the FBI to take over the police investigation.

They said they were worried by the number of leaks that had come from the Chicago PD and asked Foxx to help. She said she would try.

After the grand jury indictment, the case stalled for a few weeks.

Then, in March, Foxx's deputy Joseph Magats - who had taken over - announced the decision that the charges against Smollett had been dropped.

Foxx had intervened again, it emerged, and pointed to what they called 'alternative prosecution' whereby Smollett, a first-time offender, was let off with a $10,000 bail forfeiture and community service.

There was outrage and calls for Foxx to be investigated herself for prosecutorial misconduct.

As judges and special prosecutors for that task were tossed around, the city came out swinging in civil court. They sued Smollett, asking him to reimburse them for all the money they said they'd wasted investigating what they believed were bogus claims.

Smollett counter-sued, accusing the city and Eddie Gallagher of malicious prosecution. He lost his job on Empire and became a pariah in the showbiz world he was allegedly trying to ascend through.

Webb was appointed in August to investigate why Foxx's office had dropped the charges.

He himself faced criticism and claims of another conflict of interest when it emerged he had donated $1,000 to Foxx's re-election campaign once.

This week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said he had to be prosecuted 'to the fullest extent of the law'.

'He needs to face the charges.

'He committed a crime, and he needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and we are going to continue to aggressively make him accountable for the wasted police resources that went into investigating what turned out to be a total hoax,'
All print, broadcast and online journalists who receive the Obesity embargo alert agree to abide by the embargo and may not publish, post, broadcast or distribute embargoed news releases or details of the embargoed studies before the embargo date and time.

When writing about these studies, journalists are asked to attribute the source as the journal Obesity and to include the online link to the Obesity articles as provided below. Links become active when articles post at 3:00 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2020, unless indicated differently below.

About the journal - Obesity is the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of The Obesity Society.

Editors' Choice 1 -Proposed Coding System Addresses Pathophysiology, Therapeutic Goals, W. Timothy Garvey, garveyt@uab.edu, and Jeffrey I. Mechanick (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22727)

Also see accompanying commentary by Johannes Hebebrand (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22740), posting online on Feb. 24, 2020

Editors' Choice 2 -Liraglutide Enhances Weight Loss from IBT in a Primary Care Setting, Thomas A. Wadden, wadden@pennmedicine.upenn.edu, Jena Shaw Tronieri, Danny Sugimoto, Michael Taulo Lund, Pernille Auerbach, Camilla Jensen, and Domenica Rubino (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22726)

Editors' Choice 3 -miRNA Profiling in Omentum Adipose Before and After Gastric Bypass, Donia Macartney-Coxson, donia.macartney-coxson@esr.cri.nz, Kirsty Danielson, Jane Clapham, Miles C. Benton, Alice Johnston, Angela Jones, Odette Shaw, Ronald D. Hagan, Eric P. Hoffman, Mark Hayes, Jacquie Harper, Michael A. Langston, and Richard S. Stubbs (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22722)

Editors' Choice 4 -Measuring Physical Activity and Accumulation of Fat in Infants, Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon, sara.neelon@jhu.edu, Jiawei Bai, Truls stbye, Brian Neelon, Russell R. Pate, and Ciprian Crainiceanu (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22738) - already online

ADDITIONAL EMBARGOED RESEARCH

Impact of Exposure to Antibiotics During Pregnancy and Infancy on Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Shengrong Wan, Man Guo, Ting Zhang, Qing Chen, Maoyan Wu, Fangyuan Teng, Yang Long, Zongzhe Jiang, Jiangzongzhe555@126.com, and Yong Xu, xywyll@aliyun.com (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22747) - embargo lifts March 4, 2020, at 3:00 a.m. (EST).

Scroll down to find abstracts for each of the above papers. To request the full text of any of these studies and agree to the embargo policy, or to arrange an interview with a study's author or an obesity expert, please contact communications@obesity.org.

Editors' Choice Abstracts

Editors' Choice 1 - Proposal for a Scientifically Correct and Medically Actionable Disease Classification System (ICD) for Obesity

Objective: Obesity is responsible for a huge burden of suffering and social costs, and yet many patients lack access to evidence-based therapies. The diagnostic term "obesity" and inadequate International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes contribute to suboptimal efforts to prevent and treat obesity as a chronic disease. The goal of this review is to develop a medically actionable classification system based on the diagnostic term "adiposity-based chronic disease" (ABCD) that reflects disease pathophysiology and specific complications causing morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A coding system based on the diagnosis of ABCD with four domains is proposed: A codes reflect pathophysiology, B codes indicate BMI classification, C codes specify specific biomechanical and cardiovascular complications remediable by weight loss, and D codes indicate the degree of the severity of complications. Supplemental codes identify aggravating factors that complicate care and that are relevant to a personalized therapeutic plan.

Results: The coding system addresses pathophysiology and therapeutic goals and differential risk, presence, and severity of specific complications that are integral to ABCD as a chronic disease.

Conclusions: The scientifically correct and medically actionable approach to diagnosis and disease coding will lead to greater acknowledgement of ABCD as a disease and accessibility to evidence-based therapies on behalf of patients across the life cycle.

Editors' Choice 2 - Liraglutide 3.0 mg and Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) for Obesity in Primary Care: The SCALE IBT Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Previous studies have shown additive weight loss when intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) was combined with weight-loss medication. The present multisite study provides the first evaluation, in primary care, of the effect of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-based IBT benefit, delivered alone (with placebo) or in combination with liraglutide 3.0 mg.

Methods: The Satiety and Clinical Adiposity--Liraglutide Evidence in individuals with and without diabetes (SCALE) IBT was a 56-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial in individuals with obesity who received liraglutide 3.0 mg (n = 142) or placebo (n = 140) as an adjunct to IBT.

Results: At week 56, mean weight loss with liraglutide 3.0 mg plus IBT was 7.5% and 4.0% with placebo combined with IBT (estimated treatment difference [95% CI] ?3.4% [?5.3% to ?1.6%], P = 0.0003). Significantly more individuals on liraglutide 3.0 mg than placebo achieved ? 5% weight loss (61.5% vs. 38.8%; odds ratio [OR] 2.5% [1.5% to 4.1%], P = 0.0003), > 10% weight loss (30.5% vs. 19.8%; OR 1.8% [1.0% to 3.1%], P = 0.0469), and > 15% weight loss (18.1% vs. 8.9%; OR 2.3% [1.1% to 4.7%], P = 0.0311). Liraglutide 3.0 mg in combination with IBT was well tolerated, with no new safety signals identified.

Conclusions: In a primary care setting, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-based IBT produced clinically meaningful weight loss at 56 weeks, enhanced by the addition of liraglutide 3.0 mg.

Editors' Choice 3 - MicroRNA Profiling in Adipose Before and After Weight Loss Highlights the Role of miR-223-3p and the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Objective: Adipose tissue plays a key role in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction. MicroRNA (miRNA) are gene regulatory molecules involved in intercellular and inter-organ communication. It was hypothesized that miRNA levels in adipose tissue would change after gastric bypass surgery and that this would provide insights into their role in obesity-induced metabolic dysregulation.

Methods: miRNA profiling (Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array) of omental and subcutaneous adipose (n = 15 females) before and after gastric bypass surgery was performed.

Results: One omental and thirteen subcutaneous adipose miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed after gastric bypass, including downregulation of miR-223-3p and its antisense relative miR-223-5p in both adipose tissues. mRNA levels of miR-223-3p targets NLRP3 and GLUT4 were decreased and increased, respectively, following gastric bypass in both adipose tissues. Significantly more NLRP3 protein was observed in omental adipose after gastric bypass (P = 0.02). Significant hypomethlyation of NLRP3 and hypermethylation of miR-223 were observed in both adipose tissues after gastric bypass. In subcutaneous adipose, significant correlations were observed between both miR-223-3p and miR-223-5p and glucose and between NLRP3 mRNA and protein levels and blood lipids.

Conclusions: This is the first report detailing genome-wide miRNA profiling of omental adipose before and after gastric bypass, and it further highlights the association of miR-223-3p and the NLRP3 inflammasome with obesity.

Editors' Choice 4 - Physical Activity and Adiposity in a Racially Diverse Cohort of US Infants

Objective: Early life physical activity may help prevent obesity, but objective quantification in infants is challenging.

Methods: A total of 506 infants were examined from 2013 to 2016. Infants wore accelerometers for 4 days at ages 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Daily log-transformed physical activity counts were computed, averaged, and standardized across assessments. A linear mixed model was used to examine trends in standardized physical activity counts as well as associations between physical activity and BMI z score, sum of subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness for overall adiposity (SS+TR), and their ratio for central adiposity (SS:TR).

Results: Among infants, 66% were black and 50% were female. For each additional visit, standardized physical activity counts increased by 0.23 (CI: 0.18 to 0.27; P < 0.0001). This translates to 126.3 unadjusted physical activity counts or a 4% increase for each visit beyond 3 months. In addition, a 1-SD increase in standardized physical activity counts (550 unadjusted physical activity counts) was associated with a 0.01-mm lower SS:TR (95% CI: ?0.02 to ?0.001; P = 0.03). However, standardized physical activity counts were not associated with BMI z score or SS+TR.

Conclusions: Physical activity increased over infancy and was associated with central adiposity. Despite limitations, researchers should consider objective measurement in infants.

ADDITIONAL EMBARGOED RESEARCH

Impact of Exposure to Antibiotics During Pregnancy and Infancy on Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and infancy was associated with childhood overweight or obesity.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from the inception date to April 18, 2019, to identify observational studies that investigated the association between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and infancy and childhood overweight or obesity. After study selection and data extraction, the meta-analysis was conducted using Stata software version 12.0 (StataCorp, LLC, College Station, Texas). The evaluation of the methodological quality was carried out by AMSTAR 2 (Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada).

Results: A total of 23 observational studies involving 1,253,035 participants was included. The meta-analysis showed that prenatal exposure to antibiotics was not significantly associated with childhood overweight or obesity, whereas an increased risk of overweight or obesity was seen in subgroup analysis of the second trimester (risk ratio=1.13; 95% CI: 1.06-1.22; P=0.001). In contrast, antibiotic exposure during infancy could increase the risk of childhood overweight or obesity (risk ratio=1.14; 95% CI: 1.06-1.23; P=0.001).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis found that antibiotic exposure during the second trimester and infancy could increase the risk of childhood overweight or obesity.

If you choose not to receive this media mailing, send an email message to: communications@obesity.org with "unsubscribe" in the text field.

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[February 24, 2020]

Numerati Partners invited NavVid to present at the Second InsurTech Alliance (ITA) Science & Engineering Expo

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NavVid was one of three firms invited to present technology offerings at the InsurTech Alliance (ITA) Science & Engineering Expo (Expo), co-hosted by Numerati Partners on January 30, 2020 in New York City. The ITA is a collaboration between Numerati Partners, a New York-based data analytics and technology enablement firm, which seeks to foster the next generation of data-intensive risk and liability management enterprises in risk technology (RiskTech), and leading global reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, a founder of the ITA. In collaboration with Numerati Partners, Guy Carpenter expands its insurance technology (InsurTech) offering through the ITA, in order to serve client needs for engagement with the dynamic, rapidly evolving InsurTech sector.

NavVid, which offers an automotive telematics risk-safety software application, was one of the three technology offerings with which Numerati Partners conducted a deep-dive Proof-of-Concept (PoC) technical assessment and proposed for further engagement with Guy Carpenter, the ITA, and the broader insurance and reinsurance sector. The NavVid app uses smartphones as dashcams to provide safety feedback and video to fleet operators, ride-share companies, individuals and autonomous vehicles, in order to promote safe driving.

Constantine Mittendorf, NavVid Co-Founder, presented a deep dive demo of the product, and then participated, with representatives from two other Numerati Partners PoC Cohort firms in a Q&A session about the unique experience of participating in a Numerati Partners PoC, in addition to a prospective pilot discussion.

"Working with Numerati Partners has been incredibly helpful. Their rigorous process included testing NavVid with cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, bicycles, boats, and even on race tracks and high-speed trains. Given their technical expertise and insurance industry experience, we were able to refine our product based on their feedback. Further, they've introduced us to insurance companies looking for a product like NavVid. We're looking forward to working with them in the future," said Constantine Mittendorf, NavVid Co-Founder.

The second Expo highlights the completion of Numerati Partners' first cycle with the ITA, in addition to the concurrently ongoing second cycle. During the first cycle, Numerati Partners conducted five deep-dive technical assessments -- Proofs-of-Concept (PoCs) -- of emerging technology offerings, performed research on another 60 technology offerings, and created quarterly bootcamps comprised of hands-on technical and scientific demonstrations, presentations and exhibits.

The Numerati Partners bootcamps, including substantive interactive presentations focusing on automotive telematics, Internet-of-Things (IoT) and cybersecurity, were designed in conjunction with scientists, engineers and technologists enlisted from the Numerati Partners ecosystem of technical experts at the leading edge of their respective fields including those associated with RiskEcon Lab @ Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, NYU.

"The 2020 InsurTech Alliance Science & Engineering Expo demonstrates our ongoing commitment to advancement at the leading edge of rigorous, substantive, science-based, and industry-focused innovation which is relevant across the global insurance and reinsurance sector. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Guy Carpenter via the InsurTech Alliance, and anticipate further progress in our shared goal of advancement in the insurance technology sector," said Samantha Kappagoda, Co-Managing Member ofNumerati Partners.







"Prudent adoption and responsible deployment of technology by insurers and reinsurers require ongoing commitment to technical assessment by specialists and functional testing by experts at a fundamental level, as a foundation for reliable insurance and reinsurance innovation," said David K.A. Mordecai, PhD, Co-Managing Member of Numerati Partners.

Rob Bentley, Chief Executive Officer of Global Strategic Advisory at Guy Carpenter said, "Numerati Partners and its ecosystem of academics, scientists, and engineers conduct extensive and objective reviews of the emerging digital technologies, as well as deep dives into designated InsurTech companies and their supporting technologies, products, and services. It is this science-based, innovative and collaborative model that enables insurers to distinguish between good technology and bad, identify credible InsurTech partners, and anticipate the underwriting implications of these new digital technologies."

About Numerati Partners LLC

Numerati Partners LLC coordinates a data analytics and technology development ecosystem, with the mission of advancing and fostering the next generation of scalable data-intensive risk and liability management enterprises. The firm provides resources fundamental to advancing the development of nascent leading-edge inferential surveillance, monitoring, and predictive analytics technologies for deployment within the RiskTech domain: risk technologies associated with adaptive distributed, networked and embedded systems such as remote sensing, agent-oriented data analytics, computing and control systems. Numerati Partners curates integrated RiskTech solutions as well as forensic and use-case applications in RiskTech sub-domains such as LitTech, RegTech, FinTech and InsurTech (litigation technology, regulation technology, financial technology and insurance technology). For more information, visit http://numeratipartners2012.com/.

About RiskEcon Lab for Decision Metrics @ Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, NYU

The mission of RiskEcon Lab @ Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, NYU is the development of experimental testbeds and analytics that employ high-dimensional datasets from innovative sources by applying a range of computational and analytical methods to commercial and industrial sensor networks and edge computing embedded systems, focusing primarily on research and development (R&D) of remote and compressed sensing, anomaly detection, forensic analytics and statistical process control. By employing applied computational statistics within the context of robust and scalable data analytic solutions, our goal is robust integration of machine learning with signal processing for measurement and control, in order to conduct research fundamental to large-scale, real-world questions in risk and liability management. For more information, visit https://wp.nyu.edu/riskeconlab/.

About Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC

Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC is a leading global risk and reinsurance specialist with more than 3,100 professionals in over 60 offices around the world. Guy Carpenter delivers a powerful combination of broking expertise, trusted strategic advisory services and industry-leading analytics to help clients adapt to emerging opportunities and achieve profitable growth. Guy Carpenter is a business of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), the leading global professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. With 75,000 colleagues and annual revenue approaching $17 billion, Marsh & McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through its market-leading companies including Marsh, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. For more information, visit www.guycarp.com and follow Guy Carpenter on LinkedIn and Twitter @GuyCarpenter. Guy Carpenter Privacy Policy.

About NavVid

Worldwide, tens of millions of car crashes cause injuries or deaths every year. NavVid's mission is to make roads and drivers safer with guidance from cell phone sensors. NavVid offers an app that provides safety feedback and takes dash cam video using smartphones. In case of an incident, NavVid reports critical data such as speed, G-forces, and location information, while providing dash cam video. From commercial to ride-share, most drivers use their cell phones to navigate while driving. NavVid's app is designed for (i) improving driver behavior with safety tips, (ii) decreasing insurer risk, (iii) protecting drivers with incident evidence, (iv) decreasing fraud, and (vi) writing insurance policies based on safety data logged by the NavVid app.

Contacts:

Samantha Kappagoda

David K.A. Mordecai

Tel: (212) 214-0537

Email: [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/numerati-partners-invited-navvid-to-present-at-the-second-insurtech-alliance-ita-science--engineering-expo-301009555.html

SOURCE Numerati Partners LLC
The intelligence official who told lawmakers Russia was meddling in the 2020 election to help Donald Trump win a second term is said to have overstated the country's role.

Shelby Pierson, who serves as the intelligence community's top election security official, told lawmakers last Thursday that Vladimir Putin's regime was resuming its efforts to interfere in American politics.

The House Intelligence Committee was told at a closed-door briefing that Russian operatives were trying to influence the 2020 race in Trump's favor and sow discord in the U.S. electorate, as spy chiefs believe they did in 2016.

But sources now say the 'intelligence doesn't say that', CNN reports. Another told Fox News Russia is not trying to make a 'play' to help Trump win a second term.

One told the network: '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.'

Another said Pierson's briefing was 'misleading' and lacked 'nuance' on the issue.

The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted in the wake of the news: 'Good thing for these bureaucrats theres no consequences for being wrong and getting the entire country into hysteria for 3 years... as long as its against Trump!

'Imagine what would happen to them if they did this to Obama? They are a disgrace and an embarrassment to the USA.'

Shelby Pierson, left, told lawmakers last Thursday that Vladimir Putin's regime was resuming its efforts to interfere in American politics to help Donald Trump, right, win a second term

The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted in the wake of the news

Republicans on the committee defended Trump while the president reacted angrily after discovering that chairman Adam Schiff, with whom he clashed during the impeachment process, had received the briefing.

Pierson chairs the Election Executive and Leadership Board, which was created in July 2019 to specifically deal with election security matters. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has not commented on the latest reports.

The New York Times said that Pierson's conclusion had set off a row among members of the Intel Committee.

Republicans on the committee, including ranking member Devin Nunes, attended the briefing and challenged Pierson about the conclusion.

They argued that Trump had taken action against Russia and improved European security.

'The Republicans went nuts,' one member said.

'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 earlier denied getting told by to intelligence officials that Russia is intervening in the 2020 primaries.

'Nobody said it to me at all,' Trump told reporters at the White House Sunday as he departed for a trip to India, asked if he has been briefed that Russia is trying to help Sanders.

He also blasted House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, saying: 'They leaked it  Adam Schiff and his group, they leaked it to the papers as usual. They ought to investigate Adam Schiff for leaking that information. He should not be leaking information out of intelligence. They ought to investigate Adam Schiff.'

Trump's remarks about intelligence briefings were echoed by Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, who told 'Fox News Sunday': 'The intelligence community has not told us that Russia is trying to elect Donald trump.'

Asked if he was concerned about Russian interference in the elections Sunday, Trump instead spoke about efforts he thinks the Democrats are undertaking to deprive Sanders the party's nomination.

'I think what it could be, the Democrats are treating Bernie Sanders very unfairly. And it sounds to me like a leak from Adam Schiff because they dont want Bernie Sanders to represent them,' Trump said. 'It sounds like its '16 all over again for Bernie Sanders. And he won he had a great victory yesterday. But you know whats happening, you can see the handwriting on the wall,' he added.

President Trump congratulated Bernie Sanders on his victory in the Nevada caucuses

Shelby Pierson is the intelligence community's top election security official

Trump blew up at acting national intelligence director Joseph Maguire in the Oval Office last week over what the president perceived as staff disloyalty, citing Pierson's briefing.

That ruined Maguire's chance of becoming the permanent intelligence chief, sources told The Washington Post.

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.

Russia also dismissed the claims. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the denial at a press conference today where he labeled the claims 'paranoid announcements'.

'Unfortunately, there will be more and more of [them] as we get closer to the elections,' he said in Moscow.

'Of course, they have nothing to do with the truth.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had 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.'

Trump accused Rep. Adam Schiff of leaking information about a classified briefing on Russian intentions for 2020

President Donald J. Trump (2-L) and First Lady Melania Trump (L) walk to Marine One as they depart the White House for a trip to India, in Washington, DC, USA, 23 February 2020. Trump plans to spend a single night in India

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 like 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 told NPR that the U.S. doesnt know exactly what the Russians are planning, but she 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.'
US Presidents & Sensex Since 2000, US presidents have been visiting India every five years. Donald Trumps visit is exactly five years after the second visit of his predecessor, Barack Obama (January 2015). His first visit was in November 2010.

Interestingly, during both the visits, the benchmark Sensex was near its record high. Todays fall of 800 points notwithstanding, the Indian market is again close to its all-time high that it touched in January. The Sensex was at 20K when Obama first visited. It was near 30K during his second visit. Currently, it is around ...
PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-24 13:00:48

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Gold Terra Resources Corp (TSX-V: YGT; Frankfurt: TX0; OTC Pink: TRXXF) is pleased to announce the results of 3 holes from the winter 2020 drill campaign at Sam Otto South. (Figure 1) This drilling is designed to expand mineralized zones identified in the November 2019 NI 43-101 mineral resource report. Highlights include 25 meters of 1.39 g/t gold (including 10.59 meters of 2.48 g/t gold) in hole TSO20-058. In addition, Hole TSO20-53 intersected the main zone with a higher-grade intersection of 2.0 meters of 6.24 g/t gold.Message from David Suda, President and CEO:"There is early excitement within our technical team around the first batch of assays from Sam Otto. The identification of a new mineralized structure at Sam Otto South underlines the potential to add ounces to the current inferred resource (see attached level plan 40m asl or -150m below surface). We feel that we are at the beginning of a significant expansion of the Sam Otto Zone with these first results with 5 out of 6 remaining holes showing visible gold still pending assays." Gold Terra has drilled a further 14 holes, including 3 holes in the Connector Zone between Sam Otto Main and Sam Otto South, and 2 holes that extend the strike of the Sam Otto Main Zone south. Assay results for these holes are pending. The company is approximately halfway through the winter 2020 drilling program. (Figure 1)Technical Summary:Drill hole TS020-058 is situated 50 meters to the north of drill hole TS018-035 that intersected 27.16 meters of 2.16 g/t gold (News Release reported March 9, 2018) and has intersected a new hangingwall mineralized structure within the Sam Otto South zone that is within 50 meters of the previously identified mineralized structure that formed the basis of Gold Terra's exploration program at Sam Otto South (Figure 2). Only the top half of the hole has been reported but the lower half has encountered visible gold within the principle zone at Sam Otto South and screen metallic assaying is pending.Drill holes TS020-052 and TS020-053 were drilled 100 meters north and 50 meters below drill hole TS018-035 respectively. TS020-052 intersected multiple mineralized structures with best results in the new hanging wall zone of 5.0 meters of 1.56 g/t Au and 3.3 meters of 1.05 g/t au. TS020-053 intersected 39.69 meters of 0.53 g/t gold in the main zone, including 2.0 meters of 6.24 g/t gold.Gold mineralization encountered within the Sam Otto South target is in shear zone structures 100 - 200 meters in width with strong sericite alteration and shearing. Gold mineralized zones are directly associated with modest (1-2%) sulphide content in sheared and altered intermediate volcanic rocks. These geological characteristics are consistent with what is observed at the Sam Otto Main zone 1.5 kilometers to the north.Technical Appendix:Holes were drilled normal to strike length and designed to cross mineralized structures at right-angles. Reported intersection widths are estimated to be 83-90% of true width.For the 3 holes reported today, Gold Terra collected 656 samples for assay. Results ranged from below detection to 7.14 g/t Au. Gold Terra inserts certified standards and blanks into the sample stream as a check on laboratory QC. Drill core samples are cut by diamond saw at Gold Terra's core facilities in Yellowknife. A halved core sample is left in the core box. The other half core is sampled and transported by Gold Terra personnel in securely sealed bags to ALS Chemex's (ALS) preparation laboratory in Yellowknife. After sample preparation, samples are shipped to ALS's Vancouver facility for gold analysis. Gold assays of >3 g/t are re-assayed on a 30 g split by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. For one sample (7.14 g/t Au with visible gold) ALS required a third fire assay. ALS is a certified and accredited laboratory service. ALS routinely inserts certified gold standards, blanks and pulp duplicates, and results of all QC samples are reported.The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Joseph Campbell who is a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.About Gold Terra Resource CorpGold Terra owns a 100% interest in the YCG Project, encompassing 790 sq km of contiguous land within 10 kilometers of the city of Yellowknife. The Company announced an inferred mineral resource estimate of 735,000 ounces of gold in November 2019, (News release November 4th 2019). The YCG Project is located in the same archean belt where the former high-grade Con and Giant gold mines have produced over 14 million ounces of gold. The YCG project is located north and south of the city and along the same mineralized district scale as the past producer Con and Giant Mines.For more information on the YCG project, please visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com On behalf of the Board of Directors,"DAVID SUDA"David SudaPresident and CEOFor more information, please contact:Samuel VellaManager of Corporate CommunicationsPhone: 604-689-1749 / Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684svella@ goldterracorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking InformationCertain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ( "forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof.All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently
Trump visits India: US President Donald Trump announced the United States would improve defence pacts with India. Speaking at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday, President Trump announced the US would sign a $3 billion defence deal with India on Tuesday. He said emphasised that the US would become India's premier defence partner.

"I'm pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over $3 billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces," Trump said.

"As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best & most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India," he added.

FOLLOW LIVE: Namaste Trump event Live Updates: US President announces $3 billion defence deal with India

Key aspect of the defence deal on Tuesday is expected to be the purchase of MH-60 multi-role helicopters for Indian Navy. The acquisition was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security last week. The government-to-government deal involves acquisition of 24 MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters from the US-based Lockheed Martin group. The MH-60Rs will be purchased directly from the US government under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US Department of Defence (DoD). The deal, valued at $2.6 billion, was approved in August 2018 by then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The US Department of State gave its approval in April 2019.

The MH-60s, which are currently deployed with the US Navy, are considered to be the most capable naval helicopters available today. They are capable of conducting highly efficient reconnaissance missions and have been designed to hunt down submarines and will add to the strategic depth and combat capability of the Indian Navy. The fleet will boost the Indian Navy's anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations.

ALSO READ: Trump in India: How Agra was given facelift in 60 hours

The MH 60 multi-role Romeo Sikorsky helicopters will replace ageing British-made Sea King helicopters. The first batch of MH-60 Romeo helicopters is scheduled to be delivered by Lockheed Martin within two years. The multi-role helicopters will be deployed on warships and will be very effective in keeping the submarine threat posed by the extra-regional Navies, including China and Pakistan, in the Indian Ocean Region. These helicopters will be used in Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti Surface warfare (ASuW), Command and Control, ESM roles besides Search and Rescue (SAR), Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) roles, etc.
US President Donald Trump started his two-day visit to India with a huge campaign-style rally in the home land of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 36-hour long trip of Trump and first lady Melania started from Ahmedabad where he was joined by PM Modi for an unprecedented roadshow and a historic joint address at mega event Namaste Trump in front of a record crowd of more than one lakh people.

Speaking at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium, President Trump praised PM Modi and listed achievements of his government. He also thanked people of India for 'spectacular welcome', saying that India will hold a very special place in our hearts from this day on.

Addressing 'Namaste Trump' event, US President announced a defence deal, including for helicopters worth $3 billion. Trump said that the US would sign a $3 billion defence deal with India on Tuesday. He also emphasised that the US would become India's premier defence partner.

Also Read: Namaste Trump event Live Updates: US President, First Lady Melania arrive at Taj Mahal

Key takeaways from Trump's speech:

1. Trump announced the US would sign a $3 billion defence deal with India on Tuesday. "I'm pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over $3 billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces," Trump said.

Also Read: Donald Trump announces mega $3 billion defence deal with India

2. President Trump emphasised that the US would become India's premier defence partner. "As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India," the US President added.

3. US President Donald Trump showered praise on iconic Bollywood films. He made a reference to Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) and Amitabh Bachchan's Sholay in his grand speech. "This is the country that produces 2000 movies a year from the hub of genius and creativity known as Bollywood. All over the planet, people take great joy in scenes of bhangra, music, dance, romance and drama, and classic Indian films like DDLJ and Sholay," Trump said.

Also Read: Trump in India: POTUS to meet India Inc CEOs on Tuesday

4. Speaking on the issue of terrorism in Pakistan, Trump said his administration is working with Islamabad to crack down on terror groups operating from that country's borders. He said that there are "signs of big progress" on cross-border terrorism. "My administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on the terrorists and militant groups that operate on the Pakistan border," he said, adding, "We are beginning to see signs of big progress."

5. On US-India relationship, Trump said India will hold a special place in our hearts. "America loves, America respects and America will be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people," he said.

By Chitranjan Kumar
Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor turned a Twitter discussion on pollution and Delhis air quality to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Responding to a story about a gadget hanging around his neck, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that it helps neutralise the air, but cant deal with the bigger problem in Delhi.

Actually Im told it helps neutralise the PM 2.5 molecules in Delhis air. But a bigger problem in Delhi is what to do with the far more toxic & harmful PM 2.0 molecules of Mr. Modis second term, Tharoor said on Twitter on Sunday.

Actually I'm told it helps neutralise the PM 2.5 molecules in Delhi's air. But a bigger problem in Delhi is what to do with the far more toxic & harmful PM 2.0 molecules of Mr. Modi's second term. https://t.co/wqhYRSItaT  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 23, 2020

The discussion started on February 7 when a user posted a zoomed-in image of the gadget and asked the Congress leader: What is this Device Tharoorji? Tharoor responded: Its an air purifier (negative ioniser). Delhis air is pretty unbreathable. I dont need it in Thiruvananthapuram. A negative ioniser electrically charges the air molecules around it and removes polluting particles, thereby purifying the air.

An air purifier (negative ioniser). Delhis air is pretty unbreathable. I dont need it in Thiruvananthapuram.  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 7, 2020

Tharoor took a news item about that discussion and posted it today along with the tweet above.

The Congress MP had created a controversy in 2018 when he used scorpion metaphor to describe Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A criminal complaint was filed against Tharoor under Section 499 (defamation) for the remark.

Tharoor had again made controversial remarks at a gathering in 2018. He had reportedly said that the BJP, if voted to power, will rewrite the Constitution and create a Hindu Pakistan. A court in Kolkata had even issued an arrest warrant against him. The politician, however, defended his remarks in a Facebook post.

Some of his remarks were even too hot to handle by his party, the Congress. He had once asked people to work on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), rather than enjoy holiday. The Congress had then said that this is the ministers personal views.

And the famous cattle class remark had angered the Twitterati as well as his party colleagues. Tharoor later apologised for comparing the economy class travellers in the flights to cattle class, calling it a silly expression.
Trump told reporters at the White House that the time had come for the US troops to 'come home'

Washington: The Taliban in Afghanistan are "tired" of fighting and want to make a peace deal with America, President Donald Trump said on Sunday as he left for his maiden visit to India, days ahead of a possible agreement between the US and the militant group in the war-torn country.

Just before his departure for India, Trump told reporters at the White House that the time had come for the US troops to "come home".

"We've been over there 19 years. We think they want to make a deal. We want to make a deal. I think it's going to work out," Trump said in response to a question on the peace deal with the Taliban.

"Time to come home. We want to make a deal and we think the Taliban want to make a deal too. They're tired of fighting," he said. The President said he would sign a peace deal with the Taliban if it worked out over the next week.

"I want to see how this period of a week works out. If it works out over the next less-than-a-week, I would put my name on it," he said.

Trump's remarks came a day after the US and the Afghan Taliban started a seven-day partial truce ahead of a possible peace deal to end more than 18-year-long war, raising hopes for a resolution to America's longest war.

The agreement struck during talks between the US and the Taliban, if maintained, may secure a peace deal that would lead to a withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

In November, Trump announced the resumption of peace talks with the Taliban, but refused to give a timeline for the draw down of the US troops from Afghanistan, as he made an unannounced visit to American soldiers stationed in the war-torn country.

After nine rounds of negotiations with the Taliban, Trump announced in September that he was calling the peace talks off after a US service member was killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

The US currently has less than 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, but military officials would not confirm the exact number.

Trump is accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration on his maiden visit to India. During his visit, the two countries will significantly ramp up bilateral defence and strategic ties.

The nearly 36-hour-long visit by Trump is also set to send across a clear message of growing congruence of interests on major geopolitical developments in the region and beyond, particularly when China has been expanding its military might and economic clout.
LOS ANGELES  Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg released a tax reform package Monday that would roll back the Trump administration's cap on the state and local tax deduction, which disproportionately affects residents of high-tax states such as California.

Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., also calls for expanding the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit.

"As president, I will rebalance our economy so it works for all Americans, hold Wall Street and corporations accountable and bring fairness to our tax system so we can lift millions out of poverty and into greater opportunity," Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg announced his tax proposals as the presidential campaign turns toward Super Tuesday, when California and 13 other states will vote.

The tax proposal appears designed to appeal to voters here because of the impact the cap on state and local tax deductions  part of President Trump's 2017 tax reform  had on Californians as well as residents of other costly states such as New Jersey and New York. Under the law, the total amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted from federal taxable income is $10,000.

The state's Franchise Tax Board reported that roughly 1 million Californians paid more in federal taxes because of this cap.

Under Buttigieg's proposal, the cap would be eliminated for households that earn less than $400,000.

The state and local tax deduction cap has not been a subject of discussion during the 2020 presidential campaign, and it is a tricky subject for Democrats who are focused on increasing taxes on the wealthy and reducing the tax burden of the poor. The cap most greatly affects high-income households.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has also proposed eliminating the cap. Former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's plan would maintain it.

In October, the Senate voted against repealing a Treasury rule that quashed states' attempts to work around the cap. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted to repeal the rule; Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts were not present for the vote.

Buttigieg also proposes providing families that earn less than $400,000 with a $2,000 child tax credit, and an additional $1,000 credit for children younger than 6, in an effort to reduce childhood poverty.

The total effective tax rate on millionaires would grow from 31% to 49% under a Buttigieg administration. He also proposes a 0.1% tax on all stock and securities trades and raising taxes on American companies' foreign profits from 10.5% to between 28% and 35%.

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(c)2020 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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It was a gathering of who is who in Okigwe Zone yesterday, Sunday February 23rd, 2020 as Elders Council in Okigwe Zone, Political Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Academia, Head of Religious Organizations, Women and Youth leaders all assembled at the Umueze-1, country home of Chief Tony Chukwu (Onweghi ihe Kariri Chineke), to plot a way forward for the zone ahead of the forthcoming Imo North by-election, and to engender Peace and unity among sons and daughters of Okigwe Zone.

Before the commencement of the day's activity, a minute silent was observed in honor of their departed Senator, Benjamin Uwajumogu.

The meeting which is non-partisan had in attendance the traditional rulers from the six local government areas in Okigwe zonal led by HRH Eze Okeke (Chairman Okigwe Zonal Traditional Rulers Council), The Religious Leaders were led by the Primate Methodist Church of Nigeria (His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche), Minister of State Education (Prof Emeka Nwajiuba) led the Political Class and HRH Eze Oliver Ohanwe led the Okigwe Elders Council to the stakeholders meeting.

Declaring the intent of the meeting, the convener and Chairman Okigwe Zone Elders Council said the meeting is simply for the zone to unite for peace and development, that without unity of purpose, there will be no meaningful development. Chief Longers Anyanwu raised the floor of discussion when he boldly said that the only problem Okigwe Zone had was the political rivalry amongst billionaires from Mbano extraction, stating that their disagreement and inability to come together had caused Okigwe Zone great fortune in terms of socioeconomic and infrastructural development. For Okigwe to move forward, Chief Anyanwu made it clear that all the leaders must come together and unite for the overall interest of the zone. The chief host, Chief Tony Chukwu who bared his mind, said the leaders of Okigwe Zone had made great mistakes in the past, stating that going forward, the leaders which he is among must forgo personal interest and work for the betterment of Okigwe Zone.

Onweghi ihe Kariri Chineke reiterated that, time has come for promising youths and young Okigwe sons and daughters be given a chance and be supported to move the zone forward. On the forthcoming Okigwe Zone Senatorial by-election Chief Chukwu said, "the choice of who will replace their late brother Senator Benjamin Uwajimogu would be a collective decision of Ndi-Okigwe Zone, that no one individual will decide." Chief Chukwu emphasized that time has gone when one individual will dictate for Okigwe Zone who will go and represent them at the National Assembly. He said," this time, not even himself Tony Chukwu, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim, etc, will decide who will go, rather a unanimous and collective decision of Ndi-Okigwe Zone. He made it clear that a credible young man or woman must be encouraged and supported to go to the Senate, not the old faces always justling for the Senate position everytime"

Hon Emeka Nwajiuba, Hon Emma Ibediro, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Senator Mathew Nwagwu, Ambassador Eddy Onuoha and other leaders who spoke hammered on peace, unity and oneness among Okigwe leaders, they urge that political acrimony should stop henceforth.

Hon Chike Okafor, prayed for the adjustment of the meeting agenda, proposing that Ndi-Okigwe should send a delegation to thank His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma for appointing their zone, Chief Cosmas Iwu as the Secretary to the State Government and rally round their brother, Chief Iwu in solidarity. Okigwe leaders unanimously adopted his position and hailed Governor Uzodinma for finding their son worthy for appointment as Secretary to the Government of Imo State. They commended President Buhari also for appointing their son, Barr. Emeka Nwajiuba as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

For the forthcoming Okigwe Zone senatorial by-election, Okigwe leaders and stakeholders agreed to set up a committee to look into the issues and narrow down the number of aspirants who had interest for the position.

While declaring the resolutions of the leaders, after speech from Chief Cosmas Iwu, Prof Ossy Nwebo, Chief Fabian Ihekweme, Sir George Eguh, Rt Hon Acho Ihim, Engr Mark Uchendu, Hon (Mrs) Akubundu, etc, Barr. Ifeanyi Agwu read that Okigwe Zone have accepted to support Governor Hope Uzodinma led administration in Imo and will pay him a Solidarity Visit. That Okigwe Zone leaders thank Governor Uzodinma for appointing their son, Chief Cosmas Iwu as Secretary to Imo State Government. That Okigwe Zone leaders will forward a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari thanking him for appointing their son, Bar Emeka Nwajiuba as Minister of State Education. That Okigwe Leaders as a group will decide who will represent them at the forthcoming Senatorial by-election.

In attendance includes, Rt Hon Chiji Collins (Speaker Imo State House of Assembly), Rt Hon Acho Ihim (Former Speaker Imo State House of Assembly), Chief Eze Okoro, Hon Partick Chibueze, Hon Chucks Chukwuemeka, Chief Sam Amadi, Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri, Sir George Egu, Chief ZeekMathins Nnadozie, Hon Ruby Emele, Lady Love Ineh, Sir Remy Uche, Chief Chikwem Onuoha, Prof Jonas Lemchi, Bright Okereke, Hon. Kingsley Dimaku, Hon Robert Ekwebelem, Hon Kennedy Ibeh, Hon Emeka Nduka, Hon Michael Crown, Hon Nick Amaefule, Hon Kodichi Anamekwe, Hon Ngozi Ogbu, Hon Frank Ejezie, Dr I. M. Anyeze, Chief Magnus Orjiako, Chief Tonyblack Nduka, among other distinguished sons and daughters of Okigwe Zone.
Haitian police exchanged fire with soldiers during a protest in the capital.

At least one person has been killed and 13 hurt in a gun battle between police and armed forces near the presidential palace in Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince.

The fighting broke out as police officers were protesting against low pay and locals were preparing to stage a carnival.

Al Jazeeras Leah Harding reports.
J obs: Founders of Ealing Distillery

Ages: Both 52

Live: Ealing

Length of time together: 30 years

Status: Married

The meet-cute

Amanda: We met aged 22 on a residential course for graduates working in PR. A few weeks after the course Simon moved into a new bedsit in Ealing. Weirdly, it was the same house where I had a bedsit. It was a complete fluke! We started hanging out (Simon had a colour TV, I only had black and white) and progressed to going to the laundrette together. After a month or so we were sharing a dryer.

The first date

Simon: We went to the end of the road for a curry, drank a couple of bottles of their cheapest wine then stumbled home.

First impressions

Amanda: On the course I thought Simon was fun, down-to-earth and uncool  in a good way. He had no idea what cool meant which, of course, made him cool.

Housemates with benefits

Amanda: We lived together before we even got together which was fab because we didnt have to go through all that dating, calling, not calling stuff. Wed already seen each other at our worst in the shared bedsits. In fact Simon had held my hair while I was sick in the loo after a heavy night out  truly dedicated housemate behaviour.

Popping the question

Amanda: Simon asked me to marry him while drunk in the middle of Ealing Common after a night at the pub. It was dark and cold and he got a very muddy knee. We went to celebrate at a Greek cafe that was still open. The owner was very sweet and went upstairs to his flat above the cafe to bring down a bottle of cheap fizz for us to drink and share with the other random customers. I wouldnt have wanted it any other way.

The big day

Amanda: Our wedding was up north in Geordieland (where Im from). Simons posh southern family mingled brilliantly with my working-class northern family. We danced until the early hours and were the last to leave our own wedding. Simon bumped my head on the doorpost as he tried to carry me over the threshold of the hotel room.

Opposites attract

Simon: Were both definitely glass-half-full, very sociable, outgoing people-people. But while Im a whirlwind Amandas more calm and measured. Weve always both been quite entrepreneurial and excited by the possibilities of life.

Couples who work together

Simon: Were good at different things work-wise so the work flow falls very naturally between us. We sometimes argue but we always agree on the big things like when we decided on the final recipe for Ealing Gin and the design of the bottle. We want to make the brand a big success  we are donating 20 per cent of profits to good causes addressing loneliness and social isolation.

The Ealing feeling

Amanda: Weve lived in Ealing since our bedsit days. Its brilliantly diverse with great bars and restaurants, its got great cultural heritage and a very strong community.
A woman is now in a fight for her life after she was shot in the head in a drive-by shooting at a Gulfton-area shopping mall.

HPD investigators say that the shooting happened right before midnight at the 6100 block of Glenmont Saturday night.
Pastor Antonio Velasquez says that before the Trump administration announced a crackdown on immigrants using government social services, people lined up before sunrise outside a state office in a largely Latino Phoenix neighborhood to sign up for food stamps and Medicaid.

No more.

'You had to arrive at 3 in the morning, and it might take you until the end of the day,' he said, pointing behind the office in the Maryvale neighborhood to show how long the lines got.

But no one lined up one recent weekday morning, and there were just a handful of people inside.

With new rules taking effect Monday that disqualify more people from green cards if they use government benefits, droves of immigrants, including citizens and legal residents, have dropped social services they or their children may be entitled to out of fear they will be kicked out of the U.S., said Velazquez and other advocates.

'This will bring more poverty, more homeless, more illness,' said Velasquez, a well-known leader among Spanish-speaking immigrants in the Phoenix area.

Advocates around the U.S. gathered Monday to discuss and criticize the policy.

Participants at a New York City roundtable said that in anticipation of the change, neighborhoods with higher immigrant populations had seen enrollment declines in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. They also urged immigrants to get legal advice on how they may be affected.

The way it was: Last January, this was the line outside a U.S. immigration office in San Francisco. Activists say droves of immigrants including citizens and legal residents have dropped government social services they or their children may be entitled to out of fear they will be kicked out of the U.S.

Warning: Pastor Antonio Velasquez says before the Trump administration announced a crackdown on immigrants using government social services, people lined up before sunrise outside a state office in his neighborhood to sign up for food stamps and Medicaid

In Boston, the Rev. Dieufort Fleurissaint said some Haitian immigrants worry that accepting benefits could keep their relatives from coming to the U.S.

Bethany Li, of Greater Boston Legal Services, said Chinese families are passing on WIC benefits not covered by the new rules.

The guidelines that aim to determine whether immigrants seeking legal residency may become a government burden are part of the Trump administration's broader effort to reduce immigration, particularly among poorer people.

The rules that critics say amount to a 'wealth test' were set to take effect in October but were delayed by legal challenges alleging a violation of due process under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court last month cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward while the rules were litigated in the courts.

A 5-4 vote Friday by the high court sided with the Trump administration by lifting a last injunction covering just Illinois, giving White House adviser Stephen Miller and other hardliners a resounding win in one of their boldest attempts to limit legal immigration.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a blistering dissent, criticizing the administration for quickly turning to the Supreme Court after facing losses in lower courts and suggesting that her conservative colleagues handled the litigation inconsistently in their desire to give Trump a victory.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Saturday that the change will 'reestablish the fundamental legal principle that newcomers to our society should be financially self-reliant and not dependent on the largess of United States taxpayers.'

Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy Homeland Security secretary, said Monday on Fox News Channels 'Fox & Friends' that the change is 'not a moral judgment on individuals, it is an economic one.'

He said the government expects 'people seeking to be long-term immigrants here, and maybe join us as citizens, will be able to stand on their own two feet.' He said the rules were 'a major priority for the president.'

Federal law already requires those seeking to permanent residency or legal status to prove they will not be a burden to the U.S. - a 'public charge,' in government lingo. But the new rules include a wider range of programs that could disqualify them, including using Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers.

The chilling effect spreading through immigrant communities recalls how millions of refugees dumped social services during the welfare changes of the 1990s, even though the legislation that prompted the cuts explicitly exempted them.

Nazanin Ash, Washington-based vice president for global policy and advocacy for the nonprofit International Rescue Committee, pointed to research showing some 37 percent of refugees exempted from the Clinton-era changes in welfare benefits dropped food stamps they were entitled to.

Advocate: Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy Homeland Security secretary, said told Fox & Friends that the change is 'not a moral judgment on individuals, it is an economic one.'

Ash said the Trump administration rules would likely cause similar hardships for immigrants who contribute to the American economy.

'To call them a burden on society is factually incorrect,' she said.

The nonprofit Migration Policy Institute in Washington said in an August policy paper that it expects 'a significant share' of the nearly 23 million noncitizens and U.S. citizens in immigrant families who use public benefits will drop them.

Julia Gelatt, a senior policy analyst with the institute, said the guidelines are so complicated that there have even been reports of parents dropping their kids' free school lunches, which are not affected.

Gelatt noted that the rules apply only to social services used after Monday and do not affect citizens or most green card holders. Refugees vetted by federal agencies before their arrival, as well as people who obtain asylum, are not affected.

The guidelines don't apply to many programs for children and pregnant and postnatal women, including Head Start early childhood education and WIC.

Nevertheless, Stephanie Santiago, who manages two Phoenix-area clinics for the nonprofit Mountain Park Health Center, said during the last three months of 2019 she suddenly saw scores of immigrants drop those and other benefits.

'People are very scared about the rules,' Santiago said. 'The sad thing is that they even drop the services their U.S. citizen kids qualify for. A lot of these kids are going to school sick or their parents are paying out of pocket for services they should get for free.'

Cynthia Aragon, outreach coordinator for the nonprofit Helping Families in Need in Phoenix, said that because of the confusion, she is steering people to private sources of aid, like food banks and church-run clinics.

'I think people will start applying for government services again after it becomes clearer how things are going to work,' Aragon said. 'In the meantime, we tell immigrants to look for some of the other resources out there and don't feel like a victim.'
LHC Capital, the only significant external investor in iSignthis, told investors its December quarter performance plunged into negative territory after it halved the carrying value of its $90 million investment in the controversial tech stock after an independent valuation.

In an update to investors last month, LHC principals Stephen Aboud and Marcus Hughes, said the $400 million LHC Australia High Conviction Fund (LHCAHC) cashed in some of its iSignthis shares ahead of the controversial stocks ten-fold gain in September last year.

The fund said the share sale took "much of our initial risk capital off the table," but maintained an "oversized position ... commensurate with our view of the large long-term potential value of the business."

LHC Capital's Stephen Aboud and Marcus Hughes. Credit:Tamara Voninski

The fund made a negative 11.2 per cent return for the December quarter due to the write-down.
Two more provinces implement wartime controls on prisons following virus clusters

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/23 16:03:39

Southwest China's Sichuan and Northeast China's Heilongjiang provinces have requested their prisons and drug rehabilitation centers to implement temporary wartime controls to block the spread of the COVID-19 and eliminate loopholes in management, after new infections were reported at congregated facilities.

A total of 512 cases have been confirmed in five prisons in Zhejiang, Hubei and Shandong provinces on Friday.

The Justice Department of Sichuan Province held a conference on Friday and asked all its prisons to be locked down immediately, according to a notice on the department's website on Sunday.

There will no longer be rotating duty shifts in the prisons and the controls will be implemented for a month, the notice said.

The department also requested prisons and rehabilitation centers to seal and store all surveillance videos since January 22 for inspection.

Since January 25, the department has asked all newly admitted prisoners and drug addicts, as well as those returning to prison after visiting their relatives, to be quarantined. In addition, people entering the prisons and rehabilitation centers must have their body temperature taken and wear masks. All vehicles and materials entering the prisons and these centers must be tested and disinfected.

All outside visits, transfers of prisoners and drug addicts, and education activities are suspended, and inmates will no longer be eating together. All large-scale activities in these venues will be suspended.

According to the department, out of a total of 37,098 people it inspected, 26 people had visited places in Hubei Province during the epidemic period, and 172 people had contacted with people from Hubei.

All these people have been required to stay at home in quarantine and are not allowed to go on duty, have contact with other personnel on shift or their families. No case of infections among police, prisoners or drug addicts have been reported so far.

According to the Heilongjiang prison management bureau, all prisons and drug rehabilitation centers in the province began implementing wartime controls on Saturday. It requested a complete lockdown of all doors in these facilities and for all workers to report information in a timely manner.

According to a notice published by China's Ministry of Justice on February 14, Chongqing has already implemented wartime control management in its prisons. Previously, prison administrations in South China's Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and North China's Hebei Province had announced complete lockdowns.

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Mars is a constantly tremoring "living" body, researchers said Monday as they unveiled measurements of seismic activity on the red planet showing similar tremble rates to Earth or the Moon.

For 15 months NASA's InSight robot craft scoured the surface of Earth's neighbour, and measured hundreds of so-called "Marsquakes".

These included several tremors that contained the same frequency patterns as tremors caused by the movement of Earth's own tectonic plates.

"This is the first mission focused on taking direct geophysical measurements of any planet besides Earth, and it's given us our first real understanding of Mars' interior structure and geological processes," said Nicholas Schmerr, an assistant professor of geology at the University of Maryland and a co-author of the study in Nature Geoscience.

Another team of researchers found that at least 20 of the quakes measured by the InSight lander had the equivalent strength of a magnitude 3-4 earthquake.

After a six-and-a-half-month voyage through 480 million kilometres of space, the NASA probe landed on Mars' Elysium plain in November 2018, pressing an ear to the planet for the first time.

Mars had long been thought to be seismically active, but the InSight lander gave scientists proof of consistent and occasionally powerful tremors.

While the studies show at least 170 tremors measured over 225 days, the quakes have continued to the present day, according to Philippe Lognonne, a researcher at Paris' Institut de Physique du Globe, part of the 500-strong international team working on InSight.

He said at least 460 events had been picked up by InSight's instruments.

Charles Yana, project chief of the InSight monitoring system at the French Cnes space agency, said that the frequency of seismic activity was "pretty surprising as the models hadn't predicted so many." InSight is also providing data to scientists about Mars' weather patterns, its atmosphere, geology and magnetic field.

The probe has even established a daily profile of wind strengths on the red planet.

During the day, heating from the Sun causes wind to build, reaching its peak in late afternoon. By evening, the wind is gone and there is silence on the surface.

For Schmerr, "understanding these processes is part of a bigger question about the planet itself.

"Can it support life, or did it ever? Life exists at the edge, where the equilibrium is off," he said.

"Think of areas on Earth such as the thermal vents at the deep ocean ridges where chemistry provides the energy for life rather than the Sun." A key mystery of Mars remains unresolved, however -- whether or not its core is still liquid, like Earth's.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On February 18, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar announced the small liberal arts college in Ohio was exploring how to contract out the jobs of over 100 culinary and custodial workers who work under a contract negotiated by the United Auto Workers (UAW). The announcement has been met with protests from students and faculty at the college.

Ambar sent out a letter to students, faculty and staff at Oberlin detailing the administrations decision to pursue discussions with outside vendors in order to help balance the schools budget. The letter states, Oberlin has notified the United Auto Workers that we are formally considering contracting with outside vendors for dining and custodial services currently provided by college employees This step is permitted under our UAW contract, and we will begin collective bargaining with the UAW in coming weeks to determine how best to move forward.

[Credit: Wikimedia Daderot]

The letter specifies that the changes could impact as many as 52 full-time dining workers and 56 full-time custodial workers. This could save the school $2 million in annual operation costs for both dining and custodial services.

Ambar also included the possibility that workers could interview with the contractor to be hired for their current joba proposal that would likely lead to a cut in pay or benefitsand a smaller group may be eligible for other employment at Oberlin. She specified that the smaller group remaining at Oberlin and potential severance packages will be negotiated with the UAW.

Erik Villar, UAW Chair at Oberlin College, said the layoffs are planned to take place on June 30. Buffy Lukachko, the head trucker in the Transportation Department at Oberlin College and the bargaining representative for the UAW, said the colleges decision to lay off workers was likely a means to slash health care costs too. She told the Morning Journal, My wages, others wages, might be roughly $28,000 a year, but the expense the College has to pay out for health care is also about $28,000 a year. So, when they are talking about wages, theyre talking about health care; they dont want to pay for that anymore.

The day after the Ambars letter was sent, 800 students and staff demonstrated outside of the Oberlin faculty meeting to oppose the threat to the workers jobs and livelihoods. The crowd chanted Workers are our family! and held homemade signs expressing support for the workers.

While the protests were an immediate response to the announcement of layoffs, the demonstration is a reflection of much larger frustrations of students and university employees to the attacks on higher education at Oberlin College and universities across the US.

Over the past two years the Oberlin administration have attempted to eliminate a budget deficit through changes to health care and retirement benefits, as well as the size of the administrative staff. The university also approved a financial report, entitled the One Oberlin, last year that specifies the school plans on eliminating the equivalent of 25 full-time faculty positions by the 2024 fiscal year. The school is also working to cut $17.3 million by 2025.

Oberlin is the most expensive college in Ohio for students and the 23rd most expensive in the country, according to a recent CBS News report. The universitys website reports that an undergraduate would be expected to pay $37,833 for a single semester, including tuition, fees and room-and-board.

While the administration frequently trots out as rationale that the university has to pay over $30 million as a result of losing a recent libel case, the vice president for finance and administration, Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, has admitted that the college has been running deficit spending for decades. With the corporatization of higher education, however, these deficits have little impact on the president and top administrators. Marvin Krislov, the former president of Oberlin, had a salary of $577,000 in 2017 and Nancy S. Dye, another former president who left the school in 2007, was paid over $1.4 million between 2007 and 2008.

The demonstration against the outsourcing of dining and custodial workers is a reflection of the reemergence of struggles by workers and students. But no confidence can be placed in the UAW, which has spent decades colluding with the auto companies and other employers in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs and the destruction of wages and benefits.

This has prompted University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) grad students and teaching assistants (TA), who are also members of the UAW, to conduct an ongoing wildcat strike to demand a cost-of-living increase in defiance of the union and the Democratic Party controlled university administration.

At UCSC the UAW agreed to a contract that includes poverty level wages, which have left some lecturers homeless due to the impossibly high cost of housing, and a no-strike clause. Janet Napolitanothe current UC president and former Obama administration Secretary of Homeland Securityhas already threatened to fire the grad students and TAs. The UCSC workers have appealed to university workers across the country and found support with solidarity demonstrations across the University of California system last Friday, as well as statements of support from workers at New York University and the University of Chicago, both private colleges.

As the corruption scandal in the UAW has proven, the organization is nothing more than a criminal syndicate whose executives have taken millions of dollars in company bribes and embezzled millions more from workers paychecks to fund their luxurious lives.

If there is to be a real struggle against these layoffs, workers will have to conduct it themselves. This requires building rank-and-file committees, independent of the UAW and other unions, to unite with workers and students across the state and beyond.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-27 03:39:45|Editor: yan

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SANAA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Fighting between Yemen's government troops and Houthi rebels in the northeastern province of Jawf on Sunday left at least 20 fighters from both sides dead, a local government official said.

The clashes in al-Aqabah area in the southwestern edge of the government-held Jawf province wounded dozens of others and forced dozens of families to flee, the official in Jawf told Xinhua by phone on condition of anonymity.

He said the clashes expand to areas near the ancient town of Baraqish, also in Jawf, some 140 km northeast of the capital Sanaa.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government forces continued its airstrikes on Houthi positions in the area, with the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV on Sunday reported at least 21 coalition airstrikes.

Fierce clashes and airstrikes also escalated Sunday on several fronts in Nehm district of the rebel-held Sanaa, as the Houthi rebels seized control of mountains overlooking the roads linking Sanaa with Jawf and Marib province, according to pro-government news website al-Masdar Online.

The fighting in Nehm and Jawf escalated after last week's Houthi missile attack in the adjacent Marib province killed more than 100 Yemeni government troops.

The UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has called on all Yemeni parties "to cease all military activities," warning that such escalation could fail the fragile peace process.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.
Ahmedabad: Exuding elegance, US President Donald Trump`s wife Melania Trump and daughter Ivanka Trump arrived in Gujarat`s Ahmedabad on Monday noon ahead of the `Namastey Trump` event.

First Lady Melania descended the Air Force One wearing a full-sleeved wide-legged white jumpsuit paired with a deep green coloured knotted belt, accentuating her waist. Melania kept her hair loose with a neat middle partition and slight waves at the ends.

(Pic Courtesy: IANS)

On the other hand, President`s daughter Ivanka kept it minimal yet classy with her light turquoise coloured dress bearing contrasting floral print in pink colour, with a bow at the neckline. She kept her hair rod straight in a middle parting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the US President Donald Trump on Monday as he arrived at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on his first official visit to India in a bid to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Trump is slated to address the `Namastey Trump` event at Motera Stadium in the city. He will later visit the Taj Mahal in Agra before departing for Delhi.
ALBANY, New York, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturers of adult diapers are increasingly focusing on coming out materials that not only meet the criteria of comfort for wearers and caregivers but are also ecologically friendly. Use of wearable sensor technology in adult diapers is likely to gain traction among the patient population who need adult incontinence products, notably those suffering from dementia and diarrhea. According to a new study on the adult diapers market, the sales are projected to reach ~US$ 15.6 bn by 2027-end. Overall, the global market is expected to rise at CAGR of ~6% during the forecast period 2019 - 2027.

Apart from adult diapers that are integrated with sensors, the use of micro disposable hook fasteners and other hypoallergenic materials makes the products skin-friendly.

"Manufacturers consider recyclability and as key propositions for adult diaper ecosystem. Further, many are constantly introducing value-added features such as skin-friendly 3D (3 Dimensional) wave and lock aspects, opine analysts at TMR. Further, "Players seek incremental opportunities for incontinence products for astronauts, which might also give them a new way for the brand positioning", observe the analysts.

Key Findings of Adult Diaper Market Study

Of the various product types, disposable diapers has stood out from the rest and held the major share of the global market in 2018. Their popularity among wearers has stemmed from their low maintenance aspect and will gain traction due to their remarkable absorption properties. However, efficient and effective decomposition of disposed adult diapers calls for constant technology improvements.

Online retain sector has opened a vast avenue for capitalization of opportunities worldwide, and opportunities in the segment are expected to rise at promising pace.

The flat style held the major share among all styles in 2018. It is likely to retain its lead in the global market throughput the assessment period.

Of all the materials used, cotton led the global market by holding the dominant share in 2018. Non-woven fabric materials attract considerable interest among wearers.

Regionally, Asia Pacific is expected to be the most promising market during the assessment period. Key factors driving opportunities are rise in elderly populations, and growing awareness of skin-friendly adult incontinence products.

Explore 185 pages of top-notch research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections. Gain business intelligence on Adult Diaper Market (Product: Reusable Diapers, Disposable Diapers, Swim Diapers, and Others (Incontinence Pads, etc.); Style: Pad Style, Flat Style, and Pant Style; Material: Fluff Pulp, Cotton, Micro Fiber, and Non-woven Fabric; Price: Low (Below US$ 5), Medium (US$ 5  US$ 10), and High (Above US$ 10); and Distribution Channel: Online and Offline (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Departmental Stores, and Specialty Stores)) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/adult-diaper-market.html

Adult Diaper Market: Key Driving Factors

Changing preferences of consumers and focus of manufacturers account for key trends shaping the growth dynamics of the adult diapers market. A few trends are worth the attention:

Increasing trend of adopting sanitary products that are high on environmental footprint across the value chainfrom production to disposalhas shaped product innovations in the adult diapers market. A case in point is compostable adult diapers, as it supports the transition toward circular economy.

Flushable diapers are gaining traction among caregivers and health care institutions, as the product type reduces the burden of disposal. Countries at the forefront of the trend is Japan .

. Skin-friendly materials sourced from plants meet the requirement of comfort and also lower the environmental footprint, particularly in relation to their disposal. Thus, such materials that promote a sustainable value chain will attract interest of manufacturers, sellers, and consumers.

Elderly population worldwide is expected grow at rapid pace in coming decades, bolstering the business proposition of adult incontinence products including adult diapers. According to a projection by NIH-funded Census Bureau, by 2050-end, they will account for nearly 17 percentage of the world's population.

Download PDF Brochure  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4772

Key Impediments to Adult Diaper Market Players

Presence of social stigma against urinary incontinence among adults and senior population, among men as well as women, in various countries, dampens consumer demands. Growing worldwide awareness about personal hygiene among patients and caregivers and increased focus on elderly care will help overcome the stigma. Nonetheless, the study on the adult diaper market also highlights a few new avenues, such as incorporation of wearable sensor in adult diapers to keep a track of patients' needs, such as when they need replacement. Criteria such as softness, body-fit performance, and leakage protection underlie the pursuit of innovation for manufacturers, thereby expanding the potential of the adult diapers market.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/4772

Adult Diaper Market: Region-wise Analysis

Geographically, North America has been contributing sizable opportunities to players in the adult diaper market. The regional market is expected to grow at rapid pace in coming years, driven by the widespread uptake of adult incontinence products, especially in the U.S. and Canada.

Europe is expected to be the most prominent region in the global adult diaper market during the assessment period. A large part of the growth impetus comes from France, Greece, Germany, and Italy, where elderly populations are expected to grow at remarkable rate over the next few years. Substantial uptake of disposal diapers is another key factor fueling growth of the regional market.

Analyze adult diaper market growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, GCC countries, India, China, and Japan. Request a sample of the study.

Competition Landscape

Manufacturers in the adult diaper market are setting their sights on Asia Pacific, attracted by potential of vast revenue streams. Most are stressing on the propositions of wearers comfort. They are entering into partnerships with technology companies that will help them equip diapers with sensors. Several players are putting bets on biodegradable diapers to gain a competitive edge over others.

Some of the promising players in the adult diapers market are Essity AB, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., Daio Paper Corporation, First Quality Enterprises, Inc., Hengan International Group Co. Limited, Kimberly-Clark, and Procter & Gamble.

The adult diaper market is segmented on the basis of:

Product

Reusable Diapers

Disposable Diapers

Swim Diapers

Incontinence Pads

Style

Pad Style

Flat Style

Pant Style

Distribution Channel

Online

Offline

Region

North America

US



Canada

Europe

Germany



France



Italy



Spain



U.K.



Rest of Europe

Middle East and Africa

and GCC Countries



South Africa



Rest of Middle East & Africa

& Asia Pacific

China



Japan



India



Australia & New Zealand

&

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the Global Consumer Goods & Services Industry:

Baby Diaper Market  The global baby diaper market is expanding at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2019 to 2027. Rise in awareness about usage of baby diapers, growing concerns about the health of babies is anticipated to fuel the demand for baby diapers.

Baby Diaper Machine Market  Baby diaper machines are growing in popularity due to widespread use of baby diapers across the globe. These machines has a tendency of faster production speed and higher automation degree. Apart from baby diapers, these machines are also capable of manufacturing adult diapers, feminine napkins, and underpads.

Diaper Packing Machinery Market  The diaper packing machinery market is projected to expand at a significant pace during the forecast period, due to the rise in demand for advanced technologies. Increase in number of babies born across the globe is expected to boost the demand for diaper packing machines during the forecast period

Diapers Market  The global diapers market is expected to witness robust growth during 2018-2028, as total births per year average around 82 million per year. Moreover, the population of the world rises at 1.08% per year. While the birth rate has declined, the rising affluence in regions like Asia Pacific will drive considerable growth in the market.

Gain access to Market Ngage, an AI-powered, real-time business intelligence that goes beyond the archaic research solutions to solve the complex strategy challenges that organizations face today. With over 15,000+ global and country-wise reports across 50,000+ application areas, Market Ngage is your tool for research on-the-go. From tracking new investment avenues to keeping a track of your competitor's moves, Market Ngage provides you with all the essential information to up your strategic game. Power your business with Market Ngage's actionable insights and remove the guesswork in making colossal decisions.

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Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Construction of a logistics center in Turkeys Kars province, which is of a strategic nature, will be completed in 2021, a source in the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure told Trend Feb. 17.

Last year, 161.8 million Turkish liras ($26.7 million) were spent as part of construction of the logistics center, according to the ministry.

"This year, another 60 million Turkish liras ($9.9 million) will be invested in the construction of the logistics center," the ministry said. "It was noted that no foreign loans were attracted for the construction of the logistics center in Kars."

The total cost of the project, which is being completed, is 221.8 million Turkish liras ($36.9 million), according to the ministry.

The ministry said that the income from the operation of the center may be at least about $1 billion.

"Two water tanks with a total volume of 1,600 square meters, a garage for cars with a total area of 1,300 square meters, a workshop for the repair of trains with a total area of 7,000 square meters will be built on the territory of the logistics center," the ministry noted. "Passenger and cargo trains will also be repaired in the logistics center."

A 300,000 square meter land plot was allotted for the construction of the logistics center.

Around 412,000 tons of cargo are expected to be transported through the logistics center annually.

An agreement on the creation of the logistics center was signed on July 19 last year, during the visit of Head of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov to the Kars province.

On Oct. 30, 2017, a solemn ceremony on the occasion of the opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was held at the Baku International Sea Trade Port.

The BTK railway is built on the basis of the Azerbaijani-Georgian-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. At the initial stage, the volume of freight traffic will be at the level of 6.5 million tons of cargo, as well as up to one million passengers will be transported through this railway.

($1= 6.0579 liras on Feb. 17)

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Today a jury in New York convicted former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and rape in the third degree. He was acquitted on three other counts of five.

Three thousand miles away in Hollywood, the place he once owned, some industry leaders are struggling to come to terms with how to address his crimes.

I emphasize struggling, because while the former kingmaker has to reckon with his damaged reputation and career, Hollywood finds itself on trial as well. The New York case exposed systemic harassment within parts of the industry  so much so that some people declined to be named in this piece, or even speak to me about the topic, for fear of retribution. Some who I reached out to implied that they had stories of ongoing harassment, but could not go any further than that and were unwilling to go on the record.

As Nancy Wang Yuen, the author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism told me, people who work for big studios these days distance themselves from Weinstein, [but] the every day sexist commenting still exists. She adds: The impression I have from folks working in the industry is that it's still accepted [but] its like, Lets not take it too far, you know, Im not Weinstein. This worrying development means that while Weinsteins horrific behavior is being condemned, other, similar behaviors are being given a pass because theyre seen as not as bad as decades of abusive behavior.

Hollywood means to use Weinstein as a cautionary tale. And there are a lot of high-level decision-makers out there who still have a lot to lose. Cheryl L Bedford, a producer and the founder of the group Women of Color Unite, told me that "there are a lot of people who have invested in not only Weinstein, but that type of behavior, in keeping the status quo. And some of those people are still in power. It seems this is an open secret.

Later this year, Weinstein will face trial in Los Angeles on charges of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another; charges that could result in 28 years in prison. Unlike the trial in New York, this will bring Weinsteins scandal to the industrys doorstep. There will be renewed pressure for the industry to reckon with the skeletons in its closet.

Relationships are the currency of Hollywood.Trust is the reason deals are made; its the key to getting and keeping a job. The downside is that loyalty can blind us to the faults of others  and theres no general consensus on what it means to be complicit. One source I spoke to about these issues shared an exchange she had about an executive who was forced to resign because of harassment claims: I actually ended up seeing him at a film festival. I ended up talking to a woman and she was like, Oh, well he's totally innocent. There's not a problem. The person that accused him, it was her fault. She's making it up. I know him, I've known him for years. He's totally innocent. I obviously was not a witness to any of it, but it just struck me as, there's always going to be people that believe the other side.

So much for believing women.

According to some, people on the other end of the food chain feel like the decision-makers keep winning because they control the narrative  and the people who tell them. We witnessed how this sort of far-reaching power works during Weinsteins New York trial. One day before the jury was set to deliberate, an op-ed by his lawyer Donna Rotunno was published in Newsweek. The piece urged jurors in the New York case to look past the headlines and explicitly stated that Harvey Weinstein was innocent. A defense lawyer writing and placing an article in a major publication during an ongoing trial should have been scandalous  but somehow Weinsteins team made it happen anyway.

Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Show all 50 1 /50 Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Files arrive at the rape trial AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Louis R Aidala attends the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lance Maerov testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court AFP via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Kara Young exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Rosie Perez exits after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Photos are passed around to the jury Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18 Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein's rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges Elizabeth Williams via AP Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom Reuters Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict EPA Harvey Weinstein trial  in photos Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations Reuters

Between this, and the controversial firing of Gabrielle Union-Wade from the show Americas Got Talent, reportedly for raising allegations of racially insensitive and sexist behavior, and its no wonder the people who work for the studios feel queasy.

As we reflect on what lies ahead for Weinstein, the industry is bracing itself for more intense scrutiny. On Tuesday  the same day jurors started deliberating on Weinsteins case, Breakdown Services, a major casting company, was hit with a lawsuit from a former employee, for  amongst other things  sexual assault, employee rape and highly negligent management methods. Crucially, this case holds a company to task for hiring a convicted sex offender to a supervisory position where he harassed, threatened and raped [the] plaintiff, according to court documents. Those people at the bottom of the food chain are now biting back at companies rather than simply individuals. What that might mean financially for the industry is important, and could force those at the top to start taking action against sexism, whether or not they feel morally that they should stand up for womens rights.

There is a world in which the industry comes out of the Weinstein affair stronger and better than ever before. Lets hope that enough insiders take up that opportunity  so that I never again have to report on a scandal where most people are too afraid to go on the record.
The Mizoram government has been



making efforts to resolve the long-pending boundary dispute with Assam and has asked the Centre to review the inter-state border, the Assembly was informed on Monday.

In reply to a query of Congress legislature party leader Zodintluanga Ralte, Home Minister Lalchamliana said the state government had sent a letter to the Union Home Ministry praying for a review of the border on December 15 last year.

He said the government is making efforts to resolve the dispute at Zophai area near Bairabi town along the state border with Assam.

The last border stand-off between the two states had taken place at Zophai in March 2018 when members of a students' body of Mizoram attempted to construct a wooden resting shed there. The Assam Policemen had resisted their bid and many students were allegedly injured.

Lalchamliama said a core committee constituted by the state government in May 2018 to study the boundary issue has collected some important documents related to the border.

In July last year, Chief Minister Zoramthanga had said, without elaborating, that his government evolved a strategy to resolve the border dispute.

On that strategy, the home minister said in the Assembly on Monday that it was not made public as that would not be "convenient".

Several dialogues held between the two states since 1995 to resolve the border dispute have yielded little result.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[February 24, 2020] 2019 Another Blockbuster Year for Fintech: KPMG Pulse of Fintech

Cross-border M&A remains strong at $USD54.2 billion in deal value  despite ongoing global trade tension

Fintech deals by global tech giants on the rise with $USD3.5 billion invested across 46 deals in 2019

$USD135.7 billion in global fintech funding in 2019, including record-setting $USD77.1 billion in Q3'19 TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Global fintech investment in 2019 fell just shy of 2018's record with $135.7 billion invested across 2,693 deals, according to the Pulse of Fintech H2'2019, a bi-annual report on global and regional fintech investment trends published by KPMG. The main theme for 2019's global fintech market was diversity  with fintechs and fintech investment expanding across product, sector and geographic borders. The expanding definition of fintech and its increasing reach and interconnectivity helped keep fintech investment robust despite the global economic and trade challenges that hindered growth in 2019, including concerns related to Brexit and ongoing trade tensions between China and the US. In fact, despite these concerns, cross-border transactions remained high with $54.2 billion in cross-border M&A deal value across 138 deals. This focus on cross-border transactions will likely continue as maturing fintechs look to grow and achieve scale and the big tech giants look to extend their reach and gain market share in less developed markets. Many niche areas of fintech continued to grow and evolve throughout 2019; in particular, proptech investment grew from $1.9 billion in 2018 to a record $2.6 billion in 2019, while fintech-focused cybersecurity investment more than doubled from $316.9 million to $646.2 million. Blockchain and cryptocurrency investment continued to fluctuate, falling from $6.3 billion to $4.7 billion year-over-year, although Facebook's announcement of Libra and the People's Bank of China's announcement of accelerated research and experimentation on digital currency and electronic payments have helped breathe new life into the space. "Over the past year, the lines have really started to blur between financial services and non-financial services  with fintech companies helping to bridge the gap," said Anton Ruddenklau, Global Co-leader of Fintech, KPMG International. "It's a trend that will only continue into 2020. Just look at how the big tech giants are working with both traditional financial institutions and fintechs in order to seamlessly integrate financial services within their ecosystems, and at how the larger fintechs and financial institutions are looking at ways to broaden their offerings into adjacent areas." 2019 Key Global Highlights Global fintech investment fell short of 2018's record year, with $137.5 billion invested in 2019 compared to $141 billion in 2018.

invested in 2019 compared to in 2018. Global fintech M&A rose from $91 billion in 2019 to a record-high of $97.3 billion in 2019, despite a strong drop in the number of M&A deals from 622 to 426.

in 2019 to a record-high of in 2019, despite a strong drop in the number of M&A deals from 622 to 426. Global corporate VC investment participation rose during every quarter of 2019, leading to $16.7 billion in total annual VC invested with CVC involvement; CVC-related deal volume was also robust, with 553 deals over 2019, including 166 in Q3'19  the second-highest quarter ever in terms of CVC fintech deals volume after Q2'18.

in total annual VC invested with CVC involvement; CVC-related deal volume was also robust, with 553 deals over 2019, including 166 in Q3'19  the second-highest quarter ever in terms of CVC fintech deals volume after Q2'18. Cross-border M&A held strong at $54.2 billion in deal value  despite ongoing global trade tension.

in deal value  despite ongoing global trade tension. The number of fintech deals by global tech giants  including libaba Group, Alphabet, Apple, Baidu, IBM, Microsoft and Tencent  increased for the fifth straight year, with $3.5 billion invested across 46 deals in 2019.

 increased for the fifth straight year, with invested across 46 deals in 2019. Cybersecurity related fintech investment more than doubled year-over-year, from $316.9 million to $646.2 million .

to . Proptech investment rose to a record high of $2.6 billion in 2019 from $1.9 billion in 2018.



Regional Highlights - 2019 $22 billion First Data deal drives US-based fintech investment to a new high in 2019

The US set a new record for fintech funding in 2019, with $59.8 billion in investment compared to $58 billion in 2018. The top deals in the US in H2'19 included the $22 billion acquisition of First Data by Fiserv, the $3.5 billion acquisition of Assurance IQ by Prudential, and the $850 million acquisition of Axioma by Deutsche Boerse. Corporate investment in the US was very strong in 2019, with corporates investing $6.9 billion in fintech  a significant increase compared to $5.9 billion in 2019. Fintech investment in the Americas remains strong year-over-year

Fintech investment in the Americas region dropped slightly in 2019 with $64.2 billion in fintech investment compared to $65.5 billion in 2018. While the US accounted for a large majority of the fintech investment seen in the Americas, other countries also attracted large deals, including the $821 million acquisition of Canada's Solium by Morgan Stanley (rebranded Shareworks by Morgan Stanley) and the acquisition of Argentina-based Prisma Medios de Pago for $725 million. Despite the small decline in annual funding, fintech VC investment in the Americas achieved two consecutive quarterly record highs in Q2'19 ($5.6 billion) and Q3'19 ($5.9 billion). In terms of fintech funding, Brazil saw a very strong increase with $890 million invested compared to $567 million in 2018. Europe sees banner year of fintech funding on 2019

Europe set a new record for fintech funding - attracting $58.1 billion in investment compared to $43.4 billion in 2018. The single $42.5 billion acquisition of WorldPay by FIS accounted for more than half of this number. Other large deals in H2'19 included the buyout of eFront in France for $1.3 billion and the buyout of SIA (Milan) in Italy for $894 million. In large part due to the WorldPay acquisition, fintech investment in the UK grew substantially  from $25.4 billion in 2018 to $48.5 billion in 2019. Meanwhile, Germany saw a very strong year of fintech investment at $1.6 billion  led by the $470 million raise by N26 in Q3'19. France also saw a banner year for fintech with $1.8 billion of total investment. Asia sees relatively strong funding compared to historical norms

In 2018, Asia saw a massive high of fintech investment, primarily due to the record-breaking $14 billion raise by Ant Financial. When compared to all years prior to 2018, fintech investment in Asia remained relatively steady in 2019 with $12.9 billion invested. The largest deals in Asia during 2019 included the $1.2 billion acquisition of Property Exchange Australia by Commonwealth Bank of Australia in H1'19, and the $1.7 billion Series G raised by India's Paytm in H2'19. India saw a record-breaking $3.8 billion of fintech funding in 2019, driven by a record Q4'19 ($2.3 billion) which included Paytm's $1.7 billion raise. Australia also saw a record of $1.9 billion in fintech funding during 2019, while Singapore saw $576 million in investment. 2020: Bigger, bolder deals and blurring lines

In 2020, the lines are going to continue to blur between financial services and non-financial services  with big techs like Alibaba, Tencent, Google and others continuing to look for ways to integrate financial services within their ecosystem of offerings to their customers. Integration will be a big priority and the unbundling of financial services that has occurred over the past few years will likely start to reverse as fintechs, traditional financial institutions, and big techs look to provide more value and more seamless experiences to their customers. "2020 is going to be an exciting and pivotal year for fintech, particularly as we start to see the impact of the digital banking licensees in Hong Kong (SAR), Australia and Singapore launching and endeavouring to scale, as well as other markets following suit," said Ian Pollari, Global Co-Leader of Fintech, KPMG International. "In addition, a number of companies from outside of financial services are working to get into parts of the financial services value chain  either directly or through partnerships  and they're going to blur the lines of financial services even more. As a result, we expect to see bolder responses from incumbent financial institutions in terms of partnerships, as well as strategic investments and M&A." Key Predictions for 2020 The big tech giants like Alphabet, Alibaba and Tencent will increase their focus on the fintech space, both working to increase their reach into developing markets and to increase the value and seamless of their ecosystems to their customers.

will increase their focus on the fintech space, both working to increase their reach into developing markets and to increase the value and seamless of their ecosystems to their customers. Maturing fintechs and challenger banks will continue to expand the breadth of their service offerings beyond their initial niche focus areas and make strategic moves across international borders.

The unbundling of financial products will begin to reverse course as consumers increasingly seek a primary interface to manage all of their financial affairs on a holistic level.

Cybersecurity-focused fintechs will become more attractive as traditional financial institutions shift from building to buying cyber solutions, particularly in areas like fraud, security, and identity management.

Consolidation is going increase, with bigger and bolder M&A deals becoming the norm in more mature fintech sub-sectors.

Building on the momentum of Hong Kong (SAR) and Australia , more countries in the Asia Pacific region will develop digital banking regimes and use digital banking licenses to guide digital bank efforts.

(SAR) and , more countries in the region will develop digital banking regimes and use digital banking licenses to guide digital bank efforts. The focus on open data opportunities will move beyond banking and into other aspects of the financial services industry. *All figures cited are in USD About KPMG International

KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 147 countries and territories and have 219,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2019-another-blockbuster-year-for-fintech-kpmg-pulse-of-fintech-301009315.html SOURCE KPMG International

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BLACKROCK THROGMORTON TRUST PLC (LEI: 5493003B7ETS1JEDPF59)



All information is at 31 January 2020 and unaudited .

Performance at month end is calculated on a cum income basis

One

Month

% Three

months

% One

year

% Three

years

% Five

years

% Net asset value 1.2 14.2 32.9 62.1 118.8 Share price 0.6 18.1 44.0 104.2 169.5 Benchmark* -2.1 9.5 13.5 18.3 45.7

Sources: BlackRock and Datastream

*With effect from 22 March 2018 the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index replaced the Numis Smaller Companies excluding AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index as the Company's benchmark. The performance of the indices have been blended to reflect this.

At month end Net asset value capital only: 670.61p Net asset value incl. income: 678.05p Share price 692.00p Premium to cum income NAV 2.1% Net yield1: 1.5% Total Gross assets2: 533.2m Net market exposure as a % of net asset value3: 105.4% Ordinary shares in issue4: 78,633,941 2019 ongoing charges (excluding performance fees)5,6: 0.6% 2019 ongoing charges ratio (including performance

fees)5,6,7: 1.8%



1. Calculated using the 2019 interim dividend declared on 23 July 2019 and paid on 28 August 2019, together with the 2018 final dividend declared on 12 February 2019 and paid on 28 March 2019.

2. Includes current year revenue and excludes gross exposure through contracts for difference.

3. Long exposure less short exposure as a percentage of net asset value.

4. Excluding 1,896,385 shares held in treasury.

5. Calculated as a percentage of average net assets and using expenses, excluding performance fees and interest costs for the year ended 30 November 2018.

6. With effect from 1 August 2017 the base management fee was reduced from 0.70% to 0.35% of gross assets per annum.

7. Effective 1st December 2017 the annual performance fee is calculated using performance data on an annualised rolling two year basis (previously, one year) and the maximum annual performance fee payable is effectively reduced to 0.90% of two year rolling average month end gross assets (from 1% of average annual gross assets over one year). Additionally, the Company now accrues this fee at a rate of 15% of outperformance (previously 10%). The maximum annual total management fees (comprising the base management fee of 0.35% and a potential performance fee of 0.90%) are therefore 1.25% of average month end gross assets on a two year rolling basis (from 1.70% of average annual gross assets). On the first day of the financial year outperformance from the previous financial year (if any) is carried forward and accrued in the daily NAV released to the London Stock Exchange.

Sector Weightings % of Total Assets Industrials 26.9 Consumer Services 26.6 Financials 19.7 Consumer Goods 10.5 Technology 6.9 Health Care 6.4 Telecommunications 2.1 Basic Materials 1.5 Net current liabilities -0.6 ----- Total 100.0 =====

Market Exposure (Quarterly) 28.02.19

% 31.05.19

% 31.08.19

% 30.11.19

% Long 108.7 113.7 109.1 103.2 Short 14.9 13.2 11.2 7.4 Gross exposure 123.6 126.9 120.3 110.6 Net exposure 93.8 100.5 97.9 95.8

Ten Largest Investments Company % of Total Gross Assets IntegraFin 3.3 Watches of Switzerland 2.9 YouGov 2.8 4imprint Group 2.7 WH Smith 2.7 Serco Group 2.6 Games Workshop 2.4 Dechra Pharmaceuticals 2.1 Gamma Communications 2.1 IWG 2.1

Commenting on the markets, Dan Whitestone, representing the Investment Manager noted:

The Company delivered a net return of 1.2%1 during January, with both the long and short book contributing positive returns. For comparison, our benchmark, the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index, fell by 2.1%1, therefore the relative outperformance of over 3% reflects positive stock specific successes for several of our positions, both long and short.

January saw a reversal in many areas of the market (domestic retailers, banks, resources) often described as "value" that rallied strongly in December. Several retailers delivered profit warnings (due in part to an inability to manage the prolonged discounting period created by Black Friday and the resulting pull forward of consumer spend) and reduced forward guidance, and resources fell on concerns of the health of the global economy. This environment favours our investment style as we are underweight to these areas and deliberately focus on companies with strong growth prospects. However, it is important to note that the returns generated in the month are more to do with stock specific outcomes than a style bias.

The biggest single stock contributor was Integrafin, which rose after updating the market that net flows in the most recent period had been stronger than anticipated, supporting our multi-year thesis that this best-in-class advisor platform remains well placed to win market share in a growing market. Asset manager, Liontrust, performed well during the month in response to a positive trading update showing strong inflows since the start of the financial year. The acquisition of Neptune provided further diversification to the business and added 2.7bn in AUM (Assets Under Management), while the sustainable investment products have been in demand as investors' appetite for them continues to build. The third largest contributor to performance was Games Workshop, the creator of the Warhammer miniatures game, which soared to record highs in response to very strong half-year results, accompanied by a large increase in its dividend and upgrades to forward guidance.

The largest detractor to performance during the month was a short position in a robotics process automation company that rose sharply on the back of a trading update that revealed revenues had accelerated. The same trading statement also revealed profits and cash were worse, but the market focused much more on the improving revenue line and the company's belief that its cash position will improve. Despite an upbeat trading update, shares in WH Smith fell in the month, which we would attribute to general weakness in the travel and leisure sector on increased concerns regarding the Coronavirus. The same applies for the global industrial sector, which we believe explains the weakness in Bodycote.

Whilst recent events surrounding the Coronavirus merit some caution, at this stage we have not made any changes to the portfolio as a result. Recent trading statements have generally benefitted the Company's holdings, where many of the long-term structural growth themes we have identified are showing increased momentum. The UK market remains a significant underweight for many international investors, so any change here post recent political developments could fuel demand for UK PLC and this combined with a release in corporate spending (spent wisely) could bode well not only for earnings growth but share prices too. We think it is likely that the Government will look to use fiscal spending to fuel the economy, so we have deliberately sought exposure to companies we think are well placed to benefit, in addition to increasing our exposure to housebuilders. As a consequence of these considerations, we have increased our gross exposure to over 120% and our net exposure to circa 105%, and we continue to approach the year with optimism.

1Source: BlackRock as at 31 January 2020

24 February 2020

ENDS

Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/thrg on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
LAKE GENEVA  A historic spot in this Walworth County city  one recently linked to a troubling crime report  has inspired an artist to create an image of the same place during better days.

Artist Nancy Newcomb of Lake Geneva recently completed a painting of a historic former railroad bridge located in a wooded area behind the Geneva Lake Museum, 255 Mill St.

Newcomb said she decided to work on the painting after city officials removed trees and brush from the site following a report that a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted there.

The sexual assault reported Aug. 4 shocked community leaders because it occurred in broad daylight in plain view of passersby not far from Lake Genevas historic Downtown shopping district.

Jason W. Connell, 38, pleaded guilty in January to two of counts of sexual assault of a child. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 12.

In response to the sexual assault, city crews cut down trees and cleared the wooded area in hopes that improving visibility would make the area safer from criminal activity.

A clear inspiration

Newcomb said she had been wanting to paint the railroad bridge for several years, but did not feel inspired until the area was cleared of the trees and other debris.

It was covered with weeds and whiskey bottles and garbage, she said. After the city cleaned it up, I was there taking photographs and, of course, I added artistic imagination.

Newcomb spent several weeks on the painting, which she has since donated to the Geneva Lake Museum.

Museum Director Janet Ewing said she was excited to have the painting, saying that she has long been a fan of Newcombs artwork.

Shes a very high-profile Lake Geneva artist, and were very proud to be the recipient, Ewing said. Ive personally been following Nancys work for many years.

Ewing said museum officials will determine a location to display the painting.

We have to give it some good thought, because we want to make sure we put it in a nice, prominent place, she said.

The railroad bridge, which is now part of a recreational path heading into Downtown, dates back to the days when trains ran through Lake Geneva and delivered visitors to the city.

Newcomb said she debated about whether to donate the painting to the museum or to City Hall.

James Davis, docent for the Geneva Lake Museum, said he was pleased to have it at the museum.

We got first crack at it, Davis said.

Other scenes on canvas

Newcomb said she enjoys painting different landscapes and historic sites throughout the Lake Geneva region. She has taught painting workshops at George Williams College in Williams Bay, Covenant Harbor Bible Camp & Retreat Center in Lake Geneva, and elsewhere.

Newcomb began studying art when she was in seventh grade after receiving a scholarship to attend the Art Institute of Chicago, where she attended classes every Saturday through her junior year of high school.

Every Saturday, I got on a train by myself, she said. It was a safer world back then.

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Maharashtra Tourism Minister



Aaditya Thackeray on Monday demanded a "separate budget" for his department.

The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government will present its maiden Budget on March 6.

Aaditya, son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, said the Tourism department was not given much attention in the last few years.

"However, the situation changed after I took charge. Now, every MLA wants to do something for his district. The Tourism department does not have funds to cater to the growing demand. Therefore, I demand a separate budget, along with the main one, for the Tourism department," he said in Marathi while addressing an event here on Monday night.

Aaditya stressed the need to highlight the geographical and cultural diversity of Maharashtra to boost its tourism potential.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An industry influx is wreaking havoc on Financial Advisors who operate by the status quo, Mount states. The key here is to not focus on new rivals, but improve the value of their financial products to their customers.

With the rise of zero-dollar commissions at custodians and low cost robo-advisors, the financial industryand Financial Advisorsare at a competitive disadvantage to artificial intelligence. By 2030, an estimated 80 percent of heritage financial services companies will go out of business, struggle for relevance, fail to use technology to change their business model, or become commoditized. (1) (2) Real Intelligence LLC, a financial services firm in Connecticut, is warning Financial Planners of this potential outcome plagued by technology enhancements, like robo-advisors. Real Intelligence, however, is executing a real-time solution that provides a patented dynamic mapping system in conjunction with human effort. 30 percent of advisors will exit the business in three to five years, predicts Jeff Mount, President of Real Intelligence. Its imperative that the financial industry pivot its business model to align with new age tech.

It is forecasted that robo-advisors will manage around $4.6 trillion of consumer money by 2022, with more than 200 robo-advisor companies currently active in the US alone. (3) Yet, the financial landscape is ignoring and bashing the rise of robo-advisors, who are set to replace conventional advisors and take client orders, according to Mount. With the rise of AI, Mount says financial advisors need to swim upstream and target middle-class millionaires who have assets of $750,000 and up.

According to Mount, small investors and accounts will move to robo-advisors, because evidence shows they do not take financial consultants seriously. Mount emphasizes that middle-class millionaires, however, will want to ultimately work with a human being. This is because they often have sufficient funds at risk and will be prompted to only work with qualified, real financial advisors.

The real catalyst for change needs to be an acknowledgement that the financial services industry has undergone a massive technology upgrade, says Mount. A deep dive into the world of a Real Intelligence solutionDynamic Mapping and the Essential Family Officewill help financial advisors overcome the competitive challenges of artificial intelligence.

Real Intelligence says its focused on changing the Financial Planning paradigm in the United States. Their Dynamic Mapping system will include an intense training program that will prepare human advisors who are up to the challenge of overcoming the real barrier of becoming obsolete with AI. Dynamic Mapping helps advisors build that perfect book of business, which is usually defined as serving one hundred clients who each have over one million dollars in assets to be managed. To further reach more financial advisors, Mount has also established a world tour, city by city to allow for a full, comprehensive two-day training, online program. This course will require a high grade before advisors can be Dynamic Mapping certified.

Established financial providers will have to move faster on the newest technology by building digital platforms or finding niche products and services to sell on others platforms.(4) An industry influx is wreaking havoc on Financial Advisors who operate by the status quo, Mount states. The key here is to not focus on new rivals, but improve the value of their financial products to their customers.

In the age of AI, Financial Advisors, Money Managers and Wealth Management, firms must realize that the industry has completely changed. Between zero commissions on stock sales, EFTs at custodians, mutual funds being reduced in price due to competition and robo-advisors gaining acceptance, FAs must embrace and modify the evolving digital services technology to stay relevant.

Blockbuster went bankrupt. So did Oldsmobile, Pets.com, Tower Records, Compaq, Woolworths, and hundreds of other once-vibrant companies. Like 88 percent of the Fortune 500 firms in 1955, theyre extinct because they failed to realign themselves.

About Real Intelligence.

Real Intelligence LLC is the brainchild of entrepreneurs and industry experts Jeffrey Mount and Mike Helgesen. With 55 combined years of industry expertise and the alliance of both their inventions: Dynamic Mapping and training program, Essential Family Office, Real Intelligence LLC is poised to offer a complete essential tool kit to the next generation of elite Financial Advisors. With strategic, industry-proven training, patented technology, and an unprecedented lead generation opportunity, the paradigm of financial services is shifting from status quo. This human-centric approach to financial planning is a consultants greatest tool to combat the competitive threat of free programs through robo-advisors and the dangers of irrelevancy. Visit: http://www.realintelligence360.com

1. Goh, Frances, 10 Companies That Were Too Slow to Respond to Change, CollectiveCampus.com, collectivecampus.io/blog/10-companies-that-were-too-slow-to-respond-to-change.

2. Moore, Susan, Gartner Says Digitalization Will Make Most Heritage Financial Firms Irrelevant by 2030, Gartner.com, October 29, 2018, gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2018-10-29-gartner-says-digitalization-will-make-most-heritage-financial-firms-irrelevant-by-2030.

3. Cheng, Marguerita. The Future of WealthTech. Forbes, 19 Feb. 2019, forbes.com/sites/margueritacheng/2019/02/19/the-future-of-wealthtech/#26c38b8535e6.

4. Kreger, Alex, Most Banks & Credit Unions Are Their Own Worst Competition, TheFinancialBrand.com, January 15, 2020, thefinancialbrand.com/92197/innovation-digital-competition-customer-experience-user-fintech-bigtech.

5. Vania, Abdeali, The Success Story of Netflix and Its Next Chapter of Progress, Troottech.com, November 6, 2018, trootech.com/the-success-story-of-netflix.

6. Uta, Iulia-Cristina, 8 Key Factors Behinds Netflixs Success Story, BrandMinds.com, brandminds.ro/8-key-factors-behind-netflixs-success-story.
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KEC International share price rallied 2.9 percent intraday on February 24 after a subsidiary acquired transmission tower manufacturing unit in UAE.

The stock has jumped 23 percent in the last three months and more than 40 percent in the last one year. It was quoting at Rs 342.35, up Rs 3.30, or 0.97 percent, on the BSE at 1236 hours.

The company informed exchanges that it, through wholly owned subsidiary, KEC Towers LLC, Dubai, had acquired a transmission tower manufacturing facility with an installed capacity of 50,000 MT in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The acquisition took place in an auction sale conducted by the Emirates Auction Authority.

This acquisition provides KEC a strategic foothold to serve the markets with high growth potential in the Middle East and Africa, said the infrastructure EPC major.

With this acquisition, KEC now has six facilities, manufacturing transmission towers, railway and solar structures, monopoles and hardware spread across India, UAE, Brazil and Mexico, with a total manufacturing capacity of up to 4,22,200 tons per annum.

"This facility will help us in expanding our business at a time when we are clearly witnessing resurgence of tendering activity in Middle East and North Africa. We believe this acquisition to be value accretive to our stakeholders," MD & CEO Vimal Kejriwal said.
Vietnamese airlines have cut flights between Vietnam and South Korea as the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the East Asian country has sent aviation demand dwindling.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has yet to announce any official plan on halting flights between the two countries, but local carriers have begun to wind down on their South Korean services because of a plunge in demand.

According to the CAAV, four Vietnamese carriers, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, and Bamboo Airways, have been operating 14 routes between Vietnamese and South Korean destinations, with about 182 flights weekly in each direction.

Meanwhile, eight South Korean airlines offer services on ten routes between the two nations, with 381 flights every week in each direction.

Among them, Vietnams Vietjet and Koreas Tway Air have flights between Vietnam and Daegu City, South Koreas COVID-19 epicenter.

From February 16 to 22, Vietjet transported 1,053 passengers between Daegu and Da Nang, while Tway Air carried 894 passengers between Daegu and Hanoi, Da Nang, and Nha Trang.

Vietjet is expected to cancel all flights along the Da Nang - Daegu route from February 25 to March 28.

On other Vietnam-South Korea routes, airlines have had to abort a large number of flights from Sunday as droves of passengers canceled their bookings.

The number of Vietnam-South Korea flights from February 17 to March 28 has also been cut down by half due to low demand.

According to Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan, his agency is monitoring the situation in Daegu to determine a suitable aviation plan for the two countries.

The COVID-19 has killed 2,522 people and infected over 79,300 globally since it first hit the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, according to the South China Morning Post.

South Korea reported 161 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 763, health authorities said on Monday.

Roughly half of South Koreas COVID-19 cases are in Daegu.

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 from the hospital. The country has recorded no new infection since Thursday last week.

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Police sources say that they will provide security to Noronha if he wants to move around for work.

Bengaluru: Oswald Noronha, father of activist Amulya Noronha, who is behind bars after she raised pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-Citizenship Amen-dment Act (CAA) meeting in Bengaluru a few days ago, has been asked by Chikkamagaluru police in his hometown not to travel outside his native village, Shivapura, in Hirekodige gram panchayat of Koppa taluk as a precautionary measure.

The police has provided round the clock security at the house of Amulya after an attack allegedly by Bajrang Dal, a pro-Hindu outfit. Police sources say that they will provide security to Noronha if he wants to move around for work.

Im unfazed by the attack on my house, I am safe with police security provided to me, Oswald told Deccan Chronicle on Sunday.

Meanwhile, residents at Shivapura expressed displeasure that Amulya had brought disrepute to the village with her pro-Pakistan sloganeering. We have maintained a distance from the Oswald family. The family too maintained a distance from the villagers, claimed a villager.

Meanwhile, former Karnataka minister D.K. Shivakumar came out in support of Amulya. He reiterated, One should give her (Amulya) a fair chance, so that it becomes clear what she really wanted say or meant by making such a statement. We should not jump to a conclusion in her case so early,
Holiday bonus: make extra cash by renting out your home while the family is away

Many of us would love to make a bit of extra cash - but could you be sitting on an easy money-making opportunity right now? We're talking about your own home.

Renting out your home, or just a room, can earn you anything from about 15 a night to more than 4,000 a month, depending on its size, location and facilities, and whether you're just renting out a room or the whole property - and you don't have to be a second-home-owner to do it.

A number of people now rent out their homes while they're away on holiday themselves, or rent out a room to travellers while they're still there.

Your home doesn't need to be in a typical tourist destination to be worth renting either: holiday rental companies like HomeAway.co.uk and Airbnb.co.uk point out that people may need somewhere to stay because of a family event nearby for example, or if they have business in a particular area and don't want/can't find a room in a hotel.

"Owning a property, whether a secondary home or the home you live in, is a chance to tap into an additional income channel," says Karen Mullins, HomeAway regional director UK & Ireland.

"Property owners are in an ideal position to make financial gains through short-term rentals. If you ensure you're compliant with local laws and regulations, it's a great opportunity to earn additional income to assist in paying off the mortgage, making home improvements, funding the children's education or even funding your own holidays."

Here, Mullins and Jeroen Merchiers, Airbnb's Europe, Middle East and Africa regional director, answer some of the questions homeowners may have about offering some or all of their property as a holiday rental...

1. Does location matter - what if you don't live in a tourist destination?

Mullins says: "If you're the legal owner of the property, you're able to rent it out to holidaymakers - even if it's outside of popular tourist destinations. Holiday rentals provide holidaymakers with the opportunity to experience destinations and neighbourhoods they want to visit no matter what the occasion, for instance a family visit or event.

"If you're near local amenities, either walking distance or a short drive, make it clear on your property page. Whether that's local shops, restaurants, pubs or attractions, this will be very attractive to families who want to stay within the area. There are also families who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of reality and enjoy the peace and quiet of a secluded area."

Merchiers adds: "Guests booking on Airbnb are discovering more than the traditional tourist areas, thanks to locals opening up their homes and unique spaces, allowing people to travel in previously undiscovered areas."

2. What facilities do you need to offer?

Hosts should check everyday appliances in the property - like the fridge, oven, microwave and kettle - are in good working order, clean and ready for use. Ensure there's hot and cold running water, and provide basics like tea, coffee, sugar and store cupboard supplies, advises Mullins. She also suggests hosts should also consider leaving washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets and toilet roll.

It's also worth providing a welcome pack, including information like where to find extra towels, bedding and kitchen utensils, etc. "A welcome pack gives your home a personal touch," says Mullins.

Impress guests further by including home comforts like TV subscriptions, and it won't hurt to offer little extras like toys for kids, treats for pets, or a welcome gift for grown-ups like a bottle of wine.

"You'll make your guests' stay extra-special and inspire them to leave a positive review," Mullins points out.

"And make sure you have wifi - children, teenagers and parents will want to know they're connected. And for parents, that could mean total sanity, relaxation and peace."

Merchiers also suggests hosts provide safety essentials such as a fire extinguisher, smoke alarm, first aid kit and a carbon-monoxide detector, as well as fundamental amenities. "These are the items guests tell us they consider important for a comfortable and safe stay," he says.

3. How much money can you make?

Airbnb and HomeAway hosts set their own prices. Airbnb charge 3% commission, plus guests pay a service fee of up to 13% on top of their booking total. HomeAway charge 5% if hosts choose their pay-per-booking option, plus a 3% payment processing fee.

To help decide what price to set, hosts can search for comparable listings in their area, or use tools such as HomeAway's online calculator (homeaway.co.uk/lyp), or Airbnb's online calculator (airbnb.co.uk/host/homes) to help determine the going rate.

HomeAway data shows average nightly rates for full holiday home rental in the UK, for example, range from around 84-500, and nightly rates for a private room rented through Airbnb range from around 15-30.

4. What time period can you rent a room/house out for?

"Hosts manage their own calendar so they can host at times convenient to them," explains Merchiers. "Some hosts list their space when they go on holiday, some when their children fly the nest, some ahead of major events in their area and some for a little extra income."

5. How do you protect valuable possessions in your home?

There are several options for how to store your valuables if you're renting your home while you're away, says Mullins, such as a lockable pantry, bedroom or cupboard.

"If you don't want to do that, store them with family members close by or trustworthy neighbours," she suggests. "Renting your house or flat while you're away also helps to make the property less of a target for burglars, because your home isn't empty for days or even weeks."

6. What safeguards are there?

Before you rent your property to holidaymakers, make sure it's not in breach of your lease or mortgage agreement.

Airbnb and HomeAway provide hosts with up to $1m (approx 768,000) of property damage protection and third party insurance to cover stays reserved through them.
McDonald's has denied accusations from an outraged customer that it shrunk the size of its cheeseburger - but it has altered the shape of the bun.

A disgruntled customer photographed one that he claims was barely bigger than his thumb and likened its size to that of a cookie.

The fast food giant has been accused of shrinking its burgers over the years, but told Daily Mail Australia they've never changed the meat patty.

A spokesman said as part of the innovation and investment process, they recently changed the cheeseburger bun.

'The overall weight of our burgers remains unchanged... The new bun is the same weight, with slightly different proportions.

A man shared a photo of his McDonald's cheeseburger to Reddit asking if the burgers had shrunk

'We haven't changed the size of our beef patty since the first McDonald's restaurant opened in Australia in 1971. We still use 100% Aussie beef patties that our customers know and love,' the statement read.

Kelloggs too has been forced to defend itself from similar allegations, after multiple consumers complained that Pringles had been shrunk.

One customer said the recipe had not only changed, but each chip itself was now barely bigger than a 50cent coin.

A Kelloggs spokesman told Daily Mail Australia there had been a slight adjustment made in 2014 to suit manufacturing demands.

'Back in 2016, we relocated the production of Pringles for the Australian marketplace to our plant in Malaysia, matching the size of their cans,' the spokesman said.

'This was a change from 150g size cans to 134g cans. No further changes have been made since then.'

Despite both companies insisting the products were almost exactly the same as what consumers have known and loved for years, some members of the public are unsatisfied with the change.

One person complained the Pringles recipe had not only changed, but each chip itself was now barely bigger than a 50cent coin (pictured)

Photos of both the 'thumb-sized cheeseburger' and the Pringle were uploaded to Reddit alongside complaints.

'Haven't been to maccas in a while, cheeseburgers are cookie sized now?!' the original cheeseburger photo was captioned.

But burger lovers confessed the 'shrinking' cheeseburgers simply meant they had to purchase more food.

'My secret shame is that for my once yearly journey to Macca's I buy not one, but two Cheese burgers due to this indignity,' someone commented.

'Oh man. I haven't seen one of these in 15 years. That's easily half the size,' one person said.

Most of the responses to the photo of the Pringles indicated customers had stopped buying the brand and switched to a cheaper, home brand alternative.

Others weighed in saying they had noticed a decrease in other burgers on the McDonald's menu.

Reddit users have suggested the burgers have shrunk over the years showing one compared with a $2 coin

'I noticed that too with a quarter pounder I had the other day,' another wrote.

'I remember when the fillet o fish had a full piece of cheese. They used to be bigger also I am sure,' a third commented.

In recent years, people have speculated the burgers have become increasingly smaller.

In November 2018 a spokesperson for the company denied any changes.

'The Big Mac has not changed in size,' she previously told Daily Mail Australia.

'In fact, it has not changed in weight, height or diameter. The only change we have made is making the packaging slightly smaller.'

But even after the claims, customers were unconvinced, adding the Big Macs had also appeared to be smaller.

'Are McDonald's Big Macs getting smaller? Have not had one for over a year and I swear it was smaller,' complained one woman online.

'Either Big Macs have gotten smaller or my hands have gotten bigger,' added another.
Cork County Council has elected a new mayor and welcomed four new councillors who were co-opted onto the local authority to replace members who have been elected to the Dail.

Fianna Fails Ian Doyle, a fuel merchant from Charleville, was elected as mayor of Cork, taking over the chain of office from Christopher OSullivan, who was elected to the Dail, representing Cork South-West.

Cllr Ian Doyle elected Mayor of the County of Cork. The Fianna Fail member hails from North Cork and served previously as Deputy Mayor. Mayor Doyle highlighted how in last 7 years serving constituents has been uppermost in Council activities which he plans to continue  pic.twitter.com/OlxUtNGhWN  Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) February 24, 2020

Mr Doyle, who has a long track record working for the St Vincent de Paul charity was proposed for the position by Seamus McGrath, the leader of Fianna Fail on the council, who described him as an exceptional community activist and said he has no doubt he will fill the role in an exceptional manner.

He was elected unopposed thanks to a pact between Fianna Fail, the Independents, and Labour.

Mr Doyle said he was first elected to the council six years ago, which was one of the greatest days of my life.

It is a pure privilege to represent the people of Cork, especially North Cork, he said. It is an honour to wear this chain.

Mr Doyle will hold the chain of office for the next four months until another mayoral election takes place in County Hall in June.

Annmarie Ahern, the daughter of Maurice Ahern, who served 30 years as a county councillor, was one of those co-opted. The niece of former junior minister Michael Ahern, she is taking the place of newly elected Fianna Fail TD James OConnor, who won a seat in Cork East.

The 37-year-old works as an auctioneer in Midleton and is a qualified mediator.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kellehers sister, Sheila OCallaghan, was co-opted to replace Padraig OSullivan now a Fianna Fail TD, for the Cork North Central constituency. She lives in Watergrasshill and is a farmer.

The replacement for first-time Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns, who was elected in Cork South-West is Ross OConnell. The 29-year-old from Goleen is an environmental scientist working in UCC as a wave and tidal energy researcher.

Deirdre Kelly, former Fianna Fail TD Margaret Murphy-OMahonys parliamentary assistant, replaces Mr OSullivan.

Ms Kelly was appointed as Ms Murphy-OMahonys parliamentary assistant four years ago and wished her former boss the best of luck in the forthcoming Seanad elections.

Ms Ahern said she is the fourth generation of the Ahern clan who has served as a councillor, while Mr OConnor said he is delighted with the warm welcome he received.
All shadow markets to be liquidated in Ukraine  PM

22:30, 24.02.20 2573

There will be no shadow markets and corruption-ridden schemes in the country, Honcharuk vows.
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Motorists across large swathes of Britain faced a severe ice risk while driving home tonight after more than 300 schools closed and snow blanketed parts of the country with disruption as far south as the Midlands.

The North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland took the brunt of the severe weather at the start of the week, while further south towns will battle fresh flooding which poses a threat to life in the worst-affected areas.

At least 100 schools were closed in each of Bradford and County Durham, while dozens were shut in North Yorkshire. There were also closures in areas including Gateshead, Northumberland, Leeds and Fife.

The bleak outlook follows more than a fortnight of downpours and flooding that started with Storm Ciara, continued with Storm Dennis and kept going with the weekend's storms, which the Met Office did not name.

And the mounting concerns come as Downing Street defended Boris Johnson's continued absence from flooded areas, insisting it was important not to 'distract' from the ongoing effort to deal with the problem. Environment Secretary George Eustice will deliver a statement to Parliament and face MPs' questions over the flooding at 5pm.

Today, teachers and pupils alike tweeted about their delight at a 'snow day', with some celebrating an 'extra day of half term' and others saying it was 'so exciting' to receive a text message saying their school was closed.

Forecasters predict blizzards will be worst on higher ground in the Highlands today. A yellow weather warning has been issued for snow across all but the most northern areas of Scotland and Aberdeen until 10pm today.

The Met Office said up to 2in (5cm) of snow is possible above 100m (330ft) whilst above 300m (1,000ft) some 8in (20cm) may build up. Warnings for rain and snow have been issued for Northern Ireland and northern England.

Further south, a severe flood warning - meaning an imminent danger to life - continued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury, as the Environment Agency warned of ongoing flooding dangers across England.

Flooding was also causing problems on the trains in England today, including between Warrington and Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows and Eccles, and Blackburn and Clitheroe in Lancashire - as well as on various routes in Wales.

The Met Office has imposed an ice warning for tonight and tomorrow, although the extreme weather should settle down on Wednesday with a notable dip in temperatures - before further heavy rain is expected this Friday.

A man walks his dog in wintry conditions around the Angel of the North near Gateshead in Tyne and Wear this morning

West Yorkshire Police at the scene of a crash on the A58 between Leeds and Wetherby today after a car ended up on its roof

A JCB clears snow from Cliff Gate Road near Thwaite in the Yorkshire Dales today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

A traffic officer talks to the driver of a crashed car near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire following heavy snow this morning

People walk along the snow-covered streets of Leeds in West Yorkshire this morning as severe weather warnings are in place

Blizzard conditions on the A66 road running next to the Cumbria town of Appleby-in-Westmorland this morning

The EA said in a statement that heavy rainfalls had caused the Severn's levels to rise and 'flooding of property is expected to continue'. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna warned commuters to monitor the conditions.

Where are schools shut today across Britain? Bradford - 108

- 108 Calderdale - 2

- 2 Durham - 118

- 118 Fife - 2

- 2 Gateshead - 2

- 2 Highlands - 2

- 2 Leeds - 12

- 12 Northern Ireland - 14

- 14 North Yorkshire - 36

- 36 Northumberland - 19 TOTAL - 315 Advertisement

He said: 'At the moment we're seeing ice and frost overnight most nights, and there are going to be a lot of icy patches around this morning. People need to keep an eye out.'

The forecaster said there would be a temperature disparity today as the mercury hovered around a 'quite mild' 11C (52F) to 12C (54F) in the south of the UK and dipping to -6C (21F) in northern Scotland.

Rain and snow were expected to push north and east across the country 'before giving way to some brighter weather' across the south and west of Britain later in the day, Mr Petagna said.

As well as the severe flood warning for Shrewsbury, the EA issued 92 flood warnings and 182 flood alerts. Warnings and alerts were in place from Cornwall to the Norfolk coast and from Dorset to the Scottish border.

An EA spokesman said ongoing flooding is possible for parts of the West Midlands, along the Severn and Wye and also in parts of the north of England, including in the lower River Aire in Yorkshire.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency said three flood warnings were in force this morning with four further flood alerts. And in Wales, there were nine flood warnings in force and 19 alerts.

The Met Office has imposed an ice warning for tonight and tomorrow morning in addition to the snow warning in place

Gale force gusts tore a sheet of metal weighing more than 50 tonnes off the top of Livingston Sheriff Court at the weekend

The debris flew through the air, punching a hole in the roof of Livingston Sheriff Court before landing on the roof of the cells

A man walks his dog in the snow in Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

Sheep and lambs in the snow on a farm in Bainbridge in North Yorkshire today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

Heavy snowfall in Rothbury, Northumberland, this morning after snow fell overnight in many parts of northern Britain

A woman walks a dog in snowy conditions at Bedale in North Yorkshire today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

Motorists drive through wintry conditions at Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire today after overnight snow hits parts of the UK

Sheep and lambs in the snow on a farm in Bainbridge in North Yorkshire today following heavy overnight snowfall

A woman walks a dog in snowy conditions in Bedale, North Yorkshire, today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

Darren Percival tends to his sheep in the snow on a farm in Bainbridge in North Yorkshire today following overnight snow

A car that has come off the road in snow in Bedale, North Yorkshire, today after overnight flurries hit parts of the UK

Londoners face the windy and rainy day in the centre of the capital today, although it has been spared of any snow

People walk in the rain across the Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral in the background in London today

Rain is sweeping across Britain this morning with snow affecting many northern areas (left), but temperatures are mild (right)

There is a huge contrast in temperatures across the UK this morning (left), while snow affects parts of Scotland (right)

Downing Street defended Boris Johnson's continued absence from flooded areas, insisting it was important not to 'distract' from the ongoing effort to deal with the problem.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We are hugely grateful to all of those who have helped in response, from the Environment Agency engineers and the emergency services out on the ground to the military who have stepped in to assist.

'The Government has extensive plans in place to deal with these kinds of extreme weather events and we are working tirelessly to help everyone affected.'

Environment Secretary George Eustice and his department were leading the response, Downing Street said.

'It's important not to distract from that ongoing effort,' the spokesman said.

Environment Agency flood alerts (in orange) and warnings (in red) for England today [left], and another map [right] showing record breaking river levels this winter (in red) and record breaking levels in the past decade (in green)

Snow on local roads around the Cumbria town of Appleby-in-Westmorland this morning

Lorries make their way along snow-covered roads in the Cumbria town of Appleby-in-Westmorland this morning

Heavy snowfall in Rothbury, Northumberland, this morning as the Met Office warned of widespread snowfall today

People walk through the Northumberland market town of Rothbury this morning during heavy snowfall

Wintry conditions surround the Angel of the North in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, this morning following overnight snow

Heavy snowfall in Rothbury, Northumberland, this morning, with the Met Office imposing snow and rain warnings today

Snowy conditions in Little Crakehall, near Bedale in North Yorkshire today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

A snowplough on the road at Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire this morning after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

The snow-covered streets of Leeds this morning as a severe weather warning was issued for much of northern England

A gritter near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire this morning after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

A crashed car near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire this morning after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

Environment Secretary George Eustice will deliver a statement to Parliament and face MPs' questions over the flooding later this afternoon.

** Have you taken photographs of the snow today? Please email them to: pictures@mailonline.co.uk ** Advertisement

England has already received over 141 per cent of its average February rainfall so far but the spokesman said it was too early to comment on reports that it may be the wettest February for 30 years.

Scotland saw further flooding on Saturday, with a number reports of vehicles becoming stranded in various towns and villages west of Glasgow.

Meanwhile one family revealed their lucky escape during gale-force winds on Friday. The Richards family from Bo'ness, West Lothian, were preparing to set off on a family weekend when a tree crashed onto their car.

A car drives through wintry conditions near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

A traffic officer talks to the driver of a crashed car near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire today following overnight snow

A truck drives through wintry conditions near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

A car passes the Angel of the North, near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

A crashed car near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire following heavy snowfall in parts of Britain overnight

A woman approaches a crashed car near Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire today after overnight snow hit parts of the UK

The X70 bus towards Consett gets stranded in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, due to heavy snow in the region this morning

A motorist tweeted this picture from the A66 in County Durham this morning as snow disrupted the morning commute

Snow falls this morning on the village of Heighington, just outside Darlington in County Durham

Snow falls in an area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne this morning as the Met Office issued a series of weather warnings

A bus becomes stranded in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear due to heavy snow in the region this morning

Snow falls on a garden in Leeds, West Yorkshire, today with more expected to fall throughout the day

Snow causes traffic chaos on the A1 in Northumberland this morning as drivers make their way to work

Angela Richards told the Scottish Sun: 'My nerves are still shot. We could all have been in the car and it certainly could have been fatal  if not all of us, then some.

Family gardens in village are flooded with sewage after storms put pressure on water systems Sewage flooded a garden in Three Mile Cross, Berkshire Family gardens in Berkshire were left flooded with reeking sewage water after Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis put 'enormous pressure' on sewage systems. Children were unable to play outside and toys had to be binned after they were left soaking in the filthy water in the village of Three Mile Cross, Shinfield. Utility provider Thames Water said it was 'sorry' for the delay in mending the problem which was caused by the weather putting 'enormous pressure' on the company's sewers, pumping stations and treatment sites. Advertisement

'If my young son had been in the car, he would have had some serious injuries from this as his car seat was covered in glass and tree debris.'

Despite the recent torrential downpours, producers filming a new Batman movie in Glasgow deployed a rain machine in the city yesterday afternoon  to ensure dreich conditions on set near the Necropolis.

Road maintenance companies were mobilising yesterday for a busy night ahead. Scotland TranServ said that with temperatures falling and snow forecast, 30 gritters would be out overnight.

Bear North West began its road-clearing duties early, at 2pm yesterday, and said it would have 45 vehicles out on the roads. The A92 Tay Road Bridge was closed to double-decker buses yesterday.

A temporary closure was in place at Langbank in Renfrewshire in an attempt to clear floodwater. Train services were disrupted, with the line closed between Perth and Stirling to assess flood damage.

ScotRail reported 'major disruption' between Glasgow and Aberdeen, Helensburgh to Edinburgh via Bathgate, Edinburgh to Inverness and Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Network Rail said repair work is under way on the railway between Kilmarnock and Dumfries, which saw services suspended on February 10 due to Storm Ciara.

Some ferry services were able to resume yesterday. However, this morning's 7am CalMac sailing from Port Ellen to Kennacraig has been cancelled.

** Have you taken photographs of the snow today? Please email them to: pictures@mailonline.co.uk **

'Sod HS2, we need cash to protect out towns': Floods fury as 400 tons of water a second swallows historic Shrewsbury while UK rivers rise to record high - with experts fearing more rain in Wales could be 'straw that breaks the camel's back'

Flood-hit residents hit out today after 400 tons of water a second went surging towards the medieval town of Shrewsbury as UK river levels rose to record highs.

Dozens of the traditional Tudor-style buildings in the Shropshire town have been flooded, with hundreds of sandbags placed outside shops and businesses amid a severe 'danger to life' flood warning for the River Severn.

At Welsh Bridge, the Severn measured 15.1ft (4.6m) at 7am this morning and is expected to peak at 16.1ft (4.9m) tonight - not far off the highest level ever recorded there in November 2000 when it got up to 17.2ft (5.25m).

The mounting concerns came as Downing Street defended Boris Johnson's continued absence from flooded areas, insisting it was important not to 'distract' from the ongoing effort to deal with the problem.

The Prime Minister hosted consumer and lifestyle journalists today, and has still not visited flood-hit areas despite facing pressure to do so and staying at Chevening, the Foreign Secretary's grace-and-favour estate in Kent.

Number 10 said Environment Secretary George Eustice was 'rightly' leading the Government's response. Mr Eustice will deliver a statement to Parliament and face MPs' questions over the flooding later today from 5pm.

Among the residents desperately trying to protect their homes and businesses was mother-of-two Hayley Lock, 40, who said: 'I live near the river and I'm really, really scared. I've never seen the river so high.

Dangerously high water levels in Shrewsbury today after the River Severn burst its banks in the medieval Shropshire town

A man makes his way carefully between the flooded Smithfield Road in Shrewsbury (left) and the River Severn (right) today

A man carrying a reel of hose wades back to his property on Water Lane in Shrewsbury today near the River Severn

Floodwater at Worcestershire County Cricket Club after the ground was flooded today following the Severn bursting its banks

Martin Lunt views the damage in his flooded shop Lunts Pharmacies in Shrewsbury today as further flood warnings are issued

A flooded car park in Shrewsbury today with two vehicles nearly completely submerged after the River Severn burst its banks

A barber's shop on the flooded Smithfield Road in Shrewsbury today as further flood warnings were issued across England

'It's Biblical out there. Urgent money needs to be ploughed into all towns that are at risk from flooding. Sod HS2, we need the cash to protect out towns now.'

Dave Throup, the Environment Agency's manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire - which have also suffered major flooding - warned the latest rainfall in the Welsh Hills could 'be the straw that broke the camel's back'.

After inspecting the levels on the River Severn this morning, he added: 'An incredible 400 tonnes of water a second are approaching Shrewsbury on the River Severn. We have one of the highest recordings at Montford.'

Mr Throup warned that 'significant floods' would impact the town as well as Worcester over the next three days, saying: 'We will be deploying more flood defences in Shrewsbury soon.

'Flood warnings have been issued for the town and we now expect levels to exceed those seen last week. These will be the highest seen in 20 years. Some property flooding and significant disruption is expected.'

Mr Johnson's continued absence from flooded areas has been defended by Downing Street, with officials insisting it was important not to 'distract' from the ongoing effort to deal with the problem.

The Prime Minister had been receiving 'regular updates' about the situation as he spent time at the grace-and-favour Chevening mansion last week.

Number 10 said Mr Eustice was 'rightly' leading the Government's response to the flooding which has hit parts of the UK.

Mr Johnson speaks to consumer and lifestyle journalists in Westminster today. Downing Street has said it is important not to 'distract' from the ongoing effort to deal with the severe weather

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pictured at 10 Downing Street today hosting a working breakfast with consumer and lifestyle publications. Downing Street has defended Boris Johnson's continued absence from flooded areas

Martin Lunt views the damage in his flooded pharmacy, Lunts Pharmacies, in Shrewsbury, today

Flooded roads and walkways in Shrewsbury are pictured today after the River Severn burst its banks

A van in a flooded car park in Shrewsbury today amid fears the severe weather could close off the centre of the town

Flooding in Shrewsbury as barriers have been put up and a severe flood warning is in place for the River Severn

The swollen River Severn in Shrewsbury today, while there are hundreds of flood warnings and alerts in place for England

A car sits in floodwater in a flooded car park in Shrewsbury today amid fears that conditions could get even worse this week

The flooded Smithfield Road in Shrewsbury is picture today, as further flood warnings were issued across England and Wales

Two people look down at the flooded Smithfield Road in Shrewsbury today as further flood warnings were issued

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited Rhydyfelin, South Wales, last week and challenged the Prime Minister to visit flood-hit communities.

Mr Johnson's decision to stay away from flooded towns and villages is in marked contrast to his response during the general election campaign, when he carried out visits and called an emergency Cobra meeting.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We are hugely grateful to all of those who have helped in response, from the Environment Agency engineers and the emergency services out on the ground to the military who have stepped in to assist.

'The Government has extensive plans in place to deal with these kinds of extreme weather events and we are working tirelessly to help everyone affected.

'The Environment Secretary and his department is rightly leading the Government's response to this, ensuring teams who are busy working around the clock have the support and resources they need.

'It's important not to distract from that ongoing effort.'

The spokesman rejected the suggestion that Mr Johnson had visited flooded areas during the election simply to win votes.

Asked whether Number 10 was concerned that it looked as though the Prime Minister simply did not care, the spokesman said: 'The PM was receiving regular updates and working with ministers across Government to ensure that people received the help that they need.

Flooded roads and walkways in Shrewsbury are pictured today after the River Severn burst its banks

The Riverbank bar in Shrewsbury is pictured today following severe flooding that has hit parts of Shropshire

Sarah, one of the residents of flats in Shrewsbury, looks out over flooded gardens today after the River Severn burst its banks

A man surveys the flooding on Berwick Road in Shrewsbury today as warnings of further flooding are issued across the UK

Flooded gardens from a flat on the corner of Berwick Road and Gravel Hill Lane in Shrewsbury near the River Severn today

Submerged garages on Gravel Hill Lane in Shrewsbury near the River Severn today amid warnings of further flooding

Flooding on Gravel Hill Lane in Shrewsbury near the River Severn today as the country braces for further severe weather

A man looks at the flooding outside a block of flats on Berwick Road in Shrewsbury near the River Severn this morning

Flooded gardens are photographed from a flat on the corner of Berwick Road and Gravel Hill Lane in Shrewsbury today

A man walks through the knee-deep floodwater on Berwick Road in Shrewsbury today as the severe weather continues

'We are hugely grateful to all of those volunteers and others who have been working so hard on their response.'

West Mercia Police also warned residents to avoid flood-hit areas and only make essential journeys, adding that river levels were dropping in some areas but are set to rise quickly at the top end of the Severn in Shropshire.

Officers added that flood barriers and schemes were in operation across Shrewsbury as well as other areas such as Bewdley in Worcestershire.

Shropshire Council is now in discussions with other bodies about plans to install a 40million flood defence scheme to protect the town in future.

Councillor Steve Davenport said: 'We've been thinking about ways to hold back the River Severn for some time now but given what's happened recently, it needs to be brought forward.

'Early plans suggest that when the North West Relief Road is built, the river could be held back under the bridge that is going to be constructed by putting in flood attenuation panels that would slow down the flow of the water and stop it from rising so quickly.

'It's a very big scheme that could cost upwards of 40million but it will really benefit thousands and thousands of homes in these counties that have been devastated by the recent floods.'

This morning, northern parts of the UK were blanketed in snow, as further flood warnings have been issued across England and Wales. The white stuff has been spotted in Scotland, Cumbria, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

Sandbags outside businesses in Shrewsbury today where the River Severn has broken broken its banks

A man walks through floodwater in Shrewsbury today after the Shropshire town was badly hit by the severe weather

This shopping road in Shrewsbury has been submerged today after the River Severn broke its banks

Worcestershire County Cricket Club has been flooded after the River Severn burst its banks

A sign is just about poking out above the floodwater in Shrewsbury today after the River Severn burst its banks

A man walks through the floodwater in Shrewsbury today which has been hit by severe weather in recent days

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is flooded today after the River Severn burst its banks

Worcester Cathedral is pictured behind Worcestershire County Cricket Club which has been flooded today

The Met Office has warned that rural communities could become stranded and told to expect delays and cancellations to travel plans by road, rail, and air.

This morning, one severe threat-to-life flood warning was in place for the River Severn at Shrewsbury, alongside more than 90 other flood warnings, and 182 less serious flood alerts across England and Wales.

The warnings and alerts stretched from St Ives, in south west Cornwall to Carlisle near the Scottish border.

Over the weekend, an Environment Agency spokesman said ongoing flooding is possible for parts of the West Midlands, along the Severn and Wye and also in parts of the north of England, including in the lower River Aire in Yorkshire. He said: 'This rain is falling on saturated catchments where river levels are already high.'

A couple shelter from waves crashing over Folkestone promenade in Kent today as bad weather continues to cause issues

Strong waves hit the promenade in Folkestone, Kent, today as bad weather continues to cause problems across the country

Members of the Westmeath County Council flood prevention team work in Athlone in County Westmeath today

Westmeath County Council flood prevention workers work in Athlone today after a status yellow rainfall warning was issued

Employees from Westmeath County Council work on flood prevention measures in Athlone, County Westmeath, today

'Extra day of half term!': Teachers and pupils delight as snow chaos triggers shutdown of more than 300 schools

Teachers, parents and their pupils rejoiced this morning after they woke up to a thick blanket of snow, which forced schools across the country to close.

More than 300 schools were shut for safety reasons today with forecasters warning up to four inches could fall over parts of northern England, Scotland Northern Ireland this week.

Some mothers and fathers had already pulled on their wellies and wrapped their youngsters in thick hats, gloves and scarves when they found out they would be staying at home.

Met Office weather warnings for snow, ice and rain, stretch from Nottingham in the East Midlands, to Londonderry in the west and the Orkney Islands above Scotland today, with more hazardous conditions on their way for tomorrow.

The worst affected areas include Braford and County Durham, with 100 schools closed in each area, as well as North Yorkshire, Gateshead, Northumberland, Leeds and Fife.

While some celebrated being able to work from home for the day, others bemoaned being unable to drive and warned motorists to stay safe on the road.

Others busied themselves taking pictures of their back gardens carpeted in white and posting images of their adorable pets frolicking in the snow on social media.
Season 5, Episode 1: Magic Man

Welcome home, Saul-a-holics. Its been a long time since we gathered here to unpack the rising and falling fortunes of our favorite con man turned corporate lawyer turned mobile phone dealer turned plaintiffs attorney. But judging from this first episode, the wait has been worth it.

Lets just say it: That was the best season opener to date.

We commence, as ever, in the future and in black and white. Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) is a Cinnabon manager in Omaha named Gene Takovic. As miserable as his new life and identity appear, Mr. Takovic wants to keep it, despite the somewhat terrifying sense that a menacing cabby named Jeff has discovered Jimmys previous iteration as Albuquerques own Saul Goodman. Its the same Jeff, played by Don Harvey, who gave Mr. Takovic a lift in last seasons opener, and this time its clear that the guy isnt just trying to drum up fares.

Either Jeff is looking for a bounty or to shake down Saul  probably the latter. We leave this predicament after Saul calls the Disappearer, played with his understated gravity by the great Robert Forster, who has since passed away. Initially, Jimmy/Saul/Gene wants to buy yet another identity, his fourth. Then he decides to save his squirreled-away diamonds and fix it himself.

Heres hoping we dont need to wait an entire season to learn what happens next. Though that seems likely.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti on Monday said the government was busy with the visit of US President Donald Trump to India, while Delhi was "burning" and 8 million Kashmiris deprived of their fundamental rights.

She said the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi is remembered only during visits by foreign dignitaries to Sabarmati Ashram.

"'Hi Tea' & Namastey Trump while Delhi burns & 8 million Kashmiris remain deprived of fundamental rights. Gandhi ji's legacy remembered only at perfunctory visits to Sabarmati ashram by foreign dignitaries. His values long forgotten," Iltija tweeted.

Iltija has been tweeting from her mother's Twitter handle after the PDP president was taken into custody on August 5 last year following abrogation of Article 370.

US President Donald Trump landed at Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Monday for his first visit to India to a grand welcome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thousands of people who lined the streets and packed into the Motera stadium there to say "Namaste Trump".

The first stop in the Trump visit was the Sabarmati Ashram, home to Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1930 during India's freedom struggle.

From Ahmedabad, the Trumps will travel to Agra and then on to New Delhi on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, a Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured as clashes over the amended citizenship law broke out in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

Violence between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was also reported in the Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the national capital.

This is the second day of clashes in the city where Trump will arrive on Monday evening.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Monday slammed the BJP-JJP government over the new excise policy, saying it will encourage liquor addiction among youths, and asked the ruling dispensation to take effective steps to curb the growing drug menace instead in the state.

Senior Congress leader Rao Dan Singh, while referring to some provisions of the excise policy, claimed it will increase liquor addiction among youths.

On the issue of drug malady, Singh said after Punjab, drug menace is fast spreading in Haryana and called upon the government to take effective steps to control it.

The Congress MLA was participating in a debate on the Governor's Address in the state assembly.

Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya had addressed the members of the Haryana assembly on the inaugural day of the two-week long budget session, which began here on February 20.

The excise policy for 2020-21 was unveiled on Thursday and new rules are to come into effect from April. They allow bars in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Panchkula to remain open till 1 am against the existing deadline of midnight.

Under the new policy, the bars in these cities can stay open even beyond 1 am after paying an additional annual licence fee of Rs 10 lakh per hour.

The excise duty on beer across categories has been slashed by Rs 10 per bulk litre (BL). Further, individuals can get a temporary licence for serving liquor at their private places.

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is also the leader of Opposition in the state assembly, had on Sunday demanded withdrawal of the new policy, terming it as a "recipe for disaster".

While raising farmers issue in the House, Rao Dan Singh, who is the MLA from south Haryana constituency Mahendergarh said the cooperative sugar mills are yet to clear the outstanding dues of cane growers.

On water issue, he said during the BJP government's rule, people of south Haryana have only got assurances that water will reach the tail ends.

Slamming the M L Khattar-led government, he said no major developmental project has been set up by the government.

All major development works including the setting up of power plants, extension of metro lines, setting up of universities and colleges and hospitals took place during the Congress rule, he claimed.

He said while government claims that MoUs worth over Rs 6.28 lakh crore were signed during various investment meets over the past five years, they should clarify as to how much out of it has actually materialised.

Referring to the mounting debt of the state, Singh pointed towards the Treasury benches and said, You are running the government on borrowings.

He faced repeated interruptions from BJP members Mahipal Dhanda and Aseem Goel who tried to launch a counter attack, prompting Bhupinder Singh Hooda to tell the Chair that if they do not allow his party legislator to speak, the Congress members too will be forced to interrupt the BJP MLAs when they speak on Governor's Address.

BJP MLA Abhe Singh Yadav earlier initiated the discussion on the Governor's Address.

Yadav said the previous BJP government in the state undertook equitable development and now the present BJP-JJP dispensation was continuing that with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.

The BJP legislator referred to the government's various steps in agriculture, health, education and other sectors.

While participating in the Governor's Address, JJP MLA Jogi Ram Sihag asked the state government to take back cases registered against youths during the Jat quota agitation in the state four years ago.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, on February 20, 2020 in Washington, DC.

The judge handling Roger Stone's criminal case flatly refused on Monday his request that she withdraw from the case, and scheduled a hearing for Tuesday on his motion for a new trial.

In her order, Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington would be closed to the public, but she also scheduled a hearing for 1:30 p.m. ET Tuesday to consider a motion to have it open.

Jackson sentenced President Donald Trump's longtime friend last week to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering. The sentence was suspended pending Jackson's ruling on Stone's request for a new trial.

Monday's actions by Jackson come amid continued speculation that Trump will render all the complicated legal machinations moot by granting a pardon to the Republican operative, whose prosecution the president has repeatedly criticized.

Stone, 67, filed a motion on Friday asking Jackson to disqualify herself from further involvement in the case  including the question of whether he should be granted another trial.

Stone's lawyers argue that Jackson had caused her impartiality to be questioned by saying during the sentencing hearing that the jurors who convicted Stone "served with integrity under difficult circumstances."

The defense says Jackson has effectively prejudged the question of whether one of those jurors, forewoman Tomeka Hart, had committed misconduct. Hart's anti-Trump social media posts became widely known a week before Stone's sentencing.

"It is alleged that a juror misled the Court regarding her ability to be unbiased and fair and the juror attempted to cover up evidence that would directly contradict her false claims of impartiality," defense lawyers said in their motion for a new trial.

In her ruling Monday, Jackson was dismissive of that argument and the rest of Stone's motion, denying the request that she no longer preside over the case. The judge noted that defense lawyers did not argue that she was incorrect in saying the jurors served "under difficult circumstances."

She also noted that she had not made any finding on the question of Stone's request for a new trial in her comment and that she didn't make that comment outside the courtroom.

Jackson also said that in each of the prior motions filed by Stone, she took his requests "seriously" and ruled "with care and impartiality."

"At bottom, given the absence of any factual or legal support for the motion for disqualification, the pleading appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use the Court's docket to disseminate for public consumption the words 'judge' and 'biased' in it," she wrote.
It's Leap Week! No, that's not really a thing, but there will be a Leap Year party and it looks pretty fun.

But seriously, you will be jumping for joy with the return of San Francisco Ballet's dynamic experience Sensorium; the return of the mega vintage fashion show A Current Affair; Goat NightLife at Cal Academy; six nights of Noise Pop shows; a variety of Black History Month celebrations; and, of course, new restaurants and bakeries.

Have a great week!

Monday, February 24th See on Instagram Noise Pop Festival Through March 1 Venues around the Bay Area Clear your calendar for six days of concerts, films, art exhibits, and happy hours as Noise Pop makes its annual return. Performers include Raphael Saadiq, Maya Jane Coles, Best Coast, Duster, Helado Negro, Shigeto Live Ensemble, Jamila Woods, Injury Reserve, Bag Raiders, and Lower Dens. // Prices vary; find tickets at noisepopfest.com.

WhistlePig Whiskey Dinner 6:30pm to 9:30pm The Saratoga, 1000 Larkin St. (TenderNob), thesaratogasf.com Whiskey connoisseurs need no introduction to WhistlePig. The New England brand of carefully crafted rye whiskeys will star at a special pairing dinner tonight at The Saratoga. On the menu: the 18-year double malt and 12-year world cask finish, to be paired with suckling pig, brussels sprouts slaw, barbecued shrimp, and more. // Tickets ($85) can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Fillmore Jazz Documentary Screening + Party 7pm to 2am Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), boomboomroom.com Relive the Harlem of the Westthat 1940s and '50s heyday of jazz and swagga in the Fillmoreat Bay Area Video Coalition's launch party and screening of the new TV documentary, They Can't Take That Away: The Legacy of the Fillmore. See the film, then stick around for live music all night. // Tickets available at the door.



Tuesday, February 25th See on Instagram Lit Flicks 7:30pm Alamo Drafthouse, 2550 Mission St. (Mission), drafthouse.com Litquake and Alamo Drafthouse are launching a new screening series focusing on movies adapted from books. It kicks off tonight with Out of Sight, the blockbuster starring J.Lo and George Clooney and based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. Look out for a special introduction by author Eddie Muller (Noir City). // Tickets ($16) are available at litquake.org.

Michelin-Starred Chef Collab Seatings from 5pm to 9:45pm Sorrel, 3228 Sacramento St. (Laurel Heights), sorrelrestaurant.com SF Michelin-starred restaurant Sorrel is cooking up a new guest chef dinner series. On deck tonight is a collaboration between Sorrel's own Alex Hong and chef Jon Yao, of L.A.'s Taiwanese-American restaurant, Kato, which also has a coveted star. Each chef will create three dishes for a one-time-only six-course dinner. // Dinner ($165) can be reserved at Resy.

SF Energy Fair 3pm to 8pm San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th Ave (Golden Gate Park), goldengatepark.com Learn how to do your part in conserving energy resources and making more green energy sources during this daylong event full of workshops, demos, home upgrade rebates, and more resources to make your home energy-efficient. // Free, register at Eventbrite.

SF Ballet's Sensorium 7pm to 11:30pm War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue (Civic Center), sfballet.org Want a taste of the San Francisco Ballet plus a little extra? Tonight's Sensorium provides the opportunity to see two showsEdwaard Liang's The Infinite Ocean and Mark Morris' Sandpaper Balletamid a whole experience of visual art installations, fashion-y exhibits, and an afterparty where you can dance and drink into the night. // Tickets ($35 and up) are on sfballet.org.

Mardi Gras in the Mission 6pm to 10pm 20 venues across the Mission Blondie's Bar, Laszlo, Make-Out Room, El Rio, Bissap Baobab, and Evil Eye are just a handful of the neighborhood spots participating in tonight's Mission-wide Mardi Gras festivities, all organized by the group behind Carnaval San Francisco, which goes down in May. Hop from bar to bar and see samba drummers, salsa dancers, all the costumes, and more. // Free to attend, portion of proceeds at each venue will support CANA, the nonprofit that runs the main Carnaval San Francisco parade; find more details on Eventbrite.

Wednesday, February 26th See on Instagram Art, Conversation & Food 6:30pm to 8:30pm Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota St. (Dogpatch), minnesotastreetproject.com Get together with Besharam chef Heena Patel and paper artist Zai Divecha, who'll be talking about their Gujarati heritage and how it inspires their art forms. There will be food and drink, a paper-folding demo, and a silent auction of some of Divecha's pieces. // Tickets ($150) can be purchased on Eventbrite and support the Pratham Institute.

A Destination Restaurant in Palo Alto Ettan, 518 Bryant St. (Palo Alto), ettanrestaurant.com Open Tuesday through Sunday If you're in the South Bay, check out Ettan, a new Cal-Indian restaurant helmed by chef Srijith Gopinathan, who earned Michelin star status at San Francisco's Campton Place. The interior is drop-dead gorgeous, with a multi-story balcony and a stunning domed skylight. Dive into dishes like chutney samplers, cast iron monkey naan, tava fried copra beef, kerala fried chicken, and more.

The Golden Arches in Black America 7pm JCCSF, 3200 California St. (Presidio Heights), jccsf.org Hear from Georgetown University historian/author Marcia Chatelain and Cal prof Brandi Thompson Summers as they explores the dynamic between fast food companies and the black community, whose neighborhoods are dominated by fast food. But there's a twist: These restaurants have actually created black wealth. // Tickets ($20) on Eventbrite.



Thursday, February 27th See on Instagram The Campfire Room 7pm each night, Tuesday through Sunday Prairie, 3431 19th St. (Mission), prairiesf.com Popular modern American live-fire cooking spot, Prairie, is launching a cozy new dining experience: The Campfire Room is a 14-seat, family-style communal table where dinners begin with a welcome cocktail, followed by six-course meals made on Prairie's three grillsthink local vegetables, a whole grilled Mt. Lassen Trout, handmade pastas, and coal-roasted dry-aged Liberty duck.

Goat NightLife 6pm 55 Music Concourse Dr. (Golden Gate Park), calacademy.org Cal Academy's weekly soiree has some pretty special guests tonightgoats from Goatlandia Farm Animal Sanctuary. Meet some friendly farm creatures as well as Goatlandia founder Deborah Blum, and check out a planetarium presentation of S.P.A.C.E. G.O.A.T.// Tickets ($15) can be purchased on calacademy.org.

Sting's The Last Ship 7:30pm tonight, shows through March 22 Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St. (Tenderloin), shnsf.com Snag tickets to The Last Ship, the musical inspired by Sting's album, The Soul Cages, and about a son coming home after 17 years at sea to find that his townand his girlfriendhas changed. // Tickets ($70 to $275) are on broadwaysf.com.

Superfine! Art Fair 7pm to 10pm tonight, through Sunday Fort Mason, 2 Marina Boulevard (Marina), superfine.world Superfine! Art Fair's first San Francisco event is a perfect chance to build your art collection with pieces starting at $100 from more than 60 local and international artists, collectives, and galleries. If you want first pickand complimentary bubbly, live music, and performance artpurchase th Champagne Vernissage ticket for tonight. // Tickets ($12 and up, $44 for tonight) are available on Eventbrite.

Friday, February 28th See on Instagram Mystery Wine & Pizza Night 6pm to 11pm Story on Union, 2136 Union St. (Marina), storyonunion.com One thing is for certain: There will be wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, made by chef Rafi Bildner (Hilltown Hot Pies), and wine. But the latter is the mystery. It could be a $40 Chianti or a $150 Barolofind out when you unwrap the bottle. // Tickets ($85 per couple) are on Eventbrite.

Uncanny Valley: Being Human in the Age of AI Through October 25 de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. (Golden Gate Park), deyoung.famsf.org What does it mean to be human in the age of artificial intelligence? A new contemporary art exhibit at the de Young explores this existential question through themes of subjectivity, inequality, and neutrality. // Included with de Young general admission, purchase on famsf.org.

Black Homecoming 6pm to 9pm Radio Africa Kitchen, 4800 3rd St. (Bayview), radioafricakitchen.com Celebrate black excellence, history, and contributions to San Franciscoas well as Black History Monthat this community-centric evening highlighting a wide variety of performances, including spoken word and dance, by black artists. There will also be DJs and free food and drinks by Radio Africa Kitchen. // Register for the free event on Eventbrite.

Amnesia Closing Party 8pm to 1am Amnesia, 853 Valencia St. (Mission), amnesiathebar.com Bid Amnesia a final farewell before it closes for good on March 1st. The Valencia Street venue is going out with a bang, with three bandsSandy's, Ton Drima, and French Cassettesand two DJ sets tonight. // Purchase tickets ($15 in advance, $20 at the door) on Eventbrite.

Saturday, February 29th See on Instagram

A Current Affair 10am to 6pm The Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way South (Richmond), craneway.com Fashion lovers, head to the East Bay today to shop one of the biggest vintage marketplaces around. Expect more than 70 retailers with vintage clothes, jewelry, and accessories for men and women dating from as far back as the Victorian era. // Tickets ($12-$20) can be purchased on Eventbrite.



Leap Year 2020 Party 7pm to 11pm Dirty Habit, 12 4th Street (Downtown), dirtyhabitsf.com Celebrate the year's bonus day at Dirty Habit with tarot card readings by drag performer Mutha Chucka, speciality cocktails, and live DJ beats. // Tickets ($20) are on Eventbrite.



Great Wines of Italy Grand Tasting 3pm to 6pm Presidio Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop (Presidio), presidio.gov More than 200 winesall with a minimum score of 92 pointsfrom 90 boutique and renowned Italian wine labels will be on hand for the tasting. // Tickets ($145/GA) can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Black History Month Community Yoga with Lululemon Bei Hotel, 50 8th St. (SoMa), beihotelsf.com Celebrate Black History Month with a yoga flow class led by Black to Yoga's Zenovia Forbes and meditation with Nkechi Njaka. Stick around afterward for light refreshments. The class is free, but donations can be made to Oasis for Girls, a SF-based nonprofit that support young, under-resourced girls of color. // Register on Eventbrite.

Napa Beer Mile Noon to 8pm Start at St. Clair Brown, 816 Vallejo St. (Napa), napabeermile.com Skip the wine and spend the day appreciating Napa's craft breweries via a one-mile walk with six beer pit stops, complete with half-off pricing. After getting a stampand a brewat each stop, proudly sport your commemorative Napa Beer Mile cap. // Tickets ($25, includes punch card, half-off pricing, and cap) can be purchased online or in person.
Violent and out-of-control students will continue to be removed from schools and placed in multi-million dollar alternative learning settings across Perth.

Education Minister Sue Ellery this month confirmed three purpose-based centres introduced to tackle violence in schools would continue to operate beyond an initial 2019 pilot program.

Violent WA students will continue to be sent to alternative learning centres to address unacceptable behaviour. Credit:Janie Barrett

The $2.58 million ALS were established last year as part of the state governments action plan to help public school principals stamp out increasing violence by giving them alternate solutions.

Principals can now expel the worst and most persistently violent students from mainstream schooling and place them in the designated ALS to address behavioural issues.
A photo released by the Santa Monica Fire Department shows a vehicle that plunged into the sidewalk after a man drove his Jeep off the sixth floor of a nearby parking garage. Responding officers found the destroyed vehicle up against a McDonald's restaurant across the street. (Santa Monica Fire Department via AP)

Police in California are investigating after a man drove his Jeep off the roof of a six-level parking garage and into a McDonald's across the street.

Police responded just after midnight Sunday and found a newer-model Jeep against a building, the Santa Monica Police Department said in a press release. The Santa Monica Fire Department reported it received information that the Jeep had been driven off the top of a parking garage.

The only person inside the Jeep was the 20-year-old male driver who, according to police, was conscious and speaking with officers.

The fire department extricated the man from the vehicle and he was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. He was stable as of Sunday, according to the police department. There were two other people in the Jeep with the driver, but they both jumped out before the Jeep was driven off the top of the garage, according to the fire department.

Crash in Georgia: Wrong-way crash on Interstate 95 in kills 6 people

Significant damage was done to both the parking garage and the building, the fire department said.

Police obtained a warrant for the driver's blood to determine if drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident. The Santa Monica Police Department did not respond an emailed request for further comment from USA TODAY on Sunday evening.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California man drives Jeep off parking garage, crashes into McDonald's
CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado  February 24, 2020

The Caring Generation Radio Show How to Keep a Job and Care for Elderly Parents

Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation radio program for caregivers and aging adults this coming Wednesday, February 24th, on the Bold Brave Media Global Network. The program airs live at 9 p.m. EST. The Caring Generation aired initially from 2009 to 2011 on 630 KHOW-AM in Denver, Colorado.

The caregiving topic for this week's program is How to Keep a Job and Care for Elderly Parents. Working caregivers struggle to balance commitments between working and caring for elderly parents. Fear of losing a job, being demoted, or having work assignments change is on the minds of working caregivers.

Support in the workplace is not equal for working caregivers of elderly parents and pregnancy - maternity leave. This absence of support for caregivers of elderly parents is increasingly resulting in workplace family responsibilities discrimination and lawsuits.

The guest for this program is attorney Cynthia Thomas Calvert, an expert in family responsibilities discrimination law. She is the owner of Workforce 21C and serves as a senior advisor for the Center for Work-Life Law based at the University of California Hastings College of Law. Cynthia will talk about workplace concerns of working caregivers and share information about caregiver discrimination.

The opportunity exists for working caregivers to be more proactive in asking for workplace support while caring for elderly parents. Digital caregiving programs are an option for corporations to make support available 24/7 for caregivers of elderly parents.

Justifying workplace programs may be difficult because surveying or counting working caregivers is difficult. Employees who are caregivers for elderly parents fear self-identifying or may not call themselves a caregiver.

Studies by Harvard and others confirm that employees caring for elderly parents are concerned about being viewed as less committed and reliable by supervisors and peers. Thirty percent of working caregivers choose to leave a job to care for an elderly parent. Little consideration of lost earnings and the difficulty of re-entry into the workforce happens before a working caregiver resigns to care for the elderly parent.

Little consideration is given to the life of the caregiver after caregiving ends. The majority of family time, effort, and money are spent on the care of the first person to become ill. This leaves the wife or daughter who is a caregiver at a severe financial disadvantage to pay for daily expenses and care when needed.

Increased consideration must be given to working caregivers and their contributions to keeping elderly parents at home. The workplace is one of the most obvious places where support can be provided but until caregivers speak up, a lack of support will continue to exist.

The February 26th edition of The Caring Generation offers 10 Tips for How to Keep a Job and Care for Elderly Parents. These practical tips apply to the workplace and to care situations for elderly parents. The Caring Generation radio shows offer tips and solutions to help caregivers and aging adults manage and feel more in control of caregiving relationships and situations.

Make plans to join Pamela D. Wilson, caregiving expert and the host of The Caring Generation radio at 6 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Mountain, 8 p.m. Central, and 9 p.m. Eastern every Wednesday night. Replays of the weekly programs are available in podcast format with transcripts on Pamela's website and all major podcast sites.

Corporations interested in digital support programs for working caregivers can contact Pamela for more information about workplace caregiver programs. More information is available on Pamela's website.

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The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has expressed concerns over the plight of the citizens of Kwara State who are of the Yoruba extraction, urging the state government to imbibe equity and fairness in governance.

The concerns were contained in a communique issued on Sunday after a series of meetings held by the group with traditional rulers and eminent persons in the state.

The communique which was signed by its Chairman, Olawale Osun, and the Secretary, Ayo Afolabi, stated: It is sad that in an age where merit and innovation drive social progress, Kwara State still ties the progress of its citizens to ethno-religious affiliation.

The Kwara government has, however, denied the allegation.

ARG noted that many of its people testified to being denied the opportunity to maximise their potentials and reach the zenith of their careers simply because they were considered not loyal to the diktat of the Ilorin Emirate System.

The people voted for the government, not the Emirate and it is important that the instruments of governance are used exclusively to benefit the people and not for the use of feudal lords and their acolytes, the communique said.

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It also demanded that the Government of Kwara State implements several court judgments regarding the grading of Yoruba monarchs in the state.

The obas, the communique observed, had been lawful and patriotic in their approach to their God-given, historically-sanctioned and culturally-approved rights.

We think that no social group, not the least government should stand against these inalienable rights any longer. People should stop playing god. Those who did yesterday are not here today and they certainly do not have a space in the history of progressives.

ARG also called on media houses, human rights organisations, civil societies, and community based organisations to focus their attention on Kwara State.

Flagrant abuses of human rights and Rule of Law are being perpetrated which do not serve any good cause known to human history, it said.

The group also advised religious and traditional leaders, particularly the Islamic and Christian clerics to use their positions to serve humanity, adding that religion should remain a vehicle for moving humanity towards piety but also progress.

Similarly, traditional institutions are and must remain socio-cultural structures that exist by virtue of the consensus of the people, the group held.

Any religious practice or traditional structure that stands for oppression and regression cannot please the Almighty God nor serve humanity.

The group however, regretted its inability to meet with the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to extend to him the commendation of Yoruba people of Kwara State about his pro-people posture.

We are not surprised by these commendable reports from our people, noting that the governor is the standard-bearer of the O to gee political movement, it said.

We hope he continues on this trajectory to move the state from tokenism to fully institutionalized welfarist governance. We pray for Gods guidance for him.

Kwara State is called the State of Harmony and we enjoin all stakeholders to ensure observance of democratic tenets, religious tolerance, and peaceful co-existence in order to make this beautiful state achieve its potentials.

The national leadership of ARG arrived in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on Friday 21st February 2020 and had a series of meetings and consultations.

It paid courtesy calls on dignitaries including former governor of Kwara State, Cornelius Adebayo, and the Chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin, Abdulraheem Aduanigba.

The group also attended a Royal Banquet organised to celebrate Obas and heroes of pan-Yoruba causes who are of Kwara State extraction.

The series of engagements, the group said, were designed to have a first-hand knowledge of the plight of Yoruba people in Kwara State in view of their sustained agitation for greater collaboration with their kith and kin across the regional and national space.

Although, we have always had reports and briefings but we consider it important that we come, see and hear in order to strengthen the resolve of the people, understand their strengths and weaknesses and collaborate with them to progressively uplift Yoruba civilisation and nationalism in a manner that is conformable with the standards of an open and democratic society, the communique said.

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However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye, in his response, said the state government was chiefly concerned about the human capital development and wellbeing of all citizens.

This administration has never looked at any Kwaran from the prism of ethnicity or religion, he said.

We are concerned only about human capital development and general wellbeing of everyone.

Governments programmes and projects have targeted everyone in equal measure, particularly the weak and the most vulnerable who the Social Investment Programme prioritises.

Where there are misgivings of any sort, as is natural in human environment, the administration will look at such issues dispassionately and resolve them in the overall interest of the state.
All the yelling in the world cannot erase Australia's signature on a document that matters more than what passed for debate in Parliament on Monday.

The signature commits Australia to achieving a "balance" between greenhouse gas emissions and abatement in the second half of this century.

Both sides of politics have net zero ambitions. They differ only on the precise date it can be achieved and the mechanism to deliver results. Credit:Getty

That is Australia's "net zero" pledge under the Paris agreement at the United Nations. It comes with a promise that Australia, like other signatories, will deliver a "progression" in its emission targets at every stage.

This is a pledge signed by a Coalition government but conveniently forgotten when Scott Morrison is trying to paint Anthony Albanese as an economic wrecker for setting 2050 as the deadline to achieve the target.
Internet services continued to remain suspended for a second day in Aligarh on Monday even as authorities said no untoward incident was reported since Sunday when around a dozen people were injured in violence that coincided with anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the city.

No untoward incident has been reported from any place since Sunday evening, said additional director general of police (Agra zone), Ajay Anand.

District magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh warned people against spreading rumours. He said such attempts would be dealt with an iron hand and National Security Act, which allows imprisonment without trial, would be invoked in such cases.

Singh, who visited the affected areas along with senior police superintendent Muniraj G, said Internet services will remain suspended till Monday midnight as a precautionary measure.

Anand said they were initiating confidence-building measures with the help of community leaders to help in restoring normalcy in the affected areas, where shops mostly remained shuttered even as authorities were persuading people to open their businesses. He added police were in the process of identifying those involved in the violence.

Anand said Tariq Munawwar, 22, who received gunshot injuries on Sunday, was now stable at Aligarhs Jawahar Lal Nehru hospital after doctors performed emergency surgery on him. If necessary, we will shift him to AIIMS [All India Institute of Medical Sciences] New Delhi. Currently, however, doctors are satisfied with his progress.

The police have lodged eight cases against 50 named and 2,000 unidentified people in connection with the violence. Six FIR have been filed on the basis of complaints of those injured.

We have deployed sufficient police forces near the protest sites to ensure the security of women protesters. We have also allowed the protesters at Shahjamal Eidgah to set up a temporary tent. The administration will only intervene if anyone attempts to take law in their hands, he said.

The trouble on Sunday began when police were trying to evict women protestors, who were staging a sit-in at Mohammed Ali Road since Saturday morning. The attempt triggered protests and stone-throwing soon started from the neighbouring areas.

In Lucknow, Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress staged a walkout from the state assembly on Monday against the alleged police atrocities against anti-CAA protesters, including women, in Aligarh.

Soon after the House met at 11 am, Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary of the SP demanded a discussion on the issue. He alleged that women were lathi-charged and tear gas shells were fired in Aligarh.

Chaudhary and Congress leader Aradhana Misra, who raised the issue through separate notices, alleged the government is crushing the peaceful protests against the CAA.

Is this the Ram Rajya that the government claims. It has been jungle law ever since the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] came to power, Misra said and added the government is answerable for the police action. The two demanded a judicial probe into the violence.

UP minister Suresh Khanna said the Aligarh violence was a result of rivalry. When vehicles were damaged and there was anarchy, police stepped in and had to use force, he said. The government will unmask those behind these agitations and those patting the backs of protesters. No citizen will have to suffer. It is the attitude of the Opposition which is responsible for it [violence] and nothing will happen if they do not encourage it.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the ministers reply, the SP and Congress members staged a walkout.

The passage of the CAA in December to fast-track the citizenship process for non-Muslims, who have entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh before 2015, triggered protests across the country.
British royalty comes in myriad shapes and sizes  by no means all of them savoury, as a certain Duke of York has taken pains of late to remind us.

Yet royalty, real and ersatz, has never known a character like Tyson Fury, the self-styled Gypsy King who last night beat Deontay Wilder to become the world heavyweight champion.

Furys achievement retains a powerful flavour of Hollywood kitsch. In a few years, it will no doubt be recreated in a biopic that may win someone the first Best Actor Oscar since Robert De Niro won for Raging Bull. Just this once, however, the writers will wish to downplay the bald facts rather than inflate them. Next to these, the Rocky franchise begins to resemble a series of lethally academic Open University lectures broadcast on BBC2 in 1967.
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VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y., (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new market research report by Future Market Insights (FMI) on the oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) devices market includes global industry analysis 20142018 and opportunity assessment 20192029. According to report findings, the global oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices market was valued ~US$ 100.0 Mn in 2018, and is expected to increase at a CAGR of ~5% during the forecast period of 2019 and 2029.

The study opines that the global OPEP devices market is projected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to multiple driving factors such as increasing regional availability of the oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices. The promising growth prospects are attributed to the innovative approach followed by manufacturers in designing devices, and the increasing adoption of OPEP devices among patients with respiratory diseases.

Regions such as North America and Europe are expected to hold a prominent market share in terms of value. However, the East Asia market is expected to project lucrative growth in the global oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices market in the forecast period of 2019-2029. This growth is majorly propelled by increasing regional manufacturers resulting in increased product availability at affordable costs.

Furthermore, prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is on the rise due to increasing smoking population in China and aging population in Japan with respiratory disorders. Although, low awareness about oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices among healthcare professionals and patients is hampering the potential growth of the oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices market.

Mouthpiece OPEP Devices - Preferred Choice for Airway Clearance

Based on the analysis of OPEP devices market by product, mouthpiece oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices are expected to hold a prominent value share in the global market. This, according to FMIs analysis, has majorly resulted from the ease of use of these devices as well as comparatively wider availability in the market.

On the other side, based on indication, the COPD is likely to consume a majority share of the oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices market value. This is majorly due to the higher prevalence of the disease and adoption of oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices for disease management. Although, cystic fibrosis is rare disease and has limited patient pool yet adoption of oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices remains highest in cystic fibrosis patients.

OPEP Devices Market: Vendor Insights

The report highlights some of the prominent market players, who have established themselves as leaders in the global oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices market. Some of the prominent key players in the global OPEP devices market are Smiths Medical Inc., Allergan plc, PARI GmbH, Monaghan Medical Corporation, Trudell Medical International, Actegy Health Ltd., WyMedical Pty Ltd, R. Cegla GmbH & Co. KG, etc.

The global oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices market is significantly consolidated, with top two players holding prominent shares in the market revenues. These players are offering oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices under their popular brands such as Portex, Flutter, and Aerobika, among others.

Press-Release Source - https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/10/07/1925871/0/en/Oscillating-Positive-Expiratory-Pressure-Devices-Market-is-anticipated-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-5-during-2019-to-2029-Future-Market-Insights.html?culture=fr-ca

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition.

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(Philadelphia, PA) - Silvia Fossati, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Associate Director of the Alzheimer's Center at Temple at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, has been awarded a two-year $500,000 grant from The Edward N. and Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, as part of the Foundation's Awards Program in Alzheimer's Disease Drug Discovery Research.

Dr. Fossati, the principal investigator on the grant, will work with co-investigator Marc Ilies, PhD, Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Temple University School of Pharmacy, to develop a new Alzheimer's-specific version of an already-existing drug family called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, which are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat conditions such as glaucoma and high-altitude sickness.

Previous studies in Dr. Fossati's Lab showed that these drugs were effective in cell and animal models at targeting certain features of Alzheimer's disease, including mitochondrial dysfunction, amyloid protein build-up, and inflammation.

Research has suggested that chronic inflammation in the brain may be due to the build-up of cells that normally free the organ of debris, waste and protein collections - including amyloid protein. When amyloid protein deposits in abnormal levels in the brain, it can disrupt cell function and communication pathways. Elevated levels can also be a factor in abnormalities of the mitochondria - the energy-generating batteries of cells - and in damaging the brain vasculature (its blood vessels). Collectively, these can eventually contribute to cognitive dysfunction, including impairments in memory and learning - hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.

Ideally, Dr. Fossati and Dr. Ilies' drug would target these characteristics, as currently available carbonic anhydrase inhibitors do, but would better infiltrate the brain and cause fewer side effects.

The drug would be tested in cell and animal models of Alzheimer's disease first and then potentially in human clinical trials in two to three years.

"Since carbonic anhydrase inhibitors have already been approved by the FDA and have demonstrated promising results, we are hopeful that we will be able to tailor what is currently available on the market to specifically target Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Fossati said. "We are so thankful that the foundation sees such promise in our work and has chosen to recognize us with this grant."

###

The Edward N. and Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, which was established in 2002 by Robert P. Thome to honor the memory of his parents, provides funding in two areas - support for the dignified treatment of older adults and support for medical research on diseases affecting older adults. The medical research division alternates between funding research on macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.

About Temple Health

Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Affiliates, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHS's physician practice plan comprised of more than 500 full-time and part-time academic physicians in 20 clinical departments. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.

It is the policy of Temple University Health System that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.
An investigation into inappropriate conduct at America's oldest school for deaf people corroborated multiple allegations of sexual and physical abuse that stretched decades, school officials said.

In a report, officials at the American School for the Deaf, in West Hartford, Connecticut, said Friday that the allegations involved former dorm supervisors, a maintenance worker, a dean and the school's longtime executive director.

The alleged abuse occurred from the 1950s to the 1980s, the report said. The school was founded in 1817.

IMAGE: American School for the Deaf in 1855

"The results of this investigation reveal startling and appalling truths," Executive Director Jeffrey S. Bravin and Catherine Burns, president of the board of directors, said in the report. "As a school community, we offer a sincere and heartfelt apology to the survivors of the inexcusable actions identified in this report and for the fact that the school did not prevent or stop them."

The investigation, which was conducted by an outside legal team, began last February after officials learned of allegations of abuse at the school and a camp connected to it. The school said it immediately reported the allegations to West Hartford police, the state Education Department and the state Department of Children and Families.

The team interviewed 81 former students, faculty and staff members and found 20 direct, credible allegations of sexual abuse, the report says. Investigators uncovered 20 more allegations from witnesses who had either seen or heard about abuse that happened to others.

Dozens more people reported physical abuse that included being punched and struck with sticks, belts and paddles, the report says. Students described being restrained with belts, sheets and straitjackets, being forced to walk on their knees and eat until they threw up, and being put in dark places like closets.

Several of the former faculty and staff members named in the report are dead, including Edmund Boatner, the school's executive director from 1935 to 1970.

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For several years, the report alleges, Boatner groomed and had "sexual contact" with a student.

Other people named in the report declined to speak to investigators.
People wearing protective surgical masks visit the Merlion Park, a major tourist attraction in Singapore, on 12 February, 2020. (PHOTO: LightRocket via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (24 February) confirmed one new case of the coronavirus in Singapore, bringing the total to 90.

The new case is a 75-year-old Singaporean woman who has not travelled to China recently and the seventh patient linked to The Life Church and Missions Singapore, one of five identified clusters in Singapore.

Separately, the ministry said that two more cases have been discharged from the hospital on Monday, including a 35-year-old Singapore permanent resident who works at the Resorts World Sentosa casino and a 32-year-old Singaporean man who was evacuated from the city of Wuhan on 9 February.

The addition brings the total of those who have fully recovered and have been discharged to 53, over half of the confirmed cases here. Seven are in critical condition in the intensive care unit, up from five on Sunday.

The MOH added that contact tracing is underway for nine locally transmitted cases with no established links to previous cases or travel history to mainland China, out of 66 local transmissions.

Case 90: Linked to The Life Church and Missions Singapore

The elderly woman reported developing symptoms on 9 February and had sought treatment at a general practitioner clinic on 9, 17 and Sunday.

She was conveyed in an ambulance to the emergency department at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Sunday, where she was immediately isolated.

She tested positive for the virus on the same afternoon and is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

Prior to her hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Bishan Street 12.

She is the seventh case linked to the cluster at The Life Church and Missions Singapore, including a married couple from Wuhan and four other Singaporeans.

(INFOGRAPHIC: Yahoo News Singapore)

Results for 25 suspect cases pending

Most of the 37 remaining patients in the hospital are stable or improving. As of Monday noon, 1,239 suspect cases have tested negative for the virus, while results for the remaining 25 cases are still pending.

Story continues

At the same time, the MOH has identified 2,842 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 856 are currently quarantined, and 1,986 have completed their quarantine.

The ministry reiterated its advice for Singaporeans to defer all travel to Hubei province, home to Wuhan where the virus originated, and all non-essential travel to mainland China, as well as South Koreas Daegu city and Cheongdo county.

The MOH also reminded members of the public to continue to exercise caution when travelling to the rest of South Korea.

1st Filipino national infected here confirmed to be case 89

Earlier on Monday morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, through the Philippine embassy in Singapore, confirmed that a Filipino national in Singapore has tested positive for COVID-19.

It is the first case of a Filipino national being infected with the virus here.

According to a post, dated 24 February, by the embassy on its Facebook page, the Filipino is now warded in an isolation room in one of Singapore's hospitals. Personal details of the patient were not shared by the Ministry of Health in line with its privacy policy, the embassy said.

In response to media queries, the MOH said that the Filipino national is case 89, who was confirmed as one of three cases on Saturday.

The Filipino national was described by the ministry in its daily updates as a 41-year-old male Singapore permanent resident who has not travelled recently to China.

He had tested positive for the virus on Saturday morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at the NCID.

He is one of nine local transmissions with no established links to previous cases or travel history to mainland China.

(SOURCE: PHinSingapore/Facebook)

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 sometime in December 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 35 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".

To date, the virus has left more than 2,500 people in China dead and sickened over 79,000 globally. Over 30 deaths related to the outbreak have been reported outside mainland China.

At over 830 cases including eight deaths, South Korea has the second-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases after mainland China.

The global tally also includes cruise ship Diamond Princess, moored off Japan, which accounted for 691 cases, including three related deaths so far. Five Singaporeans who were on board the quarantined cruise ship have been allowed to disembark it last week.

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.

(INFOGRAPHIC: Yahoo News Singapore)

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

Related stories:

COVID-19: Bangladeshi worker's family to receive $10,000 donation

COVID-19: No new cases as of noon on 23 Feb, 2 more discharged

COVID-19: Avoid non-essential travel to South Korea's Daegu city, Cheongdo county, says MOH

COVID-19: First patient in Singapore discharged after 28-day stay, counts himself lucky  report

COVID-19: How it's spreading in Singapore and the world
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/The-Life-and-Times-of-Glikl-bas-Leyb-a-17th-Century-Woman-for-the-Ages.html

Nearly 300 years after her death, Glikl has become an unlikely literary celebrity.

Our society is awash in published memoirs, something unheard of just a few hundred years ago. With one exception: a Jewish woman named Glikl bas Leyb, born in Hamburg, Germany in 1645. She took up her pen in 1691 as a recent widow with a deeply grieving heart. She began writing about her life, her marriage, her children, her faith, and her business dealings as a diversion from a surfeit of worries, troubles, and heartache that caused her sad, sleepless nights:

My dear children, I began writing this, with Gods help, after the death of your pious father, since it afforded me some pleasure when the melancholy thoughts were upon me

Glikl had no intention of having these seven little books, as she referred to them once published. Her narrative is a remarkable document, a startlingly honest and exceptionally well-told tale by a keenly intelligent woman with a natural flair for storytelling. In this way, Glikl has left us a rare glimpse not only into one privileged Jewish womans life, but into the larger society as a whole, from how business dealings and disputes were handled to the complicated negotiations involved with marriage betrothals, to the ever-changing geopolitical sphere and how it affected Jews.

Frankfurt in 1612

While her original manuscript is lost to history, one of her sons, Reb Moshe Hamel, made two copies that survived. In the late 19th century, a descendent of Glikls named Bertha Pappenheim first translated her memoirs from Old Yiddish into German. It has since been translated into Russian, French, Hebrew and English.

Nearly 300 years after her death in 1724, Glikl has become an unlikely literary celebrity.

I had read an earlier translation of this work published under the name The Memoirs of Glukel of Hameln, translated by Marvin Lowenthal. But like many translations, much of Glikls original writing, particularly many of the stories and fables she included as moral lessons for her intended audience, had been edited out. Recently, Brandeis University Press published a new edition, called simply Glikl Memoirs: 1691-1719, translated by Sara Friedman. This edition is also presented with an outstanding and fascinating introduction by Chava Turniansky, professor emerita of Yiddish literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an Israel Prize Laureate. Turniansky also provided the extensive annotations that confirm what Glikl claims about events and people about whom she writes. I cannot recommend this new edition highly enough. Not only is the translation more colorful and accessible to modern readers, but the inclusion of all of Glikls stories helps one better appreciate the full scope of her literary achievement.

She writes about the ever-present dangers that Jews lived with and the cries in distress over the endless plight of the Jewish people.

While some aspects of Glikls life are unimaginable to a modern reader, many others are timeless. She worries about her husbands health when he must travel for business and strategizes with him about how to recoup financial losses from a business deal gone bad. She grieves over the losses of several of her children, and anxiously tries to provide guidance to a naive son who continually makes poor choices and requires frequent bailing out: It is true that even during my husbands lifetime we had worries here and there because of the pain of bringing up children; some of these can be told, others cannot or should not be told. She reminisces about an earlier time when life in those days was so much happier than it is today, although people did not possess even half of what they have nowadays  may they enjoy it and prosper.

Glikl's great-granddaughter dressed up as Glikl, in "Portrait of Mrs. Glikl Hamel" by Loepold Pilichowski

When she writes about the ever-present dangers that Jews lived with, or cries in distress over the endless plight of our people, we are Glikl, too.

Married at fourteen, Glikl gave birth to fourteen children, twelve of whom lived at least until young adulthood. She had eight young children at home when her husband passed away, including a baby, and it fell solely to her to raise, educate, and marry each of them off in dignity, as well as to provide for herself in her old age. Glikl was determined that all her unmarried children would also marry into other respectable families, which required substantial sums of money for both the dowries and initial support for the young couples.

On his deathbed, when Chaim is asked about any instructions going forward, he simply says, My wife is in charge of everything.

Glikl and Chaim were among the wealthy class of Jews at the time. Like many other Jews locked out of many professions, they traded in precious gems, gold and silver, and loaned money at interest. Chaim and Glikl prospered greatly, though they also suffered debilitating losses from the occasional bad investment, or theft from a dishonest employee. Glikl writes about her business partnership with Chaim as if it was the most normal thing in the world for a wife to play this role. Her shrewd analyses of potential deals made her husband put implicit trust in her. On his deathbed, when Chaim is asked about any instructions going forward, he simply says, My wife is in charge of everything.

After Chaim dies, Glikl takes his place at the commercial fairs in Leipzig, Frankfurt-am-Main, and other towns a considerable distance, buying, selling, and trading. When her sons poor judgement led his fabric business to fail, Glikl bought out his stock and went into the fabric business herself, successfully. During a disastrous, short-lived second marriage, Glikl lost her fortune due to her husbands financial mismanagement. Despite her advancing age, Glikl does what she has always done: she rebuilds the business on her own and clears the debts she accrued through him.

The Hamburg Exchange, on a copperplate engraving by Johan Dirksen, early 17th cent.

She discusses money frankly and with a hard-nosed, practical eye. When writing about a complicated and protracted negotiation over the dowry amount for one of her children, she consults with the local rabbinical scholar and, getting his agreement with her position, holds her ground: When he saw he could squeeze nothing more out of me. . . the wedding took place in mid-Tammuz, as respectable and splendid affair as we Jews can manage.

Title page appended to the complete copy of the manuscript. Universitatsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main.

Henry Abramson, Dean of Touro College in New York and noted historian, observes, Glikls memoir is valuable for many reasons, but one of the most important is that it provides us with a rich picture of her economic activity--pretty much sui generis for a woman of the period, Jewish or non-Jewish. Her story also emphasizes the fragility of Jewish existence at the time: capricious decrees by local officials, spontaneous violence, and random abuse required a prudent focus on material security, particularly in liquid form, to be ready for whatever might happen.

Glikl writes vividly and dramatically, not only about her personal life but about the riveting historical events in her lifetime. One of her earliest memories is of her father sheltering ten refugees who had fled Poland during the notorious Chmielnicki massacres, part of a political uprising by Ukrainians against Polish rule. The mass murder of tens of thousands of Jews is also known as Gezerat Tach vTat, the evil degree of 1648-49. Though the refugees were ill with infectious disease, Glikls father took them in  at great personal risk  and arranged for them to be cared for in their attic. Glikls grandmother, who insisted on climbing the stairs several times a day to help care for them, died as a result.

Glikls praise of her father knows no bounds: Anyone who entered his house hungry left with his hunger satisfied. He gave his children, boys and girls alike, an education in both higher matters and practical things. Indeed, Glikl refers to sitting in cheder, and it is such a tease that she never elaborates on what sort of formal education she had.

Outbreaks of infectious disease, including plague, were common and an ongoing source of worry. When Glikls four-year-old daughter Tsipora was believed by townspeople to carry plague, she and Chaim were forced to send her away with a maid for many weeks. Not only were neighbors fearful for their own sakes, but if the ruling Duke at the time learned that a Jewish home held contagion, it would be a catastrophe for the Jewish community as a whole.

Anti-Semitism was a basic fact of life that Jews had learned to work around as best they could. They were subject to onerous and discriminatory taxes. Their residency rights or rights to conduct business in a certain town could be revoked suddenly. In fact, when Glikl was only two years old, Jews lost the right to live in Hamburg and had to move to Altona, traveling each day back to Hamburg for business. (Technically, Jews had no residency rights in Hamburg at the time, though Glikls father had made some private arrangement allowing them to reside there.) Jews could be falsely accused of stealing from or murdering a non-Jew. Or, as Glikl relates in one of her long and dramatic episodes, a Jew could be murdered by a non-Jew and no justice would be served.

Glikl writes of an incident where a young wife named Rivka becomes convinced that a rough character had murdered her husband for the money he had carried with him. The husband had gone missing and no one had seen him for days. Other Jews cautioned her not to make accusations, but Rivka, whom Glikl describes as very clever, managed to get a confession out of a witness. Jewish community leaders finally convinced the local authorities to search the residence where Rivka knew her husbands body would be found, but they were warned, Beware, if you do not find the body, you are all lost, you know the rabble here in Hamburg. We wont be able to stop them.

When Shabtai Zvi and his messianic promises were revealed as a fraud, it was a crushing blow to Jews worldwide, particularly so close after the massacres in Poland. Glikls father-in-law had sold his home and packed his belongings in a trunk, waiting for the letter to arrive indicating the time had come to move to the Holy Land. Glikl writes:

"When I recall how young and old alike all over the world began repenting of their sins, as is well known, it cannot be described. Ah God, Lord of the universe, we were hoping that You, compassionate God, would have mercy on Israel, Your wretched people, and redeem us

Glikls piety allows her to approach this trauma as she does with all other bitter disappointments in her life  with continuing faith:

Your people do not despair; they await Your mercy daily that You may redeem them. Even though he may tarry, still I await him every day.

In her introduction to this new edition, Chava Turniansky observes that Glikls high level of literacy should not be surprising. In this early modern period, Jewish women wrote letters, literary compositions, and other correspondence. A thriving literature of mussar literature was written for and consumed by women, and the biblical verses and Talmudic references that Glikl includes prodigiously were active components of spoken Yiddish at the time, she writes.

Glikls memoir may have been meant for her family only, but thankfully, it has become an invaluable bequest to us all.
The Balaton Sound Festival will continue its Safety First program, which was created two years ago, to encourage a conscious and safe festival. The program received the Grand Prize in the Health and Safety Development category at this years European Festival Awards (EFA), writes portfolio.hu.

The aim of the campaign is to minimize the health, safety and technical problems that occur at festivals.



The program features a team of 100 international and Hungarian volunteers, and the events smartphone app has a feature that allows visitors to directly request help.



Last years innovation was that the program had grown to become international in terms of volunteers as 15% of the team was foreign. Young people seeking help came from France, Belgium and Germany, among others.



From February this year, the organizers are expecting medical, national defense and psychology students and all young people who are receptive to the topic, both from Hungary and abroad, portfolio.hu notes.



Photo courtesy of Balaton Sound
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 00:01:35|Editor: yan

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COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has appealed to Nigeria to release seven Sri Lankan crew members who are on board a tanker which has been intercepted by Nigerian waters while transporting 838 metric tons of illegal crude oil, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The Sri Lankan crew members of MT Zeebrugge were detained at the Nigerian Naval Service, Beecroft Naval Base in Lagos State of Nigeria and they have informed the Sri Lankan High Commission in Nigeria that they were not aware the petroleum products they were transporting was illegal.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said the Nigerian Navy has handed over the case to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria for investigation and prosecution.

"The High Commission officials visited the Sri Lankan crew members on 20 February 2020 at the Beecroft Naval Base. The High Commission also appealed to the Nigerian authorities for the early release and repatriation of the Sri Lankan crew members," the ministry said in a statement.

In the recent past, Nigeria has arrested several Nigerians and foreigners for alleged oil smuggling.
Ukraine's FM points out inadmissibility of attempts to legalize Russia's occupation of Crimea to Serbian ambassador

Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry has summoned Serbia's Ambassador to Ukraine Aca Jovanovic and emphasized the inadmissibility of attempts to legalize Russia's occupation of Crimea in the international arena.

"The attention of Serbia's ambassador was drawn to the inadmissibility of attempts to legalize Russia's occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the international area, saying this should not happen again in the future," the Foreign Ministry's website said on Monday.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry had expressed deep concern over the fact that the name and symbols of the so-called "Republic of Crimea" were placed on the Russian stand at the International Tourism Fair in Belgrade.

The Ambassador of Serbia recognized "indicated annoying fact" and reaffirmed Serbia's continued support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and state sovereignty.
While US President Donald Trump is in India for his maiden Trip, a village few kilometers away from Delhi is buzzing with activity. A village which is located in Gurugram (Gurgaon), Haryana, is named after a former US President, Jimmy Carter, and is called Carterpuri.

Reuters

How did it get named after Jimmy Carter?

The village was visited by Former President Jimmy Carter on January 3rd, 1978 along with his wife and first lady, Rosalynn Carter. Atack Singh Baghel, who was 24 at the time, said, It was a festive day in the village when he came. He called the village panchayat and presented the proposal of renaming the village as Carterpuri.

Reuters

Cater had visited the village frequently as his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, was stationed in the village in the 1960s as a social worker.

Karter Singh Baghel, the elder brother of Atack, said, Communication continued between the village and the white house for a long time later too. It was a personal relationship and we used to say, a man from this village is in the white house.

Jimmy Carter wrote for the headman of the Carterpuri, Bup Singh Yada, I very much appreciate the warm hospitality and friendship which you and all the people of Carterpuri extended to me when I visited your village.

"It was, without any doubt, one of the high points of my entire foreign travel and this represented an experience I shall not soon forget.

The first lady, Rosalynn Carter, also wrote to the Carterpuri headman and the people of the village saying Jimmy and I were pleased to receive the lovely gifts on the occasion of our visit to India. I will cherish them and they will always remind us of our wonderful time in Carterpuri, Thank you so much for these gifts and for your gracious hospitality.
GATINEAU, Que. - A coalition of groups representing consumers, low-income and Indigenous people in Manitoba told the CRTC Monday that Canadians have waited long enough for high-quality mobile wireless services at an affordable price.

The comments came at the opening of another week of hearings at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which is looking at the state of competition in the mobile services industry.

The CRTC has proposed that Canadas three national networks  Bell, Rogers and Telus  should be required to sell wholesale capacity to rival carriers in order to increase competition at the consumer level.

Bell, Telus and two regional mobile carriers  Freedom and Eastlink  said last week that they are already highly competitive with each other and that consumers wont really be helped if the CRTC artificially creates more competition.

They also said Canada is widely recognized as having some of the worlds fastest, furthest reaching mobile networks in the world, despite the countrys large, sparsely populated territory and rugged terrain that adds to their costs.

This week will feature presentations from a number of consumer advocacy groups that are pushing for the introduction of mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, a type of competition that primarily rents capacity from other carriers.

On Monday, a group calling itself the Manitoba Coalition said many people at the lower end of the income spectrum either cant afford wireless service or must ration their mobile data usage.

The group is calling for a universally available basic wireless service with two gigabytes of data for between $25 and $30 per month.

Canadian consumers have been on a patient regulatory journey and have waited long enough, said Gloria Desorcy, executive director for the Manitoba arm of the Consumers Association of Canada.

Among other things, the Manitoba Coalition cited multinational statistics from June 2018 that ranked Canada 30th out of 37 OECD countries when it came to how widely smartphones had been adopted, as measured by market penetration.

It also cited statistics collected last year by Wall Communications for the federal government that indicated Canadas mobile data prices had fallen from 2018 but the decline was slower than in other jurisdictions.

Testimony from several of Canadas largest wireless network operators pointed out last week that many statistics, including the Wall report, didnt account for unlimited data plans and financing plans introduced last summer.

However, a researcher from Carleton University who was hired by the Manitoba Coalition said Canadas relatively high mobile prices have been observed by many studies over an extended period of time.

If one or two studies were to appear suggesting that the prices here are higher than others, I think it would be reasonable to question them, said Ben Klass, a PhD candidate who began his telecommunications research in 2011.

Virtually every independent report that Ive come across points to the same conclusion. So when you see, over time, reports using different methodologies, constantly pointing to the same thing, it lends credibility to those reports.

Klass added that Canada has been at the bottom of OECD countries when it comes to adoption of smartphones, which provide voice, text and data  considered to be a modern standard of communications.

Statistics Canada data shows smartphones have been adopted by more than 90 per cent of people who earn between $55,000 and $60,000 per year, he said.

By contrast, he said, the adoption rate is only 75 per cent or 85 per cent, respectively for the two lowest income levels in Canada.

So regardless of international comparisons on price, I think this is a policy problem that really needs to be addressed, Klass said.

 by David Paddon in Toronto.

Companies in this story: (TSX:BCE, TSX:RCI.B, TSX:QBR.B, TSX:T, TSX:SJR.B)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
Lesothos High Court will rule on whether Prime Minister Thomas Thabane can claim immunity from a charge he murdered his estranged wife prior to marrying his present spouse, a lower court has decided.

Thabane on Monday appeared in the magistrates court in the capital, Maseru, for a rescheduled hearing but he was not formally charged.

The 80-year-old had initially been scheduled to hear the charges on Friday but left for South Africa, which surrounds the mountainous kingdom, for what aides said was a medical appointment.

The leader is suspected of involvement in the murder of his wife at the time, Lipolelo, who was shot dead in June 2017, two days before he took office for a second stint as prime minister and two months before he married his current wife, Maesaiah.

Maesaiah Thabane, 42, has also been charged with the murder and police suspect her of ordering assassins to do the job. Both deny any involvement.

Thabanes no-show for the preliminary appearance on Friday prompted police to warn they could issue an arrest warrant.

His aide initially said Thabane had gone to South Africa for routine health checks, but later his office said he was seeking emergency medical attention and would appear in court on his return.

On Saturday, the police said the authorities would wait for Thabanes return to resume his case after his lawyers said they had a sick note proving that the prime minister would be unfit until February 27.

Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller, reporting from Maseru, said the trial brought up questions among the public about the division of power in the country.

So far, the defence team of the prime minister has questioned whether a sitting prime minister can actually be charged and prosecuted, she said.

Now the question has been taken to the High Court, which will act as a constitutional court to determine it, Miller added.

Against the backdrop of these developments in Lesotho, there have been a lot of questions over the independence of the judiciary from the executive.

The long-serving prime minister has said he will resign at the end of July because of old age, but several members of his own All Basotho Convention (ABC) party have been pressuring him to go sooner to avert a political crisis.

Lesotho, a mountain territory of two million people, has a history of coups and political instability.

Many fear a power vacuum unless the ABC can agree on a successor, and analysts expect a general election will have to be called soon.
Seibt argues that these predictions of dire consequences are exaggerated. In a video posted on Heartland's website, she gazes into the camera and says, "I don't want you to panic. I want you to think". Loading Seibt says her political activism was sparked a few years ago when she began asking questions in school about Germany's liberal immigration policies. She says the backlash from teachers and other students hardened her skepticism about mainstream German thinking. More recently, she said that watching young people joining weekly "Fridays For Future" protests inspired by Greta helped spur her opposition to climate change activism. "I get chills when I see those young people, especially at Fridays for Future. They are screaming and shouting and they're generally terrified," she said in an interview. "They don't want the world to end." Seibt said she does not dispute that greenhouse gas emissions are warming the planet, but she argues that many scientists and activists have overstated their impact.

"I don't want to get people to stop believing in man-made climate change, not at all," she said. "Are man-made CO2 emissions having that much impact on the climate? I think that's ridiculous to believe." Seibt argues that other factors, such as solar energy, play a role - though the amount of solar energy reaching Earth has declined since the 1970s, according to measurements. A slew of peer-reviewed reports, from scientific bodies in the US and elsewhere, have concluded that greenhouse gas emissions are the dominant cause of warming since the mid-20th century, producing a range of devastating effects from massive marine die-offs in South America to severe wildfires in Australia and sinking ground in the Arctic. In addition to climate change, Seibt echoes far-right skepticism about feminism and immigration. The German media have described her as sympathetic to the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD), the biggest opposition party in parliament, whose leaders have spoken of fighting "an invasion of foreigners." Seibt says she is not a member of AfD - she describes herself as libertarian - but acknowledges speaking at a recent AfD event. Her path to Heartland began in November with a speech at EIKE, a Munich think tank whose vice president is a prominent AfD politician. By then, Seibt was already active on YouTube, producing videos on topics ranging from migration to feminism to climate change. In the audience was Heartland's Taylor. He said he immediately recognized her potential and approached her about working with Heartland. Founded in 1984 and funded largely by anonymous donors, Heartland has increasingly focused on climate change over the past decade. Its staff and researchers have ready access to the Trump administration, and one of the institute's senior fellows, William Happer, served as a senior director on the White House National Security Council between September 2018 and 2019.

An emeritus professor of physics at Princeton University, Happer has repeatedly argued that carbon emissions should be viewed as beneficial to society - not a pollutant that drives global warming. During his time with the Trump administration, he sought to enlist Heartland's help in promoting his ideas and objected to a US intelligence official's finding that climate impacts could be "possibly catastrophic," according to documents obtained by The Washington Post. Why would an American think tank want to get involved in German politics? Because it worries that Berlin's strong stance on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions could be contagious, according to a recent investigation aired on German television. For two decades, Germany has been a leader in pressing other nations to curb carbon output and shift to renewable energy. Though it is falling short of its ambitious goals, Germany has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions this year by 40% compared with 1990 - and by up to 95% by mid-century. In December, during the Madrid climate conference, two undercover staffers from the nonprofit investigative newsroom Correctiv approached Taylor and claimed to work for a wealthy donor from the auto industry who wanted to give Heartland a half-million euros. Taylor took the bait and followed up with a three-page proposal outlining a campaign to push back against German efforts to regulate emissions.

Loading "These restrictive environmental programs are largely unnecessary," says the document, a copy of which was obtained by The Post. "Worse, other nations - including the United States and European Union nations - are increasingly being influenced by unwise German policy." The proposal described Seibt as "the star" of a "Climate Reality Forum" organized by Heartland during the Madrid talks. With "over 100,000 people viewing her talk on climate realism," the proposal said, Seibt was well-positioned to fight German climate policies. "Funding for our Germany Environmental Issues project will enable Heartland to provide Naomi with the equipment and the sources she needs to present a series of effective videos calling attention to the negative impacts of overreaching environmental regulations," the proposal says. Correctiv aired its report on Heartland earlier this month on German TV. Taylor dismissed the report, saying, "Heck, I would have spoken with them if they told us who they were, and the answers would have been pretty much the same".

The report included secretly filmed footage of Seibt, who struck back with her own video response. Invoking Greta, she said, "To the media, I have a few last words: How dare you?". Despite echoes of Greta's style, Seibt has objected to the comparison. "The reason I don't like the term anti-Greta is that it suggests I myself am an indoctrinated puppet, I guess, for the other side," she says in one video. Asked whether she meant that as a criticism of Greta, Seibt says: "That sounds kind of mean, actually." She added: "I don't want to shame her in any way". Taylor said the tendency to associate Seibt with Greta is "kind of natural" - and benefits Heartland's message. "To the extent that Naomi is pretty much the same, just with a different perspective, yeah, I think that it's good that people will look at the two as similar in many ways," he said.
By Reito Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Feb 24, 2020 - 10:33 | Arts, Feature, All

Foreign diplomats in Japan have toured a sake brewery near Tokyo to study how the beverage is made in a project the Japanese government and the sake industry hope will promote the traditional rice wine overseas.

The National Tax Agency, which co-hosted the project with the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, aims to boost promotion of sake and other Japanese-made alcoholic beverages abroad this year as Japan hosts the Olympics and Paralympics.

In the tour at Iinuma Honke Co.'s brewery in Chiba Prefecture on Feb. 13, some of the 12 diplomats and their family members from the United States, India, South Korea, Hungary and Brazil experienced mixing "moromi" -- a fermenting mixture -- using a wooden rod under the guidance of chief brewer Koichi Kawaguchi.

"The brewery dates back 300 years when the head of a village around this area started manufacturing sake with leftover rice," Kawaguchi told the visitors, who were wearing white coats and caps for hygiene.

He guided them through the facility, following each process having first shown the rice from which sake is made, as well as explaining the equipment, including a modern distiller installed around 2005.

After the tour, the visitors tasted three different types of the brewery's primary brand, Kinoene.

Kawaguchi described each type in order -- one having a fruit-like smell and a clean finish, the second a heavy taste designed to suit meat dishes, and the third, made in 1997, a caramel-like smell with a rich and strong taste.

"I think Americans have a great appreciation for Japanese culture. Japanese food is a big part of that and sake can be found at many Japanese restaurants in the United States," said Zeke Spears, an agricultural attache at the U.S. Embassy.

According to Japanese government data, the United States imported 6.3 billion yen ($56 million) worth of sake from Japan in 2018, making it the largest importer from the country. Hong Kong came second, China third and South Korea fourth.

By volume, Japan exported 25,747 kiloliters of sake in 2018, up 9.6 percent from the previous year and a record high for the ninth consecutive year, with demand for Japanese cuisine increasing.

Related coverage:

1st "Miss Sake India" selected to promote Japanese rice wine

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Fukushima launches first sake promotion event in NYC

"I think sake is seen as a distinctly Japanese drink that pairs well with Japanese food," Spears said. "I think a lot of Americans would be interested in learning more about the different styles of sake and how they could be paired with American food."

Mateus Xavier, a deputy counsel in the Brazilian Consulate General in Tokyo, expressed his enjoyment as well. "It was my first time and was a wonderful experience," he said.

After the tasting, Xavier's wife, Livia Bergamashcine, said, "I appreciate the explanation of the sake. I preferred the second one. It smelled good."

The tour was the first held in Chiba Prefecture and sixth of its kind, following ones in Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture and elsewhere.

As of the end of March 2018, there were 1,636 certified sake breweries in Japan, whose numbers have been gradually declining since around 1990, according to National Tax Agency data.
Some stocks are best avoided. We don't wish catastrophic capital loss on anyone. Imagine if you held China Agroforestry Low-Carbon Holdings Limited (HKG:1069) for half a decade as the share price tanked 98%. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 83%. More recently, the share price has dropped a further 9.1% in a month.

While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness.

View our latest analysis for China Agroforestry Low-Carbon Holdings

China Agroforestry Low-Carbon Holdings wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

In the last half decade, China Agroforestry Low-Carbon Holdings saw its revenue increase by 22% per year. That's better than most loss-making companies. So on the face of it we're really surprised to see the share price has averaged a fall of 52% each year, in the same time period. It could be that the stock was over-hyped before. We'd recommend carefully checking for indications of future growth - and balance sheet threats - before considering a purchase.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

SEHK:1069 Income Statement, February 24th 2020

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 4.2% in the twelve months, China Agroforestry Low-Carbon Holdings shareholders did even worse, losing 83%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 51% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 5 warning signs with China Agroforestry Low-Carbon Holdings (at least 2 which are potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Story continues

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Some 29 people were injured in a bomb attack on Sunday in the town of Ambo (100 km west of Addis Ababa). The attack targeted a rally staged in support of the party of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The bombing of a Dr Abiy rally left 29 people injured, 28 of whom were treated and sent home, a police official told the Ethiopian News Agency.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was not participating in the rally, organized by officials from the city of Ambo, the agency said, adding that six people were arrested.

On Friday, a senior security official in the town of Burayu in Oromia regional state was killed in an attack.

Oromia police have promised to track down those responsible for the assassination of Solomon Tadesse, head of the Burayu municipal administration and security service. Three people, including two police officers, were injured in the attack.
Billionaire Apple investor Warren Buffett has finally upgraded from a $20 flip phone to an iPhone.

"My flip phone is permanently gone," Buffett told CNBC's Becky Quick during a "Squawk Box" interview on Monday. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO and chairman spoke two days after he released his annual shareholder letter.

"I've been given several of them, including [from] Tim Cook."

Once a fan of the $20 Samsung SCH-U320, Buffett is now using Apple's latest iPhone 11. He's been a longtime user of the flip phone, even though Apple is Berkshire Hathaway's third-largest business, behind insurance and railroads. Now, he said, the flip phone is "permanently gone" even though he admitted he mostly uses the iPhone for phone calls.

"You're looking at an 89-year-old guy who's barely beginning to get with it," Buffett said, though he doesn't use "all its facilities like most people."

"I use it as a phone," he said. Buffett said in the past that he uses an iPad to check stock prices and do research.

Cook said in 2018 he would fly to Omaha, Nebraska, to help Buffett set up his new phone.

Buffett said earlier Monday that Apple is "probably the best business I know in the world." Berkshire owns roughly 5.5% of Apple, according to Buffett. Berkshire owned more than 245 million shares of Apple, worth nearly $72 billion, according to a Dec. 31 filing with the government,

Apple shares are up about 80% over the past 12 months but were down about 4% Monday over worries about how the coronavirus outbreak was affecting its operations in China.
SOUTH ROXANA  A 6-year-old Wood River girl has died following a two-vehicle accident in South Roxana Sunday night.

Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn on Monday announced that Layla A. Williford-Mason, 6, of Wood River, died in the accident at 6:06 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Illinois 111 and Broadway.

Nonn said the girl was the right rear seat passenger of a 2004 Nissan Altima driven by her father, Frank J. Williford, 28, who was traveling north on Illinois 111. The Altima collided with a full size 2002 Chevrolet pickup driven by Pavel Chernyavskiy, 29, that was going south on Illinois 111 and turning left onto eastbound Broadway.

Both drivers were transported to St. Louis area hospitals for treatment. The girls juvenile sibling also was transported from the scene to a St. Louis area hospital, as was a passenger in the pickup, Alex E. Turner, 21.

Madison County Coroners Chief Investigator Kelly R. Rogers pronounced the child dead at the scene at 8 p.m. Sunday. According to Nonn, the girl was in a booster seat with a shoulder and lap belt present. Indications are that the child succumbed to internal injuries. An autopsy was performed to firmly describe a precise cause of her death.

The accident is being investigated by the South Roxana Police Department, with the help of the Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit.

As of Monday, funeral arrangements were pending for Layla Williford-Mason.
- Boni Khalwale said the population of Kikuyus was deliberately ballooned so that the community may receive the lion's share of resources

- The ex-senator said he was an academician, and according to him, Luhya's population size was larger than that of Kikuyus

- KNBS released additional census information which showed the Kikuyu population stood at 8,148,668 closely followed by Luhyas at 6,823,842

Ex- Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale has poured cold water to the recently released census results which showed Kikuyu as the most populous tribe in Kenya.

The former legislator said he was an academician and it was public knowledge that Luhyas were bigger in population size compared to their Kikuyu counterparts.

READ ALSO: Do not eat desert locusts: Bungoma residents warned as insects hit the area

Ex- Kakamega senator Khalwale said Kikuyu's population was deliberately ballooned. Photo: Dr Boni Khalwale.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Tob Cohen: Sarah Wairimu wants DCI George Kinoti locked out of her case

Speaking at Musingu area during a burial ceremony on Saturday, February 23, Khalwale claimed the population of Kikuyus was deliberately ballooned so that it could get a lion's share of resources during allocation.

"The joke that the government wants to engage in by showing that the Luhya community has fewer people than the Kikuyu community is motivated by the fact that 45% of funds to county governments is allocated based on population size, said the ex-lawmaker.

READ ALSO: Wenger convinced Frank Lampard is best suited for Chelsea job after bright start

Census officials carrying out enumeration in August 2019. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

He said statisticians and professors from the University of Nairobi could back his assertions further demanding that Luhyas should receive their deserved share.

The vocal politician, in his speech, also called upon President Uhuru Kenyatta to call off the ongoing Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rallies.

He said the funding could instead go into printing copies of the documents for Kenyans to read.

Census officials looking at a map. The census report showed Kikuyu was the most populous tribe. Photo: The Standard.

Source: Depositphotos

Kikuyus, Luhyas, Kalenjins, Luos and Kambas topped the list of the most populous tribes in Kenya according to the additional census information released to the public on Friday, February 21.

The Kikuyu population, according to the findings, stood at 8,148,668 closely followed by Luhyas at 6,823,842.

The figure was captured during the national census which was carried out in August 2019 which showed Kenya's population at 47,564, 296 people as at 2019.

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Italian authorities are now controlling one of the biggest outbreaks of the coronavirus. With the death of the third patient in Italy, they have sealed off the affected townships and started postponing public events in the northern areas.

The location of the coronavirus hot spot is in the Lombardy and Veneto regions, where schools and universities were shuttered for a week, even museums and cinemas were closed in the last two days of the Venice Carnival.

Italy's civil protection unit mentioned that out of the total of 152 highly contagious cases, only three were revealed on Friday.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told state organ RAI Radio that the 152 cases, might increase anytime soon as he warned the public to be careful. Adding as well that all efforts were focused to stop, and control the contagion for public safety.

In the town of Crema, another fatal infection of the COVID-19 was reported. Crema is located from Milan (28 miles) away. The patient passed away not from the virus, but health problems caused by the other health problems, not the virus itself.

The number of official and certified cases of the COVID-19 in Lombardy used to be 54 and has now increased to 110 more a day later. In Veneto, there were 21 people with positive viral infections, add up two more people in Venice, which is packed with visitors for the carnival season.

In other reports, health officials said some isolated cases were discovered in the regions of Piedmont and Emilia Romagna. All these cases of the coronavirus in Italy are concerning authorities with the number of those infected.

Also read: China's Secrecy Under Strain, Reeling From Continuous Spread of Coronavirus

Luca Zaia, governor of Veneto said he has dealt with natural disasters in his term, like floods and earthquakes. According to him, the coronavirus is the worst he has faced.

About 50,000 souls have been placed under quarantine at Lombardy and Veneto. Residents were advised to stay home and they can only get in or out of the quarantine areas with permission from local leaders.

Residents in Milam were stocking up on supplies while others went out of the city with their children. The disruption caused by the coronavirus to Lombardy and Veneto adds to 30% of Italian gross domestic output. If the condition persists then it will affect the economy of Italy adversely, with it nearing recession too.

Italian tourism has been grossly affected by the virus, with many of its attraction postponed or rescheduled at a later date, for fear of making the current outbreak worse, than it already is. Veneto officials tested 8 Chinese tourists, who were again non-active carriers of the virus.

The search for patient zero is crucial, in order to determine where the virus came from. Without this knowledge, it makes it harder to control, said Luca Zaia.

About three cases were reported and quarantined, who all came from Wuhan in China. Even the World Health Organization is stumped how it got this bad. A team of WHO experts will help the Italians study the virus, according to Hans Kluge, WHO European Regional Director.

The expansion of the coronavirus in Italy has caused problems with the Milan Fashion week that prompted Giorgio Armani to cancel the fashion show. Guests will now go to an empty room instead, to protect them. Angelo Borelli, civil protection department exec said that preparation was underway to place beds in military quarters or hotels to house those infected by the contagion.

Related article: Is a Trade War Looming Between U.S. and India?

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What is intriguing is that while anti-CAA protests are regularly been denied permission, those supporting the legislation get permission, the latest being the one to be addressed by Union home minister Amit Shah. In Uttar Pradesh, the police face allegations of shooting and killing protesters, though the chief minister denies wrongdoing on the part of the police. (Photo: P. Surendra)

The right to peaceful assembly without arms is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(b) of our Constitution. The government of the day cannot insist that such an assembly must not question a law passed by the legislature. In fact, democracy works the other way when people register their legitimate protest against government policies and laws in a peaceful way and the government engages them in talks, leading to better laws and policies. But the police in some states have got some bizarre ideas about that constitutional right. If you Google, there are half a dozen instances where the Hyderabad city police denied permission to people who wanted to take out processions against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The Andhra Pradesh high court was the other day constrained to admonish the police for its arbitrariness and ordered it to form guidelines for deciding whether to give permission to a rally or not.

What is intriguing is that while anti-CAA protests are regularly been denied permission, those supporting the legislation get permission, the latest being the one to be addressed by Union home minister Amit Shah. In Uttar Pradesh, the police face allegations of shooting and killing protesters, though the chief minister denies wrongdoing on the part of the police.

Sometime back, the Madras high court overruled the Chennai police and granted permission to an anti-CAA rally and asked the police to videograph it using drones. The Supreme Court, on its part, has been negotiating with the Shaheen Bagh agitators fully recognising their right to protest.

Representatives of the Union government, starting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while defending the law, have repeatedly recognised the peoples right to dissent. If thats the case, the governments must ask their police forces not to be more loyal to the king than the king himself and recognise the rights of the citizens of the republic instead.
Ahmedabad, India: Donald Trump was cheered by more than 100,000 Indians at the opening of the world's biggest cricket stadium on Monday, promising "an incredible trade deal" and "the most feared military equipment on the planet" at his biggest rally abroad.

Indians wore cardboard Trump masks and "Namaste Trump" hats to welcome the US President at the huge new Motera stadium in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's own political homeland, the western city of Ahmedabad.

US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave after a "Namaste Trump" event at Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium. Credit:AP

Modi, a nationalist who won re-election last year and has shifted his country firmly to the right with policies that his critics decry as authoritarian and ethnically divisive, touts his relationship with Trump as proof of his own global standing.

US officials have described Trump's visit as a way to counter China's rise as a superpower.
Philadelphia police look for evidence on West Dauphin Street after a shooting that killed a pregnant woman and her baby. Read more

Police have identified the 39-year-old pregnant woman who was fatally shot in the chest Friday in North Philadelphia as Ishan Charmidah Rahman.

A 40-year old man who was also shot but survived drove Rahman to Temple University Hospital, where doctors performed an emergency C-section, but the baby boy died.

Rahman and the boy are considered the 53rd and 54th homicides this year, police spokesperson Eric McLaurin said. This is a 23% increase in homicides compared with this time last year, according to police statistics.

The woman was in the passenger seat of a Chevrolet van when the shooting on Ninth Street between Dauphin and York Streets broke out Friday about 5:55 p.m., police said. Rahman was shot in her chest and the 40-year old man, the driver, was shot in his chest and left shoulder.

Rahman was pronounced dead at the hospital at 6:03 p.m. After the C-section, the baby was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m.

The baby is the 516th child under 18 shot in Philadelphia since the beginning of 2015.

The male victim, whose name was not released, remains in critical condition, police said. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.
It's said that 80 percent of the battle to making a fitness plan work is showing up and Beaverton's Dar Grove demonstrates that.

Grove, 86, said sometimes he doesn't feel like showing up to the Beaverton Activity Center where he walks two miles three times a week. On Thursday, Grove walked his 1,500th mile at the center followed by a parade if cheerleaders, students, family and friends.

"Lots of times I come up here when I don't feel like it," Grove said. "I come in and start walking and I feel good, so I keep doing it.

"Walking makes me feel good," Grove added.

In April of 2018, on his 85th birthday, Grove walked his 1,000th mile, earning him a banner in the BAC gym. The sign was updated this past Thursday to reflect his latest accomplishment. Grove started walking two miles a day, five days a week in December 2015. After walking his 1,000th mile, Grove said he scaled back to three days a week.

Event organizers had a lawn chair awaiting Grove, since the miles he walked is equal to the distance from Beaverton to Miami Beach, Florida.

Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce Director Yvette Keast said his 1,500 miles is equivalent to three-million steps.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate a man's positive attitude," said BAC volunteer Joan Cashin. "He's very inspiring."

Beaverton Junior High/High School Principal Ryan Roberts said Grove is so supportive of the schools and the students.

"Many students call him Grandpa Dar," Roberts said. "He's a great supporter of the school and the community. We wanted to come out and support him."

Beaverton City Council member Nila Frei and her husband, Bob, helped organize the event.

"This is a great tribute to Dar and his fitness goals," Frei said. "He sits a great example for people in the community to get fit."

Beaverton Mayor Ray Nau and city manager Heath Kaplan were front and center for the event. Nau said on behalf of the city of Beaverton, they wanted to be there and support Grove, who is an asset to the community.

Nau said the event continues to prove what a gem the BAC is to the city, allowing many opportunities for the community.

Grove, a lifelong Beaverton resident, said he continues to walk at the BAC because it "keeps me healthy."

He said the event and the support from so many people made him feel really good.

Building on Grove's success, BAC fitness center staff opted to launch a 10-week fitness challenge. People can still sign up for the challenge that allows people to set their own goals.

BAC Board member Julie French was also inspired and while she has never joined a fitness center, she has opted to take part in the health challenge. Her first day will be March 5, on her birthday.

BAC fitness managers Jeanette Varner and Mark Roehrs said the challenge can show people they can get healthy. Both agree anyone can do it, regardless of their physical state. Varner and Roehrs agree that it doesn't matter if you haven't gotten off the couch in five years.

"Members see progress," Varner said.

Roehrs said people are often surprised by their transformations after just a short amount of time.
To minimize risks as the real estate market has decelerated, investors have been told not to pour all their money into one project.

Nguyen Loc Hanh, CEO of Ngoc Chau A Real Estate Investment, predicted a volatile 2020 for the real estate market, saying that there are big challenges related to the legal framework, changes in investment tastes and the covid-19 epidemic.





The problems related to legal procedures have affected the supply of real estate products, pushing the house prices up. The changes in the investment tastes have driven the cash flow out of the real estate market. Meanwhile, nCoV outbreak is believed to cause shocks to the resort real estate market segment.



In such conditions, investors tend to choose the projects which ensure safety instead of the ones which promise super-profit.



Hanh went on to say that the investors who have huge capital of their own will have advantages over investors who have to borrow money from banks, because 2020 is the time when cash is the King.

With a stable cash flow, investors wont have to be too hasty in choosing investment channels. In 2020, the market is believed to see demand decreasing, so the investors who have money of their own are believed to be able to buy products at reasonable prices.

With a stable cash flow, investors wont have to be too hasty in choosing investment channels. In 2020, the market is believed to see demand decreasing, so the investors who have money of their own are believed to be able to buy products at reasonable prices.



If investors only have about VND1 billion, they can buy small apartments in HCM City. Those who have big money should put their eggs into many different baskets.



With capital of VND2-4 billion, investors can put money into two groups of assets. The first is the real estate located in the suburbs of HCM City. The second comprises products in the localities adjacent to HCM City.



Meanwhile, those who have VND5-10 billion or more should divide the money into two parts  one part (65 percent) and a smaller 35 percent. With the bigger part, they should invest in projects in HCM City. For the smaller part, they can invest in provincial markets.



In the current conditions, investors are advised to pour money into localities with high liquidity. This allows them to easily withdraw capital when necessary, or when the market turns bad. HCM City, which is believed to be the busy market in the country, should be the top priority and it deserves the bigger part of investments.



For example, if an investor has VND10 billion, they should reserve VND6.5 billion (65 percent of VND10 billion) for investments in the projects in the inner city and suburbs of HCM City. They can buy real estate projects for lease, which can bring stable income and ensure the value of the properties.

Mai Lan

Real estate market scenario for 2020: capital flows continue to suburban eco-cities With their massive land funds and ample investment inflows for transport infrastructure development, the suburban cities surrounding Ho Chi Minh City are projected to become the next hotspot for investors and buyers.
The Maharashtra Legislative



Council was adjourned 13 minutes after it started on Monday as BJP MLCs objected to chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar's decision to not accept an adjournment motion moved by Leader of Opposition Pravin Darekar.

Amid sloganeering by BJP legislators, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government tabled papers of bills and amendments after which the House was adjourned by the chair.

Darekar moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on the plight of farmers but it was rejected by Nimbalkar.

This led to protests by senior BJP MLCs Bhai Girkar and Sujitsinh Thakur among others.

Nimbalkar then asked deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar to table documents of amendment bills and supplementary demands, and adjourned the House for the day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Today Sony unveiled the Xperia 1 II, featuring optics calibrated by ZEISS with ZEISS T* coating. This is a first for the company, which has previous used its own G Lens brand on its premium phones. A first on mobile, anyway, Sony has co-developed lenses with ZEISS for its mirrorless cameras for a long time now.

What does that mean for HMD, whose Nokia phones inherited the ZEISS partnership of old Nokia? Well, not much. Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas posted a tweet, welcoming Sony into the fold.

HMD no longer has exclusivity on the ZEISS brand, though that probably wont affect it much (even if the partnership was announced as an exclusive back in 2017). HMD will continue working with ZEISS to produce new camera tech for future Nokia phones.

Source
Jaipur, Feb 24 : In a shocking incident, a minor girl on Sunday committed suicide in Bharatpur by hanging herself after she was raped by a youth a day earlier, said police on Monday.

The police is on the lookout for the accused who is absconding, said additional SP Suresh Khinchi, adding that the minor girl was a student of class IX.

According to the complaint lodged by her family members, she went to the field to collect fodder for the cattle when a person named Lalaram Saini raped her.

Her screams invited people from around who helped save the girl, however, the accused have had a chance to flee as the complaint was not lodged immediately.

The incident was reported in Helena police station of the Bharatpur district.

Her family members did not report the matter of rape initially, however, soon after when they found her body hanging, they reported the matter to the police.

Police handed over her body to her family after the post mortem.

The family members said that the girl was in an extreme shock after the rape incident.
The police and Maoists exchanged fire in Balaghat district, 431 kilometers south east of Bhopal, on Monday leading to recovery of items of daily use at the encounter site. One of the Maoists is believed to have been injured, according to the police.

Superintendent of Police, Balaghat, Abhishek Tiwari said the police got information that a team of Maoists was camping in the jungles of Kosam Dehi in Behla police circle. When the police force entered the jungle, the Maoists fired at them.

He said, The police force fired at least 100 rounds during the encounter which went on for two hours from 9 am to 11 am. The Maoists fled the spot leaving the items of daily use behind. One of the Maoists is believed to have sustained bullet injuries.

He said a search operation was still going on to track down the Maoists.
Americans are accustomed to looking to our history for guidance in handling external and internal threats. We are not the only ones. Beijings approach to international trade is deeply informed by the history of China in the mid-19th century. So is its attitude toward the countrys domestic Christian and Muslim religious minorities, and toward Hong Kong. The great crisis of the Qing Dynasty, which came to a head in the 1860s, is every bit as traumatic and still relevant to modern-day China as the American Civil War is to us. More so, in fact: Xi Jinpings regime is deeply invested in historical narratives that give a central place to those turbulent and bloody years.

Growing tensions between the United States and China have been one of the dominant themes of the late 2010s. There is every reason to believe that they will play a leading role in the international landscape of the 2020s. Consider just some of the developments of the past few months:

American criticism of Chinas handling of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan

Ongoing Trump administration tariff battles with China

Democrats saber-rattling at the last debate about getting China to reduce carbon emissions

Widespread Western horror at the newly revealed extent of Chinas concentration camps for Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang and at Chinese crackdowns on Christians

The NBAs efforts to silence proHong Kong fan demonstrations to protect its business interests in China

Wall Street Journal reporters inside China protesting the headline of an op-ed column in their own newspaper for offending the Chinese government

Federal warnings, investigations, and indictments relating to Peoples Liberation Army involvement in the Equifax data hack, the Office of Personnel Management records hack, alleged trade-secrets theft by telecom giant Huawei, Chinese agricultural espionage, and Chinese penetration of federally funded university research

The looming global-technology showdown over who will control the next-generation 5G network.

Story continues

Modern China and Its Ancestors

The Peoples Republic of China is the heir to one of the worlds great ancient empires, dating back to the third century B.C. That empire existed for more than two millennia, and its end has just faded off the edge of living memory. Its last emperor was deposed in 1912; Xi Jinpings father was born the following year. Imperial Chinese dynasties came and went, and borders expanded and contracted, but the empire always maintained its fundamental continuity as a vast nation-state with a core ethnic majority of Han Chinese. Its emperors, from the time of the seventh-century Tang Dynasty, governed through an elite Confucian-educated bureaucracy that spread a single, national values system throughout the empire.

The successor Chinese states of the past 108 years have remade China economically and ideologically, often at terrible cost. But Xi still reigns very much in the cultural and geographic footprints of a proudly continuous Imperial Chinese civilization. Like Vladimir Putin, he draws increasingly from the deep well of nationalism in his countrys pre-Communist history. He peppers his speeches with references to classical Chinese literature and mythology, and his government is currently engaged in one of the traditional methods of transmitting legitimacy from one imperial dynasty to the next: a massive effort to commemorate the previous dynasty and shape the writing of its history. In this case, that means the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China from 1644 to 1912.

The death of a dynasty every few hundred years was long accepted as a standard part of the national life cycle in China. Confucian philosophy developed the idea of the Mandate of Heaven to infuse with religious significance the practical reality that a dynasty that no longer gave the people internal order and external security from invasion had lost divine favor and the accompanying right to obedience. Unlike in the West, the loss of imperial legitimacy in China did not derive primarily from violations of the liberties of the people, although foreign dynasties such as the Qing were sometimes charged by internal critics with trampling on Chinese traditions. Only the loss of guarantees of social order signaled the withdrawal of the Mandate of Heaven, making it, at times, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The ideological importance of the Mandate of Heaven was that it ensured that the successor dynasty would be received as legitimate once it restored order. The overriding imperative for every Chinese dynasty, and for every Chinese government since, has been to demonstrate to the people that it was in sufficient control to guarantee internal order and external security. The secondary goal was to demonstrate its fidelity to traditional Chinese ways. Only by the application of brute force on a colossal scale was Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution able to temporarily repress the deep-rooted Chinese reverence for those traditions.

The Mandate of Heaven survived dynasties imposed on China by external invaders: the Mongols who established the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century and the Manchus who established the Qing Dynasty in the 17th. Despite lingering popular resentment of these dynasties as foreign in origin, they came from Chinas neighbors, and they ruled through the traditional mechanisms of the Chinese state. The Yuan Dynasty held the Mandate of Heaven for roughly a century, the Qing for almost three. To do so, their rulers made a show of assimilating to the mores of those they ruled.

The dignity of the emperor was, moreover, never officially acknowledged to be merely equal to that of other sovereigns. The emperor was, instead, considered the superior of all other rulers and realms, and he expected their representatives to pay him obeisance. An inflated self-image of national exceptionalism is hardly unique to China, and official ideology did not prevent China from interacting with other neighboring nations in practice. Neighboring monarchs consciously styled themselves as emperors in order to place themselves on par with the Chinese emperor. But the size and customary dominance of China over its region from ancient times through the end of the 18th century gave substance to the empires view of itself as the Middle Kingdom.

The Agony of the Qing

The 19th century changed all that. Explosive population growth over the preceding four centuries  China had six times as many people by 1800 as it had had in 1400  strained the empires supply of arable farmland, increasing the frequency of peasant revolts. In another era, that might have set the stage for an ordinary change of dynasties. Instead, what followed was a traumatic external shock: the defeat of China by Britain in the First Opium War of 183942. China had long been open to European trade, and European commerce was a regular presence for four centuries before 1839  but always on Chinas own terms.

This was different. The Industrial Revolution, and in particular the ability of steamboats to project naval firepower upriver, led to a massive and destabilizing growth in Western military superiority by the late 1830s. A comparatively small military force from an island halfway around the world proved more than equal to defeating the vast Qing Empire and imposing on it both unequal trade terms and territorial concessions, including the loss of Hong Kong. As Xi framed the Chinese perspective on this defeat in a 2017 speech commemorating the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong from British rule:

In the early 1840s, the invasion of merely a 10,000-person British expedition forced the Qing government, having 800,000 in troops, to cede territory and pay indemnities, to cede Hong Kong island. . . . China was again and again beaten by countries having far smaller territories and populations than itself. . . . The history of China at that time was filled with the nations humiliation and its peoples grief.

The unexpected outcome sent shock waves through the neighboring states of Japan and Korea, stiffening their elites resolve to remain secluded from the West. The treaty-port system established by the war forced China to accept, among other things, both a booming import trade in Indian-grown opium and an expanded presence of Christian missionaries. Both the drugs and the Bibles were seen by Chinese elites as weakening the moral supports of traditional, Confucian China.

The British trading presence led to further hostilities when Chinese authorities attempted to punish suspected pirates running a British-flagged vessel in Chinese waters. Emperor Xianfeng, thinking himself secure in his traditional dignity, refused to meet with European representatives, who in turn would not bow to him. In the Second Opium War, between 1856 and 1860, British and French forces burned the emperors Summer Palace in Beijing and forced the imperial court to flee the capital. The young emperor, himself addled by opium, died in exile. Russia and the United States got in on the act as well, with American Marines landing on Chinese soil and Russia squeezing out of China the territory on which its Pacific port of Vladivostok was founded in 1861.

Worse was already afoot at home. Between 1851 and 1864, the entire Yangtze River region was convulsed by the Taiping Rebellion, a civil war that claimed tens of millions of lives  by some estimates, more than the entire global death toll of the First World War. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, like other charismatic Christian movements of the era in the United States, New Zealand, and the Yucatan, was led by a prophet who claimed direct revelations from God, Hong Xiquan. Hong, an ethnic-minority Hakka who began having visions after failing the Confucian civil-service examinations, declared himself the brother of Jesus after reading Christian texts that had their origins in Western missionary activity. He studied with a Baptist minister from Tennessee. And he went on to proclaim his Heavenly Kingdom while denouncing the Qing as foreign devils who imposed un-Chinese ways on the country. Hongs Western-influenced cousin, as the Heavenly Kingdoms chief minister, proposed an ambitious program to bring railroads and other modern industry to China.

It was only by a pincer movement of provincial Chinese armies in the west (led by the methodical Confucian loyalist Zeng Guofan, the Ulysses S. Grant of China) and a coalition in the east assisted by American, British, and French mercenaries and advisers (including the devoutly Christian British military hero Charles Chinese Gordon) that the Qing barely survived the rebellion. When it was over, the Taiping were eradicated virtually to the last man, and efforts were made to expunge all memory of their idiosyncratic Christian movement.

The Taiping were not the only Chinese religious minority of the 19th century to take a rebellion against the Qing as far as setting up a separate state. As the century progressed, the southwestern province of Yunnan, situated between Tibet and Burma, faced mounting tensions between Han immigrants and the native Hui population, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group. Han-led massacres killed thousands of Hui in 1839 and 1845, and Hui appeals to Beijing were ignored. A third such massacre in 1856, openly backed by provincial Qing authorities proclaiming kill them one and all, led the Hui to raise the banner of separation in what became known in the West as the Panthay Rebellion.

Du Wenxiu, an educated Hui who had passed the Confucian examinations, led a separate Pingnan state covering western Yunnan for 18 years from 185673. The Pingnan government, while not exclusively Muslim, adopted Arabic as its official language and built mosques and madrassas. Yet, it also, like the Taiping, denounced the Qing for departing from the traditions of the Han-led Ming Dynasty. Du opened relations with the British, who had recently conquered neighboring Burma. After nearly two decades of war that claimed over a million lives, the Pingnan state was eventually undone with the help of the betrayal of a key Pingnan general. At least 10,000 holdouts  including women, children, and the elderly  were massacred by Qing troops, who sent 24 baskets of their severed ears to Beijing along with Dus head as trophies for the emperor.

A third rebellion, the predominantly Muslim Dungan Revolt in northwestern Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, lasted from 1862 to 1877, again costing millions of lives and sending hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing to Russia. A fourth saw the northwestern border province of Xinjiang, the homeland of todays Uighur population, break off between 1865 and 1877 under Yaqub Beg, a Central Asian Muslim adventurer. Russia and Britain, then heavily engaged in the Great Game for control of Central Asia, supported both the northwestern rebellions.

To put these conflicts in American geographic terms, picture the Taiping holding the states of the American Confederacy, with the Pingnan state in Arizona, the Dungan state in the northern Great Plains, and Begs state in the Pacific Northwest. The collective bloodletting was likely fifty times that of the American Civil War. And amazingly, those four dont even constitute an exhaustive list of major rebellions ongoing in Qing China between 1851 and 1877.

The Qing Dynasty survived the crucible of this era, but despite a vigorous program of internal reforms  including brutally suppressing the domestic demand for opium  it never truly recovered. In fact, Western assistance in defeating the Taiping may have prevented the Mandate of Heaven from moving on to a new dynasty more capable of standing on its own. The Western powers had to send in a joint military force to suppress the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

Further humiliations and breathtaking suffering were inflicted in wars with Japan from 1894-95 and 1937-45, including the loss of Taiwan to Japan. The Soviet Union intervened militarily in Xinjiang in 1934. After the 1949 Communist Revolution, Mao rebuilt Chinas military, ejected foreign influence, reclaimed its sovereign pride, and reasserted control over Tibet. But he also killed more of his own subjects than any ruler in world history and left China miserably poor. In the four and a half decades since his death, China has reengaged with the world economy and rebuilt its own. But the scars of history remain.

Living History

Xis frequent evocations of Qing Dynasty history serve two purposes beyond the traditional legitimating function of dynastic history in elevating him to the same unparalleled dignity of a Qing emperor.

On the one hand, it was during the Qing Dynastys 18th century heyday that Tibet, Taiwan, and Xinjiang were claimed by China, so embracing the Qing legacy is intertwined with justifying the PRCs current rule over Tibet and Xinjiang, as well as its never-relinquished claim to Taiwan. On the other hand, Chinas century of humiliation before Maos revolution is a key, longstanding element of the Chinese Communist Partys narrative of Chinese restoration. It formed a centerpiece of Xis commemoration in October of the 70th anniversary of the revolution. It is also an all-purpose scapegoat. Xis regime reaches for the specter of foreign imperialism to explain internal dissension (e.g. its response to unrest in Hong Kong) and deflect external criticism. Consider the aforementioned Wall Street Journal controversy: The regime claims offense at a column on its handling of the coronavirus titled China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia, on the theory that it is an insensitive reference to 19th century Western rhetoric about Chinese weakness. The original sick man phrase was coined by Tsar Nicholas I of Russia in the 1840s to refer to the Ottoman Empire, but the same mindset animated Western views of China as a playground for Western rivalries with no say of its own in the matter. However absurd it may seem, wielding the specter of Western imperialism is partly a way of weaponizing Western guilt and partly a way of justifying unequal present-day power relationships that favor the PRC.

Not everything is pure propaganda, however. There is little doubt that the history of the Qing Dynastys times of trouble also genuinely informs Xis own worldview and that of the PRCs ruling elite. Americans may see free trade as a two-way street that can benefit everyone; Chinese leaders are more apt to see it as a zero-sum competition cloaked in hypocritical Western rhetoric, and to set Chinese trade policy accordingly. Americans may see religious liberty as an important source of social stability that prevents sectarian conflict; the PRC sees Christians and Muslims as potentially destabilizing agents capable of attracting foreign meddlers and breaking its grip on power, much like the Taiping, Panthay, and Dungan separatist movements before them. Hence its repression of Christians and its subjection of Muslims to concentration camps and cultural genocide. Americans may see Hong Kong as an economic success story that frightens the Chinese Communist Party only because it has freedom; the PRC is more apt to see behind that freedom the legacy of the British imperial footprint.

Its not necessary for Americans to buy into all the assumptions behind Xi Jinpings view of Chinese history. Nor should we oversimplify Xis influences, which also include his own fathers comparatively lenient and less successful career administering Xinjiang. But it is vital, in dealing with the government of China, to understand that history is always the ghost at the banquet table. In the words of William Faulkner, The past is never dead. Its not even past.

More from National Review
The Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors senior advocate, Sanjay Hegde and advocate Sadhana Ramachandran, on Monday submitted their report in Supreme Court about the mediation attempts with Delhis Shaheen Bagh protesters to persuade them to shift their demonstrations to an alternative site.

The report was placed in sealed cover before the bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph which is hearing a plea seeking lifting of road blockade at Shaheen Bagh.

The court said that it will examine the report but refused to give a copy to the petitioners, stating that the report will not form any part of the court record.

The case will now be heard on February 26.

Hegde and Ramachandran were appointed by the top court on February 17 to talk to the protesters, who are opposing the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), to convince them to move to a site which does not inconvenience the public.

The bench while hearing the plea last week had reaffirmed that though the right to protest is a fundamental right, such protests cannot continue indefinitely on a public road.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Monday stepped up security at Shaheen Bagh protest site after violent clashes broke out in north-east Delhi over the amended citizenship law, the police said.

Protests at Shaheen Bagh have continued since December 15 last year, when a small group of women first assembled at the spot to oppose the passage in Parliaments of CAA. The crowd has grown in size over the last two months, leading to the blockade of an arterial road that passes through the area.

RP Meena, deputy commissioner of police (south-east district), said while the situation was normal and peaceful at Shaheen Bagh on Monday, security was increased to avoid any untoward incident at the spot. The security was increased in Shaheen Bagh and the neighbouring areas. We are also gathering information from the protests site regularly to make sure that no miscreants enter there, he said.

Protesters in the Shaheen Bagh area could be seen discussing the news of clashes, rioting and arson in Jafrabad and adjoining areas on Monday.

There are so many videos of stone-pelting, houses and vehicles on fire from Jafrabad and other areas on social media. People in Shaheen Bagh were attacked in the past as well. I sent my two children back home in the afternoon, said Shaukat Hasan, 45, a local who has been attending the anti-CAA protest in Shaheen Bagh since December.

Jameela (35), another protester, said she avoided taking her children to the protest site on Monday.

Samad Ali, a local businessman and protester, said: The anti-CAA protesters are being targeted across the country and no action is being taken against those who are provoking the mob. A BJP leader yesterday provoked people against the protesters in Jafrabad and Maujpur. See, what has happened today. Who will take the responsibility of this now?

The developments came on a day interlocutors appointed by the Supreme Court filed a report in the apex court following discussions with the Shaheen Bagh protesters over the possibility of an alternative site for the demonstrations.

On Monday evening, an announcer told the gathering at Shaheen Bagh: They have a problem with us for blocking the roads. We will not get scared and continue our protest till the CAA is revoked. We are sitting here for a cause.

(With inputs from HT Correspondent)

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Afghan officials say at least six people have been killed in a Taliban attack in the northern Balkh Province, amid a weeklong "reduction of violence" agreed between the United States and the Taliban.

Five people were also wounded in the attack on February 24 that targeted a checkpoint of pro-government forces in Balkh's Chahar Kint district, local governor Salima Mazari said.

In Samangan Province, the militants abducted a district governor along with two other government employees while they were on the way to work on February 24, the provincial governor's spokesman, Mohammad Sediq Azizi said.

Earlier this month, the United States and the Taliban separately announced the "reduction in violence" that took effect on February 22.

If the truce holds, it will be followed by the signing of a peace accord that would see the Pentagon pull thousands of troops from Afghanistan.

Afghan media, however, reported that the Taliban carried out several small-scale attacks on checkpoints manned by Afghan security forces.

Earlier, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid was quoted by the dpa news agency as saying that during the seven-day reduction in violence there would be no attacks on major cities, military corps, garrisons, or bases belonging to international forces.

Mujahid said that any other attacks outside major cities should not be considered a violation of the deal.

Based on reporting by dpa and Tolo News
In a revelation that threatens his hold on office, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of lying about his attendance at a boozy Downing Street garden party in May 2020  at the height of Britain's strict COVID lockdown.

The latest: Johnson delivered a statement on Wednesday confirming for the first time that he attended a lockdown-breaking party, telling Parliament: "I want to apologize. I know millions of people have made extraordinary sacrifices. I know the anguish they have been through. I know the rage they feel."
Thousands of partiers gathered Sunday on Syracuses Tipperary Hill to celebrate whats become our own mini Mardi Gras. As soon as Peter Coleman drew the first pint of green Coors Light from the tanker truck outside his Irish pub, the St. Patricks Day holiday season in Central New York had officially begun.

Streets in the West Side neighborhood started filling up at about 11 a.m. as people jockeyed for a spot to watch the 10-minute parade. Irish dancers and bagpipers followed grand marshals David Hoyne and Chow Downey and Miss Green Beer 2020 Meghan Price Cass along Tompkins Street from the upside-down traffic light to Colemans.

Once the tanker arrived, the cheering crowd gathered to watch Coleman pour the ceremonial first pints of green beer. The party then spilled into his pub and into the adjacent parking lot.

By 2 p.m., the temperature had reached 50 degrees and the lines to get into Colemans stretched for three blocks, longer than the parade itself.

Here are some pictures from the celebration.

41 Green Beer Sunday in Syracuse

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Slainte! An insiders guide to the pubs of Tipperary Hill in Syracuse
London, Feb 24 : The World Health Organisation has said it is too early now to call the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic yet, but the world should do more to prepare for such an eventuality, reports said on Monday.

The WHO said countries should be "in a phase of preparedness" for a pandemic, when an infectious disease spreads easily from person to person in various parts of the world, the BBC reported.

More cases of the virus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19, continue to emerge, with worrying outbreaks in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

However, most infections are in China, the original source of the virus, where 77,000 people have the disease and nearly 2,600 have died.

Over 1,200 cases have been confirmed in about 30 other countries and there have been more than 20 deaths. Italy reported three more deaths on Monday, raising the total there to six.

Worldwide stock markets saw sharp falls because of concerns about the economic impact of the virus.

China said it would postpone the annual meeting of the National People's Congress next month, to "continue the efforts" against the coronavirus. This is the first time the meeting has been postponed since 1978.
As South Korea witnessed a spike in Coronavirus cases, Mongolias National Emergency Commission has decided to halt all the flights from the affected nation. The landlocked country between Russian and China has also blocked entry through its borders until March 2 in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Mongolia.

Ulaanbaatar has started taking drastic measures as the novel Coronavirus after various countries in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East started reporting more cases of the deadly virus. Earlier, Mongolia had blocked all entries through its border with China which also led to the suspension of coal deliveries into the Coronavirus-hit nation.

South Korea has confirmed an additional 161 Coronavirus cases on February 24, with 763 total confirmed cases, making it the largest number of cases in the world after China. Most numbers of cases in South Korea are related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu.

Indian Embassy issues advisory

The Indian Embassy in South Korea urged its citizens to reconsider non-essential travels to Daegu and Cheongdo county in Gyeongbuk after these were declared as Special Care zones by the government in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak. The Embassy issued an advisory for Indian nationals living in South Korea following several calls and e-mails from them regarding the spike in the number of coronavirus cases in South Korea over the past few days.

Read: Coronavirus: 'Reconsider Travelling To Daegu In South Korea,' Advises Indian Embassy

Though the Korean government raised the virus alert level to red, most of the cases were largely centred in Daegu and the neighbouring north Gyeongsang province. Korean Government has declared Daegu and Cheongdo county in Gyeongbuk as Special Care zones. In this situation, please reconsider non-essential travel to these places, tweeted the Indian Embassy on February 24.

Read: China 'comprehensively Bans' Illegal Wildlife Trade Over Coronavirus Outbreak

According to the latest report, 150 new deaths in China due to Coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to nearly 2,600. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including Italy, Japan and the Philippines, have also now reported deaths related to COVID-19.

Read: Iran Govt Pledges Transparency On Coronavirus Figures After Cover-up Allegations

Read: Chinese Woman Builds anti-coronavirus Tent For Daughter So She Can Study Outside

(With inputs from agencies)
By Express News Service

While American President Donald Trumps two-day visit to India is grabbing eyeballs, the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that the US has surpassed China to become Indias largest trade partner. The bilateral trade between India and the US stood at $87.95 billion in 2018-19, the data revealed.

The bilateral trade between India and China stood at $87.07 billion in 2018-19.

According to the commerce ministry, during April-December 2019-20, the bilateral trade between US and India stood at $68 billion, compared to $64.96 billion with China in the same period.China was Indias top trading partner since 2013-14 till 2017-18. Before China, UAE was the countrys largest trading nation. America is also one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus. On the other hand, India has a huge trade deficit with China. In 2018-19, India has a trade surplus of $16.85 billion with US, while it has a deficit of $53.56 billion with China.

And against the backdrop of Coronavirus outbreak and the visit of the US president to India, experts believe that US will continue to remain the largest trading partner of India in the coming years.

A trade deal between the US and India would further increase the trade between the two countries easing tariff restriction and opening up of bigger market for products. India is a major exporter of steel, steel products and aluminium products with combined exports of $ 22.7 billion last year, Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Professor at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade said.

And as India and US were already negotiating a limited trade pact, experts claim there is bleak chance of it to be signed during Trumps visit, beginning February 24.

India is demanding cut in visa fees, exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, and greater market access for its products from sectors such as agriculture, automobile, automobile components and engineering.

The US wants greater market access for its farm and manufacturing products, dairy items, medical devices, and data localisation, apart from cut on import duties on some information and communication technology products.
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday met US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette to review ongoing strategic partnership in energy sector between the two nations.

"Co-chaired with US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette the U.S-India Energy Cooperation Roundtable attended by US and Indian energy companies organized by US India Strategic Partnership Forum," Pradhan tweeted.

India has begun sourcing crude oil from the US in a big way as it looks to move away from its traditional suppliers in the volatile Middle East region. It also has signed up long-term contracts for import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US.

India is looking to ramp up imports from the US to meet its vast energy needs.

"Had a good meeting with United States Secretary of Energy, Mr. Dan Brouillette. Congratulated @SecBrouillette and wished him success in his new role," Pradhan tweeted. "We jointly reviewed the ongoing Strategic Energy Partnership between our two countries and agreed to take it to the next level."



He did not elaborate on the deliberations at the meeting.

"Had a productive engagement with energy players from the US and India to advance our goals of energy security with the objective of achieving energy justice for our people," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Answer: Haldirams (Image: Official Facebook page)

Food company Haldiram's is in talks with private equity player General Atlantic for a minority stake sale that may value the company at $5-6 billion, according to a report by The Economic Times.

Sources told the publication that the US-based private equity firm is eyeing a 10 percent stake in Haldirams, which manufactures popular namkeen and other snacks.

Private equity firm TA Associates is also mulling buying a stake in the company, the report added.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

General Atlantic and Manohar Agarwal, who heads Haldirams in Delhi, have not yet responded to requests for comment by The Economic Times.

The publication also noted that TA Associates' Managing Director Dhiraj Poddar has not yet responded to the papers request for comment.

Haldirams operates out of three centres  Delhi, Nagpur and Kolkata  since the Agarwal family split the business between themselves in the 1990s.

In 2019, media outlets reported that cereal maker Kelloggs was considering purchasing a stake in Haldirams, but the talks reportedly failed because Kelloggs was interested in a majority stake.
SACRAMENTO  Home builders have lobbied for years to cut the fees that local governments can charge them to offset the effects their projects have on roads, police and other public services, arguing that the additional costs make construction prohibitively expensive in California.

A legislative package unveiled Monday by five Assembly Democrats proposes to cap those fees and waive them altogether for some projects, in hopes of providing a jolt to the states stagnating construction rates and easing the housing shortage.

Assemblyman Tim Grayson, D-Concord, said exorbitant fees have been passed on to consumers through home prices that are beyond reach for most and effectively barred a generation of Californians from one of the most reliable forms of wealth generation available  that is, owning a home.

We cannot achieve our goal of building housing for all Californians at all income levels if some local jurisdictions continue to place a disproportionate financial burden on the backs of new home buyers, Grayson said.

Impact fees are supposed to be tied to specific infrastructure and services needed to support new housing in a community. Developers, however, have accused cities of using them to cover budget shortfalls or to create a financial barrier to housing they dont want built.

A report released last year by the state Department of Housing and Community Development warned that high fees may be impeding residential development in California. The report concluded that wide variations in fees across the state and a lack of transparency about those costs have made it more difficult for developers to figure out financing.

In San Francisco, one of the most expensive places to build in the world, fees for transit, parks, schools, police and other services add up to around $50,000 per unit. Multifamily projects must set aside units for low-income tenants or pay to fund affordable housing elsewhere, adding another $50,000 to $75,000 per unit.

Grayson introduced AB3145, which would cap local fees at 12% of the median home price for a city or county and require state approval to exceed that limit. He also proposed AB1924, which would require that fees be proportionate to square footage, allowing smaller homes to be built more cheaply.

Other bills in the package would overhaul the standards that local governments use to determine their fees, reimburse cities that waive impact fees on affordable-housing projects, mandate more data reporting to the state, give the public more advance notice before fees are added or increased, and allow developers to pay certain fees under protest so they can negotiate for a lower amount.

Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, is carrying AB3148, which would reduce the fees charged for affordable housing units by up to 75%. He said the fee proposals were part of a broader push by lawmakers to focus this year on boosting housing production.

The construction industry is building fewer than 80,000 houses and apartments annually, less than half what state experts project is needed to keep pace with population growth in the next decade. Gov. Gavin Newsom has been more ambitious, pledging during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign that the state would build 3.5 million homes by 2025, which would require the state to quintuple the rate of production.

But new housing starts actually declined slightly last year, according to industry reports. The biggest housing bill in the Legislature, San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wieners SB50, failed in the Senate last month under intense opposition from local governments.

Efforts to reduce impact fees, a critical source of revenue for cities and counties, could face similar hurdles. Grayson said he would push to tie the bills to funding in the budget that could offset those losses.

Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino (Los Angeles County), said there was a tremendous degree of frustration in the Legislature that local governments have not been more open to removing barriers to housing production.

These bills are a real opportunity for cities to demonstrate that they want to come to the table and be part of the solution, he said.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:

Representatives of the Azerbaijani and Lithuanian customs services have discussed prospects for the development of relations, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

Chairman of Azerbaijans State Customs Committee, Colonel General of the Customs Service Safar Mehdiyev noted during a meeting held with Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Egidijus Navikas that relations between the two countries cover all spheres.

Safar Mehdiyev informed the ambassador about the reforms carried out under the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in all areas, including the customs system.

The colonel general noted that the applied innovations, along with the development of Azerbaijans export potential, simplification of customs processes, ensuring transparency, create favorable conditions for easy and quick implementation of international trade.

It was noted that the goal of structural and personnel reforms in the customs sphere is to create a flexible and dynamic customs service with the involvement of professional personnel.

Egidijus Navikas expressed his countrys interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan in all areas.

Speaking about the pace of development of customs relations between the two countries, the ambassador touched upon prospects in this area.

Navikas said that he will continue to make every effort to further strengthen the interaction between the Azerbaijani and Lithuanian customs services.
Media Moments, a leading marketing communication consultancy that delivers integrated communications services to some of the best Indian and global companies, has bagged the mandate for Globe Capital, Indias largest clearing house and leading financial service group.

Media Moments, will help Globe Capital build affinity via brand advocacy on digital and offline space with a distinct brand persona. The agency will be responsible for creative requirements along with digital transformation and website revamp.

On association with Media Moments, Himanshu Joshi who leads the product innovation team at Globe Capital said We are extremely happy to partner with Media Moments. We were looking for a right partner that help us craft our brands identity in todays digital age and Media Moments came across as the perfect fit. We look forward to working with them to leverage Globe Capital strengths and enhance the companys mindshare among investors and potential investors.

The company would not only be responsible for creative and website requirements but also walk alongside us with strategic inputs on the brand. he further added

Globe Capital is Indias largest clearing house and leading financial service group committed to help people achieve their financial goals. The company is known for its rich experience in the capital market that offer its clients a wide portfolio of savings and investment solutions.

Sandeep Sreekumar Managing Director, Media Moments, said It is great to be able to partner with a leading financial services company that is committed to consolidate, communicate and simplify investment for the common man. It is a very exciting assignment for us with a huge task at hand of designing the new creative identity of the brand. We are confident that our innovative approach and creative solutions will help infuse fresh energy into brand portfolio and push it to newer heights.

Headquartered in Bangalore Headquartered in Bangalore, Media Moments has been recognized as one of the leading communication agencies in India offering cutting-edge marketing and communication services to many new as well as established brands from different sectors not only in India but also in many other countries.

Talking about the expansion plan of the Media Moments Ms. Preeti Pandey Head Business and Strategy at Media Moments said We are vehement to on board Globe Capital as our esteemed client. The companies in the financial sector have an intrinsic need to show clear and consistent differentiation and exhibit consumer-centric propositions. We are delighted to partner with them and contribute in building brand strong presence among its stakeholders.

With this win, Media Moments has added another marquee brand to its growing portfolio of brands in the North. As communications become more integrated, we are confident Media Moments will be at the forefront of servicing both brands and their customers to connect better and enjoy stronger relationships. We are confident our strategic approach will definitely help drive a lot of meaning full visibility for the brand. We look forward to working together in amplifying the brands story to the next level.

Over the last 10 years, the agency has built a very strong expertise in integrated marketing. The portfolio already includes has a host of premium/ luxury brands in lifestyle/ FMCG/fashion/automobile/ healthcare and start-up segment. Media Moments believes that a deep understanding of how to create and execute a hybrid communication plan on both offline and online that encompasses Creative/Social/PR /Digital/Offline media channels equips them to be a valued partner. They have successfully counselled brands like Aditya Birla Group, Sattva Salarpuria, Himalaya Personal Care, Myntra, VLCC, Max Fashion, Reliance Trends, One Plus, Blackberrys Menswear, LOccitane , TCL and SBL Homeopathy to name a few
The pride and strong values of the U.S. agriculture community are shared by farmers across the world.

But even for Maddie Smith, who was raised around farming and plans to pursue a career in agriculture, it took a trip abroad to realize this.

Smith, a Fillmore Central graduate and current freshman at the University of Minnesota, was one of many state FFA officers who traveled to Europe in January to gain a global perspective of agriculture.

The group spent the first two weeks of 2020 taking in Spain and Portugal for the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers, in which all state officers throughout the country participated.

"Students will not only see the importance of agriculture on an international level, but understand it is essential to feeding the world," said Eric Nelson, manager of the program for the National FFA Organization. "The seminar exposes students to culture and food production practices beyond what they are accustomed to in the U.S."

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Smith is part of the 14-member state officer team in Minnesota, and serves as the state's treasurer. She said the officer team spends a lot of time traveling the state and meeting with students enrolled in agriculture classes and members of the more than 200 FFA chapters.

The leadership team also does some "policy work," said Smith, and has met with important agricultural leaders throughout the state, including Gov. Tim Walz and representatives from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

State officers have also made trips to Nashville and Washington D.C., but Smith said her most memorable experience was the trip to Spain and Portugal. The two-week trip came after her first semester in college, which Smith said was helpful because she was "a little more used to being uncomfortable in unfamiliar places."

FFA members traveled through Madrid, Toledo and Seville, where they visited a cattle farm and an olive oil co-op. Spain is the world's top producer of olive oil. They drove through the "Sea of Plastic" in the farming province of Almeria, named for the 77,000 acres of greenhouses that grow much of Europe's fruits and vegetables.

After crossing the border to Portugal, members met the U.S. Ambassador George Glass, visited a cork factory (Portugal is the world's top cork producer) and visited a college. Smith said the group took its final stop in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.

Lisbon was the most "colorful and lively" stop of the trip, said Smith, but in every city, a deep history was evident.

"A simple building you see while looking around could be older than our entire country," said Smith. "It really puts into perspective the depth of what's behind a community, and makes me wonder what my community will look like when it's as old."

A familiar sentiment

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While in Spain, Smith spoke on a panel consisting of FFA members and agricultural leaders in the country. One of the topics was the difference in trends between countries, during which she got to share points on U.S. crop trends.

The most significant takeaway Smith had from the panel, which rotated between translated FFA remarks and those of Spanish farmers, was the matching values associated with industries in the U.S. and Spain.

One Spanish farmer on the panel talked about generational renewal, and passing down a farm from one generation to the next. When the farmer used the phrase "farming is more than just a job, but a lifestyle," Smith recognized it with excitement.

"Word for word, that is something I've heard my Dad say on the farm, and across the county where I grew up and from farmers and students across the state," she said. "To see that shared value halfway across the world was a huge thing for me."

On the other hand, Smith picked up on a contrast between the two continents.

With more than 27,000 students in Minnesota FFA alone, "learning about agriculture in classes on a daily basis," ag education in the U.S. is "extremely strong." Schools in Spain and Portugal, however, don't teach the subject.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Restrictions on entry through the Diluju border checkpoint on Turkey's border with Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic entered into force on Feb. 23 at 17:00, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral told reporters while commenting on the entries through Diluju amidst the spread of coronavirus in Iran, Trend reports.

Erkan Ozoral noted that a number of measures have been taken at this checkpoint regarding the coronavirus threat in Iran.

Iranian officials have pointed out on Feb. 24 that 60 people have been confirmed to be infected with coronavirus. Several states have already closed borders with Iran and put a ban on flights to the Islamic Republic.

The Diluju border checkpoint is located at the tip of the corridor that connects Turkey with Azerbaijan's Nakchivan Autonomous Republic. Also, the corridor borders Armenia to the north, and Iran to the south.

"We will provide the necessary information to the official circles of Azerbaijan regarding the measures taken. Turkish and Azerbaijani officials keep close contact and hold discussions," the ambassador said.

The envoy added that the restrictive measures at the Diluju checkpoint have recently been applied.

"The measures will be specified today," Erkan Ozoral said.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Since then over 2,360 people have died and over 79,000 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 South Korea, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran, Thailand, the US, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam, the UAE, the UK, France, Macau, Canada, Philippines, India, Russia, Spain, Lebanon, Nepal, Cambodia, Israel, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Egypt and Sri Lanka.
Ajay Raju, chairman and CEO at law firm Dilworth Paxson. Raju says hes raising tens of milllions to invest in start-ups in Philadelphia and other cities. Read more

Philadelphia was an innovation and investment backwater, but Ajay Raju says its headed for venture capitals mainstream, and hes personally setting up the partnerships to make it happen, pledges the real estate finance lawyer and chairman of the law firm Dilworth Paxson.

Though its home to some of the nations oldest medical research centers, the first modern computer, and the state-funded Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, its a familiar observation that the region ranks far behind Silicon Valley, Boston, New York, and others as a start-up funding center.

But, perhaps for the first time since the citys factory-building heyday, there is no shortage of talented founders with great ideas and road maps who are designing the future, Raju insists over afternoon coffee in his office, lined with modern art, overlooking City Hall. From CHOP and Penn, the Navy Yard Business Center, and Nerd [North Third] Street. They need red carpets, not red tape. And they need capital.

Arent adventurous investors scarce? Raju says there are plenty of rich people and enterprises that have made money in the business prosperity of the Obama and Trump years, and are looking for good hometown bets  but they need help finding each other.

So hes lined up partners to start three Philly-based venture fund groups, each collecting commitments in the tens of millions of dollars.

First is 215 Capital, a subscription-only Series A pledge fund whose 100-plus members invest on a deal-by-deal basis in med-tech innovation, software-as-a-service (SaaS), eco-tech, and real estate tech firms with proven revenues in excess of $1 million.

To build the 215 fund, Raju is partners with Nooruddin Karsan, founder of HR software maker Kenexa, which Karsan and his investors sold to IBM for $1.3 billion in 2012. Rudy Karsans firm, Karlani Capital, has lately co-invested with AXA and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar in the fast-growing Ambler-based HR systems maker Phenom People.

Raju says Karlani Capital plus his personal investment group, Indigo Global, have separately invested a total of more than $70 million in venture-backed companies.

Together as 215 Capital, the group raised an initial $5 million in 2017-19, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Its early targets include mobile-customer acquirer Blue Track Media, developer David Blumenfelds Cross Properties, and utilities automation software maker Ecosave, which have Philadelphia offices, and hotel software maker Intelity of Orlando.

At Backswing Ventures, Raju is partners with former Cross Properties investor relations manager Jake Weston and ex-Wall Streeters Kyle Asman and Courtney Lawless. Raju said its raising a $50 million sector-agnostic investment fund targeting firms that will be profitable within 12 months of investment.

For Togo Ventures, a med-tech fund group focusing on clinical development and drug discovery, cellular and gene therapies, and patient management and digital health, Raju has a 50/50 partnership with Christopher Kit" Dobyns. He cofounded TrialSpark, which started in Philadelphia and moved to New York after raising $80 million (on a valuation of over $500 million) from West Coast giant Sequoia Capital.

Targeting individuals, wealthy families, nonprofit endowments, state and municipal retirement plans, and other big investors, Raju says the initial Togo fund is also aimed at $50 million. The plan is to raise greater amounts,as Philadelphia-based private investment firms LLR Partners and NewSpring Capital have over the last 20 years.

Successful Philly-based firms like LLR, NewSpring, and First Round Capital, which now raise dollars by the billion, have mostly invested far from Philadelphia. There are also smaller funds that have backed both local and out-of-town targets.

Raju said his funds, too, will look farther afield  We are geography-agnostic and return-devout  but adds that he feels a home-court advantage in Philly, with local innovators and founders behind the burgeoning med-tech revolution.

Raju figures more than $1 billion in the last five years has flowed into small and start-up Philadelphia companies from venture capitalists in Boston and New York, San Francisco and Shanghai. So there must be room for locally owned investment platforms and the profits  2% a year of invested assets, plus 20% of profits, according to Backswings rate sheet  that will presumably flow.

Its easy to invest. Its a lot harder getting paid back, especially in one of these bubbly periods when there are companies going public and selling stock before they have any products  let alone profits.

Yes, valuations are inflated at the moment, Raju agrees. But we dont have a fixed time horizon for investment. Though his investors likely will.

Rajus bottom line, he says, is noncontroversial: Phillys innovation ecosystem needs capital and plenty of it.
Bombshell actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas who is back in Mumbai posed with her gal pal Katrina Kaif for a perfect selfie.

Katrina shared the sweet moment on her Instagram and captioned the post, "A little makeup party."

The post featured a selfie, where Priyanka was seen flaunting beauty products from Katrina's newly launched cosmetic range.

Actor turned makeup mogul came out with her own beauty line called 'Kay by Katrina' in 2019.

"From our kathak days at Guruji s .... till now it's always a blast with u," Kaif added.

'The Sky is Pink' actor, on the other hand, even thanked 'Bharat' actor for giving her the newly-launched products.

"Thank you @katrinakaif for all my @kaybykatrina goodies!! They r amazing! So proud of u!," Chopra wrote across the picture shared on her Instagram story.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israeli defence minister Naftali Bennett said, 'We have eliminated six terrorists in the past 24 hours, not just in Gaza'

Gaza: Palestinian militants fired rockets from Gaza into Israel on Monday after an Israeli air strike in Damascus killed two members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group.

Israeli jets carried out strikes on suspected Islamic Jihad positions in Syria just before midnight on Sunday after the militants and Israeli forces clashed over the Gaza border.

The strikes in the Adeliyah region outside Damascus targeted what the Israeli military called a hub of Islamic Jihads activity in Syria, including the research and development of weapons.

Islamic Jihad later said in a statement that two of its members were killed in the air strike. Israeli defence minister Naftali Bennett said, We have eliminated six terrorists in the past 24 hours, not just in Gaza.

The Syrian state news agency SANA quoted a military source as saying Israeli aircraft entered Syrian air space and targeted areas around Damascus with a wave of guided missiles.

Syrian state-run al-Ikhbariya television aired footage of what it said were explosions in the Damascus night sky showing Syrias air defence system shooting down missiles.

The Syrian military source said most missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets. The strike escalated a round of hostilities which began around dawn on Sunday when, Israel said, its troops killed an Islamic Jihad member who was trying to plant explosives near Israels border fence with the Gaza Strip.

Video footage shot by a Gaza photographer and widely posted on social media showed what appeared to be the lifeless body of an Islamic Jihad militant dangling from an Israeli military bulldozer as it removed the corpse.

The images caused an uproar in Gaza, prompting calls for retaliation. Islamic Jihad later fired a barrage of rockets into Israel, drawing dozens of Israeli air strikes in Gaza.

The rocket barrages at Israeli border towns were renewed on Monday, sending residents to shelters and the military said it was closing downs roads in the area as a precaution. No casualties were reported.

A Palestinian official said truce talks were under way, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

But Islamic Jihad signalled that talk of a ceasefire was premature. The Zionist aggression on Damascus and the martyrdom of two of our mujahideen in the bombing will not go without a response. The account isnt settled yet, Abu Hamza, a spokesman for Islamic Jihads armed wing, said on Twitter.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti on Monday said the government was busy with the visit of US President Donald Trump to India, while Delhi was "burning" and 8 million Kashmiris deprived of their fundamental rights.

She said the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi is remembered only during visits by foreign dignitaries to Sabarmati Ashram.

"'Hi Tea' & Namastey Trump while Delhi burns & 8 million Kashmiris remain deprived of fundamental rights. Gandhi ji's legacy remembered only at perfunctory visits to Sabarmati ashram by foreign dignitaries. His values long forgotten," Iltija tweeted.

Iltija has been tweeting from her mother's Twitter handle after the PDP president was taken into custody on August 5 last year following the abrogation of Article 370.

US President Donald Trump landed at Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Monday for his first visit to India to a grand welcome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thousands of people who lined the streets and packed into the Motera stadium there to say "Namaste Trump".

The first stop in the Trump visit was the Sabarmati Ashram, home to Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1930 during India's freedom struggle.

From Ahmedabad, the Trumps will travel to Agra and then on to New Delhi on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, a Delhi Police head constable was killed and a deputy commissioner of police injured as clashes over the amended citizenship law broke out in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

Violence between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was also reported in the Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the national capital.

This is the second day of clashes in the city where Trump will arrive on Monday evening.
An Italian judge has ordered a controversial businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, to stand trial, for his role in the Malabu OPL 245 scandal.

Reuters reported Wednesday that the Milan prosecutors alleged that Mr Abubakar played a major role in one of the oil industrys biggest scandal in years.

The controversial businessman, through his companies, received over half of the $1.1 billion paid by Shell and Eni for OPL 245. He also allegedly gave out more than $500 million in cash to powerful Nigerian government officials.

But Mr Abubakars Italian lawyer, Davide Pozzi, said his client, who lives in Nigeria, denies any wrongdoing in the case.

Mr Abubakar will clarify his position in the appropriate place, he was quoted by Reuters as saying.

The controversial Malabu deal was struck in 2011 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. The arrangement saw the Nigerian government stand as a negotiator in the controversial sale of the oil block in offshore Nigerian waters.

Two international oil firms, Shell and Eni, paid out about $1.1 billion to Nigerian government accounts in the UK which then transferred most of the money to Malabu, a company then controlled by Nigerias former petroleum minister, Dan Etete.

It was Mr Etetes Malabu that transferred the over $500 million to accounts controlled by Mr Abubakar, who is also being prosecuted in Nigeria for his role in the scandal.

The payout immediately became a subject of cross-border investigation spanning over six countries. Several Nigerian government officials were believed to have received several millions of dollars in bribes for the enabling roles they played.

A larger trial including Shell, Eni and 13 other defendants is ongoing in Italy.

Those on trial include Enis current CEO, Claudio Descalzi; former CEO Paolo Scaroni, and Chief Operations and Technology Officer Roberto Casula alongside four former Royal Dutch Shell staff members including Malcolm Brinded, former Executive Director for Shells Upstream International operations, and two former MI6 agents employed by Shell.

Since 2012 when it first denied all allegations to PREMIUM TIMES, Shell had insisted that it only paid the Nigerian government for the OPL 245 oil block and did not know Mr Etete was the recipient or that he was an ex-convict.

But in 2017, Shell admitted to The Times that it negotiated with Mr Etete who as petroleum minister in 1998 awarded the OPL 245 oil block to Malabu, a company he partly owned.

The case against Eni and Shell brought by the Milan public prosecutor alleges that $520 million from the deal was converted into cash and intended to be paid to Mr Jonathan, members of the government and other Nigerian officials.

The prosecutors further allege that part of the money was also channelled to Eni and Shell executives with $50 million in cash delivered to the home of Enis Roberto Casula.

The time has come that the Italian government, as main shareholder of Eni, considers suspending all those managers involved in the case until the final judgement.

We hope to see the money from this deal swiftly returned to the Nigerian people. said Nick Hildyard of Corner House who has been monitoring the trial and the OPL 245 deal.

Eni and Shell, together with their managers and other defendants have denied wrongdoing and vowed to establish their innocence in the ongoing trial.

Meanwhile Mr Abubakar, was already under investigation but prosecutors were unable to locate him to serve the necessary deeds to put him on trial until he appeared in the case as a witness via a video linkup in February 2019, Reuters report added.

According to his Italian lawyer, Mr Abubakars trial has been scheduled to commence May 14 before a Milan court.

Prosecutors are due to begin summing up their case beginning March 25.

Nigerian trial

In Nigeria, Mr Abubakar and a former justice minister, Mohammed Adoke, are standing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja for money laundering.

Both men were arraigned on a seven-count charge and pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Of the seven charges, Mr Adoke had six counts while Mr Abubakar had one count.

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The two men are also standing trial alongside others at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwagwalada in Abuja for their alleged roled in the Malabu Oil scam.

According to the anti-graft agency, EFCC, Mr Abubakar in September 2013, made payments (in naira and dollars), of about N900 million into Mr Adokes accounts.

This is in violation of various provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, the EFCC said.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

The two courts have granted bail to Messrs Adoke and Abubakar and both men have been released after meeting their bail conditions.
With the telecom firms staring at a massive Rs 1.47 lakh crore of AGR dues, SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar on Monday said 'nobody wants to kill the sector'

Mumbai: With the telecom firms staring at a massive Rs 1.47 lakh crore of AGR dues, SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar on Monday said "nobody wants to kill the sector".

The state-owned bank is yet to hear from the government on the issue, he said, when asked if it has sought views from bankers.

"Nobody wants to kill the sector, let me be very clear," Kumar said, when asked about the problems being faced by the telecom industry.

It can be noted that earlier this month, Kumar had said that State Bank of India has a loan outstanding of Rs 29,000 crore to the telecom sector and another Rs 14,000 crore in bank guarantees, which can get invoked in case of a non-payment of dues by the telcos.

There has been a flurry of meetings in the national capital between senior official of the telecom firms and the government over the past week.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court has asked the telecom firms to deposit an estimated Rs 1.47 lakh crore in past dues for spectrum and licences by 17 March.

Payment of the dues is being seen as an existential threat for some players, especially Vodafone Idea, which has to pay RS 53,000 crore.
Hyderabad: Hyderabadis want President Donald Trump to taste Hyderabadi Biryani in the Old City. Requests are rife on social media for the President to visit the city and taste the citys flavour.

There are also the usual tongue-in-cheek requests for him to visit the city so that the pothole ridden roads would at last be fixed, since it is the invariable practice of state governments to wake up and refurbish civic infrastructure to impress visiting dignitaries.

One Naresh Tota tweeted, Hello! I request @Trump to taste Hyderabad biryani during his stay in India.

Some have even generously offered to get the biryani to wherever Trump is in case time constraintsmake it impossible for him to visit the city.

When the Presidents daughter Ivanka came to the city in 2017 for a summit, the citys roads were re-carpeted along the entire route she passed through and residents are begging the President to visit their locality so that the same may be repeated: Inviting World Supreme leader #DonaldTrump and entourage to my residence in Surya Nagar Enclave #safilguda #Hyderabad #Telangana.

Please accept sir, then at least #ghmc will meet our colony roads repair demands, tweeted another twitter handle. Another netizen hilariously suggested that even the presidential airplane passing over the city would do much good.

Cant agree more! President Trump @realDonaldTrump if not a visit, Just let your aircraft fly over Hyderabad.

I am confident that our government will make all roads look like Washington DC, tweeted Robin Zaccheus.
LG Chem's first battery plant in Nanjing, China / Courtesy of LG Chem



By Nam Hyun-woo



The spread of COVID-19 will have a limited impact on the activities of Korean rechargeable battery makers' plants in China in contrast to earlier thoughts that the deadly virus would significantly drag down profitability of LG Chem, Samsung SDI and SK Innovation, according to industry officials.



They said they don't expect mid- or long-term damages to their bid for battery businesses in China, but added closely monitoring the developments of the situation to prevent potential setbacks in securing raw materials and supplying batteries to their clients.



According to each company, LG Chem and SK Innovation has resumed the operation of their battery plants in China since Feb. 10. The plants' operation had been forced to slow down since China's New Year holidays following the Chinese central and regional governments' guideline on businesses throughout most of China to shut down by Feb. 9 to prevent further spreading of the virus.



LG Chem and SK Innovation have their respective battery plants in Nanjing and Changzhou, the cities both in Jiangsu Province. Nanjing and Changzhou are each 530 kilometers and 670 kilometers east of Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus.



"There have been concerns over running the plant in Changzhou amid the spread of the virus, but the plant currently has no setback in terms of the plant's operation," an SK Innovation official said. "It is under a test run before the full resumption, scheduled next month, and we expect no delays or problems in delivering electric vehicle batteries to carmakers."



SK Innovation completed the plant in December, with a yearly target to produce batteries whose combined output is 7.5 gigawatt hours.



LG Chem is running two battery plants in Nanjing. Annually, the first plant, which began operation in 2016, has a 7.2 gigawatt-hour output and the second plant, which began its commercial operation last month, has a capacity of 6 gigawatt hours.



The two plants have also resumed operation and have yet to report problems in terms of procuring raw materials from Chinese suppliers. An industry source said the number of employees working at the plants are reduced from their normal status, but the impact remains at a limited level.



Samsung SDI, which has battery plants in Tianjin and Xi'an, did not cease their operations despite widespread concerns of the virus; the plants are located farther away than those of their Korean counterparts. The company also said it is yet to experience setbacks or delays in securing raw materials or supplying batteries to its clients.



"Unlike earlier expectations, the impact seems to be remaining at a limited level, with local plants reporting no significant disruption in the scheduled output," an industry official said. "Though it is too early to say what will happen in the future, our plants have piled up enough inventory and secured raw materials from multiple vendors to avoid risks."



Though the companies said that the virus fallout is not as serious as forecasted, they agreed a short-term impact on first quarter earnings was looking inevitable.



"Outputs from Chinese plants are going to the local market and it accounts for approximately 15 percent of our (battery) sales," LG Chem Chief Financial Officer Cha Dong-seok said in a conference call earlier this month. "An adjustment in the operation of Chinese plants seems to be inevitable and impacts are expected on securing materials and distributing batteries."



Samsung SDI also said in its January conference call that its first quarter business will be affected negatively by seasonal factors and the coronavirus.



The three companies have posted disappointing profitability last year. LG Chem logged 454.3 billion won in operating losses for its battery business and SK Innovation also posted a 309.1 billion won operating loss. Samsung SDI did not reveal separate operation profit in its battery business, but analysts assume it posted a 500 billion won loss.






Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara, Amit Sharma was injured during clashes over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in northeast Delhi on Monday, a senior official said.

The 2010-batch IPS officer suffered injuries to his head and hand. He was admitted to Max Hospital, Patparganj and is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the official said.

The officer's vehicle was also set afire by protesters.

Sources said Sharma is unconscious and the doctors will conduct a CT scan to ascertain the extent of injuries.

Clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur on Monday, with protesters torching houses, shops and vehicles, and hurling stones at each other.

A Delhi Police head constable was killed in the violence.

Clashes were also reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas of the city.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Dawit Endeshaw, Giulia Paravicini, Reuters | Feb. 22, 2020

Ethiopia plans to release an interim report into a deadly Boeing 737 MAX crash, which killed 157 passengers and crew, ahead of the first anniversary of the accident next month, according to an official speaking on Saturday.

"We are not ready to release the final report and so we are releasing an interim one which will come out before the anniversary of the accident. We are finalizing it," Amdye Ayalew, the country's chief crash investigator, told Reuters. He declined to give a precise date for the release of the final report.

Boeing's popular 737 MAX has been grounded globally since the March 10 crash, which killed everyone on board, and came just five months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia which killed 189 in a plane of the same model.

Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed in an open field six minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

Under rules overseen by the United Nations' Montreal-based aviation agency, ICAO, Ethiopia should publish a final report by March 10, the crash anniversary. ICAO is not participating in the investigations into the incident.

Ethiopian Transport Ministry spokesman Musie Yehyies declined to explain why the final report was not being released and said on Saturday the investigations committee is expected to meet in the coming weeks to work on it.

A senior official at the ministry of transport, who spoke to Reuters on a condition of anonymity, said the final report was far from completion.

In April last year the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority released a preliminary report which revealed that faulty sensor readings and multiple automatic commands to push down the nose of the Boeing aircraft contributed to the fatal crash and left the crew struggling to regain control.

Experts said the preliminary document left unanswered questions, which are expected to be addressed in the interim report, on why the plane did not respond to pilot and automatic commands including two final nose up instructions from the pilots about 30 seconds before the crash.

Ethiopian Airlines and a Boeing representative in Ethiopia did not respond to requests for comment.
The World Health Organization chief said Monday the world should be working harder to contain the spread of the deadly new coronavirus, and should be preparing for a "potential pandemic".

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that so far, the WHO does not consider the outbreak that has killed more than 2,600 people a pandemic, but said countries should be "doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As lawyers and legal academics living and working on this part of Turtle Island now called Canada, we write to demand an end to the ongoing violations of Indigenous nations internationally recognized right to free, prior, and informed consent  for example, with the Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink pipelines routed through unceded Indigenous lands, including Wetsuweten lands.

Canadian law and legal institutions  from legislation like The Indian Act to court decisions legitimizing treaty violations with racist stereotypes  have long served as instruments of settler colonialism. And they continue to do so with the legal authorization of the violent dispossession, suppression, and criminalization of Indigenous land and water protectors.

Think about everything that First Nations people have survived in this country: the taking of our land, the taking of our children, residential schools, the current criminal justice system, as the late Mohawk legal scholar Patricia Monture-Angus wrote. How was all of this delivered? The answer is simple: through the law.

Through Canadian Eurocentric Law, that is. Clearly, law is not synonymous with justice.

While the Supreme Court has officially recognized that Canada was not in fact terra nullius (nobodys land) before European colonization, Canadian courts and legal institutions continue to treat Indigenous territories as if they are so  enabling a wide scope of governmental and corporate infringement on unceded Indigenous lands, including Wetsuweten land, even in the face of sustained Indigenous resistance.

For example, recent research from the Yellowhead Institute at Ryerson University has found that injunctions are overwhelmingly ordered by Canadian courts in favour of development projects against Indigenous claims. While 76 per cent of injunctions filed by corporations against First Nations were granted, over 80 per cent of injunctions sought by First Nations against corporations and the government were denied.

This pattern is perpetuated with the repeated issuance of injunctions  enforced with violence and threat of lethal force by the RCMP  against the Wetsuweten working against the Coastal GasLink project, authorized without the consent of the hereditary chiefs vested with jurisdiction over the decision.

The right of free, prior, and informed consent enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) logically flows from the recognition that Indigenous governmental, legal, and political orders have existed on this land from time immemorial, long predating the arrival of European settlers.

Canadian settler governments have legally recognized the importance of abiding by UNDRIP and, in the case of British Columbia, sought to incorporate it into domestic provincial law through Bill 41.

And yet, courts continue to ignore UNDRIP, including in the most recent Federal Court of Appeal decision giving a green light to the Trans Mountain pipeline. And the federal government, having promised to implement UNDRIP in domestic law, meanwhile persists in transgressing its standards  consuming land and resources while promising to negotiate their more equitable distribution.

While Wetsuweten land and water protectors are being depicted as transgressors of the rule of law, they are in fact upholding Indigenous and international legal orders.

The tactics wielded against them violate not only international and Wetsuweten laws, but are also in tension with aspects of Canadian law, such as the B.C. legislation implementing UNDRIP, which prohibits forcible removal of Indigenous peoples from their lands.

It is important to understand that while the Wetsuweten defence of the land, and the B.C. and Canadian governments amnesia about their legal and moral obligations, are now drawing international attention, these patterns of government-sanctioned lawlessness are being committed all across Turtle Island.

And so, we call on Canadian governments to respect Indigenous legal orders and the rights of Indigenous peoples enshrined in international law, norms, and standards, including UNDRIP, and honour Indigenous nations right to free, prior, and informed consent.

Otherwise, reconciliation is little more than a facade for ongoing settler colonization.
Deputy Healthcare Minister of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko Open source

In Ukraine, not a single case of infection with the new pneumonia coronavirus has been recorded, including among citizens evacuated from Wuhan. Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko stated this during a briefing in Kyiv.

To date, not a single case has been registered in Ukraine, not a single positive sample has been revealed indicating the presence of coronavirus. Our evacuated citizens, located in a medical facility in the Poltava region, are in a good mood and they have no symptoms of acute respiratory disease, Lyashko noted.

He also added that according to the results of the morning medical examination, none of the evacuees had an elevated temperature or other symptoms that could indicate a possible onset of the disease, although today is already the 5th day of observation.

According to studies by the Ministry of Health, this is one of the most critical days, since 14 days is the maximum duration of the incubation period of the disease. On average, cases of the disease appear on the 4th-5th day after contact with the patient.

As we reported before, Healthcare Minister Zoryana Skaletska is convinced that there is no reason to extend the observation period at the Novi Sanzhary sanatorium by more than 14 days
A heartwarming incident came to light in which a dog swims for 11 hours to find help as its owner's boat was capsized in the middle of the river. The incident occurred in Queensland, Australia which shows dog's love for their owner and the ability to astonish others. A German Shepherd named Heidi is entitled as a hero after she helped her owner out of a life-threatening situation when his boat capsized in waters off Queensland.

READ: Video Of San Diego Police Rescuing A Dog Stuck Between Pillars Wins Internet

Dog swims for 11 hours

She was spotted with the boat debris by a passing fisherman in Moreton Bay. The fisherman immediately informed the authorities about the incident and a search operation was initiated, as per the reports. The Queensland Police, Volunteer Marine Coast Guard and the Volunteer Marine Rescue used four boats, a helicopter, and a Marine Safety jet ski to track down the dog's owner.

They finally found her owner with his capsized boat which was just 4.1 metre in size. The man said that he was in the water for 15 hours and his dog has been swimming for over 11 hours after the sunset and in the dark to find help.

READ: Video: Dog Plays Cricket With Kids, Netizens Call It 'Dhoni's Dog'

Dog stays for owner

Similarly, a dog walker who was in his 60s was hit by a branch after a tree fell on him in Black Wood, Woolton, Liverpool on February 13. He was later rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, according to the reports. But the most heartwarming moment was when his dog stayed with his owner when emergency services attended the scene. Merseyside Police spokesperson confirmed the media that the dog was on the spot where the incident took place and when the police arrived.

According to the reports, the dog's microchip helped the police to identify the man immediately. It is believed that the branch fell on the man as a result of Storm Ciara. Merseyside Police released a statement and confirmed that the man was hit by a falling tree branch in Black Wood in Woolton and passed away. It added that the man in his 60s has now been identified and his next of kin have been informed. It resulted in road closures in the area.

READ: US: Colorado Town Elects Snow Dog Parker As Its Honorary Mayor

READ: UK: Dog Stays With Owner After He Was Killed By A Falling Tree During Storm Ciara

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has written to Indian pharmaceutical trade bodies and industry associations with the offer of extending logistical support for importing drug materials from China. A note sent out to importers on February 21 conveyed that "in light of the coronavirus outbreak in China, the government is planning to provide logistics support to the importers for airlifting the drug materials from China".

DCGI has urged interested importers to use this facility and inform the government about required imports. Importers have been asked to furnish details including the type of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), or the key starting material (KSM) to make the API, that are to be imported from China, the required quantities, import licence and details of manufacturers of listed raw materials, and the airport for airlifting the requested drug materials.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus outbreak could disrupt supply for solar energy sector: Icra

A senior official of the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association confirmed that such a note has been received from the office of DCGI. He further added that it is a positive move on the government's part and that many importers have shared the required details. Some within the industry have pointed out that the airlift route may work well for those who depend on costly raw materials. However, they also caution that not every raw material can be airlifted as there could be some dangerous solvents and other materials not fit for airlift and the position on these is still not clear.

In the meantime, people in the Indian pharma industry have also started talking about some movement happening in terms of shipments from the sea route. Any movement, either by air or by sea, is in many ways, linked to the inland movement within China, which so far has been severely curtailed.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus update: WHO team visits China as death toll jumps to 2,442

Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, said that we do hear from some of the companies that stocks have started moving through the sea route, though it is still early days and the industry is waiting and watching. Some pharma companies also mentioned that their partners in China have shared plans of sending shipments to India, some of which are expected to arrive by the second week of March.

However, for the moment, all players intend to watch the developments in China this week as they will hopefully indicate how many workers have returned to their workplace, and the extent to which the manufacturers in China will be able to ramp up production.

ALSO READ: Amazon warns sellers against peddling fake coronavirus treatments
SEC charges John MacArthurs son with defrauding investment firm clients

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Mark MacArthur, a son of Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in California, has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission along with a wealth management company he founded with defrauding their advisory clients.

The federal agency announced earlier this month that MacArthur, 52, his Criterion Management Insurance Services, Inc., as well as then co-owner Robert Gravette, allegedly breached their fiduciary duty and defrauded their advisory clients by failing to disclose significant financial conflicts of interest when recommending investments in private real estate investment funds.

The SEC's complaint, filed on Feb. 12, alleges that MacArthur and the other defendants listed recommended that their advisory clients invest more than $16 million in four private real estate investment funds without disclosing that the fund managers had paid them more than $1 million from 2014 to 2017.

The $1 million payment was on top of the fees clients were already charged directly. The actions of MacArthur and his company also resulted in reduced returns for some of their clients.

Because this additional side compensation was recurring and depended on Criterions clients remaining invested in the subject funds, Criterion, Gravette, and MacArthur not only had a financial incentive to recommend that their clients invest in the first instance, they were also incentivized to keep their clients in the funds going forward, rather than allocating their capital elsewhere. For two of the private placement funds, the undisclosed compensation that defendants received reduced the investment returns that defendants advisory clients would have otherwise received, the complaint says.

Defendants kept their clients in the dark as to all these material facts and, in doing so, they violated their fiduciary duty and defrauded their advisory clients. Whats more, these undisclosed compensation arrangements rendered Criterions Form ADV filings with the Commission materially misleading, and no policies and procedures had been adopted and/or implemented at Criterion to prevent these compliance failures, it adds.

MacArthur, who resides in Newhall, California, is currently the president, managing member and chief compliance officer of a state-registered investment adviser, M2 Financial LLC, which he formed after leaving Criterion in June 2016.

From 2004 to mid- 2016, MacArthur was Criterions co-owner and chief investment officer. In mid-2016, MacArthur became an independent contractor for, but remained associated with, Criterion.

MacArthur is one of four sons of Pastor MacArthur who currently also serves as Chancellor Emeritus of The Masters University. Pastor MacArthur was president of TMU from 1985 until he transitioned to his present role at the end of June 2019.

The complaint says Gravette and MacArthur were long-time social acquaintances of one of the unidentified fund managers in the case dating back to the 1980s, when they attended the same university. MacArthur attended The Masters University.
She jetted to Marbella last week alongside her sister Natalya and the rest of her family to celebrate her uncle's birthday.

And Jess Wright looked sun-kissed and relaxed as she enjoyed another day of celebrations on Sunday.

The TOWIE star, 34, was joined by her boyfriend William Lee Kemp on the outing, and looked every bit the doting aunt as she carried her sweet baby nephew Billy to the restaurant.

Golden hour: Jess Wright looked sun-kissed and relaxed in Marbella on Sunday as she joined her boyfriend William Lee Kemp and baby nephew Billy for lunch

Jess cut a casually chic figure in an oversized pink knitted dress paired with a cream Louis Vuitton scarf.

The brunette beauty completed her ensemble with nude lace up ankle boots and pushed back her glossy tresses with gold shades.

The TV personality wrapped up in a sand coloured pashmina and beamed broadly as she cradled baby Billy, who is the son of Jess' cousin Elliott Wright and his wife Sadie Stuart, technically making the tot Jess' first cousin once removed.

Sister time: Jess was joined by her lookalike younger sister, Natalya on the outing, who cut an equally stylish appearance on the outing

Jess was joined by her lookalike younger sister, Natalya on the outing, who cut an equally stylish appearance.

The 16-year-old reality star opted for blue jeans and a white vest with a long cream cardigan to keep her warm in the Spanish breeze.

She completed her look with a small gold YSL bag worn across her body and a chic fedora hat.

Cute couple: Jess was seen putting on affectionate display with her businessman boyfriend, William, and the duo cosied up beside one another at lunch

During the boozy lunch that the family enjoyed at a local seafood restaurant, Jess was seen showing her boyfriend her phone as the two cosied up beside one another.

The couple went public with their relationship last year while on a summer holiday together, and their relationship has gone from strength to strength since.

William not only joined Jess for an intimate Christmas last year, but also on a family trip to Jamaica last month.

Family celebrations: The family enjoyed a boozy lunch at a local seafood restaurant. Noticeably missing from the trip was Mark Wright, Jess' brother

Gorgeous: On Saturday night they partied at Olivia's La Cala and Jess looked nothing short of sensational in a white dress with a ruffled neckline and billowing sleeves

On Saturday night, Jess shared videos of the birthday party held for her uncle Eddie's 65th birthday.

The boozy celebration took place at Olivia's La Cala restaurant and Jess looked nothing short of sensational in a white dress with a ruffled neckline and billowing sleeves.

She shared fun videos and pictures from the party along with her whole family however her brother Mark was noticeably missing.
Panning Donald Trump's visit to



India, the Shiv Sena on Monday said the 36-hour-long sojourn of the US president in the country won't make 'an iota of difference' in the lives of poor and middle-class Indians.

While leaving for India, Trump has said he is going to discuss business with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which makes it clear that his trip is aimed at boosting US trade, the Sena said.

"There won't be an iota of difference in the lives of the poor and middle-class people in India due to Trump's visit. Then where is the question of people being appreciative or enthusiastic of his tour," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

"If there is any eagerness about Trump's visit, it may be in Ahmedabad, where he lands first," the Sena said.

More than the Trump visit the talk is about how walls were built to hide slums along the road he will traverse, the editorial said.

"It is reported that Trump will touch upon the issue of curbs on religious freedom in India. These are our internal issues. This country is run by people elected democratically and they don't need guidance from any outsider on this," it said.

Trump should instead indulge in 'tourism' of Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi, the editorial said.

When Trump leaves India 36 hours after his arrival, there will be no signs of his visit on the soil of India, the Sena said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Market Insight

Global RTD Alcoholic Beverages Market is expected to garner a revenue of USD 32 Billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 3% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. RTD alcoholic beverages are ready to consume drinks containing low amounts of alcohol. The entrance of new market players in the global RTD alcoholic beverages market is increasing the challenges faced by the existing players. Manufacturers of RTD alcoholic beverages are facing threats due to the implementation of stringent regulations and amendments in laws and taxation policies. For instance, in South Africa, spirit coolers can only be sold at liquor stores and cannot be consumed by people under the age of 18. However, the rising demand for innovative flavours in RTD alcoholic beverages by millennials is expected to render lucrative opportunities to market players during the forecast period.

Key Players

Some of the key players in the global RTD Alcoholic Beverages Market are Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (Belgium), Carlsberg Breweries A/S (Denmark), Suntory Holdings Limited (Japan), Diageo PLC (UK), Pernod Ricard SA (France), Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. (Japan), Bacardi Limited (Bermuda), Mike's Hard Lemonade Co. (US), The Brown-Forman Corporation (US), Molson Coors Brewing Company (US), Davide Campari Milano SpA (Italy), Shanghai Bacchus Limited (China), Halewood International Limited (UK), Global Brands Ltd (UK) and Heineken N.V. (Netherlands)

Key Developments

In February 2019, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV acquired Cutwater Spirits, a US-based spirits company, with an aim to expand its premium canned cocktails segment in the US market.

In January 2018, Diageo PLC launched its first pre-mixed gin & tonic under its brand Tanqueray.

Industry Segment

Global RTD Alcoholic Beverages Market has been segmented on the basis of base type, packaging type, and distribution channel.

By base type, the global RTD alcoholic beverages market has been divided into whiskey, rum, vodka, gin, and others. The rum segment is expected to dominate the global RTD alcoholic beverages market during the research period as different flavors infuse easily in rum. Thus, the increasing demand for new flavored RTD alcoholic beverages is driving the growth of the segment. However, the vodka segment is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to the high ability of vodka to blend with different juices to form vodka-based cocktails.

The global RTD alcoholic beverages market has been segregated, by packaging type, into bottles and cans. The bottles segment is expected to gain the larger market share owing to the high permeability of glass bottles. RTD alcoholic beverages can be stored in glass bottles for longer durations. However, the cans segment is expected to register the higher growth rate during the forecast period due to the ease of consumption.

By distribution channel, the global RTD alcoholic beverages market has been classified as store-based and non-store-based. The store-based segment has further been divided into supermarkets and hypermarkets, specialty stores, and others. The store-based segment is expected to garner the larger market share in 2018 due to the high availability of RTD alcoholic beverages in supermarkets and hypermarkets. Moreover, consumers, especially in the UAE, prefer to buy alcoholic beverages from duty-free shops. However, the non-store-based segment is expected to register the higher CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing presence of third-party online retailers and prominent market players in e-commerce.

Some of the strategies followed by the players operating in the market were product launches, innovations, mergers, and expansions.

Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/rtd-alcoholic-beverages-market-7920

Regional Analysis

The global RTD alcoholic beverages market has been segmented, by region, into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world.

Europe is projected to dominate the global RTD alcoholic beverages market due to the presence of key market players in the region. In addition, the high consumption of alcoholic beverages in the region is driving the growth of the European RTD alcoholic beverages market. However, increasing consumption of RTD alcoholic beverages by millennials is expected to drive the growth of the market in Asia-Pacific; the regional market, which is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Whales English, a Beijing, China-based brand of online K-12 English group classes, completed its RMB100m Series B financing.

The round was led by Sino-Ocean Group Holding Limited, with participation from Hike Capital and Fresh Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to improve product quality and service efficiency.

Led by Tom Wu, CEO, Whales English is an online K-12 English education brand aimed at students aged 3-18 years. The company selects native English-speaking teachers, original American textbook material and implements a Three-fixed model strategy (Fixed teacher, Fixed students and Fixed schedule) to help children improve their comprehensive ability of listening, speaking, reading, writing, starting from zero-based English.

Through commercial operations, Whales English has achieved positive cash flow in only ten months, and net cash flow throughout 2019.

FinSMEs

24/02/2020
A judge on Monday set bail of $300,000 for a Bismarck man who police say stabbed two people and was arrested after a manhunt.

Marcus LaPointe, 32, made his initial court appearance before South Central District Judge Gail Hagerty. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder for allegedly stabbing two people and chasing another from a Bonanza Drive home early Friday.

Police responded to a 911 call about 1 a.m. in which the caller said a person was "stabbing everyone with a knife," according to police. Four people were in a bedroom, where LaPointe allegedly became mad about a phone, grabbed "a large knife" from an upper shelf in a closet and stabbed a 35-year-old woman, according to police. He then stabbed a 26-year-old man and chased another 35-year-old woman from the room and out of the home, according to authorities.

The second woman was uninjured and returned to the home to help the others. Officers applied tourniquets to the injured woman and man, each of whom was stabbed in the left arm. They were taken to a local hospital. Police said their injuries were not life-threatening.

Police contacted North Dakota Highway Patrol to assist with an airplane and bloodhound. Officers found LaPointe about 4:30 a.m. in the driveway of a home on the 600 block of Columbia Drive, where a resident had called 911 reporting a male pounding on the door. LaPointe was treated at a local hospital for weather-related exposure.

Court documents say LaPointe admitted the stabbings to police and claimed the people were "planning to kill him" or that people outside waiting for him were, too. He said he left because he thought the injured people were dead, police allege in court documents.

Burleigh County States Attorney Julie Lawyer asked that LaPointes bail be set at $500,000 cash, citing previous offenses in South Dakota and North Dakota. Court documents show he pleaded guilty to simple assault and aggravated assault in North Dakota in 2011. Less than two weeks ago he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of a government function and preventing arrest. He has South Dakota convictions for assault in 2008 and disorderly conduct in 2009, Lawyer said.

LaPointe was being held in the Burleigh Morton Detention Center. An attorney was not listed for him in court documents.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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Here is the latest news on protests across Canada over a natural gas pipeline project in British Columbia (All times Eastern):

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/2/2020 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ontario Provincial Police officers arrest a protester at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Monday Feb. 24, 2020, as they protest in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en Nation hereditary chiefs attempting to halt construction of a natural gas pipeline on their traditional territories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Here is the latest news on protests across Canada over a natural gas pipeline project in British Columbia (All times Eastern):

7:40 p.m.

The West Coast Express commuter rail service in Metro Vancouver has been suspended.

Translink says the service has been stopped because protesters are blocking its tracks.

The West Coast Express travels between downtown Vancouver and Mission.



6:45 p.m. ET

A group of protesters has locked themselves to a gate at the B.C. legislature in Victoria.

Hundreds of protesters are on the grounds of the legislature, which was the scene of widespread protests on Feb. 11 that prompted the province to obtain an injunction when entrances to the building were blocked.

The protesters chanted "Stand up, fight back" as members of the Victoria Police Department monitored what was happening and spoke to members of the group.



5:45 p.m. ET

Members of the Gitxsan First Nation are once again blockading a rail line outside of New Hazelton, B.C.

The blockade was temporarily taken down Feb. 13 pending a meeting between the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and federal government that has yet to materialize.

The Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs have said they want the RCMP and Coastal GasLink out of their traditional territory before talks begin, but Wet'suwet'en Chief Na'moks says the Mounties have continued foot patrols and pipeline workers are also still there.

Gitxsan Chief Spookwx, who also goes by Norm Stephens, accused the RCMP of "dragging their feet" and says there are 30 to 40 people at the blockade who are willing to stay until the Mounties leave.



5:40 p.m. ET

Via Rail says its route between Montreal and Halifax will resume service on Friday.

Via says it is working with CN Rail to make sure its normal service can resume on all other routes that have been affected by disruptions.

But it says trains are running on its Ontario routes between Toronto, London and Windsor; Toronto and Sarnia; Toronto and Niagara Falls, as well as between Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa.



5:30 p.m. ET

Protesters have blocked a road leading to the port of Vancouver.

The port obtained a court injunction earlier this month to end a blockade.

At the time, Vancouver police said 43 people were arrested after they refused to abide by the court order and allow access to the port when requested to do so by its officers.



5 p.m. ET

A spokesman for hereditary house chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation says those who visited Mohawk supporters in Ontario have returned to British Columbia.

Na'moks, who also goes by John Ridsdale, says he spoke briefly with some of the other chiefs who returned from visiting Mohawk supporters in Ontario today.

They told him the visit went well and their voices were heard in a peaceful manner.

Na'moks also says that while he previously believed the RCMP was removing its mobile detachment from the territory, he now believes it's simply been shut down because there is a new gate blocking a turnoff towards it.

The Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs have called for the removal of the RCMP mobile unit, the end of foot patrols and the removal of Coastal GasLink workers from the territory as conditions for meeting with the federal government.

Na'moks says the chiefs want to discuss "moving forward together," once the conditions are met.



4 p.m. ET

Ontario Provincial Police say they arrested 10 people as part of their operation to dismantle a rail blockade in eastern Ontario.

Police say officers gave those at the scene of the protest in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory the option of leaving voluntarily or being taken into custody.

Spokesman Bill Dickson says each person is facing multiple charges, though further details were not immediately available.

He says all ten people have been released with conditions.



3:30 p.m. ET

Ontario Provincial Police have largely dismantled a blockade site just outside Belleville, Ont., where several protesters were arrested earlier today.

Officers took down a few remaining signs and hauled away tires from near the train tracks, although a few tents are still in place.

CN crews have also been testing the railway barriers at the crossing as police clear the site.



2:05 p.m. ET

The CEO of a Vancouver-based company that was considering a massive oilsands project in Alberta says plans have been shelved due to tensions over Indigenous rights, climate change and resource development that have escalated recently due to rail blockades.

Teck Resources Ltd. CEO Don Lindsay spoke today at a mining conference in Florida about Teck's suspension of the Frontier project, saying over the past few days, "it has become increasingly clear that there is no constructive path forward."

He says the Frontier development has "landed squarely at the nexus of a much broader national discussion on energy development, Indigenous reconciliation, and of course climate change."

Lindsay says the company is "stepping back" so Canadians can discuss these issues without a looming regulatory deadline for just one project.



1:59 p.m. ET

A hereditary chief with the Wet'suwet'en Nation says people who are being arrested on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont., should know "they're doing the right thing for the right reasons."

Na'moks, who also goes by John Ridsdale, says the same thing happened to Wet'suwet'en members who oppose a natural gas pipeline on their territory and he says "we're still here."

Na'moks says a group of about nine hereditary chiefs plan to meet today to discuss next steps but adds only one of three conditions that they set for talks with the federal government has been met.

The RCMP has removed a mobile detachment from the area where an injunction was enforced this month but Na'moks says officers continue to patrol the area, and Coastal GasLink has not committed to remove its workers from the traditional territory.

Na'moks says there has been no contact from federal cabinet ministers, provincial leaders or senior RCMP since Friday.



1:30 p.m. ET

Two industrial-sized tow trucks have hauled a snow plow from the protest site on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont., as provincial police slowly move to dismantle the weeks-old blockade.

The tow trucks were brought in hours after police arrested a number of protesters at the site.

Many officers are still at the scene and appear to be speaking to the remaining protesters.

Meanwhile, CN Rail crews have been inspecting and working on the train tracks since mid-morning.



12:47 p.m. ET

Mohawks in Kanesatake, northwest of Montreal, have blocked the highway running through the community.

Quebec's Transport Department said in a tweet that Highway 344, which connects Kanesatake and neighbouring Oka, is closed in both directions.

The roadblock follows an earlier action in Kahnawake, south of Montreal, where Mohawks unhappy with Monday's police intervention in Ontario staged a rolling blockade that briefly disrupted traffic heading to a major bridge.



12:30 p.m. ET

The Secretary of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake says his members are upset at the arrests of protesters and the dismantling of a rail blockade on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont.

Kenneth Deer says the Ontario Provincial Police "acted irrationally" when it moved in this morning to enforce an injunction prohibiting the blockade.

Deer says the OPP knew discussions were underway today with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs regarding the removal of the RCMP from their traditional territories in northwestern B.C., and the Tyendinaga blockade would have been lifted as soon as the chiefs were satisfied with the police response.

Deer says the Mohawk blockade will stay until Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs give the word and if police had waited another 12 hours, it's likely there would have been a peaceful resolution to the barricade that has been in place since early this month.



12:01 p.m. ET

About 200 protesters have been marching through Ottawa in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary leaders.

The protest has snaked through downtown, escorted by a large group of police.

Demonstrators have warned that traffic could be disrupted all day.

Participants danced and chanted slogans like "U-G-L-Y, CGL, you cheat and lie."

That's a reference to Coastal GasLink, the company building a natural gas pipeline across northwestern B.C., that has been opposed by Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.



11:23 a.m. ET

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says he scolded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over weak leadership in a phone call today.

In a statement, Scheer says he linked protests over the B.C. natural-gas pipeline and Teck Resources' decision to suspend plans for a major new oilsands mine.

He says "political unrest" has cost Canada a $70-billion energy project.

The Conservative leader says blockades over the pipeline through Wet'suwet'en territory are a "dress rehearsal" for opposition to other projects and risk shutting the Canadian economy down completely.



11:16 a.m. ET

Federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau agrees with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that barricades blocking railways and other transportation links in Canada must end.

Speaking as he headed into a meeting of the prime minister's incident-response group of cabinet ministers and senior officials this morning, Garneau says the government is committed to reconciliation and further dialogue to resolve a dispute with hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation in British Columbia.

But Garneau says barricades set up in solidarity with the hereditary chiefs are having a profound effect on the economy.

He says they must come down.



10:53 a.m. ET

Protesters at a blockade that has halted rail traffic through the Mohawk community in Kahnawake held another demonstration this morning on a highway near a major bridge to the island of Montreal.

Protesters drove slow along Highway 132, stopping at one point and getting out of their vehicles briefly before moving on.

They were accompanied by Kahnawake Mohawk Peacekeepers, who police the area and were keeping tabs on the situation.

The blockade on the track, owned by Canadian Pacific Railways, has disrupted freight and commuter rail service along the route since Feb. 8.



10:21 a.m. ET

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the impact of rail blockades has been so great that they just can't be allowed to stay up.

Blair spoke as a meeting of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's incident-response group of cabinet ministers and senior officials broke up on Parliament Hill this morning.

The meeting was held as the Ontario Provincial Police moved in to arrest several people who refused to leave a blockade across tracks through Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont.

Blair says he and the rest of the federal government are as committed as ever to reconciliation and he hopes meetings with Indigenous leaders can move that work forward.



9:35 a.m. ET

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is convening his cabinet's incident-response group as police dismantle a rail blockade between Toronto and Montreal.

Confirmation of the meeting came barely an hour after police began to make arrests at the rail crossing that has been blocked for weeks through the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont.

Trudeau said Friday that the situation was "unacceptable and untenable" as blockades crippled freight and passenger rail travel in many parts of the country as protesters showed solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed to a natural gas pipeline through their territories in northwestern British Columbia.



9:15 a.m. ET

Several arrests have been made as Ontario Provincial Police enforce an injunction that prohibits a blockade on a rail line through Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont.

The OPP arrested several men shortly after arriving at the scene and more arrests were made about 45 minutes later.

The police force says its liaison team has tried to negotiate peacefully over the past few weeks, but decided to take action to uphold a court injunction to clear the railway.

The statement from spokesman Bill Dickson says officers have "remained respectful of the ongoing dialogue, including issues of sovereignty" and "have hoped for productive communication leading to a peaceful resolution."



8:53 a.m. ET

Police are beginning to take action to enforce an injunction aimed at clearing a rail blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont.

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police began moving to clear protesters who have shut down the key crossing for nearly three weeks, halting freight and passenger rail traffic across most of eastern Canada for nearly three weeks.

Police had warned demonstrators they had until midnight Sunday to clear the tracks or face arrest and possible criminal charges.

The barricades were set up in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed to construction of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline across their traditional territories in northwestern British Columbia.



1 a.m. ET

Demonstrators who briefly blocked a Canadian National rail crossing in east Vancouver on Sunday moved on after police informed them of an injunction.

A rally on the tracks began at around noon Sunday but ended within hours.

Participants said they were acting in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs fighting a natural gas pipeline across their land and RCMP actions to set up an exclusion zone around the pipeline work, preventing the chiefs from accessing their traditional territory.

A statement issued by the organizers said demonstrators were also protesting other injunctions they call "overbroad" that have halted solidarity actions in support of the Wet'suwet'en.



This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2020.
Democratic presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg during a campaign event in Salt Lake City last week. Read more

ALLENTOWN  Victor Martinez opened his radio lines to callers, interested in who Latino voters concentrated in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Reading liked of the Democratic candidates for president.

The answers might have been predictable. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders coasted to victory in Nevada on Saturday, largely by capturing more than half of Latino voters there. Former Vice President Joe Biden also polls well with the community.

But most of Martinezs callers on Thursday named a third candidate: Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor.

The scope of Sanders support in Nevada, the first time a significant number of Latinos have voted in the presidential contest, may have masked another factor for Democrats: Bloomberg, who hasnt been on the ballot yet, is also doing well with Latino voters, virtually tied for second in a recent national poll from Univision.

Bloomberg came up often in Inquirer interviews with Pennsylvania Latino voters last week. Forty-nine percent of the states Latino population is Puerto Rican, and many moved here from New York. Pennsylvania has the third highest number of Puerto Ricans after New York and Florida.

West Coast Latinos are very different from East Coast Latinos, said Martinez, the radio host and a community activist in Allentown, who likes Biden and Bloomberg. The priorities are different. For West Coast Latinos, it may be more of immigration policy vs. East Coast, theres a lot of Puerto Ricans  were U.S. citizens so it might be other issues getting more attention here.

And Latinos are in no way a voting monolith. With two months until the April 28 Pennsylvania primary, interviews with Latinos in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley showed interest in several candidates, though Sanders has the clear national lead.

 READ MORE: The Pennsylvania primary is looking like a bigger deal

We think Latino voters are immigrant voters, said Michael Jones-Correa, a University of Pennsylvania political scientist who focuses on Latino politics. Theres a big bloc of voters in Philadelphia in particular who are Puerto Ricans and their concerns, while overlapping, are not all about migration issues.

Latinos, like all Americans, are concerned about education, health care, and jobs, and Puerto Ricans are more likely to be concerned about the Trump administrations response to natural disasters that have devastated the island, Jones-Correa said.

In the Lehigh Valley, Bloomberg supporters said they felt an affinity for him as former New Yorkers, and liked his support for making Puerto Rico the 51st state. Several voters also credited him for speaking Spanish. Bloombergs campaign, which is entirely self-funded, has aired about $17.6 million in TV and radio ads in Pennsylvania, according to the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics, making his paid messaging far more prevalent than his competitors'. Several of Bloombergs spots highlight immigrants or Trumps record on immigration.

Im biased because Im from New York, but I like Bloomberg," said Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, owner of Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe in Reading. Cepeda-Freytiz, who is also on the city council, is undecided but strongly considering Bloomberg because she lived in Washington Heights when he was mayor.

"The changes he made, they were very visible, she said of the Republican turned independent turned Democrat. "He cleaned things up. And when you see his ads, hes talking about Puerto Rico becoming a state, advocating for equal pay, women, and again, hes a politician but the promises and what hes talking about are enticing.

Former Philadelphia City Councilmember Angel Ortiz, the first Latino on the legislative body, backs Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He finds it hard to believe that Latinos will get behind Bloomberg in large numbers once hes vetted more closely, particularly given his record on stop-and-frisk policing.

Other Latino voters interviewed Thursday said they couldnt get past the policy.

It worries me, said Tony Velasquez, 42, of Allentown. Whos to say hes not going to implement it again? This time for the whole nation? I dont think an apology is good enough.

While Bloomberg may be getting an early look, Sanders is by far the most admired Democratic presidential candidate among Latinos nationally.

According to the Univision poll, 64% view Sanders favorably and 24% unfavorably. Bloomberg had the second-best rating with 55% seeing him positively and 24% negatively.

In 2016, Latinos helped Sanders carry Berks County, which includes Reading. Sanders beat Hilary Clinton in 30 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties in the primary that year. Trump would go on to win all those counties.

Sara Alicia Huerta Long was head of Latinx outreach for the Sanders 2016 campaign in Berks. and said that momentum has only grown, aided by social justice movements that overlap with Sanders volunteers.

For New York transplants  thats still a sense of home there and thats something we all hold on to so much being immigrants in a new land, she said of Bloombergs appeal. But I think overall we only see one candidate who has support that turns into real organizing. The passion is real for Bernie and doesnt exist for Bloomberg.

Sanders recently received the endorsements of two national immigrant rights groups, Mijente and Make the Road Action, both with active chapters in Pennsylvania.

Biden also has backers among Latinos. Last week, he got the endorsement of the Latino Victory Fund, a progressive political organization that cited his immigration reform proposal. Biden has fought off criticism, though, about the three million people deported during the Obama administration. Earlier this month, he said deporting so many people without criminal records was a big mistake.

Joe Biden, for me, hes the only candidate that can connect with the whole world," said Santos Hurtado, of Reading. The person with the political vocation is Biden.

Giovanni Nieves, 22, an organizer with the Sunrise movement, which fights climate change and endorsed Sanders, likes the Vermont senators consistency and his Medicare for All plan.

People connect with him on a personal level," said Nieves, a student at Kutztown University. Theres definitely Sanders energy here. As the primary gets closer, youre going to see that more and more.

Erika Almiron, former head of Juntos, an immigrants rights group in Philadelphia, also supports Sanders, who she thinks has done the most outreach to Latinos. Sanders campaign staff also includes many Latinos and activists.

 READ MORE: Joe Biden told this protester to vote for Trump. Bernie Sanders just hired him.

Latinos make up 3.2% of Pennsylvanias population, compared with 30% in Nevada and the nationwide average of 8.9%. There were 440,000 Latino eligible voters in Pennsylvania in 2016  the 10th largest statewide number in the U.S.

But in a state won by such small margins, high turnout from Latinos, who break more strongly Democratic, could help Democrats win the general election. Driving that interest by enticing Latinos to vote in the primary is the first step, Almiron said.

People say weve got to tackle swing voters and I think the opposite is true, said Almiron, who ran unsuccessfully for Philadelphia City Council last year. "You have to pull out the electorate and ... if you can actually excite Latino voters  theyre your swing voters.

Fueled in part by enthusiasm among Latinos, Nevada approached 2008s record caucus turnout. About half the electorate Saturday voted for the first time.

Before his segment on La Mega radio wrapped up, Martinez appealed to listeners in Spanish, Whoever you like, whatever you feel: Vote. Its the only way to add your voice to the conversation.

Staff writer Jonathan Tamari contributed to this article.
After a lifetime of navigating a number of mental and physical health challenges, Lena Dunham revealed her heart-wrenching struggle with hair loss in an Instagram post on Saturday afternoon.

The Girls writer shed light on her painful decision to chop off her now long tresses, after her hair began to fall out almost three years ago, as a result from the autoimmune disease Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

'2 and a half years ago, I shaved my head,' the 33-year-old wrote in a lengthy Instagram caption. 'Not in a fun sassy way but in a 'my hair is all falling out from my autoimmune disease, better rush to the nearest barber shop and pay them 7 bucks to do this' way.'

Suffering in silence: Lena Dunham revealed the heart-wrenching reason she had to shave her her hair on Saturday afternoon was due to her battle with the autoimmune disease Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

In her latest social media post, the actress shared a new picture of herself sporting voluminous brown waves and a nose ring in a pink hoodie, before chronicling her emotional hair journey.

Dunham confessed at the time she 'didn't have very many health answers' and was too afraid to express her fear or ailing health to others.

After debuting her significantly shorter hair in 2017, she assumed people would just think, 'There goes Lena getting another erratic hair cut, just like she has every week since she was seven and cut her own baby bangs with crafting scissors.'

Keeping quiet: After debuting her significantly shorter hair in 2017, she assumed the public would just think, 'T here goes Lena getting another erratic hair cut, just like she has every week since she was seven and cut her own baby bangs with crafting scissors'

While the drastic change caused her to struggle silently, she announced having to shave her hair expanded her ideals of beauty.

'Let me just say, bald is f**king beautiful, and it's a full myth that ladies are meant to have long luscious hair' she fired, before slamming other public figures for promoting hair gummies and extensions.

She added her hair growth 'has been a living metaphor these last few years.'

In conclusion to her emotional post, she wrote: 'All I did was leave it alone and something I had lost all of came back to be.'

She also joked, she'll probably shave her head again 'for fun' next time in the same post.

The candid New York native, who rose to fame with her HBO show Girls, has never shied away from sharing her personal life to fans, which includes checking into a mental health facility in 2019.

The Brooklyn born actress, who also suffers from endometriosis and underwent a hysterectomy in 2018, recently shared her battle with prescription drugs in the March issue of Cosmopolitan.

She said: 'One day, I looked around and I was lying in a bed in my parents' apartment under two blankets, in the same pyjamas I'd been in for three days, and I was like, 'This isn't me.'

The actress also revealed she has also decided to take a hiatus from dating and has been single for the last 14 months, while getting clean from drugs and negative relationships after dating 'dear friend' Jack Antanoff for five years.
United States President Donald Trump will start his first India visit from Ahmedabad where he will land along with First Lady Melania Trump and other officials from the US government, including his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

PM Narendra Modi will be hosting US President Trump and his delegation and stage a massive roadshow through Ahmedabad. The two leaders will also visit Sabarmati Ashram and address a mega event at the Motera Stadium where over 1 lakh people are expected to gather for the 'Namaste Trump' cultural extravaganza.

Check out as Ahmedabad is all hyped up to welcome the Trumps.

IMAGE: People arrive at the Sardar Patel Stadium where US President Donald Trump will address a "Namaste Trump" event with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

SEE: Large number of people arrive at Motera Stadium for Namaste Trump event

School children perform near Ahmedabad airport

SEE: Man dresses up as Big B to welcome Trump in Ahmedabad

SEE: Dancers performing at Motera Stadium
In a study published this month in the journal Science, a team of researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Macquarie University found that bumblebees could identify objects by shape in the dark if they had seen, but not touched, them in the light, and vice versa, demonstrating a clear ability to transmit recognition across different senses.

Cross-modal recognition is the ability to recognize objects across different senses.

For example, humans can easily recognize something theyve previously seen through touch alone.

Outside of our species, cross-modal object recognition has been shown only in primates, rats, dolphins and one species of fish.

Whether it is widespread throughout the animal kingdom, however, has been debated.

Because bumblebees are known to be able to forage in both light and dark conditions, they are ideal creatures to examine to understand if the small brains of invertebrates are capable of cross-modal recognition across vision and touch.

Weve long known that bees can remember the shapes of flowers. But a smartphone can recognize your face, for example, and does so without any form of awareness, said senior author Professor Lars Chittka, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London.

Our new work indicates that something is going on inside the mind of bees that is wholly different from a machine  that bees can conjure up mental images of shapes.

In the light, but barred from touching the objects, bumblebees were trained to find rewarding sugar water in one type of object (cubes or spheres) and bitter quinine solution in the other shape.

When tested in the dark, the bees preferred the object that was previously rewarding, spending more time exploring them.

The insects also solved the task the other way around. After they learned to find a particular shape in the dark, they were tested in the light and again preferred the shape they had learned was rewarding by touch alone.

The results of our study show that bumblebees dont process their senses as separate channels  they come together as some sort of unified representation, said lead author Dr. Cwyn Solvi, a scientist at Macquarie University.

This is an amazing feat when you consider the miniscule size of a bees brain, said co-author Selene Gutierrez Al-Khudhairy, a Ph.D. student at the University of York.

Future investigations of the neural circuitry underlying this ability in bees may one day help reveal how our own brains imagine the world as we do.

This doesnt mean bees experience the world the same way we do, but it does show there is more going on in their heads than we have ever given them credit for, Dr. Solvi said.

_____

Cwyn Solvi et al. 2020. Bumble bees display cross-modal object recognition between visual and tactile senses. Science 367 (6480): 910-912; doi: 10.1126/science.aay8064
The Jamia Coordination Committee submitted a memorandum of demands to the police on Monday and said BJP leader Kapil Mishra should be arrested for allegedly inciting violence in northeast Delhi.

The committee had given a call for protest outside the new police headquarters on Jai Singh Road, but they were escorted to Nizamuddin following meetings between the joint commissioner of police (southern range) and the agitators.

"Immediate arrest on FIRs registered against Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra for inciting violence in northeast Delhi through his speeches and tweets," the memorandum read.

They also demanded security for 20 sites where protests against the new citizenship law are underway. These site include Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mustafabad, Turkman Gate, Khureji, Jama Masjid, Jaffrabad metro station.

They demanded that said events in support of the contentious citizenship law should not be allowed to happen within a three-kilometre radius of these sites.

In anticipation of their protest call, three metro stations were shut the on Yellow line and another was shut on the Violet Line, and were opened later. Prohibitory orders were also imposed outside the new police headquarters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Polish president has stated that Russia clearly and consistently violates the rules of international law

President of Poland Andrzej Duda believes that Russia is demonstrating power by violating the airspace of other countries. He said this in an interview with Polish weekly Sieci.

Duda has stated that Russia clearly and consistently violates the rules of international law.

"Therefore, we cannot say that it is a reliable state that peacefully realizes its interests. We are an absolute supporter of observance of international law, while it is clearly and consistently being violated by Russia. We have repeatedly protested against this, defending Ukraine or Georgia. Of course, Moscow does not like it," he said.

The Polish president noted that the Russian Federation did not like the presence of NATO troops over the Vistula.

"They undoubtedly strengthen our security, and this presence is necessary in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Baltic states," Andrzej Duda noted.

As we reported earlier, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin looked for the restoration of good relations between Russia and Ukraine. He also considered their deterioration as a loss.
Amid frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Army Chief General MM Naravane will visit Kashmir to review the ongoing security situation and counter-terrorist operations in the Valley, Army sources said on Monday.

During the visit starting tomorrow, Gen Naravane will also visit the Indian Army positions on the LoC and he would be briefed by senior military commanders on the overall situation in the Kashmir valley.

Earlier on Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh had said that Pakistan has increased ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).

He said that Indian forces have been successful in foiling the infiltration bids from across the border.

"Ceasefire violations from Pakistan side have increased, however, we have been successful in foiling their infiltration bids. Still, some succeed in their infiltration attempt. These terrorists are neutralised during operations," Singh told media in Kathua.

He said there are about 240-250 militants in the Jammu and Kashmir and operations are underway to eliminate them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake rattled Manisa province in western Turkey this morning.

The quake occurred at 05.43 local time, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

It struck at a depth of 7 kilometers, Anadolu Agency reported.

No casualties were observed according to initial reports.

On February 23, eastern Turkey was shaken by a magnitude 5.9 quake near its border with Iran which killed nine people and left 50 others injured.
A robber broke into a Collingswood home Sunday afternoon, attacked a resident and tied up another person before setting the house on fire, authorities aid.

The attacker remains at large and is described as a thin, dark-skinned man with a short beard and dark hair. He was wearing a yellow winter heat with a yellow and black zip-up sweatshirt, authorities said.

The robber broke into the home on the 200 block of Crestmont Terrace just before 2:30 p.m. and attacked one of residents while demanding money, authorities said. A second person was bound and the robber set the house on fire before fleeing, authorities said.

Firefighters who arrived to fight the blaze found the two people inside. The condition of the injured person was not disclosed by authorities.

Anyone with information may call Camden County Prosecutors Office Detective Mike Batista at 856-676-8175 or Collingswood Police Sgt. William Lyons at 609-868-0266. Information can also be emailed to to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

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.
India ranks so badly for press freedom because much of the media has simply stopped doing its job.





The protests in India against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which grants a fast track to citizenship for certain religious-minority immigrants, have underlined the importance of not just the democratic process, which includes the right to peaceful protest, but also the role of the media in covering the governments response to the protesters.

I work as a journalist in India and am happy and proud to be part of what I regard as a free press in the country. The website I helped found four years ago, The Wire, shines a critical light  a pretty harsh one  on the government, on politics and on big business. And there are others like us.

Sure, the politicians and ministers and captains of industry do not like what we do and have made their displeasure known in various ways; but show me a democracy where the government loves the media and chances are the media is not doing its job.

So why is it then that India  a country with a free press and an independent judiciary  does so badly on global indices measuring media freedom? In 2019, the country slipped two places down to 140 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. How do we reconcile the fact that there is a constitution, laws guaranteeing press freedom, and media platforms fiercely doing their job, with Indias falling rank?

What has happened over the past few years is that a major section of the media has crossed over to the dark side.

Without being formally censored or compelled by other means to comply with official diktats, these media houses have simply stopped doing their job. They have stopped asking difficult questions about the government and its policies. They are in awe of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his senior ministers and are reluctant to be critical of them.

Many, sadly, have become mouthpieces of official propaganda. Some do not think twice about promoting religious polarisation and even hatred in pursuit of the political agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

There is also a major section of the media which is reluctant to be seen rocking the boat mainly because their proprietors have business interests that could be jeopardised. It is commonplace for governments at the central and state level to use official advertising as a lever of influence on the media. But there is also a darker side: With most investigative agencies functioning at the beck and call of ruling politicians, proprietors fear becoming the target of a vendetta if their reporters are seen as taking on the establishment.

For those of us still willing to do our job, there are indirect financial pressures, of course, but also legal tactics aimed at silencing critical coverage. Defamation laws are misused to embroil editors and reporters in frivolous cases that can take us years to shake off. At one time, The Wire was facing 14 defamation suits filed by governing party politicians and their family members, businessmen and even a godman  a high-profile guru  known to be close to the establishment. Total damages currently being sought in these bogus cases against us run to over one billion dollars.

In the past few months, the government has sought new ways to get a grip on the countrys scrappy digital media. It has announced new restrictions on foreign investment in digital media, including approval on a case-by-case basis, and is also proposing to introduce a compulsory registration process for news and current affairs websites.

A new tactic, which affects not just media freedom but the freedom of speech and communication of ordinary citizens, is the imposition of bans on the usage of the internet and social media. In Jammu and Kashmir, a temporary ban on social media has lasted more than 200 days now.

Broadband internet remains banned and limited data internet access was permitted after a two-month hiatus but only for low-speed access to whitelisted sites.

The latest assault on freedom of speech is the governments decision to charge Kashmiris who access the internet via VPNs under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Given the growing interface between social media and news media, this clampdown can only have a further chilling effect on press freedom.

While the media in India has always had to contend with unfriendly politicians in the past, they could, with the exception of the 1975-1977 Emergency, at least count on the support of the countrys judges if the going got tough. What makes the current phase so dangerous is both the Modi governments level of intolerance and the reluctance of the courts to defend free speech and press freedom.

The press freedom we have in India should no longer be taken for granted. And it is only if we use our freedom  fiercely and fearlessly  that we can stave off future assaults on it.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance
A few days ago, Aamir Khan shared the first look of Kareena Kapoor Khan from Laal Singh Chaddha. Now the lead pair is all set to bring to the audience, the second song which is a romantic track titled 'Jugnu'.

Talking about the song shoot and thanking lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya and music composer Pritam, director Advait Chandan says, "We had a blast shooting Jugnu which is a feel-good romantic song with Aamir sir and Kareena ma'am. They have such amazing chemistry that I didn't want to call cut! I cannot wait for people to watch the song. I have half a mind of leaking it myself."

Reportedly, both the actors will be romancing each other in this romantic track 'Jugnu' which is being shot in Punjab. Interestingly, major portions of the film have been shot in Punjab itself.

Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan travelled back to Punjab to shoot for the second romantic song for the movie. The last time they shot for a romantic song was Zoobi Doobi in 3 idiots (2009) and now, it's 'Jugnu' from Laal Singh Chaddha where we all can see the magic again.

Kareena Kapoor Khan Talks About Her Character In Laal Singh Chaddha: People Will Be Shocked

The film is being shot at around 100 locations across India. Aamir Khan has long shooting schedules in Punjab and Kareena Kapoor Khan is juggling between schedules in Mumbai and Punjab as she travels back and forth.

Written by Atul Kulkarni, the film is helmed by Advait Chandan and will be produced by Viacom18 Studios and Aamir Khan Productions. The movie is slated to hit the theatres during Christmas 2020, next year.
Guwahati, Feb 24 : Sedition accused Sharjeel Imam was on Monday sent to four more days in police custody by a court here.

Imam, one of the main organisers of the Shaheen Bag anti-CAA protest, was on February 20 remanded to four days in police custody, which expired on Monday.

Imam was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Guwahati, which extended his police remand till Feburary 27.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student, who was brought to Guwahati on February 20, is being grilled by the Crime Branch of Assam Police.

Imam, however, did not reply to questions from reporters when he was brought to the court under tight security. He was taken for a medical check-up earlier in the day.

On February 19, the JNU Ph.D student was handed over to an Assam Police team by the Patiala House Court.

Imam was arrested on January 28 from his home town Jahanabad in Bihar by Delhi Police for allegedly making the controversial "cut off Assam" statement, leading to sedition charges.

Imam had been booked for sedition by the police on January 26 after a video of his Assam comment shot on January 25 in Delhi went viral on social media.

Besides Delhi Police, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Uttar Pradesh had also registered cases against Imam under various sections of the IPC, including sedition and under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Imam has also been booked in connection with the violence which erupted in Jamia Millia Islamia during the anti-CAA protests on December 15 last year.

Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) had turned violent on December 15 near Delhi's Jamia Nagar. Several buses were set on fire during the violence in which both the police and the protesters sustained injuries.

Assam Police has registered a case against Imam under Sections 13(1)/18 of UAPA and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 124 A (sedition) of IPC.
Thieves spoiled Valentines Day cheer at the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA, stealing the catalytic converter from a small bus used to transport children to the organization's after-school program.

Employee Mecha Larson discovered the problem when she started the engine and heard an unusual noise. Not knowing what caused it, staff had little choice but to find other rental vans to make the rounds and called Roberson Ford of Albany to diagnose the issue.

With only 45 minutes to spare, staff members found vehicles  including ones with booster seats for younger children  and made pickups on time.

Its a story playing out across the country. Last week the Merced Sun-Star newspaper (Merced, California) reported the arrest of a local man charged with stealing more than 70 catalytic converters valued at more than $20,000. They were later found in a storage locker. In Buffalo, New York, thieves have removed catalytic converters from motor homes and even from a truck used to plow snow. In Genesee County, Michigan, more than 100 thefts have been reported since mid-October.

Most people have heard about catalytic converters; they use a honeycomb structure made of ceramic coated with catalysts," the precious metals that quickly break down toxic molecules. But its a sure bet that unless the part fails, emitting a noxious odor, few people seldom if ever think about them, even though they've been part of vehicle exhaust systems since the mid-1970s.

That is, until the price of chemical elements rhodium, platinum and palladium soared, making catalytic converters prime targets for thieves. A few years ago, rhodium could be purchased on the commodities market for about $600 per ounce. Today, it may fetch $7,000 per ounce.

YMCA executive director Christopher Reese said the cost to replace the converter was about $1,700.

We were able to replace it with a straight pipe for about $300, which is legal on this vehicle, he said.

Its too bad we cant leave a van that helps our school-age children with their after-school programs while their parents are at work, he added. Now, we cant leave it in our parking lot for fear of parts being stolen.

Reese is grateful that the Albany Police Department is taking the issue seriously and working with the YMCA to find the culprits. Video footage, which features two men on bicycles shortly before 5 a.m. Feb. 14, has been turned over to the department.

According to Burcham's Metal owner Jay Burcham, thefts will likely increase as long as the precious metals prices remain high. He said sales of stolen converters appear to be made privately from buyers who pay cash and dont ask questions.

Burcham's employees gather considerable information from customers, including videos of transactions, legal identification and photos, and license plate numbers, as well as the make, model and color of vehicles. And if a stolen catalytic converter does come into the shop, his staff will provide as much information as possible to law enforcement.

Were not somebody that a thief readily comes to because of the practices we have in place, he said.

Mid-valley police reports include notations of stolen catalytic converters from church vans, trucks and cars on a near-daily basis. Lt. Travis Giboney of the Albany Police Department said the department took a call on Feb. 10 about one taken from a vehicle in a fenced area on 34th Avenue. A day later, another was removed from a church bus. The Family Tree Relief Nursery vehicle was hit Feb. 13, the YMCA incident took place Feb. 14, and a city shuttle bus was targeted Feb. 20.

It seems the bigger the catalytic converter, the more thieves want it, Giboney said. Like because there are more precious metals in them.

Taller vehicles such as trucks and vans are easier targets. A thief can use a hacksaw to cut exhaust pipes and release converters in minutes.

Mid-valley residents who own Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles may want to take extra precautions to keep them safe. A CBS television station in San Mateo, California, recently reported skyrocketing thefts of their converters. Replacing them can cost between $2,500 to $3,000.

Giboney advised the public to call the APD at 541-917-7680 if they notice anything unusual in their neighborhood. Also, since this type of theft involves a saw or grinder, pay attention to grinding or cutting sounds late at night or really early in the morning, unusual times, he added.

Commercial grade catalytic converter locks can be purchased for less than $200. Made of airplane-grade wire rope, they're nearly impossible to cut with hacksaws. Lesser-priced cable systems are also available. Vehicles can also be parked in garages in heavily-lit areas, which may discourage potential thieves.

Footage from home video recording devices are also valuable tools that can be used by law enforcement agencies.

Basically, if it looks like a car prowl, call it in, Giboney said.

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P olice need to be given the right to use technology in the same way as criminals to help win the battle against lawbreakers, the Met Commissioner said today.

Dame Cressida Dick said offenders were often making powerful use of the digital world to carry out their crimes.

That meant that police would find it increasingly hard to catch or deter them unless they were allowed to use the latest technology to fight back.

Dame Cressida, pictured, said this should include artificial intelligence, backed up by human decision-making, as well as the facial recognition cameras recently introduced by the Met.

Other potential innovations included speech analytics software to help identify high-harm, high-risk or threat calls to the police, translation technology to cope with the many different languages spoken in London, and virtual and augmented reality to improve officers decision-making and community engagement. The commissioner said updated legislation would be needed so that politicians and the public could debate the appropriate boundaries for police use of technology in future.

But she warned that the current debate was too dominated by critics, who were often highly inaccurate or ill-informed, and that public support for previous technological advances, ranging from fingerprinting to DNA and body-worn cameras, showed that most wanted to see police given up-to-date equipment.

The only people who benefit from us not using proportionate tech are the criminals, the rapists, the terrorists and all those who want to harm you, your family and friends, she said in a speech to the Royal United Services Institute in London.

Given that criminals normally make powerful use of the digital world why should police not have access to cutting edge tech too if we can use it as a force for good? she added. In an age of Twitter and Instagram and Facebook, concern about my image and that of my fellow law-abiding citizens passing through live facial recognition and not being stored feels much, much smaller than the publics vital expectation to be kept safe from a knife through the chest.

If, as seems likely, algorithms can assist in identifying patterns of behaviour by those under authorised surveillance  that indicate  a terrorist attack [or] a potential serial rapist or killer  then I think almost all citizens would want us to use it.

The commissioner said two choices lay ahead. One was to shun technology so police did not use the tech that increases the likelihood of solving and preventing crime, leaving the public rightly indignant. The other, which she favoured, was to use tech proportionately to speed up how we  human officers  solve and prevent crime.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Azerbaijan continues to make efforts for the international community to recognize the Khojaly tragedy as an act of genocide, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters on Feb. 24, Trend reports.

"The Azerbaijani people are to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy. This tragedy is a painful wound of the Azerbaijani people. Azerbaijanis always honor the memory of Khojaly victims with deep respect. Today, we continue to make efforts for the international community to recognize the Khojaly tragedy as an act of genocide," Hikmet Hajiyev said.

"The main goal is to achieve recognition of the Khojaly tragedy as an act of genocide as defined by the international law. Raising public awareness, the Justice for Khojaly! campaign, the activities of our civil society organizations, diplomatic missions and diaspora organizations all play important roles in this process," Hajiyev added.

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, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

During the Karabakh war, on Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

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.
The federal government on Monday released for the first time the proposed alignment of the border wall in Webb and Zapata counties, a continuous barrier for 69 miles starting at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge and ending just south of San Ygnacio.

READ MORE: Zapata residents talk border wall as BP seeks permission to survey land

This is a proposed 30-foot-tall steel bollard structure with a 150-foot-wide enforcement zone that entails clearing all vegetation between the river and the wall. The maps show a proposed alignment running relatively close to the Rio Grande, following its contours.

It appears to touch areas such as Tres Laredos Park, Father McNaboe Park, the San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary, and some of the westernmost streets in west Laredo, the Santa Rita neighborhood, El Cenizo and Rio Bravo.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is also seeking comments from the public on the project. Comments may be emailed to laredocomments@cbp.dhs.gov with the subject line FY20 Laredo Border Wall System Projects until Tuesday, April 21.

CBP is seeking your input on potential impacts to the environment, culture, quality of life and commerce, including potential socioeconomic impacts from the approximately 69 miles of CBP-funded border wall system being proposed in Webb and Zapata Counties, reads part of a letter sent Monday from Paul Enriquez, acquisition, real estate and environmental director for Border Patrols Border Wall Program Management Office. Enriquez spoke last month concerning the border wall at a Laredo City Council meeting.

READ MORE: Webb Co. Commissioners vote to allow government access to land for border wall

CBP is seeking fact-based comments that will help the government assess any potential impacts to biological, cultural and natural resources. They are specifically looking to answer the following questions, according to Enriquezs letter:

Are you aware of threatened or endangered plant or animal species within the area of proposed construction? If so, where?

Are you aware of recreational activities that take place in the area of proposed construction?

Are you aware of possible impacts to businesses? Where are those businesses located?

Are you aware of historical sites or areas of cultural significance located within the area of proposed construction? If so, where?

Do you foresee your day-to-day activities being impacted by the proposed projects?

Are you aware of any studies, data or other information available that would aid in the analysis of potential environmental impacts in the proposed project areas?

Do you have any recommendations for practices the construction contractor should follow to avoid or minimize impacts?

The public may also submit comments to:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters

1300 Pennsylvania Ave. 6.5E Mail Stop 1039

Washington, D.C. 20229-1100

The names and addresses of those who comment will be part of the public record, the letter states.
The Maramures County Committee for Emergency Situations (CJSU) announced, on Monday, that five locations were identified and established as adequate quarantine spaces, given that, on Monday, several Romanians from Italy are expected to arrive in Maramures County.

The five quarantine space are situated in Baia Mare, Sighetu Marmatiei, Viseul de Sus, Borsa and Valea Chioarului.According to the CJSU, it was decided to postpone the travel to Italy of pupils and teachers from Maramures school involved in educational projects with institutions/educational units from Italy, for a period of 30 days."We decided to discuss, in a videoconference system, with the local public administration authorities, in order to know the situation of Maramures natives that left to work in Italy, but also to relay to them the recommendations of specialists regarding the prevention and limiting of possible infections [ed.n. with coronavirus]. We took the necessary measures to be informed upon entry into the country, about the arrival in the county of Maramures natives or citizens that came or transited areas affected by this disease in Italy," wrote, in Facebook post, the prefect of Maramures County, Nicolae-Silviu Ungur.The prefect of Maramures County also mentioned that in the county there only one person recently returned from China, who chose self-isolation at home."The persons from our country in isolation or in quarantine are not sick, only under suspicion of the disese (...) An example of good practice is that of the citizen from the locality of Negreia. He self-isolated, he was permanently monitored by medics, he respected the indications of the medical personnel, being clinically healthy and the medical measure will be lifted. We mention that Dr. Constantin Opris County Emergency Hospital in Baia Mare is not a quarantine location and that this medical unit has no rooms/special spaces established," Ungur mentioned.He urges citizens to respect the measures recommended by doctors."We urge the citizens to prove responsibility in respecting the measures recommended by medics and we ask them to maintain an atmosphere of calm, in order to allow the authorities and the medical personnel to be able to handle the emergency situations," Nicolae-Silviu Ungur said.On Monday, several Romanians from Italy are expected to reach Maramures County entering the country through the border crossing point at Petea, Satu Mare county. AGERPRES
Video from the scene showed a silver Mercedes station wagon with local license plates on a sidewalk, its front windshield badly smashed and hood dented, and its hazard lights blinking, while emergency crews walked by. Forensic experts could be seen taking photos and measurements around the crashed car, walking around fragments of Carnival costumes that littered the ground.
[February 24, 2020] OTTO.nl, a leading European eCommerce brand invests in Insider's AI-powered marketing platform to deliver personalized experiences

LONDON, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OTTO.nl, one of the world's leading retail eCommerce brands chose Insider, the first integrated AI-powered Growth Management Platform , to drive personalization and growth across its digital channels. Insider will supplement OTTO.nl's vision to drive growth through effective customer segmentation and its AI-powered platform to deliver truly relevant experiences. "Personalization is an important driver for growth within OTTO.nl and crucial in delivering an optimal shopping experience. Insider is a partner that helps us design and deliver more relevant and delightful experiences. Together with Insider we can test the impact of various personalization ideas quickly and continuously optimize experiences across channels" said Linda Mels, Team Manager Performance Marketing & CRM. Insider's AI-backed Growth Management platform is already being used by 600+ global brands including UNIQLO, Philips, Hunkemoller, Decathlon, Samsung , Toyota , Carrefour , MediaMarkt , Estee Lauder, Adidas, Levi's, Puma , GAP, Virgin , AVIS, Marks & Spencer, Avon , Nissan , BBVA, IKEA , and CNN .



OTTO.nl announced its partnership with Insider Growth Management Platform following a structured evaluation phase assessing platforms based on relevance and operational consistency. Among several factors, OTTO.nl chose Insider for its digital growth features, to tackle key marketing metrics across the funnel (CAC, conversions, LTV, AOV etc.) advanced segmentation capabilities, and strong data unification across the web and mobile web. Insider's easy to implement integration structure will allow OTTO.nl to turn ideas into meaningful campaigns without any IT requirements while supporting a wide range of design and formats.

"I've always admired OTTO.nl for their successful shift from a well respected offline mail-order company, to become one of the leading eCommerce businesses in Europe. OTTO.nl offers a diverse choice of fashion and lifestyle products to a broad audience. This partnership between two brands with a commitment to redefining how customer experiences are delivered will serve as a foundation for further growth and expansion in Europe," said Bas Drogtrop, Insider's Country Manager for Benelux. Insider's integrated Growth Management Platform works by unifying customer data across channels and leveraging AI and predictive technologies to segment and effectively target users across the funnel. Insider's cross-channel and tech-advanced platform will focus on empowering brands to deliver highly personalized experiences based on historical and predictive data across the web, mobile Web, app, email and morein real time. By helping marketers eliminate much of the marketing waste, Insider helps optimize Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC), ROAS (Return On Ad Spend), Conversion Rate, AOV (Average Order Value) LTV (Lifetime Value) in addition to other crucial marketing metrics. About Insider Insider Growth Management Platform (GMP) helps digital marketers drive growth across the funnel, from Acquisition to Activation, Retention, and Revenue. Leveraging real-time predictive segmentation powered by deep Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities, Growth Management Platform empowers marketers to deliver personalized journeys across the web, Mobile Web, Mobile Apps, and Ad Channels. Built on a unified data layer, GMP is easy to implement and simple to use, avoiding the need for complex integrations and dependency on IT teams. Insider simplifies the life of digital marketers and helps them drive growth for their brands, with zero marketing waste. Insider is a technology company with offices in London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Sydney, Paris, Helsinki, Barcelona, Dubai, Moscow, Warsaw, Taipei, Jakarta, Istanbul, Kiev, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Brussels, Amsterdam, Manila, Wellington, Luxemburg, Ankara and Kuala Lumpur. Insider has been named a "Cool Vendor" in the report titled " Cool Vendors in Multichannel Marketing" by Gartner , Inc. and recognized as a Leader in the G2 Grid? for Mobile Marketing for 12 consecutive quarters. Also, Insider was listed as one of Europe's 100 Hottest Startups by WIRED Magazine in 2018 and won Red Herring Top 100 Europe in 2017. CrunchBase has recently ranked Insider's co-founder and CEO Hande Cilingir as one of the top three women CEOs outside of the US.

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Keeping Your Vaccine Records Up to Date

Your vaccination record (sometimes called your immunization record) provides a history of all the vaccines you received as a child and adult. This record may be required for certain jobs, travel abroad, or school registration.

How to Locate Your Vaccination Records

Unfortunately, there is no national organization that maintains vaccination records. The CDC does not have this information. The records that exist are the ones you or your parents were given when the vaccines were administered and the ones in the medical record of the doctor or clinic where the vaccines were given.

Talk with your doctor about the best options to make sure you are up-to-date on vaccines.

If you need official copies of vaccination records, or if you need to update your personal records, there are several places you can look:

Ask parents or other caregivers if they have records of your childhood immunizations.

Try looking through baby books or other saved documents from your childhood.

Check with your high school and/or college health services for dates of any immunizations. Keep in mind that generally records are kept only for 1-2 years after students leave the system.

Check with previous employers (including the military) that may have required immunizations.

Check with your doctor or public health clinic. Keep in mind that vaccination records are maintained at doctors office for a limited number of years.

Contact your states health department. Some states have registries (Immunization Information Systems) that include adult vaccines.

What To Do If You Cant Find Your Records

If you cant find your personal records or records from the doctor, you may need to get some of the vaccines again. While this is not ideal, it is safe to repeat vaccines. The doctor can also sometimes do blood tests to see if you are immune to certain vaccine-preventable diseases.

Tools to Record Your Vaccinations

Today we move, travel, and change health care providers more than we did in previous generations. Finding old immunization information can be difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, it is critical that you keep an accurate and up-to-date record of the vaccinations you have received. Keeping an immunization record and storing it with other important documents (or in a safe place) will save you time and unnecessary hassle.

Ask your doctor, pharmacist or other vaccine provider for an immunization record form or download and use this form pdf icon[4 pages]external icon. Bring this record with you to health visits, and ask your vaccine provider to sign and date the form for each vaccine you receive. That way, you can be sure that the immunization information is current and correct.

If your vaccine provider participates in an immunization registry, ask that your vaccines be documented there as well.

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Qatar's ruler offered 10,000 new jobs specifically for Jordanians during a two-day visit to Amman, Qatar Agency said Sunday, a sign of warming relations between the two states.

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani announced the creation of "10,000 jobs in Qatar for our Jordanian brothers, in addition to the 10,000 jobs already announced in August 2018", state-run QNA wrote on Twitter.

Lacking in natural resources and reliant on foreign aid, Jordan's unemployment rate is 18.5 percent and the poverty rate over 15 percent, according to official figures.

The kingdom reduced its diplomatic presence in Doha in June 2017 after Saudi Arabia and its allies Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting "terrorists" and of being too close to Iran.

The Qatari emir, who arrived in Jordan earlier Sunday, also pledged "USD 30 million in assistance" to the kingdom's military pension fund, QNA added.

King Abdullah II and the emir discussed "regional crises and the need to find political solutions", a statement from the royal palace said.

The pair also discussed the need to support the Palestinians in obtaining their rights, in particular to "a sovereign state... with east Jerusalem as its capital", the statement added.

US President Donald Trump in January gave a green light for Israel to declare sovereignty over all of Jerusalem as part of his Middle East peace plan.

The plan proposes making Abu Dis -- a rundown neighbourhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem -- the capital of a Palestinian state.

Key US ally Jordan, the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, is one of two Arab countries along with Egypt to sign a peace treaty with Israel.

More than half of the kingdom's population is of Palestinian origin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A judge said christenings have now become a "sacrament of drinking" after hearing how a young Italian man was attacked by three men, who had just left a christening party, as he waited for a lift to work at 5.30am.

The victim was just starting life in Cork at the time of the attack.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain told the court: A christening at five oclock in the morning. What were they doing  waiting for the confirmation? Christenings used to be a sacrament. Now it is a sacrament of drinking.

A Christening was an introduction to Christian life. Now they are an alcoholic introduction to violence.

Detective Garda Neil Walsh gave evidence at the sentencing of two men who admitted assault causing harm to the young Italian man and attempting to rob him at Parnell Place on August 26 2018.

The detective said the victim said in an impact statement that he thought the three men had been out drinking that Saturday night/Sunday morning and were just going to walk past him.

Instead they attacked him, punched him in the face and tried to rob him of his cash and phone. He sustained what the treating doctor at Mercy University Hospital described as a mild traumatic head injury.

Judge O Donnabhain imposed three-year jail terms on the two defendants and suspended the last six months.

The duo were: 24-year-old Connie ODonoghue formerly of Upper Teadies, Enniskeane, County Cork, and now of Bere Island, County Cork, and Jimmy ODriscoll, aged 22, of 5 Mount Saint Josephs Close, Bakers Road, Gurranabraher, Cork.

The victim said that after he was attacked and injured, the two accused and a third man, not before the court today, walked away as if nothing happened, like this was a natural occurrence for them.

The young man said he had been really looking forward to living in Cork and his new job. He said his mother in Italy was worried about him and her own health was poor.

He decided to go home for six months to recover with the support of his family. While it was the right thing to do he felt bitterly disappointed that it was necessary.

Tom Creed, senior counsel for ODriscoll, said the victim did not sustain any acute injuries. He said 1,000 compensation was gathered by the defendant from very limited resources.

ODriscoll said in a letter: I am truly sorry for assaulting you. My head was not in the right place after my brother passed away to suicide in prison. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Siobhan Lankford SC said ODonoghue had moved to Bere Island to get away from bad influences and to stay out of trouble. He was also apologetic to the injured party.
Plans for Irish Water to charge 58,000 households with excessive water usage were delayed amid concerns over data protection and how to deal with customers without water meters.

Letters and information were prepared last October telling households what they could do to cut water consumption and how Irish Water could help.

Internal records obtained via FOI describe discussions to ensure plans to start charging would be "very carefully managed". They explain how there would need to be messaging around how Irish Water was going to manage households that had no meters and how excessive use would be calculated.

However, the plan was postponed to deal with issues around how customer data would be managed, unmetered houses, and building IT infrastructure to support the project.

Consultation

Talks are now underway with the Data Protection Commissioner over how to manage the volume of personal data.

This would include names, addresses, water usage, the number of people living in each house, and special medical requirements of residents who might need more water.

It also includes strong indicators of when people are likely to be home, based on when water is being used in the day, which in the event of a breach could create a burglary risk.

An Irish Water official said that household water conservation was a "unique project" and that the Department of Housing were consulting with the Data Protection Commissioner.

She said: "[We have] taken all the necessary steps to try to ensure that our approach is in line with GDPR requirements and that all measures are taken to protect personal data."

The official said that while GDPR was a key issue, customer communications, building IT systems and the approach to identifying unmetered households were also "essential to the progression of the project."

Letter

"All of these elements are reaching a state of readiness. The project cannot proceed unless and until all elements are ready," she said.

The internal Irish Water records explain how the process for charging would happen with a "call to action" letter and leaflet sent to households at first.

This would include a "step-by-step guide, what options are open to them, what help can Irish Water provide, what can the household do?"

A second letter would be issued in April and a third reminder sent in January 2021 with the first bills issuing in July 2021 if excessive use had not been curtailed.

The excess would be charged at 1.85 per 1,000 litres up to 250 per service.

Customers with water in and water out services will be capped at 500 a year.
Fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari who is wanted in many heinous crimes, including murder and extortion, was brought to the city in the early hours of Monday from Senegal, police said.

Later in the day, he was produced before the 1st Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate's (ACMM) court which remanded him to police custody till March 7.

A former close aide of India's most wanted and mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, Dawood Ibrahim and gangster Chhota Rajan, Pujari was brought here under tight police security by an Air France flight.

A team of police officers from the state including Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amar Kumar Pandey and Bengaluru Joint Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil went to Senegal to bring him.

Thanking Indian authorities, government and the Supreme Court of Senegal for the extradition, Pandey said "the whole extradition process in Dakar (capital of Senegal) took two days and on February 22 at 10 pm Senegal time, custody of the fugitive Ravi Pujari was handed over to Indian authorities under due procedures."



The gangster was recently nabbed in South Africa in a joint operation by the SA police and Senegal security agencies, reportedly on a tip from Indian intelligence agencies, and was later extradited to Senegal, official sources said.

At the time of his arrest in Senegal, he had a Burkina Faso passport with a false identity of Anthony Fernandes, the sources said.

He was arrested by Senegal authorities last year and Indian counterparts had tried their best to get hold of him, but failed as a local court there granted him bail.

The gangster then jumped bail, fled Senegal and holed up in South Africa, sources added.

Pujari, involved in at least 97 criminal cases in Karnataka, including 47 from Bengaluru alone, was running organised extortion rackets in the state and other parts of the country.

There was an Interpol red corner notice against Pujari, who is wanted in multiple cases including murder, attempt to murder and extortion.

He is said to be involved in a double murder at Shabnam Developers at Tilak Nagar here in February 2007, allegedly as the developer refused to pay him extortion money.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Opinion Article

24 February 2020

From Greta Thunberg sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to attending a conference in New York, to protesters all around the world taking to the streets in peaceful demonstrations - 2019 saw a huge uptick in activities related to climate change and environmental issues.

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Movements such as the Extinction Rebellion are attracting the attention of millions through creative displays, for instance, by floating a life-size model of a typical suburban house down the river Thames as a warning about rising sea levels. Stark actions like these are turning the crisis from an abstract collection of scientific data into a visually comprehensible fact for many. Not only are political leaders increasingly being pushed towards enacting meaningful change, individual consumers across all industries too are realizing that altering their behavior will play a pivotal role in the fight against climate change.

Green Is the New Black

A 2019 study by Harvard Business Review found that for sales in 90% of the observed Consumer Packaged Goods categories, brands that were marketed as sustainable were growing faster than traditional competitors. This rise in customers' attention to environmental issues has been picked up on by large companies in virtually any industry. As a consequence, the use of buzzwords such as "sustainable", "eco-friendly" and "green" has skyrocketed in recent years, as brands are trying to highlight the ecological advantages of their products or services.

Adidas' recent pledge to use only recyclable polyester in their sneaker and clothing production by 2024, or forty-two major consumer goods brands (e.g. Haagen-Dasz, Tide & Gilette) coming together in the Loop TerraCycle project to provide households with zero-waste containers that are refilled only when needed are merely two examples of these "green" initiatives.

Hospitality as well as food and beverage companies also often focus their public messaging around these topics, promoting achievements in saving water, electricity or reducing greenhouse gas emissions either directly or along their supply chain. Truly impactful changes to the ways in which businesses operate tend to be rewarded by the public through a rise in popularity and consequently, sales.

A study by Just Capital, an outlet that ranks American companies on issues such as fair pay, equal treatment and ecological impact, found that companies that lead their competitors in terms of environmental performance also tend to enjoy a median Return-on-Equity that is 3% higher than that of their counterparts.

Furthermore, running an ethical and sustainable business is gaining importance in the fight for scarce talent. A survey by the Governance and Accountability Institute published this year found that 40% of millennial respondents had chosen an employer because of their sustainability performance. On retention, the responses were even clearer. Here, 70% of millennials answered that they are more likely to stay with a company with a strong environmental reputation and policy.

The Dangers of Greenwashing

With growing interest from various stakeholders in the way companies structure their business, companies that decide to participate in this "Green Marketing" tend to be under constant scrutiny by consumers. In their efforts to bolster public image and revenue overall, many firms are focusing on their engagement with communities and marketing messages around ecological themes.

Sadly, these initiatives hailed publicly as sustainable often just act as a smokescreen to divert public attention from business activities that remain, at their core, harmful to the planet. With more than two thirds of costumers ready to pay a premium on products that they consider environment-friendly, this trend is as understandable from a corporate perspective as it is troubling for consumers.

The heightened public sensitivity means that more and more firms get caught in their use of fluffy marketing terms and advertisements that paint them in a greener light than their activities merit. The confusion and deception felt by consumers that are victims of greenwashing can lead to decreased brand loyalty and to a loss in brand equity. More than ever, 2020 will be the year for companies to stay true to their environmental policies and messaging.

Changes to More Than Just Your Business

"While changing to renewable energy from power factories or replacing all light bulbs in retail outlets with low-energy consumption LEDs are commendable acts, players in all industries will have to do more in coming years. Traditional linear supply chains where raw material is sourced, processed in factories, consumed and then discarded to end up on landfills or, worse yet, the oceans, have proven to be a main driver to the declining health of our planet."

A shift towards a circular economy, where products are not only made from recycled and recyclable substances but consumers are also actively educated, encouraged and assisted to re-use materials, is inevitable for any business that wants to be a true driver for positive change. These practices are a staple with many environmentally-responsible start-ups. As part of their sustainability award program, "The Circulars", the World Economic Forum (WEF) recognizes impactful innovations in sustainability.

Start-ups like the British firm Olleco, which collects food waste from outlets such as restaurants, hotels or food manufacturers and turns it into biofuel that is returned to customers are promising role models to everyone wishing for more sustainable business and consumption cycles.

Innovative actions in climate protection are not limited to start-ups. Multinationals like the beverage giant Anheuser-Busch InBev are also praised for their efforts. On their page about "The Circulars", WEF notes that "the world's largest brewer wants 100% of its products to be in packaging that's returnable or made from majority-recycled content by 2025. Already nearly half of its drinks are sold in returnable glass bottles." The company has also introduced a new protein-rich beverage made from spent grains that were previously exclusively used as animal feed. Initiatives such as this one will be necessary for leaders in all industries, including the major players in hospitality, to ensure continued success and healthy ecosystems.

Green Initiatives by Hospitality Businesses

According to a publication by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, the tourism industry is responsible for about 5% of current greenhouse gas emissions. With numbers of travelers and hotel rooms booming, this number is set to increase by 130% by 2035.

"The immense impact on a global scale and the great extent to which hospitality businesses are exposed to changes in the environment puts the industry in a position where a shift towards more sustainable practices becomes an ecological, economical and ethical necessity."

Due to the heavy investments needed to update existing locations and inherently low profit margins compared to other industries, hotels and restaurants have been rather slow in adopting sustainable business practices. By 2050, hotels will need to reduce emissions per key by 90% to be in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. Public and political pressure on the sector is rising to implement drastic changes in coming years. Many hotel and restaurant chains are responding, but the path to a clean hospitality industry remains a long one. The steps that can be taken by businesses and what sustainable hospitality really means will be discussed in more detail as part of a later article by this author.

Still, some companies that have already taken decisive steps towards a greener operation are worth mentioning already here. In October 2019, the latest SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment was published, ranking the most sustainable hotel chains worldwide.

The Spain-based Melia Hotels International was awarded the highest possible points in criteria such as Climate Strategy and Social Reporting.

In December 2019, Melia was also the first International hotel chain to make use of environmental blockchain technology to offset its carbon footprint. In collaboration with Spanish start-up Climatetrade, it will also allow its loyalty program members to spend their credits on initiatives against climate change "which help develop, protect and conserve natural ecosystems".

1 Hotels is another great example. The boutique hotel chain with locations on both US coasts has an impressive track record. Each property pays a lot of attention to ecological aspects when designing their buildings and selecting furniture. Much of the furniture is made of reclaimed wood, the F&B operations make use of seasonal and local produce, and staff members as well as guests are encouraged to learn about and engage in environment-friendly practices.

The Time Is Now

Transforming the way all hotels and restaurants make use of Planet Earth's resources may seem like a gargantuan task to both regulators and hospitality operators. But in 2020, more than ever, both the economic and ecological benefits of a sustainable business are indisputable and the time has finally come to start the process of turning every last room on this planet into a sustainable accommodation that even Greta would be happy to call home.
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BERLIN  Square Eyes dropped Monday the trailer of Window Boy Would Also Like to Have a Submarine following its world premiere in the Berlinales Forum. The low-fi story has been in the works for some time, returning to the Berlinale after having been at the Script Station, as well as also passing though Binger Filmlab, San Sebastians Europe-Latin America Co-production Forum and the script workshop of La Habana Festival, among others. The film has already garnered a nomination for the GWFF Best First Feature Award and selection for the New Directors/New Films program at the Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art.

The story follows a solitary deckhand on a cruise ship who discovers in the ship as it follows the cost in Patagonia a door that leads to a womans apartment in Montevideo. At the same time, a group of villagers discover a never-seen before cement hut in the middle of the jungle, near their settlement in the Philippines. As seen in the trailer, the film is full of enigmatic images, its a mystery box that slow but steadily unveils its protagonists, lonely characters that imbue the film with a sense of longing.

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Variety talked with Alex Piperno in Berlin just after his feature debuts world premiere.

Your film has a very strong concept, reinforced by visual contrasts, be it the cement hut on a hilltop in the middle of the jungle, or passageways and staircases deep in the bowels of a ship that leads to a womans room. What was the genesis of your movie?

All this began ten years ago, I had moved to Buenos Aires, I am Uruguayan and I studied cinema in Buenos Aires. And as I travelled on the ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires, which is a three hour ride, I discovered that there was a life that I had in Montevideo and one that I have in Buenos Aires, that gave me a big sense of freedom. And I thought: What if this ship can lead to two possibilities in the world, it can open countless possibilities. That is how the idea of this fantastic ship that links two spaces, near and distant, that are connected was born.

Story continues

Latin American cinema has the tendency and manages to play with different genres without ever falling into one completely. You pose a fantastic story that is solved in a very restrained way. A story framed within genre, which does not feel like genre at all. What were your interests when using sci fi?

To me genre is not something that particularly interests me, on the other hand it offers narrative efficiency. I have an interest in cinema from a poetic point of view, the relationship between materials that are unrelated  there is a tradition of thinking about poetry as the chance encounter of an umbrella and a sewing machine on the dissection table, to use an image of Lautremont. It has to do with the encounter of things that have no relation. That misalignment interests me in cinema and I think there the fantastic comes into play. Because it allows us to create a game of associations that opens up the possibility of language. I think it has more to do with language than with gender.

In your film, what is not said, what is not seen, is very valuable, there is a constant use of ellipsis and off screen. What were your guiding principles when editing what is not seen?

Well, its editing and staging, I know that working with fixed shots when using fantastic elements has its limitations. My work tools are the off screen and the frame within a frame. To achieve and sustain a tension I look for the entry of an element that gives new meaning to the relationship of the elements in the shot and its off screen. Many shots have editing masks that I use to achieve a narrative tempo. All spaces are transited and all entrances and exits were used which generates a rhythm, an off-field force, a plastic tension. I felt that I have to steal some information so that there is something not quite said.

In film any scene translates as behavior over time. Your actors have very few moments where they express themselves with their voice, yet your film manages to pul off sustained shots with almost mute characters without ever losing rhythm. What was the process with them? What were you looking for?

I thought the movie was going to last 110 minutes and it lasts 85. That seems fine. There is some of this silence, there is never really silence, when there is no mobility the off screen and sound are working. For me,  and this is after work conceptualization  my first impulse is not to rely on dialogue and make them talk but this more geometric sense of the system of relationships within the shot, of working through shot entrances and exits, generating frames within frames. In general I tend to solve things this way. But of course the other material is the actors, who are all non-actors in the film. The Philippines talked a lot which was very nice because it created its own rhythm. Window Boy happened that not to talk that much and I liked his silence. We found his presence in very clear actions. Ines who is a screenwriter, has an incredible sense of how to handle narrative through the use of her body.

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New Delhi, Feb 24 : With the government pushing for the disinvestment of Air India, industrial conglomerate Adani Group may emerge as one of the bidders for the debt-laden national carrier, sources said.

According to highly placed sources group has held internal rounds of deliberations on whether or not to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) and that the discussions are still in the preliminary stage.

If the company actually submits an EoI, it would be a major move towards further diversification of the company which has business interests across sectors right from edible oil, food to mining and minerals.

It also entered into airport operations and maintenance business and won bids for privatisation of six airports, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvanathapuram and Mangaluru in 2019.

On being contacted by IANS, the company did not comment on the matter.

Air India is one of the most important divestment target for the current fiscal to reach the huge Rs 2.1 lakh crore target.

The government in January restarted the divestment process of the airline and invited bids for selling 100 per cent of its equity in the state-owned airline, including Air India's 100 per cent shareholding in AI Express Ltd. and 50 per cent in Air India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd.

After its unsuccessful bid to sell Air India in 2018, the government this time has decided to offload its entire stake. In 2018, it had offered to sell its 76 per cent stake in the airline.

Of the total debt of Rs 60,074 crore as of March 31, 2019, the buyer would be required to absorb Rs 23,286 crore.

Air India, along with its subsidiary Air India Express, has a total operational fleet of 146 airplanes.

Further, the disinvestment department has extended the last date for submission of written queries on the Performance Information Memorandum and Share Purchase Agreement to March 6.

The last date for submission of written queries on PIM and SPA was originally set for February 11, following which the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) on February 21 issued 20 clarifications on the queries raised and expected.

Any delay in the tentatively rolled out timeline would also delay the DIPAM's plan to identify the pre-qualified bidders by March 31 and the financial bids invitation as well. It is expected to take more than 2 months after the selection of the pre-qualified bidders to complete Air India's sale.
MANILA, Philippines  The city government of Baguio has banned the sale of wet wipes and other similar products containing harmful ingredients in all local establishments.

This was after the city council approved on third and final reading an ordinance penned by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, and signed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong on January 28.

The brands of wet wipes covered by the ban are the following: Dong Bang, Dong Bang Yao Baby Tender, Family Treasure Baby Tender, Sky Fire Baby Tender, Giggley Baby Wipes, and Super Soft Skin Care Wet Towel.

In a Facebook post, the city council said the enumerated brands of wet wipes and other similar products were allegedly found to contain harmful chemical compounds such as methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MIT), and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC).

The city council said that during the public consultation in November 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health (DOH) recommended the prohibition of the said products.

The ordinance also cited the environmental group, EcoWaste Coalitions warning on the presence of harmful chemical compounds in wet wipes which may trigger skin allergies and may cause contact dermatitis.

Some of these baby wipes/products were found to be sold at the citys grocery stores, black market, supermarkets, and convenience stores; and the continued sale of these products supposedly for hygiene is disturbing, the ordinance read.

Pursuant to the local policy, the City Health Services Office (CHSO), in coordination with the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) and the barangay officials, is authorized to conduct inspection in establishments and confiscate the prohibited products followed by an inventory on the confiscated items identifying the name of the establishment, its location, the type and number of the confiscated items, and the mode of disposal conducted.

Violators will be fined with P1, 000.00 for the first offense (immediate closure of business for those without business permits); P3, 000.00 for the second offense (closure of business for those without business permits until compliance); and P5, 000.00 and non-renewal of business permit for the third offense.

Individuals or business establishments that will surrender banned products will not be penalized, the city council said.

The post Baguio City bans sale of harmful wet wipes brands appeared first on UNTV News.
Rainbow Milk is celebrating Arab heritage with major Land Cruiser competition







Two iconic Land Cruisers up for grabs





Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 24 February 2020: Rainbow Milk, one of the regions most loved brands, is celebrating the UAEs camping culture by giving brand-new Toyota Land Cruisers to two lucky customers.







Until February 29, 2020, consumers can be in with a chance of winning one of the most iconic desert cars in history by purchasing a Rainbow Evaporated Milk 12-pack.







All you have to do is check the back and enter the contest. Winners will be able to hit the desert in style and enjoy some Rainbow-inspired karak under the stars.







The competition celebrates Rainbows long-term relationship with the Arab World and its residents, where its been contributing to karak moments since its launch in 1955, when it became one of the first multi-national brands in the region.







Rainbow Milk has 65 years of heritage and legacy in the Arab World, and is synonymous with family time, desert camping, and enjoying karak with those closest to you. This is felt by citizens of the region, as well as the many residents from around the world that call it home, said Sumeet Mathur, managing director, FrieslandCampina Middle East.







This competition is an example of our ongoing commitment to the region and its customs  the Toyota Land Cruiser is every bit as iconic to desert life as Rainbow Milk-karak itself. Its fitting that we can offer such an amazing gift to our valued customers and help create even more amazing moments.







Once youve bought your Rainbow Milk 12-pack, you can submit the code on the back to www.rainbowmilkcontest.com, and come March 5, you might find yourself with the keys to the dune-bashing, desert-dwelling Land Cruiser.







If youre not fortunate enough to be one of the lucky winners, at least you can still enjoy 27 essential vitamins and minerals from your fresh and delicious Rainbow Milk.







*Terms & Conditions apply.




A British university student on a year abroad in Italy as part of her studies was allegedly raped in the early hours of the morning in the toilets of an Italian bar.

According to police, the woman said that the rape happened at around 3am on Monday morning when a man she had not seen before followed her to the toilets.

The young woman, whose identity has not been revealed, is reportedly studying at the University of Trento in the Italian city of the same name as part of the Erasmus exchange programme, an EU scheme which provides students the opportunity to study in a different country.

A British university student on a year abroad in Trento, Italy was allegedly raped in the early hours of Monday morning

The young woman, whose identity has not been revealed, is reportedly studying at the University of Trento (pictured), in the Italian city of the same name

The alleged victim said that the attacker spoke only broken English and prevented her from leaving the bathroom by blocking her exit, before he then raped her.

Local media reported her telling police: 'I was raped in the pub bathroom.'

After contacting police she was hospitalised and then filed a complaint, triggering the country's Code Red alert for cases of domestic and sexual abuse.

The law came into effect in August last year in a bid to make sure that police treat such cases seriously and do not downplay them by fast tracking them.

Police said they had already interviewed the owner of the bar as well as guests and security guards, who expressed shock at the fact that the young woman had allegedly been raped on the premises while they were there.
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Bioactive Adrenomedullin is a biomarker for endothelial dysfunction and allows the prediction of septic shock as elevated blood levels of bio-ADM(R) predict blood pressure break down and blood vessel leakage resulting in edemaAdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial shows that modulating the Adrenomedullin plasma level with the therapeutic antibody Adrecizumab demonstrates an improvement of survival in patients with septic shockIncreased bio-ADM(R) levels were used as inclusion criteria in the AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial to identify patients with endothelial dysfunctionsphingotec to launch IB10 sphingotest(R) bio-ADM(R) a rapid immunoassay for bioactive Adrenomedullin on its Nexus IB10 point-of-care platform mid 2020HENNINGSDORF/BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2020 / Diagnostics company SphingoTec GmbH ("sphingotec", Hennigsdorf, Germany) today announced that data from the AdrenOSS-2 study indicate a modulating role of bioactive Adrenomedullin in septic shock. Topline results of the AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial released on February 21, 2020 by its sponsor Adrenomed AG (Adrenomed) showed an increase in survival for patients with septic shock when treated with Adrecizumab. Adrecizumab targets bioactive Adrenomedullin and modulates endothelial function. Septic shock is the most severe form of sepsis, a medical emergency with high mortality. In the trial, blood levels of bioactive Adrenomedullin were measured with sphingotec's quantitative bio-ADM(R) immunoassay as inclusion criteria.Bioactive Adrenomedullin has been previously validated in over 22,000 patients as an endothelial function biomarker whose detection in the blood provides dynamic information on the patients' progression in sepsis. High or rising blood levels of bioactive Adrenomedullin indicate a disbalance in the endothelial function leading to edema and shock while decreasing levels have been linked to improved patient outcomes. Based on this evidence, bioactive Adrenomedullin is not only a valid biomarker for endothelial function but was also qualified as a biotarget and led to the subsequent development of Adrecizumab, a therapeutic antibody to treat septic shock.In the AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial, which was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of Adrecizumab, increased bio-ADM(R) levels were used as an inclusion criterion to select those patients with septic shock, which have an endothelial dysfunction. The trial enrolled a total of 301 patients with septic shock and was carried out in multiple clinical trial centers in Belgium, France, Germany, and The Netherlands.In this proof-of-concept trial, patients received Adrecizumab or placebo on top of standard of care treatment. The study achieved its primary endpoint: Adrecizumab demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated. In addition, a lower all-cause mortality for Adrecizumab-treated patients was observed when compared to placebo.AdrenOSS-2' principal investigator Pierre-Francois Laterre commented: "Using bioactive Adrenomedullin blood levels as inclusion criteria allowed us to select the patients who have endothelial dysfunction. Measuring bioactive Adrenomedullin in a routine situation, furthermore allowed us to better understand the utility of this biomarker as a diagnostic tool as we saw that bioactive Adrenomedullin gave information on top of clinical standard parameters to assess patients' severity. We will now go ahead to further investigate use-cases of bioactive Adrenomedullin as a biomarker in the clinical routine." Dr. Andreas Bergmann, founder and CEO of sphingotec commented: "Following our approach of diving deep into the biology of the disease, we have developed biomarkers that support clinicians in identifying the root causes of progression in sepsis. While the current trial indicates that using bioactive Adrenomedullin as a biomarker can help identifying those patients who could benefit in the future from Adrecizumab, the utility of this biomarker expands far beyond this and supports already today the early clinical decision making and monitoring of treatment success in sepsis." To support the critical care community in the timely assessment of endothelial function in sepsis and other acute and critical care conditions, sphingotec will launch IB10 sphingotest(R) bio-ADM(R), a rapid test for bioactive Adrenomedullin that will be deployed on the company's proprietary point-of-care platform, the Nexus IB10 immunoassay analyzer.###About sphingotecSphingoTec GmbH ("sphingotec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) develops and markets innovative in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for novel and proprietary biomarkers for the diagnosis, prediction and monitoring of acute medical conditions, such as sepsis, acute heart failure, circulatory shock, and acute kidney injury in order to support patient management and provide guidance for treatment strategies. sphingotec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes Bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM(R)), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis or congestive heart failure, Proenkephalin (penKid(R)), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of kidney function, and Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3 (DPP3), a unique biomarker for cardio-renal pathway disruptions leading to acute organ dysfunction. In addition, sphingotec develops a portfolio of novel biomarkers, which predict the risks of developing obesity, breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. IVD tests for sphingotec's proprietary biomarkers are made available as sphingotest(R) microtiterplate tests as well as point-of-care tests on the Nexus IB10 immunoassay platform by sphingotec's subsidiary Nexus Dx Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA) alongside a broad menu of IB10 tests for established biomarkers for acute and critical care.About Nexus Dx Inc. and the IB10 PlatformNexus Dx Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of sphingotec, headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA, is a global provider of a near patient testing system and advanced diagnostic solution. The company is improving patient care by providing the medical community with rapid and reliable information at the point of care (POC), delivering patient information when and where it is needed most. The company has invested over $160m to develop and market the IB10 analyzer system which, without the need for sample preparation, automatically separates plasma from whole blood with subsequent reliable and quantitative detection of biomarkers in the plasma by means of antibodies. With a hands-on-time of less than 3 minutes the easy-to-use system provides in only 20 minutes
India has made a formal request for a 15th century bronze idol believed to be stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu and found its way to a UK museum through auction.

The statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford from Sothebys auction house in 1967 from the collection of a collector named J R Belmont (1886-1981).

The museum says that it was alerted to the origins of the ancient statue by an independent researcher in November last year, following which it alerted the Indian High Commission.

Research in the photo archives of the IFP-EFEO (Institut Francais de Pondichery and the Ecole francaise dExtreme-Orient) appears to show the same bronze in the temple of Shri Soundarrajaperumal Kovil in Tamil Nadu in 1957, a statement from the Ashmolean Museum said on Monday.

The Ashmolean was informed that the bronze is one of a number of bronzes in collections in Europe and the United States identified by this researcher through the IFP-EFEO archive, the statement said.

Although there was no claim against the object, the museum officially brought the matter to the attention of the Indian High Commission on December 16 last year, requesting further information, including possible police records, that would help them establish the works provenance.

We were open to holding further discussions around the possible repatriation of the sculpture, the museum said.

Indian High Commissioner in the UK Ruchi Ghanashyam acknowledged the proactive move of the museum soon after and the matter was forwarded to the Indian authorities for follow up, with a formal request for the restitution of the idol sent to the museum earlier this month.

In our request, we have stated that the police report furnished by the idol wing unambiguously shows that the original idol as is found in the IFP archives has been stolen and replaced with a fake one and that the stolen idol is the same one that is presently with the Ashmolean, said Rahul Nangare, First Secretary (Trade) at the Indian High Commission in London.

After we provided them the police report along with the formal request for restitution, Ashmolean have informed that they are now carrying out further due diligence with an official from Ashmolean also scheduled to visit India shortly. We have requested them to expedite the same so that the final decision is taken at the earliest, he said.

The museum, which holds some of the worlds most famous art and archaeology artefacts, says it acquired the statue in good faith in 1967.

We currently have no indication of how the bronze entered his [Belmont] collection and we are continuing to investigate with the support of the Indian High Commission, the museum said.

There have been a number of instances of stolen Indian artefacts being restored from the UK to India, most recently in August last year when a limestone carved relief sculpture, originating from Andhra Pradesh, and a Navaneetha Krishna bronze sculpture originating from 17th century Tamil Nadu, were handed over to the Indian High Commissioner to the UK following a joint US-UK investigation involving Scotland Yards Art and Antiques Unit.
1. There were media reports of widely circulated leaked questions for the promotional examinations for Assistant Director 2 and Deputy Director ranks conducted on 20th and 21st February 2020. The questions were also cited on Social Media a day before the examinations. It was widely anticipated that the Ghana Education Service (GES) would have changed the said questions but this never happened.

2. Professionalizing teaching starts with the GES itself conducting its organizational systems & upholding standards in a manner reminiscent of a world-class public service institution. This includes the integrity of the GES' staff promotion systems and standards.

3. Whereas it is obvious that the Integrity of GES' teacher promotion system has been compromised by this unfortunate happening, the GES has rather chosen to descend on a defensive path by hurriedly issuing a press release to congratulate its staff and consultants for a 'Yeomans' job done. This is obviously an unfortunate attempt to water down the magnitude and effect of the leakage, rather than admitting the inefficiencies and taking necessary actions.

4. The GES' statement further indicates that its initial enquiries from all 36 centres pointed to a highly credible process without any leakage. Surprisingly, ensuing paragraphs in the same statement indicate the GES has instituted investigations into the matter. How can the GES investigate what it claims doesn't exist?

5. The usual overly defensive posture of public institutions on serious matters of public concern has become old-fashioned and an affront to public sector accountability and quality service delivery. Ghanaians certainly deserve better from the largest public service institution in Ghana, commanding about 10% of Ghana's annual budget and employing over 400,000.

6. We respectfully call on the GES to cancel the tests for Assistant Director 2 and the Deputy Director exams and re-conduct another test that has credibility and integrity.

7. We call on the Ministry of Education to investigate the circumstances leading to the wide public leakage of the tests conducted by the Institute of Education Planning and Administration of the UCC, for the GES and make its findings public.

8. GES should rather apologize to all Teachers and the Ghanaian Public for the embarrassment caused by the leakage, rather than congratulating teachers for writing a leaked exam.

9. By this release, we respectfully call on the Hon. Minister of Education to constitute a Ministerial Committee to investigate the matter and publicise the findings.

Respectfully,

Kofi Asare

Executive Director
N orth Korea has quarantined hundreds of foreigners in a bid to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus.

The authoritarian state denies having any cases of Covid-19 so far.

More than 79,000 people have the virus worldwide, and at least 2,619 people have died.

Around 380 people - mainly diplomats from abroad - have now been put on lockdown in the country, according to the BBC.

Roughly 200 people had already been confined in the capital Pyongyang for 30 days, but this time limit has now been extended.

Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

The number of confirmed cases jumped by 161 to 763.

And another two deaths in the country brings the total death toll there to seven.

Meanwhile he UK Chief Medical Officer on Sunday confirmed that four of the 32 people who had been evacuated from the Princess Diamond cruise ship in Japan had tested positive for Covid-19.

This brought the total number of cases in the UK to 13.

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

Italy has placed a slew of towns on lockdown in the northern region of Lombardy after an outbreak of more than 100 infections.

Italy now has the largest number of cases outside Asia with 152 cases and four deaths with the most recent death annnounced on Monday.

On Monday morning both Kuwait and Bahrain reported their first confirmed cases of the illness.

According to Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA, the three cases there were found in people who had travelled from Iran.

Irans leaders had denied that the coronavirus had made it to their country.

A festival in Venice, Italy, was interrupted by the outbreak (Reuters) / REUTERS

But over the weekend authorities there reported a jump in people with Covid-19 to 43, and eight fatalities have been attributed to it.

Warning that Chinas virus epidemic is still grim and complex, president Xi Jinping called for more efforts to stop the outbreak, revive industry and prevent the disease from disrupting spring planting of crops.

Mr Xi defended the ruling Communist Partys response as timely and effective in a video conference with officials in charge of anti-disease work, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

President Xi also urged businesses to get back to work though he said the epidemic was still "severe and complex, and prevention and control work is in the most difficult and critical stage"

The risk level in four Chinese regions has been lowered.

Presidebt Xi has branded the situation "grim and complex" / AP

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said his government had increased its anti-virus alert level by one notch to red, the highest level.

It allows for the temporary closure of schools and reduced operation of public transportation and flights to and from South Korea.

The new school year in South Korea was postponed by one week until Monday 9 March.

Mr Moon said the outbreak has reached a crucial watershed, and that the next few days will be critical.

We shouldnt be bound by regulations and hesitate to take unprecedented, powerful measures, he added.
I hear all of this negativity about the Democrats and the Iowa Caucuses, and they didnt know how to count it, and theyre calling them morons, liars, losers and the making the jackass the appropriate symbol of the Democrats. Let me tell you something, nobody can beat the president of the dumb  yellow, fat, nasty looking Trump. The dummy out of all the dummies has no room to talk about anyone. So Republicans, when you write this mess in the paper, think about your leader. Hes the dumbest out of all of them. Lets make him the president of the dummies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his India visit on February 24 and he will be flying to India in his world famous Air Force One, often called the Flying Oval Office or a fortress in the sky. The presidential plane manufactured by Boeing is one of the largest commercial airliner and has sophisticated cabin not only for the President to relax and hold office meetings, but also to save him during any adverse situation. The Air Force One is one of the most recognizable symbols of the presidency, and probably as important as the White House itself, where the Commander-in-Chief resides when on land.

Here are more facts on the Presidential Plane  The Air Force One-

The Air Force One refers to one of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft. The aircrafts carry the tail codes 28000 and 29000. The Air Force designation for the aircraft is VC-25A. The plane gets a White and Blue livery with the words United States of America, the American flag, and the Seal of the President of the United States on the body. Air Force One is based on the Boeings most successful and renowned 747 airplane known for its double decker cabin and a large hump. Air Force One is capable of refueling midair, unlike commercial jetliners who carry a fixed fuel and have to land for refueling. Air Force One is called a fortress not because of its body but because of its defense systems. Its onboard electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse. Air Force One gets advanced secure communications equipment which makes the aircraft a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States.
ORONOCO  The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is looking for two Texas men believed to be in the area stealing mail.

Deputies were called around 7:20 p.m. Saturday by a resident in the 1200 block of Elm Avenue Southwest in Oronoco. The 39-year-old man told deputies he saw a white Jeep Cherokee with Texas plates driving in the area and going through several mailboxes, Olmsted County Sheriff's Capt. Scott Behrns said.

The caller followed the vehicle but lost it in the 9000 block of County Road 3 Northwest. Deputies learned that while "not a lot" of mail was taken, a credit card was stolen, Behrns said. The credit card was used to purchase about $1,200 worth of merchandise at the south Walmart in Rochester.

Law enforcement was able to identify two suspects. The men  a 41-year-old from Pearland, Texas, and a 38-year-old from Grapeland, Texas  had not been located as of Monday morning.

Behrns said it is believed that the men have been in other parts of Minnesota as well. Deputies found mail from Goodhue County and Shakopee.
Local brokerage analysts said Monday they expect a steep decline in the retail industry this year due to the rapid spread of coronavirus.



The number of novel coronavirus cases in South Korea shot up to 763 on Monday, up from only 30 a week ago.



"Until last week, he coronavirus risks were limited to the sectors related to China and inbound tourists, but now the virus has affected local department stores and supermarket chains, stifling consumption," Park Jong-dae, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment Co., said.



Public fears over COVID-19 infection weighed on the stock prices of Lotte Shopping and Hyundai department, Park said.



Lotte Shopping tumbled 5.17 percent to 99,100 won (US$81) on Monday while Hyundai Department Store fell 5.1 percent to 68,800 won.



Amid the health scare, retailers lost revenue due to a dwindling number of customers and business suspensions as shoppers have been staying home due to fears over coronavirus infection.



Lotte Department Store partially suspended or had suspended operations in its main Sogong-dong branch, Jeonju branch and Yeongdeungpo branch, after customers tested positive for the contagious illness.













Shinsegae Department Store closed the food court of its Gangnam branch for one day on Sunday.



As of Thursday, the brokerage consensus for the estimated first-quarter operating profit dropped 30.5 percent for Hotel Shilla, 8.8 percent for Lotte Shopping and 12.9 percent for Emart, according to data compiled by market tracker Quantiwise and KB Securities Co.



Similarly, Hana Financial Investment estimated that the yearly operating profit of Lotte Shopping's department store and hypermart operations in 2020 could collectively dip 7-15 percent on-year, compared with an estimated 20-31 percent fall in Shinsegae's department and duty-free operations.



Supermarket chain Emart and duty-free behemoth Hotel Shilla may face operating profit drops of 16-32 percent and 33-46 percent, respectively, the brokerage's data showed.



The coronavirus has dealt a heavy blow to the already-struggling retail industry, prompting companies to close brick-and-mortar stores to reduce fixed costs.

Lotte Shopping is expected to first shutter the outlets of Lotte Supermarket and Lotte Mart that logged the largest losses last year.



Emart has already undergone a major restructuring move by closing down low-profitable outlets starting in the second half of last year.



Brokerage experts say that the stock market is unlikely to make a speedy rebound.



KB Securities analyst Kim Young-hwan said the South Korean stock market began recovery as soon as the daily infection rate fell to the 1-percent range when South Korea was hit by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).



South Korea had released 18 fully recovered novel coronavirus patients from hospitals as of Sunday morning. (Yonhap)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-25 05:22:06|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Housing Minister Assem al-Gazzar and an international coalition of real estate companies discussed on Monday the marketing and management plan for the Central Business District (CBD) in the new administrative capital.

In a statement, al-Gazzar said the CBD project, which is being built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), will improve the quality of life for local residents.

"It is a milestone in the urban renaissance witnessed by Egypt in the current period," he said.

During the meeting, the international coalition gave an integrated presentation on how to market and manage the project, presenting their experience in marketing and managing various projects worldwide.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Housing for National Projects Khaled Abbas said that the CBD includes 20 skyscrapers, including the would-be 385-meter high 80-floor Iconic Tower that is expected to be the tallest in Egypt and Africa upon completion.

"Investments in this project are estimated at about 3 billion U.S. dollars," Abbas said.

The CSCEC started building 20 skyscrapers in the planned new capital's CBD in mid-2018. By 2022, the whole project will be delivered to Egypt with a completed construction area of about 1.9 million square meters.
A Togo opposition leader has accused authorities of setting up fake polling stations in Saturday's presidential election to skew the result in favour of the incumbent.



Agbeyome Kodjo made the accusation against President Faure Gnassingbe who has been in power since 2005 when he took over from his father.



The president's office is quoted by AFP news agency as denying the accusation.



The results of the vote are expected by Friday.



Mr Kodjo, former prime minister and head of the national assembly, also accused the authorities of ballot stuffing and getting people to cast multiple votes in Mr Gnassingbe's favour.



Troops surrounded Mr Kodjo's home for around three hours after voting finished on Saturday.



Togo's Security Minister, Yark Dameham, told Voice of America that Mr Kodjo's house 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 is quoted as saying.



But Mr Kodjo told the BBC that he was given no explanation and believed this was not for his protection but instead to allow time to rig the vote.



Mr Gnassingbe has led Togo's population of eight million people since taking over following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years.



He faces six rivals for the position of president.



Constitutional changes were approved last year allowing him to seek re-election and potentially stay in office until 2030 - an issue which sparked huge protests in 2017-18.

Source: BBC









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
Taiwan raises travel alert for South Korea over coronavirus outbreak

ROC Central News Agency

02/23/2020 03:52 PM

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday issued a yellow travel alert for South Korea, warning travelers to exercise extra caution and advising potential visitors to reconsider their plans, as the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the neighboring country continued to surge.

The yellow alert is the third-highest level in MOFA's four-tier warning system, which consists of gray, yellow, orange and red, in order of severity.

According to MOFA, South Korea has reported 556 cases of COVID-19 to date, 70 percent of which are confirmed or suspected indigenous cases.

Cluster infections linked to a large church and a hospital near the city of Daegu have contributed to the spike in cases in South Korea, and there have been numerous cases in which the source of infection could not be determined, according to MOFA.

The ministry issued the warning after Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Saturday raised its travel alert for South Korea to Level 2, the second-highest in its three-level system.

Travelers are advised to remain vigilant and to take safety precautions while in South Korea, the CECC said.

(By Matt Yu and Chiang Yi-ching)

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The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board on Monday said it will build a mosque as well as an Indo-Islamic research centre, a hospital and a library on the five-acre plot allotted to it following the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict.

The decision to accept the land was taken at a board meeting here.

"It has been decided at a meeting of the board to take the five-acre land given to us by the UP government," board chairman Zufar Farooqui told reporters.

He said the board will set up a trust soon for the construction of the mosque.

"Besides the mosque, there will be an Indo-Islamic research centre, a public library, a charitable hospital and other useful facilities on the land", he said.

"The size of the mosque will be decided keeping in mind local needs," he said.

In a historic verdict in November on the Ramjanmabhoomi- dispute, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of construction of a temple. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque within Ayodhya.

In 1992, the 16th century Babri mosque that stood on the disputed site in Ayodhya was demolished by karsevaks, claiming that originally there was a Ram temple at the same spot.

Soon after last year's verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute, there were suggestions that the Sunni board should not accept the plot.

There were also suggestions that instead of a mosque to replace the demolished Babri Masjid, the Muslim community should build a public facility like a hospital there.

The Sunni Waqf Board, however, made it clear that rejecting the site was not an option.

"Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Sunni Waqf Board does not have the choice of rejecting the five-acre alternative land for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya as it would amount to contempt of court," Farooqui had said earlier.

Besides Farooqui, there are seven other members on the Sunni Waqf Board.

Based on the SC verdict, the Centre had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to allot five acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board.The UP cabinet made the allotment after its meeting of February 5.

The allotment letter is for a plot at Dhannipur village in Ayodhya's Sohawal area, on the Ayodhya-Lucknow highway about 20 km from the district headquarters.
By Jonathan Landay and Arshad Mohammed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States wants Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to defer his second-term inauguration over concerns it could inflame an election feud with his political rival and jeopardize U.S.-led peacemaking efforts, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Ghani claimed victory last week in a disputed Sept. 28 election and plans to take the oath of office on Thursday, an Afghan official said. His opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, Ghani's former deputy, also proclaimed himself the winner and is planning a parallel inauguration, according to Afghan media reports.

The competing claims, neither of which Washington has recognised, threaten a U.S.-led peace process that got a boost on Saturday with the start of a week-long reduction in violence that is to culminate on Saturday with the signing of a U.S.-Taliban deal on a U.S. troop withdrawal.

The U.S.-Taliban agreement is to be followed by inter-Afghan talks on a political settlement to end decades of war.

But the Ghani-Abdullah feud threatens to further complicate the naming of a delegation to negotiate with the insurgents, a process already mired in delays and disputes.

A source familiar with the matter said that because of those concerns, U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been in Kabul since last week, wants Ghani to delay his planned inauguration to a second five-year term.

The U.S. State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Afghan Embassy in Washington declined comment.

President Donald Trump has made the withdrawal of the roughly 13,000 U.S. service members from Afghanistan a major foreign policy objective. An agreement with the Taliban to end America's longest war could boost Trump's re-election prospects.

A former senior Afghan official said Khalilzad, an Afghan-born veteran U.S. diplomat, was pressing Ghani to postpone the ceremony and trying to persuade Abdullah to do the same to preserve the peace process.

Story continues

The sources requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

VOTE-RIGGING ALLEGATIONS

The former senior Afghan official said that even if there was an "inclusive" delegation chosen to talk with the Taliban, the Ghani-Abdullah feud could "spill into the negotiating process."

U.S. allies also appeared to share U.S. concerns that the dispute could hamper the peace process, with NATO's civilian representative to Kabul calling on Monday for "calm, dialogue and compromise by all political leaders."

Writing on Twitter, Nicholas Kay urged "all parties to prioritize the peace process and national unity. NATO does not support actions by any party that increase tensions or the risk of violence."

There are about 4,000 non-U.S. NATO troops in Afghanistan.

China, which has a border with Afghanistan, said it welcomed a "possible" U.S. Taliban deal.

The official Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian as saying that foreign forces should be withdrawn in a way that avoids "a security vacuum, which terrorist organizations may take advantage of."

The Sept. 28 presidential election vote-counting process was beset by allegations of rigging, technical problems with biometric devices used for voting and other irregularities.

The Independent Election Commission said on Feb. 18 that Ghani had won 50.64 percent of the vote, while Abdullah was named the runner-up with 39.52 percent.

Abdullah rejected the results, and said he would name his own Cabinet. Last weekend, he named loyalists as governors to two provinces.

U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to topple the Taliban rulers who provided the sanctuary in which the al Qaeda militant group planned the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington that killed almost 3,000 people.

The U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan are part of a U.S-led NATO mission that is training and assisting Afghan forces and carrying out counterterrorism operations to prop up the Kabul government and prevent an al Qaeda resurgence.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Arshad Mohammed; Additional reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi; Editing by Peter Cooney)
South Korea reported 161 more coronavirus cases Monday (February 24), taking the nationwide total to 763 and making it the world's largest total outside China. The country has seen a rapid surge in the number of coronavirus cases since a cluster of infections emerged from a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu last week. (Image: AP)
Africa could be a big victim of the coronavirus, which crippled many cities in China and led to deaths elsewhere as scientists still struggle to find a cure.

Our greatest concern is about the potential for spread in countries with weaker health systems, Tedros Adhanom, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said.

If the virus outbreaks in a country already strained by other diseases such as the Congo- which is still fighting an Ebola outbreak  it will be even harder to control.

Many other African countries are also at a high risk of importing the new virus in view of the volume of air traffic with China, which spent the past decade investing in Africa pushing the number of flights up 600%.

The data published by a team of researchers using a model based on flights frequency found that Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa were at the highest virus infection risk.

However, all three have a fairly strong ability to respond to infectious threats, and the demographic, social, and political environments offer the population some protection against epidemics.

Amid these fears, the African Union convened an emergency meeting on COVID-190 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Moroccos Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb, who took part in the meeting, said that the North African country is ready to share its expertise and experience with less equipped African countries as the continent takes measures to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

The Moroccan official who explained the effective measures that Rabat has deployed since the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan, central China, insisted that the worldwide emergency around the virus means African countries should work together to face the crisis continentally.

Khalid Ait Taleb made his comments on the heels of encouraging news on Moroccos efforts to prevent the spread of the novel virus and at the time all 167 Moroccans repatriated from Wuhan on February 2 were released Saturday after a 20-day quarantine period ended with none of them showing any symptoms of the coronavirus.

China has seen more than 76,000 infections and 2,442 deaths. The virus has since spread from Hubei province in China to at least 11 other countries, including Italy.

Italian officials imposed strict quarantine restrictions in two northern hotspot regions close to Milan and Venice, as the number of coronavirus cases soared to 130  the worst outbreak in Europe.

Schools and museums have been closed and sporting and cultural events suspended as Italian authorities struggle to contain the spread of the virus.

South Korea has raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level. The UK Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the cities of Daegu and Cheongdo.

Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan have closed their borders with Iran, where eight people are known to have died. Iranian officials have ordered the closure of schools, universities and cultural centers in 14 provinces.
Vietnam makes a step forward by legalising ride-hailing services for the benefits of passengers and drivers

A new door for ride-hailing businesses

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has recently issued Decision No.146/QD-BGTVT to end the pilot programme for the application of technology in managing and connecting electronic contract-based passenger transportation from April 1.

Decision 146 puts an end to the pilot programme, paving the way for ride-hailing firms extending their services nationwide. The ride-hailing services will be subject to the new regulations stipulated in Decree No.10/2020/ND-CP, replacing Decree No.86/2014/ND-CP.

According to economist Nguyen Tri Hieu, halting the pilot programme will help align ride-hailing firms operation with better standards and recognise their apps as legal businesses. Given that the services are new business models in Vietnam, they should be regulated by specific regulations in line with local legislation. Also, the legal provisions need to be adjusted from time to time to keep up with the market changes.

He said that the implementation of Decree 10 will create fair competition for the different kinds of transport businesses as well as meet customers demand. The new provision requests ride-hailing cars to display taxi signs on their windscreen, which is in line with regulations around the world. This helps regulatory bodies to easily identify privately-held cars from ride-hailing ones, making it easy to improve regulations.

More benefits for driver-partners

The pilot programme for ride-hailing services will officially expire on April 1. Afterwards, services must comply with new regulations stipulated in Decree No.10/2020/ND-CP. However, the halt will not affect the operations of enterprises and co-operatives in the field.

Notably, Decree 10 stipulates that contract-based vehicles have to affix a contract car sign made of reflective materials on their front and rear windshields. The phrase Contract Car has a minimum size of 06 x 20 centimetres. In case of electronic contract-based cars, transport businesses must install devices to access e-contracts and the list of customers for drivers.

Article 36 also stipulates that all passenger cars with less than nine seats are to be given a badge for transportation services. Under Decree 86, they will have to reapply for a new badge and install it at the required position before July 1, 2021.

Outlining new regulations for ride-hailing services, Decree 10 reflects Vietnams efforts to regulate new business models to meet genuine local demand. The move also marks a step forward for Vietnam's constructive governance in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

It is clear that Decision 146 will bring more economic benefits to locals when ride-hailing services can be implemented on a larger scale. Passengers nationwide will have access to more convenient and modern transport modes at reasonable prices.

Under the new decree, ride-hailing firms can now expand beyond the five pilot localities. The development of ride-hailing firms to new cities and provinces will also create more employment for driver-partners. As Vietnam legalises ride-hailing services, drivers can feel secure when providing services to earn a living.

Driver Nguyen Nong Phu, a resident in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, was glad that the new regulations do not require drivers to install taxi roof lights. Also, the expansion of ride-hailing services beyond the five pilot localities will help drivers increase their income by taking on trips to other provinces.

Nguyen Van Xang is director of An Phat Khang Co-operative in Hanoi, currently managing over 14,000 ride-hailing vehicles. He said that a lack of clear regulations under the pilot programme has sparked intensive competition and court cases between traditional taxi operators and ride-hailing firms. Decree 10 has clearly defined ride-hailing vehicles, which will benefit both drivers and passengers.

The expansion of ride-hailing services will help drivers improve their income and extend their operations to other provinces. In the past, several people moved to big cities to make a living as driver-partners. Given the upcoming development of ride-hailing businesses in other provinces, these drivers will be able to work at their hometown, which will in turn help alleviate traffic jams and employment pressure in large cities.

Commenting on Decision 146, the representative of Grab Vietnam said that the new regulation does not affect Grabs business activities in the market. Instead of operating under a pilot scheme, Grab and other ride-hailing firms can officially operate nationwide from April 1, 2020.

In the spirit of Decision 146 and Decree 10, we will continue our efforts to work with the authorities to better understand the new legal provisions for our business model. We will comply with the law to ensure the maximum benefits of customers and driver-partners, and to contribute to the development of the community and Vietnam," said the representative.
Getty Images SOURCE: Getty Images A study by the Ruderman Foundation shows firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. The study found that in 2017 there were at least 103 reported firefighter suicides nationwide. By comparison, 93 died in the line of duty.
An Italian restaurant has been accused of attacking Melbourne's beloved cafe culture with a 'mean-spirited' assault on coffee lovers.

A war is brewing in latte-loving Melbourne with council heavies warning Traveller Coffee owners it will sting them with fines if their customers continue to use benches situated directly across the road from it.

Becco Restaurant, on Crossley Street at the top end of Melbourne - has placed signs on the benches asking people not to sit on them - even when it's closed.

Melburnians gather outside Traveller Coffee on Crossley Street. Signs have been placed on benches across the road warning them not to think about sitting there

Standing room only: A sign has been placed on benches warning coffee lovers not to sit on them

Traveller Coffee is packed each morning as Melburnians gather for a hot or cold brew from its little cafe on Crossley Street

The signs are directed at the coffee lovers who line-up outside the popular cafe to get their morning brew.

On Monday, customers stood and clogged the narrow street with no-one daring to sit on the wooden benches.

Customers have told Daily Mail Australia the situation had become ridiculous over recent weeks.

'It's just mean spirited,' one customer said. 'I mean it's one thing to ask people not to sit there when it's open, but the place doesn't open until midday.'

But the restaurant appears to have the support of Melbourne City Council, which has warned the cafe to keep its customers off its neighbour's seats.

One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia council staff had visited the cafe after receiving complaints from Becco.

Traveller Coffee is positioned just down the street from Pellegrini's Espresso Bar, which put Melbourne on the international coffee map

Pellegrini's owner Sisto Malaspina was tragically killed in a terror attack in 2018. He was given a state funeral such was Melbourne's love for the coffee maestro

Customers enjoying a coffee at Traveller's Coffee can be seen standing in the street just down the road from the iconic Pellegrini's Espresso Bar

'They told us to keep our customers off the benches, even when they're not open, otherwise we face penalties,' he said.

Customers believe the bench saga is a direct attack on Melbourne's coffee culture.

Traveller Coffee is located just metres from Melbourne's iconic Pelligrini Espresso Bar, which put Melbourne on the coffee map thanks to co-owner Sisto Malaspina.

Mr Malaspina, 74, died in 2018 after he was attacked by 30-year-old Somali-born Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, who crashed his vehicle loaded with gas bottles in the Melbourne CBD, stabbing three people, before he was shot dead by police.

'Sisto would be turning in his grave,' a cold brew-sipping office worker told Daily Mail Australia.

Two weeks before he died, Monash journalism student Nishant Kulkarni interviewed Mr Malaspina, who spoke of the brew's importance to Melbourne.

'You just have a coffee to keep you company, its like a companion, its like a friend,' he said at the time.

'Our coffee is more than nourishment to the body, its nourishment to the soul.'

Such was Melbourne's love and respect for the coffee icon, he was given a state funeral.

Coffee lovers on one side, bubbles lovers on the other. The bubbles fans get to sit on wooden benches outside Becco. Coffee lovers have been told to sit elsewhere even when the restaurant is closed

Becco calls itself a 'Melbourne legend' with 'outside seating down the very New York style laneway'.

At his service, Reverend monsignor Greg Bennet said Mr Malaspinas customers would always cherish their hospitality experiences long after the espresso cup was left on the counter.

'A cup of coffee, served with joy, with warmth, humour and concern can truly make the world a better place,' he said.

Traveller Coffee is no stranger to the bustling Melbourne coffee scene and has been serving hot and cold brews from its Crossley Street location since 2013.

In addition to Melbourne's warm favourites, Traveller has enjoyed a cult following for its cold creations.

Such is the popularity of its Seven Seeds Espresso Blend that it now sells cans and four litre casks of its cold brew.

The cafe shares a warm regard among Melburnians for its friendly staff and eco-friendly ways, which allows customers to return coffee bean canisters.

Meanwhile Becco describes itself as a 'Melbourne legend'.

'Great for lunch, dinner or drinks at our fabulous bar, with outside seating down the very New York style laneway,' its website states.

'A buzzy vibe, with warm lighting for intimate occasions, award winning modern Italian food, and an extensive wine list.'

A spokeswoman for Melbourne City Council confirmed it had intervened.

'The City of Melbourne has received complaints from Becco management, regarding the use of their private property from patrons of neighbouring cafes, specifically Travellers Coffee, who have reportedly left rubbish and spills on their in-built outdoor seating,' she said.

'City of Melbourne Local Laws officers have spoken to Traveller Coffee owners and advised them to inform their customers that they are not permitted to use the Becco tables and chairs.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Becco and Traveller for comment.
Two environmental groups said on Monday they were trying to take the Norwegian state to the Supreme Court for granting oil licences in the Arctic.

Greenpeace and Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth) say oil drilling licences granted to companies in 2016 should be cancelled because they violate Norway's constitution, which includes a right to a healthy

They say emissions from oil activities and fossil fuels jeopardise the objectives of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit warming from climate change to less than 2 degrees Celsius, compared with pre-industrial temperatures.

However, the organisations have already suffered two legal setbacks in both an Oslo district court and an appeals court, which ruled that their concerns were hypothetical as there was no certainty fossil fuels would be discovered.

However, the appeals court judges said CO2 emissions from Norwegian oil should be taken as a whole -- meaning not only emissions from the production but also from the use of oil and petrol even outside the country.

"Opening up the pristine areas in the Arctic for oil drilling in the time of climate emergency is not acceptable," Greenpeace Norway head Frode Pleym said in a statement.

"The use of oil and gas produced in Norway and burned elsewhere contributes to 10 times the domestic emissions of Norway."



As the largest producer of oil in Western Europe, Norway is struggling to break its dependence on hydrocarbons, which made the country rich and enabled it to amass a sovereign wealth fund of more than one trillion dollars.

"The world has already found more oil, coal and gas than we can burn if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change," Therese Hugstmyr Woie, head of Natur og Ungdom, said in a statement.

"Of course Norway has a responsibility not to produce more oil than the climate can support." The case concerns 10 licences issued for exploration drilling in the Barents Sea.

The beneficiaries include the Norwegian Equinor (formerly Statoil), the Americans Chevron and ConocoPhillips and the Russian Lukoil.

The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether or not to hear the case in the coming months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PLEASANTON (BCN)

Pleasanton police are searching for three suspects connected to a home invasion robbery in Pleasanton early Sunday morning, as well as the driver of a vehicle that picked up the three suspects after the robbery.

Police said that at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, two men smashed the glass of a rear sliding door and entered a house in the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on the city's south edge. The suspects confronted a woman resident there, brandishing a handgun, police said. The men demanded cash and then ransacked the house.

The woman was not injured.

Police detectives retrieved surveillance camera footage, which revealed three suspects exiting the front door of the house, carrying items from the house. The footage also shows an unknown make and color SUV driving in front of the residence and picking up all three suspects. The suspects and their SUV are still outstanding as of Sunday night.

The two suspects who confronted the woman are described as black males between 18 and 25 years old.

Pleasanton police detectives seek the public's help with this case. Anyone with information regarding this incident or these suspects is asked to call the Pleasanton Police Department at (925) 931-5100.

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.
In the wake of novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, traditional Chinese medicine or TCM as an industry appears to have found added significance as more and more people look for immunity-boosting health supplements and safe and effective drugs for quick relief from various symptoms, experts said.

On Feb 6, the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued a notice recommending a Chinese herbal medicine soup as a potential remedy for relief from certain symptoms relating to the epidemic.

According to the notice, clinical observations of doctors from various places have proved that the formula is suitable for use in mild, moderate, and severe infections.

NATCM data showed the Chinese herbal medicine soup was adopted in the treatment of 214 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from four pilot provincial regions. Over three days, the soup was used as a course of treatment. The total effective rate reached over 90 percent, among which 60 percent of the patients found obvious relief from symptoms, and the rest 30 percent demonstrated stable symptoms without exacerbation.

Zhang Boli, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the fact that the TCM was able to have a positive effect throughout the treatment period has placed it in a good position in fighting the virus.

He noted that many hospitals in Hubei, the most affected province, are integrating TCM with Western medicine to treat coronavirus patients.

"As there is no confirmed cure or vaccine yet, it is reasonable to treat patients with a mix of TCM and Western medicine. They each have their own strengths and emphasis, and combined treatment gets synergistic results," Zhang said.

Jiang Jian, chief of the medical administration and supervision department of the NATCM, said that by Feb 17, TCM had been applied in the treatment of 60,107 confirmed cases across the nation, taking up 85.2 percent of the total. The effective ratio of TCM treatment in those cases outside Hubei reached 87 percent.

Chen Qiaoshan, a medical analyst at Beijing-based market consultancy Analysys, said that in the short run, TCM companies that offer products related to the treatment of COVID-19 will see sales growth.

In the long run, however, only TCM companies that prove instrumental in treating COVID-19 will likely rally.

"With the introduction of more favorable policies, the TCM sector may find more development opportunities," Chen said.

Data from industry information network Chyxx showed that in 2019, China's TCM industry sales were estimated to have reached 537.6 billion yuan ($76.9 billion). The market is projected to reach 580.6 billion yuan by this year-end. Its annual compound growth rate of 8.2 percent is higher than that of GDP growth rate.

Chyxx report also said that TCM sales this year will take up 32.4 percent of the whole drug sales, and maintain a stable growth.
Kingsley Onwubiko, Convener, Imo Concerned Citizens Forum (ICCF) says Kanu Agabi, SAN, is still the lead counsel to former Imo State G...





Kingsley Onwubiko, Convener, Imo Concerned Citizens Forum (ICCF) says Kanu Agabi, SAN, is still the lead counsel to former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, NAN reports.





Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had asked the Supreme Court to review the Imo gubernatorial election judgment.





Ihedioha, through Agabi, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, wants the court to set aside the judgement, which installed Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor.





Onwubiko, in a statement on Sunday, dismissed insinuations that Agabi had withdrawn from the pending case.





The rumor that Agabi has withdrawn from the Supreme Court review is not only baseless but concocted to misinform the unsuspecting public and in a bid to distort the fact, he said.





The ICCF convener, who described Agabi as a conscientious lawyer, called on media practitioners to always investigate facts for better and qualitative dissemination of information.





Chief Agabi, by his attainment as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former Attorney General of the country and the lead counsel to Emeka Ihedioha, his withdrawal, if true, would have made headlines in national dailies.





Kanu Agabi, SAN, has reassured that he is emotionally committed to getting justice in the matter for review between Uzodinma and Ihedioha, at the Supreme Court Of Nigeria, the forum added.





Onwubiko expressed optimism in the competence of Ihediohas legal team in restoring the former governors mandate.





Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad is leading a panel on the hearing on the case.





The panel will also hear the application by Zamfara All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the governorship election judgement in favour of the PDP.





Other members of the panel are: Justices Sylvester Ngwuta, Kayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Inyang Okoro, Amina Augie, and Uwani Abba-Aji.





The court, last Tuesday, adjourned hearing on Ihediohas application to March 2.




One in ten adults are turning to alcohol to cope with loneliness, a study says.

Researchers estimated 3.1million people drown their sorrows to deal with their lack of relationships.

Those aged 40 to 55 were most susceptible, social care group Turning Point's survey of 2,000 adults revealed.

Researchers estimated 3.1million people drown their sorrows to deal with their lack of relationships

Northerners struggle the most, with 21 per cent drinking on their own against ten per cent in the South.

The poll also found three in ten people feel lonely all the time or some of the time.

Jan Larkin, head of psychology and a consultant clinical psychologist at Turning Point, said: 'Social connections, companionship and friendship play a vital role in everyone's wellbeing and quality of life.

'It's worrying that so many feel lonely, and some are turning to alcohol for comfort. They risk becoming even more isolated by relying on drink.

Northerners struggle the most, with 21 per cent drinking on their own against ten per cent in the South

'More commitment is needed from the Government to addressing the issue. A cross-cutting strategy on alcohol-related harm would enable currently overstretched services to do more.

'They would be able to reach out to people in the early stages of dependency and help them make a change.'
A cooling unit installed on the roof of Sandia National Laboratories supercomputer center saved 554,000 gallons of water during its first six months of operation last year, says David J. Martinez, engineering project lead for Sandias Infrastructure Computing Services.

The dramatic decrease in water use, important for a water-starved state, could be the model for cities and other large users employing a significant amount of water to cool thirsty supercomputer clusters springing up like mushrooms around the country, Martinez said.

The unit, called a thermosyphon cooler, also saved over 195,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity during the same time period by making it unnecessary to pump thousands of gallons of water around the clock through energy-intensive mechanical chillers.

Were testing out the system because thats what national labs do: Were among the first to try things, Martinez said. Others may come along when they see our success.

Refrigerant substitutes help save water

Every bit of electricity used to run the servers of increasingly large supercomputers turns into heat. Removing that thermal energy is expensive, either in the financial cost of powering mechanical cooling units or the amount of water needed to replace that portion deliberately evaporated to cool the remaining water. Neither choice is a plus for the environment.

The thermosyphon cooling unit intercedes passively. Its refrigerant rests in a shell that surrounds an outgoing pipe like a glove on a hand, absorbing heat until the liquid evaporates into a gas, like boiling water becomes steam. The gas rises in vertical pipes until it reaches the upper limits of the device. There, it gives up its acquired heat to the atmosphere, coalesces back into liquid, and sinks down ready to cool again.

The cycle needs minimal maintenance. It works as long as the atmospheric temperature is less than that of the refrigerant; otherwise, the heat transfer goes the wrong way, from the atmosphere into the coolant.

In New Mexico, the system works for three seasons, but in summer, only at night. On hot summer days, the thermosyphon shuts down and water must be pumped to a mechanical chiller and then to a cooling tower, which evaporates water, like sweat from a body, into the atmosphere.

Because minerals dont evaporate, the remaining water, recycled, has a higher concentration of contaminants, which means it must be frequently changed out, like oil is periodically changed on a vehicle, before it fouls the cooling pipes. The evaporated and discarded water must be replaced. Those problems are almost eliminated with the new system.

Expensive tech, lower water bills

The solution is not cheap. Thermosyphons cost $200,000 each from their manufacturer, Johnson Controls. Sandia has installed one, bought two more, and may buy a fourth. For four units, annual cooling costs would drop, according to Martinezs estimates, from $181,000 to $116,000, which means a roughly 10-year payback in current dollars.

The real savings would come in water: When the data center reaches full design load, each thermosyphon unit will be capable of saving over 4.2 million gallons of water per year, says Martinez, who won a DOE energy award last year for working on the same system, but far smaller, with the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado.

Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia Labs has major research and development responsibilities in nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technologies and economic competitiveness, with main facilities in Albuquerque and Livermore, California.
A MAN and a woman have been charged with the murder of a middle-aged father whose body was discovered in his Cork home after relatives became concerned about him.

Helen Jones (52) and Keith O'Hara (41) were charged before Cork District Court with the murder of Paul Jones (55) whose body was found in a rented house on the Bandon Road in Cork last September. Ms Jones is the sister of the deceased.

Both Ms Jones and Mr O'Hara had addresses at Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield in Cork.

Mr Jones was found dead in the living room of his home on September 7 after emergency services gained entry to the property.

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His teenage son raised the alarm after being unable to contact his father.

Although the body was found on Saturday, Mr Jones was last seen on Tuesday of the previous week.

Det Garda Myles Moran gave evidence of the arrest, caution and charge of Helen Jones.

He told Judge Olann Kelleher she made no reply to the murder charge when it was formally put to her.

Det Garda Maurice OConnor gave evidence of the arrest, caution and charge of Mr OHara.

He made no reply when the same charge was formally put to him after caution.

Ms Jones was previously charged with aggravated burglary at Mr Joness house on Bandon Road on September 4 and that she had a knife with her at the time.

Mr OHara was charged with a single count of entering as a trespasser the home of Mr Jones at Bandon Road in Cork on September 4 with intent to commit an assault causing harm.

Judge Kelleher was told last week by Sgt Gearoid Davis that gardai have received the Director of Public Prosecutions instructions in the case.

Sgt John Kelleher confirmed that books of evidence were now being prepared for both accused.

Ms Jones and Mr OHara will be sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

As a murder charge is involved, bail can only be dealt with by the High Court.

Judge Kelleher remanded both to appear again by video-link before Cork District Court on March 2.

Paul Jones had lived on the Bandon Road for a number of years but was originally from the Cahergal Avenue area of Mayfield.
Scam-hit PMC Bank's depositors from Delhi staged a protest outside the Reserve bank of India here on Monday to demand that their money be returned.

They threatened to go on a hunger strike after March 2 if their money is not returned and their concerns not addressed.

Hemant Kumar, who had come from Malviya Nagar, said, "These people will not understand till we carry out a Shaheen Bagh-like protest outside the RBI. If they do not listen to us, we will block the road outside the RBI."



Tek Chand, who has an account with Tilak Nagar branch, said, "My wife is a kidney patient and she has to undergo dialysis thrice every month. What am I supposed to do? I have been left helpless due to the situation. it is our hard earned money."



Another depositor, Tajinder Pal Singh Gujral, a resident of Janakpuri, had deposited Rs 2.5 crore in the bank after he sold his house, a day before the bank shut down in September.

"I had sold off my house and the payment from that deal had come into my account with the PMC bank. I had booked another house and given Rs 5 lakh as down payment and was supposed to pay for it from the PMC account. But, now, those Rs 5 lakh are also gone and this money is also stuck. I cannot buy a house or do anything for my business," he said.

The bank has been put under restrictions by the RBI after an alleged fraud came to light following which the deposit withdrawal was initially capped at Rs 1,000, causing panic and distress among depositors.

Subsequently, it was raised to Rs 10,000 and to Rs 50,000 earlier this week by the RBI.

Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative Bank, which is among the top-10 urban cooperative banks, was placed under an RBI administrator on September 23 for six months due to massive under-reporting of dud loans.

The bank, over a long period of time, had given over Rs 6,500 crore in loans to HDIL, which is 73 per cent of its total advances, and which has turned sour with a shift in the fortunes of the now bankrupt company.

Its total loans stand at Rs 8,880 crore and the deposits at over Rs 11,610 crore. There have been massive protests across city from the depositors following the RBI action.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday unanimously appointed its MLA from BJP MLA from Badarpur Ramvir Singh Bidhuri as the leader of the opposition in the Delhi assembly.

It is unanimously resolved that Ramvir Singh Bhiduri be appointed as the leader of the legislative party and the leader of the opposition, the Delhi unit of the party said in a statement after a meeting in the morning ahead of a three-day session that began Monday.

Bidhuris name as Leader of Opposition was proposed by Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta. Gupta was Leader of Opposition in the previous Assembly, said Delhi BJP media relations head Neelkant Bakshi, according to PTI.

BJPs Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta was the leader of the opposition in the last assembly.

The BJP which contested 67 of the 70 assembly seats won 8 seats in the elections held earlier this month. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the elections winning 62 of the 70 seats in the assembly to retain power for the second successive time. The Congress drew a blank.
* Saudi sees biggest decline in 9 months * All Saudi Arabian banks fall but one * FAB touches its lowest since May * Heliopolis plunges on no buyout offer By Ateeq Shariff Feb 24 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the Middle East suffered sharp losses on Monday, with Saudi shares falling the most, as the rapid spread of coronavirus cases outside China darkened the outlook for world growth. Brent crude was down $2.37, or 4.1%, to $56.13 a barrel by 1145 GMT. Global shares also extended losses as worries about the impact of the virus grew, with the number of infections jumping in Iran, Italy and South Korea. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index declined 3%, its biggest fall since May 13 last year when two of its oil tankers were attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Al Rajhi Bank slid 3.7% and petrochemical maker Saudi Basic Industries dived 4%. Oil giant Saudi Aramco was down 1.9%, at 33.4 riyals. Lower oil prices generally narrow spreads and thus pose a negative for petrochemicals, but the sector is also directly impacted by the virus as China is a major consumer, said Vrajesh Bhandari, senior portfolio manager at Al Mal Capital. "Banks are facing their own set of challenges from compressing net interest margins and rising cost of risk." Qatar's index eased 1.3% with all its stocks slipping into the red. Lender Masraf Al Rayan lost 2% and Qatar National Bank was down 1%. The Abu Dhabi index slid 2.2% as the country's largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank sank 4.5%, reaching its lowest since May. In Dubai, the index dropped 0.8% with Emaar Properties shedding 2.6%, while budget airliner Air Arabia was down 2.6%. In Kuwait, the bourse retreated 1.7% while in neighbouring Bahrain the index was down 0.5%. On Monday, the two countries reported their first new coronavirus cases - all people who had been in Iran. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's index fell 1.7%, dragged down by a 1.1% fall in Commercial International Bank and a 10% slump in Heliopolis Co, after it received no offers for a partial management buyout. SAUDI ARABIA dropped 3% to 7,747 points ABU DHABI slid 2.2% to 4,931 points DUBAI lost 0.8% to 2,696 points QATAR eased 1.3% to 9,770 points EGYPT down 1.7% to 13,442 points BAHRAIN declined 0.5% to 1,660 points OMAN decreased 1% to 4,156 points KUWAIT lost 1.7% to 6,730 points (Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru Editing by Mark Heinrich)
David Smith (left) and Peter Hunter arrive at Leeds Crown Court. (Alex Cousins/SWNS)

Two touts made millions by buying tickets for shows by artists like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift and reselling them at inflated prices have been jailed after a landmark court case.

Peter Hunter, 51, and David Thomas Smith, 66, ran BZZ Limited, through which they would buy and resell the tickets, contravening terms and conditions. They bought 4m worth of tickets over a four-year period and made 9.3m profit, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Earlier this month, the pair were found guilty of three counts of fraudulent trading and possession or control of an article for use in fraud.

Hunter was jailed for four years while his husband Smith was given 30 months on Monday.

It was the first successful prosecution of a company fraudulently selling tickets on a large scale.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: This was a case of sustained dishonesty for a number of years.

Ed Sheeran tickets were among those resold by the two touts. (PA Images)

He told Hunter: Its clear you were well aware that this was a fraudulent enterprise you were perpetrating and perpetrating in a very effective way.

You are not somebody who deliberately went out of their way rip off the consumer.

But Im afraid this is a serious matter. A lot of people in this case paid a lot more than they could have paid.

He added: It gives me no pleasure to impose the sentences Im about to impose but I have to consider my public duty.

Hunter and Smith would use a number of different people to buy tickets, used other peoples personal details to purchase tickets, and deployed at least 97 different names, 88 addresses and more than 290 email addresses to evade selling restrictions.

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child tickets were among those bought and sold by Hunter and Smith. (Luciana Guerra/PA Images via Getty Images)

They also concealed their IP addresses to disguise their bulk-buying.

They would buy tickets to Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, Madness, McBusted and other acts from primary sellers before selling them on at a higher mark-up.

Sheerans manager Stuart Camp told the jury during the trial that he and Sheeran wanted to take a stand against touts after seeing 75 tickets at a charity gig selling for 7,000.

Story continues

Hunter and Smith would also engage in spec selling, where they would list tickets they didnt own on secondary ticketing websites, receive the inflated money, and then try to source the tickets themselves.

Ben Douglas-Jones QC, for Hunter, said that his client was no more greedy than other businessmen providing a service. Both men argued they had done nothing wrong.

Peter Hunter arrives for sentencing. (Alex Cousins/SWNS)

David Smith has also been sentenced. (Alex Cousins/SWNS)

Hunter told the jury how he started his business when a friend without a credit card asked him to buy tickets to Madonna for her and he realised he could re-sell extra purchases at a huge profit.

The pair were caught following a National Trading Standards investigation.

Lord Toby Harris, chair of National Trading Standards, said after their conviction: Millions of people spend their hard-earned money on tickets such as music concerts and sporting events each year.

Buying a ticket in good faith and then discovering it is part of a dishonest fraud can be deeply distressing and can have a considerable financial impact on consumers.

This is a landmark case for National Trading Standards and should reassure consumers that the fraudulent practices of secondary ticket sellers will no longer be tolerated.

I hope this prosecution leads to a step-change in the secondary ticketing market, making it easier and safer for consumers buying tickets in the future.

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President Donald Trump Monday said there are signs of big progress on working with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups operating from that countrys borders.

My administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on the terrorists and militant groups that operate on the Pakistan border, he said during his address at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad. We are beginning to see signs of big progress.

US President Donald Trumps India visit Day 1: Follow live updates here

Trumps comments came days after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) warned Pakistan that it faced the possibility of being put into 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.

The FATF said Islamabad has largely addressed only 14 of the 27 action items, with varying levels of progress on the rest of the plan. The watchdog has been repeatedly assessing Pakistans efforts to implement the action plan since the country was placed on the watchdogs grey list in June 2018.

Trump said both the United States and India have been hurt by terrorism but are united in defending citizens from radical Islamic terrorism. He added that the ISIS caliphate has been utterly destroyed.

Full coverage: Trumps visit to India

The United States and India are also firmly united in our iron clad resolve to defend our citizens from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, he said. Both of our countries have been hurt by the pain and turmoil of terrorism and that terrorism brings.

Both countries are united in defending citizens from threat of radical Islamic terrorism. Under my administration we unleashed full power of American military on bloodthirsty killers of ISIS. Today ISIS territorial caliphate is 100% destroyed. Monster Al Baghdadi is dead, Trump said.

Trump hailed his administrations strong border controls. Every nation has the right to control and secure its borders, he said. The United States and India are committed to working together to stop terrorists and fight their ideology.

In their talks in Delhi on Tuesday, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi are expected to focus on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues including trade and investment, defence and security and counter-terrorism.


Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents





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Smithsonian docu 'Black in Space' looks at race and the space race



February 24, 2020  The intersection between race and the space race is the focus of a new documentary profiling the first African American astronauts.



"Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier," which premieres on the Smithsonian Channel on Monday (Feb. 24), chronicles the historical efforts by the United States and the former Soviet Union to launch the first black astronaut into space.



"I was curious about the intersection of the civil rights movement, the space race and the Cold War," Laurens Grant, director and producer of "Black in Space," said in an interview. "In talking to scholars, a lot of them told me that, in a way, this was almost fresh research."



"We know so much about the civil rights movement, the space race and the Cold War, but not a lot of people concentrate and focus on all three in one," said Grant.



The Space Age began with the launch of the world's first satellite on Oct. 4, 1957, exactly one month to the day after classes were set to begin at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. That day, nine African American students were blocked by soldiers from entering the school on the order of the state's governor, who was opposed to desegregation.



"With the 'Little Rock Nine' trying to go to high school  just black kids trying to go to an all-white school  all of the vitriol and blowback happened at the same time that the Russians blasted off with Sputnik. And so they [the Soviets] intentionally made mention in their press that Sputnik was happening at the same time that the United States was going through Little Rock, sort of a thumb in the eye, if you will," said Grant.



"I wanted to set the clock and the tone of the film right there," she said. "So you think, 'Oh, that's interesting, all of those things are happening right at once,' and then hopefully take you on a ride through all of the firsts, when we finally get the first African American astronauts making history."





"Black in Space" (full documentary). Click to enlarge in pop-up window. (Smithsonian Channel) The hour-long documentary features archival footage and new interviews with the NASA and Interkosmos crew members whose trailblazing experiences first brought diversity into orbit. The film opens with the story of Edward Dwight, a U.S. Air Force test pilot who was the first African American to be eligible to become a NASA astronaut.



At the urging of the Kennedy administration, which saw the political benefits of a diversified astronaut corps, Dwight was assigned to the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where, in 1962, the press labeled him the country's "first black astronaut."



"I was swept off my feet, being a kind of introverted, apolitical personality," Dwight said in an interview with collectSPACE prior to a Feb. 4 screening of "Black in Space" at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, Texas. "The next thing you know, I'm on magazine covers all over the world and getting 1,500 letters a day from people congratulating me  and I hadn't done anything yet."



Despite the headlines, Dwight never flew in space, or became an astronaut.



"You can almost draw a graph of it," said Dwight, who today is a celebrated sculptor. "Everything was working and the graph was on an upward trajectory until Nov. 22, 1963, when the president [Kennedy] was killed. It changed the whole play. The whole thing was turned on his head and all of a sudden, I found myself without a sponsor and was lost in the hinterlands."



Four years later, after Dwight separated from the Air Force, Robert Lawrence became the first African American to be chosen for a space program, the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). Tragically, he died in a jet crash on Dec. 8, 1967, just six months after his selection.



As "Black in Space" explains, it then took another 11 years before the next black astronauts were in a position to finally leave Earth. In 1978, NASA recruited its first three African American trainees, including Guion "Guy" Bluford, who ultimately became the first black astronaut to lift off on a U.S. space shuttle in August 1983.



But he was not the first black in space. As it had with the world's first man and first woman, the Soviet Union launched the first person of African heritage three years before Bluford's flight.



"The objective here wasn't to be the first black person in space, it was just a reality," Soyuz 38 cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez says in an interview filmed in his home country of Cuba in "Black in Space."



Grant concludes the documentary with a quick look at the African Americans that followed Tamayo and Bluford into space. Over the past 40 years, 17 more black astronauts have joined NASA, of which three women and 10 men have flown into space.



"I looked back at the black press way back in the '50s and African Americans were very interested in wanting to participate. They wanted to be involved in the space race  and we should, as well as anyone who wants to, should be involved in space exploration," said Grant. "Hopefully, looking at the documentary, if you're a kid you can say that this is achievable."



"Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier" debuts on the Smithsonian Channel at 8 p.m. EST on Monday (Feb. 24), and then re-airs at 11 p.m. and at 10 a.m. on Thursday (Feb. 27). The full documentary is also available to stream on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Roku and on YouTube.



"Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier" tells of the decades-long race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first nation to bring diversity to the skies, told by the black astronauts and their families. (Smithsonian Channel)





KHOU anchor Mia Gradney, National Air and Space Museum curator Cathleen Lewis, director and producer Laurens Grant, U.S. Air Force aerospace research pilot Capt. Ed Dwight and Cheryl McNair, widow of Challenger STS-51L astronaut Ron McNair at the premiere of the Smithsonian Channel documentary "Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier" on Feb. 4, 2020 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, Texas. (collectSPACE)





U.S. Air Force test pilot Edward Dwight became the first African American to graduate from the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California and become eligible for selection by NASA as an astronaut. Ultimately, he was not chosen and left the Air Force to become a celebrated sculptor. (USAF)





The first three African Americans to launch into space: Guion "Guy" Bluford (at center), Ron McNair (at left) and Fred Gregory. The three were chosen by NASA with the 1978 astronaut class. (NASA)



 2022 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.
On the day when the Budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly commences, former state Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that the BJP will target the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government over its failure on giving loan waivers to farmers.

"The Budget session is going to begin today, but till now the Maharashtra government has not announced the loan waivers for the farmers. After forming the government, CM Uddhav Thackeray had himself assured that farmers will be freed from the clutches of loans, but it has not happened to date," Fadnavis told reporters here.

The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly further said that the BJP will also raise the issue of rising crimes against women in the state.

The Budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly beginning today is scheduled to continue till March 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A local court on Monday extended by four days the police remand of JNU student Sharjeel Imam who was arrested on charges of sedition and brought to the state last week.

Imam was brought to Assam from New Delhi on February 20 and produced in ourt which had initially sent him to four days' police remand, they said.

Upon the expiry of his police remand, he was on Monday produced before the Kamrup (Metro) Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The student, who came into the limelight during the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on January 28 for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University and in Aligarh.

Imam was slapped with a sedition case after his speeches went viral on social media wherein he was heard allegedly speaking about Assam's possible secession from the country in the wake of the CAA.

A case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been registered against him in Assam.

On February 18, the Delhi Police had named Imam as an "instigator" in its charge sheet filed against 17 people in a case related to violence during protests against the CAA at New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia last year.

Meanwhile, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government is keeping a tab on the developments related to Imam's interrogation.

On reports claiming that Imam had contact with AIUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal for some years, Sarma told reporters, "I have seen it in the media only.... If there is any connection found between them for unlawful activities, we will take necessary action.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus continues to take toll in Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 23, IRNA -- Head of Iranian Health Ministry for public relations affairs said death toll of the coronavirus epidemic reached eight people, adding that 43 others were affected.

Kianoush Jahanpour said based on the medical test results, 15 more have been affected by lethal virus.

He added that 7 people in Qom, 4 in Tehran, 2 in Gilan, 1 in Markazi and 1 more in Tonekabon have been affected.

Accordingly, 43 people have so far been affected by coronavirus in Iran.

Iranian Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education announced on Friday 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'."

9376**1424

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AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (NYSE: INN) (the "Company") today announced that its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held Thursday, May 14, 2020, beginning at 8:00 a.m. MT. The meeting will be held at the Boulder Marriott Hotel & Spa located at 2660 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, Colorado 80302. The meeting is open to all shareholders of record as of March 6, 2020.

About Summit Hotel Properties

Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. is a publicly-traded real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded hotels with efficient operating models primarily in the Upscale segment of the lodging industry. As of December 31, 2019, the Company's portfolio consisted of 72 hotels, 67 of which were wholly-owned, with a total of 11,288 guestrooms located in 23 states.

For additional information, please visit the Company's website, www.shpreit.com and follow the Company on Twitter at @SummitHotel_INN.

SOURCE Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.

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Google recently announced the removal of around 600 apps from its Play Store for showing ads that interfere with the users experience. As per the companys policy, Google does not allow any app to appear on a device when the app is not in use and may lead the user to click on them unknowingly.The company says that such ads appear discreetly, usually when the user is making a phone call or accessing navigation. However, they have integrated a machine-learning approach that enables them to detect malicious ads from appearing without context.An initial investigation by Google reveals that most of the now-banned apps are developed by app makers from China, India, and Singapore. The company also says that these apps are usually directed towards English-speaking app users. In fact, reports show that Cheetah Mobile, a company based in China has over 40 apps banned from Play Store as a result of the latest scrutiny.According to Google, the app developers have all used similar methods to avoid detection by Play Store authorities. However, the search giant is unsure whether this is a coordinated effort or not?Google has also announced refunds to brands whose ads were impacted by disruptive pop-ups.Read next: Google Plans To Bring This Console Gaming Feature To Android
The murals under the Veterans Memorial Bridge were painted over three years ago.

North Adams Committee Looks for Legal Clarification on Pillar Art



The General Government Committee, made up this term of Chairwoman Lisa Blackmer, Jessica Sweeney and Wayne Wilkinson, will report back to the council. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The General Government Committee will be requesting the city solicitor's opinion on how a federal arts law applies to the so-called pillar art that was painted over three years ago.

"We're sending it to the lawyer and my thought is let's let them do the heavy work first before we get too much in the weeds," said committee Chairwoman Lisa Blackmer.

Blackmer said her concern mainly was if or how the Visual Artists Rights Act would come into play. The 1990 act requires owners of the property on which the work is located to give artists at least 90 days notice that it will be removed. But it also only covers limited and original works of art.

William Oberst, one of the artists involved in the after-school project that produced the pillar murals, is asking that the city allow a sample to be taken to see if the works were still viable.

"A little sample two inches by two inches could possibly render 2 1/2 years moot," he said. "It would stop everything right there, we all go home."

The pillars beneath the Veterans Memorial Bridge were repainted gray nearly three years ago by Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art as part of the restoration of the 20-year-old "Harmonic Bridge" sound installation in time for the opening of Building 6. The murals had been enlarged reproductions of Lewis Hine photos and pillow patterns made by the former Arnold Print Works.

Neither group of artists had more than verbal affirmation with the city  as far as can be determined  and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has uncovered no contracts or communications related to the pillar murals, which was announced in 2012 as part of DownStreet Art, a summerlong event coordinated by the college's Berkshire Cultural Resource Center.

The Public Arts Commission, which did not exist when either works were created, has rejected sampling the pillars to see if the anti-graffiti gray paint could be removed and the artwork underneath restored. Though the composition of the commission has changed, it has also stated that it did not feel ordering a sample test was within its purview.

At the commission's suggestion, Oberst and fellow artist Cynthia King reached out to the sound artists but found no resolution. They turned to the City Council, which in January referred the matter to the General Government Committee.

Oberst argued that the sound installation had not been maintained and "was basically a neglected piece of art." The murals, he said, "doesn't affect in the slightest the sound from the sound art."

He said the process for the sample taking and that Williamstown Art Conservation Center at the Clark Art Institute quoted $200 to $400 for the sampling and $125 an hour for the restoration.

Committee member Wayne Wilkinson asked who would be paying for the sample to be taken and any restoration that might happen.

Oberst said someone had offered to cover the cost in the past and he believed that offer was still on the table.



Artist William Oberst is asking that the city allow a sample to be taken of the paint to see if the murals can be restored. Blackmer, who returned to the council after a two-year absence, asked why was this an issue after three years and where the councilors had been during this time. There had been few people who had shown up at any of the meetings of the Public Arts Commission, she noted.

"I guess it's kind of frustrating to have this kind of dumped back in," she said.

City Councilor Marie T. Harpin, who had brought forward a paper with Councilor Jason LaForest to order the sampling, responded that, "I guess I was being respectful of the commission and the mayor to take some action."

Blackmer thought that commission had take action  by not declining to forward with the sampling.

"They said it wasn't their responsibility," responded Harpin.

Resident Robert Smith, whose son Joseph has been one of the four advocates for the art, said it was a waste of the city's time.

"It's not so much for the children, who are now grown up, that are really involved with this," he said. "It's just a handful of people in the city who are involved."

The committee filed another communique related to public facing art in the form of "Big Bling." The 40-foot installation at the corner of Marshall and West Main was approved by the Planning Board and the Mass MoCA Commission.

Blackmer suggested that a representative of Mass MoCA be asked to appear before the council to fully explain the relationship between the museum, the city and the Mass MoCA Commission.
A view from Clwyd Souths Member of Parliament

This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 24th, 2020

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Assembly Members to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. This is the first in this new series!

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes

It was the greatest honour of my life to be elected as the MP for Clwyd South just over two months ago and I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Susan Elan-Jones. Susan served Clwyd South with distinction for almost ten years as our MP and I have always much admired her strong sense of integrity, kindness and concern for others.

For me these past two months have been eventful to say the least: settling into parliament, attending events and holding surgeries in Clwyd South combined with the unexpected death of my mother on 7th January. After a fall on New Years Day at her home in the north of Powys, my mother was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and died six days later. She was fortunate in going quickly and with little pain at the fine age of 87 but it was nevertheless a shock for all of us in my family. But this is an experience shared with many others in Clwyd South and the days that I spent in hospital with her at the end only increased my respect for the ability of the NHS to contend with sudden medical crises and for the kindness of the staff who looked after my mother.

Over the last two months Clwyd South has seen more than its fair share of exceptional events with the fire at the Kronospan factory in Chirk and the effects of Storms Ciara and Dennis. I have tried to make myself available to people affected by these events by, for instance, holding an 8 hour advice surgery in Chirk on 11th January to listen to residents concerns after the fire and by visiting on 14th February some of the areas worst hit by the storms such as Bangor-on-Dee and the Ceiriog Valley. There are lessons to be learned from these events and over the coming weeks I will continue to work hard, including across political parties, to make sure that real and substantial improvements are made to lessen problems in the future.

There is so much to celebrate in the businesses, organisations and communities of Clwyd South. As an MP my job is to listen to peoples problems and do my best to resolve them but it is also to support and promote peoples successes. I attended my first event in the constituency on the day I was elected, 13th December, which was the Esclusham Senior Citizens Christmas Party by kind invitation of local County Cllr Mark Pritchard who is also Leader of Wrexham Council. Since then I have enjoyed events across the constituency, including a visit to the Llangollen Steam Railways Corwen extension project and to the Overton Playcentre. I also try my best to visit small businesses such as Kerry Mackays workshop in Llangollen making Scrubbies, her very successful bio-degradable cleaning pads which she has invented. In parliament I attend events relating to Clwyd South such as the recent Macmillan Cancer Support event and the reception given by the Inland Waterways Association to which the Llangollen Canal belongs.

Looking ahead, we are opening this week my new Clwyd South MPs office on the Vauxhall Industrial Estate between Johnstown and Ruabon. I have surgeries coming up on Saturday 29th February in Overton at the Village Hall (10am  12pm) and Rhos at the Stiwt (2-4pm) and the programme of surgeries for March will be published later this week.

I am looking forward to making my maiden speech in the coming weeks which will focus on Clwyd South and to starting work as a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee to which I was recently elected. If you would like to visit parliament, please contact me and I would be very pleased to arrange this for you. I am here to serve everyone in Clwyd South regardless of their political affiliation so please dont hesitate to contact me (all details below) if I can be of any help on any matter.

Simon Baynes MP

Email: simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk

Website: www.simonbaynes.co.uk

Unit 13

Big Padlock Business Centre

Vauxhall Business Park

Ruabon

Wrexham LL14 6HA

07826 711048 (we will provide a landline number very soon)

House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

020 7219 3709
Performance modeling, workload analysis, and capacity planning are much more accurate when real-world workloads are used for these changing I/O data streams. Workload Intelligence employs real-world workloads to maximize the testing and analysis of SSDs performance. In turn, SSD suppliers can replay and analyze the customer's actual workloads to help identify and resolve pre-production issues, which results in deliveries of SSDs which have been tested and validated in real-world conditions.

"Understanding the true I/O workload profile has been one of the most challenging barriers to storage performance provisioning and validation," said Chad Dorkin, Director of Software Engineering, Test Appliance Products. "WorkloadIntelligence helps engineers and operators analyze workload performance and make highly accurate and analytics-driven evaluations of their storage architecture to assure the performance of business-critical applications and data."

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Automatically organize, structure, sequence and summarize the I/O data with exact time stamp

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Examine the type of operation, the LBA accessed, the IO length, IO size, duration, etc.

Create customized, filtered views to isolate and analyze potential issues

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Replay workloads through OakGate's validation platform, SVF Pro with Enduro and then re-analyze results with Analytics software

"Our new WorkloadIntelligence product line provides both data center operators and SSD vendors with a scalable high-performance platform for storage workload performance analysis and replay," said Anil Gupta, General Manager, Test Appliance Products.

Come see WorkloadIntelligence in action at Data Center World 2020 in booth 653 from March 18-19 in San Antonio, Texas.

WorkloadIntelligence Analytics and Replay products are available now. Please contact Teledyne LeCroy directly for price and delivery information about OakGate products.

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Teledyne LeCroy is a leading manufacturer of advanced oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and other test instruments that verify performance, validate compliance, and debug complex electronic systems quickly and thoroughly. Since its founding in 1964, the Company has focused on incorporating powerful tools into innovative products that enhance "Time-to-Insight". Faster time to insight enables users to rapidly find and fix defects in complex electronic systems, dramatically improving time-to-market for a wide variety of applications and end markets. Teledyne LeCroy is based in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. For more information, visit Teledyne LeCroy's website at teledynelecroy.com.

 2020 by Teledyne LeCroy. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Technical contact: Rob Dobson, Director of Product Marketing, Test Appliances, (916) 521-3919

Customer contact: Teledyne LeCroy OakGate Customer Care Center, (916) 652-5132

Website: http://teledynelecroy.com/oakgate

SOURCE Teledyne LeCroy

Related Links

http://teledynelecroy.com/oakgate


Viewers were left in 'shock' after Monty Halls revealed how marine plastic is threatening a unique, endangered species of bird in My Family and the Galapagos.

In last night's episode of the Channel 4 show, the marine biologist's wife Tam joined an environmental scientist on his latest research trip to investigate the levels of plastic pollution at the nesting site of a flightless cormorant - the only cormorant species evolved to be unable to fly.

'I can straight away see the bright colours of green rope and blue plastic which looks like a plastic bag,' she said. 'There's waste from all over the place really.'

And many who tuned in were left appalled to hear that it's taken just half a century of human behaviour to threaten a species that existed there undisturbed for millennia.

'Tears in my eyes. Something seriously needs to be done about single-use plastic. It's ruining these poor animals habitats,' wrote one, while a second agreed: 'The negative impacts of tourism highlighted was such a shock.'

Monty Hall's wife Tam joined a marine biologist on his latest research trip to investigate the levels of plastic pollution at nesting sights in My Family and the Galapagos. Pictured, single-use plastic they found in the nesting site

The flightless cormorant (pictured) is unique to the Galapagos with a population of just 1,000 breeding pairs

Taking to Twitter, one viewer admitted they were reduced to tears after seeing the amount of single-use plastic ruining the animal's habitats (pictured)

During the episode, it was revealed that worldwide, over nine-and-a-half-million single-use plastic bags are used every minute, contributing to the 12 million tonnes of plastic that finds its way into the oceans every year.

Since so little is known about the impact of plastic marine life, the Galapagos conservation trust are supporting plastic-focused science projects across the archipelago.

Tam joined a environmental scientist to look at the nesting site of the flightless cormorant, which is unique to the Galapagos with a population of just 1,000 breeding pairs.

But despite it being far away from humans and in the middle of nowhere, she was gobsmacked to discover that human waste and plastic floating around in the ocean was making its way to their nests.

Tam discovered that human waste and plastic floating around in the ocean was making its way to the nests of the flightless cormorant (pictured)

Taking to Twitter, one person who tuned in described the negative impacts of tourism as 'such a shock' (pictured)

'I can also see huge starfish brought up to the nest,' said Tam,' to which the marine biologist explained: 'In theory they bring this as a gift for the nest. They fly, they look nice and colourful and they think it's OK - the same as us. We think it's OK and it's safe for us, but it's probably not.'

Tam commented: 'That's really sad. No bird should have to use plastic bags to decorate their nests.'

And viewers were just as keen to express their shock at the revelations as they were to praise the family for highlighting what can be done to help.

'Great programme and great highlighting the plastic and what more we can each be doing,' enthused one, while a second commented: 'Uplifting, thought provoking, educational and funny. Such a lovely famo.'

A third penned: 'The consequential impact that us human beings are having upon our beautiful planet and the wildlife is heartbreaking,' while a further commented:

'The best programme on TV, thought provoking, heartwarming to see the steps taken to protect the wildlife and concerning to how we have lived has impacted on the environment so deeply. Thank you for sharing your familys experience!'
Passengers wear protective masks to protect against the spread of the Coronavirus as they arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport, Calif., on Jan. 22, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Robots With Ultraviolet Light Are Newest Weapon Against Coronavirus

Chinas outbreak of a deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) is paving the way for robots beaming ultraviolet light as the newest weapon to kill communicable diseases in public spaces.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the top disease prevention technique is to avoid close contact with people who are sick. But that is impracticable where about 55 percent of the worlds 7.7 billion people are now urbanized.

The newest weapon to combat the spread of communicable diseases in public interactions is a slice of sunlights ultra-violet rays. In its germicidal range wavelengths from 200 to 280 nanometers (UVC), it is an effective disinfectant against pathogens, according to Klaran, a firm that specializes in UVC LED products.

According to Dr. Philip Tierno, Clinical Professor of Microbiology and Pathology at New York University (NYU), sunlights ultraviolet rays already kill most harmful bacteria on exposed human clothing by interfering and destroying nucleic acids of bacteria and other microbes.

Most consumers are not aware that concentrated UVC light has been a disinfectant in the manufacturing of juices and beverage items, as well as grains, fresh fruits and vegetables cheese, baked items, frozen foods, and liquid egg products for 50 years.

After E. coli outbreaks involving unpasteurized apple cider and fruit juices in 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cold pasteurization that requires most juice-manufacturing companies to follow Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) that may include UVC irradiation. Although UVC is proven to reduce or eliminate E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and other foodborne pathogens, irradiated food does not meet the U.S. Department of Agricultures definition of organic.

UVC has been slow to be adopted as a food pathogen reducer due to higher costs and concerns of the negative connotation between linking the irradiation process with food. But that may change with coronavirus already spreading from China to 29 other nations.

The Chinese regime announced on Feb. 15 that the nations central bank would use ultraviolet light or high temperatures to disinfect its yuan currency bills, then seal and store the cash for 7 to 14 daysdepending on the severity of the outbreak in a particular regionbefore recirculating them.

A 2017 study of $1 bills circulating in New York City identified 397 bacterial species representing more than 20 bacterial phyla in currency samples. Although it is still unclear regarding the survival period and transfer mechanism of the new COVID-19 coronavirus, the New York study found that microbial communities survived for up to 12 days and spread through human oral and skin transfers.

Entrepreneurs are cranking up for a massive increase in UVC disinfectant applications.

With studies finding pathogens present on 94.5 percent of personal mobile phones and 50 percent hospital employee keyboards, Orlando-based Seal Shield is offering ElectroClave cabinets that can disinfect 4 computers and 10 mobile phones at a time.

Los Angeles-based Dimer UVC Innovations has been offering its UVC germ-killing UV Hammer robots, a sanitizing device, that can disinfect up to 10 hospital rooms per hour. Dimer just announced that it will offer GermFalcon robots designed to autonomously navigate through airplane cabins and passenger terminal waiting areas to strategically kill viruses, bacteria, and superbugs on high-touch surfaces.

Co-founder Elliot Kreitenberg stated the Dimer germ-killing system will participate in the coronavirus emergency response efforts at the Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
ASHLAND, Ore.  As the City of Ashland continues to move forward with a plan to replace the old City Hall building, the city's Historic Commission is voicing concerns about a proposal that would see a historic building torn down in the heart of downtown.

In a letter dated February 18, Historic Commission chair Dale Shostrom said that the City Hall building is identified as one of "significant historical value"  one he urged officials to consider preserving.

"The City of Ashland's Municipal Code, in outlining the duties and responsibilities of the Historic Commission, specifies that we are 'to promote public support in the preservation of Ashland's historic past,'" Shostrom wrote. "The Plaza is a significant historic location in Ashland. When entering the Plaza, City Hall is the most prominent building given its unique angled corner location. This is why the proposal for a new building, even if it is a 'historically compatible' structure, will diminish the historical value of the Plaza."

City officials have argued that the current building could be structurally unsound in the event of an earthquake, and the necessary retrofits to bring it up to modern standards would be prohibitively expensive.

Under the current proposal, demolishing and rebuilding City Hall would cost residents about $7.2 million.

READ: City of Ashland wants to hear your suggestions about how to revitalize downtown

The State Historic Preservation Office has been fielding questions from those who support retrofiting the building over seeing it demolished.

"We are happy to offer the City of Ashland technical assistance and guidance that could preserve the building. We have seen numerous projects come across our desks for re-use and restoration that might have ideas that could be incorporated into this project," said Tracy Schwartz, Review and Compliance Historian for the state office.

Schwartz said that "consultation with our office should occur" under Oregon law, since the building is listed both publicly owned and of historic significance. The state agency included a fact sheet about the law and process pertaining to historic public buildings.

"The Commission is aware of the many challenges that the Council faces for the City Hall building project including the construction staging space and the impact of the timeline to the public, to tourism, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Plaza merchants," Shostrom wrote in his earlier letter. "The Commission's hope is that the Council will continue to consider rehabilitation as an alternative."

READ: Budget cuts will force Ashland Fire to 'run harder with fewer resources,' union says

If the City's proposal goes forward unabated, it will still be subject to the will of the voters. It would appear on the ballot as a 20-year capital improvement bond, costing Ashland homeowners about 26 cents per $1,000 in assessed value.
Nigerias two main parties, APC and PDP, have attacked each other over the potential review by the Supreme Court of some of its rulings.

The opposition PDP accused the ruling APC of putting pressure on the judges of the Supreme Court to reverse their rulings on the Zamfara and Bayelsa elections.

The PDP warned that if the APC should challenge the Supreme Court rulings in Bayelsa and Zamfara, it would seek a review of the 2019 presidential election won by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party said this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday.

The opposition party also threatened to file for a review and possible reversal of the outcomes of the governorship elections in Katsina, Kaduna, Osun and Kano states.

The party also accused the APC of attempting to destroy our hard-earned democracy especially the judiciary.

Nigerians know that the APC has been going through a hemorrhage since the Supreme Court delivered valid judgments on Bayelsa and Zamfara and as a result, they are no longer interested in the logic of these judgments.

They have since thrown caution to the wind to destabilize our nation and destroy our hard-earned democracy especially the judiciary. The APC federal government is leading all forms of battles against the rule of law and constitutionalism.

The PDP holds that our sacrifices for the sustenance of democracy, as demonstrated in our patriotic comportment towards the verdicts of the court on the Presidential election as well as Osun, Kano, Katsina and Kaduna governorship elections tribunal, subsist.

However, the PDP finds it ludicrous, ridiculous and insulting to the sensibilities and respect of the Supreme Court Justices for the APC to hurriedly and malevolently head to the Supreme Court to attempt to arm twist the lord justices to effect a forceful reversal of the valid, flawless and faultless judgments on Bayelsa and Zamfara states governorship elections.

Consequently, the National Working Committee of the PDP, after comprehensive consultations, states that our party has no choice left, given the manner with which the APC has conducted itself, than to ask for a review of the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal, where the issue of certificate forgery and or presentation of false information in aid of qualifications was clearly established against the APC and her presidential candidate.

APC kicks

The spokesperson of the ruling party, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the call for a review of the presidential election and governorship in Osun, Kano, and, Katsina as a joke in the nations political space.

Mr Issa-Onilu, said the PDP should consider taking up rice farming jobs to make them useful for our country.

READ ALSO:

He said, There is obviously a lot of idleness at the Wadata House Secretariat of PDP.

The call by PDP asking the Supreme Court to review its rulings on the Presidential Election and governorship elections in Osun, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina States, has, once again, exposed the joke the opposition party has turned itself into in our nations political space, he said.

Never in the history of our democratic journey has a political party made mockery of what a responsible opposition politics entails. The PDPs call has once again, reinforced our partys belief that the PDP has become a clog in the wheels of our countrys political evolution.

We believe it has been difficult for some leaders of the PDP to cope for so long outside of power. There is obviously a lot of idleness at the Wadata House Secretariat of PDP.

At this period that our government is working hard to ensure food sufficiency in the country, we urge those jobless characters at the Wadata House to seriously consider taking up rice farming. This would make them useful for our country.

Background

The Supreme court in May last year nullified the victory of the APC in elections in Zamfara State.

The apex court said the APC did not conduct valid primaries in Zamfara and therefore declared the candidates of the PDP who came second in the elections winners.

The APC has asked for a review and the Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed March 2 for hearing an application, seeking it to review its judgement.

Also, the apex court on February 13 sacked the Bayelsa APC governorship candidate, David Lyon, on grounds that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to the electoral commission, INEC.

The apex court in the judgment delivered by Ejembi Eko consequently ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Messrs Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.

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The judge also ordered that INEC should immediately declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner.

INEC has since declared the PDP candidate in Bayelsa winner and he has been sworn in as governor.
Billy Hawks nearly 40-year-long saga came to an end after Hawk pled nolo contendere to a lesser plea of voluntary manslaughter in Hamilton County Criminal Court on Monday morning. This plea will set Hawk free, as he has already served the five-year prison sentence required.

Under terms of the plea, Hawk will be forbidden from speaking to the victims family.

District Attorney Neal Pinkston said, "I am very proud of the Cold Case Unit and all prosecutors who worked on this case to obtain a conviction. The pursuit of justice and prosecution of an almost 40 year old case is extremely difficult to say the least, but we have now identified and convicted Johnny Mack Salyer's murderer. His family will no longer wonder."

He said the victims family is okay with the plea agreement, and is appreciative of the work done by the offices Cold Case Unit.

Hawk allegedly murdered Johnny Salyer and stuffed his body in a barrel back in 1981. He was found guilty in a 2016 trial. However, he was granted a retrial in 2019 after issues were found with the prosecution.

The circumstances of the prosecution have been extraordinary for everyone, and were just pleased that we could bring an end to it today, for Mr. Hawk and for everyone, said his attorney, Melanie Bean.

Judge Don Poole last year had granted a new trial to Hawk, who earlier had been sentenced to life in prison.



The 1981 cold case murder had been reopened in 2015 after almost 35 years of silence. Witness testimony in the trial ranged from expert forensics agents to friends and family of both Hawk and Salyer.

Judge Poole said testimony by Cleveland attorney Jim Logan "that he made mistakes but the other defense lawyers made non-tactical mistakes amounting to ineffective assistance of counsel is troubling."

He said attorney Logan was Hawk's first lawyer and "was clearly upset" when Hawk later chose Chattanooga attorney Bill Speek as his lead counsel.

The judge added, "As long as a lawyer continues to represent a client, however, he should participate fully in decision making and, if certain things are not done or should be done, he should take an active role in making sure those things are done. If he cannot do this, the appropriate course would seem to be to withdraw from the case. It is sincerely hoped that any lawyer who goes to trial does his best to ensure that his client receives a fair trial."

Judge Poole said the main reason he decided to grant a new trial was based on "acts and omissions" relating to witness Terry Slaughter, a former Chattanooga Police detective who later was charged and convicted in Federal Court.

The judge noted that former District Attorney Gary Gerbitz was called as a witness and was critical of Slaughter's credibility, calling him "a crooked cop" and a liar. He said there was a heated exchange between witness Gerbitz and current District Attorney Neal Pinkston, who then asked if he was aware that Slaughter had passed lie detector tests. He said former DA Gerbitz replied, "I don't know that at all." The judge said the questions about the polygraph tests were inappropriate and bolstered Slaughter's credibility.



The states narrative claimed Hawk, possibly fearing Salyer would testify against him in court after a drug-related arrest, shot the victim, stuffed him inside a steel barrel, and dropped him in the Tennessee River."

The defense contended that the majority of witness testimony was unreliable due to the number of years that had passed since the slaying.

They also pointed out several pieces of valuable evidence that had been lost or destroyed, including the barrel itself.

Click here for the Poole order, and here for the Poole memorandum.
By Trend

The number of those infected with coronavirus in Iran has so far exceeded 60 people, Iranian Deputy Minister of Health and Medical Education Iraj Harirchi said at the press conference, Trend reports referring to the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN).

The deputy minister added that 12 people have died as a result of coronavirus so far in Iran.

The situation in Qom city stabilized, the deputy minister said. There are two hospitals in Qom city in which those infected with coronavirus are treated.

Coronavirus was spreading in Iran through an Iranian businessman, Harirchi added. When the flights between Iran and China were stopped, that Iranian businessman went to China through other country. That businessman has died of this virus.

Harirchi denied the information about the death of 50 people in Qom city due to coronavirus.

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 2,360 people have died and over 79,000 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 South Korea, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran, Thailand, the US, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam, the UAE, the UK, France, Macau, Canada, Philippines, India, Russia, Spain, Lebanon, Nepal, Cambodia, Israel, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Egypt and Sri Lanka.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
CHICOPEE  The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield hosted their annual Irish Gala at the Castle of Knights Sunday with more than 350 in attendance.

The four-hour event featured music by the Andy Healy Band and Mary Ward with Irish dancing by the students of Black Rose Academy of Irish Dance.

Attendees enjoyed corned beef sandwiches, a cash bar, baked goods, raffle prizes and plenty of dancing.

The fundraiser will benefit the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, a religious order whose stated mission is to unite neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God.
Afghanistan has reportedly confirmed its first case of coronavirus, Afghanistans minister of public health, Ferozuddin Feroz, revealed in a conference in Kabul to the international media. The three suspected cases were confirmed by the health officials of Afghanistan in the Western province of Herat out of which one tested positive, confirmed reports.

A state of emergency has reportedly been declared in the region as the country shares its borders with Iran where the cases of COVID-19 continue to spike rapidly raising concerns. In a bid to curb the contagion spread, Turkey, Jordan, and Pakistan have also sealed their borders with neighboring Iran that has confirmed at least 8 deaths from the novel coronavirus.

Read: Australia Issues Travel Warning To Japan Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Afghanistan imposes travel ban to and from Iran

According to the reports, Afghanistan, had imposed travel ban to and from Iran over fears of the spread of disease. The office of National Security Council of Afghanistan had said in a statement that the government had suspended all movement, both air and ground, to and from Iran in order to protect its citizens over mounting fears of the disease epidemic.

Read South Korea On Frontline As Coronavirus Spreads

Read Coronavirus-hit Wuhan Partially Lifts Curbs On People's Movement; Death Toll Reaches 2,592

Meanwhile, Taiwan has confirmed two new cases of the novel coronavirus as of February 24, bringing the island's total number of confirmed cases to 28, as per reports. The two patients, a father and his son in their 80s and 50s respectively, did not have a recent travel history with China but contracted the virus via human to human transmission confirmed the Central Epidemic Command Centre in an international media report.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told the media during a meeting with government officials held in Beijing yesterday that novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic was a major 'public health emergency' with the fastest spread, the widest range of infections, and the most difficult to prevent and control in China.

Read 2,400 Monkeys Infected With Coronavirus By Scientists To Find A Cure

Read Italy Calls Off Venice Carnival After Surge In Coronavirus Cases
Nature experts and government delegates gather this week in Rome to thrash out an international deal for endangered species, trying to avoid a mass extinction event caused by human activity.

Having been hastily relocated from Kunming in China following the coronavirus outbreak, negotiators from more than 140 countries have until February 29 to study a draft text.

The 12-page document, which focuses on goals to be met by mid-century and envisages a stock-take in 2030, should be adopted at the COP15 summit on biodiversity in October.

The United Nations biodiversity panel IPBES last year warned that up to one million species face the risk of extinction as a result of humanity's insatiable desire for land and materials.

"I cannot underscore enough the importance of making progress at this meeting," said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, acting executive secretary for the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity.

"The world is eagerly waiting out there for demonstrable progress towards a clear, actionable and transformative global framework on biodiversity." While the 2015 Paris agreement saw nations commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to stave off the worst threats of climate change, there is no equivalent accord for the world's endangered species.

The IPBES report highlighted the threats posed to nature from human activity, saying that three-quarters of all land and two-thirds of oceans have already been severely affected by mankind. The report also demonstrated how the depletion of nature will in turn harm humanity.

"This degradation of nature is unprecedented in the history of mankind," said IPBES executive secretary Anne Larigauderie.

2020 is a crucial year for nature, with the global congress of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature set for Marseille in June and the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November.

Negotiators in Rome are focusing on ways to reduce threats to biodiversity, including officially protecting at least 30 percent of land and marine areas and a 50 per cent cut in pollution from fertilisers. It also calls for stricter regulation on plastic pollution and acknowledges the role that the preservation of nature can play in the battle against climate change.

While Louisa Carron, who works for Greenpeace, told AFP the draft was a "good first step", Lin Li of WWF International said she had "mixed feelings".

"The zero draft has not address the drivers of biodiversity at all, for example the consumption/production that really causes causing the loss of nature," said Lin.

Li Shuo, who works on biodiversity issues for Greenpeace, was guarded about the prospects of success in Rome. "Simply having a 'vision' does not guarantee its fulfilment," he told AFP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Here's what you need to know about what's happening in San Jose.

Pedestrian hit by car in San Jose dies, another injured

Two pedestrians were hit by a driver in San Jose Saturday night, leaving one dead, according to the San Jose Police Department.

Read the full story on KRON 4 News.

San Joses Sapigao named poet laureate

San Jose resident Janice Lobo Sapigao was named as the sixth Santa Clara County poet laureate at a Feb. 10 meeting of the county Board of Supervisors.

Read the full story on Mercury News.

'Art of the Census'

"Art of the Census," a brand-new poster, designed by Evergreen Valley College student Tran Minh Tien Le, will soon pop up throughout the Valley Transportation Authority system, as part of a multi-departmental effort to raise awareness about the upcoming Census.

Read the full story on Mercury News.

Santa Clara County employees threaten another strike

SEIU Local 521, which represents 12,000 county workers, said it will strike at the end of the week if the county doesnt reach a settlement by Thursday.

Read the full story on The Mercury News.

Islanders 4, Sharks 1: Change seems imminent, but how active will Doug Wilson be?

San Jose Sharks loss to the New York Islanders was just another reminder of how much things have changed from last season

Read the full story on The Mercury News.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 17:36:27|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Lebanon's medical team conducted on Monday novel coronavirus (COVID-19) tests for passengers arriving at Beirut's airport from Iran, the National News Agency reported.

Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan assured that the airport is taking very serious measures in cooperation with the World Health Organization.

"The measures undertaken guarantee that the virus will not spread if it exists among the passengers in the first place," Hassan said following his meeting with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun.

Hassan also called upon the Lebanese not to panic and to trust measures adopted by the ministry.
Noni B and Rivers shoppers could be left shivering through winter after parent company Mosaic Brands warned it had no short-term contingency plan for product sourcing if its Chinese supply chains are knocked out by the coronavirus outbreak.

Chief executive Scott Evans told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald Mosaic sources 85 per cent of its products from China and is experiencing delivery and manufacturing delays as thousands of Chinese factory workers stay home due to virus fears.

After being hit by both bushfires and the coronavirus, Mosaic Brands chief executive Scott Evans could use a break. Credit:Louie Douvis

"The products we bring in February and March were made before Chinese New Year and they're experiencing delays, but they're just shipping delays," he said.

The bigger issue for the company  which also operates Katies, Autograph, Rockmans and Millers  is its products that have not yet been manufactured, including winter wear that goes on sale from around the end of April.
Friday morning, the media had their big story: the Russians were once again helping Donald Trump. They believed this story despite the fact that Trump has been a nightmare for the Russians, destroying their economy and arming their enemies. By Friday afternoon, the story had been debunked. However, the report that the Russians are helping Bernie is still out there, and Trump is using it to great effect.

Regarding the allegation that Russia was helping Trump, on Sunday, CNN finally confessed that the whole thing was a Deep State effort to discredit Trump. CNN didn't use those particular words, but it doesn't take much effort to read between the lines:

The US intelligence community's top election security official appears to have overstated the intelligence community's formal assessment of Russian interference in the 2020 election, omitting important nuance during a briefing with lawmakers earlier this month, three national security officials told CNN. The official, Shelby Pierson, told lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election with the goal of helping President Donald Trump get reelected. The US intelligence community has assessed that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election and has separately assessed that Russia views Trump as a leader they can work with. But the US does not have evidence that Russia's interference this cycle is aimed at reelecting Trump, the officials said. "The intelligence doesn't say that," one senior national security official told CNN. "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."

It seems that Pierson's reputation is such that anyone listening to her should have taken what she said with a grain of salt:

.@WSJ reported last week that the briefer, Shelby Pierson, "has a reputation for being injudicious with her words."https://t.co/5uGe6UmkRG



Here's a story on a previous time Pierson's comments in a meeting were not received well: https://t.co/peyGya6bXB https://t.co/t6GOMAKNtp  Dustin Volz (@dnvolz) February 23, 2020

That story may be dead and gone, but a more interesting one is the report that the Russians are seeking to help Bernie Sanders. The Trump administration, foregoing its predecessor's habit of spying on presidential candidates who may be on the receiving end of Russian shenanigans, dutifully notified Bernie about the report that Russia was pushing his campaign.

That was a month ago. However, the story broke to the public last week, right before the Democrat debate in Nevada, when establishment Democrats were getting very worried about Bernie's polling numbers. Bernie dutifully issued a statement disavowing Russia (and he was probably honest about it too for, while he adored Soviet Russia, he doesn't seem to care much about oligarchic Russia).

On Sunday, Trump publicly accused Adam "Shifty Pencil Neck" Schiff, as well as other Democrats, of having leaked that information to the media:

Nobody said it. I read where Russia is helping Bernie Sanders. Nobody said it to me at all. Nobody briefed me about that at all. [snip] They leaked it, Adam Schiff and his group, they leaked it to the papers and, as usual, they ought to investigate Adam Schiff for leaking that information. He should not be leaking information out of intelligence. They ought to investigate Adam Schiff.

Trump's brilliant trolling revealed itself in his next statement, when he did everything he could to sow dissent within the already fractured Democrat Party:

What it could be is you know the Democrats are treating Bernie Sanders very unfairly and it sounds to me like a leak from Adam Schiff because they don't want Bernie Sanders to represent them. It sounds like it's '16 all over again for Bernie Sanders. And he won. He had a great victory yesterday, but you know what happening, you can see the handwriting on the wall. [snip] I think so, unless they cheat him out of it. Bernie is looking more and more like he'll be the nominee unless they cheat him out of it. A lot of people thought he was going to be nominee last time but it didn't work out. I think they're watching it very closely.

Watching Trump toy with the Democrats has become a source of almost endless pleasure. For that ability alone, he deserves a place in the pantheon of great American presidents.
Actor-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge says she had a strange hunch working on a James Bond film, months before she was hired for "No Time To Die".

The 34-year-old actor, best known for creating hit series "Fleabag" and "Killing Eve", boarded the latest Bond film last year and she will be credited as a writer alongside Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Scott Z Burns and Cary Joji Fukunaga, who has also directed the film.

In an interview on Chris Evan's Breakfast Show for Virgin Radio, Waller-Bridge said she was working on "Fleabag" when she received a call from Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

"I was in the edit for 'Fleabag'. It was an afternoon, and I had the call that Barbara Broccoli wanted to meet me for a coffee. And I was like, all right.

"But the strangest thing is, that I'd really I had been sort of dreaming about the idea of it only a couple a few months beforehand. I was like, 'Oh, wouldn't it be cool to be involved in a Bond film to sort of just put that there in the ether?' And then it just came around," she said.

Waller-Bridge said her job on the film entailed working on the dialogues and offering alternatives.

"I just sort of do dialogue polishes and offer things really, it's about just offering different alternatives. They did give me some scenes and then be like, can you write some alternatives for this or have another idea about where it could go in the middle or how it would end.

"And then I would just give them options and various scenes and then they would take what they want. But there was a lot people writing Cary and the director was a writer on it as well. And there'd been a few writers before," the actor said.

Waller-Bridge said actor Daniel Craig, who is essaying the role of fictional British spy for the fifth and final time with the new movie, was very much involved in the film's making.

"aniel is really, really involved from the beginning of yet so many great conversations with him about it, constantly in touch with him about it. So it's a big sort of melting pot of everybody's ideas the whole time," she added.

"No Time to Die" will release in April this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Makheia Group Societe anonyme's (EPA:ALMAK): Makheia Group Societe Anonyme provides brand solutions in France. With the latest financial year loss of -787.0k and a trailing-twelve month of -2.3m, the 6.9m market-cap amplifies its loss by moving further away from its breakeven target. Many investors are wondering the rate at which ALMAK will turn a profit, with the big question being when will the company breakeven? In this article, I will touch on the expectations for ALMAKs growth and when analysts expect the company to become profitable.

View our latest analysis for Makheia Group Societe anonyme

According to the industry analysts covering ALMAK, breakeven is near. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2020, before turning a profit of 369k in 2021. ALMAK is therefore projected to breakeven around a few months from now. In order to meet this breakeven date, I calculated the rate at which ALMAK must grow year-on-year. It turns out an average annual growth rate of 93% is expected, which is rather optimistic! If this rate turns out to be too aggressive, ALMAK may become profitable much later than analysts predict.

ENXTPA:ALMAK Past and Future Earnings, February 24th 2020

Im not going to go through company-specific developments for ALMAK given that this is a high-level summary, but, take into account that typically a high growth rate is not out of the ordinary, particularly when a company is in a period of investment.

Before I wrap up, theres one issue worth mentioning. ALMAK currently has a relatively high level of debt. Typically, debt shouldnt exceed 40% of your equity, which in ALMAKs case is 40%. A higher level of debt requires more stringent capital management which increases the risk around investing in the loss-making company.

Next Steps:

There are key fundamentals of ALMAK which are not covered in this article, but I must stress again that this is merely a basic overview. For a more comprehensive look at ALMAK, take a look at ALMAKs company page on Simply Wall St. Ive also put together a list of pertinent aspects you should further examine:

Valuation: What is ALMAK worth today? Has the future growth potential already been factored into the price? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether ALMAK is currently mispriced by the market. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business  take a look at who sits on Makheia Group Societe anonymes board and the CEOs back ground. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Some of the countrys top institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) of Delhi and Mumbai, which were chosen as Institutes of Eminence (IoE), will invite Nobel laureates to their campuses, said HRD ministry officials on Monday.

The decision was taken in a review meeting of the IoEs headed by Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal.

According to a ministry statement, institutions will invite Nobel laureates, academicians, professors, foreign faculty etc to visit to enlarge and deepen the interface of Indias institutions of higher learning and globally recognised institutions of academic eminence.

It was also decided that all the balance amount for the year 2019-2020 and new amount/funds to be paid to these institutions may be paid in the current financial year.

The meeting decided that a project monitoring unit will be established to monitor the progress of these institutions and the activities undertaken by them. The IoEs may also adopt and develop model villages as part of the Unnat Bharat scheme for sustainable development in rural India. As part of the IoE scheme, the Centre would develop ten government and ten private educational institutions as world class universities.
Businesses in Northern Ireland have started to scale back non-essential visits to their facilities as part of a plan to manage the risk of the coronavirus.

It's understood that several companies who do business in China and other markets including Italy are now falling back on email, telephone and social media to conduct communications.

Several firms have also expressed a growing concern about supplies from China in case the virus is able to travel on these objects, although so far the virus has spread via live animal markets or person-to-person contact.

There are growing fears that the coronavirus outbreak could reach pandemic scale as more cases emerge around the world, after it began in China.

Most infections so far have been in China but other nations like South Korea, Italy and Iran are battling the virus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19.

One major US firm with a Northern Ireland site and extensive links in China has prohibited travel to Hubei province  where the virus originated  for all employees.

Visits to other locations in China can only take place for business-critical reasons and must be approved at the highest level.

Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said that many local firms do receive component parts from China.

Weve not had anyone yet mention to us concerns about supply from China but we do know many local firms who receive components from there, he said.

We have though had some members begin to pull back on external parties coming to their facilities as part of emerging plans to manage risk of contagion.

No cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency confirmed last week. A total of 35 tests for the virus have been carried out and all results have come back negative.

It was reported last week that the Northern Ireland tourism industry has been impacted by the virus, with as many as 3,000 hotel rooms cancelled by Chinese tourists between January and May.

Aodhan Connolly, director of NI Retail Consortium, said: The coronavirus may seem like half way around the world to many people but it has real tangible effects here in Northern Ireland.

It is estimated tourism could lose 3,000 bed nights due to tourists not travelling. That has a knock-on effect even to retailers for whom tourism is a key market, especially in high-end goods.

Several parts of China have been placed into quarantine and flights in and out of the country have been restricted.

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said none of its members had reported a problem yet.

Mark Campbell, a senior manager at Co Antrim medical testing firm Randox, said it had rapidly developed a new test for the COVID-19 strain.

We are currently engaged with various governments worldwide to work with them on how to utilise our new expanded virus platform, incorporating COVID-19, to help their countrys response to the coronavirus outbreak, he added.

Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has warned that there is a risk of shortages on some of the retailers lines later in the year if factory delays in China are prolonged.

However, it said the high street giant is well stocked with cover for several months.
As a public official, its not unusual to have a front row seat to laws and policies that arent working. When that happens in Aiken, its my job as mayor to work with my fellow policymakers to fix those problems.

We can do it in Aiken. Our elected officials should be able to do it in Congress, too.

At this moment, lawmakers in Washington are faced with a very serious problem that threatens the safety of our communities and our country. Thankfully, this problem can be remedied with a simple solution.

The problem is that some of the worlds worst criminals, drug smugglers, human traffickers, even terrorists can hide their illicit activities from law enforcement  and they can do it legally. Sometime they hide right in our own communities.

These criminals hide from justice by using anonymous shell companies, which are perfectly legal under current U.S. law. When someone files the legal paperwork to form a company, they are not required to reveal the person or entity that stands to gain from the existence of that company. This is known as the beneficial owner, and there is no disclosure provision in federal law.

So when drug dealers or other criminal enterprises want to launder money in order to hide it from authorities, they can use anonymous shell companies. Without knowledge of the beneficial owner, law enforcement agencies often hit a dead end when investigating these crimes.

Shell companies registered in South Carolina and Georgia were used by a crime ring that defrauded Medicare for $25 million. The racket operated for years before investigators were able to detect it and charge the operators with a crime. The prosecutor in the case said the conspirators in that case had taken health-care fraud to a new level.

These Medicare fraudsters are only the tip of the iceberg. Drug cartels, terrorist, organizations and even foreign governments evading sanctions have used anonymous, legal American shell companies to move, hide, and launder money. According to the World Bank, more than 70% of grand corruption cases over the last three decades involved anonymous shell companies. Clearly, its well past time to change the law.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation to do just that. The Illicit Cash Act would make a simple change that would stop the abuse of anonymous shell companies by criminals: it would require companies to disclose their true beneficial owners. The White House has also said it supports beneficial ownership disclosure.

For business owners, this requirement amounts to little more than filling out a bit of paperwork. The information required is nothing more than it takes to board a plane: name, address, date of birth, and a passport or drivers license number. The requirement is designed to be as little of a burden as possible to small businesses that can be affected by administrative hoops and red tape.

As the operator of a family dry cleaning business, I appreciate the simplicity of the disclosure, which is only a minor step for small businesses to take to help make our financial system and our country more secure. Others feel the same way, according to polling that shows that three quarters of small business owners with an opinion support a requirement to provide personal information when forming a company.

The law is also designed to protect private information by making it available only to authorized users who are part of an active law enforcement investigation. Penalties for failing to disclose information apply only to criminals who knowingly break the law, not small business owners that make a simple mistake

The act is a simple, straightforward solution to a problem that has been pervasive for years. Criminals should not be able to operate legally right under our noses. This is an opportunity to enact a small change that will make a big difference.

Rick Osbon is the mayor of Aiken.

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D espite the cancellation of global mobile conference Mobile World Congress, following coronavirus fears, tech companies including Huawei are still forging ahead with phone releases. Today, the Chinese tech giant unveiled its new folding smartphone, the Huawei Mate Xs, as a follow up to last years Mate X.

The new Mate Xs looks relatively similar to its predecessor with the same outward opening structure. Size-wise, it is also the same  there is a 6.6-inch screen on the front, with a 6.38-inch screen on the back. This opens out to an 8-inch screen in total when unfolded.

So whats new with Huaweis new folding phone? Improvements have been made to the durability of the Mate Xs screen, presumably following the issues the likes of Samsung and Motorola have had with their first-gen folding phones. The Mate Xs's display now features a double-layer optimal polyimide offering enhanced image clarity. In addition, the mechanical hinge has been updated too  Huawei says it is now made up of zirconium-based liquid metal to offer improved robustness and durability.

The cameras on the Mate Xs have been updated too to the standard of the P30 Pro and Mate 30 Pro released last year. There are three lenses: a 40MP lens, 8MP telephoto lens and 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens, along with a time of flight sensor for decent portrait and low-light photography. Huawei says this adds up to the worlds best selfie camera given the foldable form, which is a fair claim to make.

Huawei Mate XS foldable smartphone - In pictures 1 /9 Huawei Mate XS foldable smartphone - In pictures The new Huawei folding phone, the Mate Xs Huawei PA PA PA PA PA PA

Like last years Mate X, the new Huawei folding phone also features two batteries on either side of the device which total 4,500mAh in power, and 55W fast charging which will charge the device from 0 to 85 per cent in only 30 minutes. In addition, the phone comes complete with Huaweis new 990 chip, so it will support 5G.

Despite the flashy design and engineering skill that has gone into this device, you probably wont be buying it. Following the announcement of the Mate X at last years MWC, with an eye-opening 2,299 price tag, Huawei never brought the device to Europe because of a trade battle with the US which prevents it from using Googles Android software. The Chinese company recently launched a limited-run of its Mate 30 Pro smartphones in the UK and Europe, however, these devices rely on Huaweis own operating system and not that of Android, so there arent as many apps and services available to use on the device, though it's investing a lot of money to try and change this.

The Huawei Mate X folding smartphone on display at MWC 2019 / EPA

It is possible to get around this by sideloading Google apps  this is when you install apps on a device that hasnt gone through the right certification process. However, Googles legal director for Android and Play, Tristan Ostrovski, published a post last week to say that sideloaded Google apps will not work reliably and are not available to preloads or sideload on new Huawei devices, because of the US government restrictions.

Sideloading Googles apps also carries a high risk of installing an app that has been altered or tampered with in ways that can compromise user security, added Ostrovski.

If you do still want to fork out for the Mate Xs, then it will cost more than last years version: 2,499. Huaweis head of consumer Richard Yu says the device will be on sale in March but didnt confirm in which regions the company will be selling the new phone.
Nine people were killed and at least 37 people were injured after an earthquake hit its epicenter in neighboring Iran on Sunday morning.

Nine of the injured are in serious condition while at least 3 of those killed were children. 1,066 buildings collapsed and houses were damaged in 43 villages in Iran's West Azerbaijan province.

The earthquake centered on the Iranian border village of Habash-e Olya.

Ambulances and teams of medics rushed to the scene of the magnitude 5.7 earthquake after it left homes in piles of rubble in eastern Turkey.

The quake was mostly felt in the eastern district of Baskale in Van province on the Iran border.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at 9.23 AM (0553 GMT) near the Iranian village of Habash-e Olya, less than 10 kilometers from the border.

It had a depth of six kilometers, said Tehran University's Seismological Center.

Also read: Survivors of Disasters Better Equipped to Deal with such Incidents Later: Study

According to Iran's official IRNA news agency, at least 75 people had been injured inside Iran while six of whom were hospitalized.

A second earthquake struck Sunday evening in the same area in Iran, also magnitude 5.7.

The quake affected buildings more than 90km (56 miles) to the west of the Turkish city of Van and the east in dozens of villages in Iran. Van governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez assured that no one remained trapped under debris from collapsed buildings.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said, "We have right now no citizens trapped under the rubble."

But Van governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez said that there was destruction in all four villages when he visited on Sunday morning. He added that the damage caused the loss of life.

The earthquake struck in the same area in Iran, according to the country's seismology center.

It was not clear if the second quake caused further damage or casualties in either country. The second earthquake's magnitude was set at 6.0 by the US Geological Survey.

Images of locals and soldiers digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings on Sunday were released by Turkish broadcaster NTV. Twenty-five ambulances, a medical helicopter, and 13 emergency teams have been dispatched.

Emergency teams were assigned to the remote mountainous region. This region has a history of powerful earthquakes. In January, a quake hit the eastern Turkish city of Elazig and killed more than 40 people.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported that authorities are racing against time to reach those affected by the earthquake. "Authorities say they are concerned that many people might be trapped in the rubble. Rescue operations are underway. Dozens of mountainous villages have been affected. The area is one of the most seismically active areas in the world."

Two avalanches in Van province killed at least 39 people while in the provinces of Elazig and Malatya at least 31 people were killed off and more than 1,600 injured in a powerful quake.

Related Article: Turkish cargo jet crashes at Kyrgyzstan village

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani backed diversified conglomerate Adani group is weighing a potential bid for state-run carrier Air India, a source told Moneycontrol.

If the deal fructifies, it will mark the Adani groups big-bang entry into the domestic airline market.

The Adani group has engaged advisors and is evaluating submission of an expression of interest (EoI) at this stage. Their interest is preliminary and clarifications need to be sought from the government on the bidding process, a source said.

Another source said the Adani group is looking at this opportunity, but is yet to take a final call. With this transaction, the group can diversify and bolster their presence in the sector.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify if the Adani group would go alone or be part of a consortium that would bid for the beleaguered airline.

In response to a query from Moneycontrol, an Adani Group spokesperson said, As part of company policy, we do not comment on market speculation.

In 2019, the Adani group forayed into airport operations and maintenance. It created a separate entity -- Adani Airports -- when it bagged bids on privatisation of six airports owned by the Airports Authority of India. The group won a 50-year contract for operation, management and development of the Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvanathapuram and Mangaluru airports. The six airports together handled 30 million passengers 23.6 million domestic and 6.4 million international) last fiscal, a YoY growth of 22 percent. The group has committed an investment of Rs 10,000 crore for the airport business by 2026.

As per the preliminary information memorandum released by the government, the deadline for submission of EOIs is March 17. The government is being advised by EY and law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

The Tata Group, which operates Singapore Airlines and Air Asia, is also seen as contender for the mega deal. But on February 5, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said it is too early to take a call on Air India, in which the government has decided to sell its entire 100 percent stake. In 2018, the government had offered to sell 76 percent in the state-run carrier, but had failed to attract even a single bid.

In October 2019, a proposed deal between a Tata Group led consortium and GMR had faced a hurdle from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which had opposed the transaction. The AAI cited its rule that bars groups that own airlines to also hold more than 10% in an airport operator. The deal was later called off and GMR struck a deal with Frances Groupe ADP.

Air India, along with its subsidiary Air India Express, commands 50.64 percent share of international traffic to/from India among Indian carriers and an 18.4 percent share, including global airlines, as of Q2 FY20. The two airlines combined control around 12.7 percent of the domestic market.

With a fleet of 121 aircraft, it covers 98 destinations (56 domestic destinations with around 2,712 departures per week and 42 international destinations with around 450 departures per week) as on November 1, 2019.

During FY19, AI carried around 22.1 million passengers and recorded operational revenues of around Rs 2,550 crore.

"At the time of closing of the proposed transaction, debt of Rs 23,286.5 crore will remain with Air India (AI) and Air India Express (AIXL), and the remaining debt of AI and AIXL will be allocated to Air India Assets Holding (AIAHL)," a government notification said. As of March 31, 2019, Air India had a total debt of around Rs 58,283 crore.

Under the bidding norms, control will be retained by a domestic entity with the stake buy for overseas investors capped at 49 percent. The government has also relaxed the bidding norms wherein net worth for the potential bidder has been fixed at Rs 3,500 crore, from Rs 5,000 crore earlier. The minimum stake for an individual consortium partner has also been lowered to 10 percent.

"It is a bold decision by the government to agree to a 100 percent stake sale. The move will entail cleaning up its balance sheet and ensure that the transaction is aligned to investors. The government is open to further changes or tweaks based on feedback, says Kapil Kaul, India head at aviation consultancy CAPA.
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Actuarial Foundation, which helps students apply math in the real world, reached a notable milestone in February by raising $3 million through its fundraising effort: "Educate. Connect. Change."

"This is the perfect time for 'Educate. Connect. Change.,'" said campaign Co-Chair Doug French, FSA, MAAA, FCA, FIAA, managing principal of Ernst & Young. "Every year thousands of math-related jobs go unfilled because there aren't enough qualified candidates."

The Foundation is bridging that gap and future-proofing students through its national math competitions for middle and high school students, a volunteer-driven tutoring program called "Math Motivators," scholarships, and free financial literacy resources.

"A lot of people still don't know the basic math and economic trade-offs involved in making decisions for their families, retirement, and healthcare," said French. "Our programs are relevant, they speak to this void, that's why we're working to expand our reach."

The campaign's silent phase began in July 2019 and was publicly announced at annual conferences hosted by both the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuary Society (CAS). The campaign has also been a vehicle to commemorate the Foundation's 25 years of service.

Jason Leppin, executive director at the Foundation, is encouraged that the campaign is garnering support from the broader actuarial community. "We are the sole philanthropic organization of the actuarial profession, and there are over 30,000 actuaries across the country," Leppin said. "One of the highlights for us is that almost $1 million of the funds raised to date are from entirely new supporters."

Jim Morris, FSA, MAAA, Pacific Life CEO and member of the campaign's executive team underscored the importance of improving math education through the support of the broader actuarial community. "From recent college graduates who are new to the profession, to those of us who've been working for nearly 40 years, it is our opportunity as today's leaders to pay it forward," he said.

In addition to the $3 million raised in gifts and pledges, the campaign has also generated over $1 million in planned gifts, an area where Robert Deutsch, FCAS, ASA, MAAA, has led the way, giving the Foundation its largest single personal gift in its 25-year history. Deutsch informed the Foundation of a $1 million estate gift at the beginning of the campaign's silent phase.

The numbers offer only a fraction of the story. The campaign has leaned heavily on a network of volunteers spanning both coasts, the heartland, and one as far as Switzerland. "This campaign takes a village. We need financial support. We need emotional support. We need volunteers," said fellow Co-Chair Toni French. "It takes everyone working together. And we're thankful to all those actuaries who've been proactive and generous with their time."

Campaign leaders and volunteers plan to continue active campaigning until the Foundation reaches its fundraising target: $5 million. "Math is the foundation," said Doug French. "We use math every day. Math teaches you critical linear thinking. That's important regardless of career choice and it's important whether you are dealing with the government, your community, or your school district. A lot of it is basic math."

About The Actuarial Foundation

The Actuarial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to changing lives through math education. Established in 1994, the mission of the Foundation is to enhance math education and financial literacy through the talents and resources of actuaries. The Foundation's vision is an educated public in pursuit of a secure financial future. For more information, please visit www.actuarialfoundation.org.

Contact: Holly Monahan

The Actuarial Foundation

Phone: (847) 706-3659

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE The Actuarial Foundation

Related Links

https://www.actuarialfoundation.org


A carnival in Croatia drew outrage on Monday after participants burned an effigy of a gay couple and child, weeks after a court granted same-sex couples the right to foster children.

Huge dolls depicting two men kissing and holding a small doll resembling a child were set ablaze in front of a crowd of several hundred people during a carnival in the southern town of Imotski on Sunday.

It came just two weeks after Croatia's top court said that same-sex couples should be able to foster children, an issue that has provoked heated debate in the staunchly Catholic country.

On Monday Rainbow Families, an association of same-sex parents, said they would file a legal complaint over the event, calling it a "public incitement to hatred and violence".

"Horrifying scenes from Imotski cannot be in any way justified by carnival tradition," said the group's leader Daniel Martinovic.

President Zoran Milanovic slammed the burning in a Facebook post as a "sad, inhumane and completely unacceptable act under the disguise of carnival festivities." He called for a public apology and a urged a probe of the event.

Carnival organisers in the small town, however, defended the incident as honouring traditional values.

"We remain conservative, stick to tradition. A child should be given to a mother," one of the carnival's organisers, Milivoj Djuka, told local media.

The burning was not the first of its kind in the conservative country.

In 2018, gay and parents rights groups filed a complaint over the public burning of Croatia's first children's book about same-sex families, which also took place at a carnival.

Prosecutors rejected the complaint, arguing it was a "folk custom (at) a frivolous occasion".

While the Catholic Church plays an influential role in Croatia, the EU member state has seen a gradual liberalisation of gay rights in recent years.

Gay marriage is not legal but same-sex couples have been able to register as "life partners" since 2014, a status that carries the same rights as heterosexual married couples except when it comes to adoption.

Yet there is still active resistance and protests organised by religious groups on a range of issues from same-sex foster care to abortion rights.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain's home secretary Priti Patel. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)

Britains home secretary Priti Patel has brushed off business concerns about the governments planned clampdown on low-paid migrant workers.

Patel warned business leaders their calls for special treatment for certain sectors would end up recreating free movement, which the government has vowed to end for EU migrants.

The government faced a chorus of criticism from across industry when it unveiled its plans to shake up Britains post-Brexit immigration policy last week.

Business groups, union leaders and opposition MPs have warned of staff shortages in sectors with high numbers of EU migrant workers, including care, construction, hospitality and the food and drink industry.

Some business leaders had expected the government to introduce temporary visas for low-skilled or low-paid migrant workers to help sectors reliant on migrant labour.

Read more: UK government cant wait 15 years for Brits to replace migrants in care jobs

But Patel doubled down on defending the governments position in a statement to parliament on Monday, saying a new points-based system would prioritise high-skilled workers.

She also claimed Labour had closed their ears to the referendum and 2019 election results through its opposition to more curbs on immigration.

She told the Commons immigration had brought huge benefits to the UK, but said the new system would focus on bringing talented people irrespective of their country of origin.

Our points-based system will provide a simple effective and flexible arrangement to give top priority to the skilled workers we need to boost our economy and support our brilliant public services, she said.

Applicants will need a job offer from an approved sponsor and at an appropriate skill level, as well as English-speaking skills, she said.

They will also generally need a salary of 25,600 ($33,137), but with exceptions for NHS workers, teachers and experienced workers on lower pay or without jobs but with valued skills.

Story continues

Read more: UK to end reliance on cheap labour with new immigration system

But she said: No longer will employers be able to rely on cut-price EU workers. Instead we are calling on them rightly to invest in British people as well as investing in tech skills to improve productivity and join the UK governments mission to level up on skills and economic growth across our country.

She added that the system must be simple to work, ruling out endless exemptions for low-skilled workers. We are not going to end free movement only to recreate it through other routes in name only, she told MPs.

She also denied claims the government was treating care workers as low-skilled, urging firms to pay them enough to meet the new thresholds.

She added that Britain remained open for business despite the clampdown, with expanded routes for highly skilled and talented individuals from around the world.

But Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, warned last week the lack of a temporary low-skilled worker route will be disastrous for the hospitality sector and the British people.
NAPOLEONVILLE, La. - A Louisiana judge has apologized for using racial slurs in angry text messages, which she now admits she sent during an argument with her lover in an extramarital affair.

District Judge Jessie LeBlanc told WAFB-TV in an interview Sunday that she admits using a slur to describe a black sheriffs deputy and a black law clerk in text messages she sent to Assumption Parish Chief Deputy Bruce Prejean as their affair ended.

I admit that I used that word, LeBlanc, who is white, told the TV station. I profusely apologize for that. I should have never said it. It was uncalled for. I was angry. I was upset. But, its no excuse.

Prejean was demoted from his position as chief deputy by Sheriff Leland Falcon after admitting to the affair last year. As recently as last week, the judge was denying both the affair and having sent the text messages, according to WBRZ-TV, and she has yet to be disciplined.

District Attorney Ricky Babin and the districts lead public defender have filed a court motion asking that LeBlanc voluntarily recuse herself from criminal matters in Assumption Parish, or be forced to do so because of the affair.

Babin also said that hundreds of her cases are now under review, and thousands of letters have been sent, to every defendant who appeared before her since she was sworn in, in 2012.

Baton Rouge NAACP President Eugene Collins said the judge should step down or be removed from the bench.

This is about creating a fair and impartial system, Collins said.

LeBlanc said she doesnt believe the affair would cause any trial verdicts in her court to be overturned. She also said she has no plans to resign and instead is gearing up to seek re-election. The judges current term in southern Louisianas 23rd Judicial District expires in December. The district includes Assumption, Ascension and St. James parishes.
HONG KONG, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Far East Consortium International Limited ("FEC" or the "Group") is delighted to announce a working partnership with UK retailer Sainsbury's to redevelop the site of Sainsbury's existing store in Whitechapel, East London. The Whitechapel Square proposal will incorporate a new flagship Sainsbury's supermarket, a significant number of residential units, retail space for local businesses and landscaped public space that will likely improve the area for the local community. The 4.62-acre site is situated within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, adjacent to Whitechapel Road and within close proximity to Whitechapel Underground and Elizabeth line.

Sainsbury's has been redeveloping sites of existing stores into mixed use schemes to create new homes, provide greater choice for customers and regenerate local communities since 2009. Projects delivered to date, include, schemes at Fulham Riverside, Nine Elms Point and Selly Oak in Birmingham.

FEC has extensive experience of leading ambitious and community-led projects in the UK. Whitechapel Square is FEC's third large-scale development in the UK to be announced in 2020 following the launch of Aspen at Consort Place and the acquisition of Ensign House, both in South Quay, Canary Wharf.

Kevin O'Byrne, Chief Financial Officer at Sainsbury's said: "Sainsbury's is pleased to be partnering with FEC, an international developer with a proven track record of regeneration. We look forward to introducing our revised proposal for our Whitechapel site. We believe our new supermarket, more homes and open public space will enhance the local area and bring significant benefit to the community."

Tan Sri Dato' David Chiu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at FEC comments: "This partnership with Sainsbury's is a landmark moment for FEC's international business. The UK arm of FEC is the fastest growing part of the organisation and as such reflects our ongoing commitment to invest in a reinvigorated UK economy. It's been our intention for some time to work with a retail partner such as Sainsbury's, known for its strong British reputation for quality and service to its local communities. The project will deliver a much-needed new supermarket and, crucially, ease the pressure for new homes in the borough. We understand the vision that Tower Hamlets council is seeking and we're committed to playing a key role in the borough's revitalisation to represent a strategic commitment to the regeneration of East London.

Chiu continues: "This development is at the early stages but we are confident that our shared vision and shared values with Sainsbury's will deliver a thoughtful and dynamic development, creating a thriving supermarket and best-in-class residential accommodation."

The Whitechapel area is steeped in history, culture and diversity. In recent years, the area has benefitted from significant infrastructure redevelopment. The forthcoming Elizabeth Line has seen Whitechapel station receive a multi-million-pound refit. The Royal London Hospital was also closed and re-opened behind the original site in 2012, welcoming in a brand-new building costing 650m. In addition, Tower Hamlets council has plans to deliver a new Town Hall, replacing the existing old building at Mulberry Place. Sainsbury's was advised by Knight Frank's Residential Development team.

About Far East Consortium International Limited

Far East Consortium International Limited has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1972 (Stock code: 35.HK). The Group is mainly engaged in property development and investment, hotel development and management, car park operations and facilities management, securities and financial product investment and gaming operations. The Group adopts the diversified regional strategy and the "Asian Wallet" strategy with business covering Hong Kong, Mainland China, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and other European countries.

About Sainsbury's

Helping customers get the most out of life has been at the heart of what Sainsbury's do since 1869 and the company achieves this by offering their customers easy, affordable access to the things they need, like healthy food, quality clothes, stylish homewares, the latest technology and more ways to manage their money. Sainsbury's do all of this sustainably, so can help the customers live well for less today and tomorrow.

Sainsbury's are a leading multi brand, multi-channel retailer, with a growing online and digital business, fast, convenient delivery capability and a structurally advantaged store estate of over 1,400 Sainsbury's supermarkets and convenience stores and almost 900 Argos stores in stand-alone and supermarket locations. The Habitat brand is available in 16 locations and online.

Sainsbury's employ 178,000 colleagues who are integral to Sainsbury's success, now and in the future.

FEC official website:

www.fecil.com.hk

FEC Weibo:

http://www.weibo.com/u/5703712831

SOURCE Far East Consortium International Limited
IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), is preparing to welcome some of the top students in Saudi Arabia to join its Student Leadership Conference (SLC), which will be held in the Middle East for the very first time.

The annual conference, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, has been hosted in the United States since 2000 where more than 600 accounting and finance students, academics, and professionals come together to network and discuss the latest industry trends.

Through its network of some of the most established universities in the Kingdom, IMA partnered with faculties across Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah to nominate top performing students to take part in this milestone event.

With registrations in full progress, IMA has already enrolled many students from King Saud University, Prince Sultan University, Al Yamamah University, Dar Al Uloom University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), and King Faisal University.

We are very excited to be bringing IMAs flagship student conference to the region as part of our alignment with the Kingdoms 2030 Vision, said Hanadi Khalife, senior director of MEA and India operations at IMA. This is an integral part of our global initiatives to not only support the advancement of the accounting and finance profession, but to also help bridge the skills gap of future talent by connecting them with some of the most reputed industry leaders at the forefront of digital transformation and equipping them with the knowledge and expertise they need to thrive in a fast-paced and fiercely competitive business environment.

The flagship conference is known for hosting a unique networking space for like-minded students, experienced professionals, and recruiters from some of the largest companies around the world. Students will have an opportunity to learn about the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification, and the changing role of the accounting profession from industry experts with decades of collective professional experience.

Through this experience, students will gain a deeper understanding of the career opportunities present within the field and the tools they need to achieve a holistic and well-rounded accounting education to kick-start their professional careers, added Khalife.

Dr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Maghamis, Secretary General of SOCPA is expected to address students during the conference to highlight the significance of professional certification. SOCPA, EY, Al Khaleej Training and Education, Financial Trading Centre, PRC, and many other key partners have also extended their support towards the kingdoms student development agenda, with many scheduled to speak at the event. -- Tradearabia News Service
The anonymous benefactor responsible for funding the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards $50,000 annual fiction prize is ready to be known.

Retired Bay of Plenty radiologist Jann Medlicott has been an avid reader her whole life and believes we cannot call ourselves a civilised society until we celebrate our writers and poets as much as we do our sporting heroes and heroines.

"Our novelists have a deep understanding of the human condition and can convey it in all its messiness. We need them," she says.

"Everything Ive read in my life has made me who I am. I believe we are products of what we read, not what we eat."

The winner of the fiction award - now to be known as the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction - will be presented with $55,000 in 2020. It is one of the worlds richest literary honours.

Jann says the idea to support New Zealand novelists came to her in 2015 after she returned from a trip abroad.

"Id travelled extensively and found myself thinking there was no other place I felt compelled to go to. I developed this idea that I could fund a major new prize for New Zealand fiction. It did feel really quite outrageous, but I spoke to a friend, then went to the Acorn Foundation, who began discussions with the New Zealand Book Awards Trust."

The Acorn Foundation is a community foundation based in the Bay of Plenty, which encourages people to leave a gift in their wills and/or their lifetimes.

Donations are pooled and invested, and the investment income is used to make donations to local charities or in accordance with the donors wishes.

Late last year, Jann was diagnosed with pelvic cancer. She has now completed radiation therapy for the unexpected recurrence of a tumour 14 years after initial diagnosis and surgery.

"I had been considering whether to make myself known, but the cancer diagnosis was a wake-up call and a reminder that were all on a continuum between being and not being, and that Id better get a move on."

She had initially chosen to donate anonymously from a desire to live without the pressure of recognition as a major philanthropic benefactor.

"But circumstances change. Supporting New Zealand writers gives me a good deal of satisfaction. I want to make myself known to encourage others to step up and donate in any way possible."

Born in 1942, the middle child in a family of five, Jann spent her early years in Kohi, rural Taranaki. She learned to read at an early age and developed a fascination for words and stories.

"I experimented with words at meal times, with mixed results! The Oxford Dictionary was a favourite and I browsed it at random," she says.

"By intermediate school age, I had devoured most of the 19th Century novels on the shelves. From secondary school, Katherine Mansfields The Dolls House and Virginia Woolfs Mrs Dalloway are vividly recalled as transitional. The beauty of the prose became as important as the narrative."

During her medical training at the University of Otago, Jann read books in between shifts as a barmaid and as a nurse aide at what was then Porirua psychiatric hospital. By the time she left to work in England, she had a collection of more than 1,000 books.

She says the extent of her overseas travel has strengthened her appreciation of New Zealand. "I have an absolute commitment to where I am from, thats why I want to support our writers."

"I can unequivocally say that our literature is as good as any in the world. We need to look at new and innovative ways to support our writers. If you go to any other country, there are shelves and shelves of books of their own writers; they showcase it."

The New Zealand Book Awards Trust chair Nicola Legat says that New Zealand literature has a true patron saint in Jann Medlicott.

"Not only is Janns endowment of the fiction prize a remarkable act of generosity, but she is also deeply invested in New Zealand literature, reading widely and knowledgeably and keenly aware of how important it is to our national cultural conversation. We are hugely grateful to her."

The 40 books longlisted for the 2020 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards were announced late last month. The Awards 16 finalists will be announced on 4 March 2020. The winners in each of the Awards four categories will be announced at a ceremony on May 12 as a marquee event during the 2020 Auckland Writers Festival.

The Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction is judged this year by author, journalist and reviewer Mark Broatch, short story and non-fiction writer Nic Low (Ngai Tahu) and Chris Baskett, an independent Tauranga bookseller of 20 years. An international judge, whose identity will be revealed in March 2020, will join them to decide the ultimate winner from their shortlist of four.
With a litter of tactics, scientists work to tame cat allergies Science News. I suffer from a terrible cat allergy.

Can Historic Preservation Be Saved? American Conservative

Colorado River flow shrinks from climate crisis, risking severe water shortages Guardian (furzy)

The Decline of Religion May Be Slowing Religion in Public (re Silc)

A Search for the Source of Italys Malaise Der Spiegel

TurboTax Is Still Tricking Customers With Tax Prep Ads That Misuse the Word Free ProPublica

To stop locust plagues, we must copy locusts Asia Times

Chinas green zombie fungus could hold key to fighting east Africas plague of locusts SCMP

Class Warfare

The Internal Emails Big Tech Executives Never Wanted You to See Jacobin

Julian Assange

Waste Watch

Big Brother IS Watching You Watch

On JFK, Tulsi Gabbard Keeps Very Respectable Company Counterpunch

Trump Transition

Syraqistan

Five things to know about emerging US, Taliban peace deal The Hill

2020

Chris Matthews compares Sanders winning in Nevada to the German invasion of France  does he not have loved ones to tell him how this sounds? Are there no executives at NBC left with any sense? https://t.co/l7MQHPt3x6  Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) 23 February 2020

#nCOVID-19

Malaysias Mahathir submits resignation, quits his party Al Jazeera

China?

WSJs Beijing bureau chief has this to say about the papers often-toxic editorial page: We find the argument that no offense was intended to be unconvincing: Someone should have known that it would cause widespread offense. Scoop via @farhip

https://t.co/YQJUQWgNQt  Bill Grueskin (@BGrueskin) February 22, 2020

737 MAX

Now Boeing 737 MAX Fuel Tanks Have To Undergo Inspections Simple Flying

India

Antidote du Jour (TH):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Tata Steel was the top loser in the Sensex pack, cracking over 4 per cent, followed by HDFC, ITC, ICICI Bank, Maruti, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC and PowerGrid.

Equity benchmark indices witnessed heavy selling across the board in the early trade on Monday, in line with global peers, following a jump in the number of coronavirus cases outside China and concerns grew that global economic growth could take a hit.

Market benchmark Sensex plummeted over 450 points while NSE Nifty slipped below 12,000-mark in the opening session.

#CNBCTV18Market | Indices open sharply lower as global equities continue to slide amid #coronavirus fears but Bharti Infratel going against the tide after DoT's nod for Indus Towers merger, up 3% For more LIVE updates, log on to https://t.co/NZFvOt6ucu pic.twitter.com/6jLujB0wta  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 24, 2020

After sinking 497 points in the early session, the 30-share barometer was trading 393.87 points, or 0.96 percent, lower at 40,776.25 at around 10.45 am.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty was trading down by 124.05 points, or 1.03 percent, at 11,956.80.

Tata Steel was the top loser in the Sensex pack, cracking over 4 percent, followed by HDFC, ITC, ICICI Bank, Maruti, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC and PowerGrid.

On the other hand, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS, Sun Pharm and HUL were trading with gains.

Except for Nifty IT, all sectoral indices at the NSE were in the negative zone with Nifty metal plunging by 3.1 percent, pharma by 1.7 percent and auto by 1.6 percent.

Among stocks, Hindalco suffered the most with a fall of 5.5 percent at Rs 179.55 per share. Tata Steel dropped by 3.8 percent, JSW Steel by 3.4 percent and Vedanta by 3.3 percent.

Auto stocks too took a dip with Tata Motors slipping by 2.6 percent, Eicher Motors by 2.3 percent and Maruti by 2 percent. ITC, ICICI Bank and HDFC slipped by nearly 2 percent each.

However, IT major gained with Infosys up by 1.4 percent at Rs 808,45 per share. Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Service and Wipro witnessed marginal gains.

In the previous session on Thursday, the Sensex settled 152.88 points, or 0.37 percent, lower at 41,170.12, and Nifty slipped 45.05 points, or 0.37 percent, to 12,080.85.

Financial markets remained closed on Friday on account of 'Mahashivratri'.

Meanwhile, on a net basis, foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 1,495.25 crore, while domestic institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 699.62 crore on Thursday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

According to traders, spike in coronavirus cases outside China has spooked global investors.

Rupee slips 30 paise to 71.94

The rupee declined by 30 paise to 71.94 against the US dollar in opening trade on Monday amid muted opening in domestic equities and strengthening of the American currency overseas.

Besides, as investor sentiments remained fragile amid coronavirus fears.

China's death toll from the new coronavirus rose to 2,592 on Monday.

Forex traders, however, said easing crude oil prices supported the local unit and restricted the fall to some extent.

The rupee opened weak at 71.94 at the interbank forex market, down 30 paise over its last close.

Asian shares, oil prices slid

Meanwhile, Asian shares and oil prices slid as the spread of the coronavirus outside China darkened the outlook for world growth.

South Korea's Kospi index fell about 3 percent while Chinese shares opened down with the blue-chip CSI300 index easing by 0.6 percent.

That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan off by 1.6 percent at its lowest since early February. Japanese markets were closed for a public holiday.

South Korea put the country on high alert while the number of infections jumped to over 700 and deaths rose to seven. In Italy, three deaths were reported while the number of cases jumped to above 150.

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan imposed travel and immigration restrictions as fears mounted that the coronavirus outbreak in China will grow into a pandemic with deadly consequences for countries around the world.

Further, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also warned that the deadly epidemic could put an already fragile global economy recovery at risk.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic is the country's "largest public health emergency". The death toll from the deadly virus climbed to 2,592 on Monday.

On the domestic front, traders said investors are likely to take cues from US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India. He will reach Ahmedabad later in the day.

 With inputs from agencies
Teck Resources has withdrawn its application for a regulatory review of the Frontier oil sands project, the company said in a news release.

Investors and customers are increasingly looking for jurisdictions to have a framework in place that reconciles resource development and climate change, in order to produce the cleanest possible products, Tecks chief executive wrote in a letter to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

This does not yet exist here today and, unfortunately, the growing debate around this issue has placed Frontier and our company squarely at the nexus of much broader issues that need to be resolved. In that context, it is now evident that there is no constructive path forward for the project.

Tecks decision to shelve the Frontier project comes ahead of this weeks deadline for the federal government to either approve or reject the project, with uncertainty rife as to what path Ottawa would choose in a bid to appease environmentalists and energy industry supporters alike.

Earlier this month, the federal government even prepared an aid package for Alberta in case the Teck Resources project did not go through, according to a Reuters report.

Rejecting Teck without providing Alberta something in return would be political suicide, one source said. This means the government must be prepared to compensate the oil province to dull the pain.

Yet Tecks decision is not a surprising one. The company warned two years ago that There is uncertainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources, referring to the Frontier project, conceived and planned in a much better oil price environment more than a decade ago.

Albertas Premier Jason Kenney, however, saw something fishy with the decision.

The timing of the decision is not a coincidence, Kenney said in a statement as quoted by the Financial Post. This was an economically viable project, as the company confirmed this week, for which the company was advocating earlier this week, so something clearly changed very recently.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was found guilty by a jury on Monday of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree.

The Manhattan jury found Weinstein not guilty of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Weinstein was handcuffed and escorted from the room by police following the announcement, and will be jailed as he awaits sentencing. He appeared unmoved as the verdict was read.

This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe, and this is a new day, Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance said in a press conference after the verdict. Its a new day because Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed.

The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for five days over the charges, which were brought by two women, who both testified in the case. Four other women testified that Weinstein had sexually assaulted them in order to establish a pattern of behavior.

On Friday, the jury revealed they were deadlocked on the predatory sexual assault charges, and asked the judge if they could be hung on the counts while returning verdicts for the other three charges. Judge James Burke advised them to keep deliberating, while Weinsteins lawyers indicated they would accept a partial verdict  which prosecutors opposed.

Weinstein, who pleaded not guilty to the charges in August, was defended by Donna Rotunno, who called the indictment desperate and an eleventh-hour maneuver, and expressed confidence that the case could be won after it began.

In December, the producer reached a tentative $25 million out-of-court settlement with a number of his 30-plus accusers whose cases would otherwise be difficult to pursue.

Journalist Ronan Farrow first detailed the case against Weinstein in the New Yorker in 2017, and said that his former network, NBC, had buried the story over fears that Weinstein could retaliate by revealing the allegations against former Today Show host Matt Lauer.

Story continues

Farrow also said in October that Hillary Clintons team became nervous over Farrows investigative work in exposing Weinstein.

More from National Review
Located on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Hawke's Bay is home to more than 160,000 people. HBRC works with the local community to protect and manage the region's rivers, lakes, soil, air, coastline and biodiversity which includes eight major river systems and 350 kilometres of coastline.

To learn firsthand how Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) is protecting the New Zealand environment visit https://www.nintex.com/case-study/hawkes-bay-regional-council/ to see a video of employees in action in the office and in the field leveraging the workflow automation, digital forms and mobile app capabilities of the Nintex platform.

In 2010, HBRC's quality department implemented Nintex Promapp for process mapping and management to help the organisation better understand its processes and improve them. As an ISO 9001 organisation, appropriate process documentation and management is critical to HBRC's operations. Leveraging Nintex Promapp helps the regional council maintain and update the hundreds of processes applicable to the organisation's ISO compliance.

"We use Nintex Promapp to help us do things once and do them right," says Olivia Giraud-Burrell, Business Analyst at HBRC. "We train our staff to use Nintex Promapp not only to read through processes, but to also provide feedback. With Nintex Promapp, we can all contribute to process excellence."

HBRC's business transformation team began leveraging Nintex Workflows, Nintex Forms, and Nintex Mobile in 2013 to improve the way data collected in the field is recorded and submitted to scientists in the lab. Previously, HBRC resource technicians would collect samples and record field data on paper forms which would then be manually entered into their internal system at the lab and re-checked for accuracy. The process was time-consuming and risked data accuracy as weather and exposure often damaged the forms.

Using Nintex Workflows and Forms, HBRC created an automated mobile solution that eliminated the need for double data entry, allowing its scientists in the field to submit data electronically via a Nintex Mobile app on a mobile device. The solution saved HBRC more than 200 hours in the five-month testing period alone.

"I've challenged my staff to constantly innovate in their work, to push boundaries, and Nintex has been really key to that," says Iain Maxwell, Group Manager, Integrated Catchment Management at HBRC. "We have become reliant on Nintex to support us and the ability for staff to digitally capture information from the field and bring it back into the business. It's essential for us now."

HBRC has mapped more than 500 processes since first implementing Nintex Promapp and published nearly 400 processes across six departments. The organisation has also automated everything from leave request forms to generating compliance authorisations, and more.

The council is beginning to realise the value of bringing its process mapping work together with its process automation efforts, as digital transformation is a key priority at the organisation. Leveraging Nintex Promapp provides the council's business transformation team a complete view into processes that need or could be automated.

To sign up for a demo of the Nintex Process Platform including Nintex Promapp, please visit https://www.nintex.com/request-demo/.

Media Contact

Laetitia Smith

Nintex

[email protected]

cell: +64 21 154 7114

About Nintex

Nintex is the global standard for process management and automation. Today more than 8,000 public and private sector clients across 90 countries turn to the Nintex Platform to accelerate progress on their digital transformation journeys by quickly and easily managing, automating and optimising business processes. Learn more by visiting www.nintex.com and experience how Nintex and its global partner network are shaping the future of Intelligent Process Automation (IPA).

Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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[February 24, 2020] Weyland Tech Joins Forces with Medias-Com'S SA to Introduce the Power of CreateApp to Small Businesses Across Italy

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weyland Tech, Inc. (OTCQX: WEYL), a leading global provider of mCommerce platform-as-a-service (PaaS), eCommerce managed services and fintech solutions, is preparing to launch its CreateApp mobile commerce platform-as-a-service in Italy. The availability of CreateApp will allow the more than 172,000 small businesses across the country to easily establish and manage their mobile presence. To support the launch, Weyland has partnered with Medias-ComS SA, a Swiss company specializing in media and communication. Medias-ComS will be joined by Infomaniak, one of the leading web solutions companies in Switzerland. Founded in 1994, Infomaniak has more than 130 employees and annual revenue of 25 million euros. Also partnered with Medias-Com'S for the campaign is Proteus, a leading IT company that provides Internet access and eCommerce applications to businesses across Italy. Italian small businesses have been grossly underserved in terms of mobile solutions, and we have found CreateApp to be an ideal solution for any business looking to create a mobile app to promote its product or services, commented Paolo Tozzini, owner and manager of Proteus. Unlike anything else weve seen on the market, CreateApp enables business managers to easily create and deploy native mobile applications without technical knowledge or background. With CreateApp, they can finally leverage the power of mobile to increase sales, reach more customers, manage logistics and conduct financial transactions in a simple, affordable and highly efficient way. CreateApp will be offered under the brand name, Medias-ComApps, with initial pricing set at 25-110 euros per month. It will include a business exchange platform for Asia-based companies to conduct cross-border business. The exchange will feature a unique on-the-fly language translation capability for B2B and B2B2C members interacting and engaging in e-Commerce via the platform. First launched in Southeast Asia, CreateApp has attracted a large user following, growing 47 percent over the last year to more than 360,000. The launch in Italy follows the companys entry into Taiwan in association with Line Corp., and in the U.S. through its recent acquisition of Minneapolis-based Push Interactive. Entering the Italian small business market with a premium partner like Medias-ComS represents another major step in plans for global expansion, commented Weyland CEO, Brent Suen. It also highlights the highly-scalable, low-capex nature of our platform, with localized features that can be supported by regional partners. As our partnership with Medias-Com'S develops, we see our CreateApp platform being offered in Germany, France, Switzerland and the Benelux region. According to Statista, Italy has one of the largest e-Commerce markets in Europe that is expected to grow nearly two-fold, from $12.3 billion in 2017 to $24.1 billion by 2023. Key factors driving this growth include greater Internet penetration and the growth in the number of mobile users. Mobile shpping has also gathered significant momentum in the country, with nearly 31% of all e-Commerce B2C sales transacted via mobile.



Weylands recent acquisition of Push Interactive is expected to also provide specialized lead-generation tools for Italian small businesses to increase their online sales. Push Interactives direct-to-consumer eCommerce platform provides an end-to-end solution for enterprises and major U.S. brands that include HomeAdvisor, QuinStreet and Sunrun. There are many exciting opportunities to add features and enhancements to CreateApp as provided by Push Interactive and our comprehensive suite of eCommerce products and services, added Suen, with this all helping to drive expansion of our recurring, high-margin revenue stream over the coming quarters.

About Media-ComS SA

Medias-Com'S is a Swiss company specializing in media and communication and all the branches that surround it. The company offers various online solutions that facilitate communication. This includes Medias-ComApps, an online platform for the creation of tailor-made mobile applications, and Medias-coms Signage, an online platform for the management of advertising screens. Medias-Com Shops is an online trading platform that facilitates the purchase of computer equipment. For more information, visit medias-coms.ch. About Proteus

Launched in 1994, Proteus is a leading regional IT provider with clients ranging from The Vatican, multiple Italian ministries, Leica Microsystems ($1bb Euro enterprise) to many large enterprise clients across Italy. For more information, visit the companys website here. About Infomaniak

Founded in 1994 and wholly owned by its founders and employees, Infomaniak is an independent company based exclusively in Switzerland. Not only are 70% of its employees highly qualified engineers, it also focuses systematically on internal development and open source solutions to design its products. This allows it to keep evolving its services while ensuring optimum guarantees of security and confidentiality for its customers. The company has more than 130 employees with annual revenue of 25 million euros. For more information, visit www.infomaniak.com/en. About Weyland Tech

Weyland Tech is a developer and global provider of mobile business software applications. The company operates its CreateApp platform-as-a-service (PaaS) across three continents and 10 countries, including some of the fastest-growing emerging markets in Southeast Asia. The platform provides a mobile presence for small-and-medium sized businesses (SMBs) that is supported locally by distributor partnerships. Offered in 14 languages with more than 70 integrated modules, CreateApp enables SMBs to create and deploy native mobile applications for Apple iOS and Google Android without technical knowledge or background. The technology empowers SMBs to increase sales, reach more customers, manage logistics, and promote their products and services in an easy, affordable and highly efficient way. For more information, visit weyland-tech.com. About Push Interactive

The e-Commerce platform of Weylands Push Interactive subsidiary features comprehensive customer acquisition capabilities, highly productive media and channel strategies, well-tuned product promotion and messaging, and sales funnel development and optimization. The direct-to-consumer platform provides an end-to-end solution for SMBs and major brands, allowing these organizations to dramatically increase online revenue while lowering the cost of customer acquisition and order fulfillment. Post-sale, Push supports fulfillment, customer relationship management, and further monetization through re-engagement and remarketing toolsets that enhance customer lifetime value (LTV). For more information about Push Interactive, visit www.pushint.com. Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are forward-looking statements including statements regarding: the ability of the Company to successfully integrate Push, the continued growth of the eCommerce segment and the ability of the Company to continue its expansion into that segment; the ability of the Company to attract customers and partners and generate revenues; the ability of the Company to successfully execute its business plan; the business strategy, plans, and objectives of the Company; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as believes, expects or similar expressions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Companys periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume any duty to update these forward-looking statements. Company Contact

Brent Suen, CEO

Weyland Tech Inc.

Email contact Media & Investor Contact

Ronald Both or Grant Stude

CMA

Tel (949) 432-7566

Email Contact

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BURLINGTON  With anticipated population growth on the horizon, officials in Burlington are in the early stages of exploring ways of funding and mapping out future parks in different areas of the city.

Administrative Intern Nick Faust presented the City Council with an analysis of Burlingtons park facility needs at a council meeting on Wednesday.

At its core, Fausts review of the citys current and future needs revealed Burlington would be deficient of 17.69 acres of park space if no action were taken. The figure is based on standards set by the National Recreation and Park Association.

The deficit  based on a projection that Burlingtons population would increase from an estimated 11,000 residents today to 11,570 people in 2030  could require changes to the methodology city officials have used to fund new parks in the past nearly four decades.

Since 1982, Burlington has charged developers a public site fee to fortify parks and recreational needs. But theres an additional lever  a provision under state statutes that gives municipalities the ability charge a park impact fee  that could be used in Burlington.

Mindful of the time elapsed since that fee was last adjusted, as well as the potential for new development opportunities and the drafting of the citys updated comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, examining the rate at which the city charges a park impact fee of this type is warranted, Faust said.

In his analysis, Faust said a number of communities across the state with characteristics similar to Burlington are presently charging developers a park impact fee. Several nearby municipalities in southeastern Wisconsin also are assessing such a fee.

While no official action was taken last week, council members were amenable to continue the conversation and further explore the opportunity.

I think its something we need to look at, 2nd District Alderman Bob Grandi said. I think something needs to be done, and I think this is a good analysis.

Revolving loan fund discussed

The City Council on Wednesday also approved a policy and procedures manual related to the citys revolving loan fund with the Racine County Economic Development Corporation. Adoption came on the heels of a robust discussion of the document early this month.

An initial proposal in the 2020 revolving loan fund  prohibiting nonprofits from applying  has been stricken from the manual. Ineligible applicants, as stated in the document, include such entities as lending institutions, gambling operations and a broad category described as other businesses not serving the interests of the City of Burlington.

A provision requiring the creation of at least one job for grant eligibility also was added into the document.

Fourth District Alderman Thomas Preusker unsuccessfully attempted to table the program and all future grant and loan requests until a more thorough discussion about criteria took place. No one seconded his motion to table the matter.

I think you have to at least pay into the system to get some kind of benefit out of it, Preusker said.

Census update

The council Wednesday also heard a report from M.T. Boyle, senior manager of special projects with Racine County, on 2020 Census efforts. In her conversation with the council, Boyle discussed some of the changes since the last Census, including greater use of technology.

The biggest message I want to send is that its safe, Boyle said. Its simple, its quick and its safe.

EMT training

The council Wednesday also approved the continuation of the BHS1 program under the auspices of the Burlington Fire Department and Burlington High School.

The program, established in 2012 between the high school and the now defunct Burlington Rescue Squad, allows high school students to receive their emergency medical technician training and then, after obtaining their licenses, to run on ambulance calls.

After the volunteer Burlington Rescue Squad ceased operations at the end of last year, the Fire Department assumed emergency medical services for the city and Town of Burlington.

Fire Chief Alan Babe says the BHS1 program has been successful not only as a career-training program for students, but also as a way to recruit volunteers.

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A surge of South Africans seeking protection in Australia have been disappointed as no visas have yet been approved.

Rejection letters to the families applying for protection and humanitarian visas have said they are not refugees because the violence in South Africa is widespread, random and opportunistic.

'The risk of murder and serious physical/sexual assaults is one faced by the population of the country generally and not by the applicants personally,' said the letter, quoted in The Australian newspaper.

Memorial crosses in Ysterberg near Langebaan, South Africa in 2017. Each cross marks a white farmer killed as racial tensions fuelled by economic inequality simmer

South Africa's minority white farmers say there has been a concerted campaign to drive them off their land, and violent murders - some involving horrific rape and torture - have been forcing them to leave.

Liberal National Party member Savanna Labuschagne, herself a migrant from South Africa, said some people had their skin ironed off and holes drilled through their knee caps.

Liberal National Party member Savanna Labuschagne (pictured in 2016) who migrated to Australia from South Africa says white farmers are suffering horrendous torture and murder

'An elderly couple had boiling water poured down their throats. I could go on for days. How do we help our people?' she told The Australian.

Ms Labuschagne said both blacks and whites had suffered from the South African government's 'corruption'.

She also shared some of the racial hatred that has been directed at the white minority by black South Africans on Facebook.

One black South African man had posted to social media that it was his duty and the duty of others to 'eliminate every white person in South Africa'.

'The only way to end racism and the oppression of my people is to destroy the white race. This must be done as quickly as possible,' his post read.

Ms Labuschagne along with fellow LNP member Patti Maher, also a South African migrant, said they were feeling frustrated as South Africans were prevented from receiving assistance by the bureaucracy.

South Africa has been divided by deep racial grievances since the apartheid system of racial segregation ended in 1994, and this has been worsened by an economic gulf between rich and poor.

White people, who are less than 9 percent of the population, own most of the farmland in South Africa.

They are vastly outnumbered by black people who make up 80 per cent of the country's 57.7 million population, but who have the least amount of land ownership.

South Africa's ruling party the African National Congress, led by Cyril Ramaphosa, plans to take land without compensation from minority white farmers, who own most of the farmland, and redistribute it to black South Africans.

South Africa's parliament voted in 2018 to amend the constitution to allow land seizures, and has issued a proposed land expropriation bill on which the public comment period is open until 29 February, Business Tech reported.

A plea to stop the racist killing of whites in South Africa, pictured on a ute in 2017 in Brisbane. South Africa has a high crime rate however many of the attacks on white farmers have included brutal tortures that suggest racial vitriol was part of the violence

Annette Kennealy, 51, a farmer activist from Limpopo province was beaten to death with a hammer and iron rod in May 2019. She was found face down in a pool of blood

In March 2018, Mr Dutton suggested white farmers were being persecuted and deserved special attention under Australia's humanitarian program.

He instructed his department to consider claims from persecuted South African farmers, alongside people from Asia, the Middle East and other African countries.

Liberal politicians pushed for up to 10,000 South Africans to come to Australia.

South Africans responded with a surge of 220 claims for humanitarian visas made in the last two years, almost triple the previous rate.

South Africans had previously made just 350 applications for humanitarian visas from 2008 to 2018, an average of 35 per year.

However most of the visa applications have so far been denied leaving South Africans disappointed.

Of the 570 humanitarian visa applications since 2008, only 41 were granted and 340 are still to be finalised, The Australian reported.

Protection visa applications have also failed with 97 rejected in the past three months.

Of 33 protection visa applications lodged since November, none have been approved.

A Home Affairs spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that anyone who makes a claim for protection will be considered under the humanitarian program, and that there are many other visas available to South Africans such as the skilled, temporary and family visas.

'Almost 80,000 visas have been granted to South Africans since July 2018, allowing them to come to Australia,' the spokesperson said.

'South Africa is the 9th largest source country of permanent migrants in Australia.'

To be considered a refugee, a person must have a well-founded fear they will be seriously harmed because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a social group, the Home Affairs Department says on its website.

The serious harm can be to their life and liberty, or the denial of a capacity to earn a livelihood to survive.

Australia's Refugee Review Tribunal wrote in 2011 that despite concerns among white South Africans that they were being targeted for race, most evidence pointed to other motivations such as financial gain.

Crime is widespread in South Africa where 14 million people live in extreme poverty, and farmers are isolated and thus can be seen as easy targets.

A crime scene sealed off after an elderly farmer and his wife were tied up, beaten and killed in South Africa's Free State province in July last year

In 2018, South Africa suffered almost 20,000 murders with most of the victims being black victims of black violence, while only 62 were farm murders - not all of them white, according to government figures quoted by investigative journalist James Pogue writing in Harper's Magazine.

Mr Pogue wrote that the brutality of the torture inflicted on some of the white victims does indicate a level of racial vitriol in the attacks.

In May last year, South African activist Annette Kennealy, 51, who spoke out against attacks on white farmers was found stabbed and beaten to death on her own farm in Limpopo province.

Kennealy was a public supporter of the white Afrikaner community and in her last Facebook post, she shared a link alleging that 10 farm attacks, including one murder, had been reported in just four days in 2019.

She also routinely shared links and stories relating to politics in South Africa, and the government's plans to start expropriating farms from white land-owners.

The South African Human Rights Commission has said black farmers have given evidence that farm safety isn't the preserve of any one racial group, although it does not dispute that there are attacks motivated by racial hatred.
Rome: Pope Francis has cautioned against "unfair" solutions aimed at ending the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

In a speech during a visit to the Italian southern port city of Bari to reflect on peace in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Francis lamented the many areas of war and conflict, including in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Francis spoke of "the still unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with the danger of not fair solutions, and, thus, presaging new crises."

Pope Francis celebrates Mass on the occasion of the "Mediterranean sea a border of peace" conference in Bari, Italy, on Sunday. Credit:AP

The pope didn't cite any specific proposals.
GENEVA - The U.N. mission in Libya said Monday that the countrys warring sides had agreed to turn a shaky cease-fire into a formal deal, stirring modest hopes after weeks of sporadic violence that derailed negotiations.

As the latest round of U.N.-mediated talks between rival military leaders wrapped up in Geneva, both sides reached a draft deal to facilitate the safe return of civilians to their areas, according to a U.N. statement.

The return of thousands of displaced civilians will be monitored by military representatives in Geneva with support from the U.N. mission in Libya.

The delegates negotiating on behalf of Libyas rival administrations must now send the draft for approval to their respective leaders who have the power to halt the fighting, a prospect that faces further obstacles. The representatives promised to reconvene in Geneva next month to hammer out details of the deals implementation.

Mondays apparent breakthrough came days after eastern-based forces under the command of Khalifa Hifter escalated their attacks on the capital, Tripoli, which is held by a rival U.N.-backed government. The attacks hit Tripolis civilian seaport, narrowly missing a highly explosive liquefied petroleum gas tanker and prompting the Tripoli administration to pull out of talks. The negotiations resumed days later, with expectations for an agreement low.

A key sticking point throughout the talks has been the disarmament of fierce militias defending the capital against Hifters assault. Officials from Libyas Tripoli government expressed willingness to demobilize militias at the latest Human Rights Council session in Geneva on Monday. But it remains unclear whether the administration has the power to rein in the scores of disparate militias.

Tripoli is not opposed to disbanding militias, said Mohamed Taher Siala, the U.N.-backed governments foreign minister, while addressing reporters in Geneva. There are unlawful militias who abduct people and jeopardize their lives.

The current cease-fire was brokered in January by Russia and Turkey, which back opposite sides in the conflict. But Libyan leaders never signed a pledge, let alone met face to face.

A high-profile international summit followed in Berlin, where world powers with interests in the oil-rich North African country promised to push for the cease-fire and uphold a widely flouted arms embargo.

Developments on the ground have repeatedly defied diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. Foreign backers keep pouring weapons into the country, the U.N. alleges. Clashes continue around the capital, as each side accuses the other of violating the cease-fire.

The latest round of fighting in Libya started last spring, when Hifter launched his assault on the capital in a bid to wrest power from the U.N.-backed government. The siege has killed thousands of people, and displaced over 150,000, according to the U.N.

The United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia, support Hifters self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces. The embattled Tripoli administration, which controls just a shrinking corner of western Libya, has increasingly relied on Turkey for military aid.

In the latest twist of the nine-year conflict, Turkey, which has long trained and funded opposition fighters in Syria, has started airlifting hundreds of them over to support the Tripoli-based government.

Siala, the Tripoli foreign minister, acknowledged for the first time on Monday the deployment of Syrian fighters to the front lines in western Libya, a contentious subject that for months had been shrouded in rumour and secrecy. Dozens of the fighters have links to extremist groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

There are some Syrians repelling Hifters offensive, he said. They have Turkish nationalities and are carrying Turkish passports.

Turkeys offers of citizenship to Syrian recruits has helped entice them to fight in Libya. This way, experts say, Turkey conveniently avoids risks to its own forces while establishing a sphere of influence in the eastern Mediterranean and securing rights to offshore oil and gas exploration.

In a speech last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also broke his silence on the presence of Syrian opposition fighters in Libya. He added that Turkey had suffered a few fatalities in Libya, but did not specify whether they were among Turkish or Syrian fighters.

-

Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this report.
Ahmedabad, Feb 24 : US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sabarmati Ashram for a few minutes after Trumps arrived at Ahmedabad airport on Monday.

Image Source: IANS News

A roadshow from the Airport to Sabarmati Ashram was organised during which thousands of people enroute of the cavalcade greeted the US President who is visiting India for the first time.

Trump and First Lady paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram.

Image Source: IANS News

During the brief stay here, they tried their hands on the charkha.

Trump spun charkha briefly and wrote in the visitor's diary, "To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - Thank You for this wonderful visit." However, there was no mention of Mahatma Gandhi by Trump in his remark in the visitors' diary at Sabarmati ashram.

From Sabarmati Ashram, Trump and the First Lady arrived at Motera Stadium, in Ahmedabad where apart from Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief minister Vijay Rupnai and Governor Acharya Devvrat are also present.

-- Syndicated from IANS
They're playing Kate and Lisa - characters inspired by the real-life wives of soldiers serving in Afghanistan who formed a choir a decade ago comprised of women across the UK and abroad.

And Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan lead some of the real members of the women's choir at the Military Wives premiere in London on Monday night, at the Cineworld Leicester Square

The actresses shared a laugh together on the red carpet, both looking sensational in their glamorous ensembles.

Leading the way: Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan hit the red carpet on Monday night for the London premiere of Military Wives

Dame Kristin, 59, stunned in an ankle-length white/gold sparkling gown, with matching strap heels.

The classic Brit actress whipped her bronze mane atop her head, showcasing a pair of diamond earrings, and splashed a pop of red to her lips for added flare.

Sharon, 49, wore a satin black jumpsuit, with metallic silver heels.

She carried a matching tote bag and added sparkling jewelry to the look, wearing her flame-red mane loosely around her shoulders.

Sparkling: Dame Kristin, 59, stunned in an ankle-length white/gold sparkling gown, with matching strap heels

Based on true events: They're playing Kate and Lisa - characters inspired by the real-life wives of soldiers serving in Afghanistan who formed a choir a decade ago comprised of women across the UK and abroad

So chic: Sharon, 49, wore a satin black jumpsuit, with metallic silver heels. She carried a matching tote bag and added sparkling jewelry to the look

Real life stars: The actresses lead some of the real members of the women's choir at the Cineworld Leicester Square

Kristin and Sharon happily chatted among the ladies of the Military Wives Choir as they lined up and posed for photos together.

Others in attendance included actors Jason Flemyng and Amel Rachedi, as well as army wife Samantha Stevenson and choirmaster husband Gareth Malone.

The latter featured on the BBC series The Choir, and helped set up the Military Wives chorus of women, on which the new movie is based.

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2019 and is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2020 and in the United States on 27 March 2020.

Hair today: Kristin whipped her bronze mane atop her head, while Sharon wore her flame-red locks loosely around her shoulders

Pals: The actresses shared a laugh together on the red carpet, both looking sensational in their glamorous ensembles

Glam: Kristin was showcasing a pair of diamond earrings, and splashed a pop of red to her lips for added flare

Down the line: Kristin happily chatted among the ladies of the Military Wives Choir

With the gals: The ladies looked excitable to be at the movie premiere

Lorraine Kelly was also in attendance, interviewing those on the red carpet.

She looked lovely in a sweeping red gown which fell to her ankles, featuring semi-sheer sleeves.

She matched the look with heels and watched on as the real Military Wives choir took to the stage.

The songstresses performed for those in attendance at the central London venue.

Critical acclaim: The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2019

Coming soon: Military Wives is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2020 and in the United States on 27 March 2020

Here come the girls: It was all smiles for the ladies at the glitzy London event

The real deal: The women looked fantastic in sleek black gowns

Cheering them on: Kristin wrapped up in a black and white coat as she watched the choir sing

Cast and crew: The group posed for a mass shot on the red carpet

In a recent interview with the Mail, Kristin addressed the matter of whether she considered herself a singer before taking on the role.

'Well... I like to think I can hold a tune,' she said, before laughing and adding: 'Yeah, not really. But it was really good fun.'

In the film, her character Kate is the wife of a colonel who, with other wives on an Army base, sets up a choir.

Kate hides her character behind a facade of effortless efficiency. Her husband, played by Greg Wise, is headed back to Afghanistan.

'There's loneliness at the heart of it,' she went on. 'The stress, the anxiety, the waiting for someone. Oh, I just do not know how they do it.

Trailblazers: Army wife Samantha Stevenson and choirmaster husband Gareth Malone posed on the red carpet

Snapped: Gareth snapped selfies with some of the real-life and on-screen stars

Lorraine Lorraine! The TV goddess chatted to some of the real-life singers

On the mic: The daytime queen looked radiant at the inspirational event

Watching on: The stars were in awe as they watched their real-life counterparts perform

Chatting: Kristin and Sharon happily spoke on the red carpet about the project

Altogether now! Gareth posed with his choir, proud as punch

Others in attendance included [L-R] actors Jason Flemyng and Amel Rachedi

Ravishing in red: Lorraine Kelly was also in attendance, interviewing those on the red carpet

Songstresses: The choir sang for the attendees at the central London venue

Rouge: She looked lovely in a sweeping red gown which fell to her ankles, featuring semi-sheer sleeves. She matched the look with heels

'I spent a lot of my childhood on what they called The Patch, the cul-de-sac, like the ones we see in the film, where we lived. It was an RAF base up in Yorkshire. My father was training RAF pilots.'

Simon Scott Thomas, a lieutenant commander in the Fleet Air Arm, was killed in a crash at Portland Bill in 1966 when Kristin was just five. Six years later her stepfather, Simon Idiens, also a lieutenant commander, died when the Phantom jet he was piloting crashed into the sea off Trevose Head in Cornwall.

Kristin's two step-brothers served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and she called on them for background for the movie project.

'I would ring them up and go: "Does it happen like this, or like that?" They were very helpful,' she reported.

In the film, Kate's a psychological mess, but 'she has to put on this front and be a leader. It's very difficult being a leader,' Kristin said.

Bopping along: Lorraine watched on as the real Military Wives choir took to the stage

Interviewees: Lorraine asked the actresses some questions about the film

Date night: Jason Merrells and wife Emma Lowndes - Emma stars as Annie in the film

Black and white: Tina Hobley attended wearing a sleek ensemble featuring leather trousers and a sweeping trench

At the helm: Director Peter Cattaneo posed proudly for snaps

The actress found out about her grandfather Captain William Scott Thomas's wartime leadership while taking part in the C4 programme My Grandparents' War.

'When you're the captain of a ship, everybody looks to you; and if you show fear or anxiety that will immediately cascade through the ship. You have to be a stalwart and really, really strong.

'That's what Kate's trying to do. Keeping everybody together  which is her way of keeping herself together.'

Legend: The director - who is also responsible for the likes of classics such as The Full Monty - attended alongside his family

Beauties: Brenda Edwards sparkled alongside her aunt on the red carpet

All the glamour: [L-R] Roxy Faridany, Laura Checkley, Sophie Dix, India Ria Amarteifio, Caroline Redman Lusher, Laura Elphinstone and Emma Lowndes

Suave: Some of the Chelsea Pensioners attended the screening

Inspiring: There was a sense of camaraderie in the air during the evening

She relished playing the part. 'It's always interesting to have the obstacle,' she said. 'Her behaviour is creating the obstacle, and she's lonely. It's lonely at the top.'

She certainly wasn't lonely during filming when, sometimes, there were as many as 40 women on set.

'You did feel a kind of camaraderie and sisterhood, which was really nice,' she agreed. 'It's fun doing ensemble pieces like this one, Four Weddings And A Funeral and Gosford Park. Ones where you can really have a great time.

Playing the part: Kristin plays Kate who, with other wives on an Army base [including fellow star Sharon] sets up a choir

Tuneful? In a recent interview with the Mail, Kristin addressed the matter of whether she considered herself a singer before taking on the role

Relished: 'It's always interesting to have the obstacle,' she said. 'Her behaviour is creating the obstacle, and she's lonely. It's lonely at the top.' She certainly wasn't lonely during filming when, sometimes, there were as many as 40 women on set

'The choir thing was very much how it worked among us. To begin with, it was tentative; and gradually we got more and more confidence, and it became easier.'

She had some vocal coaching. 'You do all the exercises and you feel rather foolish doing the lalalaas and the ooos,' she admitted. 'I think I'm a mezzo soprano. Fairly common. What was really wonderful, though, and quite unexpected, was the absolute joy when you all do your best, and get it right.

'The first time we learned the main song, at the end we all turned to each other and burst into laughter. We were so happy to get it right!'

She found the experience therapeutic. 'You feel good, because you're breathing and you're relaxed. And the sound of it, when it works, is happiness! It was a tonic.'
Prague's city council has approved the renaming of a square where the Russian Embassy is located after slain Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.



The council voted on the measure on February 24, changing Pod Kastany Square to Boris Nemtsov Square. The name will officially change on February 27 -- the fifth anniversary of Nemtsov's killing.



It also approved naming a promenade in a city park after Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was shot in 2006.



"With this gesture, Prague will join several other metropolises, which are highlighting the plight of the political situation in Russia today," the council said in its motion.



The moves were supported by all of the major parties represented on the council.



"Both personalities promoted democracy and they both were disgracefully murdered. They deserve a memorial," Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib said on Twitter.

The renaming of locations to honor opposition figures, or to move on from Soviet-era memorials, has ruffled feathers in Moscow.



In recent months, the Russian Embassy in Prague has complained about moves by municipal authorities in the capital over similar moves.



Prague district councillors voted in September 2019 to remove a statue of wartime Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev, which had been defaced several times.



Some view Konev, whose forces liberated much of Czechoslovakia's territory in World War II, as an enforcer of Soviet rule in Central and Eastern Europe for the roles he played after the conflict.



Another Prague district voted in December to erect a memorial to the so-called Vlasov Army, a small force that some Czechs say did more to retake Prague than the Soviet Army did -- a force led by Andrei Vlasov, a man some Russian historians say was a Nazi sympathizer.



In February 2018, Boris Nemtsov Plaza was officially unveiled outside the Russian Embassy in Washington, followed by a similar move in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.



 former deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin, Nemtsov was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, and had sought to build a viable opposition movement. He was gunned down on a bridge near the Kremlin in February 2015.



In July 2017, a Moscow court found five men from Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya guilty of Nemtsov's murder and sentenced them to lengthy prison terms.



But Nemtsovs relatives and associates believe his killing was ordered at a higher level, and say justice will not be served until the person or people behind it are identified and prosecuted.
Opposition members shouted slogans and staged a walkout in the Rajasthan assembly on Monday, demanding removal of the Nagaur SP over the recent torture of two Dalit men at an auto service agency last week.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal informed the assembly that the Panchori police station incharge would be removed for negligence in dealing with the torture case, which triggered outrage.

Seven people have been arrested in the case so far, one is under detention and four suspects are still absconding, Dhariwal said.

Dissatisfied with the government's reply, Opposition legislators demanded that the government remove the Nagaur superintendent of police for not taking timely action after the video of the incident came into his notice.

Dhariwal responded that the Nagaur SP handed over the investigation to the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) soon after the incident came to light. This led to an uproar in the House, and the Opposition legislators shouted slogans and staged a walkout.

According to the police, the incident occurred on February 16 at a motorcycle service agency at Karanu village in Panchori area, around 300 km east of Jaipur.

The staff of the agency attacked the Dalits after accusing them of committing theft. In a video, a group of men is seen brutally thrashing two persons with rubber belts. They later torture one of the victims by pouring petrol on his private parts with a piece of cloth wrapped on a screwdriver.

In the Assembly, Opposition legislators led by the Bharatiya Janata Party alleged police negligence for registering case under lenient sections of the law against the accused, and blamed doctors for not informing the police as it was a medico-legal case.

The legislators also said the atrocities on Dalits were an inhuman act no less than a gang rape.

Dhariwal underlined that he was not favour of saving any officer, but would not allow the Opposition to take political mileage in the issue.

The minister said the Congress government was committed to protect the rights of the Dalits, adding that Rs 50,000 each had been approved by the government as compensation to the victims.

Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria said no strict action was taken against the accused who were booked under lenient sections at first.

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party leader Narayan Beniwal alleged that the police tried to dilute the case and demanded that the government remove the Nagaur SP and put him under awaiting posting orders (APO) status.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former PM Manmohan Singh to remain absent in Rajya Sabha for entire winter session on health grounds

Namaste Trump: Former PM Manmohan Singh to attend dinner hoisted by President Ram Nath Kovind

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Feb 24: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is all set to attend the state dinner hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind with respect to the US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

According to reports, not many opposition leaders have been invited to the dinner.

The former Prime Minister's decision to attend the dinner comes amid a boycott by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary.

It is reportedly said that Choudhary was unhappy over the invitation not being extended to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

A special friend, but he is very tough: Trump on Narendra Modi

Anand Sharma, the deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha also criticised the Centre for ignoring the opposition leaders at the event organised in Motera Stadium.

President Trump landed in India on Monday where he came on a two-day visit to the country. This would be President Trump's first travel to India.

Addressing the gathering at "Namaste Trump", President Trump said, "PM Modi, you are not just the pride of Gujarat, you are living proof that with hard work and devotion, Indians can accomplish anything at all, anything they want. The Prime Minister is a moving story of an incredible rise."

NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 24th, 2020

"As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India," he said.

Working in a very positive way with Pak to crack down on terror: Trump

He also pointed fingers at radical Islamic terrorism and said, "Both countries are united in defending citizens from threat of radical Islamic terrorism. Under my administration, we unleashed full power of American military on blood-thirsty killers of ISIS. Today, ISIS territorial caliphate is 100% destroyed. Monster Al Baghdadi is dead."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, February 24, 2020, 15:45 [IST]
When Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry decided that life as senior members of the British royal family was no longer going to work for them, they didnt simply snap their figures and change their whole lives.

Instead, Prince Harry went into long-in-depth discussions with his family about the life that he envisions for himself, Markle and their infant son, Archie Harrison. Though Buckingham Palace has announced that the Sussexes will officially be non-working royals as of April 1  the logistics are already a headache.

From citizenships to tax information and even figuring out how they will be financially independent without the use of their brand name, Sussex Royal, there is a lot to figure out. This also opens up questions about Prince Harrys citizenship.

Meghan Markle never became a U.K. citizen

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex applied for British citizenship when she and the duke first became engaged in late 2017. However, that was never finalized.

Meghan is not yet a British citizen, an insider told Daily Mail. It might seem extraordinary, given that shes been married to the Queens grandson for 18 months, but she accepts that its a slow process.

Now it appears that duchess didnt push because knew that being in the U.K. full time was ever going to work for her. In November 2019, An insider told The Sun, Theres an acceptance that things havent worked out with the Sussexes full-time in Windsor so they could have a second base in America.

Now that the duo is splitting their time between the U.K. and North America, it might not be necessary for the duchess to take on U.K. citizenship.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys marriage is a financial nightmare

Though they have a combined net worth of $30 million and they are hoping to make more with Megxit  the Sussexes taxes are only going to get more complicated.

Markle is still a U.S. citizen so she pays U.S. taxes. Prince Harry already pays the U.K. taxes on the 10million and 7milllion inheritances he received from his late mother, Princess Diana, and the Queen Mother, respectively. However, he could be required to give the U.S. a chunk as well. Likewise, the yearly allowance he receives from Queen Elizabeth II and his father, Prince Charles, is likely to be taxed.

The Sussexes have hired U.S. tax experts to help them sort this mess out. Now that they are living on Vancouver Island, Canada might want to be in on the tax action too.

Prince Harry will never be a U.S. citizen

It looks like Markle will retain her U.S. citizenship, Prince Harry will retain his U.K. citizenship with Baby Archie having dual citizenship. However, Prince Harry will be changing his status in one major way.

[Prince Harry] will likely become a resident of Canada and a nonresident domiciliary of the United Kingdom, International tax planning lawyer Dianne Mehany told Town & Country. At which point he would pay less tax in the UK and he would remit residence-based tax to Canada first.

Mehany also revealed that its unlikely the couple will live in the United States for an extended period of time. She explained. The real tricky thing is to make sure they dont spend too much time in the United States, so that Harry becomes a resident of the United States, at which point his entire worldwide wealth would become subject to US taxation, which I know they want to avoid.
Regional NSW is still in the grips of the worst drought on record with 99 per cent of the state still drought affected, despite recent rain in coastal areas and some inland regions.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro today spoke with farmers, families and business owners in Yass, Boorowa, Cowra and Orange about the drought and reassured them that they have not been forgotten.

The recent downpours were a welcome relief, but people need to understand that many parts of the state did not receive a single drop and that 99 per cent of the state, particularly areas like the Far West, Central West and Southern NSW, remain in drought, Mr Barilaro said.

The drought is not over, far from it, and I want farmers, families and businesses to know that, while there has quite rightly been much attention given to firefighting and recovery efforts, our focus and commitment to drought support and response has not wavered.

I am looking forward to the day I can say the drought has broken but that day is not today.

The recent rain has given a lot of communities hope for the future but for those who have missed out it is a tough pill to swallow. We will continue to stand by them until this drought breaks.

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Adam Marshall said a further 50mm of rain is forecast on the North Coast for the coming week, following similar falls last week, however it will take months of sustained and widespread rainfall to break the drought.

Im sure many people have seen photos of green grass sprouting in some drought affected areas, but the reality is this recent growth is not that widespread and will provide only limited nutritional value for livestock, Mr Marshall said.

In farming areas, stored soil moisture levels remain very low, which shows the recent rainfall hasnt provided the nourishing effect needed to improve conditions, while algal blooms and further fish kills remain a very real possibility across multiple regions.

Mr Barilaro said as of February 2020, more than $1.9 billion has been committed to the Emergency Drought Relief package to help farmers and regional communities, on top of the $1 billion Safe and Secure Water program which is delivering water infrastructure that boosts drought resilience.

We havent stopped and we wont stop delivering for drought affected communities. Despite the bushfires, the bushfire recovery operation and despite recent rain, our commitment to regional towns suffering through this overwhelming drought is unwavering.
Even before he was announced the winner in Nevada, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders was already shifting his attention to Super Tuesday and putting on a push to win Texas and San Antonio specifically.

Were going to win the Democratic primary in Texas, the Vermont senator said to a roar from more than 3,000 people at the Cowboys Dancehall. The president gets very upset easily so dont tell him that were going to beat him here in Texas.

Sanders said hes building a coalition that didnt just win Nevada but is going to sweep this country because voters are tired of President Donald Trumps politics.

The American people are sick and tired of a president who lies all of the time, Sanders said. They are sick and tired of a corrupt administration.

Sanders emphasized an agenda for working people and the middle class that includes a higher minimum wage, health care for all and elimination of student debt.

All over this country, workers are sick and tired of earning starvation wages, Sanders said. You cant make it on 9 bucks an hour or 11 bucks an hour or 12 bucks an hour.

Even though he was in Texas, Sanders did not hesitate to take on the issues of fossil fuels and gun control. Sanders said the nation has to move away from oil and gas and said he would fight for universal background checks and the end to the sale of assault-style weapons.

If we stand together, we will not only defeat Trump, we will transform this country and create a government and an economy that works for all of us and not wealthy campaign contributors, Sanders said.

Sanders earlier in the day hosted a rally in El Paso. Today, he was planning rallies for Houston and Austin.

Democrat Karina Vigil, a San Antonio native who was attending her first Sanders rally, said shes convinced Sanders can win Texas. She said there is a lot of youthful energy behind Sanders in cities all over Texas, and thats going to be a big help on election day.

Vigil said she knows a lot of people are worried that Sanders supporters wont back the eventual nominee if it is not him, but she said shes not one of those people.

Im vote-blue-for-whoever wins, Vigil said.

Jim Hightower, the former Texas Agriculture Commission who is helping Sanders in Texas, said Sanders has an advantage over the rest of the field in Texas because he essentially never stopped building in Texas after the 2016 campaign. He said since then, a group called Our Revolution formed that kept building a network of support for Sanders in the state.

While some Democrats have worried about how Sanders call for Medicare for All and his climate change plans would affect the Texas oil industry, Hightower said they shouldnt be. He said the public wants and needs health care.

Every man, woman and child would get health care, Hightower said. There is much deeper appeal for that than the intelligentsia wants to believe.

On the oil industry, Hightower said Sanders has been calling for a gradual transition away from fossil fuels that would give workers a chance to move into other good-paying jobs.

Bernie has said we cannot abandon these people, Hightower said. We need to train them for other jobs and help them with job placement. You have to create jobs with a future.

Sanders is coming to Texas as new polls show him gaining steam here. In University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll conducted from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, Sanders was winning the support of 24 percent of Democratic voters in the state. Biden was second at 22 percent. It was the first major poll of Texas voters in almost a year that didnt show Biden as the leader.

Early voting in Texas runs through Friday. Feb. 28 The Democratic primary is March 3.
24.02.2020 LISTEN

Ghana, my then proud country which won independence from the British on March 6, 1957, hit the ground - running under the able visionary leadership of the great Osagyefo, Dr. Kwame Nkumah. By the turn of early 1966 when he was wickedly overthrown by a brainless junta, Ghana was already a success story of toast to the developing economies. It was an emerging success reference country for both Africa and Asia.

For a long while now, we have shamelessly been comparing Ghana's failure to the success stories of the Asian Tigers. By the time of the Osagyefo's overthrow, the Asian Tigers envied Ghana anytime they came visiting. And at that time he had left behind, over 400 manufacturing companies spread across the country.

A major relic is the Tema Shipyard and Drydock for vessel repair which was a precursor to a ship manufacturing enclave. One of the prime reasons they gave for the take over was that he was a dictator. The junta, supported by the so-called intellectuals of the Danquah Busiaists, sold out state-owned enterprises to themselves.

It was the beginning of the gradual murder of Ghana's economy. They raped Ghana from then on until a so-called revolutionary government came, and upon the dictates of the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and the World Bank of the Britton Woods fame, dictated the unthinkable, privatization. They shamelessly sold state properties to themselves, the wife of the leader of the said revolution inclusive. Ghana is now a multiparty democracy.

The self-praising and pontificating democrats who are currently ruling Ghana, at the least opportunity praises, to mention just two of the Asian Tigers, Malaysia, and Singapore. Singling out Singapore, we have read stories of the dictatorial element in Lee Kwan Yu, which he used to make the small country what it is today globally. Nkrumah never ever got people caned for spitting saliva or blowing one's nose without covering your nose and mouth, which by all standards are bad habits. Social structures were put in place to promote national cohesion towards development by the Osagyefo.

The Young Pioneers, the Workers Brigade and others were put in place to galvanize the youth for nation-building. The State Farms Corporation was in place and the youths had jobs to do. At the time they did not consider them as menial jobs. Kwame Nkrumah was focused on giving them an orientation on patriotism which was sinking well in them.

However, all those laid down foundations were effectively destroyed as they were considered 'Communist' undertakings. Ghana's economy then was thriving on cocoa exports, being the largest producer country in the world at the time, followed by the Ivory Coast. The Western capitalist states which saw Nkrumah's socialist credentials as a threat to their interest/survival machinated the dwindling price of cocoa at the world market.

It ended up hurting the Ghanaian economy thus making the citizenry to experience hardship. It so badly affected the emerging Ghanaian economy, forcing Nkrumah to confide in the then Ivorian leader, Felix Houphouet-Boigny. What for? A proposal to create an artificial shortage of cocoa beans at the World Market, by building huge silos to store them.

It is told Houphouet-Boigny rejected Nkrumah's position and told him to go ahead with his Socialist undertakings, and allow him go his Capitalist direction. Feeling disappointed, he came back and embarked on the building of giant silos in the industrial enclaves of what is now known as the Tema Heavy Industrial Area, and the Kaneshie Heavy Industrial Area. The Osagyefo had finished the construction, and some say fitted with the necessary machinery. Even though the thought of storing cocoa beans was the prime reason, foodstuffs could be stored as well.

They were also not meant for storage for export only. He thought of adding value to our cocoa means and other variables. This spurred him on to establish the Cocoa Processing Company in Tema, which was originally and commonly known as Cocoa Processing Corporation. It is adjacent to the giant silos which were to supply the beans to the factory.

Upon his overthrow, all Governments of Ghana, have left both the Kaneshie and Tema silos to irretrievably rot off. And this is the country, whose citizens are making comparisons to how we were far advanced with countries like Malaysia and Singapore, far advanced at the time - to our current rotten status.

Nkrumah ruled Ghana as a 'dictator' for nine years. Li Kwan Yu ruled Singapore for over five decades as a 'dictator'. Even he, as a visionary of his lifetime, saw Ghana and regarding Nkrumah's vision, as too small for him. He was rather viable for a whole continent. That is exactly what Nkrumah stood for! However, all the so-called 'Communist' agenda he is alleged to have introduced; we have shamelessly come back licking what we saw as bad practices.

We are back, thinking we are smart, to give a new name to the WORKERS BRIGADE, GHANA FARMS et all that were abhorred by the Danquah-Busiaist. What is the "Nation Builders Corps? Is that not a Socialist offshoot? Fast forward, Ghana, in 2019, engaged the Ivorian President, Alasan Ouattara, on talks which led to the signing of an Agreement. What is this Agreement about? The two countries have collaborated as the two major producers of cocoa, to determine the global pricing of the product. That is again over fifty years after the Visionary Leader's first proposal.

These two Capitalist leaders of the two countries, have suddenly become 'SOCIALISTS'?. Wonders indeed will never end. And how are they going to succeed in this direction when the silos have no economic value whatsoever. And when the purchasers see through your plan and have stocked enough to face your bluff, what happens? ROT!ROT!! ROT!!! But they thought it was a smart move?

The leadership of the Asian Tigers never ever thought the way we have thought, after the Osagyefo. Indeed l have all along seen BIG HYPOCRITES in Ghana's leadership, shamelessly praising the Asian Tigers ala Ghana's BACKWARDNESS. I cannot be proud of being a Ghanaian, because Ghana has no Pride. But! Na who cause sam!

Camillus Maalneriba-Tia Sakzeesi
Donald Trump's visit was bound to get some mind-boggling attention, especially on social media where people are pouncing on every opportunity to churn out hilarious memes.

ANI

Apart from dissenting the POTUS and FLOTUS wardrobe choice upon landing, people have now been left absolutely confounded by the President's 'huge' signature, which you can easily mistake for part of an ECG report.

The Trumps joined Modi on a 22-km roadshow which was dotted by thousands of spectators, before heading to Sabarmati Ashram, where the President and First Lady paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Twitter

His signed message in the visitor's book at Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, on Monday, stood out. With no mention of India's freedom movement icon, he signed it 'my great friend Prime Minister Modi' for a 'wonderful visit'.

Apart from his odd message, it was his signature on the diary that caught the imagination of the Twitterati. Some people have even mocked the president's signature, saying it looked like the results of a lie detector test and others said that only a chemist could decode Trump's scribble.

#1

"To My great Friend Prime Minister Modi, Thank You for this wonderful Visit " : US President Trump's message in the visitor's book at Sabarmati Ashram pic.twitter.com/fXJEIkvBv1  All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) February 24, 2020

#2

#3

Once In childhood I did same signature like Donald trump but that time my friend called me a potential doctor .#NamasteyTrump pic.twitter.com/DjwrmYmAIu  JOSH  (@NobitakaDost) February 24, 2020

#4

#5

Donald Trump's signature looks like when someone scribbles to make a new pen work  #TrumpInIndia #TrumpIndiaVisit #NamasteyTrump pic.twitter.com/g14h6itkw2  Shaan Haider (@shaanhaider) February 24, 2020

#6

GATE2021: find the rms value of trump's signature. Is it in half wave symmetry?

(2 marks) pic.twitter.com/r7boxBMvHi  TomRosicky (@awkwardarm23) February 24, 2020

According to Tracy Trussell, of the British Institute of Graphologists, Trump's sign suggests that he wasnt much of a listener but undoubtedly a tough negotiator  he excels at being hard-lined, bold and direct.

Reuters

PM Modi also presented a memento of Mahatma Gandhi's 'Three Wise Monkeys' to the US president. Donald Trump and Melania Trump together garlanded an image of Mahatma Gandhi at the Ashram.

The Trumps were in the Ashram for about 15 minutes. Donald Trump is also accompanied by daughter Ivanka, son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the top notch of his administration. They are also set to taste India's cultural blend during their Gujarat visit.


We do lots of walking and see things from the outside and make a list of what we want to see when we come back, she said, adding that maybe its going to be something that we have to live with.

Outside La Scala., two Neapolitan women sat on a sunny bench and complained about how empty the city felt.

It was the wrong time to visit, said Maura Rivitera, with a shrug.

She said she had moved her ticket up because she was concerned that her southern region of Campania could from one moment to the next refuse to admit people coming from the north, or force them into quarantine if the situation in Milan worsened.

Ms. Rivitera, a teacher, said that she was soul searching about whether to put herself in a voluntary quarantine given that a classroom full of children awaited her back home. Still, she and a friend did not let that get in the way of their Milanese getaway.

Last night we went dancing at a discotheque called Spirit, said Eleonara DElia, who is also a teacher in Naples.

It was madness, Ms. Rivitera said.

There werent many people, Ms. DElia added. So there was more room to dance.

Emma Bubola contributed reporting.
President Donald Trump is intensifying his efforts to undermine the nations intelligence agencies.

Last week, Trump announced that he was replacing the acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, with Richard Grenell, the ambassador to Germany.

Maguire is a retired Navy admiral who previously served as the head of the National Counterterrorism Center. Trump tapped him to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence last August to replace the outgoing director, Dan Coats. Until recently, 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 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 Trump  as it had in 2016.

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.

When the president learned of the briefing from a member of the committee, he was furious  not over the threat of foreign meddling but that Congress had been told about it. According to a report in The Times, he was especially miffed that the meeting had included the committees Democratic chairman, Adam Schiff, who oversaw the recent impeachment proceedings.

The president took Maguire to the woodshed over what he saw as an act of disloyalty. He was angry about not being alerted earlier about the briefing and fretted that such delicate information would be weaponized by his political enemies, The Times reported. Less than a week later, Maguire was out. Administration officials insisted that the timing was a coincidence.

What is obviously not a coincidence is that Trump is once again turning for a critical appointment to someone who is short on relevant expertise but long on loyalty to him. The director of national intelligence, a position created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, coordinates intelligence gathering and analysis across 17 federal agencies. The post has been held by former diplomats, senior military officers and, for more than six years, James Clapper, a seasoned intelligence professional.

Trumps replacement pick, Grenell, has little intelligence experience and has never run a large bureaucracy. Before he was dispatched to Berlin, he worked as a public affairs consultant and commentator for Fox News. Before that, he was a communications official in President George W. Bushs administration.

Grenell has been an aggressive public cheerleader for Trump, fiercely and frequently defending him on Fox News and on social media. That appears to be the qualification that truly matters to this president  especially when it comes to overseeing an intelligence community that Trump has always believed has been out to get him.

Trumps effort to pack the administration with political loyalists has gained momentum since the Senate acquitted him on impeachment charges earlier this month. In recent weeks, the president has removed multiple officials with connections to impeachment, including top National Security Council and Pentagon officials.

The purge is expected to continue, with anyone suspected of insufficient loyalty at risk.

Presidents have tended to shy away from politicizing national intelligence  or at least tried to avoid the perception of such politicization. But Trump has made clear that he will not tolerate any discussion of Russias meddling in American politics, no matter how compelling the evidence. He is sending a very public message: In this White House, protecting Donald Trumps interests is what matters.

 New York Times
The government has reallocated unused export quota of 6,50,000 tonnes of sugar in the ongoing 2019-20 marketing year under the Maximum Admissible Export Quota (MAEQ) scheme, a senior Food Ministry official said on Monday.

For the current year, the government has allowed export of 6 million tonnes of sugar under the quota to help deal with the surplus sugar.

Some of the mills have not been able to export their quota this year. Already, some mills have surrendered their export quota of 2,50,000 tonnes, said Subodh Singh, Joint Secretary in the Food Ministry.

"We have readjusted the entire quota based on a formula and reallocated a total of 6,50,000 tonnes for export, said Singh.

Total could reach 5 million tonnes in the current marketing year (October-September) on higher global demand, he told reporters on the sidelines of an event on ethanol.

India has exported 3.8 million tonne of sugar during 2018-19 marketing year against the mandatory quota of 5 million tonne.

The official said the country's total sugar production is expected to touch 27 million tonnes this year, lower than 33 million tonnes achieved in the last two years. Mills have already produced 16-17 million tonnes of sugar so far.

On ethanol blending with petrol this year, the government official said the country will be able to achieve last year's level of 5 per cent comprising 1.9 billion litres, while the policy has been for 10 per cent.

It will be difficult this year as far as ethanol blending is concerned as sugarcane crop in Maharashtra has fallen substantially. However, we will manage 5 per cent blending in 2019-20 , Singh said.

Currently, the country has an ethanol production capacity of 355 crore litres against the requirement of 511 crore litres from oil marketing companies (OMCs).

To boost ethanol production, Singh said the government has approved 362 projects with an investment of Rs 18,600 crore for enhancing additional ethanol production capacity of 400 crore litres in the next two years.

This will take total ethanol production capacity to 755 crore litres, which will help the country achieve 20 per cent ethanol blending with petrol by 2030, he added.

According to industry body Indian Sugar Mills Association, the supply of 156 crore litres ethanol to OMCs has been finalised from the first tender floated in September 2019. The decision on the second tender floated in mid-January is still under the process.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
VIJAYAWADA: The exposes against opposition party leaders and appointment of a SIT with extraordinary powers to probe alleged land irregularities in the Capital is giving sleepless nights to alleged benamis and land purchasers, including political leaders in Amaravati.

It is a unique development here. Normally, it is the Opposition party that exposes scams, corruption, irregularities and anomalies of the ruling party but in Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress government is turning the tables and exposing the wrongdoings of Telugu Desams government.

Earlier the government's used to appoint SIT to submit its reports but the State Government, in an unprecedented move, has appointed a SIT panel giving it powers to enquire, register, investigate and conclude the investigation under CrPC in the Capital Amaravati lands and insider trading issue. The extraordinary powers to summon and interrogate people are a cause for worry to alleged benami persons, who have to prove that they are clean.

The cabinet sub-committee found insider trading in Amaravati lands and further benami transactions by TD leaders. It submitted its report last month.

During the discussion held in the last session in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Speaker Tammineni Sitaram directed the government to initiate a systematic and comprehensive investigation. Subsequently, the government constituted a powerful SIT to probe all anomalies in the last five years.

Land purchaser SB Ramaiah (name changed) lamented that his white ration card is in use for the past 15 years as the earlier governments did not cancel it because they did not wish to rub voters on the wrong side.

He pointed out that he sold all the gold his family had and had borrowed money in order to purchase land in Amaravati as it made for a sound investment. Commenting on the SIT probe, he said that now they have to show sources of income under which they cannot show gold and hand loans in the absence of receipts and records. He expressed fear that SIT officials would book them due to their failure to submit proofs.
Dozens of people were injured tonight (February 24) in a head-on collision between a passenger train and a cargo train. Footage showed emergency workers rescuing a man. The two vehicles smashed into each other at around 6:40pm local time in Ratchaburi, central Thailand. Initial reports from the scene suggested a signal error for the crash. Officials said there were 258 passengers onboard the diesel train when it hit the cargo train travelling from Bangkok to Hat Yai in the south of the country. Deputy Governor of Ratchaburi Kiatisak Trongsiri said at least ten people were rushed immediately to hospital. He said: ''The freight train has derailed and we are working to clear the tracks. A signal fault is the most probable cause of accident but we need to investigate more.'' The conductor of one of the trains, Pakorn Mananan, 37, was identified one of those seriously injured.
[February 24, 2020] Essence Healthcare and Mutual of Omaha Reach Agreement in Principle for Essence to Acquire Mutual of Omaha's Medicare Advantage Business

Essence Healthcare, sister company of Lumeris, has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Mutual of Omaha Medicare Advantage Company (MOMAC) and Medicare Advantage Company of Omaha (MAICO). The Mutual of Omaha subsidiaries own Medicare Advantage businesses in the Cincinnati, San Antonio, Dallas, Denver and El Paso markets. MOMAC and MAICO's Medicare Advantage plans are currently operated by Lumeris, and Lumeris will continue to operate the plans after the transaction is completed, avoiding any disruption for plan members or providers. "We have enjoyed our close working relationship with Mutual of Omaha," said Richard Jones, CEO of Essence Healthcare. "The acquisition of these plans will significantly accelerate our footprint in Medicare Advantage, and materially change our expansion plans. Accordingly, we will need to reorganize and restructure our business to accommodate this opportunity." The transaction is expected to close by mid-200 after receiving required regulatory approvals. No deal terms were announced. Mutual of Omaha is a significant long-term investor in Essence Group Holdings. The transaction does not affect Mutual of Omaha's other senior health businesses, including its nationwide Medicare Supplement, Medicare Part D, and senior dental and vision plans.



ABOUT ESSENCE HEALTHCARE Essence Healthcare provides comprehensive and affordable health insurance to over 64,000 people with Medicare in Missouri and southern Illinois. Founded in 2004, Essence Healthcare has been consistently rated one of the highest quality Medicare Advantage plans in the nation, averaging an overall plan rating of 4.5 Stars the last ten years. Essence's unique approach to health insurance and unwavering commitment to protecting the health and wellness of people with Medicare has helped the company earn the trust of the communities it serves as well as national recognition as a leader in the positive transformation of our country's healthcare system.

ABOUT LUMERIS Lumeris enables a new model for healthcare. As a value-based care managed services operator, Lumeris helps health systems and providers deliver extraordinary clinical and financial outcomes. With partners across the country, we align providers and payers with a proven model that coordinates operational processes, resources and technology to achieve high-quality, cost-effective care with satisfied consumers and engaged physicians. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005869/en/

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New Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, has made his first visit to Derry since taking up the post.

During his visit, he met with business leaders and politicians, including the Mayor, Michaela Boyle, John Kelpie, chief executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council, SDLP leader, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, and the Unity of Purpose group.

Speaking after their meeting, Mr Eastwood said a number of issues were raised including Brexit and the delivery of the medical school at the Magee campus of the University of Ulster.

Mr Eastwood said he also pressed Mr Lewis on creating a free port in the city, stating Foyle Port offered a massive opportunity to create jobs.

Sinn Fein spokesperson and former MP. Elisha McCallion. was part of the Unity of Purpose group.

She said: "We impressed on Mr. Lewis the imperative that the British Government keeps to the promise of its commitments towards Derry and the North West contained in the New Decade, New Approach document.



"I pointed out to him the need for delivery of the financial investment promised in the document to the expansion of Magee and other projects that have been neglected for decades.

After a brief meeting with the media outside the Guildhall, Mr Brandon walked the Peace Bridge to St Columb's Park to meet a number of community groups.
A borough president and a New York City councilwoman stood together on Broadway for a press conference one recent misty morning. It was routine, typical, the kind of thing that can happen multiple times a day in the city.

But pull back the top layer and you might find some intrigue. Because Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams is a leading 2021 mayoral candidate, and City Councilwoman Alicka Ampry-Samuel is among the candidates planning to run for City Council speaker in 2021. And that fact can imbue even a ho-hum appearance with meaning  at least for the small crop of council members, operatives and stakeholders keeping an eye on who could succeed Corey Johnson in the citys second-most powerful position on Jan. 1, 2022.

Might Adams and Ampry-Samuel form an alliance? Will the next crop of council members elect the first black speaker? Could an outer-borough politician win? Will the Council pick a new member over an incumbent?

The last time around, Johnson started early and negotiated his way to the top of a crowd of eight candidates, more or less. This time around, at least half a dozen Democrats varying in race, gender and geography are positioning themselves for the job. Theres Ampry-Samuel, a black woman whose district is centered around Brownsville, Brooklyn; Adrienne Adams, a black woman representing Jamaica and parts of Southeast Queens; Justin Brannan, a white man from Bay Ridge and southwestern Brooklyn; Keith Powers, a white man representing much of Midtown and the Upper East Side; Carlina Rivera, a Latina whose district is centered around Manhattans East Village; and Rafael Salamanca Jr., representing much of the South Bronx.

All six are known to be interested in the job. And at this point, why not? Every politician knows that it benefits their public profile to be in the mix for higher office. Just ask Johnson, whose every tweet gets eye emojis from journalists covering the mayoral race. With 22 months to go until the council picks a new speaker, being in the mix earns extra attention from colleagues who might be more interested in taking a phone call or co-sponsoring a bill. Its not a lot of power, but in a legislative body of 51 members, every advantage helps.

Like any election in New York City, identity politics play a role. If Stringer, a white male Manhattanite, is mayor, then Powers, a white male Manhattanite, is screwed.

Plugged-in politicos watch the race like theyre trading stocks. City Councilwoman Farah Louis 2019 special election win was big for Brannan, who endorsed her early. Former Queens boss Joseph Crowleys loss of power damaged the chances of his ally, City Councilman Francisco Moya. But Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. dropping out of the mayoral race was great for Salamanca, since there was little chance that a Puerto Rican from the Bronx would be chosen as speaker if one was already mayor. Diazs exit was also a boost for Rivera, who is also Puerto Rican, and now is perhaps the best hope for citywide Latino leadership, especially if Salamanca settles for keeping his chairmanship of the powerful Land Use Committee instead of gunning for speaker.

Indeed, like any election in New York City, identity politics play a role, especially this far into the future. Common wisdom tells us that the speaker should be a demographic counterweight to the mayor. For example, if Stringer, a white male Manhattanite, is mayor, then Powers, a white male Manhattanite, is screwed. But that kind of speculation has proven to be imperfect in the past. Look no further than the current cadre of white male leaders.

Of course, demographics are just one small piece of the puzzle. The speaker is officially picked by the members of the council, but in practice it has been a group decision, born out of shifting alliances among caucuses, unions, interest groups and county parties  and the county Democratic organizations expect to retain a leading role.

Of course! Big time, newly elected Brooklyn Democratic boss Rodneyse Bichotte told City & State with a laugh. Three of the five county leaders, including Queens Gregory Meeks, were elected in the past year. And I have a relationship with everybody, Bichotte said.

I just think we should open up the thought of what an eight-year speaker would look like.  Scott Stringer, city comptroller I think hes just doing that to fuck with us.  a speaker candidate

But one factor threatens to upend the traditional order. A whopping 34 council members are expected to reach the term limits of their office at the end of 2021, meaning only a third of the council is eligible to return for another term. Typically, only returning members are considered as speaker candidates, but with the relatively small field, some insiders think that newly elected members should be in the mix. After all, a speaker picked in his or her first term would be eligible to serve eight years, providing potential parity with the mayor. The idea has been around since the first modern race for speaker in 2002, but it has never come into practice. A leading proponent to change that? Stringer.

I just think we should open up the thought of what an eight-year speaker would look like, Stringer told City & State last summer. And if that is part of the discussion, it expands the pool of prospective speaker candidates.

That scenario might benefit Stringer if he were to become mayor and build a good relationship with the next speaker. But he claimed an eight-year speakership would actually strengthen the council, since the speaker wouldnt be lame-ducked in their first term.

Naturally, the returning candidates dont take kindly to Stringers idea. I think hes just doing that just to fuck with us, one speaker candidate told City & State. But among the candidates who might be elected in 2021, one name continually comes up: Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who would be a hybrid of sorts, since she previously served in the council from 2002 through 2013. Brewer told City & State she is planning to run for the council, but hadnt thought about the speakership yet.

The 17 or so incumbents who could return for another term arent likely to give up the benefits of seniority so easily, even to the beloved Brewer. But if others start agreeing with Stringer, the runup to the 2022 speaker election could be a free-for-all.

What happens if you have an eight-year speakership? You add another 20, 30 (potential candidates), right? Stringer said. And why should we limit ourselves?
Into Your Childs Heart by Agnes Lui Going through that experience really has inspired me to look for the center of peace, where each of us can make a difference, Lui said. My spiritual teacher and I believe that peace and love begin at home. From that time on, I see myself as a spirit on a human journey.

The ways parents raise their children inevitably shape their future as well as the future of society. What they teach and pass along to them influence who they are to become. Social worker and author Agnes Lui encourage parents to teach positivity, compassion and unconditional love as well as to tap into their childrens spirituality to shine angelic love to the world in her book, Into Your Childs Heart.

In the book, Lui shares her stories from childhood and tells readers how these experiences affected her as a person, and later, as a parent. She reflects on her family of origin and the ways both the Western and Chinese cultures have influenced her life. Blessed Spirits come forth throughout her life to help her with lifes challenges and to show her the spiritual side of parenting.

Lui also draws from her experiences and observations as a social worker to discuss her concerns about the plight children and teens are in today. She shares with the readers how parents can help their children develop effective communication skills and strong character with good judgment that will help them to navigate their lives in the future. The core foundation is parental self-awareness of whats in their heart and the strength of the love they share with their children.

In the aftermath of the September 11th attack, the author realizes that more than ever the world is hurting. Going through that experience really has inspired me to look for the center of peace, where each of us can make a difference, Lui said. My spiritual teacher and I believe that peace and love begin at home. From that time on, I see myself as a spirit on a human journey.

Critics such as award-winning author Kathleen Spivack hail Into Your Childs Heart as a spiritual journeya deeply meaningful meditation, a prayer for world harmony on every level of being. Poet Lawrence Kessenich praises the book, describing Lui as someone who has found wisdom through being a social worker and parent, through interactions with a wise spiritual teacher, and through dealing with difficulties with her family of origin. She shares that wisdom with usand we certainly need itand relates individual pain to the pain the whole world is in.

Into Your Childs Heart

By Agnes Lui

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3871-1 (softcover); 978-1-9822-3873-5 (hardcover); 978-1-9822-3872-8 (electronic)

Available at the Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the author

Agnes Lui received a masters degree in social work from Boston College. She worked at various child welfare agencieswhere she matched volunteers to needy children and teens, where she worked with struggling immigrant families in a Chinese community, and where she did therapy with troubled and abusive families. To learn more about Lui and her book, please visit her website, http://www.intoyourchildsheart.com.

For Interview Requests and Book Copies:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Krista Tillman

480-648-7560

ktillman@lavidge.com
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A patient picks up a prescription at the QueensCare Health Center in East Los Angeles. (Leslie Berestein Rojas/LAist)

Starting today, immigration officials can deny some applicants a green card if they use, or may use in the future, public benefits such as Section 8 housing vouchers, food stamps and Medicaid.

Immigration advocates and health experts believe the rule, known as "public charge," is the Trump administration's harshest policy affecting legal immigration. They believe it's already causing many low-income immigrants not to seek help they need, like going to the doctor. That, in turn, could shift health care costs to local emergency services, critics say, and increase the spread of infectious diseases.

The Trump administration has said this updated rule is important to ensure that immigrants will be self-sufficient, rather than relying on public services.

Some community health clinics in Southern California are prepping for the change.

LEGAL CHALLENGES

A draft of the public charge rule, which is an expansion of an existing rule, was introduced to the public two years ago. Then finally in August, the Department of Homeland Security published the rule in the Federal Register, and it was set to go into effect in October.

But federal judges in three states, including California, issued temporary injunctions to block the rule.

However, in January, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to let the public charge rule go into effect.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE RULE?

When applying for a green card or a visa in the U.S., some immigrants have to pass a "public charge" test. Immigration officials review a person's age, income, health, education and skills. They also review the affidavit of support from the immigrant's sponsor.

Under the updated rule, officials will now also look at whether an applicant uses, or is likely to use, specific, federally funded benefits, including:

Public assistance programs NOT counted against green card applicants in the new rule include food banks, shelters, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), free school lunches, and state or local health care programs.

The public charge rule does not apply to asylees, refugees or young people with Special Immigrant Juvenile status.

HEALTH CARE CONFUSION

Health care advocates say the updated rule is causing confusion because some immigrants may not know whether their health care program is federally funded or state-funded.

For example, Medi-Cal that insures DACA recipients and children who aren't in the country legally is funded only by the state. However, immigrants who have become citizens and some legal permanent residents may be enrolled in federally funded Medi-Cal programs.

Altamed, a large community health provider in Southern California, reported a drop in the number of patient visits since the draft public charge rule was unveiled two years ago.

Berenice Nunez Constant, VP of Government Relations at Altamed, says their clinics will never turn down services to patients. But they also want to make sure patients are educated about the rule.

"We're also focused on making sure that our clinic staff that interfaces with the patient on a day-to-day basis, that they're aware of how to respond to this rule," Nunez Constant says.

"We've trained them and provided them with the script to respond to the rules and provide [patients] with vetted legal resources." These resources include immigration lawyers and public assistance lawyers.

California immigrant advocacy groups and health care providers are also promoting the website Keep Your Benefits to patients. It includes a questionnaire that helps people figure out if they are impacted by the rule.

IS THIS THE FINAL, FINAL RULE?

State Attorney General Xavier Beccerra says California will keep fighting against the new public charge rule. In a statement released after the Supreme Court ruling, he said, "This rule harms our children and families in communities across the country. It hurts our economy and the healthcare of so many Californians."

The rule will be implemented nationwide. A Supreme Court decision Friday overruled a lower court's order to pause implementation in Illinois.

READ MORE:
Steven Schipani, unit head of Project Administration at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Viet Nam Resident Mission, poses after a recent briefing about the mission's projects in Hanoi. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo



By Yi Whan-woo



HANOI  The presence of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Vietnam is more established than many Korean travelers may think.



The ADB has been a key player in removing masses of tangled overhead cables and wires in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and burying them underground.



The Manila-headquartered financial institution has also joined in ongoing construction of a Hanoi subway line in front of Daewoo Hotel, which is popular among Korean tourists.



In terms of cooperation with Korea, some of the ADB's 44 active projects  worth $6.9 billion combined  in Vietnam involve Seoul-based companies such as Hyundai Engineering and SK Engineering.



ADB and Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) are among the six international institutions that account for roughly 80 percent of the Vietnamese government's foreign borrowing.



The four others are the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the French Development Agency and the German Development Bank.



"ADB supports Vietnam's efforts to install more efficient, sustainable power supply in its largest cities as part of our energy sector operations," Steven Schipani, the unit head of the ADB-Viet Nam Resident Mission's Project Administration, recently told The Korea Times in Hanoi regarding the ADB's role in removing a significant portion of the overhead electricity and telecommunication cables in the Vietnamese capital.



Joining the ADB 10 years ago, Schipani has worked in the Philippines, Thailand and Laos  all of them hosts to one of more than 40 ADB offices scattered around the Asia-Pacific  before working at the Vietnam mission.



The removal of the cables was made under the Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City Power Grid Development Sector Project.



"ADB-financed projects are anchored on a country partnership strategy, prepared in consultation with government and other stakeholders," he said.



The 44 projects are normally designed to run for five years, in accordance with the Vietnamese government's socio-economic development plan that also runs for five years.



The projects range from transport to urban development, energy, agriculture, natural resources, health and education.



The transport sector accounts for the majority of the projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to help Vietnam tackle traffic congestion and improve air quality and make the urban areas "more livable," according to Schipani.



And this is how the Hanoi Metro Project Line 3 started, he explained, with Hyundai Engineering and Construction  a top 10 Korean construction firm  being one of the contractors.



"The government highly prioritizes improving mass transit in the large urban areas. So we're supporting the metro project through our transport sector operations," Schipani said.



Scheduled for completion by 2023, the project will connect Hanoi's western suburbs and its central area near Hanoi Railway Station through mass transit railways.



Another major Korean construction firm, SK Engineering and Construction, is also involved with the ADB as a consulting firm.



The government is investing heavily in strengthening the city's infrastructure through the improvement of its transportation system to cater to the growing number of international tourists.



The country welcomed 18 million international visitors, with Korea ranking second place, followed by China with 4.2 million.



"Tourism is linked to trade and may other sectors, so boosting tourism helps make Vietnam's impressive economic growth more inclusive," Schipani said.



To help bolster Vietnamese tourism, the ADB has partnered with the ASEAN-Korea Centre and other international organizations to implement capacity-building activities and provide advisory services to the government.



Established in 1966, the ADB aims for prosperity, inclusivity, and sustainability in Asia and the Pacific region, with the additional goal of putting an end to poverty.



Its seven priorities are addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequality; tackling climate change and enhancing environmental sustainability; promoting rural development and food security; fostering regional cooperation and integration; accelerating progress in gender equality; making cities more livable; and strengthening governance.


The Madhya Pradesh High



Court on Monday dismissed fourteen petitions challenging the delimitation of some village panchayats in different districts of the state, including Bhopal, Chhindwara, Tikamgarh and Narsinghpur.

A division bench of Justices AK Mittal and VK Shukla upheld the delimitation process carried out by the state government, MP government's advocate Himanshu Mishra said.

The state furnished documents which showed objections raised by the petitioners were considered before issuing final notifications about delimitation of their village panchayats, the counsel said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Turkey did not allow the trucks with Iranian citizens to enter the country, Spokesman for Iran's Customs Administration Rouhollah Latifi said.

Turkey allowed Turkish drivers and drivers of other countries to enter Turkey at 12:00 (GMT+3) on Feb. 24, the spokesman said, Trend reports referring to the Iranian Customs Administration.

The spokesman added that 70 trucks entered Turkey from 12:00 to 13:30 through the Iranian customs.

"No trucks were allowed to cross the border between Iran and Turkey until 20:00 last night, the spokesman said. However, Iranian drivers on the Turkish border were allowed to enter Iran.

Referring to the recent situation on the Iranian-Iraqi border, the spokesman said that the Iraqi side announced that the passage was closed for passengers for 15 days. According to the agreement, 180 Iraqi trucks have passed through the Mehran checkpoint from 10:00 till 13:30 on Feb. 24. Iranian trucks have not entered Iraq since 2003.

Iran is one of the recent countries, affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 60 people have been infected, 12 people have already died.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread.

Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

Following the reports of coronavirus spread in the Islamic Republic, several countries have taken measures, including closing borders and banning flights.

Meanwhile, the WHO (World Health Organization) has offered its help to Iran, providing certain medicine to the infected.
A woman who lost a sentimental ring given to her by her teenage sweetheart 46 years ago has wept tears of joy after it was found in a chance discovery.

Phillip O'Brien presented his girlfriend Glenda - now his wife - with a friendship ring in 1971 engraved with the words 'To Glenda love Phillip', along with the date.

Three years later, Glenda was washing the car at the Gold Coast block of units where they lived when the ring slipped off her finger unnoticed and onto the muddy driveway, never to be see again - until now.

'I lost this ring when l was washing our HD Holden in the dirt driveway at our flat on the corner of Hilda street and Gold Coast Highway Mermaid Beach in 1974,' Ms O'Brien posted on Facebook.

'We used to drive past and l would always think of that ring as l knew l must have stood on it and sunk is the dirt as l searched everywhere around and couldn't find it.'

The heartwarming moment an emotional Glenda O'Brien was reunited with her missing ring as her lifelong partner Phillip watches on

The ring lay undiscovered until local resident and metal detecting enthusiast Jason Kemp was running his detector across a now vacant lot recently when he got a beep.

Digging down about 20 centimetres, he discovered the gold ring.

While normally he keeps his discoveries, on this occasion he realised the possible sentimental value because of the inscription, so he posted pictures and information on the Gold Coast Community Facebook Page in the hope the rightful owner would come forward.

'It was quite deep so it's been in the ground some time,' he posted.

'Hopefully this couple is still together and we can help them celebrate the upcoming 50 years with this ring.'

The ring (pictured) cost $38 in 1971 and has spent the last 46 years buried in the ground

Mrs O'Brien was in touch two days later after being alerted to the Facebook post by an old friend she hadn't heard from in years.

'I didn't tell anyone where I exactly found it,' Mr Kemp told the ABC.

'I just said 'on the the Gold Coast,' and she came to me with her story of where she lost it, and 'I was like yep, it was 100 per cent yours.''

Mr Kemp shared later on Facebook shared the heartwarming message he received from Mrs O'Brien after they'd realised it was hers.

Mr Kemp handed the ring over on Sunday to a delighted Mrs O'Brien.

'So what are the chances? I met my husband in 1969 he bought me this friendship ring in 1971 we married in 1972 l lost this ring in 1974 and was devastated as it was the first thing Phillip bought me,' an ecstatic Ms O'Brien posted on Facebook on the weekend.

'When l seen the picture of my ring l actually cried.

Glenda and Phil OBrien, pictured in 2016 (right) and in the early 70s (right) will celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary this year and have been together for half a century

Mrs O'Brien said the sentimental jewellery was more precious than her wedding and engagement rings.

'Because it meant so much back then and time makes you forget things, when I put it back on it brings memories of when he gave it to me,' Mrs O'Brien told the ABC.

'We knew that we would end up together for the rest of our lives, and here we are  the ring has come back to us.'

The precious ring, which cost $38 in 1971 and took Mr O'Brien about two weeks to pay off will be passed onto their granddaughter.
To the caller Forget the gruffness, who said that President Trump was not able to have any witnesses, nor could he testify while the House went through all their witnesses trying to hang him. Well, the point in fact is the president was invited to be there, and he said he would not. He told everyone on national television that he would gladly testify, that he could not wait to testify. But when it came time for him to testify, he chickened out. They also tried to get witnesses from Donald Trump, but he would not let any of his people testify. That way, Donald Trump would not be found out to be scamming the American people. Lets get this straight, people.
In Kenya, one million girls miss school each month because they cannot afford sanitary pads, while some share used ones.

Nairobi, Kenya  For Mary Asigi, a 17-year-old pupil at Damascus primary school in the slums of Dandora on the outskirts of Nairobi, it is usual to miss a few days of school each month because she has no sanitary towels to use when she has her period.

This affects my performance in class, she says.

Like many others in her community, Marys education has already been disrupted by poverty, which is why she is still at primary school at the age of 17. Many children here drop out of school intermittently, for one or two years at a time, because their families cannot afford to send them. According to UNICEF, more than 1.2 million primary school-age children in Kenya, which has a population of 50 million, do not attend school at all.

Period poverty  being unable to work or attend school because of lack of funds for sanitary products  makes life even harder for girls.

Mary has tried to find solutions, but improvising is not always ideal.

When I was 15 in class 6, I used to share used pads with fellow classmates before my class teacher warned against it because it was unhygienic, she says. Sharing pads is particularly dangerous  research shows that some 12 percent of people living in the slums on the outskirts of Nairobi have HIV, compared with about 5 percent of the general population.

Not only that, but girls going to school while they have their periods risk severe teasing and taunting by the boys, Mary explains.

Like the other girls in her community, Mary faces a stark choice  risk her health or risk her education.

The boys mock them

In an area where a packet of sanitary pads costs $1, and the average family has to manage on less than that per day, poverty means access to sanitary products is near-impossible for the majority of girls, particularly if they have to travel from remote rural areas to buy them in towns.

Marys school is in the Korogocho slum in Dandora, which is situated in Nairobis Eastlands. Open drains and sewers are dotted about the settlement. Damascus primary school is in a two-storey building with overcrowded classrooms. The ground floor is used by children in the lower primary, while the older students take their classes on the upper floor. Hundreds of pupils play in tight spaces and in the corridors between classrooms.

Children play at the Damascus primary school in the Nairobi slum of Korogocho [Lameck Orina/Al Jazeera]

Regina Nthambi, 16, a student of class 7 at the same school, passes for privileged among her fellow female classmates. Her father, a tailor who barely makes ends meet, tries to buy her sanitary pads every month. When there is no money to buy them he improvises with scraps from discarded pieces of clothing at his shop.

I share with my friends, says Regina as she nervously chews on her nails. They are new and unused. Our teacher warned us against sharing used pads because its unhealthy. Some of my classmates get their periods in class and the boys mock them, which is a reason some students do not attend class during this time.

Lack of sanitary pads has led to an estimated one million girls missing school every month.

Research by Menstrual Hygiene Day, a global advocacy platform for non-profit organisations and government agencies to promote menstrual health, shows that 65 percent of women and girls in Kenya are unable to afford sanitary pads.

According to research by Kenyas Ministry of Education, girls lose on average four school days every month, which translates to two weeks of learning each term. Over four years of high school, they lose on average 165 learning days.

Failure to change

The Kenyan government has taken steps to counter this problem. Ten years ago, Kenya became the first country in the world to drop taxes on imports of sanitary products for women and girls. The government also committed $3m to help distribute sanitary pads to low-income communities.

This is despite a government-funded programme, which was implemented in April 2018, to distribute 140 million free sanitary pads to 4.2 million girls across the country. The programme, which distributed supplies directly to schools, ran for four months before it fizzled out as supplies ran out and girls started missing classes again.

There were several reasons for the failure of the programme. In some cases, distributors appointed by the government failed to deliver and new contractors had to be found, causing a delay. In others, too few supplies were delivered, meaning that girls received fewer pads than they needed, and some went without any at all. Yet another reason was corruption.

In one case, Nairobi News reported that a supply of 300,000 sanitary towels intended for schools had been stolen and repackaged, with the intention of reselling them.

Emmie Eronanga is the director of the Nairobi-based womens advocacy NGO, Miss Koch [Lameck Orina/Al Jazeera]

The cartels in this country are hijacking government projects, says Emmie Eronanga, director of the Miss Koch womens advocacy NGO, which is based in the low-income neighbourhood of Kariobangi North, close to Korogocho. And now most girls in the slums are at risk of not going to school or skipping classes every month for a couple of days.

Miss Koch aims to promote awareness of womens issues in Kenya and provides free pads to young girls in the slums when it can. In reality, the NGOs funds only stretch to helping a few of the girls at a few of the schools each month, including the Damascus primary school.

I have just bought some sanitary towels myself for the daughter of one of the women I train so she can return to school, she explains.

At her third-floor office, Eronanga and her team provide reproductive health education services with the aim of reducing the stigma and shame felt by girls about their periods and their bodies in general.

Under the government distribution scheme, no sanitary pads were ever received at all at the Damascus primary school in Korogocho. The government gave us a framework sometime back to provide and distribute pads but they never implemented anything, says Eronanga.

The teams small budget is partially funded by organisations from the United Kingdom, such as Faith Charity, which send cash to enable 150 girls to buy sanitary pads each year. But this help is just a drop in the ocean considering on average each school in Kenya is attended by between 400 and 500 girls.

Two years ago Kenyas President, Uhuru Kenyatta, assented to the Basic Education Amendment Act that would have seen girls who have reached puberty across the country provided with free, quality sanitary towels in sufficient quantities, all funded by the state. But so far little has happened on the ground.

Mary Asigi, 17, dreams of having a career in the Kenyan navy but worries that missing school when she has her period may stop her achieving that [Lameck Orina/Al Jazeera]

They cant even afford food for their families

Esther Moraa, 25, a social sciences teacher at Damascus primary, says poverty in the slum is the real problem.

All parents here are very poor. They cant even afford to buy food for their families. Why should you even talk of sanitary pads? she says as she points in the direction of the nearby Dandora rubbish site which serves as the citys largest dump.

Only NGOs distribute pads once in a while despite the fact some girls start menstruating early, she says. I teach them how to alter old clothes to use as pads. As a teacher, sometimes I am forced to go into my pocket to buy a box or two for the girls.

Mary, who lives with her single mother and is the youngest of three sisters, dreams of a career with the Kenyan navy but is not sure she will make the cut if she keeps missing classes.

Still, she is determined to overcome this obstacle.

I know girls in my class who have left school for good because of pads. Nowadays I use old clothes because my mother doesnt have the money and I dont want to skip classes.

A young girl looks out of a classroom at Damascus primary school in the Nairobi slum of Karogocho [Lameck Orina/Al Jazeera]

Yvonne Waweru is a local member of parliament at the County Assembly of Kiambu who is calling for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to aid programmes like the governments programme to distribute sanitary pads.

In order to overcome corruption, she says: The government should invest more funds in monitoring and surveillance to ensure that sanitary towels reach those who need them the most.

Social empowerment for girls plays a central role in eradicating poverty and the wellbeing of our communities. Denial of adequate social protection leaves girls vulnerable to long-term poverty and the opportunity to further their education.

In the meantime, back at the Damascus primary school, Mary sits on a school desk. I wish I could be a boy, she says. Id have never missed a class or school. I could play freely with my friends like boys in my class do and do well in the exams to join the navy thereafter, so that I can help my mother and my country.
Coronavirus cases on rise

South Korea raised the alert level for the novel coronavirus Sunday as confirmed cases continue to rise at an alarming rate. The news came as coronavirus deaths in China topped the 2,500 mark, following 150 new deaths on Sunday.

In South Korea, officials raised the national alert level for the virus to highest. The COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said announcing the heightened response. A few days from now is a very important moment, he said at a government meeting held to deal with the crisis.

There have been 169 additional cases and four confirmed deaths in South Korea in the last 24 hours, making a total of 602 confirmed cases and six dead. Eighteen were reported to have been treated fully and 8,057 people are suspected to have symptoms are going through tests, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. (ABC News)

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By Deepak Chopra, MD

Everyone looks at the world, and their lives, assuming that they know the truth. This isnt truth with a capital T but simply the truth about everyday things, like how to drive a car, buy groceries, and do ones job. We know other basic things that are true, such as when we are awake as opposed to being asleep. In other words, the world works, more or less to our satisfaction.

Somewhere beyond everyday affairs there are experts, professionals, and thinkers who deal in deeper truths, still not with a capital T but getting closer. Scientists especially are trusted to give us the truth about Nature from the most microscopic regions of quanta to the most cosmic regions, where quasars and black holes exist. We trust that if the everyday world is working, science must have a handle on why it works, operating from its deeper perspective.

So it comes as something of a shock, even though it doesnt touch us personally, that the scientific view of the world is so wobbly that it is on the verge of becoming either untrue or obsolete or both. At the farthest edges of exploration, the basic elements of physicsspace, time, matter, and energyvanish, either because they disappear into a black hole or because the scale of measurement reaches the limit, known as the Planck scale, where there is no way to calculate anything. At the same time there is the whole issue of dark matter and energy, which are barely known and may not be knowable by the human mind, since our brains are set up for regular matter and energy.

Because the scientific world stops working so far away from everyday life, including the everyday life of 99.99% of professional scientists, why should anyone but cosmologists, quantum physicists, and abstract theoreticians care? Even they rely upon their cars to get to the places where they do their advanced theoretical thinking.

The reason we should care has to do with that elusive thing, truth with a capital T. When it felt secure about space, time, matter, and energy (i.e., ever since Galileo and Newton), science thought it was getting closer to truth with a capital T, otherwise known as the Theory of Everything. If you know that the world, including the human brain, is totally based on material things, eventually you can compute every natural process, and you could declare that everything has been explained.

But if there are all kinds of things that do not have a material explanation, you are back at square one, because truth with a capital T is actually where our models of the world come from. In an age of faith God was truth with a capital T. Posit the existence of God, totally believe in this model of reality, and you are set until something comes along to disprove your model.

Science felt that it disproved the existence of God, because God isnt subject to scientific measurement, data collecting, experiments, and the replication of experimental results. But there are other things besides God that are disproving science. Maybe black holes, dark matter and energy, and the origin of the universe will one day be squeezed back into some kind of materialistic model, but it is clear that one thingthe mindcannot.

In a recent dialogue with the farseeing cognitive psychologist Donald D. Hoffman, we started from a premise that will shock most people. The objects we perceive around us only exist because our perception is trained to perceive them. There are no atoms, quarks, quasars, trees, clouds, or even the human brain, without humans constructing them to fit our way of navigating the world. Prof. Hoffmans view is based on evolution. His basic premise is that creatures survive not by seeing reality but by adapting to survival signals. A cat will ignore everything in a room except a mouse, driven to catch and eat it. If the cat paid attention to reality, i.e., everything in the room, it would have gone extinct long ago.

Humans beings are more complex in our evolution, because so much of it is based on the higher brain, but we still only perceive the tiniest fraction of electromagnetic frequencies, for example, and hear only a middle slice of sound frequencies. Using our higher brains we have constructed a human world, and as long as it works, we feel okay. We are not overly concerned that we cannot see the infrared spectrum or hear the ultrasonic spectrum.

No one would disagree that humans have our own specific models of reality, but the niggling problem of truth with a capital T enters the picture. If you trust your five senses to bring you the real world, your notion of truth with a capital T has no basis, because when you trace sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell back to the brain, the trail ends. As Prof. Hoffman puts it, despite decades of effort and the input of brilliant neuroscientists and related cognitive sciences, no one has shown that any brain activity can be measured scientifically to cause a single thing we perceive out there in the world.

The brain is certainly active all the time, but it is dark, soundless, and silent. There is no way to get at truth with a capital T when you start with the brain.

So, if God is no longer truth with a capital T, and the material-physical basis of science is quickly losing its grip on truth with a capital T, what does reality actually rest on? This is a fascinating question, because only when the world stops working can you see beyond false assumptions and old conditioning to get a view of the truth. The purpose of this post is simply to get us to that point. In the next post well see how the truth and reality can be reframed in a way that makes our persona lives quite different from what we assume them to be.

(To be cont.)

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.
Dozens of cars sped across San Francisco early Sunday, putting on sideshows in several neighborhoods as spectators packed the streets in the middle of the night.

San Francisco police got a tip late Saturday that several cars were driving into the city for a sideshow, officials said.

The group met near the former site of Candlestick Park at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday and proceeded across the city, hosting sideshows in the areas of 23rd and Dolores streets, Geary Boulevard and 30th Avenue, Market and Clayton streets, and Loomis Street and Barneveld Avenue, police said. There were reports of sideshows in other parts of the city as well.

Each show drew 50 to 100 vehicles. There were no reported citations, arrests, injuries or collisions, police said.

Officers documented the sideshows with body-worn cameras.

This type of activity presents a danger to the community, first responders, spectators and participants, police said in a statement Sunday. We will be working to determine the identity of the persons and vehicles participating in the sideshows and will use all available legal resources to prosecute those involved.

Police said the sideshows are still under investigation and declined to comment further Sunday.

Kate, 49, who lives in the Richmond District, said the sideshow in her area went on a really long time and residents called police. Officers on scene just stood and watched, she said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Whats disturbing to me is that they didnt intervene, said Kate, who declined to give her last name out of privacy concerns. It was very loud, and I dont understand why they didnt just stop it.

San Francisco police declined to comment Sunday on whether officers normally disperse sideshows.

Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez
Authorities in Romania and Spain have taken action against an Organised Criminal Group (OCG) suspected of human trafficking, pimping and money laundering. In parallel coordinated operations, four suspects have been arrested and six locations searched. Seven victims of Romanian origin were brought to safety, among them two minors. Approximately EUR 58 000 in cash, as well as three properties, two luxury cars and mobile phones and phone cards were seized.

The OCG members allegedly collected, transported and housed their victims and forced them into prostitution in Romania and Spain. The members' regular movements made it more difficult for law enforcement and judicial authorities to react accordingly and required constant coordination, with Eurojust playing a key role. A coordination meeting took place at Eurojust in November 2019.

The operation was led by the Galati Territorial Office of the Directorate for Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism and the Investigative Court number 14 in Romania, together with the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Malaga, Spain. It was successfully carried out thanks to cooperation between the Galati County Police Inspectorate in Romania, Galati County Gendarmes Inspectorate, and Romanian National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons, with the support of the Special Operations Brigade of Galati and Spanish Policia Nacional, assisted by the Attache of the Minister of Interior at the Spanish Embassy in Bucharest. Officers of the Policia Nacional attended the investigations in Romania.

Photo  Policia Nacional (ES), Politia (RO)
The Australian government underlined its commitment to the US war preparations against China last Friday by announcing a further $1.1 billion upgrade to the Tindal air force base in northern Australia, primarily to provide access for US war planes, including nuclear-capable bombers.

On the same day, after visiting the base, near Katherine, to make the announcement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison flew to the key electronic spying and communications facility, the US-controlled base at Pine Gap, near Alice Springs in central Australia, for a classified briefing from US and Australian intelligence officials. Pine Gap is a pivotal site for US missile and drone warfare across the Indo-Pacific region and the Middle East.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison toasts President Donald Trump at the White House in September [Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Taken together, these two developments point to the governments anxiety to align itself with Washingtons war plans, which rely on northern Australian air, naval and ground bases as a vital platform for what could be a catastrophic nuclear war with China. Washington regards Beijing as the chief threat to its global hegemony.

Behind the backs of the Australian population, the Liberal-National Coalition government, backed by the opposition Labor Party, has stepped-up agreements with the US to provide access to military facilities, making Australia not just a launching pad, but a prime target, in any such war.

At a media conference at Tindal, Morrison described the base as the sharp end of the spear. Without mentioning China by name, he said the base plays an incredibly important role in Australias efforts to ensure a stable and secure Indo-Pacific, working particularly with our partners in the United States.

Morrison said the $1.1 billion program of works at the base was on top of the $495 million already spent there recently, taking the total to $1.6 billion. Major runway extensions, fuel stockpiles and engineering will be designed to support Code E large aircraft, such as US B-52 strategic bombers and Australian KC-30 air-to-air refuellers. US and Australian fifth-generation strike fighters also will have greater capacity to conduct joint operations and training exercises in the Indo-Pacific.

Revealing the pressure being applied by Washington, Morrison said: When I was in the United States last year and was with the president and was meeting with the Secretary of Defence Mark Esper and the secretary of state and many others, I was so proud that we can say unreservedly that Australia holds up its end when it comes to our defence commitments and the role we play in our part of the world.

The prime minister stressed that his government was spending $200 billion on increased military capacity, and would lift the allocation to 2 percent of gross domestic productor about $40 billionin the 202021 budget, several years ahead of what we set as our original target.

As well as satisfying the Trump administrations demands, Morrison is seeking to use militarism to deflect the public hostility toward his government. An Australian National University opinion poll published last week found that confidence in the government plunged by nearly 11 points from October to 27 percent in January, mostly because of the governments contemptible response to the bushfire catastrophe.

While pouring billions into the military, successive Australian governments and their state counterparts have starved firefighting and other essential civilian services of funds. This has left volunteer fire-fighters confronting infernos with old and outdated trucks and equipment.

The corporate media has barely reported the Tindal announcement, reflecting concerns about high levels of anti-war sentiment. But the Australian newspaper and US-connected strategic think-tanks emphasised that the spear was aimed at China.

The Australians foreign editor, Greg Sheridan, highlighted the upgrades advantages for US planning for war against China. For the US, the move continues its long-term process to disperse its forces throughout the Indo-Pacific, to make them harder to hit and less focused on the two islands of Okinawa and Guam.

Sheridan said this reality was being kept hidden from public view. Politicians will be too polite to mention it explicitly but this makes US forces less vulnerable to potential strikes by Chinese forces in the event of military conflict between the US and China.

Labors defence spokesman and deputy leader Richard Marles quickly endorsed the announcement, while the Greens, which once postured as an anti-war party, remained silent. In fact, the Coalition government is ramping up arrangements first agreed by the Greens-backed minority Labor government of Julia Gillard.

Via the US Force Posture Initiative signed in 2011 by the Gillard government and the Obama administration, the US and Australia committed to joint funding for military infrastructure projects of about $2 billion.

The commitment included an annual rotation of up to 2,000 US marines through the northern capital of Darwin, and the construction of a naval port for US use in that citys harbour. Last year, Australia and the US scaled up an Enhanced Air Co-operation agreement that involved the integration of US F-22 Raptors.

The Tindal upgrade also signals the greater basing of missiles that could strike Chinese ships in the critical trade routes via Singapore and Indonesia. The announcement followed a decision by the US State Department this month to approve the sale to Australia of 200 AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles for about $1.5 billion. The stealth cruise missiles could be fired from Australias new Joint Strike Fighters, when the US delivers them, or its F/A-18F Super Hornets.

Former intelligence and defence chief Paul Dibb indicated the discussion going on in ruling circles. He urged the government to go further by acquiring longer-range land-based missilesa prospect raised by US Defence Secretary Esper last yearand upgrading other frontline air force bases, Learmonth and Curtin in northwest Western Australia, and Scherger on the Cape York Peninsula.

US Studies Centre analyst Brendan Thomas-Noone told the Australian that US B-52 bombers were likely to be rotated through Tindal. He said Australias northern bases were at a relatively safe range from China, which did not have conventional land-based missiles that could hit them. Thats why the Americans are so interested in that territory and why Australia has become so much more valuable in terms of its strategic geography.

Morrisons visit to Pine Gap is revealing because, as American National Security Agency (NSA) whistle blower Edward Snowden exposed in 2017, Pine Gap plays a central role in assisting US military operations, including identifying targets for missile attacks. It is also vital for spying on China, Russia and Iran and intercepting phone calls, satellite transmissions and ballistic missile electronic communications.

The bipartisan escalation of Australian involvement in US war plans, and the silent complicity of the Greens, matches the line-up against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and the brave whistle blower Chelsea Manning. That is because they laid bare the war crimes and atrocities of the Pentagon and its partners, including Australia.

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[14 January 2020]
WASHINGTON  Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the first Democrat to represent her North Jersey congressional district in 34 years, now is rated as a shoo-in to retain the seat this November.

Inside Elections, a Washington-based publication that tracks congressional races, just said Sherrills district was solid Democratic, meaning she no longer faced a competitive race for re-election. The district had been rated likely Democratic.

Unless the fundamentals of the cycle change, Republicans will have a tough time winning here, said Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections.

Gonzales cited Sherrills strong fundraising. She raised $2.6 million through Dec. 31 and entered 2020 with $2.2 million to spend.

By contrast, her Republican challenger, tax lawyer Rosemary Becchi, raised just slightly more than one-tenth as much as Sherrill, $287,198, while lending her campaign $150,000 and contributing $39,583 of her own money to it. She reported cash on hand of only $267,946.

Representative Sherrill has quickly become a leader who knows how to work with both parties to get things done for New Jersey," Sherrill campaign spokeswoman Jackie Burns said.

New Jerseyans have noticed that as the nations politics have become more divided, Representative Sherrills focus on making their lives better has brought people together and created powerful support in Washington for New Jerseys interests."

Becchi recently decided to challenge Sherrill in the 11th District rather than run a primary in the 7th District against state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Union.

The National Republican Congressional Committee named Becchi to its list of GOP challengers that the committee is providing fundraising help and other assistance to.

Clearly, Inside Elections hasnt been inside the 11th District in a while, Becchi said. I have enjoyed a groundswell of support in less than one month of launching my campaign to make our state more affordable for New Jersey families, and we will be happy to rove Inside Elections dead wrong this fall.

The NRCC targeted Sherrill and three other House Democrats this fall.

One of the others on the target list, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., also is considered a safe bet for re-election by Inside Elections.

He raised $3.5 million through Dec. 31 and had $7.1 million in the bank.

Gottheimer entered 2020 with more money to spend than any other House incumbent or challenger except two California representatives, Adam Schiff and Devin Nunes, the chairman and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, whose hearings led to the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

The Cook Political Report, the other Washington-based publication that focuses on congressional contests, rated both Sherrill and Gottheimer as strong favorites for re-election.

Kean, meanwhile, received a boost when the NRCC listed him as one of their 35 challengers with the best chance of flipping a Democratic-held seat. Kean is challenging Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-7th Dist., who is given a slight edge by both Cook and Inside Elections.

Malinowski raised $2.3 million through Dec. 31 and had $2 million cash on hand. Kean built a sizable war chest of his own, bringing in $1.2 million and banking $792,501.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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With Israel's prime minister eager to court the votes of the country's influential West Bank settlers, President Donald Trump's Mideast plan seemed to be the key to ramping up their support ahead of critical elections next week.

The plan envisions Israel's eventual annexation of its scores of West Bank settlements a longtime settler dream. But in the weeks since it was unveiled, Benjamin Netanyahu has stumbled over his promises to quickly carry out the annexation, sparking an outcry from settler leaders and threatening any goodwill he hoped to gain from the plan.

"If there is something that undermines the stability of the campaign in Netanyahu's eyes, it is attacks from the right," the columnist Mati Tuchfeld wrote in the pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom. "It is not only the fate of Judea and Samaria that is on the line. His political fate is as well." Judea and Samaria is the biblical name for the West Bank.

Israel heads to the polls for the third time in less than a year on next Monday. The previous two rounds ended in deadlock, with neither Netanyahu nor his challenger Benny Gantz able to secure a 61-seat parliamentary majority. Pre-election polls show a similar impasse emerging from the next vote.

Facing a corruption trial two weeks after the election, Netanyahu is desperate to remain prime minister, a position he can use to rally public support as he fights the charges.

In a bid to move the needle in his favor, Netanyahu has spent the final weeks of the campaign handing out political gifts to different constituents. The Trump plan has been the centerpiece of that strategy.

The plan, announced at the White House in late January with much fanfare, sides with Israel on most of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict's main sticking points. Beyond granting Israel sovereignty over large parts of the occupied West Bank, it falls far short of the Palestinian dream of an independent state.

Instead, it calls for giving them limited autonomy over a disjointed archipelago of land, and only if they meet a stringent set of demands.

Seeing the plan as a green light, Netanyahu quickly pledged to steam ahead with annexation. But a Cabinet meeting announced by his office never convened, with



Netanyahu apparently reined in by officials at the White House who balked at his premature zeal.

Netanyahu has since tempered expectations on his annexation vow, fending off attacks from hard-liners by saying he must first map the territory with the Americans beforehand.

"We don't want to risk this. We are working responsibly and rationally, Netanyahu told his Cabinet earlier this month. To all those chirping in from outside and even from within the government: We did the work, we will complete the work.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war. The international community, including a string of US presidents, has long opposed Israel's settlements, seeing them as obstacles to peace that gobble up Israeli-occupied land sought by the Palestinians for an independent state.

But Trump, backed by a team of Mideast advisers with close ties to the settlement movement, has taken a more lenient approach. His vision, with its tacit approval of Israel's settlements, sparked feverish calls from settlers for Israel to immediately annex parts of the West Bank, including more than 120 settlements, home to nearly 500,000 Israelis.

Netanyahu's about-face has triggered a backlash among settler leaders, including some within his own party. Settlers have erected a protest tent outside Netanyahu's Jerusalem office, and have staged protests and been outspoken in their criticism.

"Israel should impose sovereignty even if America doesn't agree, said Yossi Dagan, a settler leader who has led the charge for annexation and is also an influential activist in Netanyahu's Likud party.

This was a mistake and the prime minister must correct it. Netanyahu's enthusiasm for the plan has drawn criticism from even more hard-line settler supporters who believe it doesn't go far enough.

Although they support the annexation plans, they oppose the establishment of the limited Palestinian state and the proposed creation of settlement enclaves surrounded by Palestinian territory. They believe the creation of a Palestinian state even in its weakened form endangers Israel in the long term.

Also threatening Netanyahu is the fringe hard-right political party Jewish Power. The party, led by followers of the late rabbi Meir Kahane, who was expelled from Israeli over his racist views, has been Netanyahu's foil throughout the repeated election campaigns.

Jewish Power's leaders have rejected Netanyahu's calls for the party to drop out of the race, despite forecasts that it will not come close to reaching the threshold for entering parliament. That means those votes, which could prop up Likud or the allied pro-settler Yamina party, are likely to go to waste.

The pro-settler vote is typically split between Likud, which mainly appeals to secular nationalists but also has a religious-nationalist cohort, and Yamina, where many settlers find an ideological home.

In a new gesture to the settlers, Netanyahu on Thursday promised to build thousands of new homes in east Jerusalem, including the last remaining open space that could potentially link Palestinian areas of the West Bank to the city.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi Police head constable was killed during clashes over the new citizenship law in northeast Delhi on Monday, a senior officer said.

Ratan Lal was attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gokulpuri, he said.

Several police personnel have been injured in the clashes, he said.

Several vehicles, shops and houses were torched on Monday, a day after clashes broke out between those against and for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SVMC ExpressCare Welcomes New Family Nurse Practitioner

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Southwestern Vermont Medical Center has welcomed family nurse practitioner William Smith to SVMC ExpressCare and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians.



Smith earned his master's degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2018. He received his bachelor's in nursing from the University of Rochester School of Nursing in New York in 2015. He holds a second bachelor's degree in environmental science from the State University of New York at Brockport.



Smith has worked as a gastroenterology nurse at the University of Tennessee Medical Center for two years and as a registered nurse in the pediatric post-anesthesia care unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Tennessee. In addition, Smith is certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.



Open seven days a week  including holidays, except Thanksgiving and Christmas  ExpressCare is a convenient walk-in clinic. No appointment is necessary. ExpressCare offers care for minor illnesses and injuries to patients of all ages. There are two locations. In Bennington, patients may seek care at Suite 111 of the Medical Office Building at 140 Hospital Drive. Northshire ExpressCare is located within the SVMC Northshire Campus at 5957 Main Street, Route 7A in Manchester. For more information, call 802-440-4077.




What is democracy? You probably hear this term in history or civics courses but take it for granted because it is such a common political system today. In 2013, it was reported that 123 countries in the world can be considered democracies. However, democracies were not always common. This governing system became more popular after World War I. Before the spread of democracy, colonial empires were commonplace. Colonial empires were systems of government that were ruled by kings, queens, or autocratic leaders. World War II was one of the only 20th century periods during which democracies did not expand, but many former colonies declared independence after World War II and shifted to democratic systems.

Ancient Greek Democracy

Democracy may have become a popular way for countries to govern themselves during the 20th century, but the ideas of democracy were born in Greece. Athens, Greece operated under a democratic system in the 5th century BC, and other Greek cities and towns did the same. The idea was to have a government by the people. Direct democracy, where people met in assemblies and made decisions, was once a popular form of democracy. Direct democracy was more appropriate for smaller communities. Most countries in the world today operate under indirect democracy. People choose representatives to protect their interests in government. In either case, there are arguments for and against democracy. Many people who are for democracy say that this prevents one person from gaining too much power and becoming a dangerous authoritarian. Even so, there are people who are critical of democracy and it is worthwhile to examine why some people feel this way.

Where We Stand Today

A Pew Research Survey found that most people are in favor of a democracy, but some people would be open to alternative modes of government. Their findings show that some people would prefer a direct democracy where people govern themselves directly. However, some people actually support autocratic governments, and many people say they would be open to having a government that is run by experts who are competent. People with different levels of education favor certain types of governments over others. A countrys economic position can also affect people's opinions. Feelings about democracy can change depending on economic circumstances.

Key Definitions

Here are some terms you should know:

Monarchy: rule by a single person, usually because they were born into the position.

Oligarchy: a government run by a few people.

Autocracy: a government with a singular head of state, usually with unlimited power.

Fascism: a type of autocracy that puts the interests of a nation or race above others.

Communism: a political theory that fights against the ownership of private property, and in which things are owned by the public and available for use whenever others need them.

Arguments for Democracy

Countries around the world embraced democracy in the 20th century, most notably after WWI and WWII. Prior to this shift, countries were ruled by oligarchies, monarchies, and self-appointed autocratic leaders. During World War II, the world saw the dangers of fascism and fascist leaders like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Democracy was supported because it allowed people to choose representatives with set term limits. Many citizens had seen how their countries were ravaged due to corruption and inequality caused by the rule of the few. Democracy was seen as a way to make sure no one person had too much power. Many democracies also wanted a free market. Before democracy, few people had control or say in the economy which allowed rulers and those in power to use their economic influence to silence critics or give large rewards to those who followed their lead. Democracies were seen as a way to decentralize the market, but many of the same forces that freed the market were imperative to the development of democracy. People need more resources and education in order to vote and make educated purchases or financial decisions. A free market allowed more people to improve their status, and the economic boom that occurred after WWII created favorable conditions for democracies that were born out of former dictatorships, autocracies, and monarchies.

Freedom of Speech

Experts and citizens often defend democracy because they say it allows people to speak freely and have the ability to criticize leaders they feel might not be doing what the public wants. In fascist regimes, people who criticized leaders were often punished, and many critics were tortured or executed. Philosopher Alexander Meiklejohn was a proponent of the link between democracy and free speech.

Respect for Human Rights

Pro-democracy arguments also include a greater likelihood of respect for human rights. That is because people must vote to make changes to laws or statutes. Democratic leaders cannot solely make unilateral decisions, and there are often other branches of government that can step in if this occurs. This is supposed to encourage democratic governments to be transparent about their work.

Checks on Power

Another common argument for democracy is that it allows citizens to be empowered to elect their representatives, which means that everyone is expected to compromise so that no one interest is considered more important. Elections are also a way to make sure leaders know there are limits to their power.

Debate and Exchange of Ideas

Democracies allow citizens to be exposed to various points of view before making their choice. This allows candidates, citizens, and stakeholders to have a proper debate about why they would better represent the people that elect them. Transparency in elections is also meant to promote peace because people are more likely to accept the results of a fairly-won election, even if the candidate that won is not the one they chose.

Arguments Against Democracy

There are also arguments against democracy. The Greek philosopher Socrates made some compelling arguments against democracy by birthright as early as 399 BC. It is important to consider the possible negatives when discussing democracy.

Charismatic, but Unqualified Leadership

Socrates argued that people need to be equipped to vote during elections instead of going about the process without the right information. Socrates felt that people need to be rational about who they vote for, not that they should not have the right to vote. He warned that people may be swayed by leaders who seem to provide all the right answers or know what to say. Basically, Socrates said that people might vote for someone because of how the candidate makes them feel, not because the candidate is able to do the job correctly.

Democracy Might Devolve into Tyranny

Another Greek philosopher, Plato, was also critical of democracy. He examined five existing government styles and looked at the pros and cons of these systems in his famous book The Republic. His argument is that people become tired of systems such as oligarchy and then succumb to democracy because they are hungry for power. He felt that crumbling democratic societies are more easily able to transition into tyranny once democracy becomes unsustainable.

There Might Be Reasonable Alternatives

At best, voting for the wrong person means that nothing gets done at the taxpayers expense. At worst, people are making an uninformed vote. Modern-day philosopher Jason Brennan echoes many of the warnings of Socrates, but he also created a new term to describe what he perceives as an ideal alternative to democracy: epistocracy. Brennan argues that people need to think about what they expect from the government and then become informed so they can choose representatives that accomplish the tasks their citizens want. He also argues for the competence principle. Voters should use their right and power to vote to the best of their ability in order to maintain their right to vote. Brennan also says that Singapore is a modern-day example of a technocracy. In a technocracy, experts run the government.
- A family in Anambra state, Nigeria is in shock after a pastor invited to perform a deliverance on its members died on the day the service was supposed to be conducted

- A member of the family who did not want to be named said the powerful man of God was invited from Warri in Delta state based on recommendation from somebody

- The source said they were all surprised to find the pastor dead in the room he slept on the morning the deliverance service

Fear has gripped a family in Anambra state, Nigeria after a pastor invited to perform a deliverance on its members died on the day the service should have been conducted.

Vanguard reported that a member of the family who sought anonymity said the powerful man of God was invited from Warri in Delta state based on the recommendation from somebody.

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The pastor had been invited from a neighbouring state. Photo: UGC

Source: Depositphotos

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The source said they were all surprised to find the pastor lying dead in the room he slept on the day the deliverance service was supposed to be performed.

The family member said they are all in fear and shock after the incident.

We were surprised to see the lifeless body of the pastor the next morning which should be the day for the deliverance, the source said.

Haruna Mohammed, the spokesperson for the Anambra police command confirmed the incident.

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The family member said they are all in fear and shock after the incident. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

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The police identified the deceased as Pastor Richard Ifeanyi Obi, who was found lying lifeless in the room he slept.

The police spokesperson said the pastor was rushed to the hospital where he was certified dead by a medical doctor.

One Ikechukwu Uchendu of No. 5 Onuorah Street Amaenyi Awka reported at the Central Police Station Awka that one Pastor Richard Ifeanyi Obi, who came from Warri to perform family prayers in his house, was found lying lifeless in the room he slept," the police said.

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Earlier this month, the Louvre Museum in Paris released 30,000 free tickets on its website for the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition. In three hours they were all gone. The Louvre opened its doors for three consecutive nights, all night. Visitors were invited to discover the Italian Renaissance master's work in a quiet - and for once - uncrowded museum.

"I really appreciate visiting the exhibition in the morning [] finally we succeeded on the last day, also we've been welcomed with a coffee and a madeleine, it's a very nice initiative," says Herve, retired, who came to the Louvre with his wife thanks to the free tickets offer.

Jean-Luc Martinez, the museum's director, said the goal was for people to "feel at home" while discovering the 162 works, including loans by Queen Elizabeth II and the British Museum, Russia's Hermitage and the Vatican.

"I've found the exhibition fascinating [] it's something we don't see in our country," says Diana who 'studied' Da Vinci in school in the Philippines but never had the opportunity to see his work in an exhibition.

Janarthan, an Indian student in genetics, who started his visit at 7am, changed the perspective he had on Leonardo Da Vinci after he saw the exhibition.

"I'm really surprised, he could do so many things in his lifetime, such as paintings, inventions, so many things."

On his special early morning experience in the famous museum, he adds:

"This place attracts people from all around the world, whether it's day time or night time, there are people visiting this museum all the time."

The exhibition, which opened in late October, marks 500 years since the death of Leonardo in Amboise in the Loire Valley on 2 May, 1519.

"Everybody should be a fan of Da Vinci because he's the greatest artist of all time. It's the first time we can see so many drawings and paintings," explains Marc Sanchez who previously worked in contemporary art museums.

"He spent so much time on 'studies' and on the paintings, without finishing many of them.

"That's always a question when you look at his paintings, so many are unfinished.

"That shows that he gave a lot of importance to the process, this is very modern, he's one of the first contemporary artists I think."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-24 23:30:30|Editor: yan

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MOSCOW, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Turkey are planning a series of consultations regarding Syria's last rebel stronghold of Idlib, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

Moscow hopes both countries can ensure Idlib becomes a real de-escalation zone, free of militants, Lavrov said at a press conference.

The de-escalation zone in Idlib is turning into "an escalation zone" as militants there attack targets outside the zone, he said.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the recent escalation of tensions in Idlib during a telephone conversation. The two countries said their militaries would continue to maintain close contact.
On Wednesday, a senator from Brazil was shot while trying to calm an illegal strike conducted by a group of military police. The protest was held at the Northeastern state of Ceara. The chaotic scene of the rally was recorded on video, according to Fox News.

The Condition of Cid Gomes According to His Doctors

Cid Gomes, also the governor of the state, was hit in the chest and was brought immediately to the medical center in the area.

According to the statement released by the medical center where Gomes was treated, they said that he is already in a stable condition.

The Sequence of the Events that Led to a Gunshot Being Fired at Gomes

It was shown in a video that Gomes was operating a backhoe. He went through the gate of a police barrack. It was shown in the video that as the governor was driving the vehicle, the backhoe's windows shattered due to a gunshot.

They identified the location of the gunman when the shots were fired.

Before deciding to intervene in the protest held by a group of military police, Cid Gomes had shared a video on the social media platform Twitter. In the video, he expressed his anger and asked the public to support him and assist him in ending the strike.

At his arrival at the protest, he was seen by the public using a bullhorn and giving out a warning to the group to protesters. He gave them an order. He said that he was only giving them five minutes to stop what they are doing and he will not give an extension.

Many of the protesters intervened in Gomes' speech in the rally. The protester said that Gomes was not authorized to stop or intervene in the rally conducted by the group.

A few moments later, Gomes decided on the next big thing he can think of to end the rally. He decided to operate a backhoe to destroy the barricade that was built by the group of protesters.

The Root of the Rally

The protests had started on Tuesday. The group of military officers decided to conduct a strike due to their unfair wages.

The military police of Brazil are the ones who are tasked to patrol the streets of the country. According to the law of Brazil, they are prohibited by the law of the land to hold a strike.

A few hours before a Cid Gomes was hit by a gunshot, Brazilian authorities will not allow the conduct of illegal strikes in the country, said the Public Security Secretary.

According to the state secretary, a few of the 260 officers involved in the rally were already being investigated. Also, it was ruled that the police personnel who participate in strikes will not be granted their salary.

Additionally, they are under the possibility that they will get fired from their work as part of the Brazilian police force.

Sergio Moro, the Justice, and Public Minister had released a public announcement on Wednesday evening saying that it will not order federal forces to control the protests. Also, federal highway police and federal police were assigned on a mission in Sobral to serve as Gomes' security.

The Brazil Forum of Public Security, a non-government organization that records national crime statistics are against the violence involved with the rally. The organization said that regardless of the lawfulness of their demands involving their salaries, their acts are unacceptable for spreading panic and fear to citizens.
Medical workers Cai Taoying, Yang Li, Zhang Jing and Luan Jiawen (from L to R) pose for a group photo after they recovered from COVID-19 and returned to work at Hankou Hospital of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 22, 2020. Many medical staff of Hankou Hospital, who were infected with novel coronavirus earlier, voluntarily returned to their posts after recovered from the disease. Up to now, more than 10 recovered medical staff have returned to work. [Xinhua/Cai Yang]

Recovered nurse Luan Jiawen encourages herself before entering the severe case wards in Hankou Hospital of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 18, 2020. Many medical staff of Hankou Hospital, who were infected with novel coronavirus earlier, voluntarily returned to their posts after recovered from the disease. Up to now, more than 10 recovered medical staff have returned to work. [Xinhua/Cai Yang]

Nurse Cai Taoying works at an observation room on the first day of work after she recovered from COVID-19 in Hankou Hospital of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 22, 2020. Many medical staff of Hankou Hospital, who were infected with novel coronavirus earlier, voluntarily returned to their posts after recovered from the disease. Up to now, more than 10 recovered medical staff have returned to work. [Xinhua/Li He]

Nurse Cai Taoying (R) checks her task at the personnel department on the first day of work after she recovered from COVID-19 in Hankou Hospital of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 22, 2020. Many medical staff of Hankou Hospital, who were infected with novel coronavirus earlier, voluntarily returned to their posts after recovered from the disease. Up to now, more than 10 recovered medical staff have returned to work. [Xinhua/Li He]

Recovered nurse of Hankou Hospital Cai Taoying (R) poses for a photo with a medical staff as she donates plasma at Wuhan Blood Center in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 17, 2020. Cai returned to work on February 22. Many medical staff of Hankou Hospital, who were infected with novel coronavirus earlier, voluntarily returned to their posts after recovered from the disease. Up to now, more than 10 recovered medical staff have returned to work. [Xinhua/Cai Yang]

(Source: Xinhua)
Barring West Bengal, all other states and union territories are implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

New Delhi: The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday asked the West Bengal government to join the ambitious central scheme, PM-Kisan, which completed one year of operation without the state on board.

Barring West Bengal, all other states and union territories are implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) which has benefited 8.45 crore farmers so far in the country, against the target of 14 crore farmers.

The minister also launched PM-Kisan mobile App on completion of one year of the implementation of the scheme.

Tomar said, West Bengal has not yet joined the scheme. There are 70 lakh farmers in the state. Benefits worth about Rs 4,000 crore will reach to these farmers if implemented.

Of the 70 lakh farmers from the state, about 10 lakh farmers have already self-registered for the scheme via the online portal of PM-Kisan, he said and added the cash benefit to these farmers will reach once the state government verifies the data.

Stating that the cash benefit under the scheme will not only help farmers but also boost the state economy, Tomar said, Our officials have approached the state government in this regard many times. I have also written twice to the chief minister urging to join the scheme. But no reply has come yet from the chief minister.

Tomar said some states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim are slow in authenticating their farmers' data and the central government is pursuing with them seriously.

The aim is to achieve the target of 14 crore farmers by next year. On PM-Kisan portal, the centre has received data of total 9.74 crore farmers. Already, payment has been made to 8.45 crore farmers, he said.

About 85 percent of the farmers data registered under the scheme has been Aadhar verified, the rest will be completed soon, he added. Under the scheme, the centre is paying Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments to eligible farmers.
A 12-year-old boy made the heartbreaking decision to give up his puppy because his father was badly mistreating it, according to an animal shelter.

The boy left the dog in a cardboard box outside the Xollin shelter, in the Mexican state of Michoacan, with a note explaining the tragic circumstances behind the donation.

His hand-written message, shared on Xollins Facebook page, read: My name is Andres and I am 12 years old. My mum and I decided to leave my dog in your hands, hiding it from my dad because he was thinking about selling him.

But he mistreats and kicks him. 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 wont forget me.

The shelter shared a photo of the dog with the cuddly memento the little boy had left him / @apadrinaxollines/Facebook

The touching discovery was made on February 13, after which the shelter posted a number of updates to its Facebook page.

One photo, shared on Sunday, showed the pup staring up at the camera, cradling the stuffed toy the little boy had left him.

Another post explained that Xollin staff had since named the dog Rene, and that they are currently looking for the right family to take care of him.

They said that theyd received more than 300 requests to adopt Rene within five days of his arrival at the home, while also stressing that they have more than 120 other animals in need of loving owners.

A number of social media users praised the boy for his brave self-sacrifice, with one calling it an act of survival and "pure love".

Others expressed concern for the safety of the 12-year-old and his mother.

A number suggested authorities should visit the house to check up on them in light of the father's alleged behaviour.
Minimalism, originally used to describe mid-century art, has grown to become much more than simple decluttering, or a design aesthetic. Its now becoming one of the defining virtues of our age, with dozens of books and blogs guiding us on how to live with less.

Marie Kondo. Sustainability. Ethical fashion. KeepCups. Social media detoxes. Friend culling. Downsizing. Fasting. Wireless technology. We are living in a moment that cultural critic Kyle Chayka describes as inching toward an ostentatious ritual of consumerist self-sacrifice.

Decluttering expert Marie Kondo. Credit:Netflix

Chayka, who has just written a book, The Longing For Less: Living With Minimalism, says one reason we crave minimalism right now is down to over-stimulation. We get so much imagery and information from our iPhones, Chayka says. Why would we want our interiors to be complicated as well?

Another reason has to do with a type of collective malaise.We feel disconnected from our surroundings and from traditional sources of meaning in our lives, or our identities, he says. A big home, for example, no longer carries the same status it used to and now just means you were born at the right time to be able to afford one.
Republican Wanda Logan, left, and Democrat G. Roni Green, right, face off Tuesday in the special election for the 190th District of the Pennsylvania State House. Read more

Voters in West Philadelphias 190th Pennsylvania House District will cast ballots Tuesday in the second special election for that seat in less than a year.

Democrat Roni Green and Republican Wanda Logan are competing to finish the final 10 months of former State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrells term.

Johnson-Harrell, a Democrat, won the seat in a special election last March but resigned in December after being charged with stealing more than $500,000 from a nonprofit she founded. She pleaded guilty last month and is now serving a term of at least three months in Philadelphias Riverside Correctional Facility.

The special election Johnson-Harrell won was held because former State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, also a Democrat, was forced to resign after being convicted of bribery and other charges.

Green, a business agent for SEIU Local 668, is favored to win Tuesdays contest since 87% of the districts voters are registered Democrats.

Special elections tend to produce low voter turnout. Just one in 10 registered voters cast ballots in the March 2019 election. Green said she has a team out recruiting voters and have found them to be tuned in.

Folks are aware. And theyre aware that Im running, Green said. Were trying to get people out.

Logan, an employment agency owner, ran unsuccessfully for the seat four times as a Democrat between 2012 to 2018. She has been a Republican since January 2019. Logan said she believes voters are aware of the election, but wishes it had been held concurrent to the April 28 primary.

SEIU has thrown its considerable political resources into Greens candidacy, contributing the bulk of the $61,736 she has reported raising for her campaign since being chosen as the Democratic nominee.

No matter who wins Tuesday, the campaigns resumes Wednesday. Green and Logan have both filed as candidates in the April 28 primary election. Six other Democrats have also filed to compete in that race.
The Canada Revenue Agency headquarters in Ottawa in a file photo. The extent of the states taxation could expand even further if Tides Canada gets its way. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Canadians Dont Need a Wealth Tax

Wealth and inheritance taxes floated by Tides Canada a bad idea

Commentary

In Canada, weve grown accustomed to having almost everything we make and spend getting taxed. Business taxes, personal taxes, sin taxes, carbon taxes, sales taxes, and numerous other levies take 45 percent of our income each year. The state has nothing left to go for except everything we have while we live and everything left when we die.

But the extent of the states taxation could expand even further if a tax-free foundation gets its way. Tides Canada is mobilizing rich youth to give up their wealth and trying to convince everyone else to do the same!

In both the United States and Canada, the Tides Foundation has funded numerous efforts to undermine the resource sector. Tides Canadas latest initiative, the Resource Movement, brings together young people with wealth and class privilege to become leaders working towards the equitable distribution of wealth, land, and power.

These youth are old enough to have a post-secondary Marxist indoctrination but too young and rich to understand the middle-class grind. Their video, Canada Needs Wealth and Inheritance Taxes, has nearly three times as many dislikes as likes, and deserves it.

My family is in the top 1 percent, says one young man. I want free transit.

Why? The top 1 percent in Canada make over $235,000 annually as individuals, with average earnings of $477,700.

Free transit for everyone wouldnt be great either. The principle of moral hazard means any service offered for free gets overused. Then services get rationed and overly expensive, just as we see in our health-care system.

Im in the top 10 percent, claims a young woman in the video. (On average, a Canadian like her makes $134,900.) I want childcare thats affordable for all of the parents in my life and reparations for black and Indigenous people.

Given that Canada had few slaves and already enjoys processes to resolve treaties, one wonders if the entire video wasnt adapted from some American template. The cheapest child care occurs when one parent stays at home. And if taxes werent already stealing half the wealth, one income would be enough for two parents to live on.

Yet another young woman tells viewers, We have the money to fund the programs and services that we need. Its just in the wrong pockets.

Ugh. Does she realize she just said her family doesnt deserve what it worked for?

Next, the video tells us Canada is the only G7 nation that doesnt have a wealth tax. (Good!) Then it says a modest levy on the ultra-wealthy would raise $9 billion per year. Join us in calling on the federal government to establish an inheritance tax and a wealth tax.

No, lets not. The $9 billion raised wouldnt cover the grandiose ideas in the video. Besides, that money would be in federal coffers already had Tides not relentlessly undermined Canadas oilsands, pipeline projects, and other parts of the resource sector, as documented by Vancouver researcher Vivian Krause.

Ironies aside, the idea is terrible. Every economic theory accepts that capital formation is the key to growth. Wealth taxes and inheritance taxes discourage that capital formation and the productivity that makes it happen. These taxes designed to make everyone equal also make everyone poor.

Inheritance taxes are such a bad idea, even egalitarian Sweden eliminated theirs in 2004. And wealth taxes are even worse. The Solidarity Tax on Wealth in France chased 42,000 millionaires out of the country between 2000 and 2014. President Emmanuel Macron finally scrapped the tax two years ago.

The OECD reported in 2018 that wealth taxes are expensive to administrate and often failed to meet their redistributive goals as a result of their narrow tax bases as well as tax avoidance and evasion. Besides this, net wealth taxes tend to be more distortive and less equitable than personal capital income taxes.

That means Canada is on the right track and has been for decades. In 1972, the federal government eliminated the inheritance tax and replaced it with a capital gains taxthe kind that the OECD found more fair.

When a Canadian sells a capital asset, half of the increase in value is credited to the sellers income. The same occurs when a Canadian dies. Before the inheritance is passed to the inheritor(s), the estate pays a capital gains tax on its real estate, land, investments, RRSPs, and businesses as if it had been sold.

Canada may not have a wealth tax or inheritance tax, but the way capital gains tax is applied, its awfully close.

Tidess status as a tax-free foundation means its donors avoid taxation when they give to the organization. That makes its request that everyone else gets taxed, shall we say, a little rich.

The last thing Canada needs is another tax.

A former think tank researcher, Lee Harding is now a journalist based in Saskatchewan.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.